Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The differential effects of inspiratory, expiratory, and combined resistive breathing on healthy lung

Combined resistive breathing (CRB) is the hallmark of obstructive airway disease pathophysiology. We have previously shown that severe inspiratory resistive breathing (IRB) induces acute lung injury in healthy rats. The role of expiratory resistance is unknown. The possibility of a load-dependent type of resistive breathing-induced lung injury also remains elusive. Our aim was to investigate the differential effects of IRB, expiratory resistive breathing (ERB), and CRB on healthy rat lung and establish the lowest loads required to induce injury. Anesthetized tracheostomized rats breathed through a two-way valve. Varying resistances were connected to the inspiratory, expiratory, or both ports, so that the peak inspiratory pressure (IRB) was 20%–40% or peak expiratory (ERB) was 40%–70% of maximum. CRB was assessed in inspiratory/expiratory pressures of 30%/50%, 40%/50%, and 40%/60% of maximum. Quietly breathing animals served as controls. At 6 hours, respiratory system mechanics were measured, and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed for measurement of cell and protein concentration. Lung tissue interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β levels were estimated, and a lung injury histological score was determined. ERB produced significant, load-independent neutrophilia, without mechanical or permeability derangements. IRB 30% was the lowest inspiratory load that provoked lung injury. CRB increased tissue elasticity, bronchoalveolar lavage total cell, macrophage and neutrophil counts, protein and cytokine levels, and lung injury score in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, CRB load dependently deranges mechanics, increases permeability, and induces inflammation in healthy rats. ERB is a putative inflammatory stimulus for the lung.
Disrupted galectin‐3 causes non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in male mice

Galectin‐3, a β‐galactoside‐binding animal lectin, is a multifunctional protein. Previous studies have suggested that galectin‐3 may play an important role in inflammatory responses. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly recognized as a liver condition that may progress to end‐stage liver disease and based on the known functions of galectin‐3, it was hypothesized that galectin‐3 might play a role in the development of NAFLD. Thus, this study investigated the role of galectin‐3 in NAFLD by comparing galectin‐3 knockout (gal3−/−) mice and wild‐type (gal3+/+) mice. The livers of gal3−/− male mice at 6 months of age histologically displayed mild to severe fatty change. The liver weight per body weight ratio, serum alanine aminotransferase levels, liver triglyceride levels, and liver lipid peroxide in gal3−/− mice were significantly increased compared with those in gal3+/+ mice. Furthermore, the hepatic protein levels of advanced glycation end‐products (AGE), receptor for AGE (RAGE), and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) were increased in gal3−/− mice relative to gal3+/+ mice. In conclusion, this study suggests that the absence of gal3 can cause clinico‐pathological features in male mice similar to those of NAFLD. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A patient with a VEGF and endostatin producing gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumour

Tumour associated neovascularisation has been characterised as chaotic and insufficient. This report details the results of the analysis of angiogenic factors in tumour cyst fluid, pleural fluid, and blood from a patient with a gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumour. The tumour produced vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in large quantities, which may explain the dysfunctional angiogenesis and tendency to bleeding seen in this tumour type.
Comportement à la corrosion galvanique de matériaux composites à matrice d'alliage d'aluminium renforcée par des fibres de carbone haut-module

L'analyse de la corrosion en milieu salin de materiaux composites a matrice d'aluminium renforcee par des fibres de carbone fait partie de l'evaluation du comportement en service de ces materiaux. La degradation par la corrosion dans les materiaux composites est accentuee par la presence d'un couple galvanique entre le renfort de carbone et l'alliage d'aluminium. L'amorcage et la propagation de la corrosion ont fait l'objet d'etudes experimentales locales in situ a l'interface fibre/matrice ainsi que d'une modelisation semi-analytique. Il est mis en evidence que la corrosion s'amorce perpendiculairement a l'axe de la fibre puis se propage parallelement a son axe le long de l'interface et par dissolution des carbures d'aluminium. Ces mecanismes locaux ont ete compares aux mecanismes globaux qui prennent en compte l'architecture fibreuse du composite. Une simulation par elements frontieres de la dissolution anodique a permis de proposer des solutions pour ameliorer le comportement en service de ces materiaux composites.
TAp73 promotes anti-senescence-anabolism not proliferation

TAp73, a member of the p53 family, has been traditionally considered a tumor suppressor gene, but a recent report has claimed that it can promote cellular proliferation. This assumption is based on biochemical evidence of activation of anabolic metabolism, with enhanced pentose phosphate shunt (PPP) and nucleotide biosynthesis. Here, while we confirm that TAp73 expression enhances anabolism, we also substantiate its role in inhibiting proliferation and promoting cell death. Hence, we would like to propose an alternative interpretation of the accumulating data linking p73 to cellular metabolism: we suggest that TAp73 promotes anabolism to counteract cellular senescence rather than to support proliferation.
Reconstructing the ancestral butterfly eye: focus on the opsins

SUMMARY The eyes of butterflies are remarkable, because they are nearly as diverse as the colors of wings. Much of eye diversity can be traced to alterations in the number, spectral properties and spatial distribution of the visual pigments. Visual pigments are light-sensitive molecules composed of an opsin protein and a chromophore. Most butterflies have eyes that contain visual pigments with a wavelength of peak absorbance, λmax, in the ultraviolet (UV, 300–400 nm), blue (B, 400–500 nm) and long wavelength (LW, 500–600 nm) part of the visible light spectrum, respectively, encoded by distinct UV, B and LW opsin genes. In the compound eye of butterflies, each individual ommatidium is composed of nine photoreceptor cells (R1–9) that generally express only one opsin mRNA per cell, although in some butterfly eyes there are ommatidial subtypes in which two opsins are co-expressed in the same photoreceptor cell. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of opsin cDNAs from the five butterfly families, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Riodinidae, and comparative analysis of opsin gene expression patterns from four of the five families, I propose a model for the patterning of the ancestral butterfly eye that is most closely aligned with the nymphalid eye. The R1 and R2 cells of the main retina expressed UV–UV-, UV–B- or B–B-absorbing visual pigments while the R3–9 cells expressed a LW-absorbing visual pigment. Visual systems of existing butterflies then underwent an adaptive expansion based on lineage-specific B and LW opsin gene multiplications and on alterations in the spatial expression of opsins within the eye. Understanding the molecular sophistication of butterfly eye complexity is a challenge that, if met, has broad biological implications.
Factors associated with viral rebound in HIV-1-infected individuals enrolled in a therapeutic HIV-1 gag vaccine trial.

BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccines directed to the cell-mediated immune system could have a role in lowering the plasma HIV-1 RNA set point, which may reduce infectivity and delay disease progression. METHODS Randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving HIV-1-infected participants who received a recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) HIV-1 gag vaccine or placebo. Sequence-based HLA typing was performed for all 110 participants who initiated analytic treatment interruption (ATI) to assess the role of HLA types previously associated with HIV prognosis. Plasma HIV-1 gag and pol RNA sequences were obtained during the ATI. Virologic endpoints and HLA groups were compared between treatment arms using the 2-sample rank sum test. A linear regression model was fitted to derive independent correlates of ATI week 16 plasma viral load (w16 PVL). RESULTS Vaccinated participants with neutral HLA alleles had lower median w16 PVLs than did vaccinated participants with protective HLA alleles (P = .01) or placebo participants with neutral HLA alleles (P = .02). Factors independently associated with lower w16 PVL included lower pre-antiretroviral therapy PVL, greater Gag sequence divergence from the vaccine sequence, decreased proportion of HLA-associated polymorphisms in Gag, and randomization to the vaccine arm. CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic vaccination with a rAd5-HIV gag vaccine was associated with lower ATI week 16 PVL even after controlling for viral and host genetic factors. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT00080106.
A Framework for Self-Healing Radiation-Tolerant Implementations on Reconfigurable FPGAs

To increase the amount of logic available in SRAM-based FPGAs manufacturers are using nanometric technologies to boost logic density and reduce prices. However, nanometric scales are highly vulnerable to radiation-induced faults that affect values stored in memory cells. Since the functional definition of FPGAs relies on memory cells, they become highly prone to this type of faults. Fault tolerant implementations, based on triple modular redundancy (TMR) infrastructures, help to keep the correct operation of the circuit. However, TMR is not sufficient to guarantee the safe operation of a circuit. Other issues like the effects of multi-bit upsets (MBU) or fault accumulation, have also to be addressed. Furthermore, in case of a fault occurrence the correct operation of the affected module must be restored and the current state of the circuit coherently re-established. A solution that enables the autonomous correct restoration of the functional definition of the affected module, avoiding fault accumulation, re-establishing the correct circuit state in realtime, while keeping the normal operation of the circuit, is presented in this paper.
Health Conditions as Mediators of the Association Between World Trade Center Exposure and Health-Related Quality of Life in Firefighters and EMS Workers

Objective: Studies have reported reduced health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in rescue/recovery workers for years postdisaster. Few have examined specific postdisaster physical and mental health conditions as mediators of the association between exposure to disaster and HrQoL. Methods: We used the Short Form-12 to measure HrQoL in 7190 male World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed first responders. Potential mediators included physician diagnoses obtained from medical records and mental health conditions obtained from questionnaires. Results: Among moderately and highly WTC-exposed workers, health conditions fully mediated the observed relationship between WTC-exposure and physical health functioning of HrQoL, and substantially mediated the association between WTC-exposure and mental health functioning. Conclusions: Because WTC-related health conditions explain the relationship between WTC-exposure and HrQoL, medical monitoring with treatment of affected populations is necessary to mitigate the adverse effects of WTC-exposure on HrQoL.
Expression of ST3GAL4 Leads to SLex Expression and Induces c-Met Activation and an Invasive Phenotype in Gastric Carcinoma Cells

Sialyl-Lewis X (SLex) is a sialylated glycan antigen expressed on the cell surface during malignant cell transformation and is associated with cancer progression and poor prognosis. The increased expression of sialylated glycans is associated with alterations in the expression of sialyltransferases (STs). In this study we determined the capacity of ST3GAL3 and ST3GAL4 sialyltransferases to synthesize the SLex antigen in MKN45 gastric carcinoma cells and evaluated the effect of SLex overexpression in cancer cell behavior both in vitro and in vivo using the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. The activation of tyrosine kinase receptors and their downstream molecular targets was also addressed. Our results showed that the expression of ST3GAL4 in MKN45 gastric cancer cells leads to the synthesis of SLex antigens and to an increased invasive phenotype both in vitro and in the in vivo CAM model. Analysis of phosphorylation of tyrosine kinase receptors showed a specific increase in c-Met activation. The characterization of downstream molecular targets of c-Met activation, involved in the invasive phenotype, revealed increased phosphorylation of FAK and Src proteins and activation of Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA GTPases. Inhibition of c-Met and Src activation abolished the observed increased cell invasive phenotype. In conclusion, the expression of ST3GAL4 leads to SLex antigen expression in gastric cancer cells which in turn induces an increased invasive phenotype through the activation of c-Met, in association with Src, FAK and Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA GTPases activation.
Spatial swarm segregation and reproductive isolation between the molecular forms of Anopheles gambiae

Anopheles gambiae, the major malaria vector in Africa, can be divided into two subgroups based on genetic and ecological criteria. These two subgroups, termed the M and S molecular forms, are believed to be incipient species. Although they display differences in the ecological niches they occupy in the field, they are often sympatric and readily hybridize in the laboratory to produce viable and fertile offspring. Evidence for assortative mating in the field was recently reported, but the underlying mechanisms awaited discovery. We studied swarming behaviour of the molecular forms and investigated the role of swarm segregation in mediating assortative mating. Molecular identification of 1145 males collected from 68 swarms in Donéguébougou, Mali, over 2 years revealed a strict pattern of spatial segregation, resulting in almost exclusively monotypic swarms with respect to molecular form. We found evidence of clustering of swarms composed of individuals of a single molecular form within the village. Tethered M and S females were introduced into natural swarms of the M form to verify the existence of possible mate recognition operating within-swarm. Both M and S females were inseminated regardless of their form under these conditions, suggesting no within-mate recognition. We argue that our results provide evidence that swarm spatial segregation strongly contributes to reproductive isolation between the molecular forms in Mali. However this does not exclude the possibility of additional mate recognition operating across the range distribution of the forms. We discuss the importance of spatial segregation in the context of possible geographic variation in mechanisms of reproductive isolation.
Poverty in the Midst of Plenty: Unmet Needs and Distribution of Health Care Resources in South Korea

Background The unmet needs for health care have been used as an alternative measurement to monitor equity in health services. We sought to examine contextual influences on unmet needs for health care whereas precedent studies have been focused on individual characteristics on them. Methods and Findings The current study conducted multilevel logistic regression analysis to assess the effects of individual- and contextual-level predictors in meeting individual health care needs in South Korea. We sampled 7,200 individuals over the age of 19 in the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009. Included in the regression model were individual predictors such as demographic variables, socio-economic status, and self-rated health; the density of beds and physicians in public and private sectors within different regions were used as contextual-level predictors. This study showed the inverse association between unmet needs and regional resources in private sectors after controlling for the effects of individual-level predictors. Conclusion Our findings suggest that increasing regional resources in private sectors might produce inefficiency in the health care system and inequity in access to health services, particularly where the competition in private health care sectors was highly stimulated under the fee-for-service reimbursement scheme. Policies for the reallocation of health care resources and for reduction of individual health care costs are needed in Korea.
Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Upper-Limb Rehabilitation After Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose— Recent animal studies demonstrate that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with movement induces movement-specific plasticity in motor cortex and improves forelimb function after stroke. We conducted a randomized controlled clinical pilot study of VNS paired with rehabilitation on upper-limb function after ischemic stroke. Methods— Twenty-one participants with ischemic stroke >6 months before and moderate to severe upper-limb impairment were randomized to VNS plus rehabilitation or rehabilitation alone. Rehabilitation consisted of three 2-hour sessions per week for 6 weeks, each involving >400 movement trials. In the VNS group, movements were paired with 0.5-second VNS. The primary objective was to assess safety and feasibility. Secondary end points included change in upper-limb measures (including the Fugl–Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity). Results— Nine participants were randomized to VNS plus rehabilitation and 11 to rehabilitation alone. There were no serious adverse device effects. One patient had transient vocal cord palsy and dysphagia after implantation. Five had minor adverse device effects including nausea and taste disturbance on the evening of therapy. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the change in Fugl–Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity scores was not significantly different (between-group difference, 5.7 points; 95% confidence interval, −0.4 to 11.8). In the per-protocol analysis, there was a significant difference in change in Fugl–Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity score (between-group difference, 6.5 points; 95% confidence interval, 0.4 to 12.6). Conclusions— This study suggests that VNS paired with rehabilitation is feasible and has not raised safety concerns. Additional studies of VNS in adults with chronic stroke will now be performed. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: https://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT01669161.
Tongue coating: related factors.

AIM A clear relationship between tongue coating and oral malodour has been observed in many clinical trials. Why or when this coating is formed remains an open question. The aim of this study was to analyse possible factors related to the presence of tongue coating in a population complaining from oral malodour. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were recruited from a halitosis clinic (UZ Leuven). Medical history, dietary and oral hygiene habits were retrieved via a questionnaire. Data were recorded on organoleptic score and level of sulphur compounds in breath, anatomical features of the tongue dorsum, amount of tongue coating (according to three indices: Miyazaki, Winkel and modified Winkel), tongue coating wet weight and salivary flow. The correlation between the presence of tongue coating and a series of parameters was analysed. RESULTS The level of oral hygiene was the strongest determinant factor for the presence of tongue coating. Smoking, presence of a denture, periodontal status and dietary habits also correlated although less obvious. CONCLUSION The presence of tongue coating appears to be related to several factors of which oral hygiene is the strongest.
Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Vascular Hyperintensities–Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Mismatch Identifies Acute Stroke Patients Most Likely to Benefit From Recanalization

Background and Purpose— Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensities (FVH) beyond the boundaries of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion (FVH-DWI mismatch) have been proposed as an alternative to perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI)-DWI mismatch. We aimed to establish whether FVH-DWI mismatch can identify patients most likely to benefit from recanalization. Methods— FVH-DWI mismatch was assessed in 164 patients with proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion before intravenous thrombolysis. PWI-DWI mismatch (PWITmax>6sec/DWI>1.8) was assessed in the 104 patients with available PWI data. We tested the associations between 24-hours complete recanalization on magnetic resonance angiography and 3-month favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ⩽2), stratified on FVH-DWI (or PWI-DWI) status. Results— FVH-DWI mismatch was present in 121/164 (74%) patients and recanalization in 50/164 (30%) patients. The odds ratio for favorable outcome with recanalization was 16.2 (95% confidence interval, 5.7–46.5; P<0.0001) in patients with FVH-DWI mismatch and 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 0.6–12.1; P=0.22) in those without FVH-DWI mismatch (P=0.048 for interaction). Recanalization was associated with favorable outcome in patients with PWI-DWI mismatch (odds ratios, 9.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.1–31.3; P=0.0001) and in patients without PWI-DWI mismatch (odds ratios, 7.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–44.1; P=0.047), P=0.76 for interaction. Conclusion— The FVH-DWI mismatch may rapidly identify patients with proximal occlusion most likely to benefit from recanalization.
Robust Crop and Weed Segmentation under Uncontrolled Outdoor Illumination

An image processing algorithm for detecting individual weeds was developed and evaluated. Weed detection processes included were normalized excessive green conversion, statistical threshold value estimation, adaptive image segmentation, median filter, morphological feature calculation and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The developed algorithm was validated for its ability to identify and detect weeds and crop plants under uncontrolled outdoor illuminations. A machine vision implementing field robot captured field images under outdoor illuminations and the image processing algorithm automatically processed them without manual adjustment. The errors of the algorithm, when processing 666 field images, ranged from 2.1 to 2.9%. The ANN correctly detected 72.6% of crop plants from the identified plants, and considered the rest as weeds. However, the ANN identification rates for crop plants were improved up to 95.1% by addressing the error sources in the algorithm. The developed weed detection and image processing algorithm provides a novel method to identify plants against soil background under the uncontrolled outdoor illuminations, and to differentiate weeds from crop plants. Thus, the proposed new machine vision and processing algorithm may be useful for outdoor applications including plant specific direct applications (PSDA).