Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase‐to‐platelet ratio predicts liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in HBeAg‐positive chronic HBV infection patients with high HBV DNA and normal or mildly elevated alanine transaminase levels in China

The gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase‐to‐platelet ratio (GPR) is a new serum diagnostic model, which is reported to be more accurate than aspartate transaminase‐to‐platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis index based on the four factors (Fib‐4) for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic HBV infection (CHBVI) patients in West Africa. To evaluate the performance of the GPR model for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in HBeAg‐positive CHBVI patients with high HBV DNA (≥5 log10 copies/mL) and normal or mildly elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) (≤2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)) in China. A total of 1521 consecutive CHBVI patients who underwent liver biopsies and routine laboratory tests were retrospectively screened. Of these patients, 401 treatment naïve HBeAg‐positive patients with HBV DNA≥5 log10 copies/mL and ALT≤2 ULN were included. The METAVIR scoring system was adopted as the pathological diagnosis standard of liver fibrosis. Using liver histology as a gold standard, the performances of GPR, APRI, and Fib‐4 for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis were evaluated and compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the ROC curves (AUROCs). Of 401 patients, 121 (30.2%), 49 (12.2%) and 17 (4.2%) were classified as having significant fibrosis (≥F2), severe fibrosis (≥F3) and cirrhosis (=F4), respectively. After estimating the AUROC to predict significant fibrosis, the performance of GPR (AUROC=0.66, 95% CI 0.60–0.72) was higher than APRI (AUROC=0.58, 95% CI 0.52–0.64, P=.002) and Fib‐4 scores (AUROC=0.54, 95% CI 0.47–0.60, P<.001). After estimating the AUROC to predict severe fibrosis, the performance of GPR (AUROC=0.71, 95% CI 0.63–0.80) was also higher than APRI (AUROC=0.65, 95% CI 0.56–0.73, P=.003) and Fib‐4 scores (AUROC=0.67, 95% CI 0.58–0.75, P=.001). After estimating the AUROC to predict cirrhosis, the performance of GPR (AUROC=0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.88) was higher than APRI (AUROC=0.69, 95% CI 0.54–0.83, P=.041) and Fib‐4 scores (AUROC=0.69, 95% CI 0.55–0.82, P=.012) too. The GPR is a new serum model for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and shows obvious advantages in Chinese HBeAg‐positive patients with HBV DNA≥5 log10 copies/mL and ALT≤2 ULN compared with APRI and Fib‐4, thus warranting its widespread use for this specific population.
A resonance model gives the response to membrane potential for an ion channel: II. Simplification of the calculation, and prediction of stochastic resonance.

In a previous communication (Green, 1998), the initial step in ion channel gating for voltage-gated channels was attributed to the tunneling of a proton between groups with similar p K values, under the influence of an electric field. This is in contrast to the standard thermally activated model, which leads to a "Boltzmann equation" for the gating current. In the paper that introduced the present model, the current-voltage curve was determined from a resonance effect, in which gating began when the local voltage crossed a threshold, causing a proton to tunnel to a new location. We have therefore investigated further the consequences of tunneling as the first step in gating; we find a method of improving the previous calculation. We also calculate a consequence of our model that has yet to be experimentally looked for, stochastic resonance. With gating a threshold process, one expects that such an effect should exist. Only a small effect is predicted by our calculation, but it may be detectable. If it is it would make possible the determination of important characteristics of the initiation of gating. For this reason it is worth determining the nature of the stochastic resonance to be expected. In addition, we have investigated further the possible ways of understanding our resonance model itself. The model assumes that not all channels have the same threshold, as local perturbations in the potential interfere. We therefore assume a Gaussian distribution of the thresholds, which is simpler than in the previous paper, in which a Gaussian gave inadequate results with the method used there. In this paper, we have reduced the number of parameters to two, and obtained the current-voltage curve, gating current, the response to a large sine wave (in the previous paper, the model was more complex), and stochastic resonance.
Outcome of shock wave lithotripsy as monotherapy for large solitary renal stones (>2 cm in size) without stenting

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) as monotherapy for solitary renal stones larger than 2 cm without ureteral stenting. Materials and Methods: Our retrospective study included patients with solitary renal radio opaque stones larger than 2 cm treated with SWL using electromagnetic Dornier Compact S lithotripter device (Wessling, Germany) for a period of 3 years (September 2002-2005). Stone clearance was assessed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months with plain X-rays of kidney, ureter, and bladder region, ultrasonography, and tomograms. Stone-free status, morbidity of the procedure, and fate of clinically insignificant residual fragments (CIRF) were studied. A stone-free state was defined as no radiologic evidence of stone. Success was defined as complete clearance + CIRF. Results: Fifty-five patients, aged 11–65 years (mean 49.8) underwent SWL. Of them, only two were children. Male-to-female ratio was 3:1. The stone size was 21–28 mm (average 24 mm). The mean number of shocks were 3732 (range 724–12,100) and average energy level was 14 kV (range 11–16 kV). The mean follow-up was 18 months (range 3–22 months). Over all, stone-free status was achieved in 50% and success in 81% at 3 months. Stone clearance was not affected by stone location. Stones <25 mm had better stone-free rate (54.16% vs. 28.5%) and lesser CIRF (14.6% vs. 28.5%) when compared to larger stones (>26 mm) (P = –0.10). Of 54 patients, 39 developed steinstrasse with mean length of 3.2 cm (range 1.4–6.2 cm) and only four required intervention. Effectiveness quotient (EQ) for SWL monotherapy for solitary renal stones more than 2 cm was 25.3%. The EQ for stones <25 mm and those more than 25 mm were 28.4% and 10% (P = –0.12), respectively. There was a lesser trend of difference between stones with size <25 and more than 25 mm. During the last review, the overall stone-free rate was 67.2%. Conclusions: SWL monotherapy was safe but significantly less effective for solitary renal stones larger than 2 cm. It can only be suggested to those who refuse surgical intervention. Pretreatment DJ stenting is not mandatory when closer follow-up is ensured.
Deposition of Ultrafine (NANO) Particles in the Human Lung

Increased production of industrial devices constructed with nanostructured materials raises the possibility of environmental and occupational human exposure with consequent adverse health effects. Ultrafine (nano) particles are suspected of having increased toxicity due to their size characteristics that serve as carrier transports. For this reason, it is critical to refine and improve existing deposition models in the nano-size range. A mathematical model of nanoparticle transport by airflow convection, axial diffusion, and convective mixing (dispersion) was developed in realistic stochastically generated asymmetric human lung geometries. The cross-sectional averaged convective-diffusion equation was solved analytically to find closed-form solutions for particle concentration and losses per lung airway. Airway losses were combined to find lobar, regional, and total lung deposition. Axial transport by diffusion and dispersion was found to have an effect on particle deposition. The primary impact was in the pulmonary region of the lung for particles larger than 10 nm in diameter. Particles below 10 nm in diameter were effectively removed from the inhaled air in the tracheobronchial region with little or no penetration into the pulmonary region. Significant variation in deposition was observed when different asymmetric lung geometries were used. Lobar deposition was found to be highest in the left lower lobe. Good agreement was found between predicted depositions of ultrafine (nano) particles with measurements in the literature. The approach used in the proposed model is recommended for more realistic assessment of regional deposition of diffusion-dominated particles in the lung, as it provides a means to more accurately relate exposure and dose to lung injury and other biological responses.
Obesity does not predispose to more aggressive prostate cancer either at biopsy or radical prostatectomy in European men

Many investigators suggested that obesity predisposes to adverse prostate cancer characteristics and outcomes. We tested the effect of obesity on the rate of aggressive prostate cancer at either prostate biopsy or radical prostatectomy (RP). Clinical and pathological data were available for 1,814 men. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models addressed the rate of high grade prostate cancer (HGPCa) at either biopsy or final pathology. Clinical stage, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), percentage of free PSA and prostate volume were the base predictors. All models were fitted with and without body mass index (BMI), which quantified obesity. BMI and its reciprocal (InvBMI) were coded as cubic splines to allow nonlinear effects. Predictive accuracy (PA) was quantified with area under curve estimates, which were subjected to 200 bootstrap resamples to reduce overfit bias. Gains in PA related to the inclusion of BMI were compared using the Mantel–Haenszel test. HGPCa at biopsy was detected in 562 (31%) and HGPCa at RP pathology was present in 931 (51.3%) men. In either univariable or multivariable models predicting HGPCa at biopsy, BMI or InvBMI failed to respectively reach statistical significance or add to multivariable PA (BMI gain = 0%, p = 1.0; InvBMI gain = −0.2%, p = 0.9). Conversely, in models predicting HGPCa at RP, BMI and InvBMI represented independent predictors but failed to increase PA (BMI gain = 0.7%, p = 0.6; InvBMI gain = 0.5, p = 0.7%). Obesity does not predispose to moreaggressive prostate cancer at biopsy. Similarly, obesity doesnot change the ability to identify those who may harbor HGPCa at RP. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased expression of costimulatory molecules on peripheral blood monocytes in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND Activation of T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Costimulatory molecules play important roles in optimal T-cell activation. METHODS With flow cytometric analysis we have investigated the expression of the costimulatory molecules B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), and CD18 and the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on peripheral blood monocytes and the expression of the activation markers HLA-DR and IL-2R (CD25) on peripheral blood T lymphocytes from 31 CD patients, 17 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and 10 healthy controls. RESULTS In CD patients the percentage of activated T cells (CD3+ HLA-DR+ and CD3+ IL-2R+) was significantly increased compared with those of controls and UC patients (P < 0.05). Most monocytes from all three groups expressed B7-2, CD18, and ICAM-1 molecules (all > 79%), but only a few positive cells expressed B7-1 molecules (< 5%). No significant differences were detected in the percentage positivity of all costimulatory molecules tested among CD, UC, and controls. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of B7-1 in all three groups was very weak and not significantly different. However, in CD patients there was a significantly increased MFI of B7-2, CD18, and ICAM-1 molecules compared with UC and controls (P < 0.05). On the other hand, both the percentage positivity and MFI of HLA-DR molecules on monocytes of UC patients were significantly lower than those of CD patients and controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Expression of the costimulatory molecules B7-2, CD18, and ICAM-1 on peripheral blood monocytes of CD patients is increased. In CD patients activation of peripheral T lymphocytes may correlate with increased expression of these costimulatory molecules on peripheral blood monocytes.
Methane hydrate detection with marine electromagnetic surveys: Case studies off Japan coast

Methane hydrate (MH) is expected to be a new energy resource because a large amount of methane gas may be contained in the MH layer. MH has high resistive feature, so that the marine EM surveys will be a useful tool for detecting subseafloor MH. We introduce two case studies of marine electromagnetic surveys off Japan coast to detect MH below the seafloor. The first case is carried out in the Sea of Japan, 2005. Our marine deep towed EM streamer cable could image the subseafloor resistivity distribution to the depth of 100m below the seafloor, and successfully detected MH zones as high resistivity. The second case, a marine CSEM experiment, with a deep-towed cable and an ocean bottom electromagnetometer (OBEM), is done off the Tokai area, along the Pacific side of Japan, 2006. A thin and deep MH zone (with thickness of about 30m and depth of about 200m below the seafloor) recognized in the borehole is not clearly imaged by our survey. The reason is mainly due to fluctuation of the track and direction of deeptowed source dipole. Further and careful analysis of CSEM data with acoustic navigation data will allow us to image the deep MH zone.
Secret key generation in Rayleigh block fading AWGN channels under jamming attacks

Jamming attacks have been shown to disrupt secret key generation (SKG) in systems that exploit the reciprocity of the wireless medium to generate symmetric keys at two remote locations through public discussion. In this study, the use of frequency hopping/spreading in Rayleigh block fading additive white Gaussian noise (BF-AWGN) channels is investigated as a means to counteract such attacks. The competitive interaction between a pair of legitimate users and a jammer is formulated as a zero-sum game and the corresponding Nash equilibria (NE) are characterized analytically and in closed form. It is found that the jammer's optimal strategy is to spread its power across the entire spectrum. On the contrary, the pair of legitimate users should use frequency spreading only in favorable transmission conditions, and frequency hopping otherwise (e.g., low signal to jamming power ratio). Numerical results show that frequency hopping/spreading in BF-AWGN channels is an effective technique for combating jamming attacks in SKG systems; a modest increase of the system bandwidth can substantially increase the SKG rates.
Testosterone Rapidly Reduces Anxiety in Male House Mice (Mus musculus)

Eight experiments supported the hypotheses that reflexive testosterone release by male mice during sexual encounters reduces male anxiety (operationally defined in terms of behavior on an elevated plus-maze) and that this anxiolysis is mediated by the conversion of testosterone to neurosteroids that interact with GABA(A) receptors. In Experiment 1, a 10-min exposure to opposite-sex conspecifics significantly reduced both male and female anxiety 20 min later (as indexed by increased open-arm time on an elevated plus-maze) compared to control mice not receiving this exposure. In contrast, locomotor activity (as indexed by enclosed-arm entries on the elevated plus-maze) was not significantly affected. The remaining experiments examined only male behavior. In Experiment 2, exposure to female urine alone was anxiolytic while locomotor activity was not significantly affected. Thus, urinary pheromones of female mice likely initiated the events leading to the male anxiolysis. In phase 1 of Experiment 3, sc injections of 500 microg of testosterone significantly reduced anxiety 30 min later while locomotor activity was not significantly affected. Thus, testosterone elevations were associated with reduced male anxiety and the time course consistent with a nongenomic, or very rapid genomic, mechanism of testosterone action. In phase 2 of Experiment 3, the anxiolytic effect of testosterone was dose dependent with a 250 microg sc injection required. Thus, testosterone levels likely must be well above baseline levels (i.e., in the range induced by pulsatile release) in order to induce anxiolysis. In Experiment 4, a high dosage of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone was more anxiolytic than a high dosage of estradiol benzoate, suggesting that testosterone action may require 5alpha-reduction. In Experiments 5 and 6, 3alpha,5alpha-reduced neurosteroid metabolites of testosterone (androsterone and 3alpha-androstandione) were both anxiolytic at a lower dosage (100 microg/sc injection) than testosterone, supporting the notion that testosterone is converted into neurosteroid metabolites for anxiolytic activity. Experiments 7 and 8 found that either picrotoxin or bicucculine, noncompetitive and competitive antagonists of the GABA(A) receptor, respectively, blocked the anxiolytic effects of testosterone. However, conclusions from these 2 experiments must be tempered by the reduction in locomotor activity that was also seen. The possible brain locations of testosterone action as well as the possible adaptive significance of this anxiolytic response are discussed.
Functional Characterization of the Human Factor VII 5′-Flanking Region (*)

Factor VII is a vitamin K-dependent coagulation protein essential for proper hemostasis. The human Factor VII gene spans 13 kilobase pairs and is located on chromosome 13 just 2.8 kilobase pairs 5′ to the Factor X gene. In this report, we show that Factor VII transcripts are restricted to the liver and that steady state levels of mRNA are much lower than those of Factor X. The major transcription start site is mapped at −51 by RNase protection assay and primer extension experiments. The first 185 base pairs 5′ of the translation start site are sufficient to confer maximal promoter activity in HepG2 cells. Protein binding sites are identified at nucleotides −51 to −32, −63 to −58, −108 to −84, and −233 to −215 by DNase I footprint analysis and gel mobility shift assays. A liver-enriched transcription factor, hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4), and a ubiquitous transcription factor, Sp1, are shown to bind within the first 108 base pairs of the promoter region at nucleotide sequences ACTTTG and CCCCTCCCCC, respectively. The importance of these binding sites in promoter activity is demonstrated through independent functional mutagenesis experiments, which show dramatically reduced promoter activity. Transactivation studies with an HNF-4 expression plasmid in HeLa cells also demonstrate the importance of HNF-4 in promoting transcription in nonhepatocyte derived cells. Additionally, the sequence of a naturally occurring allele containing a previously described decanucleotide insert polymorphism at −323 is shown to reduce promoter activity by 33% compared with the more common allelic sequence.
Factors associated with death or intensive care unit admission due to pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection

BACKGROUND: In preparation for pandemic HINI or H1N1 influenza (H1N1) it is necessary to identify factors associated with mortality of patients with HINI and hospital admissions to intensive care unit (ICU) of patients diagnosed in 2009 with HINI. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and epidemiological features associated with 2009 HIN1 mortality and ICU patient admissions to Masih Daneshvari Teaching Hospital, Iran. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with mortality and admissions to ICU with confirmed HINI. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological findings, and epidemiologic data were abstracted from medical records, using a standardized datasheet. RESULTS: From June through December 2009, 20 out of the 46 confirmed hospitalized patients with confirmed H1NI were admitted to the ICU and 7 (15%) died. Among various variables, opium inhalation (P = 0.01), having productive cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, confusion, and loss of consciousness were significantly related to ICU admission (P < 0.05). Pleural effusion (P = 0.006), elevated liver enzymes, as well as CPK and LDH level were significantly relevant to ICU admission (P < 0.05). Delayed antiviral treatment was more common among patients who died and the elderly. DISCUSSION: Patients who were admitted to ICU with confirmed H1N1 included the following risk factors: delayed initiation of antiviral therapy, history of opium inhalation and symptoms including; productive cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, confusion, and loss of consciousness. The mortality rate in the study population was high but compares favorably with other recent published studies.
Modest but Increased Penetration through Damaged Skin: An Overview of the in vivo Human Model

Background/Aim: Quantifying percutaneous penetration of topical drugs as well as those compounds relevant to occupational exposure is important for assessing their delivery, efficacy and toxicology. Methods for assessing penetration are established for intact skin; however, what may be equally relevant is how much penetration occurs through damaged skin. Methods: The Embase database was accessed online in March 2009 in search of human in vivo studies measuring penetration through damaged or diseased skin. Results: Few studies have measured penetration through damaged human skin in vivo. A majority demonstrate a modest enhancement in penetration, with the exception of microdialysis studies that show a significant enhancement. The enhancement generally favored hydrophilic molecules over lipophilic molecules. Conclusions: Damaged or diseased skin may display a modest increase in penetration compared to intact skin, which is dependent on the method of measurement; however, additional studies with consistent methods are needed to fully elucidate how much penetration occurs through the many types and degrees of damaged skin.
Induction motor sensorless vector control for very wide speed range of operation

Vector control or other dynamic control like DTC is an essential feature of every modern AC drive. In this paper a novel robust MRAS-based speed observer based on error between current estimators output and measured current is presented. For being usable in the industry, this has to work properly in wide speed range, from speeds close to zero, up to the speeds deep in the field weakening region. Theoretical analysis of estimators and design of adaptation loop are described. Finally, experimental results are shown.