Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative and Qualitative Comparison of 4D-DSA with 3D-DSA Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations in Cerebral Aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 4D-DSA allows time-resolved 3D imaging of the cerebral vasculature. The aim of our study was to evaluate this method in comparison with the current criterion standard 3D-DSA by qualitative and quantitative means using computational fluid dynamics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3D- and 4D-DSA datasets were acquired in patients with cerebral aneurysms. Computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed for all datasets. Using computational fluid dynamics, we compared 4D-DSA with 3D-DSA in terms of both aneurysmal geometry (quantitative: maximum diameter, ostium size [OZ1/2], volume) and hemodynamic parameters (qualitative: flow stability, flow complexity, inflow concentration; quantitative: average/maximum wall shear stress, impingement zone, low-stress zone, intra-aneurysmal pressure, and flow velocity). Qualitative parameters were descriptively analyzed. Correlation coefficients (r, P value) were calculated for quantitative parameters. RESULTS: 3D- and 4D-DSA datasets of 10 cerebral aneurysms in 10 patients were postprocessed. Evaluation of aneurysmal geometry with 4D-DSA (rmaximum diameter = 0.98, Pmaximum diameter <.001; rOZ1/OZ2 = 0.98/0.86, POZ1/OZ2 < .001/.002; rvolume = 0.98, Pvolume <.001) correlated highly with 3D-DSA. Evaluation of qualitative hemodynamic parameters (flow stability, flow complexity, inflow concentration) did show complete accordance, and evaluation of quantitative hemodynamic parameters (raverage/maximum wall shear stress diastole = 0.92/0.88, Paverage/maximum wall shear stress diastole < .001/.001; raverage/maximum wall shear stress systole = 0.94/0.93, Paverage/maximum wall shear stress systole < .001/.001; rimpingement zone = 0.96, Pimpingement zone < .001; rlow-stress zone = 1.00, Plow-stress zone = .01; rpressure diastole = 0.84, Ppressure diastole = .002; rpressure systole = 0.9, Ppressure systole < .001; rflow velocity diastole = 0.95, Pflow velocity diastole < .001; rflow velocity systole = 0.93, Pflow velocity systole < .001) did show nearly complete accordance between 4D- and 3D-DSA. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a different injection protocol, 4D-DSA is a reliable basis for computational fluid dynamics analysis of the intracranial vasculature and provides equivalent visualization of aneurysm geometry compared with 3D-DSA.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia gene contribution in Tunisia: Identification of a major Mediterranean allele

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disease of motile cilia. Even though PCD is widely studied, North‐African patients have been rarely explored. In this study, we aim at confirming the clinical diagnosis and explore the genetic spectrum of PCD in a cohort of Tunisian patients. Forty clinically diagnosed patients with PCD belonging to 34 families were recruited from Tunisian pediatric departments. In each proband, targeted capture PCD panel sequencing of the 40 PCD genes was performed.
Forest streams are important sources for nitrous oxide emissions

Streams and river networks are increasingly recognized as significant sources for the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). N2O is a transformation product of nitrogenous compounds in soil, sediment and water. Agricultural areas are considered a particular hotspot for emissions because of the large input of nitrogen (N) fertilizers applied on arable land. However, there is little information on N2O emissions from forest streams although they constitute a major part of the total stream network globally. Here, we compiled N2O concentration data from low‐order streams (~1,000 observations from 172 stream sites) covering a large geographical gradient in Sweden from the temperate to the boreal zone and representing catchments with various degrees of agriculture and forest coverage. Our results showed that agricultural and forest streams had comparable N2O concentrations of 1.6 ± 2.1 and 1.3 ± 1.8 µg N/L, respectively (mean ± SD) despite higher total N (TN) concentrations in agricultural streams (1,520 ± 1,640 vs. 780 ± 600 µg N/L). Although clear patterns linking N2O concentrations and environmental variables were difficult to discern, the percent saturation of N2O in the streams was positively correlated with stream concentration of TN and negatively correlated with pH. We speculate that the apparent contradiction between lower TN concentration but similar N2O concentrations in forest streams than in agricultural streams is due to the low pH (<6) in forest soils and streams which affects denitrification and yields higher N2O emissions. An estimate of the N2O emission from low‐order streams at the national scale revealed that ~1.8 × 109 g N2O‐N are emitted annually in Sweden, with forest streams contributing about 80% of the total stream emission. Hence, our results provide evidence that forest streams can act as substantial N2O sources in the landscape with 800 × 109 g CO2‐eq emitted annually in Sweden, equivalent to 25% of the total N2O emissions from the Swedish agricultural sector.
Evidence that the nadA motif is a bacterial riboswitch for the ubiquitous enzyme cofactor NAD+

The nadA motif is a riboswitch candidate present in various Acidobacteria species that was previously identified by bioinformatic analysis of bacterial DNA data sets. More than 100 unique representatives have been identified exclusively upstream of nadA genes, which code for an enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of the ubiquitous coenzyme NAD+. The architecture of nadA motif RNAs suggests they use structurally similar tandem ligand-binding aptamer domains to control translation initiation. Biochemical analyses reveal that the first domain selectively binds ligands carrying an adenosine 5′-diphosphate (5′ ADP) moiety, including NAD+ and its reduced form, NADH. Genetic analyses indicate that a tandem nadA motif RNA suppresses gene expression when NAD+ is abundant, and that both aptamer domains are required for maximal gene regulation. However, we have not observed selective binding of the nicotinamide moiety of NAD+ or binding by the second putative aptamer in vitro, despite sequence and structural similarities between the tandem domains.
Adsorption kinetics in open nanopores as a source of low frequency noise.

Ionic current measurements through solid state nanopores consistently show a power spectral density that scales as 1/f^α at low frequency f , with an exponent α ∼ 0.5 - 1.5, but strikingly, the physical origin of this behavior remains elusive. Here we perform simulations of particles reversibly adsorbing at the surface of a nanopore, and show that the fluctuations in the number of adsorbed particles exhibit low-frequency pink noise. We furthermore propose theoretical modeling for the time-dependent adsorption of particles on the nanopore surface for various geometries, which predicts a frequency spectrum in very good agreement with the simulation results. Altogether, our results highlight that the low-frequency noise takes its origin in the reversible adsorption of ions at the pore surface combined with the long-lasting excursions of the ions in the reservoirs. The scaling regime of the power spectrum extends down to a cut-off frequency which is far smaller than simple diffusion estimates. Using realistic values for the pore dimensions and the adsorption-desorption kinetics, this predicts the observation of pink-noise for frequencies down to the hertz for a typical solid-state nanopore, in good agreement with experiments.
Insulin potentiates the response to mechanical stimuli in small dorsal root ganglion neurons and thin fibre muscle afferents in vitro

Insulin is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system centrally. A mechanical stimulus to tissues activates the sympathetic nervous system via thin fibre afferents. Evidence suggests that insulin modulates putative mechanosensitive channels in the dorsal root ganglion neurons of these afferents. In the present study, we report the novel finding that insulin augments the mechanical responsiveness of thin fibre afferents not only at dorsal root ganglion, but also at muscle tissue levels. Our data suggest that sympathoexcitation is mediated via the insulin‐induced mechanical sensitization peripherally. The present study proposes a novel physiological role of insulin in the regulation of mechanical sensitivity in somatosensory thin fibre afferents.
Origin and Evolution of Deleterious Mutations in Horses

Domestication has changed the natural evolutionary trajectory of horses by favoring the reproduction of a limited number of animals showing traits of interest. Reduced breeding stocks hampered the elimination of deleterious variants by means of negative selection, ultimately inflating mutational loads. However, ancient genomics revealed that mutational loads remained steady during most of the domestication history until a sudden burst took place some 250 years ago. To identify the factors underlying this trajectory, we gather an extensive dataset consisting of 175 modern and 153 ancient genomes previously published, and carry out the most comprehensive characterization of deleterious mutations in horses. We confirm that deleterious variants segregated at low frequencies during the last 3500 years, and only spread and incremented their occurrence in the homozygous state during modern times, owing to inbreeding. This independently happened in multiple breeds, following both the development of closed studs and purebred lines, and the deprecation of horsepower in the 20th century, which brought many draft breeds close to extinction. Our work illustrates the paradoxical effect of some conservation and improvement programs, which reduced the overall genomic fitness and viability.
A negative feedback loop of H19/miR‐675/VDR mediates therapeutic effect of cucurmin in the treatment of glioma

Curcumin (CUR) shows a remarkable antitumor activity against a wide range of cancers such as glioma, but its underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential role of H19/miR‐675/vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the effect of CUR against glioma. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western‐blot analysis were used to study the effect of CUR or 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) on the expression of H19, miR‐675, and VDR. In addition, the effect of H19 on VDR expression was also studied. Furthermore, the expression of H19, miR‐675, and VDR between CUR‐loaded nanoparticles (NPs) and NP groups was compared, and the interaction among H19, miR‐675, and VDR was analyzed by in‐silicon and luciferase assays. In a dose‐dependent manner, CUR and 1,25(OH)2D3 both downregulated the expression of H19 and miR‐675 but increased the expression of VDR. In addition, H19 evidently reduced the mRNA and protein levels of VDR. Furthermore, VDR was confirmed as a target gene of miR‐675, which significantly reduced the expression of VDR. Finally, the administration of CUR evidently decreased tumor volume. CUR‐loaded NP group exhibited lower levels of H19 and miR‐675, while the NP group showed higher levels of VDR mRNA and protein. In summary, it is the first time that the involvement of a negative feedback loop of H19/miR‐675/VDR has been demonstrated in the development of glioma. Therefore, H19 might serve as a new biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of glioma.
Early Diagnosis of Keratoconus in Chinese Myopic Eyes by Combining Corvis ST with Pentacam

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate and compare the sensitivity and specificity of the Belin/Ambrósio Deviation (BADD), Corneal Biomechanical Index (CBI) and Tomographic and Biomechanical Index (TBI) for the diagnosis of keratoconus in Chinese myopic eyes prior to undergoing corneal refractive surgery. Methods: A total of 125 patients (185 eyes) planned to undergo corneal refractive surgery were selected from the Refractive Center of Beijing Tongren Hospital between December 2017 and December 2018. They were divided into four groups: the normal group, bilateral keratoconus (BK) group, unilateral keratoconus (UK) group, and the forme fruste keratoconus (FFK) group. After determining the BADD, CBI, and TBI for each eye using the Corvis ST combined with Pentacam, the sensitivity and specificity of these three indices in diagnosing keratoconus were analyzed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The TBI exhibited the highest diagnostic efficiency in normal vs. UK (area under the ROC curve [AUROC]: 0.992), normal vs. UK+BK (AUROC: 0.988), normal vs. UK+BK* (*stand randomly selecting one eye of each patient in BK group) (AUROC: 0.982), normal vs. UK+BK+FFK (AUROC: 0.965), and normal vs. UK+BK*+FFK (AUROC: 0.953). The CBI demonstrated the highest diagnostic efficiency in normal vs. FFK (AUROC: 0.897). Finally, the BADD showed the highest diagnostic efficiency in normal vs. BK (AUROC: 0.998) and normal vs. BK* (AUROC: 0.996). Conclusion: The BADD, CBI, and TBI performed well in diagnosing keratoconus in Chinese myopic eyes. The CBI showed the highest diagnostic efficiency compared with normal for FFK. In addition, the TBI offered the greatest accuracy in detecting keratoconus and FFK eyes vs. the other parameters.
Impact of bariatric surgery on serum uric acid levels and the incidence of gout—A meta‐analysis

Gout is characterized by high serum uric acid (SUA) levels and arthritis. It is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Bariatric surgery has been associated with decreased SUA levels and overall gout incidence. This meta‐analysis aims to summarize the current evidence on bariatric surgery, gout and SUA levels. A literature review was performed on papers published from 2000 up till December 2018. Original studies investigating the impact of bariatric surgery on SUA levels or gout incidence were evaluated. Twenty studies with a total of 5,233 patients were analysed. Majority (n=14) had a follow‐up duration of at least 12 months. The mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 45.2kg m−2. The mean preoperative SUA level was 6.5mg dL−1. Subgroup analysis demonstrated a mean decrease in SUA levels (−0.73mg dL−1) from the third postoperative month onwards, which was sustained until the third postoperative year (−1.91mg dL−1). There was a rise in SUA levels in the first post‐operative month. Meta‐regression analyses demonstrated a proportionate linear relationship between the change in BMI and SUA levels. Post‐bariatric surgery weight loss is associated with reduced SUA levels and decreased incidence of gout attacks. However, this is only evident from the third post‐operative month onwards.
A Toolkit for Analysing Nonlinear Dynamic Stochastic Models Easily

This code supports the text in Harald Uhlig, A Toolkit for Analysing Nonlinear Dynamic Stochastic Models Easily, Ramon Marimon and Andrew Scott (eds), Computational Methods for the Study of Dynamic Economies, Chapter 3, Oxford University Press. This chapter provides a toolkit for solving such nonlinear dynamic discrete-time stochastic models easily, building on log-linearizing the necessary equations characterizing the equilibrium and solving for the recursive equilibrium law of motion with the method of undetermined coefficients. This chapter comes with an extensive and well documented library of Matlab programs, which can be downloaded in a self-extracting zip-file. Read the readme.m file
Eosinophilic bronchitis, eosinophilic granuloma, and eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy in 75 dogs (2006‐2016)

Abstract Background Eosinophilic lung disease is a poorly understood inflammatory airway disease that results in substantial morbidity. Objective To describe clinical findings in dogs with eosinophilic lung disease defined on the basis of radiographic, bronchoscopic, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) analysis. Categories included eosinophilic bronchitis (EB), eosinophilic granuloma (EG), and eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP). Animals Seventy‐five client owned dogs. Methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for dogs with idiopathic BAL fluid eosinophilia. Information abstracted included duration and nature of clinical signs, bronchoscopic findings, and laboratory data. Thoracic radiographs were evaluated for the pattern of infiltrate, bronchiectasis, and lymphadenomegaly. Results Thoracic radiographs were normal or demonstrated a bronchial pattern in 31 dogs assigned a diagnosis of EB. Nine dogs had intraluminal mass lesions and were bronchoscopically diagnosed with EG. The remaining 35 dogs were categorized as having EBP based on radiographic changes, yellow green mucus in the airways, mucosal changes, and airway collapse. Age and duration of cough did not differ among groups. Dogs with EB were less likely to have bronchiectasis or peripheral eosinophilia, had lower total nucleated cell count in BAL fluid, and lower percentage of eosinophils in BAL fluid compared to dogs in the other 2 groups. In contrast to previous reports, prolonged survival (>55 months) was documented in dogs with EG. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with eosinophilic lung disease can be categorized based on imaging, bronchoscopic and BAL fluid cytologic findings. Further studies are needed to establish response to treatment in these groups.
Gait Speed Decline is Associated with Hemoglobin A1C, Neurocognitive Impairment, and Black Race in Persons with HIV.

BACKGROUND Gait speed declines at a faster rate in people with HIV (PWH) than in the general population but the risk factors associated with this decline are not well understood. METHODS In the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) A5322 (HAILO), an observational cohort study of PWH ≥ 40 years of age, those who developed slow gait during the first 3 years of follow-up were compared to persons who maintained normal speed. Associations with demographic and clinical covariates were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Of 929 participants, 81% were male, 31% Black, and 20% Hispanic. Median age was 51 years (IQR 46-56). At study entry, 92% had plasma HIV RNA <50 copies/mL with median CD4 count 631 cells/mm3 (IQR 458-840). At study entry, 7% of participants had slow gait, 16% had neurocognitive impairment (NCI), 12% had diabetes. Over 3 years, 87% maintained normal gait speed, 3% maintained a slow gait, 6% developed a slow gait, and 4% improved from slow to normal gait speed. In multivariable models, HbA1C percentage, per one unit increase (OR 1.36; 95% CI=1.03, 1.81; p=0.033), NCI (OR 3.47; 95% CI=1.57, 7.69 p=0.002), and black vs white race (OR 2.45; 95% CI=1.08, 5.59; p=0.032) at entry were significantly associated with development of slow gait compared to those maintaining normal gait speed. SUMMARY The association between baseline hemoglobin A1C and development of slow gait speed highlights an intervenable target to prevent progression of physical function limitations.
High-efficiency, yellow-light Dy3+-doped fiber laser with wavelength tuning from 568.7 to 581.9  nm.

We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of a wavelength-tunable and highly efficient Dy3+-doped fiber laser operating in the yellow spectral region. A 2-m-long Dy3+:ZBLAN fiber pumped by a 447-nm GaN laser diode provides a strong down-conversion gain around 575 nm. A fiber end-facet mirror and a visible reflective grating in the Littrow configuration construct the resonant cavity and introduce the wavelength tunability. A stable yellow laser with a <0.05-nm narrow linewidth is achieved and continuously tuned from 568.7 nm to 581.9 nm, covering more than half of the yellow spectral range. The slope efficiency is as high as 34.9%, and the maximum output power is 142 mW at 576.44 nm, which is 13 times higher than previously reported. It is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest power and conversion efficiency of a yellow-light Dy3+-doped fiber laser with wavelength tunability.
Antibacterial Evaluation, In Silico Characters and Molecular Docking of Schiff Bases Derived from 5-aminopyrazoles

A series of Schiff bases 14–25 were designed and synthesized for evaluation of their antibacterial properties against multi-drug resistant bacteria (MDRB). The antibacterial activities of Schiff bases 14–25 showed that most of the synthesized compounds displayed a significant antibacterial activity. Assessment of in silico ADMET properties (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) of Schiff bases illustrates that all derivatives showed agreement to the Lipinski’s rule of five. Further enzymatic assay aided by molecular docking study demonstrated that compound 18 is a potent inhibitor of staphylococcus aureus DNA gyrase and dihydrofolate reductase kinases. This study could be valuable in the discovery of new potent antimicrobial agents.
LncRNA CCAT1 functions as apoptosis inhibitor in podocytes via autophagy inhibition

Podocyte apoptosis importantly contributes to various kidney diseases. Long noncoding RNAs Colon cancer‐associated transcript‐1 (CCAT‐1) has been demonstrated for a critical role in cell proliferation. In the present study, the relationship between CCAT1 and popdocyte impairment, and the underlying mechanism was investigated. Podocytes were isolated from mice and then treated with tumor necrosis factor‐α to simulate podocyte injury. After developed CCAT1 overexpression or knockdown, cell viabilities were determined with the CCK‐8 assay, apoptosis was examined with Flow cytometry, the autophagy was observed by Western blot. Furthermore, phosphorylated PI3K and Akt expressions were examined. We found that after CCAT1 overexpression, the cell viability was significantly increased, apoptosis was significantly decreased, and autophagy was significantly inhibited, which was indicated by induced P62, LC3B‐I and decreased LC3B‐II. In addition, CCAT1 overexpression induced the levels of phosphorylated PI3K and Akt. With Rap treatment, these effects by CCAT1 were reversed. Furthermore, the results contrary to the effects by CCAT1 overexpression were presented after CCAT1 knockdown, and this was inhibited by 3‐MA. Taken together, our results suggested that CCAT1 induction critically participated in apoptosis inhibition in podocytes through autophagy inhibition via increasing PI3K/Akt signaling. This might act as a promising therapeutic intervention for renal diseases associated with podocyte apoptosis.