Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Ranking Mutation Operator Based Differential Evolution for Constrained Optimization

Differential evolution (DE) is a powerful evolutionary algorithm (EA) for numerical optimization. Combining with the constraint-handling techniques, recently, DE has been successfully used for the constrained optimization problems (COPs). In this paper, we propose the adaptive ranking mutation operator (ARMOR) for DE when solving the COPs. The ARMOR is expected to make DE converge faster and achieve feasible solutions faster. In ARMOR, the solutions are adaptively ranked according to the situation of the current population. More specifically, the population is classified into three situations, i.e., infeasible situation, semi-feasible situation, and feasible situation. In the infeasible situation, the solutions are ranked only based on their constraint violations; in the semi-feasible situation, they are ranked according to the transformed fitness; while in the feasible situation, the objective function value is used to assign ranks to different solutions. In addition, the selection probability of each solution is calculated differently in different situations. The ARMOR is simple, and it can be easily combined with most of constrained DE (CDE) variants. As illustrations, we integrate our approach into three representative CDE variants to evaluate its performance. The 24 benchmark functions presented in CEC 2006 and 18 benchmark functions presented in CEC 2010 are chosen as the test suite. Experimental results verify our expectation that the ARMOR is able to accelerate the original CDE variants in the majority of test cases. Additionally, ARMOR-based CDE is able to provide highly competitive results compared with other state-of-the-art EAs.
Rapid Identification of Aspergillus terreus from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid by PCR and Electrospray Ionization with Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT We describe the application of PCR and electrospray-ionization with mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) to culture-negative bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in order to identify septate hyphae noted by Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) staining of the fluid that was obtained from an immunocompromised woman with neutropenia following induction chemotherapy for treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The patient was treated with empirical antifungal therapy, including intrathecal amphotericin B, while results of fungal cultures were pending. Ultimately, Aspergillus terreus, an amphotericin-resistant mold, was cultured from bilateral brain abscesses. PCR/ESI-MS correctly identified the mold.
Esotropias that Totally Resolve Under General Anesthesia Treated Exclusively with Bilateral Fadenoperation

Purpose: Fadenoperation has been proven to be an efficient method to treat convergence excess because it treats medial rectus (MR) overaction. We wanted to evaluate its efficiency in esotropias that totally disappear under anesthesia, regardless of the amount of deviation in waking hours. Methods: Included were 122 successive cases of children of ages 3 to 16 years with esotropia that completely disappears under general anesthesia (GA), representing 26.25% of all patients with esotropia that had surgery between August 2002 and July 2004. They all received a fadenoperation (retroequatorial strapping) of both MR without recession with a 5/0 nylon suture. Results: Patients were evaluated between 27 and 51 months postoperatively. Mean initial deviation was 21 prism dioptres (PD) at distance and 31 PD at near fixation. Of the 122 cases, 102 (83.6%) showed stable postoperative deviation between +8 and –8 PD, 7 showed exotropias (< 20 PD), and 13 showed esotropias (< 20 PD). These results were found without correlation to preoperative angle of deviation, ametropia, age at surgery, or association with vertical surgery. Conclusion: Our results suggest that fadenoperation of MR is an option to treat esotropias that disappear under anesthesia. The retroequatorial strapping we use seems safer than classical fadenoperation. We believe that the position of the eyes under GA should be considered for the surgical approach of esotropias.
Safety and efficacy of T-614 in the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled and multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND A novel anti-rheumatic drug, T-614, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and to improve abnormal immunological findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To assess the safety and efficacy of T-614 versus placebo in patients with active RA we conducted a 24-week clinical study in 280 Chinese patients. METHODS In a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, 280 patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 95) or T-614 at 50 mg (n = 93) or 25 mg (n = 92) daily. Active disease was defined by 4 of the following 5 criteria: >or= 5 tender joints, >or= 3 swollen joints, morning stiffness lasting for >or= 60 minutes, and Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) >or= 28 mm/h, the assessment of pain at the rest by patient as moderate or severe. Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks. The primary efficacy variable at week 24 was the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response rate using the intent-to-treat population. RESULTS The ACR response rate was significantly higher in the T-614 treatment group compared with the placebo group within 8 weeks after the initiation of treatment. After 24 weeks, the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups and the placebo group showed 39.13%, 61.29% and 24.21% in ACR20 and 23.91%, 31.18% and 7.37% in ACR50, respectively. A time-response in ACR response was observed, with clear superiority for the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups compared to placebo (P < 0.0001), and the 50 mg/d dose compared to the 25 mg/d dose (P < 0.05) when using the ACR response analyses after 24 weeks. ESR and c-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly different in the treatment groups after 24 weeks. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was not significantly higher with T-614 than with placebo, but upper abdominal discomfort, leucopenia, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (sALT), skin rash and/or pruritus were more common in the 50 mg and 25 mg dosage groups. CONCLUSION T-614, a new slow-acting drug, is effective in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is well tolerated.
Kinetics and thermodynamics of mandelate racemase catalysis.

Mandelate racemase (EC 5.1.2.2) from Pseudomonas putida catalyzes the interconversion of the two enantiomers of mandelic acid with remarkable proficiency, producing a rate enhancement exceeding 15 orders of magnitude. The rates of the forward and reverse reactions catalyzed by the wild-type enzyme and by a sluggish mutant (N197A) have been studied in the absence and presence of several viscosogenic agents. A partial dependence on relative solvent viscosity was observed for values of kcat and kcat/Km for the wild-type enzyme in sucrose-containing solutions. The value of kcat for the sluggish mutant was unaffected by varying solvent viscosity. However, sucrose did have a slight activating effect on mutant enzyme efficiency. In the presence of the polymeric viscosogens poly(ethylene glycol) and Ficoll, no effect on kcat or kcat/Km for the wild-type enzyme was observed. These results are consistent with both substrate binding and product dissociation being partially rate-determining in both directions. The viscosity variation method was used to estimate the rate constants comprising the steady-state expressions for kcat and kcat/Km. The rate constant for the conversion of bound (R)-mandelate to bound (S)-mandelate (k2) was found to be 889 +/- 40 s(-1) compared with a value of 654 +/- 58 s(-1) for kcat in the same direction. From the temperature dependence of Km (shown to equal K(S)), k2, and the rate constant for the uncatalyzed reaction [Bearne, S. L. , and Wolfenden, R. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 1646-1656], we estimated the enthalpic and entropic changes associated with substrate binding (DeltaH = -8.9 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol, TDeltaS = -4.8 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol), the activation barrier for conversion of bound substrate to bound product (DeltaH# = +15.4 +/- 0.4 kcal/mol, TDeltaS# = +2.0 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol), and transition state stabilization (DeltaH(tx) = -22.9 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol, TDeltaS(tx) = +1.8 +/- 0.8 kcal/mol) during mandelate racemase-catalyzed racemization of (R)-mandelate at 25 degrees C. Although the high proficiency of mandelate racemase is achieved principally by enthalpic reduction, there is also a favorable and significant entropic contribution.
Patients with Chronic Pain After Abdominal Surgery Show Less Preoperative Endogenous Pain Inhibition and More Postoperative Hyperalgesia: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Chronic pain is common and undesirable after surgery. Progression from acute to chronic pain involves altered pain processing. The authors studied relationships between presence of chronic pain versus preoperative descending pain control (diffuse noxious inhibitory controls; DNICs) and postoperative persistence and spread of skin and deep tissue hyperalgesia (change in electric/pressure pain tolerance thresholds; ePTT/pPTT) up to 6 months postoperatively. In 20 patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under standardized anesthesia, we determined ePTT/pPTT (close to [abdomen] and distant from [leg] incision), eDNIC/pDNIC (change in ePTT/pPTT with cold pressor pain task; only preoperatively), and a 100 mm long pain visual analogue scale (VAS) (0 mm = no pain, 100 mm = worst pain imaginable), both at rest and on movement preoperatively, and 1 day and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Patients reporting chronic pain 6 months postoperatively had more abdominal and leg skin hyperalgesia over the postoperative period. More inhibitory preoperative eDNIC was associated with less late postoperative pain, without affecting skin hyperalgesia. More inhibitory pDNIC was linked to less postoperative leg deep tissue hyperalgesia, without affecting pain VAS. This pilot study for the first time links chronic pain after surgery, poorer preoperative inhibitory pain modulation (DNIC), and greater postoperative degree, persistence, and spread of hyperalgesia. If confirmed, these results support the potential clinical utility of perioperative pain processing testing.
Outcome assessment of hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder: A 5-year follow-up with 4 evaluation tools

Background Outcome measurement of shoulder arthroplasty is not standardized. We compared 3 scores and 1 evaluation form. Patients and methods We report on 35 hemiarthroplasties of the shoulder (32 cementless). Mean age of the patients was 62 (29–87) years. After a mean follow-up of 6 years (range 2–18 years) patients were evaluated with the Neer score, the Constant-Murley score, the score of the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Basic Shoulder Evaluation Form. We also performed radiographic evaluation and sonographic evaluation of the rotator cuff. Results Although pain relief and patient satisfaction were promising, the overall results of the respective score showed low values (Neer score 56/100 points, Constant-Murley score 43/100 points, and UCLA score 19/35 points on average). Interpretation We recommend choice of a score with a high impact of pain and patient satisfaction. Furthermore, ability to cope with activities of daily living should be of more importance than strength.
Do native Spanish speakers transfer accentual acoustic properties from Spanish to French L2?

The aim of this research is to examine whether Spanish speakers transfer some accentual acoustic properties from Spanish to French L2. Native Spanish learners of French and native speakers of French were instructed to read French sentences containing a trisyllabic target pseudoword. In some sentences, the pseudoword was in a stressed position, while in others it was in an unstressed position. Acoustic analysis (duration, F0 and amplitude) were performed on the three vowels of the pseudoword, as well as on the first vowel following the pseudoword. Results showed that Spanish speakers have acquired the knowledge that, contrary to Spanish, stress is fixed in French (on the last syllable), but not that stress is realized at the accentual phrase level rather than at the word level as in Spanish.
Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 in the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases in Human Intestinal Myofibroblasts

Background and Aims: The coordinated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) plays a crucial role in tissue remodeling. We investigated the effects of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 on the secretion of MMPs and TIMPs in human intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs). Methods: The secretion of MMP-s and TIMPs was determined by ELISA or Western blotting. The mRNA expression of MMPs and TIMPs was assessed by Northern blotting. The activating protein (AP)-1-DNA binding activity was evaluated by electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays (EMSA). Results: Unstimulated intestinal SEMFs constitutively secreted MMP-2 and TIMP-2. FGF-2 stimulated MMP-1, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 secretion, but did not affect MMP-2 or TIMP-2 secretion. FGF-2 induced AP-1-DNA binding activity, and the c-Jun/AP-1 inhibitor curcumin attenuated the FGF-2-induced MMP-1, -3 and TIMP-1 mRNA expression. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors (U0126 and PD098059) also blocked the MMP-1, -3 and TIMP-1 secretion. Furthermore, FGF-2 dose-dependently induced FGF-2 mRNA expression in these cells. Conclusions: FGF-2 may be one of important regulatory factors for extracellular matrix turnover via a modulation of MMP and TIMP secretion from SEMFs.
Dynamic Changes of the Immunoglobulins in Patients with Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: Efficacy of a Novel Treatment Using Peritoneo‐Venous Shunt

PROBLEM: To evaluate the efficacy of continuous auto‐transfusion system of ascites (CATSA) for the treatment of patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) at the risk of febrile morbidity, the dynamic changes of immunoglobulins in the sera and the peritoneal fluid from patients with severe OHSS treated by CATSA were estimated.
Women's Perceptions and Uses of Information and Communication Technologies in Nigeria and China: A Comparative Analysis

Nigeria and China were probably experiencing roughly similar economic fortunes only about two decades ago. Then, both had large populations and very low per capita incomes. But their socio-economic fortunes and growth rates have diverged dramatically since, with China now being a superpower and the second largest economy in the world, while Nigeria is still tottering along as one of the poorest countries in the world in terms of various global human development indices and rankings. The rapid economic transformations that China has experienced should normally be expected to be accompanied by equally dramatic socio-cultural changes, including the emancipation and greater participation of women in national economic activities. This study sought to investigate the extent to which women in China participate now in the ICT sector of their country compared to women in Nigeria. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to cross sections of 123 and 151 women surveyed in purposively selected cities in Nigeria and China respectively. Women in both countries recognize the importance of ICT, but those in Nigeria were constrained from full utilization of ICT benefits due to electricity supply problems, financial constraints and inadequate training for ICT. The study found that improved levels of education of women promote the adoption and use of ICT by women in both countries, and that owning personal computers and the availability of time for women helped to increase participation of women in ICT. Some recommendations were made based on the findings.
Randomized, dose‐finding study of darbepoetin alfa in anaemic patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies

Summary. Darbepoetin alfa is a novel erythropoiesis‐stimulating protein with a prolonged serum half‐life. This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, dose‐finding study investigated the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa in anaemic patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies who were receiving chemotherapy. Patients were randomized in a 1:2:2:1 ratio to receive darbepoetin alfa 1·0 μg/kg (n = 11), 2·25 μg/kg (n = 22), 4·5 μg/kg (n = 22) or placebo (n = 11), administered subcutaneously once weekly for 12 weeks. No dose increases were allowed during the study. A higher proportion of patients achieved a haemoglobin response (defined as a ≥ 2·0 g/dl increase from baseline) in the darbepoetin alfa 1·0 μg/kg (45%), 2·25 μg/kg (55%) and 4·5 μg/kg (62%) groups than in the placebo group (10%; P < 0·01). The mean change in haemoglobin from baseline to week 13 was 1·56 g/dl in the 1·0 μg/kg group, 1·64 g/dl in the 2·25 μg/kg group and 2·46 g/dl in the 4·5 μg/kg group, compared with a mean change of 1·00 g/dl in the placebo group. The overall safety profile of darbepoetin alfa in this study was similar to that of placebo. These results show that darbepoetin alfa effectively and safely increased haemoglobin concentrations in patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies. Confirmative studies at doses of 2·25 and/or 4·5 μg/kg/week in this population are warranted.
Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm with expansile invasive carcinoma of the pancreas diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine needle aspiration: A case report

Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm (ITPN) of the pancreas, a novel entity included in the World Health Organization 2010 classification, accounts for <1% of all pancreatic exocrine neoplasms and the number of reported cases is limited in the English literature. Herein we describe the cytologic features of ITPN with invasive carcinoma showing expansile growth on endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) cytology.
Progesterone/RANKL Is a Major Regulatory Axis in the Human Breast

Ex vivo model identifies the progesterone/RANKL axis as an important proliferative stimulus in the human breast. 3D Without the Glasses Biomedical research has the lofty goal of adding to our understanding of biology in the hope that we can improve human health. However, there are difficulties—both ethical and logistic—of performing experiments in humans. One way researchers have overcome these hurdles is through the use of cell culture or animal models. Yet, these models sometimes don’t accurately represent human biology, especially in complex tissues. Now, Tanos et al. develop an ex vivo three-dimensional model using fresh breast tissue microstructures to examine the role of the progesterone-mediator RANKL in human breast. They found that although progesterone failed to induce RANKL in cell lines and dissociated breast tissue, in their microstructures, RANKL expression responded to progesterone and was required for progesterone-induced breast tissue proliferation. They validated these findings in samples from human breast epithelium. These studies could have clinical relevance: The RANKL inhibitor denosumab is currently used in the clinic to treat bone disease and could be repurposed to block breast epithelial proliferation in breast cancer. Estrogens and progesterones are major drivers of breast development but also promote carcinogenesis in this organ. Yet, their respective roles and the mechanisms underlying their action in the human breast are unclear. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) has been identified as a pivotal paracrine mediator of progesterone function in mouse mammary gland development and mammary carcinogenesis. Whether the factor has the same role in humans is of clinical interest because an inhibitor for RANKL, denosumab, is already used for the treatment of bone disease and might benefit breast cancer patients. We show that progesterone receptor (PR) signaling failed to induce RANKL in PR+ breast cancer cell lines and in dissociated, cultured breast epithelial cells. In clinical specimens from healthy donors and intact breast tissue microstructures, hormone response was maintained and RANKL expression was under progesterone control, which increased RNA stability. RANKL was sufficient to trigger cell proliferation and was required for progesterone-induced proliferation. The findings were validated in vivo where RANKL protein expression in the breast epithelium correlated with serum progesterone levels and the protein was expressed in a subset of luminal cells that express PR. Thus, important hormonal control mechanisms are conserved across species, making RANKL a potential target in breast cancer treatment and prevention.
Effect of pyrogen and antipyretics on prostaglandin activity in cisternal c.s.f. of unanaesthetized cats

1. Samples of cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) were collected from unanaesthetized cats while rectal temperature was continuously recorded. From the same cat, samples were collected during normal body temperature, during pyrogen fever and when the fever was brought down by an I.P. injection of an antipyretic. Fever was produced by injection of the bacterial pyrogen of Shigella dysenteriae either into the third ventricle, cisterna magna or I.V. The samples of c.s. f. were assayed for PGE1‐like activity on the rat stomach fundus strip preparation rendered insensitive to 5‐HT.