Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Endogenous Glucose Production During Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Glucose Clamps: Comparison of Unlabeled and Labeled Exogenous Glucose Infusates

Tracer methodology has been applied extensively to the estimation of endogenous glucose production (Ra) during euglycemic glucose clamps. The accuracy of this approach has been questioned due to the observation of significantly negative estimates for Ra when insulin levels are high. We performed hyperinsulinemic (300 μU/ml)-euglycemic glucose clamps for 180 min in normal dogs and compared the standard approach, an unlabeled exogenous glucose infusate (cold GINF protocol, n = 12), to a new approach in which a tracer (D-[3-3H]glucose) was added to the exogenous glucose used for clamping (hot GINF protocol, n = 10). Plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon concentrations, and glucose infusion rates were similar for the two protocols. Plasma glucose specific activity was 20 ± 1% of basal (at 120–180 min) in the cold GINF studies, and 44 ± 3 to 187 ± 5% of basal in the hot GINF studies. With the one-compartment, fixed pool volume model of Steele, Ra, for the cold GINF studies was –2.4 ± 0.7 mg · min−1 · kg−1 at 25 min and remained significantly negative until 110 min (P < .05). For the hot GINF studies, Ra was never significantly less than zero (P > .05) and was greater than in the cold GINF studies at 20–90 min (P < .05). There was substantially less between-(78%) and within- (40%) experiment variation for the hot GINF studies compared with the cold GINF studies. An alternate approach (regression method) to the application of the one-compartment model, which allows for a variable and estimable effective distribution volume, yielded Ra estimates that were suppressed 60–100% from basal. In conclusion, the one-compartment, fixed pool volume model of glucose kinetics is inadequate for the estimation of Ra during euglycemic glucose clamps. Two new strategies for estimating Ra from the one-compartment model, the hot GINF protocol and the regression method calculation, yielded more accurate and physiologically plausible estimates of Ra than currently used methodology.
Dosimetric impact of tantalum markers used in the treatment of uveal melanoma with proton beam therapy

Metallic fiducial markers are frequently implanted in patients prior to external-beam radiation therapy to facilitate tumor localization. There is little information in the literature, however, about the perturbations in proton absorbed-dose distribution these objects cause. The aim of this study was to assess the dosimetric impact of perturbations caused by 2.5 mm diameter by 0.2 mm thick tantalum fiducial markers when used in proton therapy for treating uveal melanoma. Absorbed dose perturbations were measured using radiochromic film and confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations of the experiment. Additional Monte Carlo simulations were performed to study the effects of range modulation and fiducial placement location on the magnitude of the dose shadow for a representative uveal melanoma treatment. The simulations revealed that the fiducials caused perturbations in the absorbed-dose distribution, including absorbed-dose shadows of 22% to 82% in a typical proton beam for treating uveal melanoma, depending on the marker depth and orientation. The clinical implication of this study is that implanted fiducials may, in certain circumstances, cause dose shadows that could lower the tumor dose and theoretically compromise local tumor control. To avoid this situation, fiducials should be positioned laterally or distally with respect to the target volume.
Observations of total RONO 2 over the boreal forest: NO x sinks and HNO 3 sources

Abstract. In contrast with the textbook view of remote chemistry where HNO3 formation is the primary sink of nitrogen oxides, recent theoretical analyses show that formation of RONO2 (ΣANs) from isoprene and other terpene precursors is the primary net chemical loss of nitrogen oxides over the remote continents where the concentration of nitrogen oxides is low. This then increases the prominence of questions concerning the chemical lifetime and ultimate fate of ΣANs. We present observations of nitrogen oxides and organic molecules collected over the Canadian boreal forest during the summer which show that ΣANs account for ~20% of total oxidized nitrogen and that their instantaneous production rate is larger than that of HNO3. This confirms the primary role of reactions producing ΣANs as a control over the lifetime of NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) in remote, continental environments. However, HNO3 is generally present in larger concentrations than ΣANs indicating that the atmospheric lifetime of ΣANs is shorter than the HNO3 lifetime. We investigate a range of proposed loss mechanisms that would explain the inferred lifetime of ΣANs finding that in combination with deposition, two processes are consistent with the observations: (1) rapid ozonolysis of isoprene nitrates where at least ~40% of the ozonolysis products release NOx from the carbon backbone and/or (2) hydrolysis of particulate organic nitrates with HNO3 as a product. Implications of these ideas for our understanding of NOx and NOy budget in remote and rural locations are discussed.
Focal Extravasated Mucin in Breast Core Needle Biopsies: Is Surgical Excision Always Necessary?

Focal extravasated mucin (EM) with benign or atypical epithelium is a rare finding at breast core needle biopsy (CNB) and usually prompts surgical excision to rule out mucin‐producing carcinoma. In the largest detailed series to date, we assessed surgical outcomes in lesions yielding EM with atypical or nonatypical epithelium at CNB. With IRB approval, we retrospectively reviewed 28 consecutive atypical and nonatypical CNBs with EM that underwent surgical excision at our center over a 22‐year period. CNB imaging and pathologic findings were concordant if pathology sufficiently explained the radiologic features of the lesions. Pathologic findings in CNB and excision specimens were correlated. Statistical analysis was performed. CNBs sampled mammographic calcifications in 25/28 (89%) women and a mass in 3/28 (11%). All cases had concordant pathologic and imaging findings. At CNB, the epithelium associated with EM was atypical in 18/28 (64%) lesions and nonatypical in 10 (36%). Cancer (one mucinous carcinoma; three ductal carcinoma in situ) was present in 4/28 excision specimens (14%; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 4%–33%). All carcinomas were in lesions with epithelial atypia at CNB (4/18; 22%; 95% CI, 6%–48%) versus none (0/10; 0%; 95% CI, 0%–31%) in nonatypical lesions at CNB; this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3). Surgery is warranted for lesions yielding EM with atypia at CNB due to the high (22%) prevalence of cancer. Our data suggest that surgical excision of lesions yielding EM without epithelial atypia at CNB may not be necessary provided that imaging and pathologic findings are concordant.
Direct computation of parabolic waveguide modes via a bivariate root-finding algorithm

The cylindrical parabolic waveguide is one of the waveguides whose modal spectra can be characterized quasi-analytically. The associated non-linear system of equations has already been accurately solved in the past, combining homotopy with shooting methods. However, a novel algorithm for bivariate problems has been found to be a good alternative for the root-finding process, allowing to solve all roots at once in a specified subdomain, without any starting points and covering a wide range of the involved variables. Accurate root values are reached, proving the good performance of the algorithm.
Role of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in the Diagnosis and Early Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury in a Case Series of Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Case Series

Patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) frequently develop worsening in renal function until Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The use of kidney injury biomarkers could be useful in the early diagnosis of AKI. In the present study, the role of the neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), compared to the standard creatinine, in ADHF patients, was analyzed to evaluate if an early treatment could affect the outcome. A case series of 24 ADHF patients was enrolled and patients randomly divided in two groups (Group A and Group B). In Group A, NGAL, creatinine, and eGFR were measured, while in Group B, creatinine and eGFR alone were measured. NGAL was measured by turbidimetric immunoassay and creatinine using an enzymatic spectrophotometric method. In presence of AKI, creatinine increase and eGFR decrease were significantly lower in Group A than in Group B, whereas in absence of AKI the difference between the two groups was not significant. Hospitalization stay was significantly lower in Group A (receiving early treatment based on NGAL) than in Group B. In ADHF patients, plasma NGAL in combination with creatinine was superior to the standard creatinine in the diagnosis and early treatment of AKI with a better outcome and a decreased hospital stay.
Calretinin expression as a reliable prognostic marker in different molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma

Background: Calretinin (CR), a known mesothelial marker, is expressed in both epithelial and mesenchymal malignancies including breast cancer. Aims: We aimed to measure the frequency of CR expression in correlation with other clinicopathological parameters of different molecular subtypes of invasive breast carcinoma and to study its prognostic implications in this common cancer.Study Design: Tissue microarrays were constructed from 225 tissue samples of breast carcinoma cases. Subjects and Methods: Immunostaining for CR in addition to estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor, CK5/6, and Ki-67 for molecular subtyping. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were done using SPSS 18.0 software (IBM Inc.). Survival data were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier test, Log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Cases of invasive breast carcinomas with different grades were classified into 84 luminal A, 45 luminal B, 27 HER2 positive, 40 basal-like, and 29 unclassified. High CR expression was associated with tumors of high grade (P < 0.0001), high locoregional recurrence (P = 0.005), hormonal receptors negative, and high Ki-67 indices. They frequently display a basal-like phenotype (70%, P < 0.0001), HER2 (59.3%), and luminal B (33.3%) tumors compared to luminal A (9.5%) and unclassified subtypes (17.2%). Moreover, it is associated with poor overall patient survival (P = 0.034), but it does not affect disease-free survival. Conclusions: Calretinin could be a reliable predictor marker of adverse prognosis in breast cancer.
Pulmonary Abnormalities in Ankylosing Spondilitis: Inspiratory and Expiratory High-Resolution CT Findings in 17 Patients

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pulmonary manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis on inspiratory and expiratory high resolution CT. Material and Methods: The study included 17 patients ranging from 40 to 62 years in age. Fifteen patients were male, and 8 were smokers. All patients underwent chest radiography and high-resolution CT. High-resolution CT was obtained using 1 or 2 mm collimation scans at 10-mm intervals at the end of maximal inspiration and at 3 cm intervals at the end of maximal expiration. Results: Pulmonary abnormalities were evident on chest radiography in 2 patients and on CT in 15 patients. The abnormalities on CT included evidence of airway disease in 14 (82%), interstitial abnormalities in 11 (65%), and emphysema in 6 (35%) patients. Airway abnormalities included bronchial wall thickening in 7 (41%), mosaic perfusion in 3 (18%), centrilobular nodules in 3, bronchiolectasis in 2, and air trapping on expiratory CT in 7 (41%) patients. Interstitial abnormalities included parenchymal bands in 7 (41%), intralobular linear opacities (n = 2), and 1 patient each with irregular thickening of interlobular septa, subpleural lines, and honeycombing. Conclusion: The majority of patients with ankylosing spondylitis have airway and interstitial abnormalities evident on high-resolution CT. These abnormalities are usually mild and therefore seldom evident on the chest radiograph.
Dissociating Spatial Attention and Awareness in Emotion-Induced Blindness

Emotional stimuli attract spatial attention, sometimes improving perception at their location. But they also can disrupt awareness of targets at their location, a phenomenon known as emotion-induced blindness. Such discrepant findings might reflect the impact of emotional stimuli on different perception mechanisms. We dissociated spatial attention and awareness by investigating the spatial distribution of emotion-induced blindness. Participants searched for a target within two simultaneous rapid streams of pictures, one of which could also contain a preceding emotional distractor. When targets were followed by additional stream items, emotion-induced blindness occurred only at the location of the distractor. However, when no items appeared after the target, so that it could persist in iconic memory and its temporal position was easily discernible, emotional disruption of target perception was more robust away from the distractor’s location than at the distractor’s location. The results suggest that although emotional distractors attract spatial attention, they inhibit identification of competing items potentially linked to the same spatiotemporal position.
Why Are Conservatives Happier Than Liberals?

In this research, we drew on system-justification theory and the notion that conservative ideology serves a palliative function to explain why conservatives are happier than liberals. Specifically, in three studies using nationally representative data from the United States and nine additional countries, we found that right-wing (vs. left-wing) orientation is indeed associated with greater subjective well-being and that the relation between political orientation and subjective well-being is mediated by the rationalization of inequality. In our third study, we found that increasing economic inequality (as measured by the Gini index) from 1974 to 2004 has exacerbated the happiness gap between liberals and conservatives, apparently because conservatives (more than liberals) possess an ideological buffer against the negative hedonic effects of economic inequality.
Bank Specific and Macroeconomic Determinants of Commercial Bank Profitability: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

The study examines the bank-specific and macroeconomic determinants of banks profitability in Nigeria analyzing audited financial reports of selected sixteen (16) commercial banks over the period of 2010 to 2015 making up to 96 observations. The study identified that existing studies are sketchy in developing economies even though many studies have emerge in developed economies. The bank profitability is measured by return on assets and return on equity as function of bank-specific and macroeconomic determinants. Using the balanced panel data set, the empirical results of the study shows that capital adequacy and liquidity have a positive and significant effect on bank profitability. However, efficiency ratio have a negative and significant effect on bank profitability. With regards to macroeconomic variable, GDP growth also have a positive and significant impact on banks profitability. The empirical results of the study suggested that banks can improve their profitability through increasing capital and liquidity, decreasing operating cost with conscious effort to maintain transparency in their operations. In addition, a good economic environment for financial institutions foster increase in bank profitability. Hence, the study recommends that further studies can expand the scope while extending to other industries as well.
Surface localization of Helicobacter pylori urease and a heat shock protein homolog requires bacterial autolysis

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium which causes chronic gastritis and is associated with peptic ulcer disease, gastric carcinoma, and gastric lymphoma. The bacterium is characterized by potent urease activity, thought to be located on the outer membrane, which is essential for survival at low pH. The purpose of the present study was to investigate mechanisms whereby urease and HspB, a GroEL homolog, become surface associated in vitro. Urease, HspB, and catalase were located almost exclusively within the cytoplasm in fresh log-phase cultures assessed by cryo- immunoelectron microscopy. In contrast, significant amounts of surface-associated antigen were observed in older or subcultured preparations concomitantly with the appearance of significant amounts of extracellular antigen, amorphous debris, and membrane fragments. By use of a variety of biochemical methods, a significant fraction of urease and HspB was associated with the outer membrane in subcultured preparations of H. pylori. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that H. pylori cells undergo spontaneous autolysis during culture and that urease and HspB become surface associated only concomitant with bacterial autolysis. By comparing enzyme sensitivity to flurofamide (a potent, poorly diffusible urease inhibitor) in whole cells with that in deliberately lysed cells, we show that both extracellular and intracellular urease molecules are active enzymatically. Autolysis of H. pylori is an important phenomenon to recognize since it likely exerts significant effects on the behavior of H. pylori. Furthermore, the surface properties of H. pylori must be unique in promoting adsorption of cytoplasmic proteins.
Identification and validation of soluble carrier family expression signature for predicting poor outcome of renal cell carcinoma

The soluble carrier (SLC) family plays an important role in cell metabolism. The purpose of the current study was to screen SLCs as potential prognostic factors in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). A total of 509 patients with ccRCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were enrolled in this study. The expression profile of SLCs was obtained from the TCGA RNAseq database. Metadata of the TCGA cohort, including age, sex, TNM stage, tumor grade, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, laterality, and overall survival, were collected. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the relative factors. Prognosis-associated genes were further validated in a Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) cohort consisting of 178 patients. Among a total of 364 SLC transporters, 61 were independent predictors of ccRCC patient overall survival. Among the 61 SLC transporters, 26 were significantly downregulated and 23 were significantly upregulated in tumor tissues compared with non-malignant kidney tissues. Analyses of two open source, RNA expression data sets on sunitinib response revealed that SLC10A2 was downregulated in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant samples. We validated SLC10A2 expression in the FUSCC cohort and showed that SLC10A2 expression was an independent prognostic predictor of overall survival of ccRCC (hazard ratio=0.432, 95% CI: 0.204-0.915). Our results identified a number of associations of SLC gene expression with prognosis of ccRCC patients, indicating that these genes may represent possible oncogenes that could serve as therapeutic targets of ccRCC.
Statins and serum cholesterol's associations with incident dementia and mild cognitive impairment

Background Statin use and serum cholesterol reduction have been proposed as preventions for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods 1604 and 1345 eligible participants from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) were followed after age 50 for a median time of around 25 years, to examine the incidence of dementia (n=259) and MCI (n=138), respectively. Statin use (ever-use and time-dependent use), total cholesterol levels (TC; first visit and time-dependent), TC change trajectory from first visit and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C):TC ratio (first visit and time-dependent) were the main exposures of interest. Cox proportional hazards models were used. Results Participants with incident dementia had a higher first-visit TC compared with participants who remained free of dementia and MCI, while first-visit TC was higher among statin ever-users compared with never-users (age-unadjusted associations). Statin users had a two- to threefold lower risk of developing dementia (HR=0.41; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.92), but not MCI, when considering time-dependent ‘statin use’ with propensity score model adjustment. This association remained significant independently of serum cholesterol exposures. An elevated first-visit TC was associated with reduced MCI risk (upper quartile (Q4) vs Q1: HR=0.51; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.90). Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1: 0.00–0.19), HDL-C:TC (time-dependent) in (Q2: 0.19–0.24) was associated with reduced MCI risk (HR=0.58; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.98). Among men only, TC decline from first visit was significantly associated with increased dementia risk (HR=4.21; 95% CI 1.28 to 13.85). Conclusions Statins may have multifactorial effects on dementia but not MCI risk. Future interventions may be warranted, and research should focus on optimal serum TC, HDL-C:TC ratio and TC change trajectories.
Effect of periodontal therapy on hemoglobin and erythrocyte levels in chronic generalized periodontitis patients: An interventional study

Aims and Objectives: Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is one of the most common forms of anemia. It is defined as anemia occurring in chronic infections, inflammatory conditions or neoplastic disorders which are not due to marrow deficiencies or other diseases, and occurring despite the presence of adequate iron stores and vitamins. Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases in humans. This study aimed at finding out if periodontitis, like other inflammatory conditions, could lead to anemia. Materials and Methods: Thirty chronic generalized periodontitis male patients with hemoglobin levels below 15 mg/dl and serum ferritin values above 30 ng/ml were selected. The various blood parameters recorded at baseline were hemoglobin levels(Hb), erythrocyte count (RBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), mean corpuscular volume(MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Periodontal parameters recorded at baseline included: plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level. Periodontal treatment including surgery if required was carried out in all the patients. Periodontal status of patients was monitored by repeating evaluation of periodontal indices at three months and at the end of one year. The hematological values were again measured at the end of one year. Results: The results showed that correction of periodontal inflammation resulted in a significant increase in hemoglobin levels and erythrocyte counts. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate showed a reduction indicating resolution of periodontal inflammation. There was a significant, but much lesser, improvement in MCV, MCH and MCHC values. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that treatment of periodontitis leads to an improvement in hematocrit and other related blood parameters in chronic generalized periodontitis patients with anemia. This provides evidence that periodontitis like other chronic diseases may also cause anemia.