Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential Value of Datura stramonium Agglutinin-recognized Glycopatterns in Urinary Protein on Differential Diagnosis of Diabetic Nephropathy and Nondiabetic Renal Disease

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common and serious microvascular complication of diabetes. To date, the gold standard for identifying DN and nondiabetic renal disease (NDRD) is a renal biopsy; however, there is currently no reliable diagnostic marker to identify DN and NDRD in a noninvasive manner. This study aimed to investigate the different glycopatterns in urine specimens of DN patients and NDRD patients for a differential diagnosis. Methods: In total, 19 DN patients and 18 NDRD patients who underwent renal biopsies between March 2015 and March 2016 at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital were enrolled in this study. A lectin microarray was used to investigate the glycopatterns in the urinary protein of the 37 patients. Ratio analysis and one-way analysis of variance were used to screen altered glycopatterns. Then, the altered glycopatterns between the DN and NDRD groups were verified by a urinary protein microarray among another 32 patients (15 with DN and 17 with NDRD), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the diagnostic value of the altered glycopatterns in differentiating DN and NDRD. Finally, lectin blotting was used to evaluate the altered glycosylation in protein level. Results: The result of lectin microarrays revealed that the relative abundance of the (&bgr;-1,4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) recognized by lectin Datura stramonium agglutinin (DSA) was significantly higher in urinary protein in DN patients than that in NDRD patients (fold change >1.50, P < 0.001). Subsequently, the results of urinary protein microarrays were consistent with lectin microarrays (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the ROC curve showed that glycopatterns could effectively distinguish DN from NDRD patients (area under the ROC curve = 0.94, P < 0.001). DSA lectin blotting showed that glycoproteins, with a molecular weight of approximately 50,000, demonstrated a difference in urine samples between DN patients and NDRD patients. Conclusions: The relative abundance of (&bgr;-1,4)-linked GlcNAc recognized by lectin DSA and urinary glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 50,000 are significantly different between DN and NDRD patients, indicating that the glycopatterns could be used as potential biomarkers for a differential diagnosis.
Interactive Effects of Ocean Acidification and Warming on Growth, Fitness and Survival of the Cold-Water Coral Lophelia pertusa under Different Food Availabilities

Cold-water corals are important bioengineers that provide structural habitat for a diverse species community. About 70% of the presently known scleractinian cold-water corals are expected to be exposed to corrosive waters by the end of this century due to ocean acidification. At the same time, the corals will experience a steady warming of their environment. Studies on the sensitivity of cold-water corals to climate change mainly concentrated on single stressors in short-term incubation approaches, thus not accounting for possible long-term acclimatisation and the interactive effects of multiple stressors. Besides, preceding studies did not test for possible compensatory effects of a change in food availability. In this study a multifactorial long-term experiment (6 months) was conducted with end-of-the-century scenarios of elevated pCO2 and temperature levels in order to examine the acclimatisation potential of the cosmopolitan cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa to future climate change related threats. For the first time multiple ocean change impacts including the role of the nutritional status were tested on L. pertusa with regard to growth, “fitness,” and survival. Our results show that while L. pertusa is capable of calcifying under elevated CO2 and temperature, its condition (fitness) is more strongly influenced by food availability rather than changes in seawater chemistry. Whereas growth rates increased at elevated temperature (+4°C), they decreased under elevated CO2 concentrations (~800 μatm). No difference in net growth was detected when corals were exposed to the combination of increased CO2 and temperature compared to ambient conditions. A 10-fold higher food supply stimulated growth under elevated temperature, which was not observed in the combined treatment. This indicates that increased food supply does not compensate for adverse effects of ocean acidification and underlines the importance of considering the nutritional status in studies investigating organism responses under environmental changes.
Dispersion-managed solitons for 160-Gb/s data transmission

The use of dispersion-managed (DM) solitons for 160-Gb/s data transmission in fiber lines where the period of dispersion management is much shorter than the amplifier spacing is investigated through numerical simulations. It is shown that DM solitons outperform both standard solitons and "quasi-linear" return-to-zero (RZ) pulses. The dispersion tolerance is limited by pulse-to-pulse interactions and Gordon-Haus jitter and decreases with increasing transmission distance.
Targeted Treatment of Esophagogastric Cancer

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and stomach remains one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Although there is increasing data on the mutational landscape of esophagogastric cancer, phase III trials often yield negative results, and there is a paucity of approved targeted agents. For the time being, the subset of patients carrying HER2-positive metastatic tumors can receive trastuzumab in addition to chemotherapy. Furthermore, ramucirumab has been found to be active both as a single agent and in combination with paclitaxel. Herein, we give an overview of currently approved targeted treatments for locally advanced/resectable as well as unresectable/metastatic EGJ/gastric adenocarcinoma, summarizing the underlying clinical studies. Moreover, further potential targets still under investigation are presented.
Improvement of the VLC localization method using the Extended Kalman Filter

This paper deals with localization problem of mobile robots in indoor environment based on Visible Light Communications (VLC). We propose an integrated AOA-RSS localization method of Angle of Arrival (AOA) and Received Signal Strength (RSS) methods to find out position of a mobile robot using an array of photodiodes (PDs). Performance of the integrated localization method depends on the number of PDs mounted on the mobile robot. In order to achieve more accurately in positioning the mobile robot's location, we propose a combination of the proposed AOA-RSS localization method and the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm. The efficiency of this combination is proved through computer simulation. The EKF also addresses a significant problem in robot navigation that is to control the mobile robot moving on the specified path in a certain activity.
Consumer Responses to SMS Advertising: Antecedents and Consequences

Mobile phone advertisements, in the form of text messages (SMS, or short message service), have been recognized as an important form of product promotion. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that influence the effectiveness of SMS advertising by using a hierarchy of effects approach. We employ a simulated experiment with 736 respondents to examine how consumers react to SMS advertisements and identify factors that influence their attitude toward the ad, their attitude toward the brand, and their purchase intention. Perceived ad credibility, attitude toward mobile advertising, message appeal, argument quality, incentive, product involvement, and interactivity were found to be antecedents of the attitude toward the ad. Moreover, there is a clear link between attitude and behavioral intention. The study is among the first to provide an experimental-based assessment and a unified model linking consumer attitudes toward mobile text ads with brand attitudes and purchase intentions.
Conditioned inhibition of fear-potentiated startle and skin conductance in humans.

Conditioned inhibition of classical conditioning was investigated with the startle reflex and the skin conductance response (SCR) in humans using a serial presentation of the conditioned inhibitor (X) and of the conditioned stimulus (CS). The unconditioned stimulus (US) was a shock. During conditioning, participants were presented with two different reinforced CS (A, B) and with X preceding A (noted X-->A). During X-->A, A was not reinforced with the US. During the summation test, B, X-->B, and Y-->B were presented (Y was a new stimulus that tested the specificity of the inhibitory properties of X). B was not reinforced during the summation test. A, B, X, and Y were lights of different colors. Participants were divided into a low and a high anxious group based on the TPQ (C.R. Cloninger, 1987). In the low anxious group, conditioned startle potentiation and SCR responses to A were inhibited when X preceded A (noted A(XA)). This differential responding to A and A(XA) emerged earlier with the SCR than with startle. During the summation test, the inhibitory properties of X did not transfer to B. In the high anxious group, there was only a differential SCR to A and A(XA). X did not inhibit startle potentiation to A.
Failure of the short ACTH test to unequivocally diagnose long‐standing symptomatic secondary hypoadrenalism

Recent guidelines propose that secondary hypoadrenalism can be reliably diagnosed, in the absence of acute ACTH deficiency or glucocorticoid use, by means of the short ACTH test (Synacthen). We report a patient who maintained a normal response to exogenous ACTH stimulation despite symptomatic chronic ACTH deficiency proven by the insulin tolerance and overnight metyrapone tests. It is suggested that partial ACTH deficiency may prevent involution of the adrenal cortex and preserve the cortisol response to ACTH stimulation. A normal cortisol response in the short ACTH test does not therefore exclude the possibility of clinically relevant ACTH deficiency.
[The Role of Postoperative Radiotherapy on Stage N2 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.].

BACKGROUND The clinical value of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in stage N2 nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is controversy. The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of PORT in subgroup of stage N2 NSCLC, which can help clinicians to choose proper patients for PORT. METHODS Clinical data of 359 patients with stage N2 NSCLC treated with radical surgery between Mar. 2000 and Jul. 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Two hundred and seven patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and one hundred and four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. First, the group of patients were analyzed to evaluate the factors affecting the overall survival. The all patients were divided based on tumor size and the number of lymph node metastasis station (single station or multiple station) so as to evaluate the role of PORT. The endpoint was overall survival (OS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the OS, LRFS and Log-rank was used to compare the difference in OS and LRFS between different groups. RESULTS The median duration of follow-up was 2.3 years. 224 patients died. The median survival was 1.5 years and 1, 3, 5-year survival were 78%, 38% and 26%. Univariate analysis showed tumor size, the number of lymph node metastasis station and PORT were correlated with OS. Among patients, 5-year survival rates in PORT and non-PORT were 29% and 24% (P=0.047) respectively. In subgroups, PORT was related with high survival in patients with multiple station N2 compared to non-PORT: 36% vs 20% (P=0.013) and 33% vs 15% (P=0.002) in patients in patients with tumor size>3 cm. Also, it was related with low local recurrence compared to non-PORT: 65% vs 48% (P=0.006) and 62% vs 48% (P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS PORT can improve overall survival for N2 NSCLC, especially the patients with the factors as follows: tumor size>3 cm and multiple station N2 can benefit from PORT more or less.
Stress-Dependent Local Oxidation of Silicon

The two-dimensional isolation oxidation of silicon is considered for stress-dependent reaction and diffusion coefficients. The influence of such parameters is investigated numerically and asymptotically in the bird's beak problem and for curved geometries arising in the oxidation of cylindrical and spherical structures. In the bird's beak problem, the limit of large activation volume is described for a stress-dependent reaction coefficient, illustrating the significant growth retardation of the silicon/silicon oxide interface and reduced stresses in the silicon oxide. Novel high-order nonlinear evolution-type PDEs are derived and investigated using asymptotic and numerical techniques.
Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm: Evolving Insights in an Aggressive Hematopoietic Malignancy With a Predilection of Skin Involvement

Abstract:Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) derived from precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells is a very rare, unique, and highly aggressive immature hematopoietic malignancy, more frequently occurring among healthy elderly adults. BPDCN can be characterized by a striking predilection for cutaneous involvement, which is often detected incidentally by dermatologists and is difficult to clinically distinguish it from other primary skin lesions and histologically from leukemia/lymphoma cutis. Thus, histological diagnosis of cutaneous biopsies is crucial to correctly classify this entity. Most patients eventually progress to acute myeloid leukemia and are generally not curable. Here, we present 2 cases of classic BPDCN and discuss the origin of tumor and literature-based characteristic clinical and morphological features, evolving immunomarkers, and molecular genetic aspects of this neoplasm.
An Empirical Examination Of Code Smells and Their Impact on Collaborative Work

Background: Merge conflicts are a common occurrence in software development. Researchers have shown the negative impact of conflicts on the resulting code quality and the development workflow. Thus far, no one has investigated the effect of bad design (code smells) on merge conflicts. Aims: We posit that entities that exhibit certain types of code smells are more likely to be involved in a merge conflict. We also postulate that code elements that are both “smelly” and involved in a merge conflict are associated with other undesirable effects (more likely to be buggy). Method: We mined 143 repositories from GitHub and recreated 6,979 merge conflicts to obtain metrics about code changes and conflicts. We categorized conflicts into semantic or non-semantic, based on whether changes affected the Abstract Syntax Tree. For each conflicting change, we calculate theSyntax Tree. For each conflicting change, we calculate the number of code smells and the number of future bug-fixes associated with the affected lines of code. Results: We found that entities that are smelly are three times more likely to be involved in merge conflicts. Method-level code smells (Blob Operation and Internal Duplication) are highly correlated with semantic conflicts. We also found that code that is smelly and experiences merge conflicts is more likely to be buggy. Conclusion: Bad code design not only impacts maintainability, it also impacts the day to day operations of a project, such as merging contributions, and negatively impacts the quality of the resulting code. Our findings indicate that research is needed to identify better ways to support merge conflict resolution to minimize its effect on code qual-
Use of electronic health record clinical decision support tool for HCV birth cohort screening

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended one-time HCV testing for all patients in the 1945-1965 birth cohort, given the high hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in this group [1]. In response, various interventions differing in complexity and cost have been developed. Goel et al, evaluated a multifaceted intervention sequentially implemented and report poor response to the electronic health record (EHR) alert and a very successful HCV screening, increased by 137%, after adding other tools including physician education, data feedback, and patient navigation [2]. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Trisomy 19 is associated with trisomy 12 and mutated IGHV genes in B‐chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

The occurrence of trisomy 19 was investigated in 705 cases of B‐chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) by metaphase cytogenetic and/or fluorescence in situ hybridisation analyses. Trisomy 19 was detected in 11 cases (1·6%), all of which also carried a trisomy 12; nine of 10 had mutated IGHV genes. In contrast, B‐CLL cases with trisomy 12 lacking trisomy 19 mostly had unmutated IGHV genes. Karyotypes of the present study and the literature identified a strong correlation to trisomy 18 in addition to trisomy 12. Trisomy 19 seems to be a secondary event in B‐CLL with trisomy 12, mostly originating from mutated B cells.
Conflict and power as intergroup processes: not below the surface, but part of the fabric

Janss et al.give an example of a situation in which conflict may arise in a disagreement about patient management between an anaesthetist and an emergency medicine doctor, and power differences may become apparent in the inability of a junior doctor or a nurse to confront the resultant tension. Janss et al. present power and conflict as potentially informed by pre-existing perceptions, but ultimately as dimensions of the interpersonal relationships among individuals in the ad hoc team. However, an alternative view is that these elements, rather than reflecting interpersonal dynamics, are an expression or consequence of intergroup processes. Such a view does not negate or replace the interpersonal analysis; rather, it provides a different level of analysis, with implications for how issues of conflict and power may be addressed.
Induction of Zf9 in the kidney following early ischemia/reperfusion.

BACKGROUND An improved understanding of the early cell injury mechanisms is critical for effective therapy of acute renal failure (ARF). METHODS We utilized cDNA microarrays to identify renal genes that are induced very early after renal ischemia in a mouse model, whose protein products might provide novel information regarding the pathogenesis of ARF. The findings were confirmed by downstream mRNA and protein expression studies, as well as knockdown analysis with antisense primers. RESULTS The maximally induced gene (21-fold at 3 hours of reflow) was Zf9, a Kruppel-like transcription factor involved in the regulation of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). The rapid induction of Zf9 mRNA was confirmed by Northern analysis (14.5-fold at 3 hours of reflow) and that of Zf9 protein by Western analysis (10.5-fold at 3 hours of reflow). Zf9 protein was induced in both proximal and distal tubule cells in a cytoplasmic as well as nuclear distribution. TGF-beta1 protein was also up-regulated in a pattern parallel to that of Zf9. In cultured human proximal tubule cells, induction of ischemia by partial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion resulted in a rapid up-regulation of both Zf9 and of TGF-beta1 proteins. Antisense oligonucleotides to Zf9 markedly blunted the induction of Zf9 and TGF-beta1, and significantly inhibited the apoptotic response to ATP depletion. CONCLUSION Induction of Zf9 and its transactivating factor TGF-beta1 may play a critical and hitherto unrecognized role in the early apoptotic response to ischemic renal injury.
Empirical Methods for Dynamic Power Law Distributions in the Social Sciences

This paper introduces nonparametric econometric methods that characterize general power law distributions under basic stability conditions. These methods extend the literature on power laws in the social sciences in several directions. First, we show that any stationary distribution in a random growth setting is shaped entirely by two factors - the idiosyncratic volatilities and reversion rates (a measure of cross-sectional mean reversion) for different ranks in the distribution. This result is valid regardless of how growth rates and volatilities vary across different economic agents, and hence applies to Gibrat's law and its extensions. Second, we present techniques to estimate these two factors using panel data. Third, we show how our results offer a structural explanation for a generalized size effect in which higher-ranked processes grow more slowly than lower-ranked processes on average. Finally, we employ our empirical methods using panel data on commodity prices and show that our techniques accurately describe the empirical distribution of relative commodity prices. We also show the existence of a generalized "size" effect for commodities, as predicted by our econometric theory.
Point Mutations within the Fatty Acid Synthase Type II Dehydratase Components HadA or HadC Contribute to Isoxyl Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT The mechanism by which the antitubercular drug isoxyl (ISO) inhibits mycolic acid biosynthesis has not yet been reported. We found that point mutations in either the HadA or HadC component of the type II fatty acid synthase (FAS-II) are associated with increased levels of resistance to ISO in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Overexpression of the HadAB, HadBC, or HadABC heterocomplex also produced high-level resistance. These results show that the FAS-II dehydratases are involved in ISO resistance.
Atrial fibrillation and risk of dementia in non-demented elderly subjects with and without mild cognitive impairment

Abstract Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is regarded as a precursor to dementia, but not all patients with MCI actually develop dementia. As Alzheimer and vascular dementia are thought to share many common etiopathogenetic mechanisms, we investigated whether the vascular risk factor atrial fibrillation affects the risk of conversion to dementia for different MCI subtypes diagnosed according to international criteria. Methods: One hundred and eighty elderly outpatients with MCI and 431 elderly outpatients with a normal cognition were followed up for a mean of 3 and 4 years, respectively. The risk of conversion to dementia associated with atrial fibrillation was studied in both samples using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for socio-demographic and medical variables. Results: Overall conversion rate to dementia was 10.5 (8.0–13.8 per 100 person-years) in the MCI group and 2.2 (1.5–3.1 per 100 person-years) in the normal cognition group. Atrial fibrillation was significantly associated with conversion to dementia [hazard ratio (HR): 4.63; 95% confidence interval: 1.72–12.46] in the MCI group but not in the cognitively normal group (HR: 1.10; 95% confidence interval: 0.40–3.03). Discussion: Current diagnostic criteria for MCI subtypes define heterogeneous populations, but atrial fibrillation can be useful in identifying people with increased risk of conversion to dementia.