Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Significant increases of the amygdala between immediate and late postpartum: Pronounced effects within the superficial subregion

Research exploring the underlying neuroanatomical correlates of early motherhood seems to suggest that the period after giving birth is marked by tissue increases in the mother's brain. While some studies point to the amygdala as one of the areas undergoing postpartum changes, existing analyses did not discriminate between the different subregions of this functionally heterogeneous structure. Thus, to further extend this understudied field of research and to better understand the potential role of the amygdala when transitioning to motherhood, we applied an advanced region‐of‐interest technique that enabled us to analyze the amygdala as a whole as well as its different subareas, specifically the left and right centromedian (CM), laterobasal (LB), and superficial (SF) regions. Comparing the brains of 14 healthy women between immediate postpartum (within 1–2 days of childbirth) and late postpartum (at 4–6 weeks after childbirth), we revealed increases of the amygdala. However, effects manifested differentially across subareas, with particularly strong effects for the SF region, moderate effects for the CM region, and no effects for the LB region. These findings might reflect region‐specific adaptations of the mother's brain tuning into the distinct and ever‐changing needs of a newborn, either as a cause for it or as a consequence thereof.
Chronic opioid use in patients with sickle cell disease

Pain is the most common symptom in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients [1]. In the acute setting, SCD patients may have painful crises that require hospitalization [2]. However, these patients also suffer chronic pain, the etiology of which is not fully understood [3]. Opioids remain the mainstay of management for both acute and chronic pain in SCD patients despite risks of physical dependence, withdrawal, tolerance, and possible overdose and death [4,5]. Chronic opioid use also alters intestinal microbial community [6] and leads to increased risks for the development of Clostridioides difficile infection [7]. Despite potential adverse outcomes in chronic opioid use and specific limitations in SCD patients, there are no clear guidelines for the management of chronic pain in SCD patients. In this study, we sought to determine the risks for and clinical characteristics associated with chronic opioid use to identify the at-risk patients so that they may be offered early interventions to avert these complications. Following approval from the Institutional Review Board, data from 449 patients were collected. There were 258 females and 191 males; 98% were Black/ African-American. Their median age was 39 years (range 3–88). Their phenotypes were HbSS (284/449) (63%), HbSC (101/449) (22.5%), HbSβthal (54/449) (12%), and unknown or others (10/449). The prevalence rate of chronic opioid use was 22.5% (95% CI: 18.3–27.3). The lifetime cumulative risks for chronic opioid use (with 95% CI) are shown in Figure 1. Not surprisingly, the risks increase steadily from age 20 years to 55 years. We next examined the clinical factors associated with chronic opioid use among those age 18 and over (Table 1). In univariate analysis, we identified that chronic opioid users are more likely to be female (p < 0.0001) and have higher baseline total white cell count (median 10 × 10/L vs 9 × 10/L) (p = 0.0009), non-HbSC phenotype (p = 0.034), been prescribed hydroxyurea (p = 0.000047), and concurrent psychiatric illness (p = 0.018). Lower hemoglobin (8.5 g/dL vs 8.9 g/dL) (p = 0.055) and presence of chronic arthritis (p = 0.06) trend towards significance for chronic opioid use. Multivariate analysis found that patients with higher total white cell count (p = 0.0007), psychiatric illness (p = 0.0059), and users of hydroxyurea (p = 0.0001) were particularly at risk. Patients with a total white cell count of 15 × 10/dL or above were 2.2 (95% CI: 1.45–3.37) times more at risk (p = 0.0024) for chronic opioid use than those whose total white cell counts were below 15 × 10/dL. In this study, we have identified a group of adult sickle cell patients who are at risk for chronic opioid use. The data from our univariate analysis suggests that, in addition to concurrent psychiatric illness, patients with more severe disease are at higher risks for chronic opioid use. These patients tend to have Figure 1. Life-time cumulative risks for chronic opioid use among sickle cell patients.
Optimisation and Uprating of Activated Sludge Plants by Efficient Process Design

Requirements to improve effluent quality and reduce operating costs at existing activated sludge plants in the UK have led to the development of an accurate mathematical model of the process which can be used for full-scale design. The WRc Activated Sludge Model has been developed over a number of years and is based on the concept of describing the kinetics of BOD removal by including a Monod term for growth and a Michaelis-Menten term for enzymatic activity. Since the first formulation of the model, further equations have been added which describe the use of oxygen and nitrate as electron acceptors for the conversion of BOD. The model equations can be used to predict the performance of most configurations of the activated sludge process by using the ‘tanks in series9 concept to describe aeration tank mixing characteristics. Solutions to the equations are easily obtained by standard numerical integration techniques using a computer. The software has been written in such a way that the model can be used interactively by a plant designer. Results obtained using the mathematical model have been used to redesign several full-scale activated sludge plants in the UK. In some cases, it has been possible to reduce the energy costs for aeration by 40% whilst maintaining effluent quality by accurately matching the supply of oxygen to the spatially-varying oxygen demand in plug-flow aeration tanks. Bulking sludge problems have also been solved by the conversion of completely-mixed aeration tanks to plug-flow aeration tanks with complementary redesign of the aeration system.
Subcutaneous mycoses in Ethiopia: a retrospective study in a single dermatology center.

BACKGROUND The magnitude of various types of subcutaneous mycoses in Ethiopia is unknown. METHODS We performed a 5-y retrospective review of confirmed cases at ALERT hospital dermatology clinics. RESULT Confirmed cases of subcutaneous mycoses included chromoblastomycosis (n=12) and mycetoma (n=8). The patients originated from four regions: Oromia (n=10), Amhara (n=6), Addis Ababa (n=3) and South (n=1). Males were affected in 75% of cases (15/20). Ages ranged from 19 to 66 y with a median age of 44 y. Duration of disease ranged from 1 to 25 y. Extremities were affected in all cases, with lower limb involvement in 85% (17/20). CONCLUSION Chromoblastomycosis was the most frequent subcutaneous mycosis followed by mycetoma.
Plasmonic Enhancement of Molecular Fluorescence near Silver Nanoparticles: Theory, Modeling, and Experiment

Metal-enhanced fluorescence of molecular probes in plasmonic nanostructures offers highly sensitive chemical and biomedical analyses, but a comprehensive theory of the phenomenon is far from being complete. In this study, a systematic theoretical analysis is provided for overall luminescence enhancement/quenching for fluorophores near silver spherical nanoparticles. The approach accounts for local intensity enhancement, radiative and nonradiative rates modification, light polarization, molecule position, and its dipole moment orientation. Numerical modeling has been performed for fluorescein-based labels (e.g., Alexa Fluor 488) widely used in biomedical studies and development. The maximal enhancement exceeding 50 times is predicted for nanoparticle diameter 50 nm, the optimal excitation wavelength being 370 nm. For long-wave excitation, bigger particles are more efficient. The experiments with a fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate of bovine serum albumin confirmed theoretical predictions. The results pr.
Adaptive Neural Network Control for a Class of Fractional-Order Nonstrict-Feedback Nonlinear Systems With Full-State Constraints and Input Saturation

This article addresses an adaptive neural network (NN) constraint control scheme for a class of fractional-order uncertain nonlinear nonstrict-feedback systems with full-state constraints and input saturation. The radial basis function (RBF) NNs are used to deal with the algebraic loop problem from the nonstrict-feedback formation based on the approximation structure. In order to overcome the problem of input saturation nonlinearity, a smooth nonaffine function is applied to approach the saturation function. To arrest the violation of full-state constraints, the barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) is introduced in each step of the backstepping procedure. By using the fractional-order Lyapunov stability theory and the given conditions, it proves that all the states remain in their constraint bounds, the tracking error converges to a bounded compact set containing the origin, and all signals in the closed-loop system are ensured to be bounded. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by two simulation examples.
Sulphate Adsorption Characteristics of Some Alfisols of Orissa

Sulphate adsorption characteristics of the surface soils and sub-soils of five Alfisols of the state were studied. Adsorption of SO42− was higher in the sub-soils than in the surface soils which was attributed to higher clay, free Fe2O3, exchangeable Ca2+ + Mg2+ and lower organic matter contents in the former than in the latter. Free Fe2O3 had the dominant role in SO42− adsorption, followed by clay and exchangeable Ca2+ + Mg2+. These three factors alongwith free A12O3, pHw and organic carbon jointly contributed 99.2 to 99.9 per cent of variations in SO42− adsorption at different levels of SO42−-S added. Equilibrium buffering capacity and maximum buffering capacity for SO42−-S increased, whereas supply parameter of SO42−-S decreased from surface to the sub-soils.
Can Lymphovascular and Perineural Invasion be Additional Staging Criteria in Colorectal Cancer?

OBJECTIVE To identify additional staging information, venous, lymphatic, and neural invasion as potential prognostic factors in colorectal cancer (CRC). STUDY DESIGN A descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: University of Health Sciences, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey; from May 2007 to June 2019. METHODOLOGY Retrospective analyses were performed on 855 CRC patients, who were treated with surgery. Patient and treatment characteristics, lymphovascular (LVI), and perineural (PNI) invasion were documented. The impact of LVI and PNI was determined using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS The cohort examined had 346 (40.5%) LVI and 150 (17.5%) PNI positive patients. After surgery, mortality was 18.4% for LVI and 8% for PNI patients. Although increased ASA score (for ASA 2 hazard ratio [HR]=0.555, p=0.001 and ASA 3-4 HR=0.723, p=0.014), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=2.5, p<0.001), LVI (HR=1.961, p<0.001) and PNI (HR=1.625, p<0.001) involvement increased the risk of death based on univariate analysis, multivariate Cox analysis showed a risk of death increase with increased ASA score (for ASA 2 HR=0.53, p<0.001 and ASA 3-4 HR=0.703, p=0.008), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR=2.114, p<0.001) and LVI involvement (HR=1.640, p<0.001). CONCLUSION LVI and PNI may be useful in identifying CRC patients who might benefit the most from adjuvant systemic therapy. On the other hand, the presence of LVI and PNI reflects a shorter patient survival. Key Words: Lymphovascular invasion, Perineural invasion, Colorectal cancer, Cancer staging.
Multivariate analysis of competitive adsorption of food dyes by activated pine wood

AbstractIn this work, competitive adsorption of four food dyes (Sunset Yellow, Allura Red, tartrazine, and Brilliant Black) by heated pine wood is studied using multivariate calibration. Partial least squares PLS1 and principal component regression PCR are effectively applied for simultaneous determination of food dyes with high accuracy (96.2–103.6%) and low relative prediction error (2.3–6.9%). Using multivariate calibration, the dyes are detected down to 0.11, 0.15, 0.24, and 0.29 mg L−1. The removal of dyes increased at acidic solution and H-bonding is the main controlling mechanism. The maximum removal capacities (according to Langmuir model) are 3.4, 2.5, 4.8, and 7.1 mg g−1 for tartrazine, Brilliant Black, Allura Red, and Sunset Yellow, respectively, at pH 2.0 and 25°C. The competition factors (CFs) are estimated from the isotherms to assess the degree of competition between dyes toward the surface. The CFs are 0.64, 0.66, 0.77, and 0.77 for Brilliant Black, Allura Red, Sunset Yellow, and tartrazin.
Supersensitive odor discrimination is controlled in part by initial transient interactions between the most sensitive dorsal olfactory receptors and G-proteins

Pairs of enantiomeric odor ligands are difficult to resolve by instrumental analyses because compounds with mirror-image molecular structures have almost identical physicochemical properties. The olfactory system, however, discriminates (–)-forms of enantiomers from their (+)-forms within seconds. To investigate key olfactory receptors for enantiomer discrimination, we compared behavioral detection and discrimination thresholds of wild-type mice with those of ΔD mice that lack all dorsal olfactory receptors. Surprisingly, wild-type mice displayed an exquisite “supersensitivity” to enantiomeric pairs of wine lactones and carvones in both detection and discrimination tasks using odor plume-like flows in a Y-maze. In contrast, ΔD mice showed >10 10 -fold reductions in enantiomer discrimination sensitivity compared to wild-type mice. ΔD mice detected one or both of the (–)- and (+)-enantiomers over a wide concentration range, but were unable to discriminate them. This “enantiomer odor discrimination paradox” indicates that the most sensitive dorsal receptors play a critical role in hierarchical odor coding for enantiomer identification. In addition, to identify residues responsible for the rapid and robust response of murine olfactory receptor S6 ( mOR-S6 ) via chimeric Gα 15_olf , mutations of the C-terminal helix 8 were analyzed in a heterologous functional expression system. The N-terminal hydrophobic core between helix 8 and TM1−2 of mOR-S6 is important for Gα activation. A point mutation of a helix 8 N-terminal acidic residue eliminated the improved response dynamics via the chimeric Gα 15_olf . This result suggests that an N-terminal acidic residue of helix 8 is responsible for rapid Gα activation. Supersensitive odor discrimination is thus largely governed by signals from the most sensitive dorsal olfactory receptors with the shortest onset latencies, which are controlled in part by initial transient interactions between the receptor C-terminal helix 8 and the Gα C-terminal region.
circVAPA promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of oral cancer cells through the miR-132/HOXA7 axis

Objective To study the relationship between the circular RNA vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein A (circVAPA) and the pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods The expression of circVAPA was detected by RT-qPCR. In vitro loss-of-function experiments were performed in Cal-27 cells. The malignant phenotype of cells was evaluated by cell counting kit-8, clone formation and transwell assays. Luciferase reporter assays were used to assess the circVAPA/miR-132/homeobox A (HOXA) regulatory axis. Results circVAPA expression was significantly increased in oral cancer tissues and cells. The overall survival and progression-free survival of patients with oral cancer who exhibited high circVAPA expression were significantly shorter compared with those with low expression. circVAPA expression was closely related to tumor size, TNM stage and distant metastasis. circVAPA knockdown reduced the proliferation, invasion and migration of Cal-27 cells. MiR-132 was identified as a target of circVAPA in Cal-27 cells. Cotransfection with si-circVAPA and miR-132 inhibitor reversed the inhibitory effect of circVAPA knockdown on cell malignant phenotypes. HOXA7 was further identified as a downstream target of miR-132. Conclusion circVAPA is highly expressed in oral cancer, and its abnormal expression might affect the proliferation, invasion and migration of oral cancer cells by modulating the miR-132/HOXA7 signaling axis.
Mapping Cerebrovascular Reactivity Impairment in Patients With Symptomatic Unilateral Carotid Artery Disease

Background Comprehensive hemodynamic impairment mapping using blood oxygenation‐level dependent (BOLD) cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) can be used to identify hemodynamically relevant symptomatic unilateral carotid artery disease. Methods and Results This prospective cohort study was conducted between February 2015 and July 2020 at the Clinical Neuroscience Center of the University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. One hundred two patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic unilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion or with 70% to 99% ICA stenosis were included. An age‐matched healthy cohort of 12 subjects underwent an identical BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging examination. Using BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging with a standardized CO2 stimulus, CVR impairment was evaluated. Moreover, embolic versus hemodynamic ischemic patterns were evaluated on diffusion‐weighted imaging. Sixty‐seven patients had unilateral ICA occlusion and 35 patients unilateral 70% to 99% ICA stenosis. Patients with ICA occlusion exhibited lower whole‐brain and ipsilateral hemisphere mean BOLD‐CVR values as compared with healthy subjects (0.12±0.08 versus 0.19±0.04, P=0.004 and 0.09±0.09 versus 0.18±0.04, P<0.001) and ICA stenosis cohort (0.12±0.08 versus 0.16±0.05, P=0.01 and 0.09±0.09 versus 0.15±0.05, P=0.01); however, only 40 (58%) patients of the cohort showed significant BOLD‐CVR impairment. Conversely, there was no difference in mean BOLD‐CVR values between healthy patients and patients with ICA stenosis, although 5 (14%) patients with ICA stenosis showed a significant BOLD‐CVR impairment. No significant BOLD‐CVR difference was discernible between patients with hemodynamic ischemic infarcts versus those with embolic infarct distribution (0.11±0.08 versus 0.13±0.06, P=0.12). Conclusions Comprehensive BOLD‐CVR mapping allows for identification of hemodynamically relevant symptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis or occlusion.
Genetic variations in DNA repair gene NEIL1 associated with radiation pneumonitis risk in lung cancer patients

Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is a common side effect in lung cancer patients who received radiotherapy. Our previous study found genetic variations in DNA repair gene NEIL1 may be a predictor of RP in patients with esophageal cancer. So, we hypothesis genetic variations in NEIL1 gene could affect the risk of RP in lung cancer patients following radiotherapy.
Novel insights into stroke risk beyond resting and maximal bicycle exercise systolic blood pressure

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: Previous research has shown an association between moderate workload exercise blood pressure (BP) and coronary disease, whereas maximal exercise BP is associated with stroke. We aimed to investigate the association between the increase in BP during maximal exercise and the long-term risk of stroke in healthy, middle-aged men. Methods: Two thousand and fourteen men were included in the Oslo Ischemia Study in the 1970s. In the present study, we examined baseline data of the 1392 participants who remained healthy and performed bicycle exercise tests both at baseline and 7 years later. Cox proportional hazard was used to assess the risk of stroke in participants divided into quartiles based on the difference between resting and maximal workload SBP (ΔSBP) at baseline, adjusting for resting BP, age, smoking, serum cholesterol and physical fitness. Follow-up was until the first ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke through 35 years. Results: There were 195 incident strokes; 174 (89%) were ischemic. In univariate analyses, there were significant positive correlations between age, resting SBP, resting DBP and SBP at moderate and maximal workload, and risk of stroke. In the multivariate analysis, there was a 2.6-fold (P < 0.0001) increase in risk of stroke in ΔSBP quartile 4 (ΔSBP > 99 mmHg) compared with ΔSBP quartile 2 (ΔSBP 73–85 mmHg), which had the lowest risk of stroke. ΔSBP quartile 1 had a 1.7-fold (P = 0.02) increased risk compared with quartile 2, suggesting a J-shaped association to stroke risk. Conclusion: Stroke risk increased with increasing difference between resting and maximal exercise SBP, independent of BP at rest, suggesting that an exaggerated BP response to physical exercise may be an independent predictor of stroke.
Expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in rapid ejaculator rats: A further study

Limited evidence has indicated that brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in the neurobiology of premature ejaculation (PE). This study aimed to investigate BDNF levels in the central and peripheral nervous systems of a rapid ejaculation model. Eighteen male rats were selected and classified as ‘sluggish’, ‘normal’ and ‘rapid’ ejaculators on the basis of ejaculation frequency during copulatory behavioural tests. BDNF levels in specific brain regions, spinal cord and serum were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Consistent with the results in PE patients, the concentration of serum BDNF decreased significantly from the sluggish rats to normal and rapid rats. Besides, in both brain regions and spinal cord, the sluggish group had the highest BDNF levels, while the rapid group had the lowest BDNF levels. Regression analyses of the expression of BDNF presented positive correlations between serum and brain (r = 0.958, p < .001), and between serum and spinal cord (r = 0.967, p < .001) respectively. Our findings suggested insufficient BDNF in the nervous system and serum may lead to rapid ejaculation. The current study adds to the evidence that BDNF is involved in the regulation of ejaculation.