Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Serotonin Release Assay and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Optical Density Thresholds for Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a recognized concern in patients on extracorporeal life support. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay optical density threshold less than 1 to rule out heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. DESIGN Retrospective, single-center study. SETTING Patients were recruited from a prospectively maintained database of all patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation from 2012 to 2018 at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Forty-seven patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. INTERVENTIONS The primary objective was to evaluate the application of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay optical density thresholds and the serotonin release assay in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Patients were divided into two cohorts, serotonin release assay negative and serotonin release assay positive. In order to perform a sensitivity and specificity analysis of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay optical density thresholds, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia negative was defined as an optical density less than 1.0 and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia positive as an optical density greater than or equal to 1.0. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Utilizing the prespecified optical density thresholds, a specificity and negative predictive value of 89% and 95% were achieved, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This assessment has helped to identify optical density thresholds for patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Our data suggest that an optical density threshold of 1.0 may aid clinicians in objectively ruling out heparin-induced thrombocytopenia without sending a confirmatory serotonin release assay. Increasing the optical density threshold to 1.0 resulted in a high specificity and negative predictive value.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Funding information Kommission für Technologie und Innovation, Grant/Award Number: 19190.2 PFIW‐IW Abstract Aggregates are amongst the most important product‐related impurities to be removed during the downstream processing of antibodies due to their potential immunogenicity. Traditional operations use cation‐exchange resins in bind‐elute mode for their separation. However, frontal analysis is emerging as an alternative. In this study, a three‐step process development for a membrane adsorber and a resin material is carried out, allowing the comparison between the stationary phases. Based on a screening study, optimal loading conditions are determined, which show that weak binding is favored on the membrane and strong binding on the resin. Transfer of these findings to breakthrough experiments shows that at 99% pool purity the yield is higher for the membrane, while the resin can be loaded twice as high, exceeding yields of 85%. For the investigated antibody and based on a given regeneration protocol, the productivity of the two phases is similar, ranging around 200 g/(L·h). Due to the higher loading, the resin requires about one‐third less buffer than the membrane. Furthermore, the implementation of a wash step after loading allows to further increase yield by about 5%. In comparison to a generic bind‐elute process, productivity and buffer consumption are improved by an order of magnitude.
Moral Credentials, Intergroup Attitudes, and Regulatory Focus Interactively Affect Support for Affirmative Action

Abstract People generally tend to stay consistent in their attitudes and actions but can feel licensed to act less-than-virtuously when an initial moral action provides an excuse to do so (i.e., moral self-licensing). A handful of studies have tested how relevant initial attitudes moderate the self-licensing effect but yielded mixed findings: Initial attitudes either decrease, increase, or do not influence licensing dynamics. To account for these inconsistent findings, we propose that the effect of attitudes could itself interact with other factors, notably motivational orientation. We conducted two studies taking into account initial attitudes, absence/presence of moral credentials, and participants’ chronic regulatory focus. Drawing from self-completion theory, we expected self-licensing to occur specifically amongst prevention-focused participants holding positive intergroup attitudes. Results supported this prediction. Prevention-focused participants with positive intergroup attitudes supported affirmative action policies to a lesser extent when they had acquired moral credentials, as compared to when they had not (i.e., self-licensing), t(329) = –3.79, p < . 001, d = –. 42, 95% CI [–. 64, –. 20]. Additionally, promotion-focused participants holding positive intergroup attitudes supported affirmative action policies to a greater extent when they had acquired moral credentials (i.e., behavioral consistency), t(329) = 2.44, p = . 015, d = . 27, 95% CI [. 05, . 49].
Curvature, Entropy, Congestion Management and the Power Grid

This work develops a congestion management method for the power grid utilizing the notion of curvature. It initially uses the curvature concept to detect areas prone to congestion (negative curvature areas) and it subsequently applies load balancing techniques (through FACTS devices) and load deployment (storage devices) to maximize curvature (grid decongestion) and cost-effectively minimize the generated energy throughout the grid, while at the same time guaranteeing stability under phase angle and voltage constraints. Two different curvature definitions are compared (Ollivier-Ricci Curvature and Effective Resistance Curvature), and an entropy concept suitable to power grid is introduced as a new measure to analyze grid congestion.
Do Health Worker Female and Traditional Birth Attendant Equipped to Provide Primary Health Care in Tribal Areas? Evidences from Tribal Andhra Pradesh

Abstract An attempt has been made in this paper to study the knowledge, skills and performance of Multi pupose Health Worker (Female) (MPHW-F) working in tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh, their self perceived training needs in various areas of Maternal and Child Health and the knowledge of Traditional Birth Attendants in providing maternal and child health services in tribal areas.The study found that in general the MPHW (F) were ill equipped to provide MCH services in tribal areas. The knowledge of health worker female in areas of MCH were very poor, especially in areas of intra natal, post natal and treatment of minor ailments. The skills were also far below satisfactory. Majority of them could not perform accurately even the basic skills like taking height and weight of pregnant women, The other skills like hoemoglobin testing, urine testing for albumin etc were performed by gross error. Health worker over estimated their level of knowledge and skills and under estimated their need for training. The TBAs too were lagging behind in the correct knowledge and safe practices in conducting delivery. Hence there is an urgent need to redesign the basic training of health workers working in tribal areas.
Meaningful Nonsense: Invented Words Reveal Characteristics of Emotional Stimuli

The mirror neuron system and the 8-12 Hz activity associated with it is implicated as a systematic response important for empathy. Previous research has demonstrated that this activity is suppressed when participants observe painful stimuli. Perspective taking, such as taking the perspective of a stranger, the self, or a close other has been shown to activate different areas of the brain in response to these same stimuli. The goal of the current investigation is to determine whether the mirror neuron system activity is modulated for spinal cord injury patients whose injuries have resulted in paraplegia when taking each of the three aforementioned perspectives. EEG recordings were conducted while participants observed painful images of the upper and lower extremities. It is hypothesized that the mirror neuron system activity response will be modulated for the spinal cord injury patients because they cannot feel pain in their lower extremities, but they should show the typical response for the upper extremities. This hypothesis stems from research on amputee patients who show cortical reorganization as a result of loss of limb, and we are interested in determining whether spinal cord injury patients show a similar reorganization. Our hypothesis for this experiment was not supported due to the finding that spinal cord injury patients showed similar patterns of mu rhythm suppression in response to painful stimuli in the lower extremities
Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) With Micafungin: The Importance of Causality Assessment

Background: Micafungin is increasingly used in the treatment and prevention of candidiasis in hospitalized patients. Limited data are available from which to assess the risk of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) with micafungin. No studies, to date, have applied a standardized causality assessment method to the study of micafungin-associated DILI. Objective: This study aimed to identify the frequency and clinical pattern of DILI in micafungin-treated patients as determined using 2 standardized causality assessment algorithms. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of micafungin-treated patients at a single center between May 15, 2017, and May 15, 2018. DILI was defined on the basis of liver test elevations and the presence of associated signs and symptoms. The Roussel UClaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) and the Naranjo algorithm were applied to each case. Results: A total of 99 patients were assessed; 52 were excluded, with a final sample of 47 evaluable patients. The definition of DILI was met in 9 (19%) patients, with a clinical pattern consistent with cholestatic injury in 7 of 9 (78%) patients. No cases were associated with jaundice. Agreement between the 2 causality assessment methods occurred in 4 of 9 (44%) cases. Application of the RUCAM algorithm led to the exclusion of 4 cases, resulting in a final reported prevalence of micafungin-associated DILI of 10.6%. Conclusion and Relevance: Asymptomatic DILI was identified in 10.6% of micafungin-treated patients. The choice of a causality assessment nomogram substantially influenced the determination of DILI prevalence. Compared with the Naranjo algorithm, the RUCAM algorithm is recommended as a more precise tool of assessing the relationship between drug exposure and DILI.
Rituximab-Mediated Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity Enhanced by Gemcitabine in Older Patients with Previously Rituximab-Treated Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Study Protocol.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation is too toxic for elderly patients with relapsed or refractory (DLBCL). Therefore, tolerable and efficient salvage regimens for elderly patients are greatly needed. In this study, therapy with rituximab, gemcitabine, dexamethasone, and cisplatin (R-GDP) will be performed every 4 weeks, and an interim evaluation will be performed after the completion of the 3rd course. If a complete response (CR) is achieved at the time of interim evaluation, 1 course of R-GDP therapy and 2 courses of monotherapy with rituximab will be additionally performed. If a partial response (PR) is achieved, 3 courses of R-GDP therapy will be additionally conducted. In patients without a PR or CR by the time of the interim evaluation, treatment will be discontinued. Treatment will also be discontinued at any point if disease progression is observed during protocol treatment. After the completion of the final course of R-GDP therapy, final effects of the regimen will be evaluated. A primary endpoint is the efficacy of R-GDP therapy (CR and response rates). This is the first multicenter phase II clinical study of R-GDP therapy to examine post-treatment activities of daily living in addition to the safety and efficacy of treatment in elderly patients with relapsed or refractory transplant ineligible DLBCL.
Wing‐fanning frequency as a releaser boosting male mating success—High‐speed video analysis of courtship behavior in Campoplex capitator, a parasitoid of Lobesia botrana

Campoplex capitator is an ichneumonid parasitoid with a narrow host range, comprising grapevine moth pests. Despite being considered one of the possible candidates for biocontrol of Lobesia botrana, knowledge about its biology is limited and mass‐rearing for commercial purposes is still lacking. This research provides a quantitative analysis of the C. capitator courtship and mating behavior. C. capitator mating sequence was analyzed by high‐speed video recordings. Main behavioral parameters, with special reference to male wing fanning and antennal tapping, were quantified and linked with mating success. Furthermore, we analyzed the occurrence of population‐level behavioral asymmetries during C. capitator sexual interactions and their impact on male success. Results showed that male wing fanning was crucial to successfully approach the female. Males achieving higher mating success performed wing‐fanning at higher frequencies over unsuccessful ones. After wing fanning, most of males palpated the female's body with their antennae, before attempting copulation. The overall mating success was >70%, with a rather long copula duration (254.76 ± 14.21 s). Male wing‐fanning was lateralized on the left at population level, while antennal tapping displays were right‐biased. Side‐biased male displays do not differ in terms of frequency and duration of their main features. This research adds basic knowledge to the C. capitator behavioral ecology. Since rearing protocols for C. capitator are being developed, male wing fanning frequency may represent a useful benchmark for monitoring mate quality over time, tackling mating success reductions due to prolonged mass‐rearing.
PPARγ and RhoBTB1 in hypertension.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review provides an up-to-date understanding of how peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) exerts its cardioprotective effect in the vasculature through its activation of novel PPARγ target genes in endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. RECENT FINDINGS In vascular endothelial cells, PPARγ plays a protective role by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and preventing oxidative stress. RBP7 is a PPARγ target gene enriched in vascular endothelial cells, which is likely to form a positive feedback loop with PPARγ. In vascular smooth muscle cells, PPARγ antagonizes the renin-angiotensin system, maintains vascular integrity, suppresses vasoconstriction, and promotes vasodilation through distinct pathways. Rho-related BTB domain containing protein 1 (RhoBTB1) is a novel PPARγ gene target in vascular smooth muscle cells that mediates the protective effect of PPARγ by serving as a substrate adaptor between the Cullin-3 RING ubiquitin ligase and phosphodiesterase 5, thus restraining its activity through ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. SUMMARY In the vasculature, PPARγ exerts its cardioprotective effect through its transcriptional activity in endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. From the understanding of PPARγ's transcription targets in those pathways, novel hypertension therapy target(s) will emerge.
Genetic counselor and proxy patient perceptions of genetic counselor responses to prenatal patient self‐disclosure requests: Skillfulness is in the eye of the beholder

Research demonstrates some genetic counselors self‐disclose while others do not when patients’ request self‐disclosure. Limited psychotherapy research suggests skillfulness matters more than type of counselor response. This survey research assessed perceived skillfulness of genetic counselor self‐disclosures and non‐disclosures. Genetic counselors (n = 147) and proxy patients, women from the public (n = 201), read a hypothetical prenatal genetic counseling scenario and different counselor responses to the patient's question, What would you do if you were me? Participants were randomized either to a self‐disclosure study (Study 1) or non‐disclosure study (Study 2) and, respectively, rated the skillfulness of five personal disclosures and five professional disclosures or five decline to disclose and five redirecting non‐disclosures. Counselor responses in both studies varied by intention (corrective, guiding, interpretive, literal, or reassuring). Participants also described what they thought made a response skillful. A three‐way mixed ANOVA in both studies analyzed skillfulness ratings as a function of sample (proxy patient, genetic counselor), response type (personal, professional self‐disclosure, or redirecting, declining non‐disclosure), and response intention. Both studies found a significant three‐way interaction and strong main effect for response intention. Responses rated highest in skillfulness by both genetic counselors and proxy patients in Study 1 were a guiding personal self‐disclosure and a personal reassuring self‐disclosure. The response rated highest in skillfulness by both samples in Study 2 was a redirecting non‐disclosure with a reassuring intention. Proxy patients in both studies rated all literal responses as more skillful than genetic counselors. Participants’ commonly described a skillful response as offering guidance and/or reassurance. Counselor intentions and response type appear to influence perceptions, and counselors and patients may not always agree in their perceptions. Consistent with models of practice (e.g., Reciprocal‐Engagement Model), genetic counselors generally should aim to convey support and guidance in their responses to prenatal patient self‐disclosure requests.
Social and medical need for whole genome high resolution NIPT

Two technological innovations in the last decade significantly influenced the diagnostic yield of prenatal cytogenetic testing: genomic microarray allowing high resolution analysis and noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) focusing on aneuploidy. To anticipate future trends in prenatal screening and diagnosis, we evaluated the number of invasive tests in our center and the number of aberrant cases diagnosed in the last decade.
Interaction between PI3K/AKT and Hippo pathways during in vitro follicular activation and response to fragmentation and chemotherapy exposure using a mouse immature ovary model

Abstract Understanding and control of the massive and accelerated follicular growth that occurs during in vitro culture of ovarian tissue is a crucial step toward the development of efficient culture systems that offer an attractive alternative to ovarian tissue transplantation for fertility restoration in cancer survivors. One outstanding question focuses on processes that occur prior to cryopreservation, such as tissue sectioning or chemotherapeutic treatment, might exacerbate this follicular activation. Although the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is well known as a major trigger of physiological and chemotherapy-induced follicular activation, studies have shown that disruption of Hippo pathway due to ovarian fragmentation acts as an additional stimulator. This study aimed to characterize the possible interactions between these pathways using post-natal day 3 mouse ovaries cultured for 4 or 48 h. Morphology, gene transcription, and protein levels were assessed to investigate the impact of sectioning or chemotherapy exposure (4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide [4HC], 3 and 20 µM). The effect of an mTORC1 inhibitor, Everolimus, alone or as a 4HC co-treatment to prevent follicle activation was evaluated. The results showed that organ removal from its physiological environment was as effective as sectioning for disruption of Hippo pathway and induction of follicle activation. Both PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Hippo pathways were involved in chemotherapy-induced follicular activation and responded to fragmentation. Surprisingly, Everolimus was able to prevent the activation of both pathways during chemotherapy exposure, suggesting cross-talk between them. This study underscores the major involvement of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Hippo pathways in in vitro follicle activation and provides evidence that both can be regulated using mTORC1 inhibitor. Summary sentence PI3K and Hippo pathways interact to trigger spontaneous and induced in vitro follicular activation and mTORC1 inhibitor acts on both of them to moderate their effects.
Hypertensive crisis management in the emergency room: time to change?

A rapid, marked and persistent rise in blood pressure (BP) levels above 180/120mmHg is a clinical condition currently defined as hypertensive emergency or urgency in the presence or absence of acute signs of hypertension-mediated organ damage, respectively [1]. Beyond the magnitude of BP rise and absolute BP levels, early recognition of these conditions is crucial from both a prognostic and a therapeutic point of view. Indeed, current European guidelines recommend clinical observation with repeated BP measurements and gradual BP reductions throughout the administration of oral antihypertensive drug therapies in individuals with hypertensive urgencies [2]. On the other hand, patients with hypertensive emergencies should immediately receive pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for lowering BP levels, mostly through the administration of intravenous drugs, and undergo specific treatment protocols for the clinical management of associated clinical conditions, such as acute coronary syndromes, stroke, pulmonary oedema, eclampsia, and aortic dissection [2]. Similar recommendations have been issued by the United States guidelines on hypertension [3]. Whatever the cause and in any clinical presentation, two aspects should be always taken in mind when approaching hypertensive emergencies or urgencies. The first is that there is lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials for the best therapeutic protocol or drug to adopt. The second is that in both cases, BP reductions should be obtained gradually, avoiding excessive BP drops and complications because of low blood flow to the brain, the kidney or the heart. In view of the widespread prevalence of hypertension in both low-income and high-income countries, and considering theprogressive increase in thenumberofhospitalizations
Attributions About Bereaved Spouses: Testing the Myths of Coping With Loss

Social expectations influence how we cope with loss and how people in our social networks respond to us. Wortman and Silver outlined Western cultural assumptions, or myths, about mourning, thought to influence judgments of one’s grief response. In particular, the two myths hypothesized to affect social judgments about grievers’ adjustment were related to (a) the intensities of the grief response and (b) the duration of the grief response. We assessed if these myths affected the attributions of potential support providers in a convenience sample of 510 Amazon Mechanical Turk community participants. The results indicated preheld expectancies that expressing and processing loss is important to recover from grief was related to attributions about the adjustment of spousally bereaved grievers in vignettes. However, any level of grief symptoms displayed in vignettes was associated with participants, indicating they would discourage expression of grief and distance themselves from the person grieving.