Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ophthalmological Symptoms, Evaluation and Diagnosesin Parkinson’s Disease

Objective: To evaluate ophthalmologic symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease patients, the frequency of referral to ophthalmology for these symptoms and the variability in ophthalmologic assessment and diagnosis. Design: Retrospective case series from January 2016 to December 2018. Setting: Northwell affiliated primary care and referral centers. Participants: Parkinson’s Disease patients with a documented ophthalmologic complaint between January 2016 and December 2018. Exposures: Clinical ophthalmologic assessment for referred patients. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rate of ophthalmology referral in Parkinson’s patients with eye related complaints, most common ocular symptoms and diagnosis. We also examined the frequency of ophthalmologic testing including manifest refraction, near vision assessment, oculomotor exam and optical coherence tomography. Results: 123 of the 345 Parkinson’s Disease patients with documented ocular or visual complaint were subsequently seen by ophthalmology, 64 males and 59 females with a mean age of 76.1 +/7.78. The most common symptoms included blurry vision (72%), difficulty reading (72%), ocular discomfort (51%) and double vision (31%). The most common ophthalmological diagnoses included glaucoma (30%), dry eye (28%), and strabismus (22%). There was substantial variability in components of the ophthalmology evaluation, specifically the inclusion of optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retinal nerve fiber layer (33%), and ganglion cell layerinner plexiform layer (10%), testing of near vision (37%) and manifest refraction (31%). Conclusion and Relevance: PD patients with visual complaints are under referred to ophthalmology. Furthermore, once patients are referred, they undergo ophthalmological evaluations that are inconsistent and often not comprehensive. Standards for both referral structure to ophthalmology and ophthalmological assessment are integral for optimal patient care.
Downward Influence of QBO-Like Oscillation on Moist Convection in a Two-Dimensional Minimal Model Framework

The influence of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO)-like oscillation on moist convection is examined using the two-dimensional minimal model framework of Yoden et al. with two series of parameter sweep experiments: model-top experiments with varying model height and low-level nudging experiments with reduced zonal-mean zonal wind toward zero from the surface to a certain level. The QBO-like oscillation in the mean zonal wind is a robust feature obtained in all the experiments, including low-top cases in which only the tropospheric portion is retained. The zonal-mean precipitation is modulated with a half period of the mean zonal wind oscillation in the model-top experiments, and a positive correlation exists between the precipitation intensity and the vertical shear of the mean zonal wind near the surface. The precipitation modulation is weakened with a nudging of the low-level mean zonal wind but appears again in the cases with the low-level nudging in the middle and lower troposphere. There is a negative correlation between the precipitation intensity and the vertical shear of the mean zonal wind in the upper troposphere. These results suggest that the QBO-like oscillation modulates the moist convection via two mechanisms related to the vertical shear. Large values of the shear near the surface enhance the longevity and intensity of the moist convective systems by separating the updraft and downdraft. On the other hand, large values of shear near the cloud top tend to disrupt the convective structure and lead to weakening moist convection, although this mechanism seems to be secondary.
Reducing Efficiency Droop in (In,Ga)N/GaN Light-emitting Diodes by Improving Current Spreading with Electron-blocking Layers of the Same Size as the n-pad

In this study, the traditional electron-blocking layer (EBL) in (In,Ga)N/GaN light-emitting diodes is replaced by a circular EBL that is the same size as the n-pad. The three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear Poisson, drift-diffusion, and continuity equations are adopted to simulate current transport in the LED and its characteristics. The results indicate that the local carrier-density distribution obtained for the circular EBL design is more uniform than that for the traditional EBL design. This improves the uniformity of local radiative recombination and local internal quantum efficiency (IQE) at high injection levels, which leads to a higher lumped IQE and lower efficiency droop. With the circular EBL, the lumped IQE is higher in the outer active region and lower in the active region under the n-pad. Since most emissions from the active region under the n-pad are absorbed by the n-pad, obviously, an LED with a circular EBL will have a higher external quantum efficiency (EQE). The results also show that this LED works at lower applied voltages.
Evaluation of the Version 7 TRMM Multi-Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) 3B42 product over Greece

In this research work, the latest version 7 (V7) of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) 3B42 product is evaluated over Greece, at five different temporal scales; 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hrs. Evaluation is conducted using data from 34 rain gauge stations, for the 2009-2014 period. It has been found that, although there is a notable improvement in the accuracy of the estimates at coarser time scales, the product reliability still remains low (the value of the efficiency coefficient is about 0.22 and about 0.23 in the 48 hr and 3 hr scales respectively). Furthermore, the product systematically underestimates precipitation and the correlation between the satellite and ground data is poor – lower than 0.6 in all cases. The examination of the spatial distribution of bias shows that the error at high resolution temporal scales (3 hr and 6 hr scales) is negative in the greatest part of the country, in contrast to the lower scales, at which the product turns to slightly overestimate precipitation over the regions that are generally characterized by lower total precipitation amounts.
What Is the Predictive Value of a Single Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR Swab Test in a Patient With COVID-Like Symptoms and/or Significant COVID-19 Exposure?

Abstract Utilizing results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and subsequent antibody titers, we report on the test characteristics of a PCR screening test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among hospital workers. The PCR test was found to be 87% sensitive and 97% specific, with a positive predictive value of 0.98 and a negative predictive value of 0.80.
Tea Polyphenols EGCG and Theaflavin Inhibit the Activity of SARS-CoV-2 3CL-Protease In Vitro

COVID-19, a global pandemic, has caused over 750,000 deaths worldwide as of August 2020. A vaccine or remedy for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is necessary to slow down the spread and lethality of COVID-19. However, there is currently no effective treatment available against SARS-CoV-2. In this report, we demonstrated that EGCG and theaflavin, the main active ingredients of green tea and black tea, respectively, are potentially effective to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 activity. Coronaviruses require the 3CL-protease for the cleavage of its polyprotein to make individual proteins functional. EGCG and theaflavin showed inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 3CL-protease in a dose-dependent manner, and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 7.58 μg/ml for EGCG and 8.44 μg/ml for theaflavin. In addition, we did not observe any cytotoxicity for either EGCG or theaflavin at the concentrations tested up to 40 μg/ml in HEK293T cells. These results suggest that upon further study, EGCG and theaflavin can be potentially useful to treat COVID-19.
Examining Effects of Age on Outcomes after Nontraditional Motorized Vehicle Accidents

This study examined patient outcomes from accidents involving nontraditional motorized vehicles. A total of 558 patients aged >17 years were observed retrospectively. The study groups were divided by age. The Adult Trauma Group (ATG) (N=452) consisted of patients aged 18-64 years and the Elderly Trauma Group (ETG) (N=106) consisted of patients aged ≥65 years. All-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents were the most common (N=437, 78%) among both study groups and also the primary cause of death, with 17 deaths (4%). The most common discharge disposition was home or self-care (routine discharge) with 427 patients (77%). The mortality rate of the total population was 4.1% (23 total deaths). There was a statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay (p=0.03) and length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (p=0.03) between the two groups and patients ≥65 years were statistically more likely to be discharged to a care facility vs. home. Nontraditional motorized vehicles continue to grow in popularity in all ages and the effect of age on patient outcomes after injury is an important area to evaluate.
Dynamics of Populations

Where you can find the dynamics of populations easily? Is it in the book store? On-line book store? are you sure? Keep in mind that you will find the book in this site. This book is very referred for you because it gives not only the experience but also lesson. The lessons are very valuable to serve for you, that's not about who are reading this dynamics of populations book. It is about this book that will give wellness for all people from many societies.
Evaluation of Dental Pulp Stem Cell Heterogeneity and Behaviour in 3D Type I Collagen Gels

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are increasingly being advocated for regenerative medicine-based therapies. However, significant heterogeneity in the genotypic/phenotypic properties of DPSC subpopulations exist, influencing their therapeutic potentials. As most studies have established DPSC heterogeneity using 2D culture approaches, we investigated whether heterogeneous DPSC proliferative and contraction/remodelling capabilities were further evident within 3D type I collagen gels in vitro. DPSC subpopulations were isolated from human third molars and identified as high/low proliferative and multipotent/unipotent, following in vitro culture expansion and population doubling (PD) analysis. High proliferative/multipotent DPSCs, such as A3 (30 PDs and 80 PDs), and low proliferative/unipotent DPSCs, such as A1 (17 PDs), were cultured in collagen gels for 12 days, either attached or detached from the surrounding culture plastic. Collagen architecture and high proliferative/multipotent DPSC morphologies were visualised by Scanning Electron Microscopy and FITC-phalloidin/Fluorescence Microscopy. DPSC proliferation (cell counts), contraction (% diameter reductions), and remodelling (MMP-2/MMP-9 gelatin zymography) of collagen gels were also evaluated. Unexpectedly, no proliferation differences existed between DPSCs, A3 (30 PDs) and A1 (17 PDs), although A3 (80 PDs) responses were significantly reduced. Despite rapid detached collagen gel contraction with A3 (30 PDs), similar contraction rates were determined with A1 (17 PDs), although A3 (80 PDs) contraction was significantly impaired. Gel contraction correlated to distinct gelatinase profiles. A3 (30 PDs) possessed superior MMP-9 and comparable MMP-2 activities to A1 (17 PDs), whereas A3 (80 PDs) had significantly reduced MMP-2/MMP-9. High proliferative/multipotent DPSCs, A3 (30 PDs), further exhibited fibroblast-like morphologies becoming polygonal within attached gels, whilst losing cytoskeletal organization and fibroblastic morphologies in detached gels. This study demonstrates that heterogeneity exists in the gel contraction and MMP expression/activity capabilities of DPSCs, potentially reflecting differences in their abilities to degrade biomaterial scaffolds and regulate cellular functions in 3D environments and their regenerative properties overall. Thus, such findings enhance our understanding of the molecular and phenotypic characteristics associated with high proliferative/multipotent DPSCs.
Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Biphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) Is Required for Rapid Endocytosis in Chromaffin Cells

Objective Phosphoinositides play a regulatory role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. However, their involvement in clathrin-independent endocytosis termed rapid endocytosis (RE), which is the mode of vesicle recycling during neurotransmitter release by transient fusion (known as kiss-and-run), has not been investigated. Here, we used patch-clamp recording of whole-cell membrane capacitance in adrenal chromaffin cells (ACC) to monitor changes of RE kinetics in response to pharmacological alteration of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) level by phenylarsine oxide (PAO) or antibody against phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (AbPI4K). Results We found that PAO and AbPI4K significantly abrogated RE kinetics. Infusion of PI(4,5)P2 through the patch pipette potentiated RE kinetics and reversed PAO- and AbPI4K-induced blockade of RE. Similarly, the application of the bifunctional thiol dithiothreitol (DTT) to PAO-treated cells completely prevented the inhibitory effect of PAO on RE. These findings indicate that PI(4,5)P2 is implicated in the signaling (mechanistic) process of RE in ACC.
Hypertonic saline improves brain edema resulting from traumatic brain injury by suppressing the NF-κB/IL-1β signaling pathway and AQP4

Although hypertonic saline (HS) has been extensively applied to treat brain edema in the clinic, the precise mechanism underlying its function remains poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of HS in brain edema in terms of aquaporins and inflammatory factors. In the present study, traumatic brain injury (TBI) was established in male adult Sprague-Dawley rats, which were continuously administered 10% HS by intravenous injection for 2 days. In addition, brain edema and brain water content were detected by MRI and wet/dry ratio analysis and histological examination, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining for albumin and western blotting for occludin, zonula occludens-1 and claudin-5 was performed to evaluate the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression was also analyzed using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, whilst interleukin (IL)-1β and NF-κB levels were measured using ELISA. It was demonstrated that HS treatment significantly reduced brain edema in TBI rats and downregulated AQP4 expression in cerebral cortical tissues around the contusion site. In addition, IL-1β and NF-κB levels were found to be downregulated after 10% HS treatment. Therefore, results from the present study suggested that HS may protect against brain edema induced by TBI by modulating the expression levels of AQP4, NF-κB and IL-1β.
The Heat Shock Protein 70 Plays a Protective Role in Sepsis by Maintenance of the Endothelial Permeability

Sepsis is a severe system inflammatory response syndrome in response to infection. The vascular endothelium cells play a key role in sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. The heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has been reported to play an anti-inflammatory role and protect from sepsis. The present study is aimed at finding the function of HSP70 against sepsis in vascular endothelium cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and HSP70 agonist and inhibitor were used to treat HUVEC. Cell permeability was measured by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay and FITC-Dextrans. Cell junction protein levels were measured by western blot. Mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to establish a sepsis model and were observed for survival. After LPS incubation, HSP70 expression was decreased in HUVEC. LPS induced the inhibition of cell viability and the increases of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, cell permeability was increased and cell junction proteins (E-cadherin, occludin, and ZO-1) were downregulated after treatment with LPS. However, HSP70 could reverse these effects induced by LPS in HUVEC. In addition, LPS-induced elevated phosphorylation of p38 can be blocked by HSP70. On the other hand, we found that inhibition of HSP70 had similar effects as LPS and these effects could be alleviated by the inhibitor of p38. Subsequently, HSP70 was also found to increase survival of sepsis mice in vivo. In conclusion, HSP70 plays a protective role in sepsis by maintenance of the endothelial permeability via regulating p38 signaling.
A Xeno-Free Strategy for Derivation of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells and Wharton's Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Feasibility Study toward Personal Cell and Vascular Based Therapy

Coimplantation of endothelial cells (ECs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into the transplantation site could be a feasible option to achieve a sufficient level of graft-host vascularization. To find a suitable source of tissue that provides a large number of high-quality ECs and MSCs suited for future clinical application, we developed a simplified xeno-free strategy for isolation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (WJ-MSCs) from the same umbilical cord. We also assessed whether the coculture of HUVECs and WJ-MSCs derived from the same umbilical cord (autogenic cell source) or from different umbilical cords (allogenic cell sources) had an impact on in vitro angiogenic capacity. We found that HUVECs grown in 5 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF) supplemented xeno-free condition showed higher proliferation potential compared to other conditions. HUVECs and WJ-MSCs obtained from this technic show an endothelial lineage (CD31 and von Willebrand factor) and MSC (CD73, CD90, and CD105) immunophenotype characteristic with high purity, respectively. It was also found that only the coculture of HUVEC/WJ-MSC, but not HUVEC or WJ-MSC mono-culture, provides a positive effect on vessel-like structure (VLS) formation, in vitro. Further investigations are needed to clarify the pros and cons of using autogenic or allogenic source of EC/MSC in tissue engineering applications. To the best of our knowledge, this study offers a simple, but reliable, xeno-free strategy to establish ECs and MSCs from the same umbilical cord, a new opportunity to facilitate the development of personal cell-based therapy.
Systematic Elucidation of the Mechanism of Quercetin against Gastric Cancer via Network Pharmacology Approach

This study was aimed at elucidating the potential mechanisms of quercetin in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). A network pharmacology approach was used to analyze the targets and pathways of quercetin in treating GC. The predicted targets of quercetin against GC were obtained through database mining, and the correlation of these targets with GC was analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Next, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and overall survival (OS) analysis of hub targets was performed using the Kaplan–Meier Plotter online tool. Finally, the mechanism was further analyzed via molecular docking of quercetin with the hub targets. Thirty-six quercetin-related genes were identified, 15 of which overlapped with GC-related targets. These targets were further mapped to 319 GO biological process terms and 10 remarkable pathways. In the PPI network analysis, six hub targets were identified, including AKT1, EGFR, SRC, IGF1R, PTK2, and KDR. The high expression of these targets was related to poor OS in GC patients. Molecular docking analysis confirmed that quercetin can bind to these hub targets. In conclusion, this study provided a novel approach to reveal the therapeutic mechanisms of quercetin on GC, which will ease the future clinical application of quercetin in the treatment of GC.
The Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract Background Testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–specific antibodies has become an important tool, complementing nucleic acid tests (NATs) for diagnosis and for determining the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in population serosurveys. The magnitude and persistence of antibody responses are critical for assessing the duration of immunity. Methods A SARS-CoV-2-specific immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay for immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) was developed and prospectively evaluated by comparison to the reference standard of NAT on respiratory tract samples from individuals with suspected COVID-19. Neutralizing antibody responses were measured in a subset of samples using a standard microneutralization assay. Results A total of 2753 individuals were eligible for the study (126 NAT-positive; prevalence, 4.6%). The median “window period” from illness onset to appearance of antibodies (range) was 10.2 (5.8–14.4) days. The sensitivity and specificity of either SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgA, or IgM when collected ≥14 days after symptom onset were 91.3% (95% CI, 84.9%–95.6%) and 98.9% (95% CI, 98.4%–99.3%), respectively. The negative predictive value was 99.6% (95% CI, 99.3%–99.8%). The positive predictive value of detecting any antibody class was 79.9% (95% CI, 73.3%–85.1%); this increased to 96.8% (95% CI, 90.7%–99.0%) for the combination of IgG and IgA. Conclusions Measurement of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody by IFA is an accurate method to diagnose COVID-19. Serological testing should be incorporated into diagnostic algorithms for SARS-CoV-2 infection to identify additional cases where NAT was not performed and resolve cases where false-negative and false-positive NATs are suspected. The majority of individuals develop robust antibody responses following infection, but the duration of these responses and implications for immunity remain to be established.
Preliminary Results of a Novel Standardized Technique of Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty for Keratoconus

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility and the initial outcomes of a novel standardized surgical technique of femtosecond laser- (FSL-) assisted big-bubble deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (BBDALK) for eyes with keratoconus. Methods This prospective interventional case series included 11 consecutive FSL-assisted BBDALK procedures performed for the eyes with keratoconus from September 2019 to December 2019. The FSL was used to create (i) an intrastromal channel incision (1.7 mm in length, 4.6 mm in width, 80% depth, and cut energy of 1.70 μJ) and (ii) a 9.0 mm diameter circular lamellar side cut 65 μm above the endothelium (cut energy of 0.90 μJ) intersecting the intrastromal incision. In the operating room, a blunt dissector was used to open the intrastromal channel incision, through which a blunt spatula was inserted, tangentially advanced towards the center of the cornea, and replaced with a blunt cannula for pneumatic dissection. The subsequent surgical steps did not differ from the conventional technique. Main outcome measures were the success rate of pneumatic dissection and the percentage of intraoperative complications. Results Eleven eyes of 11 patients (6 males and 5 females; mean age: 34.54 ± 13.23 years) underwent FSL-assisted DALK. Using the FSL, both corneal incisions (lamellar side cut and intrastromal channel incision) were successfully created in all cases without the need for repeat docking or additional dissection. Pneumatic dissection with type 1 bubble formation succeeded in all 11 eyes (100%). DALK surgery was completed uneventfully in all cases. Descemet membrane perforation did not occur in any case, and no procedure was converted to penetrating keratoplasty. Conclusion Using standardized FSL parameters for both incision design and cut energy in BBDALK surgery, pneumatic dissection can be achieved in a very high rate of cases with minimal risk of intraoperative complications.