Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow expression of CD68/CD163 macrophages, IL‐17 and FOXP3 cells in aplastic anemia and their relation to prognosis

The primary mechanism for bone marrow failure in aplastic anemia (AA) is autoimmune hematopoietic stem cell destruction. AA can be cured with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment, and some smaller studies have indicated that the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may be predictive of response. Additionally, AA patients appear to have elevated numbers of Th17 cells and bone marrow macrophages, but outcome data are missing.
Percutaneous endoscopy (peritoneoscopy) and lithotripsy for retrieval of dropped gallstones post-cholecystectomy

Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Experimental Therapeutics Program, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD; Division of Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA BRIEF REPORT
Presence of fetal DNA in maternal exhaled breath condensate

Cell‐free DNA has been found in all body fluids, but DNAs emerging from locations that are not in direct contact with breath in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) are yet to be found. The potential of EBC for prenatal and cancer screening prompted us to investigate whether fetal DNA is present in maternal EBC.
Calcium Sulfate Fouling-Precipitation or Particulate: A Proposed Composite Model

Though it is of great importance, the majority of predictive models tend not to incorporate water chemistry in their formulations. The ionic diffusion model which was developed for CaCO3, is based purely on crystallization, and is one of the few models that incorporates water chemistry. This model does not provide satisfactory predictions for CaSO4 fouling. In this article, a new model is proposed for CaSO4 fouling which takes into account the effect of both crystallization and particulate fouling and is capable of predicting the fouling resistance during the cleaning cycle as well as the fouling cycle. A removal term is incorporated into the model, as the occurrence of particulate fouling for CaSO4 tends to weaken its crystalline structure and makes it more prone than CaCO3 to removal. Properties of the electrolyte were evaluated using MINTEQA2 computer code, which is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this model, particulate fouling is estimated using the physical mechanism for particle transport and adherence, crystallization is estimated by ionic diffusion, and the removal term is approximated using hydrodynamics of flow and deposit properties. The inclusion of both crystallization and removal terms incorporates the effects of both water chemistry and hydrodynamics of the flow and provides a relationship which not only can predict fouling but also can predict dissolution, by change of water quality and/or stopping the operation, or removal by shear stress. The proposed model was assessed using published experimental data. The results indicate that this model provides good predictions: the slope of predicted rates as a function of the experimental rates is 1.05. The experimental results, though limited in number, suggest that crystallization is not the main or only mechanism contributing to CaSO4 fouling. Particulate fouling seems to be a major contributor. Further experimentation is in process to confirm the degree of particulate fouling and to substantiate or to modify the model accordingly.
Barriers and facilitators influencing EBP readiness: Building organizational and nurse capacity.

BACKGROUND Organizational supported evidence-based practice (EBP) enables nurses to be change agents and impact patient outcomes. Globally, a multitude of barriers limits EBP implementation, evaluation, and dissemination, which include time constraints, staff, resource access, education, technology, and fiscal support. These barriers and other disenfranchising elements hinder nurses' ability to actualize EBP and change practice within their workplace. AIMS This study describes the EBP readiness, barriers, and facilitators reported by inpatient registered nurses (RNs) employed in a nationwide healthcare system before COVID-19. METHODS The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive survey design using the 2005 Nursing EBP Survey for RN EBP readiness. The setting included 14 hospitals in Southern California. The survey was deployed in November 2016 and closed after 23 weeks. Descriptive statistics analyzed demographics and EBP scores, with inferential statistics for associations between demographics and EBP scores. ANOVA examined differences between EBP scores, service lines, years of employment, and education level. A content approach synthesized open-ended barrier and facilitator questions into seven specific themes. RESULTS Seven hundred and twenty-four nurses completed the survey. Overall, the scores of inpatient RNs were highest scores for Practice Climate, suggesting the health system fosters a climate conducive to EBP. Scores were lowest for Data Collection and Implementation. Qualitative themes were: (1) Everyone Involved in EBP Implementation, (2) Fear and Resistance to Change, (3) Protected Release Time, (4) Knowing EBP Culture Outside of Current Organization, (5) Organizational Communication and Education, (6) Management and Leadership Support, and (7) Pragmatic Solutions to Facilitate EBP. Fear and Resistance to Change cut across all themes. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION Nurses at all organizational levels from the C-suite to the bedside can create strategies to determine essential EBP readiness components, including EBP mentors to guide knowledge uptake activities. Pragmatic solutions for EBP capacity require frontline nurse feedback, commitment, and partnership with nursing leaders.
In search for the optimal ventricular systolic dysfunction metric that associates with reduced exercise capacity

Reduced exercise capacity is frequently encountered in a variety of patients, and often associated with diminished ventricular function. Ideally, the outcome of a standard cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) corresponds with a single well-defined measure of ventricular (dys)function. Unfortunately, a universally applicable metric to evaluate ventricular performance is not yet available. Ejection fraction (EF) has traditionally been employed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) pump function, but major shortcomings have been outlined. To compensate for the missing component in EF we successfully introduced a companion (C) associated with EF, and denoted as EFC. Alternative candidates to evaluate ventricular performance include fractional area change (FAC), global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), RV index of myocardial performance (RIMP), among many others. In a carefully carried out study, Massey et al. analyzed the association between LV systolic dysfunction and reduced exercise capacity in 96 (54% female) allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) survivors, of whom 74% had a treated malignancy. The investigations concern adolescents and young adults, and refer to data reported at follow-up, collected on average some 17 years after alloHSCT. Their study is complementary to earlier publications on these patients and specifically aims to describe in detail cardiac function by ultrasound assessment beyond 2D-LVEF. The authors conclude that LVGLS is superior to other echocardiographic indices explored for identifying reduced exercise capacity in these long-term survivors. However, judging from the data in their Table 3, while comparing patients with reduced exercise capacity with the normal group, the adjusted p (for LVEF) is 0.046 and p (for LVGLS) is 0.043, which difference is not significant on the basis of the Fisher z-transformation. On the other hand, and not unexpected for this patient category, p (for RVGLS) = 0.021. Unfortunately, RVEF was not reported.
MONTE CARLO COMPARISON OF FOUR NORMALITY TESTS USING DIFFERENT ENTROPY ESTIMATES

The paper studies four entropy tests of normality of real valued observations using four statistics based on different entropy estimates from n i.i. d. observations. For the test size α = 0.05 and sample sizes 5 ≤ n ≤ 50, it presents critical values of the test statistics. It also compares the power and robustness of these four tests using Monte Carlo computations for sample sizes n = 10 and n = 20. Preferences between the tests based on these computations can be extrapolated for small sample sizes.
AC81 Is a Putative Disulfide Isomerase Involved in Baculoviral Disulfide Bond Formation

Many large DNA viruses, such as poxvirus, asfarvirus, and baculovirus, encode their own sulfhydryl oxidase to facilitate the disulfide bond formation of viral proteins. Here, we show that AC81 functions as a putative disulfide isomerase and is involved in multiple functions of the baculovirus life cycle. ABSTRACT The correct formation of native disulfide bonds is critical for the proper structure and function of many proteins. Cellular disulfide bond formation pathways commonly consist of two parts: sulfhydryl oxidase-mediated oxidation and disulfide isomerase-mediated isomerization. Some large DNA viruses, such as baculoviruses, encode sulfhydryl oxidases, but viral disulfide isomerases have not yet been identified, although G4L in poxvirus has been suggested to serve such a function. Here, we report that the baculovirus core gene ac81 encodes a putative disulfide isomerase. ac81 is conserved in baculoviruses, nudiviruses, and hytrosaviruses. We found that AC81 homologs contain a typical thioredoxin fold conserved in disulfide isomerases. To determine the role of AC81, a series of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) bacmids containing ac81 knockout or point mutations was generated, and the results showed that AC81 is essential for budded virus production, multinucleocapsid occlusion-derived virus (ODV) formation, and ODV embedding in occlusion bodies. Nonreducing Western blot analysis indicated that disulfide bond formation in per os infectivity factor 5 (PIF5), a substrate of the baculoviral sulfhydryl oxidase P33, was abnormal when ac81 was knocked out or mutated. Pulldown assays showed that AC81 interacted with PIF5 and P33 in infected cells. In addition, two critical regions that harbor key amino acids for function were identified in AC81. Taken together, our results suggest that AC81 is a key component involved in the baculovirus disulfide bond formation pathway and likely functions as a disulfide isomerase. IMPORTANCE Many large DNA viruses, such as poxvirus, asfarvirus, and baculovirus, encode their own sulfhydryl oxidase to facilitate the disulfide bond formation of viral proteins. Here, we show that AC81 functions as a putative disulfide isomerase and is involved in multiple functions of the baculovirus life cycle. Interestingly, AC81 and P33 (sulfhydryl oxidase) are conserved in baculoviruses, nudiviruses, and hytrosaviruses, which are all insect-specific large DNA viruses replicating in the nucleus, suggesting that viral disulfide bond formation is an ancient mechanism shared by these viruses.
To what extent do post-traumatic mental health and other problems reflect pre-existing problems? Findings from the prospective comparative population-based VICTIMS-study

Background: Findings from prospective studies question the assumption that mental health problems observed in traumatized adults mainly reflect the effects of potentially traumatic events. Aims: Aim of the present comparative prospective study is to clarify the extent to which victims of potentially traumatic events with mental health, social, financial, and/or legal problems, already suffered from such problems before these events. Method: Data was extracted from three surveys of the prospective VICTIMS-study (T1 = 2018, T2 = 2019, T3 = 2020), conducted with the population-based longitudinal LISS-panel. Differences between victims (n = 340, victimized by violence, accidents, and serious threats in the 12 months before T3) and nonvictims (n = 3,872, not victimized by such events in this period), were examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The large majority of victims with current (at T3) anxiety and depression symptomatology (74%), general mental health problems (71%), partner/family (67%), financial (76%), and legal problems (58%), and lack of support (79%), already had these problems (at T1 and/or at T2). A similar pattern was observed among nonvictims. Of the victims with current probable PTSD (at T3), 87% already had any mental health problem. At T3, among both groups, the incidence of problems was substantially lower than their prevalence. The large majority of victims with post-event mental health, social, financial, and legal problems already suffered from these problems in the past. Conclusions: When victims seek help for their problems, professional care providers should be aware that in most cases, as among nonvictims, these problems are chronic/re-current rather than new problems.
Testosterone for women: certainties and uncertainties

Abstract The clinical effects of testosterone in women have expanded from the field of androgen excess to consideration of testosterone action and the consequences of depletion and replacement. This article is not a comprehensive review of the vast and increasing literature in this field. Rather, it summarizes some of what is known of testosterone in women that the author elected to highlight in a plenary lecture and is hopefully informative, but not to be considered conclusive.
Multiple breast cancer liver metastases response to macrophage‐delivered nanotherapy evaluated via a 3D continuum model

Breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM) are usually unresectable and difficult to treat with systemic chemotherapy. A major reason for chemotherapy failure is that BCLM are typically small, avascular nodules, with poor transport and fast washout of therapeutics from surrounding capillaries. We have previously shown that nanoalbumin‐bound paclitaxel (nab‐PTX) encapsulated in porous silicon multistage nanovectors (MSV) is preferentially taken up by tumour‐associated macrophages (TAM) in the BCLM microenvironment. The TAM alter therapeutic transport characteristics and retain it in the tumour vicinity, increasing cytotoxicity. Computational modeling has shown that therapeutic regimens could be designed to eliminate single lesions. To evaluate clinically‐relevant scenarios, this study develops a modeling framework to evaluate MSV‐nab‐PTX therapy targeting multiple BCLM. An experimental model of BCLM, splenic injection of breast cancer 4 T1 cells was established in BALB/C mice. Livers were analyzed histologically to determine size and density of BCLM. The data were used to calibrate a 3D continuum mixture model solved via distributed computing to enable simulation of multiple BCLM. Overall tumour burden was analyzed as a function of metastases number and potential therapeutic regimens. The computational model enables realistic 3D representation of metastatic tumour burden in the liver, with the capability to evaluate BCLM growth and therapy response for hundreds of lesions. With the given parameter set, the model projects that repeated MSV‐nab‐PTX treatment in intervals <7 days would control the tumour burden. We conclude that nanotherapy targeting TAM associated with BCLM may be evaluated and fine‐tuned via 3D computational modeling that realistically simulates multiple metastases.
Landscape‐variability of the carbon balance across managed boreal forests

Boreal forests are important global carbon (C) sinks and, therefore, considered as a key element in climate change mitigation policies. However, their actual C sink strength is uncertain and under debate, particularly for the actively managed forests in the boreal regions of Fennoscandia. In this study, we use an extensive set of biometric‐ and chamber‐based C flux data collected in 50 forest stands (ranging from 5 to 211 years) over 3 years (2016–2018) with the aim to explore the variations of the annual net ecosystem production (NEP; i.e., the ecosystem C balance) across a 68 km2 managed boreal forest landscape in northern Sweden. Our results demonstrate that net primary production rather than heterotrophic respiration regulated the spatio‐temporal variations of NEP across the heterogeneous mosaic of the managed boreal forest landscape. We further find divergent successional patterns of NEP in our managed forests relative to naturally regenerating boreal forests, including (i) a fast recovery of the C sink function within the first decade after harvest due to the rapid establishment of a productive understory layer and (ii) a sustained C sink in old stands (131–211 years). We estimate that the rotation period for optimum C sequestration extends to 138 years, which over multiple rotations results in a long‐term C sequestration rate of 86.5 t C ha−1 per rotation. Our study highlights the potential of forest management to maximize C sequestration of boreal forest landscapes and associate climate change mitigation effects by developing strategies that optimize tree biomass production rather than heterotrophic soil C emissions.
Discovery of a prominent cyclotron absorption feature from the transient X-ray pulsar X0331+53

A remarkable absorption feature at 28.5 keV, attributable to electron cyclotron resonance, has been discovered in the 1.9-60-keV X-ray spectrum of the recurrent transient X-ray pulsar X0331 + 53. The observed resonance energy implies a neutron star surface magnetic field of 2.5(1 + z) x 10 to the 12th G, where z is the gravitational redshift. The detection was made with the Ginga observatory in October 1989, during an outburst of this transient with a flux level of about 0.3 Crab. The feature is very deep and has been resolved with excellent statistics. This is the fourth unambiguous detection of cyclotron resonant scattering features from X-ray pulsars, suggesting that these features are a common phenomenon among these objects. An empirical relation found between the cyclotron resonance energy and the spectral cutoff energy suggests that the magnetic field strengths of the known X-ray pulsars are clustered in a range (1-4) x 10 to the 12th G. 30 refs.
Evaluation of the enamel nano-topography influenced by different techniques of interproximal reduction: An atomic force microscopic study

Introduction: Interproximal enamel reduction is a part of the orthodontic treatment as a method of space generation in addition to other vast indications. Some studies found that different techniques might impose changes to the enamel surface that alter its topography, which in turn might influence its integrity and susceptibility to caries. Polishing, however, after this procedure is thought to be helpful to reduce these adverse effects. Aim: To evaluate the nano-topography of the enamel surfaces after interproximal reduction (IPR) and determine its influence on enamel surface roughness and examine the need for polishing to minimise these influences, when combined with topical fluoride application. Methods: A total of 60 proximal surfaces of 40 extracted maxillary premolars (10 premolars left unprepared as the control group) were reduced with different stripping instruments (discs, burs and manual strip system). The surface roughness of enamel was analysed with an atomic force microscope to determine the results quantitatively as well as qualitatively on the nanoscopic scale. One of each proximal surface was followed by polishing and fluoride varnish after the reduction. Results: The results showed that surface roughness was increased in all groups without polishing. The greatest mean roughness was recorded for the disc group (212 ±125.7), followed by the bur group (172 ±93.1) and manual strips (153.8±106.7). The difference between the groups, however, was not significant for both mean roughness (P = 0.656) and height (P = 0.737). The parameters were decreased after polishing in all groups but the difference between methods was not significant for both parameters (P = 0.946 and P = 0.849); however, the mean height was reduced to nearly half the reading in the bur and manual strip method. The disc group only showed a statistically significant decrease in surface roughness with polishing (P < 0.05). All other results were not significant. Conclusion: All methods of interproximal reduction do not influence enamel surface nanotopography significantly with and without polishing. Polishing resulted in significant reduction of surface roughness only in the disc group.
Anlotinib improves bile duct ligature‐induced liver fibrosis in rats via antiangiogenesis regulated by VEGFR2/mTOR pathway

Cholestasis is a main clinical feature of biliary atresia (BA), which leads to liver fibrosis (LF). The focus of BA treatment is preventing and slowing the progress of LF. This study reports the improvement effect of anlotinib on common bile duct ligature (BDL)‐induced LF in young rats. The BDL young rats were treated with anlotinib and the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, and total bilirubin were determined. Histological staining was performed and pathological changes in liver tissue were observed. The expression levels of α‐SMA, collagen I, CD31, TGF‐β1, phospho‐VEGFR2, phospho‐4E/BP1, and phospho‐S6K1 were determined. The results showed that anlotinib significantly improved the liver function and histopathological injury of BDL rats, inhibited the deposition of collagen and hepatocyte apoptosis, and downregulated the protein expression of α‐SMA and collagen I. Furthermore, anlotinib treatment significantly inhibited microvascular formation in the liver and downregulated the expression level of phospho‐VEGFR2, thereby suggesting that the antifibrosis effect of anlotinib may be achieved by antiangiogenesis. In addition, anlotinib downregulated the expression of phospho‐S6K1 and upregulated the expression of phospho‐4E/BP1, two downstream proteins of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. MHY1485, an agonist of mTOR, significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of anlotinib on angiogenesis and LF but did not influence the effect of anlotinib on the downregulation of phospho‐VEGFR2 expression. Together, the above‐mentioned results suggest that the effect of anlotinib on BDL‐induced LF involves at least antiangiogenesis regulated by the VEGFR2/mTOR signaling pathway.
Large Deviations for a Random Walk in Random Environment

Let $\omega = (p_x)_{x\in\mathbb{Z}}$ be an i.i. d. collection of (0, 1)-valued random variables. Given $\omega$, let $(X_n)_{n \geq 0}$ be the Markov chain on $\mathbb{Z}$ defined by $X_0 = 0$ and $X_{n + 1} = X_n + 1(\operatorname{resp}. X_n - 1)$ with probability $p_{X_n}(\operatorname{resp}.1 - p_{X_n})$. It is shown that $X_n/n$ satisfies a large deviation principle with a continuous rate function, that is, $\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{1}{n}\log P_\omega(X_n = \lfloor\theta_nn\rfloor) = -I(\theta) \omega-\mathrm{a.s. }\text{for} \theta_n\rightarrow\in\lbrack -1, 1\rbrack. $ First, we derive a representation of the rate function $I$ in terms of a variational problem. Second, we solve the latter explicitly in terms of random continued fractions. This leads to a classification and qualitative description of the shape of $I$. In the recurrent case $I$ is nonanalytic at $\theta = 0$. In the transient case $I$ is nonanalytic at $\theta = -\theta_c, 0, \theta_c$ for some $\theta_c \geq 0$, with linear pieces in between.