Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Venous thromboembolism prevention in intracerebral hemorrhage: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Introduction To summarize and compare the effectiveness of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis to pneumatic compression devices (PCD) for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were systematically searched to identify randomized and non-randomized studies that compared each intervention directly to each other or against a common control (hydration, anti-platelet agents, stockings) in adults with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Two investigators independently screened the studies, extracted data, and appraised risk of bias. Studies with a high risk of bias were excluded from our final analysis. The primary outcome was the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (proximal deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) in the first 30 days. Results 8,739 articles were screened; four articles, all randomized control trials, met eligibility criteria. Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed to calculate risk estimates using both fixed and random effects analyses. 607 patients were included in the network analysis. PCD were associated with a significant decrease in venous thromboembolism compared to control (OR: 0.43, 95% Credible Limits [CrI]: 0.23–0.80). We did not find evidence of statistically significant differences between pharmacological thromboprophylaxis and control (OR: 0.93, 95% CrI: 0.19–4.37) or between PCD and pharmacological thromboprophylaxis (OR: 0.47, 95% CrI: 0.09–2.54). Conclusion PCDs are superior to control interventions, but meaningful comparisons with pharmacotherapy are not possible due to a lack of data. This requires further exploration via large pragmatic clinical trials Trial registration PROSPERO: CRD42018090960
Combining anatomy and physiology: New angiography-based and computed tomography coronary angiography-derived fractional flow reserve indices.

The first reports on deriving pressure loss from anatomy by simulating coronary flow date back 40 years [1]. The pursuit of anatomy-based coronary physiology assessment and its clinical translation has since been accelerated by Paul Morris et al. (2013) and Shengxian Tu et al. (2014) who computed fractional flow reserve (FFR) by applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation to three-dimensional (3D) coronary artery geometries extracted from two angiographic projections [2–4], and by Michail Papafaklis et al. (2014) who developed the virtual functional assessment index (vFAI) to predict flow-limiting coronary stenosis [5]. Avoidance of a pressure wire or microcatheter insertion into the coronary tree, lowers cost, procedural time and patient discomfort — in cases where a hyperemic agent is used — well justify the development of new software for wire-free 3D quantitative coronary angiography (QCA)-based FFR estimation, and the efforts being made to bring such modalities into clinical practice. At present, three validated vendor specific technologies have the promise to substantially improve the clinical adoption of physiological coronary lesion assessment in the routine practice of catheterization laboratory: quantitative flow ratio (QFR, Angio XA 3D software, Medis Medical Imaging System bv, the Netherlands and AngioPlus, Pulse Medical Imaging Technology, Shanghai, China), vessel fractional flow reserve (vFFR, CAAS Workstation, Pie Medical Imaging, Maastricht, the Netherlands), and FFRangio (FFRangio system, CathWorks, Ltd, Kfar-Saba, Israel) [6–9]. Attempts of predicting pulsatile vascular physiology on the basis of steady flow assumptions in CFD analyses have resulted in the development of mathematical methods to accelerate computation of angiography-based FFR estimation [10]. Concurrently, computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA)-based FFR (FFRCT) has also shown high correlation with pressure wire-based FFR and a high accuracy in detecting ischemia causing lesions [11], avoiding both coronary instrumentation and invasive angiography (Fig. 1).
A spatially explicit population model of the effect of spatial scale of heterogeneity in grass–clover grazing systems

SUMMARY The benefits of using white clover (Trifolium repens L.) as a source of nitrogen (N) and nutritious feed in pasture grazed by ruminant livestock have been widely recognized. However, clover is considered inadequate and unreliable as the main source of N input, since its abundance in pasture is patchy, low (typically <0·20) and shows great year-to-year variation. This is thought to be due to the metabolic costs of N fixation, competition with grass, the preference for clover by grazing animals and patchy dung and urine deposition. One solution suggested by a number of authors is to increase the heterogeneity within the pasture by spatially separating clover from grass. This method of pasture management, in order to sustain higher clover content in both the sward and diet of grazing animals, would remove inter-specific competition and equalize grazing pressure, allowing clover to grow unimpeded in greater abundance than previously observed. An existing spatially explicit grass–clover simulation model, developed to investigate the intrinsic spatial and temporal variability within mixed grass–clover swards, was modified and then used to examine the impact of spatial separation on the content, variability and patchiness of clover in pasture. The results show that spatial separation increases both the content and spatial aggregation of clover and reduces year-to-year variation compared with a mixed pasture that fluctuates around a lower mean. The same model was also used to examine the impact of spatial separation across a range of spatial scales, from narrow strips to complete separation, as a means of managing the concerns over disruption to the N cycle within the pasture. The present study shows the importance of the initial sowing arrangement of plant species in sustaining a high content of clover within a pasture in the short term, to at least 20 years depending on the scale of separation, and demonstrates that the spatial separation of clover from grass within a grazed pasture may overcome some of the limitations associated with the use of clover in conventional grass–clover pastures. Results are discussed in terms of benefits to both herbage dry matter production and animal performance.
NMDAr antibodies alter dopamine receptors and cause psychotic behavior in mice.

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate that antibodies from patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis alter the levels of dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) and dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) and cause psychotic-like features in mice. METHODS Cultured rat hippocampal neurons were treated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis or controls, and the effects on clusters of D1R and D2R were quantified. In vivo studies included 71 C57BL/6J mice that were chronically infused with patients' or controls' CSF through ventricular catheters connected to subcutaneous osmotic pumps. Prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startling reflex (PPI; a marker of psychotic-like behavior), memory, locomotor activity, and density of cell-surface and synaptic D1R, D2R, and NMDAR clusters were examined at different time points using reported techniques. RESULTS In cultured neurons, patients' CSF, but not controls' CSF, caused a significant decrease of cell-surface D1R and an increase of D2R clusters. In mice, patients' CSF caused a significant decrease of synaptic and total cell-surface D1R clusters and an increase of D2R clusters associated with a decrease of PPI. These effects were accompanied by memory impairment and a reduction of surface NMDARs, as reported in this model. The psychotic-like features, memory impairment, and changes in levels of D1R, D2R, and NMDAR progressively improved several days after the infusion of patients' CSF stopped. INTERPRETATION In addition to memory deficits and reduction of NMDARs, CSF antibodies from patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis cause reversible psychotic-like features accompanied by changes (D1R decrease, D2R increase) in cell-surface dopamine receptor clusters. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Long-term clinical outcomes of salvage pelvic radiation therapy for oligo-recurrent pelvic lymph nodes after definitive external-beam radiation therapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer

Abstract Although salvage external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is an attractive treatment option for pelvic lymph nodal recurrence (PeNR) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa), limited data are available regarding its long-term efficacy. This study examined the long-term clinical outcomes of patients who underwent salvage pelvic radiation therapy (sPRT) for oligo-recurrent pelvic lymph nodes after definitive EBRT for non-metastatic PCa. Patients who developed PeNR after definitive EBRT and were subsequently treated with sPRT at our institution between November 2007 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The prescribed dose was 45–50.4 Gy (1.8–2 Gy per fraction) to the upper pelvis, with up to 54–66 Gy (1.8–2 Gy per fraction) for recurrent nodes. Long-term hormonal therapy was used as neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy. The study population consisted of 12 consecutive patients with PeNR after definitive EBRT (median age: 73 years). The median follow-up period was 58.9 months. The 5-year overall survival, PCa-specific survival, biochemical failure-free, clinical failure-free, and castration-resistant PCa-free rates were 82.5, 100.0, 62.3, 81.8, and 81.8%, respectively. No grade 2 or higher sPRT-related late toxicities occurred. In conclusion, more than half of the study patients treated with sPRT had a long-term disease-free status with acceptable morbidities. Moreover, most of the patients maintained hormonal sensitivity. Therefore, this approach may be a promising treatment method for oligo-recurrent pelvic lymph nodes.
Carbon and nitrogen allocation patterns of Douglas-fir seedlings fertilized with nitrogen in autumn. I. Overwinter metabolism

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings at a western Oregon nursery were fertilized in October 1983 with ammonium nitrate and harvested for biochemical analyses on four dates over autumn and winter 1983–1984. Free amino acid and total nitrogen concentrations in the needles of fertilized seedlings showed a pronounced increase 1 month after fertilization. Free amino acid concentrations of fertilized seedlings decreased in needles during winter but remained stable in stems and fine roots. Just before budbreak in mid-March, free amino acid concentrations increased significantly in stems and fine roots. Total nitrogen concentrations increased 1 month after fertilization, remained stable throughout winter, and tended to decrease or remain stable just before budbreak. Starch and total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations of needles and stems of fertilized seedlings were lower just before budbreak and sugar concentrations of fine roots of fertilized seedlings were lower when data from all.
Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging—A Superior Approach to Assess Tumor–Stroma Ratio in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Extensive desmoplastic stroma is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and contributes to tumor progression and to the relative resistance of tumor cells towards (radio) chemotherapy. Thus, therapies that target the stroma are under intense investigation. To allow the stratification of patients who would profit from such therapies, non-invasive methods assessing the stroma content in relation to tumor mass are required. In the current prospective study, we investigated the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), a radiologic method that measures the random motion of water molecules in tissue, in the assessment of PDAC lesions, and more specifically in the desmoplastic tumor stroma. We made use of a sophisticated DW-MRI approach, the so-called diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), which possesses potential advantages over conventional and widely used monoexponential diffusion-weighted imaging analysis (cDWI). We found that the diffusion constant D from DKI is highly negatively correlated with the percentage of tumor stroma, the latter determined by histology. D performed significantly better than the widely used apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from cDWI in distinguishing stroma-rich (>50% stroma percentage) from stroma-poor tumors (≤50% stroma percentage). Moreover, we could prove the potential of the diffusion constant D as a clinically useful imaging parameter for the differentiation of PDAC-lesions from non-neoplastic pancreatic parenchyma. Therefore, the diffusion constant D from DKI could represent a valuable non-invasive imaging biomarker for assessment of stroma content in PDAC, which is applicable for the clinical diagnostic of PDAC.
Influence of grilling pretreatment and optimization of sous vide processing parameters on the physicochemical and microbiological quality of pirarucu fillet

The demand for high-quality food products has promoted the study of techniques for its processing and conservation. The present research aimed to evaluate the influence of grilling pretreatment on the physical characteristics of pirarucu fillets and the heat transfer process by a computational modelling, and to optimize the sous vide process parameters. Before and after the sous vide process, the samples were analysed for microbiological, chemical and physical characteristics. There was no significant difference between the total experimental time of grilling and that obtained by computational modelling. Immersion in brine for 300 s in combination with grilling at 200 ℃/120 s was selected because of its water-holding capacity (%) 79.40 ± 0.31, texture (N) 1.91 ± 0.40 and value of L* 74.44 ± 0.38 in the fillets. Cooking at 60 ℃ for 568.8 s were the best sous vide parameters obtained, with highest water-holding capacity (%) 93.60, texture (N) 6.24, ΔE* 7.43, and with microbiological loads below 6 log CFU/g and 7 log MPN/g in the final product. Useful information obtained from this study highlighted the brine and grill pretreatment in combination with sous vide proved it is a potential solution for developing pirarucu products even at an industrial scale.
Soil Compaction and Growth of Woody Plants

Abstract Although soil compaction in the field may benefit or inhibit the growth of plants, the harmful effects are much more common. This paper emphasizes the deleterious effects of predominantly high levels of soil compaction on plant growth and yield. High levels of soil compaction are common in heavily used recreation areas, construction sites, urban areas, timber harvesting sites, fruit orchards, agroforestry systems and tree nurseries. Compaction can occur naturally by settling or slumping of soil or may be induced by tillage tools, heavy machinery, pedestrian traffic, trampling by animals and fire. Compaction typically alters soil structure and hydrology by increasing soil bulk density; breaking down soil aggregates; decreasing soil porosity, aeration and infiltration capacity; and by increasing soil strength, water runoff and soil erosion. Appreciable compaction of soil leads to physiological dysfunctions in plants. Often, but not always, reduced water absorption and leaf water deficits develop. S.
IL-2 Receptor Blockade Inhibits Late, But Not Early, IFN-γ and CD40 Ligand Expression in Human T Cells: Disruption of Both IL-12-Dependent and -Independent Pathways of IFN-γ Production

mAbs directed against the α-chain (Tac/CD25) of the IL-2R are an emerging therapy in both transplantation and autoimmune disease. However, the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic efficacy have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we examined the affect of IL-2R blockade on Th1 and Th2 cytokine production from human PBMC. Addition of a humanized anti-Tac Ab (HAT) to activated PBMC cultures inhibited IFN-γ production from CD4 and CD8 T cells by 80–90%. HAT partially inhibited production of TNF-α and completely inhibited production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. Furthermore, IL-12, a central regulatory cytokine that induces IFN-γ, was undetectable in treated cultures. As T cell-dependent induction of IL-12 is regulated via CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) interactions, we examined the affect of HAT on CD40L expression. We found CD40L expression to be biphasic with an early (6 h) peak that is CD28/IL-2-independent, but a later peak (48 h) being CD28/IL-2-dependent and inhibited by HAT. Similarly, IFN-γ production at 6 h was CD28/IL-2-independent but CD28/IL-2-dependent and inhibited by HAT at 48 h. Nonetheless, addition of rCD40L or exogenous IL-12 to HAT-treated cultures could not restore IFN-γ production. The IFN-γ deficit in such cultures appears to be due to a direct inhibition by HAT of IL-12-independent IFN-γ production from T cells rather than altered expression of either the IL-12Rβ1 or IL-12Rβ2 chains. These data demonstrate that IL-2 plays a critical role in the regulation of Th1 and Th2 responses and impacts both IL-12-dependent and -independent IFN-γ production.
Características produtivas do repolho em função de espaçamentos e doses de nitrogênio

Yield of 'Kenzan' cabbage was evaluated under plant spacing (80 x 30; 60 x 30 and 40 x 30 cm) and doses of N (0; 75; 150; 225 and 300 kg ha-1). The experiment was conduced in field conditions, using a soil with low N content, from September to December/2002. The experimental design was a completely randomized split-pot scheme and four replicates, where the factors spacing and doses of N were in the plot and split-plot, respectively. The doses of N were applied using 20% of the total in the transplant and 20% at 20 days after the transplant (DAT) and 30% at 35 and 50 DAT. Harvest began 65 DAT and extended to 83 DAT. Production of fresh mass of head/area, mass fresh average weight of head, leaf area of external leaves, leaf area index, harvest precocity and liquid income were evaluated. Increasing the doses of N resulted in an increase of all the appraised characteristics. Reduction of spacing resulted in a decrease of the mass fresh average of head, leaf area of the external and crop precocity. Considering the production of fresh mass of head/area, the mass fresh average of head adapted to the demands of the market and of the Brazilian consumers and liquid income, the spacing of 40 x 30 cm and the dose of 253 kg ha-1 of N proved to be the most suitable for the cultivation of the cabbage in spring conditions.
Seasonal Dynamics of Phytoplankton and Microbiological Communities during Sporadic Fish Die-Offs in the Bir M'Cherga Reservoir (Tunisia)

Abstract Proliferations of cyanobacteria are becoming increasingly widespread in many artificial reservoirs, and may have detrimental effects on ecosystem functioning, especially when the water sustains commercial fisheries. This is the case of the Bir M'Cherga reservoir in North Tunisia, where sporadic fish die-offs have been recently reported. A two-year survey investigated a dual-community structure including both phytoplankton and the main fecal bacterial indicators facing to environmental factors. Low abundances of fecal indicator bacteria were recorded, indicating that no direct human contamination had occurred. However, the ecological status of this reservoir did show signs of degradation, Bacillariophyceae being superseded by Cyanobacteria, with a “nearlyexclusive” dominance of Planktothrix agardhii lasting several months, in association with Planktolyngbya limnetica and Pseudanabaena limnetica. In contrast, the rapid decline of P. agardhii observed in spring 2007 favored greater phytoplankton diversity, with the summer occurrence of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Even though no significant relationships were identified between fish mortality and biological factors, the very presence of two bloomforming and potentially toxic cyanobacterial species may be viewed as a potentially serious issue with regard to water use and fish farming in the Tunisian reservoir.
Geometry of the nuclear envelope determines its flexural stiffness

During closed mitosis in fission yeast, growing microtubules push onto the nuclear envelope to deform it, which results in fission into two daughter nuclei. The resistance of the envelope to bending, quantified by the flexural stiffness, helps determine the microtubule-dependent nuclear shape transformations. Computational models of envelope mechanics have assumed values of the flexural stiffness of the envelope based on simple scaling arguments. The validity of these estimates is in doubt, however, owing to the complex structure of the nuclear envelope. Here, we performed computational analysis of the bending of the nuclear envelope under applied force using a model that accounts for envelope geometry. Our calculations show that the effective bending modulus of the nuclear envelope is an order of magnitude larger than a single membrane and approximately five times greater than the nuclear lamina. This large bending modulus is in part due to the 45 nm separation between the two membranes, which supports larger bending moments in the structure. Further, the effective bending modulus is highly sensitive to the geometry of the nuclear envelope, ranging from twofold to an order magnitude larger than the corresponding single membrane. These results suggest that spatial variations in geometry and mechanical environment of the envelope may cause a spatial distribution of flexural stiffness in the same nucleus. Overall, our calculations support the possibility that the nuclear envelope may balance significant mechanical stresses in yeast and in cells from higher organisms.
Association of Dry Eye Disease with Diabetic Retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE To find out the relationship of dry eye disease with diabetic retinopathy, duration of diabetes and blood sugar levels in patients of type 2 diabetes using ocular surface disease index (OSDI). STUDY DESIGN Cross sectional observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Rashid Latif Medical College / Arif Memorial Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from January to June 2019. METHODOLOGY One hundred and thirty-six patients of type 2 diabetes, ages between 25 and 80 years of either gender, were selected from Outpatient Department of the Hospital. After clinical history, complete ocular examination including fundoscopy for diabetic retinopathy was performed. Random blood sugar levels were measured using Glucometer. OSDI was used to grade the dry eye disease (normal, mild, moderate and severe). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25. ANOVA and Post-hoc Tukey test were used to find out the significance of the results. RESULTS Among the 136 participants, 45 (33.10%) were males and 91 (66.90%) were females. Average age was 51.01 ±11.69 years. Association of dry eye symptoms with increasing age and diabetic retinopathy was statistically significant (p=0.031 and p=0.009 respectively). Gender, duration of diabetes, tear meniscus height and blood sugar random (BSR) were not significantly related with dry eye symptoms (p=0.580, 0.121, 0.285 and 0.536, respectively). CONCLUSION Diabetic retinopathy and older age is significantly associated with dry eye disease. Diabetic patients who complain of dry eye should be referred to the ophthalmologists for fundoscopy to find out diabetic retinopathy. Key Words: Dry eye disease, Ocular surface diseast index (OSDI), Diabetic retinopathy, Meibomian gland dysfunction, DEWS II.