Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal Prefixation of Cells To Demonstrate Apoptosis by the TUNEL Method

OBJECTIVE To determine the optimal fixation method for cultured human ovarian cancer cell line SHIN-3 to document cisplatin-induced apoptosis by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. STUDY DESIGN Cisplatin-treated cancer cell suspensions were (1) fixed in 4% buffered formalin for 10 minutes (BF group); (2) treated with 2% Carbowax in 50% ethanol (CW) for 10 minutes and then fixed in 100% ethanol for one hour (CW + ET); or (3) treated with CW for 10 minutes and then fixed in 4% buffered formalin for one hour (CW + BF). Cell morphology, adhesion to the glass slides and TUNEL reactivity were compared among the three groups. The effects of prolonged prefixation of cell suspensions in CW and of the postfixation of cell smears in BF for one, three and seven days were also examined. RESULTS CW + BF treatment yielded satisfactory cell morphology, minimum cell loss and an excellent TUNEL reaction. However, prolonged prefixation in CW resulted in cell shrinkage. CONCLUSION CW + BF treatment can be widely recommended for use with cytologic preparations for the TUNEL assay.
Role of Transthoracic Lung Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition. Although computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the reference standard for diagnosis, its early diagnosis remains a challenge, and the concerns about the radiation exposures further limit the general use of CTPA. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the overall diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic lung ultrasound (TLS) in the diagnosis of PE. Methods PubMed, Web of science, OvidSP, ProQuest, EBSCO, Cochrane Library and Clinicaltrial.gov were searched systematically. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curves were used to examine the TS performance. The Bayes analysis was used to calculate the post-test probability of PE. Publication bias was assessed with Deeks funnel plot. Results The results indicated that the sensitivity, specificity, PLR and NLR were 0.85 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.78 to 0.90), and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.73 to 0.90). And the DOR and HSROC were 28.82 (95% CI, 17.60 to 47.21), 0.91(95% CI, 0.88, 0.93). Conclusions The present meta-analysis suggested that transthoracic lung ultrasonography is helpful in diagnosing pulmonary embolism. Although the application of transthoracic lung ultrasound may change some patients’ diagnostic processes, it is inappropriate to generally use transthoracic ultrasonography in diagnosing pulmonary embolism currently.
Suppressive Effects of Clerodendrum volubile P Beauv. [Labiatae] Methanolic Extract and Its Fractions on Type 2 Diabetes and Its Complications

Type 2 diabetes is the most prominent of all diabetes types, contributing to global morbidity and mortality. Availability and cost of treatment with little or no side effect especially in developing countries, remains a huge burden. This has led to the search of affordable alternative therapies especially from medicinal plants. In this study, the antidiabetic effect of the methanolic extract, dichloromethane (DCM), butanol (BuOH) and aqueous fractions of Clerodendrum volubile leaves were investigated in type 2 diabetic rats for their effect on glucose homeostasis, serum insulin level and hepatic biomarkers, lipid profile, pancreatic redox balance and Ca2+ levels, and β-cell distribution and function. The DCM was further fractionated to isolate the active compounds, biochanin and 5,7,4′-trimethoxykaempferol. They were investigated for their toxicity and ADMET properties, α-glucosidase and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities in silico. There were significant (p < 0.05) decrease in blood glucose, cholesterol, LDL-C, vLDL-C, triglyceride, AST and ALT levels in all treated groups, with DCM fraction showing the best activity. All treated rats showed significantly (p < 0.05) improved anti-oxidative activities. Treatment with the DCM fraction led to significant (p < 0.05) increased serum insulin and pancreatic Ca2+ levels, as well as improved β-cell distribution and function. DCM fraction also showed improved glucose tolerance. DCM fraction dose-dependently inhibited ACE activity. The toxicity class of the isolated compounds was predicted to be 5. They were also predicted to be potent inhibitors of cytochrome P (CYPs) 1A2, 2D6 and 3A4. They docked well with α-glucosidase and ACE. These results indicate the therapeutic potential of the plant against type 2 diabetes, with the DCM fraction being the most potent which may be attributed to the isolated flavones. It further suggests antihypertensive potentials of the DCM fraction. However, inhibition of CYPs by the flavones may suggest caution in usage with other prescribed drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
Structural model subtyping with OCL constraints

In model-driven engineering (MDE), models abstract the relevant features of software artefacts and model management operations, including model transformations, act on them automating large tasks of the development process. Flexible reuse of such operations is an important factor to improve productivity when developing and maintaining MDE solutions. In this work, we revisit the traditional notion of object subtyping based on subsumption, discarded by other approaches to model subtyping. We refine a type system for object-oriented programming, with multiple inheritance, to support model types in order to analyse its advantages and limitations with respect to reuse in MDE. Specifically, we extend type expressions with referential constraints and with OCL constraints. Our approach has been validated with a tool that extracts model types from (EMF) metamodels, paired with their OCL constraints, automatically and that exploits the extended subtyping relation to reuse model management operations. We show that structural model subtyping is expressive enough to support variants of model subtyping, including multiple, partial and dynamic model subtyping. The tool has received the ACM badge "Artifacts Evaluated - Functional".
Yoga Poses Increase Subjective Energy and State Self-Esteem in Comparison to ‘Power Poses’

Research on beneficial consequences of yoga focuses on the effects of yogic breathing and meditation. Less is known about the psychological effects of performing yoga postures. The present study investigated the effects of yoga poses on subjective sense of energy and self-esteem. The effects of yoga postures were compared to the effects of ‘power poses,’ which arguably increase the sense of power and self-confidence due to their association with interpersonal dominance (Carney et al., 2010). The study tested the novel prediction that yoga poses, which are not associated with interpersonal dominance but increase bodily energy, would increase the subjective feeling of energy and therefore increase self-esteem compared to ‘high power’ and ‘low power’ poses. A two factorial, between participants design was employed. Participants performed either two standing yoga poses with open front of the body (n = 19), two standing yoga poses with covered front of the body (n = 22), two expansive, high power poses (n = 21), or two constrictive, low power poses (n = 20) for 1-min each. The results showed that yoga poses in comparison to ‘power poses’ increased self-esteem. This effect was mediated by an increased subjective sense of energy and was observed when baseline trait self-esteem was controlled for. These results suggest that the effects of performing open, expansive body postures may be driven by processes other than the poses’ association with interpersonal power and dominance. This study demonstrates that positive effects of yoga practice can occur after performing yoga poses for only 2 min.
Validation of the Italian Tinnitus Questionnaire Short Form (TQ 12-I) as a Brief Test for the Assessment of Tinnitus-Related Distress: Results of a Cross-Sectional Multicenter-Study

Objectives: The use of reliable and valid psychometric tools to assess subjectively experienced distress due to tinnitus is broadly recommended. The purpose of the study was the validation of the Italian version of Tinnitus Questionnaire 12 item short form (TQ 12-I) as a brief test for the assessment of patient reported tinnitus-related distress. Design: Cross-sectional multicenter questionnaire study. Setting: Tinnitus Center, European Hospital (Rome), the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, “Guglielmo da Saliceto” Hospital (Piacenza), and the Department of Audiology and Phoniatry, “Mater Domini” University Hospital (Catanzaro). Participants: One hundred and forty-three outpatients with tinnitus treated at one of the participating medical centers. Main Outcome Measures: Tinnitus Questionnaire Short Form (TQ 12-I), compared to the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey. Results: Our factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution (health anxiety, cognitive distress), accounting for 53.5% of the variance. Good internal consistency for the total score (α = 0.86) and both factors (α = 0.79–0.87) was found. Moderate correlations with the THI (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) indicated good convergent validity. Tinnitus distress was further correlated to increased psychological distress (r = 0.31, p < 0.001) and reduced emotional well-being (r = -0.34, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study clearly showed that the TQ 12-I is a reliable and valid instrument to assess tinnitus-related distress which can be used in clinical practice as well as for research.
Bioadhesive Brain Targeted Nasal Delivery of an Ant ischemic Drug

Transnasal delivery is a non-invasive method of by-passing the BBB to deliver the drug substances and peptides to the CNS. Vinpocetine SLNs was prepared by the high shear homogenization and ultrasonication method. Ten different bioadhesive nasal gels were prepared with Vinpocetine SLNs. Particle size analysis before and after SLNs dispersionin the prepared gel and after storage 30 days in the refrigerator, Rheological Measurements, Evaluation of ex-vivo bioadhesive strength, Histopathological studies ans Ex vivo permeation studies were performed to evaluate the prepared Vinpocetine SLNs bioadhesive nasal gels. Vinpocetine SLNs tissue distribution and in vivo pharmacokinetic study. The drug targeting index (DTI%) was 380.46%and the nose to brain direct transport percentage (DTP%) was 73.71% suggesting a high targeting efficiency of the prepared Vinpocetine SLNs bioadhesive nasal gel formula G10.
A Space-Time Periodic Task Model for Recommendation of Remote Sensing Images

With the rapid development of remote sensing technology, the quantity and variety of remote sensing images are growing so quickly that proactive and personalized access to data has become an inevitable trend. One of the active approaches is remote sensing image recommendation, which can offer related image products to users according to their preference. Although multiple studies on remote sensing retrieval and recommendation have been performed, most of these studies model the user profiles only from the perspective of spatial area or image features. In this paper, we propose a spatiotemporal recommendation method for remote sensing data based on the probabilistic latent topic model, which is named the Space-Time Periodic Task model (STPT). User retrieval behaviors of remote sensing images are represented as mixtures of latent tasks, which act as links between users and images. Each task is associated with the joint probability distribution of space, time and image characteristics. Meanwhile, the von Mises distribution is introduced to fit the distribution of tasks over time. Then, we adopt Gibbs sampling to learn the random variables and parameters and present the inference algorithm for our model. Experiments show that the proposed STPT model can improve the capability and efficiency of remote sensing image data services.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Review

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), also called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), is a cerebrovascular disease with diverse clinical manifestations that often affects young adults, women of childbearing age, and children. It's most common clinical manifestations are headache, seizures, altered consciousness, and neurological focal signs on physical examination. CVT can manifest as a single symptom, or it can present as a syndrome consisting of multiple symptoms. This non-specific clinical picture makes diagnosing CVT difficult. Although the mortality rate of CVT has been significantly reduced by improvements in treatment and diagnostic techniques, the mortality rate of severe CVT remains as high as 34.2%. Survivors of this type of CVT have varying degrees of residual symptoms and are not able to return to their previous work. Hence, we performed a comprehensive literature search in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Medline databases to review the diagnosis and treatment of CVT.
A Phase II, Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Study of Simtuzumab in Combination with FOLFIRI for the Second‐Line Treatment of Metastatic KRAS Mutant Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Lessons Learned. The safety profile in the patient groups who received FOLFIRI and simtuzumab did not differ from that in the FOLFIRI and placebo group. The addition of simtuzumab to chemotherapy with FOLFIRI does not improve clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic KRAS mutant colorectal carcinoma. Background. Simtuzumab, a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase‐like 2 (LOXL2), blocks desmoplastic reaction in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells in vitro. Methods. Patients with metastatic Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutant CRC were randomized to receive second‐line 5‐fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) with either 200 or 700 mg simtuzumab or placebo every 2 weeks in cycles of 28 days. Progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety were assessed. Results. In total, 249 patients were randomized and treated with FOLFIRI/simtuzumab 700 mg (n = 84), FOLFIRI/simtuzumab 200 mg (n = 85), and FOLFIRI/placebo (n = 80). After a median follow‐up of 5.1, 3.8, and 5.5 months, respectively, median PFS for each of the respective treatment groups was 5.5 months (adjusted HR [95% CI], p value versus placebo; 1.32 [0.92, 1.89]; p = .10), 5.4 months (1.45 [1.01, 2.06]; p = .04), and 5.8 months. Median OS was 11.4 months (1.23 [0.80, 1.91]; p = .25), 10.5 months (1.50 [0.98, 2.30]; p = .06), and 16.3 months, respectively. ORR was 11.9%, 5.9%, and 10%, respectively. Simtuzumab was tolerable in metastatic KRAS mutant CRC patients. Conclusion. The addition of simtuzumab to FOLFIRI did not improve clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic KRAS mutant CRC.
Differential association between affect and somatic symptoms at the between‐ and within‐individual level

OBJECTIVES The established between-subjects associations between affect and somatic symptoms have often been interpreted as indicating a causal effect of affect on somatic symptoms, but it is doubtful whether this is valid. In this study, we evaluate the association between positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and somatic symptoms at both the between- and within-subject level. DESIGN AND METHODS Diary data were collected in the context of an online study called 'HowNutsAreTheDutch'. Participants filled out an online questionnaire, three times a day for 30 consecutive days. A mixed linear model was used to test the contemporaneous and lagged associations between affect and somatic symptoms. RESULTS Five hundred and eighty-six participants (481 females, median age 39.6 years [range 18.1-71.4]) were included with a total number of 28,264 completed questionnaires. At the between-subjects level, a positive association between NA and somatic symptoms was found (B = .60, p < .001), whereas the negative association between PA and somatic symptoms was much smaller (B = -.14, p = .062). At the within-subject level, PA (B = -.33, p < .001) was more strongly associated with somatic symptoms than NA (B = .13, p < .001). The lagged analyses showed a negative association between previous-day PA and somatic symptoms (B = -.05, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that NA is more important for differences in symptom levels between subjects, whereas PA is more important for variations in symptom levels within subjects. Moreover, our results suggest that an increase in PA is followed by a decrease in somatic symptoms after 24 hr, which suggests a causal effect. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Affect and somatic processes are closely linked. Cross-sectional studies show, for example, that people with higher levels of negative affect tend to report more somatic symptoms. Findings between individuals, though, might camouflage processes at within-individual level, and it might not always be possible to translate findings at the population level to the individual. However, diary studies are upcoming and show more about processes on individual level. What does this study add? Highlights the difference between processes at the within-individual and the between-individual level. Shows the importance of positive affect at individual level in relation to somatic symptoms. Shows the benefits of the use of new techniques in diary studies.
Application of deep learning to the classification of images from colposcopy

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether deep learning could be applied successfully to the classification of images from colposcopy. For this purpose, a total of 158 patients who underwent conization were enrolled, and medical records and data from the gynecological oncology database were retrospectively reviewed. Deep learning was performed with the Keras neural network and TensorFlow libraries. Using preoperative images from colposcopy as the input data and deep learning technology, the patients were classified into three groups [severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive cancer (IC)]. A total of 485 images were obtained for the analysis, of which 142 images were of severe dysplasia (2.9 images/patient), 257 were of CIS (3.3 images/patient), and 86 were of IC (4.1 images/patient). Of these, 233 images were captured with a green filter, and the remaining 252 were captured without a green filter. Following the application of L2 regularization, L1 regularization, dropout and data augmentation, the accuracy of the validation dataset was ~50%. Although the present study is preliminary, the results indicated that deep learning may be applied to classify colposcopy images.
An Early Sensitive Period Induces Long-Lasting Plasticity in the Honeybee Nervous System

The effect of early experiences on the brain during a sensitive period exerts a long-lasting influence on the mature individual. Despite behavioral and neural plasticity caused by early experiences having been reported in the honeybee Apis mellifera, the presence of a sensitive period in which associative experiences lead to pronounced modifications in the adult nervous system is still unclear. Laboratory-reared bees were fed with scented food within specific temporal windows and were assessed for memory retention, in the regulation of gene expression related to the synaptic formation and in the olfactory perception of their antennae at 17 days of age. Bees were able to retain a food-odor association acquired 5–8 days after emergence, but not before, and showed better retention than those exposed to an odor at 9–12 days. In the brain, the odor-rewarded experiences that occurred at 5–8 days of age boosted the expression levels of the cell adhesion proteins neurexin 1 (Nrx1) and neuroligin 2 (Nlg2) involved in synaptic strength. At the antennae, the experiences increased the electrical response to a novel odor but not to the one experienced. Therefore, a sensitive period that induces long-lasting behavioral, functional and structural changes is found in adult honeybees.
S1P transporter SPNS2 regulates proper postnatal retinal morphogenesis

Spinster homolog 2 (SPNS2) is the membrane transporter of sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P), and it participates in several physiologic processes by activating different S1P receptors (S1PRs). However, its functions in the nervous system remain largely unclear. We explored the important role of SPNS2 in the process of retinal morphogenesis using a spns2‐deficient rat model. In the absence of the functional SPNS2 transporter, we observed progressively aggravating laminar disorganization of the epithelium at the postnatal stage of retinal development. Disrupted cell polarity, delayed cell‐cycle exit of retinal progenitor cells, and insufficient migration of newborn neurons were proposed in this study as potential mechanisms accounting for this structural disorder. In addition, we analyzed the expression profiles of spns2 and s1prs, and proposed that SPNS2 regulated retinal morphogenesis by establishing the S1P level in the eye and activating S1PR3 signaling. These data indicate that SPNS2 is indispensable for normal retinal morphogenesis and provide new insights on the role of S1P in the developing retina using an established in vivo model. —Fang, C. , Bian, G. , Ren, P., Xiang, J., Song, J., Yu, C. , Zhang, Q. , Liu, L. , Chen, K. , Liu, F. , Zhang, K. , Wu, C. , Sun, R. , Hu, D. , Ju, G. , Wang, J. S1P transporter SPNS2 regulates proper postnatal retinal morphogenesis. FASEB J. 32, 3597–3613 (2018). www.fasebj. org
Kinetics of Core Histones in Living Human Cells

Histones H2A and H2B form part of the same nucleosomal structure as H3 and H4. Stable HeLa cell lines expressing histones H2B, H3, and H4 tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) were established; the tagged molecules were assembled into nucleosomes. Although H2B-GFP was distributed like DNA, H3-GFP and H4-GFP were concentrated in euchromatin during interphase and in R-bands in mitotic chromosomes. These differences probably result from an unregulated production of tagged histones and differences in exchange. In both single cells and heterokaryons, photobleaching revealed that H2B-GFP exchanged more rapidly than H3-GFP and H4-GFP. About 3% of H2B exchanged within minutes, whereas ∼40% did so slowly (t 1/2 ∼ 130 min). The rapidly exchanging fraction disappeared in 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole and so may represent H2B in transcriptionally active chromatin. The slowly exchanging fraction was probably associated with chromatin domains surrounding active units. H3-GFP and H4-GFP were assembled into chromatin when DNA was replicated, and then >80% remained bound permanently. These results reveal that the inner core of the nucleosome is very stable, whereas H2B on the surface of active nucleosomes exchanges continually.
Progress in developing virus-like particle influenza vaccines

ABSTRACT Recombinant vaccines based on virus-like particles (VLPs) or nanoparticles have been successful in their safety and efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies. The technology of expressing enveloped VLP vaccines has combined with molecular engineering of proteins in membrane-anchor and immunogenic forms mimicking the native conformation of surface proteins on the enveloped viruses. This review summarizes recent developments in influenza VLP vaccines against seasonal, pandemic, and avian influenza viruses from the perspective of use in humans. The immunogenicity and efficacies of influenza VLP vaccine in the homologous and cross-protection were reviewed. Discussions include limitations of current influenza vaccination strategies and future directions to confer broadly cross protective new influenza vaccines as well as vaccination.