Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systolic and diastolic heart failure in the community.

CONTEXT The heart failure (HF) syndrome is heterogeneous. While it can be defined by ejection fraction (EF) and diastolic function, data on the characteristics of HF in the community are scarce, as most studies are retrospective, hospital-based, and rely on clinically indicated tests. Further, diastolic function is seldom systematically assessed based on standardized techniques. OBJECTIVE To prospectively measure EF, diastolic function, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in community residents with HF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Echocardiographic measures of EF and diastolic function, measurement of blood levels of BNP, and 6-month mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Olmsted County residents with incident or prevalent HF (inpatients or outpatients) between September 10, 2003, and October 27, 2005, were prospectively recruited to undergo assessment of EF and diastolic function by echocardiography and measurement of BNP. RESULTS A total of 556 study participants underwent echocardiography at HF diagnosis. Preserved EF (> or =50%) was present in 308 (55%) and was associated with older age, female sex, and no history of myocardial infarction (all P<.001). Isolated diastolic dysfunction (diastolic dysfunction with preserved EF) was present in 242 (44%) patients. For patients with reduced EF, moderate or severe diastolic dysfunction was more common than when EF was preserved (odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-2.51; P = .01). Both low EF and diastolic dysfunction were independently related to higher levels of BNP. At 6 months, mortality was 16% for both preserved and reduced EF (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.61-1.19; P = .33 for preserved vs reduced EF). CONCLUSIONS In the community, more than half of patients with HF have preserved EF, and isolated diastolic dysfunction is present in more than 40% of cases. Ejection fraction and diastolic dysfunction are independently related to higher levels of BNP. Heart failure with preserved EF is associated with a high mortality rate, comparable to that of patients with reduced EF.
The Arabidopsis thaliana non-specific phospholipase C2 is involved in the response to Pseudomonas syringae attack

Background and Aims The non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) is a new member of the plant phospholipase family that reacts to abiotic environmental stresses, such as phosphate deficiency, high salinity, heat and aluminium toxicity, and is involved in root development, silicon distribution and brassinolide signalling. Six NPC genes (NPC1-NPC6) are found in the Arabidopsis genome. The NPC2 isoform has not been experimentally characterized so far. Methods The Arabidopsis NPC2 isoform was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. NPC2 enzyme activity was determined using fluorescent phosphatidylcholine as a substrate. Tissue expression and subcellular localization were analysed using GUS- and GFP-tagged NPC2. The expression patterns of NPC2 were analysed via quantitative real-time PCR. Independent homozygous transgenic plant lines overexpressing NPC2 under the control of a 35S promoter were generated, and reactive oxygen species were measured using a luminol-based assay. Key Results The heterologously expressed protein possessed phospholipase C activity, being able to hydrolyse phosphatidylcholine to diacylglycerol. NPC2 tagged with GFP was predominantly localized to the Golgi apparatus in Arabidopsis roots. The level of NPC2 transcript is rapidly altered during plant immune responses and correlates with the activation of multiple layers of the plant defence system. Transcription of NPC2 decreased substantially after plant infiltration with Pseudomonas syringae, flagellin peptide flg22 and salicylic acid treatments and expression of the effector molecule AvrRpm1. The decrease in NPC2 transcript levels correlated with a decrease in NPC2 enzyme activity. NPC2-overexpressing mutants showed higher reactive oxygen species production triggered by flg22. Conclusions This first experimental characterization of NPC2 provides new insights into the role of the non-specific phospholipase C protein family. The results suggest that NPC2 is involved in the response of Arabidopsis to P. syringae attack.
‘Dropped from the system’: the experiences and challenges of long‐term breast cancer survivors

AIMS The aim of this study was to explore breast cancer patients' experiences during survivorship. Particular attention is given to the role of specialist breast care nurses in supporting women throughout this phase. BACKGROUND There is a relative lack of research involving long-term breast cancer survivors. Yet, many survivors experience substantial psychosocial and iatrogenic harms created by diagnosis, symptoms of disease and treatment. A more comprehensive understanding may assist in supporting the needs of breast cancer survivors. DESIGN An exploratory qualitative approach was used to collect data on breast cancer survivors' experiences during 2013. METHODS Semi-structured interview data were collected from seven British women aged 38-80 years exploring the support received during survivorship. Data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. FINDINGS Breast cancer survivors perceived a systemic absence in support from oncology teams and rapid deterioration of support from personal support networks. Despite this, survivors were able to find benefits from the cancer experience. This allowed for adjustment and enabled patients to assume a new identity as a breast cancer survivor. We recommend specialist breast care nurses would be suitably placed to provide extended support allowing for a salient transition from treatment to survivorship. CONCLUSION This study yields insights into breast cancer survivorship and specifically the role of specialist breast care nurses. Given the growing cohort of breast cancer survivors and the increased importance on promoting and supporting optimal psychosocial adjustment, we advise the cost-effectiveness of providing continuing nursing support and the mode of administration requires further research.
Forecasting of Twitter hashtag temporal dynamics using locally weighted projection regression

Popularity of social networks opens great opportunities for market such as advertisement. Using hashtags increasingly used in twits helps us to realize popular topics on the internet. Since most of new hashtags become popular and then fade away quickly, there is a limited time to predict the trend. Therefore, this paper proposes a fast incremental method to forecast the rate of the used hashtags in hour like time series. Two main parts for forecasting system are applied Preprocessing and Supervised Learning. Normalization is one of most popular preprocessing of dataset also proposed to have larger dataset. Moreover, the efficiency of the system under changing number of input (number of past hours from hashtag history) and output (number of next hours which is going to be predicted) are evaluated. Locally Weighted Projection Regression as one of the most powerful machine learning methods with no metaparameter are applied in this paper as real-time learning method. The performance of the system is verified by implementation of “Volume Time Series of Memetracker Phrases and Twitter Hashtags”. The results show that the errors of forecasting system are good enough to understand the trend of the hashtag.
Power quality improvement in RDS using smart DSTATCOM

This Paper Simulates the SVC (Static VAR Compensator) and DSTATCOM (Distribution Static Synchronous Compensator) for 4 Bus Radial distribution systems (RDS) to improve voltage stability with higher precision, smaller overshoot and robustness with improved performance. The results are compared with Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) Controller for the effectiveness. Finally, developed a prototype of 4 bus Radial Distribution System (RDS) with shunt connected Distribution Static Synchronous Compensator (DSTATCOM) capable of voltage regulation with Digital Signal Processor TMS320F2812. With the contribution of intelligent operation and Digital control implementation in the RDS, The complexities envisaged by integrating FACTS during smart grid transformation are simplified. Thus, Power quality (PQ) problems like reducing the reactive power and non-linearities such as voltages sags and waveform deformations caused by load fluctuations and harmonics effectively.
Advanced significance analysis of microarray data based on weighted resampling: a comparative study and application to gene deletions in Mycobacterium bovis

MOTIVATION When analyzing microarray data, non-biological variation introduces uncertainty in the analysis and interpretation. In this paper we focus on the validation of significant differences in gene expression levels, or normalized channel intensity levels with respect to different experimental conditions and with replicated measurements. A myriad of methods have been proposed to study differences in gene expression levels and to assign significance values as a measure of confidence. In this paper we compare several methods, including SAM, regularized t-test, mixture modeling, Wilk's lambda score and variance stabilization. From this comparison we developed a weighted resampling approach and applied it to gene deletions in Mycobacterium bovis. RESULTS We discuss the assumptions, model structure, computational complexity and applicability to microarray data. The results of our study justified the theoretical basis of the weighted resampling approach, which clearly outperforms the others.
Endurance with partnership: a preliminary conceptual framework for couples undergoing in vitro fertilisation treatment

Abstract Background/objectives: Infertility affects both women and men in the physical, emotional, existential, and interpersonal realms. When couples seek in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, they further suffer from the difficulties of the treatment and the uncertainty of its outcome. The aim of this study was to develop a preliminary conceptual framework for couples undergoing IVF treatment to give health professionals a better understanding of the experiences of such couples, and to guide the development of an intervention. Methods: The process of identifying frameworks adopted in intervention studies confirmed that there is no established framework for infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment. A skeletal framework identified from previous studies provides an internal structure for the proposed framework for couples undergoing IVF treatment, filled out with concepts drawn from a concept analysis and a qualitative study, knitting the structure together. Results: This preliminary framework is the Endurance with Partnership Conceptual Framework (P-EPCF). It consists of four domains: the impacts of infertility and stressors, dyadic mediators, dyadic moderators and dyadic outcomes. According to the P-EPCF, the impacts of infertility and IVF treatment can be mediated by the couples’ partnership and dyadic coping. Improvements in the psychological well-being and marital functioning of IVF couples can then be expected. Conclusions: The P-EPCF would be potentially valuable in guiding the development of a complex, couple-based intervention, which could focus on enhancing the partnership of couples and their coping strategies.
Spliced integrated retrotransposed element (SpIRE) formation in the human genome

Human Long interspersed element-1 (L1) retrotransposons contain an internal RNA polymerase II promoter within their 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and encode two proteins, (ORF1p and ORF2p) required for their mobilization (i.e., retrotransposition). The evolutionary success of L1 relies on the continuous retrotransposition of full-length L1 mRNAs. Previous studies identified functional splice donor (SD), splice acceptor (SA), and polyadenylation sequences in L1 mRNA and provided evidence that a small number of spliced L1 mRNAs retrotransposed in the human genome. Here, we demonstrate that the retrotransposition of intra-5′UTR or 5′UTR/ORF1 spliced L1 mRNAs leads to the generation of spliced integrated retrotransposed elements (SpIREs). We identified a new intra-5′UTR SpIRE that is ten times more abundant than previously identified SpIREs. Functional analyses demonstrated that both intra-5′UTR and 5′UTR/ORF1 SpIREs lack Cis-acting transcription factor binding sites and exhibit reduced promoter activity. The 5′UTR/ORF1 SpIREs also produce nonfunctional ORF1p variants. Finally, we demonstrate that sequence changes within the L1 5′UTR over evolutionary time, which permitted L1 to evade the repressive effects of a host protein, can lead to the generation of new L1 splicing events, which, upon retrotransposition, generates a new SpIRE subfamily. We conclude that splicing inhibits L1 retrotransposition, SpIREs generally represent evolutionary “dead-ends” in the L1 retrotransposition process, mutations within the L1 5′UTR alter L1 splicing dynamics, and that retrotransposition of the resultant spliced transcripts can generate interindividual genomic variation.
Regeneration Utilization of Spent MgO–CaO Bricks for Argon Oxygen Decarburization Furnace

Regenerated MgO–CaO brick samples with MgO contents of 80%, 70% and 60%, respectively, were prepared with spent MgO–CaO bricks for AOD furnace and fused magnesite as raw materials at 1 873 K for 2 h. The phase composition, microstructure,mechanical property and the hydration resistance of the recycled samples at various composition were investigated. The results show that the recycled samples contain MgO and CaO, which are homogenously dispersive in the samples with a small amount of Ca3SiO5and 4CaO Al2O3 Fe2O3. The mechanical property at room temperature increases with increasing the spent MgO–CaO bricks content in the samples. A significant decrease of the flexural strength at 1 373 K occurs for the sample with MgO of 60%. The maximum weight gain rate is 0.82%, showing the recycled sample has a superior hydration resistance. The hydration resistance decreases as the spent MgO–CaO bricks content increases in the recycled samples.
Fine-Scale Distribution Modeling of Avian Malaria Vectors in North-Central Kansas

ABSTRACT: Infectious diseases increasingly play a role in the decline of wildlife populations. Vector-borne diseases, in particular, have been implicated in mass mortality events and localized population declines are threatening some species with extinction. Transmission patterns for vector-borne diseases are influenced by the spatial distribution of vectors and are therefore not uniform across the landscape. Avian malaria is a globally distributed vector-borne disease that has been shown to affect endemic bird populations of North America. We evaluated shared habitat use between avian malaria vectors, mosquitoes in the genus Culex and a native grassland bird, the Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), by (1) modeling the distribution of Culex spp. occurrence across the Smoky Hills of north-central Kansas using detection data and habitat variables, (2) assessing the occurrence of these vectors at nests of female Greater Prairie-Chickens, and (3) evaluating if shared habitat use between vectors and hosts is correlated with malarial infection status of the Greater Prairie-Chicken. Our results indicate that Culex occurrence increased at nest locations compared to other available but unoccupied grassland habitats; however the shared habitat use between vectors and hosts did not result in an increased prevalence of malarial parasites in Greater Prairie-Chickens that occupied habitats with high vector occurrence. We developed a predictive map to illustrate the associations between Culex occurrence and infection status with malarial parasites in an obligate grassland bird that may be used to guide management decisions to limit the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Disease-specific molecular events in cortical multiple sclerosis lesions

Cortical lesions constitute an important part of multiple sclerosis pathology. Although inflammation appears to play a role in their formation, the mechanisms leading to demyelination and neurodegeneration are poorly understood. We aimed to identify some of these mechanisms by combining gene expression studies with neuropathological analysis. In our study, we showed that the combination of inflammation, plaque-like primary demyelination and neurodegeneration in the cortex is specific for multiple sclerosis and is not seen in other chronic inflammatory diseases mediated by CD8-positive T cells (Rasmussen’s encephalitis), B cells (B cell lymphoma) or complex chronic inflammation (tuberculous meningitis, luetic meningitis or chronic purulent meningitis). In addition, we performed genome-wide microarray analysis comparing micro-dissected active cortical multiple sclerosis lesions with those of tuberculous meningitis (inflammatory control), Alzheimer’s disease (neurodegenerative control) and with cortices of age-matched controls. More than 80% of the identified multiple sclerosis-specific genes were related to T cell-mediated inflammation, microglia activation, oxidative injury, DNA damage and repair, remyelination and regenerative processes. Finally, we confirmed by immunohistochemistry that oxidative damage in cortical multiple sclerosis lesions is associated with oligodendrocyte and neuronal injury, the latter also affecting axons and dendrites. Our study provides new insights into the complex mechanisms of neurodegeneration and regeneration in the cortex of patients with multiple sclerosis.
Re versed radiation pressure effect on electrons under plasmonic resonance in a magnetic metamaterial

We numerically studied optical radiation pressure effect on metallic thin film in a magnetic metamaterial under oblique incidence. The model system consists of an aluminum nanowire and a spatially separated homogeneous gold thin film. We found that for localized SPPs coupling electrons in the metallic film are pulled and pushed depending on the detuning of the resonance. Our numerical calculation and analysis revealed that for the pushing force anti-parallel plasmonic coupling is induced in the structure. On the other hand for the pulling force parallel plasmonic coupling are also induced in addition to the anti-parallel mode. We found that optical pulling force on electrons originates from the parallel plasmonic coupling.
DNA methylation of METTL7A gene body regulates its transcriptional level in thyroid cancer

DNA methylation is the best-studied epigenetic mechanism for regulating gene transcription and maintaining genome stability. Current research progress of transcriptional regulation by DNA methylation mostly focuses on promoter region where hypomethylated CpG islands are present transcriptional activity, as hypermethylated CpG islands generally result in gene repression. Recently, the DNA methylation patterns across the gene body (intragenic methylation) have increasingly attracted attention towards their role in transcriptional regulation and efficiency, due to the improvement of numerous genome-wide DNA methylation profiling studies. However, the function and mechanism of gene body methylation is still unclear. In this study, we revealed that the methylation level of METTL7A, a seldom studied gene, was downregulated in thyroid cancer compared to normal thyroid cells in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, we determined the methylation level of one CpG site at the exon of the METTL7A gene body impacted the transcriptional activity. Through generating a mutation of this CpG site (CG to CC) of METTL7A exogenous vector artificially in vitro, we observed higher RNA polymerase II recruitment and a declined enrichment of methyl-CpG binding protein-2 in gene body of METTL7A, in papillary thryoid cancer cells (BCPAP) compared to normal thryoid cells. Finally, we revealed that EZH2, a subunit of polycomb repressor complex 2, dominant in thyroid cancer, might be responsible for regulating gene body methylation of METTL7A. Our study depicted the DNA methylation patterns and the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of the gene body in thyroid cancer. Furthermore, this study provides new insight into potential future avenues, for therapies targeting cancer.
Customized graphical user interface implementation of Kinect Fusion for underwater application

Commercial time of flight depth camera such as the Kinect v2 have been shown to perform underwater for 3D scene reconstruction of underwater objects. However, to incorporate the additional noise and incorporating effect of refraction due to the change in the imaging medium, a customized user implementation of the underlying scene reconstruction algorithms with the additional developed filters needs to be developed. This paper presents the details and performance of such a graphical user interface developed for Kinect v2. The GUI is a customized implementation of the Kinect Fusion framework, and incorporates underwater camera calibration, noise filtering, time of flight correction and refraction correction filters developed to adapt Kinect Fusion for 3D scene reconstruction in an underwater environment. Details of the user interface and the effect of various sub-functions and additional correction filters on the performance of Kinect Fusion reconstruction are discussed in detail.
Association between adult height, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke and death: a Korean nationwide population-based study.

Background The association between adult height and cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality has been suggested, albeit inconsistently. We sought to discover the comprehensive relationship between height, CV-related morbidity and all-cause death according to age. Methods We investigated the association between adult height and myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), stroke incidence and mortality in 16 528 128 Korean patients who underwent regular health check-ups (2005-08). Height was stratified by decile according to age (20-39 years, 40-59 years and ≥60 years) and gender. Results During a 9-year follow-up period, 590 346 participants died and 232 093 were admitted to hospital for MI, 201 411 for HF and 267 566 for stroke. An inverse relationship between height and MI, HF, stroke and all-cause death was observed in the overall cohort analysis. The association was unchanged after adjusting for CV risk and behavioural and adulthood socioeconomic factors. Both male and female sex showed an inverse relationship with height in adulthood, CV events and mortality. Adult height showed an inverse association in all CV events and mortality, especially in the older groups (≥40 years). In a subgroup analysis of body mass index, there was an inverse relationship between height, CV events and mortality in each group. Conclusions Shorter height in adulthood was strongly related to an increased risk of MI, HF, stroke and all-cause death. A suitable environment and appropriate nutrition early in life could influence adult height and eventually reduce the risk of CV events and mortality.