Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Doppler velocimetry of the aortic isthmus in human fetuses with abnormal velocity waveforms in the umbilical artery

Experimental studies in animals using Doppler ultrasound suggest that hemodynamic disturbances during fetoplacental circulatory insufficiency will be detected at an earlier and less severe stage in the aortic isthmus compared to the umbilical artery. In cases in which more severe impairment of the placental circulation was achieved, reverse flow was recorded in the aortic isthmus before its appearance in the umbilical artery. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether the same findings could be demonstrated in the aortic isthmus of the human fetus. The video recordings of 100 fetuses with abnormal umbilical artery pulsatility index were reviewed. Qualitative abnormalities of the Doppler waveform, i.e. absence or reversal of end‐diastolic velocities, were more frequently found in the aortic isthmus (absent 28%, reversed 41%) compared to the fetal end of the umbilical artery (absent 20%, reversed 19%; p < 0.0001) and also more frequently found in the fetal end compared to the placental end (absent 13%, reversed 2%; p < 0.0001). This study confirms our previous observations of the aortic isthmus as a site for early detection of fetoplacental hemodynamic disturbances. Reverse diastolic flow in the isthmus could direct poorly oxygenated blood from the descending aorta towards the carotid arteries and the brain. Further prospective studies are needed to establish the clinical value of these findings in terms of perinatal morbidity and, more importantly, of long‐term neurological impairment. Copyright © 1997 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Molecular Pathogenesis of Genetic and Inherited Diseases Biliary Dysgenesis in the PCK Rat , an Orthologous Model of Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease

Hepatic polycystic disease occurs alone or in combination with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). In autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD), liver lesions are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in older patients. ARPKD is caused by a mutation to PKHD1 and the PCK rat is an orthologous model of disease. Recently, we showed that fibrocystin, Pkhd1 protein, is localized to primary cilia in rat cholangiocytes and that disruption of its ciliary expression results in biliary cystogenesis. This study describes biliary phenotype in the PCK rat using micro-computed tomography scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction, and light, scanning, and transmission microscopy. Our results show that the biliary tree undergoes extensive remodeling resulting in bile duct dilatation, focal budding, and formation of cysts that are initially connected to bile ducts, but throughout time separate from them. Progressive liver enlargement results from massive cyst formation while liver parenchymal volume remains unchanged. Cilia in cystic cells are abnormal consistent with the notion that the primary defect in ARPKD resulting in cystogenesis may be linked to ciliary dysfunction. Our results suggest that the PCK rat is a useful model for studies of biliary cystogenesis and treatment options of inherited cystic liver disease. (Am J Pathol 2004, 165:1719–1730)
Pain Intensity and Opioid Utilization in Response to CPAP Therapy in Veterans with Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Chronic Opioid Treatment.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Sleep fragmentation has been linked to poor pain tolerance and lowered pain threshold. Little evidence exists on whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence in veterans with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are taking opioids for non-malignant pain would ameliorate pain and reduce consumption of opioids. METHODS A retrospective case-control study was performed at a VA sleep center. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Categorical Scale prior to CPAP treatment and 12-mo follow-up. Opioids intake was assessed using the morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD). Adherence to CPAP was evaluated with the built-in meter. RESULTS We reviewed 113 patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] 35.9 ± 29.5) using a MEDD of 61.6 mg (range 5-980 mg) and a control group of 113 veterans with OSA (AHI 33.4 ± 27.3) on no opioids treatment. CPAP adherence was significantly lower at 12 mo in opioid-treated patients compared to controls (37% versus 55%; p = 0.01). Greater pain intensity was the only independent variable associated with CPAP non-adherence at 12-mo follow-up (p = 0.03). Compared to baseline, no significant difference was observed in pain intensity or consumption of opioids in CPAP adherent patients. CONCLUSIONS CPAP treatment did not reduce pain intensity or consumption of opioids in veterans with chronic pain who have coexisting OSA. CPAP adherence was lower in opioid-treated veterans with OSA compared to opioid-free veterans with OSA. Pain intensity was the only determinant of CPAP adherence. Future studies are needed to evaluate pain management program on adherence to CPAP.
Multi-Guider and Cross-Searching Approach in Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization for Electromagnetic Problems

The main difference between single and multi-objective optimizations using particle swarm optimization is how the guider to locate the global optimal and Pareto optimal solutions are defined in corresponding optimization problems. In general multi-objective particle swarm optimization, only one guider is selected, and, in order to reduce the non-dominated solution for more diversity in the external archive, only crowding distance in objective space is considered. This paper presents a new approach of selecting multiple guiders to lead a swarm toward a Pareto-front. Additionally, in order to overcome the local Pareto front, mutation operator is applied for not only particles but also members in an external archive. Furthermore, aside from considering the crowding distance of solutions in objective space to maintain the diversity of solutions, the crowding distance in variable space is also taken into account. The proposed algorithm is compared with recent approaches of multi-objective optimizer in solving a multi-objective version of the TEAM 22 benchmark optimization problem with three and eight design variables.
Methods for Building Sense Inventories of Abbreviations in Clinical Notes

Background Abbreviations are widely used in clinical notes and they are often ambiguous. The ambiguity of abbreviations usually affects the performance of medical natural language processing (MNLP) systems. Therefore it is critical to accurately identify abbreviations in clinical notes. Before applying word sense disambiguation (WSD) methods, a set of predetermined senses (also called sense inventories) of abbreviations are required. Clinical knowledge sources, such as the UMLS, could be used for building sense inventories, but none of them has adequate coverage for different clinical corpora. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods that are able to detect senses of abbreviations that is appropriate for a particular clinical corpus.
Recent advances in trifluoromethylation reactions with electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents.

Electrophilic trifluoromethylation reactions have been the latest approach to achieve the fluoroalkylation of compounds with newly-discovered reagents, such as the Togni's (1-trifluoromethyl-1,2-benziodoxol-3-(1 H)-one), Umemoto's (S-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate), Yagupolskii's (S-(trifluoromethyldiarylsulfonium salts), Shreeve's (S-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzothiophenium triflate), and Shibata's (trifluoromethylsulfoximine salts) reagents. All these reagents produce an electrophilic trifluoromethylating (CF3 (+) ) species that undergoes reaction with nucleophiles. In addition, these latter reactive species (i.e. CF3 (+) ) can undergo electron-transfer (ET) processes affording CF3 (⋅) radicals that expand the scope to substrates other than conventional nucleophiles that can undergo reaction. In this Review, we shall discuss the trifluoromethylation reactions of diverse families of organic substrates of biological interest as a means to comparing the reagents scope and best reaction conditions. Some, though not all, of these reactions require the assistance of metal or organometallic catalysts. Some require additives and catalysts to promote the fluoroalkylation reaction, but invariably all are initiated and carried out by electrophilic trifluoromethylating species.
Functional modulation of the mineralocorticoid receptor by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II).

BACKGROUND Renal salt wasting and hypotension are some of the frequent complications in patients treated with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cDDP), and it is suggested that cDDP produces an abnormality in the renin-angiotensin system. However, not only the underlying mechanism but also prophylactic treatment of this cDDP toxicity remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of this cDDP-induced disturbance of renal sodium handling with focusing on the effect of cDDP on mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) function. METHODS The effect of cDDP was studied on nuclear translocation, DNA binding activity, and transactivation function of the MR. RESULTS In a transient transfection assay, cDDP suppressed MR-dependent reporter gene expression. This cDDP-mediated repression of MR function, at least in part, is suggested to be due to the generation of reactive oxygen species and a subsequent decrease in ligand-dependent nuclear translocation and suppression of the interaction with DNA of the MR. This redox-dependent repression of MR function both in vitro and in vivo was reversed by treatment with reducing reagents. Moreover, cDDP, most possibly via formation of DNA adducts, inhibited MR-DNA interaction in a redox-independent fashion. CONCLUSIONS MR function is impaired by cDDP at multiple levels, via redox-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
State Estimlatjon with Phasor Measurements

The recent introduction of microprocessors into substations for protection and control makes it possible to measure positive sequence voltage phasors and positive sequence transmission line current phasors in real time. It is necessary to synchronize sampling clocks in various substations in order to put the phasors on a common reference. Techniques for synchronizing sampling along with a method for obtaining positive sequence phasors from samples are reviewed. Although it is possible to use these direct measurements in conventional state estimation algorithms, considerable advantage accrues if the state estimation is reformulated in terms of direct measurements of phasor voltages and currents. The resulting estimation algorithm involves an admittance like matrix with the sparsity of the admittance matrix. The new matrix is real rather than complex even for small X/R ratios for the lines. The algorithm requires no assumptions as to decoupling, flat voltage profiles, small resistance, etc. The algorithm converges in one step with the same amount of computation as one iteration of existing estimators. Examples are given for the IEEE 118 bus system.
Trimethylation of Histone H 3 Lysine 4 by Set 1 in the Lytic Infection of Human Herpes Simplex Virus 1

Human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a double-stranded DNA virus that causes facial, ocular, and encephalitic disease in humans. Previous work showed that the genome of HSV-1 is associated with acetylated and methylated histones during lytic infection. However, the physiological role of histone modifications in lytic infection of HSV-1 is unclear. We examined the role of protein methylation in lytic infection of HSV-1 using a protein methylation inhibitor, 5 -deoxy-5 -methylthioadenosine (MTA). We found that MTA strongly reduces the transcription and replication of HSV-1. Moreover, MTA treatment decreases the level of trimethylation of lysine 4 in histone H3 (H3K4me3) on the HSV-1 genome. These results suggest that protein methylation, and in particular, histone methylation, is involved in the lytic infection of HSV-1. To delineate the underlying mechanism, we investigated the role of two H3K4 methyltransferases, Set1 and Set7/9, in the lytic infection of HSV-1. Using small interference RNA, we found that the reduction of Set1, but not Set7/9, reduces the transcription and replication of HSV-1 and specifically decreases H3K4me3 on the virus genome. These results indicate that H3K4me3 mediated by Set1 is required for optimal gene expression and replication of HSV-1 during lytic infection and suggest that this pathway could be a potential point of pharmacological intervention during HSV-1 infection.
Acquired inhibitor of factor V: first report in China and literature review

Summary. We reported a 51‐year‐old man who developed a severe haematuria with a prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Laboratory evaluation revealed the presence of specific factor V inhibitors. No underlying diseases and associated conditions have been identified. The patient improved after immunosuppressive therapy. However, the FV level remained low, indicating incomplete inhibitor eradication. The clinical course of our patient was consistent with the observations by others that FV inhibitor can be persistent for months or years.
Evolutionary Morphology for Real Cubic Modular Robots

Recently modular robots have become more capable of practical applications with the recent improvement of sensors and actuators. Among them, a robot has been developed which can change its pattern according to the landscape or for its own purpose. However, deciding the appropriate pattern and controller manually is not easy with the increased number of modules. In this paper, we propose a new approach to automatically building patterns of block-type robots by means of artificial-life morphogenesis. We empirically show the emergence of the effective patterns in both virtual and real worlds, some of which seem to be surprisingly counter-intuitive.
An uncooled IR sensor with digital focal plane array [and medical application]

This article reports on state-of-the-art improvements in microbolometer technology through an ongoing set of laboratory and field experiments. The availability of low-cost, high thermal and physical resolution digital IR imaging equipment may provide a new method for the investigation of human circulatory conditions, resulting in improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to a wide variety of medical applications.
Desarrollo de algoritmos eficientes para identificación de usuarios en accesos informáticos

Actualmente los ciberataques son un problema serio y cada vez mas frecuente en organizaciones, empresas e instituciones de todo el mundo. Se pueden definir como el acceso, transferencia o manipulacion no autorizada de informacion de un ordenador o centro de datos. Los datos confidenciales en empresas y organizaciones incluyen propiedad intelectual, informacion financiera, informacion medica, datos personales de tarjetas de credito y otros tipos de informacion dependiendo del negocio y la industria involucrada. En esta tesis se realizan varias contribuciones dentro del campo de Deteccion de Anomalias (AD), Sistema de Deteccion de Intrusos (IDS) y Deteccion de Fugas de Informacion (DLD). Una de las principales aportaciones comun a los tres campos mencionados es el desarrollo de una estructura dinamica de datos para representar el comportamiento real y unico de los usuarios, lo que permite que cada uno tenga una huella digital que lo identifica. Otras aportaciones estan en la linea de la aplicacion de tecnicas de inteligencia artificial (IA), tanto en el procesamiento de los datos como en el desarrollo de meta clasificadores (combinacion de varias tecnicas de IA), por ejemplo: arboles de decision C4.5 y UCS, maquinas de vectores soporte (SVM), redes neuronales, y tecnicas como vecinos cercanos (K-NN), entre otras. Se han aplicado con buenos resultados a la deteccion de intrusos y han sido validadas con bases de datos publicas como Unix, KDD99, y con una base de datos gubernamental de la republica del Ecuador. Dentro del campo de deteccion de anomalias, se han usado algoritmos bio-inspirados para la identificacion de comportamientos anomalos de los usuarios, como los sistemas inmunes artificiales y la seleccion negativa, ademas de otros algoritmos de alineamiento de secuencias, como el de Knuth Morris Pratt, para identificar subsecuencias posiblemente fraudulentas. Finalmente, en el ambito de deteccion de fugas de informacion, se han desarrollado algoritmos aplicando tecnicas estadisticas como las cadenas de Markov a la secuencia de ejecucion de tareas de un usuario en un sistema informatico, obteniendo buenos resultados que han sido comprobados con bases de datos secuenciales publicas y privadas.
Targeting of Lipid-Protamine-DNA (LPD) Lipopolyplexes Using RGD Motifs

Abstract The incorporation of pegylated lipid into Lipid-Protamine-DNA (LPD-PEG) lipopolyplexes causes a decrease of their in vitro transfection activity. This can be partially attributed to a reduction in particle binding to cells. To restore particle binding and specifically target LPD formulations to tumor cells, the lipid-peptide conjugate DSPE-PEG5K-succinyl-ACDCRGDCFCG-COOH (DSPE-PEG5K-RGD-4C) was generated and incorporated into LPD formulations (LPD-PEG-RGD). LPD-PEG-RGD was characterized with respect to its biophysical and biological properties. The Incorporation of DSPE-PEG5K-RGD-4C ligands into LPD formulations results in a 5 and a 15 fold increase in the LPD-PEG-RGD binding and uptake, respectively, over an LPD-PEG formulation. Enhancement of binding and uptake resulted in a 100 fold enhancement of transfection activity. Moreover, this transfection enhancement was specific to cells expressing appropriate integrin receptors (MDA-MB-231). Huh7 cells, known for their low level of αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrin expression, failed to show RGD mediated transfection enhancement. This transfection enhancement can be abolished in a competitive manner using free RGD peptide, but not an RGE control peptide. Results demonstrated RGD mediated enhanced LPD-PEG cell binding and transfection in cells expressing the integrin receptor. These formulations provide the basis for effective, targeted, systemic gene delivery.
Low-complexity estimators for distributed sources

In antenna array applications, the propagation environment is often more complicated than the ordinarily assumed model of plane wavefronts. Here, a low-complexity algorithm is suggested for estimating both the DOA and the spread angle of a source subject to local scattering, using a uniform linear array. The parameters are calculated from the estimates obtained using a standard algorithm such as root-MUSIC to fit a two-ray model to the data. The algorithm is shown to give consistent estimates, and the statistical performance is studied analytically and through simulations.
Poor microcirculatory flow dynamics are associated with endothelial cell damage and glycocalyx shedding after traumatic hemorrhagic shock

BACKGROUND Endothelial cell damage and glycocalyx shedding after trauma can increase the risk of inflammation, coagulopathy, vascular permeability, and death. Bedside sublingual video-microscopy may detect worse flow and perfusion associated with this endotheliopathy. We compared markers of endotheliopathy with physical flow dynamics after traumatic hemorrhagic shock. METHODS Sublingual incident dark field video-microscopy was performed at three time points after injury (<10 hours, 10–30 hours, and 30–50 hours). Values for microcirculatory flow index (MFI), Point Of carE Microcirculation assessment (POEM) score, proportion of perfused vessels (PPV), microcirculatory heterogeneity index (MHI), perfused vessel density (PVD), and total vessel density (TVD) were obtained. ELISAs were performed to measure concentrations of thrombomodulin and syndecan-1 as biomarkers of endothelial cell damage and glycocalyx shedding respectively. Flow parameters were dichotomized to above and below average, and biomarkers compared between groups; below average MFI, POEM, PPV, PVD, and TVD, and above average MHI were considered poor microcirculatory flow dynamics. RESULTS A total of 155 sublingual video-microscopy clips corresponding to 39 time points from 17 trauma patients were analyzed. Median age was 35 (IQR 25–52); 16/17 were men. Within 10 hours of injury, syndecan-1 concentrations were significantly higher compared to 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (30 [IQR 20–44] ng/mL) for worse TVD (78 [IQR 63–417] ng/mL), PVD (156 [IQR 63–590] ng/mL), PPV (249 [IQR 64–578] ng/mL), MFI (249 [IQR 64–578] ng/mL), MHI (45 [IQR] 38–68) ng/mL), and POEM scores (108 [IQR 44–462] ng/mL) (all p < 0.01). Thrombomodulin was also raised within 10 hours of injury when compared to healthy controls (2.9 [IQR 2.2–3.4] ng/mL) for worse PPV (4.1 [IQR 3.4–6.2] ng/mL) and MFI (4.1 [IQR 3.4–6.2] ng/mL) (both p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Endothelial cell damage and glycocalyx shedding are associated with worse flow, density, and heterogeneity within microvessels after traumatic hemorrhagic shock. The clinical utility of these biomarkers and flow parameters at the bedside are yet to be elucidated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.
Characterization of an Atypical Superoxide Dismutase from Sinorhizobium meliloti

ABSTRACT Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm5000 is an aerobic bacterium that can live free in the soil or in symbiosis with the roots of leguminous plants. A single detectable superoxide dismutase (SOD) was found in free-living growth conditions. The corresponding gene was isolated from a genomic library by using a sod fragment amplified by PCR from degenerate primers as a probe. ThesodA gene was located in the chromosome. It is transcribed monocistronically and encodes a 200-amino-acid protein with a theoretical Mr of 22,430 and pI of 5.8. S. meliloti SOD complemented a deficient E. coli mutant, restoring aerobic growth of a sodA sodB recA strain, when the gene was expressed from the synthetictac promoter but not from its own promoter. Amino acid sequence alignment showed great similarity with Fe-containing SODs (FeSODs), but the enzyme was not inactivated by H2O2. The native enzyme was purified and found to be a dimeric protein, with a specific activity of 4,000 U/mg. Despite its Fe-type sequence, atomic absorption spectroscopy showed manganese to be the cofactor (0.75 mol of manganese and 0.24 mol of iron per mol of monomer). The apoenzyme was prepared from crude extracts of S. meliloti. Activity was restored by dialysis against either MnCl2 or Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2, demonstrating the cambialistic nature of the S. melilotiSOD. The recovered activity with manganese was sevenfold higher than with iron. Both reconstituted enzymes were resistant to H2O2. Sequence comparison with 70 FeSODs and MnSODs indicates that S. meliloti SOD contains several atypical residues at specific sites that might account for the activation by manganese and resistance to H2O2of this unusual Fe-type SOD.
On-line learning parts-based representation via incremental semi-supervised multi-label image annotation

In this paper, an incremental algorithm which is derived from nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is proposed for semi-supervised multi-label image annotation, is named (ISSML). by using Incremental non-negative matrix factorization (INMF) instead of NMF, our algorithm can learn a linear part-based subspace in an online fashion. INMF preserves dimension reduction capability of NMF without increasing the computational load and also stays constant the space complexity without residing the entire new data in the memory and thus can be applied to large-scale or streaming datasets. experimental results on three benchmark datasets show that efficiency of our proposed algorithm improves accuracy of image annotation and also decreases time complexity.