Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Impacting the Likelihood of Death in Patients in Intensive Care Unit

Intensive care units (ICUs) with technologically advanced equipment and 24-hour monitoring of vital signs aim to treat patients with a need for intensive care due to dysfunctions in one or more organs or organ systems [1, 2]. Patients hospitalized in these units often have multiple diseases, and acute problems associated with these need to be treated. High mortality rates are the most significant problem during this treatment in the ICU [2, 3]. Many factors, such as reasons for hospitalization in the ICU, invasive mechanical ventilation requirements, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE-II) score, hospital infections, trauma, old age, concomitant systemic diseases and length of stay in the ICU, all affect mortality [2, 3].
Image Denoising based on Sparse Representation and Non-Negative Matrix Factorization

Image denoising problem can be addressed as an inverse problem. One of the most recent approaches to solve this problem is sparse decomposition over redundant dictionaries. In sparse representation we represent signals as a linear combination of a redundant dictionary atoms. In this paper we propose an algorithm for image denoising based on Non Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) and sparse representation over redundant dictionary. It trains the initialized dictionary based on training samples constructed from noised image, then it search for the best representation for the source by using the approximate matching pursuit (AMP) which uses the nearest neighbor search to get the best atom to represent that source. During that it alternates between the dictionary update and the sparse coding. We use this algorithm to reconstruct image from denoised one. We will call our algorithm N-NMF. [R. M. Farouk and H.A. Khalil. Image Denoising based on Sparse Representation and Non-Negative Matrix Factorization. Life Science Journal 2012; 9(1):337-341]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 48
Automatic 3D Reconstruction for Symmetric Shapes

Generic 3D reconstruction from a single image is a difficult problem. A lot of data loss occurs in the projection. A domain based approach to reconstruction where we solve a smaller set of problems for a particular use case lead to greater returns. The project provides a way to automatically generate full 3-D renditions of actual symmetric images that have some prior information provided in the pipeline by a recognition algorithm. We provide a critical analysis on how this can be enhanced and improved to provide a general reconstruction framework for automatic reconstruction for any symmetric shape.
Chronic &bgr; Blockade Is Associated with a Better Outcome after Elective Noncardiac Surgery than Acute &bgr; Blockade: A Single-center Propensity-matched Cohort Study

Background:Current guidelines on perioperative care recommend the prophylactic use of &bgr; blockers in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, recent studies show that, in some instances, perioperative &bgr; blockade can cause harm. Furthermore, chronic &bgr; blockade, titrated to effect before surgery, may be superior to acute perioperative &bgr; blockade. The primary objective of this study was to compare major acute cardiac outcomes in patients who underwent surgery with chronic &bgr; blocker therapy with those in patients with acute &bgr;-blocker therapy. Methods:Data were collected for 10,691 consecutive patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery between April 1, 2008, and April 30, 2010. Propensity scores, estimating the probability of receiving a preoperative &bgr; blocker, were calculated to match (1:1) the patients with acute and chronic &bgr;-blocker therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of myocardial infarction, nonfatal cardiac arrest, and perioperative mortality. The rate of cardiac events was compared in the matched cohorts. Results:A total of 962 patients were chronically treated with a &bgr; blocker before surgery; in 436 patients, the &bgr; blocker was administrated acutely. Propensity score matching created 301 patient pairs who were well-balanced for major comorbidities, concomitant drug use, and type of surgery. The primary outcome was observed in 9 (3.0%) chronic versus 24 (8.0%) acute &bgr;-blocked patients (relative risk, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.27–5.60; P = 0.011). Conclusions:Acute &bgr; blockade, initiated within the first 2 days after surgery, was associated with worse cardiac outcome compared with a matched cohort of patients who underwent surgery on chronic &bgr; blockade. These results should be validated in a larger prospective trial.
Longitudinal validation and diagnostic accuracy of the minnesota borderline personality disorder scale (MBPD)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has been previously conceptualized as an extreme variant of normal personality traits, captured by continuous indices. A previous study successfully developed and validated a self-report BPD measure, the Minnesota Borderline Personality Disorder Scale (MBPD). I conducted two studies aimed at providing further validation for this measure. Results from Study 1 (clinical sample of substance users) indicated that MBPD exhibited strong positive correlations with measures of convergent validity (self-report and diagnostic measures). Additionally, the MBPD showed similar correlations with external correlates as those of the convergent validity measures, in addition to incremental utility in predicting these external correlates above and beyond negative affect. Third, a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that diagnostic accuracy of the MBPD was excellent for differentiation between BPD and non-BPD individuals. Likewise, Study 2 (non-clinical sample of undergraduate students followed over 6 months) showed strong correlations with an index of convergent validity (self-report measure), similar correlations with external correlates as that of the convergent validity index, and incremental predictive utility. Finally, in this study, the MBPD exhibited high rank-order stability, but significant mean-level and individual-level change over time. These data suggests that these scales are measuring the same latent construct of BPD, providing further evidence for the construct validity of the MBPD.
Axonal mRNA transport and translation at a glance

ABSTRACT Localization and translation of mRNAs within different subcellular domains provides an important mechanism to spatially and temporally introduce new proteins in polarized cells. Neurons make use of this localized protein synthesis during initial growth, regeneration and functional maintenance of their axons. Although the first evidence for protein synthesis in axons dates back to 1960s, improved methodologies, including the ability to isolate axons to purity, highly sensitive RNA detection methods and imaging approaches, have shed new light on the complexity of the transcriptome of the axon and how it is regulated. Moreover, these efforts are now uncovering new roles for locally synthesized proteins in neurological diseases and injury responses. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we provide an overview of how axonal mRNA transport and translation are regulated, and discuss their emerging links to neurological disorders and neural repair. Summary: Neuronal proteins are synthesized in axons, which are separated from the cell body of a neuron. These axonally synthesized proteins serve functions in growth, function, and injury responses of the neuron, which are reviewed here.
A Li-ion battery charger based on remaining capacity with fuzzy temperature control

Using high C-rate currents to charge batteries will cause large electrochemical reaction stresses, and thus result in high temperature rise and aggravate battery aging. To alleviate the battery aging and extend the life cycle, a remaining capacity (RC) charge method with fuzzy temperature control is proposed in this paper. According to the derived relationship between the charge C-rate and the state of charge (SOC) of the battery, a corresponding coarse-tuning charge current is determined. To control the temperature rise for subduing the aging effect, a fuzzy temperature controller (FTC) is designed to generate an incremental charging current to fine adjust the charge current. Following the charging progresses, by combining the fine-tune current with the coarse-tuning current, the studied charger can provide the adaptive charge current to charge the battery at any time. The synchronous-rectified buck converter is utilized to implement the charger. The firmware of the adaptive RC charging algorithm is realized by a microcontroller unit. Experimental results are given to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed approach. Comparing to the conventional constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) method, the proposed charging method reduces 23.2% of average temperature rise and increases 2.06% charge efficiency while maintaining similar charging time.
A Novel Method for Identifying Exact Sensor Using Multiplicative Noise Component

In this paper, we analyze and analytically describe the multiplicative deterministic noise component of imaging sensors in a novel way. Specifically, we show how to use the multiplicative nature of this component to derive a method enabling its estimation. Since this noise component is unique per sensor, consequently, the derived method is applied on digital image ballistics tasks in order to pinpoint the exact device that created a specific digital photo. Moreover, we enhance the method to be resistent to optical zoom and JPEG compression.
Thoughts from the Margins: A Five-Year Longitudinal Exploration with Former Alternative Education Youth

This longitudinal case study explores the evolving identity constructions and schooling perspectives of former alternative education program members, at an early stage of their adult lives. Using a critical sociocultural lens and in-depth semi-structured interviews, I revisited three young women, five years after their participation in research I had previously undertaken in a middle school, alternative program. This current effort provides individual participant profiles detailing the present life circumstances and thinking of each participant, along with brief middle school recaps and five-year interval updates. This work illustrates its participants’ evolving perspectives on selves and schooling and their present recognition of a critically important caring element in their former program. Its resulting implications highlight the influence of social and institutional practices to determinations made by, and about, youth, and imply a need for their continual reassessment. Additionally, this study addresses a call in the literature for longitudinal efforts to determine the long-term effects of alternative education programs and advocates for an inclusion of the voices of marginalized youth in measures towards reform.
Sedation in the intensive care setting

Critically ill patients are routinely provided analgesia and sedation to prevent pain and anxiety, permit invasive procedures, reduce stress and oxygen consumption, and improve synchrony with mechanical ventilation. Regional preferences, patient history, institutional bias, and individual patient and practitioner variability, however, create a wide discrepancy in the approach to sedation of critically ill patients. Untreated pain and agitation increase the sympathetic stress response, potentially leading to negative acute and long-term consequences. Oversedation, however, occurs commonly and is associated with worse clinical outcomes, including longer time on mechanical ventilation, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, and increased brain dysfunction (delirium and coma). Modifying sedation delivery by incorporating analgesia and sedation protocols, targeted arousal goals, daily interruption of sedation, linked spontaneous awakening and breathing trials, and early mobilization of patients have all been associated with improvements in patient outcomes and should be incorporated into the clinical management of critically ill patients. To improve outcomes, including time on mechanical ventilation and development of acute brain dysfunction, conventional sedation paradigms should be altered by providing necessary analgesia, incorporating propofol or dexmedetomidine to reach arousal targets, and reducing benzodiazepine exposure.
Cysteine Scanning Mutagenesis of TM4b-4c Loop of Glutamate Transporter EAAT1 Reveals Three Conformationally Sensitive Residues

Glutamatergic synaptic transmitters are cleared from the synaptic cleft through excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) that are responsible for recycling glutamate and transporting it into neurons and glial cells. To probe the structural role of the TM4b-4c loop of EAAT1 (Rattus norvegicus), each of the 57 amino acid residues was mutated to cysteine. Thirteen of the single mutants have very low transport activity. Aqueous accessibility of the introduced cysteines from the remaining mutants was then explored by membrane-permeant and membrane-impermeant sulfhydryl reagents in different conditions. F190C, V238C, and A243C were affected by MTSET, whereas Q189C, F190C, V238C, A243C, and L244C were sensitive to MTSEA. Q189C and L244C transport activity was diminished in the presence of potassium, which is expected to favor the inward-facing conformation of the transporter. Inversely, L244C was protected by glutamate. The modification of A243C by MTSEA was enhanced by either potassium and glutamate or dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate. From these results, we suggest that residues F190C, V238C, and A243C may be located near the extracellular surface, and the TM4b-4c loop forms multiple reentrant membrane loops on the cell surface. Alternatively, F190C, V238C, and A243C may function in the transport pathway, which is exposed to MTSET. In addition, Q189C, A243C, and L244C are conformationally sensitive and may play a role in the transport cycle.
Intestinal Microbiota in Hirschsprung Disease

Objectives: The aim of the study was to characterize the microbiota profiles of patients with Hirschsprung disease (HD) and to evaluate this in relation to postoperative bowel function and the incidence of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC). Methods: All patients operated on for HD at our center between 1987 and 2011 were invited to answer questionnaires on bowel function and to participate in a clinical follow-up for laboratory investigations, including fecal DNA extraction, fecal calprotectin (FC), and brush border lactase (LCT) genotyping. The microbiota compositions of patients with HD were compared with those of healthy controls aged between 2 and 7 years. Results: The microbiota composition of eligible patients with HD (n = 34; median age 12 [range, 3–25] years) differed from the healthy controls (n = 141), showing decreased overall microbial richness (P < 0.005). Seventy-seven percent had experienced HAEC. Normal maturation of the intestinal flora was not observed, but patients had a significantly increased abundance of Proteobacteria among other taxa (P < 0.005) resulting in a reduced carbohydrate degradation potential, as predicted by the taxonomic composition. Genetic lactase deficiency was present in 17% and did not correlate with bowel symptoms. No patients reported active HAEC at the time of sampling and FC was within the normal range in all samples. Conclusions: Patients with HD and HAEC had a significantly altered intestinal microbiome compared to healthy individuals, characterized by a lack of richness and pathologic expansions of taxa, particularly Enterobacteria and Bacilli. Further evaluation is needed to identify whether these observations are intrinsic to HD or secondary to the recurrent use of antibiotics during early childhood.
Effects of dexmedetomidine as a local anesthetic adjuvant for brachial plexus block : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Brachial plexus blocks (BPBs) improve postoperative analgesia, and reduce rescue analgesic consumption for upper limb surgeries. However, their benefits may be short lived. This meta-analysis was performed to examine whether perineural dexmedetomidine (DEX) combined with local anesthetics (LAs) for BPB can prolong the duration of analgesia compared with LA alone. Methods: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing the impact of adding DEX to LAs for single-injection BPBs in adults undergoing upper limb surgery without general anesthesia were searched. The primary outcome was duration of analgesia, sensory block duration, motor block duration, and side effects; the secondary outcomes were block onset times, analgesic consumption, and hemodynamic parameters. Results: Thirteen trials (818 patients, 369 received DEX) were included. Dexmedetomidine prolonged the duration of analgesia by 285.02 min [95% confidence interval (CI): 181.55, 388.49, P<0.00001]. Motor block duration was prolonged by 250.63 min [95% CI: 148.10, 353.17, P<0.00001]. Sensory block duration was prolonged by 266.45 min [95% CI: 148.29, 384.61, P<0.00001]. DEX increased the risk of bradycardia [odds ratio 15.75; 95% CI: 4.02, 61.78, P<0.0001]. Conclusions: Perineural DEX combined with LAs prolong the duration of analgesia, however, the risk of bradycardia was increased at the same time.
Upregulation of ADAMTS-7 and downregulation of COMP are associated with aortic aneurysm

Aortic aneurysm (AA) remains a fatal condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality, and the associated underlying mechanism influencing its pathology remains to be elucidated. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-7 has previously been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular atherosclerosis via degradation of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). The ADAMTS-7/COMP pathway may therefore act as a potential therapeutic target for vascular disorders. To the best of the author's knowledge, the present study aimed to investigate for the first time, the expression of ADAMTS-7 and COMP in human AA. Human aortic aneurysm samples were collected from patients with AA (n=24), and ascending aorta control samples were harvested from dilated cardiomyopathy patients who underwent heart transplantation (n=18). Expression levels of ADAMTS-7 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were significantly increased in the AA group, as detected by immunohistochemistry (P<0.05). The COMP protein level was markedly decreased in the AA group when compared with the control group, as demonstrated via immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis (P<0.05). The findings suggest that upregulation of ADAMTS-7 and downregulation of COMP are associated with induction of human AA. ADAMTS-7/COMP pathway may provide therefore act as a potential therapeutic target in human AA for efficient, optimal treatment interventions in the future.
An Optimized Collagen-Fibrin Blend Engineered Neural Tissue Promotes Peripheral Nerve Repair

Tissue engineering approaches in nerve regeneration often aim to improve results by bridging nerve defects with conduits that mimic key features of the nerve autograft. One such approach uses Schwann cell self-alignment and stabilization within collagen gels to generate engineered neural tissue (EngNT). In this study, we investigated whether a novel blend of fibrin and collagen could be used to form EngNT, as before EngNT design a beneficial effect of fibrin on Schwann cell proliferation was observed. A range of blend formulations was tested in terms of mechanical behavior (gel formation, stabilization, swelling, tensile strength, and stiffness), and lead formulations were assessed in vitro. A 90% collagen 10% fibrin blend was found to promote SCL4.1/F7 Schwann cell viability and supported the formation of aligned EngNT, which enhanced neurite outgrowth in vitro (NG108 cells) compared to formulations with higher and lower fibrin content. Initial in vivo tests in an 8 mm rat sciatic nerve model using rolled collagen-fibrin EngNT rods revealed a significantly enhanced axonal count in the midsection of the repair, as well as in the distal part of the nerve after 4 weeks. This optimized collagen-fibrin blend therefore provides a novel way to improve the capacity of EngNT to promote regeneration following peripheral nerve injury.
Involvement of TLR2 in Recognition of Acute Gammaherpesvirus-68 Infection

Background Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in the activation of innate immunity in response to many viruses. We previously reported the implication of TLR2 in the recognition of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by human monocytes. Because murine gammaherpesvirus-68 (MHV-68) is a useful model to study human gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis in vivo, we evaluated the importance of mouse TLR2 in the recognition of MHV-68. Methodology/Principal Findings In studies using transfected HEK293 cells, MHV-68 lead to the activation of NF-κB reporter through TLR2. In addition, production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-α (IFN-α) upon MHV-68 stimulation was reduced in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from TLR2−/− and MyD88−/− mice as compared to their wild type (WT) counterpart. In transgenic mice expressing a luciferase reporter gene under the control of the mTLR2 promoter, MHV-68 challenge activated TLR2 transcription. Increased expression levels of TLR2 on blood granulocytes (CD115−Gr1+) and inflammatory monocytes (CD115+Gr1+), which mobilized to the lungs upon infection with MHV-68, was also confirmed by flow cytometry. Finally, TLR2 or MyD88 deficiency was associated with decreased IL-6 and type 1 IFN production as well as increased viral burden during short-term challenges with MHV-68. Conclusions/Significance TLR2 contributes to the production of inflammatory cytokines and type 1 IFN as well as to the control of viral burden during infection with MHV-68. Taken together, our results suggest that the TLR2 pathway has a relevant role in the recognition of this virus and in the subsequent activation of the innate immune response.
Association Between the Polymorphism of the Angiotensin - Converting Enzyme Gene and Breast Cancer Risk Among the Bengalee Caste Hindu Females of West Bengal, India

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy and the leading cause of death from cancer among women worldwide including India [13]. 1.3 million Women will be diagnosed with breast cancer annually worldwide, and about 465,000 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society (Cancer Facts and Figures, 2010) [1]. Breast cancer shows uneven geographical distribution in occurrence reflecting the influence of local environmental conditions, lifestyle, hormonal / reproductive pattern and genetic predisposition in the development of the disease [11]. Breast cancer being second common cancer in the world, it ranks as fifth cause of death, because of its good prognosis, average in developed countries is 73% and 57% in developing countries. The most significant and far the best characterized genetic risk factors of breast cancer development are represented by germ line mutations of the BRCA1 gene [1]. Certain risk factors for breast cancer vary from lifestyle to genetic factors, which accounts for 15 to 25% of all the cases [17].