Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Incorporating Individual Patient Data.

IMPORTANCE Low levels of vitamin D are associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) and future cardiovascular events. Whether vitamin D supplementation reduces BP and which patient characteristics predict a response remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To systematically review whether supplementation with vitamin D or its analogues reduce BP. DATA SOURCES We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and http://www.ClinicalTrials. com augmented by a hand search of references from the included articles and previous reviews. Google was searched for gray literature (ie, material not published in recognized scientific journals). No language restrictions were applied. The search period spanned January 1, 1966, through March 31, 2014. STUDY SELECTION We included randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials that used vitamin D supplementation for a minimum of 4 weeks for any indication and reported BP data. Studies were included if they used active or inactive forms of vitamin D or vitamin D analogues. Cointerventions were permitted if identical in all treatment arms. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS We extracted data on baseline demographics, 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), and change in BP from baseline to the final follow-up. Individual patient data on age, sex, medication use, diabetes mellitus, baseline and follow-up BP, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were requested from the authors of the included studies. For trial-level data, between-group differences in BP change were combined in a random-effects model. For individual patient data, between-group differences in BP at the final follow up, adjusted for baseline BP, were calculated before combining in a random-effects model. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Difference in SBP and DBP measured in an office setting. RESULTS We included 46 trials (4541 participants) in the trial-level meta-analysis. Individual patient data were obtained for 27 trials (3092 participants). At the trial level, no effect of vitamin D supplementation was seen on SBP (effect size, 0.0 [95% CI, -0.8 to 0.8] mm Hg; P=.97; I2=21%) or DBP (effect size, -0.1 [95% CI, -0.6 to 0.5] mm Hg; P=.84; I2=20%). Similar results were found analyzing individual patient data for SBP (effect size, -0.5 [95% CI, -1.3 to 0.4] mm Hg; P=.27; I2=0%) and DBP (effect size, 0.2 [95% CI, -0.3 to 0.7] mm Hg; P=.38; I2=0%). Subgroup analysis did not reveal any baseline factor predictive of a better response to therapy. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Vitamin D supplementation is ineffective as an agent for lowering BP and thus should not be used as an antihypertensive agent.
Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery

Abstract Transanal endoscopic surgery (TES) techniques encompass a variety of approaches, including transanal endoscopic microsurgery and transanal minimally invasive surgery. These allow a surgeon to perform local excision of rectal lesions with minimal morbidity and the potential to spare the need for proctectomy. As understanding of the long-term outcomes from these procedures has evolved, so have the indications for TES. In this study, we review the development of TES, its early results, and the evolution of new surgical techniques. In addition, we evaluate the most recent research on indications and outcomes in rectal cancer.
Tactics of Adversarial Attack on Deep Reinforcement Learning Agents

We introduce two tactics, namely the strategically-timed attack and the enchanting attack, to attack reinforcement learning agents trained by deep reinforcement learning algorithms using adversarial examples. In the strategically-timed attack, the adversary aims at minimizing the agent's reward by only attacking the agent at a small subset of time steps in an episode. Limiting the attack activity to this subset helps prevent detection of the attack by the agent. We propose a novel method to determine when an adversarial example should be crafted and applied. In the enchanting attack, the adversary aims at luring the agent to a designated target state. This is achieved by combining a generative model and a planning algorithm: while the generative model predicts the future states, the planning algorithm generates a preferred sequence of actions for luring the agent. A sequence of adversarial examples is then crafted to lure the agent to take the preferred sequence of actions. We apply the proposed tactics to the agents trained by the state-of-the-art deep reinforcement learning algorithm including DQN and A3C. In 5 Atari games, our strategically-timed attack reduces as much reward as the uniform attack (i.e., attacking at every time step) does by attacking the agent 4 times less often. Our enchanting attack lures the agent toward designated target states with a more than 70% success rate. Example videos are available at http://yclin.me/adversarial_attack_RL/.
Proteomic Screen for Cellular Targets of the Vaccinia Virus F10 Protein Kinase Reveals that Phosphorylation of mDia Regulates Stress Fiber Formation*

Vaccinia virus, a complex dsDNA virus, is unusual in replicating exclusively within the cytoplasm of infected cells. Although this prototypic poxvirus encodes >200 proteins utilized during infection, a significant role for host proteins and cellular architecture is increasingly evident. The viral B1 kinase and H1 phosphatase are known to target cellular proteins as well as viral substrates, but little is known about the cellular substrates of the F10 kinase. F10 is essential for virion morphogenesis, beginning with the poorly understood process of diversion of membranes from the ER for the purpose of virion membrane biogenesis. To better understand the function of F10, we generated a cell line that carries a single, inducible F10 transgene. Using uninduced and induced cells, we performed stable isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) coupled with phosphopeptide analysis to identify cellular targets of F10-mediated phosphorylation. We identified 27 proteins that showed statistically significant changes in phosphorylation upon the expression of the F10 kinase: 18 proteins showed an increase in phosphorylation whereas 9 proteins showed a decrease in phosphorylation. These proteins participate in several distinct cellular processes including cytoskeleton dynamics, membrane trafficking and cellular metabolism. One of the proteins with the greatest change in phosphorylation was mDia, a member of the formin family of cytoskeleton regulators; F10 induction led to increased phosphorylation on Ser22. Induction of F10 induced a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of cells with actin stress fibers; however, this change was abrogated when an mDia Ser22Ala variant was expressed. Moreover, expression of a Ser22Asp variant leads to a reduction of stress fibers even in cells not expressing F10. In sum, we present the first unbiased screen for cellular targets of F10-mediated phosphorylation, and in so doing describe a heretofore unknown mechanism for regulating stress fiber formation through phosphorylation of mDia. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD005246.
Aerogel preparation from short cellulose nanofiber of the Eucalyptus species

Wood is the main industrial source for obtaining cellulose. It is a natural composite, constituted by cellulose, polyoses, lignin, small amounts of extracts and mineral salts, wherein cellulose is the most abundant component. Many studies are being developed for obtaining materials based on natural fibers, which combine interesting properties such as renewability, biodegradability, low density and low cost. Aerogels are solid, lightweight materials with high porosity and high internal surface area. These features combined in one single material make the aerogels a differentiated product with potential for use as an adsorbent. In this context, aerogels made of cellulose nanofibers obtained from short-fiber cellulose of Eucalyptus sp. were made. The cellulose suspension was first disintegrated by a mechanical grinder, and the aerogels were undergone to freeze-drying. The characterization of the samples was performed by apparent density, porosity, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. According to the micrographs obtained by scanning electron microscopy and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy, it was observed the formation of pores formed by the interconnection of cellulose fibers. The apparent density of the starting cellulose fibers (pressed plates) was 0.6998 g.cm−3 and the aerogel density decreased to 0.0240 g.cm−3. The values for aerogel porosity were about 97%, which benefits the passage of liquids and gases from the external environment to the internal structure of the material. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses showed no change in the chemical composition or in the thermal stability of the obtained aerogels in comparison to their starting materials.
Early burst in body size evolution is uncoupled from species diversification in diving beetles (Dytiscidae)

Changes in morphology are often thought to be linked to changes in species diversification, which is expected to leave a signal of early burst (EB) in phenotypic traits. However, such signal is rarely recovered in empirical phylogenies, even for groups with well‐known adaptive radiation. Using a comprehensive phylogenetic approach in Dytiscidae, which harbours ~4,300 species with as much as 50‐fold variation in body size among them, we ask whether pattern of species diversification correlates with morphological evolution. Additionally, we test whether the large variation in body size is linked to habitat preference and whether the latter influences species turnover. We found, in sharp contrast to most animal groups, that Dytiscidae body size evolution follows an early‐burst model with subsequent high phylogenetic conservatism. However, we found no evidence for associated shifts in species diversification, which point to an uncoupled evolution of morphology and species diversification. We recovered the ancestral habitat of Dytiscidae as lentic (standing water), with many transitions to lotic habitat (running water) that are concomitant to a decrease in body size. Finally, we found no evidence for difference in net diversification rates between habitats nor difference in turnover in lentic and lotic species. This result, together with recent findings in dragonflies, contrasts with some theoretical expectations of the habitat stability hypothesis. Thus, a thorough reassessment of the impact of dispersal, gene flow and range size on the speciation process is needed to fully encompass the evolutionary consequences of the lentic–lotic divide for freshwater fauna.
Computational modeling of shear deformation and failure of nanoscale hydrated calcium silicate hydrate in cement paste: Calcium silicate hydrate Jennite

Calcium silicate hydrate Jennite is a molecular structure commonly accepted as a representation of the complex calcium silicate hydrate gel formed during the hydration of typical Portland cement. In this paper, the behavior of nanoscale calcium silicate hydrate Jennite under shear deformation was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Computational samples representing the nanoscale structure of calcium silicate hydrate Jennite were subjected to shear deformation in order to investigate not only their mechanical properties but also their deformation behavior. The simulation results indicated that the nanoscale calcium silicate hydrate Jennite under shear deformation displays a linear elastic behavior up to shear stress of approximately 1.0 GPa, and shear deformation of about 0.08 radians, after which point yielding and plastic deformation occurs. The shear modulus determined from the simulations was 11.2 ± 0.7 GPa. The deformation-induced displacements in molecular structures were analyzed dividing the system in regions representing calcium oxide layers. The displacement/deformation of the layers of calcium oxide forming the structure of nanoscale calcium silicate hydrate Jennite was analyzed. The non-linear stress–strain behavior in the molecular structure was attributed to a non-linear increase in the displacement due to sliding of the calcium oxide layers on top of each other with higher shearing. These results support the idea that by controlling the chemical reactions, the tailored morphologies can be used to increase the interlinking between the calcium oxide layers, thus minimizing the shearing of the layers and leading to molecular structures that can withstand larger deformation and have improved failure behavior.
The adverse impact of type 2 diabetes on brain volume in heart failure

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is associated with structural brain abnormalities, including atrophy in multiple brain regions. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent comorbid condition in HF and is associated with abnormalities on neuroimaging in other medical and elderly samples. The current study examined whether comorbid T2DM exacerbates brain atrophy in older adults with HF. Methods: Seventy-five older adults with HF underwent an echocardiogram and completed a brief cognitive test battery. Participants then underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify total brain volumes, cortical lobar volumes, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Results: Approximately 30% of HF patients had a comorbid T2DM diagnosis. A series of multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) adjusting for medical and demographic characteristics and intracranial volume showed that HF patients with T2DM had smaller total brain, gray matter, and subcortical gray matter volume than those without such history. No between-group differences emerged for WMH. Persons with T2DM also had smaller cortical lobar volumes, including in frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. Follow-up analyses revealed that smaller total and cortical lobar brain volumes and WMH were associated with poorer performance on measures of global cognitive status, attention, executive functions, and memory. Conclusions: T2DM is associated with smaller total and cortical lobar brain volumes in patients with HF, and these structural brain indices were associated with cognitive test performance. Prospective studies that directly monitor glucose levels are needed to confirm our findings and clarify the mechanisms by which T2DM adversely impacts brain atrophy in this population.
A simple system to study the aerobic determination of silages

Asimplelaboratory systemconstructed from 1.5L polyethylene terephthalate (P.E.T.) bottles to measure CO2 pro duction during aerobic deterioration of silages is described. The aerobic deterioration of corn, ryegrass and wheat silages was studied using the system along with chemical and microbiological analyses. The ryegrass silage was the leaststable on aerobic exposure, as indi cated bythelargest CO2 production, fastest riseinpHandhighestDM losses. Measurement of CO2 production during aerobic deterioration withthe proposed simple system can be a reliable indicator for aerobic spoilage of silages.
Impact of Point‐of‐Care Xpert MTB/RIF on Tuberculosis Treatment Initiation. A Cluster‐randomized Trial

Rationale: Point‐of‐care (POC) diagnostics have the potential to reduce pretreatment loss to follow‐up and delays to initiation of appropriate tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a POC diagnostic strategy on initiation of appropriate TB treatment. Methods: We conducted a cluster‐randomized trial of adults with cough who were HIV positive and/or at high risk of drug‐resistant TB. Two‐week time blocks were randomized to two strategies: (1) Xpert MTB/RIF test (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA) performed at a district hospital laboratory or (2) POC Xpert MTB/RIF test performed at a primary health care clinic. All participants provided two sputum specimens: one for the Xpert test and the other for culture as a reference standard. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants with culture‐positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) initiated on appropriate TB treatment within 30 days. Measurements and Main Results: Between August 22, 2011, and March 1, 2013, 36 two‐week blocks were randomized, and 1,297 individuals were enrolled (646 in the laboratory arm, 651 in the POC arm), 159 (12.4%) of whom had culture‐positive PTB. The proportions of participants with culture‐positive PTB initiated on appropriate TB treatment within 30 days were 76.5% in the laboratory arm and 79.5% in the POC arm (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.51‐2.53; P = 0.76; risk difference, 3.1%; 95% confidence interval, −16.2 to 10.1). The median time to initiation of appropriate treatment was 7 days (laboratory) versus 1 day (POC). Conclusions: POC positioning of the Xpert test led to more rapid initiation of appropriate TB treatment. Achieving one‐stop diagnosis and treatment for all people with TB will require simpler, more sensitive diagnostics and broader strengthening of health systems. Clinical trial registered with www.isrctn. com (ISRCTN 18642314) and www.sanctr. gov.za (DOH‐27‐0711‐3568).
Morphological and Kinetic Study of Expandable Polystyrene Pre-expansion and Effects on Foam Properties

Optimized physico-mechanical properties and good pre-expansion and moulding performance (short cycle time) are required for expandable polystyrene (EPS). These characteristics are greatly dependent on expanded bead density, fusion and cell structure. On the other hand the morphological parameters of pre-expanded beads are determined by the intrinsic molecular and morphological properties of the expandable particles. The pre-expansion mechanism and its complex morphological and kinetic aspects have been studied; in particular, bead density, cell homogeneity, cell dimensions and number, cell wall thickness, amount of broken cell walls and pentane concentration during different pre-expansion steps have been evaluated. Determinations of bead surface integrity, pentane diffusivity at different densities and critical surface tension of compact and prefoamed EPS have also been made. The results of this investigation give some indications of the moulding behaviour and of the physical properties of the foamed samples. It has been found that very short moulding times (with negative effects on fusion and block shrinkage) are related to an appreciable amount of broken cell walls, probably due to too small a cell diameter.
Left atrial volume in patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer: One step further to predict trastuzumab‐related cardiotoxicity

Trastuzumab (TZ) therapy requires careful monitoring of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) because it can be potentially cardiotoxic. However, LVEF is an imperfect parameter and there is a need to find other variables to predict cardiac dysfunction early. Left atrium (LA) enlargement has proven to be a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes in several disease entities.
Partially Decoupled Image-Based Visual Servoing Using Different Sensitive Features

A new image-based visual servoing method based on sensitive features is presented to separately realize the position control and orientation control. Line features are used for the orientation control because of their sensitivities to rotational motions. Point features and area size features are employed to realize the position control since area size features are very sensitive to the objects’ depths. The translations resulting from rotational motions are introduced into the position control as the compensation in order to eliminate the influence of the camera’s motions on the point features. The depths for all active features are estimated via interaction matrices, features variations, and the executed camera motions. The proposed method can keep the tracked objects in the camera’s field of view in the visual servoing process. In addition, the determination methods of the interaction matrices for point, line, and area size features are proposed. Comparing to the traditional method, the proposed determination method of the interaction matrix for line is independent from the parameters of the plane containing the line. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Weight change and the conservation of lean mass in old age: the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

BACKGROUND Weight loss may contribute to the loss of lean mass with age. OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the relation between weight loss or weight gain and changes in lean mass and fat mass in older adults. DESIGN We observed changes in weight and body composition during a 4-y period in 2163 men (47%) and women (53%) aged 70-79 y in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study cohort. Whole-body and appendicular bone-free lean mass and fat mass were measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS Weight loss and weight gain were common. In both weight losers and weight gainers, changes in lean mass as a percentage of initial lean mass were substantially smaller than changes in fat mass as a percentage of initial fat mass. However, the difference between the change in lean mass and that in fat mass was more pronounced with weight gain than with weight loss, especially in men. Small amounts of lean loss and fat gain were noted with weight stability. In multivariate models, weight loss was strongly associated with lean mass loss in both men and women, especially in men whose weight loss was concurrent with a hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS With weight change, a greater proportion of lean mass than of fat mass was conserved, but, especially in older men, significantly more lean mass was lost with weight loss than was gained with weight gain. These findings suggest that weight loss, even with regain, could accelerate sarcopenia in older adults.
Rejection Sensitivity as a Moderator of Psychosocial Outcomes Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Objectives: The current study examines whether psychosocial outcomes following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) vary as a function of children’s rejection sensitivity (RS), defined as their disposition to be hypersensitive to cues of rejection from peers. Methods: Children ages 8–13 with a history of severe TBI (STBI, n=16), complicated mild/moderate TBI (n=35), or orthopedic injury (OI, n=49) completed measures assessing self-esteem and RS on average 3.28 years post-injury (SD=1.33, range=1.25–6.34). Parents reported on their child’s emotional and behavioral functioning and social participation. Results: Regression analyses found moderation of group differences by RS for three outcomes: social participation, self-perceptions of social acceptance, and externalizing behavior problems. Conditional effects at varying levels of RS indicated that externalizing problems and social participation were significantly worse for children with STBI at high levels of RS, compared to children with OI. Social participation for the STBI group remained significantly lower than the OI group at mean levels of RS, but not at low levels of RS. At high levels of RS, self-perceptions of social acceptance were lower for children with moderate TBI compared to OI, but group differences were not significant at mean or low levels of RS. No evidence of moderation was found for global self-worth, self-perceptions of physical appearance or athletic ability, or internalizing problems. Conclusions: The findings highlight the salient nature of social outcomes in the context of varying levels of RS. These findings may have implications for the design of interventions to improve social outcomes following TBI. (JINS, 2017, 23, 451–459)