Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microstrip coupled line bandpass filter with radial stubs for narrow-band applications

The necessity of creating channels by utilizing narrow-bands in high frequency regions is a matter of concern for the next generation-oriented wireless communication systems. A microstrip bandpass filter for narrow-band applications has been proposed in this article. Two coupled line filters with tapered line resonators are loaded at the mid-points of two identical pairs of radial stubs. The scalable length of microstrip lines to extend the radial stubs provides over 536 MHz shift of the resonant frequency with a narrow-band at each perturbing step. The proposed filter has been designed on Taconic TLX-8 substrate with 0.5 mm thickness and its filtering parts occupy a nominal area of 131.09 mm2 without feedlines. The fabricated filter exhibits nearly a 50 MHz pass-band at 6.428 GHz center frequency according to the measurement. Steep response of this filter entirely attenuates the out-band signal which enables it to be suitable for narrow-band applications in the higher frequency regions of C-band and ultra-wideband.
Suicidal ideation during adolescence: The roles of aggregate genetic liability for suicide attempts and negative life events in the past year

Background Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) constitute a central public health concern in adolescence. Previous studies emphasized the difficulty to cope with negative life events during adolescence as a risk factor for STB. Familial and genetic liability has also been documented to explain STB risk. Nevertheless, less is known about aggregate genetic liability and its possible interaction with negative life events. Moreover, information is needed to understand how these factors differently affect STB in boys and girls. Methods We evaluated suicidal ideation at 17 years old and examined the role of aggregate genetic liability, negative life events, and their interaction in a sample of 2,571 adolescents. Aggregate genetic liability was measured using a polygenic score (PGS) for suicide attempts. Negative life events were assessed in the past year and included parental divorce and hospitalizations, death of friends and relatives, bullying, failure‐related events, and involvement with drugs. We conducted univariable and multivariable general linear models stratified by sex and evaluated the interactions between PGS and negative life events in subsequent models. Results Analyses showed that suicidal ideation in boys is associated with failure to achieve something important (estimate = 0.198), bullying (estimate = 0.285), drug use (estimate = 0.325), and parental death (estimate = 0.923). In girls, both aggregate genetic liability (estimate = 0.041) and negative life events (failure at school [estimate = 0.120], failure to achieve something important [estimate = 0.279], drug use [estimate = 0.395], and bullying [estimate = 0.472]) were associated with suicidal ideation. Interaction analyses suggested that PGS interacted with drug use and failures at school, though this would need additional support. Conclusions These findings represent significant contributions to the fundamental understanding of STB in adolescence, suggesting to monitor the impact of negative life events during adolescence to better prevent suicide risk. Genetic liability is also of importance in girls and might influence the way they respond to environmental threats.
Magnetic resonance imaging parameter-based machine learning for prognosis prediction of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of uterine fibroids

Abstract Objectives: To develop and apply magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameter-based machine learning (ML) models to predict non-perfused volume (NPV) reduction and residual regrowth of uterine fibroids after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation. Methods: MRI data of 573 uterine fibroids in 410 women who underwent HIFU ablation from the Chongqing Haifu Hospital (training set, N = 405) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (testing set, N = 168) were retrospectively analyzed. Fourteen MRI parameters were screened for important predictors using the Boruta algorithm. Multiple ML models were constructed to predict NPV reduction and residual fibroid regrowth in a median of 203.0 (interquartile range: 122.5–367.5) days. Furthermore, optimal models were used to plot prognostic prediction curves. Results: Fourteen features, including postoperative NPV, indicated predictive ability for NPV reduction. Based on the 10-fold cross-validation, the best average performance of multilayer perceptron achieved with R2 was 0.907. In the testing set, the best model was linear regression (R2 =0.851). Ten features, including the maximum thickness of residual fibroids, revealed predictive power for residual fibroid regrowth. Random forest model achieved the best performance with an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.904 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.869–0.939), which was maintained in the testing set with an AUC of 0.891 (95% CI, 0.850–0.929). Conclusions: ML models based on MRI parameters can be used for prognostic prediction of uterine fibroids after HIFU ablation. They can potentially serve as a new method for learning more about ablated fibroids.
The Effect of Avidin on Viability and Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells HT-29

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of avidin treatment on cell viability, proliferation and cyclin D1 expression in colorectal cancer cells HT-29. Methods: Colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 incubated with 50, 100, 150, and 200 μg/mL of avidin concentration during 24, 48, and 72 hours, then the cell viability and proliferation were analyzed. Each avidin concentration was conducted together with HT-29 cell line without avidin treatment as a control group. The cell viability was measured by MTS assay and the proliferation was measured by BrdU (5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine) cell proliferation assay. According to cell viability and proliferation result, we determined the 100 μg/mL avidin concentration for analyzing mRNA and protein of cyclin D1. Results: We demonstrated that the viability and proliferation of HT-29 cells were significantly decreased in all concentration of avidin treatment compared to control. The cell proliferation showed larger reduction in avidin treatment rather than cell viability. This proves avidin could inhibit proliferation of colorectal cancer cell HT-29 quite well. The expression of cyclin D1, both mRNA and protein, was also significantly decreased after the avidin treatment group compared to control group, it supports the suppression of proliferation result. Conclusion: We concluded that avidin treatment could decrease cell viability and proliferation, accompanied by suppression of cyclin D1 expression in colorectal cells HT-29.
High Performance Electrodes for All-Solid-State Supercapacitor Prepared by Using E-Jet Deposition Technique

Electrohydrodynamic jet (E-jet) deposition technique was used to prepare thin film porous electrodes for all-solid-state electrochemical supercapacitors. The performance of thin film graphene/PANI electrodes separately prepared by E-jet deposition and brush-coating were comparatively studied in supercapacitors. Results show that the specific capacitance of the supercapacitor by E-jet deposition can reach 228F·g-1 at 0.5A·g-1and remain 92% after 1000 charge-discharge cycles. Compared to those electrodes made by traditional brush coating techniques, the capacitance and cycling stability of the supercapacitors in this work were respectively increased by 11% and 7%, means that E-jet deposition can be an ideal technique for fabrication of high performance supercapacitor electrodes.
Risk of bleeding with dental implant surgery in patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction A large number of patients under oral anticoagulant (OAC) or antiplatelet (AP) therapy require dental implantation. We systematically reviewed evidence on the risk of bleeding after implant placement with continued OAC or AP therapy. Methods PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL were searched for studies comparing bleeding outcomes after implant placement between OAC/AP therapy vs. controls or OAC vs. AP therapy. Results Seven studies were included. Pooled analysis showed no significant difference in the risk of bleeding with continued OAC therapy vs. control (RR 1.81 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70, 4.63 I 2 = 14% p = .22). Subgroup analysis depending on the type of OAC showed there was a non-significant tendency of increased risk of bleeding with Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) (RR 3.42 95% CI 1.00, 11.67 I 2 = 23% p = .05) but not with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) (RR 1.67 95% CI 0.49, 5.70 I 2 = 0% p = .41). Limited data suggest an increased risk of bleeding with OAC as compared to AP (RR 0.08 95% CI 0.01, 0.76 I 2 = 0% p = .03). Conclusions Continuation of OAC therapy in patients undergoing implant surgery does not increase the risk of bleeding provided local haemostatic measures are used. The indirect comparison suggests bleeding tendency may be higher with VKAs as compared to DOAC.
Effects of Early Empagliflozin Initiation on Diuresis and Kidney Function in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (EMPAG-HF)

Background: Effective diuretic regimens using loop diuretics in patients with acute decompensated heart failure are often limited by the development of worsening kidney function. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors induce glucosuria and sodium excretion with nephroprotective effects in patients with stable heart failure but their role in acute decompensated heart failure is unclear. Methods: In this single-center, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, we randomly assigned patients with acute decompensated heart failure to empagliflozin 25 mg daily or placebo in addition to standard decongestive treatments that included loop diuretics. The primary end point was cumulative urine output over 5 days. Secondary end points included diuretic efficiency, dynamics in markers of kidney function and injury, and NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide). Results: Sixty patients were randomized within 12 hours of hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure. Addition of empagliflozin daily to standard medical treatment of acute decompensated heart failure resulted in a 25% increase in cumulative urine output over 5 days (median 10.8 versus 8.7 L mL in placebo, group difference estimation 2.2 L [95% CI, 8.4 to 3.6]; P=0.003). Empagliflozin increased diuretic efficiency compared with placebo (14.1 mL urine per milligram furosemide equivalent [95% CI, 0.6–27.7]; P=0.041) without affecting markers of renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, 51±19 versus 54±17 mL/min per 1.73 m²; P=0.599) or injury (total urinary protein, 492±845 versus 503±847 mg/g creatinine; P=0.975; and urinary α1-microglobulin, 55.4±38.6 versus 31.3±33.6 mg/g creatinine; P=0.066) with more pronounced decrease in NT-proBNP in the empagliflozin group compared with placebo (−1861 versus −727.2 pg/mL after 5 days; quotient in slope, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.83–0.95]; P<0.001). There were no differences in the incidence of safety events between groups. Conclusions: Early addition of empagliflozin to standard diuretic therapy increases urine output without affecting renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials. gov; Unique identifier: NCT04049045.
Changes in stiffness at active myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius after dry needling in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial

Background/objective: Since, to our knowledge, the effects of dry needling (DN) on active myofascial trigger point (MTrP) stiffness have not been analyzed previously with shear wave elastography (SWE), our aim was to compare the effects of a single session of DN and sham DN applied to the most active MTrP located in the upper trapezius muscle on clinical outcomes. Methods: A randomized, double-blinded sham-controlled trial was conducted; 60 patients were randomized into an experimental (DN) or sham (sham DN) group. Baseline data including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected. SWE and pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) at the MTrP and a control point located 3 cm laterally were the main outcomes assessed before and 10 min after the interventions. Results: Patients receiving DN interventions experienced greater increases in the control point PPTs immediately after receiving the intervention compared with sham DN (p < 0.05), but no differences were found for the MTrP (p > 0.05). Post-intervention PPT improvements were found at both locations for both groups (p < 0.01). No significant changes for either MTrP or control locations were found for SWE outcomes in either group (all ps > 0.05). No significant within-group SWE differences were found in the DN or sham DN groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: A single session of DN or sham DN applied to active MTrPs located in the upper trapezius muscle produced no detectable changes in stiffness at the MTrP or control locations. Real DN induced an immediate analgesic response at both MTrP and control locations, while sham DN induced an immediate MTrP response. Trial registration number: NCT04832074 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Expression of PD-L1 in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer and Its Impact on Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response

Objectives: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a new target in breast cancer (BC) and its impact on neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACTH) response is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PD-L1 in locally advanced invasive BC of different molecular subtypes and to elucidate its relation to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) density, established clinicopathological factors, pathological therapy response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and patients’ outcome. Materials and Methods: One hundred and five cases of locally advanced invasive BC were enrolled in our study. Cases were classified into five molecular subtypes according to the Immuno-histochemical data. PD-L1 immunostaining was analyzed for all studied cases and its expression was correlated with TILs density, histopathologic parameters, BC molecular subtypes, Pathological therapy response, 7-years disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: PD-L1 was expressed in 32.4% of the studied locally advanced BC cases. It showed a significant correlation with old age group (p= 0.010), high tumor grade (p= 0.046) and high pretherapy TILs density (p= <0.001). PD-L1 expression was higher in HER2/neu-enriched group (45.5%) followed by TNBC (44.4%). There were no significant relations between PD-L1 expression and DFS, OS as well as pathological therapy response, although, it revealed more expression in cases with complete and marked therapy response. Conclusion: In spite our results fail to prove that PD-L1 is a bad prognostic biomarker in locally advanced BC, but they indicate PD-L1 could be a new target for the treatment of patients with high grade breast carcinoma and TNBC group.
Selection of a stable reference gene for relative copy number profiling of porcine chromosomal genes using SYBR green qPCR

Abstract Reference gene with stable copy number is essential for normalization in qPCR based copy number assay. Present study aims to identify a suitable reference gene in pigs for qPCR based relative copy number profiling of chromosomal genes. A total of 30 crossbred pigs of both sexes were cyto-screened and gDNA was extracted from the pigs having numerically normal karyotypes. The copy number stability was studied for 7 genes (FSHB, IL4, IGF1R, TCF24, BRMS1L, ARMC1 and SRSF4) selected on the basis of the chromosomal location, reports of single copy and lack of involvement in structural chromosomal abnormalities. The copy number was estimated from Ct values in 3 technical replicates using 6 animals from either sex for each gene. The stability was evaluated from the variations in Ct values using different (Delta Ct, geNorm, BestKeeper and normFinder) algorithms. While the moderate variation was observed among relative copy number stabilities among the genes, comprehensive ranking revealed the most stable gene for normalization (IGF1R > FSHB > TCF24 > IL4 > ARMC1> SRSF4 > BRMS1L) across the samples. The selected reference gene was validated using DNA of cyto-screened pigs to find out ratio of X and Y chromosome fragments using qPCR based copy number analysis.
Variations of tunnelling resistance between CNTs with strain in composites: non-monotonicty and influencing factors

The electro-mechanical response of conductive carbon-nanotube(CNT)-polymer composites is vital when they are used as smart-sensing materials. Clarifying the variation trend of resistance with strain is the key to design and regulate the piezoresistive property of such material. Here, we present some finite element simulations to predict the electro-mechanical response using a geometrical model comprising two hollow cylindrical CNTs and a cuboid matrix. The electrical contact between CNTs is represented by some elements which account for quantum tunnelling effects and capture the sensitivity of conductivity to separation. Different from classical simulations using solid model or one-dimensional beam model, in which the tunnelling resistance between two CNTs changes monotonously with strain, the results in this work show that the trend is non-monotonic in some cases, i.e. it increases at first and then decreases with the uniaxial compressive strain when the elastic modulus of the matrix is high. In addition, factors affecting the different variation trends are discussed in details, which include geometric model, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the matrix, and orientation angle.
Comparative Performance of the Luminex NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel, GenMark eSensor Respiratory Viral Panel, and BioFire FilmArray Respiratory Panel

Clinical laboratories have multiple choices when it is comes to syndromic respiratory testing. Here, the Luminex NxTAG RPP is compared to the BioFire FilmArray RP and GenMark eSensor RVP for overall and per-target accuracy. As new tests come to market, it is important to ascertain their performance characteristics, compared to other widely used in vitro diagnostic products. ABSTRACT This study compares three of the most inclusive and widely used panels for respiratory syndromic testing in the United States, namely, Luminex NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP), BioFire FilmArray Respiratory Panel (RP), and GenMark eSensor Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP). We compared the three assays using nasopharyngeal swab samples (n = 350) collected from symptomatic patients (n = 329) in the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. There was no significant difference in the overall accuracies of BioFire and Luminex assays (P = 0.6171); however, significant differences were found between BioFire and GenMark (P = 0.0003) and between GenMark and Luminex (P = 0.0009). The positive percent agreement of the BioFire RP assay was 94.1%, compared to 97.3% for GenMark RVP and 96.5% for Luminex RPP. Overall negative percent agreement values were high for all three assays, i.e., 99.9% for BioFire and Luminex and 99.5% for GenMark. The three assays were equivalent for adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, influenza A, and respiratory syncytial virus. Increased false-positive results were seen with BioFire for the endemic coronaviruses and with GenMark for influenza B and the parainfluenza viruses. IMPORTANCE Clinical laboratories have multiple choices when it is comes to syndromic respiratory testing. Here, the Luminex NxTAG RPP is compared to the BioFire FilmArray RP and GenMark eSensor RVP for overall and per-target accuracy. As new tests come to market, it is important to ascertain their performance characteristics, compared to other widely used in vitro diagnostic products.
Mean Arc Distance (MAD): a quantity to compare trajectory 4π sampling in single target cranial stereotactic radiotherapy

Purpose. C-arm linac-based radiotherapy has seen a recent interest in 4π methods of delivery using simultaneous rotations of couch and gantry to reduce doses to organs-at-risk (OARs) and increase dose compactness. While many methods use heuristics to generate trajectories that avoid OARs, combined with arbitrary trajectory restrictions to prevent oversampling, a quantity has not yet been developed to succinctly compare sampling of the 4π space for candidate trajectories as a surrogate for dosimetric compactness. Methods. Evenly spaced sampling points were distributed across a 4π sphere centred on isocentre. A metric, mean arc distance (MAD), was defined that quantifies the average arc distance between all sampling points and their nearest field in a radiotherapy trajectory. The relationship between isodose volume and MAD was examined in 2,047 plans: 900 unique trajectories of fixed port DCA plans, 900 unique trajectories of contiguous field DCA plans, 192 VMAT plans (eight volumes in four locations, each with six trajectories) in matRad with 5 VMAT plans repeated for validation in a clinical planning system, and 10 clinical VMAT cases replanned with five trajectories in a clinical treatment planning system. Results. All isodose volumes greater than 10% of the prescription dose decreased with decreasing MAD in all comparisons. In the range of 10% to 100% of the prescription dose, the rate of isodose volume decrease was exponential as a function of MAD in all comparisons. Reduction of absolute isodose volume is seen with increased 4π sampling, with larger target volumes exhibiting larger absolute reductions. Very low isodoses (0% to 10% of prescription) increased with decreasing MAD. Conclusions. MAD is a 4π sampling quantity useful in quantifying the decrease of isodose volume, relevant for sparing normal tissues. By quantifying this feature, candidate dynamic trajectories can be efficiently compared for 4π sampling. This quantity is explored here for single target cranial radiotherapy but may have applications to other radiotherapy treatment sites.