Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Octogenarian patients’ sleep and delirium experiences in hospital and four years after aortic valve replacement: a qualitative interview study

Objectives Sleep disturbances and delirium are frequently observed complications after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI), especially in octogenarian patients. However, a knowledge gap exists on patient experiences of sleep and delirium. In particular, patients’ long-term sleep and delirium experiences are unknown. This article explores and describes how octogenarian patients suffering from delirium after aortic valve replacement experience their sleep and delirium situation. Design An explorative and descriptive design with a longitudinal qualitative approach was applied. Qualitative content analysis following the recommended steps of Graneheim and Lundman was performed. Setting Patients were included at a tertiary university hospital with 1400 beds. Delirium and insomnia screening was performed at baseline and five postoperative days after aortic valve treatment. For qualitative data, 10 patients were interviewed 6–12 months after treatment with focus on delirium. Five of these patients were reinterviewed 4 years after treatment, with focus on their sleep situation. Participants Inclusion criteria; age 80+, treated with SAVR or TAVI and had experienced delirium after treatment. Results For the initial interview, we included five men and five women, four following TAVI and six following SAVR, mean age 83. One overarching theme revealed from the content analyses; Hours in bed represented emotional chaos. Whereas three subthemes described the patients’ experiences with sleep and delirium, a cascade of distressful experiences disturbing sleep, the struggle between sleep and activity and elements influencing sleep. Four years after the treatment, sleep disturbances persisted, and patients still remembered strongly the delirium incidences. Conclusions For octogenarian patients, sleep disturbances and delirium are long-term burdens and need a greater attention in order to improve patient care.
Synthesis and morphological characterization of phenyl-modified macroporous–mesoporous hybrid silica monoliths

Compared with pure silica-based or organic-polymer monoliths, hybrid organic-silica monoliths offer the combined advantages of mechanically strong stationary phases, simpler preparation protocols, resistance to swelling and shrinking in many solvents and better pH stability. Comprehensive data on the systematic characterization of the pore space morphology of hybrid organic-silica monoliths and their connection to pure silica-based monoliths are still scarce in the literature. In this work, we adapted the general sol–gel procedure with phenyltrimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane as precursors to prepare phenyl-modified macroporous–mesoporous silica monoliths via spinodal decomposition involving poly(ethylene glycol). Effects of polycondensation temperature and poly(ethylene glycol) amount were investigated with respect to the corresponding macropore space morphology. We characterized the monoliths by thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy (phenyl-modification), nitrogen physisorption and scanning electron microscopy (meso- and macropores) as well as confocal laser scanning microscopy for three-dimensional reconstruction of the macropore space morphology. The statistical analysis of a reconstruction by chord length distributions allowed us to assess the monoliths macropore space heterogeneity through a quantitative approach. Relying exclusively on image analysis, we provide an accurate and model-free description of the void space distribution. Complementary macroporosity profiles were recorded to identify macroscopic heterogeneities inside a monolith. Analyzed structural features are connected to key transport properties of the macropore space. Phenyl-modified monoliths from this work were compared with previous pure silica-based and hybrid organic-silica monoliths regarding the bulk homogeneity of the monoliths and the critical wall region in capillary column format. The comparison with a conventional C18-silica monolith demonstrated a selectivity tuning with the phenyl-modified silica monoliths by π–π-interactions between the stationary phase and aromatic analytes. Application of the phenyl-modified monoliths in capillary liquid chromatography reflected the selectivity behaviour of commercial phenyl-modified silica particles, but with the advantage of a higher separation efficiency for the monolithic stationary phase.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and eating disorders: maintaining mechanisms and treatment targets

ABSTRACT Many individuals with lifetime histories of eating disorders (EDs) report exposure to interpersonal trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, this relationship is not well-understood, and there are no established, evidence-based therapies for the concurrent treatment of EDs and PTSD. This review focuses on studies of the mechanisms associating trauma exposure and/or PTSD with EDs. Possible mechanisms of the trauma-ED association identified from the literature include self-criticism, low self-worth, guilt, shame, depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, anger, and impulsivity/compulsivity. ED behaviors may be used as coping strategies to manage PTSD symptoms and negative affect. Avoidance of hyperarousal symptoms by engaging in binge eating, purging, and/or restriction may serve to maintain both the ED as well as the PTSD. Given the evidence of the bidirectional relationship between EDs and PTSD, we describe an integrated cognitive behavioral theory that may account for the persistence of comorbid PTSD and EDs. The integrated model is based on the theoretical models that underpin existing evidence-based treatments for PTSD and ED and incorporates many of the potential mechanisms highlighted to date. The primary aim of the model is to identify potential treatment targets as well as elucidate future directions for research.
MicroRNA-1929-3p participates in murine cytomegalovirus-induced hypertensive vascular remodeling through Ednra/NLRP3 inflammasome activation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the development of vascular remodeling in essential hypertension (EH) by mediating the effects of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on the vascular system. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection on blood pressure and vascular function in mice, in order to elucidate the role of miR-1929-3p in this process. For model development, 7-month-old C57BL/6J mice were infected with the Smith strain of MCMV, and MCMV DNA, IgG and IgM were detected. Subsequently, blood pressure was measured via the carotid artery, and the morphological changes of the aorta were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. miR-1929-3p transfection was performed using an adeno-associated virus packaged vector and the changes in vascular structure were then observed. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial NO synthase were also assessed with colorimetry. Vascular remodeling and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway-related proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 were assayed by ELISA. The results revealed that MCMV infection increased the blood pressure, promoted vascular remodeling, caused endothelial cell injury, and downregulated miR-1929-3p. However, these effects were alleviated by miR-1929-3p overexpression, which downregulated endothelin A receptor (Ednra) and NLRP3 inflammasome, as well as endothelial injury- and vascular remodeling-related genes. Taken together, the findings of the present study indicated that overexpression of miR-1929-3p may improve MCMV-induced vascular remodeling, possibly via the deactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by ET-1/Ednra.
Galectin-1 and platelet factor 4 (CXCL4) induce complementary platelet responses in vitro

Galectin-1 (gal-1) is a carbohydrate-binding lectin with important functions in angiogenesis, immune response, hemostasis and inflammation. Comparable functions are exerted by platelet factor 4 (CXCL4), a chemokine stored in the α-granules of platelets. Previously, gal-1 was found to activate platelets through integrin αIIbβ3. Both gal-1 and CXCL4 have high affinities for polysaccharides, and thus may mutually influence their functions. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible synergism of gal-1 and CXCL4 in platelet activation. Platelets were treated with increasing concentrations of gal-1, CXCL4 or both, and aggregation, integrin activation, P-selectin and phosphatidyl serine (PS) exposure were determined by light transmission aggregometry and by flow cytometry. To investigate the influence of cell surface sialic acid, platelets were treated with neuraminidase prior to stimulation. Gal-1 and CXCL4 were found to colocalize on the platelet surface. Stimulation with gal-1 led to integrin αIIbβ3 activation and to robust platelet aggregation, while CXCL4 weakly triggered aggregation and primarily induced P-selectin expression. Co-incubation of gal-1 and CXCL4 potentiated platelet aggregation compared with gal-1 alone. Whereas neither gal-1 and CXCL4 induced PS-exposure on platelets, prior removal of surface sialic acid strongly potentiated PS exposure. In addition, neuraminidase treatment increased the binding of gal-1 to platelets and lowered the activation threshold for gal-1. However, CXCL4 did not affect binding of gal-1 to platelets. Taken together, stimulation of platelets with gal-1 and CXCL4 led to distinct and complementary activation profiles, with additive rather than synergistic effects.
Heliox administration in anesthetized rabbits with spontaneous inspiratory flow limitation.

We investigated the effects of heliox administration (80% Helium in O2) on tidal inspiratory flow limitation (tIFL) occurring in supine anesthetized spontaneously breathing rabbits, regarded as an animal model of obstructive apnea-hypopnea syndrome. 22 rabbits were instrumented to record oro-nasal mask flow, airway opening, tracheal and esophageal pressures and diaphragm and genioglossus electromyographic activities while breathing either room air or heliox, and, in 12 rabbits, also during the application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP; 6 cmH2O). For the group, heliox increased peak inspiratory flow, ventilation (18±11%), peak inspiratory tracheal and dynamic transpulmonary pressures, but in no animal eliminated tIFL, as instead CPAP did in all. Muscle activities were unaffected by heliox. In the presence of IFL the increase in flow with heliox (ΔV̇IFL) varied markedly among rabbits (2 to 49%), allowing the distinction between responders and non-responders. None of the baseline variables discriminated responders and non-responders. However, fitting the Rohrer equation (R=K1+K2V̇) to the tracheal pressure-flow relationship over the first 0.1s of inspiration while breathing air allowed such discrimination on the basis of larger K2 in responders (0.005±.002 vs 0.002±.001 cmH2O·s2·ml-2; p<0.001), suggesting a corresponding difference in the relative contribution of laminar and turbulent flow. The differences in ΔV̇IFL between responders and non-responders were simulated by modeling the collapsible segment of the upper airways as a non-linear resistor and varying its pressure-volume curve, length and diameter, thus showing the importance of mechanical and geometrical factors in determining the response to heliox in the presence of tIFL.
A DFT study of the effect of K and SiO2 on syngas conversion to methane and methanol over an Mo6P3 cluster

Synthesis gas (CO+H2) conversion to CH4 and CH3OH over an Mo6P3 cluster, an Mo6P3–Si3O9 and a K–Mo6P3–Si3O9 cluster has been studied using density functional theory (DFT). The study focused on the reaction between the intermediate species CH2OHad+Had, comparing methanol formation to C–O bond scission that yields CH2.ad+H2Oad species. The activation energies of both the reactions decreased on the Mo6P3–Si3O9 and the K–Mo6P3–Si3O9 clusters compared to the Mo6P3 cluster. However, on the K–Mo6P3–Si3O9 cluster, the activation energy for methanol formation (12.1 kcal/mol) was higher than the C–O bond-breaking activation energy (9.9 kcal/mol). Although the DFT study predicted preferential formation of CH4 versus CH3OH on all the Mo6P3 clusters, the study also predicted an increased formation of CH3OH with the addition of K and experimental measurements are in agreement with this prediction.
Lamin B2 promotes the progression of triple negative breast cancer via mediating cell proliferation and apoptosis

Abstract Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a more common type of breast cancer with high distant metastasis and poor prognosis. The potential role of lamins in cancer progression has been widely revealed. However, the function of lamin B2 (LMNB2) in TNBC progression is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the role of LMNB2 in TNBC. The cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to examine LMNB2 expression levels. LMNB2 short hairpin RNA plasmid or lentivirus was used to deplete the expression of LMNB2 in human TNBC cell lines including MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231. Alterations in cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro and the nude mouse tumorigenicity assay in vivo were subsequently analyzed. The human TNBC tissues shown high expression of LMNB2 according to the bioinformation analysis and IHC assays. LMNB2 expression was correlated with the clinical pathological features of TNBC patients, including pTNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Through in vitro and in vivo assays, we confirmed LMNB2 depletion suppressed the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of TNBC cells, and inhibited tumor growth of TNBC cells in mice, with the decrease in Ki67 expression or the increase in caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, LMNB2 may promote TNBC progression and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for TNBC treatment.
Solution and Surface Charge Properties of Shell Cross-Linked Knedel Nanoparticles

Solution-state characterizations of poly(4-vinylpyridine):polystyrene (PVP:PS) shell cross-linked knedel nanoparticles (SCK's) are described. A combination of techniques, including dynamic light scattering, electrophoretic light scattering, and analytical ultracentrifugation, are used to determine the hydrodynamic diameter, surface charge characteristics, molecular weight, and aggregation number of the SCK's and their micelle precursors. The use of analytical ultracentrifugation is highlighted because of the wealth of information it provides in characterizing SCK solution behavior. The analysis of SCK's indicates that particle diameter, molecular weight, and aggregation increase with increasing PS chain length of the PVP:PS block copolymer used to prepare the SCK. Measurements of electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential via electrophoretic light scattering point to partial burial of charge below the particle surface of quaternized PVP units comprising the shell of the SCK. By contrast, the characteriza.
EB1 Is Essential for Spindle Formation and Chromosome Alignment During Oocyte Meiotic Maturation in Mice

The cytoskeleton plays an orchestrating role in polarized cell growth. Microtubules (MTs) not only play critical roles in chromosome alignment and segregation but also control cell shape, division, and motility. A member of the plus-end tracking proteins, end-binding protein 1 (EB1), regulates MT dynamics and plays vital roles in maintaining spindle symmetry and chromosome alignment during mitosis. However, the role of EB1 in mouse oocyte meiosis remains unknown. Here, we examined the localization patterns and expression levels of EB1 at different stages. EB1 protein level was found to be stable during meiosis. EB1 mainly localized along the spindle and had a similar localization pattern as that of α-tubulin. The EB1 protein was degraded with a Trim-Away method, and the results were further confirmed with western blotting and immunofluorescence. At 12 h of culture after EB1 knockdown (KD), a reduced number of mature MII oocytes were observed. EB1 KD led to spindle disorganization, chromosome misalignment, and missegregation; β-catenin protein binds to actin via the adherens junctional complex, which was significantly reduced in the EB1 KD oocytes. Collectively, we propose that the impairment of EB1 function manipulates spindle formation, thereby promoting chromosomal loss, which is expected to fuel aneuploidy and possibly fertilization failure.
ARID1A Mutation May Define an Immunologically Active Subgroup in Patients with Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: AT-rich interactive domain 1A (ARID1A) is commonly mutated in colorectal cancer, frequently resulting in truncation and loss of protein expression. ARID1A recruits MSH2 for mismatch repair during DNA replication. ARID1A deficiency promotes hypermutability and immune activation in preclinical models, but its role in patients with colorectal cancer is being explored. Experimental Design: The DNA sequencing and gene expression profiling of patients with colorectal cancer were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas and MD Anderson Cancer Center databases, with validation utilizing external databases, and correlation between ARID1A and immunologic features. IHC for T-cell markers was performed on a separate cohort of patients. Results: Twenty-eight of 417 patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (6.7%) had ARID1A mutation. Among 58 genes most commonly mutated in colorectal cancer, ARID1A mutation had the highest increase with frameshift mutation rates in MSS cases (8-fold, P < 0.001). In MSS, ARID1A mutation was enriched in immune subtype (CMS1) and had a strong correlation with IFNγ expression (Δz score +1.91, P < 0.001). Compared with ARID1A wild-type, statistically significant higher expression for key checkpoint genes (e.g., PD-L1, CTLA4, and PDCD1) and gene sets (e.g., antigen presentation, cytotoxic T-cell function, and immune checkpoints) was observed in mutant cases. This was validated by unsupervised differential expression of genes related to immune response and further confirmed by higher infiltration of T cells in IHC of tumors with ARID1A mutation (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The immunogenicity of ARID1A-mutant cases is likely due to an increased level of neoantigens resulting from increased tumor mutational burden and frameshift mutations. Tumors with ARID1A mutation may be more susceptible to immune therapy–based treatment strategies and should be recognized as a unique molecular subgroup in future immune therapy trials.
Heterogeneous reactions of chlorine nitrate and hydrogen chloride on type I polar stratospheric clouds

The heterogeneous reactions ClONO{sub 2} + NCl {yields} Cl{sub 2} + NHO{sub 3} (1) and ClONO{sub 2} + H{sub 2}O {yields} HOCl + HNO{sub 3} (2) on vapor-deposited NHO{sub 3}-H{sub 2}O ice substrates have been investigated at 196 K by using a fast-flow reactor coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The reaction probability for (1) is 0.10 {plus minus} 0.02 and independent of both the HNO{sub 3} and HCl concentrations in the substrate compositions studied. For (2), the reaction probability is approximately 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}5} near 53.8 wt% HNO{sub 3}, the composition of pure nitric acid trihydrate (NAT), and is about 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} at 46 wt% HNO{sub 3}. The sticking coefficient of HCl on these substrates was also found to be a strong function of the substrate composition, ranging from about 2 {times} 10{sup {minus}5} at NAT composition to 6 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} at 45 wt% HNO{sub 3}. The HNO{sub 3}-H{sub 2}O ice substrates were found to have large internal surface areas, and corrections for gas-phase diffusion within the porous ices were applied to observed loss rates. The large decrease in the HCl sticking coefficient and the reaction probability for (2) as the composition of pure NATmore » is approached from the water-enriched side can be semiquantatively explained in terms of a simple two-solid-phase model. Finally, the relation of these results to the depletion of polar ozone is discussed. « less
High-efficacy subcellular micropatterning of proteins using fibrinogen anchors

Watson et al. describe a general method to improve protein printing on glass (also known as micropatterning) while maintaining protein activity. In particular, this enables subcellular micropatterning, whereby complex micropatterns are able to simultaneously control cell shape and imprint the distribution of transmembrane receptors within that cell.
Graphene support for enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Pd for alcohol oxidation

Graphene nanosheets (GNS) were synthesized by the NaBH4 reduction of freshly prepared graphite oxide and utilized as a catalyst support of palladium nanoparticles for the electrooxidation of ethanol and methanol. Home-made GNS were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and XRD. The study has shown that Pd nanoparticles dispersed on GNS were highly active for the electrooxidation of ethanol and methanol in 1 M KOH. It is observed that Pd nanoparticles dispersed on GNS are more active compared to those dispersed on nanocarbon particles (NC) or multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for ethanol/methanol electrooxidation under similar experimental conditions. The enhanced electrochemical activity of Pd/GNS toward alcohol oxidation can be ascribed to the greatly enhanced electrochemical active surface area of Pd nanoparticles on the GNS support.
Synthesis and Molecular Structure of cis-Tetracarbonyl[N-(diphenylphosphino-kP)-naphthalen-1-yl-P,P-diphenylphosphinous amide-kP]chromium(0)

The reaction of N,N-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)naphthylamine C10H7-1-N(PPh2)2 with (C5H10NH)2Cr(CO)4 (1 : 1 molar ratio) in dichloromethane afforded cis-[Cr(CO)4C10H7-1-N(PPh2)2] (1). This complex was crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least squares techniques to an factor of 0.0313 for 6488 observed reflections. The Cr-metal is coordinated by four terminal CO molecules and a P,P′-bidentate N,N-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)naphthylamine ligand in a distorted octahedral array. The N-atom adopts a planar geometry with the two P-atoms and C-atom attached to it. The four-membered metallacycle ring P2CrN is nearly planar.
Electronic structures of MoS2 nanotubes.

First-principles methods enable one to study the electronic structure of solids, surfaces, or clusters as accurately as possible with moderate computational effort. So we used a first-principles electronic structure method to calculate the electronic structure of free-standing layer of MoS2 with ABA and ABC stacking. Our results suggest MoS2 with ABA stacking which appears as an insulator has an energy gap of 1.64 eV. The covalent bonds between molybdenum and sulfur atoms are strong enough to form this gap. The ABC stacking will break the symmetry and becomes metallic. The valance and impurities calculations show the rigid-band picture of MoS2 with ABA stacking. For treating larger systems, one can also use the tight-binding method. We applied this method to fit the band structure of single layer of S to the result from the first-principles calculation. The electronic structure of MoS2 nanotubes has been studied using a first-principles electronic structure method. We investigated MoS2 zigzag (n, 0) nanotubes as well as armchair (n, n) structures. We constructed MoS2 nanotubes with ABA and ABC stacking. The structures have been completely optimized. We compare our results to previous tight-binding calculations by Seifert et al.[29] and find significant differences in configuration, bond lengths and resulting electronic structure in several MoS2 nanotubes. For zigzag structures, almost all the nanotubes with ABA stacking and small tubes with ABC stacking are semiconducting. For armchair structures, all (n, n) tubes with ABA stacking are semiconducting and with ABC stacking are metallic. For armchair and zigzag tubes of a given n, the lowest energy structure is semiconducting. ii