Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Point-of-Care Thoracic Ultrasonography in Patients With Cirrhosis and Liver Failure

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) helps determine liver-related pathologies like an abscess, portal vein or hepatic vein thromboses, presence of ascites, site for pleural or ascitic paracentesis, and guiding biopsies. POCUS is revolutionizing the management of critically ill patients presenting with pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute-on-chronic liver failure, and in the emergency. The objectives of thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) are to aid the clinician in differentiating between pneumonia, effusions, interstitial edema and collections, and in estimating the volume status of patients with liver disease using inferior vena cava dynamic indices. The use of POCUS in patients with cirrhosis has since evolved. It is now widely used to help diagnose volume status, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, and right ventricular dilation due to pulmonary embolism and to determine the causes for weaning failures such as effusions, lung collapse, and pneumothorax. During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, moving patients for computed tomography can be difficult. Therefore, TUS is now essential in liver transplantation and intensive care practice to assess ventilatory pressures, cardiac function, and fluid management. This review indicates the current and optimized use of TUS, offers a practical guide on TUS in the liver intensive care unit (ICU), and presents a diagnostic pathway for determining lung and pleural pathology, resolution of respiratory failure, and aid weaning from mechanical ventilation.
Aortic Dissection With Complete Occlusion of Left Main Coronary Artery Presenting as Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Acute Aortic Dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition, which presents with a wide variety of symptoms ranging from being asymptomatic to sudden cardiac death. A retrograde extension of AAD can lead to partial or complete occlusion of coronary vessels, leading to an exceedingly rare presentation in the form of acute Myocardial Infarction (MI). A prognosis of AAD depends on prompt diagnosis and urgent surgical intervention to re-establish coronary blood flow. Here, we report a case of AAD, presenting as acute anterolateral wall MI, due to total occlusion of the left main coronary artery.
LncRNA‐encoded microproteins: A new form of cargo in cell culture‐derived and circulating extracellular vesicles

Abstract Advancements in omics‐based technologies over the past few years have led to the discovery of numerous biologically relevant peptides encoded by small open reading frames (smORFs) embedded in long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts (referred to as microproteins here) in a variety of species. However, the mechanisms and modes of action that underlie the roles of microproteins have yet to be fully characterized. Herein, we provide the first experimental evidence of abundant microproteins in extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from glioma cancer cells, indicating that the EV‐mediated transfer of microproteins may represent a novel mechanism for intercellular communication. Intriguingly, when examining human plasma, 48, 11 and 3 microproteins were identified from purified EVs, whole plasma and EV‐free plasma, respectively, suggesting that circulating microproteins are primarily enriched in EVs. Most importantly, the preliminary data showed that the expression profile of EV microproteins in glioma patient diverged from the health donors, suggesting that the circulating microproteins in EVs might have potential diagnostic application in identifying patients with glioma.
Generation of plasma cells and CD27−IgD− B cells during hantavirus infection is associated with distinct pathological findings

Human hantavirus infections can cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The pathogenic mechanisms are not fully understood, nor if they affect the humoral immune system. The objective of this study was to investigate humoral immune responses to hantavirus infection and to correlate them to the typical features of HFRS: thrombocytopenia and transient kidney dysfunction.
Association of Celiac Disease With Pembrolizumab

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the recent times have transformed the landscape of the management of many solid tumors. Unfortunately, many immune-related adverse effects are associated with ICIs, which lead to a negative outcome in cancer treatment. We present a case of a 63-year-old female with metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown origin, who developed celiac disease during the course of treatment with pembrolizumab. Association of celiac disease with this form of immunotherapy has never been documented before.
Genetic structure of the endangered obligatorily myrmecophilous butterfly Phengaris (Maculinea) arion in two remote areas of its European distribution range Running head: Genetic structure of Phengaris arion

1. The socially parasitic Phengaris arion is one of the most threatened butterfly species in Europe. Using 12 microsatellite loci, we studied the genetic structure of 14 ecologically diverse populations (285 individuals) originating from two distinct areas of the European distribution range (Poland and Italy). 2. Italian populations were more differentiated (FST: 0.124) than Polish populations (0.073). However, in contrast to the results of previous studies concerning COI (mtDNA) and EF-1α (nucDNA) genes, indices of genetic variability were higher in Poland. Withinpopulation genetic variability in Italy decreased southwards, whereas in Poland no similar gradient of changes was detected. 3. Analysis with STRUCTURE suggested that all Polish populations and two of the most northern Italian populations had the highest probabilities of ancestry from the same genetic clade, while the five remaining Italian populations formed a second group. This may indicate a common evolutionary history for populations inhabiting the northern slopes of the
EFFECTS OF POLYMERIZATION PARAMETERS ON ACTIVITY OF ETHYLENE/PROPYLENE COPOLYMERIZATION USING CP2ZRCL2-MAO CATALYST SYSTEM

pressure in toluene using Cp2ZrCl2/methylaluminoxane catalyst system. The effects of operating conditions including polymerization temperature, monomer feed composition, catalyst/cocatalyst molar ratio and reaction time (as mean residence time of the catalyst system in reactor) on kinetics of the copolymerization is investigated. The catalyst activity seems to increase with a decrease in catalyst concentration but decreasing with either propylene/ethylene molar ratio in feed or with reaction temperature. Chain transfer to propylene is shown to be the main reason for catalyst deactivation. The rate-time profiles are also shown to be of decaying character after passing a maximum indicating that the deactivation of active growing centre occurs as soon as the catalyst components are mixed in the presence of monomer mixture. Ahmad Hajizadeh1, and Kazem Sobhanmanesh1
Machine Learning in Finance: A Metadata-Based Systematic Review of the Literature

Machine learning in finance has been on the rise in the past decade. The applications of machine learning have become a promising methodological advancement. The paper’s central goal is to use a metadata-based systematic literature review to map the current state of neural networks and machine learning in the finance field. After collecting a large dataset comprised of 5053 documents, we conducted a computational systematic review of the academic finance literature intersected with neural network methodologies, with a limited focus on the documents’ metadata. The output is a meta-analysis of the two-decade evolution and the current state of academic inquiries into financial concepts. Researchers will benefit from a mapping resulting from computational-based methods such as graph theory and natural language processing.
Culture and the Historical Persistence of Minority Shareholder Expropriation

Can historical culture explain persistent regional differences in minority shareholder expropriation? We document that minority shareholder expropriation in Chinese public firms is negatively associated with regional Confucian culture, captured by data from the Qing Dynasty of Imperial China (1644--1912 AD). The results are robust to controlling for local economic development, enforcement of property rights, and geography and to using two instruments constructed from data in the Ming Dynasty (1368--1644 AD). The findings suggest that Confucian culture represents a fundamental force that constrains minority shareholder expropriation, which has important implications for capital market and economic development (Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson, 2001; Rajan and Zingales, 2003).
Prevalence and clinical/molecular characteristics of PTEN mutations in Turkish children with autism spectrum disorders and macrocephaly

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) germline mutations are associated with cancer syndromes (PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome; PHTS) and in pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and macrocephaly. The exact prevalence of PTEN mutations in patients with ASD and macrocephaly is uncertain; with prevalence rates ranging from 1% to 17%. Most studies are retrospective and contain more adult than pediatric patients, there is a need for more prospective pediatric studies.
Comparative evaluation of stroke volume variation and inferior vena cava distensibility index for prediction of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between stroke volume variation (SVV) and inferior vena cava distensibility index (dIVC) as a marker for fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated hypotensive intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methodology and Design: This study is designed as prospective observational study conducted in patients admitted to an ICU who were mechanically ventilated and experienced a hypotensive episode. Intervention: A fluid challenge of 10 mL/kg ringer's lactate was given over 20 min. Measurements: Hemodynamic parameters as well as SVV, IVCmax, IVCmin, dIVC, and cardiac output (CO), were recorded at a different time interval. An increase in ≥15% of CO was taken as fluid responsiveness. Results: Out of 67 patients, 67.2% responded to fluid challenge. Pearson's correlation graph at baseline showed a strong positive correlation between dIVC and SVV with r = 0.453, (P < 0.002). Non-responders also had a strong positive correlation (r = 0.474) at the baseline. Bland Altman's analysis of the correlation between dIVC and SVV post-fluid challenge showed a mean difference of – 4.444, with 1.49% of the values falling outside the limits of agreement (18.418 and -27.306). This difference was clinically significant. Pearson's correlation graph post-fluid challenge showed a moderately strong positive correlation between dIVC and SVV with r = 0.298 and P value = 0.047, which was statistically significant. Also, non-responders had a weak correlation as compared to the responder's group, r = 0.364 and P value = 0.095, which was not clinically significant. There was no significant difference in the trend of dIVC and SVV values between the non-surgical and surgical groups, nor was there any gender difference analyzed in the study. Conclusion: This study ascertains the positive correlation between dIVC and SVV and justifies its use in a clinical setting of hypotension suspected to be due to hypovolemia.
Juvenile hormone regulation of microRNAs is mediated by E75 in the Dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti

Significance Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit numerous viral pathogens to humans. Targeting mosquito reproduction could be critical in controlling the spread of these pathogens. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control key physiological processes during mosquito reproduction. The insect hormone juvenile hormone (JH) is essential for a mosquito to achieve reproductive competence. JH governs expression of several miRNAs through the transcription factor Ecdysone-induced protein 75 (E75-RD). Blocking E75 by RNA interference impairs miR-2940, which in turn affects ovarian follicle formation and egg maturation. We identified the messenger RNA of the glutamate receptor Clumsy as a miR-2940 target and showed its involvement in reproduction. This study establishes E75-RD to be an intermediate factor within the JH hierarchical network that is involved in regulation of miRNAs in mosquitoes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in controlling posttranscriptional gene regulation and have a profound effect on mosquito reproduction and metabolism. Juvenile hormone (JH) is critical for achieving reproductive competence in the main vector of human arboviral diseases, Aedes aegypti. We report a JH-mediated mechanism governing miRNA expression. Using a transcription factor screen with multiple primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) promoters, we identified that the Ecdysone-induced protein E75 (E75) isoform (E75-RD) induced miRNA gene promoter activity. E75 binding sites were determined in miRNA promoters by means of cell transfection assay. E75-RD was found to be up-regulated by JH, as shown by the JH application and RNA interference (RNAi) of the JH receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met). Small RNA sequencing from RNAi of Met and E75 displayed an overlapping miRNA cohort, suggesting E75 to be an intermediate component within the JH hierarchical network controlling miRNAs. Further experiments confirmed that E75-RD positively regulates several miRNAs including miR-2940. Reducing miR-2940 resulted in the arrest of follicle development and number of eggs laid. Performing miRNA target predictions and RT-qPCR from antagomir Ant-2940-3p–treated fat body tissues identified the mRNA target Clumsy (AAEL002518). The molecular interaction between this gene target and miR-2940 was confirmed using an in vitro dual luciferase assay in Drosophila S2 cells and in Ae. aegypti Aag2 cell lines. Finally, we performed a phenotypic rescue experiment to demonstrate that miR-2940/Clumsy is responsible for the disruption in egg development. Collectively, these results established the role of JH-mediated E75-RD in regulation of miRNA gene expression during the mosquito reproductive cycle.
The Interplay between Chronic Pain, Opioids, and the Immune System

Chronic pain represents one of the most serious worldwide medical problems, in terms of both social and economic costs, often causing severe and intractable physical and psychological suffering. The lack of biological markers for pain, which could assist in forming clearer diagnoses and prognoses, makes chronic pain therapy particularly arduous and sometimes harmful. Opioids are used worldwide to treat chronic pain conditions, but there is still an ambiguous and inadequate understanding about their therapeutic use, mostly because of their dual effect in acutely reducing pain and inducing, at the same time, tolerance, dependence, and a risk for opioid use disorder. In addition, clinical studies suggest that opioid treatment can be associated with a high risk of immune suppression and the development of inflammatory events, worsening the chronic pain status itself. While opioid peptides and receptors are expressed in both central and peripheral nervous cells, immune cells, and tissues, the role of opioids and their receptors, when and why they are activated endogenously and what their exact role is in chronic pain pathways is still poorly understood. Thus, in this review we aim to highlight the interplay between pain and immune system, focusing on opioids and their receptors.
A Tool for Evaluating Medication Alerting Systems: Development and Initial Assessment

Background It is well known that recommendations from electronic medication alerts are seldom accepted or acted on by users. Key factors affecting the effectiveness of medication alerts include system usability and alert design. Thus, human factors principles that apply knowledge of human capabilities and limitations are increasingly used in the design of health technology to improve the usability of systems. Objective This study aims to evaluate a newly developed evidence-based self-assessment tool that allows the valid and reliable evaluation of computerized medication alerting systems. This tool was developed to be used by hospital staff with detailed knowledge of their hospital’s computerized provider order entry system and alerts to identify and address potential system deficiencies. In this initial assessment, we aim to determine whether the items in the tool can measure compliance of medication alerting systems with human factors principles of design, the tool can be consistently used by multiple users to assess the same system, and the items are easy to understand and perceived to be useful for assessing medication alerting systems. Methods The Tool for Evaluating Medication Alerting Systems (TEMAS) was developed based on human factors design principles and consisted of 66 items. In total, 18 staff members recruited across 6 hospitals used the TEMAS to assess their medication alerting systems. Data collected from participant assessments were used to evaluate the validity, reliability, and usability of the TEMAS. Validity was assessed by comparing the results of the TEMAS with those of prior in-house evaluations. Reliability was measured using Krippendorff α to determine agreement among assessors. A 7-item survey was used to determine usability. Results The participants reported mostly negative (n=8) and neutral (n=7) perceptions of alerts in their medication alerting system. However, the validity of the TEMAS could not be directly tested, as participants were unaware of any results from prior in-house evaluations. The reliability of the TEMAS, as measured by Krippendorff α, was low to moderate (range 0.26-0.46); however, participant feedback suggests that individuals’ knowledge of the system varied according to their professional background. In terms of usability, 61% (11/18) of participants reported that the TEMAS items were generally easy to understand; however, participants suggested the revision of 22 items to improve clarity. Conclusions This initial assessment of the TEMAS allowed the identification of its components that required modification to improve usability and usefulness. It also revealed that for the TEMAS to be effective in facilitating a comprehensive assessment of a medication alerting system, it should be completed by a multidisciplinary team of hospital staff from both clinical and technical backgrounds to maximize their knowledge of systems.
Health-related quality of life in transplant eligible multiple myeloma patients with or without early ASCT in the real-world setting

Abstract There is no comparative health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) data of transplant eligible (TE) multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing early autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and those without in the era of novel drugs. This study prospectively evaluated the serial HR-QoL in TE-MM using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and MY20 questionnaires. Barring the transient worsening in QoL one-month after ASCT, there was a comparable improvement in most QoL domains in both early-ASCT and no-early ASCT cohorts. Post-early-ASCT patients had higher global health scores (71.9 vs. 60.8, p < .05) than no-early ASCT at 12-months. Patients belonging to lower socioeconomic status (SES) were more likely not to undergo ASCT than middle-high SES patients (38.6% vs. 74.5%, p < .05). While age, gender had no impact on QoL, performance status, staging, and induction therapy impacted QoL. This study shows that early ASCT maintains QoL and should be encouraged in all TE-MM patients.
Reactive textile dye colour removal in a sequencing batch reactor

Two sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with sequenced anaerobic/aerobic phases were used to study biological colour removal from a simulated cotton textile effluent containing an azo reactive dye. One of the reactors was daily fed with Remazol Brilliant Violet 5R dye and the other was used as control. When operating with a sludge retention time (SRT) of 15 days the total COD removal was around 80%, with 30% being removed anaerobically. After 40–50 days of acclimatization the colour removal efficiency reached a maximum, stable value of 90% from a feed dye concentration of 90 mg/l, almost all being removed during the anaerobic phase. This colour removal was attributed to microbial degradation rather than adsorption and colour removal capacity was not lost even after a seven-day absence of dye in the fed substrate. The dye-fed reactor experienced a reduction in the ORP values attained during the non-aerated phase, after acclimatization, an effect not observed in the dye-free control. Under denitrifying conditions it was observed that the decolouration levels achieved in the anaerobic phase decreased from 90% to 70% after only two cycles with a feed containing 45–60 mg NO 3 /l. Reduction of the SRT value from 15 to 10 days reduced the biomass concentration from 2.0 to 1.2 g VSS/l and lowered colour removal levels from 90% to 30–50%. When the SRT value was increased back to 15 days the colour removal capacity of the system was completely recovered, suggesting that with a SRT of 10 days the adequate microbial population could not be installed in the reactors.
Koi sleepy disease as a pathophysiological and immunological consequence of a branchial infection of common carp with carp edema virus

ABSTRACT Gills of fish are involved in respiration, excretion and osmoregulation. Due to numerous interactions between these processes, branchial diseases have serious implications on fish health. Here, “koi sleepy disease” (KSD), caused by carp edema virus (CEV) infection was used to study physiological, immunological and metabolic consequences of a gill disease in fish. A metabolome analysis shows that the moderately hypoxic-tolerant carp can compensate the respiratory compromise related to this infection by various adaptations in their metabolism. Instead, the disease is accompanied by a massive disturbance of the osmotic balance with hyponatremia as low as 71.65 mmol L−1, and an accumulation of ammonia in circulatory blood causing a hyperammonemia as high as 1123.24 µmol L−1. At water conditions with increased ambient salt, the hydro-mineral balance and the ammonia excretion were restored. Importantly, both hyponatremia and hyperammonemia in KSD-affected carp can be linked to an immunosuppression leading to a four-fold drop in the number of white blood cells, and significant downregulation of cd4, tcr a2 and igm expression in gills, which can be evaded by increasing the ion concentration in water. This shows that the complex host-pathogen interactions within the gills can have immunosuppressive consequences, which have not previously been addressed in fish. Furthermore, it makes the CEV infection of carp a powerful model for studying interdependent pathological and immunological effects of a branchial disease in fish.