Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermosensitive Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Intravitreal Delivery of Cefuroxime

Endophthalmitis is a rare, but serious, intravitreal inflammatory disorder that can arise after cataract surgery. The intracameral injection of 1 mg cefuroxime (CEF) followed by three-times daily antibiotic topical administration for a week is generally recognized as the routine method of prophylaxis after cataract surgery. This procedure is controversial because of both the low efficacy and the low adherence to therapy by elderly patients. A unique slow release antibiotic intravitreal injection could solve these problems. The objective of the present study was to design ophthalmic nanocomposite delivery systems based on in situ gelling formulations that undergo sol-to-gel transition upon change in temperature to prolong the effect of CEF. Oil in water (O/W) microemulsion (µE) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), obtained with an innovative formulation technology called cold microemulsion dilution, were evaluated as ocular drug delivery systems for CEF. Drug entrapment efficiency up to 80% was possible by esterifying CEF with 1-dodecanol to obtain dodecyl-CEF (dCEF). Both dCEF-loaded SLN and µE were then added with Pluronic®F127 (20% w/v) to obtain a nanocomposite hydrogel-based long acting system. The prepared thermosensitive formulations were evaluated for their physical appearance, drug content, gelation temperature, injectability and rheological properties, in vitro release studies and stability studies. Moreover, cell proliferation assays on human retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells were performed to evaluate the influence of this innovative system on the cellular viability. In addition, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was assessed for both CEF and dCEF, revealing the need of dCEF hydrolysis for the antimicrobial activity. Although further experimental investigations are required, the physico-chemical characterization of the nanocomposite hydrogels and the preliminary in vitro release studies highlighted the potential of these systems for the sustained release of CEF.
Impact of an 8-Week Exercise and Sport Intervention on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Mental Health, and Physical Fitness among Male Refugees Living in a Greek Refugee Camp

Objective: To explore the potential impact of exercise and sport training on symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, quality of life, pain, and fitness in male refugees living in a Greek refugee camp. Methods: This investigation was designed as a one group pre-test/post-test study. A total of 45 refugees (Mage = 25.6) participated in the data assessment. All participants were invited to engage in an 8-week exercise and sport intervention. Data were analysed with hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Baseline scores significantly predicted post-intervention scores across all study variables. Regression analyses showed that a higher participation rate predicted fewer anxiety symptoms, better health-related quality of life, higher self-perceived fitness, higher handgrip strength, and better cardiovascular fitness at post-intervention. A non-significant trend was also found for PTSD and depressive symptoms, showing that a higher participation rate was associated with fewer complaints at post-intervention. Conclusions: Among male refugees living in precarious conditions in a Greek refugee camp, frequency of participation in an 8-week exercise and sport training program seemed to have the potential to positively impact refugees’ health. Due to the pre-experimental study design, our results must be interpreted with caution.
Recent Progress in Fabrications and Applications of Heating-Induced Long Period Fiber Gratings

This paper presents a review of our work concerning the recent progress in fabrications and applications of heating-induced long period fiber gratings (LPFGs). Firstly, three kinds of heating fabrication techniques based on CO2 laser, hydrogen–oxygen flame and arc discharge are demonstrated to fabricate LPFGs, i.e., standard LPFGs (SLPFGs) and helical LPFGs (HLPFGs), in different types of optical fibers such as conventional fibers, photonic crystal fibers, and photonic bandgap fibers. Secondly, the all-fiber orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode converters based on heating-induced SLPFGs and HLPFGs in different types of fibers are studied to increase the transmission capacity. Finally, the heating-induced SLPFGs and HLPFGs are investigated to develop various LPFG-based strain, pressure, torsion and biochemical sensors.
Do Infant Cleft Dimensions Have an Influence on Occlusal Relations? A Subgroup Analysis Within an RCT of Primary Surgery in Patients With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Aim: To investigate whether infant cleft dimensions, in a surgical protocol with early or delayed hard palate closure, influence occlusion before orthodontics. Design: Subgroup analysis within a randomized trial of primary surgery (Scandcleft). Setting: Tertiary health care. One surgical centre. Patients and Methods: A total of 122 unilateral cleft lip and palate infants received primary cheilo-rhinoplasty and soft palate closure at age 4 months and were randomized for hard palate closure at age 12 versus 36 months. A novel 3D analysis of cleft size and morphology was performed on digitized presurgical models. Occlusion was scored on 8-year models using the modified Huddarth–Bodenham (MHB) Index and the Goslon Yardstick. Main Outcome Measurements: Differences in MHB and Goslon scores among the 2 surgical groups adjusted for cleft size. Results: The crude analysis showed no difference between the 2 surgical groups in Goslon scores but a better MHB (P = .006) for the group who received delayed hard palate closure. When adjusting for the ratio between cleft surface and palatal surface (3D Infant Cleft Severity Ratio) and for posterior cleft dimensions at tuberosity level, the delayed hard palate closure group received 3.65 points better for MHB (confidence interval: 1.81; 5.48; P < .001) and showed a trend for reduced risk of receiving a Goslon of 4 or 5 (P = .052). For posterior clefts larger than 9 mm, the Goslon score was better in the delayed hard palate closure group (P = .033). Conclusions: Seen from an orthodontic perspective, when the soft palate is closed first, and the cleft is large, the timing of hard palate closure should be planned in relation to posterior cleft size.
Definitions, methods, and applications in interpretable machine learning

Significance The recent surge in interpretability research has led to confusion on numerous fronts. In particular, it is unclear what it means to be interpretable and how to select, evaluate, or even discuss methods for producing interpretations of machine-learning models. We aim to clarify these concerns by defining interpretable machine learning and constructing a unifying framework for existing methods which highlights the underappreciated role played by human audiences. Within this framework, methods are organized into 2 classes: model based and post hoc. To provide guidance in selecting and evaluating interpretation methods, we introduce 3 desiderata: predictive accuracy, descriptive accuracy, and relevancy. Using our framework, we review existing work, grounded in real-world studies which exemplify our desiderata, and suggest directions for future work. Machine-learning models have demonstrated great success in learning complex patterns that enable them to make predictions about unobserved data. In addition to using models for prediction, the ability to interpret what a model has learned is receiving an increasing amount of attention. However, this increased focus has led to considerable confusion about the notion of interpretability. In particular, it is unclear how the wide array of proposed interpretation methods are related and what common concepts can be used to evaluate them. We aim to address these concerns by defining interpretability in the context of machine learning and introducing the predictive, descriptive, relevant (PDR) framework for discussing interpretations. The PDR framework provides 3 overarching desiderata for evaluation: predictive accuracy, descriptive accuracy, and relevancy, with relevancy judged relative to a human audience. Moreover, to help manage the deluge of interpretation methods, we introduce a categorization of existing techniques into model-based and post hoc categories, with subgroups including sparsity, modularity, and simulatability. To demonstrate how practitioners can use the PDR framework to evaluate and understand interpretations, we provide numerous real-world examples. These examples highlight the often underappreciated role played by human audiences in discussions of interpretability. Finally, based on our framework, we discuss limitations of existing methods and directions for future work. We hope that this work will provide a common vocabulary that will make it easier for both practitioners and researchers to discuss and choose from the full range of interpretation methods.
Structure-Function Agreement Is Better Than Commonly Thought in Eyes With Early Glaucoma

Purpose To assess the agreement between structural (optical coherence tomography [OCT]) and functional (visual field [VF]) glaucomatous damage with an automated method and deviation/probability maps, and to compare this method to a metric method. Methods Wide-field spectral-domain OCT scans, including the disc and macula, and 24-2 and 10-2 VFs were obtained from 45 healthy control (H) eyes/individuals, and 53 eyes/patients with 24-2 mean deviation (MD) better than −6 dB diagnosed as “definite glaucoma” (DG) by experts. Abnormal structure–abnormal function (aS-aF) agreement was assessed with an automated topographic (T) method based upon VF pattern deviation and OCT probability maps. Results were compared to a metric (M) method optimized for accuracy, (abnormal 24-2 glaucoma hemifield test [GHT] or pattern standard deviation [PSD], or 10-2 PSD AND abnormal OCT [quadrant]). Results For the T-method, 47 (88.7%) of the 53 DG eyes showed aS-aF agreement, compared to 2 (4.5%) of the 45 H eyes. The aS-aF agreement for these two H eyes was easily identified as mistaken, and did not replicate on a subsequent test. Without the 10-2, the aS-aF agreement decreased from 47 to 34 (64.2%) of 53 DG eyes. For the M-method, 37 (69.8%) of the 53 DG eyes showed aS-aF agreement, while omitting the 10-2 VF resulted in agreement in only 33 (62.3%) eyes. Conclusions There is good agreement between structural and functional damage, even in eyes with confirmed early glaucomatous damage, if both 24-2 and 10-2 VFs are obtained, and abnormal locations on the VFs are compared to abnormal regions seen on OCT macular and disc scans. This can be done in an objective, automated fashion. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02547740.)
Septic shock patients admitted to the intensive care unit with higher SOFA score tend to have higher incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome - a preliminary analysis.

BACKGROUND Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is relatively frequent in critical patients. According to the most recent consensus of the World Society of Abdominal Compartment Society (WSACS), there are no predictive factors for IAH diagnosis. Risk factors are the only motivators to date for early IAH diagnosis. Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as sustained intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) maintained above 20 mm Hg (> 3 kPa), with or without abdominal perfusion pressure below 60 mm Hg (< 8 kPa), associated with a new organ dysfunction. Sepsis is a recognized cause of secondary ACS, but to date there is no correlation with admission SOFA (sequential organ failure assessment) score and ACS onset incidence. The objective of the present study is to determine the profile of extra-abdominal septic shock patients with IAH/ACS admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and correlating with admission SOFA score. Better understanding of this population may bring to light clinical predictive factors for IAH/ACS early diagnosis. METHODS In this observational study IAH/ACS incidence was correlated with SOFA score calculated at ICU admission. The study enrolled all critically ill patients more than 18 years old admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of a university teaching hospital between April and October 2016, who had been diagnosed with extra-abdominal septic shock, according to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and SEPSIS-3. RESULTS Twenty-five patients were evaluated during 10 hospitalization days. The average age was 51.13 ± 16.52 years, and 64% of the patients were male. Most patients (76%) had pneumonia. On admission, the SOFA score was 6.54 ± 2.71. Mortality rate in the population studied was 52%. The incidence of IAH was 43.5%, while the incidence of ACS in the IAH population was 28%. SOFA admission score in patients with the diagnosis of ACS was of 8.42 ± 1.27. In this study SOFA score higher than 7 is correlated with IAH, with an accuracy of 68.8% (P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of ACS in patients with extra-abdominal septic shock admitted to a university teaching hospital MICU was higher than those found in the literature. Higher admission and consecutive SOFA score of more than 7 was associated with higher ACS incidence and higher mortality rate.
Emerging insights into molecular mechanisms underlying pyroptosis and functions of inflammasomes in diseases

Pyroptosis is a form of necrotic and inflammatory programmed cell death, which could be characterized by cell swelling, pore formation on plasma membranes, and release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β and IL‐18). The process of pyroptosis presents as dual effects: protecting multicellular organisms from microbial infection and endogenous dangers; leading to pathological inflammation if overactivated. Two pathways have been found to trigger pyroptosis: caspase‐1 mediated inflammasome pathway with the involvement of NLRP1‐, NLRP3‐, NLRC4‐, AIM2‐, pyrin‐inflammasome (canonical inflammasome pathway) and caspase‐4/5/11‐mediated inflammasome pathway (noncanonical inflammasome pathway). Gasdermin D (GSDMD) has been proved to be a substrate of inflammatory caspases (caspase‐1/4/5/11), and the cleaved N‐terminal domain of GSDMD oligomerizes to form cytotoxic pores on the plasma membrane. Here, we mainly reviewed the up to date mechanisms of pyroptosis, and began with the inflammasomes as the activator of caspase‐1/caspase‐11, 4, and 5. We further discussed these inflammasomes functions in diseases, including infectious diseases, sepsis, inflammatory autoimmune diseases, and neuroinflammatory diseases.
Coral bleaching patterns are the outcome of complex biological and environmental networking

Continued declines in coral reef health over the past three decades have been punctuated by severe mass coral bleaching‐induced mortality events that have grown in intensity and frequency under climate change. Intensive global research efforts have therefore persistently focused on bleaching phenomena to understand where corals bleach, when and why—resulting in a large—yet still somewhat patchy—knowledge base. Particularly catastrophic bleaching‐induced coral mortality events in the past 5 years have catalyzed calls for a more diverse set of reef management tools, extending far beyond climate mitigation and reef protection, to also include more aggressive interventions. However, the effectiveness of these various tools now rests on rapidly assimilating our knowledge base of coral bleaching into more integrated frameworks. Here, we consider how the past three decades of intensive coral bleaching research has established the basis for complex biological and environmental networks, which together regulate outcomes of bleaching severity. We discuss how we now have enough scaffold for conceptual biological and environmental frameworks underpinning bleaching susceptibility, but that new tools are urgently required to translate this to an operational system informing—and testing—bleaching outcomes. Specifically, adopting network models that can fully describe and predict metabolic functioning of coral holobionts, and how this functioning is regulated by complex doses and interactions among environmental factors. Identifying knowledge gaps limiting operation of such models is the logical step to immediately guide and prioritize future experiments and observations. We are at a time‐critical point where we can implement new capacity to resolve how coral bleaching patterns emerge from complex biological–environmental networks, and so more effectively inform rapidly evolving ecological management and social adaptation frameworks aimed at securing the future of coral reefs.
Feasibility of two-dimensional dose distribution deconvolution using convolution neural networks.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of two-dimensional (2D) dose distribution deconvolution using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) instead of an analytical approach for an in-house scintillation detector that has a detector-interface artifact in the penumbra region. METHODS Datasets of 2D dose distributions were acquired from a medical linear accelerator of Novalis Tx. The datasets comprise two different sizes of square radiation fields and 13 clinical intensity-modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) plans. These datasets were divided into two datasets (training and test) to train and validate the developed network, called PenumbraNet, which is a shallow linear CNN. The PenumbraNet was trained to transform the measured dose distribution [M(x, y)] to calculated distribution [D(x, y)] by the treatment planning system. After training of the PenumbraNet was completed, the performance was evaluated using test data, which were 10 × 10 cm2 open field and ten clinical IMRT cases. The corrected dose distribution [C(x, y)] was evaluated against D(x, y) with 2%/2mm and 3%/3mm criteria of the gamma index for each field. The M(x, y) and deconvolved dose distribution with the analytically obtained kernel using Wiener filtering [A(x, y)] were also evaluated for comparison. In addition, we compared the performance of the shallow depth of linear PenumbraNet with that of nonlinear PenumbraNet and a deep nonlinear PenumbraNet within the same training epoch. RESULTS The mean gamma passing rates were 84.77% and 95.81% with 3%/3mm gamma criteria for A(x, y) and C(x, y) of the PenumbraNet, respectively. The mean gamma pass rates of nonlinear PenumbraNet and the deep depth of nonlinear PenumbraNet were 96.62%, 93.42% with 3%/3mm gamma criteria, respectively. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated the feasibility of the PenumbraNets for 2D dose distribution deconvolution. The nonlinear PenumbraNet which has the best performance improved the gamma passing rate by 11.85% from the M(x, y) at 3%/3mm gamma criteria.
ASSOCIATION OF THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE AND THYROID HORMONES WITH LIPID PROFILE IN GHANAIAN EUTHYROID PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Increasing evidence suggests that thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) may exert extra-thyroidal effects and modulate the profile of blood lipids. The aim of this study was to determine the association between TSH levels, thyroid hormones, thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and lipid profile in euthyroid type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with elevated cholesterol levels. Serum levels of TSH, FT4 and FT3 in diabetic and non-diabetic euthyroid subjects with normal and elevated cholesterol levels were assayed. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) cholesterol were also analyzed. Serum TSH levels were found to be lower in individuals with elevated cholesterol. Serum TSH levels correlated positively with TC, LDL-c and HDL-c but showed a negative relationship with TG and FPG in diabetics with elevated cholesterol. FT3 showed negative correlation with lipid parameters and FPG except HDL-c. However, serum FT4 levels were not significantly different between study groups. We infer that TSH may be one of many biochemical modulators of circulatory lipids. Our results suggest that reduction in TSH levels may play a role in the elevation of lipids irrespective of diabetic status. An assessment of TSH status may have wide-ranging clinical significance in the management of hypercholesterolemia in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.
Conjugated Polymers Containing Building Blocks 1,3,4,6-Tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole-2,5-dione (isoDPP), Benzodipyrrolidone (BDP) or Naphthodipyrrolidone (NDP): A Review

π-Conjugated organic donor–acceptor (D–A) type polymers are widely developed and used in electronic device. Among which, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based polymers have received the most attention due to their high performances. The novel chromophores named 1,3,4,6-tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole-2,5-dione (isoDPP), benzodipyrrolidone (BDP) and naphthodipyrrolidone (NDP) are resemble DPP in chemical structure. IsoDPP is an isomer of DPP, with the switching position of carbonyl and amide units. The cores of BDP and NDP are tri- and tetracyclic, whereas isoDPP is bicyclic. π-Conjugation extension could result polymers with distinct optical, electrochemical and device performance. It is expected that the polymers containing these high-performance electron-deficient pigments are potential in the electronic device applications, and have the potential to be better than the DPP-based ones. IsoDPP, BDP, and NDP based polymers are synthesized since 2011, and have not receive desirable attention. In this work, the synthesis, properties (optical and electrochemical characteristics), electronic device as well as their relationship depending on core-extension or structure subtle optimization have been reviewed. The final goal is to outline a theoretical scaffold for the design the D–A type conjugated polymers, which is potential for high-performance electronic devices.
Effects of monoamine manipulations on the personality and gene expression of three-spined sticklebacks

ABSTRACT Among-individual behavioral differences (i.e. animal personality) are commonly observed across taxa, although the underlying, causal mechanisms of such differences are poorly understood. Animal personality has been correlated with physiological functions as well as fitness-related traits. Variation in many aspects of monoamine systems, such as metabolite levels and gene polymorphisms, has been linked to behavioral variation. Therefore, here we experimentally investigated the potential role of monoamines in explaining individual variation in personality, using two common pharmaceuticals that respectively alter the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain: fluoxetine and ropinirole. We exposed three-spined sticklebacks, a species that shows animal personality, to either chemical alone or to a combination of the two chemicals, for 18 days. During the experiment, fish were assayed at four time points for the following personality traits: exploration, boldness, aggression and sociability. To quantify brain gene expression on short- and longer-term scales, fish were sampled at two time points. Our results show that monoamine manipulations influence fish behavior. Specifically, fish exposed to either fluoxetine or ropinirole were significantly bolder, and fish exposed to the two chemicals together tended to be bolder than control fish. Our monoamine manipulations did not alter the gene expression of monoamine or stress-associated neurotransmitter genes, but control, untreated fish showed covariation between gene expression and behavior. Specifically, exploration and boldness were predicted by genes in the dopaminergic, serotonergic and stress pathways, and sociability was predicted by genes in the dopaminergic and stress pathways. These results add further support to the links between monoaminergic systems and personality, and show that exposure to monoamines can causally alter animal personality. Summary: Serotonergic and dopaminergic gene expression causally explains aspects of stickleback personality. Human pharmaceuticals make sticklebacks bolder, demonstrating consequences of human medical waste for wildlife.