Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyponatremia: Prevalence and characteristics in internal medicine patients in southeast of China

Abstract To determine the incidence, clinical features, etiology, risk factors, and mortality in internal medicine patients with hyponatremia (P-Na). A prospective survey was conducted in patients with P-Na, diagnosed at admission in an Internal Medicine Department. 692 patients were then selected and subsequently divided into 3 groups based on the severity of P-Na. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors associated with levels of P-Na. The prevalence of P-Na was 3.37%. Euvolemia P-Na was the predominant subtype in 3 types of P-Na (49.42%). Gastrointestinal and neurological manifestations were common hyponatremic symptoms. The leading 5 underlying diagnoses were chest infection (31.94%), malignancy (10.84%), cardiac disease (6.36%), liver cirrhosis (6.07%), and neurological disease (5.20%). Moderate and severe P-Na had higher mortalities than mild P-Na (P <.05). For the levels of serum Na, Age, and serum Cl were positively correlated while serum K, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and Glu were negatively correlated (P <.05). P-Na is common in internal medicine and accompanied by other electrolyte disturbances, various symptoms/diagnoses, and increased mortalities with decreasing Na, which requires special attention in clinical practice.
Offline replay supports planning in human reinforcement learning

Making decisions in sequentially structured tasks requires integrating distally acquired information. The extensive computational cost of such integration challenges planning methods that integrate online, at decision time. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether ‘offline’ integration during replay supports planning, and if so which memories should be replayed. Inspired by machine learning, we propose that (a) offline replay of trajectories facilitates integrating representations that guide decisions, and (b) unsigned prediction errors (uncertainty) trigger such integrative replay. We designed a 2-step revaluation task for fMRI, whereby participants needed to integrate changes in rewards with past knowledge to optimally replan decisions. As predicted, we found that (a) multi-voxel pattern evidence for off-task replay predicts subsequent replanning; (b) neural sensitivity to uncertainty predicts subsequent replay and replanning; (c) off-task hippocampus and anterior cingulate activity increase when revaluation is required. These findings elucidate how the brain leverages offline mechanisms in planning and goal-directed behavior under uncertainty.
The N-Terminus of the HIV-1 p6 Gag Protein Regulates Susceptibility to Degradation by IDE

As part of the Pr55Gag polyprotein, p6 fulfills an essential role in the late steps of the replication cycle. However, almost nothing is known about the functions of the mature HIV-1 p6 protein. Recently, we showed that p6 is a bona fide substrate of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a ubiquitously expressed zinc metalloprotease. This phenomenon appears to be specific for HIV-1, since p6 homologs of HIV-2, SIV and EIAV were IDE-insensitive. Furthermore, abrogation of the IDE-mediated degradation of p6 reduces the replication capacity of HIV-1 in an Env-dependent manner. However, it remained unclear to which extent the IDE mediated degradation is phylogenetically conserved among HIV-1. Here, we describe two HIV-1 isolates with IDE resistant p6 proteins. Sequence comparison allowed deducing one single amino acid regulating IDE sensitivity of p6. Exchanging the N-terminal leucine residue of p6 derived from the IDE sensitive isolate HIV-1NL4-3 with proline enhances its stability, while replacing Pro-1 of p6 from the IDE insensitive isolate SG3 with leucine restores susceptibility towards IDE. Phylogenetic analyses of this natural polymorphism revealed that the N-terminal leucine is characteristic for p6 derived from HIV-1 group M except for subtype A, which predominantly expresses p6 with an N-terminal proline. Consequently, p6 peptides derived from subtype A are not degraded by IDE. Thus, IDE mediated degradation of p6 is specific for HIV-1 group M isolates and not occasionally distributed among HIV-1.
A novel autosomal dominant mutation in SOX18 resulting in a fatal case of hypotrichosis–lymphedema–telangiectasia syndrome

Hypotrichosis–lymphedema–telangiectasia syndrome (HLTS) is a rare disorder caused by autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant mutations in SOX18. This gene encodes a transcription factor involved in the regulation and development of the human vasculature, lymphatic, and integumentary systems. Individuals with HLTS develop varying degrees of hypotrichosis, lymphedema, and telangiectasias. Other complications, such as renal failure and aortic dilation, have also been observed. Here, we report a neonate with a novel mutation in SOX18 (c.541C>T; p.Gln181stop) presenting with cardinal features of HLTS in addition to unique findings of severe chylothorax and relentless pulmonary hypertension that culminated in death. The purpose of this report is to summarize what is known about this evolving genetic syndrome and to speculate as to how mutations in SOX18 might produce the phenotype.
Finding the Sweet Spot: Investigating the Effects of Relationship Closeness and Instrumental Activities in School‐based Mentoring

Abstract School‐based mentoring programs are popular prevention programs thought to influence youth development; but rigorous evaluations indicate that these programs often have small effects on youth outcomes. Researchers suggest that these findings may be explained by (a) mentors and mentees failing to develop a close relationship and (b) mentors not setting goals or focusing on specific skills necessary improve outcomes. We assessed these explanations using data from approximately 1360 mentor and mentee pairs collected through a national study of school‐based mentoring (called, “The Student Mentoring Program”). Specifically, we tested the influence of mentee‐reported relationship quality and mentor‐reported use of goal‐setting and feedback‐oriented activities on academic, behavioral, and social‐emotional outcomes. Results suggested that youth reported relationship quality was associated with small to medium effects on outcomes. Moreover, goal‐setting and feedback‐oriented activities were associated with moderate to large effects on outcomes. We also found significant interactions between relationship quality and goal‐setting and feedback‐oriented activities on youth outcomes. We conclude that there appears to be a “sweet‐spot” wherein youth outcomes are maximized. The results of this study suggest a need for school‐based mentoring programs to monitor and support mentors in developing a close relationship while also providing opportunities to set goals and receive feedback.
Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form for inpatients with schizophrenia

Background The evaluation of childhood trauma is essential for the treatment of schizophrenia. The short form of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF) is a widely used measure of the experience of childhood trauma in the general population. Nevertheless, data regarding the psychometric property of CTQ-SF for assessing childhood trauma of patients with schizophrenia are very limited. Methods Two hundred Chinese inpatients with schizophrenia completed the Chinese CTQ-SF, the Child Psychological Maltreatment Scale (CPMS), the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II). To assess test-retest reliability of the CTQ-SF, all patients completed the CTQ-SF again two weeks later. Concurrent and convergent validity was assessed by analyzing Pearson bivariate correlation coefficients between CTQ-SF and CPMS, IES-R, and DES-II. Results The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the Chinese CTQ-SF was 0.81, and the two-week re-test reliability was 0.81 (P<0.01). The criterion-related validity coefficients of CTQ-SF with the CMPS, IES-R and DES-II were 0.61, 0.41, and 0.51, respectively. Conclusion The Chinese CTQ-SF has satisfactory psychometric properties to measure childhood abuse or neglect in Chinese inpatients with schizophrenia.
Supporting positive parenting practices within a community-based music therapy group program: Pilot study findings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a short-term, community-based music therapy group program on positive parenting practices. Parent-child dyads receiving early intervention family services (N = 199) participated in 8 weekly, 45-60 minute, music-based group play sessions. We analyzed pre-post parent self-reports that measured parenting competency and clinician-observed ratings of parental responsiveness that evaluated behavioral domains of play, praise, and consistency. Significant results were found for parent-reported efficacy (p = 0.008, d = 0.21) and satisfaction (p = 0.004, d = 0.19) but not for interest (p = 0.149, d = 0.12). Significant results were found for clinician-rated observations of parental responsiveness, including play (p < 0.001), praise (p < 0.001), and consistency (p < 0.001). Short-term, music-based parenting programs may be an effective way to improve parents' sense of competency and foster greater parental responsiveness for those receiving family services.
Effect of dietary amino acid density on broiler breeder reproductive performance

ABSTRACT The effects of 3 dietary amino acid (AA) profiles during lay on reproductive performance of broiler breeders were investigated. A flock of 2,376 Ross 708 female broiler breeders were randomly divided into 3 treatments with 12 replicates of 66 females per replicate, and fed 2 breeder feed phases (breeder 1: 25 to 36 wk; breeder 2: 37 to 60 wk) which were formulated to 3 different AA densities (Aviagen advice = control; 10% increased AA in Aviagen advice = high‐AA; and estimated AA needs for maintenance, growth, and egg mass = estimated‐AA). No differences in total or hatching egg production due to dietary treatments were observed. Hens fed high‐AA had a higher incidence of double‐yolk eggs. During the second phase of lay, hens fed estimated‐AA had lower livability compared to the other treatments. Hens fed estimated‐AA also laid smaller eggs compared to control and high‐AA fed birds. Back feather cover deteriorated as hens grew older, and hens fed the estimated‐AA diets had poorer feather cover from 41 wk onward. Overall, these results suggest that feeding higher AA levels than Aviagen recommendations presented no benefit in reproductive performance or feather quality. The estimated‐AA feeding approach supported laying performance similar as other treatments, although affected egg weight and back feather cover.
Non-Coding RNAs in Breast Cancer: Intracellular and Intercellular Communication

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are regulators of intracellular and intercellular signaling in breast cancer. ncRNAs modulate intracellular signaling to control diverse cellular processes, including levels and activity of estrogen receptor α (ERα), proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and stemness. In addition, ncRNAs can be packaged into exosomes to provide intercellular communication by the transmission of microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to cells locally or systemically. This review provides an overview of the biogenesis and roles of ncRNAs: small nucleolar RNA (snRNA), circular RNAs (circRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), miRNAs, and lncRNAs in breast cancer. Since more is known about the miRNAs and lncRNAs that are expressed in breast tumors, their established targets as oncogenic drivers and tumor suppressors will be reviewed. The focus is on miRNAs and lncRNAs identified in breast tumors, since a number of ncRNAs identified in breast cancer cells are not dysregulated in breast tumors. The identity and putative function of selected lncRNAs increased: nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), steroid receptor RNA activator 1 (SRA1), colon cancer associated transcript 2 (CCAT2), colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE), myocardial infarction associated transcript (MIAT), and long intergenic non-protein coding RNA, Regulator of Reprogramming (LINC-ROR); and decreased levels of maternally-expressed 3 (MEG3) in breast tumors have been observed as well. miRNAs and lncRNAs are considered targets of therapeutic intervention in breast cancer, but further work is needed to bring the promise of regulating their activities to clinical use.
ASAMBLEAS AL AIRE: La arquitectura ambulatoria de una política en suspensión

Resumen: Palabras clave: Abstract: ASSAMBLIES IN THE AIR: The ambulatory architecture of a politics in suspension El movimiento 15M se extendio desde su nacimiento por las plazas de Madrid y otras ciudades de Espana a traves de asambleas populares. Estas constituyen el metodo y la forma del ejercicio politico que el 15M despliega en el espacio publico urbano. Organizadas a traves de una precisa metodologia, las asambleas al aire constituyen un ejercicio de ocupacion ritmica de la calle que situa en el primer plano de su practica no solo el discurso sino los cuerpos de sus participantes. En su habitar la calle, las asambleas ejecutan el gesto politico mas genuino: la aireacion de las cosas que nos conciernen. En este articulo nos preguntamos por la atmosfera politica que las asambleas traen a la ciudad y senalamos dos aspectos singulares: una arquitectura ambulatoria caracterizada por el transito constante y la preocupacion por las practicas de cuidado. Nuestro argumento es que las asambleas al aire ejecutan una politica en suspension que se caracteriza por exponer su fragilidad y hacer visible sus mismas condiciones de posibilidad. The 15M movement spread out in the streets of Madrid and other cities of Spain through popular assemblies. They are the method and form of the political exercise that the 15M movement deploy in the urban public space. Assemblies in the open air are organized following a precise methodology of rhythmic occupation of the street in a political exercise that brings to the fore the bodies of their participants. Inhabiting the urban public space popular assemblies put into practice the most genuine political gesture: that of airing things that concern us. We explore in this article for the political atmosphere that assemblies bring to the city and we point out two singular aspects: an ambulatory architecture characterized by the urban passing around and a set of caring practices preoccupied by the participants in the assembly. Our argument is that assemblies in the air constitute an exercise of politics in suspension by exposing its own fragility and making public its own conditions of possibility.
Simultaneous Determination of 18 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Daily Foods (Hanoi Metropolitan Area) by Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—a large group of organic compounds—are extremely hazardous to human health. In this study, the 198 samples from six groups of daily food products in the Hanoi metropolitan area were collected and prepared by the QuEChERS sample treatment technique. The detection and identification of PAHs were obtained by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) determination. The results demonstrated that the recovery of PAH compounds ranged approximately between 71% and 110% when the solvent evaporation condition was optimized using the nitrogen gas at a low temperature (1 °C). The in-house method was validated in terms of linearity, extractive condition, repeatability, recovery, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). The ranges of average PAH levels were 9.3–9.6 µg/kg (for instant noodles), 0.22–2.48 µg/kg (for cakes) 0.91–4.83 µg/kg (dried vegetables), 5.14–23.32 µg/kg (teas), 4.82–24.35 µg/kg (coffees), and 1.43–25.2 µg/kg (grilled meats). The results indicated that the total concentrations of residual PAHs and benzo(a)pyrene in the instant noodles and grilled meat samples surpassed the maximum limits tolerated by the European Commission (35 µg/kg and 5 µg/kg, respectively) in many investigated samples.
Similar time courses for word form and meaning preactivation during sentence comprehension.

Current psycholinguistic research generally acknowledges that aspects of sentence comprehension benefit from neural preactivation of different types of information. However, despite strong support from a number of studies, routine specific word form preactivation has been challenged by Ito, Corley, Pickering, Martin, and Nieuwland (2016). They suggest that word form prediction is contingent upon having enough processing time and resources (afforded by slower input rates) to progress through unidirectional, productionlike stages of comprehension to arrive at word forms via semantic feature preactivation. This conclusion is based on findings from their ERP study, which used a related anomaly paradigm and reported form preactivation at a slow (700 ms) word presentation rate but not a faster one (500 ms). The present experimental design is a conceptual replication of Ito et al. (2016), testing young adults by measuring ERP amplitudes to unpredictable words related either semantically/associatively or orthographically to predictable sentence continuations, relative to unrelated continuations. Results showed that, at a visual presentation rate of two words per second, both types of related words show similarly reduced N400s, as well as varying degrees of increased posterior post-N400 positivity. These findings indicate that word form preactivation during sentence comprehension is detectable along a similar time course as semantic feature preactivation, and such processing does not necessarily require additional time beyond that afforded by near-normal reading rates.
Identification of lipids of the stratum corneum by high performance thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry

The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis, is the most important skin barrier against exogenous physical and chemical effects, in addition to protecting against dehydration. Ceramides are integral parts of the intercellular lipid lamellae of the stratum corneum and play an important role in the barrier function of mammalian skin. Ceramides are sphingolipids consisting of sphingoid bases linked to fatty acids by an amide bond. Typical sphingoid bases in the skin are composed of dihydrosphingosine, sphingosine, phytosphingosine, and 6-hydroxysphingosine, and the fatty acid acyl chains are composed of non-hydroxy fatty acid, α-hydroxy fatty acid, ω-hydroxy fatty acid, and esterified ω-hydroxy fatty acid. Analytical methods, such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, high performance thin layer chromatography with UV detection, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, have been developed for the identification and quantification of ceramides in the stratum corneum. However, only a few publications relate to the mass fragmentation patterns specific to ceramide types to determine the structure of skin ceramides. Moreover, these studies provide very limited structural information and only for some ceramides. Therefore, the aim of our study was to develop a quick and easy method of quantification of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids by high performance thin layer chromatography with ultraviolet detection. High performance thin layer chromatography with ultraviolet detection was also coupled with mass spectrometry using negative ionization by electrospray and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for identification of ceramides’ structure.
The Microfluidic Technique and the Manufacturing of Polysaccharide Nanoparticles

The microfluidic technique has emerged as a promising tool to accelerate the clinical translation of nanoparticles, and its application affects several aspects, such as the production of nanoparticles and the in vitro characterization in the microenvironment, mimicking in vivo conditions. This review covers the general aspects of the microfluidic technique and its application in several fields, such as the synthesis, recovering, and samples analysis of nanoparticles, and in vitro characterization and their in vivo application. Among these, advantages in the production of polymeric nanoparticles in a well-controlled, reproducible, and high-throughput manner have been highlighted, and detailed descriptions of microfluidic devices broadly used for the synthesis of polysaccharide nanoparticles have been provided. These nanoparticulate systems have drawn attention as drug delivery vehicles over many years; nevertheless, their synthesis using the microfluidic technique is still largely unexplored. This review deals with the use of the microfluidic technique for the synthesis of polysaccharide nanoparticles; evaluating features of the most studied polysaccharide drug carriers, such as chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and alginate polymers. The critical assessment of the most recent research published in literature allows us to assume that microfluidics will play an important role in the discovery and clinical translation of nanoplatforms.
A novel prognostic prediction model for recurrence in patients with stage II colon cancer after curative resection

The present study aimed to clarify the risk factors for recurrence of stage II colon cancer in patients and to determine possible treatment options for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. A prediction model for recurrence in patients with stage II colon cancer after curative surgical resection was developed. The present study retrospectively investigated 436 patients who underwent curative resection for stage II colon cancer at Osaka International Cancer Institute and Yao Municipal Hospital between 2004 and 2012. Several clinicopathological factors were examined and the Cox regression model was used to develop a prediction model for recurrence. The prediction model was validated in an independent group of 213 patients who underwent surgery at Osaka University Hospital between 2001 and 2012. Univariate analysis revealed that preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, preoperative obstruction, tumor invasion, lymphatic invasion and venous invasion were significantly correlated with disease-free survival. Using these variables, a classification and regression tree was constructed as a prediction model. The prediction models were validated by external datasets in an independent patient group. The concordance indices for DFS after current surgical resection were 0.675 in the learning set and 0.552 in the validation set. To conclude, a novel, reliable and personalized prognostic model was developed to predict recurrence in patients with stage II colon cancer, which may help clinicians to determine and perform adjuvant chemotherapy.
Germline mutations of renal cancer predisposition genes and clinical relevance in Chinese patients with sporadic, early‐onset disease

An inherited susceptibility to renal cancers is associated with multiple predisposing genes, but most screening tests are limited to patients with a family history. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS)–based multigene panels provide an efficient and adaptable tool for investigating pathogenic germline mutations on a larger scale. This study investigated the frequency of pathogenic germline mutations in renal cancer predisposition genes in patients with sporadic, early‐onset disease.