Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A mass transfer study of a new electrochemical reactor stirred by gases evolved at the counter electrode

Mass transfer coefficients were measured for the deposition of copper from acidified copper sulphate solution at a horizontal cylinder cathode stirred by oxygen evolved at a horizontal lead anode placed below the cylinder. Variables studied were: oxygen discharge rate, electrolyte concentration and cylinder diameter. Oxygen discharge was found to increase the rate of mass transfer by a factor ranging from 1.5 to 5 over the natural convection value depending on the rate of oxygen discharge at the lead anode. The data were correlated by the equation: J = 25.0 Re−0.53 Mass transfer coefficients measured at an array of horizontal cylinders agreed with the results for single cylinders. A new electrochemical reactor built of a set of parallel arrays of horizontal cylinders and stirred by the counter electrode gases is proposed as offering an efficient way of stirring with no external stirring power requirement. On a mesure les coefficients de transfert de masse dans le cas de la formation d'un depo't de cuivre a partir d'une solution acidifiee de sulfate de cuivre, sur une cathode cylindrique horizontale, agitee par de l'oxygene emis a une anode de plomb horizontale placee sous le cylindre. On a etudie les variables suivantes: la vitesse de degagement de l'oxygene, la concentration de l'electrolyte et le diametre du cylindre. On a constate que le degagement de l'oxygene augmentait la vitesse du transfert de masse d'un facteur de 1.5 a 5 par rapport a la valeur correspondant a la convection naturelle, selon la vitesse de degagement de l'oxygene a l'anode de plomb. On a correler les resultats au moyen de l'equation: J = 25.0 Re−0.53 Les resultats des mesures des coefficients de transfert de masse pour un ensemble de cylindres horizontaux sont en bon accord avec ceux obtenus avec des cylindres individuels. On propose un nouveau reacteur electrochimique construit a partir d'une serie d'ensembles de cylindres horizontaux, agites par les gaz de contre-electrode; ce reacteur presenterait un moyen efficace d'agitation, sans qu'on ait besoin de fournir de puissance d'agitation externe.
Five-year follow-up on a sample of gamblers: predictive factors of relapse

Abstract Background and Aims Few studies have been conducted on the long-term evolution of gambling disorder (GD). The aim of this study was to identify factors that could predict GD relapse. Methods Data were part of a dataset from a large 5-year cohort of gamblers who were assessed at inclusion and each year thereafter. Participants were recruited from an outpatient addiction treatment center, from various gambling places and through the press. For this specific study, inclusion criteria included (i) transitioning from GD to recovery at a follow-up time and (ii) undergoing at least one follow-up visit afterwards. Participants were evaluated using a structured clinical interview and self-report questionnaires assessing sociodemographic, gambling and clinical characteristics. “Relapse” was defined as the presence of GD (according to the DSM-5) at the N+1th visit following the absence of GD at the Nth visit. A Markov model-based approach was employed to examine predictive factors associated with relapse at a subsequent follow-up visit. Results The sample consisted of 87 participants, aged 47.6 years (sd = 12.6), who were predominantly male (65%). Among the participants, 49 remained in recovery, whereas 38 relapsed. Participants who reported not having experienced at least one month of abstinence and those with a low level of self-directedness at the previous follow-up visit were more likely to relapse. Conclusions Our findings suggest the existence of factors that are predictive of relapse in individuals with GD who had previously achieved recovery. These results can inspire the development of measures to promote long-term recovery.
Variable number tandem repeats – Their emerging role in sickness and health

Understanding the mechanisms regulating tissue specific and stimulus inducible regulation is at the heart of understanding human biology and how this translates to wellbeing, the ageing process, and disease progression. Polymorphic DNA variation is superimposed as an extra layer of complexity in such processes which underpin our individuality and are the focus of personalized medicine. This review focuses on the role and action of repetitive DNA, specifically variable number tandem repeats and SINE-VNTR-Alu domains, highlighting their role in modification of gene structure and gene expression in addition to their polymorphic nature being a genetic modifier of disease risk and progression. Although the literature focuses on their role in disease, it illustrates their potential to be major contributors to normal physiological function. To date, these elements have been under-reported in genomic analysis due to the difficulties in their characterization with short read DNA sequencing methods. However, recent advances in long read sequencing methods should resolve these problems allowing for a greater understanding of their contribution to a host of genomic and functional mechanisms underlying physiology and disease.
Influence of normograde versus retrograde catheterization of bile ducts in dogs treated for gallbladder mucocele.

OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of normograde (NG) versus retrograde (RG) catheterization of the cystic duct and common bile duct (CBD) in dogs with gallbladder mucoceles (GBM) treated with open cholecystectomy. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. ANIMALS Dogs (n = 117) with GBM. METHODS Medical records were reviewed for signalment, history, clinical laboratory and diagnostic imaging findings, details of surgery including catheterization method, complications, and outcome. Long-term follow-up data were obtained by telephone or electronic communication. Relationships between catheterization method and clinical variables and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS Dogs catheterized RG were more likely to experience any postoperative complication (p = .0004) including persistence of gastrointestinal signs (p = .0003). Survival to discharge and long-term survival did not differ by group (p = .23 and p = .49). Total bilirubin (TB) decreased by 70.3% after NG catheterization compared to 39.1% after RG catheterization (p = .03) and increased in 14.9% dogs catheterized NG and 38.0% dogs catheterized RG (p = .004). The presence of a diplomate surgeon at surgery resulted in decreased incidences of any perioperative or postoperative complication (p = .003 and p = .05). CONCLUSION Retrograde catheterization was associated with more postoperative concerns than NG catheterization, but similar survival times. Surgery should be performed by diplomates experienced in biliary surgery to minimize complications. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Although both NG and RG techniques to catheterize the cystic duct and CBD are options for treatment of GBM with low mortality, results of this study provide some evidence to recommend NG over RG catheterization.
Overcoming the shortcomings of the extended-clearance concept: a framework for developing a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to select drug candidates involving transporter-mediated clearance

ABSTRACT Introduction:Human pharmacokinetic (PK) prediction can be a significant challenge to drug candidates undergoing transporter-mediated clearance, when only animal data and in vitro human parameters are available in the drug discovery stage. Areas covered:The extended clearance concept (ECC) that incorporates the processes of hepatic uptake, passive diffusion, metabolism and biliary secretion has been adapted to determine the rate-determining process of hepatic clearance and drug-drug interactions (DDIs). However, since the ECC is derived from the well-stirred model and does not consider the liver as a drug distribution organ to reflect the time-dependent variation of drug concentrations between the liver and plasma, it can be misused for compound selection in drug discovery. Expert opinion:The PBPK model consists of a set of differential equations of drug mass balance, and can overcome the shortcomings of the ECC in predicting human PK. The predictability, relevance and reliability of the model and the scaling factors for IVIVE must be validated using either the measured liver concentrations or DDI data with known transporter inhibitors, or both, in monkeys. A human PBPK model that incorporates in vitro human data and SFs obtained from the validated monkey PBPK model can be used for compound selection in the drug discovery phase.
Comparison between magnetic resonance and ultrasound-derived indicators of hepatic steatosis in a pooled NAFLD cohort

Background & aims MRI-based proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and the ultrasound-derived controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) are non-invasive techniques for quantifying liver fat, which can be used to assess steatosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study compared both of these techniques to histopathological graded steatosis for the assessment of fat levels in a large pooled NAFLD cohort. Methods This retrospective study pooled N = 581 participants from two suspected NAFLD cohorts (mean age (SD) 56 (12.7), 60% females). Steatosis was graded according to NASH-CRN criteria. Liver fat was measured non-invasively using PDFF (with Liver MultiScan’s Iterative Decomposition of water and fat with Echo Asymmetry and Least-squares estimation method, LMS-IDEAL, Perspectum, Oxford) and CAP (FibroScan, Echosens, France), and their diagnostic performances were compared. Results LMS-IDEAL and CAP detected steatosis grade ≥ 1 with AUROCs of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99–1.0) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91–0.99), respectively. LMS-IDEAL was superior to CAP for detecting steatosis grade ≥ 2 with AUROCs of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.73–0.82] and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.55–0.65), respectively. Similarly, LMS-IDEAL outperformed CAP for detecting steatosis grade ≥ 3 with AUROCs of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76–0.87) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.56–0.70), respectively. Conclusion LMS-IDEAL was able to diagnose individuals accurately across the spectrum of histological steatosis grades. CAP performed well in identifying individuals with lower levels of fat (steatosis grade ≥1); however, its diagnostic performance was inferior to LMS-IDEAL for higher levels of fat (steatosis grades ≥2 and ≥3). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03551522); https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03551522. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000026145); https://upload.umin. ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view. cgi? recptno=R000026145.
Pulmonary Artery Size Measurements: A Comparison Study Between Electrocardiogram-Gated and Nonelectrocardiogram-Gated Computed Tomography

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the difference and correlation in pulmonary artery (PA) size when measured from the electrocardiogram (ECG)–gated computed tomography (CT) and non–ECG-gated CT. Methods In the retrospective study, 279 patients who underwent both ECG-gated CT and non–ECG-gated CT were enrolled. Maximum and minimum diameters of main pulmonary artery (MPA), right pulmonary artery (RPA), and ascending aorta (AAO) were measured, whereas mean diameters of MPA and RPA were obtained. The same PA size parameters were also measured on non–ECG-gated CT. Results There was a significant difference in maximum and minimum PA diameters between ECG-gated CT and non-ECG-gated CT, whereas mean PA diameters showed no statistically difference. The PA parameters showed a strong positive correlation between these 2 examinations. Conclusions The PA size was different between ECG-gated CT and non–ECG-gated CT, whereas the PA size parameters on non–ECG-gated CT could be used to predict those with ECG-gated CT, which allow for confident prediction of pulmonary hypertension and guide further surgical intervention.
HLA‐G in Mayas from Yucatan: An evolutionary approach

HLA‐G allele frequencies were studied in Yucatán (Mexico) Maya Amerindians by a direct exon DNA sequencing technique. It is described that Mayas are probably one of the first populations together with Olmecs that populated Meso America and that important HLA genetic differences between Mexican and Guatemalan Mayas support that Maya languages were imposed to several neighbouring Amerindian groups. HLA‐G*01:01:02, HLA‐G*01:01:01 and HLA‐G*01:04:01 are the most frequent alleles in this population. It is remarkable that HLA‐G*01:05N allele was not found in the population in accordance with similar results found in another Amerindians. Also, protein allele HLA‐G*01:04 frequency is found not to differ to those found in another far or close living Amerindians in contrast to other World populations. It seems that while high HLA‐G*01:05N frequency is found in Iran and Middle East populations, probably where this allele appeared within an ancestral HLA‐A*19 group of alleles haplotype and it is maintained by unknown evolutionary forces, Amerindians do not have a high frequency because a founder effect or because required natural evolutionary forces do not exist in America. Finally, we believe useful to study HLA‐G evolution for its physiopathology understanding in addition to the many papers on statistics on HLA‐G and in vitro models that are yearly published.
Valence band of liquid water Raman scattering: some peculiarities and applications in the diagnostics of water media

A short analysis of the results of our research on peculiarities of water Raman scattering spectra and of their applications in the diagnostics of water media is presented. The results of using a new approach for research on water Raman scattering spectra, i.e. the method of artificial neural networks for spectra treatment and for the solution of inverse problems in water media diagnostics, are also presented. This technique allowed us to improve the accuracy of water temperature determination (error 0.3 °C) by exploiting the temperature dependence of valence band parameters. However, no peculiarities of this dependence in the vicinity of 20, 36 and 76 °C, reported by others, were discovered. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distinct toll‐like receptor signaling in the salamander response to tissue damage

Efficient wound healing or pathogen clearance both rely on balanced inflammatory responses. Inflammation is essential for effective innate immune‐cell recruitment; however, excessive inflammation will result in local tissue destruction, pathogen egress, and ineffective pathogen clearance. Sterile and nonsterile inflammation operate with competing functional priorities but share common receptors and overlapping signal transduction pathways. In regenerative organisms such as the salamander, whole limbs can be replaced after amputation while exposed to a nonsterile environment. In mammals, exposure to sterile‐injury Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPS) alters innate immune‐cell responsiveness to secondary Pathogen Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP) exposure.
Inelastic collisions of atomic thorium and molecular thorium monoxide with cold helium-3

We measure inelastic cross sections for atomic thorium (Th) and molecular thorium monoxide (ThO) in collisions with He at temperatures near 1 K. We determine the Zeeman relaxation cross section for Th (F2) to be ∼ 2 × 10−17 cm−2 at 800 mK. We study electronic inelastic processes in Th (P0) and find no quenching even after 10 collisions at 800 mK. We measure the vibrational quenching cross section for ThO (X, ν = 1) to be (7.9 ± 2.7) × 10−19 cm−2 at 800 mK. Finally, we observe indirect evidence for ThO (X, ν = 0)–He van der Waals complex formation, and measure the 3-body recombination rate constant to be Γ3 = (8 ± 2) × 10−33 cm6s−1 at 2.4 K. The stability of the ground Th (F2) state, metastable Th ( P0) state, and vibrational excited ThO (X, ν = 1) state provides data on anisotropic interactions in new systems and opens up the possibility for further studies and experiments, including trapping.
Model construction and application for automated measurement of CE angle on pelvis orthograph based on MASK-R-CNN algorithm

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common orthopedic disease. A simple and cost-effective scientific tool for assisting the early diagnosis of DDH is urgently needed. This study proposed a new artificial intelligence (AI) model for automated measure of the CE angle to aid the diagnosis of DDH by modifying the Mask R-CNN algorithm.13228 anteroposterior pelvic x-ray images were collected from the PACS system of the second Hospital of Jilin University, of which 104 images were randomly selected as test data. The rest of x-ray images were labelled and preprocessed for model development. The new AI model was the constructed based modified Mask R-CNN model to detect key points for CE angle measurement. The performance of AI model on measuring CE angle was verified by comparing with three attending orthopaedic doctors. The mean CE angles on left and right pelvis measured by the AI model was 29.46 ± 6.98°and 27.92 ± 6.56°, respectively, while the mean CE angle measured by the three doctors was 29.85 ± 6.92°and 27.75 ± 6.45°, respectively. AI model displayed a higly consistency with the doctors in measuring CE angles. Besides, AI model showed a much high efficiency in term of measuring time-consumption. In this study, we successfully constructed a new effective model for measuring CE angle by identifying key points, which provided a new intelligent measurement tool for orthopedic image measurement and evaluation.
The influence of beam delivery uncertainty on dose uniformity and penumbra for pencil beam scanning in carbon-ion radiotherapy

The dose uniformity and penumbra in the treatment field are important factors in radiotherapy, which affects the outcomes of radiotherapy. In this study, the integrated depth-dose-distributions (IDDDs) of 190 MeV/u and 260 MeV/u carbon beams in the active spot-scanning delivery system were measured and calculated by FLUKA Monte Carlo simulation based on the Heavy Ion Medical Machine (HIMM). Considering the dose distributions caused by secondary particles and scattering, we also used different types of pencil beam (PB) models to fit and compare the spatial distributions of PB. We superposed a bunch of PB to form a 20×20 cm2 treatment field with the double Gaussian and double Gaussian logistic beam models and calculated the influence of beam delivery error on the field flatness and penumbra, respectively. The simulated IDDDs showed good agreement with the measured values. The triple Gaussian and double Gaussian logistic beam models have good fitness to the simulated dose distributions. There are different influences on dose uniformity and penumbra resulting from beam uncertainties. These results would be helpful for understanding carbon ion therapy, and physical therapists are more familiar with beam characteristics for active scanning therapy, which provides a reference for commissioning and optimization of treatment plans in radiotherapy.
Artificial Intelligence in Hypertension

Hypertension remains the largest modifiable cause of mortality worldwide despite the availability of effective medications and sustained research efforts over the past 100 years. Hypertension requires transformative solutions that can help reduce the global burden of the disease. Artificial intelligence and machine learning, which have made a substantial impact on our everyday lives over the last decade may be the route to this transformation. However, artificial intelligence in health care is still in its nascent stages and realizing its potential requires numerous challenges to be overcome. In this review, we provide a clinician-centric perspective on artificial intelligence and machine learning as applied to medicine and hypertension. We focus on the main roadblocks impeding implementation of this technology in clinical care and describe efforts driving potential solutions. At the juncture, there is a critical requirement for clinical and scientific expertise to work in tandem with algorithmic innovation followed by rigorous validation and scrutiny to realize the promise of artificial intelligence-enabled health care for hypertension and other chronic diseases.
The association between fertility diet score and polycystic ovary syndrome: A Case-Control study

Abstract We performed this case-control study with 303 polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients and 588 age-matched controls to evaluate the relation between fertility diet score and odds of PCOS. In a fully adjusted model, the top tertile of fertility diet score compared to the bottom was associated with 22% [95%CI 0.71–0.93] lower odds of PCOS (P trend = 0.012). Ratio of monounsaturated to trans fat and vegetable protein was associated with a lower odd of PCOS. Animal protein intake and glycemic load were associated with a higher odd of PCOS. Based on our results, increasing the quality of the diet according to fertility diet score can reduce the odds of PCOS.
SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF CHLOROPHYLL a AGGREGATES FORMED BY AQUEOUS DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

Characteristic chlorophyll (Chl) a aggregates formed in aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were investigated spectroscopically. Four chlorophyll forms were found with increasing DMSO concentration; they are called A‐672, A‐683, A‐695 and A‐665 according to the wavelengths of their absorption maxima. Transformation occurred only in this order. Reverse transformation could not be realized. A‐683 and A‐695 were apparently formed by the interaction of Chl a with DMSO in the linear dimer and linear polymer arrangements, respectively. Coordination of the Mg atom with a DMSO O atom and interaction between the S atom of one DMSO molecule and the O atom of an other DMSO molecule should lead to formation of a sandwich‐type complex of partially overlapping chlorophyll macrocycles (Chl a‐DMSO)n. A‐672 and A‐665 were assigned to Chl a micelles and to dissolved monomeric Chl a in DMSO, respectively. Fluorescence spectra showed that the A‐683 was highly fluorescent, while the A‐695 was less fluorescent. Energy migration within the A‐695 form to a trap with a low fluorescence yield might be responsible for this difference in the emission intensity.
First-principles study on initial stage of oxidation on Si(110) surface

There is a great deal of engineering interest in Si (110) wafers as the substrates of large scale integrations (LSIs) in the next generation. However, few studies on Si (110) surface have been reported in comparison with those on other low-index surfaces, still less the mechanism of surface oxidation. We analyzed the surface structure and the initial stage of oxidation on the Si (110)-(16×2) clean surface with first-principles calculation. The results of our calculations showed that first, the stable structure of the Si (110) clean surface was the adatom-tetramer-interstitial (ATI) reconstruction. Second, pairs of pentagon (PPs) were preferentially oxidized in the initial stage of the oxidation. Third, the oxidation growth should progress with the clustering of O atoms (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)