Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Weber test accuracy in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: which frequency is best?

Abstract Background Recent guidelines encourage the use of Webet test (WT) as a part of the physical examination of a newly suspected sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) patient. However, the most sensitive tuning-fork frequency has never been identified. Objective To identify the most sensitive frequency for initial WT of patients with suspected SSNHL. Methods Medical records of patients with confirmed SSNHL, who underwent formal audiometry in which the WT was carried out with different frequencies were analyzed. Results 319 medical records were identified. The most sensitive WT frequency was 500 Hz, with a sensitivity of 94.49% (223/236. confidence interval 90.76–97.03). There was a non-significant difference between 1000 Hz EBO and 500 Hz EBO (p = .1655), a tendency towards a significant difference between 1000 Hz EBO and 2000 Hz EBO (p = .0578), and a significantly better sensitivity than the 4000 Hz EBO (p = .0163). Conclusion The most sensitive WT frequency for SSNHL diagnosis is 500 Hz. However, the sensitivity of this frequency is 94.49%. Significance 512 or 1024 Hz should be used to better identified SSNHL. Even WT lateralization to the affected ear, does not preclude the diagnosis of SSNHL. Formal audiometry should be used in any case of medical history suspected for sudden hearing loss with normal otoscopy.
A General Synthesis of Disubstituted Rubicenes

The synthesis of novel disubstituted rubicenes 1a–k is described. Starting from 1,5-dichloroanthraquinone and aryllithium reagents 3, the diol adducts 4 are reduced and the resulting diarylanthracenes 5 are cyclized to afford the title compounds in fair to good overall yield.
Diagnostic Accuracy of a Direct Panfungal Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay Performed on Stained Cytology Slides

Molecular techniques are increasingly being applied to stained cytology slides for the diagnosis of neoplastic and infectious diseases. Such techniques for the identification of fungi from stained cytology slides have not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of direct (without nucleic acid isolation) panfungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing for identification of fungi and oomycetes on stained cytology slides from dogs, cats, horses, and other species. Thirty-six cases were identified with cytologically identifiable fungi/oomycetes and concurrent identification via fungal culture or immunoassay. Twenty-nine controls were identified with no cytologically or histologically visible organisms and a concurrent negative fungal culture. Direct PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer region followed by sequencing was performed on one cytology slide from each case and control, and the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were calculated. The sensitivity of the panfungal PCR assay performed on stained cytology slides was 67% overall, 73% excluding cases with oomycetes, and 86% when considering only slides with abundant fungi. The specificity was 62%, which was attributed to amplification of fungal DNA from control slides with no visible fungus and negative culture results. Direct panfungal PCR is capable of providing genus- or species-level identification of fungi from stained cytology slides. Given the potential of panfungal PCR to amplify contaminant fungal DNA, this assay should be performed on slides with visible fungi and interpreted in conjunction with morphologic assessment by a clinical pathologist.
Control of octacalcium phosphate and apatite crystal growth by amelogenin matrices

Tooth enamel, the hardest bioceramic composite in the vertebrate body, is the result of a cascade of intra- and extracellular events. Amelogenins, the principal extracellular matrix protein component of mineralizing enamel, have been considered to play substantial roles in controlling the growth and organization of enamel crystals. Considering octacalcium phosphate (OCP) as a precursor phase of enamel apatite crystallites, we have developed in vitro systems to grow OCP and apatite crystals in amelogenin matrices and therefore to investigate amelogenin–OCP and amelogenin–apatite interactions. This paper reviews our current findings on the effect of amelogenin on the morphology, size, phase and orientation of such crystals.
Dermatoscopic findings and dermatopathological correlates in clinical variants of actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, keratoacanthoma, and squamous cell carcinoma

Non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), predominantly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma, is increasing worldwide. Dermatoscopy, which is one of the non‐invasive diagnostic techniques, is important for early diagnosis of NMSC. In this study we aimed to determine dermatoscopic features of keratinocyte derived tumors including actinic keratosis (AK), Bowen's disease (BD), keratoacanthoma (KA), and SCC and correlate the dermatoscopic findings with pathology. A total of 242 lesions from 169 patients were included in the study and dermatoscopic and dermatopathological findings of the lesions were retrospectively studied. Revised pattern analysis was used for the dermatoscopic evaluation. Among 242 lesions, 145 were clinically flat (86 AK, 30 BD, and 29 SCC). Presence of vessels, ulceration, fiber sign, keratin mass, and blood spots decreased the probability of a lesion being AK. When the differential diagnosis was considered between KA and SCC vs AK and BD; vessel presence, ulceration, fiber sign, blood spots, white structureless, keratin, and centred vessels favored the diagnosis of KA and SCC. Our results may contribute to the determination of the lesions to be biopsied in patients with multiple AK on chronically sun damaged skin. In non‐pigmented lesions when a final diagnosis cannot be established, knowledge of dermatopathologic and dermatoscopic correlation may significantly assist interpretation of dermatoscopic patterns and clues.
Effect of Carbon Black/Silica Hybrid Filler on Thermal Properties, Fatigue Life, and Natural Weathering of SBR/Recycled NBR Blends

The utilization of nitrile glove waste will spark a great deal of interest in the rubber industry in developing cost-effective techniques to convert waste and used rubber into a processable form. Blends of styrene butadiene rubber/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (SBR/NBRr) reinforced at 85/15 blend with different ratios of a carbon black/silica (CB/Sil) hybrid filler (50/0, 40/10, 30/20, 20/30, 40/10, 0/50 phr) were tested either with or without the silane coupling agent, Si69. Results showed that the increased thermal stability of blends with Si69 is highly related to the formation of crosslinks between the filler. Thermogravimetric (TG) thermograms showed that the percentage of char residue for blends with Si69 was higher than without Si69. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of both blends revealed a glass transition temperature (Tg) between 65.0°C and 66.9°C. At all blend ratios, the fatigue life of blends with Si69 was better than blends without Si69. After six months’ exposure to natural weather, blends with Si69 exhibited better tensile properties, retention, and morphology compared to blends without Si69.
Cervical sagittal alignment in patients with dropped head syndrome

Background: Dropped head syndrome (DHS) can be divided into two types, the positive sagittal vertical axis (SVA) type and the negative SVA type. However, the cervical sagittal alignment of DHS including global sagittal spinal alignment and the typical cervical alignment of the types of DHS is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the character of cervical sagittal alignment of DHS and analyze the relationship between cervical sagittal alignment and global sagittal spinal alignment. Methods: The subjects were 35 DHS patients (10 men, 25 women, mean 71.1 years old). They were divided into two groups: negative DHS (N-DHS group, SVA < 0 mm) and positive DHS group (P-DHS group, SVA ≥ 0 mm). As control, 28 age-matched cervical spondylosis patients (CS, 21 men, 7 women, mean 67.4 years old) were analyzed. The following parameters were measured on lateral global-spine standing radiographs: cervical SVA (C2-C7SVA), O-C2A (O-C2 angle), C2 slope (C2S), C2-7A (C2-7 angle), T1 slope (T1S) and C7SVA. Results: The results of measurements of each of the averaged sagittal alignment parameters were (CS, P-DHS, N-DHS): C2-7SVA(26.2 mm, 47.3 mm, 44.5 mm), O-C2 angle (35.0°, 37.1°, 39.3°), C2S (16.5°, 31.4°, 33.8°), C2-7A (9.3°, 9.9°, −16.6°), T1S (22.9°, 39.7°, 25.7°), C7SVA (35.3 mm, 51.0 mm, −43.1 mm). C2-C7SVA and C2S were significantly larger in both types of DHS compared to CS. Comparing P-DHS with N-DHS, C2-C7A and T1S were significantly smaller in N-DHS. Conclusions: O-C2A did not differ significantly among CS, P-DHS and N-DHS. In DHS patients, C2-7SVA and C2S were significantly larger than those of CS regardless of the type of DHS. The typical cervical sagittal alignment of DHS was different between P-DHS and N-DHS. In P-DHS, C2-7A and T1S were larger than those in N-DHS and the imbalance of thoraco-lumbar alignment should be noted.
Inexact Multistage Stochastic Quadratic Programming Method for Planning Water Resources Systems under Uncertainty

An inexact multistage stochastic quadratic programming (IMQP) method was developed for supporting water resources management under uncertainty. The IMQP method improves upon the existing multistage programming and inexact quadratic programming approaches, and can directly tackle uncertainties presented as interval numbers and probability distributions within a multistage context. Moreover, it can accommodate real-time dynamics of system uncertainties based on a complete set of scenarios; it can also deal with non-linearities in the objective function to reflect the effects of marginal utility on system benefits and costs. Because penalties are exercised with recourse against any infeasibility, the IMQP can support the analysis of various policy scenarios that are associated with different levels of economic consequences when the promised water-allocation targets are violated. The developed method was applied to the planning of water resources management in the Heshui River Basin, China. The results are us.
Scheelite Flotation From Tarouca Mine Ores

The production of high-grade scheelite concentrates from low-grade ores involves a set of operations to eliminate the undesirable minerals. The present work includes as main goals the study of the effect of (i) meteorization of the ore, (ii) pH during the grinding, (iii) the amount of soda ash in grinding process, (iv) the depression or previous flotation of sulphides, (v) and the acidification of the silicate solution on the scheelite grade and tungsten recovery from flotation of Tarouca tailings. The studies which led to the conditions to produce a 72% WO3 concentrate at a 71% recovery from fresh tailings assaying 0.52% WO3, using Pamak-4 as collector are presented.
Complex structures of Rsu1 and PINCH1 reveal a regulatory mechanism of the ILK/PINCH/Parvin complex for F-actin dynamics

Communications between actin filaments and integrin-mediated focal adhesion (FA) are crucial for cell adhesion and migration. As a core platform to organize FA proteins, the tripartite ILK/PINCH/Parvin (IPP) complex interacts with actin filaments to regulate the cytoskeleton-FA crosstalk. Rsu1, a Ras suppressor, is enriched in FA through PINCH1 and plays important roles in regulating F-actin structures. Here, we solved crystal structures of the Rsu1/PINCH1 complex, in which the leucine-rich-repeats of Rsu1 form a solenoid structure to tightly associate with the C-terminal region of PINCH1. Further structural analysis uncovered that the interaction between Rsu1 and PINCH1 blocks the IPP-mediated F-actin bundling by disrupting the binding of PINCH1 to actin. Consistently, overexpressing Rsu1 in HeLa cells impairs stress fiber formation and cell spreading. Together, our findings demonstrated that Rsu1 is critical for tuning the communication between F-actin and FA by interacting with the IPP complex and negatively modulating the F-actin bundling.
Innate immunity, oxidative stress, and body indices of Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis after two weeks of exposure to artificial light at night.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt biological rhythms of fish and other vertebrates by changing the light information of the nocturnal environment. Disrupted biorhythms can impair the immune system of vertebrates as it has been shown for conditions with continuous illumination or long-day photoperiod in many vertebrates, including fish. However, this has not been shown so far under typical ALAN scenarios with high light intensities during day and low light intensities at night. Therefore, we measured proxies for the innate immune system and oxidative stress as well as body indices of Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis under a wide range of intensities of nocturnal illumination. We found no changes in parameters of the innate immune system and no significant changes in proxies for oxidative stress after two-week exposures to nocturnal illuminance ranging from 0.01 lx to 1 lx in one experiment or from 1 lx to 100 lx in a second experiment. A decrease in the hepatosomatic index at the highest tested light intensity of 100 lx compared to the dark control was the only significant difference in all parameters among treatments. After two weeks of exposure, ALAN does not seem to seriously challenge the innate immune system and seems to cause less oxidative stress than expected. Our results contradict findings from other studies applying continuous illumination or long-day photoperiod and highlight the importance of further research in this field. Since ALAN represents a sustained modulation of the environment that may have cumulative effects over time, long-term studies are required for a better understanding of how ALAN modulates the health of fish. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Daily Caffeine Intake Induces Concentration-Dependent Medial Temporal Plasticity in Humans: A Multimodal Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Caffeine is commonly used to combat high sleep pressure on a daily basis. However, interference with sleep-wake regulation could disturb neural homeostasis and insufficient sleep could lead to alterations in human gray matter. Hence, in this double-blind, randomized, cross-over study, we examined the impact of 10-day caffeine (3 × 150 mg/day) on human gray matter volumes (GMVs) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) by fMRI MP-RAGE and arterial spin-labeling sequences in 20 habitual caffeine consumers, compared with 10-day placebo (3 × 150 mg/day). Sleep pressure was quantified by electroencephalographic slow-wave activity (SWA) in the previous nighttime sleep. Nonparametric voxel-based analyses revealed a significant reduction in GMV in the medial temporal lobe (mTL) after 10 days of caffeine intake compared with 10 days of placebo, voxel-wisely adjusted for CBF considering the decreased perfusion after caffeine intake compared with placebo. Larger GMV reductions were associated with higher individual concentrations of caffeine and paraxanthine. Sleep SWA was, however, neither different between conditions nor associated with caffeine-induced GMV reductions. Therefore, the data do not suggest a link between sleep depth during daily caffeine intake and changes in brain morphology. In conclusion, daily caffeine intake might induce neural plasticity in the mTL depending on individual metabolic processes.
Phase-Boundary Calculations in Systems Involving More than Two Phases, with Application to Hydrocarbon Mictures

An algorithm to track phase boundaries in systems with more than two phases is presented. The method follows the basic principles for phase diagram construction developed by Michelsen. The method is applied successfully to some normal alkane systems with solid-liquid-vapor (SLV) phase behavior. Some thermodynamic aspects of correlating the phase-boundary data for these systems are discussed, particularly the influence of equation of state parameters on the solid-liquid and SLV boundary calculation.
Effect of Parboiling on the Composition and Physicochemical Properties of Treculia africana Seed Flours

Treculia africana seeds are used in a variety of foods like porridges, pastries and weaning food formulations. These food applications require processed seed flour. In processing, parboiling is employed for easy dehusking of the seeds for improved appeal of the products. This study was carried out on four groups of parboiled and native T. africana seed flours to investigate the effect of parboiling on th e composition and physicochemical properties of the flours. Results indicate that parboiling had significant effect on the composition and properties of T. africana seed flours though the effect varied from one tree source to another. Higher yields of flour were obtained with parboiled (61.26-87.65%) compared with native (52.84-74.02%). The proximate composition, inorganic minerals, tannins and phytates levels of the flours of the parboiled were significantly lower than those of the flours of unparboiled. Flours of the parboiled seeds exhibited lower water absorption capacity and lower freeze-thaw stability than the flours of the unparboiled seeds. The RVA paste viscosity of 14% flour slurry showed that parboiling increased the pasting temperature, reduced the viscosity peak and stabilized the resultant paste to breakdown by shearing forces.
Smoking in early adulthood is prospectively associated with prescriptions of antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antidepressants and anxiolytics

Abstract Background Whether smoking should be regarded as a risk factor for mental disorders remains unresolved. Prescribed psychotropic drugs can be used as indications for mental disorders. We investigated how smoking was prospectively related to prescription of antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and anxiolytics. Methods Information about smoking, including the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, and relevant confounders, were obtained from the population-based Young in Norway Study (N = 2602), with four data collection waves between 1992 and 2006. These survey data were linked with information on prescriptions for psychotropic drugs from the comprehensive, nationwide Norwegian Prescription Database from 2007 to 2015. Results Daily smoking with high dependence in 2006 at age 28.5 (s.d. = 2.0) was associated with filling prescriptions of antipsychotics (OR, 6.57, 95% CI 2.19–19.70, p = 0.001), mood stabilizers (OR, 7.11, 95% CI 2.51–20.15, p < 0.001) and antidepressants (OR, 1.91, 95% CI 1.13–3.23, p = 0.016) 1–9 years later. Associations remained significant after adjustment for a variety of potential confounders measured before the assessment of smoking, including sociodemographic background, conduct problems, cannabis use, mental distress, and previous prescriptions for psychotropic medications. The association between smoking and prescription of anxiolytics was weaker and more unstable. Conclusions In this study of young adults, daily smoking with high dependence was associated with later prescriptions of antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and antidepressants, indicating smoking as a risk factor for mental disorders treated with these drugs.
Some key issues pertaining to analysis of small‐angle scattering data affected by multiple scattering

The relevance of accounting for multiple scattering effects in small-angle scattering studies has increased today as more number of high resolution small-angle scattering facilities are available to probe large inhomogeneities. The effect of multiple scattering and the data analysis procedure depends upon the degree of multiple scattering whose measure in a specimen is conveniently expressed by N (= t/L the ratio of specimen thickness t to scattering mean free path L). It also depends upon the relative magnitude of the scattering mean free path L of radiation inside the matrix vis-a-vis the linear dimension R of the inhomogeneities. For L»R, the scattering medium can be treated in a mean field way as far as the description of multiple scattering is concerned. Such a medium is termed as effective medium. But when the condition L>>R is invalidated, the statistical nature of the medium manifests. In the present paper, some key issues pertinent to analysis of small-angle scattering data affected by multiple scattering are addressed.
miR-3574 ameliorates intermittent hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury through inhibiting Axin1

Objective: miRNAs play critical roles in the regulation of many cardiovascular diseases. However, its role and potential mechanism in cardiac injury caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remain poorly elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of miR-3574 on cardiomyocyte injury under intermittent hypoxia (IH). Results: We confirmed that IH inhibited cell viability, induced cell apoptosis and suppressed miR-3574 expression in the H9c2. miR-3574 overexpression could ameliorate the effects of IH on the cell viability and cell apoptosis in the H9c2. Axin1 was a target gene of miR-3574, and miR-3574 overexpression reduced the expression of Axin1. miR-3574 could inhibit the IH-induced cardiomyocyte injury via downregulating Axin1. However, Axin1 could partially reverse these effects of miR-3574. Conclusion: Our study first reveals that miR-3574 could alleviate IH-induced cardiomyocyte injury by targeting Axin1, which may function as a novel and promising therapy target for OSA-associated cardiovascular diseases. Methods: H9c2 were exposed to IH condition. CCK-8 assay was applied to determine cell viability of H9c2. qRT-PCR was conducted to measure the expression level of mRNA and miRNA. Western blot assay was then performed to detect the protein levels. Finally, we used dual-luciferase reporter assay identify the potential target of miR-3574.
Lipopolysaccharide‐regulated secretion of soluble and vesicle‐based proteins from a panel of colorectal cancer cell lines

To mimic the perioperative microenvironment where bacterial products get in contact with colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and study its impact on protein release, we exposed six CRC cell lines to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and investigated the effect on the secretome using in‐depth mass spectrometry‐based proteomics.
Über Thiazole, XXXVII. Chinoide Azomethinfarbstoffe aus Thiazolyl‐(2)‐hydrazin‐Derivaten

Bei der Kondensation von in 5-Stellung unsubstituierten Thiazolyl-(2)-hydrazonen, N.N-Diphenyl-N′-thiazolyl-(2)-hydrazinen oder Nβ-Acetyl-thiazolyl-(2)-hydrazinen mit p-Nitroso-dialkylanilinen bzw. Nitrosobenzol entstehen die entsprechenden, intensiv farbigen Azomethine, deren Absorptionsmaxima bestimmt wurden. — Setzt man dagegen an Stelle der aromatischen Nitrosoverbindungen Benzaldehyd oder dessen p-Dialkylamino-Derivate ein, so werden meist die farblosen Bis-[thiazolyl-(5)]-phenyl-methan-Abkommlinge gebildet. In zwei Fallen konnte daneben das tieffarbige, chinoide Monokondensations-produkt isoliert werden.