Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lung Injury and Its Prognostic Significance in Acute Liver Failure

Objective:Hypoxemia is a feared complication of acute liver failure, and high oxygen requirements will frequently lead to removal of patients from the transplant list. As data regarding the prevalence and outcome of acute respiratory distress syndrome in acute liver failure are scant and hypoxemia being a commonly encountered systemic complication, we analyzed radiological, gas exchange, and ventilator data in consecutive patients admitted with acute liver failure. Patients:Acute liver failure patients receiving mechanical ventilation admitted between January 2007 and February 2011 were included. Interventions:Patients were categorized according to the Berlin definition as: no acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FIO2 < 300 mm Hg), and subdivisions of mild, moderate, and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (200–300 mm Hg, 100–200 mm Hg, and < 100 mm Hg, respectively). Chest radiographs were independently assessed by two observers for the presence or absence of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Absence of left atrial pressure elevation was based on combined hemodynamic and echocardiographic assessment. Measurements and Main Results:Two hundred acute liver failure patients were admitted during the study period of whom 148, median age 39 years (16–74 yr), were included. Thirty-one (21%) had acute respiratory distress syndrome (17 mild acute respiratory distress syndrome [12%], 9 moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome [12%], and 5 severe acute respiratory distress syndrome) within the first 72 hours following admission. Acute respiratory distress syndrome patients required higher positive end-expiratory pressure (7 vs 6 vs 10 vs 15 cm H2O for no, mild, moderate, or severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, p = 0.014), had reduced respiratory system compliance (34 vs 29 vs 30 vs 23 L/cm H2O, p = 0.028), and an increased number of ventilator days (no acute respiratory distress syndrome, 10 d; mild acute respiratory distress syndrome acute lung injury, 12 d; moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome, 23 d; severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, 22 d; p = 0.097). Duration of liver intensive therapy unit stay (p = 0.175), survival (p = 0.877), inotrope requirements (p = 0.495), need for extracorporeal renal support (p = 0.565), and severity of organ failure scores were not affected. Extravascular lung water index had a moderate sensitivity of 65% and specificity of 77% for the prediction of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusion:The prevalence of lung injury is relatively low in acute liver failure, where 21% fulfilled acute respiratory distress syndrome criteria. Overall presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome appeared to have a limited impact on outcome.
Ex Vivo Activity of Cardiac Glycosides in Acute Leukaemia

Background Despite years of interest in the anti-cancerous effects of cardiac glycosides (CGs), and numerous studies in vitro and in animals, it has not yet been possible to utilize this potential clinically. Reports have demonstrated promising in vitro effects on different targets as well as a possible therapeutic index/selectivity in vitro and in experimental animals. Recently, however, general inhibition of protein synthesis was suggested as the main mechanism of the anti-cancerous effects of CGs. In addition, evidence of species differences of a magnitude sufficient to explain the results of many studies called for reconsideration of earlier results. Principal Findings In this report we identified primary B-precursor and T-ALL cells as being particularly susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of CGs. Digitoxin appeared most potent and IC50 values for several patient samples were at concentrations that may be achieved in the clinic. Significant protein synthesis inhibition at concentrations corresponding to IC50 was demonstrated in colorectal tumour cell lines moderately resistant to the cytotoxic effects of digoxin and digitoxin, but not in highly sensitive leukaemia cell lines. Conclusion It is suggested that further investigation regarding CGs may be focused on diagnoses like T- and B-precursor ALL.
Effect of plasma surface tungstenising on the friction and wear of Ti2AlNb-based alloys

ABSTRACT To obtain a strong bond between W coatings and the substrate, a novel graded tungstenised layer on Ti-Al-Nb alloys was produced using a double glow plasma surface alloying technology and a special graded tribological coating was designed. The microstructural results showed that the tungstenised layer was distributed in a graded manner and was mainly comprised of W- or Ti-rich TixW1−x phases. Varying the friction conditions indicated that an increase in the load and sliding speed led to an increase of the friction coefficient and wear rate of the tungstenised layer at room temperature. These changes were mainly caused by the graded distribution of the W composition and the change in surface contact status. The results indicated that the friction and wear properties of Ti-Al-Nb alloys were greatly improved by the surface tungstenising.
Reducible Systems and Embedding Procedures in the Canonical Formalism

Abstract We propose a systematic method of dealing with the canonical constrained structure of reducible systems in the Dirac and symplectic approaches which involves an enlargement of phase and configuration spaces, respectively. It is not necessary to isolate as in the Dirac approach, the independent subset of constraints or to introduce, as in the symplectic analysis, a series of Lagrange multipliers-for-Lagrange multipliers. This analysis illuminates the close connection between the Dirac and symplectic approaches of treating reducible theories, which is otherwise lacking. The example of p-form gauge fields ( p=2, 3) is analyzed in detail.
Adaptive Polling Service for Next-Generation IEEE 802.16 WiMAX Networks

WiMAX technology, based on IEEE 802.16 standard, is a promising broadband wireless technology for future 4G network. WiMAX provides radio access with centralized control, where bandwidth resources are managed and allocated by base station (BS) for both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL). Current WiMAX standard defines several bandwidth request (BWReq) mechanisms to serve a variety of applications, which however may not be efficient for on-off bursty traffic patterns. In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive polling service (aPS), with the advantage of significantly reducing the signaling overhead associated with the bandwidth request process without compromising the delay performance of real-time applications. Extensive simulations demonstrate that aPS outperforms existing scheduling services in terms of overall efficiency for a wide range of applications.
Colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers - a comparison of model formulations

Abstract. Decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) is limited by both the available substrate and the active decomposer community. The understanding of this colimitation strongly affects the understanding of feedbacks of soil carbon to global warming and its consequences. This study compares different formulations of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. We compiled formulations from literature into groups according to the representation of decomposer biomass on the SOM decomposition rate a) non-explicit (substrate only), b) linear, and c) non-linear. By varying the SOM decomposition equation in a basic simplified decomposition model, we analyzed the following questions. Is the priming effect represented? Under which conditions is SOM accumulation limited? And, how does steady state SOM stocks scale with amount of fresh organic matter (FOM) litter inputs? While formulations (a) did not represent the priming effect, with formulations (b) steady state SOM stocks were independent of amount of litter input. Further, with several formulations (c) there was an offset of SOM that was not decomposed when no fresh OM was supplied. The finding that a part of the SOM is not decomposed on exhaust of FOM supply supports the hypothesis of carbon stabilization in deep soil by the absence of energy-rich fresh organic matter. Different representations of colimitation of decomposition by substrate and decomposers in SOM decomposition models resulted in qualitatively different long-term behaviour. A collaborative effort by modellers and experimentalists is required to identify formulations that are more or less suitable to represent the most important drivers of long term carbon storage.
Multi-scale algorithm for improved scintillation detection in a CCD-based gamma camera

Gamma cameras based on charge-coupled devices (CCDs) and micro-columnar CsI scintillators can reach high spatial resolutions. However, the gamma interaction probability of these scintillators is low (typically <30% at 141 keV) due to the limited thickness of presently available micro-columnar scintillators. Continuous scintillators can improve the interaction probability but suffer from increased light spread compared to columnar scintillators. In addition, for both types of scintillators, gamma photons incident at an oblique angle reduce the spatial resolution due to the variable depth of interaction (DOI). To improve the spatial resolution and spectral characteristics of these detectors, we have developed a fast analytic scintillation detection algorithm that makes use of a depth-dependent light spread model and as a result is able to estimate the DOI in the scintillator. This algorithm, performing multi-scale frame analysis, was tested for an electron multiplying CCD (EM-CCD) optically coupled to CsI(Tl) scintillators of different thicknesses. For the thickest scintillator (2.6 mm) a spatial resolution of 148 µm full width half maximum (FWHM) was obtained with an energy resolution of 46% FWHM for perpendicularly incident gamma photons (interaction probability 61% at 141 keV). The multi-scale algorithm improves the spatial resolution up to 11%, the energy resolution up to 36% and the signal-to-background counts ratio up to 46% compared to a previously implemented algorithm that did not model the depth-dependent light spread. In addition, the multi-scale algorithm can accurately estimate DOI. As a result, degradation of the spatial resolution due to the variable DOI for gamma photons incident at a 45° angle was improved from 2.0 ⋅ 103 to 448 µm FWHM. We conclude that the multi-scale algorithm significantly improves CCD-based gamma cameras as can be applied in future SPECT systems.
SPC06-3: Blind Equalization of Non-irreducible Channels Driven by MPSK Signals

This paper deals with the problem of blind equalization of finite-impulse-response (FIR) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels excited by M-ary phase shift keying (MPSK) signals. It is known that the algorithms based on the constant modulus (CM) criterion can equalize an FIR MIMO channel that is irreducible. The irreducible condition is restrictive since it requires that all source signals arrive at the receiving antennas simultaneously. In this paper, we show that the CM criterion can also be used to construct a zero-forcing equalizer for a channel that is non-irreducible. We also derive a lower bound for the order of the equalizer. The proposed result is validated by numerical simulations.
Comparison of topical anti- fungal agents sertaconazole and clotrimazole in the treatment of tinea corporis-an observational study.

OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of topical antifungal agents, Sertaconazole and Clotrimazole in Tinea corporis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 60(n=60) patients were included in the study. They were divided into two groups of 30 patients each. First group included patients treated with topical Sertaconazole as test drug whereas the second group constituted patients treated with topical Clotrimazole as standard drug. The patients were advised to apply the drug on affected area twice daily for three weeks. The parameters like erythema, scaling, itching, margins and size of the lesion and KOH mount were taken for the assessment of efficacy. This was an open labelled study and patients were followed up every week for three weeks. RESULTS The total score included all grades in erythema, itching, scaling, margins and size of lesion and KOH mount. There was significant reduction in erythema (p<0.02) and highly significant reduction in scaling (p<0.001), itching (p<0.001) and margins of lesion (p<0.001) among Sertaconazole group. The mean difference and the standard deviation of total scores for Clotrimazole were 7.20 and 1.69 and for Sertaconazole group 8.80 and 1.52 respectively. The p-value on application of students unpaired t- test was p<0.001 (Highly significant). CONCLUSION From the present study, it can be concluded that topical Sertaconazole shows better improvement in the clinical parameters than topical Clotrimazole within a span of three weeks in the treatment of T corporis.
Neutrophil migration: moving from zebrafish models to human autoimmunity

There has been a resurgence of interest in the neutrophil's role in autoimmune disease. Classically considered an early responder that dies at the site of inflammation, new findings using live imaging of embryonic zebrafish and other modalities suggest that neutrophils can reverse migrate away from sites of inflammation. These ‘inflammation‐sensitized’ neutrophils, as well as the neutrophil extracellular traps and other products made by neutrophils in general, may have many implications for autoimmunity. Here, we review what is known about the role of neutrophils in three different autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and small vessel vasculitis. We then highlight recent findings related to several cytoskeletal regulators that guide neutrophil recruitment including Lyn, Rac2, and SHIP. Finally, we discuss how our improved understanding of the molecules that control neutrophil chemotaxis may impact our knowledge of autoimmunity.
Deploying applications in multi-SAN SMP clusters

The effective exploitation of multi-SAN SMP clusters and the use of generic clusters to support complex information systems require new approaches; multi-SAN SMP clusters introduce new levels of parallelism and traditional environments are mainly used to run scientific computations. In this paper we present a novel approach to the exploitation of clusters that allows integrating in a unique metaphor: the representation of physical resources, the modelling of applications and the mapping of application into physical resources. The proposed abstractions favoured the development of an API that allows combining and benefiting from the shared memory, message passing and global memory paradigms.
Mutations Associated with Acquired Resistance to PD-1 Blockade in Melanoma.

BACKGROUND Approximately 75% of objective responses to anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) therapy in patients with melanoma are durable, lasting for years, but delayed relapses have been noted long after initial objective tumor regression despite continuous therapy. Mechanisms of immune escape in this context are unknown. METHODS We analyzed biopsy samples from paired baseline and relapsing lesions in four patients with metastatic melanoma who had had an initial objective tumor regression in response to anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab) followed by disease progression months to years later. RESULTS Whole-exome sequencing detected clonal selection and outgrowth of the acquired resistant tumors and, in two of the four patients, revealed resistance-associated loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding interferon-receptor-associated Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) or Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), concurrent with deletion of the wild-type allele. A truncating mutation in the gene encoding the antigen-presenting protein beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) was identified in a third patient. JAK1 and JAK2 truncating mutations resulted in a lack of response to interferon gamma, including insensitivity to its antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. The B2M truncating mutation led to loss of surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I. CONCLUSIONS In this study, acquired resistance to PD-1 blockade immunotherapy in patients with melanoma was associated with defects in the pathways involved in interferon-receptor signaling and in antigen presentation. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others.).
Lipid lowering with thyroid hormone and thyromimetics

Purpose of review To summarize how thyroid hormones exert their effects on lipid metabolism through specific interaction with their nuclear receptors, to review studies of the effects of new and selective thyromimetic drugs in animals and humans and to identify important questions for future research. Recent findings Thyroid hormones exert their effects by stimulation of thyroid hormone receptors that have different tissue distribution and metabolic targets. TRβ is predominant in liver and mainly responsible for effects on cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism, whereas TRα is most important in fat, muscle, and heart. Thyroid hormone analogs (thyromimetics, tiromes) have been developed that activate TRβ and are selectively taken up and/or activated by the liver. Such compounds stimulate hepatic LDL receptors, cholesterol elimination as bile acids and cholesterol, and presumably promote reverse cholesterol transport. In animals, they retard atherosclerosis progression. In humans, eprotirome exerts favorable lipid-modulating effects while lacking thyroid hormone-related side-effects and maintaining normal hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid feedback. When added to statins, it reduces LDL and non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides as well as lipoprotein (a). Summary Liver-specific and β-selective thyroid hormone analogs activate a spectrum of favorable thyroid hormone actions that optimize lipid metabolism and promote cholesterol elimination. Further studies should establish long-term safety and potential clinical usefulness of thyromimetics.
New Perspectives on Autobiographical Memory: The Integration of Narrative Processing and Autobiographical Reasoning

Researchers from diverse psychological subdisciplines have increasingly turned their attention to the storied aspect of human thought. Narrative processing and autobiographical reasoning are 2 forms of this conscious thought. Narrative processing is the tendency to create thought units that use vivid imagery, sequential plots, characters, and salient goals. Autobiographical reasoning consists of interpreting and evaluating remembered experiences. Both forms of thought are discussed in D. P. McAdams's (2001) personality theory and D. B. Pillemer's (2001) cognitive research. S. Bluck and T. Habermas (2001) highlight developmental aspects of narrative processing and autobiographical reasoning, particularly in adolescent identity formation. U. M. Staudinger (2001) illustrates how autobiographical reasoning about memories and life stories serves as a springboard for wisdom at different stages of the life cycle. Implications for integrating subdisciplines of psychology are discussed.
Optimum quantizers and permutation codes

Amplitude quantization and permutation encoding are two of the many approaches to efficient digitization of analog data. It is shown in this paper that these seemingly different approaches actually are equivalent in the sense that their optimum rate versus distortion performances are identical. Although this equivalence becomes exact only when the quantizer output is perfectly entropy coded and the permutation code block length is infinite, it nonetheless has practical consequences both for quantization and for permutation encoding. In particular, this equivalence permits us to deduce that permutation codes provide a readily implementable block-coding alternative to buffer-instrumented variable-length codes. Moreover, the abundance of methods in the literature for optimizing quantizers with respect to various criteria can be translated directly into algorithms for generating source permutation codes that are optimum for the same purposes. The optimum performance attainable with quantizers (hence, permutation codes) of a fixed entropy rate is explored too. The investigation reveals that quantizers with uniformly spaced thresholds are quasi-optimum with considerable generality, and are truly optimum in the mean-squared sense for data having either an exponential or a Laplacian distribution. An attempt is made to provide some analytical insight into why simple uniform quantization is so good so generally.
Associations between Perceived Chronic Care Quality, Perceived Patient Centeredness, and Illness Representations among Persons with Diabetes

Abstract: Patient beliefs about their illness can motivate behaviors consistent with good disease management. Perceived high‐quality chronic care would be expected to increase likelihood of having such beliefs. Associations between perceived quality of chronic care and illness representations, and associations between patient centeredness and illness representations were assessed among persons with diabetes. A mail survey of diabetic patients visiting a multispecialty physician network serving urban and suburban populations in a large midwestern city was conducted. The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care‐5A questionnaire was used to assess perceived chronic care quality and patient centeredness. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire was used to assess illness representations. Of 500 mailed surveys, 89 completed surveys were returned. The sample consisted mostly of retirees (61%), Whites (81%), and women (60%). Higher perceived chronic care quality was associated with better disease understanding of diabetes (0.24, p = .05). Patients reporting higher patient centeredness (or lower patient‐centeredness scores) indicated better disease understanding (−0.26, p = .04) and those reporting higher patient centeredness (or lower patient‐centeredness scores) perceived less impact of illness (0.29, p = .02). Chronic care quality as defined in the Chronic Care Model and consistency of chronic care with patient expectations (patient centeredness) was associated with illness representations favorable for good self‐care management.
The deeply embedded starburst in SBS 0335-052

We present 4 m ISAAC imaging and spectroscopy of the extremely metal-poor dwarf galaxy SBS 0335- 052, aimed at a better understanding of the dust in this low-metallicity galaxy. The 4 m emission turns out to be very compact, conned to the brightest pair of Super Star Clusters (SSCs). The Ks{L 0 color is extremely red, and the L 0 emission is consistent with the extrapolation of the ISO mid-infrared spectral energy distribution (SED). From hydrogen recombination lines and a t to the near-/mid-infrared SED, we conrm a visual extinction of >15 mag. Our data suggest that the sites of the optical and infrared emission are distinct: the optical spectral lines come from an almost dustless region with a high star formation rate and a few thousand OB stars. This region lies along the line-of-sight to a very dusty central star cluster in which there are more than three times as many massive stars, completely hidden in the optical. From the extinction, we derive an upper limit for the dust mass of 10 5 M which could be produced by recent supernovae.