Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The volatile anesthetic sevoflurane attenuates ventilator-induced lung injury through inhibition of ERK1/2 and Akt signal transduction

Background Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) sustained during mechanical ventilator support is still a cause of a high rate of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units and in operating rooms. VILI is characterized by pulmonary inflammation that appears to be mediated by proinflammatory cytokines. This study investigates whether the volatile anesthetic sevoflurane has an anti-inflammatory effect that attenuates VILI. Methods Twenty one male rabbits were anesthetized and were mechanically ventilated with 50% oxygen at a peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) of 10 cmH2O, I : E ratio of 1 : 4, and positive end expiratory pressure of 5 cmH2O. All animals were randomly assigned to one of three groups that were ventilated for 5 h with 10 cmH2O of PIP (Sham group, n = 7); 30 cmH2O of PIP (Control group, n = 7); or 30 cmH2O of PIP and 0.8 vol% sevoflurane (Sevoflurane group, n = 7). The wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio and histopathology of the lung; concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Akt were measured in the lung tissue after completing the protocol. Results Histopathology indicated that the sevoflurane group showed fewer inflammatory cells and architectural changes than the control group did. The W/D ratio [(5.36 ± 0.13) versus (6.61 ± 0.20)], expression of IL-8 [(144.08 ± 14.61) versus (228.56 ± 15.13) pg/ml] and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt decreased significantly in the sevoflurane group relative to the control group. Conclusions Sevoflurane attenuates VILI in rabbits mainly by inhibiting expression of IL-8, and Sevoflurane-induced inhibition of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and Akt might be a possible pathway for protection.
Improved Viral Suppression After Treatment Optimization in HIV-Infected Patients With Persistent Low-Level Viremia

AbstractOptimizing treatment for patients with persistent low-level viremia is complicated because most genotyping tests are validated for viral loads >1000 copies per milliliter. In this study, genotypes of 92 treatment-experienced patients with persistent low-level viremia were determined using an in-house assay. Based on the resistance profiles obtained from genotyping and patient pharmacologic history, patients were either maintained on their antiviral regimen (n = 51) or received an optimized regimen (n = 41). In the group receiving optimized treatment, undetectable viral loads were achieved in 73.2% at 6 months and at 90.2% at 1 year, indicating that treatment guided by genotyping of patients with low-level viremia is effective in achieving viral suppression.
Can the Sperm Class Analyser (SCA) CASA-Mot system for human sperm motility analysis reduce imprecision and operator subjectivity and improve semen analysis?

Abstract Semen analysis (SA) is considered mandatory for suspected male infertility although its clinical value has recently become questionable. Sperm motility is an essential parameter for SA, but is limited by high measurement uncertainty, which includes operator subjectivity. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) can reduce measurement uncertainty compared with manual SA. The objective of this study was to determine whether the Sperm Class Analyser (SCA) CASA-Mot system could reduce specific components of sperm motility measurement uncertainty compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) manual method in a single laboratory undertaking routine diagnostic SA. The study examined: (i) operator subjectivity; (ii) precision, (iii) accuracy against internal and external quality standards; and (iv) a pilot sub-study examining the potential to predict an IVF fertilisation rate. Compared with the manual WHO method of SA on 4000 semen samples, SCA reduces but does not completely eliminate operator subjectivity. Study SCA and CASA-Mot are useful tools for well-trained staff that allow rapid, high-number sperm motility categorization with less analytical variance than the manual equivalent. Our initial data suggest that SCA motility may have superior predictive potential compared with the WHO manual method for predicating IVF fertilization.
A simple, continuous, analytical charge/capacitance model for the short-channel MOSFET

A charge/capacitance model of a simple form that is continuous across the linear and saturation regimes is developed. The model is based on a conductance analysis of the MOSFET which incorporates velocity saturation at a first-principles level. By relating charge layers within the device to characteristics of the conductance, the charge model not only is able to characterize C-V behavior but to also incorporate velocity saturation. Since the basic conductance form is a hyperbola, the model is mathematically simple and robust and yields MOSFET capacitances and charges which are continuous and of infinite differentiability over the linear and saturation regimes of device operation.
PERSPECTIVE: REVERSE EVOLUTION

Abstract For some time, the reversibility of evolution was primarily discussed in terms of comparative patterns. Only recently has this problem been studied using experimental evolution over shorter evolutionary time frames. This has raised questions of definition, experimental procedure, and the hypotheses being tested. Experimental evolution has provided evidence for multiple population genetic mechanisms in reverse evolution, including pleiotropy and mutation accumulation. It has also pointed to genetic factors that might prevent reverse evolution, such as a lack of genetic variability, epistasis, and differential genotype-by-environment interactions. The main focus of this perspective is on laboratory studies and their relevance to the genetics of reverse evolution. We discuss reverse evolution experiments with Drosophila, bacterial, and viral populations. Field studies of the reverse evolution of melanism in the peppered moth are also reviewed. Corresponding Editor: W. T. Starmer
There are worms in my aging research!

Caenorhabditis elegans (the worm) has long been a key model organism for understanding the biological mechanisms that underlie life span, health span, and aging. The first mutations that modulate life span were identified in worms (1–4). Subsequent cloning of daf-2, an insulin-like receptor (5), and its downstream target daf-16, a FOXO transcription factor (6,7), opened up the field of aging research to genetic analysis. Since this time, there has been an explosion of aging research, much using worms, that has revealed many fundamental aspects of metabolism and cellular signaling that impinge on life span and health span. Today, the worm is still teaching us about fundamental aspects of aging, as highlighted by several recent publications in JGBS.
Functional connectivity along the anterior–posterior axis of hippocampal subfields in the ageing human brain

While age‐related volumetric changes in human hippocampal subfields have been reported, little is known about patterns of subfield functional connectivity (FC) in the context of healthy ageing. Here we investigated age‐related changes in patterns of FC down the anterior–posterior axis of each subfield. Using high resolution structural MRI we delineated the dentate gyrus (DG), CA fields (including separating DG from CA3), the subiculum, pre/parasubiculum, and the uncus in healthy young and older adults. We then used high resolution resting state functional MRI to measure FC in each group and to directly compare them. We first examined the FC of each subfield in its entirety, in terms of FC with other subfields and with neighboring cortical regions, namely, entorhinal, perirhinal, posterior parahippocampal, and retrosplenial cortices. Next, we analyzed subfield to subfield FC within different portions along the hippocampal anterior–posterior axis, and FC of each subfield portion with the neighboring cortical regions of interest. In general, the FC of the older adults was similar to that observed in the younger adults. We found that, as in the young group, the older group displayed intrinsic FC between the subfields that aligned with the tri‐synaptic circuit but also extended beyond it, and that FC between the subfields and neighboring cortical areas differed markedly along the anterior–posterior axis of each subfield. We observed only one significant difference between the young and older groups. Compared to the young group, the older participants had significantly reduced FC between the anterior CA1‐subiculum transition region and the transentorhinal cortex, two brain regions known to be disproportionately affected during the early stages of age‐related tau accumulation. Overall, these results contribute to ongoing efforts to characterize human hippocampal subfield connectivity, with implications for understanding hippocampal function and its modulation in the ageing brain.
Social support modulates the neural correlates underlying social exclusion

Abstract Ostracism threatens the human need for social interactions, with negative consequences on cognition, affect and behavior. Understanding the mechanisms that can alleviate these consequences has therefore become an important research agenda. In this study, we used behavioral and fMRI measures to advance our understanding how social support can buffer the negative effects of social exclusion. We focused on two different types of support from a friend: emotional support, conveyed by gentle touch and appraisal support, implemented as informative text messages. Seventy-one female participants underwent fMRI scanning while playing a virtual ball-tossing game in the course of which they were excluded. Two consecutive runs of the game were separated according to the participant’s experimental condition (appraisal support, emotional support and no support). Results showed that the experience of social exclusion is modulated by the type of support received. Specifically, emotional support decreased negative emotions and anterior insula activity, while appraisal support increased negative emotions, with concomitant increase of subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and decrease of temporal-parietal junction activity. These divergent effects of social support point to the necessity to characterize whether and under which conditions it represents an effective and positive resource to alleviate the negative consequences of social exclusion.
Role of N-glycan in the structural changes of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and its complex with an antibody

Abstract Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) is found on the external surface of the myelin sheath and plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. It was observed that the protein MOG acts as an autoantigen and results in demyelination. The cause for the sudden change of protein to be autoantigen is still unclear. Here we present the molecular dynamics simulation studies of MOG in both unbound and bound states with an antibody. Both these systems were studied in the absence and presence of N-glycan in order to understand the effect of glycosylation in the MOG conformational changes. The results indicate that the glycosylation decreases the flexibility of protein in both free and bound states. Glycan influence the interaction of the complex with the water molecules whereas free protein MOG interaction with water molecules was not affected by the glycosylation. Glycan changes the 310 helices adjacent to the antibody interacting epitope MOG35-55 to turns. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Increased frequency of travel in the presence of cross-immunity may act to decrease the chance of a global pandemic

The high frequency of modern travel has led to concerns about a devastating pandemic since a lethal pathogen strain could spread worldwide quickly. Many historical pandemics have arisen following pathogen evolution to a more virulent form. However, some pathogen strains invoke immune responses that provide partial cross-immunity against infection with related strains. Here, we consider a mathematical model of successive outbreaks of two strains—a low virulence (LV) strain outbreak followed by a high virulence (HV) strain outbreak. Under these circumstances, we investigate the impacts of varying travel rates and cross-immunity on the probability that a major epidemic of the HV strain occurs, and the size of that outbreak. Frequent travel between subpopulations can lead to widespread immunity to the HV strain, driven by exposure to the LV strain. As a result, major epidemics of the HV strain are less likely, and can potentially be smaller, with more connected subpopulations. Cross-immunity may be a factor contributing to the absence of a global pandemic as severe as the 1918 influenza pandemic in the century since. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: approaches and important themes’. This issue is linked with the subsequent theme issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: epidemic forecasting and control’.
Scheduling Tree-Structured Tasks on Two Processors to Minimize Schedule Length

Consider a set of n tasks with a tree-structured precedence relation and execution time of 1 or 3 units. We give an $O(n^2 \log n)$-time algorithm to find a minimum length schedule for these tasks on two identical processors. Possible generalization to the case of 1 or k units is also given.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Chronic Abdominal Pain After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for chronic abdominal pain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Abdominal pain is a frequent postoperative complication after RYGB surgery. Even if there have been defined several long-term complications, the literature regarding patients with unexplained chronic abdominal pain is sparse. METHODS A single-center register-based cohort study with inclusion of all patients who underwent RYGB surgery between 2010 and 2015. Data from multiple registries, medical records, and a questionnaire were used. Patients with chronic abdominal pain were defined as those using strong analgesics, diagnosed with chronic pain, or referred to a specialized pain clinic. Patients with severe self-reported abdominal pain were defined as those reporting abdominal pain more than 2 times weekly within the last month. RESULTS A total of 787 patients were followed for a median of 63 months. The prevalence of postoperative chronic abdominal pain was 11% and the prevalence of severe self-reported abdominal pain was 21%. Preoperative use of strong analgesics was a risk factor for chronic abdominal pain (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.59-3.23) and severe self-reported abdominal pain (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.64-4.84). Further risk factors for severe self-reported pain were unemployment or retirement (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09-2.93), postoperative complications (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.44-5.22), and smoking (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09-2.96). CONCLUSIONS One in 10 patients undergoing RYGB surgery developed chronic abdominal pain requiring strong analgesics, and one in five suffered from severe abdominal pain. Risk factors were preoperative use of strong analgesics, unemployment, postoperative complications, and smoking.
Human Inner-ear Malformation Types Captured in 3D.

OBJECTIVES Capture the human inner-ear malformation types in 3D by segmenting the inner-ear structures from clinical CT (computed tomography) and MR (magnetic resonance) image datasets. Volumetric analysis was done to find the variations in the volume of cochlear part alone from complete inner-ear followed by 3D printing from the 3D segmented models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using 3D slicer freeware, the complete inner-ear structures were segmented from anonymized CT and MR image by setting a tight grey-scale threshold to avoid capturing unwanted structures followed by volumetric analysis of the cochlear part alone. 3D printing was done using Form labs desktop 3D printer. RESULTS We identified 2x normal anatomy (NA) cochlea, 1x enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS), 3x incomplete partition (IP) type-I, 4x IP type-II, 3x IP type-III, 5x common cavity (CC) and 5x cochlear hypoplasia (CH). 3D segmented models along with the 3D printed models showed huge variation in size, shape and the anatomy among the image data-sets analyzed. Volumetric analysis showed that on average, volume of CC was above 150mm3, volume of CH fell below 80mm3, Volume of NA, EVAS and IP-I were all around 85-105mm3 whereas the volume of IP-II was around 50mm3. CONCLUSION Visualizing human inner-ear malformation types in 3D both as computer models and as 3D printed models is a whole-new experience as demonstrated in this study. The volumetric analysis showed a huge variation among the volume of cochlear part alone among the malformation types.
Elementary lesions in dermatological semiology: literature review*

Discrepancies in the terminology of elementary lesions persist when texts from Dermatology and Semiology books are compared, which can cause some confusion in both the teaching of undergraduate medical students and the learning acquired by professionals in the field. This review aims to compare and clarify the differences in the description of elementary lesions by many authors, used as references for specialists in dermatology.
Chapter 7 Rural and Microfinance Institutions : Regulatory and Supervisory Issues

The providing of financial services to the poor and the very-poor, particularly in rural areas, is the purpose of microfinance institutions (MFIs), and the assessment of the regulatory framework for MFIs is part of broader assessment of adequacy of access. Access, however, is multidimensional, and assessing its adequacy requires a review of (a) the range of financial services provided—and target groups served—by several tiers of formal, semiformal, and informal financial institutions; (b) the demand for financial services from households, microenterprises, and small businesses at different levels of the income strata; and (c) the different combinations of financial service providers, the users of those services, and the range of services that prevail in different geographical segments of the market. The primary objectives of the assessment of the adequacy of access are (a) to identify the gaps that exist (and that need to be corrected) in the range of products that are available for different layers of households, microenterprises, and small businesses in various geographic markets; and (b) to assess whether the regulatory framework for financial transactions helps expand or restrict access to the needed financial services.
T1, T2 relaxation and magnetization transfer in tissue at 3T

T1, T2, and magnetization transfer (MT) measurements were performed in vitro at 3 T and 37°C on a variety of tissues: mouse liver, muscle, and heart; rat spinal cord and kidney; bovine optic nerve, cartilage, and white and gray matter; and human blood. The MR parameters were compared to those at 1.5 T. As expected, the T2 relaxation time constants and quantitative MT parameters (MT exchange rate, R, macromolecular pool fraction, M0B, and macromolecular T2 relaxation time, T2B) at 3 T were similar to those at 1.5 T. The T1 relaxation time values, however, for all measured tissues increased significantly with field strength. Consequently, the phenomenological MT parameter, magnetization transfer ratio, MTR, was lower by approximately 2 to 10%. Collectively, these results provide a useful reference for optimization of pulse sequence parameters for MRI at 3 T. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modified Rice Straw Enhanced Cadmium (II) Immobilization in Soil and Promoted the Degradation of Phenanthrene in Co-Contaminated Soil

Very limited information is available about heavy metal-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) depollution involving the modified natural material in soil. Using phenanthrene and cadmium (Cd) as model, this study investigated the effect(s) of modified rice straw by a NaOH solution and on PAHs, heavy metal availability, and their interactions. Treatment included chemical contaminant with/without modified/unmodified rice straw. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed that certain functional groups including anionic matters groups, which can a complex with Cd2+, were exposed on the modified rice straw surfaces. Therefore, Cd concentration was significantly reduced by about 60%, 57%, 62.5 %, and, 64% in the root, shoot, CaCl2, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and extractable Cd, respectively. Subsequently, the prediction of the functional profile of the soil metagenome using Clusters Orthologous Groups (COGs) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database revealed that the significantly changed individual COGs belonged to the carbohydrate metabolism, ion transports, and signaling (including cytochrome P450s) categories. This indicated that ion transports might be involved in Cd management, while carbohydrate metabolism, including bisphenol, benzoate, ethylbenzene degradation, and cytochrome P450s, were rather involved in phenanthrene metabolism. The exposed functional group might serve as an external substrate, and P450s might serve as a catalyst to activate and initiate phenanthrene metabolism process. These finding offer confirmation that modified straw could promote the reduction of heavy metal and the degradation of PAHs in soil.
The effect of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit on testicular functions in rats

The prevalence of male infertility is a well‐known public health issue with majority of cases due to deficient sperm production of unknown origin. Studies have associated dietary habits with male factor infertility. Chrysophyllum albidum is a common plant that produces a popular fruit, widely consumed for its nutritional and medicinal values. This study investigates the effects of C. albidum fruit methanol extract on the reproductive functions of male Wistar rats. Ripe C. albidum fruit was extracted using methanol and subjected to phytochemical screening. Fifteen male Wistar rats (100–120 g) divided into three (n = 5) received distilled water (control), 1.0 and 6.4 g kg−1 day−1 extract, respectively, for 28 days via oral gavage. The sperm count, motility, percentage sperm aberration, histology of testes and epididymides were examined by microscopy. Serum levels of luteinising hormone (LH), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone were quantified using ELISA. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p < 0.05 significance. Sperm count significantly increased in 6.4 g kg−1 day−1 extract. Serum testosterone level decreased in 1.0 and 6.4 g kg−1 day−1 extract. The architecture of sections of testes and epididymides showed anomalies. C. albidum fruit adversely altered reproductive functions of male Wistar rat.