Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interplay between right atrial function and liver stiffness in adults with repaired right ventricular outflow obstructive lesions.

AIMS This study determined the associations between right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) mechanics and liver stiffness in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAVIS), and pulmonary stenosis (PS). METHODS AND RESULTS Ninety subjects including 26 repaired TOF, 24 PAIVS, and 20 PS patients and 20 controls were studied. Hepatic shear wave velocity and tissue elasticity (E), measures of liver stiffness, were assessed by two-dimensional shear wave elastography, while RA and RV mechanics were assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography. Deformation analyses revealed worse RV systolic strain and strain rate, and RA peak positive and total strain, and strain rates at ventricular systole and at early diastole in all of the patient groups compared with controls (all P < 0.05). Compared with controls, all of the patient groups had significantly greater shear wave velocity and hepatic E-value (all P < 0.05). Shear wave velocity and hepatic E-value correlated negatively with RV systolic strain rate, and RA positive strain, total strain, and strain rate at ventricular systole and at early diastole (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analyses revealed RA strain rate at early diastole (P = 0.015, P < 0.001), maximum RA size (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), and severity of pulmonary regurgitation (P = 0.05, Pp = 0.014) as significant correlates of shear wave velocity and hepatic E-value. CONCLUSION In adults with repaired TOF, PAIVS, and PS, RA dysfunction and pulmonary regurgitation are associated with liver stiffness.
Exploring the Use of Gas Chromatography Coupled to Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (GC-CI-MS) for Stable Isotope Labelling in Metabolomics

Isotopic labelling experiments have been utterly valuable to monitor the flux of metabolic reactions in biological systems, which is crucial to understand homeostatic alterations with disease. Experimental determination of metabolic fluxes can be inferred from a characteristic rearrangement of stable isotope tracers (e.g., 13C or 15N) that can be detected by mass spectrometry (MS). Metabolites measured are generally members of well-known metabolic pathways, and most of them can be detected using both gas chromatography (GC)-MS and liquid chromatography (LC)-MS. In here, we show that GC methods coupled to chemical ionization (CI) MS have a clear advantage over alternative methodologies due to GC’s superior chromatography separation efficiency and the fact that CI is a soft ionization technique that yields identifiable protonated molecular ion peaks. We tested diverse GC-CI-MS setups, including methane and isobutane reagent gases, triple quadrupole (QqQ) MS in SIM mode or selected ion clusters using optimized narrow-windows (~10 Da) in scan mode, and standard full scan methods using high resolution GC-(q)TOF and GC-Orbitrap systems. Isobutane as reagent gas in combination with both low-resolution (LR) and high-resolution (HR) MS showed the best performance, enabling precise detection of isotopologues in most metabolic intermediates of central carbon metabolism. Finally, with the aim of overcoming manual operations, we developed an R-based tool called isoSCAN that automatically quantifies all isotopologues of intermediate metabolites of glycolysis, TCA cycle, amino acids, pentose phosphate pathway and urea cycle from LRMS and HRMS data.
Succinate-complexed octacalcium phosphate.

A succinate-complexed calcium phosphate has been synthesized by conducting the hydrolysis of α-tricalcium bis(phosphate) in the presence of succinate ions. The organic substance is considered to be introduced into the structure of the hydrolysis product, i.e., octacalcium bis(hydrogen-phosphate) tetrakis(phosphate) pentahydrate, through the replacement of HPO42− by C4H4O42−.
Polymer networks swollen by a homopolymer solution

2014 We study the conformation of a polymer network (N monomers between crosslinks, volume fraction ~N) in contact with a solution of the same polymer (P monomers per mobile chain, volume fraction ~extP). As a function of P/N and ~extP, we find three regimes : 2014 Swollen unmixed (SUM) : the free chains do not penetrate. The internal concentration ~inP is exponentially small in the region occupied by the gel. The distance between crosslinks varies as N 3/5 2014 Swollen mixed (SM) : the mobile chains penetrate the region occupied by the gel but the gel is still swollen (R ~ N3/5/P1/5). 2014 Ideal mixed (IM) : here again, the mobile chains penetrate the gel. The excluded volume interactions between monomers of the gel are strongly screened out. The gel is expected to reach a final state similar to what would be found in a 03B8 solvent. In all the mixed cases, when starting from a swollen gel in contact with a polymer solution, the final state is reached only at very long times : it could be observed however on small gel particles immersed in the solvent mixture or with one labelled chain (N monomers) in a solution of P chains. All these results cease to be valid if the gel is even slightly chemically different from the mobile chains. In that case, the mobile chains are expelled out and the gel deswells as the concentration of the external polymer solution increases. J. Physique 42 (1981) 505-511 1 MARS 1981, Classification Physics Abstracts 64.75 62.20F 61.40K
Post treatment of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket based sewage treatment plant effluents: A review

Biological processes are aerobic and anaerobic commonly used for wastewater treatment. Treated sewage from various wastewater treatment plants is mostly used for irrigation purposes or simply discharged into rivers. However, major drawbacks of this disposal are the input of contaminants like organics (high BOD, COD), pathogens and suspended solids into the aquatic ecosystem. This paper presents a critical review on the treatment of domestic sewage by anaerobic process and specifi cally in the up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and its post treatment concept as the core. The increased removal efficiency of the UASB reactor when post treatments for UASB are used is summarized. Percent removal efficiencies of parameters, land requirement, mode of operation and operation and maintenance cost are considered for different combinations of post treatment units with UASB. Overall 16 combinations (UASB + post treatment) are taken into consideration for this review. In all combinations, ranges of 23–99%.
THE EXPRESSION OF STEM CELL MARKERS (CD133, NESTIN, OCT4, SOX2) IN INVASIVE PITUITARY ADENOMAS.

Introduction The pituitary gland serves as the center of the endocrine system. Stem cells are typically found in a specialized microenvironment of the tissue, called the niche, which regulates their maintenance, self-renewal, fate determination, and reaction to external influences. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of stem cells in the initiation, invasion, and progression of pituitary adenomas. Materials and methods All specimens were collected between January 2007 and April 2015. Radiological classification (invasiveness) for all cases was performed according to the Wilson-Hardy classification system. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to all specimens for CD133, Oct4, Sox2 and nestin. Results The study included 48 patients. Of 48 patients, 17 (35.4%) were male and 31 (64.6%) were female. Mean age is 47.10±14.14 (17-86 yrs.). According to the Wilson-Hardy classification system, 27 (56.3%) were non-invasive adenomas. There was no statistical significance between the expression of pituitary stem cell markers (CD133, OCT4, SOX2, nestin) and invasiveness. Conclusion All stem cell markers are stained extensively in pituitary adenomas, except for SOX2 which was stained weakly. However, there is no effect of stem cells on invasiveness of pituitary adenomas because we cannot find a difference of the staining level between invasive and non-invasive adenomas. Nestin was stained extensively in functional adenomas, especially for GH, PRL, and gonadotropin secreting adenomas. SOX2 was stained extensively for ACTH-secreting adenomas.
Identification and characterization of Cercospora beticola necrosis‐inducing effector CbNip1

Abstract Cercospora beticola is a hemibiotrophic fungus that causes cercospora leaf spot disease of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). After an initial symptomless biotrophic phase of colonization, necrotic lesions appear on host leaves as the fungus switches to a necrotrophic lifestyle. The phytotoxic secondary metabolite cercosporin has been shown to facilitate fungal virulence for several Cercospora spp. However, because cercosporin production and subsequent cercosporin‐initiated formation of reactive oxygen species is light‐dependent, cell death evocation by this toxin is only fully ensured during a period of light. Here, we report the discovery of the effector protein CbNip1 secreted by C. beticola that causes enhanced necrosis in the absence of light and, therefore, may complement light‐dependent necrosis formation by cercosporin. Infiltration of CbNip1 protein into sugar beet leaves revealed that darkness is essential for full CbNip1‐triggered necrosis, as light exposure delayed CbNip1‐triggered host cell death. Gene expression analysis during host infection shows that CbNip1 expression is correlated with symptom development in planta. Targeted gene replacement of CbNip1 leads to a significant reduction in virulence, indicating the importance of CbNip1 during colonization. Analysis of 89 C. beticola genomes revealed that CbNip1 resides in a region that recently underwent a selective sweep, suggesting selection pressure exists to maintain a beneficial variant of the gene. Taken together, CbNip1 is a crucial effector during the C. beticola–sugar beet disease process.
αα-Hub domains and intrinsically disordered proteins: A decisive combo

Hub proteins are central nodes in protein–protein interaction networks with critical importance to all living organisms. Recently, a new group of folded hub domains, the αα-hubs, was defined based on a shared αα-hairpin supersecondary structural foundation. The members PAH, RST, TAFH, NCBD, and HHD are found in large proteins such as Sin3, RCD1, TAF4, CBP, and harmonin, which organize disordered transcriptional regulators and membrane scaffolds in interactomes of importance to human diseases and plant quality. In this review, studies of structures, functions, and complexes across the αα-hubs are described and compared to provide a unified description of the group. This analysis expands the associated molecular concepts of “one domain–one binding site”, motif-based ligand binding, and coupled folding and binding of intrinsically disordered ligands to additional concepts of importance to signal fidelity. These include context, motif reversibility, multivalency, complex heterogeneity, synergistic αα-hub:ligand folding, accessory binding sites, and supramodules. We propose that these multifaceted protein–protein interaction properties are made possible by the characteristics of the αα-hub fold, including supersite properties, dynamics, variable topologies, accessory helices, and malleability and abetted by adaptability of the disordered ligands. Critically, these features provide additional filters for specificity. With the presentations of new concepts, this review opens for new research questions addressing properties across the group, which are driven from concepts discovered in studies of the individual members. Combined, the members of the αα-hubs are ideal models for deconvoluting signal fidelity maintained by folded hubs and their interactions with intrinsically disordered ligands.
Positive end-expiratory pressure titration with electrical impedance tomography and pressure–volume curve: a randomized trial in moderate to severe ARDS

Objective. The aim of the study was to compare titration of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and with ventilator-embedded pressure–volume (PV) loop in moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Approach. Eighty-seven moderate to severe ARDS patients (arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen ratio, PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 200 mmHg) were randomized to either EIT group (n = 42) or PV group (n = 45). All patients received identical medical care using the same general support guidelines and protective mechanical ventilation. In the EIT group, the selected PEEP equaled the airway pressure at the intercept between cumulated collapse and overdistension percentages curves and in the PV group, at the pressure where maximal hysteresis was reached. Main results. Baseline characteristics and settings were comparable between the groups. After optimization, PEEP was significantly higher in the PV group (17.4 ± 1.7 versus 16.2 ± 2.6 cmH2O, PV versus EIT groups, p = 0.02). After 48 h, driving pressure was significantly higher in the PV group (12.4 ± 3.6 versus 10.9 ± 2.5 cmH2O, p = 0.04). Lung mechanics and oxygenation were better in the EIT group but did not statistically differ between the groups. The survival rate was lower in the PV group (44.4% versus 69.0%, p = 0.02; hazard ratio 2.1, confidence interval 1·1–3.9). None of the other pre-specified exploratory clinical endpoints were significantly different. Significance. In moderate to severe ARDS, PEEP titration guided with EIT, compared with PV curve, might be associated with improved driving pressure and survival rate. Trial registration: NCT03112512, 13 April, 2017.
Novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common form of biliary tract malignancy with a dismal prognosis. A poor outcome in patients with GBC is related to the aggressive nature of the tumor, delayed diagnosis, and a lack of reliable biomarkers and effective treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis and accurate disease assessment are crucial to prolonging the patient survival. Identification of novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers may help improve the early diagnostic rate and develop specific targeted treatments for patients with GBC. We herein review the novel biomarkers that may be associated with the diagnosis and prognosis in GBC and their potential clinical significance in the management of GBC.
Added Value of CT Attenuation Correction and Prone Positioning in Improving Breast and Subdiaphragmatic Attenuation in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Soft-tissue attenuation of γ-photons is the most common source of artifacts and remains an intricate problem for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) by SPECT. Breast and subdiaphragmatic artifacts are the most frequent cause of false-positive findings in women. Many methods of overcoming attenuation artifacts have been introduced, including prone positioning to avoid breast attenuation or use of hybrid SPECT/CT systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of prone images in attenuation correction (AC) when CT AC is compared with MPI. Methods: Forty-four patients were initially included in the study. Statistical analysis was done for 30 patients with suspected or confirmed ischemic heart disease. All patients underwent ordinary supine stress/rest SPECT MPI followed by additional stress/rest prone SPECT and stress/rest SPECT/CT. Each study was interpreted separately, and their results were compared. Results: It was found that 58% (31/53) of the depicted defects were attributable to attenuation artifacts; the CT AC imaging technique was able to correct 52%, versus 49% for prone imaging. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 100%, 90.3%, and 94%, respectively, for CT AC, versus 100%, 83.8%, and 91%, respectively, for prone imaging. Inferior wall defects were more common in men (95%), in whom CT AC performed better than prone imaging (i.e., 92.9% in CT AC vs. 90.9% in prone imaging). On the other hand, anterior wall defects were more common in women (83.3%), in whom prone imaging was better than CT AC. Conclusion: Both CT AC and prone imaging increased the specificity and diagnostic accuracy of MPI without affecting the sensitivity.
Changes in peroxide melt-modified poly(L-lactide)

Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), prepared in a tin octoate-catalyzed reaction, was modified with various types and amounts of peroxides in the melt during mixing in an extruder or in a kneader. The modified material was analyzed using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and by microscopic studies. Hydroperoxides, peroxy acid, peroxy ester, dialkanoyl peroxide, diaroyl peroxide, and dialkyl peroxydicarbonate stabilized the melt during mixing. Nonstabilizing peroxides were dialkyl and diaralkyl peroxide. The binding energy for the electrons in the Sn 3d level increased for the stabilized PLLA. Thus, the stabilization mechanism was deactivation of the species that catalyzes the reversible esterification reaction. The decomposition temperature of the peroxide-modified polymer increased, and the crystallinity decreased. However, annealing the peroxide-modified poly(L-lactide) resulted in almost the same degree of crystallinity as that of the unmodified polymer. This behavior was due to a slower crystallization rate for the stabilized PLLA
Properties of visually-guided saccadic behavior and bottom-up attention in marmoset, macaque, and human.

Saccades are stereotypic behaviors whose investigation improves our understanding of how primate brains implement precise motor control. Furthermore, saccades offer an important window into the cognitive and attentional state of the brain. Historically, saccade studies have largely relied on macaque. However, the cortical network giving rise to the saccadic command is difficult to study in macaque because relevant cortical areas lie in deep sulci and are difficult to access. Recently, a New World monkey -the marmoset- has garnered attention as an alternative to macaque because of advantages including its smooth cortical surface. However, adoption of marmoset for oculomotor research has been limited due to a lack of in-depth descriptions of marmoset saccade kinematics and their ability to perform psychophysical tasks. Here, we directly compare free-viewing and visually-guided behavior of marmoset, macaque, and human engaged in identical tasks under similar conditions. In video free-viewing task, all species exhibited qualitatively similar saccade kinematics up to 25º in amplitude although with different parameters. Furthermore, the conventional bottom-up saliency model predicted gaze targets at similar rates for all species. We further verified their visually-guided behavior by training them with step and gap saccade tasks. In the step paradigm, marmoset did not show shorter saccade reaction time for upward saccades whereas macaque and human did. In the gap paradigm, all species showed similar gap effect and express saccades. Our results suggest that the marmoset can serve as a model for oculomotor, attentional, and cognitive research while being aware of their difference from macaque or human.
Vestibular Implant Imaging

Flat panel CT of vestibular implants produces higher-resolution images with fewer artifacts than multidetector row CT, allowing visualization of individual electrode contacts and quantification of their locations relative to vestibular semicircular canals and ampullae. SUMMARY: Analogous to hearing restoration via cochlear implants, vestibular function could be restored via vestibular implants that electrically stimulate vestibular nerve branches to encode head motion. This study presents the technical feasibility and first imaging results of CT for vestibular implants in 8 participants of the first-in-human Multichannel Vestibular Implant Early Feasibility Study. Imaging characteristics of 8 participants (3 men, 5 women; median age, 59.5 years; range, 51–66 years) implanted with a Multichannel Vestibular Implant System who underwent a postimplantation multislice CT (n = 2) or flat panel CT (n = 6) are reported. The device comprises 9 platinum electrodes inserted into the ampullae of the 3 semicircular canals and 1 reference electrode inserted in the common crus. Electrode insertion site, positions, length and angle of insertion, and number of artifacts were assessed. Individual electrode contacts were barely discernible in the 2 participants imaged using multislice CT. Electrode and osseous structures were detectable but blurred so that only 12 of the 18 stimulating electrode contacts could be individually identified. Flat panel CT could identify all 10 electrode contacts in all 6 participants. The median reference electrode insertion depth angle was 9° (range, −57.5° to 45°), and the median reference electrode insertion length was 42 mm (range, −21−66 mm). Flat panel CT of vestibular implants produces higher-resolution images with fewer artifacts than multidetector row CT, allowing visualization of individual electrode contacts and quantification of their locations relative to vestibular semicircular canals and ampullae. As multichannel vestibular implant imaging improves, so will our understanding of the relationship between electrode placement and vestibular performance.
Common clothing area factor estimation equations are inaccurate for highly insulating (Icl>2 clo) and non-western loose-fitting clothing ensembles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the equations for calculating the clothing area factor (fcl) used in the standards based on data sets of clothing ensembles, that are meant to provide thermal comfort over a wide range of climatic conditions from hot summer days to extremely cold winter. Over 10 equations for fcl calculations were selected from the international standards and the literature. At first a theoretical comparison based on a range of insulation values was performed. Then the data sets were used to compare the equations and measurements on real clothing systems. Most of the fcl calculation equations do give reasonably good results for western type and industrial clothing with basic insulation (Icl) up to 1.5 clo. Above the Icl of 2 clo, the error in the calculations based on traditional equations increases considerably and they overestimate fcl. Some new equations were suggested for modern clothing systems. Oppositely, for non-western clothing (for hot climate), the available equations did give good match only for very light clothing sets and commonly underestimated the real fcl. For such sets and and fashion clothes their own equations maybe needed, that count for various design aspects, e.g. fit, draping etc.
Alkali Hydrothermal Synthesis of Zeolites from Coal Fly Ash and Their Uptake Properties of Cesium Ion

Zeolites were synthesized from coal fly ash by hydrothermal treatment with KOH solutions. K-H zeolite (K2Al2Si4O12-nH2O) was produced under optimum conditions of 160°C, 3 d, 1 M (=mol/dm3) KOH and liquid-solid ratio of 15cm3/g. The uptake behavior of radioactive cesium for the products was investigated by batch and column methods. The uptake equilibrium of Cs+ for the above product was attained within 2h yielding the distribution coefficient of above 104 cm3/g. The uptake of Cs+ was followed by a Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the maximum uptake capacity was estimated to be 3.34 mmol/g. The successive removal of Cs+ was accomplished through the column packed with granular composites of product-alginate gel polymer.
Positive Ion Mass Spectrometry during an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment of Polymers

A low power atmospheric pressure helium plasma torch was used to modify the surface chemistry of poly(? -methylstyrene), polystyrene, poly(propylene) and polyethylene. Mass spectra of the positive ions present in the plasma during the treatment revealed dominant -ions with structures that reflected the structure of the polymer, e.g. C6H5CnH 2n containing a phenyl group in the aromatic polymers and hydrocarbon structures CnH2n±1 up to n = 14 for poly(propylene). Ions up to m/z 300 were detected. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that this treatment introduced oxygen-containing functional groups into the surface of the polymers.