Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Noncirrhotic human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induces portal hypertension in relation to the histological degree of steatosis

Introduction We earlier showed in an animal model that steatosis, in the absence of fibrosis or inflammation, induces a significant rise in portal pressure. The relevance of these findings for human pathology is unknown till date. Aims To study portal pressure in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients and to identify factors possibly related to steatosis-induced changes in liver haemodynamics. Materials and methods Patients presenting with a problem of overweight and with noninvasive signs of liver involvement were proposed for transjugular liver biopsy. The biopsy was scored according to the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network scoring system. Results Fifty consecutive patients were studied. Mean age was 47.9±13.6 years; 31 (62%) of them were female. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was normal in 27 patients (54%), borderline (5 mmHg) in nine (18%) and elevated in 14 patients (28%). For further analysis those with a HVPG of 5 mmHg were considered normal (group 1). HVPG was 8.8±2.6 mmHg in those with an elevated HVPG (group 2) versus 3.4±1.2 mmHg in group 1 (P<0.0001). In both the groups, only one patient had cirrhosis; 26 of 36 (group 1) and nine of 14 patients (group 2) had fibrosis score 0. Fibrosis score was not significantly different (P=0.530). Perisinusoidal fibrosis score was not significantly different (P=0.186). Steatosis was the only histological feature that significantly differed between the groups (P=0.016). The degree of steatosis (P=0.010) was the only independent predictor of the presence of portal hypertension. Conclusion Human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can, even in the absence of significant fibrosis, induce portal hypertension, correlated with the severity of the steatosis.
Mutation as a Stress Response and the Regulation of Evolvability

ABSTRACT Our concept of a stable genome is evolving to one in which genomes are plastic and responsive to environmental changes. Growing evidence shows that a variety of environmental stresses induce genomic instability in bacteria, yeast, and human cancer cells, generating occasional fitter mutants and potentially accelerating adaptive evolution. The emerging molecular mechanisms of stress-induced mutagenesis vary but share telling common components that underscore two common themes. The first is the regulation of mutagenesis in time by cellular stress responses, which promote random mutations specifically when cells are poorly adapted to their environments, i.e., when they are stressed. A second theme is the possible restriction of random mutagenesis in genomic space, achieved via coupling of mutation-generating machinery to local events such as DNA-break repair or transcription. Such localization may minimize accumulation of deleterious mutations in the genomes of rare fitter mutants, and promote local concerted evolution. Although mutagenesis induced by stresses other than direct damage to DNA was previously controversial, evidence for the existence of various stress-induced mutagenesis programs is now overwhelming and widespread. Such mechanisms probably fuel evolution of microbial pathogenesis and antibiotic-resistance, and tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance, all of which occur under stress, driven by mutations. The emerging commonalities in stress-induced-mutation mechanisms provide hope for new therapeutic interventions for all of these processes.
Single and Entangled Photons

Quantum computing is a sought after technology that will greatly increase the speed and security of computations and communications. The understanding of quantum computing and information technology is dependent upon the understanding of quantum interactions. The difference between current computers and quantum computers lies in the fundamental units of information utilized. The qubit, which is a unit of quantum information in quantum computing, is analogous to the bit in classical information theory. A bit can be either of two states, often denoted as 1 and 0. However, a qubit can be either of the two states or a superposition of the two states. Unlike classical bits, qubits can also become entangled. Entanglement is a quantum phenomenon in which two particles interact in such a way that when they separate they can only be represented by the same description/wave function. Another important concept in quantum based technology is the single photon source.
Sleep apnea in chronic heart failure

Purpose of review As heart failure continues to carry significant morbidity and mortality it is crucial to pursue new lines of therapy. Addressing sleep apnea, which is highly prevalent in these patients, offers just such an avenue. We discuss how sleep apnea may contribute to the propagation of heart failure, and how understanding its effects and reversing these effects might benefit heart failure patients. Recent findings Continuous positive airway pressure ventilation, atrial pacing, and chronic resynchronization therapy have all been studied in sleep apnea. Some of these therapies have shown benefits in heart failure. This offers hope for improved outcomes, particularly with respect to mortality. Delineating how these therapies affect the heart's energetics and metabolism may also provide further understanding of the relationship between sleep apnea and heart failure. Summary As both obstructive and central sleep apnea are highly prevalent in heart failure, treating these patients with continuous positive airway pressure, atrial pacing, or chronic resynchronization therapy may offer morbidity and mortality benefits. Much remains to be understood about the relationship between sleep apnea and heart failure, and understanding the interaction between the two at both the myocardial and clinical level is crucial.
Modern Diagnostic Approach of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children and Adolescents

The authors analyzed a cohort of 33 children and adolescents (<18 years of age) consecutively admitted in the Pediatric Clinic of Fundeni Clinical Institute, diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) and treated in the period of time 09.01. 2008-12.31. 2011. They discuss the role of modern techniques for diagnosis and risk stratification (immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, molecular biology) and present the results of their analysis, aiming to establish useful correlations for clinical management of cases. Introduction of new diagnostic methods allows a better therapeutic approach of cases, leading to superior event-free survival (EFS).
Constrained Formulations and Algorithms for Predicting Stock Prices by Recurrent Fir Neural Networks

In this paper, we develop a new constrained artificial-neural-network (ANN) formulation and the associated learning algorithm for predicting stock prices, a difficult time-series prediction problem. We characterize daily stock prices as a noisy non-stationary time series and identify its predictable low-frequency components. Using a recurrent finite-impulse-response ANN, we formulate the learning problem as a constrained optimization problem, develop constraints for incorporating cross validations, and solve the learning problem using algorithms based on the theory of extended saddle points for nonlinear constrained optimization. Finally, we illustrate our prediction results on ten stock-price time series. Our main contributions in this paper are the channel-specific low-pass filtering of noisy time series obtained by wavelet decomposition, the transformation of the low-pass signals to improve their stationarity, and the incorporation of constraints on cross validation that can improve the accuracy of predictions. Our experimental results demonstrate good prediction accuracy and annual returns.
Old Gate Gets a New Look

A proposed structure for a protein that enables potassium ions to move in and out of cells raises new questions about how its “gate” works. Cells are constantly exchanging water-soluble molecules like nutrients and inorganic ions with their environment. The movement of these molecules across the cell's plasma membrane is mediated by various transport proteins that create pores through the membrane's lipid bilayer. One type of transport protein, an ion channel, is responsible for transporting certain ions, such as potassium, calcium, or sodium. Ion channels have filters that make the channel permeable only to a specific kind of ion and gates that regulate the flow of ions through the channel. Gates can be controlled by chemical and/or electrical signals, including those created by differences in the voltage inside and outside the cell (membrane potential), and the concentrations of binding molecules (ligands). On page 182, Yuan et al. offer new insights into the structure of an important potassium ion channel and the cues that cause its gate to open and close (1).
Assessment of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A levels in sorghum malts and beer in Ouagadougou

Mycotoxins are natural metabolites produced by fungi that can cause disease and death in human and animals alike, even in low concentrations. More than thirty mycotoxins that contaminate sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and its derived products are known. This work aimed to investigate the presence of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in sorghum malt and beer, sampled between January and April 2012 in Ouagadougou. Mycotoxins in fifty samples of sorghum beer and twenty samples of sorghum malts have been purified using immunoaffinity columns, and later identified and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A were no found in any of the sorghum beer samples. However, 25% of the sorghum malt samples contained aflatoxin B1 with an average of 97.6 ± 88.2 ppb (p < 0.05), while none contained ochratoxin A above the level of 0.8 ppb (ochratoxin A limit of detection). From the samples collected in this study, consumption of sorghum beer seems to be safe concerning contamination in aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A but a dietary assessment of exposure should be conducted. Key words: Aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, sorghum beer, sorghum malt, HPLC.
DIANA: A Machine Learning Mechanism for Adjusting the TDD Uplink-Downlink Configuration in XG-PON-LTE Systems

Modern broadband hybrid optical-wireless access networks have gained the attention of academia and industry due to their strategic advantages (cost-efficiency, huge bandwidth, flexibility, and mobility). At the same time, the proliferation of Software Defined Networking (SDN) enables the efficient reconfiguration of the underlying network components dynamically using SDN controllers. Hence, effective traffic-aware schemes are feasible in dynamically determining suitable configuration parameters for advancing the network performance. To this end, a novel machine learning mechanism is proposed for an SDN-enabled hybrid optical-wireless network. The proposed architecture consists of a 10-gigabit-capable passive optical network (XG-PON) in the network backhaul and multiple Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access networks in the fronthaul. The proposed mechanism receives traffic-aware knowledge from the SDN controllers and applies an adjustment on the uplink-downlink configuration in the LTE radio communication. This traffic-aware mechanism is capable of determining the most suitable configuration based on the traffic dynamics in the whole hybrid network. The introduced scheme is evaluated in a realistic environment using real traffic traces such as Voice over IP (VoIP), real-time video, and streaming video. According to the obtained numerical results, the proposed mechanism offers significant improvements in the network performance in terms of latency and jitter.
Economic Development: Local Clusters in a Global Economy

Economic geography during an era of global competition involves a paradox. It is widely recognized that changes in technology and competition have diminished many of the traditional roles of location. Yet clusters, or geographic concentrations of inter connected companies, are a striking feature of virtually every national, regional, state, and even metropolitan economy, especially in more advanced nations. The prevalence of clusters reveals important insights about the microeconomics of competition and the role of location in competitive advantage. Even as old reasons for clustering have diminished in importance with globalization, new influences of clusters on competition have taken on growing importance in an increasingly complex, knowledge-based, and dynamic economy. Clusters represent a new way of thinking about national, state, and local economies, and they necessitate new roles for companies, government, and other institutions in enhancing competitiveness.
Decreased Motor Neuron Support by SMA Astrocytes due to Diminished MCP1 Secretion

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by severe, often fatal muscle weakness due to loss of motor neurons. SMA patients have deletions and other mutations of the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, resulting in decreased SMN protein. Astrocytes are the primary support cells of the CNS and are responsible for glutamate clearance, metabolic support, response to injury, and regulation of signal transmission. Astrocytes have been implicated in SMA as in in other neurodegenerative disorders. Astrocyte-specific rescue of SMN protein levels has been shown to mitigate disease manifestations in mice. However, the mechanism by which SMN deficiency in astrocytes may contribute to SMA is unclear and what aspect of astrocyte activity is lacking is unknown. Therefore, it is worthwhile to identify defects in SMN-deficient astrocytes that compromise normal function. We show here that SMA astrocyte cultures derived from mouse spinal cord of both sexes are deficient in supporting both WT and SMN-deficient motor neurons derived from male, female, and mixed-sex sources and that this deficiency may be mitigated with secreted factors. In particular, SMN-deficient astrocytes have decreased levels of monocyte chemoactive protein 1 (MCP1) secretion compared with controls and MCP1 restoration stimulates outgrowth of neurites from cultured motor neurons. Correction of MCP1 deficiency may thus be a new therapeutic approach to SMA. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by the loss of motor neurons, but astrocyte dysfunction also contributes to the disease in mouse models. Monocyte chemoactive protein 1 (MCP1) has been shown to be neuroprotective and is released by astrocytes. Here, we report that MCP1 levels are decreased in SMA mice and that replacement of deficient MCP1 increases differentiation and neurite length of WT and SMN-deficient motor-neuron-like cells in cell culture. This study reveals a novel aspect of astrocyte dysfunction in SMA and indicates a possible approach for improving motor neuron growth and survival in this disease.
Review of the genus Ipomoea: traditional uses, chemistry and biological activities

Approximately 600-700 species of Ipomoea, Convolvulaceae, are found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Several of those species have been used as ornamental plants, food, medicines or in religious ritual. The present work reviews the traditional uses, chemistry and biological activities of Ipomoea species and illustrates the potential of the genus as a source of therapeutic agents. These species are used in different parts of the world for the treatment of several diseases, such as, diabetes, hypertension, dysentery, constipation, fatigue, arthritis, rheumatism, hydrocephaly, meningitis, kidney ailments and inflammations. Some of these species showed antimicrobial, analgesic, spasmolitic, spasmogenic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, psychotomimetic and anticancer activities. Alkaloids, phenolics compounds and glycolipids are the most common biologically active constituents from these plant extracts.
Migration of schwann cells and axons into developing chick forelimb muscles following removal of either the neural tube or the neural crest

A study has been made of the effects of neural crest and neural tube removal at the brachial level on the migration of Schwann cells and axons into the flexor digitorum profundus (fdp) and flexor carpi ulnaris (fcu) muscles of the avian forelimb. The identification of Schwann cells was based on the assumption that antibody HNK‐1 uniquely labels these cells at the growing end of limb nerves. Myotubes and nerves were identified by using antibodies to myosin and to neurofilament protein, respectively. The removal of neural crest cells at stage 13 gave a complete Schwann cell‐free embryo at the brachial level. Motor axons only grew to the base of the forelimb, forming a rudimentary plexus by stage 27, and failed to penetrate the limb. Removal of the neural tube at stage 13 did not prevent sensory axons from forming a plexus at the base of the limb; these axons subsequently developed into the brachialis longus inferior (bli n) and superior (bls n) nerves. By stage 27 the bli n had branched into the interosseus nerve (in n) and the medial‐ulnar nerve (m‐u n) trunks. However, unlike the result in control embryos, no nerves were detected amongst the developing fdp and fcu muscles, thus indicating that sensory axons do not grow into the muscles in the absence of motor axons. In contrast, Schwann cells were observed amongst the myotubes at the level of the in n and m‐u nerve trunks. The present observations show that motor axons do not enter the limb bud and innervate limb muscles in the absence of Schwann cells. Furthermore, in the absence of motor axons (neural‐tube‐removed embryos) sensory axons still enter the limb (behind migrating Schwann cells) but fail to innervate developing muscles even though Schwann cells are present among the developing myotubes.
Noisy Signal Compression by Wavelet Transform with Optimal Downsampling

This paper presents a wavelet transform (WT) based on simultaneous de-noising and compression scheme for noisy signal. Due to the downsampling in decomposition process, the orthogonal wavelet transform (OWT) is translation variant, which significantly hinders its performance in coding and denoising. In this paper the wavelet bintree decomposition (WBD), which is equivalent to a translation invariant WT, is first formed and an optimal downsampling route is then traversed among all the routes of the bintree. The WT with the optimal route would most effectively decorrelate and compactly represent the signal. During the process of noisy signal encoding, wavelet thresholding based denoising is performed. Thresholding is similar to the quantization of a zero-zone in lossy encoding procedure. We applied a signal-adaptive threshold to the wavelet coefficients and quantized the coefficients outside the zero-zone. Experiments show that the proposed scheme significantly outperforms the OWT-based method.
Quantifying impact reduction due to avoidance , minimization and restoration for a natural gas pipeline in the Peruvian Andes

We present monitoring methods and quantitative biodiversity data to document components of the mitigation hierarchy. We estimated avoidance, minimization, restoration and impact reduction in quality hectares for the 25 m wide right of way of a 408 km natural gas buried pipeline that crosses 14 Ecological Landscape Units (ELUs) in the tropical Andes of Peru. We found that applying the mitigation hierarchy as part of a comprehensive biodiversity action plan substantially reduced impacts on biodiversity in all habitats studied. Avoidance and right of way minimization contributed to significant impact reduction. We quantified impact reduction during construction and operation on the right of way of the pipeline over a five-year period and found that restoration was the greatest contributor to reducing impacts. We documented that most ELUs have a positive restoration trajectory. We also documented how monitoring over large scale spatial scales, in combination with site-specific monitoring, generated data for management to determine restoration priorities and impact mitigation. A biodiversity action plan that incorporated the mitigation hierarchy and a science-based biodiversity monitoring and assessment program contributed to biodiversity management of the project and played an important role in minimizing and managing impacts.
Hypoventilation in obesity.

Recently, numerous reports have noted that marked obesity may be associated with hypoxia, hypercapnia, polycythemia and right heart failure in the absence of apparent intrinsic pulmonary disease. Weight loss has been followed by alleviation of the derangements in some cases (1-4) and this syndrome has been called the "Pickwickian Syndrome" by Burwell, Robin, Whaley and Bickelmann (5). Fairly general agreement exists that the basic physiological defect in this syndrome is alveolar hypoventilation which leads to hypoxia and hypercapnia followed by polycythemia and eventual cor pulmonale. It has been suggested that the alveolar hypoventilation in obesity is due to an increased resistance to respiratory movements, thus necessitating an increase in work per unit ventilation (2, 6-8), although little evidence to support this has been advanced. In addition, there is little information in the literature regarding pulmonary function and blood volume in obese individuals. The purposes of this paper are 1 ) to report studies of pulmonary function and blood volume in a group of obese subjects, 2) to attempt to correlate arterial blood gases with the blood volume measurements, 3) to report measurements of the oxygen cost of breathing in these individuals, and 4) to attempt to correlate the oxygen cost of breathing with the occurrence of alveolar hypoventilation.
Epidemiology of rural traumatic death in children: a population-based study.

To determine the epidemiology of traumatic death in pediatric patients in a rural state, we reviewed all deaths caused by injury in victims < 19 years old between 1985 and 1990. We hypothesized that mortality would be higher than equivalent populations in urban areas. During the study period, 5,322 children were hospitalized for trauma (14% of total admissions for children in the state) and 36 died (0.67%). For this subgroup, head injury was the most common cause of death (72%). When compared with data from the National Pediatric Trauma Registry from urban centers, the mortality rate for hospitalized children in this rural state was lower (0.67% vs. 2.7%, p < 0.001). On review of the population-based statistics for the entire state, we found that these numbers were deceivingly low. In all, 731 children died during the study period, of which 283 were determined by autopsy or coroner's report to have died of trauma (38.7%). Eighty-seven percent of children who died never reached the hospital. Mortality (age-adjusted) was highest in the 15- to 18-year-olds (68.5 of 100,000), then < 1-year-old (26.8 of 100,000), 1- to 5-year-olds (15.6 of 100,000), and 5- to 14-year-olds (11.8 of 100,000), which significantly exceeds the predicted national averages for these age groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Air-bridged photonic crystal slabs at visible and near-infrared wavelengths

Air-bridged photonic crystal slabs are demonstrated at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. We present experimental and theoretical studies of the transmission spectra of air-bridged photonic crystal slabs with free space illumination using collimated and focused beams. We show that the resonances of an air-bridged photonic crystal slab exhibit considerable differences in their sensitivity to the angle of illumination. We show that the variation in the quality factor of a resonance with the incident angle of illumination is determined by the symmetry of its field distribution. Last, we present experimental and theoretical results on the transmission spectra of air-bridged photonic crystal slabs with focused illumination, important due to the finite angular spread of real optical beams.