Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of inhaled atropine or metaproterenol in patients with chronic airway obstruction and therapeutic serum theophylline levels.

Twenty-one patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (mean FEV1 = 0.98 L) and high-normal serum theophylline levels (15-20 micrograms/ml) were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind fashion for additional bronchodilator response to aerosolized normal saline, atropine, or metaproterenol. Patients were classified as responders (R; n = 9) or nonresponders (NR; n = 12) to inhaled isoproterenol when they were taking no medications. Atropine and metaproterenol caused a significant additional increase in FEV1 for R (p less than .05), whereas only atropine resulted in a significant increase for NR (p less than .05). For R, the increase due to atropine was significantly greater compared to metaproterenol (p less than .05). We conclude that inhaled atropine (an anticholinergic drug) may be preferable to inhaled metaproterenol (a beta-adrenergic agonist) when additional bronchodilation is needed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and high-normal serum theophylline levels.
Transformation and stabilization of pyrogenic organic matter in a temperate forest field experiment

Pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) decomposes on centennial timescale in soils, but the processes regulating its decay are poorly understood. We conducted one of the first studies of PyOM and wood decomposition in a temperate forest using isotopically labeled organic substrate, and quantified microbial incorporation and physico‐chemical transformations of PyOM in situ. Stable‐isotope (13C and 15N) enriched PyOM and its precursor wood were added to the soil at 2 cm depth at ambient (N0) and increased (N+) levels of nitrogen fertilization. The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of added PyOM or wood were tracked through soil to 15 cm depth, in physically separated soil density fractions and in benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCA) molecular markers. After 10 months in situ, more PyOM‐derived C (>99% of initial 13C‐PyOM) and N (90% of initial 15N‐PyOM) was recovered than wood derived C (48% of 13C‐wood) and N (89% under N0 and 48% under N+). PyOM‐C and wood‐C migrated at the rate of 126 mm yr−1 with 3–4% of PyOM‐C and 4–8% of wood‐C recovered below the application depth. Most PyOM C was recovered in the free light fraction (fLF) (74%), with 20% in aggregate‐occluded and 6% in mineral associated fractions – fractions that typically have much slower turnover times. In contrast, wood C was recovered mainly in occluded (33%) or dense fraction (27%). PyOM addition induced loss of native C from soil (priming effect), particularly in fLF (13%). The total BPCA‐C content did not change but after 10 months the degree of aromatic condensation of PyOM decreased, as determined by relative contribution of benzene hexa‐carboxylic acid (B6CA) to the total BPCA C. Soil microbial biomass assimilated 6–10% of C from the wood, while PyOM contributions was negligible (0.14–0.18%). The addition of N had no effect on the dynamics of PyOM while limited effect on wood.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) induces motoneuron apoptosis in rat embryonic spinal cord in vitro

Recent studies have demonstrated that nerve growth factor (NGF) induces apoptosis of several cell types in the central nervous system through its low‐affinity p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). To test the effect of NGF on embryonic motoneuron survival, we developed an organotypic culture system which allowed the in vitro development of intact embryonic rat spinal cords. In our system, neural tubes were taken and cultured at E13, just before the onset of physiological motoneuron death. After 2 days in vitro (DIV), motoneurons underwent apoptosis over a time‐course similar to that in vivo. In this system, the addition of NGF (200 ng/mL) for 2 days enhanced the number of apoptotic motoneurons by 37%. This pro‐apoptotic effect was completely reversed by the blocking anti‐p75NTR (REX) antibody which inhibits NGF binding to p75NTR. Other neurotrophins, e.g. brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and neurotrophin 4/5 (NT4/5) did not have any effect, while glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promoted motoneuron survival. Anti‐BDNF blocking antibodies enhanced motoneuron death indicating that endogenous BDNF promotes motoneuron survival in explants. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that NGF can induce embryonic motoneuron apoptosis through its receptor p75NTR.
Multistep Fuzzy Bridged Refinement Domain Adaptation Algorithm and Its Application to Bank Failure Prediction

Machine learning plays an important role in data classification and data-based prediction. In some real-world applications, however, the training data (coming from the source domain) and test data (from the target domain) come from different domains or time periods, and this may result in the different distributions of some features. Moreover, the values of the features and/or labels of the datasets might be nonnumeric and involve vague values. Traditional learning-based prediction and classification methods cannot handle these two issues. In this study, we propose a multistep fuzzy bridged refinement domain adaptation algorithm, which offers an effective way to deal with both issues. It utilizes a concept of similarity to modify the labels of the target instances that were initially predicted by a shift-unaware model. It then refines the labels using instances that are most similar to a given target instance. These instances are extracted from mixture domains composed of source and target domains. The proposed algorithm is built on a basis of some data and refines the labels, thus performing completely independently of the shift-unaware prediction model. The algorithm uses a fuzzy set-based approach to deal with the vague values of the features and labels. Four different datasets are used in the experiments to validate the proposed algorithm. The results, which are compared with those generated by the existing domain adaptation methods, demonstrate a significant improvement in prediction accuracy in both the above-mentioned datasets.
Identification of Pediatric Brain Neoplasms Using Raman Spectroscopy

Purpose: Raman spectroscopy can quickly and accurately diagnose tissue in near real-time. This study evaluated the capacity of Raman spectroscopy to diagnose pediatric brain tumors. Experimental Design: Samples of untreated pediatric medulloblastoma (4 samples and 4 patients), glioma (i.e. astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, ependymoma, ganglioglioma and other gliomas; 27 samples and 19 patients), and normal brain samples (33 samples and 5 patients) were collected fresh from the operating room or from our frozen tumor bank. Samples were divided and tested using routine pathology and Raman spectroscopy. Twelve Raman spectra were collected per sample. Support vector machine analysis was used to classify spectra using the pathology diagnosis as the gold standard. Results: Normal brain (321 spectra), glioma (246 spectra) and medulloblastoma (82 spectra) were identified with 96.9, 96.7 and 93.9% accuracy, respectively, when compared with each other. High-grade ependymomas (41 spectra) were differentiated from low-grade ependymomas (25 spectra) with 100% sensitivity and 96.0% specificity. Normal brain tissue was distinguished from low-grade glioma (118 spectra) with 91.5% sensitivity and 97.8% specificity. For these analyses, the tissue-level classification was determined to be 100% accurate. Conclusion: These results suggest Raman spectroscopy can accurately distinguish pediatric brain neoplasms from normal brain tissue, similar tumor types from each other and high-grade from low-grade tumors.
PET-CT as a predictor of outcome in resectable colorectal liver metastases

Introduction PET-computed tomography (PET-CT) is a useful staging imaging modality in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This study aimed to determine whether PET-CT parameters, standardized uptake value (SUV) and reconstructed tumour volume (RTV), are predictors of prognosis and survival. Methods A study of all resectable CRLM patients in the regional HPB unit from 2007–2009 was performed. Preoperative PET-CT scans were retrospectively reviewed; SUV, diameter and RTV for each lesion was recorded. Correlation analysis was performed with other pathological and biochemical parameters, by Pearson’s correlation analysis. Survival analysis was performed using Cox regression hazard model. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 79 patients were included. SUV moderately correlated with tumour diameter, both PET-CT (r=0.4927; P<0.0001) and histology (r=0.4513; P=0.0003); RTV (r=0.4489; P<0.001), preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (r=0.4977; P=0.0001), and postoperative CEA (r=0.3727; P=0.004). Multivariate analysis found that an independent predictor of SUVmax was preoperative CEA (P=0.03). RTV strongly correlated with preoperative CEA (r=0.9389; P<0.0001). SUV and RTV had a negative effect on survival. Conclusion PET-CT, in the setting of CRLM, may have a prognostic role in assessing survival. Although no definite conclusions can be drawn regarding the prognostic role of SUV and RTV, it acts to reinforce the need for further prospective studies to validate these findings.
Attenuation of auditory N1 results from identity‐specific action‐effect prediction

The auditory N1 event‐related potential has previously been observed to be attenuated for tones that are triggered by human actions. This attenuation is thought to be generated by motor prediction mechanisms and is considered to be important for agency attribution. The present study was designed to rigorously test the notion of action prediction‐based sensory attenuation. Participants performed one of four voluntary actions on each trial, with each button associated with either predictable or unpredictable action effects. In addition, actions with each hand could result in action effects that were either congruent or incongruent with hand‐specific prediction. We observed no significant differences in N1 amplitude between predictable and unpredictable tones. When contrasting action effects that were congruent or incongruent with hand‐specific prediction, we observed significant attenuation for prediction‐congruent compared to prediction‐incongruent action‐effects. These novel findings suggest that accurate action‐effect prediction drives sensory attenuation of auditory stimuli. These findings have important implications for understanding the mechanisms of action‐effect prediction and sensory attenuation, and may have clinical implications for studies investigating action awareness and agency in schizophrenia.
Regulation of peripheral insulin/glucagon levels by rat liver.

The concentrations of insulin and glucagon were measured in the portal and hepatic vein, the abdominal aorta and caval vein in the rat during a normal 24-h feeding cycle. Portal insulin levels showed little diurnal variation while hepatovenous and peripheral values were clearly increased during the eating phase. Conversely, portal glucagon levels were maximal during the fasting period while hepatovenous and peripheral concentrations showed little diurnal variation. The removal of insulin and glucagon by the liver was not constant, but independently regulated. During meals the liver increased the high portal insulin/glucagon ratio further to an even higher peripheral ratio favouring glucose utilization, e.g. by muscle and adipose tissue. During a short fast the liver decreased the low portal insulin/glucagon ratio further to an even lower peripheral ratio leading to glucose saving, e.g. by muscle and adipose tissue in favour of the brain and erythrocytes. The results indicate that the liver has an important role in the regulation of peripheral insulin/glucagon levels.
The dendritic cell mannose receptor mediates allergen internalization and maturation involving notch 1 signalling

Dendritic cells (DCs) have been shown recently to play a key role in inducing and mediating T helper type 2 (Th2) responses associated with atopic disease. These responses are mediated in part by ligation to different Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) and C‐type lectins, e.g. the mannose receptor (MR), depending upon the DC subset involved and the respective microenvironments. Because ovalbumin (OVA) (which is structurally related to various allergens) can engage the MR, we can use OVA stimulation as a model for understanding the roles of both TLRs and the MR in allergic inflammatory responses. We examined TLR‐ and MR‐mediated responses from mouse bone marrow‐derived DCs in the context of antigen recognition and presentation in addition to examining the relationship between notch 1, TLRs and MR signalling pathways. This work demonstrated that OVA‐mediated signalling up‐regulated both TLR‐2 and MR and that MR RNA interference (RNAi) but not TLR2 RNAi inhibited DC internalization of fluorescein isothiocyanate–OVA. Furthermore, MR RNAi inhibited OVA‐ and house dust mite allergen extract‐induced DC maturation and MR RNAi and TLR2 RNAi influenced DC interleukin‐12 production independently. Finally, we demonstrated that blocking notch 1 signalling inhibited both notch 1 and TLR‐2 expression but not MR expression levels. However, MR RNAi inhibited the expression of MR, TLR‐2 and notch 1. These results indicate that MR is the primary receptor mediating the internalization of environmental allergen glycoproteins. In addition, TLR‐2 and notch 1 play important roles in DC maturation and antigen presentation and signals originating from the MR and TLR‐2 receptors converge with the notch 1 signalling pathway.
Radiographic diagnosis, surgical treatment, and long‐term follow‐up of cholesterol granulomas of the petrous apex

Cholesterol granuloma is an unusual lesion of the petrous apex. Accurate preoperative differentiation of the various lesions of the petrous apex by computed tomography scanning only has been difficult. We reviewed the clinical findings, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, surgical approaches, and long‐term follow‐up in 10 patients with cholesterol granuloma of the petrous apex who were seen between 1971 and 1988. Headache and deficits of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th cranial nerves were common presenting symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging with special imaging techniques was accurate in diagnosing cholesterol granuloma in four patients preoperatively and three patients prior to revision surgery. The optimal surgical approach was chosen on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings and included the transsphe‐noidal, infralabyrinthine, transcochlear, and suboccipital routes. Our review reveals that magnetic resonance imaging is more specific than computed tomography in establishing a preoperative diagnosis and is also the technique of choice in follow‐up. The long‐term results are discussed.
Bacterial–Fungal Interactions Including Quorum Sensing, Between 2 Opportunistic Pathogens, Resulting in Post-Traumatic Sepsis in a Child Presenting With a Closed Femoral Fracture

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans (are opportunistic pathogens that cause systemic infections in immune-suppressed patients. They show important bacterial–fungal interactions including quorum sensing. This involves cell signaling to communicate between the cells of their own colony and the cells of rival microbes or the host. It is thought that this phenomenon is vital in the potential competition and virulence of the organisms. We report a case of a previously healthy 2-year-old boy, where an accidental injury had been sustained resulting in a closed fracture of femur. He subsequently developed sepsis related to co-infection by C. albicans and P. aeruginosa. Trauma may result in a transient immune-suppression and predispose to sepsis caused by opportunistic microorganisms. They can engage in bacterial–fungal interaction. Clinicians should consider invasive co-infection when initial cultures show evidence for only 1 pathogen.
Strategies for Addressing Adherence Problems in Patients with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness: Recommendations From the Expert Consensus Guidelines

Poor adherence to medication can have devastating consequences for patients with serious mental illness. The literature review and recommendations in this article are reprinted from The Expert Consensus Guideline Series: Adherence Problems in Patients with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness, published in 2009. The expert consensus survey (39 questions, 521 options) on adherence problems in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder was completed by 41 experts in 2008. This article first reviews the literature on interventions aimed at improving adherence. It then presents the experts' recommendations for targeting factors that can contribute to nonadherence and relates them to the literature. The following psychosocial/programmatic and pharmacologic interventions were rated first line for specific problems that can lead to nonadherence: ongoing symptom/ side-effect monitoring for persistent symptoms or side effects; services targeting logistic problems; medication monitoring/environmental supports (e.g., Cognitive Adaptation Training, assertive community treatment) for lack of routines or cognitive deficits; and adjusting the dose or switching to a different oral antipsychotic for persistent side effects (also high second-line for persistent symptoms). Among pharmacologic interventions, the experts gave high second-line ratings to switching to a long-acting antipsychotic when lack of insight, substance use, persistent symptoms, logistic problems, lack of routines, or lack of family/ social support interfere with adherence and to simplifying the treatment regimen when logistic problems, lack of routines, cognitive deficits, or lack of family/social support interfere with adherence. Psychosocial/programmatic interventions that received high second-line ratings in a number of situations included medication monitoring/environmental supports, patient psychoeducation, more frequent and/or longer visits if possible, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family-focused therapy, and services targeting logistic problems. It is important to identify specific factors that may be contributing to a patient's adherence problems in order to customize interventions and to consider using a multifaceted approach since multiple problems may be involved.
Neutrophil but not Monocyte Activation Inhibits P-Selectin-Mediated Platelet Adhesion

Summary Selectins are Ca2+-dependent glycoprotein receptors that mediate the adhesion of activated platelets or endothelial cells to unstimulated leukocytes. Using purified cell fractions, we examined activated neutrophil adhesion to P-selectin-expressing platelets and found that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), platelet activating factor C16 (PAF), and n-formyl-met-leu-phe (fMLP) pretreatment of neutrophils inhibited activated platelet adhesion. Furthermore, PMA and PAF were capable of dissociating established resting neutrophil-activated platelet conjugates. Since L-selectin is downregulated after leukocyte activation and has been postulated as a ligand for P-selectin, we preincubated resting neutrophils with Dreg-2 and Dreg-56, blocking monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to L-selectin; these MoAb failed to inhibit activated platelet adhesion. To more closely approximate in vivo conditions of leukocyte and platelet activation, we also employed a whole blood (WB) model of leukocyte-platelet adhesion. We found that simultaneous activation of both platelets and leukocytes by PMA caused an immediate rise in the % of P-selectin-positive platelets accompanied by a rapid increase in monocyte-platelet and neutrophil-platelet conjugates; however, the % of neutrophil-platelet conjugates subsequently declined over 30-60 min to baseline levels while monocyte-platelet adhesion remained elevated over 90 min. By contrast, selective platelet activation in WB by thrombin resulted in an increase in platelet P-selectin expression accompanied by a sustained (90 min) elevation in both monocyte- and neutrophil-platelet conjugates. This increase in leukocyte-platelet conjugates after thrombin was not inhibited by preincubation of WB with Dreg-2 or Dreg-56. We conclude that neutrophil activation decreases the expression of the ligand for platelet P-selectin within 30-60 min resulting in inhibition of neutrophil-platelet adhesion and dissociation of existing neutrophil-platelet conjugates. By contrast, monocyte activation over 90 min does not affect monocyte adhesion to activated platelets in whole blood.
Water-loss (intracellular) dehydration assessed using urinary tests: how well do they work? Diagnostic accuracy in older people.

BACKGROUND Water-loss dehydration (hypertonic, hyperosmotic, or intracellular dehydration) is due to insufficient fluid intake and is distinct from hypovolemia due to excess fluid losses. Water-loss dehydration is associated with poor health outcomes such as disability and mortality in older people. Urine specific gravity (USG), urine color, and urine osmolality have been widely advocated for screening for dehydration in older adults. OBJECTIVE We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of urinary measures to screen for water-loss dehydration in older people. DESIGN This was a diagnostic accuracy study of people aged ≥65 y taking part in the DRIE (Dehydration Recognition In our Elders; living in long-term care) or NU-AGE (Dietary Strategies for Healthy Ageing in Europe; living in the community) studies. The reference standard was serum osmolality, and index tests included USG, urine color, urine osmolality, urine cloudiness, additional dipstick measures, ability to provide a urine sample, and the volume of a random urine sample. Minimum useful diagnostic accuracy was set at sensitivity and specificity ≥70% or a receiver operating characteristic plot area under the curve ≥0.70. RESULTS DRIE participants (women: 67%; mean age: 86 y; n = 162) had more limited cognitive and functional abilities than did NU-AGE participants (women: 64%; mean age: 70 y; n = 151). Nineteen percent of DRIE participants and 22% of NU-AGE participants were dehydrated (serum osmolality >300 mOsm/kg). Neither USG nor any other potential urinary tests were usefully diagnostic for water-loss dehydration. CONCLUSIONS Although USG, urine color, and urinary osmolality have been widely advocated for screening for dehydration in older adults, we show, in the largest study to date to our knowledge, that their diagnostic accuracy is too low to be useful, and these measures should not be used to indicate hydration status in older people (either alone or as part of a wider tranche of tests). There is a need to develop simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive tools for the assessment of dehydration in older people. The DRIE study was registered at www.researchregister. org.uk as 122273. The NU-AGE trial was registered at clinicialtrials.gov as NCT01754012.
A solution of preventive control by means of Transient Stability Constrained OPF

In the recently deregulated electricity market, a more secure of power system operation is essential. One of the methods to avoid the risk of compromising power system instability is preventive control which often comes in the form of generation rescheduling. This paper attempts to solve transient stability preventive control problem by generation redispatch utilizing the Primal-Dual Interior Point Method (PDIPM) Non Linear Programming (NLP) Transient Stability Constrained Optimal Power Flow (TSCOPF). A linear cost model is derived to accommodate generation redispatch. Our simulation shows that the proposed method is able to solve the transient stability preventive control problem by rescheduling necessary active power generation.