Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The mystery of liver regeneration

Partial hepatectomy is the strongest stimulator of hepatic regeneration. The process of initiation and the control of the final size of the regenerated liver have been the subject of research for many years. A better understanding of this process and the effect of disease may allow better selection of patients for partial hepatectomy. It may also allow an insight into the possible application of clinical stimulation of regeneration.
Neurokinin B Receptor Antagonism in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

CONTEXT Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrinopathy in women, is characterized by high secretion levels of LH and T. Currently, there is no treatment licensed specifically for PCOS. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate whether a targeted therapy would decrease LH pulse frequency in women with PCOS, subsequently reducing serum LH and T concentrations and thereby presenting a novel therapeutic approach to the management of PCOS. DESIGN This study is a double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. SETTINGS University hospitals and private clinical research centers were included. PARTICIPANTS Women with PCOS aged 18-45 years participated. INTERVENTION Intervention included AZD4901 (a specific neurokinin-3 [NK3] receptor antagonist) at a dose of 20, 40, or 80 mg/day or matching placebo for 28 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Change from baseline in the area under the LH serum concentration-time curve over 8 hours (area under the curve) on day 7 relative to placebo was measured. RESULTS Of a total 67 randomized patients, 65 were evaluable. On day 7, the following baseline-adjusted changes relative to placebo were observed in patients receiving AZD4901 80 mg/day: 1) a reduction of 52.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 29.6-67.3%) in LH area under the curve; 2) a reduction of 28.7% (95% CI, 13.9-40.9%) in total T concentration; and 3) a reduction of 3.55 LH pulses/8 hours (95% CI, 2.0-5.1) (all nominal P < .05). CONCLUSIONS The NK3 receptor antagonist AZD4901 specifically reduced LH pulse frequency and subsequently serum LH and T concentrations, thus presenting NK3 receptor antagonism as a potential approach to treating the central neuroendocrine pathophysiology of PCOS.
Enhanced neuronal protection from oxidative stress by coculture with glutamic acid decarboxylase‐expressing astrocytes

Astrocytes expressing glutamic acid decarboxylase GAD67 directed by the glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter were shown to provide enhanced protection of PC12 cells from H2O2 treatment and serum deprivation in the presence of glutamate. In addition, they protected non‐differentiated, but not differentiated, embryonic rat cortical neurons from glutamate toxicity. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)‐expressing astrocytes showed increased glutathione synthesis and release compared to control astrocytes. These changes were due to GAD transgene expression, as transient expression of a GAD antisense plasmid resulted in partial suppression of the increase in glutathione release. In addition to the previously demonstrated increases in NADH and ATP levels and lactate release, GAD‐expressing astrocytes show increased antioxidant activity, explaining their ability to protect neurons from various injuries.
Signaling Complex Organization by PDZ Domain Proteins

As one of the most abundant protein domains in the genomes of metazoans, PDZ domains play important roles in the targeting of proteins to specific cell membranes, as well as assembling proteins into supramolecular signaling complexes. The structures of individual PDZ domains, along with their diverse cooccurrence with a great variety of other protein domains, provide the biochemical basis for the functional diversity of PDZ proteins. In this review, we first briefly summarize the structure and target-binding properties of PDZ domains. After surveying the SMART protein domain database, we attempt to classify PDZ domain proteins into three general categories. We end the review by presenting several recent studies showing some novel features of PDZ domain proteins.
Enteroendocrine cells: a site of ‘taste’ in gastrointestinal chemosensing

Purpose of reviewThis review discusses the role of enteroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract as chemoreceptors that sense lumen contents and induce changes in gastrointestinal function and food intake through the release of signaling substances acting on a variety of targets locally or at a distance. Recent findingsRecent evidence supports the concept that chemosensing in the gut involves G protein-coupled receptors and effectors that are known to mediate gustatory signals in the oral cavity. These include sweet-taste and bitter-taste receptors, and their associated G proteins, which are expressed in the gastrointestinal mucosa, including selected populations of enteroendocrine cells. In addition, taste receptor agonists elicit a secretory response in enteroendocrine cells in vitro and in animals in vivo, and induce neuronal activation. SummaryTaste-signaling molecules expressed in the gastrointestinal mucosa might participate in the functional detection of nutrients and harmful substances in the lumen and prepare the gut to absorb them or initiate a protective response. They might also participate in the control of food intake through the activation of gut–brain neural pathways. These findings provide a new dimension to unraveling the regulatory circuits initiated by luminal contents of the gastrointestinal tract.
Benign predominantly solid thyroid nodules: prospective study of efficacy of sonographically guided radiofrequency ablation versus control condition.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation of benign predominantly solid thyroid nodules by comparing the findings in treatment and control groups. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty patients with normal thyroid function, each with a benign predominantly (> 50%) solid thyroid nodule causing pressure symptoms or cosmetic problems, were assigned to a control group (n = 15) or to a group undergoing a single session of radiofrequency ablation (n = 15). Thyroid nodule volume, thyroid function, pressure symptoms, and cosmetic concerns were evaluated before treatment and during follow-up. Sonographically guided radiofrequency ablation was performed with an internally cooled electrode (1-cm active tip) with an output power of 30-80 W. RESULTS The control group had no resolution of symptoms or cosmetic problems. The mean nodule volume increased slightly after 6 months but without statistical significance (p = 0.46). In the radiofrequency ablation group, the mean symptom score (p = 0.001) and cosmetic grade (p = 0.001) improved significantly. Mean nodule volume decreased significantly from 7.5 +/- 4.9 mL (range, 1.7-20.0 mL) to 1.3 +/- 0.8 mL (range, 0.2-2.6 mL) 6 months after radiofrequency ablation (p = 0.001). There were no major complications of ablation. CONCLUSION This study confirmed that radiofrequency ablation is effective for reducing nodule volume and relieving nodule-related clinical problems and that an effect due to spontaneous nodule reduction can be excluded owing to the results of the comparison with a similar control group.
ULnar Artery Transient Compression Facilitating Radial Artery Patent Hemostasis (ULTRA): A Novel Technique to Reduce Radial Artery Occlusion After Transradial Coronary Catheterization.

AIMS To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel technique with simultaneous compression of the ulnar artery in order to reduce the incidence of radial artery occlusion (RAO) after transradial cardiac catheterizations. METHODS AND RESULTS Ipsilateral ulnar artery transient compression for 1 hour facilitating radial artery patent hemostasis (ULTRA) was performed in all patients treated transradially in October 2015 and was compared with patients treated with conventional patent hemostasis in September 2015. The primary endpoint of the study was to evaluate the incidence of RAO within 1 hour after removing the closure device, confirmed by the absence of palpation and the consecutive absence of flow signal with Doppler examination. A total of 119 patients were treated with the ULTRA method and 121 patients with conventional patent hemostasis. None of the patients treated with ULTRA had RAO compared with 6 patients (5%) of those treated with conventional patent hemostasis (P=.01). No hematomas EASY class ≥3, nerve injury, or ischemic pain complications were recorded in either group. CONCLUSION The ULTRA technique may reduce the incidence of RAO in patients treated with the radial approach compared with conventional patent hemostasis.
Evaluating the efficiency of a mixed culture biofilm for the treatment of black liquor and molasses in a mediator-less microbial fuel cell

ABSTRACT A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an emerging environment-friendly technology to recover the useful energy available in waste by using microorganisms as catalyst. In this study, double chamber mediator-less MFCs separated by proton exchange membrane (PEM; Nafion) were constructed to determine the efficiency of mixed culture in using complex substrates (molasses and black liquor). It was found that activated sludge can serve as efficient source of electricigens for biofilm development on an anode. Power density of 2.425 W/m² was generated from molasses with chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 67% as compared to power density of 3.55 W/m² produced from black liquor along with COD removal efficiency of 78%. Moreover, it was demonstrated that surface area of PEM has a significant effect on power generation. An almost 5- to 8-fold increase in voltage was observed as the size of PEM was increased from 6.5 to 25 cm².
Reconfiguration of Bulk Acoustic Wave Filters: Application to WLAN 802.11b/g (2.40-2.48 GHz)

This paper presents a BAW-SMR (bulk acoustic wave-solidly mounted resonator) filter in a ladder topology used for the 802.11b/g standard (2.40-2.48 GHz). Also, it shows the effects of the addition of passive elements (L,C) to reconfigure this type of filters. A reduction of 32% to the bandwidth is obtained when adding capacitances and an augmentation of 30% is obtained when adding inductances.
Configuration of JI-LIGBT for Over 100 kHz Switching

We have investigated into following measures to improve the switching performance of L-IGBT. 1. Passive PMOS. 2. N+ layer inside a p-type collector. 3. Wafer thinning. In particular, wafer thinning has brought remarkable improvement of switching performance on L-IGBT as the passive PMOS that we had proposed. Furthermore, we have fabricated a prototype IPD (intelligent power device) that we applied these measures, and a flyback converter controlled by the IPD has well demonstrated 150 kHz operation.
Task-based data exchange for remote operation system through a communication network

Proposes task-based data exchange for teleoperation systems through a communication network as an efficient method of transmitting data between an operation device and a remote robot. On the task-based data exchange, the more important information according to the contents and conditions of the task which the robot performs is given transmission priority, for example, by altering the contents of the transmitted data. We have built an experimental system in which the master arm in Tsukuba and the slave arm in Kawasaki, separated by, about 100 km, are connected through N-ISDN and the standard techniques are utilized, such as TCP/IP, socket, JPEG, etc. A series of experimental tasks has been effectively carried out by the task-based data exchange, that is, crank operation which consists of grasping and revolution. The communication network with capacity limitations was used effectively, and the high maneuverability in real-time with bilateral servo control has been realized. The effectiveness of the task-based data exchange has been confirmed.
Terrorism in the Cyber Space: The New Battlefield

: Terrorism has become a global threat from the past few decades and needs to be controlled from the grass root level to the universal level. Internet technology makes it easy for terrorist groups to communicate with relative anonymity, rapidly and effectively across borders, to an almost illimitable audience. This emerged as a threat to nation’s internal security therefore identification of terrorist groups on cyber space has become essential task in recent times. It is the task of determining associations and predicting the relationships that may exist between terrorist nodes. This has several applications including the recognition of terrorism, drug trafficking, gang related offences, frauds and armed robberies etc. There are two types of warfare in the world of terrorism: Conventional Warfare and Cyber Warfare. Conventional Warfare deals with the terrorism occurring on the four dimensions (land, sea, air & space) whereas Cyber Warfare deals with the 5 th dimension i.e. Cyber Space. The use of the Internet space for terrorist purposes creates both challenges and opportunities in the fight against terrorism. This paper is a review on Cyber warfare as it has several benefits over Conventional warfare such as easier identification of crucial nodes & links; law enforcement agencies will get help and support to counter terrorism attacks.
Exchange rate prediction model analysis based on improved artificial neural network algorithm

Predicting stock prices and currency exchange rates is attracting a great amount of research efforts because of the increasing interests in the prediction models attributed to varying stock markets on a daily basis. This paper investigates a prediction model combined with an ARIMA (Auto regressive integrated moving average model) and a three layer artificial neural network. The complete dataset of from 2010–2013 has been collected, and nine descriptors have been used to train the neural network. The experiment has been tested on the USD/EURO exchange rates. The performance measure is quantified in terms of mean absolute error, mean square error and root mean square error. Experimental results and comparisons demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the global modeling techniques in terms of profit returns. The predictive power is also clearly shown with a predictor accurately fitting the actual exchange rate data.
Patellar Tendon or Semitendinosus Tendon Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background The aim of the study was to compare the results after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using central-third bone—patellar tendon—bone (BTB) autografts and triple/quadruple semitendinosus (ST) autografts. Hypothesis In the long-term, ACL reconstruction using BTB autografts will render more donor-site problems than ST autografts. Study Design Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods A randomized series of 71 patients (22 women and 49 men) with a unilateral ACL rupture who underwent reconstructive surgery were included in the study. The BTB graft was used in 34 patients (BTB group) and the ST-tendon graft was used in 37 patients (ST group). The patients were examined a median of 86 months (range, 68 to 114 months) after the reconstruction. Results Sixty-eight of 71 patients (96%) were examined at follow-up. The clinical assessments at follow-up revealed no significant differences between the BTB group and the ST group in terms of the Lysholm score, Tegner activity level, International Knee Documentation Committee evaluation system, 1-legged hop test, KT-1000 arthrometer laxity measurements, manual Lachman test, and range of motion. A significant improvement was seen in both groups compared with the preoperative values in terms of most clinical assessments. Donor-site morbidity in the form of knee-walking ability, kneeling ability, and area of disturbed anterior knee sensitivity revealed no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion Seven years after ACL reconstruction, the subjective and objective outcomes were similar after using the central-third BTB autograft and triple/quadruple ST autograft. Furthermore, no difference in terms of donor-site morbidity was found between the 2 groups.
The Influence of Target and Perceiver Race in the Categorisation of Male Sexual Orientation

Although sexual orientation can be judged from faces, in previous work Caucasian or racially unspecified targets and perceivers have been primarily studied. Here, target and perceiver race were considered in the accurate categorisation of male sexual orientation. Asian, Black, and Caucasian participants categorised the sexual orientations of Asian, Black, and Caucasian men. Accuracy was significantly above chance and consistent across all combinations of perceivers and targets. Response bias scores showed that targets were significantly more likely to be categorised as straight, rather than gay, regardless of target or perceiver race. Moreover, judgments of individual targets were significantly correlated for perceivers from all three groups, suggesting cross-race consistency in target legibility. The perception of sexual orientation from faces therefore appears to be robust against variations in target and perceiver race.
A meta-analysis comparing tenotomy and tenodesis for treating rotator cuff tears combined with long head of the biceps tendon lesions

Purpose The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess whether there were differences in the outcomes between tenotomy and tenodesis in treating LHBT lesions combined with rotator cuff repairs. Methods Using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane, we searched for articles comparing tenotomy and tenodesis combined with rotator cuff repair which were published before April 2016 with the terms “biceps”, “tenotomy”, “tenodesis”, and “rotator cuff”. The controlled clinical studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed for quality of methodology by utilizing the Coleman score. Results On the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, ten articles (903 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. The Coleman score ranged between 40 and 89 in the included studies. The results showed that the incidence of the popeye sign (OR, 2.777, P = 0.000) were higher in tenotomy group compared with tenodesis group when concomitant rotator cuff repair. Statistically significant difference in favor of tenodesis was observed for Constant score (SMD, -0.230, P = 0.025). As for the arm cramping pain, patient satisfaction, VAS score, ASES score and UCLA increased score, the strength and the range of motion, there were no significant differences between tenodesis and tenotomy of the LHBT, corresponding to the currently available results in the literature. Conclusions Based on this meta-analysis, both tenotomy and tenodesis are effective in pain relief and function improvement in patients with repairable rotator cuff tears. No significant differences in post-operative functional outcome between tenotomy and tenodesis for the treatment of LHBT lesions were observed except for a lower Constant score and higher risk of Popeye deformity in tenotomy.
Mechanisms underlying excitatory effects of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors via inhibition of 2P domain K+ channels

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are implicated in diverse processes such as learning, memory, epilepsy, pain and neuronal death. By inhibiting background K+ channels, group I mGluRs mediate slow and long‐lasting excitation. The main neuronal representatives of this K+ channel family (K2P or KCNK) are TASK and TREK. Here, we show that in cerebellar granule cells and in heterologous expression systems, activation of group I mGluRs inhibits TASK and TREK channels. D‐myo‐inositol‐1,4,5‐triphosphate and phosphatidyl‐4,5‐inositol‐biphosphate depletion are involved in TASK channel inhibition, whereas diacylglycerols and phosphatidic acids directly inhibit TREK channels. Mechanisms described here with group I mGluRs will also probably stand for many other receptors of hormones and neurotransmitters.
Trapezoidal titanium cage in anterior cervical interbody fusion: a clinical experience.

BACKGROUND Use of autogenous bone grafting taken from anterior iliac crest for anterior cervical interbody fusion has been the "gold-standard" for decades. Substitutes for autogenous bone graft continue to be sought to avoid potential donor site morbidity. A titanium-alloy square-shaped hollow cage was applied to facilitate the process of fusion as a bone graft substitute, then assessed in this retrospective clinical study. METHODS From July 2000 to July 2001, sixty-three discs from fifty-four patients were selected to receive this cage for one or two segments of the cervical spine for anterior cervical interbody fusion. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and Odom's criteria were used to measure the clinical outcome. Postoperative radiographs were analyzed for graft dislodgement, loss of anterior and posterior disc heights, maintenance of lordosis correction, and status of fusion between the cage and endplates to assess their suitability as a grafting substitute. RESULTS Eighty-seven percent of patients exhibited satisfactory clinical outcome. Successful fusion was obtained in ninety point five percent of operated discs. Partial cage dislodgement was observed in four point eight percent of discs and caused no adverse symptoms. The mean collapse of the anterior and posterior disc heights were 1.73 mm and 0.91 mm, respectively. Moreover, the mean loss of lordosis correction was 2.75 degrees. CONCLUSIONS Based on this primary clinical experience, the trapezoid-design, titanium-alloy cage provided adequate mechanical support and stability in the disc space and an excellent fusion result without significant subsidence of disc height or any other complications.
Targets to treat metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is comprised of a combination of the following states: increased insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and increased abdominal obesity. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome over the course of their lives. Metabolic syndrome increases risk of major cardiovascular events, morbidity, quality of life, and overall health care costs. Though metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS is an area of great concern, there is no effective individual medical therapeutic to adequately treat this issue. Areas Covered: This article will review key aspects of metabolic syndrome in PCOS. We will discuss classic and novel therapeutics to address metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS. We will conclude with the importance of developing strategic interventions to increase the compliance to lifestyle and dietary modification, in addition to appreciation of the emerging pharmaceutical therapeutics available. Expert Opinion: Innovation in lifestyle modification, including diet, exercise, with and without dedicated stress reduction techniques is the future in treatment of metabolic syndrome in PCOS. Application of novel interventions, such as group medical care, may improve future adherence to lifestyle modification recommendations, in addition to or in combination with pharmaceutical therapeutics.