Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Migraine Attacks with A Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogue (Octreotide, SMS 201-995)

Long-acting somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995) inhibits serotonin, bradykinin, prostaglandins, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal peptide, which may be involved in migraine. We therefore decided to test the efficacy of SMS 201-995 in relieving the pain of acute migraine attacks. Headache relief was defined as a reduction in severity from grade 3 or 2 (severe or moderate) to 1 or 0 (mild or none). Patients experiencing migraine attacks were evaluated clinically. A double-blind parallel group trial was performed in which patients randomly received either a subcutaneous injection of placebo (saline) or SMS 201-995 (100 μg). SMS 201-995 was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing headache grade at 2 h (1.5 0.6 vs 2.2 0.7; p < 0.01), 4 h (1.6 ± 0.6 vs 2.1 ± 0.8; p < 0.05) and 6 h (0.8 ± 0.9 vs 2.1 ± 0.8; p < 0.001) after the initiation of treatment. By 6 h, apparent headache relief (reduction in severity from grade 3 or 2 to 1 or 0) was experienced in 76.5% of SMS 201-995 treated patients and 25% of the placebo-treated group. Headache relief was significantly better in patients taking SMS 201-995 (p < 0.02). Furthermore, none of the patients became pain-free (headache grade 0) on placebo, while significantly more patients (47%) were pain-free on SMS 201-995 at 6 h (p < 0.01). Headache improvement started significantly earlier in those patients treated with SMS 201-995 than with placebo. SMS 201-995 significantly improves the pain of migraine attacks, 2 h after the beginning of treatment. Additionally, we observed no side effects of SMS 201-995. We therefore conclude that a single dose of 100 μg given subcutaneously is an effective and well-tolerated agent for the treatment of migraine attacks.
Spectrum of medication-induced complications in the abdomen: role of cross-sectional imaging.

OBJECTIVE This article provides a comprehensive review of the role of MDCT and MRI in the diagnosis of drug-induced complications in the abdomen and pelvis in adults. A systematic organ-based review of these complications is presented, including but not limited to hepatic changes after chemotherapy, renal complications such as tumor lysis syndrome and lithium nephropathy, gastrointestinal manifestations, various opportunistic infections and secondary neoplasms, mycotic aortic aneurysm from intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin, complications of anticoagulant therapy, and oral contraceptives. CONCLUSION Advancements in imaging have led to recognition of radiologic features of previously unsuspected diseases. Occasionally, imaging may also identify effects of treatments instituted for these diseases. Consequently, imaging plays a critical role in the accurate diagnosis of a broad spectrum of drug-induced complications in the abdomen, both in emergent and nonemergent settings. Knowledge of the natural history, clinical manifestations, and salient imaging features of these entities is crucial to facilitate accurate clinical diagnosis in a timely fashion.
Early Effects of Intensive Lipid-Lowering Treatment on Plaque Characteristics Assessed by Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound

Purpose The effects of short-term intensive lipid-lowering treatment on coronary plaque composition have not yet been sufficiently evaluated. We investigated the influence of short-term intensive lipid-lowering treatment on quantitative and qualitative changes in plaque components of non-culprit lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Materials and Methods This was a prospective, randomized, open-label, single-center trial. Seventy patients who underwent both baseline and three-month follow-up virtual histology intravascular ultrasound were randomly assigned to either an intensive lipid-lowering treatment group (ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/40 mg, n=34) or a control statin treatment group (pravastatin 20 mg, n=36). Using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound, plaque was characterized as fibrous, fibro-fatty, dense calcium, or necrotic core. Changes in plaque components during the three-month lipid-lowering treatment were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control statin treatment group, there was a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the intensive lipid-lowering treatment group (-20.4±17.1 mg/dL vs. -36.8±17.4 mg/dL, respectively; p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in baseline, three-month follow-up, or serial changes of gray-scale intravascular ultrasound parameters between the two groups. The absolute volume of fibro-fatty plaque was significantly reduced in the intensive lipid-lowering treatment group compared with the control group (-1.5±3.4 mm3 vs. 0.8±4.7 mm3, respectively; p=0.024). A linear correlation was found between changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and changes in the absolute volumes of fibro-fatty plaque (p<0.001, R2=0.209). Conclusion Modification of coronary plaque may be attainable after only three months of intensive lipid-lowering treatment.
Timber consumption and sustainable forest use : assessing the EU's current and expected consumption of global timber in relation to the global capacity for sustainable supply

The global demand for timber is increasing, with prognoses for the EU showing particularly high growth to meet renewable energy targets. However, there are limited options to meet rising timber demands within the EU, and global land competition to meet world food, energy and material needs, as well as to conserve high value nature areas, is increasing. This dissertation addresses the knowledge gap between the pressures of increased land use abroad and the underlying drivers of land use change. It argues that there is a high risk of problem shifting if EU policies to increase timber consumption are not accompanied by a monitoring system that accounts for consumption levels and provides a benchmark for sustainability.
Optimizing Patient Surgical Management Using WhatsApp Application in the Italian Healthcare System.

INTRODUCTION Smartphones changed the method by which doctors communicate with each other, offer modern functionalities sensitive to the context of use, and can represent a valuable ally in the healthcare system. Studies have shown that WhatsApp™ application can facilitate communication within the healthcare team and provide the attending physician a constant oversight of activities performed by junior team members. The aim of the study was to use WhatsApp between two distant surgical teams involved in a program of elective surgery to verify if it facilitates communication, enhances learning, and improves patient care preserving their privacy. METHODS We conducted a focused group of surgeons over a 28-month period (from March 2013 to July 2015), and from September 2014 to July 2015, a group of selected specialists communicated healthcare matters through the newly founded "WhatsApp Surgery Group. " Each patient enrolled in the study signed a consent form to let the team communicate his/her clinical data using WhatsApp. Communication between team members, response times, and types of messages were evaluated. RESULTS Forty six (n = 46) patients were enrolled in the study. A total of 1,053 images were used with an average of 78 images for each patient (range 41-143). 125 h of communication were recorded, generating 354 communication events. The expert surgeon had received the highest number of questions (P, 0.001), while the residents asked clinical questions (P, 0.001) and were the fastest responders to communications (P, 0.001). CONCLUSION Our study investigated how two distant clinical teams may exploit such a communication system and quantifies both the direction and type of communication between surgeons. WhatsApp is a low cost, secure, and fast technology and it offers the opportunity to facilitate clinical and nonclinical communications, enhance learning, and improve patient care preserving their privacy.
Chat Disentanglement: Identifying Semantic Reply Relationships with Random Forests and Recurrent Neural Networks

Thread disentanglement is a precursor to any high-level analysis of multiparticipant chats. Existing research approaches the problem by calculating the likelihood of two messages belonging in the same thread. Our approach leverages a newly annotated dataset to identify reply relationships. Furthermore, we explore the usage of an RNN, along with large quantities of unlabeled data, to learn semantic relationships between messages. Our proposed pipeline, which utilizes a reply classifier and an RNN to generate a set of disentangled threads, is novel and performs well against previous work.
A Longitudinal Analysis of GIS Entries and Exits

Dans cet article, nous examinons un élément fondamental du mécanisme des revenus de retraite au Canada, le Supplément de revenu garanti (SRG), et nous menons notre analyse empirique dans un cadre dynamique. Nous considérons la mesure dans laquelle des personnes deviennent admissibles au SRG à différentsâges ainsi que la mesure dans laquelle des personnes qui le reçoivent à l’âge minimum requis cessent par la suite d’y avoir droit. Nous mesurons d’abord les taux de transition, puis nous axons notre analyse principalement sur l’effet de trois facteurs : un changement d’état matrimonial des bénéficiaires, la cohorte dont ils font partie au moment où ils deviennent admissibles et leur âge actuel. Noséquations économétriques sont des modèles d’hasard au régime ainsi que des modèles aléatoires de probabilité de fin de participation. Parmi nos nombreux résultats empiriques, notons l’incidence non triviale de la participation tardive au régime ainsi que de la fin de la participation découlant de la durée de prestations reçues. Les femmes qui vivent seules après avoir été mariées sont plus susceptibles de commencerà participer au régime, mais, chez les hommes, c’est le contraire. La modélisation aléatoire de fin de participation au régime liéeà la durée des prestations reçues montre clairement qu’il n’y a pas de dépendance liée au temps.
The safety and efficacy of osimertinib for the treatment of EGFR T790M mutation positive non-small-cell lung cancer

ABSTRACT First- and second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the evidence-based first-line treatment for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) that harbor sensitizing EGFR mutations (i.e. exon 19 deletions or L858R). However, acquired resistance to EGFR TKI monotherapy occurs invariably within a median time frame of one year. The most common form of biological resistance is through the selection of tumor clones harboring the EGFR T790M mutation, present in >50% of repeat biopsies. The presence of the EGFR T790M mutation negates the inhibitory activity of gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib. A novel class of third-generation EGFR TKIs has been identified by probing a series of covalent pyrimidine EGFR inhibitors that bind to amino-acid residue C797 of EGFR and preferentially inhibit mutant forms of EGFR versus the wild-type receptor. We review the rapid clinical development and approval of the third-generation EGFR TKI osimertinib for treatment of NSCLCs with EGFR-T790M.
Long-term effect of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on inflammation markers of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Several lines of evidence suggest immune system derangement in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients. However, no data exist on the long-term effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on systemic immunity. Hence, we sought to evaluate this effect on various immunological parameters in OSAS patients. DESIGN Prospective case series. SETTING Sleep unit of a general hospital. PATIENTS Newly-diagnosed, nonsmoking, otherwise healthy OSAS male patients (n = 52) were evaluated on diagnosis and 6 months after CPAP treatment. According to compliance to CPAP use at 6-month follow-up, they were divided into 2 groups: group A (n = 32): good compliance (mean CPAP use > or = 4 h/night); and group B (n = 20): poor compliance (mean CPAP use < 4 h/night). INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Blood samples were obtained at baseline and at the 6-month follow-up. Percentage and absolute count of lymphocyte subsets (by flow cytometry), serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, and uric acid levels were measured. No differences were recorded regarding the baseline anthropometric or sleep characteristics of the 2 groups. In group A, a significant decrease in the absolute count of total lymphocytes (P = 0.003), and of CD4+ cells (P = 0.001), and a decrease in TNF-alpha levels (P = 0.001) and uric acid levels (P < 0.001) was observed after CPAP application. On the contrary, no alterations occurred in any of the tested parameters in group B patients. CONCLUSIONS The selective reduction of soluble and cellular immune response factors only in those OSAS patients who exhibited good compliance to CPAP therapy provides further evidence for an ongoing systemic immune process in OSAS.
Association Of Handgrip Strength With Body Mass Index Among Nigerian Students.

The aim of the present research was to study the relationship between handgrip strength with body mass index in 400 randomly selected Secondary School Students in Kano metropolis, Nigeria. The students were from Two Secondary Schools and were aged between 14-18 years with mean age of 16.00±1.35. Various anthropometric variables studied include, the height, weight, BMI, hand width and length, upper and lower arm length, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and handgrip strength were measured using standard anthropometric measurement techniques. The results show that male students had higher mean values in height (16.00±1.35kg), weight (46.34±8.30cm), hand length (19.34±0.98cm), hand width (10.45±0.90cm), forearm length (27.93±1.92cm), arm length (31.93±2.46cm) and handgrip strength (35.63±17.17), while having lower mean values in BMI (17.45±2.30) and MUAC (24.23±2.26cm). Male students had a higher mean handgrip strength which is significantly correlated (P≤0.01) with all the variables studied while female students had handgrip strength with a significant positive correlation (P≤0.01) with some of the variables. It may be concluded that handgrip strength had strong positive correlations with all the anthropometric variables associated with BMI in Nigerian Secondary School Students of Kano metropolis.
Effects of Braiding on Tensile Properties of Four-Strand Human Hamstring Tendon Grafts

Background Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is commonly performed with autogenous hamstring tendon grafts. Purpose To ascertain the effects of braiding on ultimate tensile strength and stiffness of hamstring tendon graft. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Sixteen fresh-frozen semitendinosus and gracilis tendons were harvested from eight matched (right and left) human cadaveric specimens. Both sets of hamstring tendons from each matched pair were doubled, creating a four-strand graft. Grafts were then randomized so that one graft from each matched pair was braided and the other remained unbraided. The diameter of each graft construct was recorded. Grafts were tested to failure on a materials testing machine. Results There were no significant differences in cross-sectional area before or after braiding. Fifteen of 16 tendons failed midsubstance; 1 failed at the lower clamp. Braiding reduced the initial tensile strength and stiffness of human hamstring tendon grafts in this study by 35.0% and 45.8%, respectively. Conclusions Braiding may place the collagen fibers in a suboptimal orientation for loading that results in a weaker graft. We do not recommend the use of braiding if the strongest, stiffest initial graft is desired.
Unpacking brown food‐webs: Animal trophic identity reflects rampant microbivory

Abstract Detritivory is the dominant trophic paradigm in most terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems, yet accurate measurement of consumer trophic position within detrital (=“brown”) food webs has remained unresolved. Measurement of detritivore trophic position is complicated by the fact that detritus is suffused with microbes, creating a detrital complex of living and nonliving biomass. Given that microbes and metazoans are trophic analogues of each other, animals feeding on detrital complexes are ingesting other detritivores (microbes), which should elevate metazoan trophic position and should be rampant within brown food webs. We tested these hypotheses using isotopic (15N) analyses of amino acids extracted from wild and laboratory‐cultured consumers. Vertebrate (fish) and invertebrate detritivores (beetles and moths) were reared on detritus, with and without microbial colonization. In the field, detritivorous animal specimens were collected and analyzed to compare trophic identities among laboratory‐reared and free‐roaming detritivores. When colonized by bacteria or fungi, the trophic positions of detrital complexes increased significantly over time. The magnitude of trophic inflation was mediated by the extent of microbial consumption of detrital substrates. When detrital complexes were fed to vertebrate and invertebrate animals, the consumers registered similar degrees of trophic inflation, albeit one trophic level higher than their diets. The wild‐collected detritivore fauna in our study exhibited significantly elevated trophic positions. Our findings suggest that the trophic positions of detrital complexes rise predictably as microbes convert nonliving organic matter into living microbial biomass. Animals consuming such detrital complexes exhibit similar trophic inflation, directly attributable to the assimilation of microbe‐derived amino acids. Our data demonstrate that detritivorous microbes elevate metazoan trophic position, suggesting that detritivory among animals is, functionally, omnivory. By quantifying the impacts of microbivory on the trophic positions of detritivorous animals and then tracking how these effects propagate “up” food chains, we reveal the degree to which microbes influence consumer groups within trophic hierarchies. The trophic inflation observed among our field‐collected fauna further suggests that microbial proteins represent an immense contribution to metazoan biomass. Collectively, these findings provide an empirical basis to interpret detritivore trophic identity, and further illuminate the magnitude of microbial contributions to food webs.
Management of Nonunited Talar Fractures With Avascular Necrosis by Resection of Necrotic Bone, Bone Grafting, and Fusion With an Intramedullary Nail

Background: The presence of nonunion of a talar fracture with displacement, together with complete avascular necrosis, is a challenging entity to treat. Methods: Twelve patients, 8 men (66.7%) and 4 women (33.3%), with nonunited talar fractures and extensive avascular necrosis of the talus were included. The average age was 27.7 years (range, 19-38 years). After exclusion of infection, the patients underwent resection of necrotic bone, bulk autograft, and fusion using an intramedullary nail. The posterior approach was used in 11 patients and the anterior approach in 1 patient. The primary outcome was solid osseous union at the ankle and subtalar level and between the talar head anteriorly and the posterior construct, as evidenced by computed tomographic examination. Functional assessment was performed with the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score and subjective patient satisfaction Results: After a mean follow-up duration of 23 months (range, 12-60 months), solid osseous union was achieved in 8 patients (66.7%). Stable fibrous union was seen in 1 patient (8.3%). Three patients (25%) required reoperation, and osseous fusion was finally achieved. American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society score improved from a mean of 39.3 (range, 12-56) preoperatively to 76.6 (range, 62-86) at last follow-up. Subjective patient satisfaction was graded good or excellent in all cases. Conclusion: Resection of necrotic talar body and bulk autograft with tibiotalocalcaneal fusion by an intramedullary nail through a posterior approach was a reasonable option for the management of type IV posttraumatic talar deformity. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.
Image Analysis Using Convolutional Neural Networks for Modeling 2D Fracture Propagation

The primary failure mechanism in brittle materials such as ceramics, granite and some metal alloys is through the presence of defects which result in crack formation and propagation under the application of load. We are interested in studying this process of crack propagation, interaction and coalescence, which degrades the strength of the specimen. Traditionally, engineering applications that study these materials employ finite element mesh based methods that require hundreds of hours of processing time on multi-core high performance clusters. We have developed a graph-based reduced order model that captures key geometric and topological features of the dynamic fracture propagation network. We report here the early stages of our study in which deep neural networks will be applied to dynamic directed weighted graphs capturing various metrics of crack-pair interaction strength with the aim of predicting crack lengths, dynamic crack growth/coalescence properties, distributions of these properties over the entire material through time, failure paths and time to failure. Our graph-based representations allow us to consider detailed topology in conjunction with metric geometry to gain insights into the dominant mechanisms that drive the physics in these systems.
Metabolic engineering of Lactobacillus fermentum for production of mannitol and pure L-lactic acid or pyruvate.

For production of mannitol in combination with pure L-lactic acid or pyruvate, the D- and L-lactate dehydrogenase genes (ldhD and ldhL) of a mannitol-producing Lactobacillus fermentum strain were cloned and stepwise inactivated. For inactivation of both ldh genes by a gene replacement technique, deletion constructs removing a 0.4-kb fragment from the promoter and the 5' end region of the ldh genes were used. The first inactivation mutant, designated L. fermentum GRL1030, carried the deletion in ldhD (DeltaldhD). A double mutant, DeltaldhD-DeltaldhL, was constructed by the inactivation of the ldhL gene of strain GRL1030, resulting in strain L. fermentum GRL1032. The correctness of the both mutants was confirmed at the DNA level by polymerase chain reaction, as shown by the absence of ldh transcripts by northern blotting and as a lack of the corresponding enzyme activity. In bioreactor cultivations, the single mutant GRL1030 produced mannitol and L-lactic acid as expected. Mannitol and lactic acid yields and productivities were practically unaffected by deletion of the ldhD gene. The double mutant GRL1032 produced mannitol and pyruvate as expected. However, although the yield of mannitol from fructose remained high, its volumetric productivity was reduced. The double mutation negatively affected the glucose consumption rate, resulting in reduced cellular growth. In addition to pyruvate, the double mutant produced 2,3-butanediol. More surprisingly, some lactic acid was still produced.