Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound examination of the lungs in the intensive care unit

Objective: Lung ultrasound is increasingly used in the critically ill adult. It allows prompt management based upon reproducible data and generates fewer computed tomography (CT) examinations, therefore decreasing irradiation, delays, cost, and discomfort to the patient. The aim of this article is to describe the value of ultrasound for lung imaging in the critically ill and state our experience in neonates. Methods: Review of studies published in the peer-reviewed international literature analyzing consecutive critically ill adults admitted to intensive care units, assessing pleural effusion, alveolar consolidation, interstitial syndrome, and pneumothorax, using a standardized ultrasound approach to the lung, with CT as the reference. Data Synthesis: The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound are 92% and 93% for pleural effusion, 90% and 98% for alveolar consolidation, 93% and 93% for interstitial syndrome, 100% and 96% for complete pneumothorax, 79% and 100% for radio-occult pneumothorax. Discussion: This article reviews data that validate the scientific value of lung ultrasound in adult medical intensive care units. We then present observations in the critically ill neonate. The discussion points to the methodologic issues raised in lung ultrasound in the neonate, i.e. mainly the limited access to a pertinent gold standard (CT). Some CT correlations are presented, confirming the value of lung ultrasound in the neonate. Conclusions: The standardized signs assessed in the adult are also found in the critically ill neonate, meaning a potential use in this field. Awaiting confirmatory CT studies, lung ultrasound can be taken into consideration as a possible bedside tool for completing bedside radiography.
Differences Between African Americans and Whites in Their Perceptions of Alzheimer Disease

To design optimal health services and education programs for Alzheimer disease (AD), it is important to understand cultural differences in perceptions of the disorder. In this study, we investigated differences between African Americans and whites in their beliefs, knowledge, and information sources regarding AD. We distributed a written questionnaire through lay and professional organizations and meetings in the southeastern United States, yielding a sample of 452 adults (61% white, 39% African American; 78% female; mean age 47 years; 33% with family history of AD). The questionnaire assessed the following: (1) illness beliefs, (2) factual knowledge, (3) sources of information, and (4) perceived subjective threat of AD. African Americans and whites were generally similar in their beliefs about common symptoms, prominent risk factors, and the effectiveness of treatments for AD (although whites expressed greater certainty in these beliefs than African Americans). In comparison to whites, African Americans showed less awareness of facts about AD, reported fewer sources of information, and indicated less perceived threat of the disorder. These preliminary findings suggest important distinctions between African Americans and whites in their knowledge about, and conceptualization of, AD. Follow-up studies with more representative samples and more fully validated measures will be necessary to confirm these differences. Health psychologic research suggests that such differences in illness perceptions could shape response to disease burden, assessment and diagnosis, and available health care options.
Targeting CCL5 in inflammation

Introduction: Chemokines play important roles in inflammation and in immune responses. This article will discuss the current literature on the C–C chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), and whether it is a therapeutic target in the context of various allergic, autoimmune or infectious diseases. Areas covered: Small-molecule inhibitors, chemokine and chemokine receptor-deficient mice, antibodies and modified chemokines are the current tools available for CCL5 research, and there are several ongoing clinical trials targeting the CCL5 receptors, CCR1, CCR3 and CCR5. There are fewer studies specifically targeting the chemokine itself and clinical studies with anti-CCL5 antibodies are still to be carried out. Expert opinion: Although clinical trials are strongly biased toward HIV treatment and prevention with blockers of CCR5, the therapeutic potential for CCL5 and its receptors in other diseases is relevant. Overall, it is not likely that specific targeting of CCL5 will result in new adjunct strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases with a major inflammatory component. However, targeting CCL5 could result in novel therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, where it may decrease inflammatory responses and fibrosis, and certain solid tumors, where it may have a role in angiogenesis.
Large-Eddy Simulation of Supercritical Combustion : Model Validation Against Gaseous H 2 – O 2 Injector

Supercritical combustion has attracted significant interest due to its applications in high-pressure combustion devices. Validation of supercritical combustion modeling, however, has not been well reported because of the lack of experimental data with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution as well as the complexity associated with modeling and simulations. The present work begins to bridge this gap with a systematic examination of gaseous H2–O2 combustion of a shear coaxial injector at supercritical conditions, using both large-eddy simulation and detachededdy simulation approaches. The formulation accommodates the full conservation laws and real-fluid thermodynamics and transport theories. Turbulence/chemistry interactions are treated by means of the flamelet and flamelet/progress-variable approaches. A nonpremixed jet flame (Sandia flame D) was first considered for code validation at ideal-gas conditions. The gaseous H2–O2 combustion at supercritical conditions was then studied systematically using different combinations of turbulence closure and combustionmodels. Special attentionwas given to comparisonwithmeasuredwall heat flux. The large-eddy simulation/flamelet, detached-eddy simulation/flamelet, and large-eddy simulation/flamelet/progress-variable approaches produced qualitatively similar results in terms of flow and flame structures as well as wall heat flux. The present work was also compared with studies conducted by other research groups.
The ATR-Chk 1 pathway plays a role in the generation of centrosome aberrations induced by Rad 51 C dysfunction

Rad51C is a central component of two complexes formed by five Rad51 paralogs in vertebrates. These complexes are involved in repairing DNA doublestrand breaks through homologous recombination. Despite accumulating evidence suggesting that the paralogs may prevent aneuploidy by controlling centrosome integrity, Rad51C’s role in maintaining chromosome stability remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that Rad51C deficiency leads to both centrosome aberrations in an ATR-Chk1-dependent manner and increased aneuploidy in human cells. While it was reported that Rad51C deficiency did not cause centrosome aberrations in interphase in hamster cells, such aberrations were observed in interphase in HCT116 cells with Rad51C dysfunction. Caffeine treatment and down-regulation of ATR, but not that of ATM, reduced the frequency of centrosome aberrations in the mutant cells. Silencing of Rad51C by RNA interference in HT1080 cells resulted in similar aberrations. Treatment with a Chk1 inhibitor and silencing of Chk1 also reduced the frequency in HCT116 mutants. Accumulation of Chk1 at the centrosome and nuclear foci of cH2AX were increased in the mutants. Moreover, the mutant cells had a higher frequency of aneuploidy. These findings indicate that the ATR-Chk1 pathway plays a role in increased centrosome aberrations induced by Rad51C dysfunction. INTRODUCTION Homologous recombination, along with nonhomologous end-joining, plays a major role in the repair of DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) (1). Rad51 is a key player in homologous recombination by exerting homologous pairing and strand exchange activities. Rad51 paralogs are assumed to be involved in the early stages of homologous recombination by assisting Rad51 function (2). Five members of the Rad51 paralog family constitute two protein complexes: Rad51B-Rad51C-Rad51DXRCC2 (BCDX2) and Rad51C-XRCC3 (3,4). Thus, Rad51C is a central component among five members in vertebrates. The centrosome serves as the microtubule-organizing center, ensuring correct chromosome segregation to prevent aneuploidy (5). Accumulating evidence suggests that centrosome dysfunction, typically represented by abnormal numbers of centrosomes, is involved in human diseases, particularly in cancers (6). More than 100 proteins have been reported to be localized in the centrosome (7). Deletion of these proteins often leads to centrosome aberrations. Mutations of XRCC2, XRCC3, Rad51B and Rad51D were shown to increase centrosome fragmentation and aneuploidy (8–10). Despite these observations, the role of Rad51C in the maintenance of centrosome integrity and chromosome stability remains unclear. Initially, Rad51C-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, CL-V4B, were shown to exhibit no increase in centrosome aberrations (11). A recent study, however, demonstrated that centrosome numbers were increased only in mitosis and not in interphase in CL-V4B cells (12). *To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81 358413503; Fax: +81 358413013; Email: miyag-tky@umin.ac. jp
Elevated nucleocytoplasmic glycosylation by O-GlcNAc results in insulin resistance associated with defects in Akt activation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Increased flux of glucose through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HSP) is believed to mediate hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance in diabetes. The end product of the HSP, UDPβ-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), is a donor sugar nucleotide for complex glycosylation in the secretory pathway and for O-linked GlcNAc (O-GlcNAc) addition to nucleocytoplasmic proteins. Cycling of the O-GlcNAc posttranslational modification was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of O-GlcNAcase, the enzyme that catalyzes O-GlcNAc removal from proteins, with O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc). PUGNAc treatment increased levels of O-GlcNAc and caused insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Insulin resistance induced through the HSP by glucosamine and chronic insulin treatment correlated with increased O-GlcNAc levels on nucleocytoplasmic proteins. Whereas insulin receptor autophosphorylation and insulin receptor substrate 2 tyrosine phosphorylation were not affected by PUGNAc inhibition of O-GlcNAcase, downstream phosphorylation of Akt at Thr-308 and glycogen synthase kinase 3β at Ser-9 was inhibited. PUGNAc-induced insulin resistance was associated with increased O-GlcNAc modification of several proteins including insulin receptor substrate 1 and β-catenin, two important effectors of insulin signaling. These results suggest that elevation of O-GlcNAc levels attenuate insulin signaling and contribute to the mechanism by which increased flux through the HSP leads to insulin resistance in adipocytes.
Identification of novel gene expression signature in lung adenocarcinoma by using next-generation sequencing data and bioinformatics analysis

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. We showed transcriptomic profiles in three pairs of tumors and adjacent non-tumor lung tissues using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to screen protein-coding RNAs and microRNAs. Combined with meta-analysis from the Oncomine and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, we identified a representative genetic expression signature in lung adenocarcinoma. There were 9 upregulated genes, and 8 downregulated genes in lung adenocarcinoma. The analysis of the effects from each gene expression on survival outcome indicated that 6 genes (AGR2, SPDEF, CDKN2A, CLDN3, SFN, and PHLDA2) play oncogenic roles, and 7 genes (PDK4, FMO2, CPED1, GNG11, IL33, BTNL9, and FABP4) act as tumor suppressors in lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, we also identified putative genetic interactions, in which there were 5 upregulated microRNAs with specific targets - hsa-miR-183-5p-BTNL9, hsa-miR-33b-5p-CPED1, hsa-miR-429-CPED1, hsa-miR-182-5p-FMO2, and hsa-miR-130b-5p-IL33. These 5 microRNAs have been shown to be associated with tumorigenesis in lung cancer. Our findings suggest that these genetic interactions play important roles in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. We propose that this molecular change of genetic expression may represent a novel signature in lung adenocarcinoma, which may be developed for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the future.
Determinants of patient satisfaction: a systematic review

Aim: A large number of studies have addressed the detection of patient satisfaction determinants, and the results are still inconclusive. Furthermore, it is known that contradicting evidence exists across patient satisfaction studies. This article is the second part of a two-part series of research with a goal to review a current conceptual framework of patient satisfaction for further operationalisation procedures. The aim of this work was to systematically identify and review evidence regarding determinants of patient satisfaction between 1980 and 2014, and to seek the reasons for contradicting results in relationships between determinants and patient satisfaction in the literature to design a further robust measurement system for patient satisfaction. Method: This systematic review followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus in October 2014. Studies published in full in peer reviewed journals between January 1980 and August 2014 and in the English language were included. We included 109 articles for the synthesis. Results: We found several number of determinants of patient satisfaction investigated in a wide diversity of studies. However, study results were varied due to no globally accepted formulation of patient satisfaction and measurement system. Conclusions: Health care service quality indicators were the most influential determinants of patient satisfaction across the studies. Among them, health providers’ interpersonal care quality was the essential determinant of patient satisfaction. Sociodemographic characteristics were the most varied in the review. The strength and directions of associations with patient satisfaction were found inconsistent. Therefore, person-related characteristics should be considered to be the potential determinants and confounders simultaneously. The selected studies were not able to show all potential characteristics which may have had effects on satisfaction. There is a need for more studies on how cultural, behavioural, and socio-demographic differences affect patient satisfaction, using a standardised questionnaire.
Complex Partial Seizures: Cerebral Structure and Cerebral Function

Summary: We studied the relationships between cerebral structure and function in 10 patients with complex partial seizures who had major cerebral lesions, including porencephalic cysts, tuberose sclerosis, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and cerebral hemiatrophy. Evaluation included computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, EEG, and positron emission tomography (PET) using [18F]‐2‐deoxyglucose. Surface EEG usually showed widespread, bilateral epileptiform discharges even if pathology was clearly restricted to one hemisphere. In several cases, interictal PET hypometabolism was more widespread than structural changes seen on CT and MRI, extending to involve the ipsilateral temporal lobe in patients with extratemporal lesions. This study shows that patterns of metabolic and electrophysiologic dysfunction may not be predicted by structural lesions in patients with partial seizure disorders.
EVS 28 KINTEX , Korea , May 3-6 , 2015 Fabrication Study of Laminated Stator for an E-bike Axial Flux Electric Machine

The stator core wound from electrical steel strip is one of key components in an axial flux machines. Based on a 250 W e-bike electric machine, wire electric discharge machining (w-EDM), and progressive punch and winding machining (PPW) are performed to evaluate core loss on stator by different machining approach. Comparing with simulation results from finite element model and bearing friction model, the core loss may be raised over 3.7 and 4.3 times higher than ideal condition by w-EDM and PPW, respectively.
Diagnostic Utility of Cell Block Preparation of Fine Needle Aspiration Material

In routine FNAC, 15 to 20% are classified as non-diagnostic due to scanty cellullarity. Cell blocks can be prepared from the residual material of FNA obtained by flushing the needle hub. This ensures maximum utilization of all available material. This work aims to study comparative cytopathology in conventional smears & Cell blocks & the advantages and disadvantages of cell block technique over conventional smears. Present study was cross sectional study carried in a tertiary care hospital. Routine FNAC was done on 270 patients, cell blocks were made from residual material left behind after preparing conventional cytology smears. Conventional FNAC smears were adequate in 221 and Cell blocks in 214 cases. In 199 cases both conventional FNAC smears and Cell blocks were adequate, while in 22 only conventional smears were adequate and in 15 only Cell blocks were adequate. Adequacy of conventional FNAC smears and Cell Blocks were 81.85% and 79.25% respectively. Combined adequacy rate of conventional FNAC smears and Cell blocks was 87.40%. The study concluded that Cell blocks from the FNA material remaining in hub or syringe, after conventional smear preparation increases cellular yield, architectural pattern & add to diagnostic efficacy of smear preparation of same patient without repeating the FNA or incurring an additional procedure.
High oxidative damage levels in the longest‐living rodent, the naked mole‐rat

Oxidative stress is reputed to be a significant contributor to the aging process and a key factor affecting species longevity. The tremendous natural variation in maximum species lifespan may be due to interspecific differences in reactive oxygen species generation, antioxidant defenses and/or levels of accrued oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules (such as DNA, lipids and proteins). The present study tests if the exceptional longevity of the longest living (> 28.3 years) rodent species known, the naked mole‐rat (NMR, Heterocephalus glaber), is associated with attenuated levels of oxidative stress. We compare antioxidant defenses (reduced glutathione, GSH), redox status (GSH/GSSG), as well as lipid (malondialdehyde and isoprostanes), DNA (8‐OHdG), and protein (carbonyls) oxidation levels in urine and various tissues from both mole‐rats and similar‐sized mice. Significantly lower GSH and GSH/GSSG in mole‐rats indicate poorer antioxidant capacity and a surprisingly more pro‐oxidative cellular environment, manifested by 10‐fold higher levels of in vivo lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, mole‐rats exhibit greater levels of accrued oxidative damage to lipids (twofold), DNA (~two to eight times) and proteins (1.5 to 2‐fold) than physiologically age‐matched mice, and equal to that of same‐aged mice. Given that NMRs live an order of magnitude longer than predicted based on their body size, our findings strongly suggest that mechanisms other than attenuated oxidative stress explain the impressive longevity of this species.
Pushing the envelope of Auditory Research with Cochlear Implants

The function and Importance of Hearing, either Acoustically or electrically Acoustic information is typically transferred to the brain by the collection of sound by the pinna (external ear), the amplification of frequencies important for speech understanding by the ear canal and middle ear bones, and the transduction of sound to the nervous system by the hair cells in the inner ear (Figure 1A). The inner ear, or cochlea, operates like a frequency analyzer, where hair cells near the base of the cochlea are tuned to and transmit high-frequency acoustic information (≈20,000 Hz) and where hair cells near the top of the cochlea are tuned to and transmit low-frequency acoustic information (≈20 Hz). The hair cells are an indispensable part of the transduction process because they start the electrochemical reactions that cause the spiral ganglia and auditory nerve to pass the acoustic information as electrical spikes that the brain interprets as sound. Hair cells are damaged or die because a person might have a genetic disposition, need to take an ototoxic medicine that saves their life but destroys their hearing, are exposed to
Dynamic Ca 2 + imaging with a simpli fi ed lattice light-sheet microscope : A sideways view of subcellular Ca 2 + pu ff s

We describe the construction of a simplified, inexpensive lattice light-sheet microscope, and illustrate its use for imaging subcellular Ca puffs evoked by photoreleased i-IP3 in cultured SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells loaded with the Ca probe Cal520. The microscope provides sub-micron spatial resolution and enables recording of local Ca transients in single-slice mode with a signal-to-noise ratio and temporal resolution (2 ms) at least as good as confocal or total internal reflection microscopy. Signals arising from openings of individual IP3R channels are clearly resolved, as are stepwise changes in fluorescence reflecting openings and closings of individual channels during puffs. Moreover, by stepping the specimen through the light-sheet, the entire volume of a cell can be scanned within a few hundred ms. The ability to directly visualize a sideways (axial) section through cells directly reveals that IP3-evoked Ca puffs originate at sites in very close (≤a few hundred nm) to the plasma membrane, suggesting they play a specific role in signaling to the membrane.
Potassium-induced Slow Motility is Partially Calcium-dependent in Isolated Outer Hair Cells

Low flow rate (0.6 μl/min) administration of high concentration potassium solutions (12.5, 25 and 37.5 mM) was tested for evoking slow-motility length changes in isolated, apical turn, guinea pig outer hair cells (OHCs) (length 65–80 μm; n=38). Control OHCs (n=16) showed a flow rate-dependent, reversible, longitudinal shortening of 0.5–3 μm during perfusion with normal saline. Potassium, an effective depolarizing agent for OHCs, induced a concentration-dependent cell shortening of 0.5–13 μm. These cell shape changes were reversible. The magnitude of shortening was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in a calcium-free incubation medium (n=8). The velocity of the shortening was 300 nm/s in the first 10 s after application of 37.5 mM K+ in a normal incubation medium and decreased to 100 nm/s during the next 10 s. Corresponding velocities in calcium-free solutions were 100 and 50 nm/s, respectively. K+-induced shortening velocities were not significantly different from control values after 30 s. It appears that K+-induced OHC shortening is sensitive to the calcium content of the incubation medium during the first 10 s. Higher flow rate (1.5 μl/min) administration of K+ makes the velocity and magnitude of slow motility of OHCs insensitive to the absence of calcium. These results highlight the fact that one of the critical technical points in fluid perfusion experiments with isolated OHCs is selecting a safe low flow rate of <0.6 μl/min. At this perfusion rate, K+-induced OHC shortening is composed of both calcium-sensitive and -insensitive components.