Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of liver stiffness measurements made with two different 2-dimensional shear wave elastography systems using the comb-push technique

Purpose The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the technical success and reliability of the measurements made using two 2-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) systems using the comb-push technique from the same manufacturer and to assess the intersystem reproducibility of the resultant liver stiffness (LS) measurements. Methods Ninety-four patients with suspected chronic liver diseases were included in this retrospective study. LS measurements were obtained using two 2D-SWE systems (LOGIQ E9 and LOGIQ S8) from the same manufacturer, with transient elastography (TE) serving as the reference standard, on the same day. The technical success rates and reliability of the measurements of the two 2D-SWE systems were compared. LS values measured using the two 2D-SWE systems and TE were correlated using Spearman correlation coefficients and 95% Bland-Altman limits of agreement. Thereafter, Bland-Altman limits of agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to analyze the intersystem reproducibility of LS measurements. Results The two 2D-SWE systems showed similar technical success rates (98.9% for both) and reliability of LS measurements (92.3% for the LOGIQ E9, 91.2% for the LOGIQ S8; P=0.185). Despite the excellent correlation (ICC=0.92), the mean LS measurements obtained by the two 2D-SWE systems were significantly different (LOGIQ E9, 6.57±2.33 kPa; LOGIQ S8, 6.90±6.64 kPa; P=0.018). Conclusion Significant intersystem variability was observed in the LS measurements made using the two 2D-SWE systems. Therefore, even 2D-SWE systems from the same manufacturer should not be used interchangeably in longitudinal follow-up.
Stirring of the northeast Atlantic spring bloom: A Lagrangian analysis based on multisatellite data

[1] The effect of the geostrophic stirring on phytoplankton variability during the northeast Atlantic spring bloom is studied by analyzing satellite derived surface chlorophyll, sea surface temperature, and sea surface height. The calculation of unstable manifolds is used as a diagnostic of the transport properties of the geostrophic velocity field (calculated from the sea surface height). We identify two mechanisms by which the geostrophic velocity field acts on chlorophyll patterns. The first mechanism is a direct effect of the horizontal transport on already formed chlorophyll. By acting as “sticking” transport barriers, the unstable manifolds are shown to (1) modulate the fronts of already formed phytoplankton in lobular structures, (2) create spiralling chlorophyll anomalies within eddies, and (3) produce chlorophyll filaments. The second mechanism is an indirect effect on in situ chlorophyll production mediated by nutrient upwelling. Supported by a recent study on the vertical velocities of the northeast Atlantic (Legal et al., 2006), we argue that the horizontal unstable manifolds also shape the filamentary, vertical velocity cells, and hence the patterns of in situ produced chlorophyll through submesoscale vertical nutrient injection.
Re-evaluation of the ethylene-dependent and -independent pathways in the regulation of floral and organ abscission

Abscission is a developmental process with important implications for agricultural practices. Ethylene has long been considered as a key regulator of the abscission process. The existence of an ethylene-independent abscission pathway, controlled by the complex of INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) peptide and the HAESA (HAE) and HAESA-like2 (HSL2) kinases, has been proposed, based mainly on observations that organ abscission in ethylene-insensitive mutants was delayed but not inhibited. A recent review on plant organ abscission signaling highlighted the IDA-HAE-HSL2 components as the regulators of organ abscission, while the role of auxin and ethylene in this process was hardly addressed. After a careful analysis of the relevant abscission literature, we propose that the IDA-HAE-HSL2 pathway is essential for the final stages of organ abscission, while ethylene plays a major role in its initiation and progression. We discuss the view that the IDA-HAE-HSL2 pathway is ethylene independent, and present recent evidence showing that ethylene activates the IDA-HAE-HSL2 complex. We conclude that the ability of an organ to abscise is tightly linked to cell turgidity in the abscission zone, and suggest that lack of cell turgidity might contribute to the failure of floral organ abscission in the ida mutants.
Food-based dietary guidelines of Arabic-speaking countries: a culturally congruent profile

Abstract Objective Dietary guidelines for food groups, types and portion sizes are common practice at the national level. As the relationship between nutrition and disease and the influence of cultural identity on individual behaviour become clearer, dietary guidelines necessarily evolve. Today, the Arabic-speaking region is experiencing a dual burden of undernutrition and increasing rates of overweight and obesity. Cultural congruency among dietary guidelines in the Arabic-speaking region and how they affect health education, health promotion, and nutrition programme planning or individual dietary behaviours have yet to be examined. The present work provides dietitians and public health professionals a narrative review of proposed food guidelines for the Arabic-speaking region. Design The current review examined five established dietary guidelines within the Arabic-speaking region, namely the Arab Food Dome (Arab Gulf states), the Healthy Food Palm (Saudi Arabia), the Lebanese Dietary Guidelines, the Omani Guide to Healthy Eating and the Qatar Dietary Guidelines, and compared findings with the regional Eastern Mediterranean guidelines developed by the WHO. Individual guideline recommendations are tabled for comparative review. Setting The Arabic-speaking region. Participants Respective Arabic-speaking populations. Results Health educators, community health practitioners and nutrition professionals can benefit from the cultural contexts associated with dietary guidelines in this region. Conclusions Community-level policy and individual behaviour change will benefit from cultural sensitivity; health communication and behaviour change programming require cultural competence provided in the present review; and programme evaluation efforts (prior to and after implementation) should include a detailed understanding of how culture shapes regional policy and individual nutrition behaviours.
Conservative versus Liberal Oxygenation Targets for Mechanically Ventilated Patients. A Pilot Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

RATIONALE There are no randomized controlled trials comparing different oxygenation targets for intensive care unit (ICU) patients. OBJECTIVES To determine whether a conservative oxygenation strategy is a feasible alternative to a liberal oxygenation strategy among ICU patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). METHODS At four multidisciplinary ICUs, 103 adult patients deemed likely to require IMV for greater than or equal to 24 hours were randomly allocated to either a conservative oxygenation strategy with target oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) of 88-92% (n = 52) or a liberal oxygenation strategy with target SpO2 of greater than or equal to 96% (n = 51). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The mean area under the curve and 95% confidence interval (CI) for SpO2 (93.4% [92.9-93.9%] vs. 97% [96.5-97.5%]), SaO2 (93.5% [93.1-94%] vs. 96.8% [96.3-97.3%]), PaO2 (70 [68-73] mm Hg vs. 92 [89-96] mm Hg), and FiO2 (0.26 [0.25-0.28] vs. 0.36 [0.34-0.39) in the conservative versus liberal oxygenation arm were significantly different (P < 0.0001 for all). There were no significant between-group differences in any measures of new organ dysfunction, or ICU or 90-day mortality. The percentage time spent with SpO2 less than 88% in conservative versus liberal arm was 1% versus 0.3% (P = 0.03), and percentage time spent with SpO2 greater than 98% in conservative versus liberal arm was 4% versus 22% (P < 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio for 90-day mortality in the conservative arm was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.40-1.50; P = 0.44) overall and 0.49 (95% CI, 0.20-1.17; P = 0.10) in the prespecified subgroup of patients with a baseline PaO2/FiO2 less than 300. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports the feasibility of a conservative oxygenation strategy in patients receiving IMV. Larger randomized controlled trials of this intervention appear justified. Clinical trial registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12613000505707).
Interfacing Formate Dehydrogenase with Metal Oxides for the Reversible Electrocatalysis and Solar‐Driven Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

Abstract The integration of enzymes with synthetic materials allows efficient electrocatalysis and production of solar fuels. Here, we couple formate dehydrogenase (FDH) from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) to metal oxides for catalytic CO2 reduction and report an in‐depth study of the resulting enzyme–material interface. Protein film voltammetry (PFV) demonstrates the stable binding of FDH on metal‐oxide electrodes and reveals the reversible and selective reduction of CO2 to formate. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy confirm a high binding affinity for FDH to the TiO2 surface. Adsorption of FDH on dye‐sensitized TiO2 allows for visible‐light‐driven CO2 reduction to formate in the absence of a soluble redox mediator with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 11±1 s−1. The strong coupling of the enzyme to the semiconductor gives rise to a new benchmark in the selective photoreduction of aqueous CO2 to formate.
Membrane raft-mediated regulation of glucose signaling pathway leading to acrosome reaction in chicken sperm†

Abstract Despite knowledge that glucose metabolism is essential for the regulation of signaling cascades in the sperm that are pre-assembled into specific areas and function at multistage for fertilization, the physiological roles of glucose in avian sperm are poorly understood. Accumulated results of studies conducted in our laboratory and others indicate that sperm possess membrane microdomains, or membrane rafts, which play important roles in several processes, including the induction of acrosome reaction (AR). When characterizing proteomes associated with chicken sperm rafts, we observed marked enrichment of glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3). Here we show that glucose uptake is mediated by membrane rafts and stimulates AR induction by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Using a specific antibody, we observed that GLUT3 is localized to the entire flagellum and acrosome region and highly associated with membrane rafts. The addition of glucose stimulated AR in a dose-dependent manner without affecting sperm motility. AR and glucose uptake assays were performed using both inhibitors and activators, and demonstrated that glucose-dependent AR results from the activity of a glucose transporter located in membrane rafts and associated with AMPK. To better understand the mechanism of AMPK activation by glucose, we evaluated localization and phosphorylation status of AMPKα, showing that glucose uptake stimulates AMPKα phosphorylation, leading to its complete activation. Together, these results lead us to propose a novel mechanism by which glucose uptake stimulates the AMPK signaling pathway via membrane rafts, resulting in maximal acrosomal responsiveness in avian sperm as migrating upward to a fertilization site. Summary Sentence Glucose uptake is mediated by membrane rafts, which results in stimulation of AR induction via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation.
Association Between Norepinephrine Levels and Abnormal Iron Status in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: Is Iron Deficiency More Than a Comorbidity?

Background Mechanisms underlying iron homeostasis dysregulation in patients with chronic heart failure remain unsettled. In cardiomyocyte models, norepinephrine may lead to intracellular iron depletion, but the potential association between catecholamines (sympathetic activation markers) and iron metabolism biomarkers in chronic heart failure is unknown. Methods and Results In this cross‐sectional analysis, we studied the association between plasma norepinephrine levels and serum iron status biomarkers indicating iron storage (ferritin), iron transport (transferrin saturation), and iron demand (soluble transferrin receptor) in a prospective cohort of 742 chronic heart failure patients (mean age, 72±11 years; 56% male). Impaired iron status was defined as ferritin <100 μg/L or transferrin saturation <20%. Impaired iron status was observed in 69% of patients. In multivariate models, greater norepinephrine levels were associated with impaired iron transport (transferrin saturation <20%, odds ratio=2.28; 95% CI [1.19–4.35]; P=0.013), but not with impaired iron storage (ferritin <100 μg/L, odds ratio=1.25; 95% CI [0.73–2.16]; P=0.415). Norepinephrine was a significant predictor of increased iron demand (soluble transferrin receptor, standardized β‐coefficient=0.12; P=0.006) and low transferrin saturation (standardized β‐coefficient=−0.12; P=0.003). However, norepinephrine levels were not associated with iron or ferritin levels (P>0.05). Adjusted norepinephrine marginal means were significantly higher in patients with impaired iron status compared with those with normal iron status (528 pg/mL [505–551] versus 482 pg/mL [448–518], respectively; P=0.038). Conclusions In chronic heart failure patients, increased sympathetic activation estimated with norepinephrine levels is associated with impaired iron status and, particularly, dysregulation of biomarkers suggesting impaired iron transport and increased iron demand. Whether the relationship between norepinephrine and iron metabolism is bidirectional and entails causality need to be elucidated in future research.
Regarding the benefit of zero-dimensional noise.

Baker and Meese (2012) (B&M) provided an empirically driven criticism of the use of two-dimensional (2D) pixel noise in equivalent noise (EN) experiments. Their main objection was that in addition to injecting variability into the contrast detecting mechanisms, 2D noise also invokes gain control processes from a widely tuned contrast gain pool (e.g., Foley, 1994). B&M also developed a zero-dimensional (0D) noise paradigm in which all of the variance is concentrated in the mechanisms involved in the detection process. They showed that this form of noise conformed much more closely to expectations than did a 2D variant.
A Prevalent Y;15 Translocation in the Ethiopian Beta Israel Community in Israel

We describe 7 cases of abnormal karyotypes involving chromosomes Y and 15 in Ethiopian Beta Israel patients: 46,XX, der(15)t(Y;15)(q12;p12) and 46,XY,der(15)t(Y;15)(q12;p12). Six cases were incidentally found in amniocentesis performed for various indications; the indication for karyotyping in 1 case was recurrent abortions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this translocation in a specific ethnic group. We conclude that the derivative chromosome 15 with chromosome Y is probably a normal variant in Ethiopian Beta Israel occurring at an estimated frequency of 4/74 (5.4%). The prenatal diagnosis of this translocation in this population probably does not require further parental testing.
Cancer incidence and mortality among firefighters

Firefighters are exposed to both known and suspected carcinogens. This study aims to systematically review the literature on the association of firefighting occupation and cancer incidence and mortality, overall and for specific cancer sites. A systematic review using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed up to January 1, 2018. We extracted risk estimates of cancers and calculated summary incidence risk estimates (SIRE), summary mortality risk estimates (SMRE), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias and risk of bias in individual studies were assessed using Begg's and Egger's tests and the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale (NOS), respectively. We included 50 papers in the review and 48 in the meta‐analysis. We found significantly elevated SIREs for cancer of the colon (1.14; CI 1.06 to 1.21), rectum (1.09; CI 1.00 to 1.20), prostate (1.15; CI 1.05 to 1.27), testis (1.34; CI 1.08 to 1.68), bladder (1.12; CI 1.04 to 1.21), thyroid (1.22; CI 1.01 to 1.48), pleura (1.60; CI 1.09 to 2.34), and for malignant melanoma (1.21; CI 1.02 to 1.45). We found significant SMREs of 1.36 (1.18 to 1.57) and 1.42 (1.05 to 1.90) for rectal cancer and Non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, respectively. Considering the significantly elevated risk of some cancers in this occupational group, we suggest improving preventive measures and securing adequate and relevant medical attention for this group. Further studies with more accurate and in‐depth exposure assessments are indicated.
Health intentions and behaviors of health app owners: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Mobile devices have become widely popular in recent years. This popularity has been accompanied by the adoption of technologies created for those devices such as mobile applications (apps), many of which have been designed to facilitate achieving health goals. This study examined health-related intentions and behaviors, and their associations with mobile health app ownership in a large, nationally representative sample. Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) from the 2014 collection wave were analyzed. Expressing greater intentions to lose weight and to exercise was associated with owning mobile health apps. However, health app owners did not significantly differ from non-owners in their reported health behaviors in the domains of eating, exercise, and sedentary time. Although we do not know that the health apps that the app owners in this sample possessed were related to altering diet and exercise, this finding could suggest that health app owners do not use them, or that the ones available to them may be insufficient at eliciting and maintaining behaviors supporting relevant health intentions, suggesting an opportunity to leverage the capacities of mHealth technologies to produce more effective interventions delivered by apps informed by health behavior change theories.
The effect of CO rotation from shaped pulse polarization on reactions that form C2.

The effect of CO rotational energy on bimolecular reactions to form electronically excited C2 is reported here. The reactions are initiated by CO multiphoton absorption of 800 nm light in strong optical fields using two different polarization configurations based on shaped chirped pulses. The observation of Swan band emission indicates that C2(d3Πg) is a reaction product. The optical polarization is in the form of either an optical centrifuge or a dynamic polarization grating. In each case, the strong field aligns CO molecules and induces multiphoton absorption. Power-dependent measurements indicate at least seven photons are absorbed by CO; CO(a3Π) is a likely reactant candidate based on kinetic modeling. Relative reaction efficiencies are determined by measuring Swan band emission intensities. For a CO pressure of 100 Torr and an optical intensity of I = 2.0 × 1013 W cm-2, the relative C2(d3Πg) yield with the dynamic polarization grating is twice that with the optical centrifuge. The extent of CO rotational energy was determined for both optical polarizations using high-resolution transient IR absorption for a number of CO states with J = 62-73 and Erot up to 10 400 cm-1. Optical centrifuge excitation generates at least 2.5 times more rotationally excited CO molecules per quantum state than the dynamic polarization grating. The results indicate that the effect of large amounts of CO rotational energy is to reduce the yield of the C2 products.
The expanding roles and mechanisms of G protein–mediated presynaptic inhibition

Throughout the past five decades, tremendous advancements have been made in our understanding of G protein signaling and presynaptic inhibition, many of which were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry under the tenure of Herb Tabor as Editor-in-Chief. Here, we identify these critical advances, including the formulation of the ternary complex model of G protein–coupled receptor signaling and the discovery of Gβγ as a critical signaling component of the heterotrimeric G protein, along with the nature of presynaptic inhibition and its physiological role. We provide an overview for the discovery and physiological relevance of the two known Gβγ–mediated mechanisms for presynaptic inhibition: first, the action of Gβγ on voltage-gated calcium channels to inhibit calcium influx to the presynaptic active zone and, second, the direct binding of Gβγ to the SNARE complex to displace synaptotagmin downstream of calcium entry, which has been demonstrated to be important in neurons and secretory cells. These two mechanisms act in tandem with each other in a synergistic manner to provide more complete spatiotemporal control over neurotransmitter release.
Domain specific embedded compilers

Domain-specific embedded languages (DSELs) expressed in higher-order, typed (HOT) languages provide a composable framework for domain-specific abstractions. Such a framework is of greater utility than a collection of stand-alone domain-specific languages. Usually, embedded domain specific languages are build on top of a set of domain specific primitive functions that are ultimately implemented using some form of foreign function call. We sketch a general design pattern/or embedding client-server style services into Haskell using a domain specific embedded compiler for the server's source language. In particular we apply this idea to implement Haskell/DB, a domain specific embdedded compiler that dynamically generates of SQL queries from monad comprehensions, which are then executed on an arbitrary ODBC database server.
Rational design of a heterotrimeric G protein α subunit with artificial inhibitor sensitivity

Transmembrane signals initiated by a range of extracellular stimuli converge on members of the Gq family of heterotrimeric G proteins, which relay these signals in target cells. Gq family G proteins comprise Gq, G11, G14, and G16, which upon activation mediate their cellular effects via inositol lipid–dependent and –independent signaling to control fundamental processes in mammalian physiology. To date, highly specific inhibition of Gq/11/14 signaling can be achieved only with FR900359 (FR) and YM-254890 (YM), two naturally occurring cyclic depsipeptides. To further development of FR or YM mimics for other Gα subunits, we here set out to rationally design Gα16 proteins with artificial FR/YM sensitivity by introducing an engineered depsipeptide-binding site. Thereby we permit control of G16 function through ligands that are inactive on the WT protein. Using CRISPR/Cas9-generated Gαq/Gα11-null cells and loss- and gain-of-function mutagenesis along with label-free whole-cell biosensing, we determined the molecular coordinates for FR/YM inhibition of Gq and transplanted these to FR/YM-insensitive G16. Intriguingly, despite having close structural similarity, FR and YM yielded biologically distinct activities: it was more difficult to perturb Gq inhibition by FR and easier to install FR inhibition onto G16 than perturb or install inhibition with YM. A unique hydrophobic network utilized by FR accounted for these unexpected discrepancies. Our results suggest that non-Gq/11/14 proteins should be amenable to inhibition by FR scaffold–based inhibitors, provided that these inhibitors mimic the interaction of FR with Gα proteins harboring engineered FR-binding sites.