Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Renin, Aldosterone, and Cortisol in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Abstract Introduction We aimed to assess renin, aldosterone, and cortisol in the early stages of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), i. e. , at the time of diagnosis. Methods During the postural test, we measured aldosterone, renin [Liason DiaSorin Inc. (Italy)], as well as cortisol, sodium, potassium, and 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion in 62 women with newly diagnosed PIH, 70 healthy women during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, and in 22 healthy non-pregnant women. Results In all groups, there was a significant increase in aldosterone and renin in upright versus supine posture (p<0.01). Both supine and upright aldosterone concentrations were higher in healthy pregnant women than in women with PIH and the lowest in healthy not-pregnant [supine (median±intequartile range): 25.04±18.4 ng/dL, 18.03±12.58 ng/dL, and 7.48±4.78 ng/dL, p<0.001, upright: 31.60±21.32 ng/dL, 25.11±13.15 ng/dL, and 12.4±12.4 ng/dL, p<0.001, for healthy pregnant, pregnant with PIH, and non-pregnant, respectively]. Supine renin concentrations were higher only in healthy pregnant (p<0.001), while in the upright position, there was a difference only between healthy pregnant and women with PIH (p=0.002). Both in supine and upright positions, there was no difference in the aldosterone-to-renin ratio between healthy pregnant women and women with PIH, though, in both groups, the ratio was higher than in non-pregnant women (p<0.001). Morning cortisol concentrations and 24-h urinary sodium excretion were lower in women with PIH than in healthy pregnant (p<0.001, p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion Hyperaldosteronism is not involved in the etiology of PIH. In PIH, there is also a tendency towards lower sodium excretion and lower morning cortisol concentrations.
Which is more deleterious to cognitive performance? Interictal epileptiform discharges vs anti‐seizure medication

Children with epilepsy commonly have comorbid neurocognitive impairments that severely affect their psychosocial well‐being, education, and future career prospects. Although the provenance of these deficits is multifactorial, the effects of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and anti‐seizure medications (ASMs) are thought to be particularly severe. Although certain ASMs can be leveraged to inhibit IED occurrence, it remains unclear whether epileptiform discharges or the medications themselves are most deleterious to cognition. To examine this question, 25 children undergoing invasive monitoring for refractory focal epilepsy performed one or more sessions of a cognitive flexibility task. Electrophysiological data were recorded to detect IEDs. Between repeated sessions, prescribed ASMs were either continued or titrated to <50% of the baseline dose. Hierarchical mixed‐effects modeling assessed the relationship between task reaction time (RT), IED occurrence, ASM type, and dose while controlling for seizure frequency. Both presence (β ± SE = 49.91 ± 16.55 ms, p = .003) and number of IEDs (β ± SE = 49.84 ± 12.51 ms, p < .001) were associated with slowed task RT. Higher dose oxcarbazepine significantly reduced IED frequency (p = .009) and improved task performance (β ± SE = −107.43 ± 39.54 ms, p = .007). These results emphasize the neurocognitive consequences of IEDs independent of seizure effects. Furthermore, we demonstrate that inhibition of IEDs following treatment with select ASMs is associated with improved neurocognitive function.
Variable Selection Bias in Classification Trees Based on Imprecise Probabilities

Classification trees based on imprecise probabilities provide an advancement of classical classification trees. The Gini Index is the default splitting criterion in classical classification trees, while in classification trees based on imprecise probabilities, an extension of the Shannon entropy has been introduced as the splitting criterion. However, the use of these empirical entropy measures as split selection criteria can lead to a bias in variable selection, such that variables are preferred for features other than their information content. This bias is not eliminated by the imprecise probability approach. The source of variable selection bias for the estimated Shannon entropy, as well as possible corrections, are outlined. The variable selection performance of the biased and corrected estimators are evaluated in a simulation study. Additional results from research on variable selection bias in classical classification trees are incorporated, implying further investigation of alternative split selection criteria in classification trees based on imprecise probabilities.
Time-resolved photodissociation of oxygen at 162 nm

Oxygen was excited by 10 fs pulses in the Schumann–Runge continuum at 162 nm, which is by 0.57 eV above the dissociation limit. It was probed by high-intensity ionization at 810 nm with 1014 W cm−2, measuring the ion yields. The O2+ signal decays in 4.3 fs, which is much shorter than the expected time for dissociation. It is ascribed to a rapid decay of the ionization probability. In a similar time, the ion in the second excited state (with excess energy taken over from the neutral) reaches the dissociation limit, whereas this time would be much longer from the two lower ion states. In fact, the O+ signal rises to a (first) maximum at 6 fs. The preference for the higher ion state is rationalized by an intermediate resonance in the neutral molecule for which the polarization dependence also provides evidence. But the shape of the O+ signal is very odd: it exhibits three maxima (at 6, 29 and 53 fs) of increasing intensity, before decaying rapidly (≤3.5 fs) to a pedestal. In contrast to the first maximum, the others appear at times when there is practically no interatomic force left in the excited state. We postulate a highly repulsive doubly excited state as a resonance for interpreting the second maximum, and for the third an ion-pair state lying further outside. Comparison is made with enhanced ionization, which has often been found at large interatomic distances on multiple ionization in strong laser fields. Consistent with this mechanism is the absence of similar observations at negative delay times, where five fundamental photons act as a pump and the fifth harmonic as a probe.
Polyamines and linear DNA mediate bacterial threat assessment of bacteriophage infection

Significance When cells lyse, danger signals are released into the environment that warn adjacent cells of nearby danger. However, the molecules that serve as bacterial danger signals are poorly defined, and how danger signals affect bacterial responses to threats such as bacteriophage infection are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that polyamines released by lysed bacteria are internalized by adjacent cells. In the absence of bacteriophage infection, intracellular polyamine levels quickly return to baseline. When bacteriophage infect a cell, they inject linear DNA that causes intracellular polyamine levels to remain high, interfering with bacteriophage DNA replication. Our results indicate that polyamines released by lysed cells and linear DNA associated with bacteriophage infection are danger signals that guide bacterial threat assessment of bacteriophage infection.
Multi-generation selective landscapes and sub-lethal injuries in stickleback.

The interaction between predation landscape and phenotypic variability within prey populations is of substantial significance in evolutionary biology. Extending from several decades of studies at a remote freshwater lake on Haida Gwaii, western Canada, we analyse the incidence of predator-induced sub-lethal injuries in 8069 wild-captured threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and using cohort analyses test whether the distribution of injuries informs the selective landscape influencing the bell-shaped frequency distribution of the traits. Our results indicate that 1: the incidence of injuries varies among phenotypes differing in the number and position of lateral plates, 2: these differences occur only among younger fish, 3: the incidence of injuries is inversely related to the estimated population frequencies of plate phenotypes, with the modal phenotype generally having the fewest injuries, 4: direct estimates of selective differentials and relative fitness based on analyses of 1735 fish from six independent yearly cohorts indicates statistically informative elevated differentials in phenotypes with greater number of plates and elevated relative fitness of non-modal phenotypes and 5: there are significant differences among yearly cohorts in strength and direction of selection, and an increased prevalence of diversifying versus stabilizing selection despite longer term stasis (four decades) in trait means. We conclude that the presence of multiple 'optimal' phenotypes complements the renewed interests in quantifying short-term temporal or spatial variation in ecological processes in studies of fitness landscapes and intrapopulation variability.
Suppression of cGAS- and RIG-I-mediated innate immune signaling by Epstein-Barr virus deubiquitinase BPLF1

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has developed effective strategies to evade host innate immune responses. Here we reported on mitigation of type I interferon (IFN) production by EBV deubiquitinase (DUB) BPLF1 through cGAS-STING and RIG-I-MAVS pathways. The two naturally occurring forms of BPLF1 exerted potent suppressive effect on cGAS-STING-, RIG-I- and TBK1-induced IFN production. The observed suppression was reversed when DUB domain of BPLF1 was rendered catalytically inactive. The DUB activity of BPLF1 also facilitated EBV infection by counteracting cGAS-STING- and TBK1-mediated antiviral defense. BPLF1 associated with STING to act as an effective DUB targeting its K63-, K48- and K27-linked ubiquitin moieties. BPLF1 also catalyzed removal of K63- and K48-linked ubiquitin chains on TBK1 kinase. The DUB activity of BPLF1 was required for its suppression of TBK1-induced IRF3 dimerization. Importantly, in cells stably carrying EBV genome that encodes a catalytically inactive BPLF1, the virus failed to suppress type I IFN production upon activation of cGAS and STING. This study demonstrated IFN antagonism of BPLF1 mediated through DUB-dependent deubiquitination of STING and TBK1 leading to suppression of cGAS-STING and RIG-I-MAVS signaling.
The detection of hot intergalactic gas in the NGC 3607 group of galaxies with the Einstein satellite

We have detected extended X-ray emission around the galaxies NGC 3607, NGC 3605, and NGC 3608 in the group TG 39a = G49 using the IPC aboard the Einstein satellite. We argue that this emission is due to thermal bremsstrahlung from a hot, intergalactic gas; this gas sits in the potential well of the group, around the dominant galaxy NGC 3607. We thus confirm the prediction made earlier that hot, intergalactic gas should be there to keep galaxies clear of gas, since previous sensitive H I observations of this group did not show evidence of neutral hydrogen (Biermann, Clarke, and Fricke). The gas has a density of about 4 x 10/sup -3/ cm/sup -3/, a temperature of about 5 x 10/sup 6/ K, a mass of about 6 x 10/sup 9/ M/sub sun/, and a cooling time of about 5dagger10/sup 9/ yr. The spatial structure of the X-ray emission around NGC 3607 suggests that the dominant galaxy is being stripped at present (cf. Lea and De Young). The X-ray luminosity and velocity dispersion of the galaxies in the group place it on the relation predicted by Silk and Tarter for groups and clusters of galaxies. We discuss the cosmological implicationsmore » of this detection. « less
Testing Panel Cointegration with Unobservable Dynamic Common Factors that are Correlated with the Regressors

The paper proposes statistics to test the null hypothesis of no cointegration in panel data when common factors drive the cross‐sectional dependence. We focus on the case in which regressors and the common factors are correlated, although the uncorrelated case is also discussed. Both endogenous and strictly exogenous regressors are considered. The test statistics are shown to have limiting distributions independent of the common factors, making it possible to pool the individual statistics. Simulations indicate that the proposed procedures have good finite sample performance.
Prognostication refinement in NPM1‐mutated acute myeloid leukemia stratified by FLT3‐ITD status with different induction doses of cytarabine

We aimed to retrospectively discern the heterogeneity of outcomes from clinicopathological characteristics and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) data in adult patients with NPM1‐mutated (NPM1mut) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) induced with standard‐dose (SD, 100–200 mg/m2) and intermediate‐dose (ID, 1000–2000 mg/m2) cytarabine arabinose (Ara‐C).
Instruments for measuring empowering patient education competence of nurses: Systematic review.

AIM This review aimed to identify validated self-reported instruments used to measure nurses' competence or attribute(s) of competence in empowering patient education, to describe their development and main content and critically appraise and summarize the quality of the instruments. DESIGN Systematic review. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases of PubMed, CINAHL and ERIC were searched from January 2000 to May 2022. REVIEW METHODS Data was extracted following predetermined inclusion criteria. With the support of the research group, two researchers performed data selection and appraised the methodological quality using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments checklist (COSMIN). RESULTS A total of 19 studies reporting 11 instruments were included. The instruments measured varied attributes of competence and the contents were heterogenous reflecting the complex nature of both empowerment and competence as concepts. Overall, the reported psychometric properties of the instruments and methodological quality of the studies were at least adequate. However, there was variation in the testing of the instruments' psychometric properties and lack of evidence limited the evaluation of both the methodological quality of the studies and quality of instruments. CONCLUSION The psychometric properties of the existing instruments assessing nurses' competence in empowering patient education need to be tested further, and future instrument development should be built on a clearer definition of empowerment as well as on more rigorous testing and reporting. In addition, continued efforts to clarify and define both empowerment and competence on the conceptual level are needed. IMPACT Evidence on nurses' competence in empowering patient education and its valid and reliable assessment instruments is scarce. Existing instruments are heterogenous and are often missing proper testing of validity and reliability. These findings contribute to further research on developing and testing the instruments of competence in empowering patient education and strengthening nurses' empowering patient education competence in the clinical practice.
On some specific properties of realization of finite-sequential functions by circuits consisting of unreliable elements

Some aspects of reliability of circuits consisting of unreliable elements are investigated. For the first time this problem was considered by von Neumann. He proved that if a basis consists of functional elements and the delay element, then for any finite-sequential function, which can be obtained from the functions of the basis by a superposition only, one can construct a circuit out of unreliable elements that realizes this function with the probability of error tending to 0 as the probability of element failure tends to 0. It is shown that for arbitrary finite-sequential functions this result is not true. ' The reliability of realization of finite-sequential functions by circuits consisting of unreliable elements out of arbitrary automata bases is also considered.
Autonomic nervous system assessment using heart rate variability

Abstract The role of the autonomic nervous system in the onset of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias is well established. It can be analysed by the spontaneous behaviour of the heart rate with ambulatory ECG recordings, through heart rate variability measurements. Input of heart rate variability parameters into artificial intelligence models to make predictions regarding the detection or forecast of rhythm disorders is becoming routine and neuromodulation techniques are now increasingly used for their treatment. All this warrants a reappraisal of the use of heart rate variability for autonomic nervous system assessment. Measurements performed over long periods such as 24H-variance, total power, deceleration capacity, and turbulence are suitable for estimating the individual basal autonomic status. Spectral measurements performed over short periods provide information on the dynamics of systems that disrupt this basal balance and may be part of the triggers of arrhythmias, as well as premature atrial or ventricular beats. All heart rate variability measurements essentially reflect the modulations of the parasympathetic nervous system which are superimposed on the impulses of the adrenergic system. Although heart rate variability parameters have been shown to be useful for risk stratification in patients with myocardial infarction and patients with heart failure, they are not part of the criteria for prophylactic implantation of an intracardiac defibrillator, because of their high variability and the improved treatment of myocardial infarction. Graphical methods such as Poincaré plots allow quick screening of atrial fibrillation and are set to play an important role in the e-cardiology networks. Although mathematical and computational techniques allow manipulation of the ECG signal to extract information and permit their use in predictive models for individual cardiac risk stratification, their explicability remains difficult and making inferences about the activity of the ANS from these models must remain cautious.
Quantitative proteomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from patients with small cell lung cancers

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the malignant cancers with aggressive progression and poor prognosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has been arising recently as a potential source of biomarkers for lung cancers. In this study, we performed quantitative BALF proteomic analysis to identify potential biomarkers for SCLC.
Characterization of Magnetic Flux in the Quiet Sun. II. The Internetwork Fields at High Angular Resolution

This paper presents high-resolution (0.″6) spectropolarimetric observations of very quiet solar regions. We make determinations of the magnetic flux density, intrinsic field strength, and magnetic filling factor in these regions. Our results confirm other previous works in that most of the internetwork flux is in the form of intrinsically strong fields. However, in contrast to other recent observations, we do not find a significant increase in the amount of unsigned magnetic flux relative to that measured at an angular resolution of 1'', nor do we find that most internetwork lanes are populated by strong flux. We discuss possible causes for this disparity. The lack of additional flux with increased resolution may be used to set constrains on the typical spatial scales at which mixed polarities occur (smaller than ≃0.″6).
About the quantum Talbot effect on the sphere

The Schrödinger equation on a circle with an initially localized profile of the wave function is known to give rise to revivals or replications, where the probability density of the particle is partially reproduced at rational times. As a consequence of the convolutional form of the general solution it is deduced that a piecewise constant initial wave function remains piecewise constant at rational times as well. For a sphere instead, it is known that this piecewise revival does not necessarily occur, indeed the wave function becomes singular at some specific locations at rational times. It may be desirable to study the same problem, but with an initial condition being a localized Dirac delta instead of a piecewise constant function, and this is the purpose of the present work. By use of certain summation formulas for the Legendre polynomials together with properties of Gaussian sums, it is found that revivals on the sphere occur at rational times for some specific locations, and the structure of singularities of the resulting wave function is characterized in detail. In addition, a partial study of the regions where the density vanishes, named before valley of shadows in the context of the circle, is initiated here. It is suggested that, differently from the circle case, these regions are not lines but instead some specific set of points along the sphere. A conjecture about the precise form of this set is stated and the intuition behind it is clarified.
Optimal Convergence Rate for Exact Policy Mirror Descent in Discounted Markov Decision Processes

Policy Mirror Descent (PMD) is a general family of algorithms that covers a wide range of novel and fundamental methods in reinforcement learning. Motivated by the instability of policy iteration (PI) with inexact policy evaluation, PMD algorithmically regularises the policy improvement step of PI. With exact policy evaluation, PI is known to converge linearly with a rate given by the discount factor $\gamma$ of a Markov Decision Process. In this work, we bridge the gap between PI and PMD with exact policy evaluation and show that the dimension-free $\gamma$-rate of PI can be achieved by the general family of unregularised PMD algorithms under an adaptive step-size. We show that both the rate and step-size are unimprovable for PMD: we provide matching lower bounds that demonstrate that the $\gamma$-rate is optimal for PMD methods as well as PI, and that the adaptive step-size is necessary for PMD to achieve it. Our work is the first to relate PMD to rate-optimality and step-size necessity. Our study of the convergence of PMD avoids the use of the performance difference lemma, which leads to a direct analysis of independent interest. We also extend the analysis to the inexact setting and establish the first dimension-optimal sample complexity for unregularised PMD under a generative model, improving upon the best-known result.
Low-temperature resistance of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes: A theoretical estimation

The resistances of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are calculated based on Boltzmann transport equation, graphene approximation relation of electronic energy for SWNTs and weak localization (WL) theory. The theoretical results of resistance for SWNTs are compared with experimental measurements. It has been found that, for nearly metallic and semiconducting SWNTs the theoretical result is consistent with experimental data roughly, whereas for truly metallic SWNTs (armchair ones) the theoretical result is in good agreement with measurement.