Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Appropriate LigaSure™ Device to Transect the Appendix—A Comparison between 5 mm and 10 mm Laparoscopic Devices in an Ex Vivo Trial

Background and Objectives: A topic of greatinterest in the surgical field comprises cost and time reduction operative techniques with high efficiency rates. Thus, the aim of this paper is to evaluate whether a transection of the appendix using only a laparoscopic LigaSure™ device is feasible and, if so, which size of the laparoscopic device is optimal. Materials and Methods: Appendectomy specimens were sealed and cut using LigaSureTM V (5 mm) and LigaSure AtlasTM (10 mm) devices ex vivo. Analysis criteria included handling, resistance to bursting pressure of the appendicular stump (adequacy), eligibility, durability and airtightness. Results: Twenty sealed areas were measured. While the 5 mm instrument was not able to transect the appendix in one attempt in any of the cases, the 10 mm device could be applied successfully without any handling difficulties. The adequacy of the sealed area was rated as complete and dry in all 10 cases using the 10 mm device and as oozing in 8 of the cases using the 5 mm device. There was no leakage in terms of air and liquid tightness using the 10 mm device, in contrast to six sealed segments with air and liquid leakage when using the 5 mm device. The resistance to bursting pressure was on average 285 mmHg and 60.5 mmHg with the 10 mm and 5 mm devices, respectively. The durability and eligibility of the 10 mm device were rated as very sufficient in 9 of 10 cases (1 perforation) in contrast to the 5 mm device, where the sealing in 9 of 10 cases was not sufficient (9 perforations). Conclusions: Using the 10 mm laparoscopic LigaSure™ device for the transection of the appendix seems to be feasible, safe and resistant to 300 mmHg bursting pressure. The 5 mm LigaSure™ instrument is inadequate to seal the appendix in humans.
The miRNA Content of Bone Marrow-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Contributes to Protein Pathway Alterations Involved in Ionising Radiation-Induced Bystander Responses

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their cargo, are important mediators of bystander responses in the irradiated bone marrow (BM). MiRNAs carried by EVs can potentially alter cellular pathways in EV-recipient cells by regulating their protein content. Using the CBA/Ca mouse model, we characterised the miRNA content of BM-derived EVs from mice irradiated with 0.1 Gy or 3 Gy using an nCounter analysis system. We also analysed proteomic changes in BM cells either directly irradiated or treated with EVs derived from the BM of irradiated mice. Our aim was to identify key cellular processes in the EV-acceptor cells regulated by miRNAs. The irradiation of BM cells with 0.1 Gy led to protein alterations involved in oxidative stress and immune and inflammatory processes. Oxidative stress-related pathways were also present in BM cells treated with EVs isolated from 0.1 Gy-irradiated mice, indicating the propagation of oxidative stress in a bystander manner. The irradiation of BM cells with 3 Gy led to protein pathway alterations involved in the DNA damage response, metabolism, cell death and immune and inflammatory processes. The majority of these pathways were also altered in BM cells treated with EVs from mice irradiated with 3 Gy. Certain pathways (cell cycle, acute and chronic myeloid leukaemia) regulated by miRNAs differentially expressed in EVs isolated from mice irradiated with 3 Gy overlapped with protein pathway alterations in BM cells treated with 3 Gy EVs. Six miRNAs were involved in these common pathways interacting with 11 proteins, suggesting the involvement of miRNAs in the EV-mediated bystander processes. In conclusion, we characterised proteomic changes in directly irradiated and EV-treated BM cells, identified processes transmitted in a bystander manner and suggested miRNA and protein candidates potentially involved in the regulation of these bystander processes.
UPLC-QE-Orbitrap-Based Cell Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Mechanism of N-Benzylhexadecanamide Isolated from Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) against Testicular Dysfunction

Testicular dysfunction (TDF) is characterized by testosterone deficiency and is caused by oxidative stress injury in Leydig cells. A natural fatty amide named N-benzylhexadecanamide (NBH), derived from cruciferous maca, has been shown to promote testosterone production. Our study aims to reveal the anti-TDF effect of NBH and explore its potential mechanism in vitro. This study examined the effects of H2O2 on cell viability and testosterone levels in mouse Leydig cells (TM3) under oxidative stress. In addition, cell metabolomics analysis based on UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS showed that NBH was mainly involved in arginine biosynthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, the TCA cycle and other metabolic pathways by affecting 23 differential metabolites, including arginine and phenylalanine. Furthermore, we also performed network pharmacological analysis to observe the key protein targets in NBH treatment. The results showed that its role was to up-regulate ALOX5, down-regulate CYP1A2, and play a role in promoting testicular activity by participating in the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway. In summary, our study not only provides new insights into the biochemical mechanisms of natural compounds in the treatment of TDF, but also provides a research strategy that integrates cell metabolomics and network pharmacology in order to promote the screening of new drugs for the treatment of TDF.
Crossterm suppression in the Wigner-Ville distribution of multicomponent sinusoids based on “ CLEAN ” in frequency domain

Based on the idea of signal decomposition and with multi sinusoids as the signal model, a new method to suppress crossterms in Wigner ville distribution (WVD) by use of the “ CLEAN ” technique in frequency domain is prosposed, in which the signal is first decomposed into different single sinusoids and then WVD of each decomposed signal is computed. The crossterms can be diminished and a high time frequency resolution obtained. Compared to “ CLEAN ”, the influence of different durations and a slowly varying envelope of each single component can be avoided, while instantaneous frequencies are kept correct, which is more attractive in applications such as ISAR imaging. The experiments by use of simulated and real world data confirm the method.
The Visual Behaviour of the Cyclist: Comparison between Simulated and Real Scenarios

Cyclists are one of the main categories of road users particularly exposed to accident risk. The increasing use of this ecological means of transport requires a specific assessment of cyclist safety in terms of traffic flow and human factors. In this study, a particular visual tracking tool has been used to highlight not only the main critical points of the infrastructure, where a high level of distraction is recorded, but also the various interactions with different road users (pedestrians, vehicles, buses, wheelchairs, cyclists). To confirm the critical aspects of the infrastructure and the trend of workload, a similar circuit was reproduced in a bicycle simulator, which also allowed a meaningful comparison of cycling behaviour. The innovative component of this paper is a comparison between a real test, held in Stockholm, and a simulator where the same scenario has been represented, in order to highlight the objective differences in behaviour. The cycling performance was also evaluated both from an objective point of view, with the count of frames related to each category of visualization, and from a subjective one, through the questionnaires. The results show the crossing as a critical aspect because only 4/3% fixation is required for both simulated and real tests to confirm the significance of the comparison between the two experiments. The high attention rate, resulting from frame-by-frame analysis, also points to a clear difference in the perception of users, who feel with a low workload.
Fungal Drug Response and Antimicrobial Resistance

Antifungal resistance is a growing concern as it poses a significant threat to public health. Fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The limited number of antifungal agents and the emergence of resistance have led to a critical need to understand the mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance. This review provides an overview of the importance of antifungal resistance, the classes of antifungal agents, and their mode of action. It highlights the molecular mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance, including alterations in drug modification, activation, and availability. In addition, the review discusses the response to drugs via the regulation of multidrug efflux systems and antifungal drug–target interactions. We emphasize the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance to develop effective strategies to combat the emergence of resistance and highlight the need for continued research to identify new targets for antifungal drug development and explore alternative therapeutic options to overcome resistance. Overall, an understanding of antifungal drug resistance and its mechanisms will be indispensable for the field of antifungal drug development and clinical management of fungal infections.
The Genus Heterogynis Rambur, 1866 (Heterogynidae, Lepidoptera): Congruence of Molecular, Morphological and Morphometric Evidence Reveal New Species in Serbia

Simple Summary The genus Heterogynis, with its wingless females and males with uniformly dull-coloured wings that show the same translucent grey–black colour, is certainly not the most exciting group of lepidopterans. However, this genus is interesting due to its relatively high divergence of DNA barcode. This high molecular divergence indicated that there might be an overlooked morphological diversity beyond the taxonomic characters usually analysed for species identification and delimitation. A new species, Heterogynis serbica sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea, Heterogynidae) has been described from the Republic of Serbia, Balkan Peninsula, by applying an integrative taxonomic approach using morpho-anatomical characteristics, linear wing morphometry and DNA barcoding. Male genitalia, SEM analysis of adult male head anatomy, abdominal tergites/sternites, cocoons and habitats of closely related species H. serbica sp. n. and H. zikici are discussed and illustrated. Integrative taxonomy has shown its strength in species delimitation. Here, by integrating the results obtained using comparative SEM analysis, morphometry and COI-based DNA barcoding, it was determined that the individuals found on Mt. Kopaonik belong to a new species for science. Abstract The Heterogynidae are a small family of moths consisting of a single genus Heterogynis and sixteen described species distributed in the Mediterranean region. A species new to science, Heterogynis serbica sp. nov., is described from the locality of Srebrenac, Mt. Kopaonik, Republic of Serbia, Balkan Peninsula, by applying an integrative taxonomic approach using morpho-anatomical characteristics, wing morphometics and DNA barcoding. Male genitalia, scanning electron micrographs of adult male head anatomy, abdominal tergites/sternites, cocoons and habitats of the closely related species H. serbica sp. nov. and H. zikici are discussed and illustrated. Photographs of adult males and females, cocoons, plants in which the cocoons were found and habitats are shown. Importantly, marked differences in genital structure and other morphological characters were noted. These differences were confirmed with forewing morphometrics and COI-based DNA barcoding results. Additionally, DNA barcodes for H. serbica sp. nov. and H. zikici were compared against previously available data for the genus to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships. We conclude that deep, previously unknown and unexpected intrageneric morphological diversity exists in the genus Heterogynis.
Speckle noise reduction in digital holography by slightly rotating the object

Abstract. This work shows the realization of speckle reduction in the numerical reconstruction of digitally recorded holograms by the superposition of multiple slightly rotated digital holographic images of the object. The superposition of T uncorrelated holographic images reduces the contrast of the speckle noise of the image following the expected 1/T law. The effect of the method on the borders of the resulting image is evaluated by quantifying the utilization of the dynamic range or the contrast between the white and black areas of a regular die. Experimental results validate the feasibility of the proposed method.
The supersymmetric Higgs sector and B B mixing for large tan

We match the Higgs sector of the most general flavour breaking and CP violating minimal su- persymmetric standard model (MSSM) onto a generic two-Higgs-doublet model, paying special attention to the definition of tan β in the effective theory. In particular no tan β-enhanced loop corrections appear in the relation to tan β defined in the DR scheme in the MSSM. The cor- rections to the Higgs-mediated flavour-changing amplitude s which result from this matching are especially relevant for the Bd and Bs mass differencesMd,s for minimal flavour violation, where the superficially leading contribution vanishes. We g ive a symmetry argument to explain this cancellation and perform a systematic study of all Higgs-mediated effects, including Higgs loops. The corrections toMs are at most 7% for � > 0 and MA < 600 GeV if constraints from other observables are taken into account. For � < 0 they can be larger, but are always less than about 20%. Contrary to recent claims we do not find numeri cally large contributions here, nor do we find any tan β-enhanced contributions from loop corrections to the Higgs potential in B + → τ + ν or B → Xsγ. We further update supersymmetric loop corrections to the Yukawa couplings, where we include all possible CP-violating phases and correct errors in the literature. The possible presence of CP-violating phases generated by Higgs exchange diagrams is briefly discussed as well. Finally we provide improved values for the bag factors P VLL 1 , P LR 2 , and P
ERDBF: Embedding-Regularized Double Branches Fusion for Multi-Modal Age Estimation

Human age information is present in the face image and speech, but most age estimation methods focus on single-modal data only. Although multi-modal approaches have achieved promising performance in other fields by leveraging complementarity between modalities, the development of age estimation has hardly been more inspired by them because of the problem of modality missing in age data. In this paper, we propose an Embedding-Regularized Double Branches Fusion (ERDBF) framework that can simultaneously handle single-modal and multi-modal age estimation. To address the modality missing, we design a double branches fusion network which consists of an embedding regularization module and an information interaction module. The former aims to enhance the representational capacity of single-modal features. The latter learns inter-modal complementary information. Through their collaboration in the fusion process, the network can extract discriminative age representations, and even if a certain modality is missing, robust age estimation can be achieved using enhanced single-modal information. To our best knowledge, the proposed framework is the first deep learning-based multi-modal age estimation framework that can easily utilize the achievements made in the single-modal and have broader applications. Experimental results show that our best method achieves state-of-the-art results on AgeVoxCeleb. The code is available at https://github.com/Daretowin/ERDBF.
Retour d’expérience sur l’organisation des ECOS dans trois universités françaises : Université Paris-Cité, Université de Normandie-Rouen, Université Montpellier-Nîmes

L’organisation des examens cliniques objectifs et structurés (ECOS) représente un réel défi auquel toutes les unités de formation et de recherche (UFR) de médecine sont actuellement confrontées. Cette modalité de contrôle des compétences reconnue pour évaluer le savoir-agir nécessite des ressources pédagogiques et logistiques importantes. Au centre de la réforme du deuxième cycle des études médicales, les premiers ECOS nationaux se dérouleront en mai 2024. Nous rapportons dans ce travail un retour sur les expériences bien singulières de trois UFR de médecine qui ont des promotions d’étudiants de taille variée et des contraintes spécifiques. Chacun de ces sites a mis en place une organisation particulière afin de pouvoir entraîner et évaluer ses étudiants aux ECOS. De la planification de l’examen, à la rédaction des stations, au recrutement des patients standardisés, l’ensemble des étapes nécessaires à la tenue des ECOS est rapporté. Nous vous proposons ainsi une liste de mesures qui nous paraissent indispensables à la bonne réussite des ECOS facultaires.
Optimal paths of piston motion of irreversible Otto cycle heat engines for minimum entropy generation

An Otto cycle heat engine with internal and external irreversibilities of heat transfer and friction,in which the heat transfer between the working fluid and the environment obeys Newton's heat transfer law [ q ∝ Δ(T)] and linear phenomenological heat transfer law [ q ∝ Δ(T -1)],respectively,is studied in this paper.The optimal piston motion trajectories for minimizing entropy generation per cycle are derived for the fixed total cycle time and fuel consumed per cycle.Optimal control theory is applied to determine the optimal piston trajectories for the cases of with and without piston acceleration constraint on each stroke and the optimal distribution of the total cycle time among the strokes with two heat transfer laws.The optimal piston motions with acceleration constraint for each stroke consist of three segments,including initial maximum acceleration and final maximum deceleration boundary segments,respectively.Numerical examples for optimal configurations are provided,and the results obtained are compared with those obtained when maximizing the work output with Newton's and linear phenomenological heat transfer laws.The results also show that optimizing the piston motion could reduce engine entropy generation by more than 30%. This is primarily due to the reduction of heat transfer loss on the initial portion of the power stroke.
Essential Amino Acids-Rich Diet Increases Cardiomyocytes Protection in Doxorubicin-Treated Mice

Background: Doxorubicin (Doxo) is a widely prescribed drug against many malignant cancers. Unfortunately, its utility is limited by its toxicity, in particular a progressive induction of congestive heart failure. Doxo acts primarily as a mitochondrial toxin, with consequent increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and attendant oxidative stress, which drives cardiac dysfunction and cell death. A diet containing a special mixture of all essential amino acids (EAAs) has been shown to increase mitochondriogenesis, and reduce oxidative stress both in skeletal muscle and heart. So, we hypothesized that such a diet could play a favorable role in preventing Doxo-induced cardiomyocyte damage. Methods: Using transmission electron microscopy, we evaluated cells’ morphology and mitochondria parameters in adult mice. In addition, by immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the expression of pro-survival marker Klotho, as well as markers of necroptosis (RIP1/3), inflammation (TNFα, IL1, NFkB), and defense against oxidative stress (SOD1, glutathione peroxidase, citrate synthase). Results: Diets with excess essential amino acids (EAAs) increased the expression of Klotho and enhanced anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory responses, thereby promoting cell survival. Conclusion: Our results further extend the current knowledge about the cardioprotective role of EAAs and provide a novel theoretical basis for their preemptive administration to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to alleviate the development and severity of Doxo-induced cardiomyopathy.
A Cost-Effective Sequential Route Recommender System for Taxi Drivers

This paper develops a cost-effective sequential route recommender system to provide real-time routing recommendations for vacant taxis searching for the next passenger. We propose a prediction-and-optimization framework to recommend the searching route that maximizes the expected profit of the next successful passenger pickup based on the dynamic taxi demand-supply distribution. Specifically, this system features a deep learning-based predictor that dynamically predicts the passenger pickup probability on a road segment and a recursive searching algorithm that recommends the optimal searching route. The predictor integrates a graph convolution network (GCN) to capture the spatial distribution and a long short-term memory (LSTM) to capture the temporal dynamics of taxi demand and supply. The GCN-LSTM model can accurately predict the pickup probability on a road segment with the consideration of potential taxi oversupply. Then, the dynamic distribution of pickup probability is fed into the route optimization algorithm to recommend the optimal searching routes sequentially as route inquiries emerge in the system. The recursion tree-based route optimization algorithm can significantly reduce the computational time and provide the optimal routes within seconds for real-time implementation. Finally, extensive experiments using Beijing Taxi GPS data demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed recommender system. History: Accepted by Ram Ramesh, Area Editor for Data Science and Machine Learning. Funding: This work was partially supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council [Grants CityU 21500220, CityU 11504322] and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72201222]. Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2021.0112 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2021.0112 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github. io/ .