Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of colorectal cancer in relatives of Iranian patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND A high rate of colorectal cancer occurrence is established in individuals with a positive family history of this type of cancer. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of colorectal cancer in first degree and second degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients. METHODS Family medical histories of 489 first degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients were obtained by a questionnaire. 249 average risk patients with no family history of colorectal cancer were included as control patients. RESULTS In our study from a total of 489 case patients, 153 (31.3%) had at least one close relative affected by colon cancer. Case-control analysis showed an odd ratio of 3.1 (95% CI, 2.07 to 6.27) for one and 5.7 (CI, 2.39 to 13.56) for two affected relatives. Cases with a positive family history had a 3.006 times greater risk in developing colorectal cancer if a first degree relative was affected comparing with a 4.9 times greater risk if a second degree family member was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Our study indicated a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer in male family relatives 50 years and older. Rectal area was found the most tumor side affected in case and control patients. CONCLUSION First-degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer had an increased risk of developing this type of cancer. The risk was greater when diagnosis was in male, elderly patients and other first-degree relatives were affected.
Balanced excitation and inhibition are required for high-capacity, noise-robust neuronal selectivity

Significance Neurons and networks in the cerebral cortex must operate reliably despite multiple sources of noise. Using a mathematical analysis and model simulations, we show that noise robustness requires synaptic connections to be in a balanced regime in which excitation and inhibition are strong and largely cancel each other. Our theory predicts an optimal ratio for the number of excitatory and inhibitory synapses that depends on the statistics of afferent activity and is consistent with data. This distinct form of excitation–inhibition balance is essential for robust neuronal selectivity and crucial for stability in associative memory networks, and it emerges automatically from learning in the presence of noise. Neurons and networks in the cerebral cortex must operate reliably despite multiple sources of noise. To evaluate the impact of both input and output noise, we determine the robustness of single-neuron stimulus selective responses, as well as the robustness of attractor states of networks of neurons performing memory tasks. We find that robustness to output noise requires synaptic connections to be in a balanced regime in which excitation and inhibition are strong and largely cancel each other. We evaluate the conditions required for this regime to exist and determine the properties of networks operating within it. A plausible synaptic plasticity rule for learning that balances weight configurations is presented. Our theory predicts an optimal ratio of the number of excitatory and inhibitory synapses for maximizing the encoding capacity of balanced networks for given statistics of afferent activations. Previous work has shown that balanced networks amplify spatiotemporal variability and account for observed asynchronous irregular states. Here we present a distinct type of balanced network that amplifies small changes in the impinging signals and emerges automatically from learning to perform neuronal and network functions robustly.
Role of Exercise and GDNF in an Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease: Implications for Neuroprotection

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting in part from loss of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons. Treatments act only to relieve symptoms. It is therefore essential to develop treatments that slow or reverse the neurodegenerative process. Here, I explored exercise as a potential treatment against a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model. 6-OHDA causes selective loss of DA neurons, a PD model. Forced limb use after 6-OHDA ameliorates behavioral and striatal DA effects. Further, exercise increases trophic factors, such as GDNF, that have neuroprotective qualities in this model. I explored the effects of forced limb use prior to 6-OHDA on the effects of the toxin and GDNF levels in the striatum. I demonstrated that prior forced limb use attenuated the behavioral deficits and loss of DA typical of 6-OHDA and increased GDNF in the striatum of animals exposed to forced use. The protective effect of exercise could reflect a decrease in the vulnerability of DA neurons, a regeneration of axons, or sprouting of axon terminals from undamaged neurons. Thus, I investigated the hypothesis that casting induced neuroprotection was due to the preservation of DA cells and terminals. Here, I demonstrated that forced limb use protected from 6-OHDA induced loss of DA neurons and terminals. These findings suggest that exercise exerts its effects by decreasing the vulnerability of DA neurons and terminals to 6-OHDA. Because casting increased GDNF, I next examined the effects of GDNF on 6-OHDA neurotoxicity during the 8 wk period after 6-OHDA. Using phenotypic markers of the nigrostriatal system, a non-DA cellular marker, and striatal DA content, I demonstrated these markers in the striatum and SN were not protected at 2 wks after 6-OHDA but recovered by 8 wks. No loss of DA cells in the SN or DA content in the striatum was observed in animals pretreated with GDNF. These data suggest that GDNF prevents 6-OHDA-induced DA cell death, but that weeks are required before these cells begin to normally express phenotypic markers. In conclusion, exercise may function to enhance the brain's ability to produce trophic factors, which may slow or halt the degenerative process in PD.
Long-Term Molecular Epidemiology of Staphylococcus epidermidis Blood Culture Isolates from Patients with Hematological Malignancies

Staphylococcus epidermidis is an important cause of bloodstream infections in patients with hematological malignancies. Knowledge of the long-term epidemiology of these infections is limited. We surveyed all S. epidermidis blood culture isolates from patients treated for hematological malignancies at the University Hospital of Örebro, Sweden from 1980 to 2009. A total of 373 S. epidermidis isolates were identified and multilocus sequence typing, staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) typing and standard antibiotic susceptibility testing were employed to characterize these isolates. The majority of the isolates 361/373 (97%) belonged to clonal complex 2, and the 373 isolates were divided into 45 sequence types (STs); Simpson's Diversity Index was 0.56. The most prevalent STs were ST2 (243/373, 65%) and ST215 (28/373, 8%). Ninety three percent (226/243) of the ST2 isolates displayed either SCCmec type III or IV. ST2 and 215 were isolated during the entire study period, and together these STs caused temporal peaks in the number of positive blood cultures of S. epidermidis. Methicillin resistance was detected in 213/273 (78%) of all isolates. In the two predominating STs, ST2 and ST215, methicillin resistance was detected in 256/271 isolates (95%), compared with 34/100 (34%) in other STs (p<0.001). In conclusion, in this long-term study of patients with hematological malignancies, we demonstrate a predominance of methicillin-resistant ST2 among S. epidermidis blood culture isolates.
Impact of growth patterns and early diet on obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in young children from developing countries

Non-communicable chronic diseases are now a worldwide epidemic. Diet and physical activity throughout life are among its main determinants. In countries undergoing the early stages of the nutrition transition weight gain from birth to 2 years of life is related to lean mass gain, while ponderal gain after age 2 years is related to adiposity and later diabetes and CVD risk. Evidence from developing countries undergoing the more advanced stages of the nutrition transition is limited. The early growth patterns of a cohort of Chilean children born in 2002 with normal birth weight who at 4 years had a high prevalence of obesity and CVD risk factors have been assessed. Results indicate that BMI gain in early life, particularly from 6 months to 24 months, is positively associated with adiposity and CVD risk status at 4 years. These results together with existing evidence suggest that actions to prevent obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases in developing countries should start early in life, possibly after 6 months of age. This approach should consider assessing the effect of mode of feeding and the amount and type of energy fed, as well as the resulting growth patterns. The challenge for researchers addressing the nutrition transition is to define the optimal nutrition in early life, considering not only the short- and long-term health consequences but also taking into account the stage of the nutritional transition for the given population of interest. The latter will probably require redefining optimal postnatal growth based on the context of maternal size and fetal growth.
Android vs Windows Mobile vs Java ME: a comparative study of mobile development environments

In this paper we look at three mobile development environments: Windows Mobile, Java ME and Android. Through platform comparison, the different environments are examined closely and strengths and weaknesses are brought to life. In all three environments example applications are written to compare the environments in action on respective devices. Environment specific deployment files are created to illustrate amount of boilerplate code and overhead during deployment. Different key areas such as implementation aspects, performance aspects and quality assurance are compared to give an in depth overview of the status of the different platforms. Our results show that although the three environments are similar in some aspects they still represent three distinctive fields each with their respective characteristics. Through our code examples and platform comparison we come to the conclusion that the Windows Mobile and Android platform provides a better development environment, whereas Java ME still struggles with poor emulator support and incompatible implementations. The main features they have in common are also seen in trends directly visible in the programming languages such as unit testing, language features and end user distribution strategies. Big differences are highlighted when inspecting community environments, hardware abilities and platform maturity. This will have large influence on the choice of development platform for creating novel assistive environment applications.
[18F]FDG Positron Emission Tomography within Two Weeks of Starting Erlotinib Therapy Can Predict Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Purpose The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate whether [18F]FDG-PET/CT, performed within two weeks of starting erlotinib therapy can predict tumor response defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria after 8 weeks of treatment in patients with inoperable (stage IIIA to IV) non-small cell lung cancer patients. Patients and Methods Three [18F]FDG-PET/CT scans were acquired in 12 patients before (5±4 days) and after 9±3 days (early PET) and 60±6 days (late PET) of erlotinib therapy. Conventional evaluation, including at least chest CT (baseline versus after 8 weeks of treatment), was performed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Change in [18F]FDG uptake was compared with conventional response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results By using ROC analysis, the Area Under the Curve for prediction of metabolic non-progressive disease (mNP) by early PET was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.62 to 1.1; P = 0.04) at a cut-off of 21.6% reduction in maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax). This correctly classified 11/12 patients (7 with true progressive disease; 4 with true non-progressive disease; 1 with false progressive disease). Non-progressive disease after 8 weeks of treatment according to RECIST 1.1 criteria was significantly more frequent in patients classified mNP (P = 0.01, Fisher's exact test). mNP patients showed prolonged PFS (HR = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.59; P<0.01) and OS (HR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.84; P = 0.03). Late PET analysis provided concordant results. Conclusion Morphologic response, PFS and OS survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients can be predicted by [18F]FDG-PET/CT scan within 2 weeks after starting erlotinib therapy.
INFRARED LUMINOSITIES AND AROMATIC FEATURES IN THE 24 μm FLUX-LIMITED SAMPLE OF 5MUSES

We study a 24 μm selected sample of 330 galaxies observed with the infrared spectrograph for the 5 mJy Unbiased Spitzer Extragalactic Survey. We estimate accurate total infrared luminosities by combining mid-IR spectroscopy and mid-to-far infrared photometry, and by utilizing new empirical spectral templates from Spitzer data. The infrared luminosities of this sample range mostly from 109 L☉ to 1013.5 L☉, with 83% in the range 1010 L☉ < LIR < 1012 L☉. The redshifts range from 0.008 to 4.27, with a median of 0.144. The equivalent widths of the 6.2 μm aromatic feature have a bimodal distribution, probably related to selection effects. We use the 6.2 μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon equivalent width (PAH EW) to classify our objects as starburst (SB)-dominated (44%), SB-AGN composite (22%), and active galactic nucleus (AGN)-dominated (34%). The high EW objects (SB-dominated) tend to have steeper mid-IR to far-IR spectral slopes and lower LIR and redshifts. The low EW objects (AGN-dominated) tend to have less steep spectral slopes and higher LIR and redshifts. This dichotomy leads to a gross correlation between EW and slope, which does not hold within either group. AGN-dominated sources tend to have lower log(LPAH7.7 μm/LPAH11.3 μm) ratios than star-forming galaxies, possibly due to preferential destruction of the smaller aromatics by the AGN. The log(LPAH7.7 μm/LPAH11.3 μm) ratios for star-forming galaxies are lower in our sample than the ratios measured from the nuclear spectra of nearby normal galaxies, most probably indicating a difference in the ionization state or grain size distribution between the nuclear regions and the entire galaxy. Finally, we provide a calibration relating the monochromatic continuum or aromatic feature luminosity to LIR for different types of objects.
Time-frequency signal and image processing of non-stationary signals with application to the classification of newborn EEG abnormalities

This paper presents an introduction to time-frequency (T-F) methods in signal processing, and a novel approach for EEG abnormalities detection and classification based on a combination of signal related features and image related features. These features which characterize the non-stationary nature and the multi-component characteristic of EEG signals, are extracted from the T-F representation of the signals. The signal related features are derived from the T-F representation of EEG signals and include the instantaneous frequency, singular value decomposition, and energy based features. The image related features are extracted from the T-F representation considered as an image, using T-F image processing techniques. These combined signal and image features allow to extract more information from a signal. The results obtained on newborn and adult EEG data, show that the image related features improve the performance of the EEG seizure detection in classification systems based on multi-SVM classifier.
Proposal Flow: Semantic Correspondences from Object Proposals

Finding image correspondences remains a challenging problem in the presence of intra-class variations and large changes in scene layout. Semantic flow methods are designed to handle images depicting different instances of the same object or scene category. We introduce a novel approach to semantic flow, dubbed proposal flow, that establishes reliable correspondences using object proposals. Unlike prevailing semantic flow approaches that operate on pixels or regularly sampled local regions, proposal flow benefits from the characteristics of modern object proposals, that exhibit high repeatability at multiple scales, and can take advantage of both local and geometric consistency constraints among proposals. We also show that the corresponding sparse proposal flow can effectively be transformed into a conventional dense flow field. We introduce two new challenging datasets that can be used to evaluate both general semantic flow techniques and region-based approaches such as proposal flow. We use these benchmarks to compare different matching algorithms, object proposals, and region features within proposal flow, to the state of the art in semantic flow. This comparison, along with experiments on standard datasets, demonstrates that proposal flow significantly outperforms existing semantic flow methods in various settings.
The Impact of the C-Terminal Domain on the Interaction of Human DNA Topoisomerase II α and β with DNA

Background Type II DNA topoisomerases are essential, ubiquitous enzymes that act to relieve topological problems arising in DNA from normal cellular activity. Their mechanism of action involves the ATP-dependent transport of one DNA duplex through a transient break in a second DNA duplex; metal ions are essential for strand passage. Humans have two isoforms, topoisomerase IIα and topoisomerase IIβ, that have distinct roles in the cell. The C-terminal domain has been linked to isoform specific differences in activity and DNA interaction. Methodology/Principal Findings We have investigated the role of the C-terminal domain in the binding of human topoisomerase IIα and topoisomerase IIβ to DNA in fluorescence anisotropy assays using full length and C-terminally truncated enzymes. We find that the C-terminal domain of topoisomerase IIβ but not topoisomerase IIα affects the binding of the enzyme to the DNA. The presence of metal ions has no effect on DNA binding. Additionally, we have examined strand passage of the full length and truncated enzymes in the presence of a number of supporting metal ions and find that there is no difference in relative decatenation between isoforms. We find that calcium and manganese, in addition to magnesium, can support strand passage by the human topoisomerase II enzymes. Conclusions/Significance The C-terminal domain of topoisomerase IIβ, but not that of topoisomerase IIα, alters the enzyme's KD for DNA binding. This is consistent with previous data and may be related to the differential modes of action of the two isoforms in vivo. We also show strand passage with different supporting metal ions for human topoisomerase IIα or topoisomerase IIβ, either full length or C-terminally truncated. They all show the same preferences, whereby Mg > Ca > Mn.
Transactive memory and power: Do leaders have access to different types of information?

A transactive memory system is a shared understanding of who knows what in a group. Groups complete tasks more efficiently when group members have access to transactive memory systems (Liang, et al., 1995). However, some group members may have more access than others. Some research indicates that the powerful know less about others (Fiske, 1993), while other research indicates that they know more about others, but only about task-relevant characteristics (Guinote, 2008; Overbeck & Park, 2006). Therefore, powerful individuals may have more access to some aspects of transactive memory systems. In this experiment, high power participants saw task-relevant and personal information about other group members. They recalled more information of both sorts than did low power participants. This indicates that powerful people may indeed have greater access to the information in transactive memory systems, and that this advantage is not limited to task-relevant information.
Increased Production of 12/15 Lipoxygenase Eicosanoids Accelerates Monocyte/Endothelial Interactions in Diabetic db/db Mice*

Atherosclerosis is a major complication of diabetes. Up to 16 weeks of age, the db/db mouse is insulin-resistant and hyperglycemic and is a good model of Type 2 diabetes. After ∼16 weeks of age, the mice develop pancreatic beta cell failure that can progress to a Type 1 diabetes phenotype. We have previously shown that glucose increases production of endothelial 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15LO) products in vitro. In young 10-week-old Type 2 diabetic db/db mice, we found significant elevations in levels of urinary 12/15LO products, 12S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12S-HETE) and 13S-hydroxyoctadecaenoic acid (13S-HODE) in vivo compared with C57BLKS/J mice. Using isolated primary aortic endothelial cells (ECs) from db/db mice and WEHI78/24 mouse monocyte cells in static adhesion assays, we found increased WEHI monocyte adhesion to db/db ECs (14 ± 2 monocytes/field for db/db ECs versus 4 ± 1 monocytes/field for C57BLKS/J ECs, p < 0.002). Thus, ECs from db/db mice appear to be “pre-activated” to bind monocytes. Analysis of db/db ECs revealed a 2-fold elevation in 12/15LO protein compared with C57BLKS/J EC. To determine that 12/15LO products were responsible for the increased monocyte adhesion observed with db/db ECs, we inhibited expression of murine 12/15LO using either an adenovirus expressing a ribozyme to 12/15LO (AdRZ) or with the 12/15LO inhibitor cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate. Treatment of db/db ECs for 48 h with AdRZ or 4 h with 10 μm cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate significantly reduced monocyte adhesion to db/db endothelium (p < 0.009). Thus, inhibition of the murine 12/15LO in db/db mice significantly reduced monocyte/endothelial interactions. We also found that adhesion of monocytes to diabetic db/db ECs was mediated by interactions of α4β1 integrin on monocytes with endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and connecting segment 1 fibronectin and interactions of β2 integrins with endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In summary, regulation of the 12/15LO pathway is important for mediating early vascular changes in diabetes. Modulation of the 12/15LO pathway in the vessel wall may provide therapeutic benefit for early vascular inflammatory events in diabetes.
Neurocognitive and Somatic Components of Temperature Increases during g-Tummo Meditation: Legend and Reality

Stories of g-tummo meditators mysteriously able to dry wet sheets wrapped around their naked bodies during a frigid Himalayan ceremony have intrigued scholars and laypersons alike for a century. Study 1 was conducted in remote monasteries of eastern Tibet with expert meditators performing g-tummo practices while their axillary temperature and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity were measured. Study 2 was conducted with Western participants (a non-meditator control group) instructed to use the somatic component of the g-tummo practice (vase breathing) without utilization of meditative visualization. Reliable increases in axillary temperature from normal to slight or moderate fever zone (up to 38.3°C) were observed among meditators only during the Forceful Breath type of g-tummo meditation accompanied by increases in alpha, beta, and gamma power. The magnitude of the temperature increases significantly correlated with the increases in alpha power during Forceful Breath meditation. The findings indicate that there are two factors affecting temperature increase. The first is the somatic component which causes thermogenesis, while the second is the neurocognitive component (meditative visualization) that aids in sustaining temperature increases for longer periods. Without meditative visualization, both meditators and non-meditators were capable of using the Forceful Breath vase breathing only for a limited time, resulting in limited temperature increases in the range of normal body temperature. Overall, the results suggest that specific aspects of the g-tummo technique might help non-meditators learn how to regulate their body temperature, which has implications for improving health and regulating cognitive performance.