Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EDNRB and DCC Salivary Rinse Hypermethylation Has a Similar Performance as Expert Clinical Examination in Discrimination of Oral Cancer/Dysplasia versus Benign Lesions

Purpose: Promoter hypermethylation has been recently proposed as a means for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) detection in salivary rinses. In a prospective study of a high-risk population, we showed that endothelin receptor type B (EDNRB) promoter methylation in salivary rinses is a useful biomarker for oral cancer and premalignancy. Experimental Design: Using that cohort, we evaluated EDNRB methylation status and 8 additional genes. Clinical risk assessment by expert clinicians was conducted and compared with biomarker performance in the prediction of premalignant and malignant disease. Methylation status of 9 genes was analyzed in salivary rinses of 191 patients by quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Results: HOXA9, EDNRB, and deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) methylation were associated (P = 0.012; P < 0.0001; P = 0.0005) with premalignant or malignant disease. On multivariable modeling, histological diagnosis was only independently associated with EDNRB (P = 0.0003) or DCC (P = 0.004) methylation. A subset of patients received clinical risk classification (CRC) by expert clinicians based on lesion examination. CRC, DCC, and EDNRB were associated with diagnosis of dysplasia/cancer on univariate (P = 0.008; P = 0.026; P = 0.046) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.012; P = 0.037; P = 0.047). CRC identified dysplasia/cancer with 56% of sensitivity and 66% of specificity with a similar area under curve [AUC; 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.60–0.81] when compared to EDNRB and DCC combined AUC (0.60, 95% CI = 0.51–0.69), sensitivity of 46% and specificity of 72%. A combination of EDNRB, DCC, and CRC was optimal AUC (0.67, 95% CI = 0.58–0.76). Conclusions: EDNRB and/or DCC methylation in salivary rinses compares well to examination by an expert clinician in CRC of oral lesions. These salivary biomarkers may be particularly useful in oral premalignancy and malignancy screening in clinical care settings in which expert clinicians are not available. Clin Cancer Res; 19(12); 3268–75. ©2013 AACR.
The levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in individuals occupationally exposed to municipal solid waste in Ogun State, South West Nigeria

Airway inflammation and related respiratory complaints are common symptoms among waste management workers (WMWs). This study investigated the relationship between exposure to municipal solid waste (MSW) and the levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress among WMW of Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A total of 280 subjects consisting of 180 WMW and 100 controls were recruited. Ten millilitres of blood were collected from antecubital vein of the subjects for analysis. Results reveal that exposure to MSW is associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Significant (p < 0.001) elevation of ceruloplasmin (Cp) and C-reactive protein was associated with marked decreases in superoxide dismutase (p < 0.01), catalase (p < 0.001), and glutathione (p < 0.05) and significant (p < 0.001) increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) and uric acid when compared with control. Haematological disorders include significant (p < 0.05) decreases in haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and mean corpuscular volume and significant (p < 0.01) increase in total leucocyte count. Apart from decreased albumin (p < 0.05) and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05) activity observed in WMW, other markers of hepatic (alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol and triglycerides) and renal (urea and creatinine) functions did not change significantly (p > 0.05) when compared with the control. A positive correlation between leucocytes (r = 0.195, p < 0.01), Cp (r = 0.210, p < 0.01) and job duration and between Cp and MDA (r = 0.200, p < 0.01) and Cp and leucocytes (r = 0.260, p < 0.001) were observed in WMW. Overall, exposure to MSW predisposes to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress and Cp may be a useful biomarker for monitoring health status of Nigerian WMWs.
Convexifying Polygons Without Losing Visibilities

We show that any simple n-vertex polygon can be made convex, without losing internal visibilities between vertices, using n moves. Each move translates a vertex of the current polygon along an edge to a neighbouring vertex. In general, a vertex of the current polygon represents a set of vertices of the original polygon that have become co-incident. We also show how to modify the method so that vertices become very close but not co-incident, in which case we need O(n 2 ) moves, where each move translates a single vertex. The proof involves a new visibility property of polygons, namely that every simple polygon has a visibilityincreasing edge where, as a point travels from one endpoint of the edge to the other, the visibility region of the point increases.
Early Embedding and Late Reranking for Video Captioning

This paper describes our solution for the MSR Video to Language Challenge. We start from the popular ConvNet + LSTM model, which we extend with two novel modules. One is early embedding, which enriches the current low-level input to LSTM by tag embeddings. The other is late reranking, for re-scoring generated sentences in terms of their relevance to a specific video. The modules are inspired by recent works on image captioning, repurposed and redesigned for video. As experiments on the MSR-VTT validation set show, the joint use of these two modules add a clear improvement over a non-trivial ConvNet + LSTM baseline under four performance metrics. The viability of the proposed solution is further confirmed by the blind test by the organizers. Our system is ranked at the 4th place in terms of overall performance, while scoring the best CIDEr-D, which measures the human-likeness of generated captions.
Local vascular changes induced by the cocarcinogen, phorbol myristate acetate.

Summary One µg of phorbol myristate acetate, an active tumor-promoting agent from croton oil, produces a severe, local vascular reaction in skin (ear) of CF1 and STS mice. The response is characterized by hyperemia and edema formation which can be quantitatively monitored by measuring uptake of circulating 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin. Microscopic detection of sites of endothelial injury in mice receiving i.v. carbon suspension shows the reaction to be primarily limited to venules. These microvascular changes are accompanied by mast cell degranulation in the affected tissues. Reactions develop about 1 hr after phorbol ester application, persist through 6 to 8 hr, and appear to be lessening in intensity by 24 hr. High doses (50 µg) of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induce similar vascular changes, although of much lower intensity and after a longer delay interval. Antagonists of histamine, serotonin, and kinins produce mild, transient suppression of the local vascular response to the phorbol ester. Hydrocortisone and salicylate are without effect on this component of the tissue reaction. Local application of tosyl phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, a protease inhibitor previously shown to suppress tumor promotion, affords a more sustained protection against the inflammatory activity of the phorbol ester.
Inhibition of protein kinase C blocks two components of LTP persistence, leaving initial potentiation intact

Protein kinase C (PKC) activity is increased following hippocampal long- term potentiation (LTP; Akers et al., 1986). A similar increase in PKC activity is measured following the induction of a long-lasting potentiation with abbreviated high-frequency stimulation (HFS) in combination with PKC-activating phorbol esters (Colley et al., 1989). Because phorbol esters have no effect on the initial potentiation produced with HFS, and because PKC activity appears to be related to the persistence of LTP and not to the initial change, we concluded that PKC regulates a post-initiation component of LTP. To define the time domain in which PKC activation is necessary for LTP, we studied the effect of the PKC inhibitors polymyxin B (PMXB) and 1-(5- isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) micropressure ejected at different time points before and after the induction of LTP. LTP was produced in intact rats with HFS of the perforant path, and inhibitor ejections were made in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. PMXB, which at lower doses is a selective inhibitor of PKC, had no effect on initial potentiation, yet caused decay of the potentiated response to baseline within 2 hr. Decay occurred when PMXB was ejected 15 min before and 15 and 30 min after HFS. PMXB, at either low or high doses, was ineffective in blocking LTP persistence at time points greater than 30 min after HFS. Low doses of H-7 produced similar effects to those of PMXB. However, in contrast to a high dose of PMXB, a high dose of H-7 inhibited the persistence of LTP when delivered 240 min after HFS. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Journey Through a Leaf: Phenomics Analysis of Leaf Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana

In Arabidopsis, leaves contribute to the largest part of the aboveground biomass. In these organs, light is captured and converted into chemical energy, which plants use to grow and complete their life cycle. Leaves emerge as a small pool of cells at the vegetative shoot apical meristem and develop into planar, complex organs through different interconnected cellular events. Over the last decade, numerous phenotyping techniques have been developed to visualize and quantify leaf size and growth, leading to the identification of numerous genes that contribute to the final size of leaves. In this review, we will start at the Arabidopsis rosette level and gradually zoom in from a macroscopic view on leaf growth to a microscopic and molecular view. Along this journey, we describe different techniques that have been key to identify important events during leaf development and discuss approaches that will further help unraveling the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie leaf growth.
Trichuris suis seems to be safe and possibly effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially Crohn's disease (CD), probably results from failure to downregulate a chronic Th1 intestinal inflammatory process. Induction of a Th2 immune response by intestinal helminths diminishes Th1 responsiveness. This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of helminthic ova in the treatment of active IBD.METHODS:We studied four patients with active CD and three with ulcerative colitis (UC). In an initial treatment and observation period, a single dose of 2500 live Trichuris suis eggs was given orally, and patients were followed every 2 wk for 12 wk. Baseline medications were continued at the same dose throughout the study. Safety was monitored by following the patients' clinical status and laboratory studies at regular intervals. Patients also were monitored regularly using the Crohn's Disease Activity Index, Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI), and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of Life Index (IBDQ). To assess safety and efficacy with repetitive doses, two patients with CD and two with UC were given 2500 ova at 3-wk intervals as maintenance treatment using the same evaluation parameters.RESULTS:During the treatment and observation period, all patients improved clinically without any adverse clinical events or laboratory abnormalities. Three of the four patients with CD entered remission according to the Crohn's Disease Activity Index; the fourth patient experienced a clinical response (reduction of 151) but did not achieve remission. Patients with UC experienced a reduction of the Clinical Colitis Activity Index to 57% of baseline. According to the IBD Quality of Life Index, six of seven patients (86%) achieved remission. The benefit derived from the initial dose was temporary. In the maintenance period, multiple doses again caused no adverse effects and sustained clinical improvement in all patients treated every 3 wk for >28 wk.CONCLUSION:This open trial demonstrates that it is safe to administer eggs from the porcine whipworm, Trichuris suis, to patients with CD and UC. It also demonstrates improvement in the common clinical indices used to describe disease activity. The benefit was temporary in some patients with a single dose, but it could be prolonged with maintenance therapy every 3 wk. The study suggests that it is possible to downregulate aberrant intestinal inflammation in humans with helminths.
Properties of a mechanically processed polymeric material

A semicrystalline polymer, polyamide, was processed using a new technique. The technique is that of mechanically grinding the material using large inputs of energy at temperatures below the glass-transition temperature and then later reconstituting the material by applying pressure and holding at a temperature below its melting point for a period of time. This technique is normally known as mechanical alloying and only very recently has been applied to polymeric materials. The mechanical properties of strength, ductility, toughness, and hardness of polyamide material processed by this technique are investigated and compared with those of polyamide material processed by other techniques. The results indicate that altered mechanical properties occur with specific enhancements. This means that useful structural components can be made from polymers using this processing technique. The analysis of x-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonace, scanning electron and optical microscopy suggests that this process has resulted in considerable alteration of both crystal structure and microstructure of this polymeric material. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
How space-number associations may be created in preliterate children: six distinct mechanisms

The directionality of space-number association (SNA) is shaped by cultural experiences. It usually follows the culturally dominant reading direction. Smaller numbers are generally associated with the starting side for reading (left side in Western cultures), while larger numbers are associated with the right endpoint side. However, SNAs consistent with cultural reading directions are present before children can actually read and write. Therefore, these SNAs cannot only be shaped by the direction of children’s own reading/writing behavior. We propose six distinct processes – one biological and five cultural/educational – underlying directional SNAs before formal reading acquisition: (i) Brain lateralization, (ii) Monitoring adult reading behavior, (iii) Pretend reading and writing, and rudimentary reading and writing skills, (iv) Dominant attentional directional preferences in a society, not directly related to reading direction, (v) Direct spatial-numerical learning, (vi) Other spatial-directional processes independent of reading direction. In this mini-review, we will differentiate between these processes, elaborate when in development they might emerge, discuss how they may create the SNAs observed in preliterate children and propose how they can be studied in the future.
General model for delayed feedback and its application to transimpedance amplifier's bandwidth optimization

Delays in real systems can be of two types: i) intrinsic delays - due to the physical principles of operation of each electronic device; ii) designed delays - due to extra circuits used to add the desired delay. Previous work established the possibility of achieving bandwidth improvements using small delays inside the feedback loop of feedback amplifiers. The modeling approach followed on these contributions used only one designed delay element. The bandwidth reduction effect due to intrinsic delays was not considered on these contributions. This paper extends the concept to the general case of feedback amplifiers that incorporates delays of both types. An experimental demonstration using a simple 0.35mum BiCMOS transimpedance amplifier further confirms the proposed model
Usefulness of simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics technique for MRI of the knee.

OBJECTIVE Simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH) is a parallel-imaging technique that uses fewer echoes than conventional techniques to obtain the desired resolution. Images are produced in a shorter time period using the SMASH technique than conventional techniques. This study assesses the usefulness of the SMASH technique in the MRI evaluation of the knee. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Three experienced musculoskeletal radiologists prospectively interpreted MR images of the knee in 50 consecutive patients. All patients underwent a complete MRI examination of the knee on a 1.5-T MRI scanner. Sagittal proton density fat-saturated and coronal T1-weighted images were obtained. In addition, fat-saturated T2-weighted images were obtained in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes. SMASH T2-weighted imaging in the coronal, axial and sagittal planes took 6 min 38 sec, whereas fast spin-echo conventional T2-weighted imaging took 11 min 45 sec to obtain images in the same planes. Each radiologist interpreted the knee MR examinations prospectively and was unaware whether the images had been obtained using the SMASH T2-weighted or fat-saturated T2-weighted technique. The radiologists provided a report. The three radiologists independently performed a retrospective review of both the fat-saturated T2-weighted and SMASH T2-weighted images. The radiologists were blinded as to which sequence was fat-saturated T2-weighted and which was SMASH T2-weighted. They were asked to reinterpret the images and determine whether either of the T2-weighted sequences altered the original interpretation. RESULTS There was no intraobserver variability in MRI interpretations with the use of SMASH imaging as compared with fat-saturated T2-weighted images. Thirty-four patients underwent arthroscopy after imaging. Findings at arthroscopy in those patients were as follows: 28 meniscal tears, 12 anterior cruciate ligament tears, and nine chondral defects. In some patients, multiple abnormalities were detected on MRI. All arthroscopy findings correlated with prospective MRI interpretations. CONCLUSION The use of SMASH T2-weighted imaging as opposed to fat-saturated T2-weighted imaging results in a significant decrease in imaging time (> 5-min decrease for each knee examination) without affecting the MRI interpretation or patient clinical outcome.
BOOTSTRAP UNION TESTS FOR UNIT ROOTS IN THE PRESENCE OF NONSTATIONARY VOLATILITY

Three important issues surround testing for a unit root in practice: uncertainty as to whether or not a linear deterministic trend is present in the data; uncertainty as to whether the initial condition of the process is (asymptotically) negligible or not, and the possible presence of nonstationary volatility in the data. Assuming homoskedasticity, Harvey, Leybourne, and Taylor (2011, Journal of Econometrics, forthcoming) propose decision rules based on a four-way union of rejections of quasi-differenced (QD) and ordinary least squares (OLS) detrended tests, both with and without a linear trend, to deal with the first two problems. In this paper we first discuss, again under homoskedasticity, how these union tests may be validly bootstrapped using the sieve bootstrap principle combined with either the independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) or wild bootstrap resampling schemes. This serves to highlight the complications that arise when attempting to bootstrap the union tests. We then demonstrate that in the presence of nonstationary volatility the union test statistics have limit distributions that depend on the form of the volatility process, making tests based on the standard asymptotic critical values or, indeed, the i.i. d. bootstrap principle invalid. We show that wild bootstrap union tests are, however, asymptotically valid in the presence of nonstationary volatility. The wild bootstrap union tests therefore allow for a joint treatment of all three of the aforementioned issues in practice.
Functional ATP-Binding Cassette Drug Efflux Transporters in Isolated Human and Rat Hepatocytes Significantly Affect Assessment of Drug Disposition

Freshly isolated hepatocytes are considered the gold standard for in vitro studies of hepatic drug disposition. To ensure a reliable supply of cells, cryopreserved human hepatocytes are often used. ABC-superfamily drug efflux transporters are key elements in hepatic drug disposition. These transporters are often considered lost after isolation of hepatocytes. In the present study, the expression and activity of ABC transporters BCRP, BSEP, P-gp, MRP2, MRP3, and MRP4 in human and rat cryopreserved hepatocytes were investigated. In commercially available human cryopreserved hepatocytes, all drug efflux transporters except human BCRP (hBCRP) exhibited similar expression levels as in fresh liver biopsies. Expression levels of hBCRP were 60% lower in cryopreserved human hepatocytes than in liver tissue, which could lead to, at most, a 2.5-fold reduction in hBCRP-mediated efflux. Fresh rat hepatocytes showed significantly lower levels of rat BCRP compared with liver expression levels; expression levels of other ABC transporters were unchanged. ABC transporters in human cryopreserved cells were localized to the plasma membrane. Functional studies could demonstrate P-gp and BCRP activity in both human cryopreserved and fresh rat hepatocytes. Inhibiting P-gp–mediated efflux by elacridar in in vitro experiments significantly decreased fexofenadine efflux from hepatocytes, resulting in an increase in apparent fexofenadine uptake. The results from the present study clearly indicate that ABC transporter-mediated efflux in freshly isolated as well as cryopreserved rat and human hepatocytes should be taken into account in in vitro experiments used for modeling of drug metabolism and disposition.
Visual servoing to catch fish using global/local GA search

This paper presents a vision-related technique for a real-time visual servoing. The method utilizes the global search feature of a genetic algorithm (GA) and a local search technique of the GA. In the GA process, the computation of the fitness function is based on the configuration of an object model designated as the surface-strips model. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed recognition method, experiments to track a fish by a hand-eye camera and catch the fish with a net attached to the hand of the manipulator have been performed.