Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Variants of DNA Repair Genes and Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study

As part of a population-based case-control study in Shanghai, China, we investigated whether variants in several DNA repair genes, either alone or in conjunction with other risk factors, are associated with prostate cancer risk. Genomic DNA from 162 patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer and 251 healthy men randomly selected from the population were typed for five nonsynonymous DNA repair markers. We found that the XRCC1-Arg399Gln AA and the MGMT-Leu84Phe CT+TT genotypes were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR), 2.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99-4.81 and OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.19-3.34, respectively]. In contrast, XRCC3-Thr241Met, XPD-Lys751Gln, and MGMT-Ile143Val markers showed no significant associations with risk, although due to the much lower frequency of their variant alleles in this population we cannot rule out small to modest effects. There was a significant interaction between the MGMT-84 marker and insulin resistance (Pinteraction = 0.046). Relative to men with the MGMT-84 CC genotype and a low insulin resistance (<0.097), those having the CT-TT genotype and a greater insulin resistance had a 5.4-fold risk (OR, 5.39; 95% CI, 2.46-11.82). In addition, for the XRCC3-241 marker, relative to men with the CC genotype and a low intake of preserved foods (<12.7 g/d), those harboring the CT+TT genotype and having a higher intake of preserved foods (>12.7 g/d), which contain nitrosamines and nitrosamine precursors, had a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer risk (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.13-6.06). In contrast, men with the CT+TT genotype and a low intake of preserved foods had a 69% reduction in risk (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10-0.96; Pinteraction = 0.005). These results suggest that genetic variants in the DNA repair pathways may be involved in prostate cancer etiology and that other risk factors, including preserved foods and insulin resistance, may modulate prostate cancer risk in combination with genetic susceptibility in these repair pathways. Replication in larger studies is necessary to preclude chance findings, particularly those among subgroups, and clarify the mechanisms involved.
Does the method of treatment of acutely ruptured intracranial aneurysms influence the incidence and duration of cerebral vasospasm and clinical outcome?

Objectives: Cerebral vasospasm remains the leading cause of death and permanent disability after subarachnoid haemorrhage. This study determined whether the method of aneurysm treatment plays an important role in determining the incidence of cerebral vasospasm and its clinical consequences. Methods: Admission data, cranial computed tomography (CT), treatment details, transcranial Doppler (TCD) results, and clinical outcomes of patients who had surgical or endovascular management of their ruptured aneurysm were recorded and subject to multivariate analysis. Results: Between January 1995 and December 1999, 292 eligible patients (206 female, 86 male) had definitive aneurysm treatment at our unit. 212 patients were clipped, 80 coiled. There was no significant difference in patient age, pre-treatment neurological grade, Fisher grade, or timing of treatment in the two groups. 48.3% patients developed TCD detected cerebral vasospasm and 16.1% patients developed permanent ischaemic neurological deficit. At clinical follow up, 84.2% of patients were well (mGOS 1 and 2) with a cumulative death rate of 6.5% from all causes. The only significant predictor of TCD-detected cerebral vasospasm was patient age (inversely, p = 0.004). Increased patient age, vasospasm, poor pre-treatment WFNS, and higher CT Fisher grades correlated with a poor discharge GOS. However, only poor pre-treatment WFNS grade and patient age correlated with poor GOS at follow up (p<0.001). Conclusion: The treatment method had no influence on the incidence or duration of TCD detected vasospasm and there was no significant difference in outcome at discharge or follow up between those patients who had surgery or endovascular management of their aneurysms.
A study of the discovery process in 802.11 networks

Today wireless communications are a synonym of mobility and resource sharing. These characteristics, proper of both infrastructure and ad-hoc networks, heavily relies on a general resource discovery process. The discovery process, being an unavoidable procedure, has to be fast and reliable to mitigate the effect of network disruptions. In this article, by means of simulations and a real testbed, our contribution is twofold. First we assess the discovery process focusing on the values of IEEE 802.11 timers: MinChannelTime and MaxChannelTime. Then, varying these timers, we propose and evaluate an adaptive discovery strategy from which we obtain notable improvements over a fixed timers strategy.
Endocrine and clinical effects of exemestane (PNU 155971), a novel steroidal aromatase inhibitor, in postmenopausal breast cancer patients: a phase I study.

Clinical and endocrinological effects of exemestane (6-methylenandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione; PNU 155971) were evaluated in an open Phase I study. Thirteen postmenopausal women suffering from advanced breast cancer received exemestane in escalating doses over a 12-week period. Starting on 5 mg once daily (o.d.), exemestane was subsequently escalated at 2-week intervals to 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg o.d. Each patient subsequently continued treatment on the highest tolerated dose until time of progression. One patient terminated treatment after 6 days due to diarrhea that was probably not related to drug therapy, although a relationship could not be excluded. Apart from this, no serious side effects were seen during the dose escalation period. Exemestane (10 mg o.d.) caused maximal suppression of plasma estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) to a mean of 14.6 and 5.8% of pretreatment levels, respectively, whereas 25 mg of exemestane o.d. suppressed estrone sulfate (E1S) to 8.9% of pretreatment levels. No fall in adrenal steroid levels was recorded. Exemestane (5 mg o.d.) suppressed urinary E2 and E1 to a mean of 11.9 and 12.2% of pretreatment levels, respectively. Administering exemestane at doses of 50-200 mg o.d. caused no further suppression of urinary E1, whereas urinary E2 fell to 6-7% of pretreatment levels. Median time to progression was 63 weeks. We conclude that exemestane is a well-tolerated aromatase inhibitor that effectively suppresses plasma and urinary estrogens in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer.
FVB/NJ Mice Are a Useful Model for Examining Cardiac Adaptations to Treadmill Exercise

Mice are commonly used to examine the mechanisms by which exercise improves cardiometabolic health; however, exercise compliance and adaptations are often strain-dependent or are variable due to inconsistency in exercise training protocols. In this study, we examined nocturnal/diurnal behavior, treadmill exercise compliance, and systemic as well as cardiac-specific exercise adaptations in two commonly used mouse strains, C57BL/6J, and FVB/NJ mice. Metabolic cage analysis indicated a strong nocturnal nature of C57BL/6J mice, whereas FVB/NJ mice showed no circadian element to activity, food or water intake, VO2, or VCO2. Initial exercise capacity tests revealed that, compared with C57BL/6J mice, FVB/NJ mice are capable of achieving nearly 2-fold higher workloads prior to exhaustion. FVB/NJ mice tested during the day were capable of achieving significantly more work compared with their night-tested counterparts. Following 4 weeks of training, FVB/NJ mice showed significant increases in exercise capacity as well as physiologic cardiac growth characterized by enlarged myocytes and higher mitochondrial DNA content. C57BL/6J mice showed no increases in exercise capacity or cardiac growth regardless of whether they exercised during the day or the night. This lack of adaptation in C57BL/6J mice was attributable, at least in part, to their progressive loss of compliance to the treadmill training protocol. We conclude that the FVB/NJ strain is a useful and robust mouse model for examining cardiac adaptations to treadmill exercise and that treadmill training during daytime hours does not negatively affect exercise compliance or capacity.
End-organ damage in urbanized Africans with low plasma renin levels: the SABPA study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether active renin concentration is associated with markers of end-organ damage in urbanized Africans. This study forms part of the Sympathetic Activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans (SABPA) study. For this study, 81 men and 74 women were divided into low- and high-renin groups. Ambulatory blood pressure measurements were conducted. A resting 12-lead ECG was determined in order to determine the gender-specific Cornell voltage. Cardiovascular variables were continuously recorded with the Finometer. Carotid-dorsalis pedis pulse wave velocity was obtained with the Complior acquisition system. The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was obtained with the SonoSite MicroMaxx. Blood samples were collected; serum and plasma were stored at −80 °C for analysis. Anthropometric measurements were taken using standard methods. A general health questionnaire was also completed. The urinary creatinine was determined with a calorimetric method and albumin with a turbidimetric method. The serum sodium and potassium were determined by making use of the Konelab TM 20i Sequential Multiple Analyzer Computer (SMAC). The concentration of active renin in the plasma was analyzed by making use of a high-sensitivity radio-immunometric assay. A negative association (r = −0.29, p < 0.01) exists between renal function (ACR) and plasma renin in the low-renin group (<6.18 pg/mL), which was not observed in Africans with high-renin levels. It seems evident that low renin in black South Africans may result in sub-clinical renal damage and impaired vascular function in a group of urbanized black South Africans.
Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia montanensis, Kentucky and Tennessee, USA

We found that 14.3% (15/105) of Amblyomma maculatum and 3.3% (10/299) of Dermacentor variabilis ticks collected at 3 high-use military training sites in west-central Kentucky and northern Tennessee, USA, were infected with Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia montanensis, respectively. These findings warrant regional increased public health awareness for rickettsial pathogens and disease.
Biphasic regulation of InsP3 receptor gating by dual Ca2+ release channel BH3-like domains mediates Bcl-xL control of cell viability

Significance Changes in Ca2+ concentration in the cell play important roles in cell life and death decisions. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins help protect cells from dying by interacting with proteins at mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. At the endoplasmic reticulum, antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins interact with InsP3R Ca2+ channels that release Ca2+ into the cytoplasm. However, it is controversial how they interact with the InsP3R, as well as the functional consequences of the interactions. We found that antiapoptotic Bcl-xL interacts with InsP3Rs by unique mechanisms that change the activity of the channel depending on its concentration. We also found that disrupting these interactions diminishes cell viability. Our results provide a unifying model of the effects of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins on the InsP3R. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members interact with inositol trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) Ca2+ release channels in the endoplasmic reticulum to modulate Ca2+ signals that affect cell viability. However, the molecular details and consequences of their interactions are unclear. Here, we found that Bcl-xL activates single InsP3R channels with a biphasic concentration dependence. The Bcl-xL Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain-binding pocket mediates both high-affinity channel activation and low-affinity inhibition. Bcl-xL activates channel gating by binding to two BH3 domain-like helices in the channel carboxyl terminus, whereas inhibition requires binding to one of them and to a previously identified Bcl-2 interaction site in the channel-coupling domain. Disruption of these interactions diminishes cell viability and sensitizes cells to apoptotic stimuli. Our results identify BH3-like domains in an ion channel and they provide a unifying model of the effects of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins on the InsP3R that play critical roles in Ca2+ signaling and cell viability.
Cooperative Multi-relay Scheme for Secondary Spectrum Access

In this paper, we propose a cooperative multi-relay scheme for a secondary system to achieve spectrum access along with a primary system. In the primary network, a primary transmitter (PT) transmits the primary signal to a primary receiver (PR). In the secondary network, N secondary transmitter-receiver pairs (ST-SR) selected by a centralized control unit (CCU) are ready to assist the primary network. In particular, in the first time slot, PT broadcasts the primary signal to PR, which is also received by STs and SRs. At STs, the primary signal is regenerated and linearly combined with the secondary signal by assigning fractions of the available power to the primary and secondary signals respectively. The combined signal is then broadcasted by STs in a predetermined order. In order to achieve diversity gain, STs, SRs and PT will combine received replicas of the primary signal, using selection combining technique (SC). We derive the exact outage probability for the primary network as well as the secondary network. The simulation results are presented to verify the theoretical analyses.
Management of ureteral stricture disease during laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Laparoscopic surgery has many applications in urology. The surgical management of obliterative ureteral stricture disease using laparoscopy has not been widely reported. We recently implemented this technique in an adult patient with an obliterative ureteral stricture. METHODS A transperitoneal refluxing right ureteral reimplantation was performed using the Endostitch device. Placement of the new ureteral orifice in the bladder was monitored by simultaneous cystoscopy and laparoscopy. The anastomosis was performed without tension, torsion, or angulation and was stented for 4 weeks. RESULTS The operative time was 233 minutes. The blood loss was minimal. There were no intraoperative complications, and the postoperative hospital course was uneventful. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation is a safe and feasible technique. Cystoscopic determination of the neoureteral orifice is helpful. The Endostitch device is a useful adjunct in this procedure.
Generator Fault Tolerance and Grid Codes

In large interconnected power grids, it is incumbent on each generating plant to do its fair share in maintaining the security and reliability of the grid. Recently, fault ride-through (FRT) requirements have been receiving the most attention. The article review the roots of transient stability requirements and recent developments in FRT requirements for wind plants. It discusses how wind plant FRT requirements are being imposed on conventional plants with synchronous machines and how interpretations of FRT requirements have been growing to cover some aspects of transient stability. It was concluded with a discussion about how FRT requirements should complement the established reliability criteria that provide the basis for the transient stability of power grids.
SUPER-RESOLUTION RESTORATION OF CONTINUOUS IMAGE SEQUENCE - ADAPTIVE FILTERING APPROACH

In this paper, we propose computationally efficient super-resolution restoration algorithms for blurred, noisy and down-sampled continuous image sequences. The proposed approach is a generalization of the stochastic estimation based methods (the ML and the MAP estimators) for the restoration of single blurred and noisy images. The blur, decimation, and noise degredations are modeled as a sparse matrices linear equation connecting the measurements to the ideal required image. A second linear equation can be added in order to include a localy adaptive spatial smoothness prior, similar to the way it is done in the Constrained Least Squares method. Based on these two equations, a classic super-resolution restoration approach can be suggested as a by-product of the above formulation. This way, a single improved resolution image can be restored from several warped, blurred, noisy and down-sampled versions of it. The adaptive spatial regularization term is shown to improve the restored image sequence quality by forcing smoothness, while preserving edges. When attempting to treat continuous image sequences, the temporal axis is to included into the model. This is done by using temporal smoothness assumption along motion trajectories, resulting with a calssic state-space equations model. The obtained model can serve as a basis for the application of the Kalman filter (KF), but a direct application of the KF is far to complex to imlement. The state-space equations model are thus further simplified, yielding a Least Squares (LS) model an instantaneous squared error quality measure which is to be minimized over time. The RLS and LMS adaptive algorithms can be applied directly to the new simplified model. This way, simple yet very effective two recursive algorithms for the estimation of the restored improved resolution image sequence in time are composed. The computation complexity of the obtained algorithms is of the order O L L { log } 2 ( ) per one output image, where L2 is the number of pixels in the output image. Simulations carried out on test sequences prove these methods to be applicable, efficient, and with very promising results.
Inhibition of Neuroinflammation Prevents Injury to the Serotonergic Network After Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Immature Rat Brain

The phenotypic identities and characterization of neural networks disrupted after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in the preterm brain remain to be elucidated. Interruption of the central serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) system can lead to numerous functional deficits, many of which match those in human preterm neonates exposedto HI. How the central serotonergic network is damaged after HIand mechanisms underlying such injury are not known. We used aPostnatal Day 3 rat model of preterm HI and found parallel reductionsin the 5-HT transporter expression, 5-HT levels and numbers of 5-HT-positive dorsal raphe neurons 1 week after insult. Post-HI administration of minocycline, an inhibitor of activated microglia, attenuated HI-induced damage to the serotonergic network. Minocycline effects seemed to be region specific, that is, where there was microglialactivation and increases in tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and interleukin1&bgr;. The concurrent improvement in serotonergic outcomes suggests that inhibition of neuroinflammation prevented damage to theserotonergic neurons rather than affected the regulation of 5-HT orserotonin transporter. These data elucidate the mechanisms of serotonergic network injury in HI, and despite the known adverse effects associated with the use of minocycline in neonates, postinsult administration of minocycline may represent a novel approach to counter neuroinflammation and preserve the integrity of the central serotonergic network in the preterm neonate.
Visual and semantic similarity in ImageNet

Many computer vision approaches take for granted positive answers to questions such as “Are semantic categories visually separable? ” and “Is visual similarity correlated to semantic similarity? ”. In this paper, we study experimentally whether these assumptions hold and show parallels to questions investigated in cognitive science about the human visual system. The insights gained from our analysis enable building a novel distance function between images assessing whether they are from the same basic-level category. This function goes beyond direct visual distance as it also exploits semantic similarity measured through ImageNet. We demonstrate experimentally that it outperforms purely visual distances.
Explaining Rape during Civil War: Cross-National Evidence (1980–2009)

Why do some armed groups commit massive wartime rape, whereas others never do? Using an original dataset, I describe the substantial variation in rape by armed actors during recent civil wars and test a series of competing causal explanations. I find evidence that the recruitment mechanism is associated with the occurrence of wartime rape. Specifically, the findings support an argument about wartime rape as a method of socialization, in which armed groups that recruit by force—through abduction or pressganging—use rape to create unit cohesion. State weakness and insurgent contraband funding are also associated with increased wartime rape by rebel groups. I examine observable implications of the argument in a brief case study of the Sierra Leone civil war. The results challenge common explanations for wartime rape, with important implications for scholars and policy makers.
Synthesis of fault-tolerant supervisor for automated manufacturing systems: a case study on photolithographic process

A discrete event dynamic system (DEDS) approach is utilized to improve the reliability of a system from the fault-tolerance viewpoint. We propose a systematic way to classify faults and failures quantitatively and to find tolerable fault event sequences embedded in DEDSs. After this, the synthesis of a fault-tolerant supervisory control system is investigated. A case study of a photolithographic process in a semiconductor manufacturing system is provided to illustrate these techniques.
Pseudorabies Virus Variant in Bartha-K61–Vaccinated Pigs, China, 2012

The widely used pseudorabies virus (PRV) Bartha-K61 vaccine has played a key role in the eradication of PRV. Since late 2011, however, a disease characterized by neurologic symptoms and a high number of deaths among newborn piglets has occurred among Bartha-K61–vaccinated pigs on many farms in China. Clinical samples from pigs on 15 farms in 6 provinces were examined. The PRV gE gene was detectable by PCR in all samples, and sequence analysis of the gE gene showed that all isolates belonged to a relatively independent cluster and contained 2 amino acid insertions. A PRV (named HeN1) was isolated and caused transitional fever in pigs. In protection assays, Bartha-K61 vaccine provided 100% protection against lethal challenge with SC (a classical PRV) but only 50% protection against 4 challenges with strain HeN1. The findings suggest that Bartha-K61 vaccine does not provide effective protection against PRV HeN1 infection.
Attitudes towards Computer and Computer Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Preservice Mathematics Teachers' Computer Anxiety.

The study investigated attitudes towards computer and computer self-efficacy as predictors of computer anxiety among 310 preservice mathematics teachers from five higher institutions of learning in Lagos and Ogun States of Nigeria using the quantitative research method within the blueprint of the descriptive survey design. Data collected were analysed using the descriptive statistics of percentages, mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics of factor analysis, independent samples t-test, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Finding revealed that attitude toward computer assessed by the attitudes towards computer scale was a multi-dimensional construct (affective, perceived usefulness, behavioural intention and perceived control component). Gender differences in attitude toward computer and computer anxiety among preservice mathematics teachers were significant. Affective component, computer self-efficacy, perceived control component, and perceived usefulness component made statistically significant contributions to the variance in preservice mathematics teachers’ computer anxiety. The study recommended among others that academic institutions should pay more attention to this computer anxiety and adopt proper ways of reducing the computer anxiety, so that positive e-learning experiences can be created for preservice teachers.