Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival prediction in patients undergoing radionuclide therapy based on intratumoral somatostatin-receptor heterogeneity

The NETTER-1 trial demonstrated significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in neuroendocrine tumors (NET) emphasizing the high demand for response prediction in appropriate candidates. In this multicenter study, we aimed to elucidate the prognostic value of tumor heterogeneity as assessed by somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-PET/CT. 141 patients with SSTR-expressing tumors were analyzed obtaining SSTR-PET/CT before PRRT (1-6 cycles, 177Lu somatostatin analog). Using the Interview Fusion Workstation (Mediso), a total of 872 metastases were manually segmented. Conventional PET parameters as well as textural features representing intratumoral heterogeneity were computed. The prognostic ability for PFS and overall survival (OS) were examined. After performing Cox regression, independent parameters were determined by ROC analysis to obtain cut-off values to be used for Kaplan-Meier analysis. Within follow-up (median, 43.1 months), 75 patients showed disease progression (median, 22.2 m) and 54 patients died (median, 27.6 m). Cox analysis identified 8 statistically independent heterogeneity parameters for time-to-progression and time-to-death. Among them, the textural feature Entropy predicted both PFS and OS. Conventional PET parameters failed in response prediction. Imaging-based heterogeneity assessment provides prognostic information in PRRT candidates and outperformed conventional PET parameters. Its implementation in clinical practice can pave the way for individualized patient management.
Applying Structural Equational Model (SEM) to Analysis of Perceived Social Media Influence on Intention to Buy Online Store by Consumer Trust and Hedonic Brand Image

Purpose: This research aims to examine the influence of social media perceptions which directly influence repurchase intentions which are mediated by consumer trust and hedonic brand image in an online shop by applying the Structural Equational Model (SEM) with Partial Lease Square (Smart PLS) technique.Methods: This research examines the effect of social media perception intervention on repurchase intentions which is analyzed with a population taken from consumers in four marketplaces, including Lazora.Com, Lazada.com, and Blibli.com. bukalapak.com. The number of samples in this research was 80 respondents. The sampling technique uses accidental, namely distributing questionnaires to consumers who meet in WhatsApp groups. The data was tested with the variable social media perception, purchase intention, consumer trust, and hedonic brand image. Data were analyzed using the Structural Equational Model (SEM) with Partial Lease Square (Smart PLS) technique.Result: The research results show that the indicator variables proposed to test the influence of perceived social media on repurchase decisions. The Q2 predictive relevance value shows that the perceived social and consumer trust contributes 0.7647 towards the intention to buy. The rest which is 0.2353 is affected by the other variable. Therefore, social media perceptions do not influence repurchase intentions, but social media perceptions influence repurchase intentions which are mediated by consumer trust and Hedonic Brand Image in an online shop.Research limitation: We found that there are perceived social media influence repurchase intention to buy mediated by consumer trust and Hedonic Brand Image in an online store. This will contribute to other research, creating Consumer trust and a Hedonic Brand image is very important to increase repurchase intention to buy in an online store. Practical implications – The findings of this study may contribute to consumer behavior models, online stores, and Tripple duties.Novelty: The novelty of this research is that consumer trust and hedonic brand Image can increase the intention to buy in an online store.
Determinants of urban-rural differentials of antenatal care utilization in Nigeria 1

Demographic and public health studies have indicated urban-rural differences in the utilization of antenatal care services. However, factors accounting for the urban-rural differentials in Antenatal Care use are unknown. The study used the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) to examine the factors associated with the urban-rural differentials in antenatal care utilization in Nigeria. The logistic regression analysis revealed an urban rural differential in the utilization of antenatal care in Nigeria. It was revealed that rural women were less likely to use antenatal care than urban women (O.R= 0.53, C.I= 0.48-0.59). Other determinants of antenatal care utilization in Nigeria include age, region, women educational level, religion, distance to health facility, partner’s educational level, employment status, number of living children and wealth status . This study recommends that public health intervention programs and government efforts should be targeted at addressing these determinants of urban-rural differentials of antenatal care use in Nigeria in order to increase antenatal care use and consequently reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality in Nigeria
Developments in surgical revascularization to achieve improved morbidity and mortality

ABSTRACT Coronary artery bypass graft surgery remains the main treatment modality for multivessel coronary artery disease and has consistently been demonstrated to have significantly lower rates of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in comparison to percutaneous coronary intervention. In this article we will explore the advances over time and the recent refinements in the techniques of surgical revascularization and how these contribute to the superior outcome profile associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery. These include the current outcome status of coronary artery bypass grafting; the major landmark trials, registries and meta-analyses comparing coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous coronary intervention; the developments in coronary artery disease lesion classification; the techniques for the physiological assessment of coronary artery lesions; bypass grafting using arterial conduits; the role of off-pump coronary artery surgery; the outcomes of reoperative surgery; hybrid techniques for coronary revascularization; minimally invasive coronary artery surgery and finally robotic surgery.
Correlation between induction of DNA fragmentation and micronuclei formation in kidney cells from rats and humans and tissue-specific carcinogenic activity.

Five chemicals, known to induce kidney tumors in rats, were assayed for their ability to induce DNA damage and formation of micronuclei in primary cultures of rat and human kidney cells and in the kidney of intact rats. Significant dose-dependent increases of DNA fragmentation, as measured by the Comet assay, and of micronuclei frequency were obtained in primary kidney cells from both rats and humans with the following concentrations of the five test compounds: lead acetate (not tested for micronuclei induction) and potassium bromate from 0.56 to 1.8 mM, phenacetin from 1 to 3.2 mM, and 1, 4-dichlorobenzene and nitrilotriacetic acid from 1.8 to 5.6 mM. In terms of DNA-damaging potency all the five chemicals were more active in rat than in human kidney cells, whereas the potencies in inducing micronuclei formation were similar in the two species with the exception of 1,4-dichlorobenzene, which was slightly more potent in human than in rat cells. Consistently with the results observed in vitro, statistically significant increases in the average frequency of both DNA breaks and micronucleated cells were detected in the kidney of rats given po a single (12 LD50) or three successive daily doses (13 LD50) of the five test compounds. 4, 4'-Methylenedianiline, a carcinogen which does not induce kidney tumors in rats, gave negative responses in both in vitro and in vivo assays. These findings give evidence that kidney carcinogens may be identified by short-term genotoxicity assays using as target kidney cells and show that the five chemicals tested produce in primary cultures of kidney cells from human donors effects similar to those observed in rats.
Corticosteroids in herpes simplex virus encephalitis

BCG vaccination may lessen the severity of, rather than completely prevent, serious forms of tuberculosis In this issue of the journal ( see pages 1550–4 ), Kumar et al report on the efficacy of bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination in favourably altering the course and outcome of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children. The value of BCG vaccination for preventing tuberculosis has been debated since its introduction nearly eight decades ago. Several trials, cohort studies, and case control studies have failed to provide a definitive answer to this contentious issue. A recent meta-analysis revealed that the protective effect of BCG vaccination in infants was only around …
SAR Raw Data Simulation for Ocean Scenes Using Inverse Omega-K Algorithm

This paper deals with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) raw data simulation for ocean scenes featuring surface waves and currents, an issue which has proven to be of great necessity in preparing for future oceanic SAR missions. In this paper, the inverse Omega-K (IOK) algorithm, which is originally designed for SAR raw data simulation of stationary land scenes, is extended to ocean scenes. To realize such a generalization, endeavors are made in two aspects. First, specially aimed at ocean dynamics of ocean waves and currents, the 2-D spectrum of the SAR signal is derived. Second, to account for the spatial variation of ocean-motion parameters, we adopt a strategy called batch processing, whose basic feature is that a single implementation of the IOK algorithm will simultaneously simulate a collection of ocean-surface backscattering elements that have the same radial velocity. For the proposed simulator, the velocity bunching effect is embodied via making the long-wave radial orbital velocities physically enter the range equation of the SAR raw signal, instead of superimposing this effect onto the reflectivity map. The spread of the facet velocities within one resolution cell enters the raw data through a random perturbation of the local long-wave orbital velocity. The proposed simulator is not only rather accurate due to the fact that, in deriving the range frequency mapping function, no Taylor expansion is made on the range equation, but also much more efficient than its time-domain counterpart. Effectiveness of the proposed simulator is validated by using simulation results.
Relationship between the Practise of Consuming Pork Lawar and the Prevalence of Taeniasis in Kerobokan Village, Badung Regency, Bali

Abstract. Introduction: Taeniasis is an infection brought on by Taenia sp. Tapeworms, one of which is Taenia solium, whose intermediate host is swine. Adult tapeworms develop in the intestines of the host (human) after consuming infected pork that was not properly prepared. Lawar babi is one of the Balinese dishes that utilises cooked, undercooked, or even uncooked pork. Balinese, including residents of Kerobokan Village, are accustomed to eating pork lawar. Objective: To determine the relationship between the consumption of pork lawar and the incidence of taeniasis in the village of Kerobokan, Badung Regency, Bali. Methods: This is a correlative categorical research with a cross sectional design. The study population is people in Kerobokan Village, Bali Province. Using power of 0.8 strength of linear correlation of 0.25, and additional 10% for incomplete data, we obtain sample size of 128 people who meet inclusion criteria. Data was obtained by filling out a set of validated questionnaire. Results: Sixty-five out of 128 respondents (50.8%) were found to possess a positive inclination towards the consumption of pork lawar, and only 1 (one) respondent (0.08%) had a history of taeniasis. The significance value of the correlation (p) between the habit of eating pork lawar and a history of taeniasis was 0.312. Conclusion: There is a lack of correlation between the practise of consuming pork lawar and the prevalence of taeniasis among the population residing in Kerobokan Village, located in the Badung Regency of Bali. Keywords: Pork lawar, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, Taeniasis
On channel output feedback in deterministic interference channels

In this paper, we study the effect of channel output feedback on the sum capacity in a two-user symmetric deterministic interference channel. We find that having a single feedback link from one of the receivers to its own transmitter results in the same sum capacity as having a total of 4 feedback links from both the receivers to both the transmitters. Hence, from the sum capacity point of view, the three additional feedback links are not helpful. We also consider a half-duplex feedback model, where the forward and the feedback resources are symmetric and time-shared. Surprisingly, we find that there is no gain in sum-capacity with feedback in a half-duplex feedback model, when interference links have more capacity than direct links.
Synergistic Antitumor Effect of Dichloroacetate in Combination with 5-Fluorouracil in Colorectal Cancer

Dichloroacetate (DCA), an inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), has been recently demonstrated as a promising nontoxic antineoplastic agent that promotes apoptosis of cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of DCA combined with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Four human CRC cell lines were treated with DCA or 5-FU, or a combination of DCA and 5-FU. The cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The interaction between DCA and 5-FU was evaluated by the median effect principle. Immunocytochemistry with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was carried out to determine the proliferation of CRC cells. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry, and the expression of apoptosis-related molecules was assessed by western blot. Our results demonstrated that DCA inhibited the viability of CRC cells and had synergistic antiproliferation in combination with 5-FU. Moreover, compared with 5-FU alone, the apoptosis of CRC cells treated with DCA and 5-FU was enhanced and demonstrated with the changes of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 proteins. Our results suggest that DCA has a synergistic antitumor effect with 5-FU on CRC cell lines in vitro.
The Increasing Predictive Validity of Self-Rated Health

Using the 1980 to 2002 General Social Survey, a repeated cross-sectional study that has been linked to the National Death Index through 2008, this study examines the changing relationship between self-rated health and mortality. Research has established that self-rated health has exceptional predictive validity with respect to mortality, but this validity may be deteriorating in light of the rapid medicalization of seemingly superficial conditions and increasingly high expectations for good health. Yet the current study shows the validity of self-rated health is increasing over time. Individuals are apparently better at assessing their health in 2002 than they were in 1980 and, for this reason, the relationship between self-rated health and mortality is considerably stronger across all levels of self-rated health. Several potential mechanisms for this increase are explored. More schooling and more cognitive ability increase the predictive validity of self-rated health, but neither of these influences explains the growing association between self-rated health and mortality. The association is also invariant to changing causes of death, including a decline in accidental deaths, which are, by definition, unanticipated by the individual. Using data from the final two waves of data, we find suggestive evidence that exposure to more health information is the driving force, but we also show that the source of information is very important. For example, the relationship between self-rated health and mortality is smaller among those who use the internet to find health information than among those who do not.
Identiﬁcation and Characterization of the pckA Gene from Staphylococcus aureus †

The Staphylococcus aureus pckA gene was identiﬁed and characterized. A pckA mutant lacked detectable phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity and grew poorly in the absence of glucose. Both enzymatic activity and pckA promoter activity in wild-type cells grown in the absence of glucose were at least 22-fold greater than activities in cells grown in the presence of glucose. In a search for histidine kinase genes from Staphylococcus aureus , a 227-nucleotide PCR-generated DNA fragment (orig-inally designated kin50 ) that had strong sequence similarity to the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK; EC 4.1.1.32) gene from other organisms was identiﬁed (1). Since PEPCK is an essential enzyme for gluconeogenesis, it likely plays a key role in the growth and survival of S. aureus cells in the absence of glucose. Therefore, to investigate whether this PCR fragment originated from within the staphylococcal pckA homolog, it was used to mutate S. aureus RN4220 (6) by Campbell integration (2), creating strain KB501. As shown in Fig. 1, RN4220 ( pckA (cid:49) ) exhibited similar growth in the presence and absence of glucose (maximum turbidities of 295 and 269 Klett units, respectively). On the other hand, the growth yield of KB501 was dramatically reduced in the absence of glucose compared with that
Some difficulties in interpreting psychophysiological research with children.

Mona El-Sheikh and her colleagues have assembled an impressive series of studies for this monograph. To date, researchers interested in the consequences of marital conflict on children have focused primarily on the main effects of psychological variables. Although these studies have been invaluable in helping us to better understand risk and resiliency factors associated with children’s exposure to marital conflict, future research will almost certainly be conducted at multiple levels of analysis, spanning genes to behavior (Ciccetti, 2008). The authors’ work examining the conjoint effects of marital conflict and biological vulnerability on children’s externalizing behaviors is therefore a welcome addition to the literature and likely marks a transition to a new generation of research. Among the few authors who have examined biological moderators of outcomes among children exposed to marital conflict, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) functioning, has been the predominant measure used (e.g., El-Sheikh & Whitson, 2006; Katz & Gottman, 1995). In this monograph, El-Sheikh and colleagues extend this work in a number of important ways. First, they include a measure of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) functioning and examine interactions between the SNS and PNS in predicting children’s externalizing behaviors. Second, they provide detailed descriptions of and comparisons among several alternative models of autonomic nervous system (ANS)–behavior relations, grounding their hypotheses firmly in theory. Finally, they conduct the same protocol with three separate samples of children (total N5 577), recognizing that three-way interactions, which are required to test their hypotheses, are often spurious and difficult to replicate. The authors should be applauded for this painstaking research effort. Although their pattern of results is complex, the findings indicate that children’s physiological functioning is clearly related to their externalizing behaviors in the context of marital conflict.
Teaching facial fracture repair: A novel method of surgical skills training using three-dimensional biomodels.

BACKGROUND The facial fracture biomodel is a three-dimensional physical prototype of an actual facial fracture. The biomodel can be used as a novel teaching tool to facilitate technical skills training in fracture reduction and fixation, but more importantly, can help develop diagnostic and management competence. OBJECTIVE To introduce the 'facial fracture biomodel' as a teaching aid, and to provide preliminary evidence of its effectiveness in teaching residents the principles of panfacial fracture repair. METHODS Computer three-dimensional image processing and rapid prototyping were used to generate an accurate physical model of a panfacial fracture, mounted in a silicon 'soft tissue' base. Senior plastic surgery residents in their third, fourth and fifth years of training across Canada were invited to participate in a workshop using this biomodel to simulate panfacial fracture repair. A short didactic presentation outlining the 'patient's' clinical and radiological findings, and key principles of fracture repair, was given by a consultant plastic surgeon before the exercise. The residents completed a pre- and postbiomodel questionnaire soliciting information regarding background, diagnosis and management, and feedback. RESULTS A total of 29 residents completed both pre- and postbiomodel questionnaires. Statistically significant results were found in the following areas: diagnosis of all fracture patterns (P=8.2×10(-7) [t test]), choice of incisions for adequate exposure (P=0.04 [t test]) and identifying sequence of repair (P=0.019 [χ(2) test]). Subjective evaluation of workshop effectiveness revealed a statistically significant increase in 'comfort level' only among third year trainees. Overall, positive feedback was reported among all participants. CONCLUSIONS Biomodelling is a promising ancillary teaching aid that can assist in teaching residents technical skills, as well as how to assess and plan surgical repair.
Nitrogen Fixation Inputs in Pasture and Early Successional Forest in the Brazilian Amazon Region: Evidence From a Claybox Mesocosm Study

The role of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) during secondary forest succession and in tropical pastures has been investigated and debated for several decades. Here we present results of a replicated experimental study in a degraded cattle pasture of eastern Amazonia using mass balance and a 15N tracer in lined soil pit mesocosms with three treatments: (1) plant‐free control plots, (2) pasture grass Brachiaria brizantha, and (3) regrowth of early successional secondary forest species. Accumulation of N in grass biomass slightly exceeded estimates of net N mineralization from the plant‐free control plots but was within the margin of error, so inputs of BNF may not have been needed. In contrast, the secondary forest vegetation accumulated about 3 times as much biomass N annually as the net N mineralization estimate, suggesting at least some role for BNF. Based on isotopic and mass measurements of N‐fixing species, BNF was estimated to contribute at least 27 ± 3% of mean annual plant uptake in the secondary forest regrowth vegetation plots. Although BNF is probably important for recuperation of tropical secondary forests following land use change, the majority of the N taken up by both grasses and secondary forest regrowth arose from mineralization of the stocks of soil N.