Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Triple-Peptide Receptor Targeting In Vitro Allows Detection of All Tested Gut and Bronchial NETs

A high proportion of gut and bronchial neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) overexpresses somatostatin receptors, especially the sst2 subtype. It has also recently been observed that incretin receptors, namely glucagonlike peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptors, can be overexpressed in gut and bronchial NETs. However, because not all tumors can express these receptors in sufficient amounts, in vivo imaging with a single radioligand may not always be successful. We therefore evaluated with in vitro methods whether a cocktail of radioligands targeting these 3 receptors would improve tumor labeling. Methods: In vitro receptor autoradiography was performed on 55 NETs, comparing in each successive section of tumor the binding with a single radioligand, either 125I-Tyr3-octreotide, 125I-GLP-1(7–36)amide, or 125I-GIP(1–30), with the binding using a cocktail of all 3 radioligands, given concomitantly under identical experimental conditions. Results: Using the cocktail of radioligands, all tumors without exception showed moderate to very high binding, with a receptor density corresponding to 1,000–10,000 dpm/mg of tissue; conversely, single-ligand binding, although identifying most tumors as receptor-positive, failed to detect receptors or measured only a low density of receptors below 1,000 dpm/mg in a significant number of tumors. In addition, the cocktail of radioligands always provided a homogeneous labeling of the whole tumor, whereas single radioligands occasionally showed heterogeneous labeling. Conclusion: The study suggests that the use of a cocktail of 3 radioligands binding to somatostatin receptors, GLP-1 receptors, and GIP receptors would allow detecting virtually all NETs and labeling them homogeneously in vivo, representing a significant improvement for imaging and therapy in NETs.
Critical itineraries of maps with constant slope and one discontinuity

Abstract For a function from the unit interval to itself with constant slope and one discontinuity, the itineraries of the point of discontinuity are called the critical itineraries. These critical itineraries play a significant role in the study of β-expansions (with positive or negative β) and fractal transformations. A combinatorial characterization of the critical itineraries of such functions is provided.
A model for synthesizing a combined verbal and nonverbal behavior based on personality traits in human-robot interaction

Robots are more and more present in our daily life; they have to move into human-centered environments, to interact with humans, and to obey some social rules so as to produce an appropriate social behavior in accordance with human's profile (i.e., personality, state of mood, and preferences). Recent researches discussed the effect of personality traits on the verbal and nonverbal production, which plays a major role in transferring and understanding messages in a social interaction between a human and a robot. The characteristics of the generated gestures (e.g., amplitude, direction, rate, and speed) during the nonverbal communication can differ according to the personality trait, which, similarly, influences the verbal content of the human speech in terms of verbosity, repetitions, etc. Therefore, our research tries to map a human's verbal behavior to a corresponding combined robot's verbal-nonverbal behavior based on the personality dimensions of the interacting human. The system estimates first the interacting human's personality traits through a psycholinguistic analysis of the spoken language, then it uses PERSONAGE natural language generator that tries to generate a corresponding verbal language to the estimated personality traits. Gestures are generated by using BEAT toolkit, which performs a linguistic and contextual analysis of the generated language relying on rules derived from extensive research into human conversational behavior. We explored the human-robot personality matching aspect and the differences of the adapted mixed robot's behavior (gesture and speech) over the adapted speech only robot's behavior in an interaction. Our model validated that individuals preferred more to interact with a robot that had the same personality with theirs and that an adapted mixed robot's behavior (gesture and speech) was more engaging and effective than a speech only robot's behavior. Our experiments were done with Nao robot.
High-Speed Wavelength Conversion of RZ-DPSK Signal Using FWM in a Quantum-Dot SOA

We demonstrate an all-optical wavelength conversion of a return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK) signal using four-wave mixing in a quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier. We successfully achieved low penalty operation of 0.56 dB using 40-Gb/s RZ-DPSK signal.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Substantial increase in the use of menopausal hormone therapy (HT) throughout the 1990s, followed by widespread discontinuation after the 2002 publication of the Women's Health Initiative findings, has resulted in large numbers of former HT users among U.S. women. However, few studies have examined whether ovarian cancer risk varies according to recency and duration of specific HT regimens. We assessed risk of epithelial ovarian cancer among users of unopposed estrogen (ET) and combined estrogen/progestogen (EPT). In a population-based study in Washington state, 812 women with ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2002 to 2005 and 1,313 controls were interviewed in person about the use of HT and other characteristics. Women who used a single form of therapy (ET or EPT) were compared with women who never used HT using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Risk was increased among current or recent (within the last 3 years) users of ET with ≥5 years of use (ORs, 95% CIs: 1.6, 1.1-2.5 and 1.8, 0.8-3.7, respectively). Little increase in risk was noted among long-term ET users who discontinued use in the more distant past (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.6-2.6). No increase in risk was noted among women who used only EPT, regardless of duration. Compared with women who never used HT, current users of EPT had an OR of 1.1 (95% CI, 0.8-1.5), and risk declined with increasing time since stopping; the OR was 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4-1.0) among women who had discontinued EPT within the last 3 years and 0.5 (95% CI, 0.3-0.7) among women who stopped at an earlier point. Long-term ET may be associated with an increased ovarian cancer risk that wanes after use ceases. We did not observe an increased risk with EPT, and with increasing time after stopping, a reduction in risk became increasingly evident. The progestogen component of HT may confer a risk reduction that is masked by an opposing effect of estrogen until, among former users, estrogenic influences have diminished. These findings, if replicated, may have implications both for public health and development of chemoprevention strategies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(12):2548–56)
Vaccine hesitancy

Despite being recognized as one of the most successful public health measures, vaccination is perceived as unsafe and unnecessary by a growing number of individuals. Lack of confidence in vaccines is now considered a threat to the success of vaccination programs. Vaccine hesitancy is believed to be responsible for decreasing vaccine coverage and an increasing risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and epidemics. This review provides an overview of the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy. First, we will characterize vaccine hesitancy and suggest the possible causes of the apparent increase in vaccine hesitancy in the developed world. Then we will look at determinants of individual decision-making about vaccination.
What Sex Abusers Say About Their Treatment: Results From a Qualitative Study on Pedophiles in Treatment at a Canadian Penitentiary Clinic

ABSTRACT This exploratory study used qualitative methodology to examine what pedophiles think about treatment, as well as their daily experience of a treatment program. To this end, twenty-three offenders receiving treatment from the La Macaza federal penitentiary clinic were interviewed using non-directive semi-structured interviews. Comparative analysis was used to analyze the resulting material. The following themes are discussed based on the results of this analysis: (a) the participants' past experience of therapy; (b) motivations for choosing the La Macaza clinic for treatment; (c) the structure of the program; (d) the group dynamics; (e) the therapists; and (f) the hardships and difficulties of treatment. Results suggest that the therapists and the program may have a function of containment or holding. Although part of the therapeutic process involves a focus on identifying and reducing cognitive distortions, results also warn therapists against misusing this concept by applying it to legitimately different opinions. Findings are discussed in terms of possible program improvements. The authors conclude that greater attention must be given to process research.
[Normative data for quantitative ultrasound measurement of the calcaneus in a Portuguese population].

BACKGROUND Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurement of the calcaneus is a safe and reliable method for evaluating skeletal status. Although central bone densitometry (DXA) measurement is the gold-standard to classify osteopenic and osteoporotic patients, QUS can give supplementary information and its use is expanding. Up to now there are no published normative data for QUS measurements in the Portuguese population. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to determine normative QUS data in the Sahara Clinical Sonometer (Hologic) for the Portuguese population. METHODS Cross-sectional evaluation of consecutive subjects selected as part of the EpiPorto study, Portugal. Calcaneus QUS (Sahara Clinical Sonometer, Hologic) parameters were obtained: Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation (BUA), Speed of Sound (SOS), Quantitative Ultrasound Index (QUI) and Estimated Bone Mineral Density (EBMD) were determined for men and women, stratified by their age group. RESULTS 1,482 consecutive subjects (1,010 females and 472 males), aged from 18 to 92 years. Higher levels of QUS parameters were found in the lower age group and, for both gender, progressive decrease with age were reported. Men showed higher values as compared to women in all parameters and differences between them increased with age. Differences were significant for BUA after the age of 39 and for SOS after the age of 59. Short-term in vivo precision was 5.5% for BUA and 0.4% for SOS, while in vitro precision was 3.23% for BUA and 0.15% for SOS. DISCUSSION Our data are comparable to other Southern European data and represent the first QUS normative data for the Portuguese population.
Analysis of Vibrio vulnificus from Market Oysters and Septicemia Cases for Virulence Markers

ABSTRACT Representative encapsulated strains of Vibrio vulnificus from market oysters and oyster-associated primary septicemia cases (25 isolates each) were tested in a blinded fashion for potential virulence markers that may distinguish strains from these two sources. These isolates were analyzed for plasmid content, for the presence of a 460-bp amplicon by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR, and for virulence in subcutaneously (s.c.) inoculated, iron-dextran-treated mice. Similar percentages of market oyster and clinical isolates possessed detectable plasmids (24 and 36%, respectively), produced the 460-bp amplicon (45 and 50%, respectively), and were judged to be virulent in the mouse s.c. inoculation-iron-dextran model (88% for each). Therefore, it appears that nearly all V. vulnificus strains in oysters are virulent and that genetic tests for plasmids and specific PCR size amplicons cannot distinguish between fully virulent and less virulent strains or between clinical and environmental isolates. The inability of these methods to distinguish food and clinical V. vulnificus isolates demonstrates the need for alternative subtyping approaches and virulence assays.
Hydrodynamic/GIS Simulation of Storm Surge Flooding in the NY/NJ Harbor System

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of storm surge barriers for reducing storm impacts at locations within the NY-NJ Harbor System, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was used to simulate several conditions, and resultant sea level data was used in GIS to assess inundation extent. The validated hydrodynamic model was used to simulate several storm surge events under three projected climate change-related sea level rises with and without operation of the four storm surge barriers. Storm surge barriers would reduce the maximum water elevations as much as 1.5 m at locations protected by the storm surge barriers. A GIS model was developed and a series of iterative processing steps were performed to delineate the inundated area based on the storm surge model results for each scenario. The results indicate that implementation of storm surge barriers would likely result in significant benefits with regard to land area flooded (roughly 25 percent less), population affected (roughly 20 percent less), property value impacts (roughly 35 percent less), and number of hazardous material/waste sites impacted (roughly 50 percent less).
Examining well-being, anxiety, and self-deception in university students

Abstract This study examined the combined influence of six positive psychology variables (optimism, hope, self-efficacy, grit, gratitude, and subjective life satisfaction), termed covitality, in relation to buffering individuals against anxiety symptoms. In addition, the influence of self-deception was examined to test whether this construct had an influence on the reporting of these positive psychology variables. A total of 268 individuals (203 females and 65 males) with a mean age of 22.2 years (SD = 7.4 years) from one Queensland university took part in the study. The participants completed an online questionnaire, which included a battery of positive psychological measures, plus a measure of anxiety and self-deception. The results indicated that the covitality constructs had a moderation effect on anxiety. In a regression analysis, the six covitality constructs explained an additional 24.5% of the variance in anxiety, after controlling for self-deception. Further analyses revealed that those higher in self-deception scored higher in self-efficacy and all positive covitality measures and lower in anxiety, than those lower in self-deception. These findings illustrate the importance of considering the role that self-deception might play in the reporting of positive psychology variables.
Complement-fixing and virus-neutralizing antibodies in cytomegalovirus infection as measured against homologous and heterologous antigen.

The serological response to infection with cytomegalovirus has been studied in five patients using heterologous and homologous antigens prepared from a laboratory strain—Ad 169—and a cytomegalovirus strain isolated from each patient, respectively. The study confirmed previous observations that the rise in CF antibodies precedes the rise in NT antibodies, especially in primary infections, and that the rise in NT titre runs over a longer course than the rise in CF titre. This more prolonged rise in NT titre can be utilized in the serodiagnosis of CMV infection in patients already having high CF titre in the first blood specimen taken. No differences between the CF antigen from the five newly isolated strains and the Ad 169 CF antigen were seen. Using the NT test it was found that one of the strains differed antigenically from strain Ad 169. This strain and strain Ad 169 seem, however, to be relatively closely related as it was possible in paired sera from the patient yielding the strain to demonstrate a parallel rise in NT antibodies with antigens prepared from each of them.
Additive effect of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid in combating ethanol-induced hepatic fibrosis

Abstract Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined administration of alpha-tocopherol (AT) and ascorbic acid (AA) in reducing ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Methods Rats were maintained for 90 days and grouped as follows: I – control rats, II – ethanol, III – alpha-tocopherol, IV – ethanol + alpha-tocopherol, V – AA, VI – ethanol + ascorbic acid, VII – alpha-tocopherol + ascorbic acid, VIII – ethanol + alpha-tocopherol + ascorbic acid. At the end of the experimental period, markers of hepatic function, oxidative stress, and the expression of markers of inflammation and fibrosis were assayed. Results The markers of hepatic function, lipid peroxidation products, protein carbonyls, and the expression of nuclear factor kappa B, tumor necrosis factor alpha, transforming growth factor beta 1, cytochrome P4502E1, and collagen Type I were elevated after ethanol administration. All these parameters were reduced in the ethanol group administered AT and AA in combination. The activities of antioxidant enzymes which were reduced by ethanol administration were enhanced on combined administration of AT and AA. The reduction in hepatic fibrosis was almost 20% more in AT and AA co-administered group compared with AT and AA alone treated groups. Discussion Combined administration of fat soluble AT and water soluble AA was beneficial against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. This may be due to their different subcellular localizations.
Declining Trends in Serum Cotinine Levels in US Worker Groups: the Power of Policy

Objective: To explore trends in cotinine levels in US worker groups. Methods: Using NHANES III data, serum cotinine levels of US workers not smokers nor exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) at home were evaluated for trends by occupational/industrial and race/ethnicity-gender sub-groups. Results: Decreases from 1988 to 2002 ranged from 0.08 to 0.30 ng/mL (67% to 85% relative decrease), with largest absolute reductions in: blue-collar and service occupations; construction/manufacturing industrial sectors; non-Hispanic Black male workers. Conclusions: All worker groups had declining serum cotinine levels. Most dramatic reductions occurred in sub-groups with the highest before cotinine levels, thus disparities in SHS workforce exposure are diminishing with increased adoption of clean indoor laws. However, Black male workers, construction/manufacturing sector workers, and blue-collar and service workers have the highest cotinine levels. Further reductions in SHS exposure will require widespread adoption of workplace clean air laws without exemptions.
Stealthy Deception in Hypergames Under Informational Asymmetry

This paper considers games of incomplete information, where one player (the deceiver) has an informational advantage over the other (the mark) and intends to employ it for belief manipulation. We use the formalism of hypergames to represent the asymmetric information available to players. This framework allows us to formalize various notions of belief manipulation that revolve around the idea of the deceiver being able to make the mark believe that a particular action has lost its advantageous character. In the case when the deceiver does not mind revealing information to the mark as the game evolves, we provide a necessary condition and a sufficient condition for deceivability. In the case when the deceiver acts in a stealthy way, i.e., restricts its actions to those that do not contradict the belief of the mark, we fully characterize when deception is possible and design to find a sequence of deceiving actions. Our correctness guarantees for this strategy are based on a precise characterization of the acyclic structure of subjective hypergames. An example illustrates our results.
FIRST RECORD OF DINOSAURS IN THE LATE JURASSIC OF THE ADRIATIC-DINARIDIC CARBONATE PLATFORM (CROATIA)

Abstract All previously known dinosaur remains on the Adriatic-Dinaridic carbonate platform (ADCP) were described from Cretaceous deposits. A new trackbearing locality is late Tithonian in age and represents the oldest evidence of dinosaurs on the ADCP. The site is in an active quarry near the village of Kirmenjak in western Istria. Almost a thousand sauropod footprints including 23 single trackways have been found on the outcrop. Oval impressions represent pes prints, and horseshoe-shaped impressions represent manus prints; pes prints are 23 to 52 cm long. Calculated heights at the hip range from 153 to 306 cm. The main direction of dinosaur movement was toward the northeast, and some of the individuals were moving together. The trackways show a characteristic narrow gauge, and pace and stride lengths indicate a slow walk. The footprints are similar to Parabrontopodus ichnogenus, and the ichnocoenosis could be assigned to the Brontopodus ichnofacies. The presence of the sauropods on the Adriatic-Dinaridic carbonate platform during the Late Jurassic could be explained by connection with the African continent via its southern margins during emersion.
Trading Processor Cycles for Communication

“Trade computation for communication whenever possible” has been the conventional wisdom to save bandwidth and power in wireless domain. We glanced at the merging trends of technology and the applications, and identified a number of areas where the processor cycles can be traded for network bandwidth. These areas are file transfer, shared document edits, remote authentication, and verification of remotely available codes. We collect and present some of the theory-paradigms that have given birth to results potentially usable towards saving bandwidth at the cost of computation. We hope to make a case for incorporating the insights collected in this paper from various fields of complexity theory, into the design of network protocols for the future. In the penumbra of this over-arching goal, we also suggest how the engine of “Probabilistic Checking of Proofs” (PCP) can be used for remote authentication purposes, resulting in much smaller network overhead and leading to very efficient usage of bandwidth and power. While this seems to be an interesting route, we then present the algorithmic challenges that need be solved and argue why such a theoretical cranking may be just as worth.
Multiscale Compression Entropy of Microvascular Blood FlowSignals: Comparison of Results from Laser Speckle Contrastand Laser Doppler Flowmetry Data in Healthy Subjects

Microvascular perfusion is commonly used to study the peripheral cardiovascular system. Microvascular blood flow can be continuously and non-invasively monitored with laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) or with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). These two optical-based techniques give perfusion values in arbitrary units. Our goal is to better understand the perfusion time series given by each technique. For this purpose, we propose a nonlinear complexity analysis of LSCI and LDF time series recorded simultaneously in nine healthy subjects. This is performed through the computation of their multiscale compression entropy. The results obtained with LSCI time series computed from different regions of interest (ROI) sizes are examined. Our findings show that, for LSCI and LDF time series, compression entropy values are less than one for all of the scales analyzed. This suggests that, for all scales, there are repetitive structures within the data fluctuations. Moreover, at the largest scales studied, LDF signals seem to have structures that are different from those Entropy 2014, 16 5778 of Gaussian white noise. By opposition, this is not observed for LSCI time series computed from small ROI sizes