Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations between 18F-FDG-PET, DWI, and DCE Parameters in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Depend on Tumor Grading

Our purpose was to analyze associations between positron emission tomography (PET), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study involved 34 patients (9 women, 25 men, mean age: 56.7 ± 10.2 years). In all patients a simultaneous 18F-FDG-PET/MR was performed. DWI was obtained by using of an axial EPI sequence. Minimal ADC values (ADCmin), mean ADC values (ADCmean), and maximal ADC values (ADCmax) were estimated. DCE MRI was performed by using dynamic T1w DCE sequence. The following parameters were estimated: Ktrans, Ve, and Kep. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to analyze associations between investigated parameters. In overall sample, ADCmean correlated significantly with Ve and Ktrans, ADCmin correlated with Ve, and ADCmax correlated with Ktrans and Ve. SUVmean tended to correlate slightly with Ktrans. In G1/2 tumors, only Ktrans correlated well with ADCmax and SUVmean. In G3 tumors, Ktrans correlated well with Kep and Ve. Ve showed significant correlations with ADCmean and ADCmax. Ktrans correlated with ADCmax. Kep was higher in cancers with N2/3 stages. Tumor metabolism, water diffusion, and tumor perfusion have complex relationships in HNSCC. Furthermore, these associations depend on tumor grading. Kep may predict lymphonodal metastasizing.
Poly(m-Phenylenediamine) Nanospheres and Nanorods: Selective Synthesis and Their Application for Multiplex Nucleic Acid Detection

In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time that poly(m-phenylenediamine) (PMPD) nanospheres and nanorods can be selectively synthesized via chemical oxidation polymerization of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) monomers using ammonium persulfate (APS) as an oxidant at room temperature. It suggests that the pH value plays a critical role in controlling the the morphology of the nanostructures and fast polymerization rate favors the anisotropic growth of PMPD under homogeneous nucleation condition. We further demonstrate that such PMPD nanostructures can be used as an effective fluorescent sensing platform for multiplex nucleic acid detection. A detection limit as low as 50 pM and a high selectivity down to single-base mismatch could be achieved. The fluorescence quenching is attributed to photoinduced electron transfer from nitrogen atom in PMPD to excited fluorophore. Most importantly, the successful use of this sensing platform in human blood serum system is also demonstrated.
Uncertainty Analysis of the ICRP Human Respiratory Tract Model applied to Interpretation of Bioassay Data for Depleted Uranium

Measurements of uranium excreted in urine have been widely used to monitor possible exposure to depleted uranium (DU) by personnel who have served in areas where DU munitions were used in conflicts. A study has been carried out to provide guidance on the most appropriate parameter values to be used in assessing intakes and doses from urine samples taken at long times (100 to 10,000 days) after possible intakes, and to assess the overall uncertainty in the results. As part of this study, information relating to the application of the ICRP Human Respiratory Tract Model has been reviewed, and from it, central values, ranges and distributions were assigned to parameter values defining respiratory tract deposition of appropriate DU aerosols, and clearance of DU from the respiratory tract. An analysis was carried out of the sensitivity to variation in each parameter value, of committed lung dose and effective dose calculated from a measurement of DU in urine. Generally, the most important parameters were those defining dissolution of the DU in the respiratory tract: the fraction that dissolves rapidly and the slow (long-term) dissolution rate. The overall uncertainty in dose (ratio of maximum to minimum) was estimated to be about 50 at 10 days after intake and about a factor of 7–10 at 1000–10,000 days. Nevertheless, the maximum estimated dose from a measurement of 1 nanogram DU in urine was less than 1 millisievert up to 5000 days after intake. This report complements reports that consider uncertainties in the ICRP model that describes the behaviour of uranium after entry to the blood, and the possible effects on urinary excretion of alteration in kidney function resulting from uranium toxicity.
Mean power consumption of artificial power capture in wireless networks

In wireless networks, portable terminals are usually powered by battery, and they communicate through the free-space spectrum. Therefore, both the transmission power and bandwidth are scarce resources. Artificial power capture is a simple and effective method to exploit the transmission bandwidth to give a higher throughput, but it may consume a larger mean transmission power because some packets are transmitted at higher power. In this paper, we analyze the mean power consumption of artificial power capture, and formulate two capture control problems which regulate the mean power consumption and the throughput. The analysis reveals that, although some packets are transmitted at higher power, artificial power capture has a smaller mean power consumption than the case without capture when the traffic is sufficiently heavy. This is because artificial power capture can significantly increase the probability of successful transmission at heavy traffic, and hence the mean power consumed for successfully transmitting a packet is smaller.
Levels of Phosphate Compounds in Experimental Cardiac Hypertrophy

Arterial hypertension was produced in 66 rats by means of constricting latex capsules about the kidneys, by the intramuscular implantation of desoxycorticosterone pellets, and by the subcutaneous injection of desoxycorticosterone. The most satisfactory method was the intramuscular implantation of desoxycorticosterone pellets. Myocardial hypertrophy was produced in 43 rats. Biochemical analysis of the ventricles of 80 control and 45 hypertrophied rats were performed for creatine phosphate, adenosine triphosphate, and free inorganic phosphate. Cardiac hypertrophy in rats was accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in the ventricular concentration of creatine phosphate, while levels of adenosine triphosphate and free inorganic phosphate were not significantly altered. It is suggested that congestive heart failure in hypertrophied hearts is related to a defect in the utilization of phosphate-bond energy by the hypertrophied myocardial fiber.
Hyaluronan matrices in pathobiological processes

Hyaluronan matrices are ubiquitous in normal and pathological biological processes. This remarkable diversity is related to their unique mechanism of synthesis by hyaluronan synthases. These enzymes are normally activated in the plasma membrane and utilize cytosolic substrates directly to form these large polyanionic glycosaminoglycans, which are extruded directly into the extracellular space. The extracellular matrices that are formed interact with cell surface receptors, notably CD44, that often dictate the biological processes, as described in the accompanying minireviews of this series. This article focuses on the discovery in recent studies that many cell stress responses initiate the synthesis of a monocyte‐adhesive hyaluronan extracellular matrix, which forms a central focus for subsequent inflammatory processes that are modulated by the dialogue between the matrix and the inflammatory cells. The mechanisms involve active hyaluronan synthases at the cell membrane when cell stresses occur at physiological levels of glucose. However, dividing cells at hyperglycemic levels of glucose initiate the synthesis of hyaluronan in intracellular compartments, which induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy, processes that probably contribute greatly to diabetic pathologies.
Turn-Taking Offsets and Dialogue Context

A number of researchers have studied turn-taking offsets in human-human dialogues. However, that work collapses over a wide number of different turn-taking contexts. In this work, we delve into the turn-taking delays based on different contexts. We show that turn-taking behavior, both who tends to take the turn next, and the turn-taking delays, are dependent on the previous speech act type, the upcoming speech act, and the nature of the dialogue. This strongly suggests that in studying turntaking, all turn-taking events should not be grouped together. This also suggests that delays are due to cognitive processing of what to say, rather than whether a speaker should take the turn.
Glomerular filtration rate in patients with Cushing's disease: a matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND Patients with Cushing's disease have a high prevalence of atherosclerosis and maintain an increased cardiovascular risk even after cure of the disease. However, the impact of Cushing's disease on renal function remains to be quantified. OBJECTIVES To evaluate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and to identify predictors of GFR in patients with Cushing's disease. DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a matched case-control study: 18 patients with active or cured Cushing's disease were compared with healthy population controls matched for age and sex. The main outcome measures were GFR and micro-albuminuria. RESULTS Patients with Cushing's disease had a lower GFR, as measured by 24-h creatinine clearance (79 versus 95 ml/min per 1.73 m2, P = 0.005) and estimated by the MDRD2 formula (75 versus 88 ml/min per 1.73 m2, P = 0.008). Multiple regression analyses indicated that disease duration was the strongest predictor for a worse GFR. The prevalence of micro-albuminuria was low (5.5% in both groups). CONCLUSIONS Patients with Cushing's disease have a decreased GFR. Even if they are cured, close follow-up with strict control of cardiovascular risk factors and monitoring of GFR seems mandatory. Furthermore, the dosage of certain drugs should be adapted to the individual GFR.
Phase Entrainment of Human Delta Oscillations Can Mediate the Effects of Expectation on Reaction Speed

The more we anticipate a response to a predictable stimulus, the faster we react. This empirical observation has been confirmed and quantified by many investigators suggesting that the processing of behaviorally relevant stimuli is facilitated by probability-based confidence of anticipation. However, the exact neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are largely unknown. Here we show that performance changes related to different levels of expectancy originate in dynamic modulation of delta oscillation phase. Our results obtained in rhythmic auditory target detection tasks indicated significant entrainment of the EEG delta rhythm to the onset of the target tones with increasing phase synchronization at higher levels of predictability. Reaction times correlated with the phase of the delta band oscillation at target onset. The fastest reactions occurred during the delta phase that most commonly coincided with the target event in the high expectancy conditions. These results suggest that low-frequency oscillations play a functional role in human anticipatory mechanisms, presumably by modulating synchronized rhythmic fluctuations in the excitability of large neuronal populations and by facilitating efficient task-related neuronal communication among brain areas responsible for sensory processing and response execution.
248 Phacoemulsification surgery by a nationally-trained cataract surgeon of

Bajimaya S, Sharma BR, Shrestha JB, Maharjan IM, Matsushima H, Akura J Ophthalmologist, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Gaushala, Kathmandu 2 Shree-Krishna Netralaya, Bhairahawa, Nepal 3 Assistant Professor, B.P.Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal 4 Hospital Director, Himalaya Eye Hospital, GhariPatan, Pokhara, Nepal 5 Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, Japan 6 Clinical Professor, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago-shi, Tottori-Ken, Japan. Bajimaya S et al Outcomes of phacoemulsification surgery Nepal J Ophthalmol 2012; 4(8):248-255
Flu, Risks, and Videotape: Escalating Fear and Avoidance

While extensive risk perception research has focused on emotions, cognitions, and behavior at static points in time, less attention has been paid to how these variables might change over time. This study assesses how negative affect, threat beliefs, perceived risk, and intended avoidance behavior change over the course of an escalating biological disaster. A scenario simulation methodology was used that presents respondents with a video simulation of a 15‐day series of local news reports to immerse respondents in the developing details of the disaster. Systemic manipulation of the virus's causal origin (terrorist attack, medical lab accident, unknown) and the respondent's proximity to the virus (local vs. opposite coast) allowed us to investigate the dynamics of public response. The unfolding scenario was presented in discrete episodes, allowing responses to be tracked over the episodes. The sample includes 600 respondents equally split by sex and by location, with half in the Washington, DC area, and half in the Los Angeles area. The results showed respondents’ reactions to the flu epidemic increased as the disaster escalated. More importantly, there was considerable consistency across respondents’ emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to the epidemic over the episodes. In addition, the reactions of respondents proximally closer to the epidemic increased more rapidly and with greater intensity than their distant counterparts. Finally, as the flu epidemic escalated, both terrorist and accidental flu releases were perceived as being less risky and were less likely to lead to avoidance behavior compared to the unknown flu release.
Consumer Response to Changes in Credit Supply: Evidence from Credit Card Data

This paper utilizes a unique new data set on credit card accounts to analyze how people respond to changes in credit supply. The data consist of a panel of several hundred thousand individual credit card accounts followed monthly for 24-36 months, from several different card issuers, with associated credit bureau data. We estimate the dynamic effects of changes in the credit limit and in interest rates, and consider the ability of different models of consumption and saving to rationalize these effects. We find that increases in credit limits generate an immediate and significant rise in debt. This response is sharpest for people starting near their limit, providing evidence that liquidity constraints are binding. However, even people starting well below their limit significantly respond. We show this result is consistent with conventional models of precautionary savings. Nonetheless there are other results that conventional models cannot easily explain, such as the fact that many credit card borrowers simultaneously hold other low yielding assets. Unlike most other studies, we also find strong effects from changes in account-specific interest rates. Debt is particularly sensitive to large declines in interest rates, which can explain the widespread use of teaser rates. The long-run elasticity of debt to the interest rate is about -1.3. Less than half of this elasticity represents balance-switching across cards, with most reflecting net changes in total borrowing. Overall, the results imply that the consumer plays a potentially important role in the transmission of monetary policy and other credit shocks.
Roles of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Rac in the Nuclear Signaling by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Rat-2 Fibroblasts*

We investigated the extent to which phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and Rac, a member of the Rho family of small GTPases, are involved in the signaling cascade triggered by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α leading to activation ofc-fos serum response element (SRE) and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) in Rat-2 fibroblasts. Inhibition of PI 3-kinase by LY294002 or wortmannin, two specific PI 3-kinase antagonists, or co-transfection with a dominant negative mutant of PI 3-kinase dose-dependently blocked stimulation of c-fosSRE by TNF-α. Similarly, LY294002 significantly diminished TNF-α-induced activation of JNK, suggesting that nuclear signaling triggered by TNF-α is dependent on PI 3-kinase-mediated activation of both c-fos SRE and JNK. We also found nuclear signaling by TNF-α to be Rac-dependent, as demonstrated by the inhibitory effect of transient co-transfection with a dominant negative Rac mutant, RacN17. Our findings suggest that Rac is situated downstream of PI 3-kinase in the TNF-α signaling pathway to the nucleus, and we conclude that PI 3-kinase and Rac each plays a pivotal role in the nuclear signaling cascade triggered by TNF-α.
Large-scale Discovery of Regulatory Motifs Involved in Alternative Splicing

Alternative splicing is a highly important process in many eukaryotic organisms, but surprisingly little is known about its regulation. Often, this process involves cis-regulatory DNA motifs located within the alternative spliced exons or the flanking introns. To discover such regulatory motifs, we reanalyzed a dataset containing ~3000 skipped exons and their relative expression levels in ten mouse tissues provided by Pan and colleagues [1]. We clustered the skipped exons by their expression profiles and applied MEME (multiple Em for motif elicitation) to build a motif dictionary from each cluster. The discovered motifs were validated by comparing with known regulatory elements and by examining positional bias. By incorporating the levels of alternative splicing, our study provides not only solid targets for further experiments, but also a computational framework applicable in other organisms. The motif dictionary is available at http://www4.ncsu. edu/~szhao3/ ASMotif.html.
Color changes due to thermal ageing and artificial weathering of pigmented and textured ABS

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS) are known to be sensitive towards ageing which can lead to color changes, primary interest in this study. The color changes were expressed in terms of the CIELAB color system. ABS plaques were subjected to heat ageing and artificial weathering. Uncolored ABS and dark gray colored specimens were employed. The pigmented ABS plaques were also imposed with different surface textures. In general, the uncolored material suffered from the most severe discoloration and the artificial weathering produced the strongest effect. For both types of specimens, a clear yellowing took place. Both the pigment system and the surface texture affected the color development during the ageing test. The latter can be of significant importance in certain applications when components with different surface textures are placed adjacent to each other. The surface micro-hardness increased with increasing ageing time and its change followed that of the discoloration. Chemical changes of the surface layers were characterized by FTIR and were in accordance with results reported in the literature; i.e., an increase of the bands associated with carbonyl groups with increasing ageing time and a decrease of the bands associated with the polybutadiene phase clearly indicated chemical degradation due to ageing treatments.
Development of a Real-Time Quantitative PCR for Detecting Duck Hepatitis A Virus Genotype C

ABSTRACT Recently, duck hepatitis A virus genotype C (DHAV-C), a causative agent of duck viral hepatitis, has been responsible for increasing economic losses in the duck industry in China and South Korea. In this study, a real-time PCR assay targeting the 2C gene for detecting DHAV-C was developed. The assay was confirmed to be specific and sensitive, and the minimum detection limit was 3.36 × 103 copies per reaction, making this assay suitable for rapid diagnosis of DHAV-C infection from clinical samples. In addition, the dynamics of the viral loads in tissues of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) ducklings infected with DHAV-C were investigated using this method. The DHAV-C could be detected earliest in the liver within 12 h postinfection. Moreover, high viral loads were identified in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, bursa of Fabricius, thymus, pancreas, brain, and small intestine after 24 h postinfection. Taking the data collectively, the study described in this report is the first to have developed a real-time PCR method for detection of DHAV-C and thus contributes to pathogenicity research.
Methods for staging non-small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

BACKGROUND Correctly staging lung cancer is important because the treatment options and prognosis differ significantly by stage. Several noninvasive imaging studies and invasive tests are available. Understanding the accuracy, advantages, and disadvantages of the available methods for staging non-small cell lung cancer is critical to decision-making. METHODS Test accuracies for the available staging studies were updated from the second iteration of the American College of Chest Physicians Lung Cancer Guidelines. Systematic searches of the MEDLINE database were performed up to June 2012 with the inclusion of selected meta-analyses, practice guidelines, and reviews. Study designs and results are summarized in evidence tables. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of CT scanning for identifying mediastinal lymph node metastasis were approximately 55% and 81%, respectively, confirming that CT scanning has limited ability either to rule in or exclude mediastinal metastasis. For PET scanning, estimates of sensitivity and specificity for identifying mediastinal metastasis were approximately 77% and 86%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that PET scanning is more accurate than CT scanning, but tissue biopsy is still required to confirm PET scan findings. The needle techniques endobronchial ultrasound-needle aspiration, endoscopic ultrasound-needle aspiration, and combined endobronchial ultrasound/endoscopic ultrasound-needle aspiration have sensitivities of approximately 89%, 89%, and 91%, respectively. In direct comparison with surgical staging, needle techniques have emerged as the best first diagnostic tools to obtain tissue. Based on randomized controlled trials, PET or PET-CT scanning is recommended for staging and to detect unsuspected metastatic disease and avoid noncurative resections. CONCLUSIONS Since the last iteration of the staging guidelines, PET scanning has assumed a more prominent role both in its use prior to surgery and when evaluating for metastatic disease. Minimally invasive needle techniques to stage the mediastinum have become increasingly accepted and are the tests of first choice to confirm mediastinal disease in accessible lymph node stations. If negative, these needle techniques should be followed by surgical biopsy. All abnormal scans should be confirmed by tissue biopsy (by whatever method is available) to ensure accurate staging. Evidence suggests that more complete staging improves patient outcomes.