Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circulating Exosomal MicroRNA-21 as a Biomarker in Each Tumor Stage of Colorectal Cancer

Objective: We clarified the predictive and prognostic value of circulating plasma exosomal microRNA-21 (miR-21) in each TNM stage of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods: The microRNA (miRNA) profiles of the plasma exosomes, primary tumor tissues, and liver metastasis tissues from the same CRC patients were examined using a microarray. For validation analysis, the plasma exosome samples from 326 CRC patients were measured by TaqMan miRNA assays. Results: In the miRNA microarray analyses, miR-21 showed the highest upregulation in exosomes, primary tumor tissues, and liver metastasis tissues. Significant correlations were demonstrated between exosomal miR-21 and tissue miR-21 levels. As for the relationship to the pathological condition, exosomal miR-21 showed a significant association with liver metastasis and TNM stage. The overall survival (OS) rates and disease-free survival (DFS) rates in high-exosomal-miR-21 patients were significantly worse than those in low-miR-21 patients. Exosomal miR-21 levels were an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS in CRC patients with TNM stage II or III, and for OS in patients with TNM stage IV. Conclusion: Plasma exosomal miR-21 levels are a useful biomarker for the prediction of recurrence and poor prognosis in CRC patients with TNM stage II, III, or IV.
Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: An American Cancer Society Guide for Informed Choices

Cancer survivors are often highly motivated to seek information about food choices, physical activity, and dietary supplement use to improve their treatment outcomes, quality of life, and survival. To address these concerns, the American Cancer Society (ACS) convened a group of experts in nutrition, physical activity, and cancer to evaluate the scientific evidence and best clinical practices related to optimal nutrition and physical activity after the diagnosis of cancer. This report summarizes their findings and is intended to present health care providers with the best possible information from which to help cancer survivors and their families make informed choices related to nutrition and physical activity. The report discusses nutrition and physical activity issues during the phases of cancer treatment and recovery, living after recovery from treatment, and living with advanced cancer; select nutrition and physical activity issues such as body weight, food choices, and food safety; issues related to select cancer sites; and common questions about diet, physical activity, and cancer survivorship.
The dynamics behind Titan's methane clouds

We present results of an axisymmetric global circulation model of Titan with a simplified suite of atmospheric physics forced by seasonally varying insolation. The recent discovery of midlatitude tropospheric clouds on Titan has caused much excitement about the roles of surface sources of methane and the global circulation in forming clouds. Although localized surface sources, such as methane geysers or “cryovolcanoes,” have been invoked to explain these clouds, we find in this work that clouds appear in regions of convergence by the mean meridional circulation and over the poles during solstices, where the solar forcing reaches its seasonal maximum. Other regions are inhibited from forming clouds because of dynamical transports of methane and strong subsidence. We find that for a variety of moist regimes, i.e., with the effect of methane thermodynamics included, the observed cloud features can be explained by the large-scale dynamics of the atmosphere. Clouds at the solsticial pole are found to be a robust feature of Titan's dynamics, whereas isolated midlatitude clouds are present exclusively in a variety of moist dynamical regimes. In all cases, even without including methane thermodynamics, our model ceases to produce polar clouds ≈4–6 terrestrial years after solstices.
Hydrodynamic and Mathematical Simulations of Flow Field and Temperature Profile in an Asymmetrical T-type Single-strand Continuous Casting Tundish

To further remove mini-size nonmetallic inclusions and improve surface quality of stainless steel slab at No. 2 Steelmaking Plant of Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Company Limited, the flow field and temperature profile of molten stainless steel in an asymmetrical T-type single-strand continuous casting tundish with a capacity of 18–20 tons have been investigated by both hydrodynamic and mathematical simulations. The influences of height for low-wall of turbulence inhibitor, dam height, weir depth, distance between dam and weir, submerged depth of ladle shroud and casting speed on flow field in the tundish have been studied in a 1 : 3 reduced scale hydrodynamic model. The streamlines, velocity vector fields and temperature profiles are also mathematically simulated.The hydrodynamic modelling results indicate that height for low-wall of turbulence inhibitor, dam height and weir depth are three important structural parameters on flow field of molten stainless steel in the tundish. The optimization of the three parameters can improve dispersed plug zone and reduce dead zone effectively. Changing casting speed can improve turbulent flow, and thus reduce dead zone of molten stainless steel in the tundish. As a result, five groups of optimized structural parameters of the tundish have been recommended, which can reduce volume fraction of dead zone down to 15–30% and increase volume fraction of dispersed plug zone to more than 20%. In addition, it is verified that the optimized groups of structural parameters of the tundish can maintain their advantage at different casting speeds in a narrow range.The mathematical modelling results suggest that heat losses around the tundish must be considered in order to accurately simulate the streamline, velocity vector field and temperature profile. The calculated temperature drop of molten stainless steel between inlet and outlet of the tundish is about 4.4 K; the maximum temperature drop in the whole tundish is about 10 K. The modification of flow filed by changing structural parameters of the tundish can slightly affect temperature profile of molten stainless steel in the tundish.
ii Strategy and Cost in Technology Licensing

The strategic behavior of technology owners creates important determinants of inter-firm technology licensing within a single industry when products are differentiated and knowledge is imperfectly appropriable. Transaction cost considerations factor in heavily when the net is extended to cross-industry licensing. The probability that two companies will engage in a licensing agreement, then, mainly depends on the relationship between them and on their characteristics, including the closeness of their market and technological profiles, familiarity through prior interaction, licensing experience, and the strength of intellectual property protection in the primary industry of the licensor. JEL Classification: L2, O3 * Department of Economics, The George Washington University, 2201 G Street, N.W. , Washington, D.C. 20052, USA. Tel: (202) 994-6150 Fax: (202) 994-6147 E-mail: yjk@gwu.edu ** Corresponding author: Department of Economics, The George Washington University, 2201 G Street, N.W. , Washington, D.C. 20052, USA. Tel: (202) 994-6458 Fax: (202) 994-1639 E-mail:vonortas@gwu.edu ♣ This work has been supported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (contract JA00016280) and the US National Science Foundation (grant # SRS-0097948). We thank Professors Ashish Arora, Wesley Cohen, Wally Mullin, David Ribar and Chris Snyder and participants at the OECD Conference “IPR, Innovation and Economic Performance” (Paris, August 2003) for very useful comments on earlier versions of the paper. All remaining mistakes are our responsibility.
Validation of an Italian version of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-I).

OBJECTIVE To validate a translated Italian version of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). METHODS The Italian version of the FIQ was administered to 50 patients affected by fibromyalgia (FM) (48 patients filled out the questionnaire again 10 days later) together with the Italian version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36), and a tender point count (TPC) obtained by summing the score (0-3) of each tender point tested by thumb palpation. All patients were asked about the severity of pain today (10 cm visual analog scale) and the duration of symptoms. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Spearman correlations. Internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha of reliability. Construct validity of the FIQ was evaluated by correlations between the HAQ and subscales of the SF-36 as well as the TPC. RESULTS The mean duration of symptoms was 6.5 years and the mean age of the participants was 57.4 years. Test-retest reliability was between 0.74 and 0.95 for physical functioning as well as for the total FIQ and other components. Internal consistency was 0.90 for the overall FIQ. Significant correlations were obtained between the FIQ items, the HAQ and the SF-36. CONCLUSIONS The Italian FIQ is a reliable and valid instrument for detecting and measuring functional disability and health status in Italian patients with FM.
The Assessment of Port Wine Stains in Children Following Multiple Pulsed-Dye Laser Treatments

The purpose of this study was to compare 3 methods of assessment of pediatric port wine stains (PWSs) following multiple pulsed-dye laser (PDL) treatments; (i) parental evaluation, (ii) objective evaluation utilizing L*a*b* color measurement, and (iii) the visual inspection of serial photographs by blinded observers. Twenty-one children who had received at least 4 prior PDL treatments were prospectively enrolled. Following additional PDL treatment, 72.5% of the parental responses indicated a lighter PWS; 85% said that they would continue with further treatment. According to the assessments by 3 observers, only 33.3% to 61.9% (correlation coefficients: 0.41 and 0.54; P < 0.01) of the PDL treatments resulted in a perceived lightening. L*a*b* measurements were not significantly correlated with the observers’ perceptions. L*a*b* assessment is not a clinically useful method to evaluate PDL response in the PWS previously treated. Relying solely on parental assessment may lead to overtreatment without a demonstrable benefit.
Characterization of Ligands for Fish Taste Receptors

Recent progress in the molecular biology of taste reception has revealed that in mammals, the heteromeric receptors T1R1/3 and T1R2/3 respond to amino acids and sweeteners, respectively, whereas T2Rs are receptors for bitter tastants. Similar taste receptors have also been characterized in fish, but their ligands have not been identified yet. In the present study, we conducted a series of experiments to identify the fish taste receptor ligands. Facial nerve recordings in zebrafish (Danio rerio) demonstrated that the fish perceived amino acids and even denatonium, which is a representative of aversive bitter compounds for mammals and Drosophila. Calcium imaging analysis of T1Rs in zebrafish and medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) using an HEK293T heterologous expression system revealed that both T1R1/3 and a series of T1R2/3 responded to amino acids but not to sugars. A triple-labeling, in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that cells expressing T1R1/3 and T1R2/3s exist in PLCβ2-expressing taste bud cells of medaka fish. Functional analysis using T2Rs showed that zfT2R5 and mfT2R1 responded to denatonium. Behavior observations confirmed that zebrafish prefer amino acids and avoid denatonium. These results suggest that, although there may be some fish-specific way of discriminating ligands, vertebrates could have a conserved gustatory mechanism by which T1Rs and T2Rs respond to attractive and aversive tastants, respectively.
β1 integrin is necessary for ureteric bud branching morphogenesis and maintenance of collecting duct structural integrity

The kidney collecting system develops from branching morphogenesis of the ureteric bud (UB). This process requires signaling by growth factors such as glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) as well as cell extracellular matrix interactions mediated by integrins. The importance of integrin signaling in UB development was investigated by deleting integrin β1 at initiation (E10.5) and late (E18.5) stages of development. Deletion at E10.5 resulted in a severe branching morphogenesis phenotype. Deletion at E18.5 did not alter renal development but predisposed the collecting system to severe injury following ureteric obstruction. β1 integrin was required for renal tubular epithelial cells to mediate GDNF- and FGF-dependent signaling despite normal receptor localization and activation in vitro. Aberrations in the same signaling molecules were present in the β1-null UBs in vivo. Thus β1 integrins can regulate organ branching morphogenesis during development by mediating growth-factor-dependent signaling in addition to their well-defined role as adhesion receptors.
The Novel Long Noncoding RNA linc00467 Promotes Cell Survival but Is Down-Regulated by N-Myc

The worst subtype of neuroblastoma is caused by MYCN oncogene amplification and N-Myc oncoprotein over-expression. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of gene expression and tumourigenesis. While Myc oncoproteins are well-known to exert tumourigenic effects by regulating the expression of protein-coding genes and microRNAs, little is known about which lncRNAs are Myc targets and whether the Myc target lncRNAs play a role in Myc-induced oncogenesis. Here we performed differential gene expression studies using lncRNA microarray in neuroblastoma cells after transfection with control or N-Myc-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA), and identified N-Myc target lncRNAs including the novel lncRNA linc00467, the expression and function of which were completely unknown. RT-PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays showed that N-Myc suppressed linc00467 gene expression through direct binding to the linc00467 gene promoter and reducing linc00467 promoter activity. While N-Myc suppressed the expression of RD3, the protein-coding gene immediately down-stream of linc00467 gene, through direct binding to the RD3 gene promoter and reducing RD3 promoter activity, linc00467 reduced RD3 mRNA expression. Moreover, Affymetrix microarray analysis revealed that one of genes significantly up-regulated by linc00467 siRNA was the tumour suppressor gene DKK1. Importantly, knocking-down linc00467 expression with siRNA in neuroblastoma cells reduced the number of viable cells and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, and co-transfection with DKK1 siRNA blocked the effects. These findings therefore demonstrate that N-Myc-mediated suppression of linc00467 gene transcription counterintuitively blocks N-Myc-mediated reduction in RD3 mRNA expression, and reduces neuroblastoma cell survival by inducing DKK1 expression.
Mobile Assemblies of Large Deployable Mechanisms

The large deployable mechanisms can be constructed by a set of basic deployable mechanical modules via mobile connection between the modules, i.e., the necessary mobility of each module is retained after connecting to other modules. In the large deployable mechanical networks, however, the mobility is always overconstrained due to the multiple close-loop structures in the mechanisms. This fact makes the mechanisms easily become rigid structures that are not movable even if small dimensional error happens to the mechanisms. Thus, eliminating redundant constraints so that the mechanisms still movable under the possible geometric dimensional errors, is very important for this kind of mechanisms. In this paper, efficient methods for the mobile connection between deployable single loop mechanisms (DSLMs) are first synthesized systematically; using some of these methods, lots of deployable units can be repeatedly used to build large deployable mechanical networks. A theoretic approach for eliminating the redundant constraints in the large deployable networks is proposed to make the deployable networks not so sensitive to dimensional errors. Finally, physical prototypes are fabricated to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Modeling Reservation-Based Autonomous Intersection Control in VISSIM

The use of autonomous vehicles is attracting more and more attention as a promising approach to improving both highway safety and efficiency. Most previous studies on autonomous intersection management relied heavily on custom-built simulation tools to implement and evaluate their control algorithms, but the use of nonstandard simulation platforms makes the comparison of systems almost impossible. Furthermore, without support from standard simulation platforms, reliable and trustworthy simulation results are hard to obtain. In this context, this paper explores a way to model autonomous intersections through the use of VISSIM, a standard microscopic simulation platform. A reservation-based intersection control system named autonomous control of urban traffic (ACUTA) was introduced and implemented in VISSIM through the use of VISSIM's external driver model. The operational and safety performance characteristics of ACUTA were evaluated with VISSIM's easy-to-use evaluation tools. In comparison with the results obtained with optimized signalized control, significantly reduced delays, along with a higher intersection capacity and lower volume-to-capacity ratios under various traffic demand conditions, resulted from the use of ACUTA. The safety performance of ACUTA was evaluated by use of the surrogate safety measure model, and few conflicts between vehicles within the intersection were detected. Moreover, the key steps and elements for implementation of ACUTA in VISSIM were introduced. These steps and elements can be useful for other researchers and practitioners implementing their autonomous intersection control algorithms in a standard simulation platform. By use of a standard simulation platform, the performance characteristics of autonomous intersection control algorithms can eventually be compared.
Just point and click?: using handhelds to interact with paper maps

We present preliminary results from two studies examining the selection techniques suitable for paper maps using handheld computers or cellphones as interaction devices. An informal mockup exploration indicated a strong tendency toward point-and-click style interaction when participants were asked to envision how a range of queries might be expressed. A subsequent study involving a functional prototype and a short training session showed that participants were receptive to other interaction styles, including tracing paths, circling regions, constraining queries with paper menus, and selecting multiple non-adjacent map icons. The contrasting results underline the importance of using a range of design evaluation techniques when developing applications involving handheld devices as interactors.
Auxetic tissue engineering scaffolds with nanometric features and resonances in the megahertz range

In this study we present an improved approach for the development of auxetics based on the use of deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) after a high-precision mask fabrication procedure. The whole process stands out for its precision (reaching nanometric detail), for the high aspect ratio (AR) attainable and for the possibility of promoting mass production. The quality of the proposed strategy is verified by the manufacture of an auxetic cantilever and bridged structures using two common planar auxetic geometries. The present process significantly increases the precision and AR of the micro-auxetics obtained when compared to state-of-the-art micromachining procedures and solves common challenges linked to structure adhesion to the substrate. The potential of the manufactured structures for the development of resonant structures is analyzed by means of finite-element-method- (FEM) based simulations, showing resonances in the megahertz range. A final application example, linked to monitoring cell culture processes upon auxetic scaffolds, is also proposed and analyzed by computational procedures. The initial cell culture results are also included and help to validate the scaffolds obtained and the materials used for future tissue engineering studies.
Reliability, usefulness, and validity of a repeated sprint and jump ability test.

PURPOSE Two studies involving 122 handball players were conducted to assess the reliability, usefulness, and validity of a repeated shuttle-sprint and jump ability (RSSJA) test. The test consisted of 6x(2x12.5-m) sprints departing on 25 s, with a countermovement jump performed during recovery between sprints. METHODS For the reliability and usefulness study, 14 well-trained male handball players performed the RSSJA test 7 d apart. Reliability of the test variables was assessed by the typical error of measurement, expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV). The minimal changes likely to be "real" in sprint time and jump power were also calculated. For the validity study, players of seven teams (national to international levels, women and men) performed the RSSJA test. RESULTS CV values for best and mean sprint time were 1.0% (90% CL, 0.7 to 1.6) and 1.0% (90% CL, 0.7 to 1.4). CV values for best and mean jump peak power were 1.7% (90% CL, 1.2 to 2.7) and 1.5% (90% CL, 1.1 to 2.5). The percent sprint and jump decrements were less reliable, with CVs of 22.3% (90% CL, 15.7 to 38.3) and 34.8% (90% CL, 24.2 to 61.8). Minimal changes likely to be "real" for mean sprint time and jumping peak power were -2.6% and 4.8%. Qualitative analysis revealed that the majority of between-team differences were rated as "almost certain" (ie, 100% probability that the true differences were meaningful) for mean sprint and jump performances. CONCLUSION The RSSJA test is reliable and valid to assess repeated explosive effort sequences in team sports such as handball. Test results are likely to be representative of gender and competition level; thus the test could be used to discriminate across playing standards and monitor fitness levels.
Hospitalizations of Children With Neurologic Disorders in the United States

Objectives: Although neurologic disorders are among the most serious acute pediatric illnesses, epidemiologic data are scarce. We sought to determine the scope and outcomes of children with these disorders in the United States. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: All nonfederal hospitals in 11 states encompassing 38% of the U.S. pediatric population. Patients: Children 29 days to 19 years old hospitalized in 2005. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification, codes, we identified admissions with neurologic diagnoses, analyzed patient and hospitalization characteristics, and generated age- and sex-adjusted national estimates. Of 960,020 admissions in the 11 states, 10.7% (103,140) included a neurologic diagnosis, which yields a national estimate of 273,900 admissions of children with neurologic diagnoses. The most common were seizures (53.9%) and traumatic brain injury (17.3%). Children with neurologic diagnoses had nearly three times greater ICU use than other hospitalized children (30.6% vs 10.6%, p < 0.001). Neurologic diagnoses were associated with nearly half of deaths (46.2%, n = 1,790). Among ICU patients, children with neurologic diagnoses had more than three times the mortality of other patients (4.8% vs1.5%, p < 0.001). Children with neurologic diagnoses had a significantly longer median hospital length of stay than other children (3 d [1, 5] vs 2 d [2, 4], p < 0.001) and greater median hospital costs ($4,630 [$2,380, $9,730] vs $2,840 [$1,520, $5,550], p < 0.001). Conclusions: Children with neurologic diagnoses account for a disproportionate amount of ICU stays and deaths compared with children hospitalized for other reasons.