Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plan Quality and Treatment Efficiency for Radiosurgery to Multiple Brain Metastases: Non-Coplanar RapidArc vs. Gamma Knife

Objectives This study compares the dosimetry and efficiency of two modern radiosurgery [stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)] modalities for multiple brain metastases [Gamma Knife (GK) and LINAC-based RapidArc/volumetric modulated arc therapy], with a special focus on the comparison of low-dose spread. Methods Six patients with three or four small brain metastases were used in this study. The size of targets varied from 0.1 to 10.5 cc. SRS doses were prescribed according to the size of lesions. SRS plans were made using both Gamma Knife® Perfexion and a single-isocenter, multiple non-coplanar RapidArc®. Dosimetric parameters analyzed included RTOG conformity index (CI), gradient index (GI), 12 Gy isodose volume (V12Gy) for each target, and the dose “spread” (Dspread) for each plan. Dspread reflects SRS plan’s capability of confining radiation to within the local vicinity of the lesion and to not spread out to the surrounding normal brain tissues. Each plan has a dose (Dspread), such that once dose decreases below Dspread (on total tissue dose–volume histogram), isodose volume starts increasing dramatically. Dspread is defined as that dose when volume increase first exceeds 20 cc/0.1 Gy dose decrease. Results RapidArc SRS has smaller CI (1.19 ± 0.14 vs. 1.50 ± 0.16, p < 0.001) and larger GI (4.77 ± 1.49 vs. 3.65 ± 0.98, p < 0.01). V12Gy results were comparable (2.73 ± 1.38 vs. 3.06 ± 2.20 cc, p = 0.58). Moderate to lower dose spread, V6, V4.5, and V3, were also equivalent. GK plans achieved better very low-dose spread (≤3 Gy) and also had slightly smaller Dspread, 1.9 vs. 2.5 Gy. Total treatment time for GK is estimated between 60 and 100 min. GK treatments are between 3 and 5 times longer compared to RapidArc treatment techniques. Conclusion Dosimetric parameters reflecting prescription dose conformality (CI), dose fall off (GI), radiation necrosis indicator (V12Gy), and dose spread (Dspread) were compared between GK SRS and RapidArc SRS for multi-mets. RapidArc plans have smaller CI but larger GI. V12Gy are comparable. GK appears better at reducing only very low-dose spread (<3 Gy). The treatment time of RapidArc SRS is significantly reduced compared to GK SRS.
Evaluation Of The Heavy Metals Accumulate In Samples Of TheSediments, Soils And Plants By Icp­oes With The Average Sebou

The urban, industrial and artisanal wastes liquid of the town of Fez have a very remarkable impact in the valley of Sebou. For that, various samples of sediments, agricultural grounds and plants were collected upstream like downstream from the junction Oued Fez- Oued Sebou along about thirty the kilometers; and analyzed by the method of the optical spectrometry of emission to source of plasma in inductive coupling (ICP-OES). These analyses enabled us to evaluate the contents of heavy metals such as: Ba, Zn, Cr, Ni, Co, Cd, Pb, Cu and others. All the results record a high degree of contamination of the metal elements to the state of trace in samples of sediments, grounds and plants irrigated with worn water containing of the particles of suspended materials. We could establish significant correlations of each metal for the various compartments of the ecosystem.
New Marker of Colon Cancer Risk Associated with Heme Intake: 1,4-Dihydroxynonane Mercapturic Acid

Background: Red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. Animal studies show that heme, found in red meat, promotes preneoplastic lesions in the colon, probably due to the oxidative properties of this compound. End products of lipid peroxidation, such as 4-hydroxynonenal metabolites or 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), could reflect this oxidative process and could be used as biomarkers of colon cancer risk associated with heme intake. Methods: We measured urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF2α and 1,4-dihydroxynonane mercapturic acid (DHN-MA), the major urinary metabolite of 4-hydroxynonenal, in three studies. In a short-term and a carcinogenesis long-term animal study, we fed rats four different diets (control, chicken, beef, and blood sausage as a high heme diet). In a randomized crossover human study, four different diets were fed (a 60 g/d red meat baseline diet, 120 g/d red meat, baseline diet supplemented with heme iron, and baseline diet supplemented with non-heme iron). Results: DHN-MA excretion increased dramatically in rats fed high heme diets, and the excretion paralleled the number of preneoplastic lesions in azoxymethane initiated rats (P < 0.0001). In the human study, the heme supplemented diet resulted in a 2-fold increase in DHN-MA (P < 0.001). Urinary 8-iso-PGF2α increased moderately in rats fed a high heme diet (P < 0.0001), but not in humans. Conclusion: Urinary DHN-MA is a useful noninvasive biomarker for determining the risk of preneoplastic lesions associated with heme iron consumption and should be further investigated as a potential biomarker of colon cancer risk. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(11):2274–9)
Constructing Demographic Profiles in Commingled Collections: A Comparison of Methods for Determining Sex and Age-at-Death in a Byzantine Monastic Assemblage

ii Acknowledgments. iii Vita . v List of Tables . viii List of Figures . ix Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 Paleodemographic Research: Background and Considerations.2 Biocultural Context for Byzantine St. Stephen's: Origins, Occupation, and Excavation.7 Previous Paleodemographic Study.12 Research Questions and Hypotheses.13 Chapter 2: Materials and Methods . 16 Sex Estimation.16 Age Estimation.21 Chapter 3: Results . 26 Sex Estimation.26 Age Estimation.34
Power-Efficient Cameras Using Natural Image Statistics

Motivated by recent results on compressed sensing cameras we consider cameras that perform an analog linear transformation Φ on the signal, followed by scalar quantization. Specifically we ask: is it better to use compressed sensing (Φ is an under-sampling random matrix) or direct sensing (Φ is the sparsifying basis)? We compare the two approaches using their energy-distortion tradeoffs: assuming most of the energy consumed by such systems is in the ADC and the energy of the quantizer doubles with each bit, which system will give lower distortion for the same energy consumption? We present analytic expressions for the energy-distortion curves for three signal models: signals residing in a known subspace, sparse signals and power-law signals. For all of these models, our analysis shows that direct sensing results in lower distortion for a given energy consumption. We also present simulation results for natural images showing that direct sensing of Haar wavelet coefficients is preferable for these signals. Given the assumptions of our model, direct sensing of Haar wavelets can achieve high quality imaging (PSNR of 40 dB) with 6% the power consumption of standard cameras using 8 bits per channel.
Victimization Online: The Down Side of Seeking Human Services for Women on the Internet

This article describes the problems and dangers that may be encountered when women seek health and human services on the Internet. Issues related to online counseling and online self-help groups include: difficulties in ascertaining the credentials and identity of service providers, accessing inaccurate information, reliance on untested methods, difficulties in online assessment, exposure to disinhibited communication, development of inappropriate online relationships, and lack of standards and regulation regarding online human service practice. In addition, potential victimization of women users of the Internet through loss of privacy, cyberstalking, and identity theft is described. Guidelines and resources for prevention of online victimization are presented.
A Localized Adherence-Like Pattern as a Second Pattern of Adherence of Classic Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to HEp-2 Cells That Is Associated with Infantile Diarrhea

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli strains that cause nonbloody diarrhea in infants are known to present three distinct patterns of adherence to epithelial cells, namely, localized (LA), diffuse (DA), and aggregative (AA) adherence. Strains with LA (typical EnteropathogenicEscherichia coli [EPEC]) are well recognized as a cause of secretory diarrhea, but the role of strains with DA (DAEC) is controversial, and strains with AA (EAEC) have been more frequently related to persistent diarrhea whereas its relationship with acute diarrhea is not well defined. To determine the relationship of the different types of E. coli adherence patterns with acute diarrhea (lasting less than 14 days) and persistent diarrhea (lasting more than 14 days) in São Paulo, Brazil, we studied stool specimens from 40 infants under 1 year of age with diarrhea and 40 age-matched control infants without any gastrointestinal symptoms. Twenty-eight (35.0%) of eighty cases yielded adherent E. coli (HEp-2 cells). Strains with localized and aggregative adherence were associated with acute and persistent diarrhea. A total of 11.2% of the adherent strains were typical EPEC serotypes and hybridized with the enteroadherence factor probe; 5.0% were EAEC and hybridized with the EAEC probe. DAEC strains were isolated from 10.0% of patients and 7.5% of controls and did not hybridize with the two probes used (daaC and AIDA-I). Strains with a localized adherence-like pattern (atypical EPEC) were found significantly more frequently (P = 0.028) in cultures from children with diarrhea (17.5%) than in controls (2.5%).
Social Conflict and Macroeconomics Social Conflict and Macroeconomics

This paper examines the role of social conflict in explaining macroeconomic phenomena and, especially, the effectiveness of aggregate demand policies as a means of raising real output. The social conflict approach to macroeconomic phenomena is compared with Ball, Mankiw and Romer's (1988) and Lucas' (1973) models of the determinants of the effectiveness of aggregate demand policies (or the slope of the Phillips curve). Empirical analysis over the period from the 1950s to the 1990s for 15 OECD countries provides significant evidence that the social conflict view of inflation has much to offer in explaining differences in the effectiveness of aggregate demand policies both across countries and through time. Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Andrew Glyn for advice on the calculation of profit rates and shares and for giving me access to some data.
Hepatitis E Virus

This paper was completed on June 22, 2007, and approved by the German Advisory Committee Blood (Arbeitskreis Blut) on October 1, 2007. It was compiled by the members of the subgroup ‘Assessment of Pathogens Transmissible by Blood’ of the German Advisory Committee Blood (Arbeitskreis Blut): Prof. Dr. Georg Pauli Dr. Johannes Blumel Prof. Dr. Reinhard Burger Prof. Dr. Christian Drosten Dr. Albrecht Groner Prof. Dr. Lutz Gurtler Dr. Margarethe Heiden PD Dr. Martin Hildebrandt Prof. Dr. Dr. Bernd Jansen Dr. Horst Klamm Dr. Thomas Montag-Lessing Dr. Ruth Offergeld Prof. Dr. Rainer Seitz Dr. Uwe Schlenkrich Dr. Volkmar Schottstedt Dr. Hannelore Willkommen Prof. Dr. Carl-Heinz Wirsing von Konig
Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing in Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Aids Diagnosis in Challenging Cases and Identifies Frequent Spliceosome Mutations in Transformed Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

OBJECTIVES Optimal integration of next-generation sequencing (NGS) into clinical practice in hematologic malignancies remains unclear. We evaluate the utility of NGS in myeloid malignancies. METHODS A 42-gene panel was used to sequence 109 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, n = 38), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML, n = 14), myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN, n = 24), and MDS and/or MPN transformed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n = 33). RESULTS At least one pathogenic mutation was identified in 74% of cases of MDS, 100% of CMMLs, and 96% of MPNs. In contrast, only 47% of cases of MDS (18/38) and 7% (1/14) of CMMLs exhibited abnormal cytogenetics. In diagnostically difficult cases of MDS or CMML with normal cytogenetics, NGS identified a pathogenic mutation and was critical in establishing the correct diagnosis. Spliceosomal genes and epigenetic modifiers were frequently mutated. Spliceosome mutations were also frequently detected in AML arising from MDS, CMML, or MPN (39%) compared with the reported rate in de novo AML (7%-14%). CONCLUSIONS In difficult cases of MDS or MPN, NGS facilitates diagnosis by detection of gene mutations to confirm clonality, and AMLs evolving from MDS or MPN carry frequent mutations in spliceosomal genes.
An 80 mW 40 Gb/s 7-Tap T/2-Spaced Feed-Forward Equalizer in 65 nm CMOS

A 7-tap 40 Gb/s FFE using a 65 nm standard CMOS process is described. A number of broadbanding and calibration techniques are used, which allow high-speed operation while consuming 80 mW from a 1 V supply. ESD protection is added to 40 Gb/s IOs and an inexpensive plastic package is used to make the chip closer to a commercial product. The measured tap delay frequency response variation is less than 1 dB up to 20 GHz and tap-to-tap delay variation is less than 0.3 ps. More than 50% vertical and 70% horizontal eye opening from a closed input eye are observed. The use of a CMOS process enables further integration of this core into a DFE equalizer or a CDR/Demux based receiver.
Design and analysis of an integrated optical sensor for scanning force microscopies

In this paper, a novel probe for displacement sensing will be introduced. It is based on a conventional GaAs cantilever, integrated with a Bragg grating as a photo-elastic strain sensor. The deflection of the cantilever is measured directly from the intensity modulation of the reflected light. The principle of the experimental setup and the sensor, as well as the theoretical investigation of the force and displacement sensitivity of the probe, is presented. Finite-element method simulations were performed to get the optimum sensor design. Transfer matrix method simulation of the waveguide grating have been described in detail. In order to enhance the sensitivity, different types of grating structures are discussed. Using this new design, it should be possible to achieve sensitivities, defined as the fractional change in detected optical power per unit displacement of the cantilever, as high as 10/sup -4/ /spl Aring//sup -1/ of cantilever deflection.
Serum cardiac troponin I concentration in dogs with ehrlichiosis.

BACKGROUND Ehrlichiosis is a multisystemic disease with the potential to cause cardiomyocyte injury in naturally infected dogs. HYPOTHESIS Myocardial injury occurs in dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis. ANIMALS One-hundred and ninety-four dogs from Brazil with clinical and laboratory abnormalities indicative of ehrlichiosis. Sixteen healthy dogs served as controls. METHODS Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, noninvasive blood pressure measurement, and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were evaluated. Serologic assays and PCR determined the exposure and infection status for E. canis, Anaplasma spp. , Babesia canis vogeli, Bartonella spp. , Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Leishmania chagasi, and spotted-fever group Rickettsia. Dogs were assigned to groups according to PCR status: E. canis infected, infected with other vector-borne organisms, sick dogs lacking PCR evidence for infection, and healthy controls. RESULTS E. canis-infected dogs had higher serum cTnI concentrations than controls (median: 0.04 ng/dL; range 0.04-9.12 ng/dL; control median: 0.04 ng/dL; range: 0.04-0.10 ng/dL; P= .012), and acute E. canis infection was associated with myocardial injury (odds ratio [OR]: 2.67, confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.12-6.40, P= .027). Severity of anemia was correlated with increased risk of cardiomyocyte damage (r= 0.84, P< .001). Dogs with clinical signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were at higher risk for myocardial injury than were other sick dogs (OR: 2.55, CI 95%: 1.31-4.95, P= .005). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Acute infection with E. canis is a risk factor for myocardial injury in naturally infected Brazilian dogs. Severity of anemia and SIRS might contribute to the pathophysiology of myocardial damage.
Epigenetic regulation of the placental HSD11B2 barrier and its role as a critical regulator of fetal development

“Fetal programming” is a term used to describe how early-life experience influences fetal development and later disease risk. In humans, prenatal stress-induced fetal programming is associated with increased risk of preterm birth, and a heightened risk of metabolic and neurological diseases later in life. A critical determinant of this is the regulation of fetal exposure to glucocorticoids by the placenta. Glucocorticoids are the mediators through which maternal stress influences fetal development. Excessive fetal glucocorticoid exposure during pregnancy results in low birth weight and abnormalities in a number of tissues. The amount of fetal exposure to maternal glucocorticoids depends on the expression of HSD11B2, an enzyme predominantly produced by the syncytiotrophoblast in the placenta. This protects the fetus by converting active glucocorticoids into inactive forms. In this review we examine recent findings regarding placental HSD11B2 that suggest that its epigenetic regulation may mechanistically link maternal stress and long-term health consequences in affected offspring.
The Effects of Exogenous Surfactant Treatment in a Murine Model of Two-Hit Lung Injury

BACKGROUND:Because pulmonary endogenous surfactant is altered during acute respiratory distress syndrome, surfactant replacement may improve clinical outcomes. However, trials of surfactant use have had mixed results. We designed this animal model of unilateral (right) lung injury to explore the effect of exogenous surfactant administered to the injured lung on inflammation in the injured and noninjured lung. METHODS:Mice underwent hydrochloric acid instillation (1.5 mL/kg) into the right bronchus and prolonged (7 hours) mechanical ventilation (25 mL/kg). After 3 hours, mice were treated with 1 mL/kg exogenous surfactant (Curosurf®) (surf group) or sterile saline (NaCl 0.9%) (vehicle group) in the injured (right) lung or did not receive any treatment (hydrochloric acid, ventilator-induced lung injury). Gas exchange, lung compliance, and bronchoalveolar inflammation (cells, albumin, and cytokines) were evaluated. After a significant analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, Tukey post hoc test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS:At least 8 to 10 mice in each group were analyzed for each evaluated variable. Surfactant treatment significantly increased both the arterial oxygen tension to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio and respiratory system static compliance (P = 0.027 and P = 0.007, respectively, for surf group versus vehicle). Surfactant therapy increased indices of inflammation in the acid-injured lung compared with vehicle: inflammatory cells (685 [602–773] and 216 [125–305] × 1000/mL, respectively; P < 0.001) and albumin in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) (1442 ± 588 and 743 ± 647 &mgr;g/mL, respectively; P = 0.027). These differences were not found (P = 0.96 and P = 0.54) in the contralateral (uninjured) lung (inflammatory cells 131 [78–195] and 119 [87–149] × 1000/mL and albumin 135 ± 100 and 173 ± 115 &mgr;g/mL). CONCLUSIONS:Exogenous surfactant administration to an acid-injured right lung improved gas exchange and whole respiratory system compliance. However, markers of inflammation increased in the right (injured) lung, although this result was not found in the left (uninjured) lung. These data suggest that the mechanism by which surfactant improves lung function may involve both uninjured and injured alveoli.
Molecular characterization of a gene encoding a 72-kilodalton mosquito-toxic crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis

A gene encoding a 72,357-dalton (Da) crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis was isolated from a native 75-MDa plasmid by the use of a gene-specific oligonucleotide probe. Bacillus megaterium cells harboring the cloned gene (cryD) produced significant amounts of the 72-kDa protein (CryD), and the cells were highly toxic to mosquito larvae. In contrast, cryD-containing Escherichia coli cells did not produce detectable levels of the 72-kDa CryD protein. The sequence of the CryD protein, as deduced from the sequence of the cryD gene, was found to contain regions of homology with two previously described B. thuringiensis crystal proteins: a 73-kDa coleopteran-toxic protein and a 66-kDa lepidopteran- and dipteran-toxic protein of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. A second gene encoding the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis 28-kDa crystal protein was located approximately 1.5 kilobases upstream from and in the opposite orientation to the cryD gene.
High cardiovascular disease mortality after endometrial cancer diagnosis: Results from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database

Obesity is a strong risk factor for developing endometrial cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD); consequently, understanding CVD mortality among endometrial cancer survivors is important. We analyzed Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program data for 157,496 endometrial cancer cases diagnosed between 1988 and 2012. We calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for CVD and all‐cause mortality comparing endometrial cancer cases and general population women. We categorized women into one of three prognostic groups (excellent, intermediate and poor) based on tumor characteristics. Cumulative incidence function curves were plotted to visualize absolute mortality risk in the presence of competing risks. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression for cause‐specific mortality. Deaths were as follows: endometrial cancer 40.6%, CVD 20.5%, other cancers 18.7% and other causes 20.3%. Women with endometrial cancer were more likely to die from CVD (age‐adjusted SMR = 8.8, 95% CI = 8.7–9.0) and all causes (age‐adjusted SMR = 15.9, 95% CI = 15.8–16.0) compared to general population women. In case‐only analyses, higher CVD mortality was associated with older age, Black ethnicity and lack of surgical treatment. Poor prognosis cancers (non‐endometrioid histology and late stage) were related to higher mortality from each cause, with the highest HRs observed for endometrial cancer‐specific mortality. Among women diagnosed with excellent prognosis tumors (endometrioid, well‐differentiated and early stage), absolute risk of CVD mortality surpassed endometrial cancer‐specific mortality 5 years after diagnosis. Women diagnosed with common forms of endometrial cancer have a high CVD burden. After diagnosis, cardiovascular health should be emphasized for these women to reduce mortality.
Functional Compounds in Fermented Buckwheat Sprouts

Fermented buckwheat sprouts (FBS) are used as multifunctional foods. Their production process includes fermentation with lactic acid bacteria. The major strains were found to include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, and Pediococcus pentosaceus in an investigation of the lactic acid bacteria. We searched for the functional components, and nicotianamine (NA) and 2″-hydroxynicotianamine (HNA) were identified as angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. NA and HNA increased during fermentation. Indole-3-ethanol was identified as an antioxidant (a SOD active substance), and may have been generated from tryptophan during fermentation because it was not contained in green buckwheat juice. A safety test demonstrated that FBS contained were safe functional food components, showing negative results in buckwheat allergy tests. Any buckwheat allergy substances might have been degraded during the fermentation process.