Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast ing Insul in and Outcome in Early-Stage Breast Cancer : Resul ts of a Prospect i ve Cohort Study

Purpose: Insulin, a member of a family of growth factors that includes insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II, exerts mitogenic effects on normal and malignant breast epithelial cells, acting via insulin and IGF-I receptors. Because of this and because of its recognized association with obesity, an adverse prognostic factor in breast cancer, we examined the prognostic associations of insulin in early-stage breast cancer. Patients and Methods: A cohort of 512 women without known diabetes, who had early-stage (T1 to T3, N0 to N1, and M0) breast cancer, was assembled and observed prospectively. Information on traditional prognostic factors and body size was collected, and fasting blood was obtained. Results: Fasting insulin was associated with distant recurrence and death; the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for those in the highest (> 51.9 pmol/L) versus the lowest (< 27.0 pmol/L) insulin quartile were 2.0 (95% CI, 1.2 to 3.3) and 3.1 (95% CI, 1.7 to 5.7), respectively. There was some evidence to suggest that the association of insulin with breast cancer outcomes may be nonlinear. Insulin was correlated with body mass index (Spearman r 0.59, P < .001), which, in turn, was associated with distant recurrence and death (P < .001). In multivariate analyses that included fasting insulin and available tumorand treatmentrelated variables, adjusted hazard ratios for the upper versus lower insulin quartile were 2.1 (95% CI, 1.2 to 3.6) and 3.3 (95% CI, 1.5 to 7.0) for distant recurrence and death, respectively. Conclusion: Fasting insulin level is associated with outcome in women with early breast cancer. High levels of fasting insulin identify women with poor outcomes in whom more effective treatment strategies should be explored. J Clin Oncol 20:42-51. © 2001 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Blood alcohol content, injury severity, and adult respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND Elevated blood alcohol content (BAC) is a risk factor for injury. Associations of BAC with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have not been conclusively established. We evaluated the association of a BAC greater than 0 mg/dL with the intermediate outcomes, Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and their association with ARDS development. METHODS This is an observational retrospective cohort study of 26,305 primary trauma admissions to a statewide referral trauma center from July 11, 2003, to October 31, 2011. Logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between admission BAC, ISS, GCS score, and ARDS development within 5 days of admission. RESULTS The case rate for ARDS was 5.5% (1,447). BAC greater than 0 mg/dL was associated with ARDS development in adjusted analysis (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33–1.71; p < 0.001). High ISS (≥16) had a stronger association with ARDS development (odds ratio, 17.99; 95% CI, 15.51–20.86), as did low GCS score (⩽8) (odds ratio, 8.77; 95% CI, 7.64–10.07; p < 0.001). Patients with low GCS score and high ISS had the most frequent ARDS (33.6%) and the highest case-fatality rate without ARDS (24.7%). CONCLUSION Elevated BAC is associated with ARDS development. In the analysis of alcohol exposure, ISS and GCS score occur after alcohol ingestion, making them intermediate outcomes. ISS and GCS score were strong predictors of ARDS and may be useful to identify at-risk patients. Elevated BAC may increase the frequency of the ARDS through influence on injury severity or independent molecular mechanisms, which can be discriminated only in experimental models. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.
Comparative Analysis of the Organization of the Cholinergic System in the Brains of Two Holostean Fishes, the Florida Gar Lepisosteus platyrhincus and the Bowfin Amia calva

The cholinergic system in the brain has been widely studied in most vertebrate groups, but there is no information available about this neurotransmission system in the brains of holostean fishes, a primitive and poorly understood group of actinopterygian fishes. The present study provides the first detailed information on the distribution of cholinergic cell bodies and fibers in the central nervous system in two holostean species, the Florida gar, Lepisosteus platyrhincus, and the bowfin, Amia calva. Immmunohistochemistry against the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) revealed distinct groups of ChAT-immunoreactive (ChAT-ir) cells in the habenula, isthmic nucleus, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, octavolateral area, reticular formation, cranial nerve motor nuclei and the motor column of the spinal cord, all of which seem to be highly conserved among vertebrates. Some ChAT-ir cells were detected in the basal telencephalon that appear in actinopterygians for the first time in the evolution of this neurotransmission system, whereas the remarkable cholinergic population in the optic tectum is a peculiar characteristic, the presence of which varies throughout evolution, although it is present in all teleosts studied. Abundant cholinergic fibers were found in the pretectal region and optic tectum, where they probably modulate vision, and in the hypothalamus and the interpeduncular neuropil. Some interspecific differences were also observed, such as the presence of ChAT-ir cells in the supraoptoparaventricular band only in Lepisosteus and in in the nucleus subglomerulosus only in Amia. In addition, ChAT-ir fibers in the olfactory bulb were detected only in Amia. Comparison of these results with those from other classes of vertebrates, and a segmental analysis to correlate cell populations, reveal that the pattern of the cholinergic system in holosteans is very close to that in ancestral actinopterygian fishes, as recently described in the bichir (Cladistia), although an important evolutionary novelty in holosteans is the presence of cholinergic cells in the basal telencephalon.
Evaluation of Three Formulations of Culture Media for Isolation of Brucella spp. regarding Their Ability to Inhibit the Growth of Contaminating Organisms

Three culture media (Brucella agar, Farrell medium, and CITA) were compared for their effectiveness in inhibiting contamination and for isolating Brucella spp. One hundred lymph nodes from pigs (n = 50) and wild boars (n = 50) with lymphadenitis were collected in slaughterhouses in the State of São Paulo and were assessed on these three selective media for Brucella spp. All of the samples were negative for Brucella spp. on the three culture media. On the agar medium, fungal (70 plates) and Gram-positive bacterial (59 plates) contaminants were observed; in the CITA medium, the absence of fungal and Gram-positive bacteria on 15 plates was observed; no bacterial or fungal growth was observed on the Farrell media. The results demonstrated that the CITA and Farrell media inhibited the growth of contaminants better than the Brucella agar.
Fiber Bragg grating strain gauge rosette with temperature compensation

We will describe the construction of a fiber optic strain gauge rosette (FOSGR) using four in-line fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). These FBGs are formed into a triangular- shaped loop structure. The first three FBGs are orientated at 0 degrees, 60 degrees, and 120 degrees. The final grating, which is at the end of the loop, is isolated from strain and acts as a temperature sensor. Using this independent temperature sensor, the temperature cross sensitivity of the strain sensing gratings can be factored out.Moreover, the inclusion of temperature sensing allows this optical strain gauge to be used on any structural material with arbitrary thermal properties. This FOSGR has been attached techniques. This paper describes experimental results obtained from a FOSGR that has been mounted on an aluminium test piece, which has been subjected to both compressive and tensile loads. Also shown are the temperature characteristics of a FOSGR.
Author ' s personal copy The cortical representation of simple mathematical expressions

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Written mathematical notation conveys, in a compact visual form, the nested functional relations among abstract concepts such as operators, numbers or sets. Is the comprehension of mathematical expressions derived from the human capacity for processing the recursive structure of language? Or does algebraic processing rely only on a language-independent network, jointly involving the visual system for parsing the string of mathematical symbols and the intraparietal system for representing numbers and operators? We tested these competing hypotheses by scanning mathematically trained adults while they viewed simple strings ranging from randomly arranged characters to mathematical expressions with up to three levels of nested parentheses. Syntactic effects were observed in behavior and in brain activation measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magneto-encephalography (MEG). Bilateral occipito-temporal cortices and right parietal and precentral cortices appeared as the primary nodes for mathematical syntax. MEG estimated that a mathematical expression could be parsed by posterior visual regions in less than 180 ms. Nevertheless, a small increase in activation with increasing expression complexity was observed in linguistic regions of interest , including the left inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior superior temporal sulcus. We suggest that mathematical syntax, although arising historically from language competence, becomes " compiled " into visuo-spatial areas in well-trained mathematics students. " Words and language, whether written or spoken, do not seem to play any part in my thought processes. The psychological entities that serve as building blocks for my thought are certain signs or images, more or less clear, that I can reproduce and recombine at will. " Albert Einstein Introduction The origin of the uniquely human ability for mathematics is a classical philosophical debate which, in recent years, has progressively been turned into an experimental question in cognitive neuroscience There is a growing consensus that the most basic of human intuitions, in domains such as number, space and time originate from brain mechanisms inherited from our evolution and present in uneducated humans as well as many only humans, with education, seem to turn these primitive approximate concepts into a formal mathematical …
Efficient multiple-click models in web search

Many tasks that leverage web search users' implicit feedback rely on a proper and unbiased interpretation of user clicks. Previous eye-tracking experiments and studies on explaining position-bias of user clicks provide a spectrum of hypotheses and models on how an average user examines and possibly clicks web documents returned by a search engine with respect to the submitted query. In this paper, we attempt to close the gap between previous work, which studied how to model a single click, and the reality that multiple clicks on web documents in a single result page are not uncommon. Specifically, we present two multiple-click models: the independent click model (ICM) which is reformulated from previous work, and the dependent click model (DCM) which takes into consideration dependencies between multiple clicks. Both models can be efficiently learned with linear time and space complexities. More importantly, they can be incrementally updated as new click logs flow in. These are well-demanded properties in reality. We systematically evaluate the two models on click logs obtained in July 2008 from a major commercial search engine. The data set, after preprocessing, contains over 110 thousand distinct queries and 8.8 million query sessions. Extensive experimental studies demonstrate the gain of modeling multiple clicks and their dependencies. Finally, we note that since our experimental setup does not rely on tweaking search result rankings, it can be easily adopted by future studies.
Semantic Cognition: A Parallel Distributed Processing Approach

This groundbreaking monograph offers a mechanistic theory of the representation and use of semantic knowledge, integrating the strengths and overcoming many of the weaknesses of hierarchical, categorization-based approaches, similarity-based approaches, and the approach often called "theory theory. " Building on earlier models by Geoffrey Hinton in the 1980s and David Rumelhart in the early 1990s, the authors propose that performance in semantic tasks arises through the propagation of graded signals in a system of interconnected processing units. The representations used in performing these tasks are patterns of activation across units, governed by weighted connections among them. Semantic knowledge is acquired through the gradual adjustment of the strengths of these connections in the course of day-to-day experience. The authors show how a simple computational model proposed by Rumelhart exhibits a progressive differentiation of conceptual knowledge, paralleling aspects of cognitive development seen in the work of Frank Keil and Jean Mandler. The authors extend the model to address aspects of conceptual knowledge acquisition in infancy, disintegration of conceptual knowledge in dementia, "basic-level" effects and their interaction with expertise, and many findings introduced to support the idea that semantic cognition is guided by naive, domain-specific theories.
TaqMan-Based Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis DNA from Female Genital Specimens

ABSTRACT A double-labeled fluorescent probe was designed and evaluated for detecting Trichomonas vaginalis DNA in a 5′ nuclease (TaqMan) assay. The T. vaginalis-specific probe contains a 5′-fluorescein (5′-FAM) and a 3′-rhodamine (TAMRA) derivative. Female genital secretions were collected on Amplicor (Roche Molecular, Indianapolis, Ind.) swabs and by a transport system used forChlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA detection by PCR. Five hundred fifty-two female genital specimens, of which 248 (45%) were vaginal specimens and 304 (55%) were introital, were tested for both T. vaginalisDNA and viable microorganisms using the 5′ nuclease assay and broth culture, respectively. Of these, 304 of 552 (55%) were also evaluated by direct microscopic examination for the characteristic motile organism. After resolving discrepancies, the comparisons produced an analytical sensitivity and specificity for the TaqMan-based PCR assay of 97.8 and 97.4%, respectively. As a result, ΔRQ values (differences in fluorescence due to probe hybridization and resulting 5′-FAM cleavage from the specific PCR product) of ≥2.0 and ≤1.5 were established for T. vaginalis-positive and -negative cutoffs, respectively. ΔRQ values between 1.5 and 2.0 were considered indeterminate. Overall findings revealed a high level of agreement between PCR and culture for detecting T. vaginalis. Potential benefits of the 5′ nuclease assay include a greater sensitivity compared to direct microscopic examination and the ease of testing large numbers of clinical specimens in a significantly shorter turnaround time compared to culture.
High-molecular weight Aβ oligomers and protofibrils are the predominant Aβ species in the native soluble protein fraction of the AD brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the aggregation and deposition of amyloid β protein (Aβ) in the brain. Soluble Aβ oligomers are thought to be toxic. To investigate the predominant species of Aβ protein that may play a role in AD pathogenesis, we performed biochemical analysis of AD and control brains. Sucrose buffer‐soluble brain lysates were characterized in native form using blue native (BN)‐PAGE and also in denatured form using SDS‐PAGE followed by Western blot analysis. BN‐PAGE analysis revealed a high‐molecular weight smear (>1000 kD) of Aβ42‐positive material in the AD brain, whereas low‐molecular weight and monomeric Aβ species were not detected. SDS‐PAGE analysis, on the other hand, allowed the detection of prominent Aβ monomer and dimer bands in AD cases but not in controls. Immunoelectron microscopy of immunoprecipitated oligomers and protofibrils/fibrils showed spherical and protofibrillar Aβ‐positive material, thereby confirming the presence of high‐molecular weight Aβ (hiMWAβ) aggregates in the AD brain. In vitro analysis of synthetic Aβ40‐ and Aβ42 preparations revealed Aβ fibrils, protofibrils, and hiMWAβ oligomers that were detectable at the electron microscopic level and after BN‐PAGE. Further, BN‐PAGE analysis exhibited a monomer band and less prominent low‐molecular weight Aβ (loMWAβ) oligomers. In contrast, SDS‐PAGE showed large amounts of loMWAβ but no hiMWAβ40 and strikingly reduced levels of hiMWAβ42. These results indicate that hiMWAβ aggregates, particularly Aβ42 species, are most prevalent in the soluble fraction of the AD brain. Thus, soluble hiMWAβ aggregates may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD either independently or as a reservoir for release of loMWAβ oligomers.
Novel cholinesterase inhibitors as future effective drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Current pharmacotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease involves compounds that are aimed at increasing the levels of acetylcholine in the brain by facilitating cholinergic neurotransmission through inhibition of cholinesterase. These drugs, known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, have been shown to improve cognition and global functions but have little impact on improving the eventual progression of the disease; however, there is evidence that other cholinesterases such as butyrylcholinesterase can play an important role in cholinergic function in the brain, and the long-suspected non-cholinergic actions of acetylcholinesterase, mainly the interference with the β-amyloid protein cascade, have recently driven a profound revolution in cholinesterase drug research. Several disease-modifying agents are under development that target these enzymes and have hope of becoming the next generation of effective drugs in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Spatially Resolved Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of the Nuclear Region of NGC 1068

We carry out high-resolution FUSE spectroscopy of the nuclear region of NGC 1068. The first set of spectra was obtained with a 30″ square aperture that collected all emission from the narrow-line region. The data reveal a strong broad O VI component of FWHM ~3500 km s−1 and two narrow O VI λλ1031, 1037 components of ~350 km s−1. The C III λ977 and N III λ991 emission lines in this spectrum can be fitted with a narrow component of FWHM ~1000 km s−1 and a broad one of ~2500 km s−1. Another set of seven spatially resolved spectra was made using a long slit of 1.25′′ × 20′′ at steps of ~1″ along the axis of the emission-line cone. We find the following: (1) Major emission lines in the FUSE wavelength range consist of a broad and a narrow component. (2) There is a gradient in the velocity field for the narrow O VI component of ~200 km s−1 from ~2″ southwest of the nucleus to ~4″ northeast. A similar pattern is also observed with the broad O VI component, with a gradient of ~3000 km s−1. These are consistent with the HST STIS findings and suggest a biconical structure in which the velocity field is mainly radial outflow. (3) A major portion of the C III and N III line flux is produced in the compact core. They are therefore not effective temperature diagnostics for the conical region. (4) The best-fit UV continuum suggests virtually no reddening, and the He II I(λ1640)/I(λ1085) ratio suggests a consistently low extinction factor across the cone. At ~2″ northeast of the nucleus there is a region characterized by (a) a strong Lyα flux but normal C IV flux, (b) a broad O VI line, and (c) a significantly enhanced C III flux.
Implicit Multifunction

We prove a general implicit function theorem for multifunctions with a metric estimate on the implicit multifunction and a characterization of its coderivative. Traditional open covering theorems, stability results , and suucient conditions for a multifunction to be metrically regular or pseudo-Lipschitzian can be deduced from this implicit function theorem. We prove this implicit multifunction theorem by reducing it to an implicit function/solvability theorem for functions. This approach can also be used to prove the Robinson-Ursescu open mapping theorem. As a tool for this alternative proof of the Robinson-Ursescu theorem we also establish a reened version of the multidirectional mean value inequality which is of independent interest.
Localization and regulation of SR-BI in membrane rafts of HepG2 cells

The scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI) mediates cholesteryl esters (CE) selective uptake from low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. In a number of tissues expressing caveolin, SR-BI is localized in caveolae. We show using detergent-free sucrose gradients that SR-BI is found in membrane rafts devoid of caveolin-1 in the human hepatoma HepG2 cell. Perturbation of the structure of HepG2 cell membrane rafts with cholesterol oxidase or sphingomyelinase decreased LDL-CE association due to selective uptake by 60%, while HDL3-CE selective uptake was increased 2.3-fold by cholesterol oxidase but was not affected by sphingomyelinase. Sequestration of membrane cholesterol with filipin III decreased LDL-CE selective uptake by 25%, while it had no effect on HDL3-CE selective uptake. Extraction of cell membrane cholesterol with β-cyclodextrin increased LDL- and HDL3-CE selective uptake by 1.6-fold and 3-fold, respectively. We found that CE-selective uptake from both HDL and LDL occurs by a pathway involving retro-endocytosis in HepG2 cells. An analysis of the effect of SR-BI level on the expression of critical lipid sensor and lipid binding proteins was conducted with stable transformants of HepG2 cell overexpressing SR-BI. We found that liver-type fatty acid binding protein expression level is higher in SR-BI-overexpressing cells and that caveolin-1 and sterol response element binding protein-2 levels are reduced. Thus, in this hepatic cell model, SR-BI is associated with membrane rafts devoid of caveolin and its expression affects intracellular lipid binding and lipid sensor proteins. SR-BI-dependent LDL- and HDL-CE selective uptake are affected differently by the integrity of membrane rafts, but both occur by a retroendocytic pathway in HepG2 cells.
Effectiveness of FRP for Strengthening Concrete Bridges

This paper demonstrates an alternative use of FRP for strengthening concrete bridges in response to the demand towards increasing the flexural capacity to accommodate new truck loads. Several large-scale models of a prestressed concrete bridge were constructed and tested to failure to investigate the effectiveness of different FRP strengthening techniques. These techniques include near surface mounted bars and strips as well as externally bonded sheets and strips. Bond characteristics of near surface mounted FRP bars and strips are investigated by testing independently 17 concrete beams under monotonic static loading. Mathematical models for the interfacial shear stresses and the minimum anchorage length needed for near surface mounted bars and strips are presented. The feasibility of strengthening a prestressed concrete bridge using near surface mounting technique is discussed. The paper presents also an overview of the cost-effectiveness of each of the strengthening techniques considered in this study.