Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gastrointestinal carcinoid: epidemiological and survival evidence from a large population-based study (n = 25 531).

BACKGROUND Owing to its rarity, the published evidence on gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoid is often based on small series of patients or population-based studies regarding all neuroendocrine tumors. Here, we present a comprehensive epidemiological and survival analysis of the largest cohort of patients with GI carcinoid ever reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with histological diagnosis of GI carcinoid (n = 25 531) were identified from the Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (SEER) database (including 18 USA cancer registries and spanning the 1973-2009 time frame). Demographic and disease data were used for epidemiological and survival analyses. RESULTS The incidence of GI carcinoid is steadily increasing over the past three decades at a rate higher than any other cancer [annual percentage change (APC) = 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0-4.8]. These patients have a higher risk of further primary tumor (standardized incidence ratio, SIR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.21), but also a reduced risk of skin melanoma (SIR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.41-0.95). Despite the overall favorable prognosis (5-year disease-specific and relative survival rate: 91.3% and 87.4%, respectively), the mortality rate is increasing over time (APC = 3.5, 95% CI 3.0-4.0) and the 5-year survival rate of patients dying of GI carcinoid (28.5%), though better than that reported for GI cancers in general (8.4%), cannot be considered satisfactory. Finally, a nomogram is provided to predict patient survival on the basis of clinico-pathological factors independently associated with prognosis at multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS These findings can be clinically useful for the management of patients with GI carcinoid and eagerly prompt the continuous effort to develop more effective therapeutic strategies against this slow-growing but chemoresistant tumor.
Psychological Functioning Following Violence: An Examination of Posttraumatic Growth, Distress, and Hope among Interpersonal Violence Survivors

Trauma research has been predominantly focused on the study of the negative psychological sequelae of traumatic experience. Recently, however, increased empirical attention has been paid to the potential for positive changes, or posttraumatic growth, derived from survivors’ struggle with trauma. There is evidence accumulating in support of this phenomenon following various types of traumatic events. Using an online, cross-sectional design, the present study examined posttraumatic growth among 143 survivors of interpersonal violence. Furthermore, the relationship between posttraumatic growth and the severity of psychological distress symptoms, as well as between growth and hope was explored. Results indicated that the severity of depressive symptoms was negatively related to growth, while the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and hope were found to positively predict growth. Associations between posttraumatic growth and demographic and interpersonal violence characteristics did not emerge. The potential implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
An Efficient Differential MIMO-OFDM Scheme with Coordinate Interleaving

We propose a concatenated trellis code (TC) and coordinate interleaved differential space-time block code (STBC) for OFDM. The coordinate interleaver, provides signal space diversity and improves the codeword error rate (CER) performance of the system in wideband channels. Coordinate interleaved differential space-time block codes are proposed and used in the concatenated scheme, TC design criteria are derived, and the CER performances of the proposed system are compared with existing concatenated TC and differential STBC. The comparison showed that the proposed scheme has superior diversity gain and improved CER performance.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations difference frequency exceeds inferred spin frequency in 4U 1636-53

Recent observations of the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636 − 53 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer show, for the ﬁrst time, a kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillation (kHz QPO) peak separation that exceeds the neutron star spin frequency as inferred from burst oscillations. This strongly challenges the sonic-point beat-frequency model for the kHz QPOs found in low-mass X-ray binaries. We detect two simultaneous kHz QPOs with a frequency separation of 323 . 3 ± 4 . 3 Hz in an average Fourier power spectrum of observations obtained in 2001 September and 2002 January. The lower kHz QPO frequency varied between 644 and 769 Hz. In previous observations of this source the peak separation frequency was ∼ 250 Hz when the lower kHz QPO frequency was ∼ 900 Hz. Burst oscillations occur in 4U 1636 − 53 at ∼ 581 Hz and also possibly at half that frequency (290.5 Hz). This is the ﬁrst source where the peak separation frequency is observed to change from less than (half) the burst oscillation frequency to more than that. This observation contradicts all previously formulated implementations of the sonic-point beat-frequency model except those where the disc in 4U 1636 − 53 switches from prograde to retrograde.
Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostics by a Deeply Supervised Adaptable 3D Convolutional Network

Early diagnosis, playing an important role in preventing progress and treating the Alzheimer's disease (AD), is based on classification of features extracted from brain images. The features have to accurately capture main AD-related variations of anatomical brain structures, such as, e.g., ventricles size, hippocampus shape, cortical thickness, and brain volume. This paper proposes to predict the AD with a deep 3D convolutional neural network (3D-CNN), which can learn generic features capturing AD biomarkers and adapt to different domain datasets. The 3D-CNN is built upon a 3D convolutional autoencoder, which is pre-trained to capture anatomical shape variations in structural brain MRI scans. Fully connected upper layers of the 3D-CNN are then fine-tuned for each task-specific AD classification. Experiments on the \emph{ADNI} MRI dataset with no skull-stripping preprocessing have shown our 3D-CNN outperforms several conventional classifiers by accuracy and robustness. Abilities of the 3D-CNN to generalize the features learnt and adapt to other domains have been validated on the \emph{CADDementia} dataset.
The correlation of personality characteristics and social factors with identity styles in adolescents of Golestan, Iran

The present study aims to examine the relationship between personality characteristics, social factors, and identity styles in adolescents. A correlational method was employed. Statistical population in this research consists of all high-school and pre-university students living in Golestan province during the year this research was being conducted.The sample included students (n=380) aged 17 and 18.In this study, the stratified random sampling method was used.Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires (identity styles, including: informational identity style, normative identity style, diffuse/avoidance style, commitment and social factors, including: family relationship, school and peer group relationship and personality characteristics, including: agreeableness, neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience.Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Mean, Standard Division, and Pearson correlation were used. The findings showed that there were significant correlations between personality characteristics and identity styles in adolescents. Significant correlations between social factors and identity styles in adolescents were also observed. In addition according to the results, a moderate and positive correlation was observed between informational and normative styles, informational style and commitment, normative style and commitment, as well as commitment and neuroticism. Additionaly, the results of the study supported theories like social cognitive theory, General other theory, and triat approach. The results shed new light on the processes involved in the personality characteristics and social factors of adolescents’ styles of identity exploration.
Brain Responses before and after Intensive Second Language Learning: Proficiency Based Changes and First Language Background Effects in Adult Learners

This longitudinal study tracked the neuro-cognitive changes associated with second language (L2) grammar learning in adults in order to investigate how L2 processing is shaped by a learner’s first language (L1) background and L2 proficiency. Previous studies using event-related potentials (ERPs) have argued that late L2 learners cannot elicit a P600 in response to L2 grammatical structures that do not exist in the L1 or that are different in the L1 and L2. We tested whether the neuro-cognitive processes underlying this component become available after intensive L2 instruction. Korean- and Chinese late-L2-learners of English were tested at the beginning and end of a 9-week intensive English-L2 course. ERPs were recorded while participants read English sentences containing violations of regular past tense (a grammatical structure that operates differently in Korean and does not exist in Chinese). Whereas no P600 effects were present at the start of instruction, by the end of instruction, significant P600s were observed for both L1 groups. Latency differences in the P600 exhibited by Chinese and Korean speakers may be attributed to differences in L1–L2 reading strategies. Across all participants, larger P600 effects at session 2 were associated with: 1) higher levels of behavioural performance on an online grammaticality judgment task; and 2) with correct, rather than incorrect, behavioural responses. These findings suggest that the neuro-cognitive processes underlying the P600 (e.g., “grammaticalization”) are modulated by individual levels of L2 behavioural performance and learning.
Storybook Influence on Science Concept Comprehension Through Curiosity of Fifth Grade Elementary School Student

The use of storybooks is rarely used in science learning. Though the storybook is able to help students construct the concept comprehension and the curiosity. The purpose of this research is to know the Influence of the storybook on science concept through curiosity as an intervening variable. This is quantitative expose facto research with the formulation of associative problem. Data of Science Concept Comprehension, storybook, and curiosity are successively obtained through the description test instruments, multiple choice test instruments, and observation instruments, and also analyzed by regression analysis and correlation analysis. Storybook and curiosity influenced Science Concept Comprehension, proven correlation analysis of 0.92 and t-tested by 15.14. With the value of 2.02 ttable, then the results show that the influence of storybook and curiosity is very strong and significant. In the joint influence, the dominance of storybook influence is very high and significant, evidenced by a partial correlation of 0.89 with a value of t-test of 12.20. While the dominance of the influence of curiosity is very low and not significant, with the result of correlation analysis -0.03 and t-test value of -0.20. These results indicate that the storybook has a powerful effect on Science Concept Comprehension. In the storybook's shared influence, curiosity has no big effect on Science Concept Comprehension. This research should give belief to elementary school teachers to use storybook in learning because it proved very influential towards understanding the Science Concept.
Roles of Adrenergic α1 and Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptors in the Mediation of the Desynchronization Effects of Modafinil in a Mouse EEG Synchronization Model

Background Synchronized electroencephalogram (EEG) activity is observed in pathological stages of cognitive impairment and epilepsy. Modafinil, known to increase the release of catecholamines, is a potent wake-promoting agent, and has shown some abilities to desynchronize EEG,but its receptor mechanisms by which modafinil induces desynchoronization remain to be elucidated. Here we used a pharmacological EEG synchronization model to investigate the involvement of adrenergic α1 receptors (R, α1R) and dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors (D1Rs and D2Rs) on modafinil-induced desynchronization in mice. Methodology/Principal Findings Mice were treated with cholinergic receptor antagonist scopolamine and monoamine depletor reserpine to produce experimental EEG synchronization characterized by continuous large-amplitude synchronized activity, with prominent increased delta and decreased theta, alpha, and beta power density. The results showed that modafinil produced an EEG desynchronization in the model. This was characterized by a general decrease in amplitude of all the frequency bands between 0 and 20 Hz, a prominent reduction in delta power density, and an increase in theta power density. Adrenergic α1R antagonist terazosin (1 mg/kg, i.p.) completely antagonized the EEG desynchronization effects of modafinil at 90 mg/kg. However, DA D1R and D2R blockers partially attenuated the effects of modafinil. The modafinil-induced decrease in the amplitudes of the delta, theta, alpha, and beta waves and in delta power density were completely abolished by pretreatment with a combination of the D1R antagonist SCH 23390 (30 µg/kg) and the D2R antagonist raclopride (2 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusions/Significance These results suggest that modafinil-mediated desynchronization may be attributed to the activation of adrenergic α1R, and dopaminergic D1R and D2R in a model of EEG synchronization.
Spatial Effects of Foreign Direct Investment in US States (Effets Spatiaux De L’Investissement Direct En Provenance De L’Étranger Dans Les États Américains)

This paper estimates the aggregate productivity effects of Marshallian externalities generated by foreign direct investment (FDI) in US states, controlling for Marshallian externalities and other spatial spillovers generated by domestic firms. A regional production function framework models externalities and other spatial spillovers explicitly as determinants of total factor productivity. We employ a system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator to account for the potential endogeneity of FDI and the presence of spatial lags. Using data for US states from 1977–2003, the results indicate that FDI generates positive externalities, while externalities from domestic firms are negative. (Ce memoire evalue les effets agreges de productivite des effets externes marshalliens engendres par l’investissement direct en provenance de l’etranger dans les etats americains, en normalisant pour tenir compte des effets externes marshalliens et autres effets de retombee au plan spatial des firmes domestiques. A l’aide d’un cadre de fonction de production regionale, on modelise les effets externes et autres effets de retombee spatiaux explicitement en tant que determinants de la productivite totale des facteurs. On utilise la methode generalisee des moments (MGM) comme estimateur pour prendre en compte l’endogeneite potentielle de l’investissement direct en provenance de l’etranger et la presence de delais spatiaux. En utilisant les donnees americaines de 1977 a 2003, on constate que l’investissement direct en provenance de l’etranger produit des effets externes positifs alors que les effets externes des firmes domestiques sont negatifs. )
OPTIMIST: state minimization for optimal 2-level logic implementation

We present a novel method for state minimization of incompletely-specified finite state machines. Where classic methods simply minimize the number of states, ours directly addresses the implementation's logic complexity, and produces an exactly optimal implementation under input encoding. The method incorporates optimal "state mapping", i.e., the process of reducing the symbolic next-state relation which results from state splitting to an optimal conforming symbolic function. Further, it offers a number of convenient sites for applying heuristics to reduce time and space complexity, and is amenable to implementation based on implicit representations. Although our method currently makes use of an input encoding model, we believe it can be extended smoothly to encompass output encoding as well.
Productive and Unproductive Depression: Success or Failure of a Vital Process. By Emmy Gut. London: Routledge. 1989. 275 pp. £30.00 (hb), £12.95 (pb).

biological rationale for the physical treatments used in psychiatry is placed in perspectivewith other treatment modalities known to beeffective.The evidencefor links betweenpsychologicaltheoriesof illnessand central neurotransmitters is reviewed. I have some reservationsabout this volume. In particular, this field is a fast moving one, and by the time such an edition is found on the shelf, there are, inevitably, a number of areas requiring updating. In addition, the cost makes this volume more attractive to libraries that to individuals. It is, however, rec ommended asa thorough and readablereferencesource for the biological basisof psychiatric treatment.
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy: photodynamic antimicrobial effects of malachite green on Staphylococcus, enterobacteriaceae, and Candida.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated in vitro the photodynamic antimicrobial effects of the photosensitizer malachite green on clinical strains of Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Candida. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six microbial strains isolated from the oral cavity of patients undergoing prolonged antibiotic therapy, including 12 Staphylococcus, 12 Enterobacteriaceae, and 12 Candida strains, were studied. The number of cells of each microorganism was standardized to 10(6) cells/mL. Twenty-four assays were carried out for each strain according to the following experimental conditions: gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser and photosensitizer (n = 6, L+P+), laser and physiologic solution (n = 6, L+P-), photosensitizer (n = 6, L-P+), and physiologic solution (n = 6, L-P-). Next, cultures were prepared on brain-heart infusion agar for the growth of Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae, and on Sabouraud dextrose agar for the growth of Candida, and incubated for 48 h at 37 degrees C. The results are reported as the number of colony-forming units (CFU/mL) and were analyzed with analysis of variance and the Tukey test. RESULTS The Staphylococcus, enterobacterial, and Candida strains were sensitive to photodynamic therapy with malachite green (L+P+). A reduction of approximately 7 log(10) for Staphylococcus, 6 log(10) for enterobacteria, and 0.5 log(10) for the genus Candida. Significant statistical differences were observed between the L+P+ groups and the control groups (L-P-). CONCLUSION The Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Candida strains studied were sensitive to photodynamic therapy with malachite green.
Cytoplasmic Domain Mutations of the L1 Cell Adhesion Molecule Reduce L1–Ankyrin Interactions

The neural adhesion molecule L1 mediates the axon outgrowth, adhesion, and fasciculation that are necessary for proper development of synaptic connections. L1 gene mutations are present in humans with the X-linked mental retardation syndrome CRASH (corpus callosum hypoplasia, retardation, aphasia, spastic paraplegia, hydrocephalus). Three missense mutations associated with CRASH syndrome reside in the cytoplasmic domain of L1, which contains a highly conserved binding region for the cytoskeletal protein ankyrin. In a cellular ankyrin recruitment assay that uses transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, two of the pathologic mutations located within the conserved SFIGQY sequence (S1224L and Y1229H) strikingly reduced the ability of L1 to recruit 270 kDa ankyrinG protein that was tagged with green fluorescent protein (ankyrin–GFP) to the plasma membrane. In contrast, the L1 missense mutation S1194L and an L1 isoform lacking the neuron-specific sequence RSLE in the cytoplasmic domain were as effective as RSLE-containing neuronal L1 in the recruitment of ankyrin–GFP. Ankyrin binding by L1 was independent of cell–cell interactions. Receptor-mediated endocytosis of L1 regulates intracellular signal transduction, which is necessary for neurite outgrowth. In rat B35 neuroblastoma cell lines stably expressing L1 missense mutants, antibody-induced endocytosis was unaffected by S1224L or S1194L mutations but appeared to be enhanced by the Y1229H mutation. These results suggested a critical role for tyrosine residue 1229 in the regulation of L1 endocytosis. In conclusion, specific mutations within key residues of the cytoplasmic domain of L1 (Ser1224, Tyr1229) destabilize normal L1–ankyrin interactions and may influence L1 endocytosis to contribute to the mechanism of neuronal dysfunction in human X-linked mental retardation.
1 SIMULATION OF POLYMER CRYSTAL GROWTH WITH VARIOUS MORPHOLOGIES USING A PHASE-FIELD MODEL

A finite element-based phase-field model was developed to simulate crystal growth in semi-crystalline polymers with various crystal morphologies. The original Kobayashi’s phase-field model for solidification of pure materials was adopted to account for polymer crystallization. Evolution of a nonconserved phase-field variable was considered to track the interface between the melt and the crystalline phases. A local free energy density was used to account for the meta-stable states in polymer solidification. The developed model was successfully applied for simulation of two and three dimensional, singleand polycrystalline morphologies (hexagonal and spherulitic) in isotactic polypropylene (iPP). These morphologies were compared based on different super-cooling conditions and interface anisotropy. The unique aspect of this work is that the employed model is capable of simulating multiple arbitrarily oriented crystals and has no limitations with respect to the crystal morphology. The results show significant thermal effects on the shape and growth rate of iPP crystals.
Effects of Caenorhabditis elegans sgk-1 mutations on lifespan, stress resistance, and DAF-16/FoxO regulation

The AGC family serine–threonine kinases Akt and Sgk are similar in primary amino acid sequence and in vitro substrate specificity, and both kinases are thought to directly phosphorylate and inhibit FoxO transcription factors. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, it is well established that AKT‐1 controls dauer arrest and lifespan by regulating the subcellular localization of the FoxO transcription factor DAF‐16. SGK‐1 is thought to act similarly to AKT‐1 in lifespan control by phosphorylating and inhibiting the nuclear translocation of DAF‐16/FoxO. Using sgk‐1 null and gain‐of‐function mutants, we now provide multiple lines of evidence indicating that AKT‐1 and SGK‐1 influence C. elegans lifespan, stress resistance, and DAF‐16/FoxO activity in fundamentally different ways. Whereas AKT‐1 shortens lifespan, SGK‐1 promotes longevity in a DAF‐16‐/FoxO‐dependent manner. In contrast to AKT‐1, which reduces resistance to multiple stresses, SGK‐1 promotes resistance to oxidative stress and ultraviolet radiation but inhibits thermotolerance. Analysis of several DAF‐16/FoxO target genes that are repressed by AKT‐1 reveals that SGK‐1 represses a subset of these genes while having little influence on the expression of others. Accordingly, unlike AKT‐1, which promotes the cytoplasmic sequestration of DAF‐16/FoxO, SGK‐1 does not influence DAF‐16/FoxO subcellular localization. Thus, in spite of their similar in vitro substrate specificities, Akt and Sgk influence longevity, stress resistance, and FoxO activity through distinct mechanisms in vivo. Our findings highlight the need for a re‐evaluation of current paradigms of FoxO regulation by Sgk.