Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNAs Are Indispensable for Reprogramming Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Induced Stem Cell-Like Cells

MicroRNAs play a pivotal role in cellular maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation. They have also been implicated to play a key role in disease pathogenesis, and more recently, cellular reprogramming. Certain microRNA clusters can enhance or even directly induce reprogramming, while repressing key proteins involved in microRNA processing decreases reprogramming efficiency. Although microRNAs clearly play important roles in cellular reprogramming, it remains unknown whether microRNAs are absolutely necessary. We endeavored to answer this fundamental question by attempting to reprogram Dicer-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) that lack almost all functional microRNAs using a defined set of transcription factors. Transduction of reprogramming factors using either lentiviral or piggyBac transposon vector into two, independently derived lines of Dicer-null MEFs failed to produce cells resembling embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, expression of human Dicer in the Dicer-null MEFs restored their reprogramming potential. Our study demonstrates for the first time that microRNAs are indispensable for dedifferentiation reprogramming.
On the Single-Source Unsplittable Flow Problem

be a capacitated directed graph with a source s and k terminals with demands , . We would like to concurrently route every demand on a single path from s to the corresponding terminal without violating the capacities. There are several interesting and important variations of this unsplittable flow problem.If the necessary cut condition is satisfied, we show how to compute an unsplittable flow satisfying the demands such that the total flow through any edge exceeds its capacity by at most the maximum demand. For graphs in which all capacities are at least the maximum demand, we therefore obtain an unsplittable flow with congestion at most 2, and this result is best possible. Furthermore, we show that all demands can be routed unsplittably in 5 rounds, i.e., all demands can be collectively satisfied by the union of 5 unsplittable flows. Finally, we show that 22.6% of the total demand can be satisfied unsplittably.These results are extended to the case when the cut condition is not necessarily satisfied. We derive a 2-approximation algorithm for congestion, a 5-approximation algorithm for the number of rounds and a -approximation algorithm for the maximum routable demand.
Case Report: Industrial X-Ray Injury Treated With Non-Cultured Autologous Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)

Abstract Local cutaneous injuries induced by ionizing radiation (IR) are difficult to treat. Many have reported local injection of adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), often with additional therapies, as an effective treatment of IR-induced injury even after other local therapies have failed. The authors report a case of a locally recurrent, IR-induced wound that was treated with autologous, non-cultured SVF without other concurrent therapy. A nondestructive testing technician was exposed to 130 kVp x rays to his non-dominant right thumb on 5 October 2011. The wound healed 4 mo after initial conservative therapy with oral/topical &agr;-tocopherol, oral pentoxifylline, naproxen sodium, low-dose oral steroids, topical steroids, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), oral antihistamines, and topical aloe vera. Remission lasted approximately 17 mo with one minor relapse in July 2012 after minimal trauma and subsequent healing. Aggressive wound breakdown during June 2013 required additional therapy with HBOT. An erythematous, annular papule developed over the following 12 mo (during which time the patient was not undergoing prescribed treatment). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) done more than 2 mo after exposure to IR revealed dose estimates of 14 ± 3 Gy and 19 ± 6 Gy from two centers using different EPR techniques. The patient underwent debridement of the 0.5 cm papular area, followed by SVF injection into and around the wound bed and throughout the thumb without complication. Eleven months post SVF injection, the patient has been essentially asymptomatic with an intact integument. These results raise the possibility of prolonged benefit from SVF therapy without the use of cytokines. Since there is currently no consensus on the use of isolated SVF therapy in chronic, local IR-induced injury, assessment of this approach in an appropriately powered, controlled trial in experimental animals with local radiation injury appears to be indicated.
Utility of Phox2b immunohistochemical stain in neural crest tumours and non‐neural crest tumours in paediatric patients

This study evaluated the utility of Phox2b in paediatric tumours. Previously, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was the most widely utilised sympathoadrenal marker specific for neural crest tumours with neuronal/neuroendocrine differentiation. However, its sensitivity is insufficient. Recently Phox2b has emerged as another specific marker for this entity.
Reducing medical-surgical inpatient falls and injuries with videos, icons and alarms

Background Inpatient falls and subsequent injuries are among the most common hospital-acquired conditions with few effective prevention methods. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of patient education videos and fall prevention visual signalling icons when added to bed exit alarms in improving acutely hospitalised medical-surgical inpatient fall and injury rates. Design Performance improvement study with historic control. Setting Four medical-surgical units in one US public acute care hospital. Study participants Adult medical-surgical inpatients units. Interventions A 4 min video was shown to patients by trained volunteers. Icons of individual patient risk factors and interventions were placed at patients’ bedsides. Beds with integrated three-mode sensitivity exit alarms were activated for confused patients at risk of falling. Main outcome measures The main outcome measure is the incident rate per 1000 patient days (PDs) for patient falls, falls with any injury and falls with serious injury. The incident rate ratio (IRR) for each measure compared January 2009–September 2010 (baseline) with the follow-up period of January 2015–December 2015 (intervention). Results Falls decreased 20% from 4.78 to 3.80 per 1000 PDs (IRR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.96); falls with any injury decreased 40% from 1.01 to 0.61 per 1000 PDs (IRR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.94); and falls with serious injury 85% from 0.159 to 0.023 per 1000 PDs (IRR 0.15, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.85). Icons were not fully implemented. Conclusion The first known significant reduction of falls, falls with injury and falls with serious injury among medical-surgical inpatients was achieved. Patient education and continued use of bed exit alarms were associated with large decreases in injury. Icons require further testing. Multicentre randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of icons and video interventions and exit alarms.
A cross-platform and distributive database system for cumulative tumor measurement

This paper discusses the development of a cross-platform, web accessible, vendor-independent database system capable of storing and comparing longitudinal tumor measurements for multiple tumors. This innovative system can create a comprehensive cumulative report that summarizes clinical findings and links to the original image studies, which will clinically enhance the workflow of oncologists. A case study on a pancreatic tumor data set with 524 tumor measurements and 134 patients is demonstrated.
AdaBatch: Adaptive Batch Sizes for Training Deep Neural Networks

Training deep neural networks with Stochastic Gradient Descent, or its variants, requires careful choice of both learning rate and batch size. While smaller batch sizes generally converge in fewer training epochs, larger batch sizes offer more parallelism and hence better computational efficiency. We have developed a new training approach that, rather than statically choosing a single batch size for all epochs, adaptively increases the batch size during the training process. Our method delivers the convergence rate of small batch sizes while achieving performance similar to large batch sizes. We analyse our approach using the standard AlexNet, ResNet, and VGG networks operating on the popular CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and ImageNet datasets. Our results demonstrate that learning with adaptive batch sizes can improve performance by factors of up to 6.25 on 4 NVIDIA Tesla P100 GPUs while changing accuracy by less than 1% relative to training with fixed batch sizes.
Clinical Investigation : Lymphoma High-Dose and Extended-Field Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage NK / T-Cell Lymphoma of Waldeyer ’ s Ring : Dosimetric Analysis and Clinical Outcome

The dosimetric and clinical outcomes of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for patients with early stage Waldeyer’s ring NK/T-cell lymphoma (WRNKTCL) have not previously been reported. Thirty patients with early-stage WR-NKTCL who received extended-field IMRT were retrospectively reviewed. Despite the large clinical target volume, high dose, and extended field, IMRT yielded excellent target volume coverage and sparing of the parotid glands, resulting in a favorable prognosis and mild toxicities.
Phase Transition in β-nucleated Isotactic Polypropylene Induced by Combination of Annealing and High Pressure

The effects of annealing and high pressure on the microstructure of β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene (iPP) were investigated. Annealing treatment was carried out at different temperatures from 90–170°C under different pressure conditions, that is, atmospheric pressure and high pressures of 150, 250, and 350 MPa, respectively. The microstructure of the specimens was comparatively investigated through using wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Different from the common annealing treatment under atmospheric pressure, which induces the single-phase transition from metastable β-iPP to the more stable α-iPP (β→α) depending on the annealing temperatures, the application of high pressure induces not only the phase transition of β→α but also the phase transition of β→γ. Furthermore, the thermostability of β-iPP was improved greatly under high pressure. The higher the pressure applied, the smaller was the degree of the transition from β-iPP to α-iPP and/or γ-iPP. This work reports, for the first time, a novel crystalline morphology composed of β-iPP and γ-iPP.
Exploring How to Increase the Brightness of Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanolabels: The Effect of the Raman‐Active Molecules and of the Label Size

Due to the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect, SERS labels based on noble‐metal nanoparticles loaded with Raman‐active molecules are good candidates for ultrasensitive multiplexed assays and in vitro/in vivo imaging. However, understanding how to maximize the brightness of such labels is of paramount importance for their widespread application. The effective differential Raman scattering cross‐section (dσR/dΩ) of SERS labels made of pegylated gold nanoparticles loaded with various Raman active molecules (Raman reporters) is studied. It is found that proper choice of the Raman reporter and of nanoparticle size can enhance the dσR/dΩ by several orders of magnitude. The experimental results are understood by considering the molecular cross‐section for resonant Raman scattering and the local electromagnetic enhancement factor (GSERS) in the nearby of gold nanoparticles. These results are useful to guide the design of SERS labels with improved performances and to provide a reference for the comparison of the absolute value of the dσR/dΩ of SERS labels based on metal nanoparticles.
Factors Underlying Variation in Receipt of Physician Advice on Diet and Exercise: Applications of the Behavioral Model of Health Care Utilization

Purpose. To identify factors associated with receipt of physician advice on diet and exercise, including patient sociodemographic characteristics, health-related needs, and health care access, using Andersen's model of health care utilization. Design. A cross-sectional analysis was performed using data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Setting. NHIS data were collected through personal household interviews by Census interviewers. The overall response rate for the 2000 NHIS adult sample was 82.6%. Subjects. Subjects were a representative sample of the American civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged 18 and older. After eliminating missing data and respondents who reported they did not see a doctor in the past 12 months, sample sizes for physician advice on diet and exercise were n = 26,255 and n = 26,158, respectively. Measures. Using the 2000 NHIS, the prevalence of receipt of physician advice on diet and exercise was assessed. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between receipt of physician advice on diet and exercise and potential predictors, adjusting for all covariates. Results. By self-report, 21.3% and 24.5% of respondents received physician advice on diet and exercise, respectively. Being middle-aged (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–1.29 for diet; AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.33–1.79 for exercise) and having a baccalaureate degree or higher (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.52–2.08 for diet; AOR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.47–2.07) were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving physician advice on diet and exercise. African-Americans (AOR = .78, 95% CI = .67–.92) and foreign-born immigrants (AOR = .57, 95% CI = .38–.86) were less likely to receive physician advice on exercise. The prevalence of physician advice was higher for persons who chose hospital outpatient departments as a usual source for care (AOR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.66–3.36 for diet; AOR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.68–3.4 for exercise) than for adults with other types of usual care sites. Poorer self-rated health status (AOR = 5.2, 95% CI = 4.12–6.57 for diet; AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 2.04–3.38 for exercise) and obesity (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI = 2.02–2.66 for diet; AOR = 3.01, 95% CI = 2.46–3.69 for exercise) was positively associated with the likelihood of receiving physician advice on diet and exercise. Conclusions. Effective strategies to increase receipt of physician advice should include efforts to improve access to regular source of care and patient-physician communication. Sociodemographic factors remain independent and important predictors of who obtains such advice.
Measuring the Capacity and Transaction Time of Cash and Electronic Toll Collection Systems

A long queue can occur at tollgates due to the amount of transaction time required to perform ticket payment and toll fee collection. This problem can be addressed by the use of an electronic toll collection (ETC) system. A case study conducted on the Jakarta Intra Urban, Cikupa-Merak, and Cawang Pluit Toll Roads suggests that the queueing at the tollgates when modelled followed a Poisson distribution. The average cash transaction time was approximately 5 to 6 seconds, while the ETC transaction time was only 4 seconds. Furthermore, the capacity of the cash system gate was 550 to 620 vehicles/hour (which is above the minimum service standard of 450 vehicles/hour),whereas the electronic gate capacity was 770 to 870 vehicles/hour. This study demonstrates that the ETC system is more effective than the cash system in terms of reducing the number of queueing vehicles.
Are the Stages of Change Socioeconomically Distributed? a Scoping Review

Objective. To conduct a rapid scoping review to explore the hypothesis that socioeconomic affluence is associated with a more advanced stage of change for health behaviors. Data Source. Key-word searches of MEDline, Embase, PyschINFO, and www.google. com were conducted. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria. Studies identified by the searches were included if they were published between 1982 and September 2003, written in English, and reported information on the distribution of the stages of change for any health behavior according to a marker of socioeconomic position (SEP). Data Extraction. Data on the behavior studied, the sample studied, the measure of SEP used, the definitions of the stages of change used, and the distribution of the stages of change according SEP were extracted by a single reviewer. Data Synthesis. As far as possible, data were reanalyzed by the chi-square test to determine if there was evidence that the distribution of the stages of change varied according to SEP. A formal meta-analysis was not appropriate. Results. Twenty-one studies reporting data on 30 samples and 188,850 individuals were included. Significant variations in the distribution of the stages of change were found according to SEP, in the expected direction, in 16 (53%) samples representing 171,183 (91%) individuals. Conclusions. There is substantial published evidence that more-affluent people tend to be in more-advanced stages of change than are more-deprived people.
$M^{4}CD$ : A Robust Change Detection Method for Intelligent Visual Surveillance

In this paper, we propose a robust change detection method for intelligent visual surveillance. This method, named <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M^{4}CD$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, includes three major steps. First, a sample-based background model that integrates color and texture cues is built and updated over time. Second, multiple heterogeneous features (including brightness variation, chromaticity variation, and texture variation) are extracted by comparing the input frame with the background model, and a multi-view learning strategy is designed to online estimate the probability distributions for both foreground and background. The three features are approximately conditionally independent, making multi-view learning feasible. Pixel-wise foreground posteriors are then estimated with Bayes rule. Finally, the Markov random field (MRF) optimization and heuristic post-processing techniques are used sequentially to improve accuracy. In particular, a two-layer MRF model is constructed to represent pixel-based and superpixel-based contextual constraints compactly. Experimental results on the CDnet dataset indicate that <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M^{4}CD$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is robust under complex environments and ranks among the top methods.
Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on regional blood flow during endotoxic shock.

We previously reported that N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an oxygen free-radical scavenger, can increase the oxygen extraction capabilities during endotoxic shock when blood flow is progressively reduced. In the present study, we investigated whether the protective effects of NAC are related to an improvement in regional blood flow following endotoxemia. Fourteen anesthetized, saline-infused and ventilated dogs were divided into two groups: 7 dogs received NAC (150 mg/kg, followed by a 20 mg/kg.h infusion), and the other 7 dogs served as a control time-matching group. Thirty minutes later all the dogs received Escherichia coli endotoxin (2 mg/kg) i.v. A saline infusion was started 30 min after endotoxin challenge to restore pulmonary artery occlusion pressure to baseline and maintain it constant. Regional blood flow was measured by ultrasonic volume flowmeter. In the control group, arterial pressure, left ventricular stroke work index and systemic vascular resistance remained lower than baseline. Mesenteric, renal and femoral arterial blood flow increased but only femoral blood flow returned to baseline levels. In the NAC group, cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index remained higher and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance were lower than in the control group. Blood flow in mesenteric, renal and especially femoral arteries was higher than in the control group. Fractional blood flow increased only in the femoral artery. PaO2 and PvO2 had similar courses in the two groups. A higher venous admixture was associated with a higher cardiac index and a lower pulmonary vascular resistance in the NAC group. Oxygen delivery and oxygen-uptake were higher in the NAC-treated than in the control animals throughout the study. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Microbiology and clinical outcomes of puerperal sepsis: a prospective cohort study

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine the identity and antibacterial susceptibility profiles of bacteria colonising the female genital tract and blood stream and their association with clinical outcomes in women with puerperal sepsis. A prospective descriptive cohort study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Zimbabwe. Endocervical swabs and blood were collected for culture and susceptibility testing from 151 consecutive women who met the World Health Organisation criteria for puerperal sepsis. Medical records were reviewed for assessment of clinical outcomes. The commonest bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (30.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.3%). Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) accounted for 10.9% of all isolates. MDRO were associated with prolonged hospital stay, 23.0 days compared to 10.5 days in women without MDRO (p = .009). Puerperal sepsis case fatality rate was 7.3%. Clinical culture surveillance to monitor epidemiologic trends, identify MDRO, robust infection control strategies and emphasis on rational drug use are recommended. Impact statement What is already known? Puerperal sepsis is often a polymicrobial infection. Escherichia coli has been reported as a common cause of severe maternal sepsis originating from the genital tract. Other bacteria include Group A Streptococcus, S. aureus, Streptococcus spp. Klebsiellae spp, Pseudomonas spp. and anaerobes. What does this study add? This study confirms Escherichia coli as the commonest cause of sepsis in Harare. There is high level resistance to first-line antibiotic regimens on most Gram-negative isolates from the endocervix among women with puerperal sepsis. Emerging resistance to carbapenems is demonstrated. MDRO significantly increased length of hospital stay, and there was a clinically important trend towards higher rates of pelvic abscess, septic shock, death, need for laparotomy and ICU admission specific to puerperal sepsis. What are the implications for clinical practice and further research? Clinical culture surveillance to monitor epidemiologic trends in conjunction with robust infection control strategies and rational drug use may assist in prevention of community acquired and nosocomial multidrug-resistant infections.