Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Outcome of transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children with down syndrome

We report on 27 patients with Down syndrome (DS) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) between 2000 and 2009. Seventy‐eight percent of patients received myeloablative conditioning and 52% underwent transplantation in second remission. Disease‐free survival (DFS) was 24% at a median of 3 years. Post‐transplant leukemic relapse was more frequent than expected for children with DS‐ALL (54%) than for non‐DS ALL. These data suggest leukemic relapse rather than transplant toxicity is the most important cause of treatment failure. Advancements in leukemia control are especially needed for improvement in HCT outcomes for DS‐ALL. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:1126–1128. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pyogenic granuloma on the upper lip: an unusual location

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a benign non-neoplastic mucocutaneous lesion. It is a reactional response to constant minor trauma and might be related to hormonal changes. In the mouth, PG is manifested as a sessile or pedunculated, resilient, erythematous, exophytic and painful papule or nodule with a smooth or lobulated surface that bleeds easily. PG preferentially affects the gingiva, but may also occur on the lips, tongue, oral mucosa and palate. The most common treatment is surgical excision. This paper describes a mucocutaneous PG on the upper lip, analyzing the clinical characteristics and discussing the features that distinguish this lesion from other similar oral mucosa lesions. The diagnosis of oral lesions is complex and leads the dentist to consider distinct lesions with different diagnostic methods. This case report with a 4 year-follow-up calls the attention to the uncommon mucocutaneous labial location of PG and to the fact that surgical excision is the safest method for diagnosis and treatment of PG of the lip, even when involving the mucosa and skin
A review of tropical ocean–atmosphere interactions

Enormous strides have been made towards the goal of operational predictions of seasonal and interannual climate fluctuations, especially as regards the phenomenon El Nino. To initialize models, measurements are available from an impressive array of instruments that monitor the tropical Pacific continually; coupled general circulation models of the ocean and atmosphere are already capable of reproducing many aspects of the earth's climate, its seasonal cycle, and the Southern Oscillation. These achievements crown the studies, over the past few decades, that describe, explain and simulate the atmospheric response to sea-surface temperature variations, the oceanic response to different types of wind fluctuations, and the broad spectrum of coupled ocean-atmosphere modes that results from interactions between the two media. Those modes, which are involved, not only in the Southern Oscillation but also in the seasonal cycle and the climatology, differ primarily as regards the main mechanisms that determine sea-surface temperature variations in the central and eastern tropical Pacific: advection by surface currents, and vertical movements of the thermocline induced by either local winds or, in the case of the delayed oscillator mode, by non-local winds. The observed Southern Oscillation appears to be a hybrid mode that changes from one episode to the next so that El Nino can evolve in a variety of ways — advection and nonlocally generated thermocline displacements are important to different degrees on different occasions. The extent to which random disturbances, such as westerly wind bursts over the western equatorial Pacific, influence El Nino depends on whether the southern oscillation is self-sustaining or damped. Attention is now turning to the factors that determine this aspect of the Southern Oscillation, its decadal modulation which causes it to be more energetic in some decades than others. Those factors include interactions between the tropics and extratropics that affect the mean depth of the thermocline, and the intensity of the climatological trade winds. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0889.1999. 00007.x
The role of ultrasonographic findings to predict molecular subtype, histologic grade, and hormone receptor status of breast cancer.

PURPOSE The correlation between imaging findings and pathologic characteristics of tumors may provide information for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The aim of this study is to determine whether ultrasound features of breast cancer are associated with molecular subtype, histologic grade, and hormone receptor status, as well as assess the predictive value of these features. METHODS A total of 201 consecutive invasive breast cancer patients were reviewed from the database according to the Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System (BI-RADS). Tumor margins were classified as circumscribed and noncircumscribed. Noncircumscribed group was divided into indistinct, spiculated, angular, and microlobulated. The posterior acoustic features were divided into four categories: shadowing, enhancement, no change, and mixed pattern. RESULTS Tumors with posterior shadowing were more likely to be of nontriple negative subtype (odds ratio [OR], 7.42; 95% CI, 2.10-24.99; P = 0.002), low histologic grade (grade 1 or 2 vs. grade 3: OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.34-4.35; P = 0.003) and having at least one positive receptor (OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.55-7.26; P = 0.002). Tumors with circumscribed margins were more often triple-negative subtype (OR, 6.72; 95% CI, 2.56-17.65; P < 0.001), high grade (grade 3 vs. grade 1 or 2: OR, 5.42; 95% CI, 2.66-11.00; P < 0.001) and hormone receptor negative (OR, 4.87; 95% CI, 2.37-9.99; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Sonographic features are strongly associated with molecular subtype, histologic grade, and hormone receptor status of the tumor. These findings may separate triple-negative breast cancer from other molecular subtypes.
Subjective memory complaints, depressive symptoms and cognition in patients attending a memory outpatient clinic

ABSTRACT Background: The goals of this study were to establish prevalence of subjective memory complaints (SMC) and depressive symptoms (DS) and their relation to cognitive functioning and cognitive status in an outpatient memory clinic cohort. Methods: Two hundred forty-eight cognitively healthy controls and 581 consecutive patients with cognitive complaints who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Results: A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between control group and patient group regarding mean SMC was detected. 7.7% of controls reported a considerable degree of SMC, whereas 35.8% of patients reported considerable SMC. Additionally, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between controls and patient group regarding Beck depression score was detected. 16.6% of controls showed a clinical relevant degree of DS, whereas 48.5% of patients showed DS. An analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant difference across all four groups (control group, SCI group, naMCI group, aMCI group) (p < 0.001). Whereas 8% of controls reported a considerable degree of SMC, 34% of the SCI group, 31% of the naMCI group, and 54% of the aMCI group reported considerable SMC. A two-factor analysis of variance with the factors cognitive status (controls, SCI group, naMCI group, aMCI group) and depressive status (depressed vs. not depressed) and SMC as dependent variable revealed that both factors were significant (p < 0.001), whereas the interaction was not (p = 0.820). Conclusions: A large proportion of patients seeking help in a memory outpatient clinic report considerable SMC, with an increasing degree from cognitively healthy elderly to aMCI. Depressive status increases SMC consistently across groups with different cognitive status.
Fate map of the chicken otic placode

The inner ear is an intricate three-dimensional sensory organ that arises from a flat, thickened portion of the ectoderm termed the otic placode. There is evidence that the ontogenetic steps involved in the progressive specification of the highly specialized inner ear of vertebrates involve the concerted actions of diverse patterning signals that originate from nearby tissues, providing positional identity and instructive context. The topology of the prospective inner ear portions at placode stages when such patterning begins has remained largely unknown. The chick-quail model was used to perform a comprehensive fate mapping study of the chick otic placode, shedding light on the precise topological position of each presumptive inner ear component relative to the dorsoventral and anteroposterior axes of the otic placode and, implicitly, to the possible sources of inducing signals. The findings reveal the existence of three dorsoventrally arranged anteroposterior domains from which the endolymphatic system, the maculae and basilar papilla, and the cristae develop. This study provides new bases for the interpretation of earlier and future descriptive and experimental studies that aim to understand the molecular genetic mechanisms involved in otic placode patterning.
Fast substrate noise-aware floorplanning with preference directed graph for mixed-signal SOCs

In this paper, we introduce a novel substrate noise estimation technique during early floorplanning, based on the concept of block preference directed graph (BPDG) and the classic sequence pair (SP) floorplan representation. Given a set of analog and digital blocks, the BPDG is constructed based on their inherent noise characteristics to capture their preferred relative orders for substrate noise minimization. For each sequence pair generated during floorplanning evaluation, we can measure its violation against BPDG very efficiently. We observe that by simply counting the number of violations obtained in this manner, it correlates remarkably well with accurate but computation-intensive substrate noise modeling. Thus, our BPDG-based model has high fidelity to guide the substrate noise-aware floorplanning and layout optimization, which become a growing concern for mixed-signal/RF system on chips (SOC). Our experimental results show that the proposed approach is over 60/spl times/ faster than conventional floorplanning with even very compact substrate noise models. We also obtain less area and total substrate noise than the conventional approach.
Limb length and dementia in an older Korean population

Objectives: There has been little research into risk factors for dementia outside Western settings, in particular the importance of early life nutrition as estimated by adult body size. This study investigated the associations of arm and leg length with cognitive impairment and dementia in a community sample of older Korean people. Methods: 746 community residents aged 65 or over were clinically assessed for dementia and cognitive impairment. The following were also measured: arm length (demispan), leg length (iliac crest height), and sitting height (standing height minus iliac crest height). Reproductive history was also ascertained in women. Results: Shorter demispan and leg length were associated with increased age and lower education. They were also associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease after adjustment for these factors. These associations were only significant in women but were not explained substantially by timing of the menarche or menopause. The association between lower education and dementia was also stronger in women, but was not explained substantially by limb length. Conclusions: Shorter limb length was associated with lower childhood socioeconomic status, as estimated by the presence/duration of formal education. It was also independently associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Sex differences in this association might be explained by gender disadvantage in early life for this cohort or by different associations with health states (for example, cardiovascular disease) later in life.
An empirical study of the influence of static type systems on the usability of undocumented software

Abstract Although the study of static and dynamic type systems plays a major role in research, relatively little is known about the impact of type systems on software development. Perhaps one of the more common arguments for static type systems in languages such as Java or C++ is that they require developers to annotate their code with type names, which is thus claimed to improve the documentation of software. In contrast, one common argument against static type systems is that they decrease flexibility, which may make them harder to use. While these arguments are found in the literature, rigorous empirical evidence is lacking. We report on a controlled experiment where 27 subjects performed programming tasks on an undocumented API with a static type system (requiring type annotations) as well as a dynamic type system (which does not). Our results show that for some tasks, programmers had faster completion times using a static type system, while for others, the opposite held. We conduct an exploratory study to try and theorize why.
Extracolonic findings at computed tomography colonography are a challenge

Aim: Our aim was to perform a prospective evaluation of the frequency and diagnostic consequences of extracolonic findings at multidetector array computed tomography colonography (MDCTC) in asymptomatic patients undergoing surveillance for former colorectal polyps or cancer. Patients and methods: Seventy five consecutive patients undergoing surveillance for former colorectal cancer (CRC) or large bowel adenoma were examined with MDCTC. Two independent observers evaluated the images with regard to extracolonic findings. Patient records and radiological information systems were reviewed to determine the results and consequences of the workup derived from MDCTC. Results: Sixty five per cent (95% confidence interval (CI) 55–73%) of patients had extracolonic abnormalities and in 12% (CI 7–18%) of patients additional workup was indicated. Two patients (3% (CI 1–6%)) underwent surgery because of the findings (one) or because of complications of the workup (one). Conclusion: MDCTC identifies a large number of extracolonic findings. Approximately 12% of asymptomatic patients undergo additional workup, of benefit to only a few. The high prevalence of extracolonic findings may make MDCTC a problematic colorectal screening tool for both ethical and economic reasons.
Development of Novel Anti-Microbial Plant Essential-Oil Treatments to Reduce the Postharvest Incidence of Botrytis cinerea of Strawberries

25 Introduction 26 Materials and Methods 28 Microbial Studies 29 Brix and Titratable Acidity 30 Weight Loss During Storage 31 Experimental Design 31 Sensory Analysis 31 Gas Chromatograph (GC) Analysis 32 Results and Discussion 33 2012 Inoculation Studies 35 2013 Trials 36 REFERENCES 55
Loss of the Tumor Suppressor Gene NF2, Encoding Merlin, Constitutively Activates Integrin-Dependent mTORC1 Signaling

ABSTRACT Integrin signaling promotes, through p21-activated kinase, phosphorylation and inactivation of the tumor suppressor merlin, thus removing a block to mitogenesis in normal cells. However, the biochemical function of merlin and the effector pathways critical for the pathogenesis of malignant mesothelioma and other NF2-related malignancies are not known. We report that integrin-specific signaling promotes activation of mTORC1 and cap-dependent mRNA translation. Depletion of merlin rescues mTORC1 signaling in cells deprived of anchorage to a permissive extracellular matrix, suggesting that integrin signaling controls mTORC1 through inactivation of merlin. This signaling pathway controls translation of the cyclin D1 mRNA and, thereby, cell cycle progression. In addition, it promotes cell survival. Analysis of a panel of malignant mesothelioma cell lines reveals a strong correlation between loss of merlin and activation of mTORC1. Merlin-negative lines are sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effect of rapamycin, and the expression of recombinant merlin renders them partially resistant to rapamycin. Conversely, depletion of merlin restores rapamycin sensitivity in merlin-positive lines. These results indicate that integrin-mediated adhesion promotes mTORC1 signaling through the inactivation of merlin. Furthermore, they reveal that merlin-negative mesotheliomas display unregulated mTORC1 signaling and are sensitive to rapamycin, thus providing a preclinical rationale for prospective, biomarker-driven clinical studies of mTORC1 inhibitors in these tumors.
The intracellular pupil mechanism and photoreceptor signal: noise ratios in the fly Lucilia cuprina

The function of the intracellular pupil mechanism is examined by comparing the responses of photoreceptors in normal flies with those from white-eyed flies that lack the pupil. In white-eyed flies the response to an intensity increment of fixed contrast decreases at high background intensities. There is a smaller decrease in noise amplitude so that the signal: noise ratio falls. The intensity dependence of the photoreceptor signal: noise ratio fits a simple model in which activated photopigment molecules compete for 3 x 104 tranduction units. The signal: noise ratio decreases at high intensities because the transduction units are saturated. This model is supported by a noise analysis, which provides three estimates of the number of events generating photoreceptor responses. In white-eyed flies the event number saturates at high background intensities, suggesting that a maximum of 2 x 104 events can be simultaneously active. Wild-type flies do not exhibit saturation effects over the range of intensities studied. The signal: noise ratio rises with intensity to reach a stable asymptote, close to the maximum observed for white-eyed flies. Pupil attenuation is calculated from measurements of signal: noise ratio in white-eyed and wild-type flies. The pupil is progressively activated over a two log unit intensity range and when fully closed attenuates the effective intensity by 99%. The threshold of this pupil effect coincides with the threshold of pupil activation measured optically. We conclude that the intracellular pupil attenuates the light flux to prevent receptor saturation and to extend the range of intensities at which fly photoreceptors operate close to their maximum signal: noise ratio. This upper limit is determined by the number of transduction units generating a cell’s response.
Wheeled robot slip compensation for trajectory tracking control problem with time-varying reference input

This paper presents the stability analysis of the closed-loop error dynamics obtained using an adaptive kinematic controller for the trajectory tracking control problem of a wheeled mobile robot with longitudinal slip. It is shown that the adaptive kinematic controller is able to compensate in real time for an unknown constant slip whenever the reference trajectory is generated by a slow time-varying reference input. This extends previous results found in the literature where the reference input is assumed to be constant. Moreover, it is also shown that the estimated slip parameters converges to their true values. Numerical results show the performance of the adaptive kinematic controller.
[Comparison of hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation between using GlideScope videolaryngoscope and fiberoptic bronchoscope].

OBJECTIVE To compare the hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation with GlideScope videolaryngoscope (GSVL) and with fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) after induction of general anesthesia. METHODS Totally 57 ASA physical status I - II adult patients undergoing elective plastic surgery and requiring orotracheal intubation were randomly allocated to either GSVL group (n = 29) or FOB group (n = 28). After a routine intravenous anesthetic induction, orotracheal intubation was performed. Noninvasive blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before and after anesthetic induction, at intubation and thereafter at 1 minute interval for 5 minutes. RESULTS The intubation time was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). After intubation, BP and HR exhibited significant increases compared to the post-induction values in both groups, but the maximum values of BP did not exceed the pre-induction values while the maximum value of HR was higher than the pre-induction value. During the observation, BP and HR at all time points as well as the maximum values of BP and HR had no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The orotracheal intubations using FOB and GSVL result in similar hemodynamic responses.
Protection Coordination for Microgrids With Grid-Connected and Islanded Capabilities Using Communication Assisted Dual Setting Directional Overcurrent Relays

This paper proposes a communication assisted dual setting relay protection scheme for micro-grids with grid connected and islanded capability. Previous work on dual setting relays has been applied to grid connected distributed generation systems only, but one major shortcoming is the failure of the backup scheme to operate in a coordinated manner. The proposed scheme relies on the use of dual setting directional overcurrent relays that are capable of operating in both forward and reverse directions, with different settings, and with a low bandwidth communication to maintain proper protection coordination. The problem is formulated as a non-linear constrained programming problem where the relay settings are optimally determined to minimize the overall relay operating time for primary and backup operation. The scheme is tested on a modified version of the IEEE 30 bus test system equipped with distributed generation and with capability of operating in an islanded mode. The proposed scheme is compared against the conventional scheme and the results show that it is capable of overcoming the problem of infeasibility, experienced by the conventional method, without the need of installing fault current limiters. Furthermore, it achieves remarkable reduction in both the primary and backup relay operating times, which was reflected in a reduction in the total relay operating time.