Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Management of BCG non-responders with fixed dose intravesical gemcitabine in superficial transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder

Aims and Objectives: The incidence of bladder malignancy is increasing worldwide and the projected rise is 28% by 2010 for both sexes (WHO). Though intravesical adjuvant therapy with BCG is superior to any other immunotherapeutic/chemotherapeutic agent in reducing tumor recurrences and disease progression, its real efficacy remains controversial as one-third of the patients will soon become BCG failure. Hence there is a need for an alternative intravesical agent for treatment of BCG failure. Our aim was to study the efficacy, tolerability and safety of intravesical Gemcitabine in managing BCG-refractory superficial bladder malignancy. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five BCG failure patients, 26 males and nine females between 20-72 years of age were instilled with 2000 mg of Gemcitabine in 50 ml of normal saline intravesically two weeks post tumor resection, for six consecutive weeks. Mean follow-up was for 18 months with cystoscopies. Results: Twenty-one patients (60%) showed no recurrences, 11 patients (31.4%) had superficial recurrences while three patients (8.6%) progressed to muscle invasiveness. Average time to first recurrence was 12 months and to disease progression was 16 months. Adverse event was low and mild. Therapy was well tolerated. Conclusion: Gemcitabine fulfils all requirements as an alternative agent, in treating BCG failure patients with low adverse events, is well tolerated and highly effective in reducing tumor recurrences.
The topographic unsupervised learning of natural sounds in the auditory cortex

The computational modelling of the primary auditory cortex (A1) has been less fruitful than that of the primary visual cortex (V1) due to the less organized properties of A1. Greater disorder has recently been demonstrated for the tonotopy of A1 that has traditionally been considered to be as ordered as the retinotopy of V1. This disorder appears to be incongruous, given the uniformity of the neocortex; however, we hypothesized that both A1 and V1 would adopt an efficient coding strategy and that the disorder in A1 reflects natural sound statistics. To provide a computational model of the tonotopic disorder in A1, we used a model that was originally proposed for the smooth V1 map. In contrast to natural images, natural sounds exhibit distant correlations, which were learned and reflected in the disordered map. The auditory model predicted harmonic relationships among neighbouring A1 cells; furthermore, the same mechanism used to model V1 complex cells reproduced nonlinear responses similar to the pitch selectivity. These results contribute to the understanding of the sensory cortices of different modalities in a novel and integrated manner.
Predictive role of thymidine phosphorylase expression in patients with colorectal cancer and its association with angiogenesis-related proteins and extracellular matrix components.

BACKGROUND Thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP) is an angiogenic factor that has potent chemotactic activity for endothelial cells and is involved in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) metabolism. In colorectal cancer (CRC), previous studies evaluating the relationship between TYMP expression and clinicopathological features have yielded inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of TYMP, its association with other angiogenic factors, proliferation markers and, to our knowledge, for the first time its relationship with extracellular matrix components. MATERIALS AND METHODS Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 97 patients with CRC were immunostained for TYMP, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), microvascular density (CD34), proliferation marker (Ki-67), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 oncoprotein and extracellular matrix components (collagen type IV, fibronectin, tenascin and laminin). Survival curves were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm (cyt) and nucleus (n) of the tumor cells, as well in the stroma (st), endothelium and tumor-associated macrophages. High TYMPcyt expression was observed in 7.2% of the cases, moderate in 22.7% and weak in 59.9%, while 10.3% were negative. High TYMPst expression was observed in 58.8% of the cases. TYMPcyt expression was correlated with the VEGF expression of tumor cells and VEGF expression of vessels (p=0.014 and p=0.022, respectively). TYMPst expression was correlated with VEGF expression and tenascin (p=0.014 and p=0.011, respectively). Patients with higher TYMPcyt expression had a more favorable overall survival (p=0.041) in univariate analysis compared to patients without TYMP expression. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that TYMP plays an important role in angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling and in the prognosis of patients with CRC, but further studies are needed to clearly define its role in CRC.
Monotone difference approximations for scalar conservation laws

Abstract : A complete self-contained treatment of the stability and convergence properties of conservation form, monotone difference approximations to scalar conservation laws in several space variables is developed. In particular, the authors prove that general monotone difference schemes always converge and that they converge to the physical weak solution satisfying the entropy condition. Rigorous convergence results follow for dimensional splitting algorithms when each step is approximated by a monotone difference scheme. The results are general enough to include, for instance, Godunov's scheme, the upwind scheme (Differenced through stagnation points), and the Lax-Friedrichs scheme together with appropriate multi-dimensional generalizations. (Author)
PYY3–36 and Oxyntomodulin Can Be Additive in Their Effect on Food Intake in Overweight and Obese Humans

OBJECTIVE Peptide YY3–36 (PYY3–36), a Y2 receptor agonist, and oxyntomodulin, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, are cosecreted by intestinal L-cells after each meal. Separately each hormone acts as an endogenous satiety signal and reduces appetite in humans when infused intravenously. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether the anorectic effects of PYY3–36 and oxyntomodulin can be additive. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twelve overweight or obese human volunteers underwent a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. An ad libitum test meal was used to measure energy intake during intravenous infusions of either PYY3–36 or oxyntomodulin or combined PYY3–36/oxyntomodulin. RESULTS Energy intake during coadministration of PYY3–36 and oxyntomodulin was reduced by 42.7% in comparison with the saline control and was significantly lower than that during infusions of either hormone alone. CONCLUSIONS The anorectic effects of PYY3–36 and oxyntomodulin can be additive in overweight and obese humans. Coadministration of Y2 receptor agonists and GLP-1 receptor agonists may be a useful treatment strategy for obesity.
Preliminary and Incomplete: Please do not cite or circulate without authors’ permission The Aggregate Effect of School Choice: Evidence from a two-stage experiment in India

We present experimental evidence on the impact of a program that provided economically disadvantaged children in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) with a scholarship that allowed them to attend a private school of their choice. The design featured a unique two-stage lottery that creates both a student-level as well as a market-level experiment that allows us to study both the individual and aggregate effects of school choice. Compared to teachers in government-run schools, private school teachers are paid much lower salaries and have lower levels of formal education and training. The mean annual cost per student in the private schools in our sample is less than a third of the costs in public schools. On the other hand, private schools have a longer school day, a longer school year, smaller class sizes, lower teacher absence, higher teaching activity, and better school hygiene. Private schools spend significantly less instructional time on Telugu (native language of AP) and Math, and instead spend more time on English, Science, Social Studies, and especially Hindi. At the end of four years of the school choice program, we find that lottery winners do not have higher test scores than lottery losers on tests of Telugu, Math, English, Science, and Social Studies, but score significantly higher in Hindi. There is evidence of heterogeneity of impact by medium of instruction in the private school, but not by most other demographic characteristics. We find some evidence suggesting that the impact of the voucher may have been greater in areas with more choice and competition. We find no evidence of significant spillovers on students who do not apply for the voucher and remain in the government schools or on students who start out in private schools to begin with, suggesting that the program had no adverse effects on these groups. JEL Classification: C93, I21, M52, O15
Determination of the attenuation coefficients of visible and ultraviolet radiation in heavy water.

A long-path-length transmission cell has been used to measure the attenuation coefficients of purified H2O and D2O at various wavelengths between 250 and 580 nm. The principles governing the procedures and corrections for various sources of light attenuation in the transmission cell components are discussed. Detailed chemical histories of the H2O and D2O samples are given. The measured attenuation coefficients of H2O are lower than those of many previous determinations and, where comparable, are close to the record low values of Quickenden and Irvin [ J. Chem. Phys.72, 4416 ( 1980)]. The measured attenuation coefficients of D2O are the lowest yet achieved and range from 32 × 10−4 cm−1 at 254 nm down to 1.1 × 10−4 cm−1 at 578 nm, attesting to the low level of impurities in our D2O. These results on light transmission in D2O indicate that a large 1000-Mg heavy water Cherenkov detector constructed for the purpose of neutrino detection is not limited by the attenuation length of radiation in the D2O.
A system for study of coronavirus mRNA synthesis: a regulated, expressed subgenomic defective interfering RNA results from intergenic site insertion

A system that exploits defective interfering (DI) RNAs of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) for deciphering the mechanisms of coronavirus mRNA transcription was developed. A complete cDNA clone of MHV DI RNA containing an inserted intergenic region, derived from the area of genomic RNA between genes 6 and 7, was constructed. After transfection of the in vitro-synthesized DI RNA into MHV-infected cells, replication of genomic DI RNA as well as transcription of the subgenomic DI RNA was observed. S1 nuclease protection experiments, sequence analysis, and Northern (RNA) blotting analysis revealed that the subgenomic DI RNA contained the leader sequence at its 5' end and that the body of the subgenomic DI RNA started from the inserted intergenic sequence. Two subgenomic DI RNAs were synthesized after inserting two intergenic sites into the MHV DI RNA. Metabolic labeling of virus-specific protein in DI RNA replicating cells demonstrated that a protein was translated from the subgenomic DI RNA, which can therefore be considered a functional mRNA. Transfection study of gel-purified genomic DI RNA and subgenomic DI RNA revealed that the introduction of the genomic DI RNA, but not subgenomic DI RNA, into MHV-infected cells was required for synthesis of the subgenomic DI RNA. A series of deletion mutations in the intergenic site demonstrated that the sequence flanking the consensus sequence of UCUAAAC affected the efficiency of subgenomic DI RNA transcription and that the consensus sequence was necessary but not sufficient for the synthesis of the subgenomic DI RNA.
Relation between rainfall intensity and savanna tree abundance explained by water use strategies

Significance Savannas account for 20% of global land area and support 30% of terrestrial net primary production. The biome is characterized by the coexistence of trees and grasses. Tree abundance strongly influences savanna ecosystem dynamics. Maximum tree abundance in tropical savannas is found to be negatively correlated with rainfall intensity, which remains unexplained. Through combining in situ observations, a biophysical tree–grass competition model, and a stochastic rainfall generator, we present that differentiated tree and grass water use strategies are essential to explain the phenomenon. Our findings show the importance of vegetation physiology in determining tree abundance in the biome and enhance our ability to predict future ecosystem composition and dynamics under global change. Tree abundance in tropical savannas exhibits large and unexplained spatial variability. Here, we propose that differentiated tree and grass water use strategies can explain the observed negative relation between maximum tree abundance and rainfall intensity (defined as the characteristic rainfall depth on rainy days), and we present a biophysical tree–grass competition model to test this idea. The model is founded on a premise that has been well established in empirical studies, namely, that the relative growth rate of grasses is much higher compared with trees in wet conditions but that grasses are more susceptible to water stress and lose biomass more quickly in dry conditions. The model is coupled with a stochastic rainfall generator and then calibrated and tested using field observations from several African savanna sites. We show that the observed negative relation between maximum tree abundance and rainfall intensity can be explained only when differentiated water use strategies are accounted for. Numerical experiments reveal that this effect is more significant than the effect of root niche separation. Our results emphasize the importance of vegetation physiology in determining the responses of tree abundance to climate variations in tropical savannas and suggest that projected increases in rainfall intensity may lead to an increase in grass in this biome.
Coronary Circulation in Dog's Heart: Demonstration of Muscle Sphincters in Capillaries

A study of the capillary structure in the myocardium of the dog reveals three divergent types which can be distinguished on the basis of the presence or absence of sphincter muscle cells located in a position comparable to that occupied by the media of the larger vessels. The true capillary is completely wanting in muscular elements; the precapillary contains one or more muscle cells at the segmental area of attachment with the parent vessel; and the metarteriole contains one or more muscle cells located at irregular intervals along the vessel.
Passive filters - potentialities and limitations

New topologies for harmonic mitigation and active filters have come a long way, and these address the line-harmonic control at the source. These mitigate some of the disadvantages of passive filters, however, for nonlinear loads above 1 MW the passive filters are an economical choice. This paper discusses two types of filters: band pass filters and damped filters, which are commonly applied. The operation of these filters is described with respect to the design and system limitations. The operating constraints are then superimposed. The development of this approach shows that there are design limitations and large system changes or modifications can result in higher distortion or even damage to filters in extreme cases. The constraints and limitations that a designer faces in implementing an effective filter design with modern tools of harmonic analysis, measurements, and system analysis are discussed. The paper shows that in most distribution systems it is practical and economical to implement passive filter designs, provided the required safeguards are considered.
A uniform time-domain finite integration technique (TDFIT) using an efficient extraction of conformal information

A uniform time-domain finite integration technique (TDFIT) is presented. Unlike the previously published conformal methods, the proposed TDFIT can be used to model both perfect electrical conductors and dielectric objects. A simple and fast extraction of conformal information is developed according to a general and analytical function to improve the efficiency of the uniform TDFIT. Numerical results are presented to verify the accuracy of the method, with three examples covering scattering and radiation applications.
Development of a new Stretchable and Screen Printable Conductive Ink

Title of Document: DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW STRETCHABLE AND SCREEN PRINTABLE CONDUCTIVE INK Anwar A. Mohammed, Doctor of Philosophy, 2017 Directed By: Professor Michael Pecht, Department of Mechanical Engineering Stretchable conductive ink is a key enabler for stretchable electronics. This thesis research focuses on the development of a new stretchable and screen printable conductive ink. After print and cure, this ink would be capable of being stretched by at least 500 cycles at 20% strain without increasing its resistance by more than 30 times the original resistance, while maintaining electrical and mechanical integrity. For a stretchable and screen-printable conductive ink, the correct morphology of the metal powder selected and the ability of the binder to be stretched after the sintering process, are both indispensable. This research has shown that a bi-modal mixture of fine and large-diameter silver flakes will improve stretchability. While the smaller flakes increase the conductivity and lower the sintering temperature, the larger flake particles promote ohmic connectivity during stretching. The bi-modal flake distribution increases connection points while enhancing packing density and lowering the thermal activation barrier. The polymer binder phase plays a crucial role in offering stretchability to the stretchable conductive inks. The silver flakes by themselves are not stretchable but they are contained within a stretchable binder system. The research demonstrates that commonly used printable ink binder when combined with large-chain polymers through a process known as ‘elastomeric chain polymerization’ will enable the conductive ink to become more stretchable. This research has shown that the new stretchable and screen printable silver conductive ink developed based upon the two insights mentioned above; (1) bi modal flakes to improve ohmic connectivity during stretching and (2) elastomeric chain polymerized binder system which could stretch even after the ink is sintered to the substrate, can exhibit an ink stretchability of at least 500 cycles at 20% strain while increasing the resistance by less than 30 times the original resistance. Wavy print patterns can enhance the stretchability of stretchable conductors. The research also demonstrates that FEA modeling, simulating the total principal strain on the printed patterns, can be used to estimate the comparative resistance changes caused by stretching and these changes can be explained by some basic equations from Percolation Theory. Development of a New Stretchable and Screen Printable Conductive Ink by Anwar A. Mohammed Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2017 Advisory Committee: Professor Michael Pecht (Chair) Professor Christopher Davis Doctor Diganta Das Doctor Michael H. Azarian Professor Peter Sandborn Professor Patrick McCluskey
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase and Metabolic Syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease, and Mortality Risk: The Framingham Heart Study

Objective—To determine whether serum &ggr;-glutamyl transferase (GGT) predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality, accounting for temporal changes in known CVD risk factors and C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods and Results—In 3451 Framingham Study participants (mean age 44 years, 52% women) we examined the relations of GGT with CVD risk factors, and prospectively determined the risk of new-onset metabolic syndrome, incident CVD, and death. GGT was positively associated with body mass index, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose in cross-sectional analysis (P<0.005). On follow-up (mean 19 years), 968 participants developed metabolic syndrome, 535 developed incident CVD, and 362 died. The risk of metabolic syndrome increased with higher GGT (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio [HR] per SD increment log-GGT, 1.26 [95%CI; 1.18 to 1.35]). Adjusting for established CVD risk factors (as time-dependent covariates updated quadriennially) and baseline CRP, a 1-SD increase in log-GGT conferred a 13% increase in CVD risk (P=0.007) and 26% increased risk of death (P<0.001). Individuals in the highest GGT quartile experienced a 67% increase in CVD incidence (multivariable-adjusted HR 1.67, 95%CI; 1.25 to 2.22). Conclusion—An increase in serum GGT predicts onset of metabolic syndrome, incident CVD, and death suggesting that GGT is a marker of metabolic and cardiovascular risk.
Improved Analytical Bounds for Some Risk Quantities

Abstract Simple analytical lower and upper bounds are obtained for stop-loss premiums and ruin probabilities of compound Poisson risks in case the mean, variance and range of the claim size distribution are known. They are based on stop-loss extremal distributions and improve the bounds derived earlier from dangerous extremal distributions. The special bounds obtained in case the relative variance of the claim size is unknown, but its maximal value is known, are related to other actuarial results.
Temperamental Predictive Factors for Success in Korean Professional Baseball Players

Objective In this five-year cohort study, we hypothesize that factors of temperament and character in professional baseball players predict the speed of obtaining success and the quality of success as well as anxiety control. Methods Participants included 120 male rookie players from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and 107 male non-players with no history of playing baseball. The personality/characters and state/trait anxieties of participants were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and Spielberg's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y (STAI-Y). Over the duration of five years, all the players were subsequently classified into either a success group (major leaguers) or a non-success group (non-major leaguers), depending on their status in the professional baseball league in Korea. Results The players in the group of starters had higher novelty seeking (NS) scores than those of non-starters. The reward dependence (RD) scores of the success group were higher than those of the non-success group. The state anxiety scores in the starter group were negatively correlated with NS scores. The state and trait anxieties in the non-success group were positively correlated with RD scores. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that predictive temperamental factors for success in baseball players include traits of novelty seeking and reward dependence.