Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of Radiologically Measured Size and True Size of Renal Tumors

Purpose We evaluated the differences between radiologically measured size and pathologic size of renal tumors. Materials and Methods The data from 171 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for a renal tumor at Ajou University Hospital were reviewed. Radiologic tumor size, which was defined as the largest diameter on a computed tomographic scan, was compared with pathologic tumor size, which was defined as the largest diameter on gross pathologic examination. Results Mean radiologic size was significantly larger than mean pathologic size for all tumors (p=0.019). When stratified according to radiologic size range, mean radiologic size was significantly larger than mean pathologic size for tumors <4 cm (p=0.003), but there was no significant difference between the sizes for tumors 4-7 cm and >7 cm. When classified according to histologic subtype, mean radiologic size was significantly larger than mean pathologic size only in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (p=0.002). When classified according to tumor location, mean radiologic size was significantly larger than mean pathologic size in endophytic tumors (p=0.043) but not in exophytic tumors. When endophytic tumors were stratified according to radiologic size range, there was a significant difference between the mean radiologic and pathologic sizes for tumors <4 cm (p=0.001) but not for tumors 4-7 cm (p=0.073) and >7 cm (p=0.603). Conclusions Our results suggest that in planning a nephron-sparing surgery for renal tumors, especially for endophytic tumors of less than 4 cm, the tumor size measured on a computed tomography scan should be readjusted to get a more precise estimate of the tumor size.
Maternal serum interleukin 6 levels in preterm labor: prediction of admission-to-delivery interval

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of maternal serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and white blood cell (WBC) count for the prediction of preterm labor and length of admission-to-delivery interval in patients with preterm labor. Methods: Maternal serum IL-6, CRP and WBC count were prospectively determined in eighty-two patients in preterm labor and 21 controls. Data was analyzed in study and control groups, and for the assessment of clinical and laboratory risk factors in the prediction of admission-to-delivery interval in the study group. Results: Maternal serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the study group than controls. The IL-6 value associated with the highest percent of true positives and true negatives for the prediction of preterm labor was 5 pg/ml. The area under curve of maternal IL-6 was significantly higher than the area under curve of of CRP and WBC count. In the study group maternal serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients delivered within 2 and 7 days than the nondelivering ones and a cut off value of 8.3 pg/ml was determined for estimation of preterm delivery. Conclusion: Maternal serum IL-6 is a reliable marker in the prediction and management of preterm labor and delivery.
Effects of Loading Rate and Duration on Axial Behavior of Concrete Confined by Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Sheets

In this study, 18 concrete cylinder specimens were tested either under uniaxial compression at different loading rates or exposed to sustained axial stresses after being jacketed externally with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. The specimens were cast using medium strength concrete. All the specimens had identical dimensions and level of confinement. Loading rate and applied sustained stress level were the main test parameters. Applied loading rate varied between 0.0002 and 0.04 strain/min. Four stress levels between 0.52 and 0.85 f cc ′ (0.90 and 1.46 f co ′ ) were used in short-term creep tests. Test results showed that the stress-strain behavior of CFRP confined concrete was influenced by the change in loading rate, and CFRP confinement provided considerable increase in the creep performance of concrete. The strength enhancement was more pronounced for specimens loaded at higher strain rates, while specimens loaded at slower strain rates exhibited better deformability. Results obtained fr.
Elevations of local intravascular pressures release vasoactive substances in humans

The wall stiffness of arteries and arterioles adapts to the long‐term demands imposed by local intravascular pressure. We investigated whether substances capable of inducing acute and long‐term effects on arterial wall stiffness are released locally into the bloodstream in response to an acute marked increase in local intravascular pressure in the blood vessels of the human arm. Experiments were performed on ten subjects positioned in a pressure chamber with one arm extended through a hole in the chamber door and kept at normal atmospheric pressure. Intravascular pressure was increased in the arm, by a stepwise increase in chamber pressure up to +150 mmHg. Diameter and flow were measured in the brachial artery by Doppler ultrasonography. Blood samples were drawn simultaneously from both arms before, during, immediately after and 2 h after the release of the chamber pressure. Plasma levels of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF‐2) and angiotensin II (Ang‐II) were measured. Elevation of chamber pressure by 150 mmHg increased local arterial distending pressure to about 220–260 mmHg, resulting in an increase in brachial artery diameter of 9% and flow of 246%. The pressure stimulus increased the plasma levels of ET‐1 and Ang‐II, but not of VEGF‐A or FGF‐2 in the test arm. The local release of the vasoconstrictors ET‐1 and Ang‐II in response to markedly increased distending pressure may reflect one mechanism behind adaptation to acute and long‐term changes in intravascular pressure.
Identification of gene expression patterns crucially involved in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis

ABSTRACT After encounter with a central nervous system (CNS)-derived autoantigen, lymphocytes leave the lymph nodes and enter the CNS. This event leads only rarely to subsequent tissue damage. Genes relevant to CNS pathology after cell infiltration are largely undefined. Myelin-oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein (MOG)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease of the CNS that results in disability. To assess genes that are involved in encephalitogenicity and subsequent tissue damage mediated by CNS-infiltrating cells, we performed a DNA microarray analysis from cells derived from lymph nodes and eluted from CNS in LEW.1AV1 (RT1av1) rats immunized with MOG 91-108. The data was compared to immunizations with adjuvant alone or naive rats and to immunizations with the immunogenic but not encephalitogenic MOG 73-90 peptide. Here, we show involvement of Cd38, Cxcr4 and Akt and confirm these findings by the use of Cd38-knockout (B6.129P2-Cd38tm1Lnd/J) mice, S1P-receptor modulation during EAE and quantitative expression analysis in individuals with MS. The hereby-defined underlying pathways indicate cellular activation and migration pathways mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors as crucial events in CNS tissue damage. These pathways can be further explored for novel therapeutic interventions. Summary: To define disease-inducing immune responses, unbiased gene expression in LEW.1AV1 (RT1av1) rats immunized with autoantigen-derived encephalitogenic and non-encephalitogenic peptides was investigated in MOG-EAE. CXCR4, CXCL12, AKT and CD38 control CNS inflammation.
Atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures in patients with skeletal malignant involvement treated with intravenous bisphosphonates.

BACKGROUND Atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures have been identified as a potential complication of long-term bisphosphonate therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis. Patients with skeletal malignant involvement, who receive much higher cumulative doses of bisphosphonates than do patients with osteoporosis, may be at higher risk for the development of these fractures. METHODS A retrospective review of the imaging studies and case notes was done for patients with skeletal malignant involvement who received a minimum of twenty-four doses of intravenous bisphosphonates between 2004 and 2007 and were followed until death or the time of the latest review. Patients were classified as having an atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture if they had a transverse subtrochanteric fracture following low-energy trauma or an impending fracture, together with radiographic findings of diffuse diaphyseal cortical thickening and cortical beaking at the subtrochanteric area. RESULTS In the study cohort of 327 patients, we identified four patients who developed an atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture. All four patients were female, three had breast cancer, and one had myeloma. There was no significant difference between patients who developed an atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture and those who did not with regard to the doses of intravenous bisphosphonates or the duration of treatment. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures in patients with skeletal malignant involvement who are managed with high doses of intravenous bisphosphonates is low. All patients in our study who had development of these fractures had prodromal symptoms of thigh pain.
Identification of Standard Auction Models

This paper presents new identification results for models of first-price, second-price, ascending (English), and descending (Dutch) auctions. We consider a general specification of the latent demand and information structure, nesting both private values and common values models, and allowing correlated types as well as ex ante asymmetry. We address identification of a series of nested models and derive testable restrictions enabling discrimination between models on the basis of observed data. The simplest model--symmetric independent private values--is nonparametrically identified even if only the transaction price from each auction is observed. For richer models, identification and testable restrictions may be obtained when additional information of one or more of the following types is available: (i) the identity of the winning bidder or other bidders; (ii) one or more bids in addition to the transaction price; (iii) exogenous variation in the number of bidders; (iv) bidder-specific covariates. While many private values (PV) models are nonparametrically identified and testable with commonly available data, identification of common values (CV) models requires stringent assumptions. Nonetheless, the PV model can be tested against the CV alternative, even when neither model is identified. Copyright The Econometric Society 2002.
Collapse Strength of Damaged Plating

In this paper, based on Finite Element (FE) simulation, the ultimate strength of damaged continuous plating is studied considering the combined effect of residual deflections and stresses. Firstly, damage over plating is simulated resulting to residual deflection in prescribed shape and magnitude accompanied by residual stresses. Then compressive loading is applied and the effect of simultaneous presence of both residual deflections and residual stresses on the plating ultimate strength is studied. It is found that (1) the compressive strength may be significantly overestimated when the damage related residual stresses are not considered, (2) a larger magnitude of initial dishing does not necessary result to a lower ultimate strength. It is shown that the simplified methods in the Common Bulk Carrier Rules need further improvements.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
A Low-Cost Inband FEC Scheme for SONET/SDH Optical Metro Networks

A novel inband forward-error correction (FEC) method, devised for the electronic-mitigation of physical optical transmission impairments, is implemented and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed inband-FEC scheme, Free-Of-Charge Uniform Shield (FOCUS), is an inherently low-cost approach, applicable to standard synchronous digital hierarchy/synchronous optical network rates, allowing optically transparent signal propagation over longer distances. The performance/efficiency of the FOCUS method is evaluated in terms of tolerance against optical signal-to-noise ratio degradation and chromatic-dispersion, associated with the signal transmission over standard single-mode fiber. Bit-error-rate measurements and coding gain calculations at the standard STM-64 rate (9.953 Gb/s) reveal significant coding-gain improvement for all cases examined
Corrigendum to: Genetic mapping of basal root gravitropism and phosphorus acquisition efficiency in common bean.

Root gravitropism determines the relative distribution of plant roots in different soil layers, and therefore, may influence the acquisition of shallow soil resources such as phosphorus (P). Growth pouch and field studies were conducted to evaluate root gravitropism of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in response to P deficiency and to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with this trait. A deep-rooted genotype, DOR364, was crossed with a shallow-rooted genotype, G19833, to obtain 86 F5.7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Root gravitropic traits were measured as basal root growth angle (BRGA), shallow basal root length (SBRL, basal root length in the top 0-3 cm of soil) and relative shallow basal root length (RSBRL, percentage of basal root length in the top 0-3 cm of soil relative to total basal root length). Large genetic variability for these traits was found in the parents and RILs, with BRGA ranging from -18.73 to 56. 69º and SBRL ranging from 0.42 to 2.63 m per plant. The parents and six RILs with contrasting root gravitropism were further evaluated in the field, where root shallowness was significantly correlated with plant growth and P uptake. QTL were detected by single point analysis (SPA), interval mapping (IM) and composite interval mapping (CIM) techniques with a genetic map for the DOR364 × G19833 population consisting of 236 molecular markers. The IM/CIM QTL were detected among the 11 linkage groups of common bean, with 16 QTL controlling the above root traits and six QTL controlling P acquisition efficiency (PAE) in the field study. At least three of the root trait QTL were associated with QTL for PAE, suggesting that root gravitropic traits are associated with PAE and that QTL for these traits can be used to facilitate selection and breeding for higher P efficiency in common bean and other crops.
Substrate Specificity of the 3-Methylcrotonyl Coenzyme A (CoA) and Geranyl-CoA Carboxylases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Biotin-containing 3-methylcrotonyl coenzyme A (MC-CoA) carboxylase (MCCase) and geranyl-CoA (G-CoA) carboxylase (GCCase) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were expressed as His-tagged recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Both native and recombinant MCCase and GCCase showed pH and temperature optima of 8.5 and 37°C. The apparent K 0.5 (affinity constant for non-Michaelis-Menten kinetics behavior) values of MCCase for MC-CoA, ATP, and bicarbonate were 9.8 μM, 13 μM, and 0.8 μM, respectively. MCCase activity showed sigmoidal kinetics for all the substrates and did not carboxylate G-CoA. In contrast, GCCase catalyzed the carboxylation of both G-CoA and MC-CoA. GCCase also showed sigmoidal kinetic behavior for G-CoA and bicarbonate but showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics for MC-CoA and the cosubstrate ATP. The apparent K 0.5 values of GCCase were 8.8 μM and 1.2 μM for G-CoA and bicarbonate, respectively, and the apparent Km values of GCCase were 10 μM for ATP and 14 μM for MC-CoA. The catalytic efficiencies of GCCase for G-CoA and MC-CoA were 56 and 22, respectively, indicating that G-CoA is preferred over MC-CoA as a substrate. The enzymatic properties of GCCase suggest that it may substitute for MCCase in leucine catabolism and that both the MCCase and GCCase enzymes play important roles in the leucine and acyclic terpene catabolic pathways.
Impacts of insulin infusion protocol on blood glucose level and outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients with diabetes mellitus

Background: Acute coronary syndrome is the most common disease in the world. Several studies suggest that hyperglycemia is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of insulin infusion protocol and conventional therapy on the blood glucose level and outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients with diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: We studied 64 patients (32 in each group) with acute coronary syndrome and acute myocardial infarction, who were admitted to the coronary care unit in a hospital in Isfahan, Iran in 2012. Inclusion criterion was blood sugar (BS) of more than 180 mg/dl on admission. Patients in the intervention group received insulin with East Jefferson insulin infusion protocol for at least 4 h, and in the control group, the subjects received subcutaneous insulin (conventional therapy) for at least for 48 h. Independent t-test, Student's t-test, and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Results: Groups were matched for baseline characteristics. Blood glucose was significantly reduced in the two groups (P < 0.001), and the mean blood glucose level in the interaction group was significantly less than in the control group (P = 0.0002). Hypoglycemia was 31.2% and 25% in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The frequency of hypoglycemia did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.75). Time to reach target insulin level differed between the two groups (4.75 h in the intervention group and 36.93 h in the control group; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our research showed that use of insulin infusion protocol is better in maintaining glycemia control compared to subcutaneous sliding scale method. The protocol allows nurses to commence and maintain the infusion more effectively and safely compared to the traditional method.
Directional Couplers Using Long-Range Surface Plasmon Polariton Waveguides

We present an experimental study of guiding and routing of electromagnetic radiation along the nanometer-thin and micrometer-wide gold stripes embedded in a polymer via excitation of long-range surface plasmon polaritons (LR-SPPs) in a very broad wavelength range from 1000 to 1650 nm. For straight 14-nm-thick stripes and a wavelength of 1550 nm, LR-SPP propagation loss is determined for the stripe widths varying from 2 to 12 mum and is found to be ~7 and 5 dB/cm for 10- and 4-mum-wide stripes, respectively. For the directional couplers based on 14-nm-thick and 8-mum-wide gold stripes and a wavelength of 1570 nm, the coupling lengths of 4.1, 1.9, and 0.8 mm are found for the respective waveguide separations of 8, 4, and 0 mum. We model the LR-SPP-based directional couplers using the effective-refractive-index method and obtain a good agreement with the experimental results. The transmission spectra of LR-SPP-based directional couplers are presented demonstrating an efficient (~30 dB) separation of different telecom wavelength bands. Various possibilities for dynamic control of wavelength division/multiplexing with LR-SPP-based directional couplers that utilize the thermo-optic effect in the polymer cladding are also discussed
A Proof of Strong Normalisation using Domain Theory

U. Berger, (2005) significantly simplified Tait's normalisation proof for bar recursion, replacing Tait's introduction of infinite terms by the construction of a domain having the property that a term, is strongly normalizing if its semantics is neperp. The goal of this paper is to show that, using ideas from the theory of intersection types and Martin-Lof's domain interpretation of type theory, we can in turn simplify U, Berger's argument in the construction of such a domain model. We think that our domain model can be used to give modular proofs of strong normalization for various type theory. As an example, we show in some details how it can be used to prove strong normalization for Martin-Lof dependent type theory extended with bar recursion, and with some form of proof-irrelevance
Complete Mitochondrial Genome and Phylogeny of Pleistocene MammothMammuthus primigenius

Phylogenetic relationships between the extinct woolly mammoth(Mammuthus primigenius), and the Asian(Elephas maximus) and African savanna(Loxodonta africana) elephants remain unresolved. Here, we report the sequence of the complete mitochondrial genome (16,842 base pairs) of a woolly mammoth extracted from permafrost-preserved remains from the Pleistocene epoch—the oldest mitochondrial genome sequence determined to date. We demonstrate that well-preserved mitochondrial genome fragments, as long as ~1,600–1700 base pairs, can be retrieved from pre-Holocene remains of an extinct species. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Elephantinae clade suggests thatM. primigenius andE. maximus are sister species that diverged soon after their common ancestor split from theL. africana lineage. Low nucleotide diversity found between independently determined mitochondrial genomic sequences of woolly mammoths separated geographically and in time suggests that north-eastern Siberia was occupied by a relatively homogeneous population ofM. primigenius throughout the late Pleistocene.
Mechanical properties and release studies of chitosan films impregnated with silver sulfadiazine

The purpose of these studies was to evaluate chitosan films impregnated with silver sulfadiazine as potential wound dressings, based on their mechanical properties and the controlled-release phenomenon. The mechanical properties of such films were investigated under varying plasticizers (glycerol or sorbitol) concentrations, as well as in the presence of a crosslinking agent (formaldehyde). The drug release was also determined under such varying conditions, as well as using different thicknesses of film and drug concentrations. The results showed that the additives decreased the tensile strength of the chitosan films (except for sorbitol at 20% w/w), while at the same time remarkably enhancing the percentage elongation of the films. This elongation was especially pronounced in the case of glycerol. The type of plasticizer also influenced the release of silver sulfadiazine. Glycerol had a greater effect than sorbitol on the release rate, regardless of the amount used, probably due to leakage of this additive from the film, which leaves pores that enhance the water uptake of the film. As might be expected, increased concentrations of entrapped silver sulfadiazine yielded increasingly higher release rates. Decrease in thickness of the film also enhanced the release rate. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3462–3470, 2006