Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deletion of the p16 Gene and Microsatellite Instability in Carcinoma Arising in Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Parotid Gland

Carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland is a rare tumor, and its molecular aspects are unknown. Recent studies have revealed that malignant transformation of various human cancers may involve two different genetic alterations: inactivation of the p16 gene, which is a putative tumor suppressor gene, and genetic instability represented by microsatellite instability (MSI). However, so far, molecular investigations including p16 gene alteration and MSI have not been performed on carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma. Both inactivation of the p16 gene and MSI were studied using DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded sections of carcinoma arising in pleomorphic adenoma. Samples also were analyzed for cyclin DI gene amplification, which is thought to have oncogenic effects similar to those with inactivation of the p16 gene. One case showed the homozygous deletion of the p16 gene in the carcinoma, although hypermethylation of the p16 gene and amplification of the cyclin DI gene were not observed in any cases. In two of four cases, MSI was observed. One case in two showed MSI in both the pleomorphic adenoma and the carcinoma. Results of this study suggest that two different genetic alterations, the inactivation of the p16 gene and genetic instability, play roles in the malignant transformation of carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma. The MSI observed in the adenoma suggests that genetic alterations occur in pleomorphic adenoma.
Effects of Coloring Mandalas on State-Anxiety Reduction with a Focus on Big-Five Personality Traits

The present two-part study examined the effects of coloring mandalas on state anxiety reduction with considerations of duration spent coloring and Big-5 personality traits. It was hypothesized that coloring mandalas for 30 minutes would significantly reduce levels of state anxiety. There were three coloring conditions that were randomly assigned to 105 participants. Measures included a Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) preand post-test which assessed levels of state and trait anxiety, and a Big-Five Personality Scale that examined five main personality traits (Goldberg, 1992). Participants had up to 30 minutes to color their mandala before completing a post-intervention STAI. There were no differences across the three coloring conditions, but a paired samples t-test showed a significant reduction in state anxiety from Time 1 to Time 2. Bivariate correlations of personality factors with anxiety reduction, trait anxiety, and duration revealed a significant relationship among neuroticism, anxiety reduction, and duration within the “Easy” coloring condition. There was also a positive relationship in this condition between anxiety reduction and duration of coloring. A multiple regression analysis in the “Easy” condition predicting anxiety reduction was also examined. A second preliminary study was conducted to distinguish whether the coloring intervention was unique in its anxiety reduction effect. A comparison between coloring and puzzle-making revealed no significant difference in anxiety reduction between the two conditions. COLORING MANDALAS AND ANXIETY REDUCTION iii
La entonación de (des)cortesía en el español coloquial

Al present treball proposem un model descriptiu util per tal d’abordar l’analisi pragmatica dels trets melodics cortesos i descortesos en espanyol col.loquial, a partir de l’analisi acustica i la seva successiva validacio perceptiva. La investigacio es situa dins del projecte Fonocortesia: el componente fonico en la expresion de cortesia y descortesia verbales en espanol coloquial.
The TreeRank Tournament algorithm for multipartite ranking

Whereas various efficient learning algorithms have been recently proposed to perform bipartite ranking tasks, cast as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve optimisation, no method fully tailored to K-partite ranking when K≥3 has been documented in the statistical learning literature yet. The goal is to optimise the ROC manifold, or summary criteria such as its volume, the gold standard for assessing performance in K-partite ranking. It is the main purpose of this paper to describe at length an efficient approach to recursive maximisation of the ROC surface, extending the TreeRank methodology originally tailored for the bipartite situation (i.e. when K=2). The main barrier arises from the fact that, in contrast to the bipartite case, the volume under the ROC surface criterion of any scoring rule taking K≥3 values cannot be interpreted as a cost-sensitive misclassification error and no method is readily available to perform the recursive optimisation stage. The learning algorithm we propose, called TreeRank Tournament (referred to as ‘TRT’ in the tables), breaks it and builds recursively an ordered partition of the feature space. It defines a piecewise scoring function whose ROC manifold can be remarkably interpreted as a statistical version of an adaptive piecewise linear approximant of the optimal ROC manifold. Rate bounds in sup norm describing the generalisation ability of the scoring rule thus built are established and numerical results illustrating the performance of the TRT approach, compared to that of natural competitors such as aggregation methods, are also displayed.
Acceptance of Computer Technology: Understanding the User and the Organizational Characteristics

A systematic analysis of acceptance of computer technology was conducted to identify variables that would provide insight to understanding technology acceptance. This led to a development of a comprehensive qualitative model that captures the individual and the organizational user characteristics that influence the acceptance of computer technology. This model suggests that designers must be mindful of the role that sociological and organizational variables play in technology acceptance. Such factors go beyond basic usability issues in the design process. Attention to these variables may increase the acceptance and therefore the diffusion of new computer technologies.
REPLY TO “ALLOZYMES AND SONG DIALECTS: A REASSESSMENT”

Our research centers on birdsong dialects, which are culturally transmitted (learned) vocal traditions. We evaluate the influence dialects have on the population biology of the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys. Zink and Barrowclough (1984), in this issue, criticized our recent study (Baker et al., 1982b). Our null hypothesis (Baker et al., 1 982b) was that there were no genetic differences among song dialect populations of White-crowned Sparrows in coastal California. Statistical tests on samples of allozyme loci from four dialects falsified this hypothesis. Variation in gene frequencies at eight allozyme loci revealed a relatively small amount of statistically significant heterogeneity within dialects and a substantially larger amount between dialects (Table 2, Baker et al., 1982b; in Table 1 the correct frequency of Pgma-A at CGR is .412). The results suggested reduced gene flow among dialects. We also correlated genetic distance and geographic distance among samples and dialects. Genetic distance had significant positive correlation with geographic distance between dialects but no significant correlation between samples within dialects. We concluded that ". the observed genetic isolation is caused primarily by dialects, not geographic distance. " We believed isolation by distance to be of secondary importance. Zink and Barrowclough reassessed our correlations. They "corrected" geographic and genetic distance axes for the difference in range of values of within and between dialect samples and argued there were no significant differences in the correlation coefficients. They did not justify this approach. There is no inherent curtailment on the genetic distance axis; genetic distance values between samples within dialects are free to vary as much as values between dialects. There are two types of curtailment inherent in the geographic distance variate. In a linear series of dialects, distances between dialects average larger than distances between samples within
The Term Structure of Implied Forward Volatility: Recovery and Informational Content in the Corn Options Market

Using a flexible method, we develop the term structure of volatility implied by corn futures options with differing maturities, and evaluate its ability to predict subsequent realized price volatility. The implied forward volatilities anticipate realized volatility well. For the nearby interval, the implied forward volatilities provide unbiased forecasts, and are superior to forecasts based on historical volatilities. For more distant intervals, early-year options predict the direction and magnitude of future volatility changes about as well as a three-year moving average and better than a naive forecast. However, later-year options display less forecast power in part due to reduced trading activity.
Duodenal biopsies of HIV‐infected patients with diarrhoea exhibit epithelial barrier defects but no active secretion

Objectives:To characterize diarrhoeal mechanisms in HIV-infected patients, epithelial transport and barrier function of the duodenal mucosa was investigated in vitro. Patients:Twenty-one HIV-seropositive patients (13 asymptomatic and eight with diarrhoea) and 12 controls from an urban referral-based tertiary care centre in Berlin who underwent duodenoscopy. Methods:A new miniaturized Ussing chamber allowed measurements on duodenal forceps biopsies. Epithelial barrier function was characterized by alternating current impedance analysis, which allows differentiation of epithelial and subepithelial resistance and by 3H-lactulose and 3H-mannitol flux measurements. Na+-glucose cotransport was quantified as phlorizin-sensitive short circuit current (ISC) and active ion secretion by baseline and bumetanide-sensitive ISC. Results:Duodenal biopsies from asymptomatic HIV-infected patients were no different from controls, whereas biopsies from HIV-infected patients with diarrhoea showed a decrease in epithelial resistance from 21.2 ± 1.9 to 12.9 ± 1.3 Ωcm2 (P < 0.01). Concomitantly, mucosal-to-serosal lactulose flux increased from 0.29 ± 0.02 to 0.40 ± 0.03 µmol (hcm2) (P < 0.01). Phlorizin-sensitive ISC indicating Na+-glucose cotransport, as well as baseline and bumetanide-sensitive ISC indicating active electrogenic chloride secretion were not different between the three groups. Conclusions:A miniaturized Ussing device was developed for electrophysiological investigations of duodenal forceps biopsies, which allowed characterization of active ion transport mechanisms and epithelial barrier function. Duodenum of HIV-infected patients with diarrhoea showed no evidence for active ion secretion or Na+-glucose malabsorption, but showed an impaired epithelial barrier function, which could contribute to diarrhoea by a leak flux mechanism.
TWT amplifier using a ferroelectric cathode for electron beam generation

We report first experiments on high-power traveling wave amplifiers using an electron beam generated with a ferroelectric cathode. The electron beam, which is driven by a ferrite core transformer-pulse line system, has energy of 440 keV and a beam current of 40-50 Amperes. The beam pulse duration is about 250 ns and the system is operated at 0.07 Hz. The beam is generated from a command switched ferroelectric cathode located in the fringing field of a solenoid. A single stage disk loaded TWT structure is used as the /spl sim/9 GHz amplifier. A gain of 10 dB is observed over the frequency range from 8.9 to 9.4 GHz. The main purpose of the experiment is to demonstrate that the ferroelectric generated beam is of good enough quality for microwave amplification in X band, and to pave the way for use of this cathode in future high power microwave source experiments. We compare the results obtained using this system with the output from a PIC code simulation.
Aerobic scope measurements of fishes in an era of climate change: respirometry, relevance and recommendations

Summary Measurements of aerobic scope [the difference between minimum and maximum oxygen consumption rate ( and , respectively)] are increasing in prevalence as a tool to address questions relating to fish ecology and the effects of climate change. However, there are underlying issues regarding the array of methods used to measure aerobic scope across studies and species. In an attempt to enhance quality control before the diversity of issues becomes too great to remedy, this paper outlines common techniques and pitfalls associated with measurements of , and aerobic scope across species and under different experimental conditions. Additionally, we provide a brief critique of the oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance (OCLTT) hypothesis, a concept that is intricately dependent on aerobic scope measurements and is spreading wildly throughout the literature despite little evidence for its general applicability. It is the intention of this paper to encourage transparency and accuracy in future studies that measure the aerobic metabolism of fishes, and to highlight the fundamental issues with assuming broad relevance of the OCLTT hypothesis.
Genetic modification of T cells for immunotherapy

Adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T cells is a promising approach for preventing progressive viral infections in immunosuppressed hosts. By contrast, effective T-cell therapy of malignant disease has proven to be much more difficult to achieve. This, in part, reflects the difficulty of isolating high avidity T cells specific for tumor-associated antigens, many of which are self-antigens that have induced some level of tolerance in the host. Even when tumor-reactive T cells can be isolated, the ability of these cells to survive in vivo and traffic to tumor sites is often impaired. Additionally, most tumors employ multiple mechanisms to escape T-cell recognition, including interference in antigen presentation, secretion of inhibitory factors and recruitment of regulatory or immunosuppressive cells. The genetic modification of T cells prior to transfer provides a potential means to overcome many of these obstacles and enhance the efficacy of T-cell therapy. This review article discusses the rationale for genetic modification of T cells, the critical steps involved in gene transfer, and potential advantages and disadvantages of strategies that are now being examined to engineer improved effector T cells for the treatment of human infectious and malignant disease.
Insomnia in an 80‐year‐old population: Relationship to medical, psychological and social factors

In this study, insomnia in 80‐year‐olds was related to medical, psychological and social factors. The data were based on examinations every year in people aged between 80 and 89 years. Of 333 people living in the city of Lund and born in 1908, 67% participated. Increased severity of insomnia was significantly associated with use of diuretics, other cardiovascular drugs, hypnotics and laxatives, and with nervousness, difficulty relaxing, anorexia, nausea, constipation, backache, feeling cold, sweating, loss of weight, dizziness, depression, general fatigue, exhaustion, angina pectoris, cardiac insufficiency, worsened objective and subjective health, presence of negative T‐waves on ECG, anxiety, total life satisfaction, neuroticism, disbelief in a just world, feeling lonely and lower survival rates. Thus insomnia has widespread associations with different aspects of life in 80‐year‐olds.
Immunotoxicological and biochemical effects of Aflatoxins in rats prevented by Tunisian Montmorillonite with reference to HSCAS

Background and aim: Previously we reported that hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and Tunisian Montmorillonite (TM) had an ability to sorb aflatoxins with a high affinity. Addition of these compounds to feedstuffs contaminated with aflatoxins has shown protective effects against the development of aflatoxicosis in farm and laboratory animals. The objective of the current study was to compare the efficiency of HSCAS and the TM in respect to the protection against immuntoxicological effects of aflatoxins in rats. Materials and methods: Animals fed an aflatoxin-contaminated diet (2.5 mg/kg diet) showed a significant decrease in all hematological parameters, cholesterol, triglycerides, cholinesterase, total protein, albumin, zinc and copper concentrations. Results: Such feeding significantly increased createnine, bilirubin, urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases concentrations. The immunological results showed a significant decrease in lymphocytes of the total white blood cells, immunoglobulin profile (Ig G and Ig A), T-cells sub-types (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+), NK and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-1β) typical of aflatoxicosis. Both HSCAS and TM at the level of 5 g/kg contaminated diet resulted in a significant improvement in all immunological parameters—in lymphocyte, immunoglobulin profile, T-cells sub-types and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the mineral status and the biochemical parameters. Conclusions: The deleterious effects of aflatoxin could be overcome or, at least, diminished by the addition of sorbents. Moreover, both tested sorbents by themselves had no toxic effects and bind aflatoxin with high affinity.
Knowledge and attitude of dental faculty members towards evidence-based dentistry in Iran.

INTRODUCTION Educating dental practitioners is a major component in obtaining evidence-based approach to oral health care, but there is no evidence about knowledge and attitude of dental faculty members towards evidence-based dentistry (EBD) in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires on dental school faculties in Iran to assess their knowledge and attitude towards basic principles and methods of EBD. A total of eight dental schools were randomly selected of 17 public and two existing private schools. Validated questionnaire with an appropriate reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.67 - 0.87) was conducted on (n = 505) available dental instructors. The covered dimensions were perceived knowledge on critical appraisal, actual knowledge of EBD concepts, evidence-accessing methods and attitudes about EBD. Correlations were assessed between background characteristics and four main parts of the questionnaire, and multiple linear regression analysis was also used. RESULTS A total of 377 of 505 dental instructors returned completed questionnaires (response rate 74.65%). The mean perceived knowledge score was 15.32 ± 4.69 on a range of 6-36, and mean actual knowledge was 7.98 ± 2.0 on a range of 0-11 for all respondents with an overall positive attitude towards EBD. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the level of actual knowledge of dental faculties about basic principles of EBD was moderate in Iran. However, faculties' overall interest and positive attitude towards learning EBD is encouraging. Therefore, it is highly recommended that degree/certificate continuing educational programmes be planned by the organising committees.
Brain Abnormalities in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder. Spontaneous mutations occur in up to 60% of patients with gene loci located on chromosomes 9q34 ( TSC1) and 16p13 (TSC2). Diagnosis is established with the identification of various neurocutaneous markers and multiple organ system hamartomas. The variable expression of severity, the potential for cognitive dysfunction, and epilepsy compound the clinical picture. The intracranial abnormalities include the identification of migration and hamartomatous brain lesions, such as tubers, subependymal nodules, and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas. A number of other neuroimaging and morphometric abnormalities coexist, which can be identified with current neuroimaging techniques. This review examines the spectrum of brain abnormalities encountered in tuberous sclerosis complex and presents them as not merely a collection of lesions but more cohesively in the context of a global neuronal migration disorder. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:650—657).
Communication theory and resonances on electromagnetic systems

We have shown that some electromagnetic systems allow specific frequencies to satisfy special equivalent conditions to make use of a left hand material. We called these frequencies resonances because of their properties, similar to those solutions of the homogeneous Fredholm's equation for nuclear physics. But the process of information transmission requires not only the envoy of a limited number of frequencies but a very broad set of them. To answer the question of how we can use the knowledge of the resonances on a real system, we make use of the communication theory and the other properties, like the super-oscillating addition of functions and the mathematical deformation of the contour of the spectral representation of signals in order to create a set of frequency packs labeled with the final effect to optimize the information broadcast. In this paper we also suggest how we can preserve the convenience of this resonant point of view even when we cannot guaranty that the resonant conditions can be sustained permanently.
Spinal and medullary input to the lateral cervical nucleus

The distributions of spinal and medullary cells projecting to the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) have been investigated in young cats and dogs using the retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) technique. Labeled spinal cells, whose axons contribute to the spinocervical tract (SCT), were found at all levels of the spinal cord ipsilateral to the injection sites. No significant differences were found between cat and dog, nor between cases with single injections at different levels of the LCN. SCT cells were found predominantly, in not exclusively, within lamina IV, with some extension into medial lamina V. No apparent mediolateral or dorsoventral density gradient was observed within lamina IV; cells of all sizes were labeled. Cells in cervical laminae I and V‐VII were occasionally labeled; these, however, were considered to be propriospinal, supplying afferent fibers to the C1–2 dorsal horn. Cells of origin of spinocerebellar fibers consistently remained unlabeled in cases with restricted HRP injections and minimal fiber damage in the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF) around the injection sites. These results, therefore, corroborate and refine the findings of electrophysiological studies of the SCT and the LCN.
The inhibition of liver carcinogenesis with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in hypophysectomized rats.

Hypophysectomy effectively inhibited the formation of liver damage and hepatomas in rats fed diets containing 0.06 per cent 3′-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene up to periods of 19 weeks. In other experiments a 10–12-week period of feeding has usually been sufficient to induce a high percentage of tumors in intact animals.
Extra-articular stabilization of the cranial cruciate deficient stifle with anchor systems

Summary Complete or partial rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is a common injury of the canine stifle. Most practicing veterinarians would agree that optimal outcome is best achieved with surgical intervention. A popular method of stabilization is an extra-articular suture stabilization. The objective of this manuscript is to describe suture placement in a more isometric position as compared to traditional suture placement. A second objective is to introduce the veterinary surgeon to novel anchor products used for stabilization.