Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic imaging of colorectal liver metastases with CT, MR imaging, FDG PET, and/or FDG PET/CT: a meta-analysis of prospective studies including patients who have not previously undergone treatment.

PURPOSE To obtain diagnostic performance values of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), and FDG PET/CT in the detection of colorectal liver metastases in patients who have not previously undergone therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive search was performed for articles published from January 1990 to January 2010 that fulfilled the following criteria: a prospective study design was used; the study population included at least 10 patients; patients had histopathologically proved colorectal cancer; CT, MR imaging, FDG PET, or FDG PET/CT was performed for the detection of liver metastases; intraoperative findings or those from histopathologic examination or follow-up were used as the reference standard; and data for calculating sensitivity and specificity were included. Study design characteristics, patient characteristics, imaging features, reference tests, and 2 × 2 tables were recorded. RESULTS Thirty-nine articles (3391 patients) were included. Variation existed in study design characteristics, patient descriptions, imaging features, and reference tests. The sensitivity estimates of CT, MR imaging, and FDG PET on a per-lesion basis were 74.4%, 80.3%, and 81.4%, respectively. On a per-patient basis, the sensitivities of CT, MR imaging, and FDG PET were 83.6%, 88.2%, and 94.1%, respectively. The per-patient sensitivity of CT was lower than that of FDG PET (P = .025). Specificity estimates were comparable. For lesions smaller than 10 mm, the sensitivity estimates for MR imaging were higher than those for CT. No differences were seen for lesions measuring at least 10 mm. The sensitivity of MR imaging increased significantly after January 2004. The use of liver-specific contrast material and multisection CT scanners did not provide improved results. Data about FDG PET/CT were too limited for comparisons with other modalities. CONCLUSION MR imaging is the preferred first-line modality for evaluating colorectal liver metastases in patients who have not previously undergone therapy. FDG PET can be used as the second-line modality. The role of FDG PET/CT is not yet clear owing to the small number of studies. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL http://radiology.rsna. org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.10100729/-/DC1.
Results-based financing in education : financing results to strengthen systems

Result-based financing (RBF) captures the essence of how the World Bank Group (WBG) is implementing its education strategy, Learning for All. The strategy emphasizes learning (rather than just schooling), since that is what leads to economic growth, development, and poverty reduction. Second, the strategy calls for investing For all so as to ensure the equity dimension behind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Bank’s Twin Goals of reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity. These goals can be achieved through strengthening education systems. This paper largely focuses on how finance, and RBF specifically, can be used as a lever to pull education systems into coherence. RBF encompasses all of the four transformations called for: performance, innovation, inclusion, and finance. Specifically, putting results first (performance), and embracing results-based approaches to finance (finance) is at the heart of the WBG approach. The approach also offers a new way of approaching problems (innovation), and incentivizing results allows for differentiating levels of rewards, in order to favor traditionally disadvantaged groups, such as rural girls or children living with disabilities (inclusion).
Developmental regulation of a Rhizobium cell surface antigen during growth of pea root nodules

A monoclonal antibody, AFRC MAC 203, was used to examine the expression of a nodule-induced cell surface antigen associated with lipopolysaccharide in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841. Silver-enhanced immunogold-labeled tissue sections revealed that, in very young tissues of pea root nodules, the nodule-induced form of lipopolysaccharide antigen was not expressed either by rhizobia in the infection thread or by bacteria recently released into the plant cell cytoplasm. In the more mature regions of the nodule, the antigen was expressed by membrane-enclosed bacteroids, including immature forms that had not yet expressed the enzyme nitrogenase and were not yet Y shaped. Immunogold labeling of thin sections revealed that the MAC 203 antigen, but not the nitrogenase, was also expressed by bacteria in infection threads situated in and between bacteroid-containing plant cells in mature nodule tissue.
Maternal factors associated with heavy periconceptional alcohol intake and drinking following pregnancy recognition: a post-partum survey of New Zealand women.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Alcohol consumption during pregnancy places the foetus at risk of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Little is known about the current prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption before and following pregnancy recognition in New Zealand. DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective survey of 723 post-partum women resident in maternity wards located across New Zealand was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Maternal sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and alcohol intake before and after pregnancy recognition were assessed. RESULTS Of the 968 women invited to participate, 78% agreed. Eighty-two percent of women reported consuming alcohol prior to pregnancy and 20% reported typically consuming >4 New Zealand standard drinks per occasion. Overall, 34% of women reported drinking at some time during pregnancy. Twelve percent of pregnancies were at high risk of heavy alcohol exposure in early gestation. In fully adjusted analysis, pregnancies most at risk were those of indigenous Māori women, Pacific women, smokers and drug users. Almost one-quarter (24%) of drinkers continued to drink following pregnancy recognition, and in fully adjusted analysis, continuing to drink was positively associated with frequency of alcohol consumption before pregnancy (P < 0.001 for linear trend). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS To reduce the burden of alcohol-related harm to the foetus, these findings suggest that New Zealand alcohol policy should be focused not only on promoting total abstinence when planning a pregnancy and when pregnant, but also on reducing 'binge drinking' culture and the frequent consumption of lower levels of alcohol.
Patterns of change in family formation in the Federal Republic of Germany and the Netherlands: some consequences for solidarity between generations.

The authors examine the implications of changes in family formation for intergenerational solidarity particularly for the relationship between aging parents and their adult children. "First we will discuss the importance of changes at entry into marriage and motherhood and evaluate consequences of the increasing number of childless women for intergenerational relationships in old age; second we will address the significance and impact of declining family size; and third we will assess the rise of consensual unions among the younger generation and its effects. In the latter step we will conduct a detailed empirical analysis drawing on recent data from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Netherlands. " (EXCERPT)
Intestinal helminth communities of Podarcis bocagei and Podarcis carbonelli (Sauria: Lacertidae) in NW Portugal

SummaryA survey of gastrointestinal helminth communities of Podarcis bocagei and Podarcis carbonelli (Sauria: Lacertidae) from NW Portugal was conducted to determine the prevalence, intensity and diversity of intestinal parasites in these lizards. A few parasite species were found in both hosts, their prevalences, mean intensities and abundances of infection being low or very low. Low values of richness and abundance of parasite species were also found in the helminth infracommunities of individuals of both host species. These low values of parameters of infection and diversity are discussed and compared between both host species and among other Iberian lacertid lizards.
Recombinant Wild-Type and Edmonston Strain Measles Viruses Bearing Heterologous H Proteins: Role of H Protein in Cell Fusion and Host Cell Specificity

ABSTRACT Wild-type measles virus (MV) isolated from B95a cells has a restricted host cell specificity and hardly replicates in Vero cells, whereas the laboratory strain Edmonston (Ed) replicates in a variety of cell types including Vero cells. To investigate the role of H protein in the differential MV host cell specificity and cell fusion activity, H proteins of wild-type MV (IC-B) and Ed were coexpressed with the F protein in Vero cells. Cell-cell fusion occurred in Vero cells when Ed H protein, but not IC-B H protein, was expressed. To analyze the role of H protein in the context of viral infection, a recombinant IC-B virus bearing Ed H protein (IC/Ed-H) and a recombinant Ed virus bearing IC-B H protein (Ed/IC-H) were generated from cloned cDNAs. IC/Ed-H replicated efficiently in Vero cells and induced small syncytia in Vero cells, indicating that Ed H protein conferred replication ability in Vero cells on IC/Ed-H. On the other hand, Ed/IC-H also replicated well in Vero cells and induced small syncytia, although parental Ed induced large syncytia in Vero cells. These results indicated that an MV protein(s) other than H protein was likely involved in determining cell fusion and host cell specificity of MV in the case of our recombinants. SLAM (CDw150), a recently identified cellular receptor for wild-type MV, was not expressed in Vero cells, and a monoclonal antibody against CD46, a cellular receptor for Ed, did not block replication or syncytium formation of Ed/IC-H in Vero cells. It is therefore suggested that Ed/IC-H entered Vero cells through another cellular receptor.
Complexity markers in morphosyntactic productions in French-speaking children with specific language impairment (SLI)

Abstract The usage-based theory considers that the morphosyntactic productions of children with SLI are particularly dependent on input frequency. When producing complex syntax, the language of these children is, therefore, predicted to have a lower variability and to contain fewer infrequent morphosyntactic markers than that of younger children matched on morphosyntactic abilities. Using a spontaneous language task, the current study compared the complexity of the morphological and structural productions of 20 children with SLI and 20 language-matched peers (matched on both morphosyntactic comprehension and mean length of utterance). As expected, results showed that although basic structures were produced in the same way in both groups, several complex forms (i.e. tenses such as Imperfect, Future or Conditional and Conjunctions) were less frequent in the productions of children with SLI. Finally, we attempted to highlight complex linguistic forms that could be good clinical markers for these children.
How smartphone usage correlates with social anxiety and loneliness

Introduction: Early detection of social anxiety and loneliness might be useful to prevent substantial impairment in personal relationships. Understanding the way people use smartphones can be beneficial for implementing an early detection of social anxiety and loneliness. This paper examines different types of smartphone usage and their relationships with people with different individual levels of social anxiety or loneliness. Methods: A total of 127 Android smartphone volunteers participated in this study, all of which have agreed to install an application (MobileSens) on their smartphones, which can record user’s smartphone usage behaviors and upload the data into the server. They were instructed to complete an online survey, including the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS) and the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). We then separated participants into three groups (high, middle and low) based on their scores of IAS and UCLA-LS, respectively. Finally, we acquired digital records of smartphone usage from MobileSens and examined the differences in 105 types of smartphone usage behaviors between high-score and low-score group of IAS/UCLA-LS. Results: Individuals with different scores on social anxiety or loneliness might use smartphones in different ways. For social anxiety, compared with users in low-score group, users in high-score group had less number of phone calls (incoming and outgoing) (Mann-Whitney U = 282.50∼409.00, p < 0.05), sent and received less number of text messages in the afternoon (Mann-Whitney U = 391.50∼411.50, p < 0.05), used health & fitness apps more frequently (Mann-Whitney U = 493.00, p < 0.05) and used camera apps less frequently (Mann-Whitney U = 472.00, p < 0.05). For loneliness, users in low-score group, users in high-score group had less number of phone calls (incoming and outgoing) (Mann-Whitney U = 305.00∼407.50, p < 0.05) and used following apps more frequently: health & fitness (Mann-Whitney U = 510.00, p < 0.05), system (Mann-Whitney U = 314.00, p < 0.01), phone beautify (Mann-Whitney U = 385.00, p < 0.05), web browser (Mann-Whitney U = 416.00, p < 0.05) and social media (RenRen) (Mann-Whitney >U = 388.50, p < 0.01). Discussion: The results show that individuals with social anxiety or loneliness receive less incoming calls and use healthy applications more frequently, but they do not show differences in outgoing-call-related features. Individuals with higher levels of social anxiety also receive less SMSs and use camera apps less frequently, while lonely individuals tend to use system, beautify, browser and social media (RenRen) apps more frequently. Conclusion: This paper finds that there exists certain correlation among smartphone usage and social anxiety and loneliness. The result may be useful to improve social interaction for those who lack social interaction in daily lives and may be insightful for recognizing individual levels of social anxiety and loneliness through smartphone usage behaviors.
Pneumococcal Interactions with Epithelial Cells Are Crucial for Optimal Biofilm Formation and Colonization In Vitro and In Vivo

ABSTRACT The human nasopharynx is the main reservoir for Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) and the source for both horizontal spread and transition to infection. Some clinical evidence indicates that nasopharyngeal carriage is harder to eradicate with antibiotics than is pneumococcal invasive disease, which may suggest that colonizing pneumococci exist in biofilm communities that are more resistant to antibiotics. While pneumococcal biofilms have been observed during symptomatic infection, their role in colonization and the role of host factors in this process have been less studied. Here, we show for the first time that pneumococci form highly structured biofilm communities during colonization of the murine nasopharynx that display increased antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, pneumococcal biofilms grown on respiratory epithelial cells exhibited phenotypes similar to those observed during colonization in vivo, whereas abiotic surfaces produced less ordered and more antibiotic-sensitive biofilms. The importance of bacterial-epithelial cell interactions during biofilm formation was shown using both clinical strains with variable colonization efficacies and pneumococcal mutants with impaired colonization characteristics in vivo. In both cases, the ability of strains to form biofilms on epithelial cells directly correlated with their ability to colonize the nasopharynx in vivo, with colonization-deficient strains forming less structured and more antibiotic-sensitive biofilms on epithelial cells, an association that was lost when grown on abiotic surfaces. Thus, these studies emphasize the importance of host-bacterial interactions in pneumococcal biofilm formation and provide the first experimental data to explain the high resistance of pneumococcal colonization to eradication by antibiotics.
Emerging Roles of the Brain’s Default Network

During periods of inactivity, global metabolism does not decrease in the brain, and small but consistent increases in activity occur in a specific set of regions called the “default network”. Although much is known about the topological and connectional properties of the default network, its functions remain a matter of debate. Functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies have suggested two apparently contrasting functions for this network: spontaneous cognition and monitoring the environment. Spontaneous cognition, however, is by default situated in a given external context, an external milieu to which we align ourselves and which must be monitored. This review integrates recent literature suggesting that the two proposed functions of the default network functions need not to be mutually exclusive, and that spontaneous cognition and monitoring of the environment represent complementary instances of conscious experiences occurring during idle moments of daily life.
Hemodynamic and gas exchange effects of sildenafil in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary hypertension.

RATIONALE Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, could be useful for treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, vasodilators may inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and impair gas exchange in this condition. OBJECTIVES To assess the acute hemodynamic and gas exchange effects of sildenafil in patients with COPD-associated PH. METHODS We conducted a randomized, dose comparison trial in 20 patients with COPD-associated PH. Eleven patients were assigned to 20 mg, and 9 patients to 40 mg, of sildenafil. Pulmonary hemodynamics and gas exchange, including ventilation-perfusion (V(A)/Q) relationships, were assessed at rest and during constant-work rate exercise, before and 1 hour after sildenafil administration. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Both sildenafil doses reduced the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) at rest and during exercise, without differences between them. Overall, PAP decreased -6 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [95% CI], -7 to -4) at rest and -11 mm Hg (95% CI, -14 to -8) during exercise. After sildenafil, Pa(O(2)) decreased -6 mm Hg (95% CI, -8 to -4) at rest because of increased perfusion in units with low V(A)/Q ratio, without differences between doses. No change in Pa(O(2)) (95% CI, -3 to 0.2 mm Hg) or V(A)/Q relationships occurred during exercise after sildenafil. Changes induced by sildenafil in Pa(O(2)) and V(A)/Q distributions at rest correlated with their respective values at baseline. CONCLUSIONS In patients with COPD-associated PH, sildenafil improves pulmonary hemodynamics at rest and during exercise. This effect is accompanied by the inhibition of hypoxic vasoconstriction, which impairs arterial oxygenation at rest. The use of sildenafil in COPD should be done cautiously and under close monitoring of blood gases. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT00491803).
No adverse effects of statins on muscle function and health‐related parameters in the elderly: An exercise study

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a repeated bout of eccentric exercise on health‐related parameters and muscle performance on subjects undergoing atorvastatin therapy. Twenty‐eight elderly men participated in the investigation and were assigned either in a control (n = 14) or in a statin therapy group (n = 14). All participants performed two isokinetic eccentric exercise bouts separated by 3 weeks. Muscle damage indices, resting energy expenditure, substrate metabolism, lipid and lipoprotein profile, as well as insulin sensitivity, were evaluated before and after eccentric. No differences in muscle function were observed between the two groups either at rest or after exercise. Eccentric exercise increased resting energy expenditure, increased fat oxidation, improved lipid profile, and increased insulin resistance 2 days after both eccentric exercise bouts. However, these changes appeared to lesser extent after the second bout. No differences were observed in the responses in the health‐related parameters in the control and in the statin therapy group. Eccentric exercise affected similarly the control and the atorvastatin‐treated individuals. The present results indicate that atorvastatin‐treated elderly individuals may participate in various physical activities, even high‐intensity muscle‐damaging activities, without negative impact on muscle function and adaptation.
Environmental Policy, Greenhouse Gas Polluting Inputs, and Lifecycle Analysis

by Boying Liu, Ph.D. Washington State University May 2015 Co-Chairs: C. Richard Shumway and Ana Espinola-Arredondo This dissertation consists of three studies that investigate impact of environmental taxes on firms’ technology and entry behaviors, substitution between greenhouse gas (GHG) polluting and nonpolluting inputs in agricultural production, and lifecycle emissions with incorporation of input substitution in production and transportation sectors of biofuel. The first study examines under which conditions an environmental tax can be used to induce firms to adopt a clean technology and, also, to deter entry. We find that despite facing a polluting incumbent, an entrant might enter the market and acquire a clean technology when the tax is stringent enough and the clean technology is effective in eliminating pollution. A duopoly with two clean firms is socially optimal if the technology cost is low and the environmental damage is sufficiently high. However, if the environmental damage is low, a partially clean duopoly, in which only one firm adopts the green technology, could be socially optimal. The second study reports meta-regressions of Morishima substitution elasticities between GHG polluting and each of three nonpolluting inputs (labor, land, and capital) in agricultural production. We treat energy, fertilizer, and manure collectively as the “polluting input”. Our results show that each estimated long-run elasticity for the reference case, which is most relevant for assessing GHG emissions through lifecycle analysis, is greater than 1.0 and significantly
Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-20 and Potential Interaction with Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) in Human Major Salivary Glands

Matrix metalloproteinase-20 (MMP-20) expression is widely regarded as tooth-specific, with expression limited to dental hard tissues. Necessary for sound enamel formation, MMP-20 and MMP-2 proteolytically process dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) into dentin sialoprotein, dentin phosphoprotein, and dentin glycoprotein during tooth formation. In the mid-2000s, three members of the small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLINGs) were reported to bind specifically with high affinity (nM) to, and activate, three MMPs in vitro: bone sialoprotein with MMP-2; osteopontin with MMP-3; and dentin matrix protein1 with MMP-9. The SIBLING-MMP interaction was confirmed in biological systems such as the ducts of salivary glands, where all five members of the SIBLINGs are expressed. Recently, we documented MMP-20 expression and interaction with DSPP (another member of the SIBLING family) in human oral squamous cell carcinoma. Here we report the expression of MMP-20, and confirm its co-expression and potential interaction with DSPP in human major salivary gland tissues and cell line using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blot, quantitative RT-PCR, and proximity ligation assay. This report reinforces our earlier suggestion that the SIBLING–MMP complexes may be involved in the turnover of extracellular proteins damaged by oxidation byproducts in metabolically active duct epithelial systems.