Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid On-Site Evaluation of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspirations for the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer: A Perspective From Members of the Pulmonary Pathology Society.

CONTEXT - Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has emerged as a very useful tool in the field of diagnostic respiratory cytology. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) of EBUS-TBNA not only has the potential to improve diagnostic yield of the procedure but also to triage samples for predictive molecular testing to guide personalized treatments for lung cancer. OBJECTIVE - To provide an overview of the current status of the literature regarding ROSE of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of lung cancer. DATA SOURCES - An electronic literature search in PubMed and Google databases was performed using the following key words: cytology, lung cancer, on-site evaluation, rapid on-site evaluation, and ROSE EBUS-TBNA. Only articles published in English were included in this review. CONCLUSIONS - Rapid on-site evaluation can ensure that the targeted lesion is being sampled and can enable appropriate specimen triage. If available, it should be used with EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of lung cancer because it can minimize repeat procedures for additional desired testing (ie, molecular studies). Some studies have shown that ROSE does not adversely affect the number of aspirations, total procedure time of EBUS-TBNA, or the rate of postprocedure complications; it is also helpful in providing a preliminary diagnosis that can reduce the number of additional invasive procedures, such as mediastinoscopy. As EBUS technology continues to evolve, our knowledge of the role of ROSE in EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of lung cancer will also continue to grow and evolve.
A novel winding-coupled buck converter for high-frequency, high-step-down DC-DC conversion

This paper analyzes the fundamental limitations of the buck converter for high-frequency, high-step-down dc-dc conversion. Further modification with additional coupled windings in the buck converter yields a novel topology, which significantly improves the efficiency without compromising the transient response. An integrated magnetic structure is proposed for these windings so that the same magnetic cores used in the buck converter can be used here as well. Furthermore, it is easy to implement a lossless clamp circuit to limit the device voltage stress and to recover inductor leakage energy. This new topology is applied for a 12V-to-1.5V/25A voltage regulator module (VRM) design. At a switching frequency of 2MHz, over 80% full-load efficiency is achieved, which is 8% higher than that of the conventional buck converter.
Image in cardiovascular medicine. Coronary artery imaging with flat-panel computed tomography.

With the recent introduction of multirow detector systems, helical computed tomography (CT) imaging of the heart has gained renewed interest. A major benefit of such systems is that the entire human heart can be depicted in thin tomographic slices within a single breath-hold. The advent of flat-panel radiographic detectors has opened a new avenue of imaging technology research, including use of such detectors for x-ray CT. With a prototype flat-panel CT system (VCT, GE Global Research), an entire …
Temperature-related sex allocation shifts in a recovering keystone species, Pinus palustris

Background: The possible effects of climate change on sex allocation of a species have recently emerged as a topic of interest, relative to population sustainability via natural regeneration. Also, the universality of pollen limitation for reproduction and how climate may influence it in different taxonomic groups remain to be explored. Aims: The aim of this study was to examine how climate fluctuation may affect sex allocation in Pinus palustris. Methods: We used a long-term observational data on P. palustris (1957–2014), including pollen, female conelets and cone production. Results: We found that, unlike cone production with its ca. 3-year cycle, (1) pollen (male) and unfertilised conelet (female) production did not exhibit any temporal cycles, (2) pollen and unfertilised conelet production showed lower variation than cone production, (3) pollen and unfertilised conelet production were positively correlated to one another and to final cone production, (4) an optimal male-to-female sex allocation ratio exists for promoting cone production and (5) sex allocation ratio was positively correlated with temperature. Conclusions: Our findings shed new light on both the reproductive ecology and management of P. palustris ecosystems under changing climates (e.g., through alteration of pollen density and thus the resulting sex allocation).
A Case Study: Fecal Corticosteroid and Behavior as Indicators of Welfare During Relocation of an Asian Elephant

This study was a preliminary investigation of an enzyme immunoassay for measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in a male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) by investigating changes in behavior and cortisol metabolite excretion associated with a putative stressful event. The study collected fecal samples for 10 days prior to, and 10 days after, 24-hr transport and relocation of the elephant to a new herd. The study measured cortisol metabolites using 2 enzyme immunoassays indicating a 389% and 340% increase in cortisol metabolite excretion following relocation. Maximal cortisol metabolite excretion occurred 2 days after relocation and remained elevated during establishment of the new herd. Stereotypic behavior increased approximately 400% after relocation. The relocation disturbed sleep patterns, the elephant spent less time sleeping during the night, and the elephant slept standing up. These results provide preliminary evidence that noninvasive monitoring of fecal cortisol metabolites can be used to investigate adrenal activity in Asian elephants and may be a safe, practical, and accurate welfare indicator.
Cytomorphologic and clinicoradiologic analysis of primary nonhematologic central nervous system tumors with positive cerebrospinal fluid

Positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology typically indicates leptomeningeal dissemination of metastatic, secondary, or rarely, primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. To the authors' knowledge, large‐scale studies on clinicocytologic features of various primary CNS tumors in CSF are lacking.
How price image dimensions influence shopping intentions for different store formats

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse how five price image dimensions influence shopping intentions for different store formats. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 306 espondents evaluated three stores from a list of 18 retailers on a multiple-item scale, resulting in 918 price-image measurements. Based on these data, a covariance structure analysis in Mplus analyses the direct and indirect impact of five price image dimensions on shopping intentions. A multiple group analysis identifies differences in the effects between store formats. Findings – The impact of image dimensions differs substantially between store formats. For discount stores, value for money is by far the most important image dimension. For supermarkets, price level and value are equally important, but price perceptibility and price processibility are also relevant. For organic food stores, value is most important, followed by price processibility and evaluation certainty. For the weekly market, price perceptibility plays a key role in explaining customers’ shopping intentions. Practical implications – The results carry several implications for retail pricing practice, as they indicate that retailers should not focus exclusively on price level competition. Depending on the store format, retailers should attach importance to the price image dimensions in varying degrees. Originality/value – The study contributes to the literature by: advancing price-image measurement; modelling direct effects on shopping intentions; analysing a number of different indirect effects in an integrated model; and taking the moderating effects of store format into account.
Is Defective Pancreatic Beta-cell Mass Environmentally Programmed in Goto-Kakizaki Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes?: Insights From Crossbreeding Studies During Suckling Period

Objective: The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes with a well established pathological pancreatic beta-cell development. Hyperglycemia experienced during early postnatal life contributes to the programming of endocrine pancreas. We have analyzed the consequences of hyperglycemic versus euglycemic suckling period for the pancreatic beta-cell mass and the in vivo glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in 4-week-old unweaned control Wistar (W), diabetic GK, and in offspring issued from crosses between normoglycemic W and diabetic GK rats. Methods: Mother/father crosses yielded offspring designated as follows: W/W, GK/GK, W/GK, and GK/W. In vivo glucose tolerance and insulin secretion tests were performed on males 4 weeks after birth, that is, just before weaning. Beta-cell mass was determined by immunohistochemistry and morphometry. Results: Four-week-old W/GK and GK/W rats are normoglycemic, normoinsulinemic, and display a similarly small beta-cell mass. Both W/GK and GK/W rats exhibit in vivo glucose intolerance and defective insulin secretion in response to glucose. Conclusions: Our data obtained from crossbreeding studies during suckling period suggest that the defective pancreatic beta-cell mass is not environmentally programmed in the GK model of type 2 diabetes. Rather, they support the hypothesis that the beta-cell mass defect in the GK is linked to genetic determinism.
PDGF-BB REGULATES IGF-MEDIATED IGFBP-4 PROTEOLYSIS IN FETAL LUNG FIBROBLASTS

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-stimulated lung fibroblast proliferation may be regulated by locally produced IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) during lung development. Recent evidence has shown that many growth factors participate in the regulation of cell proliferation by regulating IGFBPs. Because platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)is highly expressed during lung development and is known to regulate IGFBP-4 production bylung cells, we examined the mechanisms by which PDGF-BB regulates IGFBP-4 production using primary cultures of 19-day gestation rat lung fibroblasts. Exposure of fetal rat lung fibroblasts to PDGF-BB increased IGFBP-4 mRNA transcript abundance by 3.6- and 2.4-fold at 18 and 40 hours, respectively. Addition of Rp-adenosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphothioa tetriethylamine (rp-cAMPS),a competitive inhibitor of protein kinase A, blunted the PDGF-BB-stimulated increase in conditioned medium (CM)IGFBP-4 and the increase in IGFBP-4 mRNA. Proteolysis of IGFBP-4 was detected in aliquots of cell-free CM from cells exposed to SFMfor 48 hours. IGFBP-4 proteolysis was inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline and was accentuated by the addition of IGF-I and IGF-IIand, to a lesser extent, by des(1-3)IGF-I. Exposure of cells to PDGF-BB for 48 hours resulted in an inhibition of IGFBP-4 proteolysis that was associated with a decrease in the concentration of IGF-I in CM. These studies demonstrate that PDGF-BB increases the accumulation of IGFBP-4 in fetal rat lung fibroblasts CM through increased production and by inhibiting IGF-mediated IGFBP-4 proteolysis.
A kinetic compartment model for evaluating salivary gland scintigraphies

The semi‐quantitative analysis of salivary gland scintigraphy with 99mTc‐pertechnetate has been used to evaluate salivary gland function. However, no objective parameters distinguishing abnormal from normal functions have been established thus far. We propose using a simple kinetic model applied to the four major salivary glands. This kinetic model is based on a two‐compartment model and the assumption of first‐order kinetics to characterize normal salivary gland function and other selected parameters to evaluate the normal function of salivary glands.
Strong nucleosomes of A. thaliana concentrate in centromere regions

Earlier identified strongest nucleosome DNA sequences of A. thaliana, those with visible 10–11 base sequence periodicity, are mapped along chromosomes. Resulting positional distributions reveal distinct maxima, one per chromosome, located in the centromere regions. Sequence-directed nucleosome mapping demonstrates that the strong nucleosomes (SNs) make tight arrays, several ‘parallel’ nucleosomes each, suggesting a columnar chromatin structure. The SNs represent a new class of centromeric nucleosomes, presumably, participating in synapsis of chromatids and securing the centromere architecture.
Assessing the benefits of using an enterprise system in accounting information and management

Purpose – This paper examines the impact of decisions stemming from the new ERP system on the accounting information and management implemented at a large public university in Greece, based on perceived benefits according to users’ expectations and perceptions.Design/methodology/approach – Structured questionnaires were used in two measurement points (pre‐ and post‐implementation) in the frame of longitudinal research. The statistical analysis methods employed factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha to evaluate the scale and t‐test to assess the significance of the means values between the two periods.Findings – The results show that, one‐year post‐implementation, users’ perceptions are more positive compared with their expectations from the pre‐implementation period. The empirical data confirm a number of benefits derived from the new ERP system, particularly in relation to accounting information and management. The new ERP system significantly contributes towards increased flexibility in information provis.
Multiple-marker screening in human immunodeficiency virus-positive pregnant women: Screen positivity rates with the triple and quad screens.

OBJECTIVE The study was undertaken to determine the screen-positive rates of multiple-marker screening tests in pregnant women who are positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at our institution for open neural tube defects and aneuploidy, for both triple (alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG], unconjugated estriol) and quad (alpha-fetoprotein, hCG, unconjugated estriol, inhibin A) screens, and to compare these rates with a matched control group. STUDY DESIGN A 1:1 matched case-control study was performed comparing multiple marker screening test results in 34 HIV-positive women with age- and race-matched HIV-negative controls. Individual serum markers and screen positive rates for both the triple and quad screens were compared among the cases and controls. RESULTS In each group, there were 19 women with triple screens and 15 with quad screens. Serum hCG multiples of the median were significantly higher in the HIV-positive compared with the HIV-negative women (P=.033). There was no difference in screen positive rates between the cases and controls using the triple screen, but there was a significantly higher overall screen positive rate in the HIV-positive group when the quad screen was used (33% vs 7%, P=.046). CONCLUSION There is a significantly higher rate of overall quad screen positivity on multiple-marker screening among HIV-positive women compared with a matched control group.
No Differences in Corpus Callosum Size by Sex and Aging

To identify normal variations in the magnetic resonance imaging appearances of the corpus callosum with regard to sex and age, a prospective study was performed in 130 normal subjects. Callosal measurements were calculated by morphometric analysis. There were no significant sex differences in corpus callosum area or the callosal subregions. The absolute area did not decrease significantly with aging in normal males or females. However, age‐related changes of callosal configuration were shown by a decrease in the ratio of the rostrum and genu to the splenium.
[Dietary treatment of hypertension. III. The effect of protein on appetite and weight].

In an earlier study (1) it was observed that patients rapidly lost weight following a change in diet from a conventional pattern to the rice-fruit diet of Kempner. Although the imbalance was but temporary, as shown by the approach to stable weight and nitrogen balance during the next four months, the weight remained, at the lower level. During the period of rapid weight loss, the patients took a reduced number of calories as compared to their previous consumption. However, as the weight approached stability, the intake of calories rose to the neighborhood of the control values, despite the fact that the patients by this time were heartily bored with the menu. These observations and the finding that basal metabolic rates remained approximately constant, suggested that the daily expenditure of calories remained constant, but that the metabolic transition somehow required the oxidation of a certain bulk of tissue. It seemed of interest to plan further studies to isolate the dietary factor responsible for the transition, and to assess its importance in the therapy of hypertension. In the subsequent study (2), which was directed mainly to the role of sodium, it was found that extreme changes in the ration of sodium had no important effect on the appetite or weight. Again in this study, the patients lost weight when given the basal diet despite the fact that all but one received a supplement of salt (10 gm. per day). The one patient who received no supplement exhibited a loss of weight which was indistinguishable from the others. It was surmised that the restriction of dietary protein to about 35 gm. per day, which appeared as an incidental restriction when dietary sodium was limited to 4 mEq. per day,
Cytokine gene polymorphism in sympathetic ophthalmia.

PURPOSE Sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is a prototypical autoimmune disease in which injury to one eye causes sight-threatening inflammation in the otherwise normal contralateral eye. Previous work found that human leukocyte antigen alleles HLA-DRB1*04 and DQA1*03 are markers of increased susceptibility and severity in British and Irish patients. Evidence is accumulating that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes can also influence the development of autoimmune disease through their effect on levels of cytokine production. The purpose of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the cytokine genes are important markers for disease severity and outcome in patients with SO. METHODS Twenty-six British and Irish patients meeting well-defined criteria for the diagnosis of SO were compared with 48 matched controls. Genotyping of SNPs in the TNFalpha, TNFbeta, and IL-10 genes was performed using the polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific primers (SSP-PCRs) and of the CTLA-4 and TNF receptor 2 genes using restriction length polymorphism-PCR (RFLP-PCR). RESULTS Significant associations were found between the IL-10 -1082 SNP and disease recurrence from previously stable disease and the level of steroids required for maintenance therapy. In addition, the GCC IL-10 promoter haplotype (IL-10 -1082G, -819C, -592C) was found to be protective against disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS These results show that cytokine gene polymorphisms are markers for the severity of disease in SO. They were found to be associated with recurrence of previously stable disease and with the level of maintenance steroid treatment required to control inflammatory activity.
Upregulation of toll-like receptors in chronic enteropathies in dogs.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is thought to result from a dysregulated interaction between the host immune system and commensal microflora. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), but their role in enteropathies in dogs is unknown. HYPOTHESIS That there is a dysregulation of TLRs recognizing bacterial MAMPs in dogs with IBD. ANIMALS Sixteen healthy beagles and 12 dogs with steroid-treated (ST) and 23 dogs with food-responsive (FR) diarrhea. METHODS Prospective, observational study. mRNA expression of canine TLR2, 4, and 9 was evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in duodenal and colonic biopsies obtained before and after standard therapy. Samples from control dogs were taken at necropsy, with additional biopsies of stomach, jejunum, ileum, and mesenteric lymph node in 6 dogs. RESULTS There were significant differences (P< or = .017) in expression of TLR2, 4, and 9 between the 6 sampled locations in healthy control dogs (lymph node > small intestine > or = colon). Before therapy, ST expressed more mRNA than control dogs for all 3 receptors (P < .05). There were no significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment values, even though 32/35 dogs improved clinically. No associations were found when comparing receptor mRNA expression with either histology or clinical activity scores. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Bacteria-responsive TLR2, 4, and 9 are upregulated in duodenal and colonic mucosa in IBD. This might lead to increased inflammation through interaction with the commensal flora. The absence of significant changes after therapy despite clinical improvement might point toward the existence of a genetic predisposition to IBD as described in human IBD.
Short and long-term impact of trade openness on financial development in Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT:The finance–openness debate has remained a complex one to date. Some studies argue that trade and capital account openness may promote financial development by enhancing foreign direct and portfolio investments. Other studies argue that financial development may improve trade policy and openness. Yet, one challenge faced by researchers in their quest to unravel the finance–openness debate is the lack of measures of trade openness that take a country's global interaction and interconnectedness into account. Our study addresses this challenge by extending a recently proposed index of trade openness to a panel data setting, and by examining the short- and long-term impact of trade openness on financial development for a panel of 43 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 1996 to 2014. We test the performance of the pooled mean group (PMG) estimator against the dynamic fixed-effects (DFE) and the mean group (MG) estimators using the standard Hausman test, in order to ensure that the most appropriate estimator is used to estimate our dynamic, distributed lag model. We use the new measure of openness for the SSA countries to measure their interaction and interconnectedness with each other and find that openness is associated with significant financial development in the long term. In the short term, the effect of openness on financial development is not clear, but the results suggest that it may be negative. We then divide the sample into low- and middle-income countries and find that openness enhances financial development in the low-income countries. By contrast, openness is detrimental to financial development in the middle-income countries. This finding suggests a non-linear relationship between financial development and openness. We take the analysis a step further by examining the role of governance, human capital development, and infrastructural development, as these are major issues in SSA countries. We find that governance, human capital development, and infrastructure development are critical to financial development, particularly in the long term. In other words, these factors help to better explain the openness–finance relationship. Besides, they are important factors that policymakers should take into account when pursuing openness, financial development and a growth agenda.