Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heavily Calcified Coronary Arteries: Advanced Calcium Subtraction Improves Luminal Visualization and Diagnostic Confidence in Dual-Energy Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate a prototype dual-energy computed tomography calcium subtraction algorithm and its impact on luminal visualization in patients with heavily calcified coronary arteries. Materials and Methods Twenty-nine patients (62% male; mean age, 64 ± 7 years) who had undergone dual-energy coronary computed tomography angiography were retrospectively included in this institutional review board–approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant study. Linearly blended (M_0.6) and calcium-subtracted images were reconstructed. Two independent observers assessed luminal visualization of the coronary arteries in a segment-based analysis, subjective image quality, and diagnostic confidence using 5-point Likert scales. Contrast-to-noise ratios for both data sets were calculated. Wilcoxon testing and Cohen's &kgr; were used for statistical comparisons. Results Calcium-subtracted image series showed improved lumen visualization of the coronary arteries (P = 0.008), with excellent interreader agreement (mean score, 3.3; &kgr; = 0.82), compared with M_0. 6 series (mean score, 2.9; &kgr; = 0.77). The calcium subtraction algorithm improved diagnostic confidence compared with the M_0. 6 reconstructions (mean scores, 4.0 and 3.1, respectively; all P ⩽ 0.002). The image quality analysis showed no significant differences between calcium-subtracted and M_0. 6 data sets (subjectively: mean scores, 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, P = 0.442; objectively: mean contrast-to-noise ratio, 37.0 and 38.2, respectively, P = 0.733). Conclusions A prototype algorithm for calcium subtraction improves coronary lumen visualization and diagnostic confidence in patients with heavy coronary calcifications without differences in conventional subjective and objective measures of image quality.
Asymmetric Effects of Demand Uncertainty on Intrafirm Trade in Durable and Non‐Durable Industries

This paper unveils a new empirical regularity regarding the asymmetric patterns of international sourcing modes in the durable and non&#8208;durable industries under uncertainty, and explains the asymmetry based on the traditional lens of the transaction cost economics. Under demand uncertainty, firms face trade&#8208;offs between outsourcing and vertical integration: while outsourcing requires less initial investment and allows easier market entry and exit, vertical integration offers better management and communication systems. In the durable industries, consistent with the transaction cost economics, the relationship between vertical integration and uncertainty is positive. In the nondurable industries, however, such relationship is weaker because inelastic demand and shorter gaps between production and sales mitigate the effect of uncertainty. I show the asymmetric effects of uncertainty based on a simple general equilibrium model and provide consistent empirical evidence using US intrafirm trade and microeconomic uncertainty data.
Classification of thyroid nodules in ultrasound images using deep model based transfer learning and hybrid features

Ultrasonography is a valuable diagnosis method for thyroid nodules. Automatically discriminating benign and malignant nodules in the ultrasound images can provide aided diagnosis suggestions, or increase the diagnosis accuracy when lack of experts. The core problem in this issue is how to capture appropriate features for this specific task. Here, we propose a feature extraction method for ultrasound images based on the convolution neural networks (CNNs), try to introduce more meaningful semantic features to the classification. Firstly, a CNN model trained with a massive natural dataset is transferred to the ultrasound image domain, to generate semantic deep features and handle the small sample problem. Then, we combine those deep features with conventional features such as Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) and Local Binary Patterns (LBP) together, to form a hybrid feature space. Finally, a positive-samplefirst majority voting and a feature-selected based strategy are employed for the hybrid classification. Experimental results on 1037 images show that the accuracy of our proposed method is 0.931, which outperformed other relative methods by over 10%.
Flow cytometric detection of CD10 (cALLA) on peripheral blood B lymphocytes of neonates

CD10 (cALLA) was detected on the surface of CD19‐positive circulating lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 32/50 neonates tested. These cells are presumed to represent immature B cells, commonly referred to as haematogones, previously undescribed in peripheral blood. The CD10+/CD19+ cells expressed lower levels of CD22 consistent with these cells being immature B lymphocytes. The presence of CD10+/CD19+ cells in the blood was not significantly correlated with a leucoerythroblastic picture, adjusted gestational age, or the presence in blood smears of medium‐to‐large lymphocytes with an immature appearance that morphologically resembled classic bone‐marrow haematogones.
Strategies to Improve Selection of Creative Ideas: An Experimental Test of Epistemic and Social Motivation in Groups

Pre‐implementation activities like idea selection play a crucial role in the innovation process. However, groups of people seem to perform rather poorly when it comes to selecting creative ideas for implementation. The Motivated Information Processing in Groups model (MIP‐G) provides an explanation as to why some groups outperform others when it comes to making group decisions. On the basis of the MIP‐G framework, we hypothesized that groups that are both epistemically and prosocially motivated would outperform other groups in selecting creative ideas. Contrary to our hypothesis, a 2 × 2 experiment in a field sample (N = 240 or 80 three‐person groups) showed that under conditions of high epistemic motivation, proself motivated groups selected significantly more creative and original ideas than prosocial groups. Proself motivated groups did not differ significantly from the prosocial motivated groups in selecting feasible ideas under conditions of high epistemic motivation. Our results suggest that the MIP‐G framework may need refinement to increase our future understanding of group idea selection. To this end, we propose three specific avenues for future research.
Gender-Specific Functional Cerebral Asymmetries and Unilateral Cerebral Lesion Sequelae

The magnitude and direction of cerebral lateralization are thought to be sexually dimorphic. Numerous human studies indicate gender-specific differences in functional cerebral asymmetries (FCAs) for various functions. Females are thought to have a decreased magnitude of inter-hemispheric cortical lateralization compared with males, whereas males exhibit a greater degree of cortical asymmetry than females for components of cognitive and perceptual processing. Also, a large body of evidence has shown that FCAs fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, presumably as a result of cycle-related hormonal changes. Awareness of gender-based differences of the human brain may enable better understanding of differences in functional outcome between men and women after unilateral cerebral lesion.
Bioaccumulation of Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins and Dibenzofurans in Catfish and Crabs Along an Estuarine Salinity and Contamination Gradient

Elevated but variable levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were observed in hardhead sea catfish (HH) and blue crabs (BCs), as well as in water and sediment, of the Houston Ship Channel system, Texas, USA. It is hypothesized that the variation was caused by the spatial variability of PCDD/F contamination, together with the natural mobility of organisms in satisfying prey, temperature, salinity, and reproductive requirements. Structural equation modeling was applied to explore the congener‐specific relationships between PCDD/F levels in HH and BC tissues and independent predictors such as PCDD/F contamination levels, environmental factors such as salinity and temperature, temporal‐spatial factors such as site depth and season, and biological factors such as length, weight, and lipid content. Contamination levels in both sediment and water were statistically significant predictors of the levels of less chlorinated congeners in both HH and BCs, with the standardized regression weight for sediment concentration roughly twice that for the water concentration. This implies that sediments are the dominant route for PCDD/F exposure and remediation efforts should focus on legacy sediment contamination. Tissue lipid content was a significant predictor of tissue concentrations in HH but only to a lesser extent in BCs, perhaps due to their low lipid content. Site depth and seasonal factors also were significant predictors of tissue concentrations. For the highly chlorinated congeners, only a small fraction of the variance in tissue concentrations was explained by the independent predictors, possibly indicating that uptake and elimination kinetics, biotransformation processes, or both may be more important factors controlling the bioaccumulation of those congeners.
Hepatic Resection and Transplantation for Primary Carcinoid Tumors of the Liver

Objective:To discuss the diagnosis and management of primary carcinoid tumors of the liver in light of our experience and a literature review. Summary Background Data:Carcinoid tumors of the liver are rare and pose a diagnostic and management dilemma. This series is the largest reported and the only one to include liver transplantation as a treatment option. Methods:Between March 1994 and May 2002, we treated 8 patients (4 male, 4 female) with primary hepatic carcinoid tumors. Carcinoid syndrome complicated only 1 of the cases. Treatment was by liver resection in 6 patients and orthotopic liver transplantation in 2. Results:The diagnosis was confirmed histologically with light microscopy and immunohistochemistry in the absence of an alternative primary site. Six patients remain alive and disease free after follow-up of more than 3 years: 39, 43, 45, 50, 50, and 95 months. Two patients are recently postoperative. Conclusions:Active exclusion of an extrahepatic primary site is essential for the diagnosis of primary carcinoid of the liver. The mainstay of treatment should be liver resection, although liver transplantation may be considered in patients with widespread hepatic involvement. A radical surgical approach is warranted as this disease carries a better prognosis than for other primary hepatic tumors and for secondary hepatic carcinoids.
Induction of prolonged excitability in myometrium of pregnant guinea‐pigs by prostaglandin F2 alpha.

1. Electrical and mechanical responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) were studied in circular myometrium, with or without endometrium, during the first 3 weeks of gestation of the guinea‐pig. 2. Muscle strips from which endometrium had been removed became inexcitable within 30‐40 min of isolation from the animal such that action potentials and contraction could not be initiated by depolarizing current steps. Raising the concentration of potassium in the perfusing solution resulted in a small contraction. 3. In these preparations PGF induced complex action potentials that consisted of spikes and a prolonged plateau of depolarization. Each action potential was associated with a large phasic contraction. 4. Contractions induced by PGF are unlikely to result predominantly from release of calcium from intracellular stores since the ability of the agonist to evoke a response was reduced by some 97% in the absence of external calcium or in the presence of calcium channel blockers. 5. When preceded by a brief exposure to PGF, the contractile response to high potassium was enhanced to equal that in response to PGF. Enhancement persisted for approximately 30 min after removal of PGF and was not dependent upon the presence of external calcium. 6. Muscle strips with intact endometrium contracted spontaneously for hours. Each contraction was associated with a complex action potential, both of which were abolished by indomethacin. 7. It is concluded that PGF transforms inexcitable calcium channels in the membrane of the smooth muscle cells of the circular myometrium into excitable ones. The study also suggests that endogenous prostaglandin of endometrial origin may prevent the 'run‐down' of channels in vivo.
Posttraumatic stress disorder in Manhattan, New York City, after the September 11th terrorist attacks

Estimates of acute mental health symptoms in the general population after disasters are scarce. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of acute posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in residents of Manhattan 5–8 weeks after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We used random-digit dialing to contact a representative sample of adults living in Manhattan below 110th Street. Participants were interviewed about prior life events, personal characteristics, exposure to the events of September 11th, and psychological symptoms after the attack. Among 988 eligible adults, 19.3% reported symptoms consistent with PTSD at some point in their life, and 8.8% reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of current (within the past 30 days) PTSD. Overall, 57.8% of respondents reported at least one PTSD symptom in the past month. The most common past-month symptoms were intrusive memories (27.4%) and insomnia (24.5%). Predictors of current PTSD in a multivariable model were residence below Canal Street, low social support, life stressors 12 months prior to September 11th, perievent panic attack, losing possessions in the attacks, and involvement in the rescue efforts. These findings can help guide resource planning for future disasters in densely populated urban areas.
PARTICIPATION OF EXTRACELLULAR NUCLEOTIDES IN THE WOUND RESPONSE OF DASYCLADUS VERMICULARIS AND ACETABULARIA ACETABULUM (DASYCLADALES, CHLOROPHYTA) 1

As assayed by fluorescent reporter dyes, nitric oxide (NO) and H2O2, two downstream signaling agents induced by wounding in the alga Dasycladus vermicularis (Scop.) Krasser, can also be induced in unwounded Dasycladus cells by μM Adenosine 5′[γ‐thio]triphosphate (ATPγS) and Adenosine 5′‐[β‐thio]diphosphate (ADPβS), but not by Adenosine 5′‐O‐thiomonophosphate (AMPS). These nucleotide‐induced responses are blocked by pyridoxalphosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulphonic acid (PPADS), an antagonist of animal purinoceptors, and by adenosine, a feed‐back inhibitor of extracellular nucleotide responses in animals. Similar nucleotide‐ and nucleotide‐antagonist responses were observed in Acetabularia acetabulum (L.) P. C. Silva. Significant levels of ATP released from Dasycladus cells were measured at wound sites by a sensitive luciferin‐luciferase assay. Additionally, the normal wound‐induced production of NO and H2O2 in Dasycladus can be blocked by pretreating the cells with PPADS. Our results indicate that nucleotides released from wounds can serve as a signal to trigger wound responses in algae, and that coordinated signaling between extracellular nucleotides and the NO pathway may have been established early during the evolution of plants.
Examining the impact of 45 minutes of daily physical education on cognitive ability, fitness performance, and body composition of African American youth.

OBJECT Increased importance on academic achievement has resulted in many school districts focusing on improved academic performance leading to reductions in physical education time. The purpose was to examine the effects of 45 minutes of daily physical education on the cognitive ability, fitness performance and body composition of African American elementary and middle school youth. METHODS Participants completing the informed consent in grades 2nd to 8th were included in the study. A pre/posttest design was used with repeated measures analysis of variance. Experimental and control school participants were pretested on the cognitive measures (ie, Fluid Intelligence and Perceptual Speed) and Fitnessgram® physical fitness test items (eg, aerobic capacity, muscular strength and muscular endurance, body composition) in September 2009 and posttested in May 2010. RESULTS Experimental elementary and middle school participants observed significantly greater improvements compared with control elementary and middle school participants on 7 of 16 fitness and body composition measures and on 8 of 26 cognitive measures. These fitness, body composition, and cognitive improvement differences were more noticeable among elementary and middle school females. CONCLUSIONS Providing 45 minutes of daily physical education can perhaps increase cognitive ability while increasing fitness and decreasing the prevalence of overweight and obese youth.
Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a DNA herpesvirus that is common worldwide. The two known main sources of primary CMV infection during pregnancy are through sexual activity and contact with young children. Primary infection occurs in approximately 1 to 4% of pregnancies, and is mostly asymptomatic in immunocompetent adults. However, primary infection may manifest as a mild mononucleosis or flu‐like syndrome with persistent fever and fatigue. CMV can be transmitted from mother‐to‐child in utero, intrapartum, or during breastfeeding. Intrauterine transmission can lead to congenital CMV infection, a leading cause of permanent hearing and vision loss and neurological disability among children. Congenital CMV transmission rates are as high as 50% in women who acquire primary CMV infection during pregnancy, and less than 2% in women with nonprimary infection. There is no licensed CMV vaccine. Good hygiene practices and avoiding intimate contact with young children (e.g., kissing on the mouth and sharing utensils) have been suggested as an approach to prevent maternal primary CMV infection during pregnancy, but remains an unproven method of reducing the risk of congenital CMV infection. Approximately 1 in 10 infants who acquire CMV in utero will have clinical signs at birth, and an additional 10 to 15% will go on to develop late‐onset sequelae. Antiviral treatment prenatally and postnatally has not proven effective at preventing congenital or postnatal CMV infection, and is not recommended for routine clinical care. However, antiviral treatment when initiated in the first month of life for symptomatic congenital CMV infection is recommended for improved neurodevelopmental and audiologic outcomes. Birth Defects Research 109:336–346, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sleep quality and its correlates in patients with chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional design

Abstract Purpose: Since sympathovagal imbalance influences clinical phenomena, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and sleeping problems, there should be correlations between these conditions. We hypothesized that sleep quality would be correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood pressure and the presence of diabetes. Methods: We included 303 CKD patients in this study. We employed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Short Form 36 Quality of Life Health Survey Questions (SF-36) to screen sleeping disturbances, depression and quality of life, respectively. A chart review was performed for the patients' demographics, diagnoses and certain laboratory parameters—including blood glucose, hemoglobin, albumin, calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone and eGFR. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to estimate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We included 303 patients in this cross-sectional study. A total of 101 patients were on dialysis. In the univariate models, gender, calcium and mental component summary scores (MCS) reached a significant level of 0.1, and those covariates were included in the multivariate analysis. The reduced models included gender and MCS categories. Female gender increases the risk for poor sleep quality. In our report, evidence suggests MCS domain scores are inversely related to the risk for impaired sleep. Conclusion: Our results indicated a high burden of sleep disturbances in kidney patients. In addition, female gender and having low MCS scores may influence sleep quality in kidney patients.
Severe Human Lower Respiratory Tract Illness Caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza Virus Is Characterized by the Absence of Pulmonary Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Responses

Abstract Background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus are common causes of infantile lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). It is widely believed that both viral replication and inappropriately enhanced immune responses contribute to disease severity. In infants, RSV LRTI is known to be more severe than influenza virus LRTI. Methods. We compared cytokines and chemokines in secretions of infants surviving various forms of respiratory illness caused by RSV or influenza viruses, to determine which mediators were associated with more-severe illness. We analyzed lung tissue from infants with fatal cases of RSV and influenza virus LRTI to determine the types of inflammatory cells present. Autopsy tissues were studied for the lymphotoxin granzyme and the apoptosis marker caspase 3. Results. Quantities of lymphocyte-derived cytokines were minimal in secretions from infants with RSV infection. Concentrations of most cytokines were greater in influenza virus, rather than RSV, infection. Lung tissues from infants with fatal RSV and influenza virus LRTI demonstrated an extensive presence of viral antigen and a near absence of CD8-positive lymphocytes and natural killer cells, with marked expression of markers of apoptosis. Conclusions. Severe infantile RSV and influenza virus LRTI is characterized by inadequate (rather than excessive) adaptive immune responses, robust viral replication, and apoptotic crisis.
Being an Expert Nurse in Pediatric Oncology Care

Pediatric oncology has become a highly specialized area, and the transition from novice nurse to expert can be complicated. The aim of this study was to describe the perceptions of nurses in pediatric oncology regarding the role of an expert nurse in pediatric oncology. Nurses (n = 66) working in pediatric oncology participated by writing their narratives. The data were analyzed by means of content analysis, and 3 categories were found: an expert has confidence in his or her knowledge, an expert provides high-quality care, and an expert is given possibilities for professional growth. It can be concluded that when nurses are given possibilities for continuous education and reflection, and have a feeling of satisfaction at being able to fulfill a child and his or her family’s needs, this enhances their possibility to become experts and maintain expert competence.