Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of pre-operative positron emission tomography in gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND Current pre-operative staging methods for gallbladder cancer (GBC) are suboptimal in detecting metastatic disease. Positron emission tomography (PET) may have a role but data are lacking. METHODS Patients with GBC and PET assessed by a hepatobiliary surgeon in clinic between January 2001 and June 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonace imaging (MRI) were correlated with PET scans and analysed for evidence of metastatic or locally unresectable disease. Medical records were reviewed to determine if PET scanning was helpful by preventing non-therapeutic surgery or enabling resection in patients initially deemed unresectable. RESULTS There were 100 patients including 63 incidental GBC. Thirty-eight patients did not proceed to surgery, 35 were resected and 27 patients were explored but had unresectable disease. PET was positive for metastatic disease in 39 patients (sensitivity 56%, specificity 94%). Five patients definitively benefitted from PET: in 3 patients PET found disease not seen on CT, and 2 patients with suspicious CT findings had negative PET and successful resections. In a further 12 patients PET confirmed equivocal CT findings. Three patients had additional invasive procedures performed owing to PET avidity in other sites. Utility of PET was higher in patients with suspicious nodal disease on CT [odds ratio (OR) 7.1 versus no nodal disease, P = 0.0004], and in patients without a prior cholecystectomy (OR 3.1 versus post-cholecystectomy, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION Addition of PET to conventional cross-sectional imaging has a modest impact on management pre-operatively particularly in patients without a prior cholecystectomy and to confirm suspicious nodal disease on CT.
Learning behavioral fingerprints from Netflows using Timed Automata

We present a novel way to detect infected hosts and identify malware in networks by analyzing network communication statistics with state-of-the-art automata learning algorithms. The automata encode patterns of short-term interactions in known malicious hosts, and are used to obtain small but effective fingerprints of machine behavior. We showcase the effectiveness of our system, named BASTA1 (Behavioral Analytics System using Timed Automata), on a public dataset containing Netflow traces of real-world botnet malware. Compared to a deep packet inspection of communication content, Netflows are easy and cheap to collect and analyze, and preserve a greater degree of privacy. Even though the high level of abstraction in Netflow data makes it more difficult to utilize it, BASTA shows very impressive results achieving high accuracy in several settings while returning few false positives. It is also capable of detecting infections of previously unseen malware.
Acute resumption of conduction in the cavotricuspid isthmus after catheter ablation in patients with common atrial flutter. Real-time evaluation and long-term follow-up.

AIMS Cavotricuspid isthmus conduction (CIC) is closely associated with the maintenance and recurrence of common atrial flutter (AFL). This study systematically sought to assess the prevalence and characteristics of acute CIC recovery during AFL ablation and to define its predictors and its relationship with the results of long-term follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 124 consecutive patients (105 men, 19 women, mean age 58 +/- 11 years) who underwent successful AFL ablation were included. The procedure endpoint was defined as complete bi-directional CIC block. During an observation period of 30 min, the incidence of CIC restoration was 34. % in patients and 39.8% in applications. It increased with increasing block time and decreased over time during the observation period. Block time in successful burns followed by persistent block was shorter than in those followed by CIC resumption (12 +/- 6 vs 33 +/- 12 s, P<0.0001). A negative correlation between block time and resumption time was found (r = - 0.57, P<0.001). Patients with permanent pacemakers had a higher incidence of acute CIC resumption than those without pacemakers (5/7 vs 29/117, P = 0.007). The AFL recurrence rate was 4.8% during a mean follow-up period of 21 +/- 8 months. Our results suggest that acute CIC resumption may be a potential risk for clinical AFL recurrence during long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Acute CIC resumption in common AFL ablation varies in terms of incidence and time course. Block time has a predictive value for acute CIC recovery. Observation time can be shortened if block time is short. With longer block time, it is essential to observe for a longer period in order to minimize CIC resumption.
miR-25 and miR-92a regulate insulin I biosynthesis in rats

The 3′ UTR of insulin has been identified as a critical region that confers mRNA stability, which is crucial for promoting transcription in response to glucose challenge. miRNAs are endogenously encoded non-coding RNAs that function as regulators of gene expression. This regulatory function is generally mediated by complementary binding to the 3′UTR of its mRNA targets that affects subsequent translational process. Genes involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis, particularly in insulin production, have been found as targets of several miRNAs. Yet, no direct miRNA-based regulators of insulin biosynthesis have been identified. In this study, identification of possible miRNA-based regulators of insulin production is explored. Members of a miRNA family, miR-25 and miR-92a, are found as direct modulators of insulin expression. Overexpression of miR-25 or miR-92a reduced insulin expression while inhibition of miR-25 and miR-92a expression using corresponding antagomiRs promoted insulin expression and ultimately enhanced glucose-induced insulin secretion. Furthermore, suppression of insulin secretion by pre miR-9 could be attenuated by treatment with anti-miR-25 or miR-92a. Interestingly, we found the binding site of miR-25 and miR-92a to overlap with that of PTBP1, an important RNA binding molecule that stabilizes insulin mRNA for translation. Despite the increase in PTBP1 protein in the pancreas of diabetic rats, we observed insulin expression to be reduced alongside upregulation of miR-25 and miR-92a, suggesting an intricate regulation of insulin (bio)synthesis at its mRNA level.
Impaired concentration due to frontal lobe damage from two distinct lesion sites

Background: Investigations of cognitive deficits after frontal lobe damage have commonly relied on multidimensional tests and relatively coarse specification of lesion anatomy. Some form of impairment in attention is often asserted to cause the revealed deficits. Objective: To describe a disorder of attention in patients with frontal damage using a theoretical model of the fundamental cognitive processes that underlie attention. Methods: The ability to perform a task of concentrated responding was studied in 43 patients with well-defined chronic frontal lesions and 38 control subjects using a continuous reaction time (RT) test. Performance measures were mean RT, RT across blocks of the test, and errors. Lesion measures were coarse localization and a hot-spot analysis to detect finer grained lesion effects. Results: Only patients with lesions in the right superomedial (SM) frontal regions had significantly prolonged RT consistently across the entire test. The critical lesion was in Brodmann’s areas 24, 32, 9, and 46 days and in the adjacent corpus callosum. Patients with lesions in left lateral frontal (LL) regions made significantly more errors on the 20% of trials in the first block. The critical lesion was in areas 44, 45, and 47/12. Conclusion: Concentrating attention to respond is affected by lesions in two different frontal regions for reasons that reflect impairments in different cognitive processes. Right superomedial lesions cause an insufficient energizing of attention to respond. Left lateral lesions cause defective setting of specific stimulus-response contingencies. Constrained tests of attention can demonstrate impairments in specific cognitive operations following lesions to different regions of the frontal lobes.
Identification of the target neuronal elements in electrical deep brain stimulation

The aim of this study is to identify the primary neuronal target elements in electrical deep‐brain stimulation, taking advantage of the difference in strength–duration time constant (τsd) of large myelinated axons (≈ 30–200 µs), small axons (≈ 200–700 µs) and cell bodies and dendrites (≈ 1–10 ms). Strength–duration data were measured in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or essential tremor and treated by high‐frequency stimulation in the ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus or the internal pallidum. Threshold voltages for the elimination of tremor were determined at various pulsewidths and a pulse rate of 130 pulses per second. The τsd was calculated using Weiss's linear approximation. Its mean value was 64.6 ± 25.4 µs (SD) for the thalamic nucleus and 75.3 ± 25.5 µs for the internal pallidum. Corrections to the mean values were made because the τsd values were based on voltage–duration measurements using polarizable electrodes. Apart from this systematic error, a resolution error, due to the relatively large increment steps of the pulse amplitude, was taken into account, resulting in mean τsd estimates of 129 and 151 µs for the thalamic nucleus and the internal pallidum, respectively. It is concluded that the primary targets of stimulation in both nuclei are most probably large myelinated axons.
The importance of measurement uncertainty modelling in the feature-based RGB-D SLAM

This paper presents an analysis of the role of measurements uncertainty in the feature-based RGB-D SLAM formulated as graph optimization problem. The considered SLAM solution uses global graph optimization to find the trajectory of the RGB-D camera and a set of 3D point features constituting the map. In order to focus on the optimization back-end details and isolate the results from the data association errors caused by the image processing front-end in a real SLAM system we introduce a simulation environment, which allows to clearly show the influence of the uncertainty model on the accuracy of the obtained trajectories. We demonstrate a substantial improvement in the trajectory accuracy due to using in the graph optimization process an uncertainty model based on the physical properties of the RGB-D sensor. Moreover, we investigate the influence of the RGB-D camera motion strategy on the accuracy of the SLAM solution, pointing out the relation between this strategy and the measurement uncertainty model.
Drosophila Serotonin Transporters Have Voltage-Dependent Uptake Coupled to a Serotonin-Gated Ion Channel

Serotonin (5HT) transporters (SERTs) couple to existing ion gradients to transport 5HT into presynaptic terminals. In mammalian SERTs, the transport cycle is reported as electroneutral, with a translocation of zero net charge, and 5HT uptake is independent of membrane voltage. Yet mammalian SERTs exhibit 5HT-induced currents, andDrosophila SERTs (dSERTs) show voltage-dependent uptake. Thus, the relationship between uptake and current remains controversial; furthermore, the number of 5HT molecules translocated per ion channel event is unknown. To investigate this, we have used heterologous expression of cloned dSERTs to measure 5HT flux and dSERT currents concurrently under voltage clamp, and we have used fluctuation analysis to measure the size of the elementary ionic events in the same cells. RNA-injected Xenopus oocytes accumulate 5HT, and paroxetine or desipramine inhibit this uptake. RNA-injected oocytes also display paroxetine-sensitive 5HT-induced currents and 5HT-independent leak currents. Na replacement decreases the uptake and the induced currents. 5HT-induced current and 5HT uptake both increase at negative potentials, where 5HT carries ∼5% of the induced current. Recently, several groups have reported similar phenomena for other transporters, in which transmitter-induced currents exceed the predictions of coupled transport. We now provide evidence that in dSERT, ∼500 5HT molecules are translocated per channel opening, which, at −20 mV, carries ∼10,000 electronic charges. These data support a model in which 500 SERT cycles occur for each 5HT-induced channel opening or a model in which 500 5HT molecules and 10,000 electronic charges pass through a common pore.
The association of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio with presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by reductions in breathing amplitude during sleep caused by an obstructed or collapsed upper airway. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proposed as a novel biomarker for systemic inflammatory response. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between NLR and OSA. METHODS The study population consisted of 195 consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of OSA. Full night polysomnography was performed for all patients. Patients with an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 were considered to have OSA. NLR was calculated as the ratio of neutrophil count to lymphocyte count. RESULTS While 130 patients (91 male, mean age: 49.9±9.8 years) had OSA, 65 patients (42 male, mean age: 48.7 ± 10.2 years) had normal findings according to AHI scores. Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking were more common in patients with OSA. Patients with OSA had significantly higher NLR than controls (1.87±0.80 vs 1.49±0.48, p=0.005). AHI score was significantly correlated with NLR (r=0.228, p=0.001). NLR and presence of hyperlipidemia were independent predictors of OSA (OR: 2.451, 2.850, p=0.001, 0.004, respectively). NLR of 1.62 or higher predicted OSA with a sensitivity of 56.2 % and specificity of 63.1 %. CONCLUSIONS NLR was higher and also correlated with AHI score in patients with OSA which has not been reported previously. NLR more than 1.62 was an independent predictor of OSA. A simple, cheap white blood cell count may also give an idea about the presence and severity of OSA (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 30).
Assessment and prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

The assessment of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in athletes requires the measurement of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) before and after vigorous exercise or a surrogate of exercise such as eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH) of dry air or mannitol dry powder. Exercise testing in a laboratory has a low sensitivity to identify EIB, and exercise testing in the field can be a challenge in itself particularly in cold weather athletes. The EVH test requires the subject to ventilate dry air containing ∼5% CO2 for 6 min through a low-resistance circuit at a rate higher than that usually achieved on maximum exercise. A ≥10% reduction in FEV1 is a positive response to exercise and EVH and, when sustained, is usually associated with release of inflammatory mediators of broncho constriction. Another surrogate, mannitol dry powder, given by inhalation in progressively increasing doses, is used to mimic the dehydrating stimulus of exercise hyperpnoea. A positive mannitol test is a 15% fall in FEV1 at ≤635 mg and reveals potential for EIB. Mannitol has a high specificity for identifying a clinical diagnosis of asthma. Once a diagnosis of EIB is established, the athlete needs to know how to avoid EIB. Being treated daily with an inhaled corticosteroid to reduce airway inflammation, inhaling a β2 agonist or a cromone immediately before exercise, or taking a leukotriene antagonist several hours before exercise, all inhibit or prevent EIB. Other strategies include warming up prior to exercise and reducing respiratory water and heat loss by using face masks or nasal breathing.
Membrane glucocorticoid receptors (mGCR) are expressed in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and up‐regulated after in vitro stimulation and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Glucocorticoids mediate their therapeutic actions mostly by genomic effects via cytosolic receptors, but some effects are too rapid to be mediated by changes at the genomic level. The detailed mechanisms of these nongenomic actions are still unclear. Membrane‐bound glucocorticoid receptors (mGCR) have been suggested to be involved, although their physiological existence in humans so far is hypothetical. For the first time we demonstrate the existence of mGCR on monocytes and B cells obtained from healthy blood donors using high‐sensitivity immunofluorescent staining. Immunostimulation with lipopolysaccharide increases the percentage of mGCR‐positive monocytes, which can be prevented by inhibiting the secretory pathway. Overexpression of the human glucocorticoid receptor α alone is not sufficient to enhance mGCR expression. These in vitro findings are consistent with our clinical observation that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis the frequency of mGCR positive monocytes is increased and positively correlated with disease activity. We conclude that mGCR are 1) indeed physiologically present in healthy blood donors, but remained unidentified by conventional techniques due to their small number per cell and 2) actively up‐regulated and transported through the cell after immunostimulation. These receptors may reflect a feedback mechanism of the organism upon immunostimulation and/or play a role in pathogenesis. —Bartholome, B. , Spies, C. M. , Gaber, T. , Schuchmann, S. , Berki, T. , Kunkel, D. , Bienert, M. , Radbruch, A. , Burmester, G. ‐R. , Lauster, R. , Scheffold, A. , Buttgereit, F. Membrane glucocorticoid receptors (mGCR) are expressed in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and up‐regulated after in vitro stimulation and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. FASEB J. 18, 70–80 (2004)
Recovery of hand function following nerve grafting and transfer in obstetric brachial plexus lesions.

OBJECT Infants with obstetric brachial plexus lesions (OBPLs) commonly undergo surgical repair. Outcome data have been documented extensively for shoulder and biceps function, but information on hand function following nerve repair is limited. Hand function is impaired in approximately 15% of patients. The authors present a surgical strategy aimed primarily at restoration of hand function and analyze their methods and outcome to determine specific factors affecting functional recovery. METHODS Surgical strategy and outcome data were reviewed for 33 patients who underwent surgery for flail arm during a 10-year period. Nerve repair was performed at a mean age of 4.4 months. In 16 patients, the period of follow up (mean 50 months) was considered sufficiently long for final analysis. Of these 16 patients, 13 (Group 1) had complete discontinuity of the C-7, C-8, and T-1 spinal nerves. In three patients (Group 2), the C-8 and/or T-1 nerve was left in place because of shortage of nerve grafts or limited availability of proximal donor stumps. Postoperatively, a Raimondi hand function grade of 3 or higher was attained by nine of the 13 patients in Group 1 (69%) and one of the three patients in Group 2 (33%). CONCLUSIONS Useful hand function was restored in 69% of the patients in the presented series in whom reanimation of the hand could be fully attributed to the surgical reconstruction. The authors conclude that restoration of hand function should be the first goal of nerve repair in infants with a flail arm caused by an OBPL, but that the optimal strategy for different types of lesion remains to be determined.
Detection and prevention of Profile Cloning in Online Social Networks

Online Social Networking sites are getting much popular day by day. Well known sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+ have millions of users across the globe. With the wide popularity there are lot of security and privacy threats to the users of Online Social Networks (OSN) such as breach of privacy, viral marketing, structural attacks, malware attacks and Profile Cloning. Profile Cloning is the identity theft of existing user's profile credentials and create a fake profile using these credentials. Further this profile is misused for defaming the legitimate profile owner as well as sending false friend requests to his friends. In this paper we discuss a few outcomes of our survey and an experiment performed on Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ for detecting Profile Cloning using a methodology designed by us. We suggested some countermeasures that can be followed by the users as well as OSN providers to protect the users from profile cloning attacks.
NK cells promote peritoneal xenograft rejection through an IFN-gamma-dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as major players in anti-viral and anti-tumour immune responses. Like cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), they express perforin and are potent secretors of gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma). However, there is conflicting evidence about their role in mediating rejection of xenogeneic tissue. METHODS A pig-to-mouse peritoneal cell model of xenotransplantation was used to investigate the effect of NK deficiency on xenograft recovery and the possible mechanisms behind this NK-mediated graft rejection. gamma c(-/-)RAG(-/-) mice were used as a model of NK deficiency. Additionally, NK cells were depleted in RAG(-/-) mice using anti-asialo GM1. The contributions of IFN-gamma, perforin and NKT cells were studied using knock-out mice that were depleted in vivo of T cells. Mice were injected with 10(7) pig cells intraperitoneally and peritoneal fluid was assessed 5 days later for xenograft recovery and phenotypic analysis. The requirement for NK cells for xenograft rejection was also assessed using luciferase-transfected porcine cells in a renal subcapsular model of transplantation. RESULTS Pig cell recovery was enhanced in both gamma c(-/-)RAG(-/-) and NK-depleted RAG(-/-) mice when compared with RAG(-/-) control mice. IFN-gamma(-/-) mice depleted of T cells also demonstrated superior graft survival compared with their B6 counterparts. However, there were minimal graft survival differences between Pfp(-/-) and B6 control mice. Similarly, a deficiency in NKT cells did not improve pig xenograft recovery from the peritoneum of these mice. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, we conclude that NK cells, but not NKT cells, are important mediators of xenograft rejection in the peritoneal cavity, and that their role may be unmasked in the absence of T cells. The mechanism for this xenorejection appears to involve IFN-gamma but is perforin independent.
Postoperative muscle paralysis after rocuronium: less residual block when acceleromyography is used

Background: Residual muscle paralysis after anesthesia is common after pancuronium, but less common following the intermediate‐acting drugs vecuronium and atracurium. Therefore, many anesthetists do not monitor neuromuscular function when using an intermediate‐acting agent. The purpose of this prospective, randomised and double‐blind study was to establish the incidence and degree of postoperative residual block following the use of rocuronium in patients not monitored with a nerve stimulator, and to compare it with results obtained in patients monitored using acceleromyography (AMG).