Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Object Recognition With Dynamic Cognitive Context

Object recognition continues to be a challenging area of research, especially for objects situated in their realworld environments. Yet, people are able to recognize objects in their daily environments with ease, in part because of their ability to quickly and effectively learn contextual relationships between objects in the world. Here, we show that leveraging the rich, dynamic context of a computational cognitive architecture can facilitate autonomous object recognition in real-world environments with no prior training. We show that, on the realworld NYU Depth V2 dataset, this cognitive context improves object recognition with an 8% gain in mean average precision.
Botanical medicine and cancer: a review of the safety and efficacy

It is currently estimated that > 50% of all patients diagnosed with cancer explore complementary and alternative medicine – especially herbal medicine. We conducted a comprehensive review to assess the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines commonly used by patients in an attempt to: prevent cancer; treat cancer; and treat adverse effects associated with conventional cancer treatments. Current evidence suggests that Asian ginseng, garlic, green tea, tomatoes and soy intake as part of the diet may be useful in preventing various cancers; additional research is needed in order to determine the efficacy of essiac, evening primrose oil, mistletoe, reishi, shiitake and turmeric as cancer treatments; and ginger may be effective in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Does Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Modify Breast Cancer Surgery ?

Abstract Aims: To determine the impact of preoperative use of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in therapeutic surgical approach in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast was performed in 105 patients with suspected breast carcinomas. MRI findings were correlated with mammography (MMG) and ultrasonography (US). Results: Histopathologic analysis revealed 144 breast carcinomas. The results of the MRI lead to a change in 17.1% of the planned surgical procedure. MRI imaging alone revealed 16 multifocal or multicentric tumors and four contralateral carcinomas. Conclusion: Breast MRI could be recommended as a pre-surgical diagnostic procedure in patients allocated to breast conservation surgery. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to determine if preoperative breast MRI leads to a decrease in tumor recurrence and in overall survival.
Expression of BDNF and trkB in the hippocampus of a rat genetic model of vulnerability (Roman low‐avoidance) and resistance (Roman high‐avoidance) to stress‐induced depression

The selective breeding of Roman High‐ (RHA) and Low‐Avoidance (RLA) rats for, respectively, rapid versus poor acquisition of the active avoidance response has generated two distinct phenotypes differing in many behavioral traits, including coping strategies to aversive conditions. Thus, RLA rats are considered as a genetic model of vulnerability to stress‐induced depression whereas RHA rats are a model of resilience to that trait. Besides the monoamine hypothesis of depression, there is evidence that alterations in neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus and other brain areas are critically involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.
Association of Global Levels of Histone Modifications with Recurrence-Free Survival in Stage IIB and III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

This study was aimed at understanding the effects of histone modifications on recurrence-free survival (RFS) after esophagectomy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The acetylation of histone H3 lysine (H3K9Ac), histone H3 lysine 18 (H3K18Ac), and histone H4 lysine 12 (H4K12Ac), and the dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9diMe) and histone H4 arginine 3 (H4R3diMe) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 237 ESCCs. The K-means clustering algorithm was used to identify unique patterns of histone modifications. At a median follow-up of 5.1 years, 109 (46%) of 237 patients had developed recurrence of disease. Mean global levels of H3K9Ac, H3K18Ac, H3K9diMe, H4K12Ac, and H4R3diMe were 81.5%, 65.1%, 80.3%, 45.9%, and 27.4%, respectively. In the analysis of individual histones, a 1% increase in the global level of H3K18Ac in pathologic stage III worsened RFS at 1.009 times [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.001-1.016; P = 0.03], after adjusting for age, sex, and operative method. Cluster analysis also showed significant effects of histone modifications on RFS. For stage IIB cancers, Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that RFS of cluster 1, with high global levels of H3K18Ac and H4R3diMe, was 2.79 times poorer (95% CI, 1.14-6.27; P = 0.008) than that of cluster 2, with low levels. RFS for stage III cancers was also poorer in cluster 1 than cluster 2 (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.10-5.34; P = 0.02). In conclusion, the present study suggests that global levels of histone modifications in ESCC may be an independent prognostic factor of RFS. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(2); 566–73
Tryptophan and sleep in young adults.

Oral administration of L-tryptophan increases brain serotonin levels by following normal 5-hydroxyindole pathways (Moir & Eccleston, 1968). Since recent studies (Jouvet, 1969) suggest that serotonin is important in controlling sleep mechanisms, L-tryptophan provides a useful method for investigating further the role of serotonin in sleep. In two experiments, EEG sleep patterns from 21 young adult males were examined following moderate (7.5 g) and high (12 g) oral doses of L-tryptophan. Moderate doses produced sedative effects (reports of extreme drowsiness and reduced time awake) accompanied by increased slow-wave sleep. The only effects on REM parameters were a trend (in some Ss) to early onset of stage REM, a small decrease in the period of the REM cycle, and decreased density of rapid eye movements. With the high dose, Ss again reported extreme drowsiness, and time to sleep onset was decreased. However, changes in SW sleep and waking time appeared only as non-significant trends. In the high-dose group, percent of REM sleep was markedly increased, due to early onset of stage REM and to increased duration of REM episodes during the second half of the night. EEG sleep patterns on recovery nights following large doses of tryptophan were not systematically different from baseline nights. These results indicate that the changes in sleep patterns produced by L-tryptophan, presumably acting through 5-hydroxyindole pathways, are dependent on dose. The findings are consistent with the idea that serotonin, or one of its metabolites, is involved in the mechanisms controlling both SW and REM sleep.
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) and Commitment Behavior: An Integrated Model

The Massively Multiplayer Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) phenomena have generated significant interest on the part of consumers and software publishers. While there have been many efforts to improve the quality of the games in terms of technology (e.g. graphics, networking, etc.), little effort or research has been extended towards identifying business applications of MMORPG. The main goal of this study is to identify the factors that influence game players to commit themselves to MMORPGs. Nor has there been any research effort directed at identifying lock-in strategies for MMORPGs To achieve this goal, we propose two different lock-in strategies: (1) A control-Enhancing Strategy, based on both Control Theory and Psychological Ownership Theory, and (2) An interaction-Enhancing Strategy, based on both Symbolic Interaction Theory and Social Identity Theory. In this paper we report the results of an empirical study that examines the effectiveness of these two strategies. A structural equation model is developed to test the 1 Corresponding Author Jo et al. Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) and Commitment Behavior: An Integrated Model 2 viability of the proposed strategies. We also provide several guidelines based on the research findings related to locking-in online players of MMORPG.
Elevated arterial stiffness and diastolic dysfunction in subclinical hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND Thyroid hormone is associated with arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in hypothyroid disease. The relationship of thyroid hormone level to cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and left ventricular diastolic function, however, remains unclear in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism. METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 83 patients with untreated subclinical hypothyroidism and compared them with 83 randomly selected controls from health check-ups. Log N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and arterial stiffness were measured. In addition, we measured early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E') in 43 participants with subclinical hypothyroidism and in 40 controls. When compared with the control group, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had higher logNT-proBNP (1.9±0.5 vs. 1.7±0.3pg/ml, P<0.05), CRP (0.22±0.04 vs. 0.09±0.06mg/dl, P<0.05), and CAVI (8.8±1.7 vs. 7.8±1.4, P<0.001) and lower E' (5.8±1.7 vs. 7.5±2.1cm/s, P<0.001). CAVI was significantly associated with logNT-proBNP, CRP and E' in the subclinical hypothyroidism group. CONCLUSIONS High logNT-proBNP was associated with a raised CAVI in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism may be a risk factor for cardiovascular events related to arterial stiffening and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
Effective UK weight management services for adults

A number of evidence‐based weight management interventions are now available with different models and serving different patient/client groups. While positive outcomes are a key to the decision‐making process, so too is the information around how these outcomes were achieved, in what population, how transferable the outcomes would be to the population a service would be aiming to cover and at what cost to the service provider and or the individual. This paper examines all the UK interventions with recent peer‐reviewed evidence of their effectiveness in ‘realistic’ settings and cost‐effectiveness, in the context of National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) guidelines. It concludes that the evidence‐based approaches allow intervention at different stages in the disease process of obesity, which are effective in different settings. Self‐referral to commercial agencies, by individuals with relatively low body mass index (BMI) and few medical complications, is a reasonable first step. For more severely obese individuals (e.g. BMI > 35 kg m−2) requiring more medically complicated care, evidence is largely lacking for these services, but the community‐based Counterweight Programme is effective and cost‐effective in maintaining weight loss >5 kg up to 2 years for 30–40% of attenders. For more complicated and resistant obesity, referral to a secondary care‐based service can generate short‐term weight loss, but 12‐month data are unavailable.
Disability Beliefs and Help-Seeking Behavior of Depressed Chinese-American Patients in a Primary Care Setting

In this study the authors assessed the effects of disability beliefs, conceptualization and labeling of emotional disabilities, and perceived barriers on help-seeking behaviors among depressed Chinese Americans in a primary care setting. Forty-two Chinese Americans participated in semistructured interviews using established psychological measures and open-ended questions adapted from the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue. The authors found that care utilization appears to be complicated by somatization of emotional problems, variations in causal attribution to depression, barriers to receiving mental health care, and the burden of comorbid physical conditions. Their findings highlight the importance of addressing these issues and educating patients about body–mind dialectic common to depression.
Angiotensin-(1–7) stimulates hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo

This study demonstrates that the angiotensin II metabolite Ang-(1-7) stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells and promotes their engraftment in a xenograft model, suggesting that the renin-angiotensin system is a regulator of blood cell formation. See related perspective article on page 745. Effects of angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7), an AngII metabolite, on bone marrow-derived hematopoietic cells were studied. We identified Ang-(1–7) to stimulate proliferation of human CD34+ and mononuclear cells in vitro. Under in vivo conditions, we monitored proliferation and differentiation of human cord blood mononuclear cells in NOD/SCID mice. Ang-(1–7) stimulated differentially human cells in bone marrow and accumulated them in the spleen. The number of HLA-I+ and CD34+ cells in the bone marrow was increased 42-fold and 600-fold, respectively. These results indicate a decisive impact of Ang-(1–7) on hematopoiesis and its promising therapeutic potential in diseases requiring progenitor stimulation.
Population robustness arising from cellular heterogeneity

Heterogeneity between individual cells is a common feature of dynamic cellular processes, including signaling, transcription, and cell fate; yet the overall tissue level physiological phenotype needs to be carefully controlled to avoid fluctuations. Here we show that in the NF-κB signaling system, the precise timing of a dual-delayed negative feedback motif [involving stochastic transcription of inhibitor κB (IκB)-α and -ε] is optimized to induce heterogeneous timing of NF-κB oscillations between individual cells. We suggest that this dual-delayed negative feedback motif enables NF-κB signaling to generate robust single cell oscillations by reducing sensitivity to key parameter perturbations. Simultaneously, enhanced cell heterogeneity may represent a mechanism that controls the overall coordination and stability of cell population responses by decreasing temporal fluctuations of paracrine signaling. It has often been thought that dynamic biological systems may have evolved to maximize robustness through cell-to-cell coordination and homogeneity. Our analyses suggest in contrast, that this cellular variation might be advantageous and subject to evolutionary selection. Alternative types of therapy could perhaps be designed to modulate this cellular heterogeneity.
Arteriovenous malformations in the basal ganglia region: Gamma Knife radiosurgery as first choice treatment in selected cases.

BACKGROUND The authors report the results of Gamma Knife (GK) radiosurgery on a clinical series of selected patients with brain basal ganglia arteriovenous malformations (BG AVMs). Furthermore, clinico-epidemiological and anatomo-functional pictures of BG AVMs and supratentorial cortical AVMs are comparatively analyzed, and their influence on the radiosurgical outcome is discussed. METHODS At our Department, 33 BG AVMs (21 with FU >2 years) and 209 cortical AVMs (110 with FU >2 years) with a radiosurgical volume 10 cc underwent GK from February 1993 to July 2001. Mean age, male/female ratio (M/F), and bleeding rate at clinical onset in the 2 subgroups of patients were as follows: 25.5 years (5-62 years), 16 M/17 F, and 30/33 (91%) in BG AVMs, respectively; 34.4 years (8-74 years), 124 M/85 F, and 107/209 (51%) in cortical AVMs, respectively. Statistical analysis performed with contingency table method and deviance analysis according to generalized linear models showed that the differences concerning age at onset and bleeding rate were highly significant. RESULTS The rates of complete obliteration, permanent morbidity, bleeding/rebleeding during latency period, and unsuccessful embolization attempt in the 2 subgroups of patients were as follows: 81%, 4%, 8%, and 41.7% in BG AVMs, respectively; 85.5%, 2%, 2%, and 2% in cortical AVMs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In our experience, the different clinico-epidemiological and anatomo-functional characteristics between BG AVMs and cortical AVMs do not seem to influence the radiosurgical outcome as complete obliteration and permanent neurological sequelae rates are very similar in these 2 subgroups of patients. GK radiosurgery may be considered the first choice treatment modality in BG AVMs with <10 cc volume (very high cure rate, very low permanent morbidity, and zero mortality). Although the haemorrhagic onset in BG AVMs is much more frequent than in cortical AVMs, the difference in the bleeding/rebleeding rate between the 2 subgroups of patients during the latency period is not statistically significant and this occurrence seems to be limited within the first year after GK.
Peripheral vascular disease after kidney-pancreas transplantation in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine the long-term effect of a functioning pancreas transplant on peripheral vasculopathy. DESIGN We compared the progression of peripheral vascular disease in 39 recipients of successful kidney-pancreas transplants (KPT) with 65 consecutive diabetic patients who received cadaver kidney transplants alone (KTA) during the same period in a nonrandomized, retrospective control study. The mean duration of follow-up was more than 4 years in both groups. SETTING Academic subspecialty referral practice. PATIENTS A consecutive sample of all KPT recipients with more than 6 months of pancreas allograft function performed between May 1, 1988, and April 30, 1995. All patients who received cadaver renal transplants for diabetic nephropathy during the same period and who maintained a functioning renal allograft for more than 6 months were included as controls. INTERVENTION Kidney-pancreas transplantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Progression of peripheral vascular complications (PVC) defined as any midfoot or limb amputation (AMP), any ischemic ulceration requiring treatment (ULCER), and lower-extremity bypass surgery or angioplasty (LEBP). Ulcers leading to amputation were considered as single events (AMP only). RESULTS Thirty-five (90%) of 39 KPT recipients are insulin-free. The KTA recipients had more atherosclerotic risk factors, including a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (P = .008), higher serum cholesterol levels (P = .03), and higher triglyceride levels (P = .04) than KPT recipients. Peripheral vascular complications before transplantation were comparable (P = .94) between groups. After transplantation, there were 35 new PVC (9 AMP, 11 ulcers, and 15 LEBP) in 18 of 39 KPT recipients vs 32 PVC (10 AMP, 8 ulcers, and 14 LEBP) in 20 of 65 KTA recipients (P = .005), indicating that KPT recipients had more PVC than did KTA recipients, despite a functioning pancreas. Seven bypass grafts failed after KPT, resulting in 6 limb amputations. In contrast, only 3 limb amputations were performed in 14 patients undergoing lower-extremity bypass procedures after KTA. CONCLUSIONS Despite fewer risk factors for peripheral vasculopathy and the presence of insulin independence, KPT recipients had a higher incidence of PVC than a cohort of uremic diabetic patients undergoing KTA during the same period. These data show that a functioning pancreas allograft performed with a renal transplantation not only does not alter the progression of peripheral vascular disease in patients with renal failure secondary to diabetic nephropathy but also may accelerate PVC.
Dietary patterns and the risk of colorectal adenoma recurrence in a European intervention trial

The relations between individual foods and nutrients to colorectal tumours are conflicting. Few studies have taken into account the interdependence between individual components of diet and their possible interactions. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between dietary patterns and the risk of colorectal adenoma recurrence in the European fibre–calcium intervention trial. Among the 640 patients with confirmed adenomas at the index colonoscopy, 592 had an initial dietary assessment using a diet history questionnaire. The present analysis was restricted to 277 men and 165 women without history of adenoma prior to the index colonoscopy and who completed the study. The main end point was the 3-year recurrence of adenomas. Principal component analysis was used to identify dietary patterns from 50 food groups. Ninety-two patients presented new colorectal adenomas at the 3-year colonoscopy (65 men and 27 women). In men, three meaningful dietary patterns emerged from analysis, explaining 21.3% of variability. They were called ‘Mediterranean’, ‘Sweets and snacks’ and ‘High fat and proteins’ patterns. None of them were significantly related to the overall recurrence of colorectal adenomas either in univariate or multivariate analyses. Among women, the ‘Mediterranean’, the ‘Western’ and the ‘Snacks’ patterns explained 21.9% of variability. The ‘Mediterranean’ pattern characterized by a high consumption of olive oil, vegetables, fruit, fish and lean meat significantly reduced adenoma recurrence [second tertile: adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.18–1.42; third tertile: adjusted OR=0.30, 95% CI=0.09–0.98; P for linear trend=0.04]. The ‘Western’ and ‘Snacks’ patterns were not associated with recurrence among women. In conclusion, this study suggests that the Mediterranean dietary pattern may reduce the recurrence of colorectal adenomas, at least in women. These exploratory results need to be confirmed by larger studies.
EVALUATION OF SERUM AND URINARY FIBRONECTIN AS A DIAGNOSTIC MARKER OF BLADDER CANCER

Background Accurate and sensitive detection of bladder cancer is important to diagnose this deadly disease at an early stage, estimate prognosis, prediction the response to treatment and for monitoring the recurrence. In past few years, laboratory diagnosis and surveillance of urinary bladder cancer have improved significantly. Although, urine cytology remains the gold standard test, many new urinary biochemical markers have been identified. Objectives To evaluate the value of fibronectin in serum and urine to detect bladder cancer in different grades and stages. Methods Thirty five patients diagnosed as bladder cancer with mean age 61.94±11.66 years and thirty five agedmatched healthy volunteers as control group were included in this study. Serum and urinary fibronectin were measured by ELISA technique. Results The mean±SEM serum and urine levels of fibronectin in patients with bladder cancer (33.11±1.90 μg/ml; 33.08±1.12 ng/ml respectively) were significantly higher than the levels in control group (8.57±1.10 μg/ml; 7.58±1.00 ng/ml, respectively). When using a serum fibronectin concentration of 25.65 μg/ml as a cutoff value for the diagnosis of bladder cancer, sensitivity was 71.4%, specificity 100%, the positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value 77.78%, and the sensitivity and specificity of urine fibronectin were (94.3%, 97.1% respectively); when using a urine fibronectin concentration of 20.00 ng/ml as a cutoff value for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The positive predictive value was 97.05%, and the negative predictive value was 94.44%. Conclusion The measurement of fibronectin level in serum and urine is useful in discriminating bladder cancer patients from normal subjects.