Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real time breast microwave radar image reconstruction using circular holography: a study of experimental feasibility.

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to assess the experimental feasibility of a novel breast microwave radar reconstruction approach, circular holography, using realistic experimental datasets recorded using a preclinical experimental setup. The performance of this approach was quantitatively evaluated by calculating the signal to noise ratio, contrast to noise ratio, spatial accuracy, and reconstruction time. METHODS Six datasets were recorded, three corresponding to fatty cases and three containing synthetic dense tissue structures. Five of these datasets contained an 8 mm inclusion that emulated a malignant lesion. The data were acquired from synthetic phantoms that mimic the dielectric properties of breast tissues in the 1-6 GHz range using a custom experimental breast microwave radar system. The spatial accuracy and signal to noise ratio of the reconstructed was calculated for all the reconstructed images. The contrast to noise ratio of the reconstructed images corresponding to the datasets containing fibroglandular tissue regions was determined. This was done to evaluate the ability of the circular holographic method to provide images in which the responses from tumors can be distinguished from adjacent dense tissue structures. The execution time required to form the images was also measured to evaluate the data throughput of the holographic approach. RESULTS For all the reconstructed datasets, the location of the synthetic tumors in the experimental setup was consistent with its position in the reconstructed image. The average spatial error was 2.2 mm, which is less than half the spatial resolution of the data acquisition system. The average signal to noise ratio of the reconstructed images containing an artificial malignant lesion was 8.5 dB, while the average contrast to noise ratio was 6.7 dB. The reconstructed images presented no artifacts. The average execution time of the images formed using the proposed approach was 5 ms, which is six orders of magnitude faster than current state of the art breast microwave radar (BMR) reconstruction algorithms. CONCLUSIONS The results show that circular holography is capable of forming accurate images with signal to noise levels higher than 8 dB in quasi real time. Compared to BMR reconstruction algorithms tested on datasets containing dense tissue structures, the holographic approach generated images of similar spatial accuracy with higher signal to noise ratios and an acceleration factor of one order of magnitude.
Should the 7th Edition of the Lung Cancer Stage Classification System Change Treatment Algorithms in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer?

Introduction: Approximately 10 to 15% of non-small cell lung cancer patients will be assigned a stage classification according to the 7th edition of TNM that differs from that assigned by the 6th edition (the “stage shifters”). This apparent upstaging or downstaging of tumors may affect patient management, as many clinicians formulate stage-based management strategies. However, the staging system revision was not designed to evaluate treatment, and attempts to make parallel adjustments in treatment plans may not be justified. Methods: Lung cancer clinicians were surveyed at four lung cancer symposia. Treatment of the “stage shift” patients was evaluated in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer database and National Cancer Database. Results: Overall, 77% of surveyed clinicians indicated they would alter patient management in response to a change in stage designation. The analysis of the data in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer database was not directed at supporting treatment changes. Despite the similar overall prognosis within each of the “stage shift” subgroups in the National Cancer Database, the treatment was decidedly heterogeneous. Conclusions: The perception that a stage change should lead to a change in management exists. The revision of the lung cancer staging system does not provide any direct information to indicate the superiority of one treatment approach over another. Assuming that overall prognosis of a subgroup is strongly linked to a specific treatment and that a particular outcome, therefore, warrants a change in treatment is not justified. Thus, making changes in management solely in response to upstaging or downstaging in the new stage classification system is not justified.
Non-P 450 aldehyde oxidizing enzymes : the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily

Background—Aldehydes are highly reactive molecules. While several non-P450 enzyme systems participate in their metabolism, one of the most important is the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) superfamily, composed of NAD(P)+-dependent enzymes that catalyze aldehyde oxidation. Objective—This article presents a review of what is currently known about each member of the human ALDH superfamily including the pathophysiological significance of these enzymes. Methods—Relevant literature involving all members of the human ALDH family was extensively reviewed, with the primary focus on recent and novel findings. Conclusion—To date, 19 ALDH genes have been identified in the human genome and mutations in these genes and subsequent inborn errors in aldehyde metabolism are the molecular basis of several diseases, including Sjögren-Larsson syndrome, type II hyperprolinemia, γ-hydroxybutyric aciduria and pyridoxine-dependent seizures. ALDH enzymes also play important roles in embryogenesis and development, neurotransmission, oxidative stress and cancer. Finally, ALDH enzymes display multiple catalytic and non-catalytic functions including ester hydrolysis, antioxidant properties, xenobiotic bioactivation and UV light absorption.
A novel method for flash crowd avoidance in P2P video on demand streaming via pre-release distribution

In recent years, the high maintenance cost of centralized video on demand systems has led to the development of commercial peer to peer video on demand systems. These peer to peer systems help remove the cost and bandwidth limitations of a centralized group of servers. However, limited upload bandwidth in the current Internet combined with flash crowds limits the quality and smoothness of the streaming videos. In this paper, we present a novel idea to alleviate the problem of flash crowds, i.e. the sudden drastic increase in the number of requests for a video, such as at the video release time. The flash crowd problem causes potential network congestion that in turns increases the rate of video request rejections, thus reducing the video streaming capacity of the P2P systems. Our design supports video pre-release distribution by allowing users to subscribe to a movie series or a video from a schedule of upcoming videos. By using this information, encrypted versions of the video published by the publishers may be automatically retrieved even before the video is officially released. At the video release time, the decryption key of the encrypted video gets distributed to allow the user to decrypt the encrypted video and subsequently watch it. This pre-release video distribution system uses a hybrid peer to peer approach to handle distribution of schedules and decryption keys. We design a GUI and implement a prototype to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of this pre-release P2P distribution system.
Mutation tracking in circulating tumor DNA predicts relapse in early breast cancer

Noninvasive mutation tracking in plasma can detect circulating tumor DNA arising from residual micrometastatic disease and thus identify patients at high risk of recurrence. Risk of recurrence Predicting whether a cancer patient will relapse remains a formidable challenge in modern medicine. Fortunately, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) present in the blood may give clues on residual disease—cancer cells left behind to seed new tumors even after treatment. Garcia-Murillas et al. developed a personalized ctDNA assay based on digital polymerase chain reaction to track mutations over time in patients with early-stage breast cancer who had received apparently curative treatments, surgery, and chemotherapy. Mutation tracking in serial samples accurately predicted metastatic relapse—in several instances, months before clinical relapse (median of ~8 months). Such unprecedented early prediction could allow for intervention before the reappearance of cancer in high-risk patients. In addition, the authors were able to shed light on the genetic events driving such metastases, by massively parallel sequencing of the ctDNA, which could inform new drug-based therapies on the basis of the patients’ individual mutations. The identification of early-stage breast cancer patients at high risk of relapse would allow tailoring of adjuvant therapy approaches. We assessed whether analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in plasma can be used to monitor for minimal residual disease (MRD) in breast cancer. In a prospective cohort of 55 early breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, detection of ctDNA in plasma after completion of apparently curative treatment—either at a single postsurgical time point or with serial follow-up plasma samples—predicted metastatic relapse with high accuracy [hazard ratio, 25.1 (confidence interval, 4.08 to 130.5; log-rank P < 0.0001) or 12.0 (confidence interval, 3.36 to 43.07; log-rank P < 0.0001), respectively]. Mutation tracking in serial samples increased sensitivity for the prediction of relapse, with a median lead time of 7.9 months over clinical relapse. We further demonstrated that targeted capture sequencing analysis of ctDNA could define the genetic events of MRD, and that MRD sequencing predicted the genetic events of the subsequent metastatic relapse more accurately than sequencing of the primary cancer. Mutation tracking can therefore identify early breast cancer patients at high risk of relapse. Subsequent adjuvant therapeutic interventions could be tailored to the genetic events present in the MRD, a therapeutic approach that could in part combat the challenge posed by intratumor genetic heterogeneity.
Residual quadrupole interaction in brain and its effect on quantitative sodium imaging

Sodium MRI is particularly interesting given the key role that sodium ions play in cellular metabolism. To measure concentration, images must be free from contrast unrelated to sodium density. However, spin 3/2 NMR is complicated by more than rapid biexponential signal decay. Residual quadrupole interactions (described by frequency ω¯Q ) can reduce Mxy development during RF excitation. Three experiments, each performed on the same four healthy volunteers, demonstrate that residual quadrupole interactions are of concern in quantitative sodium imaging of the brain. The first experiment shows a reliable increase in the rate of excitation ‘flipping’ (1%–6%), particularly in white matter with tracts running superior–inferior (i.e. parallel to B0). Increased flip‐rates imply an associated signal loss and are to be expected when ω¯Q ~ ω1. The second experiment shows that a prescribed flip‐angle decrease from 90° to 20°, with concomitant decrease in TE from 0.25 ms to 0.10 ms and no T1 weighting, results in a 14%–26% saline calibration phantom normalized signal (SN) increase in the white matter regions. The third experiment shows that this (SN) increase is primarily due to a residual quadrupole effect, with a small contribution from T2 weighting. There is an observed deviation from the spin 3/2 biexponential curve, also suggesting ω¯Q dephasing. Using simulation to explain the results of all three experiments, a model of brain tissue is hypothesized. It includes one pool (50%) with ω¯Q = 0, and another (50%) in which ω¯Q has a Gaussian distribution with a standard deviation of 625 Hz. Given the result of the second experiment, it is suggested that the use of reduced flip‐angles with large ω1 will provide more accurate measures of sodium concentration than ‘standard’ methods using 90°pulses. Alternatively, further study of sodium ω¯Q may provide a means to explore tissue structure and organization. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High incidence of cetuximab-related infusion reactions in Tennessee and North Carolina and the association with atopic history.

PURPOSE To confirm the anecdotal observation that patients in North Carolina (NC) and Tennessee (TN) treated with cetuximab experience hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) at a much higher rate than are reported nationally and internationally (<or= 3%). PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from patients treated with cetuximab on clinical trials (n = 88) at three research sites were analyzed for grade 3 or 4 HSR. Additional information was obtained from medical records for patients treated with cetuximab at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) to determine whether history of other significant allergy was a risk factor for HSR to cetuximab. RESULTS Data for 88 patients on clinical trials and an additional 55 patients treated outside of trials were included in this analysis. Patients had a variety of tumor types. For the clinical trial group (n = 88), the overall rate of grade 3 to 4 HSR was 22%, significantly higher than the rate noted in any large published trial. All HSRs occurred during the first dose. There was a strong relationship between prior allergy history and chance of HSR. CONCLUSION At the sites in neighboring NC and TN studied, HSR was far more common than reported in national studies. History of prior allergy is a strong predictor of HSR. Further investigation of more specific predictors of HSR in the US middle south region is warranted, and patients being treated with cetuximab in this area should be observed particularly closely during their first infusion.
A study of heat shock protein 27 in endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is a relatively small protein produced in response to pathophysiologic stress. The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively whether HSP27 was associated with known prognostic factors in patients with endometrial carcinoma. METHODS One hundred fifty-three consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma were studied. Slides were prepared from fresh tissue. HSP27 was analyzed using a semiquantitative measurement. Patient records were examined for FIGO stage, grade, depth of myometrial invasion, histology, lymphovascular space invasion, time to recurrence, and survival. RESULTS The mean follow-up was 53 months (median 56 months, range 30-68 months). Endometrioid tumors showed significantly higher HSP27 staining than nonendometrioid tumors (P = 0.005). Patients alive at the conclusion of this study had significantly higher mean HSP27 staining than patients who were deceased (P < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed HSP27 staining (P = 0.02), FIGO stage (P = 0. 014), and lymphovascular space invasion (P = 0.046) to be independently predictive of survival. CONCLUSION HSP27 staining is significantly higher in endometrioid than nonendometrioid tumors. HSP27 staining is an independent prognostic indicator in patients with endometrial carcinoma, the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States.
Brain volume preserved in healthy elderly through the eleventh decade

Objective: To determine which brain regions lose volume with aging over time in healthy, nondemented elderly. Background: Cross-sectional studies suggest widespread loss of brain volume with aging. These studies may be biased by significant numbers of preclinically demented elderly in the oldest comparison groups. Longitudinal studies may allow closer determination of the effect of aging unaffected by dementia. Methods: Quantitative volumetric MRI was performed annually on 46 healthy subjects older than age 65 who had maintained cognitive health a mean of 5 years. Comparisons (analysis of variance) were made of rates of volume loss (slopes) divided into 11 young-old (mean age, 70 years), 15 middle-old (mean age, 81 years), and 20 oldest-old (mean age, 87 years) subjects. Regions of interest included CSF spaces, lobar regions, and limbic-subcortical regions. Results: There were significant differences between groups in intracranial, total brain, left hemisphere, right hemisphere, temporal lobe, basilar-subcortical region, and hippocampus volumes, with oldest-old subjects showing the smallest volumes, followed by middle-old and young-old subjects. Oldest-old subjects had significantly greater subarachnoid volumes than the younger groups. There were no significant differences in rates of change of regions of interest across age groups. Conclusions: After age 65 there is minimal brain volume loss observed over time in healthy elderly. Brain volume differences seen cross-sectionally, at any age, likely reflect small, constant rates of volume loss with healthy aging. Healthy oldest-old subjects do not show greater rates of brain loss compared with younger elderly, suggesting that large changes seen in cross-sectional studies reflect the presence of preclinical dementia in older groups.
Cross‐protection and cross‐reactive cytotoxic T cells induced by influenza virus vaccines in mice

Subunit and intact influenza A virus vaccines have been compared with infectious virus in a mouse model for their ability to induce memory for cross‐reactive cytotoxic T cell responses and to protect mice from challenge with different subtypes of influenza A virus. There is an overall correlation between secondary cytotoxic T cell responses and cross‐protection. The most long‐lasting and successful cross‐protection was observed after intranasal infection with influenza virus A/X31 (H3N2) that replicates efficiently in mice and induces high levels of memory for cross‐reactive cytotoxic T cell responses. Short‐lasting cross‐protection and low levels of T cell‐mediated cytotoxicity were associated with infection by A/USSR (H 1N1) virus, that replicates to lower titers in mice, or after multiple injections of inactivated whole virus vaccine. No cross‐protection to challenge with heterologous influenza virus was detectable after 1‐2 injections of HANA influenza subunit vaccine which failed to prime hosts for cytotoxic T cell responses. These findings may have important implications for vaccination strategy. If cytotoxic T cells play a role in the protection of humans from influenza, live attenuated vaccines should be considered instead of the currently recommended inactivated virus or subunit vaccines.
Pistoning assessment in lower limb prosthetic sockets

Background: One of the main indicators of the suspension system efficiency in lower limb prostheses is vertical displacement or pistoning within the socket. Decreasing pistoning and introducing an effective system for evaluating pistoning could contribute to the amputees’ rehabilitation process. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to review existing research studies that examine the occurrence of pistoning in lower limb prosthesis with different techniques in static (standing) and dynamic (walking and jumping) positions. Study Design: Literature review. Methods: Keywords related to slippage, suspension, pistoning and vertical movement in lower limb prosthetics were used to search the literature available in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Sixteen articles were selected for further analysis according to the selection criteria. Results: The following methods have been used to measure the occurrence of pistoning in prosthetic limbs: radiological methods, photographic technique, motion analysis system, sensor and spiral computerized tomography (CT). Pistoning was measured both in standing and walking. Conclusions: The results of this review reveal that further research is needed to develop and evaluate easy, accurate and safe methods of measuring pistoning. Future studies should provide a gold standard for the acceptable range of pistoning in a prosthetic socket. Clinical relevance This literature review contributes to a further understanding of lower limb prosthetic biomechanics by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the techniques that are currently available for evaluating the occurrence of pistoning in a prosthetic socket. It provides a useful overview of the current methods of measuring residual limb movements relative to the socket and liner, and will be of use for both practitioners and researchers in prosthetics and orthotics fields.
Cardiac L-type Calcium Channel β-Subunits Expressed in Human Heart Have Differential Effects on Single Channel Characteristics*

l-Type calcium channels are multiprotein complexes composed of pore-forming (CaV1.2) and modulatory auxiliary α2δ- and β-subunits. We demonstrate expression of two different isoforms for the β2-subunit (β2a, β2b) and the β3-subunit (β3a, β3trunc) in human non-failing and failing ischemic myocardium. Quantitatively, in the left ventricle expression of β2b transcripts prevails in the order of > β3 >> β2a. The expressed cardiac full-length β3-subunit is identical to the β3a-isoform, and β3trunc results from deletion of exon 6 (20 nn) entailing a reading frameshift and translation stop at nucleotide position 495. In failing ischemic myocardium β3trunc expression increases whereas overall β3 expression remains unchanged. Heterologous coexpression studies demonstrated that β2 induced larger currents through rabbit and human cardiac CaV1.2 pore subunits than β3 isoforms. All β-subunits increased channel availability at single channel level, but β2 exerted an additional, marked stimulation of rapid gating (open and closed times, first latency), leading to higher peak current values. We conclude that cardiac β-subunit isoforms differentially modulate calcium inward currents because of regulatory effects within the channel protein complex. Moreover, differences in the various β-subunit gene products present in human heart might account for altered single channel behavior found in human heart failure.
Analysis of Growing Cross-lingual Cascades on Twitter

Recent years, online social network such as Twitter, Facebook has become an indivisible part of our daily life. As a result of easy access and globalization, information propagated quickly and even cross the regions and languages. This paper aims to study the growing cross-lingual information cascades on Twitter. First, we studied 615 million tweets and detected the language distribution of tweets and multilingual users. Then, we measured the size and languages of information cascades and analyzed several features may influence information cascades. Keyword Information diffusion, information cascades, cascade growth, cross language
Cystatin C: why clinical laboratories should be measuring it

Cystatin C is a 13-kDa cysteine protease inhibitor that satisfies many of the criteria required of a marker of glomerular filtration rate. It can be readily measured in laboratories using automated, standardised immunoassays. Hitherto there has been reluctance to adopt cystatin C measurement in the assessment of kidney function, despite demonstrated superiority compared to the current standard of practice, serum creatinine. This may be due to increased direct reagent costs. Recent strong evidence has confirmed the superior ability of cystatin C compared to creatinine to predict risk of a range of poor outcomes (including kidney failure, cardiovascular events and mortality) among patients with chronic kidney disease. On the back of this, national and international guidelines including those of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have recommended the use of cystatin C to risk stratify individuals with mild to moderately reduced glomerular filtration rate and no albuminuria. Cystatin C presents an opportunity for laboratories to engage with their users in developing clinical pathways which will usefully focus chronic kidney disease management on those most likely to benefit while reassuring patients at low risk.