Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in Ovarian Cancer Dissemination

Simple Summary Ovarian cancer is the most lethal type of gynecological cancer. The leading cause of ovarian cancer patients’ death is late diagnosis, disease progression, and metastasis, defined by the spread of invasive cancer cells. About 80% of ovarian cancer patients have disseminated disease at the time of diagnosis. Ovarian cancer metastasis can occur via the transcoelomic, hematogenous, or lymphatic route. Understanding the mechanisms that drive the process of cancer cell dissemination is the key to the development and successful implementation of new diagnostic and treatment methods, particularly drugs and/or therapies targeting metastasis. This review describes ovarian cancer cell dissemination linked to circulating tumor cells (CTCs), with special emphasis on cell biology and their clinical significance. Abstract Metastatic ovarian cancer is the main reason for treatment failures and consequent deaths. Ovarian cancer is predisposed to intraperitoneal dissemination. In comparison to the transcoelomic route, distant metastasis via lymph vessels and blood is less common. The mechanisms related to these two modes of cancer spread are poorly understood. Nevertheless, the presence of tumor cells circulating in the blood of OC patients is a well-established phenomenon confirming the significant role of lymphatic and hematogenous metastasis. Thus, the detection of CTCs may provide a minimally invasive tool for the identification of ovarian cancer, monitoring disease progression, and treatment effectiveness. This review focuses on the biology of ovarian CTCs and the role they may play in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Dosimetric Variability Across a Library of Computational Tumor Phantoms

Visual Abstract In radiopharmaceutical therapy, dosimetry-based treatment planning and response evaluation require accurate estimates of tumor-absorbed dose. Tumor dose estimates are routinely derived using simplistic spherical models, despite the well-established influence of tumor geometry on the dosimetry. Moreover, the degree of disease invasiveness correlates with departure from ideal geometry; malignant lesions often possess lobular, spiculated, or otherwise irregular margins in contrast to the commonly regular or smooth contours characteristic of benign lesions. To assess the effects of tumor shape, size, and margin contour on absorbed dose, an array of tumor geometries was modeled using computer-aided design software, and the models were used to calculate absorbed dose per unit of time-integrated activity (i.e., S values) for several clinically applied therapeutic radionuclides (90Y, 131I, 177Lu, 211At, 225Ac, 213Bi, and 223Ra). Methods: Three-dimensional tumor models of several different shape classifications were generated using Blender software. Ovoid shapes were generated using axial scaling. Lobulated, spiculated, and irregular contours were generated using noise-based mesh deformation. The meshes were rigidly scaled to different volumes, and S values were then computed using PARaDIM software. Radiomic features were extracted for each shape, and the impact on S values was examined. Finally, the systematic error present in dose calculations that model complex tumor shapes versus equivalent-mass spheres was estimated. Results: The dependence of tumor S values on shape was largest for extreme departures from spherical geometry and for long-range emissions (e.g., 90Y β-emissions). S values for spheres agreed reasonably well with lobulated, spiculated, or irregular contours if the surface perturbation was small. For marked deviations from spherical shape and small volumes, the systematic error of the equivalent-sphere approximation increased to 30%–75% depending on radionuclide. The errors were largest for shapes with many long spicules and for spherical shells with a thickness less than or comparable to the particle range in tissue. Conclusion: Variability in tumor S values as a function of tumor shape and margin contour was observed, suggesting use of contour-matched phantoms to improve the accuracy of tumor dosimetry in organ-level dosimetry paradigms. Implementing a library of tumor phantoms in organ-level dosimetry software may facilitate optimization strategies for personalized radionuclide therapies.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Cryptococcal Antigenemia in HIV-Infected Patients with CD4 < 200 Cells/µL in São Paulo, Brazil: A Bayesian Analysis

Cryptococcosis is a severe life-threatening disease and a major cause of mortality in people with advanced AIDS and CD4 ≤ 100 cells/µL. Considering the knowledge gap regarding the benefits of routine application of antigenemia tests in HIV-infected patients with 100–200 CD4 cells/µL for the prevention of cryptococcal meningitis (CM), we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of positive antigenemia through lateral flow assay (LFA) and associated factors in HIV-infected patients with CD4 < 200 cells/µL. Our findings of 3.49% of positive LFA (LFA+) patients with CD4 < 100 cells/µL and 2.24% with CD4 between 100–200 cells/µL have been included in a Bayesian analysis with 12 other studies containing similar samples worldwide. This analysis showed a proportion of 3.6% LFA+ patients (95% credible interval-Ci [2.5–5.7%]) with CD4 < 100 cells/µL and 1.1% (95%Ci [0.5–4.3%]) with CD4 between 100–200 cells/µL, without statistical difference between these groups. The difference between mortality rates in LFA+ and negative LFA groups was e = 0.05013. Cryptococcoma and CM were observed in the LFA+ group with 100–200 and <100 CD4 cells/µL, respectively. Considering the benefits of antifungal therapy for LFA+ patients, our data reinforced the recommendation to apply LFA as a routine test in patients with 100–200 CD4 cells/µL aiming to expand cost-effectiveness studies in this group.
The plasma environment during particle beam injection into space plasmas: 1. Electron beams

A new isolated-system, two-dimensional electrostatic simulation model is used to investigate the plasma environment in the vicinity of a spacecraft during the injection of electron beams. The propagation of the electron beam and the plasma response to the beam injection are found to vary dramatically depending on the ratio of the ambient plasma density to the beam density. When the ambient plasma density is low, most of the beam electrons are drawn back into the spacecraft by the electric field associated with the charging of the spacecraft. Return currents are associated with field-aligned flow of the ambient electrons and result in regions of charge imbalance away from the spacecraft. The resulting space-charge fields produce strong perpendicular heating of the ions on a time scale of the ion plasma period, resulting in conical distributions. As the ambient plasma density is increased, the response time of the plasma to the electric fields associated with the beam injection is decreased. The beam is then increasingly neutralized, and the interaction of the beam with the spacecraft is correspondingly reduced. The fraction of the beam particles that propagate away from the vicinity of the spacecraft is increased. When the ambient plasma density is much larger than the beam density, the beam is able to propagate freely into the plasma. Coherent wave structures are produced in the beam near the spacecraft, while further downstream the beam becomes increasingly turbulent.
Efficiency and efficacy of incandescent lamps

Planck’s radiation formula is used to estimate the dimensionless efficiency of incandescent lamps as a function of filament temperature, with typical values of 2%–13%. Similarly, using the known spectral luminous efficiency of the eye, the efficacy of incandescent light bulbs is estimated as a function of temperature, showing values of 8–24 L W−1 for bulbs of 10–1000 W. The efficiency and efficacy results compare favorably with published data and enable estimation of the filament temperature for any lamp of known efficacy.
Experimental Investigation of Intake Ground Vortices During Takeoff

A quantitative experimental investigation has been conducted to simulate intake ground vortex formation during aircraft takeoff under headwind conditions. The experiments were performed using a small-scale intake model in conjunction with a rolling ground plane in a low-speed wind tunnel. The Reynolds number was fixed at 1.26 x 10 6 based on the inner diameter and average intake velocity. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry was used to measure the ground vortex velocity field, and in-duct total pressure measurements have been performed to assess the internal flow. Measurements were taken for an extensive range of configurations, including a static and simulated moving intake under a variety of headwind conditions. A moving intake was simulated in the wind tunnel by synchronizing the ground and tunnel wind velocities and using extensive suction to remove the approaching boundary layer. The results show that at high velocity ratios there are no substantial differences due to the moving ground plane. At low velocity ratios, the simulated moving intake results in a significantly different flowfield in which the ground vortex is weaker, steadier in space, and more symmetric relative to the static ground case. These results indicate the relative importance of the ground vortex vorticity sources and highlight the importance of including the effects of a moving ground when simulating an aircraft takeoff.
Resonances of a Non-Linear s.d.o.f. System with Two Time-Delays in Linear Feedback Control

Abstract The primary, superharmonic, and subharmonic resonances of a harmonically excited non-linear s.d. o.f. system with two distinct time-delays in the linear state feeback are studied. The two different time-delays are presented in the proportional feedback and the derivative feedback respectively. The method of multiple scales is utilized to obtain the first order approximation of response. The effect of the feedback gains and time-delays on the steady state responses of three types of resonances is investigated. It is found that a proper selection of the feedback gains and time-delays can enhance the control performance.
Soil salinity estimation: Effects of microwave dielectric spectroscopy and important frequencies

The microwave dielectric constant is a key bridge in establishing the relationship between microwave remote sensing and soil salinity (electrical conductivity, EC). However, the response between microwave dielectric spectrum type, frequency, and soil salinity is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to reveal the dielectric spectrum and frequency range closely related to soil salinity. In this study, 129 surface soil samples were collected, and soil EC and microwave dielectric spectrum (frequency range of 0.3–20 GHz) were measured. Four variable selection methods were used to select important spectral variables, and the relationship between these spectral variables and soil salt was constructed using a random forest model. The results showed that the combination of ε′ (real part) and ε′′ (imaginary part) revealed the most implicit information related to soil salinity. Considering the important spectral variables, the model accuracy was generally improved to the full‐dielectric spectrum model (the ratios of the performance to the interquartile distance (RPIQ) improved by 0.11–0.40); furthermore, the variable iterative space shrinkage (VISSA) method could most effectively select important spectral variables (RPIQ = 2.32). The selected spectral‐RF models could provide important frequencies for estimating soil salinity; moreover, the low‐frequency range (0.3–4 GHz) and new important frequency ranges (e.g., 7 and 15 GHz) able to respond to soil salinity were identified. This study provides a new strategy for monitoring the soil salinization risk using multiple frequencies microwave remote sensing techniques.
Planet formation in a triple stellar system: implications of the third star's orbital inclination

Abstract Planets have been revealed both in binary and triple stellar systems. Although there have been several studies of the late stages of planet formation in binary stars this process does not appear to have been studied in triple stellar systems. To understand how the late stage of planetary accretion is affected by a third companion, in this work we have numerically investigated the formation of planets in a hypothetical triple stellar system. The system is composed by an inner binary formed by two half-solar-mass components orbited by a solar-mass star. In our experiments, lunar and Mars-sized planetary embryos are distributed around the centre of mass of the inner binary system. Our main goal is to analyse how the formation of planets evolves depending on the orbital configuration of the massive distant companion. We have performed an extensive number of numerical simulations considering different orbital configurations for the third star. All simulations were numerically integrated for at least 107 years. The results show that when the protoplanetary disc and the stars are initially on coplanar orbits, one or two planets are quickly formed between 6 and 8 AU. In general such planets have also small eccentricities with values about 10−2. On the other hand, when the third star is considered initially on inclined orbits (even tiny values), there tends to occur a significant increase in the inclination of bodies of protoplanetary disc, which prevents the collisions between these objects and their growth. As a result, in this latter case we do not evidence the formation of planets during the timescale of our integrations but note the existence of several leftover objects that can survive for longer than 10 Myr, moving in orbits with semi-major axes ranging between ~6 and 8 AU. Thus, our results do not rule out the planet formation in this kind of stellar arrangements at all, but they indicate that, if planetary bodies keep stable orbits, the late stage of planet formation in systems with a highly inclined third star can be a very long process and many of these triple hierarchical systems might not have had time to form planets and planetary systems. They could be harbouring only debris discs, fragments or planetesimals.
Quantitative planar imaging of turbulent buoyant jet mixing

Planar Rayleigh scattering provides quantitative mixing measurements in the developing region of axisymmetric turbulent helium jets issuing into air. The measurements focus on the relatively near field, in which the jets are primarily momentum driven. The imaging parameters are specified to ensure high spatial resolution. The mean jet fluid concentration fields attain self-similarity within the measurement region, though the forms of the mole fraction profiles indicate a reduction in turbulent transport at the jet outer boundary, arising from the reduced jet fluid density. Nevertheless, jet-like scaling pertains for the concentration fields. Mass fraction fluctuations on the jet centreline attain the expected asymptotic value of ≈23% of the centreline mass fraction values. The scalar dissipation rates, however, show an axial decay rate that is slower than theoretical predictions. The two-dimensional extent of the measurements also allows spatial filtering similar to that inherent in large-eddy simulations (LESs). The results confirm that fluctuation levels and scalar dissipation rates determined for the filtered fields are reduced as the effective resolution is reduced, but while the fluctuation profiles for the filtered fields are similar for the different filter sizes, the forms of the scalar dissipation profiles are highly dependent on filter size. These latter results in particular are of a form that will be useful for grid-dependent assessments of LES results.
A Cognitive Assistant for Operators: AI-Powered Knowledge Sharing on Complex Systems

Operating a complex and dynamic system, such as an agile manufacturing line, is a knowledge-intensive task. It imposes a steep learning curve on novice operators and prompts experienced operators to continuously discover new knowledge, share it, and retain it. In practice, training novices is resource-intensive, and the knowledge discovered by experts is not shared effectively. To tackle these challenges, we developed an AI-powered pervasive system that provides cognitive augmentation to users of complex systems. We present an AI cognitive assistant that provides on-the-job training to novices while acquiring and sharing (tacit) knowledge from experts. Cognitive support is provided as dialectic recommendations for standard work instructions, decision-making, training material, and knowledge acquisition. These recommendations are adjusted to the user and context to minimize interruption and maximize relevance. In this article, we describe how we implemented the cognitive assistant, how it interacts with users, its usage scenarios, and the challenges and opportunities.
The Nexus Between Some Selected Macroeconomic Variables on Growth Output in Nigeria: An Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Approach

Macroeconomics remains an evolving science, but the goals of macroeconomic policy are consistent around the world. These include price stability, currency stability, unemployment, the balance of payments, and growth output. This study X-rayed the link between Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) which was considered a measure of growth output, Exchange Rate (EXR), Inflation Rate (IFR) and Money Supply (M2) for the current republic in Nigeria. The objectives of the study include: examining the short-run and long-run impact of growth output (RGDP) on EXR, IFR and M2 in Nigeria. A secondary source of data collection was employed for the study. The tools employed for data analysis include the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test, Jarque-Bera test, Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Co-integration technique, and the error correction parameterization of the ARDL model. The result of the Jarque-Bera test showed that the variables were approximately normally distributed. The findings showed that growth output (RGDP) was cointegrated with EXR, IFR and M2 and the existence of a long-run relationship amongst the variables. The study concludes that while seeking to foster economic growth, Nigerian banks should commit to their mandate of price stability and improve their regulatory framework to ensure a strong financial sector with effective intermediation.
Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among private medical college students in South India: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Medical education is competitive across the globe. The long duration of the medical and paramedical courses and exposure to clinical settings potentially causes mental health issues. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among undergraduate students in a private medical college in South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among paramedical and medical students at a private medical college hospital and research center in South India in the year 2021. The required sample size was calculated as 783 with an expected prevalence of 53%, 95% confidence interval (CI), design effect 2.0, and non-response of 10%. The study participants were selected based on simple random sampling. After obtaining informed consent, the data was collected using an email questionnaire. Standard data collection tools such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) questionnaire were used. The investigator computed the odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with a 95% CI. RESULTS: Out of 1200 students, 1015 (85%) responded to the email questionnaire. Among them, 639 were females (63%), and 925 were paramedics (91%). Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress were 59%, 43% and 11%, respectively. Almost 95% of students experienced moderate-to-severe stress in the last one month. Prevalence was higher among females and students of medical courses. Students of final year of college (aOR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2–3.5) and students of medical course (aOR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1–2.4) were independently associated with stress among the study participants. CONCLUSION: There is high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among medical college students in south India. The final year of study and medical course were independently associated with higher stress than others. We recommend periodic assessment of mental health status and additional mental health care for final year students and medical students.
Carotid Endarterectomy for Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: Differences in Patient Profile in a Low-Middle-Income Country

Introduction: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the standard treatment for patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. Data from low- and middle-income countries are sparse on CEA and its outcomes. We aimed to describe the profile of our patients and factors associated with periprocedural cerebral ischemic events in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent CEA in our institute. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (50–99%) who underwent CEA between January 2011 and December 2021 was done. Clinical and imaging parameters and their influence on periprocedural cerebral ischemic events were analyzed. Results: Of the 319 patients (77% males) with a mean age of 64 years (SD±8.6), 207 (65%) presented only after a stroke. Majority (85%) had high-grade stenosis (≥70%) of the symptomatic carotid. The mean time to CEA was 50 days (SD±36); however, only 26 patients (8.2%) underwent surgery within 2 weeks. Minor strokes and TIA occurred in 2.2%, while major strokes and death occurred in 4.1% patients. None of the clinical or imaging parameters predicted the periprocedural cerebral ischemic events. The presence of co-existing significant (≥50%) tandem intracranial atherosclerosis (n = 77, 24%) or contralateral occlusion (n = 24, 7.5%) did not influence the periprocedural stroke risk. Conclusion: There is a delay in patients undergoing CEA for symptomatic carotid stenosis. Majority have high-grade stenosis and present late only after a stroke reflecting a lack of awareness. CEA can be performed safely even in patients with significant intracranial tandem stenosis and contralateral carotid occlusion.
X-ray and optical plateaus following the main bursts in GRBs and SNe II-P: a hint about similar late injection behaviors?

We analyze the emission plateaus in the X-ray afterglow light curves of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and those in the optical light curves of type II plateau supernovae (SNe II-P) in order to study whether they have similar late energy injection behaviors. We show that correlations of bolometric energies (or luminosities) between the prompt explosions and the plateaus for the two phenomena are similar. The energy emitted by SNe II-P are at the lower end of the range of possible energies for GRBs. The bolometric energies (or luminosities) in the prompt phase Eexpl (or Lexpl) and in the plateau phase Eplateau (or Lplateau) share relations of Eexpl ∝ E0.73±0.14plateau and Lexpl ∝ L∼0.70plateau. These results may indicate a similar late energy injection behavior that produces the observed plateaus in these two phenomena.