Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
25(OH)D deficiency is associated with fatal stroke among whites but not blacks: The NHANES-III linked mortality files

Objective— Deficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality. Both 25(OH)D deficiency and stroke are more prevalent among blacks. We examined whether low 25(OH)D contributes to the excess risk of fatal stroke in blacks compared to whites. Research Methods and Procedures— The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a probability sample of US civilians, measured 25(OH)D levels and CVD risk factors between 1988–1994. Vital status through December 2006 was obtained via linkage with the National Death Index. Among white and black adults without CVD reported at baseline (n=7981), Cox regression models were fit to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for fatal stroke by 25(OH)D status and race. Results— During a median of 14.1 years, there were 116 and 60 fatal strokes among whites and blacks respectively. The risk of fatal stroke was greater in blacks compared to whites in models adjusted for socio-economic status and CVD risk factors, [HR 1.60 (95% CI 1.01–2.53)]. low 25(OH)D levels in blacks were unrelated to stroke incidence and therefore 25(OH)D levels did not explain this excess risk.
Cortical Volume, Thickness, and Surface Area in the Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.

BACKGROUND The motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome is a pre-clinical stage of dementia characterized by slow gait and cognitive complaint. Yet, the brain substrates of MCR are not well established. OBJECTIVE To examine cortical thickness, volume, and surface area associated with MCR in the MCR-Neuroimaging Consortium, which harmonizes image processing/analysis of multiple cohorts. METHODS Two-hundred MRIs (M age 72.62 years; 47.74%female; 33.17%MCR) from four different cohorts (50 each) were first processed with FreeSurfer 6.0, and then analyzed using multivariate and univariate general linear models with 1,000 bootstrapped samples (n-1; with resampling). All models adjusted for age, sex, education, white matter lesions, total intracranial volume, and study site. RESULTS Overall, cortical thickness was lower in individuals with MCR than in those without MCR. There was a trend in the same direction for cortical volume (p = 0.051). Regional cortical thickness was also lower among individuals with MCR than individuals without MCR in prefrontal, insular, temporal, and parietal regions. CONCLUSION Cortical atrophy in MCR is pervasive, and include regions previously associated with human locomotion, but also social, cognitive, affective, and motor functions. Cortical atrophy in MCR is easier to detect in cortical thickness than volume and surface area because thickness is more affected by healthy and pathological aging.
Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Sunitinib-Induced Vascular Changes to Schedule Chemotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma Xenograft Tumors 1

In an attempt to develop better therapeutic approaches for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the combination of the antiangiogenic drug sunitinib with gemcitabine was studied. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), we have previously determined that a sunitinib dosage of 20 mg/kg per day increased kidney tumor perfusion and decreased vascular permeability in a preclinical murine RCC model. This sunitinib dosage causing regularization of tumor vessels was selected to improve delivery of gemcitabine to the tumor. DCE-MRI was used to monitor regularization of vasculature with sunitinib in kidney tumors to schedule gemcitabine. We established an effective and nontoxic schedule of sunitinib combined with gemcitabine consisting of pretreatment with sunitinib for 3 days followed by four treatments of gemcitabine at 20 mg/kg given 3 days apart while continuing daily sunitinib treatment. This treatment caused significant tumor growth inhibition resulting in small residual tumor nodules exhibiting giant tumor cells with degenerative changes, which were observed both in kidney tumors and in spontaneous lung metastases, suggesting a systemic antitumor response. The combined therapy caused a significant increase in mouse survival. DCE-MRI monitoring of vascular changes induced by sunitinib, gemcitabine, and both combined showed increased tumor perfusion and decreased vascular permeability in kidney tumors. These findings, confirmed histologically by thinning of tumor blood vessels, suggest that both sunitinib and gemcitabine exert antiangiogenic effects in addition to cytotoxic antitumor activity. These studies show that DCE-MRI can be used to select the dose and schedule of antiangiogenic drugs to schedule chemotherapy and improve its efficacy.
Automobile Variety in Emerging Countries: A Comparative Study between Brazil and USA

A high range of product is referred as an alternative to better reach specific customer needs. By the other hand, an increase in product portfolio may result in a reduction of company's operational performance. In the automotive sector, there is an increasing number of options available to customers, even though recent studies indicate low association between product variety and sales volume in some markets. In the Brazilian market, the car still has a limited amount of customization options compared to the levels provided in developed countries, like the United States. This study compares the association between the current variety in Brazilian and American cars with sales volume in each country. Through a Spearman correlation analysis, the results indicate a greater association between sales and external variety in the Brazilian market (=0.642) than in the United States (=0.330). This result indicates that the increasing car variety in the Brazilian market may not be advantageous, since higher levels of variety, as seen in the United States, are less associated with the sales volume.
Fludarabine with Myeloablative Timed-Sequential Busulfan in Older Patients: Results of a Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) conditioning regimens that can reduce relapse risk without increasing non-relapse mortality (NRM) are needed. We tested the safety of timed-sequential delivery of myeloablative dose of busulfan in older patients and younger patients with comorbidities. Methods: In this open label, non-stratified, randomized phase II clinical trial, patients with hematological malignancies up to 75 years of age were randomized 1:1 by a computer generated program the research nurses were blinded to the block size to conceal allocation. The primary endpoint was day 100 NRM analyzed by intention-to-treat. No interim analyses were planned and the accrual is complete. Findings: Forty-nine patients were randomized to the 16K arm and 48 to the 20K arm. Median age was 60 (range, 18-75) years. Over 50% had an HCT-Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) ≥ 3, and 42% had a high or very high Disease Risk Index (DRI). Day 100 NRM was 4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0%-9.7%) in the 16K arm and 6.3% (95% CI, 0%-13.2%) in the 20K arm (P= 0.65). In multivariate analysis, HCT-CI was an independent predictor of NRM (hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; 95% CI, 1.37-3.29; P=0.0008). Infection was the most common grade 3 to 5 toxicity that occurred equally in the 20K arm (n=25) and the 16K arm (n=24). Mucositis (n=10 versus n=3), idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (n=9 versus n=2), and culture-negative neutropenic fever (n=16 versus n=8) were more common in the 20K arm than in the 16K arm, respectively. Interpretation: Myeloablative doses of busulfan administered in a timed-sequential manner with fludarabine results in low NRM in older patients. Whether this approach can further reduce the risk of relapse requires additional studies.
Activation of Peripheral Opioid κ 1 Receptor Prevents Cardiac Reperfusion Injury

Summary The role of opioid κ 1 and κ 2 receptors in reperfusion cardiac injury was studied. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a 45-min coronary artery occlusion followed by a 120-min reperfusion. Opioid κ receptor agonists were administered intravenously 5 min before the onset of reperfusion, while opioid receptor antagonists were given 10 min before reperfusion. The average value of the infarct size/area at risk (IS/AAR) ratio was 43 – 48 % in untreated rats. Administration of the opioid κ 1 receptor agonist (-)-U-50,488 (1 mg/kg) limited the IS/AAR ratio by 42 %. Administration of the opioid κ receptor agonist ICI 199,441 (0.1 mg/kg) limited the IS/AAR ratio by 41 %. The non-selective opioid κ receptor agonist (+) -U- 50,488 (1 mg/kg) with low affinity for opioid κ receptor, the peripherally acting opioid κ receptor agonist ICI 204,448 (4 mg/kg) and the selective opioid κ 2 receptor agonist GR89696 (0.1 mg/kg) had no e ffect on the IS/AAR ratio. Pretreatment with naltrexone, the peripherally acting opioid receptor antagonist naloxone methiodide, or the selective opioid κ receptor antagonist nor -binaltorphimine completely abolished the infarct- reducing effect of ( -)-U-50,488 and ICI 199,441. Pretreatment with the selective opioid δ receptor antagonist TIPP[ψ] and the selective opioid µ receptor antagonist CTAP did not alter the infarct reducing effect of (-)-U- 50,488 and ICI 199,441. Our study is the first to demonstrate the following: (a) the activation of opioid κ 2 receptor has no effect on cardiac tolerance to reperfusion; (b) peripheral opioid κ 1 receptor stimulation prevents reperfusion cardiac injury; (c) ICI 199,441 administration resulted in an infarct - reducing effect at reperfusion; (d) bradycardia induced by opioid κ receptor antagonists is not dependent on the occupancy of opioid κ receptor.
68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in prostate cancer local recurrence: impact of early images and parametric analysis

: 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT performed 60 min post tracer injection (p.i.) can underestimate prostate cancer (PC) local recurrence, due to high 68 Ga-PSMA-11 urinary bladder accumulation. Aim of this analysis is to evaluate the complementary role of early dynamic and parametric PET imaging in patients with PC local recurrence. Sixteen patients with PC biochemical relapse attributed to local recurrence underwent dynamic 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/ CT scanning of the pelvis and whole-body PET/CT. Data analysis was based on visual analysis of the PET/CT scans, SUV calculations, quantitative analysis based on two-tissue compartment and Patlak models as well as parametric imaging based on Patlak analysis. 12/16 patients were PSMA-positive in the static 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans (60 min p.i.). All 12 lesions corresponding to PC local recurrence were detected in the early dynamic images at a median time of 4.5 min p.i. (range = 1.5-11.5 min). Moreover, early dynamic PET imaging could detect local recurrence in 1/4 static PET/CT-negative patients. Tracer accumulation in the urinary bladder began at a median time of 10 min (range = 6.0-17.5 min). All PC local recurrences visible on late static PET/CT and the local recurrence, which was positive only in early dynamic but not in late PET images, could be delineated on Patlak images. The present findings indicate that early dynamic 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scan of the pelvis up to 12 min p.i. as well as Patlak analysis, performed in addition to the conventional PET/CT acquired at 60 min p.i. , seem a practical approach to increase the detection rate of PC local recurrence.
The Nuclear Factor NF- k B Pathway in Inﬂammation

The nuclear factor NF- k B pathway has long been considered a prototypical proinﬂammatory signaling pathway, largely based on the role of NF- k B in the expression of proinﬂammatory genes including cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. In this article, we describe how genetic evidence in mice has revealed complex roles for the NF- k B in inﬂammation that suggest both pro- and anti-inﬂammatory roles for this pathway. NF- k B has long been considered the “holy grail” as a target for new anti-inﬂammatory drugs; however, these recent studies suggest this pathway may prove a difﬁcult target in the treatment of chronic disease. In this article, we discuss the role of NF- k B in inﬂammation in light of these recent studies.
IL-24 modulates IFN- γ expression in patients with tuberculosis

IL-24 is a newly described member of the IL-10 family. We previously demonstrated that PBMC from TB patients exhibited low levels of IL-24 and IFN- γ compared to subjects with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). In order to investigate the role of IL-24 in IFN- γ expression in TB patients, we stimulated PBMC from individuals with LTBI or TB patients with the Mtb -specific antigen, early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6) and measured cytokine expression using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Exogenous IL-24 increased IFN- γ expression in PBMC obtained from TB patients while neutralization of IL-24 reduced IFN- γ expression in PBMC from subjects with LTBI. Exogenous IL-24 enhanced IFN- γ expression by increasing expression of IL-12 family cytokines, including IL-12 α , IL-12 β , IL-23 α and IL-27, and by reducing FOXP3 expression in PBMC from TB patients. This is the first demonstration that IL-24 may play an important role in IFN- γ expression following infection with Mtb.
How screw connections in ﬂ uence the primary stability of acetabular cups under consideration of di ﬀ erent bone models

Introduction: Good osteointegration of implants requires su ﬃ cient primary stability. Aim of this study was to examine the in ﬂ uence of screw ﬁ xation on the primary stability of press- ﬁ t cups. Methods: Two press- ﬁ t acetabular cups were tested with regard to the in ﬂ uence and number of screws and their primary stability. Results: For the relatively thin-walled Allo ﬁ t ® -S cup, an in ﬂ uence of the number of screws on the di ﬀ erent forms of movement could be demonstrated. Conclusions: We see a clear in ﬂ uence of the cup wall thickness on the elastic deformability and accordingly on the primary stability of the examined cups.
The association of microhematuria with mesangial hypercellularity, endocapillary hypercellularity, crescent score and renal outcomes in immunoglobulin A nephropathy

Background. Microhematuria is common in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). However, current prognostication is based on proteinuria and mesangial hypercellularity, endocapillary hypercellularity, segmental sclerosis, tubulointerstitial ﬁ-brosis and crescent (MEST-C) scores. Methods. In this retrospective study, we evaluated whether MEST-C score components are associated with the presence of microhematuria at biopsy and whether the degree of microhematuria during follow-up is associated with change in estimated glomerular ﬁltration rate (eGFR), after adjusting for clinical and histological parameters. We identiﬁed 125 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN and MEST-C scoring who were not on immunosuppressive therapy at biopsy. Microhematuria was deﬁned as (cid:2) 3 red blood cells (RBCs)/high-power ﬁeld (hpf). Results. Of the 125 patients, 97 had microhematuria at baseline and were more likely to have M1, E1 and C (cid:2) 1 lesions (P < 0.05 for all) compared with patients without microhematuria. Of the 125 patients, 72 had follow-up data available. An increase in the degree of microhematuria was signiﬁcantly associated with an eGFR decline of (cid:3) 0.81mL/min/1.73 m 2 [95% conﬁdence interval (CI) (cid:3) 1.44 to (cid:3) 0.19, P ¼ 0.01], after adjusting for follow-up time, proteinuria and T score. Severe microhematuria ( (cid:2) 21 RBCs/hpf) was associated with an even larger decline in eGFR ( (cid:3) 3.99mL/min/1.73 m 2 ; 95% CI (cid:3) 6.9411 to (cid:3) 1.0552, P ¼ 0.008), after similar adjustments. Conclusion. Degree of microhematuria during follow-up is an independent predictor of eGFR decline after adjusting for clinical and histological parameters. Therefore, monitoring the degree of microhematuria as well as proteinuria is important when evaluating patients with IgAN. Additional studies using improvement in microhematuria as a primary surrogate outcome are needed.
Radiological findings on irradiation-CT in patients with non metastatic breast cancer

The authors Meyer and Uhlig contributed equally to this work. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of incidental findings on native CT treatment-planning scans for radiation in breast cancer patients. Methods: The treatment-planning scans of 382 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed for additional findings. The planning scan area covered the entire thorax and the upper part of the abdomen. Incidental findings were classified according to their clinical relevance. Results: Overall 892 incidental findings were detected in the CT treatment-planning scans (mean 2.34 findings per patient). Only a small proportion of patients ( n 5 63, 16.4%) had no finding. Most findings were located in the thorax (683, 76.57%), and 209 findings (23.43%) were abdominal. 79 findings (8.87%) were of major clinical relevance, 232 findings (26.01%) were of moderate clinical relevance and 580 findings (65.02%) were of minor clinical relevance. Most clinically relevant findings were in the thorax ( p 5 0.006). Abdominal findings were more of significantly minor clinical relevance ( p , 0.0001). Conclusion: Radiological findings are frequent in native CT treatment-planning scans for radiation of breast cancer patients. Therefore, the radiologist should use this performed sectional image to obtain additional information of the patient. Advances in knowledge: Treatment-planning CT scans can show several radiological findings, namely 2.34 findings per patient. Major clinically relevant findings account for 8.87%.
Cachectin/Tumor Necrosis Factor-secreting Tumor in Skeletal Muscle Induces Chronic Cachexia, While Implantation in Brain Induces Predominately Acute Anorexia

We have developed a murine model of wasting by injecting intracerebrally cells which continuously secrete h-cachectin/ TNF (CHO-TNF) to: (a) determine the effects of cachectin/ TNF produced continuously in the central nervous system (CNS), and (b) compare the metabolic effects of cachectin/ TNF-secreting tumor in the brain to the cachexia caused by CHO-TNF tumor in peripheral tissue (IM). Intracerebral CHO-TNF tumors produced increased serum h-cachectin/ TNF levels with lethal hypophagia and weight loss (mean survival time of 11 d); these changes were not observed in association with nonsecretory control brain tumors. The metabolic consequences of intracerebral cachectin/TNF production were indistinguishable from acute, lethal starvation: whole-body lipid content was decreased significantly but protein was conserved. Although intramuscular cachectin/TNF-secreting tumors caused similar increases of serum h-cachectin/TNF levels, profound anorexia did not develop; wasting developed after a longer period of tumor burden (50 d) with classical signs of cachexia (i.e., anemia and depletion of both protein and lipid). These studies provide a reproducible animal model of site-specific cytokine production and suggest that, regardless of serum levels, cachectin/TNF produced locally in brain influences both the rate of development of wasting and its net metabolic effects. (J. Clin. Invest. 1990. 86:2014-2024.)
AJS1900105 391..406

Purpose: This study was undertaken to explore whether measures of verbal short-term memory and working memory are sensitive to impairments in people with latent aphasia, who score within normal limits on typical aphasia test batteries. Method: Seven individuals with latent aphasia and 24 neurotypical control participants completed 40 tasks from the Temple Assessment of Language and Short-term Memory in Aphasia (TALSA) that assess various aspects of verbal shortterm memory, working memory, and language processing. Subtests were identified that differentiated between the two groups of participants. Results: Twenty-one TALSA tasks were identified on which the participants with latent aphasia had significantly different
Analysis of Vibrational Spectra of Buckminsterfullerene (C60) Using the Lie Algebra

The stretching vibrational energies of Buckminsterfullerene (C 60 ) are calculated in the one-dimensional U(2) framework. The dynamical symmetry group of icosahedron (I h ) molecule was taken into consideration to construct the model Hamiltonian in this frame work. Casimir and Majorana invariant operators were also determined accordingly. Using the model Hamiltonian so constructed, we have calculated the local mode vibrational energy levels of Buckminsterfullerene (C 60 ) accurately.
Diffusing building information management – knowledge integration, mechanisms and knowledge development

ABSTRACT Building Information Management (BIM) is a systemic inter-organizational innovation predicted to have a great impact on the efficiency of the construction process. An enabler for its diffusion is knowledge integration (KI). This research investigates KI mechanisms used by a Concrete Reinforcement Supplier and its customers in the diffusion of BIM and BIM-related solutions. The research employs a qualitative approach with multiple data-collection methods at two different points in time. BIM diffusion and KI are viewed here as emergent and iterative processes, understood from a supplier perspective. The research examines the interaction between context, content of the diffusing innovation and the diffusion process. Knowledge development from the KI process has been assessed by exploring the interaction between (1) domain-specific knowledge, (2) procedural knowledge and (3) general knowledge, complementing the established emphasis on tacit and explicit knowledge found in relevant construction management research. The findings indicate that general knowledge needs to be high for increased BIM diffusion and the research raises the need to develop procedural knowledge both from a practical and research perspective.
Medical Image Registration via Neural Fields

Image registration is an essential step in many medical image analysis tasks. Traditional methods for image registration are primarily optimization-driven, finding the optimal deformations that maximize the similarity between two images. Recent learning-based methods, trained to directly predict transformations between two images, run much faster, but suffer from performance deficiencies due to model generalization and the inefficiency in handling individual image specific deformations. Here we present a new neural net based image registration framework, called NIR (Neural Image Registration), which is based on optimization but utilizes deep neural nets to model deformations between image pairs. NIR represents the transformation between two images with a continuous function implemented via neural fields, receiving a 3D coordinate as input and outputting the corresponding deformation vector. NIR provides two ways of generating deformation field: directly output a displacement vector field for general deformable registration, or output a velocity vector field and integrate the velocity field to derive the deformation field for diffeomorphic image registration. The optimal registration is discovered by updating the parameters of the neural field via stochastic gradient descent. We describe several design choices that facilitate model optimization, including coordinate encoding, sinusoidal activation, coordinate sampling, and intensity sampling. Experiments on two 3D MR brain scan datasets demonstrate that NIR yields state-of-the-art performance in terms of both registration accuracy and regularity, while running significantly faster than traditional optimization-based methods.