Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene Screening for Prognosis of Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Carcinoma under Competing Risks Endpoints

Simple Summary A vital task in contemporary cancer research is to discover clinically useful molecular markers for diagnosis and prognosis from microarray or sequencing data. However, reliable and efficient statistical tools are lacking in terms of marker screening and selection for high-throughput data with complicated survival endpoints, such as competing risks. Motivated by a study on progression of non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma for 300 subjects with competing risk endpoints, this paper proposed a controlled screening procedure to fast eliminate most of irrelevant markers, before more precise selection can be further pursued. Combining screening with a boosting procedure, a significant six-gene signature for progression was identified subsequently, showing improved prediction performance over existing alternatives at a lower computational cost. The proposed method is readily applicable to other types of high-throughput cancer data with competing risk events, providing a desired addition to a biomedical researcher’s toolbox. Abstract Background: Discovering clinically useful molecular markers for predicting the survival of patients diagnosed with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer can provide insights into cancer dynamics and improve treatment outcomes. However, the presence of competing risks (CR) endpoints complicates the estimation and inferential framework. There is also a lack of statistical analysis tools and software for coping with the high-throughput nature of these data, in terms of marker screening and selection. Aims: To propose a gene screening procedure for proportional subdistribution hazards regression under a CR framework, and illustrate its application in using molecular profiling to predict survival for non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma. Methods: Tumors from 300 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer were analyzed for genomic abnormalities while controlling for clinically important covariates. Genes with expression patterns that were associated with survival were identified through a screening procedure based on proportional subdistribution hazards regression. A molecular predictor of risk was constructed and examined for prediction accuracy. Results: A six-gene signature was found to be a significant predictor associated with survival of non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer, subject to competing risks after adjusting for age, gender, reevaluated WHO grade, stage and BCG/MMC treatment (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: The proposed gene screening procedure can be used to discover molecular determinants of survival for non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer and in general facilitate high-throughput competing risks data analysis with easy implementation.
Circular cylinder drag reduction using piezoelectric actuators

An active flow control technique based on "smart-tabs" is proposed to delay flow separation on a circular cylinder. The actuators are retractable and orientable multilayer piezoelectric tabs which protrude perpendicularly from the model surface. They are mounted along the spanwise direction with constant spacing. The effectiveness of the control was tested in pre-critical and in post-critical regime by evaluating the effects of several control parameters of the tabs like frequency, amplitude, height, angular position and plate incidence with respect to the local flow. Measurements of the mean static pressure distribution around the cylinder were used to estimate the pressure drag coefficient. The maximum drag reduction achieved in the pre-critical regime was of the order of 30%, whereas in the post-critical regime was about 10%, 3% of which due to active forcing. Furthermore, pressure fluctuation measurements were performed and spectral analysis indicated an almost complete suppression of the vortex shedding in active forcing conditions.
High efficiency mesoscopic solar cells using CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots enabled by chemical interface engineering.

All-inorganic α-CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots (QDs) are attracting high interest as solar cell absorbers due to their appealing light harvesting properties and enhanced stability due to the absence of volatile organic constituents. Moreover, ex situ synthesized QDs significantly reduce the variability of the perovskite layer deposition process. However, it is highly challenging to incorporate α-CsPbI3 QDs into mesoporous TiO2 (m-TiO2), which constitutes the best performing electron transport material in state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells. Herein, the m-TiO2 surface is engineered using an electron-rich cesium-ion containing methyl acetate solution. As one effect of this treatment, the solid-liquid interfacial tension at the TiO2 surface is reduced and the wettability is improved, facilitating the migration of the QDs into m-TiO2. As a second effect Cs+ ions passivate the QD surface and promote the charge transfer at the m-TiO2/QD interface, leading to an enhancement of the electron injection rate by a factor of three. In combination with an ethanol-environment smoothing route significantly reducing the surface roughness of the m-TiO2/QD layer, optimized devices exhibit highly reproducible power conversion efficiencies exceeding 13%. The best cell with an efficiency of 14.32% (reverse scan) reaches a short-circuit current density of 17.77 mA cm-2, which is an outstanding value for QD-based perovskite solar cells.
Void Fraction and Flow Regimes of R134a In Horizontal and Vertical Round Tubes in Developed Adiabatic Conditions

This paper presents flow regimes and void fraction in horizontal and vertical round tubes ID 7 mm with R134a in the adiabatic conditions and low mass flux (40-150 kg/ms for horizontal tubes and 65-115 kg/ms for vertical tubes) captured by a high-speed camera. Horizontal flow patterns are compared to Wojtan-Ursenbacher-Thome flow regime map and some modifications are proposed. Void fraction results for both horizontal and vertical tubes are compared to some widely used correlations. Influences of tube orientation and mass flux on void fraction are discussed. At the same vapor quality condition, void fraction of horizontal tubes is larger than that of vertical tubes. Higher mass flux also results in larger void fraction compared that of lower mass flux.
Magnetoelectric bilayer and multilayer structures of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric oxides

Materials capable of field conversion, from magnetic to electric or vice versa, are of fundamental and technological importance. We report a giant magnetoelectric (ME) effect that results from stress-mediated electromagnetic coupling in bilayers and multilayers of nickel ferrite and lead zirconate titanate. Samples with layer thickness 10\char21{}200 \ensuremath{\mu}m were synthesized by doctor-blade techniques. The magnetoelectric voltage coefficient ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathbf{E}}$ ranges from 460 mV/cm Oe in bilayers to 1500 mV/cm Oe for multilayers. The transverse effect is an order of magnitude stronger than longitudinal ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathbf{E}}. $ The ME coefficient is maximum at room temperature and a general increase in ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathbf{E}}$ is observed with increasing frequency. Data on the dependence of ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\mathbf{E}}$ on volume fraction of the two phases and bias magnetic field are in excellent agreement with a theoretical model for a perfectly bonded bilayer.
Recent Advances in Thermal Imaging and its Applications Using Machine Learning: A Review

Recent advancements in thermal imaging sensor technology have resulted in the use of thermal cameras in a variety of applications, including automotive, industrial, medical, defense and space, agriculture, and other related fields. Thermal imaging, unlike RGB imaging, does not rely on background light, and the technique is nonintrusive while also protecting privacy. This review article focuses on the most recent advancements in thermal imaging technology, key performance parameters, an overview of its applications, and machine-learning techniques applied to thermal images for various tasks. This article begins with the most recent advancements in thermal imaging, followed by a classification of thermal cameras and their key specifications, and finally a review of machine-learning techniques used on thermal images for various applications. This detailed review article is highly useful for designing thermal imaging-based applications using various machine-learning techniques.
Intervalence band absorption in strained and unstrained InGaAs multiple quantum well structures

We report the direct determination of absorption losses in unstrained InGaAs/InGaAsP and InGaAs/InGaAlAs and strained InGaAs/InGaAsP layer multiple quantum well (MQW) laser structures. In the case of the unstrained structures we find a strong dependence of the absorption on carrier density indicating the presence of an intrinsic optical loss mechanism, the intervalence band absorption (IVBA). In the strained layer InGaAs/InGaAsP structures, IVBA is completely switched off. Our results explain the superiority of strained layer InGaAs MQW lasers.
Upper limit on interstellar gas in Coma Cluster ellipticals

Using data from the Imaging Proportional Counter on the Einstein Observatory, we search for X-ray emission from 45 early-type galaxies in Coma. Some galaxies lying within 13' of the cluster center give statistically significant signals which, however, we determine to be spurious. Data for a clean subsample of 27 observations of galaxies greater than 13' from the cluster center yield only upper limits, which are generally larger than those of field ellipticals with similar optical luminosities.
Method for the simultaneous determination of anisotropic residual stresses and texture by x‐ray diffraction

A method is developed that yields the residual stress, the orientation distribution coefficients, the average crystallite dimension, the microstrain, and the crystal structure parameters from x‐ray diffraction data in a single‐step procedure. To this end, a general approach is introduced that combines the equations of micromechanics with the harmonic description of texture. All relationships are cast into a Rietveld‐like format, which incorporates a microstructure model derived from line‐broadening methods. In this manner, data collected over the whole x‐ray‐diffraction pattern at different tilting of the sample can be fitted directly. The associated fitting parameters are the crystal structure and microstructure, the texture coefficients, and the micromechanical properties and fields.
Combined Hypophysitis and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Related to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Abstract Context The occurrence of multiple endocrinopathies due to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is a relatively common adverse event. However, the occurrence of a combination of hypophysitis and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is extremely rare, and its clinical features are unclear. Objective We comparatively analyzed the clinical features of this combination and each individual ICI-induced endocrinopathy. Methods We reported 3 cases that we encountered and reviewed previously reported cases of patients with combined hypophysitis and T1DM due to ICIs. Results Anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibodies were prescribed to all 3 cases. The duration from ICI initiation to the onset of endocrine disease was 12 to 48 weeks. Several human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes that have disease susceptibility to hypophysitis were detected in all 3 patients. With the 17 previously reported cases, combined endocrinopathies were more common in men (85%). The onset age was in the 60s for both combined and single endocrinopathies. Anti-PD-1 antibodies were used in most of the cases (90%). The time from ICI initiation to the onset of endocrinopathies was 24 (8-76) weeks for hypophysitis and 32 (8-76) weeks for T1DM in patients with combined endocrinopathies, which was not significantly different from that for each single endocrinopathy. Conclusion We presented 3 cases of patients with combined endocrinopathies of hypophysitis and T1DM that may have been caused by anti-PD-1 antibodies. There was no difference in the time from ICI initiation to the onset of endocrinopathies between combined and single endocrinopathies. Further case accumulation and pathogenic investigations are required.
Implications of the Hemoglobin Glycation Index on the Diagnosis of Prediabetes and Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour plasma glucose (2hPG) from a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) can lead to different results when diagnosing prediabetes and diabetes. The Hemoglobin Glycation Index (HGI) quantifies the inter-individual variation in glycation resulting in discrepancies between FPG and HbA1c. We used data from the Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes (D2d) study to calculate HGI, to identify HGI-associated variables, and to determine how HGI affects prediabetes and diabetes diagnosis. MEASUREMENTS A linear regression equation [HbA1c (%) = 0.0164 x FPG (mg/dL) + 4.2] was derived using the screening cohort (n=6829) and applied to calculate predicted HbA1c. This was subtracted from the observed HbA1c to determine HGI in the baseline cohort with 2hPG data (n=3945). Baseline variables plus prediabetes and diabetes diagnosis by FPG, HbA1c, and 2hPG were compared among low, moderate, and high HGI subgroups. RESULTS Proportion of women and Blacks/African Americans increased from low to high HGI subgroups. Mean FPG decreased and mean HbA1c increased from low to high HGI subgroups, consistent with HGI's calculation; while mean 2hPG was not significantly different among HGI subgroups. CONCLUSIONS High HGI was associated with Black race and female sex as reported previously. The observation that 2hPG was not different across HGI subgroups suggests that variation in postprandial glucose is not a significant source of population variation in HGI. Exclusive use of HbA1c for diagnosis will classify more Blacks and women as having prediabetes compared to using FPG or 2hPG.
Density impact on toroidal rotation in Tore Supra: experimental observations and theoretical investigation

The effect of plasma density on toroidal rotation was examined in density ramp-up experiments at a plasma current of 1 MA and a toroidal magnetic field of 3.6 T in Tore Supra ohmic discharges. Experimental measurements have shown that the toroidal rotation amplitude is reduced at all radii when increasing the plasma density, although it remains in the counter-current direction. Neoclassical predictions including ripple-induced toroidal friction are in qualitative agreement with such observations. However, in the core (r/a < 0.5) the plasma accelerates at nl ∼ 3 × 1019 m−2 and breaks again above nl ∼ 3.5 × 1019 m−2. This rotation bifurcation did not appear to be correlated to a possible influence of the sawtooth activity. Nonetheless, quasi-linear gyrokinetic simulations have shown that the transition of the nature of linear microinstabilities from ITG-TEM to pure ITG occurs at nl ∼ 3 × 1019 m−2, which could indicate a change on the turbulence driven contributions and explain the deviation from neoclassical predictions in the plasma core.
An Analysis of Police Department Crisis Communication via Social Media

When police use-of-force incidents involving citizens occur, it is necessary to examine the communication post-crisis. Communication via social media is efficient and is considered a necessary tool in contemporary policing. To date, few studies have investigated the use of socially mediated messages in response to use-of-force incidents in local communities. This research examined the social media sites of six police departments in the United States following the death of George Floyd for themes established in crisis communication research. Findings suggest that police departments used social media to convey empathy, commitment to stakeholders, and self-efficacy, with empathy being the theme that was used most frequently. As this is an emerging area of research, directions for future research and policy implementation are discussed.
Diode Laser in the Management of Leukoplakia - A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Leukoplakia is among the most common potentially malignant disorders encountered in clinical dental practice. The treatment of leukoplakia includes nonsurgical and surgical management. The surgical treatment includes excision, electrocauterisation, laser surgery or cryosurgery. This retrospective study aimed to analyse the efficacy of diode lasers in the management of leukoplakia. Methods: The sample consists of 56 cases with 77 leukoplakia sites treated with diode laser between January 2018 and December 2020 with a minimum of six months follow-up. For each patient, personal data was collected along with site of lesions, leukoplakia phase, type of treatment performed (laser ablation or laser excision), side effects, recurrences and malignant transformation. Inferential statistical analysis was then conducted. Results: After applying exclusion criteria, 56 cases with 77 leukoplakia sites were included in this study. Males aged >45 years were predominantly affected. Homogeneous leukoplakia (48.1%) was the most common phase. Recurrences were noted in 19.48% of the cases. Compared to laser excision, laser ablation had more recurrences. Gingival lesions showed a higher recurrence rate than other sites in the oral cavity. None of the cases showed malignant transformation. Discussion: Laser offers many advantages over other conventional methods including lesser postoperative pain and swelling, bloodless dry operating field and increased patient comfort and requires minimal local anaesthesia. The study concluded that diode laser is an effective surgical treatment modality for treating leukoplakia. Furthermore, the laser excision technique was found to be superior to laser ablation due to lesser recurrence.
Severe olanzapine-induced liver function test elevation

We read with great interest the case report on identifying olanzapine-induced liver injury in the setting of acute hepatitis C. We wanted to bring to the attention of the Mental Health Clinician readers our similar case report entitled ‘‘Olanzapine-induced elevated liver function tests in an older person with antidepressant-induced mania’’, who similarly experienced significant liver function test (LFT) elevation thought to be related to olanzapine that was published in The Senior Care Pharmacist in September 2022.
Lattice dynamic of Ti, Co, Tc, and other hcp transition metals

New phonon-dispersion curves as determined by inelastic neutron-scattering experiments are presented for the hcp metals, Ti, Co, and Tc, along with their theoretical analysis in terms of the phenomenological charge-fluctuations model. The model was also used to reanalyze the phonon data for some other hcp metals, Sc, Y, Zr, and Hf. For all the metals other than Sc and Y it was found that the data could be successfully analyzed only with a dipolar-charge-fluctuation model, in contrast to Nb which required only monopolar terms. For Sc and Y the dispersion curve were satisfactorily analyzed in terms of a third-neighbor Born--von Karman model without any charge-fluctuation terms. The softening of the longitudinal (001) mode near GAMMA observed in some of the metals appears to be closely related to an incipient instability in the electronic system toward the formation of a dipolar charge-density wave. The temperature dependence of the large anomaly in Tc could be reproduced by extremely small changes in one of the parameters of the dipolar-charge-fluctuation model.
On the ordering of the sensors in the iterated-corrector probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter

This paper considers the effect of sensor ordering on the iterated-corrector PHD update. It is known that changing the order of the updates results in different PHDs, however, these are usually not significantly different. This paper considers a multisensor scenario using a single poor quality sensor in combination with good sensors, where the bad sensor is modelled using a low probability of detection. It is shown that the quality of the updated PHD varies significantly depending on whether the sensor is used first or last in the iterated-corrector update. The degradation in performance of the iterated PHD filter is illustrated using a comparison of different multisensor configurations. The OSPA error is shown to be greatest when a sensor with low probability of detection is used in the final update of the iterated form of the PHD filter. The performance of the productmultisensor PHD filter is also considered. The product multisensor filter is shown to perform significantly better due to invariance to sensor ordering.
An Intelligent Auxiliary Framework for Bone Malignant Tumor Lesion Segmentation in Medical Image Analysis

Bone malignant tumors are metastatic and aggressive, with poor treatment outcomes and prognosis. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial for limb salvage and increasing the survival rate. There is a lack of research on deep learning to segment bone malignant tumor lesions in medical images with complex backgrounds and blurred boundaries. Therefore, we propose a new intelligent auxiliary framework for the medical image segmentation of bone malignant tumor lesions, which consists of a supervised edge-attention guidance segmentation network (SEAGNET). We design a boundary key points selection module to supervise the learning of edge attention in the model to retain fine-grained edge feature information. We precisely locate malignant tumors by instance segmentation networks while extracting feature maps of tumor lesions in medical images. The rich contextual-dependent information in the feature map is captured by mixed attention to better understand the uncertainty and ambiguity of the boundary, and edge attention learning is used to guide the segmentation network to focus on the fuzzy boundary of the tumor region. We implement extensive experiments on real-world medical data to validate our model. It validates the superiority of our method over the latest segmentation methods, achieving the best performance in terms of the Dice similarity coefficient (0.967), precision (0.968), and accuracy (0.996). The results prove the important contribution of the framework in assisting doctors to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and clinical efficiency.
F4-Neuroprostane Effects on Human Sperm

Swim-up selected human sperm were incubated with 7 ng F4-neuroprostanes (F4-NeuroPs) for 2 and 4 h. Sperm motility and membrane mitochondrial potential (MMP) were evaluated. The percentage of reacted acrosome was assessed by pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA). Chromatin integrity was detected using the acridine orange (AO) assay and localization of the ryanodine receptor was performed by immunofluorescence analysis. Sperm progressive motility (p = 0.02) and the percentage of sperm showing a strong MMP signal (p = 0.012) significantly increased after 2 h F4-NeuroP incubation compared to control samples. The AO assay did not show differences in the percentage of sperm with dsDNA between treated or control samples. Meanwhile, a significantly higher number of sperm with reacted acrosomes was highlighted by PSA localization after 4 h F4-NeuroP incubation. Finally, using an anti-ryanodine antibody, the immunofluorescence signal was differentially distributed at 2 and 4 h: a strong signal was evident in the midpiece and postacrosomal sheath (70% of sperm) at 2 h, whereas a dotted one appeared at 4 h (53% of sperm). A defined concentration of F4-NeuroPs in seminal fluid may induce sperm capacitation via channel ions present in sperm cells, representing an aid during in vitro sperm preparation that may increase the positive outcome of assisted fertilization.