Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contrast-enhanced US with Sulfur Hexafluoride and Perfluorobutane for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Individuals with High Risk.

Background Perfluorobutane (PFB) and sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) have different physiologic characteristics, but it is unclear whether hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) show similar wash-in and washout patterns to both contrast agents at US. Purpose To investigate Contrast-Enhanced US Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) version 2017 HCC categorization by comparing PFB-enhanced US and SHF-enhanced US in participants at high risk for HCC. Materials and Methods In this prospective study conducted from February to August 2019, participants at high risk for HCC with treatment-naive hepatic observations (≥1 cm) categorized as LR-3, LR-4, LR-5, or LR-M (intermediate probability of HCC, probable HCC, definitely HCC, and probably malignant but not HCC specific, respectively) on cross-sectional images were screened. They underwent same-day PFB-enhanced US and SHF-enhanced US. Arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), washout time and degree, and echogenicity in the Kupffer phase (PFB-enhanced US) were evaluated and categorized by the operator using CEUS LI-RADS, who referred to the radiologist who performed the contrast-enhanced US, and by a reviewer. Diagnostic performance was analyzed using the McNemar test. Results Fifty-nine participants were evaluated (43 with HCC, 10 with non-HCC malignancies, six with benign findings). Nonrim APHE was identically observed in 95% (41 of 43, operator) or 88% (38 of 43, reviewer) of HCCs with both contrast agents. Among 43 HCCs, late (≥60 seconds) and mild washout were more frequent with PFB-enhanced US (34 with operator, 33 with reviewer) than with SHF-enhanced US (24 with operator, 26 with reviewer) (P = .04 or P = .12). The washout time for HCCs was later at PFB-enhanced US (median, 101 seconds ± 11) than at SHF-enhanced US (median, 84 seconds ± 5; P = .04). Sensitivity (34 of 43; 79%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 64%, 90%) was higher with PFB-enhanced US than with SHF-enhanced US (23 of 43; 54%; 95% CI: 38%, 67%; P = .01). Specificity was 100% (95% CI: 79%, 100%) with both. Hypoenhancement in the Kupffer phase was more common in malignant (49 of 53 [92%] for both operator and reviewer) than in benign (two of six [33%] for operator, one of six [16%] for reviewer) lesions. Conclusion On the basis of the Contrast-Enhanced US Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2017 algorithm, noninvasive US diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma by using perfluorobutane-enhanced US had higher diagnostic performance than sulfur hexafluoride-enhanced US, without loss of specificity. © RSNA, 2020 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Kim and Jang in this issue.
Electrically recorded feeding behaviour of cassava mealybug on host and non‐host plants

The feeding behaviour of cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti) was analysed by the electrical penetration graph technique (EPG, DC‐system) and by light microscopy. This study confirmed a typical phloem‐feeding behaviour with an aphid‐like predominance of extracellular pathways of stylets. Similarities of EPGs from mealybugs with those of aphids and whiteflies allowed adoption of standard pattern labelling. The main differences with aphid EPGs consisted of fewer but longer intracellular punctures (pd duration of 20 s vs 5–7 s for aphids), longer times to the first phloem‐ingestion period and a lower motility of stylets within the phloem searching process. Comparison of the feeding behaviour on 6 plant types, including two occasional hosts (Talinum and poinsettia), one cassava hybrid and three common cassava cultivars (Manihot esculenta), allowed differentiation of penetration profiles. Intracellular punctures were shorter on occasional hosts, on which phloem finding and subsequent ingestion were markedly delayed although a great variability within plants persisted. Chemical analysis of some secondary plant substances revealed that none of the plants tested contained detectable amounts of alkaloids, and that cyanides were restricted to true hosts (cassavas and Manihot hybrid). Levels of total flavonoids did not differ between hosts and non‐hosts, in contrast to those of phenolic acids. Preliminary correlations with EPG patterns are discussed.
Relationship between marital status and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Brazilian rural population: The Baependi Heart Study

Many factors influence the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we investigated the associations between socio-demographic characteristics and familial history with the 5-year incidence of T2DM in a family-based study conducted in Brazil. T2DM was defined as baseline fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL or the use of any hypoglycaemic drug. We excluded individuals with T2DM at baseline or if they did not attend two examination cycles. After exclusions, we evaluated a sample of 1,125 participants, part of the Baependi Heart Study (BHS). Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess T2DM incident given different characteristics. At the 5-year follow-up, the incidence of T2DM was 6.7% (7.2% men and 6.3% women). After adjusting for age, sex, and education status, the model that combined marital and occupation status, skin color, and familial history of T2DM provided the best prediction for T2DM incidence. Only marital status was independently associated with T2DM incidence. Individuals that remained married, despite having significantly increased their weight, were significantly less likely to develop diabetes than their divorced counterparts.
Carbon Storage and Carbon Emission Offset Potential in an African Riverine Forest, the Lower Tana River Forests, Kenya

Abstract Tropical deforestation contributes to atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, linked to global climate change. In response, emerging markets for carbon emission offsets offer developing nations added incentives for rehabilitation and reforestation that increase terrestrial carbon storage. The Lower Tana River forests of northern Kenya are floodplain forest fragments supported by the river's groundwater and flooding. They provide numerous ecosystem services to local communities and habitat to endangered primates, but are vulnerable to altered hydrological conditions and clearance for cultivation. Forest carbon storage was sampled in the Tana River National Primate Reserve (TRNPR) and Tana Delta Irrigation Project (TDIP) and satellite imagery was used to assess land cover changes from 1992 to 2003. Riverine forest types had carbon densities ranging from 160 to 240 Mg C.ha−1. Levee forests stored about 70 Mg C.ha−1 more than forests further from the river, which may be transitioning to woodland savannah. A net loss of forest and woodland cover was seen in the satellite imagery and ongoing felling and clearance was seen in the field at both sites. Results indicated loss of carbon storage at both sampled sites, which may continue without efforts to increase landscape carbon stocks.
Drought and Grazing Disturbances and Resistance to Invasion by Warm- and Cool-Season Perennial Grassland Communities

Healthy and robust grasslands are better able to compete with invasive plants for available resources. Disturbances can reduce the competitive ability of perennial grass communities by creating niches that allow invasive plants to establish. In established warm-season and cool-season perennial grass communities, a study was conducted to determine the effects of repeated grazing and extreme drought on the establishment of introduced musk thistle (Carduus nutans). For each community, the following treatments were applied: over seeding of musk thistle or no musk thistle in the first year (2011), and simulated grazing or no grazing in both years (2011 and 2012). Annual precipitation was extremely low in the second year. In warm-season, grazed communities with musk thistle, grass cover declined to less than 10% as musk thistle became dominant by the second year. The grasses in all warm season, non grazed communities had > 65% cover and heights of > 100 cm from June to October, which prevented establishment of musk thistle. In cool-season grass communities, biomass was low in 2012, yet early emergence of grasses from dormancy and high amount of cover (> 50% in May) most likely contributed to the suppression of musk thistle seedlings the previous year (2011) and further restricted their development in combination with the drought conditions the second year. Our results support the practice of properly grazing warm-season and cool-season grasses to create sustainable perennial grass communities, especially in areas subjected to continuous or heavy grazing, extreme drought, and the threat of invasive plant species.
Grammatical Comprehension in Italian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Language deficits represent one of the most relevant factors that determine the clinical phenotype of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main aim of the research was to study the grammatical comprehension of children with ASD. A sample of 70 well-diagnosed children (60 boys and 10 girls; aged 4.9–8 years) were prospectively recruited. The results showed that language comprehension is the most impaired language domain in ASD. These findings have important clinical implications, since the persistence of grammatical receptive deficits may have a negative impact on social, adaptive and learning achievements. As for the grammatical profiles, persistent difficulties were found during the school-age years in morphological and syntactic decoding in children with relatively preserved cognitive and expressive language skills. These data and the lack of a statistically significant correlation between the severity of ASD symptoms and language skills are in line with the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) perspective that considers the socio-communication disorder as a nuclear feature of ASD and the language disorder as a specifier of the diagnosis and not as a secondary symptom anymore. The presence of receptive difficulties in school-age ASD children with relatively preserved non-verbal cognitive abilities provides important hints to establish rehabilitative treatments.
Comparison of the nutrient content and in situ degradability of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and alfalfa hays

Mature fenugreek and alfalfa were harvested as hay and compared with alfalfa cut at 10% bloom on the basis of proximate and mineral composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in situ degradation characteristics. IVDMD of fenugreek was 73.1%, which was the highest (P < 0.05). The dry matter degradation characteristics in the rumen of fenugreek and alfalfa cut at 10% bloom were similar. These results suggest that mature fenugreek hay was comparable in nutrient content and digestibility to early cut alfalfa. Key words: Fenugreek, alfalfa, in vitro digestibility, in situ rumen degradation, nylon bag
EPPO Datasheet: Lespedeza cuneata

Preferred name: Lespedeza cuneata Authority: (Dumont de Courset) G. Don Taxonomic position: Plantae: Magnoliophyta: Angiospermae: Fabids: Fabales: Fabaceae: Faboideae Other scientific names: Anthyllis cuneata Dumont de Courset, Aspalathus cuneata (Dumont de Courset) G. Don, Hedysarum sericeum Thunberg, Lespedeza argyraea Siebold & Zuccarini, Lespedeza juncea var. sericea (Thunberg) Lace & Hauech, Lespedeza sericea var. latifolia Maximowcz, Lespedeza sericea (Thunberg) Miquel Common names: Chinese bush clover, Chinese lespedeza, Siberian lespedeza (US), bush clover, perennial lespedeza (US), sericea lespedeza (US), silky bush clover view more common names online. EPPO Categorization: A1 list view more categorizations online. EU Categorization: IAS of Union concern EPPO Code: LESCU
Public libraries, museums and physical convergence: Context, issues, opportunities: A literature review Part 1

There has recently been a growth in physical convergence in cultural heritage domains. Part 1 examines this ‘trend’, its drivers and related issues, with particular focus on public libraries and museums. It offers an overview of practice, challenges and opportunities. Through thematic analysis of a comprehensive, literature review of both domains that looked at the wider aspects of collaboration, cooperation, partnerships and integration in the sector as well as physical convergence, it provides insight into background, theory and activities worldwide. It presents discussion on the meaning of convergence, the concept of ‘memory institutions’, the relationship between public libraries and museums in the context of convergence, shared mission and values, convergence and re-convergence, and professionalism and divergence. It concludes with consideration of practical aspects such as motivations for convergence, including digital technology, changing user expectations and culture, and economic and political challenges that impact on physical convergence in a dynamic local government environment.
Vaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome) associated with the N314D mutation of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT)

To follow-up our previous observation that vaginal agenesis might be associated with decreased activity of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT), we studied activity and genotype of GALT in 13 daughters with vaginal agenesis and their mothers. For comparison, GALT measurements were available from 113 premenopausal women with no known Mullerian anomalies selected from the general population. Red cell GALT activity was significantly lower in both the daughters and their mothers in comparison with general population controls. Six out of thirteen (46%) daughters and two mothers of the remaining seven daughters (29%) were carriers for the N314D mutation of GALT associated with the Duarte variant of galactosaemia as compared to 16 out of 113 general population controls (14%) who possessed at least one N314D allele. Pigmentary skin changes and scoliosis were associated phenotypic findings in daughters with vaginal agenesis. We conclude that fetal or maternal GALT mutations that decrease GALT activity may be associated with vaginal agenesis and have, as their possible biological basis, increased intrauterine exposure to galactose which has been demonstrated in rodents to cause decreased oocyte survival and delayed vaginal opening in offspring.
Prognostic factors for disease-free survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after surgery: a single center experience

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors for the disease-free survival (DFS) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients after surgery, and to validate the clinical applicability and prognostic stratification of the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Methods: A cohort of 185 patients with PDAC who underwent surgical resection in the General Surgery Department of Peking University First Hospital from January 2010 to December 2017 was enrolled retrospectively. The clinicopathological characteristics and survival data were analyzed to find out risk factors correlated to DFS. The survival curves were calculated according to the 8th edition of AJCC staging system. Results: Among the 185 PDAC patients, 125 (67.6%) with pancreatic head carcinoma underwent pancreatoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy, and 60 (32.4%) with tumors located in the pancreatic body and tail underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. R0 resection was achieved in 97 patients (52.4%), and the R1 and R2 resections rate was 44.9% and 2.7%, respectively. One hundred five patients (56.8%) received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The median overall survival (OS) was 21 (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.7–24.3) months, and median DFS was 15 (95% CI 13.6–16.5) months. Univariate analysis showed that AJCC T and N staging, status of resection margin, grade of tumor differentiation, perineural invasion, intravascular cancer embolus, combined vascular resection, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) ≥ 2, carcinoembryonic antigen ≥5 ng/mL, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) ≥ 400 U/mL, and without postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were correlated with shorter DFS. Furthermore, AJCC T3, N1 and N2 staging, R2 resection, low-grade or undifferentiated tumors, combined vascular resection, NLR ≥ 2, CA 19-9 ≥ 400 U/mL, and without postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were independent risk factors for DFS. Both the DFS and OS curves were well separated by stage using the 8th staging classification. Conclusions: The 8th edition of AJCC T, primary tumor; N, regional lymph nodes; M, distant metastasis staging system could predict the prognosis of PDAC accurately. Patients with AJCC T3, N1 and N2 staging, R2 resection, low-grade or undifferentiated tumors, combined vascular resection, NLR ≥ 2, CA 19-9 ≥ 400 U/mL, and without postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, have a significantly higher risk of tumor recurrence and shorter DFS after surgery. R0 resection and adjuvant chemotherapy could significantly prolong the DFS of PDAC patients.
Phytoplankton photosynthesis at two index stations in Lake Ontario 1987-1992 : assessment of the long-term response to phosphorus control

L'activite photosynthetique du phytoplancton a ete mesuree de mai a la fin d'octobre en deux points du lac Ontario entre 1987 et 1992, et les donnees publiees obtenues dans le cadre de l'Annee internationale d'etude des Grands Lacs (IFGYL), en 1972, ont fait l'objet d'une nouvelle analyse. Nos mesures semblent indiquer une reduction de 30% de l'activite photosynthetique du phytoplancton saisonniere (1 mai au 31 octobre) depuis l'IFGYL. Une relation empirique entre l'activite photosynthetique du phytoplancton saisonniere et la concentration moyenne de phosphore indique que l'estimation de l'activite photosynthetique du phytoplancton saisonniere en eau libre etablie en 1982 dans le cadre de la « Lake Ontario Nutrient Assessment Study » (LONAS) etait inhabituellement faible (44%) comparativement a celle deduite d'apres la concentration de phosphore. Le manque de donnees de base historiques adequates complique l'evaluation precise des fluctuations a long terme de la productivite. Si l'on fait exception des resultats anormalement faibles enregistres en 1988, les fluctuations annuelles de l'activite photosynthetique du phytoplancton saisonniere observees aux deux stations tout au long de l'etude etaient remarquablement faibles. Les fluctuations a long terme de l'activite photosynthetique du phytoplancton s'expliquent probablement davantage par la diminution de chlorophylle en ete que par des changements de la capacite photosynthetique ou d'une reponse a la temperature. L'importance de la photosynthese subepilimnetique, les differences de transparence entre les stations et les fluctuations saisonnieres de la capacite photosynthetique comme facteurs limitants pour l'activite photosynthetique du phytoplancton sont examinees. La repercussion d'une baisse de la productivite des lacs sur les peches et l'amenagement des lacs est aussi etudiee.
Three New Species of Porina (Trichotheliaceae) from Thailand

Abstract Three species of Porina (Trichotheliaceae), P.kansriae P. M. McCarthy, P. siamensis P. M. McCarthy and P. wolseleyae P. M. McCarthy, are described from aquatic and semi-aquatic rocks in montane rainforest in north-eastern Thailand.
Changes in the sensory, microbiological and compositional properties of Turkish white cheese during ripening

Results of the chemical, microbiological and sensorial properties of Turkish white cheese samples are presented during ripening period. It was observed that dry matter, fat, sodium chloride, ash and acidity increased during ripening, whereas pH value decreased. Dry matter, fat in dry matter, salt in dry matter, ash in dry matter and acidity (lactic acid) contents of cheese samples were found between 35.41-39.48%, 42.54-46.10%, 10.80-11.46%, 12.33-13.49%, and 0.61-1.11%, respectively. The pH values were found between 4.98-5.68. Also, high counts of total mesophilic bacteria and Lactobacilli were recorded throughout the ripening of the cheese. Low pH levels and high NaCl content after 30 days affected the growth of most microbial groups resulting in considerably lower counts at 3 months. Lactobacilli constituted the dominant microflora of the cheese. According to sensory evaluations, the cheese samples were more preferred with aging. This study reported here describes chemical, microbiological and organolep.
The G Protein β5 Subunit Interacts Selectively with the Gq α Subunit*

The diversity in the heterotrimeric G protein α, β, and γ subunits may allow selective protein-protein interactions and provide specificity for signaling pathways. We examined the ability of five α subunits (αi1, αi2, αo, αs, and αq) to associate with three β subunits (β1, β2, and β5) dimerized to a γ2 subunit containing an amino-terminal hexahistidine-FLAG affinity tag (γ2HF). Sf9 insect cells were used to overexpress the recombinant proteins. The hexahistidine-FLAG sequence does not hinder the function of the β1γ2HF dimer as it can be specifically eluted from an αi1-agarose column with GDP and AlF4 −, and purified β1γ2HF dimer stimulates type II adenylyl cyclase. The β1γ2HF and β2γ2HF dimers immobilized on an anti-FLAG affinity column bound all five α subunits tested, whereas the β5γ2HF dimer bound only αq. The ability of other α subunits to compete with the αqsubunit for binding to the β5γ2HF dimer was tested. Addition of increasing amounts of purified, recombinant αi1 to the αq in a Sf9 cell extract did not decrease the amount of αq bound to the β5γ2HF column. When G proteins in an extract of brain membranes were activated with GDP and AlF4 − and deactivated in the presence of equal amounts of the β1γ2HF or β5γ2HF dimers, only αq bound to the β5γ2HF dimer. The αq-β5γ2HF interaction on the column was functional as GDP, and AlF4 −specifically eluted αq from the column. These results indicate that although the β1 and β2 subunits interact with α subunits from the αi, αs, and αq families, the structurally divergent β5 subunit only interacts with αq.
A Complexity-Efficient High Resolution Propagation Parameter Estimation Algorithm for Ultra-Wideband Large-Scale Uniform Circular Array

Millimeter wave (mm-wave) communication with large-scale antenna array configuration is seen as the key enabler of the next generation communication systems. Accurate knowledge of the mm-wave propagation channels is fundamental and essential. In this contribution, a novel complexity-efficient high resolution parameter estimation (HRPE) algorithm is proposed for the mm-wave channel with large-scale uniform circular array (UCA) applied. The proposed algorithm is able to obtain the high-resolution estimation results of the spherical channel propagation parameters. The prior channel information in the delay domain, i.e., the delay trajectories of individual propagation paths observed across the array elements, is exploited, by combining the high-resolution estimation principle and the phase mode excitation technique. Fast initializations, effective interference cancellations, and reduced searching spaces achieved by the proposed schemes significantly decrease the algorithm complexity. Furthermore, the channel spatial non-stationarity in path gain across the array elements is considered for the first time in the literature for propagation parameter estimation, which is beneficial to obtain more realistic results as well as to decrease the complexity. A mm-wave measurement campaign at the frequency band of 28–30GHz using a large-scale UCA is exploited to demonstrate and validate the proposed HRPE algorithm.