Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic head carcinoma: clinical analysis of 189 cases.

BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease with an increasing incidence. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data on diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma, and analyzed the factors affecting prognosis of the disease. METHODS The data of 189 patients with pancreatic head carcinoma treated from September 1, 1995 to August 31, 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Ninety-four patients treated from September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2005 were followed up in April 2008. The median survival time (MST) and 1- to 5- year cumulative survival rates of the patients were calculated by the life table method and the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression was used to screen out significant risk factors. RESULTS 96.9% of the patients were more than 40 years old, and the male/female ratio was 1.63. The detection rate of transabdominal ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and serum tumor marker CA19-9 were 82.0%, 93.1%, 94.7% and 79.8%, respectively. The MST of patients with pancreatic head carcinoma was 360+/-60 days. The 1- to 5-year cumulative survival rates were 50.0%, 19.2%, 12.1%, 9.4% and 4.7%, respectively. However, patients with unresectable tumor survived for a shorter time (183+/-18 days). Their 1- to 2-year cumulative survival rates were 28.3% and 0.0%. Cox regression analysis showed that in pancreatic head carcinoma, the independent predictors for prognosis included tumor size, invasion of the superior mesenteric vessel, and radical resection. The MST of patients with pancreatic head carcinoma after radical resection was 510 days, significantly longer than that of patients undergoing non-specific treatment and palliative therapy (225 days). In addition, patients with slight jaundice survived for the longest time (533+/-51 days), compared with patients with severe jaundice (236+/-43 days) and without jaundice (392+/-109 days). CONCLUSIONS Pancreatic head carcinoma is easily misdiagnosed, and is usually found to be advanced when tumor size is too large (above 4 cm in diameter) with local spread or metastatic disease. In these cases, surgical resection is usually not feasible, and its prognosis is usually very poor. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to these high-risk patients, especially, males, more than 40 years old, and presenting slight jaundice. Then imaging examination (US, CT and EUS) and serum tumor marker examination (CA19-9) are used to detect this disease earlier, and perform curative resection earlier. In this way, it is possible to cure the patients with a longer survival time and better quality of life.
Geometric Eye Gaze Tracking

: This paper presents a novel eye gaze estimation method based on calculating the gaze vector in a geometric approach. There have been many publications in the topic of eye gaze estimation, but most are related to using dedicated infra red equipment and corneal glints. The presented approach, on the other hand, assumes that only an RGB input image of the user’s face is available. Furthermore, it requires no calibration but only simple one-frame initialization. In comparison to other systems presented in literature, our method has better accuracy. The presented method relies on determining the 3D location of the face and eyes in the initialization frame, tracking these locations in each consecutive frame and using this knowledge to estimating the gaze vector and point where the user is looking. The algorithm runs in real time on mobile devices.
GROWTH RETARDANTS: Effects on Gibberellin Biosynthesis and Other Metabolic Pathways.

Plant growth retardants are applied in agronomic and horticultural crops to reduce unwanted longitudinal shoot growth without lowering plant productivity. Most growth retardants act by inhibiting gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis. To date, four different types of such inhibitors are known: (a) Onium compounds, such as chlormequat chloride, mepiquat chloride, chlorphonium, and AMO-1618, which block the cyclases copalyl-diphosphate synthase and ent-kaurene synthase involved in the early steps of GA metabolism. (b) Compounds with an N-containing heterocycle, e.g. ancymidol, flurprimidol, tetcyclacis, paclobutrazol, uniconazole-P, and inabenfide. These retardants block cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases, thereby inhibiting oxidation of ent-kaurene into ent-kaurenoic acid. (c) Structural mimics of 2-oxoglutaric acid, which is the co-substrate of dioxygenases that catalyze late steps of GA formation. Acylcyclohexanediones, e.g. prohexadione-Ca and trinexapac-ethyl and daminozide, block particularly 3ss-hydroxylation, thereby inhibiting the formation of highly active GAs from inactive precursors, and (d) 16,17-Dihydro-GA5 and related structures act most likely by mimicking the GA precursor substrate of the same dioxygenases. Enzymes, similar to the ones involved in GA biosynthesis, are also of importance in the formation of abscisic acid, ethylene, sterols, flavonoids, and other plant constituents. Changes in the levels of these compounds found after treatment with growth retardants can mostly be explained by side activities on such enzymes.
Inadequate adherence to radiotherapy in latina immigrants with carcinoma of the cervix. Potential impact on disease free survival

Background. Radiation therapy plays an important role in the loco‐regional control of carcinoma of the cervix. Strict adherence to the radiation protocol, without the introduction of time breaks, has been shown to favorably affect loco‐regional control and survival, making adherence a crucial variable for optimal outcome. Because carcinoma of the cervix is a common disease among Latinas, with survival rates worse than those of other ethnic groups in this country, the pattern of adherence to the prescribed radiation treatment among Latina patients seen at Los Angeles County Hospital were studied.
The Controls of Fat Intake

Objective To present evidence on the control of the size of fatty meals in the context of the result of interactions of orosensory positive-feedback and postingestive negative-feedback mechanisms activated by fat stimuli in rodent models of feeding and of obesity. Method We examined the effects of orosensory stimuli and postingestive stimuli in Sprague-Dawley rats, and in the genetically obese Zucker (fa/fa) rat. We used the sham feeding rat preparation to isolate the orosensory stimulating and postingestive satiating properties of oils. The negative-feedback satiating properties of fats were elicited by intestinal infusions of fats. The Zucker rat is an animal model of obesity with abnormal control of meal size and increased intake of fats. Using this model we further examined the interaction of orosensory and postingestive stimuli in the control of meal size. Results The orosensory properties of fats are sufficient to drive sham feeding and are not dependent on the postabsorptive metabolic consequences of oils in normal and Zucker rats. The satiating action of fats must act at preabsorptive sites because reduction of intake occurs before absorption of fat. The satiating potency of fats is dependent upon their specific chemical conformation and is mediated by endogenous cholecystokinin and afferent fibers of the abdominal vagus. We have found that oils produce significantly more orosensory positive feedback in obese Zucker rats than in lean rats in experimental tests of preference. This is probably the major abnormal mechanism responsible for the increased preference for fats that is characteristic of obese rats because we have not identified any significant decrease in the postingestive satiating potency of fats in obese Zucker rats. Conclusions Fat intake is controlled by both orosensory and postingestive stimuli in normal and genetically obese rodents. In the Zucker rat the investigation of this model of genetic obesity has produced data that is congruent with the preference for high fat foods in obese people and suggests further experiments directed toward a deeper understanding of the controls of fat intake and how they are disordered.
ANALYTICAL POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR ESIs USING SPHEROIDAL HEAD MODELS

AbstractElectrical activity in the human brain can be monitored using electrodes placed on the scalp. Activity representations using voltage measurements is called electrical source image (ESI). ESIs are obtained by comparing the measurements with the solutions obtained using a numerical model of the head. Spheroid approximates the shape of a human head and can be used for that purpose. In this study, the analytical formulation for the solution of the potential distribution due to a current dipole in a uniformly conductive spheroidal head model is implemented. The accuracy in solutions is tested with the results obtained using Boundary Element Method (BEM) with a dense mesh. The solutions of analytical and numerical potential fields are compared as the depth of the dipole inside the spheroid is increased. The comparison is done for two types of spheroids: prolate spheroid (egg-shape) and oblate spheroid (discus-shape). It is observed that for prolate spheroid the error is about 1% when the dipole is not located close to boundary and for the oblate spheroid the error is calculated as approximately 3%. It is concluded that spheroid head models can be used in electro-magnetic source imaging.
Nonlinear mechanisms of sound generation in a perturbed parallel jet flow

An initial value problem with relevance to jet noise is investigated. A plane parallel jet flow is subjected to a spatially localized initial disturbance and is then left to evolve according to the two-dimensional compressible Navier–Stokes equations. The hydrodynamic response is in the form of a convecting vortex packet. The Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings approach is formulated in the time domain and used to extrapolate from the simulated near field to the acoustic far field. The predominant downstream sound radiation comes from an early stage of nonlinear development of the vortex packet. Two simplified models to account for the radiation are introduced, based on nonlinear mode interactions on a prescribed base flow. The first uses two sets of linearized Euler equations, coupled via the inviscid Lilley–Goldstein acoustic analogy. This formulation separates the linear sound field from the sound field driven by nonlinear interactions; qualitative agreement of the latter with the Navier–Stokes computations demonstrates the importance of nonlinear interactions. The second model uses combinations of linear inviscid eigenmodes to drive the sound field, which allows extraction of the dominant mode interactions responsible for the observed radiation pattern. The results indicate that a difference-wavenumber nonlinear interaction mechanism dominates sound radiation from subsonic instability modes in shear flows.
A high‐throughput shotgun mutagenesis approach to mapping B‐cell antibody epitopes

Characterizing the binding sites of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) on protein targets, their ‘epitopes’, can aid in the discovery and development of new therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines. However, the speed of epitope mapping techniques has not kept pace with the increasingly large numbers of mAbs being isolated. Obtaining detailed epitope maps for functionally relevant antibodies can be challenging, particularly for conformational epitopes on structurally complex proteins. To enable rapid epitope mapping, we developed a high‐throughput strategy, shotgun mutagenesis, that enables the identification of both linear and conformational epitopes in a fraction of the time required by conventional approaches. Shotgun mutagenesis epitope mapping is based on large‐scale mutagenesis and rapid cellular testing of natively folded proteins. Hundreds of mutant plasmids are individually cloned, arrayed in 384‐well microplates, expressed within human cells, and tested for mAb reactivity. Residues are identified as a component of a mAb epitope if their mutation (e.g. to alanine) does not support candidate mAb binding but does support that of other conformational mAbs or allows full protein function. Shotgun mutagenesis is particularly suited for studying structurally complex proteins because targets are expressed in their native form directly within human cells. Shotgun mutagenesis has been used to delineate hundreds of epitopes on a variety of proteins, including G protein‐coupled receptor and viral envelope proteins. The epitopes mapped on dengue virus prM/E represent one of the largest collections of epitope information for any viral protein, and results are being used to design better vaccines and drugs.
Culture of hematopoietic stem cells purified from murine bone marrow.

The results of the Y-chromosome in situ hybridization experiments, the MRA assessment, and the long-term production of CFU-GM in vitro indicate that our protocol to sort low density WGA+, 15/1.1-, Rh123 dull cells enriches about 200-fold for PHSC. Assays for spleen colony formation (CFU-S) and radioprotection (30-day survival) were shown to be unspecific for PHSC, and, therefore, we lack a quantitative PHSC assay. The absolute number of PHSC in the bone marrow is not known any more, the purity of our sorted population likewise is unknown. Long-term repopulating cells (PHSC) could be separated from short-term repopulating ones by using Rh123 staining. The short-term repopulating cells (Rh123 bright) provided sufficient offspring to protect lethally irradiated mice until endogenous PHSC could reconstitute hematopoiesis. These cells are therefore of interest for bone marrow transplantation, because they provide radioprotection without long-term repopulation and graft-versus-host disease. For gene therapy these cells are of limited use, and PHSC with extensive replication are needed. The PHSC were not cultured successfully. Less than 15% of the sorted Rh123 dull cells responded in semisolid or liquid cultures in the presence of growth factors. Proliferation without differentiation was not observed. This may indicate that the right growth factor has not been found yet. On the other hand, about 30% of the cells responded in stromal layers of long-term bone marrow cultures and prolonged CFU-GM production and cobblestone area formation were observed there, suggesting that cell-cell contact and adherence molecules play a regulatory role in PHSC replication. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Family Structure and Childhood Obesity : An Analysis Through 8 th Grade

Research on the effect of family structure on childhood obesity is scarce. This study examines the effect of number of parents and number of siblings on US children’s body mass index (BMI) and risk of obesity. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Cohort (ECLSK), which consists of a nationally representative cohort of children who entered kindergarten in 1998–1999, to examine the effect of family structure on children’s body mass index and risk of obesity from kindergarten through 8th grade. Study outcomes were BMI in kindergarten and 8th grade, obesity status in kindergarten and 8th grade, and change in BMI from kindergarten through 8th grade. Multivariate regressions were used to assess the association between family structure and study outcomes while adjusting for other covariates. In 8th grade, children with no siblings had higher BMI (23.7 vs. 22.6; P B 0.01) and higher probability of being obese (25.8 vs. 19.7 %; P B 0.05) than their counterparts with two or more siblings. They also had a larger increase in BMI from kindergarten through 8th grade than children living with two or more siblings (7.3 vs. 6.3; P = 0.02). Our analysis suggests that the association between family structure and obesity persists and even intensifies through 8th grade. These findings have important implications for targeting obesity support and counseling for families.
From the hospital into the community and back again–A trend towards re-institutionalisation in mental health care?

Background: Despite numerous and indispensable advantages, the shift from hospital-based to community mental healthcare has engendered problems. To analyse whether or not the process of de-institutionalization has gone too far, studies are needed that cover general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and penitentiaries as interlocked systems, but these are still scarce. Method: We combined epidemiological and service utilization data from three recent European studies that explored the legal frameworks for and the practices with regard to involuntary treatment in general mental healthcare, to the care of mentally disordered offenders in forensic care and to the care of mentally ill inmates in the European prison systems, and used more specific data from one country to illustrate how changes to the legal frameworks in one sector may potentially affect the others. Results: Time series from European Union (EU) member states suggest that civil detention rates remained more or less stable during the 1990s, though on rather different levels internationally. Admissions to forensic psychiatric facilities increased during the same period. Data on the mental state (or changes in rates of psychiatric morbidity) in European prison populations are not available–aside from the prison suicide rate. Data from selected countries are likely to suggest that changes to the legal framework in one sector may considerably affect admission rates in others. Conclusions: National or regional studies are needed to analyse the linkage between sectors and to identify inappropriate patient shifting. National and international data bases need to be implemented or improved.
Identification by Phage Display of the Linear Continuous MRPr1 Epitope in the Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein (MRP1)

Abstract In order to study the structure of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1), which is one of the most important members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein family acting as drug-efflux systems, we have developed an epitope mapping-based strategy. By means of the mAb MRPr1, we have immunoselected clones from two distinct random peptide libraries displayed on phages and have identified several peptide sequences mimicking the internal conformation of this 190 kDa multidrug transporter protein. Phage clones able to block the immunolabeling of the MRPr1 antibody to MRP1-overexpressing multidrug resistance (MDR) H69/AR cells were isolated and, after sequencing the corresponding inserts, their amino acid sequence was compared to that of MRP1. This analysis led to the identification of the consensus sequence L.SLNWED, corresponding to the MRP1 segment LWSLNKED (residues 241–248). This MRP1sequence is partially overlapping with the MRPr1 epitope GSDL WSLNKE (residues 238–247) previously mapped using peptide scanning techniques. These results demonstrate the high reliability of phage display technology to study not only the topography of complex integral membrane proteins such as MRP1, but also to help identify critical residues participating in the formation of the epitope structure.
Electrophoretic analysis of multiple protein‐DNA interactions

Under favorable conditions, native gel electrophoresis allows the resolution of protein‐DNA complexes that differ in stoichiometry, identities of occupied DNA sequences (configuration), and macromolecular conformation. This technique provides a unique opportunity to analyze, in thermodynamic terms, the molecular interactions that govern the equilibrium distributions of species in protein‐DNA mixtures. Here we describe a general theoretical approach to the analysis of electrophoretic band intensities, and provide examples of its application to the analysis of several interacting systems.
SUSTITUCIÓN DE TARTRAZINA POR BETACAROTENO EN LA ELABORACIÓN DE BEBIDAS NO ALCOHÓLICAS

Introduccion. Los colorantes como aditivos alimentarios estan en permanente observacion por sus posibles efectos sobre la salud de los consumidores, por lo tanto se adelantan estudios orientados hacia la sustitucion de colorantes artificiales por naturales. Entre ellos la tartrazina es uno de los pocos aditivos que debe declararse independiente de la lista de ingredientes por sus posibles efectos alergenicos. Como alternativa de sustitucion se encuentra el betacaroteno, por su origen natural y sus propiedades antioxidantes. Objetivo. Evaluar la viabilidad de la sustitucion de la tartrazina por betacaroteno como colorante amarillo en la elaboracion de una bebida no alcoholica. Materiales y metodos. Se trabajo con tartrazina y betacaroteno comercial y se construyeron curvas de calibracion por espectrofotometria UV-visible para ambos colorantes; posteriormente se procedio a un seguimiento de la estabilidad de los compuestos en diferentes condiciones ambientales con el fin de determinar su degradacion. Finalmente se evaluo el producto sensorialmente para identificar posibles efectos adversos sobre el sabor del producto terminado. Resultados. Se encontro que en condiciones ambientales extremas (cambios bruscos de temperatura e incidencia directa de la luz del sol) la tartrazina es mas resistente que el betacaroteno, sin embargo en condiciones normales de almacenamiento (interior, cajas o refrigeracion) ambos colorantes presentan una estabilidad adecuada. En cuanto a la percepcion sensorial, el 64% de los evaluados prefirio el producto con betacaroteno por su apariencia mas natural y una mejor textura y sabor. Conclusion. El betacaroteno puede emplearse como sustituyente de la tartrazina en la elaboracion de bebidas no alcoholicas siempre que se garanticen unas condiciones adecuadas de almacenamiento.
Influence of the PLL phase-angle quality on the static and dynamic performance of grid-connected systems

This paper presents some effects that contribute to performance degradation of grid-connected systems, when they are subjected to operate under distorted reference phase-angle signals. In many power electronics applications, grid-tied systems are developed on the synchronous reference frame (SRF) and make use of the synchronous unit vector coordinates to compute their control references. Usually, the unit vector coordinates are generated from the estimation of the utility phase-angle, which is obtained by means of phase-locked loop (PLL) schemes. Thus, static and dynamic disturbances present in the utility voltage can generate distorted phase-angle signals, and, hence, can affect the quality of the synchronous unit vector coordinates. In this paper, two single-phase SRF-based PLL schemes, which operate under distorted utility voltage conditions, as well as distinct bandwidth PI controllers, are used to generate the current control references of a single-phase shunt active power filter (S-APF). Experimental results based on digital signal controller are used to evaluate the problems that can interfere on the S-APF performance.