Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Array CGH analysis in primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Cytogenetic profile correlates with anatomic site and tumor aggressiveness, irrespective of mutational status

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) comprise a biologically diverse group of neoplasms with respect to activating mutations in either KIT or PDGFRA, histology, anatomical site of origin, and clinical aggressiveness. In this study, we applied the high resolution array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (array‐CGH) technology to 66 primary GISTs (40 gastric and 26 nongastric, 48 with KIT and 18 with PDGFRA mutations) for identification of novel high‐level alterations and for characterization of genotype‐related genomic changes. All cases had genomic imbalances with the highest occurrence of 14q (73%), 1p (62%), 22q (59%), 15q (38%), and 13q (29%) losses. Our data indicate that loss of chromosome 14 and/or 22 is an early change in GIST tumorigenesis irrespective of tumor genotype. Furthermore, DNA copy number changes showed a site dependent pattern. These included lower incidence of losses at 14q (87% vs. 35%), and higher frequency of losses at 1p (45% vs. 85%) and 15q (17% vs. 69%) in nongastric versus gastric site (P < 0.001 for all). However, in the multivariate analysis with adjustment to tumor risk stratification, only the 14q loss site‐dependent pattern of distribution retained its significance. These findings suggest that loss of 14q is a relatively less frequent genetic event in the development of nongastric GISTs, the lack of which is most likely substituted by the accumulation of 1p/15q and other changes. The novel minimal overlapping regions of deletion at 1p (1p36.32‐1p35.2, 1p34.1, and 1p22.1‐1p21.3), 13q (13q14.11‐q14.2 and 13q32.3‐q33.1), and 15q23 were delineated, which point to chromosomal regions that may harbor genes relevant to the development of these neoplasms. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transcranial epidural approach to pituitary tumors extending beyond the sella.

OBJECTIVE The treatment of residual and/or recurrent pituitary tumors, initially operated on through transsphenoidal and/or transcranial approaches, required a new single approach that would make it possible to excise the tumor from the sella and from the neighboring regions. Surgical complications, such as pneumatocephalus, cerebrospinal fluid leak, mechanical lesion of the internal carotid artery and/or visual apparatus, and failure to remove the tumor completely, supported the need for an approach that would guarantee a much higher rate of completeness of resection of tumours and also avoid the risk of occurrence of complications. This report does not address endocrinological disorders before surgical treatment of pituitary tumors nor is its aim to present the functional efficacy of surgical treatment relating to hormones. METHODS The anatomic relationships of the sellar and parasellar regions were studied using central cranial base specimens. Previous anatomic studies of the triangles of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus (including anteromedial, paramedial, and Parkinson's triangles) and practical experience dealing with tumors in the region led to the use of the triangular windows as key access to the pituitary tumors in the enlarged sella and in the neighboring area(s). RESULTS During the past 15 years, 210 patients with pituitary tumors extending into the parasellar and other regions beyond the sella were operated on using the transcranial approach. In Group I (consisting of 120 patients), complete removal was achieved in 66.5% of the patients by using the classical approach. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred in 8% and impairment of the visual function in 6% of the patients. With the new approach being used during the last 5 years in Group II (consisting of 90 patients), postoperative impairment of the visual function occurred in only 1 patient and cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred in only 1 other patient. Complete excision was achieved in 92.5% of the patients in Group II. Postoperative improvement of the visual function(s) was achieved for 26% of the patients in Group I and 525 of the patients in Group II. There was no mortality in either the first or the second group. CONCLUSION The results led to the conclusion that the new approach to pituitary tumors extending beyond the sella (regarding the rate of completeness of the tumor resection) is superior to the previous transcranial approach. Using the new approach, the risks of surgical complications can be avoided by preserving, intact, the diaphragm sellae and the dura covering the central cranial base around the sella.
Integrated Group Program for Improving Sleep Quality of Elderly People

ABSTRACT This article reports an exploratory study on the effects of an integrated group program for improving the sleep quality of elderly people in Hong Kong. Elderly people aged over 55 who had obtained a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score >5 were recruited as subjects of the study. While 19 subjects of the treatment group were taking part in an integrated group program involving social group work intervention as well as Chinese medicine therapeutics, 9 subjects of comparison group received no intervention. Using a pretest and posttest design, the study revealed positive effects of the integrated group program. It has added knowledge serving the development of interventions that can help to improve the sleep quality of elderly people.
Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy on Xanthan by AFM

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Variable frequency PWM controlled soft switched FB-PESI Dc/Dc converter

Phase-shift full-bridge (PSFB) Dc/Dc converter has been investigated for decade years and many auxiliary techniques and improvements have been proposed already in the foregoing works to overcome its inherent drawbacks, such as narrow ZVS range for the lagging leg switches, large duty cycle loss and primary-side circulation loss with heavy output load. However, the additional loss and cost are always the key bottleneck for the widely utilization of these works. Phase-shift full-bridge Dc/Dc converter with primary-side energy storage inductor (PSFB-PESI) has been proposed and investigated in recent years. Compared with the traditional PSFB Dc/Dc converter, it has advantages in high conversion efficiency and high power density. However, it is not fit for the wide input voltage range because of its inherent buck -derived characteristic. LLC resonant Dc/Dc converter can improve the conversion efficiency further, but it still has over 1% difference in the full-load efficiency when applied in the areas with wide input voltage range. This paper presents a novel variable frequency PWM control strategy utilized for the FB-PESI Dc/Dc converter to obtain relatively high conversion efficiency over a wide input voltage range.
Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy: Appropriate Use of Self-Reporting in Clinical Practice

Abstract Purpose: This study investigated the factors that may affect adherence to antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV infection and compared the use of three self-report tools to determine client adherence. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study of 260 HIV-infected clients attending nine HIV outpatient centers in England was conducted using researcher-administered instruments. Self-reports of adherence were assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS), Reported Adherence to Medication Scale (RAM), and the Patient Adjustment to Medication Scale (PAM). Results: Univariate analysis of clients’ self-reports indicated a number of associations with adherence. Significant associations with less adherent behavior identified by two or more self-report tools were the reported use of recreational drugs, p = . 001; living alone, p = . 041; feeling depressed, p = . 02; being influenced by the media, p = . 037; and lack of a close confidant, p = . 037. Greater adherence was associated with clients reporting a positive mental attitude to HIV infection, p = . 038. Principal component analysis (PCA) of each self-report tool identified two well-recognized constructs: intentional nonadherence and nonintentional nonadherence. In addition, a third construct of following instructions was identified from PAM, a scale developed by the authors. Subsequent regression analysis failed to confirm the associations with adherence suggested by the univariate analysis. Conclusion: This study suggests that the design and use of self-report tools to identify client’s adherence to complex antiretroviral regimens may need to measure individual constructs of adherence to accurately assess adherence behavior.
Advances in synergy of AATSR-MERIS sensors for cloud detection

This paper presents a synergistic cloud detection algorithm that has been developed for processing simultaneous observations from AATSR and MERIS sensors on-board ENVISAT. The main objective of this work is to explore sensor synergies in order to increase the cloud detection accuracy and provide a reliable cloud mask. This is of paramount importance in the framework of the ESA climate change initiative for clouds (Cloud CCI), which aims to provide long time series of cloud properties at a global scale from satellite data. The cloud detection algorithm is based on an ensemble of artificial neural networks, where the outputs of different dedicated models are combined to provide more accurate and robust predictions. The performance of the method has been tested on a large number of real images, and provides higher classification accuracy than other methods, especially when spatial information from the images is included in the classifiers.
Hedging effectiveness of the Athens stock index futures contracts

This paper examines the hedging effectiveness of the FTSE/ATHEX-20 and FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 stock index futures contracts in the relatively new and fairly unresearched futures market of Greece. Both in-sample and out-of-sample hedging performances using weekly and daily data are examined, considering both constant and time-varying hedge ratios. Results indicate that time-varying hedging strategies provide incremental risk-reduction benefits in-sample, but under-perform simple constant hedging strategies out-of-sample. Moreover, futures contracts serve effectively their risk management role and compare favourably with results in other international stock index futures markets. Estimation of investor utility functions and corresponding optimal utility maximising hedge ratios yields similar results, in terms of model selection. For the FTSE/ATHEX Mid-40 contracts we identify the existence of speculative components, which lead to utility-maximising hedge ratios, that are different to the minimum variance hedge ratio solutions.
Significance of exploring pitch only features for the recognition of spontaneous emotions from speech signals

The emotional database can be classified as spontaneous and simulated emotions. Spontaneous emotions can be identified based on the two parameters 1) Arousal and 2) Valence values represented in a two dimensional plane. Arousal measures how calming or exciting the information is, whereas valence measures postive or negative affectivity of information. The objective of the paper is to predict the arousal and valence values from the speech signal which in turn provides the spontaneous emotion information. This paper also provides the significance of using pitch contours obtained from the speech signals having the spontaneous emotion information and is used as features for predicting the arousal and valence values using Deep learning based LSTM models. During testing pitch contours are extracted from the speech signals and used as the features for predicting the arousal and valence values so as to predict the emotions. In this paper a spontaneous database, REmote COLlaborative Affective interaction (RECOLA) database is used. The arousal and valence values predicted in this work has low RMSE. The effectiveness of using pitch to predict 2D values of emotional wheel is also compared on the full blown simulated German emotional database (German EmoDb) and better results were obtained on simulated database also.
Learning Grounded Communicative Intent from Human-Robot Dialog

Studying how a robot can learn to communicate with a person provides insight into how communication might be learned in general. Deep models of dialog and communicative intent typically rely on modeling the internal state of the speakers—states that are unobservable by a learning robot. This paper considers how communication can be framed to be learnable from experience. In particular, we describe how an agent might learn to communicate by building on three foundational capabilities, namely 1) an observable signal of satisfied intent (a smile), 2) the ability to imitate perceived actions, and 3) perceptual referents for discourse items. Early simulation results show that an agent can learn some basic communication skills from these foundations.
Social Capital and Protecting the Rights of the Accused in the American States

High levels of social capital in communities are related to a number of positive conditions. Although high levels of social capital are generally viewed positively, they may also have negative consequences, particularly the mistreatment of people outside the mainstream. As social capital increases, individuals charged with committing crimes—norm violators—may experience increased sanctions and decreased constitutional protections from the state. To explore this aspect of social capital, this study examines the relationship between a state's level of social capital and the likelihood of its highest court granting criminal defendants rights beyond those man-dated by the Supreme Court.
Production of a Biodegradable Plastic Polymer, Poly‐β‐Hydroxybutyrate, in Transgenic Alfalfa

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is primarily used as a source of forage and animal feed. Improving the economic value of alfalfa could be achieved by developing new uses of this perennial crop. To investigate the potential of alfalfa as a source of industrial materials, we employed a genetic transformation approach to produce a biodegradable plastic, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), in the leaves of alfalfa plants. Three genes from Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) encoding the enzymes for synthesis of PHB (phbA, phbB, phbC) and a copolymer of PHB and polyhydroxyvalerate (polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate, or PHB/V) (bktB, phbB, phbC) engineered for plastid targeting were introduced into alfalfa by Agrobacterium-medi-ated transformation. DNA and RNA blot analyses of transgenic plants indicated integration and expression of the PHB biosynthetic pathway genes. Polyhydroxybutyrate content in the leaves of transgenic plants ranged from 0.025 to 1.8 g kg -1 dry weight (DW). Agglomerations of PHB granules 0.2 to 0.4 μm in diameter, similar to bacterial PHB, were located in the chloroplasts of transgenic plants, demonstrating that phb gene products were targeted into the plastids of transgenic alfalfa. Transgenic plants exhibited growth similar to untransformed plants, suggesting that expression of PHB biosynthetic pathway genes at current levels and accumulation of product in the plastids had no deleterious effect on growth and fertility. F 1 hybrid progeny, obtained from crosses of PHB transgenic plants with elite alfalfa germplasm, exhibited leaf PHB levels similar to the transgenic parental line, demonstrating that PHB production in alfalfa is a stable and dominantly inherited trait.
Pathogenesis of pneumovirus infections in mice: detection of pneumonia virus of mice and human respiratory syncytial virus mRNA in lungs of infected mice by in situ hybridization.

The pathogenesis of pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) and human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) in BALB/c mice were investigated by using in situ hybridization to detect virus mRNA in fixed lung sections. Following intranasal inoculation with 120 p.f. u. PVM the pattern of hybridization showed that virus mRNA was initially detected within 2 days in alveolar cells. As the infection progressed the number of hybridizing alveolar cells increased and signal was also detected in cells lining the terminal bronchioles. By days 4 to 5 post-infection areas of morphological abnormality could be seen, particularly in the strongly hybridizing regions of the lung, and this correlated with the appearance of clinical signs of infection. In animals which survived the infection virus-specific mRNA could not be detected 10 days post-infection. Mice infected with 1500 p.f. u. HRSV showed significant differences in the distribution of virus-specific mRNA when compared to the pattern seen with PVM. HRSV mRNA was detected over large areas, but predominantly in peribronchiolar and perivascular regions of the lungs 5 days post-infection. The yield of PVM from infected mouse lungs was considerably higher than that of HRSV. The possible implications of these results for the use of the mouse model for pneumovirus infections are discussed.
A systems approach to the relationship between consumption and wealth

The single-equation approach to the determination of consumption, due to Hendry and von Ungern-Sternberg (HUS), is extended to a multi-equation system which links decisions on consumption and the components of wealth. The original HUS approach has proved to be a very durable one, being applicable to a number of countries and macroeconomic models. This approach is extended to allow a role for rates of return as well as income, and it is shown how this extension results in an error correction system. The empirical analysis used is based on Johansen's maximum likelihood extension of the co-integration approach of Engle and Granger.
Advancing project and portfolio management research: applying strategic management theories

This paper focuses on the application of strategic management theories to Project Management and Project Portfolio Management research, specifically the Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities, and Absorptive Capacity. A literature review and four research experiences illustrate the advances achieved through the use of these three theoretical perspectives, and contribute to the development of this field by providing examples and guidance for theory development and future research. Commonalities between the research examples include a strong strategic focus, recognition of the importance of knowledge and learning, and research questions seeking understanding and explanation. These research experiences outline the successful application of strategic management theories to a wide range of contexts, using diverse methodologies at a variety of levels of analysis. The findings indicate a broad potential for further fruitful research stemming from the relatively recent application of strategic management theories to Project Management and Project Portfolio Management research. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. APM and IPMA. All rights reserved.
Temporary hires and innovative investments

The flexicurity approach claims a positive effect of flexible labour on firm performance, also through an increased ability to innovate. Critics consider it a deregulation of the labour market, decreasing investment in human capital and innovation. We contribute to this broad debate providing an estimate of the relationships linking innovative investment, substitution investment, permanent hires and temporary hires. In particular, we aim at affirming or denying that innovative investments are accompanied by a specific kind of workforce, being it stable or flexible. In doing so, we contribute to bridge the gap among two quite separate strands of literature, as existing literature usually analyses capital and labour separately. Estimating a nonlinear recursive equation system we highlight a significant increase in the likelihood of hiring on a permanent base when the firm innovates; this holds till 2008. Afterward, during the crisis, innovating firms are more likely to hire using temporary contracts instead, a possible signal of a cost saving strategy adopted in a loose labour market by firms still able to innovate. Furthermore, both permanent and temporary hires never depend on increases in labour costs; however, substitution investment increases when labour cost increases, maybe in an attempt to increase labour productivity through a more efficient capital equipment.
Antipersonnel mine detection on infrared images

Detection and clearance of buried mines is a big problem with lots of humanitarian, environmental and economic implications. Classic techniques, such as metal detectors, are not suitable for detecting mines with low or null metal content. In this work we propose a novel method based on the analysis of the different thermodynamic behaviour of the mines and the soil using a sequence of infrared images. In order to process this information, we propose the use of a specific type of neural network characterized by its parallel nature, high processing speed, low cost and power consumption and small size.