Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Natural History of Surgically Treated Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix

ObjectiveThe aim of this investigation was to determine the prognostic variables and optimal surgical procedure for patients with adenocarcinoma of the appendix. Summary Background DataPrimary adenocarcinoma of the appendix is a rare malignancy that constitutes less than 0.5% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, the prognostic factors and the preferred surgical procedure and outcome are poorly understood. MethodsThe authors reviewed their institutional experience from 1976 to 1992 in treating 94 consecutive patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix. Patients with carcinoid tumors or those in whom the diagnosis of primary cecal cancer could not be ruled out were excluded from the study. ResultsFifty-two (55%) patients had the mucinous variety, of which 22 had pseudomyxoma peritonei; the other 45% had the colonic and adenocarcinoid types of tumor. The most common presentation was that of acute appendicitis. Interestingly, in no patients was the correct diagnosis made before surgery, and it was entertained intraoperatively in only 30 patients (32%). The crude 5-year survival rate was 55%, but it varied with stage (A, 100%; B, 67%; C, 50%; and D, 6%; p < 0.01) and with grade (I, 68%, and III, 7%; p < 0.01). Patients with the mucinous type had a better prognosis than those with the colonic type (p < 0.01). The survival rate was superior after right hemicolectomy versus appendectomy alone (68% vs. 20%, p < 0.001). Right hemicolectomy performed as a secondary procedure resulted in the upstaging of 38% of the patients' tumors. A second primary malignancy occurred in 33 patients (35%), of which 17 were located in the gastrointestinal tract. ConclusionsPrimary adenocarcinoma of the appendix should be treated by right hemicolectomy, even if it is a secondary procedure. Surveillance for synchronous or metachronous tumors, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, is warranted.
DNA sequence-dependent deformability deduced from protein-DNA crystal complexes.

The deformability of double helical DNA is critical for its packaging in the cell, recognition by other molecules, and transient opening during biochemically important processes. Here, a complete set of sequence-dependent empirical energy functions suitable for describing such behavior is extracted from the fluctuations and correlations of structural parameters in DNA-protein crystal complexes. These elastic functions provide useful stereochemical measures of the local base step movements operative in sequence-specific recognition and protein-induced deformations. In particular, the pyrimidine-purine dimers stand out as the most variable steps in the DNA-protein complexes, apparently acting as flexible "hinges" fitting the duplex to the protein surface. In addition to the angular parameters widely used to describe DNA deformations (i.e., the bend and twist angles), the translational parameters describing the displacements of base pairs along and across the helical axis are analyzed. The observed correlations of base pair bending and shearing motions are important for nonplanar folding of DNA in nucleosomes and other nucleoprotein complexes. The knowledge-based energies also offer realistic three-dimensional models for the study of long DNA polymers at the global level, incorporating structural features beyond the scope of conventional elastic rod treatments and adding a new dimension to literal analyses of genomic sequences.
Does back-to-school mean back-to-work? Examining the impact of financial assistance on college student employment *

Rising college tuition costs may be forcing many students to seek employment during the academic term. This study employs a unique data set - a survey of financial support and employment decisions of Valdosta State University students in 2005 - to examine how the various forms of financial assistance (federal need-based aid, merit scholarships, and parental assistance) affect college student employment and academic decisions. We find that the type of financial assistance and level of assistance both have significant impacts on student employment. Students with merit-based scholarships are more likely to reduce employment hours. Parental assistance also reduces college students’ labor supply; however, its impact on hours worked is considerably smaller than merit-based scholarships. Finally, students who receive need-based financial assistance do not reduce employment hours. This finding suggests that need-based assistance may not be adequately covering college expenses.
Degradation of nucleic acids in the rumen

1. Nucleic acids introduced into the rumens of calves, or incubated with calf, sheep or cow rumen contents in vitro, were rapidly destroyed. 2. The degradation products formed were separated and identified by means of column chromatography on Sephadex G-10 Dextran gel and thin-layer chromatography on cellulose. 3. In vitro, RNA was rapidly (within 1 h) converted into ultrafilterable oligo-and mono-nucleotides, nucleosides, purine and pyrimidine bases. After 4 h, only the bases xanthine, hypoxanthine and uracil remained, having increased at the expense of the other constituents. 4. DNA gave similar products but with a much greater proportion of ultrafilterable oligoand mono-nucleotide material which remained as a major component even after 4 h. The only bases present in appreciable amounts were thymine, hypoxanthine, uracil and xanthine. 5. The same products accumulated temporarily in vivo, after addition of RNA or DNA to the rumens of calves, and were found also, in small amounts, in corresponding samples of duodenal digesta. The products disappeared from the rumen at a greater rate than could be accounted for by transfer to the duodenum. 6. Cell-free preparations from calf rumen fluid contained enzymes which converted RNA and DNA into products which appeared to be ultrafilterable oligonucleotides. 7. When ground hay was incubated with whole rumen contents the nucleic acids in the hay were degraded to a mixture of nucleotides, nucleosides and bases, almost as readily as were pure nucleic acids.
Controlled Partitioning of a Power Network Considering Real and Reactive Power Balance

In response to disturbances, a self-healing system reconfiguration that splits a power network into self-sufficient islands can stop the propagation of disturbances and avoid cascading events. This paper proposes an area partitioning algorithm that minimizes both real and reactive power imbalance between generation and load within islands. The proposed algorithm is a smart grid technology that applies a highly efficient multilevel multi-objective graph partitioning technique. Thus, it is applicable to very large power grids. The proposed algorithm has been simulated on a 200- and a 22,000-bus test systems. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm improves the voltage profile of an island after the system reconfiguration compared with the algorithm that only considers real power balance. In doing so, the algorithm maintains the computational efficiency.
Combined loss of expression of O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase and hMLH1 accelerates progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

O6‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and human Mut L homologue 1 (hMLH1) are proteins that play an important role in DNA repair. No reports have yet described whether deficient MGMT and hMLH1 expression correlates with tumor progression and the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Opioid growth factor-dependent DNA synthesis in the neonatal rat aorta.

In addition to neuromodulation, endogenous opioids serve as growth factors in neural and nonneural cells. This study examined the hypothesis that opioids are inhibitory growth factors in vascular development. No circadian rhythm was detected for DNA synthesis in endothelial, smooth muscle, or fibroblast cells in the aorta of 1-day-old rats. Administration of naltrexone (NTX), a potent opioid antagonist, markedly increased the labeling indexes of all three cell types. [Met5]enkephalin, found to be the only opioid peptide to influence DNA synthesis and termed the opioid growth factor (OGF), depressed DNA synthesis in each cell type for 4-6 h in a dose-dependent and receptor-mediated manner. In aortas placed in tissue culture, DNA synthesis was significantly increased by incubation in NTX and decreased by incubation with OGF, Both OGF and its receptor, zeta (zeta), were associated with the cytoplasm of all three cell types in the neonatal aorta. These results indicate that an endogenous opioid peptide (i.e., OGF) and its receptor (i.e., zeta) reside in the developing vascular cells and govern DNA synthesis, with OGF acting directly as a tonic negative regulator of cell generation in the great vessels.
Hedging Using Different Models

Although the reconstructed local volatility function can give an accurate approximation to the market volatility which leads to more efficient hedging, using the implied volatility calculated from a carefully chosen model is more ready to be accepted for the sake of easy implementation. We compare the dynamic hedging performance of the constant elasticity of variance model family with constant volatility Black-Scholes model. By assuming that the underlying stock follows a specific diffusion process, we use hypothetic examples to illustrate that Black-Scholes model yields the largest hedging parameter and the greater standard error of relative hedging error. Our observation shows that the constant volatility model can result in significant hedging error, and by allowing for varying volatility, the constant elasticity of variance model is more adaptive.
A Kinematic Human-Walking Model for the Normal-Gait-Speed Estimation Using Tri-Axial Acceleration Signals at Waist Location

This study aims at estimating the human walking speed using wearable accelerometers by proposing a novel virtual inverted pendulum model. This model not only keeps the important characteristics of both the biped rolling-foot and the inverted pendulum model, but also makes the speed estimation feasible using human body acceleration. Rather than using statistical methods, the proposed kinematic walking model enables calibration of the parameters during walking using only one tri-axial accelerometer on the waist that collects the user's body acceleration. In addition, this model also includes the effect of rotation of the waist within a walking cycle, which improves the estimation accuracy. Experimental results for a group of humans show a 0.58% absolute error mean and 0.72% error deviation, which is far better than the results of other known studies with accelerometers mounted on the upper body.
VALUE NEUTRALITY AND THE RANKING OF OPPORTUNITY SETS

Abstract: I argue that a liberal commitment to value neutrality is best honoured by maintaining a pure cardinality component in our rankings of opportunity sets. Two challenges to this claim are considered. The first holds that cardinality rankings are unnecessary for neutrality, since what matters from this perspective is the variety (and not the mere size) of opportunity sets. The second holds that pure cardinality metrics are insufficient for neutrality, because opportunities cannot be individuated into countable entities without presupposing some relevantly partisan evaluative perspective. In each case, a clear understanding of the liberal basis for valuing liberty yields a satisfying response.
Towards a functional visual field assessment for low vision

Visual field assessment is not only important to monitor disease progression, but also to reflect and predict functional difficulty in the real world. Despite this, no test currently available is optimised for determining functional consequences of visual field loss. The aim of this study is to determine the locations within the visual field that best reflect functional difficulty, and to use this information to develop an appropriate method of assessing field loss which reflects its functional consequences. For the first experiment, fifty two participants with peripheral field loss undertook binocular assessment of visual fields using the 30-2 and 60-4 SITA Fast programs on the Humphrey Field Analyser. The mean threshold within different areas of the visual field was used as the main outcome measure. Self-reported difficulties with activities of daily living were assessed using the Dutch ICF Activity Inventory. Greater visual field loss was associated with greater perceived difficulty, and both central (0-30 deg) and peripheral (30-60 deg) visual field areas were similarly related to self-reported function. The results of this experiment suggested that in order to accurately determine the functional consequences of visual field loss, it is necessary to consider the visual field beyond 30 degrees. These findings informed the development of custom visual field assessments in Experiment 2. Fifty participants with peripheral field impairment undertook three custom binocular visual field tests on the Octopus 900 that assessed the field out to 60 degrees from fixation: a threshold, 10dB supra-threshold, and a 10dB kinetic assessment. The mean threshold, percentage of stimuli seen, and visual field area were used as the main outcome measures for analysis. Visual field scores were compared to overall self-reported function assessed during the Dutch ICF Activity Inventory, and mobility function assessed using the Independent Mobility Questionnaire. Results were also compared to currently available methods of assessing functional visual field including integrated visual fields, and Esterman tests. Perceived function related similarly to binocular threshold, suprathreshold, kinetic, and Esterman visual field scores suggesting that as long as a functional visual field test is performed binocularly and includes assessment of eccentricities to 60 degrees, the paradigm used to assess the visual field makes little difference to the test’s ability to predict function. Quick tests using a kinetic or suprathreshold paradigm are more favoured by patients however. A binocular visual field assessment that utilises a suprathreshold or kinetic paradigm, and that assesses the visual field past 30 degrees is effective at reflecting the functional abilities of patients with peripheral visual impairment.
Dose reduction for kilovotage cone-beam computed tomography in radiation therapy

Kilovotage cone-beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT) has shown potentials to improve the accuracy of a patient setup in radiotherapy. However, daily and repeated use of CBCT will deliver high extra radiation doses to patients. One way to reduce the patient dose is to lower mAs when acquiring projection data. This, however, degrades the quality of low mAs CBCT images dramatically due to excessive noises. In this work, we aim to improve the CBCT image quality from low mAs scans. Based on the measured noise properties of the sinogram, a penalized weighted least-squares (PWLS) objective function was constructed, and the ideal sinogram was then estimated by minimizing the PWLS objection function. To preserve edge information in the projection data, an anisotropic penalty term was designed using the intensity difference between neighboring pixels. The effectiveness of the presented algorithm was demonstrated by two experimental phantom studies. Noise in the reconstructed CBCT image acquired with a low mAs protocol was greatly suppressed after the proposed sinogram domain image processing, without noticeable sacrifice of the spatial resolution.
SAR observation and WRF model simulation of land breeze in Hainan Island, China

In this study, an atmospheric phenomenon, land breeze system, was observed on one image mode high resolution SAR image and one middle resolution optical image. WRF model was implemented with actual meteorological conditions as inputs to successfully simulate this process with some understandable discrepancies. The overpass time of ASAR and MODIS are at 10:35 AM and 11:10 AM local time in Hainan. Long time in-situ observations show that the land breeze process is converting to sea process between 10:00 AM and 12:00 AM. Thus, the satellite observed land breeze front is at its ending stage. That is one possible reason that land breeze front on ASAR image is clearer than on MODIS image. It also explained why the cloud line in MODIS image cannot maintain its shape and started to dissipate. The MODIS image also shows that the land breeze dissipation process is not spatial uniform along the whole land-sea breeze front.
Discussion of Financial Ratios As Predictors of Failure

Although a discussant's role in essence is of a critical nature, I would like to start by discussing the strong features of the paper before turning to some areas where critical questions may be useful. First of all, I am very glad to see the empirical approach taken by Professor Beaver for testing the ability of ratios to predict. As he indicated, this is just one of many possibilities for studying the ability of accounting data to predict. In the area of methodology, there are some very strong points to note. For instance, Professor Beaver took substantial care in an attempt to avoid bias in the selection of the two samples: the failed firms and the nonfailed firms. I also like very much his progression in the analysis, starting from the comparison of means, where many people would be tempted to stop, going on to an analysis of predictive power by way of a simple type of discriminant analysis, and then finally approaching the area of likelihood ratios and Bayesian inference. I would also like to stress the importance of the calibrating samples which Professor Beaver used in his analysis. As you know, if you have a body of sample data, you can analyze these and come up with a criterion that is in some sense a good criterion according to the sample data. However, the indication of the predictive power of the criterion based on the sample data generally tends to be biased upward, because the criterion will usually work better for the data from which the criterion was developed than for another random sample from the population. Hence, it is desirable to use calibrating samples where, in effect, half of the data is used in order to develop the criterion and the other half is used to test the predictive power of the criterion. The importance of calibrating samples can be appreciated by examining page 85 of Beaver's paper, where the predictive power (actually its complement, the percentage of firms that are misclassified) is given for a variety of ratios and years before
RF, Analog and Mixed Signal Technologies for Communication ICs - An ITRS Perspective

The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductor (ITRS) Radio Frequency and Analog/Mixed-Signal (RF and AMS) Wireless Technology Working Group (TWG) addresses device technologies for wireless communications covering both silicon and III-V compound semiconductors. This paper discussed the roadmap and the figures of merit (FoM) used to characterize both active and passive devices critical for typical radio front end designs. The trends, challenges and potential solutions was reviewed and address the intersection of silicon and III-V compound semiconductors
The Psychological Defensive Profile of Hemodialysis Patients and Its Relationship to Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract Preliminary data suggest that defensive profile of hemodialysis (HD) patients might influence adaptation to the disease. However, the association of defense mechanisms with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of HD patients remains unknown. In this cross-sectional investigation, 170 HD patients and 170 age- and sex-matched healthy participants had their psychological profile assessed with the Defense Style Questionnaire–40 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Furthermore, the HD patients had their HRQoL measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument–abbreviated version. The HD patients had a more neurotic and immature defensive profile. Splitting, projection, reaction formation, and denial were significantly associated with impaired HRQoL, independent of psychological distress. Somatization was an independent correlate of worse overall and physical HRQoL. These findings suggest that, apart from the treatment of psychological distress symptoms, clinicians should also consider the defensive profile of HD patients because it is independently associated with HRQoL and may be amenable to treatment.
Multidetector Computed Tomography for Suspected Appendicitis: Multi-Institutional Survey of 16-MDCT Data Acquisition Protocols and Review of Pertinent Literature

Purpose: To determine acquisition protocol parameters currently used by different institutions for appendiceal multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Materials and Methods: A survey inquiring about multiple MDCT protocols was mailed to 99 fellows of the Society of Computed Body Tomography in August of 2004, with a second mailing sent in May 2005. A total of 46 institutions or hospitals are represented by these Society of Computed Body Tomography fellows. Details pertaining to protocols for the most advanced MDCT scanner in the department were requested. Results: The overall survey response rate was 17 of 46 or 37%. Fifteen protocols using 16-MDCT for suspected appendicitis were collected and tabulated. Parameters that are similar across institutions include a nonfocused acquisition using oral and intravenous contrast. Detector configuration is even divided between submillimeter and greater than 1 mm, and the most common reconstruction section thickness is 5 mm. Conclusions: Contrast administration and anatomical coverage are quite consistent across this set of protocols. However, future appendiceal MDCT research will need to address the most efficacious detector row collimation, reconstruction section thickness and interval, and the diagnostic capacity of protocols implementing dose reduction measures.
Option pricing under copula-based asymmetric dynamic leverage effects

The paper investigates the problem of option pricing under generalized stochastic volatility models, in which a dynamic leverage effect is considered. We model the leverage effect by a asymmetric dynamic copula function, in which the Kendall's tau is modeled in a autoregressive form to capture the persistence in dependence. By facilitating the most flexible dependence structure in this way, the option value is obtained by monte carlo simulations, and compared to results from traditional stochastic volatility models.