Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SoBT-RFW: Rough-Fuzzy Computing and Wavelet Analysis Based Automatic Brain Tumor Detection Method from MR Images

One of the important problems in medical diagnosis is the segmentation and detection of brain tumor in MR images. The accurate estimation of brain tumor size is important for treat- ment planning and therapy evaluation. In this regard, this paper presents a new method, termed as SoBT-RFW, for segmentation of brain tumor from MR images. Itintegrates judiciously the merits of rough-fuzzy computing and multiresolution image analysis technique. The proposed method starts with a simple skull stripping algorithm to remove non-cerebral tissues such as skull, scalp, and dura from brain MR images. To extract the scale-space feature vector for each pixel of brain region, the dyadic wavelet analysis is used, while an unsupervised feature selection method, based on maxi- mum relevance-maximum significance criterion, is used to se lect relevant and significant textural features for brain tumor segmentation. To address the uncertainty problem of brain MR image seg- mentation, the proposed SoBT-RFW method uses the robust rough-fuzzyc-means algorithm. After the segmentation process, asymmetricity is analyzed by using the Zernike moments of each of the tissues segmented in the brain to identify the tumor. Finall y, the location of the tumor is searched by a region growing algorithm based on the concept of rough sets. The performance of the proposed SoBT-RFW method, along with a comparison with related approaches, is demonstrated on a set of synthetic and real brain MR images using standard validity indices.
Interferon-γ Targets Cancer Cells and Osteoclasts to Prevent Tumor-associated Bone Loss and Bone Metastases*

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) has been shown to enhance anti-tumor immunity and inhibit the formation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. We evaluated the role of IFN-γ in bone metastases, tumor-associated bone destruction, and hypercalcemia in human T cell lymphotrophic virus type 1-Tax transgenic mice. Compared with Tax+IFN-γ+/+ mice, Tax+IFN-γ-/- mice developed increased osteolytic bone lesions and soft tissue tumors, as well as increased osteoclast formation and activity. In vivo administration of IFN-γ to tumor-bearing Tax+IFN-γ-/- mice prevented new tumor development and resulted in decreased bromodeoxyuridine uptake by established tumors. In vitro, IFN-γ directly decreased the viability of Tax+ tumor cells through inhibition of proliferation, suppression of ERK phosphorylation, and induction of apoptosis and caspase 3 cleavage. IFN-γ also inhibited macrophage colonystimulating factor-mediated proliferation and survival of osteoclast progenitors in vitro. Administration of IFN-γ to C57BL/6 mice decreased Tax+ tumor growth and prevented tumor-associated bone loss and hypercalcemia. In contrast, IFN-γ treatment failed to protect IFN-γR1-/- mice from Tax+ tumor-induced skeletal complications, despite decreasing tumor growth. These data demonstrate that IFN-γ suppressed tumor-induced bone loss and hypercalcemia in Tax+ mice by inhibiting both Tax+ tumor cell growth and host-induced osteolysis. These data suggest a protective role for IFN-γ in patients with bone metastases and hypercalcemia of malignancy.
An Assessment of the AGA and CCFA Quality Indicators in a Sample of Patients Diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing disease characterized by activation of the mucosal immune system and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Management of IBD places a significant burden on the health care system because of the complexity of treatment, variability in patient outcomes, and chronic nature of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) quality measurement sets in a sample of IBD patients. METHODS: Fourteen quality measures were restated for application to a claims database and calculated using Optum Clinformatics DataMart database. Selected measures were calculated over calendar year 2011. RESULTS: Performance measures ranged from 0.4% for AGA measure 9, prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism, to 66.9% for AGA measure 8, testing for Clostridium difficile. CCFA outcome measures ranged from 0.6% qualifying for CCFA O10, report of fecal incontinence, to 32.9% for CCFA O1, prednisone usage. In addition to Clostridium difficile testing, the use of appropriate corticosteroid-sparing therapy (51.1%) and testing for latent tuberculosis before initiating anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy (45.0%) were the highest achieved measures. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first examination of IBD quality measures using administrative claims. Rates of achievement across measures were variable and likely affected by the ability to calculate certain measures with claims data. Future studies should further examine measurement of IBD quality indicators in claims data to assess the validity of claims-based analyses and to ascertain whether measure attainment translates into better overall health or IBD-related outcomes.
Dissertations Repository System Using Context Module

Without a doubt, the electronic learning makes education quite flexible. Nowadays, all organizations and institutions are trying to avoid Monotony and the delay and inertia. As well the universities should be improving their systems continually to achieve success. Whereas, the students need to access the dissertations in the library. In this paper we will present Dissertations Repository System Using Context Module to allow the students to benefit the dissertations which is in the library flexibly.
Partial Offloading for Latency Minimization in Mobile-Edge Computing

In this paper, we consider latency-minimization resource allocation for a multi-user mobile edge computation offloading (MECO) system. First, we develop a novel partial computation offloading model and then formulate the weighted-sum latency-minimization problem by optimally allocating the communication and computation resources. After that, the closed-form expression for the optimal data segmentation strategy is derived. Based on this result, we transform the original problem into a piecewise convex optimization problem and propose a sub-gradient algorithm to find the optimal resource allocation solution. Moreover, we analyze a specific scenario where communication resource is adequate while computation resource is limited. In this special case, the closed-form solution is devised. Finally, numerical results show that the partial computation offloading model can achieve a better performance than other two baseline schemes.
Removal of coins from the esophagus: nothing new under the sun.

In the recent literature there appears to be a revival of interest in the use of Foley catheters in removing foreign objects from both orifices of the alimentary canal.1-3 During the peak of the Byzantine period, foreign bodies were extracted from the esophagus by having the patient swallow a small, dry sponge on a string, allowing it to expand in the stomach and then withdrawing the sponge. Paulus Aegineta (seventh century) wrote in Book Six of his Epitome of Medicine:
A Hybrid LDA+gCCA Model for fMRI Data Classification and Visualization

Linear predictive models are applied to functional MRI (fMRI) data to estimate boundaries that predict experimental task states for scans. These boundaries are visualized as statistical parametric maps (SPMs) and range from low to high spatial reproducibility across subjects (e.g., Strother , 2004; LaConte , 2003). Such inter-subject pattern reproducibility is an essential characteristic of interpretable SPMs that generalize across subjects. Therefore, we introduce a flexible hybrid model that optimizes reproducibility by simultaneously enhancing the prediction power and reproducibility. This hybrid model is formed by a weighted summation of the optimization functions of a linear discriminate analysis (LDA) model and a generalized canonical correlation (gCCA) model (Afshin-Pour , 2012). LDA preserves the model's ability to discriminate the fMRI scans of multiple brain states while gCCA finds a linear combination for each subject's scans such that the estimated boundary map is reproducible. The hybrid model is implemented in a split-half resampling framework (Strother , 2010) which provides reproducibility (r) and prediction (p) quality metrics. Then the model was compared with LDA, and Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB). For simulated fMRI data, the hybrid model outperforms the other two techniques in terms of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, particularly for detecting less predictable but spatially reproducible networks. These techniques were applied to real fMRI data to estimate the maps for two task contrasts. Our results indicate that compared to LDA and GNB, the hybrid model can provide maps with large increases in reproducibility for small reductions in prediction, which are jointly closer to the ideal performance point of (p=1, r=1).
Subcellular distribution of glycogen and decreased tetanic Ca2+ in fatigued single intact mouse muscle fibres

Muscle glycogen (the storage form of glucose) is consumed during muscle work and the depletion of glycogen is thought to be a main contributor to muscle fatigue. In this study, we used a novel approach to first measure fatigue‐induced reductions in force and tetanic Ca2+ in isolated single mouse muscle fibres following repeated contractions and subsequently quantify the subcellular distribution of glycogen in the same fibre. Using this approach, we investigated whether the decreased tetanic Ca2+ induced by repeated contractions was associated with glycogen depletion in certain subcellular regions. The results show a positive correlation between depletion of glycogen located within the myofibrils and low tetanic Ca2+ after repetitive stimulation. We conclude that subcellular glycogen depletion has a central role in the decrease in tetanic Ca2+ that occurs during repetitive contractions.
Higher viral load may explain the dominance of CRF02_AG in the molecular epidemiology of HIV in Ghana

Phylogenetic analysis of Ghanaian plasma samples from 84 asymptomatic candidate blood donors and 150 AIDS patients revealed a 63% prevalence of HIV-1 CRF02_AG. HIV-1 viral load in both populations was quantified using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. In asymptomatic candidate blood donors infected with CRF02_AG, the viral load was significantly higher than in donors infected with other HIV-1 molecular forms. A higher viral load of CRF02-AG is compatible with higher infectivity and prevalence.
The Persian and Carthaginian Invasions of 480 B.C.E. and the Beginning of the Classical Style: Part 1, the Stratigraphy, Chronology, and Significance of the Acropolis Deposits

This study, in three parts, addresses the problem of the beginning of the classical style—the so-called Severe Style—from an archaeological perspective, focusing on those sculptures found or allegedly found in Persian destruction contexts or directly associated with the Persian and Carthaginian invasions. Part 1, the present article, reexamines the 19th-century excavations of the Acropolis and argues that the style almost certainly did not predate the Persian invasion of 480-479 B.C.E. The only deposit that appears to be pure Perserschutt (uncontaminated destruction debris from the Persian sack) contained only archaic material. The remaining deposits are all later construction fills for the Kimonian/Periklean fortification project of ca. 467-430. The 15 Severe Style sculptures found in them can be shown to postdate the Athenian reoccupation of the citadel by as much as 40 years. Parts 2 and 3 will appear in forthcoming issues of the AJA. Part 2 reexamines deposits from elsewhere in Athens and Attica, in the Aphaia sanctuary at Aigina, and on Sicily, with similar results. Part 3 summarizes current theories about the origins and meaning of the Severe Style; examines the trend toward austerity in Late Archaic Greece, suggesting that the Tyrannicides of Kritios and Nesiotes (477/6) indeed inaugurated the Severe Style; and proposes that the theory that it was somehow occasioned by the Greek victories of 480-479 is worth reconsidering.
An improved perturbation and observation maximum power point tracking algorithm for PV arrays

This paper discusses a new implementation of a perturbation and observation (P&O) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm that can mitigate/reduce the main drawbacks commonly related to the P&O method. This is achieved with peak current control, small perturbation values and sampling of instantaneous values, instead of averaged, to speed up the system response and reduce the oscillations around the maximum power point (MPP). The number of samples per switching cycle, type (synchronized/ unsynchronized) and ideal instant for sampling (maximum or minimum current) are investigated in order to obtain fast calculation of the direction of the next perturbation. Experimental results with the proposed control scheme implemented in a DSP are presented.
Mendelian randomisation suggests no beneficial effect of moderate alcohol consumption on the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Previous epidemiological studies suggest that patients diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who drink light to moderate amounts of alcohol (up to ~30 g per day) have less severe histological lesions compared with nondrinkers. However, while the cross‐sectional nature of current evidence precludes assessment of causality, cumulative lifetime‐exposure of moderate alcohol consumption on histological outcomes has never been evaluated.
Neuroprotective effect of anthocyanins on acetylcholinesterase activity 10 and attenuation of scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats 11 12

Please cite this article as: Gutierres, J.M. , Carvalho, F.B. , Schetinger, M.R. C. , Agostinho, P., Marisco, P.C. , Vieira, J.M. , Rosa, M.M. , Bohnert, C. , Rubin, M.A., Morsch, V.M. , Spanevello, R. , Mazzanti, C.M. ,Neuroprotective effect of anthocyanins on acetylcholinesterase activity and attenuation of scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats, International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience (2013), http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.ijdevneu. 2013.12. 006
Rates and causes of death in Chiradzulu District, Malawi, 2008: a key informant study

In September 2008, we measured all‐cause mortality in Chiradzulu District, Malawi (population 291 000) over a 60‐day retrospective period, using capture–recapture analysis of three lists of deaths provided by (i) key community informants, (ii) graveyard officials and (iii) health system sources. Estimated crude and under‐5‐year mortality rates were 18.6 (95% CI 13.9–24.5) and 30.6 (95% CI 17.5–59.9) deaths per 1000 person‐years. We also classified causes of death through verbal autopsy interviews on 50 deaths over the previous 40 days. Half of deaths were attributable to infection, and half of deaths among children aged under 5 were attributable to neonatal causes. HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death (16.6%), with a cause‐attributable mortality rate of 1.8 (0.4–3.6) deaths per 1000 person‐years.
Innate immune signaling in Drosophila is regulated by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-activated kinase (Tak1)-triggered ubiquitin editing

Coordinated regulation of innate immune responses is necessary in all metazoans. In Drosophila the Imd pathway detects Gram-negative bacterial infections through recognition of diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-type peptidoglycan and activation of the NF-κB precursor Relish, which drives robust antimicrobial peptide gene expression. Imd is a receptor-proximal adaptor protein homologous to mammalian RIP1 that is regulated by proteolytic cleavage and Lys-63-polyubiquitination. However, the precise events and molecular mechanisms that control the post-translational modification of Imd remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Imd is rapidly Lys-63-polyubiquitinated at lysine residues 137 and 153 by the sequential action of two E2 enzymes, Ubc5 and Ubc13-Uev1a, in conjunction with the E3 ligase Diap2. Lys-63-ubiquitination activates the TGFβ-activated kinase (Tak1), which feeds back to phosphorylate Imd, triggering the removal of Lys-63 chains and the addition of Lys-48 polyubiquitin. This ubiquitin-editing process results in the proteasomal degradation of Imd, which we propose functions to restore homeostasis to the Drosophila immune response.
Globalización, inserción comercial y política industrial: análisis de los países miembros de la Alianza del Pacífico y Brasil, con especial énfasis en México

En esta nota tecnica se presentan algunas de las razones que explican el bajo crecimiento de la economia mexicana y las dificultades exhibidas en la generacion de empleos, pese a la favorable evolucion experimentada por sus exportaciones. Se plantea que los bajos encadenamientos productivos domesticos reflejan un bajo nivel de articulacion intersectorial, que ha impedido dinamizar a los distintos sectores productivos del pais. Esta falta de conectividad del entramado productivo domestico se traduce en que los estimulos que se destinan a un determinado sector no se dispersen al resto de la economia y que, por lo tanto, tengan un efecto muy limitado en la generacion de valor agregado domestico y en el crecimiento. En particular, los sectores de “equipo electrico y maquinaria” y “equipo de transporte”, que en forma conjunta representaron un 55,4% de las exportaciones brutas de Mexico en 2011 y que, por ende, son los llamados a constituirse en los motores del crecimiento del pais, en la practica aportaron solo un 23,4% del valor agregado nacional.
Living with Lung Cancer - Patients' Experiences as Input to eHealth Service Design

The objective of the study is to describe the lung cancer care process as experienced by patients, as well as to perform a qualitative analysis of problems they encounter throughout the patient journey. A user-centered design approach was used and data collected through two focus group meetings with patients. We present the results in the form of a patient journey model, descriptions of problems related to the journey as expressed by patients and proposed eHealth services discussed by patients in the focus groups. The results indicate that not only is the patient journey fragmented and different for each patient going through it depending upon their specific type of lung cancer and treatment options, but their experiences are also highly individual and dependent on their personal needs and interpretations of the process. Designing eHealth to improve the patient journey will therefore require flexibility and adaptability to the individual's needs.
Growing Use of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Despite no Improvement in Long-term Survival for Invasive Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVE To update and examine national temporal trends in contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) and determine whether survival differed for invasive breast cancer patients based on hormone receptor (HR) status and age. METHODS We identified women diagnosed with unilateral stage I to III breast cancer between 1998 and 2012 within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry. We compared characteristics and temporal trends between patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery, unilateral mastectomy, and CPM. We then performed Cox proportional-hazards regression to examine breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) in women diagnosed between 1998 and 2007, who underwent breast-conserving surgery with radiation (breast-conserving therapy), unilateral mastectomy, or CPM, with subsequent subgroup analysis stratifying by age and HR status. RESULTS Of 496,488 women diagnosed with unilateral invasive breast cancer, 59.6% underwent breast-conserving surgery, 33.4% underwent unilateral mastectomy, and 7.0% underwent CPM. Overall, the proportion of women undergoing CPM increased from 3.9% in 2002 to 12.7% in 2012 (P < 0.001). Reconstructive surgery was performed in 48.3% of CPM patients compared with only 16.0% of unilateral mastectomy patients, with rates of reconstruction with CPM rising from 35.3% in 2002 to 55.4% in 2012 (P < 0.001). When compared with breast-conserving therapy, we found no significant improvement in BCSS or OS for women undergoing CPM (BCSS: HR 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.16; OS: HR 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.14), regardless of HR status or age. CONCLUSIONS The use of CPM more than tripled during the study period despite evidence suggesting no survival benefit over breast conservation. Further examination on how to optimally counsel women about surgical options is warranted.
Nonlinear effects in acousto-electric devices

This work deals with the nonlinear behavior of acousto-electric components. Besides the well known surface acoustic wave (SAW) components also bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices are meanwhile used in the RF front-end of mobile phones. Especially duplexers have to face the challenge of handling high-power Tx signals together with low-power Rx signals. In order to investigate the nonlinear behavior of such devices single resonators are studied in detail first. Increasing the resonator area by means of cascading lowers the power density on the surface and allows for lower input intercept points of second and third order, IIP2 and IIP3. This investigation gives a first proposal about how to improve current available BAW duplexers. In advance SAW and BAW duplexers of various vendors are measured and compared to each other with respect to their IIP2 and IIP3 values for the very first time. These measurements have been performed at the 3GPP Band II frequency band, which has the same frequency allocation (Tx: 1850 - 1910 MHz, Rx: 1930 - 1990 MHz) like the IS-95 system.
Plasma protein biomarkers enhance the clinical prediction of kidney injury recovery in patients undergoing liver transplantation

Biomarkers predictive of recovery from acute kidney injury (AKI) after liver transplantation (LT) could enhance decision algorithms regarding the need for liver‐kidney transplantation or renal sparing regimens. Multianalyte plasma/urine kidney injury protein panels were performed immediately before and 1 month post‐LT in an initial test group divided by reversible pre‐LT AKI (rAKI = post‐LT renal recovery) versus no AKI (nAKI). This was followed by a larger validation set that included an additional group: irreversible pre‐LT AKI (iAKI = no post‐LT renal recovery). In the test group (n = 16), six pre‐LT plasma (not urine) kidney injury proteins (osteopontin [OPN], neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin, cystatin C, trefoil factor 3, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase [TIMP]‐1, and β‐2‐microglobulin) were higher in rAKI versus nAKI (P < 0.05) and returned to normal values with renal recovery post‐LT. In the validation set (n = 46), a number of proteins were significantly higher in both rAKI and iAKI versus nAKI. However, only pre‐LT plasma OPN (P = 0.009) and TIMP‐1 (P = 0.019) levels were significantly higher in rAKI versus iAKI. Logistic regression modeling was used to correlate the probability of post‐LT rAKI, factoring in both pre‐LT protein markers and clinical variables. A combined model including elevated OPN and TIMP‐1 levels, age <57, and absence of diabetes had the highest area under the curve of 0.82, compared to protein‐only and clinical variable–only models. Conclusion: These data suggest that plasma protein profiles might improve the prediction of pre‐LT kidney injury recovery after LT. However, multicenter, prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and ultimately test the value of such protein panels in perioperative management and decision making. (Hepatology 2014;60:2016–2025)