Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Supine MRI for regional breast radiotherapy: imaging axillary lymph nodes before and after sentinel-node biopsy

Regional radiotherapy (RT) is increasingly used in breast cancer treatment. Conventionally, computed tomography (CT) is performed for RT planning. Lymph node (LN) target levels are delineated according to anatomical boundaries. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could enable individual LN delineation. The purpose was to evaluate the applicability of MRI for LN detection in supine treatment position, before and after sentinel-node biopsy (SNB). Twenty-three female breast cancer patients (cTis-3N0M0) underwent 1.5 T MRI, before and after SNB, in addition to CT. Endurance for MRI was monitored. Axillary levels were delineated. LNs were identified and delineated on MRI from before and after SNB, and on CT, and compared by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. LN locations and LN-based volumes were related to axillary delineations and associated volumes. Although postoperative effects were visible, LN numbers on postoperative MRI (median 26 LNs) were highly reproducible compared to preoperative MRI when adding excised sentinel nodes, and higher than on CT (median 11, p < 0.001). LN-based volumes were considerably smaller than respective axillary levels. Supine MRI of LNs is feasible and reproducible before and after SNB. This may lead to more accurate RT target definition compared to CT, with potentially lower toxicity. With the MRI techniques described here, initiation of novel MRI-guided RT strategies aiming at individual LNs could be possible.
Supplemental Materials : A solid-state single-photon filter

L. de Santis, C. Antón, B. Reznychenko, N. Somaschi, G. Coppola, J. Senellart, C. Gómez, A. Lemâıtre, I. Sagnes, A. G. White, L. Lanco, 5 A. Auffeves, and P. Senellart 6, ∗ Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, C2N – Marcoussis, 91460 Marcoussis, France CEA/CNRS/UJF joint team “Nanophysics and Semiconductors”, Institut Néel-CNRS, BP 166, 25 rue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France, Université Grenoble-Alpes & CNRS, Institut Néel, Grenoble, 38000, France Systran -SA Rue Feydeau 75002 Paris, France Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems, Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia Université Paris Diderot – Paris 7, 75205 Paris CEDEX 13, France Physics Department, Ecole Polytechnique, F-91128 Palaiseau, France (Dated: July 21, 2016)
Matted nodes as a predictor of distant metastasis in advanced‐stage III/IV oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

We recently described the imaging characteristics of multiple confluent regional metastases (matted nodes) and found that this characteristic was associated with distant metastasis in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The purpose of this study was to determine if matted nodes are a predictive marker for distant metastasis.
Effect of particulate matter air pollution on C-reactive protein: a review of epidemiologic studies

Abstract Inflammatory response is implicated as a biologic mechanism that links particulate matter (PM) air pollution with health effects. C-reactive protein (CRP), an important acutephase reactant with profound proinflammatory properties, is used clinically as an indicator of the presence and intensity of inflammation. In vitro and in vivo animal studies suggest that CRP levels increase in response to PM exposure, but there was no consistency in epidemiologic studies. Herein, a systematic review was conducted to examine the association between PM exposure and serum CRP levels in humans. Elevated CRP levels were consistently found among children, and CRP elevations were also observed among healthy adults, albeit requiring higher peak levels of PM exposure. PM-induced CRP responses were not consistently found in adults with chronic inflammatory conditions, perhaps because of the use of anti-inflammatory medications in this population. Of the eight examined randomized trials, only one trial with a longer intervention period supported the effect of PM exposure on CRP concentrations. To provide conclusive evidence, further epidemiologic studies are needed to better quantify the magnitude of CRP level changes in response to PM with well-defined study populations and better control of various confounding factors.
First Measurements of Deuterium-Tritium and Deuterium-Deuterium Fusion Reaction Yields in Ignition-Scalable Direct-Drive Implosions.

The deuterium-tritium (D-T) and deuterium-deuterium neutron yield ratio in cryogenic inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments is used to examine multifluid effects, traditionally not included in ICF modeling. This ratio has been measured for ignition-scalable direct-drive cryogenic DT implosions at the Omega Laser Facility [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)OPCOB80030-401810.1016/S0030-4018(96)00325-2] using a high-dynamic-range neutron time-of-flight spectrometer. The experimentally inferred yield ratio is consistent with both the calculated values of the nuclear reaction rates and the measured preshot target-fuel composition. These observations indicate that the physical mechanisms that have been proposed to alter the fuel composition, such as species separation of the hydrogen isotopes [D. T. Casey et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 075002 (2012)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.108. 075002], are not significant during the period of peak neutron production in ignition-scalable cryogenic direct-drive DT implosions.
Improving Gene Therapy's Tool Kit

BIOMEDICINEMore than 4000 patients have been enrolled in gene transfer experiments over the last decade, but until now the research has produced few unambiguous results, mainly due to the difficulty of finding ways of transferring genes into patients. The various viruses that researchers have developed for use as gene therapy "vectors" each have their own risks and advantages.
Inhibition of Local Immune Responses by the Frog-Killing Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

ABSTRACT Amphibians are suffering unprecedented global declines. A leading cause is the infectious disease chytridiomycosis caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Chytridiomycosis is a skin disease which disrupts transport of essential ions leading to death. Soluble factors produced by B. dendrobatidis impair amphibian and mammalian lymphocytes in vitro, but previous studies have not shown the effects of these inhibitory factors in vivo. To demonstrate in vivo inhibition of immunity by B. dendrobatidis, a modified delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) protocol was developed to induce innate and adaptive inflammatory swelling in the feet of Xenopus laevis by injection of killed bacteria or phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Compared to previous protocols for PHA injection in amphibians, this method induced up to 20-fold greater inflammatory swelling. Using this new protocol, we measured DTH responses induced by killed bacteria or PHA in the presence of B. dendrobatidis supernatants. Swelling induced by single injection of PHA or killed bacteria was not significantly affected by B. dendrobatidis supernatants. However, swelling caused by a secondary injection of PHA, was significantly reduced by B. dendrobatidis supernatants. As previously described in vitro, factors from B. dendrobatidis appear to inhibit lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory swelling but not swelling caused by an inducer of innate leukocytes. This suggests that B. dendrobatidis is capable of inhibiting lymphocytes in a localized response to prevent adaptive immune responses in the skin. The modified protocol used to induce inflammatory swelling in the present study may be more effective than previous methods to investigate amphibian immune competence, particularly in nonmodel species.
Methamphetamine Use in Club Subcultures

In recent decades, methamphetamine developed a peculiar geographic distribution in the United States, with limited diffusion in the Northeast. While use within gay clubs received attention, methamphetamine in club subcultures more broadly remains less clear. Using quantitative and qualitative data, we provide a descriptive assessment of methamphetamine use in club subcultures. Methamphetamine use in club subcultures often has instrumental purposes. The context of initiation into methamphetamine use and its close connection to cocaine shape later patterns of use. Viewing meth solely as a gay party drug misses a significant part of the population and may misguide public health strategies to reduce methamphetamine use in the Northeast.
Loss of Apoptosis-Inducing Factor Results in Cell-Type-Specific Neurogenesis Defects

Mitochondrial dysfunction is commonly associated with neurodegeneration in the aging brain. In addition, the importance of mitochondrial function during brain development is illustrated by the neurological deficits observed in infants with mitochondrial complex deficiencies. However, the extent to which abnormalities in mitochondrial function might impact neurogenesis during brain development is not well understood. Previously, we demonstrated that adult harlequin (Hq) mutant mice, which have an 80% reduction in the mitochondrial protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), exhibited signs of oxidative stress and progressive loss of adult cerebellar and retinal neurons. To assess whether in addition to its role in postmitotic neuron survival Aif is also necessary for cerebellar development, we analyzed embryos in which Aif was deleted in the prospective midbrain and cerebellum at a very early stage of development using an En1 (engrailed 1) promoter-driven cre recombinase gene. These mutant mice, which died at birth, had midbrain defects and dramatic deficits in cerebellar Purkinje and granule cell precursors. Additional analysis revealed that Aif-null Purkinje cell precursors prematurely entered S-phase, but most failed to undergo mitosis and ultimately died via apoptosis. In contrast, proliferation of mutant granule cell precursors was blocked before S-phase. Mice in which Aif was deleted later in embryogenesis using a nestin promoter-driven cre gene survive for several days after birth, and postnatal granule cell precursors in these mice also failed to enter S-phase. Our results indicate that the loss of Aif results in cell cycle abnormalities in a neuron-specific manner during cerebellar development.
Neurite outgrowth is significantly increased by the simultaneous presentation of Schwann cells and moderate exogenous electric fields

Axonal extension is influenced by a variety of external guidance cues; therefore, the development and optimization of a multi-faceted approach is probably necessary to address the intricacy of functional regeneration following nerve injury. In this study, primary dissociated neonatal rat dorsal root ganglia neurons and Schwann cells were examined in response to an 8 h dc electrical stimulation (0–100 mV mm−1). Stimulated samples were then fixed immediately, immunostained, imaged and analyzed to determine Schwann cell orientation and characterize neurite outgrowth relative to electric field strength and direction. Results indicate that Schwann cells are viable following electrical stimulation with 10–100 mV mm−1, and retain a normal morphology relative to unstimulated cells; however, no directional bias is observed. Neurite outgrowth was significantly enhanced by twofold following exposure to either a 50 mV mm−1 electric field (EF) or co-culture with unstimulated Schwann cells by comparison to neurons cultured alone. Neurite outgrowth was further increased in the presence of simultaneously applied cues (Schwann cells + 50 mV mm−1 dc EF), exhibiting a 3.2-fold increase over unstimulated control neurons, and a 1.2-fold increase over either neurons cultured with unstimulated Schwann cells or the electrical stimulus alone. These results indicate that dc electric stimulation in combination with Schwann cells may provide synergistic guidance cues for improved axonal growth relevant to nerve injuries in the peripheral nervous system.
The role of vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis and migration during uterine spiral artery remodeling in normal human pregnancy

During human uterine spiral artery (SpA) remodeling, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are lost and replaced by fibrinoid, incorporating extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. The aim of the current study was to determine the relative contributions of apoptosis and migration to VSMC loss during SpA remodeling. Immunohistochemistry (Apoptag, active caspase 3, lamin) of placental bed biopsies (8–20 wk gestation) demonstrated apoptotic cells in all samples; double immunolabeling identified these as trophoblasts, leukocytes, and endothelial cells. In total, 294 SpAs were studied, and only one apoptotic VSMC was identified. H‐caldesmon‐immunopositive VSMCs were observed surrounding and separate from SpA walls in partially remodeled vessels; the highest level of VSMC migration was observed in vessels with associated EVT cells (number of migrated cells 6.4±1.2; distance migrated 3.5±0.3 pixels) compared with those without (number of migrated cells 3.6±0.5, P<0.001; distance migrated 2.8±0.1 pixels, P<0.0001). VEGF‐A, VEGF‐C, TGF‐β1, and Ang‐2 all stimulated human aorta VSMC invasion in vitro, although EVT cell culture supernatants did not. In summary, apoptosis is unlikely to play a major role in loss of VSMCs from SpAs during remodeling in normal pregnancy, but VSMCs appear to migrate away from the wall of the SpA, an effect enhanced by the presence of EVT cells. —Bulmer, J. N. , Innes, B. A. , Levey, J., Robson, S. C. , Lash, G. E. The role of vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis and migration during uterine spiral artery remodeling in normal human pregnancy. FASEB J. 26, 2975–2985 (2012). www.fasebj. org
Mobility scooter driving ability in visually impaired individuals

Abstract Purpose: To investigate how well visually impaired individuals can learn to use mobility scooters and which parts of the driving task deserve special attention. Materials and methods: A mobility scooter driving skill test was developed to compare driving skills (e.g. reverse driving, turning) between 48 visually impaired (very low visual acuity = 14, low visual acuity = 10, peripheral field defects = 11, multiple visual impairments = 13) and 37 normal-sighted controls without any prior experience with mobility scooters. Performance on this test was rated on a three-point scale. Furthermore, the number of extra repetitions on the different elements were noted. Results: Results showed that visually impaired participants were able to gain sufficient driving skills to be able to use mobility scooters. Participants with visual field defects combined with low visual acuity showed most problems learning different skills and needed more training. Reverse driving and stopping seemed to be most difficult. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that visually impaired individuals are able to learn to drive mobility scooters. Mobility scooter allocators should be aware that these individuals might need more training on certain elements of the driving task. Implications for rehabilitation Visual impairments do not necessarily lead to an inability to acquire mobility scooter driving skills. Individuals with peripheral field defects (especially in combination with reduced visual acuity) need more driving ability training compared to normal-sighted people – especially to accomplish reversing. Individual assessment of visually impaired people is recommended, since participants in this study showed a wide variation in ability to learn driving a mobility scooter.
A Wavelet Packet representation of audio signals for music genre classification using different ensemble and feature selection techniques

The vast amount of music available electronically presents considerable challenges for information retrieval. There is a need to annotate music items with descriptors in order to facilitate retrieval. In this paper we present a process for determining the music genre of an item using a new set of descriptors. A Wavelet Packet Transform is applied to obtain the signal representation at different levels. Time and frequency features are extracted from these levels taking into account the nature of music. Using round-robin and one-against-all ensembles of simple classifiers, together with feature selection methods, we evaluate the best signal representation for music genre classification. Ensembles based on different feature sub-spaces are explored as well in order to overcome over-fitting issues. Our evaluation shows that Wavelet Packet analysis together with ensemble methods achieves very good classification accuracy.
An Efficient CDN Placement Algorithm for High-Quality TV Content

Content Distribution Networks (CDNs) are used extensively on the WWW to relieve hot spots and reduce client latency when delivering web documents, but recently their role has been extended to the delivery of streaming multimedia content. Efficient placement of replicas in a CDN is very important, particularly when the content is large in size as is the case with high-quality TV content. This paper outlines a scalable and efficient algorithm for the placement of video content in a Video CDN (VCDN). This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the placement algorithm, detailing the important parameters associated with the algorithm. The VCDN placement algorithm is also compared with the well known closest-proxy algorithm to evaluate its effectiveness.
Fibers and their Properties for Concrete Reinforcement

The necessary fiber content in the first place is determined by the requirements of bending strength and resistance to dynamic loads. The fiber content depends on the composition and consistency of concrete, fiber properties and mixing techniques. The most widespread types of fibers, their advantages and disadvantages, possible areas of their application are considered. Fibers whose modulus of elasticity is greater than the modulus of elasticity of a concrete matrix, such as steel fibers or glass fibers, increase the workload on the cracks.
Reproducibility of ST and ventricular gradient vectors

In this study, we tested the reproducibility of the ST vectors at the J point and 60 ms after the J point, and the reproducibility of the ventricular gradient. The reproducibility of these ECG variables was compared with the proposed thresholds for ischemia detection by serial ECG analysis (comparison of an acute ECG suspected of the presence of acute ischemia with a previously made non-ischemic ECG in the same patient). In a group of 398 patients with various cardiovascular pathology we measured the diferences in the ST vectors and in the ventricular gradient in ECG pairs about one year apart. All ECGs were non-ischemic, and electively made in the outpatient clinic. ST and VG vector diferences exceeded only in around 20% of the cases the proposed sensitive thresholds for ischemia. The results of our study suggest that the reproducibility of the ST and VG vectors in non-ischemic ECGs is good, thus indicating that the expected amount of false positive detections of ischemia by serial ECG analysis is likely to be low.
Random Recursive Forests

A random recursive forest is defined as a union of random recursive trees. We find the expected number of trees in the uniform random recursive forest as well as the number of vertices of given degree, the maximum degree, the height of vertices, the order of branches, the root of the component containing a given vertex, and the last root of such forests. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Gene Trapping Using Gal4 in Zebrafish

Large clutch size and external development of optically transparent embryos make zebrafish an exceptional vertebrate model system for in vivo insertional mutagenesis using fluorescent reporters to tag expression of mutated genes. Several laboratories have constructed and tested enhancer- and gene-trap vectors in zebrafish, using fluorescent proteins, Gal4- and lexA- based transcriptional activators as reporters 1-7. These vectors had two potential drawbacks: suboptimal stringency (e.g. lack of ability to differentiate between enhancer- and gene-trap events) and low mutagenicity (e.g. integrations into genes rarely produced null alleles). Gene Breaking Transposon (GBTs) were developed to address these drawbacks 8-10. We have modified one of the first GBT vectors, GBT-R15, for use with Gal4-VP16 as the primary gene trap reporter and added UAS:eGFP as the secondary reporter for direct detection of gene trap events. Application of Gal4-VP16 as the primary gene trap reporter provides two main advantages. First, it increases sensitivity for genes expressed at low expression levels. Second, it enables researchers to use gene trap lines as Gal4 drivers to direct expression of other transgenes in very specific tissues. This is especially pertinent for genes with non-essential or redundant functions, where gene trap integration may not result in overt phenotypes. The disadvantage of using Gal4-VP16 as the primary gene trap reporter is that genes coding for proteins with N-terminal signal sequences are not amenable to trapping, as the resulting Gal4-VP16 fusion proteins are unlikely to be able to enter the nucleus and activate transcription. Importantly, the use of Gal4-VP16 does not pre-select for nuclear proteins: we recovered gene trap mutations in genes encoding proteins which function in the nucleus, the cytoplasm and the plasma membrane.
YouTube & Facebook Quality of Experience in mobile broadband networks

YouTube and Facebook are two of the most consumed applications in today's Internet. Together they account for more than 30% of the overall Internet's traffic volume and span more than half of the Internet users worldwide. Such popularity has attracted a growing interest from the research community, particularly regarding content characterization, network performance, and privacy issues in these applications. Their extensive and ever-growing usage in cellular networks has also captured the attention of mobile operators, who need to engineer their systems to handle the load while providing good quality levels. In this paper we take a user-centric approach for YouTube and Facebook performance evaluation, analyzing the Quality of Experience (QoE) as assessed by a group of 33 mobile broadband users in a field trial. Spanning an evaluation period of 31 days and using their own 3.5G-connected laptops, users regularly reported their perceived experience on surfing their preferred YouTube and Facebook contents under changing network conditions, artificially modified through traffic shaping. Our approach is holistic and considers a three-layered evaluation methodology, including control and monitoring of the network-layer QoS, content monitoring at the network and application layers, and QoE assessment at the user-layer. To the best of our knowledge, this paper presents the first results on the evaluation of different 3.5G network conditions on YouTube and Facebook from the enduser perspective, considering everyday life Web usage scenarios.
On the Security of 1024-bit RSA and 160-bit Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Meeting the requirements of NIST’s new cryptographic standard ‘Suite B Cryptography’ means phasing out usage of 1024-bit RSA and 160-bit Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) by the year 2010. This write-up comments on the vulnerability of these systems to an open community attack effort and aims to assess the risk of their continued usage beyond 2010. We conclude that for 1024-bit RSA the risk is small at least until the year 2014, and that 160-bit ECC may safely be used for much longer – with the current state of the art in cryptanalysis we would be surprised if a public effort can make a dent in 160-bit ECC by the year 2020. Our assessment is based on the latest practical data of large scale integer factorization and elliptic curve discrete logarithm computation efforts.