Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MRI Contrast Agents: Developments, Challenges, and Future Trends

Contrast agents in medicine are chemical materials used to improve tissue and fluid contrast in the body during medical imaging. It is mainly used in improving the visibility of blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract. Some types of contrast materials are used in a medical imaging examination and can be classified according to the imaging technique used. The first contract agent dates back to 1988 which is called gadopentetate dimeglumine (Magnevist ® ) and was allocated for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Then, I has become available in clinical use. Afterwards, many studies have examined the capability of MRI contrast agents to be used in diagnostic imaging in all parts of the body including the skin, the central nervous system, heart and circulation, breast, lungs, musculoskeletal and lymphatic systems, and even the gastrointestinal tract. Nowadays, MRI contrast agents are widely used in clinical practice and have expanded beyond the imitational expectations to be a key tool in disease diagnosis around the world. Contrast-Enhanced (CE) MRI keeps in development and new technologies have emerged and new agents were introduced, with great opportunity being provided to ensure better imaging and patient management practices. Also, new clinical challenges were associated with the progress in CE-MRI. This paper aims to overview the historical development of MRI and contrast materials in order to shed light on the clinical development of CE-MRI. Also, the paper overviews the contemporary perspectives and clinical challenges associated with CE-MRI with the provision of significant future trends.
Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms increase the risk of post-stroke depression

Recent reports have shown that apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms are involved in neurodegenerative disease. However, it is unclear whether APOE affects post-stroke depression. Accordingly, we hypothesized that APOE polymorphisms modify the risk of post-stroke depression. Here, we performed a hospital-based case-control study (including 76 cerebral infarction cases with post-stroke depression, 88 cerebral infarction cases without post-stroke depression, and 109 controls without any evidence of post-stroke depression or cerebral infarction) to determine possible association between APOE rs429358 and rs7412 polymorphisms and risk of post-stroke depression. Our findings show no difference among the groups with regards genotype distribution of the rs7412 polymorphism. In contrast, APOE genotypes with rs429358-C alleles increased the risk of post-stroke depression. Further, the rs429358 polymorphism was associated with significantly decreased regional cerebral blood flow values in the left temporal lobe of post-stroke depression cases. Additionally, the rs429358 polymorphism was not only associated with depression severity, but with increasing serum levels of total cholesterol. These results suggest that the APOE rs429358 polymorphism is associated with increased risk of developing post-stroke depression, and that APOE rs429358-C allele genotypes may be detrimental to recovery of nerve function after stoke. Indeed, these findings provide clinical data for future post-stroke depression gene interventions.
Optimal network processor topologies for efficient packet processing

In this paper, we propose a novel strategy to determine the optimal network processor (NP) topology for the target application tasks. We partition network applications into different stages with the consideration of limited instruction memory of the processing elements (PEs). We develop a theoretical approach to determine an optimal topology of the PEs via multiple pipelines. The idea of multiple pipelining is to exploit the task/packet level parallelism and the pipelines are further optimized to achieve the maximum throughput and resource utilization. Simulation results verify our analytical model and demonstrate the robustness of our approach in different NP configurations.
Quality of life before and after cosmetic surgery

This article reviews the literature regarding the impact of cosmetic surgery on health-related quality of life (QOL). Studies were identified through PubMed/Medline and PsycINFO searches from January 1960 to December 2011. Twenty-eight studies were included in this review, according to specific selection criteria. The procedures and tools employed in cosmetic surgery research studies were remarkably diverse, thus yielding difficulties with data analysis. However, data indicate that individuals undergoing cosmetic surgery began with lower values on aspects of QOL than control subjects, and experienced significant QOL improvement post-procedurally, an effect that appeared to plateau with time. Despite the complexity of measuring QOL in cosmetic surgery patients, most studies showed an improvement in QOL after cosmetic surgery procedures. However, this finding was clouded by measurement precision as well as heterogeneity of procedures and study populations. Future research needs to focus on refining measurement techniques, including developing cosmetic surgery–specific QOL measures.
Automate the identification of technical patterns: a K-nearest-neighbour model approach

ABSTRACT To explore profitable patterns in historical stock prices, ordinarily a promising pattern is selected by rule of thumb, and then its performance is verified by comparing the conditional return of the pattern with the unconditional benchmark return. We adopt an alternative philosophy: without any pre-selected pattern, the proposed method explores the entire graphic space to automate the identification of technical patterns. Derived from the K-nearest-neighbour (KNN) forecast, our method calculates the graphic similarity of patterns by the distance of the price vectors, and then classifies patterns according to the graphic similarity, and finally identifies patterns which contain predictive powers of the future market movement. KNN provides an excellent tool for probing the entire graphic space formed by price patterns to obtain an overall perspective of the effectiveness of technical patterns. Not only the well-known patterns but also the unnoticed and potentially informative patterns can be probed. To evaluate the performance, our method is compared with classic KNN forecast and technical trading rules. Results indicate that the stock market is relatively efficient and technical analysis is still effective to explore excess returns.
Proteome Reference Maps of Vegetative Tissues in Pea. An Investigation of Nitrogen Mobilization from Leaves during Seed Filling1

A proteomic approach was used to analyze protein changes during nitrogen mobilization (N mobilization) from leaves to filling seeds in pea (Pisum sativum). First, proteome reference maps were established for mature leaves and stems. They displayed around 190 Coomassie Blue-stained spots with pIs from 4 to 7. A total of 130 spots were identified by mass spectrometry as corresponding to 80 different proteins implicated in a variety of cellular functions. Although the leaf proteome map contained more abundant spots, corresponding to proteins involved in energy/carbon metabolism, than the stem map, their comparison revealed a highly similar protein profile. Second, the leaf proteome map was used to analyze quantitative variations in leaf proteins during N mobilization. Forty percent of the spots showed significant changes in their relative abundance in the total protein extract. The results confirmed the importance of Rubisco as a source of mobilizable nitrogen, and suggested that in pea leaves the rate of degradation of Rubisco may vary throughout N mobilization. Correlated with the loss of Rubisco was an increase in relative abundance of chloroplastic protease regulatory subunits. Concomitantly, the relative abundance of some proteins related to the photosynthetic apparatus (Rubisco activase, Rubisco-binding proteins) and of several chaperones increased. A role for these proteins in the maintenance of a Rubisco activation state and in the PSII repair during the intense proteolytic activity within the chloroplasts was proposed. Finally, two 14-3-3-like proteins, with a potential regulatory role, displayed differential expression patterns during the massive remobilization of nitrogen.
Layered LDGM codes: a capacity-approaching structure for arbitrary rates

Layered LDGM (low-density generator matrix) codes are a novel LDPC coding structure that consists of the serial concatenation of several systematic LDGM codes. In this work we show how properly optimized layered LDGM codes are able to approach the theoretical capacity limits over a wide range of rates (varying from values close to one down to rates as low as 1/50). The primary advantage of layered LDGM codes with respect to previous work is that they keep the simplicity and flexibility of LDPC codes because they only use single parity check (SPC) constraints, instead of the more sophisticated Hadamard check constraints, to approach capacity in the low rate regime.
Role of oxidative stress in the natriuresis induced by central administration of angiotensin II

Introduction. Central administration of angiotensin II (Ang II) is known to reduce urinary volume and to increase sodium and potassium excretion. Recently, a novel signalling mechanism for Ang II in the periphery has been shown to involve reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NAD(P)H] oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although ROS are now known to be involved in numerous Ang II-regulated processes in peripheral tissues, and are increasingly implicated in CNS neurodegenerative diseases, the role of ROS in central regulation of Ang II-induced hydromineral metabolism remains unexplored.The hypothesis that ROS are involved in central Ang II signalling and in Ang II-dependent antidiuresis, natriuresis and kaliuresis was tested by the use of selective antagonists of the NAD(P)H oxidase cascade. Materials and methods. In intracerebroventricular (ICV)-cannulated rats,Ang II was injected ICV and urinary sodium and potassium excretion was assessed at 1-, 3-, and 6-hour periods of urine collection. Urine sample was analysed for sodium and potassium concentration using a flame photometer. The role of NAD(P)H oxidase-dependent signalling cascade was evaluated using the selective NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, apocynin; the superoxide dismutase mimetic, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (tempol); and the protein kinase C inhibitor, chelerythrine. Results. ICV administration of Ang II to conscious hydrated rats resulted in a significant decrease in urinary volume in the first hour, and an increased sodium and potassium excretion during the 6-hour period of urine collection, which was most effective during the 3 and 6 h. Interference with the NAD(P)H oxidase signalling by central administration of apocynin, tempol or chelerythrine, blunted the natriuretic and kaliuretic effect induced by central administration of Ang II, without affecting its antidiuretic action. Conclusion.This study demonstrates that increases of urinary sodium and potassium excretion elicited by central administration of Ang II are mediated by NAD(P)H oxidase- dependent production of superoxide and protein kinase C activation in conscious hydrated rats.
The Great Depression of Income: Historical Estimates of the Longer-Run Impact of Entering the Labor Market during a Recession

Abstract In this paper, I estimate the longer-run impact of variation in labor market entry conditions, driven by the Great Depression, on income and other labor outcomes in the 1940 Census. I use a regression discontinuity research design and find that 10 years after entry, less educated men entering the labor market at the beginning of the Great Depression earned 8.6 % less than those entering just one year prior. I find that the effect is larger (14.7 %) for those born in states more negatively affected by the Great Depression and close to zero for those born in states relatively less affected. The results indicate that the Great Depression had a persistent, negative impact on less-educated entrants that is not significantly different from that experienced by unlucky entrants of modern recessions.
Is prostatic adenocarcinoma in a relationship with Human Papilloma Virus in Isfahan -Iran

Background: Prostatic adenocarcinoma is the most prevalent cancer and the second cause of cancer-related death among men. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) considered as a preventable risk factor for prostatic adenocarcinoma. In this study, we detected the frequency of HPV infection in prostatic adenocarcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Isfahan. Materials and Methods: In this study, 120 paraffin-embedded blocks (90 and 30 cases with definite diagnosis of BPH and adenocarcinoma, respectively) were selected. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed for all selected blocks to detect HPV infection. The rate of infection was compared in the two studied groups. Results: Totally, HPV was detected in four blocks. HPV infection was positive in 10% (3/30) of cases with adenocarcinoma and 1.1% (1/90) of cases with BPH (P = 0.04, OR = 9.88, CI 95%). Mean age of patients with positive and negative HPV infection was 61.75 ± 8.3 and 68.51 ± 11.7 years, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the higher prevalence of HPV infection in prostatic adenocarcinoma, it is suggested that HPV could be probable risk factor for prostatic adenocarcinoma. It is recommended to investigate the prevalence of HPV infection in Iranian men and the outcome of prevention and treatment of HPV infection on prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Harnessing proteasome dynamics and allostery in drug design.

SIGNIFICANCE The proteasome is the essential protease that is responsible for regulated cleavage of the bulk of intracellular proteins. Its central role in cellular physiology has been exploited in therapies against aggressive cancers where proteasome-specific competitive inhibitors that block proteasome active centers are very effectively used. However, drugs regulating this essential protease are likely to have broader clinical usefulness. The non-catalytic sites of the proteasome emerge as an attractive alternative target in search of highly specific and diverse proteasome regulators. RECENT ADVANCES Crystallographic models of the proteasome leave the false impression of fixed structures with minimal molecular dynamics lacking long-distance allosteric signaling. However, accumulating biochemical and structural observations strongly support the notion that the proteasome is regulated by precise allosteric interactions arising from protein dynamics, encouraging the active search for allosteric regulators. Here, we discuss properties of several promising compounds that affect substrate gating and processing in antechambers, and interactions of the catalytic core with regulatory proteins. CRITICAL ISSUES Given the structural complexity of proteasome assemblies, it is a painstaking process to better understand their allosteric regulation and molecular dynamics. Here, we discuss the challenges and achievements in this field. We place special emphasis on the role of atomic force microscopy imaging in probing the allostery and dynamics of the proteasome, and in dissecting the mechanisms involving small-molecule allosteric regulators. FUTURE DIRECTIONS New small-molecule allosteric regulators may become a next generation of drugs targeting the proteasome, which is critical to the development of new therapies in cancers and other diseases.
Co‐expression analysis reveals key gene modules and pathway of human coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease is a kind of disease which causes great injury to people world‐widely. Although gene expression analyses had been performed previously, to our best knowledge, systemic co‐expression analysis for this disease is still lacking to date. Microarray data of coronary heart disease was downloaded from NCBI with the accession number of GSE20681. Co‐expression modules were constructed by WGCNA. Besides, the connectivity degree of eigengenes was analyzed. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis was performed on these eigengenes in these constructed modules. A total of 11 co‐expression modules were constructed by the 3000 up‐regulated genes from the 99 samples with coronary heart disease. The average number of genes in these modules was 270. The interaction analysis indicated the relative independence of gene expression in these modules. The functional enrichment analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the enriched terms and degree among these 11 modules. The results showed that modules 9 and 10 played critical roles in the occurrence of coronary disease. Pathways of hsa00190 (oxidative phosphorylation) and (hsa01130: biosynthesis of antibiotics) were thought to be closely related to the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease. Our result demonstrated that modules 9 and 10 were the most critical modules in the occurrence of coronary heart disease. Pathways as hsa00190 (oxidative phosphorylation) and (hsa01130: biosynthesis of antibiotics) had the potential to serve as the prognostic and predictive marker of coronary heart disease.
Does the Confucius Institute Network Impact Cultural Distance? A Panel Data Analysis of Cross‐Border Flows in and out of China

This paper examines the impact of cultural distance in general and the Confucius Institute Network in particular on cross-border flows of tourists, goods and investment in and out of China. We estimate a panel gravity model of inbound and outbound flows between 2004 and 2012. We find that the presence of Confucius Institute(s) in the source country increases inbound tourism and equity flows and outbound export and FDI flows for China, while other measures of cultural distance have less of an impact.
Fundamental Analysis in China: An Empirical Study of the Relationship between Financial Ratios and Stock Prices

The informational context is regularly questioned in a transitional economic regime like the one implemented in China or Vietnam. This article investigates this issue and the predictive power of fundamental analysis in such context and more precisely in a Chinese context with an analysis of 3 different industries (media, power, and steel). Through 3 different kinds of correlation, we examine 25 financial determinants for 60 Chinese listed companies between 2011 and 2015. Our results show that fundamental analysis can effectively be used as an investment tool in transitional economic context. Contrasting with the EMH for which the accounting information is instantaneously integrated into the financial information (stock prices), our study suggests that these two levels of information are not synchronized in China opening therefore a door for a fundamental analysis based prediction. Furthermore, our results also indicate that accounting information illustrates quite well the economic reality since financial reports in each industry can disclose a part of stock value information in line with the economic situation of the industry under consideration.
Suicide in breast cancer patients: An individual-centered approach provides insight beyond epidemiology

Abstract Background. Epidemiologic studies have identified increased suicide rates among breast cancer (BC) patients. The population-based approach, however, has considerable methodic shortcomings. None of the studies have been carried out in a prospective manner and none reported suicide rates from a country in which physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is legal. Patients and methods. All cases recorded by a prospective Swiss BC database during a 17-year period (1990–2006; n = 1165) were analyzed. Using an individual-centered approach, the cases of women who committed suicide are reported according to the psychological autopsy method. Results. In six patients (0.5%; 5.1/1.000 patients), suicidal death was identified. In four patients, suicide was committed during late stages of metastatic BC. In two cases, comorbid conditions were associated with suicide. Three women chose PAS. Conclusion. The individual-centered approach is a well-suited innovative concept to increase the knowledge regarding the relationship between cancer and suicide. We found a two to seven times higher suicide rate than those reported in epidemiologic studies. The population-based approach can barely elucidate the immense variety of one of the most personal decisions: the act of intentionally ending one's own life. These studies suffer from systematic failure of analysis since they did not a) consider the potential confounding role of comorbid medical and/or psychiatric conditions, and b) report in which disease stage suicide was committed, since the decisive disease-related event whether and when metastatic disease occurred was not recorded. Furthermore, epidemiologic data stems from countries in which PAS is prohibited and therefore not included in official statistics. This grey area of medicine accounts for a greater scope of underreporting than had previously been assumed.
Social movement meetings as organized collective spaces: a hybrid of network, institution and partial organization – case Ethereum Helsinki Meetup

The purpose of this study was to describe social movement meeting organization and to increase the understanding of organized spaces for collective action. This paper contributes to several research streams. Firstly, this study advances a novel research stream conceptualizing social movements as spaces, and particularly as open rather than isolated spaces. Secondly, it raises meetings into the focal point of organizing and offers a multisided examination of meeting organization instead of limiting structure under one label such as network or formal organization. Thirdly, by focusing on organizing based on multiple logics and partial organization this study brings forward the understanding of organizing in the contemporary society as well as organization located in the outskirts of formal organizations. Fourthly, by making a distinction between organizing and mobilizing, this study develops the understanding of how movements can serve as a resource for individual actors and their goals. Finally, the case provides a rare example of a movement born around a nascent digital innovation with possibly considerable impact on society. The research was carried out as a descriptive case study focusing on the meetings of Helsinki Ethereum Meetup, which is a meeting-based organization set up around a nascent blockchain platform, Ethereum. The primary data consisted of eight interviews with the meetup participants. In addition, the case was complemented by an analysis of the group’s social media accounts and membership data retrieved from meetup.com, through which the group was facilitated. The data was analyzed utilizing a dual approach deploying both open coding and theory-based coding techniques. Meetings and their organization were analyzed from three perspectives: a network, an institution and an organization. Furthermore, the case analysis included identifying the ideological, business and political context of the case and the meetup group’s relations to other groups in the field of blockchain technologies. The results of the analysis indicate that the meetings can be described as a hybrid of a normbased institution, a network hub and a partial organization with less than all elements of a formal organization. In practice, all three perspectives are linked to each other and together complement each other to form one entity. However, this study implies that the specific logics can be regarded as analytically separate to arrive at a more pronounced multilevel analysis of meeting organizing. In addition, the case organization was found to be an example of a pioneer group in its own field being the first and only meetup devoted to Ethereum in Finland at the time of the study. Furthermore, the settings and the organization of the meetup were possibly linked to the group’s position in its field and the nascent developmental state of Ethereum.