Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
124I PET/CT to Predict the Outcome of Blind 131I Treatment in Patients with Biochemical Recurrence of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Results of a Multicenter Diagnostic Cohort Study (THYROPET)

Patients with suspected recurrence from differentiated thyroid carcinoma, based on an increased thyroglobulin (Tg) level and negative neck ultrasound (US), pose a clinical dilemma. Because standard imaging has a low yield identifying potential recurrence, blind 131I treatment is often applied. However, a tumor-negative 131I whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) prevails in 38%–50% of patients. We performed a prospective multicenter observational cohort study to test the hypothesis that 124I PET/CT can identify the patients with a tumor-negative posttherapy 131I WBS. Methods: Our study was designed to include 100 patients with detectable Tg and a negative neck US, who were planned for blind 131I therapy. All patients underwent 124I PET/CT after administration of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone. Subsequently, after 4–6 wk of thyroid hormone withdrawal patients were treated with 5.5–7.4 GBq of 131I, followed by WBS a week later. The primary endpoint was the number of 131I therapies that could have been omitted using the predicted outcome of the 124I PET/CT, operationalized as the concordance of tumor detection by 124I PET/CT, using post-131I therapy WBS as the reference test. The study would be terminated if 3 patients had a negative 124I PET/CT and a positive posttherapy 131I scan. Results: After inclusion of 17 patients, we terminated the study preliminarily because the stopping rule had been met. Median Tg level at 131I therapy was 28 μg/L (interquartile range, 129). Eight posttherapy WBS were negative (47%), all of which were correctly predicted by negative 124I PET/CT. Nine posttherapy WBS showed iodine-avid tumor, of which 4 also had positive 124I PET/CT findings. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of 124I PET/CT were 44% (confidence interval [CI], 14%–79%), 100% (CI, 63%–100%), 62% (CI, 32%–86%), and 100% (CI, 40%–100%), respectively. Implementation of 124I PET in this setting would have led to 47% (8/17) less futile 131I treatments, but 29% of patients (5/17) would have been denied potentially effective therapy. Conclusion: In patients with biochemical evidence of recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma and a tumor-negative neck US, the high false-negative rate of 124I PET/CT after recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone 124I PET/CT as implemented in this study precludes its use as a scouting procedure to prevent futile blind 131I therapy.
Agraphia in patients with frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 with P301L MAPT mutation: dysexecutive, aphasic, apraxic or spatial phenomenon?

Objectives: Patients with frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) may be agraphic. The study aimed at characterizing agraphia in individuals with a P301L MAPT mutation. Methods: Two pairs of siblings with FTDP-17 were longitudinally examined for agraphia in relation to language and cognitive deficits. Results: All patients presented with dysexecutive agraphia. In addition, in the first pair of siblings one sibling demonstrated spatial agraphia with less pronounced allographic agraphia and the other sibling had aphasic agraphia. Aphasic agraphia was also present in one sibling from the second pair. Conclusion: Agraphia associated with FTDP-17 is very heterogeneous.
Validity of a diet history questionnaire estimating β-carotene, vitamin C and α-tocopherol intakes in Japanese pregnant women

Abstract We investigated the validity and reproducibility of a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ) that estimates the intakes of β-carotene, vitamin C and α-tocopherol. Ninety-five healthy women with singleton pregnancies in the second trimester were examined at a university hospital in Tokyo. The intakes of β-carotene, vitamin C and α-tocopherol assessed by the DHQ were compared to the corresponding serum concentrations. To assess the reproducibility, 58 pregnant women completed it in two sessions within a 4–5 week interval. We found significantly positive correlations between the energy-adjusted intakes and serum concentrations of β-carotene and vitamin C (r = 0.254 and r = 0.323, respectively). However, α-tocopherol intake was not associated with the corresponding serum concentration. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the two-time DHQ were 0.743 (β-carotene), 0.665 (vitamin C) and 0.718 (α-tocopherol). DHQ has acceptable validity and reproducibility for β-carotene and vitamin C intakes in Japanese pregnant women.
So, You Want to Use Next Generation Sequencing In Marine Systems? Insight from the Pan Pacific Advanced Studies Institute

The emerging field of next-generation sequencing (NGS) is rapidly expanding capabilities for cutting edge genomic research, with applications that can help meet marine conservation challenges of food security, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Navigating the use of these tools, however, is complex at best. Furthermore, applications of marine genomic questions are limited in developing nations where both marine biodiversity and threats to marine biodiversity are most concentrated. This is particularly true in Southeast Asia. The first Pan-Pacific Advanced Studies Institute (PacASI) entitled "Genomic Applications to Marine Science and Resource Management in Southeast Asia" was held in July 2012 in Dumaguete, Philippines, with the intent to draw together leading scientists from both sides of the Pacific Ocean to understand the potential of NGS in helping address the aforementioned challenges. Here we synthesize discussions held during the PacASI to provide perspectives and guidance to help scientists new to NGS choose among the variety of available advanced genomic methodologies specifically for marine science questions.
Investigation of the Collaborative Relationship between Industry and Academic Education in Open and Distance Learning: A South African Context

Despite growing importance of collaboration in research there has been very few investigations of the relationship that exists between industry, commerce and academic education in an open and distance learning (ODL) environment. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore and describe the collaborative relationship that exists between industry, commerce and academic education in ODL. Triggering the call for the integration of industry, commerce and academic education are increasing employers’ criticisms that schools are delivering workers who lack problem-solving abilities and employability skills-all crucial for global economy. A shortage of skilled workers, combined with renewed interest in how to make education relevant to students has put the spotlight on technical vocational education and training. Furthermore, academic and vocational educators have been criticised for (1) providing curriculum that lacks participatory forms of learning, (2) promoting specific training and (3) encouraging a dual structure that segregates academic and vocational education. The research question: What collaborative relationship exists between industry and academic vocational education and training? provided the focus for the study. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data. The collected data were digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed using Collaizi’s data analysis framework. The findings revealed that integrating academic and vocational education not only provides students with the necessary transferrable skills that employers want, but it also provides a mechanism for engaging those who have not thus far been engaged by academic learning. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013. v4n13p43
The γ‐aminobutyric acid shunt contributes to closing the tricarboxylic acid cycle in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

A traditional 2‐oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex is missing in the cyanobacterial tricarboxylic acid cycle. To determine pathways that convert 2‐oxoglutarate into succinate in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a series of mutant strains, Δsll1981, Δslr0370, Δslr1022 and combinations thereof, deficient in 2‐oxoglutarate decarboxylase (Sll1981), succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (Slr0370), and/or in γ‐aminobutyrate metabolism (Slr1022) were constructed. Like in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, N‐acetylornithine aminotransferase, encoded by slr1022, was shown to also function as γ‐aminobutyrate aminotransferase, catalysing γ‐aminobutyrate conversion to succinic semialdehyde. As succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase converts succinic semialdehyde to succinate, an intact γ‐aminobutyrate shunt is present in Synechocystis. The Δsll1981 strain, lacking 2‐oxoglutarate decarboxylase, exhibited a succinate level that was 60% of that in wild type. However, the succinate level in the Δslr1022 and Δslr0370 strains and the Δsll1981/Δslr1022 and Δsll1981/Δslr0370 double mutants was reduced to 20–40% of that in wild type, suggesting that the γ‐aminobutyrate shunt has a larger impact on metabolite flux to succinate than the pathway via 2‐oxoglutarate decarboxylase. 13C‐stable isotope analysis indicated that the γ‐aminobutyrate shunt catalysed conversion of glutamate to succinate. Independent of the 2‐oxoglutarate decarboxylase bypass, the γ‐aminobutyrate shunt is a major contributor to flux from 2‐oxoglutarate and glutamate to succinate in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
Digital processing of EEG signals.

The digitization of electroencephalogram (EEG) signal data is the essential first step in using computers to analyse and manipulate EEG data. EEG signals are inherently complicated due to their nonGaussian, nonstationary, and often nonlinear nature as shown by most of the articles of this special issue. On top of that, the small amplitude of these signals reinforce their sensitivity to various artifacts and noise sources. The aim of this special issue is to shed light onto the recent digital techniques for processing EEG signals ranging from storage and artifact removal to event detection/classification and prediction issues.
Desempenho e Previsões de um Modelo Regional Estatístico para a Região Sul do Brasil

A variabilidade climatica sazonal e inter-anual afetam as atividades agricolas, com consequencias na producao de graos da Regiao Sul do Brasil. Essa dependencia dos fatores climaticos motivou o desenvolvimento de um modelo regional climatico. Esse modelo e chamado de SIMOC (Sistema de Modelagem dos Oceanos) e foi adaptado para prever anomalias sazonais de precipitacao. O SIMOC baseia-se em uma tecnica estatistica denominada de Analise de Correlacoes Canonicas (ACC). Os preditores para esse modelo sao os campos de Temperatura da Superficie do Mar (TSM) em areas sobre os oceanos Pacifico e Atlântico Tropical e o preditando e a precipitacao sobre a Regiao Sul do Brasil. Os resultados do modelo, usando-se somente o Oceano Atlântico como preditor, pareceu influir mais na precipitacao quando essa se afasta da condicao inicial. O Oceano Pacifico previu melhor nos meses mais proximos a condicao inicial, ao contrario do caso anterior onde usou-se o Atlântico como preditor. Em geral, o uso dos dois oceanos simultaneamente como campo preditor melhorou sensivelmente a precisao das previsoes quando comparado com os casos dos oceanos individuais. Para o episodio ENOS de 1997-1998, o modelo reproduziu razoavelmente bem as anomalias de precipitacao observadas, mostrando o potencial do SIMOC em previsoes sazonais climaticas para a regiao Sul do Brasil.
Response of the public and restaurant owners to the mandatory menu energy-labelling implementation in restaurants in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Objective: Mandatory menu energy-labelling policy in restaurants has received increasing attention worldwide as a useful tool for promoting balanced energy intake and encouraging healthier food selection to reduce obesity prevalence. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge, views and observations of the public and restaurant owners towards the mandatory menu energy-labelling policy (introduced in August 2018) in restaurants in Saudi Arabia. Design: In February 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional study using an electronic questionnaire. Setting: Saudi Arabia. Participants: Saudi individuals (n 1228) aged 18–80 years and forty-one restaurant owners. Results: Most participants identified the correct daily energetic requirements for moderately active men (51 %) and women (69 %), but not for inactive adults (36 %). Although 40 % reported adequate knowledge to select low-energetic meals and 55 % perceived the policy as useful, 51 % reported they would be less likely to eat at restaurants displaying energy. Most participants (76 %) mentioned they would choose lower-energetic meals, and 79 % would feel guilty after consuming high-energetic meals. Moreover, 62 % of participants reported that the new labelling policy affected their food selections, prompting them to order different food items, eat less, change restaurants or eat at restaurants less frequently. Among restaurant owners, half were aware of the reason for the implementation of this policy and supported this measure. However, they did not consider modifying recipes to reduce energy. Sales of low- and high-energetic meals increased and decreased in 44 % and 39 % of restaurants, respectively. Conclusions: This policy may be an effective public health tool for promoting balanced energy intake and encouraging healthier food selection in Saudi Arabia.
A comparative evaluation of state-of-the-art load and stress testing approaches

In order to deliver quality assured software and avoid potential costs caused by unstable software, testing is essential in software life cycle. Load testing is one of the testing types with high importance. It is usually accompanied by performance monitoring of the hosting environment. The purpose of this paper is to present related solutions to both load and stress testing issues in different fields and emerging paradigms, and to evaluate them in order to identify their advantages and their shortcomings. Looking at the areas focused by existing researchers, gaps and untouched zones of different systems relatively to load testing can be discovered. This investigation will especially allow promoting future research in the context of load testing of web service compositions, considered as an arising concept in service-oriented architecture SOA.
Ultrasound findings in rheumatoid wrist arthritis highly correlate with function

Purpose. The wrist is almost invariably affected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammation of the wrist can lead to impaired function and eventually to severe destruction. Classical signs of inflammation, pain, swelling and heat may often be observed in clinical examination of wrist arthritis and in ultrasound (US) investigation. We described the relation between clinical and ultrasound parameters of wrist arthritis and secondly their relation to function. Patients and methods. In 33 RA patients with wrist arthritis, clinical and US parameters were measured. Function was evaluated with the SODA-S (Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment-Short) and the DASH-DLV (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand-Dutch Language Version). Correlation coefficients were calculated and factor analysis was performed to describe the relation between the aforementioned measures. Results. Correlation coefficients between clinical and ultrasound parameters of RA wrist inflammation in this study were fair to moderate. We found a good correlation between ultrasound and observed function. Conclusion. The classical signs of inflammation (pain, swelling, redness, heat and impaired function) seem to reflect different aspects of arthritis. Ultrasound correlates well with function, thus can give paramount information on wrist function, and might therefore be a valuable complementary tool in measuring wrist arthritis in RA.
A Data Layout Transformation ( DLT ) Accelerator : Architectural support for data movement optimization in accelerated systems

Technology scaling and growing use of accelerators makes optimization of data movement of increasing importance in all systems. Further, growing diversity in memory structures makes embedding such optimization in software non-portable. We propose an architectural solution, the Data Layout Transformation (DLT) that provides a simple set of instructions that enable software to describe the required data movement compactly, and free the implementation to optimize the movement based on knowledge of the memory hierarchy and system structure. The DLT architecture ideas can be applicable to both tradition and accelerator-based heterogeneous systems. Experiments show that DLT can make use of the full banwidth (>97%) of a wide range of memory systems, such as DDR3 and HMC, while incurring low software overhead (<2%) versus 11%-50% for advanced gather-scatter DMA engines. We evaluate DLT in accelerated system, the 10x10 federated heterogeneous system, with DDR3 and HMC. Our results demonstrate that DLT improves system performance by 4.6x-99x (DDR3) and 4.4x-115x (HMC) as well as energy efficiency by 2.8x-48x (DDR3) and 1.4x-38x (HMC).
Da N I S H M E D I C a L J O U R N a L 1

INTRODUCTION: Women often develop malignant meso­ thelioma (MM) without occupational asbestos exposure. Northern Jutland has a high prevalence of MM due to previ­ ously high occupational exposures to asbestos. The aim of this study was to elucidate a possible domestic exposure to asbestos through first­degree relatives in women who de­ velop MM.
Speckle Suppressing Anisotropic Diffusion Filter for Medical Ultrasound Images

Ultrasonography is often preferred over the other medical imaging modalities due to its noninvasive nature, cost-effectiveness, and portability. However, the resolution of the ultrasound image greatly depends upon the presence of speckle noise. Speckle noise generally tends to reduce the image resolution and contrast, thereby reducing the diagnostic resolution of this imaging modality. In this paper, we propose a speckle suppressing anisotropic diffusion (SSAD) filter, to remove the speckle noise from B-Mode Ultrasound images. The performance of the SSAD filter is compared with the existing diffusion filters. The evaluation is based on their application to images simulated by Field II (developed by Jensen et al.). The algorithms were also tested for clinical ultrasound images of polycystic ovaries obtained from HDI 5000 Ultrasound Scanner. Performance evaluation was done by both numerical and functional parameters. The proposed filter yields better results in terms of greatest structural similarity index map (SSIM) of 0.95 and accuracy of 99.5.
ICT Based Screening Tools and Etiology of Dyscalculia

Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) is a specific learning disability of childhood, which is mainly related to problems in arithmetic skills and numerosity. It is estimated that the prevalence of dyscalculia range between 3 and 6 % of the world population. DD is a cognitive disorder, observed during the development of the individual. Mathematical achievement of children with DD fall far short of their mental capacity. In this study we present an approach to genetic, neurological and environmental factors associated with DD, as well as the computerized screening tools that have been developed and used so far, according to the literature review of the past two decades.
Enhanced Doppler frequency shift measurement and direction discrimination using photonic i/Q detection

We propose an enhanced approach to implement wideband Doppler frequency shift (DFS) measurement and direction discrimination based on photonic in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) coherent detection. Through the I/Q coherent detection by using an optical hybrid and two balanced photodetectors (BPDs), the microwave/millimeter-wave DFS of interest is estimated with clear direction discrimination, and in particular with a greatly improved resolution. In the proof-of-concept experiment, the DFSs from -90 to 90 kHz are successfully estimated for microwave signals at 14 and 18 GHz. The measurement errors are estimated to be less than ±5.8 Hz which is an order of magnitude lower than those (i.e., ±60 Hz) released before. Such results correspond to a higher resolution for radial velocity measurement as well.
Mitochondrial DNA depletion in a patient with long survival

We studied a 29-year-old woman with myopathy since childhood with evidence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion. Muscle biopsy sample showed cytochrome c oxidase (COX)-negative fibers. Biochemistry showed COX deficiency. Southern blot analysis showed 76% depletion of mtDNA as compared with controls. This patient's clinical course suggests that long survival is possible in some patients with mtDNA depletion.
Draft Genome Sequences of Klebsiella variicola Plant Isolates

ABSTRACT Three endophytic Klebsiella variicola isolates—T29A, 3, and 6A2, obtained from sugar cane stem, maize shoots, and banana leaves, respectively—were used for whole-genome sequencing. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of circular chromosomes and plasmids. The genomes contain plant colonization and cellulases genes. This study will help toward understanding the genomic basis of K. variicola interaction with plant hosts.
Optimization and Comparison of Drift Region Specific ON-Resistance for Vertical Power Hk MOSFETs and SJ MOSFETs With Identical Aspect Ratio

This article proposes a MATLAB-based optimization methodology of the drift region specific ON-resistance (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{on,sp}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) both for the high-permittivity (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{H}{k}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) MOSFETs and superjunction (SJ) MOSFETs with design parameters expressed by breakdown voltage (BV) and aspect ratio (AR). The optimized method has three distinctive features. First, based on the built-in functions in MATLAB, the proposed method is very efficient to accurately obtain the optimized <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{on,sp}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{on,sp(opt)}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) and the design parameters for both MOSFETs. Second, as the reflection of the process difficulty in the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{H}{k}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> or SJ structure, AR is used as one of the design variables. Third, the cubic polynomial functions are used to obtain a more accurate fitting for the optimization. The optimized results demonstrate that for a given BV, the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{on,sp(opt)}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> for the SJ MOSFET decreases as AR increases, whereas an optimum AR exists for a minimal <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{on,sp(opt)}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> for the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{H}{k}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> MOSFET. Extensive comparisons demonstrate that when AR is small and BV is large, the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{on,sp(opt)}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> for the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{H}{k}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> MOSFET could be lower than that for the SJ MOSFET. Parameter designs are performed for the 900-V <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{H}{k}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> MOSFET and SJ MOSFET. The impacts of important parameter variations on BV and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}_{on,sp}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> are also discussed. The validity of the proposed optimization method is demonstrated by the TCAD simulations.