Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Positron emission tomography/computed tomography surveillance in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma in first remission has a low positive predictive value and high costs

Background The value of performing post-therapy routine surveillance imaging in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma is controversial. This study evaluates the utility of positron emission tomography/computed tomography using 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose for this purpose and in situations with suspected lymphoma relapse. Design and Methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective study. Patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma achieving at least a partial remission on first-line therapy were eligible if they received positron emission tomography/computed tomography surveillance during follow-up. Two types of imaging surveillance were analyzed: “routine” when patients showed no signs of relapse at referral to positron emission tomography/computed tomography, and “clinically indicated” when recurrence was suspected. Results A total of 211 routine and 88 clinically indicated positron emission tomography/computed tomography studies were performed in 161 patients. In ten of 22 patients with recurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma, routine imaging surveillance was the primary tool for the diagnosis of the relapse. Extranodal disease, interim positron emission tomography-positive lesions and positron emission tomography activity at response evaluation were all associated with a positron emission tomography/computed tomography-diagnosed preclinical relapse. The true positive rates of routine and clinically indicated imaging were 5% and 13%, respectively (P=0.02). The overall positive predictive value and negative predictive value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography were 28% and 100%, respectively. The estimated cost per routine imaging diagnosed relapse was US$ 50,778. Conclusions Negative positron emission tomography/computed tomography reliably rules out a relapse. The high false positive rate is, however, an important limitation and a confirmatory biopsy is mandatory for the diagnosis of a relapse. With no proven survival benefit for patients with a pre-clinically diagnosed relapse, the high costs and low positive predictive value make positron emission tomography/computed tomography unsuitable for routine surveillance of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.
A Triazine Dye, Cibacron Blue F3GA, Decreases Oxacillin Resistance Levels in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Cibacron blue F3GA (CB) was found to reduce the MIC of oxacillin for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This effect was not observed with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. CB alters the resistance level of MRSA through a factor(s) other than mecA-related products, major autolysins, or femAB products. The exact target(s) of CB in causing the effect is unknown.
Comparison of Accuracy Among Prognostic Scores for Predicting Life Expectancy in Korean Patients With Cancer With Weeks of Survival

To compare the accuracy among 4 prognostic scores (Palliative Prognostic Score (PaP), Delirium-PaP (D-PaP), Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI), Objective Prognostic Score (OPS)) for predicting life expectancy in Korean cancer patients with weeks of survival, we conducted a retrospective study by reviewing medical records of 94 patients and compared the accuracy of 3-week and 30-day survival among the 4 prognostic scores. Three-week survival estimates were highest for the PaP and 30-day estimates were similar for the 4 prognostic scores. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was highest for the PaP and lowest for the PPI, but there were no significant differences. The prognostics scores did not differ from each other in a significant manner.
Comparison of Body Composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Dual‐Energy X‐Ray Absorptiometry in Hispanic Diabetics

The purpose of this study was to compare Tanita tetrapolar foot‐to‐foot bioelectrical impedance analysis (Model TBF‐310, Tanita Corporation of America, Arlington Heights, IL; Tanita‐BIA) and fan beam dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (Hologic Discovery A v12.6, Waltham, MA; DXA). Seventy Hispanic diabetic participants (23 male, 47 female; mean age: 53.03 ± 10.32 yrs; mean weight: 81.45 ± 17.65 kg; and mean body mass index: 31.40 ± 6.80 kg/m^2) participated in a three‐month diabetes education follow‐up study. Fat mass (FM), percent fat mass (%FM), and fat free mass (FFM) were compared using both relative and absolute measures of agreement. Relative measures included Pearson's and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients while absolute agreement was assessed using Bland‐Altman analyses and concordance correlation with 95% confidence intervals calculated using a bootstrap resampling of the data. Pearson's (FM: 0.96, %FM: 0.91, and FFM: 0.82), and Spearman's rank (FM: 0.94, %FM: 0.91, and FFM: 0.92) correlation coefficients showed high measures of association. Bland‐Altman and concordance analyses also demonstrated good agreement [FM: 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89, 0.96)], [%FM: 0.86 (95% CI: 0.79, 0.90)], and [FFM: 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89, 0.96)]. Tanita‐BIA may provide valid measures of FM, %FM and FFM in Hispanic diabetics, and could be a convenient and practical approach for assessment in community‐based research. This study was supported in part by grants 03‐00335 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and 5P20MD001632 from the National Institutes of Health.
Notch pathway regulation of neural crest cell development in vivo

Background: The function of Notch signaling in murine neural crest–derived cell lineages in vivo was examined. Results: Conditional gain (Wnt1Cre;RosaNotch) or loss (Wnt1Cre;RBP‐Jf/f) of Notch signaling in neural crest cells (NCCs) in vivo results in craniofacial, cardiac, and trunk abnormalities. Severe craniofacial malformations are apparent in Wnt1Cre;RosaNotch embryos, while less severe skull abnormalities are evident in Wnt1Cre;RBP‐Jf/f mice. Deficient cardiac neural crest migration, resulting in cardiac outflow tract malformations, occurs with increased or decreased Notch signaling in NCCs. Smooth muscle cell differentiation also is impaired in pharyngeal NCC derivatives in both Wnt1Cre;RosaNotch and Wnt1Cre;RBP‐Jf/f embryos. Neurogenesis is absent and gliogenesis is increased in the dorsal root ganglia of Wnt1Cre;RosaNotch embryos, while neurogenesis is increased and gliogenesis is decreased in Wnt1Cre;RBP‐Jf/f embryos. Conclusions: Together, these studies demonstrate essential cell‐autonomous roles for appropriate levels of Notch signaling during NCC migration, proliferation, and differentiation with critical implications in craniofacial, cardiac, and neurogenic development and disease. Developmental Dynamics 241:376–389, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A 0.55V 61dB-SNR 67dB-SFDR 7MHz 4th-order Butterworth filter using ring-oscillator-based integrators in 90nm CMOS

Integrators are key building blocks in many analog signal processing circuits and systems. They are typically implemented using either an opamp-RC or a Gm-C architecture depending on bandwidth and linearity requirements. The performance of both these topologies depends on the operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) used to implement the integrator. Reduced supply voltage and lower transistor output impedance make it difficult to implement high-gain wide-bandwidth OTAs in a power-efficient manner. Consequently, the DC gain of the integrator is often severely limited when designed in deep-submicron CMOS processes. Conventional integrators employ multi-stage OTAs operating in weak inversion and forward body biasing to achieve large DC gain at low supply voltages [1]. These techniques require automatic biasing to guarantee robust operation under all conditions and the use of frequency compensation combined with large dimensions needed to bias the transistors in weak inversion severely limits the bandwidth and increases power dissipation. In this paper, we propose a ring-oscillator-based integrator (ROI) that seeks to overcome the limitations of conventional OTA-based integrators.
Role of positive selection in the retention of duplicate genes in mammalian genomes

The question of how duplicate genes are retained in a population remains controversial. The duplication-degeneration-complementation model, which involves no positive selection, stipulates a higher retention rate of duplicate genes in a small population than in a large one. This model has been accepted by many evolutionists. However, we found considerably more retentions and fewer losses of duplicate genes in the mouse genome than in the human genome, although the population size of rodents is in general larger than that of primates. Indeed, in nearly every interval of synonymous divergence between duplicate genes, the number of gene retentions in mouse is larger than that in human. Our findings suggest a more important role of positive selection in duplicate retention than duplication–degeneration–complementation. In addition, certain functional categories show a higher tendency of lineage-specific expansion than expected, suggesting lineage-specific selection or functional bias in retained duplicates.
Integrating Real-Time Room Acoustics Simulation into a CAD Modeling Software to Enhance the Architectural Design Process

For architects, real-time 3D visual rendering of CAD-models is a valuable tool. The architect usually perceives the visual appearance of the building interior in a natural and realistic way during the design process. Unfortunately this only emphasizes the role of the visual appearance of a building, while the acoustics often remain disregarded. Controlling the room acoustics is not integrated into most architects’ workflows—due to a lack of tools. The present contribution describes a newly developed plug-in for adding an adequate 3D-acoustics feedback to the architect. To present intuitively the acoustical effect of the current design project, the plug-in uses real-time audio rendering and 3D-reproduction. The room acoustics of the design can be varied by modifying structural shapes as well as by changing the material selection. In addition to the audio feedback, also a visualization of important room acoustics qualities is provided by displaying color-coded maps inside the CAD software.
Induction of Tolerance to Human Arylsulfatase A in a Mouse Model of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

A deficiency of arylsulfatase A (ASA) causes metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by accumulation of sulfatide, a severe neurological phenotype and early death. The efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has previously been determined in ASA knockout (ASA−/−) mice representing the only available animal model for MLD. Repeated intravenous injection of human ASA (hASA) improved the nervous system pathology and function, but also elicited a progressive humoral immune response leading to treatment resistance, anaphylactic reactions, and high mortality. In contrast to ASA−/− mice, most MLD patients express mutant hASA which may entail immunological tolerance to substituted wildtype hASA and thus protect from immunological complications. To test this notion, a cysteine-to-serine substitution was introduced into the active site of the hASA and the resulting inactive hASA-C69S variant was constitutively expressed in ASA−/− mice. Mice with sub-to supranormal levels of mutant hASA expression were analyzed. All mice, including those showing transgene expression below the limit of detection, were immunologically unresponsive to injected hASA. More than 100-fold overexpression did not induce an overt new phenotype except occasional intralysosomal deposition of minor amounts of glycogen in hepatocytes. Furthermore, long-term, low-dose ERT reduced sulfatide storage in peripheral tissues and the central nervous system indicating that high levels of extracellular mutant hASA do not prevent cellular uptake and lysosomal targeting of substituted wildtype hASA. Due to the tolerance to hASA and maintenance of the MLD-like phenotype, the novel transgenic strain may be particularly advantageous to assess the benefit and risk of long-term ERT.
Culture Change In A Rural High School

Rural high schools are most impacted by a negative organizational culture. Toxic behaviors prevail over the positive ones. Perspectives about what is possible to attain become jaded when school outcomes do not match individual expectations. If leadership does not treat sustaining a positive school culture as a priority, then the successful transition to the new demands of education is unlikely. The qualitative research was founded in the conceptual framework about change and culture in schools. A grounded theory approach was used in the methodology to examine the role collaboration and leadership play in establishing culture. Research questions addressed the role of collaboration in school culture change strategies to support a school culture, change agent qualities, and beliefs about transference. Themes regarding rural school culture, leadership and change emerged from the research. Data analysis using an open coding process generated themes of culture, collaboration, change, and leadership. Findings from the analysis of the data include: intentional collaboration techniques involvement focus; maintenance of positivity, using strong communication techniques, and application of effective change agent strategies. Leaders can support a positive school culture by having a focus on relationships, scheduling time for collaboration, intentionality, organization, and having a growth mindset. This supports implementation and sustainment of a respectful school culture focused on learning.
Long‐term effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor function recovery after acute ischemic stroke

Objective – Although there is evidence for short term benefits of rTMS in stroke, longer term effects have not been reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of two different frequencies of rTMS on motor recovery and on cortical excitability up to 1 year post‐treatment.
Performing Bayesian Risk Aggregation using Discrete Approximation Algorithms with Graph Factorization

Risk aggregation is a popular method used to estimate the sum of a collection of financial assets or events, where each asset or event is modelled as a random variable. Applications, in the financial services industry, include insurance, operational risk, stress testing, and sensitivity analysis, but the problem is widely encountered in many other application domains. This thesis has contributed two algorithms to perform Bayesian risk aggregation when model exhibit hybrid dependency and high dimensional inter-dependency. The first algorithm operates on a subset of the general problem, with an emphasis on convolution problems, in the presence of continuous and discrete variables (so called hybrid models) and the second algorithm offer a universal method for general purpose inference over much wider classes of Bayesian Network models.
Growth of Vero E-6 cells on microcarriers in a cell bioreactor

Minimum essential medium supplemented with either 7% fetal bovine serum or 2% fetal bovine serum and 1.5% low protein serum replacement (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) factor was used to evaluate the growth of Vero 76 cells (E-6 clone) in a cell culture bioreactor. Three different microcarriers, collagen-coated polystyrene (Kontes Life Sciences Products, Vineland, N.J.), Gelibead (Hazelton Research Products, Inc., Lenexa, Kans.), and Cytodex 3 (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Piscataway, N.J.), were used to compare the propagation of these anchorage-dependent cells. The number of viable cells recovered during three harvests over an 11-day incubation period was evaluated. The Vero E-6 cells grew equally well with both media. When the collagen-coated dextran microcarriers (Cytodex 3) were used, better cell attachment and higher-density growth were obtained and 5.5 x 10(8) to 7.0 x 10(8) cells were recovered from the system.
Subcortical Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolic Changes Elicited by Cortical Spreading Depression in Rat

Changes in cerebral cortical perfusion (CBFLDF), local cerebral blood flow (ICBF) and local cerebral glucose utilization (ICGU) elicited by unilateral cortical spreading depression (SD) were monitored and measured in separate groups of rats anesthetized with a-chloralose. CBFLDF was recorded with laser Doppler flowmetry, while ICBF and ICGU were measured by the quantitative autoradiographic [14C]iodoantipyrine and [14C]-2-deoxyglucose methods, respectively. SD elicited a wave of hyperemia after a latency of 2 to 3 min followed by an oligemic phase. Ninety minutes following the onset of SD cortical (frontal, parietal and occipital) ICBF and ICGU were essentially the same as on the contralateral side and in sham-treated rats. However, alteration in the ICBF and ICGU in upper and lower brainstem persisted. The present results demonstrate, for the first time, that long-lasting cerebrovascular and metabolic alterations take place within the subcortical regions following SD. These regions provide an attractive site to integrate observations in man concerning spreading depression and the aura of migraine with the other features of the syndrome.
New Backtests for Unconditional Coverage of Expected Shortfall

While value-at-risk has been the standard risk measure for a long time, expected shortfall (ES) has become more and more popular in recent times, as it provides important information about tail risk. We present a new backtest for the unconditional coverage property of the ES. The test is based on the so-called cumulative violation process, and its main advantage is that the distribution is known for finite out-of-sample size. This leads to better size and power properties compared with existing tests. Moreover, we extend the test principle to a multivariate test and analyze its behavior via simulations and an application to bank returns.
Visual Culture and Public Policy Making

In 2006 Al Gore presented his film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, here he tried to convince the world global warming will have a significant impact on our daily lives. The flow of water covering large parts of the world was pictured and figures from different kinds of scientific reports were shown. Our imagination was stimulated and the movie made sure a radical change was necessary. This is one of the many possible examples which show images play an increasingly important role in the world of public policy-making. This increasing importance of images can have consequences for public policy-making and politics. The question we need to ask ourselves is what this influence of images and the increasing importance of these images actually is on public policy-making. How do these images influence the course, the content and the outcome of processes of public policymaking? In order to research this we have formulated the following research question:
Extraction of Unloaded Q and Coupling Matrix From Measurements on Filters With Large Losses

In this letter, a simple solution is described for obtaining an accurate evaluation of the coupling matrix and the unloaded Q from the measured scattering parameters of a microwave lossy filter (assuming all the resonators with the same unloaded Q). The Cauchy method is applied in a predistorted frequency domain, where the measured (lossy) parameters refer to a lossless device. In this way, it becomes possible to synthesize a prototype low-pass network using well established techniques, once the topology of the filters has been assigned. With respect to the previous methods available in the literature, the one here proposed allows very accurate results even with filters exhibiting large insertion losses; moreover the computing time is extremely short allowing the use of the method in real time computer-aided tuning procedures for microwave filters. An example of application of the proposed method is reported in the letter for illustrative and validating purposes.
What is Keeping U.S. Core Inflation Low: Insights from a Bottom-Up Approach

Over the past two decades, U.S. core PCE goods and services inflation have evolved differently. Against the backdrop of global concerns of low inflation, we use this trend as motivation to develop a bottom-up model of U.S. inflation. We find that domestic forces play a larger role relative to foreign factors in influencing core services inflation, while foreign factors predominantly drive core goods price changes. When comparing forecasting performance, we find that both the aggregate Phillips curve and the bottom up approach give low root mean square errors. The latter, however, is more informative in tracing the effects of shocks and understanding the exact channels through which they affect aggregate inflation. Using scenario analysis—and given a relatively low sensitivity of core inflation to changes in slack, both at the aggregate Phillips curve and sub-components levels—we find that global pressures will likely keep core PCE inflation below 2 percent for the foreseeable future unless the dollar starts to depreciate markedly and the unemployment rate goes well below the natural rate. These results support the accommodative stance of monetary policy pursued thus far and, going forward, underscore the need for proceeding cautiously and very gradually in raising the federal funds rate.
Organization and Expression of the Mouse MTH1 Gene for Preventing Transversion Mutation*

An enzyme, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanosine triphosphatase (8-oxo-dGTPase), is present in various organisms and plays an important role in the control of spontaneous mutagenesis. The enzyme hydrolyzes 8-oxo-dGTP, an oxidized form of dGTP, to 8-oxo-dGMP, thereby preventing the occurrence of A:T to C:G transversion, caused by misincorporation. We isolated the mouse genomic sequence encoding the enzyme and elucidated its structure. The gene, named MTH1 for mutT homologue 1, is composed of at least five exons and spans approximately 9 kilobase pairs. A genomic region containing the pseudogene was also isolated. The promoter region for the gene is GC-rich, contains many AP-1 and AP-2 recognition sequences, and lacks a typical TATA box. Primer extension and S1 mapping analyses revealed the existence of multiple transcription initiation sites, among which a major site was defined as +1. The putative promoter region was placed upstream of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene, and control of expression of the gene was examined by introducing the construct into mouse NIH 3T3 cells. Deletion analysis indicated that a sequence from −321 to +9 carries the basic promoter activity while an adjacent region, spanning from +352 to +525 stimulates the frequency of transcription.