Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persistent Diffusion-Restricted Lesions in Bevacizumab-Treated Malignant Gliomas Are Associated with Improved Survival Compared with Matched Controls

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A subset of patients with malignant glioma develops conspicuous lesions characterized by persistent restricted diffusion during treatment with bevacizumab. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the evolution of these lesions and to determine their relationship to patient outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with malignant glioma with persistent restricted-diffusion lesions undergoing treatment with bevacizumab were included in the current study. Mean ADC and the volume of restricted diffusion were computed for each patient during serial follow-up. Differences in TTP, TTS, and OS were compared between patients with restricted diffusion and matched controls by using Kaplan-Meier analysis with the logrank test and Cox hazard models. RESULTS: Mean ADC values were generally stable with time (mean, 5.2 ± 12.6% change from baseline). The volume of restricted diffusion increased a median of 23% from baseline by 6 months. Patients with restricted-diffusion lesions had significantly greater TTP (logrank, P = .013), TTS (logrank, P = .008), and OS (logrank, P = .010) than matched controls. When available, advanced physiologic imaging of restricted-diffusion lesions showed hypovascularity on perfusion MR imaging and decreased amino acid uptake on 18F-FDOPA PET scans. Atypical gelatinous necrotic tissue was confirmed in the area of restricted diffusion in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Restricted-diffusion lesions in malignant gliomas treated with bevacizumab are generally stable with time and are associated with improved outcomes. These results combined with physiologic imaging and histopathologic data suggest that these lesions are not consistent with aggressive tumor.
Productive performance of naked neck, frizzle and dwarf laying hens under various natural climates and two nutritional treatments

The productive performance of major genes for feather reduction (naked neck and frizzle) and body size reduction (dwarf) in a dual-purpose layer strain was evaluated in the subtropical coastal region of southeast Africa (Maputo, Mozambique). The experimental material consisted of ight different genetic groups, two diets (14.4 and 16.2% crude protein) and two climatic seasons. Birds were caged individually in a laying house with natural light and ventilation. Traits measured were: temperature and relative humidity, body weight, age at first egg, egg number and weight, feed intake and mortality. The following were calculated: persistence, egg mass, feed efficiency, feed conversion, biological efficiency (EMD/BW 0.75) and productivity (EN/BW 0.75). The main results show that: (1) none of the feather-reducing genes significantly improved egg production or feed efficiency, although the naked neck (Na) excelled in terms of biological efficiency and productivity; (2) the dwarf gene (dw) was associated with delayed sexual maturity, production of fewer and lighter eggs, higher persistence, better feed conversion and higher survivability; (3) elevated temperatures restrained voluntary feed intake, egg number and weight, and body weight gain; (4) the lower dietary protein content resulted in decreased body weight. It was concluded that the genes were not equally responsive to the environments, which offers the opportunity for selective breeding. South African Journal of Animal Science, Vol 31, Issue 3, Oct – Dec (2001): pp.174-180 Key Words Temperature, Poultry, Naked neck, Frizzle, Dwarf, Egg production, Laying hens
Calcium Channel Blockers and Risk of Breast Cancer: A meta-Analysis

Purpose: Studies on the association between the use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and breast cancer risk have reported inconsistent results. We quantitatively evaluated this association by conducting a metaanalysis based on the evidence from all studies. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies published up to and including December 15, 2015. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RRs) for breast cancer risk. Results: A total of 24 studies were selected for further study. These studies included 711,479 female subjects, of which 181,492 were CCBs users, who were followed for 3-16 years. The risks of breast cancer among patients receiving CCBs were significantly different for the pooled RRs (95% confidence interval) of cohort studies 1.02 (0.97, 1.07) and case-control studies 1.03 (1.01, 1.06). Differences were also noted for breast cancer risk, for CCBs use of <10 years 1.07 (1.02, 1.11), and for >10 years 1.02 (0.99, 1.04). Conclusions: The long-term use of CCBs appears to have a significant relationship with breast cancer. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to optimize the doses and types of these drugs needed to minimize their carcinogenic potential.
Ethanol elevates physiological all‐trans‐retinoic acid levels in select loci through altering retinoid metabolism in multiple loci: a potential mechanism of ethanol toxicity

All‐trans‐retinoic acid (atRA) supports embryonic development, central nervous system function, and the immune response. atRA initiates neurogenesis and dendritic growth in the hippocampus and is required for spatial memory; superphysiological atRA inhibits neurogenesis, causes teratology and/or embryo toxicity, and alters cognitive function and behavior. Because abnormal atRA shares pathological conditions with alcoholism, inhibition of retinol (vitamin A) activation into atRA has been credited widely as a mechanism of ethanol toxicity. Here, we analyze the effects of ethanol on retinoid concentrations in vivo during normal vitamin A nutriture, using sensitive and analytically robust assays. Ethanol either increased or had no effect on atRA, regardless of changes in retinol and retinyl esters. Acute ethanol (3.5 g/kg) increased atRA in adult hippocampus (1.6‐fold), liver (2.4‐fold), and testis (1.5‐fold). Feeding dams a liquid diet with 6.5% ethanol from embryonic day 13 (e13) to e19 increased atRA in fetal hippocampus (up to 20‐fold) and cortex (up to 50‐fold), depending on blood alcohol content. One‐month feeding of the 6.5% ethanol diet increased atRA in adult hippocampus (20‐fold), cortex (2‐fold), testis (2‐fold), and serum (10‐fold). Tissue‐specific increases in retinoid dehydrogenase mRNAs and activities, extrahepatic retinol concentrations, and atRA catabolism combined to produce site‐specific effects. Because a sustained increase in atRA has deleterious effects on the central nervous system and embryo development, these data suggest that superphysiological atRA contributes to ethanol pathological conditions, including cognitive dysfunction and fetal alcohol syndrome. —Kane, M. A. , Folias, A. E. , Wang, C. , Napoli, J. L. Ethanol elevates physiological all‐trans‐retinoic acid levels in select loci through altering retinoid metabolism in multiple loci: a potential mechanism of ethanol toxicity. FASEB J. 24, 823–832 (2010). www.fasebj. org
A Multifunctional Online Research Portal for Facilitation of Simulation-Based Research: A Report From the EXPRESS Pediatric Simulation Research Collaborative

Introduction: Simulation-based research requires the coordinated effort of research teams to design projects, recruit subjects, and carry out performance assessments of individuals or teams. These efforts can often be labor intensive, time consuming, and logistically challenging, especially in the context of multicenter simulation-based research trials. Methods: We have developed a multifunctional, internet-based research portal for facilitation of simulation-based research. This free portal, accessible from www.cesei. org, is capable of managing the research process by helping researchers to design their project, setup data collection using customized assessment tools, upload videos for performance assessment, and finally, download data-filled spreadsheets for statistical analysis. Results: The research portal has been used successfully to manage the first major project of the EXPRESS research collaborative, a multicenter research study involving 15 recruitment sites and more than 400 subjects. Conclusions: The use of the research portal has enabled us to simplify and streamline the management of our multicenter research studies. We envision that this portal will permit novice and expert researchers alike to carry out their simulation-based research projects in a coordinated and time-efficient fashion, thus ultimately helping to enhance their overall research productivity.
An Archival Exploration of 19th-Century American Adult Female Offender Parricides

Social and behavioral scientists have increasingly attended to the contexts and motivational dynamics underlying parricidal events. These efforts notwithstanding, most research has focused on adolescent or adult male offender populations. One largely neglected area of study is that of adult female offender parricide. The present study utilizes archival records to examine the contexts and sources of conflict that gave rise to adult female offender parricides in the late 19th century. Three general themes emerged, representing the primary contexts behind adult female offender parricide: (1) abuse and neglect; (2) instrumental, financially-motivated killings; and (3) expressive killings, often during the course of arguments. Each of these contexts is explored.
A Novel Isolation Method for Half-Bridge Power ICs

A novel integrated solution for two high voltage power n-channel MOSFET transistors (NMOSTs) M<sub>H</sub> and M<sub>L</sub> and two level-shifting high-voltage NMOSTs M<sub>1</sub> and M<sub>2</sub> are proposed to save chip area and reduce process complexity. The optimized variation lateral doping technique is used for designing the four NMOSTs. The four NMOSTs are isolated by PN junction isolation technique to integrate together. The isolation areas between M<sub>L</sub> and M<sub>1</sub> and M<sub>1</sub> and M<sub>2</sub> are needed to sustain high voltage in <i>X</i>-direction. Hence, the effective surface charge density distribution in the isolation areas is designed almost the same as the NMOST. The layout area of the two level-shifting high-voltage NMOSTs of the proposed solution is only 6.61% of that conventional one. The simulation results from TCAD MEDICI and DAVINCI show that the expectant functions are well achieved.
Structure comparison of the pheromones Er‐1, Er‐10, and Er‐2 from Euplotes raikovi

The NMR structures of the homologous pheromones Er‐1, Er‐10, and Er‐2 from the ciliated protozoan Euplotes raikovi are compared. For all 3 proteins the molecular architecture is made up of an antiparallel 3‐helix bundle. The preservation of the core part of the structure is directly manifested by similar patterns of slowed backbone amide proton exchange rates, hydrogen bond formation, and relative solvent accessibility. To align the 6 half‐cystine residues in the individual sequences within the preserved 3‐dimensional core structure, several deletions and insertions had to be introduced that differ from those previously proposed on the basis of the primary structures. Of special interest is a deletion in the second helix of Er‐2, which is accommodated by a transition from an α‐helix in Er‐1 and Er‐10 to a 310‐helix in Er‐2. The most significant structural differences are located in the C‐terminal part of the proteins, which may have an important role in specific receptor recognition.
The Human Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1 Genes Are Separated by a CTCF-binding Enhancer-blocking Element*

The human major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) region encodes a cluster of polymorphic heterodimeric glycoproteins HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP that functions in antigen presentation. Separated by ∼44 kb of DNA, the HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1 encode MHC-II proteins that function in separate MHC-II heterodimers and are diametrically transcribed. A region of high acetylation located in the intergenic sequences between HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1 was discovered and termed XL9. The peak of acetylation coincided with sequences that bound the insulator protein CCCTC-binding factor as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitations and in vitro DNA binding studies. XL9 was also found to be associated with the nuclear matrix. The activity of the XL9 region was examined and found to be a potent enhancer-blocking element. These results suggest that the XL9 region may have evolved to separate the transcriptional units of the HLA-DR and HLA-DQ genes.
Responses and Behaviour of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder during Semi-Structured Interviews

The researchers investigated the behaviour of the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)patient, based on observations during structured interviews, to test the hypothesis that these patients are frequently more hostile, aggressive, demanding and manipulative in an interview situation, as has been reported in the literature. These patients were compared to a similar group which had been identified as having BPD traits. The findings suggest that the BPD patients respond with more helplessness and anxiety, that they are more reliable, and that they do not differ significantly in displays of negative behavior during the interview.
Differential Expression of var Gene Groups Is Associated with Morbidity Caused by Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Tanzanian Children

ABSTRACT The var gene family of Plasmodium falciparum encodes the variant surface antigen Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). PfEMP1 is considered an important pathogenicity factor in P. falciparum infection because it mediates cytoadherence to host cell endothelial receptors. var genes can be grouped into three major groups, A, B, and C, and the conserved var genes, var1-4, according to sequence similarities in coding and noncoding upstream regions. Using real-time quantitative PCR in a study conducted in Tanzania, the var transcript abundances of the different var gene groups were compared among patients with severe, uncomplicated, and asymptomatic malaria. Transcripts of var group A and B genes were more abundant in patients with severe malaria than in patients with uncomplicated malaria. In general, the transcript abundances of var group A and B genes were higher for children with clinical malaria than for children with asymptomatic infections. The var group C and var1-like transcript abundances were similar between the three sample groups. A transcript abundance pattern similar to that for var group A was observed for var2csa and var3-like genes. These results suggest that substantial and systematic differences in var gene expression exist between different clinical presentations.
Histones of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Synthesis, Acetylation, and Methylation)

Histones of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were prepared by a new method and fractionated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Acid-urea-Triton gel analysis and tritiated acetate labeling demonstrated high levels of steady-state acetylation for the single histone H3 protein, in contrast to low levels on histones H4 and H2B. Twenty percent of histone H3 is subject to dynamic acetylation with, on average, three acetylated lysine residues per protein molecule. Histone synthesis in light-dark-synchronized cultures was biphasic with pattern differences between two histone H1 variants, between two H2A variants, and between H2B and ubiquitinated H2B. Automated protein sequence analysis of histone H3 demonstrated a site-specific pattern of steady-state acetylation between 7 and 17% at five of the six amino-terminal lysines and of monomethylation between 5 and 81% at five of the eight amino-terminal lysines in a pattern that may limit dynamic acetylation. An algal histone H3 sequence was confirmed by protein sequencing with a single threonine as residue 28 instead of the serine28-alanine29 sequence, present in all other known plant and animal H3 histones.
Difference of Curcumin Content in Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) Caused by Hybridization with Other Curcuma Species

Curcumin, which is traditionally known to have effects on various types of diseases in humans, is found in Curcuma longa L. Previous reports have indicated that the curcumin content varies between the different lines of this species. To clarify the differences in the amounts of curcumin between the lines, we investigated the outcomes of cultivation ex-periments with the hybridization or introgression between C. longa and other Curcuma species using the matK gene of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and the external transcribed spacer (ETS) of nuclear DNA (nrDNA). The results show that there is heterogeneity of the ETS and incongruence between the matK and the ETS phylogenetic trees, suggesting that hybridization and introgression had taken place in the diversification of the various lines of C. longa. Moreover, al-though all of the lines had the same cpDNA haplotype of C. longa, the lines of homogeneous C. longa had a high con-tent of curcumin, whereas the lines created by hybridization and introgression with other Curcuma species had a me-dium or low level. These results suggest that the difference of curcumin content among the various lines of C. longa was caused by hybridization and introgression with other Curcuma species.
Quasi-Monte Carlo Based Probabilistic Small Signal Stability Analysis for Power Systems With Plug-In Electric Vehicle and Wind Power Integration

This paper presents a new quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) based probabilistic small signal stability analysis (PSSSA) method to assess the dynamic effects of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) in power systems. The detailed dynamic model of PEVs is first proposed for stability study. To account for the stochastic behavior of PEVs and WECSs in load flow studies, the randomized model and probability density function (PDF) representing their nodal power injections are first developed, and then their stochastic injections are sampled by Sobol sequences. Finally, the distribution of system eigenvalues can be obtained by the PSSSA. The proposed QMC-based PSSSA is tested on the modified 2-area 4-machine system and New England 10-generator 39-bus system. Results showed the necessity of modeling of PEVs and WECSs, and validated the efficiency of the proposed QMC.
Research on the Collaborative E-Business System Model

The conceptions of the Collaboration and Collaborative Effect are introduced in this paper at the beginning, and then we will give the meaning of the collaborative E-Business and present the functions it should possess. Based on these statements, we will point out the deficiencies of the BPEL4WS ebXML and RosettaNet E-Business standards that can realize collaboration among corporations to a certain degree through analysis. At the end, we will put forward a collaborative E-Business model in order to realizing inter-enterprise collaboration.
Study of a matching circuit effect on a microwave rectifier

An effective method is proposed to design a matching circuit for a microwave rectifier in order to manage the frequency bandwidth and the power bandwidth. Although the input impedance is affected by the nonlinear behavior of diodes with the variation of input power levels, the analysis on a variety of matching circuit configuration brings more evidence to improve the performance of rectifiers. This method has been applied in a low cost, zero-bias Schottky diode rectifier having RF-DC conversion efficiency of 55 %. The nonlinear simulation of rectifier circuit and an analytic description of multiple dimensional parameters are the key to study the relation between the nonlinear performance of a rectifier and its matching circuit.
The dose-response relation between serum homocysteine and cardiovascular disease: implications for treatment and screening

Background With the recognition that serum homocysteine may cause cardiovascular disease there is clinical interest in homocysteine measurement to guide treatment with folic acid. It is uncertain whether treatment is best directed at those with high homocysteine or those at high risk irrespective of initial homocysteine. Design and methods Dose-response plots of the associations between serum homocysteine and ischaemic heart disease and deep vein thrombosis were determined from retrospective (case-control) studies (a meta-analysis of 12 age-matched studies) prospective studies and studies of the C677T MTHFR polymorphism (a comparison of risk in three genotypes in a meta-analysis of 72 studies). The value of serum homocysteine as a screening test was assessed from distributions of serum homocysteine in men who did and did not die from ischaemic heart disease in a large prospective study. Results There were straight-line relationships between serum homocysteine and disease events in the three types of study; a given decrease in homocysteine would produce a similar proportional risk reduction from any pre-treatment level. There was substantial overlap between the distributions of serum homocysteine in men who did and did not die of ischaemic heart disease, indicating poor screening performance; there was no serum homocysteine cut-off that concentrated the majority of disease events into a small minority of the population. Conclusion Interventions to lower serum homocysteine, if judged to be worthwhile, should not be limited to people with a high homocysteine but should be offered to everyone at high risk, regardless of pre-treatment homocysteine.
Zac1 is expressed in progenitor/stem cells of the neuroectoderm and mesoderm during embryogenesis: Differential phenotype of the Zac1‐expressing cells during development

Zac1, a new zinc‐finger protein that regulates both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, is abundantly expressed in many neuroepithelia during early brain development. In the present work, we study the expression of Zac1 during early embryogenesis and we determine the cellular phenotype of the Zac1‐expressing cells throughout development. Our results show that Zac1 is expressed in the progenitor/stem cells of several tissues (nervous system, skeleton, and skeletal muscle), because they colocalize with several progenitor/stem markers (Nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, FORSE‐1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and bromodeoxyuridine). In postnatal development, Zac1 is expressed in all phases of the life cycle of the chondrocytes (from proliferation to apoptosis), in some limbic γ‐aminobutyric acid‐ergic neuronal subpopulations, and during developmental myofibers. Therefore, the intense expression of Zac1 in the progenitor/stem cells of different cellular lineages during the proliferative cycle, before differentiation into postmitotic cells, suggests that Zac1 plays an important role in the control of cell fate during neurogenesis, chondrogenesis, and myogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 233:667–679, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Persistent scatterer InSAR for monitoring active volcanoes: Measuring deformation at Merapi using ALOS PALSAR data

We applied Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) onto the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array L-band SAR (PALSAR) dataset from December 2006 to February 2011 to monitor the inter-eruption (2006 and 2010) period and the post 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi. L-band is chosen for the long wavelength to improve coherence in vegetated region. We observe periodic uplift and subsidence of less than 0.4 mm/day for the non-eruption period, and a large uplift of 1.8 mm/day immediately before the eruption. ALOS PALSAR is limited by the 46 days repeat pass, but newer L-band satellites will have the potential to monitor active volcanoes such as Merapi.