Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Getting to Know Ovarian Cancer Ascites: Opportunities for Targeted Therapy-Based Translational Research

More than one third of ovarian cancer patients present with ascites at diagnosis, and almost all have ascites at recurrence. The presence of ascites correlates with the peritoneal spread of ovarian cancer and is associated with poor disease prognosis. Malignant ascites acts as a reservoir of a complex mixture of soluble factors and cellular components which provide a pro-inflammatory and tumor-promoting microenvironment for the tumor cells. Subpopulations of these tumor cells exhibit cancer stem-like phenotypes, possess enhanced resistance to therapies and the capacity for distal metastatic spread and recurrent disease. Thus, ascites-derived malignant cells and the ascites microenvironment represent a major source of morbidity and mortality for ovarian cancer patients. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the molecular, cellular, and functional characteristics of the cellular populations within ascites and discusses their contributions to ovarian cancer metastasis, chemoresistance, and recurrence. We highlight in particular recent translational findings which have used primary ascites-derived tumor cells as a tool to understand the pathogenesis of the disease, yielding new insights and targets for therapeutic manipulation.
A Cooperative Moving Relay Node System Deployment in a High Speed Train

In this paper we present system level simulation results for a cooperative moving relay node (MRN) system deployed on a high speed train (HST). Recently interest has grown in using MRNs to provide enhanced cellular coverage to users in public transport, particularly HSTs, of which the modern construction materials and techniques cause high vehicle penetration loss (VPL) when signals propagate into the train. MRNs utilising antenna arrays on the exterior and interior of the train are a promising solution to overcoming this VPL in order to provide onboard users with improved service. We show that a cooperative system of 8 MRNs onboard a HST is able to provide significant improvements to achievable throughput of onboard users when compared to direct transmission, as well as indirectly improving the throughput of other users located in cells the HST is passing through.
Moderate acne as a potential barrier to social relationships: Myth or reality?

Acne vulgaris is a skin disease affecting many young people and, if it continues into their twenties, can be a substantial barrier to social relationships. Although there is evidence that sufferers are adversely psychologically affected, what is less apparent from research to date is whether this is because of negative self-beliefs or the discriminatory attitudes of others. This study set out to explore how far young people with moderate acne are viewed less favourably compared to their clear-skinned peers. The design was quasi-experimental. The faces of two male and two female 21-year-old volunteers with clear skin were photographed and then photographed again after having had facial signs of moderate acne simulated by a professional make-up artist. Photographs of a male and female face were given to 143 participants who were divided randomly into two conditions: “Clear” and “acne”. The former were shown the unblemished faces and the latter were given the faces with acne. The participants were asked to estimate the age of the person in the photograph and then rate the volunteer on a scale of 16 personality items. It was found that the participants in the “clear” condition estimated the volunteers as two years older and more mature than in the “acne” condition. In terms of personality, the photographs in the “clear” condition were given higher scores for potential friendship, attractiveness and overall positive personality features than the photographs in the “acne” condition. The conclusion is that moderate acne vulgaris could be a potential barrier to social relationships for young people not simply because of their social anxiety but because they may well be meeting with prejudice. It is suggested that attitudes might be changed by more accurate information about the condition.
The Cognitive Impact of Early Foreign Language Learning. The Case of an Experimental School

This paper reports the results of a longitudinal research that took place in Thessaloniki during 2010-11 and 2011-12, in two primary schools: the 3 rd experimental school and the 2 nd school (control), both located in the western part of the city. The experimental school introduces English as a FL (EFL) from Grade 1 and follows an intensive programme as English is taught for five hours per week. The control school introduces EFL in Grade 3. The reported results are part of a larger research that explored the cognitive impact of Early Foreign Language Learning (EFLL) in an instructed context, in an attempt to explain individual differences in the acquisition of L2 English vocabulary. The informants were tested twice: before the experimental group had any exposure to EFL (i.e. at the beginning of Grade 1) and at the end of Grade 2, i.e. after the two-year EFL schooling of the experimental group. Foreign language aptitude research on very young learners [1, 2] suggests that children’s cognitive skills, i.e. memory (e.g. associative memory, recoding ability) as well as analytic skills (e.g. inductive reasoning, visual perception), which are already established at the age of 6/7, relate closely to learners’ FL learning (FLL) success. The study examines whether EFLL has a beneficial effect and can further enhance any of these nonverbal skills. Also, seen from an Information Processing perspective it explores whether, apart from Phonological Short-Term Memory that is very often indicated in the relevant bibliography [3-8], there is another variable (e.g. complex Working Memory (WM)) that can predict FL vocabulary acquisition at this early stage of FLL. The research findings indicate that EFLL boosts certain cognitive skills and that the attention controller (i.e. the central executive) of WM is implicated in FL comprehension and production.
Human cervical cancer as a venereal disease.

The operation of venereal factors in human cervical cancer is suggested by demographic and epidemiological data. Recent evidence supporting the genital herpesvirus hypothesis is consistent with this notion. A controlled epidemiological investigation has been undertaken on the role of the male coital partner in cervical carcinogenesis. An answer is sought to the question, "Is the risk of developing cervical cancer increased among the wives of men who at some other time were married to other women who developed cervical cancer? " With one-quarter of the study completed, a total of 14 marital clusters have been identified in which 2 or more wives of the same men developed cervical carcinoma. The expected number of such clusters is estimated to be 4.
Surveillance of Influenza A Viruses in Wild Birds in Slovenia from 2006 to 2010

SUMMARY. Within the framework of the surveillance program for the early detection of H5 and H7 subtypes of avian influenza (AI) viruses, samples from 2547 wild birds of different species that were collected between 2006 and 2010 were examined by PCR-based methods. AI viruses of various subtypes were detected in 4.4% of birds from four different orders: Anseriformes, Ciconiiformes, Charadriiformes, and Pelecaniformes. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses were detected only in 2006. HPAI H5N1 virus was confirmed in 1.9% of birds from four different species. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of the H5N1 hemagglutinin gene indicated that two different HPAI H5N1 viruses from the European–Middle Eastern–African clade 1 had been introduced into Slovenia, despite the relatively short duration of the HPAI outbreak. Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses were detected in 2.5% of birds during a 5-yr period. The subtypes H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H7N7, H8, H10, H11, and H13N6 were determined in 18 out of 64 cases. The highest prevalence (81%) of LPAI viruses, including the H5 subtype, were found in birds sampled as a part of the “active” surveillance system.
Functional expression of CD43 on human natural killer cells

CD43 is the major leukocyte sialoglycoprotein that plays important functional roles in neutrophils and lymphocytes. However, the expression of CD43 on human natural killer (NK) cells and its participation in the regulation of NK activity has not been studied. We have therefore investigated the expression of CD43 isoforms on human NK cell subpopulations as well as the role of this molecule in NK cell activation and cytotoxicity. We found that CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells express different sialylated forms of CD43, observing that activation of the CD56bright NK cells induces the change of tetrasaccharide O‐glycans to hexasaccha‐ride O‐glycans on CD43. Cross‐linking of the molecule with mAbs results in a metalloprotease‐dependent loss of CD43 from the NK cell surface, whereas soluble anti‐CD43 mAbs induce a vigorous NK cell proliferation. This property is distinct from T cells, which proliferate after CD43 cross‐linking only in the presence of monocytes. Occupancy of the CD43 receptor on NK cells transduces specific signals, leading to enhanced killing activity and tyrosine phosphorylation and de‐phosphorylation of several substrates. We therefore propose that CD43 significantly contributes to the regulation of the NK cell function by participating in the control of effector/target interactions and, if pertinent, by transducing activation signals. J. Leukoc. Biol. 66: 923–929; 1999.
The Completeness of Intervention Descriptions in Randomised Trials of Supervised Exercise Training in Peripheral Arterial Disease

Research supports the use of supervised exercise training as a primary therapy for improving the functional status of people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Several reviews have focused on reporting the outcomes of exercise interventions, but none have critically examined the quality of intervention reporting. Adequate reporting of the exercise protocols used in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is central to interpreting study findings and translating effective interventions into practice. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the completeness of intervention descriptions in RCTs of supervised exercise training in people with PAD. A systematic search strategy was used to identify relevant trials published until June 2015. Intervention description completeness in the main trial publication was assessed using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist. Missing intervention details were then sought from additional published material and by emailing authors. Fifty-eight trials were included, reporting on 76 interventions. Within publications, none of the interventions were sufficiently described for all of the items required for replication; this increased to 24 (32%) after contacting authors. Although programme duration, and session frequency and duration were well-reported in publications, complete descriptions of the equipment used, intervention provider, and number of participants per session were missing for three quarters or more of interventions (missing for 75%, 93% and 80% of interventions, respectively). Furthermore, 20%, 24% and 26% of interventions were not sufficiently described for the mode of exercise, intensity of exercise, and tailoring/progression, respectively. Information on intervention adherence/fidelity was also frequently missing: attendance rates were adequately described for 29 (38%) interventions, whereas sufficient detail about the intensity of exercise performed was presented for only 8 (11%) interventions. Important intervention details are commonly missing for supervised exercise programmes in the PAD trial literature. This has implications for the interpretation of outcome data, the investigation of dose-response effects, and the replication of protocols in future studies and clinical practice. Researchers should be mindful of intervention reporting guidelines when attempting to publish information about supervised exercise programmes, regardless of the population being studied.
Ancient DNA from Hunter-Gatherer and Farmer Groups from Northern Spain Supports a Random Dispersion Model for the Neolithic Expansion into Europe

Background/Principal Findings The phenomenon of Neolithisation refers to the transition of prehistoric populations from a hunter-gatherer to an agro-pastoralist lifestyle. Traditionally, the spread of an agro-pastoralist economy into Europe has been framed within a dichotomy based either on an acculturation phenomenon or on a demic diffusion. However, the nature and speed of this transition is a matter of continuing scientific debate in archaeology, anthropology, and human population genetics. In the present study, we have analyzed the mitochondrial DNA diversity in hunter-gatherers and first farmers from Northern Spain, in relation to the debate surrounding the phenomenon of Neolithisation in Europe. Methodology/Significance Analysis of mitochondrial DNA was carried out on 54 individuals from Upper Paleolithic and Early Neolithic, which were recovered from nine archaeological sites from Northern Spain (Basque Country, Navarre and Cantabria). In addition, to take all necessary precautions to avoid contamination, different authentication criteria were applied in this study, including: DNA quantification, cloning, duplication (51% of the samples) and replication of the results (43% of the samples) by two independent laboratories. Statistical and multivariate analyses of the mitochondrial variability suggest that the genetic influence of Neolithisation did not spread uniformly throughout Europe, producing heterogeneous genetic consequences in different geographical regions, rejecting the traditional models that explain the Neolithisation in Europe. Conclusion The differences detected in the mitochondrial DNA lineages of Neolithic groups studied so far (including these ones of this study) suggest different genetic impact of Neolithic in Central Europe, Mediterranean Europe and the Cantabrian fringe. The genetic data obtained in this study provide support for a random dispersion model for Neolithic farmers. This random dispersion had a different impact on the various geographic regions, and thus contradicts the more simplistic total acculturation and replacement models proposed so far to explain Neolithisation.
Improving Chinese Semantic Role Classification with Hierarchical Feature Selection Strategy

In recent years, with the development of Chinese semantically annotated corpus, such as Chinese Proposition Bank and Normalization Bank, the Chinese semantic role labeling (SRL) task has been boosted. Similar to English, the Chinese SRL can be divided into two tasks: semantic role identification (SRI) and classification (SRC). Many features were introduced into these tasks and promising results were achieved. In this paper, we mainly focus on the second task: SRC. After exploiting the linguistic discrepancy between numbered arguments and ARGMs, we built a semantic role classifier based on a hierarchical feature selection strategy. Different from the previous SRC systems, we divided SRC into three sub tasks in sequence and trained models for each sub task. Under the hierarchical architecture, each argument should first be determined whether it is a numbered argument or an ARGM, and then be classified into fine-gained categories. Finally, we integrated the idea of exploiting argument interdependence into our system and further improved the performance. With the novel method, the classification precision of our system is 94.68%, which outperforms the strong baseline significantly. It is also the state-of-the-art on Chinese SRC.
An Object-Oriented Framework Approach to Flexible Availability Management for Developing Distributed Applications

With the success of Internet-based business, there is more and more interest in the availability of systems. Availability indicates that a system continuously provides a useful service at any given time. Failure detection and recovery methods are supported for developing application of availability. Requirement on availability may vary with applications and in addition may change over time. For applications to be independent of the change of availability requirement there should be a flexible and extensible architecture for supporting availability management. This paper presents an availability management framework (AMF), which supports the flexible management of availability for large distributed systems using object-oriented framework technologies. We focus on the AMF's flexibility in order to accommodate changing availability requirements which vary with each application. In addition, this paper describes the result of application of the framework to support availability of RFID systems.
Stromal invasion by carcinoma of the cervix: assessment with dynamic MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate dynamic MR imaging in assessing the depth of stromal invasion by carcinoma of the cervix and to compare dynamic MR imaging with T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Forty-one patients with carcinoma that was clinically considered to be confined to the cervix were examined with T2-weighted, dynamic, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging before surgery. We evaluated enhancement patterns of the cervix and tumor and assessed the degree of stromal invasion with MR imaging. The degree of stromal invasion was divided into two groups: superficial disease (no stromal invasion or invasion of < or = 3 mm) and deep invasion (> 3 mm of stromal invasion). Then we compared these MR findings with histologic results for the depth of stromal invasion. RESULTS With dynamic MR imaging, cervical carcinoma with deep invasion was seen as a focal enhanced area in the early dynamic phase. The cervical epithelium and stroma enhanced less vividly. In distinguishing deep invasion from superficial disease, we found the accuracy of T2-weighted MR images, dynamic MR images, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images to be 76%, 98%, and 63%, respectively. In particular, the detectability of 3.1-5.0 mm of stromal invasion with dynamic MR images was significantly higher than that with the other techniques: with T2-weighted MR images, we saw 3.1-5.0 mm of stromal invasion in 23% of patients; with dynamic MR images, in 92%; and with contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images, in none. Superficial disease was not revealed with any of the three MR techniques. CONCLUSION We believe that dynamic MR imaging is superior to T2-weighted MR imaging and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging when assessing the depth of invasion of cervical carcinoma.
Where are the hot ion lines in classical T Tauri stars formed

Context. Classical T Tauri stars (hereafter CTTS) show a plethora of in- and outflow signatures in a variety of wavelength bands. Aims. In order to constrain gas velocities and temperatures, we analyse the emission in the hot ion lines. Methods. We use all available archival FUSE spectra of CTTS to measure the widths, fluxes and shifts of the detected hot ion lines and complement these data with HST/GHRS and HST/STIS data. We present theoretical estimates of the temperatures reached in possible emission models such as jets, winds, disks and accretion funnels and look for correlations with X-ray lines and absorption properties. Results. We find line shifts in the range from -170 km s -1 to +100 km s -1 . Most linewidths exceed the stellar rotational broadening. Those CTTS with blue-shifted lines also show excess absorption in X-rays. CTTS can be distinguished from main sequence (hereafter MS) stars by their large ratio of the O VII to O VI luminosities. Conclusions. No single emission mechanism can be found for all objects. The properties of those stars with blue-shifted lines are compatible with an origin in a shock-heated dust-depleted outflow.
Counseling smoking parents of young children: comparison of pediatricians and family physicians.

BACKGROUND Secondhand smoke is a major cause of morbidity in young children, and exposure to smoking parents is the principal source. Physician visits for young children present an opportunity to effect behavioral change among smoking parents. OBJECTIVE To survey pediatricians and family physicians in their knowledge and practice of smoking cessation counseling with parents. DESIGN Cross-sectional mail survey. SETTING Urban California. PARTICIPANTS Pediatricians and family physicians in urban areas of California, younger than 65 years, practicing in an ambulatory setting, and randomly selected from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reported frequency of asking about tobacco use, using cessation counseling techniques with smokers, and perceived barriers to providing cessation services. RESULTS Of the 1000 mailed surveys, 899 were eligible and 499 (56% response rate) were returned and completed. A higher proportion of pediatricians compared with family physicians were women (44% vs 29%; P<.01) and nonwhite (44% vs 32%; P =.01). Family physicians compared with pediatricians were more likely to report referring a parent to a smoking cessation program (41% vs 30%), giving pamphlets on smoking cessation (40% vs 28%), asking for a quit date (41% vs 18%), scheduling a follow-up visit to discuss quitting (27% vs 5%), and recommending nicotine replacement therapy (41% vs 13%) (for each comparison, P<.001). Pediatricians were more likely to report recording in the medical record smoking by a parent as a problem for the child (65% vs 48%; P<.001), but a higher proportion of pediatricians perceived that parents would ignore the advice (39% vs 24%; P<.001) and lacked interest in quitting smoking (45% vs 27%; P<.001). Pediatricians were more likely to agree that they lacked smoking cessation counseling skills (26% vs 7%; P<.001). Multivariate models showed that pediatricians were less likely to report performing 5 of 14 smoking cessation techniques in at least 50% of smoking parents. CONCLUSIONS Pediatricians appear to lack training to implement smoking cessation counseling with smoking parents. Physicians in private practice are less likely to counsel smoking parents. Educational interventions for pediatricians are needed to decrease secondhand smoke exposure for young children.
Active Needle Steering System for Percutaneous Prostate Intervention in High-field MRI

This paper presents the design of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible needle steering system actuated by piezoelectric actuators for prostate brachytherapy and biopsy. Our guiding vision is to design a modular needle driver that can be coupled to a generic gross positioning stage to enhance MRI-guided prostate surgery accuracy and decrease operational time. After reviewing pertaining robot assisted needle driver systems in MRI, ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) environments, we articulate the design challenges and requirements of robotic system for close bore interventional MRI surgery. The paper presents a modular 3-degrees-offreedom (DOF) needle platform coupled with a representative MRI-compatible 3-DOF x−y−z stage. This system is proposed to serve as a slave robot to deliver radioactive seeds in an MRIguided force feedback teleoperation framework. Moreover, it suffices to be a generic robot platform to provide the needle positioning and orientation task in a diverse array of proposed needle steering scenarios. With a kinematically parallel robot embodiment, the positioning module provides linear position control with high system rigidity. The modular needle driver simultaneously provides needle cannula rotation and independent cannula and stylet prismatic motion. The device mimics the manual physician gesture by two point grasping and direct force measurement of needle axial puncture and lateral forces by two fiber optic force sensors. The CAD model and the fabricated prototype are presented and the experiment with phantom trial is analyzed to demonstrate the system compatibility.