Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of contrast enhancement and FLAIR for survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated with and without bevacizumab: results from ACRIN 6686

Background ACRIN 6686/RTOG 0825 was a phase III trial of conventional chemoradiation plus adjuvant temozolomide with bevacizumab or without (placebo) in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. This study investigated whether changes in contrast-enhancing and fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)-hyperintense tumor assessed by central reading prognosticate overall survival (OS). Methods Two hundred eighty-four patients (171 men; median age 57 y, range 19-79; 159 on bevacizumab) had MRI at post-op (baseline) and pre-cycle 4 of adjuvant temozolomide (22 wk post chemoradiation initiation). Four central readers measured bidimensional lesion enhancement (2D-T1) and FLAIR hyperintensity at both time points. Changes from baseline to pre-cycle 4 for both markers were dichotomized (increasing vs non-increasing). Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used for inference. Results Adjusting for treatment, increasing 2D-T1 (n = 262, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.48-2.91, P < 0.0001) and FLAIR (n = 273, HR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.26-2.41, P = 0.0008) significantly predicted worse OS. Median OS (days) was significantly shorter for patients with increasing versus non-increasing 2D-T1 for both bevacizumab (443 vs 535, P = 0.004) and placebo (526 vs 887, P = 0.001). Median OS was significantly shorter for patients with increasing versus non-increasing FLAIR for placebo (595 vs 872, P = 0.001), and trended similarly for bevacizumab (499 vs 535, P = 0.0935). Adjusting for 2D-T1 and treatment, increasing FLAIR represented significantly higher risk for death (HR = 1.59 [1.11-2.26], P = 0.01). Conclusion Increased 2D-T1 significantly predicts worse OS in both treatment groups, implying absence of a substantial proportion of pseudoprogression 22 weeks after initiation of standard therapy. FLAIR adds value beyond 2D-T1 in predicting OS, potentially addressing the pseudoresponse effect by substratifying bevacizumab-treated patients with non-increasing 2D-T1.
Nutrient Requirements and Interactions Consumption of Retrograded ( RS 3 ) but Not Uncooked ( RS 2 ) Resistant Starch Shifts Nitrogen Excretion from Urine to Feces in Cannulated Piglets 1 , 2

To study the effect of resistant starch (RS) on the route of nitrogen excretion, we fed three groups of six cannulated piglets each a diet containing either uncooked resistant starch (RS2), retrograded resistant starch (RS3) or glucose. The use of piglets with a cannula at the end of the ileum allowed measurement of the amount of nitrogen that entered the colon. Ileal digesta, urine and feces were collected quantitatively and weighed, and dry matter, starch and nitrogen content were determined. We hypothesized that RS2 would lower colonic absorption of nitrogen when compared with RS3, because RS2 may be more fermentable than RS3, thus trapping more nitrogen in bacteria. The piglets fed RS3 had a significantly higher production of ileal digesta and feces than the piglets fed glucose or RS2. In the piglets fed RS2, 44% of the amount of RS fed was recovered in the ileal digesta; in the piglets fed RS3, 71% was recovered. Thus, more fermentable material entered the colon in the RS3-fed piglets than in the RS2-fed piglets. Virtually no starch was recovered in the feces of any dietary group. Replacement of glucose by either RS2 or RS3 did not affect nitrogen retention but increased fecal nitrogen excretion. Compared with glucose, RS3 but not RS2 reduced urinary nitrogen excretion, mainly in the form of urea, and reduced the amount of nitrogen absorbed by the colon when expressed as a percentage of the amount of nitrogen entering the colon. This study provides evidence that RS3, but not RS2, shifts nitrogen excretion from urine to feces in cannulated piglets. J. Nutr. 127: 1828–1832, 1997
Prospective study of dietary energy density and weight gain in women.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the long-term effects of dietary energy density (ED) on weight gain. OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess the long-term relation between changes in dietary ED and age-related weight gain. DESIGN We conducted a prospective study of 50 026 women (x +/- SD age: 36.5 +/- 4.6 y) in the Nurses' Health Study II followed from 1991 to 1999. Dietary ED and body weight were ascertained in 1991, 1995, and 1999. Total dietary ED was calculated by dividing each subject's daily energy intake (kcal) by the reported weight (g) of all foods consumed. RESULTS Dietary ED was positively correlated with saturated fat (r = 0.16), trans fat (r = 0.15), and the glycemic index (r = 0.16), but was inversely correlated with vegetable protein (r = -0.30), vegetables (r = -0.27), and fruit (r = -0.17). ED was not significantly correlated with total fat intake as a percentage of energy (r = 0.08). Women who increased their dietary ED during follow-up the most (5th quintile) had a significantly greater multivariate-adjusted weight gain than did those who decreased their dietary ED (1st quintile) (8-y time period: 6.42 kg compared with 4.57 kg; P for trend < 0.001). However, the amount of weight change over time varied considerably according to the ED values of individual foods and beverages. CONCLUSION A high dietary ED reflects a dietary pattern higher in saturated and trans fats and refined carbohydrates. Increases in dietary ED were associated with greater weight gain among middle-aged women during 8 y of follow-up. However, public health recommendations cannot be made simply on the basis of ED values of individual foods and beverages.
Being Suspicious of the Sense of Ease and Undeterred by the Sense of Difficulty: Looking Back at Schmidt and Bjork (1992)

Richard Schmidt and I titled our article “New Conceptualizations of Practice: Common Principles in Three Paradigms Suggest New Concepts for Training” to reflect our view that prevailing ideas about how to optimize teaching, learning, and practicing were, in our words, “at best incomplete, and at worst incorrect. ” We argued that teachers and trainers were susceptible to being misled by two commonsense assumptions—namely, that procedures that enhance performance during training are the procedures of choice and that the context of training needs to match in detail the posttraining context that is the target of training. A variety of then-recent experimental findings challenged both assumptions and demonstrated, in particular, that procedures posing certain difficulties and appearing to slow the rate of learning often enhanced long-term retention and transfer of to-be-learned skills and knowledge. Given the parallel nature of such findings for both motor and verbal learning, we concluded that principles of considerable generality could be deduced to upgrade teaching and training.
A Shape-Based Visual Interface for Text Retrieval

We describe a shape-based visual interface for information retrieval and interactive exploration that exploits shape recognition. Our exploratory system uses procedurally generated shapes coupled with an underlying text-retrieval engine. A visual interface based on 3D shapes (glyphs) enhances traditional text-based queries and summarization. Our interface lets users visualize multidimensional relationships among documents and perceive more information than with conventional text-based interfaces. It promotes information overview and drill-down in support of analysis. Before describing our visual interface and application, we introduce information retrieval within the context of data mining and provide a brief overview of procedural shape generation. We then describe our current system and give a few relevant examples. Finally, we offer some ideas for future enhancements and direction.
Characterization of a newly found stretch-activated KCa,ATP channel in cultured chick ventricular myocytes.

With the use of the patch-clamp technique, five kinds of stretch-activated (SA) ion channels were identified on the basis of their single-channel conductances and ion selectivities in cultured chick ventricular myocytes. Because a high-conductance K+-selective channel predominated among these channels, we concentrated on characterizing its properties mostly using excised inside-out patches. With 145 mM KCl solution in the pipette and the bath, the channel had a conductance of 199.8 ± 8.2 pS ( n = 22). The ion selectivities among K+, Na+, Ca2+, and Cl- as estimated from their permeability ratios were P Na/ P K= 0.03, P Ca/ P K= 0.025, and P Cl/ P K= 0.026. The probability of the channel being open (Po) increased with the Ca2+concentration in the bath ([Ca2+]b; dissociation constant K d = 0.51 μM at +30 mV) and membrane potential (voltage at half-maximal Po= 39.4 mV at 0.35 μM [Ca2+]b). The channel was blocked by gadolinium, tetraethylammonium, and charybdotoxin from the extracellular surface and, consequently, was identified as a Ca2+-activated K+(KCa) channel type. The channel was also reversibly activated by ATP applied to the intracellular surface ( K d = 0.74 mM at 0.10 μM [Ca2+]bat +30 mV). From these data taken together, we concluded that the channel is a new type of KCachannel that could be designated as an "SA KCa,ATP channel. " To our knowledge, this is the first report of KCa channel in heart cells.
Ultrafiltration, Microfiltration, Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis in Integrated Membrane Processes

Membrane science and technology have known an impressive growth since the early 1960s when Loeb and Sourirajan discovered an effective method for the preparation of asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes with increased permeation flux without significant changes in selectivity. Pressure-driven separation techniques such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) have then been extensively studied and developed in industries including desalination and wastewater treatment, biotechnology and pharmaceutics, chemical and food industries. Other membrane processes have been developed and found industrial applications such as gas separation and pervaporation, membrane distillation (MD), electrodialysis (ED), membrane bioreactor (MBRs), and membrane contactors. Membrane technology is usually recognized for the following advantages: operational simplicity, low energetic requirements, good stability under a wide range of operative conditions, high eco-compatibility, easy control and scale-up, large flexibility [1]. With the increasing understanding and development of membrane techniques, it became possible to integrate various membrane operations in the same process with the purpose to improve performance in terms of product quality, plant compactness, environmental impact, and energy use. The concept of integrated membrane processes appears clearly at the end
Microfluidic analysis of electrokinetic streaming potential induced by microflows of monovalent electrolyte solution

We develop a theoretical model of the electrokinetic streaming potential considering the Navier–Stokes equation coupled with the Poisson–Boltzmann equation in order to elaborate the possible applicability of the microfluidic-battery from conceptualization to system validation. The ion transport in the microchannel is described on the basis of the Nernst–Planck equation. In this study, monovalent symmetric electrolytes are considered, and the profile of fluid conductivity is derived in terms of both the concentration profile and the mobilities of anions and cations. The present simulations provide that the flow-induced streaming potential increases with increasing surface potential of microchannel wall, whereas increasing the surface conductivity reduces the streaming potential. We also present the results on the change of streaming potential with variations of the electric double layer thickness normalized by the channel radius. It is of interest to find the behavior that a lower value of ion mobility leads to the enhancement of streaming potential, which tends to develop with either increasing bulk electrolyte concentration or decreasing surface conductivity. Hence, a choice of electrolyte should be considered to obtain improved performance.
Langzeitergebnisse nach Trabekulektomie kombiniert mit Mitomycin C und einem Ologen-Implantat

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Das Ologen-Implantat (AeonAstron Europe B. V., Leiden, Niederlande) besteht aus einem biodegradierbaren Kollagen und Glycosaminoglykan und soll eine postoperative Filterkissenvernarbung oder Abkapselung vermeiden. Methodik In einer retrospektiven klinischen Studie wurden 806 Patienten mit fortgeschrittenem Glaukombefund mit einer Trabekulektomie kombiniert mit Mitomycin C0,02% und einem Ologen-Implantat behandelt. Die Follow-up-Zeit der Studie betrug 8 Jahre. Ergebnisse Bei 92,6% der Patienten wurde in der Beobachtungszeit eine dauerhafte Drucksenkung von < 16 mmHg ohne das erneute Ansetzen einer drucksenkenden Therapie erreicht. Bei 6,8% der Patienten erfolgten zusätzliche operative Eingriffe bei Überfiltration oder Hypotonie mit Aderhautamotio. Bei der kombinierten Operation mit Phakoemulsifikation und Implantation einer Hinterkammerlinse kam es bei 3,35% der Patienten zur Revision des Filterkissens oder einem erneuten drucksenkenden Eingriff innerhalb von 8 Jahren. Schlussfolgerung Eine Trabekulektomie kombiniert mit Mitomycin C0,02% und einem Ologen-Implantat schafft einen langfristigen filtrierenden Effekt < 16 mmHg und eine verringerte postoperative Komplikationsrate.
Dairy consumption is inversely associated with the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Tehranian adults.

BACKGROUND Although previous studies showed some benefits from dairy consumption with respect to obesity and insulin resistance syndrome, epidemiologic data on the association between dairy intakes and metabolic syndrome are sparse. OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the relation between dairy consumption and metabolic syndrome in Tehranian adults. DESIGN Dairy consumption and features of metabolic syndrome were assessed in a population-based cross-sectional study of 827 subjects (357 men and 470 women) aged 18-74 y. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to guidelines of the Adult Treatment Panel III. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for lifestyle and nutritional confounders was used in 4 models. RESULTS Mean (+/-SD) consumption of milk, yogurt, and cheese was 0.7 +/- 0.2, 1.06 +/- 0.6, and 0.9 +/- 0.3 servings/d, respectively. Subjects in the highest quartile of dairy consumption had lower odds of having enlarged waist circumference [odds ratio (OR) by quartile: 1, 0.89, 0.74, 0.63; P for trend < 0.001], hypertension (OR by quartile: 1, 0.88, 0.79, 0.71; P for trend < 0.02), and metabolic syndrome (OR by quartile: 1, 0.83, 0.74, 0.69; P for trend < 0.02). The values of ORs became weaker after further adjustment for calcium intake. CONCLUSION Dairy consumption is inversely associated with the risk of having metabolic syndrome. It seems that this relation is somewhat attributed to calcium.
Co-circulation of paramyxo- and influenza viruses in pigeons in Egypt

ABSTRACT In recent years, avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) have caused large-scale outbreaks in many countries, including Egypt. The culling and vaccination strategies have failed to control both viruses in Egypt. In this study, we investigated the outbreaks of nervous manifestations and deaths in pigeons between 2013 and 2015. The H5N1 subtype of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and pigeon paramyxovirus-1, an antigenic variant of NDV, were found to be the cause; AIV and pigeon paramyxovirus-1 were isolated from 61.3% (19/31) and 67.8% (21/31) of tested pigeons, respectively. Co-infection with both viruses was detected in 51.6% of pigeons (16/31). The AIV sequences showed PQGEKRRKKR/GLF motif at the haemagglutinin gene cleavage site, which is typical of the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype. The phylogenetic tree showed that the highly pathogenic avian influenza belonged to clade 2.2. 1.2. The NDV sequences carried one of the three motifs, 112GKQGRL117, 112KRQKRF117 or 112RRQKRF117, at the fusion protein cleavage site and were classified as genotypes I, VI and II in NDV-class II, respectively. This indicated that different genotypes of NDV can circulate simultaneously among pigeons. Further analysis revealed the clustering of some sequences in sub-genotypes Ia and VIb.2. To the best of our knowledge, these sub-genotypes have not been previously reported from pigeons in Egypt. Our results should serve as a base for future studies on both viruses in Egypt.
AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of ML algorithm generation using a no-coding platform by clinicians without ML experience. By using such a platform, we developed a model for automated recognition and grading of radiographic distal interphalangeal osteoarthritis (DIP-OA) with subsequent user experience (UX) testing of the algorithm. Methods: 13690 hands x-rays from 2863 patients within the Swiss Cohort of Quality Management (SCQM) and an external control dataset of 346 non-SCQM patients were collected and scored for DIP-OA by the modified Kellgren and Law-rence Score (K/L). 48892 DIP joints were extracted and classified according to the K/L score. GIOTTO (L2F, Lausanne) was used as a no-coding platform for training of 2 convolutional neural networks, the first one for segmentation of hand joints and subsequent DIP-joints extraction, and the second one for classification of KL scores according to the presence of osteophytes and joint space narrowing on the previously extracted DIP-joints. The classification model’s performance was tested by an internal test set (SCQM database) and an external test set (non-SCQM). User experience (UX) of a web app developed from the platform as a provisory user interface (UI) was investigated in rheumatologists and radiologists. The usability of heat maps was also investigated. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of this model for detecting DIP-OA, was 79% and 86%, respectively. The accuracy for grading the K/L score was 75% with a kappa score of 0.76. A similar sensitivity (79%) and specificity (80%) for detecting DIP-OA was found in an independent external test set. The accuracy per DIP-OA class differed with 79% for no OA (defined as K/L 0 and 1), 65% for K/L2, 40% for K/L3, and 70% for K/L4. On the external test set overall accuracy was 66% and the kappa score 0.75. The platform was intuitive and easy to use, but support from data scientists was still required for upload of the data set exceeding the drag
Capsaicin-sensitive fibers are required for the anorexic action of systemic but not central bombesin.

Bombesin (BN) suppresses food intake in rats whether given centrally or systemically. Although the brain BN-sensitive receptors are known to be essential for the anorexic effect of systemic BN, the mode of communication between the gut and the brain remains unclear. This study assessed whether the anorexic effect of systemic BN is mediated humorally or via neural circuits. Afferent neurons were lesioned using capsaicin (50 mg/kg sc) on postnatal day 2, and responses to BN were assessed during adulthood. Capsaicin treatment decreased body weight gain significantly from postnatal age 4-7 wk. Peripheral BN (4-16 μg/kg ip) dose dependently suppressed food intake in control animals. However, this effect was completely blocked in capsaicin-treated rats. In contrast to systemic effects, feeding-suppressant effects of centrally administered BN (0.01-0.5 μg icv) were not affected by capsaicin treatment. This research suggests that peripheral BN communicates with the brain via a neuronal system(s) whose afferent arm is constituted of capsaicin-sensitive C and/or Aδ-fibers, whereas the efferent arm of this satiety- and/or anorexia-mediating circuitry is capsaicin resistant.
Effect of the nitric oxide level in the medial preoptic area on male copulatory behavior in rats.

We investigated the influence of the extracellular nitric oxide (NO) level on male copulatory behavior. We confirmed the changes of nitrite ([Formula: see text]) and nitrate ([Formula: see text]) in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) by administration of the NO precursorl-arginine (l-Arg, 10 mM) or the NO synthase inhibitor N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA, 10 mM) via a dialysis probe. [Formula: see text] and[Formula: see text] were measured simultaneously by an in vivo microdialysis method coupled with the Griess reaction.l-Arg induced significant elevations of extracellular [Formula: see text]and [Formula: see text]. l-NMMA significantly reduced[Formula: see text] and[Formula: see text] levels. We observed male copulatory behavior during infusion ofl-Arg orl-NMMA. The mount rate of male rats significantly increased during infusion ofl-Arg in the MPOA. Administration of l-NMMA reduced the mount rate. These findings suggested that the elevation of extracellular NO in the MPOA facilitates male copulatory behavior of rats, whereas the decrease of NO reduces their copulatory behavior.
Calcium and dairy intakes in relation to long-term weight gain in US men.

BACKGROUND The role of calcium in the maintenance of body weight remains controversial. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association between calcium and dairy intakes and 12-y weight change in US men. DESIGN This study was conducted with the use of data from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a prospective cohort of men aged 40-75 y in 1986. Data on lifestyle factors and diet were updated biennially with self-administered questionnaires. The participants reported their body weight in 1986 and in 1998. The outcome in our study was 12-y weight change. We used multivariate linear regression to examine how baseline calcium intake (n = 23,504) and change in calcium intake (n = 19,615) were associated with weight change. Because dairy foods are the predominant source of calcium in the diet, we also evaluated a similar association with dairy intake. RESULTS In a multivariate analysis with adjustment for potential confounders, baseline or change in intake of total calcium was not significantly associated with weight change. In addition, we did not find any association with dietary, dairy, or supplemental calcium intake when evaluated separately. The men with the largest increase in total dairy intake gained slightly more weight than did the men who decreased intake the most (3.14 compared with 2.57 kg; P for trend = 0.001). This association was primarily due to an increase in high-fat dairy intake. Low-fat dairy intake was not significantly associated with weight change. CONCLUSION Our data do not support the hypothesis that an increase in calcium intake or dairy consumption is associated with lower long-term weight gain in men.
Delayed rectifier and Ca2+-dependent K+ currents in human esophagus: roles in regulating muscle contraction.

We have examined K+ channels and their function in human esophageal smooth muscle using perforated patch recording, RT-PCR to identify channel mRNA, and muscle contraction to study the effects of channel blockers. Depolarization revealed at least two types of currents: a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive transient delayed rectifier K+(KV) and a Ca2+-dependent K+(KCa) current. KCa current was active at positive potentials and was blocked by tetraethylammonium (TEA), iberiotoxin, and charybdotoxin but was insensitive to 4-AP. The mRNA encoding the gene products of Kv1.2 and Kv1.5 was identified in muscle and dissociated cells, consistent with these channel types contributing to KV current. 4-AP increased resting tension of muscle strips, suggesting a role for KV in setting the membrane potential. TEA, but not 4-AP, augmented the amplitude and duration of electrically evoked contraction, effects that were abolished by nifedipine. Here we provide the first description of macroscopic K+ currents in human esophagus. KV channels participate in regulation of resting tension, whereas the KCa channel limits depolarization and contraction during excitation.