Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms in Norway 1993–2021

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has increased over the last decades. The prevalence of NENs has to a lesser extent been previously reported. We wanted to study the trends in incidence and prevalence of NEN in Norway from 1993 to 2021 through the Cancer Registry of Norway. This registry, which covers the whole population, has been found to be 99% complete. The neoplasms were classified as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). From 1993 to 2021 altogether 10.288 NETs and 13,982 (1.756 outside the lungs) NECs were diagnosed. The incidence of NETs increased from 3.72 to 9.97 per 100,000 per year, corresponding to a 268% increase, p < . 001. The largest increase in incidence for NETs was found for pancreas (338%), lung (330%) and small intestine (303%). For NECs there was no change in the incidence, from 9.74 to 9.95 per 100,000 per year, p = . 4, but there was an increase in the incidence of NECs originating from the skin (Merkel cell carcinoma) (287%), p < . 001, and the GI tract (200%), p = . 03. There were no changes in stage distribution at diagnosis for NETs and NECs. The prevalence for NENs increased 666% during the study period, NETs increased from 10.77 to 99.37 per 100.000 (927%), p < . 001. For NECs the increase was from 7.4 to 21.56 per 100.000 (291%), p < . 001. GI‐NECs increased the most from 0.005 to 0.94 (1880%), p = . 002. In conclusion, there was a substantial increase in incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms in Norway from 1993 to 2021. This is the first study to report complete prevalence of NENs for a whole nation.
Collisional and thermal ionization of sodium Rydberg atoms III. Experiment and theory for nS and nD states with n = 8–20 in crossed atomic beams

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of collisional ionization of Na Rydberg atoms in nS and nD(n = 8–20) states are presented. Molecular and atomic ions from associative ionization and photoionization by blackbody radiation were detected after pulsed laser excitation of Rydberg states in crossed Na atomic beams. An original method of determination of associative ionization rate constants based on the measurement of ratios of molecular and atomic ion signals was used, which did not require the determination of absolute number density of Rydberg atoms. The measured rate constants of associative ionization of Rydberg atoms in collisions with ground-state Na atoms are compared with the results of our earlier single-beam experiment and theoretical calculations. It is shown that the stochastic ionization model, which describes the collisional ionization of Rydberg atoms in terms of chaotic migration of highly excited electron induced by the motion of the colliding nuclei, yields a significantly better agreement with the experimental results than the earlier Duman–Shmatov–Mihajlov–Janev model.
Density Functional Theory for Superconductors

Two recently proposed exchange-correlation functionals describing the superconducting phase of matter are reviewed and further explored: Whereas the first is a generalization of the local density approximation dealing with purely electronic correlations, the second is a functional derived from Kohn-Sham perturbation theory that includes electronic and phononic correlations on the same footing. Superconducting properties of simple metals obtained with the latter functional agree rather well with experimental results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 99: 790 -797, 2004
CLL stereotyped B-cell receptor immunoglobulin sequences are recurrent in the B-cell repertoire of healthy individuals: Apparent lack of central and early peripheral tolerance censoring

Introduction The leukemic cells of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are often unique, expressing remarkably similar IGHV-IGHD-IGHJ gene rearrangements, “stereotyped BCRs”. The B-cell receptors (BCRs) on CLL cells are also distinctive in often deriving from autoreactive B lymphocytes, leading to the assumption of a defect in immune tolerance. Results Using bulk and single-cell immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable domain sequencing, we enumerated CLL stereotype-like IGHV-IGHD-IGHJ sequences (CLL-SLS) in B cells from cord blood (CB) and adult peripheral blood (PBMC) and bone marrow (BM of healthy donors. CLL-SLS were found at similar frequencies among CB, BM, and PBMC, suggesting that age does not influence CLL-SLS levels. Moreover, the frequencies of CLL-SLS did not differ among B lymphocytes in the BM at early stages of development, and only re-circulating marginal zone B cells contained significantly higher CLL-SLS frequencies than other mature B-cell subpopulations. Although we identified CLL-SLS corresponding to most of the CLL major stereotyped subsets, CLL-SLS frequencies did not correlate with those found in patients. Interestingly, in CB samples, half of the CLL-SLS identified were attributed to two IGHV-mutated subsets. We also found satellite CLL-SLS among the same normal samples, and they were also enriched in naïve B cells but unexpectedly, these were ~10-fold higher than standard CLL-SLS. In general, IGHV-mutated CLL-SLS subsets were enriched among antigen-experienced B-cell subpopulations, and IGHV-unmutated CLL-SLS were found mostly in antigen-inexperienced B cells. Nevertheless, CLL-SLS with an IGHV-mutation status matching that of CLL clones varied among the normal B-cell subpopulations, suggesting that specific CLL-SLS could originate from distinct subpopulations of normal B cells. Lastly, using single-cell DNA sequencing, we identified paired IGH and IGL rearrangements in normal B lymphocytes resembling those of stereotyped BCRs in CLL, although some differed from those in patients based on IG isotype or somatic mutation. Discussion CLL-SLS are present in normal B-lymphocyte populations at all stages of development. Thus, despite their autoreactive profile they are not deleted by central tolerance mechanisms, possibly because the level of autoreactivity is not registered as dangerous by deletion mechanisms or because editing of L-chain variable genes occurred which our experimental approach could not identify.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of an Integrate and Fire Neuronal Model

The Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process has been proposed as a model for the spontaneous activity of a neuron. In this model, the firing of the neuron corresponds to the first passage of the process to a constant boundary, or threshold. While the Laplace transform of the first-passage time distribution is available, the probability distribution function has not been obtained in any tractable form. We address the problem of estimating the parameters of the process when the only available data from a neuron are the interspike intervals, or the times between firings. In particular, we give an algorithm for computing maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) and their corresponding confidence regions for the three identifiable (of the five model) parameters by numerically inverting the Laplace transform. A comparison of the two-parameter algorithm (where the time constantis known a priori) to the three- parameter algorithm shows that significantly more data is required in the latter case to achieve comparable parameter resolution as measured by 95% confidence intervals widths. The computational methods described here are an efficient, biophysically- revealing alternative to the well-known moment-based estimations for OU integrate and fire (IF) models. Moreover, it could serve as a template for performing parameter inference on more complex IF neuronal models.
Influence of the wind profile on the initiation of convection in mountainous terrain

A number of days with small precipitating convective cells were investigated using weather radars during the COPS (Convective and Orographically‐induced Precipitation Study) field campaign in the region of the Vosges and the Rhine Valley in Central Europe. Depending on the weather situation, two distinct mechanisms could be identified for the initiation of convection. On some days, cells were initiated over the ridge of the Vosges, whereas on other days cells were initiated in the lee of the Vosges. The initiation of convection appeared to be concentrated in a few favourable locations. Using the Froude number, it was possible to describe the two distinct mechanisms. When the Froude number was low, the flow was diverted around the Vosges and thermally driven convergence at the ridge initiated convection, whereas when the Froude number was high, the flow passed through mountain gaps and then converged on the lee side with the flow in the Rhine Valley. The convergence on the lee side was enhanced at locations where the outflows through valleys converged. Low Froude numbers were accompanied by weak winds varying with height, whereas high Froude numbers were observed during situations with stronger southwesterly winds increasing with height. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Preferred Conversation Topics with Respect to Treatment Decisions Among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes

Purpose Greater knowledge of individuals’ needs and preferences can enhance shared decision-making, which is associated with improved quality of decisions and increased satisfaction. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the attributes (ie conversation topics) that individuals with type 2 diabetes find it most important to discuss with their healthcare provider regarding treatment decisions. Patients and Methods First, small group interviews were organized with adults with type 2 diabetes (N=8) treated in primary care to identify the attributes that they find important to discuss regarding treatment decisions. A five-step nominal group technique was applied during the interviews. An object best-worst scaling (BWS) survey was subsequently distributed to individuals with self-reported diabetes participating in the Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel of the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (N=600) to determine the relative importance score (RIS) of the identified attributes. A higher RIS indicates a higher level of perceived importance. Subgroup and latent class analyses were performed to explore whether individuals’ demographic and disease characteristics influenced their attribute preferences. Results A total of 21 attributes were identified during three small group interviews with individuals with type 2 diabetes. Respondents in the BWS survey (N=285) viewed “quality of life” (RIS=11.97), “clinical outcomes” (RIS=10.40), “long-term diabetes complications” (RIS=9.83) and “short-term adverse medication” (RIS=7.72) as the most important in the decision-making process for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Some differences in attribute preferences were identified according to demographic and disease characteristics. Conclusion In general, individuals with type 2 diabetes not only want to discuss the biological effects of treatments, but also the impact of treatment on their quality of life. Healthcare providers should be aware that attributes are viewed differently by different individuals. This emphasizes the need for tailor-made healthcare decisions, which means eliciting and responding to individual preferences in the decision-making process.
Analysis of a Hydrogen Atom Analgoue in Non-Euclidean Space of Constant Curvature using Superingrability Methods

A superintegrable Hamiltonian system is a physical system which exhibits maximal symmetry, though the symmetry may be of a very subtle nature. In n dimensions, a system is superintegrable if it admits 1 2n constants of the motion. Such a system may be either classical, in which there exist 1 2n integrals of the motion, functions of position and momentum which are polynomial in the momenta, or quantum, in which the constants of the motion are commuting observables, or symmetry operators. The salient feature of a superintegrable system is that it may be solved algebraically by considering the algebra generated by the constants of the motion. We give examples of such systems, including the Kepler-Coulomb system and its quantum analogue in various geometries and show how superintegrability leads to exact algebraic solutions for the classical trajectories and the quantum energy levels. In particular, we use superintegrability methods to analyze and obtain an energy spectrum for a quantum system in a spherical geometry whose Hamiltonian approaches the Kepler-Coulomb in a particular flat space limit. We show explicitly that this energy spectrum is identical to the hydrogen atom in the same limit. Finally, we note a surprising result in that the (real) energy spectrum of our hydrogen system admits certain complex potentials. This relates our problem of study to the emergent field of PT -symmetric quantum mechanics, which broadens the definition of the Hamiltonian operator by dropping the conventional Hermiticity requirement H H= † in favor of a weaker condition that the Hamiltonian be invariant under simultaneous parity and time reversal, while maintaining the requirement that the spectrum of the Hamiltonian be real.
Insulin Resistance and Bone Metabolism Markers in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study on Females from the Islamic University Medical Center

Background and Objectives: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) prevails in females in the 18–40-year-old age group and varies from 5–20% depending on the demographic and diagnostic standards. It is unknown how long passes between the onset of a specific symptom and the appearance of the disease. The three most significant characteristics of PCOS include irregular menstruation, a polycystic ovarian shape found by pelvic ultrasound, and hyperandrogenism, which could possibly delay menarche. This study’s objective was to assess insulin resistance and bone bio-markers’ metabolism-involved characteristics of females with PCOS. Materials and Methods: We present a cross-sectional study carried out on 100 female patients suffering from PCOS and 100 healthy female subjects as a control living in Saudi Arabia in the Al-Madinah Al-Munawara Region between May 2021 and March 2022. The age of the studied groups ranges from 20–40 years, and patients were categorized into three groups; group I (control, n = 100), group IIa (overweight or obese females with PCOS, n = 70), and group IIb (non-obese females with PCOS, n = 30). The diagnosis of PCOS was carried out as per Rotterdam criteria as recommended for adolescent and adult subjects. All the groups were subjected to physical examination, and anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, endocrine activity, and clinical parameters were determined. The data obtained were computerized and analyzed statistically using the SPSS program for range, mean, and standard deviation. ANOVA test with post hoc Tukey test was applied to assess the pattern and variation among the test and control groups. Results: In the present study, age, waist circumstances, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were reported enhanced in the PCOS over the control group. Additionally, anthropometric measures were reported slightly upregulated in group IIa over group IIb (p < 0.001). Biochemical parameters including glucose, insulin incidence, and lipids were reported higher in the PCOS over the control group, where group IIa showed slightly increased values compared to group IIb (p < 0.001). On the contrary, PTH, Ca+2, and 25(OH)D levels were reported lower in the PCOS over the control group. However, in the control groups, a slight variation was reported as higher in group IIa compared to group II. In the study, PTH and 25(OH)D were found associated with bone metabolism; a lower level of PTH and 25 (OH) D is linked with a decline in bone density. Conclusions: Lower serum levels of PINP and osteocalcin along with the 25(OH)D were associated with the PCOS compared to the control group, imposing a higher risk of the syndrome. On the contrary, an elevated level of NTx in groups IIa and IIb over the control group was associated with insulin resistance and bone metabolism.
Towards Inclusive Diagnostics for Neglected Tropical Diseases: User Experience of a New Digital Diagnostic Device in Low-Income Settings

Designing new and inclusive diagnostic tools to detect Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to achieve rational disease control requires a co-design process where end-users’ input is important. Failure to involve all potential end-users in new diagnostics for NTDs can result in low use and adoption failure, leading to persistent infection hot spots and ineffective disease control. There are different categories of potential end-users of new diagnostic tools for NTD control, and it is unclear if there are differences between the user efficiency, effectiveness, perception, and acceptability across these end-user categories. This study evaluated the usability, user perception, contextual factors affecting the user’s experience, and acceptability of a new digital optical diagnostic device for NTDs across three types of potential end users. A total of 21 participants were tested. Laboratory scientists, technicians, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in training achieved similar scores on the usability and user perception questionnaires with no statistically significant difference between end-user categories. All participants also have high scores for the user perception domains which strongly correlate with the acceptability of the AiDx NTDx Assist device. This study indicates that, by providing digital diagnostic tools in combination with minimal training and support, CHEWs undergoing training and, by extension, CHEWs post-training, can be involved in the diagnoses of NTDs, potentially enhancing a community’s capabilities to diagnose, treat, and control NTDs.
Measurement of the out-of-plane optical constants of a two-dimensional crystal

The observation of the out-of-plane optical constants of a monolayer two-dimensional crystal is a challenging task. I illustrate an experimental procedure able to observe these quantities. We measure the out-of-plane surface susceptibilities of Graphene and Molybdenum disulfide monolayers. At a wavelength of 633 nm we find values of 0.6 and 1.1 nm respectively for these two atomic crystals.
Stitching Image Based on Transform Matrix of Corners

Image stitching has been widely used in many fields.Image stitching based on feature point is composed of four steps :finding corners,matching corners,computing transform matrix and mixing image.It is introduced that the practicable way to finish the last two steps.The experiment result also is given.According to experiment results,this method is practicable.
A local cost simulation-based algorithm to solve distributed constraint optimization problems

As an important incomplete algorithm for solving Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (DCOPs), local search algorithms exhibit the advantages of flexibility, high efficiency and high fault tolerance. However, the significant historical values of agents that affect the local cost and global cost are never taken into in existing incomplete algorithms. In this article, a novel Local Cost Simulation-based Algorithm named LCS is presented to exploit the potential of historical values of agents to further enhance the exploration ability of the local search algorithm. In LCS, the Exponential Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) is introduced to simulate the local cost to generate the selection probability of each value. Moreover, populations are constructed for each agent to increase the times of being selected inferior solutions by population optimization and information exchange between populations. We theoretically analyze the feasibility of EWMA and the availability of solution quality improvement. In addition, based on our extensive empirical evaluations, we experimentally demonstrate that LCS outperforms state-of-the-art DCOP incomplete algorithms.
Integrated Analysis of N1-Methyladenosine Methylation Regulators-Related lncRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary The relationship between m1A-related lncRNAs and HCC is still unclear. In this study, five m1A-related lncRNAs (AL031985.3, NRAV, WAC-AS1, AC026412.3, and AC099850.4) were identified and used to develop a prognostic signature. The prognostic signature was an independent risk factor related to OS in HCC patients. Synergistic effects on patient survival were observed after combining with TP53 or TMB. In addition, we also screened small molecules which could be potential drugs for HCC patients. Our results suggested that five m1A-related lncRNAs generated a prognostic signature that could be a promising prognostic prediction approach and therapeutic response assessment tool for HCC patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of m1A-related lncRNAs in HCC. Abstract N1-methyladenosine (m1A) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play significant roles in tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, their association with HCC is still unclear. In this study, lncRNAs related to m1A were extracted from the mRNA expression matrix in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Five m1A-related lncRNAs (AL031985.3, NRAV, WAC-AS1, AC026412.3, and AC099850.4) were identified based on lasso Cox regression and they generated a prognostic signature of HCC. The prognostic signature was identified as an independent prognosis factor in HCC patients. Moreover, the prognostic signature achieved better performance than TP53 mutation status or tumor mutational burden (TMB) scores in the stratification of patient survival. The immune landscape indicated that most immune checkpoint genes and immune cells were distributed differently between both risk groups. A higher IC50 of chemotherapeutics (sorafenib, nilotinib, sunitinib, and gefitinib) was observed in the high-risk group, and a lower IC50 of gemcitabine in the low-risk group, suggesting the potential of the prognostic signature in chemosensitivity. In addition, fifty-five potential small molecular drugs were found based on drug sensitivity and NRAV expression. Together, five m1A-related lncRNAs generated a prognostic signature that could be a promising prognostic prediction approach and therapeutic response assessment tool for HCC patients.
The mathematics of Bitcoin

We survey recent results on the mathematical stability of Bitcoin protocol. Profitability and probability of a double spend are estimated in closed form with classical special functions. The stability of Bitcoin mining rules is analyzed and several theorems are proved using martingale and combinatorics techniques. In particular, the empirical observation of the stability of the Bitcoin protocol is proved. This survey article on the mathematics of Bitcoin is published by the Newsletter of the European Mathematical Society, vol.115, 2020, p.31-37. Continuation of arXiv:1601.05254 (EMS Newsletter, 100, 2016 p.32).