Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of apoptosis-regulating protein expression in anal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE This study evaluated the prognostic value of pro and antiapoptotic protein expression, as well as that of spontaneous apoptosis, in anal carcinoma patients treated by radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Ninety-eight patients with available pretreatment biopsy specimens were studied. Patients had been treated with split-course RT: 30-40 Gy fractionated external beam, followed by a 20-22-Gy boost using interstitial or external RT. Fifty-one patients also received concomitant mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil. Median follow-up for surviving patients was 124 months. Tissue sections were examined immunohistochemically for expression of proapoptotic proteins (Bax, p53), antiapoptotic proteins (Bcl-2, Mcl-1), and spontaneous apoptosis (M30). Except for M30, staining of less than 5% of tumor cells was considered negative. Protein expression was correlated with local tumor control (LC) and disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for the monovariate analysis and the Cox proportional hazard models for the multivariate analysis. RESULTS For LC, beside advanced T- and N-categories and longer overall treatment time (OTT), lack of Bcl-2 expression was associated with poorer 5-year outcome (62 versus 84%, P = 0.009). For DFS, advanced T- and N-categories, longer OTT, and the lack of Bcl-2 expression correlated significantly with lower rates. In the multivariate analysis, N-category (P = 0.0026), OTT (P = 0.04), Bcl-2 (P = 0.0015), and M30 (P = 0.035) expressions were significant factors for LC. For DFS, age (P = 0.049) an N-category (P < 0.0001), as well as expression of Bcl-2 (P = 0.001), p53 (P = 0.003), and M30 (P = 0.03), were found to be independent significant variables. Patients with Bcl-2(+)/p53(-) tumors had a significantly higher 5-year LC compared with patients whose tumors were Bcl-2(-)/p53(+) (93 versus 53%, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Bcl-2 and particularly the combination of p53 and Bcl-2 expression may prove to be useful predictors of tumor response to RT or radiochemotherapy in anal carcinomas. Patients having tumors that are Bcl-2(-) and p53(+) may require intensified radiochemotherapy or adoption of an alternative therapeutic approach.
NTT's Text Summarization System for DUC-2002

We participated in the Document Understanding Conference 2002 (DUC-2002) in order to conrm the eectiv eness of our summarization system based on an important sentence extraction technique. Our system employs the machine learning algorithm, Support Vector Machines, to classify a sentence into an important or an unimportant sentence. The result of the Single-Document Summarization task shows that our system’s performance achieved a high grade in coverage metrics.
MacroMap: A technology mapping algorithm for heterogeneous FPGAs with effective area estimation

Recent generation of FPGA devices takes advantage of speed and density benefits resulted from heterogeneous FPGA architecture, in which several basic LUTs can be combined to form one larger size LUT called macro. Large macros not only decrease network depth efficiently but also reduce area. In this paper, a new technology mapping algorithm, named MacroMap is proposed for the heterogeneous FPGAs with effective area estimation to overcome the main disadvantage that traditional technology mapping algorithms only generate one kind of typical K-LUT and cannot make full use of LUTs with different sizes (basic LUTs and macros). Experimental results show that MacroMap can obtain 19% gain on area while keeping the network depth optimal compared with the existing heterogeneous FPGA mapping algorithm heteromap.
Quality of cured fish on the west coast: comparative study with the IS specifications

Moisture and salt content in cured fish products from various centres on the west coast of India are compared. The moisture contents varied in samples from different centres, whereas the salt content remained more or less uniform. The deviations from the Indian standard specification were highly significant in both cases. The high mean moisture values and low salt values with respect to accepted standards are indicative of the improper drying and poor salting.
INFORMATION-THEORETIC CONCEPTS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX NETWORKS

In this article, we present information-theoretic concepts for analyzing complex networks. We see that the application of information-theoretic concepts to networks leads to interesting tasks and gives a possibility for understanding information processing in networks. The main contribution of this article is a method for determining the structural information content of graphs that is based on a tree decomposition. It turns out that the computational complexity of the underlying algorithm is polynomial. Finally, we present some numerical results to study the influence of the used methods on the resulting information contents.
Performance of the M-LWDF scheduling algorithm for streaming services in HSDPA

The present paper analyzes the paradigm of providing streaming services over HSDPA. The provision of QoS to streaming users imposes two major challenges on the HSDPA technology, namely, satisfying the guaranteed bit rate and delay jitter constraints. Focusing on the latter QoS requirement, the operation of the packet scheduling functionality completely determines the node B queuing streaming packets prior to their transmission through the radio interface, and therefore the scheduler plays a key role in the satisfaction of the delay jitter constraint.
Preserving Privacy in Crowd-Powered Systems

It can be hard to automatically identify sensitive content in images or other media because significant context is often necessary to interpret noisy content and complex notions of sensitivity. Online crowds can help computers interpret information that cannot be understood algorithmically. However, systems that use this approach can unwittingly show workers information that should remain private. For instance, images sent to the crowd may accidentally include faces or geographic identifiers in the background, and information pertaining to a task (e.g., the amount of a bill) may appear alongside private information (e.g., an account number). This paper introduces an approach for using crowds to filter information from sensory data that should remain private, while retaining information needed to complete a specified task. The pyramid workflow that we introduce allows crowd workers to identify private information while never having complete access to the (potentially private) information they are filtering. Our approach is flexible, easily configurable, and can protect user information in settings where automated approaches fail. Our experiments with 4685 crowd workers show that it performs significantly better than previous approaches.
Monofocal Acute Inflammatory Demyelination (MAID): A Unique Disorder Simulating Brain Neoplasm

Background. Monofocal acute inflammatory demyelinating (MAID) lesions present as large masses that mimic brain tumors. The natural history and nosologic classification are not well defined. Methods. Five patients with MAID from our files and 4 from the literature are presented. We defined MAID as a mass-like lesion, >4 cm in diameter. Demyelination was pathologically proven in all patients. Results. Headaches and motor deficits were the most common presenting symptoms. Language problems and motor deficits were the most common findings on physical examination. After a median follow-up of 44 months, none of our 5 patients had multiple sclerosis. In similar cases, additional lesions indicative of multiple sclerosis developed within an average of 8 months. Conclusions. It may be difficult to distinguish MAID from brain tumor. It may be that MAID represents a unique form of isolated demyelinating disease, or it may represent transition to multiple sclerosis.
Vulnerability analysis of the coastal sandy aquifers in the east coast of Sri Lanka with recharge change consideration.

Groundwater is the only source of water for domestic as well as agricultural purposes in the sand aquifer in be- tween sea and lagoon configuration typically found in the eastern Sri Lanka. This study was carried out to estimate the safe yield and assess the vulnerability of the sandy aquifer on the eastern coastal belt of Sri Lanka by rapid urbanization, agriculture and as well as climate change. A typical aquifer system was modeled as a part of a synthetic study to under- stand the sustainability of these coastal aquifers based on the observations made through a pilot field site in the eastern coastal sand stretch in Sri Lanka. Two dimensional model simulations were carried out representing 2000 m length, 22 m deep and 2 m wide model domain respectively. The safe yield of the aquifer is estimated to be 0.37 m 3 /m 2 for an average hydrological year and 0.18 m 3 /m 2 for a dry hydrological year. Water balance in the aquifer system is in equilibrium with the present recharge. However, it is important that the wells to be placed at least 750 m inland from the sea and lagoon re- spectively to avoid salt and brackish water intrusion. According to the modeling results, currently the aquifer system shows no signs of depletion or sea water intrusion. However, increase of population, increase of pumping, and reduction of recharge due to climate change can increase the aquifer vulnerability for contamination by salt and brackish water.
Networks of Decision-Making and Communicating Agents: A New Methodology for Design and Evaluation of Organizational Strategies and Heterarchical Structures

Abstract : In this paper, the authors explore the decomposition of organizational processes and decision-making, the coexistence of an organization's command and communication networks, and their effects on team performance. They present a methodology to design mission-based strategies and novel heterarchical organizational structures based on exploring information/command transfer and processing in the organizations. This methodology allows the synthesis of alternative C3I organizational structures that outperform traditional hierarchies in environments with heavy information volume, scarce resources, and strict knowledge and communication constraints.
Line Correspondences Between Two Images Using Local Affine Moment Invariant

This paper proposes an algorithm for matching line segments between two images which are related by affine transformations using local affine moment invariant (AMI). Instead of using traditional methods for objection recognition in which each object is globally represented by a vector of affine moment invariants, here each pair of line segments extracted from each image is locally represented by an affine moment invariant. This algorithm is suitable for line correspondences with multi-planes and occlusion. Matches are determined through comparing invariant values and voting. Experimental results are given for both synthetic and real images. The noise model of affine moment invariant is also presented.
EXTRACELLULAR SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT BRAIN TUMORS

The Specific activity of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) was measured in healthy persons and in patients with benign and malignant brain tumors. The results show decrease of the EC-SOD specific activity in sera of patients with benign and malignant brain tumors in comparison to that of control group. This study concentrated on studying the changes that occur in sera EC-SOD activity of patients with benign and malignant brain tumors, in comparison to that of normal individuals. The result also revealed that this isoenzyme is present in many different molecular weights forms (as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), some of these with no enzymatic activity. Conversion among these forms occurs in the malignant sera. لا يف تا ريغتلا EXTRACELLULAR SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ىضرم دنع ما روأ ةفلتخملا غامدلا نامعن ديلو يلع ،نسح يقوزر ةماذح ءايميكلا مسق ، مولعلا ةيلك ، دادغب ةعماج . دادغب قارعلا
Structure and primase-mediated activation of a bacterial dodecameric replicative helicase

Replicative helicases are essential ATPases that unwind DNA to initiate chromosomal replication. While bacterial replicative DnaB helicases are hexameric, Helicobacter pylori DnaB (HpDnaB) was found to form double hexamers, similar to some archaeal and eukaryotic replicative helicases. Here we present a structural and functional analysis of HpDnaB protein during primosome formation. The crystal structure of the HpDnaB at 6.7 Å resolution reveals a dodecameric organization consisting of two hexamers assembled via their N-terminal rings in a stack-twisted mode. Using fluorescence anisotropy we show that HpDnaB dodecamer interacts with single-stranded DNA in the presence of ATP but has a low DNA unwinding activity. Multi-angle light scattering and small angle X-ray scattering demonstrate that interaction with the DnaG primase helicase-binding domain dissociates the helicase dodecamer into single ringed primosomes. Functional assays on the proteins and associated complexes indicate that these single ringed primosomes are the most active form of the helicase for ATP hydrolysis, DNA binding and unwinding. These findings shed light onto an activation mechanism of HpDnaB by the primase that might be relevant in other bacteria and possibly other organisms exploiting dodecameric helicases for DNA replication.
The role of fibular tape in the prevention of ankle injury in basketball: A pilot study.

STUDY DESIGN Prospective nonrandomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of fibular repositioning tape (FRT) on incidence and severity of ankle injury. BACKGROUND Pain and functional disability is common following ankle sprain and a major problem in sport. A novel method of taping, FRT, which has been described to prevent ankle sprain, requires less tape than traditional methods and is easier to apply. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of FRT on the incidence and severity of ankle injury in basketball. METHODS AND MEASURES One hundred twenty-five male basketball players were assigned at time of play to either the control (209 exposures) or FRT (224 exposures) condition in a manner of convenience. Control participants had the choice on the use and type of prophylaxis, excluding FRT. FRT participants were taped using the method described by Mulligan. Ankle injury data were collected after each exposure. Injury severity was determined by functional limitation, pain levels, and days to return to play. RESULTS Four hundred forty-three measured basketball exposures resulted in 11 ankle injuries. All injuries occurred in subjects with a history of previous ankle sprain. Significantly less ankle injuries were sustained by members of the FRT condition (n = 2), compared to members of the control condition (n = 9) (Fisher exact test, P = .03). The odds ratio of sustaining an ankle injury was 0.20 (P = .04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04, 0.93) when taped with FRT and the number needed to treat was 22 (95% CI, 12-312). CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary data regarding the prophylactic effects of FRT on ankle injury in male basketball players.
A Novel Three-Dimensional Wound Healing Model

Wound healing is a well-orchestrated process, with various cells and growth factors coming into the wound bed at a specific time to influence the healing. Understanding the wound healing process is essential to generating wound healing products that help with hard-to-heal acute wounds and chronic wounds. The 2D scratch assay whereby a wound is created by scratching a confluent layer of cells on a 2D substrate is well established and used extensively but it has a major limitation—it lacks the complexity of the 3D wound healing environment. Established 3D wound healing models also have many limitations. In this paper, we present a novel 3D wound healing model that closely mimics the skin wound environment to study the cell migration of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Three major components that exist in the wound environment are introduced in this new model: collagen, fibrin, and human foreskin fibroblasts. The novel 3D model consists of a defect, representing the actual wound, created by using a biopsy punch in a 3D collagen construct. The defect is then filled with collagen or with various solutions of fibrinogen and thrombin that polymerize into a 3D fibrin clot. Fibroblasts are then added on top of the collagen and their migration into the fibrin—or collagen—filled defect is followed for nine days. Our data clearly shows that fibroblasts migrate on both collagen and fibrin defects, though slightly faster on collagen defects than on fibrin defects. This paper shows the visibility of the model by introducing a defect filled with fibrin in a 3D collagen construct, thus mimicking a wound. Ongoing work examines keratinocyte migration on the defects of a 3D construct, which consists of collagen-containing fibroblasts. The model is also used to determine the effects of various growth factors, delivered in the wound defects, on fibroblasts’ and keratinocytes’ migration into the defects. Thus this novel 3D wound healing model provides a more complex wound healing assay than existing wound models.
The cost of recovery in message logging protocols

Past research in message logging has focused on studying the relative overhead imposed by pessimistic, optimistic, and causal protocols during failure-free executions. We give the first experimental evaluation of the performance of these protocols during recovery. We discover that, if a single failure is to be tolerated, pessimistic and causal protocols perform best, because they avoid rollbacks of correct processes. For multiple failures, however, the dominant factor in determining performance becomes where the recovery information is logged (i.e. at the sender, at the receiver, or replicated at a subset of the processes in the system) rather than when this information is logged (i.e. if logging is synchronous or asynchronous).
Dramatic reduction in size of the lowland Macquarie River in response to Late Quaternary climate-driven hydrologic change

Abstract Palaeochannels of lowland rivers provide a means of investigating the sensitivity of river response to climate-driven hydrologic change. About 80 palaeochannels of the lower Macquarie River of southeastern Australia record the evolution of this distributive fluvial system. Six Macquarie palaeochannels were dated by single-grain optically stimulated luminescence. The largest of the palaeochannels (Quombothoo, median age 54 ka) was on average 284 m wide, 12 times wider than the modern river (24 m) and with 21 times greater meander wavelength. Palaeo-discharge then declined, resulting in a younger, narrower, group of palaeochannels, Bibbijibbery (125 m wide, 34 ka), Billybingbone (92 m, 20 ka), Milmiland (112 m, 22 ka), and Mundadoo (86 m, 5.6 ka). Yet these channels were still much larger than the modern river and were continuous downstream to the confluence with the Barwon-Darling River. At 5.5 ka, a further decrease in river discharge led to the formation of the narrow modern river, the ecologically important Macquarie Marshes, and Marra Creek palaeochannel (31 m, 2.1 ka) and diminished sediment delivery to the Barwon-Darling River as palaeo-discharge fell further. The hydrologic changes suggest precipitation was a driving forcing on catchment discharge in addition to a temperature-driven runoff response.
Structural insight into Ca2+ specificity in tetrameric cation channels

Apparent blockage of monovalent cation currents by the permeating blocker Ca2+ is a physiologically essential phenomenon relevant to cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels. The recently determined crystal structure of a bacterial homolog of CNG channel pores, the NaK channel, revealed a Ca2+ binding site at the extracellular entrance to the selectivity filter. This site is not formed by the side-chain carboxylate groups from the conserved acidic residue, Asp-66 in NaK, conventionally thought to directly chelate Ca2+ in CNG channels, but rather by the backbone carbonyl groups of residue Gly-67. Here we present a detailed structural analysis of the NaK channel with a focus on Ca2+ permeability and blockage. Our results confirm that the Asp-66 residue, although not involved in direct chelation of Ca2+, plays an essential role in external Ca2+ binding. Furthermore, we give evidence for the presence of a second Ca2+ binding site within the NaK selectivity filter where monovalent cations also bind, providing a structural basis for Ca2+ permeation through the NaK pore. Compared with other Ca2+-binding proteins, both sites in NaK present a novel mode of Ca2+ chelation, using only backbone carbonyl oxygen atoms from residues in the selectivity filter. The external site is under indirect control by an acidic residue (Asp-66), making it Ca2+-specific. These findings give us a glimpse of the possible underlying mechanisms allowing Ca2+ to act both as a permeating ion and blocker of CNG channels and raise the possibility of a similar chemistry governing Ca2+ chelation in Ca2+ channels.
Involvement of two A‐factor receptor homologues in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) in the regulation of secondary metabolism and morphogenesis

Nucleotide sequences homologous to arpA encoding the A‐factor receptor protein (ArpA) of Streptomyces griseus are distributed in a wide variety of streptomycetes. Two genes, cprA and cprB, each encoding an ArpA‐like protein were found and cloned from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). CprA and CprB shared 90.7% identity in amino acid sequence and both showed about 35% identity to ArpA. Disruption of cprA by use of an M13 phage‐derived single‐stranded vector resulted in severe reduction of actinorhodin and undecylprodigiosin production. In addition, the timing of sporulation in the cprA disruptants was delayed by 1 day. The cprA gene thus appeared to act as a positive regulator or an accelerator for secondary metabolite formation and sporulation. Consistent with this idea, introduction of cprA on a low‐copy‐number plasmid into the parental strain led to overproduction of these secondary metabolites and accelerated the timing of sporulation. On the other hand, cprB disruption resulted in precocious and overproduction of actinorhodin. However, almost no effect on undecylprodigiosin was detected in the cprB disruptants. Sporulation of the cprB disruptant began 1 day earlier than the parental strain. The cprB gene thus behaved as a negative regulator on actinorhodin production and sporulation. Consistent with this, extra copies of cprB in the parental strain caused reduced production of actinorhodin and delay in sporulation. It is thus concluded that both cprA and cprB play regulatory roles in both secondary metabolism and morphogenesis in S. coelicolor A3(2), just as the arpA/A‐factor system in Streptomyces griseus.
A 3-pin 1.5 V 550 mW 176 x 144 self-clocked CMOS active pixel image sensor

This paper addresses the development of a micropower 176 x 144 self-clocked CMOS active pixel image sensor that dissipates oneto-two orders of magnitude less power than current state of the art CMOS image sensors. The chip operates from a 1.5 V voltage source and the power consumption measured for the chip running from an internal 25.2 MHz clock yielding 30 frames per second is about 550 μW. This amount enables the sensor to be run from a watch battery. It is believed that this chip is the world’s lowest power image sensor and the first image sensor designed for a watch battery operation. The camera-on-a-chip operates as a selfclocked 3-pin sensor (GND, VDD (1.2 1.7 V), and DATAOUT). The die occupies 4 mm of silicon.