Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of chemoembolization for recurrent HCC after curative ablation therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely applied standard treatment option for treatment-naïve patients with multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the treatment strategy in patients with multi-nodular recurrences has not been well addressed. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TACE for recurrent HCC. METHODOLOGY Two hundred seventeen consecutive patients who received curative ablation therapy for HCC were followed up. Forty-three of the 217 underwent TACE for recurrent HCC, and the treatment efficacy after TACE was compared with that in 99 treatment-naïve patients who underwent TACE for multifocal HCC during the same period. RESULTS The overall survival rates of the patients after TACE for recurrent HCC were not different (P=0.136) from those of the treatment-naïve patients after TACE. No serious adverse events related to TACE were observed in either group. Serum albumin levels (>3.5g/dL, p=0.001), alpha-fetoprotein levels (<300ng/mL, p=0.021), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II levels (<300ng/mL, p=0.045), and the number of recurrent tumors (<=3 nodules, p=0.047) were prognostic factors after TACE in patients with recurrent HCC. CONCLUSIONS TACE for multifocal recurrent HCC is safe and effective, with good survival results, similar to those of initial TACE for treatment-naïve patients with multifocal HCC.
Using Semidefinite Programming to Minimize Polynomials

Optimization problems arise in widely varying contexts. The general optimization problem is to find the minimum value of a certain function, the objective, on a certain set, defined by constraints. To make such problems amenable to analysis, further restrictions must be imposed on the kinds of objectives and constraints that may arise. A priori, it might seem useful to require them to be polynomial. After all, the entire toolbox of algebra and calculus is available to deal with polynomials. They can be represented, evaluated, and manipulated easily, and they are often used to approximate more complicated functions. Partly for these reasons, they arise in many kinds of applications. As this course has demonstrated, it so happens that this is not the most fruitful restriction for optimization problems. Even problems with quadratic objectives and quadratic constraints may be difficult to solve. Rather, it is the field of convex optimization which has developed a body of theory and practice leading to computationally effective solution procedures. However, the aforementioned reasons why polynomial optimization would be desirable are still valid. Thus, this paper attempts to explain and demonstrate how to use the techniques of convex optimization to approximately (often, exactly) solve polynomial optimization problems. For concreteness, the problems will be posed as minimization problems. For simplicity, the constraints will be linear, or absent.
Local orientation-dependent noise propagation for anisotropic denoising of CT-images

In X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) the measured projections and consequently the reconstructed CT images are subject to quantum and electronics noise. While noise in the projections can be well described and estimated with a corresponding physics model, the distribution of noise in the reconstructed CT images is not directly evident. Due to attenuation variations along different directions, the nature of noise in CT images is non-stationary and non-isotropic. This complicates the direct application of standard post-processing methods like bilateral filtering. In this article we describe a possibility to compute precise orientation dependent noise estimates for every pixel position. This is done by analytic propagation of projection noise estimates through indirect fan-beam filtered backprojection reconstruction. The resulting orientation dependent image noise estimates are subsequently used in adaptive bilateral filters. Taking into account the non-stationary and non-isotropic nature of noise in CT images, a reduction in image noise of about 55% compared to 39% of the standard approach is achieved with much less variability over different image regions.
Sampling Strategies to Evaluate the Performance of Unknown Predictors

The focus of this paper is on how to select a small sample of examples for labeling that can help us to evaluate many different classification models unknown at the time of sampling. We are particularly interested in studying the sampling strategies for problems in which the prevalence of the two classes is highly biased toward one of the classes. The evaluation measures of interest we want to estimate as accurately as possible are those obtained from the contingency table. We provide a careful theoretical analysis on sensitivity, specificity, and precision and show how sampling strategies should be adapted to the rate of skewness in data in order to effectively compute the three aforementioned evaluation measures.
Heavy Resistance Training in Hypoxia Enhances 1RM Squat Performance

Purpose: To determine if heavy resistance training in hypoxia (IHRT) is more effective at improving strength, power, and increasing lean mass than the same training in normoxia. Methods: A pair-matched, placebo-controlled study design included 20 resistance-trained participants assigned to IHRT (FIO2 0.143) or placebo (FIO2 0.20), (n = 10 per group). Participants were matched for strength and training. Both groups performed 20 sessions over 7 weeks either with IHRT or placebo. All participants were tested for 1RM, 20-m sprint, body composition, and countermovement jump pre-, mid-, and post-training and compared via magnitude-based inferences. Presentation of Results: Groups were not clearly different for any test at baseline. Training improved both absolute (IHRT: 13.1 ± 3.9%, effect size (ES) 0.60, placebo 9.8 ± 4.7%, ES 0.31) and relative 1RM (IHRT: 13.4 ± 5.1%, ES 0.76, placebo 9.7 ± 5.3%, ES 0.48) at mid. Similarly, at post both groups increased absolute (IHRT: 20.7 ± 7.6%, ES 0.74, placebo 14.1 ± 6.0%, ES 0.58) and relative 1RM (IHRT: 21.6 ± 8.5%, ES 1.08, placebo 13.2 ± 6.4%, ES 0.78). Importantly, the change in IHRT was greater than placebo at mid for both absolute [4.4% greater change, 90% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.0:8.0%, ES 0.21, and relative strength (5.6% greater change, 90% CI 1.0:9.4%, ES 0.31 (relative)]. There was also a greater change for IHRT at post for both absolute (7.0% greater change, 90% CI 1.3:13%, ES 0.33), and relative 1RM (9.2% greater change, 90% CI 1.6:14.9%, ES 0.49). Only IHRT increased countermovement jump peak power at Post (4.9%, ES 0.35), however the difference between IHRT and placebo was unclear (2.7, 90% CI –2.0:7.6%, ES 0.20) with no clear differences in speed or body composition throughout. Conclusion: Heavy resistance training in hypoxia is more effective than placebo for improving absolute and relative strength.
Actin filaments, stereocilia, and hair cells: how cells count and measure.

INTRODUCTION 257 OBSERVATIONS . 260 Stage i-Pre 8 Day Embryos . 260 Stage 2-Embryos 8-12 Days . 261 Stage 3-Embryos 13-16 Days . 263 Stage 4-Embryos i7 Days and Older . 265 CONCLUSIONS . 266 How Does the Pattern Develop? 266 How Do Cells Get Assembly Information? 266 Influences External to the Cochlea Proper Help Regulate Assembly . 269 How Cells Count and Measure . 27 1 Cells Build Complex Structures Step Upon Step . 272
Atmospheric Concentrations of PM2.5 Trace Elements in the Seoul Urban Area of South Korea

Abstract Fine particles (PM2.5) were collected during all four seasons, from April 2001 to February 2002, in Seoul, South Korea, using an annular denuder system. Elemental compositions of ambient PM2.5 were analyzed using the proton-induced X-ray emission method. The greatest contributors (≥2%) to the PM2.5 mass were sulfur (S), silicon (Si), chlorine (Cl), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) in the spring; S in the summer; and S and Cl in the fall. S, Cl, and Si were the major elements in the winter. S was the most abundant species among the elements, ranging from 5.3 to 7.9%, followed by Si and Cl. From analysis of variance, PM2.5 mass, Al, Si, potassium, calcium, and Fe showed significant seasonal differences during the four seasons (p < 0.001). Enrichment factor (EF) analysis was carried out to identify the sources affecting the aerosol in the Seoul area. On the basis of the mean EF values, elemental S, copper, zinc, and lead may be emitted from anthropogenic sources (EF > 50). Elemental Al, Si, titanium, and Fe may be emitted from crustal sources (EF < 3). Additionally, a correlation analysis was carried out for source identification. The results of the correlation analysis were confirmed by the results of the EF analysis.
A Qualitative Study Exploring Faculty Perception and Adaptation of Social Presence in the Online Classroom

A QUALITATIVE STUDY EXPLORING FACULTY PERCEPTION AND ADAPTATION OF SOCIAL PRESENCE IN THE ONLINE CLASSROOM This study is an exploration of faculty perception and adaptation of social presence in the online classroom. This study examines how faculty perceive their role in promoting social presence in the discussion board and what they are doing to promote interactivity, intimacy, and immediacy which are the indicators of social presence. How do they meet the challenges, and what are their strategies? For this qualitative study, open-ended questions were sent to the faculty that participated and focused on the three indicators. The procedure for the study followed the Delphi method and is presented in two parts. The results revealed that the participants interact with students on average every 24 to 48 hours, and require students to interact with each other. The results showed a substantial amount of interactivity but less immediacy and intimacy. Participants indicated that immediacy was the most difficult to transfer to the online environment in the text-based discussion board. This study concludes that faculty members need to find a balance of intimacy and interactivity, and to experiment with other technologies, such as video chats, pre-recorded podcasts, and audio messages in order to provide immediacy.
Categorized Security Threats in the Wireless Sensor Networks: Countermeasures and Security Management Schemes

Sensor networks have been regarded as one of the emerging technologies of the 21 century and have great future scope. They have been widely used in mission critical applications like military, health as well as civilian applications. The focus of this paper is on a security of sensor networks in various fields. Security is the major concern of a wireless sensor network especially in unattended areas. You will get a general introduction about wireless sensor networks in section I, section II explains the need for security in Wireless sensor networks, section III gives security challenges followed by section IV &V that give security and survivability requirements for a Wireless sensor network which follows attack categorization in section VI, followed by the security management schemes in section VII and finally conclusion in the last section VIII.
Quantal transmitter release in an identified inihibitory cholinergic synapse of Aplysia

A sustained postsynaptic potential is observed in an identified synapse of Aplysia when the presynaptic neuron is depolarized in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX). This prolonged postsynaptic potential appears to be at least in part due to the summation of quantal events. It is still observed when 30 mm CoCl2, which is known to inhibit Ca2+ influx, is added to the external media.
On testing persistent-memory-based software

Leveraging Storage Class Memory (SCM) as a universal memory--i.e. as memory and storage at the same time--has deep implications on database architectures. It becomes possible to store a single copy of the data in SCM and directly operate on it at a fine granularity. However, exposing the whole database with direct access to the application dramatically increases the risk of data corruption. In this paper we propose a lightweight on-line testing framework that helps find and debug SCM-related errors that can occur upon software or power failures. Our testing framework simulates failures in critical code paths and achieves fast code coverage by leveraging call stack information to limit duplicate testing. It also partially covers the errors that might arise as a result of reordered memory operations. We show through an experimental evaluation that our testing framework is fast enough to be used with large software systems and discuss its use during the development of our in-house persistent SCM allocator.
An Alternative Way of Teaching the Advanced Concepts of the Diffusing Update Algorithm for EIGRP

— EIGRP is a routing protocol developed by Cisco Systems as an alternative to traditional distance vector and link state routing protocols. It has been widely accepted since it merges important concepts of these two types of routing protocols in a single one. The Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) is used by EIGRP to compute the shortest path by performing local or diffusing computations. This algorithm was first proposed by Dijkstra and Scholten, and offers a great set of advantages that makes it outperform other loop-free routing algorithms. The teaching and learning of DUAL can be very difficult due to the complex finite state machine involved and the lack of documentation for this algorithm. In this paper, we present an alternative approach to teach advanced concepts of DUAL by using Easy-EIGRP, a didactic implementation of EIGRP developed in Java. Easy-EIGRP includes a powerful module, called DUAL module, which implements the algorithm and offers a set of graphic interfaces for debugging and understanding the processes carried out by DUAL.
Soft-Switched Interleaved Boost Converters for High Step-Up and High-Power Applications

This paper proposes a generalized scheme of new soft-switching interleaved boost converters that is suitable for high step-up and high-power applications. The proposed converter is configured with proper numbers of series and parallel connected basic cells in order to fulfill the required output voltage and power levels, respectively. This leads to flexibility in device selection resulting in high component availability and easy thermal distribution. Design examples of determining the optimum circuit configuration for given output voltage and power level are presented. Experimental results from a 1.5-kW prototype are provided to validate the proposed concept.
Lexical tone and pitch perception in tone and non-tone language speakers

Past research on categorical perception of lexical tone has produced contradictory results. In Experiment 1 tonal (Mandarin, Vietnamese) and non-tonal (Australian) adults were tested for identification and discrimination on speech and non-speech (sine-wave) tone continua. Tonal language speakers’ category boundaries and discrimination peaks were near the middle of the asymmetric continuum, whereas non-tonal speakers used an acoustically flat stimulus as a reference, indicating that tone space is linguistically oriented in tonal, and acoustically oriented in non-tonal language speakers. In Experiment 2, three tonal-language (Thai) groups (musicians, perfect pitch musicians, and non-musicians) were tested on two new continua represented as speech or sine-wave tones. Identification boundaries were in the middle of the continuum for most participants. In discrimination, the flat stimulus was used as a perceptual anchor, and this was independent of musical background, indicating that the musical Thai participants use the same mid-continuum strategy as the Mandarin and Vietnamese speakers in identification, but the flat no-contour strategy in discrimination. Hence, perception depends on the type of task in Thai speakers: it is linguistic in identification, but acoustic in discrimination.
Extension of TOPSIS to Multiple Criteria Decision Making with Pythagorean Fuzzy Sets

Recently, a new model based on Pythagorean fuzzy set (PFS) has been presented to manage the uncertainty in real‐world decision‐making problems. PFS has much stronger ability than intuitionistic fuzzy set to model such uncertainty. In this paper, we define some novel operational laws of PFSs and discuss their desirable properties. For the multicriteria decision‐making problems with PFSs, we propose an extended technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution method to deal effectively with them. In this approach, we first propose a score function based comparison method to identify the Pythagorean fuzzy positive ideal solution and the Pythagorean fuzzy negative ideal solution. Then, we define a distance measure to calculate the distances between each alternative and the Pythagorean fuzzy positive ideal solution as well as the Pythagorean fuzzy negative ideal solution, respectively. Afterward, a revised closeness is introduced to identify the optimal alternative. At length, a practical example is given to illustrate the developed method and to make a comparative analysis.
What Contributes to Daughter Cells Separation during Cytokinesis of Amoeba proteus

Before the furrow formation the non-polar general contraction resulting in cell de-adhesion and spherulation, and the following relaxation leading to re-adhesion, flattening and spreading, are both necessary prerequisitesof a successful cytokinesis in A. proteus. The bipartition begins by sudden generation of two divergent cytoplasmic streamings at the late anaphase, always before the formation of furrow. All these facts fit better with the polar relaxation model than with the equatorial contraction model of initiating the fission of amoeba. After formation of the furrow the contractile ring gradually constricts the cytoplasmic connection between daughter cells. Endopasm flow in the connection bridge is no more bipolar but irregularly reversing; it compensates hydrostatic pressure differences between daughter cells. The final break of the connection is explained by its stretching because of the disparate locomotor activities on both sides of the furrow and owing to the cytoskeleton disassembly inside the connecting bridge.
Trichomonas gallinae in Columbiform Birds from the Galapagos Islands

Domestic pigeons were introduced into the Galapagos Islands in 1972 or 1973. There is a high prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae among them and some evidence of canker. Trichomonas gallinae can be found also in endemic Galapagos doves in the vicinity of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Doves examined on pigeon-free islands were not found infected.
Qualitative Forschung im psychologischen Feld: Was ist eine gute Publikation?

Die vorliegende Studie prasentiert eine empirisch-explorative Untersuchung zu Gutekriterien qualitativer Forschung insbesondere aus dem Gebiet der Psychologie, zu deren Relevanz und Verbindlichkeit in der Publikationspraxis. Als Ausgangspunkt diente ein Katalog fur Publikationsstandards von ELLIOTT, FISCHER und RENNIE (1999). Mit der Analyse von 68 Artikeln lies sich aufzeigen, dass in Publikationen qualitativer Forschungsprojekte der Darstellung der Methodik haufig grose Aufmerksamkeit galt, ebenso ethischen Fragen. Die Diskussion der Befunde wurde jedoch oft monoperspektivisch gefuhrt und nur selten wurden methodische und projektspezifische Entscheidungen sowie Probleme und Grenzen der Designs erortert. Die Anzahl erfullter Kriterien erwies sich als abhangig vom Umfang der betreffenden Publikation: je langer die Publikation, desto groser die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass eine hohe Anzahl an Qualitatskriterien erfullt wurde. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen der Anzahl erfullter Kriterien und der Publikationsform (Periodika vs. Herausgeber/innenband) lies sich – mit einer Ausnahme – nicht feststellen: Artikel, die in fachspezifischen Zeitschriften publiziert wurden, wiesen meist keine hoheren Standards der Wissenschaftlichkeit auf als Beitrage in Sammelbanden. Das methodische Vorgehen und die Befunde der eigenen Untersuchung werden einer kritischen Prufung unterzogen; die Grenzen und die Moglichkeiten von Folgeuntersuchungen werden aufgezeigt.
The social context of cognitive development

The Social Foundations of Cognitive Development. Introduction. Processes of Change: The "How" of Cognitive Development. The Sociocultural Context of Cognitive Development. The Development of Specific Higher Mental Functions in Social Context. Acquring Knowledge: Intersubjectivity, Joint Attention, and Social Referencing. Remembering: The Social Construction of the Past. Solving and Learning to Solve Problems in Social Context. Constructing the Future: Planning in Social Context. Conclusions and Future Directions.
Cipher Text Containing Data and Key to Be Transmitted in Network Security

In this paper, we propose an encryption algorithm to encrypt plaintext to cipher text. We apply the basic computing operations, e.g., inserting dummy symbols, rotating, transposition, shifting and complement, in the proposed algorithm to encrypt plaintext to cipher text. The cipher text contains the plaintext, relative data and tables of encryption and transmits through the network. Since the tables of cipher text are produced randomly, it is difficult to do cryptanalysis.
Androgen Signaling Promotes Translation of TMEFF2 in Prostate Cancer Cells via Phosphorylation of the α Subunit of the Translation Initiation Factor 2

The type I transmembrane protein with epidermal growth factor and two follistatin motifs 2 (TMEFF2), is expressed mainly in brain and prostate. Expression of TMEFF2 is deregulated in prostate cancer, suggesting a role in this disease, but the molecular mechanism(s) involved in this effect are not clear. Although androgens promote tmeff2 transcription, androgen delivery to castrated animals carrying CWR22 xenografts increases TMEFF2 protein levels in the absence of mRNA changes, suggesting that TMEFF2 may also be post-transcriptionally regulated. Here we show that translation of TMEFF2 is regulated by androgens. Addition of physiological concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to prostate cancer cell lines increases translation of endogenous TMEFF2 or transfected TMEFF2-Luciferase fusions, and this effect requires the presence of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) of TMEFF2. Using chemical and siRNA inhibition of the androgen receptor (AR), we show that the androgen effect on TMEFF2 translation is mediated by the AR. Importantly, DHT also promotes phosphorylation of the α subunit of the translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) in an AR-dependent manner, paralleling the effect on TMEFF2 translation. Moreover, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions, which promote eIF2α phosphorylation, also stimulate TMEFF2 translation. These results indicate that androgen signaling promotes eIF2α phosphorylation and subsequent translation of TMEFF2 via a mechanism that requires uORFs in the 5′-UTR of TMEFF2.