Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patterns of blood flow during the postprandial response in ball pythons, Python regius

SUMMARY We present evidence supporting the hypothesis that postprandial upregulation of the size of the small intestine and the liver is caused by an increased blood flow volume to the organs. The postprandial response of ball pythons was characterized by measurements of oxygen consumption, organ size changes and histological evaluation of the mucosal epithelium and liver parenchyme. Synchronized with these changes in measurements were changes in the patterns of blood flow volume to small intestine and liver. A correlation analysis of organ size change and blood flow volume showed a significant nonlinear relationship, which explained about 50% of the overall variances in organ size (small intestine, liver). Histological analysis indicated that incorporation of lipid droplets in enterocytes and in hepatocytes contributes to an increase of absorptive surface magnification (in small intestine) and hepatocyte size (in liver). Collectively, these data support the concept that in the ball python, postprandial upregulation of organ size does not reflect new mitotic activity, but rather results from increased blood volume in the intestinal villi and incorporation of lipid droplets into enterocytes and hepatocytes, respectively.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with cirrhosis: prevalence and relation with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

OBJECTIVES:The significance of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with cirrhosis is not fully understood and its diagnostic criteria are not uniform. We examined the association of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and compared various microbiological criteria.METHODS:Jejunal secretions from 70 patients with cirrhosis were cultivated quantitatively and classified according to various definitions. Clinical characteristics of patients were evaluated and the incidence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was monitored during a 1-yr follow-up.RESULTS:Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, defined as ≥105 total colony-forming units/ml jejunal secretions, was present in 61% of patients. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was associated with acid-suppressive therapy (p = 0.01) and hypochlorhydria (p < 0.001). Twenty-nine patients with persistent ascites were observed. Six episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurred after an average 12.8 wk. Occurence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis correlated with ascitic fluid protein concentration (p = 0.01) and serum bilirubin (p = 0.04) but not with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (p = 0.39). Its association with acid-suppressive therapy was of borderline significance (hazard ratio = 7.0, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS:Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in cirrhotic patients is associated with acid-suppressive therapy and hypochlorhydria, but not with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The potential role of acid-suppressive therapy in the pathogenesis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis merits further studies.
Aqueous humor dynamics and trabecular meshwork and anterior ciliary muscle morphologic changes with age in rhesus monkeys.

PURPOSE To determine in rhesus monkeys the age-dependence of uveoscleral outflow (Fu) and morphology of the trabecular meshwork (TM) and anterior ciliary muscle (CM). METHODS Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry in monkeys under ketamine anesthesia. After anterior chamber cannulation under pentobarbital anesthesia, aqueous humor formation (AHF), anterior chamber volume, trabecular outflow, and Fu were determined isotopically. The CM and TM were examined by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS IOP increased significantly with age in monkeys aged 3 to 29 years. AHF and anterior chamber volume were unchanged. Fu was decreased, and trabecular outflow increased in monkeys aged 25 to 29 years compared with the remaining monkeys. Morphologically, there was a significant increase in the thickness of the elastic fibers of the trabeculum ciliare covering the anterior tips of the CM, and an increase in extracellular material between the muscle tips. The number of TM cells decreased with age, whereas the amount of fibrillar material and sheath-derived plaques increased. This increase was less pronounced in the middle filtering portion of the cribriform region than in the anterior and posterior portions. CONCLUSIONS The decline in Fu in very old rhesus monkeys with normal IOP parallels that seen in normotensive aging humans. This may be correlated with thickening of the elastic fiber sheath in the CM tips in addition to other morphologic changes. The TM findings are analogous to those in the aging human eye and are consistent with the age-related decrease in outflow facility reported in both humans and monkeys.
Tctex-1, a Novel Interaction Partner of Rab3D, Is Required for Osteoclastic Bone Resorption

ABSTRACT Vesicular transport along microtubules must be strictly regulated to sustain the unique structural and functional polarization of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. However, the molecular mechanisms bridging these vesicle-microtubule interactions remain largely obscure. Rab3D, a member of the Rab3 subfamily (Rab3A/B/C/D) of small exocytotic GTPases, represents a core component of the osteoclastic vesicle transport machinery. Here, we identify a new Rab3D-interacting partner, Tctex-1, a light chain of the cytoplasmic dynein microtubule motor complex, by a yeast two-hybrid screen. We demonstrate that Tctex-1 binds specifically to Rab3D in a GTP-dependent manner and co-occupies Rab3D-bearing vesicles in bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Tctex-1 and Rab3D intimately associate with the dynein motor complex and microtubules in osteoclasts. Finally, targeted disruption of Tctex-1 by RNA interference significantly impairs bone resorption capacity and mislocalizes Rab3D vesicles in osteoclasts, attesting to the notion that components of the Rab3D-trafficking pathway contribute to the maintenance of osteoclastic resorptive function.
A comparative study of Image Region-Based Segmentation Algorithms

Image segmentation has recently become an essential step in image processing as it mainly conditions the interpretation which is done afterwards. It is still difficult to justify the accuracy of a segmentation algorithm, regardless of the nature of the treated image. In this paper we perform an objective comparison of region-based segmentation techniques such as supervised and unsupervised deterministic classification, non-parametric and parametric probabilistic classification. Eight methods among the well-known and used in the scientific community have been selected and compared. The Martin's(GCE, LCE), probabilistic Rand Index (RI), Variation of Information (VI) and Boundary Displacement Error (BDE) criteria are used to evaluate the performance of these algorithms on Magnetic Resonance (MR) brain images, synthetic MR image, and synthetic images. MR brain image are composed of the gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and others, and the synthetic MR image composed of the same for real image and the plus edema, and the tumor. Results show that segmentation is an image dependent process and that some of the evaluated methods are well suited for a better segmentation. Keywords—Evaluation criteria; Martin's; Rand Index; Image Segmentation; Magnetic resonance image. I. INTRODUCTION
Improving Self-Quotient Image Method of NPR

Self-quotient image (SQI) method was recently proposed, which is applicable to non-photorealistic rendering (NPR). In this paper, we analyse the deficiencies of the original SQI method in generating sketching style from various images and make some improvements on it. The basic idea is to enhance features and weaken noise by enlarging the differences of feature pixels¿ gray values between anisotropic filtrated and isotropic filtrated images and reducing the differences in other areas. The experiment results show that using the improved SQI method, we can obtain sketching style with stronger features and less noises from original photos regardless of their smoothness or noise.
A Rapidly Enlarging Squamous Inclusion Cyst in an Axillary Lymph Node following Core Needle Biopsy

A 73-year-old woman was found to have a 1.7 cm axillary mass, for which a core needle biopsy was performed. The specimen revealed fragmented squamous epithelium surrounded by lymphoid tissue consistent with a squamous inclusion cyst in a lymph node, but a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma could not be excluded. Within one month, the lesion enlarged to 5 cm and was excised. Touch preparation cytology during intraoperative consultation displayed numerous single and sheets of atypical epithelioid cells with enlarged nuclei and occasional mitoses, suggesting a carcinoma. However, multinucleated giant cells and neutrophils in the background indicated reactive changes. We interpreted the touch preparation as atypical and recommended conservative surgical management. Permanent sections revealed a ruptured squamous inclusion cyst in a lymph node with extensive reactive changes. Retrospectively, the atypical epithelioid cells on touch preparation corresponded to reactive histiocytes. This is the first case report of a rapidly enlarging ruptured squamous inclusion cyst in an axillary lymph node following core needle biopsy. Our case demonstrates the diagnostic challenges related to a ruptured squamous inclusion cyst and serves to inform the readers to consider this lesion in the differential diagnosis for similar situations.
Towards multiscale modeling of magnetic materials : Simulations of FePt

The established methods for the numerical evaluation of magnetic material properties exist only in certain limits, including first-principles methods, spin models, and micromagnetics. In the present paper, we introduce a multiscale modeling approach, bridging the gaps between the three approaches above. The goal is to describe thermodynamic equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties of magnetic materials on length scales up to micrometers, starting from first principles. In the first step, we model, as an example, bulk FePt in the ordered $\text{L}{1}_{0}$ phase by using an effective, classical spin Hamiltonian that was constructed earlier on the basis of first-principles methods. The next step is to simulate this spin model by using the stochastic Landau\char21{}Lifshitz\char21{}Gilbert equation. The temperature dependent micromagnetic parameters, which are evaluated with these atomistic simulations, are consequently used to develop a many macrospin micromagnetic approach, based on the Landau\char21{}Lifshitz\char21{}Bloch equation. As an example, we calculate the magnetization dynamics following a picosecond heat pulse resembling pump-probe experiments.
Self-assessment in a feasible, adaptive web-based testing system

Adaptive testing systems generate tests for assessment that are tailored to each student. In these tests, students are assessed through a process that uses Item Response Theory (IRT), a well-founded psychometric theory. This theory is responsible for estimating student knowledge, determining the next question that must be posed at each moment, and deciding test finalization. System of Intelligent Evaluation Using Tests for Teleeducation (SIETTE) is a Web-based environment for generating and constructing adaptive tests. In SIETTE, teachers can create tests for self-assessment. In this kind of test, questions are posed one by one, and the correction of each question is shown immediately after the student's answer. Along with this correction, and in terms of the student's answer, feedback is provided. Feedback consists of pieces of knowledge that help students detect misconceptions or reinforce concepts correctly learned. Furthermore, hints can be included when questions are posed to supply students with some kind of help or explanation about the stem. As a result, this kind of test can be used not just for assessment, but also for instructional purposes. The first goal of this paper is to show how SIETTE can be used for instructional purposes, by combining adaptive student self-assessment test questions with feedback and hints. This paper also shows that the Web is a feasible platform for the generation of adaptive tests, supporting the use of SIETTE for this purpose.
Frequency and time filtering of filter-bank energies for HMM speech recognition

In speech recognition, a discriminative frequency weighting can be achieved by decorrelating the frequency sequence of log mel-scaled filter-bank energies with a computationally inexpensive filter. We show how the spectral parameters that result from this kind of frequency filtering, both alone and combined with filtering of their time trajectories, are competitive with respect to the conventional cepstral representations of speech signals.
Risk of Heart Failure Complication During Hospitalization for Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Contemporary Population: Insights From the National Cardiovascular Data ACTION Registry

Background—Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by heart failure (HF) are subject to higher mortality during the index hospitalization. Early risk prediction and intervention may help prevent HF-related morbidity and mortality. Methods and Results—We examined 77 675 ST-elevation MI and 110 128 non-ST-elevation patients with MI without cardiogenic shock or HF at presentation treated at 609 hospitals in Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry (ACTION) Registry-Get With The Guidelines between January 1, 2007, and March 31, 2011. Logistic regression identified patient characteristics associated with development of in-hospital HF. Overall, 3.8% of patients with MI developed in-hospital HF, which was associated with higher mortality in both ST-elevation MI and non-ST elevation MI. In multivariable logistic regression, left ventricular ejection fraction ⩽30%, prior HF, diabetes mellitus, female sex, ST-elevation MI, and hypertension (all P<0.005) were independently associated with in-hospital HF. Patients who developed HF during non-ST-elevation MI were more likely to be medically managed without catheterization (30% versus 13% with HF, P<0.0001) or had longer delays to surgical or percutaneous revascularization. Patients with ST-elevation MI and HF were less likely to receive primary percutaneous coronary revascularization (84% versus 79% with HF, P<0.0001), and more likely to receive thrombolytic therapy (14% versus 11%; P=0.0001). Conclusions—Patients with MI who develop HF during hospitalization have a higher risk clinical profile and greater mortality, but may be less likely to receive revascularization in a timely fashion. Targeting these highest risk patients may improve outcome post-MI.
Mapping a Pipelined Data Path onto a Network-on-Chip

During the last years, networks-on-chip (NoCs) have become a true alternative for the design of complex integrated systems-on-chip (SoC). Much effort has been spent for research on functionalities, mechanisms, and quality-of-service (QoS) features in NoCs. Hence, a broad and multi-faceted design space exists but leaves open, which mechanisms and design paradigms actually tip the scales for the chosen application domain. In this paper, we discuss the level of QoS needed in a specific NoC for a packet processing application. This is done in the light of preliminary investigations for the redesign of an existing packet processing system because that system's current architecture exhibits drawbacks regarding performance and further scalability. Therefore, we considered to take advantage of an NoC communication architecture. A simple NoC was developed, which knowingly omits sophisticated QoS mechanisms. Relying on the lessons, which have learned from the history and development of the Internet, we argue that a simple and plain NoC suffices for applications as the one discussed.
Analysis of Tumor Specimens at the Time of Acquired Resistance to EGFR-TKI Therapy in 155 Patients with EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancers

Purpose: All patients with EGF receptor (EGFR)–mutant lung cancers eventually develop acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Smaller series have identified various mechanisms of resistance, but systematic evaluation of a large number of patients to definitively establish the frequency of various mechanisms has not been conducted. Experimental Design: Patients with lung adenocarcinomas and acquired resistance to erlotinib or gefitinib enrolled onto a prospective biopsy protocol and underwent a rebiopsy after the development of acquired resistance. Histology was reviewed. Samples underwent genotyping for mutations in EGFR, AKT1, BRAF, ERBB2, KRAS, MEK1, NRAS and PIK3CA, and FISH for MET and HER2. Results: Adequate tumor samples for molecular analysis were obtained in 155 patients. Ninety-eight had second-site EGFR T790M mutations [63%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 55%–70%] and four had small cell transformation (3%, 95% CI, 0%–6%). MET amplification was seen in 4 of 75 (5%; 95% CI, 1%–13%). HER2 amplification was seen in 3 of 24 (13%; 95% CI, 3%–32%). We did not detect any acquired mutations in PIK3CA, AKT1, BRAF, ERBB2, KRAS, MEK1, or NRAS (0 of 88, 0%; 95% CI, 0%–4%). Overlap among mechanisms of acquired resistance was seen in 4%. Conclusions: This is the largest series reporting mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI therapy. We identified EGFR T790M as the most common mechanism of acquired resistance, whereas MET amplification, HER2 amplification, and small cell histologic transformation occur less frequently. More comprehensive methods to characterize molecular alterations in this setting are needed to improve our understanding of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Clin Cancer Res; 19(8); 2240–7. ©2013 AACR.
Progressive wavelet image coding based on a conditional probability model

We present a wavelet image coder based on an explicit model of the conditional statistical relationships between coefficients in different subbands. In particular, we construct a parameterized model for the conditional probability of a coefficient given coefficients at a coarser scale. Subband coefficients are encoded one bitplane at a time using a non-adaptive arithmetic encoder. The overall ordering of bitplanes is determined by the ratio of their encoded variance to compressed size. We show rate-distortion comparisons of the coder to first and second-order theoretical entropy bounds and the EZW coder. The coder is inherently embedded, and should prove useful in applications requiring progressive transmission.
On the carriers of the 21 μm emission feature in post-asymptotic giant branch stars

The mysterious 21 μm emission feature seen in sixteen C-rich proto-planetary nebulae (PPNe) remains unidentified since its discovery in 1989. Over a dozen of materials are suggested as the carrier candidates. In this work, we quantitatively investigate eight inorganic and one organic carrier candidates in terms of elemental abundance constraints, while previous studies mostly focus on their spectral profiles (which could be largely affected by grain size, shape and clustering effects). It is found that: (1) five candidates (TiC nanoclusters, fullerenes coordinated with Ti atoms, SiS 2 , doped-SiC and SiO 2 -coated SiC dust) violate the abundance constraints (i.e. they require too much Ti, S or Si to account for the emission power of the 21 μm band, (2) three candidates (carbon and silicon mixtures, Fe 2 O 3 and Fe 3 O 4 ), while satisfying the abundance constraints, exhibit secondary features which are not detected in the 21 μm sources and (3) nano FeO, neither exceeding the abundance budget nor producing undetected secondary features, seems to be a viable candidate, supporting the suggestions of Posch, Mutschke & Andersen.
Pelvic Diameter is not Associated with Positive Circumferential Resection Margin in Rectal Cancer: Retrospective Analysis of 78 Cases

Objective To identify if there is an association between pelvic entry and pelvic outlet diameters with increased positive circumferential resection margin (CRM) in rectal cancer. Introduction Positive CRM in rectal cancer is a major predictor for local and distant recurrence. Pelvic diameters may be related to the difficulty of dissection, as well as intrinsic tumor characteristics such as tumor size, location, distance from the anal margin, and T stage, which may compromise the integrity of the mesorectum and circumferential margin involvement. Methods A retrospective review of the patient's medical records who underwent surgical resection of rectal adenocarcinoma from January 2012 to June 2022 was performed. The patient's preoperative staging, operative characteristics, and histopathologic outcomes were gathered from the medical records. Preoperative MRI scanning was done in all patients. MRI pelvimetry was done by two observers. CRM involvement was recorded as stated in the pathology report. Pelvimetry variables were dichotomized according to their mean values for correlation analysis. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated from a binary logistics regression model to assess the relation between the positive CRM and the independent variables. Results A total of 78 patients were included in this study. A positive CRM was reported in 10 patients (12.8%). BMI >27.4 + 6.6 (p = 0.02), positive extramural vascular invasion (p = 0.027), positive CRM by MRI scanning (p = 0.004), and anal sphincter involvement (p = 0.03) were associated with positive CRM. Pelvimetry values were not associated with a positive CRM. Conclusion No association was found between the pelvic diameters measured by MRI pelvimetry with a positive CRM.
Induction of Autophagic Cell Death in Apoptosis-resistant Pancreatic Cancer Cells using Benzo[α]phenoxazines Derivatives, 10-methyl-benzo[α]phenoxazine-5-one and benzo[α]phenoxazine-5-one.

BACKGROUND Intrinsic resistance to apoptotic cell death due to co-occurrence of mutated KRAS and p53 is frequently reported in pancreatic cancer that renders them aggressive, highly proliferative and metastatic. In addition, these cancer types are less sensitive to apoptosis inducing drugs where promotion of autophagic cell death could be a viable option for treatment under such circumstances. OBJECTIVE In this study we examined the potential of three intrinsically fluorescent benzo[α]phenoxazines or BPZs (R=Cl, CH3, H) to induce cytotoxic autophagy in chemo and apoptosis-resistant, KRAS and p53 mutated pancreatic cancer model cell line, MIAPaCa-2. METHODS Cells were adapted at in vitro metabolically stressed condition (5% serum) to initiate intrinsic cell survival strategies within. Cell proliferation, colonogenicity, cellular uptake, retention, localization, cellular granularity and presence of both apoptosis and autophagy biomarkers were assessed in BPZ treated/untreated (solvent) cells to validate induction of concentration dependent cytotoxic autophagy and other consequences. RESULTS For the first time, we report the ability of this class of compounds to accumulate within cells increasing its granularity, inducing death via autophagy. From different kinetics study, it was observed that the autophagic-cell death was dependent on the ligand type, duration of incubation or working concentrations. CONCLUSION Among the three BPZ tested, both 3B (benzo[α]phenoxazine-5-one) and 2B (10-methyl-benzo[α] phenoxazine-5-one) induced pro-death autophagy in MIAPaCa-2 cells at an IC50 of 5 μM and 20 μM respectively. Such compounds would be of great interest to explore as novel cytotoxic autophagy inducing agents in apoptosisresistant cancer types.