Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatocellular carcinoma in Italian patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Patients with cirrhosis of the liver are recognized as being at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. The magnitude of the risk, the natural history of this disease, and the possibilities for detecting potentially curable tumors in patients in the Western world are unknown. To address these questions, we examined 447 Italian patients with well-compensated cirrhosis (which was of viral origin in 62 percent of them) from 1985 through 1990, performing serum alpha-fetoprotein assays and real-time ultrasonography every 3 to 12 months. RESULTS Hepatocellular carcinoma was found in 30 patients (7 percent) at base line and in another 29 patients (7 percent of 417 patients free of tumor at base line) during follow-up periods averaging 33 months (range, 1 to 48). The cumulative hazard of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma during follow-up was higher among patients with persistently elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels (12 with tumors among 42 with such levels) than among those with fluctuating levels (11 among 82) or those with consistently normal levels (6 among 255). Only 17 patients had potentially operable tumors. The proportion of potentially operable tumors among those detected during follow-up was significantly lower than the proportion at enrollment (4 of 29 vs. 13 of 30, P = 0.027). The survival at one year of the 12 patients who underwent surgery was 67 percent, and the tumor-recurrence rate was 60 percent. Outcome was not appreciably different for the five patients who refused surgery. CONCLUSIONS In the West, as in Asia, patients with cirrhosis of the liver are at substantial risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, with a yearly incidence rate of 3 percent. Our screening program did not appreciably increase the rate of detection of potentially curable tumors.
Topological Map-Based Autonomous Exploration in Large-Scale Scenes for Unmanned Vehicles

Robot autonomous exploration is a challenging and valuable research field that has attracted widespread research interest in recent years. However, existing methods often encounter problems such as incomplete exploration, repeated exploration paths, and low exploration efficiency when facing large-scale scenes. Considering that many indoor and outdoor scenes usually have a prior topological map, such as road navigation maps, satellite road network maps, indoor computer-aided design (CAD) maps, etc., this paper incorporated this information into the autonomous exploration framework and proposed an innovative topological map-based autonomous exploration method for large-scale scenes. The key idea of the proposed method is to plan exploration paths with long-term benefits by tightly merging the information between robot-collected and prior topological maps. The exploration path follows a global exploration strategy but prioritizes exploring scenes outside the prior information, thereby preventing the robot from revisiting explored areas and avoiding the duplication of any effort. Furthermore, to improve the stability of exploration efficiency, the exploration path is further refined by assessing the cost and reward of each candidate viewpoint through a fast method. Simulation experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art autonomous exploration methods in efficiency and stability and is more suitable for exploration in large-scale scenes. Real-world experimentation has also proven the effectiveness of our proposed method.
An Empirical Evaluation of Stop Word Removal in Statistical Machine Translation

In this paper we evaluate the possibility of improving the performance of a statistical machine translation system by relaxing the complexity of the translation task by removing the most frequent and predictable terms from the target language vocabulary. Afterwards, the removed terms are inserted back in the relaxed output by using an n-gram based word predictor. Empirically, we have found that when these words are omitted from the text, the perplexity of the text decreases, which may imply the reduction of confusion in the text. We conducted some machine translation experiments to see if this perplexity reduction produced a better translation output. While the word prediction results exhibits 77% accuracy in predicting 40% of the most frequent words in the text, the perplexity reduction did not help to produce better translations.
Agromet Advisory Bulletin - A Weather Smart Agriculture Technology option for Adaptation and Mitigation of Changing Climate

In describing tensions between maximizing global agricultural productivity, increasing resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climate change and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture, the term climate-smart agricultural development was first used in 2009. A year later, at the First Global Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change at the Hague, the concept of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) was presented and defined as agriculture that “sustainably increases productivity, enhances resilience, reduces/removes greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals” (Neufeldt et al., 2013).
Severity of Cardiac Conduction Involvement and Arrhythmias in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Correlates with Age and CTG Repeat Length

Cardiac Involvement in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Introduction: Cardiac myopathy manifesting with conduction disturbances and arrhythmias is common in the neurologic disease myotonic dystrophy. We studied whether the severity of cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy correlates with the severity of the genetic abnormality cytosine‐thymine‐guanine (CTG) repeat expansion.
Non-rigid Registration Algorithm Based on Modally Controlled Free Form Deformation

To register pre-operative MRI/CT images with intra-operative ultrasound images based on the vessels visible in both of the modalities, we presents a non-rigid registration method of multimodal medical images based on free form deformation was proposed. When the images are aligned, the centerline points of the vessels in one image will align with the intensity ridge points in the other image. Rigid transformation was adopted in global registration while local deformation was described by a free form deformation (FFD) based on a modally controlled B-spline. The method applies an optimization strategy combining the genetic algorithm with the conjugated gradients algorithm to minimize the objective function. Two experiments were designed on phantom and clinical data to evaluate the method. The results indicate that the registration method is consistent and suggest that it is accurate. The average standard deviation of the final transformation parameters is sub-voxel, sub-millimeter, and within 0.010 radians. The results show that the method has good registration accuracy and convergence rate. And it can be applied efficiently in the ultrasound-image-guided surgery system
A novel role for IL‐18 in corticosterone‐mediated intestinal damage in a two‐hit rodent model of alcohol intoxication and injury

Recent findings from our laboratory have shown that acute alcohol (EtOH) intoxication before burn injury impairs intestinal immunity and barrier functions. To further delineate the mechanism of impaired intestinal barrier function, the present study examined the role of corticosterone (CORT) and interleukin (IL)‐18, as CORT and IL‐18 are elevated following a combined insult of EtOH intoxication and burn injury. Male rats (∼250 g) were gavaged with EtOH to achieve a blood EtOH level of ∼100 mg/dL prior to burn or sham injury (25% total body surface area). Immediately after injury, a group of rats was treated with CORT synthesis inhibitor metyrapone (25 mg/kg), with or without recombinant (r)IL‐18 (50 μg/kg). Another group of rats was treated with caspase‐1 inhibitor Ac‐YVAD‐CHO to block IL‐18 production. On Day 1 after injury, there was a significant increase in blood CORT levels, intestinal levels of IL‐18, neutrophil chemokines [cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1 (CINC‐1) and CINC‐3], intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, myeloperoxidase activity, and intestinal permeability in rats receiving a combined insult of EtOH and burn injury. Treatment of rats with CORT inhibitor or with caspase‐1 inhibitor prevented the increase in all of the above parameters following a combined insult of EtOH and burn injury. Moreover, coadministration of rIL‐18 in metyrapone‐treated rats restored the above parameters, similar to those observed in rats receiving EtOH and burn injury. These findings suggest that a combined insult of EtOH and burn injury results in increased CORT levels, which in turn up‐regulates intestinal IL‐18 levels and thereby causes altered intestinal barrier function following a combined insult of EtOH intoxication and burn injury.
UC Merced Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society Title The effect of emotions and emotionally laden landmarks on wayfinding

Emotions have an influence on attention, decision making, and memory (all factors required for wayfinding). It is assumed that both an emotional state and emotionally laden landmarks have an impact on wayfinding and on later recollection of the path. We performed two experiments to investigate our hypotheses. First, in both experiments participants had to study a route in a virtual environment including landmarks. Then they passed a recognition and wayfinding task, which was repeated after one week. The mood was measured using the PANAS scale. In the first experiment the emotionally laden landmarks were used as a between-subject factor in order to investigate the effect of mood in wayfinding. The aim of the second experiment was to examine the effect of emotionallly laden landmarks (within-subject factor) without affecting the emotional state. Results show that emotions have no significant effect on correct recognition, wayfinding and response times (Experiment 1). For Experiment 2 the results show that the best wayfinding performance occurs when negatively laden landmarks were used. Recognition performance was similar, however, hardly decreased over time for the negative stimuli. These findings are discussed within the current research literature.
Space–Time Coded Spatial Modulated Physical Layer Network Coding for Two-Way Relaying

Using the spatial modulation approach, where only one transmit antenna is active at a time, we propose two transmission schemes for two-way relay channel using physical layer network coding with space time coding using coordinate interleaved orthogonal designs (CIODs). It is shown that using two uncorrelated transmit antennas at the nodes, but using only one RF transmit chain and space-time coding across these antennas can give a better performance without using any extra resources and without increasing the hardware implementation cost and complexity. In the first transmission scheme, two antennas are used only at the relay, adaptive network coding (ANC) is employed at the relay and the relay transmits a CIOD space time block code (STBC). This gives a better performance compared to an existing ANC scheme for two-way relay channel which uses one antenna each at all the three nodes. It is shown that for this scheme at high SNR the average end-to-end symbol error probability (SEP) is upper bounded by twice the SEP of a point-to-point fading channel. In the second transmission scheme, two transmit antennas are used at all the three nodes, CIOD STBCs are transmitted in multiple access and broadcast phases. This scheme provides a diversity order of two for the average end-to-end SEP with an increased decoding complexity of O(M3) for an arbitrary signal set and O(M2√M) for square QAM signal set. Simulation results show that the proposed schemes performs better than the existing ANC schemes under perfect and imperfect channel state information.
Review of extended-release niacin/laropiprant fixed combination in the treatment of mixed dyslipidemia and primary hypercholesterolemia

: Although statins reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality further risk reduction is needed. In this respect low HDL-cholesterol concentrations and/or elevated triglyceride concentrations may be potential treatment targets. Niacin (nicotinic acid) is an effective drug which increases the plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and decreases the concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein(a). Clinical studies indicate that niacin can significantly reduce the risk for cardiovascular events. However, niacin is not very commonly used because of significant side effects (especially flushing). Laropiprant is a potent selective antagonist of PGD2-receptor subtype-1 and can thus reduce niacin-induced flushing. Although the addition of laropiprant will reduce the frequency of flushing, it will not completely eliminate this side effect. Laropiprant does not change the effect of niacin on lipids or other side effects of niacin (ie, gastro-intestinal problems, glucose elevation). The combination of niacin with laropiprant may therefore enable use of niacin at higher doses and therefore exploit the full potential of the drug. Endpoint studies that will be published over the next few years will show whether this treatment modality also translates into clinical effect in patients treated with statins. Until publication of these studies niacin/laropiprant should be used only in high-risk patients not achieving lipid goals on statins.
Expression of chitinase‐like proteins in the skin of chronic proliferative dermatitis (cpdm/cpdm) mice

Abstract: Mammalian chitinase‐like proteins belong to a family of proteins structurally related to chitinases but devoid of enzymatic activity. They have a postulated role in remodeling of extracellular matrix and defense mechanisms against chitin‐containing pathogens. The expression of these proteins is increased in parasitic infections and allergic airway disease, but their expression in dermatitis has not been examined. The mRNA expression of two chitinase 3‐like (Chi3L) proteins, Chi3L3 (Ym1) and Chi3L4 (Ym2), was determined in the skin of normal mice, chronic proliferative dermatitis (cpdm/cpdm) mutant mice and mice with experimentally induced contact hypersensitivity reaction. The localization of Chi3L3 and Chi3L4 proteins in cells was determined by fluorescence microscopy of double‐labeled frozen sections of skin, and confirmed in vitro by stimulation of macrophages and mast cells with cytokines. Quantitative RT‐PCR demonstrated a 976‐fold increase of Chi3l4 mRNA expression and a 24‐fold increase of Chi3l3 mRNA expression in the skin of cpdm/cpdm mice. Their expression was also increased in the ears of mice with 2,4‐dinitrofluorobenzene‐induced contact hypersensitivity, but the increase was greater for Chi3l3 mRNA (51‐fold) than Chi3l4 mRNA (32‐fold). Western blot analysis with an antibody against Chi3L3 and Chi3L4 confirmed the increased amount of these proteins in the skin of cpdm/cpdm mice. Two‐color immunofluorescence identified macrophages, dendritic cells and mast cells as cellular sources of Chi3L3 and Chi3L4 proteins. Eosinophils and neutrophils did not contain detectable concentrations of these proteins. Treatment of macrophages and mast cells in vitro with interleukin‐4 induced expression of Chi3l3 and Chi3l4 mRNA.
Extracting the Contingency Curve of Fuel Cost-Pollution the Issue of Environmental Economic Burden Distribution

In recent decades, SO2, CO2 and NOx emissions from fossil fuels have caused significant social costs. Considering the cost of environmental pollution combined with the cost of exploitation in the distribution of loads in many studies shows the important role of social spending in economic estimates. Minimizing the cost of exploitation along with the cost of emissions in order to meet the demand under the applicable constraints of the power systems known as the modeling of the problem of economic- environmental distribution is load EED (Environmental Economic Dispatch). In this research, the EED problem modeling is optimized by Lagrange’s analytical method based on weight coefficients for the six- generation system. The relationship between EER (Emission Reduction Rate) emission reduction index and fuel cost reduction coefficient is determined and, finally, the extraction of the fuel- pollutant- cost indifference curve is described. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out to achieve the final point of operation of the system, the fuel cost reduction coefficient and the cost- dependency curve of fuel- polluting units. The results are based on these principles: The higher the weight loss factor is the greater the cost of fuel. The cost of operating the system is lower and the cost of emissions is higher. In this case, the problem of the economic distribution of burden or ED (Economic Dispatch) and the minimization of the cost of fuel is the object of the problem. The lower the weight loss factor for fuel costs. The cost of operating the system is higher and the cost of pollution is reduced. In this case, minimizing the cost of emissions is the goal of the problem. The combination of modeling results with indifference curves makes the final point of the system operator clear as the optimal answer to the problem. Utilizing the point of the final operation of the system as the answer to the problem, considering the importance of each goal and how cost and pollution changes are compared to each other.
CASTLE: A delay-constrained scheme for ks-anonymizing data streams

Most of existing privacy preserving techniques, such as anonymity methods, are designed for static data sets. As such, they cannot be applied to streaming data which are continuous, transient and usually unbounded. Moreover, in streaming applications, there is a need to offer strong guarantees on the maximum allowed delay between an incoming data and its anonymized output. To cope with these requirements, in this paper, we present CASTLE (continuously anonymizing streaming data via adaptive clustering), a cluster-based scheme that anonymizes data streams on-the-fly and, at the same time, ensures the freshness of the anonymized data by satisfying specified delay constraints. We further show how CASTLE can be easily extended to handle Z-diversity. Our extensive performance study shows that CASTLE is efficient and effective.
COWLES FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH IN ECONOMICS AT YALE UNIVERSITY Box

Estimated, calibrated, and optimal interest rate rules are examined for their ability to dampen economic fluctuations caused by random shocks. A tax rate rule is also considered. The results show that the estimated interest rate rule used in the paper is stable for the period beginning in 1954 except for the early Volcker period, although more observations, especially high inflation ones, are needed before much confidence can be placed on the results. The models used for the stabilization results are large scale structural macroeconometric models, and some of the results differ from those based on small models. For example, rules with inflation coefficients less than one are not destabilizing, and rules with large inflation coefficients, such as the Taylor rule, achieve a small reduction in inflation variability at a cost of a large increase in interest rate variability.
Fish consumption does not prevent increase in waist circumference in European women and men

Fish consumption is the major dietary source of EPA and DHA, which according to rodent experiments may reduce body fat mass and prevent obesity. However, human studies have suggested that fish consumption has no appreciable association with body-weight gain. We investigated the associations between fish consumption and subsequent change in waist circumference. Sex, age and waist circumference at enrolment were considered as potential effect modifiers. Women and men (n 89 432) participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) were followed for a median of 5·5 years. Mixed-effect linear regression was used to investigate the associations between fish consumption and subsequent change in waist circumference. Among all participants, the average annual change in waist circumference was − 0·01 cm/10 g higher total fish consumption per d (95 % CI − 0·01, 0·00) and − 0·01 cm/10 g higher fatty fish consumption per d (95 % CI − 0·02, − 0·01), after adjustment for potential confounders. Lean fish consumption was not associated with change in waist circumference. Adjustment for potential over- or underestimation of fish consumption measurements did not systematically change the observed associations, but the 95 % CI became slightly wider. The results in subgroups from analyses stratified by sex, age or waist circumference at enrolment were not systematically different. In conclusion, the present study suggests that fish consumption does not prevent increase in waist circumference.
Working Memory Training and Semantic Structuring Improves Remembering Future Events, Not Past Events

Objectives. Memory training in combination with practice in semantic structuring and word fluency has been shown to improve memory performance. This study investigated the efficacy of a working memory training combined with exercises in semantic structuring and word fluency and examined whether training effects generalize to other cognitive tasks. Methods. In this double-blind randomized control study, 36 patients with memory impairments following brain damage were allocated to either the experimental or the active control condition, with both groups receiving 9 hours of therapy. The experimental group received a computer-based working memory training and exercises in word fluency and semantic structuring. The control group received the standard memory therapy provided in the rehabilitation center. Patients were tested on a neuropsychological test battery before and after therapy, resulting in composite scores for working memory; immediate, delayed, and prospective memory; word fluency; and attention. Results. The experimental group improved significantly in working memory and word fluency. The training effects also generalized to prospective memory tasks. No specific effect on episodic memory could be demonstrated. Conclusion. Combined treatment of working memory training with exercises in semantic structuring is an effective method for cognitive rehabilitation of organic memory impairment.
Influences of Land Use Change on Baseflow in Mountainous Watersheds

It is crucial for effective water resource management in a watershed that the relationship between land use changes and baseflow. This study quantifies the influence of land use changes on the baseflow dynamics using a hydrological model and partial least-squares (PLS) regression in the Upper Du Watershed (8961 km2), China. Our study suggests that forest can be a major factor with a negative impact on the baseflow. Additionally, farmland and urban land have second-order negative effects on the baseflow dynamics. Baseflow increases when forest is replaced by farmland because the evapotranspiration (ET), associated with baseflow recession, is weaker and shorter in duration in the farmland than in the forest. The conversion of forest to urban land increases baseflow owing to the presence of non-contributing impervious surfaces in urban areas, which prevents the urban land from intercepting the baseflow discharge. These results indicate that the baseflow dynamics are closely associated with varying land use types within a watershed. Thus, this study is intended to provide a deeper understanding of the baseflow processes and useful quantitative information on land use factors in watersheds, enabling more informed decision-making in forest and watershed management.