Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Brain Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Object The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for screening brain tumors, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data on the diagnostic performance of MRS. Methods The PubMed and PHMC databases were systematically searched for relevant studies up to December 2013. The sensitivities and specificities of MRS in individual studies were calculated and the pooled diagnostic accuracies, with 95% confidence intervals (CI), were assessed under a fixed-effects model. Results Twenty-four studies were included, comprising a total of 1013 participants. Overall, no heterogeneity of diagnostic effects was observed between studies. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of MRS were 80.05% (95% CI = 75.97%–83.59%) and 78.46% (95% CI: 73.40%–82.78%), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.78. Stratified meta analysis showed higher sensitivity and specificity in child than adult. CSI had higher sensitivity and SV had higher specificity. Higher sensitivity and specificity were obtained in short TE value. Conclusion Although the qualities of the studies included in the meta-analysis were moderate, current evidence suggests that MRS may be a valuable adjunct to magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing brain tumors, but requires selection of suitable technique and TE value.
Effect of Diet, Life Style, and Other Environmental/Chemopreventive Factors on Colorectal Cancer Development, and Assessment of the Risks

Abstract This review presents a comprehensive, evenhanded evaluation of the evidence from experimental, in vitro and human studies associating environmental and therapeutic factors with risk of colorectal cancer. Life styles correlated with the greatest increase in colorectal cancer risk are the ones that typify a diet rich in fat and calories, alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking, and low intake of vegetable, fruits and fibers, referred to as a “western diet,” as well as sedentary style (i.e., no- or low-exercise). This kind of life style has also been associated with other chronic diseases (other cancers, obesity, dyslipedemia, diabetes, hypertension cardiovascular, and hypertension). The evidence does not implicated red meat as a risk factor, and fiber has been shown to protect against colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Calcium, vitamin D, folate, and some antioxidant vitamins and minerals (γ-tocopherol and selenium) have protective effects, and daily exercise for ≥30 min results in a significant decrease in risk. Estrogen use (hormone replacement therapy) substantially reduces colorectal cancer risk in postmenopausal women. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin) in excessive doses is protective, especially in high risk populations, but the side effects of its use and cost incurred due to its continued intake over long periods must be carefully scrutinized before any recommendations are made for the general public.
Biological Properties of Novel Antistaphylococcal Quinoline-Indole Agents

ABSTRACT The antibacterial properties of novel quinoline-indole (QI) agents were examined. QI agents demonstrated potent bactericidal activities against Staphylococcus aureus, killing by lytic and nonlytic mechanisms. S. aureus mutants resistant to a lytic QI agent (SEP 155342) and a nonlytic QI agent (SEP 118843) arose at frequencies of 1.4 × 10−9 and 1.2 × 10−8, respectively, by selection at four times the MICs. Mutants resistant to QI agent SEP 155342 were unstable, but mutants resistant to QI agent SEP 118843 displayed stable resistance. Mutants resistant to QI agent SEP 118843 were not cross resistant to other inhibitors, including QI agent SEP 155342. Addition of QI agents SEP 118843 and SEP 155342 at four times the MIC caused nonspecific inhibition of several macromolecular biosynthetic pathways in S. aureus. Within 10 min, QI agents SEP 118843 and SEP 155342 both interfered with bacterial membrane integrity, as measured by uptake of propidium iodide. Agents from the two classes of the QI agents probably kill staphylococci by separate mechanisms which, nevertheless, both involve interference with cytoplasmic membrane function. Precise structure-activity relationships for the division of QI agents into two classes could not be determined. However, lytic activity was often associated with substitution of a basic amine at position 4 of the quinoline nucleus, whereas compounds with nonlytic activity usually contained an aromatic ring with or without a methoxy substituent at position 4. Nonlytic QI agents such as SEP 118843 may possess selective activity against the prokaryotic membrane since this compound failed to lyse mouse erythrocytes when it was added at a concentration equivalent to four times the MIC for S. aureus.
Hemodynamic Support in Fluid-refractory Pediatric Septic Shock

Objective. Assess outcome in children treated with inotrope, vasopressor, and/or vasodilator therapy for reversal of fluid-refractory and persistent septic shock. Design. Survey; case series. Setting. Three pediatric hospitals. Patients. Fifty consecutive patients with fluid-refractory septic shock with a pulmonary artery catheter within 6 hours of resuscitation. Interventions. Patients were categorized according to hemodynamic state and use of inotrope, vasopressor, and/or vasodilator therapy to maintain cardiac index (CI) >3.3 L/min/m2 and systemic vascular resistance >800 dyne-sec/cm 5 /m 2 to reverse shock. Outcome Measures. Hemodynamic state, response to class of cardiovascular therapy, and mortality. Results. After fluid resuscitation, 58% of the children had a low CI and responded to inotropic therapy with or without a vasodilator (group I), 20% had a high CI and low systemic vascular resistance and responded to vasopressor therapy alone (group II), and 22% had both vascular and cardiac dysfunction and responded to combined vasopressor and inotropic therapy (group III). Shock persisted in 36% of the children. Of the children in group I, 50% needed the addition of a vasodilator, and in group II, 50% of children needed the addition of an inotrope for evolving myocardial dysfunction. Four children showed a complete change in hemodynamic state and responded to a switch from inotrope to vasopressor therapy or vice versa. The overall 28-day survival rate was 80% (group I, 72%; group II, 90%; group III, 91%). Conclusions. Unlike adults, children with fluid-refractory shock are frequently hypodynamic and respond to inotrope and vasodilator therapy. Because hemodynamic states are heterogeneous and change with time, an incorrect cardiovascular therapeutic regimen should be suspected in any child with persistent shock. Outcome can be improved compared with historical literature.
Applications of Frequency Selective Surfaces in Polarization Control of Antennas

The purpose of this dissertation is to address the problems associated with the current antennas deployed for wireless and navigation purposes. The focus in this work is on the circular polarization radiation of the antennas and the goal is to improve their radiation properties. The methods presented are based on Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS); a group of periodic structures that behave as a spatial filter in principal but can be adjusted for other alterations to the incident electromagnetic wave. The FSS can be designed adequately so that the transmitted wave undergos a change in amplitude or phase. Moreover, adding the feature of selectivity over the incident polarization (TE or TM), can make the FSS shape the radiation pattern of the antenna in terms of amplitude or polarization; depending on whether the change is in the amplitude or phase of the wave transmitted through the FSS. The introduction chapter discusses the contemporary problems with these antennas and solution already proposed for these issues. Besides, it discusses drawbacks in current solutions and their limitations in those methods. The next chapter talks about bidirectional same sense circularly polarized antennas. The effort in this chapter is to present a method, besides those currently presented in literature, to achieve bidirectional antennas which radiate same sense of polarization on the two beams. A multilayer FSS is proposed to change the sense of the polarization by changing the phase of the wave passing through the structure. Then the FSS is combined with the antenna. Axial ratio of better than 3dB is achieved on both sides at the GPS L1 frequency band (f=1.575GHz). The next chapter is on improving one of the major issues in GPS antennas. Contemporary GPS antennas suffer from high axial ratio at angles close to 90o from the broadside direc-
Expression of the Multidrug Resistance-associated Protein ( MRP ) Gene in Human Cancers 1

We determined the expression of a newly recognized drug resistance gene, the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) gene, [Cole et a! , Science (Washington DC), 258: 1650-1654, 1992], in normal human tissues and in >370 human tumor biopsies using a quantitative RNase protection assay and immunohistochemistry. MRP mRNA appeared to be ubiquitously expressed at low levels in all normal tissues, including peripheral blood, the endocrine glands (adrenal and thyroid), striated muscle, the lymphoreticular system (spleen and tonsil), the digestive tract (salivary gland, esophagus, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and colon), the respiratory tract (lung), and the urogenital tract (kidney, bladder, testis, and ovary). The human cancers analyzed could be divided into three groups with regard to MRP expression. Group 1 consists of tumors that often exhibit high to very high MRP mRNA levels (e.g., chronic lymphocytic leukemia). Group 2 comprises the tumors that often exhibit low, but occasionally exhibit high MRP mRNA expression (e.g., esophagus squamous cell carcinoma, nonsmall cell lung cancer, and acute myebocytic leukemia). Group 3 comprises the tumors with predominantly low levels of MRP mRNA, comparable to the levels found in normal tissues (e.g., other hematological malignancies, soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma, and cancers of the prostate, breast, kidney, bladder, testis, ovary, and colon). Using the MRP-specific mAbs MRPr1 and MRPm6, we confirmed the elevated MRP mRNA levels in tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. We conclude that hyperexpression of MRP is observed in several human cancers, and that additional studies are needed to assess the clinical relevance of MRP.
Shot Peening of Austempered Ductile Iron

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) is a type of heat-treated cast iron, which offers numerous positive advantages including: good combination of mechanical properties and damping characteristics, lower density than steel and the possibility of casting components into near-net shape. However, surface engineering techniques are necessary to extend the use and prolong the lifetime of ADI engineering components. One such treatment for improving the bending fatigue strength of ADI is shot peening. This treatment creates compressive residual stresses and high dislocation densities at the surface of the treated components. However, the shot peening process is not always beneficial in improving the tribological characteristics of ADI. Its behaviour depends on the type of wear mecha- nism, applied loads, lubrication, heat treatment process parameters and the resulting surface finish of the components. This chapter will look into the effect of shot peening on ADI in more detail and will delve into a case study, which was carried out to analyse the bending fatigue resistance and tribological characteristics of Cu-Ni-alloyed ADI.
The “Difficult Patient” Conundrum in Sickle Cell Disease in Kenya: Complex Sociopolitical Problems Need Wide Multidimensional Solutions

The “Difficult Patient” Conundrum in Sickle Cell Disease in Kenya: Complex Sociopolitical Problems Need Wide Multidimensional Solutions Vicki Marsh , George Mocamah , Emmanuel Mabibo , Francis Kombe & Thomas N. Williams To cite this article: Vicki Marsh , George Mocamah , Emmanuel Mabibo , Francis Kombe & Thomas N. Williams (2013) The “Difficult Patient” Conundrum in Sickle Cell Disease in Kenya: Complex Sociopolitical Problems Need Wide Multidimensional Solutions, The American Journal of Bioethics, 13:4, 20-22, DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2013. 767960 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2013. 767960
Diversity index of mucosal resident T lymphocyte repertoire predicts clinical prognosis in gastric cancer

A characteristic immunopathology of human cancers is the induction of tumor antigen-specific T lymphocyte responses within solid tumor tissues. Current strategies for immune monitoring focus on the quantification of the density and differentiation status of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes; however, properties of the TCR repertoire ‒ including antigen specificity, clonality, as well as its prognostic significance ‒ remain elusive. In this study, we enrolled 28 gastric cancer patients and collected tumor tissues, adjacent normal mucosal tissues, and peripheral blood samples to study the landscape and compartmentalization of these patients’ TCR β repertoire by deep sequencing analyses. Our results illustrated antigen-driven expansion within the tumor compartment and the contracted size of shared clonotypes in mucosa and peripheral blood. Most importantly, the diversity of mucosal T lymphocytes could independently predict prognosis, which strongly underscores critical roles of resident mucosal T-cells in executing post-surgery immunosurveillance against tumor relapse.
Compiling for niceness: mitigating contention for QoS in warehouse scale computers

As the class of datacenters recently coined as warehouse scale computers (WSCs) continues to leverage commodity multicore processors with increasing core counts, there is a growing need to consolidate various workloads on these machines to fully utilize their computation power. However, it is well known that when multiple applications are co-located on a multicore machine, contention for shared memory resources can cause severe cross-core performance interference. To ensure that the quality of service (QoS) of user-facing applications does not suffer from performance interference, WSC operators resort to disallowing co-location of latency-sensitive applications with other applications. This policy translates to low machine utilization and millions of dollars wasted in WSCs. This paper presents QoS-Compile, the first compilation approach that statically manipulates application contentiousness to enable the co-location of applications with varying QoS requirements, and as a result, can greatly improve machine utilization. Our technique first pinpoints an application's code regions that tend to cause contention and performance interference. QoS-Compile then transforms those regions to reduce their contentious nature. In essence, to co-locate applications of different QoS priorities, our compilation technique uses pessimizing transformations to throttle down the memory access rate of the contentious regions in low priority applications to reduce their interference to high priority applications. Our evaluation using synthetic benchmarks, SPEC benchmarks and large-scale Google applications show that QoS-Compile can greatly reduce contention, improve QoS of applications, and improve machine utilization. Our experiments show that our technique improves applications' QoS performance by 21% and machine utilization by 36% on average.
A double-masked, placebo-controlled evaluation of the efficacy and safety of loteprednol etabonate in the treatment of giant papillary conjunctivitis. The Loteprednol Etabonate Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis Study Group I.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of loteprednol etabonate 0.5% ophthalmic suspension in reducing the ocular signs and symptoms accompanying contact lens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis. METHODS In a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study conducted at 14 academic or private practice clinics, 223 adults with contact lens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis received either loteprednol or the loteprednol vehicle (placebo), one drop, four times daily for 6 weeks. Papillae, itching, contact lens intolerance, other signs and symptoms of giant papillary conjunctivitis (O-to-3 or O-to-4 grade scales), and intraocular pressure were measured. RESULTS The proportion of patients treated with loteprednol who at final visit demonstrated an improvement in papillae of at least one grade (78%, 85/109) was significantly greater than the proportion of those treated with placebo (51%, 56/110; P = .001). A treatment difference favoring loteprednol was seen with improvement in itching (95% vs 81%, 104/109 vs 89/110; P < .001) and lens intolerance (87% vs 77%, 95/109 vs 85/110; P = .053). Eight of 109 patients (7%, all taking loteprednol) had an intraocular pressure increase of 10 mm Hg or more on at least one visit during treatment. After discontinuation of loteprednol, intraocular pressure returned to normal levels. Both treatments were well tolerated, and no serious unexpected treatment-related medical events were reported. CONCLUSIONS The rapid therapeutic response combined with the low incidence and transient nature of any intraocular pressure increase suggests that loteprednol is an appropriate treatment for giant papillary conjunctivitis.
Glacial-Interglacial Changes in Central Tropical Pacific Surface Seawater Property Gradients

Much uncertainty exists about the state of the oceanic and atmospheric circulation in the tropical Pacific over the last glacial cycle. Studies have been hampered by the fact that sediment cores suitable for study were concentrated in the western and eastern parts of the tropical Pacific, with little information from the central tropical Pacific. Here we present information from a suite of sediment cores collected from the Line Islands Ridge in the central tropical Pacific, which show sedimentation rates and stratigraphies suitable for paleoceanographic investigations. Based on the radiocarbon and oxygen isotope measurements on the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber, we construct preliminary age models for selected cores and show that the gradient in the oxygen isotope ratio of G. ruber between the equator and 8°N is enhanced during glacial stages relative to interglacial stages. This stronger gradient could reflect enhanced equatorial cooling (perhaps reflecting a stronger Walker circulation) or an enhanced salinity gradient (perhaps reflecting increased rainfall in the central tropical Pacific).
Antibody responses of tumor-bearing mice to their own tumors captured and perpetuated as hybridomas.

Experiments were performed to determine whether antibody-producing hybridomas could be derived by fusion of BALB/c P3X63Ag8 myeloma cells and spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice either immune to or bearing a syngeneic methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced fibrosarcoma (M3). Mice were immunized by tumor amputation followed by injections of tumor cells, purified tumor cell membranes, or murine leukemia virus isolated from M3 cells (M3-MuLV). Tumor-bearer spleens were obtained at weekly intervals over a 6-week course of tumor bearing. Hybridoma cultures showing the best growth in selective HAT medium were screened by radioimmunoassay for antibody production against a) viable and glutaraldehyde-fixed cultured M3 cells, b) glutaraldehyde-fixed in vivo-passaged M3 cells, c) purified M3 cell membranes, and d) M3-MuLV. Stable antibody-producing cloned hybridomas were obtained only from fusions involving tumor-bearer spleen cells. One clone (2C2-A1) secretes an IgM antibody that binds well to purified M3-MuLV and M3 membranes, but only weakly to intact M3 cells. Another cloned line (3A5-L1) secretes an IgG1 antibody that binds to M3 cells but not to M3-MuLV. Further analysis of specificity by binding and absorption studies involving more than 30 other normal and transformed murine cell types indicates that 3A5-L1 antibody binds to some, but not all, MCA-induced murine fibrosarcomas. 3A5-L1 antibody demonstrates little, if any, binding to murine tumors of other histologic types or to normal tissues. The results demonstrate that it is possible to capture and perpetuate part of the tumor-bearing host's antibody repertoire in the form of hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for tumor-associated antigens.
Contribution of NADPH oxidase to the establishment of hippocampal neuronal polarity in culture

ABSTRACT Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the NADPH oxidase (NOX) complex play important physiological and pathological roles in neurotransmission and neurodegeneration, respectively. However, the contribution of ROS to the molecular mechanisms involved in neuronal polarity and axon elongation is not well understood. In this work, we found that loss of NOX complex function altered neuronal polarization and decreased axonal length by a mechanism that involves actin cytoskeleton dynamics. These results indicate that physiological levels of ROS produced by the NOX complex modulate hippocampal neuronal polarity and axonal growth in vitro. Summary: NOX function is involved in the establishment of neuronal polarity.
Collective Semantic Role Labeling on Open News Corpus by Leveraging Redundancy

We propose a novel MLN-based method that collectively conducts SRL on groups of news sentences. Our method is built upon a baseline SRL, which uses no parsers and leverages redundancy. We evaluate our method on a manually labeled news corpus and demonstrate that news redundancy significantly improves the performance of the baseline, e.g., it improves the F-score from 64.13% to 67.66%.
Application of an Adaptive Autopilot Design and Stability Analysis to an Anti-Ship Missile

Traditional autopilot design requires an accurate aerodynamic model and relies on a gain schedule to account for system nonlinearities. This paper presents the control architecture applied to a dynamic model inversion at a single flight condition with an on-line neural network (NN) in order to regulate errors caused by approximate inversion. This eliminates the need for an extensive design process and accurate aerodynamic data. The simulation results using a developed full nonlinear 6 degree of freedom model are presented. This paper also presents the stability evaluation for control systems to which NNs were applied. Although feedback can accommodate uncertainty to meet system performance specifications, uncertainty can also affect the stability of the control system. The importance of robustness has long been recognized and stability margins were developed to quantify it. However, the traditional stability margin techniques based on linear control theory can not be applied to control systems upon which a representative non-linear control method, such as NNs, has been applied. This paper presents an alternative stability margin technique for NNs applied to control systems based on the system responses to an inserted gain multiplier or time delay element.