Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consideration of quality of life in the treatment decision-making for patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

ABSTRACT Introduction Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are a complex and heterogenous family of solid malignancies that originate from neuroendocrine tissue in the gastrointestinal tract or pancreas. Most patients diagnosed with GEP-NETs present with advanced or metastatic disease, and quality of life (QoL) is often an important priority when selecting treatments for these patients. Patients with advanced GEP-NETs often experience a substantial and persistent symptom burden that undermines their QoL. Addressing a patient’s individual symptoms through judicious selection of treatment may improve QoL. Areas covered The objectives of this narrative review are to summarize the impact of advanced GEP-NETs on patient QoL, assess the potential value of current treatments for maintaining or improving patient QoL, and offer a clinical framework for how these QoL data can be translated to inform clinical decision-making for patients with advanced GEP-NETs. Expert opinion Patients with advanced GEP-NETs experience a significant and persistent symptom burden that impacts their daily lifestyle, activities, work life, and financial health, leading to erosion of their QoL. Ongoing and future studies incorporating longitudinal QoL assessments and head-to-head treatment evaluations will further inform the incorporation of QoL into clinical decision-making.
Progressive near-lossless coding of medical images

We propose an algorithm intended for compression of medical images, which allows for embedded coding in L/sub /spl infin// sense, i.e., progressive near-lossless as well as lossless image compression. The method is based on a lossy plus near-lossless layered compression scheme and embedded quantization of the difference signal. We show, that this technique allows for a better image quality and compression performance for large tolerance values than algorithms based on predictive coding. The lossy plus near-lossless scheme also allows for image reconstruction with a minimum mean square error (MSE) criterion, while providing a strict control of the maximum absolute difference error. This property is impossible in predictive coding algorithms.
A Mechanical Hand-Tracking System With Tactile Feedback Designed for Telemanipulation

In this paper, we present a mechanical hand-tracking system with tactile feedback designed for fine manipulation in teleoperation scenarios. Alternative tracking methods based on artificial vision and data gloves have become an asset for virtual reality interaction. Yet, occlusions, lack of precision, and the absence of effective haptic feedback beyond vibrotactile still appear as a limit for teleoperation applications. In this work, we propose a methodology to design a linkage mechanism for hand pose tracking purposes, preserving complete finger mobility. Presentation of the method is followed by design and implementation of a working prototype, and by evaluation of the tracking accuracy using optical markers. Moreover, a teleoperation experiment involving a dexterous robotic arm and hand was proposed to ten participants. It investigated the effectiveness and repeatability of the hand tracking with combined haptic feedback during a proposed pick and place manipulation tasks.
MWF of the corpus callosum is a robust measure of remyelination: Results from the ReBUILD trial

Significance Putative imaging biomarkers for myelin in MS have been correlated with pathological evidence of myelin loss in the context of a complex pathological environment. However, they have not been shown to improve dynamically with myelin repair because of limited therapies available that can induce that repair. Using MRI analysis from the double-blind, placebo-controlled remyelination ReBUILD trial we provide the first direct, biologically validated imaging-based evidence of medically induced myelin repair. MRI-derived myelin water fraction (MWF) values increase in normal-appearing white matter of the corpus-callosum with the administration of a tool remyelinating compound (clemastine). Furthermore, significant myelin repair occurs outside of lesions—focusing attention for repair beyond the lesion and setting corpus-callosum MWF as a standard for clinical programs investigating remyelinating therapies.
Multiplexed long-read plasmid validation and analysis using OnRamp

Recombinant plasmid vectors are versatile tools that have facilitated discoveries in molecular biology, genetics, proteomics, and many other fields. As the enzymatic and bacterial processes used to create recombinant DNA can introduce errors, sequence validation is an essential step in plasmid assembly. Sanger sequencing is the current standard for plasmid validation; however, this method is limited by an inability to sequence through complex secondary structure and lacks scalability when applied to full-plasmid sequencing of multiple plasmids owing to read-length limits. Although high-throughput sequencing does provide full-plasmid sequencing at scale, it is impractical and costly when used outside of library-scale validation. Here, we present Oxford nanopore-based rapid analysis of multiplexed plasmids (OnRamp), an alternative method for routine plasmid validation that combines the advantages of high-throughput sequencing's full-plasmid coverage and scalability with Sanger's affordability and accessibility by leveraging nanopore's long-read sequencing technology. We include customized wet-laboratory protocols for plasmid preparation along with a pipeline designed for analysis of read data obtained using these protocols. This analysis pipeline is deployed on the OnRamp web app, which generates alignments between actual and predicted plasmid sequences, quality scores, and read-level views. OnRamp is designed to be broadly accessible regardless of programming experience to facilitate more widespread adoption of long-read sequencing for routine plasmid validation. Here we describe the OnRamp protocols and pipeline and show our ability to obtain full sequences from pooled plasmids while detecting sequence variation even in regions of high secondary structure at less than half the cost of equivalent Sanger sequencing.
Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Not Associated With Increased Celiac Disease Autoimmunity in Children and Adolescents

INTRODUCTION: Recent reports suggest severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections may increase the risk of celiac disease autoimmunity. This study aims to evaluate potential associations between coronavirus disease 2019 infection and tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (TGA) immunoglobulin A. METHODS: From 2020 to 2021, cross-sectional screening for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and TGA was offered to 4,717 children in Colorado through the Autoimmunity Screening for Kids study. Multivariable logistic regression assessed association between previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and TGA positivity. RESULTS: Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was not associated with TGA positivity (odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.63–1.59; P = 0.95). DISCUSSION: In this large-scale analysis, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was not associated with celiac disease autoimmunity in Colorado children.
The Features of Infrared Absorption of the Protein Molecules in the Living System

We utilize a vibron-soliton model for amide-I vibrational quanta interacting with optical phonons to study the feature of infrared absorption of the protein molecules with finite temperature. The self-trapping of amide-I vibrational quantum results in red shift of the main peak and largely anomalous band to occur in the infrared absorption for the protein molecules. Utilizing the concise model of vibron and improved theory of color centers we have given theoretically the value of red shifts of the main peak and the intensity of anomalous band in infrared absorption, respectively, the latter reduces with increasing temperature which is consistent with the experimental result.
Biological aspects to enhance fracture healing

The ability to enhance fracture healing is paramount in modern orthopaedic trauma, particularly in the management of challenging cases including peri-prosthetic fractures, non-union and acute bone loss. Materials utilised in enhancing fracture healing should ideally be osteogenic, osteoinductive, osteoconductive, and facilitate vascular in-growth. Autologous bone graft remains the gold standard, providing all of these qualities. Limitations to this technique include low graft volume and donor site morbidity, with alternative techniques including the use of allograft or xenograft. Artificial scaffolds can provide an osteoconductive construct, however fail to provide an osteoinductive stimulus, and frequently have poor mechanical properties. Recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins can provide an osteoinductive stimulus; however, their licencing is limited and larger studies are required to clarify their role. For recalcitricant non-unions or high-risk cases, the use of composite graft combining the above techniques provides the highest chances of successfully achieving bony union.
Sex-specific declines in cholinergic-targeting tRNA fragments in the nucleus accumbens in Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction Females with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suffer accelerated dementia and loss of cholinergic neurons compared to males, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Seeking causal contributors to both these phenomena, we pursued changes in tRNA fragments (tRFs) targeting cholinergic transcripts (CholinotRFs). Methods We analyzed small RNA-sequencing data from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) brain region which is enriched in cholinergic neurons, compared to hypothalamic or cortical tissues from AD brains; and explored small RNA expression in neuronal cell lines undergoing cholinergic differentiation. Results NAc CholinotRFs of mitochondrial genome origin showed reduced levels that correlated with elevations in their predicted cholinergic-associated mRNA targets. Single cell RNA seq from AD temporal cortices showed altered sex-specific levels of cholinergic transcripts in diverse cell types; inversely, human-originated neuroblastoma cells under cholinergic differentiation presented sex-specific CholinotRF elevations. Discussion Our findings support CholinotRFs contributions to cholinergic regulation, predicting their involvement in AD sex-specific cholinergic loss and dementia.
Income Inequality, Economic Complexity, and Renewable Energy Impacts in Controlling Consumption-Based Carbon Emissions

Although many studies have been conducted on the role of renewable energy in the environment, literature has ignored the potential role of socioeconomic indicators in renewable energy and pollution nexus. Also, critical questions arose with the critical factors, such as income inequality and economic complexity, have not been answered properly. This study explores the nexus between income inequality, economic complexity, renewable energy consumption, GDP per capita, and pollution and thus aims to reach efficient policy strategies by revealing empirical evidence. The study follows an environmental impact model structure and conducts the panel-corrected standard errors and fixed effect regression. BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are selected to conduct our research. Annual data covering the period 1990–2017 for the sample countries are employed. Consumption-based carbon dioxide emissions as an indicator of environmental pollution are used since income inequality makes more sense in terms of the consumption side of an economy and is more related to consumers rather than the production sector. The obtained results reveal that income inequality has a positive and significant impact on consumption-based carbon dioxide emissions. However, GDP per capita, renewable energy, and economic complexity reduce pollution. It is also observed that the interaction term of inequality and renewable energy decreases emissions. Findings confirm that socioeconomic indicators, such as economic complexity and income inequality with the interaction of renewable energy, are crucial factors in reducing emissions and designing a greener future.
Open-end Spinning

目的 オープンエンド精紡において, 新たなむらを発生することなくスライバーをドラフトして分離し, その連続性を絶つ場合, スライバー軸方向に関して1次元的な理想分離を行なうのに必要な最低限のドラフト比を求める. またフロントローラーより送り出されたスライバーを気流によって吸引し, 実際の分離状態を観察する. 成果 (1) スライバーの分離を『一定区間において少なくとも1箇所, 繊維間に重なりがないこと』と定義し, 等長繊維スライバーおよび繊維長分布のあるスライバーについてドラフト比と分離確率との関係を求めた. (2) 繊維長3cmの等長繊維スライバーおよび繊維長が平均3cm, 分散σ2=1cm2の正規分布をなすスライパーについて, 平均断面繊維本数100本としたとき, 区間10cm間で少なくとも1箇所・繊維間に重なりがない状態にするために, 必要な最低ドラフト比は約200である. (3) 区間の長さを大にするほど分離確率は増す. (4) フロントローラーから0. 50m/secで送り出した30s相当のスライパーを20m/secの気流によって吸引管内に吸引分離し, 高速度撮影した結果, 繊維の後端がフロントローラーニップを離れた順にドラフトされる理想分離とドラフトされずにある塊として分離される集団分離とが, 同時に起こることが観察された. 分離ドラフト比を増しても, 集団分離は避けられない. (5) 集団分離は分離のむらであるが, これをゆるせば上に求めた理論的な最低限のドラフト比よりはるかに小さいドラフト比でも分離できることが実験的に確かめられた.
Multipolar elastic fields in a layered half space

Abstract Hansen9s expansion is used to derive integral expressions for the displacement field due to a localized buried source of the m th order in a layered half space. The dipolar case ( m ≦ 2) is worked out in detail for arbitrary source-depth in the layer and in the substratum. A new type of representation of the source is used which gives the final results in a concise form. Explicit expressions for the displacements at the free surface are obtained for a center of explosion, a vertical strike-slip fault and a vertical dip-slip fault. The results for a horizontal thrust are found to be the same as for a vertical dip-slip fault. The relations between the Galerkin vector and the biharmonic eigenvectors are clarified. It is shown that the Galerkin-Boussinesq solution for the elastic half space cannot be extended to structures of higher complexity, except for a few simple sources. On the other hand, the Hansen Solution is valid for a wide class of sources and structures. Both dynamic and static regimes are considered.
Adolescent Cannabis Misuse Scale: Longitudinal Associations with Substance Use, Mental Health, and Social Determinants of Health in Early Adulthood

Abstract Background Some patterns of cannabis use may presage risk for long-term negative effects. We examined associations between a novel adolescent cannabis misuse scale and early-adult life course outcomes. Methods We performed a secondary data analysis of a cohort of Los Angeles, CA high school students from grade 9 through age 21. Participants reported baseline individual demographic and family characteristics at grade 9, adolescent cannabis misuse (8-items) and alcohol misuse (12-items) at grade 10, and outcomes at age 21. We used multivariable regression to model the associations of cannabis misuse scale score with problem substance use (defined as any of: 30-day illegal drug use, 30-day use of another’s prescription to get high, hazardous drinking) and several secondary outcomes (behavioral, mental health, academic, social determinants of health), adjusting for covariates. Parallel analyses were conducted for alcohol misuse. Results The 1,148 participants (86% retention) were 47% male, 90% Latinx, 87% US born, and 40% native English speakers. Approximately 11.4% and 15.9% of participants reported at least one item on the cannabis and alcohol misuse scales, respectively. At age 21, approximately 6.7% of participants reported problem substance use, which was associated with both Cannabis and Alcohol Misuse Scales (OR 1.31, 95%CI[1.16, 1.49] and OR 1.33, 95%CI[1.18, 1.49], respectively). Both scales were similarly associated with outcomes in all four categories. Conclusions The Adolescent Cannabis Misuse Scale is a promising tool for identifying early patterns of substance use that predict future negative outcomes and enabling early intervention at a critical period in youth development.
Komplementarität der physikalischen Forschung zur Homöopathie

Als „Ganzheitsmedizin“ beinhaltet die Homöopathie als wesentliche Maximen ihrer Vorgehensweise zwei ineinander verwobene Aspekte von Komplementarität: Zum einen das komplementäre Paar Geist/Körper beim Patienten, zum anderen das komplementäre Paar Geist/Materie beim Arzneimittel. Verknüpfungspunkt dieser beiden Aspekte ist die Praxis, niedere und mittlere Potenzen organotrop und funktiotrop zu verwenden und hohe Potenzen dem personotropen Bereich vorzubehalten. In jüngster Zeit sind mehrere, nicht gänzlich voneinander unabhängige Bemühungen zu verzeichnen, für diese beiden Aspekte der Komplementarität in der Homöopathie Kongruenzen zum Komplementaritätsbegriff der Physik zu analysieren und so der Erforschung der Wirkung und Wirksamkeit homöopathischer Potenzen neue Impulse und Perspektiven zu geben. Eine dieser Forschungsrichtungen operationalisiert physikalische Komplementarität und versucht aus der entstehenden „Metapher“ Schlüsse zu ziehen, die einerseits das homöopathische Phänomen erklären und andererseits in empirische Tests umgesetzt werden können. Eine andere Forschungsrichtung geht davon aus, dass homöopathische Therapie medikamentöse Therapie ist, und untersucht die sich aus der Geist-Materie-Komplementarität der Potenzen ergebenden „geistigen Korrelate“ zur tatsächlich verabreichten Materie. Dieser Beitrag stellt die Arbeitsinhalte beider Ansätze dar, ihre Annahmen, den naturwissenschaftlichen Hintergrund und ihren augenblicklichen Stand. Auf technische Details und auf die formale Abhandlung kontraintuitiver Zusammenhänge in der Physik wird zugunsten einer besseren Lesbarkeit verzichtet. Interessierte Leser seien auf die entsprechende Literatur verwiesen.
Exoskeleton Training Modulates Complexity in Movement Patterns and Cortical Activity in Able-Bodied Volunteers

Robot-aided gait training (RAGT) plays a crucial role in providing high-dose and high-intensity task-oriented physical therapy. The human-robot interaction during RAGT remains technically challenging. To achieve this aim, it is necessary to quantify how RAGT impacts brain activity and motor learning. This work quantifies the neuromuscular effect induced by a single RAGT session in healthy middle-aged individuals. Electromyographic (EMG) and motion (IMU) data were recorded and processed during walking trials before and after RAGT. Electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded during rest before and after the entire walking session. Linear and nonlinear analyses detected changes in the walking pattern, paralleled by a modulation of cortical activity in the motor, attentive, and visual cortices immediately after RAGT. Increases in alpha and beta EEG spectral power and pattern regularity of the EEG match the increased regularity of body oscillations in the frontal plane, and the loss of alternating muscle activation during the gait cycle, when walking after a RAGT session. These preliminary results improve the understanding of human-machine interaction mechanisms and motor learning and may contribute to more efficient exoskeleton development for assisted walking.
Computational Assessment of Naturally Occurring Neutron and Photon Background Radiation Produced by Extraterrestrial Sources

Abstract A computational assessment of the variation in terrestrial neutron and photon background from extraterrestrial sources is presented. The motivation of this assessment is to evaluate the practicality of developing a tool or database to estimate background in real time (or near–real time) during an experimental measurement or to even predict the background for future measurements. The extraterrestrial source focused on during this assessment is naturally occurring galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). The MCNP6 transport code was used to perform the computational assessment. However, the GCR source available in MCNP6 was not used. Rather, models developed and maintained by NASA were used to generate the GCR sources. The largest variation in both neutron and photon background spectra was found to be caused by changes in elevation on Earth's surface, which can be as large as an order of magnitude. All other perturbations produced background variations on the order of a factor of 3 or less. The most interesting finding was that ~80% and 50% of terrestrial background neutrons and photons, respectively, are generated by interactions in Earth's surface and other naturally occurring and man-made objects near a detector of particles from extraterrestrial sources and their progeny created in Earth's atmosphere. This assessment shows that it will be difficult to estimate the terrestrial background from extraterrestrial sources without a good understanding of a detector's surroundings. Therefore, estimating or predicting background during a measurement environment like a mobile random search will be difficult.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOLAR WIND PRESSURE PULSES, PROTON AURORA FLASHES, AND Pc1 BURSTS: A STATISTICAL STUDY

Simultaneous observations of proton aurora from the IMAGE spacecraft and ground magnetic pulsations during sudden solar wind pressure increases (∆P > 1 nPa) were used to investigate the relationship between dayside proton aurora flashes and bursts of pulsations in the Pc1 frequency range. The Pc1 bursts are always registered when the observing ground station is conjugated with the region occupied by the proton aurora flash. Outside the proton aurora flash region the Pc1 bursts are typically not observed. In addition, we noted a difference in responses of the proton aurora to the pressure pulses of different origin. About 100% of the pressure increases due to interplanetary shocks are associated with proton aurora flashes in events, while the pressure increases related to tangential discontinuities correlate with the proton flashes only in about 30% of the events.
Maternal and fetal outcomes of SLE in pregnancy: a literature review

Abstract Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system assaults its tissues. We aimed to analyse the maternal and foetal outcomes during pregnancy in SLE mothers. A literature search was conducted by two investigators to assess SLE's outcomes on maternal and foetal during pregnancies. We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google scholar to collect evidence from different research studies, draw the conclusion, and report it. In our investigation, we found out that SLE could cause a spectrum of complications during pregnancy, not only for the mother but also for the foetus. It could affect fertility and cause difficult pregnancies for the couple as well which includes certain complications such as: preterm labour and delivery, high blood pressure (preeclampsia), placental insufficiency, miscarriage or stillbirth, whereas in the foetus SLE can cause mortality, preterm birth, and neonatal lupus (a temporary condition in the baby caused by SLE-related antibodies) and structural abnormalities. The literature suggests that SLE could prove fatal for the foetus and induce many complications in the mother. However, this could be avoided if pregnancy is planned right from the start and proper management is provided to the mother during pregnancy and delivery.p