Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous thermal ablation for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma: a comparison of local therapeutic efficacy

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to compare the local therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous thermal ablation for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: One hundred sixty-one CRLM nodules in 101 patients and 122 HCC nodules in 97 patients were treated with thermal ablation. Complications and local efficacy were retrospectively compared. Results: Major complications were observed in two (2.0%) patients in the CRLM group and one (1.0%) in the HCC group (p = 1.000). The complete ablation (CA) rate of lesions ≤ 3 cm was lower in the CRLM group than in the HCC group (p = 0.018). After a mean follow-up period of 21.1 ± 20.7 months in the CRLM group and 22.1 ± 17.6 months in the HCC group, the local tumour progression (LTP) rate of lesions > 3 cm was higher in the CRLM group than in the HCC group (p = 0.036). The multivariate analysis revealed that only safety margin (≤ 0.5 cm/> 0.5 cm) was a significant predictor of LTP in both CRLM and HCC. Conclusions: To achieve better local tumour control, thermal ablation should be more aggressive for CRLM than for HCC, especially for large tumours in clinical.
G-CSF Suppresses Edema Formation and Reduces Interleukin-1β Expression After Cerebral Ischemia in Mice

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is reported to be neuroprotective after transient cerebral ischemia with respect to decreasing lesion volume and enhancing functional recovery. We investigated whether G-CSF is neuroprotective after permanent ischemia and the possible mechanisms underlying this neuroprotection. Mice underwent permanent or 60-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and received G-CSF (50 μg/kg) or vehicle at the onset or 1 hour post-MCAO. Forty-eight hours after transient MCAO, structural magnetic resonance imaging revealed a significant reduction (50%) in the amount of edematous tissue present in G-CSF-treated mice (p < 0.05). G-CSF treatment also prevented a significant increase in ipsilateral brain water content that was present in vehicle-treated mice after transient (p < 0.05) and permanent (p < 0.001) MCAO. Forty-eight hours after permanent MCAO, G-CSF decreased (50%) the cortical lesion volume (p < 0.05). Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we found that G-CSF treatment significantly suppressed (p < 0.05) the injury-induced upregulation of IL-1β mRNA while having no effect on TNFα and NOS-2 mRNA expression. This suggests that part of the neuroprotection may be attributed to the ability of G-CSF to reduce the inflammatory response.
The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Stimulates Mos mRNA Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation duringXenopus Oocyte Maturation

ABSTRACT The Mos protein kinase is a key regulator of vertebrate oocyte maturation. Oocyte-specific Mos protein expression is subject to translational control. In the frog Xenopus, the translation of Mos protein requires the progesterone-induced polyadenylation of the maternal Mos mRNA, which is present in the oocyte cytoplasm. Both theXenopus p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and maturation-promoting factor (MPF) signaling pathways have been proposed to mediate progesterone-stimulated oocyte maturation. In this study, we have determined the relative contributions of the MAPK and MPF signaling pathways to Mos mRNA polyadenylation. We report that progesterone-induced Mos mRNA polyadenylation was attenuated in oocytes expressing the MAPK phosphatase rVH6. Moreover, inhibition of MAPK signaling blocked progesterone-induced Mos protein accumulation. Activation of the MAPK pathway by injection of RNA encoding Mos was sufficient to induce both the polyadenylation of synthetic Mos mRNA substrates and the accumulation of endogenous Mos protein in the absence of MPF signaling. Activation of MPF, by injection of cyclin B1 RNA or purified cyclin B1 protein, also induced both Mos protein accumulation and Mos mRNA polyadenylation. However, this action of MPF required MAPK activity. By contrast, the cytoplasmic polyadenylation of maternal cyclin B1 mRNA was stimulated by MPF in a MAPK-independent manner, thus revealing a differential regulation of maternal mRNA polyadenylation by the MAPK and MPF signaling pathways. We propose that MAPK-stimulated Mos mRNA cytoplasmic polyadenylation is a key component of the positive-feedback loop, which contributes to the all-or-none process of oocyte maturation.
Broadband multiband phased array antennas for cellular communications

More and more frequency bands are used in cellular (mobile) communications, driving base station antennas to be broadband and multiband. Architecture, design principles and methods of novel dual-polarized multiband phased arrays (nesting, cloaking, choking) are discussed and illustrated with practical examples of these high-complexity antennas.
Binding of Ribosome Recycling Factor to Ribosomes, Comparison with tRNA*

The prokaryotic post-termination ribosomal complex is disassembled by ribosome recycling factor (RRF) and elongation factor G. Because of the structural similarity of RRF and tRNA, we compared the biochemical characteristics of RRF binding to ribosomes with that of tRNA. Unesterified tRNA inhibited the disassembly of the post-termination complex in a competitive manner with RRF, suggesting that RRF binds to the A-site. Approximately one molecule of ribosome-bound RRF was detected after isolation of the RRF-ribosome complex. RRF and unesterified tRNA similarly inhibited the binding of N-acetylphenylalanyl-tRNA to the P-site of non-programmed but not programmed ribosomes. Under the conditions in which unesterified tRNA binds to both the P- and E-sites of non-programmed ribosomes, RRF inhibited 50% of the tRNA binding, suggesting that RRF does not bind to the E-site. The results are consistent with the notion that a single RRF binds to the A- and P-sites in a somewhat analogous manner to the A/P-site bound peptidyl tRNA. The binding of RRF and tRNA to ribosomes was influenced by Mg2+ and NH 4 + ions in a similar manner.
Outbreak of influenza in highly vaccinated crew of U.S. Navy ship.

An outbreak of influenza A (H3N2) occurred aboard a U.S. Navy ship in February 1996, despite 95% of the crew's having been appropriately vaccinated. Virus isolated from ill crew members was antigenically distinct from the vaccination strain. With an attack rate of 42%, this outbreak demonstrates the potential for rapid spread of influenza in a confined population and the impact subsequent illness may have upon the workplace.
Pathomorphological peculiarities of tuberculous meningoencephalitis associated with HIV infection

Background and aims One of the most severe manifestation displays of tuberculosis (TB) generalization is meningitis/meningoencephalitis. The purpose of this work was to improve the diagnostic efficiency of TB central nervous system (CNS) affection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Materials and methods Meninges and cerebral tissues, taken from died patients, who were HIV-infected and dead from TB of CNS affection, were investigated histologically. Results and discussion Our examination showed that clinical course of the pathologic process loses the peculiarity of TB-undulating character, and changes in tissues have monomorphism that appears in the presence of the same type of granulomas with a few Pirogov–Langhans cells. Alterative reactions with formation of the large fields of caseous necrosis, necrotic focuses, areas of infiltration with polymorphic cellular elements went out on the first plan in the disorder of cerebrum in patients with the terminal stage of HIV infection. The tendency to decrease in inflammatory–proliferative processes was observed, which is confirmed by the presence of the poorly expressed cellular reaction on the peripheries of focuses of caseous necrosis. Conclusion Morphologic features of tuberculous meningoencephalitis in HIV-infected patients are the presence of edema, gliosis, trombovasculitis, small focal hemorrhage, tuberculous granuloma formation with a small number of Pirogov–Langhans cells, and the prevalence of alterative–exudative reactions.
Information and Inventory Recourse for a Two-Market, Price-Setting Retailer

We analyze the problem of determining inventory and pricing decisions in a two-period retail setting when an opportunity to refine information about uncertain demand is available. The model extends the newsvendor problem with pricing by allowing for multiple suppliers, the pooling of procurement resources, and more general informational dynamics. One contribution is the solution procedure: We show that all decisions (up to 7 in all, including recourse decisions) can be determined uniquely as a function of a surrogate first-period decision called the stocking factor. Hence, the two-period decision problem with recourse reduces to a search for one decision variable. A second contribution is the policy implications: We find that the cost of learning is (1) a consequence of censored information because, on the margin, learning is free if full information is guaranteed; (2) measured in the form of an increased stocking factor; and (3) shared with the consumer in the form of a higher selling price when demand uncertainty is additive. A third contribution is the application of the results to three motivating examples: a market research problem in which a product is introduced in a test market prior to a widespread launch; a global newsvendor problem in which a seasonal product is sold in two different countries with nonoverlapping selling seasons; and a minimum-quantity commitment problem in which procurement resources for multiple purchases may be pooled.
New Marx Generator Architecture With a Controllable Output Based on IGBTs

In this paper, a new architecture of a high-voltage Marx pulse generator based on isolated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) is proposed. It allows continuous control of the output voltage by acting on the IGBTs activation time: “on-time. ” The final after-charging capacitors’ voltage can be higher than the double of the input voltage. A simplified mathematical description of the system was developed in order to find a relation between the output voltage and the “On-time” (an open-loop control law). A SPICE simulation was implemented to check the expected performances and to verify the developed model. A three-stage generator was built according to the proposed structure using commercial IGBTs with a maximum output voltage of 3.6 kV. All results were compared to check and confirm the validity of the proposed architecture.
Identification of novel putative-binding proteins for cellular prion protein and a specific interaction with the STIP1 homology and U-Box-containing protein 1

ABSTRACT Prion diseases involve the conversion of the endogenous cellular prion protein, PrPC, into a misfolded infectious isoform, PrPSc. Several functions have been attributed to PrPC, and its role has also been investigated in the olfactory system. PrPC is expressed in both the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory epithelium (OE) and the nasal cavity is an important route of transmission of diseases caused by prions. Moreover, Prnp−/− mice showed impaired behavior in olfactory tests. Given the high PrPC expression in OE and its putative role in olfaction, we screened a mouse OE cDNA library to identify novel PrPC-binding partners. Ten different putative PrPC ligands were identified, which were involved in functions such as cellular proliferation and apoptosis, cytoskeleton and vesicle transport, ubiquitination of proteins, stress response, and other physiological processes. In vitro binding assays confirmed the interaction of PrPC with STIP1 homology and U-Box containing protein 1 (Stub1) and are reported here for the first time. Stub1 is a co-chaperone with ubiquitin E3-ligase activity, which is associated with neurodegenerative diseases characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. Physiological and pathological implications of PrPC-Stub1 interaction are under investigation. The PrPC-binding proteins identified here are not exclusive to the OE, suggesting that these interactions may occur in other tissues and play general biological roles. These data corroborate the proposal that PrPC is part of a multiprotein complex that modulates several cellular functions and provide a platform for further studies on the physiological and pathological roles of prion protein.
Comparison of Sensory Aids in Deaf Children

A speech perception hierarchy has been developed and applied to assess the influence of cochlear implants and tactile aids on the acquisition of auditory, speech, and language skills in deaf children. Encouraging improvements were noted with both types of sensory aids at the detection level. The House 3M and Nucleus cochlear implant designs appear to offer advantages over the Tactaid II in providing ancillary speech perception cues to deaf children. Preliminary observations suggest that the multichannel cochlear implant design may be superior to the single-channel coding scheme.
Effects of resistance exercise and creatine supplementation on myasthenia gravis: a case study.

PURPOSE The purpose of this case study was to determine the effects of 15 wk of resistance exercise and creatine (Cr) supplementation on body composition, training volume, peak strength, and complete blood chemistry in a patient with myasthenia gravis (MG). METHODS The patient was a 26-yr-old man who was taking prednisone and azathioprine for his condition. The patient self-administered 5 g of Cr per day in addition to resistance exercise 3 times per week. Fasting blood samples were obtained and body weight (BW) and fat free mass (FFM; via hydrostatic weighing) were measured before and after training and Cr supplementation. In addition, isokinetic (Cybex II) peak strength for leg extension (LE), leg flexion (LF), and volume load (repetition x mass lifted) for the first and last resistance training session were determined. RESULTS After Cr supplementation and training, the results demonstrated increases in BW (6.8%), FFM (4.3%), upper body volume load (37.0%), lower body volume load (15.0%), and peak strength for LE (37.0%) and LF (12.5%). Moreover, blood chemistry values remained within normal limits for the duration of the 15-wk study. CONCLUSION These data suggest that resistance exercise plus Cr supplementation may promote gains in strength and FFM in patients with MG.
Ultrastructure of the Outer Retina in the Killifish, Aphanius sirhani (Cyprinodontidae, Teleostei)

The ultrastructure of the outer retina in the endangered killifish, Aphanius sirhani was studied. The retina shows all eight layers and two membranes typical of vertebrates. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) consists of a single layer of closely packed, polygonal, low columnar cells. These cells have large, vesicular nuclei, well developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and well developed mitochondria. Phagosomes, lipid droplets and myeloid bodies are also evident. The cells bear numerous apical processes that, in light-adapted fish, interdigitate with the photoreceptor outer segments. The retina is of the duplex type, i.e. contains rods and cones. A variety of cones have been recorded in the present species. These include short, intermediate and long single cones, double and triangular, triple cones. Rod spherules each with a single synaptic ribbon and cone pedicles, each with several synaptic ribbons have been recorded in the outer plexiform layer.
Shape Description by a Syntactic Pyramidal Approach

In the syntactic approach to pattern recognition, patterns are represented as strings, where each pattern is expressed as a composition of its component patterns, called subpatterns and pattern primitives. This approach draws an analogy between the structure of patterns and the syntax of a language. The patterns are considered at a single resolution level, and the recognition of each pattern is usually made by parsing the pattern structure according to a given set of syntax rules, obtained in the first stage of the analysis. This paper describes a pyramidal approach to 2-D object representation which relies on a linguistic description of the object contour at different resolution levels. Our approach, which is parallel and context-sensitive, implies the use of higher dimensional grammars for defining production rules which describe the evolution of the contour between levels. This method is computationally efficient (due to the fast coarse-fine search), rotationally invariant, as well as rather insensitive to noise.
The effect of intra‐amniotic and posthatch dietary synbiotic administration on the performance, intestinal histomorphology, cecal microbial population, and short‐chain fatty acid composition of broiler chickens1

&NA; This study evaluated the effect of intra‐amniotic synbiotic inclusion and continued synbiotic supplementation in the diet on the performance, intestinal epithelium integrity, and cecal microflora of broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, 510 eggs containing viable embryos were divided into 3 groups of 170 eggs each. The first group was not injected and served as a negative control (NC). The next group was injected with 0.9% NaCl and was the positive control (PC). The synbiotic‐injected group (S) was injected with a 0.5% inulin and 1 × 106Enterococcus faecium solution. The non‐injected and synbiotic injected groups were further divided into 2 sets for Experiment 2 and the birds were offered either a basal or synbiotic supplemented diet (1% inulin and 2 × 109E. faecium cfu/kg feed). One hundred ninety‐six broiler hatchlings were randomly allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement that included an intra‐amniotic treatment (non‐injected or synbiotic injected) and a dietary treatment (basal or synbiotic supplemented diet). The results showed that the administration of an intra‐amniotic synbiotic to embryonated eggs on d 17 of incubation did not affect the hatchability or hatching weight of the birds. However, intra‐amniotic synbiotic inclusion had a positive effect on FCR at d 0 to 42 (P = 0.041) and d 22 to 42 (P = 0.036). There was no significant interaction effect on the growth performance of the birds between the intra‐amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatment during different or entire experimental periods. Villus height and goblet and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cell counts were positively influenced by intra‐amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatments. Our results also indicated that intra‐amniotic synbiotic injection followed by dietary supplementation with a synbiotic significantly increased Lactobacillus colonization and decreased coliform population in the broiler cecum. Cecal butyric acid concentration increased proportionally to the cecal Lactobacillus count with dietary synbiotic supplementation on d 42. In summary, combined intra‐amniotic and dietary synbiotic treatments improved broiler intestinal integrity and increased cecal beneficial bacteria populations.
A space-vector modulation scheme for a four-level dual inverter fed open-end winding induction motor drive

Four-level inversion can be achieved with dual two-level inverters with asymmetrical DC-link voltages in the ratio of 2:1 feeding an open-end winding induction motor. This inverter scheme produces 64 space-vector combinations distributed over 37 space-vector locations. Isolated DC power supplies are employed to avoid the zero-sequence currents. In this paper, a space vector PWM switching scheme for the dual inverter fed open-end winding induction motor drive is employed. Instantaneous three phase reference voltages are required to implement this PWM, which does not requires any sector identification.
Future work on harmonics - some expert opinions Part II - supraharmonics, standards and measurements

A workshop on power system harmonics was organized in Stockholm in January 2014. On the agenda was among others a discussion on what are the main issues on harmonics at the moment and in the near future. Some of the issues discussed at that workshop are presented in this paper and its companion paper. In this paper the following issues will be addressed: the appearance of emission at higher frequencies (supraharmonics); the need for new and improved standards; measurement issues and data analysis.
Breeding to Improve Symbiotic Effectiveness of Legumes

Symbioses with beneficial microorganisms constitute the universal and ecologically highly effective strategy of adaptation of plants towards nearly all types of environmental challenges. Representatives of many groups of fungi and bacteria participate in plant-microbial symbioses (PMS) wherein they can colonize the plant surfaces, tissues or intra-cellular compartments using two basic adaptive strategies: nutritional and defensive. Construction of niches for hosting the symbiotic microbes involves the complicated developmental programs imple‐ mented under the joint control by plant and microbial partners and based on the crossregulation of their genes.
Calcium antagonists in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background and Purpose: It has been reported that nimodipine reduces the frequency of secondary ischemia and improves outcome after aneurysmal SAH, but definitive evidence concerning all available calcium antagonists is lacking. Methods: Systematic overview of randomized trials that were completed by January 1996 compared calcium antagonists with control and started treatment within 10 days after onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was performed. All calcium antagonists studied thus far (nimodipine, nicardipine, and AT877) were included. Results: We analyzed 10 trials totaling 2756 patients. The relative risk (RR) reduction of poor outcome (death or dependency) was 16% (95% CI, 6 to 27%) and that of case fatality was 10% (95% CI, -6 to 25%). To prevent one poor outcome, 19 (12 to 59) patients need to be treated. Calcium antagonists give a 33% (95%, CI 25 to 41) RR reduction in the frequency of ischemic neurologic deficit and a 20% (95% CI, 11 to 28) RR reduction in the frequency of CT-scan documented cerebral infarction. Eight (6 to 11) patients need to be treated to prevent one ischemic neurologic deficit. In the analyses for nimodipine only, treatment was associated with a 24% RR reduction of poor outcome (95% CI, 12 to 38). To prevent one poor outcome, 13 (8 to 30) patients need to be treated with nimodipine. The RR reduction of angiographically detected cerebral vasospasm was statistically significant for AT877 (38%; 95% CI, 17 to 54%) and nicardipine (21%; 95% CI, 6 to 34%) but not for nimodipine (9%; 95% CI, -2 to 19%). Conclusion: Calcium antagonists reduce the proportion of ischemic neurologic deficits and nimodipine improves overall outcome within 3 months of aneurysmal SAH; evidence for a reduction of poor outcome from all causes by nicardipine and AT877 is inconclusive. The intermediate factors by which nimodipine exerts its beneficial effect remain uncertain.