Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single-Phase Dual-Energy CT Allows for Characterization of Renal Masses as Benign or Malignant

Purpose:To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy CT (DECT) in renal mass characterization using a single-phase acquisition. Materials and Methods:A total of 202 patients (148 males, 54 females; 63 ± 13 years) with ultrasound-based suspicion of a renal mass underwent unenhanced single energy and nephrographic phase DECT on a dual source scanner (Siemens Somatom Definition Dual Source, n = 174; Somatom Definition Flash, n = 28). Scan parameters for DECT were: tube potential, 80/100 and 100/Sn140 kVp; exposure, 404/300 and 96/232 effective mAs; collimation, 14 × 1.2/32 × 0.6 mm. Two abdominal radiologists assessed DECT and SECT image quality and noise on a 5-point visual analogue scale. Using solely the DE acquisition including virtual nonenhanced (VNE) and color coded iodine images that enable direct visualization of iodine, masses were characterized as benign or malignant. In a second reading session after 34 to 72 (average: 55) days, the same assessment was again performed using both the true nonenhanced (TNE) and nephrographic phase scans thereby simulating conventional single-energy CT. Sensitivities, specificities, diagnostic accuracies, and interpretation times and were recorded for both reading paradigms. Dose reduction of a single-phase over a dual-phase protocol was calculated. Results were tested for statistical significance using the paired Wilcoxon signed rank test and student t test. Differences in sensitivities were tested for significance using the McNemar test. Results:Of the 202 patients, 115 (56.9%) underwent surgical resection of renal masses. Histopathology showed malignancy in 99 and benign tumors in 18 patients, in 48 patients (23.7%), follow-up imaging showed size stability of lesions diagnosed as benign, and 37 patients (18.3%) had no mass. Based on DECT only, 95/99 (96.0%) patients with malignancy and 96/103 (93.2%) patients without malignancy were correctly identified, for an overall accuracy of 94.6%. The dual-phase approach identified 96/99 (97.0%) and 98/103 (95.1%), accuracy 96.0%, P > 0.05 for both. Mean interpretation time was 2.2 ± 0.8 minutes for DECT, and 3.5 ± 1.0 minutes for the dual-phase protocol, P < 0.001. Mean VNE/TNE image quality was 1.68 ± 0.65/1.30 ± 0.59, noise was 2.03 ± 0.57/1.18 ± 0.29, P < 0.001 for both. Omission of the true unenhanced phase lead to a 48.9 ± 7.0% dose reduction. Conclusion:DECT allows for fast and accurate characterization of renal masses in a single-phase acquisition. Interpretation of color coded images significantly reduces interpretation time. Omission of a nonenhanced acquisition can reduce radiation exposure by almost 50%.
Genome Sequence of the Methanotrophic Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate Producer Methylocystis parvus OBBP

ABSTRACT Methylocystis parvus OBBP is an obligate methylotroph considered the type species of the genus Methylocystis. Two pmoCAB particulate methane monooxygenase operons and one additional singleton pmoC paralog were identified in the sequence. No evidence of genes encoding soluble methane monooxygenase was found. Comparison of M. parvus OBBP and Methylocystis sp. strain Rockwell (ATCC 49242) suggests that both species should be taxonomically classified in different genera.
Interference Queuing Networks on Grids A Framework for Performance Analysis of Large Wireless Networks

Motivated by applications in large scale wireless networks, we introduce and study queuing systems of interacting queues where the interactions mimic wireless interference. Our network model is an abstraction of an ad-hoc wireless network and is intended to capture the interplay between the geometry of wireless links, which determine how the links interfere with each other, and their temporal traffic dynamics. Specifically, when a link accesses the spectrum, it causes interference to other nearby links, and thus their rate of communication is lowered. This in turn implies they access the spectrum longer and cause interference to nearby links for a larger duration. This coupling between the geometry and temporal dynamics is one of the main challenges in assessing the performance of wireless systems. Most prior work have modeled this phenomenon in a cellular network setting by generalizing the so called coupled processors model. These models are difficult to analyze and even in the simplest case, and one has to typically resort to bounds and approximations to derive insight. We consider the ad-hoc network setting and propose a new model of queues, which interact through interference. We show that this model is tractable, in the sense we can compute certain performance metrics even when there is an infinite number of queues. Specifically, we prove a stability phase-transition for such queuing systems. Furthermore, we also derive exactly the mean number of customers in any queue in steady state. Thanks to Little’s Law, this also yields an exact expression for mean delay of a typical link in steady state. The techniques and results in this paper hold both for large finite networks as well as infinite networks. The key to our results is the analysis of certain Rate Conservation equations along with monotonicity and tightness arguments, which are new and interesting in their own right. Our model and results thus provide a basis to evaluate the performance of various protocols on large networks.
The role of queuing models in economic evaluation : lessons from an illustrative case study of emergency care

This paper discusses the suitability of queuing theory as a component in economic evaluations. Receiving timely acute care is of major concern to patients, health care providers, and policy-makers. Underlying capacity constraints associated with the provision of care might be neglected in economic evaluations. When they are considered, the type of models usually employed are both data and computationally demanding. We argue that queueing modelling may be an appropriate framework to use within economic evaluation when capacity constraints play an important role. We illustrate the role of queuing theory using a dataset with 33,926 records, corresponding to one year activity of the ambulance service from the North East of England. We use these data to explore alternative scenarios about the ways in which services can be centralised. The results of the model are expressed in terms of waiting times and allow for the identification of possible inefficiencies within a system. Results may also inform the design of potential policies for the reorganisation of emergency care which take into account the resource constraints analysed.
Antidiabetic effects of bitter gourd extracts in insulin-resistant db/db mice

Bitter gourd (BG, Momordica charantia) exerts proven blood glucose- and body weight-lowering effects. To develop an effective and safe application, it is necessary to identify the bioactive compounds and biochemical mechanisms responsible for these effects in type 2 diabetes. A total of forty-five 4-week-old male db/db mice were assigned to five groups of nine each. The mice were given sterile tap water as a control, a whole fruit powder, the lipid fraction, the saponin fraction or the hydrophilic residue of BG at a daily oral dosage of 150 mg/kg body weight for 5 weeks, respectively. Weight gain was significantly decreased in all the BG-treated groups (P ≤ 0·05). Glycated Hb levels were the highest in the control mice compared with all the four BG-treated mice (P = 0·02). The lipid fraction had the strongest effect, and it tended (P = 0·075) to reduce glycated Hb levels from 9·3 % (control mice) to 8·0 % (lipid fraction-treated mice). The lipid and saponin fractions reduced lipid peroxidation of adipose tissue significantly (P ≤ 0·01). Additionally, the saponin fraction and the lipid fraction reduced protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) activity in skeletal muscle cytosol by 25 % (P = 0·05) and 23 % (P = 0·07), respectively. PTP 1B is the physiological antagonist of the insulin signalling pathway. Inhibition of PTP 1B increases insulin sensitivity. This is the first study to demonstrate that BG is involved in PTP 1B regulation, and thus explains one possible biochemical mechanism underlying the antidiabetic effects of BG in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Design of a 2 MW DC supply using a 4-stage interleaved DC-DC converter

An optimal design of a 2-MW dc supply with a variable output dc voltage range between 400 V and 1500 V, and intended for testing equipment under IEEE 1547 is presented in this paper. Trade-offs between size and system complexity must be taken into account because the main components (dc inductor, semiconductor switches, cooling system, etc.) of such a high power system are expensive and/or bulky. Several dc-dc converter topologies are evaluated and compared for the intended application, and all the components are selected based on current market availability. The 4-stage interleaved dc-dc converter topology is selected since it has a good performance-to-price ratio. Challenges of operation under both heavy and light loads are addressed. The control algorithm for this topology is presented and illustrated using simulation results. These simulations demonstrate that the proposed dc supply design provides an acceptable dc power source for testing distributed generation equipment under IEEE 1547 at not only relatively high power levels, but also light power levels.
9 Adipocytokines in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock

Among the different conditions of critical illness leading to admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), sepsis remains the leading cause of death at the non-coronary medical ICU [1]. Even with optimal therapy, mortality rates of severe sepsis and septic shock are about 40 to 50% [2, 3]. Although there are numerous studies with varying methods from different countries, the incidence of severe sepsis is constantly approximately one out of ten admissions to all ICUs worldwide [4]. With millions of individuals concerned every year, worldwide sepsis is one of the major healthcare problems today. The proportion of severe sepsis, and case fatal outcomes increased during the last years [2]. It is crucial to establish the diagnosis sepsis as early as possible and to identify its origin, in order to initiate an appropriate therapy permitting to achieve the best possible outcome [5]. Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) caused by an infection. The association with organ dysfunction or sepsis-induced hypotension is termed severe sepsis. Septic shock, as a subset of severe sepsis, is characterized by sepsis-induced hypotension, persisting despite adequate fluid resuscitation [6]. Early differentiation between sepsis and SIRS is a considerable problem in the treatment of patients on ICU. Due to the early systemic release of inflammatory cytokines as compared with synthesis of acutephase-proteins, cytokines have been widely investigated for their diagnostic potential in predicting sepsis [7]. Nevertheless, until now the perfect biomarker for differentiation of sepsis and SIRS has not been found yet and ongoing research focuses on identification of appropriate diagnostic biomarkers for sepsis [8]. Despite a growing number of studies, the physiopathology of sepsis is not satisfyingly understood. Data show that physiopathology is characterized by a large number of proand anti-inflammatory cytokines and mediators of inflammation with complex interactions [9]. For instance, the application of a single bolus i.v. infusion of endotoxin to a healthy individual leads to the expression of 3147 genes, (> 10% of the human genome) [10]. These mediators and cytokines lead to endothelial dysfunction and activation of inflammatory and coagulation pathways as reaction to the invasion of a pathogen [11]. In order to reduce the sepsis-related high mortality, a better understanding of common pathogenic mechanisms of sepsis and other critical diseases is needed, potentially resulting in more effective treatment options.
Bone mineral density of the tibia and femur of broiler breeders.

The aim of this study was to follow-up the physiological variations in the development of the bone tissue, associating them with the egg production curve. This study was carried out in the facilities of the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia of the UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil. Twenty-three families of Ross broiler breeders were used, each family consisting of 13 females and 1 male, distributed in 23 pens of 5.0m2 each. The management was that recommended by the genetic company manual (Agroceres Ross, 2003), with daily feeding until 6 week of age; and birds were fed according to a 5:2 schedule (5 days fed, 2 days of fasting) between 7 and 17 weeks of age, returning to daily feeding starting at 18 weeks of age. The birds did not receive afternoon calcium supplementation. On the fourth week of rearing, 84 females were removed for bone analyses of the right tibia and femur, using optical densitometry in radiographic images technique. These analyses were sequentially carried out in 4, 8, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, 35, 42, 47, and 52 week-old birds. The egg production curve of the birds was followed-up and associated to bone mineral density results. For bone mineral density evaluation (BMD) birds were divided by weight categories as light, intermediate, or heavy within each data age. BMD values of the tibias were not influenced by weight range, but by the age at collection. On the other hand, interactions were found among femur BMD values and weight and age categories. There was no correlation between eggshell quality and femur BMD. A negative correlation (-0.15) was observed between tibia BMD and eggshell percentage. It was possible to conclude that the egg production has little influence on bone mineral density of the birds probably because there was no need of bone mineral mobilization during the production period, since the observed egg production was similar to that observed under commercial conditions.
Empirical Study on Influencing Factors of Executive Equity Incentive Efficiency and Levels

Using the dates come from 569 companies listed before 2006, we test the factors which affect the executive equity-based incentive levels and performance. The equity-based incentive performance is significant positive correlation with the levels of executive equity-based incentive. It shows equity-based incentive can improve company performance. When adding interaction variables in equation, we found the sensitivity for the company performance to levels of executive equity-based incentive would be affected by other factors. There are interactions between proportions in executive stock holding and market competition, risk level faced by the company, company scale and capital structure. And the efficiency of executive equity-based incentive is negative correlation with risk endured by the companies, proportions of independent directors and capital structure shows the internal and external governance structure of listed companies in China are still exist some problems. Keywords-equity incentive levels; equity incentive efficiency; influence factors; corporate governance
Indexing Geolocated Time Series Data

Time series associated with specific locations, such as visitor check-ins or sensor readings, have increased in size and popularity in several domains. Although several works have focused on efficient time series similarity search, there has been limited attention to the inherent challenge that geolocated time series introduce for hybrid queries on both spatial proximity and time series similarity. To efficiently process such queries, we propose a hybrid index, called TSR-tree, which extends the R-tree by introducing appropriate bounds for the time series indexed at each node. This reduces node accesses during query evaluation by simultaneously pruning the search space in the spatial domain and the time series domain while traversing the index. We also present an optimized version, the BTSR-tree, which uses tighter bounds by bundling together similar time series in each node. We describe how these indices can be used to efficiently evaluate different variants of hybrid queries combining spatial and time series filtering or ranking. Finally, we experimentally evaluate our work using real-world datasets from diverse domains, demonstrating a speed-up of 1.5 to 5 times in hybrid query workloads against the baseline R-tree method.
Harvesting Human Hair Cells

The sensory hair cells of the inner ear are responsible for converting balance and hearing stimuli into electrical signals. Until recently, all previous studies of hair cell physiology had been performed on tissue obtained from non-mammals and rodents. In primates, hair cells are difficult to access, because they rest within the densest structure of the body, the otic capsule of the temporal bone. In this report, we describe a technique that we have used in physiological studies to harvest living human hair cells. We collected vestibular and cochlear tissue specimens from adult humans undergoing translabyrinthine and transotic surgical approaches for resection of lateral skull base tumors. Viable hair cells were identified and visualized with light microscopy. The ability to study normal hair cells from humans may further the study of normal and pathological human sensation, hair cell regeneration, and genetic causes of balance and hearing disorders.
Zinc deficiency is of limited clinical importance in the elderly (>69 y) of Oslo.

BACKGROUND Zinc is an important trace element, and deficiency can cause disease and impairment of several physiological functions. OBJECTIVE To examine s-zinc concentration in a large elderly population (347 subjects), and correlate it to standard biochemical markers, nutritional core indicators, and anamnestic data. DESIGN A randomized population survey, studying two groups of elderly; one living at home and the other recently admitted to hospital. RESULTS Serum zinc concentration was (Mean SD) in the home group (11.6 1.8 micromoles /L), and in the hospital group (11,5 2.5 micromoles /L). S-zinc was below 8 micromol/L in the hospital group in 22 of 250 patients and in 4 out of 97 of the home group. There was no significant difference in prevalence of zinc deficiency in hospital versus the home living group. Low s-zinc was significantly correlated to diarrhea, but to no other marker used in this study. CONCLUSION Zinc deficiency is most probably of limited clinical importance in the elderly of Oslo, and there is no biochemical or nutritional marker that in addition to s-zinc can aid in the diagnosis.
Orthogonal layouts using the deltahedron heuristic

,u. )-eUl''''''' and may be based on consideration of maximization of Lv~"HLVU'H"fJ chart scores or on the minimization of overall cost. We assume that all are pre;ter'able. Geometric duality that the adjacency graph be planar. context, this translates to maximal planarity, since adding further to
Correction

Commentary on : Ebbert JO, Hughes JR, West RJ, et al. Effect of varenicline on smoking cessation through smoking reduction: a randomised clinical trial. JAMA 2015;313:687–94. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Around 70% of smokers say they want to quit smoking. However, if they are asked to set a quit date ‘right now’, the figure comes down to around 5–10%. In practice, we need to realise that there is a range of motivation for change. Smokers can be grouped into those wanting and not wanting to quit. Among those wanting to quit, some may have tried and failed so many times that they have more or less given up trying. … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DJAMA%26rft.volume%253D313%26rft.spage%253D687%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1001%252Fjama.2015. 280%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F25688780%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.1001/jama.2015. 280&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=25688780&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F20%2F4%2F133.1. atom
Fluctuation of Predictions of a Connectionist Model Can Lead to Qualitatively Different Results

Several methods have been proposed to derive ideal predictions of connectionist models. In contrast, there have been few attempts to explore fluctuations of the predictions around the ideal value in probabilistic environment. This void must be filled. Thus, Monte-Carlo simulations with the Rescorla-Wagner model were conducted for an experimental paradigm called relative validity. Simulations indicated that fluctuation is too sizeable to neglect and that it can even lead to qualitatively different predictions. The final associative strength was influenced by the last several trials.
Benefits to satellite members in mixed-species foraging groups: an experimental analysis

Hypotheses proposed to explain the formation of mixed-species foraging groups have focused on both foraging and antipredation benefits. Mixed-species flocks of bark-foraging birds form during the winter in the eastern deciduous forests of North America. These flocks are composed of two parid nuclear species, tufted titmice, Baeolophus bicolor, and either Carolina or black-capped chickadees, Poecile carolinensis or P. atricapillus, and several satellite species including downy woodpeckers, Picoides pubescens, and white-breasted nuthatches, Sitta carolinensis. The parid nuclear species seem to act as flock leaders and are closely followed by the satellite species. To elucidate what advantages downy woodpeckers and white-breasted nuthatches gain by flocking with parids, we removed parids from eight Ohio woodlots isolated by surrounding agricultural fields and compared the woodpeckers and nuthatches in these woodlots to those in eight controls. We tested four predictions generated by group-foraging hypotheses: compared with controls, satellite birds in treatment woodlots should (1) forage more in microclimates that reduce metabolic costs, (2) increase their vigilance, (3) exhibit reduced nutritional condition and (4) exhibit higher mortality rates. As predicted, female downy woodpeckers in treatment woodlots tended to forage in locations that were more sheltered from wind, presumably thereby reducing metabolic costs. Treatment males and females of both species significantly increased their vigilance. Finally, in the absence of parids, male nuthatches showed significantly reduced nutritional condition according to ptilochronology analysis of feathers grown during the experimental manipulation, and tended to exhibit increased mortality Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
An experimental test-bed for the evaluation of the hidden terminal problems on the IEEE 802.15.5 standard

In this paper we consider the implementation and experimental test-bed of the current IEEE 802.15. 5 Low-Rate Wireless Personal Network (LR-WPAN) Mesh standard. The IEEE 802.15. 5 enables the deployment of Wireless Mesh Sensor Networks (WMSN) consisting of hundreds or thousands of WPAN devices to monitor broad areas of interest in multiple technological fields (e.g., agriculture, forestry or industry, among others) during large periods of time. In this regard, real-world experimentation based on this specification is barely addressed in the related literature, mainly because an open-source IEEE 802.15. 5 implementation was still unavailable. For this reason, we want to contribute with an overview of our developed free source code referred to the IEEE 802.15. 5 standard and implemented under TinyOS-2.1. Test-bed experiments are conducted and discussed, paying special attention to one of the main unsolved concerns of the IEEE 802.15. 5 standard: the well-known hidden terminal phenomena.