Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Distribution of Anopheline Vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) in Areas with and Without Malaria Transmission in the Highlands of an Extra-Amazonian Region in Brazil

ABSTRACT This study compares the distribution of anopheline mosquitoes in a malaria-endemic municipality (MAL) and a malaria-free municipality (FREE) in an area of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Simultaneous quarterly nightly captures were made in three locations in each municipality. One Shannon light trap (Shannon light traps were home made according to specifications published in Am. J. Trop. Med. 1939; 19: 131–140) (SLT) and five CDC light traps (a kind of automatic trap fed by batteries of 12 V and 7 amp/h, with dry ice as a source of CO2; John W. Hock Company, Gainesville, FL) (CLT) (two in the canopy and three at ground level) were operated from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. More specimens were captured in MAL (362 in SLTs and 126 in CLTs) than in FREE (66 in SLTs and 59 in CLTs). For the SLTs, Simpson's dominance index was similar in MAL and FREE (D = 0.15 versus D = 0.203, P > 0.7), but Shannon's diversity index was higher for MAL (H = 1.969 versus H = 1.641, P < 0.01). For the CLTs, Simpson's dominance index was higher in MAL (D = 0.416 versus 0.2688, P < 0.001), and the Shannon diversity index was higher in FREE (H = 1.5222 versus H = 1.115, P < 0.01). In SLTs, Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii s.l. frequencies were higher in MAL (&khgr;2 = 23.39; P = 0.000001). In CLTs, An. cruzii s.l. was present in all strata in MAL but only in the canopy inside the forest in FREE (17 specimens). An. cruzii s.l. represented a higher proportion of anophelines in MAL (&khgr;2 = 31; P < 0.000001). The factors that differed in these two areas were anopheline species density and An. cruzii s.l. abundance and distribution.
Lifespan extension by reduction of the growth hormone‐insulin‐like growth factor‐1 axis: relation to caloric restriction

A reduced growth hormone (GH)‐insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1 axis is associated with an extension of lifespan in laboratory rodents. Several phenotypes of such animal models resemble those induced by caloric restriction (CR). Using a transgenic male Wistar rat model whose GH‐IGF‐1 axis was moderately suppressed by overexpression of the antisense GH transgene (tg), we elucidated a relationship between the effects of a reduced GH‐IGF‐1 axis and CR for some biomarkers of aging, lifespan, and pathologies. Heterozygous (tg/−) rats fed ad libitum (AL) had a dwarf phenotype similar to that of control nontransgenic (−/−) rats subjected to 30% CR from 6 wk of age. Both the reduced GH‐IGF‐1 axis and CR extended lifespan to a similar extent, although the effect of CR seemed to be greater. There was an additive effect of CR to lifespan extension when tg/− rats were subjected to CR. Pathologic analyses indicated that the preventive effect of CR on selected diseases was greater than that of the reduced GH‐IGF‐1 axis. The present study suggests that CR affects aging and longevity by mechanisms other than suppression of the GH‐IGF‐1 axis, although CR might exhibit its effects partly through the reduced GH‐IGF‐1 axis.
Does social–economical transformation influence the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus? A Polish example

Background: The dramatic increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DMT1) in all countries of Central and Eastern Europe seems to be correlated with the rapid transformations of the political, economical, and social conditions. The aim of this study was to analyze the increase of DMT1 incidence vs. changes of parameters describing economical conditions, medical care standards, and level of hygiene.
A novel approach for denoising and enhancement of extremely low-light video

In this paper, a novel approach for noise reduction and enhancement of extremely low-light video is proposed. For noise removal, a motion adaptive temporal filtering based on a Kalman structured updating is presented. Dynamic range of denoised video is increased by adjustment of RGB histograms using Gamma correction with adaptive clipping thresholds. Finally, residual noise is removed using a nonlocal means (NLM) denoising filter. The proposed method works directly on the color filter array (CFA) raw video for achieving low memory consumption1.
Anesthetic and perioperative considerations for transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

From the *Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA; †University of Washington, Seattle, WA; ‡Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC; §Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; ¶Medstar Heart Institute, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC; and ║Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Address reprint requests to Frederick C. Cobey, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, 800 Washington, Street, Box 298, Boston, MA 02111. E-mail: fcobey@gmail.com © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1053-0770/2601-0001$36.00/0 http://dx.doi. org/10.1053/j.jvca. 2013.11. 006 AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT (AVR) continues to be the standard for treatment of aortic stenosis. The overall operative mortality for patients undergoing a surgical AVR (SAVR) ranges from 2.5%-4%. With increasing age, the risk for octogenarians and nonagenarians ranges between (4.9% and 9.6%), and this can be as high as 25% in patients with significant co-morbidities. As such, up to 30% of these patients are not considered candidates for traditional open surgical intervention. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty results in only temporary relief of symptoms by a small increase in valve area. In 2002, Cribier performed the first catheter-based aortic valve replacement in a human, and in 2007, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was introduced into commercial use. According to the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve (PARTNER) trial, TAVR reduces mortality in high-risk patients who are not candidates for surgical intervention. The technology has evolved rapidly and TAVR is now used routinely. In Europe, 23% of tissue valves in elderly patients are TAVR. Experience with this technology also is growing in North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. The two commonly used approaches to TAVR are transfemoral (TF) and transapical (TA). Other access options include axillary/subclavian artery and the direct aortic approach. In Europe, TA-TAVRs comprise about 16% of TAVR cases. Each approach presents a unique challenge to the anesthesiologist. The present study is a review of (1) the specific characteristics of the TA-TAVR population that make them distinct from those patients undergoing TF-TAVR, (2) the different approaches to providing anesthesia for these patients as reported in the literature, and (3) the procedural steps particular to these cases so that anesthesiologists are able to anticipate intraoperative events and issues in a proactive fashion.
Hyperexpression of interleukin-7 is not necessary or sufficient for transformation of a pre-B lymphoid cell line

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a potent stimulator of pre-B-lymphocyte proliferation. Pre-B cells transformed by a variety of oncogenes including those of the ABL protein tyrosine kinase family were screened for endogenous IL-7 mRNA expression by polymerase chain reaction and a sensitive bioassay for secreted IL-7. Some v-abl but none of the BCR/ABL, v-src, v-fms, v-myc, v-ras, or v-raf transformants analyzed contained elevated IL-7 transcripts. None of the cell lines secreted detectable bioactivity. We overexpressed IL-7 via a retroviral vector in an IL-7-dependent pre-B cell line to assess the potential for autocrine growth stimulation and malignant transformation. We achieved dramatic deregulation of IL-7 translational suppression by removing portions of the 5' flanking region. Levels of IL-7 expression much greater than those needed to establish factor-independent growth did not induce colony formation in agar by IL-7-expressing pre-B cell lines, and the majority of these lines were nontumorigenic in syngeneic mice. The same pre-B cell line transformed by v-abl displayed a highly malignant phenotype while containing dramatically lower IL-7 transcript levels. We conclude that endogenous IL-7 expression is not a necessary event in transformation of pre-B cells, nor is it sufficient to explain the malignant phenotype in v-abl-transformed cells. Up regulation of endogenous IL-7 expression in some transformed pre-B cells may be one of several synergistic events which can lead to malignant conversion.
Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome.

BACKGROUND Obesity, a common condition in developed countries, is recognized as a threat to health. OBJECTIVES To describe the distribution of weight in pregnant women and evaluate the influence of obesity on pregnancy outcome in a high parity northern Israeli population. METHODS The study included 887 women who gave birth in the Western Galilee Medical Center during the period August to November 1995. The patients were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese according to body mass index. Maternal demographic, obstetric, and perinatal variables were compared. A control group of 167 normal weight women were matched with the obese group for maternal age, parity, and gestational age. RESULTS Obese mothers had a higher incidence of gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension compared to normal weight mothers (5.4% vs. 1.8%, and 7.2% vs. 0.6% respectively, P < 0.01), a higher rate of labor induction (20.4% vs. 10.2%, P < 0.01), and a higher cesarean section rate (19.6% vs. 10.8%, P < 0.05). There was also a significant difference in the prevalence of macrosomia in the offspring (16.8% vs. 8.4%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Obese pregnant women are at high risk for complications during delivery and therefore need careful pre-conception and prenatal counseling, as well as perinatal management.
Integrated wireless access for videoconference from MPEG-4 and H.263 video coders with voice, E-mail, and web traffic

In this paper, a new medium access control protocol for wireless communications, named Multimedia Integration Multiple Access Control (MI-MAC), is presented and investigated. We explore, via an extensive simulation study, the performance of MI-MAC when integrating voice, e-mail data, and web packet traffic with either MPEG-4 or H.263 videoconference streams over a noisy wireless channel of high capacity. Our scheme, one of the first in the literature that considers the integration of MPEG-4 or H.263 streams with other types of packet traffic over wireless networks, achieves high aggregate channel throughput in all cases of traffic load, while preserving the quality of service (QoS) requirements of each traffic type.
Characterization of magnetic nanoparticles synthesized by sonomechanical method

We have synthesized magnetic nanoparticles using the newly developed sonomechanical method with the FeSO4'7H2O and characterized crystallographic structural changes, surface morphology, chemical bonding states and magnetic properties. The crystallographic structure of the nanoparticles was characterized with high resolution X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis. The surface morphology of the nanoparticles was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The chemical bonding states of Fe ions in the nanoparticles were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were analyzed with vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature. The XRD patterns and XPS spectra indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles were mixture of magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3). As varying post annealing temperature, it seems that there was occurred transition to magnetite to maghemite and maghemite to magnetite.
Indication of Bevacizumab for Cerebral Radiation Necrosis.

BACKGROUND The effect of bevacizumab (BVZ) for Cerebral Radiation Necrosis (CRN) was clear. However, the indications of BVZ had no reports. OBJECTIVE The aim of the paper was to investigate the indications of BVZ for CRN. METHODS Fourteen CRN patients (confirmed by imaging diagnosis) who underwent BVZ treatment between June 2011 and December 2014 were analyzed. BVZ was administered (5mg/kg body weight) once every three to four weeks for at least three cycles. Contrast-enhanced T1 MRI signal intensity changes were measured after BVZ treatment, to evaluate the clinical efficacy of BVZ and the recurrence and progression of CRN. Three patients who were followed for a longer duration were described in detail. The main observations included the indications and (the) use of BVZ for CRN. RESULTS Most patients undergoing BVZ treatment for CRN exhibited recurrence. One of the three patients described in detail was asymptomatic; CRN was reduced but then progressed, and a second course of BVZ failed. The other two patients showed obvious symptoms of primary CRN; CRN was significantly reduced, but then progressed with mild symptoms. A second short course of BVZ showed poor efficacy in one patient who demonstrated long-term stability after BVZ withdrawal. Second long course of BVZ resulted in further aggravation of CRN in the other patient, and a re-examination revealed spontaneous remission of CRN. CONCLUSION Symptoms are an indication of BVZ treatment for primary CRN.
TNK2 gene amplification is a novel predictor of a poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer

We previously examined the amplification status of 10 kinase genes (PIK3CA, EPHB3, TNK2, PTK7, EGFR, MET, ERBB2, HCK, SRC, and AURKA) in gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to determine the prognostic significance of these gene amplifications in GC.
Transactivation of Murine Cyclin A by Polyomavirus Large and Small T Antigens

ABSTRACT Polyomavirus large and small T antigens cooperate in the induction of S phase in serum-deprived Swiss 3T3 cells. While the large T antigen is able to induce S phase-specific enzymes, we have recently shown that both T antigens contribute to the production of the cyclins E and A and that the small T antigen is essential for the induction of cyclin A-dependent cdk2 activity (S. Schüchner and E. Wintersberger, J. Virol. 73:9266–9273, 1999). Here we present our attempts to elucidate the mechanisms by which the large and the small T antigens transactivate the murine cyclin A gene. Using Swiss 3T3 cells carrying the T antigens and various mutants thereof under the hormone-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus promoter, as well as transient-cotransfection experiments with the T antigens and cyclin A promoter-luciferase reporter constructs, we found the following. The large T antigen activates the cyclin A promoter via two transcription factor binding sites, a cyclic AMP responsive element (CRE), and the major negative regulatory site called CDE-CHR. While an intact binding site for pocket proteins is required for the function of this T antigen at the CDE-CHR, its activity at the CRE is largely independent thereof. In contrast, an intact J domain and an intact zinc finger are required at both sites. The small T antigen also appears to have an influence on the cyclin A promoter through the CRE as well as the CDE-CHR. For this an interaction with protein phosphatase 2A is essential; mutation of the J domain does not totally eliminate but greatly reduces the transactivating ability.
Prosody of voice: Declination, sentence mode and interaction with prominence

This paper looks at voice source correlates of declination. This follows a line of research that proposes that prosody is primarily signalled by the temporal modulation of the voice source, and not just F0. Inverse filtering and source parameterisation was carried out on twelve 3-accent sentences of Connemara Irish (Declaratives, WH questions and Yes/No questions). All have a falling intonation and a H* H* H*+L pattern. The measured voice source parameters indicate a declination of other aspects of the voice: a decline in the strength of the source excitation (EE), an increasingly lax phonation over the course of the sentence, as indicated by the decline in the closed quotient (CQ) and the normalised glottal frequency (RG). These indicators of ‘source declination’ were found across sentence modes. However, there appear to be source differences between the declaratives and the question sentences in terms of the overall levels of EE, CQ, RG and F0. The interaction with the accentuation pattern of the sentence is discussed.
Dexamethasone alters F-actin architecture and promotes cross-linked actin network formation in human trabecular meshwork tissue.

Elevated intraocular pressure is an important risk factor for the development of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. This ocular hypertension is due to increased hydrodynamic resistance to the drainage of aqueous humor through specialized outflow tissues, including the trabecular meshwork (TM) and the endothelial lining of Schlemm's canal. We know that glucocorticoid therapy can cause increased outflow resistance and glaucoma in susceptible individuals, that the cytoskeleton helps regulate aqueous outflow resistance, and that glucocorticoid treatment alters the actin cytoskeleton of cultured TM cells. Our purpose was to characterize the actin cytoskeleton of cells in outflow pathway tissues in situ, to characterize changes in the cytoskeleton due to dexamethasone treatment in situ, and to compare these with changes observed in cell culture. Human ocular anterior segments were perfused with or without 10(-7) M dexamethasone, and F-actin architecture was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. We found that outflow pathway cells contained stress fibers, peripheral actin staining, and occasional actin "tangles. " Dexamethasone treatment caused elevated IOP in several eyes and increased overall actin staining, with more actin tangles and the formation of cross-linked actin networks (CLANs). The actin architecture in TM tissues was remarkably similar to that seen in cultured TM cells. Although CLANs have been reported previously in cultured cells, this is the first report of CLANs in tissue. These cytoskeletal changes may be associated with increased aqueous humor outflow resistance after ocular glucocorticoid treatment.
Proton radiation therapy for head and neck cancer

Due to the close spatial relationship of head and neck and skull base tumors to numerous normal anatomical structures, conventional photon radiation therapy can be associated with significant acute and long‐term treatment‐related toxicities. Superior dose localization properties of proton radiation therapy allow smaller volumes of normal tissues to be irradiated than is feasible with any photon technique. Intensity‐modulated proton therapy (IMPT) is a powerful delivery technique which results in improved dose distribution as compared to that of intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Initial clinical experience with proton radiation therapy in treatment of head and neck and skull base tumors is promising. Prospective multi‐institutional trials are underway to define the role of proton radiation therapy, particularly IMPT, in the treatment of head and neck and skull base tumors. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:697–700. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
G-CSF primed peripheral blood progenitor cells in autologous bone marrow transplantation: parameters affecting bone marrow engraftment.

G-CSF and GM-CSF enhance the rate of neutrophil engraftment in autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) without significantly affecting platelet engraftment. Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) may enhance rates of engraftment of both neutrophils and platelets. We treated 49 patients undergoing ABMT with a course of G-CSF to obtain PBPC and infused these cells post-transplant with G-CSF in an attempt to determine factors which might correlate with enhanced BM engraftment. Forty-nine patients with Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or breast cancer undergoing unpurged ABMT were studied. G-CSF priming consisted of an outpatient 8 day course of 5 micrograms/kg/day followed by three leukaphereses (on day 5, 7 and 8) to collect PBPC. Patients then received a chemotherapeutic BMT preparative regimen followed by an infusion of PBPC, autologous BM and the reinstitution of G-CSF (16 micrograms/kg/day). BM engraftment was rapid. The median time to achieve 0.5 x 10(9)/l neutrophils was 10 days compared with a historical BMT control patient population receiving the same preparative regimens of 19 days (p = 0.001). Time to achieve a platelet count of 20 x 10(9)/l was 16 days compared with a historical control of 22 days (p = 0.001). Neutrophil engraftment occurred in all patients by day +14. Marrow engraftment correlated with the total number of CD34+ cells infused as well as the total number of mononuclear cells infused but not the total number of CD34+/CD33- cells infused. The amount of total blood volume pheresed significantly correlated with yield of total mononuclear cells. Prior exposure to radiation therapy negatively correlated with progenitor cell yield. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[Results of pars plana vitrectomy with intraocular SF-6 gas tamponade in complicated retinal detachment].

Vitrectomy following complicated retinal detachment (PVR, giant tears, persistent retinal detachments or redetachments) has become standard in ophthalmic surgery. Intraocular tamponade is performed with gas (e.g. SF-6) or silicone oil. We retrospectively analyzed our functional and anatomical results after vitrectomy with SF-6 gas tamponade in complicated cases of retinal detachment. Ninety-four severe retinal detachments in 85 patients were treated by vitrectomy using SF-6 gas tamponade in the period from July 1990 to June 1991. In 68% of eyes complete retinal reattachment was achieved with the use of SF-6 gas. Thirty-two per cent of the operated eyes developed retinal redetachment an average of 3.4 weeks after initial surgery; 27% of those eyes were treated again with the use of silicone oil. The success rate using vitrectomy with SF-6 gas ranged between 46% and 74%, depending on pathogenetic factors. The best results were obtained in patients receiving primary vitrectomy for complicated retinal detachment. It is concluded that SF-6 gas is a successful tool in the treatment of severe retinal detachment with primary vitrectomy. In cases of persistent or recurrent detachment of the retina the results are not equally good and these cases merit consideration of silicone oil tamponade, depending on the severity of the disease process. However, no definite preoperative criteria for the success of vitrectomy and gas tamponade were identified.
Adaptive blind wideband spectrum sensing for cognitive radio based on sub-Nyquist sampling technique

Spectrum sensing is the core process in cognitive radio networks. Spectrum sensing of wideband signal results in enhancement of system reliability and effectiveness. In this paper, a modified system of wideband spectrum sensing based on non-uniform Multi-coset samplers is proposed. The proposed system is designed to work on totally blind input wideband signal. Lomb-Scargle periodogram is used to detect the number of active bands (N). System parameters are selected to decrease the average sub-Nyquist sampling frequency that results in activating lower number of parallel branches of non-uniform samplers. Then, a lower power consumption and complexity is achieved. The proposed system is able to adapt its operating parameters, time offsets and number of active branches continuously. Simulation results show accurate reconstructed signal, high probability of detection and low errors even at a small number of sub-Nyquist samples and low SNR.