Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of positron emission tomography for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and mass lesions: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Focal pulmonary lesions are commonly encountered in clinical practice, and positron emission tomography (PET) with the glucose analog 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) may be an accurate test for identifying malignant lesions. OBJECTIVE To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET for malignant focal pulmonary lesions. DATA SOURCES Studies published between January 1966 and September 2000 in the MEDLINE and CANCERLIT databases; reference lists of identified studies; abstracts from recent conference proceedings; and direct contact with investigators. STUDY SELECTION Studies that examined FDG-PET or FDG with a modified gamma camera in coincidence mode for diagnosis of focal pulmonary lesions; enrolled at least 10 participants with pulmonary nodules or masses, including at least 5 participants with malignant lesions; and presented sufficient data to permit calculation of sensitivity and specificity were included in the analysis. DATA EXTRACTION Two reviewers independently assessed study quality and abstracted data regarding prevalence of malignancy and sensitivity and specificity of the imaging test. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. DATA SYNTHESIS We used a meta-analytic method to construct summary receiver operating characteristic curves. Forty studies met inclusion criteria. Study methodological quality was fair. Sample sizes were small and blinding was often incomplete. For 1474 focal pulmonary lesions of any size, the maximum joint sensitivity and specificity (the upper left point on the receiver operating characteristic curve at which sensitivity and specificity are equal) of FDG-PET was 91.2% (95% confidence interval, 89.1%-92.9%). In current practice, FDG-PET operates at a point on the summary receiver operating characteristic curve that corresponds approximately to a sensitivity and specificity of 96.8% and 77.8%, respectively. There was no difference in diagnostic accuracy for pulmonary nodules compared with lesions of any size (P =.43), for semiquantitative methods of image interpretation compared with qualitative methods (P =.52), or for FDG-PET compared with FDG imaging with a modified gamma camera in coincidence mode (P =.19). CONCLUSIONS Positron emission tomography with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose is an accurate noninvasive imaging test for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and larger mass lesions, although few data exist for nodules smaller than 1 cm in diameter. In current practice, FDG-PET has high sensitivity and intermediate specificity for malignancy.
'Meme'tic engineering to classify Twitter lingo

Text memes have become a popular form of communicating ideologies on social networking websites. Some of these have led to drastic consequences in the society and has also influenced lives of several people. Text memes are pieces of text that are copied and spread rapidly by internet users. The sentiment can refer to two different types: emotions and opinions. These opinions can be divided into three classes: positive, negative and neutral. The inference obtained from this paper are the various categories of text memes circulated amongst users and an analysis of the over-all reaction or sentiment of the public.
Neuroticism and clinical course of weight restoration in a meal-based, rapid-weight gain, inpatient-partial hospitalization program for eating disorders

ABSTRACT We evaluated the impact of personality on weight restoration in 211 underweight (BMI ≤ 19 kg/m2) females admitted to an inpatient-partial hospitalization program for eating disorders. Symptomatology and personality were assessed by questionnaires, and clinical and demographic variables were assessed by chart review. Neuroticism, a personality trait associated with reactivity to stress, was correlated with higher symptomatology, chronicity, length of stay, and income source. Contrary to our hypothesis, neuroticism was positively associated with weight restoration. Length of stay mediated this relationship such that longer length of stay in patients with high neuroticism explained their higher likelihood of weight restoration prior to program discharge. Higher neuroticism is therefore associated with better weight restoration outcomes but may also indicate greater difficulty transitioning out of intensive treatment.
Far-off-resonance optical trapping of atoms.

We confine 85 Rb atoms in an optical dipole force trap with a very large detuning from resonance of up to 65 nm. Confinement times of 200 ms, limited only by background-gas collisions, are obtained without additional cooling. A typical trap contains 1300 atoms at a temperature of 0.4 mK and a peak density of 8×10 11 cm -3 . We measure spontaneous photon scatter rates of the trapped atoms to be less than 1.6×10 3 s -1 , corresponding to recoil heating rates below 0.6 mK/s. The far-detuned trap confines atoms with a strong, nearly conservative optical force and negligible atomic excitation
Cysteine Depletion Causes Oxidative Stress and Triggers Outer Membrane Vesicle Release by Neisseria meningitidis; Implications for Vaccine Development

Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) contain immunogenic proteins and contribute to in vivo survival and virulence of bacterial pathogens. The first OMV vaccines successfully stopped Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B outbreaks but required detergent-extraction for endotoxin removal. Current vaccines use attenuated endotoxin, to preserve immunological properties and allow a detergent-free process. The preferred process is based on spontaneously released OMV (sOMV), which are most similar to in vivo vesicles and easier to purify. The release mechanism however is poorly understood resulting in low yield. This study with N. meningitidis demonstrates that an external stimulus, cysteine depletion, can trigger growth arrest and sOMV release in sufficient quantities for vaccine production (±1500 human doses per liter cultivation). Transcriptome analysis suggests that cysteine depletion impairs iron-sulfur protein assembly and causes oxidative stress. Involvement of oxidative stress is confirmed by showing that addition of reactive oxygen species during cysteine-rich growth also triggers vesiculation. The sOMV in this study are similar to vesicles from natural infection, therefore cysteine-dependent vesiculation is likely to be relevant for the in vivo pathogenesis of N. meningitidis.
MONSTER PHASE OF ACETAMINOPHEN USE IN PREGNANCY: CURRENT VISION OF AN OLD DRUG

In various countries, Acetaminophen [APAP] is the frequently used painkiller found in hundreds of medications during pregnancy. It has been broadly used for eras and health care professionals prefer acetaminophen as a choice during pregnancy for relieving pain and fever. Current research reports bothersome inclinations in the rate of acetaminophen exposure and related pregnancy outcome. The exposure of pregnant women to acetaminophen is of great concern. Existing literature evidence shows that acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy may leads to preterm birth, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, male infertility, asthma in pediatrics. Therefore, the prophylactic anticipation of acetaminophen exposure can be a far-sighted approach in order to safeguard humans and wildlife from enduring dangerous effects. This article reviews the epidemiological findings and aims to shed awareness into the second generation outcome of an old drug in pregnant women.
Modelling the Absorption of Metformin with Patients Post Gastric Bypass

Purpose: Gastric bypass surgery in obesity shortens the length of the small intestine, which can have a significant impact on drug absorption. Literature reports that the observed drug absorption patterns after gastric bypass surgery are sometimes unexpected. One report states that the absorption of Metformin was higher after gastric bypass surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanistic background of the reported data using Advanced Compartmental Absorption and Transit (ACAT™) model and apply it to patient data with post gastric bypass surgery. Methods: GastroPlus™ 8 (Simulations Plus, Inc.) was used to develop a model that describes the observed absorption of an immediate release (IR) metformin tablet in healthy subjects. The data was taken from a published article that compared the absorption of metformin between a control group and post gastric bypass surgery patients. The model was fitted against the data for the control group and then used to predict the drug absorption in post gastric bypass surgery patients by changing the related GI parameters. All assumptions to explain the observed data, suggested in the literature, were tested by changing the appropriate parameters in the software. Results: As theoretically expected, GastroPlus™ underestimated the absorption of metformin in patients with post gastric bypass surgery due to the lesser absorption area. The increase in the pore size and porosity of the last part of the small intestine successfully predict the observed PK parameters. Changing other speculated parameters failed to predict the observed absorption pattern. Conclusion: The simulation of the observed absorption of metformin in post gastric bypass surgery patient was found where there was a change in the metformin gut paracellular permeability. This indicates that the gut must have undergone an adoption process to compensate for the loss of parts of the small intestine. The insights gained by this study can be used to predict the absorption of other drugs that have similar physiochemical properties like metformin. Computer simulations can be used to simulate the impact and mechanistic background of disease or other physiological changes like surgery on drug absorption.
A Case Study: Exploring Factors Affecting Lecturers’ Research Engagement in a University in the Mekong Delta Region

This case study investigates factors affecting the research engagement of the lecturers in a university in the Mekong Delta region, Vietnam. The study employed the interpretive qualitative case study approach with the use of three data collection tools (document analysis, surveys, and recorded semi-structured interviews). In this paper, the authors presented the survey findings of this study. The findings indicated that the lecturers’ research perceptions and their research engagement were affected by many factors. For research perceptions, the lecturers disagreed research perceived as a way to fulfil requirements. Factors such as a high salary , reduction of teaching loads , or promotion in management positions were considered unimportant to motivate their research engagement. Other factors like limited finance, time and facilities, and particularly a complex procedure to receive research funding and payments were substantial
The gap protein knirps mediates both quenching and direct repression in the Drosophila embryo.

Transcriptional repression is essential for establishing localized patterns of gene expression during Drosophila embryogenesis. Several mechanisms of repression have been proposed, including competition, quenching and direct repression of the transcription complex. Previous studies suggest that the knirps orphan receptor (kni) may repress transcription via competition, and exclude the binding of the bicoid (bcd) activator to an overlapping site in a target promoter. Here we present evidence that kni can quench, or locally inhibit, upstream activators within a heterologous enhancer in transgenic embryos. The range of kni repression is approximately 50–100 bp, so that neighboring enhancers in a modular promoter are free to interact with the transcription complex (enhancer autonomy). However, kni can also repress the transcription complex when bound in promoter‐proximal regions. In this position, kni functions as a dominant repressor and blocks multiple enhancers in a modular promoter. Our studies suggest that short‐range repression represents a flexible form of gene regulation, exhibiting enhancer‐ or promoter‐specific effects depending on the location of repressor binding sites.
Impact of reduced system inertia as a result of higher penetration levels of wind generation

As a consequence of higher levels of wind generation on power systems, the inertia which has been provided by conventional synchronous generators is reduced as a result of the introduction of newer, variable speed generators. This includes double-fed induction generators (DFIG) and fully rated converter generators (FRCG). With reduced system inertia, the likelihood of higher rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) levels in response to major system events is increased. Higher RoCoF has possible implications for conventional generation and can cause inadvertent tripping of anti-islanding protection systems. This paper presents the simulation results of a model power system with varying levels of wind generation penetration and examines the possible measures available to enhance inertia. In particular, the paper considers the control system requirements for wind generators providing emulated inertia capabilities.
6A.01: TREATMENT-INDUCED CHANGES IN AMBULATORY ARTERIAL STIFFNESS INDEX ONE-YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY AND META-ANALYSIS

Objective: The ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) has been introduced as an index of arterial function, predicting cardiovascular events. However, treatment-induced changes in AASI are rather equivocal. This study aimed to: (i) evaluate AASI changes in untreated subjects administered antihypertensive drug treatment for 1 year, and (ii) perform a meta-analysis of studies reporting on treatment-induced change in AASI. Design and method: Untreated hypertensive individuals were subjected to 1-year antihypertensive treatment based on renin-angiotensin system blocker. Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring and arterial stiffness assessment (AASI, pulse wave velocity) were performed at baseline and at the end of the follow up. A systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies was also performed. Results: A total of 104 subjects (mean age 51.4 ± 10.3 years, 62% males, mean follow up: 13.6 ± 2.4 months) were analysed. Despite significant reductions in 24-hour systolic/diastolic ABP, pulse pressure, and pulse wave velocity (mean decline 15.9 ± 12/10.4 ± 7.6 mmHg, 5.4 ± 6.8 mmHg, 0.7 ± 1.9 m/s respectively, all p < 0.05), there was no significant change in AASI values (0.01 ± 0.17, p = NS). The treatment-induced change in AASI was correlated with baseline AASI (r = -0.61), baseline 24-hour pulse pressure (-0.26), treatment-induced change in 24-hour pulse pressure (0.26) and systolic/diastolic nocturnal dipping (-0.25/-0.40 respectively). Meta-analysis of 8 trials (n = 990) revealed a marginal decrease in AASI with antihypertensive treatment (pooled change: -0.018, 95% CI: -0.033,-0.003). Additional analysis restricted to studies using only renin-angiotensin system blockers (n = 755, 76% of total) showed similar results (pooled change -0.028, 95% CI -0.048, -0.007). Conclusions: Although AASI has been shown to independently predict cardiovascular events, its response to antihypertensive treatment is only marginal and clinically uncertain, which may render its use as a therapeutic target in clinical practice questionable.
Testing hypotheses on the resistance to metals by Daphnia longispina: Differential acclimation, endpoints association, and fitness costs

Pollution by metals may lead to an increased tolerance in the exposed population through adaptive microevolution, with resistant genotypes becoming more abundant than in reference sites. This work investigated the outcomes associated with selection for resistance by testing three hypotheses to assess the following: Do resistant versus sensitive clonal lineages of Daphnia longispina differentially acclimate to metals during a long‐term sublethal exposure, is there a significant correlation between lethal and sublethal responses, and does resistance to metals entail costs to fitness under uncontaminated conditions? No evidence of acclimation was observed. The median effective dilutions of acid mine drainage for reproduction were similar for successive broods within clones during long‐term exposures. Lethal and sublethal responses were not correlated, indicating that mechanisms regulating the two types of response were more than likely different. Finally, fitness costs associated with the resistance to lethal levels of metals were not detected, but resistance to sublethal levels of Cu was found to be correlated with a lower intrinsic growth rate under control conditions. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:909–915. © 2012 SETAC
Very large scale simulations of materials failure

With present-day supercomputers, simulation is becoming a powerful tool for providing immediate insights into the nature of fracture dynamics. Atomistic simulations yield ab initio information about crack-tip formation and deformation at length-scales unattainable by experimental measurement and unpredictable by continuum elasticity theory. We will describe several atomistic dynamics studies concerning brittle fracture and ductile deformation.
Replicative Capacity of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmitted from Mother to Child Is Associated with Pediatric Disease Progression Rate

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected infants in the developing world typically progress to AIDS or death within the first 2 years of life. However, a minority progress relatively slowly. This study addresses the potential contribution of viral factors to HIV disease progression in eight infants selected from a well-characterized cohort of C clade HIV-infected infants, monitored prospectively from birth in Durban, South Africa. Three infants were defined as “progressors,” and five were defined as “slow progressors. ” We observed that slow-progressor infants carry HIV isolates with significantly lower replicative capacity compared to virus from progressors. Furthermore, our data suggest a link between the attenuated viral phenotype and HLA-B* 57/5801 epitope-specific Gag mutational patterns of the transmitted virus and not to coreceptor usage or to the presence of Nef deletions or insertions. These data underline the importance of virus-host interactions and highlight the contribution of viral attenuation through Gag-specific CD8+ T-cell escape mutations, among other factors, in the control of pediatric HIV infection.
Trends in attention to complementary and alternative medicine in the American medical literature

For decades, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been a topic of discussion within American medical journals. This research examines trends in the amount of coverage CAM receives in top professional journals in US medicine in order to ascertain if the timing of this discussion is linked to demographic, economic or political changes occurring in US society and affecting organized medicine. Pooled time series analyses of the number of published documents in five prestigious American medical journals between 1965 and 1999 were conducted, and findings of models with unlagged and lagged variables are presented. Results indicate that coverage of CAM is related to a proportionately older population, disability, innovation in health care financing and expanded licensing for non-physician health care providers. These associations point to a profession actively monitoring its competitors in a rapidly changing medical marketplace.
An Agent-Based Model for Information Diffusion over Online Social Networks

Abstract Online social networks have become a new channel for urban citizens to acquire information. The efficient information diffusion in their communities ensures wide awareness of updated special events. With agent-based models built on the NetLogo platform, I study information diffusion on online social networks with different simulated network structures. Outcomes from simulated networks and from a case study of real-world Twitter networks show that there exist a range of paired optimal propagation parameters that could mimic real-world information diffusion. It is found that the physical space and the process of information diffusion on the real retweet network over time still demonstrate a geographic pattern showing that a local city or a related city is more involved in a special event in the area.
Vibrio vulnificus biogroup 2: new biogroup pathogenic for eels

Clinical and nonclinical isolates of the lactose-positive Vibrio vulnificus were compared with Vibrio strains isolated from lesions on eels (Anguilla japonica) cultured commercially in Japan. Strains were compared phenotypically and antigenically, for pathogenicity to mice and eels, and for genetic relatedness. The strains isolated from diseased eels differed phenotypically from the original species description of V. vulnificus in that they were negative for indole production, ornithine decarboxylase activity, growth at 42 degrees C, and acid production from mannitol and sorbitol. No relationship between the surface antigens of V. vulnificus strains from environmental and clinical sources and the strains from diseased eels was observed. Typical V. vulnificus strains and the eel isolates were pathogenic to mice; however, only those strains originally isolated from diseased eels were found to be pathogenic to eels. Results of DNA-DNA competition experiments revealed that there was greater than 90% relative reassociation between clinical and nonclinical V. vulnificus and strains from diseased eels. Based on the results of the DNA-DNA competition experiments, we conclude that the strains isolated from diseased eels were V. vulnificus; however, the differences in phenotypic characteristics and eel pathogenicity indicated that these strains represent a different biogroup. Therefore, we propose that strains phenotypically similar to the type strain of the species (ATCC 27562) be classified as V. vulnificus biogroup 1 and the strains phenotypically similar to those isolated from diseased eels be classified as V. vulnificus biogroup 2 represented by the reference strain ATCC 33148.
How do knowledge workers cope with their everyday job

Knowledge work, which forms a large part of modern economy, often involves collaboration. In order not to overemphasise either the transactional or the communicative aspect of collaboration, attitudes and technologies may have to change. Data from a survey show how knowledge workers manage their time and tasks using straightforward office technologies. Enhanced context awareness could help both the communication initiator and the communication target. This is a matter of behaviour and a chance for technology.
Is situation awareness all in the mind?

This paper addresses the fundamental discipline theoretic question of whether situation awareness is a phenomenon best described by psychology, engineering or systems ergonomics. Each of these disciplines places a different emphasis on the notion of what situation awareness is and how it manifests itself. The approach from psychology places situation awareness as something that can only exist in the minds of people in a system. This means that the unit of analysis is the individual and that team situation awareness is the summation of individual situation awareness. The engineering perspective puts situation awareness in the world, represented in the artefacts and objects that people use. This means that the unit of analysis is the things that people interact with. Finally, the systems ergonomics perspective places emphasis on the interaction between people and their artefacts in the world, to propose that situation awareness functions like distributed cognition. This means that the unit of analysis is the whole socio-technical system. Each of these perspectives is presented and compared with reference to studies in aviation and other domains. It is concluded that the distributed cognition perspective of situation awareness offers the most comprehensive explanation of the phenomena observed in socio-technical systems. Socio-technical systems theory allows exploration of the social and technical sub-systems independently, which offers a theoretical framework for aligning the three views of situation awareness.