Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatocellular carcinoma presenting as bone metastasis

In a consecutive series of 395 patients with pathologically verified hepatocellular carcinoma, 20 patients (5%) had bone metastasis at initial presentation. Of these, 16 were men and four women ranging from 26 to 64 years of age (median, 50 years). The age, sex, hepatitis B surface antigen seroposivity, alpha‐fetoprotein level, and frequency of associated cirrhosis were not statistically different from those in patients without initial bone metastasis. Initial presentation was usually the result of spinal lesion with neurologic compression, and chest wall or scalp mass. Metastasis most commonly involved spine and ribs, and occurred as osteolytic lesions or extrapleural mass. Computed tomography proved best for demonstrating an expansile soft tissue mass with bony destruction. Angiography showed hypervascular appearance over the destructive bone area. Treatment results were poor. The follow‐up period ranged from 3 weeks to 14 months with a median survival of 5 months. The data suggested that hepatocellular carcinoma be ruled out in patients with osteolytic lesions.
The “Parts and Wholes” of Face Recognition: A Review of the Literature

It has been claimed that faces are recognized as a “whole” rather than by the recognition of individual parts. In a paper published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology in 1993, Martha Farah and I attempted to operationalize the holistic claim using the part/whole task. In this task, participants studied a face and then their memory presented in isolation and in the whole face. Consistent with the holistic view, recognition of the part was superior when tested in the whole-face condition compared to when it was tested in isolation. The “whole face” or holistic advantage was not found for faces that were inverted, or scrambled, nor for non-face objects, suggesting that holistic encoding was specific to normal, intact faces. In this paper, we reflect on the part/whole paradigm and how it has contributed to our understanding of what it means to recognize a face as a “whole” stimulus. We describe the value of part/whole task for developing theories of holistic and non-holistic recognition of faces and objects. We discuss the research that has probed the neural substrates of holistic processing in healthy adults and people with prosopagnosia and autism. Finally, we examine how experience shapes holistic face recognition in children and recognition of own- and other-race faces in adults. The goal of this article is to summarize the research on the part/whole task and speculate on how it has informed our understanding of holistic face processing.
Risk factors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in Indonesian children living with a sputum smear-positive case.

SETTING AND OBJECTIVES Young children living with infectious tuberculosis (TB) cases are at high risk of infection and disease, and screening is recommended. This is rarely conducted in resource-limited settings. Identifying children most at risk of infection may be useful for setting practical screening policies. DESIGN Child contacts of smear-positive adult TB patients were invited for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease screening by symptoms, tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay (QFT-GIT) and chest X-ray. Risk factors for infection were collected using a questionnaire and were calculated separately for TST, for QFT-GIT and for both tests combined. RESULTS Of 304 screened children 145/302 (48%) were positive using TST, 152/299 (51%) by QFT-GIT and 180/304 (59%) were positive using either or both tests. Positivity for both tests was associated with index case infectivity (acid-fast bacilli [AFB] 3+ vs. AFB 1+: TST OR 2.93, 95%CI 1.59-5.39; QFT-GIT OR 2.28, 95%CI 1.06-4.90) and exposure (child contact's parent is the index case: TST OR 7.04, 95%CI 2.23-22.28; QFT-GIT OR 4.30, 95%CI 1.48-12.45). CONCLUSION M. tuberculosis infection according to either test was high, supporting screening and preventive treatment. Children of smear-positive TB cases who accompany their parents to the clinic should be prioritised for immediate screening.
A Decision-Tree Classifier for Extracting Transparent Plastic-Mulched Landcover from Landsat-5 TM Images

The area of plastic-mulched landcover (PML), an important agricultural landscape, is increasing rapidly at a rate of 20% per year globally. However, the spatial and temporal distributions of PML have been poorly understood because of lack of effective technology to extract PML for large geographic areas. This paper presents a decision-tree classifier for extracting the transparent PML information from Landsat-5 TM images. The classifier was built with rules obtained from analyzing the spectral characteristics of transparent PML on Landsat-5 TM images, covering the study area of in Xinjiang, the largest PML-based cotton plantation provinces in China. Then, the classifier was applied at the study area for years 1998, 2007, and 2011. Results indicate that the classifier successfully extracted the PML from Landsat-5 TM images at overall accuracies of 97.82%, 85.27%, and 95.00% and Kappa coefficients of 0.9782, 0.80, and 0.93 for years 2011, 2007, and 1998, respectively. The results also imply that the decision-tree classifier is temporally stable and can be applied in different years. Visual comparison of the results with the high-spatial resolution images on Google Earth also shows that detected locations of PML are correct. The study shows that the classifier is an effective method for extracting PML for large geographic areas from Landsat-5 TM. Because of the long history of global coverages as well as free availability of Landsat-5 TM images, it is feasible to map the spatio-temporal dynamics of PML over large geographic areas with the technologies presented in this paper.
Pilot study of local radiotherapy for portal vein tumor thrombus in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) generally have a poor prognosis. We therefore conducted a prospective pilot trial of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and local radiotherapy (RT) for PVTT in unresectable HCC. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of this preliminary trial regime and to explore RT guidelines for cirrhosis. METHODS Eight patients with unresectable HCC accompanied by first branch PVTT were entered into the study from February 1998 to December 1999. TACE was performed using Lipiodol, epirubicin hydrochloride and mytomycin followed by gelatin sponge cubes. RT was started 10-14 days following TACE. A total delivered dose of 60 Gy was given as daily 2 Gy fractions, with the clinical target volume defined as PVTT only. We observed a relationship between deterioration of liver function and the percent volume of the total liver receiving a dose exceeding 30 Gy (V30). RESULTS An objective response was observed in three of the eight patients. However, on follow-up angiograms the protrusion of PVTT into the main portal trunk was decreased in all cases. Deterioration of liver function was observed in all patients with V30 >40%. CONCLUSION It is possible that this combined therapy prevents PVTT from spreading to the main trunk and that indicates a further benefit of TACE. Our results indicate that V30 constitutes a predictive test for the development of liver failure. More detailed evaluations of liver function and determination of the safe irradiation volume are necessary.
Effects of dietary coenzyme Q10 supplementation on hepatic mitochondrial function and the activities of respiratory chain-related enzymes in ascitic broiler chickens

1. One hundred and sixty 1-d-old Arbor Acre male broiler chicks were fed with maize–soybean based diets for 6 weeks in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment. The factors were CoQ10 supplementation (0 or 40 mg/kg) and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge (LPS or saline). 2. CoQ10 was supplemented from d 1. From d 18, the chickens received three weekly i.p. injections of LPS (1·0 mg/kg BW) or an equivalent amount of sterile saline as control. From d 10 on, all chickens were exposed to low ambient temperature (12 to 15°C) to induce ascites. 3. The blood packed cell volume and ascites heart index of broiler chickens were reduced by dietary CoQ10 supplementation. Mitochondrial State 3 and State 4 respiration, respiratory control ratio and phosphate oxygen ratio were not changed, but H+/site stoichiometry of complex II + III was elevated by dietary CoQ10 supplementation. 4. Cytochrome c oxidase and H+-ATPase activity were increased by CoQ10 supplementation, whereas NADH cytochrome c reductase and succinate cytochrome c reductase were not influenced. Mitochondrial anti-ROS capability was increased and malondialdehyde content was decreased by CoQ10 supplementation. 5. The work suggested that dietary CoQ10 supplementation could reduce broiler chickens’ susceptibility to ascites, which might be the result of improving hepatic mitochondrial function, some respiratory chain-related enzymes activities and mitochondrial antioxidative capability.
Involvement of TLR2 and TLR4 and Th1/Th2 shift in inflammatory responses induced by fine ambient particulate matter in mice

Epidemiologic studies have reported the association between fine particles (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm; PM2.5) and health effects, but the immunological mechanisms are not clear. To investigate the dose and time-dependent role of toll-like receptor (TLR) and Th1/Th2 shift in local and systemic inflammation induced by PM2.5, mice were subjected to intratracheal instillation of 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg PM2.5 in this study. After 24 h, 72 h, 7 days, and 14 days, mice were sacrificed to measure TLR2 and TLR4 expressions and Th1/Th2 related cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood. Histopathological changes in lung were also examined. Inflammatory infiltration and macrophages with engulfed particles were found by lung histopathology after PM2.5 exposure. TLR4 positive cells decreased in BALF but increased in blood at 24 h after the exposure. The low percentage of TLR4 positive cells continued to day 14 in BALF, but recovered at day 7 and decreased further to lower than the control value at day 14 in blood. TLR2 positive cell changed similar to TLR4 in BALF on the dose effects. In BALF at 24 h after the exposure, the Th2 related cytokines IL-5 and IL-10 increased dose-dependently; and in blood, the Th2 related cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 also increased. These results suggest that acute exposure of PM2.5 leads to acute inflammatory responses locally and systemically in mice. TLR2 and TLR4 are involved in this process and PM2.5 can drive a Th2-biased immune response.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in Acute Leukemia at Presentation and During Induction Therapy

Between January 2001 and December 2003, 67 patients with acute leukemia were evaluated prospectively for hemostatic abnormality at presentation, of which 43 (64.2%) had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 24 (35.8%) had acute myelogenous leukemia. At presentation, 27 patients (40.3%) had bleeding manifestations. Thrombocytopenia was present in 57 patients (85%), and 33(49.3%) had some abnormality of global coagulation markers. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was defined by International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis criteria. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was more often associated with bleeding manifestations in acute myelogenous leukemia cases than in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases. Two patients presented disseminated intravascular coagulation on day 7 of chemotherapy, without any bleeding manifestations. Four of 15 evaluated cases who had a bleeding or infection complication after day 7 of induction therapy also had disseminated intravascular coagulation. It is recommended that all patients with leukemia be investigated for disseminated intravascular coagulation at presentation.
Role of gene order in developmental control of human gamma- and beta-globin gene expression

To determine the effect of gene order on globin gene developmental regulation, we produced transgenic mice containing two tandemly arranged gamma- or beta-globin or gamma beta- and beta gamma-globin genes linked to a 2.5-kb cassette containing sequences of the locus control region (LCR). Analysis of constructs containing two identical gamma or beta genes assessed the effect of gene order on globin gene expression, while analysis of constructs containing tandemly arranged gamma and beta genes assessed any additional effects of the trans-acting environment. When two gamma genes were tandemly linked to the LCR, expression from the proximal gamma gene was three- to fourfold higher than expression from the distal gamma gene, and the ratio of proximal to distal gene expression remained unchanged throughout development. Similarly, when two beta genes were tandemly linked to the LCR, the proximal beta gene was predominantly expressed throughout development. These results indicate that proximity to LCR increases gene expression, perhaps by influencing the frequency of interaction between the LCR and globin gene promoters. An arrangement where the gamma gene was proximal and the beta gene distal to the LCR resulted in predominant gamma-gene expression in the embryo. When the order was reversed and the gamma gene was placed distally to the LCR, gamma-gene expression in the embryo was still up to threefold higher than expression of the LCR-proximal beta gene. These findings suggest that the embryonic trans-acting environment interacts preferentially with the gamma genes irrespective of their order or proximity to the LCR. We conclude that promoter competition rather than gene order plays the major role in globin gene switching.
Nitrate regulation of anaerobic respiratory gene expression in Escherichia coli

Synthesis of most anaerobic respiratory pathways is subject to dual regulation by anaerobiosis and nitrate. Anaerobic induction is mediated by the FNR protein. Dual interacting two‐component regulatory systems mediate nitrate induction and repression. The response regulator protein NARL binds DNA to control nitrate induction and repression of genes encoding nitrate respiration enzymes and alternate anaerobic respiratory enzymes, respectively. The homologous protein NARP controls nitrite induction of at least two operons. Nitrate and nitrite signalling are both mediated by the homologous sensor proteins NARX and NARQ. Recent mutational analyses have defined a heptamer sequence necessary for specific DNA binding by the NARL protein. These heptamers are located at different positions in the control regions of different operons. The NARL protein‐binding sites in the narG (nitrate reductase) and narK (nitrate‐nitrite antiporter) operon control regions are located approximately 200 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site. The integration host factor (IHF) greatly stimulates nitrate induction of these operons, indicating that a specific DNA loop brings NARL protein, bound at the upstream region, into the proximity of the promoter for transcription activation. Other NARL protein‐dependent operons do not require IHF for nitrate induction, and the arrangement of NARL heptamer sequences in these control regions is quite different. This complexity of signal transduction pathways, coupled with the diversity of control region architecture, combine to provide many interesting areas for future investigation. An additional challenge is to determine how or if the FNR and NARL proteins interact to mediate dual positive control of transcription initiation.
Rimonabant, a CB1 antagonist, blocks nicotine-conditioned place preferences

The effects of Rimonabant (SR141716), an antagonist at cannabinoid CB1 receptors, were evaluated in animal models for subjective and rewarding effects of nicotine. Acute administration of 1 or 3 mg/kg SR141716 blocked expression of nicotine-induced conditioned place preferences. SR141716 (0.3–3 mg/kg) was also studied in rats trained to discriminate nicotine from saline under a fixed-ratio schedule of food delivery. In contrast to nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion, SR141716 did not have nicotine-like discriminative effects and did not alter the dose–response curve for nicotine discrimination. These findings support the proposed use of SR141716 for smoking cessation and indicate that it would selectively reduce the influence of environmental stimuli that contribute to persistent smoking behavior, without affecting subjective responses to nicotine.
Dealing with imperfections in human speech communication with advanced speech processing techniques

Speech is the most preferred and natural modality of communication for human beings. Along the human speech communication pathway, there are many imperfections that may obstruct the information flow. Speech processing has been applied, in one way or another, to address such imperfections and restore effective speech communication. In this paper, we advocate the great potential of applying signal processing methods to deal with problems of speech and hearing disorders. We give many examples of applications in assessment and rehabilitation of voice, speech and hearing impairments. Some of our recent works are described in detail. They include new speech enhancement methods and cochlear implant processing strategies to improve speech perception of hearing-impaired people who speak tonal languages, and an artificial voice box that can help people without larynx to speak with natural voice.
Factors predicting the clinical course of generalised anxiety disorder

Background Cross-sectional data show that generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition with episodes lasting much longer than the six-month minimum required by DSM–III–R and DSM–IV. Although GAD is chronic, little is known about factors influencing illness duration. Aims To investigate variables that influence the clinical course of GAD. Method A total of 167 patients with GAD participated in the Harvard–Brown Anxiety Research Program. Patients were assessed at intake and re-examined at six- to twelve-month intervals for five years. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to assess the likelihood of remission. Regression analysis was used to investigate factors predicting full or partial remission. Results The rate of remission was 0.38 after five years. Diminished likelihood of remission was associated with low overall life satisfaction, poor spousal or family relationships, a concurrent cluster B or C personality disorder and a low global assessment score. Conclusions Full or partial remissions were less likely to occur in patients with poor relationships and personality disorders. These patients should be given more intensive and possibly multi-modal therapy.
Verbal learning differences in chronic mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract Following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), a percentage of individuals report chronic memory and attention difficulties. Traditional neuropsychological assessments often fail to find evidence for such complaints. We hypothesized that mild TBI patients may, in fact, experience subtle cognitive deficits that reflect diminished initial acquisition that can be explained by changes in cerebral white matter microstructure. In the data presented here, a sample of nonlitigating and gainfully employed mild TBI patients demonstrated statistically significant differences from age and education matched control participants in performance on the first trial of a verbal learning task. Performance on this trial was associated with reduced fractional anisotropy in the uncinate fasciculus and the superior longitudinal fasciculus providing an anatomical correlate for the cognitive findings. Mild TBI patients were not impaired relative to control participants on total learning or memory composite variables. Performance on the first learning trial was not related to any psychological variables including mood. We concluded that patients with mild TBI demonstrate diminished verbal learning that is not often interpreted in standard neuropsychological assessment. (JINS, 2010, 16, 506–516.)
Fatal work-related farm injuries in Canada, 1991-1995. Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program.

BACKGROUND Studies from other developed countries have shown that agriculture is among the most dangerous occupational sectors in terms of work-related deaths. The authors describe the occurrence of fatal work-related farm injuries in Canada and compare these rates with those in other Canadian industries. METHODS The authors present a descriptive, epidemiological analysis of data from the recently established Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program. The study population comprised Canadians who died from work-related farm injuries between 1991 and 1995. Crude, age-standardized, age-specific and provincial rates of such injuries are presented, as are overall death rates in other Canadian industries. Other factors examined were the people involved, the mechanism of injury, and the place and time of injury. RESULTS There were 503 deaths from work-related farm injuries during the study period, for an overall annual rate of 11.6 deaths per 100,000 farm population. Modest excesses in this rate were observed in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. High rates were observed among men of all ages and among elderly people. Among the cases that listed the person involved, farm owner-operators accounted for 60.2% of the people killed. There was no substantial increase or decrease in the annual number of deaths over the 5 years of study. The leading mechanisms of fatal injury included tractor rollovers, blind runovers (person not visible by driver), extra-rider runovers, and entanglements in machinery. Compared with other industries, agriculture appears to be the fourth most dangerous in Canada in terms of fatal injury, behind mining, logging and forestry, and construction. INTERPRETATION Canada now has a national registry for the surveillance of fatal farm injuries. Farming clearly is among the most dangerous occupations in Canada in terms of fatal work-related injuries. Secondary analyses of data from this registry suggest priorities for prevention, continued surveillance and in-depth research.
TRICOT encodes an AMP1-related carboxypeptidase that regulates root nodule development and shoot apical meristem maintenance in Lotus japonicus

During the course of evolution, mainly leguminous plants have acquired the ability to form de novo structures called root nodules. Recent studies on the autoregulation and hormonal controls of nodulation have identified key mechanisms and also indicated a possible link to other developmental processes, such as the formation of the shoot apical meristem (SAM). However, our understanding of nodulation is still limited by the low number of nodulation-related genes that have been identified. Here, we show that the induced mutation tricot (tco) can suppress the activity of spontaneous nodule formation 2, a gain-of-function mutation of the cytokinin receptor in Lotus japonicus. Our analyses of tco mutant plants demonstrate that TCO positively regulates rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis. Defects in auxin regulation are also observed during nodule development in tco mutants. In addition to its role in nodulation, TCO is involved in the maintenance of the SAM. The TCO gene was isolated by a map-based cloning approach and found to encode a putative glutamate carboxypeptidase with greatest similarity to Arabidopsis ALTERED MERISTEM PROGRAM 1, which is involved in cell proliferation in the SAM. Taken together, our analyses have not only identified a novel gene for regulation of nodule organogenesis but also provide significant additional evidence for a common genetic regulatory mechanism in nodulation and SAM formation. These new data will contribute further to our understanding of the evolution and genetic basis of nodulation.