Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer disease: operating characteristics of PET--a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE To assess the operating characteristics of positron emission tomography (PET) by using fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Articles published between 1989 and 2003 were identified in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and HealthSTAR databases. Articles were selected if FDG PET was performed with a dedicated scanner and the resolution was specified, if standard criteria were used for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, if at least 12 human subjects with Alzheimer disease were enrolled in the study, if clinical diagnosis or histopathologic findings were used as the reference standard, and if sufficient data were provided to construct a 2 x 2 table. Two reviewers independently abstracted data regarding the operating characteristics (sensitivity and specificity) of PET and evaluated the study quality. A meta-analysis was performed by constructing a summary receiver operating characteristic curve and by combining the sensitivity and specificity values by using a random-effects model. RESULTS Fifteen articles that met the inclusion criteria showed heterogeneity in sensitivity and specificity estimates that were not related to quality features with no plausible explanations. The summary sensitivity of PET was 86% (95% CI: 76%, 93%), and the summary specificity was 86% (95% CI: 72%, 93%). CONCLUSION The specificity and sensitivity of FDG PET are limited by both study design and patient characteristics. Therefore, the clinical value of these parameters is uncertain; future research on the use of PET in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease needs to focus on current limitations to be of practical relevance in clinical settings.
The Effect of Plasma Exchange on the Expression of FOXP3 and RORC2 in Relapsed Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

BACKGROUND Lack of sufficient information on the mechanism of plasma exchange (PE) therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS), has limited this treatment to individual patients with severe relapses who have been refractory to other treatments. This is while PE is used very successfully as a first-line standard treatment in many other neuro-immune disorders. Recent data suggest that Treg/Th17 counterbalance may indicate the boundaries between promotion and regulation of inflammatory responses in MS and Treg/Th17 ratio may be useful as a marker for monitoring the efficiency of MS therapies. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of PE on the frequency and ratio of Treg/Th17 cells through concomitant measurement of the expression levels of Treg and Th17 lineage specific transcription factors, FOXP3 and RORC2, respectively. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 8 relapsed MS patients were obtained before and after a complete course of PE therapy and the FOXP3 and RORC2 mRNA levels were assayed using real-time PCR approach. RESULTS No significant change in the expression levels of individual transcription factors existed, but a significant increase in FOXP3/RORC2 ratio (p=0.036) was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PE therapy influences Treg/Th17 ratio and this may be a mechanism by which this procedure exerts its improving effects in MS disease.
Difference in dividen policy based on the growth potential of the company

Abctract. The purpose of the study, The research objective was to determine the difference in dividend policy between companies that have high growth potential with companies that have low growth potential. Research is a quantitative study. Mean difference test is preceded by Common Factor Analysis to analyze which factors in the Investment Opportunity Set can represent the growth ratio of the company so that it can be used to separate companies with high and low growth potential. Furthermore, the analysis is carried out with a regression model to determine the difference in dividend policy on the growth potential of different companies. The results showed that dividend policy proved to be significantly different in policy between companies that grew high and low and followed the pecking order theory. Keywords. Dividen Policy, Growth Potential of the Company. JEL. F43, N10, O10.
Grain size and porosity dependence of titanium dioxide nano-paste on sintering temperature for gas sensing application

If the material is being sintered, grain size of its particles will depend on the sintering temperature, time of the sintering and the pressure applied on the material while sintering. It is well known that on the lower sintering temperatures grain size of the nano material is relatively small and thus the active area is large. Due to the low sintering temperature, high material porosity is expected as well. With a decrease of grain size, gas sensitive materials have larger selectivity, higher sensitivity, sensor response increases steeply and they are more immune to poisoning. The core of the investigation is to observe the influence of sintering temperature on grain size of the TiO2 nano-paste and to determine its reflection on the material porosity. For the realization of gas sensors using Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) or High Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (HTCC) technology, specimens have to be sintered at relatively high temperatures. For the first interaction, custom-designed TiO2 nano-paste has been deposited on a sintered alumina (Al2O3) substrates using screen printing. Specimens have been sintered at peak temperatures in a range of 800 °C - 1500 °C for 30 minutes and afterwards they have been characterized with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy EDS.
Prediction of small molecules' metabolic pathways based on functional group composition.

How to correctly and efficiently determine small molecules' biological function is a challenge and has a positive effect on further metabonomics analysis. Here, we introduce a computational approach to address this problem. The new approach is based on AdaBoost method and featured by function group composition to the metabolic pathway analysis, which can fast and automatically map the small chemical molecules back to the possible metabolic pathway that they belong to. As a result, jackknife cross validation test and independent set test on the model reached 73.7% and 73.8%, respectively. It can be concluded that the current approach is very promising for mapping some unknown molecules' possible metabolic pathway. An online predictor developed by this research is available at http://chemdata.shu. edu.cn/pathway.
Autonomous vehicle sequencing problem for a multi-intersection network: A genetic algorithm approach

This paper addresses a vehicle sequencing problem at multiple intersections under the framework of Autonomous Intersection Management (AIM). In the context of AIM, there is no more traffic signals. Autonomous vehicles are considered as independent individuals and the traffic control aims at deciding an efficient vehicle passing sequence. Since there are considerable vehicle passing combinations, how to find an efficient vehicle passing sequence in a short time becomes a big challenge. In this paper, we present a genetic algorithm based on these basic groups is designed to find an optimal or near-optimal vehicle passing sequence. Computational experiments and simulation results show that the traffic condition can be dramatically improved by applying our algorithm.
New Advances in Vaccine Technology and Improved Cervical Cancer Prevention

Cervical cancer, which is caused by oncogenic types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), is the second most common cancer in women, responsible for 274,000 deaths worldwide in 2002. Approximately 70% of all cervical cancers are caused by the two most common oncogenic HPV types, HPV-16 and HPV-18; another 10% are caused by the next most common types, HPV-45 and HPV-31. Therefore, vaccines designed to prevent infection with oncogenic HPV types have the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Vaccinology research recently has developed tools that may be used to improve the safety and efficacy of vaccines, and several of these tools have been used in the development of HPV vaccines. These advances include new insight into antigen selection, inclusion of adjuvants designed to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines, and investigation into alternative routes of administration. Clinical studies of HPV vaccines that take advantage of these technological advances have reported excellent safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy results for prevention of HPV infection and incidence of associated cytopathologic abnormalities.
Sodium channel expression in NGF‐overexpressing transgenic mice

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons depend on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival during development, and for the maintenance of phenotypic expression of neuropeptides in the adult. NGF also plays a role in the regulation of expression of functional sodium channels in both PC12 cells and DRG neurons. Transgenic mice that overexpress NGF under the keratin promoter (hyper‐NGF mice) show increased levels of NGF in the skin from embryonic day 11 through adulthood, hypertrophy of the peripheral nervous system and mechanical hyperalgesia. We show here that mRNA levels for specific sodium channel isotypes are greater in small (<30 μm diameter) DRG neurons from hyper‐NGF mice compared to wild‐type mice. Hybridization signals for sodium channel subunits αII and β2 displayed the most substantial enhancement in hyper‐NGF mice, compared to wild‐type mice DRG, and mRNA levels for αI, NaG, Na6, SNS/PN3, NaN, and β1 were also greater in hyper‐NGF DRG. In contrast, the levels of αII and PN1 mRNAs were similar in neurons from hyper‐NGF and wild‐type DRG. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp studies showed no significant differences in the peak sodium current densities in hyper‐NGF vs. wild‐type DRG neurons. These data demonstrate that DRG neurons in wild‐type mice have a heterogeneous pattern of sodium channel expression, which is similar to that previously described in rat, and suggest that transcripts of some, but not all, sodium channel mRNAs can be modulated by long‐term overexpression of NGF. J. Neurosci. Res. 57:39–47, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Understanding the role of age in HIV disclosure rates and patterns for HIV-infected children in southwestern Uganda

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has enabled HIV-infected children to survive into adolescence and adulthood, creating need for their own HIV diagnosis disclosure. Disclosure has numerous social and medical benefits for the child and family; however, disclosure rates tend to be low, especially in developing countries, and further understanding of the barriers is needed. This study describes the patterns and correlates of disclosure among HIV-infected children in southwestern Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a referral hospital pediatric HIV clinic between February and April 2012. Interviews were administered to caregivers of HIV-infected children aged 5–17 years. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics of the child and caregiver, reported disclosure status, and caregivers' reasons for full disclosure or non-full disclosure of HIV status to their children. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done to establish the socio-demographic correlates of disclosure. Caregivers provided data for 307 children; the median age was eight years (interquartile range [IQR] 7–11) and 52% were males. Ninety-five (31%) children had received full disclosure (48% of whom were >12 years), 22 children (7%) had received partial disclosure, 39 (13%) misinformation, and 151 (49%) no disclosure. Full disclosure was significantly more prevalent among the 9–11 and 12- to 17-year-olds compared to 5- to 8-year-olds (p-value < 0.001). The most frequently stated reason for disclosure was the hope that disclosure would improve medication adherence; the most frequently stated reason for nondisclosure was the belief that the child was too young to understand his/her illness. There was an inverse relationship between age and full disclosure and partial disclosure was rare across all age groups, suggesting a pattern of rapid, late disclosure. Disclosure programs should emphasize the importance of gradual disclosure, starting at younger ages, to maximize the benefits to the child and caregiver.
Design and Implementation of a Monitoring System Based on IPFIX Protocol

Today measuring traffic is an essential tool for controlling and engineering communication networks and must provide useful information about flow states for network administrator. In this paper we present a measurement system for monitoring IP networks based on IPFIX (IP Flow Information eXport Protocol). This passive monitoring system can provide network operators with detailed information about the traffic traversing a network. Packet traces can provide information about the performance experienced by flows and other characteristics of the traffic, such as packet sizes, packet loss, one way delay and delay variation. We used the well-known database MySQL to store and retrieve data. The meter/exporter and collector process were implemented in the Linux operating system environment. The proposed monitoring system was tested in a campus network.
Functional MYCN signature predicts outcome of neuroblastoma irrespective of MYCN amplification

Neuroblastoma is a pediatric tumor of the sympathetic nervous system. MYCN (V-myc myelocytomatosis viral-related oncogene, neuroblastoma derived [avian]) is amplified in 20% of neuroblastomas, and these tumors carry a poor prognosis. However, tumors without MYCN amplification also may have a poor outcome. Here, we identified downstream targets of MYCN by shRNA-mediated silencing MYCN in neuroblastoma cells. From these targets, 157 genes showed an expression profile correlating with MYCN mRNA levels in NB88, a series of 88 neuroblastoma tumors, and therefore represent in vivo relevant MYCN pathway genes. This 157-gene signature identified very poor prognosis tumors in NB88 and independent neuroblastoma cohorts and was more powerful than MYCN amplification or MYCN expression alone. Remarkably, this signature also identified poor outcome of a group of tumors without MYCN amplification. Most of these tumors have low MYCN mRNA levels but high nuclear MYCN protein levels, suggesting stabilization of MYCN at the protein level. One tumor has an MYC amplification and high MYC expression. Chip-on-chip analyses showed that most genes in this signature are directly regulated by MYCN. MYCN induces genes functioning in cell cycle and DNA repair while repressing neuronal differentiation genes. The functional MYCN-157 signature recognizes classical neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification, as well as a newly identified group marked by MYCN protein stabilization.
Rare Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Regulatory Regions of the Superoxide Dismutase Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Oxidative stress is suspected to be one of the several contributing factors in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We analyzed genes of the superoxide dismutase family (SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3) that are part of a major antioxidative stress system in human in order to detect the genetic variants contributing to the development of ASD. Using the optimized high‐resolution melting (HRM) analysis, we identified two rare single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the etiology of ASD. Both are located in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene and have a minor allele frequency in healthy population ∼5%. The SNP c.239 + 34A>C (rs2234694) and SNP g.3341C>G (rs36233090) were detected with an odds ratio of 2.65 and P < 0.01. Both are located in the noncoding potentially regulatory regions of the SOD1 gene. This adds to the importance of rare SNPs in the etiology of complex diseases as well as to the importance of noncoding genetic variants analysis with a potential influence on the regulation of gene expression. Autism Res 2014, 7: 138–144. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Steroid Hormone Transforming Aldo‐Keto Reductases and Cancer

Prostate and breast cancer are hormone‐dependent malignancies of the aging male and female and require the local production of androgens and estrogens to stimulate cell proliferation. Aldo‐keto reductases (AKR) play key roles in this process. In the prostate, AKR1C3 (type 5 17β‐HSD) reduces Δ4‐androstene‐3,17‐dione to yield testosterone while AKR1C2 (type 3 3α‐HSD) eliminates 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (5α‐DHT), and AKR1C1 forms 3β‐androstanediol (a ligand for ERβ). In the breast, AKR1C3 forms testosterone, which is converted to 17β‐estradiol by aromatase or reduces estrone to 17β‐estradiol directly. AKR1C3 also acts as a prostaglandin (PG) F synthase and forms PGF2α and 11β‐PGF2α, which stimulate the FP receptor and prevent the activation of PPARγ by PGJ2 ligands. This proproliferative signaling may stimulate the growth of hormone‐dependent and ‐independent prostate and breast cancer.
La prévention chez la personne âgée en médecine générale : Enquête auprès de 77 médecins généralistes en Lorraine

Les differentes reformes du systeme de soins francais (Loi de Sante Publique d'Aout 2004 et loi HPST du 21 Juillet 2009) ont confirme l'importance du role des Medecins Generalistes (MG) en matiere de sante publique, et particulierement dans la prevention. De nombreuses enquetes ont montre que ces derniers acceptaient globalement cette mission. Dans un contexte de vieillissement de la population, nous avons interroge 150 MG lorrains, par autoquestionnaire, pour connaitre leur opinion sur la prevention de certaines pathologies specifiques des personnes âgees au sein de leur cabinet. 77 MG ont accepte de retourner le questionnaire (taux de participation de 51.3%). L'analyse de ces questionnaires fait ressortir plusieurs constats. Les MG de notre echantillon reconnaissent quasi-unanimement l'importance de leur role en matiere de prevention primaire, secondaire, tertiaire et au niveau individuel, mais ne sont plus que 3/4 pour la prevention collective. Toutes les circonstances ne sont pas propices a la realisation d'actes de prevention. Globalement les MG portent un interet important a la prevention mais le temps qu'ils lui consacrent et l'efficacite qu'ils ressentent, ne sont pas proportionnels. Nous observons egalement que les cinq groupes de pathologies selectionnees, ne suscitent pas le meme engouement chez nos repondants. Par ailleurs le manque de temps des MG et de motivation des patients sont les freins les plus frequemment cites a la bonne realisation d'une pratique preventive. L'instauration d'une consultation de prevention et les campagnes d'information mediatiques sont les propositions qui seduisent le plus les MG, pour ameliorer la pratique preventive.
The Horizontal-Vertical Illusion: Transfer of Illusion Decrement

Subjects first adjusted 20 vertical lines to be equal in length to the horizontal line in small or large inverted-T figures and were then given 10 additional trials on the other size figure. Vertical lines were made significantly shorter than the horizontal line but accuracy gradually improved and performance was not disrupted by the switch in figure size. By Trial 30, adjusted vertical lines did not differ from the length of the horizontal line. Other subjects were first tested on the small inverted-T figure and then asked to produce 1-in. lines in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane. These subjects also improved on the adjustment task but, on the production task, were no more accurate than control subjects who were not given practice on the adjustment task. Thus, the magnitude of the Horizontal-Vertical Illusion decreases with practice alone and this practice effect readily transfers to figures of other sizes but not to an alternate form of the illusion. The potential factors responsible for the improvement and transfer are discussed.
Identification of a synthetic muramyl peptide derivative with enhanced Nod2 stimulatory capacity

Muramyl peptides (MPs) represent the building blocks of bacterial peptidoglycan, a critical component of bacterial cell walls. MPs are well characterized for their immunomodulatory properties, and numerous studies have delineated the role of MPs or synthetic MP analogs in host defense, adjuvanticity and inflammation. More recently, Nod1 and Nod2 have been identified as the host sensors for specific MPs, and, in particular, Nod2 was shown to detect muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a MP found in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cell walls. Because mutations in Nod2 are associated with the etiology of Crohn’s disease, there is a need to identify synthetic MP analogs that could potentiate Nod2-dependent immunity. Here, we analyzed the Nod2-activating property of 36 MP analogs that had been tested previously for their adjuvanticity and anti-infectious activity. Using a luciferase-based screen, we demonstrate that addition of a methyl group to the second amino acid of MDP generates a MDP derivative with enhanced Nod2-activating capacity. We further validated these results in murine macrophages, human dendritic cells and in vivo. These results offer a basis for the rational development of synthetic MPs that could be used in the treatment of inflammatory disorders that have been associated with Nod2 dysfunction, such as Crohn’s disease.
Semantic characteristics prediction of pulmonary nodule using Artificial Neural Networks

Since it is difficult to choose which computer calculated features are effective to predict the malignancy of pulmonary nodules, in this study, we add a semantic-level of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) structure to improve intuition of features selection. The works of this study include two: 1) seeking the relationships between computer-calculated features and medical semantic concepts which could be understood by human; 2) providing an objective assessment method to predict the malignancy from semantic characteristics. We used 60 thoracic CT scans collected from the Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) database, in which the suspicious lesions had been delineated and annotated by 4 radiologists independently. Corresponding to the two works of this study, correlation analysis experiment and agreement experiment were performed separately.
The Economic Effects of Big Events: Evidence from the Great Jubilee 2000 in Rome

This paper assesses the short‐ and long‐term economic impact of the 2000 Great Jubilee, the foremost Catholic event occurring every 25 years, on the city of Rome's economy. By applying the synthetic control approach, we find that the value added per capita increases slightly in the short term, whereas in the long term it is not significantly different from what it would have been if Rome had not hosted the Jubilee. However, we do find a significant effect on the employment rate. Consistent with these findings, we document a shift of the local economy toward less productive sectors, such as construction and services requiring lower skills, and an overall productivity loss with respect to the counterfactual scenario. The investment in infrastructure, facilities, and urban refurbishment did not significantly increase housing prices in the long term, with the exception of peripheral residential areas, which experienced an appreciation.