Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A web-based computer aided system for liver surgery planning: initial implementation on RayPlus

At present, computer aided systems for liver surgery design and risk evaluation are widely used in clinical all over the world. However, most systems are local applications that run on high-performance workstations, and the images have to processed offline. Compared with local applications, a web-based system is accessible anywhere and for a range of regardless of relative processing power or operating system. RayPlus (http://rayplus.life.hust.edu.cn), a B/S platform for medical image processing, was developed to give a jump start on web-based medical image processing. In this paper, we implement a computer aided system for liver surgery planning on the architecture of RayPlus. The system consists of a series of processing to CT images including filtering, segmentation, visualization and analyzing. Each processing is packaged into an executable program and runs on the server side. CT images in DICOM format are processed step by to interactive modeling on browser with zero-installation and server-side computing. The system supports users to semi-automatically segment the liver, intrahepatic vessel and tumor from the pre-processed images. Then, surface and volume models are built to analyze the vessel structure and the relative position between adjacent organs. The results show that the initial implementation meets satisfactorily its first-order objectives and provide an accurate 3D delineation of the liver anatomy. Vessel labeling and resection simulation are planned to add in the future. The system is available on Internet at the link mentioned above and an open username for testing is offered.
Tumor cell survival and resistance to therapy

The primary reason for the failure to cure patients with cancer remains the development of multiple mechanisms of resistance to cytotoxic agents. The two major effectors of tumor cell killing include genotoxic agents and cell‐mediated immunity. Genotoxic agents function primarily by initiating pathways leading to apoptosis or programmed cell death, whereas immune‐mediate cytotoxicity utilizes both programmed cell death‐promoting as well as cytolytic processes. The mechanisms leading to treatment resistance initially involve alterations in the way tumor cells transport, metabolize, and provide substrates for cytotoxic agents. Beyond these specific mechanisms, tumor cells may also express alterations in the regulators and effectors of apoptotic death, thus creating a more generalized resistance pattern. Through a variety of other mechanisms, tumor cells may also decrease specific antigen expression or the ability to costimulate T lymphocytes. The result of antigen recognition in the absence of costimulation can lead to antigen‐specific tolerance, which may also represent a major form of escape from immune‐mediated killing. The elucidation of these mechanisms of resistance to therapy and tumor cell survival should form the basis for the development of more effective therapies.
Renal Vascular Resistance in Sepsis

Aims: To assess changes in renal vascular resistance (RVR) in human and experimental sepsis and to identify determinants of RVR. Methods: We performed a systematic interrogation of two electronic reference libraries using specific search terms. Subjects were animals and patients involved in experimental and human studies of sepsis and septic acute renal failure, in which the RVR was assessed. We obtained all human and experimental articles reporting RVR during sepsis. We assessed the role of various factors that might influence the RVR during sepsis using statistical methods. Results: We found no human studies, in which the renal blood flow (and, therefore, the RVR) was measured with suitably accurate direct methods. Of the 137 animal studies identified, 52 reported a decreased RVR, 16 studies reported no change in RVR, and 69 studies reported an increased RVR. Consciousness of animals, duration of measurement, method of induction of sepsis, and fluid administration had no effect on the RVR. On the other hand, on univariate analysis, size of the animals (p<0.001), technique of measurement (p = 0.017), recovery after surgery (p = 0.004), and cardiac output (p <0.001) influenced the RVR. Multivariate analysis, however, showed that only cardiac output (p = 0.028) and size of the animals (p = 0.031) remained independent determinants of the RVR. Conclusions: Changes in RVR during sepsis in humans are unknown. In experimental sepsis, several factors not directly related to sepsis per se appear to influence the RVR. A high cardiac output and the use of large animals predict a decreased RVR, while a decreased cardiac output and the use of small animals predict an increased RVR.
Bidirectional versus unidirectional networks: cost/performance trade-offs

In this survey, we consider three unidirectional network categories: (1) the low-dimensional torus network, (2) the hypercube network, and the (3) the de Bruijn network. Our significant results are (1) a comparison between unidirectional and bidirectional implementations of each topology and (2) a comparison between the three topologies with respect to routing strategy cost-performance, fault tolerance, and deadlock avoidance. <<ETX>>
Functional relations and cognitive psychology: Lessons from human performance and animal research.

We consider requirements for effective interdisciplinary communication and explore alternative interpretations of "building bridges between functional and cognitive psychology. " If the bridges are intended to connect radical behaviourism and cognitive psychology, or functional contextualism and cognitive psychology, the efforts are unlikely to be successful. But if the bridges are intended to connect functional relationships and cognitive theory, no construction is needed because the bridges already exist within cognitive psychology. We use human performance and animal research to illustrate the latter point and to counter the claim that the functional approach is unique in offering a close relationship between science and practice. Effective communication will be enhanced and, indeed, may only occur if the goal of functional contextualism extends beyond just "the advancement of functional contextual cognitive and behavioral science and practice" to "the advancement of cognitive and behavioral science and practice" without restriction.
Evaluation of surrogate markers and clinical outcomes in two-year follow-up of eighty-six human immunodeficiency virus-infected pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the prognostic value of surrogate markers (HIV RNA copy number, CD4 counts and CDC clinical and immunologic categories) in HIV-infected children through a 2-year period. METHODS Eighty-six HIV-infected children followed by the Duke Pediatric HIV Clinic in the fall of 1994 were evaluated for plasma HIV RNA concentration (viral load), CD4 lymphocyte percentage, age, antiretroviral treatment status and CDC clinical and immunologic categories. Follow-up evaluations were performed for approximately 2 years, and the time to progression to a new CDC category C diagnosis or death was noted. RESULTS Of 86 children 22 had progression to new Category C diagnosis or death. Seven children died, 17 had a new Category C diagnosis and 2 had both. Among children who progressed, the median CD4 percentage at entry was 3% (absolute count, 75 cells/mm3), whereas children who had no disease progression entered with a median of 29% (868 cells/mm3). The overall median viral load at study entry was 4.58 log10 copies/ml (38,019 copies/ml, with a range of 1.7 to 6.78 logs). Children who had no disease progression had a median log copy number of 4.43, whereas 5.18 was the median for children whose disease progressed. Log copy number declined over time in children < 3 years of age, whereas it remained fairly consistent for children 3 years or older. Progression rates were determined by entry plasma HIV RNA concentration quartiles [quartile boundaries < 4.18, 4.58, > 5.08 log RNA copy/ml (< 15,136, 38,019 and > 120,226 copies/ml, respectively)]. Progression rates by quartile were 0 of 21, 4 of 22, 5 of 21 and 13 of 22. Kaplan-Meier survival curves defined by CD4% less than or greater than 15 and log RNA less than or greater than 5.0 (100,000) revealed that patients with CD4% less than 15 and plasma HIV RNA concentration > 5 log10 copies/ml did least well: 11 of 12 (92%) had a progression event at a median of 179 days. Patients with a high CD4 percentage and high viral load, or a low CD4 percentage and low viral load did similarly; 5 of 14 (36%) and 4 of 12 (33%) had progression events, respectively. Patients with high CD4 percentage and low viral load did best: only 2 of 48 (4%) had a progression event. CONCLUSIONS The two most significant prognostic indicators of disease progression were the initial CD4 percentage and the plasma HIV RNA concentration, and a combination of CD4 percentage and virus load best predicted which children had progression events. Progression was less common in children who had < 100,000 HIV RNA copies/ml initially (6 of 60 vs. 16 of 26; P < 0.001; relative risk 0.16). Therefore it seems reasonable that in a child for whom complete suppression is not possible, a threshold of 100,000 (5 log10 copies/ml) can be used to mandate a change in therapy.
Sequence requirements for the recognition of tyrosine‐based endocytic signals by clathrin AP‐2 complexes.

We recently determined that fusion proteins containing tyrosine‐based endocytic signals bind to the mu 2 subunit of AP‐2, the complex that drives clathrin coat formation and mediates endocytosis from the plasma membrane. Here we analyze the selectivity of peptide recognition by mu 2 and by AP‐2 using combinatorial selection methods and surface plasmon resonance. Both mu 2 and AP‐2 are shown to interact with various sequences of the form tyrosine‐polar‐polar‐hydrophobic (Yppø) found on receptors that follow the clathrin pathway. The optimal sequence for interaction with mu 2 and with AP‐2 has tyrosine as an anchor and prefers arginine at position Y + 2 and leucine at position Y + 3. In contrast, no preferred sequence is detected surrounding the Yppø signal, indicating that recognition of the Yppø endocytic signal does not require a prefolded structure. We conclude that sorting into the endocytic pathway is governed by a surprisingly simple interaction between the mu 2 chain and a tyrosine‐containing tetrapeptide sequence.
Growth inhibition in G1 and altered expression of cyclin D1 and p27kip‐1 after forced connexin expression in lung and liver carcinoma cells

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and connexin expression are frequently decreased in neoplasia and may contribute to defective growth control and loss of differentiated functions. GJIC, in E9 mouse lung carcinoma cells and WB‐aB1 neoplastic rat liver epithelial cells, was elevated by forced expression of the gap junction proteins, connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin32 (Cx32), respectively. Transfection of Cx43 into E9 cells increased fluorescent dye‐coupling in the transfected clones, E9‐2 and E9‐3, to levels comparable to the nontransformed sibling cell line, E10, from which E9 cells originated. Transduction of Cx32 into WB‐aB1 cells also increased dye‐coupling in the clone, WB‐a/32‐10, to a level that was comparable to the nontransformed sibling cell line, WB‐F344. The cell cycle distribution was also affected as a result of forced connexin expression. The percentage of cells in G1‐phase increased and the percentage in S‐phase decreased in E9‐2 and WB‐a/32‐10 cells as compared to E9 and WB‐aB1 cells. Concomitantly, these cells exhibited changes in G1‐phase cell cycle regulators. E9‐2 and WB‐a/32‐10 cells expressed significantly less cyclin D1 and more p27kip‐1 protein than E9 and WB‐aB1 cells. Other growth‐related properties (expression of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐β, epidermal growth factor receptor, protein kinase C‐α, protein kinase A regulatory subunit‐Iα, and production of nitric oxide in response to a cocktail of pro‐inflammatory cytokines) were minimally altered or unaffected. Thus, enhancement of connexin expression and GJIC in neoplastic mouse lung and rat liver epithelial cells restored G1 growth control. This was associated with decreased expression of cyclin D1 and increased expression of p27kip‐1, but not with changes in other growth‐related functions. J. Cell. Biochem. 79:347–354, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variable Practice in Learning the Forehand Drive in Tennis

One of the most important factors that has occupied researchers in motor learning is the method of practicing motor skills. This study examined the effect of variable practice in learning the forehand drive in tennis by children and adolescents. Variability of practice was achieved by the alternation of targets and the distance between the point of execution and the target. 40 male children ages 9 to 10 years and 40 male students ages 18 to 19 years were divided into eight equal groups according to age and training group (No Specific target, 1 target, 4 targets, and 5 targets). After 18 practice sessions over 40 days and similar teaching, the participants performed 60 transfer trials after a rest of 72 hours. The experimental design used was a 2 (age) × 4 (practice group) × 6 (block of trials) with repeated measures on the last factor for absolute and constant error scores. The analysis of variance showed that the children performed more poorly than the adolescents, and variable practice yielded better performance than constant and specialized practice. The results support the variability of practice hypothesis and indicate that the effect of variable and specialized practic was related to age of the groups of trainees.
Problems and challenges in the management of preterm labour

The main problem with preterm labour is our lack of progress in the successful management of this condition. We need to reassess our approach to this problem because preterm labour is not a disease, but an event, which may result from multiple independent pathways. This problem has also been affected significantly by medical advances such as infertility treatments and changes in neonatal survival at the limit of viability. The specific challenges that we face in managing preterm labour include: problems with definition; aetiology, including genetic and infection components; diagnostic problems, such as true versus false labour and role of cervical length and fetal fibronectin; and specific interventions according to the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum challenges. In order to address the main issue, and make future progress in the management of preterm labour, we should consider the implementation of a ‘Postpartum Preterm Labour Diagnostic Workup Protocol’. These data/workup results could be entered on web‐based databases for each preterm labour ‘event’. An international research team could analyse data relating to specific aetiological patterns and subgroup analyses, leading to the collaborative development of ‘aetiology specific’ management modalities. This approach requires a close collaboration between clinicians and researchers, in order to make significant progress in this difficult area, and ultimately improve perinatal outcomes.
Mechanistic Basis for Catalytic Activation of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase 3 by Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase*

The dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase MKP3 has been shown to down-regulate mitogenic signaling through dephosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Camps et al. (Camps, M., Nichols, A., Gillieron, C., Antonsson, B., Muda, M., Chabert, C., Boschert, U., and Arkinstall, S. (1998) Science 280, 1262–1265) had demonstrated that ERK binding to the noncatalytic amino-terminal domain of MKP3 can dramatically activate the phosphatase catalytic domain. The physical basis for this activation has not been established. Here, we provide detailed biochemical evidence that ERK activates MKP3 through the stabilization of the active phosphatase conformation, inducing closure of the catalytic “general acid” loop. In the closed conformation, this loop structure can participate efficiently in general acid/base catalysis, substrate binding, and transition-state stabilization. The pH activity profiles of ERK-activated MKP3 clearly indicated the involvement of general acid catalysis, a hallmark of protein-tyrosine phosphatase catalysis. In contrast, unactivated MKP3 did not display this enzymatic group as critical for the low activity form of the enzyme. Using a combination of Brönsted analyses, pre-steady-state and steady-state kinetics, we have isolated all catalytic steps in the reaction and have quantified the specific rate enhancement. Through protonation of the leaving group and transition-state stabilization, activated MKP3 catalyzes formation of the phosphoenzyme intermediate ∼100-fold faster than unactivated enzyme. In addition, ERK-activated MKP3 catalyzes intermediate hydrolysis 5–6-fold more efficiently and binds ligands up to 19-fold more tightly. Consistent with ERK stabilizing the active conformation of MKP3, the chemical chaperone dimethyl sulfoxide was able to mimic this activation. A general protein-tyrosine phosphatase regulatory mechanism involving the flexible general acid loop is discussed.
The illusion of familiarity: an alternative to the report-criterion account of hypnotic recall.

Hypnosis increases the likelihood that participants will report incorrect material at higher levels of confidence. One interpretation of such data is that hypnosis induces individuals to lower the criterion they use to make memory reports. A lowered report criterion could account for the increase in items that participants are willing to report as memories but not for the increase in confidence that typically accompanies hypnotic retrieval. Although some participants may indeed lower their report criterion, this alone should not result in the highly confident confabulation so often observed. An alternative perspective is that for some participants, hypnosis alters the experience of retrieval such that items generated during retrieval attempts are more likely to have the qualities (e.g., perceptual fluency, vividness) usually associated with remembering. This illusion of familiarity would account for the higher levels of confidence that are so frequently observed in hypnotic recall, and adopting this perspective should lead to even greater caution in the use of hypnosis as an aid to retrieval.
The cutaneous microfibrillar apparatus contains latent transforming growth factor-beta binding protein-1 (LTBP-1) and is a repository for latent TGF-beta1.

The transforming growth factors-beta1 and beta2 (TGF-beta) stimulate synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins in vitro and appear upregulated in fibrotic conditions, in scar formation, and in wound healing. The extracellular matrix in turn might also act as a scavenger or repository for TGF-beta. We therefore studied the in situ distribution of latent TGF binding protein-1 (LTBP-1) and latent TGF-beta1 on extracellular matrix elements of normal human skin and skin regenerating from cultured keratinocyte autografts. We localized both LTBP-1 and latent TGF-beta1 to fibrillin-containing (elastic) microfibrils. Both LTBP-1 and latent TGF-beta1 were already present during the earliest stages of the de novo formation of the microfibrillar apparatus, i.e., on fusiform, randomly oriented microfibrils that later coalesced to form the typical candelabra-like structures in the papillary dermis. We show herewith that LTBP-1 exerts a dual role as a component of fibrillin-microfibrils of the skin and in targeting latent TGF-beta1 to the cutaneous microfibrillar apparatus. Thus, this major connective tissue structure does not only serve as a force bearing element and scaffold for elastin deposition in the dermis, but also as an important repository for latent TGF-beta in the skin.
Comparing Smartphone Speech Recognition and Touchscreen Typing for Composition and Transcription

Ruan et al. found transcribing short phrases with speech recognition nearly 200% faster than typing on a smartphone. We extend this comparison to a novel composition task, using a protocol that enables a controlled comparison with transcription. Results show that both composing and transcribing with speech is faster than typing. But, the magnitude of this difference is lower with composition, and speech has a lower error rate than keyboard during composition, but not during transcription. When transcribing, speech outperformed typing in most NASA-TLX measures, but when composing, there were no significant differences between typing and speech for any measure except physical demand.
Electrophysiological properties of in vitro Purkinje cell dendrites in mammalian cerebellar slices.

1. Intradendritic recordings from Purkinje cells in vitro indicate that white matter stimulation produces large synaptic responses by the activation of the climbing fibre afferent, but antidromic potentials do not actively invade the dendritic tree. 2. Climbing fibre responses may be reversed in a manner similar to that observed at the somatic level. However, the reversal does not show the biphasicity often seen at somatic level. 3. Input resistance of these dendrites was found to range from 15 to 30 M omega. The non‐linear properties seen at the somatic level for depolarizing currents are also encountered here. However, there seems to be less anomalous rectification. 4. Detailed analysis of repetitive firing of Purkinje cells elicited by outward DC current shows that, as in the case of the antidromic invasion, the fast somatic potentials (s.s.) do not invade the dendrite actively. However, the dendritic spike bursts (d.s.b.s) interposed between the s.s. potentials are most prominent at dendritic level. 5. Two types of voltage‐dependent Ca responses were observed. At low stimulus level a plateau‐like depolarization is accompanied by a prominent conductance change; further depolarization produces large dendritic action potentials. These two classes of response are TTX‐resistant but are blocked by Cd, Co, Mn or D600, or by the removal of extracellular Ca. 6. Following blockage of the Ca conductance, plateau potentials produced by a non‐inactivating Na conductance are observed mainly near the soma indicating that this voltage‐dependent conductance is probably associated with the somatic membrane. 7. Spontaneous firing in Purkinje cell dendrites is very similar to that observed at the soma. However, the amplitude of these bursts is larger at dendritic level. It is further concluded that these TTX‐insensitive spikes are generated at multiple sites along the dendritic tree. 8. Six ionic conductances seem to be involved in Purkinje cell electroresponsiveness: (a) an inactivating and (b) a non‐inactivating Na conductance at or near the soma, (c) a spike‐ and (d) a plateau‐generating Ca conductance, and (e) voltage‐dependent and (f) Ca‐dependent K currents. 9. The possible role of these conductances in Purkinje cell integration is discussed.