Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bilateral Wilms' tumor: Mansoura multi-centers 15 years experience

Purpose. Bilateral Wilms' tumor (WT) is a challenge. Aggressive surgical resection is needed to prevent recurrence. We revised the clinico-epidemiological criteria of bilateral WT patients in our locality and relation to outcome. Subjects and methods. 462 WT patients were registered in three medical centers at Mansoura, Egypt. Twenty five patients had bilateral WT whose medical records were revised for all clinico-epidemiologic data plus treatment details, toxicity, and outcome. Results. The mean age was 34.5 months; 64% of cases were female. Abdominal mass was the commonest presentation (72%). Congenital anomalies were reported in two cases (one case showed hemihypertrophy and the other showed aniridia). About 60% had favorable pathology. Nineteen cases had synchronous bilateral WT (76%) and the remaining (six cases) had metachronous tumors. For the synchronous cases, the response rate to preoperative chemotherapy was 79% and nephron sparing surgery for the least involved kidney was possible in all. Survival rate was 74%. Metachronous tumor management included nephrectomy followed by chemotherapy for the initially diagnosed tumors. However, nephron sparing surgery of the contralateral tumors following preoperative chemotherapy was possible in two cases and the survival rate was 33%. No renal failure or any therapy-related complications were reported. Conclusions. Bilateral WT is predominantly synchronous with favorable histology, with female predilection and possibly congenital anomalies. Preoperative chemotherapy followed by nephron sparing surgery has a favorable outcome with preserved renal function especially in patients with synchronous WT. Response to preoperative chemotherapy had a statistically significant prognostic impact.
Nitric oxide synthase 2 and pressure‐overload‐induced left ventricular remodelling in mice

Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) has been reported to increase in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes; however, whether NOS2 plays a role in the development of hypertrophy is unknown. To investigate the relationship of NOS2 with left ventricular (LV) remodelling and hypertrophy following prolonged pressure overload, we studied 18 male wild‐type (WT) and 20 male NOS2‐deficient (NOS2–/–) mice before and 7, 14 and 28 days after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) using echocardiography. A subgroup of eight WT and eight NOS2–/– mice were studied 42 days after TAC. Haemodynamic measurements were obtained before killing. Left ventricular size and function were similar for both genotypes at baseline. After TAC for 28 days, both groups developed LV hypertrophy, with echo‐derived LV mass increasing from 78 ± 2 to 147 ± 10 mg in WT and from 86 ± 3 to 142 ± 10 mg in NOS2–/– mice. Twenty‐eight days after TAC, LV weight and cardiomyocyte width were also similar in both genotypes. Fractional shortening (FS) decreased on day 7 from 57 ± 1 to 48 ± 2% in WT and from 59 ± 1 to 49 ± 2% in NOS2–/– mice. Although this decrease in FS was transient in WT mice, it persisted in NOS2–/– mice. Invasively measured parameters of systolic and diastolic function, however, were similar in the two genotypes both 28 and 42 days after TAC. A load‐independent index of contractility, Emax, was similar in both strains 42 days after TAC. In conclusion, NOS2 does not appear to have a critical role in the development of LV hypertrophy after chronic pressure overload.
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT ABNORMALITIES IN EUROPEAN HARES (LEPUS EUROPAEUS) IN AUSTRALIA

Populations of European hare (Lepus europaeus) are in decline in Europe, and populations in Australia remain at low densities. Populations are sensitive to size of the breeding stock, which is influenced by fertility in the females. From 1996 to 1999, a total of 272 adult female hares from three Australian populations were dissected and their reproductive systems examined for abnormalities. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia was relatively common and often accompanied by hydrosalpinx. Extrauterine fetuses, neoplasms, pseudopregnancies, and resorptions also were found. However, although pseudopregnancies and resorptions were found in young adults (<12 mo) as well as older hares, conditions possibly causing infertility were almost always in older hares with prevalences up to 46.2%. Only hares with access to known sources of estrogens exhibited pathologic conditions, but sympatric European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) did not, which is consistent with known difference in responses between the corpora lutea of the two species to exogenous estrogen. Infertility at such a high prevalence could compound and extend the impact of years of low juvenile survival on recruitment.
Differentiation of serum‐free mouse embryo cells into astrocytes is accompanied by induction of glutamine synthetase activity

Serum‐free mouse embryo (SFME) cells derived in a defined serum‐free medium have been cultured for more than 200 generations and display properties of neural progenitor cells. SFME cells express the neuroepithelial stem cell marker nestin in defined serumfree medium. Exposure of SFME cells to transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) or serum decreases nestin expression and induces the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein, suggesting that SFME cells differentiate into astrocytes upon exposure to TGF‐β or serum. We examined the expression by SFME cells of the functional central nervous system (CNS) astrocyte marker glutamine synthetase (GS). GS activity is induced in SFME cells upon exposure to TGF‐β or serum. The induction of GS activity was dose‐ and time‐dependent and was reversible. Retinoic acid, hydrocortisone, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP also induced GS expression. The induction of GS activity was accompanied by an increase in the level of GS mRNA and protein. This work provides further evidence that SFME cells represent neural progenitor cells which differentiate into functional astrocytes upon exposure to TGF‐β or serum. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ESTIMATING THE NATURAL RATE OF HOURS

This paper proposes an alternative measure for the slack of the aggregate labor market. The natural rate of hours holds valuable information about the state of the labor market that is not reflected by conventional measures, such as the equilibrium rate of unemployment, because it takes the intensive margin into account and is robust to variations in labor force participation. We set up and estimate a multivariate unobserved-components model using information on GDP, inflation, and hours worked, and apply it to the United States and Germany. The estimated hours gap outperforms conventional unemployment gap measures in a Taylor rule by formal model comparison.
Long‐term acclimation to reciprocal light conditions suggests depth‐related selection in the marine foundation species Posidonia oceanica

Abstract Phenotypic differences among populations of the same species reflect selective responses to ecological gradients produced by variations in abiotic and biotic factors. Moreover, they can also originate from genetic differences among populations, due to a reduced gene flow. In this study, we examined the extent of differences in photo‐acclimative traits of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile clones collected above and below the summer thermocline (i.e., −5 and −25 m) in a continuous population extending along the water depth gradient. During a reciprocal light exposure and subsequent recovery in mesocosms, we assessed degree of phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation of plants collected at different depths, by measuring changes in several traits, such as gene expression of target genes, photo‐physiological features, and other fitness‐related traits (i.e., plant morphology, growth, and mortality rates). Samples were also genotyped, using microsatellite markers, in order to evaluate the genetic divergence among plants of the two depths. Measures collected during the study have shown a various degree of phenotypic changes among traits and experimental groups, the amount of phenotypic changes observed was also dependent on the type of light environments considered. Overall plants collected at different depths seem to be able to acclimate to reciprocal light conditions in the experimental time frame, through morphological changes and phenotypic buffering, supported by the plastic regulation of a reduced number of genes. Multivariate analyses indicated that plants cluster better on the base of their depth origin rather than the experimental light conditions applied. The two groups were genetically distinct, but the patterns of phenotypic divergence observed during the experiment support the hypothesis that ecological selection can play a role in the adaptive divergence of P. oceanica clones along the depth gradient.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21—Metabolic Role in Mice and Men

Since its identification in 2000, the interest of scientists in the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 has tremendously grown, and still remains high, due to a wealth of very robust data documenting this factor's favorable effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in mice. For more than ten years now, intense in vivo and ex vivo experimentation addressed the physiological functions of FGF21 in humans as well as its pathophysiological role and pharmacological effects in human metabolic disease. This work produced a comprehensive collection of data revealing overlaps in FGF21 expression and function but also significant differences between mice and humans that have to be considered before translation from bench to bedside can be successful. This review summarizes what is known about FGF21 in mice and humans with a special focus on this factor's role in glucose and lipid metabolism and in metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We highlight the discrepancies between mice and humans and try to decipher their underlying reasons.
Long-term performance in providing voltage support by PV and storage systems in distribution networks

Many distribution utilities are facing with the challenge to integrate increasing amounts of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) can be used for supporting producers and distribution system operators to give more flexibility to the network in terms of dispatching capability of PV, load shifting, peak shaving, ancillary services. This paper proposes to support locally voltage profiles by means of PV with co-located BESS in order to maximize, as much as possible, the active power production reducing the exchange of reactive power. If BESSs are not able to support voltage profiles, the modulation of the PV production is taken into account. Long-term analysis is performed on a real Italian test MV network taking into account the capability curves of power-electronic PV and BESS interfaces.
Emotion-based Independent Cascade model for information propagation in online social media

Messages in online social media not only deliver factual signals but also sentiments of massive users. Moreover, emotions, especially the negative ones, can promote the propagation of information that carrying them. However, conventional information diffusion models like Independent Cascade ignore the influence of emotions. With the fact that emotions may lead to wider information propagation, we propose an emotion-based independent cascade model to describe the process of information spread in the circumstance of emotion contagion in online social media. In our model, a message is depicted as a distribution of five emotions and each emotion has a propagation probability between different users. Thus the propagation probability of a message is the weighted average of different emotions. In addition, we introduce an improved method to estimate the parameters of the proposed model. Experimental results on a realistic Weibo data set demonstrate that our model is much better in predicting the real-world information propagation than existing baselines. Our model could shed lights on the employment of emotion contagion in viral marketing of online social media.
Orbital myxoma comorbid with acute myelomonocytic leukemia

ABSTRACT We report the first case of orbital myxoma in a 10-year-old girl with a history of acute myelomonocytic leukemia diagnosed at the age of 10 months. She presented with a mass in the right orbit, which was excised completely. There was no recurrence during the 6 months of follow-up.
A 5mW batteryless start-up boost charger for wireless power transfer

An boost battery charger is proposed to operate on 0V battery voltage in wireless power transfer (WPT) system for bio-medical application. The proposed battery charger for bio-medical application should be operated on low power. Thus, our target input power is very low such as 5mW∼10mW and target output power is 2mW∼5mW. Because the proposed battery charger starts up using rectifier output voltage, it doesn't need to consider battery voltage at start-up situation. Also our structure supply power to battery on constant current (CC) Mode. And we proposed burst mode (BM) protection to protect circuit and battery. The proposed battery charger is implemented using 0.18um CMOS technology. As a result, it achieves 83% efficiency and batteryless start-up and CC Mode operation.
Biochemistry and genetics of Klebsiella pneumoniae mutant strains unable to fix N2

Selected mutant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae that are unable to fix nitrogen have been characterized according to nitrogenase component activity as well as antigenic cross-reacting material. The lesions in these strains have been mapped by transduction, and the results indicate that there are at least five genes specifically responsible for nitrogen fixation in vivo. Besides genes that specify the structure of the two nitrogenase components, there is a gene for a factor that is required for component I activity and a gene that codes for a factor possibly involved in electron transport to component II. A mutation in another site does not allow the organism to produce either of the nitrogenase components. All of these genes are co-transducible with the gene that specifics the structure of histidinol dehydrogenase.
A learning‐based approach for performing an in‐depth literature search using MEDLINE

What is known and objective: Exhaustive literature searching is a core requirement for developing guidelines for evidence‐based practice. MEDLINE is typically used. Searching requires the user to identify appropriate search terms, called Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and refine the search to retrieve relevant articles. The objective of this study was to develop and test a learning algorithm for conducting a thorough literature search.
Shared Leadership in a Global Context: Challenges of Transferring Control to Team Members

Abstract This chapter is about how leaders attempt to move from traditional to shared leadership and why they often cannot. We develop a new theoretical framework to examine whether leaders are willing to shift control from themselves to their followers and thus promote shared leadership in their teams. We argue that control shifts, while necessary for shared leadership, are particularly difficult for leaders to enact. This is because leadership is often closely bound with power and status in the organization, a reality of organizational life that is often overlooked in the quest for new forms of leadership, such as shared leadership. Our contribution lies in examining leaders’ ability to enact shared leadership through the lenses of primary and secondary control, and situating control shift in the context of global leadership including selected cultural dimensions, complexity, and paradoxes.
Understanding the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms

An aortic aneurysm is a dilatation in which the aortic diameter is ≥3.0 cm. If left untreated, the aortic wall continues to weaken and becomes unable to withstand the forces of the luminal blood pressure resulting in progressive dilatation and rupture, a catastrophic event associated with a mortality of 50–80%. Smoking and positive family history are important risk factors for the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Several genetic risk factors have also been identified. On the histological level, visible hallmarks of AAA pathogenesis include inflammation, smooth muscle cell apoptosis, extracellular matrix degradation and oxidative stress. We expect that large genetic, genomic, epigenetic, proteomic and metabolomic studies will be undertaken by international consortia to identify additional risk factors and biomarkers, and to enhance our understanding of the pathobiology of AAA. Collaboration between different research groups will be important in overcoming the challenges to develop pharmacological treatments for AAA.
Intervention planning facets---four facets of occupational therapy intervention planning: economics, ethics, professional judgment, and evidence-based practice.

OBJECTIVE This study determined occupational therapists' perceptions of the following facets of intervention planning: economics, ethics, independent professional judgment, and evidence-based practice. METHOD A cross-sectional survey of 142 occupational therapists who provide short-term rehabilitation in five northeastern states was undertaken. RESULTS Most occupational therapists (n = 137, 96.5%) fell into one of four clusters, with the largest cluster (n = 86, 60.6%) having positive perceptions about ethics and independent professional judgment but negative perceptions about economic issues. Smaller clusters of occupational therapists were more positive about economic issues or less positive about ethics and independent professional judgment. Negative perceptions about the ability to implement evidence-based practice spanned all clusters. CONCLUSION American Occupational Therapy Association's efforts to educate occupational therapists about ethics appear to be effective. Most occupational therapists exercise independent professional judgment but perceive economic limitations when developing intervention plans. Practicing occupational therapists need additional research to support evidence-based practice and help in accessing and using research.
RAPID, GEOGRAPHICALLY EXTENSIVE GENETIC INTROGRESSION AFTER SECONDARY CONTACT BETWEEN TWO PUPFISH SPECIES (CYPRINODON, CYPRINODONTIDAE)

Apparently between 1980 and 1984, Cyprinodon variegatus was introduced into an area of the Pecos River in Texas, where it hybridized with an endemic species, C. pecosensis. Protein electrophoresis indicated that, by 1985, panmictic admixtures of these two pupfishes occupied approximately 430 river‐kilometers of the Pecos River, roughly one‐half of the historic range of the endemic species. The average frequency of introduced alleles at four diagnostic loci ranged from 0.18 to 0.84 at the 15 sites sampled from the Pecos River in Texas. Clinal patterns in allele frequencies suggest that C. variegatus was introduced into a mid‐reach of the river and that this was followed by both upstream and downstream dispersal of the introduced alleles. All pairwise combinations of loci showed significant linkage disequilibrium. The level of disequilibrium indicates chromosomal linkage for one gene‐pair, Gpi‐A and Est‐1. The change in pupfish allele frequencies in the Pecos River represents an extreme example of rapid natural selection in a seminatural situation.
Thyroglobulin autoantibodies in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma: comparison of different assays and evaluation of causes of discrepancies.

CONTEXT Thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) have been proposed as a surrogate marker of thyroglobulin in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Commercially available TgAb assays are often discordant. We investigated the causes of discrepancy. DESIGN TgAb were measured by three noncompetitive immunometric assays and three competitive RIA in 72 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and associated lymphocytic thyroiditis (PTC-T), 105 with papillary thyroid carcinoma and no lymphocytic thyroiditis (PTC), 160 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and in 150 normal subjects. The results of the six assays were correlated. TgAb epitope pattern, evaluated by inhibition of serum TgAb binding to thyroglobulin by TgAb-Fab regions A, B, C, and D, were compared in sera which were positive in all six assays (concordant sera) and positive in only one to five assays (discordant sera) were compared. TgAb International Reference Preparation (IRP) was measured in 2007 and 2009. RESULTS The correlations of the six assays ranged from -0.01 to 0.93 and were higher in PTC-T and Hashimoto's thyroiditis than in PTC and normal subjects. Two uncorrelated components, one including the three immunometric assays, the other the three RIA, explained 40 and 37% of the total variance of the results of the six assays. The levels of inhibition were higher in concordant sera than in discordant sera by TgAb-Fab region B (27.0%, 21.2-34.0 vs. 6.0%, and 2.7-12.7%) and region C (30.5%, 21.3-37.7 vs. 4.0%, and 1.0-6.5%); thus, the epitope pattern was more homogeneous in concordant sera than in discordant sera. TgAb IRP ranged from 157 to 1088 (expected 1000) IU/ml in 2009; results in 2007 were similar in all but two assays. CONCLUSIONS TgAb assays are highly discordant. Discrepancy is lower when comparing assays with similar methodology. Results of TgAb from PTC-T are more concordant than those from PTC because their epitope pattern is more restricted. The internal standardization of TgAb is generally, but not completely, satisfactory.
Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

1 School of Computer Science & Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea 2Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, S/N, 46022 Valencia, Spain 3 South Dakota State University, DEH (Old ECS) 123, Brookings, SD 57007, USA 4Department of Informatics, Electronic and Sistemistic, University of Calabria, Italy 5 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, South field, MI 48075, USA
Hybrid position/force control of an upper-limb exoskeleton for assisted drilling

Exoskeletons are wearable robotic systems to assist the human body concerning power and accuracy. In this work, an upper limb exoskeleton with seven degrees of freedom provides haptic guidance to the user enhancing accuracy of the target position and constant thrust force during drilling tasks. Therefore, an inverse kinematics algorithm is introduced using selective damping, depending on joint velocities to minimize the end effector position error for redundant systems. Additionally, the method recognizes user intention with structurally integrated torque sensors for null space optimization. An implicit, hybrid force-position controller is implemented to perform position controlled drilling tasks with constant thrust force. The performance evaluation with the exoskeleton shows a maximum position error of 1.27 mm and steady-state thrust force response with a maximum overshoot of 1N.