Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mortality and survival patterns of childhood lymphomas: geographic and age‐specific patterns in Southern‐Eastern European and SEER/US registration data

Childhood (0‐14 years) lymphomas, nowadays, present a highly curable malignancy compared with other types of cancer. We used readily available cancer registration data to assess mortality and survival disparities among children residing in Southern‐Eastern European (SEE) countries and those in the United States. Average age‐standardized mortality rates and time trends of Hodgkin (HL) and non‐Hodgkin (NHL; including Burkitt [BL]) lymphomas in 14 SEE cancer registries (1990‐2014) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER, United States; 1990‐2012) were calculated. Survival patterns in a total of 8918 cases distinguishing also BL were assessed through Kaplan‐Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression models. Variable, rather decreasing, mortality trends were noted among SEE. Rates were overall higher than that in SEER (1.02/106), which presented a sizeable (−4.8%, P = .0001) annual change. Additionally, remarkable survival improvements were manifested in SEER (10 years: 96%, 86%, and 90% for HL, NHL, and BL, respectively), whereas diverse, still lower, rates were noted in SEE. Non‐HL was associated with a poorer outcome and an amphi‐directional age‐specific pattern; specifically, prognosis was inferior in children younger than 5 years than in those who are 10 to 14 years old from SEE (hazard ratio 1.58, 95% confidence interval 1.28‐1.96) and superior in children who are 5 to 9 years old from SEER/United States (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.46‐0.88) than in those who are 10 to 14 years old. In conclusion, higher SEE lymphoma mortality rates than those in SEER, but overall decreasing trends, were found. Despite significant survival gains among developed countries, there are still substantial geographic, disease subtype‐specific, and age‐specific outcome disparities pointing to persisting gaps in the implementation of new treatment modalities and indicating further research needs.
Refractory Angiosarcoma of the Breast with VEGFR2 Upregulation Successfully Treated with Sunitinib

Secondary angiosarcoma of the breast is a rare, but well-described complication of radiation therapy for primary breast carcinoma. Currently, it appears refractory to most systemic chemotherapy though rare responses to taxanes exist (1,2). Overall, patient prognosis is poor (3). A 78-year-old female underwent left breast conservation and axillary node dissection in 1999 for invasive ductal carcinoma followed by whole breast radiation therapy. Eleven years later, she noted multiple small nodules in the medial aspect of the left breast. Biopsy of the nodules revealed angiosarcoma of the breast. A metastatic follow-up showed no evidence of distant disease and a modified radical mastectomy performed. Histopathology confirmed the presence of angiosarcoma with all margins negative. The patient completed a course of postmastectomy irradiation with dose limitation by previous radiation for her original breast conserving procedure. This was administered concurrently with adjuvant chemotherapy (Taxol and Adriamycin). The patient did not tolerate the chemotherapy but finished the course of radiation therapy. Ten months later, angiosarcoma nodules recurred along the mastectomy scar. Chemotherapy with single agent carboplatinum was ineffective. Six months later, she underwent a wide resection of the skin and soft tissue of the left chest wall with multiple cutaneous nodules and positive deep margin (the pectoral muscle/ribs) was noted. In the interim, she underwent a split thickness skin graft to cover the large defect. Within 6 months, recurrent disease appeared in the graft and surrounding soft tissue. With no documented distant metastases, the patient again underwent a resection of recurrent tumors, chest wall and two ribs requiring TRAM flap coverage. A Caris profile was requested. She remained free of local recurrence for only 4 months, when multiple and rapidly growing subcutaneous nodules became evident about the chest wall and flap (Fig. 1A). The Caris gene expression assay performed earlier demonstrated a potential therapeutic benefit of sunitinib due to the upregulation of VEGFR2. Sunitinib was then
A single photon avalanche diode in standard CMOS technology for range finding

We design a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) in a standard 180-nm CMOS technology. The SPAD consists of a P+/n-well junction with octagon shape, a p-well guard-ring and a ploy guard-ring. The two rings prevent SPAD from premature edge breakdown events and STI interface trap influence, respectively. The measurement results show that a typical dark count rate of SPAD is 8 kHz at room temperature and its PDP is 8% at wavelength of 640nm. The distance measurement is carried out by a SPAD direct Time of Flight method. A centimeter-level precision is achieved based on time-correlated single-photon counting technology.
Differential downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor by dexamethasone in normoxic and hypoxic rat glioma cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF) is a mitogen and chemotactic factor for endothelial cells in vitro and an angiogenesis and vascular permeability factor in vivo. Due to its properties, VEGF is a candidate for both angiogenesis and vascular permeability/oedema induction which typically occur in glioblastomas. In this study we test the hypothesis that the antioedema effect of dexamethasone is mediated by downregulation of VEGF or VEGF receptor expression. VEGF mRNA and protein levels of two rat glioma cells lines, C6 and GS‐9L, were determined after incubation with dexamethasone under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. In normoxic C6 and GS9L cells, we observed 50–60% downregulation of VEGF mRNA by dexamethasone (P=0.015 and P=0.01, respectively). This effect was dependent on glucocorticoid‐receptor (GR) function. The inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on VEGF gene expression by tumour cells was markedly reduced by hypoxia which suggests that the upregulation of VEGF driven by hypoxia overcomes the effect of the dexamethasone. Dexamethasone did not alter VEGFR‐2 mRNA levels in human umbilical endothelial cells. In a subcutaneous glioma tumour model, we observed only a 15% decrease in VEGF mRNA expression in dexamethasone treated animals (n=12) compared with controls animals (P=0.24). We conclude that dexamethasone may decrease brain tumour‐associated oedema by reduction of VEGF expression in tumour cells. However, the highly reduced activity on hypoxic tumour cells suggests that dexamethasone efficacy may be limited by hypoxia in rapidly growing tumours.
Comparison of SiC and GaN devices for front-end isolation of quasi-Z-source cascaded multilevel photovoltaic inverter

The wide band-gap Silicon Carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) materials based semiconductor devices have attracted tremendous attentions in modern power electronics applications. They provide much higher switching frequency and higher junction temperature than silicon power devices, thus to significantly decrease the system volume and weight, especially on passive components. In this paper, the characteristics of the SiC and GaN materials and devices are overviewed. A front-end isolated quasi-Z-source cascade multilevel inverter (qZS-CMI) based Photovoltaic (PV) power system is proposed to insulate the PV array from high voltage grid and make possible of PV grounding, thus to enhance the system reliability and safety. The SiC and GaN devices applied to the front-end isolation of qZS inverter module are compared. Experimental results verify the proposed front-end isolated qZS-CMI and comparison results, demonstrating a competitive solution for the future development of such inverters.
Forearm Nitric Oxide Balance, Vascular Relaxation, and Glucose Metabolism in NIDDM Patients

Endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular responses were assessed in 10 NIDDM patients and 6 normal subjects with no evidence of atherosclerotic disease. Changes in forearm blood flow and arteriovenous (AV) serum nitrite/nitrate (NO2−/NO3-) concentrations were measured in response to intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine (ACh) (7.5, 15, 30 μg/min, endothelium-dependent response) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (0.3, 3, 10 μg/min, endothelium-independent response). Insulin sensitivity (determined by minimal model intravenous glucose tolerance test) was lower in NIDDM patients (0.82 ± 0.20 vs. 2.97 ± 0.29 104 min · μU−1 · ml−1; P < 0.01). Baseline forearm blood flow (4.8 ± 0.3 vs. 4.4 ± 0.3 ml · 100 ml−1 tissue · min−1; NS), mean blood pressure (100 ± 4 vs. 92 ± 4 mmHg; NS), and vascular resistance (21 ± 1 vs. 21 ± 1 units; NS), as well as their increments during ACh and SNP, infusion were similar in both groups. No difference existed in baseline NO2−/NO3− concentrations (4.09 ± 0.33 ]NIDDM patients] vs. 5.00 ± 0.48 μmol/1 ]control subjects]; NS), their forearm net balance (0.31 ± 0.08 ]NIDDM patients] vs. 0.26 ± 0.08 μmol/1 · 100 ml−1 tissue · min−1; NS), and baseline forearm glucose uptake. During ACh infusion, both NO2− and NO3− concentrations and net balance significantly increased in both groups, whereas glucose uptake increased only in control subjects. When data from NIDDM and control groups were pooled together, a correlation was found between the forearm AV NO2− and NO3− differences and blood flow (r = 0.494, P = 0.024). On the contrary, no correlation was evident between NO2− and NO3− concentrations or net balance and insulin sensitivity. In summary, 1) no difference existed in basal and ACh-stimulated NO generation and endothelium-dependent relaxation between uncomplicated NIDDM patients and control subjects; 2) in both NIDDM and control groups, forearm NO2− and NO3− net balance following ACh stimulation was related to changes in the forearm blood flow; and 3) ACh-induced increase in forearm blood flow was associated with an increase in glucose uptake only in control subjects but not in NIDDM patients. In conclusion, our results argue against a role of impaired NO generation and blood flow regulation in determining the insulin resistance of uncomplicated NIDDM patients; rather, it supports an independent insulin regulation of hemodynamic and metabolic effects.
Dietary nitrate increases tetanic [Ca2+]i and contractile force in mouse fast‐twitch muscle

• Dietary supplementation with inorganic nitrate has beneficial effects on skeletal muscle responses to exercise. • Both mitochondrial and extra‐mitochondrial explanations have been proposed. • Contractile force of fast‐twitch muscles was enhanced in mice supplemented with 1 mm NaNO3 in drinking water for 7 days. • Myoplasmic free [Ca2+] during tetanic stimulation was increased in fast‐twitch muscles of nitrate‐supplemented mice and this was accompanied by increased expression of calsequestrin 1 and the dihydropyridine receptor. • These results provide a new mechanism by which nitrate exerts beneficial effects on muscle function with applications to sports performance and a potential therapeutic role in conditions with muscle weakness.
Unfinished business--expanding HIV testing in developing countries.

Knowledge of serologic status is required for the appropriate targeting of services and interventions. Drs. Kevin De Cock, Rebecca Bunnell, and Jonathan Mermin discuss how the increased resources available for combating HIV and AIDS, the strong emphasis on treatment, and the commitment of the G8 to universal access necessitate a massive expansion of HIV testing.
On delay-dependent stability for linear neutral systems

This paper focuses on the problem of uniform asymptotic stability of a class of linear neutral systems. By using a descriptor model transformation of the system and Moon's inequality for bounding cross terms, new sufficient conditions for delay dependent stability are given in terms of the existence of solutions of some linear matrix inequalities. A numerical example is given which show that the proposed method can even produce less conservative results than the other methods.
Burn Pit Emissions Exposure and Respiratory and Cardiovascular Conditions Among Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry Participants

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how burn pit emissions exposure is associated with the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Methods: We examined the associations between assumed geographic and self-reported burn pit emissions exposure and respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes in participants of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. Results: We found significant dose–response associations for higher risk of self-reported emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with increased days of deployment within 2 miles of selected burn pits (P-trend = 0.01) and self-reported burn pit smoke exposure (P-trend = 0.0005). Conclusions: We found associations between burn pit emissions exposure and higher incidence of post-deployment self-reported respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, but these findings should be interpreted with caution because the surrogate measurements of burn pit emissions exposure in this analysis may not reflect individual exposure levels.
Time Perception and Conditioning an Autonomic Response in Human Infants

Conditioning of the autonomically regulated pupillary reflex was studied in young human infants, Sound as a CS was not effective for conditioning the pupillary reflex. Both time and time plus sound were effective CSs for establishing both conditioned pupil dilation and constriction. The results indicate a capacity in young human infants for accurately perceiving the passage of short intervals of time.
Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin levels: correlates with aggression and serotonin function in personality-disordered subjects.

BACKGROUND Animal studies suggest that central vasopressin plays a facilitatory role in aggressive behavior. To examine this possibility in humans, the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) arginine vasopressin (AVP) and indices of aggression and central serotonin system function was examined in personality-disordered subjects. METHODS We used CSF (AVP), CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and the prolactin response to d-fenfluramine challenge (PRL[d-FEN]) as central indices of vasopressin and serotonergic system function, respectively, in 26 subjects who met the DSM-IV criteria for personality disorder. Measures of aggression and impulsivity included the Life History of Aggression assessment and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scales. RESULTS The CSF AVP level was correlated directly with life history of general aggression and aggression against persons and inversely with PRL[d-FEN] responses (but not with CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid), which in turn was correlated inversely with these 2 measures of life history of aggression. The positive relationship between CSF AVP and life history of aggression remained even when the variance associated with PRL[d-FEN] responses in these subjects was accounted for. CONCLUSION Central AVP may play a role in enhancing, while serotonin plays a role in inhibiting, aggressive behavior in personality-disordered individuals. In addition to the possibility of central AVP and serotonin interacting to influence human aggression, central AVP may also influence human aggressive behavior through a mechanism independent of central serotonin in personality-disordered subjects.
Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of RNA Granules and Viral Infections

After viral infection, host cells respond by mounting an anti-viral stress response in order to create a hostile atmosphere for viral replication, leading to the shut-off of mRNA translation (protein synthesis) and the assembly of RNA granules. Two of these RNA granules have been well characterized in yeast and mammalian cells, stress granules (SGs), which are translationally silent sites of RNA triage and processing bodies (PBs), which are involved in mRNA degradation. This review discusses the role of these RNA granules in the evasion of anti-viral stress responses through virus-induced remodeling of cellular ribonucleoproteins (RNPs).
The interaction between β1 integrins and ERK1/2 in osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells under fluid shear stress modelled by a perfusion system

Fluid shear stress (FSS) is an important biomechanical factor regulating the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and is therefore widely used in bone tissue engineering. However, the mechanotransduction of FSS in hMSCs remains largely unknown. As β1 integrins are considered to be important mechanoreceptors in other cells, we suspect that β1 integrins should also be important for hMSCs to sense the stimulation of FSS. We used a perfusion culture system to produce FSS loading on hMSCs seeded in PLGA three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds and investigated the roles of β1 integrins, FAK and ERK1/2 in FSS‐induced osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Our results showed that FSS not only markedly increased ALP activity and the expression of ALP, OCN, Runx2 and COLIα genes but also significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Runx2 and FAK. FSS‐induced activation of ERK1/2 and FAK was inhibited by blockade of the connection between β1 integrins and ECM with RGDS peptide and integrins β1 monoclonal antibody. Our study also found that FSS could upregulate the expression level of β1 integrins and that this upregulation could be abolished by PD98059. Further investigation indicated that FSS‐activated ERK1/2 led to the phosphorylation of IκBα and NFκB p65. The activation of NFκB p65 resulted in the upregulation of β1 integrin expression. Therefore, it could be inferred that β1 integrins should sense the stimulation of FSS and thus activate ERK1/2 through activating of FAK, and FSS‐activated ERK1/2 feedback to upregulate the expression of β1 integrins through activating NFκB. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensory Brain Areas in Mesopelagic Fishes

Four areas of the brain that receive primary projections from chemical senses ([1] olfactory bulb, [2] facial and vagal lobes), the eye ([3] optic tectum), and somato- and mechanosensory systems such as the lateral line, vestibular and auditory systems ([4] trigeminal and octavolateral regions) have been studied and relative size differences used to deduce the sensory specializations of 67 species of mesopelagic fishes. One type of analysis used the average relative volumes of brain areas and identified ‘specialists’ with only one brain area above-average (36%), species ‘dominated’ by two sensory brain regions (49%), and generalists (15%), with three areas above-average. In addition, a cluster analysis was performed that separated 49 species which were mostly visually oriented from 18 non-visual species, among which 16 were characterized by an association of above-average trigeminal/octavolateral and gustatory areas, and a single species with a dominant olfactory bulb. The results support the idea that these species occupy a rich sensory environment for which the absence of sunlight is compensated by chemical and mechanosensory stimuli as well as by bioluminescent signals. This has lead to the development of specializations for the perception of single stimulus-modes, most notably for the visual system, as well as for combinations of various receptors and central processing areas, with a preference for associating either the chemical senses, including the olfactory and facial/vagal systems, or the trigeminal/octavolateral systems.
Short-term wind power prediction for wind turbine via kalman filter based on JIT modeling

This paper addresses wind power prediction which is known to be a key technology in EMS(Energy Management Systems). In recent years, an introductory expansion of renewable energy is expected and the prediction of wind power generation is needed for taking in wind power generation. The goal of this work is to predict the amount of generation in the next day from the past actual data and the weather forecast data of wind. In this paper, 24 hours ahead power prediction method using a filtering theory is proposed for wind power generation. The prediction method is a simple algorithm, the procedure of prediction consists of two steps, the data processing and the calculation of predicted values. In the data processing, in order to get the correlative data from the database, we employ JIT(Just-In-Time) Modeling. In the calculation of predicted value, we provide the regression model for wind speed and wind power, and the unknown parameters are estimated via constrained kalman filter. Finally, the advantages of the proposed method over the conventional method are shown through simulations.
The green energy harvesting winds by the RF/microwave power transmission

Wireless energy transfer and conversion is defined as the combination of wireless power transmission and energy harvesting/scavenging. The transfer and conversion powers are used to operate electric and RF/microwave circuits and mechanical equipment. In this paper, a category of the wireless energy transfer and conversion, an overview of development and application of RF/microwave power transmission and energy harvesting technologies are demonstrated.
Optimization of stereo vision depth estimation using edge-based disparity map

Stereo Vision based depth estimation has become a major research topic due to its enormous importance in applications such as industrial automation, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Stereo Vision approach of estimating depth is usually a complex process due to issues such as lighting, reflections, camera distortion and alignment, image complexity, pixel noise etc. A simple but an efficient Edge-Based Disparity Map algorithm to optimize the performance of a stereo vision system and accurately relate computed disparity map to true depth information has been presented in this paper. Additionally, a comparative study between the proposed Edge-Based Disparity Map algorithm, conventional Block Matching algorithm and Semi Global Stereo Matching algorithm performances with varying block window size was investigated and discussed. MATLAB demonstration results obtained from the investigated algorithms for corresponding matching results and disparity calculations which are important building blocks for depth (distance) estimation tasks were evaluated based on accuracy and efficiency (computation time).
High linear single-ended up-conversion mixer using InGaP/GaAs HBT process

A fully integrated up-conversion double balanced mixer for 802.11a application is designed and fabricated by using InGaP/GaAs HBT process. Fabricated mixer shows high linearity due to high linearity characteristic of InGaP/GaAs HBT and passive output balun. For single-ended input and single-ended output configuration, RF/LO/IF baluns are all integrated on a chip and no off-chip component has been used. Active baluns for IF/LO baluns and a passive balun for RF balun are used respectively. A LC current combiner technique which is consisted of high Q on-chip inductors and a capacitor is used for a passive RF balun. Fabricated chip consumes 5 mA currents for mixer core and uses 3 V supply voltage. Chip size is 1.0 mm /spl times/ 1.17 mm. The measured performance is 3.7 dB power conversion gain, /spl times/8 dBm P1dB, 3 dBm OIP3, 30 dB LO-RF isolation, when input IF signal power is /spl times/16 dBm and LO signal power is /spl times/14 dBm.