Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Profile and outcome of receptor conversion in breast cancer metastases: a nation‐wide multicenter epidemiological study

Although receptor status including estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) of the primary breast tumors was related to the prognosis of breast cancer patients, little information is yet available on whether patient management and survival are impacted by receptor conversion in breast cancer metastases. Using data from the nation‐wide multicenter clinical epidemiology study of advanced breast cancer in China (NCT03047889), we report the situation of retesting ER, PR and HER2 status for breast cancer metastases and evaluate the patient management and prognostic value of receptor conversion. In total, 3295 patients were analyzed and 1583 (48.0%) patients retesting receptor status for metastasis. Discordance in one or more receptors between the primary and the metastatic biopsy was found in 37.7% of women. Patients who remained hormone receptor (HR) positive in their metastases had similar progression‐free survival of first‐line and second‐line treatment compared to patients with HR conversion (P > .05). In multivariate analysis, patients who showed ER conversion from negative to positive had longer disease‐free survival (DFS) than patients who remained negative in their metastases (hazard ratio, 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45‐2.90; P < .001). Patients with PR remained positive and had longer DFS than patients with PR conversion from negative to positive (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.38‐0.83; P = .004). Patients with PR conversion have shorter overall survival than patients with PR remained positive or negative (P = .016 and P = .041, respectively). Our findings showed that the receptors' conversions were common in metastatic breast cancer, and the conversion impacted the survival.
Corneal In Vivo Laser-Scanning Confocal Microscopy Findings in Dry Eye Patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in cornea in Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) with a novel confocal microscopy device. Methods: Twenty-three right eyes of patients with SS (23 women; mean age, 65.4 ± 11.4 years) and 13 right eyes of 13 age- and sex-matched control subjects (13 women; mean age, 68.8 ± 9.8 years) were studied. Furthermore, eight right eyes of patients with SS (8 women; mean age, 66.9 ± 9.6 years) were studied to evaluate the corneal microscopic alterations after the treatment with topical 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops. All cases had tear quantity, tear breakup time (BUT), ocular surface staining measurements, and corneal in vivo laser-scanning confocal microscopy examinations. The density and area of corneal epithelial cells (superficial, wing, and basal), density of corneal stromal cells (anterior, intermediate, and posterior), density and area of corneal endothelial cells, density and morphology of corneal sub-basal nerve plexus, density of corneal sub-basal inflammatory cells were also assessed. Results: The tear quantity, stability, and vital staining scores were significantly worse in patients with SS than in control subjects (p < 0.0001). Corneal superficial epithelial cell density was significantly lower in SS compared with control subjects (p < 0.0001). Corneal superficial epithelial cell area was significantly larger in SS compared with control subjects (p = 0.007). Corneal sub-basal nerve fiber density was lower in SS compared with control subjects (p < 0.0001). Morphological abnormality of nerve fibers was observed in SS patients. Corneal sub-basal inflammatory cell density was significantly higher in SS patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the mean corneal superficial epithelial cell density and area, inflammatory cell density, corneal sub-basal nerve fiber density, and morphological abnormality of nerve fibers, were improved with topical 3% diquafosol sodium treatment in the dry eye patients with SS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The diagnostic modality using in vivo laser-scanning confocal microscopy was a useful method for the evaluation of the corneal cell density and area, nerve fiber density and morphology, and inflammatory cell density in patients with SS and also a useful tool in the assessment of treatment effect with topical 3% diquafosol sodium in the SS patients.
A Sub-Region Based Space Vector Modulation Scheme for Dual 2-Level Inverter System

This paper deals the implementation of 3-level output voltage using dual 2-level inverter with control of sub-region based Space Vector Modulation (SR-SVM). Switching loss and voltage stress are the most important issues in multilevel inverters, for keep away from these problems dual inverter system executed. Using this proposed system, the conventional 3-level inverter voltage vectors and switching vectors can be located. In neutral point clamped multilevel inverter, it carries more load current fluctuations due to the DC link capacitors and it requires large capacitors. Based on the sub-region SVM used to control IGBT switches placed in the dual inverter system. The proposed system improves the output voltage with reduced harmonic content with improved dc voltage utilisation. The simulation and hardware results are verified using matlab/simulink and dsPIC microcontroller.
Deep Global Features for Point Cloud Alignment

Point cloud registration is a key problem in computer vision applications and involves finding a rigid transform from a point cloud into another such that they align together. The iterative closest point (ICP) method is a simple and effective solution that converges to a local optimum. However, despite the fact that point cloud registration or alignment is addressed in learning-based methods, such as PointNetLK, they do not offer good generalizability for point clouds. In this stud, we proposed a learning-based approach that addressed existing problems, such as finding local optima for ICP and achieving minimum generalizability. The proposed model consisted of three main parts: an encoding network, an auxiliary module that weighed the contribution of each input point cloud, and feature alignment to achieve the final transform. The proposed architecture offered greater generalization among the categories. Experiments were performed on ModelNet40 with different configurations and the results indicated that the proposed approach significantly outperformed the state-of-the-art point cloud alignment methods.
Resilient Distributed Fuzzy Load Frequency Regulation for Power Systems Under Cross-Layer Random Denial-of-Service Attacks

In this article, a novel distributed fuzzy load frequency control (LFC) approach is investigated for multiarea power systems under cross-layer attacks. The nonlinear factors existing in turbine dynamics and governor dynamics as well as the uncertain parameters therein are modeled and analyzed under the interval type-2 (IT2) Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy framework. The cross-layer attacks threatening the stability of power systems are considered and modeled as an independent Bernoulli process, including denial-of-service (DoS) attacks in the cyber layer and phasor measurement unit (PMU) attacks in the physical layer. By using the Lyapunov theory, an area-dependent Lyapunov function is proposed and the sufficient conditions guaranteeing the system’s asymptotically stability with the area control error (ACE) signals satisfying $\mathcal {H}_{\infty }$ performance are deduced. In simulations, we adopt a four-area power system to verify the resiliency enhancement of the presented distributed fuzzy control strategy against random cross-layer DoS attacks. Results show that the designed resilient controller can effectively regulate the load frequency under different cross-layer DoS attack probabilities.
Design of 2.4Ghz CMOS Floating Active Inductor LNA using 130nm Technology

This paper presents about design and optimization of CMOS active inductor integrated circuit. This active inductor implements using Silterra 0. 13μm technology and simulated using Cadence Virtuoso and Spectre RF. The center frequency for this active inductor is at 2.4 GHz which follow IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standard. To reduce the chip size of silicon, active inductor is used instead of passive inductor at low noise amplifier LNA circuit. This inductor test and analyse by low noise amplifier circuit. Comparison between active with passive inductor based on LNA circuit has been performed. Result shown that the active inductor has significantly reduce the chip size with 73 % area without sacrificing the noise figure and gain of LNA which is the most important criteria in LNA. The best low noise amplifier provides a power gain (S21) of 20.7 dB with noise figure (NF) of 2.1dB.
Virus and Potential Host Microbes from Viral-Enriched Metagenomic Characterization in the High-Altitude Wetland, Salar de Huasco, Chile

Salar de Huasco is a wetland in the Andes mountains, located 3800 m above sea level at the Chilean Altiplano. Here we present a study aimed at characterizing the viral fraction and the microbial communities through metagenomic analysis. Two ponds (H0 and H3) were examined in November 2015. Water samples were processed using tangential flow filtration to obtain metagenomes from which the DNA fraction of the sample was amplified and sequenced (HiSeq system, Illumina). The ponds were characterized by freshwater and the viral-like particles to picoplankton ratio was 12.1 and 2.3 for H0 and H3, respectively. A great number of unassigned viral sequences were found in H0 (55.8%) and H3 (32.8%), followed by the family Fuselloviridae 20.8% (H0) and other less relatively abundant groups such as Microviridae (H0, 11.7% and H3, 3.3%) and Inoviridae (H3, 2.7%). The dominant viral sequences in both metagenomes belong to the order Caudovirales, with Siphoviridae being the most important family, especially in H3 (32.7%). The most important bacteria phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in both sites, followed by Cyanobacteria (H0). Genes encoding lysogenic and lytic enzymes (i.e., recombinases and integrases) were found in H0 and H3, indicating a potential for active viral replication at the time of sampling; this was supported by the presence of viral metabolic auxiliary genes at both sites (e.g., cysteine hydrolase). In total, our study indicates a great novelty of viral groups, differences in taxonomic diversity and replication pathways between sites, which contribute to a better understanding of how viruses balance the cycling of energy and matter in this extreme environment.
Reducing hepatic PKD activity lowers circulating VLDL-cholesterol.

Protein kinase D (PKD) is emerging as an important kinase regulating energy balance and glucose metabolism, however whether hepatic PKD activity can be targeted to regulate these processes is currently unclear. In this study hepatic PKD activity was reduced using adeno-associated virus vectors to express a dominant negative (DN) version of PKD1, which impairs the action of all three PKD isoforms. In chow fed mice, hepatic DN PKD expression increased whole body glucose oxidation, but had only mild effects on glucose and insulin tolerance and no effects on glucose homeostasis following fasting and refeeding. However, circulating VLDL-cholesterol was reduced under these conditions and was associated with hepatic fatty acid accumulation, but not lipids involved in lipoprotein synthesis. The limited effects on glucose homeostasis in DN PKD mice was despite reduced expression of gluconeogenic genes under both fasted and refed conditions, and enhanced pyruvate tolerance. The requirement for PKD for gluconeogenic capacity was supported by in vitro studies in cultured FAO hepatoma cells expressing DN PKD, which produced less glucose under basal conditions. Although these pathways are increased in obesity, the expression of DN PKD in the liver of mice fed a high fat diet had no impact on glucose tolerance, insulin action, pyruvate tolerance or plasma VLDL. Together, these data suggest that PKD signalling in the liver regulates metabolic pathways involved in substrate redistribution under conditions of normal nutrient availability, but not but not under conditions of over nutrition such as in obesity.
Optimal local anesthetic regimen for saddle block in ambulatory anorectal surgery: an evidence-based systematic review

Background Ambulatory anorectal surgery requires an anesthetic of short duration but profound depth. Saddle block anesthesia (SBA) can provide dense sacral anesthesia with minimal motor blockade, but the ideal local anesthetic agent remains undefined. This systematic review aims to identify the optimal SBA regimen for ambulatory anorectal surgery. Methods We sought randomized trials examining SBA for ambulatory anorectal surgery and stratified patients into four subgroups according to local anesthetic type and dose: (1) longer acting, higher dose; (2) longer acting, lower dose; (3) shorter acting, higher dose; and (4) shorter acting, lower dose. Longer acting agents included bupivacaine and levobupivacaine; shorter acting agents included chloroprocaine, mepivacaine, and prilocaine. Lower dose was defined as ≤5 mg and ≤20 mg for longer and shorter acting local anesthetics, respectively. The primary outcome was time to discharge; secondary outcomes included times to sensory and motor block regression, urine voiding, and ambulation, as well as block success. Results A total of 11 trials (1063 patients) were included. Overall study quality and reporting consistency was poor. Doses ranged from 1.5–7.5 mg to 3–30 mg of longer and shorter acting local anesthetics, respectively. Hyperbaric local anesthetics were used in eight trials (953 patients, 86%). The median time to discharge appeared similar across all subgroups with an overall time of 182 (IQR 102) min. The use of long-acting, lower dose regimens was associated with a faster median time to motor block regression. Block success approached 99% among all trials. Conclusions There is presently insufficient qualitative and quantitative evidence to identify an optimal SBA regimen for ambulatory anorectal surgery. Nonetheless, we found that doses as low as 1.5 and 3 mg of longer and shorter acting hyperbaric local anesthetics, respectively, can achieve effective and reliable SBA with timely hospital discharge. Despite similar discharge times, longer acting, lower dose local anesthetics may produce faster motor block regression following SBA for ambulatory anorectal surgery.
Viral subversion of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

Viruses have evolved in tandem with the organisms that they infect. Afflictions of the plant and animal kingdoms with viral infections have forced the host organism to evolve new or exploit existing systems to develop the countermeasures needed to offset viral insults. As one example, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, a cellular quality-control mechanism ensuring the translational fidelity of mRNA transcripts, has been used to restrict virus replication in both plants and animals. In response, viruses have developed a slew of means to disrupt or become insensitive to NMD, providing researchers with potential new reagents that can be used to more fully understand the NMD mechanism.
The Strain on Airway Smooth Muscle During a Deep Inspiration to Total Lung Capacity

The deep inspiration (DI) maneuver entices a great deal of interest because of its ability to temporarily ease the flow of air into the lungs. This salutary effect of a DI is proposed to be mediated, at least partially, by momentarily increasing the operating length of airway smooth muscle (ASM). Concerningly, this premise is largely derived from a growing body of in vitro studies investigating the effect of stretching ASM by different magnitudes on its contractility. The relevance of these in vitro findings remains uncertain, as the real range of strains ASM undergoes in vivo during a DI is somewhat elusive. In order to understand the regulation of ASM contractility by a DI and to infer on its putative contribution to the bronchodilator effect of a DI, it is imperative that in vitro studies incorporate levels of strains that are physiologically relevant. This review summarizes the methods that may be used in vivo in humans to estimate the strain experienced by ASM during a DI from functional residual capacity (FRC) to total lung capacity (TLC). The strengths and limitations of each method, as well as the potential confounders, are also discussed. A rough estimated range of ASM strains is provided for the purpose of guiding future in vitro studies that aim at quantifying the regulatory effect of DI on ASM contractility. However, it is emphasized that, owing to the many limitations and confounders, more studies will be needed to reach conclusive statements.
Effectiveness and Safety of Nivolumab in Child–Pugh B Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World Cohort Study

Nivolumab has shown durable response and safety in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in previous trials. However, real-world data of nivolumab in HCC patients, especially those with Child–Pugh class B, are limited. To investigate the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab in a real-world cohort of patients with advanced HCC, we retrospectively evaluated 203 patients with HCC who were treated with nivolumab between July 2017 and February 2019. Of 203 patients, 132 patients were classified as Child–Pugh class A and 71 patients were Child–Pugh class B. Objective response rate was lower in patients with Child–Pugh class B than A (2.8% vs. 15.9%; p = 0.010). Child–Pugh class B was an independent negative predictor for objective response. Median overall survival was shorter in Child–Pugh B patients (11.3 vs. 42.9 weeks; adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 2.10; p < 0.001). In Child–Pugh B patients, overall survival of patients with Child–Pugh score of 8 or 9 was worse than patients with Child–Pugh score of 7 (7.4 vs. 15.3 weeks; AHR, 1.93; p < 0.020). In conclusion, considering the unsatisfactory response in Child–Pugh B patients, nivolumab may not be used in unselected Child–Pugh B patients. Further studies are needed in this patient population.
Cytostatic Activity of Achillea ageratum Against Cultured Hep-2 and McCoy Cells

We have determined the cytostatic activity against Hep-2 and McCoy cells with a hexane extract from Achillea ageratum L. (Asteraceae). The hexane extracts exhibited a high degree of growth inhibition compared with 6-mercaptopurine (a positive control) against both cultures of cells. a-Amyrin, isolated from the hexane extract, showed a high degree of growth inhibition.
Cognitive processes of letter and digit identification

ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . x LIST OF FIGURES . xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 Overview of the dissertation . 3 CHAPTER 2: LETTER IDENTIFICATION . 5 Goals of letter identification . 7 Invariance over visual forms . 8 Representing position . 10 Invariance over position . 10 Theories of letter identification . 12 Bigram-Based Theories of Letter Identification . 13 Letter-Based Theories of Letter Identification . 17 Evidence for stored letter-form representations . 21 Evidence from unimpaired participants . 23 Evidence from neuropsychological studies . 26 Evidence from LHD . 27 Computational modeling . 33 Revised Caramazza & Hillis theory of letter identification . 35
Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Wound Healing Activity of Quercus persica

Quercus persica is one of the four species oak that growing in the zagrossian region in Iran. This plant contains different components of therapeutic value. In this investigation, antibacterial and wound healing effects of methanolic extract of fruits of Quercus persica has been studied. Milled oak fruit that their hull was separated, was extracted with methanol in Soxhleťs apparatus . The effect of extract in three concentration (25,50,75mg/ml) were tested using agar diffusion method on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis RTCC 1898 and Escherichia coli O157:H7 and in form topical administration on excision wound in rats.Results showed that all of concentrations were effective on inhibition of bacteria, but this effect with 50 and 75 mg/ml concentration of extract was significant for bacteria. Also in comparison with tested antibiotics, the effect of 75 mg/ml concentration of extract was similar or higher than them. Also in the extract-treated wounds indicated that epithelialize faster, and the rate of wound contraction was significantly increased in comparison to control wounds. This results suggest that Quercus persica possesses compounds with antibacterial and wound healing properties.
Pulsatilla Saponin A Induces Apoptosis and Differentiation of Myeloma Cells.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the performance of Pulsatilla saponin A (PsA) in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. METHODS Proliferation, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis and TUNEL assays were conducted to detect the growth and apoptosis in MM cells. Western blotting was used to identify the change in protein. RESULTS In cells assays, PsA significantly inhibited the growth and apoptosis in MM cells. Cyclin B1, caspase-3, cleavedcaspase-3, PARP, cleaved-PARP, p-ERK were increased, while Bcl-2 were decreased after PSA treated. The CD49e positive rate of U266 cells was increased after PsA treated 96h. At the same time immunoglobulin and the free light chain (FLC) ratio in the culture supernatant obviously increased after treated. Also, the differentiation induced by PsA was confirmed in the primary myeloma cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed PsA may exert its antitumor effect by causing G2 arrest and apoptosis in myeloma cells. And low-dose PsA can induce the differentiation of myeloma cell lines and primary myeloma cells, probably through the MEK/ERK signaling pathway in vitro.
Cumulative live birth rates among gestational surrogates in altruistic surrogacy arrangements

Abstract Understanding the likelihood of a live birth is important for fertility treatment planning, particularly when one cycle fails and further treatment may be contemplated. This study aims to estimate the chance of live birth among gestational surrogates undergoing altruistic surrogacy arrangements between 2009 and 2016 in Victoria, Australia. A total of 81 gestational surrogates with 170 embryo transfer cycles were included. Of the 170 embryo transfer cycles, the majority were single embryo transfers (SETs; 97.1%), using frozen/thawed embryos (97.6%) which had been fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (77.6%). The cumulative live birth rate was 23.5% (95% CI, 15.6–33.8%) after the first cycle and increased to 50.6% (95% CI, 40.0–61.2%) after the sixth cycle. Of the 41 deliveries, 40 were singletons and one was a twin delivery. Two of the 42 deliveries were preterm, two were low birthweight and one was small for gestational age. The findings imply that surrogacy treatment can be offered up to six consecutive embryo transfer cycles to gestational surrogates. SET is encouraged in surrogacy practice to improve perinatal outcomes. These estimates can be used in counselling and decision-making for intended parents and gestational surrogates to continue a surrogacy treatment and informing public policy on assisted reproductive technology treatment.