Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyroglobulin determination, neck ultrasonography and iodine-131 whole-body scintigraphy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

UNLABELLED The long-term prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma depends on the early diagnosis and treatment of metastases and local recurrences. We evaluated serum thyroglobulin measurements, neck ultrasonography with ultrasound-guided biopsy and 131I whole-body scintigraphy in the follow-up of 359 patients after surgical thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation of the thyroid remnant. METHODS Serum thyroglobulin levels were determined and considered abnormal when the values were > 5 ng/ml. Ultrasonography over the entire neck region and fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the mass or enlarged lymph nodes were carried out using 5- and 7.5-MHz transducers and 23-gauge needles. Whole-body scintigraphy was performed after administration of 185 MBq (5 mCi)131I. RESULTS Increased levels of thyroglobulin (ranging from 12 to > 600 ng/ml) were measured in 40 of 55 (73%) patients with metastases or local recurrences. Ultrasonography revealed occult neck masses that were not detected by other methods. Neck ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided biopsy were positive for malignancy in 23 patients. Thyroglobulin levels were undetectable in 12 (52%) of these patients and 131I whole-body scintigraphy was negative in 19 (83%) of them. CONCLUSION The combined use of three diagnostic modalities (measurement of serum thyroglobulin, neck ultrasonography with ultrasound-guided biopsy for detecting recurrences of carcinoma in the neck region and 131I whole-body scintigraphy) appears to give the best results in the follows-up patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Effect of hypoxia on calcium influx and calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase activity in cortical neuronal nuclei of the guinea pig fetus during development.

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to investigate the effect of hypoxia on calcium (Ca(++)) influx and Ca(++)-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase IV (CaM kinase IV) activity in the neuronal nuclei of the guinea pig fetal cerebral cortex during development. STUDY DESIGN Preterm and term pregnant guinea pigs (n = 61) were exposed to either 21% or 7% oxygen for 60 minutes. Hypoxia in the fetal cerebral cortical tissue was documented by determining the tissue concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine. Fetal cerebral cortical neuronal nuclei were isolated and purified, and ATP-dependent Ca(++) influx and CaM kinase activity were determined. RESULTS Hypoxia resulted in increased neuronal intranuclear (45)Ca(++) influx for 2 minutes from 6.65 +/- 1.29 pmol/mg protein to 9.07 +/- 1.98 pmol/mg protein (P <.05) in preterm and from 6.65 +/- 1.63 pmol/mg protein to 11.26 +/- 1.79 pmol/mg protein (P <.05) in term fetuses. The hypoxia-induced (45)Ca(++) influx was significantly higher (P <.05) in the term than in the preterm fetuses. Hypoxia resulted in increased CaM kinase IV activity from 383.7 +/- 53.3 pmol/mg/min protein to 451.6 +/- 59.5 pmol/mg/min protein (P <.05) in the preterm and from 364.6 +/- 109.7 pmol/mg/min protein to 487.0 +/- 43.3 pmol/mg/min protein (P < 0.05) in term fetuses. No significant difference was observed in CaM kinase IV activity between the preterm and the term groups. CONCLUSION Cerebral hypoxia increases calcium influx and CaM kinase IV activity in the cortical neuronal nuclei of the guinea pig fetal brain during development.
Genetic Variation of Viral Protein 1 Genes of Field Strains of Waterfowl Parvoviruses and Their Attenuated Derivatives

Abstract To understand the genetic variations between the field strains of waterfowl parvoviruses and their attenuated derivatives, we analyzed the complete nucleotide sequences of the viral protein 1 (VP1) genes of nine field strains and two vaccine strains of waterfowl parvoviruses. Sequence comparison of the VP1 proteins showed that these viruses could be divided into goose parvovirus (GPV) related and Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) related groups. The amino acid difference between GPV- and MDPV-related groups ranged from 13.1% to 15.8%, and the most variable region resided in the N terminus of VP2. The vaccine strains of GPV and MDPV exhibited only 1.2% and 0.3% difference in amino acid when compared with their parental field strains, and most of these differences resided in residues 497-575 of VP1, suggesting that these residues might be important for the attenuation of GPV and MDPV. When the GPV strains isolated in 1982 (the strain 82-0308) and in 2001 (the strain 01-1001) were compared, only 0.3% difference in amino acid was found, while MDPV strains isolated in 1990 (the strain 90-0219) and 1997 (the strain 97-0104) showed only 0.4% difference in amino acid. The result indicates that the genome of waterfowl parvovirus had remained highly stable in the field.
Consideration of force visualization for hemiplegia based on a force direction teaching system

Hemiplegia is the lingering effect after a stroke and causes varying impairments. The ability to generate and modulate force is frequently impaired. This study focuses on a rehabilitation technique that encourages force generation in an arbitrary direction. The authors introduced a physiotherapy technique into a rehabilitation robot. Force visualization was provided as a feedback strategy to facilitate motor learning. The technique was verified with a patient clinically diagnosed with hemiplegia. The results suggested significant improvements in the motor function in a short period of time. It was concluded that the recovery of force modulation and improved motor control in the performance of a reaching task correlated with the training. This paper discusses the contribution of force visualization to motor function.
A Radical Demise: Toxins and Trauma Share Common Pathways in Hair Cell Death

ABSTRACT: The pathologic similarities noted after ototoxic and/or traumatic injury to the cochlea as well as the key features of the cochlea that make it susceptible to reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage are reviewed. Recent evidence linking ROS to cochlear damage associated with both ototoxins and/or trauma are presented. Mechanisms of generation of ROS in the cochlea and how these metabolites damage the cochlea and impair function are also reviewed. Finally, examples of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent and reverse hearing loss due to noise and/or ototoxins are presented to illustrate the clinical relevance of these new findings.
The use of Unscented Transforms for statistical analysis in EMC

The use of unscented transforms UT for the statistical analysis of nonlinear linear problems is described. The UT methodology is then applied to the analysis of wire coupling within an enclosure which is a typical problem encountered in EMC studies. The UT results are compared with the more traditional Monte Carlo approach. It is demonstrated that UT is a powerful technique that can greatly improve the computation of the uncertainty encountered in many EMC studies.
Inspiratory fraction and exercise impairment in COPD patients GOLD stages II–III

The inspiratory-to-total lung capacity ratio or “inspiratory fraction” (inspiratory capacity(IC)/total lung capacity (TLC)) may be functionally more representative than traditional indices of resting airflow limitation and lung hyperinflation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the present retrospective study, a comparison was made of the individual performance of post-bronchodilator IC, IC/TLC and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in predicting a severely reduced peak oxygen uptake (V′O2; <60% predicted) in 44 COPD patients Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages II-III (post-bronchodilator FEV1 ranging from 31–79% pred). Patients with lower IC/TLC values (≤0.28) showed increased lung volumes and reduced exercise capacity as compared with other subjects. Following a multiple linear regression analysis, only IC/TLC and FEV1 remained as independent predictors of V′O2 (r2 = 0.33). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that an IC/TLC ≤0.28 had the highest specificity (89.6%), positive predictive value (80%) and overall accuracy (86.3%) in identifying patients with V′O2 <60% pred. In addition, the area under the ROC curve tended to be higher for IC/TLC than IC. In conclusion, post-bronchodilator total lung capacity-corrected inspiratory fraction provides useful information in addition to forced expiratory volume in one second and inspiratory capacity, to estimate the likelihood of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to present with severely reduced maximal exercise capacity.
Unexpected conformational variations of the human centromeric chromatin complex

Thakur and Henikoff combined CUT&RUN, a targeted nuclease method, with salt fractionation and observed unexpected structural and conformational variations of centromere protein A (CENP-A)-containing complexes on different α-satellite dimeric units within highly homogenous arrays.
Distribution characteristic of AVS and SEM and toxicity to benthic organism of heavy metal in surface sediments of Lake Taihu

34 points of surface sediments in Taihu Lake were observed on the distribution of Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS) and Simultaneously Extracted Metal (SEM), and the relativity was analyzed between contents of AVS, AEM and the physical and chemical indices of the surface sediments. Results show that there is a significant difference on the spatial distribution of AVS and SEM contents in the whole lake of Taihu. Among these, AVS concentrations were higher in Meiliang Bay, northern Zhushan Bay, estuary of Gonghu Bay, especially in Eastern Taihu Lake (with the content value of 33.80∼43.76µmol/g), and SEM concentrations were higher in the Meiliang Bay, Zhushan Bay and Gonghu Bay. The analysis of relativity shows that AVS concentrations were higher in sediments with higher water content, higher organic matter, higher organic carbon and lower oxidation-reduction potential. Meanwhile, by using two indices of SEM/AVS and SEM-AVS to evaluate the quality of surface sediments (heavy metal of sediments will toxic when SEM/AVS>9 or SEM-AVS> 2), it indicates that heavy metals in sediments of 6, 12 and 32 points could generate remarkable toxicity on creatures, and heavy metals in sediments of 3, 5, 14, 15, 20 and 21 points could generate a toxicity on creatures, but not significant. In general, our results could give supports and data base for current evaluation on sediment quality and ecolgical security for Taihu Lake.
Single-dose pharmacokinetics and antibacterial activity of daptomycin, a new lipopeptide antibiotic, in healthy volunteers

Three separate single-dose studies were performed to define the disposition and pharmacokinetics of daptomycin in healthy volunteers. Daptomycin was administered as a single 14C-labeled dose (1.0 mg/kg of body weight) and as single doses between 0.5 and 6.0 mg/kg. All doses were intravenous. Antibacterial activity was determined from doses of 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 6.0 mg/kg against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus (one methicillin resistant) and one Enterococcus strain. After administration of 14C-labeled daptomycin, recovery of 14C in urine and feces accounted for 83% of the administered dose, with the greatest fraction (78%) appearing in the urine. Specific analysis for daptomycin in both urine and plasma indicated that metabolic products were present in urine, but total 14C in plasma consisted of daptomycin only. Doses between 0.5 and 6 mg/kg were linear, with a limited total body clearance (0.13 to 0.21 ml/min/kg) and a small volume of distribution (0.10 to 0.15 liter/kg). The small volume of distribution may be a factor of the high plasma protein binding (90 to 95%). Renal clearance made up 34 to 54% of total body clearance. Daptomycin demonstrated in vivo antibacterial activity against all three test strains, with the greatest activity observed against methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The predicted MIC for all three strains was approximately 13 micrograms/ml, corresponding to total (bound plus unbound) drug. On the basis of the drug's pharmacokinetics and antibacterial activity, doses of 4 to 6 mg/kg/day, possibly in divided doses, are predicted to be effective.
Potentialities of microfibers for non linear optics

Micro- and nanofibers present attractive optical properties and may be used in a variety of structures and devices. We report in this work the first global study on the non linear properties of these microfibers: an adequate source is built and its characteristics are described, our first results with a silica loop resonator are presented. Third harmonic generation is obtained in these conditions, however, the low intrinsic non linear index prevents the generation of large non linear effects. The use of highly non linear materials, such as soft glasses, is therefore discussed, with their potentialities and the challenges their integration with standard microfibers represent.
High Beta-Chemokine Expression Levels in Lymphoid Tissues of Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Virus 89.6-Vaccinated Rhesus Macaques Are Associated with Uncontrolled Replication of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Challenge Inoculum

ABSTRACT Viral suppression by noncytolytic CD8+ T cells, in addition to that by classic antiviral CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, has been described for human immunodeficiency virus and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections. However, the role of soluble effector molecules, especially beta-chemokines, in antiviral immunity is still controversial. In an attenuated vaccine model, approximately 60% of animals immunized with simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) 89.6 and then challenged intravaginally with SIVmac239 controlled viral replication (viral RNA level in plasma, <104 copies/ml) and were considered protected (K. Abel, L. Compton, T. Rourke, D. Montefiori, D. Lu, K. Rothaeusler, L. Fritts, K. Bost, and C. J. Miller, J. Virol. 77:3099-3118, 2003). To determine the in vivo importance of beta-chemokine secretion and CD8+-T-cell proliferation in the control of viral replication in this vaccine model, we examined the relationship between viral RNA levels in the axillary and genital lymph nodes of vaccinated, protected (n = 20) and vaccinated, unprotected (n = 11) monkeys by measuring beta-chemokine mRNA levels and protein expression, the frequency of CD8+ T cells expressing beta-chemokines, and the extent of CD8+-T-cell proliferation. Tissues from uninfected (n = 3) and unvaccinated, SIVmac239-infected (n = 9) monkeys served as controls. Axillary and genital lymph nodes from unvaccinated and vaccinated, unprotected monkeys had significantly higher beta-chemokine mRNA expression levels and increased numbers of beta-chemokine-positive cells than did vaccinated, protected animals. Furthermore, the lymph nodes of vaccinated, unprotected monkeys had significantly higher numbers of beta-chemokine+ CD8+ T cells than did vaccinated, protected monkeys. Lymph nodes from vaccinated, unprotected animals also had significantly more CD8+-T-cell proliferation and marked lymph node hyperplasia than the lymph nodes of vaccinated, protected monkeys. Thus, higher levels of virus replication were associated with increased beta-chemokine secretion and there is no evidence that beta-chemokines contributed to the SHIV89.6-mediated control of viral replication after intravaginal challenge with SIVmac239.
Measuring slow slip offshore

Monitoring changes in the seafloor might be used for earthquake and tsunami forecasting Tsunami earthquakes are rare events and are distinguished by an anomalously shallow source depth and slow rupture propagation speed (1, 2). They can be particularly dangerous because they generate less high-frequency seismic energy than a normal earthquake; consequently, they are not preceded by the strong shaking that would warn coastal residents that a locally generated tsunami is on the way. A better understanding of the range of slip behaviors in the offshore portion of subduction zones is needed to constrain models and improve earthquake hazard forecasts. On page 701 of this issue, Wallace et al. (3) present the first offshore geodetic data from a slow-slip event on the Hikurangi subduction zone offshore from New Zealand (see the figure). This segment of the Hikurangi subduction zone is unusual in that it experienced two “tsunami” earthquakes in 1947. Continuous global positioning system (GPS) instrumentation onshore indicates that the southern part of the subduction zone is locked above a plate depth of ~40 km, with slow-slip events occurring at greater depth, similar to what is observed in many other subduction zones (4, 5). In contrast, the northern part of the Hikurangi subduction zone appears to accommodate plate motion primarily through geodetically detected slow-slip events at shallow depths. The up-dip extent of slow slip, however, cannot be determined from onshore data only, and offshore locking models depend strongly on model assumptions.
Transient Characterization of the Planar DMOS With a Metal/Poly-Si Replacement Gate

In this brief, transient characterization of a novel self-aligned metal/poly-Si gate planar double-diffused MOS (DMOS) transistor for high switching speed and high-efficiency dc/dc converter applications are reported. The breakdown voltage and the threshold voltage of the fabricated metal/poly-Si gate planar DMOS are 36 and 2.1 V, respectively. The gate sheet resistance of the metal/poly-Si gate is around 0.2 O/? , which is 50 times lower than that of the polysilicon gate. The low sheet resistance reduces the switching time, as well as the power loss of the device during the clamped inductive load switching. For a device with a drain current of 69 A/cm2, the turn-on and turn-off times are reduced from 29 to 25 ns and from 36 to 31 ns, respectively. The turn-on and turn-off switching energy losses are reduced by 22% and 15%, respectively.
Altered ocular absorption and disposition of sodium cromoglycate upon ion‐pair and complex coacervate formation with dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride

Ion‐pair formation between the dianionic drug sodium cromoglycate and dodecylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride has been found to alter the extent and rate of corneal penetration of both large ions upon their coadministration. Additionally, using a complex coacervate of the two large ions as the applied dose form (in which the complex is in equilibrium with the ion pairs), a change in the overall disposition of both large ions to the various components of the eye is observed.
Independent predictors of liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may present with increased hepatic fibrosis progressing to end‐stage liver disease. No factors that determine increasing fibrosis and histologically advanced disease have been recognized, thus, liver biopsy is recommended in all patients for diagnosis and prognosis. Our aim was to identify independent predictors of severe hepatic fibrosis in patients with NASH. One hundred and forty‐four patients were studied. All patients underwent liver biopsy. Clinical and biochemical variables were examined with univariate and multivariate analysis. Thirty‐seven (26%) patients had no abnormal fibrosis, 53 (37%) had mild fibrosis, 15 (10%) had moderate fibrosis, 14 (10%) had bridging fibrosis, and 25 (17%) had cirrhosis. In multivariate analysis, older age (P = .001), obesity (P = .002), diabetes mellitus (P = .009), and aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) ratio greater than 1 (P = .03) were significant predictors of severe liver fibrosis (bridging/cirrhosis). Body mass index (P = .003) was the only independent predictor of the degree of fat infiltration. Increased transferrin saturation correlated positively with the severity of fibrosis (P = .02) in univariate analysis, and there was a trend for more female patients among those with more advanced fibrosis (P = .09). However, iron studies or gender were not significant when controlled for age, obesity, diabetes, and AST/ALT ratio. In conclusion, older age, obesity, and presence of diabetes mellitus help identify those NASH patients who might have severe liver fibrosis. This is the subgroup of patients with NASH who would be expected to derive the most benefit from having a liver biopsy and considering investigational therapies.
Eigen-Evolution Dense Trajectory Descriptors

Trajectory-pooled Deep-learning Descriptors have been the state-of-the-art feature descriptors for human action recognition in video on many datasets. This paper improves their performance by applying the proposed eigen-evolution pooling to each trajectory, encoding the temporal evolution of deep learning features computed along the trajectory. This leads to Eigen-Evolution Trajectory (EET) descriptors, a novel type of video descriptor that significantly outperforms Trajectory-pooled Deep-learning Descriptors. EET descriptors are defined based on dense trajectories, and they provide complimentary benefits to video descriptors that are not based on trajectories. Empirically, we observe that the combination of EET descriptors and VideoDarwin outperforms the state-of-the-art methods on the Hollywood2 dataset, and its performance on the UCF101 dataset is close to the state-of-the-art.
Asymmetry of positioning nystagmus in posterior canalolithiasis

Abstract Conclusions: Ewald's third law is correct in the posterior semicircular canal and the intensity of stimulatory nystagmus is 2.7 times as strong as that of inhibitory nystagmus. Objectives: Ewald's third law states that a flow of endolymph away from the ampulla causes more stimulation than a flow toward the ampulla in the posterior canal. The aims of this study were to quantify the asymmetry of positioning nystagmus in posterior canalolithiasis and to confirm the validity of Ewald's third law. Methods: Subjects were 20 patients who revealed typical vertical/torsional positioning nystagmus in the Dix–Hallpike test, 14 females and 6 males, with a mean age of 55.2 years. Nystagmus was recorded using an infrared camera and the findings were converted to digital data. Using ImageJ, we performed three-dimensional video-oculography and measured maximum slow-phase velocity of three components (horizontal, vertical, and torsional). Results: The mean value of maximum slow-phase velocity (sum of three components) in the head-hanging position was 42.3°/s and that in the sitting position was 15.6°/s. The former was significantly greater than the latter (p < 0.01).
Discussion of ‘Why Do EPS Forecast Error and Dispersion Not Vary with Scale? Implications for Analyst and Managerial Behavior’

Cheong and Thomas (2011) provide a new perspective on the behavior of the distribution of EPS forecast error magnitudes as a function of share price. Specifically, they explore several economic-based explanations, related to analyst and manager behavior, in order to understand why measures of EPS forecast error variation do not appear to vary with share price. In this discussion, I explore two additional issues, unrelated to the behavior of managers and analysts, which may significantly contribute to the observed lack of scale variation in EPS forecast error magnitudes in the United States: (1) EPS data in I/B/E/S are reported to the nearest penny, which may render detection of scale variation extremely difficult in a sample of U.S. firms, and (2) there are differences between the measurement of EPS forecast error variation in Cheong and Thomas relative to prior literature. I provided evidence that both issues confound the interpretation of the lack of scale variation observed in U.S. firms and have strong implications for future research exploring EPS forecast error magnitudes.
Subclassification of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a heterogeneous disorder, and as with other diseases (e.g., type I and type II diabetes), progress in the understanding of this disorder would be assisted greatly if subtypes could be characterized. We suggest that a first step would be to subdivide preeclampsia into early‐onset disease (< 34 + 0 weeks') and late onset disease (> 34 + 0 weeks').