Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The investigation of contrast-agent enhanced ultrasound thermal effect

In recent years, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) was shown to have promising effect on ablating both malignant and benign tumors. Despite its unique advantages such as minimal invasiveness and radiation free, the size of the ablation lesion is small and thus the duration for complete tumor ablation is usually too long. In this study, the effect of using ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) to enhance the ultrasound thermal effect, and thus enlarge the lesion size, was studied. Different concentration of UCA ranging from 0% (control), 0.001% to 0.1% (v/v) was mixed evenly with polyacrylamide gel phantoms containing egg white as a temperature indicator. A 1.85-MHz HIFU transducer was used to form thermal lesions inside the 2 cm*2 cm*4 cm phantoms. For the electric power of 50W and 70W, 'cigar' and 'tadpole’ shaped lesions were formed inside the control phantoms, respectively. The volume enlargement ratio (VER), defined as the ratio of volume formed in experimental groups (adding UCA or increasing power) to the volume of controlled the sample, was used to evaluate the effect of UCA on thermal ablation. When the concentrations of UCA were 0.001%, 0.005%, 0.01% and 0.015%, the VER were 10.58, 39.11, 55.08, 64.65 at 50W, and 2.27, 5.29, 12.09, 10.61 at 70W, respectively. The administration of UCA significantly increased the lesion size up to 65 times! UCA also reduced the necessary power to form a lesion of a certain size. For example, 0.001% of UCA at 50W produced a lesion close to controls at 70W in size. Same concentration of UCA at 70W formed lesions equivalent in size for phantoms without UCA at 100W. 30% reduction of the power level was achieved. However, the shift of the most heating position also increased with the concentration of UCA. investigated. For example, at UCA concentration of 0.015%, the shift could be 2.16 cm from the geometric focus. For concentration higher than 0.1%, the lesion was basically formed at the surface of the phantom. The mechanism of lesion formation and transformation was also investigated. For samples without UCA insonified by high intensity ultrasound, the tadpole-shaped lesion was formed due to boiling effect. The larger lesion formed in samples with UCA was because of the generation of inertial cavitation and bubbles which scattered sound waves and evenly distributed energy absorption in a larger volume. In conclusion, UCA could increase the size of lesion by enhancing scattering. However, the most heating center also moved toward the transducer when UCA concentration increased. A lower concentration (0.001%) of UCA and lower power (50 W) were enough to produce a lesion 39 times larger, and produced a minimal lesion movement (0.65 cm). *Corresponding author: wen
The Health Change Trajectory Model: An Integrated Model of Health Change

Health and illness fluctuate across a person's life span, and various theories have been developed to address the unique perceptions and situations that accompany these fluctuations. An innovative model of health change resulted from a synthesis of the major concepts from 2 such theories: Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory and the Corbin and Strauss chronic illness trajectory framework. The proposed integrated model, the Health Change Trajectory Model, provides original conceptual definitions that operationalize trajectory framework in the context of changes in health. The use of a health trajectory perspective extends applications of the model to a wide range of health changes that result in uncertainty and ambiguity.
The Yeast hsp70 Homologue Ssa Is Required for Translation and Interacts with Sis1 and Pab1 on Translating Ribosomes*

The 70-kDa heat shock proteins are molecular chaperones that participate in a variety of cellular functions. This chaperone function is stimulated by interaction with hsp40 proteins. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene encoding the essential hsp40 homologue, SIS1, appears to function in translation initiation. Mutations in ribosomal protein L39 (rpl39) complement loss-of-function mutations in SIS1 as well asPAB1 (poly(A)-binding protein), suggesting a functional interaction between these proteins. However, while a direct interaction between Sis1 and Pab1 is not detectable, both of these proteins physically interact with the essential Ssa (and not Ssb) family of hsp70 proteins. This interaction is mediated by the variable C-terminal domain of Ssa. Subcellular fractionations demonstrate that the binding of Ssa to ribosomes is dependent upon its C terminus and that its interaction with Sis1 and Pab1 occurs preferentially on translating ribosomes. Consistent with a function in translation, depletion of Ssa protein produces a general translational defect that appears similar to loss of Sis1 and Pab1 function. This translational effect of Ssa appears mediated, at least in part, by its affect on the interaction of Pab1 with the translation initiation factor, eIF4G, which is dramatically reduced in the absence of functional Ssa protein.
Communication costs in code and design reviews: an empirical study

Software development managers strive to control all of the factors that might impact the success of their projects. However, not all of these factors have been identified, much less understood enough to be controlled or manipulated. One important but poorly understood factor is communication between developers. This paper presents results from an exploratory study which aimed to identify some of the characteristics which affect communication costs in software development, and to begin to understand those effects. Communication patterns were observed during code and design reviews. At the same time, data were gathered about organizational and other contextual factors. A number of well-grounded hypotheses were generated from the data collected. One such hypothesis, which was strongly suggested by the data, is the subject of this paper. It states that groups require more effort to communicate when they include a few (but not too many) members who are organizationally distant from the others, and less effort is required when the group is composed of all or nearly all organizationally distant members. In this paper, we describe the data that supports this hypothesis as well as those that dispute it, and argue for its continued study.
Role of Dietary Sodium in Osteoporosis

Sodium, in the form of sodium chloride, elevates urinary calcium excretion and, at prevailing calcium intakes, evokes compensatory responses that may lead to increased bone remodeling and bone loss. The calciuria is partly due to salt-induced volume expansion, with an increase in GFR, and partly to competition between sodium and calcium ions in the renal tubule. Potassium intakes in the range of current recommendations actually reduce or prevent sodium chloride-induced calciuria. At calcium intakes at or above currently recommended levels, there appear to be no deleterious effects of prevailing salt intakes on bone or the calcium economy, mainly because adaptive increases in calcium absorption offset the increased urinary loss. Such compensation is likely to be incomplete at low calcium intakes. Limited evidence suggests equivalent bone-sparing effects of either salt restriction or augmented calcium intakes. Given the relative difficulty of the former, and the ancillary benefits of the latter, it would seem that the optimal strategy to protect the skeleton is to ensure adequate calcium and potassium intakes.
Virtual but visible software

The problem of trying to view and comprehend large amounts of data is a well-known one. A specialised version of this problem, that of visualising program code (often known as software visualisation) has suffered from the field refusing to embrace new ideas and technologies. The paper presents an application of virtual reality to this problem and highlights areas of importance from virtual reality that have been used to good effect when creating graphical abstractions of Java source code. A summary of the achievements of this approach and the relationship to the virtual reality features believed to be most beneficial is provided.
Integrating Sustainable Product and Supply Chain Design: Modeling Issues and Challenges

Promoting sustainability within business operations requires sustainable products, processes, and system, i.e., sustainable supply chains (SSCs). To efficiently reduce environmental and societal impacts of supply chains (SCs) while maintaining continued profitability, it is necessary that the entire SC is designed and managed from a total life-cycle perspective considering coordination between product, process, and SC design. Coordinating product and SC design decisions play a critical role in improving the SSC's performance. The product design determines all its future costs, both in forward and reverse-flow, which in turn depend on the SC configuration such as the number and location of SC partners their capabilities and capacities. Therefore, coordinating sustainable product and SC design decisions requires consideration of all four product life-cycle stages and incorporating a closed-loop flow within the SC. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it emphasizes on the need and importance of coordinating product and SC design decisions in SSCs (through illustrative case studies) and the limitations of existing models from a SSC perspective. Second, the paper explains some of the challenges that need to be addressed while developing such holistic integrated models, provides key factors influencing their performance, and thereby proposes a framework to perform this coordination.
A survey of gastroenterologists’ perceptions and practices related to Helicobacter pylori infection

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the current practice of gastroenterologists in the United States concerning Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.Methods:We mailed a structured questionnaire to 1000 gastroenterologists chosen at random from a national database. We asked about personal and practice demographics and practices relating to testing for, and treating, H. pylori infection.Results:A total of 922 questionnaires were delivered, from which we received 286 responses (31%). Respondents used many different tests for H. pylori infection, but only 10% each had used either the 13C- or 14C-urea breath test. Testing for H. pylori infection was usually for appropriate reasons, although 21% indicated that they might not treat a patient with a positive test result. Different multiple treatment regimens were used; the most frequent were combinations of a proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin, and either amoxicillin or metronidazole. Estimates of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance were highly variable and often inaccurate. Most respondents would not check asymptomatic individuals for the infection; however, in the absence of symptoms, 38% would personally undergo testing and treatment if positive.Conclusions:Gastroenterologists usually test for H. pylori infection in appropriate conditions, but may not always treat the infection based on a positive test result. Most use efficacious regimens to treat the infection although many have inaccurate information on resistance rates, which may adversely influence prescribing. Many would have testing and, if positive, treatment in the absence of symptoms or a specific diagnosis, but do not recommend this for their patients.
Cardiovascular safety profile of currently available diabetic drugs.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes, underscoring the importance of choosing drugs that do not increase cardiovascular risk and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Since 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended that new drugs for type 2 diabetes undergo clinical trials to demonstrate cardiovascular safety in addition to glycemic benefit. In 2012, the European Medicines Agency issued a similar recommendation. METHODS We searched the PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases from inception through August 2013 and compiled and reviewed the existing data on the cardiovascular safety profiles of currently available diabetic drugs. RESULTS While intensive glycemic control in diabetics has been consistently shown to reduce the risk of microvascular complications, the data on macrovascular risk reduction have not been as clear, and questions have been raised about possible increases in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION Careful selection of drug therapy-paying particular attention to cardiovascular safety-is important in optimizing diabetic therapy.
Hypertension in Women: Part I

The basis for the treatment of hypertension in women has evolved in step with the inclusion of women in studies of treatment in hypertension. Recent outcome trials comparing angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or calcium antagonists with diuretics and β‐blockers in older, high‐risk patients have generally shown similar benefits for women and men. The current evidence therefore indicates that sex should not play a role in decisions about whether to treat hypertension or about the choice of agents.
Acquired channelopathies in nerve injury and MS

Although neurophysiologic doctrine has traditionally referred to “the” voltage-gated sodium channel, it is now clear that there are at least nine genes that encode molecularly and physiologically distinct sodium channels. Mutations of sodium channel genes provide a basis for genetic channelopathies. Dysregulated expression of sodium channels due to alterations in activity of nonmutated channel genes, on the other hand, can produce acquired channelopathies. Two examples of acquired channelopathies are discussed in this article. Recent research has established that peripheral nerve injury can provoke an acquired channelopathy in spinal sensory neurons; axonal transection triggers the turning-off of some previously active sodium channel genes and the turning-on of at least one previously silent sodium channel gene, a set of molecular changes that can result in hyperexcitability of these cells. Emerging evidence also suggests that an acquired channelopathy, characterized by abnormal expression of sensory neuron specific sodium channels that can alter impulse trafficking within Purkinje cells, may contribute to the pathophysiology of MS. Subtype-specific drugs that selectively modulate various types of channels probably will soon be developed. The acquired channelopathies associated with nerve injury and MS may thus represent prototype disorders that present therapeutic opportunities.
Permanent magnet brushless drives controlled by sensorless predictive algorithm

A speed and high resolution position identification algorithm, suitable for brushless drives, is presented in this paper. The algorithm, which is developed basing upon the Popov's Hyperstability Theory, guarantees the convergence of the estimated signals to their corresponding actual values by means of the measured currents. The algorithm is proposed for brushless DC (BLDC) motors which are characterized by emfs shapes different from the ideal trapezoidal ones. The identification procedure can be performed starting from the knowledge of both low resolution rotor position Hall signals and emf shape. The identification algorithm is properly tested on a BLDC drive controlled by a predictive algorithm, by performing a simulation study in the Matlab-Simulink environment. The corresponding results have highlighted the effectiveness of the proposed sensorless control system at both low and high speed operation.
Production, characterization, and species specificity of monoclonal antibodies to Mycobacterium avium complex protein antigens

The incidence of Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare complex infections has increased in recent years primarily because a significant proportion of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients develop disseminated M. avium complex disease. In an effort to develop new tools to study these infections, we have produced eight monoclonal antibodies directed against M. avium. Western blot (immunoblot) specificity analysis and protease sensitivity assays indicate that four of these antibodies recognize M. avium-specific protein epitopes and two react with M. avium complex-specific peptide determinants. These monoclonal antibodies may be useful clinically in the diagnosis of M. avium complex disease and in the laboratory for isolation and characterization of native and recombinant M. avium complex antigens.
Novel p.Ile151Val mutation in VCP in a patient of African American descent with sporadic ALS

The valosin containing protein (VCP) is a member of the AAA-ATPase family, a group of enzymatic molecular chaperones that have been associated with a range of cellular processes including ubiquitin-proteasome mediated degradation, membrane fusion, apoptosis, cell-cycle control, and autophagy.1 Mutations in VCP were first identified to cause familial inclusion body myopathy with early-onset Paget disease and frontotemporal dementia2 (IBMPFD) and more recently were found to be implicated in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 3 It was suggested that VCP mutations may account for 1%–2% of familial ALS cases.3 Whether VCP mutations also contribute to sporadic ALS (SALS), however, has not yet been studied. Here, we report the identification of a novel p.Ile151Val mutation in VCP in a patient of African American descent with SALS. ### Case report. In the course of screening patients with ALS ascertained by the ALS Center at Mayo Clinic Florida (MCF) for mutations in the known ALS genes ( SOD1 , TARDBP , FUS , OPTN , and VCP ), we identified an African American patient with the c.451A>G mutation in exon 5 of VCP predicted to result in the p.Ile151Val substitution. Mutations were excluded in all other exons and genes analyzed in this patient. The VCP p.Ile151Val mutation was not previously reported in dbSNP or the 1000 Genomes databases and genotyping using a custom-designed ABI Taqman assay excluded this mutation from 407 healthy African American controls obtained from MCF (n = 317) and the Coriell Institute for Medical Research (n …
THE HIGH RIVER MICROBLADE INDUSTRY, ALBERTA

A small collection of obsidian and chalcedony microblades, from a site near Calgary, Alberta, is described and compared with other microblades from the Plains and from the Plateau. Al though the age and cultural affiliations of the microblades are not certain, there is some evidence to suggest that they are early in the Plains sequence. The mi croblades have some distinctive attri butes including ridge flakes, for which a typology i s suggested. A comparison of the High River microblades with a large sample from the Interior Plateau of British Columbia suggests that the stimulus for the Alberta microblades did not derive from the Plateau.
On generalizing the Two-Poisson Model

it is well recognized that automatic indexing is one of the important functions of a modern Document Retrieval System. Numerous techniques for this function have been proposed in the literature ranging from purely statistical to linguistically complex mechanisms. Most of these techniques result from examining properties of terms. In this article term distribution is examined within the framework of the Poisson Models. Specifically the effectiveness of the Two-Poisson and the Three-Poisson Models are examined. The more general Three-Poisson model is examined to see if generalization results in increased effectiveness. The results show that the TwoPoisson model is only moderately effective in identifying
An active learning system for mining time-changing data streams

Mining time-changing data streams is of great interest. The fundamental problems are how to effectively identify the significant changes and organize new training data to adjust the outdated model. In this paper, we propose an active learning system to address these issues. Without need knowing any true labels of the new data, we devise an active approach to detecting the possible changes. Whenever the suspected changes are indicated, it exploits a light-weight uncertainty sampling algorithm to choose the most informative instances to label. With these labeled instances, it further tests the truth of the suspected changes. If the changes indeed cause significant performance deterioration of the current model, it evolves the old model. Thus, our method is sensitive to significant changes and robust to noisy changes, and can quickly adapt to concept-drift. Experimental results from both synthetic and real-world data confirm the advantages of our system.
Pathogenesis of Rhinovirus Common Colds in Human Volunteers

Common colds are the most frequent acute illness of man, and they account for more time lost from work and school than any other cause. " The etiology of the majority of these illnesses has been established. Influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncitial virus, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, herpesviruses and picornaviruses all account for a proportion of common colds. " Of these virus groups the most frequent cause, especially in older children and in adults, is the rhinovirus group. In the present report we describe development of a model system of rhinovirus infections in human volunteers, and its use in studies of the pathogenesis of rhinovirus common colds.
The possible role of gastrointestinal endocrine cells in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome

ABSTRACT Introduction: The etiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role in its pathophysiology, including abnormalities of the gastrointestinal endocrine cells. The present review illuminates the possible role of gastrointestinal hormones in the pathophysiology of IBS and the possibility of utilizing the current knowledge in treating the disease. Areas covered: Research into the intestinal endocrine cells and their possible role in the pathophysiology of IBS is discussed. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the abnormalities in the gastrointestinal endocrine cells in IBS patients are revealed. Expert commentary: The abnormalities observed in the gastrointestinal endocrine cells in IBS patients explains their visceral hypersensitivity, gastrointestinal dysmotility, and abnormal intestinal secretion, as well as the interchangeability of symptoms over time. Clarifying the role of the intestinal stem cells in the pathophysiology of IBS may lead to new treatment methods for IBS.
Moving motion metaphors

A class of visual metaphors is introduced in which simple animation conveys meaning about motion metaphorically. Antecedents in the form of static metaphors for visually conveying motion are discussed, followed by two examples of moving motion metaphors. The second is an integral part of a new heads-up flying interface for navigating 3D environments Some concluding remarks are made concerning the practical uses of moving motion metaphors.