Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pretreatment blood biomarkers combined with magnetic resonance imaging predict responses to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer

Aim To investigate the value of pretreatment blood biomarkers combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods This study involved patients with LARC who received NCRT and subsequently underwent total mesenteric excision from June 2015 to June 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Patients with incomplete courses of neoadjuvant therapy, comorbidities with other malignancies or diseases that affect the study outcome, and those who underwent unplanned surgery were ultimately excluded. Laboratory data such as albumin, CEA, various blood cell levels, and MRI related data such as tumor regression grade assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (mrTRG) were collected from the included patients one week prior to NCRT. MrTRG is a common clinical imaging metric used to assess the degree of tumor regression in rectal cancer, primarily based on morphological assessment of residual tumor. Furthermore, pretreatment blood biomarkers such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR), and prealbumin to fibrinogen ratio (PFR) were assessed. The independent variables for pathologic complete response (pCR) to NCRT were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine the performance of MRI with or without pretreatment blood biomarkers in predicting pCR using DeLong’s method. A nomogram was created and confirmed internally. Results Fifty-nine individuals with LARC satisfied the inclusion criteria, among which 23 showed pCR after NCRT. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that pretreatment CEA (≤ 3 µg/L, OR = 0.151, P = 0.039), NLR (OR = 4.205, P = 0.027), LMR (OR = 0.447, P = 0.034), and PFR (OR = 0.940, P = 0.013) were independent predictors of pCR to NCRT. The AUCs of mrTRG alone and mrTRG plus the above four pretreatment blood biomarkers were 0.721 (P =0.0003) and 0.913 (P <0.0001), respectively. The constructed nomogram showed a C-index of 0.914. Conclusion Pretreatment blood biomarkers combined with MRI can help clinical efforts by better predicting the efficacy of NCRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.
The flowering transition pathways converge into a complex gene regulatory network that underlies the phase changes of the shoot apical meristem in Arabidopsis thaliana

Post-embryonic plant development is characterized by a period of vegetative growth during which a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic signals triggers the transition to the reproductive phase. To understand how different flowering inducing and repressing signals are associated with phase transitions of the Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM), we incorporated available data into a dynamic gene regulatory network model for Arabidopsis thaliana. This Flowering Transition Gene Regulatory Network (FT-GRN) formally constitutes a dynamic system-level mechanism based on more than three decades of experimental data on flowering. We provide novel experimental data on the regulatory interactions of one of its twenty-three components: a MADS-box transcription factor XAANTAL2 (XAL2). These data complement the information regarding flowering transition under short days and provides an example of the type of questions that can be addressed by the FT-GRN. The resulting FT-GRN is highly connected and integrates developmental, hormonal, and environmental signals that affect developmental transitions at the SAM. The FT-GRN is a dynamic multi-stable Boolean system, with 223 possible initial states, yet it converges into only 32 attractors. The latter are coherent with the expression profiles of the FT-GRN components that have been experimentally described for the developmental stages of the SAM. Furthermore, the attractors are also highly robust to initial states and to simulated perturbations of the interaction functions. The model recovered the meristem phenotypes of previously described single mutants. We also analyzed the attractors landscape that emerges from the postulated FT-GRN, uncovering which set of signals or components are critical for reproductive competence and the time-order transitions observed in the SAM. Finally, in the context of such GRN, the role of XAL2 under short-day conditions could be understood. Therefore, this model constitutes a robust biological module and the first multi-stable, dynamical systems biology mechanism that integrates the genetic flowering pathways to explain SAM phase transitions.
Robust analysis of phylogenetic tree space 2

7 Abstract. —Phylogenetic analyses often produce large numbers of trees. Mapping trees’ 8 distribution in ‘tree space’ can illuminate the behaviour and performance of search strategies, 9 reveal distinct clusters of optimal trees, and expose differences between different data sources or 10 phylogenetic methods – but the high-dimensional spaces defined by metric distances are 11 necessarily distorted when represented in fewer dimensions. Here, I explore the consequences of 12 this transformation in phylogenetic search results from 128 morphological datasets, using 13 stratigraphic congruence – a complementary aspect of tree similarity – to evaluate the utility of 14 low-dimensional mappings. 15 I find that phylogenetic similarities between cladograms are most accurately depicted in 16 tree spaces derived from information-theoretic tree distances or the quartet distance. Robinson– 17 Foulds tree spaces exhibit prominent distortions and often fail to group trees according to 18 phylogenetic similarity, whereas the strong influence of tree shape on the Kendall–Colijn 19 distance makes its tree space unsuitable for many purposes. Distances mapped into two or even 20 three dimensions often display little correspondence with true distances, which can lead to 21 profound misrepresentation of clustering structure. Without explicit testing, one cannot be Page 1 of 51 Systematic Biology
Factors Affecting Consumers Buying Behavior in Supermarkets

: The present study was an effort to explore the factors affecting consumers buying behavior in supermarkets. Since the retail industry is developing and changing with the sharp move in shopping patterns and it is also observed shoppers are becoming more imperative for the retailers. Previous studies in Pakistani supermarkets considered only preferential attributes and conveniences but the present study investigates all the major factors affecting shoppers’ buying behavior including store association, awareness, perceived quality, conveniences, product assortments, employee’s services, perceived price with the mediation of store loyalty. Questionnaire was used for collecting the data from the 420 shoppers out of which 375 responses were usable with 89.29% response rate. The results of the study revealed that all these factors having significant positive relation with purchase intention with the mediation role of store loyalty. Furthermore, the results of the study can also be used as relevant guidelines for developing superstore formats. This study also suggests retailers, managers, entrepreneurs and business owners to consider these factors and their relationship with the purchase intention of consumers which h will affect the overall profitability of the business. Moreover the practical and theoretical implications of the study were also discussed for adding value in the existing body of knowledge.
Effect of specimen thickness and coarse aggregate size on shear strength of single‐keyed dry joints in precast concrete segmental bridges

Failures of shear keys in precast concrete segmental bridges (PCSBs) have been attributed to fracture of concrete along the joints with shearing off the keys. The principal goal of this study is to investigate the effect of specimen thickness and coarse aggregate size on shear strength of single‐keyed dry joints in PCSBs, which are noticed by bridges designers in deciding box geometry and requiring the concrete constituents. In this paper, shear performance of match‐casting single‐keyed dry joints is assessed in terms of cracking shear strength, ultimate shear strength, residual shear strength, and failure modes. It was found that there tended to be slightly positive correlation between specimen thickness and ultimate shear strength, while the influence of coarse aggregate size was obscure. The measured shear capacity was compared with several provisions of design formulae.
Guidelines for Vapor Cloud Explosion, Pressure Vessel Burst, BLEVE, and Flash Fire Hazards, 2nd Edition (August 2010)

You could purchase guide guidelines for vapor cloud explosion pressure vessel burst bleve and flash fire hazards or get it as soon as feasible. You could quickly download this guidelines for vapor cloud explosion pressure vessel burst bleve and flash fire hazards after getting deal. So, later than you require the ebook swiftly, you can straight get it. It's consequently extremely easy and so fats, isn't it? You have to favor to in this vent
Probabilistic collocation method for strongly nonlinear problems: 1. Transform by location

In this work, we propose a new collocation method for uncertainty quantification in strongly nonlinear problems. Based on polynomial construction, the traditional probabilistic collocation method (PCM) approximates the model output response, which is a function of the random input parameter, from the Eulerian point of view in specific locations. In some cases, especially when the advection dominates, the model response has a strongly nonlinear profile with a discontinuous shock or large gradient. This nonlinearity in the space domain is then translated to nonlinearity in the random parametric domain, which causes nonphysical oscillation and inaccurate estimation using the traditional PCM. To address this issue, a new location‐based transformed probabilistic collocation method (xTPCM) is developed in this study, inspired by the Lagrangian point of view, in which model response is represented by an alternative variable, i.e., the location of a particular response value, which is relatively linear to the random parameter with a smooth profile. The location is then approximated by polynomial construction, from which a sufficient number of location samples are randomly generated and transformed back to obtain the response samples and to estimate the statistical properties. The advantage of the xTPCM is demonstrated through applications to multiphase flow and solute transport in porous media, which shows that the xTPCM achieves higher statistical accuracy than does the PCM, and produces more reasonable realizations without oscillation, while computational effort is greatly reduced compared to the direct sampling Monte Carlo method.
Direct observation of the B-site cationic order in the ferroelectric relaxor Pb(Mg1∕3Ta2∕3)O3

By means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the structure of chemically ordered regions in Zr-doped Pb(Mg1∕3Ta2∕3)O3 has been studied. Large coherent ordered domains were obtained by the addition of 5mol%PbZrO3. The results obtained by conventional, analytical, and high-resolution TEM are consistent with the random-site description of the B-site order, the so-called random-layer model. Image simulations showed that a careful selection of the imaging conditions for high resolution transmission electron microscopy is necessary in order to determine the different B-site occupancies. By comparison of simulated with experimental images it was possible to directly distinguish between the different ordering models.
PRIMUS: EFFECTS OF GALAXY ENVIRONMENT ON THE QUIESCENT FRACTION EVOLUTION AT z < 0.8

We investigate the effects of galaxy environment on the evolution of the quiescent fraction ( f Q ? > ) from z = 0.8 ? > to 0.0 using spectroscopic redshifts and multi-wavelength imaging data from the PRIsm MUlti-object Survey (PRIMUS) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Our stellar mass limited galaxy sample consists of ∼14,000 PRIMUS galaxies within z = 0.2–0.8 and ∼64,000 SDSS galaxies within z = 0.05–0.12. We classify the galaxies as quiescent or star-forming (SF) based on an evolving specific star formation cut, and as low or high density environments based on fixed cylindrical aperture environment measurements on a volume-limited environment defining population. For quiescent and SF galaxies in low or high density environments, we examine the evolution of their stellar mass function (SMF). Then using the SMFs we compute f Q (  * ) ? > and quantify its evolution within our redshift range. We find that the quiescent fraction is higher at higher masses and in denser environments. The quiescent fraction rises with cosmic time for all masses and environments. At a fiducial mass of 10 10.5 M ⊙ ? > , from z ∼ 0.7 ? > to 0.1, the quiescent fraction rises by 15% at the lowest environments and by 25% at the highest environments we measure. These results suggest that for a minority of galaxies their cessation of star formation is due to external influences on them. In other words, in the recent universe a substantial fraction of the galaxies that cease forming stars do so due to internal processes.
DISCRETE MODEL FOR THE INTERFACE EVOLUTION IN A 2d SPACE WITH SOME WELL-DEFINED SET OF ANNIHILATION-CREATION RULES ∗

A simple discrete model for the evolution of the interface (or front) in a 2d (square) lattice, based on a complete as well as natural set of a few stochastic rules, has been examined. The interface is initially assumed to be a vertical straight-line which is made of elementary unit pieces called further particles. Once one of the particles is chosen at random it is pushed either left or right, drawing two new horizontal units (particles). Then the process continues to proceed into both main directions, following the rules (reversible and irreversible) that generally rely on creating and annihilating at random the vertical as well as horizontal particles. The scaling properties of the system have been analyzed, recognizing the front as a subdiffusive (anomalous) macromolecular chain or “lattice animal”, with a few residual parts, on the one hand, and as a rough surface with overhangs in a 1 + 1space, on the other. In the former, it turns out that the current length of the front scales more or less like a polymeric chain under an attractive (qualitatively: “supressing”) potential field, while in the latter it seems at a first glance that the problem may fall into an universality class characteristic of the nonlinear nonconservative dynamics with possibly nonconservative noise, exemplified by some dynamics of rough surfaces or interfaces.
Positioning on the Dynamic Earth

Increasing mobility of people and goods, as well as the rapid growth of users of mobile devices with positioning services expands constantly the need for geospatial information. Today, the challenge for suppliers and users or sellers and buyers is how to use this information to identify and accelerate profitable measures in public and private affairs like security, environment, resource, disaster and transportation or risk assessment for industry and insurers. In this context, georeferencing of geoinformation is the key instrument to visualise the location of events of interest. This paper deals with the background of spatial reference for precise positioning on the dynamic Earth and focuses on the ETRS89 regarding applications in real-estate cadaster and similar services provided by the official authorities.
The Stein Phenomenon in Simultaneous Estimation: A Review

In the simultaneous estimation of a mean of a multivariate normal distribution, Charles Stein discovered the surprising decision-theoretic result that the usual maximum likelihood estimator is inadmissible with respect to quadratic loss in three or more dimensions. Since then, the researches on this Stein phenomenon have received considerable attention. This paper surveys the theoretical study of the Stein phenomenon. The minimaxity of the James-Stein estimator and its improvements are demonstrated instructively, and various extensions and developments in Bayesian frameworks and non-normal distributions are reviewed. The paper shortly refers to the Stein phenomenon in confidence sets and a series of decision-theoretic results in estimation of a covariance matrix.
Axons take a dive: Specialized contacts of serotonergic axons with cells in the walls of the lateral ventricles in mice and humans

In the walls of the lateral ventricles of the adult mammalian brain, neural stem cells (NSCs) and ependymal (E1) cells share the apical surface of the ventricular–subventricular zone (V–SVZ). In a recent article, we show that supraependymal serotonergic (5HT) axons originating from the raphe nuclei in mice form an extensive plexus on the walls of the lateral ventricles where they contact E1 cells and NSCs. Here we further characterize the contacts between 5HT supraependymal axons and E1 cells in mice, and show that suprependymal axons tightly associated to E1 cells are also present in the walls of the human lateral ventricles. These observations raise interesting questions about the function of supraependymal axons in the regulation of E1 cells.
MOSQUITO NOTES.—No. 2

Among the new genera lately separated by Theobald from Ædes and Uranotœnia, the differences seem at times puzzling, and without an opportunity to study the types, it is not always easy to feel sure of the position of a new insect. It is also to be noted that in some of these genera the male is unknown, and it may possibly happen that they belong to the class having long palpi in the male. This is very definitely suggested by a mosquito received recently from Bayamban, Pangasinan, P.I. , which, while having long palpi in the male, flat scales (no curved ones) on the head, curved scales only on the scutellum, still has the wing characteristics of Uranotœnia.
The central conic sections revisited

how do we find its center, the equations of its principal axes and the radii along these axes? Usually by translating and rotating the coordinate axes. Here, however, we will use a combination of techniques that will shed more light on this topic. First, we will get the center by using the fact that it is the midpoint of any diameter passing through it. Assume that the center of the conic is (x0, yo). Then the equation of the diameter parallel to the x-axis is y = yo, and if we substitute that in (1), we get ax2 + (2nyO + 2h)x + by2 + 2kyo + c = 0. If the roots of this equation are x1 and X2, then the x value of the center, x0, is given by
An experimental study of the absorption of energy from a large amplitude electromagnetic pulse by a collisionless plasma

A series of experiments in which an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is propagated through a nitrogen plasma are discussed. The pulse has the general characteristics of an EMP. The pulse is observed as it emerges from the plasma as a function of the plasma parameters. As the electron number density increases, it is found that energy is increasingly absorbed from the pulse, a process due to joule heating. In addition, at higher number densities, ringing of the pulse occurs. The nitrogen pressure in these experiments is sufficiently low so that collisions play only a minor role. Also developed is a theoretical model based on the fluid transport equations. This theory predicts that the electrons of the plasma are attaining a temperature of about 15 eV in that part of the system where the dc magnetic field is about 80 G. More importantly, it is able to predict the output pulse quite well under the conditions that the ambient nitrogen pressure and the electron number density are low. The theory appears to fail as these parameters are increased.
‘Materials as a Design Tool’ Design Philosophy Applied in Three Innovative Research Pavilions Out of Sustainable Building Materials with Controlled End-Of-Life Scenarios

Choosing building materials is usually the stage that follows design in the architectural design process, and is rarely used as a main input and driver for the design of the whole building’s geometries or structures. As an approach to have control over the environmental impact of the applied building materials and their after-use scenarios, an approach has been initiated by the author through a series of research studies, architectural built prototypes, and green material developments. This paper illustrates how sustainable building materials can be a main input in the design process, and how digital fabrication technologies can enable variable controlling strategies over the green materials’ properties, enabling adjustable innovative building spaces with new architectural typologies, aesthetic values, and controlled martial life cycles. Through this, a new type of design philosophy by means of applying sustainable building materials with closed life cycles is created. In this paper, three case studies of research pavilions are illustrated. The pavilions were prefabricated and constructed from newly developed sustainable building materials. The applied materials varied between structural and non-structural building materials, where each had a controlled end-of-life scenario. The application of the bio-based building materials was set as an initial design phase, and the architects here participated within two disciplines: once as designers, and additionally as green building material developers. In all three case studies, Design for Deconstruction (DfD) strategies were applied in different manners, encouraging architects to further follow such suggested approaches.
Simulation-based analysis of the error caused by non-uniform beam filling and signal fluctuation in rainfall rate measurement with a spaceborne radar

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission is a United States-Japan joint project for rain measurement using a spaceborne rain radar. The authors investigate the rainfall-rate error caused by the effect of non-uniform beam filling on the radar reflectivity and the surface reference technique simulation which employs rain data measured by a ground-based radar. Complete 3D rain data generated from a radar-based volume scan are used, and these 3D rain data are assumed to be true data. To estimate the mean value of the rain echo power, it is essential to take an average of fluctuating radar signals; to estimate that value correctly, a large number of samples is needed. However, the number of averaging samples is limited because the measurement time at spatially fixed points is limited by the continuous movement of the satellite. Thus, instrument-measured quantities always have some errors. This study takes into consideration the error caused by the limited number of averaging samples.
Development of vocal tract and acoustic features in children

When we vocalize, the vibration of the vocal folds becomes a primal sound source and the shape of the vocal tract from the glottis to the lips determines the resonance of speech sounds, which specifies vowels and consonants. A considerable number of studies have already explored the anatomical and acoustic characteristics of adult vocal tracts, but only a few studies have attempted this in relation to the developmental changes from infants to children to adults. It is well known that an infant’s vocal tract is not simply a miniature version of an adult’s vocal tract. Therefore, the developmental trajectory will not be uniform and each segment of the vocal tract is expected to grow in a different manner and with different timing. This article reviews recent research on vocal tract development. In the first half of this paper, we illustrate the anatomical development of the vocal tract that has been revealed by using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The anatomical development of the vocal tract, which is a resonant tube, is accompanied by a change in acoustic features. Therefore, in the second half of the article we introduce studies that focus on the acoustic features of a child’s utterance and its developmental change.