Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CEOP-B alternated with VIMB in intermediate-grade and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a pilot study.

PURPOSE To improve response and toxicity in treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), a prospective single-arm trial was initiated using cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (CEOP-B) alternated with etoposide (VP-16), ifosfamide, mitoxantrone, and bleomycin (VIMB). PATIENTS AND METHODS From December 1988 to April 1992, 60 consecutive previously untreated patients with intermediate- or high-grade NHL were admitted to the study and were assessable. Patient characteristics were as follows: 32% greater than 60 years of age, 63% with stage III to IV disease, 42% with a performance status (PS) of 2 or 3, 23% with high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and 22% with two or more extranodal disease sites. Stage I and II patients received three cycles of CEOP-B/VIMB plus radiotherapy (RT) to involved fields; stage III and IV patients received four cycles of chemotherapy alone. RESULTS The complete remission (CR) rate was 77%; actuarial 48-month overall survival (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) rates were 70% and 59%, respectively. With univariate analysis, CR, OS, and TTF rates were significantly influenced by serum LDH levels (P = .0485, P = .0017, and P = .0064, respectively) and performance status (P = .0005, P < .00005, and P = .0001, respectively). The actuarial 48-month disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 83% and was negatively influenced only by high-grade histology (P < .004). Toxicity was mild. A lower epirubicin dose-intensity (DI) was found in patients older than 60 years of age, with a borderline P value. Patients were divided into four groups according to the International Prognostic Factor Project; low-risk and low-intermediate-risk groups had similar OS and TTF rates; when considered together, they showed superior, but not statistically significant, OS and TTF rates as compared with the high-intermediate-risk group, which in turn had significantly superior OS and TTF rates when compared with the high-risk group. CONCLUSION CEOP-B/VIMB compares favorably with third-generation regimens and results in lower toxicity.
Analysis of Respiratory Sounds: State of the Art

Objective This paper describes state of the art, scientific publications and ongoing research related to the methods of analysis of respiratory sounds. Methods and material Review of the current medical and technological literature using Pubmed and personal experience. Results The study includes a description of the various techniques that are being used to collect auscultation sounds, a physical description of known pathologic sounds for which automatic detection tools were developed. Modern tools are based on artificial intelligence and on technics such as artificial neural networks, fuzzy systems, and genetic algorithms… Conclusion The next step will consist in finding new markers so as to increase the efficiency of decision aid algorithms and tools.
Face-down positioning versus non-supine positioning in macular hole surgery

Aim To evaluate the full thickness macular hole (FTMH) closure rate in patients positioning non-supine (NSP) compared with patients positioning face-down (FDP). Methods We retrospectively reviewed two FTMH case series—postoperative positioning was FDP and NSP, respectively. All eyes were pseudophakic and treatment consisted of pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling and perfluoropropane gas tamponade. Primary outcome measure was FTMH closure verified by optical coherence tomography. Secondary outcome was ETDRS visual acuity 6 months postoperatively. Results Over 13.7 months 122 eyes were included in this study, 66 eyes in the FDP group and 56 eyes in the NSP group. Closure rates were 95.5% and 96.4% in the FDP group and the NSP group, respectively. Median postoperative visual acuity at 6 months was 69 ETDRS letters in both positioning groups (p=0.64). Neither positioning group fully complied with the recommended positioning protocol. Conclusions Results from consistent FTMH repair indicate similar anatomical success rates in FDP and NSP groups, suggesting that FDP is unnecessary. Objective monitoring of positioning would be beneficial in future FTMH studies to be able to adjust for positioning protocol compliance.
ICA/SDF‐1α/PBMSCs loaded onto alginate and gelatin cross‐linked scaffolds promote damaged cartilage repair

Abstract A three‐dimensional alginate‐coated scaffold (GAIS) was constructed in the present study to showcase the multidifferentiation potential of peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells (PBMSCs) and to investigate the role and mechanism by which Icariin (ICA)/stromal cell‐derived factor (SDF‐1α)/PBMSCs promote damaged articular repair. In addition, the ability of ICA, in combination with SDF‐1α, to promote the migration and proliferation of stem cells was validated through the utilization of CCK‐8 and migration experiments. The combination of ICA and SDF‐1α inhibited the differentiation of PBMSCs into cartilage, as demonstrated by in vivo experiments and histological staining. Both PCR and western blot experiments showed that GAIS could upregulate the expression of particular genes in chondrocytes. In comparison to scaffolds devoid of alginate (G0), PBMSCs seeded into GAIS scaffolds exhibited a greater rate of proliferation, and the conditioned medium derived from scaffolds containing SDF‐1α enhanced the capacity for cell migration. Moreover, after a 12‐week treatment period, GAIS, when successfully transplanted into osteochondral defects of mice, was found to promote cartilage regeneration and repair. The findings, therefore, demonstrate that GAIS enhanced the in vitro capabilities of PBMSCs, including proliferation, migration, homing and chondrogenic differentiation. In addition, ICA and SDF‐1α effectively collaborated to support cartilage formation in vivo. Thus, the ICA/SDF‐1α/PBMSC‐loaded biodegradable alginate‐gelatin scaffolds showcase considerable potential for use in cartilage repair.
Lipid Peroxidation in Newborn Rabbits: Effects of Oxygen, Lipid Emulsion, and Vitamin E

ABSTRACT. The extent of in vivo lipid peroxidation and the in vivo antioxidant effects of α-tocopherol and α-tocopheryl acetate were studied in newborn rabbits exposed to one of two oxidant stresses: hyperoxia (Fio2 0.9) or parenteral lipid emulsion infusion. Lipid peroxidation was monitored by measurement of expired ethane and pentane, tissue thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactants, and tissue lipid peroxides. Seventy-two h of hyperoxia did not increase any of the parameters of lipid peroxidation although mortality was higher in oxygen exposed animals. α-Tocopherol (100 mg/kg, intravenous) lowered expired hydrocarbons and tissue TBA reactants, but raised liver lipid peroxides in both air and hyperoxia exposed pups. Infusion of soybean oil emulsion increased production of ethane and pentane, liver TBA reactants, and lung lipid peroxides. Both α-tocopherol and α-tocopheryl acetate prevented the soybean oil emulsion induced increase in volatile hydrocarbons, α-Tocopherol (100 mg/kg, intravenous) administration also prevented the increase in liver TBA reactants and lung lipid peroxides. In identically treated animals, α-tocopheryl acetate administration decreased liver TBA reactants but had no effect on lung lipid peroxides. We conclude that α-tocopherol reduces lipid peroxidation in newborn rabbits including animals exposed to hyperoxia or infused with lipid emulsions. α-Tocopheryl acetate results in lower tissue α-tocopherol concentrations and is less effective as an antioxidant in lipid emulsion infused rabbits.
Machine Learning Solution Methods for Multistage Stochastic Programming

This thesis investigates the following question: Can supervised learning techniques be successfully used for finding better solutions to multistage stochastic programs? A similar question had already been posed in the context of reinforcement learning, and had led to algorithmic and conceptual advances in the field of approximate value function methods over the years (Lagoudakis and Parr, 2003; Ernst, Geurts, and Wehenkel, 2005; Langford and Zadrozny, 2005; Antos, Munos, and Szepesvari, 2008). This thesis identifies several ways to exploit the combination “multistage stochastic programming/supervised learning” for sequential decision making under uncertainty. Multistage stochastic programming is essentially the extension of stochastic programming (Dantzig, 1955; Beale, 1955) to several recourse stages. After an introduction to multistage stochastic programming and a summary of existing approximation approaches based on scenario trees, this thesis mainly focusses on the use of supervised learning for building decision policies from scenario-tree approximations. Two ways of exploiting learned policies in the context of the practical issues posed by the multistage stochastic programming framework are explored: the fast evaluation of performance guarantees for a given approximation, and the selection of good scenario trees. The computational efficiency of the approach allows novel investigations relative to the construction of scenario trees, from which novel insights, solution approaches and algorithms are derived. For instance, we generate and select scenario trees with random branching structures for problems over large planning horizons. Our experiments on the empirical performances of learned policies, compared to golden-standard policies, suggest that the combination of stochastic programming and machine learning techniques could also constitute a method per se for sequential decision making under uncertainty, inasmuch as learned policies are simple to use, and come with performance guarantees that can actually be quite good. Finally, limitations of approaches that build an explicit model to represent an optimal solution mapping are studied in a simple parametric programming setting, and various insights regarding this issue are obtained.
The Influence of Salivary Variables on Fluoride Retention in Dental Plaque Exposed to a Mineral-Enriching Solution

This study was carried out to examine interindividual differences in salivary variables related to plaque accumulation and to estimate their influence on the fluoride retention in plaque in vivo by a mineral-enriching solution. Two saliva samples were taken from 10 subjects, once after brushing and once after 24 h without brushing. Calcium, phosphate and monofluorophosphatase (MFPase) activity in the saliva samples were determined. The salivary flow rate and the debris index were also recorded. After plaque had formed over 3 days within in situ plaque-generating devices, subjects were instructed to rinse with a mineral-enriching mouthrinse three times a day on 4 consecutive days. Plaque exposed to distilled water plus flavoring agents served as a control. Fluoride-free dentifrice was used during the experimental period. Twenty-four hours after the last rinsing, the samples were removed from the mouth, and fluoride and mineral distributions in plaque analyzed using a method previously reported by the authors. Salivary flow, MFPase activity and calcium concentration in saliva were significantly higher after 24 h of plaque accumulation. Rinsing with the mineral-enriching solution produced retention of fluoride and phosphate in the outer and middle layers of plaque. Salivary calcium concentration had a direct effect on fluoride uptake in plaque, but no obvious relationship was found between other salivary variables and the plaque fluoride retention. The salivary calcium effect may be due to enhanced bacterial cell wall binding of fluoride via calcium bridging.
Topological determinants of synchronizability of oscillators on large complex networks

Synchronized oscillations play an important role in many biological systems. In recent years, much work has been done on oscillating biomolecular systems, both experimentally and theoretically. A better insight into oscillation mechanisms, coupling strategies and related biological processes is gained by quantitative analysis. Here we summarized some of recent work on oscillation and synchronization in biological systems and reviewed the basic concepts of synchronization of coupled oscillators and dynamics on complex networks.
Sp1 is upregulated in human glioma, promotes MMP‐2‐mediated cell invasion and predicts poor clinical outcome

Sp1, the first identified transcription factor, has been reported to be associated with the development and progression of various human cancer types. However, the clinical significance and biological role of Sp1 in glioma are less well understood. In this study, we found that the expression of Sp1 was markedly elevated in glioma cell lines and tissues. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that the vast majority of 222 paraffin‐embedded archival glioma specimens tested displayed positive Sp1 expression, and 58.6% exhibited high‐level Sp1 expression. Statistical analysis suggested that the high Sp1 expression was correlated strongly with the WHO grading (p < 0.001) and survival status (p < 0.001) of glioma patients. Patients with lower Sp1 expression had better overall survival than those with higher Sp1 expression. Multivariate analysis suggested that Sp1 expression might be an independent prognostic indicator of the survival of patients with glioma. Furthermore, overexpression of Sp1 in glioma cells was found to increase their invasiveness, and in contrast, silencing Sp1 by siRNA caused an inhibition of cell invasion. Moreover, we demonstrated that the up‐regulation of Sp1 could increase activity and expression of MMP‐2. Collectively, our data suggest that Sp1 might represent a valuable prognostic marker for glioma and is involved in modulation of tumor invasion.
Preference‐Based Constrained Optimization with CP‐Nets

Many artificial intelligence (AI) tasks, such as product configuration, decision support, and the construction of autonomous agents, involve a process of constrained optimization, that is, optimization of behavior or choices subject to given constraints. In this paper we present an approach for constrained optimization based on a set of hard constraints and a preference ordering represented using a CP‐network—a graphical model for representing qualitative preference information. This approach offers both pragmatic and computational advantages. First, it provides a convenient and intuitive tool for specifying the problem, and in particular, the decision maker's preferences. Second, it admits an algorithm for finding the most preferred feasible (Pareto‐optimal) outcomes that has the following anytime property: the set of preferred feasible outcomes are enumerated without backtracking. In particular, the first feasible solution generated by this algorithm is Pareto optimal.
Differential radiation response between normal astrocytes and glioma cells revealed by comparative transcriptome analysis

Normal astrocytes are more resistant to radiation than glioma cells. Radiation-resistant glioma cells and normal astrocytes usuallly share similar mechanisms of radioresistance. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms of differential radiation response between normal astrocytes and glioma cells is thus significant for improvement of glioma treatment. Here, we report on the differential radiation responses between normal astrocytes and glioma cells at the transcriptome level. Human astrocytes (HA) and U251 glioma cell lines were used as in vitro models. The transcriptome profiles of radiation-treated and nontreated HA and U251 cells were generated by next-generation sequencing. In total, 296 mRNAs and 224 lncRNAs in HA and 201 mRNAs and 107 lncRNAs in U251 were found to be differentially expressed after radiation treatment. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that radiation causes similar alterations in HA and U251 cells, while several key pathways involved in cancer development and radiation resistance, including P53, TGF-β, VEGF, Hippo and serotonergic synapse pathways, were oppositely regulated by radiation treatment, suggesting their important role in this process. Furthermore, we showed the critical role of Hippo/YAP signaling in radiation resistance of glioma cells. In summary, our findings revealed novel insights about differential responses between normal astrocytes and glioma cells. Our work suggested that YAP inhibitor could not be used in combination with radiation for glioma treatment.
Fuzzy-genetic algorithm for pre-processing data at the RTU

Uncertainties are always present in the data captured at the remote terminal unit (RTU) in a power system. In this paper, it has been demonstrated that pre-processing the data with a fuzzy-genetic algorithm at the RTU will reduce the uncertainty and vagueness in the measurands. The initial population for the genetic algorithm is generated with assumed fuzzy functions. These functions are optimized using the theory of reproduction, cross over and mutation. The result shows that the fuzzy-genetic algorithm gives better results than the other methods available. It is also observed that the fuzzy-genetic algorithm is easy to apply to the output fuzzy solution rather than to the input fuzzy function.
On the G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Heteromers and Their Allosteric Receptor-Receptor Interactions in the Central Nervous System: Focus on Their Role in Pain Modulation

The modulatory role of allosteric receptor-receptor interactions in the pain pathways of the Central Nervous System and the peripheral nociceptors has become of increasing interest. As integrators of nociceptive and antinociceptive wiring and volume transmission signals, with a major role for the opioid receptor heteromers, they likely have an important role in the pain circuits and may be involved in acupuncture. The delta opioid receptor (DOR) exerts an antagonistic allosteric influence on the mu opioid receptor (MOR) function in a MOR-DOR heteromer. This heteromer contributes to morphine-induced tolerance and dependence, since it becomes abundant and develops a reduced G-protein-coupling with reduced signaling mainly operating via β-arrestin2 upon chronic morphine treatment. A DOR antagonist causes a return of the Gi/o binding and coupling to the heteromer and the biological actions of morphine. The gender- and ovarian steroid-dependent recruitment of spinal cord MOR/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) heterodimers enhances antinociceptive functions and if impaired could contribute to chronic pain states in women. MOR1D heterodimerizes with gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in the spinal cord, mediating morphine induced itch. Other mechanism for the antinociceptive actions of acupuncture along meridians may be that it enhances the cross-desensitization of the TRPA1 (chemical nociceptor)-TRPV1 (capsaicin receptor) heteromeric channel complexes within the nociceptor terminals located along these meridians. Selective ionotropic cannabinoids may also produce cross-desensitization of the TRPA1-TRPV1 heteromeric nociceptor channels by being negative allosteric modulators of these channels leading to antinociception and antihyperalgesia.
Canal: scaling social network-based Sybil tolerance schemes

There has been a flurry of research on leveraging social networks to defend against multiple identity, or Sybil, attacks. A series of recent works does not try to explicitly identify Sybil identities and, instead, bounds the impact that Sybil identities can have. We call these approaches Sybil tolerance; they have shown to be effective in applications including reputation systems, spam protection, online auctions, and content rating systems. All of these approaches use a social network as a credit network, rendering multiple identities ineffective to an attacker without a commensurate increase in social links to honest users (which are assumed to be hard to obtain). Unfortunately, a hurdle to practical adoption is that Sybil tolerance relies on computationally expensive network analysis, thereby limiting widespread deployment. To address this problem, we first demonstrate that despite their differences, all proposed Sybil tolerance systems work by conducting payments over credit networks. These payments require max flow computations on a social network graph, and lead to poor scalability. We then present Canal, a system that uses landmark routing-based techniques to efficiently approximate credit payments over large networks. Through an evaluation on real-world data, we show that Canal provides up to a three-order-of-magnitude speedup while maintaining safety and accuracy, even when applied to social networks with millions of nodes and hundreds of millions of edges. Finally, we demonstrate that Canal can be easily plugged into existing Sybil tolerance schemes, enabling them to be deployed in an online fashion in real-world systems.
Risk of Arterial Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than the general population, but data are limited. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study involving Danish citizens diagnosed with MS (n = 13,963) from 1977 to 2006 and an age- and sex-matched population cohort (n = 66,407) using data on MS, arterial CVD and comorbidity from the Danish National Registry of Patients. We calculated the risk of arterial CVD for all subjects and computed adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Results: During the first year of follow-up, the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) was 0.2% among patients with MS (adjusted IRR = 1.84; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.28–2.65, compared with population cohort members), whereas the 1-year risk of overall stroke was 0.3% (adjusted IRR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.42–2.71). IRRs were 1.92 (95% CI: 1.27–2.90) for heart failure and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.42–1.39) for atrial fibrillation/flutter. During the subsequent 2–30 years of follow-up, IRRs remained elevated for overall stroke (1.23; 95% CI: 1.10–1.38) and heart failure (1.53; 95% CI: 1.37–1.71) but decreased for acute MI (1.10; 95% CI: 0.97–1.24). Conclusion: In this Danish cohort, the risk of CVD among MS patients was low, but greater than that in the general population, particularly in the short term.
Active ageing with avatars: a virtual exercise class for older adults

In this paper we describe the development and testing of a virtual exercise class for older people delivered in real-time using active gaming technology (Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360). Four seniors (women, aged 64--74) participated. Each person received a gaming console and face-to-face instruction. At a set time each week for 6 weeks, participants logged on to take part in a 30-minute exercise class led by an instructor. On-screen, each person was represented by an avatar (Avatar Kinect software). Participants were able to see the avatars on their television screen and hear each other via headsets. Overall, we found the virtual exercise class format to be feasible and acceptable to older people. Despite some limitations with the hardware and software, participants enjoyed the experience of learning to use new technology. The use of avatars added novelty and made the program fun. The potential for a virtual exercise class, using gaming technology and avatars, to increase physical activity and enhance social connection amongst older Australians warrants further investigation.