Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Midostaurin plus Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia with a FLT3 Mutation

Background Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a FLT3 mutation have poor outcomes. We conducted a phase 3 trial to determine whether the addition of midostaurin — an oral multitargeted kinase inhibitor that is active in patients with a FLT3 mutation — to standard chemotherapy would prolong overall survival in this population. Methods We screened 3277 patients, 18 to 59 years of age, who had newly diagnosed AML for FLT3 mutations. Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard chemotherapy (induction therapy with daunorubicin and cytarabine and consolidation therapy with high‐dose cytarabine) plus either midostaurin or placebo; those who were in remission after consolidation therapy entered a maintenance phase in which they received either midostaurin or placebo. Randomization was stratified according to subtype of FLT3 mutation: point mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) or internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation with either a high ratio (>0.7) or a low ratio (0.05 to 0.7) of mutant to wild‐type alleles (ITD [high] and ITD [low], respectively). Allogeneic transplantation was allowed. The primary end point was overall survival. Results A total of 717 patients underwent randomization; 360 were assigned to the midostaurin group, and 357 to the placebo group. The FLT3 subtype was ITD (high) in 214 patients, ITD (low) in 341 patients, and TKD in 162 patients. The treatment groups were well balanced with respect to age, race, FLT3 subtype, cytogenetic risk, and blood counts but not with respect to sex (51.7% in the midostaurin group vs. 59.4% in the placebo group were women, P=0.04). Overall survival was significantly longer in the midostaurin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio for death, 0.78; one‐sided P=0.009), as was event‐free survival (hazard ratio for event or death, 0.78; one‐sided P=0.002). In both the primary analysis and an analysis in which data for patients who underwent transplantation were censored, the benefit of midostaurin was consistent across all FLT3 subtypes. The rate of severe adverse events was similar in the two groups. Conclusions The addition of the multitargeted kinase inhibitor midostaurin to standard chemotherapy significantly prolonged overall and event‐free survival among patients with AML and a FLT3 mutation. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and Novartis; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00651261.)
Spectroscopic Measurement of Material Properties Using an Improved Millimeter-Wave Ellipsometer Based on Metallic Substrates

In this paper, we introduce an experimental method that improves the measurement accuracy of millimeterwave (mmW) ellipsometry for characterization of homogeneous polymers and dielectric composite materials. Our approach is based on using a metal substrate on which the samples are placed. This enhances the amount of Fabry-Perot reflections within the material under investigation, and therefore reinforces a stronger phase rotation of the electromagnetic field. We discuss the achieved measurement accuracy with respect to the critical measurands, the ellipsometer angles Ψ and A, and show that it is significantly improved by the presented method. In order to overcome ambiguities in the material parameters, we measure the ellipsometer angles over a frequency range from 80 to 110 GHz. In addition, we present an approximation method that reduces the measurement time of mmW ellipsometry in the case of lowloss samples. We demonstrate that it is sufficient to determine the maximum and minimum power of the measured ellipsometer curve and discuss the limits of this approximation. We performed numerous test series on different plastic materials over a frequency range of 20 GHz, and will discuss the measurement accuracy with respect to the refractive index and the thickness of our samples.
Lipopolysaccharide Structure and Biosynthesis in Helicobacter pylori

This review covers the current knowledge and gaps in Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure and biosynthesis. H. pylori is a Gram‐negative bacterium which colonizes the luminal surface of the human gastric epithelium. Both a constitutive alteration of the lipid A preventing TLR4 elicitation and host mimicry of the Lewis antigen decorated O‐antigen of H. pylori LPS promote immune escape and chronic infection. To date, the complete structure of H. pylori LPS is not available, and the proposed model is a linear arrangement composed of the inner core defined as the hexa‐saccharide (Kdo‐LD‐Hep‐LD‐Hep‐DD‐Hep‐Gal‐Glc), the outer core composed of a conserved trisaccharide (‐GlcNAc‐Fuc‐DD‐Hep‐) linked to the third heptose of the inner core, the glucan, the heptan and a variable O‐antigen, generally consisting of a poly‐LacNAc decorated with Lewis antigens. Although the glycosyltransferases (GTs) responsible for the biosynthesis of the H. pylori O‐antigen chains have been identified and characterized, there are many gaps in regard to the biosynthesis of the core LPS. These limitations warrant additional mutagenesis and structural studies to obtain the complete LPS structure and corresponding biosynthetic pathway of this important gastric bacterium.
Real-Time Evolution in the NERO Video Game (Winner of CIG 2005 Best Paper Award)

In most modern video games, character be- havior is scripted; no matter how many times the player exploits a weakness, that weakness is never repaired. Yet if game characters could learn through interacting with the player, behavior could improve during game- play, keeping it interesting. This paper introduces the real-time NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (rt- NEAT) method for evolving increasingly complex arti- ficial neural networks in real time, as a game is being played. The rtNEAT method allows agents to change and improve during the game. In fact, rtNEAT makes possible a new genre of video games in which the player teaches a team of agents through a series of customized training exercises. In order to demonstrate this concept in the NeuroEvolving Robotic Operatives (NERO) game, the player trains a team of robots for combat. This paper describes results from this novel application of machine learning, and also demonstrates how multiple agents can evolve and adapt in video games like NERO in real time using rtNEAT. In the future, rtNEAT may allow new kinds of educational and training applications that adapt online as the user gains new skills.
An in vitro Comparative Evaluation of Micro Tensile Bond Strength of Two metal bonding Resin Cements bonded to Cobalt Chromium alloy.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the micro tensile bond strength of two metal bonding resin cements to sandblasted cobalt chromium alloy. MATERIALS & METHODS Eight, Cobalt chromium alloy blocks of dimensions 10x5x5 mm were cast, finished and polished. One of the faces of each alloy block measuring 5x5mm was sandblasted with 50 μm grit alumina particles. The alloy blocks were then cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner for 1 min and then air dried with an air stream. The Sandblasted surfaces of the two alloy blocks were bonded together with 2 different metal bonding resin systems (Panavia F Kuraray and DTK Kleber - Bredent). The samples were divided into 2 groups (n=4). Group 1- Two Co-Cr blocks were luted with Panavia cement. Group 2- Two Co-Cr blocks were luted with DTK Kleber-Bredent cement. The bonded samples were cut with a diamond saw to prepare Microtensile bars of approximately 1mm x 1mm x 6mm. Thirty bars from each group were randomly separated into 2 subgroups (n=15) and left for 3hrs (baseline) as per manufacturer's instructions while the other group was aged for 24hrs in 370C water, prior to loading to failure under tension at a cross head speed of 1mm/min. Failure modes were determined by means of stereomicroscopy (sm). Statistical analysis was performed through one way - ANOVA. RESULTS Significant variation in micro-tensile bond strength was observed between the two metal bonding resin systems. CONCLUSION DTK showed higher mean bond strength values than Panavia F cement both at baseline and after aging. How to cite this article: Musani S, Musani I, Dugal R, Habbu N, Madanshetty P, Virani D. An in vitro Comparative Evaluation of Micro Tensile Bond Strength of Two metal bonding Resin Cements bonded to Cobalt Chromium alloy. J Int Oral Health 2013;5(5):73-8.
Bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer treatment: a study comparing the specialist's versus patient's perspective

Objectives To investigate how bowel dysfunction after sphincter-preserving rectal cancer treatment, known as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), is perceived by rectal cancer specialists, in relation to the patient's experience. Design Questionnaire study. Setting International. Participants 58 rectal cancer specialists (45 colorectal surgeons and 13 radiation oncologists). Research procedure The Low Anterior Resection Syndrome Score (LARS score) is a five-item instrument for evaluation of LARS, which was developed from and validated on 961 patients. The 58 specialists individually completed two LARS score-based exercises. In Exercise 1, they were asked to select, from a list of bowel dysfunction issues, five items that they considered to disturb patients the most. In Exercise 2, they were given a list of scores to assign to the LARS score items, according to the impact on quality of life (QOL). Outcome measures In Exercise 1, the frequency of selection of each issue, particularly the five items included in the LARS score, was compared with the frequency of being selected at random. In Exercise 2, the answers were compared with the original patient-derived scores. Results Four of the five LARS score issues had the highest frequencies of selection (urgency, clustering, incontinence for liquid stool and frequency of bowel movements), which were also higher than random. However, the remaining LARS score issue (incontinence for flatus) showed a lower frequency than random. Scores assigned by the specialists were significantly different from the patient-derived scores (p<0.01). The specialists grossly overestimated the impact of incontinence for liquid stool and frequent bowel movements on QOL, while they markedly underestimated the impact of clustering and urgency. The results did not differ between surgeons and oncologists. Conclusions Rectal cancer specialists do not have a thorough understanding of which bowel dysfunction symptoms truly matter to the patient, nor how these symptoms affect QOL.
Integrating interdisciplinary pain management into primary care: development and implementation of a novel clinical program.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to develop and implement an interdisciplinary pain program integrated in primary care to address stakeholder-identified gaps. DESIGN Program development and evaluation project utilizing a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) approach to address the identified problem of insufficient pain management resources within primary care. SETTING A large Healthcare System within the Veterans Health Administration, consisting of two academically affiliated medical centers and six community-based outpatients clinics. METHODS An interprofessional group of stakeholders participated in a Rapid Process Improvement Workshop (RPIW), a consensus-building process to identify systems-level gaps and feasible solutions and obtain buy-in. Changes were implemented in 2012, and in a 1-year follow-up, we examined indicators of engagement in specialty and multimodal pain care services as well as patient and provider satisfaction. RESULTS In response to identified barriers, RPIW participants proposed and outlined two readily implementable, interdisciplinary clinics embedded within primary care: 1) the Integrated Pain Clinic, providing in-depth assessment and triage to targeted resources; and 2) the Opioid Reassessment Clinic, providing assessment and structured monitoring of patients with evidence of safety, efficacy, or misuse problems with opioids. Implementation of these programs led to higher rates of engagement in specialty and multimodal pain care services; patients and providers reported satisfaction with these services. CONCLUSIONS Our PDSA cycle engaged an interprofessional group of stakeholders that recommended introduction of new systems-based interventions to better integrate pain resources into primary care to address reported barriers. Early data suggest improved outcomes; examination of additional outcomes is planned.
Set Size Effects in the Macaque Striate Cortex

Attentive processing is often described as a competition for resources among stimuli by mutual suppression. This is supported by findings that activity in extrastriate cortex is suppressed when several stimuli are presented simultaneously, compared to a single stimulus. In this study, we randomly varied the number of simultaneously presented figures (set size) in an attention-demanding change detection task, while we recorded multiunit activity in striate cortex (V1) in monkeys. After figurebackground segregation, activity was suppressed as set size increased. This effect was stronger and started earlier among cells stimulated by the background than those stimulated by the figures themselves. As a consequence, contextual modulation, a correlate of figurebackground segregation, increased with set size, approximately 100 msec after its initial generation. The results indicate that suppression of responses under increasing attentional demands differentially affects figure and background responses in area V1.
Psychological benefits for cancer patients and their partners participating in mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR)

Objective: Cancer patients experience many negative psychological symptoms including stress, anxiety, and depression. This distress is not limited to the patient, as their partners also experience many psychological challenges. Mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) programs have demonstrated clinical benefit for a variety of chronic illnesses, including cancer. This is the first study to report MBSR participation with partners of cancer patients.
Treatment and Prevention of Depression and Anxiety in Youth: Test of Cross‐Over Effects

Anxiety and depression are highly comorbid and share several common etiological processes. Therefore, it may be more efficient to develop interventions that treat or prevent these problems together rather than as separate entities. The present meta‐analytic review examined whether interventions for children and adolescents that explicitly targeted either anxiety or depression showed treatment specificity or also impacted the other outcome (i.e. cross‐over effects). We addressed this question both within the same type of study (i.e. treatment, prevention) and across study types. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed both constructs with dimensional measures were included in this review. For treatment studies, RCTs targeting anxiety (n = 18) showed significant effects on both anxious and depressive symptoms, although more strongly on anxiety than depression; similarly, RCTs treating depression (n = 9) yielded significant effects on both depressive and anxious symptoms, but stronger effects on depression than anxiety. Thus, there were cross‐over effects in treatments purportedly targeting either anxiety or depression, and also treatment specificity, such that larger effects were seen for the target problem at which the treatment was aimed. Anxiety prevention studies (n = 14) significantly affected anxious, but not depressive symptoms, indicating no cross‐over effect of anxiety prevention trials on depression. For depression prevention studies (n = 15), the effects were not significant for either depressive or anxiety symptoms, although the effect was significantly larger for depressive than for anxious symptoms. Post‐hoc analyses revealed that the effect on depressive symptoms was significant in depression preventions trials of targeted but not universal samples. Implications for transdiagnostic interventions are discussed.
Isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria associated with the fermentation of a cereal-based product for the development of a starter culture.

Isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) associated with the fermentation of maize for the production of ogi (a traditional weaning food) were evaluated for the development of starter cultures. Changes in pH, titratable acidity and LAB counts were investigated during the cereal based-product fermentation. A decrease in pH was associated with an increase in titratable acidity. The LAB were isolated, characterized and identified using morphological, physiological and biochemical methods with an API 50CHL system. The isolates were Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus cellobiosus, Lactobacillus pentosus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Pediococcus pentosaceus. These isolates were capable of growing on sterilized wet milled maize with L. plantarum having the highest potential as a starter culture. Maize inoculated with a pure culture of L. plantarum showed the highest counts of 6.23 × 10 at 96 hrs of fermentation than the other lactic acid bacteria. There was a significant difference (P > 0.05) between the bacterial counts as well as the pH values obtained during the fermentation of maize by the different LAB. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Association between plasma proteome profiles analysed by mass spectrometry, a lymphocyte-based DNA-break repair assay and radiotherapy-induced acute mucosal reaction in head and neck cancer patients

Purpose: The plasma proteome was analysed as a potential source of markers of radiosensitivity in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Materials and methods: Acute mucosal reactions that developed during radiotherapy were assessed in 55 patients. Blood samples were collected from each patient before the treatment and also from 50 healthy donors. The low-molecular-weight fraction of the plasma proteome (2,000–10,000 Da range) was analysed by the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation mass spectrometry. The capacity for DNA break repair was assessed by the comet assay using lymphocytes irradiated in vitro. Results: Spectral components registered in plasma samples were used to build classifiers that discriminated patients from healthy individuals with about 90% specificity and sensitivity (components of 4469, 6929 and 8937 Da were the most essential for cancer classification). Four spectral components were identified (2219, 2454, 3431 and 5308 Da) whose abundances correlated with a maximal intensity of the acute reaction. Several spectral components whose abundances correlated with the rate of DNA repair in irradiated lymphocytes were also detected. Additionally, a more rapid escalation of an acute reaction was correlated with a higher level of unrepaired damage assessed by the comet assay. Conclusions: The plasma proteome could be considered as a potential source of predictive markers of acute reaction in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy.
Economic evaluation of genomic test-directed chemotherapy for early-stage lymph node-positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Multi-parameter genomic tests identify patients with early-stage breast cancer who are likely to derive little benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. These tests can potentially spare patients the morbidity from unnecessary chemotherapy and reduce costs. However, the costs of the test must be balanced against the health benefits and cost savings produced. This economic evaluation compared genomic test-directed chemotherapy using the Oncotype DX 21-gene assay with chemotherapy for all eligible patients with lymph node-positive, estrogen receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer. METHODS We performed a cost-utility analysis using a state transition model to calculate expected costs and benefits over the lifetime of a cohort of women with estrogen receptor-positive lymph node-positive breast cancer from a UK perspective. Recurrence rates for Oncotype DX-selected risk groups were derived from parametric survival models fitted to data from the Southwest Oncology Group 8814 trial. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, expressed as the cost (in 2011 GBP) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Confidence in the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was expressed as a probability of cost-effectiveness and was calculated using Monte Carlo simulation. Model parameters were varied deterministically and probabilistically in sensitivity analysis. Value of information analysis was used to rank priorities for further research. RESULTS The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for Oncotype DX-directed chemotherapy using a recurrence score cutoff of 18 was £5529 (US $8852) per QALY. The probability that test-directed chemotherapy is cost-effective was 0.61 at a willingness-to-pay threshold of £30 000 per QALY. Results were sensitive to the recurrence rate, long-term anthracycline-related cardiac toxicity, quality of life, test cost, and the time horizon. The highest priority for further research identified by value of information analysis is the recurrence rate in test-selected subgroups. CONCLUSIONS There is substantial uncertainty regarding the cost-effectiveness of Oncotype DX-directed chemotherapy. It is particularly important that future research studies to inform cost-effectiveness-based decisions collect long-term outcome data.
Perforin and granzyme B expression in oral and cutaneous lichen planus – a comparative study

Background: Although cutaneous and oral lichen planus (LP) share similar histopathological features, oral LP often follows a recalcitrant course while LP skin lesions tend to be self‐limiting. Apoptosis, mediated by cytotoxic T‐cells in LP, may be triggered by the release of molecules such as perforin and granzyme B. As variation in clinical behavior can reflect differences in LP immune expression, we studied the role of those cytotoxic molecules in oral and cutaneous LP.
A quantitative measure for telecommunications networks topology design

This paper proposes a new measure for network performance evaluation called topology lifetime. The measure provides insight into which one of a set of topologies is likely to last the longest before more capacity must be installed. The lifetime measure is not single valued, but considers growth as a function of a set of demand shifts (perturbation). One network may be better able to support a uniform growth in the traffic, while another may support more growth when unexpected shifts in the load occur. The ability of a network to support unexpected changes in load is becoming more important because of: 1) current practices for installing fiber optics cables; 2) recent advances in dense wavelength division multiplexing; and 3) the increasing popularity of the Internet. The lifetime measure is applied to several topologies; a dual ring, a chordal ring, a Manhattan Street network and an hierarchical network. We also apply the measure to a realistic US IP Backbone network. In this paper, our objective is to show how to apply the measure to different networks, and to explain certain implications for comparisons between networks. We expect this measure to be useful both in the construction of new networks and in selecting between new links that may be added to an existing network.