Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and their dynamic changes during chemotherapy is useful to predict a more accurate prognosis of advanced biliary tract cancer

Background and Purpose Systemic inflammation is known to promote carcinogenesis in biliary tract cancer (BTC). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are indicative of systemic inflammation. We evaluated the clinical significance of systemic inflammation measured by NLR and PLR in patients with advanced BTC. Additionally, we also co-analyzed the dynamics of NLR and PLR during chemotherapy. Methods We reviewed 450 patients with unresectable BTC receiving palliative chemotherapy. NLR and PLR were obtained before initiation of palliative chemotherapy. Changes in NLR, PLR were obtained by subtracting the initial value from the value obtained after progression of chemotherapy. Results Higher systemic inflammation status also had relation with a primary tumor site (p = 0.003) and higher levels of CEA (p = 0.038). The ROC cut-off values of NLR and PLR for predicting overall survival (OS) were 3.8 and 121, respectively. Patients with a high NLR or PLR had worse OS independently in multivariate analysis (6.90 vs. 9.80 months, p =0.002; 7.83 vs. 9.90 months, p =0.041, respectively). High NLR with increased NLR after chemotherapy is associated with worse OS and progression-free survival (PFS) (p < 0.001, p = 0.013 respectively). Results are similar for PLR. Conclusion Systemic inflammation represented by NLR and PLR, predicts the OS of patients with advanced BTC who are receiving palliative chemotherapy. In addition, considering NLR/PLR with a dynamic change of NLR/PLR during chemotherapy might help to predict a more accurate prognosis.
Spectral Efficiency of Mixed-ADC Massive MIMO

We study the spectral efficiency (SE) of a mixed-analog-to-digital converter (ADC) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system in which <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$</tex-math></inline-formula> single-antenna users communicate with a base station equipped with <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> antennas connected to <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$</tex-math> </inline-formula> high-resolution ADCs and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M-N$</tex-math></inline-formula> 1-b ADCs. This architecture has been proposed as an approach for realizing massive MIMO systems with reasonable power consumption. First, we investigate the effectiveness of mixed-ADC architectures in overcoming the channel estimation error caused by coarse quantization. For the channel estimation phase, we study to what extent one can combat the SE loss by exploiting just <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N\ll M$</tex-math></inline-formula> pairs of high-resolution ADCs. We extend the round-robin training scheme for mixed-ADC systems to include both high-resolution and 1-b quantized observations. Then, we analyze the impact of the resulting channel estimation error in the data detection phase. We consider random high-resolution ADC assignment and also analyze a simple antenna selection scheme to increase the SE. Analytical expressions are derived for the SE for maximum ratio combining and numerical results are presented for zero-forcing detection. Performance comparisons are made against systems with uniform ADC resolution and against mixed-ADC systems without round-robin training to illustrate under what conditions each approach provides the greatest benefit.
Biomechanical insights into the determinants of speed in the fencing lunge

Abstract For fencing, speed of the lunge is considered critical to success. The aim of this study is to investigate determinants of lunge speed based on biomechanics. Ground reaction force (GRF) and three-dimensional kinematic data were collected from 7 elite fencers and 12 intermediate-level fencers performing maximum-effort lunges. The results showed that elite fencers acquired a higher horizontal peak velocity of the centre of gravity (HPV) and concomitantly a higher horizontal peak GRF exerted by rear leg (PGRF) than intermediate-level fencers (P < .01). Studying the affecting factors, elite fencers obtained higher joint peak power, joint peak moment, and range of motion of rear knee than intermediate-level fencers (P < .05) during the lunge, and these parameters were significantly correlated with both HPV and PGRF (P < .05). Both elite and intermediate-level fencers had joint flexion before the extension in forward knee; however, the latter showed greater flexion, higher peak angular velocity and less time for extension compared to the former (P ≤ .05). Our findings suggest that training aimed at enhancing strength and power of rear knee extensors is important for fencers to improve speed of the lunge. Also, increasing the extension of rear knee during the lunge, at the same time decreasing the flexion of the forward knee before extension are positive for lunge performance.
An Evaluation of Supramaximally Loaded Eccentric Leg Press Exercise

Abstract Harden, M, Wolf, A, Russell, M, Hicks, KM, French, D, and Howatson, G. An evaluation of supramaximally loaded eccentric leg press exercise. J Strength Cond Res 32(10): 2708–2714, 2018—High-intensity eccentric exercise is a potent stimulus for neuromuscular adaptation. A greater understanding of the mechanical stimuli afforded by this exercise will aid the prescription of future eccentric training regimens. This study sought to investigate the mechanical characteristics of supramaximally loaded eccentric exercise when using a custom-built leg press machine. Using a within-subject, repeated-measures design, 15 strength trained subjects (age, 31 ± 7 years; height, 180.0 ± 6.8 cm; body mass, 81.5 ± 13.9 kg) were assessed under 3 different conditions: low (LO), moderate (MOD), and high (HI) intensity, which were equivalent in intensity to 110, 130, and 150%, respectively, of peak force during an isometric maximal voluntary contraction (IMVC) performed on leg press at 90° knee flexion. All loading conditions demonstrated a similar pattern of mechanical profile; however, the variables underpinning each profile showed significant (p < 0.01) load-dependent response (LO vs. MOD, MOD vs. HI, LO vs. HI) for all variables, except for average acceleration. Average force associated with each loading conditions exceeded IMVC but equated to a lower intensity than what was prescribed. Repetitions under higher relative load intensity stimulated greater average force output, faster descent velocity, greater magnitude of acceleration, shorter time under tension, and a decline in force output at the end range of motion. This research provides new data regarding the fundamental mechanical characteristics underpinning supramaximally loaded eccentric leg press exercise. The information gathered in the study provides a foundation for practitioners to consider when devising loading strategies and implementing or evaluating supramaximally loaded eccentric exercise when using a similar exercise and device.
Out-Group Threat Promotes Within-Group Affiliation in a Cooperative Fish

In social species, conflict with outsiders is predicted to affect within-group interactions and thus influence group dynamics and the evolution and maintenance of sociality. Although empirical evidence exists for a relationship between out-group conflict and intragroup behavior in humans, experimental tests in other animals are rare. In a model fish system, we show that simulated out-group intrusions cause postconflict increases in intragroup affiliation but no changes in postconflict intragroup aggression. Postconflict affiliation was greater following intrusions by neighboring compared with nonneighboring individuals; neighbors represent greater threats to the dominance rank and breeding success of residents, and they are visible in the aftermath of the intrusion. By providing strong evidence of a link between out-group conflict and postconflict intragroup behavior and demonstrating that intragroup affiliation is affected by the nature of the out-group intrusion, our study shows the importance of considering postconflict behavior for our understanding of cooperation and social structure.
Health and growth: causality through education

Purpose - The paper aims to theoretically and empirically investigate the impact on human capital investment decisions and income growth of lowered life expectancy as a result of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Design/methodology/approach - The theoretical model is a three-period overlapping generations model where individuals go through three stages in their lives, namely, young, adult, and old. The model extends existing theoretical models by allowing the probability of premature death to differ for individuals at different life stages, and by allowing for stochastic technological advances. The empirical investigation focuses on the effect of HIV/AIDS on life expectancy and on the role of health in educational investments and growth. Potential endogeneity is addressed by using various strategies, such as controlling for country-specific time-invariant unobservables and by using the male-circumcision rate as an instrumental variable for HIV/AIDS prevalence. Findings - The paper shows theoretically that an increased probability of premature death leads to less investment in human capital, and consequently slower growth. Empirically, the paper finds that HIV/AIDS has resulted in a substantial decline in life expectancy in African countries and these falling life expectancies are indeed associated with lower educational attainment and slower economic growth world wide. Originality/value - The theoretical and empirical findings reveal a causal link flowing from health to growth, which has been largely overlooked by the existing literature. The main implication is that health investments that decrease the incidence of diseases like HIV/AIDS resulting in increases in life expectancy through their complementarity with human capital investments lead to long run growth.
An Eye in the Palm of Your Hand: Alterations in Visual Processing Near the Hand, a Mini-Review

Feedback within the oculomotor system improves visual processing at eye movement end points, also termed a visual grasp. We do not just view the world around us however, we also reach out and grab things with our hands. A growing body of literature suggests that visual processing in near-hand space is altered. The control systems for moving either the eyes or the hands rely on parallel networks of fronto-parietal regions, which have feedback connections to visual areas. Since the oculomotor system effects on visual processing occur through feedback, both through the motor plan and the motor efference copy, a parallel system where reaching and/or grasping motor-related activity also affects visual processing is likely. Areas in the posterior parietal cortex, for example, receive proprioceptive and visual information used to guide actions, as well as motor efference signals. This trio of information channels is all that would be necessary to produce spatial allocation of reach-related visual attention. We review evidence from behavioral and neurophysiological studies that support the hypothesis that feedback from the reaching and/or grasping motor control networks affects visual processing while noting ways in which it differs from that seen within the oculomotor system. We also suggest that object affordances may represent the neural mechanism through which certain object features are selected for preferential processing when stimuli are near the hand. Finally, we summarize the two effector-based feedback systems and discuss how having separate but parallel effector systems allows for efficient decoupling of eye and hand movements.
Navigating Intersections with Autonomous Vehicles using Deep Reinforcement Learning

Providing an efficient strategy to navigate safely through unsignaled intersections is a difficult task that requires determining the intent of other drivers. We explore the effectiveness of Deep Reinforcement Learning to handle intersection problems. Using recent advances in Deep RL, we are able to learn policies that surpass the performance of a commonly-used heuristic approach in several metrics including task completion time and goal success rate and have limited ability to generalize. We then explore a system's ability to learn active sensing behaviors to enable navigating safely in the case of occlusions. Our analysis, provides insight into the intersection handling problem, the solutions learned by the network point out several shortcomings of current rule-based methods, and the failures of our current deep reinforcement learning system point to future research directions.
Comparison between EQ-5D and SF-6D Utility in Rural Residents of Jiangsu Province, China

Background The SF-6D and EQ-5D are widely used generic index measures as health-related quality of life. We assessed within-subject agreement between SF-6D and EQ-5D utilities with different preference weights, and their validities in measuring Chinese rural residents, before and after standardization scores. Methodology/Principal Findings Rural residents over 18 years old were interviewed using EQ-5D and SF-6D in Jiangsu Province, China. EQ-5D utility-scoring algorithms were used from three conversion tables from the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States. Validities, Sensitivity and agreement between instruments were computed and compared. Factors affecting utility difference were explored with multiple liner regression models. Scores with standardization intervals of 0–1 in the two instruments were analyzed by the use of the above methods again. In 929 respondents, relative efficiency statistic and receiver operating characteristic curves analysis showed SF-6D to be the more efficient, followed by the EQ-5D model in Japan weights. Bland–Altman plot analysis showed paired SF-6D/EQ-5D in UK weights had better agreement. Though some risk factors were found, multiple liner regression demonstrated most coefficients were weaker than 0.2, and all R2 values were less than 0.06. Standardization did not significantly influence these results except scores' value. Conclusions/Significance SF-6D and next EQ-5D in Japan weights could be used for Chinese rural residents. Further research with larger sample size of population is needed to establish and determine the feasibility of standardization score.
Morning blood pressure monitoring in the management of hypertension

&NA; The aim of the current article is to review the current evidence on the role of morning blood pressure (BP) in the management of hypertension. Morning BP surge had been and will continue to be a hot topic of hypertension research. However, more evidence is needed to prove its clinical usefulness in the management of hypertension. Masked morning hypertension, as the other forms of masked hypertension, requires more research. The concept of morning BP monitoring could be clinically relevant in the therapeutic management of hypertension and in the prevention of cardiovascular complications by defining and treating morning hypertension. Antihypertensive medication is usually taken in the morning. The presence of uncontrolled morning BP during trough effect hours could be a hallmark of inadequate antihypertensive regimen, such as, for instance, the use of short-acting or intermediate-acting drugs, under dosing of drugs, or no or low use of combination therapy. To improve the management of hypertension in general and morning hypertension in particular, long-acting antihypertensive drugs should be used in appropriate often full dosages and in proper combinations. The clinical usefulness of antihypertensive drugs of specific mechanisms against morning BP or split or timed dosing of long-acting drugs in controlling morning BP remains under investigation. In conclusion, there is some evidence that morning BP is critical in the incidence of cardiovascular complications. However, proving its clinical usefulness in the management of hypertension requires further research.
Roy’s largest root test under rank-one alternatives

&NA; Roy's largest root is a common test statistic in multivariate analysis, statistical signal processing and allied fields. Despite its ubiquity, provision of accurate and tractable approximations to its distribution under the alternative has been a longstanding open problem. Assuming Gaussian observations and a rank‐one alternative, or concentrated noncentrality, we derive simple yet accurate approximations for the most common low‐dimensional settings. These include signal detection in noise, multiple response regression, multivariate analysis of variance and canonical correlation analysis. A small‐noise perturbation approach, perhaps underused in statistics, leads to simple combinations of standard univariate distributions, such as central and noncentral &khgr;2 and F. Our results allow approximate power and sample size calculations for Roy's test for rank‐one effects, which is precisely where it is most powerful.
MiR-429 Regulated by Endothelial Monocyte Activating Polypeptide-II (EMAP-II) Influences Blood-Tumor Barrier Permeability by Inhibiting the Expressions of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-5

The blood-tumor barrier (BTB) hinders delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to tumors in the brain; previous studies have shown that the BTB can be selectively opened by endothelial monocyte activating polypeptide-II (EMAP-II), but the specific mechanism involved remains elusive. In this study, we found that microRNA-429 (miR-429) expression in glioma vascular endothelial cells (GECs) was far lower than in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (ECs). miR-429 had lower expression in GECs and glioma tissues compared to ECs or normal tissues of the brain. Furthermore, miR-429 had lower expression in high grade glioma (HGG) than in low grade glioma (LGG). In in vitro BTB models, we also found that EMAP-II significantly increased BTB permeability, decreased expression of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5 in GECs, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. EMAP-II greatly increased miR-429 expression in GECs of the BTB models in vitro. Overexpression of miR-429 in GECs significantly decreased the transepithelial electric resistance (TEER) values in BTB models, and led to enhanced horseradish peroxidase (HRP) flux. Overexpression of miR-429 in GECs significantly decreased the expression of tight junction (TJ)-associated proteins (ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5), and decreased the distribution continuity. Silencing of miR-429 in GECs increased the expression of TJ-associated proteins and the distribution continuity. The dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that ZO-1 and occludin were target genes of miR-429, and we demonstrated that miR-429 overexpression markedly down-regulated protein expression of p70S6K, as well as its phosphorylation levels. The dual-luciferase reporter assay also showed that p70S6K was a target gene of miR-429; miR-429 overexpression down-regulated expression and phosphorylation levels of p70S6K, and also decreased phosphorylation levels of S6 and increased BTB permeability. Conversely, silencing of miR-429 increased the expression and phosphorylation levels of p70S6K, and increased phosphorylation levels of S6, while decreasing BTB permeability. In conclusion, the results indicated that EMAP-II caused an increase in miR-429 expression that directly targeted TJ-associated proteins, which were negatively regulated; on the other hand, miR-429 down-regulated the expression of TJ-associated proteins by targeting p70S6K, also negatively regulated. As a result, the BTB permeability increased.
Issues in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult ADHD by Primary Care Physicians

Introduction: The objective of this article is to compare primary care physicians’ (PCPs’) experiences with diagnosing and treating adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) versus other mental health disorders. Methods: Four hundred PCPs who have patients with ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder completed a public release survey assessing their experiences and attitudes on diagnosing and treating these disorders. Results: Forty-eight percent of PCPs felt uncomfortable diagnosing adult ADHD and 44% reported that there were no clear diagnostic criteria. Seventy-five percent rated the quality and accuracy of existing adult ADHD diagnostic tools as either poor or fair. Seventy-two percent reported that ADHD is easier to diagnose in children than adults. Sixty-five percent reported deferring to specialists to diagnose adult ADHD, compared to 2% for depression and 3% for GAD. Eighty-five percent reported that they would be more comfortable diagnosing and treating adult ADHD if thorough, straightforward screening tools were validated and if there were effective medications that were neither stimulants nor controlled substances. Discussion: While this survey indicated that adult ADHD is generally accepted by PCPs, the results also indicate that PCPs are significantly less likely to diagnose and treat ADHD in adults without deferring to a specialist, when compared to GAD and depression. The recent development of new screening tools for adult ADHD as well as non-stimulant and novel stimulant medications may reduce PCPs’ reliance on specialist referrals. Conclusion: This study highlights a potential need for PCPs for increased education and training in adult ADHD. As the study was conducted 6 years ago, follow-up investigations into the current PCP awareness of adult ADHD are indicated.
Conservative laparoscopic management of adnexal torsion based on a 17-year follow-up experience

Laparoscopic unwinding of adnexal torsion has been proposed for decades. However, this technique is still controversial regarding the concern of thromboembolic events. We present two cases of conservative laparoscopic management of adnexal torsion. In the first case, a 16-year-old adolescent with serous cystadenoma was successfully managed by untwisting and cystectomy. We followed up this patient for 17 years with regular re-examinations in our hospital. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest follow-up reported of this condition. In the second case, a 32-year-old infertile woman who received oocyte retrieval 3 days before being admitted to hospital was referred to hospital with right ovarian torsion. We treated her successfully based on our long-term follow-up experience, and she is now asymptomatic and in her 7th month of pregnancy.