Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer: a multi-institutional phase II trial investigating three radiotherapy dose levels.

BACKGROUND We hypothesized induction chemotherapy (IndCT) would improve distant control (DC) without compromising locoregional control (LRC) for locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer patients. Additionally, we systematically lowered radiotherapy (RT) doses attempting to maintain LRC while decreasing toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Stages III-IV (M0) locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer patients received carboplatin/paclitaxel (Taxol) IndCT followed by four or five cycles consisting of 5 days of paclitaxel, fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, and BID RT followed by a nine day break. RT dose to gross disease (high risk), intermediate, and low-risk volumes were reduced from cohort A (n = 68): 75, 60, and 45 Gy; to cohort B (n = 64): 75, 54, and 39 Gy; then cohort C (n = 90): 72, 51, and 36 Gy. RESULTS A total of 222 patients accrued from November 1998 to September 2002. Median follow-up is 56 months. In all, 93/96/76% achieved a complete response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in cohort A/B/C. Three- and 5-year overall survivals (OSs) are 68% and 62%, respectively. Five-year LRC and DC are 91% and 87%, respectively. Response to IndCT predicted for OS, LRC, and time to progression (TTP). Cohort C patients had similar OS (P = 0.95), LRC, and DC, but worse (TTP) (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS IndCT before CRT reduces distant progression while maintaining high LRC. The cohort B schedule provides the best therapeutic ratio. A randomized trial investigating IndCT before CRT has been initiated.
HIV-1 Infection of Female Genital Tract Tissue for Use in Prevention Studies

Objective:Ex vivo HIV-1 challenge has been proposed as a bioindicator of microbicide product effectiveness. The objective of this study was to establish optimal parameters for use of female genital tract tissue in this model. Design:Ex vivo challenge involves in vivo product use, followed by tissue biopsy, and exposure of the tissue to HIV-1 in the laboratory. Methods:Paired ectocervical and vaginal biopsies were collected from 42 women, and 28 women had additional biopsies from each site collected after 5% lidocaine (n = 14) or chlorhexidine (n = 14) treatment. Tissues were transported immediately to the laboratory and exposed to HIV-1. HIV-1 infection was followed by p24 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on culture supernatants and at study end after weighing and fixing the tissue for immunohistochemistry to detect p24 expressing cells. Results:Although both tissue types were equally infected with HIV-1 based on the immunohistochemistry results, ectocervical tissues had significantly higher HIV-1 replication than vaginal tissues (P < 0.005). Lidocaine and chlorhexidine had minimal impact on HIV-1 infection and replication. Point estimates for p24 levels were defined for 95% probability of p24-positive tissues and were 3.43 log10 for ectocervical tissue and 2.50 log10 for vaginal tissue based on the weight-adjusted cumulative p24 end points. Conclusions:Although similar proportions of ectocervical and vaginal tissues support HIV-1 infection, higher levels of HIV-1 replication were observed in ectocervical tissues. Defining point estimates for HIV-1 infection in fresh ectocervical and vaginal tissues provides valuable information for the evaluation of HIV-1 preventative treatments during early clinical studies.
SCPL: Indoor device-free multi-subject counting and localization using radio signal strength

Radio frequency based device-free passive (DfP) localization techniques have shown great potentials in localizing individual human subjects, without requiring them to carry any radio devices. In this study, we extend the DfP technique to count and localize multiple subjects in indoor environments. To address the impact of multipath on indoor radio signals, we adopt a fingerprinting based approach to infer subject locations from observed signal strengths through profiling the environment. When multiple subjects are present, our objective is to use the profiling data collected by a single subject to count and localize multiple subjects without any extra effort. In order to address the non-linearity of the impact of multiple subjects, we propose a successive cancellation based algorithm to iteratively determine the number of subjects. We model indoor human trajectories as a state transition process, exploit indoor human mobility constraints and integrate all information into a conditional random field (CRF) to simultaneously localize multiple subjects. As a result, we call the proposed algorithm SCPL - sequential counting, parallel localizing. We test SCPL with two different indoor settings, one with size 150 m2 and the other 400 m2. In each setting, we have four different subjects, walking around in the deployed areas, sometimes with overlapping trajectories. Through extensive experimental results, we show that SCPL can count the present subjects with 86% counting percentage when their trajectories are not completely overlapping. Our localization algorithms are also highly accurate, with an average localization error distance of 1.3 m.
The Multiple-Demand System in the Novelty of Musical Improvisation: Evidence from an MRI Study on Composers

The multiple-demand (MD) system has proven to be associated with creating structured mental programs in comprehensive behaviors, but the functional mechanisms of this system have not been clarified in the musical domain. In this study, we explored the hypothesis that the MD system is involved in a comprehensive music-related behavior known as musical improvisation. Under a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm, 29 composers were recruited to improvise melodies through visual imagery tasks according to familiar and unfamiliar cues. We found that the main regions of the MD system were significantly activated during both musical improvisation conditions. However, only a greater involvement of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) within the MD system was shown when improvising with unfamiliar cues. Our results revealed that the MD system strongly participated in musical improvisation through processing the novelty of melodies, working memory, and attention. In particular, improvising with unfamiliar cues required more musical transposition manipulations. Moreover, both functional and structural analyses indicated evidence of neuroplasticity in MD regions that could be associated with musical improvisation training. These findings can help unveil the functional mechanisms of the MD system in musical cognition, as well as improve our understanding of musical improvisation.
Proteolytic Stability of Insecticidal Toxins Expressed in Recombinant Bacilli

ABSTRACT The production of the vegetative mosquitocidal toxin Mtx1 from Bacillus sphaericus was redirected to the sporulation phase by replacement of its weak, native promoter with the strong sporulation promoter of the bin genes. Recombinant bacilli developed toxicity during early sporulation, but this declined rapidly in later stages, indicating the proteolytic instability of the toxin. Inhibition studies indicated the action of a serine proteinase, and similar degradation was also seen with the purified B. sphaericus enzyme sphericase. Following the identification of the initial cleavage site involved in this degradation, mutant Mtx1 proteins were expressed in an attempt to overcome destructive cleavage while remaining capable of proteolytic activation. However, the apparently broad specificity of sphericase seems to make this impossible. The stability of a further vegetative toxin, Mtx2, was also found to be low when it was exposed to sphericase or conditioned medium. Random mutation of the receptor binding loops of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Aa toxin did, in contrast, allow production of significant levels of spore-associated protein in the form of parasporal crystals. The exploitation of vegetative toxins may, therefore, be greatly limited by their susceptibility to proteinases produced by the host bacteria, whereas the sequestration of sporulation-associated toxins into crystals may make them more amenable to use in strain improvement.
Physical exercise in cancer patients during and after medical treatment: a systematic review of randomized and controlled clinical trials.

PURPOSE To systematically review the methodologic quality of, and summarize the evidence from trials examining the effectiveness of physical exercise in improving the level of physical functioning and psychological well-being of cancer patients during and after medical treatment. METHODS Thirty-four randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials were identified, reviewed for substantive results, and assessed for methodologic quality. RESULTS Four of 34 trials met all (seven of seven) methodologic criteria on the Delphi criteria list. Failure to conceal the sequencing of treatment allocation before patient recruitment, failure to blind the outcome assessor, and failure to employ an intention-to-treat analysis strategy were the most prevalent methodologic shortcomings. Various exercise modalities have been applied, differing in content, frequency, intensity, and duration. Positive results have been observed for a diverse set of outcomes, including physiologic measures, objective performance indicators, self-reported functioning and symptoms, psychological well-being, and overall health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION The trials reviewed were of moderate methodologic quality. Together they suggest that cancer patients may benefit from physical exercise both during and after treatment. However, the specific beneficial effects of physical exercise may vary as a function of the stage of disease, the nature of the medical treatment, and the current lifestyle of the patient. Future RCTs should use larger samples, use appropriate comparison groups to rule out the possibility of an attention-placebo effect, use a comparable set of outcome measures, pay greater attention to issues of motivation and adherence of patients participating in exercise programs, and examine the effect of exercise on cancer survival.
A New Algorithm for Multiplication in Finite Fields

A new algorithm is presented for computing the product of two elements in a finite field by means of sums and products in a fixed subfield. The algorithm is based on a normal basis representation of fields and assumes that the dimension m of the finite field over the subfield is a highly composite number. A very fast parallel implementation and a considerable reduction in the number of computations are allowed, in comparison to some methods discussed in the literature. >
Evaluating the potential of natural curcumin for oxidative stability of soybean oil

The active substance of turmeric rhizome (curcumin) was extracted and identified with TLC and NMR. To evaluate the antioxidant efficiency of different concentrations of curcumin (120, 160 and 200 ppm) compared with tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) (120 ppm) and α-tocopherol (200 ppm) at two different temperatures (25°C and 55°C) under dark and light conditions during 90 days, the soybean oil with no added antioxidant was used as a food model, and its fatty acids profile was determined by GC. Results indicated that increasing concentration of curcumin leads to significantly decreased oxidation rates. The soybean oil containing curcumin at 25°C in darkness with the lowest rate of increased peroxide value indicated the same antioxidant activity with α-tocopherol and TBHQ. Moreover, the results of acid value and iodine value indicated that samples with curcumin were more effective in preventing oxidation at both temperatures compared with control. However, light did not have any significant effect.
Vacuum polarization in thermal QED with an external magnetic field

The one-loop vacuum polarization tensor is computed in QED with an external constant, homogeneous magnetic field at finite temperature. The Schwinger proper-time formalism is used and the computations are done in Euclidian space. The well-known results are recovered when the temperature and/or the magnetic field are switched off and the effect of the magnetic field on the Debye screening is discussed.
Global and Multi-National Prevalence of Fungal Diseases—Estimate Precision

Fungal diseases kill more than 1.5 million and affect over a billion people. However, they are still a neglected topic by public health authorities even though most deaths from fungal diseases are avoidable. Serious fungal infections occur as a consequence of other health problems including asthma, AIDS, cancer, organ transplantation and corticosteroid therapies. Early accurate diagnosis allows prompt antifungal therapy; however this is often delayed or unavailable leading to death, serious chronic illness or blindness. Recent global estimates have found 3,000,000 cases of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, ~223,100 cases of cryptococcal meningitis complicating HIV/AIDS, ~700,000 cases of invasive candidiasis, ~500,000 cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, ~250,000 cases of invasive aspergillosis, ~100,000 cases of disseminated histoplasmosis, over 10,000,000 cases of fungal asthma and ~1,000,000 cases of fungal keratitis occur annually. Since 2013, the Leading International Fungal Education (LIFE) portal has facilitated the estimation of the burden of serious fungal infections country by country for over 5.7 billion people (>80% of the world’s population). These studies have shown differences in the global burden between countries, within regions of the same country and between at risk populations. Here we interrogate the accuracy of these fungal infection burden estimates in the 43 published papers within the LIFE initiative.
A High Protein Diet during Pregnancy Affects Hepatic Gene Expression of Energy Sensing Pathways along Ontogenesis in a Porcine Model

In rodent models and in humans the impact of gestational diets on the offspring's phenotype was shown experimentally and epidemiologically. The underlying programming of fetal development was shown to be associated with an increased risk of degenerative diseases in adulthood, including the metabolic syndrome. There are clues that diet-dependent modifications of the metabolism during fetal life can persist until adulthood. This leads to the hypothesis that the offspring's transcriptomes show short-term and long-term changes depending on the maternal diet. To this end pregnant German landrace gilts were fed either a high protein diet (HP, 30% CP) or an adequate protein diet (AP, 12% CP) throughout pregnancy. Hepatic transcriptome profiles of the offspring were analyzed at prenatal (94 dpc) and postnatal stages (1, 28, 188 dpn). Depending on the gestational dietary exposure, mRNA expression levels of genes related to energy metabolism, N-metabolism, growth factor signaling pathways, lipid metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism and stress/immune response were affected either in a short-term or in a long-term manner. Gene expression profiles at fetal stage 94 dpc were almost unchanged between the diets. The gestational HP diet affected the hepatic expression profiles at prenatal and postnatal stages. The effects encompassed a modulation of the genome in terms of an altered responsiveness of energy and nutrient sensing pathways. Differential expression of genes related to energy production and nutrient utilization contribute to the maintenance of development and growth performance within physiological norms, however the modulation of these pathways may be accompanied by a predisposition for metabolic disturbances up to adult stages.
The Jormungand global climate state and implications for Neoproterozoic glaciations

[1] Geological and geochemical evidence can be interpreted as indicating strong hysteresis in global climate during the Neoproterozoic glacial events (∼630 Ma and ∼715 Ma). Standard climate theory only allows such strong hysteresis if global climate enters a fully‐glaciated “Snowball” state. However, the survival of photosynthetic, eukaryotic, marine species through these glaciations may indicate that there were large areas of open ocean. A previously‐proposed “Slushball” model for Neoproterozoic glaciations could easily explain the survival of these organisms because it has open ocean throughout the tropics, but there is only a small amount of hysteresis associated with the Slushball state. In this paper a new state of global climate, the “Jormungand” state, is proposed. In this state the ocean is very nearly globally ice‐covered, but a very small strip of the tropical ocean remains ice‐free. The low ice latitude of the Jormungand state is a consequence of the low albedo of snow‐free (bare) sea ice. If the ice latitude propagates into the subtropical desert zone, it can stabilize without collapsing to the equator because subtropical ice‐covered regions have a relatively low top‐of‐atmosphere albedo as a result of the exposure of bare sea ice and relatively lower cloud cover. Moreover, there is strong hysteresis associated with the Jormungand state as greenhouse gas levels are varied because of the high albedo contrast between regions of bare and snow covered sea ice. The Jormungand state is illustrated here in two different atmospheric global climate models and in the Budyko‐Sellers model. By offering a scenario that could explain both strong hysteresis in global climate and the survival of life, the Jormungand state represents a potential model for Neoproterozoic glaciations, although further study of this issue is needed.
Animals in Healthcare Facilities: Recommendations to Minimize Potential Risks

Animals may be present in healthcare facilities for multiple reasons. Although specific laws regarding the use of service animals in public facilities were established in the United States in 1990, the widespread presence of animals in hospitals, including service animals to assist in patient therapy and research, has resulted in the increased presence of animals in acute care hospitals and ambulatory medical settings. The role of animals in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens and cross-transmission of human pathogens in these settings remains poorly studied. Until more definitive information is available, priority should be placed on patient and healthcare provider safety, and the use of standard infection prevention and control measures to prevent animal-to-human transmission in healthcare settings. This paper aims to provide general guidance to the medical community regarding the management of animals in healthcare (AHC). The manuscript has four major goals:
User-Agent Cooperation in Multiagent IVUS Image Segmentation

Automated interpretation of complex images requires elaborate knowledge and model-based image analysis, but often needs interaction with an expert as well. This research describes expert interaction with a multiagent image interpretation system using only a restricted vocabulary of high-level user interactions. The aim is to minimize inter- and intra-observer variability by keeping the total number of interactions as low and simple as possible. The multiagent image interpretation system has elaborate high-level knowledge-based control over low-level image segmentation algorithms. Agents use contextual knowledge to keep the number of interactions low but, when in doubt, present the user with the most likely interpretation of the situation. The user, in turn, can correct, supplement, and/or confirm the results of image-processing agents. This is done at a very high level of abstraction such that no knowledge of the underlying segmentation methods, parameters or agent functioning is needed. High-level interaction thereby replaces more traditional contour correction methods like inserting points and/or (re)drawing contours. This makes it easier for the user to obtain good results, while inter- and intra-observer variability are kept minimal, since the image segmentation itself remains under control of image-processing agents. The system has been applied to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images. Experiments show that with an average of 2-3 high-level user interactions per correction, segmentation results substantially improve while the variation is greatly reduced. The achieved level of accuracy and repeatability is equivalent to that of manual drawing by an expert.
Validation of a commercially available automated canine-specific immunoturbidimetric method for measuring canine C-reactive protein

Background Measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) is used for diagnosing and monitoring systemic inflammatory disease in canine patients. An automated human immunoturbidimetric assay has been validated for measuring canine CRP, but cross-reactivity with canine CRP is unpredictable. Objective The purpose of the study was to validate a new automated canine-specific immunoturbidimetric CRP method (Gentian cCRP). Methods Studies of imprecision, accuracy, prozone effect, interference, limit of quantification, and stability under different storage conditions were performed. The new method was compared with a human CRP assay previously validated for canine CRP determination. Samples from 40 healthy dogs were analyzed to establish a reference interval. Results Total imprecision was < 2.4% for 4 tested serum pools analyzed twice daily over 10 days. The method was linear under dilution, and no prozone effect was detected at a concentration of 1200 mg/L. Recovery after spiking serum with purified canine CRP at 2 different concentrations was 123% and 116%, respectively. No interference from hemoglobin or triglycerides (10 g/L) was detected. CRP was stable for 14 days at 4°C and 22°C. In the method comparison study, there was good agreement between the validated human CRP assay and the new canine-specific assay. Healthy dogs had CRP concentrations that were less than the limit of quantification of the Gentian cCRP method (6.8 mg/L). Conclusions The new canine-specific immunoturbidimetric CRP assay is a reliable and rapid method for measuring canine CRP, suitable for clinical use due to the option for an automated assay.
Racial Disparities in Health Care Access and Cardiovascular Disease Indicators in Black and White Older Adults in the Health ABC Study

Objective: Black adults consistently exhibit higher rates of and poorer health outcomes due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) than other racial groups, independent of differences in socioeconomic status (SES). Whether factors related to health care access can further explain racial disparities in CVD has not been thoroughly examined. Method: Using logistic regression, the authors examined racial and health care (i.e., health insurance and access to care) associations with CVD indicators (i.e., hypertension, low ankle—arm index, and left ventricular hypertrophy) in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study, a longitudinal study of well-functioning older adults. Results: Older Black versus White adults had significantly worse health care. Overall, health care reduced the significant association between being Black and CVD only slightly, while race remained strongly associated with CVD after adjusting for demographics, SES, body mass index, and comorbidity. Discussion: Research on health care quality may contribute to our understanding of these disparities.