Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Early Stage Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Treated with Radiotherapy

Purpose Radiation therapy (RT) is commonly used as definitive treatment for early-stage nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NLPHL). We evaluated the cause-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and second malignancy (SM) rates in patients with early-stage NLPHL treated with RT. Methods and Materials Patients with stage I-II NLPHL between 1988 and 2009 who underwent RT were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Univariate analysis (UVA) for CSS and Os was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and included age, gender, involved site, year of diagnosis, presence of B-symptoms, and extranodal involvement (ENI). Multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed using Cox Proportional Hazards modeling and included the above clinical variables. SM were classified as RT-related or non-RT-related. Freedom from SM and freedom from RT-related SM were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The study cohort included 469 patients. Median age was 37 years. The most common involved sites were the head and neck (36%), axilla/arm (26%), and multiple lymph node regions (18%). Sixty-eight percent had stage I disease, 70% were male, 4% had ENI, and 7% had B-symptoms. Median follow-up was 6 years. Ten-year CSS and Os were 98% and 88%, respectively. On UVA, none of the covariates was associated with CSS. Increasing age (p<0.01) and female gender (p<0.01) were associated with worse Os. On MVA, older age (p<0.01), female gender (p=0.04), multiple regions of involvement (p=0.03), stage I disease (p=0.02), and presence of B-symptoms (p=0.02) were associated with worse Os. Ten-year freedom from SM and freedom from RT-related SM were 89% and 99%, respectively. Conclusions This is the largest series to evaluate the outcomes of stage I-II NLPHL patients treated with RT and found that this patient population has an excellent long-term prognosis and a low rate of RT-related second malignancies.
Brain abnormalities as an initial manifestation of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Background: Although brain abnormalities are being recognized more frequently in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), most brain lesions in previous reports have accompanied pre-existing NMOSD. Here, we describe clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with NMOSD who presented with brain symptoms as their first manifestation of the condition. Methods: Anti-aquaporin-4 antibody was measured using cell-based assays and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the sera of 257 patients with inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system who attended the multiple sclerosis clinic of the National Cancer Center, Korea, between May 2005 and December 2009. Eighty-three were seropositive, and 15 of these who presented with brain symptoms were included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed these individuals’ clinical and radiological findings. Results: Patients with NMOSD were followed for a mean of 90 months. Median age at onset was 24 years (6–54 years) and there was a female preponderance (94%). The initial manifestation was classified into two groups according to clinical characteristics: encephalopathy mimicking acute disseminated encephalomyelitis or posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and characteristic brainstem symptoms such as intractable hiccup and vomiting. The majority of brain symptoms and lesions resolved. Intriguingly, eight patients (53%) experienced brain relapses that followed a similar pattern during the course of their disease. Conclusion: It is important to recognize that NMO or NMOSD can initially present with brain symptoms.
Improvement of avian leukosis virus (ALV)-based retrovirus vectors by using different cis-acting sequences from ALVs

Production and expression of double-expression vectors which transduce both Neo(r) and lacZ genes and are based on the structure of avian leukosis virus were enhanced by using cis-acting sequences (long terminal repeats and noncoding sequences) from Rous-associated virus-1 and Rous-associated virus-2 rather than those of avian erythroblastosis virus previously used in our constructs. Polyclonal producer cells obtained after transfection of these vectors into the Isolde packaging cell line gave rise to titers as high as 3 x 10(5) lacZ CFU/ml, whereas it was possible to isolate clones of producer cells giving rise to titers of more than 10(6) resistance focus-forming units per ml.
Expression of Killer Cell Lectin-Like Receptor G1 on Antigen-Specific Human CD8+ T Lymphocytes during Active, Latent, and Resolved Infection and its Relation with CD57

Killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) is one of several inhibitory killer cell lectin-like receptors expressed by NK cells and T lymphocytes, mainly CD8+ effector/memory cells that can secrete cytokines but have poor proliferative capacity. Using multiparameter flow cytometry, we studied KLRG1 expression on CD8+ T cells specific for epitopes of CMV, EBV, influenza, and HIV. Over 92% of CD8+ cells specific for CMV or EBV expressed KLRG1 during the latent stage of these chronic infections. CD8+ T cell cells specific for HIV epitopes were mostly (72–89%) KLRG1+, even though not quite at the level of predominance noted with CMV or EBV. Lower frequency of KLRG1 expression was observed among CD8+ cells specific for influenza (40–73%), a resolved infection without a latent stage. We further observed that CD8+ cells expressing CD57, a marker of replicative senescence, also expressed KLRG1; however, a population of CD57−KLRG1+ cells was also identified. This population may represent a “memory” phenotype, because they also expressed CD27, CD28, CCR7, and CD127. In contrast, CD57+KLRG1+ cells did not express CD27, CD28, and CCR7, and expressed CD127 at a much lower frequency, indicating that they represent effector cells that are truly terminally differentiated. The combination of KLRG1 and CD57 expression might thus aid in refining functional characterization of CD8+ T cell subsets.
The X-Ray Afterglows of GRB 020813 and GRB 021004 with Chandra HETGS: Possible Evidence for a Supernova Prior to GRB 020813

We report on the detection of an emission line near 1.3 keV, which we associate with blueshifted hydrogen-like sulfur (S XVI), in a 76.8 ks Chandra HETGS spectrum of the afterglow of GRB 020813. The line is detected at 3.3 σ significance. We also find marginal evidence for a line possibly due to hydrogen-like silicon (Si XIV) with the same blueshift. A line from Fe is not detected, although a very low significance Ni feature may be present. A thermal model fits the data adequately, but a reflection model may provide a better fit. There is marginal evidence that the equivalent width of the S XVI line decreases as the burst fades. We infer from these results that a supernova likely occurred ≳2 months prior to the γ-ray burst. We find no discrete or variable spectral features in the Chandra HETGS spectrum of the GRB 021004 afterglow.
Selective Data Replication for Online Social Networks with Distributed Datacenters

Though the new OSN model, which deploys datacenters globally, helps reduce service latency, it causes higher inter-datacenter communication load. In Facebook, each datacenter has a full copy of all data, and the master datacenter updates all other datacenters, generating tremendous load in this new model. Distributed data storage, which only stores a user's data to his/her geographically closest datacenters mitigates the problem. However, frequent interactions between distant users lead to frequent inter-datacenter communication and hence long service latencies. In this paper, we aim to reduce inter-datacenter communications while still achieving low service latency. We first verify the benefits of the new model and present OSN typical properties that underlie the basis of our design. We then propose Selective Data replication mechanism in Distributed Datacenters (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$SD^3$</tex-math><alternatives><inline-graphic xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="liu-ieq1-2485266.gif"/> </alternatives></inline-formula>). Since replicas need inter-datacenter data updates, datacenters in <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$SD^3$</tex-math><alternatives><inline-graphic xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="liu-ieq2-2485266.gif"/> </alternatives></inline-formula> jointly consider update rates and visit rates to select user data for replication; furthermore, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$SD^3$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="liu-ieq3-2485266.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> atomizes users’ different types of data (e.g., status update, friend post, music) for replication, ensuring that a replica always reduces inter-datacenter communication. <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$SD^3$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="liu-ieq4-2485266.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> also incorporates three strategies to further enhance its performance: locality-aware multicast update tree, replica deactivation, and datacenter congestion control. The results of trace-driven experiments on the real-world PlanetLab testbed demonstrate the higher efficiency and effectiveness of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$SD^3$</tex-math><alternatives> <inline-graphic xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="liu-ieq5-2485266.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula> in comparison to other replication methods and the effectiveness of its three schemes.
Dynamic Output Feedback-Fault Tolerant Controller Design for Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy Systems With Actuator Faults

This paper addresses the problem of robust fault estimation and fault tolerant control (FTC) for Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems. A fuzzy-augmented fault estimation observer (AFEO) design is proposed to achieve fault estimation of T-S models with actuator faults. Furthermore, based on the information of online fault estimation, an observer-based dynamic output feedback-fault tolerant controller (DOFFTC) is designed to compensate for the effect of faults by stabilizing the closed-loop system. Sufficient conditions for the existence of both AFEO and DOFFTC are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Simulation results of an inverted pendulum system are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A Sympathetic Understanding of the Child: Birth to Sixteen

Introductions. A Note to Parents and Teachers. I. THE INFANT AND THE YOUNG CHILD. 1. Personal and Social Development in the Infant. 2. Mental Development in the Infant. 3. Personal and Social Development in the Young Child. 4. Mental Development in the Young Child. 5. Age Profiles. II. THE CHILD. 6. Personal and Social Development. 7. Mental Development. 8. Age Profiles. III. THE ADOLESCENT. 9. Personal and Social Development. 10. Mental Development. 11. Age Profiles. Index.
Estimations in Survival Analysis -a Stochastic Filter- Ing Perspective

We connect some basic issues of survival analysis in biostatistics with estimation and convergence theories of stochastic ltering. Viewing censored data problems through a ltering perspective, we can derive estimators expressed using stochastic integral/diierential equations. We then study statistical asymptotics using convergence theory of stochastic equations. We will illustrate such a program by revisiting the right censored and the doublely censored data problems.
The association of air pollution with height: Evidence from Hong Kong's “Children of 1997” birth cohort

Within populations, height is positively associated with economic success and in economically developed populations inversely associated with health. Recent studies also suggest air pollution may result in higher bone turnover markers among children, which may affect growth. However, few studies have investigated the effect of air pollution on height or growth rate. We therefore assessed the associations of several air pollutants with height at different ages.
Macroevolution of thermal tolerance in intertidal crabs from Neotropical provinces: A phylogenetic comparative evaluation of critical limits

Abstract Thermal tolerance underpins most biogeographical patterns in ectothermic animals. Macroevolutionary patterns of thermal limits have been historically evaluated, but a role for the phylogenetic component in physiological variation has been neglected. Three marine zoogeographical provinces are recognized throughout the Neotropical region based on mean seawater temperature (T m): the Brazilian (T m = 26 °C), Argentinian (T m = 15 °C), and Magellanic (T m = 9 °C) provinces. Microhabitat temperature (MHT) was measured, and the upper (UL 50) and lower (LL 50) critical thermal limits were established for 12 eubrachyuran crab species from intertidal zones within these three provinces. A molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed by maximum likelihood using the 16S mitochondrial gene, also considering other representative species to enable comparative evaluations. We tested for: (1) phylogenetic pattern of MHT, UL 50, and LL 50; (2) effect of zoogeographical province on the evolution of both limits; and (3) evolutionary correlation between MHT and thermal limits. MHT and UL 50 showed strong phylogenetic signal at the species level while LL 50 was unrelated to phylogeny, suggesting a more plastic evolution. Province seems to have affected the evolution of thermal tolerance, and only UL 50 was dependent on MHT. UL 50 was similar between the two northern provinces compared to the southernmost while LL 50 differed markedly among provinces. Apparently, critical limits are subject to different environmental pressures and thus manifest unique evolutionary histories. An asymmetrical macroevolutionary scenario for eubrachyuran thermal tolerance seems likely, as the critical thermal limits are differentially inherited and environmentally driven.
Self-testing and self-management of oral anticoagulation therapy in children

Summary Children and adolescents on oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) present special challenges in terms of rapid fluctuations in International Normalised Ratio (INR) values, interruption in daily life due to frequent hospital/doctor visits, and difficulties and pain in the performance of venepuncture. Optimised management of OAT improves the quality of treatment, potentially accomplished by new methods such as patient self-testing (PST) and patient self-management (PSM). A review was performed, identifying 11 trials with children and adolescents. All studies had different methodological problems, predominantly by being non-randomised trials. A total of 284 patients were included with a mean follow-up of 22 months, finding a time within therapeutic INR target range between 63% and 84%. The coagulometers used for estimating the INR values were found to have sufficient precision and accuracy for clinical use, but external quality control is probably advisable. It can be concluded that PST and PSM are at least as good treatment options as conventional management in highly selected children. Larger studies, preferably randomised, controlled trials using clinical endpoints, are obviously needed in order to elucidate whether these new regimens of treatment are superior to conventional management of oral anticoagulation therapy.
Escala de autoestima de Rosenberg: fi abilidad y validez en poblacin clnica espaola

A pultrusion apparatus for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced plastic article having a non-linear shape includes a mold configured to receive a partially cured fiber-reinforced plastic article and to form the partially cured fiber-reinforced plastic article into a spirally wound shape. A drive mechanism is coupled to the mold and configured to rotate the mold such that the fiber-reinforced plastic article is taken up on the mold. An energy source is operatively associated with the mold and positioned so that the partially cured fiber-reinforced plastic article is cured in a spirally wound shape as the article is taken up on the longitudinally extending mold. The pultrusion apparatus allows for continuously shaping a non-linear fiber-reinforced plastic article, obviating the need for any of the work to be done by hand, which may be labor intensive, not as highly reproducible, and potentially contaminating.
Differential effects of proteases involved in intracellular degradation of amyloid beta-protein between detergent-soluble and -insoluble pools in CHO-695 cells.

The deposition of amyloid beta-protein (A beta or beta A4) is a key feature of Alzheimer's disease. Most studies have focused on the generation of A beta, but little is known about the degradation of A beta. Recent reports suggest that insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) are involved in the extracellular degradation of A beta. To date, however, far less is known about the degradation of intracellular A beta. To elucidate the protease(s) responsible for the degradation of intracellular A beta, we investigated the effect of various protease inhibitors on A beta in two distinct intracellular pools (i.e., nonionic detergent-soluble and detergent-insoluble pools) in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Treatment with thiol and metal inhibitors resulted in the accumulation of intracellular A beta and oligomers in detergent-soluble and -insoluble fractions. The overexpression of thiol-metalloprotease IDE resulted in a marked reduction in levels of detergent-soluble intracellular A beta as well as extracellular A beta 40 and A beta 42. Moreover, intracellular A beta in the detergent-insoluble fraction extracted with 70% formic acid or 6 M guanidine hydrochloride decreased markedly in the cells overexpressing IDE. In contrast, expression of NEP degraded the A beta in the detergent-insoluble fraction markedly and partially degraded extracellular A beta 40 and A beta 42, but not intracellular soluble A beta. Thiorphan, an inhibitor of NEP, accumulated, albeit to a lesser extent, in insoluble A beta but not in soluble A beta. Thus, IDE appears to degrade intracellular A beta more effectively than does NEP in both the detergent-soluble and -insoluble fractions.
Progenitor cells of the testosterone-producing Leydig cells revealed

The cells responsible for production of the male sex hormone testosterone, the Leydig cells of the testis, are post-mitotic cells with neuroendocrine characteristics. Their origin during ontogeny and regeneration processes is still a matter of debate. Here, we show that cells of testicular blood vessels, namely vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes, are the progenitors of Leydig cells. Resembling stem cells of the nervous system, the Leydig cell progenitors are characterized by the expression of nestin. Using an in vivo model to induce and monitor the synchronized generation of a completely new Leydig cell population in adult rats, we demonstrate specific proliferation of vascular progenitors and their subsequent transdifferentiation into steroidogenic Leydig cells which, in addition, rapidly acquire neuronal and glial properties. These findings, shown to be representative also for ontogenetic Leydig cell formation and for the human testis, provide further evidence that cellular components of blood vessels can act as progenitor cells for organogenesis and repair.
pGenTHREADER and pDomTHREADER: new methods for improved protein fold recognition and superfamily discrimination

MOTIVATION Generation of structural models and recognition of homologous relationships for unannotated protein sequences are fundamental problems in bioinformatics. Improving the sensitivity and selectivity of methods designed for these two tasks therefore has downstream benefits for many other bioinformatics applications. RESULTS We describe the latest implementation of the GenTHREADER method for structure prediction on a genomic scale. The method combines profile-profile alignments with secondary-structure specific gap-penalties, classic pair- and solvation potentials using a linear combination optimized with a regression SVM model. We find this combination significantly improves both detection of useful templates and accuracy of sequence-structure alignments relative to other competitive approaches. We further present a second implementation of the protocol designed for the task of discriminating superfamilies from one another. This method, pDomTHREADER, is the first to incorporate both sequence and structural data directly in this task and improves sensitivity and selectivity over the standard version of pGenTHREADER and three other standard methods for remote homology detection.
Measurement of treatment adherence with antipsychotic agents in patients with schizophrenia

The importance of medication adherence in sustaining control of schizophrenic symptoms has generated a great deal of interest in comparing levels of treatment adherence with different antipsychotic agents. However, the bulk of the research has yielded results that are often inconsistent. In this prospective, observational study, we assessed the measurement properties of 3 commonly used, pharmacy-based measures of treatment adherence with antipsychotic agents in schizophrenia using data from the Veterans Health Administration during 2000 to 2005. Patients were selected if they were on antipsychotics and diagnosed with schizophrenia (N = 18,425). A gap of ≥30 days (with no filled index medication) was used to define discontinuation of treatment as well as medication “episodes,” or the number of times a patient returned to the same index agent after discontinuation of treatment within a 1-year period. The study found that the 3 existing measures differed in their approaches in measuring treatment adherence, suggesting that studies using these different measures would generate different levels of treatment adherence across antipsychotic agents. Considering the measurement problems associated with each existing approach, we offered a new, medication episode-specific approach, which would provide a fairer comparison of the levels of treatment adherence across different antipsychotic agents.
Context preserving dynamic word cloud visualization

In this paper, we introduce a visualization method that couples a trend chart with word clouds to illustrate temporal content evolutions in a set of documents. Specifically, we use a trend chart to encode the overall semantic evolution of document content over time. In our work, semantic evolution of a document collection is modeled by varied significance of document content, represented by a set of representative keywords, at different time points. At each time point, we also use a word cloud to depict the representative keywords. Since the words in a word cloud may vary one from another over time (e.g., words with increased importance), we use geometry meshes and an adaptive force-directed model to lay out word clouds to highlight the word differences between any two subsequent word clouds. Our method also ensures semantic coherence and spatial stability of word clouds over time. Our work is embodied in an interactive visual analysis system that helps users to perform text analysis and derive insights from a large collection of documents. Our preliminary evaluation demonstrates the usefulness and usability of our work.