Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Specific Safety Profile of Bevacizumab in Asian Patients With Advanced NSCLC

AbstractRandomized studies have obtained varying findings regarding the benefits and toxicities of bevacizumab in the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is unclear whether the discrepancies among trials are due to ethnic/racial differences. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of all published, randomized, controlled clinical trials involving bevacizumab in patients with NSCLC to assess its effectiveness and safety in Asian and non-Asian populations.Results from the phase II JO19907 trial, the phase III AVAiL and ECOG 4599 trials, and the phase IV SAiL trials were used to calculate the benefits and toxicities of bevacizumab in Asian and non-Asian patients. Combined statistical estimates, including hazard ratios and odds ratios, were calculated using fixed-effects and random-effects models.A total of 4308 patients were evaluated. Combining bevacizumab with different chemotherapy regimens resulted in similar objective response rates, overall survival, and progression-free survival in Asian and non-Asian populations. Disease control rates, however, were only reported in Asian populations. The rates of severe bleeding (relative risk [RR], 2.17; P = 0.02) and thromboembolism (RR, 3.65; P < 0.0001) were significantly higher, while the rate of severe proteinuria was significantly lower (RR, 0.43; P < 0.0001), in non-Asian than in Asian populations. The rates of severe hypertension (P = 0.71) and hemoptysis (P = 0.66) were similar in Asian and non-Asian populations.Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy for first-line NSCLC treatment showed similar benefits in Asian and non-Asian populations, but had specific safety profiles in each.
Design of speech recognition co-processor with fast gaussian likelihood computation

This paper presents the design of high performance co-processor used to calculate the posterior probabilities for the embedded speech recognition of CHMM (Continuous Hidden Markov Model) with the MPIE (Maximum Probability Increase Estimation) algorithm to finish the most computation intensive operations in the speech recognition flow. The design of the co-processor is verified on Xilinx FPGA platform with ARM as MCU.
Deep learning with segregated dendrites

Deep learning has led to significant advances in artificial intelligence, in part, by adopting strategies motivated by neurophysiology. However, it is unclear whether deep learning could occur in the real brain. Here, we show that deep learning can be achieved by moving away from point neuron models and towards multi-compartment neurons. Like neocortical pyramidal neurons, neurons in our model receive feedforward sensory information and higher-order feedback in electrotonically segregated compartments. Thanks to this segregation, the network can calculate local synaptic weight updates that allow it to categorize images from the MNIST data-set with good accuracy. We show that our learning algorithm can take advantage of multilayer architectures to identify abstract categories---the hallmark of deep learning. This work demonstrates that deep learning can be achieved using segregated dendritic compartments for feedforward and feedback information, which may help to explain the dendritic morphology of neocortical pyramidal neurons.
Response properties of ganglion cells in the isolated mouse retina

Abstract We have studied the organization of receptive fields of ganglion cells in the isolated mouse retina and have shown that the organization is similar to that of the cat. Based upon responses to circular and annular stimuli, most ganglion cells (90%; N = 83) had receptive fields with concentric center-surround organization, either ON or OFF center. The plot of response amplitude vs. stimulus area for these cells increased to a maximum (corresponding to a diameter of 10.0 ± 2.8 deg S.E.M.; N = 13) and then decreased for larger stimuli, demonstrating the presence of an antagonistic surround. The dark-adapted sensitivity (205 ± 43.8 impulses quantum−1 rod−1; mean ± S.E.M.) did not differ from that measured for the intact preparation. We found a subset of OFF-center cells for which the dark discharge was very regular (mean coefficient of variation = 0.30). Using sinusoidal grating stimuli, we classified ganglion cells as X-like (87%) and Y-like (13%) based on spatial summation properties and the presence of subunit activity in the receptive-field center. We found no difference in the spatial-frequency preference between X-like and Y-like cells in the central retina (high cutoff frequency, 0.20 ± 0.014 cycle/deg, mean ± S.E.M.), in contrast to the marked difference between X cells and Y cells in the cat. Thus, ganglion cell receptive fields in the mouse retina resemble those of the cat, although the spatial characteristics of the receptive fields in the central retina are more homogeneous. This homogeneity would simplify the comparison of retinas from normal and mutant strains of the mouse.
Potential of Direct Agglutination Test Based on Promastigote and Amastigote Antigens for Serodiagnosis of Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis

ABSTRACT Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a dermal complication, a sequel to kala-azar. Diagnosis of PKDL presents a challenge due to the low parasite burden in the lesions. The direct agglutination test (DAT) based on promastigote and amastigote antigens of Leishmania donovani of indigenous isolates was developed to diagnose PKDL, and the results were compared with those of the rk39 strip test. The sensitivities of DAT for antileishmanial antibody detection, based on promastigote and amastigote antigens at a cutoff titer of 1:800 were 98.5% and 100%, respectively, with corresponding specificities of 96.5% and 100%. DAT could correctly detect 100% polymorphic cases and 95.4% macular PKDL cases. In comparison, the rk39 strip test was able to correctly diagnose 95.6% of polymorphic and 86.0% macular PKDL cases. DAT based on axenic amastigote antigen provided 100% sensitivity and specificity, making it particularly useful for macular PKDL cases, which are often missed by the rk39 strip test. Thus, DAT provides a simple, reliable, and inexpensive test for PKDL diagnosis with potential applicability in field conditions.
External ventricular drains: Management and complications

Background: Insertion of an External Ventricular Drain (EVD) is arguably one of the most common and important lifesaving procedures in neurologic intensive care unit. Various forms of acute brain injury benefit from the continuous intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion provided by an EVD. After insertion, EVD monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting essentially become a nursing responsibility. Methods: Articles pertaining to EVD placement, management, and complications were identified from PubMed electronic database. Results: Typically placed at the bedside by a neurosurgeon or neurointensivist using surface landmarks under emergent conditions, this procedure has the ability to drain blood and CSF to mitigate intracranial hypertension, continuously monitor intracranial pressure, and instill medications. Nursing should ensure proper zeroing, placement, sterility, and integrity of the EVD collecting system. ICP waveform analysis and close monitoring of CSF drainage are extremely important and can affect clinical outcomes of patients. In some institutions, nursing may also be responsible for CSF sampling and catheter irrigation. Conclusion: Maintenance, troubleshooting, and monitoring for EVD associated complications has essentially become a nursing responsibility. Accurate and accountable nursing care may have the ability to portend better outcomes in patients requiring CSF drainage.
Ocular manifestations of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus in an African pediatric population

PURPOSE: To describe the ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS infection in an African pediatric population. METHODS: From 1984 to 1990, all children with HIV infection attending the Department of Pediatrics of the `Centre Hospitalier de Kigali', Rwanda, were referred to the Department of Ophthalmology for ophthalmic examination. RESULTS: A total of 162 HIV-infected children were examined. The overall rate of ophthalmic involvement was 54%. The most common finding was a perivasculitis of the peripheral retinal vessels, observed in 38% of the patients. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the retina was diagnosed in three patients. Isolated cotton-wool spots of the retina were not observed. Ophthalmic herpes zoster and conjunctival xerosis responding to vitamin A administration were each seen in two patients. One third of a subset of children tested for lacrimal function had evidence of decreased tear secretion. CONCLUSION: Our data, in agreement with other series reported in the literature, indicate that cotton-wool spots and CMV retinitis, the most common ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS in adults, are much less prevalent in children. The high incidence of perivasculitis in the present series, not observed or only seen in a few cases in other series, suggests that this ocular sign is more prevalent in African children. Our working hypothesis is that perivasculitis of the retinal vessels, lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis, parotitis, and lacrimal gland involvement are the expression of a diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome, similiar to what has been described in adults.
Data clustering: a review

Clustering is the unsupervised classification of patterns (observations, data items, or feature vectors) into groups (clusters). The clustering problem has been addressed in many contexts and by researchers in many disciplines; this reflects its broad appeal and usefulness as one of the steps in exploratory data analysis. However, clustering is a difficult problem combinatorially, and differences in assumptions and contexts in different communities has made the transfer of useful generic concepts and methodologies slow to occur. This paper presents an overviewof pattern clustering methods from a statistical pattern recognition perspective, with a goal of providing useful advice and references to fundamental concepts accessible to the broad community of clustering practitioners. We present a taxonomy of clustering techniques, and identify cross-cutting themes and recent advances. We also describe some important applications of clustering algorithms such as image segmentation, object recognition, and information retrieval.
Analysis of Metric Distances and Volumes of Hippocampi Indicates Different Morphometric Changes over Time in Dementia of Alzheimer Type and Nondemented Subjects

In this article, we analyze the morphometry of hippocampus in subjects with very mild dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) and nondemented controls and how it changes over a two-year period. Morphometric differences with respect to a template hippocampus were measured by the metric distance obtained from the Large Deformation Diffeomorphic Metric Mapping (LDDMM) algorithm which was previously used to calculate dense one-to-one correspondence vector fields between the shapes. LDDMM assigns metric distances on the space of anatomical images thereby allowing for the direct comparison and quantization of morphometric changes. We use various statistical methods to compare the metric distances in a cross-sectional and longitudinal manner. At baseline, the metric distances for demented subjects are found not to be significantly different from those for nondemented subjects. At follow-up, the metric distances for demented subjects were significantly larger compared to nondemented subjects. The metric distances for demented subjects increased significantly from baseline to follow-up but not for nondemented subjects. We also use the metric distances in logistic regression for diagnostic discrimination of subjects. We compare metric distances with the volumes and obtain similar results. In classification, the model that uses volume, metric distance, and volume loss over time together performs better in detecting DAT. Thus, metric distances with respect to a template computed via LDDMM can be a powerful tool in detecting differences in shape in cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies.
BEHAVIOR GENETICS OF NEST CLEANING IN HONEY BEES. IV. RESPONSES OF F1 AND BACKCROSS GENERATIONS TO DISEASE-KILLED BLOOD.

animal kingdom lives a more or less soli? tary existence (except for a minimal amount of social life involved in mating activity and reproduction), whereas the honey bee lives in colonies of up to 60,000 individuals. Honey-bee colonies are much more than aggregations, flocks, or herds, for the individuals within one are so dependent upon one another that no individual, nor even a group of a few hundred individuals, can survive and perpetuate the species in nature.
Problem-solving in physiotherapy – physiotherapists’ talk about encounters with patients with non-specific low back pain

Purpose: To investigate how physiotherapists talk about the choice of intervention for patients with NSLBP, particularly how professionals manage clinical encounters that may be experienced as challenging. Method: Discourse analysis was performed of four focus groups’ talk. Twenty-one experienced physiotherapists working in primary health care in southern Sweden participated. Results: Four focal themes appeared: Responsibility for health and health-related problems; Normalization – what counts as a normal back pain problem in relation to living an ordinary life; Change process – how to lead one’s life; and Individualization of the intervention in relation to the individual patient but also from the physiotherapists’ point of view. The themes shape an over-arching pattern of Problem-solving – which concerned both the professional task and the back pain problem, and was related to varying case complexity. This may have implications for the intervention the individual patient will be offered and on outcome. Conclusions: Physiotherapists’ attitudes and approaches seem to entail components of professional and personal values which may influence patients’ access to health care, with a risk for unequal assessment and intervention as a consequence. We argue that enhanced physiotherapist-patient collaboration, including patient-led problem-investigation, is a prerequisite for improved outcome in terms of patient satisfaction, and for physiotherapy development. Future investigations of patients’ roles in specific face-to-face encounters are needed. Implications for Rehabilitation Varying attitudes among professionals regarding responsibility for health and health-related problems may influence patients’ access to rehabilitation, with a risk for unequal assessment and intervention as a consequence. Professionals’ use of personal approaches indicates that interventions may be based on professional instead of patient preferences, with consequences on patient satisfaction and outcome. Enhanced professional-patient collaboration which thoroughly includes patient preferences seems to be a prerequisite for improved clinical outcome in terms of patient satisfaction, and for professional development.
The Segmentation of Sub-Lexical Morphemes in English-Learning 15-Month-Olds

In most human languages, important components of linguistic structure are carried by affixes, also called bound morphemes. The affixes in a language comprise a relatively small but frequently occurring set of forms that surface as parts of words, but never occur without a stem. They combine productively with word stems and other grammatical entities in systematic and predictable ways. For example, the English suffix -ing occurs on verb stems, and in combination with a form of the auxiliary verb be, marks the verb with progressive aspect (e.g., was walking). In acquiring a language, learners must acquire rules of combination for affixes. However, prior to learning these combinatorial rules, learners are faced with discovering what the sub-lexical forms are over which the rules operate. That is, they have to discover the bound morphemes themselves. It is not known when English-learners begin to analyze words into morphological units. Previous research with learners of English found evidence that 18-month-olds have started to learn the combinatorial rules involving bound morphemes, and that 15-month-olds have not. However, it is not known whether 15-month-olds nevertheless represent the morphemes as distinct entities. This present study demonstrates that when 15-month-olds process words that end in -ing, they segment the suffix from the word, but they do not do so with endings that are not morphemes. Eight-month olds do not show this capacity. Thus, 15-month-olds have already started to identify bound morphemes and actively use them in processing speech.
Association of very low birth weight with exposures to environmental sulfur dioxide and total suspended particulates.

This paper presents results of a population-based case-control study of the association between maternal exposures to environmental sulfur dioxide and total suspended particulates (TSP) and risk for having a very low birth weight (VLBW) baby, i.e., one weighing less than 1,500 g at birth. The study, which took place between April 1, 1986 and March 30, 1988, comprised 143 mothers of VLBW babies and 202 mothers of babies weighing 2,500 g or more living in Georgia Health Care District 9. Environmental exposure estimates (microg/m3) were obtained through environmental transport modeling that allowed us to assign environmental sulfur dioxide and TSP exposure estimates at the birth home of each study subject. Exposures less than or equal to 9.94 microg/m3, the median of TSP and sulfur dioxide exposures for the controls, were considered as referent exposures. Exposures to atmospheric TSP and sulfur dioxide above the 95th percentile (56.75 microg/m3) yielded an adjusted odds ratio of 2.88 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16, 7.13), that from above the 75th to the 95th percentile (25.18-56.75 microg/m3) yielded an adjusted odds ratio of 1.27 (95% CI: 0.68, 2.37), and that from above the median (9.94 microg/m3) to the 75th percentile, an adjusted odds ratio of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.72). The trend demonstrated in these adjusted estimates suggests an association between VLBW and maternal exposures to high levels of air pollution.
Intraspecies Transmission of BASE Induces Clinical Dullness and Amyotrophic Changes

The disease phenotype of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the molecular/ biological properties of its prion strain, including the host range and the characteristics of BSE-related disorders, have been extensively studied since its discovery in 1986. In recent years, systematic testing of the brains of cattle coming to slaughter resulted in the identification of at least two atypical forms of BSE. These emerging disorders are characterized by novel conformers of the bovine pathological prion protein (PrPTSE), named high-type (BSE-H) and low-type (BSE-L). We recently reported two Italian atypical cases with a PrPTSE type identical to BSE-L, pathologically characterized by PrP amyloid plaques and known as bovine amyloidotic spongiform encephalopathy (BASE). Several lines of evidence suggest that BASE is highly virulent and easily transmissible to a wide host range. Experimental transmission to transgenic mice overexpressing bovine PrP (Tgbov XV) suggested that BASE is caused by a prion strain distinct from the BSE isolate. In the present study, we experimentally infected Friesian and Alpine brown cattle with Italian BSE and BASE isolates via the intracerebral route. BASE-infected cattle developed amyotrophic changes accompanied by mental dullness. The molecular and neuropathological profiles, including PrP deposition pattern, closely matched those observed in the original cases. This study provides clear evidence of BASE as a distinct prion isolate and discloses a novel disease phenotype in cattle.
[Prevalence of helminths in dogs in the region of Van and their potential public health significance].

This study was performed in order to determine the prevalence of helminth infections among dogs and to emphasize the importance of this concept for public health. All selected dogs were from the city of Van and a total of 115 fecal samples were examined. Of these, 61 were from stray dogs, 26 were breeders and the final 28 dogs were dogs belonging to institutions. All samples were examined in the laboratory of the parasitology laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University. Fulleborn's flotation method was used. Sixty nine (60.0%) of the dogs were found to be infected by one or more helminth species. Two Cestoda species and 4 Nematoda species were detected. Toxascaris leonina (23.5%), Taenia spp. (14.8%), Ancylostoma caninum (8.7%), Dipylidium caninum (3.5%), Uncinaria stenocephala (0.9%) and Toxocara canis (13.9%) were responsible for infections. Although the rates of infection between stray (59.0%) and official dogs (46.4%) was not significant, the rate was statistically significant according to Duncan's t-test ( < 0.05) in breeder dogs as compared to the previous 2 groups. The results show that helminth infection in dogs in Van is very high. The high prevalence of T. canis, Taenia spp. , and A. caninum in dogs in Van is considered to be critical from the view point of public health importance. In conclusion, helminth infection of dogs is still a very serious problem for public health in Van.
The Impact of Human Asset Specificity on the Sourcing of Application Services

The question concerning the circumstances under which it is advantageous for a company to outsource certain information systems functions has been a controversial issue for the last decade. While opponents emphasize the risks of outsourcing based on the loss of strategic potentials and increased transaction costs, proponents emphasize the strategic benefits of outsourcing and high potentials of cost-savings. This paper brings together both views by examining the conditions under which both the strategic potentials as well as savings in production and transaction costs of developing and maintaining software applications can better be achieved in-house as opposed to by an external vendor. We develop a theoretical framework from three complementary theories and test it empirically based on a mail survey of 139 German companies. The results show that insourcing is more cost efficient and advantageous in creating strategic benefits through IS if the provision of application services requires a high amount of firm specific human assets. These relationships, however, are partially moderated by differences in the trustworthiness and intrinsic motivation of internal versus external IS professionals. Moreover, capital shares with an external vendor can lower the risk of high transaction costs as well the risk of loosing the strategic opportunities of an IS.
Online System Identification Based on Quantum-Behaved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

In this paper, we explore the applicability of Quantum-Behaved Particle Swarm Optimization (QPSO) algorithm, an efficient variant of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, to online system identification problems. First, Quantum particle swarm optimization and particle swarm optimization are introduced. Then these two algorithms and genetic algorithms are applied to online identify parameters of a system described by differential equations respectively. Finally Simulation results show that QPSO algorithm and PSO algorithm greatly accelerate the online identification. Convergence speed and accuracy of QPSO and PSO are far better than that of GA algorithm. Moreover the accuracy and convergence speed of QPSO is better than PSO.