Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Postoperative radiotherapy for resected pathological stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study of 221 cases from a single institution.

BACKGROUND For patients with resected pathological stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the role of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is not well defined. In this single-institutional study, we re-evaluated the effect of PORT on overall survival (OS) as well as tumor control in this subgroup of patients. METHODS In 2003-2005, 221 consecutive patients with resected pathological stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC at our institution were retrospectively analyzed in an institutional review board-approved study. The effect of PORT on OS, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests. The impact of PORT on locoregional control and distant metastasis was also analyzed. Results. Compared with the control, patients treated with PORT had a significantly longer OS time (χ2, 3.966; p = .046) and DFS interval (χ2, 6.891; p = .009), as well as a trend toward a longer CSS duration (χ2, 3.486; p = .062). Patients treated with PORT also had a significantly higher locoregional recurrence-free survival rate (χ2, 5.048; p = .025) as well as distant metastasis-free survival rate (χ2, 11.248; p = .001). Multivariate analyses showed that PORT was significantly associated with a longer OS duration (p = .000). CONCLUSIONS PORT can significantly improve the survival of patients with resected pathological stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC. A prospective randomized multicenter clinical trial is ongoing.
Apparent Half-Lives of Hepta- to Decabrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Human Serum as Determined in Occupationally Exposed Workers

The aim of the present study was to model apparent serum half-lives of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with 7–10 bromine substituents. Workers with occupational exposure to PBDEs have elevated serum levels of PBDEs, but these substances are also found in the general population and are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The calculations were based on exposure assessments of rubber workers (manufactured flame-retarded rubber compound) and electronics dismantlers who donated blood during a period with no work-related exposures to PBDEs, and referents without any known occupational exposure (clerks, cleaners, and abattoir workers). The workers had previously been found to have elevated levels of high- and medium-brominated diphenyl ethers compared with the referent populations. We performed nonlinear mixed-effects modeling of kinetics, using data from previous and present chemical analyses. The calculated apparent half-life for decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) was 15 days (95% confidence interval, 11–18 days). The three nona-BDEs and four octa-BDE congeners were found to have half-lives of 18–39 and 37–91 days, respectively. BDE-209 has a short half-life in human blood. Because BDE-209 is commonly present in humans in general, the results of this study imply that humans must be more or less continuously exposed to BDE-209 to sustain the serum concentrations observed. BDE-209 is more readily transformed and/or eliminated than are lower brominated diphenyl ether congeners, and human health risk must be assessed accordingly.
Exploring Mathematics Instructional Strategies Working for Students with Emotional and/or Behavioural Disorders

This study explored instructional strategies elementary-year mathematics teachers of students with emotional and/or behavioural disorders (EBD) perceived to be helpful in improving students’ performance in mathematics using a resiliency perspective (i.e., the ability to positively adapt despite experiencing significant adversity; Luthar, Cicchetti, & Becker, 2000). The researcher interviewed three elementary-year teachers to gain insight into their teaching experiences and the instructional strategies. A basic interpretive qualitative approach (Merriam, 2002) was used to understand the underlying meaning of the experiences of these mathematics teachers of students with EBD as they used evidence-based instructional strategies to improve students’ academic performance in mathematics and behaviour during instruction. A definitional focus on resiliency was the lens utilized for analyzing data generated through the interviews (Luthar, Cicchetti & Becker, 2000; Masten, 2001; Smith & Prior, 1995; Smokowski, 1998). Three themes emerged from participant interviews: ways of engaging students in learning; from dead time to active learning; and promoting positive student behaviour. Specifically, teachers reported an instructional strategy that met the needs of students of EBD which helped them obtain academic success in mathematics, and students were also better behaved in classrooms where instructional strategies employed were meeting their individual needs. These findings suggest an appropriate instructional strategy influences how students of EBD make meaning of mathematics, since teachers observed students were able to do higher thinking mathematics when strategies were in place in the classroom that met their individual needs. Teachers also shared that students were able to make good behavioural choices when they were experiencing academic success in the classroom. Practical implications of the findings, the limitations and strengths of the current study, and areas for future research are discussed.
Effects of Rapid Maxillary Expansion on Upper Airway; A 3 Dimensional Cephalometric Analysis

The purpose of this study was to use cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess changes in the volume and cross sectional areas of the upper airway in children with maxillary constriction treated by rapid maxillary expansion (RME). The study group consisted of 5 males and 9 females with mean age of 12.93 years with posterior cross bite and constricted maxilla who were treated with hyrax expander as part of their comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Pre and post RME CBCT scans were analyzed with 3D Dolphin 11.0 software to measure the retropalatal (RP) and retroglossal (RG) airway changes including volume and cross sectional areas. The transverse width changes were evaluated from the maxillary inter 1st molar and inter 1st pre molar mid lingual alveolar plate points. Pre and post RME scans were compared with paired t test and Pearson correlation test was done on data reaching significance. Only the cross sectional airway measured at posterior nasal spine (PNS) to Basion (Ba) level showed a statistically significant increase (P=0.0004). The minimal cross sectional area (MCA) was always found within the RP airway. The inter-molar and inter-premolar mid lingual alveolar plate distances increased equally by 4.76 mm and were statistically significant (P< 0.0001). The percentage increase at the 1st premolar level was significantly larger than at the 1st molar level (P= 0.035). PNS-Ba cross sectional area increase was highly correlated with the maxillary 1st molar mid lingual inter alveolar plate width (p=0.0013). In conclusion, RME produced a numerically equal amount of expansion between the mid inter-lingual plates of maxillary 1st molars and 1st premolars. However, when the percentage change was calculated, a greater opening was observed at the 1st premolar level suggesting a triangular shape of opening. In regard to the upper airway, a moderate increase of the cross sectional area adjacent to the hard palate was found and this increase was deemed to be highly dependent on the expansion between the maxillary 1st molars. Further studies with a larger sample size and incorporating breathing evaluations are needed to estimate the real impact of the RME on the airway.
Elevated platelet-associated IgG in the thrombocytopenia of septicemia.

The mechanism of thrombocytopenia, a frequent complication of septicemia, is obscure, but indirect evidence suggests that the immune system may be involved. To investigate this possibility, we quantitated platelet-associated IgG on platelets obtained from 44 patients during 46 episodes of septicemia. Thrombocytopenia occurred in 21 of 46 episodes (46 per cent). Platelet-associated IgG was elevated in eight of 11 episodes of gram-negative septicemia and thrombocytopenia (47.3 +/- 11.7 fg of IgG per platelet [mean +/- S.E.]) and in one of 20 patients with gram-negative septicemia and normal platelet counts (5.9 +/- 1.1) (P less than 0.001). Elevated levels occurred in eight of 10 patients with gram-positive septicemia and thrombocytopenia (55.3 +/- 14.7 fg of IgG per platelet) and in none of 11 patients with gram-positive septicemia and normal platelet counts (5.6 +/- 1.7) (P less than 0.001). Serial testing during the thrombocytopenia and recovery showed an inverse relation between the platelet count and platelet-associated IgG. Thrombocytopenia in some patients with septicemia may be related to the binding of IgG to platelets.
The value of digital imaging in diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVES To assess the performance of digital imaging, compared with other modalities, in screening for and monitoring the development of diabetic retinopathy. DESIGN All imaging was acquired at a hospital assessment clinic. Subsequently, study optometrists examined the patients in their own premises. A subset of patients also had fluorescein angiography performed every 6 months. SETTING Research clinic at the hospital eye clinic and optometrists' own premises. PARTICIPANTS Study comprised 103 patients who had type 1 diabetes mellitus, 481 had type 2 diabetes mellitus and two had secondary diabetes mellitus; 157 (26.8%) had some form of retinopathy ('any') and 58 (9.9%) had referable retinopathy. INTERVENTIONS A repeat assessment was carried out of all patients 1 year after their initial assessment. Patients who had more severe forms of retinopathy were monitored more frequently for evidence of progression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Detection of retinopathy, progression of retinopathy and determination of when treatment is required. RESULTS Manual grading of 35-mm colour slides produced the highest sensitivity and specificity figures, with optometrist examination recording most false negatives. Manual and automated analysis of digital images had intermediate sensitivity. Both manual grading of 35-mm colour slides and digital images gave sensitivities of over 90% with few false positives. Digital imaging produced 50% fewer ungradable images than colour slides. This part of the study was limited as patients with the more severe levels of retinopathy opted for treatment. There was an increase in the number of microaneurysms in those patients who developed from mild to moderate. There was no difference between the turnover rate of either new or regressed microaneurysms for patients with mild or with sight-threatening retinopathy. It was not possible in this study to ascertain whether digital imaging systems determine when treatment is warranted. CONCLUSIONS In the context of a national screening programme for referable retinopathy, digital imaging is an effective method. In addition, technical failure rates are lower with digital imaging than conventional photography. Digital imaging is also a more sensitive technique than slit-lamp examination by optometrists. Automated grading can improve efficiency by correctly identifying just under half the population as having no retinopathy. Recommendations for future research include: investigating whether the nasal field is required for grading; a large screening programme is required to ascertain if automated grading can safely perform as a first-level grader; if colour improves the performance of grading digital images; investigating methods to ensure effective uptake in a diabetic retinopathy screening programme.
CONTEMPORANEOUS VLBA 5 GHz OBSERVATIONS OF LARGE AREA TELESCOPE DETECTED BLAZARS

The radio properties of blazars detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have been observed contemporaneously by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). In total, 232 sources were observed with the VLBA. Ninety sources that were previously observed as part of the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey (VIPS) have been included in the sample, as well as 142 sources not found in VIPS. This very large, 5 GHz flux-limited sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provides insights into the mechanism that produces strong γ-ray emission. In particular, we see that γ-ray emission is related to strong, uniform magnetic fields in the cores of the host AGN. Included in this sample are non-blazar AGNs such as 3C84, M82, and NGC 6251. For the blazars, the total VLBA radio flux density at 5 GHz correlates strongly with γ-ray flux. The LAT BL Lac objects tend to be similar to the non-LAT BL Lac objects, but the LAT flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) are significantly different from the non-LAT FSRQs. Strong core polarization is significantly more common among the LAT sources, and core fractional polarization appears to increase during LAT detection.
Geographic routing for wireless networks

Distributed shortest-path routing protocols for wired networks either describe the entire topology of a network or provide a digest of the topology to every router. They continually update the state describing the topology at all routers as the topology changes to find correct routes for all destinations. Hence, to find routes robustly, they generate routing protocol message traffic proportional to the product of the number of routers in the network and the rate of topological change in the network. Current ad-hoc routing protocols, designed specifically for mobile, wireless networks, exhibit similar scaling properties. It is the reliance of these routing protocols on state concerning all links in the network, or all links on a path between a source and destination, that is responsible for their poor scaling. We present Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing (GPSR), a novel routing protocol for wireless datagram networks that uses the positions of routers and a packet's destination to make packet forwarding decisions. GPSR makes greedy forwarding decisions using only information about a router's immediate neighbors in the network topology. When a packet reaches a region where greedy forwarding is impossible, the algorithm recovers by routing around the perimeter of the region. By keeping state only about the local topology, GPSR scales better in per-router state than shortest-path and ad-hoc routing protocols as the number of network destinations increases. Under mobility's frequent topology changes, GPSR can use local topology information to find correct new routes quickly. We describe the GPSR protocol, and use extensive simulation of mobile wireless networks to compare its performance with that of Dynamic Source Routing. Our simulations demonstrate GPSR's scalability on densely deployed wireless networks.
Design and refinement of the MATE program: Mindful Awareness Training and Education: how do young people understand and practise mindfulness?

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 5 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . 10 INTRODUCTION . 11 BACKGROUND . 11 KEY QUESTIONS AND AIMS . 13 OVERVIEW OF METHODS AND RESULTS . 13 OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS . 15 CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND AND AIMS . 17 1.1. LITERATURE REVIEW AND EXPERT CONSULTATION . 18 1.2. PART 1: PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN YOUNG PEOPLE . 21 1.2.1. Mental health promotion: An overview . 21 1.2.2. Mental health promotion and young people . 34 1.2.3. The role of technology. 41 1.2.4. Engaging young people in program design . 43 1.2. 5. Summary of Part 1: Mental health promotion and young people . 46 1.3. PART 2: MINDFULNESS TRAINING AS A WAY TO PROMOTE YOUNG PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH . 47 1.3. 1. Why mindfulness? 48 1.3. 2. What is mindfulness? 49 1.3. 3. Mindfulness and young people . 64 1.3. 4. Qualitative studies in mindfulness training . 67 1.3. 5. Quantitative studies in mindfulness training . 82 1.3. 6. Mindfulness training and the Internet . 92 1.4. PART 3: DEFINING OPTIMAL PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS . 97 1.5. SUMMARY AND INTEGRATION OF BACKGROUND . 99 1.6. AIMS . 102 CHAPTER 2 OVERVIEW OF METHODS . 105 2.1. RATIONALE FOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES. 105 2.2. COLLABORATION WITH THE INSPIRE FOUNDATION: REACHOUT.COM . 107 2.3. APPLYING A PARTICIPATORY PARADIGM . 108 2.4. CHOICE OF EVALUATION STRATEGIES . 109 2.4. 1. Qualitative evaluation . 110
Semi-supervised K-way Spectral Clustering using Pairwise Constraints

In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised spectral clustering method able to integrate some limited supervisory information. This prior knowledge consists of pairwise constraints which indicate whether a pair of objects belongs to a same cluster ( Must-Linkconstraints) or not ( Cannot-Linkconstraints). The spectral clustering then aims at optimizing a cost function built as a classical Multiple Normalized Cutmeasure, modified in order to penalize the non-respect of these constraints. We show the relevance of the proposed method with an illustrative dataset and some UCI benchmarks, for which two-class and multi-class problems are dealt with. In all examples, a comparison with other semi-supervised clustering algorithms using pairwise constraints is proposed.
Survival Advantage in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Endocrine Therapy plus Sialyl Tn-KLH Vaccine: Post Hoc Analysis of a Large Randomized Trial

Background: A multicenter, double blinded, randomized phase III trial of the therapeutic cancer vaccine sialy1-Tn (STn) conjugated to keyhole-limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) was completed in an international cohort of 1,028 women with metastatic breast cancer who had nonprogressive disease or no evidence of disease after first-line chemotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov, (NCT00003638). STn-KLH was safe and relatively well tolerated but did not affect time to progression (TTP) or overall survival (OS) duration. The purpose of this post hoc analysis was to explore whether patients who received concurrent endocrine therapy and STn-KLH had a TTP or OS benefit. Methods: A retrospective, blinded review of the data from the phase III trial of STn-KLH was performed to ensure that strata assignments were appropriate. We then studied the effect of concomitant endocrine therapy and STn-KLH or KLH on TTP and OS in the cohort described above. We also assessed the TTP and OS by antibody responses in patients who received endocrine therapy. Results: The women treated with concomitant endocrine therapy, a pre-stratified subset comprising approximately one-third of the original study population, and STn-KLH had longer TTP and OS than the control group of women who received KLH alone. Moreover, of the women who received endocrine therapy, those who had a median or greater antibody response (titer >1:320 toward ovine sub maxillary mucin) to the STn-KLH vaccine had significantly longer median OS than those who had a below-median antibody response. Conclusion: Adding STn-KLH to endocrine therapy may improve clinical outcomes with few adverse effects for women with metastatic breast cancer.
Parenteral lorazepam’s unavailability in Australia and the impact for catatonic patients

Catatonia is often under-recognized and undertreated in medicine. Delays in effective evidence-based treatment can lead to significant complications. Mr X, a 65-year-old man with a mild intellectual disability and no past psychiatric history, presented with abrupt onset catatonic symptoms consisting of immobility, decreased responsiveness and negativistic phenomena. He was hospitalized and an organic etiology was strongly considered given a positive venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test, delaying the diagnosis of catatonia by 6 weeks. Following diagnosis of catatonia, 6 mg/day of oral lorazepam and 3 mg/day of subcutaneous clonazepam was trialed for 2 weeks with little beneficial effect. He was subsequently transferred to a tertiary hospital for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). At presentation, his Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Score was 21. Mr X required a protracted course of ECT (19 bilateral) to achieve sustained response. Once treatment ended, he exhibited an elevated mood, confirming bipolar disorder as the etiology for his catatonia. He developed complications due to his prolonged immobility and posturing, including deep vein thrombosis and significant muscle contractures. The delayed response to ECT is likely related to his prolonged catatonia presentation being initially misdiagnosed and inadequately treated prior to commencing ECT. Duration of catatonic symptoms is an indicator for ECT response (Narayanaswamy et al., 2012). The use of oral benzodiazepines and lack of availability of parenteral lorazepam possibly prolonged his episode of catatonia and contributed to the development of complications and delayed ECT response. Parenteral lorazepam is the recognized first-line treatment for catatonia with response rates between 67% and 79% (Sienaert et al., 2014), and occurring usually between 3 and 7 days (Tibrewal et al., 2010). Oral benzodiazepines including oral lorazepam have been less studied in the literature in catatonia compared to the parenteral formulation. It is concerning that parenteral lorazepam is not readily available in Australia. Severe catatonia often results in patients unable to take oral medications, essentially leaving parenteral medication as the only available first-line intervention before proceeding to ECT. Currently, parenteral lorazepam is only available through a formal submission to the Special Access Scheme with local ethics approval required and a registry of prescribers listed with reports submitted annually. These significant barriers and lack of supply of parenteral lorazepam in Australia through pharmaceutical companies suggest catatonia might not be appropriately or adequately treated. It may also result in over-utilization of ECT. The authors would suggest that the Therapeutic Goods Administration be approached with modifications made to enable parenteral lorazepam to be readily available for clinicians to use in treating catatonia.
Evaluation of MIB-1-Positive Cell Clusters as a Diagnostic Marker for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

The objects of the study were to evaluate MIB-1-positive cell clusters (MIB-C) for distinguishing normal, reactive, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) biopsies and to determine possible pitfalls. Seventy-seven consecutive cervical specimens routinely diagnosed (Dx_orig) as CIN 1 or 2, or no-CIN, were revised independently by two expert gynecopathologists. MIB-1 staining and oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) assessment (by polymerase chain reaction) were performed. Independent diagnoses (plus oncogenic HPV status, in case of disagreement between the experts) were used to obtain a final diagnosis (Dx_final) and compared with MIB-C. Four of the 27 (15%) Dx_final = normal were HPV positive. Agreement between the gynecopathologists was 72 of 77 (94%). There were 30 (39%) discrepancies between Dx_orig and Dx_final (23 = 30% downgrades and 7 = 9% upgrades). All 23 downgrades were HPV negative and all seven upgrades were HPV positive. Overall agreement between Dx_orig and MIB-C was 73%, and with Dx_final 99%. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MIB-C were very high without false negatives. Tangential cutting of MIB-1-positive parabasal cells and inflammatory cells can erroneously be overdiagnosed as a MIB-C. One single false positive of the 48 non-CIN cases (an immature squamous metaplasia) showed a special, easily recognizable MIB-1 pattern, different from CIN because the MIB-1 staining in the nuclei is not diffuse (as in CIN) but clumped. Moreover, positive nuclei are somewhat less densely packed than in CIN. When tangentially cut parabasal cells and inflammatory cells are carefully excluded, MIB-C is a strong diagnostic adjunct in distinguishing CIN from normal or benign cervical squamoepithelial lesions.