Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategies of radioiodine ablation in patients with low-risk thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND It is not clear whether the administration of radioiodine provides any benefit to patients with low-risk thyroid cancer after a complete surgical resection. The administration of the smallest possible amount of radioiodine would improve care. METHODS In our randomized, phase 3 trial, we compared two thyrotropin-stimulation methods (thyroid hormone withdrawal and use of recombinant human thyrotropin) and two radioiodine ((131)I) doses (i.e., administered activities) (1.1 GBq and 3.7 GBq) in a 2-by-2 design. Inclusion criteria were an age of 18 years or older; total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma; tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, ascertained on pathological examination (p) of a surgical specimen, of pT1 (with tumor diameter ≤1 cm) and N1 or Nx, pT1 (with tumor diameter >1 to 2 cm) and any N stage, or pT2N0; absence of distant metastasis; and no iodine contamination. Thyroid ablation was assessed 8 months after radioiodine administration by neck ultrasonography and measurement of recombinant human thyrotropin-stimulated thyroglobulin. Comparisons were based on an equivalence framework. RESULTS There were 752 patients enrolled between 2007 and 2010; 92% had papillary cancer. There were no unexpected serious adverse events. In the 684 patients with data that could be evaluated, ultrasonography of the neck was normal in 652 (95%), and the stimulated thyroglobulin level was 1.0 ng per milliliter or less in 621 of the 652 patients (95%) without detectable thyroglobulin antibodies. Thyroid ablation was complete in 631 of the 684 patients (92%). The ablation rate was equivalent between the (131)I doses and between the thyrotropin-stimulation methods. CONCLUSIONS The use of recombinant human thyrotropin and low-dose (1.1 GBq) postoperative radioiodine ablation may be sufficient for the management of low-risk thyroid cancer. (Funded by the French National Cancer Institute [INCa] and the French Ministry of Health; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00435851; INCa number, RECF0447.).
Wireless optical communications via diversity reception and optical preamplification

Atmospheric optical communication systems that use optical preamplifiers and diversity reception to combat the effects of atmospheric turbulence are addressed. The effects of atmospheric turbulence, background light, source extinction ratio, amplified spontaneous emission, and receiver thermal noise are considered in a context of a semiclassical photon-counting approach. The particular diversity techniques that are investigated include aperture averaging, linear combining, and adaptive optics. Numerical results, obtained using a conditional Gaussian approximation, quantify the link margin improvement due to optical preamplification and diversity reception.
Online self-management for gay men living with HIV: a pilot study.

UNLABELLED Background The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of Positive Outlook, an online self-management program for gay men living with HIV in Australia. METHODS Two pilot studies were conducted, a small feasibility study (Pilot 1) followed by a pilot randomised controlled study (Pilot 2). Pilot 1 employed a pre and post-test design and included 10 men. Within- and between-group differences were evaluated in Pilot 2, which involved 37 participants randomly assigned to receive the Positive Outlook Program or usual care. We report on feasibility, acceptability and a range of preliminary efficacy outcomes, including health education impact, HIV-related quality of life and HIV-related self-efficacy. RESULTS The program was well accepted by participants with some decline in engagement with the discussion boards witnessed over the duration of the program. Overall, intervention group participants demonstrated improvements in the majority of efficacy outcome measures, including HIV-related quality of life, self-efficacy, self-management skills, social support and adjustment to HIV. CONCLUSION These pilot studies demonstrated that an online program to facilitate self-management among gay men living with HIV is both feasible and well accepted by participants who persisted with the program per protocol. Preliminary data suggest that the Positive Outlook program has the potential to enhance participants' quality of life, self-efficacy and health related outcomes, and demonstrates the need for further study with a larger sample.
IgG Subclasses in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from Patients with Asthma

We have measured Immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 12 non‐smoking patients with stable asthma and 9 non‐smoking healthy volunteers to obtain information on their possible role in local immunological reactions. The quotients (concentration of IgG subclass in BALF)/(concentration of IgG subclass in serum) were calculated. In controls QIgG3 were lower than QIgGI, QIgG2 and QlgG4.
Optimum Timing of Miticide Applications for Control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Washington State, USA

Abstract Seven treatments for the control of Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) were tested to determine the optimum timing of miticide application. Threshold mite levels indicating miticide application were determined for three possible treatment dates: April, August, and October. The treatments were as follows: (1) fluvalinate in April, (2) fluvalinate in August, (3) fluvalinate in October, (4) fluvalinate in April and October, (5) fluvalinate applied continuously (except during honey flow) with replacement every 42 d, (6) control (no treatment), and (7) coumaphos in April. The number of miticide applications in a season had no effect on brood area or colony bee population a year after initiating the experiment. However, the absence of any treatment significantly reduced brood area and colony bee population and significantly increased colony mite population. Date of treatment had significant effects on colony mortality rates, mite levels, and brood area the following spring. When coupled with sampling and threshold recommendations, a single, late-season application of fluvalinate is as effective for the control of V. destructor as semiannual or continuous miticide applications. Treatment thresholds were recommended for ether roll and 48-h sticky board sampling methods in April (three and 24 mites, respectively) and August (14 and 46 mites, respectively) and for ether rolls in October (three mites) in cold climates.
Mosaic Evolution of Brainstem Motor Nuclei in Catarrhine Primates

Facial motor nucleus volume coevolves with both social group size and primary visual cortex volume in catarrhine primates as part of a specialized neuroethological system for communication using facial expressions. Here, we examine whether facial nucleus volume also coevolves with functionally unrelated brainstem motor nuclei (trigeminal motor and hypoglossal) due to developmental constraints. Using phylogenetically informed multiple regression analyses of previously published brain component data, we demonstrate that facial nucleus volume is not correlated with the volume of other motor nuclei after controlling for medulla volume. Our results show that brainstem motor nuclei can evolve independently of other developmentally linked structures in association with specific behavioral ecological conditions. This finding provides additional support for the mosaic view of brain evolution.
The ability to form cartilage of NPMSC and BMSC in SD rats.

OBJECTIVE In this study, we observed the difference in the ability of cartilage differentiation between nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSC) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC). METHODS NPMSC and BMSC were isolated from SD rats. Their proliferation abilities were detected by CCK-8 methods, their multilineage differentiation abilities were observed using Alizarin red staining, oil red O staining and Alcian Blue staining methods. The expression levels of osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic genes were detected with RT-PCR and Western-blotting methods. RESULTS There was no obvious difference in the proliferation ability between NPMSC and BMSC cells. NPMSC and BMSC cells expressed stem cell genes and the surface markers and showed osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic multi-directional differentiation capability of cartilage under induction in vitro. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that NPMSC with characteristics of stem cells can be isolated and cultured from nucleus pulposus tissues of intervertebral disc of SD rats, the chondrogenic ability of NPMSC and BMSC was similar under induction in vitro. This could provide a new seed cells for tissue engineering.
bot.zen @ EVALITA 2016 - A minimally-deep learning PoS-tagger (trained for Italian Tweets)

English. This article describes the system that participated in the POS tagging for Italian Social Media Texts (PoSTWITA) task of the 5th periodic evaluation campaign of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and speech tools for the Italian language EVALITA 2016. The work is a continuation of Stemle (2016) with minor modifications to the system and different data sets. It combines a small assertion of trending techniques, which implement matured methods, from NLP and ML to achieve competitive results on PoS tagging of Italian Twitter texts; in particular, the system uses word embeddings and character-level representations of word beginnings and endings in a LSTM RNN architecture. Labelled data (Italian UD corpus, DiDi and PoSTWITA) and unlabbelled data (Italian C4Corpus and PAISÀ) were used for training. The system is available under the APLv2 open-source license. Italiano. Questo articolo descrive il sistema che ha partecipato al task POS tagging for Italian Social Media Texts (PoSTWita) nell’ambito di EVALITA 2016, la 5° campagna di valutazione periodica del Natural Language Processing (NLP) e delle tecnologie del linguaggio. Il lavoro è un proseguimento di quanto descritto in Stemle (2016), con modifiche minime al sistema e insiemi di dati differenti. Il lavoro combina alcune tecniche correnti che implementano metodi comprovati dell’NLP e del Machine Learning, per raggiungere risultati competitivi nel PoS tagging dei testi italiani di Twitter. In particolare il sistema utilizza strategie di word embedding e di rappresentazione character-level di inizio e fine parola, in un’architettura LSTM RNN. Dati etichettati (Italian UD corpus, DiDi e PoSTWITA) e dati non etichettati (Italian C4Corpus e PAISÀ) sono stati utilizzati in
A Multi-Country Trend Indicator for Euro Area Inflation: Computation and Properties

This paper applies the 'diffusion indices' approach proposed by Stock and Watson [1998] to the euro area. Following their methodology a set of factors are extracted from a balanced and unbalanced panel dataset comprising nominal variables for 11 countries of the euro area. The estimated factors appear to be fairly stable over time. It is also shown that the first factor is cointegrated with area wide HICP and private consumption deflator supporting the idea that it represents 'a common trend of inflation' for the euro area. The other factors, which are stationary instead, seem to capture dispersion of inflation across countries. There is moreover evidence of unilateral causality from the first factor with respect to HICP, suggesting that this factor could be valuably employed in forecasting euro area inflation JEL Classification: E52, E58
Writing the Incalculable A Second Interactive Inquiry

In this article, the authors search for an understanding of where words lead us. By writing for each other, they look for the “promise of the text” (Cixous, 1998/2005, p. xiv). They explore the experience, at the moment of writing, of being immersed in multiplicities (Deleuze & Guattari, 1980/1987) and the way a path can go anywhere. This article investigates the disturbances around the traditional intentionalities of writing: the absences of presence; the multiplicity of signifiers; that alluring attempt to trap experience, on one hand, but also the delight in articulating and metamorphosing it on the other. The authors discuss the rhizomatic complexities that fold and unfold thoughts and feelings.
Weight of Evidence Evaluation of Potential Human Cancer Risks from Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls: An Update Based on Studies Published Since 2003

Drawing on all data available in 2003, the WoE of the human epidemiological data for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) demonstrates that exposure to a mixture of PCBs (i.e. Aroclors) did not pose a cancer risk to humans (. This evaluation was based on criteria established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as on a different methodology used by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Subsequently, at least 15 more studies on the potential cancer risks (both incidence and mortality) of PCBs have been published. All studies published since 2003 are critically reviewed using the criteria established by the and . None of the studies published since 2003 change the conclusions drawn by : “that the weight of evidence does not support a causal association for PCBs and human cancer”. This conclusion pertains to all cancers combined, as well as to the various cancers that have been sporadically reported in the occupational cohort mortality studies. With respect to breast cancer risk, the WoE is compelling that environmental exposure to PCBs is not etiologically implicated in breast-cancer risk. This conclusion is supported by the consistently negative findings for increased breast-cancer mortality in occupational studies, which now involve almost 9,000 women occupationally exposed to PCBs. Similarly, the incidence studies in which PCB background levels are reported to be associated with increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or prostate, testicular, and intestinal cancer are not corroborated by occupational cohort studies with PCB exposures far in excess of environmental exposures. The most likely explanation for these discordant findings is discussed in this review. Finally, the recent elucidation of the mode of action by which PCBs promote liver tumors in rats, combined with the demonstration that none of the key events in the mode of action occurred until substantial tissue accumulation of total PCBs had occurred, casts further doubt that PCB exposure at environmental or occupational levels poses a carcinogenic risk to humans. The dramatic differences between rodents and humans in sensitivity to PCB-mediated induction of CYP1A1 suggests that even occupational exposures to PCBs have never resulted in PCB body burdens approaching the levels required to initiate the sequence of events involved in the promotion of liver tumors in rodents.
An Expert-Novice Comparison in Musical Composition

The study reported here investigated expert and novice performance on a simple composition task. One Expert and three Novices were given a four phrase Bach Chorale with half of the first phrase and the soprano line provided. They were required to complete as much of the Chorale as possible within one hour. Think-aloud protocols were recorded and retrospective interviews were conducted. The protocols, scores and interview responses were compared. Only the Expert completed the task. The Expert was able to attend to the basic technical aspects of the task and to simultaneously consider part movement, balance and typical features of the genre. The Novices concentrated on chord-by-chord solution, applying the basic rules of harmony and largely neglected the shape and balance of the emerging score. The comparison of the protocols from the Expert and Novice provided evidence of characteristics of expertise found in problem-solving tasks in other domains.
Self-Other Rating Agreement in Mentoring

This study used Atwater and Yammarino’s (1997) self-other rating agreement process model to examine whether mentor-protégé agreement regarding mentor transformational leadership would influence mentoring functions (i.e., psychosocial support and career development) and protégé outcomes (i.e., career satisfaction, job satisfaction, desired aspirations, enacted aspirations). Mentors in 217 mentor-protégé dyads were classified as over-estimators, under-estimators, in-agreement/poor, or in-agreement/good based on the difference between mentor's self-rating and protégé’s rating of mentor’s transformational leadership. Results of multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that protégés in over-estimator dyads reported the lowest levels of psychosocial support and career satisfaction. Protégés in under-estimator dyads reported higher levels of psychosocial support, career development, and enacted aspirations than in-agreement/poor and over-estimator dyads. Protégés in in-agreement/good dyads reported higher levels of psychosocial support than in-agreement/poor and over-estimator dyads. The practical implications of these results are discussed.
Postgraduates choice of programme: helping universities to market and postgraduates to choose

ABSTRACT This exploration of the nature of demand for postgraduate information draws on two studies. The first, presented in outline, consists of an exploratory investigation of the information materials that some UK higher education institutions have provided about taught master's programmes in three subject areas. The conclusion is that these documents are uneven and frequently did not give sufficient information about academic and practical aspects of the programme. The second study, which dominates this article, centres upon a set of focus group interviews with students in the UK and the USA. The main claim here is that applicants and potential applicants want contact with departments and with their students. They are especially keen to discover something of the ‘lived experience˚s of the programme—of its personal and social character.
High Peritoneal Clearance of Small Molecules Did Not Provide Low Serum β2–Microglobulin Concentrations in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Objective Although early reports demonstrated that serum β2-microglobulin (s-β2m) concentrations in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) were lower than those in patients on hemodialysis (HD), more recent studies demonstrated lower s-β2m concentrations in HD patients treated mainly with high-flux synthetic membranes. We therefore compared s-β2m concentrations between patients on PD and on HD, and also analyzed the relationship between s-β2m concentrations and other parameters in patients on PD. Patients and Methods We investigated 24 patients who had been undergoing PD [11 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, 13 on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis] for 4.3 ± 2.7 years, and 24 patients who had been undergoing HD with high-flux synthetic membranes for 6.1 ± 3.2 years. Concentrations of s-β2m in the PD patients were compared to concentrations in the HD patients. In patients on PD, we also analyzed the relationship between s-β2m concentration and other parameters, including residual renal function, total weekly Kt/V urea, total weekly creatinine clearance (CCr), and dialysis schedules. Results We found no significant difference in s-β2m concentrations between the PD and HD patients (33.6 ± 10.4 mg/L vs 30.3 ± 10.5 mg/L respectively). Concentrations of s-β2m in PD patients rose with PD duration and were significantly inversely correlated with residual renal function (r = –0.71, p < 0.0001). Unexpectedly, concentrations of s-β2m in anuric PD patients rose as peritoneal CCr increased. And most of the patients with high s-β2m levels fell into the high or high-average transport categories according to a peritoneal equilibration test. Conclusions Concentrations of s-β2m in patients on PD did not differ significantly from concentrations in HD patients who were using high-flux synthetic membranes. The contribution of residual renal function to removal of β2m was more important than the contribution of peritoneal clearance. High peritoneal clearance of small molecules did not result in low s-β2m concentrations, especially in anuric patients with accelerated peritoneal permeability.
Measuring Depression in Korean Immigrants: Assessing Validity of the Translated Korean Version of CES-D Scale

Results are reported about the validity of a translated Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), a self-report or interview measure of depressive sympto matology used widely in Asian and other ethnic populations. Compared to Euro-Americans, Asians are more reluctant to endorse CES-D items that tap subjective experiences of positive affect, a response bias resulting in observations of more depressive symptoms among Asians. Thus, it was previously recommended that the four positive affect items be deleted when assessing depressive symptoms in Asian populations, including Chinese and Koreans. This recommendation is reassessed here by comparing psychometric properties of alternate forms of the translated Korean version of the CES-D scale: the original 20-item scale, the 16-item scale in which positive affect items were deleted, and a revised 20-item scale in which positive items were rephrased in negative terms. Results revealed that reliability and validity were highest in the revised 20-item scale.
A Randomised Control Study on Effect of Octreotide in Managemnt of Acute Pancreatitis with Varying Severities

Background: Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas with variable involvement of other regional tissues or organ systems. Theories on pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis suggest that autodigestion of the gland and peripancreatic tissues by activated digestive enzymes is a key component. Octreotide is a potent inhibitor of pancreatic secretion, but the benefits of octreotide in acute pancreatitis in humans is still inconclusive. Aim: To study the effect of octreotide in acute pancreatitis with different severities. Method: 284 patients were assigned into two groups randomly, the study group comprising of 138 patients received inj octreotide 100 μg S.C. 8 hrly. The other aspects of the treatment protocol were similar in both groups. Severity of the disease was evaluated initially according to Ranson criteria, APACHE II SCORING, CRP values & Balthazar grading. Both the groups were observed prospectively and outcome of treatment was evaluated. Results: The results were analysed after dividing both the study and control group into 5 groups each according-to increased severities. The complication rate was 10% in group 1 and 28% in group 2 according to APACHE II among the study group, whereas it was 23% and 46% in the conrol group respectively. The values in patients stratified according to other criterias were also comparable. The results in cases of severe pancreatitis were poor, complication rates varying from 56% to 100% in the 3'd and 5 th group according to Ranson criteria among the study group and 62% to 100% respectively among the control group. Mortality of the study and control group also did not show any significant changes. Conclusion: Inhibition of secretory function in the early course of the disease especially in mild and moderate cases of pancreatitis has been shown to improve final outcome. As in case of acute pancreatitis it is very difficult to estimate the severity and disease progress at the very onset, and as the majority of cases are mild to moderate in severity, it will be beneficial to start with octreotide in any treatment protocol along with supportive resuscitative measures.