Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxaliplatin in combination with protracted-infusion fluorouracil and radiation: report of a clinical trial for patients with esophageal cancer.

PURPOSE To identify a dose and schedule of oxaliplatin (OXP) to be safely administered in combination with protracted-infusion (PI) fluorouracil (5-FU) and external-beam radiation therapy (XRT) for patients with primary esophageal carcinoma (EC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligibility included therapeutically naïve EC patients with clinical disease stages II, III, or IV. Initial doses and schedules for cycle 1 consisted of OXP 85 mg/m(2) on days 1, 15, and 29; PI 5-FU 180 mg/m(2) for 24 hours for 35 days; and XRT 1.8 Gy in 28 fractions starting on day 8. At completion of cycle 1, eligible patients could undergo an operation or begin cycle 2 without XRT. Postoperative patients were eligible for cycle 2. Stage IV patients were allowed three cycles in the absence of disease progression. OXP and 5-FU increases were based on dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) encountered in cohorts of three consecutive patients. RESULTS Thirty-eight eligible patients received therapy: 22 noninvasively staged as IV and 16 noninvasively staged as II and III. Thirty-six patients completed cycle 1, 29 patients started cycle 2, and 24 patients completed cycle 2. The combined-modality therapy was well tolerated, but DLT prevented OXP and 5-FU escalation. No grade 4 hematologic toxicity was noted. Eleven grade 3 and two grade 4 clinical toxicities were noted in eight patients. After cycle 1, 29 patients (81%) had no cancer in the esophageal mucosa. Thirteen patients underwent an operation with intent to resect the esophagus; five patients (38%) exhibited pathologic complete responses. CONCLUSION OXP 85 mg/m(2) on days 1, 15, and 29 administered with PI 5-FU and XRT is safe, tolerable, and seems effective against primary EC. The role of OXP in multimodality regimens against EC deserves further evaluation.
Megaregions: foundations, frailties, futures

In the first section we aim to critically examine the foundations upon which the megaregion discourse has been constructed. In so doing, we conceptualize the position occupied by the megaregion in debates prior to the onset of globalization, and then discuss how the concept has been reawakened during globalization. The second section then explores four separate, yet interrelated, lines of argumentation which cut into the megaregional debate as it is currently constructed and form the basis for developing a more critical approach toward megaregional research. We conclude with some cautionary remarks about the challenges and opportunities for near-future megaregional research.
Classification of Puck Possession Events in Ice Hockey

Group activity recognition in sports is often challenging due to the complex dynamics and interaction among the players. In this paper, we propose a recurrent neural network to classify puck possession events in ice hockey. Our method extracts features from the whole frame and appearances of the players using a pre-trained convolutional neural network. In this way, our model captures the context information, individual attributes and interaction among the players. Our model requires only the player positions on the image and does not need any explicit annotations for the individual actions or player trajectories, greatly simplifying the input of the system. We evaluate our model on a new Ice Hockey Dataset. Experimental results show that our model produces competitive results on this challenging dataset with much simpler inputs compared with the previous work.
Identifying Genes Regulated in a Myc-dependent Manner*

The c-myc proto-oncogene can direct a diverse array of biological activities, including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and differentiation. It is believed that Myc can affect this wide variety of activities by functioning as a regulator of gene transcription, although few targets have been identified to date. To delineate the molecular program regulated downstream of Myc, we used a cDNA microarray approach and identified 52 putative targets out of >6000 cDNAs analyzed. To further distinguish the subset of genes whose regulation was dependent upon Myc per se from those regulated in response to activation of general mitogenic or apoptotic programs, the putative cDNA targets were then screened by a series of assays. By this approach 37 putative targets were ruled out and 15 Myc target genes were uncovered. Interestingly, comparing our results with other high throughput screens reveals that certain putative Myc targets previously reported are shown not to be regulated downstream of Myc (e.g. ribosomal proteins, HSP90β), whereas others are further supported by our analyses (e.g. pdgfβr, nucleolin). The identity of genes specifically regulated downstream of Myc provides the critical tools required to understand the role Myc holds in the transformation process and to delineate how Myc functions as a regulator of gene transcription.
Preventive Efficacy and Safety of Rebamipide in Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Mucosal Toxicity

Background/Aims The use of proton pump inhibitors or misoprostol is known to prevent the gastrointestinal complications of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Rebamipide is known to increase the mucosal generation of prostaglandins and to eliminate free oxygen radicals, thus enhancing the protective function of the gastric mucosa. However, it is unknown whether rebamipide plays a role in preventing NSAID-induced gastropathy. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of rebamipide compared to misoprostol in preventing NSAID-induced gastrointestinal complications in patients requiring continuous NSAID treatment. Methods We studied 479 patients who required continuous NSAID treatment. The patients were randomly assigned to groups that received 100 mg of rebamipide three times per day or 200 μg of misoprostol three times per day for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint of the analysis was the occurrence rate of gastric ulcers, as determined by endoscopy after 12 weeks of therapy. Results Of the 479 patients in the study, 242 received rebamipide, and 237 received misoprostol. Ultimately, 44 patients (18.6%) withdrew from the misoprostol group and 25 patients (10.3%) withdrew from the rebamipide group. There was a significant difference in withdrawal rate between the two groups (p=0.0103). The per protocol analysis set was not valid because of the dropout rate of the misoprostol group; thus, the intention to treat (ITT) analysis set is the main set for the efficacy analysis in this study. After 12 weeks, the occurrence rate of gastric ulcers was similar in the rebamipide and misoprostol groups (20.3% vs 21.9%, p=0.6497) according to ITT analysis. In addition, the therapeutic failure rate was similar in the rebamipide and misoprostol groups (13.6% vs 13.1%, p=0.8580). The total severity score of the gastrointestinal symptoms was significantly lower in the rebamipide group than in the misoprostol group (p=0.0002). The amount of antacid used was significantly lower in the rebamipide group than in the misoprostol group (p=0.0258). Conclusions Rebamipide can prevent gastric ulcers when used with NSAIDs and can decrease the gastrointestinal symptoms associated with NSAID administration. When the possibility of poor compliance and the potential adverse effects of misoprostol are considered, rebamipide appears to be a clinically effective and safe alternative.
Why resilience is unappealing to social science: Theoretical and empirical investigations of the scientific use of resilience

Pluralism drawing on core social scientific concepts would facilitate integrated sustainability research. Resilience is often promoted as a boundary concept to integrate the social and natural dimensions of sustainability. However, it is a troubled dialogue from which social scientists may feel detached. To explain this, we first scrutinize the meanings, attributes, and uses of resilience in ecology and elsewhere to construct a typology of definitions. Second, we analyze core concepts and principles in resilience theory that cause disciplinary tensions between the social and natural sciences (system ontology, system boundary, equilibria and thresholds, feedback mechanisms, self-organization, and function). Third, we provide empirical evidence of the asymmetry in the use of resilience theory in ecology and environmental sciences compared to five relevant social science disciplines. Fourth, we contrast the unification ambition in resilience theory with methodological pluralism. Throughout, we develop the argument that incommensurability and unification constrain the interdisciplinary dialogue, whereas pluralism drawing on core social scientific concepts would better facilitate integrated sustainability research.
Autobiographical Memory Specificity and Emotional Disorder

The authors review research showing that when recalling autobiographical events, many emotionally disturbed patients summarize categories of events rather than retrieving a single episode. The mechanisms underlying such overgeneral memory are examined, with a focus on M. A. Conway and C. W. Pleydell-Pearce's (2000) hierarchical search model of personal event retrieval. An elaboration of this model is proposed to account for overgeneral memory, focusing on how memory search can be affected by (a) capture and rumination processes, when mnemonic information used in retrieval activates ruminative thinking; (b) functional avoidance, when episodic material threatens to cause affective disturbance; and (c) impairment in executive capacity and control that limits an individual's ability to remain focused on retrieval in the face of distraction.
The Experience of Faith-Based Disaster Response: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

After hurricanes Katrina and Rita, faith-based organizations were among the most trusted and efficient organizations responding in New Orleans. The primary purposes of this study are twofold: 1) to understand the experience of faith-based disaster response for those charged with organizing and executing such a massive, grassroots effort, those delivering direct service, and the survivors who seek and receive assistance; 2) to understand the impact of the disaster event and levels of hope in the lives of those who provide and receive assistance. These research purposes were achieved by using a mixed methods research design that included ethnographic participant-observer field experience, existential phenomenology interviews, and the administration of the Herth Hope Index, the Hope Visual Analogue Scale and the Impact of Event Scale – Revised. Study participants included faith-based disaster response staff and volunteers as well as the New Orleans residents they assisted. All research findings were triangulated. The qualitative contextual ground for the experience was “Divine Agency. ” The figural themes were “Decision Point,” “Social Suffering,” “Stranger-to-Stranger Interactions,” “Communitas,” “Transformation,” and “Reflection. ” With a possible maximum of 48, the scores for the Herth Hope Index included a mean of 42.5 for the staff, 41.5 for the volunteers and 46 for the residents. The scores on the Impact of Event Scale – Revised, among all participant groups, revealed almost all of the participants experienced significant emotional impact. The mean Impact of Event Scale – Revised score was 34.22 for the staff, 37.63 for the volunteers and 47.5 for the residents of New Orleans. Implications for nursing education and practice were identified with emphasis on the emerging nursing specialties of faith-community nursing and homeland security nursing. Future research should incorporate intervention studies treating faith-based disaster response and strategies to encourage hope as interventions. Potential areas for public policy development related to faith-based disaster response discussed include reallocation of public funds to faith-based disaster response, encrypted case management systems, and fee for service disaster response activities.
Simulating solar MHD

Two aspects of solar MHD are discussed in relation to the work of the MHD simulation group at KIS. Photospheric magneto-convection, the nonlinear interaction of magnetic ®eld and convection in a strongly strati®ed, radiating ̄uid, is a key process of general astrophysical relevance. Comprehensive numerical simulations including radiative transfer have significantly improved our understanding of the processes and have become an important tool for the interpretation of observational data. Examples of ®eld intensi®cation in the solar photosphere (`convective collapse') are shown. The second line of research is concerned with the dynamics of ̄ux tubes in the convection zone, which has far-reaching implications for our understanding of the solar dynamo. Simulations indicate that the ®eld strength in the region where the ̄ux is stored before erupting to form sunspot groups is of the order of 10 G, an order of magnitude larger than previous estimates based on equipartition with the kinetic energy of convective ̄ows.
Theileria parva: sporozoite entry into bovine lymphocytes is not dependent on the parasite cytoskeleton.

The main conclusion from the present study is that T. parva sporozoite entry is dependent on a functional host cell actin cytoskeleton and is not driven by the parasite. Treating lymphocytes with cytochalasin D resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of host cell infection. However, the primary effect was to block sporozoite binding and only at the highest concentration (20 microM) was sporozoite internalization significantly reduced. In fact at lower concentrations (1-10 microM) cytochalasin treatment lead to a relative increase in sporozoite internalization. The results are consistent with sporozoite entry being primarily a passive process and with a functional host cell actin cytoskeleton that is required only to maintain the molecular integrity of the surface membrane. Thus T. parva sporozoite entry differs from the process in other apicomplexans, although the results are consistent with a number of features of sporozoite biology. Treatment of lymphocytes with either the microtubule-destabilizing agent, nocodazole, or taxol, which induces microtubule polymerization, had no significant effect on sporozoite binding or entry. As both reagents had the expected effects on the lymphocyte microtubule system, it is unlikely that host cell microtubules are essential for successful sporozoite invasion or establishment.
Innovative Strategies to Reduce Disparities in the Quality of Prenatal Care in Underresourced Settings

This study examined what innovative strategies, including the use of health information technology (health IT), have been or can be used to reduce disparities in prenatal care quality in underresourced settings. Based on literature review and key informant interviews, the authors identified 17 strategies that have been or can be used to (a) increase access to timely prenatal care, (b) improve the content of prenatal care, and (c) enhance the organization and delivery of prenatal care. Health IT can be used to (a) increase consumer awareness about the importance of preconception and early prenatal care, facilitate spatial mapping of access gaps, and improve continuity of patient records; (b) support collaborative quality improvement, facilitate performance measurement, enhance health promotion, assist with care coordination, reduce clinical errors, improve delivery of preventive health services, provide decision support, and encourage completeness of documentation; and (c) support data integration and engineer collaborative innovation.
A Negative Carotid Plaque Area Test Is Superior to Other Noninvasive Atherosclerosis Studies for Reducing the Likelihood of Having Underlying Significant Coronary Artery Disease

Objective—Coronary calcium score (CCS), carotid plaque area (CPA), intima-media thickness (IMT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are independent predictors of cardiovascular prognosis. Although each test may enhance risk stratification, their comparative abilities to screen for underlying coronary stenoses in individual patients is less established. Methods and Results—Forty-two patients who had a 16-slice coronary computed tomography angiogram (CTA) performed were invited to have CPA, IMT, and CRP measured. CPA was defined as the sum of all the cross-sectional areas of each plaque >1 mm in diameter found in all carotid vessels bilaterally. CCS and the number plus degree of stenotic coronary arteries were determined by CTA. The presence of clinically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined as the existence of any stenosis ≥50%. CTA identified clinically significant CAD in 43% of the patients. CPA >0 was more sensitive (72%) and specific (58%) than a CCS >0 (58% and 55%) for identifying CAD. A “clean” carotid artery (CPA=0) provides a superior negative predictive value (74%) and likelihood ratio of a negative test (0.48) than all other studies, in particular versus a CCS=0 (65% and 0.72). The areas under the receiver-operator curves for CPA and CCS in relation to any CAD were similar (0.640 versus 0.675). Carotid IMT and CRP performed poorly compared with CPA and CCS. For detecting CAD in only the left main or left anterior descending artery, the negative predictive value and likelihood ratio of a negative test remained superior for CPA (87% and 0.33) compared with CCS (80% and 0.56). In our population with a prevalence of these coronary lesions of 30%, the post-test probability in any patient with a negative CPA result is reduced to 10%. Conclusion—CPA determination is superior to CCS, IMT, and CRP in its ability to reduce the likelihood of clinically significant underlying CAD in patients of varying cardiac risk.
Is Institutional Sexual Misconduct Predictive of Sexual Recidivism Amongst Male Sex Offenders

IS INSTITUTIONAL SEXUAL MISCONDUCT PREDICTIVE OF SEXUAL RECIDIVISM AMONGST MALE SEX OFFENDERS? Angela M. Fleck, B.S., M.A. Marquette University, 2011 There has been a large body of research conducted on establishing a valid set of predictors of sexual offender recidivism in the past 20 years. However, despite findings that indicate that prior history of sexual offenses serves as a primary predictor of sexual offense recidivism, there has been little focus on the impact of institutional sexual misconduct on sexual offense recidivism rates. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between institutional sexual behavior and sexual offense recidivism rates amongst a sample of male offenders who received a sexual misconduct report while incarcerated and/or was convicted of a sexual offense. Additionally, this study explored whether instances of institutional sexual misconduct added to the variance accounted for by actuarial measures commonly used in Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment evaluation procedures. Results revealed that there is little association between sexual offense recidivism rates and receipt of institutional sexual conduct reports unless an offender is issued multiple sexual conduct reports during the same period of incarceration. Additionally, the actuarial measures used in the study were not found to be predictive of sexual offense recidivism. Implications for conducting Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment evaluations, identifying institutional sexual offender treatment needs, and identifying community supervision practices are discussed, and future research directions are proposed.
Comparisons of the fibrin networks during pregnancy, nonpregnancy and pregnancy during dysfibrinogenaemia using the scanning electron microscope

In normal pregnancy there is an increase in procoagulant activity. Furthermore, the fibrinolytic activity is impaired and remains low during labor and delivery, but returns rapidly to normal, following delivery. Here, we show ultrastructural changes in fibrin networks found in pregnant individuals and nonpregnant individuals. Typically thick, major fibers, and irregularly placed thin, minor fibers are present in healthy, nonpregnant individuals. In this qualitative assessment, changes in fibrin networks and platelet morphology were studied with scanning electron microscopy in healthy individuals, a healthy individual at 30-week pregnancy and post partum. We also included results from an individual with dysfibrinogenaemia (30-week pregnant and postpartum). Results suggest that in the healthy pregnant and pregnant dysfibrinogenaemia individuals, the minor, thin fibers form a fine, dense net distributed evenly over the major fibers. This net was not present in the nonpregnant dysfibrinogenaemia or healthy nonpregnant individuals. No ultrastructural changes were found in platelet morphology. These morphological changes seen during pregnancy might contribute to increased thrombotic risk, because, due to the denser appearance of fibrin networks because of the fine minor network morphology during pregnancy, clots might take longer to be broken down by normal fibrinolytic activity.
Prospective evaluation of risk of vertebral fractures using quantitative ultrasound measurements and bone mineral density in a population-based sample of postmenopausal women: results of the Basel Osteoporosis Study

Objective: Prospective studies have shown that quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques predict the risk of fracture of the proximal femur with similar standardised risk ratios to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Few studies have investigated these devices for the prediction of vertebral fractures. The Basel Osteoporosis Study (BOS) is a population-based prospective study to assess the performance of QUS devices and DXA in predicting incident vertebral fractures. Methods: 432 women aged 60–80 years were followed-up for 3 years. Incident vertebral fractures were assessed radiologically. Bone measurements using DXA (spine and hip) and QUS measurements (calcaneus and proximal phalanges) were performed. Measurements were assessed for their value in predicting incident vertebral fractures using logistic regression. Results: QUS measurements at the calcaneus and DXA measurements discriminated between women with and without incident vertebral fracture, (20% height reduction). The relative risks (RRs) for vertebral fracture, adjusted for age, were 2.3 for the Stiffness Index (SI) and 2.8 for the Quantitative Ultrasound Index (QUI) at the calcaneus and 2.0 for bone mineral density at the lumbar spine. The predictive value (AUC (95% CI)) of QUS measurements at the calcaneus remained highly significant (0.70 for SI, 0.72 for the QUI, and 0.67 for DXA at the lumbar spine) even after adjustment for other confounding variables. Conclusions: QUS of the calcaneus and bone mineral density measurements were shown to be significant predictors of incident vertebral fracture. The RRs for QUS measurements at the calcaneus are of similar magnitude as for DXA measurements.