Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mastitis and the Risk of Breast Cancer

Background: Many cancers arise from sites of infection and inflammation. Results from animal studies indicate that inflammatory cells may facilitate neoplastic processes by orchestrating the tumor microenvironment. Little is known about the role of inflammation in the etiology of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine possible associations between a history of mastitis requiring hospitalization and subsequent risk of breast cancer. Methods: This cohort study of 2,577,565 women used data from several Swedish population-based registers, including the Inpatient Register and the Cancer Register. The risk of breast cancer was assessed by Poisson regression modeling. Results: We identified 8411 women in the Inpatient Register with a discharge diagnosis of mastitis. Of these, 106 had a subsequent diagnosis of breast cancer recorded in the Cancer Register. Compared with women who had no recorded mastitis, the incidence rate of breast cancer (regardless of laterality) was higher in women with mastitis, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02–1.49) following adjustment for age, calendar time, age at first birth and parity. In the group of women among whom information on laterality was available for both the mastitis and the malignancy (n = 87), side of lesions corresponded for 52% (95% CI = 41%–62%), which is what could be expected by chance. Conclusions: The overall risk of breast cancer was slightly elevated in women with a history of mastitis recorded in the Inpatient Register. The absence of a correlation between laterality of lesions, however, does not support a causal association between inflammation and the development of breast cancer.
The influence of sex and histology on outcomes in non-small-cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis of five randomized trials.

BACKGROUND Some non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgical series have indicated that the positive prognostic effect of female sex is limited to patients with adenocarcinoma. We carried out a retrospective analysis to investigate the role of sex and histology on efficacy, toxicity, and dose delivery after chemotherapy. PATIENT AND METHODS Individual patient data were pooled from five randomized, phase III, advanced NSCLC chemotherapy trials. Primary outcomes were response rate, overall survival (OS), toxicity, and dose delivery. A secondary analysis examined survival by sex in histological subgroups. RESULTS Of 2349 patients, 34% were women. Women had a higher response rate to chemotherapy (42% versus 40%, P = 0.01) and longer survival than men (median OS 9.6 versus 8.6 months, P = 0.002). The difference in OS remained after adjusting for age, stage, performance status, and histology (hazard ratio 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.74-0.92, P = 0.0005). Upon further examination, longer survival in women was only seen in patients with adenocarcinoma (test for interaction P = 0.006). There were no differences in hematological toxicity or transfusions. Women experienced more grade 3-4 emesis than men (P < 0.0001) and more dose delays (P = 0.02) or dose reductions (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The positive prognostic effect among women is confirmed in patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy but appears confined to those with adenocarcinoma histology.
Spark: top-k keyword query in relational databases

With the increasing amount of text data stored in relational databases, there is a demand for RDBMS to support keyword queries over text data. As a search result is often assembled from multiple relational tables, traditional IR-style ranking and query evaluation methods cannot be applied directly. In this paper, we study the effectiveness and the efficiency issues of answering top-k keyword query in relational database systems. We propose a new ranking formula by adapting existing IR techniques based on a natural notion of virtual document. Compared with previous approaches, our new ranking method is simple yet effective, and agrees with human perceptions. We also study efficient query processing methods for the new ranking method, and propose algorithms that have minimal accesses to the database. We have conducted extensive experiments on large-scale real databases using two popular RDBMSs. The experimental results demonstrate significant improvement to the alternative approaches in terms of retrieval effectiveness and efficiency.
Quantum algorithms for solvable groups

In this paper we give a polynomial-time quantum algorithm for computing orders of solvable groups. Several other problems, such as testing membership in solvable groups, testing equality of subgroups in a given solvable group, and testing normality of a subgroup in a given solvable group, reduce to computing orders of solvable groups and therefore admit polynomial-time quantum algorithms as well. Our algorithm works in the setting of black-box groups, wherein none of these problems have polynomial-time classical algorithms. As an important byproduct, our algorithm is able to produce a pure quantum state that is uniform over the elements in any chosen subgroup of a solvable group, which yields a natural way to apply existing quantum algorithms to factor groups of solvable groups.
Cervical antibodies in patients with oral herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection: local anamnestic responses after genital HSV-2 infection

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, and secretory-component-containing immunoglobulins were identified in cervical and salivary secretions from six subjects with oral HSV type 1 (HSV-1) infections. Anamnestic cervical and salivary antibody responses were detected in two HSV-1-seropositive women with newly acquired genital HSV-2 infections. These data implicate the common mucosal immune system in antibody responses to HSV.
Faithful powering computation using table look-up and a fused accumulation tree

A method for the calculation of faithfully rounded single-precision floating-point powering (X/sup p/) is proposed in this paper. This method employs table look-up and a second-degree minimax approximation, which allows the employment of reduced size tables to store the coefficients from the polynomial approximation. A specialized squaring unit and a fused accumulation tree carry out with the computation of the quadratic polynomial. Both unfolded and pipelined architectures are presented, and the results of a pre-layout synthesis performed using CMOS 0.35 /spl mu/m technology are shown, achieving a 50% area reduction from linear approximation methods, and with improved speed over other second-degree approximation based algorithms. The pipelined architecture has a latency of three cycles and a throughput of one result per cycle.
Network traffic behaviour in switched Ethernet systems

Measurements on a high-performance Ethernet are shown to match well a truncated Cauchy probability distribution, with a much better fit over smaller file/request sizes than the commonly used Pareto distribution. We observe self similar characteristics in the traffic both at file servers and at a CPU server elsewhere in the network, which targets, predominantly, file and Web servers. This suggests propagation of self similarity. A simulation model of a single server with Poisson arrivals and Cauchy service-demands yields a departure process that follows a power law and matches closely the observed traffic. This suggests a link between file/request size distribution and self similarity in traffic, leading to the possibility of using conventional queueing network performance models with processor sharing queueing discipline. This idea is further supported by an additional simulation experiment; suitable models are proposed.
Are Dietary Intakes Related to Obesity in Children?

AIM: The purpose of this study was to report obesity status and identify any dietary substances that may be related to obesity in healthy school children from Northern Greece. METHODS: Four hundred and twenty-five (n = 425) children were randomly selected to participate in the study. A 24-h recall of three days (two weekdays and one weekend day) was used to analyze the dietary data of the subjects. RESULTS: Out of 425 subjects, 146 (34.3%) of them were found to be overweight and obese. Energy, protein, carbohydrate and thiamin intake was statistically positively correlated with obesity while dietary iron intake was statistically negatively correlated with obesity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the children with dietary iron deficiency were 1.128 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.161 P < 0.031) times more likely of being obese compared to the normal group after adjustment for energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: Although most of the dietary intakes of our subjects were adequate, special consideration should be given to energy, carbohydrate, protein, and sugar and iron intake especially and its relation to obesity. Furthermore, additional studies are required to investigate any possible relation of low dietary iron consumption and obesity.
Synthesis of New N,N’-Bis(5-arylidene-4-oxo-4,5-dihydrothiazolin-2-yl)piperazine Derivatives Under Microwave Irradiation and Preliminary Biological Evaluation

New N,N’-bis(5-arylidene-4-oxo-4,5-dihydrothiazoline-2-yl)diamine derivatives 5 were prepared in two steps from rhodanine and piperazine, or 1,4-bis(3-amino-propyl)piperazine, under microwave reaction conditions with retention of configuration. Some of these compounds were tested for in vitro antiproliferative activities and for their kinase inhibitory potencies towards six kinases (CDK5/p25, GSK3α/β, DYRK1A, DYRK2, CLK1, and CLK2). The compound 5d showed nanomolar activity towards DYRK1A kinase (IC50 = 0.041 μM).
Analysis of Bit Error Probability of Direct-Sequence CDMA Multiuser Demodulators

We analyze the bit error probability of multiuser demodulators for direct-sequence binary phase-shift-keying (DS/BPSK) CDMA channel with additive gaussian noise. The problem of multiuser demodulation is cast into the finite-temperature decoding problem, and replica analysis is applied to evaluate the performance of the resulting MPM (Marginal Posterior Mode) demodulators, which include the optimal demodulator and the MAP demodulator as special cases. An approximate implementation of demodulators is proposed using analog-valued Hopfield model as a naive mean-field approximation to the MPM demodulators, and its performance is also evaluated by the replica analysis. Results of the performance evaluation shows effectiveness of the optimal demodulator and the mean-field demodulator compared with the conventional one, especially in the cases of small information bit rate and low noise level.
The near-elderly, early retirees, and managed care.

without prior written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. mechanical, including photocopying or by information storage or retrieval systems, may be reproduced, displayed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or States copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code), no part of by Project HOPE The People-to-People Health Foundation. As provided by United Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814-6133. Copyright © is published monthly by Project HOPE at 7500 Old Georgetown Road, Health Affairs
User cooperation diversity. Part I. System description

Mobile users' data rate and quality of service are limited by the fact that, within the duration of any given call, they experience severe variations in signal attenuation, thereby necessitating the use of some type of diversity. In this two-part paper, we propose a new form of spatial diversity, in which diversity gains are achieved via the cooperation of mobile users. Part I describes the user cooperation strategy, while Part II (see ibid., p.1939-48) focuses on implementation issues and performance analysis. Results show that, even though the interuser channel is noisy, cooperation leads not only to an increase in capacity for both users but also to a more robust system, where users' achievable rates are less susceptible to channel variations.
Association of breast cancer and polymorphisms of interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha genes.

We investigated the potential relationship between breast cancer and polymorphisms of the interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) genes. High plasma TNF-α concentrations predict poor cancer outcome (1), weight loss, cachexia, poor immune response, and anemia (2)(3). We studied the −308(G/A) polymorphism because it is the most frequently investigated, it is included in an AP-2 transcription-factor binding site of the TNF-α gene (4)(5)(6), and its importance in TNF-α gene expression has been demonstrated by reporter gene assays (7). The TNF-α −308 polymorphism affects TNF-α gene transcription in both a cell-type and stimulus-specific manner, with a remarkable effect in macrophage-like cells (8). IL-10, an important immunoregulatory cytokine, induces T-cell anergy (9) and prevents tumor antigen presentation to CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes by suppressing expression of MHC class I and II antigens (10). This effect may contribute to the lack of immune response toward transformed cells (11)(12)(13). Three polymorphisms [−1082(G/A), −819(C/T), and −592(C/A)] have been described in the IL-10 promoter region, but data are unclear regarding their influence, alone or in reciprocal linkage, on transcription (14). Higher IL-10 production seems to be associated with −1082 G/G. The positive effect on IL-10 gene expression was substantiated by reporter gene assays (15)(16), although, in some cases, differing results have been described in cells undergoing distinct stimuli (17). There appears to be conflicting evidence on the interplay between IL-10 and cancer. Indeed, it has been proposed that IL-10 might contribute to tumor escape from the immune response, but it may also exert an antitumor effect. In one study, IL-10-deficient mice developed colitis and colorectal cancer, mirroring the increased colorectal cancer incidence observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (18). In another study, the results indicated that the G/G genotype, …
[Environmental medicine ambulatory and counseling centers in Germany--conceptional approaches, organizational structures, facility design and responsibilities].

This paper presents the different concepts of realisation of the currently existing counselling institutions in Germany and ambulances for environmental medicine. It is based on the specific conceptual papers, reports of the ambulances and an inquiry with 20 counselling institutions and ambulances conducted especially for this purpose. From the noted special characteristics a typology of the "ambulance approach" is derived especially with regard to its place in larger institutions, theoretical concepts, specific contents, way of working, diagnostic as well as counselling requests, and usage frequencies. Basic differences exist between research and service projects and between the more general environmental medical services, the special wards in the framework of larger clinical departments (e.g. in dermatology, gynaecology and neurology) and the resources of the departments of occupational medicine. In addition, definite differences exist concerning the number of personnel and equipment, analytical and diagnostical possibilities, data assessment, data documentation, data processing and reporting. Current efforts of standardisation of documentation are presented as well as concepts for a better connection of environmental medical ambulances with physicians' private offices, hospitals, public administrations and laboratories.
An M-estimator for rare-event probability estimation

We describe a maximum-likelihood type estimator, or M-estimator, for Monte Carlo estimation of rare-event probabilities. In this method, we first sample from the zero-variance measure using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), and then given the simulated data, we compute a maximum-likelihood-type estimator. We show that the resulting M-estimator is consistent, and that it subsumes as a special case the well-known fixed-effort splitting estimator. We give a numerical example of estimating accurately the tail distribution of the sum of log-normal random variables under a Gaussian copula. The numerical results suggests that for this example the method is competitive.
Aflatoxin contamination of food and food products in Thailand: an overview.

This paper presents an overview of reports of aflatoxin contamination in various foods and products, which have been carried out in Thailand between 1967-2001. Thirteen available international and local reports (n=3,206 samples) focused on type of food, season and geographic areas, and have been collected for statistical analysis. The accumulated data showed 1,248 (38.9%) of 3,206 samples were highly contaminated with aflatoxin. Over half (728) of the contaminated samples (1,248) were peanuts, milk, and poultry. In addition, analysis of the number of aflatoxin-contaminated samples in the above categaries, which were tested by chi-square test, indicated that there was a significant difference between the type of food and seasonal influence (p<0.05), but not geographical influence (p>0.05). Furthermore, detection methods for aflatoxin contamination, based on fundamental techniques, have been also reviewed. However, little research has been conducted on comparisons of the seasonal and geographical influences on aflatoxin contamination. Further study should be directed at these influences in larger samples.
pH-dependent Prion Protein Conformation in Classical Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease*

In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, the cellular prion protein (PrPC) undergoes a conformational change from a prevailing α-helical structure to a β-sheet-rich, protease-resistant isoform, termed PrPSc. PrPC has two characteristics: a high affinity for Cu2+ and a strong pH-dependent conformation. Lines of evidence indicate that PrPSc conformation is dependent on copper and that acidic conditions facilitate the conversion of PrPC → PrPSc. In each species, PrPSc exists in multiple conformations, which are associated with different prion strains. In sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), different biochemical types of PrPSc have been identified according to the size of the protease-resistant fragments, patterns of glycosylation, and the metal-ion occupancy. Based on the site of cleavage produced by proteinase K, we investigated the conformational stability of PrPSc under acidic, neutral, and basic conditions in 42 sCJD subjects. Our study shows that only one type of sCJD PrPSc, associated with the classical form, shows a pH-dependent conformation, whereas two other biochemical PrPSc types, detected in distinct sCJD phenotypes, are unaffected by pH variations. This novel approach demonstrates the presence of three types of PrPSc in sCJD.
The Effects of γ-Aminobutyric Acid, Vinegar, and Dried Bonito on Blood Pressure in Normotensive and Mildly or Moderately Hypertensive Volunteers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in fermented drinking water prepared from sodium glutamate, vinegar, and dried bonito (FDWG) compared with placebo [vinegar and dried bonito without GABA (FDW)] and its safety in normotensive and mildly or moderately hypertensive volunteers. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study was conducted involving volunteers with normal (group-N) and mildly or moderately high (group-H) blood pressure (BP). After a pretreatment period of 2 weeks (weeks –2), the subjects received FDWG or FDW for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of no intake (weeks 16). In group-H, both FDWG and FDW significantly decreased systolic (SBP, −7.6 ± 4.0 and −5.5 ± 1.5 mmHg, p<0.05, respectively) and diastolic (DBP, −10.6 ± 4.0 and −7.6 ± 1.7 mmHg, p<0.01, respectively) BP compared to the baseline (0-week) value at 12 weeks, respectively. There were no abnormal changes in hematological or blood chemistry variables, urinalysis, heart rate, or body weight in the study groups. These findings indicated that vinegar and dried bonito with or without GABA might have an effect on BP in mildly or moderately hypertensive patients.
Protein carbonylation.

P rotein carbonylation is a type of protein oxidation that can be promoted by reactive oxygen species. It usually refers to a process that forms reactive ketones or aldehydes that can be reacted by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) to form hydrazones. Direct oxidation of side chains of lysine, arginine, proline, and threonine residues, among other amino acids, in the ''primary protein carbonylation'' reaction produces DNPH detectable protein products (11, 15, 23). DNPH derivatizable protein products can also be formed in the ''secondary protein carbonylation'' reaction via the addition of aldehydes such as those generated from lipid peroxida-tion processes (14, 21). Oxidative decomposition of polyun-saturated fatty acids initiates chain reactions that lead to the formation of a variety of carbonyl species (three to nine carbons in length), the most reactive and cytotoxic being a,b-unsaturated aldehydes (4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal and acrolein), di-aldehydes (malondialdehyde and glyoxal), and keto-aldehydes (4-oxo-trans-2-nonenal). Although the biology of oxidative protein modifications is complex and remains incompletely defined, protein carbonylation and chemistry of the reactions that give rise to carbonyl groups have been well characterized (24). The development of the antibody against DNPH-derivatized proteins revolutionalized the studies of carbony-lated proteins by allowing for the use of immunological techniques (16, 17, 22). More recently, these methods contributed to a rapid progress in proteomic analyses of carbo-nylated proteins using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. This redox proteomics approach allowed for the identification of carbonylated proteins in various diseases in humans, animals models, and cell models, and has provided important information to biologists by describing the effects of modifications by carbonyl species on protein function, as well as the consequences of such modifications at the cellular level. Butterfield and co-workers developed this proteomics approach to identify specifically oxidized proteins in Alzhei-mer's disease by detecting carbonylated proteins (7, 10, 12). In this issue, Sultana et al. (25) used a redox proteomics approach to identify specifically carbonylated proteins in the inferior parietal lobule from human subjects with mild cognitive impairment and early stage Alzheimer's disease, providing insights to the mechanism of the progression of this disease. Hussain, Barreiro and co-workers have championed the understanding of carbonylated proteins in skeletal muscle dysfunctions during various disease processes such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sepsis (5, 6). In this issue, Barreiro and Hussain (4) review their studies on carbonylated proteins in skeletal muscle dysfunction. Further, Barreiro and co-workers report their data on carbonylated proteins in skeletal …