Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Salivary MDA and Antioxidant Vitamins in Patients withErosive Type of Oral Lichen Planus and Lichenoid Reaction

Background: oral Lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an unknown etiology. Reduced level of antioxidant and oxidative stress is implicated in pathogenesis of OLP. Methods: 80 patients (40 OLP patients and 40 OLR patients), were included in this cross sectional study and compared with 40 normal subjects. Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) was collected and vitamin A, E, C and MDA (malondealdehyde) concentrations were measured using human Elisa kits. One way variances, ANOVA and post hoc were used to analyze the data (SPSS ver. 18) (α=0.05). Results: Mean levels of vitamin A antioxidants in OLP (0.16 ± 0.06 Nmol/mg)and OLR(0.14 ± 0.05 Nmol/mg) patients were significantly lower than those of the control group(0.54 ± 0.20 Nmol/mg) (P value<0.001). mean levels of vitamin E antioxidants only in OLP patients(7/82 ± 2.94 Nmol/mg) were significantly lower than those of the control group(10.80 ± 4.40)( P value=0.03). but with no difference in mean level of vitamin C between two groups and with control group (P value=0.619). There wasn’t any significant difference in mean level of MDA between OLP patients (2.46 ± 1.21 Nmol/mg), OLR patients (2.53 ± 1.36 Nmol/mg) and control group (2.62 ± 1.15 Nmol/mg) (P value=0.925). Conclusion: Considering the results of the present study and reported role of antioxidant deficiency and oxidative stress in OLP and OLR pathogenesis, measurement of salivary vitamins (A, E, C) and MDA concentrations may help in treatment planning and preventive strategies.
DNAM-1/CD155 Interactions Promote Cytokine and NK Cell-Mediated Suppression of Poorly Immunogenic Melanoma Metastases

A role for NK cells in therapeutic intervention for hematologic malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma, and nonhematologic malignancies, such as melanoma, is becoming more apparent. DNAM-1 is an NK cell receptor whose importance in facilitating activation signals received by NK cells in natural and cytokine-driven responses to tumor metastases in vivo is poorly explored. In this study, we used matched tumor lines expressing a variety of relevant ligands, neutralizing monoclonal Abs, and DNAM-1 gene-targeted mice to determine the relative importance of DNAM-1–ligand interactions in controlling tumor metastases. Our results demonstrate that NK cells require DNAM-1 for natural or cytokine (IL-2, IL-12, or IL-21) suppression of tumor metastases or their variants expressing CD70 or CD80. In contrast, DNAM-1 was dispensable when tumor cells were targets of Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity or presented ligands for NKG2D. CD155 appeared to be a key ligand recognized by DNAM-1 in NK cell-mediated suppression of metastases, and DNAM-1-mediated suppression coincided with perforin activity. Overall, these data implied a general role for DNAM-1-CD155 interactions in NK cell-mediated killing of tumors, even in the presence of tumor CD70 or CD80 expression, and further defined the optimal efficacy requirements of cytokines that directly activate NK cells.
Peroral endoscopic myotomy versus pneumatic dilation for achalasia in patients aged ≥ 65 years.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Both peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and pneumatic dilation (PD) has proved to be effective for treating achalasia in patients aged ≥ 65 years. However little is known about the comparison between POEM and PD. The aim of the study was to compare the safety and efficacy of POEM and PD for the treatment of achalasia in these patients. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients aged 65 years-old or more who received POEM or PD for the treatment of achalasia at our hospital from January 2010 to December 2015, they were divided into the POEM group and the PD group. Demographics and data about safety and efficacy were collected retrospectively and compared between the two groups. RESULTS A total of 31 patients were enrolled, and 21 of them received POEM, while the other 10 received PD. The treatment success (Eckardt score ≤ 3) rate of POEM and PD at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after the treatment were comparable (p > 0.05). Treatment failure was noticed in 3 cases, 1 of them was in the POEM group and the other 2 in the PD group, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that sigmoid-type achalasia was a predictive factor of treatment failure. No severe complications were observed during operation and periodical follow-up. CONCLUSION Short-term and intermediate efficacy of POEM and PD for treating achalasia in patients aged ≥ 65 years was comparable. A large scale, randomized study with long-term follow-up is necessary in order to make a definitive conclusion.
On space-time coding for quasi-static multiple-antenna channels

We propose a new space-time coding scheme for the quasi-static multiple-antenna channel with perfect channel state information at the receiver and no channel state information at the transmitter. The new scheme includes both trellis space-time codes and layered space-time codes as special cases. Our scheme can be efficiently decoded by minimum mean-square error (MMSE) decision-feedback interference cancellation coupled with Viterbi decoding through the use of per-survivor processing (PSP). We discuss the code design for the new scheme, and show that finding codes with optimal diversity is much easier than for conventional trellis space-time codes.
Making resource decisions for software projects

Software metrics should support managerial decision making in software projects. We explain how traditional metrics approaches, such as regression-based models for cost estimation fall short of this goal. Instead, we describe a causal model (using a Bayesian network) which incorporates empirical data, but allows it to be interpreted and supplemented using expert judgement. We show how this causal model is used in a practical decision-support tool, allowing a project manager to trade-off the resources used against the outputs (delivered functionality, quality achieved) in a software project. The model and toolset have evolved in a number of collaborative projects and hence capture significant commercial input. Extensive validation trials are taking place among partners on the EC funded project MODIST (this includes Philips, Israel Aircraft Industries and QinetiQ) and the feedback so far has been very good. The estimates are sensible and the causal modelling approach enables decision-makers to reason in a way that is not possible with other project management and resource estimation tools. To ensure wide dissemination and validation a version of the toolset with the full underlying model is being made available for free to researchers.
ROLE OF FETAL THIGH CIRCUMFERENCE IN ESTIMATION OF BIRTH WEIGHT BY ULTRASOUND

OBJECTIVE(S): To evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of predicting birth weight by measuring fetal thigh circumference by ultrasound. METHOD(S): In 110 pregnant women, fetuses without structural or chromosomal anomalies were studied prospectively and cross-sectionally. Thigh circumference (TC) was determined at the mid level of the thigh. Biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL) were measured using standard techniques. Fetal weights were estimated within a week prior to delivery. Estimates of birth weights obtained by various ultrasound birth weight formulas in different weight categories were statistically analysed and compared with each other and also with estimates obtained by clinical methods. RESULTS: Estimated fetal birth weight using TC correlated well with actual birth weight in all birth weight categories and was superior to clinical and birth weight formulas using BPD, HC, AC and FL measurements. CONCLUSION(S): There was a good correlation between ultrasound measurement and actual postnatal measurement of thigh circumference (r2=0.89, p<0.01). Thigh circumference measurement was simple and there was better accuracy when it was combined along with BPD, HC, AC and FL measurements.
Escherichia coli in Infants' Intestinal Microflora: Colonization Rate, Strain Turnover, and Virulence Gene Carriage

Colonization by Escherichia. coli in infants might have decreased in the last decades, owing to changes in hospital routines and family lifestyle. In this study, the E. coli flora was characterized in 70 healthy Swedish infants followed for the first year of life. E. coli was isolated from rectal swabs obtained at 3 d of age and quantified in fecal samples collected at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk of age and at 6 and 12 mo of age. Strains were typed using random amplified polymorphic DNA, and their virulence factor genes were identified by multiplex PCR. Colonization by E. coli occurred late; only 61% of the infants were positive by 2 mo of age. The turnover of individual strains in the microflora was slow (1.5 strains per infant during 6 mo, 2.1 during 1 y). Environmental factors, such as siblings, pets, or feeding mode, did not influence colonization kinetics or strain turnover rate. Genes encoding type 1 fimbriae, P fimbriae, and hemolysin were significantly more common in E. coli strains persisting for at least 3 wk in the microflora than in transient strains. The P-fimbrial class III adhesin gene was more common in E. coli from children who had a cat in their homes than in E. coli from children without pets (p = 0.01); this adhesin type is common in E. coli from cats. The late colonization and low E. coli strain turnover rate suggest limited exposure of Swedish infants to E. coli. Our results confirm that P fimbriae and other virulence factors facilitate persistence of E. coli in the human colonic microflora.
Polymer Viscoelasticity: Basics, Molecular Theories and Experiments

Conformation of Polymer Chains Rubber Elasticity Polymer Chain Dynamics Linear Viscoelasticity Stress and Strain Molecular Theory of Polymer Viscoelasticity - Elastic Dumbbell Model Molecular Theory of Polymer Viscoelasticity - The Rouse Model Molecular Theory of Polymer Viscoelasticity - Entanglement and the Doi-Edwards (Reptation) Model Molecular Theory of Polymer Viscoelasticity - Processes in the Linear Relaxation Modulus Comparison of Theory and Experiment in Linear Viscoelasticity and Diffusion Concentration Dependence of Entanglement, Onset of Entanglement, and Tube Dilation Molecular Theory of Polymer Viscoelasticity - Processes in the Nonlinear Relaxation Modulus Number of Entanglement Strands per Cubed Entanglement Distance.
Rituximab and other emerging monoclonal antibody therapies for lymphoma

The recent approval of rituximab, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, alemtuzumab and ibritumomab tiuxetan by the FDA in the US revealed clear evidence that monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have significant roles in the current treatment of haematologic malignancies. Among the mAbs under clinical development, anti-CD20 mAbs have been most extensively investigated and have shown definitive clinical efficacy. Rituximab is a genetically engineered chimeric anti-CD20 mAb, with mouse variable and human constant regions. Consecutive clinical trials conducted in the US, Europe and Japan have revealed that rituximab is a highly effective agent with acceptable toxicities against indolent and aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (B-NHLs) as a single agent and in combination with cytotoxic drugs. A recent French Phase III study in elderly patients with untreated aggressive B-NHL suggested that the addition of rituximab to standard CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy increases the complete response rate and prolongs event-free and overall survival. Lymphoma cells are inherently sensitive to radiation. The aim of radioimmunotherapy is to use the mAb to target radiation to lymphoma tissue while minimising toxicity to normal cells. The clinical trials of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan and 131I tositumomab showed they have definitive efficacy in relapsed indolent B-NHL with acceptable toxicities. A recent comparative study in relapsed indolent B-NHL showed that 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan produces higher response rates than rituximab. In addition, BL22, a recombinant anti-CD22 immunotoxin, showed significant efficacy in patients with chemotherapy-resistant hairy cell leukaemia. MAbs will have significant roles in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies in the future.
Rbf1-independent termination of E2f1-target gene expression during early Drosophila embryogenesis

The initiation and maintenance of G1 cell cycle arrest is a key feature of animal development. In the Drosophila ectoderm, G1 arrest first appears during the seventeenth embryonic cell cycle. The initiation of G117 arrest requires the developmentally-induced expression of Dacapo, a p27-like Cyclin E-Cdk2 inhibitor. The maintenance of G117 arrest requires Rbf1-dependent repression of E2f1-regulated replication factor genes, which are expressed continuously during cycles 1-16 when S phase immediately follows mitosis. The mechanisms that trigger Rbf1 repressor function and mediate G117 maintenance are unknown. Here we show that the initial downregulation of expression of the E2f1-target gene RnrS, which occurs during cycles 15 and 16 prior to entry into G117, does not require Rbf1 or p27Dap. This suggests a mechanism for Rbf1-independent control of E2f1 during early development. We show that E2f1 protein is destroyed in a cell cycle-dependent manner during S phase of cycles 15 and 16. E2f1 is destroyed during early S phase, and requires ongoing DNA replication. E2f1 protein reaccumulates in epidermal cells arrested in G117, and in these cells the induction of p27Dap activates Rbf1 to repress E2f1-target genes to maintain a stable G1 arrest.
Named Entity Recognition of Spoken Documents Using Subword Units

The output of a speech recognition system is a stream of text features that is overlayed by noise resulting from errors in the system's statistical classification of the audio input. Conditional Random Fields (CRFs), which have already proven themselves to be efficient, high-performance Named Entity Recognizers (NERs) for named entities from text, offer the promise to compensate part of these errors. In this paper we use CRFs to extract named entities from spoken audio documents. We consider a real-world audio information extraction scenario under which CRFs are trained to recognize named entities in unedited radio audio documents that have been converted into a stream of text features by a speech recognition system. The automatic speech recognition system (ASR) is able to produce word transcriptions as well as syllables. It uses general speaker-independent acoustic models and a domain-independent statistical language model, insuring that recognizer performance is not specific to the experimental domain. Using an additional syllable model increases the generality of the spoken document classification system, giving it the flexibility to handle words that are not present in the vocabulary. In this paper we apply for the first time CRFs to different features produced by German ASR. The experiments confirm that using transcribed syllables together with words can compensate for part of the NER errors caused by ASR transcription.
Approximation algorithms for constraint satisfaction problems involving at most three variables per constraint

An instance of MAX 3CSP is a collection of m clauses of the form fi(.zil, .Q, zis), where the Zij’s are literals, or constants, from the set (0, 1, ti, . . . , zn, Ii,. . . , &}, and the fi’s are arbitrary Boolean functions depending on (at most) three variables. Each clause has a nonnegative weight wi associated with it. A solution to the instance is an assignment of O-l values to the variables Zl,. , C, that maximizes X:=1 wi fi(Zil, zi2, YQ), the total weight of the satisfied clauses. The MAX 3CSP problem is clearly a generalization of the MAX 3SAT problem. (In an instance of the MAX 3SAT problem fi(Gl, zi2, G3 ) = %il V %j2 V %j3 for every 1 5 i 5 m. ) Karloff and Zwick have recently obtained a gapproximation algorithm for MAX 3SAT. Their algorithm is based on a new semidefinite relaxation of the problem. H&tad showed that no polynomial time algorithm can achieve a better performance ratio, unless P=NP. Here we use similar techniques to obtain a 3approximation algorithm for MAX 3CSP. The performance ratio of this algorithm is also optimal, as follows again from the work of H&tad. We also obtain better performance ratios for several special cases of the problem. Our results include: l A $-approximation algorithm for MAX SAND, the problem in which each clause is of the form zir A zi2 A zis. This result is optimal and it implies the result for MAX JCSP. l A $-approximation algorithm for MAX 3MAJ, the problem in which each clause is of the form MAJ(Zil,Zi2,Zi3), where MAJ is the ~ajotity function. This result is again optimal. l A &-approximation algorithm for MAX 3NAE, the problem in which each clause is of the form NAE(yi, Zi2, Zis), where NAE(zi, 22,x3) = 1 if and only if 21,~ and 2s are not all equal. (We assume *Department of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, TelAviv 69978, Israel. Email: zrickQmath. tau. ac. il. This work was done while this author was visiting ICSI and UC Berkeley. here that the same literal, or constant, is not allowed to appear twice in the same clause.) Finally, building on ideas of Trevisan, we get a gapproximation algorithm for satisfiable instances of MAX 3CSP. Our results imply limits on the power of non-adaptive verifiers of probabilistically checkable proofs (PCP’s) that read only three bits of the proof. We also obtain a & arccos( i)-approximation algorithm for satisfiable instances of MAX SNAE. (Note that & N 0.87868 while & arccos(--Q) 21 0.91226. )
The Promising Future of Chia, Salvia hispanica L.

With increasing public health awareness worldwide, demand for functional food with multiple health benefits has also increased. The use of medicinal food from folk medicine to prevent diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular problems is now gaining momentum among the public. Seed from Salvia hispanica L. or more commonly known as chia is a traditional food in central and southern America. Currently, it is widely consumed for various health benefits especially in maintaining healthy serum lipid level. This effect is contributed by the presence of phenolic acid and omega 3/6 oil in the chia seed. Although the presence of active ingredients in chia seed warrants its health benefits, however, the safety and efficacy of this medicinal food or natural product need to be validated by scientific research. In vivo and clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of chia seed are still limited. This paper covers the up-to-date research on the identified active ingredients, methods for oil extraction, and in vivo and human trials on the health benefit of chia seed, and its current market potential.
Perioral muscle activity in young and older adults during speech and nonspeech tasks.

Correlations of EMG activity among paired sites surrounding the lips were examined as a measure of muscle coupling during oral movements. Twenty-tow young women (M = 22 years old) and 22 older women (M = 75 years old) performed lip protrusion, chewing, conversational speech, and reading aloud tasks. Surface EMG was recorded from the right and left sides of both the upper and lower lips during 20 s of task performance. Signals from each site, representing the sum of activity from muscle fibers present in the underlying tissue, were correlated with signals from every other site. Positive correlations were pervasive, but the range of values extended from . 96 to -. 19. Correlation values tended to be high across the upper lip and across the lower lip, regardless of the task. Other sites (right side, left side, and diagonal pairs) were also highly correlated for the protrusion and chewing tasks, but were less highly correlated for the speech tasks. Younger women showed significantly lower correlation values for speech tasks than older women. Results imply an increase in muscle coupling for speech as an effect of the aging process, perhaps reflecting a reduction in flexibility of fine oral motor control. Limits of the correlation technique and issues concerning speech production ability in old age are discussed.
The metabolic cost of walking on gradients with a waddling gait

SUMMARY Using open-flow respirometry and video footage (25 frames s–1), the energy expenditure and hindlimb kinematics of barnacle geese, Branta leucopsis, were measured whilst they were exercising on a treadmill at gradients of +7 and –7 deg, and on a level surface. In agreement with previous studies, ascending a gradient incurred metabolic costs higher than those experienced on level ground at comparable speeds. The geese, however, are the first species to show an increased duty factor when ascending a gradient. This increased duty factor was accompanied by a longer stance time, which was probably to enable the additional force required for ascending to be generated. Contrary to previous findings, the geese did not experience decreased metabolic costs when descending a gradient. For a given speed, the geese took relatively shorter and quicker strides when walking downhill. This ‘choppy’ stride and perhaps a lack of postural plasticity (an inability to adopt a more crouched posture) may negate any energy savings gained from gravity's assistance in moving the centre of mass downhill. Also contrary to previous studies, the incremental increase in metabolic cost with increasing speed was similar for each gradient, indicating that the efficiency of locomotion (mechanical work done/chemical energy consumed) is not constant across all walking speeds. The data here suggest that there are species-specific metabolic responses to locomotion on slopes, as well as the established kinematics differences. It is likely that a suite of factors, such as ecology, posture, gait, leggedness and foot morphology, will subtly affect an organism's ability to negotiate gradients.
Interval sets and interval-set algebras

An interval set is an interval in the power set lattice based on a universal set and is a family of subsets of the universal set. Interval sets and interval-set algebras provide a tool for modeling and processing partially known concepts and for approximating undefinable or complex concepts. Existing results on interval sets and interval-set algebras are reviewed and new results are given. Two types of interval-set algebras are examined based on an inclusion ordering and a knowledge ordering, respectively. Related studies are summarized.
Polyomavirus nephropathy in native kidneys of a solitary pancreas transplant recipient

Background. Latent polyomavirus (PV) infection of the urinary tract can be reactivated by immunosuppression. When this occurs in the renal allograft, permanent loss of allograft function can occur. Polyomavirus reactivation could potentially affect the native kidneys of nonrenal transplant recipients and cause renal dysfunction. Methods. This article describes a case of PV nephropathy in the native kidneys of a solitary-pancreas transplant recipient. This patient had a progressive increase in serum creatinine. Screening urine cytology showed numerous cells with cytopathic changes suggestive of polyomavirus infection. Results. Biopsy of the native kidneys of this patient showed renal tubular cells with intranuclear inclusions characteristic of PV infection, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy showed intranuclear viral particles. Patchy inflammation and fibrosis also were noted. Conclusion. Polyomavirus reactivation can occur in the native kidneys of nonrenal solid organ transplant recipients. This should be considered in the differential diagnosis of renal impairment in these patients. The effects of PV reactivation on long-term native kidney function are not known.