Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How I Treat How I treat smoldering multiple myeloma

Although the last decade has seen the development of effective targeted therapies for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), the clinical utility of targeted therapies has been hampered by the development of drug resistance, clonal evolution, and disease progression, making the quest for cure ever more elusive for MM. However, one may argue that the concept of initiating therapy at the time of symptomatic disease in MM is analogous to initiating therapy in patients with solid tumors only after the development of metastatic disease. Consequently, it may not be surprising that even with the best combinations of agents that are currently available, cure is not achieved for most patients with MM. Therefore, many have explored the question of whether the treatment of the precursor asymptomatic states of MM will lead to the ultimate prevention of progression and cure in MM. MM is consistently preceded by precursor states of monoclonal gammopathy of undermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering MM (SMM). These represent a continuum of progression of the tumor burden in the absence of symptoms or signs of end-organ damage. In this article, we review the current understanding of SMM including biological insights and clinically available risks of determining progression. Current recommendations of therapy continue to be patient observation or enrollment in clinical trials for most of these patients. However, new definitions of active MM and indications of therapy were recently agreed by the International MyelomaWorking Group (IMWG). On the basis of the emerging data of therapy in SMM patients showing evidence of long and durable responses reflected in significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), it seems reasonable to believe that near-future recommendations for therapy of patients with SMM will become an increasingly important topic. Case description
On pulse-coupled discrete-time phase locked loops forwireless networks

Mutual clock synchronization over a wireless channel has been recently studied in the framework of pulse-coupled oscillators using either models borrowed from mathematical biology or the model of coupled discrete-time Phase Locked Loops (PLLs). In this paper, we focus on the latter case and extend previous analyses by considering frequency-asynchronous clocks, second-order PLLs and by addressing the issues of propagation delays, finite pulse resolution and half-duplex constraints. Moreover, we provide a steady-state and convergence analysis of the system under the ideal assumption of infinite-resolution time error detectors, exploiting some results from the literature on consensus of multi-agents networks. Finally, numerical examples are discussed that corroborate the analysis and show the impact of system parameters such as transmit/ receive switching time and oversampling factor at the receiver.
Form-function Relations in Narrative Development: How Anna became a writer

This book provides insights into the development toward narrative competence, and illustrates multifaceted patterns in the developing capacity to create globally coherent narrative texts. The methodology draws from both a psycholinguistic approach to narrative development, systemic functional linguistics, and writing pedagogy theory. This book extends previous studies on narrative writing development since it provides a multifaceted window into the progression of narrative development, from elementary school through secondary school and university to life as a professional journalist and writer. It also shows how narrative writing development is related to the cognitive, emotional/psychological and social development of the individual.
Teaching Algebra to Students with Learning Difficulties: An Investigation of an Explicit Instruction Model

Thirty–four matched pairs of sixth– and seventh–grade students were selected from 358 participants in a comparison of an explicit concrete–to–representational–to–abstract (CRA) sequence of instruction with traditional instruction for teaching algebraic transformation equations. Each pair of students had been previously labeled with a specific learning disability or as at risk for difficulties in algebra. Students were matched according to achievement score, age, pretest score, and class performance. The same math teacher taught both members of each matched pair, but in different classes. All students were taught in inclusive settings under the instruction of a middle school mathematics teacher. Results indicated that students who learned how to solve algebra transformation equations through CRA outperformed peers receiving traditional instruction on both postinstruction and follow–up tests. Additionally, error pattern analysis indicated that students who used the CRA sequence of instruction performed fewer procedural errors when solving for variables.
Prognostic significance of MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC expressions in gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of some of the Mucus Core Proteins (MUC) MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC in gastric carcinomas, to assess their prognostic values and their relations with the clinicopathological characteristics. METHODS MUC1, MUC2 and MUC5AC expressions were investigated immunohistochemically in 257 patients with gastric carcinomas. RESULTS MUC1 was strongly expressed in normal gastric epithelium; however, the expression rate decreased with the loss of tumor differentiation (92.6% in well differentiated tumors, 83.7% in poorly differentiated tumors), with an increase in the number of metastatic lymph nodes (98.4% in tumors with no metastatic lymph nodes, 67.9% in tumors with lymph node metastasis-pN3), and with the progression in the tumor stage (100% in stage 1 tumors, 75.6% in stage 4 tumors). MUC1 expression was lower in distant metastatic tumors (83.3% in distant metastatic tumors and 90.8% in nonmetastatic tumors). There was no staining with MUC2 in normal gastric epithelium; however, de novo expressions appeared in tumoral tissues. In diffuse gastric carcinomas (mucinous and signet ring cell carcinomas), MUC2 expression was higher (97.5% in diffuse type and 89.4% in intestinal type). All of the mucinous carcinomas were MUC2-positive. The expression rate decreased with an increase in the number of metastatic lymph nodes and with the progression in the TNM stages of the cases. All of the tumors with intestinal metaplasia were MUC2-positive. MUC5AC was strongly expressed in normal gastric epithelium; however, the expression rate decreased with the loss of tumor differentiation, with an increase in the tumor invasion depth, and with an increase in the number of metastatic lymph nodes. MUC5AC expression was higher in intestinal type carcinoma (48.4%) than in the diffuse type (10%). The lowest expression rate was in the diffuse type according to the Borrmann's macroscopic classification. All of these results were statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS When each of these three markers is evaluated, in the light of clinical and pathological parameters, MUC1 and MUC5AC may be accepted as significant prognostic parameters and may be useful in showing the progression of the tumors; MUC2 may be used in determining the mucinous carcinomas.
Analysis of Teachers’ Tablet Teaching Adoption Process

Teachers play a very important role in providing children with a technology-supported learning environment. They are often challenged by the use of the tools and the effort required for planning pedagogical activities in technology integration. This study explored teachers’ adoption process in tablet teaching (teaching with tablets). The purposes of the study were to study: (1) the processes teachers experienced for adopting tablets teaching, (2) the inspirations from children’s learning reactions, and (3) challenges and strengths of the integration of tablet teaching. A phenomenological approach was used in this study. Three stages were involved in the data collection and analysis: (I) document analysis from online activity records and project reports, (II) interviews with 17 teachers, and (III) inductive analysis of various data resources. Analyses from various sources revealed that teachers’ adoption process for tablet teaching includes: building basic knowledge of the new device, exploring different interests, modifying and redefining integration, and on-going tryouts. They were challenged with technology, pedagogical concerns, policy support, and community support. From the adoption process, teachers were inspired by children’s motivation and learning engagement. In future implementation, scaffolding skills, exploratory opportunities, collaborative approach among teachers, open sharing of knowledge were suggested in tablet teaching.
Peer-to-Peer Traffic: From Measurements to Analysis

We report in this paper measurements from France Telecom commercial networks carrying traffic generated and received by ADSL and FTTH customers. By adopting a flow- based approach to traffic analysis, we show that both types of customers experience similar peer-to-peer services in that the bit rates that they see is rather low. In order to understand the origin of these similarities, we develop a mathematical model, which could be seen as an abstraction of a file sharing process between peers according to the principles of eDonkey. This model allows us to exhibit a phase transition phenomenon which is nested in the file sharing principle. We believe that this phenomenon explains why both types of customers see a congested peer-to- peer network.
TLV: abstraction through testing, learning, and validation

A (Java) class provides a service to its clients (i.e., programs which use the class). The service must satisfy certain specifications. Different specifications might be expected at different levels of abstraction depending on the client's objective. In order to effectively contrast the class against its specifications, whether manually or automatically, one essential step is to automatically construct an abstraction of the given class at a proper level of abstraction. The abstraction should be correct (i.e., over-approximating) and accurate (i.e., with few spurious traces). We present an automatic approach, which combines testing, learning, and validation, to constructing an abstraction. Our approach is designed such that a large part of the abstraction is generated based on testing and learning so as to minimize the use of heavy-weight techniques like symbolic execution. The abstraction is generated through a process of abstraction/refinement, with no user input, and converges to a specific level of abstraction depending on the usage context. The generated abstraction is guaranteed to be correct and accurate. We have implemented the proposed approach in a toolkit named TLV and evaluated TLV with a number of benchmark programs as well as three real-world ones. The results show that TLV generates abstraction for program analysis and verification more efficiently.
Clustering and collision detection for clustered shape matching

In this paper, we address clustering and collision detection in the clustered shape matching simulation framework for deformable bodies. Our clustering algorithm is "fuzzy," meaning that it gives particles weighted membership in clusters. These weights are a significant extension to the basic clustered shape matching framework as they are used to divide particle mass among the clusters. We explore several weighting schemes and demonstrate that the choice of weighting scheme gives artists additional control over material behavior. Furthermore, by design our clustering algorithm yields spherical clusters, which not only results in sparse weight vectors, but also exceptionally efficient collision geometry. We further enhance this simple collision proxy by intersecting with half-spaces to allow for even better, yet still simple and computationally efficient, collision proxies. The resulting approach is fast, versatile, and simple to implement.
PENGARUH MOTIVASI BELAJAR DAN GAYA BELAJAR TERHADAP PRESTASI BELAJAR EKONOMI SISWA SMA NEGERI DI KOTA TUBAN

This study aims to determine 1) the influence of motivation on learning achievement, 2) the influence of learning style on learning achievement, and 3) the influence of motivation and learning styles on learning achievement. The populations were 379 senior high school students of grade XI in Tuban. Samples were taken by employing simple random sampling technique yielding in 195 students. Data were collected by using questionnaires. Data was analyzed by using the multiple linear regression analysis. Finding indicates that the partial test (t test) concluded the significant effect of motivation on students’ achievement and the significant effect of learning styles on academic achievement. Based on F test, it was concluded that both motivation and learning styles simultaneously affect students’ achievement. Consequently, students are suggested to know more about their own learning styles to optimize their learning achievement. Teachers are also advised to design their instruction in such a way that it accommodates all the learning styles.
Lyapunov Exponents of Convergent Cohen-Grossberg-Type BAM Networks with Delays and Large Impulses

The article is concerned with the exponential convergence of a CohenGrossberg-type BAM network, with time-varying and distributed transmission delays and large impulses, towards a unique equilibrium point. Without assuming the symmetry of the connection weight matrices and the smoothness and boundedness of amplification and activation functions, the analysis exploits a homeomorphic mapping, a Lyapunov function and a differential inequality to derive an M -matrix condition for the convergence of the network. The result consists of a relation involving the Lyapunov exponent of the corresponding non-impulsive network and the magnitude and frequency of the impulses. As special cases, one can obtain from the main result the exponential stability of a network that is subject to linear impulses of the contraction-type, and also for a network that is free from impulsive state displacements.
Survival Analysis of Irish Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Diagnosed from 1995–2010

Introduction The Irish ALS register is a valuable resource for examining survival factors in Irish ALS patients. Cox regression has become the default tool for survival analysis, but recently new classes of flexible parametric survival analysis tools known as Royston-Parmar models have become available. Methods We employed Cox proportional hazards and Royston-Parmar flexible parametric modeling to examine factors affecting survival in Irish ALS patients. We further examined the effect of choice of timescale on Cox models and the proportional hazards assumption, and extended both Cox and Royston-Parmar models with time varying components. Results On comparison of models we chose a Royston-Parmar proportional hazards model without time varying covariates as the best fit. Using this model we confirmed the association of known survival markers in ALS including age at diagnosis (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.34 per 10 year increase; 95% CI 1.26–1.42), diagnostic delay (HR 0.96 per 12 weeks delay; 95% CI 0.94–0.97), Definite ALS (HR 1.47 95% CI 1.17–1.84), bulbar onset disease (HR 1.58 95% CI 1.33–1.87), riluzole use (HR 0.72 95% CI 0.61–0.85) and attendance at an ALS clinic (HR 0.74 95% CI 0.64–0.86). Discussion Our analysis explored the strengths and weaknesses of Cox proportional hazard and Royston-Parmar flexible parametric methods. By including time varying components we were able to gain deeper understanding of the dataset. Variation in survival between time periods appears to be due to missing data in the first time period. The use of age as timescale to account for confounding by age resolved breaches of the proportional hazards assumption, but in doing so may have obscured deficiencies in the data. Our study demonstrates the need to test for, and fully explore, breaches of the Cox proportional hazards assumption. Royston-Parmar flexible parametric modeling proved a powerful method for achieving this.
Occam's razor for functions

Occam approximation is an algorithm that takes as . input a set of samples of a function and a tolerance 6, and produces as output a compact representation of a function that is within c of the given samples. We show that the existence of an Om approximation is sufficient to guarantee the probably approximate learnability of classes of functions on the reals even in the presence of arbkwily large but random additive noise. An important consequence of our results is a general technique for the design and analysis of nonlinear faltering and reconstruction systems in digital signal processing.
Outcome Conditioned Treatment Effects

This paper introduces average treatment effects conditional on the outcomes variable in an endogenous setup where outcome Y, treatment X and instrument Z are continuous. These objects allow to refine well studied treatment effects like ATE and ATT in the case of continuous treatment (see Florens et al (2009)), by breaking them up according to the rank of the outcome distribution. For instance, in the returns to schooling case, the outcome conditioned average treatment effect on the treated (ATTO), gives the average effect of a small increase in schooling on the subpopulation characterised by a certain treatment intensity, say 16 years of schooling, and a certain rank in the wage distribution. We show that IV type approaches are better suited to identify overall averages across the population like the average partial effect, or outcome conditioned versions thereof, while selection type methods are better suited to identify ATT or ATTO. Importantly, none of the identification relies on rectangular support of the errors in the identification equation. Finally, we apply all concepts to analyse the nonlinear heterogeneous effects of smoking during pregnancy on infant birth weight.
Applying the IEC-61499 Model to the Shoe Manufacturing Sector

This paper presents a new execution model and a concrete application of the IEC 61499 standard in the larger context of a currently running European project, which seeks to preserve shoe-manufacturing activities in Europe through the development of advanced production systems. The present work summarizes an analysis of current practices and research activities in the domain of the design of distributed control systems, and proposes an original design framework made of existing and ad-hoc developed tools, and based on the IEC 61499 standard. As this standard does not prescribe any execution model, we suggest an innovative solution for the implementation level of such distributed control systems. At the end, we present the design choices and some experience gained using the IEC 61499 standard for the design of the automation system of a real plant.
Localization of sucrose synthase in developing seed and siliques of Arabidopsis thaliana reveals diverse roles for SUS during development

This study investigated the roles of sucrose synthase (SUS) in developing seeds and siliques of Arabidopsis thaliana. Enzyme activity assays showed that SUS activity was highest in developing whole siliques and young rosette leaves compared with other tissues including mature leaves, stems, and flowers. Surprisingly, quantitative PCR analyses revealed little correlation between SUS activity and transcript expression, which indicated the importance of examining the role of SUS at the protein level. Therefore, immunolocalization was performed over a developmental time course to determine the previously unreported cellular localization of SUS in Arabidopsis seed and silique tissues. At 3 d and 10 d after flowering (daf), SUS protein localized to the silique wall, seed coat, funiculus, and endosperm. By 13 daf, SUS protein was detected in the embryo and aleurone layer, but was absent from the seed coat and funiculus. Starch grains were also present in the seed coat at 3 and 10 daf, but were absent at 13 daf. Co-localization of SUS protein and starch grains in the seed coat at 3 and 10 daf indicates that SUS may be involved in temporary starch deposition during the early stages of seed development, whilst in the later stages SUS metabolizes sucrose in the embryo and cotyledon. Within the silique wall, SUS localized specifically to the companion cells, indicating that SUS activity may be required to provide energy for phloem transport activities in the silique wall. The results highlight the diverse roles that SUS may play during the development of silique and seed in Arabidopsis.
Accretion and Nuclear Activity of Quiescent Supermassive Black Holes. II. Optical Study and Interpretation

Our X-ray study of the nuclear activity in a new sample of six quiescent early-type galaxies, as well as in a larger sample from the literature, confirmed (Paper I) that the Bondi accretion rate of diffuse hot gas is not a good indicator of the SMBH X-ray luminosity. Here we suggest that a more reliable estimate of the accretion rate must include the gas released by the stellar population inside the sphere of influence of the SMBH, in addition to the Bondi inflow of hot gas across that surface. We use optical surface brightness profiles to estimate the mass-loss rate from stars in the nuclear region: we show that for our sample of galaxies it is an order of magnitude higher (~10-4 to 10-3 M☉ yr-1) than the Bondi inflow rate of hot gas, as estimated from Chandra (Paper I). Only by taking into account both sources of fuel can we constrain the true accretion rate, the accretion efficiency, and the power budget. Radiatively efficient accretion is ruled out, for quiescent SMBHs. For typical radiatively inefficient flows, the observed X-ray luminosities of the SMBHs imply accretion fractions ~1%-10% (i.e., ~90%-99% of the available gas does not reach the SMBH) for at least five of our six target galaxies and most of the other galaxies with known SMBH masses. We discuss the conditions for mass conservation inside the sphere of influence, so that the total gas injection is balanced by accretion plus outflows. We show that a fraction of the total accretion power (mechanical plus radiative) would be sufficient to sustain a self-regulating, slow outflow that removes from the nuclear region all the gas that does not sink into the BH (``BH feedback''). The rest of the accretion power may be carried out in a jet or advected. We also discuss scenarios that would lead to an intermittent nuclear activity.