Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colitis-associated cancer: the dark side of inflammatory bowel disease

The intrinsic connection between inflammation and cancer promotion is well established and is especially strong in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Western countries.1 2 The administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in controlled studies reduces the incidence of colon cancer in patients with familial adenoma polyposis, confirming the link between inflammation and colon cancer.3 Several lines of evidence indicate that chronic inflammation predisposes the tissue to cancer by inducing gene mutation, inhibiting apoptosis or stimulating angiogenesis and cell proliferation. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of developing CRC and, in particular, an association between IBD and the development of colitis-associated cancer (CAC) has been reported. Although the severity and extent of disease and the duration of inflammation seem to be major factors associated with the development of CAC in patients with IBD, the molecular determinants of this link have only recently started to be elucidated. Studies have highlighted the presence of leucocyte infiltration and inflammatory mediators in the tumour microenvironment, indicating that immune cells are major players in tumour promotion.2 4 Preclinical models of CAC are helping to clarify the mechanisms underlying cancer-related inflammation. The direct role of the adaptive immune response in promoting CAC is becoming more evident.2 Although T cell responses fuel the inflammatory process and orchestrate the microenvironment surrounding tumours by contributing to the proliferation, migration and survival of cancer cells, activation of the adaptive immune system also …
The Heat is On: A Temperature Display for Conveying Affective Feedback

Previous research has investigated whether temperature can augment a range of media including music, images and video. We describe the first experiment to investigate whether temperature can augment emotion conveyed by text messages. A challenge in prior work has been ensuring users can discern different thermal signals. We present an improved technique for thermal feedback that uses an array of three thermal stimulators. We demonstrate that the Thermal Array Display (TAD) increases users' ability to identify temperatures within a narrower range, compared to using a single thermal stimulator. While text messages dominate valence in the absence of context for temperature, the TAD consistently conveys arousal, and can enhance arousal of text messages, especially those that are emotionally neutral. We discuss potential applications of augmenting text with temperature.
Applying corpus-based findings to form-focused instruction: The case of reported speech

Arguing that the introduction of corpus linguistics in teaching materials and the language classroom should be informed by theories and principles of SLA, this paper presents a case study illustrating how corpus-based findings on reported speech can be integrated into a form-focused model of instruction. After overviewing previous work which compares ESL grammar textbooks descriptions and real language use, and promotes the use of corpus-based findings to inform L2 textbook descriptions, we outline the results of a survey of the presentation of reported speech in current popular textbooks. The survey findings are contrasted with the patterns of use found in two corpus-based cross-register studies of reported speech, showing how textbooks neglect important information on the use of this structure in real language. The frequency patterns of use that emerged in the corpus studies are then used to identify 10 principles that should inform the design of L2 materials and classroom instruction of reported speech. In the second part of the paper we illustrate how corpus-based findings can be fruitfully implemented in a form-focused model of instruction through the use of structure-based tasks and selected principles of focus-on-form.
Interpreting cancer vaccine clinical trials

A number of cancer vaccine strategies have entered initial Phase I clinical testing. In this review, Dr. Glenn Dranoff discusses the prospects that appropriate immunologic monitoring of patients in these trials can help delineate important differences among the various immunization strategies and prioritize the most promising approaches for further clinical development. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Eigenfilter based blind channel estimator

An eigenfilter based blind channel estimation technique of estimating the channel state information for a single-input two-output system is considered by using second-order statistics information about the received signal. We showed that our design have either comparable or better estimation performance than another eigenfilter based estimation technique [M.K. Tsatsanis and Z. Xu, March 1999] with significantly lower computational complexity. The simulation results also showed the proposed algorithm can estimate the channel by observing a small amount of received signal samples. Finally, the equalization performance between the two algorithms are compared using the symbol error rate, where our algorithm is shown to outperform the one in M.K. Tsatsanis and Z. Xu (1999).
A survey of Oral Health in Institutionalized Population with Intellectual Disabilities: Comparison with a National Oral Health Survey of the Normal Population

Introduction: Compared to the general population, the intellectually-disabled (ID) experience poor health and inferior access to high quality health services. Aim: To compare the oral health of institutionalized ID Lebanese individuals to that of the normal Lebanese population (NLP). Materials and Methods: Caries and periodontal indices were recorded in 652 ID individuals (aged 6, 12, 15, and 35-44 years) residing in the 5 major Lebanese governorates. The comparison population was derived from the National Oral Health Survey conducted in 1994. Results: Six-year-old ID children had an average of 3.28 decayed primary teeth, 0.22 filled primary teeth, and an overall dft score of 3.50, whereas in the general population decayed, filled, and overall dft scores were 4.90, 0.10, and 5.4, respectively. The lowest number of permanent decayed teeth in the ID was recorded in the 35-44-year-old group (3.17) and the highest in 15-year-old group (4.01). In the NLP, the number of decayed permanent teeth gradually increased from age 12 (5.14) to age 35-44 years (7.20). Caries indices were generally better in the ID than that in the NLP, except for more missing teeth in ID adults (6.24 compared to 4.98). The ID population presented with more severe periodontal disease (pocketing) whereas the NLP presented with a greater proportion with calculus. Conclusion: This study highlighted important differences in oral health and treatment needs in the ID compared than that of the NLP. Policy changes are required if adequate services are to be provided for this group of the population.
Sticks and Stones: The Troublesome Success of Children's Literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter

Table of Contents. Preface. The Cultural Homogenization of American Youth. Do You Know What We Are Doing To Your Books? Why Children's Literature Does Not Exist. The Value of Evaluating the Value of Children's Literature. Wanda Gag's Americanization of the Grimm's Fairy Tales. The Contamination of the Faity Tale. The Wisdom and Folly of Storytelling. The Perverse Delight of Shockheaded Peter. The Phenomenon of Harry Potter, or Why All the Talk? Bibliography. Index.
Congestive heart failure with and without atrial fibrillation – different patient populations?

Objectives. Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are common comorbid conditions in hospitalised patients. AF may occur when left ventricular (LV) systolic function deteriorates. The aim was to compare HF patients with AF to patients in sinus rhythm (SR). Design. Echocardiography and a cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed in 67 patients with HF. Peak VO2 was determined, as were LV-mass, enddiastolic, endsystolic volume indices (EDVI, ESVI), and ejection fraction (EF). Results. EF tended to be higher in AF compared to SR patients (39±10 vs. 31±10%), LV volume indices were smaller (ESVI:35±19 vs. 59±25 ml/m2, p<0.0001, EDVI:56±24 vs. 83±29 ml/m2, p<0.001). LV hypertrophy was prevalent (59% vs. 63%) and concentric hypertrophy tended to be more common with AF (50% vs. 21%). Peak VO2 was similarly reduced in AF and SR (11.4±3.2 vs. 12.1±4.3 ml/kg*min). Conclusions. HF patients with AF compared to SR tend to have smaller LV volumes, less compromised systolic function and more frequent LV concentric hypertrophy. Our study supports the concept that AF in HF indicates a different patient population rather than an effect of progressive LV systolic dysfunction.
Modification of Radiosensitivity of Biological Systems

Radiotherapy is the most common treatment of cancer. It is also practised in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Although many cases are successfully treated, failures in local control do occur and even a modest improvement in the relative radiosensitivity of tumour cells would result in a substantial therapeutic gain. In addition, the presently practised fractionated dose schedule for cancer treatment usually extends over a long period causing hardships and economic difficulties to patients in developing countries who often have to travel long distances for their treatment. It would therefore be desirable to shorten the period of treatment. Radiosensitizers offer some hope in these directions.
The Iron Age "Fortresses" of the Negev Highlands: Sendentarization of the Nomads

Since the beginning of modern archaeological research, more than 45 Iron Age sites, usually called "Israelite fortresses," have been discovered in the Negev Highlands. * Many scholars have dealt with the phenomenon, attempting to understand its historical and environmental background (e.g. Aharoni 1963; 1964; 1967; 1979; Evenari a.o. 1958; Aharoni a.o. 1960:87-111; Rothenberg 1967:67-68,86-101; Meshe11974; 1977; 1979a; Cohen 1970; 1976; 1979a; 1979b; 1981a; Meshel and Cohen 1980; Eitam 1979; 1980; Herzog 1983; 1984), but despite the intensive investigations carried out in recent years, during which 26 of these sites have been excavated (for bibliography see Catalogue of Sites in appendix), no consensus has resulted regarding whether they were established in the late II th or in the 10th century B.C.E. , whether they functioned as royal roadside fortresses or civilian settlements or the identity of their builders (the kings of Israel or the desert dwellers). First, we shall briefly review the major theories pertaining to the subject: (1) The sites under discussion were erected by King Solomon along the desert roads. Aharoni developed this thesis in the 1950sand 1960s,and Cohen has more recently adhered to it in its entirety (although Aharoni himself changed most of his ideas in his later years); in Cohen's view (1979a:77) the fortresses served both to guard the roads crossing the central Negev and to form a strong defensive line along the southern border of the monarchy. Cohen attributes the destruction of the fortresses to the invasion of Shishak and identifies them, following Mazar (1957:64-66) and Aharoni (1964:436), with the group of toponyms that appears in the famous topographical list on the wall of the Amon temple at Karnak. Taking into consideration the archaeological material that has accumulated in recent years of excavations in the Beer Sheva basin, other scholars now tend to date the pottery found in the Negev Highlands sites to the end of the 11th century B.C.E. (Aharoni 1982:169). In this vein, Herzog has assigned the establishment of the "fortresses" to the reign of Saul (1980:22); and Meshel, after much contemplation over the dating of the pottery, and without ruling out other possibilities, decided in favour of the royal fortress theory, although he allows for the possibility of construction in the early part of this period, during the reign of Saul or David (1974:86-96; 1979a:27). (2) The Negev Highlands sites are of a civilian nature, and their establishment can be attributed to the southward expansion of the tribe of Simeon into the Negev Highlands in the 11th century B.C.E. (Eitam 1979; Herzog 1983).
Mapping local and global variability in plant trait distributions

Significance Currently, Earth system models (ESMs) represent variation in plant life through the presence of a small set of plant functional types (PFTs), each of which accounts for hundreds or thousands of species across thousands of vegetated grid cells on land. By expanding plant traits from a single mean value per PFT to a full distribution per PFT that varies among grid cells, the trait variation present in nature is restored and may be propagated to estimates of ecosystem processes. Indeed, critical ecosystem processes tend to depend on the full trait distribution, which therefore needs to be represented accurately. These maps reintroduce substantial local variation and will allow for a more accurate representation of the land surface in ESMs. Our ability to understand and predict the response of ecosystems to a changing environment depends on quantifying vegetation functional diversity. However, representing this diversity at the global scale is challenging. Typically, in Earth system models, characterization of plant diversity has been limited to grouping related species into plant functional types (PFTs), with all trait variation in a PFT collapsed into a single mean value that is applied globally. Using the largest global plant trait database and state of the art Bayesian modeling, we created fine-grained global maps of plant trait distributions that can be applied to Earth system models. Focusing on a set of plant traits closely coupled to photosynthesis and foliar respiration—specific leaf area (SLA) and dry mass-based concentrations of leaf nitrogen (Nm) and phosphorus (Pm), we characterize how traits vary within and among over 50,000 ∼50×50-km cells across the entire vegetated land surface. We do this in several ways—without defining the PFT of each grid cell and using 4 or 14 PFTs; each model’s predictions are evaluated against out-of-sample data. This endeavor advances prior trait mapping by generating global maps that preserve variability across scales by using modern Bayesian spatial statistical modeling in combination with a database over three times larger than that in previous analyses. Our maps reveal that the most diverse grid cells possess trait variability close to the range of global PFT means.
A pronúncia de (–r) em coda silábica no português paulistano

Baseado nas premissas teorico-metodologicas da Sociolinguistica Variacionista (LABOV, 2006 [1966]), este trabalho apresenta uma analise multivariada da pronuncia de (-r) em coda silabica como tepe ou retroflexo num corpus contemporâneo e robusto do portugues paulistano, composto de 102 entrevistas sociolinguisticas. A distribuicao geral dos dados indica que a atual taxa de retroflexo e de aproximadamente 33% na fala de paulistanos nascidos e criados na cidade. Linguisticamente, os resultados apontam para o favorecimento da variante retroflexa em contextos em que o (-r) e precedido por vogal [-alta], seguido de consoante [coronal], em verbos, em silabas tonicas e em final de palavra; socialmente, o retroflexo e favorecido entre moradores de regioes mais perifericas, com menor mobilidade geografica, menos escolarizados, do sexo masculino e pertencentes a familias menos enraizadas na cidade de Sao Paulo. O construto “tempo aparente” (LABOV, 2001a) sugere possivel mudanca em progresso em favor do retroflexo, mas ha indicios de movimentos divergentes dentro da comunidade. O interesse aqui se volta principalmente a discussao dos resultados dos grupos de fatores sociais, a fi m de avaliar os graus de estigma/prestigio das variantes, as identidades sociais que se associam a seu emprego e o seu papel em processos de variacao e mudanca linguistica.
Statistics in Clinical Cancer Research CureModels asaUseful Statistical Tool forAnalyzingSurvival

Cure models are a popular topic within statistical literature but are not as widely known in the clinical literature. Many patients with cancer can be long-term survivors of their disease, and cure models can be a useful tool to analyze and describe cancer survival data. The goal of this article is to review what a cure model is, explain when cure models can be used, and use cure models to describe multiple myeloma survival trends. Multiple myeloma is generally considered an incurable disease, and this article shows that by using cure models, rather than the standard Cox proportional hazards model, we can evaluate whether there is evidence that therapies at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences induce a proportion of patients to be long-term survivors. Clin Cancer Res; 18(14); 3731–6. 2012 AACR.
The Pennsylvania State University

Dominating the discourse on the nature of press-state relations is the use of a “model” paradigm that seeks to subsume all of the nuanced dimensions of press behavior into concise models of the press. These models tend to operate on a single dimension used to capture the degree of oppositional (or subservient) behavior, leading to the formation of simplistic interpretations. In order to highlight the nuances of press-state relations, this study draws comparisons between two relatively similar press systems by isolating the conditions associated with aggressive (or subservient) journalism. Data were drawn from US presidential and UK prime minister news conferences from 2002 -2009 which identified features of aggressive questioning. Results showed that, at the individual level, neither the US nor the UK were closely attuned to a particular model of press behavior, and that, when comparing the two press systems, US journalists are systematically more aggressive than UK journalists, while UK journalists are more responsive to prevailing social conditions. I conclude by discussing the theoretical implications of my findings, which serve to diminish the utility of the “model” approach to media studies, while also suggesting that, due to the changing structure of communications, the ways in which the press respond to public interests may be shifting in a new direction.
PRESBYTERIAN RELIGION, HISTORIOGRAPHY, AND ULSTER SCOTS IDENTITY, c. 1800 TO 1914

ABSTRACT The links between Presbyterians in Scotland and the north of Ireland are obvious but have been largely ignored by historians of the nineteenth century. This article addresses this gap by showing how Ulster Presbyterians considered their relationship with their Scottish co-religionists and how they used the interplay of religious and ethnic considerations this entailed to articulate an Ulster Scots identity. For Presbyterians in Ireland, their Scottish origins and identity represented a collection of ideas that could be deployed at certain times for specific reasons – theological orthodoxy, civil and religious liberty, and certain character traits such as hard work, courage, and soberness. Ideas about the Scottish identity of Presbyterianism were reawakened for a more general audience in the first half of the nineteenth century, during the campaign for religious reform and revival within the Irish church, and were expressed through a distinctive denominational historiography inaugurated by James Seaton Reid. The formulation of a coherent narrative of Presbyterian religion and the improvement of Ulster laid the religious foundations of a distinct Ulster Scots identity and its utilization by unionist opponents of Home Rule between 1885 and 1914.
Normal P50 suppression in schizophrenia patients treated with atypical antipsychotic medications.

OBJECTIVE Patients with schizophrenia have deficits in attention, cognition, and information processing. Measures such as P50 suppression are used to study cognitive and attentional dysfunction among these patients. P50 suppression is an operational measure of sensory gating that can be assessed by averaging electroencephalographic responses to multiple pairs of auditory clicks separated by 500 msec. Normally, the P50 response to the second click is smaller than the response to the first click. Many studies have demonstrated that schizophrenia patients have deficient P50 suppression, meaning that the difference between the first and second clicks is not as large as normal. Atypical antipsychotic medications may have superior clinical efficacy for negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. It is important, therefore, to evaluate the effects of atypical antipsychotic medications on measures such as P50 suppression. METHOD P50 suppression of 13 patients with schizophrenia receiving clinically effective doses of clozapine, olanzapine, or risperidone (classified as atypical antipsychotic medications) was compared to that of 13 patients receiving conventional antipsychotic medications. RESULTS The patient groups did not differ on clinical or demographic measures. The patients receiving atypical antipsychotic medications had normal-range P50 suppression (mean=72%). In contrast, the patients receiving typical antipsychotic medications had dramatically lower P50 suppression (mean=27%). CONCLUSIONS The results support the hypothesis that patients treated with atypical antipsychotic medications have normal P50 measures of sensory gating. Longitudinal within-subjects studies are warranted to clarify the mechanisms mediating this effect.
The Effect of Negative Pressure Therapy on the Femoral Vein Blood Flow and Wall Structure

Negative pressure therapy has been recently used for managing lymphatic or infective groin complications. The aim of this study was to investigate any possible association between application of negative pressure therapy in the groin area and deep-vein thrombosis. Acute surgical wounds were created at the inguinal areas in 7 pigs. Different negative pressures ranging from −50 to −200 mmHg were applied directly over the femoral vessels, and blood flow alterations were studied using a Doppler ultrasound. Femoral vein specimens were also removed for histological examination after 12 hours of therapy. It has been demonstrated that negative pressure therapy does not significantly alter the baseline lower limb venous return. Histology demonstrated several changes, which are associated with vein thrombogenesis. The hemodynamic and pathological findings still leave a potential for thrombogenic effects of negative pressure therapy and warrant care to protect the femoral veins, with the use of thrombosis prophylaxis measures.
Long-term follow-up of patients with prior polio over a 17-year period.

OBJECTIVE Follow-up of the health of patients with prior polio over a 17-year period. DESIGN Follow-up study. PATIENTS Patients with prior polio. METHODS The study questionnaire was answered in 1995 by 270 patients. In 2012 the questionnaire was sent again to the surviving patients. RESULTS Of the patients who answered the questionnaire in 1995, 116 (40%) were still alive in 2012. The group of patients who had died was older, and had a mean age of 70 years in 1995. A total of 60 patients participated in the study by answering the questionnaire in both 1995 and 2012. Most of these patients (84%) reported that they felt progressively worse, with poor mobility and increased muscle weakness in 2012 compared with 1995, and more than half reported a lower quality of life in 2012. The number of wheelchair users had increased significantly. Furthermore, the patients experienced increasing problems with activities of daily living (ADL) function. CONCLUSION More than half of the patients with prior polio had died between 1995 and 2012. These patients were, on average, older than patients surviving in 2012. When interviewed in 2012 most of the patients felt progressively worse, with poor mobility and increased muscle weakness.