Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Transfer for Deep Reinforcement Learning with Hierarchical Experience Replay

The process for transferring knowledge of multiple reinforcement learning policies into a single multi-task policy via distillation technique is known as policy distillation. When policy distillation is under a deep reinforcement learning setting, due to the giant parameter size and the huge state space for each task domain, it requires extensive computational efforts to train the multi-task policy network. In this paper, we propose a new policy distillation architecture for deep reinforcement learning, where we assume that each task uses its task-specific high-level convolutional features as the inputs to the multi-task policy network. Furthermore, we propose a new sampling framework termed hierarchical prioritized experience replay to selectively choose experiences from the replay memories of each task domain to perform learning on the network. With the above two attempts, we aim to accelerate the learning of the multi-task policy network while guaranteeing a good performance. We use Atari 2600 games as testing environment to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our proposed solution for policy distillation
Processing of missing data by neural networks

We propose a general, theoretically justified mechanism for processing missing data by neural networks. Our idea is to replace typical neuron's response in the first hidden layer by its expected value. This approach can be applied for various types of networks at minimal cost in their modification. Moreover, in contrast to recent approaches, it does not require complete data for training. Experimental results performed on different types of architectures show that our method gives better results than typical imputation strategies and other methods dedicated for incomplete data.
The Use of Mabthera in Combination with the Chop for the Treatment of Cd 20 Positive Non-Hodgkin ‟ s Lymphoma

Besides traditional cytostatic drugs the introduction of monoclonal antibodies has substantially influenced current treatment concepts of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 chimeric antibody, now has been widely evaluated in the various B-cell lymphatic neoplasms. The ai of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxic effects of Mabthera (rituximab) in combination with the CHOP (R-CHOP) regimen for treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A total of 60 patients with CD20 positive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were compared into the R-CHOP and CHOP groups. They received the regimens of Mabthera in combination with CHOP or single CHOP therapy respectively. Curative effect and survival rate in both groups was evaluated following 6-8 cycles of chemotherapy. The overall survival rate in the R-CHOP group was 90% and in to control group was 54% with a significant difference between them (p<0.01) The addition of rituximab to the CHOP regimen increases the complete response rate and prolongs event-free and overall survival in patients in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, without a clinically significant increase in toxicity. It is highly recommended as the treatment of choice.
Remote sensing

State-of-the-art remote sensing techniques applicable to the investigation of ice formation and evolution are de- scribed. Ground-based and spaceborne measurements with lidar, radar, and radiometric techniques are discussed togetherwitha globalviewonpastandongoing remote sensing measurementcampaignsconcernedwiththe study of ice formation and evolution. This chapter has the intentionof a literature study andshould illustrate the major efforts that are currently taken in the ﬁeld of remote sensing of atmospheric ice. Since other chapters of this monograph mainly focus on aircraft in situ measurements, special emphasis is put on active remote sensing instruments and synergies between aircraft in situ measurements and passive remote sensing methods. The chapter concentrates on homogeneous and heterogeneous ice formation in the troposphere because this is a major topic of this monograph. Furthermore, methods that deliver direct, process-level informationabout ice formationare elaborated with a special emphasisonactiveremotesensingmethods.Passiveremotesensingmethodsarealsodealtwithbutonlyinthecontext of synergy with aircraft in situ measurements.
Palliative and end-of-life care for heart failure patients in an aging society

The populations of Asian countries are expected to age rapidly in the near future, with a dramatic increase in the number of heart failure (HF) patients also anticipated. The need for palliative and end-of-life care for elderly patients with advanced HF is currently recognized in aging societies. However, palliative care and active treatment for HF are not mutually exclusive, and palliative care should be provided to reduce suffering occurring at any stage of symptomatic HF after the point of diagnosis. HF patients are at high risk of sudden cardiac death from the early stages of the disease onwards. The decision of whether to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the event of an emergency is challenging, especially in elderly HF patients, because of the difficulty in accurately predicting the prognosis of the condition. Furthermore, advanced HF patients are often fitted with a device, and device deactivation at the end of life is a complicated process. Treatment strategies should thus be discussed by multi-disciplinary teams, including palliative experts, and should consider patient directives to address the problems discussed above. Open communication with the HF patient regarding the expected prognosis, course, and treatment options will serve to support the patient and aid in future planning.
A guide to using functional magnetic resonance imaging to study Alzheimer's disease in animal models

ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is a leading healthcare challenge facing our society today. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain has played an important role in our efforts to understand how Alzheimer's disease alters brain function. Using fMRI in animal models of Alzheimer's disease has the potential to provide us with a more comprehensive understanding of the observations made in human clinical fMRI studies. However, using fMRI in animal models of Alzheimer's disease presents some unique challenges. Here, we highlight some of these challenges and discuss potential solutions for researchers interested in performing fMRI in animal models. First, we briefly summarize our current understanding of Alzheimer's disease from a mechanistic standpoint. We then overview the wide array of animal models available for studying this disease and how to choose the most appropriate model to study, depending on which aspects of the condition researchers seek to investigate. Finally, we discuss the contributions of fMRI to our understanding of Alzheimer's disease and the issues to consider when designing fMRI studies for animal models, such as differences in brain activity based on anesthetic choice and ways to interrogate more specific questions in rodents beyond those that can be addressed in humans. The goal of this article is to provide information on the utility of fMRI, and approaches to consider when using fMRI, for studies of Alzheimer's disease in animal models. Summary: This Review examines the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging for studying Alzheimer's disease in animal models, and addresses important considerations concerning model choice, anesthetic use and application of stimuli.
Chronic sleep curtailment, even without extended (>16-h) wakefulness, degrades human vigilance performance

Significance Millions of individuals obtain insufficient sleep on a daily basis, which leads to impaired performance. Whether these decrements are caused by short sleep duration or extended wakefulness is unknown. In this study, healthy volunteers were randomized into either a chronically sleep-restricted or control protocol while living on a 20-h “day,” thus enabling short sleep without extended wakefulness. We demonstrate that chronic insufficient sleep, even without extended wakefulness, leads to neurobehavioral performance decrements at all times of the day, even when the circadian system is promoting arousal. These findings have implications for the understanding of basic physiology, the substantial population who chronically obtains insufficient sleep, and all of us who depend on sleep-restricted individuals working in safety-sensitive occupations. Millions of individuals routinely remain awake for more than 18 h daily, which causes performance decrements. It is unknown if these functional impairments are the result of that extended wakefulness or from the associated shortened sleep durations. We therefore examined changes in objective reaction time performance and subjective alertness in a 32-d inpatient protocol in which participants were scheduled to wakefulness durations below 16 h while on a 20-h “day,” with randomization into standard sleep:wake ratio (1:2) or chronic sleep restriction (CSR) ratio (1:3.3) conditions. This protocol allowed determination of the contribution of sleep deficiency independent of extended wakefulness, since individual episodes of wakefulness in the CSR condition were only 15.33 h in duration (less than the usual 16 h of wakefulness in a 24-h day) and sleep episodes were 4.67 h in duration each cycle. We found that chronic short sleep duration, even without extended wakefulness, doubled neurobehavioral reaction time performance and increased lapses of attention fivefold, yet did not uniformly decrease self-reported alertness. Further, these impairments in neurobehavioral performance were worsened during the circadian night and were not recovered during the circadian day, indicating that the deleterious effect from the homeostatic buildup of CSR is expressed even during the circadian promotion of daytime arousal. These findings reveal a fundamental aspect of human biology: Chronic insufficient sleep duration equivalent to 5.6 h of sleep opportunity per 24 h impairs neurobehavioral performance and self-assessment of alertness, even without extended wakefulness.
Effect of long-term ingestion of weakly oxidised fl axseed oil on biomarkers of oxidative stress in LDL-receptor knockout mice

The effect of oxidised fatty acids on atherosclerosis progression is controversial. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effect of long-term consumption of weakly oxidised PUFA from flaxseed oil on oxidative stress biomarkers of LDL-receptor mice. To test our hypothesis, mice were separated into three groups. The first group received a high-fat diet containing fresh flaxseed oil (CONT−), the second was fed the same diet prepared using heated flaxseed oil (OXID), and the third group received the same diet containing fresh flaxseed oil and had diabetes induced by streptozotocin (CONT+). Oxidative stress, aortic parameters and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were assessed. After 3 months, plasma lipid profile, glucose levels, body weight, energy intake and dietary intake did not differ among groups. Likewise, oxidative stress, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), hepatic MDA expressed as nmol/mg portion (ptn) and antioxidant enzymes did not differ among the groups. Hepatic linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and EPA acid declined in the OXID and CONT+ groups. Aortic wall thickness, lumen and diameter increased only in the OXID group. OXID and CONT+ groups exhibited higher concentrations of MDA, expressed as μmol/mg ptn per %PUFA, when compared with the CONT− group. Our results suggest that ingestion of oxidised flaxseed oil increases hepatic MDA concentration and is potentially pro-atherogenic. In addition, the mean MDA value observed in all groups was similar to those reported in other studies that used xenobiotics as oxidative stress inducers. Thus, the diet applied in this study represents an interesting model for further research involving antioxidants.
Variation in Polyphenolic Profiles, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Different Achillea Species as Natural Sources of Antiglycative Compounds

A comparative study was carried out on the methanolic extracts from six Achillea species and the examined polyphenols from these plants on the formation of advanced glycation end‐products (AGE) in vitro. A. pachycephala which was richer in flavonoids (15 mg quercetin/g W) and phenolics (111.10 mg tannic acid/g DW) with substantial antioxidant activity (IC50 = 365.5 μg/ml) presented strong anti‐AGE properties. Chlorogenic acid, luteolin, quercetin and caffeic acid were identified as the major polyphenols in the extracts by HPLC. In general, polyphenolic content follows the order of A. pachycephalla > A. nobilis > A. filipendulina > A. santolina > A. aucheri > A. millefolium. Most extracts exhibited marked anti‐AGE ability in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)/methylglyoxal (MG) system, though A. pachycephala showed the highest potential. The formation of AGEs was assessed by monitoring the production of fluorescent products and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Diminution in free radical production (assessed by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays) is discussed as potential mechanism for delay or reduced AGE. The results demonstrate the antiglycative, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Achillea species which can be attributed to polyphenols content and the effectiveness on generation of AGEs, thus Achillea species can be considered as natural sources for slowing down glycation related diseases.
Estimator and Tests for Common Coefficients of Variation in Normal Distributions

Inference for the coefficient of variation in normal distributions is considered. An explicit estimator of a coefficient of variation that is shared by several populations with normal distributions is proposed. Methods for making confidence intervals and statistical tests, based on McKay's approximation for the coefficient of variation, are provided. Exact expressions for the first two moments of McKay's approximation are given. An approximate F-test for equality of a coefficient of variation that is shared by several normal distributions and a coefficient of variation that is shared by several other normal distributions is introduced.
Patient-controlled epidural analgesia regimens for labor analgesia: background infusion or demand-only?

To the Editor: In a recent article on patientcontrolled epidural analgesia (PCEA) for labor pain, Lim et al. conclude that demand-only PCEA resulted in an increased incidence of breakthrough pain, higher pain scores, and lower maternal satisfaction, when compared with PCEA with background infusion (ropivacaine 0.1% with fentanyl 2 g/mL; 5-mL bolus, 10–15 min lockout interval, and 510 mL/h infusion). These conclusions raise several issues. First, we acknowledge that performing this study as a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial is a challenge, but we are concerned that several aspects of the study design make it susceptible to expectation bias. Although breakthrough pain occurred more in the demand-only group, the hourly consumption of ropivacaine remained a low mean of 7.3 mg, corresponding with approximately 1.5 boluses. This may be the result of several hours of effective analgesia, but might also be due to inadequate use of the PCEA-system or failure to administer top-up boluses in a timely manner. Moreover, breakthrough pain may have been influenced by other factors not studied, e.g., fetal position. Parturients were withdrawn from the study when visual analog scale remained greater than 30 mm, despite a maximum of two supplemental topup boluses of 5 mL ropivacaine 0.2%. Surprisingly, Table 2 shows a median number of zero administered supplemental boluses with a maximum of three in the demand-only group. The three different PCEA regimens compared do not only differ in background infusion rates, but also have different lockout times. The authors explain this to be standard PCEA settings used in their institution, as recommended in a review by D’Angelo. Not only were these settings designed for PCEA with bupivacaine 0.125%, but they were also suggested for meeting different specific goals. We, therefore, find comparing different PCEA regimens with different lock-out intervals to be inappropriate. Finally, Lim et al. state in the conclusions section of their abstract that demand-only PCEA resulted in lower maternal satisfaction. These conclusions are not supported by their data.
Title: Ultrasonic NDE Simulation for Composite Manufacturing Defects

The increased use of composites in aerospace components is expected to continue into the future. The large scale use of composites in aerospace necessitates the development of composite-appropriate nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods to quantitatively characterize defects in as-manufactured parts and damage incurred during or post manufacturing. Ultrasonic techniques are one of the most common approaches for defect/damage detection in composite materials. One key technical challenge area included in NASA’s Advanced Composite’s Project is to develop optimized rapid inspection methods for composite materials. Common manufacturing defects in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites include fiber waviness (in-plane and outof-plane), porosity, and disbonds; among others. This paper is an overview of ongoing work to develop ultrasonic wavefield based methods for characterizing manufacturing waviness defects. The paper describes the development and implementation of a custom ultrasound simulation tool that is used to model ultrasonic wave interaction with inplane fiber waviness (also known as marcelling). Wavefield data processing methods are applied to the simulation data to explore possible routes for quantitative defect characterization.
Traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus polysaccharide enhanced antitumor effects of the angiogenesis inhibitor apatinib in pancreatic cancer cells on proliferation, invasiveness, and apoptosis

Background Traditional chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy have shown modest effects on the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. The current study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of apatinib, Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), and the combination of both the drugs in pancreatic cancer cells and further explore the molecular mechanisms in vitro. Materials and methods Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in human pancreatic cancer cell lines ASPC-1, PANC-1, and SW1990 was detected by Western blotting. Cell proliferation was measured by MTS, and migration and invasion were detected by wound-healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Cell apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry and cellular autophagy level affected by apatinib, and APS was analyzed by Western blotting. Results Human pancreatic cancer cell lines ASPC-1 and PANC-1 expressed VEGFR-2, but VEGFR-2 was not detected in SW1990. Either apatinib or APS inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in ASPC-1 and PANC-1. APS in combination with apatinib showed enhanced inhibitory effects on cell migration and invasion compared with apatinib monotherapy in ASPC-1 and PANC-1. Meanwhile, APS combined with apatinib strongly increased cell apoptosis percentage. Western blotting showed that the combination of APS and apatinib significantly enhanced the downregulation of phosphorylated protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) (p-AKT and p-ERK) as well as matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) expression. In addition, both apatinib and APS induced cellular autophagy. However, the expression of autophagy-related proteins was not further elevated in the combination group. Conclusion The study first demonstrated that apatinib showed potentially inhibitory effects in pancreatic cancer cells and that APS enhanced the antitumor effects of apatinib through further downregulating the expression of phosphorylation of AKT and ERK as well as MMP-9.
Nível de atividade física no lazer e deslocamento e fatores associados em alunos de Educação Física em Coimbra - Portugal

O objetivo do estudo foi descrever o nivel de atividade fisica (NAF) no lazer e no deslocamento e seus fatores associados em estudantes de Educacao Fisica da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com alunos matriculados nos tres primeiros anos do curso. Foi aplicado um questionario contendo questoes sociodemograficas, comportamentais e do estado nutricional. O nivel de atividade fisica foi avaliado atraves das secoes de lazer e deslocamento do International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) versao longa e foram considerados ativos todos os sujeitos que realizaram 150 minutos ou mais de atividade fisica na semana. O total de sujeitos entrevistados foi de 405, com media de idade de 21,7 anos (DP= ±4,5 anos), sendo, na maioria, do sexo masculino (67,7%), solteiros (97,5%) e de cor da pele branca (90,0%). A media do indice de massa corporal foi de 22,8 kg/m 2 e 82,0% do total se enquadrava na categoria eutrofico. Cerca de 1/5 dos universitarios apresentaram o habito de fumar. Em relacao ao NAF, 77,6% dos sujeitos foram classificados como ativos no lazer e a maioria (54,9%) relatou realizar caminhada nesse dominio. No deslocamento, 55,1% dos estudantes foram considerados ativos e apenas 9,6% nao realizavam qualquer atividade no deslocamento. A caminhada foi a atividade mais relatada no deslocamento (90,4%), sendo que apenas 13,3% o fizeram via bicicleta. Conclui-se que os estudantes de Educacao Fisica da Universidade de Coimbra apresentam comportamentos satisfatorios de atividade fisica no lazer e deslocamento para obtencao de beneficios a saude.
Combination therapies for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer: current and future prospects

ABSTRACT Introduction: HER2-positive disease is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that has been revolutionized by anti-HER2 directed therapies. Multiple drugs have been developed and are currently in clinical use, including trastuzumab, lapatinib, pertuzumab, T-DM1, and neratinib, alone or combined in ‘dual HER2-blockade’ regimens. Areas covered: A comprehensive literature review was performed regarding the current state and the future of combination regimens containing anti-HER2 agents, focusing on their efficacy, toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. Expert commentary: The combination of trastuzumab/pertuzumab is approved in all disease settings, while trastuzumab/neratinib is approved in the adjuvant setting and trastuzumab/lapatinib in metastatic disease. Meanwhile, as breast cancer biology and resistance mechanisms become clearer, combinations with drugs like PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors, CDK4/6 inhibitors, anti-PD(L)1 antibodies, endocrine therapy, and new anti-HER2 agents (panHER and HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, anti-HER3 antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates) are being extensively tested in clinical trials. More specific strategies for the ‘triple-positive’ (estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-positive) disease are also being explored. However, there is an urgent need for the development of predictive biomarkers for a better tailoring of anti-HER2 directed therapy. This is the only way to further improve clinical outcomes and quality of life and to decrease costs and toxicities of unnecessary treatments.