Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Controlled Element Dynamics on Human Feedforward Behavior in Ramp-Tracking Tasks

In real-life manual control tasks, human controllers are often required to follow a visible and predictable reference signal, enabling them to use feedforward control actions in conjunction with feedback actions that compensate for errors. Little is known about human control behavior in these situations. This paper investigates how humans adapt their feedforward control dynamics to the controlled element dynamics in a combined ramp-tracking and disturbance-rejection task. A human-in-the-loop experiment is performed with a pursuit display and vehicle-like controlled elements, ranging from a single integrator through second-order systems with a break frequency at either 3, 2, or 1 rad/s, to a double integrator. Because the potential benefits of feedforward control increase with steeper ramp segments in the target signal, three steepness levels are tested to investigate their possible effect on feedforward control with the various controlled elements. Analyses with four novel models of the operator, fitted to time-domain data, reveal feedforward control for all tested controlled elements and both (nonzero) tested levels of ramp steepness. For the range of controlled element dynamics investigated, it is found that humans adapt to these dynamics in their feedforward response, with a close to perfect inversion of the controlled element dynamics. No significant effects of ramp steepness on the feedforward model parameters are found.
Safety and efficacy of tandem 131I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine infusions in relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma

Targeted radiotherapy with 131I‐Metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I‐MIBG) is safe and effective therapy for patients with relapsed neuroblastoma, but anti‐tumor activity is sometimes transient. The goal of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of early (<100 days) second 131I‐MIBG treatment following an effective initial treatment.
Marker Development for Rice Blast Resistance Gene Pi66(t) and Application in the USDA Rice Mini‐Core Collection

Molecular markers are useful for the identification of critical genes controlling agricultural traits of interest in crop germplasm and for the use of these genes in crop improvement using marker-assisted selection (MAS). The improvement of blast disease resistance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties is one of the major goals for rice breeders. The blast resistance (R) gene Pi66(t) was previously mapped to a 129-kb genomic region on chromosome 11, where six candidate R genes were predicted. To help rice breeders in rice blast resistance MAS breeding, we developed three polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-based molecular markers, WRKY41, NBS-LRR-970-1, and NBS-LRR-970-2, for the Pi66(t) locus. The validation of two markers, WRKY41 and NBS-LRR-970-1, suggested they cosegregated with the Pi66(t) gene in two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. The application of two markers in a USDA–ARS rice mini-core collection indicated that NBSLRR-970-1 was a Pi66(t)-linked specific marker. The developed marker not only can be used to identify resistant lines with the Pi66(t) gene in mapping populations but also can be used in screening rice germplasm with a broad genetic background. Taken together, these newly developed markers and newly identified rice germplasm lines carrying the Pi66(t) gene will provide essential tools and materials for rice breeders in MAS breeding. Y. Liu, Univ. of Arkansas, Rice Research and Extension Center, Stuttgart, AR 72160; Y. Jia and D. Gealy, USDA–ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, Stuttgart, AR 72160; D.M. Goad and K.M. Olsen, Washington Univ., Dep. of Biology, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899; and A.L. Caicedo, Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst, Biology Dep. , MA 01003. Received 8 July 2015. Accepted 25 Nov. 2015. *Corresponding author (yulin.jia@ars.usda.gov). Abbreviations: DGWG, rice cultivar Dee Geo Woo Gen; LRR, leucine-rich repeat; MAS, marker-assisted selection; NBS, nucleotidebinding site; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; QTL, quantitative trait loci; R, resistance; RFLP, restriction fragment-length polymorphism; RIL, recombinant inbred line. Published in Crop Sci. 56:1–8 (2016). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2015.07. 0422 © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. Published February 26, 2016
The effect of irbesartan on the development of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Microalbuminuria and hypertension are risk factors for diabetic nephropathy. Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system slows the progression to diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes, but similar data are lacking for hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the renoprotective effect of the angiotensin-II-receptor antagonist irbesartan in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria. METHODS A total of 590 hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria were enrolled in this multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of irbesartan, at a dose of either 150 mg daily or 300 mg daily, and were followed for two years. The primary outcome was the time to the onset of diabetic nephropathy, defined by persistent albuminuria in overnight specimens, with a urinary albumin excretion rate that was greater than 200 microg per minute and at least 30 percent higher than the base-line level. RESULTS The base-line characteristics in the three groups were similar. Ten of the 194 patients in the 300-mg group (5.2 percent) and 19 of the 195 patients in the 150-mg group (9.7 percent) reached the primary end point, as compared with 30 of the 201 patients in the placebo group (14.9 percent) (hazard ratios, 0.30 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.14 to 0.61; P< 0.001] and 0.61 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.34 to 1.08; P=0.081 for the two irbesartan groups, respectively). The average blood pressure during the course of the study was 144/83 mm Hg in the placebo group, 143/83 mm Hg in the 150-mg group, and 141/83 mm Hg in the 300-mg group (P=0.004 for the comparison of systolic blood pressure between the placebo group and the combined irbesartan groups). Serious adverse events were less frequent among the patients treated with irbesartan (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Irbesartan is renoprotective independently of its blood-pressure-lowering effect in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria.
Standardized approach for microsatellite instability detection in colorectal carcinomas.

BACKGROUND Ubiquitous mutations in microsatellite DNA sequences define a specific type of genetic instability, termed microsatellite instability (MSI). Various approaches have been used to identify the presence and degree of MSI. To define standard diagnostic criteria for MSI, we developed and tested a mathematical model. METHODS We designed an algorithm for the efficient characterization of MSI and used it to analyze data on six microsatellite markers in colorectal carcinoma and normal tissues from 415 patients. Theoretical models considering one, two, or three populations were tested against the data collected. RESULTS The observed frequencies of MSI in our series of samples best fit a two-population model, stable and unstable, defined by instability in two or more of four to six markers analyzed. MSI was observed in 7.5% of the tumors. The misclassification rate was less than 5% when any four loci were analyzed and less than 1% when the six markers were used. A stepwise strategy, consisting first of a bulk screening of two loci and then a second screening of two to four additional markers, provided excellent sensitivity (>/=97%) and specificity (100%). Tumors with MSI had distinctive genetic and clinicopathologic features, including better patient survival. CONCLUSION To assess the presence of MSI in colorectal cancer, we have developed a simple, sensitive, and specific approach based on the apparent good fit of the data to a two-population model. Its application to a prospective series of patients with colorectal carcinomas demonstrates that the presence of MSI characterizes a subset of less aggressive tumors.
Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging versus clinical staging in cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is the third most common gynecological cancer and a widespread malignancy in women, accounting for a large proportion of the cancer burden in developing countries. We compared accuracy of MRI staging with clinical staging and also concordance between the two methods for newly diagnosed patients with cervical cancer, using clinical staging as the reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study was conducted on 27 newly diagnosed patients with cervical cancer from Imam Khomeini hospital from June 2012 to Feb 2014. New cases of cervical cancer with positive PAP test were staged separately with a clinical exam based on the FIGO system by a gynecologist, oncologist and also with MRI by an expert radiologist. Then we compared the predicted stage for each patient with the two methods. RESULTS Based on clinical staging 9 patients (33%) were observed at stage 1. MRI staging was in coordination with clinical staging in eight of them and for one patient MRI accorded stage 2B (88% concordance). CONCLUSIONS MRI is a reliable noninvasive method with high accuracy for cervical cancer staging. Also presently it is easily obtainable, so we recommend using this technique along with clinical examination for staging cervical cancer patients. We also recommend to radiologists and residents of radiology to get experience with this method of staging.
The influence of the patients’ ethnicity, socio-demographic conditions and strain on psychiatric diagnoses given at an outpatient clinic

Although psychiatric diagnoses are influenced by cultural and social conditions, with large global variations, the ICD and DSM systems are applied worldwide. The aims of this study were to describe the distribution of different ethnic patient groups in psychiatric outpatient services and the influence of ethnicity, demographic conditions and social strain on psychiatric diagnoses. An entire year's cohort of psychiatric outpatients (n=839) in an outpatient register was divided into nine groups, according to country of birth. The proportion of each group in the outpatient population was compared with its corresponding proportion in the catchment area. In order to examine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and strain on the one hand, and DSM-III-R diagnoses on the other, stepwise logistic regression analyses were carried out. Swedes were the only group under-represented as outpatients (P<0.001). Africans ran a higher risk (OR=5.55, 95% CI=2.56–12.04) than other ethnic groups of receiving a diagnosis of psychotic disorder – except schizophrenia – and Greek patients were more likely to receive a diagnosis of somatoform disorder (OR=8.81, 95% CI=4.41–17.59). Swedes were twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of personality disorder (OR=2.16, 95% CI=1.55–3.15). Schizophrenia was related to male gender (OR=1.75, 95% CI=1.04–2.94) and affective disorders to age >40 years (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.22–2.40). Ethnicity has a strong impact on how diagnoses are given in cross-cultural settings. We could not confirm earlier findings of under-representation of ethnic minorities in outpatient services.
Seizure outcome after surgery for epilepsy due to malformation of cortical development

Purpose: To explore seizure outcome after surgery for focal epilepsy due to malformation of cortical development (MCD), with focus on the role of MRI. Methods: Thirty-five patients who had surgery for intractable focal epilepsy due to MCD identified by preoperative MRI and confirmed by histopathologic analysis of resected tissue were studied. Patients were aged 3 months to 47 years (median, 14 years) at the time of surgery. Duration of follow-up was 1 to 7.9 (mean, 3.4) years. Results: At latest follow-up, 17 patients (49%) had Engel Class I outcome with no seizures or auras only; eight patients (23%) had Class II outcome, with rare disabling seizures; seven patients (20%) had worthwhile improvement; and three patients (9%) had no improvement. Seizure-free outcome tended to be more frequent among patients who had complete resection of unilateral MCD (excluding hemimegalencephaly) based on postoperative MRI (7/12; 58%), compared with patients with unilateral MCD who had incomplete resection (3/11; 27%), but the difference was not significant. The frequency of seizure-free outcome did not differ significantly between children (8/14; 57%), adolescents (7/15; 47%) or adults (2/6; 33%); between patients who had daily (12/24; 50%), weekly (4/9; 44%), or monthly (1/2; 50%) seizures preoperatively; between patients who had temporal (2/6; 33%) or extratemporal or multilobar resections (14/28; 50%); or between patients who were (9/16; 56%) or were not (8/19; 42%) studied with subdural electrodes. Results for all analyses were similar when analyzed at latest available follow-up or at 1 year after surgery. Conclusions: Surgery can offer seizure-free outcome for approximately one half of carefully selected patients with intractable focal epilepsy due to MCD. Complete resection of the MRI-apparent lesion may improve the likelihood for favorable outcome. MRI evidence of hemimegalencephaly or bilateral MCD suggests a low likelihood for postoperative freedom from seizures.
Glycolytic sequence and respiration of Debaryomyces hansenii as compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The fermentation and respiration activities of Debaryomyces hansenii were compared with those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown to stationary phase with high respiratory activity. It was found that: (a) glucose consumption, fermentation and respiration were lower than for S. cerevisiae; (b) fasting produced a much smaller decrease of respiration; (c) glucose consumed and not transformed to ethanol was higher; (d) in S. cerevisiae, full oxygenation prevented ethanol production but this effect was reversed by CCCP, whereas D. hansenii still showed some ethanol production under aerobiosis, which was moderately increased by CCCP. ATP levels were similar in the two yeasts. Levels of glycolytic intermediaries after glucose addition, and enzyme activities, indicated that the main difference and limiting step to explain the lower fermentation of D. hansenii is phosphofructokinase activity. Respiration and fermentation, which are lower in D. hansenii, compete for the re‐oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine nucleotides; this competition, in turn, seems to play a role in defining the fermentation rates of the two yeasts. The effect of CCCP on glucose consumption and ethanol production also indicates a role of ADP in both the Pasteur and Crabtree effects in S. cerevisiae but not in D. hansenii. D. hansenii shows an alternative oxidase, which in our experiments did not appear to be coupled to the production of ATP. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Menstrual Cycle on Postoperative Analgesic Requirements, Agitation, Incidence of Nausea and Vomiting after Gynecological Laparoscopy

Background: Several studies have suggested that the menstrual cycle has an impact on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). No previous study has evaluated the effect of the menstrual cycle on the incidence of postoperative agitation and analgesic/antiemetic requirements. Methods: On the basis of the phase of the menstrual cycle [pre±menstrual (Pd 25–6), early follicular phase (Pd 8–12), ovulatory phase (Pd 13–15), and luteal phase (Pd 20–24)], 67 patients enrolled in this blinded, prospective study. Anesthesia was standardized. Fentanyl was given to the patients who had severe pain in the recovery room. The patients who had agitation were given midazolam. When pain intensity was >5 on the Visual Analog Scale, metamizol was administered in the Gynecology Department. A blinded anesthesiologist recorded episodes of PONV in the recovery room, and 2 and 24 h postoperatively. Results: The opioid requirement and the frequency of agitation were similar in each group. Metamizol consumption was highest in the luteal phase (p < 0.05). The follicular and luteal phases were predictors for vomiting at recovery (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). At the postoperative 2nd hour, nausea was higher in the follicular phase than in the other phases (p < 0.05) and the luteal phase was a predictor for retching (p < 0.001). At the postoperative 24th hour, nausea was the common symptom in the luteal phase (p < 0.05). The need for ondansetron was highest in the luteal phase (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, we suggest that the scheduling of all surgical procedures according to the menstrual phase may serve to reduce the incidence of PONV and metamizol/ondansetron consumption and hospital costs.
Persistent infections support maintenance of a coronavirus in a population of Australian bats (Myotis macropus)

SUMMARY Understanding viral transmission dynamics within populations of reservoir hosts can facilitate greater knowledge of the spillover of emerging infectious diseases. While bat-borne viruses are of concern to public health, investigations into their dynamics have been limited by a lack of longitudinal data from individual bats. Here, we examine capture–mark–recapture (CMR) data from a species of Australian bat (Myotis macropus) infected with a putative novel Alphacoronavirus within a Bayesian framework. Then, we developed epidemic models to estimate the effect of persistently infectious individuals (which shed viruses for extensive periods) on the probability of viral maintenance within the study population. We found that the CMR data analysis supported grouping of infectious bats into persistently and transiently infectious bats. Maintenance of coronavirus within the study population was more likely in an epidemic model that included both persistently and transiently infectious bats, compared with the epidemic model with non-grouping of bats. These findings, using rare CMR data from longitudinal samples of individual bats, increase our understanding of transmission dynamics of bat viral infectious diseases.
Randomized Trial of Group Music Therapy With Chinese Prisoners

This study investigated the effects of group music therapy on improving anxiety, depression, and self-esteem in Chinese prisoners. Two-hundred male prisoners were randomly assigned to music therapy (n = 100) or standard care (n = 100). The music therapy had 20 sessions of group therapy compared with standard care. Anxiety (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]), depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), and self-esteem (Texas Social Behavior Inventory [TSBI], Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory [RSI]) were measured by standardized scales at baseline, mid-program, and post-program. Data were analyzed based on the intention to treat principle. Compared with standard care, anxiety and depression in the music therapy condition decreased significantly at mid-test and post-test; self-esteem improved significantly at mid-test (TSBI) and at post-test (TSBI, RSI). Improvements were greater in younger participants (STAI-Trait, RSI) and/or in those with a lower level of education (STAI-State, STAI-Trait). Group music therapy seems to be effective in improving anxiety, depression, and self-esteem and was shown to be most beneficial for prisoners of younger age or with lower education level.
The Influence of CYP2C19 Polymorphism on Eradication of Helicobacter pylori: A Prospective Randomized Study of Lansoprazole and Rabeprazole.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The CYP2C19 polymorphism plays an important role in the metabolism of various proton-pump inhibitors. Several trials have produced conflicting data on eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) among CYP2C19 genotypes. We investigated whether the CYP2C19 genotype affects the eradication rate of H. pylori by direct comparing the effects of lansoprazole- and rabeprazole-based triple therapies. METHODS A total of 492 patients infected with H. pylori was randomly treated with either 30 mg of lansoprazole or 20 mg of rabeprazole plus 500 mg of clarithromycin and 1,000 mg of amoxicillin twice daily for 1 week. CYP2C19 genotype status was determined by a PCR-restriction-fragment-length polymorphism method. After 7 to 8 weeks, H. pylori status was evaluated by a C(13)-urea breath test. RESULTS Four hundred and sixty-three patients were analyzed, and the eradication rate was 75.2% in a per-protocol analysis. Eradication rates for the lansoprazole regimen (n=234) were 73.8%, 80.7%, and 85.4% in the homozygous extensive (HomEM), heterozygous extensive (HetEM), and poor metabolizers (PM) groups, respectively (p=0.303). In the case of the rabeprazole regimen (n=229), the eradication rates were 68.6%, 73.0%, and 71.9% in the HomEM, HetEM, and PM groups, respectively (p=0.795). CONCLUSIONS The efficacies of triple therapies that include lansoprazole or rabeprazole are not affected by CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms.
Cross-talk between Different Enhancer Elements during Mitogenic Induction of the Human Stromelysin-1 Gene*

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induces the expression of human stromelysin-1, a matrix metalloproteinase involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. Here it is shown that stromelysin-1 gene induction by PDGF depends on Ras and involves three previously identified promoter elements (the stromelysin-1 PDGF-responsive element (SPRE) site, the two head-to-head polyomavirus enhancer A-binding protein-3 (PEA3) sites, and the activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding site). During mitogenic induction, these responsive elements appear to be organized in two independent transcriptional units, SPRE-AP-1 and PEA3-AP-1, which result from specific element cross-talking. Interestingly, expression of a dominant negative mutant of Raf-1 significantly interfered with the induction through PEA3-AP-1 but not with that operating through SPRE-AP-1. Conversely, only the induction operating through SPRE-AP-1 was affected significantly by the expression of a dominant negative mutant of the atypical λ/ι protein kinase C (λ/ιPKC). These data strongly suggest that the signal triggered by PDGF flows through Ras and bifurcates toward two distinct pathways, one operating through Raf and involving PEA3-AP-1 and the other one Raf-independent, operating through λ/ιPKC and SPRE-AP-1. Furthermore, we present evidence suggesting that the novel SPRE-binding transcription factor SPBP cross-couples with c-Jun to transactivate the SPRE site.
Night admission is an independent risk factor for mortality in trauma patients - a systemic error approach.

OBJECTIVE to assess the impact of the shift inlet trauma patients, who underwent surgery, in-hospital mortality. METHODS a retrospective observational cohort study from November 2011 to March 2012, with data collected through electronic medical records. The following variables were statistically analyzed: age, gender, city of origin, marital status, admission to the risk classification (based on the Manchester Protocol), degree of contamination, time / admission round, admission day and hospital outcome. RESULTS during the study period, 563 patients injured victims underwent surgery, with a mean age of 35.5 years (± 20.7), 422 (75%) were male, with 276 (49.9%) received in the night shift and 205 (36.4%) on weekends. Patients admitted at night and on weekends had higher mortality [19 (6.9%) vs. 6 (2.2%), p=0.014, and 11 (5.4%) vs. 14 (3.9%), p=0.014, respectively]. In the multivariate analysis, independent predictors of mortality were the night admission (OR 3.15), the red risk classification (OR 4.87), and age (OR 1.17). CONCLUSION the admission of night shift and weekend patients was associated with more severe and presented higher mortality rate. Admission to the night shift was an independent factor of surgical mortality in trauma patients, along with the red risk classification and age.