Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: results of modern therapy including cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

PURPOSE Primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) are uncommon neoplasms and clinically and biologically distinct from other germ cell tumors (GCT). We describe the clinical and biologic features of these patients and evaluate the results of treatment during the cisplatin era. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1976 and 1993, 38 patients with mediastinal NSGCT received cisplatin-based chemotherapy as part of their primary treatment. Twenty-nine of them were initially treated at the Institut Gustave-Roussy (IGR), VillejuiF, France, and nine were referred for salvage treatment. RESULTS Of the 29 patients initially treated at IGR, 11 (39%) had metastasis. A complete response (CR) to therapy was obtained in 19 of 29 patients (66%) after chemotherapy and surgery. Ten patients (34.5%) have remained free of disease with a median follow-up of 89 months. All patients who did not achieve a CR died of disease. The 2-year overall survival rate for the IGR patients is 45% and the 2-year disease-free survival is 37%. Only the presence of extrapulmonary metastasis was of prognostic significance in the univariate analysis (P = .0095). None of the 20 patients who required salvage therapy is currently disease-free. Five patients developed and subsequently died of a hematologic malignancy at an interval range of 1 to 47 months from treatment of mediastinal NSGCT. Cytogenetic analysis of leukemic cells found an isochromosome of the short arm of chromosome 12 (12p) in two cases. The incidence of leukemia was 21% in patients who attained a CR. CONCLUSION Primary mediastinal NSGCT is a clinical and biologic entity that should be distinguished from other GCT. About 40% of these patients can envisage long-term survival with modern therapy that includes cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by surgical resection of residual masses. New strategies are required for patients who do not attain a CR. Predictive factors and improvement in therapy are required for mediastinal NSGCT-associated leukemia.
The evaluation of the patients admitted to a burn center in Turkey.

BACKGROUND Burns constitute an important part of the accident-related deaths due to high morbidity and mortality. METHODS The medical records of 778 (279 female) patients who were treated during last three years period were retrospectively analyzed concerning age, gender, the cause of the burn, the month when the burn occurred, admission date, duration of the hospital stay, area of the burn. The relationship between these parameters and the mortality was analyzed. RESULTS The average age of the patients was 20 years. The burns were related to accidents in 87% patients, abuse in 8%, co-morbid diseases in 3% and suicidal attempts in 2%. In 48% of the cases there were hot fluid burns and in 37% (284) fire-flames. The burns were due to electrical burns in 13% patients and to other reasons in the remaining 2%. One hundred and seventy - two patients had fatal courses. The mortality rate was 75% in 12 patients who were above 60 years. Average burn area was 24% (10-100) and average hospital stay was 13 days. CONCLUSION As most of the burns were due to accidents, the number of burns might be reduced by prioritizing preventive measures and better results could be obtained when the quality and the number of the burn centers is increased.
8-[(Hydrazinylidene)methyl]-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate

In the title compound, C18H16N2O5S, the coumarin ring system is nearly planar, with a maximum out-of-plane deviation of 0.078 (1) Å (r.m.s. deviation = 0.046 Å). The dihedral angle between the coumarin ring system and the toluene ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.004 Å) is 2.77 (1)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by C—H⋯O and N—H⋯O intermolecular hydrogen bonds generating C(8), C(9) and C(11) chains and R 2 2(14), R 2 2(23) and R 4 3(13) ring graph sets.
A comparison of treatment-seeking pathological gamblers based on preferred gambling activity.

AIMS To compare and contrast gamblers with different forms of problematic gambling activities. DESIGN, SETTING AND MEASUREMENTS: Pathological gamblers completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and gambling questionnaires when initiating out-patient treatment. PARTICIPANTS Participants (n = 347) were categorized by their most problematic form of gambling activity: sports, horse/dog-races, cards, slots and scratch/lottery tickets. Differences in demographics, gambling variables, and ASI composite scores were compared across groups. FINDINGS After controlling for demographic variables, the types of gamblers differed in severity of gambling, alcohol and psychiatric problems. Horse/dog-race gamblers were generally older, male and less educated; they began gambling regularly at a young age and spent relatively high amounts of money gambling. Sports gamblers were young males and had intermediary gambling problems; they had relatively high rates of current substance use but few psychiatric problems. Card players spent low to moderate amounts of time and money gambling, and they generally reported few alcohol problems and little psychiatric distress. Slot machine players were older and more likely to be female. Slot gamblers began gambling later in life, had high rates of bankruptcy and reported psychiatric difficulties. Scratch/lottery gamblers spent the least amount of money gambling, but they gambled the most frequently and had relatively severe alcohol and psychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Gambling patterns and severity of psychosocial problems vary by form of problematic gambling, and these differences may influence treatment recommendations and outcomes.
Changes in the phage-typing patterns of staphylococci following lysogenization.

SUMMARY: Staphylococcal strains which showed a range of reactions with the phages 47C, 52, 52A, 80 and 81 were examined for changes in phage sensitivity following artificial lysogenization. The lysogenic phages used were isolated from strains of three different phage-typing patterns and differed in serology. The changes in phage reactions thus produced included: (1) immunity to the B phages, 52, 52A and 80 produced by a B phage; (2) immunity to the A phage 81 produced by a serologically unrelated F phage; (3) immunity to phage 47C and sensitivity to phages 52 and 52A produced by a number of A phages. The mechanisms whereby a variety of typing patterns may be obtained within a related group of staphylococci are discussed.
Effect of lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK‐23 (LFK) on allergen‐induced peritoneal accumulation of eosinophils in mice

Background The interest in anti‐allergy immunoregulation by lactic acid bacteria has been growing for the last few decades. There is some evidence to suggest that lysed Enterococcus faecalis FK‐23 (LFK) could relieve the clinical symptoms of pollinosis. However, the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon remains unknown.
Event detection for Non Intrusive load monitoring

Monitoring electricity consumption in the home is an important way to help reduce energy usage and Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) techniques are a promising approach to obtain estimates of the electrical power consumption of individual appliances from aggregate measurements of voltage and/or current in the distribution system. In this paper, we discuss event detection algorithms used in the NILM literature and propose new metrics for evaluating them. In particular, we introduce metrics that incorporate information contained in the power signal instead of strict detection rates. We show that this information is important for NILM applications with the goal of improving appliance energy disaggregation. Our work was carried out on a publicly-available week-long dataset of real residential power usage.
Root biomass and shoot to root ratios of perennial forage crops in eastern Canada

Shoot to root ratios (S:R) at peak standing crop are commonly used to estimate the annual crop residue C inputs to the soil from the root biomass left in the soil at harvest. However, root biomass has often been neglected in field studies and estimates of S:R for many commonly grown forage species are not available. Our objective was to determine root biomass and S:R of seven perennial grass species and two perennial legume species under eastern Canadian soil and climatic conditions. Root biomass in three soil layers (0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm) was measured shortly after the second harvest in the first (1995) and second (1996) year of production. Two harvests of aboveground DM were taken each year. The total root biomass (0–45 cm) in the second year of production (average of 1437 g m-2) was twice that measured in the first year of production (average of 683 g m-2). This temporal variation was mainly explained by the increase of root biomass in the 0- to 15-cm layer. The proportion of total root biomass (0–.
Ensayo Preliminar sobre la Utilización de un Medidor Portátil de Clorofila para Estimar el Nitrógeno Foliar en Orégano (Origanum vulgare L.)

El nitrogeno es el elemento esencial que las plantas requieren en mayor cantidad para su nutricion, por tanto, una baja disponibilidad en los suelos limita la productividad de los cultivos. Existen diferentes metodos para determinar su concentracion en el suelo y el tejido foliar. Se ha comprobado que la cuantificacion de clorofila en el tejido foliar tiene relacion directa con su contenido de nitrogeno. Por ello, los medidores portatiles de clorofila permiten estimar de manera indirecta, instantanea y sin destruccion de tejidos, el contenido de clorofila y nitrogeno en hojas de diferentes plantas cultivadas. En este trabajo se evaluo de manera preliminar el medidor portatil de clorofila Minolta SPAD®-502 como indicador del nitrogeno foliar en oregano vegetativo, por la importancia de este en el mercado de aromaticas. Se realizo en UMNG (Cajica, Cundinamarca, 4o 56.705’ N, 74o00.704’ O, 2580 m.s.n.m). En un primer ensayo con el cultivar Ingles, bajo un DCA se probaron diferentes dosis de N (0, 0.18, 0.36, 0.55 y 0.73 mg·planta-1), empleando urea granulada incorporada al sustrato de plantas en matera. En un segundo ensayo con oregano Griego, se realizaron fertirrigaciones con diferentes concentraciones de N (0, 52.5, 105, 157.5 y 210 ppm), empleando NH4 NO3 . Para cada tratamiento se realizaron lecturas de los valores SPAD sobre hojas expandidas de los tercios superior, medio e inferior de las plantas. El contenido de nitrogeno foliar se determino por el metodo de Kjendahl. Se realizaron correlaciones entre las lecturas SPAD y el porcentaje de nitrogeno foliar. Se encontro una relacion lineal entre las dos variables, con P=0.0005, r=0.99 y R2 =0.99 para el primer ensayo y P=0.001, r=0.8 y R2 =0.64 para el segundo ensayo. Se comprobo que el clorofilometro utilizado es potencialmente confiable para estimar el nitrogeno foliar en plantas de oregano vegetativas.
Self-determination Theory and the psychology of exercise

The purpose of the Self-determination Theory is to explain motivation and behaviour based on individual differences in motivational orientations, contextual influences, and interpersonal perceptions. The theory has shown utility in explaining the antecedents and processes that underpin exercise behaviour. This review will provide an overview of the theory and its application in explaining health-related exercise motivation, behaviour, and outcomes. Recent innovative research using the theory in exercise contexts will also be reviewed in two key areas: advances in measurement and theoretical integration. Based on this evidence, recommendations for future investigations will be made advocating the development instruments to measure self-determined motivation from first principles, the adoption of experimental and intervention designs to better infer causal links between self-determined motivation and behaviour, further investigation of the role of implicit self-determined motivation in predicting behaviour, and the integration of the Self-determination Theory with other theories of motivation, e.g. the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Achievement Goal Theory, to provide complimentary explanations of self-determined motivation in exercise contexts. Based on the evidence, the Self-determination Theory demonstrates considerable efficacy in explaining exercise motivation and behaviour. Future research should adopt these recommendations to develop the theory further with a view to informing intervention and practice.
Emerging drugs for the treatment of cervical cancer

Introduction: Worldwide, most cervical cancer (CC) patients require the use of drug therapy either adjuvant, concurrent with radiation or palliative. Areas covered: This review briefly discusses the current achievements in treating CC with an emphasis in emerging agents. Expert opinion: Concurrent cisplatin with radiation and lately, gemcitabine-cisplatin chemoradiation has resulted in small but significant improvements in the treatment of locally advanced and high-risk early-stage patients. So far, only antiangiogenic therapy with bevacizumab added to cisplatin chemoradiation has demonstrated safety and encouraging results in a Phase II study. In advanced disease, cisplatin doublets yield median survival rates not exceeding 14 months. The first Phase III study of bevacizumab, added to standard chemotherapy cisplatin- or non-cisplatin-containing doublet, has shown significant increase in both overall survival and progression-free survival. Further studies are needed before bevacizumab plus chemotherapy can be considered the standard of care for advanced disease. The characterization of the mutational landscape of CC and developments of novel targeted therapies may result in more effective and individualized treatments for CC. The potential efficacy of knocking down the key alterations in CC, E6 and E7 human papilloma virus oncoproteins must not be overlooked.
The supportive care needs for prostate cancer patients in Sarawak.

BACKGROUND This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of unmet supportive care needs among prostate cancer patients. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted among all prostate cancer patients at the Sarawak General Hospital. Interview was done using the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form (SCNS-SF) and the Health Service Utilization Questionnaires (HSUQ). Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20. RESULTS A total of ninety-five patients participated, with majority were aged 65 and above and of primary educational level. The two most frequently reported unmet supportive care needs were "informed about cancer which is under control or diminishing" and "informed about things you can do to help yourself to get well" under the domain Health System and Information. Respondents who were older (65 years and above) had significant lower unmet needs in psychology (P<0.01), and sexuality compared to the younger group below 65 years (P<0.01). Except for physical and daily living, respondents with primary school level had significant lower unmet needs in all domains compared to secondary school level. Respondents with known stages of cancer had higher unmet needs in all domains compared to those who did not know. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare providers should provide more responsive, emotionally sensitive and client-centered care to patients with prostate cancer, particularly in the area of Health System and Information, and psychological support.
Earth's Core-Mantle Boundary: Results of Experiments at High Pressures and Temperatures

Laboratory experiments document that liquid iron reacts chemically with silicates at high pressures (≥2.4 x 1010 Pascals) and temperatures. In particular, (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite, the most abundant mineral of Earth's lower mantle, is expected to react with liquid iron to produce metallic alloys (FeO and FeSi) and nonmetallic silicates (SiO2 stishovite and MgSiO3 perovskite) at the pressures of the core-mantle boundary, 14 x 1010 Pascals. The experimental observations, in conjunction with seismological data, suggest that the lowermost 200 to 300 kilometers of Earth's mantle, the D" layer, may be an extremely heterogeneous region as a result of chemical reactions between the silicate mantle and the liquid iron alloy of Earth's core. The combined thermal-chemical-electrical boundary layer resulting from such reactions offers a plausible explanation for the complex behavior of seismic waves near the core-mantle boundary and could influence Earth's magnetic field observed at the surface.
Interrupted therapy

A retrospective chart review of patients in British Columbia with multiple sclerosis prescribed β-interferon (IFNβ) between 1995 and 2001 was carried out to investigate reasons for the interruption of therapy. The highest proportion of interruptions (76/281; 27%) occurred in the first 6 months. The single most common reason was perceived lack of efficacy, cited by 84 of 281 (30%). Gender, disability, and disease duration were identified as factors influencing interruption of IFNβ therapy.
[Study on the prevalence of depression and its risk factors among high school students in Nanjing].

OBJECTIVE To study the prevalence of depression and its major risk factors among high school students in Nanjing, China. METHODS A population-based cross sectional study was conducted between October 2004 and December 2004. 168 classes from 56 schools were randomly selected in thirteen administrative districts/counties of Nanjing, China. Data from a total number of 7161 eligible students including 71.0% from junior high school and 29.0% from senior high school students with 49.4% boys and 50.6% girls. Among them 47.6% from urban and 52.4% from rural area. The response rate was 92.5%. RESULTS The overall prevalence of depression was 14.8% in this sample which was higher in boys (16.4%) than in girls (13.0%). There was no significant difference between junior and senior high school students (14.6% vs. 15.4%) or between age groups and urban rural residence. The identified major risk factors would include: lack of interest on learning, unmet academic achievements, lack of self-estimated capability of competence, too much burden on learning, lack of close friends, badving relation with friends/relatives, indifferent attitude towards friends/relatives, status of parents employment, and family structure. CONCLUSION The prevalence of depression was 14.8%, which was close to the figure in Asian-American high school students. More attention should be paid on the issue of mental health in high school students under the rapid transition of society, economy, life style and ideas in China.
Axonal cap‐dependent translation regulates presynaptic p35

Axonal growth cones synthesize proteins during development and in response to injury in adult animals. Proteins locally translated in axons are used to generate appropriate responses to guidance cues, contribute to axon growth, and can serve as retrograde messengers. In addition to growth cones, mRNAs and translational machinery are also found along the lengths of axons where synapses form en passant, but contributions of intra‐axonal translation to developing synapses are poorly understood. Here, we engineered a subcellular‐targeting translational repressor to inhibit mRNA translation in axons, and we used this strategy to investigate presynaptic contributions of cap‐dependent protein translation to developing CNS synapses. Our data show that intra‐axonal mRNA translation restrains synaptic vesicle recycling pool size and that one target of this regulation is p35, a Cdk5 activating protein. Cdk5/p35 signaling regulates the size of vesicle recycling pools, p35 levels diminish when cap‐dependent translation is repressed, and restoring p35 levels rescues vesicle recycling pools from the effects of spatially targeted translation repression. Together our findings show that intra‐axonal synthesis of p35 is required for normal vesicle recycling in developing neurons, and that targeted translational repression provides a novel strategy to investigate extrasomal protein synthesis in neurons. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 74: 351–364, 2014
Anemia management in chronic kidney disease: role of factors affecting epoetin responsiveness.

The article by Coladonato et al. , “Trends in Anemia Management among US Hemodialysis Patients,” ([1][1]) notes an encouraging increase in mean hematocrit levels from 31.1% to 34.1% between 1994 and 1998, an increase into the target range (33 to 36%) recommended by the 1997 and 2000 DOQI Anemia
A Note on the Existence of Nash Equilibrium in Games with Discontinuous Payoffs

This paper generalises the approach taken by Dasgupta & Maskin (1986) and Simon (1989) and provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of pure and mixed strategy Nash equilibrium in games with continuous strategy spaces and discontinuous payoff functions. The conditions can be applied widely, and examples for existence of pure strategy and monotonic equilibria in First-Price auctions are provided. The conditions are also appropriate for ensuring that computer generated equilibrium solutions can be extended to continuous strategy spaces.
Desert dust aerosol columnar properties over ocean and continental Africa from Lidar in-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) and Meteosat synergy

[1] The new generation of spaceborne backscatter lidar systems, prefigured by the Lidar in-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) mission in September 1994, will give new insight on the vertical distribution of both aerosols and clouds in the atmosphere. This is especially of importance for aerosols over land, where retrievals from passive sensors are known to be more difficult because of the surface contribution. Here we analyze mineral dust aerosol transport events through a new approach coupling the active LITE and passive Meteosat-5 spaceborne observations. The Meteosat-derived aerosol optical thickness at 550 nm is shown to be a good boundary condition for the lidar inversion in order to retrieve both the aerosol backscatter to extinction ratio (BER) and the aerosol extinction vertical profile above the Tropical Atlantic Ocean (TAO) and the Mediterranean Sea. Sensitivity tests indicate that the aerosol scattering coefficient is retrieved within a 20% relative uncertainty. Air mass trajectories allow us to further retrieve the vertical profile of aerosol optical properties over the continent in the Saharan Heat Low (SHL) region using the BER determined over the ocean. Results confirm a large dispersion of the BER which is not attributed to errors in the method. This shows the need to account for such dispersion in the retrieval of dust aerosol optical thickness and aerosol impact on the earth radiative budget. The coupling between LITE and Meteosat-5 made here is shown to be interesting for an improvement of the direct dust aerosol forcing, and results should be improved by the CALIOP-MODIS synergy.