Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radiation for persistent or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: a need for reassessment

Purpose The role of radiotherapy (RT) was largely deserted after the introduction of platinum-based chemotherapy, but still survival rates are disappointingly low. This study focuses on assessing the clinical efficacy of RT in relation to chemotherapy resistance. Materials and Methods From October 2002 to January 2015, 44 patients were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and treated with palliative RT for persistent or recurrent EOC. All patients received initial treatment with optimal debulking surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. The biologically effective dose (BED) was calculated with α/β set at 10. Ninety-four sites were treated with RT with a median BED of 50.7 Gy (range 28.0 to 79.2 Gy). The primary end-point was the in-field local control (LC) interval, defined as the time interval from the date RT was completed to the date any progressive or newly recurring disease within the RT field was detected on radiographic imaging. Results The median follow-up duration was 52.3 months (range 7.7 to 179.0 months). The 1-year and 2-year in-field LC rates were 66.0% and 55.0%, respectively. Comparisons of percent change of in-field tumor response showed similar distribution of responses among chemoresistant and chemosensitive tumors. On multivariate analysis of predictive factors for in-field LC analyzed by sites treated, BED ≥ 50 Gy (hazard ratio, 0.4; confidence interval, 0.2–0.9; p = 0.025) showed better outcomes. Conclusion Regardless of resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy, RT can be a feasible treatment modality for patients with persistent of recurrent EOC. The specific role of RT using updated approaches needs to be reassessed.
Vitamin D Status and Risk of Cardiovascular Events: Lessons Learned via Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Accumulating data linking hypovitaminosis D to cardiovascular (CV) events has contributed to large increases in vitamin D testing and supplementation. To evaluate the merits of this practice, we conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis providing a framework for interpreting the literature associating hypovitaminosis D with increased CV events. Prospective studies were identified by search of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to January 2010, restricted to English language publications. Two authors independently extracted data and graded study quality. Pooled relative risks (RR) were calculated using a random effects model. Ten studies met criteria for review and 7 were included in meta-analysis. Pooled RR for CV events using FAIR and GOOD quality studies was 1.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.23–2.28) during an average follow-up of 11.8 years. There was evidence of significant heterogeneity across studies (Q statistics = 16.6, P = 0.01, I2 = 63.8%), which was eliminated after omitting 2 studies identified by sensitivity analysis (RR, 1.34 [1.08–1.67]; P for heterogeneity =0.33). When restricting analysis to GOOD quality studies (RR, 1.27 [1.04–1.56]), no significant heterogeneity was found (P = 0.602). Systematic review identified significant shortcomings in the literature, including variability in defining vitamin D status, seasonal adjustments, defining and determining CV outcomes, and the use of baseline vitamin D levels. In conclusion, a modest increased risk of CV events associated with hypovitaminosis D is tempered by significant limitations within the current literature. These findings underscore the importance of critical appraisal of the literature, looking beyond reported risk estimates before translating results into clinical practice.
Notice of RetractionGenome Cloning of Human Bocavirus (HBoV1) and Prospective Study of NP1 Gene Transcription

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a recently discovered parvovirus which is suspected to be an etiologic agent of respiratory disease and gastrointestinal disease in humans. In this study, We detected positive samples for HBoV1 from nasopharyngeal aspirates and constructed the nearly full-length genome clone designated as pWHL-1(GenBank Acession NO. GU139423). Furthermore, using the RT-PCR and 3'RACE method we identified different viral mRNAs of NP1 gene in 293T cells transfected by pWHL-1. The mRNAs were varied due to alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation. Our results showed that gene transcription occurred in pWHL-1 transfected cells even without inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) structure of the viral genome.
The Impact of Loose Monetary Policy on the Competitiveness of Czech Firms

The aim of this paper is to examine whether the policy of low interest rates and exchange rate commitment of the Czech National Bank affected the competitiveness of non-financial firms in the Czech Republic in the sectors of agriculture, construction and manufacturing. Panel techniques are employed to investigate the impact of monetary policy on selected indicators of firms’ competitiveness, measured by financial performance in this study. Size and sectoral characteristics are reflected when analysing the impact of monetary policy. The empirical evidence is based on firm-level data from the Amadeus database for the period between 2006 and 2015. Evaluating monetary policy effects on the whole sample, our empirical evidence suggested that the competitiveness of Czech firms measured by indicators of financial performance increases. The results vary among profitability ratios, but the highest influence was investigated for the ROE ratio. We found that monetary policy affected firm-specific characteristics, and firm-specific variables in interaction with monetary policy affected competitiveness of firms. FX interventions were also a significant factor in competitiveness in all cases.
Collagen Cross-linking and Ultimate Tensile Strength in Dentin

Several studies have indicated differences in bond strength of dental materials to crown and root dentin. To investigate the potential differences in matrix properties between these locations, we analyzed upper root and crown dentin in human third molars for ultimate tensile strength and collagen biochemistry. In both locations, tensile strength tested perpendicular to the direction of dentinal tubules (undemineralized crown = 140.4 ± 48.6/root = 95.9 ± 26.1; demineralized crown = 16.6 ± 6.3/root = 29.0 ± 12.4) was greater than that tested parallel to the tubular direction (undemineralized crown = 73.1 ± 21.2/root = 63.2 ± 22.6; demineralized crown = 9.0 ± 3.9/root = 16.2 ± 8.0). The demineralized specimens showed significantly greater tensile strength in root than in crown. Although the collagen content was comparable in both locations, two major collagen cross-links, dehydrodihydroxylysinonorleucine/its ketoamine and pyridinoline, were significantly higher in the root (by ~ 30 and ~ 55%, respectively) when compared with those in the crown. These results indicate that the profile of collagen cross-linking varies as a function of anatomical location in dentin and that the difference may partly explain the site-specific tensile strength.
Involvement of the exopolysaccharide alginate in the virulence and epiphytic fitness of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae

Alginate, a co‐polymer of O‐acetylated β‐1,4‐linked d‐mannuronic acid and l‐guluronic acid, has been reported to function in the virulence of Pseudomonas syringae, although genetic studies to test this hypothesis have not been undertaken previously. In the present study, we used a genetic approach to evaluate the role of alginate in the pathogenicity of P. syringae pv. syringae 3525, which causes bacterial brown spot on beans. Alginate biosynthesis in strain 3525 was disrupted by recombining Tn5 into algL, which encodes alginate lyase, resulting in 3525.L. Alginate production in 3525.L was restored by the introduction of pSK2 or pAD4033, which contain the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster from P. syringae pv. syringae FF5 or the algA gene from P. aeruginosa respectively. The role of alginate in the epiphytic fitness of strain 3525 was assessed by monitoring the populations of 3525 and 3525.L on tomato, which is not a host for this pathogen. The mutant 3525.L was significantly impaired in its ability to colonize tomato leaves compared with 3525, indicating that alginate functions in the survival of strain 3525 on leaf surfaces. The contribution of alginate to the virulence of strain 3525 was evaluated by comparing the population dynamics and symptom development of 3525 and 3525.L in bean leaves. Although 3525.L retained the ability to form lesions on bean leaves, symptoms were less severe, and the population was significantly reduced in comparison with 3525. These results indicate that alginate contributes to the virulence of P. syringae pv. syringae 3525, perhaps by facilitating colonization or dissemination of the bacterium in planta.
Effects of a low birthweight infant formula containing human milk levels of docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids.

Long-chain (LC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (LCP) are considered conditionally essential nutrients for low birth weight infants (LBWI). Therefore, enrichment of LBWI formulae with metabolites both linoleic (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic (omega-3) acids at levels typical for human milk has been recommended. However, previous feeding trials with LCP-enriched formulae evaluated only a dietary supplementation with omega-3 LCP from fish oils alone or with both omega-3 and omega-6 LCP at levels considerably lower than usual human milk contents. We studied the effects of an LBWI formula providing the major omega-3 and omega-6 LCP, docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids, in amounts similar to those in average human milk. Twenty-seven LBWIs were enrolled in this study when they tolerated full enteral feeding (> or = 130 ml milk/kg/day). Infants either received their own mother's milk (n = 8, birthweight 1218 +/- 146 g, gestational age 30.2 +/- 1.5 weeks, mean +/- SD) fortified with protein and minerals (FM-85, Nestle Ag, Munchen, Germany; dosage 5 g/100 ml milk) or were randomly assigned to blinded batches of an LBWI formula (Prematil, Milupa AG, Friedrichsdorf, Germany) without LCP (n = 10, 1280 +/- 229 g, 31.1 +/- 3.1 weeks) or with LCP (n = 9, 1253 +/- 334 g, 30.4 +/- 3.3 wks.). During the study period of 21 days, the three feeding groups did not differ in growth and feeding tolerances as assessed by occurrence of gastric residuals, spitting, or abdominal distention; however, firms stools were noted more frequently in the two formula groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Human papilloma virus (HPV) type 16 and 18 detected in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Recently the HPV genome has been detected in 75-80% of uterine cervical squamous cell carcinomas. High-risk HPV 16,18,31,33, and 45 are frequently associated with invasive carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and nasal cavity. In this study we investigated the association of HPV16 and 18 in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) using PCR-based methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-eight fresh frozen tissues from HNSCC were collected. The samples were consisted of 26 cases from the larynx, 19 from the nasal and paranasal sinus, 16 the hypopharynx, 14 the oral cavity, 13 the oropharynx, and 10 from the nasopharynx. The presence of HPV genome was examined by PCR using HPV16 and 18 specific primers encoding E7 ORF. RESULTS HPV16-DNA was detected in 23% of all cases (23/98), 31% (8/26) larynx, 16% (3/19) nasal and paranasal sinus, 19% (3/16) hypopharynx, 21% (3/14) oral cavity, 38% (5/13) oropharynx, and 10% (1/10) nasopharynx. HPV18-DNA was detected in 4% of all cases (4/98), 8% (2/26) larynx, and 15% (2/13) oropharynx. 54% (7/13) in oropharynx and 38% (10/26) in larynx showed rather high prevalence in the head and neck. CONCLUSIONS HPV 16 and 18 play an important role in carcinogenesis of the head and neck, especially, in the oropharynx and larynx.
Low Latency Approximate Adder for Highly Correlated Input Streams

Approximate computing helps achieve better performance or energy efficiency by trading accuracy. Most approximate adders are composed of multiple sub-adders and long carry chains are split to reduce latency, thus benefiting from the fact that carry propagation across long carry chains is rare for uniformly distributed inputs. One key tradeoff of these approximate adders is between latency and error rate. The more prediction bits are used, the lower is the error rate, but the latency is longer. In this paper, we present a Correlation Aware Predictor (CAP) which utilizes spatial-temporal correlation information of input streams to predict carry-in value for sub-adders. CAP uses less prediction bits which help reduce adder latency significantly. For highly correlated input streams, we found that CAP can reduce adder latency by about 23% at the same error rate compared to prior work. We implemented a CAP-based approximate adder in Verilog and synthesized with TSMC 16nm library. Synthesis results show that CAP-based adder can reduce latency by 25% and save 13% in silicon area compared to state-of-the-art.
Factors influencing synthesis and mineralization of bone matrix from fetal bovine bone cells grown in vitro

This study of the in vitro synthesis and mineralization of bovine bone demonstrates that sheets of mineralized matrix can be produced consistently within 18–24 days of cell isolation. Mineralization surpasses that achieved by other systems with other species: The deposition of mineral extends beyond nodules to form branching trabeculae and then solid wafers of bone. Comparison of the fetal age of the bone source, enzyme digestion methods, seeding density, culture surface, nutritive media, and concentration of fetal calf serum and other additives, including insulin and ascorbic acid, has yielded a set of optimal culture conditions. In the presence of ascorbic acid and β‐glycerol phosphate, insulin has a dose‐dependent effect on the morphology of the mineralized bone matrix produced. Quantitative analysis shows that in these cultures calcium accumulates most rapidly between days 6 and 10 after the introduction of mineralization medium but that mineral accretion continues throughout 14–16 days of culture. Alkaline phosphatase levels rise up to 200‐fold, concomitant with a rapid increase in the number of cells per culture during the early mineralization phases; both fall as mineralization proceeds. This system has been used to study the induction of mRNA of type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and several noncollagenous bone proteins during the course of mineralization. Because of the degree of mineralization achieved with this system, it has many potential applications.
Lost in Administration: (Re)Producing Precarious Citizenship for Young University-Educated Intra-EU Migrants in Brussels

The mounting backlash against intra-EU migration in various EU countries has triggered national policies seeking to restrict EU citizens’ social rights and freedom of movement. Building on and expanding Noora Lori’s work around this concept, the article examines intra-EU migrants’ increasingly unsettled legal statuses as potentially precarious citizenship. Focusing on the experiences of young university-educated intra-EU migrants in Brussels, the article claims that, in the absence of straightforward EU legislation and explicit government policies, administrative actors use their discretion to draw indeterminate boundaries enforcing conditionality and temporariness of status for EU citizens in precarious work arrangements, therefore often increasing the pressure on them to take further precarious jobs. The article argues that, under the conditions of precarious employment, not even migrants with privileged access to citizenship rights are protected from processes of boundary enforcement that institutionalise the ambiguity of statuses and produce precarious citizenship.
Effects of sparse sampling schemes on image quality in low-dose CT.

PURPOSE Various scanning methods and image reconstruction algorithms are actively investigated for low-dose computed tomography (CT) that can potentially reduce a health-risk related to radiation dose. Particularly, compressive-sensing (CS) based algorithms have been successfully developed for reconstructing images from sparsely sampled data. Although these algorithms have shown promises in low-dose CT, it has not been studied how sparse sampling schemes affect image quality in CS-based image reconstruction. In this work, the authors present several sparse-sampling schemes for low-dose CT, quantitatively analyze their data property, and compare effects of the sampling schemes on the image quality. METHODS Data properties of several sampling schemes are analyzed with respect to the CS-based image reconstruction using two measures: sampling density and data incoherence. The authors present five different sparse sampling schemes, and simulated those schemes to achieve a targeted dose reduction. Dose reduction factors of about 75% and 87.5%, compared to a conventional scan, were tested. A fully sampled circular cone-beam CT data set was used as a reference, and sparse sampling has been realized numerically based on the CBCT data. RESULTS It is found that both sampling density and data incoherence affect the image quality in the CS-based reconstruction. Among the sampling schemes the authors investigated, the sparse-view, many-view undersampling (MVUS)-fine, and MVUS-moving cases have shown promising results. These sampling schemes produced images with similar image quality compared to the reference image and their structure similarity index values were higher than 0.92 in the mouse head scan with 75% dose reduction. CONCLUSIONS The authors found that in CS-based image reconstructions both sampling density and data incoherence affect the image quality, and suggest that a sampling scheme should be devised and optimized by use of these indicators. With this strategic approach, one can acquire optimally sampled sparse data so that the CS-based algorithms can best perform in terms of image quality.
Hypoadiponectinemia predicts impaired endothelium-independent vasodilation in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients: an 8-year prospective study.

BACKGROUND Adiponectin is an adipokine with insulin-sensitising and anti-atherogenic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate whether low adiponectin levels predict the impairment of endothelial function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients in an 8-year prospective study. METHODS In the prospective study, we enrolled 133 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients without subclinical atherosclerosis and gave them intensive therapy; the mean treatment period was 8 years. Intensive treatment was a stepwise implementation of behavior modification and pharmacological therapy targeting hyperglycaemia, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity. We measured baseline circulating adiponectin with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation by high-resolution vascular ultrasound. At year 8, 102 patients were reexamined for endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation. RESULTS Sex-adjusted adiponectin level was positively correlated with endothelium-independent vasodilation both at baseline (r = 0.150, P = 0.043) and at year 8 (r = 0.339, P = 0.001), whereas no association was found between adiponectin and endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In a stepwise multivariate linear regression model, adiponectin was an independent predictor for impaired endothelium-independent vasodilation at year 8 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Plasma adiponectin concentration was associated with endothelium-independent vasodilation and hypoadiponectinemia predicted the impairment of endothelium-independent vasodilation in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients under multifactorial intervention. These data support the causative link of impairment of endothelium-independent vasodilation with hypoadiponectinemia.
The Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plants on New Zealand Dairy Farms

Ecological restoration of marginal land and riparian zones in agricultural landscapes in New Zealand enhances the provision of above-ground ecosystem services. We investigated whether native endemic plant assemblages have remediation potential, through modifying soil nutrient and trace element mobility. Analysis of native plant foliage in situ indicated that selective uptake of a range of commonly deficient trace elements including Zn, B, Cu, Mn and Co could provide a browse crop to avoid deficiencies of these elements in livestock, although some native plants may enhance the risk of Mo and Cd toxicity. Native plant rhizospheres were found to modify soil physico-chemistry and are likely to influence lateral and vertical fluxes of chemical elements in drainage waters. Native plants on marginal land in agricultural landscapes could add value to dairy production systems whilst helping to resolve topical environmental issues.
Genetics and the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis

Purpose of reviewThe field of genetic research in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is advancing rapidly. The purpose of this review is to outline recent findings, particularly, in regard to genetic studies of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the non-MHC genes IL23R, ERAP1, and killer cell immunologlobulin-like receptor (KIR) complex, in AS. Recent findingsConvincing evidence has been reported for the existence of further non-B27 MHC genes involved in AS. Strong, replicated association has been reported with IL23R and ERAP1 and AS. The IL23R finding strongly implicates the TH17 lymphocyte system in AS aetiopathogenesis. Suggestive evidence of a role for KIR gene polymorphism in AS exists, but definitive findings are awaited. SummaryThe findings suggest that further genome-wide studies in large case–control cohorts are likely to be very productive in this disease. The IL23R findings and subsequent immunological investigations suggest that targeted intervention in the TH17 system is likely to have major therapeutic benefit, as it does in the genetically related diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.
Morphometrical analysis of placental functional efficiency in normotensive versus preeclamptic South African black women

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the umbilical cord centrality, placental morphometrics, and functional efficiency in preeclampsia. Methods: Placental morphometry of normotensive (n = 69) and preeclamptic (n = 69) patients was evaluated. Results: There was a significant reduction in mean placental surface area (p = 0.0001), length (p = 0.0001), thickness (p = 0.016), and volume (p = 0.0001) in the preeclamptic than in the normotensive groups. Umbilical cord insertion was predominantly eccentric with marginal in early (29%) and late-onset preeclampsia (16%). Placental and birth weight was lower (p = 0.0001) in preeclampsia than in the normotensive group. Placental efficiency was reduced in early-onset preeclampsia. Conclusion: This study demonstrates reduced placental morphometrics with impaired placental efficiency in preeclampsia.