Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of the presence of tertiary Gleason grade 5 in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy specimens in Japanese patients with clinically localized prostate cancer

Background The aim of this study was to study the prognostic significance of tertiary Gleason grade (TGG) 5 in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods A total of 600 Japanese patients who underwent RARP for clinical stage T1-3N0M0 prostate cancer were evaluated. TGG5 was evaluated according to the International Society of Urological Pathology criterion. Cox hazard regression was used to evaluate the prognostic significance of prostate-specific antigen and pathological features in RARP specimens. Results Of the 600 RARP specimens, 92 (15%) had TGG5. TGG5 component was found in 30 (10%) of 287 cases with Gleason score (GS) 3 + 4, 55 (37%) of 149 cases with GS 4 + 3 and 7 (17%) of 40 cases with GS 4 + 4. There were no significant differences in pathological stage and surgical margin status between GS 3 + 4 with and without TGG5, as well as between GS 4 + 4 with and without TGG5. Of the 600 patients, 92 (15%) patients had biochemical recurrence (BCR) after surgery, with a median follow-up period of 42 (3-104) months. There were no differences in 5-year BCR-free survival rates between patients with GS 3 + 4 with and without TGG5 (92 vs. 100%, P = 0.16), as well as between patients with GS 4 + 3 with and without TGG5 (79 vs. 71%, P = 0.30). Similarly, there were no differences in 3-year BCRFS rates between patients with GS 4 + 4 with and without TGG5 (80 vs. 71%, P = 0.38). Conclusions In our population, the presence of TGG5 in RARP specimens had no strong impact on pathological and prognostic outcomes.
Diagnostic utility of bone marrow examination in evaluation of fever: a descriptive study on 98 immunocompetent adults from a tertiary care institute in south India

Five-year clinico-laboratory data from 99 (one HIV seropositive) adults (mean age = 41.3 ± 20.4 years) who underwent bone marrow examination for fever persisting for ≥ 1 week were analysed and correlated with microbiological characteristics. Infections, reactive marrow changes and haematolymphoid malignancies were most commonly associated with fever. A high concordance rate of 71% was noted between aspiration and trephine biopsies. Bone marrow granulomas (BMG) were seen exclusively on sections and were most commonly of tubercular and typhoidal in origin (two Salmonella Typhi, one Salmonella Paratyphi A). The common aetiologies associated with fever and cytopenia(s) were BMG, acute leukaemia and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH; n = 3). The yield from bone marrow culture was inferior compared to other body fluids. In conclusion, bone marrow histology is superior to smears in the evaluation of prolonged fever. Marrow culture may not be useful in immunocompetent individuals other than if Salmonellosis is suspected.
Development of a LeNet-5 Gas Identification CNN Structure for Electronic Noses

A new LeNet-5 gas identification convolutional neural network structure for electronic noses is proposed and developed in this paper. Inspired by the tremendous achievements made by convolutional neural networks in the field of computer vision, the LeNet-5 was adopted and improved for a 12-sensor array based electronic nose system. Response data of the electronic nose to different concentrations of CO, CH4 and their mixtures were acquired by an automated gas distribution and test system. By adjusting the parameters of the CNN structure, the gas LeNet-5 was improved to recognize the three categories of CO, CH4 and their mixtures omitting the concentration influences. The final gas identification accuracy rate reached 98.67% with the unused data as test set by the improved gas LeNet-5. Comparison with results of Multiple Layer Perceptron neural networks and Probabilistic Neural Network verifies the improvement of recognition rate while with the same level of time cost, which proved the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
What Mechanisms Underlie Implicit Statistical Learning? Transitional Probabilities Versus Chunks in Language Learning

In a prior review, Perrruchet and Pacton (2006) noted that the literature on implicit learning and the more recent studies on statistical learning focused on the same phenomena, namely the domain-general learning mechanisms acting in incidental, unsupervised learning situations. However, they also noted that implicit learning and statistical learning research favored different interpretations, focusing on the selection of chunks and the computation of transitional probabilities aimed at discovering chunk boundaries, respectively. This paper examines the state of the debate 12 years later. The link between contrasting theories and their historical roots has disappeared, but a number of studies were aimed at contrasting the predictions of these two approaches. Overall, these studies strongly question the still prevalent account based on the statistical computation of pairwise associations. Various chunk-based models provide much better predictions in a number of experimental situations. However, these models rely on very different conceptual frameworks, as illustrated by a comparison between Bayesian models of word segmentation, PARSER, and a connectionist model (TRACX).
Synergistic activity of polymyxin B combined with vancomycin against carbapenem‐resistant and polymyxin‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: first in vitro study

Purpose. The effect of a combination of polymyxin B (PMB) and vancomycin (VAN) was assessed against six Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates belonging to six different clusters (three PMB‐susceptible and three PMB‐resistant). Methodology. The synergistic effect of the PMB‐VAN combination was determined with the checkerboard, time‐kill, disk‐diffusion and M.I. C.Evaluator assays. PMB‐resistance was investigated with mcr‐1 gene amplification and a mutant frequency assay. Results. In the checkerboard assay, all PMB‐resistant isolates showed a synergistic effect. The time‐kill assay demonstrated that the PMB‐VAN combination had a bactericidal effect at 24 h against isolates with a high mutant rate for PMB, suggesting that this combination may block the hypermutation of some isolates. No antagonism was detected. All PMB‐resistant isolates also showed synergism in the disk‐diffusion test, and a significant decrease in VAN MICs in the M.I. C.Evaluator assay. Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the PMB‐VAN combination has a synergistic effect on A. baumannii, especially against PMB‐resistant isolates.
Circulating irisin levels in heart failure with preserved or reduced ejection fraction: A pilot study

Irisin, a recently discovered myokine, has been considered a prognostic factor in several cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, no data are available on the role of irisin in patients with heart failure (HF), both with preserved (HFpEF) or reduced (HFrEF) ejection fraction. We have therefore evaluated the circulating irisin levels in HFpEF and HFrEF patients, correlating them with metabolic parameters and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as index of oxidative stress. Irisin was significantly higher in HFpEF than in HFrEF patients (7.72 ± 0.76 vs 2.77 ± 0.77 ng/ml, respectively). An inverse correlation between irisin and TAC was found in HFpEF, but not in HFrEF. Conversely, no correlation was present with HOMA index. These data support the hypothesis that a different pathophysiological mechanism is involved in the two HF subtypes, and oxidative stress modulates irisin secretion.
Maternal Parenting Styles and Glycemic Control in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

The purpose of this study is to examine differences in parenting styles between mothers of children with type 1 diabetes and mothers of healthy children and to explore relationships between parenting styles and glycemic control of children with diabetes. Mothers of 63 children with diabetes and mothers of 83 children without diabetes reported their parenting styles using the Blocks’ Child Rearing Practices Report, when their child was 9–10 years old. Glycemic control of the children with diabetes was evaluated 1 year after diagnosis (<6 years of age) and at the time of the study (at 9–10 years). Mothers of children with diabetes used more psychological control than mothers of healthy children. Among girls with diabetes, poorer early glycemic control was associated with mothers’ subsequent greater use of psychological control. Behavioral control was positively associated with poorer current glycemic control. In boys, psychological control was positively associated with poorer current glycemic control. Psychological control in families with diabetes needs attention, because it has shown to be associated with poorer diabetes care.
Real Time Influenza Monitoring Using Hospital Big Data in Combination with Machine Learning Methods: Comparison Study

Background Traditional surveillance systems produce estimates of influenza-like illness (ILI) incidence rates, but with 1- to 3-week delay. Accurate real-time monitoring systems for influenza outbreaks could be useful for making public health decisions. Several studies have investigated the possibility of using internet users’ activity data and different statistical models to predict influenza epidemics in near real time. However, very few studies have investigated hospital big data. Objective Here, we compared internet and electronic health records (EHRs) data and different statistical models to identify the best approach (data type and statistical model) for ILI estimates in real time. Methods We used Google data for internet data and the clinical data warehouse eHOP, which included all EHRs from Rennes University Hospital (France), for hospital data. We compared 3 statistical models—random forest, elastic net, and support vector machine (SVM). Results For national ILI incidence rate, the best correlation was 0.98 and the mean squared error (MSE) was 866 obtained with hospital data and the SVM model. For the Brittany region, the best correlation was 0.923 and MSE was 2364 obtained with hospital data and the SVM model. Conclusions We found that EHR data together with historical epidemiological information (French Sentinelles network) allowed for accurately predicting ILI incidence rates for the entire France as well as for the Brittany region and outperformed the internet data whatever was the statistical model used. Moreover, the performance of the two statistical models, elastic net and SVM, was comparable.
LIFESTYLE INFLUENCES ON AIRWAY HEALTH IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS

The overall aim of this dissertation was to ascertain the influences of lifestyle factors on airway health in children and young adults. In Study 1 (Chapter 2) the effect of a high-fat meal on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness was examined. Results revealed a post-prandial increase (p 21%), who were not meeting current PA recommendations, experienced greater (p<0.05) amounts of post-exercise airway narrowing (FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1-second, ~11%), as compared to children with lower-body-fat (<21%), who were meeting PA guidelines. These findings suggest that elevated adiposity and low PA levels may place children at risk for development of asthma and asthma-like symptoms. In study 3 (Chapter 4), based on study 2 results, we assessed the impact of 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training on airway health in children who were not meeting PA guidelines. We determined that high-intensity training significantly increased V02max (~24%), and decreased total cholesterol (~11%) and LDL cholesterol (~35%). Additionally, we found improvements (p<0.05) in ∆FEV1 both post-exercise (pre: -7.6±2.2%, post: -1.3±1.8%) and post-eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (pre: -6.7±2.2%, post: -1.4±1.5%) with training. Further, Lower-body-fat and higher V02max subjects experienced significantly greater improvement in ∆FEV1 following training than higher-body-fat and lower V02max subjects (r=-0.80, r=0.73, respectively). These results suggest that in children, highintensity training can ameliorate the negative health consequences of inactivity. However, increased body fat, and low V02max levels may constrain these improvements. This series of studies underscores the importance of dietary habits, body composition, and PA for airway health in children and young adults. These findings may be useful in determining policies and practices impacting children’s health, and could facilitate protocol development for prevention of asthmalike symptoms. LIFESTYLE INFLUENCES ON AIRWAY HEALTH IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Characterization, Variables, and Antioxidant Activity of the Maillard Reaction in a Fructose–Histidine Model System

Fructose and its polysaccharides are widely found in fruits and vegetables, with the Maillard reaction of fructose affecting food quality. This study aimed to investigate the Maillard reaction of fructose using a fructose⁻histidine model system. The reaction process was characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The effects of temperature, initial reactant concentration, initial fructose concentration, initial histidine concentration, and initial pH value on the different stages of the Maillard reaction were studied. Reactant reduction, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra, acetic acid content, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) content, and browning intensity were evaluated. The results showed that increasing the temperature and reactant concentration promoted the condensation reaction of fructose and amino acid in the early stage, the formation of intermediate products with ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence in the intermediate stage, and the formation of pigment in the final stage. The 5-HMF concentration decreased with increasing histidine concentration and initial pH value. Changes in the shape of ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra showed that the initial pH value affected not only the reaction rate, but also the intermediate product types. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging rate of the Maillard reaction products increased with increasing temperature, reactant concentration, and initial pH value.
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Orthopedic Surgery

Background Major orthopedic surgical procedures—total hip replacement (THR), total knee replacement (TKR), and hip fracture surgery—carry a high risk of VTE. Strategies to prevent VTE include pharmacological and mechanical modalities, used alone or in combination. Pharmacological prophylaxis carries risks and limitations including bleeding. The magnitude of benefit and adverse effects in contemporary practice in the United States among the orthopedic population are not well known. This summary highlights findings from the review including baseline risk for VTE with major orthopedic surgery, the comparative effectiveness of different pharmacological or mechanical modalities, how duration of prophylaxis affects outcomes, and evidence regarding combination pharmacological and mechanical prophylaxis.
Data detection and timing recovery for a noncoherent discriminator-based GMSK receiver

The authors examine the effect of various B/sub t/T,h combinations (B/sub t/=premodulation filter bandwidth T=bit period, h=modulation index), various IF (intermediate frequency) filter types, and various IF filter bandwidths on the performance of a noncoherent GMSK (Gaussian minimum-shift keying) receiver. Numerical results are presented for bit error rate (BER) performance of the data detection subsystem and for phase jitter within the timing recovery subsystem. Results show that BER is very sensitive to IF filter type and bandwidth and that phase jitter is very sensitive to IF filter bandwidth. The test practical IF filter for the noncoherent GMSK receiver is a phase-equalized Butterworth filter. A filter order of 6 or 8 poles is sufficient for noise rejection, but higher order may be required to satisfy adjacent channel interference requirements. Although data detector performance is optimized with an IF filter bandwidth of B/sub t/T=1.1, this increase in bandwidth does not significantly affect data detector performance. <<ETX>>
Nonlinear feedback control of a gantry crane

Considers a nonlinear dynamical model for a gantry crane to design a control input that transports a load along a specified transport trajectory in such a way that the load angle oscillation is suppressed as quickly as possible. A nonlinear tracking controller for the load position and velocity is designed that gives guaranteed performance. The controller has two loops: an outer tracking loop, and an inner loop that stabilizes the internal oscillatory dynamics using a singular perturbation design. The model and control scheme are simulated on a digital computer and the results prove that the feedback control works well for fast load positioning without sway or oscillation.
Donor InSight: characteristics and representativeness of a Dutch cohort study on blood and plasma donors

More insight into donor health and behaviour may contribute to more efficient and focused strategies regarding donor care and management. Donor InSight (DIS) is a Dutch cohort study of blood and plasma donors. We aimed to outline the objectives and methods of DIS, describe the cohort, and compare it to the active Dutch donor population.
FOSL1 enhances growth and metastasis of human prostate cancer cells through epithelial mesenchymal transition pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of highly-expressed FOSL1 on the tumorigenesis and metastasis of prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Researches were carried out in human prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. In prostate cancer tissues, the expression of FOSL was detected by immunohistochemistry. In vitro cell line experiments, we constructed a prostate cancer cell model with FOSL1 stable knockdown and tested cell proliferation and metastasis before and after knockdown of FOSL1. Finally, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers before and after interference of FOSL1 were also analyzed. RESULTS FOSL1 was confirmed to have a high expression in prostate cancer. Transwell experiments demonstrated that FOSL1 could enhance prostate cancer metastasis, while in vivo experiments revealed an accelerated progression of prostate cancer caused by FOSL1. In addition, Western blot analysis revealed an elevated level of N-cadherin and Snail1 and a reduced level of E-cadherin that was induced by FOSL1. CONCLUSIONS FOSL1 can promote the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer by altering the EMT process of cells.
Optimising Cancer Vaccine Design in Sarcoma

Immunotherapeutics are increasingly recognized as a key tool in the armamentarium against malignancy. The success of immune checkpoint-targeting drugs and adoptive cell therapy has refocused attention on the potential anti-cancer effect of eliciting a tumour-specific immunological response. Sarcomas are a rare and diverse group of tumours with a limited prognosis in advanced disease despite systemic therapeutics. Various vaccine strategies including peptide vaccines against cancer testis antigens, dendritic cell vaccines, and viral vectors have been trialled in sarcoma with growing evidence of efficacy. Here, we review the principles of successful vaccine development and how these have been applied thus far to the treatment of sarcoma.
The clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of strontium ranelate for the prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in post menopausal women

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Assessment Report for the above appraisal and the Economic Addendum for the appraisal of the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of technologies for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in post menopausal women. Please find below comments from Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd (MSD). As requested, we have read these documents alongside each other and have separated our comments into those related to primary prevention and those related to secondary prevention.
Proteomic characterization and discrimination of Aeromonas species recovered from meat and water samples with a spotlight on the antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas hydrophila

Aeromonas is recognized as a human pathogen following ingestion of contaminated food and water. One major problem in Aeromonas identification is that certain species are phenotypically very similar. The antimicrobial resistance is another significant challenge worldwide. We therefore aimed to use mass spectrometry technology for identification and discrimination of Aeromonas species and to screen the antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila). A total of 150 chicken meat and water samples were cultured, and then, the isolates were identified biochemically by the Vitek® 2 Compact system. Proteomic identification was performed by MALDI‐TOF MS and confirmed by a microchannel fluidics electrophoresis assay. Principal component analysis (PCA) and single‐peak analysis created by MALDI were also used to discriminate the Aeromonas species. The antimicrobial resistance of the A. hydrophila isolates was determined by Vitek® 2 AST cards. In total, 43 samples were positive for Aeromonas and comprised 22 A. hydrophila, 12 Aeromonas caviae (A. caviae), and 9 Aeromonas sobria (A. sobria) isolates. Thirty‐nine out of 43 (90.69%) Aeromonas isolates were identified by the Vitek® 2 Compact system, whereas 100% of the Aeromonas isolates were correctly identified by MALDI‐TOF MS with a score value ≥2.00. PCA successfully separated A. hydrophila, A. caviae and A. sobria isolates into two groups. Single‐peak analysis revealed four discriminating peaks that separated A. hydrophila from A. caviae and A. sobria isolates. The resistance of A. hydrophila to antibiotics was 95.46% for ampicillin, 50% for cefotaxime, 45.45% for norfloxacin and pefloxacin, 36.36% for ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin, 31.81% for ofloxacin and 27.27% for nalidixic acid and tobramycin. In conclusion, chicken meat and water were tainted with Aeromonas spp. , with a high occurrence of A. hydrophila. MALDI‐TOF MS is a powerful technique for characterizing aeromonads at the genus and species levels. Future studies should investigate the resistance of A. hydrophila to various antimicrobial agents.