Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Opportunities for People with Disabilities in the Virtual World of Second Life

&NA; The virtual world of Second Life® (SL) offers people with disabilities a chance to explore new worlds without being limited by their disabilities. Many people with disabilities use SL for information, support, and entertainment. SL is a computer‐based simulated environment in which participants are represented by a human‐like avatar. The avatar can move through the environment, manipulate objects, and participate in day‐to‐day activities that most people take for granted, such as walking, dancing, and communicating. In this article, the authors focus on the benefits that information, socialization, and community membership can offer people with disabilities and some of the resources that are available for them in SL. SL communities, groups, and activities also help increase self‐worth and empower people with disabilities. Participating in a virtual world enriches the overall quality of life of people with disabilities and may enhance their physical, emotional, and social adjustment.
Reorganization in Dynamic Agent Societies

En la nueva era de tecnologias de la informacion, los sistemas tienden a ser cada vez mas dinamicos, compuestos por entidades heterogeneas capaces de entrar y salir del sistema, interaccionar entre ellas, y adaptarse a las necesidades del entorno. Los sistemas multiagente han contribuido en los ultimos anos, a modelar, disenar e implementar sistemas autonomos con capacidad de interaccion y comunicacion. Estos sistemas se han modelado principalmente, a traves de sociedades de agentes, las cuales facilitan la interacion, organizacion y cooperacion de agentes heterogeneos para conseguir diferentes objetivos. Para que estos paradigmas puedan ser utilizados para el desarrollo de nuevas generaciones de sistemas, caracteristicas como dinamicidad y capacidad de reorganizacion deben estar incorporadas en el modelado, gestion y ejecucion de estas sociedades de agentes. Concretamente, la reorganizacion en sociedades de agentes ofrece un paradigma para disenar aplicaciones abiertas, dinamicas y adaptativas. Este proceso requiere determinar las consecuencias de cambiar el sistema, no solo en terminos de los beneficios conseguidos sino ademas, midiendo los costes de adaptacion asi como el impacto que estos cambios tienen en todos los componentes del sistema. Las propuestas actuales de reorganizacion, basicamente abordan este proceso como respuestas de la sociedad cuando ocurre un cambio, o bien como un mecanismo para mejorar la utilidad del sistema. Sin embargo, no se pueden definir procesos complejos de decision que obtengan la mejor configuracion de los componentes organizacionales en cada momento, basandose en una evaluacion de los beneficios que se podrian obtener asi como de los costes asociados al proceso. Teniendo en cuenta este objetivo, esta tesis explora el area de reorganizacion en sociedades de agentes y se centra principalmente, en una propuesta novedosa para reorganizacion. Nuestra propuesta ofrece un soporte de toma de decisiones que considera cambios en multiples
Primary tumor location found to impact prognosis and response to therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Right-sided tumors (those arising in the appendix, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, or first two-thirds of the transverse colon) and left-sided tumors (those arising in or distal to the latter one-third of the transverse colon) originate from different embryonic tissue and have unique molecular profiles, with right-sided tumors associated with the more frequent occurrence of poor prognostic gene expression profiles. In previous research, right-sided tumors typically have been found to demonstrate a poorer prognosis, but this clinical factor traditionally has not been included in disease stratification in clinical trials, nor has the effect of tumor side of origin been studied very often as a predicative factor for particular treatments. Sabine Tejpar, MD, PhD, head of the molecular digestive oncology unit at the University Hospital of Gasthuisberg in Leuven, Belgium, and colleagues from several cancer centers (mostly in Europe) set out to investigate whether right-sidedness versus left-sidedness of primary tumors had any effect on the likelihood of response to therapy for metastatic disease. “We have known for some time that right versus left are prognostically different, but only more recently has sidedness been linked to treatment response,” says John Marshall, MD, chief of hematology and oncology at Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, who was not affiliated with this study.
World of a slave : encyclopedia of the material life of slaves in the United States

This two-volume encyclopedia is the first to focus on the material life of slaves. * 178 A-Z entries on almost all aspects of the material culture of enslaved African Americans from the 17th century until 1865 * Contributions from a plethora of scholars, curators, artisans, and archaeologists in the field * Sidebars including quotations from former slaves in which they describe the use and meaning of material objects * Period paintings, watercolors, photographs, and drawings that illustrate the material world of enslaved blacks * Photos of buildings, archaeological assemblages, and modern-day reproductions to illustrate specific entries * A thematic guide that helps users easily find related topics * Includes a substantial selected bibliography, including vetted websites
How Circulating Tumor Cells Escape From Multidrug Resistance: Translating Molecular Mechanisms in Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment

Resistance to anthracyclines is responsible for treatment failure in most patients with metastatic breast cancer. According to recent studies, the expression of specific drug transporters (MRPs) on circulating tumor cells is predictive of prognosis in different cancer types. We observed that patients whose circulating tumor cells expressed MRP1 and MRP2, two drug-export pumps responsible for anthracyclines efflux, who received conventional anthracyclines had a significantly shorter time to progression compared with patients sharing same characteristics who received non pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (P < 0.005). These results may highlight a new appealing role of the liposomal doxorubicin formulation, not only because of its reduced cardiac toxicity but especially referring to its theoretical efficacy in anthracycline-resistant breast cancer patients.
Examining the extinction risk of specialized folivores: a comparative study of Colobine monkeys

Species extinctions are nonrandom with some taxa appearing to possess traits that increase their extinction risk. In this study, eight predictors of extinction risk were used as independent variables to predict the IUCN category of a subfamily of specialized folivorous primates, the Colobinae. All data were transformed into phylogenetically independent contrasts and were analyzed using bivariate regressions, multiple regression, and a maximum likelihood approach using Akaike's Information Criterion to assess model performance. Once an outlier was removed from the data set, species that devote a smaller proportion of their diet to mature leaf consumption appear to be at a greater risk of extinction. Also, as female body mass increases, so does extinction risk. In contrast, as maximum latitude and the number of habitat types increase, extinction risk appears to decrease. These findings emphasize the importance of examining detailed dietary variation for predicting extinction risk at a relatively fine taxonomic scale and, consequently, may help improve conservation management. Am. J. Primatol. 70:816–827, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genome Sequence of the Basidiomycetous Yeast Pseudozyma antarctica T-34, a Producer of the Glycolipid Biosurfactants Mannosylerythritol Lipids

ABSTRACT The basidiomycetous yeast Pseudozyma antarctica T-34 is an excellent producer of mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), members of the multifunctional extracellular glycolipids, from various feedstocks. Here, the genome sequence of P. antarctica T-34 was determined and annotated. Analysis of the sequence might provide insights into the properties of this yeast that make it superior for use in the production of functional glycolipids, leading to the further development of P. antarctica for industrial applications.
Papillary tumors of large lactiferous ducts

The breast pathology files at the Institut Gustave‐Roussy in Villejuif, France, were searched for papillary cystadenomas and papillary carcinomas diagnosed between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 1974. A total of 158 cases were selected for this study; they were subclassified into 74 papillary cystadenomas, 63 papillary carcinomas, and 21 multiple papillomas. Spontaneous nipple discharge was the primary reason for consultation in 88% of solitary cystadenoma patients, 48% of multiple papilloma patients, and 23% of the carcinoma patients. The data support the benign nature of papillary cystadenoma inasmuch as none of the 73 patients treated with local excision developed cancer of the same breast, with only one patient having recurrence of the lesion. In contrast, multiple papilloma was associated with a high recurrence rate and malignant transformation. According to Scarff and Bloom's grading system, papillary carcinoma was found to be of low grade malignancy with a five‐year survival rate of over 90%.
Effect of strength and power training on physical function in community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND The performance of daily tasks, such as stair climbing or lifting an object, requires both muscle strength and power. Age-associated reductions in strength and power can affect an older adult's ability to complete daily tasks such as stair climbing and lifting a child. METHODS The purposes of this study were to determine whether power training was more efficacious than strength training for improving whole-body physical function in older adults and to examine the relationship between changes in anaerobic power and muscle strength and changes in physical function. Thirty-nine men and women (mean age +/- SD = 72.5 +/- 6.3 years) with below-average leg extensor power were randomly assigned to control (C, n = 15), strength-training (ST, n = 13) or power-training (PT, n = 11) groups. The ST and PT groups met 3 days per week for 16 weeks; the C group maintained usual activity and attended three lectures during the course of the study. Primary outcome measures included the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance test, maximal strength, and anaerobic power. RESULTS After baseline was controlled for, the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance test total score was significantly greater for the PT group than for the ST (p =.033) and C (p =.016) groups. Maximal strength was significantly greater for the ST group than for the C group (p =.015) after the intervention. There was no significant difference between groups for peak anaerobic power. CONCLUSIONS Power training was more effective than strength training for improving physical function in community-dwelling older adults.
Streamflow trends in Europe: evidence from a dataset of near-natural catchments

Streamflow observations from near-natural catch- ments are of paramount importance for detection and at- tribution studies, evaluation of large-scale model simula- tions, and assessment of water management, adaptation and policy options. This study investigates streamflow trends in a newly-assembled, consolidated dataset of near-natural streamflow records from 441 small catchments in 15 coun- tries across Europe. The period 1962-2004 provided the best spatial coverage, but analyses were also carried out for longer time periods (with fewer stations), starting in 1932, 1942 and 1952. Trends were calculated by the slopes of the Kendall-Theil robust line for standardized annual and monthly streamflow, as well as for summer low flow mag- nitude and timing. A regionally coherent picture of annual streamflow trends emerged, with negative trends in southern and eastern regions, and generally positive trends elsewhere. Trends in monthly streamflow for 1962-2004 elucidated po- tential causes for these changes, as well as for changes in hydrological regimes across Europe. Positive trends were found in the winter months in most catchments. A marked shift towards negative trends was observed in April, grad- ually spreading across Europe to reach a maximum extent
Comparaison du coût et de la qualité de deux systèmes de financement des soins de première ligne en Belgique

Deux systemes de financement des soins de medecine generale se cotoient en Belgique : le paiement a l’acte, largement majoritaire, et le paiement forfaitaire accorde aux prestataires aupres desquels des patients ont choisi de s’inscrire. Il est generalement admis que le mode de remuneration des prestataires de soins n’est pas sans consequences sur le cout et sur la qualite des soins. Cependant il y a tellement de modalites possibles de remuneration a l’acte ou au forfait qu’il est difficile de dire comment la theorie economique ou les observations faites dans d’autres pays s’appliquent bien au cas particulier de la remuneration a l’acte ou au forfait telles qu’elles sont organisees en Belgique. L’objectif de la presente etude est de repondre aux questions suivantes : • Le cout total des soins donnes en Belgique aux patients soignes au forfait en premiere ligne est il plus ou moins eleve que celui des patients soignes a l’acte ? • La qualite des soins de premiere ligne des patients inscrits au forfait est elle equivalente a celle des soins recus par les patients soignes a l’acte ? • Quelles perspectives d’avenir peut on degager a partir de ces comparaisons, en matiere de financement et de co existence entre pratiques a l’acte et pratiques au forfait ?
Energy-dependent fitness: A quantitative model for the evolution of yeast transcription factor binding sites

We present a genomewide cross-species analysis of regulation for broad-acting transcription factors in yeast. Our model for binding site evolution is founded on biophysics: the binding energy between transcription factor and site is a quantitative phenotype of regulatory function, and selection is given by a fitness landscape that depends on this phenotype. The model quantifies conservation, as well as loss and gain, of functional binding sites in a coherent way. Its predictions are supported by direct cross-species comparison between four yeast species. We find ubiquitous compensatory mutations within functional sites, such that the energy phenotype and the function of a site evolve in a significantly more constrained way than does its sequence. We also find evidence for substantial evolution of regulatory function involving point mutations as well as sequence insertions and deletions within binding sites. Genes lose their regulatory link to a given transcription factor at a rate similar to the neutral point mutation rate, from which we infer a moderate average fitness advantage of functional over nonfunctional sites. In a wider context, this study provides an example of inference of selection acting on a quantitative molecular trait.
HIV counseling and testing and access-to-care needs of populations most-at-risk for HIV in Nigeria

Abstract Mobile HIV counseling and testing (mHCT) is an effective tool to access hard-to-reach most-at-risk populations (MARPs), but identifying which populations are not accessing services is often a challenge. We compared correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and awareness of HIV care services among populations tested through mHCT and at testing facilities in Nigeria. Participants in a cross-sectional study completed a questionnaire and HCT between May 2005 and March 2010. Of 27,586 total participants, 26.7% had been previously tested for HIV; among mHCT clients, 14.7% had previously been tested. HIV prevalence ranged from 6.6% among those tested through a facility to 50.4% among brothel-based sex workers tested by mHCT. Among mHCT participants aged 18–24, women were nine times more likely to be infected than men. Women aged 18–24 were also less likely than their male counterparts to know that there were medicines available to treat HIV (63.2 vs. 68.1%; p=0.03). After controlling for gender, age, and other risk factors, those with current genital ulcer disease were more likely to be HIV-infected (ORmHCT=1.65, 1.31–2.09; ORfacility=1.71, 1.37–2.14), while those previously tested were less likely to be HIV-infected (ORmHCT=0.75, 0.64–0.88; ORfacility=0.27, 0.24–0.31). There is an urgent need to promote strategies to identify those who are HIV-infected within MARPs, particularly young women, and to educate and inform them about availability of HIV testing and care services. mHCT, ideally coupled with sexually transmitted infection management, may help to ensure that MARPs access HIV prevention support, and if infected, access care, and treatment.
Complications following Acute Ischemic Stroke

The objective of this study was to assess typical early-onset complications following ischemic stroke in a large, hospital-based cohort to provide clinical data for future randomized trials and quality standards in clinical routine. 3,866 patients with acute ischemic stroke were prospectively documented in 14 Neurology Departments with an acute stroke unit. Within the first week after admission, increased intracranial pressure (7.6%) and recurrent cerebral ischemia (5.1%) were the most frequent neurological complications. Fever >38°C (13.2%), severe arterial hypertension (7.5%) and pneumonia (7.4%) were the most frequent medical complications. Multivariate regression analysis yielded brain stem infarction and large-artery atherosclerosis as independent predictors for early recurrent ischemic stroke. This study provides representative data on onset and severity of early neurological and medical complications as well as possible predictors for early recurrent cerebral ischemia following acute ischemic stroke.
Review of pharmacoeconomic evaluation of genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy

Introduction: Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet agent widely prescribed for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and it is activated by the CYP enzyme system to active metabolite. CYP2C19 loss-of-function (LOF) allele(s) affect the responsiveness of clopidogrel, but not the new antiplatelet agents (prasugrel and ticagrelor). We reviewed the pharmacoeconomic studies on genotype-guided use of new antiplatelet agents. Areas covered: A literature search was conducted between the period of 2000 and 2014. Seven studies including cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit analyses of CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy in ACS patients were reviewed. Genotype-guided prasugrel was found to be cost-effective when compared with universal antiplatelet therapy in four studies. Three studies showed genotype-guided ticagrelor to be cost-effective in ACS patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and universal ticagrelor to be cost-effective in ACS patients. Drug cost of antiplatelet agents and relative risk of the new antiplatelet versus clopidogrel for clinical events were common influential factors of cost-effectiveness analyses. Expert opinion: All studies in the present review focused on selecting antiplatelet agents for carriers of CYP2C19 LOF allele(s). Cost-effectiveness of genotype-guided use of antiplatelets was demonstrated in high-risk ACS patients.
Development of a silicon diode detector for skin dosimetry in radiotherapy

Purpose: The aim of in vivo skin dosimetry was to measure the absorbed dose to the skin during radiotherapy, when treatment planning calculations cannot be relied on. It is of particularly importance in hypo‐fractionated stereotactic modalities, where excessive dose can lead to severe skin toxicity. Currently, commercial diodes for such applications are with water equivalent depths ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 mm. In this study, we investigate a new detector for skin dosimetry based on a silicon epitaxial diode, referred to as the skin diode. Method: The skin diode is manufactured on a thin epitaxial layer and packaged using the “drop‐in” technology. It was characterized in terms of percentage depth dose, dose linearity, and dose rate dependence, and benchmarked against the Attix ionization chamber. The response of the skin diode in the build‐up region of the percentage depth dose (PDD) curve of a 6 MV clinical photon beam was investigated. Geant4 radiation transport simulations were used to model the PDD in order to estimate the water equivalent measurement depth (WED) of the skin diode. Measured output factors using the skin diode were compared with the MOSkin detector and EBT3 film at 10 cm depth and at surface at isocenter of a water equivalent phantom. The intrinsic angular response of the skin diode was also quantified in charge particle equilibrium conditions (CPE) and at the surface of a solid water phantom. Finally, the radiation hardness of the skin diode up to an accumulated dose of 80 kGy using photons from a Co‐60 gamma source was evaluated. Results: The PDD curve measured with the skin diode was within 0.5% agreement of the equivalent Geant4 simulated curve. When placed at the phantom surface, the WED of the skin diode was estimated to be 0.075 ± 0.005 mm from Geant4 simulations and was confirmed using the response of a corrected Attix ionization chamber placed at water equivalent depth of 0.075 mm, with the measurement agreement to within 0.3%. The output factor measurements at 10 cm depth were within 2% of those measured with film and the MOSkin detector down to a field size of 2 × 2 cm2. The dose–response for all detector samples was linear and with a repeatability within 0.2%. The skin diode intrinsic angular response showed a maximum deviation of 8% at 90 degrees and from 0 to 60 degree is less than 5%. The radiation sensitivity reduced by 25% after an accumulated dose of 20 kGy but after was found to stabilize. At 60 kGy total accumulated dose the response was within 2% of that measured at 20 kGy total accumulated dose. Conclusions: This work characterizes an innovative detector for in vivo and real‐time skin dose measurements that is based on an epitaxial silicon diode combined with the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP) “drop‐in” packaging technology. The skin diode proved to have a water equivalent depth of measurement of 0.075 ± 0.005 mm and the ability to measure doses accurately relative to reference detectors.
Discovering Spatial Patterns in Origin‐Destination Mobility Data

Mobility and spatial interaction data have become increasingly available due to the wide adoption of location‐aware technologies. Examples of mobility data include human daily activities, vehicle trajectories, and animal movements, among others. In this article we focus on a special type of mobility data, i.e. origin‐destination pairs, and present a new approach to the discovery and understanding of spatio‐temporal patterns in the movements. Specifically, to extract information from complex connections among a large number of point locations, the approach involves two steps: (1) spatial clustering of massive GPS points to recognize potentially meaningful places; and (2) extraction and mapping of the flow measures of clusters to understand the spatial distribution and temporal trends of movements. We present a case study with a large dataset of taxi trajectories in Shenzhen, China to demonstrate and evaluate the methodology. The contribution of the research is two‐fold. First, it presents a new methodology for detecting location patterns and spatial structures embedded in origin‐destination movements. Second, the approach is scalable to large data sets and can summarize massive data to facilitate pattern extraction and understanding.