Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Could the treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma with 3.7 and 5.55 GBq of (131I)NaI, on an outpatient basis, be safe?

ObjectivesThe first objective of this study was to evaluate the radiological impact on relatives and the environment because of outpatient treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma with 3.7 and 5.55 GBq of (131I)NaI. The second objective was to determine, analyze, and evaluate whole-body radiation dose to caregivers, the production of contaminated solid waste, and the potentiality of radiation dose and surface contamination existing inside patients' households. MethodsTwenty patients were treated on an outpatient basis, taking into consideration their acceptable living conditions, interests, and willingness to comply with medical and radiation-safety guidelines. The caregivers themselves, as well as the potentiality of the radiation dose inside patients' residences, were monitored with a thermo-luminescence dosimeter. Surface contamination and contaminated solid wastes were identified and measured by using a Geiger–Müller detector. Results and discussionTwenty-six monitored individuals received accumulated effective radiation doses of less than 1.0 mSv, and only one 2.8 mSv, throughout the 7 days of measurement. The maximum registered value for the potential of radiation dose inside all living areas was 1.30 mSv. The monitored surface contamination inside patients' dwellings showed a mean value of 4.2 Bq/cm2 for all surfaces found to be contaminated. A total of 2.5 l of contaminated solid waste was generated by the patients with 3.33 MBq of all estimated activity. ConclusionThis study revealed that the treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma with 3.7 and 5.55 GBq of (131I)NaI, on an outpatient basis, can be safe when overseen by qualified professionals and with an adapted radiation-protection guideline. Even considering the radioiodine activity level and the dosimetric methodology applied here, negligible human exposure and a nonmeasurable radiological impact to the human environment were found.
Iodine oxide in the global marine boundary layer

Emitted mainly by the oceans, iodine is a halo- gen compound important for atmospheric chemistry due to its high ozone depletion potential and effect on the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. Here we present a comprehen- sive data set of iodine oxide (IO) measurements in the open marine boundary layer (MBL) made during the Malaspina 2010 circumnavigation. Results show IO mixing ratios rang- ing from 0.4 to 1 pmol mol 1 (30 % uncertainty) and, com- plemented with additional field campaigns, this data set con- firms through observations the ubiquitous presence of reac- tive iodine chemistry in the global marine environment. We use a global model with organic (CH3I, CH2ICl, CH2I2 and CH2IBr) and inorganic (HOI and I2) iodine ocean emissions to investigate the contribution of the different iodine source gases to the budget of IO in the global MBL. In agreement with previous estimates, our results indicate that, globally av- eraged, the abiotic precursors contribute about 75 % to the IO budget. However, this work reveals a strong geographical pattern in the contribution of organic vs. inorganic precursors to reactive iodine in the global MBL.
Orally disintegrating tablets: An overview.

Article history: Received on: 06/01/2014 Revised on: 22/01/2014 Accepted on: 12/02/2014 Available online: 27/02/2014 Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) have greatly increased dosage forms which have remarkable impact on the patient compliance especially for the pediatric, geriatric and psychiatric patients with deglutition disorders. Several technologies either conventional or patented based on freeze drying/lyophilization, spray drying, moulding, phase transition process, melt granulation, sublimation, mass extrusion, cotton candy process, direct compression etc. have been developed for manufacturing of ODTs. In this review brief information about ODTs including definition, ideal and desired characteristics, advantages, limitations and disadvantages, drug canditates, challenges in formulation, excipients with recent developments in superdisintegrants, tast masking, manufacturing techniques, evaluation parameters and recent patents in ODTs are presentented.
MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy

Objective: To define the functional network changes that characterize MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and TLE with hippocampal sclerosis (HS-TLE). Methods: We studied 36 patients with medically refractory unilateral TLE, having either a normal clinical MRI (n = 18) or unilateral hippocampal sclerosis (n = 18). Patients were compared to healthy controls of equivalent age and sex (n = 27). Functional connectivity in 10 minutes of task-free functional MRI was assessed using a voxel-resolution graph theoretic analysis, using the metrics of degree, clustering coefficient, eigenvector, and betweenness centrality. Significant clusters were further explored with a seed-based analysis. Results: MRI-negative TLE showed decreased connectivity at the ipsilateral superior and middle temporal gyri compared to controls (decreased eigenvector centrality). No functional abnormality was detected within mesial temporal structures. In contrast, HS-TLE showed increased connectivity within the affected hippocampus and anterior thalamus (increased clustering coefficient) and decreased connectivity of the ventromesial prefrontal cortex (decreased betweenness centrality). Using the detected clusters as seed regions revealed decreased connectivity from the sclerotic hippocampus to both the contralateral temporal lobe and regions of the default mode network. Conclusion: MRI-negative TLE is associated with impaired interictal connectivity of the temporal neocortex, lateralized to the epileptic side. HS-TLE shows a different pattern, with functional segregation of the sclerotic hippocampus and impairment of its long-range connectivity. This suggests that MRI-negative TLE is not merely a subtle version of hippocampal sclerosis, but is rather a separate condition that involves distinct brain networks.
Economic Impact of Software Patching and Optimal Release Scheduling

Because of highly distributed nature of software products, the task of improving software reliability is becoming a complex job. Specialized tools and techniques are being used to isolate the risky software modules. In order to retain in market, firms are required not only to provide the software on time but also to endow with continuous processing. Product updating is the process that comes to safeguard the firm's image at this point of time. And one such attribute of updating is providing software patches. Today, almost all software firms are providing either patching, module exchange or service pack application processes consequent to a release. This paper proposes a scheduling policy for a software product and shows the importance of patching in lowering the system outages and making the system more cost effective. Validation on the proposed policy has been done using real life software failure data set of Tandem Computers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Randomized trial on the effectiveness of long-and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and solution-focused therapy on psychiatric symptoms during a 3-year follow-up

Background Insufficient evidence exists for a viable choice between long- and short-term psychotherapies in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The present trial compares the effectiveness of one long-term therapy and two short-term therapies in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. Method In the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study, 326 out-patients with mood (84.7%) or anxiety disorder (43.6%) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy, short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy, and solution-focused therapy) and were followed up for 3 years from start of treatment. Primary outcome measures were depressive symptoms measured by self-report Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and observer-rated Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and anxiety symptoms measured by self-report Symptom Check List Anxiety Scale (SCL-90-Anx) and observer-rated Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA). Results A statistically significant reduction of symptoms was noted for BDI (51%), HAMD (36%), SCL-90-Anx (41%) and HAMA (38%) during the 3-year follow-up. Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy was more effective than long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy during the first year, showing 15–27% lower scores for the four outcome measures. During the second year of follow-up no significant differences were found between the short-term and long-term therapies, and after 3 years of follow-up long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy was more effective with 14–37% lower scores for the outcome variables. No statistically significant differences were found in the effectiveness of the short-term therapies. Conclusions Short-term therapies produce benefits more quickly than long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy but in the long run long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy is superior to short-term therapies. However, more research is needed to determine which patients should be given long-term psychotherapy for the treatment of mood or anxiety disorders.
Ficus racemosa is pollinated by a single population of a single agaonid wasp species in continental South‐East Asia

High specificity in the Ficus‐agaonid wasp mutualism has lead to the assumption of a mostly ‘one‐to‐one’ relationship, albeit with some exceptions. This view has been challenged by new molecular data in recent years, but surprisingly little is known about local and spatial genetic structuring of agaonid wasp populations. Using microsatellite markers, we analysed genetic structuring of Ceratosolen fusciceps, the fig wasp pollinating Ficus racemosa, a fig tree species widely distributed from India to Australia. In sampling stretching from the south of China to the south of Thailand we found evidence for only a single pollinating wasp species in continental South‐East Asian mainland. We found no evidence for the co‐occurrence of cryptic species within our subcontinent sampling zone. We observed no spatial genetic structure within sites and only limited structuring over the whole sampling zone, suggesting that F. racemosa is pollinated by a single population of a single agaonid wasp species all over continental South‐East Asia. An additional sample of wasps collected on F. racemosa in Australia showed clear‐cut genetic differentiation from the Asian continent, suggesting allopatric divergence into subspecies or species. We propose that the frequent local co‐occurrence of sister species found in the literature mainly stems from contact zones between biogeographic regions, and that a single pollinator species over wide areas might be the more common situation everywhere else.
Does the Superior Colliculus Control Perceptual Sensitivity or Choice Bias during Attention? Evidence from a Multialternative Decision Framework

Distinct networks in the forebrain and the midbrain coordinate to control spatial attention. The critical involvement of the superior colliculus (SC)—the central structure in the midbrain network—in visuospatial attention has been shown by four seminal, published studies in monkeys (Macaca mulatta) performing multialternative tasks. However, due to the lack of a mechanistic framework for interpreting behavioral data in such tasks, the nature of the SC's contribution to attention remains unclear. Here we present and validate a novel decision framework for analyzing behavioral data in multialternative attention tasks. We apply this framework to re-examine the behavioral evidence from these published studies. Our model is a multidimensional extension to signal detection theory that distinguishes between two major classes of attentional mechanisms: those that alter the quality of sensory information or “sensitivity,” and those that alter the selective gating of sensory information or “choice bias. ” Model-based simulations and model-based analyses of data from these published studies revealed a converging pattern of results that indicated that choice-bias changes, rather than sensitivity changes, were the primary outcome of SC manipulation. Our results suggest that the SC contributes to attentional performance predominantly by generating a spatial choice bias for stimuli at a selected location, and that this bias operates downstream of forebrain mechanisms that enhance sensitivity. The findings lead to a testable mechanistic framework of how the midbrain and forebrain networks interact to control spatial attention. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Attention involves the selection of the most relevant information for differential sensory processing and decision making. While the mechanisms by which attention alters sensory encoding (sensitivity control) are well studied, the mechanisms by which attention alters decisional weighting of sensory evidence (choice-bias control) are poorly understood. Here, we introduce a model of multialternative decision making that distinguishes bias from sensitivity effects in attention tasks. With our model, we simulate experimental data from four seminal studies that microstimulated or inactivated a key attention-related midbrain structure, the superior colliculus (SC). We demonstrate that the experimental effects of SC manipulation are entirely consistent with the SC controlling attention by changing choice bias, thereby shedding new light on how the brain mediates attention.
Toward Personalized Oral Diagnosis: Distinct Microbiome Clusters in Periodontitis Biofilms

Periodontitis is caused by pathogenic subgingival microbial biofilm development and dysbiotic interactions between host and hosted microbes. A thorough characterization of the subgingival biofilms by deep amplicon sequencing of 121 individual periodontitis pockets of nine patients and whole metagenomic analysis of the saliva microbial community of the same subjects were carried out. Two biofilm sampling methods yielded similar microbial compositions. Taxonomic mapping of all biofilms revealed three distinct microbial clusters. Two clinical diagnostic parameters, probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL), correlated with the cluster mapping. The dysbiotic microbiomes were less diverse than the apparently healthy ones of the same subjects. The most abundant periodontal pathogens were also present in the saliva, although in different representations. The single abundant species Tannerella forsythia was found in the diseased pockets in about 16–17-fold in excess relative to the clinically healthy sulcus, making it suitable as an indicator of periodontitis biofilms. The discrete microbial communities indicate strong selection by the host immune system and allow the design of targeted antibiotic treatment selective against the main periodontal pathogen(s) in the individual patients.
Robust Object Categorization and Segmentation Motivated by Visual Contexts in the Human Visual System

Categorizing visual elements is fundamentally important for autonomous mobile robots to get intelligence such as novel object learning and topological place recognition. The main difficulties of visual categorization are two folds: large internal and external variations caused by surface markings and background clutters, respectively. In this paper, we present a new object categorization method robust to surface markings and background clutters. Biologically motivated codebook selection method alleviates the surface marking problem. Introduction of visual context to the codebook approach can handle the background clutter issue. The visual contexts utilized are part-part context , part-whole context, and object-background context. The additional contribution is the proposition of a statistical optimization method, termed boosted MCMC, to incorporate the visual context in the codebook approach. In this framework, three kinds of contexts are incorporated. The object category label and figure-ground information are estimated to best describe input images. We experimentally validate the effectiveness and feasibility of object categorization in cluttered environments.
Mode of Delivery – Effects on Gut Microbiota and Humoral Immunity

Background: The rate of caesarean deliveries has increased 10-fold worldwide during the past decades. Objective: To evaluate differences in the establishment of gut microbiota in infants born by vaginal or caesarean delivery and its impact on mucosal immunity. Methods: Altogether, 165 consecutive children, prospectively followed from birth at our clinic in Turku, Finland, were gathered; 141 (85%) were born by vaginal delivery and 24 (15%) by caesarean section. Blood was drawn at physician visits for indirect evaluation of mucosal immunity by ELISPOT assay. Faecal samples were obtained for determination of the gut microbiota by fluorescence in situ hybridization of bacterial cells. Results: Infants delivered by caesarean section harboured fewer bifidobacteria at an early age and were shown to mount a stronger humoral immune response. At 1 month of age, the total gut bacterial cell counts per 1 g faeces were higher in vaginally delivered infants (9.9 × 109, 95% CI 7.9 × 109–1.2 × 1010) as compared to caesarean section delivered (3.1 × 109, 95% CI 1.1 × 109–8.6 × 109) (p = 0.001). This distinction was mainly due to the greater number of bifidobacteria in vaginally delivered infants (1.9 × 109, 95% CI 6.3 × 108–5.6 × 109 vs. 1.5 × 106, 95% CI 4.1 × 102–5.7 × 109, respectively) (p = 0.001). During the first year of life, the total number of IgA-, IgG- and IgM-secreting cells was lower (p = 0.03, p = 0.02, p = 0.11, respectively) in infants born by vaginal delivery than in those born by caesarean section, possibly reflecting excessive antigen exposure across the vulnerable gut barrier. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the mode of delivery may have, possibly via gut microbiota development, significant effects on immunological functions in the infant (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00167700).
Active Warming Utilizing Combined IV Fluid and Forced-Air Warming Decreases Hypothermia and Improves Maternal Comfort During Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Control Trial

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study was to apply both IV fluid and forced-air warming to decrease perioperative hypothermia in women undergoing cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia. The authors hypothesize that combined-modality active warming (AW) would increase maternal temperature on arrival at the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and decrease the incidence of maternal perioperative hypothermia (<36°C) compared with no AW. METHODS:Forty-six healthy women (n = 23 per group) undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia (10–12 mg bupivacaine + 10 &mgr;g fentanyl) were enrolled in this double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Women were randomly assigned to receive either AW (warmed IV fluid and lower body forced-air warmer) or no warming (NW; blankets only). SpotOnTM Monitoring System was used to measure core temperature intraoperatively and for 1 hour postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was maternal temperature on arrival at the PACU. Secondary outcome measures included incidence of maternal perioperative hypothermia (<36°C), incidence of shivering, thermal comfort scores (0–100 scale), Apgar scores, and umbilical cord blood gas analysis. RESULTS:Demographic, obstetric, and surgical data were similar between study groups. The AW group (35.9°C ± 0.5°C) had a significantly higher temperature on arrival at the PACU compared with the NW group (35.5°C ± 0.5°C, P = 0.006; 95% confidence interval of mean difference, 0.1°C–0.7°C). Fourteen (64%) women in the AW group and 20 (91%) in the NW group were hypothermic during the study period (P = 0.031). Median (interquartile range) thermal comfort scores were 100 (95–100) in the AW group and 90 (70–100) in the NW group (P = 0.008). There were no significant differences in the incidence of intraoperative shivering (22% in the AW and 45% in the NW groups; P = 0.11), Apgar scores, or umbilical vein blood gas values between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS:Fluid combined with forced-air warming is effective in decreasing the incidence of perioperative hypothermia and improving maternal thermal comfort. However, despite multimodal AW, the majority of women became hypothermic, and shivering was not prevented. The findings suggest that combined AW for cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia is difficult, and only modest benefit should be expected.
Psychiatric status of patients with primary fibromyalgia, patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and subjects without pain: a blind comparison of DSM-III diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE The major purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of the occurrence of DSM-III diagnoses in patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome, patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and subjects without pain. METHOD Thirty-five patients with primary fibromyalgia, 33 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 31 nonpatients without pain were blindly assessed for psychiatric diagnoses with the Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS Data from this interview revealed no group differences in terms of lifetime history of any psychiatric disorders, including major depression, somatization disorder, or anxiety-based disorders. Analysis of the auxiliary symptoms of depression on the Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview revealed that the patients with fibromyalgia did not report a higher frequency of vegetative signs of depression. However, analysis of the somatization scale revealed an interaction between medical and psychiatric diagnoses: patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome and a psychiatric history endorsed significantly more somatic symptoms than did patients with rheumatoid arthritis or subjects without pain, and fibromyalgia patients without a psychiatric history were no more likely to endorse somatic symptoms than were arthritis patients or subjects without pain. CONCLUSIONS The Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview data failed to discriminate in any major way between primary fibromyalgia syndrome (a disorder with no known organic etiology) and rheumatoid arthritis (a disorder with a known organic etiology). Therefore, these data do not support a psychopathology model as a primary explanation of the symptoms of primary fibromyalgia syndrome.
Prolinamide derivatives as thrombin inhibitors for the treatment of thrombin-mediated diseases: a patent evaluation of US2013296245

Introduction: Thrombotic disorders can lead to deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction and stroke. Thrombin plays a vital role in cascade reaction of blood coagulation, inhibition of the activity of thrombin can block the formation of thrombus and direct thrombin inhibitor has a prospect to overcome the limitations in application of the traditional anticoagulant drugs. Areas covered: The current patent US2013296245 describes a series of prolinamide derivatives with formula (I) as thrombin inhibitors. These new compounds are defined to be pharmaceutically acceptable salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic acid and organic acid, and pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug where N-alkoxycarbonyl is protected or carboxylic acid is protected by ester. Expert opinion: The patent used formamidine and its N-alkoxycarbonyl-protected derivatives as the P1 group; these groups were less basic compared with the traditional guanidine group, so their lipophilicity could be optimized to achieve oral absorption. Furthermore, these pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs where N-alkoxycarbonyl is protected or carboxylic acid is protected by ester could achieve prolonged half-life for a convenient once- or twice-daily oral dosing. These efforts gave a new hope and confidence to treat thrombotic disorders with selective and orally active thrombin inhibitors.