Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of combined chemotherapy with or without potentiation with interferon alpha or tamoxifen for melanoma

BACKGROUND: Metastatic melanoma has shown only limited responsiveness to chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The most commonly used single-agent chemotherapy comes from the nitrosourea group of agents and provides response rates of less than 20%. Several cytotoxic agents have been combined with no dramatic benefit. The incorporation of tamoxifen or interferon in chemotherapy regimens has proven effective in some trials. METHODS: From July 1998 to March 2002, 45 patients with metastatic melanoma were enrolled for the study. None of the patients had previously received chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to compare the activity of three combined regimens: CVD (cisplatin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) chemotherapeutic combination, CVD with interferon (IFN) alpha-2 - biochemotherapy, and CVD with tamoxifen. The study was conducted as a single center, controlled, prospective, randomized phase II study directed toward the disease. RESULTS: The best response rate (RR) was observed in the CVD+IFN (6/15) group related to the CVD (4/15) and CVD+TAM (3/15) groups, without significant difference though. In 29 patients with 1 to 2 metastatic lesions, RR was 44.82% (CR-1, PR-12, SD-13, PD-3), while in 16 patients with 3 or more metastatic lesions RR was 0.0 % (CR-0, PR-0, SD-9, PD-7). The difference was statistically significant (p<0.005). The best responding metastatic sites were the lymph nodes (in 10 patients), but patients with lung, skin and liver lesions also responded. All patients experienced mild adverse effects. No treatment-related deaths occurred. The median survival was 12, 12, and 11 months in CVD+IFN, CVD and CVD+TAM group, respectively. Time to progression was about 8 months in all treated groups. CONCLUSION: Combined chemotherapy, biochemotherapy or chemohormonal therapy all showed some activity in metastatic melanoma. However, it is not yet possible to define standard therapy for this disease. Due to a limited number of patients evaluated so far in this investigation the results should be clearer and more conclusive with larger cumulative number of cases enrolled.
Evolutionary Implications of Synapomorphic Wing-Molt Sequences among Falcons (Falconiformes) and Parrots (Psittaciformes)

Abstract. I examined over 4500 specimens to investigate the evolutionary significance of molt sequences as related to systematic relationships of falcons and parrots. Nodes of molt among the medial primaries (p4–p6) and at s5 among the secondaries, followed by bidirectional replacement from the node within each tract, was confirmed for most or all taxonomic groupings of both falcons and parrots, with the exception of the Kakapo or Owl Parrot (Strigops habroptila), which appears to replace its remiges in sequences similar to those of most other birds. Initiation of primary molt varies between p4 and p5 in falcons and between p5 and p6 in parrots, including within species, suggesting that the node's position may be fluid within a defined area along the alar tract. The coincidence and consistency of these molt sequences in parrots and falcons but in no other order of birds suggests that molt sequence may be a synapomorphic (shared) character state, supporting recent molecular evidence that the Falconiformes and Psittaciformes are sister taxa. A more ancestral molt sequence in Strigops may suggest that it split from other parrots prior to a Falconiformes—Psittaciformes divergence or it may indicate reversion to a primitive character state in response to the species' unique nocturnal and ground-dwelling habits. The results of this analysis further suggest that synapomorphic wing-molt sequences can be used as an indicator of systematic relationships in birds and that molt sequence is perhaps controlled by a neurological process more fixed than timing, extent, and geographic location of molts.
MENSTRUAL CHANGES AND PREGNANCY OUTCOMES AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPISTS EXPOSED TO NON-IONIZING RADIATIONS

Introduction: Excessive exposure to radiofrequency (RF), electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from the diathermy devices could result in adverse pregnancy / reproductive outcomes. Aim of Work: to assess the menstrual changes, hormonal profile and pregnancy outcomes among female physiotherapists exposed to non-ionizing radiations. Materials and Methods: a prospective study, included 120 female workers at the physiotherapy departments with 160 healthy controls (non-exposed), who were allocated into two groups: pregnant (50 physiotherapists and 75 controls) and non-pregnant (70 physiotherapists and 85 controls). Outcome measures in the pregnant group included pregnancy outcome while in non-pregnant group were menstrual irregularities, abnormal uterine bleeding and abnormal hormonal profile. Results: There was a highly significant difference between the exposed pregnant and controls regarding low birth weight (p 0.05). Conclusion: female physiotherapists have no increased risks for menstrual irregularities, abnormal hormonal profile or adverse pregnancy outcome except for low birth weight which needs future research.
Subradiance and radiation trapping in cold atoms

We experimentally and numerically study the temporal dynamics of light scattered by large clouds of cold atoms after the exciting laser is switched off, in the low intensity (linear-optics) regime. Radiation trapping due to multiple scattering as well as subradiance lead to decay much slower than the single atom fluorescence decay. These two effects have already been observed separately, but the interplay between them remained to be understood. Here, we show that with well chosen parameters of the driving field, the two effects can occur at the same time, but follow different scaling behaviors. The subradiant decay is observed at late time and its rate is independent of the detuning, while the radiation trapping decay is observed at intermediate time and depends on the detuning through the optical depth of the sample. Numerical simulations based on random walk process and coupled-dipole equations support our interpretations. Our study clarifies the different interpretations and physical mechanisms at the origin of slow temporal dynamics of light in cold atoms.
REEXAMINATION OF SPENT FUEL SHIPMENT RISK ESTIMATES

The risks associated with the transport of spent nuclear fuel by truck and rail have been reexamined [1] and compared to results published in NUREG-O 170 [2] and the Modal Study ~]. The full reexamination considered transport of PWR and BWR spent fiel by truck and rail in four generic Type B spent fuel casks. Because they are typical, this paper presents results only for transport of PWR spent fiel in steel-lead steel casks. Cask and spent fuel response to collision impacts and tires were evaluated by performing three-dimensional finite element and one-dimensional heat transport calculations, Accident release fi-actions were developed by critical review of literature data. Accident severity ffactions were developed from Modal Study truck and rail accident event trees, modified to reflect the frequency of occurrence of hard and soft rock wayside route surfaces as determined by analysis of geographic data. Incident-fkee population doses and the population dose risks associated with the accidents that might occur during transport were calculated using the RADTRAN 5 transportation risk code. The calculated incidentfi-ee doses were compared to those published in NUREG-O 170. The calculated accident dose risks were compared to dose risks calculated using NUREG0170 and Modal Study accident source terms. The comparisons demonstrated that both of these studies made a number of very conservative assumptions about spent fiel and cask response to accident conditions, which caused their estimates of accident source terms, accident frequencies, and accident consequences to also be very conservative. The results of this study and the previous studies demonstrate that the risks associated with the shipment of spent fhel by truck or rail are very small. INTRODUCTION In September of 1977, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a generic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), titled “Final Environmental Statement on the J. L. Sprung Sandia National Laboratories* Albuquerque NM 87185-0718 Phone: (505)844-01 34
τ-metrizable spaces

In [1], A. A. Borubaev introduced the concept of τ-metric space, where τ is an arbitrary cardinal number. The class of τ-metric spaces as τ runs through the cardinal numbers contains all ordinary metric spaces (for τ = 1) and thus these spaces are a generalization of metric spaces. In this paper the notion of τ-metrizable space is considered.
From Hybrid Swarms to Swarms of Hybrids

Science has shown that the introgression or hybridization of modern humans (Homo sapiens) with Neanderthals up to 40,000 YBP may have led to the swarm of modern humans on earth. However, there is little doubt that modern trade and transportation in support of the humans has continued to introduce additional species, genotypes, and hybrids to every country on the globe. We assessed the utility of species distributions modeling of genotypes to assess the risk of current and future invaders. We evaluated 93 locations of the genus Tamarix for which genetic data were available. Maxent models of habitat suitability showed that the hybrid, T. ramosissima x T. chinensis, was slightly greater than the parent taxa (AUCs > 0.83). General linear models of Africanized honey bees, a hybrid cross of Tanzanian Apis mellifera scutellata and a variety of European honey bee including A. m. ligustica, showed that the Africanized bees (AUC = 0.81) may be displacing European honey bees (AUC > 0.76) over large areas of the southwestern U.S. More important, Maxent modeling of sub-populations (A1 and A26 mitotypes based on mDNA) could be accurately modeled (AUC > 0.9), and they responded differently to environmental drivers. This suggests that rapid evolutionary change may be underway in the Africanized bees, allowing the bees to spread into new areas and extending their total range. Protecting native species and ecosystems may benefit from risk maps of harmful invasive species, hybrids, and genotypes.
Lithospheric structure of Iberia and Morocco using finite‐frequency Rayleigh wave tomography from earthquakes and seismic ambient noise

We present a new 3‐D shear velocity model of the western Mediterranean from the Pyrenees, Spain, to the Atlas Mountains, Morocco, and the estimated crustal and lithospheric thickness. The velocity model shows different crustal and lithospheric velocities for the Variscan provinces, those which have been affected by Alpine deformation, and those which are actively deforming. The Iberian Massif has detectable differences in crustal thickness that can be related to the evolution of the Variscan orogen in Iberia. Areas affected by Alpine deformation have generally lower velocities in the upper and lower crust than the Iberian Massif. Beneath the Gibraltar Strait and surrounding areas, the crustal thickness is greater than 50 km, below which a high‐velocity anomaly (>4.5 km/s) is mapped to depths greater than 200 km. We identify this as a subducted remnant of the NeoTethys plate referred to as the Alboran and western Mediterranean slab. Beneath the adjacent Betic and Rif Mountains, the Alboran slab is still attached to the base of the crust, depressing it, and ultimately delaminating the lower crust and mantle lithosphere as the slab sinks. Under the adjacent continents, the Alboran slab is surrounded by low upper mantle shear wave velocities (Vs < 4.3) that we interpret as asthenosphere that has replaced the continental margin lithosphere which was viscously removed by Alboran plate subduction. The southernmost part of the model features an anomalously thin lithosphere beneath the Atlas Mountains that could be related to lateral flow induced by the Alboran slab.
A clinico-epidemiological study of acute encephalitis syndrome with multi organ dysfunction

Background: Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is a pressing public health problem in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Japanese Encephalitis (JE), which has been endemic in this region, has shown a declining trend. AES not due to JE (Non JE) constitutes more than 75% of all cases and is associated with non-neurological clinical manifestations also. The etiology of Non JE AES is still unknown. We studied the clinic-epidemiological profile of AES, and compared Non JE AES to JE. Methods: This study was done in a tertiary care hospital in children 1-15 years. Clinical features, CSF analysis, biochemical tests, radiological features and outcome were studied in AES cases. Results: Out of 505 patients, 27 had an identifiable non-viral etiology. JE was a cause in 31/478(6.48%) patients. The remaining 447 patients were labeled as Non JE AES. Headache at presentation (25.8% vs. 10.7%) and hypertonia (22.6% vs. 9.8%) were significantly higher in JE patients. Swelling over the body (21.25%vs 3.2%) and hypotonia (25.7% vs. 3.2%) were significantly more common in Non JE AES. Although cardiac involvement and multi-organ involvement was more in Non JE AES, the difference was not statistically significant. Overall mortality was 32.42%. Conclusions: JE is no longer an important cause of AES in this region. Swelling over the body, floppiness and multi organ involvement are predominant features of Non JE AES. Although many infectious diseases can present with similar features, a viral etiology seems most likely. Further efforts are needed to identify etiology.
Improved estimates of the physical properties of the O-star binary V1007 Sco = HD 152248 and notes on several other binaries in the NGC 6231 cluster ,

Context. In spite of the importance of massive O-type stars for astrophysics, their accurate masses and other fundamental properties are still a matter of debate. Determining them reliably is hampered by various factors (stellar winds and other forms of circumstellar matter), and the agreement of derived properties with the model predictions is far from satisfactory. Careful studies of O-type binaries, especially of those in stellar clusters, are therefore desirable. Aims. Having obtained new series of electronic spectra and UBV photometry of V1007 Sco, we analysed these data in an effort to check whether the observed properties of V1007 Sco indeed disagree with the prediction of stellar evolutionary models. We briefly analysed data for a few other binaries in NGC 6231, too. Methods. Spectral reductions were carried out with the MIDAS program, photometry reduced using the HEC22 program, the orbital elements were derived with the FOTEL program and the final solutions obtained with the program PHOEBE. Results. Our analysis led to an accurate determination of the apsidal advance, u ω = (0.00884 ± 0.00012) deg d −1 , based on a simultaneous solution of all usable radial-velocity and photometric data. This implies an apsidal period of 111.5 years. It is also demonstrated that the orbital inclination must be close to 67 ◦ . We arrived at the following preliminary values for masses and radii: M1 = (29.5 ± 0.4) M� , M2 = (30.1 ± 0.4) M� , R1 = (15.8 ± 0.7) R� ,a ndR2 = (15.3 ± 0.5) R� . These values clearly indicate a log g of about 3.5 [CGS], implying that the stars are giants and not supergiants, as the standard spectral classification criteria indicate.
The XMM-Newton Serendipitous Survey I. The role of XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre

This paper describes the performance of XMM-Newton for serendipitous surveys and summarises the scope and potential of the XMM-Newton Serendipitous Survey. The role of the Survey Science Centre (SSC) in the XMM-Newton project is outlined. The SSC's follow-up and identification programme for the XMM-Newton serendipitous survey is described together with the presentation of some of the first results.
Age Determination of Fossil Bones from the Vindija Neanderthal Site in Croatia

Vindija cave in Croatia is famous for the Neanderthal bones found in layer G of its sediment profile. Radiocarbon dating has been performed mainly on this layer due to the great interest in its fossils. In addition to Neanderthal remains, the sediment in layer G contains bones from the cave bear. Cave bear bones are found also in other layers of the sediment profile and offer the possibility of studying the bears' evolutionary mode. Therefore, we tried to determine the time span covered by the entire profile. The U/Th age determination method was applied to cave bear bones from different layers of the profile. For the younger part of the profile, the U/Th ages were compared with the results of the 14C and the amino-acid racemization method. The agreement of the different methods indicates that closed-system behavior can be assumed for the fossil bones from Vindija cave. From this finding it may be deduced that bones from the lower sediment layers are also closed systems and that the U/Th ages of these layers are reliable. This conclusion is corroborated by the stratigraphy of the cave profile.
Winter Wheat Yield and Soil Properties Response to Long-term Non-inversion Tillage

The studies carried out over 2010-13 involved a static field experiment initiated in 1999 at Brody Research Station of the Poznan University of Life Science, Poland. The soil tillage systems for winter wheat were compared on a soil classified as Albic Luvisols. The aim of experiments was to evaluate impact of ploughless soil tillage on some soil physical, chemical, biological properties and winter wheat productivity parameters. Tillage systems included: Conventional Tillage based on moulboard ploughing (CT), Reduced Tillage with a stubble cultivator (RT), and No-Tillage (NT). The soil tilled under RT and NT recorded higher values of water content and soil bulk density, especially in the top layer. On the other hand, in the 10-20 cm layer, soil bulk density was significantly higher under CT than under RT and NT. Soil penetration resistance was lower under CT than under RT and NT from 0 to 20 cm depth. However, soil penetration resistance was consistently higher under CT than under RT and NT from 21 cm to 30 cm depth. Organic C and nutrient elements tended to accumulate in the surface horizons under RT and NT compared with CT. Enzymatic activities were found in the more superficial layers of soil under RT and NT than under CT. The grain yield decreased by 6.9% under NT compared to CT, and ranged over a similar level under RT and CT. The decreased yield in NT probably resulted primarily from a lower number of ears per unit area. In our opinion, in the future, more research is needed to determine the role of changing soil properties over time in crop yields, and no-tillage system needs to be improved to secure plant establishment and crop yield.
Knowledge and attitudes of Jordanian nursing students toward children's pain assessment and management: A cross-sectional study

Successful pain assessment and management require nurses with sufficient knowledge and appropriate attitudes. A cross-sectional study was conducted to test the nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward children’s pain management across three private universities in Jordan. A convenient sample of 101 nursing students completed the Paediatric Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (PNKAS). The total mean score on the PNKAS scale was 18.36% (SD = +6.30), with a minimum score of 8 and a maximum score of 40. The results showed that Jordanian nursing students have poor knowledge and attitudes towards paediatric pain assessment and management. Jordanian nursing students need more educational materials throughout their study plans and curriculums in regards to paediatric pain assessment and management.
The history of stellar metallicity in a simulated disc galaxy

We explore the chemical distribution of stars in a simulated galaxy. Using simulations of the same initial conditions but with two different feedback schemes (McMaster Unbiased Galaxy Simulations – MUGS – and Making Galaxies in a Cosmological Context – MaGICC), we examine the features of the age–metallicity relation (AMR), and the three-dimensional age– [Fe/H]–[O/Fe] distribution, both for the galaxy as a whole and decomposed into disc, bulge, halo and satellites. The MUGS simulation, which uses traditional supernova feedback, is replete with chemical substructure. This substructure is absent from the MaGICC simulation, which includes early feedback from stellar winds, a modified initial mass function and more efficient feedback. The reduced amount of substructure is due to the almost complete lack of satellites in MaGICC. We identify a significant separation between the bulge and disc AMRs, where the bulge is considerably more metal-rich with a smaller spread in metallicity at any given time than the disc. Our results suggest, however, that identifying the substructure in observations will require exquisite age resolution, of the order of 0.25 Gyr. Certain satellites show exotic features in the AMR, even forming a ‘sawtooth’ shape of increasing metallicity followed by sharp declines which correspond to pericentric passages. This fact, along with the large spread in stellar age at a given metallicity, compromises the use of metallicity as an age indicator, although alpha abundance provides a more robust clock at early times. This may also impact algorithms that are used to reconstruct star formation histories from resolved stellar populations, which frequently assume a monotonically increasing AMR.
The role of glutamine and α-ketoglutarate in gut metabolism and the potential application in medicine and nutrition

An amino acid, Glutamine (Gln), is abundant in both the human body and diet. Gln and its derivatives are important factors affecting intestinal function, growth and development as a main source for energy and structure component. The importance to metabolism is evident during stress. During the past 2 decades, an increased understanding has been gained into its role in metabolism. Gln is currently classified as a conditionally essential amino acid; however, it is unstable in water solution and produces toxic byproducts on decomposition, which has led to the commercialization of its precursor AKG. Apart from its nutritive role, Gln and AKG possess certain pharmacologic and/or immunologic effects. The article presents the role of Gln and AKG in gut metabolism and, on the basis of clinical trials and animal experiments, discusses their potential usefulness in medicine and nutrition.
THE OPTICAL AFTERGLOW AND z = 0.92 EARLY-TYPE HOST GALAXY OF THE SHORT GRB 100117A

We present the discovery of the optical afterglow and early-type host galaxy of the short-duration GRB 100117A. The faint afterglow is detected 8.3 hr after the burst with rAB = 25.46 ± 0.20 mag. Follow-up optical and near-infrared observations uncover a coincident compact red galaxy, identified as an early-type galaxy at a spectroscopic redshift of z ≈ 0.915 with a mass of ∼3 × 1010 M☉, an age of ∼1 Gyr, and a luminosity of LB ≃ 0.5 L*. From a possible weak detection of [O ii]λ3727 emission at z = 0.915 we infer an upper bound on the star formation rate of ∼0.1 M☉ yr−1, leading to a specific star formation rate of ≲0.004 Gyr−1. Thus, GRB 100117A is only the second short burst to date with a secure early-type host (the other being GRB 050724 at z = 0.257) and it has one of the highest short gamma-ray burst (GRB) redshifts. The offset between the host center and the burst position, 470 ± 310 pc, is the smallest to date. Combined with the old stellar population age, this indicates that the burst likely originated from a progenitor with no significant kick velocity. However, from the brightness of the optical afterglow we infer a relatively low density of n ≈ 3 × 10−4 ϵ−3e,−1ϵ−1.75B,−1 cm−3. The combination of an optically faint afterglow and host suggests that previous such events may have been missed, thereby potentially biasing the known short GRB host population against z ≳ 1 early-type hosts.