Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy Expenditure, Energy Intake and Prevalence of Obesity after Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia during Childhood

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and potential risk factors of obesity after therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Study Design: 39 ALL patients (age 10.7–20.5 years) who were in first remission for 3.4–14.6 years after standardized treatment with chemotherapy plus cranial irradiation (n = 25) or with chemotherapy alone (n = 14) were examined. After fasting overnight, the following parameters were investigated: body mass index (BMI) of patients and their parents; patients’ BMI before ALL therapy; serum free thyroxin, growth hormone-dependent factors, estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, leptin and c-peptide; fat-free mass (bioelectrical impedance); resting metabolic rate (RMR, indirect calorimetry); caloric intake (24-hour recall); and physical activity (questionnaire). RMR data were applied to the fat-free mass and compared with 83 controls. Results: The prevalence of obesity (criterion: BMI > 2 SDS) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher after ALL therapy (38%; irradiated patients 48%, non-irradiated patients 21%) than before therapy (3%). Compared to non-irradiated patients, irradiated patients had significantly lower RMRs (–1.07 ± 0.24 vs. –0.32 ± 0.21 SDS; p < 0.05), reduced physical activity levels (1.41 ± 0.03 vs. 1.52 ± 0.03; p < 0.05), and lower concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (–0.65 ± 0.17 vs. 0.25 ± 0.33 SDS; p < 0.05) and of free thyroxin (1.17 ± 0.06 vs. 1.38 ± 0.08 ng/dl; p < 0.05). Caloric intake was adequate. Conclusions: After ALL during childhood, patients face a higher risk of obesity. In the cranially irradiated patients, the likely causes are low physical activity, RMRs and hormonal insufficiency.
Active commuting to school in children and adolescents: An opportunity to increase physical activity and fitness

Aims: The purpose was to describe the patterns of commuting to school in young people and to examine its associations with physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness. Methods: The sample comprised 2271 Estonian and Swedish children and adolescents (1218 females) aged 9—10 years and 15—16 years. Data were collected in 1998/99. Mode of commuting to and from school was assessed by questionnaire. Time spent (min/day) in PA and average PA (counts/min) was measured by accelerometry. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by means of a maximal cycle ergometer test. Results: Sixty-one percent of the participants reported active commuting to school (ACS). Estonian youth showed lower levels of ACS than Swedish (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.53—0.76) and girls reported lower levels than boys (0.74; 0.62—0.88). ACS boys showed higher PA levels than non-ACS boys for moderate, vigorous, MVPA, and average PA levels (all p ≤ 0.01). Participants who cycled to school had higher cardiorespiratory fitness than walkers or passive travellers (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Nearly two-thirds of the participants actively commuted to school. ACS may provide an opportunity to increase levels of daily PA, especially in boys, and cardiorespiratory fitness, especially if cycling. Public health strategies should develop and test ACS patterns to get more evidence and promote bike-friendly environments.
A Signal Processing Scheme for Output Limitation.

For both normal listeners and mild to moderately sensori-neurally impaired (probable etiology, presbycusis) listeners a summation of discomfort (S) occurs for complex stimuli, proportional to the logarithm of the number of components. Regression equations of S=2.05+11.51 log n for normals and S=3.95+12.88 log n for hearing impaired (where n equals the number of components or bandwidth in the complex) were found to be significantly different. This change in percept with increased bandwidth (or components) has not been satisfactorily explained in terms of power or amplitude peak density of the stimuli. The regression equations could be applied to future digital hearing aids so that maximum output levels (MPO) would account for this summation.
Dual-regularized precoding: A robust approach for D2D-enabled massive MIMO

This paper designs efficient feedback mechanisms to help enable massive MIMO in frequency division multiplexing (FDD) bands. By exploiting possible device-to-device (D2D) coordination and using a team decision approach, a scheme is developed to bridge the feedback in the channel space and that in the precoder space. It is found that the desired feedback and precoding vectors take similar forms as the regularized zero-forcing (RZF) precoder, with additional regularizations to capture any level of uncertainty of the exchanged channel state information (CSI). Numerical results demonstrate superior performance of the proposed scheme for an arbitrary D2D link quality setup.
Experimental Measure of Rural Household Risk Preference: The Case of the SLCP Area in Northern Shaanxi, China

This study elicits the risk preferences of rural households through a field experiment conducted in Shaanxi Province using the Holt-Laury mechanism that considers the effects of implementing the Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP) on the risk preferences of farmers. The program has significantly changed the structure of farmers’ productive property, which may further influence their risk attitudes. This study reveals that household geographic and demographic characteristics have a significant effect on the risk preferences of participants in the experiment. More importantly, the SLCP has had a significant effect on farmers’ risk preferences. Hence, when assessing the outcome of such public policies as the SLCP that may affect the future incomes of farmers, we should consider the socioeconomic characteristics of the households concerned and the public policies implemented in the targeted area in detail. Discipline: Agricultural Economics Additional key words: Holt-Laury mechanism; expected utility theory
Performance Analysis of Gradient-Based Nash Seeking Algorithms Under Quantization

This paper investigates the impact of quantized inter-agent communications on the asymptotic and transient behavior of gradient-based Nash-seeking algorithms in non-cooperative games. Using the information-theoretic notion of entropy power, we establish a universal lower bound on the asymptotic rate of exponential mean-square convergence to the Nash equilibrium (NE). This bound depends on the inter-agent data rate and the local behavior of the agents' utility functions, and is independent of the quantizer structure. Next, we study transient performance and derive an upper bound on the average time required to settle inside a specified ball around the NE, under uniform quantization. Furthermore, we establish an upper bound on the probability that agents' actions lie outside this ball, and show that this bound decays double-exponentially with time. Finally, we propose an adaptive quantization scheme that allows the gradient algorithm to converge to the NE despite quantized inter-agent communications.
Follow-Up of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Related Disorders over Four Years in Adults in Their Sixties: The PATH Through Life Study

Aims: The study aimed to estimate incidence rates of mild cognitive impairment and related disorders, and conversion to dementia. Methods: The data are drawn from the PATH Through Life Study. Baseline assessment in 2001–2002 included 2,551 participants 60–64 years old with 2,222 participating in a 4-year follow-up. Those screened positive with a cognitive assessment received clinical assessment for diagnoses of mild cognitive disorders (MCD) or dementia using established clinical criteria. Prevalence and incidence rates for the cohort were estimated with predictive regression models. Results: Annual incidence of dementia was 0.25%. Prevalence of mild cognitive impairment was 4.2%, age-associated memory impairment was 2.4%, age-associated cognitive decline was 7.6%, mild neurocognitive disorders occurred in 12.9% and other cognitive disorders in 7.3%. Prevalence of any diagnosis of any MCD (Any-MCD) was 29.5% and the annual incidence rate for Any-MCD was 5.7%. Agreement for specific diagnoses between waves 1 and 2 was fair to poor (0–47.0%), but agreement for Any-MCD over 4 years was 89.0%. Conclusion: MCD diagnoses do not predict dementia at a 4-year follow-up in young-old adults. Prevalence rates for MCD vary greatly depending on the criteria and time of assessment.
A 2.488 Gb/s Si-bipolar clock and data recovery IC with robust loss of signal detection

SONET 2.488Gb/s transmission and switching systems, network backbones, and video transmission are among the many application areas benefiting from inexpensive and robust clock and data recovery circuits (CDR). Previous commercial solutions have required multiple chips and GaAs processes to perform this function. This 25GHz f/sub T/ Si-bipolar chip operates from 2 to 3Gb/s over worst-case process, temperature and voltage variations, dissipating 1.77W from 5V/spl plusmn/10% supply, requiring a single off-chip filter capacitor. For network monitoring, a loss-of-signal (LOS) detector operates on phase-error events, with a trigger threshold programmable between 10/sup -4/ and 10/sup -6/ BER.
Effectiveness of nicotinic agonists as desensitizers at presynaptic α4β2- and α4α5β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

INTRODUCTION Nicotine interacts with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and modifies neuronal functions. The net result of nicotine exposure is difficult to assess because multiple nAChR subtypes exist and are expressed on multiple classes of neurons. Nicotine, unlike the natural agonist acetylcholine, remains in tissues for hours, and during this extended exposure nAChRs desensitize. Therefore, agonists can block the natural functions of nAChRs. Higher nicotine concentrations are required to desensitize α4β2-nAChRs containing the α5 subunit. The aim of these experiments was to determine if this property holds true for compounds other than nicotine. METHODS [(3)H]-dopamine release from crude mouse striatal synaptosomal preparations was used to measure activation and desensitization of the [(α4β2)2β2] and [(α4β2)2α5] nAChR subtypes. Affinity was measured by competition with [(125)I]-epibatidine. RESULTS Nine compounds of varying affinity and efficacy were tested. All compounds partially desensitized both subtypes; concentration necessary for desensitization correlated with binding site affinity but not efficacy. All compounds showed a similar, significant shift in concentration necessary for a 50% effect when the α5 subunit was included (averaging 8-fold higher). The extent of desensitization produced by a 10-min exposure did not correlate with affinity or efficacy of compound. CONCLUSION Full or partial nicotinic agonists used as medications may effectively desensitize α4β2-nAChRs. However, significantly higher concentrations of all compounds tested were required to elicit desensitization of α4α5β2-nAChRs than α4β2-nAChRs. If desensitization is the important property for a smoking cessation drug, basic screening at both subtypes may provide a mechanistic foundation for effectiveness.
A New Weave of Power, People & Politics: The Action Guide for Advocacy and Citizen Participation

Acknowledgements . Foreword . Introduction . 1 Who is the Action Guide for? 1 What Is the Guide’s Approach to Advocacy? 1 Conceptual and Experiential Sources for the Action Guide . 2 Navigating the Action Guide . 3 Navigating the Action Guide: Tips for Users . 5
Noninvasive Pneumococcal Clones Associated with Antimicrobial Nonsusceptibility Isolated from Children in the Era of Conjugate Vaccines

ABSTRACT Carriage and noninvasive pneumococcal isolates frequently have a higher prevalence of antimicrobial nonsusceptibility than invasive isolates. From 2009 to 2014, we determined the associated clones in 169 pediatric noninvasive nonsusceptible pneumococci from a total of 506 isolates collected after 7- and 13-valent conjugate vaccine introduction (PCV7/13) to the Irish childhood immunization schedule in 2008 and 2010, respectively. We compared our results to those from 25 noninvasive pediatric pneumococcal isolates collected in 2007, the year before introduction of conjugate vaccines. In 2007, England14-9 and Spain9V-3 accounted for 12% and 32% of nonsusceptible clones, respectively, but in 2009 to 2014, their prevalence fell to 0% and 2.4%. Furthermore, there was a significant decline in Spain6B-2 and its variants from 2009 to 2014 (P = 0.0024). Fluctuations occurred in clonal complex 320 associated with serotype 19A. The prevalence of Sweden15A-25 and its variants and ST558 (a single-locus variant of Utah35B-24) associated with nonvaccine serotypes (NVT) 15A and 35B increased from 0% and 8% in 2007 to 19% and 16% in 2013 to 2014, respectively. Pilus locus 1 (PI-1) is associated with the spread of some nonsusceptible pneumococcal clones. PI-1 was more frequently associated with PCV7/13 serotypes than NVT (P = 0.0020). Our data highlight the value of surveillance of noninvasive pneumococci following conjugate vaccine introduction. Importantly, emerging clones associated with NVT may limit the effectiveness of PCV7/13 in reducing the high rate of nonsusceptibility among pediatric noninvasive pneumococci, with implications for empirical treatment strategies.
Pretransplant Model to Predict Posttransplant Survival in Liver Transplant Patients

ObjectiveTo develop a prognostic model that determines patient survival outcomes after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) using readily available pretransplant variables. Summary Background DataThe current liver organ allocation system strongly favors organ distribution to critically ill recipients who exhibit poor survival outcomes following OLT. A severely limited organ resource, increasing waiting list deaths, and rising numbers of critically ill recipients mandate an organ allocation system that balances disease severity with survival outcomes. Such goals can be realized only through the development of prognostic models that predict survival following OLT. MethodsVariables that may affect patient survival following OLT were analyzed in hepatitis C (HCV) recipients at the authors’ center, since HCV is the most common indication for OLT. The resulting patient survival model was examined and refined in HCV and non-HCV patients in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database. Kaplan-Meier methods, univariate comparisons, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression were employed for analyses. ResultsVariables identified by multivariate analysis as independent predictors for patient survival following primary transplantation of adult HCV recipients in the last 10 years at the authors’ center were entered into a prognostic survival model to predict patient survival. Accordingly, mortality was predicted by 0.0293 (recipient age) + 1.085 (log10 recipient creatinine) + 0.289 (donor female gender) + 0.675 urgent UNOS - 1.612 (log10 recipient creatinine times urgent UNOS). The above variables, in addition to donor age, total bilirubin, prothrombin time (PT), retransplantation, and warm and cold ischemia times, were applied to the UNOS database. Of the 46,942 patients transplanted over the last 10 years, 25,772 patients had complete data sets. An eight-factor model that accurately predicted survival was derived. Accordingly, the mortality index posttransplantation = 0.0084 donor age + 0.019 recipient age + 0.816 log creatinine + 0.0044 warm ischemia (in minutes) + 0.659 (if second transplant) + 0.10 log bilirubin + 0.0087 PT + 0.01 cold ischemia (in hours). Thus, this model is applicable to first or second liver transplants. Patient survival rates based on model-predicted risk scores for death and observed posttransplant survival rates were similar. Additionally, the model accurately predicted survival outcomes for HCV and non-HCV patients. ConclusionsPosttransplant patient survival can be accurately predicted based on eight straightforward factors. The balanced application of a model for liver transplant survival estimate, in addition to disease severity, as estimated by the model for end-stage liver disease, would markedly improve survival outcomes and maximize patients’ benefits following OLT.
Novel eICIC scheme for HetNets exploiting jointly the frequency, power and time dimensions

User demand for capacity and high data rate applications imposes the need for new technologies able to cope with these challenges. Fourth Generation cellular networks have set the initiative for a technology evolution that will surpass the constraints and provide better quality of service and improved performance. In this context, Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets) deployments, combining a variety of different cell sizes, are considered in the literature in order to enhance the coverage and capacity of cellular systems. However, they require enhanced techniques especially for the user-to-cell association, resource allocation and interference management processes. On that respect, in this work we present a novel scheme that exploits jointly the frequency, power and time dimensions for interference mitigation in order to balance the trade-off between interference reduction to small cell users and throughput degradation for macrocell users. Simulation results have shown that the proposed solution utilizes more efficiently the available resources compared to a conventional scheme and boosts the capacity up to 45%.
Carbonic anhydrase IX as a predictive biomarker of response to kidney cancer therapy

Sabina Signoretti*†, Meredith Regan‡ and Michael Atkins§ *Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Departments of †Medical Oncology and ‡Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and §Division of Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Kidney Cancer Program, Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis patients with cerebellar symptoms

Background Cerebellar dysfunction is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, neuropsychological studies of this clinical feature are lacking. Objective We investigate the neuropsychological features in relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients with and without cerebellar dysfunction. Methods Twenty-one RR-MS patients with cerebellar dysfunction (RR-MSc), characterized by prevalent ataxic gait and nystagmus, and 21 RR-MS patients without any cerebellar manifestation (RR-MSnc) pair-matched for demographical and clinical variables were studied. All patients from each group underwent an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis included hyperintense fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery lesion load in the whole brain as well as in the four lobes separately. Results Any significant differences were detected in total and regional lesion load measurements between the two groups. RR-MSc group performed equally as well as the RR-MSnc group on many of the cognitive exploration measures. Nevertheless, the RR-MSc group performed more poorly than the RR-MSnc group on attention tests (Symbol Digit Modalities Test) and verbal fluency tests (Controlled Oral Word Association Test); neither of the test results proved to be affected by regional lesion loads. Conclusion These results highlight the importance of considering cognitive deficits associated with the presence of cerebellar symptoms in RR-MS.
Normal dogs treated with famotidine for 14 days have only transient increases in serum gastrin concentrations.

BACKGROUND In people, serum gastrin concentrations increase in response to administration of H(2) receptor antagonists, but the effect of famotidine administration on serum gastrin concentrations has not been evaluated in dogs. OBJECTIVES To determine if serum gastrin concentrations increase in response to 14 days of famotidine treatment and the time needed to return to baseline after discontinuation of famotidine; define stability of gastrin in samples held at room temperature. ANIMALS Eleven healthy dogs were included in part A (famotidine treatment) and 7 healthy dogs in Part B (serum gastrin stability). In part A, famotidine (0.5 mg/kg p.o. q12h) was administered for 14 days. Fasting blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22. In part B, blood was collected after a 12-hour fast. Gastrin concentrations in serum samples held at room temperature for ≤30 minutes after sampling were compared to concentrations in samples held at room temperature for 150 minutes after sampling. RESULTS Serum gastrin concentrations increased by day 3 of famotidine administration and returned to baseline concentrations in all dogs by day 14 despite continued famotidine administration. Serum gastrin concentrations were lower (20% mean decrease; P = .0005) in samples held at room temperature for 150 minutes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE After 14 days of famotidine administration, clinically healthy dogs have normal serum gastrin concentrations. In a dog with clinical features consistent with gastrinoma, chronic famotidine administration is unlikely to contribute to increases in serum gastrin concentrations.
Use of liposomes, viral capsids, and nanoparticles as DNA carriers

We tested a variety of liposomes for parameters such as DNA binding capacity and DNase I protection of incorporated and attached DNA to elucidate their use as vehicles for DNA transfer into cells and animals. The results were compared to other potential DNA vehicles, empty viral capsids, and nanoparticles. Maximal binding capacity was achieved for positively charged nanoparticles, DNase I protection was observed for most preparations with neosome preparations being least efficient. The uptake of radiolabeled DNA by cells in culture was determined for cationic and nonionic surfactant vesicles, viral capsids, and nanoparticles. Cellular DNA uptake was best for dioleoyl‐derived positively charged liposomes (N‐[1‐(2,3‐dioleoyloxy)propyl]‐N,N,N‐trimethylammonium chloride; DOTMA) and the DNA could be shown to be physiologically active. The recombination rate for DNA fragments transfected in polyoma capsids in live mice was higher than for liposome mediated transfection. Homologous recombination could be observed for both DOTMA and polyoma‐mediated DNA transfer.
Identification of a novel cytochrome P450 CYP321B1 gene from tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura) and RNA interference to evaluate its role in commonly used insecticides

Insect cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs or P450s) play an important role in detoxifying insecticides leading to resistance in insect populations. A polyphagous pest, Spodoptera litura, has developed resistance to a wide range of insecticides. In the present study, a novel P450 gene, CYP321B1, was cloned from S. litura. The function of CYP321B1 was assessed using RNA interference (RNAi) and monitoring resistance levels for three commonly used insecticides, including chlorpyrifos, β‐cypermethrin and methomyl. The full‐length complementary DNA sequence of CYP321B1 is 1814 bp long with an open reading frame of 1 488 bp encoding 495 amino acid residues. Quantitative reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses during larval and pupal development indicated that CYP321B1 expression was highest in the midgut of fifth‐instar larvae, followed by fat body and cuticle. The expression of CYP321B1 in the midgut was up‐regulated by chlorpyrifos, β‐cypermethrin and methomyl with both lethal concentration at 15% (LC15) (50, 100 and 150 μg/mL, respectively) and 50%(LC50) dosages (100, 200 and 300 μg/mL, respectively). Addition of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) significantly increased the toxicity of chlorpyrifos, β‐cypermethrin and methomyl to S. litura, suggesting a marked synergism of the three insecticides with PBO and P450‐mediated detoxification. RNAi‐mediated silencing of CYP321B1 further increased mortality by 25.6% and 38.9% when the fifth‐instar larvae were exposed to chlorpyrifos and β‐cypermethrin, respectively, at the LC50 dose levels. The results demonstrate that CYP321B1 might play an important role in chlorpyrifos and β‐cypermethrin detoxification in S. litura.