Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Cancer of the Base of the Tongue and Glosso-Epiglottic Region: A Multicenter Italian Survey

Background The current treatment options for cancer of the base of the tongue and glosso-epiglottic region are surgery, radiotherapy, or a combination of both modalities. Comparisons between different modalities are not common in the literature, and a real standard of treatment has not yet been established. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the results of treatment in a large series of patients from 18 Italian institutions in relation to the main treatment adopted. Methods The present study is a retrospective survey. The series was divided into a combined surgery group and a radiotherapy group. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were used for survival calculations and comparisons. Results Eight hundred patients were registered (25.7% stage III and 62% stage IV), 336 in the surgery and 372 in the radiotherapy group. Conventional fractionation was adopted in almost all cases. The five-year overall and disease free survival of the whole series was 32% and 38%, respectively. Survival was slightly better for patients with tumors of the glosso-epiglottic region than for those with a tumor of the base of the tongue. Five-year disease-free survival was 55% for patients treated with surgery +/- radiochemotherapy and 26% for those submitted to radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy. As far as the total dose and the treatment duration were concerned, only 26% of the patients of the radiotherapy group met the established criteria of adequacy, but in patients with adequate radiation the control rate was better only for small tumors (T1-T2). Conclusions The results in patients treated with surgery +/-postoperative radiotherapy were similar to or better than those reported in the best series in the literature. By contrast, the survival rate of irradiated patients was lower than those reported by other centers.
0 D ec 2 01 0 Imperial / TP / 2010 / JG / 03 AEI-2010-147 Wrapped M 5-branes , consistent truncations and AdS / CMT

At the level of the bosonic fields, we construct consistent Kaluza–Klein reductions of D = 11 supergravity on Σ3 × S, where Σ3 = H/Γ, S/Γ or R/Γ where Γ is a discrete group of isometries. The result is the bosonic content of an N = 2 D = 4 gauged supergravity with a single vector multiplet and two hypermultiplets, whose scalar fields parametrise SU(1, 1)/U(1)×G2(2)/SO(4). When Σ3 = H/Γ the D = 4 theory has an AdS4 vacuum which uplifts to the known supersymmetric AdS4×H/Γ× S solution of D = 11 supergravity that describes the N = 2 d = 3 SCFT arising when M5-branes wrap SLag 3-cycles H/Γ in Calabi-Yau three-folds. We use the KK reduction for Σ3 = H /Γ to construct D = 11 black hole solutions that describe these d = 3 SCFTs at finite temperature and charge density and show that there is a superconducting instability involving a charged scalar field, and another instability involving involving neutral fields including both scalar and vector fields. We also use this KK reduction to construct a D = 11 Lifshitz solution that is dual to a d = 3 field theory with dynamical exponent z ∼ 39.
Prescription patterns of antihypertensives in a community health centre in Mexico City: a drug utilization study

Hypertension is highly prevalent; in Mexico, the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey reported a prevalence of hypertension of 31.5% in the adult population. Pharmacological treatment is the commonest intervention and has been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and total mortality. Accordingly, the type and number of antihypertensives used and the outcome — in terms of blood pressure (BP) control — are important. Therefore, our purpose is to learn the pattern of antihypertensive drug prescription and explore the determinants of BP control in an urban population in Mexico. A retrospective cross‐sectional drug utilization study was conducted. Medical records from a community health centre were searched to identify those corresponding to patients diagnosed with hypertension; information upon antihypertensives used and control of the disease was carefully retrieved. A logistic regression model was built to know the main determinants of BP control. A sample of 345 clinical records of interest was identified. Most patients received antihypertensives (86.4%); the leading medications used were angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, 63.8%; beta‐blockers (26.5%), diuretics (19.8%), angiotensin‐receptor blockers (15.8%) and calcium‐channel blockers (6.4%). Only the age (≥55 years) and BMI (>30) of the patients, and the age of the doctors (≥55 years), had an important influence on BP control. Obesity is a particular and important determinant of uncontrolled hypertension; it is worth to act on body weight, on an individual basis. As lack of control has been also tied to elderly doctors, an education programme could be envisaged.
The world republic of letters

For the first time a representative of the publishing trade was invited to speak at the opening of a General IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations) Conference. The Secretary General of IPA, Mr J. A. KOUTCHOUMOW, addressed the IFLA assembly of 3,500 librarians in Barcelona 23 August 1993:
Symptomatic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections identified by image cytometry and other parameters for CMV infection

Thirty-eight renal transplant recipients were followed during the first 3 months after transplantation. Once weekly, cultures of urine and buffy coat for cytomegalovirus (CMV) were taken and an immunocytochemical assay for immediate early antigens of CMV (IEA assay) was performed. Thirty patients had evidence of a CMV infection and 11 had a symptomatic CMV infection. All symptomatic patients had one or more positive urine cultures or a positive IEA assay. However, 15 patients with positive urine cultures and 12 patients with a positive IEA assay lacked any signs of symptomatic CMV disease. Moreover, 6 out of 15 patients with positive buffy coat cultures for CMV did not have symptomatic CMV disease. Using a computerized system to quantify IEA-positive granulocytes, we show that the absolute number of positive cells per million correlates very well with the occurrence of symptomatic CMV disease.
Changing patterns of hepatitis A prevalence within the Saudi population over the last 18 years.

AIM To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A (HAV) amongst Saudi children and compare it with previously reported prevalence data from the same population. METHODS A total of 1357 students were randomly selected between the ages of 16 and 18 years (689 males and 668 females) from three different regions of Saudi Arabia (Madinah, Al-Qaseem, and Aseer) and tested for anti-HAV-IgG. RESULTS The overall prevalence of anti-HAV-IgG among the study population was 18.6%. There was no difference between males and females but there was a significant difference in the seroprevalence (P = 0.0001) between the three different regions, with Madinah region showing the highest prevalence (27.4%). When classified according to socioeconomic status, lower class students had a prevalence of 36.6%, lower middle class 16.6%, upper middle class 9.6%, and upper class 5.9% (P = 0.0001). Comparing the current study results with those of previous studies in 1989 and 1997 involving the same population, there was a marked reduction in the overall prevalence of HAV from 52% in 1989, to 25% in 1997, to 18.6% in 2008 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Over the last 18 years, there has been a marked decline in the prevalence of HAV in Saudi children and adolescents. The current low prevalence rates call for strict adherence to vaccination policies in high-risk patients and raises the question of a universal HAV vaccination program.
Trends in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer in Denmark 1978–2007: Rapid incidence increase among young Danish women

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer among Caucasian populations worldwide, and incidence rates are increasing. However, NMSC data are not routinely collected by cancer registries, but Denmark has extensive registration of NMSC in two nationwide population‐based registries. We assessed incidence trends of NMSC in Denmark from 1978 to 2007. Data for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were obtained from the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Registry of Pathology. For both genders, age‐specific incidence rates and overall incidence rates, age‐adjusted according to the World standard population were calculated based on combined data from the two registries. For both genders, a high increase in both BCC and SCC incidence was observed over time. Between 1978 and 2007, the age‐adjusted BCC incidence increased from 27.1 to 96.6 cases per 100,000 person‐years for women and from 34.2 to 91.2 cases for men. The SCC incidence increased from 4.6 to 12.0 cases per 100,000 person‐years for women and from 9.7 to 19.1 cases for men. For both BCC and SCC, women experienced a higher average annual percentage incidence change than men. Furthermore, the average annual percentage change in BCC incidence among persons below 40 years was significantly higher compared to older persons, especially for women. These trends may lead to an alarming NMSC incidence increase over time as population ages and will have major implications for future healthcare services. Our findings underline the need for improved preventive strategies to hamper the increasing NMSC incidence.
A tutorial on ABCmod: An Activity Based discrete event Conceptual modelling framework

The notion of a conceptual model is present in any discussion about the modelling and simulation process within the discrete event dynamic system domain (Robinson 2011). This paper presents an overview on an activity-based conceptual modelling framework: Activity Based Conceptual modelling = ABCmod (Birta and Arbez 2013). It transforms the general notion of a conceptual model to into a specific conceptual modelling artefact. The ABCmod framework encompasses the naturalness of the activity perspective which has considerable intuitive appeal (Pidd 2004a and 2004b). ABCmod accommodates both the structural and the behavioral aspects that are fundamental components of any conceptual model and provides a collection of constructs both for handling input/output and for dealing with special circumstances such as pre-emption, interruption and balking. We provide an overview of the framework and illustrate many of its features in examples.
Computed tomography versus plain radiography to screen for cervical spine injury: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND To compare the test performance of plain radiography and computed tomography (CT) in the detection of patients with cervical spine injuries following blunt traumatic events among those patients determined to require screening radiography. METHODS We conducted a MEDLINE search for articles published from January 1995 through June 2004, manually reviewed bibliographies, and hand searched four journals. Studies were included if they contained data on the performance of both plain radiography and CT in the detection of patients with blunt cervical spine injuries. Both authors screened titles and abstracts identified by the search and seven of the 712 articles met all inclusion criteria. Both authors independently abstracted data from these seven studies and disagreements were resolved by mutual agreement. RESULTS Patient entry criteria were highly variable for each study and there were no randomized controlled trials. For identifying patients with cervical spine injury, the pooled sensitivity for cervical spine plain radiography was 52% (95% CI 47, 56%) and for CT was 98% (95% CI 96, 99%). The test for heterogeneity suggests that significant differences exist between studies in the measurement of the sensitivity for plain radiography (p = 0.07). Due to limitations of the gold standard tests in each study, a calculation of a combined specificity was not possible. CONCLUSION Despite the absence of a randomized controlled trial, ample evidence exists that CT significantly outperforms plain radiography as a screening test for patients at very high risk of cervical spine injury and thus CT should be the initial screening test in those patients with a significantly depressed mental status. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that cervical spine CT should replace plain radiography as the initial screening test for less injured patients who are at low risk for cervical spine injury but still require a screening radiographic examination.
Bedaquiline-based treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Treatment outcomes for multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) are poor with only approximately 50% of patients attaining treatment success [1]. An important driver of treatment failure in many settings is the unavailability of effective drugs for MDR- and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-TB. Bedaquiline-based therapy leads to high rates of culture conversion in the treatment of MDR-TB http://ow.ly/RGr230bqlVD
Crithidia mellificae n. sp. an acidophilic trypanosomatid of the honey bee Apis mellifera.

SYNOPSIS. Crithidia mellificae n. sp. is described from the honey bee Apis mellifera in apiaries of Victoria, Australia. Organisms were isolated and cultured in a modified NNN medium with Cowper-thwaite's medium as an overlay. In contrast to other isolates of Crithidia, C. mellificae grows best at a pH between 4.5 and 5.5 with optimum near pH 5. In Cowperthwaite's medium alone, buffered at pH 4.5–5.5, the organism will survive apparently indefinite passages. The organism has so far as known, no pathologic effects in the hymenopteran host.
Calculus-like deposit on the apical external root surface of teeth with post-treatment apical periodontitis: report of two cases.

AIM To report two cases in which calculus-like material was found on external root surfaces of (i) an extracted root and (ii) an apicected part of a root, both of which were removed due to post-treatment refractory apical periodontitis. SUMMARY In each case, there was a fistulous tract, which did not heal after conventional root canal treatment. The first case did not heal even after apical surgery, and subsequent tooth extraction revealed calculus-like material on a root surface of complex anatomy. The second case showed radiographic signs of healing after apicectomy. Histology of the apical biopsy revealed a calculus-like material on the external surface of the root apex. It is suggested that the presence of calculus on the root surfaces of teeth with periapical lesions may contribute towards the aetiology of failure. KEY LEARNING POINTS Biofilm on the external root surface has been implicated in the failure of apical periodontitis to heal, despite adequate root canal treatment. Calculus-like material was found, in two cases, on the root surface of teeth with post-treatment apical periodontitis, where the only communication externally was a sinus tract.
Tricyclic antidepressant-induced seizures and plasma drug concentration.

BACKGROUND This study identifies eight patients who during routine therapy with conventional doses of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) experienced elevated plasma concentrations and suffered a grand mal seizure. We correlate the incidence of TCA-induced seizures with TCA plasma level and suggest that the incidence of TCA-induced seizures can be significantly reduced with the judicious use of therapeutic drug monitoring. METHOD Seven of the eight cases of TCA-induced seizures during routine pharmacotherapy represent all the cases known to the authors during their careers. Histories were evaluated for factors that would predispose patients to suffer seizures. The following data were also recorded: (1) duration of treatment with the dose that was associated with the seizure, (2) the time between last dose and the seizure, (3) a plasma TCA level obtained at the time of seizure, and (4) presence or absence of other manifestations of TCA toxicity. In addition, a MEDLINE search was conducted using the key phrases "tricyclic antidepressants" and "seizures" to obtain all English language articles published since 1966 on the occurrence of TCA-induced seizures. RESULTS The mean +/- SD daily TCA dose was 250 +/- 80 mg/day. The mean +/- SD total plasma TCA concentration was 734 +/- 249 ng/mL (range, 438-1200 ng/mL). The only risk factor that emerged for experiencing seizures was an elevated plasma TCA concentration. Three patients presented with no other manifestations of TCA toxicity prior to seizure. CONCLUSION The incidence of TCA-induced seizures for our inpatient population in which therapeutic drug monitoring is routinely used is 0.4%. This incidence is less than that reported in earlier inpatient series (1% to 4%). Our finding is consistent with the conclusion that therapeutic drug monitoring reduces the incidence of TCA-induced seizures by allowing for rational dose adjustment.
Phonatory Mechanisms after Vertical Partial Laryngectomy with Glottic Reconstruction by False Vocal Fold Flap

A prospective randomized study was designed to compare phonatory mechanisms in patients treated with frontolateral partial laryngectomy (FLPL) with or without glottic reconstruction with false vocal fold (FVF) mucosal flap. Objective voice assessment was based on computerized acoustic recordings and videolaryngostroboscopy performed before, 1 year after, and 2 years after surgery. Phonatory mechanisms were studied according to the surgical technique and correlated with acoustic recordings. The results showed that supraglottic structures participated in laryngeal closure and voice production in 80% of cases in which a standard FLPL was performed. The FVF mucosal flap was involved in both laryngeal closure and voice production in 54% of patients treated with glottic reconstruction. The type of laryngeal closure (glottic or supraglottic) statistically influenced the acoustic measurements. As glottic closure is more frequent in patients treated with glottic reconstruction, the authors recommend performing reconstruction of the glottis with an FVF mucosal flap when an FLPL is indicated.
Backscattering analysis of impedance loaded wire antenna for passive RFID applications

The dynamic backscattering analysis of impedance loaded wire antennas for passive RFID applications is presented where the two loading impedances represent the corresponding logic states in the transmitting data of RFID tags. The analysis is based on the equivalent circuit of receiving antennas from moment method and the time-varying load calculation from the conversion matrix technique in the frequency domain. Simulation studies on 915MHz with resistive or capacitive loads are shown where the reactive load indicates more apparent discrimination for the two logic states, thereby improving the receiving sensitivity of RFID readers. The analysis methods and results can provide useful information for antenna and IC designs of RFID tags.
Long-term musical group interaction has a positive influence on empathy in children

Musical group interaction (MGI) is a complex social setting requiring certain cognitive skills that may also elicit shared psychological states. We argue that many MGI-specific features may also be important for emotional empathy, the ability to experience another person’s emotional state. We thus hypothesized that long-term repeated participation in MGI could help enhance a capacity for emotional empathy even outside of the musical context, through a familiarization with and refinement of MGI empathy-promoting musical components (EPMCs). We tested this hypothesis by designing an MGI programme for primary school children consisting of interactive musical games implementing various EPMCs. We ran the programme for an entire school year and compared the emotional empathy of MGI children to control children using existing and novel measures of empathy before and after the programme. Our results support our hypothesis: MGI children showed higher emotional empathy scores after the study compared to its beginning, and higher scores than control children at the end of the study. These findings shed new light on the emotional processes involved in musical interaction and highlight the remarkable potential of MGI for promoting positive social-emotional capacities such as empathy.
Directed evolution of gene-shuffled IFN-α molecules with activity profiles tailored for treatment of chronic viral diseases

Type I IFNs are unusually pleiotropic cytokines that bind to a single heterodimeric receptor and have potent antiviral, antiproliferative, and immune modulatory activities. The diverse effects of the type I IFNs are of differential therapeutic importance; in cancer therapy, an enhanced antiproliferative effect may be beneficial, whereas in the therapy of viral infections (such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C), the antiproliferative effects lead to dose limiting bone marrow suppression. Studies have shown that various members of the natural IFN-α family and engineered variants, such as IFN-con1, vary in the ratios between various IFN-mediated cellular activities. We used DNA shuffling to explore and confirm the hypothesis that one could simultaneously increase the antiviral and Th1-inducing activity and decrease the antiproliferative activity. We report IFN-α hybrids wherein the ratio of antiviral:antiproliferative and Th1-inducing: antiproliferative potencies are markedly increased with respsect to IFN-con1 (75- and 80-fold, respectively). A four-residue motif that overlaps with the IFNAR1 binding site and is derived by cross breeding with a pseudogene contributes significantly to this phenotype. These IFN-αs have an activity profile that may result in an improved therapeutic index and, consequently, better clinical efficacy for the treatment of chronic viral diseases such as hepatitis B virus, human papilloma virus, HIV, or chronic hepatitis C.
Comment on “Cloud droplet spectral width relationship to CCN spectra and vertical velocity” by Hudson et al.

Hudson et al. [2012, hereafter H12] have lately shown that the standard deviation (σ) of droplet size distributions was inversely related to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentration at 1% supersaturation (NCCN) for the in situ aircraft measurements collected during the Rain in Cumulus over the Ocean (RICO) project. Using adiabatic parcel model simulations for various values of updraft velocity (w), they further reported a tendency for the σ -N CCN correlation to change signs from positive to negative as w increases beyond a certain value. The analysis of σ -N CCN correlation and its dependence on w certainly add new understanding of dispersion effect (e.g., Liu and Daum, 2002, LD02 hereafter; Liu et al., 2006b, LDY06 hereafter) and imply that like the more widely known aerosol effect on cloud droplet number concentration (N), dispersion effect may exhibit aerosol-limited and w-limited regimes such that dispersion effect can either diminish or enhance the cooling of number effect, depending on the regimes. However, there appears to be some misunderstanding/misinterpretation of LD02 and LDY06 concerning the use of relative dispersion as a measure of spectral width. Furthermore, our examination of the data reported in Table 1 of H12 shows that there is a positive correlation between NCCN and w, and thus it cannot be ruled out that the observed negative σ -N CCN correlation is a manifestation of the covariation in w, or arises from the indirect effect of aerosol on cloud dynamics, or a combination of both. Below these points are detailed.