Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experience in Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy at the National Oncology Institute in the Period 2012-2022

: Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 18 million people were diagnosed with cancers in 2020, of these 600,000 were esophageal cancer and ranks 6th in mortality. In Panama, in 2020, 58 new cases were diagnosed, with a lethality of 90%. Despite advances in the therapeutic approach and survival of localized esophageal cancer, we are unaware of the survival results associated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy treatment. Methodology: We conducted a retrospective study, reviewing the electronic medical records of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer treated with Chemotherapy-Radiotherapy at the National Institute of Oncology from 2012 to 2022. Results were evaluated using the Kaplan Meier method, long rank test and a multivariate analysis with Cox regression. Objective: to evaluate the survival results in patient with locally advanced esophageal cancer treated with chemotherapy-radiotherapy. Results: 94 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 64 years. The median time to progression (TPP) was 6 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 9 months. 69% patient has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 1, with a predominance of squamous histology in 89% and the degree of differentiation moderately differentiated in 55.3%. The main chemotherapy treatment was based on a scheme of weekly Carboplatin plus Paclitaxel in 41.5%, of which 66% received a dose of radiotherapy ≥45 Gy, with a 5-week extension time. A post-treatment radiographic response was evidenced with a clinical benefit of 36.2% and an objective response of 27.7%. The main adverse effects were dysphagia (16%), neutropenia (8.3%), nausea and vomiting (7.4%), and weight loss (7.4%). When analyzing the associated factors in relation to OS, in the multivariate analysis, the ECOG and the well-differentiated histological grade turned out to be significant association factors for better OS; but for the TTP, there were no associated factors identified when performing multivariate analysis. Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, we found a median TTP of 6 months and a median OS of 9 months, which is below the values in the literature. The ECOG and the degree of differentiation were the factors associated with a better overall survival. Hematological and gastrointestinal adverse events were the most reported. It is important to choose patients in the best clinical condition for concomitant treatment with CT/RT to achieve better clinical results.
Effects of modulation p doping in InAs quantum dot lasers on silicon

We investigate, both experimentally and theoretically, the gain characteristics of modulation p-doped 1.3 μm quantum dot lasers epitaxially grown on silicon. Gain spectra and transparency points are measured for structurally identical lasers with varying levels of p doping in the active region. A many-body model is employed to facilitate understanding of the material gain characteristics. It has been found that appropriate p doping greatly reduces transparency and improves differential gain. It is also found that the improvements saturate with excessive doping because of the increase in nonradiative carrier recombination.We investigate, both experimentally and theoretically, the gain characteristics of modulation p-doped 1.3 μm quantum dot lasers epitaxially grown on silicon. Gain spectra and transparency points are measured for structurally identical lasers with varying levels of p doping in the active region. A many-body model is employed to facilitate understanding of the material gain characteristics. It has been found that appropriate p doping greatly reduces transparency and improves differential gain. It is also found that the improvements saturate with excessive doping because of the increase in nonradiative carrier recombination.
Inference for the Number of Topics in the Latent Dirichlet Allocation Model via Bayesian Mixture Modeling

ABSTRACT In latent Dirichlet allocation, the number of topics, T, is a hyperparameter of the model that must be specified before one can fit the model. The need to specify T in advance is restrictive. One way of dealing with this problem is to put a prior on T, but unfortunately the distribution on the latent variables of the model is then a mixture of distributions on spaces of different dimensions, and estimating this mixture distribution by Markov chain Monte Carlo is very difficult. We present a variant of the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm that can be used to estimate this mixture distribution, and in particular the posterior distribution of the number of topics. We evaluate our methodology on synthetic data and compare it with procedures that are currently used in the machine learning literature. We also give an illustration on two collections of articles from Wikipedia. Supplemental materials for this article are available online.
A case of outdoor education for SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of entry mode

The international expansion process of firms has been the subject of many studies, nonetheless only Western firms have become the most discussed within the literature. Fewer studies have been done with an emphasis on Southeast Asian firms. Following this issue, this study aims to investigate the most suitable strategy as well as the best entrance modes for firms to internationalize and accordingly, to offer a strategy implementation guideline for firms to enter foreign markets successfully. As the research method prerequisite, this study applies the quantitative approach. The key finding of this study indicates that there is a strong positive relationship between firms’ international expansion and foreign market entrance. Additionally, this study’s finding is also considered a useful guideline for the SME manager to internationalize or enter the foreign market, especially during the hits of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19; entry mode; international expansion; outdoor education; SMEs.
Intrathecal Adjuvant Midazolam Versus Fentanyl With Hyperbaric Bupivacaine for Post-operative Analgesia in Women Undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Background The administration of adequate analgesia post-operatively has been associated with fewer cardiopulmonary complications, lower morbidity and mortality, lower healthcare costs, and higher patient satisfaction. One of the most effective ways to raise the standard of healthcare would be standardization of multimodal analgesia with enhanced recovery after surgery. Adjuncts to spinal anesthetists can achieve a better post-operative pain relief with less doses of rescue analgesia. Methods This was a prospective, randomized trial conducted on 60 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under spinal anesthesia. We evaluated the impact of adding 0.5 mL (2.5 mg) of intrathecal midazolam versus 25 mcg of intrathecal fentanyl (0.5 mL) with 2.5 mL injection of 0.5% bupivacaine (hyperbaric) (12.5 mg). The outcomes were prolongation of analgesia in the post-operative period, onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade, stable hemodynamics, and any adverse reactions to the study drugs. Results The two groups, group M (midazolam + hyperbaric bupivacaine) and group F (fentanyl + hyperbaric bupivacaine), had similar distribution for age, weight, and type and duration of surgical procedure. Both groups had stable vital parameters and experienced a similar onset of sensory and motor blockade. Intraoperative modified Ramsay sedation score was better in group M in comparison to group F. However, mean of elapsed time of two-segment regression of sensory block, from T12 to L1 level, and mean time to regression, from Bromage score 3 to 2, were longer in group F. Group F also had a better visual analogue scale (VAS) score in the post-operative period than group M, and group F experienced a longer average post-operative analgesic duration (lasting for 367.73 minutes) as compared to group M (lasting for 254.9 minutes), having a difference that was of statistical significance (p < 0.001). No substantial adverse reactions were seen in either group. Conclusion The duration of post-operative analgesia is significantly prolonged when 25 mcg of adjuvant intrathecal fentanyl is used with 0.5% bupivacaine (hyperbaric) as compared to intrathecal midazolam 0.5 mL (2.5 mg) in women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under spinal anesthesia. Both fentanyl and midazolam have minimal adverse reactions and are safe to use as adjuvants to 0.5% of bupivacaine (hyperbaric) in surgeries conducted in the lower abdomen.
An approximate method for solving fractional optimal control problems by hybrid functions

In this paper, a new numerical method for solving fractional optimal control problems by using hybrid functions is presented. The Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operator for hybrid functions is utilized to reduce the solution of optimal control problems to a nonlinear programming one, to which existing, well-developed algorithms may be applied. The method is computationally very attractive and gives very accurate results.
Is agreeing with a gender stereotype correlated with the performance of female students in introductory physics?

Several prior studies in introductory physics have found a gender gap on conceptual assessments such as the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) and the Conceptual Survey of Electricity and Magnetism (CSEM) with male students performing better than female students. Moreover, prior studies in the context of mathematics have also found that activation of a negative stereotype about a group can lead to deteriorated performance of the stereotyped group. Here, we describe two studies in which we investigated the impact of interventions on the gender gap on the FCI and CSEM in large introductory physics courses at a large research university. In the first study, we investigated whether asking introductory physics students to indicate their gender immediately before taking the CSEM increased the gender gap compared to students who were not asked for this information. We found no difference in performance between male and female students in the two conditions. In the second study, conducted with several thousand introductory physics students, we investigated the prevalence of the belief that men generally perform better in physics than women and the extent to which this belief is correlated with the performance of both female and male students on the FCI and the CSEM in introductory physics courses. We found that at the end of the year-long calculus-based introductory physics sequence, in which female students are significantly underrepresented, agreeing with a gender stereotype was correlated negatively with the performance of female students on the conceptual physics surveys. The fact that female students who agreed with the gender stereotype performed worse than female students who disagreed with it at the end of the year-long calculus-based physics course may partly be due to an increased stereotype threat that female students who agree with the stereotype may experience in this course.
How Citizen Scientists See their Own Role and Expertise: An Explorative Study of the Perspectives of Beekeepers in a Citizen Science Project

The mission and definition of citizen science are vividly debated. One of the crucial aspects contested is who has the agency to define it; another is how precise a definition can and should be and how much these definitions are reflective of the heterogeneity of practices and perspectives subsumed under the label citizen science. In this paper we draw attention to how citizens themselves actively construct their own roles within a project in relation to both their histories and the project’s scientists. Drawing on a set of in-depth interviews with participating Austrian beekeepers in the INSIGNIA project, we show how even within a small, relatively homogenous sample of participants, there is considerable diversity in how the citizen scientists see their roles. We explore how citizen scientists articulate a different set of relations towards science, their own practice as beekeepers, and their desired role in the project. In conclusion, we discuss the implications of our findings for academic reflection on citizen science as well as practical implementation for citizen science projects.
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Elderly Patients With Menière’s Disease

Background: Menière’s disease (MD) is an inner ear disease characterized by vertigo attacks, progressive hearing loss, tinnitus, and the sensation of aural fullness. Although the exact pathophysiology of MD is unknown, endolymphatic hydrops is considered to be its histopathological hallmark. It has been suggested that endolymphatic hydrops results from lowered perfusion pressure due to cardiovascular comorbidity. Cardiovascular risk factors can cause cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), visible on MRI. The presence of CSVD in turn raises the risk of developing a stroke. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the presence of CSVD and cardiovascular risk factors in elderly patients with MD to a control cohort. Methods: Patients diagnosed with MD, aged 50 years and older, were retrospectively reviewed and compared with a control cohort. The primary outcome was the difference in CSVD on MRI imaging, which was assessed by the number of white matter hyperintensities using the ordinal Fazekas scale. The secondary outcome was the presence of brain infarctions on MRI. Results: A total of 111 patients with MD were compared with a control cohort of 111 patients. No difference in the degree of white matter hyperintensities (P = 0.890) was found between the MD and control cohort. Brain infarctions were seen in 8 of 111 patients with MD and 14 of 111 patients from the control cohort (P = 0.261). Conclusion: CSVD is not more frequently visible on MRI in elderly patients with MD than in controls. This result does not support hypoperfusion-induced ischemia in the pathophysiology of MD.
Dissipativity for Switched LPV Systems and Its Application: A Parameter and Dwell Time-Dependent Multiple Storage Functions Method

This paper investigates dissipativity and related properties for switched linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems by using parameter and dwell time-dependent multiple storage functions, which are different from traditional multiple storage functions because of the introduction of the external parameters into the storage functions construction. First, a novel concept relating to external parameters is proposed to describe the overall dissipativity property of switched parameter-varying systems in the absence of the conventional dissipativity property of the subsystems. Second, a state and parameter-triggered and time-driven switching laws is proposed, which avoids Zeno behavior by guaranteeing a dwell time among the adjacent switching. Third, several classic forms of dissipativity are addressed. For passivity and $ {L_{2}}$ -gain, under certain negative output feedback asymptotic stability is guaranteed with the aid of asymptotic zero state detectability. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed result is illustrated by its application to a speed adjustment problem of an aero-engine.
Network Analysis Methods to Measure Sociometric Status

This paper proposes an innovative methodological approach to measure sociometric status in small groups of pupils. Although it uses indirect data collected by interview, in this study the sociometric status is analysed by direct observation. This method is specifically suitable when the target population concerns pre-school children. Their cognitive competence, in fact, is not as well developed as their relational abilities. Hence, the indicators constructed are more reliable than the measures derived by the subjective perception of interviewed pupils. The Network Analysis methods allow for the definition of sociometric status by means of regular equivalence. Employing lambda sets and cliques, then, we specify further roles into distinctive small groups. The results show that sociometric status can be revealed by regular equivalence. Besides, the Network Analysis approach allows for the observation of further relational skills, not strictly associated with traditional social roles, detectable only through lambda sets and cliques.
Effect of changing tropical easterly jet, low level jet and quasi‐biennial oscillation phases on Indian summer monsoon

Using the National Center for Environmental Prediction and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis wind and homogeneous Indian summer monsoon (ISM) rainfall data during June, July, August and September (JJAS) for the period of 1953–2012, a long‐term trend has been extracted in the tropical easterly jet (TEJ) and lower level jet (Somali jet/LLJ) along with the rainfall trend over Indian region using empirical mode decomposition (EMD) technique. The zonal wind speed at 100 hPa shows an increasing trend, while a decreasing trend is observed at 850 hPa. The quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO) phases, i.e. west and east phase, show a clear difference in wind anomalies at 100 and 850 hPa. A good (bad) monsoon year during the west (east) phase is confirmed on the basis of wind anomalies, velocity potential and divergent wind.
Three-Dimensional Printed Custom-Made Prostheses after Partial Scapulectomy: A Case Report

This case study focuses on scapula reconstruction using three-dimensional printing in a patient with low-grade osteosarcoma. Malignant tumors originating from the scapula often lead to destructive surgery, with poor functional status and quality of life for the patients. Using custom prosthetic technology through three-dimensional printing could be a possible solution for reconstruction with greater long-term functional outcomes. This study aims to assess the functional outcomes of the reconstruction. A 39-year-old patient with low-grade central osteosarcoma involving the lateral two-thirds of the scapula underwent a custom prosthetic reconstruction. The patient subsequently followed a rehabilitation protocol for 12 months. The results indicate that even though there was a slight decrease in the range of movement, and an increase in the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, no relevant increase in activities of daily living (ADL) disability was present at follow-up. The patient returned to carry out his daily activities without pain and with a minimal functional reduction in movement. In conclusion, three-dimensional prosthetic reconstruction is a valid alternative for scapula reconstruction, allowing excellent functional and aesthetic results in oncological cases.
When the model doesn’t cover reality: examples from radionuclide metrology

It could be argued that activity measurements of radioactive substances should be under statistical control, considering that the measurand is unambiguously defined, the radioactive decay processes are theoretically well understood and the measurement function can be derived from physical principles. However, comparisons invariably show a level of discrepancy among activity standardisation results that exceeds expectation from uncertainty evaluations. Also decay characteristics of radionuclides determined from different experiments show unexpected inconsistencies. Arguably, the problem lies mainly in incomplete uncertainty assessment. Of the various reasons leading to incomplete uncertainty assessment, from human failure to limitations to the state-of-the-art knowledge, a selection of cases is discussed in which imperfections in the modelling of the measurement process can lead to unexpectedly large underestimations of uncertainty.
Relationships among top‐of‐atmosphere radiation and atmospheric state variables in observations and CESM

A detailed examination is made in both observations and the Community Earth System Model (CESM) of relationships among top‐of‐atmosphere radiation, water vapor, temperatures, and precipitation for 2000–2014 to assess the origins of radiative perturbations and climate feedbacks empirically. The 30‐member large ensemble coupled runs are analyzed along with one run with specified sea surface temperatures for 1994 to 2005 (to avoid volcanic eruptions). The vertical structure of the CESM temperature profile tends to be top heavy in the model, with too much deep convection and not enough lower stratospheric cooling as part of the response to tropospheric heating. There is too much absorbed solar radiation (ASR) over the Southern Oceans and not enough in the tropics, and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is too large in amplitude in this version of the model. However, the covariability of monthly mean anomalies produces remarkably good replication of most of the observed relationships. There is a lot more high‐frequency variability in radiative fluxes than in temperature, highlighting the role of clouds and transient weather systems in the radiation statistics. Over the Warm Pool in the tropical western Pacific and Indian Oceans, where nonlocal effects from the Walker circulation driven by the ENSO events are important, several related biases emerge: in response to high SST anomalies there is more precipitation, water vapor, and cloud and less ASR and outgoing longwave radiation in the model than observed. Different model global mean trends are evident, however, possibly hinting at too much positive cloud feedback in the model.
THE IMPACT OF FIRM’S CAPABILITIES ON DIGITAL BRAND PERFORMANCE OF SME’S ONLINE BUSINESS

In online business, firms are very sensitive to any changes in the market including internet application for business operation usage. The growth of online business in Malaysia is not in line with the interest of digital brand performance to improve the competitiveness of the companies and maintain their position in the market. Hence, this study aims to investigate the factors that influence digital brand performance in SME. This study employed Resource Based View (RBV) theory which is a unifying framework for the fundamental determinant of digital brand performance. The study examines the relationship between firm’s capabilities (innovation capability, branding capability, market-sensing capability, human and organization capability) and digital brand performance. A total of 155 SMEs online business participated in this study. The result of this study found that both market sensing and human and organization capability have significant impact on digital brand performance in SMEs context. Recommendation and suggestion for future research were also discussed to improve digital brand performance for Malaysian SMEs online business.
Teacher’s Feedback on Learners’ English Writing Compositions

This study sought to investigate the progress of students writing skills on teacher’s written corrective feedback. This study followed a qualitative approach, using a descriptive research design. Using Hedge's (1998) theory on written correction indicators, three written essays were obtained via three stages of students' paper essays as the research data. All these received essays were then examined following Hedge’s theory, and the study report were built on the basis of the triple concurrent qualitative analysis postulated by Miles et al’s (2014). The findings of this study showed that out of three participants, participant 1 and participant 3 presented similar trends in terms of progress from teacher feedback on the writing, while participant 2 performed huge significant progress concerning teacher written feedback.
High-Grade Pure Esophageal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Arising From Barrett’s Mucosa: A Rare Phenomenon

Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (E-NEC) is a very rare neuroendocrine tumor. There are only a few case reports where pure esophageal NEC is found to be arising from Barett's mucosa. Here we present a case of high-grade pure E-NEC arising from Barrett's esophagus, which was metastasized to the liver at the time of diagnosis.