Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is PFS the Right Endpoint to Assess Outcome of Maintenance Studies in Multiple Myeloma? Results of a Patient Survey Highlight Quality-of-Life As an Equally Important Outcome Measure

Background: So far, planning of clinical trials in multiple myeloma (MM) has been based on traditional outcome measures such as progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). However, treatment with drugs, which prolong survival, usually impacts quality of life (QoL). A good example is lenalidomide (LEN) maintenance therapy in transplant eligible newly diagnosed MM. While LEN is the only approved drug for maintenance therapy, clearly and consistently prolonging PFS in a number of trials, treatment comes with an increased risk for infections, secondary malignancies, fatigue and diarrhea. One consequence could be to define QoL as an additional study endpoint but the MM patient's perspective on this topic has not been systematically investigated yet. Methods: To address this, we performed an online survey with MM patients with previous lenalidomide (LEN) maintenance. The survey contained a total of 205 questions, including the validated QoL C30- and My20-questionnary and questions pertaining the patient's preference for either prolonged survival or increased QoL. To assess differences between patient subgroups we used statistical analyses such as a random decision forest. Results: 210 patients with MM completed the online survey within 48 days. 92 (47%) of patients chose a shortened time of PFS in favor of an increased QoL (QoL-group). An almost equal number of patients 81 (42 %) chose the exact opposite option (PFS-group). 11% of patients were unable to make this kind of decision. Thus, a sole measurement of the endpoint PFS would disregard the preference of ~1/2 of the patients. We used an unbiased artificial intelligence supported statistical approach to explore additional features of the QoL- and the PFS-group. Interestingly, the top variable associated with the QoL-group was pain related to bone disease at the time of diagnosis (P = 0.01). There was a trend for more advanced treatment lines in patients in the QoL-group compared to the PFS-group. Patients who preferred PFS were found to be more likely to hand over responsibility to their physicians. Conclusion: We demonstrate that MM patients can be divided into two nearly equally sized groups, where one group favors PFS and the other one prefers QoL, with bone pain at diagnosis and the number of previous treatment lines impacting the decision. Since our results suggest that survival as the only endpoint for maintenance therapy studies in MM should be reconsidered, we propose PFS and QoL measures as co-primary endpoints to account for the heterogeneity in patients´ preferences and to collect the information necessary for shared decision-making in future patients. Figure 1 Figure 1. Einsele: Janssen, Celgene/BMS, Amgen, GSK, Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Weinhold: Sanofi: Honoraria.
Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep and Its Relation with Insomnia in Three Groups of Psychiatric Patients

Background and Objective: Reports have shown a link between dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and sleep disorders. We investigated the frequency of dysfunctional beliefs about sleep in three groups of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders (patients with major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety). Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 patients with psychiatric disorders referred to psychiatry clinic affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. Fifty patients were selected in each group (anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder). Two questionnaires of Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (DBAS) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were completed for all patients. Data were analyzed with Student’s t, chi-square, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation tests. Results: A significant difference was observed between the three groups in the latency to fall asleep at night (P = 0.002) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) ≤ 5 (P = 0.002). Patients with anxiety and bipolar disorder more than other groups believed that insomnia caused loss of life joy (P = 0.010) and the only solution for sleeplessness was medication (P = 0.003), respectively. There was a significant relationship between sleep quality and anxiety (P = 0.030), total sleep time (P = 0.040), sleep latency (P = 0.020), and ISI (P < 0.010) with depression, awakening time during night, and bipolar disorder (P = 0.030). Conclusion: Patients with psychiatric disorders have high frequency of dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. Regarding the relationship between dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and insomnia, future work is needed for better treatment.
Cad formulas for resonant frequencies of tm11 mode of circular patch antenna with or without superstrate

Curve-fitting formulas based on moment-method results are presented for the resonant frequency of the TM11 mode of a coaxially fed circular patch antenna with or without superstrate. The formulas can be used for a wide range of substrate and superstrate thicknesses and permittivities. Results predicted by these computer-aided design formulas agree well with moment-method results and with measurement. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Surgical safety criteria for burr hole surgery with urokinase in patients with acute subdural hematoma: Retrospective comparison between burr hole surgery and craniotomy

Background: Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is a common disease and craniotomy is the first choice for removing hematoma. However, patients for whom craniotomy or general anesthesia is contraindicated are increasing due to population aging. In our department, we perform burr hole surgery under local anesthesia with urokinase administration for such patients. We compared the patient background and outcomes between burr hole surgery and craniotomy to investigate the surgical safety criteria for burr hole surgery. Methods: We reviewed 24 patients who underwent burr hole surgery and 33 patients who underwent craniotomy between January 2010 and April 2020 retrospectively. Results: The median age of the burr hole surgery group was older (P = 0.01) and they had multiple pre-existing conditions. Compared with the craniotomy group, neurological deficits and CT findings were minor in the burr hole surgery group, whereas the maximum hematoma thickness was not significantly different. The hematoma was excreted after a total of 54,000 IU of urokinase was administered for a median of 3 days. The Glasgow Coma Scale score improved in all patients in the burr hole surgery group and there were no deaths. Age, especially over 65 y.o. , (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04–1.30) and the absence of basal cistern disappearance (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.004–0.39) were significant factors. Conclusion: Burr hole surgery was performed safely in all patients based on the age, especially older than 65 y.o. , and the absence of basal cistern disappearance. ASDH in the elderly is increasing and less invasive burr hole surgery with urokinase is suitable for the super-aging society.
From One To Many: Identifying Issues in CJEU Jurisprudence

Research of judges and courts traditionally centers on judgments, treating each judgment as a unit of observation. However, judgments often address multiple distinct and more or less unrelated issues. Studying judicial behavior on a judgment level therefore loses potentially important details and risks drawing false conclusions from the data. We present a method to assist researchers with splitting judgments by issues using a supervised machine learning classifier. Applying our approach to splitting judgments by the Court of Justice of the European Union into issues, we show that this approach is practically feasible and provides benefits for text-based analysis of judicial behavior
Patient Utilization of Online Information and its Influence on Orthopedic Surgeon Selection: Cross-sectional Survey of Patient Beliefs and Behaviors

Background Patient attitudes and behavior are critical to understand owing to the increasing role of patient choice. There is a paucity of investigation into the perceived credibility of online information and whether such information impacts how patients choose their surgeons. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and behavior of patients regarding online information and orthopedic surgeon selection. Secondary purposes included gaining insight into the relative importance of provider selection factors, and their association with patient age and education level. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving five multispecialty orthopedic surgery groups. A total of 329 patients who sought treatment by six different orthopedic surgeons were asked to anonymously answer a questionnaire consisting of 25 questions. Four questions regarded demographic information, 10 questions asked patients to rate the importance of specific criteria regarding the selection of their orthopedic surgeon (on a 4-point Likert scale), and 6 questions were designed to determine patient attitude and behaviors related to online information. Results Patient-reported referral sources included the emergency room (29/329, 8.8%), friend (42/329, 12.8%), insurance company (47/329, 14.3%), internet search/website (28/329, 8.5%), primary care physician (148/329, 45.0%), and other (34/329, 10.3%). Among the 329 patients, 130 (39.5%) reported that they searched the internet for information before their first visit. There was a trend of increased belief in online information to be accurate and complete in younger age groups (P=.02). There was an increased relative frequency in younger groups to perceive physician rating websites to be unbiased (P=.003), provide sufficient patient satisfaction information (P=.01), and information about physician education and training (P=.03). There was a significant trend for patients that found a surgeon’s website to be useful (P<.001), with the relative frequency increased in younger age groups. Conclusions This study shows that insurance network, physician referrals, appointment availability, and office location are important to patients, whereas advertising and internet reviews by other patients were considered to be not as helpful in choosing an orthopedic surgeon. Future studies may seek to identify obstacles to patients in integrating online resources for decision-making and strategies to improve health-seeking behaviors.
Integrating Validity Evidence to Revise a Child Abuse Knowledge Test for Early Childhood Education Providers: A Mixed Methods Approach

Knowledge tests used to evaluate child protection training program effectiveness for early childhood education providers may suffer from threats to construct validity given the contextual variability inherent within state-specific regulations around mandated reporting requirements. Unfortunately, guidance on instrument revision that accounts for such state-specific mandated reporting requirements is lacking across research on evaluation practices. This study, therefore, explored how collection and integration of validity evidence using a mixed methods framework can guide the instrument revision process to arrive at a more valid program outcome measure.
Reliability of one-shot device with generalized gamma lifetime under cyclic accelerated life-test

One-shot devices are products or equipments that can be used only once. A nature characteristic of one-shot devices is that they get destroyed immediately after their use, and therefore their actual lifetimes are never observable. The only information observed is the condition whether they worked or not at the time they are used. These days the quality of products are significantly improved, so that the information obtained under a normal test during a short time is quite limited. A typical test to induce more failures is the accelerated life-test, which is developed by increasing the stress levels under test. In this paper, we will investigate the reliability of one-shot devices with generalized gamma fatigue life under accelerated life-tests with various cyclic temperature fluctuations by assuming a Norris-Landzberg model. Generalized gamma involves many common lifetime distributions, such as gamma, Weibull, lognormal, and positive stable distributions, as special cases. Norris-Landzberg model takes not only temperature change, highest testing temperature, but also the cycling frequency into account when modeling the number of cycles-to-failure, resulting a generalized model with the well-known Coffin-Manson model and Coffin-Manson-Arrhenius model as special cases. Associated inferences are developed. The performance of the proposed model and inferential methods will be evaluated with simulation study and model discrimination. Finally, the chip-scale package solder joints data is analyzed to illustrate the considered model and inferential methods developed in this paper.
1D Koch fractal electromagnetic bandgap microstrip structures with r/a ratios higher than 0.5

A 1D Koch fractal electromagnetic bandgap (KFEBG) microstrip structure is proposed.It is conceived by replacing the conventional holes etched in the ground plane of a microstrip line by level‐1 Koch fractal cell geometries, which have been obtained from a hexagonal shape. In the case of the conventional 1D electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) microstrip structure with periodic hole pattern, the design is limited to r/a ratios lower than 0.45, whereas the proposed pattern allows achieving r/a ratios higher than 0.5. It is shown that the conventional EBG and KFEBG microstrip structures behave as a stopband filter as r/a < 0.45. However, for r/a = 0.55, the measurements have confirmed that the 1D KFEBG microstrip structure presents a ultra‐wide stopband and, therefore, the proposed structure with r/a > 0.5 can be useful for the design of low‐pass filters. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:646–649, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25763
A new control approach to three-phase active filter for harmonics and reactive power compensation

This paper deals with a new control scheme for a parallel 3-phase active filter to eliminate harmonics and to compensate the reactive power of the nonlinear loads. A 3-phase voltage source inverter bridge with a DC bus capacitor is used as an active filter (AF). A hysteresis based carrierless PWM current control is employed to derive the switching signals to the AF. Source reference currents are derived using load currents, DC bus voltage and source voltage. The command currents of the AF are derived using source reference and load currents. A 3-phase diode rectifier with capacitive loading is employed as the nonlinear load. The AF is found effective to meet IEEE-519 standard recommendations on the harmonics level.
Clonal Evolution at First Sight: A Combined Visualization of Diverse Diagnostic Methods Improves Understanding of Leukemic Progression

Patients with myeloid neoplasia are classified by the WHO classification systems. Besides clinical and hematological criteria, cytogenetic and molecular genetic alterations highly impact treatment stratification. In routine diagnostics, a combination of methods is used to decipher different types of genetic variants. Eight patients were comprehensively analyzed using karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization, array-CGH and a custom NGS panel. Clonal evolution was reconstructed manually, integrating all mutational information on single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions and deletions (indels), structural variants and copy number variants (CNVs). To allow a correct integration, we differentiate between three scenarios: 1) CNV occurring prior to the SNV/indel, but in the same cells. 2) SNV/indel occurring prior to the CNV, but in the same cells. 3) SNV/indel and CNV existing in parallel, independent of each other. Applying this bioinformatics approach, we reconstructed clonal evolution for all patients. This generalizable approach offers the possibility to integrate various data to analyze identification of driver and passenger mutations as well as possible targets for personalized medicine approaches. Furthermore, this model can be used to identify markers to assess the minimal residual disease.
Snapchat and affective inequalities: affective flows in a schooling assemblage

Abstract Gendered power relations and cyber-objectification can be produced through Snapchat in schooling contexts. The research illustrates how social media circulates affect in an Australian high school setting. While “Snapchatting” can evoke joy, it can produce gendered inequities. This research details affective inequalities associated with Snapchat use. Affective inequalities (“lad culture”, “rape culture” and “everyday sexism”) are produced through texts, images and videos and are normalised through the gendered material-discursive relations in schools. Through making new material entanglements visible, the subtle sexist practices associated with misogyny in schools can be surfaced and recognised. Explicit critiques of misogyny are required to support gender equity in schools. This article contributes to the literature both as new material school-based research, and as an exploration of the gendered implications of Snapchat technology use among young people. It addresses the need to challenge masculine sexual entitlement, both online and in schools.
Performance of rotating spray plate sprinklers in indoor experiments

The use of rotating spray plate sprinklers (RSPS) can reduce the water and energy requirements in pressurized irrigation systems. Installation of RSPS in continuous move irrigation machines, such as traveling trailers (nozzle booms), presents relevant advantages compared to sprinkler-gun machines. The aim of this study is to develop design criteria for continuous-move irrigation machines using the RSPS Nelson Rotator R 3000 D-4. Water distribution by this RSPS was evaluated in an indoor facility under the following experimental conditions: 6.1, 7.0, and 7.8 mm nozzle diameters; 1.0 and 1.5 m nozzle height above the ground; and working pressures of 100, 150, and 200 kPa. The water distribution patterns were overlapped at 3 and 4 m distances, the simulated Christiansen uniformity coefficient averaged 91.8%, and the simulated average precipitation rate under the different experimental conditions ranged between 23 and 57mm⋅h-1. These values are acceptable for a wide range of irrigation-machine applications.
Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease Revealed by Free-Water Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Voxel-Based Morphometry.

BACKGROUND Imaging biomarkers are increasingly used in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the identification of sex differences using neuroimaging may provide insight into disease heterogeneity, progression, and therapeutic targets. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in grey matter (GM) volume and white matter (WM) microstructural disorganization between males and females with AD using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and free-water-corrected diffusion tensor imaging (FW-DTI). METHODS Data were downloaded from the OASIS-3 database, including 158 healthy control (HC; 86 females) and 46 mild AD subjects (24 females). VBM and FW-DTI metrics (fractional anisotropy (FA), axial and radial diffusivities (AxD and RD, respectively), and FW index) were compared using effect size for the main effects of group, sex, and their interaction. RESULTS Significant group and sex differences were observed, with no significant interaction. Post-hoc comparisons showed that AD is associated with reduced GM volume, reduced FW-FA, and higher FW-RD/FW-index, consistent with neurodegeneration. Females in both groups exhibited higher GM volume than males, while FW-DTI metrics showed sex differences only in the AD group. Lower FW, lower FW-FA and higher FW-RD were observed in females relative to males in the AD group. CONCLUSION The combination of VBM and DTI may reveal complementary sex-specific changes in GM and WM associated with AD and aging. Sex differences in GM volume were observed for both groups, while FW-DTI metrics only showed significant sex differences in the AD group, suggesting that WM tract disorganization may play a differential role in AD pathophysiology between females and males.
Moss phyllid morphology varies systematically with substrate slope

Background and aims – Tracheophyte leaf morphology is well studied but it is unclear if the findings generalize to poikilohydric plants. We tested combinations of hypotheses to determine if microhabitat characteristics, including light exposure, moisture availability, and substrate slope, controlled for morphological differences between upright and prostrate growth forms, affect phyllid surface area and costa length of mosses.Material and methods – We quantified mean phyllid surface-area and costa lengths for four replicates of 38 moss species from Alabama. Phylogenetic comparative methods that model adaptation were used to evaluate the relative evidence for each hypothesis using information criteria. To further explore mechanistic explanations involving substrate slope, we tested whether mosses on vertical substrates differed from those on horizontal substrates in the average amount of water-retaining, nutrient-rich litter they accumulated.Key results – Substrate slope and growth form combined were the best predictors of phyllid surface area. Mosses growing on vertical substrates exhibited smaller phyllid surface area for both growth forms. Although growth form and phyllid length best explained costa length variation, a more complex model including substrate slope performed nearly as well. Within the prostrate growth forms, species growing on vertical substrates exhibit longer relative costa than those on horizontal substrates. We also estimated rapid rates of adaptation for both traits.Conclusion – The smaller phyllid surface area of both upright and prostrate growth forms is possibly an adaptive response to reduced habitat moisture-retention or nutrient quality that vertical substrates offer. The longer costa lengths of prostrate mosses growing on vertical surfaces relative to prostrate mosses on horizontal surfaces, possibly make up for the decreased ability of smaller phyllids to rapidly reabsorb water when it is available. Further work is required to determine if it is truly substrate slope itself that matters or other variables associated with the differences in slope, and to determine how general this phenomenon is.
Prevalence of ABO and Rh blood groups and their association with Transfusion-Transmissible Infections (TTIs) among Blood Donors in Islamabad, Pakistan

Certain Rh positive blood groups showed a link between the ABO blood grouping and susceptibility to some infectious ailments. Study was carried out to find the association of ABO Blood Group System / Rh type with different viral infection. A retrospective observational study was carried in 7631 blood donors to find the association of ABO Blood Group System / Rh type with viral infection due to hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and Syphilis. Data of the study indicateF that the highest incidence of blood group in blood donor was B followed by O, A and AB. The incidence of HBsAg +ve, HCV Ab +ve and infection of Syphilis was also highest in donor with blood group B followed by O, A and AB. Blood group A were more susceptible to HIV Ab +ve followed by blood group B, O and AB. The group B donors had the greatest risk of viral infection with HBV, HCV, HIV, and Syphilis; followed by the groups O, A, and AB. Donors in group AB had the lowest incidence rate of all viral infection. The study revealed that blood group B is most prevalent among donors, followed by blood groups O, A, and AB. On the other side, the rate of HBV, HCV, HIV, and Syphilis infection was greatest among group B donors, followed by group O, group A, and group AB. Copyright(c) The Authors