Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved survival with dose-escalated radiotherapy in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: analysis of the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard of care in non-operable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data have suggested a benefit of dose escalation; however, results from the randomized dose-escalation trial RTOG 0617 revealed a lower survival rate with high-dose radiation. To evaluate the impact of dose escalation on overall survival (OS) in stage III NSCLC treated with chemoradiotherapy outside the controlled setting of a randomized trial, we carried out an observational, population-based investigation of the National Cancer Database (NCDB). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 33 566 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with chemoradiation from 2004 to 2012 and radiation doses between 59.4 and 85 Gy were included. The primary end point was OS, with median survival calculated via Kaplan-Meier. Univariate, multivariable and propensity-score matching analyses were carried out. RESULTS Patients were stratified by dose with median OS of: 18.8, 19.8 and 21.6 months for cohorts receiving 59.4-60, 61-69 and ≥70 Gy, respectively (P < 0.001). Granular dose analyses were carried out demonstrating increased OS with increasing radiation dose: median survival of 18.8, 21.1, 22.0 and 21.0 months for 59.4-60, 66, 70 and ≥71 Gy, respectively. While 66, 70 and ≥71 Gy resulted in increased OS in comparison with 59.4-60 Gy, no significant difference in OS was observed when comparing 66 with ≥71 Gy (P = 0.38). CONCLUSIONS Dose escalation above 60 Gy was associated with improved OS in this cohort of stage III NSCLC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. A plateau of benefit was observed, with no additional improvement in OS with increased dose (≥71 Gy) compared with 66-70 Gy. With evidence suggesting worse OS and quality of life with increased dose, these data support investigation of the role of intermediate-dose radiation, and in the absence of randomized evidence, may be leveraged to justify utilization of intermediate-dose radiation.
60 GHz air cavity antenna array with checkerboard structure using MEMS micromachining process

In this paper, we have proposed a 60-GHz air cavity antenna array with checkerboard structure based on the MEMS silicon bulk micromachining technology. A one-to-four power divider with a Si-to-air transition is designed to excite an air-filled cavity antenna array. By properly arranging the four sub arrays, the proposed array is with a checkerboard structure. An in-phase radiating aperture which is equivalent to a 4×5 magnetic current array is achieved, resulting in high gain performance.
Innovation in the Service Sector: Exploring the Adoption of Internet Banking Services in Turkey

The Internet has become the latest technology to be utilised by the banks to attract new customers and develop new markets. Internet banking offers great opportunities for banks to increase their transactions, extend their customer bases and to decrease their operational costs. It also provides some benefits to consumers such as convenience (i.e. time saving), personalization, freedom (i.e. accessibility) and cost advantages. Nonetheless, branch banking still continues to be the dominant channel compared to its technological counterparts. This is true also for consumers in more developed countries. This paper presents the preliminary findings of a study of the development of Internet banking services in Turkey. A qualitative approach formed by a number of interviews with some of the high-ranking bank managers was applied to explore the role of the market research in the development of Internet banking services. The key findings of the study are the management implications of the adoption of Internet banking and the role of new product development in the creation of Internet banking services in Turkey. The most noteworthy finding of the study was that the banks in this study are developing and introducing their services with very limited scientific market research
Residual Vision in a Subject with Damaged Visual Cortex

It is well known that a lesion in the optic radiation or striate cortex leads to blind visual regions in the retinotopically corresponding portion of the visual field. However, various studies show that some subjects still perceive certain stimuli even when presented in the blind visual field. Such subjects either perceive stimuli abnormally or only certain aspects of them (residual vision) or, in some cases, deny perception altogether even though visual performance can be shown to be above chance (blindsight). Research on monkeys has suggested a variety of parallel extrastriate visual pathways that could bypass the striate cortex and mediate residual vision or blindsight. In the present study, we investigated a subject with perimetrically blind visual areas caused by bilateral brain damage. Black and white stimuli were presented at many locations in the intact and affected areas of the visual field. The subject's task was to state, using confidence levels, whether the target stimulus was black or white. The results revealed an area in the blind visual field in which the subject perceived a light flash when the experimental black stimulus was presented. We hypothesize that a spared region in the visual cortex most likely accounts for these findings.
A robust stability approach to robot reinforcement learning based on a parameterization of stabilizing controllers

Reinforcement learning has become more and more popular in robotics for acquiring feedback controllers. Many approaches aim for learning a controller from scratch, i.e., data-driven without any modeling of the physical plant. However, stability properties of the closed loop are often not considered, or established only a-posteriori or ad hoc. We propose to employ reinforcement learning in the context of model-based control, allowing to learn in a framework of stabilizing controllers built by using only little prior model knowledge. This way, the action space is suitably structured for safe learning of a feedback controller to compensate for uncertainties due to model mismatch or external disturbances. The resulting scheme is developed around a decentralized PD feedback controller. Therefore, given such a controller, by the proposed method one can also add a learning module for performance enhancement. We demonstrate our approach both in simulation and in a hardware experiment using a two degree of freedom robot manipulator.
Decreased Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Diabetic Female Rats: Role of Prostanoids

Overproduction of vasoconstrictor prostanoids and reduced prostacyclin levels have been related to the male diabetic-linked vascular dysfunction. However, it is not clear yet if these changes also occur in diabetic females. The aim of this study was to verify the role of prostanoids in the vascular dysfunction of diabetic female rats. The parameters studied were the mesenteric arteriolar reactivity (intravital microscopy and isolated perfused arteriolar bed), prostanoid measurement (enzyme immunoassay), superoxide generation (intravital fluorescence microscopy), and the presence of peroxynitrite (Western blot for nitrotyrosine-containing proteins). The response to acetylcholine was decreased in arterioles of diabetic female rats and diclofenac, but not ridogrel, corrected the altered response. The unstimulated (basal) release of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), but not prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) or 6-keto-PGF1α, was increased in the mesenteric perfusate from diabetic female rats. Increased production of PGF2α and 6-keto-PGF1α, but not TXB2, was induced by acetylcholine in diabetic arterioles. The superoxide generation was increased in diabetic female rats and diclofenac corrected it. Diabetes increased nitrotyrosine-containing proteins in mesenteric microvessels. In conclusion, our data show that the increase of constrictor prostanoid release, most likely PGF2α, could be involved in the reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation of diabetic female rats. In addition, the enhanced activation of cyclooxygenase may be a source of superoxide anion generation in this model.
Validation of selective cardiac evaluation prior to aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate perioperative and long-term morbidity in patients undergoing selective evaluation of coronary artery disease prior to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. DESIGN Case series. SETTING University and Veterans' Administration medical centers. PATIENTS One hundred eighty-nine consecutive patients undergoing AAA repair between January 1989 and September 1996 were selectively evaluated for coronary artery disease and assigned to 1 of 3 groups: group 1, no abnormal cardiac history, normal electrocardiogram; group 2, minimal symptoms, history of myocardial infarction (MI), older than 70 years, diabetes mellitus, or congestive heart failure; or group 3, severe or unstable angina, ventricular dysfunction. INTERVENTIONS Group 1 patients proceeded to AAA repair without further workup. Group 2 patients underwent pharmacologic or exercise stress testing followed by coronary angiography and intervention as required. Group 3 patients went directly to coronary angiography and intervention as needed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Perioperative MI, arrhythmias, or death. Long-term follow-up measures included MI and death. RESULTS Adequate documentation was available on 171 patients. Twenty-four patients (14%) were in group 1. Of 136 patients (79.5%) in group 2, coronary angiography was performed in 36 (26%), followed by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 9 (7%) and coronary artery bypass (CAB) in 5 (4%). Of 11 patients in group 3, 3 (27%) each received PTCA and CAB. Remote CAB or PTCA had been performed in 32 (19%) and 12 (7%) patients, respectively. Two perioperative deaths (1.1%) occurred in the 189 patients, one due to MI in a group 2 patient. There were 2 (1%) nonfatal MIs, both in group 2 patients who had no preoperative intervention. Arrhythmias and/or congestive heart failure occurred in 17 (9%) cases, 7 (39%) having had recent coronary revascularization (P = .001). By univariate analysis, only preoperative renal dysfunction predicted perioperative complications (P = .03) Overall survival by lifetable analysis was 87.9% and 69.7% at 3 and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSION Coronary artery disease is common in patients undergoing AAA repair, with 35.7% having preoperative coronary revascularization at some point. Selective preoperative coronary artery disease screening achieves excellent perioperative and late results in this population.
Autoregulation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Protein PtxS Occurs through a Specific Operator Site within the ptxS Upstream Region

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxA regulatory protein PtxS autoregulates its own synthesis by binding to a 52-bp fragment. The 3′ end of the 52-bp fragment is located 58 bp 5′ of the ptxS translation start site. We have identified a 14-bp palindromic sequence (TGAAACCGGTTTCA) within the 52-bp fragment. In this study, we used site-directed mutagenesis and promoter fusion experiments to determine if PtxS binds specifically to this palindromic sequence and regulatesptxS expression. We have also tried to determine the roles of specific nucleotides within the palindromic sequence in PtxS binding and ptxS expression. Initial promoter fusion experiments confirmed that the 52-bp fragment does not overlap with the region that carries the ptxS promoter activity. PtxS binding was eliminated upon the deletion of the 14-bp palindromic sequence from the 52-bp fragment. In addition, the deletion of the 14-bp sequence caused a significant enhancement in ptxS expression in theP. aeruginosa strain PAO1 and the ptxS isogenic mutant PAO::ptxS. Mutation of specific nucleotides within the 14-bp sequence eliminated, reduced, or had no effect on PtxS binding. However, mutations of several of these nucleotides produced a significant increase in ptxSexpression in both PAO1 and PAO::ptxS. These results suggest that (i) the 14-bp palindromic sequence and specific nucleotides within it play a role in PtxS binding and (ii) deletion of the palindromic sequence or changing of certain nucleotides within it interferes with another mechanism that may regulate ptxSexpression.
Territorial servitization and new local productive configurations: the case of the textile industrial district of Prato

ABSTRACT This paper addresses territorial servitization in manufacturing systems of small and medium-sized enterprises, introducing a framework for the interpretation of changes in local productive configurations and the assessment of territorial servitization trajectories. It includes three main variables: multiplicity of know-hows, transaction costs and the entrepreneurial drive. Moreover, it proposes a mixed methodology that elaborates proxies of these variables for empirical analysis. The methodology is tested by investigating the changing features of an archetypal case of Italian industrial district, the textile district of Prato, throughout the period 2005–13. Different scenarios seem to open up, highlighting the opportunities and difficulties of transition to strong territorial servitization trajectories.
Localization and function of the Kv3.1b subunit in the rat medulla oblongata: focus on the nucleus tractus solitarii

The voltage‐gated potassium channel subunit Kv3.1 confers fast firing characteristics to neurones. Kv3.1b subunit immunoreactivity (Kv3.1b‐IR) was widespread throughout the medulla oblongata, with labelled neurones in the gracile, cuneate and spinal trigeminal nuclei. In the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), Kv3.1b‐IR neurones were predominantly located close to the tractus solitarius (TS) and could be GABAergic or glutamatergic. Ultrastructurally, Kv3.1b‐IR was detected in NTS terminals, some of which were vagal afferents. Whole‐cell current‐clamp recordings from neurones near the TS revealed electrophysiological characteristics consistent with the presence of Kv3.1b subunits: short duration action potentials (4.2 ± 1.4 ms) and high firing frequencies (68.9 ± 5.3 Hz), both sensitive to application of TEA (0.5 mm) and 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP; 30 μm). Intracellular dialysis of an anti‐Kv3.1b antibody mimicked and occluded the effects of TEA and 4‐AP in NTS and dorsal column nuclei neurones, but not in dorsal vagal nucleus or cerebellar Purkinje cells (which express other Kv3 subunits, but not Kv3.1b). Voltage‐clamp recordings from outside‐out patches from NTS neurones revealed an outward K+ current with the basic characteristics of that carried by Kv3 channels. In NTS neurones, electrical stimulation of the TS evoked EPSPs and IPSPs, and TEA and 4‐AP increased the average amplitude and decreased the paired pulse ratio, consistent with a presynaptic site of action. Synaptic inputs evoked by stimulation of a region lacking Kv3.1b‐IR neurones were not affected, correlating the presence of Kv3.1b in the TS with the pharmacological effects.
Real world prescription trends of methotrexate for psoriasis in Argentina: results of a national survey

Abstract Objective: To describe dermatologists’ methotrexate (MTX) prescription trends for the treatment of psoriasis, and to identify variables associated with suboptimal MTX use. Methods: Cross-sectional study of dermatologists from Argentina who completed a pre-designed survey focussed on MTX prescription characteristics. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify variables independently associated with suboptimal MTX use (when less than 12 weeks and less than 15 mg/week were administrated in patients with monotherapy before discontinuing or adding a second drug). Results: Two hundred and twenty-one dermatologists participated in the study. Median time of practice in dermatology: 10 (IQR 3-15) years. MTX initial dose: 2.5–7.5, 10–15 and 20–30 mg/week in 52%, 41% and 7% of the participants, respectively. Suboptimal MTX use was observed in 76% of the participants. Thirty per cent of the participants responded that they considered MTX to be an ineffective drug. The only variable that was independently associated with suboptimal MTX use was the prescriber’s personal consideration of MTX to be an ineffective drug (OR 2.29; 95%CI 1.05–5.00). Conclusion: A wide heterogeneity in the prescribing profile of MTX for the treatment of psoriasis was observed among Argentinean dermatologists. Suboptimal MTX use was identified in the majority of the prescribers.
A Family Study of Two Subgroups of Schizoaffective Patients

A family study was carried out in two groups of patients fulfilling RDC for schizoaffective disorder: in one, a full affective and a full schizophrenic syndrome were simultaneously present; in the other, affective and schizophrenic features appeared within a polymorphic and rapidly changing clinical picture, with depersonalisation/derealisation and/or confusion. In the first-degree relatives of patients of the former group, the risk of major psychiatric disorders was not significantly different from that of relatives of schizophrenics, whereas in the first-degree relatives of patients of the latter group a low risk for both schizophrenia and major affective disorders, and a relatively high risk for schizoaffective disorders, were observed.
Feasibility of Retroviral Vector-Mediated in utero Gene Transfer to the Fetal Rabbit

Objectives: Successful treatment or prevention of severe hereditary diseases could conceivably be achieved by genetic intervention early in development. Viral vector-mediated fetal gene transfer is proving a valuable tool to test the above concept in relevant animal models. Although the pregnant rabbit is a well-recognized model for fetal therapy, few preclinical assays have used it to validate fetal gene transfer approaches. In this preliminary study we assessed for the first time the feasibility of retroviral vector-mediated in utero gene transfer in the fetal rabbit. Methods: Different amounts of the vesicular stomatitis virus G pseudotyped MFG(nls)LacZ retroviral vector, expressing a nuclear-localized β-galactosidase reporter protein were injected intraperitoneally and -hepatically into 20- to 22-day-old fetuses. At 8–9 days post-treatment, the pups were sacrificed and the tissues harvested for analysis. Evidence of gene transfer was obtained by PCR amplification of proviral sequences within genomic DNA isolated from the treated samples. Transgenic β-galactosidase expression was assessed by X-gal histochemical staining. Results: By intraperitoneal injection 43% of the viable fetuses treated (3/7) showed evidence of successful LacZ gene transfer and low-level β-galactosidase expression into liver and heart, whereas by intrahepatic injection roughly 38% (3/8) of the livers were positive for LacZ gene transfer and expression. The success rate for the viable fetuses rose to 67% positive livers (4/6) when a near double amount of recombinant virus was injected using a 10-fold concentrated virus stock. In terms of short-term safety, fetal and maternal survival rates approached 80% of treated fetuses, and 100% of treated does. Conclusions: The pregnant rabbit is a useful and reliable model allowing the design of further studies to optimize the conditions for effective, safer, and persistent retroviral vector-mediated fetal gene transfer.
An 85mW 14-bit 150MS/s pipelined ADC with 71.3dB peak SNDR in 130nm CMOS

A low-power 14-bit 150MS/s pipelined ADC is presented. This prototype ADC is fabricated in a 130nm CMOS process with a 1.3-V supply voltage. Range-scaling in the first stage enables a maximal 2Vp-p input signal swing with a power-efficient single-stage opamp. Opamp and capacitor sharing between the first and second stage reduces the opamp power consumption further. And the sample-and-hold amplifier (SHA)-less technique is also used to lower the power dissipation and noise. With digital calibration, the SNDR of the ADC is 71.3dB with a 2.4MHz input, and remains higher than 68dB for input frequencies up to 150MHz. The ADC consumes 85mW, which includes 57mW for the ADC core, 11mW for the low jitter clock receiver and 17mW for the high-speed reference buffer.
Profiling Microbial Communities in Manganese Remediation Systems Treating Coal Mine Drainage

ABSTRACT Water discharging from abandoned coal mines can contain extremely high manganese levels. Removing this metal is an ongoing challenge. Passive Mn(II) removal beds (MRBs) contain microorganisms that oxidize soluble Mn(II) to insoluble Mn(III/IV) minerals, but system performance is unpredictable. Using amplicon pyrosequencing, we profiled the bacterial, fungal, algal, and archaeal communities in four MRBs, performing at different levels, in Pennsylvania to determine whether they differed among MRBs and from surrounding soil and to establish the relative abundance of known Mn(II) oxidizers. Archaea were not detected; PCRs with archaeal primers returned only nontarget bacterial sequences. Fungal taxonomic profiles differed starkly between sites that remove the majority of influent Mn and those that do not, with the former being dominated by Ascomycota (mostly Dothideomycetes) and the latter by Basidiomycota (almost entirely Agaricomycetes). Taxonomic profiles for the other groups did not differ significantly between MRBs, but operational taxonomic unit-based analyses showed significant clustering by MRB with all three groups (P < 0.05). Soil samples clustered separately from MRBs in all groups except fungi, whose soil samples clustered loosely with their respective MRB. Known Mn(II) oxidizers accounted for a minor proportion of bacterial sequences (up to 0.20%) but a greater proportion of fungal sequences (up to 14.78%). MRB communities are more diverse than previously thought, and more organisms may be capable of Mn(II) oxidation than are currently known.
The Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting

However, the framework does not override the provisions of any IFRS. If a conflict exists between a standard and the framework, the standard takes priority. Such conflict may be deliberate, as the IASB may deem a particular treatment appropriate even though it may not conform with the framework. A good example of this is the use (under IAS 20) of a deferred income liability for unamortised government grants where no obligation exists.
Patch-based keypoints consensus voting for robust visual tracking

This paper presents a patch-based keypoints clustering method for long term robust visual tracking. We propose to employ a parallel framework with keypoints matching and estimation for tracking purpose. Patch-based method is implemented in our algorithm to improve the flexibility of system. The template is divided into patches to ensure the spatial constraint of local keypoints. The motion cue of patches is calculated with optical flow for consensus clustering and the outliers are suppressed for the final voting. To eliminate the error, we propose a two-step voting from global to local scope. The effective keypoints in global vote for a center and estimate the patch centers which will be compared with the voting centers from each individial patch keypoints. The final voting is determined by the voting with minimum error, which could robustly reduce the error due to the misclassified outliers. Finally, the experiments will be followed to validate the performance of proposed algorithm on the public benchmark.