Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Education and support needs in patients with head and neck cancer: A multi‐institutional survey

Head and neck cancer (HNC) encompasses a diverse group of tumors, and thus providing appropriate and tailored information to patients before, during, and after treatment is a challenge. The objective of the current study was to characterize the experience and unmet needs of patients with HNC with regard to information and support provision.
Towards a hybrid neural and evolutionary heuristic approach for playing tile-matching puzzle games

In this paper we explore the hybrid application of evolutionary computation and artificial neural networks in the development of intelligent systems able to solve the problem of approximating the optimal strategy in a tile-matching puzzle game. Three intelligent systems are proposed: an evolutionary heuristic technique, artificial neural networks, and a hybrid approach that combines both. Results show that the hybrid approach, which combines the advantages of the two previous solutions, performs better at both, the number of completed lines and the average piece placement time. These results aim to serve as the basis for a later comparative study against state- of-the-art techniques in the topic.
Identification and Characterization of Two Strains of Human Parechovirus 4 Isolated from Two Clinical Cases in Fukuoka City, Japan

ABSTRACT Reverse transcription-PCR targeting the VP0 gene of human parechoviruses (HPeVs) was used to identify two isolates from two Japanese children's stool specimens. Molecular analysis revealed that these isolates belonged to HPeV type 4, and their nucleotide identity in the P1 region was 85.0%.
Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cells (NFAT) Rescues Osteoclastogenesis in Precursors Lacking c-Fos*

Osteoclasts are specialized macrophages that resorb bone. Mice lacking the AP-1 component c-Fos are osteopetrotic because of a lack of osteoclast differentiation and show an increased number of macrophages. The nature of the critical function of c-Fos in osteoclast differentiation is not known. Microarray analysis revealed that Nfatc1, another key regulator of osteoclastogenesis, was down-regulated in Fos-/- osteoclast precursors. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that c-Fos bound to the Nfatc1 and Acp5 promoters in osteoclasts. In vitro promoter analyses identified nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)/AP-1 sites in the osteoclast-specific Acp5 and Calcr promoters. Moreover, in Fos-/- precursors gene transfer of an active form of NFAT restored transcription of osteoclast-specific genes in the presence of receptor activator of the NF-κB ligand (RANKL), rescuing bone resorption. In the absence of RANKL, however, Fos-/- precursors were insensitive to NFAT-induced osteoclastogenesis unlike wild-type precursors. These data indicate that lack of Nfatc1 expression is the cause of the differentiation block in Fos-/- osteoclast precursors and that transcriptional induction of Nfatc1 is a major function of c-Fos in osteoclast differentiation.
Hybrid model predictive control of a two-generator power plant integrating photovoltaic panels and a fuel cell

This paper describes the application of hybrid modeling control techniques to a two-generator power system connected to the grid. The plant consists of a solar field and a secondary power source formed by an electrolyzer, hydrogen tank and fuel cell stack. The system is inherently hybrid as it combines both continuous and hybrid dynamics, since it can operate in four distinct modes, depending on the power circuit configuration and the fuel cell stack state. Firstly, a mixed-logical-dynamical (MLD) description of the system is obtained. A hybrid receding horizon finite-time optimal controller based on on-line multiparametric programming techniques is then tuned. Finally, the effectiveness of such a control design is shown through the simulation results.
Afrotropical Sarcophagidae in a carrion fly community

Abstract. Collections of Afrotropical Sarcophagidae were made at a single locality. Seventeen species in two genera were found: Heteronychia with two species, and Sarcophaga with fifteen species. All male flies were identified, together with a few females, wherever possible. The number of male flies collected exceeded that of females. A small proportion of females captured were gravid.
Nurses' attitudes towards professional containment methods used in psychiatric wards and perceptions of aggression in Turkey.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine nurses' attitudes towards professional containment methods and to explore the relationship between those attitudes and nurses' perception of aggression. BACKGROUND Different containment methods are used in psychiatric wards when patients behave aggressively towards others or exhibit self-harm. It is known that in addition to patient-specific and environmental influences, many factors related to the staff influence the choice of containment method. One of these factors is the perception of aggression. DESIGN A cross-sectional descriptive design was used and the sample consisted of 144 nurses who are employed in a psychiatric hospital in Istanbul and who volunteered to participate in the study. METHOD Data were collected using a questionnaire addressing the socio-demographic and professional features of nurses and using the attitudes to professional containment methods and Perception of Aggression Scale. RESULTS While pro re nata medication was used commonly, time-out was infrequently used in the wards. Intermittent observation, pro re nata medication and containment in the psychiatric intensive care unit were the most approved methods. The use of net beds was the least approved method. Nurses who perceive aggression as dysfunctional/undesirable are more likely to approve compulsory intramuscular medication and mechanical restraint. CONCLUSION These results showed that nurses' perception of aggression is an important factor influencing the choice of a professional containment method. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study might lead to closer critiquing of psychiatric ward nurses' attitudes towards professional containment methods, leading to a decrease in the usage of these methods.
Parental Perception of Emotional Problems in Children and Adolescents withMixed Specific Developmental Disorder

This study examined the emotional and behavioral problems of children with Mixed Specific Developmental Disorders (MSDD) as reported by their parents (main caregiver). Forty-four children with MSDD (43% males and 57% females, mean age 10.55 yrs, SD 2.85) attending the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital health clinics and their parents participated in the study. They were compared with children affected by specific learning disabilities (SLD) (61 children: 56% males and 44% females, mean age 10.92 yrs, SD 2.59). Measurements included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and detailed cognitive and learning assessment. CBCL T scores indicated that 57% of the children with MSDD and 36% of those with SLD had an internalizing mental health problem (p <0.05), particularly as regard the withdrawn/depressed scale (61% MSDD versus 57% SLD, p<0.05), thought problems (59% versus 55%, p<0.01) and attention problems (64% versus 60%, p<0.05). Thus, MSDD children appeared to have a greater incidence of psychopathological traits than SLD children. In clinical settings, the assessment of learning disabilities in children with MSDD should include both cognitive and learning abilities, as well as psychological/mental health aspects.
Human biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of the tachykinin NK1 antagonist radioligand [18F]SPA-RQ: comparison of thin-slice, bisected, and 2-dimensional planar image analysis.

UNLABELLED (18)F-Labeled substance P antagonist-receptor quantifier ([(18)F]SPA-RQ) [2-fluoromethoxy-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-tetrazol-1-yl)-benzyl]-[(2S,3S)-2-phenyl-piperidin-3-yl)amine] is a selective radioligand for in vivo quantification of tachykinin NK(1) receptors with PET. The aims of this study were to estimate the radiation safety profile and relative risks of [(18)F]SPA-RQ with 3 different methods of image analysis. METHODS Whole-body PET images were acquired in 7 healthy subjects after injection of 192 +/- 7 MBq (5.2 +/- 0.2 mCi) [(18)F]SPA-RQ. Emission images were serially acquired at multiple time-points from 0 to 120 min and approximately 180-240 min after injection. Urine samples were collected after each imaging session and for 24 h after the last scan to measure excreted radioactivity. Horizontal tomographic images were compressed to varying degrees in the anteroposterior direction to create 3 datasets: thin-slice, bisected, and 2-dimensional (2D) planar images. Regions of interest were drawn around visually identifiable source organs to generate time-activity curves for each dataset. Residence times were determined from these curves, and doses to individual organs and the body as a whole were calculated using OLINDA/EXM 1.0. RESULTS The lungs, upper large intestine wall, small intestine, urinary bladder wall, kidneys, and thyroid had the highest radiation-absorbed doses. Biexponential fitting of mean bladder and urine activity showed that about 41% of injected activity was excreted via urine. Assuming a 2.4-h urine voiding interval, the calculated effective doses from thin-slice, bisected, and 2D planar images were 29.5, 29.3, and 32.3 microSv/MBq (109, 108, and 120 mrem/mCi), respectively. CONCLUSION Insofar as effective dose is an accurate measure of radiation risk, all 3 methods of analysis provided quite similar estimates of risk to human subjects. The radiation dose was moderate and would potentially allow subjects to receive multiple PET scans in a single year. Individual organ exposures varied among the 3 methods, especially for structures asymmetrically located in an anterior or posterior position. Bisected and 2D planar images almost always provided higher organ dose estimates than thin-slice images. Thus, either the bisected or 2D planar method of analysis appears acceptable for quantifying human radiation burden, at least for radioligands with a relatively broad distribution in the body and not concentrated in a small number of radiation sensitive organs.
A Deep Learning Approach to Android Malware Feature Learning and Detection

The growing amount and diversity of Android malware has significantly weakened the effectiveness of the conventional defense mechanisms, and thus Android platform often remains unprotected from new and unknown malware. To address these limitations, we propose DroidDeep, a malware detection approach for the Android platform based on the deep learning model. Deep learning emerges as a new area of machine learning research that has attracted increasing attention in artificial intelligence. To implement this, we first extract five types of features from the static analysis of Android apps. Then, we build the deep learning model to learn features from Android apps. Finally, the learned features are used to detect unknown Android malware. In an experiment with 3,986 benign apps and 3,986 malware, DroidDeep outperforms several existing malware detection approaches and achieves a 99.4% detection accuracy. Moreover, DroidDeep can achieve a remarkable run-time efficiency which makes it very easy to adapt to a lager scale of real-world Android malware detection.
Altitude and maximum performance in work and sports activity.

To what extent elevations of around 7,000 feet affect sports performance has been a topic for speculation and inquiry. Predictions based on experimental experiences at altitudes above 10,000 feet were closely verified in recent studies. Performance capabilities in events requiring relatively short bursts of energy expenditure were unaltered. Oxygen debt capacity was not affected; however, duration of recovery was expanded. Maximum physical efforts of about one minute or more showed manifest reductions of "normal" performance levels in running, swimming, and on the bicycle ergometer. Ten days of continued training improved but did not completely normalize performances. The decision to hold the Olympic Games of 1968 in Mexico City, a city with an elevation of around 2,250 meters (nearly one-half mile higher than Denver) has created a public interest in effects of higher altitudes on physical performance capabilities. Mountaineers, skiers, hunters, lumberjacks, and miners had been confronted with this problem for
Biometric Security: Palm Vein Recognition Using Lbp and Sift

Palm vein recognition is an unique vascular recognition technique used for identification of individual. Palm vein recognition offer high degrees of security as vein are inside the skin so therefore difficult to forge. Palm vein pattern are unique for any individual so this can also be used to grant access to the user instead of using passwords, identification cards etc. In this paper we have used the combination of pixel wise Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) technique to extract the palm vein features to improve the accuracy. In this paper the authors have presented a systematic comparison of some of previous palm vein recognition techniques with a novel technique proposed based on PolyU database. Evaluation of improvement in performance for recognition and verification process has been carried out and thereafter an elaborate analysis has been done on the effect of the size of enrolment. Simulation results depict an improvement of recognition rate and false acceptance rate. Implementation of the proposed method has been carried out using Image Processing Toolbox under MATLAB software
Two immune-enhanced molecular subtypes differ in inflammation, checkpoint signaling and outcome of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

ABSTRACT The immune environment of primary tumor is associated with the clinical response and benefit of immunotherapy. This study aims to investigate the intratumoral immune profile and its clinical relevance in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Gene expression profiles of 401 HNSCCs at stage III-IVB from two cohorts (The Cancer Genome Atlas, TCGA, n = 203; the Leipzig Head and Neck Group, LHNG, n = 198) were involved in this analysis. Based on the global immune-related genes, four gene expression subtypes (C1-4) were identified in HNSCCs. Overall, subtypes C2 and C3 showed upregulation of immune profiles and increased tumor lymphocyte infiltration, exhibiting an enhanced immune microenvironment (EIME). However, the two EIME subtypes revealed differences in immune markers and clinical features. Subtype C2 showed higher expression of macrophage signature, whereas subtype C3 was more associated with B cell infiltration. T cell and NK cell infiltration was not different between C2 and C3 subtypes. The subtype C2 tumors were characterized by inflammation compared with subtype C3. Although the checkpoint receptors PD1 and CTLA4 expressed equally between the EIME subtypes, their ligands (PD-L1/PD-L2, CD86/CD80) were significantly upregulated in subtype C2 compared with C3. HPV-positive tumors were predominantly enriched in subtype C3 but not in C2. Furthermore, patients in subtype C2 had a worse outcome than those in C3. In summary, two immune-enhanced subtypes with different immune characteristics and clinical features were identified in advanced HNSCC. The different immune microenvironments among HNSCC subgroups may provide new insights into the strategy of immunotherapy.
Surface Toll-like receptor 3 expression in metastatic intestinal epithelial cells induces inflammatory cytokine production and promotes invasiveness

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are innate immune receptors for sensing microbial molecules and damage-associated molecular patterns released from host cells. Double-stranded RNA and the synthetic analog polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) bind and activate TLR3. This stimulation leads to recruitment of the adaptor molecule TRIF (Toll/IL-1 resistance (TIR) domain–containing adapter-inducing interferon β) and activation of the transcription factors nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3), classically inducing IFNβ production. Here we report that, unlike non-metastatic intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), metastatic IECs express TLR3 and that TLR3 promotes invasiveness of these cells. In response to poly(I:C) addition, the metastatic IECs also induced the chemokine CXCL10 in a TLR3-, TRIF-, and IRF3-dependent manner but failed to produce IFNβ. This was in contrast to healthy and non-metastatic IECs, which did not respond to poly(I:C) stimulation. Endolysosomal acidification and the endosomal transporter protein UNC93B1 was required for poly(I:C)-induced CXCL10 production. However, TLR3-induced CXCL10 was triggered by immobilized poly(I:C), was only modestly affected by inhibition of endocytosis, and could be blocked with an anti-TLR3 antibody, indicating that TLR3 can still signal from the cell surface of these cells. Furthermore, plasma membrane fractions from metastatic IECs contained both full-length and cleaved TLR3, demonstrating surface expression of both forms of TLR3. Our results imply that metastatic IECs express surface TLR3, allowing it to sense extracellular stimuli that trigger chemokine responses and promote invasiveness in these cells. We conclude that altered TLR3 expression and localization may have implications for cancer progression.
Monitoring the impacts of waterlogging on winter wheat using high spatial resolution satellite data

Waterlogging, including flooding, is one of the serious agricultural disasters for winter wheat in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region, especially during the spring. It's of great practical value to discriminating the impact of waterlogging and flooding on winter wheat efficiently in the field. In this study, we combined the field campaign and satellite remote sensing data to discriminate the impact of waterlogging and flooding on winter wheat during the growing stages in the spring. The field experiment was carried out with three treatments, i.e., waterlogging (WL), flooding (FL)(waterlogging with 3 cm water layer above the ground) and contrast (CK), and two varieties, i.e., YM14 and YM18.The phenological stages includes seeding and tillering (ST) from 7 to 27 January and jointing and booting (JB) from 12 March to 1 April, respectively. For each treatment, three samples with an area of 0.25 m2 were randomly determined and collected. High resolution satellite data, i.e., WorldView2, Pleiades and SPOT were also obtained. We proposed a method to calibrate the collection of high resolution remote sensing data. We used a measurement, namely the M, to differentiate the different waterlogging treatments. The results showed that the yield of winter wheat under different treatments for both varieties in ST and JB had significant differences. It showed that the flooding treatment could be discriminated from its CK and waterlogging treatment for YM14, and the waterlogging treatment of YM18 could be discriminated from its CK 16 days after ST treatment. The treatment in ST showed more lasting impacts on both YM14 and YM18. Compared with ST, the treatments in JB had more severe impacts on winter wheat growth. The flooding treatment of YM14 was differentiable from its CK and waterlogging treatment before the end of JB treatment, earlier than YM18. We concluded that both of the treatments in ST and JB periods had adverse impacts on YM14 and YM18, especially during ST period.
Histone H3.3 and cancer: A potential reader connection

The building block of chromatin is nucleosome, which consists of 146 base pairs of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer composed of two copies of histone H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Significantly, the somatic missense mutations of the histone H3 variant, H3.3, are associated with childhood and young-adult tumors, such as pediatric high-grade astrocytomas, as well as chondroblastoma and giant-cell tumors of the bone. The mechanisms by which these histone mutations cause cancer are by and large unclear. Interestingly, two recent studies identified BS69/ZMYND11, which was proposed to be a candidate tumor suppressor, as a specific reader for a modified form of H3.3 (H3.3K36me3). Importantly, some H3.3 cancer mutations are predicted to abrogate the H3.3K36me3/BS69 interaction, suggesting that this interaction may play an important role in tumor suppression. These new findings also raise the question of whether H3.3 cancer mutations may lead to the disruption and/or gain of interactions of additional cellular factors that contribute to tumorigenesis.
The in vitro effects of cytokines on expansion and migration of megakaryocyte progenitors

Increasing the number of megakaryocyte progenitors in stem cell transplants by ex vivo expansion culture may be an approach to accelerate platelet recovery in patients undergoing high‐dose chemotherapy. We evaluated the effect of three different cytokine combinations on expansion, with special emphasis on the type of colony formation and migration of megakaryocytic cells. The number of clonogenic megakaryocyte progenitors (colony‐forming units–megakaryocyte; CFU‐Mk) with high‐ (> 20 cells/colony) and low‐proliferative capacity (5–20 cells/colony) and the number of megakaryocytic (CD61+) cells were significantly increased by including interleukin 3 (IL‐3) or IL‐3 + IL‐6 + IL‐11 + Flt3‐ligand to cultures containing megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) plus stem cell factor (SCF). No difference in the maturation of megakaryocytes from all three cytokine combinations to platelets were observed, as demonstrated by electron microscopy. In chemotaxis experiments, the migration towards stromal cell‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1) was shown to be reduced for CD61+ cells and megakaryocyte progenitors cultured in other cytokines besides MGDF + SCF. The reduced migration was related to a lower expression of CXCR4, the receptor for SDF‐1, on megakaryocytes from the proliferating cultures. These in vitro results demonstrate that expansion in IL‐3 and other cytokines besides MGDF + SCF significantly impair the capacity of megakaryocytic cells to migrate.
Improved Fuzzy-Optimally Weighted Nearest Neighbor Strategy to Classify Imbalanced Data

Learning from imbalanced data is one of the burning issues of the era. Traditional classification methods exhibit degradation in their performances while dealing with imbalanced data sets due to skewed distribution of data into classes. Among various suggested solutions, instance based weighted approaches secured the space in such cases. In this paper, we are proposing a new fuzzy weighted nearest neighbor method that optimally handle the imbalance issue of data. Use of optimal weights improve the performance of fuzzy nearest neighbor algorithm for default balanced distribution of data, for the classification of imbalanced data concept of adaptive K is merged with it that apply large K, number of nearest neighbors for large class and small K for small class. We deploy this combination to classify imbalanced data with better accuracy for different evaluation measures. Experimental results affirm that our proposed method perform well than the traditional fuzzy nearest neighbor classification for these type of data sets.