Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of age on the diagnosis and therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes: results from a retrospective multicenter analysis in Germany

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is a disease of predominantly elderly patients with a median age of >70 yrs. However, data on the management of these patients outside of clinical trials are scarce. To assess patterns of MDS management in routine patient care with regard to the impact of age, we conducted a multicenter, representative survey of MDS health services in Germany. Data of 269 patients treated at 57 institutions were collected from preplanned chart reviews and were analyzed retrospectively. At diagnosis, median age was 70 yrs, 50% of patients had a Karnofsky index (KI) of 90%, and 12% had a comorbidity index ≥ 3 according to Sorror et al. (J Clin Oncol, 25, 2007, 4246). Cytogenetic analysis and International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) risk assessment were performed significantly less frequently in patients >75 yrs than in patients ≤75 yrs (P < 0.001 and P = 0.019). In bivariate analysis, potential predictors for performing IPSS risk assessment were age ≤75 yrs (y/n, P = 0.019), diagnosis at a university hospital (y/n, P = 0.001), WHO subtypes RCUD (y/n, P = 0.028), RARS (y/n, P = 0.002), or RAEB II (y/n, P = 0.037). Patients ≤75 yrs were more likely to receive active therapies (i.e., chemotherapy, immunomodulatory therapy, or epigenetic therapy) than patients >75 yrs (51% vs. 37%, P = 0.007). In bivariate analysis age ≤75 yrs (y/n, P = 0.007) was a significant predictor for active treatment with no correlation with the other predictors [IPSS risk score int‐2 or high (y/n, P = 0.005), WHO subtypes RCUD (y/n, P < 0.001), RCMD (y/n, P = 0.003), RAEB II (y/n, P < 0.001), or CMML I (y/n, P = 0.020)]. This survey confirms the impact of age on the thoroughness of MDS diagnosis and the decision for active treatment. As cytogenetic analysis and risk assessment are essential for the choice of appropriate therapy, elderly patients in particular may not be receiving adequate treatment.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Acute Venous Thromboembolism

INTRODUCTION Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is relatively common in clinical practice. Data suggest that the annual incidence of a first episode of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) ranges from 60 to 180 cases per 100,000 people, with more than 300,000 new cases occurring in the United States every year [1]. There is a male preponderance in the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT and PE are part of the same disease process. Mortality and recurrence rates remain high. The diagnosis of PE and DVT cannot be made on the basis of history and physical examination alone but must be conclusively proven or disproven with objective diagnostic testing. Autopsy findings show that the diagnosis is often missed antemortem. Successful management of VTE depends upon knowing the risk factors that increase likelihood of VTE, recognizing suggestive symptoms and signs of VTE, and proceeding with appropriate diagnostic testing and therapy as quickly as possible.
The Appliance of Innovative Energy Systems in Residential Sites; A Comparison of 11 cases in The Netherlands

In The Netherlands nearly 20% of the domestic green house gas emissions are due to the use of energy in housing. In order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions The Netherlands adopted a policy strategy aimed at economic sectors, including the built environment. Besides policy measures that stimulate energy conservation in houses, other measures were implemented that stimulate the use of innovative techniques concerning renewable energy and energy efficiency (IES). The appliance of these innovative techniques is of special importance to the national government’s long term policy goal concerning the transition to a low carbon society.
Event Embeddings for Semantic Script Modeling

Semantic scripts is a conceptual representation which deﬁnes how events are organized into higher level activities. Practi-cally all the previous approaches to inducing script knowledge from text relied on count-based techniques (e.g., generative models) and have not attempted to compo-sitionally model events. In this work, we introduce a neural network model which relies on distributed compositional representations of events. The model captures statistical dependencies between events in a scenario, overcomes some of the short-comings of previous approaches (e.g., by more effectively dealing with data sparsity) and outperforms count-based counterparts on the narrative cloze task.
A Mechanistic View of the Role of E3 in Sumoylation

Sumoylation, the covalent attachment of SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier) to proteins, differs from other Ubl (Ubiquitin-like) pathways. In sumoylation, E2 ligase Ubc9 can function without E3 enzymes, albeit with lower reaction efficiency. Here, we study the mechanism through which E3 ligase RanBP2 triggers target recognition and catalysis by E2 Ubc9. Two mechanisms were proposed for sumoylation. While in both the first step involves Ubc9 conjugation to SUMO, the subsequent sequence of events differs: in the first E2-SUMO forms a complex with the target and E3, followed by SUMO transfer to the target. In the second, Ubc9-SUMO binds to the target and facilitates SUMO transfer without E3. Using dynamic correlations obtained from explicit solvent molecular dynamic simulations we illustrate the key roles played by allostery in both mechanisms. Pre-existence of conformational states explains the experimental observations that sumoylation can occur without E3, even though at a reduced rate. Furthermore, we propose a mechanism for enhancement of sumoylation by E3. Analysis of the conformational ensembles of the complex of E2 conjugated to SUMO illustrates that the E2 enzyme is already largely pre-organized for target binding and catalysis; E3 binding shifts the equilibrium and enhances these pre-existing populations. We further observe that E3 binding regulates allosterically the key residues in E2, Ubc9 Asp100/Lys101 E2, for the target recognition.
FPC: a system for building contigs from restriction fingerprinted clones

MOTIVATION To meet the demands of large-scale sequencing, thousands of clones must be fingerprinted and assembled into contigs. To determine the order of clones, a typical experiment is to digest the clones with one or more restriction enzymes and measure the resulting fragments. The probability of two clones overlapping is based on the similarity of their fragments. A contig contains two or more overlapping clones and a minimal tiling path of clones is selected to be sequenced. Interactive software with algorithmic support is necessary to assemble the clones into contigs quickly. RESULTS FPC (fingerprinted contigs) is an interactive program for building contigs from restriction fingerprinted clones. FPC uses an algorithm to cluster clones into contigs based on their probability of coincidence score. For each contig, it builds a consensus band (CB) map which is similar to a restriction map; but it does not try to resolve all the errors. The CB map is used to assign coordinates to the clones based on their alignment to the map and to provide a detailed visualization of the clone overlap. FPC has editing facilities for the user to refine the coordinates and to remove poorly fingerprinted clones. Functions are available for updating an FPC database with new clones. Contigs can easily be merged, split or deleted. Markers can be added to clones and are displayed with the appropriate contig. Sequence-ready clones can be selected and their sequencing status displayed. As such, FPC is an integrated program for the assembly of sequence-ready clones for large-scale sequencing projects.
Analysis of the effects of fabric reinforcement parameters on the mechanical properties of textile-based hybrid composites by full factorial experimental design method

In this study, the effect of some fabric reinforcement parameters (fabric direction, yarn type and stacking sequence) on the mechanical properties of textile based hybrid composites are analysed by using full factorial experimental design method. The analysis of the results is achieved by using Minitab 17 software program. One factor (fabric reinforcement direction) with two levels (warp direction and weft direction) and two factors (yarn type and stacking sequence) with three levels (jute/glass, jute/carbon, glass/carbon and consecutive, low strength inside, high strength inside) are selected as the reinforcement design. Full factorial experimental design analysis results indicate that, the highest tensile and impact strength values among the experimental design are realised when samples are taken from the warp direction and E-glass/carbon combination is chosen as the yarn (material) type. Moreover, it is verified that while higher tensile strength is achieved by placing higher strength fabrics to the inner layers, higher impact strength is achieved by placing high strength fabrics to the outer layers of hybrid composite structures. Analysis of variance tables also show that at 95% confidence level, the effects of the factors are statistically significant (p < 0.05).
External Memory Data Structures (invited Paper)

Many modern applications store and process datasets much larger than the main memory of even state-of-the-art high-end machines. Thus massive and dynamically changing datasets often need to be stored in data structures on external storage devices, and in such cases the Input/Output (or I/O) communication between internal and external memory can become a major performance bottleneck. In this paper we survey recent advances in the development of worst-case I/O-eecient external memory data structures.
Circularly Polarized Microstrip Patch Antenna with Optimized Patch Parameters Using Particle Swarm Optimization

A compact, circularly polarized, dual band patch antenna is presented. The structure involves three design parameters with their associated constraints, particle swarm optimization algorithm is developed to determine the patch parameter values. The related constraints are the radius and height of the circular patch. The axial ratio and s-parameter for a 3.9GHz and 7.8GHz is realized. Good agreement is achieved between the measurement and simulation, which indicates that a -10dB impedance bandwidth of 4.2% from 3.8166GHz to 3.9390GHz and 7% (7.6621 – 7.9390GHz) at two frequency bands, respectively, are covered in the design antenna. The antenna is designed and fabricated on FR4 substrate with dielectric constant of 4.4 and dimension of (40mm x 40mm x 1.4mm.) at a frequency of 3.95GHz.
Assessing students' performance using the learning analytics enriched rubrics

The assessment of students' performance in e-learning environments is a challenging and demanding task for the teachers. Focusing on this challenge, a new assessment tool, called Learning Analytics Enriched Rubric (LAe-R) is presented in this paper. LAe-R is based on the concept of assessment rubrics which is a very popular assessment technique in education. LAe-R contains "enriched" criteria and grading levels that are associated to data extracted from the analysis of learners' interaction and learning behavior in an e-learning environment. LAe-R has been developed as a plug-in for the Moodle learning management system. Via an example, we will show how LAe-R can be used by teachers and students.
Kernel Principal Component Analysis for the Classification of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data over Urban Areas

Kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is investigated for feature extraction from hyperspectral remote sensing data. Features extracted using KPCA are classified using linear support vector machines. In one experiment, it is shown that kernel principal component features are more linearly separable than features extracted with conventional principal component analysis. In a second experiment, kernel principal components are used to construct the extended morphological profile (EMP). Classification results, in terms of accuracy, are improved in comparison to original approach which used conventional principal component analysis for constructing the EMP. Experimental results presented in this paper confirm the usefulness of the KPCA for the analysis of hyperspectral data. For the one data set, the overall classification accuracy increases from 79% to 96% with the proposed approach.
Cytological aspects of the infection process of Pyricularia oryzae on leaves of wheat plants supplied with silicon

Blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, has become one of the most important diseases on wheat in Brazil. Knowing the beneficial effects of silicon (Si) in reducing rice blast severity, this study aimed to examine the cytological events occurring during the infectious process of P. oryzae on the leaves of wheat plants non-supplied (-Si) or supplied (+Si) with Si in an experiment arranged in a completely randomized design. The high foliar Si concentration for the +Si plants contributed to decrease the blast symptoms. Hyphae of P. oryzae grew successfully and formed an extensively branched mycelium in the first-invaded epidermal cell and invaded several neighboring cells on the -Si plants, while on the +Si plants fungal hyphae was restricted to the first-invaded epidermal cell. The number of brown adaxial epidermal cells and their intensity of browning were significantly lower for the +Si plants in comparison to the -Si plants. The frequency of appressorial sites showing type B reaction (infection hyphae within the epidermal cell and absence of cytoplasm granulation) was lower for the +Si plants than for the -Si plants from 72 to 96 hours after inoculation because the frequency of appressorial sites showing type A reaction (unsuccessful penetration) was kept higher in comparison to the -Si plants. This study provides novel cytological evidence of the negative effect of Si on the infection process of P. oryzae on leaves of wheat plants contributing, therefore, to reduce the blast symptoms.
Iterative type analysis and extended message splitting: Optimizing dynamically-typed object-oriented programs

Object-oriented languages have suffered from poor performance caused by frequent and slow dynamically-bound procedure calls. The best way to speed up a procedure call is to compile it out, but dynamic binding of object-oriented procedure calls without static receiver type information precludes inlining.Iterative type analysis andextended message splitting are new compilation techniques that extract much of the necessary type information and make it possible to hoist run-time type tests out of loops.Our system compiles code on-the-fly that is customized to the actual data types used by a running program. The compiler constructs a control flow graph annotated with type information by simultaneously performing type analysis and inlining. Extended message splitting preserves type information that would otherwise be lost by a control-flow merge by duplicating all the code between the merge and the place that uses the information. Iterative type analysis computes the types of variables used in a loop by repeatedly recompiling the loop until the computed types reach a fix-point. Together these two techniques enable our SELF compiler to split off a copy of an entire loop, optimized for the common-case types.By the time our SELF compiler generates code for the graph, it has eliminated many dynamically-dispatched procedure calls and type tests. The resulting machine code is twice as fast as that generated by the previous SELF compiler, four times faster than ParcPlace Systems Smalltalk-80, the fastest commercially available dynamically-typed object-oriented language implementation, and nearly half the speed of optimized C. Iterative type analysis and extended message splitting have cut the performance penalty for dynamically-typed object-oriented languages in half.
Performance Analyses of Two-Way AF Relaying over Nakagami-m Frequency-Selective Fading Channels

In this paper, taking the multipath spread of the channel into account, the performance of two-way amplify-and-forward relaying over Nakagami-m frequency-selective fading channels is analyzed. Based on the channel state information (CSI), the exact probability density functions of the received signal-to-noise power ratio (SNR) for semi-blind and channel state information assisted AF relaying are derived first, respectively. Their corresponding moment generating functions for both relay schemes are also presented. According to these statistics, the average symbol error rate can be found, and then verified by computer simulations under Nakagami-m frequency-selective fading channels.
Is there scope for cost savings and efficiency gains in HIV services? A systematic review of the evidence from low- and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVE To synthesize the data available--on costs, efficiency and economies of scale and scope--for the six basic programmes of the UNAIDS Strategic Investment Framework, to inform those planning the scale-up of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS The relevant peer-reviewed and "grey" literature from low- and middle-income countries was systematically reviewed. Search and analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. FINDINGS Of the 82 empirical costing and efficiency studies identified, nine provided data on economies of scale. Scale explained much of the variation in the costs of several HIV services, particularly those of targeted HIV prevention for key populations and HIV testing and treatment. There is some evidence of economies of scope from integrating HIV counselling and testing services with several other services. Cost efficiency may also be improved by reducing input prices, task shifting and improving client adherence. CONCLUSION HIV programmes need to optimize the scale of service provision to achieve efficiency. Interventions that may enhance the potential for economies of scale include intensifying demand-creation activities, reducing the costs for service users, expanding existing programmes rather than creating new structures, and reducing attrition of existing service users. Models for integrated service delivery--which is, potentially, more efficient than the implementation of stand-alone services--should be investigated further. Further experimental evidence is required to understand how to best achieve efficiency gains in HIV programmes and assess the cost-effectiveness of each service-delivery model.
Disparities in Receipt of Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV-infected Adults (2002–2008)

Objective:Prior research has documented sociodemographic disparities in the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Recent therapeutic developments and changing epidemiological profiles may have altered such disparities. We examine the extent to which sociodemographic differences in prescribed ART have changed between 2002 and 2008. Methods:We analyzed data abstracted from medical records at 13 US sites participating in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Research Network. Prescription of ART was assessed for each year in care for each patient. A total of 14,092 patients were followed up for 39,251 person-years. We examined ART use as a function of sex, race/ethnicity, human immunodeficiency virus risk group, age, and CD4 history (no test <500 cells/mm3, one or more tests between 500 and 350 cells/mm3, 1 test ⩽350 cells/mm3, and 2 or more tests ⩽350 cells/mm3). Using multiple logistic regression, we ascertained interactions between each of these variables and calendar year. Results:The overall percentage prescribed ART increased from 60% to 80% between 2002 and 2008. Among those with 2 or more CD4 tests ⩽350 cells/mm3, the percentage increased from 82% to 92%. ART rates were higher for those with lower CD4 counts but increased over time for all CD4 groups and for all demographic groups. Nevertheless, sex and racial/ethnic disparities persisted. Significant interactions were obtained for CD4 history by year, age by year, and age by CD4 history. Conclusions:Although prescription of ART became more widespread from 2002 to 2008, patients who were female, black, or younger still had lower ART rates than male, white, or older patients.
GIS: a biomedical text-mining system for gene information discovery

UNLABELLED We present a biomedical text-mining system focused on four types of gene-related information: biological functions, associated diseases, related genes and gene-gene relations. The aim of this system is to provide researchers an easy-to-use bio-information service that will rapidly survey the rapidly burgeoning biomedical literature. AVAILABILITY http://iir.csie. ncku.edu. tw/~yuhc/gis/
Sulfated Polysaccharide Fucoidan Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis in Rats

Homing of cardiac myosin-specific CD4-positive T cells into the myocardium is the initial pathologic event of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). Subsequently, various bystander inflammatory cells are recruited into the myocardium crossing vascular endothelial cell walls. Sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan binds selectin nonselectively and blocks its function. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate whether in vivo fucoidan treatment can improve EAM. A 21-day infusion of physiological saline or fucoidan was administrated intraperitoneally to the rats with sham operation (sham-saline, n = 5; sham-fucoidan, n = 6) or those with cardiac myosin injection (EAM-saline, n = 10; EAM-fucoidan, n = 10). After 3 weeks, fucoidan treatment improved left ventricular ejection fraction (79.04 ± 2.81 vs 65.94% ± 3.22%; P < .01 vs EAM-saline) with a reduced ratio of heart weight to body weight (4.016 ± 0.239 vs 4.975 ± 0.252 mg/g; P < .05 vs EAM-saline) in EAM. Furthermore, fucoidan treatment decreased serum levels of BNP (292.0 ± 53.4 vs 507.4 ± 89.2 ng/mL; P < .05 vs EAM-saline) and the myocarditis area (31.66 ± 1.53 vs 42.51% ± 3.24%; P < .01 vs EAM-saline) in EAM. These beneficial effects of fucoidan were accompanied by inhibition of both macrophage and CD4-positive T-cell infiltration into the myocardium. Fucoidan, a nonselective selectin blocker, attenuates the progression of EAM. This observation may be explained, at least in part, by blocking the extravasation of inflammatory cells into the myocardium.