Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term results of International Breast Cancer Study Group Trial VIII: adjuvant chemotherapy plus goserelin compared with either therapy alone for premenopausal patients with node-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND The International Breast Cancer Study Group Trial VIII compared long-term efficacy of endocrine therapy (goserelin), chemotherapy [cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil (CMF)], and chemoendocrine therapy (CMF followed by goserelin) for pre/perimenopausal women with lymph-node-negative breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1990 to 1999, 1063 patients were randomized to receive (i) goserelin for 24 months (n = 346), (ii) six courses of 'classical' CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) chemotherapy (n = 360), or (iii) six courses of CMF plus 18 months goserelin (CMF→ goserelin; n = 357). Tumors were classified as estrogen receptor (ER) negative (19%), ER positive (80%), or ER unknown (1%); 19% of patients were younger than 40. Median follow-up was 12.1 years. RESULTS For the ER-positive cohort, sequential therapy provided a statistically significant benefit in disease-free survival (DFS) (12-year DFS = 77%) compared with CMF alone (69%) and goserelin alone (68%) (P = 0.04 for each comparison), due largely to the effect in younger patients. Patients with ER-negative tumors whose treatment included CMF had similar DFS (12-year DFS CMF = 67%; 12-year DFS CMF→ goserelin = 69%) compared with goserelin alone (12-year DFS = 61%, P= NS). CONCLUSIONS For pre/perimenopausal women with lymph-node-negative ER-positive breast cancer, CMF followed by goserelin improved DFS in comparison with either modality alone. The improvement was the most pronounced in those aged below 40, suggesting an endocrine effect of prolonged CMF-induced amenorrhea.
Attitudes in Australia on the upscheduling of over‐the‐counter codeine to a prescription‐only medication

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS In December 2016, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration announced that over-the-counter (OTC) codeine would be available by prescription-only in February 2018. Prior to this announcement, the authors aimed to evaluate attitudes among Australian codeine consumers, pharmacists and general medical practitioners (GP) towards the proposed upscheduling of OTC codeine. DESIGN AND METHODS Public Therapeutic Goods Administration submissions on codeine upscheduling were assessed, and a brief questionnaire was developed to assess the common issues raised. Participants (354 codeine consumers; 220 pharmacists; 120 GPs) completed a web-based questionnaire. Comparisons of attitudes on specific statements related to codeine upscheduling were made between consumers who were in support and those who opposed the proposal and between pharmacists and GPs. Regression models were conducted to examine correlates of attitudes towards codeine restriction. RESULTS Most consumer, pharmacist and a third of GP respondents opposed the upscheduling of codeine. Consumers, on average, questioned whether the proposed intervention would address the intended targets of minimising codeine-related side effects and risk of codeine dependence. Like consumers, pharmacists indicated concern around whether codeine restriction would address concerns of associated harm and dependence, as well as the burden regular GP appointments would create in terms of finances for consumers and time for GPs. GPs themselves, did not support these views. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Consumer responses identify key targets for educational campaigns when codeine is rescheduled, particularly around effective alternatives to OTC codeine. Additionally, contrasting views of pharmacists and GPs reinforce the importance of pharmacovigilance in evaluating the effectiveness of codeine restriction, once implemented. [McCoy J, Bruno R, Nielsen S. Attitudes in Australia on the upscheduling of over-the-counter codeine to a prescription-only medication. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;00:000-000].
Zinc(II) tolerance in Escherichia coli K‐12: evidence that the zntA gene (o732) encodes a cation transport ATPase

A transposon (Tn10dCam) insertion mutant of Escherichia coli K‐12 was isolated that exhibited hypersensitivity to zinc(II) and cadmium(II) and, to a lesser extent, cobalt(II) and nickel (II). The mutated gene, located between 75.5 and 76.2 min on the chromosome, is named zntA (for Zn(II) transport or tolerance). The metal‐sensitive phenotype was complemented by a genomic DNA clone mapping at 3677.90–3684.60 kb on the physical map. Insertion of a kanamycin resistance (KnR) cassette at a Sal I site in a subcloned fragment generated a plasmid that partially complemented the zinc(II)‐sensitive phenotype. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the KnR cassette was located within the putative promoter region of an ORF (o732 or yhhO) predicted to encode a protein of 732 amino acids, similar to cation transport P‐type ATPases in the Cpx‐type family. Inverse PCR and sequence analysis revealed that the Tn10dCam element was located within o732 in the genome of the zinc(II)‐sensitive mutant. The zntA mutant had elevated amounts of intracellular and cell surface‐bound Zn(II), consistent with the view that zntA+ encodes a zinc(II) efflux protein. Exposure of the zntA mutant to cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) also resulted in elevated levels of intracellular and cell surface‐bound metal ions.
Two-stage unattended object detection method with proposals

Unattended object detection is a crucial task in visual surveillance systems. However, it is challenging in handling false alarms and miss detection rate. In this paper, a two-stage method for the unattended object detection is proposed where the first stage tries to detect all possible unattended objects and prevent miss detections by considering attributes of objects such as staticness, foregroundness, and abandonment. This stage is called the unattended object proposal stage. In the second stage, our method reduces false alarms with candidates obtaining from the first stage by using a deep learning similarity matching between candidates and the background model. With the capability of reducing false alarms and miss detections, our method can be applied in large-scale deployment systems for unattended object detection.
Factors Associated With Discrepancy in Parent–Teacher Reporting of Symptoms of ADHD in a Large Clinic-Referred Sample of Children

Objective: To identify factors associated with discrepancy in parent–teacher reporting of symptoms of ADHD. Method: Parents and teachers rated 1,364 children using an ADHD rating scale. Data were analyzed using multiple regressions and ANOVA. Results: Demographic variables predicted greater parent–teacher discrepancy for ethnic minority families than for Caucasian families. Comorbidity variables predicted greater discrepancy for children who had a comorbid externalizing disorder. Academic performance variables predicted discrepancy for children who showed more homework problems. When all significant predictors were entered together, externalizing disorders and homework problems emerged as significant predictors. Participants whose parents reported higher levels of symptoms were of significantly higher socioeconomic status. Participants whose teachers reported higher levels of symptoms were significantly less likely to have a comorbid externalizing disorder and parent-reported homework problems. Conclusion: Parent–teacher discrepancies are likely to occur when the child has significant homework and externalizing behavior problems.
Expression of Treponema pallidum antigens in Escherichia coli K-12

A colony bank of recombinant plasmids harboring Treponema pallidum DNA inserts has been established in Escherichia coli K-12. By using an in situ immunoassay, we identified four E. coli clones that expressed T. pallidum antigens. Thus, recombinant DNA technology may provide powerful new tools for studying the pathogenesis of T. pallidum infection.
Semantic Web : XML and RDF Roles

This research paper presents an overview of the main concepts of the semantic web, and is aiming to present some ideas of developing the concept of semantic web using XML and RDF. In particular, the research reveals the positive impact of using RDF instead of XML through the concept of “Semantic Web”, with the knowledge that many of the researches demonstrated the preference of RDF for the many reasons including simplicity, abstract syntax, and providing a data model. In particular, our main goal is to define the appropriate elements to develop a semantic web using both XML and RDF. Our approach is achieved by developing a simulated web search engine to describe and emphasize the positive role of using RDF rather than XML in web search. key words: XML, RDF, W3C.
Recursive covariance ladder algorithms for ARMA system identification

The recently developed method of pure-order recursive ladder algorithms (PORLA) is extended to facilitate the identification of autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) models. Since the time recursion in this method is limited in the calculation of the input data covariance matrix, roundoff errors cannot propagate in time in higher stages of the pure-order recursively constructed ladder form. Thus, the superior least-squares tracking and fast start-up capability of the proposed algorithms is not corrupted by roundoff error. Furthermore, the algorithms allow the use of higher-order recursive windows on the data (e.g., recursive Hanning), which again significantly improves the tracking as well as the steady-state behavior. A computer program, an instructive example for implementation of the method on a massively parallel processor, and several experimental results which confirm the superior properties of the PORLA method over conventional techniques are shown. >
List sequence MAP decoding

A list sequence (LS) maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) decoding algorithm for convolutional codes, that takes into account bitwise a priori probabilities and produces a rank ordered list of /spl Lscr/ sequence MAP estimates, can be obtained by modification of the metric increments of the serial list Viterbi algorithm. In this paper, we study the performance of LS-MAP decoding with genie-assisted error detection on the additive white Gaussian noise channel. Computer simulations and approximate analytical expressions, based on geometrical considerations are presented. We focus on the frame error rate and it is concluded that LS-MAP decoding with /spl Lscr/ > 1 often exploits a priori information more efficiently than conventional single sequence MAP decoding (/spl Lscr/ = 1). This leads in many cases to larger relative gains with LS-MAP than LS-ML decoding as /spl Lscr/ increases.
Organizational Commitment and its Predictors among Nurses Working in Jimma University Specialized Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Background: The idea of organizational commitment has intuitive appeal because of the relationship of commitment to turnover, absenteeism, and organizational performance. All of these are important to healthcare executives who are attempting to stabilize a nursing workforce in the presence of a growing nursing shortage. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the level of organizational commitment of nurses and its predictors among Jimma University specialized teaching hospital nurses, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Jimma University Specialized Teaching Hospital from March 2 to March 18, 2016 and systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 242 study subjects. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire and entered to Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. One-way analysis of variance, independent sample T-tests and Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of organizational commitment and significance was checked at p<0.05. Results: The respondents mean score of organizational commitment was 70.45 ± 8.22 and only 72 (32.9%) of the nurses score high level of organizational commitment. The independent t-test and One-way analysis of variance result revealed educational status and working ward were significantly associated with organizational commitment. The multivariable linear regression showed that perceived organizational support (s=0.482, p<0.001), interpersonal relationship (s=0.303, p=0.008), job satisfaction (s=0.059, p=0.027), transformational leadership behavior (s=0.165, p<0.001), educational qualification (s=-1.860, p=0.02) and working ward (s=-0.585, p=0.018) were significant predictors of organizational commitment among nurses. Conclusion: The organizational commitment levels of nurses were low. Job satisfaction, perceived organizational support, transformational leadership behavior, interpersonal relationship, and working in ICU and OR are significant predictors of organizational commitment. Recommendation: Human Resource Management, CEO and Nursing Leaders of JUSTH shall participate nurses in managerial decision making, using improved communication skills and give appreciation for their contributions to the organization.
The Football Factor: Shaping Community on Campus

Many American universities continue to invest in expensive intercollegiate football programs, and specifically cite the sport’s ability to foster a sense of community (SOC) as justification for the cost. This study sought to assess the importance of SOC and the influence of football on the cultivation thereof. A pre-post test design utilizing an online survey compared SOC levels for students (N = 886) before and after the implementation of Division I football on a large university campus. No significant differences were found in SOC levels before and after the football season (regardless of attendance). Post-test SOC perceptions differed based on game attendance (i.e., moderate and loyal attendees reported the highest levels). Finally, SOC had a moderate to strong positive influence on four outcome variables: Satisfaction, Retention, Current Support of Athletics, and Future Support for Athletics. This study suggests that while SOC is very important to students, at least in the short term the introduction of a football program does not foster a greater SOC for all students.
LIDAR-BASED TERRAIN MAPPING AND NAVIGATION FOR A PLANETARY EXPLORATION ROVER

This paper presents a terrain mapping and path planning techniques for a planetary exploration rover. A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) is employed in this work to obtain a point cloud data of the terrain feature. A terrain map converted from the point cloud data is represented with a sector-shaped reference grid, resulting in a digital elevation map with the cylindrical coordinate, called CDEM. The path planning uses a cost function composed of terrain inclination, terrain roughness, and path length to generate a route for safer travel. A multi-path planning method with a quantitative evaluation of multiple candidate paths is also proposed to find the most feasible path between the candidates. Field experiments with a rover prototype at a Lunar/Martian analog site confirms the usefulness of the proposed techniques including the LIDAR-based terrain mapping and the multi-path planning method.
On Quantifying Predictability in Online Social Media Cascades Using Entropy

Predicting cascade volumes in social media communication is an important topic in furthering the use of social media for viral marketing, impact of political campaigns and in home-land security. Several techniques have been reported in the literature to estimate the cascade volumes. These algorithms use a variety of information such as Content, Structural and Temporal features, depending on their availability. Due to the spread of information infused into the algorithms the prediction accuracy has been shown in the literature to be different for different algorithms. Entropy based measures that are tailored for the differing situations of information availability have been successfully applied in the prediction scenarios in many fields including network traffic, human mobility and radio spectrum state dynamics as well as in atmospheric science. In this paper we adopt a multitude of entropy based measures for quantifying the predictability of cascade volumes in online social media communications. The limit derived from the entropy measures discussed in this paper has also been used to explain the difference in accuracies of some of the algorithms for cascade volume predictions reported in the literature. For the purpose of illustration and to demonstrate the utility of the entropy based predictability limits we have used two data sets, the MemeTracker dataset and Twitter Hashtags dataset. The results obtained in this paper demonstrate clearly the utility of entropy based measures for quantifying the predictability in online social media cascades. We have also shown that temporal relevancy is a dominant contributing factor in cascade predictability and how additional features such as the knowledge of a small number of large media sites and blogs can have significant influence on the prediction performance.
Molecular analysis of knock down resistance (kdr) mutation and distribution of kdr genotypes in a wild population of Culex quinquefasciatus from India

Objective To investigate the presence of knock down resistance (kdr) mutation, its frequency distribution in the principal vector of bancroftian filariasis, Culex quinquefasciatus from northeastern India, and to relate kdr genotypes with susceptibility and/or resistance to DDT and deltamethrin in this vectors.
Investigating the usability of interactive physical activity games for elderly: A pilot study

In this study, we intend to investigate the elderly's feedback towards the usability of commercial games and a physical activity game developed by our project collaborator, Puuha Group, Finland. We conducted a pilot usability testing of interactive physical activity games with two groups of elderly who are moderately active and less active in their daily lives. We used commercially available Xbox One's Climbing game and PS3's Play Move Tennis game, and SportWall game developed by Puuha Group. We investigated the usability of each game and collected the elderly's feedback towards the individual games and their user experiences in gameplay and interaction. The findings showed that moderately active elderly group could participate well in the usability testing whereas the less active elderly group could merely play the game in the first session and they could not continue the gameplay because of their limited physical and cognitive ability. With regard to the games, elderly preferred SportWall's skateboarding game to the commercial games because of its simplicity and ease of play. According to the elderly's feedback, Kinect for Xbox One is the easiest for them whereas they claimed that PS3's Play Move controller is the hardest to control the game. The findings from this pilot study can provide us useful design insights as well as the elderly's perspectives on digital games for physical rehabilitation. Moreover, these findings are helpful for further implementation and enhancement of the games in our future project.
Combining multiple classifiers based on a statistical method for handwritten Chinese character recognition

Combining multiple classifiers is a new method that achieves a substantial gain in performance in many areas of pattern recognition. This paper demonstrates a novel method (based on statistics) of combining multiple classifiers to address the task of recognizing handwritten Chinese characters. Fusion strategies are discussed to provide a basis for the architecture of the combined classifiers. The weights of these fusion strategies are assigned via a genetic algorithm (GA). These fusion strategies are then tested using our online system for handwritten Chinese character recognition. In addition, different combinatory approaches are tested for comparison purposes. These include the conventional approach that is based on the Bayesian principle and the improved weighted combination, employing shared and distinct representations. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of these combinatory approaches.
ART-R: a novel reinforcement learning algorithm using an ART module for state representation

The work introduces a neural network (NN) algorithm capable of merging the fast and stable learning behaviour offered by the adaptive resonance theory (ART) and the advantageous properties of a reinforcement learning agent. The result is ART-R a neural algorithm particularly suited to learning state-action mappings in control applications. A real time example addressing a typical problem found in autonomous robotic assembly is discussed to highlight the achievement of unsupervised and fast learning of an optimal behaviour.
Adulthood and phylogenetic analysis in gastropods: character recognition and coding in shells of Lavigeria (Cerithioidea, Thiaridae) from Lake Tanganyika

In the study of gastropod shell morphology, determination of comparable ontogenetic stages is crucial, because all the states that various shell features go through during ontogeny are preserved on the shell. The protoconch/teleoconch transition and marks of episodic growth are among the few ways of defining discrete, comparable, growth stages. In gastropods with determinate growth the attainment of adulthood may provide additional shell markers permitting comparison among individuals and taxa. Adulthood is reflected in shell morphology in ways as diverse as shell deposition covering all the previous whorls and radically changing the shape of the shell through to slight changes in the trajectory of the suture. While the very prominent adulthood-related changes of shell morphology have been used as systematic characters, the more moderate changes have not been studied in detail and their potential systematic value has been ignored. In this paper we give a detailed account of adult modifications of the shell appearing with cessation of growth. Our study group comprises eight closely related species of Lavigeria from Lake Tanganyika. We show that the ways adulthood is manifested are quite diverse. We describe eight characters of the aperture, the suture and the sculptural ornamentation. Character occurrence varies greatly among species. We show that characters appear in suites and that in many cases their appearance is connected to size. We use size as a proxy for adulthood and test whether character occurrence alone or its connection to size can help resolve species relationships. In both cases our characters confirm the monophyly of our ingroup and yield cladograms with various degrees of resolution of ingroup relationships. The coding method that yields the greater character congruence is the one that takes into consideration the connection between appearance of a character and size. This study demonstrates that ontogenetically correlated character transformations may nevertheless be phylogenetically independent. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 140, 223−240.