Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis associated with central venous catheters in patients with cancer

Summary. Background: Although long‐term indwelling central venous catheters (CVCs) may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE) and loss of the CVC, there is lack of consensus on management of CVC‐related thrombosis (CRT) in cancer patients and heterogeneity in clinical practices worldwide. Objectives: To establish common international Good Clinical Practices Guidelines (GCPG) for the management of CRT in cancer patients. Methods: An international working group of experts was set up to develop GCPG according to an evidence‐based medicine approach, using the GRADE system. Results: For the treatment of established CRT in cancer patients, we found no prospective randomized studies, two non‐randomized prospective studies and one retrospective study examining the efficacy and safety of low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) plus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). One retrospective study evaluated the benefit of CVC removal and two small retrospective studies were on thrombolytic drugs. For the treatment of symptomatic CRT, anticoagulant treatment (AC) is recommended for a minimum of 3 months; in this setting, LMWHs are suggested. VKAs can also be used, in the absence of direct comparisons of these two types of anticoagulants in this setting [Guidance]. The CVC can be kept in place if it is functional, well‐positioned and non‐infected and there is good resolution under close surveillance; whether the CVC is kept or removed, no standard approach in terms of AC duration has been established [Guidance]. For the prophylaxis of CRT in cancer patients, we found six randomized studies investigating the efficacy and safety of VKA vs. placebo or no treatment, one on the efficacy and safety of unfractionnated heparin, six on the value of LMWH, one double‐blind randomized and one non randomized study on thrombolytic drugs and six meta‐analyses of AC and CVC thromboprophylaxis. Type of catheter (open‐ended like the Hickman® catheter vs. closed‐ended catheter with a valve like the Groshong® catheter), its position (above, below or at the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium) and method of placement may influence the onset of CRT on the basis of six retrospective trials, four prospective non‐randomized trials, three randomized trials and one meta‐analysis. In light of these data: use of AC for routine prophylaxis of CRT is not recommended [1A]; a CVC should be inserted on the right side, in the jugular vein, and distal extremity of the CVC should be located at the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium [1A]. Conclusion: Dissemination and implementation of these international GCPG for the prevention and treatment of CRT in cancer patients at each national level is a major public health priority, needing worldwide collaboration.
Consequentiality and Demand Revelation in Double Referenda

Surveys used to elicit values for environmental public goods often employ variants of the referendum mechanism due to the cognitive simplicity and familiarity of respondents with the mechanism. One variant, the double referendum mechanism, requires respondents to state twice how they would vote for a given policy proposal given their cost of the good. In this mechanism, the cost in the second referendum question is related to the subject’s response to the first referendum question. Data from these surveys often exhibit anomalies inconsistent with standard economic models of consumer preferences. There are a number of published explanations for these anomalies, mostly focusing on problems with the second vote. This paper reports the results of an experiment investigating two versions of a consequential double referendum mechanism. The aim is to determine whether introducing consequentiality induces demand revelation or fails to remove the sorts of anomalies observed in field survey data. The experiment also contains a qualitative follow-up questionnaire, enabling a comparison of the heuristics employed by subjects. The results have implications for the design and analysis of future field studies to estimate the economic benefits from environmental programs.
B lymphocytes in vivo fail to prime naive T cells but can stimulate antigen-experienced T lymphocytes

The ability of B cells or macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) to elicit class II-restricted T cell responses in vivo was compared using a mouse chimera model. Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice (H- 2d), reconstituted either with T or T+B lymphocytes from (H-2d x H-2b) donors, were immunized subcutaneously with protein antigen (Ag) to induce a class II-restricted T cell response. The frequency and major histocompatibility complex restriction of the resulting Ag-specific T cells were analyzed to establish whether B cells were necessary for the induction of class II-restricted T cell responses, and to determine the cell type on which priming had occurred. The results indicated that: (a) B cells are not necessary for the induction of a class II- restricted T cell response in vivo, as the frequencies of interleukin 2 (IL-2)- or IL-3-secreting T cells induced in the presence or absence of B cells were comparable. (b) Activation of naive T cells requires presentation of Ag on DC; Ag presented only on B cells is not sufficient to elicit a response. No H-2b-restricted, IL-3-secreting cells could in fact be detected in SCID mice reconstituted with naive (H-2d x H-2b) T cells and nonimmune or antigen-primed (H-2d x H-2b) B cells. (c) Previously primed T cells are able to be stimulated by Ag presented by both B cells and DC. H-2b-restricted, IL-3-secreting cells could in fact be readily demonstrated in SCID mice reconstituted with antigen-primed (H-2d x H-2b) T and B cells. Irrespective of whether the T cells were naive or previously activated, B cells were able to respond with an Ag-specific immunoglobulin G response, indicating that B cells were functional and able to present Ag in order to receive specific T cell help. Therefore, it appears that B cells are not necessary and do not participate in the initial priming of T cells; however, Ag presented by B cells can reactivate previously primed T cells. Taken together, these data indicate that during the course of an immune response Ag is first presented to naive T cells via DC, and only subsequently primed T cells can be stimulated by Ag presented by B cells.
Field Representations in General Gyrotropic Media in Spherical Coordinates

This letter presents a field expansion of the solution to three-dimensional electromagnetic problems in a material characterized by the general gyrotropic media. Both$overlinemmbepsilon$and$overlinemmbmu$tensors are gyrotropic, specified by six components and considered in the present analysis under spherial coordinates. Electromagnetic fields in general gyrotropic media are solved by using the method of separation of variables. Much effort is paid to the solution of a coupled set of second-order differential equations. Some specific situations of the parameters are investigated in detail. By properly grouping some terms, the electromagnetic fields are represented in a compact form. Compared to the existing results in the spherical coordinate system, the material properties investigated in this letter are more general. The general expressions of the fields are found to be reducible to those existing results for simplier cases.
Gender-linked impact of epicardial adipose tissue volume in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery or non-coronary valve surgery

Background Traditional and non-traditional risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are different between men and women. Gender-linked impact of epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains unknown. Methods Gender-linked impact of EATV, abdominal fat distribution and other traditional ASCVD risk factors were compared in 172 patients (men: 115; women: 57) who underwent CABG or non-coronary valvular surgery (non-CABG). Results In men, EATV, EATV index (EATV/body surface area) and the markers of adiposity such as body mass index, waist circumference and visceral fat area were higher in the CABG group than in the non-CABG group. Traditional ASCVD risk factors were also prevalent in the CABG group. In women, EATV and EATV index were higher in the CABG group, but other adiposity markers were comparable between CABG and non-CABG groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that in men, CABG was determined by EATV Index and other ASCVD risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidemia, adiponectin, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Corrected R2 = 0.262, p < 0.0001), while in women, type 2 diabetes mellitus is a single strong predictor for CABG, excluding EATV Index (Corrected R2 = 0.266, p = 0.005). Conclusions Our study found that multiple risk factors, including epicardial adipose tissue volume and traditional ASCVD factors are determinants for CABG in men, but type 2 diabetes mellitus was the sole determinant in women. Gender-specific disparities in risk factors of CABG prompt us to evaluate new diagnostic and treatment strategies and to seek underlying mechanisms.
The AIDS epidemic.

This article reviews the magnitude of human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) exposure, the outcome of such exposure, the economic burden of HTLV-III-related disease, and the social, ethical and public implications of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. The ELISA serum antibody test for HTLV-III is useful for diagnostic purposes, but does not indicate whether the person currently harbors the virus. Additional studies are needed to demonstrate that there are not antibodies to other viruses that cross-react in the test. Seropositivity from lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) rose from under 10% in 1978 to 49% in 1984 among homosexual men attending a Colorado clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. In San Francisco, the prevalence of HTLV-III antibodies among homosexual men attending another such clinic reached 65% in 1984. Parenteral drug users have demonstrated similar increases in seropositity rates. The total number of persons in the US who are positive for HTLV_III antibodies is estimated to be at least 400,000 persons. Initial study results suggest that 4-19% of these seropositive individuals develop full-blown AIDS in 1-5 years. 40,000 new cases of AIDS are expected in the next 2 years. The AIDS epidemic has severely stressed the US health care system in terrms of its financial costs, use of resources, and effect on medical personnel. It is not unreasonable to estimate that AIDS will cost US society over half a billion dollars during the next calendar year. The grat social and economic burden associated with AIDS, and the effects of a positive ELISA test upon those tested, create a multitude of concerns. There is a need for a national coordinated health program on AIDS, as well as for special measures such as a national catastrophic fund for HTLV-III-related disease. Finally, the threasts to confidentiality posed by licensure of the HTLV-III antibody test must be recongnized.
A Strategy for Measuring the Performance of Legislatures in Processing Decisions

Using organization theory, this study develops and tests a strategy for measuring legislative performance in processing decisions. Data collected from Iowa and Wisconsin for a twelve-year period show that variables representing different organizational attributes-personnel, technology and product use, structure, and task division-explain modest proportions of this type of legislative performance. Although this is an exploratory study because of its limited scope and small number of cases, the findings suggest that further work using this strategy may prove useful.
Trading with Conditions: The Effect of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on the Agricultural Exports from Low‐Income Countries

Market access for agricultural products is increasingly determined by capability to comply with a wide array of regulatory measures. From a trade perspective, one of the most important aspects of such regulatory measures is their potential distortionary effect, as their cost of compliance is often asymmetrical across countries. This paper investigates the effect of the European Union's sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures on the exports from low income countries. This study finds that SPS measures result in relatively higher burden for low income countries but that membership in deep trade agreements seems to reduce the difficulties related to compliance with SPS measures. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that while many middle and high income countries have the internal capacity to comply with SPS measures, most low income countries do not.
DNAJC6 Mutations Associated With Early‐Onset Parkinson's Disease

DNAJC6 mutations were recently described in two families with autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (onset age < 11), prominent atypical signs, poor or absent response to levodopa, and rapid progression (wheelchair‐bound within ∼10 years from onset). Here, for the first time, we report DNAJC6 mutations in early‐onset Parkinson's disease (PD).
Possible involvement of protein kinase C activation in down‐regulation of CD3 antigen on adult T cell leukaemia cells

Summary The role of protein kinase C (PKC) system on CD3 expression on adult T‐cell leukaemia (ATL) was examined. The down‐regulation of CD3 on ATL cells is reportedly induced by CD3 down‐regulating factor (CD3DF) contained in serum and culture supernatants of leukaemia cells from acute type ATL patients. After we cultured normal PBMC with a PKC inhibitor, H‐7, CD3DF activity for PBMC was reduced significantly. Culture with H‐7 of HTLV‐1 transformed T cells, ATL‐2 cells whose CD3 expression had been decreased, led to enhancement of CD3 expression in a time‐dependent manner. These findings suggest that CD3DF may play an important role as a PKC system activator, resulting in CD3 down‐regulation.
Destination competitiveness: what we know, what we know but shouldn't and what we don't know but should

Two decades after the seminal work of Crouch and Ritchie [(1999). Tourism, competitiveness, and societal prosperity. Journal of Business Research, 44(3), 137–152], which triggered an avalanche of research on the topic, there is an extensive and still-growing body of literature on destination competiveness. Research on competitiveness, in the context of tourism destinations and even in its parent field of economics, has been characterized by controversy and strong criticism. Given the complexity of the phenomenon, the multiplicity of perspectives taken on it and the current stage of knowledge, there is a clear need for a reflective audit that enables a careful consideration on the knowledge acquired with past research as well as a well-thought-out identification of the needs for future research. Only such meticulous process will ensure the progress of this field of enquiry. The wide-spread acknowledgement of the importance of competitiveness for a destination's long-term success in addition to the constant comments that it is still a topic not well understood, suggests that research on it still has a long future ahead. This article embraces this challenging task by documenting, examining and critically assessing the existing literature on three dimensions: definitions, theoretical models and measurement. In addition, existing gaps are identified and research propositions are presented to guide future research.
Pseudo-Relaxation Learning Algorithm for Complex-Valued Associative Memory

HAM (Hopfield Associative Memory) and BAM (Bidirectinal Associative Memory) are representative associative memories by neural networks. The storage capacity by the Hebb rule, which is often used, is extremely low. In order to improve it, some learning methods, for example, pseudo-inverse matrix learning and gradient descent learning, have been introduced. Oh introduced pseudo-relaxation learning algorithm to HAM and BAM. In order to accelerate it, Hattori proposed quick learning. Noest proposed CAM (Complex-valued Associative Memory), which is complex-valued HAM. The storage capacity of CAM by the Hebb rule is also extremely low. Pseudo-inverse matrix learning and gradient descent learning have already been generalized to CAM. In this paper, we apply pseudo-relaxation learning algorithm to CAM in order to improve the capacity.
An in vitro perspective to cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activity of five Gentiana species and Gentianella caucasea

The dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol extracts from the leaves, roots, and flowers of the five species of Gentiana (Gentiana asclepiadea, Gentiana cruciata, Gentiana olivieri, Gentiana septemfida, and Gentiana verna) and Gentianella caucasea were investigated for their inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and antioxidant effect using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, metal-chelation capacity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically. The presence of some characteristic compounds found in Gentiana species (gentiopicroside, swertiamarin, isoorientin, isovitexin and vitexin) was analyzed in the extracts by thin layer chromatography. The flower DCM extract of G. verna exerted the highest inhibition against AChE (53.65 ± 1.03%), whereas the root EtOAc extract of G. cruciata was the most effective in BChE inhibition assay (50.72 ± 0.75%) at 100 μg ml− 1. The extracts of G. verna were also found to be more active in the antioxidant tests.
Identification of Protein Interactions by Far Western Analysis

Far western blotting is a method of identifying protein‐protein interactions. One protein of interest is immobilized on a solid support membrane, then probed with a non‐antibody protein. Far western blots can be used to identify specific interacting proteins in a complex mixture of proteins. They are particularly useful for examining interactions between proteins that are difficult to analyze by other methods due to solubility problems or because they are difficult to express in cells. This method is performed totally in vitro, and the proteins of interest can be prepared in a variety of ways.
White-coat, masked and sustained hypertension detected by home blood pressure monitoring in adolescents: prevalence and associated factors

Abstract Purpose: Population-based studies estimating prevalence’s of white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension in non-European adolescents are needed, particularly in developing countries. Aiming to determine these estimates and, additionally identify factors associated to these conditions this study was conducted. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study with a representative sample of secondary school students from a Brazilian state capital. Office measurements were performed with validated semi-automatic devices. Home BP (blood pressure) monitoring protocol included two day-time and two evening-time measurements over 6 days. Adolescents’ were classified as: normotensives (office and home BP <95th percentile); sustained hypertensives (office and home BP ≥95th percentile); white-coat hypertensives (office BP ≥95th percentile and home BP <95th percentile) and masked hypertensives (office BP <95th percentile and home BP ≥95th percentile). Logistic regression models were built to identify if sex, age, BMI and family history of HTN were independently associated with white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension. Results: In a sample of 1024 adolescents, prevalence of white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension was 7.5%, 2.2% and 1.7%, respectively. Male sex was positively associated with white-coat hypertension (OR 2.68; 95%CI 1.58–4.54; p < 0.001). BMI was positively associated with both white-coat (OR 1.23; 95%CI 1.16–1.30; p < 0.001) and sustained hypertension (OR 1.19; 95%CI 1.11–1.29; p < 0.001). None of the independent variables were associated with masked hypertension in this population. Conclusion: The estimated prevalence of white-coat hypertension, masked and sustained hypertension in a population of non-European adolescents assessed by home BP monitoring was 7.5%, 2.2% and 1.7% respectively. Male sex was positively associated with white-coat hypertension in these adolescents while BMI was positively associated with both white-coat and sustained hypertension.
Chirp reversal power modulation contrast imaging

Chirp excitations are known to increase significantly the signal to noise ratio (SNR). Besides, we have shown in a previous study that chirp reversal (CR) approach improves the contrast detection through an increased contrast to tissue ratio (CTR). The aim of this study is to evaluate the combination of chirp reversal with power modulation (CRPM) for contrast agent imaging. Experiments were performed using a 128 elements PZT linear array probe centered at 4 MHz. The probe was connected to a fully programmable open scanner equipped with analog transmitters. Chirped signals and pulses were transmitted at 2.5 MHz with 55% bandwidth. A flow phantom was used in which SonoVue® microbubbles at a dilution of 1/2000 was introduced. RF data were recorded and then filtered using a matched filter in order to compress the scattered signals and to recover the axial resolution when chirps were used. Traditional multi-excitations schemes such as pulse inversion (PI), power modulation (PM) and their combination PIPM were implemented using pulses and chirps with or without chirp reversal approach. The use of chirp increases significantly the SNR without degrading the CTR. Compared to other methods, the combination of CR and PM increases both the CTR and the SNR. For example, the CTR using CRPM is 25.3 dB while PM alone and CR alone provided a CTR of 18.7 dB and 21.8 dB respectively.
PEoPL: Projectional Editing of Product Lines

The features of a software product line—a portfolio of system variants—can be realized using various implementation techniques (a. k. a., variability mechanisms). Each technique represents the software artifacts of features differently, typically classified into annotative (e.g., C preprocessor) and modular representations (e.g., feature modules), each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. Annotative representations are easy to realize, but annotations clutter source code and hinder program comprehension. Modular representations support comprehension, but are difficult to realize. Most importantly, to engineer feature artifacts, developers need to choose one representation and adhere to it for evolving and maintaining the same artifacts. We present PEoPL, an approach to combine the advantages of annotative and modular representations. When engineering a feature artifact, developers can choose the most-suited representation and even use different representations in parallel. PEoPL relies on separating a product line into an internal and external representation, the latter by providing editable projections used by the developers. We contribute a programming-language-independent internal representation of variability, five editable projections reflecting different variability representations, a supporting IDE, and a tailoring of PEoPL to Java. We evaluate PEoPL's expressiveness, scalability, and flexibility in eight Java-based product lines, finding that all can be realized, that projections are feasible, and that variant computation is fast (