Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of semiextended field intensity-modulated radiation therapy and concurrent cisplatin in locally advanced cervical cancer patients

Abstract Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) are at risk of para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis. Pelvic concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the current standard treatment for LACC, has a PALN failure rate of 9% according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 90–01, suggesting that it may not completely eliminate all microscopic tumors in the PALNs. To minimize the toxicities associated with conventional prophylactic extended-field radiotherapy, our institute use prophylactic semiextended field radiotherapy that includes only the PALNs below the level of the renal vessels. Use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is another means of reducing the incidence of toxicity. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of prophylactic semiextended field IMRT (SEF-IMRT) and concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with LACC. We retrospectively assessed survival and toxicity in 76 patients with stage IB2–IVA cervical cancer and negative PALNs who received prophylactic SEF-IMRT and concurrent weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) between 2004 and 2013. The region targeted by SEF-IMRT included the PALNs below the level of the renal vessels, and the prescribed dose was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions. Brachytherapy was administered at a dose of 30 Gy in 6 fractions. Survival outcomes were calculated by using the Kaplan–Meier method, and acute and late toxicities were scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0. All patients completed the planned SEF-IMRT, as well as brachytherapy. Acute grade ≥3 gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and hematologic toxicities were observed in 2, 0, and 41 patients, respectively. The median follow-up time after SEF-IMRT was 55 (range, 11–124) months. Eight patients developed out-field distant recurrences without PALN failure, and 1 patient experienced out-field PALN failure with simultaneous distant metastasis. No patients had late genitourinary toxicities, and 3 patients had late grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicities. The 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, local failure-free survival, regional failure-free survival, PALN failure-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 85.0%, 84.4%, 96.0%, 97.3%, 98.6%, and 88.4%, respectively. For patients with LACC, prophylactic PALN irradiation up to the level of the renal vessels reduced PALN recurrence and resulted in favorable outcomes with few severe toxicities.
Methods for identification of images acquired with digital cameras

From the court we were asked whether it is possible to determine if an image has been made with a specific digital camera. This question has to be answered in child pornography cases, where evidence is needed that a certain picture has been made with a specific camera. We have looked into different methods of examining the cameras to determine if a specific image has been made with a camera: defects in CCDs, file formats that are used, noise introduced by the pixel arrays and watermarking in images used by the camera manufacturer.
Noise or Reality: An Empirical Study of Target Pre-bid Returns

Providing new evidence derived from a large sample simulation using US exchange-listed firms from 1990 to 2012, this paper contributes to the discussion about 1) the magnitude of target pre-bid abnormal returns (conventionally called the “run-ups”) and 2) the substitution and mark-up pricing relation between pre-bid run-ups and post-bid mark-ups of M&A targets. As random simulation represents the normal scenario (i.e. probability of M&A announcement is unpredictable), we should consider empirically derived critical values of simulation run-ups as the new benchmarks when testing the significance of the target’s pre-bid abnormal return. The fact that only 13% of M&A run-ups could be recognized as abnormal when compared to new benchmarks raises doubts about the traditional approach. In the examination of the relationship between run-ups and mark-ups, a 0.4674 coefficient in the regression of mark-up on run-up using pure random sample makes significant contribution to the debate upon substitution and mark-up pricing hypotheses. If we take 0.4674 as a baseline, the coefficient of the regression is supposed to be smaller if substitution hypothesis outweighs mark-up pricing hypothesis, otherwise this coefficient will be larger than 0.4674. Although the conclusion is still open, findings in this paper and in Schwert (1996) actually tend to support the substitution hypothesis instead of mark-up pricing hypothesis, suggesting pre-bid run-ups do not necessarily cause a higher bidding price for the bidders.
Analysis of a regular multihop system cost model

The coverage and quality of service (QoS) has been a requirement for cell phone networks where minimizing cost is also an important issue. On going researches are trying to find cheaper wireless networks while maintaining the networks performance. In a previous research it has been shown that under some circumstances, infrastructure cost can be reduced by introducing wireless relays while maintaining the same service level [1]. Relays (or routers) have been considered as intermediate equipment between the base station and terminals. This paper verifies the approximations used for the analytical solution in [1] by means of computer simulations. A new relay deployment is also introduced. The results show that deployment has impact on the cost-gain of using relay and system behavior is different than the theoretical prediction.
The experimental setup of a large field operational test for cooperative driving vehicles at the A270

In this paper, a large field operational test (FOT) for cooperative driving systems, which take place on a public highway, is discussed. The experimental setup consist of a specific driver support system, which is closely related to cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) systems. Instead of autonomous vehicles, drivers are precisely advised how to accelerate or decelerate their vehicle. The location, A270 between Helmond and Eindhoven, is equipped with over 20 video cameras in order to monitor the performance of the equipped vehicles versus the non-equipped vehicles. The first results of this large-scale FOT are presented and discussed.
Network coding based multiple-access channel with a dedicated-relay versus cooperative communications

The idea of relaying and cooperative communications has been proved to be one of the most efficient ways to counter the detrimental effects of the wireless channel used for communications. In this paper, we analytically evaluate network coding based multiple-access channel using a dedicated relay. As a performance measure, we use outage probability and another metric extensively used in multiple antenna systems called diversity-multiplexing trade-off. Later we compare its performance with cooperative communications utilizing network coding. With analytic results we show that cooperative transmission exhibits better gain than multiple-access channel using a dedicated relay in terms of diversity gain. We also derive and compare both of the schemes in terms of diversity-multiplexing trade-off and the results re-validates our argument that cooperative communications leads multiple-access channel utilizing a dedicated relay in terms of diversity gain. In addition, extra hardware needed for dedicated relay is also saved by using the idea of cooperative communications, where the transmitting users themselves are made to act as relays to help each other.
A newly generated functional antibody identifies Tn antigen as a novel determinant in the cancer cell–lymphatic endothelium interaction

Malignant transformation of epithelial cells is frequently associated with the alteration of glycosylation pathways. Tn is a common tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen present in 90% of human carcinomas and its expression correlates with metastatic potential and poor prognosis. Despite its relevance, the functional role of Tn in tumor biology has not been firmly established probably for the lack of appropriate experimental tools. Our aims were to produce highly reactive monoclonal antibodies against Tn making use of synthetically produced Tn and to test their usefulness for in vivo imaging as well as to define their potential functional activity in tumor cell spread. We immunized mice with Tn clustered on cationized BSA and screened the positive hybridomas with Tn-biotinylated alginate. Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay and immunofluorescence assays revealed that the most reactive anti-Tn IgM mAb (2154F12A4) selectively recognized Tn on the MCF7 breast cancer cell line since its binding to the cell membrane was completely abolished by preincubation with purified Tn. Importantly, QDot 800-conjugated mAb injected in MCF7-tumor bearing mice specifically bound to primary tumor lesions as well as to metastases in lymph nodes. In addition, this mAb was able to inhibit cancer cell adhesion to lymphatic endothelium suggesting a novel involvement of Tn in the lymphatic dissemination of cancer cells and hypothesizing future applications in inhibiting lymphatic metastases.
End-to-end Fairness for TCP Traffic in 802 . 11 e Wireless Mesh Networks Without Coordination

We consider end-to-end per-station and per-flow fair bandwidth allocations for TCP traffic in 802.11 based multiradio multi-hop networks. We first show that TCP ACK packets have to be prioritised using IEEE 802.11e since otherwise co ngestion losses of ACK packets cause unpredictable performance . We then prove that prioritising ACK packets alone and ignoring TCP data packets results in per-station max-min fairness. In terms of flow level fairness however, we highlight that gross unfairness can exist between competing traffic flows due to this per-stat ion max-min fairness. We propose the use of 802.11e’s Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) mechanism to enforce/restore fairness. In particul ar, we prove that as long as a proper utility function is designed , arbitrary per-station fairness objectives can be achievedat the MAC layer. At the flow level, we present a specific scheme that ensures max-min fairness. This proposed scheme is simp le, implementable using off-the-shelf devices and fully decen tralized (require no message passing). Claims are proved theoretica lly and verified against both simulations and testbed.
Exploring political activities in the Saudi Twitterverse

With the rapid growth of social networks, Twitter provides a dynamic and powerful social tool for discussing political issues. In fact, in Saudi Arabia, discussing political issues over Twitter has become a popular phenomenon among young Saudi citizens. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a pilot study to understand the underlying social structure of youth Saudi citizens' interaction and discussion of political issues over Twitter using the theory of Social Network Analysis (SNA). The result of SNA reveals relevant differences in the patterns of interconnection among different political topics. It also provides an insight into sociological characteristics of modern political issues in Saudi Arabia.
An Estimated Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Model for Armenian Economy

The paper develops and estimates a microfounded small open economy new Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model for Armenian economy. To capture empirical persistence in Armenian macroeconomic data the model features number of frictions. Estimation of structural parameters of the DSGE model is performed on Armenian quarterly data from 2000 to 2012, using Bayesian full-system estimation techniques. The estimation shows that the model is able to replicate Armenian quarterly data. Moreover, the paper finds that the estimated model provides competing out-of-sample forecast compared with VAR and random walk models.
Financial Astrology: Mapping the Presidential Election Cycle in US Stock Markets

This paper shows that in the almost four decades from January 1965 through to December 2003, US stock prices closely followed the four-year Presidential Election Cycle: in general, stock prices fell during the first half of a Presidency, reached a trough in the second year, rose during the second half of a Presidency, and reached a peak in the third or fourth year. This cyclical trend is found to hold for the greater part of the last ten administrations, starting from President Lyndon Johnson to the present administration under President George W. Bush, particularly when the incumbent is a Republican. The empirical results suggest that the Republican Party may have greater cause to engage in active policy manipulation to win re-election than their Democratic counterparts. There is irony in that bullish runs in the stock market have tended to coincide with sub-periods under Democratic administrations. The existence of the Presidential Election Cycle shown in the paper may constitute an anomaly in the US stock market, which could be useful for investors.
Selective predation by the carnivorous marine copepod Euchaeta elongata: Laboratory measurements of predation rates verified by field observations of temporal and spatial feeding patterns1,2

The size of copepod prey strongly influenced dietary selectivity by Euchaeta elongata. Adult females (4.2-mm prosome length) showed highest predation rates on adult copepod prey 6501,000 pm long and on intermediate sized copepodid stages of Calanus pacz$cu+s. Selective feeding curves of copepodid stages IV and V of E. elongata showed a slight shift toward smaller prey. The prosome length of the primary prey was 70% the length of the second basipodal segment of the maxilliped for CIV, CV, and adult females of E. elongata. In both single and multispecies experiments at two concentrations, predation rates of adult female E. elongata seemed to be invariably focused on prey 650-1,000 pm long. Because E. elongata can consume adults of small copepod prey and the young copepodid stages of large copepod prey, it causes mortality of the entire copepod assemblage. Apparent recognition of a preferred prey, Pseudocalanus spp. , and the nonpreferred cyclopoids seems to depend partly on their activity patterns. Thus, although size is an important determinant of dietary selectivity, species-specific behavioral differences can also influence feeding rates. Variations in predatory feeding activity on copepod prey were closely related to diel vertical migrations of E. elongata. The number of adult females with ingested prey began to increase soon after sunset, when the predatory copepod entered the surface layers containing prey of the preferred size, thus corroborating the selective feeding pattern observed in the laboratory. The timing of the migrations coincided well with sunset (ascent) and sunrise (descent) in winter, spring, and summer.
Island Cotton Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1 Gene Encoding a Lipase-Like Protein Plays a Crucial Role in Response to Verticillium dahliae by Regulating the SA Level and H2O2 Accumulation

Cotton is one of the most economically important crops, but most cultivated varieties lack adequate innate immunity or resistance to Verticillium wilt. This results in serious losses to both yield and fiber quality. To identify the genetic resources for innate immunity and understand the pathways for pathogen defenses in this crop, here we focus on orthologs of the central Arabidopsis thaliana defense regulator Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1 (EDS1). The full-length cDNA of GbEDS1 was obtained by screening the full-length cDNA library of Gossypium barbadense combining with RACE strategy. Its open reading frame is 1848 bp long, encoding 615 amino acid residues. Sequence analysis showed that GbEDS1 contains a conserved N-terminal lipase domain and an EDS1-specific KNEDT motif. Expression profiling indicated that the gene is induced by Verticillium dahliae as well as salicylic acid (SA) treatment. Subcellular localization assays revealed that GbEDS1 is located in the cell cytoplasm and nucleus. Overexpression of GbEDS1 in Arabidopsis dramatically up-regulated SA and H2O2 production, resulting in enhanced disease resistance to V. dahliae. Silencing of GbEDS1 in G. barbadense significantly decreased SA and H2O2 accumulation, leading to the cotton more susceptibility. Moreover, combining the gene expression results from transgenic Arabidopsis and silenced-GbEDS1 cotton, it indicated that GbEDS1 could activate GbNDR1 and GbBAK1 expression. These findings not only broaden our knowledge about the biological role of GbEDS1, but also provide new insights into the defense mechanisms of GbEDS1 against V. dahliae in cotton.
A Sub-mW 2 . 4 GHz QPSK Receiver Based on Super-Regenerative Front-End and Digital Phase Detection

In this paper, a complete super-regenerative QPSK receiver is designed to operate at 2.4 GHz while being able to properly receive, process and demodulate incoming signal into raw digital data. The receiver front-end is comprised of an LNA and a super-regenerative oscillator (SRO), both merged for current reuse and lower power consumption. The front-end is followed by a simple signal conditioning circuit that uses SRO oscillations to generate four phase digital clocks to clock a novel, yet simple digital phase detection engine that is capable of demodulating phase modulation preserved in SRO oscillations into original sent data. The whole receiver was designed using a 0.13 um technology, where simulation results show a power consumption of only 0.87 mW, while being able to properly detect and demodulate a -90 dBm, 4 Mbps QPSK modulated signal equivalent to 0.22 nj/b. Index Term-Super-regenerative; oscillator; QPSK.
A Qualitative Image Descriptor QIDL+ Applied to Ambient Intelligent Systems

A model for obtaining logic descriptions of real digital images in office scenarios is presented in this paper. The QIDL+ descriptor uses qualitative features of shape, colour, topology, location and it also includes the size feature, which shows is effectivity in scenes where the point of view of the observer and the camera is the same. QIDL+ is aimed at describing the location of target objects with respect to known or unknown objects in a scene. Known objects in the scene are identified by object detectors, while other object categories are inferred using its qualitative features. Moreover, the logic description provided is shown to be useful for reasoning about spatial locations, and the qualitative features obtained can be included in a narrative description for enhancing human-machine interaction. Tests have been carried out on office top desks scenarios to illustrate the performance of the approach and promising results are obtained.
Component Composition and Interaction

Component interaction is fundamental to software architecture. By understanding the nature of components, it is possible to learn how to build better architectures. This paper examines the nature of component interaction, attempting to characterize some of its properties. Language mechanisms and techniques are presented as facilities for supporting various types of interactions, including enclosing/local components, notices, coroutine-methods and method invocation control
Low complexity real time BCI for stroke rehabilitation

Stroke rehabilitation with EEG-based brain computer interface enables interaction within injury neurons and restoration of original functions in motor area of brain. However, many approaches usually require high complexity for reliable detection and result in achieving real time computation difficultly. This study proposes a real time low complexity BCI interface for stroke rehabilitation, which is based on Filter-Bank Common Spatial Pattern (FBCSP) method. For reducing complexity purpose, EEG channels (electrodes) are reduced from 19 channels to 4 channels which are Fz, C3, Cz, and C4. Furthermore, the filter bank is reduced from five bands to three bands which are 4-7Hz, 8-12Hz, and 13-30Hz. We also develop a real time scheme by using one-second timing window for EEG analysis and adaptive algorithm to fit time-varying EEG. This approach not only reduces 87% computational complexity but also shows over 80% accuracy for offline analysis and 68% accuracy for online implementation within one-second response time.
Possibilities for extremophilic microorganisms in microbial electrochemical systems

Microbial electrochemical systems exploit the metabolism of microorganisms to generate electrical energy or a useful product. In the past couple of decades, the application of microbial electrochemical systems has increased from the use of wastewaters to produce electricity to a versatile technology that can use numerous sources for the extraction of electrons on the one hand, while on the other hand these electrons can be used to serve an ever increasing number of functions. Extremophilic microorganisms grow in environments that are hostile to most forms of life and their utilization in microbial electrochemical systems has opened new possibilities to oxidize substrates in the anode and produce novel products in the cathode. For example, extremophiles can be used to oxidize sulfur compounds in acidic pH to remediate wastewaters, generate electrical energy from marine sediment microbial fuel cells at low temperatures, desalinate wastewaters and act as biosensors of low amounts of organic carbon. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances that have been made in using microbial catalysts under extreme conditions and show possible new routes that extremophilic microorganisms open for microbial electrochemical systems.
Synergy between growth factors and transmitters required for catecholamine differentiation in brain neurons

The phenotypically plastic neurons of the embryonic mouse striatum were used to explore mechanisms of catecholamine differentiation in culture. De novo transcription and translation of the CA biosynthetic enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), was induced in striatal neurons exposed, simultaneously or sequentially, to the growth factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and a catecholamine. Although dopamine was the most potent aFGF partner (ED50 = 4 microM), a number of substances, including dopamine (D1) receptor agonists, beta-adrenoceptor agonists, and dopamine uptake inhibitors also trigger TH induction when accompanied by aFGF. However, since none of the receptor antagonists nor transport blockers tested could inhibit dopamine's action, the mechanism remains obscure. Structure-activity analysis suggests that effective aFGF partners all contain an amine group separated from a catechol nucleus by two carbons. Thus, TH expression can be novelly induced by the synergistic interaction of aFGF, and to a lesser extent basic FGF, and a variety of CA-containing partner molecules. We speculate that a similar association between growth factor and transmitter may be required in development for the differentiation of a CA phenotype in brain neurons.
Migrating Data-Oriented Applications to a Relational Database Management System

The need to update and reengineer legacy information systems to improve business processes and upgrade technology is becoming increasingly desirable for many organizations in the current economic climate. This involves migrating systems from centralized to distributed client-server architectures. These information systems are often written in COBOL, their data is stored on files and they use text-based user interfaces. In this paper, a method to migrate such an information system is presented. The target environment in our case is a relational database management system. In our method, the migration is carried out in an incremental way and by small steps. The migration process is driven by the data files. These files are previously arranged and then migrated in a defined order. An algorithm that defines the order of migration of the data files is described and an example is presented to clearly illustrate our met hod.