Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level at diagnosis predicts transformation in patients with follicular lymphoma

Abstract We evaluated 121 patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) and analyzed the association between the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level at diagnosis and the cumulative incidence of transformation. By a receiver-operating characteristic analysis, we determined a cutoff value of sIL-2R for transformation at 4360 U/mL to classify patients into two groups. Patients in the high sIL-2R group showed a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) (p < 0.001 and p = 0.018). Furthermore, the cumulative incidence of transformation in the high sIL-2R group was higher than that in the low sIL-2R group (40.9% vs. 7.3% at 5 years, p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, high sIL-2R was an independent predictive risk factor for transformation (HR 7.42, 95% CI: 2.75–20.0, p < 0.001). This study showed that the sIL-2R level at diagnosis may be a prognostic factor for transformation, PFS, and DSS in patients with FL.
Analysis of Content Shared in Online Cancer Communities: Systematic Review

Background The content that cancer patients and their relatives (ie, posters) share in online cancer communities has been researched in various ways. In the past decade, researchers have used automated analysis methods in addition to manual coding methods. Patients, providers, researchers, and health care professionals can learn from experienced patients, provided that their experience is findable. Objective The aim of this study was to systematically review all relevant literature that analyzes user-generated content shared within online cancer communities. We reviewed the quality of available research and the kind of content that posters share with each other on the internet. Methods A computerized literature search was performed via PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO (5 and 4 stars), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ScienceDirect. The last search was conducted in July 2017. Papers were selected if they included the following terms: (cancer patient) and (support group or health communities) and (online or internet). We selected 27 papers and then subjected them to a 14-item quality checklist independently scored by 2 investigators. Results The methodological quality of the selected studies varied: 16 were of high quality and 11 were of adequate quality. Of those 27 studies, 15 were manually coded, 7 automated, and 5 used a combination of methods. The best results can be seen in the papers that combined both analytical methods. The number of analyzed posts ranged from 200 to 1,500,000; the number of analyzed posters ranged from 75 to 90,000. The studies analyzing large numbers of posts mainly related to breast cancer, whereas those analyzing small numbers were related to other types of cancers. A total of 12 studies involved some or entirely automatic analysis of the user-generated content. All the authors referred to two main content categories: informational support and emotional support. In all, 15 studies reported only on the content, 6 studies explicitly reported on content and social aspects, and 6 studies focused on emotional changes. Conclusions In the future, increasing amounts of user-generated content will become available on the internet. The results of content analysis, especially of the larger studies, give detailed insights into patients’ concerns and worries, which can then be used to improve cancer care. To make the results of such analyses as usable as possible, automatic content analysis methods will need to be improved through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Carbohydrates and obesity: from evidence to policy in the UK

Carbohydrates provide the major source of energy in the diet and hence the type and amount of carbohydrate consumed is an important consideration for weight control. Recent risk assessments have shown that there is no consistent association between the proportions of energy consumed as carbohydrate and body weight and reinforce the dominance of total energy intake as the primary determinant of body weight. However, they have highlighted evidence that different types of carbohydrate have specific effects on the risk of obesity. Short-term experimental studies suggest that some types of dietary fibre may be linked to increased satiation and cohort studies are supportive of an association between low intakes of fibre-rich, whole-grain foods and weight gain. But these observations are not supported by evidence of effects on body weight in randomised controlled trials, suggesting that high-fibre or whole-grain intake may simply be a marker of a broader dietary pattern. Recent attention has focused on the growing evidence of a positive association between the intake of free sugars and weight gain and particularly the risks linked to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Given the high population-level intake of free sugars the challenge is to identify actions that will successfully reduce consumption to contribute to reductions in the prevalence of obesity. The present paper considers the range of policy options available, using the Nuffield ladder of intervention to provide a framework for risk management, with a focus on the consumption of SSB. Current policy interventions are largely based around consumer education and encouragement to industry to renovate products to reduce the sugar content of food and drinks and/or reduce portion size, but dietary change has been slow. Further measures, including the use of specific incentives/disincentives may be needed to change consumption patterns, some of which may infringe personal or commercial freedom. For these policies to be implemented will require sustained efforts to create a climate in which such interventions are acceptable or even welcomed by society as an appropriate protection against obesity and other diet-related ill-health.
Feasibility Study of the 3 D Visualization at High Resolution of Intra-Cranial Rabbit Eyes With X-Ray CT Phase-Contrast Imaging

Citation: Ivanishko Y, Bravin A, Kovalev S, et al. Feasibility study of the 3D visualization at high resolution of intra-cranial rabbit eyes with x-ray CT phase-contrast imaging. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017;58:5941–5948. DOI:10.1167/iovs.17-22273 PURPOSE. The intracranial three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the whole volume of the eyeball at micrometric resolution has not been achieved yet either in clinical nor in preclinical diagnostic research. Overcoming this limitation may provide a new tool for clinical and preclinical studies of different pathologies of the various sections of the eye. The aim of this work is to give the first insight of a volumetric visualization at the high resolution of the entire enucleated and intracranial postmortem rabbit eyeballs.
Enhanced Utilization of Voltage Control Resources With Distributed Generation

Distributed generation (DG) is increasing in penetration on power systems across the world. In rural areas, voltage rise limits the permissible penetration levels of DG. Another increasingly important issue is the impact on transmission system voltages of DG reactive power demand. Here, a passive solution is proposed to reduce the impact on the transmission system voltages and overcome the distribution voltage rise barrier such that more DG can connect. The fixed power factors of the generators and the tap setting of the transmission transformer are determined by a linear programming formulation. The method is tested on a sample section of radial distribution network and on a model of the all island Irish transmission system illustrating that enhanced passive utilization of voltage control resources can deliver many of the benefits of active management without any of the expense or perceived risk, while also satisfying the conflicting objectives of the transmission system operator.
Modeling Processes for Managing Reputation Information - A Petri Net Approach

Electronic networks bear various potentials often limited through information asymmetries and opportunism in inter-organizational (business) processes. To reduce uncertainties when selecting trustful partners, qualitative goods, and other objects we propose a concept for a so-called "reputation information management system" that is demand-driven and process-based. Offering decision support by providing reputation information helps reducing uncertainties in virtual environments. However, instead of focusing on technical aspects of generating and managing reputation information we concentrate on modeling the underlying processes. Networked processes and exchange documents (e.g., reputation information reports) are modeled by using a variant of high-level Petri nets, so-called XML nets. XML nets allow for an integrated modeling of the processes and the process relevant XML documents. Due to their formal foundation, XML nets exhibit potentials for analyzing purposes and for the direct execution by a respective workflow engine.
Sol Gel Characterization of Nano Kaolin

Nano kaolin is product from kaolin also known as white clay. Kaolin was established as supplementary cementitious materials in concrete. The inclusion of kaolin in concrete enhances strength and durability properties and prolongs concrete life span. In this research, nanokaolin will be develop by using sol gel technique by that involves high energy milling. The process of milling been influenced by time of milling, ball and jar type. Ceramic type Zirconia (Zi) is been used as jar and ball type in this process. Time of milling was set from four (4) hours and one (1) days. Sample will be analyse by using particle size analyser to see the particle size and surface area of kaolin. From the result shows the optimum milling period for nanokaolin is one day base on particle size compare to 4 hours. Furthermore, one day milling produces a massive increment of surface area compare to others. In conclusion, one day can be considered as the optimum cycle time in the production of nano kaolin.
A Multimedia Workflow-Based Collaborative Engineering Environment: Integrating an Adaptative Workflow with a Multimedia Collaboration System and a Collaborative Virtual Environment for Petroleum Engineering

In this paper we discuss the scenario of Petroleum Engineering projects of Petrobras, a large Brazilian governmental oil & gas company. Based on this scenario, we define a set of requirements and system architecture to guide the construction of a Collaborative Engineering Environment for assisting the control and execution of large and complex in dustrial projects in oil industry, specifically tailored for Petroleum Engineering. The environment is composed by the integration of three different technologies of group work: Workflow Management System, Multimedia Collaborative System and Collaborative Virtual Environments.
! THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Graphene grown on silicon carbide by high-temperature annealing (SiC/G) is a strong contender in the race towards large-scale graphene electronics applications. The unique electronic properties of this system lead to a remarkably robust and accurate Hall resistance quantisation of 0.1 parts per billion, making SiC/G devices highly desirable for the endeavour of quantum resistance metrology. However, major challenges for this technology remain, such as control of the charge carrier density and reproducibility of material growth and device properties. The main aims of the work presented in this Thesis are to understand and improve the performance and reproducibility of SiC/G devices for quantum Hall resistance metrology. Moreover, in this work we developed further understanding of material issues such as the homogeneity of SiC/G for applications in quantum metrology, and ultimately wafer scale electronics. By correlating the nanoscopic growth features of SiC/G with electron transport measurements, we were able to reveal the wafer scale electronic homogeneity of monolayer graphene grown on SiC. We developed disparate gating methods to enable quantum Hall effect at lower magnetic fields (B = 2-5 T) and to study electron transport close to charge neutrality, useful for metrology. We investigated the role of the reconstructed SiC morphology and bilayer graphene inclusions on the reproducibility of nominally monolayer graphene quantum Hall devices, and reveal the important consequences for quantum resistance metrology. The above-mentioned studies were assisted by the development of optical microscopy methods to accurately identify single and multilayer domains of epitaxial graphene in addition to the nanoscopic details of the reconstructed SiC surface. This was found to be an important step of rapid and non-invasive quality control leading to improved device performance and reproducibility for quantum metrology applications. While the focus has been placed on quantum metrology devices, the findings and technologies developed in this Thesis work are readily applicable to investigate other two-dimensional materials and graphene systems, in both research and industrial environments.
Probing the internal composition of neutron stars with gravitational waves

Gravitational waves from neutron star binary inspirals contain information about the as yet unknown equation of state of supranuclear matter. In the absence of definitive experimental evidence that determines the correct equation of state, a number of diverse models that give the pressure inside a neutron star as function of its density have been constructed by nuclear physicists. These models differ not only in the approximations and techniques they employ to solve the many-body Schr\"odinger equation, but also in the internal neutron star composition they assume. We study whether gravitational wave observations of neutron star binaries in quasicircular inspirals up to contact will allow us to distinguish between equations of state of differing internal composition, thereby providing important information about the properties and behavior of extremely high density matter. We carry out a Bayesian model selection analysis, and find that second generation gravitational wave detectors can heavily constrain equations of state that contain only quark matter, but hybrid stars containing both normal and quark matter are typically harder to distinguish from normal matter stars. A gravitational wave detection with a signal-to-noise ratio of 20 and masses around $1.4{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ would provide indications of the existence or absence of strange quark stars, while a signal-to-noise ratio 30 detection could either detect or rule out strange quark stars with a 20 to 1 confidence. The presence of kaon condensates or hyperons in neutron star inner cores cannot be easily confirmed. For example, for the equations of state studied in this paper, even a gravitational wave signal with a signal-to-noise ratio as high as 60 would not allow us to claim a detection of kaon condensates or hyperons with confidence greater than 5 to 1. On the other hand, if kaon condensates and hyperons do not form in neutron stars, a gravitational wave signal with similar signal-to-noise ratio would be able to constrain their existence with an 11 to 1 confidence for high-mass systems. We, finally, find that combining multiple lower signal-to-noise ratio detections (stacking) must be handled with caution since it could fail in cases where the prior information dominates over new information from the data.
Zfp281 is essential for mouse epiblast maturation through transcriptional and epigenetic control of Nodal signaling

Pluripotency is defined by a cell's potential to differentiate into any somatic cell type. How pluripotency is transited during embryo implantation, followed by cell lineage specification and establishment of the basic body plan, is poorly understood. Here we report the transcription factor Zfp281 functions in the exit from naive pluripotency occurring coincident with pre-to-post-implantation mouse embryonic development. By characterizing Zfp281 mutant phenotypes and identifying Zfp281 gene targets and protein partners in developing embryos and cultured pluripotent stem cells, we establish critical roles for Zfp281 in activating components of the Nodal signaling pathway and lineage-specific genes. Mechanistically, Zfp281 cooperates with histone acetylation and methylation complexes at target gene enhancers and promoters to exert transcriptional activation and repression, as well as epigenetic control of epiblast maturation leading up to anterior-posterior axis specification. Our study provides a comprehensive molecular model for understanding pluripotent state progressions in vivo during mammalian embryonic development.
Demonstration of an optimized TRUEX flowsheet for partitioning of actinides from actual ICPP sodium-bearing waste using centrifugal contactors in a shielded cell facility

The TRUEX process is being evaluated at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) for the separation of the actinides from acidic radioactive wastes stored at the ICPP. These efforts have culminated in recent demonstrations of the TRUEX process with actual tank waste. The first demonstration was performed in 1996 using 24 stages of 2-cm diameter centrifugal contactors and waste from tank WM-183. Based on the results of this flowsheet demonstration, the flowsheet was optimized and a second flowsheet demonstration was performed. This test also was performed using 2-cm diameter centrifugal contactors and waste from tank WM-183. However, the total number of contactor stages was reduced from 24 to 20. Also, the concentration of HEDPA in the strip solution was reduced from 0.04 M to 0.01 M in order to minimize the amount of phosphate in the HLW fraction, which would be immobilized into a glass waste form. This flowsheet demonstration was performed using centrifugal contactors installed in the shielded hot cell at the ICPP Remote Analytical Laboratory. The flowsheet tested consisted of six extraction stages, four scrub stages, six strip stages, two solvent was stages, and two acid rinse stages. An overall removal efficiency of 99.79% was obtained for the actinides. As a result, the activity of the actinides was reduced from 540 nCi/g in the feed to 0.90 nCi/g in the aqueous raffinate, which is well below the NRC Class A LLW requirement of 10 nCi/g for non-TRU waste. Removal efficiencies of 99.84%, 99.97%, 99.97%, 99.85%, and 99.76% were obtained for {sup 241}Am, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 239}Pu, {sup 235}U, and {sup 238}U, respectively.
A Comparative Survey of Activity-Based Methods for Information Systems Development

The role of human factors and the importance of sociocultural and contextual issues in information systems (IS) development has long been recognised. However, these ‘soft’ details remain elusive and difficult to capture. Activity theory (AT) provides a framework with which to analyse and understand human behaviour in context. AT-based methods for IS development may therefore be a way forward. This paper presents a comparative survey of five AT-based methods. Each method is described, and its strengths and weaknesses briefly identified. The methods are then compared along nine key dimensions. As part of the findings, it is determined that most of the methods are selective in their use of AT, and are not sufficiently validated. Several correlations have also been noted across dimensions. Observations are presented on the limitations of existing methods, and suggestions are then made on possible ways forward.
Study of bifurcation Behavior of LDPC Decoders

The use of low-density-parity-check (LDPC) codes in coding digital messages has aroused much research interest because of their excellent bit-error performance. The behavior of the iterative LDPC decoders of finite length, however, has not been fully evaluated under different signal-to-noise conditions. By considering the finite-length LDPC decoders as high-dimensional nonlinear dynamical systems, we attempt to investigate their dynamical behavior and bifurcation phenomena for a range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Extensive simulations have been performed on both regular and irregular LDPC codes. Moreover, we derive the Jacobian of the system and calculate the corresponding eigenvalues. Results show that bifurcations, including fold, flip and Neimark–Sacker bifurcations, are exhibited by the LDPC decoder. Results are useful for optimizing the choice of parameters that may enhance the effectiveness of the decoding algorithm and improve the convergence rates.
An Evaluation Study of Hybrid Energy Storage System for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Buses

This paper reviews different configurations of the hybrid-energy-storage-system (HESS), a combination of Li-ion Battery (LiB) pack, Li-ion capacitor (LiC) bank, and dc-dc converters, for Plug-in hybrid electric (PHE) buses. A new HESS configuration is proposed to improve the efficiency of power transfer from battery port and reduce the rating voltage of LiC bank associated the cell balancing problem. The simulation results with a standard SORT driving cycle will be used to optimize the sizing of LiB and LiC packs. The comparative analysis illustrates that the proposed configuration has several merits against the conventional hybrid topology based on high-energy batteries and electrical double-layer capacitors in term of weight and volume.
Selectivity of Cell Signaling in the Neuronal Response Based on NGF Mutations and Peptidomimetics in the Treatment of Alzheimers Disease

Kenneth E. Neet1, Sidharth Mahapatra2, Hrishikesh M. Mehta3 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago 2Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto 3Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplantation Children’s Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago Northwestern University, Chicago USA
Calibration of the Gaussian Musiela model using the Karhunen-Loeve expansion

In this paper we calibrate the stationary Gaussian Musiela model to time series of market data using the Karhunen-Loeve expansion in order to get an ortonormal basis (classically known as EOF, empirical orthonormal functions) in a separable Hilbert space. The basis found is optimal for representing the covariance of the invariant measure of the forward rates’ process.
Resource Loss and Gain, Life Satisfaction, and Health Among Retirees in Spain

Objective: This article focuses on retirement transition from the Conservation of Resources (COR) perspective to better understand how aged participants’ perceptions of retirement losses and gains significantly explain retirement well-being. In this article, the mediation of social support in the losses–well-being relationship is explored. Method: The study was conducted with a two-wave longitudinal design. Participants at T1 were aged Spanish workers (>64 years) and at T2 were retirees, with a final sample of 275, who had retired during the previous 6 months. Results: Findings supported the assertion that losses better explain well-being than gains. In addition, specific losses revealed a higher explaining power of life satisfaction and health complaints depending on their content. Social support mediated between perceived losses and well-being. Discussion: This study suggests that both perceived losses and gains associated with retirement and social support during retirement should be taken into account when addressing postretirement well-being.