Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyberknife Radioablation of Prostate Cancer – Preliminary Results for 400 Patients

Objectives: To evaluate the tolerance and effectiveness of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) applied in the treatment of low and intermediate risk (LR & IR) prostate cancer patients (PCP) and provide an evaluation of the level of risk group impact on tr results. In addition, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) usage and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) decline after SABR were assessed. Material and Methods: A total of 400 PCP (213 LR and 187 IR, including T2c) were irradiated with a CyberKnife using fd 7.25 Gy to TD 36.25 Gy. At the start of treatment, 60.3% of patients were undergoing ADT and this gradually decreased to 0% after 38 months. Follow-up was for a median of 15.0 months. Patients were monitored on SABR completion and 1, 4, 8 months later and then subsequently every 6 months. GI (Gastro-Intestinal) and GU (Genito-Urinary) acute and late adverse effects, PSA and ADT usage were evaluated. Results: Failure was noted in 9 patients (2.25%) (5 in LR and 4 in IR groups) - 4 relapses and 5 nodal metastases. No G3/4 late adverse effects (EORTC/RTOG) were observed. Some 0.5% of G3 GU and 0.3% of G3 GI acute reactions were noted respectively on the SABR completion day and one month later. The median of PSA declined 1.5 ng/ml during the first month and 0.6 ng/ml during the next three months. No impact of risk groups on treatment results was found. An impact of ADT on PSA decline was only confirmed for time point interactions. Conclusions: SABR for LR and IR PCP is a safe and effective treatment. The inclusion of T2c patients and the low percentage of IR patient failure permit us the assumption that this procedure could be utilized in the treatment of more advanced cases. The results do not allow clear definition of the impact of ADT on radioablation results in LR and IR+ T2c cases.
A novel discrimination index of Importance-Performance Analysis model

Before then, no evaluation scheme can be used to compare any two Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) models. In this paper, for comparing the performance of some IPA models, a novel evaluation index, called discrimination index, is proposed. Hereafter, using this index we can find the best one among some IPA models. Furthermore, we show that the IPA model with multi-survey web-based questionnaire is better than the traditional IPA model with single-survey web-based questionnaire by using this proposed index.
Improved dynamic gesture segmentation for Thai sign language translation

Sign languages normally make use of both static and dynamic gestures to achieve communication goal. In automated continuous gesture recognition, one of the problems found is how to separate a transitional gesture from a meaningful dynamic gesture. In addition, a variation in speed, absolute position and orientation of a dynamic gesture makes an automatic recognition task nontrivial. This paper proposes a segmentation method that alleviates these problems. The method is based on the fact that many (meaningful) dynamic gestures as appeared in Thai and other sign languages, are performed in an approximately (quasi) periodic manner. Therefore, such dynamic gestures can be distinguished from a transitional gesture by means of Fourier analysis, performed on samples (discrete signal) of hand shapes, positions and orientation. The analysis, however, requires a good choice of data sample windowing. This paper describes a preprocessing method for estimation of the dynamic gesture data windowing period. The proposed method helps improving the accuracy of segmenting hand shape and location data samples into static, periodic and nonperiodic gestures. In addition, accuracy of the feature extracted from the Fourier analysis of a dynamic gesture signal is improved, thus increasing the recognition rate. Experimental results performed on a real data are included.
Model-based pose estimation on-board MAVs equipped with 2D laser scanners for the automatic inspection of electric towers

We propose a model-based approach to obtain local pose estimates of micro aerial vehicles (MAVs), with respect to electric towers, using 2D laser scanners. A simple planar model for the body of an electric tower is presented, which is used in an iterative closest point (ICP) framework to register incoming laser scans. This is complemented with attitude estimates from IMU measurements to obtain a complete 3D pose estimation. Finally, a velocity observer is proposed to provide speed estimates with a view to feedback control. Validations based on simulations are presented.
Enhancing time performance by job commonality feature: Hadoop

Cloud computing and Big Data both leverages Hadoop framework to process the Bid Data parallel. Hadoop framework is used to build both high performance and large scale clusters. The limitation posed by the framework for efficient execution due to data locality provides the scope to improve the performance. An enhanced architecture is proposed in this paper which addresses the issue of reducing the time taken to read the data and to increase the number task executed. The architecture provides an additional layer to the NameNode using which it directs the task to the DataNode having the required data rather than searching the data every execution.
Correction to Use of a Lipid-Coated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Platform for Synergistic Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel Delivery to Human Pancreatic Cancer in Mice

Page 3555. In the Acknowledgment, the original statement reads “This study was funded by the U.S. Public Health Service Grant RO1 CA133697. H.L. was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 31271075. ” It should be replaced with “This study was funded by the U.S. Public Health Service Grants RO1 CA133697 and U01 CA198846. H.L. was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 31271075. ” The update on the acknowledgment does not affect any of the experimental results, discussions, or conclusions reported in the paper.
Cefoperazone disk diffusion susceptibility test: confirmation of the tentative interpretive criteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa cross-resistance, and determination of quality control performance limits

Cefoperazone disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration comparison studies were performed on 421 recent bacterial isolates, using 30- and 75-micrograms commercially prepared disks. Acceptable correlation coefficients (-0.82 to -0.86) and very major (false-susceptible) interpretive error rates (less than 1%) were obtained with both disk concentrations. The interpretive criteria for both disks were identical. Using the preferred 75-micrograms disk, the Thornsberry et al. criteria (J. Clin. Microbiol. 15:769-776, 1982) of greater than or equal to 18 mm = susceptible (less than or equal to 32 micrograms/ml) and less than or equal to 14 mm = resistant (greater than 64 micrograms/ml) resulted in only 5.5% of strains having indeterminate-range zone diameters; the 30-micrograms disk had 6.9% of strains with indeterminate zone diameters. The 75-micrograms disk, excluding the testing of enterococci, minimized the very major and other interpretive errors to less than 5%. Larger zone diameters will contribute few technical problems with either disk concentration. Data from 1,320 zone diameters submitted for each quality control strain indicated no significant (P greater than 0.05) difference between disks made by the three major manufacturers, and consistent results were obtained within each laboratory with numerous lots of Mueller-Hinton agar (except for one manufacturer). Individual daily test and accuracy quality control ranges were calculated from clinical investigator laboratory data at 16 hospitals based on mean zone sizes and from an additional 8 laboratories with both mean and median calculations. The quality control data were nearly identical, and ranges calculated by the two methods were very similar. Susceptibility tests of Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicate that the cefoperazone disk or minimum inhibitory concentration test would accurately predict P. aeruginosa susceptibility test results for other pseudomonas-active cephalosporins (cefsulodin and ceftazidime), thus producing no very major interpretive errors.
Influence of Sampling Date on Soil Nitrogen Availability Indices

In spite of the great effort that has been devoted to the search for a chemical laboratory index to predict nitrogen (N) mineralization capability of soils, the results have not yet been fully satisfactory. A continued effort is still needed to increase the knowledge of the sources of variation that influence potentially available soil N. The time of sampling has received little attention, taking into account its potential to influence N-mineralization patterns. In this work, soil samples from three different agrosystems, consisting of a double-crop sequence of small grains and maize, an intensively grazed pasture, and a rainfed olive orchard, were collected at different dates. Several chemical extractions were performed, and the results were correlated with N uptake by turnip (Brassica campestris, L.) grown in a pot experiment. Kjeldahl N was the chemical test that best correlated (R 2 = 0.621) with N uptake by turnip. Kjeldahl N showed great versatility relative to the origin of the soil samples. However, it was not very sensitive to the time of sampling. It did not detect changes occurring in the soil over a short period of time. Soil inorganic N showed the second highest coefficient of correlation (R 2 = 0.483) with N uptake by turnip. In contrast to that observed with Kjeldahl N, soil inorganic N appeared as an index that can vary greatly over the short term. The hot saline potassium chloride (KCl) extractions gave generally fair results. The poorest, however, were obtained with the ultraviolet absorption of extracts of 0.01 mol L−1 sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) measured at 250- and 260-nm wavelengths.
Tomato CYP74C3 is a Multifunctional Enzyme not only Synthesizing Allene Oxide but also Catalyzing its Hydrolysis and Cyclization

The mechanism of the recombinant tomato allene oxide synthase (LeAOS3, CYP74C3) was studied. Incubations of linoleic acid (9S)‐hydroperoxide with dilute suspensions of LeAOS3 (10–20 s, 0 °C) yield mostly the expected allene oxide (12Z)‐9,10‐epoxy‐10,12‐octadecadienoic acid (9,10‐EOD), which was detected as its methanol‐trapping product. In contrast, the relative yield of 9,10‐EOD progressively decreased when the incubations were performed with fourfold, tenfold, or 80‐fold larger amounts of LeAOS3, while α‐ketol and the cyclopentenone rac‐cis‐10‐oxo‐11‐phytoenoic acid (10‐oxo‐PEA) became the predominant products. Both the α‐ketol and 10‐oxo‐PEA were also produced when LeAOS3 was exposed to preformed 9,10‐EOD, which was generated by maize allene oxide synthase (CYP74A). LeAOS3 also converted linoleic acid (13S)‐hydroperoxide into the corresponding allene oxide, but with about tenfold lower yield of cyclopentenone. The results indicate that in contrast to the ordinary allene oxide synthases (CYP74A subfamily), LeAOS3 (CYP74C subfamily) is a multifunctional enzyme, catalyzing not only the synthesis, but also the hydrolysis and cyclization of allene oxide.
A Linear Phase Filter in Quadruplet Topology With Frequency-Dependent Couplings

This letter presents a design of a linear phase microwave bandpass filter. The filter is composed of four resonators arranged in the quadruplet topology. Making the cross and one direct coupling dispersive gives additional design flexibility. The first advantage of using frequency-dependent couplings is the possibility to chose an arbitrary location of a pair of complex transmission zeros (TZs) in the s-domain. The second one is the presence of an additional imaginary transmission zero that improves the filter selectivity. We provide a proof-of-concept design of a filter using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology. The frequency-dependent couplings are implemented in SIW as a composition of both: an inductive part realized in a form of an H-plane iris and a capacitive part realized as a grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW). The measured filter characteristics prove the validity of the model.
Autoantibody signatures in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND New biomarkers, such as autoantibody signatures, may improve the early detection of prostate cancer. METHODS With a phage-display library derived from prostate-cancer tissue, we developed and used phage protein microarrays to analyze serum samples from 119 patients with prostate cancer and 138 controls, with the samples equally divided into training and validation sets. A phage-peptide detector that was constructed from the training set was evaluated on an independent validation set of 128 serum samples (60 from patients with prostate cancer and 68 from controls). RESULTS A 22-phage-peptide detector had 88.2 percent specificity (95 percent confidence interval, 0.78 to 0.95) and 81.6 percent sensitivity (95 percent confidence interval, 0.70 to 0.90) in discriminating between the group with prostate cancer and the control group. This panel of peptides performed better than did prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in distinguishing between the group with prostate cancer and the control group (area under the curve for the autoantibody signature, 0.93; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.88 to 0.97; area under the curve for PSA, 0.80; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.71 to 0.88). Logistic-regression analysis revealed that the phage-peptide panel provided additional discriminative power over PSA (P<0.001). Among the 22 phage peptides used as a detector, 4 were derived from in-frame, named coding sequences. The remaining phage peptides were generated from untranslated sequences. CONCLUSIONS Autoantibodies against peptides derived from prostate-cancer tissue could be used as the basis for a screening test for prostate cancer.
Natural proteoglycan receptor analogs determine the dynamics of Opa adhesin-mediated gonococcal infection of Chang epithelial cells

Many bacterial pathogens possess a complex machinery for the induction and/or secretion of factors that promote their uptake by mammalian cells. We searched for the molecular basis of the 60- to 90-min lag time in the interaction of Neisseria gonorrhoeae carrying the heparin-binding Opa adhesin with Chang epithelial cells. Infection assays in the presence of chloramphenicol demonstrated that the Opa-mediated gonococcal infection of Chang cells required bacterial protein synthesis when the microorganisms were derived from GC agar but not when grown in liquid media. Further analysis indicated that contact with agar ingredients rather than the growth state of the microorganisms determined the infection dynamics. DEAE chromatography of GC agar extracts and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses and testing of collected fractions in infection assays identified negatively charged high-molecular-weight polysaccharides in the agar as inhibitors of the cellular infection. Electron microscopy showed that agar-grown gonococci were surrounded by a coat of alcian blue-positive material, probably representing accreted polysaccharides. Similar antiphagocytic material was isolated from bovine serum, indicating that in biological fluids gonococci producing the heparin-binding Opa adhesin may become covered with externally derived polysaccharides as well. Binding assays with gonococci and epithelial proteoglycan receptors revealed that polysaccharides derived from agar or serum compete with the proteoglycans for binding of the heparin-binding Opa adhesin and thus act as receptor analogs. Growth of gonococci in a polysaccharide-free environment resulted in optimal proteoglycan receptor binding and rapid bacterial entry into Chang cells. The recognition that gonococci with certain phenotypes can recruit surface polysaccharides that determine in vitro infection dynamics adds a different dimension to the well-recognized biological significance of genetic variation for this pathogen.
A comparison of laser with radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules: a propensity score matching analysis

Abstract Purpose: To compare technique efficacy and safety of laser ablation (LA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Materials and methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained, and patients’ consent was waived. 601 nodules were treated from May 2009 to December 2014 at eight centres, 449 (309 females, age 57 ± 14 years) with LA and 152 (107 females, age 57 ± 14 years) with RFA. A matched cohort composed of 138 patients from each group was selected after adjustment with propensity score matching. Factors influencing volume reduction at 6 and 12 months and complications were evaluated. Results: No significant differences were observed in the baseline characteristics between groups after propensity score matching adjustment. Mean nodule reduction at 6 and 12 months was −67 ± 19% vs. −57 ± 21% (p < 0.001) − 70 ± 19% vs. −62 ± 22% (p = 0.001) in LA group and in RFA group, respectively. Nodules with volume >30 mL had significantly higher percentage volume reduction at 6 and 12 months (−69 ± 19 vs. −50 ± 21, p = 0.001) and (−73 ± 18 vs. −54 ± 23 8, p = 0.001) in the LA group than in the RFA group, respectively. In both groups, operator’s skills affected the results. Major complications occurred in 4 cases in each group (p = 0.116) Conclusions: LA and RFA showed nearly similar outcome but LA was slightly more effective than RFA in large nodules. Operator’s skills could be crucial in determining the extent of nodule volume reduction regardless of the used technique.
Computation of the scattering of electrically large 2D objects using FMM with TE/sup z/ incidence

The analysis of electrically large objects can be unaffordable due to memory and CPU time requirements. The application of the fast multipole method (FMM) to the analysis of 2D perfectly conducting (PEC) cylinders of arbitrary cross-section reduces the cost from O(N/sup 2/) operations, when the method of moments (MOM) is used, to O(N/sup 1.5/). For a complete analysis of the 2D scatterer, both TM/sup z/ and TE/sup z/ incident polarizations must be considered. FMM has been widely used for the analysis of TM/sup z/ incidence, but little research has been devoted to the analysis of the TE/sup z/ polarized incidence. The FMM is applied to the acceleration of the point-matching MOM discretization of the MFIE (magnetic field integral equation) obtained when the incident field is a TE/sup z/ polarized wave. The results are compared, in terms of precision and efficiency, to those obtained applying MOM uniquely.
Transients in acetylcholine receptor site density and degradation during reinnervation of mouse sternomastoid muscle

The degradation rates of acetylcholine receptors (AchRs) were evaluated at the neuromuscular junction during and just after reinnervation of denervated muscles. When mouse sternomastoid muscles are denervated by multiple nerve crush, reinnervation begins 2–4 days later and is complete by day 7–9 after the last crush. In fully innervated muscles, the AChR degradation rate is stable and slow (t1/2 ≈ 10 days), whereas after denervation the newly inserted receptors degrade rapidly (t1/2 ≈ 1.2 days). The composite profile of degradation, which a mixture of the stable and the rapid receptors would give, is not observed during reinnervation. Instead, the receptors inserted between 2.5 and 7.5 days after the last crush all have an intermediate degradation rate of t1/2 ≈ 3.7 days with standard error ± 0.3 days. The total receptor site density at the endplate was evaluated during denervation and during reinnervation. As predicted theoretically, the site density increased substantially, but temporarily, after denervation. An analogous deleterious substantial decrease in density would be expected during reinnervation, without the intermediate receptor. This decrease is not observed, however, because of a large insertion rate at intermediate times (3000 ± 700 receptor complexes per µm2 per day). The endplate density of receptors thus remains relatively constant.
Intermittent pump versus compression bandages in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present paper was to compare healing rate and leg swelling with an intermittent compression pump versus compression bandages in the treatment of venous leg ulcers, and to also compare patient compliance and satisfaction with the two techniques. METHODS A randomized cross-over study of patients attending an outpatient wound clinic (n = 16) was undertaken. A regular monthly follow-up with measurement of ulcer size and leg volume was carried out, as well as completion of a questionnaire. RESULTS Assessment was possible in 11 of the 16 patients. There was no significant difference between treatment types with regards to ulcer healing rates or control of leg oedema. The survey revealed that patients found the pump easier and more comfortable to use, with a trend towards increased compliance. CONCLUSIONS Although the present study was too small for generalizable conclusions, compression pumps and bandages are comparable in efficacy for the healing of venous leg ulcers. The compression pump is reported as being easier and more comfortable to use than bandages.
Validating Design Patterns for Mobile Groupware Applications by Expert Users: a USAER Case

The objective of this research work was to analyze the pertinence of a set of design patterns for mobile groupware applications. The pertinence of said contribution was supported by 11 participant members of an educational support group (USAER). The perception of expert users is commonly used in Human- Computer Interaction to improve and validate design strategies such as the proposed one. In this case the feedback provided by the participants helped to ensure that the knowledge offered by the set of patterns is adequate and accurate. A distilled feedback would lead to well-designed user interfaces for mobile groupware applications.
Sex-role orientation and psychological adjustment: comparison of MMPI profiles among college women and housewives.

Androgynous, masculine, feminine, and undifferentiated women, as determined by the Bern Sex Role Inventory, were compared on the three validity and ten clinical scales of the MMPI. Two samples of women were included: Female college students and a group of upper middle-class suburban housewives. No significant differences emerged in the housewife sample. Among college women, androgynous and masculine women did not differ in adjustment, and both groups were better adjusted (i.e., less depressed, anxious, tense, and less socially introverted) than the undifferentiated women. A cross-validation study with a comparable student sample essentially replicated the results of the first study. Rather than supporting Bem's (1974) hypothesis of better psychological adjustment in androgynous persons, results were interpreted as providing support for the notion that masculinity is associated with equally good adjustment as androgyny in college women.