Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic factors of metastatic or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in patients receiving three-drug combination chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Three-drug combination therapy based on cisplatin/fluorouracil might improve treatment efficacy for metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but at the risk of increasing toxicity. The study sought to identify factors associated with outcomes of metastatic ESCC in patients who were treated with three-drug combinations. PATIENTS AND METHODS One-hundred and thirteen patients with metastatic or recurrent ESCC who were treated with cisplatin/fluorouracil-based three-drug combination during 2000-2009 were studied. The prognostic impact of clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated by Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. RESULTS The third chemotherapeutic agents comprised of paclitaxel, docetaxel, and methotrexate in 76 (67%), 13 (12%), and 24 (21%) of patients, respectively. The overall response rate was 41%. The median overall survival (OS) was 8.5 months. Results of the Cox proportional hazard regression models showed that age ≥65 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 and 1, lymph node-only metastasis and baseline white blood cell (WBC) count ≤10,000/mm(3) were significant prognostic factors for better OS. The OS curves were significantly separated by risk groups comprising of age, metastasis status and WBC count as risk factors. CONCLUSION The identification of prognostic factors could facilitate for future design of randomized studies on the efficacy of three-drug combinations for metastatic ESCC.
A Minimum Rank Approach for Reduction of Environmental Noise in Near-Field Array Antenna Diagnosis

A method to filter out the contribution of interference sources in array diagnosis is proposed. The interference-affected near field measured on a surface is treated as a (complex-data) image. This allows to use some modern image processing algorithms. In particular, two strategies widely used in image processing are applied. The first one is the reduction of the amount of information by acquiring only the innovation part of an image, as currently happens in video processing. More specifically, a differential measurement technique is used to formulate the estimation of the array excitations as a sparse recovery problem. The second technique has been recently proposed in video denoising, where the image is split into a low-rank and high-rank part. In particular, in this paper the interference field is filtered out using sparsity as discriminant adopting a mixed minimum ℓ1 norm and trace norm minimization algorithm. The methodology can be applied to both near and far field measurement ranges. It could be an alternative to the systematic use of anechoic chambers for antenna array testing.
Intelligent control of quadruped gallops

In this paper, a new intelligent control approach for high-speed quadruped bounding and galloping gaits is presented. The controller is capable of learning the leg touchdown angles and leg thrusts required to track the desired running height and velocity of a quadruped in only one stride. Training of the controller is accomplished not with a mathematical model, but with simple rules based on a heuristic knowledge of the quadruped mechanics. The result is a controller that produces better velocity and height tracking characteristics than a Raibert-based controller and is robust to modeling errors. Additionally, by making use of the natural dynamics of the system, gait characteristics comparable to biological quadrupeds result. The status of a legged machine being constructed for demonstration of the control approach and further study of the characteristics of galloping is also presented.
Energy security and economic growth in the European Union

Our paper tackles the issue of the European energy security and economic growth. Specifically, it evaluates the relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth in the European Union (EU). Channels along which natural gas is supplied to the EU energy markets yield dependence from the Russian Federation which presents a threat to the European energy security. Our sample includes panel time series data over the period from 1997 to 2011 for a 26 EU countries. Based on neoclassical growth model, we create a multivariate model including gross fixed capital formation and total labor forces of a country as additional explanatory variables. Using panel cointegration tests, we found that there exists a long-run relationship between economic growth, natural gas consumption, labor and capital. In the short-run there is bidirectional causality between natural gas consumption and economic growth. The causality running from economic growth to natural gas consumption is positive. On the other hand, the causality, which runs from natural gas consumption to economic growth, is negative.
INHIBITION BY PUROMYCIN OF AMINO ACID INCORPORATION INTO PROTEIN.

15 Roberts, R. B. , P. H. Abelson, D. B. Cowie, E. T. Bolton, and R. J. Britten, Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 607, Washington, D. C. (1955). 16 The rather low values for threonine and lysine obtained with both labeled aspartic acids in Lemna probably are significant and may indicate a "channeling" of aspartic acid, i.e., a preferential utilization of aspartic acid for incorporation into protein rather than for conversion to threonine or lysine. It will be noted, though, that the labeling of the lysine and the threonine are approximately equal, and that with acetate-2-C'4, all three protein amino acids exhibit nearly the same specific activity. 17 Probable mechanisms underlying the various labeling patterns observed will be discussed elsewhere. 18 Steward, F. C. , and J. K. Pollard, Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. , 8, 65 (1957); Virtanen, A. I. , Festschrift Arthur Stoll (Basel: Sandoz, 1957) p. 565; Fowden, L. , Symp. Soc. Exptl. Biol., 13, 283 (1959); Davies, D. D. , J. Hanford, and A. P. Wilkinson, ibid., p. 353; Miettinen, J. K. , ibid., p. 210. 19 Bilinski, E. , and W. B. McConnell, Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. , 35, 357 and 365 (1957). 20 Naylor, A. W. , R. Rabson, and N. E. Tolbert, Physiologia plantarum, 11, 537 (1958). 21 Absence of such a steady-state condition may also account for the finding of P. Linko (Acta chem. scand., 12, 101 (1958)) that aspartic acid was the only labeled amino acid in the protein of excised leaves of Convallaria, following their exposure to C14-aspartic acid. 22 Fowden, L. , and M. Bryant, Biochem. J., 71, 210 (1959).
WiGen: Breaking the Privacy and Security Barriers for Group Management in RFID Systems

As Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems have been enormously used in fields like commerce and logistics, a wide spectrum of applications call for privacy-preserved group management in RFID systems, which requires a legitimate reader and a particular group of tags to share one single group key without leaking any private information of individual tags. With backscatter communications using plain text in RFID systems, it is very challenging to achieve privacy-preserved group management because the reader has to notify those tags in the group with the generated group key by broadcasting. With open wireless channels, adversaries can obtain any information exchanging between the reader and tags by eavesdropping or even launch impersonation attacks. In this paper, we propose an innovative wireless private group key generation scheme, called WiGen, with which a legitimate reader can generate a group key among itself and those tags in the required group. By effectively leveraging a Bloom filter, the reader can notify those designated tags in the group without leaking the private information of those tags. Furthermore, with WiGen, both the reader and the group tags can authenticate each other and achieve the key agreement at the same time. In addition, WiGen is a very light-weighted protocol and can be implemented on current RFID systems. Through intensive efficiency analysis and formal proof of privacy, we show that WiGen can provide an efficient and strong protection for group management applications of RFID systems. Moreover, the implementation on WISP RFID tags and experiment results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of WiGen.
Discrimination of normal and studless tyres by wavelet sound analysis

This paper proposes a method for extracting tyre characteristics from the tyre sounds. The wavelet analysis is able to visualize the sounds in the time-frequency domain. From the vision, we can obtain much more vivid information on the tyre than just listening to them with our ears. We performed the experiments of recording some sounds of normal and studless tyres with a tyre-testing bench. Then we calculated the wavelet transforms of their sounds, and succeeded in discriminating them by their characteristic frequency bands in the wavelet domain. On the basis of the results, the more specific differences between normal and studless tyres are shown in their power spectrum densities.
Statement on Reporting of Evaluation Studies in Health Informatics

Objective: Development of guidelines for publication of evaluation studies in Health Informatics Methods: An initial list of issues to be addressed in reports on evaluation studies has been drafted based on experiences as editors of journals in Health Informatics and as authors of systematic reviews of health informatics studies, taking into account guidelines for reporting of medical research. This list has been discussed in several rounds by an increasing number of experts in health informatics evaluation during conferences and by using e-mail and has been put up for comments on the web. Results: A set of issues to be addressed in papers describing evaluations of health informatics interventions is presented. STARE-HI recommendations include issues with regard to formulation of title and abstract, of introduction (e.g. scientific background, study objectives), study context (e.g. organizational setting, system details), methods (e.g. study design, outcome measures), results (e.g. study findings, unexpected observations) and discussion and conclusion of an IT evaluation paper. Conclusion: A comprehensive list of issues relevant for properly describing health informatics evaluations has been developed. When manuscripts submitted to health informatics journals as well as general medical journals adhere to these issues, readers will be better positioned to place the studies in a proper context. It will also be possible to better judge whether papers will fit in the scope of meta-analyses of health informatics interventions. STARE-HI may also be used for study planning and hence positively influence the quality of IT studies. We believe that better publication of (both quantitative and qualitative) evaluation studies is an important step towards the vision of evidence-based health informatics.
Real Anomalies

We examine the importance of asset pricing anomalies on the real economy. In order to assess distortions quantitatively, we estimate the joint dynamic distribution of firm characteristics that have been linked to anomalies, and other firm variables, such as investment, capital, and value added. Based on a model that matches these joint dynamics, we then evaluate the counterfactual dynamic distribution of these quantities absent financial market imperfections and find that they can cause significant deviations. Financial market anomalies can thus cause material real inefficiencies. This implies that financial intermediaries that reduce and/or eliminate such market imperfections can provide large value added to the economy. We show that mispricing is particularly destructive for high Tobin’s q firms. Further, the persistence and the amount of mispriced capital are a major determinant of the real economic consequences. Our flexible framework can be extended to evaluate the potential real effects associated with the ever-growing set of financial market imperfections.
Safeguarding of Fetal Growth by Mast Cells and Natural Killer Cells: Deficiency of One Is Counterbalanced by the Other

Uterine natural killer cells (uNKs) and mast cells (uMCs) are of crucial importance for spiral artery (SA) remodeling and placentation. Mice deficient for both NKs and MCs including uNKs and uMCs show markedly impaired SA remodeling and their fetuses are growth-retarded. In contrast, the absence of either NKs or MCs results in only minor impairment. This suggests that uNKs can compensate for the effects of uMCs on SA remodeling and vice versa. To test this hypothesis, we assessed uNK numbers in uMC-deficient mice as well as uMC numbers in uNK-depleted mice. Notably, uMC-deficient C57BL/6J-KitW-sh/W-sh (W-sh) mice showed markedly increased numbers of uNKs in contrast to wild type, and the transfer of bone marrow-derived MCs reverted this phenotype. Vice versa, uNK-deficient C57BL/6NTac-IL15tm1ImxN5 (IL-15−/−) mice had significantly increased numbers of uMCs and MC-specific proteases. Our results suggest that uNKs and uMCs can counterbalance their effects at the feto–maternal interface and jointly promote SA remodeling and placentation.
Prolactin and Cisplatin Combination Treatment Inhibits Tumorsphere Formation and Delays Breast Tumor Growth in Mice

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are defined as a small population of cells in tumor that are responsible for the tumor initiation, resistance and recurrence. Chemo-resistance remains to be one of the major obstacles in conventional chemotherapies. One of the reasons that majority of chemotherapeutics are not effective in eradicating cancer cells is due to the existence of CSC, which are usually in a non-proliferative or dormant state. In this paper, we hypothesized that in order to improve the outcome of conventional chemotherapy, it will be more effective to utilize CSC stimulating factors in combination with conventional chemotherapeutics. The current study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using prolactin (PRL), a hormone intimately involved in mammary gland development, in combination with cisplatin as an alternative to target breast CSC (BCSC). Using tumorsphere formation assay we demonstrated that PRL was able to alter the cancer cell proliferation pattern in tumorspheres, which accompanied with increased CD44+24cell population. We further showed that PRL treatment reduced the ability of breast cancer cells to form tumorspheres. Moreover, PRL significantly enhanced cisplatin’s inhibitory effects in tumorsphere formation. The IC50 value of cisplatin was reduced by more than half with the addition of PRL in tumorsphere formation assay. The efficacy of this combinational approach was further confirmed through in vivo experiments (McNeu A allograft tumor growth and 4T1 total survival rate). Finally, PRL and cisplatin combination treatment significantly delayed naturally developed breast tumor growth in neutransgenic mice. Taken together, our study provided evidence to support the hypothesis that the addition of PRL to conventional chemotherapy (cisplatin) may be an effective alternative to target BCSC. *Corresponding author: Wen Y. Chen, Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 900 West Faris Road, Greenville, South Carolina 29605-4255. Phone: (864) 455-1457; E-mail: wenc@clemson.edu
Home Experiments for First-Year University Students.

A radically different approach to experimental work has been adopted in a first-year biology course at Macquarie University. Since 1967 students have done about one-third of their practical work at home. This paper indicates how the home experiment approach is now implemented with about 200 students of widely differing backgrounds. The essential features of this approach are identified and attention is drawn to the fact that home experiments, properly managed, can overcome many of the shortcomings of conventional first-year biology courses.
Cognitive Neuroscience Perspectives on Food Decision-Making: A Brief Introduction

Abstract Cognitive neuroscience methods have recently been employed to examine the neural underpinnings of food-related decision-making. The emerging field of food decision neuroscience uses cognitive neuroscience tools such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study how individuals make decisions regarding food intake, purchasing, branding, and advertising. These tools can be employed to inform marketing strategies, advertising, and product differentiation. Results can also be leveraged to aid in the design of food labeling and policy for obesity, advertising to children, and others. While these tools have the promise for advancing agricultural science as well as informing food related policy, there are some potential pitfalls when applying these techniques to new fields. The goal of this paper is to outline some of the major tools used by cognitive neuroscience – beginning with experimental design and behavioral measures, and then followed by a discussion of some of the neuroimaging tools (fMRI, electroencephalography and event-related potentials [EEG/ERP], and magnetoencephalography [MEG]) – and to highlight how those tools have been used to understand food decision-making.
Gaussian Representation for 3D Point Based Head Model Classification Based on Generalized Minimax Algorithm

3D point based head model classification gains more and more attention due to its useful application in mechanical engineering, computer vision and biology. In this paper, we propose a new approach to perform 3D point based head model classification. Each head model is represented by a Gaussian distribution with the constrained boundary. The constrained boundary is the minimal enclosing ellipsoid of 3D head model. In order to estimate the parameter of the Gaussian distribution, we propose the generalized minimax algorithm. The generalized minimax algorithm for parameter estimation saves a lot of computational cost when comparing with traditional minimax algorithm. The Mahalanobis distance is applied to measure the similarity between two Gaussian distributions with respect to two head models. The experiments show that the new approach works well during the process of 3D point based head model classification.
The association of alcohol dependence with general practice attendance.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS This study was designed to examine the relationship between alcohol dependence and general practitioner (GP) service attendance in Australia. DESIGN AND METHODS Data were analysed from the 1997 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. In this survey, a representative sample of the Australian population was interviewed to ascertain past 12 month psychiatric diagnoses for all major mental disorders as well as the use of primary and other health services (n = 10 641, 79% response rate). RESULTS People with alcohol dependence comorbid with other psychiatric disorders have higher rates of service usage than those without such disorders. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Alcohol dependence comorbid with mental disorders has a significant impact on GP service in Australia. High rates of service use by individuals with such comorbidities were a considerable burden for GP services.
There Is No Magic Fruit Fly Trap: Multiple Biological Factors Influence the Response of Adult Anastrepha ludens and Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) Individuals to MultiLure Traps Baited With BioLure or NuLure

ABSTRACT Field-cage experiments were performed to determine the effectiveness of MultiLure traps (Better World MFG Inc., Fresno, CA) baited with NuLure (Miller Chemical and Fertilizer Corp., Hanover, PA) or BioLure (Suterra LLC, Inc., Bend, OR) in capturing individually marked Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), and West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), of both sexes. Experimental treatments involved wild and laboratory-reared flies of varying ages (2–4 and 15–18 d) and dietary histories (sugar only, open fruit, open fruit plus chicken feces, and hydrolyzed protein mixed with sugar). Data were divided into two parts: total captures over a 24-h period and trap visits/landings, entrances into interior of trap ,and effective captures (i.e., drowning in liquid bait or water) over a 5-h detailed observation period (0600–1100 hours). The response to the two baits varied by fly species, gender, physiological state, age, and strain. Importantly, there were several highly significant interactions among these factors, underlining the complex nature of the response. The two baits differed in attractiveness for A. obliqua but not A. ludens. The effect of strain (wild versus laboratory flies) was significant for A. ludens but not A. obliqua. For effect of dietary history, adults of both species, irrespective of sex, were significantly less responsive to both baits when fed on a mixture of protein and sugar when compared with adults fed the other diets. Finally, we confirmed previous observations indicating that McPhail-type traps are quite inefficient. Considering the total 24-h fly tenure in the cage, and independent of bait treatment and fly type (i.e., strain, adult diet, gender and age), of a total of 2,880 A. obliqua and 2,880 A. ludens adults released into the field cages over the entire study (15 replicates), only 564 (19.6%) and 174 (6%) individuals, respectively, were effectively caught. When only considering the 5-h detailed observation period and independent of bait treatment and fly type, of a total of 785 marked flies that landed on traps (519 females and 266 males, respectively), only 10.3% (144 females and 59 males) and 20.8% (25 females and 18 males) A. obliqua and A. ludens individuals, respectively, ended up being effectively captured. We discuss the practical implications of these findings with respect to developing new baits and designing new traps and to the interpretation of capture results in the field.
Health Insurance Coverage and the Risk of Decline in Overall Health and Death Among the Near Elderly, 1992–2002

Background:Although individuals’ health insurance coverage changes frequently, previous analyses have not accounted for changes in insurance coverage over time. Objective:We sought to determine the independent association between lack of insurance and the risk of a decline in self-reported overall health and death from 1992 to 2002, accounting for changes in self-reported overall health and insurance coverage. Methods:We analyzed data from the Health and Retirement study, a prospective cohort study of a national sample of community-dwelling adults age 51–61 years old at baseline. Major decline in self-reported overall health and mortality was determined at 2-year intervals. Results:People who were uninsured at baseline had a 35% (95% confidence interval [CI] 12–62%) higher risk-adjusted mortality from 1992 to 2002 compared with those with private insurance. However, when we analyzed outcomes over 2-year intervals, individuals who were uninsured at the start of each interval were more likely to have a major decline in their overall health (pooled adjusted relative risk 1.43, 95% CI 1.28–1.63), but they were equally likely to die (pooled adjusted relative risk 0.96, 95% CI 0.73–1.27). Of the 1512 people who were uninsured at baseline, 220 (14.6%) died; of those who died, only 70 (31.8%) were still uninsured at the HRS interview prior to death. Conclusions:Death does not appear to be a short-term consequence of being uninsured. Instead, higher long-term mortality among the uninsured results from erosion in this population's health status over time and the attendant higher mortality associated with this. Most deaths among the uninsured occur after individuals have gained either public or private health insurance.