Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudoprogression in microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer during treatment with combination T cell mediated immunotherapy: a case report and literature review

Evading tumor-mediated immunosuppression through antibodies to immune checkpoints has shown clinical benefit in patients with select solid tumors. There is a heterogeneity of responses in patients receiving immunotherapy, including pseudoprogression in which the tumor burden increases initially before decreasing to reach disease control. The characteristics and basis of pseudoprogression, however, remains poorly understood. We hereby report a case of microsatellite instability (MSI)-high metastatic colorectal cancer treated with combination of OX40 agonist and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antagonist that demonstrated pseudoprogression reaching 163% increase from baseline tumor burden. Tumor regression was subsequently observed and patient has remained in stable disease. Despite the substantial radiological progression, the symptomatic improvement reported by the patient led us to the decision of treatment continuation based on the suspicion of pseudoprogression, illustrating the importance of clinical evaluation in medical decision making while managing patients on immunotherapy. Additionally, the patient's MSI-high status contributes to his good, maintained response to PD-L1 blockade. Our case provides a frame of reference for fluctuation in tumor burden associated with pseudoprogression. Here we also evaluate the incidence and scale of pseudoprogression across solid tumor types.
Characterization and Identification of Borrelia Isolates as Borrelia valaisiana in Taiwan and Kinmen Islands

Eleven pure cultures of Borrelia from 3 species of wild rodents (Apodemus agrarius, Mus formosanus, Rattus losea) captured in Taichung, located in the center of Taiwan island, and on Kinmen Island were characterized. Five isolates showed restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of 5S‐23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer sequences identical to those of strains 5MT and 10MT, identified as Borrelia valaisiana, which were isolated in the southern tip of South Korea. Although the remaining six isolates showed novel RFLP patterns, these isolates showed more similarity to members of B. valaisiana from Korea, Japan and Europe based on 16S rRNA gene and flagellin gene sequences. This led us to speculate that transmission and proliferation of this type of borrelia occurred between Taiwan and the southern part of South Korea.
The level of importance and level of confidence that midwives in the United States attach to using genetics in practice.

INTRODUCTION The clinical application of genetic advances has the potential to transform preconception and pregnancy care and improve pregnancy outcomes. The study aim was to evaluate the level of importance and level of confidence that midwives in the United States attach to using genetics in practice. METHODS The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, online survey with a convenience sample of certified nurse-midwives who were active members of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and provided midwifery care in the United States. The survey contained genetic case studies and questions related to genetic activities that occur in clinical practice. Participants were asked to rate how important each genetic activity is to midwifery practice generally and their personal level of confidence in carrying out the stated activity at the present time; questions were rated on a Likert-type scale of 1 (not at all important, not at all confident) to 4 (essential, confident to teach). RESULTS There were 612 survey responses from among the 4244 active members of ACNM (14.42%). Most midwives believed that genetics-related activities were very important or essential to their clinical practices, but they were only moderately confident in their abilities to perform these activities. The average importance survey score was 88%, and the average confidence survey score was 70%. Some midwives (17.5%) thought that taking a 3-generation family history was essential, and some midwives (20.9%) were extremely confident in their abilities to perform this activity. Almost all midwives (98.5%) indicated that they wanted to learn more about genetics and genomics. DISCUSSION Genetics education programs need to be developed and made available to midwives to increase their confidence levels in using genetics in clinical practice.
Dynamic Tournament Design: An Application to Prediction Contests

We build a tractable structural model to study the dynamic participation incentives in online competitions. We estimate the model using publicly available data from 17 prediction contests hosted by the website Kaggle.com. We study how participants’ incentives are shaped by the contest design in a series of counterfactual exercises. Specifically, we study how disclosing a leaderboard, awarding different number of prizes, and capping the number of participants affect the participants’ incentives to make submissions throughout the contest as well as the contest outcomes.
Gendered impacts of agricultural subsidies in Zambia

Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa have been implementing agricultural subsidy programs aimed to raise productivity and promote household food security, among other things. Despite positing some gains in raising productivity, subsidies through the conventional or traditional Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) have been found to crowd out demand for commercial fertilizer. This paper asks if subsidies can reduce the gendered productivity gaps in agriculture. Applying panel data methods to the two-wave Rural Agricultural Livelihoods Surveys data collected in 2012 and 2015, the study found that male-managed plots had an average 34 kg/ha yield advantage over female-managed plots, suggesting gendered productivity gaps. The main empirical results suggest that access to FISP does not disproportionately raise crop productivity for female-managed plots. Thus, FISP is insufficient to address the male-female productivity gaps. While improving access to productive inputs for women is important to address gender productivity gaps, this will need to be complemented with deliberate measures to address the social-cultural norms that tip the balance of power dynamics, rights and entitlements towards men.
A TRANSDUCER FOR THE CONTINUOUS EXTERNAL MEASUREMENT OF ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURE.

The objective of the research was to develop a transducer to measure arterial blood pressure. It was required that the transducer provide a continuous measure of blood pressure, that it not encumber the subject and that it not require cannulation. Two basic techniques were investigated both analytically and experimentally. First, an indirect measurement of blood pressure based on arterial deflection was attempted. Difficulties of calibration; and sensitivity to physiological changes of skin and tissue around the artery led to the decision to attempt a more direct measurement of arterial blood pressure. In this second approach, arterial deflection is restrained by the transducer and the resultant restraining force is measured. A mathematical model of the transducer artery system was developed and was used as a guide for the design of the experimental prototype transducers. Tests performed on these experimental transducers gave results consistent with the predictions of the model. These transducers have been used to measure blood pressure at large superficial arteries, with results comparable to sphygmomanometer determinations.
First-principles and Many-Body Methods: Implementations and Applications to Study Spintronic Materials

Diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) and magnetoresistive materials are instrumental for the development of spintronic technology. Before we are able to engineer spintronic devices, it is necessary to understand the properties of materials from which spintronic devices are made, otherwise time and other resources will be wasted. In this thesis, we investigate some aspects of diluted magnetic semiconductors and a magnetoresistive material Ta 2 PdSe 6 with ﬁrst-principle and many-body methods. Particularly, we investigate the Mn valence in (Ga,Mn)N and derive low-energy models of (Ga,Mn)N by making use of a ﬁrst-principles Wannier-function analysis. Additionally, we also study the disorder-driven localization in DMSs with the typical-medium theory (TMT). Finally, we present a discussion about the investigation of the mechanism behind Ta 2 PdSe 6 magnetoresistance. From a ﬁrst-principles Wannier-function analysis, we ﬁnd unambiguously the Mn valence in (Ga,Mn)N to be close to 2+ ( d 5 ), but in a mixed spin conﬁguration with average magnetic moments of 4 µ B . By integrating out high-energy degrees of freedom diﬀerently, we further derive for the ﬁrst time from two low-energy pictures that reﬂect the intrinsic dual nature of the doped holes in the (Ga,Mn)N: 1) an eﬀective d 4 picture ideal for local physics, and 2) an eﬀective d 5 picture suitable for extended properties. Furthermore, our results further reveal a few novel physical eﬀects and pave the way for future realistic studies of magnetism. Our study not only resolves one the outstanding key of the ﬁeld, but also the general multiple eﬀective the rich in
Medication Routines and Adherence Among Hypertensive African Americans

Poor adherence to prescribed medication regimens remains an important challenge preventing successful treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. While studies have documented differences in the time of day or weekday vs weekend on medication adherence, no study has examined whether having a medication‐taking routine contributes to increased medication adherence. The purpose of this study was to: (1) identify patients’ sociodemographic factors associated with consistent medication‐taking routine; (2) examine associations between medication‐taking consistency, medication adherence, and blood pressure (BP) control. The study included black patients with hypertension (n = 190; 22 men and 168 women; age, mean±standard deviation 54 ± 12.08 years) who completed a practice‐based randomized controlled trial. Findings showed that medication‐taking consistency was significantly associated with better medication adherence (F = 9.54, P = .002). Associations with the consistency index were not statistically significant for diastolic BP control (odds ratio, 1.319; 95% confidence interval, 0.410–4.246; P = .642) and systolic BP control (odds ratio, 0.621; 95% confidence interval, 0.195–1.974; P = .419).
Liage sensoriel par l’action : rôle des modèles internes et approche diagnostique dans le cadre de la maladie d’Alzheimer

Si la perception de notre environnement parait simple et naturelle, les attributs visuels composant les differents objets sont traites dans des espaces temps qui leur sont propres en engageant des voies neuronales distinctes. La question du liage des informations sensorielles en un percept unique est alors posee. Dans le cadre de cette these, la question du liage sensoriel a ete etudiee au regard des actes moteurs volontaires. En situation d'observation passive, le point de simultaneite subjective (PSS) montre qu'un changement de couleur doit se produire 40 ms avant un changement de position pour donner lieu a une perception synchrone des deux evenements. L'execution d'un mouvement d'atteinte manuelle reduit significativement ce PSS (-3.3 ms) uniquement lorsque le delai et l'ecart spatial entre la fin de l'action motrice et les changements environnementaux n'excede pas 250 ms (-0,6 ms) et 2 cm ( 3,8 ms). Cependant, dans le cas ou une situation d'apprentissage est induite par la presence de nouvelles contingences sensori-motrices, le liage sensoriel par l'action peut etre observe pour des intervalles de temps plus grands (jusqu'a 1000 ms). Ce liage sensoriel par l'action, mis en evidence pour la premiere fois, serait sous-tendu par les mecanismes predictifs associes aux modeles internes. Une derniere etude a revele l'interet diagnostique de l'etude des relations perception/action au cours du vieillissement. Des profils de reponse specifique ont ete observes chez des patients de type Alzheimer lors de tâches testant les relations perception/action. Ces etudes apportent des arguments en faveur d'un role important de l'action dans la perception et la cognition.
Biosynthesis of eicosanoids and transcellular metabolism of leukotrienes in murine bone marrow cells Published, JLR Papers in Press, December 18, 2006.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) biosynthesis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) is an important factor of inflammatory responses. PMNs also release LTA4, an unstable intermediate that can be taken up by neighboring cells and metabolized into LTC4. Most studies of LT synthesis have been carried out using human PMNs, but very little information is available about mouse PMNs. Mouse bone marrow PMNs were found to synthesize eicosanoids upon stimulation with A23187, fMLP, or zymosan. The major eicosanoids produced are LTB4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, with some nonenzymatic products of LTA4 hydrolysis. No cysteinyl leukotrienes were produced, in contrast to what was observed with human blood neutrophil preparations. Human megakaryoblast-like MEG-01 cells synthesized thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin E2 in response to A23187 but produced no 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)-derived eicosanoids. When mouse bone marrow cells (mBMCs) and MEG-01 cells were stimulated during coincubation, LTC4 and LTD4 were produced. Mouse peritoneal macrophages from 5-LO-deficient mice were able to synthesize LTC4 when incubated with mBMCs from wild-type mice, demonstrating transcellular exchange of LTA4 from mBMCs into murine peritoneal macrophages. These data demonstrate that murine bone marrow PMNs are a valid model for the study of LT biosynthesis, which now offers the possibility to investigate specific biochemical pathways through the use of transgenic mice.
Microbaculum marinum gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from deep seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium, designated HSF11T, was isolated from deep seawater of the South China Sea. Growth was observed at 20-40 °C (optimum 35 °C), pH 5.0-8.5 (optimum pH 7.0-7.5) and with 0-7 % NaCl (optimum 2 %). Bacteriochlorophyll a and poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) granules were not detected. Nitrate could be reduced to nitrite. The major fatty acids (≥5 %) of strain HSF11T were C19 : 0cyclo ω8c, C18 : 0 and C16 : 0. The isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids (PL1, PL2), one unknown aminolipid (AL1) and three unknown lipids (L1, L3, L4). The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.7 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain HSF11T was most closely related to Tepidamorphus gemmatus DSM 19345T (95.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Lutibaculum baratangense KCTC 22669T (95.2 %). On the basis of the genotypic, phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain HSF11T represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Microbaculum marinum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is HSF11T (=KCTC 52 363T=MCCC 1K03192T).
Psychometric Properties of a Japanese Version of an Academic Self-Concept Scale for College Students.

This paper reports on a study to investigate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the academic self-concept scale of the Dimensions of Self Concept (DOSC). The original version was designed to assess the six dimensions of academic self-concept levels of aspiration; anxiety; academic interest and satisfaction; leadership and initiative; identification versus alienation; and stress. College students (N =158) attending a private university in Tokyo participated in the study. Analysis suggests that the Japanese version of the DOSC Scale Form H is a multidimensional scale measuring the six hypothesized constructs of academic self concept. As colleges and universities accept students from other countries, students will begin to assimilate to a new culture. Educators need to be aware of how assimilation can lead to a change in how students appraise themselves. The DOSC Scale Form H can serve as a useful tool to help understand student attrition. (Contains 32 references and 3 tables.) (JDM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF A JAPANESE VERSION OF AN ACADEMIC SELF-CONCEPT SCALE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS DR. CHIE MATSUZAWA PAIK UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND MR. WILLIAM B. MICHAEL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. CD Points of view or opinions stated in this T document do not necessarily represent CO official OERI position or policy. CD . (.9 0 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
Structured Probabilistic Modelling for Dialogue Management

This thesis presents a new modelling framework for dialogue management based on the concept of probabilistic rules. Probabilistic rules are defined as if.then. else constructions associating logical conditions on input variables to probabilistic effects over output variables. These rules function as high-level templates for the generation of a directed graphical model. Their expressive power allows them to represent the probabilistic models employed in dialogue management in a compact and efficient manner. As a consequence, they can drastically reduce the amount of interaction data required for parameter estimation as well as enhance the system’s ability to generalise over unseen situations. Furthermore, probabilistic rules can also be exploited to encode domain-specific constraints and assumptions into statistical models of dialogue, thereby enabling system designers to incorporate their expert knowledge of the problem structure in a concise and human-readable form. Due to their integration of logical and probabilistic reasoning, we argue that probabilistic rules are particularly well suited to devise hybrid models of dialogue management that can account for both the complexity and uncertainty that characterise many dialogue domains. The thesis also demonstrates how the parameters of probabilistic rules can be efficiently estimated using both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques. In the case of supervised learning, the rule parameters are learned by imitation on the basis of small amounts of Wizardof-Oz data. Alternatively, rule parameters can also be optimised via trial and error from repeated interactions with a (real or simulated) user. Both learning strategies rely on Bayesian inference to iteratively estimate the parameter values and provide the best fit for the observed interaction data. Three consecutive experiments conducted in a human–robot interaction domain attest to the practical viability of the proposed framework and its advantages over traditional approaches. In particular, the empirical results of a user evaluation with 37 participants show that a dialogue manager structured with probabilistic rules outperforms both purely hand-crafted and purely statistical methods on an extensive range of subjective and objective metrics of dialogue quality. The modelling framework presented in this thesis is implemented in a new software toolkit called OpenDial, which is made freely available to the research community and can be used to develop various types of dialogue systems based on probabilistic rules.1 1The toolkit is released under an open source license and can be downloaded at: http://opendial.googlecode. com.
A Comparison of DWT/PAA and DFT for Time Series Classification

Discrete Fourier transforms (DFT) and Haar two, PAA is identical to a Haar Wavelet transformation [61. wavelets (DWT) were proposed for the use in time series data mining over five years ago and have since proved to be popular algorithms for the transformation and compression of time dependent data, particularly for strawman comparisons to new.
Stand Up and be Counted—A Diverse Economy Perspective of Air New Zealand

ABSTRACT Discussions about diverse economies have often been positioned in opposition to profit-focused global economic activity, whereas local communities are often assumed to be sites of diverse economies that embrace economic and non-economic exchanges. We argue that the perceived binary between global profit-focused economic activity and diverse economic/non-economic exchanges based on local community values should be challenged. Major companies, such as airlines, can create diverse models of economic exchange and participate in the diverse economies dialogue. Using Air New Zealand as a case study, this research provides tangible examples of how diverse economies can be operationalised. Employing qualitative content analysis from 35 online documents concerning the airline, it is argued that diverse economies can be actively co-created by large organisations by activating different stakeholder interests. This paper contributes to the re-framing of diverse economies thinking, which generally focuses on local communities, towards the global business environment, and offers a perspective on how large global businesses that are significantly regulated and focused on market capitalisation, might also progress diverse economies.
Negative autoregulation of c‐myc transcription.

The introduction of activated c‐myc and v‐myc genes into a variety of non‐established and established cells results in the suppression of endogenous c‐myc expression. As measured in Rat‐1 fibroblasts, the suppression occurs at the level of transcriptional initiation. Moreover, the extent of the down‐regulation is proportional to the cellular concentration of c‐myc protein, and the critical concentration range in which the endogenous c‐myc RNA is effectively suppressed corresponds to that found in non‐transformed cells. In addition, the autoregulatory mechanism is not only dependent on c‐myc protein, but also requires additional trans‐acting factors. These results support a role for c‐myc in the regulation of cellular gene transcription and suggest that a negative feedback mechanism can act as a homeostatic regulator of c‐myc expression in vivo.
The coverage of blogs and news in the three major altmetric data providers

The objective of this study is to compare the coverage of the three main altmetric data providers (PlumX, Altmetric.com and Crossref Event Data) according to blog posts and news. The paper emphasizes the coverage the events that mention publications with the purpose of observing the media coverage and overlap between services. More than 100,000 random publications from Crossref were searched in the three providers. The link, title and source of the events that mention each document were retrieved. Results show that the number of publications mentioned in blogs (9.9%) and news (4.8%) is very low, being Altmetric.com the service with more documents mentioned by blogs (6%) and news (3.7%). Altmetric.com also covers more blogs (37.8%), while PlumX collects a large number of news media (36.5%). The overlap between the altmetric providers is rather low in publications (7.4%), events (0.5%) and sources (4.1%). The study concludes that the employment of several providers is necessary to undertake any reliable altmetric study.