Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of life as a predictor of weight loss in obese, early-stage breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To investigate whether quality of life (QOL) assessed before weight loss intervention predicts weight loss and, in turn, what the effect of weight loss is on QOL measures after 12 months in early-stage breast cancer survivors. DESIGN A clinical trial of a weight loss intervention in breast cancer survivors. SETTING Community-wide recruitment in Detroit, MI. SAMPLE 39 breast cancer survivors (body mass index = 30-44 kg/m2), within three years of initial diagnosis and at least three months after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. METHODS Participants were randomized to one of three weight loss methods or a control group. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) QOL questionnaire was administered at baseline and after the intervention. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Six subscales of the FACT-An and weight change. FINDINGS Modest but statistically significant associations were found for the physical and functional subscales of the FACT-An with weight loss for 39 subjects who completed 12 months of the study. Those reporting relatively impaired physical or functional QOL at baseline lost more weight, which accounted for 8%-9% of the weight loss variance beyond that resulting from the diet arm assignment. At 12 months, greater weight loss was associated with significant improvements in overall FACT-An score and in the physical, functional, fatigue, and anemia subscales (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Relatively low physical function at baseline was not a barrier to weight loss; indeed, it may have been a motivating factor in adherence to the weight loss intervention. Weight loss was associated with improvement in several QOL subscale measures in breast cancer survivors, but the emotional and social subscales were not affected. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Counseling for weight loss that includes recommendations for exercise should not be withheld for patients with relatively low physical functioning.
Fault-tolerance and self-stabilization: impossibility results and solutions using self-stabilizing failure detectors

Abstract This paper focuses on protocols that are simultaneously resilient to permanent failures (crash faults) and transient failures (memory and message corruption). First, we show that asynchronous round-based and fault-tolerant protocols cannot be transformed into protocols that are simultaneously fault-tolerant and self-stabilizing (ftss), as is otherwise possible in the synchronous mode of computation. Secondly, we show that it is impossible to find the number of processes (i.e. the size) on a family of networks, as it has been proven for the ring network. Finally, we present a ftss protocol for solving ring size by assuming that each process accesses a failure detector. We also propose two self-stabilizing implementations for the failure detector that differ in their degree of tolerance to transient failures.
Analysis of Eddy Current Loss in Permanent Magnet Linear Synchronous Generator Considering Tapped Holes in Movers Using Semi-3-D Analytical Method

This paper describes the analysis of the eddy current loss of a double-sided cored slotless-type permanent magnet linear synchronous generator considering tapped holes in mover magnets using the space harmonic method. To calculate the eddy current, an analytical solution was derived by applying the Maxwell’s equation, magnetic vector potential, and Faraday’s law in a 2-D Cartesian coordinate system. Based on the armature reaction field distribution produced by the armature winding current, we obtained an analytical solution for the eddy current density distribution. Then, an analytical solution for eddy current loss induced in a permanent magnet (PM) was derived using the equivalent electrical resistance calculated from the PM’s volume and eddy current density distribution solution. Finally, the resulting current was determined based on the analysis of eddy current loss. The analytical results produced by using this application of the space harmonic method were validated extensively through comparisons with finite-element method results.
Regularized iterative image restoration with ringing reduction

Linear space-invariant image restoration algorithms often introduce ringing effects near sharp intensity transitions. It is shown that these artifacts are attributable to the regularization of the ill-posed image restoration problem. Two possible methods to reduce the ringing effects in restored images are proposed. The first method incorporates deterministic a priori knowledge about the original image into the restoration algorithm. The second method locally regulates the severity of the noise magnification and the ringing phenomenon, depending on the edge information in the image. A regularized iterative image restoration algorithm is proposed in which both ringing reduction methods are included by making use of the theory of the projections onto convex sets and the concept of norms in a weighted Hilbert space. Both the numerical performance and the visual evaluation of the results are improved by the use of ringing reduction. >
A Solution Method for Multistage Stochastic Programs with Recourse with Application to an Energy Investment Problem

We consider a multistage stochastic program with recourse, with discrete distribution, quadratic objective function and linear inequality constraints. We show that under reasonable assumptions, solving such a program is equivalent to solving a nested sequence of piecewise quadratic programs and we extend the algorithm presented in an earlier report to the multistage situation. Finally, we consider the application of the method to an energy investment problem and report on the results of numerical experiments.
Physical and Functional Interaction of the Yeast Corepressor Tup1 with mRNA 5′-Triphosphatase*

The Tup1-Ssn6 complex is an important corepressor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that inhibits transcription through interactions with the basal transcription machinery and by remodeling chromatin. In a two-hybrid screen for factors that interact with the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Tup1 ortholog, Tup11, we isolated the pct1+ cDNA. The pct1+ gene encodes an mRNA 5′-triphosphatase, which catalyzes the first step of mRNA capping reactions. Pct1 did not interact with the S. pombe Ssn6 ortholog. In vitro glutathione S-transferase pull-down experiments revealed that Pct1 binds to the WD repeat regions of Tup11 and the functionally redundant Tup12 protein. Similarly, the S. cerevisiae Tup1 protein associates with the mRNA 5′-triphosphatase encoded by the CET1 gene. The highly conserved C-terminal domain of Cet1 interacts with Tup1 in vitro, and Tup1-Ssn6 complexes co-purify with the Cet1 protein, indicating that in vivo interactions also occur between these proteins. Over-expression of CET1 compromised repression of an MFA2-lacZ reporter gene that is subject to Tup1-Ssn6 repression. These genetic and biochemical interactions between Tup1-Ssn6 and Cet1 indicate that the capping enzyme associated with RNA polymerase II is a target of the corepressor complex.
Coherent radiation sources based on laser driven plasma waves

Here we explore ways of converting laser radiation into coherent electromagnetic radiation using laser-driven plasma waves. Several schemes are presented, including colliding laser pulses in magnetized plasma and utilizing ultra-short electron bunches from laser wakefield accelerators to produce intense single-cycle pulses through coherent transition radiation and few-cycle coherent synchrotron radiation in undulators and plasma channels. These sources rely on high current electron bunches with femtosecond durations, which can result in radiation over a broad range of frequencies from 1 to 105 THz.
Defining the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The term chronic fatigue syndrome emerged in the course of a workshop 1 convened in 1987 by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, Ga. The goal of the meeting was to forge a workable case definition of an illness that, just 2 years earlier, had been called chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection , but for which there was already mounting evidence against an etiologic role for that agent. The case definition that arose represented a consensus opinion rather than rigorously derived criteria. We participants in the meeting had a fairly clear sense of the illness; we just could not delineate it with precision. Three problems were immediately apparent with the case definition. First, the lack of pathognomonic physical and laboratory findings essentially leaves the definition to rest on a series of unconfirmable symptoms. Second, some of the specifics of the definition are vague and subject to variable interpretation and application,
Alterations in p53 predict response to preoperative high dose chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer

Aims: To evaluate the usefulness of molecular markers in predicting histopathological and clinical response to preoperative high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods: In a phase II trial, 25 patients with metastatic gastric cancer received preoperative tandem HDCT consisting of etoposide, cisplatin, and mitomycin, followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation to achieve surgical resectability. Samples before and after treatment, from normal and tumour tissue, were characterised histopathologically, and both p53 and BAX expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry. Pretreatment formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded samples from normal and tumour tissue were microdissected, and the extracted DNA was preamplified using improved primer extension preamplification polymerase chain reaction. Detection of microsatellite instability (MSI) or loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was performed using markers for p53, BAX, BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D17S250, and APC. Exons 5–9 of the p53 gene were sequenced directly on ABI 373. Results: Four parameters were significantly associated with response to chemotherapy and prolonged overall survival: positive p53 immunostaining, positive p53 mutation status before chemotherapy, strong histological regression induced by preoperative HDCT, and surgical treatment. Patients’s sex or age, tumour location or stage, lymph node status, Lauren classification, MSI, or LOH did not influence duration of survival significantly in this high risk population. Conclusion: Positive p53 immunostaining and p53 mutation status in pretreatment tumour biopsies might be useful molecular predictors of response and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated by preoperative HDCT.
Validation of SPICE, a method to differentiate small bowel submucosal lesions from innocent bulges on capsule endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Small bowel submucosal lesions (SBSL) and innocent bulges may have an identical appearance and be difficult to distinguish on small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). Recently, Girelli et al. proposed a score, smooth, protruding lesion index on capsule endoscopy (SPICE), in order to differentiate between the two. We aimed to evaluate and validate SPICE as a differentiation method between innocent bulges and SBSLs. METHODS We evaluated all SBCEs performed in our department between January 2005 and September 2015, and selected the ones with a smooth, round, protruding lesion in the small bowel. Lesions with suspicious characteristics were excluded. A video clip of the region of interest was created and SPICE was assigned blindly and independently by two endoscopists. We determined the discriminative ability of SPICE using the definitive diagnosis of each patient as the standard criteria. RESULTS We included 30 SBCEs corresponding to 12 SBSLs (four gastrointestinal stromal tumors, two neuroendocrine tumors, four lipomas and two polypoid lymphangiectasias) and 18 innocent bulges. SPICE scores ranged from 0 to 4, allowing the distinction between SBSLs and innocent bulges (p < 0.001). SPICE > 2 had a 66.7% sensitivity, 100.0% specificity, 100.0% positive predictive value and 78.3% negative predictive value, and the area under the curve was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.73-1.00; p < 0.001) for the diagnosis of SBSL. CONCLUSIONS Our data support SPICE, namely a score > 2, as a predictive method of SBSLs. Taking into account its simplicity, it may be very useful in the distinction between SBSLs and innocent bulges on SBCE.
Evaluation of the Effects of Chlorophyllin on Apoptosis Induction, Inhibition of Cellular Proliferation and mRNA Expression of CASP8, CASP9, APC and $-catenin

Chlorophyllin is a semi-synthetic derivative of chlorophyll with antioxidant and antimutagen properties that controls the enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and in the induction of apoptosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of chlorophyllin on apoptosis induction, inhibition of cell proliferation, and gene expression in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HT29. Chlorophyllin significantly reduced cell survival after 48 h at 100 :g/mL and after 24 h at 500 or 1,000 :g/mL, respectively based on both MTT cytotoxicity and cell proliferation kinetics assays. These effects were dose dependent. Chlorophyllin did not induce apoptosis after 24 h at any concentration. Chlorophyllin downregulated the cell cycle genes APC and $-catenin (CTNNB1) but did not affect the expression of apoptotic induction genes in the extrinsic pathway (CASP8) or the intrinsic pathway (CASP9). At the studied concentrations, the inhibitory effect of chlorophyllin on cell growth was directly related to the regulation of $-catenin gene expression and not to APC expression, because APC was mutated and inactive. The studied concentrations suggest no potential for chlorophyllin as an apoptosis inducer based on cytomorphological changes or gene expression changes of the studied caspases.
As Others See Us: A Case Study in Path Analysis

In 1967, Blau and Duncan proposed a path model for education and stratification. This is one of the most influential applications of statistical modeling technique to social data. There is recent use of the same technique inHope’s (1984) comparative study of Scotland and the United States, As Others See Us: Schooling and Social Mobility in Scotland and the United States. A review of path analysis is offered here, with Hope’s model used as an example, the object being to suggest the limits of the method in analyzing complex phenomena.
Robust Adaptive Beamforming With Precise Main Beam Control

Many efforts have been recently devoted to robust adaptive beamforming with main beam control such that sufficient robustness against large look direction mismatches can be achieved by flexibly adjusting the beamwidth and response ripple. However, most of the existing approaches inherently rely on assuming an exactly known array manifold, but have not yet addressed the issue of robust beamforming with precise main beam control in the presence of arbitrary steering vector uncertainties. This motivates us to develop a robust beamforming approach that is capable of accurately controlling the array main beam. Unlike the conventional methods, steering vector uncertainties are taken into account in the magnitude response constraints of the adaptive beamformer. This allows us to control the main beam as prescribed. As the resultant nonconvex problem has a more complicated formulation than that of the existing methods, techniques developed for solving the problem of robust beamforming with magnitude response constraints cannot be employed directly. To tackle this problem, the lower and upper norm bounds of the beamformer weight vector are derived. The semidefinite relaxation technique is then employed as approximate solver, ending up with iterative, grid search, and linearization solutions. Simulation results show that the proposed methods are able to precisely control the main beam magnitude response in the presence of steering vector uncertainties.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Neuropsychological Testing After Middle Fossa Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

Objective: To analyze temporal lobe gliosis and temporal lobe dysfunction after middle fossa vestibular schwannoma surgery. Study Design: Temporal lobe analysis of a series of cases. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Thirty-two patients after enlarged middle fossa surgery (EMFS) and 20 subjects for control (preferably husbands/wives). Interventions: Magnetic resonance evaluation of the temporal lobe and neuropsychological testing. Main Outcome Measures: Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal lobe 1 year after treatment and neuropsychological testing (Berliner Amnesia Test [BAT], Boston Naming Test [BT], Token Test, Beck Depression Inventory, Freiburger Personality Inventory). Results: Temporal lobe gliosis after EMFS was observed in 22 of 32 analyzed patients (degree of gliosis: 11, slight; 9, moderate; 2, severe). Neuropsychological testing of 23 of the 32 previously analyzed patients after EMFS compared with control subjects (n = 20) found only in few subdomains (figural score, personality test) statistically significant worse test results, but no major disturbances of the temporal lobe function compared with the control group. Only one patient with a finding of severe temporal lobe gliosis was proven in the BAT and BT to have a temporal lobe deficit. Conclusion: In a significant number of patients, temporal lobe gliosis has to be expected after EMFS; however, the gliosis is only slight or moderate in most of the patients and not associated with essential functional deficits of the temporal lobe. Nevertheless, the possibility of a severe temporal lobe gliosis with functional deficits in the BAT and BT has to be taken into consideration.
Commentary: biostatistics, biological mechanisms and Bayes: lessons from the magnesium trials.

The controversy which has surrounded the interpretation of the randomized controlled trials (RCT) of intravenous Mg 2+ in acute myocardial infarction has focused attention on the place of both meta-analysis and the mega-trial in therapeutic research. Stated simply, a fixed-effects meta-analysis of seven small controlled trials indicated a highly significant 55% reduction in odds of death among Mg 2+ treated patients. These early findings prompted a conventionally powered RCT in 2300 patients (LIMIT-2). Patients allocated to receive intravenous Mg 2+ for 24 hours experienced relative reductions of 24% (95% CI : 1–43%) in 28-day mortality, 25% (95% CI : 7–39%) in early left ventricular failure and 21% (95% CI : 5–35%) in coronary heart disease mortality during 1–5 years' follow-up. 1 Separately, a very similar Mg 2+ regimen was examined in ISIS-4, a factorial mega-trial which enrolled 58 000 patients worldwide (the other treatments being oral captopril and oral nitrate). 2 ISIS-4 showed no significant mortality reduction in the Mg 2+ group. How can these findings be reconciled? What does this experience tell us about the interpretation of trials in general and the therapeutic role of Mg 2+ in particular? Higgins and Spiegelhalter have now examined the potential contribution of classical and Bayesian meta-analysis to the resolution of these inconsistencies. 3 They conclude that neither a fixed-effects nor a random-effects model of classical meta-analysis adequately describes the results of the 15 magnesium trials now available. Both are, however, informative. The fixed-effects model reveals the extreme heterogeneity which arises when the ISIS-4 result is added to the other 14 (P Ͻ 0.0002). The inference is that ISIS-4 differed in some rather fundamental way, which should prompt a close examination of the delivered protocol. A meta-analysis with a random-effects model yields a highly significant pooled odds ratio (0.53, 95% CI : 0.36–0.77) for all 15 trials including ISIS-4. If the underlying assumptions of that model are accepted, it can be inferred from the totality of the evidence that Mg 2+ treatment is beneficial despite the null result of ISIS-4. Choice of model entails a judgement of how much weight should be accorded to a mega-trial by virtue of its size alone. The rationale for the very large, simple trial is the precision with which small treatment effects can be distinguished from random error. However, size per se does not make the estimate intrinsic-ally more valid or more generalizable than a conventional trial. …
[Ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle - clinical results after operative and non-operative treatment].

AIM Ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle should be treated operatively due to the expected loss of strength following conservative treatment. Minimal-invasive surgery technique using suture anchors can lead to perfect anatomical refixation of the muscle. We report mid-term clinical results. METHODS We present clinical results of a comparative study concerning ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle. Between 2001 and 2006 a total number of 9 patients were treated operatively using suture anchors. The surgical procedure is described. A control group (n = 4) consisted of patients being treated conservatively in 1999 und 2000. For evaluation of results Bak's score was used. RESULTS The mean follow-up-time was six months. We found 4 very good and 4 good results, only one patient showed a satisfying result. Among the patients who had followed the conservative treatment regime only one had a good outcome while three patients remained in a satisfying condition. All type-1-ruptures according to Roller showed postoperatively nearly equal strength conditions for both sides. CONCLUSION The operative treatment of acute ruptures of the pectoralis major muscle in active people and athletes leads to better results concerning restoration of strength than conservative or delayed treatment. The surgical technique depends upon the type of rupture which has to be determined intraoperatively. The use of suture anchors aiming for intraosseous fixation helps to avoid intraoperative complications and leads to stable conditions with nearly full restoration of strength.
Interdependence between temporal and ambient spatial variations of a successive sound sequence

Time and space are interdependent in perception. The most typical example is that the temporal and spatial patterns of three successive stimuli, defining two inter-onset intervals and two spatial distances, can respectively affect the experience of spatial and temporal variations. In regard to auditory modality, most studies have equated pitch space with ambient space and demonstrated that each of the temporal and pitch intervals can affect the respective perceptual pitch and temporal variations. A very interesting question is whether the interdependence between temporal and ambient spatial variations, not pitch variations, could be found when successive sounds differ in location. To investigate what effect temporal variations in a successive sound sequence had on the experience of spatial variations, we measured the subjective differences between two neighboring distances (Experiment 1) and subjective absolute locations (Experiment 2) when three successive sounds, S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 , were presented to participants from different loudspeakers. The results demonstrated that varying the time interval between S 1 and S 2 (t 1 ) and between S 2 and S 3 (t 2 ) affected the perceived spatial distances between the sounds. If t 1 was larger than t 2 , the subjective distance between S 1 and S 2 (d 1 ) was greater than that between S 2 and S 3 (d 2 ), although the physical distances of d 1 and d 2 were identical. The results indicate that there is a typical Tau effect in auditory modality, and the auditory Tau effect is caused by the mislocalization of S 2 . Furthermore, the findings suggest that a perceptual, not physical, temporal pattern affects the experience of the auditory spatial layout. Spatial information on successive sounds may be organized after a sound sequence is temporally structured.