Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term follow-up and histological changes of superficial nonmelanoma skin cancers treated with topical delta-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the immediate and long-term effects of photodynamic therapy with delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA-PDT) on superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and superficial squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). DESIGN Retrospective study with 60 months of maximal follow-up. SETTING University-based hospital in Graz, Austria. PATIENTS Forty-seven subjects with a total of 95 superficial BCC and 35 superficial SCC. INTERVENTIONS A compound of 20% delta-aminolevulinic acid was topically applied under an occlusive and light-shielding dressing before exposure to either UV-A or different wave bands of polychromatic visible light (full-spectrum visible light, >515, >570, or >610 nm). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary tumor responses and recurrence rates in the long-term follow-up, as well as histological changes associated with ALA-PDT, were studied. RESULTS The complete primary response rate for all wave bands of light was 86% (82/95) for superficial BCC and 54% (19/35) for superficial SCC. There was no statistically significant difference among the response rates to the different wave bands of light. After a median follow-up of 19 months (range, 3-60 months) for BCC and 8 months (range, 3-47 months) for SCC, the overall recurrence rate was 44% (36/81) and 69% (11/16), respectively. At 36 months after therapy, the projected disease-free rate was 50% (95% confidence interval, 43%-57%) for BCC vs 8% (95% confidence interval, 7%-9%) for SCC (P<.001, log-rank test). Histopathologic studies revealed a significant increase of fibrosis in the dermis after ALA-PDT and appearance of a sharp border between fibrotic and nonfibrotic tissue. In 15 of 16 BCC examined, the border between fibrotic and nonfibrotic tissue was deeper in the dermis than the maximum tumor thickness before therapy (P<.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Similar histopathologic observations were made in SCC. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed poor long-term cure rates for superficial BCC and SCC treated with topical ALA-PDT and visible light. The histopathologic observations showing remarkable fibrosis in the dermis indicated that the effect of ALA-PDT reached deeper than the initial depth of invasiveness of the neoplastic tissue, suggesting in turn that the poor long-term results of ALA-PDT cannot be explained by insufficient penetration of the therapy effect.
Adjustment of Treatment Effect for Covariates in Clinical Trials: Statistical and Regulatory Issues

Covariates that affect the outcome of a disease are often incorporated into the design and analysis of clinical trials. This serves two main purposes: 1. To improve the credibility of the trial results by demonstrating that any observed treatment effect is not accounted for by an imbalance in patient characteristics, and 2. To improve statistical efficiency. In this paper, we review procedures for the adjustment of treatment effects for the influence of covariates and discuss some statistical and regulatory issues on the applications of these procedures.
Failure of recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing Plasmodium falciparum antigens to protect Saimiri monkeys against malaria

Saimiri sciurus monkeys were immunized at multiple sites with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing Plasmodium falciparum antigen genes and boosted 4 weeks later. Control monkeys were immunized with a thymidine kinase-negative vaccinia virus mutant. Two weeks later, all of the monkeys were challenged by intravenous inoculation of P. falciparum (Indochina strain) parasites. A group of unimmunized monkeys was challenged in parallel. All of the monkeys that received vaccinia virus recombinants or the control virus produced good anti-vaccinia virus antibody responses. However, those that received a single construct containing ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) given at eight sites did not produce significant antibody to any of the three major RESA repeat epitopes after immunization but were primed for an enhanced antibody response after challenge infection with P. falciparum. Most of the monkeys produced detectable antibodies to the RESA epitopes after challenge infection. One group of monkeys was immunized with four constructs (expressing RESA, two merozoite surface antigens [MSA-1 and MSA-2], and a rhoptry protein [AMA-1]), each given at two sites. While these monkeys failed to produce significant antibody against MSA-2 or AMA-1 after immunization, they produced enhanced responses against these antigens after challenge infection. Immunization involved an allelic form of MSA-2 different from that present in the parasite challenge strain, so that the enhanced responses seen after challenge infection indicated the presence of T-cell epitopes common to both allelic forms. No groups of monkeys showed any evidence of protection against challenge, as determined by examination of the resulting parasitemias.
A wide band, low phase noise, differential YIG Tuned Oscillator

YIG Tuned Oscillators (YTO) offer an unbeatable combination of broad band electronic tuning and extremely low phase noise. However traditional YTO designs require significant highly skilled and expensive alignment labor. Differential YTOs (DYTOs) minimizes bandwidth limiting parasitic effects and require no RF grounds. Additionally, only the phase dispersive active devices limit electronic tuning bandwidth. DYTOs are extremely simple circuits consists of three BJT active devices, a YIG sphere, and two coupling loops. The extra wide bandwidth non-dispersive phase shift required to fulfill start oscillation conditions is provided by simply reversing the sense of the YIG sphere's coupling loops. DYTOs may be easily adapted to IC various technologies. Hybrid prototype bandwidths exceeding one decade (2 GHz to 20 GHz) are demonstrated with extremely low phase noise of -150 dBc per Hz at a 1 MHz offset.
Contact-free Infrared Thermography for Assessing Effects during Acupuncture: A Randomized, Single-blinded, Placebo-controlled Crossover Clinical Trial

Background:Although evidence of its effects is tentative, acupuncture has long been used in the treatment of multiple maladies. So far, it has not been possible to discriminate the effects of the venue from specific results of needling itself, thus physicians merely depend on patients’ statements. The authors investigated the efficacy of infrared thermography in distinguishing response to true acupuncture as compared to nonacupoint cutaneous and muscular needling (sham or minimal acupuncture), as well as without manipulation. Methods:Thermographic imaging was performed in 50 healthy volunteers randomly assigned to four groups: Acupuncture of Hegu (LI 4), needling of a cutaneous and a muscular point where no acupuncture point has been described yet, and without manipulation. In a crossover protocol, each proband completed all four arms of the protocol in a random order. Infrared thermograms were gathered at defined points in each group. Results:A significant increase in surface temperature occurred within 2 min after needling the acupuncture point Hegu (from 30.1 ± 2.7°C [SD] to 31.2 ± 3.0°C and to 31.9 ± 2.5°C after 10 min, P < 0.001), whereas needling of the cutaneous and muscular point, as well as without any manipulation resulted in a decrease of temperature in the monitored area. Conclusion:Contact-free infrared thermographic imaging is a reliable and easy-to-handle tool to distinguish between needling at Hegu and needling of a nonacupoint (“sham” acupuncture).
Comparison between sine wave fitting and zero-crossing methods applied to QCM impedance measurements

This paper presents a comparison between two algorithms for sinusoidal signal characterization applied to QCM impedance measurements. These algorithms are the zero crossing and peak detection method and the 7 parameters sine-fitting method. Simulation and experimental results from both methods are shown in order to determine which method provides the best performance in terms of accuracy. Obtaining a precise value of the QCM impedance depends directly on the precise measurement of the amplitude and phase of two sinusoidal voltages. It was found that the sine-fitting method achieves better results without an excessive associated computational burden. These results will be applied to the development of a new technique for biofilm characterization based on multiple QCM impedance measurements.
Rapid diagnosis of acute pyogenic meningitis by a combined PCR dot-blot assay.

A multiplex PCR was employed to amplify unique conserved sequences of DNA from the pathogens Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae from cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients suffering from acute pyogenic meningitis. The accurate identification of the PCR amplified product was achieved by hybridizing dot-blots of the PCR products to probes which were specific, biotinylated internal sequences of the amplified target DNA. Detection of the hybrids was done in a colour reaction using streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate and BCIP/NBT substrates. The entire protocol took only 7 h for the correct identification of the pathogen present in clinical samples of cerebrospinal fluid. The sensitivity and specificity were >95%.
What Predicts Outcome, Response, and Drop-out in CBT of Depressive Adults? A Naturalistic Study

Background: The efficacy of CBT for unipolar depressive disorders is well established, yet not all patients improve or tolerate treatment. Aims: To identify factors associated with symptomatic outcome, response, and drop-out in depressive patients under naturalistic CBT. Method: 193 patients with major depression or dysthymia were tested. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were entered as predictors in hierarchical regression analyses. Results: A higher degree of pretreatment depression, early improvement, and completion of therapy were identified as predictors for symptomatic change and response. Drop-out was predicted by concurrent personality disorder, less positive outcome expectancies, and by failure to improve early in treatment. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of early response to predict improvement in routine CBT. Attempts to refine the quality of treatment programs should focus on avoiding premature termination (drop-out) and consider motivational factors in more depth. Routinely administered standardized assessments would enhance symptom monitoring and help to identify persons at risk of not improving under therapy.
Mechanisms of Porphyroblast Crystallization: Results from High-Resolution Computed X-ray Tomography

Quantitative three-dimensional analysis of rock textures is now possible with the use of high-resolution computed x-ray tomography. When applied to metamorphic rocks, this technique provides data on the sizes and positions of minerals that allow mechanisms of porphyroblast crystallization to be identified. Statistical analysis of the sizes and spatial disposition of thousands of garnet crystals in three regionally metamorphosed rocks with diverse mineralogies, in conjunction with simple numerical models for crystallization, reveals in all cases the dominance of crystallization mechanisms whose kinetics are governed by rates of intergranular diffusion of nutrients.
Neuromyelitis optica: clinical features, immunopathogenesis and treatment

The term ‘neuromyelitis optica’ (‘Devic's syndrome’, NMO) refers to a syndrome characterized by optic neuritis and myelitis. In recent years, the condition has raised enormous interest among scientists and clinical neurologists, fuelled by the detection of a specific serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G reactivity (NMO‐IgG) in up to 80% of patients with NMO. These autoantibodies were later shown to target aquaporin‐4 (AQP4), the most abundant water channel in the central nervous system (CNS). Here we give an up‐to‐date overview of the clinical and paraclinical features, immunopathogenesis and treatment of NMO. We discuss the widening clinical spectrum of AQP4‐related autoimmunity, the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and new diagnostic means such as optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of NMO, the role of NMO‐IgG, T cells and granulocytes in the pathophysiology of NMO, and outline prospects for new and emerging therapies for this rare, but often devastating condition.
SENTIMENT CLASSIFICATION FOR DOMAIN ADAPTATION USING CROSS DOMAINS

Sentiment analysis aims to determine the attitude and the feelings of the opinion holder for the given reviews. Reviews contain features and opinion. Automatic extraction of customer opinion which is used by both manufacturers and customers. The Sentiment Classifier might classify reviews as positive or negative based on the sentiment expressed in review. Sentiment classification is domain dependent that is the same opinion word gives different meaning in different domains. Cross domains sentiment classification must identify the source domain features that are related to the target domain features. Classify reviews as positive Also the Challenges of training a classifier from one or more domains and applying the trained classifier on different domain are handled here. Most of the sentiment analysis tool handles single domain or domain specific.
Secondary-ion emission from phenylalanine induced by atomic and molecular MeV ion beams.

Relative yields of positive and negative secondary ions are measured for atomic and molecular MeV ion beam impinging on a phenylalanine target. The secondary ions were identified by a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. C{sup +}, O{sup +}, CO{sup +}, and CO{sub 2}{sup +} were the beams used. The yields obtained for ({ital M}-H){sup {minus}}, ({ital M}+H){sup +}, and ({ital M}-COOH){sup +} secondary ions show that they are roughly proportional to the third power of the beam stopping power. Other experimental results and predictions of the molecular-expansion model for neutral ejected species are included in the discussion.
Inside Marginal Adaptation of Crowns by X-ray MicroComputed Tomography

Prosthetics treatments with total or partial reconstruction are highly recommended in order to investigate caries, fractures and for better aesthetic. The purpose of this study was to evaluated marginal and internal fit of infrastructures (ceramic and metal) by using a high resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography. Each framework was placed on the original model and scanned. Image processing analysis and statistical approaches were combined together to evaluated directly in 3D the gap between the crown and the dental, which makes it possible to have a realistic dental arcade model.
Estimation of the number of frequencies and bandwidth for the surface measurement of soil moisture as a function of depth

The feasibility of obtaining estimates in situ of volumetric soil moisture as a function of depth using measurements of radio wave reflection at the soil surface at several discrete frequencies was demonstrated through computer simulation. By deriving empirical relationships between the number of frequencies, the frequency range, and the number of soil layers for which the soil moisture is estimated, the number of frequencies and measurement bandwidth have been determined. The soil moisture profile was obtained to a depth of 1.5 m by inverting, through function optimization, a simulation of the reflection coefficient from layered dielectric materials. The dielectric properties of soil-water mixtures mere obtained from the models of (1962) and (1980) and the function optimization was done with Powell's direction set method (1992). The number of soil layers in which soil moisture could be resolved was found to be twice the number of frequencies used. The required bandwidth increased with the number of soil layers from 20 MHz for six layers to 140 MHz for 16 layers. Within some assumptions about the nature of the radio wave propagation, the theoretical accuracy of the estimate depended only on the quantization error introduced by having to consider discrete layers of uniform soil with finite thicknesses.
May–Thurner syndrome found incidentally after left femoral catheterization in a pediatric patient

In May–Thurner syndrome, the left common iliac vein is compressed between the overlying right common iliac artery and the underlying vertebral body. Chronic and/or repetitive compressions at this site cause fibrosis of the vein and thus stenosis, potentially occluding the lumen. This report describes a case of May–Thurner syndrome discovered incidentally after femoral catheterization for chemotherapy in a 25‐month‐old child with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). The patient had no symptoms associated with compression. The syndrome was diagnosed by computed tomography, and there was no evidence of thrombosis. The patient died secondary to sepsis. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:1191–1194. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nitrile-converting enzymes as a tool to improve biocatalysis in organic synthesis: recent insights and promises

Abstract Nitrile-converting enzymes, including nitrilase and nitrile hydratase (NHase), have received increasing attention from researchers of industrial biocatalysis because of their critical role as a tool in organic synthesis of carboxylic acids and amides from nitriles. To date, these bioconversion approaches are considered as one of the most potential industrial processes using resting cells or purified enzymes as catalysts for production of food additives, pharmaceutical, and agrochemical precursors. This review focuses on the distribution and catalytic mechanism research of nitrile-converting enzymes in recent years. Molecular biology aspects to improve the biocatalytic performance of microbial nitrilase and NHase are demonstrated. The process developments of microbial nitrilase and NHase for organic synthesis are also discussed.
Concomitant Inhibition of PI 3 K b andBRAForMEK in PTEN-De fi cient / BRAF-Mutant Melanoma Treatment : Preclinical Assessment of SAR 260301 Oral PI 3 K b-Selective Inhibitor H el

Class IA PI3K pathway activation resulting from PTEN deficiency has been associated with lack of sensitivity of melanoma to BRAF kinase inhibitors. Although previous studies have shown synergistic activity when pan-PI3K inhibitors were combined with MAPK inhibitors in the treatment of melanoma exhibiting concurrent genetic abnormalities, overlapping adverse events in patients limit optimal dosing and clinical application. With the aim of specifically targeting PTEN-deficient cancers and minimizing the potential for on-target toxicity when inhibiting multiple PI3K isoforms, we developed a program to discover PI3Kbselective kinase inhibitors and identified SAR260301 as a potent PI3Kb-selective, orally available compound, which is now in clinical development. Herein, we provide a detailed biological characterization of SAR260301, and show that this compound has outstanding biochemical and cellular selectivity for the PI3Kb isoform versus the a, d, and g isoforms and a large panel of protein and lipid kinases. We demonstrate that SAR260301 blocks PI3K pathway signaling preferentially in PTEN-deficient human tumor models, and has synergistic antitumor activity when combined with vemurafenib (BRAF inhibitor) or selumetinib (MEK inhibitor) in PTEN-deficient/BRAF-mutated human melanoma tumor models. Combination treatments were very well tolerated, suggesting the potential for a superior safety profile at optimal dosing using selective compounds to inhibit multiple signaling pathways. Together, these experiments provide a preclinical proof-of-concept for safely combining inhibitors of PI3Kb and BRAF or MEK kinase modulators to improve antitumor activity in PTEN-deficient/BRAF-mutant melanoma, and support the evaluation of SAR260301-based combinations in clinical studies. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(7); 1460–71. 2016 AACR.
New paleomagnetic results from imbricated Adria: Ist Island and related areas

For the purpose of this work samples for palaeomagnetic analysis were taken from Upper Cenomanian and Lower Senonian shallow water limestones, as well as from Senonian pelagic limestones from both Ist and the surrounding islands. This area belongs to Imbricated Adria, which is characterized by gently folded and faulted strata with a Dinaridic (NW–SE) trend. An exception is Premuda island where the beds are strongly folded and are subvertical. A total of 96 samples were drilled from 10 localities distributed between eight islands. The samples were then subjected to standard palaeomagnetic laboratory analysis and statistical evaluation. Eventually, six localities yielded statistically well-defined palaeomagnetic directions, which were shown pre date the folding in age. The overall mean palaeomagnetic direction obtained for the study area, characterizing the Cenomanian–Early Senonian time period had a Declination of 334°, Inclination=+46°, with statistical parameters k=188, a 95 =4.9°, defining a palaeomagnetic pole at l (N)=63°, f (E)=254°, d p=4.0°, d m=6.2°. This was compared with palaeomagnetic directions obtained for rocks of similar ages from stable Istria and the Kvarner islands. As the three palaeomagnetic directions are statistically identical, we conclude that there was no significant relative movement between the three areas after the Early Senonian. The palaeomagnetic declination for the study area, which characterizes the post-Early Senonian rotation of the Adriatic microplate, is the same as the declination for the Pannonian–Pontian age group from the South Pannonian basin. As the palaeomagnetic signals in both cases are primary, the results of the present paper not only support the conclusion that the rotating Adriatic microplate triggered rotations in the South Pannonian basin, but also suggest that the Adriatic platform did not change its orientation between the late Cretaceous and the Early Pontian.
Active source selection using gap statistics for underdetermined blind source separation

We address the problem of automatically determining the number of active sources in underdetermined blind source separation (BSS). A time-frequency approach to underdetermined BSS is exploited to discriminate the time-frequency structure of the measured mixtures. To determine the number of active sources over an observation interval, an advanced clustering technique based on gap statistics is proposed. Simulation studies are presented to support the proposed approach.
Schistosoma mansoni: an in vivo study of drug-induced autophagy in the gastrodermis

Abstract The effects of Astiban, Lucanthone, Hycanthone and Niridazole on autophagic activities in the gastrodermis of Schistosoma mansoni were determined in vivo, using different dosage levels and dosage times. With Astiban, high levels of autophagy were observed in the gastrodermis 2 hours after an injection of the drug into the mouse, and this response had declined by 20 hours, marking a recovery by the parasite from the drug. Hycanthone and Lucanthone produced an autophagic response several days after the onset of treatment, and no recovery was observed in the morphology of the gastrodermis after the drug was discontinued. The effects of Niridazole on the gastrodermis were to produce the most dramatic ultrastructural changes after high doses and over several days of treatment. With all the drugs examined, gastrodermal autophagy was characterized by the formation of vacuoles containing cell components, lipid droplets and sometimes hydrolytic enzyme reaction product. The autophagic vacuoles appeared to be formed by the sequestration of cytoplasmic material by the basal membrane infoldings, and the transfer of enzymes into the vacuole from within the limiting membrane. The residues from intracellular digestion appeared to be emptied into the caecal lumen.