Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antileukemic Efficacy of BET Inhibitor in a Preclinical Mouse Model of MLL-AF4+ Infant ALL

MLL-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) occurring in infants is a rare but very aggressive leukemia, typically associated with a dismal prognosis. Despite the development of specific therapeutic protocols, infant patients with MLL-rearranged ALL still suffer from a low cure rate. At present, novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Recently, the use of small molecule inhibitors targeting the epigenetic regulators of the MLL complex emerged as a promising strategy for the development of a targeted therapy. Herein, we have investigated the effects of bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) function abrogation in a preclinical mouse model of MLL-AF4+ infant ALL using the BET inhibitor I-BET151. We reported that I-BET151 is able to arrest the growth of MLL-AF4+ leukemic cells in vitro, by blocking cell division and rapidly inducing apoptosis. Treatment with I-BET151 in vivo impairs the leukemic engraftment of patient-derived primary samples and lower the disease burden in mice. I-BET151 affects the transcriptional profile of MLL-rearranged ALL through the deregulation of BRD4, HOXA7/HOXA9, and RUNX1 gene networks. Moreover, I-BET151 treatment sensitizes glucocorticoid-resistant MLL-rearranged cells to prednisolone in vitro and is more efficient when used in combination with HDAC inhibitors, both in vitro and in vivo. Given the aggressiveness of the disease, the failure of the current therapies and the lack of an ultimate cure, this study paves the way for the use of BET inhibitors to treat MLL-rearranged infant ALL for future clinical applications. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1705–16. ©2018 AACR.
A qualitative investigation into the role of the caddie in elite-level golf

The aim of this study was to determine the nature of the caddie's role in the decision-making, psychological conditioning and tournament preparation of elite-level golfers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 elite-level golfers (17–24 years; 15 males and 2 females) and 6 caddies (29–42 years; 6 males). Data were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis techniques. Analysis produced four main findings: (1) the caddie's role in decision-making was to provide information, assist in shot selection, and provide feedback of the golfer’s club selection; (2) the caddie’s role in psychological conditioning was to maintain the golfer’s high performance state using a variety of cognitive and attentional strategies; (3) caddies assist in tournament preparation by ‘mapping' to plan strategy and record the important characteristics of the course prior to a competitive event; and (4) although the benefits of the caddie were recognised, golfers were dissatisfied with the quality of caddies available. The findings of this study provide guidelines for the best practice of caddies. Additionally, the development of a prerequisite document or ‘caddie contract’ was proposed as an appropriate solution to the issue of golfer discontent in caddie quality. The application of this knowledge has implications for National Sporting Organisations, performance enhancement in the sport, and the development of more effective working relationships between elite golfers and their caddies.
Trichoderma viride for Improving Spruce Wood Impregnability

Impregnability of poles and other products made from spruce or fir wood decreases after the closing of toruses in the pits of tracheids, which usually occurs after their drying up to the fiber saturation point. With the aim of reopening access to the pits in the tracheids, the microscopic fungus Trichoderma viride was used for the enzymatic degradation of the pits in Norway spruce. During the summer, freshly cut and debarked spruce bolts were exposed in an inoculation mycelium of T. viride for 1, 3, 6, and 9 weeks under exterior conditions. Very good permeability and impregnability of spruce sapwood was observed after 1 or 3 weeks with no apparent change in its mechanical properties (Modulus of Rupture, Impact Bending Strength). On the other hand, previously closed pits of spruce heartwood remained unchanged in all experiments. Generally, coming out from achieved results and knowledge of other researches, bio-treatments of conifers are suitable for improving the impregnability of poles and other rounded timber products with the sapwood zone intact. However, bio-treatments for squared timbers with visible heartwood are usually less appropriate.
Pair-Wise: Automatic Essay Evaluation using Word Mover's Distance

Automated essay evaluation (AEE) represents not only as a tool to assess evaluate and score essays, but also helps to save time, effort and money without lowering the quality of goals and objectives of educational assessment. Even if the field has been developing since the 1960s and various algorithms and approaches have been proposed to implement AEE systems, most of the existing solutions give much more focus on syntax, vocabulary and shallow content measurements and only vaguely understand the semantics and context of the essay. To address the issue with semantics and context, we propose pair-wise semantic similarity essay evaluation by using the Word Mover’s Distance. This method relies on Neural Word Embedding to measure the similarity between words. To be able to measure the performance of AEE, a qualitative accuracy measure based on pairwise ranking is proposed in this paper. The experimental results show that the AEE approach using Word Mover’s distance achieve higher level of accuracy as compared to others baselines.
Feynman motives of banana graphs

We consider the infinite family of Feynman graphs known as the "banana graphs" and compute explicitly the classes of the corresponding graph hypersurfaces in the Grothendieck ring of varieties as well as their Chern-Schwartz-MacPherson classes, using the classical Cremona transformation and the dual graph, and a blowup formula for characteristic classes. We outline the interesting similarities between these operations and we give formulae for cones obtained by simple operations on graphs. We formulate a positivity conjecture for characteristic classes of graph hypersurfaces and discuss briefly the effect of passing to noncommutative spacetime.
Inhibitory Effects of Multiple‐Dose Treatment with Baicalein on the Pharmacokinetics of Ciprofloxacin in Rats

Ciprofloxacin is used as a treatment for urinary and respiratory tract infections in clinical practice. Baicalein, a major flavonoid present in Scutellaria baicalensis, is a well‐known and potent antibacterial compound used in complementary and alternative medicine practices. The present study aimed to clarify the effects of multiple‐dose treatment with baicalein on the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in rats. Following the oral administration of baicalein (20, 40, or 80 mg/kg) for five consecutive days, the rats received an oral administration of ciprofloxacin (20 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected at specific time points, and the plasma concentrations of ciprofloxacin were determined by using high‐performance liquid chromatography. To evaluate the mechanisms underlying the interaction between baicalein and ciprofloxacin, a rhodamine 123 accumulation assay was performed in LS‐180 cells. A pharmacokinetic study revealed that multiple‐dose treatment with baicalein significantly decreased the peak serum concentration (Cmax), area under the curve (AUC0 → 480 min), and relative bioavailability (Frel) of ciprofloxacin (p < 0.05). The rhodamine 123 accumulation assay revealed that treatment with baicalein for 48 h markedly reduced the intracellular accumulation of rhodamine 123. Taken together, these findings suggest that baicalein may result in the therapeutic failure of ciprofloxacin or other quinolone‐based antibiotics used for chemotherapy in clinical practice. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immersive Learning Design (ILD): A New Model to Assure the Quality of Learning through Flipped Classrooms

The objective of this paper was to develop an immersive Web-based learning model to assure the quality of learning through the flipped classrooms. The proposed model was guided theoretically by the flipped classroom as a new Web-based learning trend. It was also guided pedagogically by active and reflective learning principles that support transforming the teaching and learning practices from content engagement to cognitive engagement. The targeted immersive learning model encompasses of four reciprocal phases: Pro-act, Act, Reflect, and Re-act (PARR). To validate the suggested model, a convenience sample of graduate students studying an advanced statistics course was selected from the Distance Teaching and Training Program at the Arabian Gulf University After designing and applying this new immersive Web-based learning model (PARR), findings revealed that using the flipped classroom through this immersive Web-based learning model has a statistical and practical impact on developing achievement and self-study skills among graduate students. The contribution of this research is that it qualifies the Web-based instructional practices to shift from content acquisition act to knowledge expression and creation act. In addition, the paper will be of benefit to people looking for pedagogical applications of virtual and blended learning environments for developing multiple ways to express what learners know and be able to do.
Assistive technology provision: towards an international framework for assuring availability and accessibility of affordable high-quality assistive technology

Abstract Purpose: This is a position paper describing the elements of an international framework for assistive technology provision that could guide the development of policies, systems and service delivery procedures across the world. It describes general requirements, quality criteria and possible approaches that may help to enhance the accessibility of affordable and high quality assistive technology solutions. Materials and methods: The paper is based on the experience of the authors, an analysis of the existing literature and the inputs from many colleagues in the field of assistive technology provision. It includes the results of discussions of an earlier version of the paper during an international conference on the topic in August 2017. Results and conclusion: The paper ends with the recommendation to develop an international standard for assistive technology provision. Such a standard can have a major impact on the accessibility of AT for people with disabilities. The paper outlines some the key elements to be included in a standard. Implications for Rehabilitation Assistive technology is a key element in rehabilitation, but many people have no access to affordable AT solutions. The recommendations in the paper aim to inform policies, systems and service delivery procedures on how to improve access to AT across the world.
Research on Electroencephalogram of Musical Emotion Perception

Four musical excerpts representing four different emotions of ‘happy,joy,sad,and fear’ were selected as stimuli by emotions scale. The electroencephalogram was recorded simultaneously and the alpha power was analyzed with factors of brain region,valence,and intensity of the musical emotions. The results showed that the alpha power was closely related to emotional valence and intensity. The difference between ‘joy and fear’,‘happy and fear’,and ‘fear and sad’ was statistically significant. In the parieto-occipital region,the alpha power was significantly larger in calm emotion than in intense emotion within negative emotions; meanwhile within intense emotions the alpha power was significantly larger in positive emotion than in negative emotion.
Development and initial validation of a social capital scale for online learning

Online networks of social interaction differ based on context and goals of individuals, suggesting that there may be nuanced ways of conceptualizing and studying social presence. We propose using social capital theory as a means to study the dimensions of social presence, rather than envisioning social presence as a unitary construct. We report on our validation of a social capital scale for online learning and speculate on the ways in which this scale can inform social presence.
Trends in Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Incidence – Results from the German Network of Cancer Registries

Objective: Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) is a proven risk factor for breast cancer. Recent reports presented declining trends in breast cancer incidence, which were attributed to parallel declining trends in HT. Therefore, we analyzed recent data on hormone therapy and breast cancer incidence in Germany. Methods: We performed a population-based survey using breast cancer incidence (from cancer registries) and hormone prescription data (from health insurances) for the time period from 1997 to 2006. Age-standardized rates were calculated and joinpoint regression analyses for trends were performed. Results: Prescription of HT started to decline in 1999; about 2 years later, a parallel decline in breast cancer incidence was observed. HT prescription decreased by 69% up to 2006, and breast cancer incidence by 6.8% for all age groups (2002–2005) and 12.8% in the age group from 50 to 69 years. The reductions in HT prescription and breast cancer incidence were markedly correlated across the federal states in Germany. Conclusion: The recent decline in breast cancer incidence following decreasing HT prescription suggests a causal relationship between the risk of breast cancer and HT in Germany. Even after the ‘big HT drop’ in Germany, significant differences in HT prescription as well as breast cancer incidence persist at the federal state level. These results should be discussed in a public health context.
The Potentiality of BRCA as a Chemo-Predictor : A Literature Review

The recent studies have been focused for the breast cancer patients to evaluate the relationship between BRCA1 expression and the clinical outcome of chemotherapy (targeting BRCA as a chemopredictor). Till date, ER, PR and Her2/neu represented as a molecular biomarker which is routinely being used for the treatment strategies for BC patients. Over the last few years, BRCA has been considerably marked as a novel potential biomarker which has been accumulated from several clinical data. Our aim of this study is to review the role of BRCA as a predictive biomarker to spot the chemotherapy response as well as to link the association between BRCA1 deficiency which leads to cancer cell death and the basallike phenotype. This review is based on the association of literature review which might be helpful to fulfil the lacuna between mutations in BRCA and the chemo-predictive treatment by BRCA as a chemopredictor to interpret whether BRCA is a predictive factor or a prognostic factor to the clinical outcome with chemotherapy.
Association between Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients

Abstract Objective To analyze the association between the indirect methods of evaluating insulin resistance (IR) and blood pressure, anthropometric and biochemical parameters in a population of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Methods Cross-sectional study performed at the Hospital Universitário de Brasília (HUB, in the Portuguese acronym) involving PCOS patients diagnosed from January 2011 to January 2013. Four indirect methods, namely, fasting blood insulin level, fasting glucose/insulin ratio (G/I), homeostatic model-assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), were used to obtain the IR diagnosis. The data were analyzed using the test of proportions, the Chi-square test, and Fisher exact test, when indicated. Results Out of the 83 patients assessed, aged 28.79 ± 5.85, IR was found in 51.81–66.2% of them using the G/I ratio and the QUICKI, respectively. The test of proportions did not show a significant difference between the methods analyzed. The proportion of IR diagnoses was statistically higher in obese women than in women with normal body mass index (BMI). We observed a statistically significant association between all the methods for diagnosing IR and BMI, waist circumference (WC) and lipid accumulation product (LAP). With regards to arterial hypertension (AH), we observed a significant association according to three methods, with the exception of the ratio G/I. Conclusion Insulin resistance prevalence varied according to the diagnostic method employed, with no statistical difference between them. The proportion of IR diagnoses was statistically higher in obese women than in women with normal BMI. We observed a significant association between IR and WC, BMI, LAP, as well as dyslipidemia and AH in a high proportion of patients.
MLP – MomenT 2018 : The Second Workshop on Multi-Language Processing in a Globalising World The First Workshop on Multilingualism at the intersection of Knowledge Bases and Machine Translation

In this paper we inspect the intermediate sentence representation in the multilingual attention-based NMT system proposed by Ha et al. (2016). We ask the question of how well the NMT system learns a shared representation across multiple languages, as such a shared representation is an important prerequisite for zero-shot translation. To this end we examine whether the sentence representation is independent of the individual languages involved in translation. Having found the sentence representation in our multilingual NMT system to be language dependent, we further inspect the sentence representation for the cause of this dependence. We isolated the language dependent features, and found present a linear correlation between the sentence representation and its source language. Using these isolated features, we describe a method to manipulate these features, and provide a way to eliminate the language specific differences between the sentence representations. This could potentially help to remove noise, which is particularly harmful for zero-shot translation.
INTERPERSONAL MEANINGS IN MICHELLE OBAMA’S SPEECH AT MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR Dr. MAYA ANGELOU (A Descriptive Qualitative Study)

This study investigated the interpersonal meaning which lies on the eulogy speech which was delivered by Michelle Obama at Dr. Maya Angelou’s memorial service. The purposes of this study were to describe the tenor realized in the text, the construction of the interpersonal meaning and the contribution of this study for language education. This study was categorized as a discourse analysis which used qualitative approach as its main method. The qualitative approach was used to describe the quantitative data which was got from the analysis. The data for this study was analyzed using two units of analysis. In terms of grammar analysis, the units of analysis were the MOOD system, modality, and mood types, while the lexical analysis mainly analyzed the appraisal of the speech. Based on those analysis, it can be concluded that the tenor that was realized in the speech showed the strong social relationship between the interactants. In term of status, she did not stand as the first lady of United States. In terms of contact, she tried to make the situation as friendly as possible. In addition, in terms of affect, she showed that she gave a strong involvement with the audiences through her speech. In terms of grammar analysis, it showed that Michelle Obama tended to represent herself as one of the black women who got inspiration from Dr. Maya Angelou. She also intended to inform the audiences about Dr. Maya Angelou’s life. The appraisal analysis showed that judgment was the most frequent appraisal system in the speech. Michelle Obama tended to give a high appraisement towards Dr. Maya Angelou’s struggle and actions during her life.
Effect of neurolytic celiac plexus block on pain relief, quality of life, and survival in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive tumor associated with high mortality. Optimal pain control may improve quality of life (QOL) for these patients. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) vs opioids alone improves pain relief, QOL, and survival in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Double-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Enrolled (October 1997 and January 2001) were 100 eligible patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer experiencing pain. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year or until death. INTERVENTION Patients were randomly assigned to receive either NCPB or systemic analgesic therapy alone with a sham injection. All patients could receive additional opioids managed by a clinician blinded to the treatment assignment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Pain intensity (0-10 numerical rating scale), QOL, opioid consumption and related adverse effects, and survival time were assessed weekly by a blinded observer. RESULTS Mean (SD) baseline pain was 4.4 (1.7) for NCPB vs 4.1 (1.8) for opioids alone. The first week after randomization, pain intensity and QOL scores were improved (pain intensity, P< or =.01 for both groups; QOL, P<.001 for both groups), with a larger decrease in pain for the NCPB group (P =.005). From repeated measures analysis, pain was also lower for NCPB over time (P =.01). However, opioid consumption (P =.93), frequency of opioid adverse effects (all P>.10), and QOL (P =.46) were not significantly different between groups. In the first 6 weeks, fewer NCPB patients reported moderate or severe pain (pain intensity rating of > or =5/10) vs opioid-only patients (14% vs 40%, P =.005). At 1 year, 16% of NCPB patients and 6% of opioid-only patients were alive. However, survival did not differ significantly between groups (P =.26, proportional hazards regression). CONCLUSION Although NCPB improves pain relief in patients with pancreatic cancer vs optimized systemic analgesic therapy alone, it does not affect QOL or survival.
A hybrid preprocessing method using geometry based diffusion and elective enhancement filtering for pulmonary nodule detection

The computer aided diagnostic (CAD) system has been developed to assist radiologist for early detection and analysis of lung nodules. For pulmonary nodule detection, image preprocessing is required to remove the anatomical structure of lung parenchyma and to enhance the visibility of pulmonary nodules. In this paper a hybrid preprocessing technique using geometry based diffusion and selective enhancement filtering have been proposed. This technique provides a unified preprocessing framework for solid nodule as well as ground glass opacity (GGO) nodules. Geometry based diffusion is applied to smooth the images by preserving the boundary. In order to improve the sensitivity of pulmonary nodule detection, selective enhancement filter is used to highlight blob like structure. But selective enhancement filter sometimes enhances the structures like blood vessel and airways other than nodule and results in large number of false positive. In first step, geometry based diffusion (GBD) is applied for reduction of false positive and in second step, selective enhancement filtering is used for further reduction of false negative. Geometry based diffusion and selective enhancement filtering has been used as preprocessing step separately but their combined effect was not investigated earlier. This hybrid preprocessing approach is suitable for accurate calculation of voxel based features. The proposed method has been validated on one public database named Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) containing 50 nodules (30 solid and 20 GGO nodule) from 30 subjects and one private database containing 40 nodules (25 solid and 15 GGO nodule) from 30 subjects.