Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paraneoplastic syndromes

TO the Editor: Blumenfeld et all report the coexistence of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and subacute ctsrebellar degeneration (SCD) in a patient with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) The patient harbored a low titer antineuronal antibody that identifies 34to 42-kd mw neuronal proteins (also known as anti-Hu)‘ in her serum. The authors suggest that the cerebellar symptoms of this patient are part of the paraneoplastic disorder associated with the anti-Ilu antibody. We believe that the clinical and patholoac findings of this patient are not suggestive of an anti-Hu-related paraneoplastic disorder. We have studied 7 1 patients3 with anti-IIu-related paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis (PEM)/sensory neuronopathy (SS), including one who also had LEMS. Although cerebellar dysfunction was the presenting (13%) or predominant symptom (15? 6) of the disease, all the patients also had symptoms and signs indicating involvement of other areas of the CNS or dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Their sera harbored a high titer (average 4,592 U/ml) of anti-Hu antibody: and the ratio of CSF to serum antiHu IgG was increased.2 Furthermore, autopsy studtes of 16 patients,’,:’ as well as studies done hy other authors,J always demonstrated loss of neurons, gliosis, and inflammatory infiltrates in multiple areas of the CNS and/or DRG. The CNS and tumor contained deposits of anti-Hu IgG’; additionally, a high percentage of the infiltrating lymphocytes in the CNS and tumor were EIU specific.6 The patient of Blumenfeld et a1 had LEMS and a pure cerebellar syndrome without symptoms of involvement of other areas of the C S S during the 22-month course of the disease. Neuropathologic abnormalities were restricted to cerebellum, without the presence of inflammatory changes. These clinicopatholoac findings differ from our and others’ experience with anti-Ih-related PEM/SN. ’-” The finding of a low titer (1:400) of anti-Hu antibody in the serum (CSF is not reported) suggests that the patient developed a n immune response against the tumor1 but does not demonstrate tha t the anti-llu-related immune response invo1vc.d the nervous system. We find low titers (average 76 Uiml, or 1:4,000) of anti-Hu antibody in 16% of patients with SCLC. ” These patients do not develop PEWSN, and we believe that the antibody represents a minor immune response against the SCLC. We have studied six patients with pure cerebellar degeneration associated with LEMS (Clouston, uiipubl [shed data). One had SCLC, one small-cell cancer of the prostate, one nonHodgkin’s lymphoma, and two had abnormal chest CTs without pathologic diagnosis. The sixth has been followed for 3 % years without evidence of malignancy No antibodies other than those directed against w-conotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated calcium channels werc’ detected in serum or CSF of some patients. A similar association of SCD and LEMS has been noted by other a ~ t h o r s . ~ We believe that the patient reported by Blumenfeld and associates belongs to this subgroup of SCD and that the low titer of anti-Hu antibody is coincidental.
Requirement of norD for Brucella suis Virulence in a Murine Model of In Vitro and In Vivo Infection

ABSTRACT A mutant of Brucella suis bearing a Tn5 insertion in norD, the last gene of the operon norEFCBQD, encoding nitric oxide reductase, was unable to survive under anaerobic denitrifying conditions. The norD strain exhibited attenuated multiplication within nitric oxide-producing murine macrophages and rapid elimination in mice, hence demonstrating that norD is essential for Brucella virulence.
Spontaneous Functional Recovery from Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Our interactions with the world occur via precise coordination of our motor system. Even a movement as seemingly simple as reaching for an object is a complex motor behavior that requires precise neuronal activity in supraspinal areas ([Lemon, 2008][1]) and spinal areas ([Azim et al., 2014][2]).
The clinical presentation of pediatric thoracolumbar fractures: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND Thoracolumbar spine (TLS) fractures are rare in the pediatric population but may result in significant morbidity, necessitating a prompt diagnosis. No formal recommendations have been made for screening pediatric trauma patients for TLS fractures; early diagnosis has traditionally relied on clinical parameters extrapolated from adult data. METHODS From March 2004 to April 2005 patients presenting to a level one pediatric trauma center were consecutively enrolled. Clinicians were asked to assess eligible patients and prospectively state their TLS examination findings and degree of clinical suspicion for fracture. RESULTS A total of 228 patients were enrolled (mean age of 8.2 years), 16 with TLS fractures. Clinical performance of the TLS spine examination diagnosed a fracture with a sensitivity of 81% (95% CI: 0.57, 0.93), specificity of 68% (0.62, 0.74), and odds ratio of 9.38 (2.59, 34.01). A clinician's degree of suspicion detected a TLS fracture with a sensitivity of 56% (95% CI: 0.33, 0.77), specificity of 82% (0.77, 0.87), and odds ratio of 6.08 (2.13, 17.37). CONCLUSIONS The clinician is able to clinically diagnose TLS fractures in pediatric trauma patients with good sensitivity and average specificity, however, TLS fractures were missed. Screening radiographs may still be required until larger studies confirm these findings.
A Review of Metal Fabricated with Laser‐ and Powder‐Bed Based Additive Manufacturing Techniques: Process, Nomenclature, Materials, Achievable Properties, and its Utilization in the Medical Sector

Additive manufacturing has multiple advantages over conventional fabrication techniques, such as the geometrical freedom and, to a great extent, the omission of tooling equipment. Hence, futuristic designs and non‐standard topology‐optimized structures can be fabricated without causing noteworthy extra cost, since the geometrical complexity is, exaggeratedly spoken, for free. The manufacturing time and the amount of required raw material are the key criteria, which determine the expenses. What at first glance appears as an engineer's dream, introduces its complexity in the description of the material's characteristics and their volatility to the manufacturing conditions. Within this study, the main properties (i.e., surface hardness, tensile, and compression strength, as well as fracture toughness) and their anisotropic and inhomogeneous nature are addressed. Detailed overviews of the progress to date for aluminum, iron, titanium, cobalt, and nickel based raw materials are provided. Furthermore, an overview about the state‐of‐the‐art in the medical sector is included, comprising the areas of utilization and several trail studies.
Future Prospects for Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Analogues in Prostate Cancer Treatment

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues play a pivotal role in hormonal therapy regimens for the treatment of prostate cancer. Hormonal therapy has traditionally been used as a palliative treatment for patients with advanced disease, and international treatment guidelines do not recommend its use as a first-line therapy at earlier disease stages. However, there appears to be a gap between international guideline recommendations and actual clinical practice regarding the use of primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) for prostate cancer therapy. Despite limited evidence to date for the impact on clinical outcomes, the use of PADT in patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer has increased in many countries, most notably Japan. Clinical evidence is now accumulating to confirm the valuable role of PADT, both as monotherapy but particularly when used as part of a maximal androgen blockade regimen, on the long-term control of both localized and locally advanced disease, and importantly on survival outcomes in these patients.
The growth temperature effect on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes parameters

We studied the influence of the synthesis temperature on geometric parameters and structural perfection for vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT). We established that a synthetic temperature of 750 ◦C allows one to obtain the lowest concentration of defects in VACNT, with a diameter of 44±3 nm and a height of 80±9 nm. When temperature is increased up to 800 ◦C, an increase of the VACNT geometric dimensions
On-Chip SDM Switching for Unicast, Multicast, and Traffic Grooming in Data Center Networks

This letter reports on the use of a novel photonic integrated circuit that facilitates multicast and grooming in an optical data center architecture. The circuit allows for on-chip spatial multiplexing and demultiplexing as well as fiber core switching. Using this device, we experimentally verify that multicast and/or grooming can be successfully performed along the full range of output ports, for different group sizes and different power ratios. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate SDM transmission and 5 Tb/s switching using the on-chip fiber switch with integrated fan-in/fan-out devices and achieve error-free performance (BER $\,\leq \, 10^{\mathrm {\mathbf {-9}}}$ ) for a network scenario, including simultaneous unicast/multicast switching and traffic grooming.
Finding Melanoma Drugs Through a 1 Probabilistic Knowledge Graph 2

16 Metastatic cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with some progression-slowing treatments but no known cure. The omics data explosion has created many possible drug candidates, however filtering criteria remain challenging, and systems biology approaches have become fragmented with many disconnected databases. Using drug, protein, and disease interactions, we built an evidence-weighted knowledge graph of integrated interactions. Our knowledge graph-based system, ReDrugS, can be used via an API or web interface, and has generated 25 high quality melanoma drug candidates. We show that probabilistic analysis of systems biology graphs increases drug candidate quality compared to non-probabilistic methods. Four of the 25 candidates are novel therapies, three of which have been tested with other cancers. All other candidates have current or completed clinical trials, or have been studied in in vivo or in vitro. This approach can be used to identify candidate therapies for use in research or personalized medicine. 17
Active involvement of Robo1 and Robo4 in filopodia formation and endothelial cell motility mediated via WASP and other actin nucleation‐promoting factors

This study aimed to further elucidate the function of Roundabout proteins in endothelium. We show that both Robo1 and Robo4 are present in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and have knocked expression down using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology. Roundabout knockout endothelial cells were then studied in a variety of in vitro assays. We also performed a yeast 2‐hybrid analysis using the intracellular domain of Robo4 as bait to identify interacting proteins and downstream signaling. Both Robo1 and Robo4 siRNA knockdown and transfection of Robo4‐green fluorescent protein inhibited endothelial cell movement and disrupted tube formation on Matrigel. Consistent with a role in regulating cell movement, yeast 2‐hybrid and glutathione‐S‐transferase pulldown analyses show Robo4 binding to a Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP), neural Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome protein, and WASP‐interacting protein actin‐nucleating complex. We have further shown that Robo1 forms a heterodimeric complex with Robo4, and that transfection of Robo4GFP into HUVECs induces filopodia formation. We finally show using Robo1 knockdown cells that Robo1 is essential for Robo4‐mediated filopodia induction. Our results favor a model whereby Slit2 binding to a Robo1/Robo4 heterodimer activates actin nucleation‐promoting factors to promote endothelial cell migration. —Sheldon, H. , Andre, M. , Legg, J. A. , Heal, P., Herbert, J. M. , Sainson, R, Sharma, A. S. , Kitajewski, J. K. , Heath, V. L. , Bicknell, R. Active involvement of Robo1 and Robo4 in filopodia formation and endothelial cell motility mediated via WASP and other actin nucleation‐promoting factors. FASEB J. 23, 513–522 (2009)
The FLuorescence EXplorer Mission Concept—ESA’s Earth Explorer 8

In November 2015, the FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) was selected as the eighth Earth Explorer mission of the European Space Agency. The tandem mission concept will provide measurements at a spectral and spatial resolution enabling the retrieval and interpretation of the full chlorophyll fluorescence spectrum emitted by the terrestrial vegetation. This paper provides a mission concept overview of the scientific goals, the key objectives related to fluorescence, and the requirements guaranteeing the fitness for purpose of the resulting scientific data set. We present the mission design at the time of selection, i.e., at the end of project phase Phase A/B1, as developed by two independent industrial consortia. The mission concepts both rely on a single payload Fluorescence Imaging Spectrometer, covering the spectral range from 500 to 780 nm. In the oxygen absorption bands, its spectral resolution will be 0.3 nm with a spectral sampling interval of 0.1 nm. The swath width of the spectrometer is 150 km and the spatial resolution will be $300 \times 300~\text{m}^{2}$ . The satellite will fly in tandem with Sentinel-3 providing different and complementary measurements with a temporal collocation of 6 to 15 s. The FLEX launch is scheduled for 2022.
The Arabic Knowledge Graph: Opportunities and Challenges

Semantic Web has brought forth the idea of computing with knowledge, hence, attributing the ability of thinking to machines. Knowledge Graphs represent a major advancement in the construction of the Web of Data where machines are context-aware when answering users' queries. The English Knowledge Graph was a milestone realized by Google in 2012. Even though it is a useful source of information for English users and applications, it does not offer much for the Arabic users and applications. In this paper, we investigated the different challenges and opportunities prone to the life-cycle of the construction of the Arabic Knowledge Graph (AKG) while following some best practices and techniques. Additionally, this work suggests some potential solutions to these challenges. The proprietary factor of data creates a major problem in the way of harvesting this latter. Moreover, when the Arabic data is openly available, it is generally in an unstructured form which requires further processing. The complexity of the Arabic language itself creates a further problem for any automatic or semi-automatic extraction processes. Therefore, the usage of NLP techniques is a feasible solution. Some preliminary results are presented later in this paper. The AKG has very promising outcomes for the Semantic Web in general and the Arabic community in particular. The goal of the Arabic Knowledge Graph is mainly the integration of the different isolated datasets available on the Web. Later, it can be used in both the academic (by providing a large dataset for many different research fields and enhance discovery) and commercial sectors (by improving search engines, providing metadata, interlinking businesses).
Estimating Snow Water Equivalent with Backscattering at X and Ku Band Based on Absorption Loss

Snow water equivalent (SWE) is a key parameter in the Earth’s energy budget and water cycle. It has been demonstrated that SWE can be retrieved using active microwave remote sensing from space. This necessitates the development of forward models that are capable of simulating the interactions of microwaves and the snow medium. Several proposed models have described snow as a collection of sphere- or ellipsoid-shaped ice particles embedded in air, while the microstructure of snow is, in reality, more complex. Natural snow usually forms a sintered structure following mechanical and thermal metamorphism processes. In this research, the bi-continuous vector radiative transfer (bi-continuous-VRT) model, which firstly constructs snow microstructure more similar to real snow and then simulates the snow backscattering signal, is used as the forward model for SWE estimation. Based on this forward model, a parameterization scheme of snow volume backscattering is proposed. A relationship between snow optical thickness and single scattering albedo at X and Ku bands is established by analyzing the database generated from the bi-continuous-VRT model. A cost function with constraints is used to solve effective albedo and optical thickness, while the absorption part of optical thickness is obtained from these two parameters. SWE is estimated after a correction for physical temperature. The estimated SWE is correlated with the measured SWE with an acceptable accuracy. Validation against two-year measurements, using the SnowScat instrument from the Nordic Snow Radar Experiment (NoSREx), shows that the estimated SWE using the presented algorithm has a root mean square error (RMSE) of 16.59 mm for the winter of 2009–2010 and 19.70 mm for the winter of 2010–2011.
Fe b 20 14 X Bandits with concave rewards and convex knapsacks

In this paper, we consider a very general model for exploration-exploitation tradeoff which allows arbitrary concave rewards and convex constraints on the decisions across time, in addition to the customary limitation on the time horizon. This model subsumes the classic multi-armed bandit (MAB) model, and the Bandits with Knapsacks (BwK) model of Badanidiyuru et al. [2013]. We also consider an extension of this model to allow linear contexts, similar to the linear contextual extension of the MAB model. We demonstrate that a natural and simple extension of the UCB family of algorithms for MAB provides a polynomial time algorithm that has near-optimal regret guarantees for this substantially more general model, and matches the bounds provided by Badanidiyuru et al. [2013] for the special case of BwK, which is quite surprising. We also provide computationally more efficient algorithms by establishing interesting connections between this problem and other well studied problems/algorithms such as the Blackwell approachability problem, online convex optimization, and the Frank-Wolfe technique for convex optimization. We give examples of several concrete applications, where this more general model of bandits allows for richer and/or more efficient formulations of the problem.
Impact of a tailored patient preference intervention in adherence to 5‐aminosalicylic acid medication in ulcerative colitis: Results from an exploratory randomized controlled trial

Background: Up to 40% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) fail to comply with 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) therapy. This study aimed to evaluate multifaceted adherence‐enhancing interventions for oral 5‐ASA therapy in UC and consider changes in health beliefs and satisfaction with information. Methods: Adults attending a UK gastroenterology outpatient clinic were recruited to an exploratory randomized controlled trial. The tailored intervention included educational and motivational components, plus options including simplified dosing regimes and practical reminders such as pill dispensers. Adherence was assessed objectively at baseline and after 1 year based on levels of urinary 5‐ASA and N‐acetly‐5‐ASA concentration. Changes in relevant beliefs and satisfaction with information were measured using validated questionnaires. Results: Seventy‐one people completed the study. Adherence levels in the study population were relatively high at baseline (76%) but a decline in adherence levels over the study period was noted. However, at follow‐up adherence in the intervention group was 44% greater than in the control group. Intervention group status had a significant positive impact on maintaining adherence levels after adjusting for potential confounders including baseline adherence (P = 0.001). This finding was supported by the results of a sensitivity analysis including patients who withdrew from the study. Changes in questionnaire scores suggested a positive effect of the intervention on satisfaction with information (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The multifaceted approach studied has potential for implementation in routine care for enhancing persistence with 5‐ASA and thus improving patient outcomes. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Infection with human papillomavirus and HIV among young women in Kampala, Uganda.

BACKGROUND Information on the prevalence of cervical infection with different human papillomavirus (HPV) types among young women is essential to support the introduction of HPV vaccine in Uganda. METHODS Cross-sectional findings are presented from a cohort study of 1,275 sexually active women aged 12-24 years seeking health services at a clinic for teenagers in Kampala, Uganda. We assessed the presence of 39 HPV types by use of highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction assays. RESULTS The prevalence of HPV infection was 74.6%, and the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection was 8.6%. High-risk HPV types were found in 51.4% of women, and the most frequently detected high-risk types were, in decreasing order, HPV 52, 51, 18, and 16. A total of 71.8% of the women who were positive for HPV 16 and/or 18 were also infected with other high-risk HPV types. HIV-positive women had a higher prevalence of HPV infection (87.8% vs 73.2%) and of multiple-type infections (64.6% vs 37.3%), compared with HIV-negative women. Employment in the tertiary sector, lifetime number of sexual partners, concurrent pregnancy, and the presence of genital warts were significantly associated with HPV positivity. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of HPV infection is high among young women in Kampala, Uganda. Clinics for teenagers provide an opportunity to monitor the impact of HPV vaccines and, possibly, to catch up unvaccinated young women who have recently become sexually active.
Cardiovascular adaptations to 4 and 12 months of football or strength training in 65‐ to 75‐year‐old untrained men

The study examined the effects of 1 year of football or strength training on cardiovascular function in 65‐ to 75‐year‐old men. Twenty‐six untrained men (age: 68.2 ± 3.2 years) were randomized to football training (FTG; n = 9), strength training (STG; n = 9), or control (CG; n = 8). In FTG, left ventricular (LV) internal diastolic diameter, end‐diastolic volume, and mass index were 8%, 21%, and 18% higher (P < 0.01), respectively, after 12 months, with no changes in STG and CG. After 12 months, LV ejection fraction was increased (P < 0.05) by 8% and 5% in FTG and STG, respectively, and systolic longitudinal two‐dimensional strain by 8% and 6%, whereas right ventricular systolic function improved (P < 0.05) by 22% in FTG, but not in STG and CG. In FTG, LV diastolic mitral inflow (E/A) ratio and peak early diastolic velocity (E') improved (P < 0.05) by 25% and 12%, respectively, after 12 months, with no changes in STG and CG. In FTG, maximum oxygen uptake was 16% and 18% higher (P < 0.001) after 4 and 12 months, respectively, and resting heart rate was 6 and 8 beats per minute lower (P < 0.001), respectively, with no changes in STG and CG. In conclusion, football training elicited superior cardiovascular effects compared with strength training in elderly untrained men.