Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in prostate cancer patients on active surveillance one year after diagnosis and before repeat biopsy

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), interpreted in a routine clinical setting, can serve as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for prostate carcinoma patients on active surveillance (AS). Material and methods. Eighty men enrolled in the Finnish arm of the PRIAS (Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance) study were followed for at least 1 year and had DW-MRI scans taken in addition to repeat biopsy. Spearman's correlations were analysed between tumour appearance on DW-MRI and clinical variables [age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, PSA doubling time, prostate volume, percentage of cancer at diagnostic biopsy]. The Pearson chi-squared test clarified associations between outcome factors (number of positive cores and Gleason score on repeat biopsy, treatment change) and DW-MRI results. Assumed predictors of deferred radical treatment were examined with logistic regression analysis. Accuracy of tumour localization by DW-MRI compared to repeat biopsy findings was analysed by the chi-squared test. Results. DW-MRI revealed an anatomical lesion suggestive of cancer in 40 patients (50%). MRI positivity showed no significant correlation with clinical variables. No associations existed between tumour appearance on DW-MRI and biopsy findings or discontinuation of AS. The only variable predicting treatment change was higher PSA at discontinuation (p = 0.002). Appearance of tumour, either on T2-weighted MRI (p = 0.273) or on apparent diffusion coefficient maps (p = 0.691), was not a significant predictor of treatment change. Conclusions. Localized low-grade prostate cancer is challenging to visualize in DW-MRI, and this imaging technique provides no additional prognostic benefit compared to PSA and repeat biopsies.
Land based disposal of wastewater: fate of phosphorus.

Worldwide, large quantities of wastewater are produced, including municipal effluent, dairy-shed effluent, and wastewater from factories. Most wastewater is treated to remove solids and contaminants. But even treated wastewater may still contain organic matter and high levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus (P). To assess the feasibility of effluent disposal to land with respect to P leaching to groundwater and build up at the soil surface leaching experiments were performed in the laboratory and in the field. The soil used for the study was the Kawhatau stony silt loam from New Zealand. In the laboratory undisturbed soil columns were leached under steady unsaturated flow conditions using either wastewater, or solutions containing 6 or 60 ppm of phosphorus. In the field drainage lysimeters were irrigated with wastewater or a solution containing 60 ppm at a rate of 30 mm/day. Results from the leaching study in the laboratory show that after an infiltration equivalent to about 1 year of application, the P concentration in the in drainage water was below 0.4 ppm, regardless of the input concentration. Thus under the unsaturated, steady state flow conditions, the silt loam adsorbed all the applied P. In the field P concentrations in the drainage water after 2500 mm of wastewater application were below 0.3 ppm in all lysimeters, except one, where preferential flow occurred and P concentrations reached 2 ppm. A model, based on the convection dispersion equation, simply linked with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm could not be used successfully to describe the build up and movement of P in the soil.
Synthesis of pathological voices and experiments on the effect of jitter and shimmer in voice quality perception

Simulation of voice disorders has a great deal of interest among clinicians and scientists interested in the simulation of voice timbres. Jitter and shimmer are commonly used as acoustic cues for the analysis and clinical assessment of the voice. In this paper, a voice synthesizer based on direct digital synthesis (DDS) is proposed to model jitter and shimmer. The major advantage of the DDS-based synthesizer compared to other synthesizers is its ability to generate only jitter, shimmer or both. Moreover, these synthetic sounds have a good naturalness. Experiments are carried out in order to compare perceptually voice stimuli with jitter or shimmer only to voice stimuli that include simultaneously jitter and shimmer. The DDS-based synthesizer is used to generate male and female sustained vowels [a] with different amounts of jitter and shimmer. Conducted auditory experiments have shown that stimuli with jitter and shimmer are hoarser than stimuli with jitter or shimmer only.
UM MODELO MACROECONÔMICO HÍBRIDO PARA O BRASIL: UM MIX DE MODELOS DSGE E VAR

In this paper we use a hybrid macroeconometric model to forecast brazilian data. The model is based on a real business cycles model with a first order VAR process for the measurement errors. The estimation is performed via maximum likelihood with the aid of the Kalman filter. Despite the simplicity of the DSGE model used, the forecasts of the hybrid model are significantly more precise than the forecasts generated by a first and second order VAR. Thus, showing that the DSGE model can significantly contribute to VAR forecasts.
Effects of stimulation of cervical sympathetic trunks with various frequencies on the local cortical cerebral blood flow measured by laser Doppler flowmetry in the rat.

The effects of electrical stimulation of cervical sympathetic trunks for 1-min duration at supramaximal intensity with various stimulus frequencies on local cortical cerebral blood flow were investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation with low frequency (1-2 Hz) produced a significant increase in local cortical cerebral blood flow during the stimulation. The local cortical CBF reached 111% of the resting value during the stimulation at 10 Hz, and slightly decreased for about 30s after the end of stimulation. High-frequency stimulation (20-30 Hz) produced the short-term increase during the stimulation, which was followed by the dominant and long-lasting decrease, and the local cortical CBF reached 87% (at 30 Hz) of the resting value after the end of stimulation. The response of increase in flow was abolished by intravenous administration of beta adrenergic blocking agent (propranolol, 1.3 mg/kg i.v.), while the response of decrease in flow was abolished by alpha adrenergic blocking agent (phenoxybenzamine, 0.5 mg/kg i.v.).
Plasma nitrate concentrations in neutropenic and non‐neutropenic patients with suspected septicaemia

Summary. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important physiological mediator of vascular tone and is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of septic shock. Plasma nitrate is the stable end product of NO oxidation and in part reflects endogenous NO production. We measured plasma nitrate levels in 47 episodes of suspected septicaemia in 43 in‐patients (16 male and 27 female, age 15–63 years). Nitrate concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.01) compared to healthy controls. Further analysis revealed that significantly elevated levels occurred only in the septic patients who had normal or elevated numbers of neutrophils in the peripheral blood and were hypotensive on presentation. Failure of plasma nitrate concentrations to rise significantly in patients with neutropenia suggests that this cell type may be important in the activation of the arginine‐NO system in severe sepsis in man.
Randomized Trial of Introduction of Allergenic Foods in Breast-Fed Infants.

BACKGROUND The age at which allergenic foods should be introduced into the diet of breast-fed infants is uncertain. We evaluated whether the early introduction of allergenic foods in the diet of breast-fed infants would protect against the development of food allergy. METHODS We recruited, from the general population, 1303 exclusively breast-fed infants who were 3 months of age and randomly assigned them to the early introduction of six allergenic foods (peanut, cooked egg, cow's milk, sesame, whitefish, and wheat; early-introduction group) or to the current practice recommended in the United Kingdom of exclusive breast-feeding to approximately 6 months of age (standard-introduction group). The primary outcome was food allergy to one or more of the six foods between 1 year and 3 years of age. RESULTS In the intention-to-treat analysis, food allergy to one or more of the six intervention foods developed in 7.1% of the participants in the standard-introduction group (42 of 595 participants) and in 5.6% of those in the early-introduction group (32 of 567) (P=0.32). In the per-protocol analysis, the prevalence of any food allergy was significantly lower in the early-introduction group than in the standard-introduction group (2.4% vs. 7.3%, P=0.01), as was the prevalence of peanut allergy (0% vs. 2.5%, P=0.003) and egg allergy (1.4% vs. 5.5%, P=0.009); there were no significant effects with respect to milk, sesame, fish, or wheat. The consumption of 2 g per week of peanut or egg-white protein was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of these respective allergies than was less consumption. The early introduction of all six foods was not easily achieved but was safe. CONCLUSIONS The trial did not show the efficacy of early introduction of allergenic foods in an intention-to-treat analysis. Further analysis raised the question of whether the prevention of food allergy by means of early introduction of multiple allergenic foods was dose-dependent. (Funded by the Food Standards Agency and others; EAT Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN14254740.).
Prise en charge des troubles de la communication consécutifs à un traumatisme crânio-cérébral : une revue systématique

Suite à un traumatisme crânio-cérébral, plusieurs individus présentent des troubles de la communication pouvant affecter la prosodie, le discours et/ou la pragmatique. Ces déficits sont une source importante de handicap, dans la mesure où ils constituent un frein à la réintégration professionnelle et sociale, et ce encore plusieurs années après le traumatisme. Le diagnostic de tels déficits et la mise en place d’une prise en charge adaptée sont par conséquent capitaux. Malheureusement, les outils d’évaluation et les pistes de prise en charge pour aider les logopédistes dans leur travail sont encore peu nombreux. Par conséquent, cet article vise à donner un aperçu de l’état actuel des données sur les traitements de la communication consécutifs à un traumatisme crânio-cérébral, par le biais d’une recherche systématique de littérature. Nous décrirons ainsi les modalités et types de thérapies utilisés pour traiter divers domaines de la communication et rapporterons les résultats prometteurs de ces études concernant la question de leur efficacité à court et long terme. Quelques pistes de réflexion et perspectives découlant de ces résultats seront finalement discutées.
Citizen-initiated Contacts with Government Agencies: A Test of Three Theories

Citizen-initiated contacts with government agencies are now recognized as an increasingly important form of political participation, yet a form not as easily explained as are most traditional forms of political participation. This report attempts to explain those contacts through an analysis of survey data on contacts with ten departments of municipal government in Cincinnati, Ohio. The research first tested the prevailing theories of contacts, the traditional "socioeconomic model" and the newer parabolic model, and found both wanting. The research then developed a new "clientele participation" model, which argued that contacts are a function primarily of the individual's perceived needs for an agency's services and secondarily of the socioeconomic model, presumably the general political attitudes and information that also affect traditional forms of political participation. This model proves to be a much better predictor of the Cincinnati contacts than is either the socioeconomic model alone or the parabolic model.
Depression in Epilepsy: Etiology, Phenomenology, and Treatment

A history of depression or depressive symptomatology has been reported in up to two‐thirds of patients with medically intractable epilepsy, whereas community studies have demonstrated affective disorder only in a quarter of these patients. Depression has been reported peri‐ and interictally. However, differentiation may be difficult in patients with frequent seizures. Most authors have found no correlation between depression and epilepsy variables. However, complex partial seizures, especially of temporal lobe origin, appear to be etio‐logic factors, particularly in men with left‐sided foci. Depression is also more common in patients treated with polytherapy especially with barbiturates, phenytoin, and vigabatrin. Depression has also been described de novo after temporal lobectomy. Psychosocial factors also play a part, but underlying risk factors (e.g., genetic, endocrine and metabolic) may explain the increased rates of depression in people with epilepsy compared to those with other neurologic and chronic medical conditions. The depression appears to be endogenous. Patients tend to exhibit fewer neurotic traits and more psychotic symptoms such as paranoia, delusions, and persecutory auditory hallucinations. Treatment approaches include psychotherapy, rationalization of antiepileptic drug medication, antidepressant treatment, and ECT. The tricyclic and related antidepressants appear to be epileptogenic, especially in people at high risk (personal or family history of seizures, abnormal pretreatment EEG, brain damage, alcohol or substance abuse/withdrawal and concurrent use of CNS‐active medication). Seizures tend to occur early in treatment or after dose increments, especially if rapidly titrated. There is little evidence that the newer antidepressants, e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, moclobemide, venlafaxine, or nefazodone are more epileptogenic than placebo.
Use of microscope-integrated near-infrared indocyanine green videoangiography in the surgical treatment of intramedullary cavernous malformations: report of 8 cases.

OBJECT The characteristics and efficacy of indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography in cavernous malformation (CM) have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential utility of ICG videoangiography in the surgical treatment of intramedullary CMs. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective review of 8 cases involving 5 men and 3 women who had undergone surgery for intramedullary CM between January 2008 and July 2011. All patients were evaluated by means of MRI. The MRI findings and clinical history in all cases suggested intramedullary CM as a preoperative diagnosis. In 2 of 8 cases, dilated venous structures associated with CMs were demonstrated. In one of these cases, there were coexisting extramedullary CMs. Intraoperatively, ICG fluorescence was observed for 5 minutes using microscope-integrated videoangiography. RESULTS In all 8 cases, intra- and extramedullary CMs were seen as avascular areas on ICG videoangiography. Indocyanine green videoangiography helped surgeons to localize and predict margins of the lesions before performing myelotomy. Importantly, in the cases with associated venous anomalies, ICG videoangiography was useful in delineating and preserving the venous structures. In extramedullary CMs located dorsal to the spinal cord, gradual ICG infiltration was seen, starting at 110 seconds and maximal at 210 seconds after injection. Postoperative MRI confirmed total removal of the lesions in all cases, and subsequent recovery of all patients was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS Indocyanine green videoangiography provided useful information with regard to the detection of lesion margins by demonstrating intramedullary CMs as avascular areas. In cases associated with venous anomalies, ICG contributed to safe and complete removal of the CMs by visualizing the venous structure. In extramedullary CMs, ICG videoangiography demonstrated the characteristic of slow blood flow within CMs.
Does a better adherence to dietary guidelines reduce mortality risk and environmental impact in the Dutch sub-cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition?

Abstract Guidelines for a healthy diet aim to decrease the risk of chronic diseases. It is unclear as to what extent a healthy diet is also an environmentally friendly diet. In the Dutch sub-cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, the diet was assessed with a 178-item FFQ of 40 011 participants aged 20–70 years between 1993 and 1997. The WHO’s Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI), the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and the Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015 (DHD15-index) were investigated in relation to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land use and all-cause mortality risk. GHG emissions were associated with HDI scores (−3·7 % per sd increase (95 % CI −3·4, −4·0) for men and −1·9 % (95 % CI −0·4, −3·4) for women), with DASH scores in women only (1·1 % per sd increase, 95 % CI 0·9, 1·3) and with DHD15-index scores (−2·5 % per sd increase (95 % CI −2·2, −2·8) for men and −2·0 % (95 % CI −1·9, −2·2) for women). For all indices, higher scores were associated with less land use (ranging from −1·3 to −3·1 %). Mortality risk decreased with increasing scores for all indices. Per sd increase of the indices, hazard ratios for mortality ranged from 0·88 (95 % CI 0·82, 0·95) to 0·96 (95 % CI 0·92, 0·99). Our results showed that adhering to the WHO and Dutch dietary guidelines will lower the risk of all-cause mortality and moderately lower the environmental impact. The DASH diet was associated with lower mortality and land use, but because of high dairy product consumption in the Netherlands it was also associated with higher GHG emissions.
Smoothing the Volatility Smile using the Corrado-Su Model

The expansion of the derivatives market both globally and particularly in Brazil has driven users to enhance and develop tools for more efficient pricing. However, despite this expansion of the derivatives market, certain characteristics of the Brazilian options market still impose limits on its analysis and thus the studies performed. Despite the most commonly used pricing model in Brazil being that of the Black-Scholes, its assumption of constant asset’s volatility up to maturity and log-normal distribution price are criticized by a number of authors, because those are not sustained in real-life situations and consequently leads to inconsistencies. The objective of the model suggested by Corrado and Su, and improved by Brown and Robinson, is to adapt the BS model to the distribution of the asset intended for pricing by introducing the returns’ kurtosis and skewness. For this reason, it is expected that the model will be more apt for calculating implied volatility in order to reduce the volatility smile. The purpose of this paper is to show which window of observation generates the kurtosis and skewness which smoothes the volatility smile most, using the Corrado-Su model. Therefore, the companies chosen for the study were Petrobras PN and Vale PNA, because their stocks and options are the most liquid on the Brazilian market. The data analysis indicated a smoother volatility smile using short term observation windows rather than long term windows and a performance of earlier windows equivalent to those of the Black-Scholes model.
Prolongation of conduction time during premature stimulation in the human atrium is primarily caused by local stimulus response latency.

BACKGROUND Conventional clinical electrophysiological techniques cannot accurately differentiate between local stimulus response latency and propagation time of the atrial response. The purpose of this study was to identify and distinguish local stimulus response latency from impulse propagation time in the human right atrium during programmed electrical stimulation. METHODS Pacing was performed from two atrial sites (high and low right atrium) in 19 patients, using monophasic action potential recording/pacing combination catheters (interelectrode distance < 2 mm). Local stimulus response latency (interval between stimulus artifact and upstroke of the local monophasic action potential), and propagation time (interval between local and remote monophasic action potential upstroke) were evaluated at a basic cycle length (S1-S1) of 600 ms and as a function of the extrastimulus proximity (interval between extrastimulus and effective refractory period). Data are presented as means +/- SEM. RESULTS During basic stimulation, local latency was very small (3.8 +/- 1.7 ms). During premature extrastimulation (proximity < 70 ms), local latency increased progressively with decreasing coupling intervals. Prolongation of local latency was most pronounced during stimulation close to the effective refractory period with local stimulus response latency increasing to 18.3 +/- 1.4 ms (380 +/- 7.9%) at 10 ms proximity (P < 0.002) and to 27.9 +/- 3.7 ms (630 +/- 13.2%) at 5 ms proximity, respectively (P < 0.0001). The impulse propagation time between the stimulation site and the remote recording site was on average 54.5 +/- 14.3 ms during basic stimulation, and increased up to 62.1 +/- 13.5 ms (14.0 +/- 8.4%), which was not significant. CONCLUSIONS The intra-atrial impulse propagation remained essentially unchanged during the entire range of premature stimulation. Local stimulus response latency was negligible and constant during late coupling intervals but increased dramatically when extrastimulation approached the preceding repolarization phase. This has the following clinical impact: first, local stimulus response latency during premature extrastimulation curbs the targeted atrial response interval second, local stimulus response latency, not propagation time, seems responsible for the greater functional than effective refractory period during electrical stimulation; third, local stimulus response latency should be considered in pace mapping for accurate comparison of conduction time before pacing with that during pacing.
Negative Reality of the HIV Positives: Integrating Mental Health in Welfare Evaluation

Using primary household data we estimate family utility function parameters that measure the relative importance of consumption, schooling of children and health (both physical and mental) and find that mental health is far more important than consumption or children's schooling in determining household utility. We then estimate the monetary equivalent of the welfare loss to an HIV family to be Rs. 65,690 per month. Aggregating to the all India level we find that the annual welfare loss due to the only 0.9% prevalence of HIV/AIDS is a staggering 3,800 billion rupees per year, which is about two and a half times the annual health expenditure of the country in 2004 and 13.4% of its GDP! This huge magnitude is not surprising as it includes private valuation of one's own life as well as the cost of stigma for being HIV positive. In addition, the annual loss from external transfers (through debt, dissavings and social insurance) account for 5% of annual health expenditure and 0.23% of GDP. The significance of mental health can be gauged from the fact that had we not included it in the family welfare analysis, the welfare loss would have been just about 0.067% of GDP.