Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidoxorubicin and high dose leucovorin plus 5‐fluorouracil in advanced gastric cancer: a phase II study

We conducted a multicentric phase II study on advanced gastric cancer to determine the efficacy and toxicity of treatment with epidoxorubicin (EPI) plus high doses of leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Thirty-seven patients with measurable disease were enrolled into the trial and treated with EPI 75mg/m2 on day 1 and LV 200 mg/m2 plus 5-FU 450 mg/m2 from day 1 to 3, the cycle being repeated every 3–4 weeks from a median of five cycles per patients. The response rate was 49% in 35 evaluable patients, with two complete remissions and 15 partial responses. Median response duration was 12.4 months; median survival for responding patients was 17.3 months, which was significantly longer than 8.7 months for non-responding patients. General toxicity was usually mild, myelotoxicity was moderate and there was no evidence of cardiac toxicity. These results show that EPI-LV-5-FU is an effective regimen for advanced gastric carcinoma. The efficacy of this combination should now be tested as an adjuvant therapy in resectable gastric cancer.
Edaravone reduces brain oedema and attenuates cell death after intracerebral haemorrhage in mice

Primary objective: Edaravone, a potent scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, has been used to treat acute cerebral ischemia, but its effects on intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) are unknown. The present study tried to understand the effects of edaravone on ICH in mice. Research design: Mice of edaravone and control group were injected with collagenase to induce ICH. Mice of the edaravone group were given edaravone at 30 minutes, 24 hours and 48 hours after the induction of ICH. Methods and procedures: At 72 hours after surgery, the mice were scored neurologically by a 28-point neurological scoring system. The haematoma volume was measured by Luxol Fast Blue staining. Brain cell death was determined by TUNEL staining and the severity of brain oedema was evaluated by brain water content. Main outcomes and results: The neurological score of the edaravone group was statistically lower than that of the control group. There were also statistical differences in water content and brain cell death between these two groups. Conclusions: Edaravone reduced ICH-induced oedema formation, attenuated cell death and improved functional outcome in mice. This suggests that it may be a potential therapeutic agent for patients with ICH.
Evaluating the influence of location and medium applied to mobile VR storytelling

This paper investigates whether location and medium affect the experience of interactive storytelling in the context of mobile Virtual Reality systems. For this purpose, we discuss the development of Fragments of Laura, a location-aware multimedia application in a larger interactive transmedia story, where users can view a 360° narrative in a 3D environment. We conducted a user study with the intention of measuring Presence, Flow and Narrative Transportation and evaluate four scenarios resulting from the combination of two independent variables - location (existence and absence of links between the test location and the narrative location) and medium (tablet and mobile virtual reality with smartphones). Our results show that the user experience while watching a narrative fluctuates depending on the location where is viewed and the device in which is viewed. Locations linked with the content lead to a significantly increased Flow, Presence, and Narrative Transportation.
Cognitive decline in logopenic aphasia

Objective: To track cognitive and language changes over time in patients with logopenic (lv-PPA) and semantic (sv-PPA) variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Methods: Thirteen consecutive patients with lv-PPA and 11 patients with sv-PPA underwent yearly evaluation for a mean of 3 years. Nineteen patients (11 lv-PPA, 8 sv-PPA) had Pittsburgh compound B PET scans. Outcome variables included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination–revised (ACE-R) with its 5 cognitive subscores, and 3 language tasks based on single word processing. Mixed-models regressions were used to estimate the differential rate of decline between cohorts. Results: Despite equivalent level of baseline impairment, the lv-PPA cohort showed more rapid and generalized cognitive decline that involved nonverbal domains, with the majority of cases meeting criteria for dementia within 12 months. By contrast, cognitive changes in the sv-PPA cohort were slower and remained confined to verbally mediated tasks. Conclusions: Patients with lv-PPA are on the cusp of global dementia that typically develops quite rapidly, contrasting with the long period of circumscribed semantic impairment seen in patients with sv-PPA. The ACE-R appears capable of monitoring decline, which is relevant to therapeutic trials.
Tocolytic effectiveness of nifedipine versus ritodrine and follow‐up of newborns: a randomised controlled trial

Background. Several studies have demonstrated the superior tocolytic effectiveness of nifedipine over ritodrine. Only 1 trial conducted a long‐term follow‐up of newborns and found no difference in psychosocial and motor functioning. In a randomised, multicentre trial, we compared the tocolytic effectiveness of nifedipine and ritodrine and included a long‐term follow‐up of the newborns after 2 years of age. Methods. Patients with imminent preterm labour were randomised and received either nifedipine or ritodrine. Side‐effects, tocolytic effectiveness and neonatal outcome were studied. Development of the children was studied after the age of 2 years by a parental questionnaire. Results. Ninety‐three patients were included. Birth was postponed for an average of 4.3 weeks in the ritodrine group and 5.0 weeks in the nifedipine group (p = 0.4). Patients who received ritodrine experienced significantly more side‐effects compared to patients who received nifedipine (29 versus 4%, p<0.05). No significant differences were found in either group for average birth weight, Apgar scores after 1 min, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and neonatal complications. Parental questionnaires after 2 years had a response rate of 70%. Two‐thirds of the children had developed normally in both groups. In both groups, only a few children were severely retarded (n = 4). No significant differences in development were found between the 2 groups. Conclusions. Both nifedipine and ritodrine proved effective tocolytic drugs, however ritodrine caused significantly more maternal side‐effects. Neonatal outcome and long‐term development after 2 years of age were not significantly different. We favour nifedipine over ritodrine as a tocolytic drug.
Expression of metabolism-related proteins in lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the expression and the clinical implications of metabolism-related proteins in lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) in comparison with salivary gland ACC. METHODS Human tissue samples of lacrimal gland ACC (n = 11) and salivary gland ACC (n = 64) were analyzed. Immunochemistry was used to measure expression of proteins related to glycolysis (glucose transporter 1, hexokinase II, carbonic anhydrase IX, and monocarboxylate transporter 4 [MCT4]), glutaminolysis (glutaminase 1 [GLS1], glutamate dehydrogenase [GDH], and amino acid transporter 2 [ASCT2]), mitochondria (adenosine triphosphate [ATP] synthase, succinate dehydrogenase A [SDHA], and succinate dehydrogenase B), and glycolytic intermediate metabolism (phosphoserine phosphatase [PSPH], serine hydroxymethyl transferase 1 [SHMT1]). RESULTS GLS1 and ASCT2 were more highly expressed, and GDH, ATP synthase, and SDHA were expressed to a lesser degree in lacrimal gland ACC than in salivary gland ACC (P < .05). Lacrimal gland ACC showed less of a mitochondrial phenotype than did salivary gland ACC (P = .001). Positivity of MCT4 and PSPH was related to shorter disease-free survival, and SHMT1 was related to shorter overall survival (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Lacrimal gland ACC exhibited higher expression of GLS1 and ASCT2, compared with salivary gland ACC. Overexpression of MCT4, PSPH, and SHMT1 was associated with poorer prognosis.
Price-based Resource Allocation for Virtualized Cognitive Radio Networks

We consider a virtualized cognitive radio (CR) network, where multiple virtual network operators (VNOs) who own different virtual cognitive base stations (VCBSs) share the same physical CBS (PCBS) which is owned by an infrastructure provider (InP), sharing the spectrum with the primary user (PU). The uplink scenario is considered where the secondary users (SUs) transmit to the VCBSs. The PU is protected by constraining the interference power from the SUs. Such constraint is applied by the InP through pricing the interference. A Stackelberg game is formulated to jointly maximize the revenue of the InP and the individual utilities of the VNOs, and then the Stackelberg equilibrium is investigated. Specifically, the optimal interference price and channel allocation for the VNOs to maximize the revenue of the InP and the optimal power allocation for the SUs to maximize the individual utilities of the VNOs are derived. In addition, a low-complexity ±-optimal solution is also proposed for obtaining the interference price and channel allocation for the VNOs. Simulations are provided to verify the proposed strategies. It is shown that the proposed strategies are effective in resource allocation and the ±-optimal strategy achieves practically the same performance as the optimal strategy can achieve. It is also shown that the InP will not benefit from a large interference power limit, and selecting VNOs with higher unit rate utility gain to share the resources of the InP is beneficial to both the InP and the VNOs.
Use of the ICF in identifying factors that impact participation in physical activity/rehabilitation among people with disabilities

Many health professionals have expressed difficulty finding ways to keep people with disabilities engaged in community-based physical activity/rehabilitation programs. A major reason for this low adherence may be that the recommended intervention plan does not match well with the specific needs of the individual. Various personal and/or environmental factors along with the person's level of functioning can impede participation in healthful physical activity/rehabilitation. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) can be a useful tool for identifying key factors associated with participation in community-based physical activity/rehabilitation. The ICF allows health professionals to identify the level of functioning at the body, person and societal level, as well as understand the person-environment contextual factors that may impede or enhance participation. This paper describes how the ICF can assist health professionals in identifying a broader constellation of factors when prescribing physical activity/rehabilitation programs for persons with varying levels of disability.
Intelligent complementary sliding-mode control for lusms-based X-Y-θ motion control stage

An intelligent complementary sliding-mode control (ICSMC) system using a recurrent wavelet-based Elman neural network (RWENN) estimator is proposed in this study to control the mover position of a linear ultrasonic motors (LUSMs)-based X-Y-Θ motion control stage for the tracking of various contours. By the addition of a complementary generalized error transformation, the complementary sliding-mode control (CSMC) can efficiently reduce the guaranteed ultimate bound of the tracking error by half compared with the sliding-mode control (SMC) while using the saturation function. To estimate a lumped uncertainty on-line and replace the hitting control of the CSMC directly, the RWENN estimator is adopted in the proposed ICSMC system. In the RWENN, each hidden neuron employs a different wavelet function as an activation function to improve both the convergent precision and the convergent time compared with the conventional Elman neural network (ENN). The estimation laws of the RWENN are derived using the Lyapunov stability theorem to train the network parameters on-line. A robust compensator is also proposed to confront the uncertainties including approximation error, optimal parameter vectors, and higher-order terms in Taylor series. Finally, some experimental results of various contours tracking show that the tracking performance of the ICSMC system is significantly improved compared with the SMC and CSMC systems.
Three-Dimensional Modeling based on Radial Reach Filter

In recent years, many researches for reconstructing the shape of object which has the complicated structure such as a plant and a statue have been treated. In this paper, we propose new method of three-dimensional modeling with high accurate position data. In this paper, there are two main contributions. First, we introduce the improved silhouette method based on radial reach filter and opacity. Through this processing, we can make precise three-dimensional shape of object. Secondly, we compute three-dimensional co-ordinates value of object on image by using the stereo matching method. Finally, we combine three-dimensional shape obtained by the improved silhouette method and three-dimensional position data measured by stereo matching, and then can show three-dimensional shape with high accurate position data. The utility of our proposed method is proven through experiments
RLS estimation of fNIRS signal strength as GLM parameters, in the course of real-time brain activation detection*

This paper presents a recursive least square (RLS) estimation based technique to find the signal strength of the functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as parameters of general linear model (GLM). The proposed method uses the sampled version of the neuron's hemodynamic response (design matrix) of the specific experimental paradigm. The results verify the effectiveness of the proposed technique by providing the activity levels at the measuring channels simultaneously while performing the motor-task experiment. The real-time RLS based convergence of activity parameters effectively avoids the necessity of the long experiment as was required for the currently available off-line techniques. The effectiveness of RLS and GLM based method is also verified by obtaining the equally acceptable results with unfiltered data. The proposed method can be utilized for fNIRS based real-time brain imaging technology to cope the delay, inserted by the currently available off-line methods, in obtaining the medical diagnostic results.
Stock performance and economic growth: lessons from the Japanese case

ABSTRACT This study examines the rise of the Japanese financial market during the last 30 years with a focus on its changing macroeconomic environment. In particular, we relate the standard factor pricing models to growth expectations by testing for structural instability during economic transition (from the growth period to the stagnation period) and by linking the profitability of the standard return-based risk factors to economic growth. We find that the historic excess return of value stocks over growth stocks (HML-factor) and the premium on winner minus loser stocks (WML-factor) are statistically associated with economic growth. Accordingly, the description of stock returns by the usual risk factors is improved considerably when the estimations are conducted for subsamples representing different growth regimes, which particularly applies to the momentum strategy. The Japanese case illustrates the necessity of considering the structural instability in relation to growth expectations. This is particularly, relevant for emerging economies which typically experience accelerated macroeconomic transition.
Tundra shrub effects on growing season energy and carbon dioxide exchange

Increased shrub cover on the Arctic tundra is expected to impact ecosystem-atmosphere exchanges of carbon and energy resulting in feedbacks to the climate system, yet few direct measurements of shrub tundra-atmosphere exchanges are available to corroborate expectations. Here we present energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes measured using the eddy covariance technique over six growing seasons at three closely located tundra sites in Canada’s Low Arctic. The sites are dominated by the tundra shrub Betula glandulosa, but percent cover varies from 17%–60% and average shrub height ranges from 18–59 cm among sites. The site with greatest percent cover and height had greater snow accumulation, but contrary to some expectations, it had similar late-winter albedo and snow melt dates compared to the other two sites. Immediately after snowmelt latent heat fluxes increased more slowly at this site compared to the others. Yet by the end of the growing season there was little difference in cumulative latent heat flux among the sites, suggesting evapotranspiration was not increased with greater shrub cover. In contrast, lower albedo and less soil thaw contributed to greater summer sensible heat flux at the site with greatest shrub cover, resulting in greater total atmospheric heating. Net ecosystem exchange of CO2 revealed the potential for enhanced carbon cycling rates under greater shrub cover. Spring CO2 emissions were greatest at the site with greatest percent cover of shrubs, as was summer net uptake of CO2. The seasonal net sink for CO2 was ~2 times larger at the site with the greatest shrub cover compared to the site with the least shrub cover. These results largely agree with expectations that the growing season feedback to the atmosphere arising from shrub expansion in the Arctic has the potential to be negative for CO2 fluxes but positive for turbulent energy fluxes.
Direct measurement of conformational changes on DNA molecule intercalating with a fluorescence dye in an electrophoretic buffer solution by means of atomic force microscopy

By means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), we performed the direct imaging of DNA molecules (200, 500, 1000 bp) in a Tris‐borate buffer solution, and measured the contour length and the end‐to‐end distance of DNA. Processing the data according to the worm‐like chain model, we calculated the persistence length of the double‐stranded DNA. Based on the analysis of the contour length and the persistence length, we discussed the interactions between DNA and an intercalating fluorescence dye (YO‐PRO‐1). YO‐PRO‐1 stacks between the base pairs and extends the contour length of DNA, changing the electric charge and the persistence length of DNA. From AFM measurement, we investigated directly the relationship between the persistence length and the number of the YO‐PRO‐1 intercalating to DNA. We will discuss on the relationship between the effect of an intercalating dye on the electrophoretic behavior and the conformational changes of DNA with an intercalating dye.
Measurements of liposome biomechanical properties by combining line optical tweezers and dielectrophoresis

Abstract Liposomes are well-known cell simulators and are currently studied as drug delivery systems, for a targeted delivery of higher drug concentrations, in specific cells. Novel biophotonic techniques for manipulation and characterization of liposomes have been developed; among which are optical tweezers. In our work, we demonstrate a novel use of line optical tweezers to manipulate and cause liposome deformations. Optical forces induce tension on liposomes, which are stretched along the line optical trap. The method of dielectrophoresis, combined with optical tweezers, was used to measure the exerted optical forces. As a consequence, in the case of reversible liposome deformations, the value of the shear and bending moduli of liposomes was calculated. We anticipate that the selective manipulation of liposomes will help us toward a better understanding of the cellular–liposome interactions. Studying the biomechanical properties of liposomes will provide an insight into the mechanical behavior of individual living cells, which have recently been implicated in many aspects of human physiology and patho-physiology. The biomechanical properties of cells (i.e. deformability, stiffness and elasticity) can be useful biomarkers for various disease processes and changes of the cell state.
Nutritional status of primary school children from low income households in kuala lumpur.

Growth status was examined in relation to gender and age factors in urban primary school children (6-10 years old) from low income households in Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan. The sample consisted of 4212 boys (53%) and 3793 girls (47%). Data on weight and height data were obtained from two sources - investigator's and teachers' measurements of the school children. This study defined mildly and significantly underweight, stunted or wasted as z-score below minus one and below minus two of the NCHS/CDC reference median, respectively. Approximately 52% (n = 4149), 50% (n = 3893) and 30% (n = 2568) of the school children were underweight, stunted and wasted, respectively. However, the majority of these undernourished children were in the mild category. Prevalence of overweight (> 2 SD of NCHS/WHO reference median) was found in 5.8% of the sample. For both, prevalence of undernutrition and overnutrition, more boys than girls were found to be underweight stunted wasted and overweight. Compared to girls, boys had lower mean z-scores for the variables height-for-age (p<0.05) and weight-for-height (p<0.01). Older children had significantly lower mean z-scores for height-for-age (p<0.001) but higher mean z-scores for weight-for-height (P<0.001) than younger children. This finding indicates that with increasing age, stunting is associated with improved weight-for-height or that the children's weights have been adapted to their short statures. In conclusion, results demonstrate a high prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting and an increasing prevalence of overweight among these low-income school children. Efforts recommended to address health and nutrition problems among school children should include health and nutrition monitoring (e.g. growth monitoring using the existing growth data collected by schools) and interventions.
Double-balloon enteroscopy versus magnetic resonance enteroclysis in diagnosing suspected small-bowel Crohn's disease: Results of a pilot study

Objective. Small-bowel manifestations are common complications in Crohn's disease (CD) but can often be underestimated because of diagnostic limitations. Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a new endoscopic method that provides complete visualization and biopsy sampling of the small bowel with potential implications for diagnosis and therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield of DBE and magnetic resonance enteroclysis (MRE) in patients suspected of having small-bowel CD. Material and methods. Ten patients were consecutively selected and included in the study. In all patients a DBE of the small bowel was performed, the endoscopist being unaware of the radiological findings. Evaluation criteria included the presence of pathology, localization, degree, and extension of affection according to predefined morphologic criteria. Samples for histopathological investigation were taken in all patients with abnormal mucosa. Results. In 50% of the patients (5 out of 10) with suspected small-bowel CD, DBE revealed pathological results. Here, in four patients, CD was verified histologically. A new diagnosis had to be established in one patient diagnosed for malignant lymphoma. The medical management had to change in five patients. In two patients, both DBE and MRE showed no pathological results; in three patients, superficial lesions were identified by MRE, whereas DBE was normal. Conclusions. In selected patients with suspected small-bowel lesions, DBE is a promising tool in the diagnostic work-up and provides the advantage of biopsy sampling. In contrast, non-invasive MRE delivers excellent information about extraluminal pathology associated with CD. Both MRE and DBE have the potential to become diagnostic standards that complement each other in patients with suspected complex small-bowel CD.