Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The economic burden of common adverse events associated with metastatic colorectal cancer treatment in the United States

Abstract Aims: Adverse events (AEs) associated with treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) may compromise the course of treatment, impact quality-of-life, and increase healthcare resource utilization. This study assessed the direct healthcare costs of common AEs among mCRC patients in the US. Methods: Adult mCRC patients treated with chemotherapy or targeted therapies were identified from administrative claims databases (2009–2014). Up to the first three mCRC treatment episodes per patient were considered and categorized as with or without the AE system/organ category during the episode. Total healthcare costs (2014 USD) were measured by treatment episode and reported on a monthly basis. Treatment episodes with the AE category were matched by treatment type and line of treatment to those without the AE category. Adjusted total cost differences were estimated by comparing costs during treatment episodes with vs without the AE category using multivariate regression models; p-values were estimated with bootstrap. Results: A total of 4158 patients with ≥1 mCRC treatment episode were included (mean age = 59 years; 58% male; 60% with liver and 14% with lung metastases; 2,261 [54%] with a second and 1,115 [27%] with a third episode). On average, two treatment episodes were observed per patient with an average length of 166 days per episode. Adjusted monthly total cost difference by AE category included hematologic ($1,480), respiratory ($1,253), endocrine/metabolic ($1,213), central nervous system (CNS; $1,136), and cardiovascular ($1,036; all p < .05). Limitations: Claims do not include information on the cause of AEs, and potentially less severe AEs may not have been reported by the physician when billing the medical service. This study aimed to assess the association between costs and AEs and not the causation of AEs by treatment. Conclusions: The most costly AEs among mCRC patients were hematologic, followed by respiratory, endocrine/metabolic, CNS, and cardiovascular.
A novel chaotic system and its anti-synchronization

A novel chaotic system is presented in this paper. The basic dynamic properties of it are investigated including equilibrium points, Lyapunov exponents and Lyapunov dimension, Poincare maps and so on. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, anti-synchronization of the systems with the same structure is realized when the parameters are known. The simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the method.
A novel technique to demonstrate disturbed appetite profiles in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition is common among dialysis patients and is associated with an adverse outcome. One cause of this is a persistent reduction in nutrient intake, suggesting an abnormality of appetite regulation. METHODS We used a novel technique to describe the appetite profile in 46 haemodialysis (HD) patients and 40 healthy controls. The Electronic Appetite Rating System (EARS) employs a palmtop computer to collect hourly ratings of motivation to eat and mood. We collected data on hunger, desire to eat, fullness, and tiredness. HD subjects were monitored on the dialysis day and the interdialytic day. Controls were monitored for 1 or 2 days. RESULTS Temporal profiles of motivation to eat for the controls were similar on both days. Temporal profiles of motivation to eat for the HD group were lower on the dialysis day. Mean HD scores were not significantly different from controls. Dietary records indicated that dialysis patients consumed less food than controls. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that the EARS can be used to monitor subjective appetite states continuously in a group of HD patients. A HD session reduces hunger and desire to eat. Patients feel more tired after dialysis. This does not correlate with their hunger score, but does correlate with their fullness rating. Nutrient intake is reduced, suggesting a resetting of appetite control for the HD group. The EARS may be useful for intervention studies.
Physical Training and Personality Factors as Predictors of Marathon Time and Training Injury

On the basis of surveys completed by 105 male participants in a popular marathon, a multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables contributing significantly to the prediction of final time. Overall prediction was successful, with R = . 896, and training pace was the most important factor in the equation, speedier workouts being associated with faster marathon times. Final time was also related positively to best 10-km race time in the previous 12 mo. and repression-sensitization (faster runners being more sensitized), and negatively to maximum number of training miles in a single week, number of previous marathons completed, and number of days of training lost through illness or injury. Contrary to expectations, locus of control was not related to final time. Only 27% of the runners had lost training time through injury, but a discriminant analysis showed that, compared to those who had avoided this problem, the injured were younger, rested less, ran less in the week prior to the marathon, ran a slightly longer long run but ran it earlier before the race, and ran fewer runs of 20 miles or more. It is suggested that researchers should study the repression-sensitization variable and investigate injury in runners preparing for a marathon.
Bi-directional series-parallel elastic actuator and overlap of the actuation layers

Several robotics applications require high torque-to-weight ratio and energy efficient actuators. Progress in that direction was made by introducing compliant elements into the actuation. A large variety of actuators were developed such as series elastic actuators (SEAs), variable stiffness actuators and parallel elastic actuators (PEAs). SEAs can reduce the peak power while PEAs can reduce the torque requirement on the motor. Nonetheless, these actuators still cannot meet performances close to humans. To combine both advantages, the series parallel elastic actuator (SPEA) was developed. The principle is inspired from biological muscles. Muscles are composed of motor units, placed in parallel, which are variably recruited as the required effort increases. This biological principle is exploited in the SPEA, where springs (layers), placed in parallel, can be recruited one by one. This recruitment is performed by an intermittent mechanism. This paper presents the development of a SPEA using the MACCEPA principle with a self-closing mechanism. This actuator can deliver a bi-directional output torque, variable stiffness and reduced friction. The load on the motor can also be reduced, leading to a lower power consumption. The variable recruitment of the parallel springs can also be tuned in order to further decrease the consumption of the actuator for a given task. First, an explanation of the concept and a brief description of the prior work done will be given. Next, the design and the model of one of the layers will be presented. The working principle of the full actuator will then be given. At the end of this paper, experiments showing the electric consumption of the actuator will display the advantage of the SPEA over an equivalent stiff actuator.
Source of seminal N-acetylglucosamine in Australian marsupials and further studies of free sugars of the marsupial prostate gland.

It has previously been shown that N-acetylglucosamine occurs in the semen of some marsupials (Rodger & White, 1974b, 1975) and that various other seminal sugars are produced by the prostate (Rodger & White, 1974a). The present paper is a more comprehensive study of the sugars in marsupial prostates for clarification of the source of N-acetylglucosamine in semen. The tissues and fluids examined in the present study were collected and processed in the same
Nutritional Regulation of Meiosis-specific Gene Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

For efficient meiosis and sporulation, yeast cells must be starved for nitrogen, and only nonfermentable carbon sources may be present. To find how these nutritional signals regulate entry into meiosis, transcript levels from meiotic inducer genes (IME1 and IME2) were examined under various culture conditions. Our results suggest (1) that IME1 RNA levels are negatively regulated by cell division or induced by cell division arrest at G1 phase, (2) that the G1 arrest is not sufficient to induce IME2 transcription, and (3) that IME1 and IME2 transcriptions are inhibited by either nitrogen or glucose. Acetate was required for full expressions of IME1 and IME2 RNAs, and this induction required de novo protein synthesis. We have cloned SME2 and SME3 by screening genes which, when present in increased dosage, bypass the nitrogen repression of sporulation. RNA blot analysis suggests that SME2 and SME3 are positive transcriptional regulators for SGA1 (a late meiotic gene encoding glucoamylase) and IME1, respectively, and that transcript levels from SME2 and SME3 were also negatively regulated by cell division in a manner similar to that found for IME1. However, diploids homozygous for sme2 or sme3 disruption mutation sporulated normally like isogenic wild-type strains, indicating that SME2 and SME3 are dispensable for meiosis.
Quantitative characterization of mass lesions on digitized mammograms for computer-assisted diagnosis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To investigate features for discriminating benign from malignant mammographic findings by using computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) and to test the accuracy of CAD interpretations of mass lesions. METHODS Fifty-five sequential, mammographically detected mass lesions, referred for biopsy, were digitized for computerized reevaluation with a CAD system. Quantitative features that characterize spiculation were automatically extracted by the CAD system. Data generated by 271 known retrospective cases were used to set reference values indicating the range for malignant and benign lesions. After conventional interpretation of the 55 prospective cases, they were evaluated a second time by the radiologist using the extracted features and the reference ranges. In addition, a pattern-recognition scheme based on the extracted features was used to classify the prospective cases. Accuracy of interpretation with and without the CAD system was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS Sensitivity of the CAD diagnosis for the prospective cases improved from 92% to 100%. Specificity improved significantly from 26.7% to 66.7%. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the accuracy of diagnosis from 56.4% to 81.8% and in the positive predictive value from 51.1% to 71.4%. The Az for the CAD ROC curve significantly increased from 0.73 to 0.90. The performance of the classification scheme was slightly lower than that of the radiologists' interpretation with the CAD system. CONCLUSIONS Use of the CAD system significantly improved the accuracy of diagnosis. The findings suggest that the classification scheme may improve the radiologist's ability to differentiate benign from malignant mass lesions in the interpretation of mammograms.
Effects of in vivo T lymphocyte subset depletion on mycobacterial infections in mice

The relative importance of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in the expression of acquired resistance to systemic infection by Mycobacterium kansasii was determined. T cell subsets were depleted in thymectomized C57BL/6 mice by the intravenous administration of monoclonal antibodies directed against the relevant T cell determinants. Depletion of the CD4+ subset exacerbated the severity of the infection in intravenously challenged mice. This effect was apparent in the first 2 weeks of the infection and persisted throughout the 12 weeks of the study. On the other hand, depletion of the CD8+ cells had no apparent effect on the growth curves. Infections by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman or bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) Pasteur were also substantially enhanced by CD4 depletion, but not by the depletion of CD8+ cells. The effect of subset depletion on infections by M. tuberculosis and BCG was examined in both innately susceptible C57BL/6 mice and innately resistant B6D2 mice.
NMR solution structure of the isolated Apo Pin1 WW domain: comparison to the x-ray crystal structures of Pin1.

The NMR solution structure of the isolated Apo Pin1 WW domain (6-39) reveals that it adopts a twisted three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet conformation, very similar to the structure exhibited by the crystal of this domain in the context of the two domain Pin1 protein. While the B factors in the apo x-ray crystal structure indicate that loop 1 and loop 2 are conformationally well defined, the solution NMR data suggest that loop 1 is quite flexible, at least in the absence of the ligand. The NMR chemical shift and nuclear Overhauser effect pattern exhibited by the 6-39 Pin1 WW domain has proven to be diagnostic for demonstrating that single site variants of this domain adopt a normally folded structure. Knowledge of this type is critical before embarking on time-consuming kinetic and thermodynamic studies required for a detailed understanding of beta-sheet folding.
High Phase Order Transmission--A Feasibility Analysis Part II--Overvoltages and Insulation Requirements

High phase order transmission (HPO), the use of more than the conventional three phases, is a unique approach to more efficiently using the overhead transmission rights-of-way. This paper evaluates those areas which impact phase clearances and insulation requirements. Fault overvoltages, overvoltagees due to interphase coupling, switching surges, rate of rise of circuit breaker recovery voltage, and lightning performance are analyzed. Additionally, the effects of wind, ice, fault currents, and phase spacer performance on conductor spacing are considered. Representative conductor spacings and terminal insulation levels are tabulated based on the foregoing analyses.
Locomotor Behavioral Responses of Anopheles minimus and Anopheles harrisoni to Alpha-Cypermethrin in Thailand

Abstract Excito-repellency responses of 3 test populations, representing 2 sibling species within the Minimus Complex, Anopheles minimus and An. harrisoni, were characterized for contact irritant and noncontact repellent actions of chemicals during and after exposure to α-cypermethrin at half the recommended field (0.010 g/m2), the recommended field (0.020 g/m2), and double the recommended field concentration (0.040 g/m2), using an excito-repellency escape chamber system. Two field populations of An. minimus and An. harrisoni collected from the malaria-endemic areas in Tak and Kanchanuburi provinces in western Thailand, respectively, were tested along with a laboratory population of An. minimus maintained since 1993. Females of all 3 test populations rapidly escaped after direct contact with treated surfaces for each concentration. In general, increased escape responses in the An. minimus test populations were proportionate to increased insecticide dosages. The greatest escape response for An. harrisoni was observed at the operational field concentration of α-cypermethrin. The noncontact repellency response to α-cypermethrin was comparatively weak for all 3 test populations, but significantly different from each paired contact test and respective noncontact controls. We conclude that strong contact irritancy is a major action of α-cypermethrin, whereas noncontact repellency plays no role in the escape responses of 2 species in the Minimus Complex in Thailand.
The differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into inner ear hair cell-like cells in vitro

Abstract Conclusion. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into hair cells, and this method of culturing MSCs provides a useful tool for studies on mammalian cochlear hair cell regeneration. Objective: To investigate a method to induce bone marrow MSCs to differentiate into inner ear hair cells. Methods: Rat bone marrow MSCs were isolated from healthy rats and cultured in vitro. To make sure that the cultured cells were bone marrow MSCs, the expression of MSC markers such as SH2, CD31, CD34, and CD44 genes on the cultured cells was assessed by RT-PCR. Adipogenic cells and osteogenic cells were induced by the differentiation of the cultured cells, respectively, suggesting that the cultured cells have the characteristic of pluripotent differentiation. Then they were induced to differentiate into neural stem cells and hair cell progenitor cells. Immunohistochemistry experiments were carried out to detect the expression of molecular markers. Scanning electron microscope samples were prepared for observation of the morphology of the cells. Results: Rat bone marrow MSCs were successfully isolated, purified, cultured, and identified in vitro. They were also successfully induced to differentiate into neural progenitor cells and then hair cell-like cells that expressed myosin VIIa.
Influence of three principles of pacing on the temporal organisation of work during cyclic assembly and disassembly tasks

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of different approaches to arranging the pace and temporal organisation of repetitive assembly and disassembly tasks on both average performance and its variability and to compare assembly and disassembly times derived with psychophysical methods to a more traditional methods-time measurement (MTM) approach. The conditions studied were a traditional assembly line arrangement, where assemblies were started at a pace of 110 MTM (repeated on two occasions), a batch condition, where subjects were required to complete 36 assemblies within the total amount of time allowed at 110, MTM and a psychophysical condition, where subjects were allowed to choose their pace (repeated on two occasions). Overall, the results suggest that the mean time spent working in each cycle (the ‘on-time’) remained fairly constant across conditions, while the idle ‘off-time’ in between on-times was shorter and of less varied duration in the more autonomous batch and psychophysical conditions. During the second psychophysical (self-paced) condition, subjects completed a significantly higher number of assemblies than during the 110 MTM line condition. The higher pace was achieved through reduction in mean off-times and the potential implications for musculoskeletal risk are discussed. Statement of Relevance: Higher levels of autonomy over work pace, which intuitively would be beneficial from an ergonomics standpoint, actually led to subjects selecting to organise work such that off-times (idle times) were reduced. In contrast, active ‘on’ times were not affected much by autonomy. These results point to a reason that piecework would be associated with increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders.
Heparin promotes the growth of human embryonic stem cells in a defined serum-free medium

human embryonic stem cells in a defined serum-free medium,’’ by Miho K. Furue, Jie Na, Jamie P. Jackson, Tetsuji Okamoto, Mark Jones, Duncan Baker, Ryu-Ichiro Hata, Harry D. Moore, J. Denry Sato, and Peter W. Andrews, which appeared in issue 36, Septem ber 9, 2008, of Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (105:13409–13414; first published August 25, 2008; 10.1073 pnas.0806136105), the authors note that in Fig. 7D, Q-PCR data were inadvertently duplicated. This error does not affect the conclusions of the article. The corrected figure and its legend appear below.
Effect of substrate biasing on Si/SiGe heterostructure MOSFETs for low-power circuit applications

We have investigated the effect of substrate biasing on the subthreshold characteristics and noise levels of Si/Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ (x=0,0.15,0.3) heterostructure MOSFETs. A detailed analysis of the dependence of threshold voltage, off-state current, and low-frequency noise level on the substrate-source (V/sub bs/) biasing showed that SiGe heterostructure MOSFETs offer a significant speed advantage, an extended subthreshold operation region, a reduced noise level, and reduced bulk potential sensitivity compared to Si bulk devices. These experimental results demonstrate that SiGe heterostructure MOSFETs render a promising extension to the CMOS technologies at the low-power limit of operation, eventually making the micropower implementation of radio frequency (RF) functions feasible.
Vitamin E supplementation with interferon‐γ administration retards immune dysfunction during murine retrovirus infection

Murine retrovirus infection induces loss of vitamin E and immune dysfunction with loss of cytokine production by T‐helper cells. Therefore interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) was given during dietary vitamin E supplementation to effectively prevent murine retrovirus‐induced immunosuppression, cytokine dysregulation, and development of murine AIDS. Administration of IFN‐γ during vitamin E supplementation significantly prevented development of retrovirus‐induced suppression of splenic natural killer cell activity and T cell proliferation. It also significantly slowed retrovirus‐induced elevation of T helper (Th) 2 cytokine [interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐10] production and monokine (IL‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α) secretion by splenocytes. The treatment also prevented loss of Th1 cytokine (IL‐2 and IFN‐γ) secretion by splenocytes from retrovirus‐infected mice alleviating splenomegaly and hyper‐gammaglobulinemia. The combined therapy had an additive therapeutic impact. It was more effective than IFN‐γ treatment or vitamin E supplementation alone in delaying the development of retrovirus‐induced immunosuppression with its cytokine dysregulation.
El rechazo del desarrollo sostenible : ¿una crítica justificada?

El concepto de desarrollo sostenible surge por via negativa, como resultado de los analisis de la actual situacion de emergencia planetaria, que amenaza gravemente el futuro de la humanidad, y se contrapone explicitamente al de crecimiento sostenido, radicalmente insostenible en un mundo finito. Pero este concepto ha sufrido graves desvirtuaciones en su manejo, dando lugar a criticas procedentes incluso de la educacion ambiental. En la comunicacion se describe la estrategia disenada para hacer frente a los malentendidos en torno al desarrollo sostenible y se presentan los resultados obtenidos, que muestran la posibilidad de salir al paso de las interpretaciones distorsionadas, poniendo de manifiesto que entre Educacion ambiental y Educacion para la sostenibilidad no existe oposicion, sino, muy al contrario, el mismo objetivo de hacer posible un futuro sostenible.