Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BCR/ABL level at 6 months identifies good risk CML subgroup after failing early molecular response at 3 months following imatinib therapy for CML in chronic phase

It is unclear if patients with CML treated with imatinib who fail to achieve BCR/ABL transcript levels <10%IS at 3 months i.e. an early molecular response (EMR) have a better prognosis if they achieve a response by 6 months. We reviewed 320 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase receiving Imatinib therapy with 3 and 6 month BCR/ABL transcript levels available, and divided them into four groups. Group I (achieved an EMR at 3 months), Group II (did not achieve an EMR at 3 months, but achieved a transcript level of <1% at 6 months), Group III (did not achieve an EMR at 3 months, then at 6 months achieved a level between 1% and 10%) and Group IV (failed to achieve a response at 3 and 6 months). Compared to Group I, Group IV showed significantly worse freedom from treatment failure (FTF; 93.1% vs 69.0%, P < 0.001), progression free survival (97.7% vs 77.3%, P < 0.001) and overall survival (98.3% vs 78.9%, P < 0.001). While, group III showed inferior PFS (98.3% vs 90.4%, P = 0.013) and OS (97.7% vs 90.4%, P = 0.037), but no difference in FTF (93.1% vs 92.0%, P = 0.520). There were no significant differences between Groups I and II. A BCR/ABL transcript level at 6 months can identify a “good‐risk” subgroup among patients who fail to achieve an EMR on Imatinib therapy for CML.Am. J. Hematol. 89:626–632, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Infusion therapy team and dressing changes of central venous catheters.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether central venous catheter (CVC) dressing changes could be performed by ward nurses rather than by the infusion therapy team (ITT) nurses without increasing the risk of catheter-related infection. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data. The study extended from January 1995 to June 1996. SETTING The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, a referral cancer center. PATIENTS The study group was a random sample of 483 patients who received CVC dressing changes by ward nurses during the study period. A random sample of 483 patients who received CVC dressing changes by the ITT constituted the control group. RESULTS The risks of catheter-related septicemia were 1.7% among cases and 1.4% among controls (risk ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 0.26-6.42; P=.70). There also were no significant differences between the two groups in the risks of catheter-related site infection (risk ratio, 0.50; CI95, 0.02-4.12; P=.25) or any catheter-related infection (risk ratio=1.00; CI95, 0.27-3.64; P=.59). CONCLUSIONS Provided that aseptic techniques (including maximal barrier precautions during insertion) are maintained, the responsibility of CVC dressing changes could be delegated to the ward nurses without increasing the low risk of CVC-related infection, resulting in an estimated cost saving in excess of $90,000 per year.
HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN PATTERN IN SERUM AND ITS RELATION TO THE SEX OF THE FETUS.

The pattern of the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level in serum throughout pregnancy has been established in longitudinal studies on 20 healthy women. Blood samples obtained at intervals of 3–4 weeks have been analyzed by means of a quantitative immunoassay procedure based on complement fixation. A biphasic course of the HCG level has been confirmed; a relatively sharp and acute peak in the first trimester and a comparatively small rise in the last 3 months are separated by an intervening low-level period in midpregnancy. A considerable individual scatter of the HCG levels is observed, particularly in the last trimester. A relation has been found between the sex of the fetus and the height of the HCG level during this period. In women with low HCG values there is a predominance of male fetuses, and in subjects with high levels a preponderance of female fetuses is observed. The statistical significance for a difference between male-fetus and female-fetus pregnancies is at the 0.5% level.
Learning and value function approximation in complex decision processes

In principle, a wide variety of sequential decision problems--ranging from dynamic resource allocation in telecommunication networks to financial risk management--can be formulated in terms of stochastic control and solved by the algorithms of dynamic programming. Such algorithms compute and store a value function, which evaluates expected future reward as a function of current state. Unfortunately, exact computation of the value function typically requires time and storage that grow proportionately with the number of states, and consequently, the enormous state spaces that arise in practical applications render the algorithms intractable. In this thesis, we study tractable methods that approximate the value function. Our work builds on research in an area of artificial intelligence known as reinforcement learning. A point of focus of this thesis is temporal-difference learning--a stochastic algorithm inspired to some extent by phenomena observed in animal behavior. Given a selection of basis functions, the algorithm updates weights during simulation of the system such that the weighted combination of basis functions ultimately approximates a value function. We provide an analysis (a proof of convergence, together with bounds on approximation error) of temporal-difference learning in the context of autonomous (uncontrolled) systems as applied to the approximation of (1) infinite horizon discounted rewards and (2) average and differential rewards. As a special case of temporal-difference learning in a context involving control, we propose variants of the algorithm that generate approximate solutions to optimal stopping problems. We analyze algorithms designed for several problem classes: (1) optimal stopping of a stationary mixing process with an infinite horizon and discounted rewards; (2) optimal stopping of an independent increments process with an infinite horizon and discounted rewards; (3) optimal stopping with a finite horizon and discounted rewards; (4) a zero-sum two-player stopping game with an infinite horizon and discounted rewards. We also present a computational case study involving a complex optimal stopping problem that is representative of those arising in the financial derivatives industry. In addition to algorithms for tuning basis function weights, we study an approach to basis function generation. In particular, we explore the use of "scenarios" that are representative of the range of possible events in a system. Each scenario is used to construct a basis function that maps states to future rewards contingent on the future realization of the scenario. We derive, in the context of autonomous systems, a bound on the number of "representative scenarios" that suffices for uniformly accurate approximation of the value function. The bound exhibits a dependence on a measure of "complexity" of the system that can often grow at a rate much slower that the state space size. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Combining Cues While Avoiding Perceptual Conflicts

A common assumption in cue combination models is that small discrepancies between cues are due to the limited resolution of the individual cues. Whenever this assumption holds, information from the separate cues can best be combined to give a single, more accurate estimate of the property of interest. We examined whether information about the discrepancy itself is lost when this is done. In our experiments, subjects were required to combine cues to match certain properties while avoiding perceptual conflicts. In part 1, they combined expansion and change in disparity to estimate motion in depth; and in part 2, they combined perspective and binocular disparities to estimate slant. We compared the pattern in the way that subjects set the two cues with the patterns predicted by models of cue combination with and without a loss of information about the discrepancy. From this comparison we conclude that little information about the discrepancies between cues is lost when the cues are combined.
Subtrochanteric Femoral Fractures

Abstract Subtrochanteric femoral fractures are complicated injuries that may be associated with other life‐threatening conditions. Patients should be carefully evaluated and appropriately treated for hypovolemic shock. These fractures can be effectively stabilized with 95° plates, femoral reconstruction nails, or trochanteric femoral nails with interlocking options. Nails produce very stable constructs and consistently can be placed with the patient in the lateral position on the radiolucent table or in the supine position on the fracture table. Standard antegrade femoral nails may be indicated in certain fracture patterns. The 135° hip screw‐plate is not suitable in the treatment of subtrochanteric femoral fractures; use of these implants may result in loss of fixation and fracture displacement. Chemical and mechanical prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis should be initiated unless contraindicated by other medical comorbidities. An accurate reduction and excellent surgical technique with minimal soft‐tissue dissection can routinely produce good results without the need for secondary procedures.
Force variability during isometric biceps contraction in children with secondary dystonia due to cerebral palsy

Children with secondary dystonia due to cerebral palsy (CP) often exhibit excess variability in their movements. To investigate the relationship between excess variability and single‐joint control in these children, we compared their force variations during single‐joint isometric tasks to age‐matched controls. Subjects performed isometric biceps contractions at six target force levels scaled to their maximum voluntary contraction. Similar studies in healthy adults have shown that movement variability exhibits characteristics of signal‐dependent noise (SDN). We look for the first time at whether variability in single‐joint force contractions in healthy children and children with CP exhibit similar characteristics of SDN. Results showed that compared to controls, patients exhibited increased variability (standard deviation about the mean), increased force error bias (difference between the mean and target), and increased dependence of force error bias on target force level. Signal‐dependence of the noise was significant only in healthy subjects due to the higher overall variability in the patients. A control experiment using filtered visual feedback confirmed that overcorrection for perceived error was not the cause of the observed variability. These results contribute to a better understanding of movement variability in childhood dystonia and have potential use in therapeutic interventions designed to increase force production reliability. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Different pathways for iNOS‐mediated toxicity in vitro dependent on neuronal maturation and NMDA receptor expression

Co‐localization of activated microglia and damaged neurones seen in brain injury suggests microglia‐induced neurodegeneration. Activated microglia release two potential neurotoxins, excitatory amino acids and nitric oxide (NO), but their contribution to mechanisms of injury is poorly understood. Using co‐cultures of rat microglia and embryonic cortical neurones, we show that inducible NO synthase (iNOS)‐derived NO aloneis responsible for neuronal death from interferon γ(IFNγ) +lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated microglia. Neurones remain sensitive to NO irrespective of maturation state but, whereas blocking NMDA receptor activation with MK801 has no effect on NO‐mediated toxicity to immature neurones, MK801 rescues 60–70% of neurones matured in culture for 12 days. Neuronal expression of NMDA receptors increases with maturation in culture, accounting for increased susceptibility to excitotoxins seen in more mature cultures. We show that MK801 delays the death of more mature neurones caused by the NO‐donor DETA/NO indicating that NO elicits an excitotoxic mechanism, most likely through neuronal glutamate release. Thus, similar concentrations of nitric oxide cause neuronal death by two distinct mechanisms: NO acts directly upon immature neurones but indirectly, via NMDA receptors, on more mature neurones. Our results therefore extend existing evidence for NO‐mediated toxicity and show a complex interaction between inflammatory and excitotoxic mechanisms of injury in mature neurones.
On the design of cross-platform social robots: A multi-purpose reminder robot as an example

People nowadays would rather spend less time with their friends than on the services like Facebook or Twitter on their smartphones. Many business and enterprises start to use software robot to promote their products and interact with customers with less cost and more efficiency. Due to various APIs from different social platforms, developers have to follow specific rules while developing robots. Therefore, in this paper, we propose to develop integrated APIs by utilizing design patterns, including Adapter Pattern, Factory Pattern, for developers to create cross-platform social robots.
Evaluation of Different Laser-Supported Surgical Protocols for the Treatment of Oral Leukoplakia: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term success rate of oral leukoplakia treatments by using different laser-supported surgical protocols. PATIENTS AND METHODS Overall, 2347 diagnosed homogeneous oral leukoplakias were treated with CO2 laser and were included in this study. Different surgical protocols (P) were used: P1 (SV = superficial scanning) was a complete superficial vaporization of the leukoplakia by a scanning mode in two passages respecting an overlapping. Only the visible white area was treated in one surgical session independently of the lesion size. P2 (CR1x1) was a complete excision of the lesions until a tissular depth of 1 mm and 1 mm of surrounding healthy-like tissue were attained. The visible white area was treated in one surgical session independently of the lesion size. P3 (CR1x3) was a complete excision of the lesions until a minimum tissue depth of 1 mm and 3 mm of surrounding healthy-like tissue were obtained. The visible white area was treated in one surgical session independently of the lesion size. P4 (PR1x3) was similar to the third one, but for patient comfort, the large lesions of leukoplakias (lesion size higher than 20 mm), the complete surgical excision of the leukoplakia was performed in multiple sessions that were spaced by 1 month (partial surgical removal of 10 mm per session). All patients were recalled at 2 and 8 weeks after surgery, and then every 2 months during the first year, every 4 months during the second year, and once a year for the follow-up period of 6 years. A biopsy was done once a year during the follow-up period in the surgical site when needed. The control consisted of checking the nature and the aspect of the healed mucosa to exclude an eventual recurrence of leukoplakia. RESULTS The percentage of permanent success after 6 years of follow-up was 5.7%, 69.7%, 97.8%, and 71.9%, respectively, for the first surgical protocol (SV), the second (CR 1 × 1), the third (CR 1 × 3), and the fourth (PR 1 × 3). The appearance of malignant transformation after laser treatment (during the follow-up period of 6 years) was 20%, 1%, and 0.2%, respectively, for the groups treated by the following protocols: 1 (SV), 2 (CR 1 × 1), and 4 (PR 1 × 3). Only in the third group CR1x3, no dysplasia or malignant transformation was noted. On the contrary, the appearance of malignant transformation in failed treated cases was 21.21% for the protocol 1 (SV), 3% for the protocol 2 (CR 1 × 1), and 0.6% for the protocol 4 (PR 1 × 3). CONCLUSIONS The results of this long-term follow-up of treated patients with oral homogeneous leukoplakias pointed out that the surgical laser protocol respecting the complete excision of leukoplakias, in one session, by the removal of a minimum of 1 mm in lesion depth and 3 mm of surrounding healthy-like tissues (CR 1 × 3) offers significantly the highest success rate.
Structral equivalence of the Baruto and Wheeler Servant Leadership Questionnaire on North American and South African samples.

The Servant Leadership Questionnaire (Barbuto & Wheeler, 2006) was applied to 417 salespersons from 100 dealerships operated by an automobile retailer in South Africa. The structural invariance of the instrument was investigated by means of item analysis as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Item analyses indicated that the items all correlated very highly with each other and formed part of the same construct. The five-factor structure identified by the authors of the instrument could not be replicated by the exploratory factor analyses carried out on the responses of the present sample. A unidimensional structure seemed to represent the best fit with the data when confirmatory factor analyses were performed to determine the configuration of the measurement model.
Positive association of renal insufficiency with agriculture employment and unregulated alcohol consumption in Nicaragua

Background and objectives: Endemic renal insufficiency (RI) of unknown etiology is a major public health issue with high mortality in the Pacific coastal regions of Central America. We studied RI in León and Chinandega, Nicaragua, evaluating associations with known risk factors and hypothesized exposures. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with assessment of medical, social, and occupational history and exposures in conjunction with measurement of serum creatinine. Cases were defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤60 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the modified four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation for non-African Americans. Logistic regression models controlling for known risk factors of kidney disease were used to evaluate associations between exposures and RI. Results: A total of 124 RI cases were compared to 873 persons without RI. Cases had no significant differences in the odds of having a systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 140 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 90 mmHg, or in reporting diabetes. Agricultural labor was associated with RI (OR = 2.48, 95%CI: 1.59, 3.89, p < 0.0001). There was no association with agricultural non-field work (OR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.60, 1.38, p = 0.65). Consumption of unregulated alcohol (“lija”) was associated with RI (OR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.31, 3.39, p = 0.0023), as was drinking 5 L or more of water per day (OR = 3.59 vs. 1 L 95%CI: 1.52, 4.46, p = 0.0035). Conclusions: Agricultural field labor and lija consumption were associated with RI in this region. Water intake may also be important. Identifying specific risk factors for RI within these exposures, such as individual pesticides or lija ingredients, may facilitate prevention in a setting where dialysis and transplantation are limited.
Immunopathogenic competences of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) amazonensis in American cutaneous leishmaniasis

The immunopathogenic competences of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) amazonensis were reviewed in the light of more recent features found in the clinical and immunopathological spectrum of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. It was shown a dichotomy in the interaction between these Leishmania species and human T‐cell immune response; while L. (V.) braziliensis shows a clear tendency to lead infection from the localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL), a moderate T‐cell hypersensitivity form at the centre of the spectrum, toward to the mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) at the T‐cell hypersensitivity pole and with a prominent Th1‐type immune response, L. (L.) amazonensis shows an opposite tendency, leading infection to the anergic diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (ADCL) at the T‐cell hyposensitivity pole and with a marked Th2‐type immune response. Between the central LCL and the two polar MCL and ADCL, the infection can present an intermediary form known as borderline disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, characterized by an incomplete inhibition of T‐cell hypersensitivity but with a evident supremacy of Th1 over Th2 immune response (Th1 ≥ Th2). These are probably the main immunopathogenic competences of L. (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) amazonensis regarding the immune response dichotomy that modulates human infection outcome by these Leishmania parasites.
Studies of aqueous humor dynamics in man. 3. Measurements in young normal subjects using norepinephrine and isoproterenol.

The short-term effects on aqueous humor flow dynamics of single doses of l-norepinephrine and d,l-isoproterenol, alone and combined, were studied in selected young, normal males. Norepinephrine reduced pseudofacility without significantly altering intraocular pressure, episcleral venous pressure, or true facility of outflow. The rate of flow of aqueous was increased. Isoproterenol reduced intraocular pressure and decreased aqueous flow without altering true facility of outflow or pseudofacility. Flow curves plotted for the isoproterenol data disclosed a pressure-independent pattern of flow reduction. The combination of norepinephrine with isoproterenol produced changes of the parameters of intraocular pressure similar to those previously observed after l-epinephrine. This study provides evidence that the acute effect of epinephrine in young, normal male subjects is flow reduction from beta-adrenergic stimulation combined with pseudofacility reduction from alpha~adrenergic stimulation.
Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute thrombotic and embolic stroke

An open angiography‐based, dose rate escalation study on the effect of intravenous infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator(rt‐PA) on cerebral arterial recanalization in patients with acute focal cerebral ischemia was performed at 16 centers. Arterial occlusions consistent with acute ischemia in the carotid or vertebrobasilar territory in the absence of detectable intracerebal hemorrhage were prerequisites for treatment. After the 60‐minute rt‐PA infusion, arterial perfusion was assesed by repeat angiography and computed tomography scans were performed at 24 hours to assess hemorrhagic transformation, Of 139 patients with symptoms of focal ischemia, 80.6% (112) had complete occlusion of the primary vessel at a mean of 5.4 ± 1.7 hours after symptom onset. No dose rate response of cerebral arterial recanalization was observed in 93 patients who completed the rt‐PA infusion. Middle cerebral artery division (M2) and branch (M3) occlusions were more likely to undergo recanalization by 60 minutes than were internal carotid artery occlusions. Hemorrhagic infarction occured in 20.2% and parenchymatous hematoma in 10.6% of patients over all dose rates, while neurological worsening accompanied hemorrhagic transformation (hemorrhagic infarction and parenchymatous hematoma) in 9.6% of patients. All findings were within prospective safety guidelines. No dose rate correlation with hemorrhagic infarction, parenchymatous hematoma, or both was seen. Hemorrhagic transformation occured significantly more frequently in patients receiving treatment at least 6 hours after symptom onset. No relationship between hemorrhagic transformation and recanalization was observed. This study indicates that site of occlusion, time to recanalization, and time to treatment are important variables in acute stroke intervention with this agent.