Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Favorable perioperative outcomes after resection of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant stereotactic radiation and chemotherapy compared with upfront pancreatectomy for resectable cancer.

BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant multi-agent chemotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) are utilized to increase margin negative (R0) resection rates in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) or locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) patients. Concerns persist that these neoadjuvant therapies may worsen perioperative morbidities and mortality. METHODS Upfront resection patients (n=241) underwent resection without neoadjuvant treatment for resectable disease. They were compared to BRPC or LAPC patients (n=61) who underwent resection after chemotherapy and 5 fraction SBRT. Group comparisons were performed by Mann-Whitney U or Fisher's exact test. Overall Survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier and compared by log-rank methods. RESULTS In the neoadjuvant therapy group, there was significantly higher T classification, N classification, and vascular resection/repair rate. Surgical positive margin rate was lower after neoadjuvant therapy (3.3% vs. 16.2%, P=0.006). Post-operative morbidities (39.3% vs. 31.1%, P=0.226) and 90-day mortality (2% vs. 4%, P=0.693) were similar between the groups. Median OS was 33.5 months in the neoadjuvant therapy group compared to 23.1 months in upfront resection patients who received adjuvant treatment (P=0.057). CONCLUSIONS Patients with BRPC or LAPC and sufficient response to neoadjuvant multi-agent chemotherapy and SBRT have similar or improved peri-operative and long-term survival outcomes compared to upfront resection patients.
A novel dimmable electronic ballast for compact fluorescent lamps using phase-cut incandescent lamp dimmers with wide dimming range and low dimming level lamp ignition capability

A new dimmable electronic ballast that is compatible with standard incandescent lamp dimmer with wide dimming range is proposed in this paper for compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). The proposed electronic ballast is able to improve the poor dimming performance in the conventional CFL and at the same time, the dimmed light output can be maintained at its particular level even when the dimmer is switched off and on again. The proposed circuit consists of a compact, high power factor single switch resonant inverter as the power stage and a novel controller that controls the duty ratio of the switch to provide dimming function and the ability for the lamp to ignite at very low dimming level without any lamp flickering. Experimental results are given on a 13W CFL to verify with the proposed circuit.
'Co-active coaching' could help HIV patients. New type of counseling involves goal-setting.

A counseling technique that takes an action-oriented approach to helping people make major life changes, much used by business executives and other professionals in recent years, now appears to offer some value to HIV patients. Co-active coaching could be a solution to mild depression and inertia for some HIV-infected patients who have difficulty making decisions about how to spend a life-time living with the disease.
When should patients with brain metastases receive whole brain irradiation?

Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been utilized in patients with brain metastases (BMs) for decades, but recent evidence has called into question the value of WBRT. As a result, clinicians are left wondering which, if any patients with BMs should receive WBRT. We believe that the answer can be found by revisiting the original rationale for WBRT and what trials have revealed about its benefits and limitations. In the realm of big data, we believe that WBRT will evolve to find its new place in contemporary cancer management.
Multiple Degradation Pathways for Fos Family Proteins

Abstract: c‐Fos protooncoprotein is a short‐lived transcription factor with oncogenic potential. It is massively degraded by the proteasome in vivo under various experimental conditions. Those include consititutive expression in exponentially growing cells and transient induction in cells undergoing the G0/G1 phase transition upon stimulation by serum. Though there is evidence that c‐Fos can be ubiquitinylated in vitro, the unambigous demonstration that prior ubiquitinylation is necessary for degradation by the proteasome in vivo is still lacking. c‐Jun, one of the main dimerization partners of c‐Fos within the AP‐1 transcription complex, is also an unstable protein. Its degradation is clearly proteasome dependent. However, several lines of evidence indicate that the mechanisms by which it addresses the proteasome are different from those operating on c‐Fos. Moreover, genetic analysis has indicated that c‐Fos is addressed to the proteasome via pathways that differ depending on the conditions of expression. c‐Fos has been transduced by two murine osteosarcomatogenic retroviruses in mutated forms, which are more stable and more oncogenic. The stabilization is not simply accounted for by simple deletion of one of the main c‐Fos destabilizers but, rather, by a complex balance between opposing destabilizing and stabilizing mutations. However, although viral Fos proteins have acquired full resistance to proteasomal degradation, stabilization is limited because the mutations they have accumulated, during or after c‐fos gene transduction, confer sensitivity to an unidentified proteolytic system(s). This observation is consistent with the idea that fos‐expressing viruses have evolved expression machineries to ensure controlled protein levels in order to maintain an optimal balance between prooncogenic and proapoptotic activities of v‐Fos proteins.
Lexical Knowledge Bases

A lexical knowledge base is a repository of computational information about concepts intended to be generally useful in many application areas including computational linguistics, artificial intelligence, and information science. It contains information derived from machine-readable dictionaries, the full text of reference books, the results of statistical analyses of text usages, and data manually obtained from human world knowledge.
3D puzzle guidance in augmented reality environment using a 3D desk surface projection

Augmented reality (AR) technology is an intuitive approach in the manufacturing domain. Meanwhile, the use of the technology has been limited until now because AR applications often require special devices, and such systems tend to be expensive generally. In this paper, we propose an AR approach for the 3DUI contest. The highlight of our solution is the deployment of virtual desktop or 3D desktop projection. The virtual desktop consists of real desktop, screen on the desktop and LCD projector over the desk. It is important that our solution uses only commodity hardware and does not request an operator to wear curious goggles or eyeglasses. Assembly procedure is projected to the desktop screen where the puzzle pieces also exist. As the result, the guidance display can be mixed with the real puzzle pieces‥
Piezo resistive thin film sensor system

This paper presents the latest investigations of thin film sensor developments based on amorphous hydrogenated carbon films. The piezo resistive layer is deposited in a plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition process in a thickness of 4-6 mum. The advantage of this film is a excellent tribological behaviour with a hardness of 20-40 GPa and a coefficient of friction of 0,2 as it is well known from the diamond like carbon layers [1,2,3] combined with a piezo resistive characteristic [4]. This layer can detect loads without the need of elongation. A special sensor system in the shape of a washer can be easily integrated in screw joints to detect the normal load distribution.
How to Transform One Convex Function Continuously into Another

The proximal average operator provides a parametric family of convex functions that continuously transform one convex function into another even when the domains of the two functions do not intersect. We prove that the proximal average operator is a homotopy with respect to the epi-topology, study its properties, and present several explicit formulas for specific classes of functions. The parametric family inherits desirable properties such as differentiability and strict convexity from the given functions. The results illustrate the powerful tools available in convex and variational analysis from both a theoretical and a computational point of view.
Gene transfer to induce insulin production for the treatment of diabetes mellitus

Background: Gene transfer can induce insulin production from non-β-cells. Multiple gene transfer protocols have demonstrated efficacy correcting diabetes-associated hyperglycemia and growth abnormalities in vivo. Objectives: To review the literature reporting induction of insulin secretion from non-β-cells by gene transfer. Methods: Database search of literature in Ovid Medline. Results/conclusions: Gene transfer for the treatment of diabetes mellitus has advanced significantly, but remains premature for clinical translation. Approaches inducing metaplasia produce β-like-cells that normalize glycemia in diabetic rodents. Insulin gene transfer strategies provide somewhat inferior glycemic control, but avoid the overproduction of counter-regulatory hormones. Both approaches will require extensive investigations into their effects on host cells and tissues, and the efficacy of neither has been satisfactorily verified in a large animal model.
Low Pore Connectivity Increases Bacterial Diversity in Soil

ABSTRACT One of soil microbiology's most intriguing puzzles is how so many different bacterial species can coexist in small volumes of soil when competition theory predicts that less competitive species should decline and eventually disappear. We provide evidence supporting the theory that low pore connectivity caused by low water potential (and therefore low water content) increases the diversity of a complex bacterial community in soil. We altered the pore connectivity of a soil by decreasing water potential and increasing the content of silt- and clay-sized particles. Two textures were created, without altering the chemical properties or mineral composition of the soil, by adding silt- and clay-sized particles of quartz to a quartz-based sandy soil at rates of 0% (sand) or 10% (silt+clay). Both textures were incubated at several water potentials, and the effect on the active bacterial communities was measured using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) of bacterial 16S rRNA. Bacterial richness and diversity increased as water potential decreased and soil became drier (P < 0.012), but they were not affected by texture (P > 0.553). Bacterial diversity increased at water potentials of ≤2.5 kPa in sand and ≤4.0 kPa in silt+clay, equivalent to ≤56% water-filled pore space (WFPS) in both textures. The bacterial community structure in soil was affected by both water potential and texture (P < 0.001) and was correlated with WFPS (sum of squared correlations [δ2] = 0.88, P < 0.001). These findings suggest that low pore connectivity is commonly experienced by soil bacteria under field conditions and that the theory of pore connectivity may provide a fundamental principle to explain the high diversity of bacteria in soil.
A 36-year-old man with concomitant left ventricular apical thrombus and bilateral acute lower limb ischaemia: Is it only the heart to blame?

Dr. Isaac Ssinabulya: We share the story of a 36 year old black man who was previously healthy and worked for an electricity distribution company as a meter reader. This required him to ride long distances on a motor cycle which he did comfortably. In early October 2016, he developed ‘abdominal pain’ which required admission and was treated as peptic ulcer disease. There were no other associated symptoms. The pain resolved and he returned to work feeling a perfect health condition. 1 week later while carrying out his field work he felt very dizzy and decided to ride to the nearest health centre. On the way, he felt sudden severe burning pain in both his legs below the knees. He persisted riding his bike and reached the health centre approximately 30 minutes from the onset of this burning pain, from where he was referred to a regional referral hospital, where he arrived 4 hours later. At this hospital he was initially given pain killers as the medical team carried out investigations to find out the cause of his ‘burning legs’. On the 2nd day in this hospital, the patient noted that both legs were getting cold and turning dark, were losing sensation in the toes and the pain was still ongoing in the calves. An arterial doppler study was performed which suggested arterial occlusion in both legs. The patient was referred to a private hospital in Kampala, Uganda’s capital where he arrived in the early morning hours of the following day.
Etude comparative du bruit dans des lasers à boites et à bâtonnets quantiques

La mesure du bruit d'intensite dans les lasers a semi-conducteurs permet de remonter a des parametres caracteristiques tels que la frequence de relaxation ou le taux d'amortissement. Cette mesure montre ici de fortes differences entre des lasers a boites quantiques et a bâtonnets quantiques. Alors que le laser a bâtonnets quantiques se rapproche des attentes concernant ce type de structure (faible bruit, fort amortissement), le laser a boites quantiques presente des caracteristiques nettement moins bonnes, que nous interpretons par la presence, dans ce laser a boites quantiques, de deux familles de modes liees a deux populations de boites quantiques.
Clinical Case Report of a Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders based on an emulsion of Chondroitin Sulfate, Vitamin D 3 and Oleic Acid

In this clinical case report we describe the effects associated with the administration of a supplement constituted by chondroitin sulfate, vitamin D3 and oleic acid (Rerum®) on the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). 44 patients (11 females and 33 males) were administered this supplement for a period of two months and variations of symptomatology were evaluated by the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I). 32 out of 44 subjects (73%), showed improvements in the two months of observation. In the group of female subjects, 9 out of 11 (81%) showed improvements and, among these, 6 out of 9 (66%) showed moderate to very considerable improvements. In the group of male subjects, 24 out of 33 (73%) showed improvements and, among these, 22 out of 24 (91%) showed moderate to very considerable improvements. We attribute these remarkable results to the effects of the supplement on the endocannabinoid system as it relates to neuro-inflammation and neuro-immune alterations.
Microbiological evaluation of drinking water available in schools in Cruz das Almas, Brazil

The current study assessed the drinkability of water in 25 schools in Cruz das Almas BA Brazil. Total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, mesophylls and psichrotrophic bacteria were evaluated, coupled with color, turbidity, free residual chlorine, dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demands. Water samples were collected at four sites: the first tap within the supply network or within the alternative supply (first site), main reservoir (second site), kitchen water (third site) and drinking water troughs (fourth site). When the two assessment periods (during dry and wet seasons) were taken into account, contamination by total coliforms in approximately 65.3% of samples was detected, whilst E. coli and Enterococcus micro-organisms respectively occurred in 18.4 and 36.7% of samples. Counts of mesophyll microorganisms were greater during the dry period than during the rainy season. More than 34.7% of counts were above the legal limit. Although no apparent variation in color occurred, irregularity in turbidity and pH was detected in two schools. Inadequate rates for dissolved oxygen occurred in only two schools, during the dry period, whereas biochemical oxygen demand complied with legislation. Although, no coliform was extant in several samples, others had bacterial contamination requiring more efficacious practices for quality improvement. Results show that health risks in schools in Cruz das Almas may be solved by adequate water treatment, periodical cleaning of reservoirs and proper maintenance of taps and filters. Key words: Water quality, hygiene, microbiology, schools, colleges.
Atenuação da intensidade de luz e profundidade de polimerização de resinas compostas

Objetivo: Avaliar a atenuacao da luz atraves de diferentes espessuras de resina composta e a profundidade de polimerizacao. Materiais e Metodos: Foram utilizadas as resinas Opallis e Llis de esmalte (E) e de dentina (D), na cor A3. Para atenuacao da luz foram empregadas matrizes metalicas (6,0mm de diâmetro e espessuras de 0,5, 1,0, 1,5 e 2,0mm), as quais foram posicionadas na janela de leitura do radiometro e a intensidade de luz medida antes e apos a interposicao do material. A profundidade de polimerizacao foi realizada seguindo os procedimentos recomendados na ISO 4049 (2000). Os dados foram submetidos a ANOVA e teste de Tukey com α=5%. Resultados: Os resultados de atenuacao mostraram que as resinas Opallis e Llis diferiram estatisticamente em todas as espessuras. Na comparacao entre materiais, em 0,5mm houve diferenca estatistica significante apenas entre Opallis E e Llis D e entre Llis E e Llis D. Em 1,0mm nao houve diferenca estatistica significante entre Opallis E e Llis E e entre Opallis D e Llis D; em 1,5mm somente Opalllis D e Llis D nao diferiram estatisticamente. Para 2,0mm ocorreram diferencas estatistica significantes entre Opallis E e Llis E. Para profundidade de polimerizacao nao houve diferenca estatistica significante entre Opallis E e Llis E e entre Opallis D e Llis D. Conclusao: Maiores valores de atenuacao da intensidade de luz sao observados em resinas de dentina em ralacao as de esmalte, assim como em maiores espessuras de material. Resinas compostas de dentina apresentaram menor profundidade de polimerizacao que as de esmalte. Descritores: Resinas compostas. Polimerizacao.
Técnicas de reconocimiento robusto de la voz basadas en el pitch

Esta Tesis propone y hace un estudio de tecnicas que emplean de una forma u otra el pitch, el cual sera entendido como la frecuencia fundamental en cada instante de tiempo de la voz, para transcribirla o reconocerla de forma robusta en condiciones de ruido. No pretende buscar un modo robusto de extraer el pitch, sino y sobre todo, una vez conocido este, ver como emplearlo de manera adecuada para robustecer el reconocimiento. Se hara un estudio bibliografico de las tecnicas que han empleado el pitch intentando una primera clasificacion de las mismas. Despues, se propondran tres tecnicas de reconocimiento robusto basadas en el pitch comparandolas con otras similares. Estas tecnicas son: ventanas asimetricas que se aplican sobre la autocorrelacion de una senal para extraer un espectro menos afectado por el ruido, autocorrelacion cribada y (promediada) que es capaz de estimar completamente la autocorrelacion limpia de una senal periodica empleando el pitch bajo ciertas suposiciones de ruido, y estima del ruido basada en el pitch que es capaz de estimar ruidos no estacionarios a partir del pitch mediante lo que se denomina estima tunel y que se empleara sobre un reconocedor de MD (Missing Data) basado en marginalizacion. Aparte de esto, se intentaran mostrar los resultados limite en el reconocimiento de las tecnicas basadas en el pitch y que emplean la minima informacion posible sobre el ruido. Para ello se identificaran los mecanismos basicos de reconocimiento robusto de los sonidos sonoros empleados por estas tecnicas, se vera cuales son los optimos (mostrando equivalencias) y se mostraran experimentalmente esos resultados limite a partir del uso de mascaras oraculo de MD y de valores de pitch ideales. Concluiremos que la tecnica estima del ruido basada en el pitch se acerca idealmente a los limites del reconocimiento basado en el pitch (suponiendo pitch ideal) pero que queda (aunque no por una excesiva diferencia) lejos de los limites de las mascaras oraculo. Finalmente, se dara un pequeno bosquejo de como podria abordarse el reconocimiento cuando no hay pitch (habla susurrante) reciclando ciertas ideas presentadas en la Tesis.
Development of the clavicles in birds and mammals.

Clavicles (collar bones) are variably present in mammals. Furculae (wishbones)--which may or may not be homologous with clavicles--are variably present and/or fused in birds and present in theropod dinosaurs. In this overview the development of clavicles and furculae is discussed with special attention to modes of skeletogenesis (whether intramembranous or endochondral), numbers of centres of ossification (one in chick furculae; two in murine clavicles), presence of cartilage (primary in clavicles, secondary in furculae), evidence from experimental analysis and from mutations for dependence of both clavicular and furcular growth on mechanical stimulation, and syndromes and mutations affecting clavicular development leading to both under and over development. J. Exp. Zool. 289:153-161, 2001.
Organisation conceptuelle du domaine et structure de dictionnaire — L’exemple du commerce de détail

Organisation conceptuelle du domaine et structure de dictionnaire – L'exemple du commerce de detail – Le present article a pour objectif de presenter un dictionnaire specialise bilingue (anglais-francais) original. Il est concu pour repondre aux besoins des traducteurs et les strategies lexicographiques mises en oeuvre s'orientent autour de trois axes : richesse des propositions d'equivalent, intention et extension des definitions, explicitation des relations semantiques (ou internotionnelles). L'article propose une discussion de ces axes en fonction de plusieurs parametres lies au domaine de specialite : nature et dynamique de la langue commerciale dans le domaine de la distribution, degre d'avancement de la recherche terminologique dans ce domaine, besoin des traducteurs dans cette specialite. Les grandes lignes theoriques de l'article s'articulent autour de la mise en evidence des structures de connaissances propres au domaine et de la priorite accordee a la demarche cognitive des traducteurs (qui operent en discours plutot qu'en langue).
Emplois de la préposition « pour » suivie d'une infinitive : description, critères formels et annotation en corpus

Cet article etudie les differents emplois de la preposition « pour » suivie d'une infinitive a partir d'un corpus. Ont ete identifiees quatre grandes classes d'emploi : connecteur de discours, introducteur d'argument sous-categorise (regi), introducteur de relative sans mot QU et introducteur d'expression meta-discursive. Lorsque necessaire, des criteres ont ete elabores pour distinguer ces differents emplois. C'est en particulier le cas pour distinguer les emploi comme introducteur d'argument sous-categorise par un verbe et comme connecteur de discours, ce qui souleve de grosses difficultes a la frontiere entre grammaire et discours. Une annotation a ete faite dont les resultats sont discutes.