Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer or fallopian tube carcinoma retreated with cisplatin after the development of a carboplatin allergy.

OBJECTIVE We report the outcome of seven patients treated for recurrent ovarian cancer with cisplatin after an allergic reaction to carboplatin. One case is presented in which a heavily pretreated patient suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction, which was refractory to standard resuscitative measures and resulted in her death. METHODS Six further patients who received cisplatin after documentation of an allergic reaction to carboplatin (CBDCA) for the treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer between 1993 and 2000 were identified from the MSKCC database. Electronic medical records were reviewed for relevant treatment and outcome data. RESULTS Five of six of these patients were successfully treated without further allergic reactions. One patient with platinum-refractory disease had an allergic reaction to carboplatin and subsequently to cisplatin. CONCLUSION Few patients with a carboplatin allergy are subsequently treated with cisplatin at our center. One patient suffered a serious hypersensitivity reaction following retreatment and died. Based on this limited experience, cross allergy can exist although the true incidence is not known. Routine retreatment of carboplatin-allergic patients with cisplatin in the relapsed setting cannot be recommended without careful consideration of potential risks and benefits.
Steady state stability preserving nonlinear model reduction using sequential convex optimization

Models of dynamical systems become increasingly complex. While this allows a more accurate description of the underlying process, it often renders the application of model-based control algorithms infeasible. In this paper, we propose a model reduction procedure for systems described by nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The reduced model used to approximate the input-output map of the system is parameterized via the observability normal form. To preserve the steady states of the system and their stability properties, the set of feasible parameters of the reduced model has to be constrained. Therefore, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for simultaneous exponential stability of a set of steady states of the nonlinear reduced model. The local approximation of these constraints results in a sequential convex program for computing the optimal parameters. The proposed approach is evaluated using the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam model.
Investigation of a Multiple Input Converter for Grid Connected Thermoelectric-Photovoltaic Hybrid System

Hybrid thermoelectric and photovoltaic (TE/PV) systems more effectively convert solar energy into electrical energy by harvesting thermal energy from the heat dissipated from the photovoltaic technology that would otherwise be wasted. This allows a broader spectrum of the solar electromagnetic energy to be converted to electricity through the use of a thermoelectric module integrated with photovoltaic materials. There have not been previously developed circuits to simultaneously convert mixed-source TE/PV devices for electric utility grid interconnection. Challenges associated with grid interfaces include determining optimized configurations that to account for different or mixed TE/PV materials. A Ćuk-Ćuk multiple input converter is presented to accommodate power flow from multiple sources simultaneously or independently.
Effect on the Knowledge Transfer Performance from Knowledge Characteristics in Inter-enterprises Cooperative Innovation: Perspective of Knowledge Absorbing

Knowledge transfer is an important function of inter-enterprise cooperative innovation. The paper briefly divides the knowledge characteristics in cooperative innovation as tacit, simple embeddedness, deep embeddedness, modular and path dependence, and examines the effect on knowledge transfer performance from knowledge characteristics through positive studies. After the data and statistical analysis, the study indicate: tacit characteristic and simple embedded characteristic have significant negative correlation with knowledge transfer performance, modular and path dependence have positive correlation to knowledge transfer performance in some extent, and deep embedded characteristic does not has significant correlation to knowledge transfer performance. Meanwhile, it can be found that knowledge absorbing, including knowledge acquisition and knowledge application, plays the intermediary role between knowledge characteristics and knowledge transfer performance. Therefore, Chinese enterprises should pay more attentions to the Knowledge Characteristics in order to improve knowledge transfer in cooperative innovation.
[Laparoscopic dissection of uterine artery and coagulation utero-ovarian ligament for the treatment of symptomatic myomas].

OBJECTIVES Our purpose was to evaluate the effects and safety of laparoscopic dissection of the uterine artery and coagulation of the utero-ovarian ligament in treating symptomatic myomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS We studied 40 women, aged 31 to 50, with symptomatic uterine fibroids undergoing laparoscopic dissection of the uterine artery and coagulation of the utero-ovarian ligament Ultrasound examination of uterus and dominant fibroid were performed. Their volume reduction was measured. Clinical response was evaluated according to questionnaire assessing the level of menstrual bleeding, pain and urgency. RESULTS There were no complications during operations. Within 6 months after the surgery the mean uterus volume was reduced by 22% and mean volume of dominant fibroid was reduced by 51%. Six months after the surgery menstrual bleeding was reduced in case of 34/38 patients (85%), completed pain relief has been observed in case of 19/25 patients (76%). In case of 11/15 (73%) patients, a regression of urgency has been observed. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic dissection of the uterine artery and coagulation of the utero-ovarian ligament is a safe and effective method of treating symptomatic myomas. It is an alternative to hysterectomy, especially for women who wish to preserve their uterus.
Navigation in virtual reality: Comparison of gaze-directed and pointing motion control

We compared two locomotion techniques in an immersive CAVE-like display in order to determine which one promotes better performance in a wayfinding task. One method, commonly found in computer games, allows participants to steer through the 3D scene according to their gaze direction while the other uncouples the gaze direction from the direction of travel. In both cases tracked physical head movements determined the gaze direction. In order to provide a realistic scenario for comparing these methods we devised a task in which participants had to navigate to various houses of a virtual village that was previously seen on a map. The 2D coordinates of paths taken by participants were recorded together with their success rates in finding the targets, and the time taken to reach their destination. Participants showed better results with the pointing method of motion control, reaching the targets faster and with fewer errors. Results are interpreted with respect to the benefits afforded by large field of view displays.
Development of a behaviorally induced system optimal travel demand management system

ABSTRACT The basic design concept of most advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) is to present generic information to travelers, leaving travelers to react to the information in their own way. This “passive” way of managing traffic by providing generic traffic information makes it difficult to predict the outcome and may even incur an adverse effect, such as overreaction (also referred to as the herding effect). Active traffic and demand management (ATDM) is another approach that has received continual attention from both academic research and real-world practice, aiming to effectively influence people's travel demand, provide more travel options, coordinate between travelers, and reduce the need for travel. The research discussed in this article deals with how to provide users with a travel option that aims to minimize the marginal system impact that results from this routing. The goal of this research is to take better advantage of the available real-time traffic information provided by ATIS, to further improve the system level traffic condition from User Equilibrium (UE), or a real-world traffic system that is worse than UE, toward System Optimal (SO), and avoid passively managing traffic. A behaviorally induced, system optimal travel demand management model is presented to achieve this goal through incremental routing. Both analytical derivation and numerical analysis have been conducted on Tucson network in Arizona, as well as on the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) network in Austin, TX. The outcomes of both studies show that our proposed modeling framework is promising for improving network traffic conditions toward SO, and results in substantial economic savings.
The Roles of Evolutionary Computation, Fitness Landscape, Constructive Methods and Local Searches in the Development of Adaptive Systems for Infrastructure Planning

Modelling and systems simulation for improving city planning, and traffic equilibrium are involved with the development of adaptive systems that can learn and respond to the environment intelligently. By employing sophisticated techniques which highly support infrastructure planning and design, evolutionary computation can play a key role in the development of such systems. The key to presenting solution strategies for these systems is fitness landscape which makes some problems hard and some problems easy to tackle. Moreover, constructive methods and local searches can assist evolutionary searches to improve their performance. In this paper, in the context of infrastructure, in general, and city planning, and traffic equilibrium, in particular, the integration of these four concepts is briefly discussed.
Evaluación de la exposición a ruido social en jóvenes chilenos

Introduccion: La exposicion al ruido derivado de actividades de ocio y su repercusion sobre la audicion humana, especialmente en jovenes y en adolescentes, es un problema al cual la sociedad presta cada vez mayor atencion. Debido a lo anterior realizamos un estudio para comparare! nivel de ruido al cual esta expuesto un grupo de jovenes chilenos respecto a estudios similares realizados en Europa. Objetivos: Identificar actividades de entretencion que puedan constituirse en actividades de riesgo para inducir una perdida auditiva a largo plazo. Ademas, estudiar la exposicion semanal derivada de las actividades de entretencion mas frecuentes en adolescentes de nuestro medio. Material y metodo: Se realizo un estudio de prevalencia, encuestando a 243 jovenes de Santiago. La exposicion semanal al ruido se calculo en base al tiempo de exposicion y el equivalente en dB de intensidad de cada actividad. La exposicion al ruido social registrada fue promediada a un total de 40 horas semanales. Por ultimo se comparo el ruido semanal con el limite de riesgo laboral de 85 dBA. Resultados: Se identificaron actividades de riesgo tales como ir a discotecas o conciertos de rock, tocar en una banda de rock y asistir a bares. Los resultados de la encuesta mostraron 30% de adolescentes chilenos expuestos a niveles de ruido superiores al limite considerado como de riesgo por exposicion semanal. Conclusiones: Al comparar los resultados de nuestro estudio con aquellos realizados previamente, se observa que en nuestros adolescentes existe un menor riesgo de dano por exposicion a ruido respecto a jovenes espanoles y finlandeses. Es preciso estudiar aun mas este fenomeno y tratar de establecer relaciones causales con medidas objetivas, permitiendo asi prevenir y educar.
Cyclamen soft rot caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi in Argentina

Cyclamen plants from a commercial greenhouse were affected by a severe wilt. Symptoms began with a foliar yellowing, ending with the death of affected plants. Corms had internal rotten areas. The pathogen was identified as Erwinia chrysanthemi. Symptoms were reproduced on artificial inoculations. Bacteria did not need wounds to penetrate roots or corms.
LocLok: Location Cloaking with Differential Privacy via Hidden Markov Model

We demonstrate LocLok, a LOCation-cLOaKing system to protect the locations of a user with differential privacy. LocLok has two features: (a) it protects locations under temporal correlations described through hidden Markov model; (b) it releases the optimal noisy location with the planar isotropic mechanism (PIM), the first mechanism that achieves the lower bound of differential privacy. We show the detailed computation of LocLok with the following components: (a) how to generate the possible locations with Markov model, (b) how to perturb the location with PIM, and (c) how to make inference about the true location in Markov model. An online system with real-word dataset will be presented with the computation details.
Portrait de la scolarisation des élèves québécois ayant le syndrome de Gilles de la Tourette

L’etude presente les premieres donnees concernant la scolarisation des eleves quebecois ayant le SGT dans le contexte de la Politique de l’adaptation scolaire en lien avec la reforme de l’education. L’objectif est de presenter un portrait des manifestations comportementales, des troubles associes, de la classification en tant qu’eleves handicapes ou en difficulte d’adaptation ou d’apprentissage et des milieux educatifs frequentes par ces eleves. Un questionnaire d’enquete descriptive a ete envoye aux membres de l’Association quebecoise du syndrome de la Tourette. Les resultats indiquent que 14 des 32 participants frequentent des classes ordinaires. Le code de difficulte attribue pour les troubles relevant de la psychopathologie est neanmoins celui le plus souvent octroye. La conclusion reflechit aux interventions et au soutien apporte a ces eleves, en vue de leur reussite scolaire.
Studies on induced influenza in man. II. Double-blind study designed to assess the prophylactic efficacy of an analogue of amantadine hydrochloride.

A single double-blind study conducted with 55 volunteers showed clearly that Exp 126 (alpha-methyl-1-adamantanemethylamine hydrochloride, rimantadine hydrochloride), an analogue of amantadine hydrochloride, reduced the occurrence and severity of artificially induced Asian influenza in humans. The infection (or seroconversion) rate in the drug-dosed and placebo-dosed groups was almost 100%, although the increase in serum neutralizing antibody levels was significantly less in the Exp 126-dosed subjects. The infecting influenza virus was recovered only from placebo-dosed controls. Probable untoward reactions from the drug occurred in three volunteers. Two related drugs, amantadine hydrochloride and rimantadine hydrochloride are now available for the prevention of Asian influenza.
The Relationship between Visual Acuity and Illumination in the Fly, Lucilia sericata

Abstract The variation in visual acuity with illumination has been studied by monitoring the extracellular response of direction sensitive motion detecting neurons to a drifting sine wave grating displayed upon an oscilloscope spreen. Acuity reaches a maximum value of 0.46 cycles/degree at luminances above 1.0 cd/m2 and decreases gradually over a 3.8 log unit attenuation in intensity to a minimum value of 0.05 cycles/degree. The results have been compared with theoretical acuity curves for the coupound eye with various dark adaptation mechanisms. The analysis indicates that a major strategy of dark adaptation in the fly is a process involving intensity-dependent neural summation of signals from photoreceptors having different visual axes.
Rb and p53 gene deletions in lung adenocarcinomas from irradiated and control mice.

This study was conducted on mouse lung adenocarcinoma tissues that were treated with formalin and embedded in paraffin 25 years ago to investigate the large gene deletions of Rb and p53 in B6CF1 male mice. A total of 80 lung tissue samples from irradiated mice and 40 lung samples from nonirradiated controls were selected randomly and examined in the Rb portion of this study. The results showed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher percentage of Rb deletions in lung adenocarcinomas from mice exposed to 60 once-weekly gamma-ray doses than those from mice receiving 24 once-weekly gamma-ray doses at low doses and low dose rates; however, the percentage was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that for spontaneous lung adenocarcinomas or lung adenocarcinomas from mice exposed to single-dose gamma irradiation at a similar total dose. Rb fragments 3 (71%) and 5 (67%), the parts of the gene that encoded the pocket binding region of Rb protein to adenovirus E1A and SV40 T-antigen, were the most frequently deleted fragments. Analysis of p53 gene deletion was carried out on normal lungs and lung adenocarcinomas that were initially found to bear Rb deletions. Exons 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9 were chosen to be analyzed. The data showed that 30 (97%) of 31 normal lungs and lung adenocarcinomas had p53 deletions. Exons 4 (83%) and 5 (90%) were the most frequently deleted among tested exons. Mice exposed to neutrons 60 times on a once-weekly schedule had a higher percentage of complete p53 deletions (5/8; 63%) than those exposed to gamma rays 60 times on a once-weekly schedule (2/8; 25%). We conclude that p53 deletions may be one of the major mutational events in the tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinomas in the irradiated B6CI, mice.
Acute hepatitis C virus infection in incarcerated injection drug users.

BACKGROUND The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has emphasized the need for interventional programs regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for injection drug users, the group of persons who are at highest risk of acquiring acute infection. METHODS We designed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of identifying injection drug users with acute HCV infection in correctional and detoxification facilities. On-site medical providers were educated regarding risk factors and signs and symptoms of infection and were instructed to refer all patients with hepatitis to our specialty clinic. RESULTS Over a 30-month period, 21 patients received a diagnosis of acute hepatitis C, 3 received a diagnosis of hepatitis B, and 1 received a diagnosis of hepatitis A. Of the 21 patients with acute hepatitis C, 19 were identified in the prison setting shortly after incarceration. Of the 17 patients who were observed serially (mean duration of observation, 6.3 months), 8 had spontaneous virologic clearance. Early therapy with pegylated interferon was initiated for 5 patients with persistent viremia and led to a sustained virologic response in 2 individuals. All patients agreed to undergo human immunodeficiency virus counseling and testing, as well as to receive immunization for hepatitis A and B. CONCLUSIONS Incarceration presents a unique opportunity to identify injection drug users with acute HCV infection, to initiate counseling regarding other bloodborne pathogens, and to facilitate immunizations and HCV treatment.
Killing of Staphylococcus aureus by C-8-Methoxy Fluoroquinolones

ABSTRACT C-8-methoxy fluoroquinolones were more lethal than C-8-bromine, C-8-ethoxy, and C-8-H derivatives for Staphylococcus aureus, especially when topoisomerase IV was resistant. The methoxy group also increased lethality against wild-type cells when protein synthesis was inhibited. These properties encourage refinement of C-8-methoxy fluoroquinolones to kill staphylococci.
Understanding interaction in information seeking and use as a discourse: a dialogic approach

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to identify the organization, functions, and forms of talk that occur as groups collectively review, interpret, and organise information sought and retrieved as part of a learning activity.Design/methodology/approach – Participants in the study were undergraduate students conducting a series of group investigations into the topic of information management. A content analysis of the discourse generated during the presentation‐planning stage of the group investigations was conducted.Findings – Findings relate to the discovery of a focus formulation step; speakers' use of structuring, informing, eliciting, and summarizing sequences; and speakers' use of exploratory, coordinating, disputational, and cumulative forms of talk. Variations in the use of the functions and forms of talk across the steps of the task and across the groups are discussed.Research limitations/implications – Issues relating to the reliability and validity of the content analysis are discussed; al.
Block of rapid depolarization induced by in vitro energy depletion of rat dorsal vagal motoneurones

1 The ionic mechanisms contributing to the rapid depolarization (RD) induced by in vitro ischaemia have been studied in dorsal vagal motoneurones (DVMs) of brainstem slices. Compared with CA1 hippocampal neurones, RD of DVMs was slower, generally occurred from a more depolarized membrane potential and was accompanied by smaller increases in [K+]o. 2 RD was not induced by elevation of [K+]o to values measured around DVMs during in vitro ischaemia or by a combination of raised [K+]o and 2–5 μM ouabain. 3 Neither TTX (5–10 μM) nor TTX combined with bepridil (10–30 μM), a Na+‐Ca2+ exchange inhibitor, slowed RD. Block of voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels with Cd2+ (0.2 mM) and Ni2+ (0.3 mM) led to an earlier onset of RD, possibly because [K+]o was higher than that measured during in vitro ischaemia in the absence of divalent ions. 4 When [Na+]o was reduced to 11.25–25 mM, RD did not occur, although a slow depolarization was observed. RD was slowed (i) by 10 mM Mg2+ and 0.5 mM Ca2+, (ii) by a combination of TTX (1.5–5 μM), 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX, 10 μM) and D‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovalerate (AP5, 50 μM) and (iii) by TTX (1.5–5 μM) and AP5 (50 μM). 5 Ni2+ at concentrations of 0.6 or 1.33 mM blocked RD whereas 0.6 mM Cd2+ did not. A combination of Cd2+ (0.2 mM), Ni2+ (0.3 mM), AP5 (50 μM) and bepridil (10 μM) was largely able to mimic the effects of high concentrations of Ni2+. 6 It is concluded that RD is due to Na+ entry, predominantly through N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor ionophores, and to Ca2+ entry through voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels. These results are consistent with known changes in the concentrations of extracellular ions when ischaemia‐induced rapid depolarization occurs.
Property-tailorable PFCB-containing polymers for wavelength division devices

This paper demonstrates the application of property-tailorable perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) polymers to the fabrication of arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) devices for use in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks. This novel series of PFCB polymers exhibits low optical attenuation, high thermal stability, and tailorable refractive index, facilitating the design of high-performance photonic devices. The design, fabrication, and characterization of AWGs are reported in this paper. The fabricated devices show high thermal stability and low on-chip losses. Optimization of devices through the tailoring of material properties and fabrication process parameters is discussed. The successful fabrication of AWG highlights the potential of this material for other devices in photonic applications
On the Laplacian Spectrum and Walk-regular Hypergraphs

We use the generalization of the Laplacian matrix to hypergraphs to obtain several spectral-like results on hypergraphs. For instance, we obtain upper bounds on the eccentricity and the excess of any vertex of hypergraphs. We extend to the case of hypergraphs the concepts of walk regularity and spectral regularity, showing that all walk-regular hypergraphs are spectrally-regular. Finally, we obtain an upper bound on the mean distance of walk-regular hypergraphs that involves all the Laplacian spectrum.