Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of clinical and pathological factors for surgically treated localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background Surgical resection is the most effective treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Currently several prognostic factors and models are used for outcome prediction. However, whether intratumoral changes are independent prognostic factors for RCC or not remains unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic roles of intratumoral changes in surgical treated localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods Patients who received partial or radical nephrectomy between 2004 and 2009 in our center were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess gender, age, body mass index (BMI), intratumoral hemorrhage, tumor necrosis, cystic degeneration, sarcomatoid change, Ki‐67 expression, Fuhrman grade, and T stage on recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS). Results A total of 378 patients were included in our study. In univariate analysis, age, BMI, intratumoral hemorrhage, tumor necrosis, sarcomatoid change, Ki‐67 expression level, Fuhrman grade, and T stage were prognostic factors for RFS. Age, BMI, tumor necrosis, sarcomatoid change, Ki‐67 expression level, Fuhrman grade, and T stage were prognostic factors effecting CSS. In multivariate analysis, age, BMI, tumor necrosis, sarcomatoid change, Ki‐67, Fuhrman grade, and T stage were independent prognostic factors for both RFS and CSS. Conclusion Intratumoral changes such as tumor necrosis and sarcomatoid change are independent prognostic factors for ccRCC.
Effects of motives on reactions to safe sun messages

We investigated whether appearance motive for sun exposure, which strongly predicts exposure behaviour, would predict reactions to safe sun messages. In a survey with an embedded experiment, 245 individuals completed measures of motives, read a safe sun message framed by incentive (appearance/health), tone (directive/nondirective) and valence (gain/loss), then completed measures of reactions. For participants high in appearance motive, an appearance-nondirective message was most persuasive. Regardless of individual’s appearance motive, appearance messages produced lower reactance if phrased using nondirective language. To maximise persuasion and minimise reactance in individuals most motivated to sun expose, safe sun messages should focus on appearance using nondirective language.
Antibody-drug conjugates: an emerging concept in cancer therapy.

Traditional cancer chemotherapy is often accompanied by systemic toxicity to the patient. Monoclonal antibodies against antigens on cancer cells offer an alternative tumor-selective treatment approach. However, most monoclonal antibodies are not sufficiently potent to be therapeutically active on their own. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) use antibodies to deliver a potent cytotoxic compound selectively to tumor cells, thus improving the therapeutic index of chemotherapeutic agents. The recent approval of two ADCs, brentuximab vedotin and ado-trastuzumab emtansine, for cancer treatment has spurred tremendous research interest in this field. This Review touches upon the early efforts in the field, and describes how the lessons learned from the first-generation ADCs have led to improvements in every aspect of this technology, i.e., the antibody, the cytotoxic compound, and the linker connecting them, leading to the current successes. The design of ADCs currently in clinical development, and results from mechanistic studies and preclinical and clinical evaluation are discussed. Emerging technologies that seek to further advance this exciting area of research are also discussed.
Stepsize control in NLMS acoustic echo cancellation using a neural network

Correctly estimating the best filter adaptation rate in acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) is known to be a complex problem justifying advanced algorithms. In this paper we illustrate a new neural network estimator based on a set of classic statistical estimators and a proper, mostly generalized, offline training. The output step size estimated is shown to give good convergence speed and to correctly behave in case of local noise, "double talk" and changes in the room impulse response. Complexity is evaluated and proves acceptable for actual implementations, and results are compared with both a simple NLMS (normalized least mean square) implementation and an advanced fuzzy methodology which are also known in the literature.
Strong smoothing for the non-cutoff homogeneous Boltzmann equation for Maxwellian molecules with Debye-Yukawa type interaction

We study weak solutions of the homogeneous Boltzmann equation for Maxwellian molecules with a logarithmic singularity of the collision kernel for grazing collisions. Even though in this situation the Boltzmann operator enjoys only a very weak coercivity estimate, it still leads to strong smoothing of weak solutions in accordance to the smoothing expected by an analogy with a logarithmic heat equation.
Breath-Analysis Using Mid-Infrared Tunable Laser Spectroscopy

Breath analysis is becoming an attractive technique for the noninvasive monitoring of various molecular constituents in exhaled breath. Nitric oxide (NO) is a widely studied biomarker in breath and is known to indicate the lower airway inflammation associated with asthma. A mid-IR laser-based spectroscopic sensor and associated electronics were designed to measure exhaled NO simultaneously with CO2. To evaluate the sensor performance, a large observational clinical field study consisting of more than 2200 volunteers was performed over a period of two years. The generated distributions of the measured exhaled NO and CO2 levels were found to be log-normal and Gaussian, respectively. In addition, preliminary results of measuring exhaled nitrous oxide (N2O) are given as well as suggestions for future applications in infectious disease.
Sustainability and Scaling-Up Analysis of Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition: Lessons Learned from Burkina Faso

Background Community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) is an effective strategy frequently implemented by nongovernmental organizations, but handing CMAM over to national health systems and scaling it up remains a great challenge. Objective To highlight the challenges to sustainability and scalability of a CMAM program in Burkina Faso. Methods We conducted a review of program reports to evaluate program performance and conducted individual interviews with key informants (health system fieldworkers and officials and program staff members) and focus group discussions with beneficiaries (mothers whose children were attending the program, community volunteers, and village leaders) to analyze the required conditions for scaling up using ExpandNet recommendations. Results The program coverage rate was 90% among children under 5 years of age in the 180 intervention villages. Between June 2007 and December 2010, 19,009 cases of acute malnutrition (AM) among children under 5 years of age were treated, of which 4,308 (22.7%) were cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The recovery rate was 89.4% for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and 86.5% for SAM. The case-fatality rate was 2.8% for MAM and 4.2% for SAM. The default rate was 7% for all cases. The prevalence of SAM decreased between 2008 and 2009 from 5.4% to 1.8%. Barriers to sustainability and scaling up were underlined: management by external personnel from the health system, no financial support for the scaling-up process, insufficient national advocacy, and nonsustainable activities (e.g., free care). Conclusions The CMAM program was effective, but the handover conditions and scaling-up requirements were unsatisfactory. We identified poor integration into the health system, lack of resources, and insufficient advocacy.
Motivation and cognitive load in the flipped classroom: definition, rationale and a call for research

Flipped classroom approaches remove the traditional transmissive lecture and replace it with active in-class tasks and pre-/post-class work. Despite the popularity of these approaches in the media, Google search, and casual hallway chats, there is very little evidence of effectiveness or consistency in understanding what a flipped classroom actually is. Although the flipped terminology is new, some of the approaches being labelled ‘flipped’ are actually much older. In this paper, we provide a catch-all definition for the flipped classroom, and attempt to retrofit it with a pedagogical rationale, which we articulate through six testable propositions. These propositions provide a potential agenda for research about flipped approaches and form the structure of our investigation. We construct a theoretical argument that flipped approaches might improve student motivation and help manage cognitive load. We conclude with a call for more specific types of research into the effectiveness of the flipped classroom approach.
The graph isomorphism disease

The graph isomorphism problem—to devise a good algorithm for determining if two graphs are isomorphic—is of considerable practical importance, and is also of theoretical interest due to its relationship to the concept of NP-completeness. No efficient (i.e., polynomial-bound) algorithm for graph isomorphism is known, and it has been conjectured that no such algorithm can exist. Many papers on the subject have appeared, but progress has been slight; in fact, the intractable nature of the problem and the way that many graph theorists have been led to devote much time to it, recall those aspects of the four-color conjecture which prompted Harary to rechristen it the “four-color disease. ” This paper surveys the present state of the art of isomorphism testing, discusses its relationship to NP-completeness, and indicates some of the difficulties inherent in this particularly elusive and challenging problem. A comprehensive bibliography of papers relating to the graph isomorphism problem is given.
Pain Inhibition by Endomorphins

Abstract: Spinal analgesic effects of endomorphin‐1 and endomorphin‐2 were studied during acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain in rats chronically implanted with intrathecal cannulas. Endomorphin‐1 and endomorphin‐2 (2.5‐10 μg i.t.), as well as their analogues, increased the tail‐flick and the paw pressure latencies. In a model of inflammatory pain, the formalin‐induced behavior was attenuated by endomorphins; however, the effect studied was not dose‐dependent and was less pronounced in comparison with that evoked by morphine. On the other hand, in rats with a sciatic nerve injury (crush), endomorphins antagonized allodynia in a dose‐dependent manner, whereas morphine was found to be ineffective in a similar dose range. Endomorphins also exhibited an antinociceptive potency in rats tolerant to morphine. In conclusion, our results show a powerful analgesic action of endomorphins at the spinal level. The most interesting finding is a strong effect of endomorphins in neuropathic pain, which opens up a possibility of using these compounds in pain therapy.
Altérations du métabolisme cardiaque associées à des désordres génétiques de l’oxydation des acides gras à chaîne longue chez la souris

Bien que le changement dans le choix des substrats energetiques des acides gras (AGs) vers les glucides soit considere comme benefique pour le cœur insuffisant, il n’est pas clair a savoir pourquoi les patients atteints de desordres de la β-oxydation (β-OX) des AGs a chaine longue (AGCLs) developpent des troubles du rythme et des cardiomyopathies. De plus, le traitement actuel ne permet pas de prevenir l’apparition du phenotype clinique chez tous les patients, specifiquement en condition de jeune ou de stress. Ainsi, plusieurs modeles de souris deficientes pour des enzymes impliquees dans l’oxydation des acides gras ont ete developpes de maniere a ameliorer les connaissances de la maladie ainsi que les traitements offerts aux patients. A cet egard, cette etude vise a evaluer le phenotype metabolique et fonctionnel des cœurs de souris deficientes pour le recepteur active de la proliferation des peroxysomes-α (PPARα), un facteur de transcription des genes impliques notamment dans la β-OX des AGs, et pour la deshydrogenase des acyl-CoA a tres longue chaine (very-long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, VLCAD), le deficit de l’oxydation des AGCLs le plus commun chez l’humain. L’approche experimentale utilisee comprend plusieurs techniques dont (i) la perfusion ex vivo de cœur de souris au travail combinee a l’utilisation de substrats marques au carbone 13 (13C) et a l’analyse par chromatographie gazeuse-spectrometrie de masse (GCMS), (ii) l’analyse de l’expression genique par qPCR et (iii) l’analyse de l’activite electrique du cœur in vivo par telemetrie. De maniere inattendue, les resultats de cette etude menee chez la souris ont permis de mettre en evidence que des deficits pour des proteines impliquees dans l’oxydation des AGCLs sont associes a des alterations du metabolisme (i) des glucides, (ii) des AGs polyinsatures (AGPIs), et (iii) mitochondrial, incluant l’anaplerose, en plus d’etre lies a des desordres de la fonction electrique du cœur, a savoir une prolongation du segment QTc. Pris dans leur ensemble, les resultats de cette these pourraient servir a l’elaboration de nouvelles interventions metaboliques destinees a ameliorer les traitements possibles et donc, la qualite de vie des patients atteints de desordres hereditaires de la β-OX des AGCLs.
The Effect of a Haptic Guidance Steering System on Fatigue-Related Driver Behavior

Prolonged driving on monotonous roads often leads to a reduction in task load that causes drivers passive fatigue. Passive fatigue results in loss of driver alertness and is detrimental to driver safety. This paper focuses on the effect of a haptic guidance steering system on improving behaviors of passively fatigued drivers. By continuously exerting active torque on a steering wheel, the haptic system guides drivers to follow the centerline of a lane; meanwhile, the drivers sense the torque and interact with it while operating the steering wheel. An experiment was conducted with 12 healthy participants in a high-fidelity driving simulator. A monotonous driving course was designed, and vehicle speed was fixed in order to induce drivers’ passive fatigue. A treatment session was arranged with the haptic guidance steering system, and a control session was conducted as a comparison. Driving performance, assessed by standard deviation of lane position, mean absolute lateral error, and time-to-lane crossing, was significantly improved when haptic guidance was activated. Results of physiological measures, including heart rate variability and percentage of eye closure, revealed that passively fatigued drivers were aroused when they were aware of the active torque on the steering wheel. In conclusion, the activation of haptic guidance can be regarded as an effective countermeasure for the passively fatigued drivers who have performed a prolonged monotonous driving task.
Origines et fonctions de la hiérarchie : trente ans de débats, 1968-1998

L'essor de la theorie economique de la firme depuis une trentaine d'annees a donne lieu a d'intenses debats sur les origines et les fonctions de la hierarchie et de l'autorite. Ces discussions sont abordees du point de vue de l'histoire de la pensee economique, sur la periode 1968-1998. Jusqu'au debut des annees 1970, le courant dominant ne s'interessait pas a l'organisation intra-firme. La publication, en 1972, par Alchian et Demsetz d'un article visant a expliquer l'existence de la firme a partir des couts d'information, apparait comme une premiere reponse de l'approche standard au " defi radical ". A partir de 1968, l'economie politique radicale, qui est la traduction dans le champ academique du vaste mouvement protestataire anti-hierarchique ayant traverse la societe nord americaine a la fin des annees 1960, a cherche a donner sa propre reponse a la question "a quoi servent les patrons ? ". Les radicaux americains ont tente de montrer que la hierarchie ne vise pas a promouvoir l'efficience de l'organisation mais au contraire le pouvoir de l'employeur. Elle serait un moyen de " diviser pour regner " en vue de degager de plus grands profits. D'autres auteurs du courant dominant, tels que Arrow et Williamson, s'emploieront a repondre aux radicaux et souligneront les avantages, en terme d'efficience, de l'autorite et de la hierarchie. Les radicaux se tourneront alors, au debut des annees 1980, vers la micro-economique standard afin d'elaborer une theorie du pouvoir dans le cadre du paradigme dominant. Enfin, a son tour, la theorie des contrats incomplets repondra implicitement a l'approche radicale du pouvoir, au cours des annees 1990, en soutenant que les relations de pouvoir sont organisees dans la firme de maniere efficiente.
Proton Pump Inhibitor

Acid peptic disease manifests in a variety of ways leading to significant morbidity and loss of productivity and illness. The common factor in all these conditions is the over action of acid milieu. Proton pump inhibitors are one of the most significant class of drugs to be developed in gastroenterology. They are prodrugs that act at the appropriate time. The article considers these facts.
Distribution of Azo-Proteins in the Tissues of the Normal Mouse.∗

Summary The distribution of a series of azo-proteins in mice after parenteral injection was studied by observing the intensity of color in the tissues on gross and microscopic examination. Their distribution appears to be modified either by the azo dye coupled to a particular protein or by the protein to which a particular azo dye is coupled.
Bancroftian filariasis in the Igwun Basin, Nigeria. An epidemiological, parasitological, and clinical study in relation to the transmission dynamics.

A 12-month field and laboratory study was carried out to determine the epidemiology, clinical features, and transmission dynamics of bancroftian filariasis in the Igwun Basin, Nigeria. A total of 1,418 individuals (768 males, and 650 females) were examined for clinical signs of filariasis. 690 day provocative blood samples (DPS), and 728 night blood samples (NBS) were examined for microfilaremia. 14.3% of males and 11.1% of females were mf positive. 5.8% of DPS, and 19.5% of the NBS were mf positive. An overall microfilaria rate of 12.8% was recorded in the basin. Prevalence and microfilarial density increased with age. The highest average density of 35 mf/20 ml NBS occurred in the 40-59-year-old male individuals. The mean microfilarial density in DPS and NBS were 7.9 and 28.0 per 20 ml blood in males, respectively, and 6.2 and 20.0 per 20 ml DPS and NBS in females, respectively. Disease rates of 55.5% were recorded for males, and 68.1% for females. The clinical signs observed were: Chyluria (9.1% for males, 16.7% for females); hydrocele (15.5%); elephantiasis (15.5% in males, 29.2% in females); and enlarged groin glands (15.5% in males, 22.2% in females). All clinical signs were associated with microfilariae. Anopheles gambiae s.I. , and Culex pipiens s.I. were the two mosquito vectors identified. The estimated mean annual biting rates were 5508 and 10448 for A. gambiae s.I. and C. pipiens s.I. , respectively. Their respective mean infection rates were 21.7% for A. gambiae s.I. and 22.7% for C. pipiens s.I. ; with microfilarial densities of 4.1 and 6.6. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Shear wave induced resonance: A new excitation mode for dynamic elastography imaging

A new method for dynamic elastography of heterogeneous media based on shear wave induction of resonance is proposed. When a confined heterogeneity is excited by a properly selected shear wave at its eigenfrequencies, resonance phenomena appear. The corresponding eigenmodes have the property to be confined into the heterogeneity allowing its discrimination from displacement maps. This phenomenon was first investigated theoretically and validated experimentally. Then, the potential of shear wave induced resonance (SWIR) in the context of dynamic elastography and material characterization is discussed.
Visualization in Bayesian workflow

Bayesian data analysis is about more than just computing a posterior distribution, and Bayesian visualization is about more than trace plots of Markov chains. Practical Bayesian data analysis, like all data analysis, is an iterative process of model building, inference, model checking and evaluation, and model expansion. Visualization is helpful in each of these stages of the Bayesian workflow and it is indispensable when drawing inferences from the types of modern, high dimensional models that are used by applied researchers.
Characteristics of airborne pollen in Incheon and Seoul (2015–2016)

Background Pollen allergens are one of the main contributors to the development and/or aggravation of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma. Objective An examination of the airborne pollen in residential areas should be conducted to aid the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. Methods Airborne pollen samples were collected from 2 sites in Incheon and 2 in Seoul from 2015 to 2016. Results The highest monthly concentration of airborne pollen was observed in May and September each year. Pollen from 32 families and 50 genera was identified over the 2 years; of these, Pinus spp. showed the highest pollen concentration (41.6%), followed by Quercus spp. (25.3%), and Humulus spp. (15.3%), the latter of which had the highest concentration among weed pollen. The total pollen concentration was significantly higher in Incheon than in Seoul (p = 0.001 in 2015, p < 0.001 in 2016) and higher in 2016 than in 2015. The concentrations of pollen from weed species (Cupressaceae, Humulus spp., Artemisia spp., Ambrosia spp., and Chenopodiaceae) and grass species (Gramineae) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those from tree species. Pollen was distributed from February to November. The first pollen identified in both regions in each year was Alnus spp. Overall, the total concentration of Quercus spp. , Betula spp. , Humulus spp. , Artemisia spp. , Ambrosia spp. , and Chenopodiaceae pollen increased significantly over the 2 years. Conclusion Region-specific differences exist in the pollen of major allergenic plants. Continuous monitoring of pollen is thus essential for management of pollen-related allergic disorders in each region.
In vitro evaluation of CENTA, a new beta-lactamase-susceptible chromogenic cephalosporin reagent

CENTA is a newly synthesized, beta-lactamase-labile, chromogenic cephalosporin reagent which changes color from light yellow (lambda maximum ca. 340 nm) to chrome yellow (lambda maximum ca. 405 nm) concomitant with hydrolysis of the beta-lactam ring. This compound offers promise as a diagnostic reagent comparable to other chromogens (PADAC and nitrocefin) for the early detection of beta-lactamase-producing clinical isolates, while retaining some antimicrobial effect against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. , Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and non-enterococcal Streptococcus spp. CENTA is relatively unaffected by commonly used microbiological media and human serum.