Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Blood Loss on Outcome after Liver Resection

Partial liver resections are the treatment of choice for patients with a malignant liver or bile duct tumor. The most frequent indications for partial liver resections are colorectal metastasis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma. Liver resection is the only therapy with a chance for cure in these patients. Refinements in surgical technique and increasing experience have contributed to a reduction in perioperative morbidity and mortality in recent years. Despite these improvements, partial liver resections remain a major surgical procedure and carry the risk for excessive blood loss and a subsequent need for blood transfusion. Blood transfusions have been associated with systemic side effects, such as depression of the immune system. Several studies have suggested that perioperative blood loss or transfusions have a negative impact on postoperative outcome. However, it has been debated whether this is due to a real cause-effect relationship or merely the result of more complicated surgery. We have reviewed the literature concerning studies focusing on the relationship between blood loss and blood transfusion during liver surgery for malignant tumors and postoperative outcome. Most studies were based on a retrospective analysis of single center experiences, using uni- and multivariate statistical methods. Most studies have demonstrated a significant and clinically relevant association between blood transfusion and postoperative mortality and morbidity, especially postoperative infectious complications. The effect of blood transfusions on tumor recurrence and more long-term mortality is much less clear and evidence varies depending on the type of malignancy. The strongest indication that blood transfusion may have an impact on tumor recurrence has been found for patients with early stages of HCC. However, overall, no such effect could be demonstrated for patients undergoing partial liver resection for late stages of HCC, colorectal liver metastasis or cholangiocarcinoma.
Fractionation of the Isotopes of Carbon and Hydrogen in Biosynthetic Processes

ships between organic compounds produced by a single organism, specifically their enrichments or depletions in 13C relative to total-biomass carbon. These relationships are biogeochemically significant because (1) An understanding of biosynthetically controlled, between-compound isotopic contrasts is required in order to judge whether plausibly related carbon skeletons found in a natural mixture might come from a single source or instead require multiple sources. (2) An understanding of compound-to-biomass differences must underlie the interpretation of isotopic differences between individual compounds and total organic matter in a natural mixture.
Prime power terms in elliptic divisibility sequences

We study a problem on specializations of multiples of rational points on elliptic curves analogous to the Mersenne problem. We solve this problem when descent via isogeny is possible by giving explicit bounds on the indices of prime power terms in elliptic divisibility sequences associated to points in the image of a nontrivial isogeny. We also discuss the uniformity of these bounds assuming the Hall-Lang conjecture.
Prospective monitoring of in vitro produced PR3-ANCA does not improve relapse prediction in granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Objectives Patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) are prone to disease relapse. Currently, no good biomarkers are available to predict relapses in individual patients. This study aimed to determine whether patients at risk for relapse can be distinguished based on increased in vitro autoantibody production. Methods Eighty-four proteinase 3 (PR3) anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive GPA outpatients were prospectively monitored for up to two years and 32 healthy controls were included. At periodic intervals peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, cultured and in vitro production of total and PR3-ANCA-specific IgG was determined. Moreover, serum ANCA titers were measured by indirect immunofluorescence. Results Sixteen patients (21%) relapsed during the follow-up period. At time of inclusion no significant differences were present for ANCA production between relapsing and non-relapsing patients. Samples before relapse exhibited increased serum ANCA titers and in vitro PR3-ANCA IgG levels compared with inclusion samples from non-relapsing patients. When evaluating changes over time, increasing serum ANCA titers were observed prior to relapse compared to a 1-year follow-up from non-relapsing patients. No significant change in in vitro PR3-ANCA levels occurred prior to relapse, compared to non-relapse patients. Conclusions While differences were observed for the serum ANCA titer in relapsing and non-relapsing patients, monitoring in vitro PR3-ANCA IgG production does not improve relapse prediction in GPA patients.
International Debt Deleveraging

This paper provides a framework to understand debt deleveraging in a group of financially integrated countries. During an episode of international deleveraging, world consumption demand is depressed and the world interest rate is low, reflecting a high propensity to save. If exchange rates are allowed to float, deleveraging countries can rely on depreciations to increase production and mitigate the fall in consumption associated with debt reduction. The key insight of the paper is that in a monetary union this channel of adjustment is shut off, because deleveraging countries cannot depreciate against the other countries in the monetary union, and therefore the fall in the demand for consumption and the downward pressure on the interest rate are amplified. Hence, deleveraging can easily push a monetary union against the zero lower bound and into a recession.
The influence of a university's social identity on changing athletic affiliations.

Summary Statistics Variable Mean Std. Dev. Joined NCAA 0.044 0.206 Women's College 0.018 0.134 Religious Affiliation 0.596 0.491 Private School 0.719 0.449 Historical Black College 0.085 0.279 n=19,692 Model Specifications Given a dichotomous dependent variable, discrete regression techniques such as probit, logit (Maddala, 1983), or a linear probability model (LPM) must be used. The difference between a logit and probit models is that a logistic regression has flatter tails on the cumulative distribution function than a probit regression (Maddala, 1983). For the present research, a logistic regression is used. The general logistic regression model is: Log(P(t)/[1-P(t)]= a + Sb i x i + Sc k x k (t) +µ it (1) where P(t) is the probability of moving to the NCAA, b is the set of coefficients that does not change over time, and c is a set of coefficients that do change over time. Results from the logistic regression model indicate if the independent variables are more or less likely to cause a change in the dependent variable. Previous sport research using a logistic regression model examined phenomenon such as the likelihood of receiving an invitation to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament (Washington & Zajac, 2005), a university adopting a sports program (Washington & Ventresca, 2004), a professional sports team winning a game (Taylor & Trogdon, 2002), and a coach being dismissed from his/her job (Frick, Barros, & Prinz, 2010).
Comprehension and computation in Bayesian problem solving

Humans have long been characterized as poor probabilistic reasoners when presented with explicit numerical information. Bayesian word problems provide a well-known example of this, where even highly educated and cognitively skilled individuals fail to adhere to mathematical norms. It is widely agreed that natural frequencies can facilitate Bayesian inferences relative to normalized formats (e.g., probabilities, percentages), both by clarifying logical set-subset relations and by simplifying numerical calculations. Nevertheless, between-study performance on “transparent” Bayesian problems varies widely, and generally remains rather unimpressive. We suggest there has been an over-focus on this representational facilitator (i.e., transparent problem structures) at the expense of the specific logical and numerical processing requirements and the corresponding individual abilities and skills necessary for providing Bayesian-like output given specific verbal and numerical input. We further suggest that understanding this task-individual pair could benefit from considerations from the literature on mathematical cognition, which emphasizes text comprehension and problem solving, along with contributions of online executive working memory, metacognitive regulation, and relevant stored knowledge and skills. We conclude by offering avenues for future research aimed at identifying the stages in problem solving at which correct vs. incorrect reasoners depart, and how individual differences might influence this time point.
Analytical Approximation of Other-cell Interference in the Uplink of CDMA Cellular Systems

In this paper, we develop efficient analytic techniques for characterization of other-cell interference in the uplink of CDMA cellular networks. An iterative method for solving fixed-point equations is employed to determine the mean and variance for lognormal approximation of the other-cell interference. All the parameters involved in calculation are obtained analytically, which ensures the proposed model to be pure analytical. Subsequently, the outage probability is defined and evaluated based on the approximation of tail probability
Contribution au développement des stratégies de gestion de maintenance intégrée faisant appel à la sous-traitance

Le cadre generale du memoire s’articule autour de la gestion de la maintenance integree a la production en tenant compte de la contrainte de sous-traitance. Notre recherche traite particulierement la gestion economique du soutient productique d’un ou de plusieurs sous-traitants qui different par leurs disponibilites et leurs couts unitaire de production. L’etude economique consiste a minimiser un cout total integrant la production, l’inventaire et la maintenance. Notre etude sera menee suivant deux axes. Dans un premier axe, nous considerons une demande constante sur un horizon de temps infini. Une etude analytique est menee afin d’etablir la politique de maintenance a adopter et le choix entre plusieurs sous-traitants. Dans un deuxieme axe, nous avons considere une demande aleatoire a satisfaire sur un horizon de temps fini. Cette demande doit etre satisfaire sous un niveau de service exige en faisant appel a la sous-traitance tout en assumant que le taux de panne de la machine principale varie avec l’usage et le temps. L’objectif a ete de proposer un plan optimal de maintenance et de production satisfaisant le niveau de service et tenant compte de la degradation de la machine tout en minimisant les couts de production, d’inventaire et de maintenance. Les modeles analytiques etablis dans les deux axes sont valides par des exemples numeriques et interpretes a travers des etudes de sensibilites
Crystallising commitment through structural equation modelling : the case of manufacturing teams in South Korea

The use of teams in organisations has become widespread, and research on teams has been extensive. However, in comparison with measures of organisational level variables there has been comparatively little research on team members’ attitudes and behaviour. This study examines team members’ commitment to their team and to their organisation using data from two transport-related companies in the small- and mediumsized category in South Korea (N=358). Drawing on social exchange theory and the cognition-attitude-behaviour mechanism, the thesis proposes a multiple mediation model that suggests team commitment and organisational commitment mediate the relationship between psychological empowerment and organisational citizenship behaviour. Prior to examining the proposed theoretical model, the thesis looks at the applicability of Allen and Myer’s (1990) organisational commitment scale and the distinctiveness of team commitment from organisational commitment. Parsimonious validity testing suggests that the normative organisational commitment scale is not applicable, and a three-factor model of organisational commitment works better in a South Korean context. Analysis of structural equation models using LISREL supports the two commitments’ multiple mediation role, demonstrating that both team commitment and organisational commitment positively and independently mediate the relationships between psychological empowerment and organisational citizenship behaviour. Further, results present the negative interaction effects of the two commitment forms on organisational citizenship behaviours.
Development of Nonaggregating Poly-A Tailed Immunostimulatory A/D Type CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Applicable for Clinical Use

Immunostimulatory CpG ODNs have been developed and utilized as TLR9-dependent innate immune activators and vaccine adjuvants. Four different types of immunostimulatory CpG ODNs (A/D, B/K, C, and P type) have been reported. A/D type ODNs are characterized by high IFN-α production but intrinsically form aggregates, hindering its good manufacturing practice grade preparation. In this study, we developed several D35-derived ODNs (a commonly used A/D type ODN), which were modified with the addition of a phosphorothioate polynucleotide tail (such as dAs40), and examined their physical properties, solubility in saline, immunostimulatory activity on human PBMCs, and vaccine adjuvant potential in monkeys. We found that two modified ODNs including D35-dAs40 and D35core-dAs40 were immunostimulatory, similar to original D35 in human PBMCs, resulting in high IFN-α secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Physical property analysis by dynamic light scattering revealed that both D35-dAs40 and D35core-dAs40 did not form aggregates in saline, which is currently impossible for the original D35. Furthermore, D35-dAs40 and D35core-dAs40 worked as better vaccine adjuvant in monkeys. These results suggested that D35-dAs40 and D35core-dAs40 are two promising prototypes of nonaggregating A/D type ODN with advantages of ease of drug preparation for clinical applications as vaccine adjuvants or IFN-α inducing immunomodifiers.
Investigating the addition of SiO2–CaO–ZnO–Na2O–TiO2 bioactive glass to hydroxyapatite: Characterization, mechanical properties and bioactivity

Hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) is widely investigated as an implantable material for hard tissue restoration due to its osteoconductive properties. However, hydroxyapatite in bulk form is limited as its mechanical properties are insufficient for load-bearing orthopedic applications. Attempts have been made to improve the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite, by incorporating ceramic fillers, but the resultant composite materials require high sintering temperatures to facilitate densification, leading to the decomposition of hydroxyapatite into tricalcium phosphate, tetra-calcium phosphate and CaO phases. One method of improving the properties of hydroxyapatite is to incorporate bioactive glass particles as a second phase. These typically have lower softening points which could possibly facilitate sintering at lower temperatures. In this work, a bioactive glass (SiO2–CaO–ZnO–Na2O–TiO2) is incorporated (10, 20 and 30 wt%) into hydroxyapatite as a reinforcing phase. X-ray diffraction confirmed that no additional phases (other than hydroxyapatite) were formed at a sintering temperature of 560 ℃ with up to 30 wt% glass addition. The addition of the glass phase increased the % crystallinity and the relative density of the composites. The biaxial flexural strength increased to 36 MPa with glass addition, and there was no significant change in hardness as a function of maturation. The pH of the incubation media increased to pH 10 or 11 through glass addition, and ion release profiles determined that Si, Na and P were released from the composites. Calcium phosphate precipitation was encouraged in simulated body fluid with the incorporation of the bioactive glass phase, and cell culture testing in MC-3T3 osteoblasts determined that the composite materials did not significantly reduce cell viability.
Comparison of cognitive, psychosocial, and adaptive behavior profiles among gifted children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

The diagnostic category of autism has been extensively investigated over the past 65 years since the condition was first described by Dr. Leo Kanner (1943), making it one of the most validated psychological disorders. Research has examined the characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across a variety of domains, including diagnostic symptomology, intellectual profiles, adaptive behavior, and psychosocial functioning. However, there exists a paucity of empirical research on intellectually gifted children with ASD. The goal of the current study was to compare the psychometric profiles of gifted youth with and without ASD across the domains of intellectual functioning, psychosocial/behavioral functioning, social skills, and adaptive behavior using an empirical, group study design. It was hypothesized that, in comparison to the group of youth without ASD, the group of youth with ASD would demonstrate equally strong verbal and nonverbal intellectual abilities with relatively poorer processing speed, poorer adaptive functioning skills, more psychosocial/behavior concerns, and poorer social skills. Data from 81 school-age youth who had been identified as intellectually gifted were included in the present study. Forty of the participants in this study met DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for ASD; the remaining 41 participants did not meet diagnostic criteria for an Axis I or Axis II psychological disorder. Statistical analyses included independent-samples t tests and split-plot analyses. Results of the current study demonstrate that statistically significant differences exist between gifted youth with and without ASD in the areas of processing speed, adaptive functioning, psychosocial/behavioral functioning, and social skills, despite equivalent verbal and nonverbal intellectual functioning. The current study is unique in that it is the first to examine these domains of functioning and make empirical comparisons of characteristics among gifted individuals with ASD using a group study design. Importantly, this study has significant implications for diagnosis of ASD and will provide an empirical
Extending Machine Translation Evaluation Metrics with Lexical Cohesion to Document Level

This paper proposes the utilization of lexical cohesion to facilitate evaluation of machine translation at the document level. As a linguistic means to achieve text coherence, lexical cohesion ties sentences together into a meaningfully interwoven structure through words with the same or related meaning. A comparison between machine and human translation is conducted to illustrate one of their critical distinctions that human translators tend to use more cohesion devices than machine. Various ways to apply this feature to evaluate machine-translated documents are presented, including one without reliance on reference translation. Experimental results show that incorporating this feature into sentence-level evaluation metrics can enhance their correlation with human judgements.
Prevalence of cryptococcosis among HIV-infected patients in Yaounde, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND Cryptococcus neoformans is encapsulated yeast which causes life-threatening infections in up to 40% of AIDS patients in Africa. OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence of cryptococcosis among HIV infected patients in Yaounde. METHODS In a hospital-based surveillance study of cryptococcosis, the colonization of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), urine and blood sample by C. neoformans was evaluated by direct microscopic examination and culture techniques. Data obtained were then analyzed based on the medical records of the patients. RESULTS Among the 105 patients sampled for the study, the CD4 counts varied between 31 and 304 lymphocytes/mm(3). Direct specimens examination (n= 294) in India ink preparations revealed polysaccharide capsule in 25 (8.5%) of the samples. Upon culture, 29 (9.86 %) samples were positive of C. neoformans (23 from the CSFs and 6 from the urine). All the positive samples were obtained from patients who were not on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Meningo-encephalitis symptoms were observed in 13 patients with C. neoformans in CSFs. CONCLUSION This study reveals that cryptococcosis is rife in AIDS patients in Yaounde. Therefore, to minimize the death toll, we recommend that its routine check should be integrated in the management of HIV/AIDS patients.
Renal effects of N-acetylcysteine in patients at risk for contrast nephropathy: decrease in oxidant stress-mediated renal tubular injury.

BACKGROUND N-Acetylcysteine has been shown to protect against contrast nephropathy, although the mechanisms underlying such an effect are unclear. Surprisingly, studies have shown that post-radiocontrast renal function actually improves in chronic renal failure patients receiving N-acetylcysteine. However, there have been no studies investigating the cause of this improvement. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 24 patients (aged 65+/-2 years) suffering from stable mild-to-moderate renal insufficiency and undergoing elective coronary angiography were randomized to receive either placebo or N-acetylcysteine. All received similar hydration. Renal function parameters were assessed 48 h before and 48 h after radiocontrast administration. Urinary 15-isoprostane F2(t), a specific marker of oxidative stress, was measured immediately before and after the procedure. Expression of urinary alpha-glutathione S-transferase protein, a specific proximal tubular injury marker, was assessed after the procedure. RESULTS Comparing creatinine clearance values before and after angiography, a significant increase was seen in N-acetylcysteine patients (44.7+/-4.2 vs 57.2+/-6.3 ml/min/1.73 m(2); P = 0.02), whereas placebo patients presented no change (46.6+/-5.0 vs 46.9+/-4.3 ml/min/1.73 m(2); P = 0.90). After radiocontrast, urinary 15-isoprostane F2(t) levels in placebo patients increased significantly over baseline values (2.9+/-0.7 vs 10.3+/-2.1 ng/mg creatinine; P = 0.007), whereas urinary 15-isoprostane F2(t) levels in N-acetylcysteine patients remained basically unchanged (3.5+/-0.5 vs 4.1+/-0.9 ng/mg creatinine; P = 0.63). Furthermore, N-acetylcysteine treatment led to lower levels of alpha-glutathione S-transferase than did placebo treatment (0.8+/-0.2 vs 2.4+/-0.7 micro g/g; P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS In chronic renal failure patients, the improvement in renal function induced by post-radiocontrast administration of N-acetylcysteine is strongly associated with suppression of oxidant stress-mediated proximal tubular injury.
An enhanced dynamic framed slotted ALOHA algorithm for RFID tag identification

In RFID system, one of the problems that we must solve is the collision between tags which lowers the efficiency of the RFID system. One of the popular anti-collision algorithms is ALOHA-type algorithms, which are simple and shows good performance when the number of tags to read is small. However, they generally require exponentially increasing number of slots to identify the tags as the number of tag increases. In the paper, we propose a new anti-collision algorithm called enhanced dynamic framed slotted ALOHA (EDFSA) which estimates the number of unread tags first and adjusts the number of responding tags or the frame size to give the optimal system efficiency. As a result, in the proposed method, the number of slots to read the tags increases linearly as the the number of tags does. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm improves the slot efficiency by 85/spl sim/100% compared to the conventional algorithms when the number of tags is 1000.