Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resection of complex pancreatic injuries: Benchmarking postoperative complications using the Accordion classification

AIM To benchmark severity of complications using the Accordion Severity Grading System (ASGS) in patients undergoing operation for severe pancreatic injuries. METHODS A prospective institutional database of 461 patients with pancreatic injuries treated from 1990 to 2015 was reviewed. One hundred and thirty patients with AAST grade 3, 4 or 5 pancreatic injuries underwent resection (pancreatoduodenectomy, n = 20, distal pancreatectomy, n = 110), including 30 who had an initial damage control laparotomy (DCL) and later definitive surgery. AAST injury grades, type of pancreatic resection, need for DCL and incidence and ASGS severity of complications were assessed. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied. RESULTS Overall 238 complications occurred in 95 (73%) patients of which 73% were ASGS grades 3-6. Nineteen patients (14.6%) died. Patients more likely to have complications after pancreatic resection were older, had a revised trauma score (RTS) < 7.8, were shocked on admission, had grade 5 injuries of the head and neck of the pancreas with associated vascular and duodenal injuries, required a DCL, received a larger blood transfusion, had a pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and repeat laparotomies. Applying univariate logistic regression analysis, mechanism of injury, RTS < 7.8, shock on admission, DCL, increasing AAST grade and type of pancreatic resection were significant variables for complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis however showed that only age and type of pancreatic resection (PD) were significant. CONCLUSION This ASGS-based study benchmarked postoperative morbidity after pancreatic resection for trauma. The detailed outcome analysis provided may serve as a reference for future institutional comparisons.
A Web-Based Mobile Robotic System for Control and Sensor Fusion Studies

This paper presents a hardware system architecture for a mobile robotic system that employs multiple sensors (an ultrasonic array, a thermal sensor, and a video streaming system) to obtain information about the environment, a virtual field strategy for obstacle avoidance and path planning, and an ANFIS controller for path tracking. The particular focus is on the ANFIS controller and its hardware implementation, the graphicsuser interface and the overall system architecture. Experimental results and preliminary evaluation show that the proposed architecture is a feasible one for autonomous mobile robotic systems.
Allelopathic effects of Argemone mexicana to growth of native plant species.

Argemone mexicana is known to have significant effects on cultivated agricultural fields. However, there is little information about allelopathic effect of A. mexicana on the growth of wild plant species such as those found in wildlife protected areas. This review presents evidence that allelochemicals present in A. mexicana may affect the overall growth of other plant species.
A Hybrid Parallelization of AIM for Multi-Core Clusters: Implementation Details and Benchmark Results on Ranger

This paper presents implementation details and empirical results for a hybrid message passing and shared memory paralleliziation of the adaptive integral method (AIM). AIM is implemented on a (near) petaflop supercomputing cluster of quad-core processors and its accuracy, complexity, and scalability are investigated by solving benchmark scattering problems. The timing and speedup results on up to 1024 processors show that the hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallelization of AIM exhibits better strong scalability (fixed problem size speedup) than pure MPI parallelization of it when multiple cores are used on each processor.
Simvastatin Effects on Androgens, Inflammatory Mediators, and Endogenous Pituitary Gonadotropins Among Patients With PCOS Undergoing IVF

Objective To evaluate effects of simvastatin on selected biochemical parameters and reproductive outcome among patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods Patients with PCOS were randomized to receive either oral simvastatin, 20 mg/d (n = 32), or placebo (n = 32) in a prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial (NCT 005-75601) in parallel with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF. All patients were determined to be at average risk for cardiovascular disease, based on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurement at entry. After an 8-week treatment interval concluding at periovulatory human chorionic gonadotropin administration, selected clinical and laboratory parameters were measured. Results Mean serum total testosterone level decreased by 25% in the simvastatin group, compared to a 10% reduction in the placebo group (P < 0.001). A trend of lower serum luteinizing hormone levels was noted in experimental and control groups (29% vs 22%, respectively), although this difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Neither fasting insulin nor quantitative insulin sensitivity check index were significantly impacted by simvastatin (P > 0.05). As expected, total cholesterol was not modified among placebo patients but was significantly reduced after simvastatin (P = 0.001). In addition, hsCRP and vascular cell adhesion protein-1 were both significantly lower after simvastatin therapy compared to controls (P ≤ 0.005 for both). At study completion, no important change in body mass index was observed in either group (P ≥ 0.60). Although oocyte maturation, fertilization, and clinical pregnancy rates were all higher after simvastatin, none of these improvements were statistically significant. Conclusions This report presents data from the first prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical investigation of simvastatin in the setting of PCOS and IVF. Simvastatin seems to be compatible with gonadotropin therapy for IVF and can offer beneficial endocrine and cardiovascular effects for patients with PCOS who undergo embryo transfer. Although the observed improvements in reproductive function were mild, the reductions in hsCRP and vascular cell adhesion protein-1 after simvastatin treatment were significant, suggesting the need for further clinical trials to clarify simvastatin's impact on reproductive physiology.
A Hierarchical Bayes Error Correction Model to Explain Dynamic Effects of Price Changes

The authors put forth a sales response model to explain the differences in immediate and dynamic effects of promotional prices and regular prices on sales. The model consists of a vector autoregression that is rewritten in error correction format, which allows the authors to disentangle the immediate effects from the dynamic effects. In a second level of the model, the immediate price elasticities, the cumulative promotional price elasticity, and the long-term regular price elasticity are correlated with various brand-specific and category-specific characteristics. The model is applied to seven years of data on weekly sales of 100 different brands in 25 product categories. The authors find many significant moderating effects on the elasticity of price promotions. Brands in categories that are characterized by high price differentiation and that constitute a lower share of budget are less sensitive to price discounts. Deep price discounts increase the immediate price sensitivity of customers. The authors also find significant effects for the cumulative elasticity. The immediate effect of a regular price change is often close to zero. The long-term effect of such a regular price decrease usually amounts to an increase in sales. This is especially true in categories that are characterized by a large price dispersion and frequent price promotions and for hedonic, nonperishable products.
Effects of expression of human or bovine growth hormone genes on sperm production and male reproductive performance in four lines of transgenic mice.

Reproductive performance was studied in transgenic males from lines expressing and transmitting four hybrid genes: mouse metallothionein-I/human growth hormone (GH) (MT/hGH), MT/hGH placental variant (MT/hGH.V), MT/bovine GH (MT/bGH) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase/bGH (PEPCK/bGH). Each male was exposed to three normal females for 1 week and to three different normal females for another week. Females were examined for vaginal plugs and necropsied on day 14 of pregnancy. Males were killed for analysis of organ weights, numbers of testicular spermatids, numbers of epididymal sperm and measurements of plasma glucose concentration. Fertility of MT/hGH and MT/hGH.V transgenic males was significantly lower than in normal males, primarily because most males failed to impregnate any females. In females that became pregnant, the numbers of corpora lutea, total fetuses and live fetuses did not differ from those in females mated to normal (nontransgenic) males. Fetal crown-rump length on day 14 of pregnancy did not differ between litters sired by normal or by transgenic males. Weights of testes and seminal vesicles were significantly greater in all four types of transgenic male, but daily sperm production per unit weight (g-1) of testis was not affected and epididymal sperm reserves were either normal or slightly higher than normal. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly higher in PEPCK/bGH mice than in other mice. Average or individual reproductive performance of transgenic males from the various lines did not correlate with any of the parameters examined except for significantly heavier seminal vesicles in MT/hGH and MT/hGH.V males than in normal males; these transgenic males exhibited a high incidence of infertility. Since hGH and hGH.V, but not bGH, are lactogenic in rodents, it was concluded that chronic stimulation of GH and prolactin receptors by ectopically produced human GHs in transgenic mice compromises male fertility by an unknown mechanism. Reduced fertility of transgenic males with MT/hGH or MT/hGH.V hybrid genes is due to failure to inseminate or impregnate females rather than to reduced numbers of spermatozoa or gross changes in the male reproductive system.
Clinical Trial of Dual Treatment with an Ablative Fractional Laser and a Nonablative Laser for the Treatment of Acne Scars in Asian Patients

BACKGROUND Many methods have been proposed for the treatment of acne scars, with variable cosmetic results. Nonablative skin resurfacing is one method that has been proposed. Because of a need for more noticeable clinical improvements, the ablative fractional laser was recently introduced. OBJECTIVE To reduce complications and improve the results of ablative fractional laser resurfacing by combining this treatment of acne scars with nonablative lasers. METHODS A series of 20 patients (skin phototypes IV–V) with atrophic facial acne scars were randomly divided into two groups that received three successive monthly treatments with an ablative fractional laser using high (group A) and low (group B) energy on one facial half and an ablative fractional laser with low energy plus a nonablative resurfacing laser on the other facial half. Patients were evaluated using digital photography at each treatment visit and at 3 months postoperatively. Clinical assessment scores were determined at each treatment session and follow‐up visit. RESULTS Although the use of the ablative fractional laser with high energy resulted in an improvement in patients' acne scars, the combination of ablative fractional laser resurfacing and nonablative laser resurfacing yielded the best results, as assessed in photographs as well as by the overall appearance of the acne scars. With the combination method, fewer complications were observed. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
Does Glass Size and Shape Influence Judgements of the Volume of Wine?

Background Judgements of volume may influence the rate of consumption of alcohol and, in turn, the amount consumed. The aim of the current study was to examine the impact of the size and shape of wine glasses on perceptions of wine volume. Methods Online experiment: Participants (n = 360; recruited via Mechanical Turk) were asked to match the volume of wine in two wine glasses, specifically: 1. the Reference glass holding a fixed reference volume, and 2. the Comparison glass, for which the volume could be altered until participants perceived it matched the reference volume. One of three comparison glasses was shown in each trial: ‘wider’ (20% wider but same capacity); ‘larger’ (same width but 25% greater capacity); or ‘wider-and-larger’ (20% wider and 25% greater capacity). Reference volumes were 125ml, 175ml and 250ml, in a fully factorial within-subjects design: 3 (comparison glass) x 3 (reference volume). Non-zero differences between the volumes with which participants filled comparison glasses and the corresponding reference volumes were identified using sign-rank tests. Results Participants under-filled the wider glass relative to the reference glass for larger reference volumes, and over-filled the larger glass relative to the reference glass for all reference volumes. Results for the wider-and-larger glass showed a mixed pattern across reference volume. For all comparison glasses, in trials with larger reference volumes participants tended to fill the comparison glass less, relative to trials with smaller reference volumes for the same comparison glass. Conclusions These results are broadly consistent with people using the relative fullness of glasses to judge volume, and suggest both the shape and capacity of wine glasses may influence perceived volume. Perceptions that smaller glasses contain more than larger ones (despite containing the same volume), could slow drinking speed and overall consumption by serving standard portions in smaller glasses. This hypothesis awaits testing.
GADD45α mediates arsenite‐induced cell apoptotic effect in human hepatoma cells via JNKs/AP‐1‐dependent pathway

Arsenite (As(III)), an effective chemotherapeutic agent for the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and multiple myeloma (MM), might be also a promise for the therapy of other cancers, including the solid tumors. However, the molecular bases of arsenite‐induced cytotoxicity in the tumor cells have not been fully defined. In this study, we have disclosed that arsenite effectively induces the apoptotic response in the HepG2 human hepatoma cells by triggering GADD45α induction and the subsequent activation of JNKs/AP‐1 cell death pathway. However, signaling events relating to GADD45α/JNKs/AP‐1 pathway activation have not been observed in HL7702 human diploid hepatic cells under the same arsenite exposure condition. Our results thus have illustrated the selective pro‐apoptotic role of arsenite in the hepatoma cells by activating GADD45α‐dependent cell death pathway whereas with little effect on the normal hepatic cells. The approaches to up‐regulate GADD45α levels might be helpful in improving the chemotherapeutic action of arsenite on certain solid tumors including hepatoma. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 1264–1273, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sugarcane Growth Promotion by the Endophytic Bacterium Pantoea agglomerans 33.1

ABSTRACT The promotion of sugarcane growth by the endophytic Pantoea agglomerans strain 33.1 was studied under gnotobiotic and greenhouse conditions. The green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged strain P. agglomerans 33.1::pNKGFP was monitored in vitro in sugarcane plants by microscopy, reisolation, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Using qPCR and reisolation 4 and 15 days after inoculation, we observed that GFP-tagged strains reached similar density levels both in the rhizosphere and inside the roots and aerial plant tissues. Microscopic analysis was performed at 5, 10, and 18 days after inoculation. Under greenhouse conditions, P. agglomerans 33.1-inoculated sugarcane plants presented more dry mass 30 days after inoculation. Cross-colonization was confirmed by reisolation of the GFP-tagged strain. These data demonstrate that 33.1::pNKGFP is a superior colonizer of sugarcane due to its ability to colonize a number of different plant parts. The growth promotion observed in colonized plants may be related to the ability of P. agglomerans 33.1 to synthesize indoleacetic acid and solubilize phosphate. Additionally, this strain may trigger chitinase and cellulase production by plant roots, suggesting the induction of a plant defense system. However, levels of indigenous bacterial colonization did not vary between inoculated and noninoculated sugarcane plants under greenhouse conditions, suggesting that the presence of P. agglomerans 33.1 has no effect on these communities. In this study, different techniques were used to monitor 33.1::pNKGFP during sugarcane cross-colonization, and our results suggested that this plant growth promoter could be used with other crops. The interaction between sugarcane and P. agglomerans 33.1 has important benefits that promote the plant's growth and fitness.
Say-on-Pay in a Context of Concentrated Ownership. Evidence from Italy

We investigate say-on-pay (SOP) voting outcomes in a country (Italy) where ownership structure is concentrated by regressing shareholder dissent on a comprehensive set of independent variables (spanning from remuneration structure and disclosure to corporate governance), coming from the Italian securities and exchange commission (CONSOB) and the listed companies’ industry association (Assonime-Emittenti Titoli) databases. Our main results may be summarized as follows: a) shareholder dissent in Italy is smaller, but still comparable with that found in the UK and the US, where ownership is disperse; b) dissent is negatively correlated with the equity stake held by the largest shareholder; we interpret this evidence as consistent with better monitoring and lower agency costs; c) dissent is, at best, only weakly related with company performance; however, it is positively correlated with CEO remuneration and negatively correlated with the level of disclosure, especially on the variable components of CEO pay; d) dissent is affected by investor activism at the company level, as proxied by the turnout of institutional investors at the AGM and by minority directors (a peculiar feature of Italian CG regulation) sitting on the board of target companies; e) finally, dissent is higher where shareholders’ SOP vote is non-binding, suggesting that the non-binding nature of the SOP vote may not reduce its effectiveness.
Increased plasma concentrations of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors in sepsis syndrome: Correlation with plasma creatinine values

ObjectivesTumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important mediator in the complex pathophysiology of sepsis syndrome. Although a positive correlation with mortality rate has been demonstrated, TNF has not been found consistently in sepsis. Since prolonged increases in soluble TNF receptor concentrations were demonstrated after endotoxin and TNF administration, we investigated whether the measurement of TNF receptor concentrations could provide a better indicator of disease than plasma TNF and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations. DesignProspective analysis. SettingGeneral intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. PatientsTwenty-six patients with sepsis syndrome and proven bacteremia. Measurements and Main ResultsPlasma peak concentrations of the soluble 55-kilodalton molecular weight TNF receptor were significantly higher (p < .005) in nonsurvivors compared with survivors of sepsis syndrome, whereas the difference in peak concentrations of the soluble 75-kilodalton TNF receptor did not reach significance (p = .06). In contrast to TNF peak concentrations (p = .14), significantly higher (p < .05) IL-6 peak concentrations were measured in nonsurvivors. Besides the positive correlation between the soluble 55-kilodalton TNF receptor and the soluble 75-kilodalton TNF receptor (r2 = .68; p < .0001), peak concentrations of both soluble 55-kilodalton TNF receptor and 75-kilodalton TNF receptor correlated significantly with plasma creatinine values, an indicator of renal function (r2 = .60; p < .0001 and r2 .44; p < .001, respectively). Plasma creatinine concentrations were significantly higher in nonsurvivors (p < .001). ConclusionsIn the population studied, plasma-soluble TNF receptor concentrations correlated with outcome as well as with plasma creatinine concentrations. The data presented suggest that increased plasma-soluble TNF receptor concentrations in patients with sepsis syndrome are merely the result of renal failure complicating sepsis, and are similarly correlated with mortality rate. (Crit Care Med 1994; 22:803–809)
Perineural Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer

Introduction Perineural invasion is regarded as a factor associated with local recurrence of pancreatic cancer. Aim To examine perineural invasion of pancreatic cancer pathologically and clinically. Methodology In 24 cases of surgically resected pancreatic cancer, correlations among the degree of perineural invasion, differentiation, interstitial connective tissue, lymph node metastasis, and survival rate were examined. Consecutive 5-&mgr;m serial sections (n = 1072) were made in six cases that showed characteristic mode of perineural invasion. Results Perineural invasion was observed in 17 cases (70.8%; ne0–7; ne1–6; ne2–9; and ne3–2 cases). Perineural invasion was absent in three of five cases of papillary carcinoma, but was observed in 12 of 14 cases of moderately differentiated carcinoma. The survival rate for ne0 was better than that of the other groups, with the 3-year survival rate being 57.1%. Perineural cancer glands had developed discontinuously in two cases. Conclusions Perineural invasion is an important prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer, increasing as the cancer becomes undifferentiated. Even if there are no cancer cells at the margin of the pancreas at the time of surgery, the cancer cells may spread further to the noncancerous pancreas or retroperitoneum. Sufficient dissection of the neural plexus or intraoperative radiation may be required.