Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia Improves Outcome After Breast Surgery

ObjectiveThe authors' objective was to compare the outcomes, including the incidence of nausea and vomiting and the time until discharge to home, of patients undergoing general anesthesia and thoracic epidural anesthesia for oncologic breast procedures. Summary Background DataGeneral anesthesia is the traditional anesthetic technique used in oncologic breast procedures. In March 1993, the authors initiated the use of high thoracic epidural anesthesia for patients undergoing oncologic breast surgery and reconstructive procedures. MethodsA retrospective analysis was undertaken of 136 operations performed by one surgeon (T.J.E.) at Brigham and Women's Hospital. A chi square analysis was used to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing general anesthesia and thoracic epidural anesthesia. ResultsCompared with general anesthesia, thoracic epidural anesthesia was associated with a statistically significant earlier hospital discharge (p = 0.01), For quadrantectomy/axillary node dissection procedures, 20 of 39 patients (51 %) having thoracic epidural anesthesia were discharged on the operative day versus 7 of 32 patients (22%) in the general anesthesia group. Furthermore, 8 of 39 patients (20%) in the thoracic epidural group experienced nausea and/or vomiting during their hospital stay versus 18 of 32 patients (56%) in the general anesthesia group (p = 0.002). ConclusionThoracic epidural anesthesia is a safe technique not associated with neurologic or respiratory complications. The use of thoracic epidural anesthesia for breast surgery could improve patients' recovery and reduce the cost of these procedures.
New Culture Approaches for Yessotoxin Production from the Dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum

Fed‐batch and perfusion cultures were carried out in a traditional glass 2‐L bioreactor with the toxic dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum. The maximum cell concentration obtained was 2.3 × 105 cell·mL−1, which is almost 1 order of magnitude higher than the maximum previously referenced for this species. L1 medium was shown to be clearly deficient in nitrate and phosphate for this strain, and addition of highly concentrated aliquots of these nutrients allowed higher cell concentrations to be obtained. This species consumed high amounts of nitrate and phosphate, 2.1 × 10‐3 and 2.3 × 10‐4 μmol·h−1·cell−1, respectively. However, this consumption produced a very low number of cells compared to other classes of microalgae, indicating that this species is, like other dinoflagellates, a poor competitor in terms of utilization of inorganic nutrients. Higher production of toxins and pigments was strongly associated with cell number in the culture, with maximum values of 700 ng·mL−1 and 1321 μg·mL−1, respectively. Most yessotoxins remained within the cells and not in the cell‐free culture medium, and their production was not related to either the age of the culture or the cell growth phase.
Bayesian Estimation of Clean Speech Spectral Coefficients Given a Priori Knowledge of the Phase

While most short-time discrete Fourier transform-based single-channel speech enhancement algorithms only modify the noisy spectral amplitude, in recent years the interest in phase processing has increased in the field. The goal of this paper is twofold. First, we derive Bayesian probability density functions and estimators for the clean speech phase when different amounts of prior knowledge about the speech and noise amplitudes is given. Second, we derive a joint Bayesian estimator of the clean speech amplitudes and phases, when uncertain a priori knowledge on the phase is available. Instrumental measures predict that by incorporating uncertain prior information of the phase, the quality and intelligibility of processed speech can be improved both over traditional phase insensitive approaches, and approaches that treat prior information on the phase as deterministic.
Behavioral and psychological involvement of online video gamers : Building blocks or building walls to socialization?

Abstract Video gaming has often been associated with negative outcomes such as aggression and social isolation, particularly for those who spend significant amounts of time playing. However, advances in video game technology have enabled online, multi-player experiences which may facilitate social relationships. Recent literature suggests that meanings ascribed to video gaming may be more important in determining social outcomes than gaming behaviors alone. This study examined the relationship of both behavioral and psychological involvement in video gaming to perceived friend-based social support among a sample of multi-player, first-person shooter gamers. Results indicated that behavioral involvement (e.g., time spent playing, dollars spent) was unrelated to perceived social support. Enduring (i.e., psychological) involvement with video games had varied relationships with the measure of social support. Gamers who perceived video gaming to be a forum for social bonding were more likely to perceive higher levels of social support, while gamers who appeared to centralize their lifestyle around gaming were less likely to report positive social support levels.
Endometriosis also affects the decidua in contact with the fetal membranes during pregnancy.

STUDY QUESTION Are the fetal membranes of women affected with endometriosis similar to those from disease-free women? SUMMARY ANSWER Decidua of women with endometriosis is able to generate endometriotic-like lesions in contact with the fetal membranes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Eutopic endometrium of women affected with endometriosis presents compromised properties. Endometrium undergoes decidualisation to accept and to further control the conceptus development during pregnancy. Decidualized endometrium is in close contact with the chorionic membrane and forms the choriodecidual layer, a major maternal-fetal interface. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a laboratory case-control study involving diseased versus control samples. Eleven case samples and 11 control samples were collected from women in a tertiary care/research center between November 2011 and December 2013. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Participants were consecutive pregnant women affected with confirmed endometriosis and disease free women, who underwent Cesarean section before labor for obstetrical indication. The choriodecidual tissues were characterized using histology, immunohistochemistry, transcriptomic and whole genome CpG methylation analyses. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We demonstrate for the first time the presence of endometriotic-like lesions within the decidual side of the choriodecidua of the fetal membranes from women affected with severe endometriosis. Fetal membranes from women affected with endometriosis exhibited glandular components in the choriodecidual layer surrounded by enlarged decidualized cells disseminated along the entire membrane surface. Significant deregulation (variation of expression ≥2, P-value ≤0.05) was observed for 2773 genes known to be enriched in processes involved in glandular function, endocrine and nervous system, neoangiogenesis, and autoimmune disease. CpG methylation analysis revealed 5999 differentially methylated regions with a P-value ≤0.05. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION We studied women who delivered at term by Cesarean section before labor, following an uneventful pregnancy. Notwithstanding this, one cannot exclude that the presence of disseminated endometriotic lesions within the choriodecidual layer of the fetal membranes may disturb the anatomical integrity and/or the function of the membranes in some women with endometriosis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our results shed new light on the capability of the diseased decidua to develop lesions not only at ectopic autologous locations, but also on the semi-allogenous fetal membranes, a particularly immunotolerant environment.
Ack1 Mediated AKT/PKB Tyrosine 176 Phosphorylation Regulates Its Activation

The AKT/PKB kinase is a key signaling component of one of the most frequently activated pathways in cancer and is a major target of cancer drug development. Most studies have focused on its activation by Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) mediated Phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K) activation or loss of Phosphatase and Tensin homolog (PTEN). We have uncovered that growth factors binding to RTKs lead to activation of a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Ack1 (also known as ACK or TNK2), which directly phosphorylates AKT at an evolutionarily conserved tyrosine 176 in the kinase domain. Tyr176-phosphorylated AKT localizes to the plasma membrane and promotes Thr308/Ser473-phosphorylation leading to AKT activation. Mice expressing activated Ack1 specifically in the prostate exhibit AKT Tyr176-phosphorylation and develop murine prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPINs). Further, expression levels of Tyr176-phosphorylated-AKT and Tyr284-phosphorylated-Ack1 were positively correlated with the severity of disease progression, and inversely correlated with the survival of breast cancer patients. Thus, RTK/Ack1/AKT pathway provides a novel target for drug discovery.
Mutation Analysis of Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)

Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a key enzyme in the activation pathway of matrix prometalloproteinase-2 (pro-MMP-2). Both activation and autocatalytic maturation of pro-MMP-2 in trans suggest that MT1-MMP should exist as oligomers on the cell surface. To better understand the functions of MT1-MMP, we designed mutants with substitutions in the active site (E240A), the cytoplasmic tail (C574A), and the RRXR furin cleavage motifs (R89A, ARAA, and R89A/ARAA) of the enzyme. The mutants were expressed in MCF7 breast carcinoma cells that are deficient in both MMP-2 and MT1-MMP. Our results supported the existence of MT1-MMP oligomers and demonstrated that a disulfide bridge involving the Cys574 of the enzyme's cytoplasmic tail covalently links MT1-MMP monomers on the MCF7 cell surface. The presence of MT1-MMP oligomers also was shown for the enzyme naturally expressed in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. The single (R89A and ARAA) and double (R89A/ARAA) furin cleavage site mutants of MT1-MMP were processed in MCF7 cells into the mature proteinase capable of activating pro-MMP-2 and stimulating cell locomotion. This suggested that furin cleavage is not a prerequisite for the conversion of pro-MT1-MMP into the functionally active enzyme. A hydroxamate class inhibitor (GM6001, or Ilomastat) blocked activation of MT1-MMP in MCF7 cells but not in HT1080 cells. This implied that a matrixin-like proteinase sensitive to hydroxamates could be involved in a furin-independent, alternative pathway of MT1-MMP activation in breast carcinoma cells. The expression of the wild type MT1-MMP enhanced cell invasion and migration, indicating a direct involvement of this enzyme in cell locomotion. In contrast, both the C574A and E240A mutations render MT1-MMP inefficient in stimulating cell migration and invasion. In addition, the C574A mutation negatively affected cell adhesion, thereby indicating critical interactions involving the cytosolic part of MT1-MMP and the intracellular milieu.
A lack of radiation-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity prevents enhanced reactivation of herpes simplex virus and is linked to non-cancer proneness in xeroderma pigmentosum patients.

Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a DNA repair disorder, run a large risk of developing skin cancer in sun-exposed areas. Cancer proneness in these patients correlates with a mammalian SOS-like response, "enhanced reactivation (ER) of viruses. " Here, we report that radiation-induced activation of the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene, a putative proto-oncogene, is required for this response. Various diploid fibroblast strains derived from a non-cancer-prone subclass of XP patients, which lack the ER response, were irradiated with 2 J/m2 and assessed for gene induction. In these fibroblasts, an absence of induction of ODC by UV-C was observed at the levels of mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity. This lack of induction is quite specific because the genes for fos and collagenase were induced as they were in normal XP cells. The apparent linkage between non-cancer proneness and a lack of ER and ODC induction was confirmed in a fibroblast strain derived from a patient with another DNA repair disorder, trichothiodystrophy, which does not lead to cancer proneness: in these cells, no induction of the ER response nor of ODC occurs after UV-C irradiation. Repair deficiency, however, is not essential because the simultaneous lack of ODC and ER induction after 10 J/m2 UV-C was found in at least one repair-proficient fibroblast. Next, a specific inhibitor of ODC, difluoromethylornithine, at a dose of 10 mM, completely blocked the ER response in cultured normal skin fibroblasts, suggesting that the ODC enzyme is in fact essential for the ER response. Difluoromethylornithine, although it did not affect other processes such as DNA repair, leads to a block in the cell division cycle at the G1-S transition. Interestingly, other blockers of this transition, wortmannin (500 nM) and mimosine (100 mM), also decreased the ER response. Finally, the ER and ODC responses also seem to be linked after treatment with X-irradiation (3 Gy), suggesting that both are part of a general response to DNA damage, at least in human skin fibroblasts. Apart from the abnormal ER and ODC responses, fibroblasts from non-tumor-prone XP patients react in the same way to radiation as do fibroblasts from tumor-prone XP patients with respect to other parameters. Thus, the lack of ODC induction after radiation may help to protect XP patients against skin carcinogenesis.
Infometric and statistical diagnostics to provide artificially-intelligent support for spatial analysis: the example of interpolation

The wider uptake of GIS tools by many application areas outside GIScience means that many newer users of GIS will have high-level knowledge of the wider task, and low-level knowledge of specific system commands as given in reference manuals. However, these newer users may not have the intermediate knowledge that experts in GI science have gained from working with GI systems over several years. Such intermediate knowledge includes an understanding of the assumptions implied by the use of certain functions, and an appreciation of how to combine functions appropriately to create a workflow that suits both the data and overall goals of the geographical analysis task. Focusing on the common but non-trivial task of interpolating spatial data, this paper considers how to help users gain the necessary knowledge to complete their task and minimise the possibility of methodological error. We observe that both infometric (or cognitive) knowledge and statistical knowledge are usually required to find a solution that jointly and efficiently meets the requirements of a particular user and data set. Using the class of interpolation methods as an example, we outline an approach that combines knowledge from multiple sources and argue the case for designing a prototype ‘intelligent’ module that can sit between a user and a given GIS. The knowledge needed to assist with the task of interpolation is constructed as a network of rules, structured as a binary decision tree, that assist the user in selecting an appropriate method according to task-related knowledge (or ‘purpose’) and the characteristics of the data sets. The decision tree triggers exploratory diagnostics that are run on the data sets when a rule requires to be evaluated. Following evaluation of the rules, the user is advised which interpolation method might be and should not be considered for the data set. Any parameters required to interpolate the particular data set (e.g. a distance decay parameter for Inverse Distance Weighting) are also supplied through subsequent optimisation and model selection routines. The rationale of the decision process may be examined, so the ‘intelligent interpolator’ also acts as a learning tool.
Comparison between operative and nonoperative treatment methods in the management of comminuted fractures of the clavicle.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the outcome and satisfaction of closed treatment versus open reduction and internal fixation in comminuted clavicular fractures. METHODS Sixty patients with displaced clavicular fractures were randomized into operative (29 patients) and nonoperative (31 patients) groups. Three patients in the operative group did not accept the surgery, and seven patients in the nonoperative group did not complete the one-year follow-up. Outcomes were assessed using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, Constant shoulder score, specific questions regarding patients' final satisfaction, physical examination, measurement of the shortening of the clavicular length, and plain radiographs. RESULTS There was one nonunion in the operative group and one in the nonoperative group. The nonunion in operative group was the result of the only infection in this group. Four malunions were developed in the operative group and nineteen malunions in the nonoperative treatment, (p<0.001). Three patients in the operative group were completely dissatisfied with their treatment. Eighteen patients in the nonoperative group were partially satisfied. Pain was the main reason for dissatisfaction in this group. The mean shortening of the clavicle was 26.5 mm in the nonoperative group and 4.0 mm in the operative group. The mean DASH score for the operative and nonoperative groups were 8.6 and 21.3, respectively (p<0.001); and the Constant shoulder scores were 89.8 and 78.8 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Open reduction and internal fixation of comminuted fractures of the clavicle using a reconstruction plate is an effective treatment modality. Despite the variety of complications, this method has a higher satisfaction rate than conservative treatment.
ZOOMM: a parallel web browser engine for multicore mobile devices

We explore the challenges in expressing and managing concurrency in browsers on mobile devices. Browsers are complex applications that implement multiple standards, need to support legacy behavior, and are highly dynamic and interactive. We present ZOOMM, a highly concurrent web browser engine prototype and show how concurrency is effectively exploited at different levels: speed up computation performance, preload network resources, and preprocess resources outside the critical path of page loading. On a dual-core Android mobile device we demonstrate that ZOOMM is two times faster than the native WebKit based browser when loading the set of pages defined in the Vellamo benchmark.
Hennessy-Milner Classes and Process Algebra

This paper studies Hennessy-Milner classes, classes of Kripke models where modal-logical equivalence coincides with bisimulation. Concepts associated with these classes in the literature (Goldblatt [6], Visser [8])are studied and compared and the structure of the collection of maximal Hennessy-Milner classes is investigated (how many are there, what is their intersection? ). The insights into these classes are applied to process algebra. This results in a Hennessy-Milner process algebra for a non-trivial process language, whose standard graph-semantics is not Hennessy-Milner.
The FlgS/FlgR Two-component Signal Transduction System Regulates the fla Regulon in Campylobacter jejuni*

The human pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is a highly motile organism that carries a flagellum on each pole. The flagellar motility is regarded as an important trait in C. jejuni colonization of the intestinal tract, however, the knowledge of the regulation of this important colonization factor is rudimentary. We demonstrate by phosphorylation assays that the sensor FlgS and the response regulator FlgR form a two-component system that is on the top of the Campylobacter flagellum hierarchy. Phosphorylated FlgR is needed to activate RpoN-dependent genes of which the products form the hook-basal body filament complex. By real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR we identified that FlgS, FlgR, RpoN, and FliA belong to the early flagellar genes and are regulated by σ70. FliD and the putative anti-σ-factor FlgM are regulated by a σ54- and σ28-dependent promoters. Activation of the fla regulon is growth phase-dependent, a 100-fold rpoN mRNA reduction is seen in the early stationary phase compared with the early logarithmic phase. Whereas flaB transcription decreases, flaA transcription increases in early stationary phase. Our data show that the C. jejuni flagellar hierarchy largely differs from that of other bacteria. Phenotypical analysis revealed that unflagellated C. jejuni mutants grow three times faster in broth medium compared with wild-type bacteria. In vivo the C. jejuni flagella are needed to pass the gastrointestinal tract of chickens, but not to colonize the ceaca of the chicken.
Ease-of-use preference for the ELLIPTA® dry powder inhaler over a commonly used single-dose capsule dry powder inhaler by inhalation device-naïve Japanese volunteers aged 40 years or older

Background In patients receiving inhaled medication, dissatisfaction with and difficulty in using the inhaler can affect treatment adherence. The incidence of handling errors is typically higher in the elderly than in younger people. The aim of the study was to assess inhaler preference for and handling errors with the ELLIPTA® dry powder inhaler (DPI), (GSK), compared with the established BREEZHALER™, a single-dose capsule DPI (Novartis), in inhalation device-naïve Japanese volunteers aged ≥40 years. Methods In this open-label, nondrug interventional, crossover DPI preference study comparing the ELLIPTA DPI and BREEZHALER, 150 subjects were randomized to handle the ELLIPTA or BREEZHALER DPIs until the point of inhalation, without receiving verbal or demonstrative instruction (first attempt). Subjects then crossed over to the other inhaler. Preference was assessed using a self-completed questionnaire. Inhaler handling was assessed by a trained assessor using a checklist. Subjects did not inhale any medication in the study, so efficacy and safety were not measured. Results The ELLIPTA DPI was preferred to the BREEZHALER by 89% of subjects (odds ratio [OR] 70.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 33.69–146.01; P-value not applicable for this inhaler) for ease of use, by 63% of subjects (OR 2.98, CI 1.87–4.77; P<0.0001) for ease of determining the number of doses remaining in the inhaler, by 91% for number of steps required, and by 93% for time needed for handling the inhaler. The BREEZHALER was preferred to the ELLIPTA DPI for comfort of the mouthpiece by 64% of subjects (OR 3.16, CI 1.97–5.06; P<0.0001). The incidence of handling errors (first attempt) was 11% with ELLIPTA and 68% with BREEZHALER; differences in incidence were generally similar when analyzed by age (< or ≥65 years) or sex. Conclusion These data, obtained in an inhalation device-naïve population, suggest that the ELLIPTA DPI is preferred to an established alternative based on its ease-of-use features and is associated with fewer handling errors.
Approximate hierarchies of linear control systems

Recently, a hierarchical control approach based on the notion of approximate simulation relations has been introduced. The proposed hierarchical control architecture consists of a precise model (the concrete system) of the plant to be controlled and of a rough model (the abstract system) of the plant that is used for control synthesis. In this paper, we consider the problem of computing approximate simulation relations for linear control systems. For stabilizable systems, we give an effective characterization of simulation functions (i.e. functions whose level sets define approximate simulation relations) and compute the associated interfaces which allow the refinement of the control inputs of the abstract system into control inputs of the concrete system. Then, we propose a procedure for the computation of abstractions of linear control systems that can be used in our hierachical control framework. Finally, as an example of application, we use our approach to synthesize hierarchical controllers of a class of high-order systems.