Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Problems of Long Survival Following Surgery in Patients with NonBNonC-HCC: Comparison with HBV and HCV Related-HCC

Background: The number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the absence of both hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAb) (NBNC-HCC) has been rapidly increasing in Japan. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and pathological characteristics between patients with the NBNC-HCC, those with HBsAg positive HCC (B-related HCC) and HCVAb positive HCC (C-related HCC). A better understanding will facilitate the development of postoperative strategies to better manage patients with NBNC-HCC. Methods: Consecutive 219 patients with primary HCC: (B-related, n=35; C-related, n = 104; NBNC, n = 80) were treated by hepatic resection or ablation. Clinicopathological characteristics including postoperative course were retrospectively compared between the three groups. Results: When comparing within stage I and II, the NBNC-HCC group had improved recurrence free survival (RFS) compared to the C-related HCC (p = 0.013) but had not been good overall survival (OS). Moreover, the NBNC-HCC group showed higher rate of death due to other cancers and cardiovascular disease (p = 0.011) compared to the C-related HCC. Multivariate analysis revealed that the only prognostic factor for RFS in the NBNC-HCC group was high serum total bilirubin. Conclusions: In the patients with the NBNC-HCC, elevated serum bilirubin could predict poor RFS after surgery. Furthermore, patients must be carefully followed-up not only for HCC but also for the occurrence of other critical diseases including multiple other cancers.
Child and Family Predictors of Academic Functioning in Homeless Children.

Differential predictors of the educational achievement status of homeless children were studied using multivariate statistical modeling. The effects of more general influences such as age, gender, and maternal educational level were studied before the influence of intellectual, behavioral, and emotional factors was examined. Participants were families of 127 homeless children receiving services in a comprehensive health care program for homeless children in Baltimore (Maryland). Results of the study provide support for age, gender, and maternal educational level as important predictors of academic achievement in school-aged homeless children and adolescents. Overall cognitive functioning, however, was the most salient predictor of academic performance. This finding suggests that the depressed cognitive functioning found in homeless and disadvantaged children is an important focus for remedial efforts. Emotional distress and behavioral problems were significant contributors to academic achievement levels beyond background and cognitive factors, and should also be targets for efforts to improve academic achievement and learning potential. Characteristics of homelessness such as residential instability and the level of major life stressors did not account for significant proportions of the variance in academic achievement. (Contains five references.) (SLD) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************
A robust multi-view freehand three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system using volumetric registration

In this paper, we describe a freehand, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging system. The system uses an electromagnetic position and orientation measurement device to capture two-dimensional ultrasound images at arbitrary planar orientations in space. For robust performance, we use a novel electromagnetic interference detection algorithm that can be used to estimate the probability density function of position and orientation measurement errors. Another important contribution of the proposed system is its ability to reconstruct from multiple standard views. The multi-view reconstruction procedure results in significant reduction in reconstruction error. The system uses object-based 3D volume registration, allowing for arbitrary rigid object movements in inter-view acquisition. The proposed system has been validated on simulated data and a physical, 3D ultrasound calibration phantom. Quantitative experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the 3D registration system, and a significant reduction in the mean-squared error via the use of the proposed multi-view reconstruction method.
The stability and breakup of nations: a quantitative analysis

This paper quantitatively analyzes the stability and breakup of nations. The tradeoff between increasing returns in the provision of public goods and the costs of greater cultural heterogeneity mediates agents’ preferences over different geographical configurations, thus determining the likelihood of secessions and unions. After calibrating the model to Europe, we identify the regions prone to secession and the countries most likely to merge. We then estimate the implied monetary gains from EU membership. As a test of the theory, we show that the model can account for the breakup of Yugoslavia and the dynamics of its disintegration. We find that economic differences between the Yugoslav republics determined the order of disintegration, but cultural differences, though small, were key to the country’s instability. The paper also provides empirical support for the use of genetic distances as a proxy for cultural heterogeneity.
Characterization of discriminant human brain antigenic targets in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus using an immunoproteomic approach.

OBJECTIVE To characterize discriminant human brain antigenic targets in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), using a standardized immunoproteomic approach. METHODS Self-IgG reactivity against normal and injured human brain tissues was studied by Western blotting of sera from 169 subjects, 16 patients with NPSLE, 12 patients with SLE without neuropsychiatric manifestations (non-NPSLE), 32 patients with Sjögren's syndrome with or without central nervous involvement, 82 patients with multiple sclerosis, and 27 healthy subjects. A proteomic approach was then applied to characterize discriminant antigens identified after comparisons of all patterns. RESULTS The serum self-IgG reactivity patterns against human brain tissue differed significantly between patients with NPSLE and the control groups. Four normal brain antigenic bands were specifically or preferentially recognized by sera from NPSLE patients (p240, p90, p77, and p24). Protein band p240 was characterized as microtubule-associated protein 2B (MAP-2B), p77 as Hsp70-71, and p24 as triosephosphate isomerase. Protein band p90 was not characterized. In contrast, 1 other protein band (p56, characterized as septin 7) was never recognized by sera from NPSLE patients but was recognized by a majority of sera from non-NPSLE patients. CONCLUSION Our findings show that the immunoproteomic approach is a reliable method for assessing serum self-IgG reactivities against human brain tissue in NPSLE. Our characterization of some of the identified discriminant antigens, such as MAP-2B, triosephosphate isomerase, and septin 7, suggests that the stability of neuronal microtubules might be involved in the pathophysiology of NPSLE.
A CalDAG-GEFI/Rap1/B-Raf Cassette Couples M1Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors to the Activation of ERK1/2*

In this study we examine signaling pathways linking the M1 subtype of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M1 mAChR) to activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and 2 in neuronal PC12D cells. We first show that activation of ERK1/2 by the M1 mAChR agonist carbachol takes place primarily via a Ras-independent pathway that depends largely upon Rap1, another small GTP-binding protein in the Ras family. Rap1 in turn activates B-Raf, an upstream activator of ERK1/2. Consistent with these results, carbachol was found to activate Rap1 more potently than Ras. Similar to other small GTP-binding proteins, activation of Rap1 requires a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) to promote its conversion from the GDP- to GTP-bound form. Using specific antibodies, we show that a recently identified Rap1 GEF,calcium- anddiacylglycerol-regulatedguanine nucleotide exchange factorI (CalDAG-GEFI), is expressed in PC12D cells and that carbachol stimulates the formation of a complex containing CalDAG-GEFI, Rap1, and activated B-Raf. Finally, we show that expression of CalDAG-GEFI antisense RNA largely blocks carbachol-stimulated activation of hemagglutinin (HA)1-tagged B-Raf and formation of the CalDAG-GEFI/Rap1/HA1-tagged B-Raf complex. Together, these data define a novel signaling pathway for M1 mAChR, where increases in Ca2+ and diacylglycerol stimulate the sequential activation of CalDAG-GEFI, Rap1, and B-Raf, resulting in the activation of MEK and ERK1/2.
RELACIONES ENTRE LA INTELIGENCIA EMOCIONAL Y EL COCIENTE INTELECTUAL CON EL RENDIMIENTO ACADÉMICO EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar las relaciones existentes entre diferentes pruebas de inteligencia emocional con una medida tradicional de la inteligencia, y de ambas variables con el rendimiento academico en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de distintas titulaciones. Los participantes fueron 250 estudiantes universitarios matriculados en diferentes estudios de tipo tecnico y humanistico, de los cuales aproximadamente la mitad eran varones y la otra mitad mujeres. Se aplicaron dos pruebas de inteligencia emocional, el TMMS-24 y la prueba de Schutte et al. (1998), junto con una prueba de inteligencia general, el test de factor g de Cattell & Cattell, nivel 3, tomandose distintos indicadores globales de rendimiento. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto la existencia de correlaciones, entre moderadas y altas, todas ellas significativas, entre los diferentes aspectos de la inteligencia emocional evaluados. Por el contrario, se observaron correlaciones practicamente nulas, entre el cociente intelectual que define la inteligencia psicometrica tradicional y los diferentes aspectos de la inteligencia emocional evaluados en el estudio. Ademas, se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre la inteligencia emocional y algunos indicadores del rendimiento academico, incluso cuando se mantuvo constante el efecto del CI. Estos resultados parecen indicar la independencia de ambos tipos de inteligencia, en linea con los resultados de otras investigaciones, asi como un efecto moderado, aunque significativo de la inteligencia emocional sobre el rendimiento academico.
Help-Seeking for Psychiatric Disorders

Objective: To examine demographic and clinical determinants of seeking help for mental or emotional problems. To determine the proportion of those people with a disorder who sought help. To determine what categories of professionals are sought by those who get care. Method: A 2-stage random sample of 3956 adult residents of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada was interviewed by trained lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) (73% completion rate). An average of 2.8 years later, a systematic random sample of 1964 subjects was reinterviewed (an 86% completion rate) using the DIS and a health care utilization questionnaire. After adjusting for age and sex, the reinterview sample was representative of those with and without a diagnosis at the first interview. Results: Of the 1964 subjects, 570 (31%) met criteria for a DIS/DSM-III diagnosis in the year preceding the interview (one-year prevalence rate). These diagnoses included generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For those with a diagnosis, sex, age, marital status, education, employment, and income were examined as determinants of help-seeking. Only sex (female) and age (under 45) were significant predictors. Comorbidity was highly significant: the help-seeking rate for those with one diagnosis was 20.3%; for those with more than one diagnosis, the rate was 42.8% (OR = 2.94, χ2 = 31.4, df = 1, P < 0.001). Just over 28% of those with a diagnosis saw any health care professional, and 7.7% of those without a diagnosis sought help for a mental or emotional problem. A specific diagnosis made a difference: 46.7% of those with a major depressive episode sought help, but only 16.0% of those with alcohol abuse or dependence sought care. Conclusion: Major determinants of help-seeking are sex (female), age (under 45), severity of the illness, and comorbidity. A surprisingly high proportion of those with a disorder (72%) do not seek help, and over one-third of those seeking help do not have a current DIS/DSM-III disorder.
Power Summation Method for Loss Allocation in Radial Distribution Networks With DG

The paper presents a new method for loss allocation in radial distribution networks (DN) with dispersed generation (DG). The method is based on the power summation algorithm, the branch-oriented approach in particular, and establishes direct relationship between losses in each branch of the network and injected active and reactive power in the nodes. Active and reactive power at receiving node of each branch of the network is decomposed as a sum of all node injected powers, including branch losses in the branches fed by the particular branch. Allocation of crossed terms of active and reactive power is calculated using quadratic relation between power flows and losses. DG active and reactive power injections in the summation process are treated as negative loads, while active and reactive loads are considered positive. Results of the application of the method on 32-node test system are presented, discussed, and compared with other published methods.
Mucocutaneous and Demographic Features of Systemic Sclerosis: A Profile of 46 Patients From Eastern India

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem connective tissue disorder of uncertain etiology. The clinical picture is frequently dominated by prominent cutaneous manifestations that have diagnostic and prognostic significance. The objective of the present study was to find out the demographic profile and the relative frequencies and characteristics of different mucocutaneous features of SSc in a group of patients from eastern India. In addition, we sought to compare the frequency and pattern of the findings in the limited versus the diffuse variety of the disease. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, clinical observational study. Consecutive patients of SSc attending the dermatology O.P.D. of a tertiary care hospital of eastern India over 3 years were enrolled to the present study. Results: A total of 46 patients (41 females and 5 males; mean age 29.6±12.3 years) of SSc were evaluated. Among mucocutaneous manifestations Raynaud's phenomenon was present in 39 (84.8%) patients. Other cutaneous features included dyspigmentation (40, 86.9%), sclerodactyly (38, 82.6%), inability to open the mouth (38,82.6%), mat-like telangiectasia (11,23.1%), fingertip ulceration and scarring (29,63%), cutaneous calcinosis (1,2.2%), digital gangrene in (2,4.3%), generalized pruritus (4,8.7%), cutaneous small vessel vasculitis (2,4.3%), chronic urticaria (2,4.3%), flexion contractures of the fingers (13,28.3%), and amputation of the digits (3,6.5%). Mucosal changes were observed in 10 (21.7%) patients and nail changes were seen in 13 (28.2%) patients. Diffuse cutaneous SSc was noted in 27 (58.7%) patients and limited cutaneous SSc was seen in the remainder. Thirty-six (78.2%) patients tested positive for ANA. Conclusion: The present study provides a snapshot of the spectrum of the demographic and mucocutaneous manifestations of SSc in the eastern Indian population. We have not observed any statistically significant differences between dcSSc and lcSSc in terms of mucocutaneous manifestations in the studied population.
Hamiltonian cycles in 2-connected claw-free-graphs

M. Matthews and D. Sumner have proved that of G is a 2-connected claw-free graph of order n such that δ ≧ (n − 2)/3, then G is hamiltonian. We prove that the bound for the minimum degree δ can be reduced to n/4 under the additional condition that G is not in F, where F is the set of all graphs defined as follows: any graph H in F can be decomposed into three vertex disjoint subgraphs H1, H2, H3 such that , where ui, vi ϵ V(Hi), ujvj ϵ V(Hj) 1 ϵ i ≦ j ≦ 3. Examples are given to show that the bound n/4 is sharp. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Impact of Reduced Kidney Function on Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure

Background: Decreased renal function has been consistently associated with increased mortality among patients with systolic heart failure. The relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and other high-risk features including reduced cardiorespiratory fitness has not been previously reported in this patient population. Methods: The HF-ACTION trial was a prospective, randomized trial of exercise therapy versus usual care in patients with systolic heart failure. Patients with class 2–4 heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤35% were recruited. Serum creatinine was measured up to 1 year prior to entry. The 4-variable modified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation was used to calculate eGFR. Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) was directly measured using gas exchange analysis during progressive exercise testing to volitional fatigue or adverse signs/symptoms. Results: Of 2,091 subjects (mean age 59 ± 13 years, with serum creatinine available at baseline), 72% were men, and 61, 33, and 5% were Caucasians, African Americans, and others, respectively. Older age, diabetes, and hypertension were all more frequent with declining eGFR. The Pearson correlation between eGFR and peak VO2 was 0.22 (p < 0.0001). Age was negatively correlated with both eGFR (r = –0.44, p < 0.0001) and peak VO2 (r = –0.27, p < 0.0001). The peak VO2 tended to decline across decreasing levels of eGFR. Individuals with an eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 had, on average, 2.1 high-risk features including peak VO2 <14 ml/kg/min, age >75 years, diabetes, and functional class 3–4 symptoms. Conversely, those with an eGFR >90 ml/min/1.73 m2 had relatively few (1.0) high-risk characteristics. Conclusions: Reduced renal filtration is associated with impaired cardiorespiratory fitness and a clustering of high-risk features in systolic heart failure patients which portend a more complicated course and higher all-cause mortality.
Diabetes: foot ulcers and amputations.

INTRODUCTION Diabetic foot ulceration is full-thickness penetration of the dermis of the foot in a person with diabetes. Severity is classified using the Wagner system, which grades it from 1 to 5. The annual incidence of ulcers among people with diabetes is 2.5-10.7% in resource-rich countries, and the annual incidence of amputation for any reason is 0.25-1.8%. METHODS AND OUTCOMES We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of interventions to prevent foot ulcers and amputations in people with diabetes? What are the effects of treatments in people with diabetes with foot ulceration? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to November 2007 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). RESULTS We found 41 systematic reviews and RCTs that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions. CONCLUSIONS In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: debridement, human cultured dermis, human skin equivalent, patient education, pressure off-loading with felted foam or pressure-relief half-shoe, pressure off-loading with total-contact or non-removable casts, screening and referral to foot care clinics, systemic hyperbaric oxygen for non-infected ulcers, systemic hyperbaric oxygen in infected ulcers, therapeutic footwear, topical growth factors, and wound dressings.
Co-Innovation: customer motives for participation in co-creation processes via social media platforms

The evolvement of the Internet and external trends such as globalization or increased competition have changed the innovation process of organizations that was traditionally executed inside the organization. The concept of co-innovation involving the customer’s knowledge, creativity and judgment to generate value is considered to be an upcoming trend for firms. An increasing number of organizations are engaging customers in their new product development activities via social media platforms. In existing literature, the concept of co-innovation in a B2B context in terms of main benefits for the organizations is extensively discussed. However, another closely related issue has received far less attention: what are the factors that motivate customers to participate in co-creation activities? This research aims to identify customers’ motives to co-create. Based on the literature, a research model has been developed that incorporates four motivations. These motivations are based on the uses & gratification theory and include learning, social integrative, personal integrative and hedonic benefits. An empirical study in the form of a survey tested each factor’s influence on the attitude towards co-creation. The results confirm the significance of the four benefits as main motivators and revealed two clusters of co-creators, ‘motivated co-creators’ and ‘non-motivated co-creators’. For ‘motivated co-creators’, learning and hedonic benefits were identified to have the most significant influence on a customer’s attitude towards co-creation.