Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Outcomes of Three Reconstruction Methods after Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the short-term surgical and long-term functional outcomes of Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods We retrospectively collected data from 697 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for operable gastric cancer between January 2009 and December 2012. The patients were classified into three groups according to the reconstruction methods: Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y. The parameters evaluated included patient and tumor characteristics, operative details, and postoperative complications classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Endoscopic findings of the remnant stomach were evaluated according to the residue, gastritis, bile (RGB) classification and the Los Angeles classification 1 year postoperatively. Results Billroth I, Billroth II, and Roux-en-Y were performed in 165 (23.7%), 371 (53.2%), and 161 patients (23.1%), respectively. Operation time was significantly shorter (173.4±44.7 minute, P<0.001) as was time to first flatus (2.8±0.8 days, P=0.009), time to first soft diet was significantly faster (4.3±1.0 days, P<0.001), and postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter (7.7±4.0 days, P=0.004) in Billroth I in comparison to the other methods. Postoperative complications higher than Clavien-Dindo grade III occurred in 61 patients (8.8%) with no statistically significant differences between groups (P=0.797). Endoscopic findings confirmed that gastric residue, gastritis, bile reflux, and reflux esophagitis were significantly lower in Roux-en-Y (P<0.001) patients. Conclusions Roux-en-Y reconstruction after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for middle-third gastric cancer is beneficial in terms of long-term functional outcome, whereas Billroth I reconstruction for distal-third gastric cancer has a superior short-term surgical outcome and postoperative weight change.
Flooding Based DoS Attack Feature Selection Using Remove Correlated Attributes Algorithm

Flooding based DoS attack represents one of most danger attacks in computer networks. Maximizing the effectiveness of flooding based DoS Attack detection accuracy is the main concerns of many researchers. So, many of them are focusing on increasing the detection effectiveness by features reducing. However, limited research studies have concentrated on investigation the correlation between features together and its impact on DoS attack classification accuracy. Therefore and in this paper, remove correlated attributes algorithm has been proposed to select the most effective features on used in network traffic classification. Since that removing related features in a classification model minimizes the detection model error rate, It is a high likelihood that proposed model implementation increase flooding attack classification accuracy rate. In this research study, the proposed model experimental methodology and validation method has been highlighted.
Impact of regularization on spectral clustering

Summary form only given. Clustering in networks/graphs is an important problem with applications in the analysis of gene-gene interactions, social networks, text mining, to name a few. Spectral clustering is one of the more popular techniques for such purposes, chiefly due to its computational advantage and generality of application. The algorithm's generality arises from the fact that it is not tied to any modeling assumptions on the data, but is rooted in intuitive measures of community structure such as sparsest cut based measures (Hagen and Kahng (1992), Shi and Malik (2000), Ng. et. al (2002)). Here, we attempt to understand regularized form of spectral clustering. Our motivation for this work was empirical results in Amini et. al (2013) that showed that the performance of spectral clustering can greatly be improved via regularization. Here regularization entails adding a constant matrix to the adjacency matrix and calculating the corresponding Laplacian matrix. The value of the constant is called the regularization parameter. Our analysis is carried out under the stochastic block model (SBM) framework. Under the (SBM) (and its extensions). Previous results on spectral clustering (McSherry (2001), Dasgupta et. al. (2004), Rohe et. al (2011)) also assumed the SBM and relied on the minimum degree of the graph being sufficiently large to prove its good performance. By analyzing the spectrum of the Laplacian of an SBM as a function of the regularization parameter, we provide bounds for the perturbation of the regularized eigenvectors, which, in some situations, does not depend on the minimum degree. For example, in the two block SBM, our bounds depend inversely on the maximum degree, as opposed to the minimum degree. More importantly, we show the usefulness of regularization in the important practical situation where not all nodes can be clustered accurately. In such situations, in the absence of regularization, the top eigenvectors need not discriminate between the nodes which do belong to well-defined clusters. With a proper choice of regularization parameter, we demonstrate that top eigenvectors indeed discriminate between the well-defined clusters. A crucial ingredient in the above is the analysis of the spectrum of the Laplacian as a function of the regularization parameter. Assuming that there are K clusters, an adequate gap between the top K eigenvalues and the remaining eigenvalues, ensures that these clusters can be estimated well. Such a gap is commonly referred to as the eigen gap. In the situation considered in above paragraph, an adequate eigen gap may not exist for the unregularized Laplacian. We show that regularization works by creating a gap, allowing us to recover the clusters. As an important application of our bounds, we propose a data-driven technique DK-est (standing for estimated Davis-Kahn bounds) for choosing the regularization parameter. DK-est is shown to perform very well for simulated and real data sets.
Chemical Durability and Mechanical Properties of Alkali-proof Basalt Fiber and its Reinforced Epoxy Composites

The chemical durability and mechanical properties of a kind of alkali-proof basalt fiber BF-CMD-01 and its reinforced F46 epoxy resin matrix composites are presented. The basalt fiber was boiled in distilled water, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid, respectively. Then the mass loss and strength change of the fibers were studied showing that the alkali resistance of the basalt fiber is better than acid resistance. The flexural properties and surface morphologies of the composites were investigated after being immersed in 8 kinds of chemical mediums for 15, 30 and 90 days. Due to the difference of basalt fiber resistance in two kinds of mediums, the composites corrosion behaviors differ greatly in acid and alkaline reactions. In acid mediums, the flexural strength and flexural modulus change in the same way. In alkaline mediums, the flexural modulus keeps close to the original value while the flexural strength declines gradually. Additionally, the mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) and S-2 glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) have been tested, and analyzed contrastively. The results show that the interface formed between basalt fiber and epoxy resin is better than that of glass fiber and epoxy resin.
Evaluation of undiagnosed solitary lung nodules according to the probability of malignancy in the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) evidence-based clinical practice guidelines

Abstract Background. This study retrospectively investigated the clinical significance of undiagnosed solitary lung nodules removed by surgical resection. Patients and methods. We retrospectively collected data on the age, smoking, cancer history, nodule size, location and spiculation of 241 patients who had nodules measuring 7 mm to 30 mm and a final diagnosis established by histopathology. We compared the final diagnosis of each patient with the probability of malignancy (POM) which was proposed by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines. Results. Of the 241 patients, 203 patients were diagnosed to have a malignant lung tumor, while 38 patients were diagnosed with benign disease. There were significant differences in the patients with malignant and benign disease in terms of their age, smoking history, nodule size and spiculation. The mean value and the standard deviation of the POM in patients with malignant tumors were 51.7 + 26.1%, and that of patients with benign lesions was 34.6 + 26.7%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 0.67. The best cut-off value provided from the ROC curve was 22.6. When the cut-off value was set at 22.6, the sensitivity was 83%, specificity 52%, positive predictive value 90%, negative predictive value 36% and accuracy 77%, respectively. Conclusions. The clinical prediction model proposed in the ACCP guidelines showed unsatisfactory results in terms of the differential diagnosis between malignant disease and benign disease of solitary lung nodules in our study, because the specificity, negative predictive value and AUC were relatively low.
Foundations of Nominal Techniques: Logic and Semantics of Variables in Abstract Syntax

Abstract We are used to the idea that computers operate on numbers, yet another kind of data is equally important: the syntax of formal languages, with variables, binding, and alpha-equivalence. The original application of nominal techniques, and the one with greatest prominence in this paper, is to reasoning on formal syntax with variables and binding. Variables can be modelled in many ways: for instance as numbers (since we usually take countably many of them); as links (since they may ‘point’ to a binding site in the term, where they are bound); or as functions (since they often, though not always, represent ‘an unknown’). None of these models is perfect. In every case for the models above, problems arise when trying to use them as a basis for a fully formal mechanical treatment of formal language. The problems are practical—but their underlying cause may be mathematical. The issue is not whether formal syntax exists, since clearly it does, so much as what kind of mathematical structure it is. To illustrate this point by a parody, logical derivations can be modelled using a Gödel encoding (i.e., injected into the natural numbers). It would be false to conclude from this that proof-theory is a branch of number theory and can be understood in terms of, say, Peano's axioms. Similarly, as it turns out, it is false to conclude from the fact that variables can be encoded e.g., as numbers, that the theory of syntax-with-binding can be understood in terms of the theory of syntax-without-binding, plus the theory of numbers (or, taking this to a logical extreme, purely in terms of the theory of numbers). It cannot; something else is going on. What that something else is, has not yet been fully understood. In nominal techniques, variables are an instance of names, and names are data. We model names using urelemente with properties that, pleasingly enough, turn out to have been investigated by Fraenkel and Mostowski in the first half of the 20th century for a completely different purpose than modelling formal language. What makes this model really interesting is that it gives names distinctive properties which can be related to useful logic and programming principles for formal syntax. Since the initial publications, advances in the mathematics and presentation have been introduced piecemeal in the literature. This paper provides in a single accessible document an updated development of the foundations of nominal techniques. This gives the reader easy access to updated results and new proofs which they would otherwise have to search across two or more papers to find, and full proofs that in other publications may have been elided. We also include some new material not appearing elsewhere.
Characteristics and Motives of Volunteers in Wildlife Rehabilitation

Although wildlife rehabilitation relies heavily on volunteers, the characteristics and motivations of such volunteer workers have not been studied. 80 volunteers from three San Francisco Bay Area Rehabilitation Centers, were interviewed about their preferences in working with animals and people, their methods of dealing with grief and failure over animals' deaths, and the onset of their interest in and motives for working in a difficult field. A significant number had owned pets in childhood as well as currently. 40% preferred working only with animals to working with both animals and people. 34% stayed in rehabilitation because they loved and wanted to help animals; 23% enjoyed hands-on nurturing; and the remainder primarily felt they were giving back to Nature a part of what people have taken from it.
Cognitive functioning in midlife and old age: combined effects of psychosocial and behavioral factors.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the joint protective contribution of psychosocial and behavioral factors to cognitive functioning and 10-year change, beyond the influence of sociodemographic factors, physical risk factors, health status, and engagement in cognitive activities. METHODS Participants were from the National Study of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), ages 32-84 at Time 2, and a subsample, the Boston Longitudinal Study (BOLOS), ages 34-84 at Time 2. We computed a composite protective measure including control beliefs, quality of social support, and physical exercise variables at two occasions, 9-10 years apart. Cognition was assessed at Time 2 in MIDUS and at both occasions in BOLOS. Multiple regressions were used for analysis. RESULTS In MIDUS, the more of the protective factors, the better the cognitive performance, and the protective composite moderated education differences in memory. In BOLOS, the Time 1 composite predicted change in reasoning abilities, with a greater protective effect for those with lower education. DISCUSSION A combination of modifiable psychosocial and behavioral factors has both concurrent and long-term protective effects on cognition in adulthood. The results are promising in that educational disparities in memory and reasoning were reduced, suggesting possible interventions to protect against cognitive declines.
Salivary duct strictures: nature and incidence in benign salivary obstruction.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and character of salivary duct strictures by carrying out a 10 year retrospective review. Salivary gland obstruction is most commonly caused either by salivary calculi or duct strictures. These strictures or stenoses develop secondarily to inflammation in the duct wall and may be single or multiple. METHODS All reports of sialographic examinations performed on patients referred to the Dental Radiology Department in a London Dental Hospital between 1995 and 2004 were reviewed and those patients with symptoms of salivary obstruction identified. In total, 1362 sialograms using the conventional hand injection technique with water-soluble contrast media were performed on 1349 patients with obstructive symptoms during the 10-year period. RESULTS Of the 1362 sialograms performed, the reports revealed that 877 (64.4%) showed evidence of benign intraductal obstruction. The remaining 485 (35.6%) were normal. 642 of the cases (73.2%) revealing obstruction were reported to be due to salivary calculi, 198 due to duct strictures (22.6%) and the remaining 37 (4.2%) were considered to be due to mucous plugs. Detailed analysis of the patients with strictures showed they were more common in women with a mean age of 52 years. Single strictures were evident in 66.7% of cases while 33.3% showed multiple stenoses. Strictures were more common in the parotid duct (75.3%). 7% of patients presented with bilateral stenoses. CONCLUSION This is the largest review of duct strictures to be reported. It has shown that ductal stricture formation accounts for almost 25% of cases of benign salivary obstruction and appears to have been an under-recognized condition. Strictures more commonly affect parotid ducts and are typically found in the fourth, fifth or sixth decades, particularly in women.
Technological diffusion, welfare and growth: technological succession in the presence of network externalities

The paper examines the conditions under which technological successions can occur in the presence ofnetwork externalities. A multi-agent model is developed in which the product designs offered by firmsco-evolve with consumer preferences. Firms compete though product innovation. The modelincorporates a modified genetic algorithm (GA) in which imitation is conducted via a process ofselective transfer (a one-way crossover) and internal R&D is conducted via selective mutation.Following an initial period in which old technology firms develop their designs and networkexternalities accrue, a technological shock occurs in which new technology-based firms enter themarket. The findings of the model indicate that a necessary condition for a technological successionare the existence of at least one consumer group that champions the new technology, developing newpreferences for its characteristics. Further, the introduction of novel characteristics are have a greaterbearing on the probability of a succession than incremental gains in characteristics offered by the oldtechnology. Third, the analysis identifies an inverse relationship between time the probability of atechnological succession.
Introducing the Learning Practice--II. Becoming a Learning Practice.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This paper is the second of three related papers exploring the ways in which the principles of Learning Organizations (LOs) could be applied in Primary Care settings at the point of service delivery. METHODS Based on a theoretical and empirical review of available evidence, here we introduce the process by which a Practice can start to become a Learning Practice (LP). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Steps taken to enhance both individual and organizational learning begin the process of moving towards a learning culture. Attention is given to the routines that can be established within the practice to make learning systematically an integral part of what the practice does. This involves focusing on all three of single-, double- and triple-loop learning. Within the paper, a distinction is made between individual, collective and organizational learning. We argue that individual and collective learning may be easier to achieve than organizational learning as processes and systems already exist within the Health Service to facilitate personal learning and development with some opportunities for collective and integrated learning and working. However, although organizational learning needs to spread beyond the LP to the wider Health Service to inform future training courses, policy and decision-making, there currently seem to be few processes by which this might be achieved. This paper contributes to the wider quality improvement debate in three main ways. First, by reviewing existing theoretical and empirical material on LOs in health care settings it provides both an informed vision and a set of practical guidelines on the ways in which a Practice could start to effect its own regime of learning, innovation and change. Second, it highlights the paucity of opportunities individual general practitioner practices have to share their learning more widely. Thirdly, it adds to the evidence base on how to apply LO theory and activate learning cultures in health care settings.
The hormonal profile of women with acne and polycystic ovaries

Most women with acne are found to have polycystic ovaries on high resolution pelvic ultrasonography, but most of these women do not manifest the other classical clinical characteristics of the polycystic ovary syndrome. We have compared the endocrinological profile of women with acne who were found to have polycystic ovaries with that of women with polycystic ovaries who presented to an endocrine clinic with hirsutes or non‐dermatological manifestations of the polycystic‐ovary syndrome.
Convergence analysis for hyperbolic evolution problems in mixed form

In this paper, we present a convergence analysis for the space discretization of hyperbolic evolution problems in mixed form. The results of previous work on parabolic equations are extended to this situation, showing the relationships between the approximation of the underlying eigenvalue problem and the space discretization of the evolution problem. The theory is applied to the finite element approximation of the wave equation in mixed form and to the Maxwell equations. Some numerical results confirm the theory and make clear how a scheme that does not provide a spectrally correct discretization can perform badly when applied to the approximation of the evolution problem. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene–polyamide blends: Effect of compatibilization

The influence of compatibilization on the dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) binary blends with polyamide-11 (PA) has been investigated. In the blends an acrylic acid functionized PP was used as a blend component and compared with nonfunctionized PP over the who concentration range. The results demonstrate that the use of the functionized PP instead of the unmodified one produced blends with different dynamic mechanical properties due to adhesion enhancement between the two phases. The storage moduli E′ of the compatibilized blends vary nearly linearly as a function of composition over a broad temperature region, whereas those of the noncompatibilized ones deviate greatly from linearity, specially at about 50/50 ratio, at which a minimum exists at about room temperature. While the dynamic testing gives no evidence for the variation in the glassy transition temperatures (peak maxima) of the components (PP and PA) in the two types of blends, both the loss modulus (E″) and the loss factor (tan δ) data indicate that the compatibilized blends differ from the noncompatibilized ones mainly in the glassy transition (βrelaxation) process of the PA phase, suggesting that the compatibilization of the blends seems to influence the PA phase more than the PP phase included. But, for the β-relaxation behavior of the PA in the modified blends, the tan δ spectrum shows a more complex pattern than does the E″. These results are discussed in terms of the morphological texture of the blends and possible chemical or physical interactions between the two consituent polymers.