Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases and Concurrent Extrahepatic Disease Treated With Resection

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate outcomes after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and concurrent extrahepatic disease (EHD), and to define prognostic factors. Background: There is increasing evidence to support resection of liver metastases and concurrent EHD in selected patients. Long-term survival data are lacking, and prognostic factors are not well defined. Methods: Retrospective review of 219 patients was undertaken between January 1992 and December 2012, who underwent hepatectomy for CRLM and resection of synchronous EHD. Survival outcomes were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors were performed. A scoring system for prognostication was developed. Results: The median, 3, 5, and 10-year overall survival were 34.4 months, 49%, 28%, and 10%, respectively. Disease recurred in 185 patients (90.2%) at a median of 8 months. There were 8 actual 10-year survivors. The site of EHD affected survival, with portal, retroperitoneal nodes and multiple sites associated with the worst prognoses. The size of the largest CRLM, the number of CRLM, unfavorable site of EHD, and progression of CRLM on neoadjuvant therapy were associated with overall survival on univariate and multivariate analyses. Three variables, assigned 1 point each, were used to create an EHD risk score: largest CRLM greater than 3 cm, greater than 5 CRLM, and unfavorable site of EHD. The resulting score was prognostic of overall and recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: Long-term survival is possible after resection of liver metastases and concurrent EHD, but true cure is rare. A proposed scoring system may identify patients most likely to benefit from surgery.
Concurrent cisplatin/etoposide plus chest radiotherapy followed by surgery for stages IIIA (N2) and IIIB non-small-cell lung cancer: mature results of Southwest Oncology Group phase II study 8805.

PURPOSE To assess the feasibility of concurrent chemotherapy and irradiation (chemoRT) followed by surgery in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a cooperative group setting, and to estimate response, resection rates, relapse patterns, and survival for stage subsets IIIA(N2) versus IIIB. PATIENTS AND METHODS Biopsy proof of either positive N2 nodes (IIIAN2) or of N3 nodes or T4 primary lesions (IIIB) was required. Induction was two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide plus concurrent chest RT to 45 Gy. Resection was attempted if response or stable disease occurred. A chemoRT boost was given if either unresectable disease or positive margins or nodes was found. RESULTS The median follow-up time for 126 eligible patients [75 stage IIIA(N2) and 51 IIIB] was 2.4 years. The objective response rate to induction was 59%, and 29% were stable. Resectability was 85% for the IIIA(N2) group eligible for surgery and 80% for the IIIB group. Reversible grade 4 toxicity occurred in 13% of patients. There were 13 treatment-related deaths (10%) and 19 others (15%) died of causes not related to toxicity or tumor. Of 65 relapses, 11% were only locoregional and 61% were only distant. There were 26 brain relapses, of which 19 were the sole site or cause of death. There was no survival difference (P = .81) between stage IIIA(N2) versus stage IIIB (median survivals, 13 and 17 months; 2-year survival rates, 37% and 39%; 3-year survival rates, 27% and 24%). The strongest predictor of long-term survival after thoracotomy was absence of tumor in the mediastinal nodes at surgery (median survivals, 30 v 10 months; 3-year survival rates, 44% v 18%; P = .0005). CONCLUSION This trimodality approach was feasible in this Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) study, with an encouraging 26% 3-year survival rate. An Intergroup study is currently being conducted to determine whether surgery adds more to the risk or to the benefit of chemoRT.
Precipitating stress, crisis theory, and hospitalization in schizophrenia and depression.

In this study we examine the relationship between crisis theory and the life experience of 50 patients hospitalized on a general hospital short-term "crisis oriented" psychiatry service. Two specific hypotheses are tested. The results indicate that the concept of a precipitating situation is relevant to many patients. However, the concept that hospitalization usually follows a hazardous situation is not well substantiated by our data. Schizophrenics, especially, are hospitalized in the absence of a clear, hazardous precipitant. For depressed patients, there is typically a clear precipitant, and the precipitant was judged to be hazardous for ten of 21 patients.
A cautionary note on the use of the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) in classification designs with and without within-subject factors

A number of statistical textbooks recommend using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to control for the effects of extraneous factors that might influence the dependent measure of interest. However, it is not generally recognized that serious problems of interpretation can arise when the design contains comparisons of participants sampled from different populations (classification designs). Designs that include a comparison of younger and older adults, or a comparison of musicians and non-musicians are examples of classification designs. In such cases, estimates of differences among groups can be contaminated by differences in the covariate population means across groups. A second problem of interpretation will arise if the experimenter fails to center the covariate measures (subtracting the mean covariate score from each covariate score) whenever the design contains within-subject factors. Unless the covariate measures on the participants are centered, estimates of within-subject factors are distorted, and significant increases in Type I error rates, and/or losses in power can occur when evaluating the effects of within-subject factors. This paper: (1) alerts potential users of ANCOVA of the need to center the covariate measures when the design contains within-subject factors, and (2) indicates how they can avoid biases when one cannot assume that the expected value of the covariate measure is the same for all of the groups in a classification design.
Temperature Adaptation of Active Sodium-Potassium Transport and of Passive Permeability in Erythrocytes of Ground Squirrels

Unidirectional active and passive fluxes of 42K and 24Na were measured in red blood cells of ground squirrels (hibernators) and guinea pigs (nonhibernators). As temperature is lowered, "active" (ouabain-sensitive) K influx and Na efflux were more greatly diminished in guinea pig cells than in those of ground squirrels. The fraction of total K influx which is ouabain sensitive in red blood cells of ground squirrels was virtually constant at all temperatures, whereas it decreased abruptly in guinea pig cells as temperature was lowered. All the passive fluxes (i.e., Na influx, K efflux, and ouabain-insensitive K influx and Na efflux) decreased logarithmically with decrease in temperature in both species, but in ground squirrels the temperature dependence (Q 10 2.5–3.0) was greater than in guinea pig (Q 10 1.6–1.9). Thus, red blood cells of ground squirrel are able to resist loss of K and gain of Na at low temperature both because of relatively greater Na-K transport (than in cells of nonhibernators) and because of reduced passive leakage of ions.
Gene Sequence Variability of the Three Surface Proteins of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) in Texas

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) has three surface glycoproteins: small hydrophobic (SH), attachment (G) and fusion (F), encoded by three consecutive genes (SH-G-F). A 270-nt fragment of the G gene is used to genotype HRSV isolates. This study genotyped and investigated the variability of the gene and amino acid sequences of the three surface proteins of HRSV strains collected from 1987 to 2005 from one center. Sixty original clinical isolates and 5 prototype strains were analyzed. Sequences containing SH, F and G genes were generated, and multiple alignments and phylogenetic trees were analyzed. Genetic variability by protein domains comparing virus genotypes was assessed. Complete sequences of the SH-G-F genes were obtained for all 65 samples: HRSV-A = 35; HRSV-B = 30. In group A strains, genotypes GA5 and GA2 were predominant. For HRSV-B strains, the genotype GB4 was predominant from 1992 to 1994 and only genotype BA viruses were detected in 2004–2005. Different genetic variability at nucleotide level was detected between the genes, with G gene being the most variable and the highest variability detected in the 270-nt G fragment that is frequently used to genotype the virus. High variability (>10%) was also detected in the signal peptide and transmembrane domains of the F gene of HRSV A strains. Variability among the HRSV strains resulting in non-synonymous changes was detected in hypervariable domains of G protein, the signal peptide of the F protein, a not previously defined domain in the F protein, and the antigenic site Ø in the pre-fusion F. Divergent trends were observed between HRSV -A and -B groups for some functional domains. A diverse population of HRSV -A and -B genotypes circulated in Houston during an 18 year period. We hypothesize that diverse sequence variation of the surface protein genes provide HRSV strains a survival advantage in a partially immune-protected community.
8T SRAM Cell Design for Dynamic and Leakage Power Reduction

his paper addresses a, novel eight transistor (8T) CMOS SRAM cell design to enhance the stability and to reduce dynamic and leakage power. For the validation of proposed 8T SRAM cell, compared results with reported data. The parameters used in the proposed cell are comparable to the existing 8T SRAM cell at same technology and design rules. The stability of the proposed cell has been analyzed using N-curve metrics. Write operation is achieved in the proposed 8T SRAM cell by charging / discharging single Bit Line (BL), which results in reduction of dynamic power consumption. The proposed 8T SRAM cell has achieved 38.33% dynamic power reduction and 25.31% reduction in leakage power comparing with the reported data of 8T SRAM cell, which validate the desired design approach.
Explicit assumptions enrich architectural models

Design for change is a well-known adagium in software engineering. We separate concerns, employ well-designed interfaces, and the like to ease evolution of the systems we build. We model and build in changeability through parameterization and variability points (as in product lines). These all concern places where we explicitly consider variability in our systems. We conjecture that it is helpful to also think of and explicitly model invariability, things in our systems and their environment that we assume will not change. We give examples from the literature and our own experience to illustrate how evolution can be seriously hampered because of tacit assumptions made. In particular, we show how we can explicitly model assumptions in an existing product family. From this, we derive a metamodel to document assumptions. Finally, we show how this type of modeling adds to our understanding of the architecture and the decisions that led to it.
Optimal backward perturbation bounds for the linear least squares problem

Consider the linear least squares problem min x ‖b−Ax‖2 whereA is anm×n (m<n) matrix, andb is anm-dimensional vector. Lety be ann-dimensional vector, and let ηls(y) be the optimal backward perturbation bound defined by $$\eta _{LS} (y) = \inf \{ ||F||_F :y is a solution to \mathop {min}\limits_x ||b - (A + F)x||_2 \} . $$ . An explicit expression of ηls(y) (y≠0) has been given in [8]. However, if we define the optimal backward perturbation bounds ηmls(y) by $$\eta _{MLS} (y) = \inf \{ ||F||_F :y is the minimum 2 - norm solution to \mathop {min}\limits_x ||b - (A + F)x||_2 \} ,$$ , it may well be asked: How to derive an explicit expression of ηmls(y)? This note gives an answer. The main result is: Ifb≠0 andy≠0, then ηmls(y)=ηls (y).
Rule-based context-aware adaptation using a goal-oriented ontology

In the past, the many possible alternatives for an adaptation action by and large have not been considered systematically and rationally, hence resulting in our low-level of confidence that such an action is indeed a best possible one that is really desirable. To alleviate these problems, we propose a goal-oriented approach in which various nonfunctional requirements (or quality attributes) such as safety, cost, and promptness are treated as softgoals to be satisficed and used in exploring, analyzing and selecting among possible adaptation alternatives, in consideration of the particular contextual event. In this approach, an ontology with the notion of context and goal is available, in terms of which abstract rules are used to express: when an event occurs, if the context and the goals are such and such, take the following action(s). We illustrate these concepts using an emergency situation safety scenario as a running example.
Shiitake (lentinula edodes) production on a sterilized bagasse substrate enriched with rice bran and sugarcane molasses

This investigation was performed to evaluate the biological efficiency (BE), mean mushroom weight (MMW), mean number of mushroom (MNM) and mushroom quality of Shiitake [ Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler] when grown on a sterilized substrate composed by sugarcane bagasse enriched with rice bran and sugarcane molasses. The proportions of rice bran were 0, 15, 20, 25 and 30% (dry weight/dry weight of bagasse); and the concentrations of sugarcane molasses were 0, 30 and 60 g/kg (dry weight/dry weight of bagasse plus rice bran). Four flushes were obtained during the production cycle, providing 3 accumulated productions which were used for production analysis. The substrate supplemented with 25 and 30% rice bran yielded the highest BE (98.42 and 99.84%, respectively, about 230 days after spawning) and MNM and initially produced a lower MMW than the substrates supplemented with 15 and 20% rice bran. Any amount of rice bran added to the sugarcane bagasse improved mushroom quality, with the best production of marketable mushrooms obtained by the addition of 15% rice bran. The largest amount of sugarcane molasses (60 g/kg) increased BE (90.3 and 23.6%, on first and second accumulated productions, respectively) and MNM and no quantity affected mushroom quality.
Effect of Viral Infections on Pulmonary Function in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases

Abstract The effect of 100 separate viral infections of the respiratory tract on pulmonary function was evaluated prospectively over an eight-year period in 84 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and in eight normal subjects. Some viral infections were associated with small acute declines in forced vital capacity and/or 1-sec forced expiratory volume of 25–300 ml. These declines were detectable only during the 90-day period after infection. The greatest abnormalities of pulmonary function followed infections with influenza virus, and the mean acute changes in I-sec forced expiratory volume (- 118.5 ml) were significantly greater than expected (- 15.2 ml; P = 0.03). Smaller, statistically insignificant declines followed infections with parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus, and no changes were detectable after infections with coronavirus, herpes simplex virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. Long-term effects of influenza or other viral infections on the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were not detected in this study population.
Natural Surfactants from Venezuelan Extra Heavy Crude Oil - Study of Interfacial and Structural Properties

Studies of the composition and physicochemical properties of heavy and extra heavy crude have been of great importance and interest to academia and the petroleum industry, due to the ability of these oils to form water in oil emulsions. Water in oil emulsions are known to form during crude oil production, oil sands extraction processes, and oil spills in aquatic environments. Often, these water-in-oil emulsions are undesirable since they can cause several problems including: production of an off-specifications crude oil (high solids and water content, >0.5%); corrosion and catalyst poisoning in pipes and equipment for water settling; and environmental issues when oil spills occur in rivers and oceans. Treatment of these emulsions is still a challenge in the petroleum industry due to their high stability versus coalescence. These emulsions are very stable, this stability is attributed largely to the adsorption of compounds with interfacial activity, such as asphaltenes, resins and carboxylic acids present in the oil, at the water – crude interface. Asphaltenes are a complex mixture of high-molecular weight compounds, where 90% or more of the mass is composed of carbon and hydrogen; the sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen contents in asphaltenes are approximately 5%, 2%, and 1%, respectively, and trace quantities of other heteroatoms are present the high molecular weight components of crude oil. Reported data has shown that asphaltenes, are adsorbed at the crude oil-water interface. For instance, the high stability of the w/o emulsions could be due to strong interfacial films formed by asphaltenes. These films would be very resistant to coalescence (Yarranton et al, 2000; Ortiz et al, 2010; Spiecker, & Kilpatrick, 2004; Pauchard et al, 2009; Chaverot et al, 2010; Sjoblom et al 1992; McLean et al 1997)
A Linkage Map and QTL Analysis for Pyrethroid Resistance in the Bed Bug Cimex lectularius

The rapid evolution of insecticide resistance remains one of the biggest challenges in the control of medically and economically important pests. Insects have evolved a diverse range of mechanisms to reduce the efficacy of the commonly used classes of insecticides, and finding the genetic basis of resistance is a major aid to management. In a previously unstudied population, we performed an F2 resistance mapping cross for the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, for which insecticide resistance is increasingly widespread. Using 334 SNP markers obtained through RAD-sequencing, we constructed the first linkage map for the species, consisting of 14 putative linkage groups (LG), with a length of 407 cM and an average marker spacing of 1.3 cM. The linkage map was used to reassemble the recently published reference genome, facilitating refinement and validation of the current genome assembly. We detected a major QTL on LG12 associated with insecticide resistance, occurring in close proximity (1.2 Mb) to a carboxylesterase encoding candidate gene for pyrethroid resistance. This provides another example of this candidate gene playing a major role in determining survival in a bed bug population following pesticide resistance evolution. The recent availability of the bed bug genome, complete with a full list of potential candidate genes related to insecticide resistance, in addition to the linkage map generated here, provides an excellent resource for future research on the development and spread of insecticide resistance in this resurging pest species.
Neuroengineering Original Research Article

Thus, there is a clear need of human cell-based neurotoxicity models with which the toxicological effects can be monitored online. With non-invasive microelectrode array (MEA), the functional activity of neuronal cell networks can be measured in vitro for long periods of time and can be used as an additional real-As MEA technologies offer indeed a proper way to measure the electrical activity of the networks and further allow the detection of network responses to extrinsic factors these technologies are seen as a promising way to rapid and sensitive screening of neurotoxicity testing as discussed in recent review by Johnstone et al. (2010). Human pluripotent, e.g., embryonic stem cells are an excellent source to produce the main cells types of the human brain: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes (Reubinoff et al. These cells follow the in vivo neural development closely and the produced neuronal cells have electrical properties of their brain counter parts (Carpenter et al. cells can form spontaneously active functional neuronal networks (Heikkilä et al., 2009) the activity development of which resembles that of rodent primary and embryonic stem cell-derived neuronal cultures (Wagenaar et al., 2006; Illes et al., 2007). Methyl mercury is
Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA Recombination and Repair Enzymes Protect against Oxidative Damage Caused by Hydrogen Peroxide

ABSTRACT The strict human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae is exposed to oxidative damage during infection. N. gonorrhoeae has many defenses that have been demonstrated to counteract oxidative damage. However, recN is the only DNA repair and recombination gene upregulated in response to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by microarray analysis and subsequently shown to be important for oxidative damage protection. We therefore tested the importance of RecA and DNA recombination and repair enzymes in conferring resistance to H2O2 damage. recA mutants, as well as RecBCD (recB, recC, and recD) and RecF-like pathway mutants (recJ, recO, and recQ), all showed decreased resistance to H2O2. Holliday junction processing mutants (ruvA, ruvC, and recG) showed decreased resistance to H2O2 resistance as well. Finally, we show that RecA protein levels did not increase as a result of H2O2 treatment. We propose that RecA, recombinational DNA repair, and branch migration are all important for H2O2 resistance in N. gonorrhoeae but that constitutive levels of these enzymes are sufficient for providing protection against oxidative damage by H2O2.
Customers' Choice Among Retail Energy Suppliers: The Willingness-to-Pay for Service Attributes

We examine small/medium commercial and industrial customers' choices among energy suppliers in conjoint-type experiments. The distribution of customers' willingness to pay is estimated for more than 40 attributes of suppliers, including sign-up bonuses, amount and type of renewables, billing options, bundling with other services, reductions in voltage fluctuations, and charitable contributions. These estimates provide guidance for suppliers in designing service options and to economists in anticipating the services that will be offered in competitive retail energy markets.
Adaptive patterns of movement during stair climbing in patients with knee osteoarthritis

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a distinctive characteristic in the pattern of movement (forward trunk lean to reduce demand on the quadriceps muscle) during stair climbing in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) that is associated with the severity of the disease. Twenty‐three patients with radiographically diagnosed knee OA and 20 physically active adults performed stair ascending trials without support at their self‐selected speed. Standard gait analysis was used to calculate three‐dimensional lower extremity joint kinematics and kinetics. Forward trunk lean, or trunk flexion, was defined as the sagittal plane projection of the angle between a line connecting the midpoint of the trans‐acromion line and the midpoint of the trans‐iliac crest line and the global vertical axis. Patients with more severe knee OA (KL ≥ 3) had greater forward trunk lean (+6.3°, p = 0.045) and lower knee net quadriceps moments (−35.2%, p = 0.001) than controls. In more severe patients, the forward trunk lean was correlated with a reduction in the net quadriceps moment during stair climbing (R2 = 0.590, p = 0.006). The results of this study identified a distinctive compensatory pattern of movement to reduce the quadriceps demand during stair climbing in patients with more severe knee OA by increasing forward trunk lean. Assessing forward trunk lean during stair climbing may be a useful functional marker for evaluating osteoarthritis status and quadriceps function that appears to be a more sensitive indicator of disease severity than perceived pain. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:325–329, 2009