Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical presentations of thyroid cancer patients with multiple primary cancers

Background: In thyroid cancer patients with multiple primary cancers, primary cancers tend to be more aggressive. Aims: We analyzed multiple primary cancers in thyroid cancer patients and determined the differences between the incidence and the characteristics of primary cancers. Materials and methods: A total of 3070 patients with thyroid cancer underwent a thyroidectomy and follow-up examination at a single medical center. The times of diagnosis of the primary cancers were categorized as antecedent, synchronous, or subsequent to the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Results: After a mean follow-up period of 8.8±0.5 yr, the presence of multiple primary cancers was histopathologically confirmed in 163 patients (5.3%). Patients with multiple primary cancers had a lower female-to-male ratio, an older mean age, advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, higher total mortality, and higher therapeutic radioactive iodide (131I) doses than patients without multiple primary cancers. Hematological malignancy and renal cell carcinoma, neither of which are among the 10 most common cancers observed in the general population of Taiwan, were the most common multiple cancers among women and men with thyroid cancer. Patient age, thyroid cancer tumor size, and thyroid cancer mortality in the antecedent, synchronous, and subsequent groups were not significantly different. Conclusions: Patients with multiple primary cancers in advanced stages had shorter disease-free survival period after treatment. Thyroid cancer patients with multiple primary cancers should be closely followed up for the occurrence of other secondary cancers in order to improve total mortality.
Combining learned and analytical models for predicting action effects from sensory data

One of the most basic skills a robot should possess is predicting the effect of physical interactions with objects in the environment. This enables optimal action selection to reach a certain goal state. Traditionally, dynamics are approximated by physics-based analytical models. These models rely on specific state representations that may be hard to obtain from raw sensory data, especially if no knowledge of the object shape is assumed. More recently, we have seen learning approaches that can predict the effect of complex physical interactions directly from sensory input. It is, however, an open question how far these models generalize beyond their training data. In this work, we investigate the advantages and limitations of neural-network-based learning approaches for predicting the effects of actions based on sensory input and show how analytical and learned models can be combined to leverage the best of both worlds. As physical interaction task, we use planar pushing, for which there exists a well-known analytical model and a large real-world dataset. We propose the use of a convolutional neural network to convert raw depth images or organized point clouds into a suitable representation for the analytical model and compare this approach with using neural networks for both, perception and prediction. A systematic evaluation of the proposed approach on a very large real-world dataset shows two main advantages of the hybrid architecture. Compared with a pure neural network, it significantly (i) reduces required training data and (ii) improves generalization to novel physical interaction.
Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Does Not Enhance the Effects of Working Memory Training

Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, enhances the generalization and sustainability of gains following mathematical training. Here it is combined for the first time with working memory training in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Adults completed 10 sessions of Cogmed Working Memory Training with either active tRNS or sham stimulation applied bilaterally to dorsolateral pFC. Training was associated with gains on both the training tasks and on untrained tests of working memory that shared overlapping processes with the training tasks, but not with improvements on working memory tasks with distinct processing demands or tests of other cognitive abilities (e.g., IQ, maths). There was no evidence that tRNS increased the magnitude or transfer of these gains. Thus, combining tRNS with Cogmed Working Memory Training provides no additional therapeutic value.
The atypical Spitz tumor of uncertain biologic potential

Atypical Spitz tumors (AST) are rare spitzoid melanocytic proliferations with an uncertain malignant potential. ASTs have overlapping features of both Spitz nevi and spitzoid melanoma, and consequently generate controversy with diagnosis and management. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been proposed as a possible means to gain additional insight into the true biologic potential of these tumors; however, previous reports on the use of SLNB in ASTs have been limited by small numbers of patients and short durations of follow‐up.
Hepatic Catabolism of Low Density Lipoprotein: Mechanisms and Metabolic Consequences

The purpose of this short review is to summarize information currently available about the extent to which the liver takes up and degrades low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the mechanism of uptake, and its metabolic consequences. One reason for a review on this narrowly defined topic is recent evidence establishing that the liver in most animals probably accounts for more than 50% of total body LDL degradation, as will be discussed in detail. The corollary of that finding is that regulation of hepatic degradation may, therefore, be crucial in determining steady-state plasma levels of LDL. Indeed, it is already clear that some drugs act to lower LDL levels by regulating hepatic LDL receptor number. A second reason for choosing to review hepatic LDL catabolism is that studies of cultured hepatocytes are beginning to shed light on alternative, low-affinity pathways for LDL uptake; these pathways may have different metabolic consequences than uptake via specific, receptor-mediated pathways. Before discussing LDL catabolism, however, it may be useful to place it in context by briefly reviewing the overall participation of the liver in lipoprotein metabolism.
The failure of the schizophrenia concept and the argument for its replacement by hebephrenia: applying the medical model for disease recognition

The present DSM and ICD delineations of schizophrenia do not identify homogeneous populations, and patients with different presentations satisfy the official criteria. Treatment response, illness course, and biological findings vary widely, indicating heterogeneity and not a common pathophysiology. The DSM ⁄ ICD construct of schizophrenia does not meet the standard of the medical model. This model for disease recognition delineates syndromes and then attempts to validate them by course and prognosis, response to treatment, and laboratory tests that ultimately lead to a clear picture of the pathophysiology and its etiology. This model has been successfully employed for centuries (1). We examine the historical record and empirical data for schizophrenia from this perspective and find that hebephrenia is a more homogeneous construct with distinctive and reliably identified clinical features and better fits the application of the medical model.
Slope, grain size, and roughness controls on dry sediment transport and storage on steep hillslopes

Existing hillslope sediment transport models developed for low‐relief, soil‐mantled landscapes are poorly suited to explain the coupling between steep rocky hillslopes and headwater channels. Here we address this knowledge gap using a series of field and numerical experiments to inform a particle‐based model of sediment transport by dry ravel—a mechanism of granular transport characteristic of steep hillslopes. We find that particle travel distance increases as a function of the ratio of particle diameter to fine‐scale (<1 m) topographic roughness, in agreement with prior laboratory and field experiments. Contrary to models that assume a fixed critical slope, the particle‐based model predicts a broad transition as hillslopes steepen from grain‐scale to hillslope‐scale mean particle travel distances due to the trapping of sediment on slopes more than threefold steeper than the average friction slope. This transition is further broadened by higher macroscale (>1 m) topographic variability associated with rocky landscapes. Applying a 2‐D dry‐ravel‐routing model to lidar‐derived surface topography, we show how spatial patterns of local and nonlocal transport control connectivity between hillslopes and steep headwater channels that generate debris flows through failure of ravel‐filled channels following wildfire. Our results corroborate field observations of a patchy transition from soil‐mantled to bedrock landscapes and suggest that there is a dynamic interplay between sediment storage, roughness, grain sorting, and transport even on hillslopes that well exceed the angle of repose.
Gaze-augmented interaction improves problem-solving: new evidence from verbal protocols

When interacting with a problem on a computer screen, users need to select from a range of strategies that the user interface supports. Previous research shows that the problem-solving user interface plays a significant role in the strategy selection, such as by making recall unnecessary or by facilitating planning. What is not very well understood is how the interaction devices, themselves, affect problem-solving strategies. We conducted an experiment in which users interacted with a problem using either a computer mouse or gaze-augmented input. We analysed the qualitative differences in the problem-solving process by investigating the content of verbal protocols. We present a new evidence that shows that the gaze-based interaction is characterised by an increased cognitive processing of thecurrently attended information, leading to better plan development and improved problem-solving strategies. The findings have implications on the design of future gaze-aware problem-solving user interfaces.
Improving ATPG Gate-Level Fault Coverage by using Test Vectors generated from Behavioral HDL Descriptions

Current hardware design flows include test pattern generation as a single step to be performed only after logical synthesis. However, early generation of few high level test patterns can provide higher test quality and reduce ATPG effort. In this work, the authors apply a software engineering technique for control flow based path testing, to extract test vectors from the behavioral HDL description of digital circuits. The authors show how one can adapt this software testing approach to test hardware devices. Experimental results show that combining high level generated test vectors with gate level ATPG can improve test quality, either increasing fault coverage and/or reducing test set size
Serum uric acid and metabolic risk

Abstract Objectives: This review presents the information available on the role of uric acid (UA) on metabolic risk and on the link between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome. Methods: Key papers for inclusion were identified by a PubMed search and articles were selected according to their relevance for the topic, according to the authors’ judgment. Results and conclusions: An elevated UA is both strongly associated and predictive of the metabolic syndrome, and increasing evidence suggests that UA may have a causal role. The classical viewpoint that UA is simply an innocuous marker of metabolic syndrome that should not even be measured will likely have to be modified. Lowering UA may be a novel treatment target for preventing diabetes and justify prospective clinical trials on the possible benefits of the measurement and lowering of serum UA on multiple chronic disease end points.
Effects of High Dietary Fluoride on Serum Biochemistry and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Broiler Chickens

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high dietary fluoride (F) on serum biochemistry and oxidative damage in broiler chickens. 280 one-day-old healthy avian broiler chickens were randomly allotted into four equal groups and fed with a corn-soybean basal diet containing 22.6 mg·F/kg (control group) or same basal diets supplemented with 400, 800, and 1200 mg·F/kg (high F groups I, II, and III) in the form of sodium fluoride for 42 days. At 42 days of age, the serum F content was markedly higher in the three high F groups than that in the control group. From 28 to 42 days of age, the contents of serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) were significantly lower in the three high F groups. From 14 to 42 days of age, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the creatinine (Crea) contents in the serum showed a marked increase in the three high F groups; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and uric acid (Ua) content were significantly increased, and a significant increase in the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) along with marked decreases in the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), the glutathione (GSH) content and the ability to inhibit hydroxyl radical were observed in the high F groups II and III. In conclusion, F has accumulated in the blood circulatory system and dietary F in the range of 800 - 1200 mg/kg could significantly induce abnormalities of bone, liver and kidney, inhibit the synthesis of protein, enhance lipid peroxidation and disturb the antioxidative system of broiler chickens.
Evaluation of the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination technique (TP.PA) in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis

The Treponema pallidum particle agglutination technique (TP.PA) was evaluated, in comparison with the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, microhemagglutination assay for Treponema pallidum antibodies (MHA‐TP), and fluorescent treponemal antibody‐ABS (FTA‐Abs) test for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis.We have studied 198 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with syphilis, including neurosyphilis, treated syphilis, and with other neurological manifestations than neurosyphilis. All tests were nonreactive in these last group of patients. In the neurosyphilis patients, sensitivity of the TP.PA was 100%. The performance of this test in CSF from patients with primary syphilis was as good as that of the other tests. In secondary and latent syphilis, the TP.PA results (27 reactive samples/73) were similar to those of the MHA‐TP (25 reactive samples/73). In the individuals treated for syphilis, the TP.PA, FTA‐Abs, and MHA‐TP tests were found to be reactive in eight, six, and eight samples, respectively. In conclusion, it seems that the TP.PA can be used in CSF to diagnose neurosyphilis, although as for other serological tests, interpretation of results should be done in conjunction with other neurosyphilis parameters. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 20:233–238, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
LA PIZARRA DIGITAL EN EL AULA

Una vez realizada la valoracion en abril de nuestro Seminario del curso 2011-12 todo el profesorado ha decidido continuar la formacion en Pizarra Digital. La gran mayoria de las aulas cuentan con Pizarra Digital y nos vemos como docentes en la necesidad de conocer sus posibilidades como recurso didactico para su mejor utilizacion. Solicitamos formacion para todo el Claustro teniendo en cuenta los distintos niveles de los integrantes del grupo con el objetivo de avanzar con respecto a cursos anteriores y profundizar en algun aspecto que se considere importante. Pretendemos generar materiales para poder llevarlos al aula; asi como aprender a buscar en Internet organizando ese contenido por nivel de dificultad, aspectos que se trabajan, valoracion… Aunque nuestra idea es continuar una formacion como grupo y de manera practica , este curso intentaremos tambien avanzar en el trabajo autonomo y con puestas en comun de lo elaborado.
Alcohol as a risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke.

PURPOSE Whereas the protective effect of mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption against ischemic stroke has been well recognized, there is conflicting evidence regarding the link between alcohol consumption and hemorrhagic strokes. The aim of the present study is to summarize the results of case-control and cohort studies published on this issue. METHODS Recent epidemiologic articles on the relationship between alcohol consumption and hemorrhagic stroke were identified by Medline searches limited to title words using the following search terms: "alcohol AND cerebrovascular dis*", "alcohol AND stroke", "alcohol AND cerebral hemorrhage" and "alcohol AND hemorrhagic stroke". RESULTS Most case-control and cohort studies either reported only on total strokes or on a combined group of hemorrhagic strokes including intracerebral as well as subarachnoid hemorrhages. There was a consensus among reports that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with a higher risk of hemorrhagic strokes. Controversy remains regarding the effect of mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption: while some studies reported a protective effect, others found a dose-dependent linear relationship between the amount of alcohol consumed and the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The differential effect of moderate alcohol consumption on hemorrhagic compared to ischemic strokes is mostly attributed to alcohol- and withdrawal-induced sudden elevations of blood pressure, and coagulation disorders. CONCLUSIONS Heavy drinking should be considered as one of the risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke. In contrast to the protective effect of mild-to-moderate alcohol use against ischemic strokes, moderate drinking might result in an increased risk of hemorrhagic strokes.
An Empirical Evaluation of Rule Extraction from Recurrent Neural Networks

Rule extraction from black box models is critical in domains that require model validation before implementation, as can be the case in credit scoring and medical diagnosis. Though already a challenging problem in statistical learning in general, the difficulty is even greater when highly nonlinear, recursive models, such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), are fit to data. Here, we study the extraction of rules from second-order RNNs trained to recognize the Tomita grammars. We show that production rules can be stably extracted from trained RNNs and that in certain cases, the rules outperform the trained RNNs.
Impact of scribes on performance indicators in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES The objective was to quantify the effect of scribes on three measures of emergency physician (EP) productivity in an adult emergency department (ED). METHODS For this retrospective study, 243 clinical shifts (of either 10 or 12 hours) worked by 13 EPs during an 18-month period were selected for evaluation. Payroll data sheets were examined to determine whether these shifts were covered, uncovered, or partially covered (for less than 4 hours) by a scribe; partially covered shifts were grouped with uncovered shifts for analysis. Covered shifts were compared to uncovered shifts in a clustered design, by physician. Hierarchical linear models were used to study the association between percentage of patients with which a scribe was used during a shift and EP productivity as measured by patients per hour, relative value units (RVUs) per hour, and turnaround time (TAT) to discharge. RESULTS RVUs per hour increased by 0.24 units (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.10 to 0.38, p = 0.0011) for every 10% increment in scribe usage during a shift. The number of patients per hour increased by 0.08 (95% CI = 0.04 to 0.12, p = 0.0024) for every 10% increment of scribe usage during a shift. TAT was not significantly associated with scribe use. These associations did not lose significance after accounting for physician assistant (PA) use. CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective study, EP use of a scribe was associated with improved overall productivity as measured by patients treated per hour (Pt/hr) and RVU generated per hour by EPs, but not as measured by TAT to discharge.
Learning of immigrant entrepreneurs: local tacit business knowledge

The immigrant entrepreneurs’ capabilities to recognize and gain tacit business knowledge are critical for their success in the host country. However, little scholarly attention has been given to the issue of business learning of immigrant entrepreneurs in a host country. Through multiple theoretical lenses, our study fills the gap by examining the extent to which the human and social capital of immigrant entrepreneurs is associated with the local business tacit knowledge learning in terms of learning capacities and facilitation. Based on a sample of immigrant entrepreneurs in Australia, the findings of our study indicate that industry-specific training and cultural similarity of cognitive social capital are related to immigrant entrepreneurs’ tacit marketing knowledge learning. The formal education of context-generic human capital enables them with tacit financial knowledge learning. Moreover, trustworthiness of relational social capital plays a critical role in facilitating their learning in both tacit marketing and financial knowledge. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by addressing issues of immigrant entrepreneurs’ business learning. Keywords: Tacit Marketing and Financial Knowledge, Relational and Cognitive Social Capital, Human Capital, Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Learning Capabilities and Facilitation To cite this document: Karen Y. Wang, Chanida Kitvorametha, and Yue Wang, "Learning of Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Local Tacit Business Knowledge", Contemporary Management Research, Vol.10, No.1, pp.81-104, 2014. Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi. org/10.7903/cmr.10595
Diagnosis and treatment of delayed large pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery

This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of diagnosis and treatment towards post-Cardiac Surgery (CS)-Delayed Large Pericardial Effusion (DLPE). 62 patients among 8764 cases of cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study. The clinical data of them were summarized. The pericardiocentesis and drainage were performed, with open surgery in partial patients. Before and after treatment, the heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation were determined and were compared. The short- and long-term outcomes were observed. Results showed that, among 62 post-CS-DLPE cases, 1 case died of invalid rescue, but the symptoms of the 61 survived patients were significantly mitigated. A total of 800 ± 180 ml of pericardial effusion was drained on the surgery day, and the total amount was 1800 ± 300 ml. There were significant differences of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressure between before and after treatment (P<0.05). The postoperative 1-month electrocardiograph prompted no pericardial effusion in 57 cases, with small amount of pericardial effusion in 4 cases. The postoperative 6-month and 1-year follow-up revealed no pericardial effusion in all patients. The post-CS-DLPE is easily mis-, miss-, or delay-diagnosed, so the early diagnosis is crucial. Once diagnosed, it should be treated as early as possible, and the treatment effects in most patients are satisfactory.