Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Survival Analysis of the Liver-First Reversed Management of Advanced Simultaneous Colorectal Liver Metastases: A LiverMetSurvey-Based Study

Background:Liver-first reversed management (RM) for the treatment of patients with simultaneous colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) includes liver-directed chemotherapy, the resection of the CRLM, and the subsequent resection of the primary cancer. Retrospective data have shown that up to 80% of patients can successfully undergo a complete RM, whereas less than 30% of those undergoing classical management (CM) do so. This registry-based study compared the 2 approaches. Methods:The study was based on the LiverMetSurvey (January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010) and included patients with 2 or more metastases. All patients had irinotecan and/or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy before liver surgery. Patients undergoing simultaneous liver and colorectal surgery were excluded. Results:A total of 787 patients were included: 729 in the CM group and 58 in the RM group. Patients in the 2 groups had similar numbers of metastases (4.20 vs 4.80 for RM and CM, P = 0.231) and Fong scores of 3 or more (79% vs 87%, P = 0.164). Rectal cancer, neoadjuvant rectal radiotherapy, and the use of combined irinotecan/oxaliplatin chemotherapy were more frequent in the RM group (P < 0.001), whereas colorectal lymph node involvement was more frequent in the CM group (P < 0.001). Overall survival and disease-free survival were similar in the RM and CM groups (48% vs 46% at 5 years, P = 0.965 and 30% vs 26%, P = 0.992). Conclusions:Classical and reversed managements of metastatic liver disease in colorectal cancer are associated with similar survival when successfully completed.
Pseudomonas peritonitis in Australia: predictors, treatment, and outcomes in 191 cases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Pseudomonas peritonitis is a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis. To date, there as been no comprehensive, multicenter study of this condition. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS The predictors, treatment, and clinical outcomes of Pseudomonas peritonitis were examined by binary logistic regression and multilevel, multivariate Poisson regression in all Australian PD patients in 66 centers between 2003 and 2006. RESULTS A total of 191 episodes of Pseudomonas peritonitis (5.3% of all peritonitis episodes) occurred in 171 individuals. Its occurrence was independently predicted by Maori/Pacific Islander race, Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander race, and absence of baseline peritoneal equilibration test data. Compared with other organisms, Pseudomonas peritonitis was associated with greater frequencies of hospitalization (96 versus 79%; P = 0.006), catheter removal (44 versus 20%; P < 0.001), and permanent hemodialysis transfer (35 versus 17%; P < 0.001) but comparable death rates (3 versus 2%; P = 0.4). Initial empiric antibiotic choice did not influence outcomes, but subsequent use of dual anti-pseudomonal therapy was associated with a lower risk for permanent hemodialysis transfer (10 versus 38%, respectively; P = 0.03). Catheter removal was associated with a lower risk for death than treatment with antibiotics alone (0 versus 6%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pseudomonas peritonitis is associated with high rates of catheter removal and permanent hemodialysis transfer. Prompt catheter removal and use of two anti-pseudomonal antibiotics are associated with better outcomes.
Differential (De)Modulation for Orthogonal Bi-Pulse Noncoherent UWB

In this paper, we propose a novel noncoherent UWB (de)modulation system, which uses a pair of orthogonal pulses to convey information symbols. Same as the original noncoherent UWB [1], our approach remains operational even without timing and channel estimation. Moreover, due to the orthogonality between the received waveforms of the pulse pair, our approach results in a differential demodulator. This means that our approach does not need Viterbi decoding which is required by [1], even in the presence of timing error. Simulations are also carried out to corroborate our theoretical analysis.
Energy requirements for the inactivation of bovine serum albumin by radiation.

Biological materials are inactivated by ultraviolet and ionizing radiations presumably because certain physical and chemical processes take place as a result of the primary action of the radiations. Comparatively little is known about the details of these processes (1, 2). It is the purpose of the work reported here to shed some light on their nature by measuring the energy needed to cause inactivation in a biological system by using a beam of very-low-energy electrons. The method is based on the premise that a process requiring, say, 10 ev of energy cannot be initiated by an electron having less than 10 ev, but does at least have the possibility of happening if the electron has more than 10 ev. The general principle has been used a number of times in the past, for example, to establish the existence of energy levels in atoms, as in the well-known Franck-Hertz experiment, and to determine the ionization potentials of various gases (3). The slow-electron beams used for this experiment lose most of their energy in passing through a layer of matter only a few atoms thick. The target used must therefore be only one molecule thick, since any biological molecule in the second layer would be completely protected. Techniques had previously been acquired (4, 5) in this laboratory for working with monomolecular layers of bovine serum albumin (BSA), and so this was the biological material chosen to work with.
Association of Adiponectin Gene Polymorphism (+T45G) With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Circulating Adiponectin Levels

We investigated the association of adiponectin gene polymorphisms (+T45G and +G276T) and adiponectin levels with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among Arabs in Qatar. A case–control study was performed in 142 Arab patients with ACS and 122 controls. Genotypes were determined using TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. The TT, TG, and GG genotype frequencies of the T45G variant were significantly different among cases and controls (P = .023) but not significant for G276T genotypic frequencies. It was found that only the +45G allele was significantly associated with 3-fold increased risk of ACS (odds ratio = 2.77; 1.03-6.96; P = .043) among patients, using the genetic recessive model. Carriers of GG alleles had significantly lower adiponectin levels compared to TT/TG carriers of T45G in patients with ACS. The present study suggests that only T45G single-nucleotide polymorphism in the adiponectin gene is associated with higher odds for ACS events and has an effect on serum adiponectin levels among Arab populations.
Comparison of Viable Cell Yield from Excised versus Aspirated Adipose Tissue

The correction of soft-tissue defects by adipose tissue transplantation often produces poor and unpredictable results. The implantation of isolated and cultured preadipocytes offers a solution to this problem since these cells differentiate into adipocytes when implanted in vivo. A field of major interest is to maximize the yield of preadipocytes isolated from adipose tissue showing only low contamination with other cell types. Aspiration and excision are two concurrent clinical ways of harvesting adipose tissue for the isolation of preadipocytes. This tissue is usually discarded after surgery. In this study, the yield of preadipocytes obtained from liposuction material was compared to that of excised adipose tissue. Furthermore, we determined the loss of precursor cells if isolation of preadipocytes was delayed for 24 h. Preadipocytes were isolated from the stromal cell fraction of human subcutaneous adipose tissue samples. Harvesting of adipose tissue by suction was performed according to the Coleman procedure (manually applied negative pressure using a 10-ml syringe with a blunt tip cannula). Isolation was either carried out within 60 min after extraction or after storage for 24 h in culture medium at 4°C. Isolated preadipocytes were cultured for 24 h, trypsinized and counted in a Neubauer chamber. Our results show clearly that the yield of preadipocytes isolated from liposuction material (within 60 min after extraction and after 24 h of storage) is higher than the cell yield from excised adipose tissue. Overnight storage for 24 h leads to a significant loss of preadipocytes in excised tissue but not in liposuction material. The high yield of cells isolated from liposuction material proves that extraction by suction does not damage the stromal cell fraction in the adipose tissue. If cell isolation is not performed immediately after the operation, liposuction material is clearly the better alternative for storage.
Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in normotensive postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of heart failure among diabetic patients is high, also in those with normal blood pressure and without coronary artery disease, even when electrocardiogram (ECG) is normal. The goal of our study was to assess the prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) among diabetic women (DW) and its correlation with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, obesity status, and ECG parameters. METHODS A group of 456 consecutive normotensive postmenopausal women affected by type 2 diabetes, diagnosed over 5 years, were enrolled. One hundred normotensive non-diabetic postmenopausal women were included as a control group (CG). Rest ECG and trans-thoracic echocardiogram and Doppler were performed. RESULTS LVDD was present in 103 (23.3%) out of 456 DW, and 8 out of 100 women in CG (8%), p < 0.001. There was no difference in mean age between the two groups: 56 ± 13 and 55 ± 3, respectively (p = 0.3). There were 191 (41.9%) DW with body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m². Among those, there were 56 (12.3%) with significant prevalence of LVDD, while there were 49 (10.7%) with BMI < 30 kg/m², p < 0.005. DW with HbA1c > 7.5% comprised a group of 243 (53.3%) patients. Among those, there were 45 (9.9%) with higher prevalence of LVDD, and 15 (3.3%) with HbA1c < 7.5%, p < 0.01. Out of a group of 147 (32.2%) DW with abnormal ECG , 21 had LVDD (4.6%), p = 0,1, and 84 (18.8%) had LVDD with normal ECG. CONCLUSIONS Our data prove a high prevalence of LVDD in asymptomatic diabetic postmenopausal women. This finding is closely related with HbA1c levels and obesity status, not with abnormal ECG, which is a unique cardiologic test recommended by current guidelines in all diabetic patients. We conclude that early detection of high level of HbA1c and obesity (30 kg/m²) may identify women with major risk to develop LVDD. Furthermore, a simple ECG, when normal, is not enough to assess a normal LV diastolic function.
Coal-Based Reduction and Magnetic Separation Behavior of Low-Grade Vanadium-Titanium Magnetite Pellets

Coal-based reduction and magnetic separation behavior of low-grade vanadium-titanium magnetite pellets were studied in this paper. It is found that the metallization degree increased obviously with an increase in the temperature from 1100 °C to 1400 °C. The phase composition transformation was specifically analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microscopic examination was carried out with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the element composition and distribution were detected with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). It is observed that the amounts of metallic iron particles obviously increased and the accumulation and growing tendency were gradually facilitated with the increase in the temperature from 1100 °C to 1400 °C. It is also found that the titanium oxides were gradually reduced and separated from ferrum-titanium oxides during reduction. In addition, with increasing the temperature from 1200 °C to 1350 °C, silicate phases, especially calcium silicate phases that were transformed from calcium ferrite at 1100 °C, were observed and gradually aggregated. However, at 1400 °C some silicate phases infiltrated into metallic iron, as it appears that the carbides, especially TiC, could probably contribute to the sintering phenomenon becoming serious. The transformation behavior of valuable elements was as follows: Fe2VO4 → VO → V → VC; FeTiO3 (→ FeTi2O5) → TiO2 → TiC; FeCr2O4 → Cr → CrC; FeTiO3 (→ FeTi2O5) → Fe0.5Mg0. 5Ti2O5; (Fe3O4/FeTiO3→) FeO → Mg0.77Fe0. 23O. Through the magnetic separation of coal-based reduced products, it is demonstrated that the separation of Cr, V, Ti, and non-magnetic phases can be preliminarily realized.
Critical role of CD11a (LFA-1) in therapeutic efficacy of systemically transferred antitumor effector T cells.

The systemic adoptive transfer of activated T cells, derived from tumor-draining lymph nodes (LNs), mediates the regression of established tumors. In this study, the requirement of cell adhesion molecules, CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1), CD54 (ICAM-1), CD49d/CD29 (VLA-4), and CD106 (VCAM-1), for T cell infiltration into tumors and antitumor function was investigated. Administration of anti-CD11a mAb completely abrogated the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy for both intracranial and pulmonary metastatic MCA 205 fibrosarcomas. In contrast, adoptive immunotherapy was effective in animals treated with anti-CD49d mAb, anti-CD106 mAb, anti-CD54 mAb, or in CD54 knockout recipients. Trafficking of transferred cells to the intracranial tumor was not affected by any of the mAb. However, the tumor-specific secretion of IFN-gamma by activated LN T cells was suppressed by anti-CD11a mAb or anti-CD54 mAb. To account for the different effects of CD11a and CD54 blockade in vivo, an additional CD11a/CD18 ligand, CD102 (ICAM-2), was demonstrated on tumor-associated macrophages but not on tumor cells. These results show that CD11a mediates a critical function in interactions between effector T cells, tumor cells, and host accessory cells in situ leading to tumor regression.
Structural Diversity of Sodium

Sodium exhibits a pronounced minimum of the melting temperature at ∼118 gigapascals and 300 kelvin. Using single-crystal high-pressure diffraction techniques, we found that the minimum of the sodium melting curve is associated with a concentration of seven different crystalline phases. Slight changes in pressure and/or temperature induce transitions between numerous structural modifications, several of which are highly complex. The complexity of the phase behavior above 100 gigapascals suggests extraordinary liquid and solid states of sodium at extreme conditions and has implications for other seemingly simple metals.
The Anand parameters for SAC solders after extreme aging

The mechanical behavior of lead free solder materials is often represented using the Anand viscoplastic constitutive model. This nine parameter model is built into popular commercial finite element codes, and is widely used in the electronic packaging industry. Reliability prediction results are often highly sensitive to the specified Anand parameters, and there are great variations in the available literature values for common solder alloys. In this work, we have explored the range of Anand parameters possible for four common SAC (Sn-Ag-Cu) alloys by testing samples with a wide range of microstructures. The lead free solder materials tested include 98.5Sn1.0Ag0.5Cu (SAC105), 97.5Sn2. 0Ag0.5Cu (SAC205), 96.5Sn3. 0Ag0.5Cu (SAC305), 95.5Sn4.0Ag0.5Cu (SAC405). These SACN05 solders have various Ag contents from N = 1.0 to 4.0%, and all contain 0.5% Cu. For each lead free solder alloy, four different cooling profiles and resultant microstructures have been investigated that yielded vastly different mechanical behaviors. These included water quenched (WQ), reflowed (RF), reflowed + 6 months of aging at 100°C, and reflowed + 12 months of aging at 100°C. The nine Anand parameters were determined for each unique solder alloy and microstructure from a set of stress strain tests performed at three different strain rates and five different temperatures (15 sets of conditions). After deriving the Anand parameters for each alloy and microstructure, the stress-strain curves have been calculated for various temperatures and strain rates, and excellent agreement was found between the predicted results and experimental stress-strain curves. The large range of microstructures examined has allowed us to explore the extreme values of the material properties and Anand parameters possible for a given SACN05 alloy. The WQ microstructures are extremely fine, and yield high mechanical properties at the upper limits possible for the solder alloys. The RF + 6 months of aging and RF + 12 months of aging microstructures are highly coarsened, and yield similar and highly degraded mechanical properties. After such a long durations of aging, any further changes in the microstructure, mechanical response, and mechanical properties will be rather small. Thus, the results for these “extreme aging” cases can be regarded as approaching the highest level of mechanical behavior degradation possible for a lead free solder material. Such limiting values found for a severely aged SAC alloy can be used by designers as a conservative set of constitutive parameters in finite element simulations.
Air embolism during an aircraft flight in a passenger with a pulmonary cyst: a favorable outcome with hyperbaric therapy.

ALL modern volatile anesthetics produce carbon monoxide in strongly exothermic reactions with anhydrous carbon dioxide absorbents. Although desflurane produces the most carbon monoxide, the reaction with sevoflurane produces the most heat. Using real anesthesia machines, sevoflurane, and desiccated Baralyme® (Allied Healthcare Products, Inc., St. Louis, MO), peak absorbent canister temperatures of 100–401°C have been documented. In six clinical cases, sevoflurane reacted with dry soda lime to produce hot canisters and, in two of these cases, 4–9% carboxyhemoglobin. We report a sevoflurane reaction with Baralyme® associated with melted absorbent cartridges, thermochemically-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome, and 29% carboxyhemoglobin.
Scaling laws for dynamos in rotating spherical shells and application to planetary magnetic fields

We study numerically an extensive set of dynamo models in rotating spherical shells with the geometry of Earth’s core, covering a wide range of control parameters. The Ekman numner E varies between 10−6 and 3 × 10−4, the magnetic Prandtl number Pm between 0.06 and 10, the Prandtl number Pr between 0.1 and 10, and the Rayleigh number Ra is up to 50 times critical. Convection is driven by a fixed temperature contrast between rigid boundaries. There are two distinct classes of solutions with strong and weak dipole contributions to the magnetic field, respectively. The transition from dipolar to non-dipolar dynamos is found when the scale-dependent Rossby number, Ro` = U/(Ω`), exceeds a value of ≈ 0.12 independent of the values of E, Pr and Pm (U is the rms-velocity, Ω rotation rate, and ` a characteristic length scale of the flow). Since Ro` measures the importance of inertial forces to the Coriolis force, dipolar dynamos break down when inertia starts to play a significant role in the force balance.
Differential expression of microRNAs in the brains of mice subjected to increasing grade of mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract Objective: To investigate the effect of heterogeneity in mTBI on miRNA expression in mouse brain and to identify molecular pathways targeted by the modulated miRNAs. Methods: A weight drop device was used to induce four increasing grades of mTBI. MiRNA expression was evaluated using TaqMan rodent miRNA arrays. Bioinformatics analysis was done using the DIANA miRPath tool and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Histology of brain sections was evaluated using H&E staining. Results: No histologic lesions were observed in the brains of injured mice; however, significant modulation in miRNA expression profile was observed. Global miRNA profiling indicated a trend of decrease in the number of modulated miRNAs from 24 hours to day 7 post-injury, except for the most severe grade of mTBI. Canonical pathways like calcium signalling, synaptic pathways and axon guidance pathway were the major targets of the modulated miRNAs. Network correlation analyses indicated an interaction between the modulated miRNAs and putative protein biomarkers of TBI. Conclusions: The data demonstrated that varying intensities of mTBI induced a differential miRNA expression profile in the brain post-injury. Pathways such as calcium and synaptic signalling were major targets of modulated miRNAs and may play a role in the pathophysiology of mTBI.
Elderly Suicide in Alberta: Difference by Gender

Objective: To determine differences by gender among elderly persons who commit suicide on demographic characteristics, place of suicide, suicide method, previous suicide behaviour, and precipitant stressor. Method: This study included completed suicides of individuals aged 55 years and over during 1984–1995 in Alberta (n = 920). Information was abstracted from suicide records of medical examiners. Results: Relative to elderly female suicides, elderly males who commit suicide characteristically use guns to commit suicide (43.8%), are single (12.5%), live in rural areas (46.7%), and have a lower frequency of previous suicide attempts (16.5%). Physical illness and financial difficulty as precipitant stressors of suicide are significantly more frequent among males (40.3% and 8.7% respectively) than females (29.9% and 1.8% respectively). Mental illness as a precipitant stressor is more common among females, 35.8% for women and 15.3% for men. Conclusions: Lethal methods of suicide and physical illness and financial difficulty as precipitant stressors of suicide are more common among elderly males than females who commit suicide.
Koalitionsbildung in deutschen Großstädten: Empirische Befunde aus Nordrhein-Westfalen

Studien zu lokaler Koalitionsbildung in westeuropaischen Staaten zeigen, dass sich Koalitionsbildungstheorien auch auf die lokale Ebene ubertragen lassen. Umso erstaunlicher ist es, dass sowohl die „klassischen“ Theorien der Koalitionsbildung als auch institutionelle und kontextuelle Erklarungsfaktoren zur Koalitionsbildung in Mehrebenensystemen bisher nicht auf das kommunalpolitische System Deutschlands ubertragen worden sind. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werde ich deshalb zunachst der Frage nachgehen, inwieweit sich die Koalitionsbildungsmuster auf der kommunalen, regionalen und nationalen Ebene in Deutschland unterscheiden. In einem zweiten Schritt werde ich dann die Erklarungsfaktoren kommunaler Koalitionsbildung bestimmen. Ich teste meine Erwartungen hinsichtlich der Muster kommunaler Koalitionsbildung in nordrhein-westfalischen Grosstadten fur den Zeitraum 1999-2009. Meine Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sowohl die Koalitionsbildungsmuster als auch die Determinanten kommunaler Koalitionsbildung denjenigen auf Bundes- und Landesebene ahneln. Daruber hinaus spielt auch die Parteizugehorigkeit des direkt gewahlten Oberburgermeisters eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Bildung kommunaler Koalitionen.