Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of observation of live cases done by Japanese experts in the acquisition of ESD skills by a western endoscopist.

AIM To evaluate the role of observation of experts performing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the acquisition of ESD skills. METHODS This prospective study is documenting the learning curve of one Western endoscopist. The study consisted of three periods. In the first period (pre-observation), the trainee performed ESDs in animal models in his home institution in the United States. The second period (observation) consisted of visit to Japan and observation of live ESD cases done by experts. The observation of cases occurred over a 5-wk period. During the third period (post-observation), the trainee performed ESD in animal models in a similar fashion as in the first period. Three animal models were used: live 40-50 kg Yorkshire pig, explanted pig stomach model, and explanted pig rectum model. The outcomes from the ESDs done in the animal models before and after observation of live human cases (main study intervention) were compared. Statistical analysis of the data included: Fisher's exact test to compare distributions of a categorical variable, Wilcoxon rank sum test to compare distributions of a continuous variable between the two groups (pre-observation and post-observation), and Kruskal-Wallis test to evaluate the impact of lesion location and type of model (ex-vivo vs live pig) on lesion removal time. RESULTS The trainee performed 38 ESDs in animal model (29 pre-observation/9 post-observation). The removal times post-observation were significantly shorter than those pre-observation (32.7 ± 15.0 min vs 63.5 ± 9.8 min, P < 0.001). To minimize the impact of improving physician skill, the 9 lesions post-observation were compared to the last 9 lesions pre-observation and the removal times remained significantly shorter (32.7 ± 15.0 min vs 61.0 ± 7.4 min, P = 0.0011). Regression analysis showed that ESD observation significantly reduced removal time when controlling for the sequence of lesion removal (P = 0.025). Furthermore, it was also noted a trend towards decrease in failure to remove lesions and decrease in complications after the period of observation. This study did not find a significant difference in the time needed to remove lesions in different animal models. This finding could have important implications in designing training programs due to the substantial difference in cost between live animal and explanted organ models. The main limitation of this study is that it reflects the experience of a single endoscopist. CONCLUSION Observation of experts performing ESD over short period of time can significantly contribute to the acquisition of ESD skills.
Thermal–Mechanical Coupling Analysis for Coupled Power- and Thermal-Cycling Reliability of Board-Level Electronic Packages

In this paper, we apply the sequential thermal-mechanical coupling analysis that solves, in turn, the transient temperature field and subsequent thermomechanical deformations to investigate thermal characteristics along with fatigue reliability of board-level thin-profile fine-pitch ball-grid-array chip-scale packages under coupled power- and thermal-cycling test conditions. Pure thermal-cycling and pure power-cycling test conditions are also examined and compared. From the comparison of different test conditions, we note that the presence of power cycling leads to significant deviations of junction and mold-top temperatures from the thermal-cycling profile. Nevertheless, for components away from the die, the deviations are less significant. As the power specified to the test vehicle is low, temperature histories on the components induced by coupled power and thermal cycling can be approximated by superposition of the temperature histories induced by pure power cycling and the ones by pure thermal cycling. For the test conditions proposed in this paper, pure power cycling leads to the longest fatigue life among all. For coupled power and thermal cycling, the involvement of power cycling reduces the fatigue life of the test vehicle by about 50% as compared to pure thermal cycling.
Drug dissolution rate measurements – evaluation of the rotating disc method

Dissolution rate measurements are important to understand the behaviour of drugs or drug formulations. Many methods for measuring dissolution rates are available and a good choice should be based on method limitations as well as drug characteristics. In the present study the rotating disc method was critically evaluated for dissolution rate measurements, using aspirin and benzoic acid as model substances. Existing theory for the rotating disc was compared with experiments and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model simulating the USP vessel. Simulations showed that it is possible to predict mass transfer controlled drug release rates within the laminar flow regime. Mass transfer coefficients obtained from the CFD model were in better agreement with experimental data than those obtained from existing theory. It was concluded that the hydrodynamic boundary layer controlling release rates was in reality thicker than existing theory would suggest.
Mycobiota of Czech wine grapes and occurrence of ochratoxin A and Alternaria mycotoxins in fresh grape juice, must and wine

The aim of this study was to monitor the mycobiota of wine grapes, occurrence of ochratoxigenic microfungi in wine grapes and occurrence of ochratoxin A and Alternaria mycotoxins in fresh grape juice, must and wine from domestic crops in the year 2004. Thirteen samples of wine grapes (white /nine samples/ and red /four samples/) were collected during harvesting in the Znojmo wine region, SE Moravia. One sample of a wine grape variety was represented by three subsamples of wine grapes, which were sampled in left, middle and right part of the vineyard. Five wine grape berries per bunch were randomly selected, plated onto Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) agar, and incubated for 5–7 days at 25 °C. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, C. cladosporioides, Penicillium expansum, P. aurantiogriseum, P. spinulosum and Rhizopus nigricans were isolated from the samples. Ochratoxigenic microfungi, e. g. Aspergillus carbonarius, and other species of section Nigri, A. ochraceus, Penicillium verrucosum and P. nordicum, were not found in the samples. The HPTLC method for quantification of ochratoxin A (OTA) and Alternaria mycotoxins (alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), altenuene (ALT), and tenuazonic acid (TeA)) in fresh grape juice (13 samples), must (13 samples) and wine (13 samples) was used. The limit of quantification (LoQ) was 8 ng/l for OTA, 1.5 μg/l for AOH, 1.5 μg/l for AME, 1.5 μg/l for ALT and 7.5 μg/l for TeA. Occurrence of OTA and Alternaria mycotoxins in fresh grape juice, must and wine was not proved.
Potential for enhancing biocompatibility through microstructuring and anti-coagulating biomolecular coatings

To demonstrate the potential for increasing implantable sensor life span by sensor surface microstructuring, microwells were fabricated into SU-8(an epoxy based negative photoresist material). The microstructured surfaces were modified with heparinized medical grade polyurethane and the biocompatibility of the surfaces was evaluated with respect to protein adsorption and porcine platelet adhesion. With a commercial implantable sensor surface (MINIMED), as a control, the microstructured/ heparinized surfaces offered more resistance (p=0.05) to protein and cell attachment, suggesting potential for increasing implantable sensor lifespans through microstructuring. INDEX WORDS: Biofouling, Biosensor, Cell-material interaction, Microstructuring, SU-8 POTENTIAL FOR ENHANCING BIOCOMPATIBILITY THROUGH MICROSTRUCTURING AND ANTI-COAGULATING BIOMOLECULAR COATINGS by
Cell‐attached measurements of the firing threshold of rat hippocampal neurones

1 The cell‐attached configuration of the patch‐clamp technique was used to assess resting membrane potential and firing threshold of CA1 pyramidal cells and interneurones of rat hippocampal slices. 2 Resting potential was inferred from the reversal potential of voltage‐gated K+ currents with symmetrical intracellular and pipette K+ concentrations. Its mean value was −74 ± 9 mV for silent interneurones (mean ± s.d.; n= 17) and −84 ± 7 mV for silent pyramidal cells (n= 8). Spontaneous action currents occurred in thirteen out of thirty‐two interneurones and two out of ten pyramidal cells. In active cells, membrane potential values fluctuated by up to 20 mV, due in part to the large hyperpolarizations that followed an action current. 3 Membrane potential values determined from K+ current reversal were 13 ± 6 mV more hyperpolarized than those measured in whole‐cell recordings from the same neurones (n= 8), probably due to a Donnan equilibrium potential between pipette and cytoplasm. 4 Firing threshold of silent cells was determined by elevating external K+ until action currents were generated, while membrane potential was monitored from the cell‐attached K+ current reversal. Spike threshold was attained at −49 ± 8 mV for interneurones (n= 17) and at −60 ± 8 mV for pyramidal cells (n= 8). Increasing external Ca2+ from 2 to 4 mM shifted the neuronal voltage threshold by +5 mV, without affecting resting potential. 5 For comparison with these values, we examined how the rate of membrane polarization influenced firing threshold in whole‐cell records. Ramp current injections, of duration 15–1500 ms, revealed that current threshold followed a classical strength‐duration relationship. In contrast voltage threshold, determined from current injection or by elevating extracellular K+, varied little with the rate of membrane polarization. 6 The state of activation and inactivation of Na+ and K+ currents might contribute to the stability of the voltage threshold. Cell‐attached records showed that 79 ± 10 % of Na+ channels and 64 ± 10 % of K+ channels were available for activation at resting potential in silent cells (n= 8). As cells were depolarized to threshold, Na+ current availability was reduced to 23 ± 10 %, and K+ current availability to 31 ± 12 %. 7 The speed of transition into the inactivated states also appears to contribute to the invariance of threshold for all but the fastest depolarizations. At potentials close to threshold, the rate of inactivation of Na+ and K+ followed a double exponential time course, such that Na+ currents were 62 % inactivated and K+ currents were 63 % inactivated within 15 ms.
The Preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status Score Predicts Survival After Curative Surgery in Patients with Pathological Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND The prognostic Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is used to evaluate immuno-nutritional conditions and is a predictive factor of postoperative survival in patients with digestive tract cancer. We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological features of patients with pathological stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to identify predictors or prognostic factors of postoperative survival and to investigate the role of preoperative CONUT score in predicting survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS We selected 138 consecutive patients with pathological stage I NSCLC treated from August 2005 to August 2010. We measured their preoperative CONUT score in uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses of postoperative survival. RESULTS A high CONUT score was positively associated with preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level (p=0.0100) and postoperative recurrence (p=0.0767). In multivariate analysis, the preoperative CONUT score [relative risk (RR)=6.058; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.068-113.941; p=0.0407), increasing age (RR=7.858; 95% CI=2.034-36.185; p=0.0029), and pleural invasion (RR=36.615; 95% CI=5.900-362.620; p<0.0001) were independent prognostic factors. In Kaplan-Meier analysis of recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CS), and overall survival (OS), the group with high CONUT score had a significantly shorter RFS, CS, and OS than did the low-CONUT score group by log-rank test (p=0.0458, p=0.0104 and p=0.0096, respectively). CONCLUSION The preoperative CONUT score is both a predictive and prognostic factor in patients with pathological stage I NSCLC. This immuno-nutritional score can indicate patients at high risk of postoperative recurrence and death.
Planetary Nebulae as Probes of Dark Matter in NGC 3384

We have obtained radial velocities of 68 planetary nebulae surrounding the SB0 galaxy NGC 3384 in the Leo I group, using the CTIO 4 m telescope and the Rutgers Fabry-Perot interferometer. The PN system exhibits a well-ordered rotation field aligned with the photometric axes of the galaxy. The rotation curve is flat from about 2 kpc until at least 7 kpc. Our results imply that at least a third of the dynamical mass of the NGC 3379/3384 system may be accounted for in the two bright galaxies.
Spectrum, and clinical and functional implications of UNC13D mutations in familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Objective: Familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a fatal disorder of immune dysregulation with defective cytotoxic lymphocyte function. Disease-causing mutations have been identified in the genes encoding perforin (PRF1), syntaxin-11 (STX11), and Munc13-4 (UNC13D). We screened for UNC13D mutations and studied clinical and functional implications of such mutations in a well defined patient cohort. Methods: Sequencing of UNC13D was performed in 38 FHL patients from 34 FHL families in which PRF1 and STX11 mutations had been excluded. Results: We identified six different mutations affecting altogether 9/38 individuals (24%) in 6/34 (18%) unrelated PRF1/STX11-negative families. Four novel mutations were revealed; two homozygous nonsense mutations (R83X and W382X), one splice mutation (exon 28), and one missense mutation (R928P). In addition, two known mutations were identified (R214X and a deletion resulting in a frame-shift starting at codon 782). There was considerable variation in the age at diagnosis, ranging from time of birth to 14 years (median 69 days). Three of nine patients (33%) developed central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was impaired in all four patients studied. Defective cytotoxic lymphocyte degranulation was evident in the two patients investigated, more pronounced in the patient with onset during infancy than in the patient with adolescent onset. Conclusions: Biallelic UNC13D mutations were found in 18% of the PRF1/STX11-negative FHL families. Impairment of NK cell degranulation was less pronounced in a patient with adolescent onset. FHL should be considered not only in infants but also in adolescents, and possibly young adults, presenting with fever, splenomegaly, cytopenia, hyperferritinaemia, and/or CNS symptoms.
Fundamentals of Treating Interference as Noise

Author(s): Geng, Chunhua | Advisor(s): Jafar, Syed | Abstract: Treating interference as noise (TIN) when it is sufficiently weak is one of the key principles of interference management for wireless networks. This dissertation revisits the optimality of TIN from an information theoretic perspective. It is shown that for K-user Gaussian interference channels, TIN achieves all points in the capacity region to within a constant gap, if for each user, the desired signal strength is no weaker than the sum of the strengths of the strongest interference caused by the user and the strongest interference suffered by the user (with all signal strengths measured in dB scale). We also extend the optimality of TIN to more general settings, including interference networks with general message sets, compound networks and MIMO interference channels, and characterize the secure capacity region within a constant gap for the identified TIN-optimal interference channels with secrecy constraints. Moreover, combining TIN with interference avoidance, we formulate a joint signal space and signal level optimization problem and propose a baseline decomposition approach.
Preoperative Scoring Systems and Prognostic Factors for Patients With Spinal Metastases From Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Study Design. A retrospective study had been conducted to compare the existing preoperative scoring systems and to find useful prognostic factors for patients with spinal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Objective. To evaluate different preoperative scoring systems and prognostic factors for patients with spinal metastases from HCC. Summary of Background Data. Different scoring systems for metastatic spinal tumor have been designed for prognostic evaluation. However, these scoring systems were formulated from many different types of tumors, so that their efficacy for a certain type of cancer needs to be validated. Furthermore, some serologic test results may enhance the accuracy of the scoring system. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate 4 prognostic scoring systems and factors in a series of 41 cases with spinal metastases from HCC in a single center. These scoring systems include Tokuhashi revised score, Tomita score, Bauer score, and a revised van der Linden score by the authors. Serologic test items including serum albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also evaluated. Results. The revised Tokuhashi scoring system provided statistically significant differences in survival time between different groups (P = 0.012), while the Tomita and Bauer systems did not show statistically significant differences (P = 0.918 and P = 0.754, respectively). Significantly improved survival was found in patients with good performance status and no visceral metastases (Group C, P = 0.008) in revised van der Linden scores. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed serum albumin and LDH were independent prognostic factors for survival time. Conclusion. Revised Tokuhashi scoring system is practicable and highly predictive, while serum albumin and LDH also have prognostic value in patients with spinal metastases from HCC, especially those without visceral metastases. More accurate prognosis may be obtained if the scoring systems include clinical and laboratory data in future.
Physiology of individual late-run Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) sampled in the ocean correlates with fate during spawning migration

Beginning in 1995, segments of the late-run sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stocks from the Fraser River, British Columbia, have initiated upriver spawning migration up to 6 weeks earlier than historical records; and those fish have experienced high rates of en route mortality. We examined the correlations between physiological and energetic status prior to river entry with subsequent migratory performance of individual salmon using telemetry and noninvasive biopsies for Adams-Thompson-Shuswap (Adams) and Weaver-Harrison (W-H) stocks. Salmon that failed to reach the river were characterized by a tendency to have elevated levels of chronic and acute stress indicators. For one stock of fish (i.e., Adams) that entered the river, those that died before reaching spawning grounds were individuals with low gross somatic energy. Furthermore, females tended to have elevated plasma estradiol levels. When contrasting fish with different behaviours and fates, fish that did not hold in the estuary and subsequently died tended to have less energy than fish that held and reached spawning areas. Females from the former group also had higher 11- ketotestosterone and estradiol levels relative to those from the later group. These data suggest that differences in physi- ological and energetic status may be associated with high en route mortality in late-run sockeye salmon. Resume : Depuis 1995, des portions des stocks a migration tardive de saumons rouges (Oncorhynchus nerka )d u Fraser, Colombie-Britannique, commencent leur migration de reproduction vers l'amont jusqu'a six semaines avant la periode normale du passe et elles subissent de forts taux de mortalite durant le trajet. Nous examinons les correlations entre les statuts physiologique et energetique avant l'entree en riviere et la performance subsequente de la migration chez des saumons individuels des stocks Adams-Thompson-Shuswap (Adams) et Weaver-Harrison (W-H) a l'aide de la telemetrie et de biopsies non invasives. Les saumons qui n'atteignent pas la riviere ont tendance a avoir des niveaux eleves d'indicateurs de stress chronique et aigu. Chez l'un des stocks (c.-a-d., Adams) qui a penetre dans la riviere, les poissons qui sont morts avant d'atteindre les sites de fraye etaient des individus possedant une faible energie somatique brute. De plus, les femelles avaient tendance a avoir des concentrations plasmatiques elevees d'oestradiol. En comparant des poissons ayant des comportements et des sorts differents, nous trouvons que les poissons qui ne se sont pas maintenus dans l'estuaire et qui sont morts subsequemment avaient tendance a avoir moins d'energie que les poissons qui se sont maintenus et qui ont atteint les sites de fraye; les femelles du premier groupe avaient aussi des concentrations plus elevees de 11-ceto-testosterone et d'oestradiol que celles du second groupe. Ces donnees indiquent que les statuts physiologique et energetique peuvent etre associes a une forte mortalite durant le trajet chez le saumon rouge.
Extended Newton-Euler based centrifugal/Coriolis matrix factorization for geared serial robot manipulators with ideal joints

The objective of this work is an extension of a quite new closed form factorizations of the centrifugal/Coriolis matrix based on Newton-Euler mechanics. The original factorization is extended for geared serial robot manipulators with ideal joints subject to kinematic constraints in joint motion due to actuators and gearboxes while preserving properties of the original factorization. Furthermore, the efficiency of the derived factorization is evaluated.
Spectrophotometric and liquid-chromatographic studies of thymolphthalein monophosphate. Specifications for high-quality substrate for the measurement of prostatic acid phosphatase activity.

Fourteen lots of thymolphthalein monophosphate (TMP), disodium salt, obtained from 10 commercial suppliers were compared spectrophotometrically at 445 and 595 nm, liquid-chromatographically with monitoring at 254 nm, and enzymically by measurements of activity of prostatic acid phosphatase in human serum. Eight lots were classified as "unacceptable," six as "acceptable. " Spectrophotometric testing revealed four lots with excessive thymolphthalein and three lots with grossly deficient amounts of TMP. In general, the chromatographic results paralleled those obtained by spectrophotometry, and both results correlated well with enzymic activity. Changing water content in this hygroscopic salt was a major problem, which resulted in great uncertainty as to the formula weight and therefore as to the moles of TMP actually taken. From these studies, specifications for high-quality TMP were determined. The critical importance of simultaneous enzymic activity measurements in comparisons with other "acceptable" lots in defining an adequate TMP substrate is stressed. Use of these specifications for selecting TMP for acid phosphatase activity measurements should improve intra- and inter-laboratory analytical performance.