Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Service Counseling in Cancer Centers Certified by the German Cancer Society

Social workers are an integral part of care provided in cancer centers that are certified according to the requirements of the German Cancer Society. This article reports on the tasks of social workers in German cancer care and on the proportion of patients that receives social service counseling (SSC) in breast, lung, colorectal, skin, gynecological, prostate, pancreas, neurological, and head and neck cancer centers based on data from 367,297 patients treated between 2009 and 2012. The highest proportions of patients (median >75%) are provided with SSC in breast and colorectal cancer centers, whereas the median is below 30% in skin cancer centers. Variation between centers and center types is high.
Circadian and seasonal rhythms of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Beijing

Objective To investigate the circadian and seasonal patterns in the presentation of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) in Beijing, China. Methods Medical records of the Beijing Emergency Medical Service System (EMSS) for 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2007 were reviewed; all patients diagnosed with AUGIB were included in the study. Results 2580 patients were recorded in the EMSS system with a diagnosis of AUGIB during the study period. 1888 (73%) were male and 692 (27%) were female. Mean age was 53±20 years for male patients and 63±21 years for female patients. Significant differences in the presentation of AUGIB were noticed between seasons (p<0.001) and months (p<0.001). The number of cases in cold months (from December to April) was significantly higher than that in warm months (June to September). There was a significant circadian rhythm; there were fewer cases during daytime hours compared with night-time hours (p<0.001). Conclusions The presentation of AUGIB in Beijing has a clear seasonal and circadian rhythm. Circadian and seasonal rhythms associated with AUGIB may aid in identifying modifiable risk factors in individuals and populations.
Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 is a tonic suppressor of vascularization

Angiogenesis is regulated by means of a balance between activators and inhibitors. However, little is known regarding the regulation of the quiescent state of adult vessels. Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRFR2) is found in both endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the vasculature, where its function has remained elusive. We have investigated the role of CRFR2 as a determinant of tissue vascularization by comparing control and CRFR2-deficient mice with immunohistological and morphometric techniques. To define the mechanisms responsible for CRFR2 inhibition of angiogenesis, we have also examined in vitro the effect of ligand activation on cell proliferation, cell cycle protein phosphorylation, and capillary tube formation. Our results demonstrate that mice deficient for CRFR2 become hypervascularized postnatally. Activation of this receptor in vitro results in reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release from SMCs, an inhibition of SMC proliferation, and inhibition of capillary tube formation in collagen gels. Treatment of a subcutaneously injected gel matrix with a CRFR2 agonist inhibits growth factor-induced vascularization. Western blots show that cell cycle retinoblastoma protein, which is essential for cell cycle progression, is decreased by CRFR2 agonist treatment in SMCs. These results suggest that CRFR2 is a critical component of a pathway necessary for tonic inhibition of adult neovascularization. CRFR2 may be a potential target for therapeutic modulation of angiogenesis in cancer and ischemic cardiovascular disease.
Single-agent capecitabine maintenance therapy after response to capecitabine-based combination chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer

We performed an analysis of the efficacy of capecitabine monotherapy as maintenance treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) after response to capecitabine-based chemotherapy [capecitabine plus docetaxel (XT) or vinorelbine (XN)] as a first-line or a second-line treatment. Sixty-four Chinese patients with histologically confirmed MBC received capecitabine maintenance therapy after disease stabilization or maximal response to capecitabine-based combination chemotherapy. Single-agent capecitabine was administered at a dose of 1000 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days, followed by a 7-day rest period, every 3 weeks. The median time to progression, the primary endpoint of the study, was 4.4 months (95% confidence interval, 3.4–5.4 months). Fifty-nine patients were evaluable for response. Capecitabine maintenance therapy produced an objective response rate of 5.1% (95% confidence interval, 3.9–6.3%). The incidence of grade 3/4 leukopenia (3.1%) and neutropenia (4.7%) was significantly lower (P<0.001) with capecitabine monotherapy than with combination chemotherapy (46.9 and 54.7%, respectively). Conversely, the incidence of grade 3 hand–foot syndrome was higher with capecitabine maintenance therapy than with combination therapy (14.1 vs. 0%, respectively; P=0.003). Capecitabine monotherapy is an effective maintenance treatment after response to capecitabine-based combination chemotherapy in MBC with a favorable safety profile.
Study of Dielectric Barrier Townsend Discharge in 3-mm Air Gap at Atmospheric Pressure

Diffuse dielectric barrier discharge was first produced in 3-mm-thick air gap at atmospheric pressure using two plane parallel electrodes each covered by one specific alumina plate with a thickness of 2.3 mm. Based on the discharge photographs of 10 ns exposure time taken with an intensified CCD camera, the diffuse discharge was identified with Townsend discharge. The Townsend breakdown voltage for this 3-mm air gap is about 5.7 kV, significantly lower than 11.2 kV, the streamer breakdown voltage of the air gap. If the alumina plate is too thin, the discharge transits to filamentary discharge. If it is too thick, the discharge is too weak to observe. Thermally stimulated current experiments revealed that there exist more shallow traps in the ceramic than in quartz plate after discharge pretreatment. The uniqueness of the shallow traps in the surface of the specific alumina plate, as well as the effect of the current limitation by dielectric leads to a Townsend discharge.
Phosphorylation of Neurofilament Proteins in Isolated Goldfish Mauthner Axoplasm

Abstract: The six neurofilament proteins (NFPs) in the goldfish Mauthner axon (M‐axon) have molecular sizes of 235, 145, 123, 105, 80, and 60 kDa. To determine if NFPs in the M‐axon are phosphorylated, isolated Mauthner axoplasm (M‐axoplasm) and a neurofilament‐enriched extract (NFE) prepared from M‐axoplasm were incubated with 32P, which resulted in the radiolabeling of NFPs as determined by their detection on autoradiograms. Kinase inhibitors directed against cyclic AMP‐dependent kinases (PKAs) or cofactor‐independent kinases significantly reduced the in vitro phosphorylation of NFPs in NFE, whereas inhibitors directed against protein kinase C did not significantly reduce the in vitro phosphorylation of NFPs in NFE. Experiments using two kinase inhibitors directed against different kinases significantly reduced the in vitro phosphorylation of NFPs in NFE to a greater extent than the reduction produced using any single kinase inhibitor. These data suggest that NFPs in the M‐axon are phosphorylated and that the in vitro (and perhaps the in vivo) phosphorylation of NFPs is mediated by PKA and/or cofactor‐independent kinases that copurify with NFPs.
Desmoplastic stroma and cholangiocarcinoma: Clinical implications and therapeutic targeting

Cholangiocarcinomas are usually characterized by a prominent desmoplastic and hypovascularized stroma. However, the biological significance and clinical impact of the desmoplastic stroma in cholangiocarcinoma is only just beginning to be addressed at the cellular and molecular levels. Nevertheless, there is now increasing evidence to suggest that the desmoplastic reaction, marked by a dramatic accumulation of α-smooth muscle actin positive cancer-associated fibroblasts (α-SMA+CAFs) with increased production of extracellular matrix proteins, pro-invasive growth factors and cytokines, anti-angiogenic factors, and matrix modifying enzymes may be playing a crucial role in promoting enhanced malignant behavior and therapeutic resistance in cholangiocarcinoma (1). In this review, we will highlight current findings on the potential prognostic value of α-SMA+CAFs, tumor-associated macrophages, and select related blood and serum markers associated with the desmoplastic reaction in predicting cholangiocarcinoma progression and patient survival rates. We will also describe recent experimental approaches to achieve cholangiocarcinoma prevention by reducing hepatic fibrosis. Last, we will discuss the potential merits and challenges of α-SMA+CAF depletion as a novel strategy for cholangiocarcinoma therapy.
Cardiovascular risk and fitness in veteran football players

ABSTRACT Veteran football players above 40 years have rarely been subject to scientific investigations. This is worrisome because their number is considerable and their cardiovascular risk probably increased. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 100 football players between 40 and 63 years of age. This included a medical history and physical examination, venous blood sampling, measurement of resting blood pressure, a resting electrocardiogram (ECG), an exhaustive cycle ergometry and a multistage field test. Also, measurements of heart rate and blood lactate concentration were carried out during one typical training session and one match. Participants trained 1.0 ± 0.6 sessions per week and played 27 ± 8 matches per season. Of them, 19% were smokers. Resting blood pressure was 138 ± 15/88 ± 8 mmHg. Hypertension prevalence (WHO definition) was 66%. Total cholesterol averaged 220 ± 41 mg . dl−1, HDL 46 ± 13 mg . dl−1 and LDL 134 ± 33 mg . dl−1. The average 10-year risk for cardiovascular events (Framingham score) was 6%. Mean maximal power output on the cycle ergometer was 2.8 ± 0.6 W . kg−1, mean VO2peak 40.0 ± 7.3 ml . min−1 . kg−1. Comparing training and competition, no significant differences in cardiovascular and metabolic load were found. In summary, their cardiovascular risk was similar to age-adjusted reference values. However, they showed slightly better ergometric performance. More frequent training stimuli might be necessary to reach more favourable risk factor profiles. Training and competition lead to similar cardiocirculatory and metabolic stress which is considerably high and might put players into danger who have pre-existing cardiac disease.
World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Soft Tissue and Bone

"Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Soft Tissue and Bone" is the fifth volume in the new WHO series on histological and genetic typing of human tumours. It covers tumours of soft tissue and bone including inherited tumour syndromes. Each entity is extensively discussed with information on clinicopathological, epidemiological, immunophenotypic and genetic aspects of these diseases. Diagnostic criteria, pathological features and associated genetic alterations are described in a strictly disease-oriented manner. Sections on all recognized neoplasms and their variants include new ICD-O codes, incidence, age and sex distribution, location, clinical signs and symptoms, pathology, genetics and predictive factors. This book is an authoritative, concise reference, prepared by 147 authors from 28 countries. It contains more than 900 colour photographs, numerous MRIs, ultrasound images, CT scans, charts and approx. 2000 references.
Long‐term efficacy and safety of zotarolimus‐eluting stent in patients with diabetes mellitus: Pooled 5‐year results from the ENDEAVOR III and IV trials

To assess long‐term outcomes of Endeavor Zotarolimus‐eluting stent (E‐ZES) implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Background: Patients with DM and coronary artery disease have lower restenosis with drug‐eluting stent (DES) compared with bare‐metal stents. Recent data suggest that the E‐ZES is inferior to other DES in this population.
Cytomegalovirus Infection in Blood Donors—A Prospective Study

Summary. One hundred and ninety‐five blood donors for 10 patients who had open‐heart surgery and fresh blood transfusion were screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV). Complement‐fixing antibody to CMV was present in 55%, but no CMV was isolated. The 21 blood donors, for two of the 10 patients who became infected with CMV post‐operatively, were recalled, but there was no evidence of recent infection with CMV.
Hybrid EDFA/Raman Amplification Topology for Repeaterless 4.48 Tb/s (40 x 112 Gb/s DP-QPSK) Transmission Over 302 Km of G.652 Standard Single Mode Fiber

In this work we carry out a comprehensive experimental study on hybrid optical amplification topologies (based on first order Raman and Erbium doped fiber amplifiers) for repeaterless transmission of 112 Gb/s dual polarization-quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) enabling a 4.48 Tb/s (40 × 112 Gb/s) transmission over 302 km of standard single mode fiber with coherent detection. Hybrid optical amplification was employed for signal boosting and pre-amplification and repeaterless transmission is assured without the use of neither in-line amplification nor remote optical amplifiers. The goal was to achieve the highest bandwidth-distance product for repeaterless DWDM transmission systems over legacy fiber without any in-line amplification technology. The achieved result is a significant milestone, when compared to recent state-of-the-art investigations.
A powerful method of combining measures of association and Hardy–Weinberg disequilibrium for fine‐mapping in case‐control studies

We present a new method for fine‐mapping a disease susceptibility locus using a case‐control design. The new method, termed the ‘weighted average (WA) statistic’, averages the Cochran–Armitage (CA) trend test statistic and the difference between the Hardy Weinberg disequilibrium test statistics (the HWD trend) for cases and controls. The main features of the WA statistic are that it mitigates against the weaknesses, and maintains the strong points, of both the CA trend test and the HWD trend test. To allow for the extra variance induced by population structure and cryptic relatedness, the WA statistic can be adjusted for variance inflation. Based on the results of a simulation study, when there is no population structure the WA test statistic shows good performance under a variety of genetic disease models. When there is population structure, the adjusted WA statistic maintains the correct probability of type I error. Under all genetic disease models investigated, the adjusted WA statistic has better power than the adjusted CA trend test, the HWD trend test or the product of the adjusted CA trend test and the HWD trend test statistics. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Requirement for Vav Proteins in Post-Recruitment Neutrophil Cytotoxicity in IgG but Not Complement C3-Dependent Injury1

The signals linking neutrophil opsonic receptors, FcγRs and complement receptor 3 (Mac-1) to cellular cytotoxic responses are poorly understood. Furthermore, because a deficiency in activating FcγRs reduces both IgG-mediated neutrophil recruitment and tissue injury, the role of FcγRs specifically in mediating neutrophil cytotoxicity in vivo remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that neutrophil Vav 1 and 3, guanine exchange factors for Rac GTPases, are required for IgG/FcγR-mediated hemorrhage and edema in the reverse passive Arthus in the lung and skin. Rac GTPases are also required for development of the reverse passive Arthus reaction. A deficiency in Vav 1 and 3 does not affect neutrophil accumulation at the site of immune complex deposition, thus uncoupling neutrophil recruitment and tissue injury. Surprisingly, Vav and Rac proteins are dispensable for the development of the local Shwartzman reaction in vivo and phagocytosis of complement-opsonized RBC in vitro, processes strictly dependent on Mac-1 and complement C3. Thus, FcγR signaling through the Vav and Rac proteins in neutrophils is critical for stimulating immune complex disease while Vav- and Rac-independent pathways promote Mac-1/complement C3-dependent functions.
An evaluation of accessibility and content of microsurgery fellowship websites

Background Websites for residency and fellowship programs serve as effective educational and recruitment tools. Objective To evaluate the accessibility and content of fellowship websites that are commonly used by microsurgery applicants for career development. Methods A list of one-year microsurgery fellowship websites (MFWs) was compiled by visiting the centralized American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) website, followed by performing an extensive ‘Google’ search in October 2015. Accessibility of MFWs was assessed. Website content regarding key recruitment and education variables was also comprehensively reviewed. Website content was correlated with program characteristics using t tests and ANOVA (two-tailed; P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant). Results A list of 53 eligible programs was compiled. Only 15 of 51 (29%) ASRM program links were functional. On average, the combined content from ASRM website and individual MFWs had 2.91 of 6 recruitment variables and 1.32 of 6 education variables, respectively. The majority of programs listed ‘eligibility criteria’ (87%) and ‘general information’ (87%). ‘Evaluation criteria’ were most poorly reported (4%). Recruitment score was higher for United States programs compared with international counterparts (51% versus 33%, respectively; P=0.02). It was also higher in programs that focus on ‘extremity’ versus ‘breast’ (58% versus 37%; P=0.0028). Education scores did not differ according to location, program size, subspecialty of focus or participation in the Microsurgery Match process. Conclusion Information regarding recruitment and education on most MFWs is scarce. Academic institutions should keep website content up to date and comprehensive to better assist candidates in the application process.
Detection of Bartonella henselae in the blood of 2 adult horses.

BACKGROUND Bartonella spp. are emerging zoonotic agents that have been found in a wide variety of domestic animals and wildlife and cause a number of clinical syndromes. Bartonella sp. infection has been identified in a growing number of animal species, including cats, rodents, porpoises, and canids, but has not been reported in horses. OBJECTIVE To document the presence of Bartonella sp. in the blood of horses. ANIMALS One horse with chronic arthropathy and 1 horse with presumptive vasculitis. METHODS Blood samples were tested for the presence of Bartonella sp. by a combination of multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction and enrichment culture technique. RESULTS Bartonella henselae was isolated or detected in the blood of both horses. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Bartonella henselae infection should be investigated as the cause of disease in horses.
HIV-related mortality in Jamaican children.

OBJECTIVE Paediatric HIV is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We describe HIV-related mortality in a cohort of HIV-infected Jamaican children and identified factors which influenced survival. METHODS A retrospective descriptive study was conducted for the period March 2003 - December 2005 at Cornwall Regional Hospital, Montego Bay, Jamaica. We summarized demographic and clinical data of deceased and living perinatally HIV-infected children and identified factors that influenced survival of rapid and slow progressors. Rapid progressors are HIV-infected children identified clinically before age 2 years and slow progressors after age 2 years. RESULTS There were 9 (180%) HIV/AIDS-related deaths among 50 HIV-infected children of whom 23 (46%) were males and 21 (43%) were AIDS orphans. Five children (10%0) received ARV prophylaxis, 31 (62%) were breastfed and 39 (78%) received HAART Surviving children displayed primarily non-AIDS defining illnesses (pneumonia and sepsis) but there was no difference in AIDS-defining illnesses among living and deceased children. The median age at diagnosis was 26 months (range 3-121; IQR 10, 54). The median age at death was 30 months (range 7-122 months; IQR 17, 118). Both surviving and deceased children presented with primarily moderate symptoms at diagnosis (21, 42%) and death (7, 78%). In rapid progressors, 19 of 20 (95%) on HAART remained alive and all 4 (100%) who did not receive HAART died. The mortality rate in children on HAART was 30.78 per 100 person years and 48 per 100 person years in children not receiving HAART. CONCLUSIONS HAART is the only factor identified which prolonged survival for HIV-infected children who are rapid progressors, have AIDS-defining illnesses and are orphans.
Foxby duality and Gorenstein injective and projective modules

In 1966, Auslander introduced the notion of the G-dimension of a finitely generated module over a Cohen-Macaulay noetherian ring and found the basic properties of these dimensions. His results were valid over a local Cohen-Macaulay ring admitting a dualizing module (also see Auslander and Bridger (Mem. Amer. Math. Soc., vol. 94, 1969)). Enochs and Jenda attempted to dualize the notion of G-dimensions. It seemed appropriate to call the modules with G-dimension 0 Gorenstein projective, so the basic problem was to define Gorenstein injective modules. These were defined in Math. Z. 220 (1995), 611–633 and were shown to have properties predicted by Auslander’s results. The way we define Gorenstein injective modules can be dualized, and so we can define Gorenstein projective modules (i.e. modules of G-dimension 0) whether the modules are finitely generated or not. The investigation of these modules and also Gorenstein flat modules was continued by Enochs, Jenda, Xu and Torrecillas. However, to get good results it was necessary to take the base ring Gorenstein. H. -B. Foxby introduced a duality between two full subcategories in the category of modules over a local CohenMacaulay ring admitting a dualizing module. He proved that the finitely generated modules in one category are precisely those of finite G-dimension. We extend this result to modules which are not necessarily finitely generated and also prove the dual result, i.e. we characterize the modules in the other class defined by Foxby. The basic result of this paper is that the two classes involved in Foxby’s duality coincide with the classes of those modules having finite Gorenstein projective and those having finite Gorenstein injective dimensions. We note that this duality then allows us to extend many of our results to the original Auslander setting.
The RADARSAT Geophysical Processor System: Quality of Sea Ice Trajectory and Deformation Estimates

Abstract NASA's RADARSAT Geophysical Processor System (RGPS) uses sequential synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images to track the trajectories of some 30 000 points on the Arctic sea ice for periods of up to 6 months. Much of the Arctic basin is imaged and tracked every 3 days. The result is a highly detailed picture of how the sea ice moves and deforms. The points are initially spaced 10 km apart and are organized into four-cornered cells. The area and the strain rates are calculated for each cell for each new observation of its corners. The accuracy of the RGPS ice tracking, area changes, and deformation estimates is needed to make the dataset useful for analysis, model validation, and data assimilation. Two comparisons are made to assess the accuracy. The first compares the tracking performed at two different facilities (the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and the Alaska SAR Facility in Fairbanks, Alaska), between which the primary difference is the operator intervention. The error sta.