Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Results of Systematic Nodal Dissection in Typical and Atypical Carcinoid Tumors of the Lung

Background: To determine the lymphatic spread frequency and location in patients, who underwent lung resection for carcinoid tumors, associated with systematic nodal dissection. Methods: From January 1998 to June 2007, 54 patients underwent anatomic lung resection associated with systematic nodal dissection for tumors classified as typical (TC) or atypical carcinoid according to 1999 World Health Organization criteria. The number and location of the resected lymph nodes were specified. All patients were followed up. Results: All patients underwent complete resection (R0) that were anatomic in 32 patients (59.2%), and associated with a bronchoplastic procedure in 22 (40.8%). Low morbidity was related to lymphadenectomy. The mean number of resected lymph nodes was of 18 (range, 7–44) per patient, which pathologic studies demonstrated lymphatic spread in 10 patients (18.5%). In the TC group (n = 42) 2 patients were classified N1 (4.8%) and 4 N2 (9.5%). In the atypical group (n = 12) 2 patients were classified N1 (16.6%) and 2 N2 (16.6%). Five of the 6 N2 patients showed a single skip metastasis not discovered by preoperative evaluation (83.3%). The lymphatic spread was correlated with age ≤35 years (p = 0.01) and a tumor size ≥3 cm (p = 0.002). Median follow-up was 57 months. Nine patients with lymphatic spread are disease free and one died from metastatic disease at 52 months. Conclusion: Systematic nodal dissection showed a high frequency of unpredictable lymphatic spread, mainly in the TC group. This procedure is mandatory to treat carcinoids in a curative intent.
Toxicological Effects of Some Heavy Metal Ions on Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

Different concentrations of selected heavy metals in the form of cadmium chloride (CdCl2), copper sulphate (CuSO4), lead nitrate (Pb (NO3)2) and mercuric nitrate (Hg (NO3)2) were tested against immature and mature stage of C. pipiens to assess the toxicity, LC50, total carbohydrate and lipid content. The survival potential of 2 nd instar larvae was highly affected by the contamination with the tested heavy metals. On the basis of LC50, Cd was the most toxic metal against the larval stage followed by Hg, Cu and Pb. The late toxicity of heavy metals tested on the adult females resulted from larvae treated with the LC50 of each heavy metal decreased significantly the number of eggs laid by female. The fecundity recorded 81.7±5.03, 90.3±2.52, 92.7±3.5 and 78.6±1.52 eggs/♀ for females resulted from larvae treated with the LC50 of CdCl2, CuSO4, Pb (NO3)2 and Hg (NO3)2; respectively, compared to 186±4 eggs/♀ for control females. The hatchability percent of eggs laid with the LC50 of CdCl2, CuSO4, Pb(NO3)2 and Hg (NO3)2 was significantly decreased to 37, 73, 80 and 39 %; respectively, compared to 97 % for eggs laid by untreated females. A significant decrease in total carbohydrate content in the whole body of males and females, C. pipiens resulted from larvae treated with the LC50 of CdCl2 or the LC50 of Hg (NO3)2 was observed. Also, the present study showed a significant decrease in total lipid content of females by the LC50 CuSO4 and the LC50 of Hg (NO3)2, while in males a significant increased was caused by the LC50 CuSO4 and the LC50 of Pb(NO3)2. It is clear from the results obtained in this study that the presence of such elements in the environmental system of the mosquito C. pipiens water as possible to contribute to the reduction of mosquito breeding.
Pancreatic cancer in Saudi Arabia.

I read with interest the article on pancreatic cancer in Saudi Arabia treated at a tertiary institution. AlGhamdi et al1 retrospectively reviewed 179 patients with documented pancreatic cancer over a 10-year period (2000-2010), and found an overall survival to be 39% (one-year), and 10% (5-year). As mentioned by the authors, pancreatic cancer accounts for 1.75% of all cancers, and is the fifth gastrointestinal cancer affecting Saudis.2 Although one of the article objectives was to look at the treatment of pancreatic cancer in a tertiary institution, the authors did not mention the surgical treatment except that 37% of their patients were suitable for surgical resection at presentation. As we all aware, surgery is the mainstay of cure in pancreatic cancer, and inclusion of surgical treatment in the results would have been interesting. We have retrospectively analyzed our pancreatic cancer patients who were treated in our hepato-biliary unit over the first 3 years of its establishment. Unlike AlGamdi’s study,1 our study concentrated on those who underwent pancreatico-duodenectomy (PD). 3 Over 3 years (2006-2009), of the 102 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, only 32 (31.4%) patients (16 males and 16 females) with a mean age of 59.5 years had PD. In this cohort group of patients, jaundice was the most common presenting symptom (90%), followed by weight loss (50%), and abdominal pain (47%). Approximately 50% of our patients had comorbid diseases, mainly diabetes and hypertension. The cumulative overall survival was 80%, and disease-free survival was 82.3%. 3 This confirms that the surgical resection offers a better one-year survival rate. Unfortunately, the available published data on pancreatic cancer and its treatment options in Saudi Arabia is scanty; it consists mainly of retrospective studies from some tertiary centers. The time has come for tertiary centers treating this cancer to consolidate efforts in conducting a well-structured multiinstitutional prospective study with clear aims and objectives. It is only then that we can rely on our own data that is applicable to our disease; a disease that may differ in its behavior, and natural history from that of the West. When the time comes for that to happen, it is only then, we can speak regarding pancreatic cancer in Saudi Arabia with greater confidence and solid scientific foundation. Abdul-Wahed N. Meshikhes Department of Surgery King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Human Cancer Biology miR-34 a Induces the Downregulation of Both E 2 F 1 and B-Myb Oncogenes in Leukemic Cells

Purpose: To elucidate new molecular mechanisms able to downregulate the mRNA levels of key oncogenes, such as B-Myb and E2F1, in a therapeutic perspective. Experimental Design: B-Myb and E2F1mRNA levels were evaluated in primary B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL, n1⁄4 10) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n1⁄4 5) patient cells, in a variety of p53 and p53 leukemic cell lines, as well as in primary endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Knockdown experiments with siRNA for p53 and E2F1 and overexpression experiments withmiR34a were conducted to elucidate the role of these pathways in promoting B-Myb downregulation. Results: In vitro exposure to Nutlin-3, a nongenotoxic activator of p53, variably downregulated the expression of B-Myb in primary leukemic cells and in p53 myeloid (OCI, MOLM) and lymphoblastoid (SKW6.4, EHEB) but not in p53 (NB4, BJAB, MAVER) or p53 (HL-60) leukemic cell lines. The transcriptional repression of B-Myb was also observed in primary normal endothelial cells and fibroblasts. B-Myb downregulation played a critical role in the cell-cycle block in G1 phase induced by Nutlin-3, as shown by transfection experiments with specific siRNA. Moreover, we have provided experimental evidence suggesting that miR-34a is a central mediator in the repression of B-Myb both directly and through E2F1. Conclusions: Owing to the role of B-Myb and E2F1 transcription factors in controlling cell-cycle progression of leukemic cells, the downregulation of these oncogenes bymiR-34a suggests the usefulness of therapeutic approaches aimed to modulate the levels of miR-34a. Clin Cancer Res; 17(9); 2712–24. 2011 AACR.
Comparison of human psychology for real and virtual mobile manipulators

When robots coexisting with humans are designed, it is important to evaluate psychological influence of shape, size and motion of the robots on the humans. For this purpose, an evaluation system of human psychology for coexisting robots using virtual reality is discussed. Virtual (CG) robots are visually presented to a human subject using CAVE system. The subject answers questionnaire about his impression on the robots and their motions, and his psychological state is evaluated. In the present paper, whether humans have similar impressions and feelings for real and virtual robots is investigated. Real and virtual mobile manipulators reach for subjects and pass nearby them. In both situations, the same motion patterns by these robots are presented to the subjects and psychologically evaluated by questionnaire. As the comparison results of this experiment, the subjects had similar feelings for the real and virtual robots.
A non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine and venlafaxine in the treatment of adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder

The present study is a non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine 60— 120 mg/day and venlafaxine extended-release (XR) 75—225 mg/day for the treatment of adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The non-inferiority test was a prespecified plan to pool data from two nearly identical 10-week, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies of duloxetine 60-120 mg/day and venlafaxine 75—225 mg/ day for the treatment of GAD. An independent expert consensus panel provided six statistical and clinical criteria for determining non-inferiority between treatments. Response was defined as ≥50% reduction in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) total score. In the pooled sample, patients were randomly assigned to duloxetine (n = 320), venlafaxine XR (n = 333) or placebo (n = 331). For the non-inferiority analysis, the per-protocol patients who were treated with duloxetine (n = 239) or venlafaxine XR (n = 262) improved significantly more (mean HAMA reductions were −15.4 and −15.2, respectively) than placebo-treated patients (n = 267; −11.6, P ≤ 0.001, both comparisons). Response rates were 56%, 58% and 40%, respectively. Discontinuation rate because of AEs was significantly higher for duloxetine (13.4%, P ≤ 0.001) and venlafaxine XR (11.4%, P ≤ 0.01) groups compared with placebo (5.4%). Duloxetine 60—120 mg/day met all statistical and clinical criteria for non-inferiority and exhibited a similar tolerability profile compared with venlafaxine XR 75—225 mg/day for the treatment of adults with GAD.
The Influence of Partial Reinforcement on Serial Autoshaping with Pigeons

The effect of partial reinforcement on the rate of responding during the first element of a serial compound was investigated using autoshaping in pigeons. Experiment I employed the illumination of a response key by two different colours as the elements of the compound. Responding during the first element was faster when this stimulus was intermittently paired with the second element and the unconditioned stimulus than when a continuous reinforcement schedule was employed. Experiment II demonstrated that this effect of partial reinforcement is unaffected by maniuplating the associative strength of the second element at the outset of compound conditioning. A similar effect of partial reinforcement was also found in Experiment III which used a tone as the first element of the serial compound.
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PEAK FLOW METER USE

orrect use of the peak flow meter (PFM) is important in long-term monitoring and initiating action plans during acute exacerbations of asthma. Two previous studies revealed that healthy males performed better than healthy females when using a PFM. Although one study suggested that females are less likely to have proper technique when using metered-dose inhalers, a recent study found no gender differences. With asthma morbidity rates higher in females, incorrect PFM use by females may have detrimental effects on their evaluation and management. Based on these previous findings, the authors assessed whether or not gender differences exist in adult patients’ skills when using a PFM.
E-swish: Adjusting Activations to Different Network Depths

Activation functions have a notorious impact on neural networks on both training and testing the models against the desired problem. Currently, the most used activation function is the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU). This paper introduces a new and novel activation function, closely related with the new activation $Swish = x * sigmoid(x)$ (Ramachandran et al., 2017) which generalizes it. We call the new activation $E-swish = \beta x * sigmoid(x)$. We show that E-swish outperforms many other well-known activations including both ReLU and Swish. For example, using E-swish provided 1.5% and 4.6% accuracy improvements on Cifar10 and Cifar100 respectively for the WRN 10-2 when compared to ReLU and 0.35% and 0.6% respectively when compared to Swish. The code to reproduce all our experiments can be found at this https URL
Uplink Scheduling and Link Adaptation for Narrowband Internet of Things Systems

Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is a new narrow-band radio technology introduced in the Third Generation Partnership Project release 13 to the 5th generation evolution for providing low-power wide-area IoT. In NB-IoT systems, repeating transmission data or control signals has been considered as a promising approach for enhancing coverage. Considering the new feature of repetition, link adaptation for NB-IoT systems needs to be performed in 2-D, i.e., the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the repetition number. Therefore, existing link adaptation schemes without consideration of the repetition number are no longer applicable. In this paper, a novel uplink link adaptation scheme with the repetition number determination is proposed, which is composed of the inner loop link adaptation and the outer loop link adaptation, to guarantee transmission reliability and improve throughput of NB-IoT systems. In particular, the inner loop link adaptation is designed to cope with block error ratio variation by periodically adjusting the repetition number. The outer loop link adaptation coordinates the MCS level selection and the repetition number determination. Besides, key technologies of uplink scheduling, such as power control and transmission gap, are analyzed, and a simple single-tone scheduling scheme is proposed. Link-level simulations are performed to validate the performance of the proposed uplink link adaptation scheme. The results show that our proposed uplink link adaptation scheme for NB-IoT systems outperforms the repetition-dominated method and the straightforward method, particularly for good channel conditions and larger packet sizes. Specifically, it can save more than 14% of the active time and resource consumption compared with the repetition-dominated method and save more than 46% of the active time and resource consumption compared with the straightforward method.
Bit error rate analysis for TH-CDMA/PPM impulse radio networks

This paper is concerned with error rate performance analysis of ultra-wide bandwidth time-hopping multiple access radio networks employing binary pulse position modulation. Under the assumption of rectangular pulses, we derive an exact expression for the probability of bit error of a TH-CDMA/PPM signal subjected to K interferers in the AWGN channel. This is used to assess the accuracy of the Gaussian approximation commonly used in the performance analysis of UWB impulse radio networks. It is shown, through numerical results, that bit error rates obtained by Gaussian approximation underestimate the exact results. Moreover, the errors due to Gaussian approximation become significant only for systems with low number of pulses per information bit.
An investigation into the properties of the ochre from Sibudu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The properties of ochre from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) layers of Sibudu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, are described here. The assemblage comprises 5449 pieces (>8 mm), including 682 pieces with markings from use. Shale is the most common geological form. Ochre of medium hardness is common and the grain sizes are generally silty or clayey. Some change in ochre types occurs through time. The Howiesons Poort layers have the highest percentage of utilised pieces. Clayey grain sizes are favoured during the Still Bay and Howiesons Poort, whereas silty grain sizes are preferred in the younger MSA occupations. Bright-red ochre was preferentially selected for use throughout the sequence, with the exception of the final MSA where a wider range of colours was utilised. High frequencies of red amongst the utilised pieces, coupled with high frequencies of yellow or orange pieces with no evidence of use, suggest that colour choice was deliberate and not a product of post-depositional heating. Chemical analysis on a sample of utilised pieces indicates that they all contain iron, silicon, aluminium and calcium. Many pieces contain hematite and some maghemite. There is evidence of preferential selection of specific types of ochre for use in the Sibudu assemblage.
T cells in chronic lymphatic leukaemia

In this laboratory, we have been using a method of quality control for our Coulter Model S which is not related to commercial whole blood standard preparations. The method we use involves calibration of the haemoglobin level against three commercial cyanmethaemoglobin standards conforming to the ICSH international reference standard. We have been concerned to find that, in the last six months, our haemoglobin results on the DHSS and BCSH haematology quality assessment trial and on the West Midland Regional Quality Control Scheme (Haematology) have averaged 05 g/dl higher than laboratories using Coulter 4C to calibrate their machines. This discrepancy is also reflected in the mean haemoglobin level for laboratories using the Coulter Model S and 4C as quality control compared with laboratories using other methods (Coulter S not controlled by 4C and semiautomated and manual methods) (figure). We have been unable to explain this discrepancy and would be interested to know whether other laboratories have had the same experience. D. R. PRANGNELL and P. H. JOHNSON Central Pathology Laboratory, Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Childhood: 13 Cases From a Single Center

Purpose: We aimed to review clinical characteristics, treatment results, and outcome for pediatric patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). Methods: Files for 13 children diagnosed with MPNSTs and treated at our hospital between 1988 and 2009 were reviewed for clinical characteristics, treatment results, and outcome. Results: The median patient age was 11 years (range, 0.16 to 18 y; female/male: 6/7). The most common symptoms were palpable mass (7 of 13) and pain (3 of 13). Four patients had neurofibromatosis type 1. Physical findings at diagnosis were palpable mass (10 of 13), scoliosis (2 of 13), paraplegia/cranial nerve palsy (2 of 13), and stigmas of neurofibromatosis type 1. The primary sites were head and neck (5 of 13), abdomen (3 of 13), chest wall (2 of 13), abdominal wall (2 of 13), and extremities (1 of 13). According to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study system, 5 cases were classified as Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study group I, 6 were classified as group III, and 2 were classified as group IV. Five-year overall and event-free survival rates were 34.6% (±13.8) and 18.8% (±11.9), respectively. Overall survival rates did not differ upon addition of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to the surgery. Five-year survival rates were 42.9% (±18.9) in patients with total resection and 37.5% (±28.6) in patients with partial resection (P=0.08). Overall survival rates did not differ according to stages (P=0.8). Conclusions: MPNSTs are rare in childhood and have an unfavorable prognosis. Whereas chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy had no promising effect on overall survival rates, complete resection seems to be the most effective treatment for MPNSTs. Further multicenter studies on the role of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for MPNSTs are warranted.
A hardware design approach for merge-sorting network

In this paper, a hardware design methodology for merge-sorting networks, which uses a fixed size Batcher's sorting network, a data memory module and a memory addressing controller, is proposed. In this method, only by adjusting the data flow of the memory addressing controller, the amount of sorting data can be extended easily. Particularly, the adjustment of data flow is quite regular. Therefore, the proposed method has the following merits: low complexity of parallel sorting networks, low hardware fabrication cost, high extensibility, high regularity and no extra data memory space needed. For verifying the proposed approach, a 128-item merge-sorting network has been designed and simulated by Verilog VHDL.
Thermal Conduction in Accretion Disk Coronae

We study the effects of thermal conduction in a hot, active corona above an accretion disk. We assume that all of the dissipative heating takes place in the corona. We find that the importance of conduction decreases with increases in the local dissipative compactness of the corona, ℓdiss, loc, and increases with increasing abundance of electron-positron pairs. For ℓdiss, loc < 1, a significant fraction of the energy released in the corona may be carried away by the conductive flux, leading to formation of a relatively hot transition layer below the base of the corona. Comptonization of disk radiation in such a layer may account for the presence of soft X-ray excesses in the spectra emitted by disk-corona systems.
Patterns of mobilization of copper and iron following myocardial ischemia: possible predictive criteria for tissue injury.

Direct evidence for substantial iron and copper mobilization into the coronary flow immediately following prolonged, but not short, cardiac ischemia is presented. When small volumes of coronary flow fractions (CFFs) were serially collected upon reperfusion, after 25-60 min of ischemia, the copper and iron levels in the first CFF were 50-fold and 12- to 15-fold higher, respectively, than corresponding pre-ischemic values. The copper and iron levels after shorter periods (15-21 min) of ischemia were only about five-fold higher than the pre-ischemic values. This demonstrates that the resumption of coronary flow is accompanied by a burst of both metal ions. The levels of Cu/Fe in the CFFs correlated well with the loss of cardiac function following global ischemia of varying duration. After 18 min of ischemia, the residual cardiac function was less than 50%, and the damage was essentially reversible. After 25 min of ischemia, it exceeded 50% and was only partially reversible, while after 35 min, the damage exceeded 80%, and was mostly irreversible. The results are in accord with the hypothesis that copper and iron play causative roles in myocardial injury through mediation of hydroxyl radical production. Thus, the pattern of Cu/Fe mobilization from the tissue into the CFF can be used for the prediction of the severity of myocardial damage following ischemia, and could be developed into useful modalities for intervention in tissue injury.
Oral Health Care in Children – A Preventive Perspective

Agim Begzati1, Kastriot Meqa2, Mehmedali Azemi3, Ajtene Begzati1, Teuta Kutllovci1, Blerta Xhemajli1 and Merita Berisha4 1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtna, Prishtina, 2Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Medical Faculty,University of Prishtina, Prishtina, 3Department of Paediatric, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, 4National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, Department of Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtina, Prishtina Republic of Kosovo