Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Curative-intent Surgery for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma with and without Portal Vein Resection - A Comparative Analysis of Early and Late Outcomes.

Introduction: The safety of portal vein resection (PVR) during surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) has been demonstrated in Asia, America, and Western Europe. However, no data about this topic are reported from Eastern Europe. The aim of the present study is to comparatively assess the early and long-term outcomes after resection for PHC with and without PVR. PATIENTS AND METHODS The data of 21 patients with PVR were compared with those of 102 patients with a curative-intent surgery for PHC without PVR. The appropriate statistical tests were used to compare different variables between the groups. Results: A PVR was performed in 17% of the patients. In the PVR group, significantly more right trisectionectomies (p=0.031) and caudate lobectomies (0.049) were performed and, as expected, both the operative time (p=0.015) and blood loss (p=0.002) were significantly higher. No differences between the groups were observed regarding the severe postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, and completion of adjuvant therapy. However, in the PVR group the postoperative clinicallyrelevant liver failure rate was significantly higher (p=0.001). No differences between the groups were observed for the median overall survival times (34 vs. 26 months, p = 0.566). A histological proof of the venous tumor invasion was observed in 52% of the patients with a PVR and was associated with significantly worse survival (p=0.027). CONCLUSION A PVR can be safely performed during resection for PHC, without significant added severe morbidity or mortality rates. However, clinically-relevant liver failure rates are significantly higher when a PVR is performed. Furthermore, increased operative times and blood loss should be expected when a PVR is performed. Histological tumor invasion of the portal vein is associated with significantly worse survival.
Expressed Sequence Tags Analysis and Design of Simple Sequence Repeats Markers from a Full-Length cDNA Library in Perilla frutescens (L.)

Perilla frutescens is valuable as a medicinal plant as well as a natural medicine and functional food. However, comparative genomics analyses of P. frutescens are limited due to a lack of gene annotations and characterization. A full-length cDNA library from P. frutescens leaves was constructed to identify functional gene clusters and probable EST-SSR markers via analysis of 1,056 expressed sequence tags. Unigene assembly was performed using basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) homology searches and annotated Gene Ontology (GO). A total of 18 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were designed as primer pairs. This study is the first to report comparative genomics and EST-SSR markers from P. frutescens will help gene discovery and provide an important source for functional genomics and molecular genetic research in this interesting medicinal plant.
Deep distance metric learning for maritime vessel identification

This paper addresses the problem of maritime vessel identification by exploiting the state-of-the-art techniques of distance metric learning and deep convolutional neural networks since vessels are the key constituents of marine surveillance. In order to increase the performance of visual vessel identification, we propose a joint learning framework which considers a classification and a distance metric learning cost function. The proposed method utilizes the quadruplet samples from a diverse image dataset to learn the ranking of the distances for hierarchical levels of labeling. The proposed method performs favorably well for vessel identification task against the conventional use of neuron activations towards the final layers of the classification networks. The proposed method achieves 60 percent vessel identification accuracy for 3965 different vessels without sacrificing vessel type classification accuracy.
Mitochondrial DNA mutations in oncocytic adnexal lacrimal glands of the conjunctiva.

O ncocytic neoplasms are characterized by a marked mitochondrial hyperplasia. They are of epithelial derivation and usually occur in endocrine and exocrine organs such as the thyroid, parathyroids, kidney, pituitary, and salivary glands. Oncocytic lesions of the ophthalmic regions have been reported, especially as oncocytic adenomas of the caruncle. Similar lesions occur rarely in the adnexal lacrimal glands of the conjunctiva. Truncating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in respiratory complex I (CI) subunits have been suggested to be the genetic hallmark of the oncocytic phenotype. The occurrence of such genetic lesions strongly impairs cell respiration and contributes to maintaining the tumor in a low-proliferating, benign state. We describe an oncocytoma of the adnexal lacrimal glands of the conjunctiva harboring mtDNA mutations that cause CI disassembly and associate with a low proliferation index.
Relationship of interleukin-10 plasma levels to severity of injury and clinical outcome in injured patients.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) markedly inhibits lymphocyte and phagocytic functions, which are essential for an adequate immune response to invading microbes. Although various animal and clinical studies revealed an increased release of IL-10 during sepsis, alterations of circulating IL-10 after injury and potential relationships to severity of injury and clinical outcome are unknown. Injured patients (n = 417) showed elevated (p < 0.001) IL-10 levels throughout the observation period of 21 days compared with healthy volunteers (n = 137). Patients with severe injury (Injury Severity Score > or = 25 points) demonstrated significantly increased IL-10 levels compared with patients with minor trauma (Injury Severity Score < 25 points). Patients who died from injury or developed posttraumatic complications (sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome) revealed elevated IL-10 levels in comparison with injured patients with uneventful posttraumatic course. Thus, trauma causes an enhanced release of IL-10 dependent on the severity of injury. Because increased IL-10 levels are significantly related to posttraumatic complications, IL-10 may be involved in their pathogenesis.
Functions of KLK4 and MMP-20 in dental enamel formation

Abstract Two proteases are secreted into the enamel matrix of developing teeth. The early protease is enamelysin (MMP-20). The late protease is kallikrein 4 (KLK4). Mutations in MMP20 and KLK4 both cause autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta, a condition featuring soft, porous enamel containing residual protein. MMP-20 is secreted along with enamel proteins by secretory-stage ameloblasts. Enamel protein-cleavage products accumulate in the space between the crystal ribbons, helping to support them. MMP-20 steadily cleaves accumulated enamel proteins, so their concentration decreases with depth. KLK4 is secreted by transition- and maturation-stage ameloblasts. KLK4 aggressively degrades the retained organic matrix following the termination of enamel protein secretion. The principle functions of MMP-20 and KLK4 in dental enamel formation are to facilitate the orderly replacement of organic matrix with mineral, generating an enamel layer that is harder, less porous, and unstained by retained enamel proteins.
Ocular dominance affects magnitude of dipole moment: an MEG study

To investigate whether the ocular dominance affects laterality in the activity of the primary visual cortex, we examined the relationship between the ocular dominance and latency or dipole moment measured by checkerboard-pattern and magnetoencephalography in 11 right-handed healthy male participants. Participants with left-eye dominance showed a dipole moment of 21.5±6.1 nAm with left-eye stimulation and 16.1±3.6 nAm with right, whereas those with right-eye dominance showed a dipole moment of 18.0±5.2 and 21.5±2.7 nAm with left-eye and right-eye stimulation of the infero-medial quadrant visual field, respectively. Thus, the dipole moment was higher when the dominant eye was stimulated, which implies that ocular dominance is regulated by the ipsilateral occipital lobe.
Analysis of Causes of Blindness among South Indian Population

Aim: To determine the age, sex and cause specific prevalence of blindness (3/60 or less). Materials and Methods: 97 patients with vision less than 3/60 were evaluated for the cause for low vision (blindness). Examination protocol consisted of the following: demographic details, Ocular examination using Snellen’s chart, Auto refractometry, Ophthalmoscopy, Tonometry, Confrontation test. Results: Of the 97 patients, 24.7% were bilaterally blind, 80.3% were above 40 years of age. Cataract (58.7%) was the leading cause of blindness followed by glaucoma (10.4%), congenital (10.3%), refractive errors (5.2%), corneal opacities (5.1%), retina and nerve pathologies (5.2%) and other causes (5.2%). Conclusion: Cataract, glaucoma, refractive errors, corneal opacities and congenital causes are the most common causes of blindness in our study in chronological order.
[HIV, HBV, or HCV transmission from infected health care workers to patients].

BACKGROUND The report of transmission of viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), from health care workers (HCWs) to patient has alarmed public opinion with potential repercussions on health organisation. OBJECTIVES To review available information on cases of transmission of HIV, HBV and HCV from HCW to patient reported worldwide. METHODS A literature review was conducted with a Medline search of English language full papers, using the following key terms: HIV, HBV, HCV; healthcare workers, occupational and hospital transmission, outbreak, look back investigation. The Medline search was supplemented by a manual search using reference lists of published studies and proceedings of meetings, including some personal communications already reported in a previous review. RESULTS Since 1972, 50 outbreaks have been reported in which 48 HBV infected HCWs (39 surgeons) transmitted the infection to approximately 500 persons. To date, 3 cases of transmission of HIV and 8 confirmed cases of transmission of HCV (to a total of 18 patients) from infected healthcare workers to patients have been reported. The factors influencing the transmissibility of infection include: type of procedures performed, surgical techniques used, compliance with infection control precautions, the clinical status and viral burden of the infected HCW and susceptibility of the patient to infection. The risk of transmission of HIV, HBV and HCV from HCWs to patients is associated primarily with certain types of surgical specialties (obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedics, cardiothoracic surgery) and surgical procedures that can expose the patient to the blood of the HCW: exposure-prone procedures. Since the early 90's industrialized countries have issued recommendations for preventing transmission of blood-borne pathogens to patients during "exposure prone" invasive procedures. With regard to HBV there is common consent to restricting or excluding HCWs tested HbeAg positive or HBV DNA-positive from performing exposure-prone procedures, while there are still some discrepancies in the different countries for dealing with HCV-infected personnel and in some cases also for those with HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS Efforts to prevent surgeon-to-patient transmission of blood-borne infections should focus not only on ascertaining the infection status of the HCW but principally on eliminating the cause of blood-borne exposures, for example by the use of blunt suture needles, improved instruments, reinforced gloves, changes in surgical technique and the use of less invasive alternative procedures. These measures should be implemented in order to minimize the risk of blood exposure and consequently of virus transmission both to and from HCW to patients.
Naturalistic Action Performance Distinguishes Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment from Healthy Aging

Abstract Individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) show minor decrements in their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Sensitive measures of IADL performance are needed to capture the mild difficulties observed in aMCI groups. Routine naturalistic actions (NAs) are familiar IADL-type activities that require individuals to enact everyday tasks such as preparing coffee. In the current study we examined the extent to which NAs could be used to help facilitate differential diagnosis of aMCI relative to composite measures of episodic memory, semantic knowledge, and executive function. Healthy older adults (n=24) and individuals with aMCI (n=24) enacted two highly familiar NAs and completed tests of episodic memory, semantic knowledge, and executive function. Binary logistic regression was used to predict group membership (aMCI vs. control participants). The regression analyses indicated that NA performance could reliably predict group membership, over and above measures of cognitive functioning. These findings indicated that NA performance can be used to help facilitate differential diagnosis of healthy aging and aMCI and used as an outcome measure in intervention studies. (JINS, 2015, 21, 419–428)
Diagnostic value of procalcitonin for differentiation between bacterial infection and non-infectious inflammation in febrile patients with active adult-onset Still’s disease

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) has been recognised as an important cause of fever of unknown origin. Over 99% of AOSD patients displayed fever during their disease course.1 The diagnosis of bacterial infection in febrile AOSD patients is challenging because traditional markers of infection are often misleading. This prompted us to search for a reliable marker that allows early discrimination between non-infectious inflammation and bacterial infection in febrile AOSD patients. Procalcitonin, a novel marker that can distinguish disease activity from infection, has been investigated in febrile patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 2 3 Procalcitonin has proved to be a diagnostic marker of infection in critically ill patients compared with other inflammatory parameters.4 Serum procalcitonin is normally undetectable (<0.05 ng/ml) and procalcitonin levels of 0.5 ng/ml or greater can distinguish infection from non-infectious inflammation.3 5 Contradictory results for procalcitonin have recently been reported in …
Atomic origins of surface core levels on Si(111)-(7 x 7) studied by site-dependent Ge substitution.

Synchrotron-radiation photoemission has been used to examine the site-dependent Ge substitution for Si on Si(111)-(7{times}7) surfaces. The surface components of the Si 2{ital p} and Ge 3{ital d} core levels are analyzed as a function of Ge coverage and annealing temperature. The results show the lower-binding-energy component in the Si 2{ital p} core to be derived from adatom emission. Implications in regard to adatom--rest-atom charge transfer are discussed.
Human Nutrition and Metabolism Pregnancy and Lactation Affect Markers of Calcium and Bone Metabolism Differently in Adolescent and Adult Women with Low Calcium Intakes 1 , 2

Physiologic adaptation to the high calcium demand during pregnancy and lactation may be different in adolescents than in adults, particularly at low calcium intake. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare biochemical markers of calcium and bone metabolism between adolescent (14–19 y) and adult (21–35 y) women with calcium intake 500 mg/d, in three different physiologic states, i.e., control (nonpregnant, nonlactating; NPNL), pregnant and lactating. Markers of calcium metabolism [serum Ca, P and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH); urinary Ca and P] and of bone turnover [urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) and plasma bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP)] were measured in NPNL (adolescents, n 12 and adults, n 25), pregnant (adolescents, n 30 and adults, n 36) and lactating (adolescents, n 19 and adults, n 26) women. In the NPNL women, iPTH, D-Pyr and BAP were higher (P 0.001) and urinary Ca was lower (P 0.001) in adolescents than in adults. Serum iPTH was higher (P 0.001) and urinary Ca was lower (P 0.01) in adolescents than in adults also in pregnancy and lactation. Compared with NPNL women, serum Ca decreased (P 0.001) with pregnancy in adolescents but not in adults. The increase in D-Pyr with pregnancy and lactation was very pronounced in adults ( 130%, P 0.001) but less in adolescents ( 25%, P 0.01). BAP increased (P 0.001) with pregnancy and lactation in adults ( 60%) but decreased (P 0.001) with pregnancy in adolescents ( 13%). Pregnancy and lactation appear to affect bone turnover in adolescent and adult women with low calcium intake differently. J. Nutr. 132: 2183–2187, 2002.
SUPPORTS THEORY THAT GRAPE EXTRACTS IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLBEING AUSTRALIAN FUNCTIONAL NUTRACEUTICAL FLAVOURS , FRAGRANCES & INGREDIENTS Plant Extracts-Naturally Fermented Fruits and Vinegars Cold Pressed Oils-Essential Oils-Phenolic Rich Powders

Although grape-seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) demonstrates strong anti-oxidant activity, little research has been done to clearly reveal the protective effects on the hepatotoxicity caused by zearalenone (ZEN). This study is to explore the protective effect of GSPE on ZEN-induced oxidative damage of liver in Kunming mice and the possible protective molecular mechanism of GSPE. The results indicated that GSPE could greatly reduce the ZEN-induced increase of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities. GSPE also significantly decreased the content of MDA but enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px. The analysis indicated that ZEN decreased both mRNA expression levels and protein expression levels of nuclear erythroid2-related factor2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 is considered to be an essential antioxidative transcription factor, as downstream GSH-Px, γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) decreased simultaneously, whereas the pre-administration of GSPE groups was shown to elevate these expressions. The results indicated that GSPE exerted a protective effect on ZEN-induced hepatic injury and the mechanism might be related to the activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.
Cash-Flow News and the Investment Effect in the Cross Section of Stock Returns

This study provides novel evidence that cash-flow news quantitatively explains the investment effect in the cross section of stock returns. The negative return predictability of asset growth, investment growth, and accruals is evident only through the cash-flow news component of returns. The cash-flow news returns associated with investment-sorted portfolios exhibit a reversal from the preformation period to the postformation period. Such a return reversal is in line with reversals in firm fundamentals and becomes stronger for stocks with higher information uncertainty. Our findings are consistent with the expectational errors hypothesis and fail to support the risk-based explanation for the investment effect. This paper was accepted by Neng Wang, finance.
Precautionary savings over the life cycle : e � cient two-stage nonparametric instrumental variables estimation

This paper considers the problem of estimating a structural model of optimal life-cycle savings, controlling both for uncertainty about health-care expenditures and household risk aversion. To avoid misleading inference, we propose a new estimation technique that compared to those already proposed in the literature enables us to deal simultaneously with the presence of (i) unobserved cross-sectional heterogeneity, (ii) flexible unknown form in the Euler equation and (iii) endogenous covariates. We propose one-step backfitting estimators based on first di↵erencing techniques that are combined through a minimum distance estimation approach. The resulting estimators are shown to be oracle e cient and they exhibit the optimal rate of convergence for this smoothness problem. To illustrate the feasibility and possible gains of this method, we present an application about household’s precautionary savings over the life-cycle. From this empirical application, we obtain (i) households accumulate wealth at least in two periods in life. In younger stages, in order to guard against uncertainty about potential income downturns, and when they become older due to other reasons such as retirement and bequests. (ii) Public health programs have a negative impact on precautionary savings. The paper concludes with a Monte Carlo simulation where the small sample properties of the estimators. [1] JEL codes: C01, C14, C33
Noise pollution on an acute surgical ward.

INTRODUCTION This study was undertaken to measure and analyse noise levels over a 24-h period on five general surgical wards. PATIENTS AND METHODS Noise levels were measured on three wards with four bays of six beds each (wards A, B and C), one ward of side-rooms only (ward D) and a surgical high dependency unit (ward E) of eight beds. Noise levels were measured for 15 min at 4-hourly intervals over a period of 24 h midweek. The maximum sound pressure level, baseline sound pressure level and the equivalent continuous level (LEq) were recorded. Peak levels and LEq were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for community noise. Control measurements were taken elsewhere in the hospital and at a variety of public places for comparison. RESULTS The highest peak noise level recorded was 95.6 dB on ward E, a level comparable to a heavy truck. This exceeded all control peak readings except that recorded at the bus stop. Peak readings frequently exceeded 80 dB during the day on all wards. Each ward had at least one measurement which exceeded the peak sound level of 82.5 dB recorded in the supermarket. The highest peak measurements on wards A, B, C and E also exceeded peak readings at the hospital main entrance (83.4 dB) and coffee shop (83.4 dB). Ward E had the highest mean peak reading during the day and at night - 83.45 dB and 81.0 dB, respectively. Ward D, the ward of side-rooms, had the lowest day-time mean LEq (55.9 dB). Analysis of the LEq results showed that readings on ward E were significantly higher than readings on wards A, B and C as a group (P = 0.001). LEq readings on ward E were also significantly higher than readings on ward D (P < 0.001). Day and night levels differ significantly, but least so on the high dependency unit. CONCLUSIONS The WHO guidelines state that noise levels on wards should not exceed 30 dB LEq (day and night) and that peak noise levels at night should not exceed 40 dB. Our results exceed these guidelines at all times. It is likely that these findings will translate to other hospitals. Urgent measures are needed to rectify this.
Presowing seed treatment with melatonin protects red cabbage seedlings against toxic copper ion concentrations

Abstract: One of the targets of modern plant physiology is to identify tools for improving seed germination and plant growth under unfavorable environmental conditions. Seeds of Brassica oleracea rubrum were pretreated with melatonin at concentrations: 1, 10, and 100 μm using a hydropriming method. Air‐dried seeds of each experimental variants that were nonpretreated (control), hydroprimed (H) or hydroprimed with melatonin (HM1, HM10, and HM100) were germinated in darkness for 3 days at 25°C. Young seedlings were then transferred to the light and grown for an additional 5 days. Both germination and growth tests were performed in water and in CuSO4 water solutions in concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mm. H, HM1 and HM10 improved seed germination both in water and in the presence of Cu2+. One or 10 μm melatonin eliminated the inhibitory effect of the 0.5 mm metal concentration on the fresh weight of seedlings. HM100 had a negative effect; thus seed germination was lower and seedlings had poor establishment. The toxic effect of Cu2+ manifested by membrane peroxidation and DNA endoreplication blocking in the seedlings grown from nontreated (control) and H seeds was not observed in the seedlings grown from HM1 and HM10 seeds; in contrast, HM100 enhanced the toxic effect of Cu2+.