Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with preserved pulmonary function in non-small-cell lung cancer patients after video-assisted thoracic surgery.

OBJECTIVES Some non-small-cell lung cancer patients have preserved pulmonary function after surgery. Compared with open thoracotomy, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is widely performed and preserves pulmonary function. Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer have an extremely poor prognosis without surgery. Clinicians should therefore decide which patients can safely tolerate lung resection. This study aimed to identify factors associated with preserving pulmonary function after VATS in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. METHODS Three hundred and fifty-one patients with non-small-cell lung cancer underwent VATS and preoperative and 12-month postoperative pulmonary function tests. Patients with and patients without preserved forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide were compared. RESULTS The FEV1 was preserved after VATS in 142 (40.5%) patients. In multivariable analysis, this group was significantly associated with VATS sublobar resection (P < 0.001) and resection at the right upper lobe or right middle lobe (vs right lower lobe, P = 0.048; vs left upper lobe, P = 0.003; vs left lower lobe, P = 0.015). Diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide was preserved in 129 (36.8%) patients. Multivariable analysis showed that VATS sublobar resection (P < .001), lower baseline diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (P < 0.001) and right upper lobe or right middle lobe resection (vs right lower lobe, P = 0.0014; vs left upper lobe, P = 0.029, vs left lower lobe, P = 0.014) were significantly associated with preserved diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide. CONCLUSIONS For preserving pulmonary function after non-small-cell lung cancer surgery, VATS sublobar resection was superior to VATS lobectomy, and surgery on the right upper lobe or right middle lobe was superior to that at other sites.
Seismic modelling and inversion of nonwelded interfaces using the boundary integral equation

Seismic wave propagation across a fracture is represented by a nonwelded interface or the linear-slip boundary condition. The normal and tangential fracture compliances control the magnitude of discontinuity of elastic-wave-induced displacement across the interface. The fracture compliances are functions of aperture, roughness and elasticity of the infilling materials. Therefore, imaging and characterizing the nonwelded interfaces have the potential to characterize in situ the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the fractured reservoirs. Furthermore, the nonwelded interface is useful to represent a thin, compliant zone in rock, e.g., fractures, joints, fault branches and geological faults. We explore new approaches to model, image and characterize nonwelded interfaces using elastic waves. We discuss modelling seismic responses of nonwelded interfaces using the boundary integral representation of the wavefield. We investigate the Born approximation of the boundary integral equation and the effects of higher order terms. Furthermore, we develop a new Born inversion approach to image and characterize the nonwelded interfaces, and we discuss advantages of the new approach over the recently proposed AVO inversion. We show that while the AVO inversion accurately estimates the fracture compliances assuming that the fracture geometry is known and the primary reflections are isolated without interference of other events, the Born inversion simultaneously images and characterizes a nonwelded interface using the scattered wavefield without assuming fracture geometry. We also illustrate that the Born inversion handles correctly the multiple fractures. We discuss the effectiveness of these new methods using numerically modeled datasets and laboratory experimental datasets. We show that the Born inversion successfully images the nonwelded interfaces and characterizes the spatially varying fracture compliance, simulating heterogeneous inclusion of water/fluid in a fracture.
The Traditional and Innovative Technologies of Vocational Guidance Work with Pupils and Students

Today, considering the needs of the Russian economy, the content and technology of training in career counseling from the point of view of practice is not sufficiently developed. Thus, a search for new forms, methods and means of conducting career guidance with students is necessary. This article offers a broad range of technologies and their optimal combination in career guidance work with pupils in the integrated system "school – University – enterprise". A leading approach to the study of this problem is an integrative approach that leads to the necessity to use both traditional and innovative technologies which contribute not only to effective assimilation of knowledge, but also early social adaptation of the prospective students to University conditions. Presented in the study traditional and innovative technologies of career guidance work with students (project method, role play, portfolio, Internet technologies, comprehensive and career-oriented excursions), as well as the possibility of using information and educational potential of professional education institutions and enterprises for pupils’ vocational guidance in the context of their successive socialization contribute to the formation of professional identity, consciousness in the choice of the future profession of secondary schools’ students, as well as the selection of their own individual educational trajectories and to their adaptive abilities’ disclosure for future professional activity. The article is valuable for teachers and faculty of educational and vocational institutions in organizing and conducting of career guidance with students, applicants and students. Keywords: Career Guidance, Innovative and Traditional Technologies, Students, University. JEL Classifications: A23, I23, I26
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA AND EUROPE: RECIPROCAL COMPARISONS*

ABSTRACT Recent advances in historical national accounting have allowed for global comparisons of GDP per capita across space and time. Critics have argued that GDP per capita fails to capture adequately the multi-dimensional nature of welfare, and have developed alternative measures such as the human development index. Whilst recognising that these wider indicators provide an appropriate way of assessing levels of welfare, we argue that GDP per capita remains a more appropriate measure for assessing development potential, focussing on production possibilities and the sustainability of consumption. Twentieth-century Africa and pre-industrial Europe are used to show how such data can guide reciprocal comparisons to provide insights into the process of development on both continents. RESUMEN Los avances recientes en la historia de la contabilidad nacional han permitido comparaciones globales del PIB per cápita a través de espacio y tiempo. Los críticos de este enfoque han argumentado que el PIB per cápita no capta adecuadamente la naturaleza multidimensional del bienestar, y han desarrollado medidas alternativas tales como el índice de desarrollo humano (IDH). Si bien se reconoce que estos indicadores más amplios proporcionan una forma adecuada de evaluar los niveles de bienestar, en este trabajo sostenemos que el PIB per cápita sigue siendo una medida más apropiada para evaluar el potencial de desarrollo, centrándose en las posibilidades de producción y la sostenibilidad de consumo. El África del siglo XX y la Europa preindustrial se utilizan para mostrar cómo esos datos pueden guiar comparaciones recíprocas para proporcionar conocimientos sobre el proceso de desarrollo en ambos continentes.
The media vs managed health care: are we seeing a full court press?

BACKGROUND Despite the fact that medical coverage for many Americans is shifting rapidly from traditional insurance to managed care, studies suggest that most citizens have limited knowledge or understanding of the implication of this change. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the predominant message being portrayed by the lay press on managed care. METHODS We conducted a review of newspaper articles dealing with managed care from several leading national newspapers. Surveys, editorials, letters to the editor, or nonclinical articles were excluded. The articles were examined to evaluate their likely effect on the reader's willingness to join a managed care organization, and were scored using a standardized survey instrument. The final analysis included data from 85 articles from an original pool of 277. RESULTS In only 8% of cases, the articles were considered likely to have had a positive influence on the reader and, thus, encourage them to join or remain with a managed care organization. More important, in fully two thirds of cases, we believed the articles portrayed so unfavorable a message that the reader was less likely to join, or might even decide to leave, a managed care organization. The articles dealt most frequently (67%) with patient concerns with managed care, focused mainly on cost and quality issues, and managed care representatives were the people whose opinions were most commonly (53%) solicited. CONCLUSIONS It seems highly likely that public perception of managed health care will be influenced by the strongly negative representation being portrayed by the newspapers. While debate over the good vs bad features of managed care continues, available evidence suggests this form of health care coverage continues to grow. The press is likely to remain an important source by which information about managed care is transmitted to the public and will certainly influence public decision making on the issue. If the current negative representation continues, we may soon begin to see a widespread backlash of public opinion opposing this form of health care.
Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Oysters in the United States

ABSTRACT Food-borne diseases such as salmonellosis can be attributed, in part, to the consumption of raw oysters. To determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in oysters, oysters harvested from 36 U.S. bays (12 each from the West, East, and Gulf coasts in the summer of 2002, and 12 bays, four per coast, in the winter of 2002-2003) were tested. Salmonella was isolated from oysters from each coast of the United States, and 7.4% of all oysters tested contained Salmonella. Isolation tended to be bay specific, with some bays having a high prevalence of Salmonella, while other bays had none. Differences in the percentage of oysters from which Salmonella was isolated were observed between the summer and winter months, with winter numbers much lower probably due to a variety of weather-related events. The vast majority (78/101) of Salmonella isolates from oysters were Salmonella enterica serovar Newport, a major human pathogen, confirming the human health hazard of raw oyster consumption. Contrary to previous findings, no relationship was found between the isolation of fecal coliforms and Salmonella from oysters, indicating a necessity for specific monitoring for Salmonella and other pathogens rather than the current reliance on fecal coliform testing.
Virtual decomposition based control for generalized high dimensional robotic systems with complicated structure

This paper presents a systematic adaptive control strategy which can accomplish a variety of control objectives (position control, internal force control, constraints,and optimizations) for the generalized high-dimensional robotic systems (GHDRS) without restriction on target systems. Based on the concept of virtual decomposition by which a GHDRS is virtually decomposed into several objects and base-floating open chains, the motion control problem of the original system is converted into that of each object and that of each open chain, individually, while the internal force control as well as the constraint force control may be performed with respect to each object only. This feature makes it possible to implement the control algorithm of each subsystem in modularly structured hardware which can be integrated to form any specific robot controller dedicated to a specific application. In the sense of Lyapunov, it is declared that the dynamic coupling between every two physically connected subsystems can be completely represented by the so-called virtual power flows (VPFs) at the cutting points between them. Asymptotic stability of the complete system can be ensured by choosing the system Lyapunov function as the sum of all nonnegative accompanying functions assigned for the subsystems. Some possible applications based on the proposed approach are discussed. Finally, computer simulations of two PUMA 560 arms transporting a common object along a prespecified trajectory are carried out to verify the stability and robustness issues of the system.
Application of methods for central statistical monitoring in clinical trials

Background On-site source data verification is a common and expensive activity, with little evidence that it is worthwhile. Central statistical monitoring (CSM) is a cheaper alternative, where data checks are performed by the coordinating centre, avoiding the need to visit all sites. Several publications have suggested methods for CSM; however, few have described their use in real trials. Methods R-programs were created to check data at either the subject level (7 tests within 3 programs) or site level (9 tests within 8 programs) using previously described methods or new ones we developed. These aimed to find possible data errors such as outliers, incorrect dates, or anomalous data patterns; digit preference, values too close or too far from the means, unusual correlation structures, extreme variances which may indicate fraud or procedural errors and under-reporting of adverse events. The methods were applied to three trials, one of which had closed and has been published, one in follow-up, and a third to which fabricated data were added. We examined how well the methods work, discussing their strengths and limitations. Results The R-programs produced simple tables or easy-to-read figures. Few data errors were found in the first two trials, and those added to the third were easily detected. The programs were able to identify patients with outliers based on single or multiple variables. They also detected (1) fabricated patients, generated to have values too close to the multivariate mean, or with too low variances in repeated measurements, and (2) sites which had unusual correlation structures or too few adverse events. Some methods were unreliable if applied to centres with few patients or if data were fabricated in a way which did not fit the assumptions used to create the programs. Outputs from the R-programs are interpreted using examples. Limitations Detecting data errors is relatively straightforward; however, there are several limitations in the detection of fraud: some programs cannot be applied to small trials or to centres with few patients (<10) and data falsified in a manner which does not fit the program’s assumptions may not be detected. In addition, many tests require a visual assessment of the output (showing flagged participants or sites), before data queries are made or on-site visits performed. Conclusions CSM is a worthwhile alternative to on-site data checking and may be used to limit the number of site visits by targeting only sites which are picked up by the programs. We summarise the methods, show how they are implemented and that they can be easy to interpret. The methods can identify incorrect or unusual data for a trial subject, or centres where the data considered together are too different to other centres and therefore should be reviewed, possibly through an on-site visit.
Cloning and expression of human rotavirus spike protein, VP8*, in Escherichia coli.

A system for the expression and purification of soluble VP8*, part of the human rotavirus (HRV) spike protein, was established by expressing VP8* as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST). VP8 cDNA, from the Wa strain of HRV, was prepared by RT-PCR, cloned into a pUC18 plasmid, and inserted into a pGEX-4T-2 GST fusion vector. The GST-VP8* fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the VP8* was purified by Glutathione Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, yielding 1.8 mg VP8*/L culture. The purified VP8* was used to vaccinate chickens, eliciting antibodies which displayed high neutralization activity against the Wa strain of HRV, suggesting its use for the induction of specific neutralizing antibodies for potential immunotherapeutic applications for the prevention of HRV infection.
No strong evidence for abnormal levels of dysfunctional attitudes, automatic thoughts, and emotional information-processing biases in remitted bipolar I affective disorder.

INTRODUCTION Beck extended his original cognitive theory of depression by suggesting that mania was a mirror image of depression characterized by extreme positive cognition about the self, the world, and the future. However, there were no suggestions what might be special regarding cognitive features in bipolar patients (Mansell & Scott, 2006). We therefore used different indicators to evaluate cognitive processes in bipolar patients and healthy controls. METHODS We compared 19 remitted bipolar I patients (BPs) without any Axis I comorbidity with 19 healthy individuals (CG). All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, the Emotional Stroop Test, and an incidental recall task. RESULTS No significant group differences were found in automatic thinking and the information-processing styles (Emotional Stroop Test, incidental recall task). Regarding dysfunctional attitudes, we obtained ambiguous results. CONCLUSIONS It appears that individuals with remitted bipolar affective disorder do not show cognitive vulnerability as proposed in Beck's theory of depression if they only report subthreshold levels of depressive symptoms. Perhaps, the cognitive vulnerability might only be observable if mood induction procedures are used.
Corneal curvature and axial length values in children with congenital/infantile cataract in the first 42 months of life.

PURPOSE To evaluate corneal curvature (K(m)) and axial length (AL) of eyes of term-born children aged <3.5 years with uncomplicated congenital cataract and provide age-specific estimates. METHODS This was a retrospective review of patients undergoing cataract extraction from January 1994 to December 2006. Exclusion criteria were preterm birth, microphthalmia, microcornea, megalocornea, glaucoma, traumatic or complicated cataract, retinal disease. Keratometric readings were taken with an autokeratometer before surgery. Linear regression with the logarithm of the patient's age as an independent variable was used to model the relationship between the patient's age and biometric and keratometric readings. RESULTS All unilateral cataractous eyes (n = 69) and a randomly selected eye in bilateral cases (n = 111) were included in the analysis, for a total of 180 eyes. Mean age was 15.5 +/- 11.8 months; mean AL, 20.03 +/- 2.25 mm; mean K(m), 45.07 +/- 3.00 D. K(m) was significantly greater and AL shorter in younger children (P < 0.001). No differences according to sex were found. As a group, eyes from unilateral cataract had significantly longer AL than those from bilateral cases (P = 0.029). In a small subgroup of unilateral cataract patients for which readings from the clear lens eye were available (n = 39), K(m) of the affected eye was significantly greater than that of the fellow healthy eye (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS In the first 42 months of age, K(m) and AL are significantly different according to age. These findings have implications for the calculation of intraocular lens power in children.
Cardiac Troponin-I Predicts Long-Term Mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients are at increased risk for mortality, particularly from cardiovascular conditions. Acute exacerbation increases heart burden and may lead to release of troponin I. This study investigates the long-term prognostic value of elevated troponin I detected during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The records of 182 patients with acute exacerbation in whom troponin I levels were sampled during their hospitalization were reviewed retrospectively. Receiver operator curve was used to determine the cut-off level for troponin I that discriminated survivors and non-survivors, and predictors for all-cause mortality were tested in a multivariate analysis. The results showed that, during a mean observation time of 50.1 ± 45.6 months, 66 (36.3%) patients died, providing 1, and 3-year survival rates of 84%, and 54%, respectively. Troponin I levels were significantly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors, mean troponin I ± SD in μ g· L−1: 1.35 ± 3.17 vs. 0.53 ± 2.08, respectively, p = 0.0033. ROC curve analysis identified troponin I > 0.03 μ g· L−1 as the optimal cut-off level for prediction of mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the probability of survival was significantly lower in patients with troponin I > 0.03 μ g· L−1 (log-rank test p = 0.0058). On multivariate analysis, only ischemic heart disease (HR = 2.335, p = 0.0017) and troponin I level (HR = 1.31541, p = 0.2513) were independent predictors of mortality. In conclusion, it was found that a mildly elevated troponin I level measured in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during acute exacerbation is a strong independent predictor of mortality following discharge.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane lipoprotein I gene: molecular cloning, sequence, and expression in Escherichia coli

Lipoprotein I (OprI) is one of the major proteins of the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Like porin protein F (OprF), it is a vaccine candidate because it antigenically cross-reacts with all serotype strains of the International Antigenic Typing Scheme. Since lipoprotein I was expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of its own promoter, we were able to isolate the gene by screening a lambda EMBL3 phage library with a mouse monoclonal antibody directed against lipoprotein I. The monocistronic OprI mRNA encodes a precursor protein of 83 amino acid residues including a signal peptide of 19 residues. The mature protein has a molecular weight of 6,950, not including bound glycerol and lipid. Although the amino acid sequences of protein I of P. aeruginosa and Braun's lipoprotein of E. coli differ considerably (only 30.1% identical amino acid residues), peptidoglycan in E. coli, are identical. Using lipoprotein I expressed in E. coli, it can now be tested whether this protein alone, without P. aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide contaminations, has a protective effect against P. aeruginosa infections.
SNPs in A&bgr; clearance proteins: Lower CSF A&bgr;1-42 levels and earlier onset of dementia in PD

Objective: To evaluate whether genetic variants in &bgr;-amyloid (A&bgr;) clearance proteins are associated with CSF levels of A&bgr;1-42 on a biological level and the onset of dementia on a clinical level in Parkinson disease (PD). Methods: We analyzed genetic variants known to be involved in A&bgr; clearance in a PD group comprising 456 patients, 103 of them with dementia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes APOE, cystatin C (CST), and membrane metalloendopeptidase (MME) were evaluated in relation to demographic variables, clinical phenotypes, and CSF A&bgr;1-42 levels using a cross-sectional approach. Results: Risk variants in the genes APOE and CST were associated with lower CSF A&bgr;1-42 levels. Clinically, patients with 2 risk alleles in CST tended to show a shorter interval from age at onset of PD to age at onset of dementia. Conclusions: This study suggests that genetic variants associated with A&bgr; clearance are involved in the pathogenesis of dementia in PD and possibly influence the onset of dementia.