Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Significance of NLR About NETosis and Lymphocytes Perturbations in Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma With Tumor Thrombus

Background Non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with tumor thrombus showed a greater tendency for developing metastases after surgery. Early identification of patients with high risk of poor prognosis is especially important to explore adjuvant treatment of improving outcomes. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was a systemic inflammation marker and outcome predictor in RCC, reflecting the chaos in systemic immune status in cancer as myeloid cell expansion and lymphatic cell suppression. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation (NETosis) is the process of neutrophils generating an extracellular DNA net-like structure. NETosis in tumor was demonstrated to conduce to the subsequent metastases of tumor. However, the role of NLR for systemic immune status and tumor local immune infiltration, especially for neutrophil-associated NETs, in non-metastatic RCC with thrombus remains unclear. Patients and Methods In our clinical cohort, we enrolled the clinical, pathologic, and preoperative laboratory parameters of 214 RCC patients with tumor thrombus who were treated surgically. The clinical endpoint was defined as cancer-specific survival (CSS). In our basic research cohort, RNA-seq, TCR-seq, and scRNA-seq data were analyzed. Patients who reached the endpoint as recurrence-free survival (RFS) were defined as the “High-risk” group. Otherwise, they were separated into the “Low-risk” group. Results In the clinical cohort, NLR≥4 was an independent risk factor for 203 localized RCC with tumor thrombus. In the basic research cohort, tumor thrombi were separated into NETosis-thrombi belonging to the “High-risk” group and non-NETosis-thrombi to the “Low-risk” group. NETs induced by tumor-derived G-CSF in tumor thrombus has a mechanistic role in unfavorable prognosis. Besides, NETs-score from single sample GSEA (ssGSEA) algorithm was an independent prognostic factor validated in the TCGA data. Apart from the neutrophils-associated NETosis, systemic immune perturbations of lymphocytes occurred in the “High-risk” group, represented with decreased TCR diversity and increasingly high proportion of CD4-positive effector memory T (Tem) cells, which indirectly represented the state of lymphopenia. Conclusions Our findings firstly demonstrated that neutrophils-associated NETosis and systemic lymphocytes perturbations were considered as tumor progression in patients of localized RCC with tumor thrombus, which reflected NLR≥4 as an independent risk factor for patients.
Creative self-expression in socio-technical systems

Massive networked communities, from Wikipedia contributors to amateur multimedia producers, have demonstrated enormous creativity and productivity in recent years. The dissertation research I discuss in this paper theorizes the creative products of these communities as acts of self-expression that exist within unique socio-technical contexts. Further, my work motivates the study of these creative acts as a new avenue for designing creativity support tools in HCI.
Continuous Class-B/J Power Amplifier Using a Nonlinear Embedding Technique

This brief explores the design space for realizable solution of a broadband class-B/J continuous mode of power amplifier (PA). The PA is initially designed at the current-source reference plane with the correct voltage and current waveforms. The intrinsic impedances are then projected to the package reference plane using the model-based nonlinear-embedding technique. An insight is provided into engineering the extrinsic harmonic impedance to rotate clockwise on the Smith chart to be able to match it using a Foster circuit. It is concluded that decreasing the empirical parameter $ {\alpha }$ of a general class-B/J voltage equation with increasing frequency leads to a clockwise trajectory on the Smith chart of the second harmonic at the package plane. In order to validate the advantage of this analysis, the PA is implemented using a 15 W gallium nitride high electron mobility transistor in the frequency range of 1.3 to 2.4 GHz and drain efficiency between 63% and 72% in measurement was achieved over the entire bandwidth.
Evaluating Clinical Accuracy of Systems for Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose

Although the scientific literature contains numerous reports of the statistical accuracy of systems for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), most of these studies determine accuracy in ways that may not be clinically useful. We have developed an error grid analysis (EGA), which describes the clinical accuracy of SMBG systems over the entire range of blood glucose values, taking into account 1) the absolute value of the system-generated glucose value, 2) the absolute value of the reference blood glucose value, 3) the relative difference between these two values, and 4) the clinical significance of this difference. The EGA of accuracy of five different reflectance meters (Eyetone, Dextrometer, Glucometer I, Glucometer II, Memory Glucometer II), a visually interpretable glucose reagent strip (Glucostix), and filter-paper spot glucose determinations is presented. In addition, reanalyses of a laboratory comparison of three reflectance meters (Accucheck II, Glucometer II, Glucoscan 9000) and of two previously published studies comparing the accuracy of five different reflectance meters with EGA is described. EGA provides the practitioner and the researcher with a clinically meaningful method for evaluating the accuracy of blood glucose values generated with various monitoring systems and for analyzing the clinical implications of previously published data.
Pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and quantitative synthesis

Summary Objectives Surgical removal of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer is undertaken increasingly but the practice is variable. There have been no randomized trials of effectiveness. We needed evidence from a systematic review to plan a randomized controlled trial. Design A formal search for all studies concerning the practice of pulmonary metastasectomy was undertaken including all published articles using pre-specified keywords. Abstracts were screened, reviewed and data extracted by at least two of the authors. Information across studies was collated in a quantitative synthesis. Results Of 101 articles identified, 51 contained sufficient quantitative information to be included in the synthesis. The reports were published between 1971 and 2007, and reported on 3504 patients. There was little change over time in patient characteristics such as age, sex, the time elapsed since resection of the primary cancer, its site or stage. The proportion with multiple metastases or elevated carcinoma embryonic antigen (CEA) did not change over time but there was an apparent increase in the proportion of patients who also had hepatic metastasectomy. Differences in 5-year survival between groups defined by CEA or by single versus multiple metastases persisted over time. Few data were available concerning postoperative morbidity, postoperative lung function or change in symptoms. Conclusion The quality of evidence available concerning pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer is not sufficient to draw inferences concerning the effectiveness of this surgery. There is great variety in what was reported and its utility. Given the burdensome nature of the surgery involved, better evidence, ideally in the form of a randomized trial, is required for the continuance of this practice.
Diabetes Mellitus - Prevalence and associated cardiovascular risk factors in a Saudi suburban community

The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its risk factors among the attendees of primary health care centers in a Saudi suburban community. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during March and April 2002. Out of eight satellite clinics, four clinics were selected by using systematic random sampling. All 451 attendees older than 18 years were included in the study sample, but 71 of them refused to undergo the blood investigations. Thus, three hundred eighty (380) subjects were screened for diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular risk factors including the assessment of lifestyle, obesity, hypertension, smoking and hyperlipidemia. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was found to be 15.8% (24.2% in males and 11.3% in females) only 23.3% of them were well controlled. Fifteen percent (15%) of the diabetics were undiagnosed. The mean fasting plasma glucose increased significantly with increase in age (p= 0.04), BMI (p= 0.01), blood pressure (p= 0.03), cholesterol level (p= 0.01) and triglycerides level (p= 0.02). No statistical significant association with frequency of exercise (p=0.50) was observed. Diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent in the study population, which are more among males as compared to females. An early detection program for diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular risk factors is needed. Such a program will contribute to the improvement of quality of life of the population.
Universal Standardization of Bone Density Measurements: A Method with Optimal Properties for Calibration Among Several Instruments

The International Dual‐Photon X‐Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) Standardization Committee (IDSC) conducted a cross‐calibration study among three models of DXA machines from three different manufacturers. In that study, 100 subjects were scanned on all three machines. A set of equations were derived to convert bone mineral density (BMD) on each machine to a “standardized BMD” (sBMD) such that sBMD from the same subject derived from different machines would be approximately the same. In a reanalysis of the cross‐calibration data, we showed that the conversion method used in the IDSC study did not achieve several optimal properties desirable in such conversions. We derived new conversion equations to sBMD based on minimizing differences among sBMD from the three machines. More important is that the new conversions have no residual bias that was present in the IDSC conversions. The performance of the methods were compared on the cross‐calibration data as well as an external data set. We conclude that the IDSC conversions are adequate for clinical use on other machines worldwide, but that researchers should standardize their own machines in a laboratory using the new method.
Parathyroid Cell Growth in Patients with Advanced Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: Vitamin D Receptor, Calcium Sensing Receptor, and Cell Cycle Regulating Factors

Abstract: The parathyroid gland (PTG) is a unique endocrine organ in which the quiescent glandular cells begin to proliferate in rsponse to the demand for maintaining calcium (Ca) homeostasis in the progressive course of renal failure, leading to secondary hypereparathyroidism (SHPT). SHPT is characterized with continuous over‐secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and high turn‐over bone disease, osteitis fibrosa, and the major factors include a deficiency of active vitamin D, hypocalcemia, and phosphate retention. With long‐term end‐stage renal failure, SHPT becomes resistant to conventional medical treatment such as phosphate binders and active vitamin D supplementation, and the growth of the PTG accelerates with the pattern of hyperplasia changing from diffuse to nodular type. In this process, the sigmoid curve between extracellular Ca concentration (exCa) and the plasma level of PTH shifts to the upper‐rightward, indicating both an absolute increase in PTH secretion and the resistance of PT cells to exCa. Many experimental and human studies have revealed down‐regulation of vitamin D receptor (VDR), calcium‐sensing receptor (CaSR), and retinoid X receptor (RXR) in PT cells. The sustained proliferation of PT cells after obtaining autonomicity is another characteristic feature of SHPT. In this context, it has been demonstrated that the cell cycle is markedly progressed, where the expression of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI), p21 and p27, is depressed in a VDR‐dependent manner. These pathological features are most evident in nodular hyperplasia, in which monoclonal proliferation is obvious, indicating the phenotypic changes have occured in PT cells. It has been observed by Fukagawa and colleagues that pharmacologically high dose of active vitamin D administered orally can cause small‐size PTG hyperplasia to regress in patients with advanced SHPT. Successful renal transplantation may also restore VDR and CaSR expressions in the diffuse type, in association with increasing TUNEL‐positive cells. Thus, it is important to vigorously treat SHPT when the PT cell proliferation is in the reversible stage of diffuse hyperplasia.
Effects of high-intensity interval training on central haemodynamics and skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure

Background High-intensity interval training (HIT) improves exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Moreover, HIT was associated with improved resting cardiac function. However, the extent to which these improvements actually contribute to training-induced changes in exercise capacity remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of HIT on exercising central haemodynamics and skeletal muscle oxygenation. Methods Twenty-six CHF patients were randomised to a 12-week 4 × 4 minute HIT program at 85–95% of peak VO2 or usual care. Patients performed maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing with simultaneous assessment of cardiac output and skeletal muscle oxygenation by near infrared spectroscopy, using the amplitude of the tissue saturation index (TSIamp). Results Peak workload increased by 11% after HIT (p between group = 0.01) with a non-significant increase in peak VO2 (+7%, p between group = 0.19). Cardiac reserve increased by 37% after HIT (p within group = 0.03, p between group = 0.08); this increase was not related to improvements in peak workload. Oxygen uptake recovery kinetics after submaximal exercise were accelerated by 20% (p between group = 0.02); this improvement was related to a decrease in TSIamp (r = 0.71, p = 0.03), but not to changes in cardiac output kinetics. Conclusion HIT induced improvements in maximal exercise capacity and exercising haemodynamics at peak exercise. Improvements in recovery after submaximal exercise were associated with attenuated skeletal muscle deoxygenation during submaximal exercise, but not with changes in cardiac output kinetics, suggesting that the effect of HIT on submaximal exercise capacity is mediated by improved microvascular oxygen delivery-to-utilisation matching.
Long‐term follow‐up of patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse who were evaluated for liver transplantation

The selection of patients with cirrhosis and the diagnosis of alcohol dependence or abuse who have a long‐term high probability of abstinence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may enhance patient survival and outcomes. The aim of this study is to identify factors that would predict which patients would consume alcohol after OLT. Sixty‐one patients with a history of alcohol dependence or abuse underwent OLT from June 1989 to June 1994 and were followed up monthly for a median of 6.9 years after OLT (range, 2.5 to 9.3 years). Survival analysis techniques (Cox proportional hazard model) were used to identify patients at high risk for recidivism. Recidivism occurred in 12 of 61 patients (20%) after OLT during follow‐up. Noncompliance, with a relative hazard of 20.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6 to 78.3; P < .001), and personality disorder, with a relative hazard of 6.0 (95% CI, 1.9 to 18.7; P = .002), independently predicted recidivism among patients who underwent OLT. These data indicate that specific behaviors and psychiatric diagnoses can be used to select patients at high risk for drinking alcohol before and after OLT.
Enhancement of Apoptosis of THP-1 Cells Infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Inhalable Microparticles and Relevance to Bactericidal Activity

ABSTRACT The relevance of apoptosis to killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis was studied with phorbol-differentiated THP-1 cells. Microparticles containing isoniazid and rifabutin induced intrinsic apoptosis and bacterial killing equivalent to that with dissolved drugs and maximally enhanced purinergic P2 receptor activity, while drug-free microparticles induced apoptosis via a different mechanism without killing bacteria.
Phenomenon of Supernormality in the Human Heart

This report documents five cases of supernormal (SN) conductivity in the sense of unexpected normalization of the previously existing bundle-branch block (BBB) and three cases of SN excitability in which impulses delivered to the ventricles propagated to the myocardium only during a well-defined interval in the cardiac cycles corresponding to the U waves of the preceding beat. In none of the patients could SN be abolished by atropine, suggesting absence of an important vagal role. In the five patients with SN conductivity there were three examples of right BBB in which spontaneous, as well as electrically induced premature atrial beats, were followed by normal QRS complexes only if they reached the right bundle during its SN phase. In the other two patients with bilateral BBB, strategically placed sinus P waves and electrically induced atrial impulses were conducted to the ventricles with normal P-His and His-Q intervals. Analysis of the electrocardiograms and His bundle electrograms indicated that SN conductivity resided in the bundle branches, and not in the A-V node. In one of two patients with bilateral BBB and SN conductivity in the right bundle branch, the SN-conducted beats occurred after both left and right ventricular escape beats, but were coupled to the preceding escape beats by longer intervals after left ventricular escape beats than after right ventricular escape beats. The difference was accounted for by the later activation of the right bundle branch when the preceding escape beat originated from the contralateral left ventricle. These observations favor an electrophysiologic explanation for the phenomenon of supernormality which is most probably related to the increased voltage of the transmembrane action potential in the period commonly known as the period of negative afterpotentials. This study provides no support for the hemodynamic or vagal theory of supernormality.
Brief communication: arboreal bipedalism in Bwindi chimpanzees.

Evidence of the form and function of bipedal behavior in nonhuman primates provides critical evidence to test theories about the origins of hominid bipedalism. Bipedalism has long been considered an evolutionarily interesting but rare behavior in wild chimpanzees. During May 2001, chimpanzees of the Ruhija community in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, engaged in an exceptional frequency of arboreal bipedalism when feeding in large Ficus trees. Seventy-eight bipedal bouts of at least 5 sec duration were recorded for the entire community (0.49 bouts/hr), with a mean duration of 13.7 sec (+/-1.6 sec). The animals employed many variations on the bipedal postural theme, ranging from erect standing on the largest substrates while grasping overhead limbs for support, to standing on one leg while suspending the other leg in space, to extended-lean standing, in which bipedal standing transitioned into horizontal arm-leg suspension as the animal reached for more distant fruits. Bipedalism was used as part of a behavioral repertoire that integrated brachiation, four-limbed suspension, and forelimb-supported standing for effective small-fruit foraging. These observations suggest that under certain ecological conditions, arboreal bipedalism can be an important posture for wild chimpanzees, and may have been an important behavioral precursor to full terrestrial bipedalism.
Workplace violence and health in human service industries: a systematic review of prospective and longitudinal studies

Objectives To provide systematically evaluated evidence of prospective associations between exposure to physical, psychological and gender-based violence and health among healthcare, social care and education workers. Methods The guidelines on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were followed. Medline, Cinahl, Web of Science and PsycInfo were searched for population: human service workers; exposure: workplace violence; and study type: prospective or longitudinal in articles published 1990–August 2019. Quality assessment was performed based on a modified version of the Cochrane’s ‘Tool to Assess Risk of Bias in Cohort Studies’. Results After deduplication, 3566 studies remained, of which 132 articles were selected for full-text screening and 28 were included in the systematic review. A majority of the studies focused on healthcare personnel, were from the Nordic countries and were assessed to have medium quality. Nine of 11 associations between physical violence and poor mental health were statistically significant, and 3 of 4 associations between physical violence and sickness absence. Ten of 13 associations between psychological violence and poor mental health were statistically significant and 6 of 6 associations between psychological violence and sickness absence. The only study on gender-based violence and health reported a statistically non-significant association. Conclusion There is consistent evidence mainly in medium quality studies of prospective associations between psychological violence and poor mental health and sickness absence, and between physical violence and poor mental health in human service workers. More research using objective outcomes, improved exposure assessment and that focus on gender-based violence is needed.
Moderate velocity oblique impact sliding: Production of shocked meteorite textures and palaeomagnetically important metallic spherules in planetary regoliths

We detail the production of metallic spherules in laboratory oblique shock impact experiments, and their applicability (1) to textures in a partly shock‐melted chondritic meteorite and (2) to the occurrence of palaeomagnetically important fine iron or iron alloy particles in the lunar regolith. Samples recovered from 29–44 GPa, 800 ns, experiments revealed melting and textures reminiscent of metallic spherules in the Yanzhuang H‐chondrite, including “dumbbell” forms and other more complex morphologies. Our experiments demonstrate that metallic spherules can be produced via oblique impact sliding at lower velocities (1.85 km s−1) than are generally assumed in previous work associated with bulk‐shock melting, and that oblique impact sliding is a viable mechanism for producing spherules in shock‐induced veins in moderately shocked meteorites. Significantly, our experiments also produced fine metallic (iron alloy) spherules within the theoretical narrow size range (a few tens of nanometers for slightly ellipsoidal particles) for stable single‐domain (SSD) particles, which are the most important palaeomagnetically, since they can record lunar and planetary magnetic fields over geological time periods. The experiments also produced spherules consistent with superparamagnetic (SP) and multidomain (MD) particle sizes. The fine SSD and SP particles on the lunar surface are currently thought to have been formed predominantly by space weathering processes. Our experiments suggest that oblique shock impact sliding may be a further means of producing the SSD and SP iron or iron alloy particles observed in the lunar regolith, and which are likely to occur in the regoliths of Mercury and other planetary bodies.