Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microwave coagulation therapy for multiple hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma

Compared with other treatments, microwave coagulation is a relatively less invasive treatment for various kinds of solid tumors. Although its effectiveness in primary hepatocellular carcinoma has been shown, its effectiveness in the treatment of hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma has been unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effectiveness in the treatment of multiple hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma by comparing this technique with that of hepatic resection.
Effect of Insurance Type on Stage at Presentation, Surgical Approach, Tumor Recurrence and Cancer-Specific Survival in Resectable Non-Small Lung Cancer Patients

Purpose The aim of this study was to identify the association between Thailand’s insurance types and stage at presentation, surgical approach, tumor recurrence and cancer-specific survival in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in northern Thailand. Patients and Methods Medical records of patients with NSCLC who underwent pulmonary resection at Chiang Mai University Hospital from January 2007 through December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) or Social Security Scheme (SSS) and patients with the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) or private insurance (PI). Patient characteristics were assessed. The primary outcome was cancer-specific survival while the secondary outcome was tumor recurrence. Cox’s regression and matching propensity score analysis was used to analyze data. Results This study included 583 patients: 344 with UCS or SSS and 239 with CSMBS or PI. Patients with UCS or SSS were more likely to be active smokers, have a lower percent predicted FEV1, present with higher-stage tumors and worse differentiated tumors, present with tumor necrosis, and undergo an open surgical approach than those with CSMBS or PI. At multivariable analysis of all patients cohort, there were no significant differences in terms of early stage at presentation (adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.65–1.37), undergoing lobectomy (ORadj = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.24–1.46), and recurrent-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio (HRadj) =1.20, 95% CI = 0.88–1.65) between groups (UCS/SSS versus CSMBS/PI). However, patients with UCS or SSS had shorter cancer-specific survival (HRadj = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.22–2.15). The results from the propensity score matched patient cohort were not different from those analyses on the full patient cohort. Conclusion Thai insurance types have an effect on cancer-specific survival. The Thai government should recognize the importance of these differences, and further multi-center studies with a larger sample size are warranted to confirm this result.
Diversification and Value of Shanghai-Listed Manufacturing Companies

Using the information from the Shanghai-listed manufacturing firms, we find an increase in diversification over the period 2001-2003. The question may then be raised whether this benefits shareholders. Though researchers of developed countries find a negative effect of diversification, it may benefit shareholders in emerging markets. In our sample the diversified firms have lower market-to-book values of equity and lower Tobin's q's. Moreover multiple panel regressions with lagged corrections for interdependence all result in negative and often significant coefficients. Positive value effects of diversification that might be expected in the Chinese emerging market thus do not compensate for the negative effects in the manufacturing firms listed at the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Managing Safety and Operations: The Effect of Joint Management System Practices on Safety and Operational Outcomes

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether management system practices directed at both occupational health and safety (OHS) and operations (joint management system [JMS] practices) result in better outcomes in both areas than in alternative practices. Methods: Separate regressions were estimated for OHS and operational outcomes using data from a survey along with administrative records on injuries and illnesses. Results: Organizations with JMS practices had better operational and safety outcomes than organizations without these practices. They had similar OHS outcomes as those with operations-weak practices, and in some cases, better outcomes than organizations with safety-weak practices. They had similar operational outcomes as those with safety-weak practices, and better outcomes than those with operations-weak practices. Conclusions: Safety and operations appear complementary in organizations with JMS practices in that there is no penalty for either safety or operational outcomes.
Antiretroviral‐induced toxic epidermal necrolysis in a patient positive for human immunodeficiency virus

Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are two variants on a spectrum of severe systemic hypersensitivity characterized by blistering maculopapular lesions and desquamation of the skin and mucus membranes. Although several causative agents, including infections, have been reported for SJS/TEN, medications remain the most common cause. We report the case of a 42‐year‐old man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who developed TEN 4 months after starting treatment with darunavir and abacavir. The patient presented with upper body lesions, oral mucosal ulcerations, and impending airway compromise. He was intubated and admitted to the burns unit. Score for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SCORTEN) was 5, with > 90% predicted mortality. However, after intravenous immunoglobulin and supportive treatment, the patient made a remarkable recovery. Abacavir and darunavir may be associated with SJS/TEN. TEN should be considered a risk for patients with HIV and should be monitored for cutaneous eruptions for several months after changes in treatment regimen.
Radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas

Radiotherapy has been successfully employed in the management of patients with pituitary adenoma. It achieves excellent long-term tumour control and frequently leads to normalization of elevated serum hormone concentrations, albeit with delay. There are well documented late effects of irradiation of which hypothalamic– pituitary insufficiency is the most frequent. Serious late complications are uncommon with overall risk generally < 2%. Nevertheless, the perception, largely based on selected studies of early use of radiation, is that radiotherapy is damaging and the effectiveness is questioned. Into this scenario comes radiosurgery offering an apparent quantum leap in radiation technology that combines neurosurgical terminology of surgery and stereotaxy with more advanced means of radiation delivery. The impression is of surgical precision added to the science of radiation. Have the new techniques altered the management of patients with pituitary adenoma or is the new technology the emperor’s new clothes? In an attempt to provide an objective answer we present a systematic review of the literature published between 1985 and 2003 on the efficacy of radiosurgery in patients with pituitary adenomas and at least 6 months’ follow-up excluding single case reports and nonpeer-reviewed chapters. As critical interpretation of these data requires both an understanding of current radiotherapy technology and the improvements and the results of conventional treatment, they are discussed first.
Cell proliferation and inflammation on biopsy samples with multifocal atrophic gastritis before and 1 year after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

CONTEXT Results of clinical trials that have assessed whether gastric cancer is preventable with Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy remain inconclusive. These trials have used atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia as histopathologic end points that reflect possible preneoplastic lesions. Trial results would be more compelling if cell proliferation and inflammatory markers improved simultaneously with histopathologic lesions. OBJECTIVE To study the presence of cell proliferation markers and type of inflammatory cells in biopsy specimens with gastritis, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia before and 1 year after H pylori therapy and to determine if immunohistochemistry can be used to study these. DESIGN We evaluated 12 subjects with gastritis and 16 with gastritis and multiple foci of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia by using immunohistochemical assays for tumor suppressor protein p53, proliferation marker Ki-67, cell cycle regulator cyclin D1, T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotide transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling) assay for apoptosis. The biopsy specimens were selected from a randomized clinical trial that studied improvement of histopathologic gastric lesions after H pylori eradication. RESULTS Groups of surface epithelial cells that expressed p53 and Ki-67 were observed more often in subjects with atrophy and intestinal metaplasia compared with those with gastritis alone. T lymphocytes in the lamina propria were frequently observed 1 year after treatment in subjects with atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. CONCLUSIONS Immunohistochemical assays for cell proliferation and inflammatory cell markers showed different distribution patterns in these gastric biopsy specimens. The presence of T lymphocytes and groups of cells that expressed proliferation markers in subjects with multiple foci of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia needs further study.
Orbital pythiosis: a non‐fungal disease mimicking orbital mycotic infections, with a retrospective review of the literature

In the past decade there have been four well‐documented cases of orbital pythiosis caused by Pythium insidiosum. All were recorded in apparently healthy children. Although pythiosis seems to be a rare infection in humans, we recently conducted a review of the medical literature to investigate misdiagnosed cases of orbital pythiosis in the past 100 years in children. To track putative cases of orbital pythiosis, we first identified orbital cases initially diagnosed as fungal infections. We were particularly interested in cases (a) involving apparently young healthy hosts, (b) the presence of hyaline, aseptate hyphal elements in the infected tissues, (c) the morphological features of the hyphal elements, (d) the presence of an eosinophilic granulomatous reaction with the Splendore–Hoeppli phenomenon around the mycelial elements, (e) resistance to antifungal therapy, (f) outcome after therapy, if any, and (g) cultural strategies. This study showed that indeed, there had been five other recorded cases of orbital infections, all in young children in the USA, with characteristics consistent with infections caused by P. insidiosum. The reports had described those cases of orbital‐cranial‐arterial diseases as patients with aspergillosis (one case), penicilliosis infection (one case), and zygomycosis (three cases). We reviewed those anomalous cases and discuss details about their clinical, pathologic, therapeutic, and etiologic evidence used to reclassify them as putative cases of orbital pythiosis.
A Pricing Model for American Options with Stochastic Interest Rates

textabstractIn this paper we introduce a new methodology to price American put options under stochastic interest rates. The method is a combination of an analytic approach and a binomial tree approach. We construct a binomial tree for the forward risk adjusted tree and calculate analytically the expected early exercise value in each point. For American puts with stochastic interest rates the correlation between the stock price process has different influences on the European option values and the early exercise premiums. This results in a nonmonotonic relation between this correlation and the American put option value. Furthermore, there is evidence that the early exercise premium due to stochastic interest rates is much larger than established before by other researchers.
Load-deflection and surface properties of coated and conventional superelastic orthodontic archwires in conventional and metal-insert ceramic brackets

Background: Properties of coated archwires, which have been introduced for esthetic demands during orthodontic treatments, along with the use of tooth-colored brackets, are not clear. The aim of this study is to compare the load-deflection and surface properties of coated superelastic archwires with conventional superelastic archwires in conventional and metal-insert ceramic brackets. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 3 types of archwires including ultraesthetic polycoated, ultraesthetic epoxyresin coated and conventional (uncoated) superelastic nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires were used in each of 2 types of brackets including conventional and metal-insert ceramic. To simulate oral environment, all specimens were incubated in artificial saliva using thermocycling model and then were tested in three-bracket bending test machine. Loading and unloading forces, plateau gap and end load deflection point (ELDP) were recorded. Archwires were investigated with a stereomicroscope before and after the experiment. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used at P<0.05. Results: Epoxyresin archwires produced lower forces (19 to 310 gr) compared to polycoated (61 to 359 gr) and NiTi (61 to 415 gr) (P<0.0001). The maximum ELDP (0.43 mm) was observed in epoxyresin archwires (P<0.001). Coatings of some epoxyresin wires were torn and of polycoated wires peeled off. Conventional ceramic bracket produced higher loading forces with polycoated and NiTi archwires and lower unloading forces with all 3 types of archwires compared to metal-insert type (P<0.05). Conclusion: Epoxyresin-coated archwire had the lowest force and highest ELDP. Coatings were not durable in these experimental conditions. Conventional ceramic bracket produced higher frictional force compared to metal-insert type.
Hybrid Procedures in the Treatment of Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Systematic Review

Purpose: To summarize the existing evidence on the use of hybrid open/endovascular repair in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA). Methods: A thorough search was performed of the English-language literature published between January 1999 and October 2008. Studies that reported the results of hybrid procedures as the intended repair strategy in patients with TAAAs were selected using specific inclusion criteria [TAAA diagnosis based on the modified Crawford classification, a minimum 1-month follow-up, and data available on patient demographics, technical success, 30-day mortality, follow-up length, and outcome (neurological deficit, renal impairment, and/or graft vessel patency)]. From 35 articles initially identified, 15 studies were included in the statistical analysis encompassing 108 patients (75 men; mean age 67.6 years) with TAAAs averaging 72.7 mm in diameter. The majority of patients had aneurysms classified as Crawford types I (n=20), II (n=39), or III (n=29); there were 14 type IV and 6 type V. Results: Technical success was achieved in 91.6%(n=99) of the 108 patients. Nineteen (16.6%) primary endoleaks and 3 (2.7%) secondary endoleaks were reported. Elective 30-day mortality was 10.4% (n=10), while total 30-day mortality, including emergency cases, was 14.8% (n=16). Three (2.7%) patients developed some permanent neurological deficit; renal failure was reported in 12 (11.1%). The mean follow-up period was 10.6 months, during which 97% of the grafts remained patent. Overall follow-up mortality was 24.1% (n=26). Conclusion: Hybrid open endovascular repair is a new therapeutic option with encouraging results for patients considered unfit for conventional open repair. However, further research is required to draw robust conclusions.
Average Number of Significant Modes Excited in a Mode-Stirred Reverberation Chamber

Although the number of significant modes is intuitive, this concept has never been clearly defined, mainly because of the unbound number of modes involved in modal overlap. In the present paper, we show that, for a perfect stirring process, the effect of modal overlap can be modeled as an equivalent filtering formulation. By introducing the statistical-bandwidth concept, we show that the electromagnetic field statistics due to an infinite number of modes can be summarized by a finite number of significant modes. The case of the electric-energy density in an mode-stirred reverberation chamber has been considered and a new expression of its variability has been established. The good agreement found between the new expression and the experimental and simulation results support the several concepts introduced in this paper.
Microalgal oil extraction and in situ transesterification

MICROALGAL OIL EXTRACTION AND IN SITU TRANSESTERIFICATION by Justin Ferrentino University of New Hampshire, June, 2007 Oil extraction from microalgae is an important process for lab analysis, the nutraceutical industry, and it will be important to growing field of algal biofuels. In this thesis, six strains of high-oil microalgae were screened for neutral lipid content and ease of culturing. One of these six, Chlorella sp. , was cultured under various growth conditions to determine the settings to produce both the most cells and the highest neutral lipid content per cell. With this information, Chlorella sp. was cultured in large batches to produce sizable harvest quantities (10’s of grams dry cells). During large scale culturing, cell concentration data, fluorometric (neutral lipid content) data, and pH data were collected to provide more information about the culture growth behavior and to properly time harvests. Harvested cells were centrifuged and freeze-dried for solvent extraction and in situ biodiesel production experiments. From freeze-dried cells, the total lipid mass was determined gravimetrically to be 8-10% of the dry mass, based on the solvent extraction method of Bligh and Dyer (1959). Solvent extracted lipids were derivatized to Fatty Acid
The effect of 131-I on the aberration-rate of chromosomes from Chinese hamster thyroids.

SummaryWe have studied the effects of 131I on the chromosomal aberration-rate of thyroid cells from the Chinese hamster. The animals were given a single injection of 131I intraperitoneally, and after selected intervals of time the thyroids were removed and the cells grown in tissue culture.It was found that thyroid cells are sensitive to irradiation as indicated by chromosome damage at dose-levels as low as 6 rad. There was also an increase in the number of cells containing aberrations over the time-intervals studied, suggesting a persistence of these cells for long periods of time. Dicentrics and other forms of the chromosome type of aberration occurred most frequently, indicating that most of the injury took place while the thyroid cells were in the G1 stage of the cell-cycle.
Center for Demography and Ecology University of Wisconsin-Madison The Mark of a Criminal Record

The Mark of a Criminal Record Over the past three decades, the number of prison inmates has increased by more than 500 percent, leaving the United States the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. With over 2 million individuals currently incarcerated, and over half a million prisoners released each year, the large and growing numbers of men being processed through the criminal justice system raises important questions about the consequences of this massive institutional intervention. This paper focuses on the consequences of incarceration for the employment outcomes of black and white job seekers. In the present study, I adopt an experimental audit approach to formally test the degree to which a criminal record affects subsequent employment opportunities. By using matched pairs of individuals to apply for real entry-level jobs, it becomes possible to directly measure the extent to which a criminal record—in the absence of other disqualifying characteristics—serves as a barrier to employment among equally qualified applicants. I find that a criminal record is associated with a 50 percent reduction in employment opportunities for whites and a 64 percent reduction for blacks. These findings reveal an important, and much under-recognized, mechanism of stratification. A criminal record presents a major barrier to employment, with important implications for racial disparities.
The Role of Managerial Incentive and Corporate Governance in Asset Restructuring: New Perspectives from Equity Carve-Outs

We investigate the effect of corporate governance on equity carve-out decisions during the period of 1990 to 2014. Consistent with the notion that managerial incentives drive corporate decisions, we find that firms where the CEO and management have larger stock ownership are more likely to carve-out their subsidiaries. Larger firms with prior poor performance are also more likely to carve-out their divisions. Among equity carve-out parents, larger firms with higher profitability, higher managerial ownership and CEO incentive-based compensation tend to retain higher portions of their subsidiaries. We finally demonstrate that for wealth-enhancing strategic decisions such as equity carve-outs CEO tenure and classified board are negatively related to value, while outsider dominated boards are perceived positively by the investors. Our results offer new insights on the role of managerial incentive and corporate governance in asset restructuring.
H∞ Filtering for Discrete-Time Systems With Stochastic Incomplete Measurement and Mixed Delays

This paper focuses on the H∞ filtering problem for a class of discrete-time systems with stochastic incomplete measurement and mixed random delays. A more realistic and accurate measurement mode is proposed to compensate for the negative influence of both missing data and different time delays in a random way. In the system, all of the stochastic variables are mutually independent but satisfy the Bernoulli binary distribution. In particular, the stochastic infinite distributed delays are introduced in the discrete-time domain. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the admissible filter are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which ensures the asymptotic stability as well as a prescribed H∞ performance for the filter errors. A simulation example is exploited to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design procedures.
Borrelia burgdorferi infection regulates CD1 expression in human cells and tissues via IL1‐β

The appearance of group 1 CD1 proteins (CD1a, CD1b and CD1c) on maturing myeloid DC is a key event that converts myeloid DC to effective lipid APC. Here, we show that Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, triggers appearance of group 1 CD1 proteins at high density on the surface of human myeloid DC during infection. Within human skin, CD1b and CD1c expression was low or absent prior to infection, but increased significantly after experimental infections and in erythema migrans lesions from Lyme disease patients. The induction of CD1 was initiated by borrelial lipids acting through TLR‐2 within minutes, but required 3 days for maximum effect. The delay in CD1 protein appearance involved a multi‐step process whereby TLR‐2 stimulated cells release soluble factors, which are sufficient to transfer the CD1‐inducing effect in trans to other cells. Analysis of these soluble factors identified IL‐1β as a previously unknown pathway leading to group 1 CD1 protein function. This study establishes that upregulation of group 1 CD1 proteins is an early event in B. burgdorferi infection and suggests a stepwise mechanism whereby bacterial cell walls, TLR activation and cytokine release cause DC precursors to express group 1 CD1 proteins.