Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patients With pT1 Renal Cell Carcinoma Who Die From Disease After Nephrectomy May Have Unrecognized Renal Sinus Fat Invasion

Prior studies suggest that the renal sinus permits early tumor spread in otherwise localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumors. We hypothesized that renal sinus fat invasion may be unrecognized in pT1 patients who subsequently die from RCC. Between 1985 and 2002, we identified 577 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy for localized pT1 clear cell RCC as reviewed by a single urologic pathologist (J.C.C.). Among these patients, 49 died from RCC including 33 who had their original nephrectomy specimen stored in formalin. These specimens were then resectioned with thin cuts of the renal sinus and reviewed by the same pathologist. For comparison, 33 patients who did not die from RCC (controls) also had their original nephrectomy specimen resectioned. Among the 33 patients who died from seemingly localized RCC, 14 (42%) had previously unrecognized renal sinus fat invasion compared with 2 (6%) of the controls (P<0.001). In addition, 19 (58%) patients who died from RCC had renal sinus small vein (microscopic venous) invasion, a pathologic feature not currently incorporated into the TNM staging system for RCC. This feature was present in 7 (21%) of the controls (P=0.003). In total, 22 (67%) patients who died from RCC had unrecognized renal sinus fat or small vein invasion compared with 7 (21%) of the controls (P<0.001). We conclude that renal sinus fat invasion is an important adverse pathologic feature that is clearly underreported in the literature. Appropriate assessment of nephrectomy specimens should include proper sampling of the renal sinus even for seemingly localized tumors.
Functional formula to determine adequate balloon diameter of simultaneous kissing balloon technique for treatment of bifurcated coronary lesions: clinical validation by volumetric intravascular ultrasound analysis.

BACKGROUND Final kissing balloon technique (KBT) is known to alter long-term clinical outcomes for treatment of bifurcated coronary lesions. However, determination of adequate diameters of the 2 balloons remains difficult because of lack of a working index. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-one cases of left main (LM)-related bifurcated lesions, treated with Cypher(TM) stents (single/crush stenting) and final KBT, were enrolled. The formula "R(2) = D(1)(2) + D(2)(2)" was used, adjusting balloon diameter (D(1), D(2)) to the downstream branches, to predict the theoretical mean hugging balloon diameter (R) within the main portion. The degree and pattern of stent expansion in the LM and main branch (MB) segments was compared by volumetric intravascular ultrasound assessment. Stents in the LM segments expanded to a greater extent and more asymmetrically than in MB segments (average stent area: 13.2+/-3.1 mm(2) vs 7.6+/-2.1 mm(2), p<0.0001, stent symmetry index: 0.77+/-0.08 vs 0.88+/-0.03, p<0.0001). The actual mean stent diameter significantly correlated with R (p=0.0003, r=0.76). The ratio of actual to theoretical stent expansion was highly consistent between the LM and MB (93.1% vs 93.4%, p=NS). CONCLUSION The proposed formula may be useful for predicting resultant stent expansion following KBT, despite a more elliptical dilation.
Glyphosate in the general population and in applicators: a critical review of studies on exposures

Abstract The recent classification of glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was arrived at without a detailed assessment of exposure. Glyphosate is widely used as an herbicide, which might result in exposures of the general public and applicators. Exposures were estimated from information in the open literature and unpublished reports provided by Monsanto Company. Based on the maximum measured concentration in air, an exposure dose of 1.04 × 10 − 6 mg/kg body mass (b.m.)/d was estimated. Assuming consumption of surface water without treatment, the 90th centile measured concentration would result in a consumed dose of 2.25 × 10 − 5 mg/kg b.m. /d. Estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) of consumed doses in food provided a median exposure of 0.005 mg/kg b.m. /d (range 0.002–0.013). Based on tolerance levels, the conservative estimate by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) for exposure of the general population via food and water was 0.088 mg/kg b.m. /d (range 0.058–0.23). For applicators, 90th centiles for systemic exposures based on biomonitoring and dosimetry (normalized for penetration through the skin) were 0.0014 and 0.021 mg/kg b.m. /d, respectively. All of these exposures are less than the reference dose and the acceptable daily intakes proposed by several regulatory agencies, thus supporting a conclusion that even for these highly exposed populations the exposures were within regulatory limits.
Stability of Plasma Anti-Xa Activity in Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Monitoring

Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is now the standard of care for prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. Only cases with renal failure, morbid obesity or extreme age require anti-Xa monitoring to assure the therapeutic level achievement. Because of infrequent requests, the test is usually sent to the reference laboratories and specimen handling may be delayed. Because LMWHs can be kept at ambient temperature for several days, we proposed that anti-Xa levels in plasma samples are similarly steady. Patients’ plasma that was requested for anti-Xa activity was left at room temperature to repeat the test 24 hours later and compare with the result of immediate assay. The study included 86 fresh specimens from 56 participants. All patients received enoxaparin with anti-Xa levels ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 U/mL. Notably, anti-Xa activities significantly rose on the second occasions (P = 8.4 × 10—10). The mean change of anti-Xa was +0.15 ± 0.21 U/mL (+24.9% ± 37.4%). Children (age <15 years) showed more marked alterations than adults (+40.9% vs. +18.2%, P = .008). There was no statistical difference in the degrees of changes between sexes and diagnoses. The data suggest that specimens sent for anti-Xa require prompt handling to prevent falsely elevated values. This observation is new and future research is needed to find the mechanism of this alteration.
No-Load Performance of Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machines Mounting Magnetic Wedges

Axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines are being increasingly used in a variety of industrial, direct drive applications which benefit from their extreme axial compactness. In particular, slotted AFPM machines are of great interest, since they allow to achieve high torque densities together with an adequate constant power speed range. This paper analyzes a particular aspect related to the design of such machines, i.e. the use of soft magnetic composite (SMC) wedges to close stator slots. Magnetic circuit-based analyses and 2-D and 3-D finite-element analyses are performed on a 10 kW AFPM machine; various magnetic wedge configurations are adopted; the no-load performance is compared with that of the same machine using nonmagnetic wedges in terms of flux linkage, cogging torque, and no-load losses. Finally, experimental tests and results on a full-scale prototype machine mounting magnetic wedges are reported.
Dolmetschen bei der Polizei - eine empirische Studie zur Rolle von PolizeidolmetscherInnen in Österreich

Gegenstand der vorliegenden MA-Arbeit ist das Dolmetschen bei der Polizei unter beson-derer Berucksichtigung der Rolle und des Selbstbilds von PolizeidolmetscherInnen in Os-terreich. Hierfur wird zunachst das Setting Polizei als Handlungsfeld prasentiert, indem das Recht auf Dolmetschung in diesem Bereich, die Spezifika polizeilicher Kommunikation, der Einsatz von PolizeidolmetscherInnen sowie deren Aufgabengebiet diskutiert werden. Des Weiteren wird der Rollenbegriff aus verschiedenartigen Perspektiven beleuchtet und das Rollenverstandnis osterreichischer Berufsverbande fur DolmetscherInnen und Uber-setzerInnen untersucht. Die Rolle von PolizeidolmetscherInnen wird anhand translations-wissenschaftlicher Rollenbilder beschrieben, die nach dem Grad der aktiven Beteiligung der DolmetscherInnen am Gesprachsgeschehen in vier Rollenkategorien unterteilt und mittels praktischer Beispiele aus dem polizeilichen Berufsalltag veran¬schaulicht werden. Auf Basis dieser theoretischen Grundlagen, wird schlieslich eine im Rahmen dieser Abschlussarbeit durchgefuhrte empirische Studie, bei der elf osterreichische Dolmet-scherInnen zu ihren beruflichen Erfahrungen bei der Polizei interviewt wurden, vorgestellt. Das im Zuge der empirischen Forschung erhobene Material gibt Aufschluss daruber, wie die DolmetscherInnen Kommunikationssituationen, Ablaufe, Rollenverteilung, an sie gerichteten Erwartungen, ihr Selbstbild und Schwierigkeiten in der Verdolmetschung bei der Polizei wahrnehmen. In Bezug auf die Beschreibung des Situationskontexts Polizei, korrelieren dabei die in der empirischen Studie erzielten Ergebnisse mit dem zuvor pra-sentierten Theorierahmen. So wird u. a. aufgezeigt, dass die DolmetscherInnen uber ein ausgepragtes Bewusstsein fur die Charakteristika polizeilicher Kommunikation und die Rollen- bzw. Aufgabenverteilung zwischen den PrimaraktantInnen verfugen. Was das Thema ‚Rolle von PolizeidolmetscherInnen angeht, so weisen die Ergebnisse auf Diskre-panzen zwischen dem von den DolmetscherInnen beschriebenen Selbstbild und den tat-sachlich ausgefuhrten Handlungen hin. Da sich die Einteilung der Ergebnisse in die Rol-lenkategorien demgemas problematisch gestaltet, wird die Notwendigkeit einer praxisori-entierterem Beschreibung der Rolle von PolizeidolmetscherInnen in kunftigen Studien verdeutlicht.
Transversal fluctuations for a first passage percolation model

We introduce a new first passage percolation model in a Poissonian environment on $\mathbb{R}^{2}$. In this model, the action of a path depends on the geometry of the path and the travel time. We prove that the transversal fluctuation exponent for point-to-line action minimizers is at least $3/5$.
The BOLD Hemodynamic Response in Healthy Aging

Several previous studies have compared the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) hemodynamic response (HDR) in healthy elderly subjects to the HDR in young subjects. Some studies have found a relative decreased amplitude in the elderly in the visual cortex, whereas other studies have found the elderly HDR amplitude in the visual cortex to be nearly identical to that in young subjects. A possible explanation for the different findings is that the peak voxel HDR is similar between the groups, but that the HDR in the group-averaged region-of-interest (ROI) is washed out by the inclusion of less significant voxels (due to a smaller extent of activation in the elderly) or by the inclusion of negative-peaking voxels. We tested this hypothesis using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). While undergoing fMRI, subjects performed a simple visual and motor task, pressing with their index fingers in response to visual presentation of the word tap. Data from 18 subjects, 8 young and 10 elderly, were analyzed. For each subject, a visual and a motor ROI was selected by choosing the most significant positive voxels within the anatomically defined ROI. This individual subject approach excluded both low-significance and negative-peaking voxels. Similar peaks were found for the elderly and the young subjects in both motor and visual regions and a more sustained BOLD response was found for the elderly in both regions. Additionally, as predicted, a greater percentage of voxels with a negative HDR was found for the elderly in the visual region; this finding was also replicated in our reanalysis of an independent fMRI and aging study from the fMRI Data Center. Functional neuroimaging observations of negative HDRs in visual areas have been interpreted as the effect of unconstrained processing during rest. Our results suggest that the elderly may have more unconstrained visual processing during the rest condition in the scanner. The observation that the group differences in the BOLD response are sensitive to voxel selection (e.g., inclusion of low-significance and/or negative voxels) underscores the importance of ROI selection criteria in the interpretation of fMRI studies using elderly populations.
The etiology and therapy of primary spontaneous pneumothoraces

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) remains a significant health problem in young adults. Subpleural blebs and bullae in the lung apices are likely to play important roles in pathogenesis. The optimal management of PSP has been a matter of debate and depends on the size of the pneumothorax, the symptoms and the time of occurrence. Observation or simple aspiration is used in the first episode, while surgery is recommended for recurrent or complicated pneumothorax. Recent advances in thoracoscopic surgery have provided a less invasive alternative in the surgical treatment of PSP, but there are concerns about higher recurrence rates than that following open thoracotomy. Studies have shown that the judicious use of chemical pleurodesis may decrease the rate of recurrence in surgical and nonsurgical patients. In this article, the etiology and pathophysiology of PSP are reviewed. The indications, safety and effects of currently available treatment modalities are also summarized.
Relationship among Self-appraisals, Others’ Actual Appraisals, and Reflected Appraisals on Primary School Teachers Teaching Ability

Convenient sampling and questionnaire survey was used to investigate the relationship among self-appraisals, others’ actual appraisals, and reflected appraisals on the teaching ability of 40 primary school teachers. The results of the study indicated that primary school teachers’ selfappraisals on teaching ability was obviously below others’ actual appraisals; generalized others had more influence on the self-appraisals of primary school teachers than specific others; primary school teachers’ reflected appraisals could influence their self-appraisals; and others’ actual appraisals could not directly influence self-appraisals. Consequently, we should pay more attention in developing the primary school teachers’ reflective ability, change the current way of teaching reflection, improve the influence of others’ actual appraisals on self-appraisals, and enhance the validity of teaching reflection.
Blood levels of TT virus following immune stimulation with influenza or hepatitis B vaccine

Torque Teno virus (TTV) has been demonstrated to be present persistently in the blood of healthy individuals without evidence that it causes any disease process. The levels of TTV vary in patients co‐infected with other viruses and there has been considerable speculation as to whether TTV contributes to pathogenesis by other viruses or if the varying levels might be related to immune activation in the host. In the present study, the load of TTV was examined in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) following immunization of subjects with either influenza (a recall antigen) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) (a new antigenic exposure). The results overall did not indicate a significant change in TTV titers over a 90 day observation period; however, when TTV genogroup was taken into consideration there was an increase in viral load in plasma at some time points for subjects persistently infected with genogroup 3. While this was observed in both influenza and HBV immunized subjects, the effect was more profound in HBV vaccination. Thus, it appears that exposure to a new antigen rather than a recall antigen may stimulate TTV replication more effectively. The data further suggest that investigating the interactions between TTV and its host might require to examine specifically each TTV genogroup separately in order to determine if certain TTV types have any role in disease pathogenesis. J. Med. Virol. 75:358–365, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The mediating effect of cognitive and emotional satisfaction

The applications of salesperson presentation skills by a salesperson during their interaction with customers in the sales situation was found in previous studies to have a significant effect on customer's intention to promote through word-of-mouth. This research was conducted in order to examine the relationship between salesperson presentation skills and the relative roles played by cognition and emotion in the development of customer satisfaction which latter lead to customer's intention to promote through word-of-mouth particularly in a computer retail setting in Malaysia. The study tested the important variables that are associated with the problem, making it a co relational in nature. Attempts were made to establish relationship through corelational and regression analysis, where data were gathered once by means of a structured questionnaire. Survey method was employed and the unit of analysis was individual customers who patronized computer stores that were selected randomly. This study will lead to increased benefits for the organization in the form of customer loyalty. The cognitive evaluation of customer satisfaction was found to explain customer loyalty through word-of-mouth in a retail setting more than the emotional reaction. This finding holds importance to those retailers who have been able to generate high expectations in the eyes of their customers. This study is unique and makes headway in addressing this empty space by testing a model involving salesperson presentation skills amongst salesperson in Malaysia and it offers a complete distinction to previous research which has been conducted mainly in Western locale.
Detection of Red complex bacteria, P. gingivalis, T. denticola and T. forsythia in infected root canals and their association with clinical signs and symptoms

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between endodontic clinical signs and symptoms and the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and Methods: Microbial samples were obtained from 60 cases with necrotic pulp with primary teeth infections. DNA extracted from samples were analyzed for endodontic pathogens by using species-specific primers. Results: P. gingivalis/T. denticola were detected in 15 symptomatic teeth associated with periapical lesions. T. forsythia/T. denticola were found in 16 symptomatic teeth associated with pain and swelling. P. gingivalis was detected in 9 teeth which were associated with pain, 2 with tenderness on percussion, and 15 with periapical lesions. Statistically significant associations were found between T. forsythia as well as T. denticola in relation to clinical findings of pain and swelling. (P < 0.05). Red complex bacteria showed no statistical significant association with the presence of signs and symptoms. Conclusion: Prevalence of P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia suggested association of these bacteria with symptomatic infected pulp and periradicular diseases.
Gender differences in loss of psychological resources following experimentally-induced vicarious stress

Abstract The present research focuses on gender differences in resource loss, perceived threat, and negative affective reactions induced by experimental manipulation of vicarious stress. Israeli students (54.7% women) were randomly allocated to one of two conditions: (1) Threat Condition (n=98), in which participants were exposed to a video film depicting terror attacks and (2) Control Condition (n=30), in which participants viewed a video film depicting a series of non-emotive news broadcasts. Participants also completed measures of mastery, optimism, and self-esteem. The data indicated that whereas under the Threat Condition women scored lower on psychological resources and higher on perceived threat than men, no significant gender differences were observed under the Control Condition. A path analysis revealed that gender was directly related to perceived threat and resource loss, which, in turn, were related to negative affect. In addition, a greater sense of mastery was related to lower resource loss. Overall, these experimental findings suggest that gender and mastery bear prominent effects on cognitive and emotional reactions to vicarious life threat.
Feeding of very low birth weight infants born to HCMV‐seropositive mothers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Aim: To evaluate the enteral feeding practice of preterm infants <32 weeks (W) gestational age (GA) or <1500 g birth weight (BW) from human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)‐seropositive mothers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Exergames for Parkinson's Disease patients: The balloon goon game

Parkinson's Disease patients attending traditional long-term rehabilitation programs may lose interest and eventually drop out, as a direct result of the repeatability of the prescribed exercises. Technology-supported opportunities in the form of character-based, virtual reality exercise games (called “exergames”) can engage players to train in a non-linear fashion by providing an experience which varies from one game loop the next. The present work reports on a Kinect-based Unity3D exergame tailored to PD patients with mild to moderate symptoms which can be used in both clinical and home settings. The game supports a collection of gestures drawn from existing PD-specific training programs which advocate big and purposeful movements, intended to improve postural stability and reflexes as well as increase the overall mobility of upper and lower limbs. When a patient's movements “match” a programmed gesture, a 3D cartoon avatar responds accordingly. Finally, in-game decision-making purports to improve the patient's cognitive reaction.
Renal Transplantation Across HLA and ABO Antibody Barriers: Integrating Paired Donation into Desensitization Protocols

The field of desensitization and incompatible transplantation has made great gains over the past decade. There are now several options and effective therapies for many patients who face antibody barriers. Kidney paired donation (KPD) and desensitization have traditionally been considered competing strategies and patients have been offered one or the other without regard for the probability of a successful outcome. It is now possible to predict which donor/recipient phenotypes will benefit from each of these modalities. KPD should be favored among patients with immunologic phenotypes that are likely to match without prolonged waiting times. However, as many as 50% of patients with incompatible donors will fail to find a match in a KPD pool and many of these patients could be desensitized to their donor. Positive crossmatch and ABO incompatible transplantation has been accomplished in selective cases without the need for heavy immunosuppression or B‐cell ablative therapy. Patients who are both difficult‐to‐match due to broad sensitization and hard‐to‐desensitize because of strong donor reactivity can often be successfully transplanted through a combination of desensitization and KPD. Using these various modalities it is estimated that most patients with incompatible live donors can undergo successful renal transplantation.