Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extubation Failure Is Associated With Increased Mortality Following First Stage Single Ventricle Reconstruction Operation

Objectives: To identify the prevalence, causes, risk factors, and outcomes associated with extubation failure following first stage single ventricle reconstruction surgery. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis of neonates who underwent a first stage single ventricle reconstruction operation. Extubation failure was defined as endotracheal reintubation within 48 hours of first extubation attempt. Setting: The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Patients: Data were collected for all infants who underwent a Norwood or Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure between 2005 and 2014 at our institution. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Extubation failure occurred in 23 of 137 neonates (16.8%; 95% CI, 11.0–24.1%) who underwent a trial of extubation. Overall, 42 patients (30.7%) were extubated to room air, 88 (64.2%) to nasal continuous positive airway pressure, and seven (5.1%) to high-flow nasal cannulae, though there was no major difference in extubation failure rates between these three groups (p = 0.37). The median time to reintubation was 16.7 hours (interquartile range, 3.2–35.2), and male infants failed extubation more frequently (63.2% vs 87.0%; p = 0.02), although age, gestation, weight, cardiac diagnosis (hypoplastic left heart syndrome vs other single ventricle conditions), shunt type (modified Blalock-Taussig vs right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt), intraoperative perfusion times, preextubation mechanical ventilation duration, preextubation acid-base status, and postoperative fluid balance were not related to extubation outcome. Infants who failed extubation had a higher intensive care mortality (19.4% vs 3.5%; p = 0.03) and in-hospital mortality (30.4% vs 6.1%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of extubation failure following first stage single ventricle reconstruction, and this is associated with considerably worse patient outcomes. The high prevalence and also the wide variation in rates of extubation failure in reported literature provide with an opportunity for implementation of quality assurance activities to minimize this complication and improve outcomes.
In fl uence of electrode material and roughness on iron electrodeposits dispersion by ultrasoni fi cation

This study relates the sonoelectrochemical production of metallic particles and nanoparticles. The emphasis is on the influence of electrode material and roughness on the morphology of iron electrodeposits and their dispersion from the electrode by ultrasonification. Ultrasonification is either applied during cyclic voltammetries with solution stirring or after galvanostatic iron electrodeposition; no dispersion was observed when using a gold electrode, whereas dispersion was always observed when using vitreous carbon (VC) substrates. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging of the electrodeposits shows higher iron coverage on gold than on VC electrodes. Iron spreads more on gold than on VC. The values of both the interfacial energy of the iron/electrode interface and the work of adhesion of iron on the electrode are in agreement with the previous observations. Dispersion kinetics on VC were found to be dependent on the electrode surface roughness. Results suggest that dispersion follows a first order kinetics, which is coherent with the constant action of cavitation bubbles in the vicinity of the electrode surface. Enhancement of mass-transfer by ultrasound has also been observed.
From Insulin and Insulin-Like Activity to the Insulin Superfamily of Growth-Promoting Peptides: A 20th-Century Odyssey

In 1941, Gellhorn reported that administration of human blood to hypophysectomized/adrenodemedullated rats caused a fall in blood sugar. This was among the early demonstrations that human blood possesses glucose-lowering or insulin-like activity (ILA). Gellhorn assumed he had detected only insulin. During the 1960s, however, it became evident that plasma ILA contained at least two components: one, suppressible ILA (SILA), was inactivated by anti-insulin antibody and was therefore considered to be indistinguishable from pancreatic insulin; the other, nonsuppressible ILA (NSILA), was unaffected by anti-insulin antibody. Subsequent work resolved NSILA into insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II), two 7.5 kilodalton peptides with potent mitogenic properties; established their identity with the somatomedins; and investigated both their therapeutic potential and role in the pathogenesis of neoplastic and other human diseases. Insulin and the IGFs exhibit striking homologies in amino acid composition and some degree of overlap in their signaling pathways and actions. Moreover, insulin-like proteins have been identified not only in all vertebrate classes but also in molluscs, insects, and worms. These observations are the basis for the hypothesis that the genes encoding vertebrate insulins and IGFs and invertebrate insulin-like molecules evolved from a common ancestral gene, and for the concept of an insulin superfamily of growth-promoting peptides.
Safety and efficiency of left hemihepatectomy combined with hepatic artery resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma with artery infiltration: report of 2 cases.

Hilar cholangiocarcinomas involving either the right and/or left hepatic duct (Bismuth-Corlette type IIIa/IIIb or IV) are generally proposed to require resection of the respective hemiliver or extended hemiliver to achieve clear margins.1,2 When the hepatic artery is occupied by the tumour,3 hemihepatectomy concurrent with resection of the common hepatic artery or the artery bifurcations can achieve the largest benefit with respect to resectability and oncologic radicality. Nonetheless, the functional failure of the hepatic remnant, bile leakage, liver necrosis and abscess restrict its application. In our study, we report that 2 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma accompanied by hepatic artery infiltration underwent left hemihepatectomy, hepatic artery resection and biliary reconstruction and that both recovered smoothly.
Modeling and optimization of the capacity allocation problem with constraints

The Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) is proven more and more promising to model and to solve a great number of real problems. A lot of approaches using constraint reasoning have proposed to solve search problems. In this paper, we propose a modeling of Capacity Allocation Problem of an airport (CAP) and of its fixes (FCAP) in form of a Constraint Satisfaction Problem. This modeling gives a CSP problem calledFCSPAC. Then, in order to solve theFCSPAC, we propose an Optimization model calledCOFCAP . W e present some experimental results through an example followed by its optimized resolution. Finally, we show how to control the solutions of an FCSPAC to assist the airport managers to face unforeseen events and present some future work.
Sexual Behavior, Mental Health, Substance Use, and HIV Risk Among Agency-Based Male Escorts in a Small U.S. City

Abstract Relatively little research has examined the personal sex lives of indoor male sex workers (MSWs) or possible connections in this group between sexual behavior and factors related to HIV risk. As part of a larger project, this study collected data from 30 agency-based indoor MSWs (mean = 22.4 years) about their sexual behavior, mental health, and substance use. Few HIV risk behaviors with clients occurred. Drug use and mental health problems were relatively frequent, but not related to increased risk behavior. Instead, MSWs appeared to employ rational decision-making and harm-reduction strategies. Conceptualization of MSW sexual behavior may be required where HIV risk is not attributed to sex work per se, but to other influences such as economic and relational factors.
Pneumocystis murina Infection and Cigarette Smoke Exposure Interact To Cause Increased Organism Burden, Development of Airspace Enlargement, and Pulmonary Inflammation in Mice

ABSTRACT Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by the presence of airflow obstruction and lung destruction with airspace enlargement. In addition to cigarette smoking, respiratory pathogens play a role in pathogenesis, but specific organisms are not always identified. Recent reports demonstrate associations between the detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA in lung specimens or respiratory secretions and the presence of emphysema in COPD patients. Additionally, human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals who smoke cigarettes develop early emphysema, but a role for P. jirovecii in pathogenesis remains speculative. We developed a new experimental model using immunocompetent mice to test the interaction of cigarette smoke exposure and environmentally acquired Pneumocystis murina infection in vivo. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke and P. murina would interact to cause increases in total lung capacity, airspace enlargement, and pulmonary inflammation. We found that exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases the lung organism burden of P. murina. Pulmonary infection with P. murina, combined with cigarette smoke exposure, results in changes in pulmonary function and airspace enlargement characteristic of pulmonary emphysema. P. murina and cigarette smoke exposure interact to cause increased lung inflammatory cell accumulation. These findings establish a novel animal model system to explore the role of Pneumocystis species in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Endocan Levels and Coronary Collateral Circulation in Stable Angina Pectoris: A Pilot Study

We investigated the relationship between endocan (a marker of systemic inflammation) and the development of coronary collateral circulation (CCC) as evaluated by coronary angiography in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. A total of 90 patients (32 poor CCC and 58 good CCC) were included in this study. Endocan levels were determined using a commercially available sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit with high sensitivity and specificity for detection of human endocan. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, low endocan levels were independently associated with good CCC (P < .001). Moreover, low high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were also independently associated with good CCC (P = .020). We found an optimal cutoff point for endocan of 1.7 ng/mL; it predicted the presence of good CCC with a sensitivity of 72.4% and specificity of 65.6% (P < .001). The results of the present study suggest that measurement of endocan level may help clinicians to predict the development of CCC in patients with stable coronary artery disease.
Prognostic factors in soft tissue sarcomas: a study of 395 patients.

AIMS The aim of this study was to report prognostic factors, end-points of local recurrence, distant recurrence, post-metastasis survival, and overall survival in a cohort of patients with soft tissue sarcomas. METHODS We analysed a database of 395 patients affected by primary soft tissue sarcomas of various primary sites, treated and followed up at the Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy from January 1985 to January 1997. RESULTS Grade, size, stage, surgical margins, distant metastasis, age, sex, performance status, and haemoglobin value were significant for overall survival. Histology, grade, stage, and surgical margins were significant for local recurrence. Grade, size, and stage, were significant for distant recurrence; and surgical margin was significant variable for post-metastasis survival. CONCLUSIONS Grade, size, and TNM stage (UICC/AJCC) have stronger prognostic significance for overall survival and distant recurrence than for local relapse. Positive surgical margins are the main predictors for local relapse. Age was the most consistent adverse independent prognostic factor for survival.
The Effect of Apparatus Competence on Public Service Quality of Financial Agency in Gorontalo District

This research aim is to examine the effect of apparatus competence on public service quality of Financial Agency in Gorontalo District. It uses explanatory survey method with quantitative approach to analyze the effect of apparatus competence as independent latent construct (exogenous) on public service quality of financial agency as latent construct (endogen). The population of 100 respondents spread in offices of Gorontalo District Financial Agency and some Local Apparatus Work Unit (LAWU), and all population become samples. The data is analyzed by Partial Least Square (PLS) with SmartPLS. The research results show that the effect of apparatus competence on public service quality of financial agency has path coefficient of 0.521 (52.1%) with t value of 7.919. This value is greater than t table (1.96). Therefore, the apparatus competence has a direct positive and significant effect on Public Service Quality of financial agency in Gorontalo District. It can be said that apparatus competence increase the Public Service Quality of financial agency in Gorontalo District. Keywords : apparatus Competence, Public Service Quality
Birth Weight Influences the Initial Response to Growth Hormone Treatment in Growth Hormone-insufficient Children

Objective. To determine the influence of birth weight on the first year response to growth hormone (GH) replacement in children with isolated GH insufficiency. Study Design. A longitudinal study of response to daily GH treatment (15–26 IU/m2/week) was performed in 16 singleton Caucasian prepubertal children (11 boys, 5 girls) with isolated GH insufficiency (peak GH response to insulin tolerance test <13.5 mU/L) attending a pediatric endocrinology clinic. Change in height velocity standard deviation scores, during the 6 to 12 months before starting GH and the 12 months after, were used to reflect responsivity to GH treatment. Potential influencing variables considered by regression analysis were birth weight standard deviation score (BWSDS), peak GH response to insulin tolerance testing, midparental height standard deviation score, age at treatment, and dose of GH administered. Results. Mean BWSDS was −0.51 (SD, 1.0). Change in height velocity standard deviation score was correlated positively with BWSDS (r = 0.64) and negatively with peak GH (r = −0.59). Stepwise linear regression analysis confirmed the influence of BWSDS on response to GH treatment. Conclusions. The continuum of birth weight influences initial responsivity to GH treatment in GH-insufficient children. This may reflect relative insensitivity in the growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor axis. The influence of birth weight on final height and benefit of using higher doses of GH in these children remains to be seen.
EGFR Signaling in Liver Diseases

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase that is activated by several ligands leading to the activation of diverse signaling pathways controlling mainly proliferation, differentiation, and survival. The EGFR signaling axis has been shown to play a key role during liver regeneration following acute and chronic liver damage, as well as in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) highlighting the importance of the EGFR in the development of liver diseases. Despite the frequent overexpression of EGFR in human HCC, clinical studies with EGFR inhibitors have so far shown only modest results. Interestingly, a recent study has shown that in human HCC and in mouse HCC models the EGFR is upregulated in liver macrophages where it plays a tumor-promoting function. Thus, the role of EGFR in liver diseases appears to be more complex than what anticipated. Further studies are needed to improve the molecular understanding of the cell-specific signaling pathways that control disease development and progression to be able to develop better therapies targeting major components of the EGFR signaling network in selected cell types. In this review, we compiled the current knowledge of EGFR signaling in different models of liver damage and diseases, mainly derived from the analysis of HCC cell lines and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs).
Magnetic Properties of L10 FeNi Phase Developed Through Annealing of an Amorphous Alloy

Chemically ordered L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi phase observed in Fe-based meteorite has the potential to replace high-cost rare-earth-based permanent magnets in the future. However, artificial production of this phase is extremely difficult due to negligible atomic diffusion around order–disorder transition temperature (~320 °C). Here, we report a method for producing high-quality L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi phase and its magnetic properties. We show that a highly disordered metastable state, that is, amorphous can be utilized to produce a highly ordered state, which is not possible with the conventional processing techniques. Amorphous Fe<sub>42</sub>Ni<sub>41.3</sub>Si<sub><italic>x</italic></sub>B<sub>12−<italic>x</italic></sub>P<sub>4</sub>Cu<sub>0.7</sub> (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$x=0$ </tex-math></inline-formula> to 8 at.%) alloy ribbons were studied. Crystallization of amorphous ribbons at 400 °C results in adequate atomic diffusion at low temperatures to precipitate L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi grains. Structural characterization revealed a high degree of chemical ordering (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$S \ge 0.8$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), but the volume fraction of precipitated L1<sub>0</sub> grains is low. The crystallized ribbons of FeSiBPCu are composed of two magnetic phases (hard magnetic L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi grains embedded in a soft magnetic matrix). Alloys with higher concentration of Si are shown to produce high coercivity (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{c}\sim 700$ </tex-math></inline-formula>–750 Oe). The soft magnetic matrix strongly influences the H<sub><italic>c</italic></sub>. The actual switching field (≥3.7 kOe) of L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi has been found to be much higher than that of H<sub><italic>c</italic></sub>. In this paper, the L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi phase is shown to form at temperatures higher than the reported order–disorder temperature. Our results of temperature-dependent magnetization and thermal analyses suggest that the L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi phase can survive at temperatures ≤550 °C. The magnetization reversal mechanism was understood by angular dependence of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$H_{c}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and it is shown to be a domain-wall pinning type. Due to structural and magnetic similarities between L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi and L1<sub>0</sub> FePt, ribbon samples with low-volume fraction of L1<sub>0</sub> FePt grains in a soft magnetic matrix were prepared with a similar technique. Magnetization behavior of L1<sub>0</sub> FeNi is shown to be similar to that of L1<sub>0</sub> FePt.
Image quality assessment using natural scene statistics

Measurement of image quality is crucial for designing image processing systems that could potentially degrade visual quality. Such measurements allow developers to optimize designs to deliver maximum quality while minimizing system cost. This dissertation is about automatic algorithms for quality assessment of digital images. Traditionally, researchers have equated image quality with image fidelity, or the closeness of a distorted image to a ‘reference’ image that is assumed to have perfect quality. This closeness is typically measured by modeling the human visual system, or by using different mathematical criteria for signal similarity. In this dissertation, I approach the problem from a novel direction. I claim that quality assessment algorithms deal only with images and videos that are meant for human consumption, and that these signals are almost exclusively images and videos of the visual environment. Image distortions make these so-called natural scenes look ‘unnatural’. I claim that this departure from ‘expected’ characteristics could be quantified for predicting visual quality. I present a novel information-theoretic approach to image quality assessment using statistical models for natural scenes. I approach the quality assessment problem as an information fidelity problem, in which the distortion process is viewed as a channel that limits the flow of information from a source of natural images to the receiver (the brain). I show that quality of a test image is strongly related to the amount of statistical information about the reference image that is present in the test image. I also explore image quality assessment in the absence of the reference, and present a novel method for blindly quantifying the quality of images compressed by wavelet based compression algorithms. I show that images are rendered unnatural by the quantization process during lossy compression, and that this unnaturalness could be quantified blindly for predicting visual quality. I test and validate the performance of the algorithms proposed in this dissertation through an extensive study in which ground truth data was obtained from many human subjects. I show that the methods presented can accurately predict visual quality, and that they outperform current state-of-the-art methods in my simulations.
District nurses' involvement in pain care: a theoretical model.

AIM To explore district nurses care of chronic pain sufferers and to create a theoretical model that can explain the variation in district nurses experiences when caring for these patients. BACKGROUND Many people suffer from chronic pain, which greatly affects their wellbeing and causes physical suffering and psychosocial limitations. District nurses frequently meet patients who suffer from chronic pain and consequent problems. District nurses often feel powerless and ill-equipped, and they experience difficulties during interactions with these patients. METHOD This is a qualitative study with a theory-generating approach. Data were collected from interviews with 20 district nurses in five focus groups. Interviews were taped, transcribed and then analysed as per the grounded theory method. RESULTS The result is a theoretical model of district nurses' involvement in pain care. The model: (1) illustrates three main conditions in the care situation that influence district nurses' involvement in pain care and (2) explains the connection between how district nurses actively or passively detect and actively or passively respond to patients with pain problems. CONCLUSIONS The model explains why district nurses sometimes feel powerless or ill-equipped in dealing with chronic pain problems. Insufficient conditions make it difficult for district nurses to become involved with pain problems and thus result in passive detection of and passive response to pain problems. Supporting patients to communicate their pain, collaboration with and involvement from other professionals regarding pain care, the organisation's guidelines and support for pain care and training in pain care are interventions that will contribute to district nurses' involvement in pain care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Through the model, chronic pain care can be better explained and understood; consequently chronic pain care can be improved. The model can be used in each, unique, case-study analysis. Nursing staff and students can also use the model as a basis for discussions about chronic pain sufferers.
CD20‐positive plasmablastic lymphoma with excellent response to bortezomib combined with rituximab

As a distinct type of aggressive mature large B‐cell lymphoma, plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) poses diagnostic and treatment challenges. PBL is distinguished from other B‐cell lymphomas by the presence of plasmacytic differentiation markers such as CD38, CD138, and MUM1. Clinically, PBLs from oral and extra‐oral sites are rapidly progressive tumors with frequent relapse after treatment with standard diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma regimens. Here, we report a near‐complete response of one patient with relapsed PBL following treatment with a non‐cytotoxic regimen containing bortezomib, rituximab, and dexamethasone.