Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Nomogram Accurately Quantifies the Risk of Mortality in Elderly Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery

Objective:The ability to accurately predict postoperative mortality is expected to improve preoperative decisions for elderly patients considered for colorectal surgery. Methods:Patients undergoing colorectal surgery were identified from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2005–2007) and stratified as elderly (>70 years) and nonelderly (<70 years). Univariate analysis of preoperative risk factors and 30-day mortality and morbidity were analyzed on 70% of the population. A nomogram for mortality was created and tested on the remaining 30%. Results:Of 30,900 colorectal cases, 10,750 were elderly (>70 years). Mortality increased steadily with age (0.5% every 5 years) and at a faster rate (1.2% every 5 years) after 70 years, which defined “elderly” in this study. Elderly (mean age: 78.4 years) and nonelderly patients (52.8 years) had mortality of 7.6% versus 2.0% and a morbidity of 32.8% versus 25.7%, respectively. Elderly patients had greater preoperative comorbidities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (10.5% vs 3.8%), diabetes (18.7% vs 11.1%), and renal insufficiency (1.7% vs 1.3%). A multivariate model for 30-day mortality and nomogram were created. Increasing age was associated with mortality [age >70 years: odds ratio (OR) = 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7–2.4); >85 years: OR = 4.3 (95% CI: 3.3–5.5)]. The nomogram accurately predicted mortality, including very high-risk (>50% mortality) with a concordant index for this model of 0.89. Conclusions:Colorectal surgery in elderly patients is associated with significantly higher mortality. This novel nomogram that predicts postoperative mortality may facilitate preoperative treatment decisions.
Propranolol, doxycycline and combination therapy for the treatment of rosacea

Doxycycline is the standard systemic treatment for rosacea. Recently, there have been a few reports on β‐adrenergic blockers such as nadolol, carvedilol and propranolol for suppressing flushing reactions in rosacea. To our knowledge, there are no comparative studies of propranolol and doxycycline, and combination therapy using both. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the efficacy and safety of monotherapy of propranolol, doxycycline and combination therapy. A total of 78 patients who visited Pusan National University Hospital and were diagnosed with rosacea were included in this study. Among them, 28 patients were in the propranolol group, 22 the doxycycline group and 28 the combination group. We investigated the patient global assessment (PGA), investigator global assessment (IGA), assessment of rosacea clinical score (ARCS) and adverse effects. Improvement in PGA and IGA scores from baseline was noted in all groups, and the combination therapy was found to be the most effective during the entire period, but this was statistically insignificant. The reduction rate of ARCS during the treatment period was also highest in the combination group (57.4%), followed by the doxycycline group (52.2%) and the propranolol group (51.0%). Three patients in the combination group had mild and transient gastrointestinal disturbances but there was no significant difference from the other groups. We conclude that the combination therapy of doxycycline and propranolol is effective and safe treatment for rosacea and successful for reducing both flushing and papulation in particular.
Aggrecanase cleavage in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients is minimally detected in the aggrecan interglobular domain but robust at the aggrecan C-terminus.

OBJECTIVE To investigate aggrecan degradation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS The pattern and abundance of aggrecan fragments in synovial fluid (SF) aspirates from JIA patients were analyzed and compared with aggrecan fragments in SF from patients with other arthritides, children with knee injury, and a knee-healthy reference group. Concentrations of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) in SF were measured by Alcian blue precipitation assay. Aggrecan fragments were purified by dissociative CsCl density-gradient centrifugation, deglycosylated, and analyzed by Western blot using antibodies specific for either aggrecanase-derived ARGS, SELE, and KEEE neoepitopes or the aggrecan G3 domain. RESULTS The concentration of sGAG in SF from patients with JIA was significantly lower compared with that in SF from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) (P < 0.001), patients with juvenile knee injury (P = 0.006), and knee-healthy controls (P = 0.022). Western blot analysis revealed KEEE, SELE, and G3 fragments generated by aggrecanase cleavage in the chondroitin sulfate-rich region of aggrecan in patients with JIA. The pattern of aggrecan fragments in JIA patients was not identical to that in pooled OA SF, although there were notable similarities. Surprisingly, aggrecanase-derived ARGS fragments were barely detectable in JIA SF, in marked contrast to levels in OA SF. CONCLUSION Aggrecanases appear to cleave minimally in the interglobular domain of aggrecan in JIA patients despite robust levels of cleavage in the chondroitin sulfate-rich region. These results suggest that in JIA, unlike other arthritides, aggrecanase cleavage in the aggrecan interglobular domain might not be a major pathogenic event.
Bcl-XL Protein Levels Determine Apoptotic Index in Pancreatic Carcinoma

Objectives: The present study was designed to analyze the expression of the major antiapoptotic molecules Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and the proapoptotic Bax in pancreatic ductal carcinoma and their correlation to the extent of apoptosis. Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from patients (age, 27-78 years) having surgery for pancreatic cancer. Normal pancreatic tissue away from the main tumor mass was also analyzed. The levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Bax mRNA expression were analyzed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The presence of corresponding proteins was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The apoptotic index was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results: A total of 25 cases were analyzed. The apoptotic index (percentage) ranged from 0.0% to 1.8%, with a median of 0.26. Semiquantitative RT-PCR revealed variable mRNA expression, with the Bcl-2/Bax ratio ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 and the Bcl-XL/Bax ratio ranging from 0.3 to 1.8. There was no correlation of mRNA levels with the apoptotic index. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-XL expression in 20%, 72%, and 92% of cancer samples; however, their levels were variable. Spearman rank correlation coefficient test revealed a significant inverse association for the Bcl-XL IHC score and apoptotic index (P < 0.05). In contrast, Bcl-2, Bax protein levels did not show any association with the apoptotic index. However, as compared with the normal pancreas, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bax were overexpressed in most of the pancreatic cancer samples (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.01). Conclusion: In pancreatic cancer, there is an upregulation of all the apoptotic regulatory molecules and the apoptotic index is chiefly determined by Bcl-XL protein levels.
Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 6. Prosopis pallida and Prosopis juliflora (Algarroba, Mesquite, Kiawe) (Fabaceae)

Abstract: Prosopis pallida and P. juliflora (commonly referred to as algarroba, mesquite, or kiawe) were introduced from South America to areas in Oceania, Asia, and Africa during the early nineteenth century. In many cases, they naturalized and became widespread. In some places, alien Prosopis species are highly valued for the products and services that they can provide such as shade, cattle fodder, wood for fuel and fence posts, and nectar for honey production. In Australia, four Prosopis species including P. pallida, P. juliflora, P. glandulosa, P. velutina, and their hybrids are considered invasive and are subject to control efforts. After its introduction to Hawai'i in 1828, P. pallida became a dominant tree in arid areas of the main Hawaiian Islands, replacing the native lowland dry forest species that had been decimated by human activity, particularly by the introductions of goats and cattle. Prosopis pallida also has become an important economic species in Hawai'i. Prosopis juliflora, a more recent introduction to Hawai'i, is now spreading and is considered to be a noxious weed. Competition between Prosopis and native species as well as negative impacts of Prosopis on soil and local hydrology have been reported; however in some cases Prosopis species are characterized as midsuccessional species that rehabilitate degraded soils, eventually facilitating later-successional woodland. This provides a potential opportunity to use these species in reforestation efforts. Management decisions regarding these species should include a consideration of both their positive and negative ecological roles. If control or eradication is desired, a number of methods have been employed with various degrees of success.
Identifying and evaluating the importance of multiple stakeholder perspective in measuring ES-success

The respondents’ ‘Perspective on measurement’ is an important design consideration in contemporary Information System (IS) evaluations. An Enterprise System (ES), unlike a traditional Information System, entails many stakeholders ranging from top executives to data entry operators. These stakeholders typically have multiple and often conflicting objectives and priorities and rarely agree on a set of common aims. The importance of analyzing ES-success at multiple levels within organizations has been discussed among academics for several decades with no clear consensus with the employment cohorts. There is no universal agreement on what employment cohorts should be canvassed. This paper seeks to identify the salient stakeholders of ES and illustrate the importance of assessing ES-success from multiple perspectives. The two-phased study analyses data of 310 respondents and examines 81 IS-success studies. The study identifies three key employment cohorts in the context of ES and highlights the importance of measuring ES-success from a multi-stakeholder view point.
Effect of Pupil Dilation on Biometry Measurements with Partial Coherence Interferometry and Its Effect on IOL Power Formula Calculation

Purpose To determine if there are any differences between eye parameters measured by the IOLMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) biometer before and after dilating the pupil. The effect of those changes on intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation is also analyzed. Methods A prospective observational study was carried out including 107 right eyes of 107 patients with cataract and no other ocular morbidity. An IOLMaster baseline measurement included axial length (AL), mean keratometry (K), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) (corneal epithelium to lens). A second measurement was taken 45 minutes after instillation of topical tropicamide and phenylephrine. Biometric variation was analyzed and prediction for IOL power based on the Haigis and the Sanders/Retzlaff/Kraff Theoretical (SRK/T) formulas was calculated for both measurements. Results The ACD increased significantly after dilation (+0.12 ± 0.12 mm; p<0.01). The AL and K variation was not significant: +0.00 ± 0.02 mm (p = 0.62) and +0.01 ± 0.22 D (p = 0.57), respectively. Pupil dilation did not affect IOL power calculation based on SRK/T formula either targeting emmetropia (-0.02 ± 0.26, p = 0.30) or the lowest myopic residual refraction (-0.03 ± 0.34, p = 0.30). However, using the Haigis formula significantly changed calculations for emmetropia (0.07 ± 0.34, p = 0.03) and for the lowest myopic refraction (0.10 ± 0.40, p = 0.01). Conclusions Pupil pharmacologic dilation produces a significant increase in ACD when measured by the IOLMaster. This change results in a different IOL power prediction according to the Haigis formula, which calculates the effective lens position taking into account the ACD.
Cell manipulation by nodal circle resonance vibration of a cell cultivation substrate

In this paper, we propose a novel cell culture method to generate an organ without scaffold. The concept of our study is to apply the principle of Chladni's figures in cell manipulation. To confirm this concept, we developed cell cultivation device that can excite resonance vibration of the cell cultivation substrate. After the fabrication of the device, we estimated the resonance frequency and vibration amplitude distribution of our device. Since the fabricated device successfully produced the designed vibration mode, we conducted cell manipulation experiment to confirm our concept. In our experiment, we varied the initial number of cells that were seeded into our device. Cells were manipulated by resonance vibration for 120 min. After the manipulation, we checked cell distribution on the substrate. As a result, cells were successfully manipulated by the resonance vibration when the initial number of cells was appropriate.
Scaling Relations from Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect and Chandra X-Ray Measurements of High-Redshift Galaxy Clusters

We present Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect (SZE) scaling relations for 38 massive galaxy clusters at redshifts 0.14 ⩽ z⩽ 0.89, observed with both the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the centimeter-wave SZE imaging system at the BIMA and OVRO interferometric arrays. An isothermal β-model with the central 100 kpc excluded from the X-ray data is used to model the intracluster medium and to measure global cluster properties. For each cluster, we measure the X-ray spectroscopic temperature, SZE gas mass, total mass, and integrated Compton y-parameters within r2500. Our measurements are in agreement with the expectations based on a simple self-similar model of cluster formation and evolution. We compare the cluster properties derived from our SZE observations with and without Chandra spatial and spectral information and find them to be in good agreement. We compare our results with cosmological numerical simulations and find that simulations that include radiative cooling, star formation, and feedback match well both the slope and normalization of our SZE scaling relations.
Pupil perimetry.

The pupillomotor and visual sensitivity were compared at the same 76 points across the 30 degrees field. The timing and amplitude of pupillary contractions to focal light stimuli were recorded using a computerized infrared pupillometer linked to a Humphrey automated perimeter. Pupil perimetry and standard threshold perimetry showed matching defects in the visual field of patients with ischemic and compressive optic neuropathy, but not in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Patients with isolated occipital strokes showed matching homonymous visual and pupillary fields, suggesting a suprageniculate influence upon the pupillary light reflex. Pupil perimetry is a useful objective form of perimetry and can be used to compare the effect of disease on the visual and pupillary pathways.
Topological changes in the transmembrane domains of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins

Hepatitis C virus proteins are synthesized as a polyprotein cleaved by a signal peptidase and viral proteases. The behaviour of internal signal sequences at the C‐terminus of the transmembrane domains of hepatitis C virus envelope proteins E1 and E2 is essential for the topology of downstream polypeptides. We determined the topology of these transmembrane domains before and after signal sequence cleavage by tagging E1 and E2 with epitopes and by analysing their accessibility in selectively permeabilized cells. We showed that, after cleavage by signal peptidase in the endoplasmic reticulum, the C‐terminal orientation of these transmembrane domains changed from luminal to cytosolic. The dynamic behaviour of these transmembrane domains is unique and it is linked to their multifunctionality. By reorienting their C‐terminus toward the cytosol and being part of a transmembrane domain, the signal sequences at the C‐terminus of E1 and E2 contribute to new functions: (i) membrane anchoring; (ii) E1E2 heterodimerization; and (iii) endoplasmic reticulum retention.
Perception of suprasegmental structure in a nonnative dialect

Two experiments examined the processing of Tokyo Japanese pitchaccent distinctions by native speakers of Japanese from two accentlessvariety areas. In both experiments, listeners were presented with Tokyo Japanese speech materials used in an earlier study with Tokyo Japanese listeners, who clearly exploited the pitch-accent information in spokenword recognition. In the "rst experiment, listeners judged from which of two words, di! ering in accentual structure, isolated syllables had been extracted. Both new groups were, overall, as successful at this task as Tokyo Japanese speakers had been, but their response patterns di! ered from those of the Tokyo Japanese, for instance in that a bias towards H judgments in the Tokyo Japanese responses was weakened in the present groups’ responses. In a second experiment, listeners heard word fragments and guessed what the words were; in this task, the speakers from accentless areas again performed signi"cantly above chance, but their responses showed less sensitivity to the information in the input, and greater bias towards vocabulary distribution frequencies, than had been observed with the Tokyo Japanese listeners. The results suggest that experience with a local accentless dialect a! ects the processing of accent for word recognition in Tokyo Japanese, even for listeners with extensive exposure to Tokyo Japanese. ( 1999 Academic Press
Night terrors, sleepwalking, and confusional arousals in the general population: their frequency and relationship to other sleep and mental disorders.

BACKGROUND Arousal parasomnias (night terrors, sleepwalking, and confusional arousals) have seldom been investigated in the adult general population. Clinical studies of parasomnias, however, show that these disorders may be indicators of underlying mental disorders and may have serious consequences. METHOD A representative sample of the United Kingdom population (N = 4972) was interviewed by telephone with the Sleep-EVAL system. RESULTS Night terrors were reported by 2.2% (95% CI = 1.8% to 2.6%) of the sample, sleepwalking by 2.0% (1.6% to 2.4%), and confusional arousals by 4.2% (3.6% to 4.8%). The rate of these 3 parasomnias decreased significantly with age, but no gender difference was observed. Multivariate models identified the following independent factors as associated with confusional arousals (odds ratio [OR]): age of 15-24 years (OR = 4.1), shift work (OR = 2.1), hypnagogic hallucinations (OR = 3.3), deep sleep (OR = 1.6), daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.9), sleep talking (OR = 1.7), daily smoking (OR = 1.7), adjustment disorder (OR = 3.1), and bipolar disorder (OR = 13.0). Factors associated with night terrors were subjective sense of choking or blocked breathing at night (OR = 5.1), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OR = 4.1), alcohol consumption at bedtime (OR = 3.9), violent or injury-causing behaviors during sleep (OR = 3.2), hypnagogic hallucinations (OR = 2.2), and nightmares at least 1 night per month (OR = 4.0). Factors associated with sleepwalking were age of 15-24 years (OR = 5.2), subjective sense of choking or blocked breathing at night (OR = 5.1), sleep talking (OR = 5.0), and a road accident in the past year (OR = 3.9) after controlling for possible effects of sleep deprivation, life stress, and mental and sleep disorders. CONCLUSION Arousal parasomnias, especially night terrors and confusional arousals, are often the expression of a mental disorder. Other life or medical conditions, such as shift work or excessive need of sleep for confusional arousals and stressful events for sleepwalking, may also trigger parasomnias. Prevalence rates are based on self-reported data and, consequently, are likely underestimated.
A singular nonlinear eigenvalue problem

These Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne EPFL, n° 2775 (2003)Section de mathematiquesFaculte des sciences de baseInstitut d'analyse et calcul scientifiqueChaire d'analyseJury: David Arcoya Alvares, Boris Buffoni, Alain Curnier, Anthony C. Davison, Oldrich John Public defense: 2003-5-28 Reference doi:10.5075/epfl-thesis-2775Print copy in library catalog Record created on 2005-03-16, modified on 2016-08-08
A Novel QTL for Powdery Mildew Resistance in Nordic Spring Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare) Revealed by Genome-Wide Association Study

The powdery mildew fungus, Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei is a worldwide threat to barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare) production. One way to control the disease is by the development and deployment of resistant cultivars. A genome-wide association study was performed in a Nordic spring barley panel consisting of 169 genotypes, to identify marker-trait associations significant for powdery mildew. Powdery mildew was scored during three years (2012–2014) in four different locations within the Nordic region. There were strong correlations between data from all locations and years. In total four QTLs were identified, one located on chromosome 4H in the same region as the previously identified mlo locus and three on chromosome 6H. Out of these three QTLs identified on chromosome 6H, two are in the same region as previously reported QTLs for powdery mildew resistance, whereas one QTL appears to be novel. The top NCBI BLASTn hit of the SNP markers within the novel QTL predicted the responsible gene to be the 26S proteasome regulatory subunit, RPN1, which is required for innate immunity and powdery mildew-induced cell death in Arabidopsis. The results from this study have revealed SNP marker candidates that can be exploited for use in marker-assisted selection and stacking of genes for powdery mildew resistance in barley.
Maternal Obstetric and Morbidity Factors in Relation to Infant Birth Weight

Low birth weight is an important factor that affects infant’s morbidity and mortality. It is associated with infant’s physiology, psychology, behavior and learning process during childhood. It is also determinant factors for future chronic health problems. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of maternal obstetric and morbidity factors with infant birth weight. In this study, a total of 343 newborns and their mothers were enrolled. The mean birth weight was 2755 ± 466 g. We found that multi-para had highest incidence of low birth weight (35.7%) and incidence of low birth weight was found higher among mothers who had started antenatal check up at 3rd trimester. Highest incidence of low birth weight (100%) was found among mothers having systolic blood pressure up to 99.9 mm Hg and lowest (16.2%) among mothers having systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg. Incidence of low birth weight was 32.5% among mothers who had urinary tract infection and 24.9% who were normal. Incidence of low birth weight was highest (35.5%) when haemoglobin level was <9 g/dl and lowest (13.2%) when the level was ≥ 11. In conclusion this study we found that maternal obstetric and morbidity factors influences birth weight of newborns.