Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Specialist Early and Immediate Repair of Post-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Bile Duct Injuries Is Associated With an Improved Long-term Outcome

Introduction:A majority of bile duct injuries (BDI) sustained during laparoscopic cholecystectomy require formal surgical reconstruction, and traditionally this repair is performed late. We aimed to assess long-term outcomes after repair, focusing on our preferred early approach. Methods:A total of 200 BDI patients [age 54(20–83); 64 male], followed up for median 60 (5–212) months were assessed for morbidity. Factors contributing to this were analyzed with a univariate and multivariate analysis. Results:A total of 112 (56%) patients were repaired by specialist hepatobiliary surgeons [timing of repair: immediate, n = 28; early (<21 days), n = 43; and late (>21 days) n = 41], whereas 45 (22%) underwent repair by nonspecialist surgeons before specialist referral [immediate, n = 16; early, n = 26 and late, n = 03]. Outcomes after immediate and early repairs were comparable to late repairs when performed by specialists [recurrent cholangitis:11%, 12%, and 10%; P = 0.96, NS; re-stricture:18%,5%, and 29%; P = 0.01; nonsurgical intervention: 14%, 5%, and 24%; P<0.03; redo surgery: 4%, 2%, and 5%; P = 0.81, NS; overall morbidity: 21%, 14%, and 39%; P<0.02]. On multivariate analysis, immediate and early repairs done by nonspecialist surgeons were independent risk factors (P < 0.05) for recurrent cholangitis [50% and 27%], re-stricturing (75% and 61%), redo reconstructions (31% and 61%), and overall morbidity (75% and 84%). Conclusion:Immediate and early repair after BDI results in comparable, if not better long-term outcomes compared to late repair when performed by specialists.
Profiling bacterial survival through a water treatment process and subsequent distribution system

Aims: To profile fractions of active bacteria and of bacteria culturable with routine heterotrophic plate count (HPC) methods through a typical water treatment process and subsequent distribution system. In doing so, investigate how water treatment affects both bacterial abundance and diversity, and reveal the identities of active bacteria not detected by traditional HPC culture.
cyclo-Tri-μ-oxido-tris{[(η5,η5)-1,2-bis(cyclopentadienyl)-1,1,2,2-tetramethyldisilane]zirconium(IV)}: a trimeric disila-bridged oxidozirconocene

The title compound, [Zr3(C14H20Si2)3O3], consists of three disila-bridged zirconocene units, which are connected via an oxide ligand, forming a nearly planar six-membered ring with a maximum displacement of 0.0191 (8) Å. The compound was isolated as a by-product from a mixture of [(C5H4SiMe2)2ZrCl2] and Li[AlH4] in Et2O.
Comparison of electrode sites in electrical stimulation of the cochlea

There is considerable controversy about the “best” location for single channel cochlear implant electrodes. We measured the electrically induced auditory brain stem response (EABR) in a series of normal to totally denervated cat ears in response to promontory (P), round window (RW) and scala tympani (ST) stimulation. The status of the ganglion cell population was then assessed by light microscopy. In ears with light to medium ganglion cell loss the ST EABR yielded the most definitive input‐output functions. RW responses were present at increased thresholds and smaller peak amplitudes. P responses were worse or even missing completely. In severely damaged ears, including some with no detectable ganglion cells, ST and RW EABRs were both markedly reduced with considerable overlap between the two sites. P responses, when present, were almost buried in the electrical noise near threshold. Extrapolating these results to humans suggests that when ganglion cell loss is very severe the RW or ST is an acceptable stimulation site. When ganglion cell loss is moderate or better, ST electrodes are superior.
Self-care management of sleep disturbances and risk factors for poor sleep among older residents of Taiwanese nursing homes.

AIMS To explore self-care management strategies for sleep disturbances and risk factors for poor sleep among older residents of nursing homes in Taiwan. BACKGROUND With the deterioration of health that accompanies ageing, sleep quality becomes poorer, making it a significant issue in geriatric care. However, little is known about self-care strategies for management of sleep disturbances among elders worldwide. DESIGN A cross-sectional design was used. METHODS Residents (n = 196) were recruited from nine nursing homes chosen by stratified sampling across Taiwan. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a self-care management of sleep disturbance questionnaire and a demographic form were used to collect data. RESULTS The prevalence of poor sleep in these older nursing home residents was 46.4%. Only 48.5% of participants used self-care strategies to manage sleep disturbances. The most frequently used strategy was 'take prescribed medicines'. Self-learning was the main information source for self-care strategies. Logistic regression analysis indicated that having no spouse and a low educational level significantly predicted poor sleep. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a high prevalence of poor sleep quality among older residents of nursing homes in Taiwan. Older residents' inability to get relief from sleep disturbances may have been because of their limited use of strategies to manage sleep disturbances. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE As health care providers play an important role in helping older people to manage sleep disturbances in nursing homes, it is crucial to train nursing home staff to perform sleep assessments and provide current knowledge about sleep disturbance management. It is also necessary to pay more attention to the sleep problems of elders without spouses and with little education.
E versus k relations and many body effects in the model insulating copper oxide Sr2CuO2Cl2.

We report angle resolved photoemission measurements on Sr[sub 2]CuO[sub 2]Cl[sub 2], an insulating layered copper oxide. We find that the overall width of the highest occupied band and the position of the band maximum at ([pi]/2,[pi]/2) agree with predictions of the [ital t]-[ital J] model and other calculations based on the Hubbard model. However, in many regions of the Brillouin zone, the shape of the band differs from these predictions. A comparison of our data with spectra previously reported on metallic samples leads to new suggestions for the phenomenology of doping.
Quantitative, high-resolution epigenetic profiling of CpG loci identifies associations with cord blood plasma homocysteine and birth weight in humans

Supplementation with folic acid during pregnancy is known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and low birth weight. It is thought that folate and other one-carbon intermediates might secure these clinical effects via DNA methylation. We examined the effects of folate on the human methylome using quantitative interrogation of 27,578 CpG loci associated with 14,496 genes at single-nucleotide resolution across 12 fetal cord blood samples. Consistent with previous studies, the majority of CpG dinucleotides located within CpG islands exhibited hypo-methylation while those outside CpG islands showed mid-high methylation. However, for the first time in human samples, unbiased analysis of methylation across samples revealed a significant correlation of methylation patterns with plasma homocysteine, LINE-1 methylation and birth weight centile. Additionally, CpG methylation significantly correlated with either birth weight or LINE-1 methylation were predominantly located in CpG islands. These data indicate that levels of folate-associated intermediates in cord blood reflect their influence and consequences for the fetal epigenome and potentially on pregnancy outcome. In these cases, their influence might be exerted during late gestation or reflect those present during the peri-conceptual period.
Immunohistochemical characterization of thymic macrophages in normal and treated rats: a differential sensitivity to cyclosporine A

In the present study, a set of two monoclonal antibodies (TRPM1, TRPM2) was used to investigate the macrophage populations in the rat thymus and their different sensitivities to cyclosporine‐A (CsA). With double immunohistochemical staining we demonstrated that, in the normal rat thymus, there are 3 populations of macrophages (TRPM1+, TRPM1/2+, TRPM2+), present in different proportions throughout the thymus. In the outer cortex TRPM1+ and TRPM1/2+ were present, but the TRPM1/2+ cells were more numerous. No TRPM2+ cells were observed in this area. The cortex and medulla showed all 3 types of cells with a majority of TRPM1/2+ cells. In the corticomedullary zone (CMZ) TRPM1/2+ and TRPM2+ macrophages were present in about equal proportion while only a few TRPM1+ cells were observed. After CsA treatment (for 21 days) profound changes occurred in the thymus; we observed a complete disappearance of the thymic medulla and a reduction in the total number of macrophages. The TRPM1+ macrophages had been eliminated, a few TRPM1/2+ cells were found while many of the cells were TRPM2+. The presence of the macrophages in different thymic areas suggests that they are a very heterogeneous population. The possible significance of the macrophage heterogeneity and the relationship to CsA sensitivity is discussed.
Properties of the T2 Control Chart When Parameters Are Estimated

Moments of the run length distribution are often used to design and study the performance of quality control charts. In this article the run length distribution of the T2 chart for monitoring a multivariate process mean is analyzed. It is assumed that the in-control process observations are iid random samples from a multivariate normal distribution with unknown mean vector and covariance matrix. It is shown that the in-control run length distribution of the chart does not depend on the unknown process parameters. Furthermore, it is shown that the out-of-control run length distribution of the chart depends only on the statistical distance between the in-control and out-of-control mean vectors. It follows that a performance analysis can be given without knowledge of the in-control values of the parameters or their estimates. The performance of charts constructed using traditional F-distribution–based control limits is studied. Recommendations are given for sample size requirements necessary to achieve desired performance. Corrected control limits are given for designing charts with estimated parameters when large sample sizes are not available.
Block Chain based Searchable Symmetric Encryption

The mechanism for traditional Searchable Symmetric Encryption is pay-then-use. That is to say, if a user wants to search some documents that contain special keywords, he needs to pay to the server firstly, then he can enjoy search service. Under this situation, these kinds of things will happen: After the user paying the service fees, the server may either disappear because of the poor management or returning nothing. As a result, the money that the user paid cannot be brought back quickly. Another case is that the server may return incorrect document sets to the user in order to save his own cost. Once such events happen, it needs the arbitration institution to mediate which will cost a long time. Besides, to settle the disputes the user has to pay to the arbitration institution. Ideally, we deeply hope that when the user realizes the server has a tendency to cheat in the task of searching, he can immediately and automatically withdraw his money to safeguard his right. However, the existing SSE protocols cannot satisfy this demand. To solve this dilemma, we find a compromised method by introducing the block chain into SSE. Our scheme achieves three goals stated below. Firstly, when the server does not return any thing to user after he gets the search token, the user can get some compensation from the server, because the server can infer some important information from the Index and this token. Besides, the user also doesn’t pay the service charge. Secondly, if the documents that the server returns are false, the server cannot receive service fees, meanwhile, he will be punished. Lastly, when the user receives some bitcoin from server at the beginning, he may terminate the protocol. Under this situation, the server is a victim. In order to prevent such thing from happening, the server will broadcast a transaction to redeem his pledge after an appointed time. ∗Corresponding author Email addresses: tianhb@mail.sysu. edu.cn (Haibo Tian), isszhfg@mail.sysu. edu.cn (Fangguo Zhang ) Preprint submitted to Elsevier April 26, 2017
Long term outcome of patients with gastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) following exclusive Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: experience from a large prospective series

Background:Helicobacter pylori plays a decisive role in the pathogenesis of gastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), and eradication therapy has become a widely accepted initial treatment of stage I disease. Objective: To determine the long term outcome of patients undergoing exclusive H pylori eradication therapy. Design: A prospective series of patients with newly diagnosed marginal zone B cell lymphoma of MALT. Setting: Multicentre study in Germany and Austria. Patients: Ninety five patients; 90 of these (five lost to follow up) with a mean age of 54.3 (27–85) years were followed up for at least 12 months. Intervention: Complete staging work up revealing stage I disease and H pylori infection. Patients received triple therapy (OMC: omeprazole 20 mg twice daily, metronidazole 400 mg twice daily, and clarithromycin 250 mg twice daily; or OAC: omeprazole 20 mg twice daily, amoxycillin 1000 mg twice daily, and clarithromycin 500 twice daily) for one week. Results: Median follow up was 44.6 (12–89) months. H pylori was successfully eradicated in 88 patients (98%); in two patients eradication therapy failed. Long term outcome was characterised by complete regression of lymphoma in 56 patients (62%), minimal residual disease in 17 patients (18%), partial remission in 11 patients (12%), no change in four patients (4%), and progressive disease in two patients (2%). Four patients with complete remission relapsed after 6, 8, 8, and 15 months, one revealing reinfection by H pylori. Regression rate was higher in stage I1 disease compared with stage I2, as diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound. Conclusion: The majority of patients with low grade gastric MALT lymphoma treated by exclusive H pylori eradication have a favourable long term outcome, offering a real chance of cure.
Sav1 Loss Induces Senescence and Stat3 Activation Coinciding with Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis

ABSTRACT Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is recognized as a final phenotypic manifestation in the transition from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Here we show that conditional inactivation of Sav1 in the mouse renal epithelium resulted in upregulated expression of profibrotic genes and TIF. Loss of Sav1 induced Stat3 activation and a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that coincided with the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Treatment of mice with the YAP inhibitor verteporfin (VP) inhibited activation of genes associated with senescence, SASPs, and activation of Stat3 as well as impeded the development of fibrosis. Collectively, our studies offer novel insights into molecular events that are linked to fibrosis development from Sav1 loss and implicate VP as a potential pharmacological inhibitor to treat patients at risk for developing CKD and TIF.
Constraint handling for State Dependent Parameter models

This paper considers Proportional-Integral-Plus (PIP) control of nonlinear dynamic systems described by State Dependent Parameter (SDP) models with constraints. More specifically, a low level stabilising SDP/PIP controller is first developed to steer t he system in the desired direction, whilst a Reference Governor (RG) is subsequently introduced to account for constraints in the system variables. This contrasts with the (off-line) simulation-based methods previously used for PIP control of SDP models with constraints. Furthermore, the particular parametrisation of the RG used in this paper provides useful insight into, and quantification of, the eff ects of the constraints on the nonlinear control system.
Constitutive modelling of arteries

This review article is concerned with the mathematical modelling of the mechanical properties of the soft biological tissues that constitute the walls of arteries. Many important aspects of the mechanical behaviour of arterial tissue can be treated on the basis of elasticity theory, and the focus of the article is therefore on the constitutive modelling of the anisotropic and highly nonlinear elastic properties of the artery wall. The discussion focuses primarily on developments over the last decade based on the theory of deformation invariants, in particular invariants that in part capture structural aspects of the tissue, specifically the orientation of collagen fibres, the dispersion in the orientation, and the associated anisotropy of the material properties. The main features of the relevant theory are summarized briefly and particular forms of the elastic strain-energy function are discussed and then applied to an artery considered as a thick-walled circular cylindrical tube in order to illustrate its extension–inflation behaviour. The wide range of applications of the constitutive modelling framework to artery walls in both health and disease and to the other fibrous soft tissues is discussed in detail. Since the main modelling effort in the literature has been on the passive response of arteries, this is also the concern of the major part of this article. A section is nevertheless devoted to reviewing the limited literature within the continuum mechanics framework on the active response of artery walls, i.e. the mechanical behaviour associated with the activation of smooth muscle, a very important but also very challenging topic that requires substantial further development. A final section provides a brief summary of the current state of arterial wall mechanical modelling and points to key areas that need further modelling effort in order to improve understanding of the biomechanics and mechanobiology of arteries and other soft tissues, from the molecular, to the cellular, tissue and organ levels.
Intergroup Dialogue: A Review of Recent Empirical Research and Its Implications for Research and Practice

Intergroup dialogue (IGD) is a small group intervention that allows for sustained communication between people across social identity groups. It aims to foster intergroup relationships, develop critical consciousness, and increase capacities for promoting social justice. A decade after Dessel and Rogge published their review of the empirical research on IGD from 1997 to 2006, we reviewed the empirical IGD research from 2006 to 2017. We explore research that has examined IGD outcomes, processes, and facilitation, seeking to understand the current state of the research and practice of IGD. We discuss advances and new approaches to IGD, assess growth since Dessel and Rogge’s review, and discuss future directions. We provide five key recommendations for future research on IGD, and five key recommendations for future practice of IGD.
Analysis of Total Factor Efficiency of Water Resource and Energy in China: A Study Based on DEA-SBM Model

One of the serious issues that China faces during its fast economic development is the low input–output efficiency of water and energy resources and growing water pollution. With the current economic development model of China, economic growth still requires large input of water resource and energy resource. This paper has focused on the total factor efficiency of water resource and energy resource by each province in China. We treat the undesirable outputs as outputs in the DEA-SBM Model instead of as inputs in previous studies, and design a new MATLAB programming to achieve optimization solutions of multi-variable constrained nonlinear functions to evaluate the Total Factor Efficiency of Water resource (TFEW) and the Total Factor Efficiency of Energy (TFEE) in China accurately. By using the method, this paper has analyzed the TFEW and TFEE in China from 2003 to 2014 by economic zones and typical provinces and provided corresponding policy recommendations.
Cetirizine vs Astemizole in the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

In a 4-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel study to compare the efficacy of cetirizine and astemizole, 47 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were enrolled, with 19 cetirizine- and 17 astemizole-treated patients being taken into account for final analysis. Both treatment groups were comparable at initial visit. Giant weals, weals, erythema and oedema were improved in both treatment groups after treatment for 1 – 4 weeks. Patients' evaluation using a visual analogue scale and symptom scores assessed on a four-point scale showed that the improvement was significantly better using cetirizine for weals (P = 0.04) and there was a trend (P = 0.09) in favour of cetirizine for the visual analogue scale. The number and severity of side-effects were similar in both treatment groups.
Absolute Lymphocyte Count Recovery Independently Predicts Outcome in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Experience From a Tertiary Care Cancer Center of a Developing Country

Background: Accurate risk stratification is essential for successful treatment outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Early recovery of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) during induction therapy is emerging as a reliable favorable prognostic indicator that may hold its relevance in resource-constraint settings. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of medical records of 212 patients of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, aged less than 18 years, treated between January 1996 and December 2009. Time to lymphocyte recovery was analyzed with respect to various prognostic factors and survival and Martingale residuals were used to define ALC cut-offs. Results: High-risk disease characteristics including older age (10 y and older), National Cancer Institute high risk, and central nervous system disease at diagnosis were associated with delayed lymphocyte recovery. The 5-year event-free, relapse-free, and overall survival of patients with day 15 ALC of ≥500 cells/µL and day 29 ALC of ≥1000 cells/µL was 81.7%±4%, 86.4%±2.8%, 91.0%±3%, respectively, compared with those with delayed recovery (16.6%±5.6%, 19.3%±6.4%, 32.8%±7.2%, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis both these ALC cut-offs retained their significance as prognostic variables of survival. Conclusion: Our analysis revealed ALC to be an important independent predictor of treatment outcome and may provide key prognostic information in settings where minimal residual disease-based risk stratification is not feasible.
Endstage Renal Failure due to Multiple Myeloma — Poor Survival on Peritoneal Dialysis

This report describes five subjects with endstage renal failure due to multiple myeloma. All of the patients died within seven months of commencing chronic peritoneal dialysis. Complications were frequent during the dialysis period. Our experience supports the opinion that patients with multiple myeloma and a high tumour cell mass should not be offered dialysis.