Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Third‐generation cryosurgery for primary and recurrent prostate cancer

The development of third-generation cryosurgery included two more advances. Gas-driven probes were first described in 1997 by Wong et al. [6], followed shortly by Chin et al. [7]. This system signalled the transition from liquid nitrogen to gas-driven probes in which pressurized gas can be used to both freeze (argon gas) and actively thaw (helium gas) the organ, using the JouleThompson effect, in which different gases undergo unique temperature changes when de-pressurized, according to unique gas coefficients. This transition from liquid to gas permits the use of smaller diameter probes. This report presents a new technique using third-generation cryosurgery probes or ‘cryoneedles’ that allow for direct transperineal probe placement through a brachytherapy-like template, without using tract dilatation and insertion kits. Table 1 summarizes the history and development of cryosurgery for the prostate.
Patient Outcomes After Early Versus Late Tracheostomy in the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the impact of early tracheostomy (ET, ≤7 days) versus that of late tracheostomy (LT, >7 days) on outcomes such as hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) days, mechanical ventilation (MV) days, and mortality ratio. METHODS A historical cohort study was undertaken using charts of patients admitted to the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital who required MV and underwent tracheostomies, from 2000 to 2013. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between timing of tracheostomy and complications and mortality. To estimate the relationship between ET and outcomes related to hospital stay, a binomial-negative regression was performed. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 1134 patients were evaluated, 313 of whom underwent ET and 821 underwent LT. Early tracheostomy patients had a lower Injury Severity Score compared with their counterparts (P = 0.004) and showed lower complications (respiratory failure: odds ratio [OR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-0.84; acute respiratory distress syndrome: OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.30-0.64; pneumonia: OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.40-0.71; septicemia: OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.33-0.70; bacteremia: OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40-0.86) than LT patients. Those with ET had lower MV days (RRadj, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.68-0.82), ICU days (RRadj, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.59-0.73), and LOS (RRadj, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.69-0.80) compared with those with LT, after adjusting for age, Injury Severity Score, and complications. However, there were no differences in mortality ratio (ORadj, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44-1.01) among ET and LT patients, after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that ET reduced complications, MV days, ICU days, and LOS, having an indirect effect on mortality ratio. Standardized protocols for ET are recommended to enhance health outcomes in trauma patients.
Binocular Disparity Selectivity Weakened after Monocular Deprivation in Mouse V1

Experiences during the critical period sculpt the circuitry within the neocortex, leading to changes in the functional responses of sensory neurons. Monocular deprivation (MD) during the visual critical period causes shifts in ocular preference, or dominance, toward the open eye in primary visual cortex (V1) and disrupts the normal development of acuity. In carnivores and primates, MD also disrupts the emergence of binocular disparity selectivity, a cue resulting from integrating ocular inputs. This disruption may be a result of the increase in neurons driven exclusively by the open eye that follows deprivation or a result of a mismatch in the convergence of ocular inputs. To distinguish between these possibilities, we measured the ocular dominance (OD) and disparity selectivity of neurons from male and female mouse V1 following MD. Normal mouse V1 neurons are dominated by contralateral eye input and contralateral eye deprivation shifts mouse V1 neurons toward more balanced responses between the eyes. This shift toward binocularity, as assayed by OD, decreased disparity sensitivity. MD did not alter the initial maturation of binocularity, as disparity selectivity before the MD was indistinguishable from normal mature animals. Decreased disparity tuning was most pronounced in binocular and ipsilaterally biased neurons, which are the populations that have undergone the largest shifts in OD. In concert with the decline in disparity selectivity, we observed a shift toward lower spatial frequency selectivity for the ipsilateral eye following MD. These results suggest an emergence of novel synaptic inputs during MD that disrupt the representation of disparity selectivity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We demonstrate that monocular deprivation during the developmental critical period impairs binocular integration in mouse primary visual cortex. This impairment occurs despite an increase in the degree to which neurons become more binocular. We further demonstrate that our deprivation did not impair the maturation of disparity selectivity. Disparity selectivity has already reached a matured level before the monocular deprivation. The loss of disparity tuning is primarily observed in neurons dominated by the open eye, suggesting a link between altered inputs and loss of disparity sensitivity. These results suggest that new inputs following deprivation may not maintain the precise spatial relationship between the two eye inputs required for disparity selectivity.
Effect of chemical factors and clove oil to decrease the growth of film yeast on fermented bamboo shoots.

This research examined the effect of chemical factors (pH, sodium chloride, sugars (glucose and sucrose), preservatives (benzoic acid and sorbic acid)) and clove oil to decrease the growth of film yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae J1, Candida krusei J2 and Candida krusei J3) on fermented bamboo shoots. All yeasts grew at pH 3.0-7.0 and did not grow greater than 7.5%(w/v) of sodium chloride concentration. The ability to grow in the presence of sodium chloride decreased at low pH. Both Candida krusei strains were more tolerant to sodium chloride concentration than S. cerevisiae J1. All strains grew well in the presence of 7.5%(w/v) sodium chloride at pH 4.0-7.0, whereas, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was only tolerant to 7.5%(w/v) sodium chloride at pH 6.0. All yeasts grew well at 60-70%(w/v) sugar concentration at pH 3.07.0. The effect of benzoic and sorbic acids found that all yeasts were tolerant at 1000 mg/l and pH range 6.0-7.0. No strains grew in the presence of preservatives at pH 2.0-4.0. Clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum L.) inhibited completely all yeast film strains at 2%(v/v). However, clove oil treatment reduced the organoleptic properties of fermented bamboo shoots with their strong flavour.
A retrospective study of the prognostic impact of cytokine secretion in mixed lymphocyte culture on long‐term graft function following allogeneic renal transplantation

We have previously shown that in vitro measurement of cytokine production prior to renal transplantation can provide predictive information on the risk of acute rejection. Our earlier studies demonstrated that patients who secreted high levels of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) in OKT3‐stimulated or mixed lymphocyte culture had a significantly increased risk of acute rejection compared with patients who secreted lower levels. In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis of the same cohort of patients in order to determine the prognostic value of cytokine profiles and other variables on long‐term graft function. Our results show that high levels of IFN‐γ in pretransplant mixed lymphocyte culture are a highly significant predictor of poorer creatinine levels at 18, 24 and 36 months post‐transplant.
The role of metacognitive beliefs in stress sensitisation, self-esteem variability, and the generation of paranoia

Introduction. Stress sensitisation may play a key role in the formation of psychosis. The authors examined whether metacognitive beliefs and self-esteem moderate affective response to stress, and whether subtle fluctuations in self-esteem act as a mediator between stress and attenuated psychotic phenomena. Method. 70 healthy volunteers completed two conditions of the same experimental tasks, which were designed to be either neutral or stress inducing. Ambulant assessments of negative affect, self-esteem, and suspicious thoughts were taken before and after each task, and standardised questionnaires were completed at the beginning or end of each session. Results. Metacognitive belief subscales, but not self-esteem, moderated the association between stress and resultant negative affect, and negative affect and suspicious thinking. Individuals who placed greater emphasis on controlling their thoughts had greater variability in their self-esteem during the stress condition, which in turn predicted the severity of their attenuated psychotic phenomena. Discussion. Metacognitive beliefs may sensitise an individual to minor stressors, by increasing affective reactivity and causing subtle shifts in appraisals of self-worth. Psychosocial intervention may wish to target these beliefs in order to desensitise an individual to negative events.
Antioxidants partially restore glutamate transport defect in leber hereditary optic neuropathy cybrids

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial disease characterized by visual loss resulting from retinal ganglion cell degeneration. Despite the important role of respiratory chain deficiency and oxidative stress induced by mtDNA point mutations affecting complex I, excitotoxic injury has been postulated as a concurrent pathogenic factor. We used transmitochondrial cybrid cell lines constructed using enucleated fibroblasts from three LHON probands carrying the most severe 3460/ND1 mutation and three controls as mitochondria donors, and the osteosarcoma‐derived mtDNA‐less cells, to study the possible efficacy of two selected antioxidant compounds in preventing glutamate uptake reduction previously observed in LHON cybrids. We demonstrated that two antioxidants, Trolox and decylubiquinone, partially restore glutamate transport impairment occurring in LHON cybrids. Rotenone, a classic complex I inhibitor, did not worsen the glutamate uptake defect present in LHON cybrids under basal conditions but significantly reduced glutamate transport in control cybrids. Furthermore, we observed that LHON cybrids showed an increased protein carbonylation under basal conditions, not further affected by rotenone and partially counteracted by antioxidants. Our findings strengthen the hypothesis that the complex I defect associated with LHON causes free radical overproduction, which is responsible for glutamate transport inhibition. We suggest that selected antioxidants may be clinically tested in LHON patients and relatives to restore glutamate uptake defect caused by LHON‐associated free radical overproduction. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular determinants of the hanatoxin binding in voltage‐gated K+‐channel drk1

The carboxyl terminus of S3 segment (S3C) in voltage‐gated potassium channels was proposed to bear the binding site for gating modifier toxins like Hanatoxin and a helical secondary structural arrangement was suggested. Due to the lack of complete structure in high resolution for such a channel molecule, no further direct experimental data to elucidate the mechanism for their binding conformations could thus far be derived. In order to examine the putative three‐dimensional structure of S3C and to illustrate the residues required for Hanatoxin binding, molecular simulation and docking were performed, based on the solution structure of Hanatoxin and the structural information from lysine‐scanning results for S3C fragment. From our results, it is indicated that both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are utilized to stabilize the toxin binding. Detailed docking residues and appropriate orientation for binding regarding hydrophobic/‐philic environments are also described. Compared with the functional data proposed by previous studies, the helical structural arrangement for the C‐terminus of S3 segment in voltage‐gated potassium channels can therefore be further emphasized. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Requirement for Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Action in the Formation of Primordial Follicles during Perinatal Ovarian Development in the Hamster* *This work was supported by grants from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD-28165) and Olson Foundation of Omaha.

Whereas FSH action is critical for the growth of preantral follicles, its role in the development of primordial follicles is controversial. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether perinatal (fetal through early postnatal) FSH action is needed for the formation of primordial follicles, which first appear in the hamster ovary on the 7th to 8th day of postnatal life. A single dose of FSH-specific polyclonal antibody was injected into pregnant hamsters on the 12th, 13th, or 14th day of gestation and into newborn hamsters. Some of the antibody-exposed postnatal hamsters were injected with a single dose of equine CG (eCG) to check the reversibility of the antibody action. Ovaries were collected on D8pn or D12pn, and the percentage of primordial, primary, and secondary follicles was quantitated morphometrically. Ovaries of 8-day-old hamsters that were born to mothers treated with a single sc dose of the anti-FSH-antibody on day 12 of gestation had significantly reduced numbers of primordial fo.
GOODS–Herschel: an infrared main sequence for star-forming galaxies

We present the deepest 100 to 500 μm far-infrared observations obtained with the Herschel Space Observatory as part of the GOODS-Herschel key program, and examine the infrared (IR) 3–500 μm spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies at 0 < z < 2.5, supplemented by a local reference sample from IRAS, ISO, Spitzer, and AKARI data. We determine the projected star formation densities of local galaxies from their radio and mid-IR continuum sizes. We find that the ratio of total IR luminosity to rest-frame 8 μm luminosity, IR8 (≡ L_(IR)^(tot)/L_8), follows a Gaussian distribution centered on IR8 = 4 (σ = 1.6) and defines an IR main sequence for star-forming galaxies independent of redshift and luminosity. Outliers from this main sequence produce a tail skewed toward higher values of IR8. This minority population ( 3 × 10^(10) L_⊙ kpc^(-2)) and a high specific star formation rate (i.e., starbursts). The rest-frame, UV-2700 A size of these distant starbursts is typically half that of main sequence galaxies, supporting the correlation between star formation density and starburst activity that is measured for the local sample. Locally, luminous and ultraluminous IR galaxies, (U)LIRGs (L_(IR)^(tot)≥ 10^(11) L_☉), are systematically in the starburst mode, whereas most distant (U)LIRGs form stars in the “normal” main sequence mode. This confusion between two modes of star formation is the cause of the so-called “mid-IR excess” population of galaxies found at z > 1.5 by previous studies. Main sequence galaxies have strong polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission line features, a broad far-IR bump resulting from a combination of dust temperatures (T_(dust) ~ 15–50 K), and an effective T_(dust) ~ 31 K, as derived from the peak wavelength of their infrared SED. Galaxies in the starburst regime instead exhibit weak PAH equivalent widths and a sharper far-IR bump with an effective T_(dust)~ 40 K. Finally, we present evidence that the mid-to-far IR emission of X-ray active galactic nuclei (AGN) is predominantly produced by star formation and that candidate dusty AGNs with a power-law emission in the mid-IR systematically occur in compact, dusty starbursts. After correcting for the effect of starbursts on IR8, we identify new candidates for extremely obscured AGNs.
Evidence on nonlinear error correction in money demand: the case of Taiwan

This paper proposes a nonlinear error-correction model based upon smooth transition regression methodology. The model is specified such that the short-run adjustment toward long-run equilibrium is nonlinear and that the error correction is a smooth function of long-run deviation. Empirical results obtained from estimating M2 money demand in Taiwan support the hypothesis of a nonlinear error-correction process and provide better interpretation of change in the demand for money.
The distribution of blood group antigens and alloantibodies among Chinese in Taiwan

Most blood group antigens among Chinese people are very homogeneous (e.g., D, 99.4%; K, 0%; Fya, 99.7%). The frequency of clinically significant alloantibodies detected by the authors' crossmatching was only 0.146 percent, suggesting that pretransfusion testing can be greatly simplified in Chinese populations.
Autonomic blockade and cardiovascular responses to static exercise in partially curarized man.

1. The cardiovascular responses, heart rate and mean arterial pressure, were followed in seventeen human subjects who performed static handgrip contractions for 2 min at the same absolute force (15% of the initial maximal voluntary contraction strength) before and during partial curarization. In control contractions the rate of perceived exertion was 10 exertion units, 16 units in contractions with tubocurarine which could be maintained and 20 units in contractions that could not be maintained. Control contractions increased mean arterial pressure by 6 mmHg from 89 mmHg while heart rate was unchanged from the resting value of 68 beats min‐1. With tubocurarine, larger increases in mean arterial pressure of 11 mmHg and for heart rate of 8 beats min‐1 were obtained during maintained contractions, and 15 mmHg and 16 beats min‐1, respectively, during non‐maintained contractions. 2. Atropine increased resting heart rate and blood pressure with tubocurarine to 107 beats min‐1 and 98 mmHg, respectively, in seven subjects. The blood pressure response to exercise with tubocurarine was unaffected by atropine, but the heart rate increase was reduced from 15 to 4 beats min‐1. 3. Propranolol reduced resting heart rate with tubocurarine to 56 beats min‐1 with no effect on blood pressure in seven subjects. The cardiovascular responses to exercise with tubocurarine were unaffected by propranolol. In contrast, phentolamine reduced resting blood pressure with tubocurarine to 80 mmHg without affecting heart rate in seven subjects. Exercise responses with tubocurarine were unaffected by phentolamine. Combinations of atropine and propranolol in fourteen subjects or atropine and phentolamine in five subjects showed similar results during exercise with tubocurarine as with the sole use of the agents used to block autonomic receptors. 4. The results suggest that when partial curarization induces a disproportion between the signal from central command and that from exercising muscles, the larger signal arising from central command determines the magnitude of the cardiovascular responses. The centrally generated heart rate response is in part caused by vagal withdrawal. However, the blood pressure response cannot be attenuated by the sole use of alpha‐ or beta‐receptor adrenergic blockade or combinations of these with atropine. This suggests that there may be greater redundancy in the autonomic control of blood pressure than in the vagal control of heart rate associated with central command during static exercise in man.
Risk preference and admitting rates of emergency room physicians.

practice styles of physicians in a particular community. These variations in practice styles were greater for diagnoses where the indications for treatment were either discretionary or controversial. The rates of tonsillectomy, a relatively controversial procedure, varied from 10 per 10,000 inhabitants per year in one community to 60 per 10,000 in another. The corresponding rates of herniorraphy, a much less controversial procedure, varied significantly less, from 19 to 35 per 10,000 inhabitants per year. Such variation in physician use of health care resources has been described else-
Resistance Maintained in Digital Organisms despite Guanine/Cytosine-Based Fitness Cost and Extended De-Selection: Implications to Microbial Antibiotics Resistance

Antibiotics resistance has caused much complication in the treatment of diseases, where the pathogen is no longer susceptible to specific antibiotics and the use of such antibiotics are no longer effective for treatment. A recent study that utilizes digital organisms suggests that complete elimination of specific antibiotic resistance is unlikely after the disuse of antibiotics, assuming that there are no fitness costs for maintaining resistance once resistance are established. Fitness cost are referred to as reaction to change in environment, where organism improves its' abilities in one area at the expense of the other. Our goal in this study is to use digital organisms to examine the rate of gain and loss of resistance where fitness costs have incurred in maintaining resistance. Our results showed that GC-content based fitness cost during de-selection by removal of antibiotic-induced selective pressure portrayed similar trends in resistance compared to that of no fitness cost, at all stages of initial selection, repeated de-selection and re-introduction of selective pressure. Paired t-tests suggested that prolonged stabilization of resistance after initial loss is not statistically significant for its difference to that of no fitness cost. This suggests that complete elimination of specific antibiotics resistance is unlikely after the disuse of antibiotics despite presence of fitness cost in maintaining antibiotic resistance during the disuse of antibiotics, once a resistant pool of micro- organism has been established.
Towards a Theoretical Model for Human Resource Management Information Systems, Government Policy and Organizational Performance: A Research Agenda

This study carries out a critical review of literature on human resource management information system, government policy and organization performance. The motivation for carrying out this literature review is presented and the point of contention is the application of human resource management information system, government policy and organizational performance. The objectives of carrying out this literature review include; to conceptualize the adoption of human resource management Information systems (HRMIS) and organization performance, to analyze the evolution of human resource information system (HRMIS) concept, to identify the theories upon which human resource information system (HRMIS) and organization performance are anchored upon, to critically review the empirical studies and identify the inherent gaps and to identify the factors that influences the adoption of HRMIS . The study reviews the origin of adoption of human resource management Information systems from both academic and management perspective. Factors influencing the adoption of human resource management systems, theoretical framework of human resource management systems whereby four theories namely diffusion theory, social capital theory, behavioral theory and resource based view theory have been discussed. An empirical review was done on thematic issues, methodology, data collection and data analysis. Various studies have been reviewed and analyzed to identify knowledge gaps. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations made based on the literature reviewed. A conceptual frame work alongside measures is proposed for studying human resource management information system, government policy and organizational performance and methodology for the study is also proposed.