Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Interrelationship Between Preoperative Anemia and N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide: The Effect on Predicting Postoperative Cardiac Outcome in Vascular Surgery Patients

INTRODUCTION: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicts adverse cardiac outcome in patients undergoing vascular surgery. However, several conditions might influence this prognostic value, including anemia. In this study, we evaluated whether anemia confounds the prognostic value of NT-proBNP for predicting cardiac events in patients undergoing vascular surgery. METHODS: A detailed cardiac history, resting echocardiography, and hemoglobin and NT-proBNP levels were obtained in 666 patients before vascular surgery. Anemia was defined as serum hemoglobin <13 g/dL for men and <12 g/dL for women. Troponin T measurements and 12-lead electrocardiograms were performed on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 30 and whenever clinically indicated. The primary end point of the study was the composite of 30-day postoperative cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and troponin T release. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the optimal cutoff value of NT-proBNP for the prediction of the composite end point. Multivariable regression analysis was used to assess the additional value of NT-proBNP for the prediction of postoperative cardiac events in nonanemic and anemic patients. RESULTS: Anemia was present in 206 patients (31%) before surgery. Hemoglobin level was inversely related with the NT-proBNP levels (&bgr; coefficient = −2.242; P = 0.025). The optimal predictive cutoff value of NT-proBNP for predicting the composite cardiovascular outcome was 350 pg/mL. After adjustment for clinical cardiac risk factors, both anemia (odds ratio [OR] 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–2.99) and increased levels of NT-proBNP (OR 4.09; 95% CI: 2.19–7.64) remained independent predictors for postoperative cardiac events. However, increased levels of NT-proBNP were not predictive for the risk of adverse cardiac events in the subgroup of anemic patients (OR 2.16; 95% CI: 0.90–5.21). CONCLUSIONS: Both anemia and NT-proBNP are independently associated with an increased risk for postoperative cardiac events in patients undergoing vascular surgery. NT-proBNP has less predictive value in anemic patients.
What Is This?

This document is for game masters using the D20 System of roleplay gaming. It is intended as an aid to those who wish to create their own game world based on the stories in Clark Ashton Smith’s Zothique cycle. This guide is not a stand-alone game, and it is not intended as a license for developing commercial products based on the Zothique cycle. Should an official Zothique D20 System game product sanctioned by the owners of the Zothique copyrights become available for general purchase, and if the contents of that product should match or exceed the utility of this document, the author will issue no further editions of this guide. Copyrights
Efficacy and Safety of Screening for Postpartum Depression

Authors' conclusions The potential effectiveness of screening for postpartum depression appears to be related to the availability of systems to ensure adequate followup of women with positive results. The ideal characteristics of a screening test for postpartum depression, including sensitivity, specificity, timing, and frequency, have not been defined. Because the balance of benefits and harms, at both the individual level and health system level, is highly dependent on these characteristics, broad consensus on these characteristics is needed.
Genetic Variation in FADS1 Has Little Effect on the Association between Dietary PUFA Intake and Cardiovascular Disease123

The unclear link between intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) could depend on genetic differences between individuals. Minor alleles of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ∆5 fatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1 gene were associated with lower blood concentrations of long-chain ω-3 (n–3) and ω-6 (n–6) PUFAs, indicating an associated loss of function effect. We examined whether the SNP rs174546 in FADS1 modifies the association between PUFA intakes and CVD risk. We included 24,032 participants (62% women, aged 44–74 y) from the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort without prevalent CVD and diabetes. During a mean follow-up of 14 y, 2648 CVD cases were identified. Diet was assessed by a modified diet history method. A borderline interaction was observed between the α-linolenic acid (ALA) (18:3n–3)-to-linoleic acid (LA) (18:2n–6) intake ratio and FADS1 genotype on CVD incidence (P = 0.06). The ALA-to-LA intake ratio was inversely associated with CVD risk only among participants homozygous for the minor T-allele (HR for quintile 5 vs. quintile 1 = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.50, 1.04; P-trend = 0.049). When excluding participants reporting unstable food habits in the past (35%), the interaction between the ALA-to-LA intake ratio and FADS1 genotype on CVD incidence was strengthened and statistically significant (P = 0.04). Additionally, we observed a significant interaction between ALA and FADS1 genotype on ischemic stroke incidence (P = 0.03). ALA was inversely associated with ischemic stroke only among TT genotype carriers (HR for quintile 5 vs. quintile 1 = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.94; P-trend = 0.02). In this large cohort, we found some weak, but not convincing, evidence of effect modification by genetic variation in FADS1 on the associations between PUFA intakes and CVD risk. For the 11% of the population homozygous for the minor T-allele of rs174546 that associates with lower ∆5 FADS activity, high ALA intake and ALA-to-LA intake ratio may be preferable in the prevention of CVD and ischemic stroke.
Introduction to Modern Climate Change

This textbook is tightly focused on the problem of anthropogenic climate change. It is unique among textbooks on climate change in that it combines an introduction of the science with an introduction to the non-science issues such as the economic and policy options. Unlike more purely descriptive textbooks, it contains the quantitative depth that is necessary for an adequate understanding of the science of climate change. The goal of the book is for a student to leave the class ready to engage in the public policy debate on this issue. This is an invaluable textbook for any introductory survey course on the science and policy of climate change, for both non-science majors and introductory science students.
Mass social media-induced illness presenting with Tourette-like behavior

Currently, we are facing a new manifestation of functional neurological disorder presenting with functional Tourette-like behavior (FTB). This study aimed to show characteristics of this phenotype presenting as an outbreak of “mass social media-induced illness” (MSMI) and to explore predisposing factors. Between 5–9/2021, we prospectively investigated 32 patients (mean/median age: 20.1/18 years, range: 11–53 years, n = 16 females) with MSMI-FTB using a neuro-psychiatric examination, a comprehensive semi-structured interview and aspects of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostic System. In contrast to tics, numbers of complex movements and vocalizations were nine times greater than of “simple” symptoms, and of vocalizations one and a half times greater than of movements. In line with our hypothesis of MSMI, symptoms largely overlapped with those presented by German YouTuber Jan Zimmermann justifying his role as “virtual” index case in current outbreak. Typically, symptoms started abruptly at a mean age of 19 years and deteriorated gradually with no differences between males and females. In all patients, we identified timely-related psychological stressors, unconscious intrapsychic conflicts, and/or structural deficits. Nearly all patients (94%) suffered from further psychiatric symptoms including abnormalities in social behavior (81%), obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB) (47%), Tourette syndrome (TS) (47%), anxiety (41%), and depression (31%), about half (47%) had experienced bullying, and 75% suffered from coexisting somatic diseases. Our data suggest that pre-existing abnormalities in social behavior and psychiatric symptoms (OCB, anxiety, and depression), but also TS in combination with timely-related psychological stressors, unconscious intrapsychic conflicts, and structural deficits predispose to contagion with MSMI-FTB.
Speculation in the Oil Market

The run-up in oil prices since 2004 coincided with growing investment in commodity markets and increased price comovement among different commodities. We assess whether speculation in the oil market played a role in driving this salient empirical pattern. We identify oil shocks from a large dataset using a dynamic factor model (DFM). This method is motivated by the fact that a small scale VAR is not infomationally sufficient to identify the shocks. The main results are as follows: (i) While global demand shocks account for the largest share of oil price fluctuations, speculative shocks are the second most important driver. (ii) The increase in oil prices over the last decade is mainly driven by the strength of global demand. However, speculation played a significant role in the oil price increase between 2004 and 2008, and its subsequent collapse. (iii) The comovement between oil prices and the prices of other commodities is mainly explained by global demand shocks. Our results support the view that the recent oil price increase is mainly driven by the strength of global demand but that the financialization process of commodity markets also played a role.
Credit Derivatives Pricing with Stochastic Volatility Models

This paper proposes a model for pricing credit derivatives in a defaultable HJM framework. The model features hump-shaped, level dependent, and unspanned stochastic volatility, and accommodates a correlation structure between the stochastic volatility, the default-free interest rates, and the credit spreads. The model is finite-dimensional, and leads (a) to exponentially affine default-free and defaultable bond prices, and (b) to an approximation for pricing credit default swaps and swaptions in terms of defaultable bond prices with varying maturities. A ∗Corresponding author. 1 numerical study demonstrates that the model captures stylized various features of credit default swaps and swaptions.
Reexamining the Empirical Evidence for an Environmental Kuznets Curve

This paper uses an updated and revised panel data set on ambient air pollution in cities worldwide to examine the robustness of the evidence for the existence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between national income and pollution. We test the sensitivity of the pollution-income relationship to functional forms, to additional covariates, and to changes in the nations, cities, and years sampled. We find that the results are highly sensitive to these changes, and conclude that there is little empirical support for an inverted U-shaped relationship between several important air pollutants and national income in these data.
Pediatric Nursing: Caring for Children and Their Families

PEDIATRIC NURSING: CARING FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, third edition, offers a dynamic and insightful guide to caring for pediatric clients. The authors embrace a holistic, family-centered approach to the care and nurturing of children in all states of health, exploring healthy growth and development milestones, as well as illness states and chronic conditions. All nursing care is framed within a family context, underscoring the importance of viewing children not just as individuals, but as members of a family. General nursing skills such as assessment, communication, and health promotion are presented within the pediatric framework to help nurses approach children and their families with an authentic, informed understanding of their conditions and needs.
Roughing It Up: Including Jump Components in the Measurement, Modeling and Forecasting of Return Volatility

A rapidly growing literature has documented important improvements in financial return volatility measurement and forecasting via use of realized variation measures constructed from high-frequency returns coupled with simple modeling procedures. Building on recent theoretical results in Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard (2004a, 2005) for related bi-power variation measures, the present paper provides a practical and robust framework for non-parametrically measuring the jump component in asset return volatility. In an application to the DM/$ exchange rate, the S&P500 market index, and the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond yield, we find that jumps are both highly prevalent and distinctly less persistent than the continuous sample path variation process. Moreover, many jumps appear directly associated with specific macroeconomic news announcements. Separating jump from non-jump movements in a simple but sophisticated volatility forecasting model, we find that almost all of the predictability in daily, weekly, and monthly return volatilities comes from the non-jump component. Our results thus set the stage for a number of interesting future econometric developments and important financial applications by separately modeling, forecasting, and pricing the continuous and jump components of the total return variation process.
VA/DOD Clinical practice guideline for the management of stroke rehabilitation.

These guidelines are not intended to represent Department of Veterans Affairs or TRICARE policy. Further, inclusion of recommendations for specific testing and/or therapeutic interventions within these guidelines does not guarantee coverage of civilian sector care. Additional information on current TRICARE benefits may be found at www.tricare. mil or by contacting your regional TRICARE Managed Care Support Contractor.
A novel travelling time estimation mechanism for minimizing unnecessary handovers from cellular networks to WLANs

The `Beyond 3G Wireless Networks Architecture' proposes to assimilate numerous heterogeneous wireless network technologies over an Internet Protocol Backbone. However, in order to offer seamless mobility, cost - effective connectivity and desired Quality of Service (QoS) in such a diverse environment; efficacious vertical handover support still remains a major design challenge. In this research/manuscript, a novel handover decision mechanism, `Travelling Time Prediction Based on the Consecutive RSS Measurements' in an IEEE 802.11 WLAN cell is suggested. The method uses a time threshold which is computed by a Mobile Terminal (MT) as soon as it penetrates into a WLAN boundary. The estimated travelling time is then compared with the time threshold, so as to make handover decisions for minimizing the probability of unnecessary handovers. Our performance analysis reveals that the suggested mechanism effectively reduces number of unnecessary handovers by 60% as compared to the already proposed schemes.
Revista Mexicana de I ngeniería Q uímica

This study aimed to investigate the e ﬀ ects of extracts obtained from valonia ( Quercus ithaburensis ), sessile ( Quercus petraae ) and holy oak ( Quercus ilex ) acorns on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity), physicochemical (color, pH, lipid and protein oxidation) and sensory properties of raw refrigerated beef meat burgers stored at 2ºC for 14 days. Incorporation of acorn extracts signiﬁcantly increased pH values of the meat burgers on every analysis day (except day 7) (p < 0.05). Color values of the burgers did not change with the addition of extracts. The phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of the samples containing acorn extracts were signiﬁcantly higher than that of the control samples throughout the storage (p < 0.05). Acorn extracts were found to be e ﬀ ective in preventing lipid and protein oxidation. It was concluded that the extracts of acorn fruits have the potential to be used as natural antioxidants to minimize oxidation problems in the meat burgers.
Courts and Relational Contracts

Post-communist countries offer new evidence on the relative importance of courts and relationships in enforcing contracts. Belief in the effectiveness of courts has a significant positive effect on the level of trust shown in new relationships between firms and their customers. Well-functioning courts also encourage entrepreneurs to try out new suppliers. Courts are particularly important when specific investments are needed for a relationship to develop. While relationships can sustain existing interactions, workable courts help new interactions to start and develop.
Implications of changing winter fjord ice melanges for Greenland outlet glacier dynamics

Recent studies have demonstrated rapid change along the margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) over the last decade. In particular, increases in glacier velocities coincident with terminus retreat for many of Greenland's outlet glaciers have effectively increased the amount of ice discharged. Much of this calved ice passes through elaborate fjord systems en route to the ocean. This study utilizes remote sensing observations to investigate the changing conditions in several of Greenland's pro-glacial fjords and changes along glacier termini. The findings indicate that changes in the mix of calved ice and water in pro-glacial fjords have implications for the location of the calving front and for glacier speed and thickness in the near-terminus region on seasonal to interannual time scales. The ability of the fjord ice to influence terminus dynamics and glacier stability has implications for predicting ice loss over much longer time scales.
Long-Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail

Chapter 1 The Thru-Hiking Tradition Chapter 2 Why Thru-Hike Chapter 3 Who Hikes with Whom Chapter 4 Older Hikers Chapter 5 Physical Condition and Injuries Chapter 6 Trail Names Chapter 7 Footwear Chapter 8 Packs, Tents, Stoves, and Guides Chapter 9 Sleeping on the Trail Chapter 10 Clothing and Raingear Chapter 11 Comforts and Amenities Chapter 12 How Fast, How Far Chapter 13 Water: Its Joys and Perils Chapter 14 Food, Calories, and Weight Chapter 15 Animals on the Trail Chapter 16 Insects and Repelling Them Chapter 17 Along the Trail Chapter 18 Trail People Chapter 19 Looking Back Appendix 1 The Questionnaire and Its Statistics Appendix 2 Questionnaire Summaries Appendix 3 Survey Participants Bibliography Index
Thriving on a Tilted Playing Field: China's Non-State Enterprises in the Reform Era

China's non-state sector, which refers to all production units not owned or not directly controlled by the state, has been the engine of the country's rapid economic growth for the past two decades. After documenting this phenomenon, the paper seeks to address three related questions. First, are non-state enterprises facing a level playing field? The answer is no. We show that non-state enterprises have been discriminated against and handicapped in competition with state enterprises. Second, given that the playing field is not level, why and how has China's non-state sector achieved its rapid growth? We show that there are sets of transitional institutions that have helped non-state enterprises to overcome constraints. Third, can transitional institutions continue to propel the growth of China's non-state sector? We do not believe so, since such transitional institutions fall short of what is needed. in today's economic conditions, and also create distortions by themselves. By implication, we conclude that China's governments need to implement further reforms to level the playing field in order to sustain the vitality of the non-state sector.
Neoadjuvant sintilimab plus chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a single-arm, single-center, phase 2 trial (ESONICT-1)

Background To investigate the safety and feasibility of combining neoadjuvant sintilimab (Innovent Biologics, Suzhou, China) and chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods The study was an investigator-initiated, open-label, non-randomized, single-arm, single-center phase 2 trial. Patients aged between 18 to 75 years with locally advanced ESCC were eligible for neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (nICT). The nICT included cisplatin (60 mg/m2) on day 1, albumin-bound paclitaxel (125 mg/m2) on days 1 and 8, and sintilimab (200 mg) on day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Clinical evaluation was conducted after 2 cycles of nICT. Within 4–6 weeks after nICT, patients underwent esophagectomy. The primary end points were pathological complete response (pCR) and adverse events (AEs). Secondary endpoints included major pathological response (MPR), R0 resection rate, interval to surgery, and 30-day complications. This trial was registered at chictr.org. cn, ChiCTR2100045659. Results From July 2020 to June 2021, 30 patients were enrolled. All patients successfully completed 2 cycles of nICT. AEs were common during nICT, and the most common AE was anorexia (20/30, 67%). However, only one patient with grade 3 ESCC had increased transaminase. According to radiologic evaluations, the objective response rate (ORR) was 67% (20/30) and the disease control rate 97% (29/30). Twenty-three patients underwent McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). The pCR rate of the primary tumor was 21.7%, and the MPR rate of the primary tumor was 52.2%. The median interval to surgery was 40 days, and no patients delayed surgery due to AEs. Pneumonia was the most common major 30-day postoperative complication (9/23, 39%). Anastomotic leakage (AL) occurred in two patients during the hospital stay, and one patient was readmitted due to AL. There was no treatment- or surgery-related deaths. Conclusions Neoadjuvant sintilimab plus chemotherapy for locally advanced ESCC appears to be safe and feasible with limited AEs, high R0 resection rate, promising pCR rate, and manageable postoperative complications. Long-term follow-up is required. A multicenter, randomized, phase III clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of sintilimab versus placebo in combination with chemotherapy in locally advanced ESCC is warranted to confirm these results.
What were the Primary Forcing Mechanisms of High-Frequency Holocene Climate and Glacier Variations?

A compilation of Holocene glacial advances throughout the world is compared with summer solar insolation integrated over the Northern Hemisphere and the magnitudes of global acid fallout from volcanic eruptions north of 20°S*** estimated from the acidity signal of annual ice layers in the Crëte and Camp Century ice cores in Greenland. Correlation analysis between glacial advances versus volcanic eruptions yielded a correlation coefficient of r = 0.71. A ‘climatic forcing’ curve (solar insolation and volcanic eruptions weighted 1:1) versus glacial advances increased the correlation coefficient to r = 0.90. This suggests that the combined effect of volcanic aerosols and orbital-related Northern Hemisphere summer insolation may have been the primary forcing mechanism of worldwide climate and glacier fluctuations throughout the Holocene.