Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diffusion of laparoscopic liver resections: are we there yet?

Laparoscopic liver surgery has undergone a major evolution during the last 20 years (1). Albeit initially confronted with restrain and skepticism from the surgical community, laparoscopic liver resections (LLR) have gained significant ground and are currently acknowledged as safe and efficient procedures in the hands of hepatobiliary surgeons with experience in laparoscopic surgery (2,3).
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for T‐cell lymphoma

As peripheral T‐cell lymphomas (PTCL) are rare and heterogeneous groups of non‐Hodgkin lymphomas, it is practically difficult to conduct randomized controlled trials to establish standard treatment strategies. There is still no consensus regarding the optimal treatment strategy for patients with PTCL. Moreover, the survival outcomes of PTCL, excluding anaplastic lymphoma kinase‐positive anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma, remain disappointing although novel agents have become available recent years. The aim of this review is to summarize the information regarding hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for PTCL including both autologous (auto‐) and allogeneic (allo‐) HSCT. In the first‐line setting, up‐front auto‐HSCT is generally recommended for patients with PTCL, especially with complete remission 1 (CR1). On the other hand, up‐front allo‐HSCT might be recommended for patients with high‐risk PTCL, although the study incorporating up‐front allo‐HSCT is limited. In the salvage setting, auto‐HSCT might be considered in patients with chemosensitive disease, especially with CR. Allo‐HSCT might also be considered, although the data of allo‐HSCT in the salvage setting is still limited. Further investigation to optimize the application of HSCT in patients with PTCL is warranted in the future.
Evaluation of the efficacy of erector spinae plane block and intercostal nerve block in the postherpetic neuralgia.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of an intercostal nerve block, which has been used for many years in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, and the more recent alternative of an erector spinae plane (ESP) block. METHODS The records of 39 patients who were treated in the algology department for postherpetic neuralgia between May 1, 2015 and May 1, 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients who received an intercostal nerve block constituted Group 1 and those who received an ESP block were categorized as Group 2. The change in numeric rating scale (NRS) and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) scores in the short term and in the long term were the primary results of the study. RESULTS The NRS, LANSS, and sleep interference scale (SIS) scores of the patients in Group 1 and Group 2 were found to be significantly lower at the 24th hour, week 4, and week 12 compared with the values obtained before block application. In Group 1, the scores recorded at week 4 and week 12 were significantly higher than the 24th hour values, whereas no difference was observed between these results in Group 2. There was no significant difference between the groups in the week 4 and week 12 scores. Similarly, no significant difference was observed in the NRS, LANSS, or SIS scores before the block application or at the 24th hour. However, the scores at week 4 and week 12 were significantly lower in Group 2 compared with Group 1. CONCLUSION The results indicated that an ESP block significantly decreased neuropathic pain symptoms and the need for additional treatment in postherpetic neuralgia treatment in the long term.
Integrated biomarker analysis for 412 renal cell cancer (RCC) patients (pts) treated on the phase 3 COMPARZ trial: Correlating common mutation events in PBRM1 and BAP1 with angiogenesis expression signatures and outcomes on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

4523Background: In RCC biology mutations in PBRM1 and BAP1are largely non-overlapping and collectively affect >50% of pts. How and through which mechanism they influence disease kinetics is poorly understood. Sunitinib and pazopanib inhibit angiogenesis, a key driver in RCC. We analyzed mutation status and gene expression signatures in a large cohort of pts receiving first-line sunitinib or pazopanib on the COMPARZ trial. Methods: RNA and DNA were extracted from archival tissue. PBRM1 and BAP1mutation status was determined via a custom exon-targeted platform. Transcriptome analysis was done using Affymetrix GeneChip HTA 2.0. We computed a 43 gene angiogenesis expression score with previously reported dynamic response to VEGF-directed therapy in xenograft models (Masiero, Cancer Cell 2013). DNA and RNA findings were correlated with clinical outcomes using parametric and non-parametric tests. Results: 412 pts contributed tumor RNA, 377 pts DNA; 362 pts both. PBRM1 and BAP1 were mutated (MT) in 44% and 15% o.
A Method to Extract Measurable Indicators of Coastal Cliff Erosion from Topographical Cliff and Beach Profiles: Application to North Norfolk and Suffolk, East England, UK

Recession of coastal cliffs (bluffs) is a significant problem globally, as around 80% of Earth’s coastlines are classified as sea cliffs. It has long been recognised that beaches control wave energy dissipation on the foreshore and, as a result, can provide protection from shoreline and cliff erosion. However, there have been few studies that have quantified the relationship between beach levels and cliff recession rates. One of the few quantitative studies has shown that there is a measurable relationship between the beach thickness (or beach wedge area (BWA) as a proxy for beach thickness) and the annual cliff top recession rate along the undefended coast of North Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England, United Kingdom (UK). Additionally, previous studies also found that for profiles with low BWA, the annual cliff top recession rate frequency distribution follows a bimodal distribution. This observation suggests that as BWA increases, not only does cliff top recession rate become lower, but also more predictable, which has important implications for coastal stakeholders particularly for planning purposes at decadal and longer time scales. In this study, we have addressed some of the limitations of the previous analysis to make it more transferable to other study sites and applicable to longer time scales. In particular, we have automatised the extraction of cliff tops, toe locations, and BWA from elevation profiles. Most importantly, we have verified the basic assumption of space-for-time substitution in three different ways: (1) Extending the number or years analysed in a previous study from 11 to 24 years, (2) extending the number of locations at which cliff top recession rate and BWA are calculated, and (3) exploring the assumption of surface material remaining unchanged over time by using innovative 3D subsurface modelling. The present study contributes to our understanding of a poorly known aspect of cliff–beach interaction and outlines a quantitative approach that allows for simple analysis of widely available topographical elevation profiles, enabling the extraction of measurable indicators of coastal erosion.
Hedonic pricing and the sharing economy: how profile characteristics affect Airbnb accommodation prices in Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville

ABSTRACT The sharing economy has allowed people from all over the world to more effectively utilize their assets. Owners or controllers of assets in the sharing economy are free to set any price they want subject to prevailing market demand as long as they operate in an imperfectly competitive market environment. This paper examines how various characteristics of an Airbnb listing (size, number of photos, ratings, host responsiveness, superhost status, distance from city centre, etc.) affect the prices of accommodation and determines which factors strongly affect price using weighted least squares (WLS) and quantile regression. A hedonic pricing model was developed and applied to data from the cities of Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville to determine how the different characteristics of an Airbnb listing affect the price of accommodation in these major three Spanish tourist cities. The estimation results, which are resilient to various robustness checks, indicate that overall rating as well as characteristics indicative of the size of the accommodation have the strongest positive influence on price, while the number of reviews and distance from the city centre have the strongest negative influence on price.
Effects of forest cover change on catchment evapotranspiration variation in China

Several large‐scale revegetation programs in China have resulted in significant changes in forest cover (ΔF) during the past three decades. As forests have important effects on catchment hydrology, evaluating the effects of ΔF on hydrology is essential. Using data from 44 catchments across China, this study derived a rational analytical equation to link changes in actual evapotranspiration (ΔET) with those in F within the Budyko framework, and further quantified the effects of ΔF on ET variation during 1976–2015. The elasticity of ET to ΔF was found to be the greatest in the dry catchments in northwest China, followed by the humid catchments in south China, and was the smallest in the subhumid and semiarid catchments in north China. F averaged across all the catchments has increased, and has further led to the increase in ET. The F‐ET relationship has become more prominent in the recent decade (2006–2015), with 68.0% of the catchments showing an average increase in F of 4.5% and a resultant average increase in ET of 8.2% compared with the baseline period (1976–1985). These results are helpful for quantitative assessment of hydrological responses to afforestation, especially in water‐limited regions.
Assessment of Thrombospondin-1 Level in Type II Diabetic Patients

The study is intended to asses serum levels of Thrombospondin-1, fasting blood glucose in type 2 diabetic patients, also correlation between Thrombospondin-1 in both males and females. The study was conducted on randomly selected 65 type 2 diabetic patients (34 males and 31 females) attending the diabetes mellitus center in Al-Sadder Teaching City in Al- Najaf province , Iraqi and a group of 24 apparently healthy subjects (12 Males and 12 Females) were included as a control group . The Study was carried out from August 2013 to February 2014.The patients' age was ranging from 35 to 64 years old. The results indicated a significant increase (p<0.05) in serum FBG and TSP-1 levels in diabetic patients in comparing with healthy groups. The results also revealed no significant differences (p> 0.05) in serum TSP-1 levels between males and females in both patients and healthy groups, while the results of FBG levels significantly (p<0.05) increase in females than males in both patients and healthy groups. The results have been shown significant positive correlation (P<0.05) between TSP-1 and FBG in (males and females), males, females DM patients. The present study concluded that Thrombospondin-1 were marker for detection and diagnosis of diabetic patients type 2.
The role of syndecan-1 during endometrial carcinoma progression

Aim: Syndecan-1 (CD138) has most extensively been studied and correlated with many types of cancers. CD138 is mainly expressed in epithelial cells and plasma cells. Quite a few previous studies have called attention to the expression status of CD138 in EC. We aimed to determine the location of CD138 in the hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma progression scale, and its relation with proliferation via Ki67, and to identify a new criterion in the differential diagnosis of hyperplasia–carcinoma. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 endometrial curettage materials with proliferative and secretory phase endometrium, hyperplasia without atypical, atypical hyperplasia, and endometrium carcinoma examined in the pathology laboratory between 1995 and 2016 were included in the study. Samples were subjected to immunostaining for CD138 and Ki67 using antibody. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant and negative correlation between histopathological progression and CD138 (P < 0.01). Statistical analysis revealed a significant and positive correlation between histopathological progression and Ki67 (P < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation between Ki67 and CD138 (P < 0.01). Conclusion: CD138 may be helpful in diagnostic difficulties, and benign pathologies should be considered due to the increase in staining density. Furthermore, we believe that CD138 will be an important criterion in determining the risk of malignancy in hyperplasia, and the risk of malignancy progression may increase in cases, of which intensity of staining decreases in accordance with the normal endometrium.
The Relationships Between Sport Club Activities and University and Member Attachment

Given the social purpose of sport clubs, an anticipated outcome of club participation is a sense of attachment to the university and campus community. However, the sport behaviors that contribute to club members’ social attachment are largely unknown. Therefore, this study sought to examine which sport club activities are related to university and member attachment. A survey was administered to 175 sport club members at a large public university in the United States. Using a multivariate analysis of variance, sport clubs with moderately low to high social inclusionary tactics reported significantly greater university attachment than clubs with low tactics. Additionally, clubs with high social inclusionary tactics reported significantly greater member attachment than clubs with low to moderately high tactics. No significant difference in attachment was found when accounting for clubs’ frequency of competition or travel. The findings support the use of formal socialization to enhance club members’ feelings of attachment.
A multi-method approach to understanding pain experience using non-pharmacological interventions that target alpha brain activity

This thesis aimed to examine the relationship between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience. Four studies were included to assess: 1) if, and how pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity might affect pain experience; and 2) if the relationship between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience is influenced by uncertainty about pain intensity, fear of pain and pain catastrophising. Study 1 was designed to replicate the negative correlation between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain. Studies 2-4 each investigated the potential of a different intervention to reduce pain by increasing alpha: binaural beats, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and mindfulness meditation. Study 1 confirmed the correlation between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience, but it was the findings of Studies 3 and 4 that were crucial in advancing the understanding of the relationship between somatosensory alpha activity and pain. They provided novel findings suggesting that modulation of somatosensory alpha (to increase alpha) results in reduced pain experience, thus demonstrating that pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain experience might be causally related. This thesis also provided evidence for an influence of uncertainty about pain intensity on the relationship between alpha activity and pain experience. Study 1 showed an influence of uncertainty on pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity. Moreover, the application of tACS (to increase alpha) only resulted in a significant reduction of pain experience when pain intensity was uncertain. Finally, Study 3 demonstrated a relationship between pain catastrophising and the reduction of pain by tACS, higher pain catastrophising was associated with a larger reduction of pain experience. Together, the studies of this thesis not only provided a first indication of a causal relationship between pre-stimulus somatosensory alpha activity and pain, but also initial evidence for the effectiveness of interventions targeting alpha activity in the management of pain.
Hostile Takeovers or Friendly Mergers?: A Real Options Analysis

This study analyzes a real options model of mergers and takeovers between two firms facing different but correlated uncertainty in profits. It is assumed that firms can choose two alternatives; hostile takeover or friendly merger. In a hostile takeover, a bidder firm takes all the extra value but incurs takeover costs, while in a friendly merger, both firms do not bear takeover costs but share the extra value through Nash bargaining. We show how demand uncertainty and takeover costs influence which firm is more likely to act as a bidder and which form of amalgamation will emerge. We also find that a smaller firm can be a bidder to a larger firm in a hostile manner, which is occasionally observed in actual markets.
Postoperative Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression: A Closed Claims Analysis

Background:Postoperative opioid-induced respiratory depression (RD) is a significant cause of death and brain damage in the perioperative period. The authors examined anesthesia closed malpractice claims associated with RD to determine whether patterns of injuries could guide preventative strategies. Methods:From the Anesthesia Closed Claims Project database of 9,799 claims, three authors reviewed 357 acute pain claims that occurred between 1990 and 2009 for the likelihood of RD using literature-based criteria. Previously cited patient risk factors for RD, clinical management, nursing assessments, and timing of events were abstracted from claim narratives to identify recurrent patterns. Results:RD was judged as possible, probable, or definite in 92 claims (&kgr; = 0.690) of which 77% resulted in severe brain damage or death. The vast majority of RD events (88%) occurred within 24 h of surgery, and 97% were judged as preventable with better monitoring and response. Contributing and potentially actionable factors included multiple prescribers (33%), concurrent administration of nonopioid sedating medications (34%), and inadequate nursing assessments or response (31%). The time between the last nursing check and the discovery of a patient with RD was within 2 h in 42% and within 15 min in 16% of claims. Somnolence was noted in 62% of patients before the event. Conclusions:This claims review supports a growing consensus that opioid-related adverse events are multifactorial and potentially preventable with improvements in assessment of sedation level, monitoring of oxygenation and ventilation, and early response and intervention, particularly within the first 24 h postoperatively.
Numerical simulations of damage and fracture in viscoelastic solids using a nonlocal fracture criterion

Abstract We present a recently developed three-dimensional-finite-deformation-rate form-based constitutive theory to describe the deformation and fracture of viscoelastic solids. The constitutive theory was also implemented into a commercial finite-element program. Damage and fracture in viscoelastic solids is simulated using the element failure method coupled with a Gibbs free energy-based nonlocal fracture criterion. By numerically simulating selected boundary value problems, we show that our newly developed computational framework is able to reproduce the correct stress-strain response, force–displacement response and crack propagation characteristics in viscoelastic solids undergoing fracture, when compared to the response obtained using the extended finite-element method implementation in a commercially available finite element program.
The potential role of medical imaging to support treatment decisions

The treatment of cancer has received great advantage from medical imaging technology. This thesis project is oriented to collect the opinion of patients and medical personnel to understand if advanced medical imaging could be useful when patients are involved in treatment decision making (TDM) process. In the specific, the investigation tries to understand if medical imaging can be useful for TDM in patients affected by prostate and bowel cancer and at which degree. The project was conducted with semi-structured interviews involving medical personnel. The opinion of the patients was collected with the analysis of patient’s diaries shared on the Internet. A thematic analysis was performed to both sources to extract valuable insight about the problem. The results of the research shows that, at the current state, medical imaging is difficult to be used to guide patients in treatment decision making. In particular, the research revealed that medical imaging is underused due the difficulty to collect, organise and show medical pictures. Nevertheless, imaging is a powerful tool to help TDM in some specific situations. Body scans and other imaging techniques look promising tools for TDM, but further investigation is suggested to discover its full potential.
Systematics of the enigmatic South American Streblopus Van Lansberge, 1874 dung beetles and their transatlantic origin: a case study on the role of dispersal events in the biogeographical history of the Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Streblopus Van Lansberge, 1874 has been one of the most mysterious dung beetle groups of the Neotropical fauna, having a rather peculiar morphology, very few known specimens in collections and a difficult placement among the scarabaeine lineages. In this work, based on the examination of a recently collected series of specimens and a synthesis of some scattered, but deeply valuable, information available in the literature, we readdress many of the questions posed by past authors. It is shown that Streblopus is a relict genus composed of two currently living species of widely disjunct distribution, namely S. opatroides Van Lansberge, 1874, from patches of Atlantic Forest in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Espirito Santo, and S. punctatus (Balthasar, 1938), known from a few localities across Sub-Andean humid forests in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazon Forest. We redescribe both and present in detail the evidence pointing to their validity as two independent species; a discussion of their remarkable sexual dimorphism is also given. The biogeography of Streblopus in South America is addressed, and we conclude that the present disjunct distribution of the genus is a consequence of the retreat of the tropical forest corridors that once connected the Atlantic Forest to the Amazon Basin through the South American Dry Diagonal during several periods of the Neogene, particularly until the Middle Miocene. Finally, we propose an African origin for the genus based on its close phylogenetic relationship with a group of Old World taxa ‒ particularly Circellium Latreille, 1825 and Scarabaeini. Having diverged from those groups in the late Upper Cretaceous, we argue that the ancestor of Streblopus arrived in South America crossing the Atlantic Ocean by rafting. We present a synthesis of data from a wide variety of biological groups to support our ideas and contend that long-distance dispersal hypotheses should be taken more seriously by scarab beetle specialists.