Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disparities in fistula maturation persist despite preoperative vascular mapping.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Failure to mature (primary failure) of new fistulas remains a major obstacle to increasing the proportion of dialysis patients with fistulas. This failure rate is higher in women than in men, higher in older than in younger patients, and higher in forearm than in upper arm fistulas. These disparities in the frequency of failure to mature may be due in part to marginal vessels in the high-risk groups and should be reduced by routine preoperative vascular mapping. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS A prospective, computerized database was queried retrospectively to evaluate the frequency of primary fistula failure in 205 hemodialysis patients for whom preoperative mapping was obtained. The association between clinical characteristics and risk for primary fistula failure was analyzed by univariate and multiple variable regression analysis. RESULTS The overall primary fistula failure rate was 40% (82 of 205 patients). On multiple variable logistic regression, three clinical factors were associated with an increased risk for failure to mature among patients who underwent preoperative vascular mapping: Female gender, age > or =65 yr, and forearm location. The primary fistula failure rate varied from 22% in younger men with an upper arm fistula to 78% in older women with a forearm fistula. Dynamic preoperative vascular measurements (change in peak systolic velocity and resistive index after tight fist clenching) did not differ between patients with mature and immature forearm fistulas. CONCLUSION Disparities in fistula maturation persist despite the use of routine preoperative vascular mapping.
Efficacy and Toxicity of Different Chemotherapy Regimens in the Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Network Meta‐Analysis

Objective A network meta‐analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy and toxicity of different chemotherapy regimens in treating advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC). PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases from inception to June 2016 were searched. A combination of direct and indirect evidences was referred to for calculating the weighted mean difference (WMD) or the odds ratio (OR) and to establish surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curves, so as to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of different chemotherapy regimens in treating advanced or metastatic PC. Twenty randomized controlled trials were enrolled. Twelve chemotherapy regimens included Gemcitabine, S‐1 (Tegafur), Gemcitabine + Cisplatin, Gemcitabine + Capecitabine, Gemcitabine + S‐1, Gemcitabine + 5‐FU (5‐fluorouracil), Gemcitabine + Exatecan, Gemcitabine + Irinotecan, Gemcitabine + Nab‐paclitaxel, FOLFIRINOX (Oxaliplatin + Irinotecan + Fluorouracil + Leucovorin), Gemcitabine + Oxaliplatin, and Gemcitabine + Pemetrexed. Higher overall response rate (ORR) was observed in patients treated with the gemcitabine + S‐1 and FOLFIRINO regimens. Thrombocytopenia reduced in patients treated with the S‐1 regimen. The Gemcitabine + S‐1 and FOLFIRINO regimens had better short‐ and long‐term efficacies than the other regimens; S‐1 regimen had the lowest hematologic toxicity, while Gemcitabine + Nab‐paclitaxel, FOLFIRINOX, and Gemcitabine + Pemetrexed regimens had higher incidence of non‐hematologic toxicity among twelve chemotherapy regimens. The efficacy of Gemcitabine + S‐1 and FOLFIRINOX regimens may be better in treating patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, while FOLFIRINOX and Gemcitabine + Pemetrexed regimens may have relatively higher incidence of toxicity than other regimens. J. Cell. Biochem. 119: 511–523, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protein turnover analysis in Salmonella Typhimurium during infection by dynamic SILAC, Topograph, and quantitative proteomics

Protein turnover affects protein abundance and phenotypes. Comprehensive investigation of protein turnover dynamics has the potential to provide substantial information about gene expression. Here we report a large‐scale protein turnover study in Salmonella Typhimurium during infection by quantitative proteomics. Murine macrophage‐like RAW 264.7 cells were infected with SILAC labeled Salmonella. Bacterial cells were extracted after 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min. Mass spectrometry analyses yielded information about Salmonella protein turnover dynamics and a software program named Topograph was used for the calculation of protein half lives. The half lives of 311 proteins from intracellular Salmonella were obtained. For bacteria cultured in control medium (DMEM), the half lives for 870 proteins were obtained. The calculated median of protein half lives was 69.13 and 99.30 min for the infection group and the DMEM group, respectively, indicating an elevated protein turnover at the initial stage of infection. Gene ontology analyses revealed that a number of protein functional groups were significantly regulated by infection, including proteins involved in ribosome, periplasmic space, cellular amino acid metabolic process, ion binding, and catalytic activity. The half lives of proteins involved in purine metabolism pathway were found to be significantly shortened during infection.
The effect of critical illness and inflammation on midazolam therapy in children*

Objective: To determine the effect of inflammation and disease severity on midazolam pharmacokinetics (as surrogate marker of cytochrome 3A activity) and pharmacodynamics in critically ill children. Design: Analysis of prospectively collected pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data from a midazolam study in critically ill children. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients: Twenty-one critically ill children who needed midazolam for sedation. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: We determined the relationship between inflammation (using C-reactive protein and leukocyte count as surrogate markers) and disease severity (Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction and Pediatric Risk of Mortality scores) vs. the pharmacokinetics (clearance) and pharmacodynamics (COMFORT score, dose requirement) of midazolam. We found a significant negative correlation between disease severity and midazolam clearance corrected for body weight (r = −0.49, p = .02). Midazolam clearance was significantly lower in children with multiple organ failure (defined as Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction ≥10, n = 11) compared with children without multiple organ failure (Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction <10, n = 10) (median 0.14 [interquartile range, 0.11–0.23] vs. 0.28 [interquartile range, 0.14–0.43]) L/kg/h, p = . 035). No other significant correlations were found. Conclusions: Results from this pilot study suggest that increased disease severity is associated with reduced midazolam clearance in critically ill children, most likely as a result of reduced cytochrome 3A activity. In contrast, reduced midazolam clearance does not seem to result in decreased midazolam dose requirements.
Novel molecular defect in the platelet ADP receptor P2Y12 of a patient with haemorrhagic diathesis

Abstract Background: The platelet adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) receptor P2Y12 plays a crucial role in haemostasis. Only a few patients with haemorrhagic diathesis due to molecular defects in the P2Y12 receptor have been described so far. We report a novel molecular defect in the gene coding for P2Y12 in a patient with a history of epistaxis, easy bruising and excessive posttraumatic blood loss. Methods: Platelet aggregation studies, perfusion studies, in which patient blood was perfused over collagen surfaces at arterial shear rates, and PCR and sequencing were used. Results: Platelet aggregation studies showed impaired ADP and collagen-induced aggregation for patient G.S. Perfusion of patient blood over collagen surfaces showed small thrombi consisting of spread platelets overlayered with non-spread platelets. These thrombi were identical to control thrombi formed in the presence of a P2Y12 antagonist. DNA analysis of the P2Y 12 gene revealed a novel heterozygous base pair C→A substitution in exon 3, changing codon 258 from proline to threonine in the third extracellular loop of the P2Y12 receptor. Conclusions: We conclude that perfusion studies with patient blood are of added value in the diagnostic process, which resulted in identification of a novel molecular defect in the P2Y 12 gene of a patient with haemorrhagic diathesis. Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:187–9.
A compact ring UWB antenna with tri-notch band characteristics using slots and tuning stub

A coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed circular ring ultra-wideband (UWB) monopole antenna with tri notched band is presented numerically. The tri-notched bands have been proposed by using two fold slots and a T-shaped tuning stub in the inner of the circular ring. The tri-notch band properties can be controlled by adjusting the length of the slots and the dimensions of the T-shaped tuning stub. The parameters of the slot and the dimensions of the stub have been investigated by using HFSS. Simulated results of the notched bands UWB antenna show that the proposed antenna with compact size of 30×22.4×1.6mm3, has an impedance bandwidth range from 2.6GHz to 10.7GHz for voltage standing-wave ratio less than 2, except tri notch band frequency 5.2GHz–5.9GHz for WLAN and HIPERLAN, and 4.0GHz–4.4GHz, 7.8GHz–8.0GHz for C-band satellite communications.
A New Approach to Ocean Wave Parameter Estimates From C-Band ScanSAR Images

Because of their large swath widths of about 400-500 km, the ScanSAR modes of RADARSAT-1 and -2 and of the Advanced SAR (ASAR) system on Envisat have been the preferred modes of operation for hurricane and typhoon observations and similar applications. While C-band ScanSAR images have been demonstrated to be well suitable for wind retrievals, ocean wave retrievals are a more challenging problem: Because of the limited spatial resolution of 100 m (RADARSAT)/150 m (Envisat), only long waves can get imaged directly, and many images of tropical storm scenarios do not exhibit clear signatures of any waves in large areas. The interpretation of wave patterns that exist in an image is difficult because of the imaging mechanism's nonlinearities. We think we have found a promising new technique for wave parameter retrievals from C-band ScanSAR images, which determines peak wavelengths and directions from image spectra where possible but uses an empirically determined relation to estimate significant wave heights (SWHs) from local mean image intensities, which is similar to the method used for wind retrievals. This way, it is possible to obtain SWH estimates for the entire image and to account for the contributions of subresolution-scale waves. We explain how the algorithm works and how the empirical SWH model function has been determined from a set of hurricane images from RADARSAT-1 and reference wave spectra from a numerical wave model. The first independent test with a set of RADARSAT-2 and Envisat images from the 2010 Impact of Typhoons on the Ocean in the Pacific (ITOP) experiment reveals a few weaknesses but essentially confirms the feasibility of the concept.
Impact of Strength of Human Resource Management System on Perceived Organizational Support

Among the various influencing factors of organizational performance, HRM system strength and perceived organizational support are two important factors which focus on employee perception. In modern business management, human resource management runs through the whole process of business management. Effective HR system can influence employee perception, understanding and acceptance of HRM practices, which in turn influence employee’s attributions to organizational behaviours and thereby influence employee attitudes and behaviours. Besides, organizational commitment to employees can promote employee’s positive attributions and feedback through job satisfaction and hard work. So far, there has been a plethora of researches on variables related to HRM system strength and perceived organizational support. However, there is a lack of the research on the relationship between the two variables. Therefore, this paper studied the impact of HRM system strength on perceived organizational support, based on a survey of 508 front-line employees in China. Research findings showed that there is a significant positive relationship between overall HRM system strength and perceived organizational support, between three dimensions of HRM system strength and two dimensions of perceived organizational support. This result can help researchers understand the relationship chain between HRM system strength, perceived organizational support and organizational performance.
Rating Properties and their Implication on Basel II-Capital

The article “Rating Properties and their Implication on Basle II-Capital” with its empirical analysis presents new insights on the verification of ratings. The basic properties Association, Calibration, Discrimination and Refinement of rating forecasts are defined and measures derived within a consistent framework. It is shown that the property Refinement has an important influence on the Basel II capital since an increase in Refinement leads ceteris paribus to a lower average capital requirement.
Magnetic resonance image segmentation using pattern recognition, and applied to image registration and quantitation

This review highlights various magnetic resonance image (MRI) segmentation algorithms that employ pattern recognition. The procedures are grouped into two categories: low‐ to intermediate‐level, and high‐level image processing. The former consists of grey level histogram analysis, texture definition, edge identification, region growing, and contour following. The roles of significant prior knowledge, neural networks and cluster analysis are examined by producing objective identification of anatomical structures. The application of the segmented anatomical structures in image registration, to monitor the disease progression or growth of anatomy in normal volunteers and patients, is highlighted. The use of the segmented anatomy in measuring volumes of structures in normals and patients is also examined.
Real time simulation of renewable sources by model-based control of DC/DC converters

This paper presents a DC/DC buck converter circuit for real-time laboratory simulation of renewable sources. The DC/DC converter, suitably driven, can accurately describe the current-voltage characteristic of a photovoltaic (PV) array and of a fuel cell (FC). In perspective its hardware structure, if the source modelling is correctly known and implemented, can reproduce any renewable source with rated data compatible with those of the DC/DC converter. The I-V laws of the PV and the FC have been obtained by an appropriate modelling of the considered renewable sources. Particular care has been given to the design of the converter control, to ensure the desired stability and dynamics. It has been verified in numerical simulation and experimentally that the designed DC/DC buck converter is able to reproduce the electrical characteristics of the experimental generator both in steady state and transient conditions, due to either load or parameters variations. The effectiveness of the proposed circuit is verified by laboratory experiments, obtained by implementing the converter control on a low cost DSP board.
Quantitative analysis of neurofibrillary pathology in a general population to reappraise neuropathological criteria for senile dementia of the neurofibrillary tangle type (tangle‐only dementia): The Hisayama study

Senile dementia of the neurofibrillary tangle type (SD‐NFT) is characterized by numerous neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the hippocampal region and the absence or minimal presence of senile plaques throughout the brain. We analyzed 207 demented subjects and 68 non‐demented subjects autopsied in the Hisayama study to investigate the clinicopathological aspects of SD‐NFT in the general Japanese population. The prevalence of SD‐NFT in the consecutive autopsy cases was 8/207 (3.9%), comprising three men and five women. The average age at onset and death was 83.8 ± 6.8 (mean ± SD; standard deviation) and 88.1 ± 7.6 years, respectively. A mild memory disturbance preceded a decrease in the ability to undertake the activities of daily living and the diagnosis of dementia. Focal cerebral symptoms, such as aphasia and paralysis, did not appear during the disease course of any subject. Gross examination of the brains showed moderate to severe diffuse cerebral atrophy with brain weight loss (mean ± SD; standard deviation: 1118.1 ± 124.0 g). Histologically, there were abundant NFT and neuropil threads predominantly in or limited to the limbic cortex. The density of NFT in the CA1/subiculum in SD‐NFT was much higher than the densities in the other hippocampal regions. The average density of NFT in CA1 in SD‐NFT subjects was 115.4 per 100× field (range 23–247), that in Alzheimer disease (AD) subjects was 80.1 (range 1–227), and that in non‐demented elderly subjects was 37.2 (range 0–203). Although many previous papers have reported that the densities of NFT in the limbic system in SD‐NFT were significantly higher than those in AD, there was considerable overlap of NFT densities in CA1 among the non‐demented elderly, AD subjects and SD‐NFT subjects.
Can Dirty Work be Satisfying? A Mixed Method Study of Workers Doing Dirty Jobs

It has been argued in this journal that sociologists can make an important contribution to the understanding of why workers report feeling satisfied with their work, particularly where job quality is poor. Utilising a mixed method approach, this article explores how employees derive satisfaction from dirty work. The term ‘dirty work’ refers to tasks and occupations that are perceived as disgusting, distasteful or degrading. The research was conducted among workers specialising in the cleaning of abandoned social or public housing apartments in high crime areas in the UK and the USA. The study identifies a number of different mechanisms through which workers are able to make work both more satisfying and establish a sense of self-worth from the tasks they perform, even though dirt and physical taint are central to the job.
Mouth rinse but not ingestion of a carbohydrate solution improves 1‐h cycle time trial performance

The aim of the present study was to further explore the influence of ingestion and mouth rinse with a carbohydrate‐electrolyte solution (CES) on the performance during a ∼1 h high‐intensity time trial on trained subjects. Subjects rinsed around the mouth or ingested a 6% isotonic CES or placebo (14 mL/kg body weight) before and throughout a time trial in which they had to accomplish a set amount of work (975±85 kJ) as quickly as possible. In the mouth rinse conditions, time to complete the test was shorter (P=0.02) with CES (61.7±5.1 min) than with placebo (64.1±6.5 min), whereas in the ingestion conditions, there was no difference between placebo (62.5±6.9 min) and CES (63.2±6.9 min). Although power output and lactate concentration during exercise were significantly higher when subjects rinsed their mouth with CES compared with placebo, the rating of perceived exertion values did not differ. Blood glucose concentration increased after ingestion of but not after mouth rinse with CES. The interesting finding of the present study is that rinsing the mouth with but not ingestion of CES resulted in improved performance.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the X chromosome linked glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) locus in India

Study: Haplotypes linked to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) genotypes were defined by studying six intragenic restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in 141 G6PD deficient and 252 normal chromosomes. Results: Only four of the 64 possible haplotypes were observed, indicating marked linkage disequilibrium. All the G6PD deficient mutations were associated with either haplotype I or VII, which are similar to the common G6PD B variant observed in the present study except the G6PD Namoru mutation which corresponded to mainly haplotype VIIa where a Nla III restriction site was created due to this mutation. Conclusion: The limited number and low haplotype diversity probably indicates a strong selective pressure on the G6PD gene.
Eye ontogeny in Pleurodema bufoninum: A comparison with Pleurodema somuncurense (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Vision is one of the main sensory systems in amphibians, and the eye structure is highly associated with habitat conditions. The ontogeny, as well as the adult structure, of the eye has been studied in only a few species. The life change after metamorphosis is accompanied by changes in the visual environment. The aim of this work is to describe the eye ontogeny of Pleurodema bufoninum and to compare it with that of Pleurodema somuncurense. Specimens of both Pleurodema species were processed for histology analysis at different stages of development, including the tadpole, postmetamorphic, and adult forms. Eyes in both Pleurodema species are composed of the 3 tunics, tunica fibrosa, tunica vasculosa, and tunica interna, and the lens. Additionally, in both, the iris presents a projection on its dorsal and ventral free ends that screens the cornea. This structure has been reported in the eye of several anuran species and is called the umbraculum, meniscus or pupillary nodule. Our results show that the structures related to light capture (retina and lens) appear early in larval life, while the components of the terrestrial‐life eye (scleral cartilage, specialized cornea, eyelids, nictitating membrane, and Harderian's gland) do not develop until the metamorphic climax, when the tadpole leaves the water. The adult eyes of P. bufoninum and P. somuncurense are very similar in structure and development.
Cue Reliability Represented in the Shape of Tuning Curves in the Owl's Sound Localization System

Optimal use of sensory information requires that the brain estimates the reliability of sensory cues, but the neural correlate of cue reliability relevant for behavior is not well defined. Here, we addressed this issue by examining how the reliability of spatial cue influences neuronal responses and behavior in the owl's auditory system. We show that the firing rate and spatial selectivity changed with cue reliability due to the mechanisms generating the tuning to the sound localization cue. We found that the correlated variability among neurons strongly depended on the shape of the tuning curves. Finally, we demonstrated that the change in the neurons' selectivity was necessary and sufficient for a network of stochastic neurons to predict behavior when sensory cues were corrupted with noise. This study demonstrates that the shape of tuning curves can stand alone as a coding dimension of environmental statistics. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In natural environments, sensory cues are often corrupted by noise and are therefore unreliable. To make the best decisions, the brain must estimate the degree to which a cue can be trusted. The behaviorally relevant neural correlates of cue reliability are debated. In this study, we used the barn owl's sound localization system to address this question. We demonstrated that the mechanisms that account for spatial selectivity also explained how neural responses changed with degraded signals. This allowed for the neurons' selectivity to capture cue reliability, influencing the population readout commanding the owl's sound-orienting behavior.
Quam bene vivas referre: curing and caring in psycho‐oncology

By examining the medical–philosophical Latin heritage, some psycho‐oncology principles may be traced in Claudius Galenus and Lucius Anneus Seneca. The former hypothesized a link between depression and cancer; the latter strongly underlined the need for not wasting time, living in the present by searching for meaning and reaching well‐being of the soul through virtues, even when dealing with misfortune and negative life events.