Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Colorectal Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: Higher Complication Rate for Oxaliplatin Compared to Mitomycin C

Abstract Background : Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colo-rectal cancer carries a very poor prognosis with a mean and median overall survival times of 6.9 and 5.2 months. It has been proved that a locoregional therapeutic approach of this disease with cytoreduction followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) improved survival of these patients. However, this combined treatment presents a high complication rate. Methods : 21 patients with PC of colorectal origin underwent complete cytoreduction followed by HIPEC using Mitomycin-C (13 patients) or oxaliplatin (8 patients) and the open coliseum technique. For each case the medical datas were retrospectively analysed to determine feasibility, morbidity, mortality, survival time and prognostic factors. Results : All patients presented a Sugarbaker’s Peritoneal Cancer index inferior to 15. The mean operating time was 453 minutes. After a median follow-up of 24.9 months, actuarial disease-free survival was 36.6% at 5 years. The median survival time was 34 months. The morbidity rate was 33.3% with a significant higher complication rate in the oxaliplatin group (5/8) than in the Mytomycin-C (MMC) group (2/13). One patient (4.7%) died two months after treatment with MMC (endocarditis). Conclusions : This series confirm positive impact of cytoreduction and HIPEC on PC. We obtained a moderated complications rate thanks to a high degree of selection of the patient. Oxaliplatin scheme is responsible of a higher morbidity than in MMC group. Phase III trial comparing these two drugs is needed.
Worsening of pulmonary sarcoidosis

Purpose of review Despite the frequent occurrence of worsening pulmonary symptoms in pulmonary sarcoidosis patients, there is little available information concerning this topic. Recent findings In this review, we outline the various causes for these symptoms. We propose to partition the various causes for these symptoms into specific categories. Summary We believe that these categories will provide the clinician a framework to evaluate pulmonary sarcoidosis patients with such symptoms in a rigorous way that may be useful in optimizing their care.
Orthoimage Creation of Extremely High Buildings

This paper presents a method for creating orthoimage in the urban area of extremely high buildings. The proposed method in this paper is different from the traditional methods, which improved the accuracy by increasing the number and/or improved the geometric distribution of ground control points. This proposed method first established a mathematical model of constraint condition on the building edges, such as perpendicularity, and then the established constraint conditions are merged into the orthorectification model. A test field located in downtown of Denver, CO, has been used to evaluate our methods. The experiments of comparing the accuracy achieved by our method and other methods are conducted. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method can improve the accuracy of 2-5 ft for those buildings of over 100 m high and even 5-7 ft for those buildings over 100 m high in the margin of imagery.
Combined percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and ethanol injection for hepatocellular carcinoma in high-risk locations.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate whether combining percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) with radiofrequency ablation in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk locations improves treatment outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We compared the outcome of management of high-risk tumors with PEI and radiofrequency ablation (n = 50) or radiofrequency ablation alone (n = 114) with the outcome of radiofrequency ablation of non-high-risk tumors (n = 44). We also compared the survival rates of patients with and those without high-risk HCC. PEI was performed into the part of the tumor closest to a blood vessel or vital structure before radiofrequency ablation. RESULTS The study included 142 patients with 208 HCCs managed with radiofrequency ablation. Despite larger tumor sizes (2.8 +/- 1 cm vs 1.9 +/- 0.7 cm vs 2.5 +/- 0.1 cm for the high-risk radiofrequency plus PEI, non-high-risk radiofrequency, and high-risk radiofrequency groups, respectively; p < 0.001), the primary effectiveness rate of high-risk radiofrequency ablation and PEI (92%) was similar to that of non-high-risk radiofrequency ablation (96%). The primary effectiveness rate of high-risk radiofrequency ablation and PEI was slightly higher (p = 0.1) than that of high-risk radiofrequency ablation (85%). The local tumor progression rates (21% vs 33% vs 24% at 18 months) of the three respective groups were not statistically different (p = 0.91). Patients with and those without high-risk tumors had equal survival rates (p = 0.42) after 12 (87% vs 100%) and 24 (77% vs 80%) months of follow-up. Independent predictors of primary effectiveness were a tumor size of 3 cm or less (p = 0.01) and distinct tumor borders (p = 0.009). Indistinct borders (p = 0.033) and non-treatment-naive status of HCC (p = 0.002) were associated with higher local tumor progression rates. The only predictor of survival was complete ablation of all index tumors (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION The combination of radiofrequency ablation and PEI in the management of HCC in high-risk locations has a slightly higher primary effectiveness rate than does radiofrequency ablation alone. A randomized controlled study is warranted.
Peer Teaching and Learning in a Nepali Rock Band

It has been stated that peer learning can be a continuous part of a learning process and in many contexts it has been used as a strategy in which participants from different ages and levels help each other to learn from each other. Hence, the aim is to develop collaborative learning and cooperation. In this presentation I will explore this phenomenon from the perspective of a Nepali rock band, of which I am a member. Teaching and learning in Nepal can be very stratified. For example, it is common to have a graded status levels in society which builds hierarchies in educational contexts. Moreover, the existing power relations between teachers and students create inequality. Such societal hierarchical boundaries in Nepal are deeply rooted in everyday activities. Consequently, a rock band provides a particularly interesting case for music education in Nepal, suggesting how these broader inequalities in teaching and learning can be addressed. This presentation investigates peer teaching and learning in one Nepali rock band, and its potentials for providing models for site of formal education. The main features of the study highlight the diversity in musical interactions among band members through formal and informal teaching/learning situations. The data collection included interviews based on the band members’ past and present experiences as musicians and their working methods in the group. The findings suggest that among the important features in peer learning are originality, teaching and learning within the band, individual responsibility and contribution and leadership.The study discloses various circumstances where both formal and informal learning was present. As a conclusion, new ways of musical learning can be developed through combining the features and qualities of both formal settings and informal practices. Among such features are collaborative learning exercises, such as peer review, peer teaching, group interactions and collaborative composing through shared musical ideas which lead to insights in how band members develop shared repertoires of musical communication and understanding . Furthermore, the findings show how individual expertise can benefit the team as a whole. Thus, peer teaching and learning in various ensemble settings where group learning and sharing ideas are more prominent opens new conceptual horizons for music education. In a broader sense, this promotes active learning, reinforces learning by instructing others, and allows greater understanding among each other. In this way, the rock band setting can provide future paths for the wider field of music education.
Student Teachers' Perceptions of Language Syllabus Design Process

The purpose of this qualitative-oriented research is to uncover Thai EFL student teachers' perceptions toward language syllabus design process. The method used in this research was a focus group discussion. Groups of senior student teachers from three different universities in urban and local areas of Thailand were purposively selected to compare their perceptions. The findings reveal that the perceptions of student teachers from the two urban and well-resourced universities were generally similar, though they are not well-matched to ideas of school-based curriculum and syllabus design. On the other hand, the perceptions of student teachers from the rural university were different−they struggled to describe the steps and people involved in the design process. This research suggests that, for student teachers to develop critical perspectives on syllabus design process, teacher preparation courses at college or university should provide sufficient hands-on opportunities to practice planning, implementing and evaluating language syllabuses for different classroom contexts. Student teachers should be equipped with a clear understanding of the syllabus design process, which helps them become autonomous implementers of school-based curricula. Keywords: Syllabus Design, Student Teachers, Teachers' Perceptions, School-Based Curriculum
A balance of outward and linear inward ionic currents is required for the generation of slow wave oscillations

Regenerative inward currents help produce slow oscillations through a negative-slope conductance region of their current-voltage relationship that is well approximated by a linear negative conductance. We used dynamic clamp injections of a linear current with this conductance, INL, to explore why some neurons can generate intrinsic slow oscillations whereas others cannot. We addressed this question, in synaptically isolated neurons of the crab Cancer borealis, after blocking action potentials. The pyloric network consists of distinct pacemaker group and follower neurons, all of which express the same complement of ionic currents. When the pyloric dilator (PD) neuron, a member of the pacemaker group, was injected with INL using dynamic clamp, it consistently produced slow oscillations. In contrast, the lateral pyloric (LP) or ventral pyloric (VD) follower neurons, failed to oscillate with INL. To understand these distinct behaviors, we compared outward current levels of PD, LP and VD neurons. We found that LP and VD neurons had significantly larger high-threshold potassium currents (IHTK) than PD, and LP had lower transient potassium current, IA. Reducing IHTK pharmacologically enabled both LP and VD neurons to produce oscillations with INL, whereas modifying IA levels did not affect INL-induced oscillations. Using phase-plane and bifurcation analysis of a simplified model cell, we demonstrate that large levels of IHTK can block INL-induced oscillatory activity, whereas generation of oscillations is almost independent of IA levels. These results demonstrate the importance of a balance between inward pacemaking currents and high-threshold K+current levels in determining slow oscillatory activity.
Contribution of gene expression to metabolic fluxes in hypermetabolic livers induced through burn injury and cecal ligation and puncture in rats

Severe injury activates many stress‐related and inflammatory pathways that can lead to a systemic hypermetabolic state. Prior studies using perfused hypermetabolic rat livers have identified intrinsic metabolic flux changes that were not dependent upon the continual presence of elevated stress hormones and substrate loads. We investigated the hypothesis that such changes may be due to persistent alterations in gene expression. A systemic hypermetabolic response was induced in rats by applying a moderate burn injury followed 2 days later by cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) to produce sepsis. Control animals received a sham‐burn followed by CLP, or a sham‐burn followed by sham‐CLP. Two days after CLP, livers were analyzed for gene expression changes using DNA microarrays and for metabolism alterations by ex vivo perfusion coupled with Metabolic Flux Analysis. Burn injury prior to CLP increased fluxes while decreases in gene expression levels were observed. Conversely, CLP alone significantly increased metabolic gene expression, but decreased many of the corresponding metabolic fluxes. Burn injury combined with CLP led to the most dramatic changes, where concurrent changes in fluxes and gene expression levels occurred in about 1/3 of the reactions. The data are consistent with the notion that in this model, burn injury prior to CLP increased fluxes through post‐translational mechanisms with little contribution of gene expression, while CLP treatment up‐regulated the metabolic machinery by transcriptional mechanisms. Overall, these data show that mRNA changes measured at a single time point by DNA microarray analysis do not reliably predict metabolic flux changes in perfused livers. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97:118–137. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Economic Recovery and Effectiveness of Active Labour Market Initiatives for the Unemployed in Spain: A Gender Perspective of the Valencian Region

Macroeconomic indicators regarding employment have been gradually improved by southern European countries during recent years. However, the labour market still seems to be highly polarized across regions and some groups are persistently excluded from jobs recovery. This paper analyses the effectiveness of active labour market initiatives in the Valencian region, one of the worst-affected areas regarding unemployment in Spain. By using a large official database from the Valencian government, results of the probit model show that participating on active labour market initiatives have a positive impact on the probability of exiting unemployment, even after controlling for age, level of education and gender of candidates. The research also reveals that people aged 55 and older and females constitute the most vulnerable groups. Regarding women, only those with higher education increase their probability of finding a job.
Affordances of Learning Analytics for Mediating Learning

Learning analytics acceptance and adoption is a socio-technological endeavour. Understanding how learning analytics impact practice is an important part of demonstrating their value. In the study presented in this thesis, "Mediated Learning" provides a framework through which to describe how learning analytics can impact psychological, social and material aspects of learning, from the perspective of educators and learners. It also offers a structure through which to make recommendations for improving the mediatory effects of learning analytics. A qualitative research design, based on "Grounded Theory" was implemented and 10 educators from 3 European universities were recruited through convenience and purposive sampling for exploratory interviews. A subsequent case study of the Open University provided critical perspectives from both educators (n=18) and learners (n=22) about the institutional, departmental, domain-related and epistemological factors that broadly influence perceptions of learning analytics. The study applied "Affordance Theory" to identify what participants were most easily able to recognise as beneficial to their own practice. Participant contributions were open-coded to uncover emerging themes and then organised into thematic categories and subcategories. Respondent validation, as well as triangulation of data between the exploratory interviews and focus groups support the validity of the study. Findings suggested that domain-related epistemological assumptions and previous experience influence how and why an individual could make use of learning analytics insights. Gaining stakeholder acceptance involves targeting the right training and opportunities at the appropriate disciplines. Findings also indicate that learning analytics has the strongest mediatory effect for learners when the technology is capable of exposing them to other learners' strategies, or when it assists them personally, and continually in goal orientation adoption. The implications of the study are important for higher education institutions looking to implement large-scale learning analytics initiatives, in particular, those with a diverse student body.
Milking regimes to shorten milking duration

Four milking regimes using automatic cluster removers (ACR) were tested over a 19-week period, from mid to late lactation. Each treatment group consisted of 16 slow-milking cows. The milking regimes used were: an ACR setting of 200 ml/min (Control); raised ACR setting from 200 to 500 in steps of 100 ml/min (Raised ACR); raised ACR as above in conjunction with pre-milking teat stimulation (Raised ACR+Stim); and terminating the milking when an ACR threshold of 200 ml/min was reached or when a predetermined maximum milking duration was reached (Timer). All incremental treatments were applied in blocks of 6 or 7 weeks duration. ACR thresholds were raised from 200 to 500 ml/min without observed loss of milk production when compared with controls. However, even up to an ACR setting of 500 ml/min there was little reduction in the group milking duration even when used with teat stimulation. In contrast, the Timer treatment resulted in a 34% reduction of the maximum milking duration for the group without significant loss of milk yield. For all groups, including Control, strip yield was occasionally very high and highly variable. Willingness of cows to enter the milking platform, behaviour during milking, teat condition and incidence of mastitis were similar for all treatment groups. The results indicated that simple truncation of milking at a predetermined maximum duration could be a most potent and inexpensive method of milking a herd more quickly. Such a method could be employed by using a simple timer in any dairy regardless of the level of sophistication of the milking system.
Compensation of BRG-1 Function by Brm

The BRG-1 subunit of the SWI·SNF complex is involved in chromatin remodeling and has been implicated in the action of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB). Given the importance of BRG-1 in RB function, germ line BRG-1 mutations in tumorigenesis may be tantamount to RB inactivation. Therefore, in this study we assessed the behavior of cells harboring discrete BRG-1 alleles for the RB-signaling pathway. Using p16ink4a, an upstream activator of endogenous RB, or a constitutively active RB construct (PSM-RB), we determined that the majority of tumor lines with germ line defects in BRG-1 were sensitive to RB-mediated cell cycle arrest. By contrast, A427 (lung carcinoma) cells were resistant to expression of p16ink4a and PSM-RB. Analysis of the SWI·SNF subunits in the different tumor lines revealed that A427 are deficient for BRG-1 and its homologue, Brm, whereas RB-sensitive cell lines retained Brm expression. Similarly, the RB-resistant SW13 and C33A cell lines were also deficient for both BRG-1/Brm. Reintroduction of either BRG-1 or Brm into A427 or C33A cells restored RB-mediated signaling to cyclin A to cause cell cycle arrest. Consistent with this compensatory role, we observed that Brm could also drive expression of CD44. We also determined that loss of these core SWI·SNF subunits renders SW13 cells resistant to activation of the RB pathway by the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin, since reintroduction of either BRG-1 or Brm into SW13 cells restored the cisplatin DNA-damage checkpoint. Together, these data demonstrate that Brm can compensate for BRG-1 loss as pertains to RB sensitivity.
Longitudinal risk of cardiovascular events in relation to depression symptoms after discharge among survivors of myocardial infarction. Osaka Acute Coronary Insufficiency Study.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between depression symptoms 1 year after onset and subsequent cardiovascular events among survivors of myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS The participants were recruited from respondents to a district-based survey known as the Osaka Acute Coronary Insufficiency Study. Of 4,271 eligible MI patients, 1,951 completed the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at their 1-year follow-up examination. After excluding patients who experienced cardiovascular events within 1 year, the data for the remaining 1,307 male patients and 280 female patients were analyzed. Among male patients, depression status at 1 year after onset of MI was significantly related to risk of subsequent cardiovascular events throughout the follow-up period (median 2.9 years). The male patients in the top vs. bottom tertiles of SDS scores (top tertile being ≥42) had a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-2.77, P=0.04), and a 1-SD increment in SDS score was significantly related to a heightened risk of cardiovascular events, with a multivariable-adjusted HR of 1.30 (95%CI 1.07-1.58, P=0.01). There were no significant associations between SDS scores and cardiovascular events among female patients. CONCLUSIONS Depression symptoms 1 year after onset of MI are a significant predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events for male patients.
Stimulation of iodide uptake by human chorionic gonadotropin in FRTL-5 cells: effects on sodium/iodide symporter gene and protein expression.

BACKGROUND Various clinical and experimental findings support the concept that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can stimulate iodide uptake in thyroid cells. DESIGN We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of hCG on iodide uptake, and particularly its action on the expression of Na+/I- symporter (NIS) mRNA and protein. METHODS Iodide uptake was analyzed in FTRL-5 cells by measuring (125)I concentrations in cells after a 30-min exposure to 0.1 microCi carrier-free Na (125)I in the presence or absence of hCG or, for control purposes, TSH. Expression of NIS mRNA and NIS protein synthesis were evaluated, respectively, with a semiquantitative 'multiplex' RT-PCR method and Western blot analysis. RESULTS Iodide uptake was increased by hCG in a dose- and time-dependent manner: maximal effects were observed after 72 h of stimulation. The effect was cAMP dependent and paralleled that of TSH, although it lacked the early cycloheximide-independent component seen with TSH, and its peak effect was lower. Semiquantitative multiplex RT-PCR revealed that hCG produced a significant increase in NIS mRNA levels that was detectable after 4 h and peaked after 48 h. In contrast, in TSH-stimulated FRTL-5 cells, maximum NIS mRNA expression was observed after 24 h of stimulation. Western blot analysis demonstrated that hCG also caused a 2.5-fold increase over basal values in NIS protein levels, which was similar to that observed after TSH stimulation although the peak effects of the latter hormone were less marked and occurred earlier. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrated that hCG stimulates iodide uptake in FRTL-5 cells by increasing NIS mRNA and protein levels. Thus, the functional status of the thyroid may be influenced by hCG-dependent changes in NIS expression occurring during pregnancy.