Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapierfolge und Komplikationen bei der Behandlung von Lebermetastasen des Aderhautmelanoms mittels TACE

PURPOSE To prospectively evaluate stricture resolution and patency rates of benign biliary strictures treated with percutaneous large-bore catheter "stenting" in patients with and without previous orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and to compare treatment outcomes between these two groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-six consecutive patients (25 with OLT) underwent percutaneous catheter placement in extrahepatic and single-site biliary stricture for 6-8 months, with progressive catheter upsizing to 18-20 F. Primary patency rate was defined as the proportion of patients without recurrent bile duct stricture during the follow-up period after successful stricture resolution. Secondary patency rate was defined as the proportion of patients with a patent bile duct at the end of follow-up after stricture resolution, including patients with stricture recurrence and successful repeat percutaneous biliary catheter treatment. RESULTS Eleven patients terminated the protocol early, 6 as a result of treatment-related reasons in the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) group. Sixty-four percent of the OLT group and 86.4% of control patients successfully completed the protocol, with resolved biliary strictures (P = .1) after a median treatment time of 7 months for both groups (P = .96). During mean follow-up times of 20.3 months ± 11.8 (standard deviation) and 13.1 months ± 11.73 for OLT and non-OLT patients (P = .08), respectively, the primary/secondary patency rates were comparable between groups, at 81.25%/87.5% for OLT patients and 89.5%/100% for non-OLT patients (P = .64/P = .2). The mean time to recurrent stricture was 11.2 months ± 11.88. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous large-bore catheter treatment of benign, single-site biliary strictures showed a promising rate of stricture resolution, with comparable high primary and secondary patency rates in patients with and without previous OLT.
Variation in Nugent Score and Leukocyte Count in Fluid Collected From Different Vaginal Sites

OBJECTIVE: To assess the variability in Nugent score and leukocyte count measured in vaginal secretions collected from 3 vaginal sites. METHODS: Fifty pregnant women at less than 20 weeks of gestation were consecutively recruited at the time of their first prenatal visit. Three vaginal smears were collected from each woman, 1 from the posterior fornix, 1 from the mid-lateral wall, and 1 from the introitus. Smears were Gram stained and evaluated for bacterial vaginosis using Nugent's criteria. Each smear was classified as positive for bacterial vaginosis if the Nugent score was 7 or greater, intermediate if the score was between 4 and 6, and negative if the Nugent score was 3 or less. A mean leukocyte value was obtained for each slide by evaluating 5 fields under oil immersion. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare mean Nugent scores and leukocyte counts across sites. RESULTS: The sample consisted of mostly African-American, young, low-income women in their first trimester of pregnancy. Forty-seven percent were bacterial vaginosis–positive (Nugent score 7 or greater). Mean Nugent scores (± standard deviation) across the vaginal sample collection sites were similar: posterior fornix = 4.2 (4.4); mid-lateral wall = 4.2 (4.5); introitus = 4.2 (4.6). In contrast, the mean leukocyte count varied significantly across vaginal sample collection sites: 2.5 (4.2); mid-lateral wall = 2.8 (4.4); introitus = 6.5 (8.6) (F = 11.26 1, 47.5; P = .002). CONCLUSION: Leukocyte counts vary according to the site from which vaginal secretions were obtained, with the highest leukocyte count in samples obtained from the introitus. Bacterial vaginosis diagnosis by Nugent score does not vary by site of sample collection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3
Optimal structural and spectral features for tree species classification using combined airborne laser scanning and hyperspectral data

In this paper, the performance of feature selection in tree species classification based on multi source earth observation data was studied. We applied a sequential forward floating feature selection on imaging spectroscopy (IS) and airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, as well as their combination. Qualitative comparison of the fused results shows that the selected spectral features are more distributed across the spectrum, in contrast to an accumulation of features in the near infrared region when using IS alone. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier was used for quantitative comparison of the different datasets. Assessing the classification accuracies confirmed the superiority of the selected subset of spectral and structural features compared to using all available features (improvement of > 7% in kappa accuracy).
A strategy to efficiently include electromagnetic simulations in optimization-based RF circuit design methodologies

The use of electromagnetic simulations is crucial in radiofrequency and microwave circuits since accurate estimations of parasitics and performances are essential. In addition, design methodologies based on optimization algorithms have been used in order to design such circuits, while efficiently exploring its design trade-offs. However, due to the high computational cost, optimization-based methodologies seldom use electromagnetic simulation. In order to overcome this issue, this paper demonstrates an optimization-based design methodology for radiofrequency circuits which can incorporate electromagnetic simulations without efficiency loss.
Theoretical study of ionization and one‐electron oxidation potentials of N‐heterocyclic compounds

A number of density functionals was utilized to predict gas‐phase adiabatic ionization potentials (IPs) for nitrogen‐rich heterocyclic compounds. Various solvation models were applied to the calculation of difference in free energies of solvation of oxidized and reduced forms of heterocyclic compounds in acetonitrile (AN) for correct reproduction of their standard oxidation potentials. We developed generally applicable protocols that could successfully predict the gas‐phase adiabatic ionization potentials of nitrogen‐rich heterocyclic compounds and their standard oxidation potentials in AN. This approach is supported by a MPW1K/6‐31+G(d) level of theory which uses SMD(UA0) approximation for estimation of solvation energy of neutral molecules and PCM(UA0) model for ionized ones. The mean absolute derivation (MAD) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the current theoretical models for IP are equal to 0.22 V and 0.26, respectively, and for oxidation potentials MAD = 0.13 V and RMSE = 0.17. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
JS4Cloud: script‐based workflow programming for scalable data analysis on cloud platforms

Workflows are an effective paradigm to model complex data analysis processes, such as knowledge discovery in databases applications, which can be efficiently executed on distributed computing systems such as a Cloud platform. Data analysis workflows can be designed through visual programming, which is a convenient design approach for high‐level users. On the other hand, script‐based workflows are a useful alternative to visual workflows, because they allow expert users to program complex applications more effectively. In order to provide Cloud users with an effective script‐based data analysis workflow formalism, we designed the JS4Cloud language. The main benefits of JS4Cloud are as follows: (i) it extends the well‐known JavaScript language while using only its basic functions (arrays, functions, and loops); (ii) it implements both a data‐driven task parallelism that automatically spawns ready‐to‐run tasks to the Cloud resources and data parallelism through an array‐based formalism; and (iii) these two types of parallelism are exploited implicitly so that workflows can be programmed in a fully sequential way, which frees users from duties like work partitioning, synchronization, and communication. We describe how JS4Cloud has been integrated within the data mining cloud framework (DMCF), a system supporting the scalable execution of data analysis workflows on Cloud platforms. In particular, we describe how data analysis workflows modeled as JS4Cloud scripts are processed by DMCF by exploiting parallelism to enable their scalable execution on Clouds. Finally, we present some data analysis workflows developed with JS4Cloud and the performance results obtained by executing such workflows on DMCF. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional Outcomes After Treatment of Scaphoid Fractures in Children and Adolescents

Background: Little is known about longer-term functional outcomes of children treated for scaphoid fractures. We hypothesized that with appropriate treatment, functional outcomes would be consistent with population norms and would not vary between patients treated with cast-immobilization versus surgery. We further hypothesized that osteonecrosis and chronic nonunion would each be independent predictors of worse functional outcomes. Methods: Sixty-three of 312 patients (20%), age 8 to 18 years at the time of treatment, completed the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) inventory, DASH work and sports modules, and the Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS) at a median follow-up time of 6.3 years (range, 2.6 to 17.7 y) from injury. Thirty-nine patients presented initially with acute scaphoid fractures, and 24 patients presented with chronic nonunions. Six of the 39 acute fractures and 20 of 24 nonunions were treated surgically. Univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression were used to identify predictors of MMWS and DASH scores. Results: All patients went on to successful bony healing. The median DASH score for the cohort was 1 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0 to 4), with more than 95% of respondents reporting functional status equivalent to or better than the general population. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that chronic fracture presentation (P<0.001) and osteonecrosis (P=0.013) were each independent predictors of a worse outcome. Results of the DASH Work and Sports Modules as well as the MMWS corroborated the results found using the DASH. Surgical treatment was not found to influence functional status. The median MMWS for both surgical and nonsurgical patients was 100, representing excellent functional outcome. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with scaphoid fractures that achieve union have excellent outcomes at mid-term follow-up, with no difference in outcomes between casting and surgery. Although patients treated for nonunions and osteonecrosis have significantly decreased wrist function compared with acute fractures, the median level of function for these patients is in accordance with general population means. Level of Evidence: Level III—Therapeutic.
Rapid and non‐genomic reduction of intracellular [Ca2+] induced by aldosterone in human bronchial epithelium

1 Using a Ca2+ imaging system and fura‐2 AM (5 μm) we showed that exposure of polarised monolayers of human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o‐ cell line) to aldosterone produced a fast intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) decrease, in 70 % of cells. Exposure to aldosterone (1 nm) reduced the [Ca2+]i by 39 ± 9 nm (n= 282, P < 0.0001) within 10 min, from a basal [Ca2+]i of 131 ± 19 nm (n= 282). 2 The effect of aldosterone on [Ca2+]i was not affected by inhibitors of the classical genomic pathway, cycloheximide (1 μm) or spironolactone (10 μm). The aldosterone‐induced [Ca2+]i decrease was inhibited by thapsigargin (1 μm), pertussis toxin (24 h at 200 ng ml−1), the adenylate cyclase inhibitors 2′,3′‐dideoxyadenosine (200 μm) and MDL‐12,330A hydrochloride (500 μm), and the protein kinase A inhibitor RP‐adenosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphorothioate (200 μm). In addition, treatment of 16HBE14o‐ monolayers with aldosterone (1 nm) inhibited by ≈30 % the large and transient [Ca2+]i increase induced by apical exposure to uridine triphosphate (UTP, 0.1 mm), a known secretagogue in airway epithelia. 3 Our results demonstrate for the first time that in human bronchial epithelial cells, aldosterone decreases [Ca2+]i levels via a non‐genomic mechanism. The hormone‐induced changes to [Ca2+]i involve stimulation of thapsigargin‐sensitive Ca2+‐ATPase, via G‐protein‐, adenylate cyclase‐ and protein kinase A‐coupled signalling pathways.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Detection and Treatment of Depression and Anxiety Among Psychiatric and Primary Health Care Visits, 1995–2005

Context:Recent evidence questions whether formerly documented disparities in care for common mental disorders among African Americans and Hispanics still remain. Also, whether disparities exist mainly in psychiatric settings or primary health care settings is unknown. Objective:To comprehensively examine time trends in outpatient diagnosis and treatment of depression and anxiety among ethnic groups in primary care and psychiatric settings. Design and Setting:Analyses of office-based outpatient visits from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Study from 1995–2005 (n = 96,075). Participants:Visits to office-based primary care physicians and psychiatrists in the United States. Main Outcome Measures:Diagnosed with depression or anxiety, received counseling or a referral for counseling, received an antidepressant prescription, and any counseling or antidepressant care. Results:In these analyses of 10-year trends in treatment of common mental disorders, disparities in counseling/referrals for counseling, antidepressant medications, and any care vastly improved or were eliminated over time in psychiatric visits. Continued disparities in diagnoses, counseling/referrals for counseling, antidepressant medication, and any care are found in primary care visits. Conclusions:Disparities in care for depression and anxiety among African Americans and Hispanics remain in primary care. Quality improvement efforts are needed to address cultural and linguistic barriers to care.
In vivo expansion of two distinct dendritic cells in mouse livers and its impact on liver immune regulation

Liver transplant tolerance in pigs, rats, and mice has been disclosed for decades, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Accumulating data indicate that residing dendritic cells (DC) are important in determining direction of immune responses in the liver. However, our knowledge remains very limited due to the difficulties in obtaining sufficient liver DC. Most of the previous studies were dependent on DC propagated in vitro with growth factors and cytokines. In this study, we adopted an approach to transfect genes into the mouse liver by tail vein injection of plasmid DNA. Transfection with plasmid granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor markedly expanded liver CD11c+ DC mainly located in portal regions, while liver B220+ DC were dramatically generated after injection with plasmid interleukin (IL)‐3/CD40L largely present in the lobules. Although both were phenotypically mature and strong T‐cell stimulators, CD11c+DC induced potent T‐cell response while B220+DC induced T‐cell hyporesponsiveness. Administration of CD11c+DC accelerated cardiac allograft rejection, while B220+DC significantly prolonged graft survival. This hyporesponsiveness is not due to inhibition of DC/T‐cell interaction, but rather through an active process of stimulating T‐cell apoptosis. Compared to B220+ DC that expressed messenger RNA of (TLR) 1, 2, 6, 7, and 9, CD11c+DC expressed all TLR 1 to 9. TLR 9 ligation stimulated very high IL‐12 in CD11c+ DC, but high IL‐10 and no IL‐12 in B220+ DC. In conclusion, through these mechanisms, liver DC may be actively involved in immune regulation in the liver. Liver Transpl 12:1850–1861, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
Induction of complex intracytoplasmic membranes related to nitrogen fixation in Azoarcus sp. BH72

We report the discovery of novel subcellular structures related to bacterial nitrogen fixation in the strictly respiratory diazotrophic bacterium Azoarcus sp. BH72, which was isolated as an endophyte from Kallar grass. Nitrogenase is derepressed under microaerobic conditions at O2 concentrations in the micromolar range. With increasing O2 deprivation, bacteria can develop into a hyperinduced state, which is characterized by high specific rates of respiration and efficient nitrogen fixation at approximately 30 nM O2. Ultrastructural analysis of cells in the course of hyperinduction revealed that complex intracytoplasmic membrane systems are formed, which consist of stacks of membranes and which are absent under standard nitrogen‐fixing conditions. The iron protein of nitrogenase was highly enriched on these membranes, as evidenced by immunohistochemical studies. Membrane deficiency in NifH/K− mutants, a deletion mutant in the nifK gene and the character of NH4+‐grown cells suggested, in concert with the membrane localization of nitrogenase, that these structures are specialized membranes related to nitrogen fixation. We propose the term ‘diazosomes’ for them. Development of intracytoplasmic membranes coincides with the appearance of a high‐molecular‐mass form of the iron protein of nitrogenase, which was detectable in membrane fractions. Mutational analysis, and determination of the N‐terminal amino acid sequence indicate that the nifH gene product is covalently modified by a mechanism probably different from adenosine diphosphoribosylation. Development of diazosomes in nitrogen‐fixing cells can be induced in pure cultures and in co‐culture with a fungus isolated from the rhizosphere of Kallar grass.
Novel method of UWB antenna optimization for specified input signal forms by means of genetic algorithm

A novel optimization procedure for the design of antennas for ultrawideband (UWB) wireless communication systems is presented. The optimization is based on the time-domain characteristics of the antenna. The optimization procedure was applied to a simplified version of the volcano smoke antenna proposed by Kraus. However, any other type of UWB antenna can be treated with the same technique. Our optimization procedure aims at finding an antenna not only with low VSWR but also a low-dispersion one which will ensure high correlation between the time-domain transmitting antenna input signal and the receiving antenna output signal. In pulse communications systems, usually an input signal form suited to a particular purpose is used. Hence, we strive to design the best antenna for a given input signal form. The optimization technique adopted here makes use of genetic algorithm (GA) search concepts. The electromagnetic analysis of the antenna is done by means of a finite-difference time-domain method using the commercially available CST Microwave Studio software
East Asia's haunted present : historical memories and the resurgence of nationalism

Acknowledgements Contributors Introduction Tsuyoshi Hasegawa & Kazuhiko Togo Chapter 1 Dealing with Difficult Pasts: Japans History Problem from a Theoretical and Comparative Perspective Tomas Berger Chapter 2 East Asian Historical Issues in a Contemporary Light Golbert Rozman Chapter 3 Japans Historical Memory: Overcoming Polarization toward Synthesis Kazuhiko Togo Chapter 4 The History Textbook Issue in Japan and East Asia: Institutional Framework, Controversies and International Efforts for Common Histories Hiroshi Mitani Chapter 5 Myths, Milieu, and Facts: History Textbook Controversies in North East Asia Mikyoung Kim Chapter 6 Yasukuni and Japans International Relations Akihiko Tanaka Chapter 7 Comfort Women: Deep Polariza5tion in Japan on Facts and on Morality Kazuhiko Togo Chapter 8 Japans Neo-Nationalism and Chinas Response Jin Linbo Chapter 9 Japans Role in Chinas Nationalism Zhu Jianrong Chapter 10 Historical Memory and the Resurgence of Nationalism In Korea Park Cheol Hee Chapter 11 The United States and Reconciliation in East Asia David Straub Chapter 12 Russia and Historical Memories in East Asia Tsuyoshi Hasegawa Conclusion Kazuhiko Togo & Tsuyoshi Hasegawa
IFN Regulatory Factor 4 Participates in the Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I-Mediated Activation of the IL-15 Receptor α Promoter1

IL-15Rα mRNA and protein levels are increased in human T cell lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I)-associated adult T cell leukemia. Previously, we demonstrated that IL-15Rα expression was activated by HTLV-I Tax, in part, through the action of NF-κB. However, there appeared to be additional motifs within the IL-15Rα promoter that were responsive to HTLV-I Tax. In this study, we demonstrated that IL-15Rα mRNA expression was activated in human monocytes by IFN treatment, suggesting a role for IFN regulatory factors (IRFs) in IL-15Rα transcription. In addition, an IRF element within the Tax-responsive element of the IL-15Rα promoter was necessary for maximal Tax-induced activation of this promoter. Furthermore, we demonstrated that IRF-4, a transcription factor known to be elevated in HTLV-I-infected cells, activated the IL-15Rα promoter. Inhibition of IRF-4 action lead to reduced Tax-induced activation of the IL-15Rα promoter, while inhibition of both IRF-4 and NF-κB severely inhibited the Tax-induced activation of this promoter. These findings suggest a role for both NF-κB and IRF-4 in the transcriptional regulation of IL-15Rα by HTLV-I Tax. It is possible that the HTLV-I Tax-mediated induction of IL-15Rα and IL-15 may lead to an autocrine cytokine-mediated stimulatory loop leading to the proliferation of HTLV-I infected cells. This loop of proliferation may facilitate viral propagation and play a role in HTLV-I-mediated disease progression.
Ets-1 Regulates TNF-α-Induced Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Tenascin Expression in Primary Bronchial Fibroblasts1

Increased subepithelial deposition of extracellular matrix proteins is a key feature in bronchial asthma. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a proteolytic enzyme that degrades the extracellular matrix. Tenascin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is abundant in thickened asthmatic subbasement membrane. The expression of MMP-9 and tenascin reflects disease activity in asthma and airway remodeling. The molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of these proteins remain unknown. Both MMP-9 and tenascin promoters contain an Ets binding site, suggesting control by Ets-1. Thus, we hypothesized that Ets-1 expression is increased in asthma and that it contributed to enhanced MMP-9 and tenascin expression. To test this hypothesis, we determined the expression of Ets-1 in bronchial biopsies obtained from asthmatic subjects and determined the expression of Ets-1, MMP-9, and tenascin by bronchial fibroblasts activated ex vivo. We observed that nuclear extracts from TNF-α-activated fibroblasts showed increased Ets-binding activity. In addition, TNF-α-activated fibroblasts had increased expression of Ets-1 mRNA and protein, which preceded an increase in MMP-9 and tenascin mRNA. Furthermore, treatment of fibroblasts with Ets-1 antisense oligonucleotides down-regulated TNF-α-induced Ets-1, MMP-9, and, to a lesser extent, tenascin protein expression or activity. Taken together, these data demonstrate that TNF-α increases MMP-9 and tenascin expression in bronchial fibroblasts via the transcription factor Ets-1, and suggest a role for Ets-1 in airway remodeling in asthma.