Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are high-quality cardiac surgeons less likely to operate on high-risk patients compared to low-quality surgeons? Evidence from New York State.

CONTEXT It is unknown whether high-risk cardiac surgical patients have less access to high-quality surgeons compared with lower-risk patients. OBJECTIVE To determine whether high-quality surgeons are less likely to perform coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery on high-risk patients compared with low-quality surgeons. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Retrospective cohort study using the New York State (NYS) CABG Surgery Reporting System (CSRS) of all patients undergoing CABG surgery in NYS who were discharged between 1997 and 1999 (51,750 patients; 2.20 percent mortality). Regression modeling was used to estimate the association between surgeon quality and patient risk of death. Surgeon quality was quantified using the observed-to-expected mortality ratio (O-to-E ratio). RESULTS Higher-risk patients are more likely to receive CABG surgery from higher-quality surgeons. For every 10 percentage point increase in patient risk of death (e.g., from 5 to 15 percent), there is an absolute reduction of 0.034 in the surgeon O-to-E ratio (p < .001). CONCLUSION This study suggests that high-risk CABG patients are significantly more likely to receive care from high-quality surgeons compared with lower risk patients.
Antitumor Effects of Oncolytic Adenovirus-Carrying siRNA Targeting Potential Oncogene EphA3

Conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAds) armed with antitumor transgenes hold promise for cancer treatment. In previous studies, we showed that the 1504-siRNA targeting potential oncogene EphA3 was an efficient therapeutic transgene and that the telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter (TERTp) driving the CRAd was a more advanced generation of CRAd. Therefore, we combined Ad-TERTp-E1A-1504 by inserting 1504-siRNA into the CRAd to study its antitumor effects and mechanism of action, using Ad-TERTp-E1A-NC and nonreplicating adenovirus carrying 1504-siRNA as controls. Cell viability assays and ED50 studies of growth inhibition confirmed that Ad-TERTp-E1A-1504 has 3.5- and 1,400-fold greater ability to kill EphA3- and TERT-expressing tumor cells compared to Ad-TERTp-E1A-NC and Ad-ΔE1A-1504, respectively. Also, Ad-TERTp-E1A-1504 had little effect on cells that modestly expressed EphA3 and TERT such as 2BS. The antitumor efficacy of Ad-TERTp-E1A-1504 was also validated in vivo. Furthermore, the virus yield of Ad-TERTp-E1A-1504 in C4-2B was ~1,000 times greater than that in 2BS. No obvious differences were observed between Ad-TERTp-E1A-1504 and Ad-TERTp-E1A-NC. Both acridine orange staining and Beclin1 protein measurements indicated that autophagy with Ad-TERTp-E1A-1504 at 5 and 10 MOI was higher than that of Ad-TERTp-E1A-NC. Finally, the classical negatively regulated autophagy signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, was suppressed (reduced phosphorylated form) in contrast to NC, and that this was mediated by 1504-siRNA. Thus, Ad- TERTp-E1A-1504 does not harm normal cells but has dual inhibiting and killing effects on TERT- and EphA3-positive tumor cells, and this effect is mediated by the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via induction of autophagy. These data may offer a foundation for novel antitumor therapies targeting this mechanism.
Essential and Mandatory Part-Whole Relations in Conceptual Data Models

A recurring problem in conceptual modelling and ontology development is the representation of part-whole relations, with a requirement to be able to distinguish between essential and mandatory parts. To solve this problem, we formally characterize the semantics of these shareability notions by resorting to the temporal conceptual model ERV T and its formalization in the description logic DLRUS .
Combined longitudinal and lateral control design for string stable vehicle platooning within a designated lane

We propose a combined longitudinal and lateral control approach for vehicle platooning within a designated lane. We combine linear frequency and time domain methods, to design longitudinal control that ensures string stability while enforcing safety, comfort and actuator limitations. In addition, we design lateral control that accounts for speed variations induced by the longitudinal control as well as safety, comfort and actuator limitations using convex optimization methods.
Information technology governance — COBIT model

This paper explains the concept of information technology audit, shows relationship between audit and IT Management. Information systems provide both the means for organizations to transact business and the ability to report the financial results of their operations. Information technology auditing is an integral part of corporate governance. However, information technology auditing is often looked upon as a “necessary evil” or is overlooked entirely by IT management. IT governance and information technology audit is imposed as an imperative for successful business. To improve the management of IT in accordance with regulatory requirements, organizations are using best practice frameworks to facilitate the work.
Hierarchial Identity-Based Encryption Scheme from Multilinear Maps

Identity-based encryption (IBE) is an important primitive of identity-based cryptography. As such it is a type of public-key encryption in which the public key of a user is some unique information about the identity of the user (e.g. a user's email address). Hierarchical identity-based encryption (HIBE) provides more functionality by forming levels of an organizational hierarchy. A user can delegate secret keys to descendant identities at lower levels, but cannot decrypt messages intended for a recipient that is not among its descendants. In this paper, we construct a new HIBE scheme in a generic leveled multilinear map setting and prove its security under multilinear decisional Diffie-Hellmanin assumption in the selective-ID model.
Non-invasive, minute-to-minute estimates of systemic arterial pressure and pulse pressure variation using radial artery tonometry

Abstract The Tensys T-line uses tonometry to reproduce the arterial blood pressure tracing non-invasively. The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between estimates of the T-line and an intra-arterial catheter (for both mean arterial pressure [MAP] and pulse pressure variation [PPV]) in the setting of spine surgery. Continuous blood pressure data were collected for 7507 minutes from 25 patients. Five increasingly aggressive T-line filters were applied. The mean bias for mean, diastolic and systolic blood pressure ranged from 3.4–6.4, 3.1–7.1 and 0.1–0.8 mmHg and 6.5–11.8% for PPV. Ninety-five per cent confidence intervals for mean, diastolic and systolic blood pressure ranged from 24–28, 23.1–24.7 and 33.4–35.6 mmHg for 14–21% for PPV. The limits of agreement preclude the use of the T-line for reliable estimation of MAP or PPV in spine surgery.
Deny and Attack or Concede and Correct? Image Repair and the Politically Scandalized

In the wake of recent political scandals, pundits have argued that the way a politician reacts to a scandal can make or break said politician's relationship with constituents and future in elected office. Some politicians concede guilt immediately, apologize, promise to take corrective action, and possibly open the door to moving on with their careers. Others deny culpability and attack their accusers, hoping to quickly put accusations behind them, change the subject, and channel public attention in a different direction. Does conceding guilt after a scandal breaks and offering to take corrective action to solve the problem help ameliorate the issue, or does it push the public away even further? Does denying involvement in a scandal and attacking the accuser compound the problem, or can it evoke positive feelings? This research uses an experimental design to test individuals’ reactions to how politicians act after being accused of a personal scandal (in this case, an inappropriate relationship with a staffer). Results illustrate that a strategy involving denial and attacking accusers can spur positive evaluations of who a politician is and what that politician will do in the future, while the performance of conceding and taking corrective action is mixed at best.
Long-Distance Transport of Prosystemin Messenger RNA in Tomato

Main conclusion: The transcripts of transgenic prosystemin (PS) gene are mobile and the PS mRNA can be translated into protein in tomato and tobacco plants. Systemin (SYS) and its precursor protein, prosystemin (PS), are upstream components of the wound-induced signaling pathway in tomato. Although the mobile signal(s) for wound responses has been the subject of considerable research, its identity remains controversial. Intensive studies have revealed the essential role of mRNA on plant systemic signaling. We hypothesize that PS mRNA can act as a transmissible signal in tomato. Herein, we demonstrated that transgenic PS mRNA occurs in leaves located at considerable distances from the initial site of its generation by a transient Agrobacterium-infiltration assay system. We also showed that PS protein is present in the vascular bundle of the distant leaves. Our results indicate that transgenic PS mRNA may be functional as a long-distance signal to modulate systemic defense responses in tomato, providing novel insights into the multifaceted systems by which SYS signaling transports.
Comparison of superoxide with other reducing agents in the biological production of hydroxyl radicals.

Iron--EDTA was shown to catalyse OH. production from H2O2 and ascorbate by a mechanism largely independent of superoxide. When ascorbate and superoxide were both present, the ascorbate mechanism was more important than superoxide as a source of OH. , and would appear to be more significantly biologically.
A comparative study of multiple tests based techniques for optimal sensor location for knock detection

A comparative study of techniques for finding optimal sensor positions in a group of vibration sensors for knock detection in spark ignition engines is presented. The methods assume the transmission of the acoustical oscillations in the combustion chamber to the engine housing to be time invariant and linear. Based on this model, suitable multiple tests have been performed to reject sequentially irrelevant sensors from the sensor group under consideration. It was found in various simulations that two of the proposed methods that do not assume any probability distribution of the data lead to the expected results. In a real experiment performed on a test bed using a four cylinder spark ignition engine, the two methods reveal the same optimal sensor location for monitoring knock in two cylinders at three different speeds.
Principal Typing in a forall-and-Discipline

In this paper we study the problem of finding a principal typing for a A-term in a polymorphic intersection type assignment system. Following the approach of Coppo el aL, Ronchi and Venneri, the principal type is proved to exist for any A-term with a finite set of approximants. In the same way the existence of the principal type is shown for BCKA-terms in a polymorphic type assignment system. Keywordr. A-calculus, approximation theorem, intersection types, polymorphic types, principal typing.
DYNAMIC CONSENSUS FOR MOBILE NETWORKS

This work examines several dynamical aspects of average consensus in mobile networks. The results herein allow consensus on general time-varying signals, and allow tracking analysis using standard frequency-domain techniques. Further, the frequency-domain analysis naturally inspires a robust small-gain version of the algorithm, which tolerates arbitrary non-uniform time delays. Finally, we show how to exploit a dynamical conservation property in order to ensure consensus tracking despite splitting and merging of the underlying mobile network. Copyright c ©2005 IFAC
B-cell Lymphomas With Concurrent IGH-BCL2 and MYC Rearrangements Are Aggressive Neoplasms With Clinical and Pathologic Features Distinct From Burkitt Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

B-cell lymphomas with concurrent IGH-BCL2 and MYC rearrangements, also known as “double-hit” lymphomas (DHL), are rare neoplasms characterized by highly aggressive clinical behavior, complex karyotypes, and a spectrum of pathologic features overlapping with Burkitt lymphoma (BL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and B-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (B-LBL). The clinical and pathologic spectrum of this rare entity, including comparison to other high-grade B-cell neoplasms, has not been well defined. We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical and pathologic features of 20 cases of DHL seen at our institution during a 5-year period. In addition, we carried out case-control comparisons of DHL with BL and International Prognostic Index (IPI)-matched DLBCL. The 11 men and 9 women had a median age of 63.5 years (range 32 to 91). Six patients had a history of grade 1 to 2 follicular lymphoma; review of the prior biopsy specimens in 2 of 5 cases revealed blastoid morphology. Eighteen patients had Ann Arbor stage 3 or 4 disease and all had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at presentation. Extranodal disease was present in 17/20 (85%), bone marrow involvement in 10/17 (59%) and central nervous system (CNS) disease in 5/11 (45%). Nineteen patients were treated with combination chemotherapy, of whom 18 received rituximab and 14 received CNS-directed therapy. Fourteen patients (70%) died within 8 months of diagnosis. Median overall survival in the DHL group (4.5 mo) was inferior to both BL (P=0.002) and IPI-matched DLBCL (P=0.04) control patients. Twelve DHL cases (60%) were classified as B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between DLBCL and BL, 7 cases (35%) as DLBCL, not otherwise specified, and 1 case as B-LBL. Distinguishing features from BL included expression of Bcl2 (P<0.0001), Mum1/IRF4 (P=0.006), Ki-67 <95% (P<0.0001), and absence of EBV-EBER (P=0.006). DHL commonly contained the t(8;22) rather than the t(8;14) seen in most BL controls (P=0.001), and exhibited a higher number of chromosomal aberrations (P=0.0009). DHL is a high-grade B-cell neoplasm with a poor prognosis, resistance to multiagent chemotherapy, and clinical and pathologic features distinct from other high-grade B-cell neoplasms. Familiarity with the morphologic and immunophenotypic spectrum of DHL is important in directing testing to detect concurrent IGH-BCL2 and MYC rearrangements when a karyotype is unavailable. The aggressive clinical behavior and combination of genetic abnormalities seen in these cases may warrant categorization as a separate entity in future classifications and call for novel therapeutic approaches.
Targeting histone deacetylases for the treatment of disease

• Introduction • HATs/HDACs and the pro‐inflammatory environment • HATs/HDACs and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress • The potential role of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of cancer ‐ Non‐small cell cancer (NSCLC) ‐ In vitro evidence for targeting HDACs in NSCLC ‐ Combinatorial therapies involving HDi in NSCLC ‐ Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ‐ In vitro evidence for the use of HDi in liver cancer ‐ Combinatorial treatments involving HDi in hepatoma • Potential role of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of diabetes ‐ Disease models, knockouts and assays ‐ Pancreatic islet protection using histone deacetylase inhibitors ‐ Additional in vitro evidence ‐ Stem cells, HDACs and histone deacetylase inhibitors • The potential role of histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions ‐ Neuronal traits are modulated by HDAC/REST complexes ‐ E2F, HDACs and neuronal survival mechanisms ‐ HDACs play important roles in stem cell neuronal differentiation • Histone deacetylase inhibitors ‐ SAHA (vorinostat) ‐ Phenylbutyrate ‐ Valproic acid ‐ AN‐9 ‐ CI‐994 ‐ Romidepsin ‐ MS‐275 ‐ LBH589 (panobinostat) ‐ MGC D0103 • Caveats ‐ Do HDAC inhibitors target genes or help chaperone activity as their primary response? • Final comments
Talker differences as they appear in correlation matrices of continuous speech spectra.

The properties and measurement of intertalker and intratalker variability among correlation matrices derived from spectra of continuous speech are described. Measures of difference between two matrices are applied to quantify talker variability. These measures of difference are consistently less for intratalker data than for intertalker comparisons. For a population of 30 talkers, the distributions of these differences show about 1% overlap to confound absolute identification of a given talker. The effects of spectral shaping and sample size are discussed, and applications to talker identification and normalization schemes suggested.
Transmembrane and Juxtamembrane Structure of αL Integrin in Bicelles

The accepted model for the interaction of α and β integrins in the transmembrane (TM) domain is based on the pair αIIbβ3. This involves the so-called outer and inner membrane association clasps (OMC and IMC, respectively). In the α chain, the OMC involves a GxxxG-like motif, whereas in the IMC a conserved juxtamembrane GFFKR motif experiences a backbone reversal that partially fills the void generated by TM separation towards the cytoplasmic half. However, the GFFKR motif of several α integrin cytoplasmic tails in non-bicelle environments has been shown to adopt an α-helical structure that is not membrane-embedded and which was shown to bind a variety of cytoplasmic proteins. Thus it is not known if a membrane-embedded backbone reversal is a conserved structural feature in α integrins. We have studied the system αLβ2 because of its importance in leukocytes, where integrin deactivation is particularly important. Herein we show that the backbone reversal feature is not only present in αIIb but also in αL-TM when reconstituted in bicelles. Additionally, titration with β2 TM showed eight residues clustering along one side of αL-TM, forming a plausible interacting face with β2. The latter orientation is consistent with a previously predicted reported polar interaction between αL Ser-1071 and β2 Thr-686.
Gastrin-releasing peptide blockade as a broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory therapy for asthma

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is synthesized by pulmonary neuroendocrine cells in inflammatory lung diseases, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Many BPD infants develop asthma, a serious disorder of intermittent airway obstruction. Despite extensive research, early mechanisms of asthma remain controversial. The incidence of asthma is growing, now affecting >300 million people worldwide. To test the hypothesis that GRP mediates asthma, we used two murine models: ozone exposure for air pollution-induced airway hyperreactivity (AHR), and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway disease. BALB/c mice were given small molecule GRP blocking agent 77427, or GRP blocking antibody 2A11, before exposure to ozone or OVA challenge. In both models, GRP blockade abrogated AHR and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) macrophages and granulocytes, and decreased BAL cytokines implicated in asthma, including those typically derived from Th1 (e.g., IL-2, TNFα), Th2 (e.g., IL-5, IL-13), Th17 (IL-17), macrophages (e.g., MCP-1, IL-1), and neutrophils (KC = IL-8). Dexamethasone generally had smaller effects on all parameters. Macrophages, T cells, and neutrophils express GRP receptor (GRPR). GRP blockade diminished serine phosphorylation of GRPR with ozone or OVA. Thus, GRP mediates AHR and airway inflammation in mice, suggesting that GRP blockade is promising as a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach to treat and/or prevent asthma in humans.
Identification of Small Ice Cloud Particles Using Passive Radiometric Observations

Abstract There is currently significant uncertainty about the extent to which cirrus clouds are composed of “small” ice crystals smaller than about 20-μm effective radius. This is due in part to concerns that in situ measurements from aircraft are plagued by ice particle shattering on instrument inlets, artificially negatively biasing effective radii. Here, space-based measurements are applied to the problem. It is found that a space-based infrared split-window technique is less sensitive but more accurate than a visible-near-infrared technique for confident assessment of whether thin cirrus clouds have small effective radii, independent of a normal range of retrieval assumptions. Because of the sensitivities of the infrared split-window technique, however, this method can only accurately determine the presence of small particles for ice clouds with optical depths between roughly 0.5 and 3.0. Applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, it is found that a very conservative minimu.
Dietary Fatty Acids and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Men: The Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study

Objective— The epidemiological evidence of the role of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) is inconsistent. We investigated the associations of dietary fatty acids with the risk of CHD and carotid atherosclerosis in men with high SFA intake and high rates of CHD. Approach and Results— In total, 1981 men from the population-based Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD), aged 42 to 60 years and free of CHD at baseline in 1984 to 1989, were investigated. Food consumption was assessed with 4-day food recording. Multivariate nutrient-density models were used to analyze isocaloric replacement of nutrients. CHD events were ascertained from national registries. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasonography of the common carotid artery intima-media thickness in 1015 men. During the average follow-up of 21.4 years, 183 fatal and 382 nonfatal CHD events occurred. SFA or trans fat intakes were not associated with CHD risk. In contrast, monounsaturated fat intake was associated with increased risk and polyunsaturated fat intake with decreased risk of fatal CHD, whether replacing SFA, trans fat, or carbohydrates. The associations with carotid atherosclerosis were broadly similar, whereas the associations with nonfatal CHD were weaker. Conclusions— Our results suggest that SFA intake is not an independent risk factor for CHD, even in a population with higher ranges of SFA intake. In contrast, polyunsaturated fat intake was associated with lower risk of fatal CHD, whether replacing SFA, trans fat, or carbohydrates. Further investigation on the effect of monounsaturated fat on the CHD risk is warranted.