Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of Three Postoperative Risk Prediction Models for Intensive Care Unit Mortality after Cardiac Surgery

Abstract Background Several cardiac surgery risk prediction models based on postoperative data have been developed. However, unlike preoperative cardiac surgery risk prediction models, postoperative models are rarely externally validated or utilized by clinicians. The objective of this study was to externally validate three postoperative risk prediction models for intensive care unit (ICU) mortality after cardiac surgery. Methods The logistic Cardiac Surgery Scores (logCASUS), Rapid Clinical Evaluation (RACE), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were calculated over the first 7 postoperative days for consecutive adult cardiac surgery patients between January 2013 and May 2015. Model discrimination was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) test, calibration plots, and observed to expected ratios. Recalibration of the models was performed. Results A total of 2255 patients were included with an ICU mortality rate of 1.8%. Discrimination for all three models on each postoperative day was good with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of >0.8. Generally, RACE and logCASUS had better discrimination than SOFA. Calibration of the RACE score was better than logCASUS, but ratios of observed to expected mortality for both were generally <0.65. Locally recalibrated SOFA, logCASUS and RACE models all performed well. Conclusion All three models demonstrated good discrimination for the first 7 days after cardiac surgery. After recalibration, logCASUS and RACE scores appear to be most useful for daily risk prediction after cardiac surgery. If appropriately calibrated, postoperative cardiac surgery risk prediction models have the potential to be useful tools after cardiac surgery.
[Endoscopic harvesting of the latissimus dorsi flap in breast reconstructive surgery. Feasibility study and review of the literature].

STUDY AIM Breast reconstructive surgery with latissimus dorsi flap is routinely performed with a long dorsal scar ransom. To reduce the scar the authors propose an endoscopic technique to harvest the pure latissimus dorsal flap. We evaluate our first experience. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between April 2001 and december 2001, 13 patients were operate using an endoscopic pure muscular latissimus dorsal flap for breast reconstruction surgery. RESULTS Mean operative time is 116 min. No open conversion was necessary. One patient was transfused. The average lymphatic drainage was of 2520 ml with removal of the drainage on postoperative day 15. CONCLUSION The endoscopic harvesting of the latissimus dorsi pure muscular flap, brings less scar than the open surgery.
HLA Class II Profile and Distribution of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 Alleles and Haplotypes among Lebanese and Bahraini Arabs

ABSTRACT The gene frequencies of HLA class II alleles were studied in 95 healthy Lebanese Arab and 72 healthy Bahraini Arab subjects. Our aim was to establish the genetic relationship between Bahraini and Lebanese Arabs in terms of HLA class II gene and haplotype frequencies and to compare these results with frequencies for other countries with populations of Caucasian and non-Caucasian descent. Subjects were unrelated and of both sexes, and HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 genotyping was done by the PCR sequence-specific primer technique. Comparative analysis of the HLA-DR and -DQ alleles revealed differences in the allelic distribution among Bahraini and Lebanese subjects. Analysis of the 25 HLA-DRB1 alleles that have been investigated showed that the DRB1*040101 and DRB1*110101 alleles were more frequent among Lebanese, whereas DRB1*030101 and DRB1*160101 alleles were more frequent among Bahrainis. Similarly, of the seven HLA-DQB1 alleles analyzed, the presence of DQB1*0201 was more frequent among Bahrainis, whereas DQB1*030101 was more frequent among Lebanese. The DRB1*160101-DQB1*050101 (0.1318 versus 0.0379%) and DRB1*030101-DQB1*0201 (0.1202 versus 0.0321%) haplotypes were more frequent among Bahrainis, while the DRB1*110101-DQB1*030101 (0.3142 versus 0.1198%) and DRB1*040101-DQB1*0302 (0.1416 versus 0.0278%) haplotypes were more frequent in Lebanese subjects. Furthermore, a high prevalence of the DRB1*040101-DRB1*110101-DQB1*0302-DQB1*030101 (12.63 versus 1.35%, P = 0.015) and the homozygous DRB1*110101-DRB1*110101-DQB1*030101-DQB1*030101 (7.37 versus 0.00%, P = 0.046) genotypes was seen among Lebanese, and DRB1*070101-DRB1*160101-DQB1*0201-DQB1*050101 (6.76 versus 0.00%, P = 0.034) was seen more frequently among Bahraini subjects. Our results underline significant differences between these two populations in HLA class II distribution, provide basic information for further studies of major histocompatibility complex heterogeneity among Arabic-speaking countries, and serve as a reference for further anthropological studies.
Endogeneity and Non-Response Bias in Treatment Evaluation: Nonparametric Identification of Causal Effects by Instruments

This paper proposes a nonparametric method for evaluating treatment effects in the presence of both treatment endogeneity and attrition/non-response bias, using two instrumental variables. Making use of a discrete instrument for the treatment and a continuous instrument for non-response/attrition, we identify the average treatment effect on compliers as well as the total population and suggest non- and semiparametric estimators. We apply the latter to a randomized experiment at a Swiss University in order to estimate the effect of gym training on students' self-assessed health. The treatment (gym training) and attrition are instrumented by randomized cash incentives paid out conditional on gym visits and by a cash lottery for participating in the follow-up survey, respectively.
Phylogenetic relationships of southern African geckos in the Pachydactylus group (Squamata: Gekkonidae)

Abstract Pachydactylus and its close relatives (Chondrodactylus, Colopus, Palmatogecko) constitute the most species‐rich component of the southern African gekkonid fauna. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial (cytb, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA) and nuclear (RAG‐1) gene sequences for these geckos. Pachydactylus tetensis + P. tuberculosus form the sister group to the remaining taxa, and we resurrect the genus Elasmodactylus to accommodate these two basal species. The P. bibronii group is sister to Chondrodactylus angulifer, and is here transferred to the latter genus. Pachydactylus kochii is the sister species of Colopus wahlbergii and is transferred to that genus. All remaining taxa ‐ including the P. namaquensis group, the ‘small‐bodied’ Pachydactylus, and Palmatogecko ‐ form a well‐supported monophyletic assemblage recognised herein as Pachydactylus sensu stricto. The major clades within Pachydactylus s.s. include the capensis, serval/weberi, rangei, rugosus, and geitje groups, as well as a diverse “northwestern group” that occurs chiefly in northern Namibia and southern Angola. The fine‐scale regional endemism apparent among members of the southern African Pachydactylus Group probably reflects an interplay between substrate specialisation and vicariant events (both geologically and climatically associated) since at least the Miocene. Explicit phylogenies for Pachydactylus, cordylid lizards, scorpions, and other taxa provide a basis for the first fine‐scaled analytical biogeographic analysis of southern Africa.
PGRMC 1 Antagonist , Ablates Progesterone ’ s Ability to Block Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis of Human Granulosa / Luteal Cells

The present studies were designed to determine whether progesterone (P4)Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 (PGRMC1) signaling is able to attenuate the apoptotic effects of oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). To achieve this goal, freshly isolated human granulosa/luteal cells were maintained in culture. After several passages, the cells were treated with H2O2, which induced apoptosis within 2.5 h, while simultaneous treatment with P4 attenuated the apoptotic action of H2O2. AG 205, a PGRMC1 antagonist, eliminated P4’s ability to prevent H2O2-induced apoptosis. AG 205 neither affected PGRMC1’s cytoplasmic localization nor its interaction with PGRMC2, but appeared to reduce its presence within the nucleus. AG 205 also 1) increased the monomeric and decreased the higher molecular weight forms of PGRMC1 (i.e. dimers/oligomers) and 2) altered the expression of several genes involved in apoptosis. The most dramatic change was an approximate 8-fold increase in Harakiri (Hrk) mRNA. However, AG 205 did not induce apoptosis in the absence of H2O2. Taken together these observations suggest that the higher molecular weight forms of PGRMC1 likely account in part for PGRMC1’s ability to suppress the expression of Hrk. HRK is a BH-3 only member of the BCL2 family that promotes apoptosis by binding to and antagonizing the anti-apoptotic action of BCL2 and BCL2-like proteins. It is likely then that PGRMC1’s ability to suppress Hrk is part of the mechanism through which P4-PGRMC1 signaling preserves the viability of human granulosa/luteal cells.
Design method and material technologies for passives in printed circuit Board Embedded circuits

The integration of passive components into the printed circuit board (PCB) as embedded passives integrated circuits (emPIC) results in a higher power density of power converters. To achieve a highly automated, low cost, integral manufacturing, the devices are constructed layer wise. Materials and processes necessary for the manufacturing of such circuits are described in this publication. Especially for magnetic components like inductors and transformers the design of such thin components is challenge. Because of the high aspect ratio, traditionally used models lead to a high calculation effort or use nonappropriate approximations. This contribution presents an analytic approach for the design. The model considers the magnetic flux distribution in the core and in the winding area and therefore allows a precise calculation of the inductivity as well as the losses in the device and their distribution. It is very well suited for a parametric analysis and thus for the synthesis of thin planar magnetic components. Material technologies for the construction of the capacitive layers and the magnetic cores are investigated. A ferrite polymer compound is adapted to be compatible with the PCB laminating process. Accordingly a 60-W offline converter was designed and fabricated using the new technology. Its transformer is entirely integrated in the PCB as well as 11 capacitors. Standard PCB lamination processes are used for the layerwise integration of the components. The circuit needs an area of the size of a credit card with a PCB thickness of 4 mm. Up to 82% efficiency could be demonstrated.
Mitigating Hotspot Locating Attack in Wireless Sensor Network

In wireless sensor network monitored objects can be located by using traffic analysis techniques. Whenever sensors are used to monitor sensitive objects, the privacy of monitored objects’ locations becomes an important concern. In case of hotspot locating attack, it becomes easier for the adversaries to locate the area from which large numbers of packets are originating called as hotspot, causing the inconsistencies in the network. In this paper we develop a realistic adversary model which can monitor multiple parts of the network and can analyse the traffic in those areas. Next we propose a cloud based privacy preserving scheme by creating fake traffic of irregular shape which provides an efficient mechanism to protect the source node’s location in addition to that we also generate the fake event at a particular time interval so that adversary cannot correlate the expected hotspot regions like pond or river with the inconsistencies in the network. Next we are introducing the concept of context aware location privacy where the sensor nodes are having the ability to perceive the presence of adversary in their vicinity in order to transmit data packets in more energy-efficient manner. Simulation and analytical results demonstrate that our scheme can provide stronger privacy protection
Dimerization of visual pigments in vivo

Significance Despite in vitro evidence, it remains unclear whether the rod visual pigment rhodopsin exists as dimers in vivo. With a unique mouse line that expresses the blue cone opsin transgenically in rods, we showed that, in the absence of chromophore, the transgenic cone opsin can mature and target to the outer segment if and only if rhodopsin is present to help it along (i.e., forming heterodimers in the endoplasmic reticulum). Furthermore, we have confirmed a key interaction domain for rhodopsin dimerization and show that, again in vivo, rhodopsin maturation and targeting to the outer segment becomes defective when dimerization is disrupted. This work provides in vivo evidence for rhodopsin existing as a dimer. It is a deeply engrained notion that the visual pigment rhodopsin signals light as a monomer, even though many G protein-coupled receptors are now known to exist and function as dimers. Nonetheless, recent studies (albeit all in vitro) have suggested that rhodopsin and its chromophore-free apoprotein, R-opsin, may indeed exist as a homodimer in rod disk membranes. Given the overwhelmingly strong historical context, the crucial remaining question, therefore, is whether pigment dimerization truly exists naturally and what function this dimerization may serve. We addressed this question in vivo with a unique mouse line (S-opsin+Lrat−/−) expressing, transgenically, short-wavelength–sensitive cone opsin (S-opsin) in rods and also lacking chromophore to exploit the fact that cone opsins, but not R-opsin, require chromophore for proper folding and trafficking to the photoreceptor’s outer segment. In R-opsin’s absence, S-opsin in these transgenic rods without chromophore was mislocalized; in R-opsin’s presence, however, S-opsin trafficked normally to the rod outer segment and produced functional S-pigment upon subsequent chromophore restoration. Introducing a competing R-opsin transmembrane helix H1 or helix H8 peptide, but not helix H4 or helix H5 peptide, into these transgenic rods caused mislocalization of R-opsin and S-opsin to the perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum. Importantly, a similar peptide-competition effect was observed even in WT rods. Our work provides convincing evidence for visual pigment dimerization in vivo under physiological conditions and for its role in pigment maturation and targeting. Our work raises new questions regarding a potential mechanistic role of dimerization in rhodopsin signaling.
Automated Improvement of Software Architecture Models for Performance and Other Quality Attributes

Quality attributes, such as performance or reliability, are crucial for the success of a software system and largely influenced by the software architecture. Their quantitative prediction supports systematic, goal-oriented software design and forms a base of an engineering approach to software design. This thesis proposes a method and tool to automatically improve component-based software architecture (CBA) models based on such quantitative quality prediction techniques.
A Multi-Reflection Type Visible-Laser Interferometer for High Density Plasma Measurements

In order to measure a high density plasma more than 1020 m-3 in the vicinity of a magneto-plasma-dynamic arcjet (MPDA), a visible-laser interferometer is fabricated using a He-Ne laser (λ = 632.8 nm). As it doesn't have enough phase shift when the light passes through the MPDA plasma once, we adopt a multi-reflection optical system in this interferometer to improve the phase sensitivity. We measured a plasma density by the interferometer and estimated the maximum value of line-integrated density of 4 × 1019 m-2 . These experimental results are consistent with that of electrostatic probe measurement in the downstream region.
Highly reconfigurable pulsewidth control circuit with programmable duty cycle

In High speed operations the duty cycle of the clock signal is to be calibrated at 50%. But the variations in process, voltage and temperature (PVT) influences the duty cycle and make it difficult to calibrate the duty cycle at 50%. To overcome this deviation Pulse width control loops (PWCLs) are used. This work presents a highly reconfigurable and fast locking all digital pulse width control circuit with programmable duty cycle. For the pulse width control circuit, two delay lines and a time to digital detector is used which reduces the amount of hardware required in the circuit. The output duty cycle is calculated with the help of a new duty cycle setting circuit without the need for a look-up table. The pulse width-control circuit is capable of operating over a wide frequency range with fewer delay cells. Experimental results show that the proposed approach is consuming less area and power when compared with the previous methods and the circuit is reliable.
Assessing the impact of life changes: development of the Life Experiences Survey.

This article describes the development of a new instrument, the Life Experiences Survey, for the measurement of life changes. It was designed to eliminate certain shortcomings of previous life stress measures and allows for separate assessment of positive and negative life experiences as well as individualize d ratings of the impact of events. Several studies bearing on the usefulness of the Life Experiences Survey are presented, and the implications of the findings are discussed. During recent years, numerous studies have investigated the relationship between life stress and susceptibility to physical and psychological problems. Most of these studies have been based on the assumptions that (a) life changes require adaptation on the part of the individual and are stressful, and (b) persons experiencing marked degrees of life change during the recent past are susceptible to physical and psychiatric problems. There is considerable evidence that a relationship exists between life stress, operationally defined in terms of self-reported life changes, and physical illness (Dohrenwcnd & Dohrenwend, 1974b). Rahe and Lind (1971) have reported a relationship between life stress and sudden cardiac death. Theorcll and Rahe (1971) and Edwards (1971) have provided data suggestive of a link between life stress and myocardial infarction. Holmes (1970) and Rahe (1968) both found a relationship between life stress and major and minor health
Conjunctival photocoagulation in Sturge-Weber syndrome.

We report the use of direct vascular photocoagulation of disfiguring conjunctival hemangiomas, resulting in improved cosmesis in two patients with the Sturge-Weber syndrome. Report of Cases. —Case 1. —A 28-year-old white woman presented with prominent hypervascularity of the left conjunctiva. The eye was blind from retinal detachment and rubeotic glaucoma. The intraocular pressure was maintained below 40 mm Hg with topical treatment. A network of dilated and tortuous vessels coursed through conjunctiva and episclera. Numerous microscopic aneurysms were concentrated in the perilimbal area (Fig 1). Band keratopathy was present, but the cornea was otherwise clear. After topical and subconjunctival anesthetic was administered, argon laser spots of 500 μm at 0.2-second durations were delivered to the center of vessel segments and aneurysms. Power from 100 to 700 mW achieved sustained vessel closure. Treatment was continued until either all major vessels were closed or puckering of the conjunctiva occurred. Approximately 650
Determination of mechanical properties by nanoindentation independently of indentation depth measurement

A new technique based on the detection of the amplitude of the second harmonic was described in a previous paper. To compute the elastic modulus and the hardness of materials, the technique uses only the derivative of the contact radius with respect to the indentation depth. For this reason, this method is applicable only to homogeneous materials. In this paper, the method is extended to any materials with constant Young modulus. The indentation depth value is not needed at all, thus eliminating uncertainties related to the displacement measurement, which are very influent at small penetration depths. Furthermore, we also explain how to compute the indentation depth from the detection of the amplitude of the second harmonic. This new measurement technique was tested on three samples: fused silica, Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and calcite, which is expected to exhibit indentation size effect. The obtained results show that mechanical properties and the indentation depth can be determined with good accuracy for penetration depths between 25 and 100 nm using this method.
Novel role of miR-29a in pancreatic cancer autophagy and its therapeutic potential

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy that responds poorly to current therapeutic modalities. In an effort to develop novel therapeutic strategies, we found downregulation of miR-29 in pancreatic cancer cells, and overexpression of miR-29a sensitized chemotherapeutic resistant pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine, reduced cancer cell viability, and increased cytotoxicity. Furthermore, miR-29a blocked autophagy flux, as evidenced by an accumulation of autophagosomes and autophagy markers, LC3B and p62, and a decrease in autophagosome-lysosome fusion. In addition, miR-29a decreased the expression of autophagy proteins, TFEB and ATG9A, which are critical for lysosomal function and autophagosome trafficking respectively. Knockdown of TFEB or ATG9A inhibited autophagy similar to miR-29a overexpression. Finally, miR-29a reduced cancer cell migration, invasion, and anchorage independent growth. Collectively, our findings indicate that miR-29a functions as a potent autophagy inhibitor, sensitizes cancer cells to gemcitabine, and decreases their invasive potential. Our data provides evidence for the use of miR-29a as a novel therapeutic agent to target PDAC.
Analysis of antiepileptic drugs in biological fluids by means of electrokinetic chromatography

An overview of the electrokinetic chromatographic methods for the analysis of antiepileptic drug levels in biological samples is presented. In particular, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography is a very suitable method for the determination of these drugs, because it allows a rapid, selective, and accurate analysis. In addition to the electrokinetic chromatographic studies on the determination of antiepileptic drugs, some information regarding sample pretreatment will also be reported: this is a critical step when the analysis of biological fluids is concerned. The electrokinetic chromatographic methods for the determination of recent antiepileptic drugs (e.g., lamotrigine, levetiracetam) and classical anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, ethosuximide, valproic acid) will be discussed in depth, and their pharmacological profiles will be briefly described as well.