Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypertension and clinical benefit of bevacizumab in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Few predictive factors for efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor pathway-targeted therapies have been identified. We studied whether bevacizumab treatment-related hypertension is associated with outcome. Forty-three consecutive patients with metastatic progressive renal cell cancer (RCC), of whom 41 had cytokine-refractory disease, were treated with bevacizumab [administered either 5 mg/kg every 2 weeks (n = 37) or 7.5 mg/kg every 3 weeks (n = 6)] from June 2004 to March 2007 in our hospital. We used this dose since it was widely used in the treatment of colorectal cancer at the time when RCC patients were accrued [1]. Blood pressure was measured before each bevacizumab infusion and antihypertensive medication was initiated or intensified whenever blood pressure was >150/100 mmHg. The median age of the patients was 58 (range 43–77). Most (n = 40, 93%) patients had RCC with clear cell histology. The median duration of bevacizumab therapy was 4.8 months (range 0.1–16.3), time to progression 5.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–17.5], and overall survival 16.7 months (95% CI 1.4–28.0). Twelve patients (28%) needed initiation (n = 3) or intensification (n = 9) of antihypertensive medication during bevacizumab treatment (group A). The rest of the patients (who had blood pressure 150/100 mmHg or less throughout the therapy) formed group B. There were no differences in the frequency of the most important prognostic factors of RCC between groups A and B (P > 0.05 for all comparisons) or in the frequency of grade III adverse events (hemorrhage, proteinuria). The median number of doses given in group A was 17 (range 6–32) and eight in group B (range 1–35). The median time to initiation of antihypertensive treatment or medication intensification was 2.8 months (range 1.3–13.3), and the mean blood pressure at the time of initiation or intensification of hypertension medication was 177.2/105.5 mmHg (Table 1). Response to treatment was assessed according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors criteria. One (8%) patient had partial response (PR), 10 (83%) stable disease (SD), and one (8%) progressive disease (PD) as best response in group A, whereas in group B one (3%) patient had PR, 14 (45%) SD, and 16 (52%) PD as best response. Thus, significantly more patients in group B (n = 16) than in group A (n = 1) had PD as best response (P = 0.0050). The median time to disease progression was 8.1 months (95% CI 5.3–11.3) in group A versus 4.2 months in group B (95% CI 2.6–5.6; P = 0.036; Figure 1). However, overall survival was not different between the groups (median 19.4 versus 12.4, respectively; P = 0.22). Treatment-related ‡grade II proteinuria (>1000 mg/24 h; n = 7, 16%) did not correlate with time to progression or overall survival (P = 0.73 and 0.51, respectively) or with occurrence of hypertension (P = 0.96). Two of the three patients who required initiation of antihypertensive medication also developed grade II proteinuria.
Transanal endoscopic operation: a new proposal.

PURPOSE The transanal procedure for rectal cancer surgery is one of the many techniques currently available. Different techniques for local excision of rectal tumors include: conventional transanal technique, posterior access surgery, therapeutic colonoscopy, transanal endoscopic surgery. METHODS The aim of the present study is to describe a new method of transanal endoscopic resection, transanal endoscopic operation (TEO), and performed with the aid of a surgical proctoscope especially designed for this purpose and report the results obtained in 32 patients submitted to the TEO and to compare these results with those obtained with other techniques currently available. The average proportions of recurrence, post-operation complications and posterior resections were analyzed by means of a metanalysis. Data on the distance and size of rectal lesions, the operative timing and hospitalization time were distributed in graphs according to authors and techniques. RESULTS The results were favorable and equivalent to those described in the literature. CONCLUSIONS The surgical proctoscope specially designed for this study is efficient and has a low cost; the TEO is easily performed with the aid of this equipment; the final results were favorable and similar to those obtained with other available techniques for endoscopic transanal intestinal resection, which are of high cost and less availability.
Superconductivity in La/sub 3/Rh/sub 2/Ge/sub 2/ and La/sub 3/Pt/sub 2/Ge/sub 2/

Magnetic and electrical transport measurements are reported for two La-based ternary germanides La/sub 3/Pt/sub 2/Ge/sub 2/ and La/sub 3/Rh/sub 2/Ge/sub 2/. The former was found to be a new superconducting material with a critical temperature T/sub c/ = 2.8 K, and the latter exhibits a type-II superconducting transition at T/sub c/ = 3.6 K in agreement with data reported recently. For both samples, detailed measurements of magnetization in various temperatures and AC susceptibility in various applied magnetic fields were preformed. A number of the relevant parameters were estimated using these data.
Transhepatic balloon dilation of anastomotic biliary strictures in liver transplant recipients: the significance of a patent hepatic artery.

PURPOSE To determine the significance of hepatic artery steno-occlusive disease on the patency of anastomotic biliary strictures in liver transplant recipients after transhepatic balloon dilation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of records of all patients undergoing transhepatic balloon dilation for anastomotic biliary strictures after orthotopic liver transplantation was performed over an 8-year period. Patency of the anastomosis was based on subsequent cholangiography. The presence of hepatic artery steno-occlusive disease was determined by Doppler ultrasound and/or angiography. The anastomotic biliary stricture patency rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Thirty-eight patients who had undergone liver transplants underwent 53 balloon dilations for anastomotic biliary strictures (nine patients for arterial disease, 26 patients had patent arteries and three patients had arteries of indeterminate patency). Eight of the 53 strictures treated (15%) were refractory to balloon dilation: 10.5% of first comers and 27% of restenotic lesions. Two of the 53 strictures treated (4%) had significant complications: hemobilia requiring blood transfusion and ductal rupture. One-year cumulative primary patency rates for anastomotic biliary strictures for patients with arterial disease, patent hepatic arteries, and all-comers were: 0%, 45% (P = .01), and 36%, respectively. One-year cumulative primary patency rates for choledocho-choledocal and choledocho-jejunal anstomoses in patients with patent arteries were 43% and 48%, respectively (P = .10). CONCLUSIONS In the presence of hepatic artery disease there is a lower patency of anastomotic biliary strictures after balloon dilation. Imaging of the hepatic artery should be considered to stratify patients who will have a successful outcome.
Modified Cheeger and ratio cut methods using the Ginzburg–Landau functional for classification of high-dimensional data

Recent advances in clustering have included continuous relaxations of the Cheeger cut problem and those which address its linear approximation using the graph Laplacian. In this paper, we show how to use the graph Laplacian to solve the fully nonlinear Cheeger cut problem, as well as the ratio cut optimization task. Both problems are connected to total variation minimization, and the related Ginzburg–Landau functional is used in the derivation of the methods. The graph framework discussed in this paper is undirected. The resulting algorithms are efficient ways to cluster the data into two classes, and they can be easily extended to the case of multiple classes, or used on a multiclass data set via recursive bipartitioning. In addition to showing results on benchmark data sets, we also show an application of the algorithm to hyperspectral video data.
Hematopoietic recovery in cancer patients after transplantation of autologous peripheral blood CD34+ cells or unmanipulated peripheral blood stem and progenitor cells

BACKGROUND: A study of CD34+ cell selection and transplantation was carried out with particular emphasis on characteristics of short‐ and long‐term hematopoietic recovery. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Peripheral blood stem and progenitor cells (PBPCs) were collected from 32 patients, and 17 CD34+ cell‐selection procedures were carried out in 15 of the 32. One patient in whom two procedures failed to provide 1 × 10(6) CD34+ cells per kg was excluded from further analysis. After conditioning, patients received CD34+ cells (n = 10, CD34 group) or unmanipulated (n = 17, PBPC group) PBPCs containing equivalent amounts of CD34+ cells or progenitors. RESULTS: The yield of CD34+ cells was 53 percent (18–100) with a purity of 63 percent (49–82). The CD34+ fraction contained 66 percent of colony‐forming units‐granulocyte‐ macrophage (CFU‐GM) and 58 percent of CFU of mixed lineages, but only 33 percent of burst‐forming units‐erythroid (BFU‐E) (p < 0.05). Early recovery of neutrophils and reticulocytes was identical in the two groups, although a slight delay in platelet recovery may be seen with CD34+ cell selection. Late hematopoietic reconstitution, up to 1.5 years after transplant, was also similar. The two groups were thus combined for analyses of dose effects. A dose of 40 × 10(4) CFU‐GM per kg ensured recovery of neutrophils to a level of 1 × 10(9) per L within 11 days, 15 × 10(4) CFU of mixed lineages per kg was associated with platelet independence within 11 days, and 100 × 10(4) BFU‐E per kg predicted red cell independence within 13 days. However, a continuous effect of cell dose well beyond these thresholds was apparent, at least for neutrophil recovery. CONCLUSION: CD34+ cell selection, despite lower efficiency in collecting BFU‐E, provides a suitable graft with hematopoietic capacity comparable to that of unmanipulated PBPCs. In both groups, all patients will eventually show hematopoietic recovery of all three lineages with 1 × 10(6) CD34+ cells per kg or 5 × 10(4) CFU‐GM per kg, but a dose of 5 × 10(6) CD34+ cells or 40 × 10(4) CFU‐GM per kg is critical to ensure rapid recovery.
An ARX-Based PID-Sliding Mode Control on Velocity Tracking Control of a Stick-Slip Pi-ezoelectric-Driven Actuator

Piezoelectric-driven stick slip actuators have been drawn more and more attention in the nano- positioning application due to the high accuracy and theoretical unlimited displacement. However, the hysteresis of piezoelectric actuator (PEA) and the nonlinear friction force between the end- effector and the stage make control of piezoelectric-driven stick slip actuator challenge. This paper presents the development of an autoregressive exogenous (ARX)-based proportional-integral-derive (PID)-sliding mode control (SMC) for the velocity tracking control of the piezoelectric-driven stick slip actuator. Stability is guaranteed by rigorously choosing the appropriate PID parameters and the zero steady state error is achieved. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments were carried out on a commercially-available piezoelectric-driven stick slip actuator. The tracking errors were compared with the traditional PID controller, illustrating that in spite of existing of modeling error, the ARX-based PID-SMC is able to better improve the velocity tracking performance of piezoelectric-driven stick slip actuator, compared with the traditional PID controller.
Variance scaling in shallow‐cumulus‐topped mixed layers

Scaling of thermodynamic variance in shallow‐cumulus‐topped mixed layers is studied using large‐eddy simulation (LES). First, the performance of the top‐down scaling (the turbulent flux at mixed‐layer top divided by w*) is evaluated for transient shallow‐cumulus convection over land. The results indicate that this scaling fails to capture all the variance in the top half of the mixed layer when shallow cumulus clouds are present. A variance‐budget analysis is then performed, to derive a new scaling for the variance at mixed‐layer top, which differs from the standard top‐down scaling by a factor of one Richardson number. The essential new features of the proposed scaling are that the local vertical gradient is retained and that a balance is assumed between gradient production of variance and removal by transport and dissipation, using an adjustment time‐scale given by w*/h. Evaluation against LES for a range of different cases, including a dry convective boundary layer as well as steady‐state marine and transient continental shallow cumulus, reveals a data‐collapse of the newly‐scaled variance, for all hours and all cases in the top half of the mixed layer. The corresponding vertical structure is shown to resemble a power‐law function. The results suggest that the structure of variance in the dry convective boundary layer is similar to that in the sub‐cloud mixed layer. In transient situations, the scaling reproduces the time‐development of variance at sub‐cloud mixed‐layer top. The new cloud‐base variance scale is then further interpreted in the context of statistical cloud schemes, which depend on the variance as the second moment of the associated probability density function. The results suggest that the area fraction of the moist convective thermals uniquely depends on the ratio of cloud‐base transition‐layer depth to sub‐cloud mixed‐layer depth. This puts ‘valve’‐ or ventilation‐type closures for the cloud‐base mass flux in the context of the variance budget for the sub‐cloud layer. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
System for 3-D Real-Time Tracking of MRI-Compatible Devices by Image Processing

Real-time processing of MRIs is reported as a method of 3D tracking of mechanical devices within the field of view using passive microcoil fiducials. The specific implementation described makes use of two scan planes for full 3D tracking of a 5-DOF manipulator arm used for prostate biopsy under image guidance. Real-time tracking was observed with a maximum update rate of 0.42 frames per second for a maximum probe velocity of 10 mm/s. The localization of fiducials had a mean error of 0.36 (plusmn0.17) mm (p < 0.02), leading to a mean error in the needle tip position of 2.6 (plusmn0.3) mm (p < 0.05).
1 Tail Dependence in the US Financial Sector and Measures of Systemic Risk 1

Tail dependence among international stock markets is widely studied using measures of extremal dependence. In this study, we employ this approach to investigate the extreme loss tail dependence among stock prices of US depository institutions. We find that they exhibit strong loss dependence even in their limiting joint extremes. Motivated by this result, we derive extremal dependence-based systemic risk measures. The proposed systemic risk measures capture downturns in the US financial industry very well. We also develop a set of firm-level extremal dependence-based systemic interconnectedness measures and demonstrated their usefulness as potential early warning signals. Finally, we identify drivers of extremal dependence for the US depository institutions in a panel regression setting. Strength of extremal dependence increases with asset size and similarity of financial fundamentals. On the other hand, strength of extremal dependence decreases with capitalization, liquidity, funding stability and asset quality. We believe the proposed measures have the potential to inform the prudential supervision of systemic risk. 1 The authors thank Jordan Nott for excellent research assistance. The authors also thank Jason Wu, Jeffrey Gerlach, Levent Guntay, and the participants of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Applied Research Seminar and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Risk Quantification Forum for valuable comments and discussion. The opinions expressed belong to the authors and do not represent official positions of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve System. 2
Protein Transport in Chloroplasts: ATP is Prerequisit

Abstract The energy requirement for protein transport into chloroplast was assayed under conditions that perm it to distinguish whether the posttranslational translocation is dependent on ATP or whether a membrane potential across the chloroplast envelope can drive this transport event. A membrane potential is not required for translocation. ATP can support protein transport in the presence of protonophores and ionophores. Non-hydrolyzable ATP analogues and GTP, CTP, UTP cannot serve as ATP substitutes. Translocation could be observed when an ATP generating system was used to supply ATP. In contrast ATP degrading systems completely abolished translocation. The inner envelope mem brane localized ATP-ase is probably not involved in the transport event. The results suggest that ATP is needed at the outer chloroplast envelope. Inhibition of protein transport by ADP, pyrophosphate and NaF is studied and its consequences discussed.
No Difference in Lipolysis or Glucose Transport of Subcutaneous Fat Cells Between Moderate-fat and Low-fat Hypocaloric Diets in Obese Women

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two different diets on lipolysis and lipogenesis in subcutaneous fat cells from obese women. In a ten-week nutritional intervention study, forty women were randomly assigned to a hypoenergetic-2,514 kJ (- 600 kcal/day) diet of either moderate-fat/moderate-carbohydrate or low-fat/high-carbohydrate content. Body weight was equally reduced by approximately 7.5 % in both diet groups (p = 0.58). A subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy was obtained for subsequent measurement of triglyceride breakdown (lipolysis) using drugs active at different steps of the lipolytic signaling cascade, and lipid synthesis (glucose transport) before and after intervention. No difference was found between the two diet groups at the maximum rate of either lipolysis or adrenoceptor sensitivity (p-values: 0.14 - 0.97). Inhibition of lipolysis by insulin was also similar in both diet groups before and after intervention. Finally, insulin-stimulated glucose transport did not show any changes that could be attributed to the type of diet. In conclusion, our data suggest that macronutrient diet composition has no major influence on glucose transport or mobilization of triglycerides in human subcutaneous fat cells of obese women.
Extensive DNA Inversions in the B. fragilis Genome Control Variable Gene Expression

The obligately anaerobic bacterium Bacteroides fragilis, an opportunistic pathogen and inhabitant of the normal human colonic microbiota, exhibits considerable within-strain phase and antigenic variation of surface components. The complete genome sequence has revealed an unusual breadth (in number and in effect) of DNA inversion events that potentially control expression of many different components, including surface and secreted components, regulatory molecules, and restriction-modification proteins. Invertible promoters of two different types (12 group 1 and 11 group 2) were identified. One group has inversion crossover (fix) sites similar to the hix sites of Salmonella typhimurium. There are also four independent intergenic shufflons that potentially alter the expression and function of varied genes. The composition of the 10 different polysaccharide biosynthesis gene clusters identified (7 with associated invertible promoters) suggests a mechanism of synthesis similar to the O-antigen capsules of Escherichia coli.
Antidiarrhoeal activity of Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C. A. Mey. (Hypoxidaceae) Corm (‘African potato’) aqueous extract in rodents

This study investigated the antidiarrhoeal activity of Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm aqueous extract (APE) on experimentally‐induced diarrhoea, gastrointestinal motility, intestinal transit and enteropooling in rodents. H. hemerocallidea corm aqueous extract (APE, 50–400 mg/kg, p.o.) produced dose‐dependent and significant (p < 0.05–0.01) protection of rats and mice against castor oil‐induced diarrhoea, inhibited intestinal transit and delayed gastric emptying. Like atropine (1 mg/kg, p.o.), APE (50–400 mg/kg, p.o.) produced dose‐dependent and significant (p < 0.05–0.01) antimotility effect, and caused dose‐related inhibition of castor oil‐induced enteropooling in the animals. Like loperamide (10 mg/kg, p.o.), APE (50–400 mg/kg, p.o.) dose‐dependently and significantly (p < 0.05–0.01) delayed the onset of castor oil‐induced diarrhoea, decreased the frequency of defaecation and reduced the severity of diarrhoea in the rodents. Compared with control animals, APE (50–400 mg/kg, p.o.) dose‐dependently and significantly (p < 0.05–0.01) decreased the volume of castor oil‐induced intestinal fluid secretion, and reduced the number, weight and wetness of faecal droppings. APE (50–400 mg/mL) also produced concentration‐related and significant (p < 0.05–0.01) inhibitions of the spontaneous, pendular contractions of the rabbit isolated duodenum, and attenuated acetylcholine (ACh, 0.1–5.0 µg/mL)‐induced contractions of the guinea‐pig isolated ileum. Although the precise mechanism of the antidiarrhoeal activity of APE could not be established, the results of this study indicate that APE possesses antidiarrhoeal activity. This finding supports the use of ‘African potato’ as a natural supplementary remedy for the treatment, management and/or control of diarrhoea in some rural communities of southern Africa. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Knee Reconstruction in Syndromes With Congenital Absence of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

The authors review their experience with four patients with congenital deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) who underwent surgical treatment of symptomatic knee instability at a mean age of 15.8 years (range 14-17 years). Associated syndromes included fibular hemimelia, congenital short femur, and an unspecified skeletal dysplasia. All patients had undergone multiple previous realignment and leg lengthening procedures and were skeletally mature at the time of the reconstruction. All four patients underwent ACL reconstruction, and one patient underwent concomitant posterolateral corner reconstruction. One patient required an osteochondral autograft transplant procedure in addition to ACL reconstruction. Hypertrophy of the meniscofemoral ligament of Humphrey was a consistent anatomic finding at surgery. The patients were followed for a mean of 38 months (range 26-58 months) after the reconstruction. The mean preoperative Lysholm II score was 38 (range 28-56); the score had improved to a mean of 81 (range 78-93) at the latest follow-up. The authors conclude that reconstructive surgery is a viable option for restoration of knee stability and function in appropriately selected patients with congenital ACL deficiency.