Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization benefit for all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma combined with microvascular invasion: a meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients combined with microvascular invasion (MVI). Patients and methods: Eligible studies were searched by PubMed, MedLine, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2018, comparing the overall survival (OS) rates and disease-free survival (DFS) rates between postoperative adjuvant TACE and operation only for HCC patients with MVI. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the effect size. Results: Eight studies were enrolled in this meta-analysis, including 774 patients in the postoperative adjuvant TACE group and 856 patients in the operation only group. The pooled HR for the OS and DFS rates were significantly different between the postoperative adjuvant TACE group and the operation only group (HR 0.57, 95%CI 0.48 ∼ 0.68, p < .00001; HR 0.66, 95%CI 0.58 ∼ 0.74, p < .00001; respectively). However, in the subgroup analysis stratified by proportion of multiple-nodules, no significant differences were observed in the pooled HR for the OS/DFS rates between the postoperative adjuvant TACE group and the operation only group (HR 0.83, 95%CI 0.60 ∼ 1.13, p = .23; HR 0.76, 95%CI 0.41 ∼ 1.40, p = .37; respectively). Conclusions: Postoperative adjuvant TACE will benefit patients with HCC and MVI, but not for multiple-HCC with MVI. However, more high-quality studies are warranted to validate the conclusion.
Two Measles Outbreaks After Importation — Utah, March–June 2011

Before licensure of a measles vaccine in 1963, more than 500,000 measles cases on average were reported in the United States each year during 1951-1962. By 1993, through measles vaccination and control efforts, only 312 cases were reported nationwide. In 2000, the last year in which an outbreak had occurred in Utah, measles was declared "not endemic in the United States," but measles importations continue to occur, leading to outbreaks, especially among unvaccinated persons. Many U.S. health-care personnel have never seen a measles patient, which might hamper diagnosis and delay reporting. During March-June 2011, local health departments collaborated with the state health department in Utah to investigate two measles outbreaks comprising 13 confirmed cases. The first outbreak, with seven confirmed cases, was associated with an unvaccinated U.S. resident who traveled internationally; the second, with six confirmed cases, had an undetermined source. The genotype D4 sequences obtained from these two outbreaks differed by a single nucleotide, suggesting two separate importations. Health-care providers should remind their patients of the importance of being current with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination; this is especially important before international travel. Measles should be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile rash illness, especially in unvaccinated persons with recent international travel. Reporting a confirmed or suspected case immediately to public health authorities is critical to limit the spread of measles.
Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Allergies in Lung-Transplanted Adults

Background. Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy has repeatedly been reported after solid organ transplantation, apparently affecting approximately 10% of pediatric organ transplant recipients. Interestingly, type 1 allergy has not been described in transplanted adults, suggesting a particular propensity in childhood. Methods. The present cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of type 1 allergy in 42 adult lung transplant recipients aged 25 to 50 years. Instruments included standardized interviews, skin prick tests, and serum IgE measurements. Results. Ten of 42 patients (23.8%) displayed elevated specific IgE levels or positive skin prick test results against one or more allergens. Five individuals (11.9%) additionally reported corresponding clinical symptoms of type 1 allergy. No statistically significant association of sensitization or allergy prevalence with patient age, kind of immunosuppressive therapy, and time since transplantation was found. Conclusions. The phenomenon of transplantation-associated allergy is not age-restricted and thus should be assessed more thoroughly in all age groups.
The Neurogoniometry: Applied Optical Analysis for Neural Structure Directogramm / Radiation Pattern Measurements

The possibility of constructing a dynamic neurogoniometer based on a rotary mechanotronic system controlled by stepper motors and a number of controlled reflectors on the galvanometric scanners is considered below. The control is performed by a PIC-controller, but there is also another low-cost construction using stepper motors control modules in a CAMAC standard. There are several designs based on a universal Fedorov stage and the apparatus for stereotaxis. The above schemes can be used both for working with the fixed histological slices and for in vivo or in situ analysis, particularly of the living brain slices. An example of application of such devices is described in this paper.
Antitumor activity of Corynebacterium parvum and retinyl palmitate used in combination on the Lewis lung carcinoma.

The effects of Corynebacterium parvum and retinyl palmitate given at various levels, schedules, and routes of administration on primary Lewis lung carcinoma and its metastases have been evaluated in C57BL/6J mice given s.c. inoculations of 5 X 10(5) tumor cells. Single i.v. , but not i.p., s.c. , or i.m. , administration of C. parvum (0.35 mg/mouse given on Days 0, 1, or 3) reduced growth of tumor and prolonged survival time. Retinyl palmitate (3000 IU/mouse/day) given alone i.p. either before, after, or both before and after tumor inoculation showed no effect on tumor growth, survival of mice, or lung metastases. The combination of retinyl palmitate i.p. (6 daily injections of 1500 IU/mouse after tumor implantation) and C. parvum (0.175 mg/mouse) given i.v. resulted in an increase in life span over control of 146% and appeared to be therapeutically synergistic. This combination produced 90-day cures in about 20% of the treated animals, all of which were found to be tumor free. Two nonparametric statistical procedures, the Kruskal-Wallis and the Dunn test, were used to assess the effects of treatments on survival time and tumor growth and may be generally applicable to animal tumor studies. They provide multiple comparisons of different treatments and allow the inclusion of long-term survivors into the analysis.
Optimized PID controller for both single phase inverter and MPPT SEPIC DC/DC converter of PV module

Introduced here is an implementation of an optimized Proportional, Integral, and Derivative (PID) controller that controls single-phase inverter and single-ended primary-inductor DC/DC converter (SEPIC). The main improvement is the endowment of classical PID controller with gradient-descent optimization method, which generates exact values for PID-controller parameters Kp, Ki, and Kd, which in turns track the maximum power. The method was applied post-use of Ziegler-Nichols method, reducing optimization time. SEPIC maximum-power-point tracker (MPPT) ensures optimal utilization of PV cells. The method further proves its efficacy in variable-load conditions. TMS320F28335 DSP has been used to implement the controlled pulse width modulation (PWM). The controlled system has been verified by simulation and implemented in a prototype. Then, experimental results have been compared with those for conventional single-phase inverter.
An empirical investigation of the capacitive Body Coupled Communications channel for Body Area Networks

Body Coupled Communication (BCC) systems use the human body as the medium through which a signal is transmitted to connect devices placed in, on or in close proximity to the human body. To enable good BCC system design, the BCC channel has to be very well understood. In this paper the BCC channel was empirically investigated by carrying out several experiments. First the BCC channel was characterized for static body conditions. Then, the off body radiation was measured to try and understand the propagation of the signal energy away from the body. It was found that the BCC channel is frequency selective, but offers a low propagation loss in certain frequency bands. The frequency band with the most favorable characteristics for wireless systems was found to be between 280MHz and 500MHz. Finally, the off-body radiation experiments showed that the signal power decreased rapidly when the receiving coupler was placed away from the body.
Measuring the gradualist approach to internationalization: Empirical evidence from the wine sector

The objective of this paper is to fill a gap in the literature on internationalization, in relation to the absence of objective and measurable performance indicators for the process of how firms sequentially enter external markets. To that end, this research develops a quantitative tool for use as a performance indicator of gradualness for firms entering external markets at a sectoral level. The performance indicator is based on firms’ export volumes, number of years operating in the export market, geographic areas targeted for export and when exports began to each area. The indicator is tested empirically in the wine sector. The main contribution of this study is the creation of a reliable international priority index, which can serve more widely as a valuable tool because of its potential use in other industry sectors and geographic areas, and which would allow the analysis of how geographically differentiated internationalization strategies develop.
Modelowanie systemów skointegrowanych : aspekty teoretyczne

Streszczenie Analiza ekonometryczna w przypadku zmiennych niestacjonarnych wymaga zastosowania nieklasycznych technik, w przeciwnym bowiem przypadku nastepuje identyfikacja regresji pozornych, utrata poządanych wlaściwości przez estymator parametrow czy ograniczenie mozliwości ekonomicznej interpretacji otrzymanych wynikow. Cześc prezentowanych sposobow analizy weszla juz do kanonu ekonometrii, niektore jednak, zwlaszcza techniki estymacji i weryfikacji hipotez w dziedzinie I(2), ciągle jeszcze zaliczane są do niestandardowych. W artykule pokazano standardowe kategorie ekonomiczne, jak tez zasoby i strumienie w kontekście jednoi wielowymiarowej analizy kointegracyjnej. Klasyczny podzial na zasoby i strumienie okazuje sie niewystarczający, zwlaszcza w przypadku analizy zmiennych I(2).
The Cost of Debt for a Financial Firm

We model a financial firm that finances securities trading by issuing debt. Since there is a possibility of default, the interest rate offered on the debt includes a default premium. In this context the financial firm has to decide (i) how much debt to issue; and (ii) what its cost of capital is. In other words, we derive the cost-of-carry of a position in risky securities. Simultaneously with deciding its liability structure, the firm decides how much risk exposure to take on its assets. A central part of our analysis is to explain how the promised yield and the expected return to the debtholders are related to the cost of capital. Liability structure and investment policy are linked: for a given liability structure (with a given default premium) chosen in anticipation of particular investment opportunities, the financial firm may subsequently be unable to invest profitably in low risk assets even though they would have been profitable with a different capital structure. While the traditional analysis emphasizes the limited liability option conferred by bankruptcy, in our model the firm also considers that bankruptcy may damage its ability to survive and make future profits. Although we model a pure financial firm that finances securities trading with risky debt (such as a securities firm or hedge fund), the analysis can also be applied to the capital budgeting decisions of non-financial firms.
Breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and noncarriers under prospective intensified surveillance

Comparably little is known about breast cancer (BC) risks in women from families tested negative for BRCA1/2 mutations despite an indicative family history, as opposed to BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. We determined the age‐dependent risks of first and contralateral breast cancer (FBC, CBC) both in noncarriers and carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations, who participated in an intensified breast imaging surveillance program. The study was conducted between January 1, 2005, and September 30, 2017, at 12 university centers of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. Two cohorts were prospectively followed up for incident FBC (n = 4,380; 16,398 person‐years [PY], median baseline age: 39 years) and CBC (n = 2,993; 10,090 PY, median baseline age: 42 years). Cumulative FBC risk at age 60 was 61.8% (95% CI 52.8–70.9%) for BRCA1 mutation carriers, 43.2% (95% CI 32.1–56.3%) for BRCA2 mutation carriers and 15.7% (95% CI 11.9–20.4%) for noncarriers. FBC risks were significantly higher than in the general population, with incidence rate ratios of 23.9 (95% CI 18.9–29.8) for BRCA1 mutation carriers, 13.5 (95% CI 9.2–19.1) for BRCA2 mutation carriers and 4.9 (95% CI 3.8–6.3) for BRCA1/2 noncarriers. Cumulative CBC risk 10 years after FBC was 25.1% (95% CI 19.6–31.9%) for BRCA1 mutation carriers, 6.6% (95% CI 3.4–12.5%) for BRCA2 mutation carriers and 3.6% (95% CI 2.2–5.7%) for noncarriers. CBC risk in noncarriers was similar to women with unilateral BC from the general population. Further studies are needed to confirm whether less intensified surveillance is justified in women from BRCA1/2 negative families with elevated risk.
An Efficient Approach to Nondominated Sorting for Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization

Evolutionary algorithms have been shown to be powerful for solving multiobjective optimization problems, in which nondominated sorting is a widely adopted technique in selection. This technique, however, can be computationally expensive, especially when the number of individuals in the population becomes large. This is mainly because in most existing nondominated sorting algorithms, a solution needs to be compared with all other solutions before it can be assigned to a front. In this paper we propose a novel, computationally efficient approach to nondominated sorting, termed efficient nondominated sort (ENS). In ENS, a solution to be assigned to a front needs to be compared only with those that have already been assigned to a front, thereby avoiding many unnecessary dominance comparisons. Based on this new approach, two nondominated sorting algorithms have been suggested. Both theoretical analysis and empirical results show that the ENS-based sorting algorithms are computationally more efficient than the state-of-the-art nondominated sorting methods.
Articulated Multi-Instrument 2-D Pose Estimation Using Fully Convolutional Networks

Instrument detection, pose estimation, and tracking in surgical videos are an important vision component for computer-assisted interventions. While significant advances have been made in recent years, articulation detection is still a major challenge. In this paper, we propose a deep neural network for articulated multi-instrument 2-D pose estimation, which is trained on detailed annotations of endoscopic and microscopic data sets. Our model is formed by a fully convolutional detection-regression network. Joints and associations between joint pairs in our instrument model are located by the detection subnetwork and are subsequently refined through a regression subnetwork. Based on the output from the model, the poses of the instruments are inferred using maximum bipartite graph matching. Our estimation framework is powered by deep learning techniques without any direct kinematic information from a robot. Our framework is tested on single-instrument RMIT data, and also on multi-instrument EndoVis and in vivo data with promising results. In addition, the data set annotations are publicly released along with our code and model.
Non-Markovian Globally Consistent Multi-object Tracking

Many state-of-the-art approaches to multi-object tracking rely on detecting them in each frame independently, grouping detections into short but reliable trajectory segments, and then further grouping them into full trajectories. This grouping typically relies on imposing local smoothness constraints but almost never on enforcing more global ones on the trajectories. ,,In this paper, we propose a non-Markovian approach to imposing global consistency by using behavioral patterns to guide the tracking algorithm. When used in conjunction with state-of-the-art tracking algorithms, this further increases their already good performance on multiple challenging datasets. We show significant improvements both in supervised settings where ground truth is available and behavioral patterns can be learned from it, and in completely unsupervised settings.
The Impact of Third-Party Information on the Dynamics of Online Word-of-Mouth and Retail Sales

Consumers have been widely searching information on third! party and retail websites before making product choices, yet receiving limited systematic investigation of how consumers process third! party information and retai ler! hosted (internal) word! of! mouth (WOM) and its consequences on retail sales. In this research, we examine the impact of third party information on the dynamics of internal WOM and retail sales by analyzing a simultaneous equation system in a Bayesian hierarchical framework in online software market. We find that third! party in formation moderates the positive feedback mechanism between internal WOM and retail sales. Receiving third! party reviews positively interact with retail sales to increase volume of internal WOM, thus leading to more sales; whereas consumer adoption of free! trial services negatively moderates the impact of retail sales on internal WOM, which may potentially have a negative impact on future sales indirectly. The findings imply that third! party information interact with retail website information in influencing consumers’ product choices.
EARLY MECHANICAL VENTILATION IS DELETERIOUS AFTER ASPIRATION-INDUCED LUNG INJURY IN RABBITS

We investigated whether mechanical ventilation after aspiration is deleterious when started before surfactant therapy. Gas exchange and lung mechanics were measured in rabbits after aspiration either mechanically ventilated before or after lavage with diluted surfactant or Ringer’s solution. Lung injury was induced by intratracheal instillation of 2 mL/kg of a betain/HCl pepsin mixture. After 30 min of spontaneous breathing, ventilation was started in 12 rabbits, which were then treated by lavage with diluted surfactant (15 mL/kg body weight; 5.3 mg/mL, group MVpre S) or with Ringer’s solution (1 mL/kg; group MVpre R). Another 12 rabbits were treated by lavage while spontaneously breathing and were then connected to the ventilator (MVpost S and MVpost R). Sham control rabbits were mechanically ventilated for 4 h. At the end of experiment, PaO2/FiO2 ratio in MVpost S was five times higher than in MVpre S (P = 0.0043). Lung mechanics measurements showed significant difference between MVpre S and MVpost S (P = 0.0072). There was histopathologic evidence of decreased lung injury in MVpost S. Immediate initiation of ventilation is harmful when lung injury is induced by aspiration. Further investigations are needed to clarify whether the timing of lavage with diluted surfactant has an impact on the treatment of patients with aspiration or comparable types of direct lung injury.
Modified lateral extracavitary approach for vertebral column resection and expandable cage reconstruction of thoracic spinal metastases

Background: Spinal metastasis is common and can be associated with considerable morbidity. Vertebral resection and reconstruction have been shown to preserve neurological function and decrease pain. Most commonly, two-stage, combined anterior/posterior approaches are performed to surgically address significant vertebral metastasis. Recently, single-stage posterior approaches for vertebrectomies have been performed more often as a result of advances in instrumentation and anesthesia. The objective is to describe a series of patients with metastatic thoracic spine tumors who were treated using a modified, lateral extracavitary approach for a posterior-only vertebral column resection and expandable cage reconstruction. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 21 cases and 20 patients was performed. Results: The average estimated blood loss and length of surgery were 1700 ml (range, 200–7600 ml) and 6.8 h (range, 4–9 h), respectively. The mean follow-up was 14 months (range, 4–30 months). One patient had a permanent neurological deficit as a result of a postoperative hematoma. Of the five patients who were unable to walk prior to surgery, two regained the ability to ambulate. The total complication rate was 43% with majority being minor. A total of 94% of patients had durable preservation of the neurological function. Conclusion: The posterior approach for vertebral column resection and reconstruction is a viable alternative to the standard combined approach. We demonstrate the feasibility of performing the lateral extracavitary approach through a midline incision from T1 to T12. This less invasive approach continues to evolve as instrumentation becomes more advanced and possesses significant advantages in the oncologic setting.
Fair Weather?: Equity Concerns in Climate Change

List of Figures and Tables Acronyms and Abbreviations Foreword Fairness Concerns in Climate Change Ferenc L Toth Equity Issues and Integrated Assessment Steve Raynel Elizabeth L Malone and Michael Thompson Climate Change and Multiple Views of Fairness Joanne Linnerooth-Bayer Empirical and Ethical Arguments in Climate Change Impact Valuation and Aggregation Richard S J Tol, Samuel Fankhauser and David W Pearce Applying Fairness Criteria to the Allocation of Climate Protection Burdens: An Economic Perspective Carsten Helm The Appropriateness of Economic Approaches to the Analysis of Burden-Sharing H Asbjgrn Aaheim Biases in Allocating Obligations for Climate Protection: Implications from Social Judgement Research in Psychology Volker Linneweber Fairness and Local Environmental Concerns in Climate Policy Shuzo Nishioka Justice, Equity and Efficiency in Climate Change: A Developing Country Perspective PR Shukla Justice in the Greenhouse: Perspectives from International Law Frank Biermann Equity in International Law Juliane Kokott The Regulation of Greenhouse Gases: Does Fairness Matter? David G Victor Addresses of Lead Contributors Index
Epidemiological Study and Cost Analysis of Suicide in Spain: Over 100 Years of Evolution

Objective: Society has changed during the last 100 years of evolution; however, some problems, such as suicide, remain. The objective here is to carry out a long-term epidemiological study in Spain, and to calculate the social and labor costs of 2016. Method: Epidemiological data were obtained from official data obtained between 1906 – 2016. The calculation of the costs of suicides included the social costs and the costs of production losses (labor costs). The latter were obtained by the human capital method, taking into account the unemployment rate. The economic growth rate stood at 2.6% per year. Results: The suicide rate was between 4 and 8% per year. The evolution during these 100 years had three periods. Until 1940 it had slight increases, and then it decreased until 1980 and, subsequently, the rate increased until it reached almost 8% in 2016. The costs of the suicides were 2,167 million € of economic losses for society, or its equivalent of 607 € for suicide. Conclusions: Public health policies aimed at the prevention of suicide should be increased, and supported by the economic costs they mean for society.