Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunological and Inflammatory Impact of Non-Intubated Lung Metastasectomy

Background: We hypothesized that video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung metastasectomy under non-intubated anesthesia may have a lesser immunological and inflammatory impact than the same procedure under general anesthesia. Methods: Between December 2005 and October 2015, 55 patients with pulmonary oligometastases (at the first episode) successfully underwent VATS metastasectomy under non-intubated anesthesia. Lymphocytes subpopulation and interleukins 6 and 10 were measured at different intervals and matched with a control group composed of 13 patients with similar clinical features who refused non-intubated surgery. Results: The non-intubated group demonstrated a lesser reduction of natural killer lymphocytes at 7 days from the procedure (p = 0.04) compared to control. Furthermore, the group revealed a lesser spillage of interleukin 6 after 1 (p = 0.03), 7 (p = 0.04), and 14 (p = 0.05) days. There was no mortality in any groups. Major morbidity rate was significantly higher in the general anesthesia group 3 (5%) vs. 3 (23%) (p = 0.04). The median hospital stay was 3.0 vs. 3.7 (p = 0.033) days, the estimated costs with the non-intubated procedure was significantly lower, even excluding the hospital stay. Conclusions: VATS lung metastasectomy in non-intubated anesthesia had significantly lesser impact on both immunological and inflammatory response compared to traditional procedure in intubated general anesthesia.
The Breakthroughs of Karl Folkers in Biochemistry and Human Nutrition

Professor Karl August Folkers (Figure 1), a biochemist from the United States, was the head of one of the two research groups, one in England and one in the United States. In 1948, the two groups independently and simultaneously reported the isolation of vitamin B12 [1,2]. Most of Folkers’ work was carried out while working at the Merck Company (later Merck Sharp & Dohme) from 1934 to 1963. His laboratory at Merck was known for isolation, purification, synthesis, and structural determination of many bioactive natural products [3,4], including isolation and determination of the biological structure of various Erythrina alkaloids [4]. They also were the first to describe the synthesis [5,6] and structure [7] of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine), and the synthesis of pantothenic acid [8], biotin [9], lipoic acid [10], and mevalonic acid [11].
Magnesium balance in adolescent females consuming a low- or high-calcium diet.

Increasing emphasis is being placed on optimizing calcium intake during growth as a way to enhance peak bone mass. Although some studies in adults have shown that high calcium intake may negatively affect magnesium utilization, few data are available regarding the interaction of calcium and magnesium in healthy children. The purpose of our study was to measure the effect of calcium intake on magnesium balance in 26 adolescent girls (mean age 11.3 y) during a 14-d period. Subjects ate a controlled basal diet containing 667 mg Ca and 176 mg Mg. In addition to the basal diet, subjects were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to consume 1000 mg elemental Ca/d as calcium citrate malate or a placebo. Magnesium use did not differ between the low-calcium and high-calcium groups as measured by absorption (50% compared with 55%), urinary excretion (70 compared with 74 mg/d), and fecal excretion (88 compared with 79 mg/d). Accordingly, magnesium balance was not different in subjects consuming 667 or 1667 mg Ca/d and averaged 21 mg Mg/d for the whole study group. Magnesium balance was significantly correlated with magnesium intake (r = 0.511, P = 0.008) and magnesium absorption (r = 0.723, P < 0.001). Prediction intervals from the regression of magnesium balance on intake indicated that the current recommended dietary allowance of magnesium would result in magnesium balance > or = 8.5 mg/d in 95% of the girls. This value appears consistent with long-term accretion rates needed to account for the expansion of the total-body magnesium pool during growth. In summary, our observations support the adequacy of the current recommended dietary allowance for magnesium and indicate that alterations in magnesium utilization should not be anticipated in adolescent females consuming a high-calcium diet.
Preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation among cardiac surgery patients

Background: The prolonged mechanical ventilation among cardiac surgery patients has been correlated with negative clinical outcome and increased healthcare resources utilization. The aim of this study was to identify the risk preoperative and intraoperative factors for increased ventilation among cardiac operated patients. Method and Material: An observational cohort study was carried out during a three-month period (from October 2010 to December 2010) among 48 consecutive patients who were admitted to the cardiac surgery intensive care unit of a general, tertiary hospital of Athens-Greece. A short questionnaire on basic socio-demographic characteristics and clinical patient data was attended. All patients had the same anesthetic and postoperative management. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 16.0, using bivariate and multivariate linear regression. The p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean patient age was 64.7 (±13.7) years old, while the mean duration of intubation was 939 (±545) minutes. 67% of the sample was male. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the older age [β coefficient 13.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7-24.2, p=0.015] and the increased duration of surgery (β coefficient 1.5, 95% CI 0.01-3.1, p=0.05) were the main risk factors for prolonged mechanical patient ventilation. Conclusions: The increased age and the prolonged duration of the surgery seem to be strongly associated with delayed tracheal extubation contributing to the early prediction of high risk patients for prolonged ventilation, a fact that could contribute to more effective allocation of the limited healthcare resources and better planning of the operative list.
Development of synthetic cortical bone for ballistic and blast testing

This paper describes the development ofa synthetic bone material with mechanical properties - stiffness, strength, and fracture toughness - similar to human cortical bone at low strain rates. The bone substitute was developed in this study by adding milled fiberglass in volume and fiberglass sleeves to an epoxy base material in an attempt to increase its strength, fracture toughness, and stiffness. The mechanical properties of the epoxy system and effects of fiberglass on those properties were evaluated by testing bars of the material in bending at 3 x 10 -4 s -1 and cylinders in compression at 1.5x10 -3 s -1 . During the development process, results of mechanical tests were continually compared to published data on bone properties. It was found that adding milled fiberglass suspended in the epoxy base decreased the stiffness and strength. However, bonding a fiberglass sleeve around the outside of the samples increased their stiffness, bending strength and fracture toughness, resulting in a material with mechanical properties closer to that of human bone. The rib cage of a Human Surrogate Torso Model (HSTM) used for ballistic and blast studies will be constructed of the synthetic material, properties of which are used as inputs to a finite-element model (FEM) of a human torso. Using the material developed in this study as the base formulation, future work will continue the process to achieve properties similar to human bone at higher strain rates (10 1 s -1 to 10 3 s -1 ) using a split-Hopkinson bar technique.
Female nuptial coloration and its adaptive significance in a mutual mate choice system

Adaptive female coloration is likely to occur when males largely invest into reproduction or variance of quality between potential mating partners is high. Although recent studies have shown male choosiness of female traits, little is known about the extent to which female ornamentation signals benefits to males. Female ornamentation might signal individual quality information and thus might be sexually selected by males or play a role in female--female competition. Here, we investigate the role of the female ventral coloration in sexual selection of Pelvicachromis taeniatus, a biparental African cichlid with mutual mate choice. We show that the female ornament 1) is sexually selected by males, who preferred females that showed a larger extent of the nuptially colored area. Female purple coloration, which consists of blue and red color components, 2) transmits information about female quality and ripeness. The magnitude of the red area predicted female readiness to spawn, whereas the extent of the blue area female fecundity, maternal quality, and offspring fitness. Ornamentation 3) is important in female--female competition. Dominance tests conducted under different illumination conditions that maintained or abolished the differences in nuptial coloration suggest that female coloration functions as a threat signal. These results support that female ornamentation may evolve as an indicator of quality through male choice, female--female competition, or both, in a species with mutual mate choice. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Population structure and dispersal of the coral‐excavating sponge Cliona delitrix

Some excavating sponges of the genus Cliona compete with live reef corals, often killing and bioeroding entire colonies. Important aspects affecting distribution of these species, such as dispersal capability and population structure, remain largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine levels of genetic connectivity and dispersal of Cliona delitrix across the Greater Caribbean (Caribbean Sea, Bahamas and Florida), to understand current patterns and possible future trends in their distribution and effects on coral reefs. Using ten species‐specific microsatellite markers, we found high levels of genetic differentiation between six genetically distinct populations: one in the Atlantic (Florida‐Bahamas), one specific to Florida and four in the South Caribbean Sea. In Florida, two independent breeding populations are likely separated by depth. Gene flow and ecological dispersal occur among other populations in the Florida reef tract, and between some Florida locations and the Bahamas. Similarly, gene flow occurs between populations in the South Caribbean Sea, but appears restricted between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic (Florida‐Bahamas). Dispersal of C. delitrix was farther than expected for a marine sponge and favoured in areas where currents are strong enough to transport sponge eggs or larvae over longer distances. Our results support the influence of ocean current patterns on genetic connectivity, and constitute a baseline to monitor future C. delitrix trends under climate change.
Alcohol intake and bone metabolism in elderly women.

BACKGROUND Published reports on the effect of alcohol consumption on bone mineral density (BMD) are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the relation between alcohol intake and BMD, calcitropic hormones, calcium absorption, and other biochemical indexes of bone and mineral metabolism in elderly women. DESIGN The results presented are derived from baseline observations of 489 elderly women (aged 65-77 y) recruited for an osteoporosis study. The nondrinking group comprised 297 women and the drinking group comprised 148 women. Furthermore, the effect of different alcohol intakes (</=28.6, >28.6 to </=57.2, >57.2 to </=142.9, and >142.9 g/wk) was studied. RESULTS Women who consumed alcohol had significantly higher spine (10%), total body (4.5%), and midradius (6%) BMD than did nondrinkers. An alcohol intake >28.6 g/wk was associated with higher BMD; maximum effect was seen with an intake of >28.6 to </=57.2 g/wk (16%, 12%, and 14% increase in spine, total body, and midradius BMD, respectively). There was a marked reduction in bone remodeling markers, serum osteocalcin, and the ratio of urinary cross-linked N:-telopeptides of type 1 collagen to creatinine with alcohol consumption, suggesting that increased BMD with alcohol consumption could be due to reduced bone remodeling. Further, serum parathyroid hormone concentrations were significantly lower in alcohol drinkers than in nondrinkers and could be one of the causes of decreased bone resorption. CONCLUSIONS Moderate alcohol intake was associated with higher BMD in postmenopausal elderly women. The protective effect of alcohol may have been a result of lower bone remodeling due to reduced parathyroid hormone concentrations or factors such as increased estrogen concentrations.
On the Association among Periodic Comet 96P/Machholz, Arietids, the Marsden Comet Group, and the Kracht Comet Group

AbstractThe orbital energies ( a − 1 ) of released meteoroids (or fragments) from the periodic Comet 96P/Machholz mustbeslightlydifferentfromthatof96P. Thisresultsinthedifferencesintheirevolutionalrates;therefore,thetime-lagsof the orbital evolutions should apparently occur in the course of time, stably holding the same amplitude in theirorbital variations. In the present study, integrating the motion of 96P, we found that the orbital elements of 96P atepoch 2319 correspond to those of both the Arietids and the Marsden comet group, currently observed, and thoseof 96P at epoch 2408 agree with those of the Kracht comet group, similarly observable now. We also estimated adifference of the perihelion times, ∆ T ,as: ∼ 320yr for 96P − Marsden comet group; ∼ 360yr for 96P − Arietids;and ∼ 410yr for 96P − Kracht comet group, respectively. These may indicate such time-lags of orbital evolutionsbetween 96P and released meteoroids (or fragments) from 96P. As a consequence, we conclude that 96P, Arietids,the Marsden group, and the Kracht group are further possibly associated with each other now.Key words: comets: comet group — comets: individual (96P/Machholz) — meteors, meteoroids — orbitalevolution — solar system: general1. IntroductionIt is considered that dust particles, isotropically releasedfrom ashort-period cometwithnotchaoticbutstablecyclicor-bital evolutions of some millennia or more, should move awayfrom the comet as time passes by, and eventually should ﬁll uparoundthewholespacedrawnbysuchcyclicorbitalmotionsofthe comet under planetary perturbations and non-gravitationaleffects (e.g., Poynting–Robertson effect, Yarkovsky effect,etc.). Indeed, this can be supported by the existence of anassociated stream complex as an indirect evidence. One ofsuch examples is the association between the periodic Comet96/Machholz (hereafter 96P) and likely the Quadrantid streamcomplex (Babadzhanov, Obrubov 1992). The orbital elementsof96Pdrasticallyvarywithalong-period perturbationcycleof
A cost constraint alone has adverse effects on food selection and nutrient density: an analysis of human diets by linear programming.

Economic constraints may contribute to the unhealthy food choices observed among low socioeconomic groups in industrialized countries. The objective of the present study was to predict the food choices a rational individual would make to reduce his or her food budget, while retaining a diet as close as possible to the average population diet. Isoenergetic diets were modeled by linear programming. To ensure these diets were consistent with habitual food consumption patterns, departure from the average French diet was minimized and constraints that limited portion size and the amount of energy from food groups were introduced into the models. A cost constraint was introduced and progressively strengthened to assess the effect of cost on the selection of foods by the program. Strengthening the cost constraint reduced the proportion of energy contributed by fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products and increased the proportion from cereals, sweets and added fats, a pattern similar to that observed among low socioeconomic groups. This decreased the nutritional quality of modeled diets, notably the lowest cost linear programming diets had lower vitamin C and beta-carotene densities than the mean French adult diet (i.e., <25% and 10% of the mean density, respectively). These results indicate that a simple cost constraint can decrease the nutrient densities of diets and influence food selection in ways that reproduce the food intake patterns observed among low socioeconomic groups. They suggest that economic measures will be needed to effectively improve the nutritional quality of diets consumed by these populations.
Supplemental Information

Note S1: Choice of Control Conditions The TMS entrainment hypothesis leads to clear predictions as to the associated EEG changes. The hypothesis predicts the emergence of an entrainment map, characterized by enhanced brain oscillations at the stimulation-frequency (frequency-specificity of entrained oscillation) and stimulation-site (location-specificity of entrained oscillation), when TMS bursts are tuned in frequency to the underlying oscillation. Three control conditions and recordings in a phantom head were implemented to test that this entrainment signature does not emerge as a consequence of other effects associated with TMS bursting (including artifacts). We did not run additional conditions in which we stimulated the parietal cortex with rhythmic TMS at a non-α-frequency (other-frequency condition), or in which we stimulated adjacent sites with α-TMS (other-site condition), because these conditions are not instrumental for testing the entrainment hypothesis. This is because parietal neurons can oscillate in many different frequency bands, and α-oscillations occur across many areas of the brain (which could be isolated by other localizer tasks). By extension, there are no predictions as to the outcome of rhythmic TMS under these two experimental manipulations (other frequency and site). Studying these outcomes is of interest to learn more about brain oscillations, but not for testing the entrainment hypothesis.
Multi-player residual advantage learning with general function

A new algorithm, advantage learning, is presented that improves on advantage updating by requiring that a single function be learned rather than two. Furthermore, advantage learning requires only a single type of update, the learning update, while advantage updating requires two different types of updates, a learning update and a normilization update. The reinforcement learning system uses the residual form of advantage learning. An application of reinforcement learning to a Markov game is presented. The test-bed has continuous states and nonlinear dynamics. The game consists of two players, a missile and a plane; the missile pursues the plane and the plane evades the missile. On each time step, each player chooses one of two possible actions; turn left or turn right, resulting in a 90 degree instantaneous change in the aircraft’ s heading. Reinforcement is given only when the missile hits the plane or the plane reaches an escape distance from the missile. The advantage function is stored in a single-hidden-layer sigmoidal network. Speed of learning is increased by a new algorithm, Incremental Delta-Delta (IDD), which extends Jacobs’ (1988) Delta-Delta for use in incremental training, and differs from Sutton’s Incremental Delta-Bar-Delta (1992) in that it does not require the use of a trace and is amenable for use with general function approximation systems. The advantage learning algorithm for optimal control is modified for games in order to find the minimax point, rather than the maximum. Empirical results gathered using the missile/aircraft test-bed validate theory that suggests residual forms of reinforcement learning algorithms converge to a local minimum of the mean squared Bellman residual when using general function approximation systems. Also, to our knowledge, this is the first time an approximate second order method has been used with residual algorithms. Empirical results are presented comparing convergence rates with and without the use of IDD for the reinforcement learning test-bed described above and for a supervised learning test-bed. The results of these experiments demonstrate IDD increased the rate of convergence and resulted in an order of magnitude lower total asymptotic error than when using backpropagation alone.
Panoramic image depth estimation based on deformable convolution and attention mechanism

Currently, mainstream panoramic depth estimation methods primarily focus on correcting distortion effects. For Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) based on standard convolution, it is difficult to fully perceive the complexity of the panoramic structure due to the fixation of its receptive fields. In this research, we employ deformable convolutions as a replacement for traditional standard convolutions, allowing sample points to adapt more flexibly to changes in object shapes, thereby extending the effective receptive field. Furthermore, this study incorporates the Bottleneck Attention Module (BAM) attention model in the feature fusion module to enhance focus on key areas.Through a series of experiments, the effectiveness of deformable convolution and BAM is verified.
Preliminary studies into high velocity transverse blood flow measurement

The design, fabrication and operation of a 4.5-MHz dual-beam probe capable of high-velocity blood flow measurement with a good lateral resolution is described. The authors describe an aluminum lens which is used to generate two adjacent focal spots at a focal length in the range of 30 mm to 80 mm, making it suitable for in vivo blood velocity measurements. The limits on the maximum velocity detectable with this system are dependent on the separation of the two spots and the pulse repetition frequency (PRF). A comparison between simulated PRFs and the measured lens characteristics at different focal lengths is discussed. A possible extension of the technique to three-dimensional velocity measurements is discussed. <<ETX>>
Computing Exact Discrete Minimal Surfaces: Extending and Solving the Shortest Path Problem in 3D with Application to Segmentation

Shortest path algorithms on weighted graphs have found widespread use in the computer vision literature. Although a shortest path may be found in a 3D weighted graph, the character of the path as an object boundary in 2D is not preserved in 3D. An object boundary in three dimensions is a (2D) surface. Therefore, a discrete minimal surface computation is necessary to extend shortest path approaches to 3D data in applications where the character of the path as a boundary is important. This minimal surface problem finds natural application in the extension of the intelligent scissors/ live wire segmentation algorithm to 3D. In this paper, the discrete minimal surface problem is both formulated and solved on a 3D graph. Specifically, we show that the problem may be formulated as a linear programming problem that is computed efficiently with generic solvers.