Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of antiviral treatment on alfa‐fetoprotein levels in HBV‐related cirrhotic patients: early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Summary. Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) is a marker of the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but is also elevated in advanced chronic hepatitis B. The detection and usage of AFP tests need to be improved. A cohort of 101 patients with advanced chronic hepatitis B and elevated AFP values was treated with entecavir (ETV) or peginterferon‐α2a. ETV was more effective in reducing AFP levels; mean time to AFP normalization was 11.9 weeks after ETV treatment initiation vs 22.3 weeks in peginterferon treated patients (P = 0.000). An additional cohort of 93 hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhotic patients with elevated AFP were treated with ETV prospectively and maintained under intensive surveillance. HCC developed in 16 (17.2%) patients in whom the strongest independent predictor was a continued AFP rise in spite of ongoing treatment. In this context, nodules of sizes 10–14 mm and 15–20 mm were detected in 40% of patients each. In conclusion, HBV cirrhotic patients with rising AFP levels were at very high risk of HCC development. Early detection of minute lesions may be possible by monitoring AFP levels, whilst patients are on treatment in conjunction with enhanced computed tomography examination.
High volume image-guided Injections for patellar tendinopathy: a combined retrospective and prospective case series.

BACKGROUND the aim was to quantify the effect of a novel high volume-image guided injection (HVIGI) technique for recalcitrant patellar tendinopathy (PT). METHODS twenty patients (8 prospective; 12 retrospective) with ultrasonographically confirmed proximal PT were recruited. A HVIGI under ultra-sound guidance of 10 ml 0.5% Bupivacaine, 25 mg Hydrocortisone and 30 ml normal saline at the interface of the patellar tendon and Hoffa's fat pad was administered. A standardised eccentric loading rehabilitation protocol was prescribed. RESULTS the VISA-P score improved from 45.0 to 64.0 (p<0.01) for all subjects, likely to be clinically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between the increase in the retrospective group of 19.9 (± 23.5) and the prospective of 16.4 (± 11.3) p = 0.7262. 5% of prospective subjects agreed that they had significantly improved, with 37.5% returning to sport within 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS HVIGI should be considered in the management of recalcitrant PT. Randomised controlled trials are warranted.
Introduction: Professions and organizations - a conceptual framework

This collection seeks to reconnect two separate streams of work on professional organizations and professional occupations. In particular the articles collected here identify two key themes: (1) the challenges and opportunities that professional organizations pose for established and emerging professionalization projects and (2) the extent to which professional organizations create, institutionalize and manipulate new forms of professionalism and models of professionalization. To this effect, this collection brings together a number of articles from a broad range of disciplines (sociology, management, healthcare, accountancy, law and geography), theoretical backgrounds and national contexts which explore the complex connections between professional occupations and organizations. Ce recueil cherche à reconnecter les travaux sur les organisations professionnelles et ceux sur les professions dont les objectifs de recherche divergent de plus en plus. Les articles présentés ici regroupent en particulier deux thèmes: (1) Les défis et opportunités que les organisations professionnelles présentent pour les projets de professionnalisation établis ou bourgeonnants et (2) la mesure dans laquelle les organisations professionnelles créent, institutionnalisent et manipulent de nouvelles formes de professionnalisme et de nouveaux modèles de professionnalisation. Dans ce but, ce recueil rassemble des articles d’un large spectre de disciplines (sociologie, gestion, santé, comptabilité, droit et géographie), d’écoles théoriques et de contextes nationaux qui explorent les relations complexes entre les professions et les organisations professionnelles. Esta colección de artículos busca reconectar con el trabajo sobre organizaciones profesionales y ocupaciones profesionales, puesto que estas agendas de investigación se han visto cada vez más desconectadas. En particular, los artículos recopilados en la presente identifican dos temas clave: (1) los desafíos y las oportunidades que las organizaciones profesionales plantean a los proyectos de profesionalización emergentes y establecidos y (2) el punto hasta donde las organizaciones profesionales crean, institucionalizan y manipulan nuevas formas de profesionalismo y modelos de profesionalización. A este efecto, esta colección recopila una amplia gama de artículos de diferentes disciplinas (sociología, administración, atención sanitaria, contabilidad, leyes y geografía), marcos teoréticos y contextos nacionales que explora la compleja relación entre ocupaciones profesionales y organizaciones profesionales.
Efficacy of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin for Prevention of Perinatal Transmission of the Hepatitis B Virus Carrier State: Final Report of a Randomized Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial

A randomized double‐blind, placebo‐controlled efficacy trial of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) for prevention of the mother‐to‐infant transmitted HBsAg carrier state was conducted in Taiwan where the carrier rate in the general population is 15 to 20%. HBIG was given immediately after birth to infants of e antigen positive HBsAg carrier mothers, and all infants were followed for at least 15 months. Among 61 placebo recipients, the carrier rate was 92%; compared with 26% among 57 infants who received 0.5 ml HBIG at birth, 3 months, and 6 months, and 54% among 67 infants who received a single 1.0 ml dose of HBIG at birth only. Efficacy was 71 and 42%, respectively, for the two treatment schedules. The most common response of HBIG‐treated infants was passive‐active immunization which was 27% in the single‐dose group and 61% in the three‐dose group. Some of the infants who became carriers were probably infected as HBIG protection waned, and we expect that higher efficacy can be achieved by hepatitis B vaccine in conjunction with HBIG.
The magnitude of best tumor shrinkage during second-line targeted therapy affects progression-free survival but not overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of the magnitude of best tumor shrinkage during second-line targeted therapy after first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor failure on metastatic renal cell carcinoma prognosis. METHODS Fifty-two patients were enrolled. The magnitude of tumor shrinkage was assessed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v. 1.1, and evaluated as a continuous variable and by categorical classification: good responders (greater than or equal to -30%), mild responders (-0.1 to -29.9%), poor responders (0 to +19.9%) and non-responders (greater than or equal to +20% or new lesions). Overall survival and progression-free survival after second-line therapy initiation were evaluated according to the categorical classification. Factors predicting overall survival and progression-free survival were also examined. RESULTS The mean magnitude of tumor shrinkage was -1.29%, and there were 9, 21, 11 and 11 good responders, mild responders, poor responders and non-responders, respectively. The overall survival and progression-free survival significantly improved as the magnitude of tumor shrinkage increased according to the categorical classification (overall survival: not reached, 27.8, 18.2 and 4.67 months; progression-free survival: 13.4, 8.19, 5.18 and 1.84 months, respectively; P< 0.0001 for both). For overall survival, the magnitude of tomor shrinkage was not demonstrated as an independent indicator in the multivariate analysis (P= 0.0872 for the categorical classification, P= 0.133 for the continuous variable) whereas for second-line progression-free survival, the magnitude of tumor shrinkage according to both the categorical classification and continuous variable was found to be an independent factor in the multivariate analysis (P< 0.0001 for both). CONCLUSIONS The magnitude of tumor shrinkage is an independent predictive factor for progression-free survival, and may represent a surrogate marker for overall survival.
Allometric analysis of the morphometric pulmonary diffusing capacity in dogs

The lung volume, the morphometrically determined alveolar and capillary surface area, and the capillary volume of 27 dogs (weight 2.65–57 kg) all were linearly correlated with body weight. The thickness of the air‐blood barrier increased only slightly with increasing body size. The structural diffusing capacity, containing these parameters, was used to estimate the gas exchange capabilities of the lung and was also found to scale in direct proportion to body size. This coincides with reports on physiologically estimated diffusing capacity but is obviously different from the interspecies slope for metabolism which scales to the 3/4 power of body weight.
Reduction of nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococci during the second year of life by a heptavalent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine.

Children 12-18 months old were randomized to receive one dose of a conjugate heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine, two doses of the same vaccine, or one dose of a 23-valent native polysaccharide vaccine. Before immunization, pneumococci included in the conjugate vaccine were isolated from 24% of the children, and an antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus was isolated from 22% of the children. The vaccines had no effect on carriage of non-vaccine-type pneumococci. In contrast, there was a significant reduction in carriage of vaccine-type pneumococci 3 months after one dose and 1 month after a second dose of conjugate vaccine (from 25% to 9% and 7%, respectively; P < .001). No effect was seen after vaccination with the nonconjugate vaccine. One year after immunization, carriage of antibiotic-resistant vaccine-type pneumococci in children receiving conjugate vaccine was lower than that in children receiving the nonconjugate vaccine (4% vs. 14%, P = .042). Conjugate pneumococcal vaccines may reduce spread of pneumococci in the community.
Big Gaps, Small Gaps: Some Colleges And Universities Do Better Than Others in Graduating Hispanic Students

Right now, however, the United States doesn’t fare well at all on that measure. Our lack of purposefulness in providing high-quality education to all young Americans, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, is literally wasting the future of many of our young people, including members of the fastest growing group. Poised by 2050 to constitute nearly one-third of the workforce, Latinos* currently are the least prepared educationally to contribute to and benefi t from our rapidly changing and demanding economy. Only 13 percent of young adult Latinos hold bachelor’s degrees, compared with 39 percent of whites, and 21 percent of blacks. It’s true that lower college-going rates among Hispanics cause part of the attainment gap. But a signifi cant portion also results from low graduation rates among those who do enter college. Currently, fewer than half of Hispanic students who enter four-year colleges and universities graduate within six years, compared with about 60 percent of white students. To improve degree attainment among Hispanic students, colleges and universities simply must enroll more of them. But it’s just as important that these institutions also boost their graduation rates and close graduation-rate gaps. This brief calls attention to the colleges and universities that are serving Hispanic students well, as evidenced by small or nonexistent graduation-rate gaps between Hispanic and white students. We also shine a necessary light on institutions with particularly large gaps—the institutions that are not serving these students as effectively as they should. Why focus on gaps? Many institutions cited in this brief have demonstrated an ability to graduate relatively high proportions of white students—regardless of institutional resources or students’ academic preparation. These colleges and universities ought to be able to achieve similar graduation rates for Hispanic students. What’s more, some institutions with large gaps may graduate Hispanic students at higher rates than the national average for Hispanic students. However, we know that with focused effort, such institutions can raise Hispanic graduation rates to the same level as those of whites. Indeed, the successful colleges and universities profi led here prove it’s possible to do so. The promising practices they employ can help other institutions close their graduation-rate gaps.
Relationship of fertility to milk yield in Swedish cattle.

Data consisted of 48,830 and 21,136 records of Swedish Red and White and Swedish Black and White cattle. Fertility in virgin heifers and in first lactation cows was measured by first service pregnancy rate and number of services per pregnancy. Production trait considered was FCM produced in first 100 d of lactation. The heritabilities for fertility traits in virgin heifers and first lactation cows were about . 05 in both breeds. The genetic correlations between fertility measures within parity were close to one in both breeds, suggesting that these were measures of the same trait. The genetic correlations between fertility in virgin heifer and in first lactation were about . 88 for Swedish Red and White breed and between . 6 and . 7 for Swedish Black and White breed. The association between fertility and production in first lactation cows was antagonistic, with genetic correlations between first service pregnancy rate and milk yield of -. 13 and -. 32 for Swedish Red and White and Swedish Black and White breed, respectively. The association between first service pregnancy rate in virgin heifers and milk yield in first lactation was also antagonistic, with genetic correlations of -. 14 and -. 41 for Swedish Red and White and Swedish Black and White breed, respectively.
The Effect of an Interspinous Process Implant on Facet Loading During Extension

Study Design. Facet loading parameters of lumbar cadaver spines were measured during extension before and after placement of an interspinous process implant. Objective. The study was undertaken to quantify the influence of an interspinous implant on facet loading at the implanted and adjacent levels during extension. Summary of Background Data. Facet loading is increased during extension and decreased during flexion. Previous studies have demonstrated that interspinous process decompression relieves disc pressure at the implanted level and does not alter disc pressure at the adjacent levels. Facet joints are believed to play a key role in back pain, especially in patients with collapsed discs and increased motion segment mobility resulting in increased facet loading. Methods. Seven cadaver spines (L2–L5) were loaded to 15 Nm of extension and 700 N compression with and without an interspinous process implant (X STOP) placed between the L3–L4 spinous processes. Pressure-sensitive film was placed in the facet joints of the implanted and adjacent levels. After loading, the film was digitally analyzed for peak pressure, average pressure, contact area, and force. These values were compared between the intact and implanted specimens at the adjacent and implanted levels using a paired t test (P < 0.05). Results. The implant significantly reduced the mean peak pressure, average pressure, contact area, and force at the implanted level. The mean peak pressure, average pressure, contact area, and force at the adjacent levels were not significantly different between the intact and implanted specimens with the exception of contact area at the L2–L3 level. Conclusions. Interspinous process decompression will unlikely cause adjacent level facet pain or accelerated facet joint degeneration. Furthermore, pain induced from pressure originating in the facets and/or posterior anulus of the lumbar spine may be relieved by interspinous pro-cess decompression. Clinical results from patients with a component of lower back pain suggest that this is a valid conclusion.
Pretransplant Immunomodulation of Highly Sensitized Small Bowel Transplant Candidates with Intravenous Immune Globulin

Presence of preformed lymphocytotoxic antibodies may represent a barrier to isolated intestinal transplantation (IITx). We developed an intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) based desensitization protocol for candidates with high panel-reactive antibodies (PRA). Six patients with a mean PRA of 72±22% were included in a four-level (L) protocol with escalating doses of IVIg (L1, L2), addition of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or plasmapheresis (L3); and anti-CD20 (Rituximab) (L4). Four of six candidates improved their PRAs (from a mean of 66.2% to 25.5%; P=0.01) and were successfully transplanted. At a mean follow-up of 8 months, number and severity of rejection episodes of protocol patients did not differ from patients with low PRA transplanted during the same period. These data support the use of IVIg to desensitize patients waiting for IITx. It increases the applicability of IITx, and reduces the waiting time and mortality on the waiting list with outcomes comparable to nonsensitized recipients.
Use of the physical environment to support everyday activities for people with dementia: A systematic review

Difficulty with everyday activities is a key symptom and defining feature of dementia, relating to subjective reports of well-being and overall quality of life. One way to support individuals in their daily activities is by modifying the physical environment to make it easier to interact with during activity performance. This systematic review explores the range of studies available using physical environmental strategies to support performance in everyday activities for people with dementia. Seventy-two relevant studies were identified by the search. Physical environmental strategies included changes to the global environment and to architectural features, use of moveable environmental aids and tailored individual approaches. Strategies supported general everyday activity functioning (N = 19), as well as specific activities, particularly mealtimes (N = 15) and orientation in space (N = 16); however, few studies were found that focused on aspects of personal care such as dressing (N = 1) and showering or the preferred hobbies of individuals (N = 0). Overall, there appeared to be a lack of research within private home environments, and of studies which specify the dementia syndrome or the whole neuropsychological profile of people with dementia. More work is needed to extend theoretical understandings of how people with dementia interact with their environments so that these spaces can be designed to further support activities of daily living performance. Future work in this field could also incorporate the perspectives and preferences of those living with dementia.
Leading Change Training

Need to create solid change programs within your organization? Leading change not only involves simply reducing resistance, but also creating an awareness of the challenges and responsibilities that each person (no matter their level in the organization) faces as a change initiative goes forward. Integrate leading-edge change leadership models and other theories into your program today with this hands-on-guide.
Excess lung cancer among workers exposed to lead.

OBJECTIVE Studies on experimental animals suggest that inorganic lead is a carcinogen. The purpose of the study was to examine whether occupational exposure to lead increases the risk of cancer. METHODS The study population comprised 20,700 workers who had been biologically monitored for their blood lead (B-Pb) concentrations during 1973-1983. The mortality and cancer incidence rates were followed among the monitored workers and compared with those of the Finnish general population. An internal comparison of the cancer incidence rates was also done between subcohorts formed according to individual B-Pb levels. Questionnaire-based information was also collected on lifetime occupational history and potential confounders, and exposure history was assessed on an individual basis with a nested case-referent design for lung cancer. RESULTS The internal comparison within the cohort showed a 1.4-fold increase in the overall cancer incidence and a 1.8-fold increase in the incidence of lung cancer among those who had ever had a blood lead level of > or = 1.0 mumol.l-1. In the case-referent study, an increased odds ratio for lung cancer was found for concomitant exposure to lead and engine exhaust. The odds ratio for squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung was increased even when the blood lead level had been slightly elevated. Bias or confounding did not explain the risks. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that exposure to lead increases the risk of lung cancer. Co-exposure to engine exhaust and lead may be associated with the risk.
Vascularised knee joint transplantation in man: the first two years experience.

OBJECTIVE To describe our early experience with a new technique for restoring destroyed knee joints to give reasonable functional results. DESIGN Observational clinical trial. SETTING Level-1-Trauma centre, Germany. SUBJECTS 5 patients with large bone defects of the knee and loss of the extensor apparatus caused either by serious injury alone, or infection after serious injury. INTERVENTIONS Transplantation of fresh and perfused knee joints with a vascular pedicle from multiorgan donors under immunosuppression. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES Ability to walk, need to remove one transplanted joint. RESULTS Four patients are able to walk, the range of movement being from 50 degrees-120 degrees. The first patient additionally had to be provided with a total knee joint arthroplasty. In the third patient the graft became infected and had to be removed. She finally had an arthrodesis and bone lengthening by the Ilizarov technique. CONCLUSIONS Transplantation of the knee joint may be an alternative to bone lengthening or amputation for patients with total loss of the extensor apparatus.
Employing AI Techniques in Probabilistic Model Checking Position Paper

Probabilistic model-checking (PMC) is a new frontier in model checking verification, useful for checking randomized algorithms, communications protocols with random components, etc. AI techniques have been incorporated into conventional model-checking, with great success. We wish to see if corresponding successes can be found by applying AI techniques to PMC. In this position paper, we introduce PMC. We present the probabilistic automata and probabilistic bounded LTL used in modeling for PMC. We also introduce some existing tools for PMC. With this background in place, we discuss challenges and opportunities for incorporating AI techniques in PMC, and our current work in the area.
Secrecy energy efficiency optimization for artificial noise aided physical-layer security in cognitive radio networks

In this paper, the artificial noise (AN) is used to improve the secrecy energy efficiency (SEE) for underlay cognitive radio networks (CRNs). A joint zero-forcing (ZF) beamforming and power allocation problem is formulated to maximize the SEE under the constraints of the total transmit power, the secrecy rate (SR) of cognitive user (CU) and the quality-of-service (QoS) requirement of primary user (PU). As a consequence, we firstly transform the formulated non-convex optimization problem in fractional form into an equivalent one in subtractive form, and use the difference of two-convex functions (D.C.) approximation method to obtain an equivalent convex problem. Then, a power allocation algorithm is presented to obtain the optimal solution. Simulation results show the advantage ofthe proposed scheme.