Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: Outcomes in 222 Patients

Objective: To assess our outcomes after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Summary Background Data: Esophagectomy has traditionally been performed by open methods. Results from most series include mortality rates in excess of 5% and hospital stays frequently greater than 10 days. MIE has the potential to improve these results, but only a few small series have been reported. This report summarizes our experience of 222 cases. Methods: From 1996 to 2002, MIE was performed in 222 patients. Indications for operation included high-grade dysplasia (n = 47) and cancer (n = 175). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used in 78 (35.1%) and radiation in 36 (16.2%). Initially, a laparoscopic transhiatal approach was used (n = 8), but subsequently our approach evolved to include thoracoscopic mobilization (n = 214). Results: There were 186 men and 36 women. Median age was 66.5 years (range, 39–89). Nonemergent conversion to open procedure was required in 16 patients (7.2%). MIE was successfully completed in 206 (92.8%) patients. The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (range, 1–30); hospital stay was 7 days (range, 3–75). Operative mortality was 1.4% (n = 3). Anastomotic leak rate was 11.7% (n = 26). At a mean follow-up of 19 months (range, 1–68), quality of life scores were similar to preoperative values and population norms. Stage specific survival was similar to open series Conclusions: MIE offers results as good as or better than open operation in our center with extensive minimally invasive and open experience. In this single institution experience, we observed a lower mortality rate (1.4%) and shorter hospital stay (7 days) than most open series. Given these results, we are now developing an intergroup trial (ECOG 2202) to assess MIE in a multicenter setting.
Feature extraction from handwritten documents for personality analysis

Handwriting can be used to predict or analyze a person's behavioral or personality traits. Characteristics of a handwriting are studied for that. In this work various characteristics like size, spacing, slant, skew, pressure, etc are studied. Since signature reflects important characteristics of human being, we analyze them also. As our objective is to build an automated or computerized handwriting analysis system, we discuss the features from algorithmic view points. For experimental purpose, various handwriting of different writers are collected. Identical as well as different texts is used for that. Implementing these algorithms on the data sets, we obtain experimental results which are given here.
Unrestrained Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complexes 1 and 2 Increase Expression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10 to Regulate Phosphorylation of Akt Kinase*

Background: Tumor suppressors PTEN and TSC2 act upstream of mTOR kinase. Results: An mTOR-mediated increase in Hif1α protein contributes to PTEN transcription. Conclusion: Both TORC1 and TORC2 up-regulate PTEN levels. Significance: An increased PTEN level in TSC2-deficient cells may contribute to reduced malignant potential of these cells. Tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) function to block growth factor-induced mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and are mutated in autosomal dominant hamartoma syndromes. mTOR binds to a spectrum of common and different proteins to form TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TORC2, which regulate cell growth, division, and metabolism. TSC2 deficiency induces constitutive activation of mTOR, leading to a state of insulin resistance due to a negative feedback regulation, resulting in reduced Akt phosphorylation. We have recently described an alternative mechanism showing that in TSC2 deficiency, enhanced PTEN expression contributes to reduced Akt phosphorylation. To explore the mechanism of PTEN regulation, we used rapamycin and constitutively active mTOR to show that TORC1 increases the expression of PTEN mRNA and protein. We found that in TSC2−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts expression of a kinase-dead mutant of mTOR, which inhibits both TORC1 and TORC2, decreases the expression of PTEN via transcriptional mechanism. Furthermore, kinase-dead mTOR increased and decreased phosphorylation of Akt at catalytic loop site Thr-308 and hydrophobic motif site Ser-473, respectively. Moreover, inhibition of deregulated TORC1 in TSC2-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts or in 293 cells by down-regulation of raptor decreased the levels of the transcription factor Hif1α and blocked PTEN expression, resulting in enhanced phosphorylation of Akt at Thr-308 and Ser-473. Finally, knockdown of rictor or mSin1 attenuated the expression of Hif1α, which decreased transcription of PTEN. These results unravel a previously unrecognized cell-autonomous function of TORC1 and TORC2 in the up-regulation of PTEN, which prevents phosphorylation of Akt and may shield against the development of malignancy in TSC patients.
Left bundle branch block: prevalence, incidence, follow-up and outcome.

In a randomly selected population screening study of 8450 men and 9039 women 33 to 71 years of age conducted in Iceland in 1967-1977, 27 men and 17 women were found to have left bundle branch bock (LBBB). The prevalence of LBBB at that time was 0.43% for men and 0.28% for women. The incidence of LBBB was 3.2 per 10,000 per year for men and 3.7 per 10,000 per year for women. All except one of 37 alive patients with LBBB were examined in 1984 including chest X-ray, echocardiography and exercise testing (Bruce protocol). Eight men had had myocardial infarction (P less than 0.05), 12 had angina pectoris, 15 had hypertension, 7 had cardiomyopathy, 13 had primary conduction disease, and 3 had pacemakers. Five men and two women had died in comparison with 18 men and 1 woman in an age-matched control group of 176 people (P : ns). Three of 5 decreased LBBB men had cardiomyopathy at autopsy. Three men died suddenly. The two women died of noncardiac causes. Only one patient in the control group had cardiomyopathy (P less than 0.01). There was no significant difference in other cardiac diagnoses between the groups. Eleven LBBB women out of thirteen had a normal exercise duration (greater than or equal to 6 min) and 11/17 men exercised normally (less than or equal to 7 min). In comparison with the control group, the LBBB patients had an increased LV diameter 2.85 +/- 0.38 vs 2.58 +/- 0.38 cm m-2 body surface area (P less than 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Design of steering wheel force feedback system with focus on lane keeping assistance applied in driving simulator

In recent years driving simulators are being widely used by automotive manufactures and researchers especially related in Human-In-The Loop (HIL) experiments. Simulators help researchers reduce prototyping time and cost. Simulators provide unlimited parameterization, more safety and enhanced repeatability. They play an important role in studies of the driver’s behaviour in unstable vehicle conditions and manoeuvres. The goal of this thesis is to create a more real steering feeling for drivers in simulators. Increasing the reality of the steering enhance the driving experience on simulator. The work is divided into two parts; the first part is development of a steering wheel force feedback and the second part is development of a Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS), where the steering wheel force feedback system is a component. The steering force feedback system developed includes effect of the kingpin and caster angles on tire forces and self-aligning torque, which have been shown to be important factors for realizing good steering feeling. In the second part an LKAS is proposed, the idea is to apply an assistance torque depending of lateral offset and heading error in order to minimize trajectory overshoot. The calculated lane keeping assistance torque is added to the steering system feedback torque. Chalmers simulator is used to evaluate the proposed steering force feedback system and the LKAS. The simulator results demonstrate that the LKAS reduces lateral offset of a vehicle and driver’s need to interfere with the system and that the steering feeling is improved.
Combined optical and topographic imaging reveals different arrangements of human RAD54 with presynaptic and postsynaptic RAD51–DNA filaments

Essential genome transactions, such as homologous recombination, are achieved by concerted and dynamic interactions of multiple protein components with DNA. Which proteins do what and how, will be reflected in their relative arrangements. However, obtaining high-resolution structural information on the variable arrangements of these complex assemblies is a challenge. Here we demonstrate the versatility of a combined total internal reflection fluorescence and scanning force microscope (TIRF-SFM) to pinpoint fluorescently labeled human homologous recombination protein RAD54 interacting with presynaptic (ssDNA) and postsynaptic (dsDNA) human recombinase RAD51 nucleoprotein filaments. Labeled proteins were localized by superresolution imaging on complex structures in the SFM image with high spatial accuracy. We observed some RAD54 at RAD51 filament ends, as expected. More commonly, RAD54 interspersed along RAD51–DNA filaments. RAD54 promotes RAD51-mediated DNA strand exchange and has been described to both stabilize and destabilize RAD51–DNA filaments. The different architectural arrangements we observe for RAD54 with RAD51–DNA filaments may reflect the diverse roles of this protein in homologous recombination.
Etiopathogenesis and Pharmacological Prevention of a Type-2 Diabetes Model in Male Mice

We describe a stress-derived type-2 diabetes model in male mice, and formulate new hypotheses on how the model was induced, how diabetes-like alterations were prevented through specific pharmacological treatments, and how its possible neuroendocrine pathogenesis could be hypothesized. Pregnant females arrived in our laboratory on their 14th day of conceptional age. After birth, control mice never showed any apparent behavioral-metabolic-endocrine alterations. However, application of postnatal stress (brief mother deprivation, plus sham injection, daily from birth to weaning), was followed in adult male mice by two series of diabetes-like alterations. Some alterations (e.g., body overweight, immune, neurophysiologic, neurobehavioral alterations) were selectively prevented by opioid antagonist naloxone daily administered during nursing period. The aforementioned alterations plus several others (e.g., hyperglycemia, neuroendocrine alterations) were prevented by administration of specific antisense oligodeoxinucleotide, which modulated synthesis-hyperfunction of proopiomelanocortin-derived corticotropin (ACTH)-corticosterone and endorphins in the pituitary. Surprisingly, together with metabolic alterations, enduring increment of neurophysiologic/neurobehavioral brain performances were observed, accompanied by energy compensative reactions, and brain mitochondria hyperfunction. Thus, increased glycemia/lipidemia appeared to furnish fuel necessary to cope with increased request of energy. Diabetes-like alterations were accompanied by enduring hyperfunction of opioid- and ACTH-corticosterone-endogenous structures in the brain, which were apparently due to failure of negative feedback hormone mechanisms in the pituitary, for the control of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. In conclusion, for the first time we can hypothesize that a diabetes-like syndrome is produced by enduring hyperfunction of two proopiomelanocortin-dependent endogenous systems (brain opioid- and ACTH-corticosterone systems), following failure of pituitary feedback hormonal control, after complex stress procedures.
Does the impact of managed care on substance abuse treatment services vary by provider profit status?

OBJECTIVE To extend our previous research by determining whether, and how, the impact of managed care (MC) on substance abuse treatment (SAT) services differs by facility ownership. DATA SOURCES The 2000 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, which is designed to collect data on service offerings and other characteristics of SAT facilities in the U.S. These data are merged with data from the 2002 Area Resource File, a county-specific database containing information on population and MC activity. We use data on 10,513 facilities, virtually a census of all SAT facilities. STUDY DESIGN For each facility ownership type (for-profit [FP], not-for-profit [NFP], public), we estimate the impact of MC on the number and types of SAT services offered. We use instrumental variables techniques that account for possible endogeneity between facilities' involvement in MC and service offerings. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We find that the impact of MC on SAT service offerings differs in magnitude and direction by facility ownership. On average, MC causes FPs to offer approximately four additional services, causes publics to offer approximately four fewer services, and has no impact on the number of services offered by NFPs. The differential impact of MC on FPs and publics appears to be concentrated in therapy/counseling, medical testing, and transitional services. CONCLUSION Our findings raise policy concerns that MC may reduce the quality of care provided by public SAT facilities by limiting the range of services offered. On the other hand, we find that FP clinics increase their range of services. One explanation is that MC results in standardization of service offerings across facilities of different ownership type. Further research is needed to better understand both the specific mechanisms of MC on SAT and the net impact on society.
Analysis of factor VIII inhibitors in a haemophilia A patient with an Arg593→Cys mutation using phage display

Summary. We characterized anti‐factor VIII antibodies in a mild haemophilia A patient with an Arg593→Cys mutation in the A2 domain, using V gene phage‐display technology. All isolated single‐chain variable‐domain antibody fragments were directed against residues Arg484‐Ile508, a binding site for factor VIII inhibitors in the A2 domain. After a further period of replacement therapy, a transient rise in inhibitor titre was observed. These antibodies were directed against the A2 domain. Activation of a pre‐existing pool of B cells, which express antibodies against residues Arg484‐Ile508, could explain the rapid anamnestic response.
Proposta de Diretrizes para Avaliação de Objetos de Aprendizagem Considerando Aspectos Pedagógicos e Técnicos

A crescente expansao do uso de computadores nas escolas, nos mais diversos niveis, tem pressionado professores e educadores a utilizar as novas tecnologias nos processos de ensino-aprendizagem. E comum, no entanto, que a falta de familiaridade destes professores com as tecnologias os torne quase impotentes frente a grande diversidade de objetos de aprendizagem e recursos disponiveis. Como selecionar artefatos digitais de qualidade e que estejam alinhados as praticas pedagogicas da escola? Este artigo discute estas questoes e define diretrizes para guiar o processo de avaliacao de objetos de aprendizagem, buscando descrever os criterios de avaliacao com relacao a aspectos tecnicos e pedagogicos.
Compliance with seat belt enforcement law in Saudi Arabia

Over the past half century, the road network and number of cars in Saudi Arabia have increased, as have related accidents, injuries, and deaths. The author describes a study of car and front seat passenger seat belt use after such use became mandatory in 2000. After the law was enacted, reported seat belt use was 60% for drivers and 22.7% for front seat passengers. Several months after the law was passed, use dropped to 27.8% for drivers and 14.7% for front seat passengers. Since this was still a significant increase from 2.9% seat belt use for drivers before passage of the law, it demonstrates effectiveness of seat belt traffic safety awareness campaigns and law enforcement efforts. Self-reporting rates show that many drivers believe in the importance of seat belt use, but do not use them. Results showed that many drivers use seat belts to avoid penalties. Young single Saudi drivers are shown to have higher vulnerability to non-use of seat belts and associated risk acceptance than other drivers.
Seasonal allergic symptoms and their relation to pollen exposure in south‐east France

In order to evaluate the relationship between pollen exposure and prevalence of allergic respiratory symptoms, we performed a cross‐sectional epidemiological study in 2 areas with contrasted exposure to cypress and grass pollens. The study population consisted of 5427 subjects 18 to 65‐years‐old representative of the general population. All answered an abridged version of the 1978 ATS questionnaire and a sample had a skin test evaluation including grass and cypress pollens. Prevalence of hay fever symptoms was equal to 31.5% and 14.1%, respectively, in exposed and less exposed community (P < 0.001). Prevalence of hay fever symptoms together with a positive skin test to pollen was also significantly higher in the exposed (13.6%) vs less exposed community (5.5%, P<0.001). In contrast, overall prevalence of asthma was equal to 4.5% and 3.4%, respectively. Prevalence of asthma with positive skin tests was also not statistically significant, equal to 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Thus, high exposure to pollen is a risk factor for developing hay fever but not asthma.
Animal Models for Schizophrenia: The chakragati Mouse Mutant

Neuroscience continues the search for novel and more clinically effective therapies to treat the broad spectrum of psychopathologies associated with schizophrenia. To facilitate this search, the need for animal models which have face, construct and predictive validity with respect to etiology, symptomatology, biochemistry and response to treatment is of paramount importance. Thus, an animal model of schizophrenia should accurately recapitulate a number of falsifiable features observed in the corresponding human disorder. The most direct and simple approach to study certain manifestations of schizophrenia is to deconstruct the brain disease into specific endophenotypes. An endophenotype is a specific anatomical, behavioral or cognitive biomarker that provides insight into possible candidate genes as well as validation criteria for any preclinical model of the disease (O’Tuathaigh et al., 2006). For instance, enlargement of the lateral cerebral ventricles, social withdrawal and pre-pulse inhibition are some of the earliest reported abnormalities found in schizophrenic patients, as well as some of the most stable biomarkers in clinical studies (Gaser et al., 2004; Ross et al., 2006). Accordingly, the aforementioned endophenotypes can also be introduced in mice strains often by deleting, adding or mutating candidate susceptibility genes. This experimental approach obviously does not recreate all features of the corresponding disease, particularly uniquely human features such as thought disorder, hallucinations and paranoia psychosis. Nevertheless, generating core symptoms of schizophrenia in mice advances our knowledge of disease pathogenesis and provides rational rather than serendipitous approaches to drug development and treatment design.
Lithium Protects Against Spinal Cord Injury in Rats: Role of Nitric Oxide

Abstract Objective Lithium improves locomotor scores after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Herein, we assess the role of nitric oxide (NO) in this action. Methods The first set of experiments were performed to determine a dose of lithium that effectively improves locomotor scores in rats with SCI. Therefore, rats received different doses of lithium chloride (1, 4, 10, and 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally) or saline 1 hour before SCI. In the next step, the role of NO in the effect of lithium on SCI was investigated. For this purpose, rats were co-treated with an effective dose of lithium (20 mg/kg 1 hour before SCI) and a noneffective dose of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nonselective NO synthase inhibitor; 15 mg/kg intraperitoneally 30 minutes before SCI). SCI was induced by compressing the T9 spinal segment with an aneurysmal clip for 60 seconds in anesthetized rats. Locomotor scores were determined at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after SCI. Plasma lithium levels were measured 12 hours after SCI. Spinal histopathologies were examined 30 days after SCI. Results Lithium (20 mg/kg) significantly improved locomotor scores and decreased histopathologic spinal damage. l-NAME (15 mg/kg) reversed the beneficial effects of lithium. The 20-mg/kg dose of lithium resulted in a 0.68 ± 0.02 mEq/L plasma lithium concentration, which is lower than the therapeutic level in humans (0.8–1.2 mEq/L). Conclusion Lithium protects against SCI through an NO-dependent mechanism.
Counting algebraic numbers with large height II

Let ℚ denote the field of rational numbers, Open image in new window an algebraic closure of ℚ, and H : Open image in new window the absolute, multiplicative, Weil height. For each positive integer d and real number \( \mathcal{H} \geqslant 1 \), it is well known that the number Open image in new window of points α in Open image in new window having degree d over ℚ and satisfying \( H\left( \alpha \right) \leqslant \mathcal{H} \) is finite. This is the one-dimensional case of Northcott’s Theorem [8] (see also [5, page 59]). The systematic study of the counting function Open image in new window , and that of related functions in higher dimensions, was begun by Schmidt [10]. It is relatively easy to prove the existence of a positive constant C = C(d) such that Open image in new window (1) and also the existence of positive constants c = c(d) and \( \mathcal{H}_0 = \mathcal{H}_0 \left( d \right) \) such that Open image in new window (2)
Protective effect of Spirulina on lead induced deleterious changes in the lipid peroxidation and endogenous antioxidants in rats

The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of Spirulina on lead‐induced changes in the levels of lipid peroxidation and endogenous antioxidants in liver, lung, heart, kidney and brain of rats. Levels of elemental lead were also measured in the organs of rats in all experimental groups. In the liver, lung, heart and kidney of lead‐exposed animals, there was a signiﬁcant (p < 0.001) increase in the lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the levels of endogenous antioxidants. Although, Spirulina did not affect the deposition of lead in organs apart from the brain, simultaneous administration of Spirulina to lead exposed animals signiﬁcantly (p < 0.001) inhibited lipid peroxidation and restored the levels of endogenous antioxidants to normal.
The clinical significance of epitympanic mucosal folds.

The epitympanic mucosal folds were studied in 250 randomly selected fresh temporal bones and were found to be only rudimentary structures in normal ears, but had significant variations in abnormal ears. Pathological changes of the mucosal folds are a part of attic disease. In combination with tympanic membrane retraction, mucosal fold pathology seems to cause obstruction of the tympanic isthmus. Recognition of an air diffusion disturbance within the middle ear cleft pneumatic system at the area of the tympanic isthmus produced by these folds is important in the understanding of various middle ear diseases.