Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initial incision of lateral pelvic fascia and early ligation of vascular pedicles during radical prostatectomy: potential to reduce positive margin rates

To report on our experience with a recently published technique to reduce positive margin (PM) rates (involving early incision of the lateral pelvic fascia, early release of the prostate and Denonvilliers’ fascia off the rectum), with the additional modification of early ligation of the lateral vascular pedicles during radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP), as reducing PM rates continues to be an important oncological goal in RP.
Manipulating multiqudit entanglement witnesses by using linear programming

A class of entanglement witnesses (EWs) called reduction-type entanglement witnesses is introduced, which can detect some multipartite entangled states including positive partial transpose ones with Hilbert space of dimension d{sub 1}(multiply-in-circle sign)d{sub 2}(multiply-in-circle sign){center_dot}{center_dot}{center_dot}(multiply-in-circle sign)d{sub n}. In fact the feasible regions of these EWs turn out to be convex polygons and hence the manipulation of them reduces to linear programming which can be solved exactly by using the simplex method. The decomposability and nondecomposability of these EWs are studied and it is shown that it has a close connection with eigenvalues and optimality of EWs. Also using the Jamiolkowski isomorphism, the corresponding possible positive maps, including the generalized reduction maps of Hall [Phys. Rev. A 72, 022311 (2005)] are obtained.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Show that Dementia with Lewy Bodies Is a Visual-Perceptual and Attentional-Executive Dementia

To resolve differences in the literature, we have systematically reviewed 21 controlled comparisons of the cognitive performance of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) These were identified by end May 2002 by Medline and PsycInfo searches, checking reference lists and contacting authors. Nine had comparisons between DLB patients (total n = 180) and age-matched controls (n = 172). Sixteen had comparisons between DLB (n = 312) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD, n = 380). Three compared DLB (n = 48) with Parkinson’s disease (PD, n = 65). Two raters independently scored the methodological quality. This was variable with a lack of high-quality studies (median rating 3 on a 0–7 scale, Kw = 0.41). There was a significant heterogeneity in results with marked discrepancies between studies. In a meta-analysis, DLB patients were more cognitively impaired than were AD or PD patients (95% CI of inverse variance weighted average of effect size relative to controls DLB 2.0–2.2; AD 1.4–1.6; PD 0.7–1.0). To permit an analysis of impairments in specific cognitive areas, the cognitive abilities underpinning the wide variety of tasks used were classified by a group of experienced neuropsychologists. Reducing overlapping task classifications using factor analysis showed large effect sizes relative to controls, AD and PD on two factors (combined variance 30%): attentional/executive impairment (effect sizes 1.1–2.9) and visual-perceptual impairment (0.7–3.6). There were small differences on two other factors (combined variance 39%): general verbal/non-verbal impairment (–0.12 to –0.5) and relative verbal memory impairment (–0.33 to 0.21). The cognitive performance is also more variable in DLB than in controls or in AD, but not PD (ratio of DLB to comparator standard deviations estimated from linear regression: DLB/controls 2.5–3.6; DLB/AD 2.1–2.6; DLB/PD 0.8–1.0). The greater variability of patients with DLB is seen only on tasks needing timed or motor responses, visual learning, executive or attentional abilities, or with visual content. Further stratification indicated that recent consensus diagnostic criteria, clinical diagnoses, and milder dementia were all associated with a more distinctive cognitive profile. The uniquely profound visual-perceptual and attentional-executive impairments that characterize DLB are consistent with the most frequent locations of Lewy bodies in frontal, cingulate, and inferior temporal cortex and may be related to the characteristic visual hallucinations and clinical fluctuations of this disease. These findings need to be confirmed in prospective, longitudinal, clinicopathological studies.
Nitric oxide-mediated chondrocyte cell death requires the generation of additional reactive oxygen species.

OBJECTIVE Chondrocyte cell death, possibly related to increased production of endogenous nitric oxide (NO), has been observed during the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of NO in causing chondrocyte cell death and to determine the contribution of other reactive oxygen species (ROS). METHODS Cell death and cytotoxicity were evaluated in human articular chondrocytes in response to various NO donor compounds with and without agents that stimulate or inhibit the production of additional ROS using both the alginate bead and the monolayer culture systems. Cell death was quantified by a total cell count with fluorescent labels, and cytotoxicity was measured as a function of cellular NADH- and NADPH-dependent dehydrogenase activity. To determine if the redox status of the chondrocyte could influence the observed effect of NO, cells were preincubated for 24 hours in L-cystine- and glutathione (GSH)-depleted media to reduce intracellular GSH levels, a major defense mechanism against oxidative stress. Apoptosis was analyzed with the quantification of histone-associated DNA fragments. RESULTS Treatment of chondrocytes with peroxynitrite (ONOO-), 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) resulted in apoptotic cell death at concentrations of 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, and 0.5 mM, respectively. In contrast, treatment of chondrocytes with diazeniumdiolates (or the "NOC" compounds, NOC-5 and NOC-12) at concentrations as high as 2.0 mM did not cause cell death. Furthermore, NOC-5 and NOC-12, at all concentrations tested (0.125-2.0 mM), could prevent cell death caused by oxidative stress. Selective ROS scavengers protected against cell death caused by either SIN-1 or ONOO-; however, no protection could be afforded against the cytotoxicity of SNP with any of the ROS scavengers tested. CONCLUSION These results show that NO by itself is not cytotoxic to cultured chondrocytes and can even be protective under certain conditions of oxidative stress. Chondrocyte cell death from NO occurs under conditions where other ROS are also generated.
Prosthetic Platforms in Implant Dentistry

AbstractThe use of implant-supported prosthesis to replace missing teeth became a predictable treatment. Although high success rate has been reported, implant treatment is suitable to complications, failures, and limitations such as peri-implant bone loss after implant loading. Stress evaluation on the bone-abutment-implant interface has been carried out to develop new designs of prosthetic platform and to understand the stress distribution in this interface. Several types of prosthetic platforms are available such as external and internal hexagon, Morse cone connection, and the concept of platform switching. Therefore, this study aimed to critically describe the different options of prosthetic platforms in implant dentistry, by discussing their biomechanical concepts, clinical use, and advantages and disadvantages. It was observed that all types of prosthetic platforms provided high success rate of the implant treatment by following a strict criteria of indication and limitation. In conclusion, a reverse planning of implant treatment is strongly indicated to reduce implant overload, and the use of advanced surgical-prosthetic techniques is required to obtain a long-term success of oral rehabilitations.
Linkage between Exchange Rate and Foreign Direct Investments: Empirical evidence from Developing Countries

In this thesis we provide an updated empirical evidence on the linkage between an exchange rate and foreign direct investments (FDI). On the sample of 40 developing countries receiving FDI flows from five developed OECD economies, we analyse how the strength of exchange rates, exchange rate volatility and currency regime affect FDI. Applying the Hausman-Taylor instrumental variable approach over the analysed period from 1991 to 2010, we have not found unanimous support on the role of exchange rates in influencing FDI. In the thesis, we document that over the last two decades, bilateral exchange rate volatility decreased and this can be assigned to its less-likely influence on FDI. In addition, based on the results of the analysis, we cannot confirm the wealth effect hypothesis that supposes an increase of FDI after real depreciation of developing country’s currency. We ascribe this outcome to the development of average real exchange rates of developing countries that exhibited considerable strenghtening during the analysed period. We also find that de facto bilateral fixing of the currencies might be beneficial for FDI flows. The reasoning might lie in the reduction of transaction costs that is linked to credible exchange rates. JEL Classification F21, F23, F31
Motor blockade and EMG recordings in epidural anaesthesia. A comparison between mepivacaine 2%, bupivacaine 0.5 % and etidocaine 1.5%

In a double‐blind study young volunteers randomly received 20 ml of mepivacaine 2%, bupivacaine 0.5% or etidocaine 1.5% epidurally, all solutions with adrenaline. The mean cephalad spread of pin‐prick analgesia was equal (T10) in the groups, but the duration was longest for bupivacaine and etidocaine. The motor blockade of the rectus abdominis muscles was assessed quantitatively by rectified integrated electromyographic recordings (RIEMG) and as number of turns in EMG recordings [changes in the direction (rise/fall) of the EMG; TURNS] from three different segmental levels, T7, T9 and T11. The motor blockade of the quadriceps muscles was estimated by EMG recordings simultaneously with muscle force measurements at maximal isometric knee extension. Motor blockade was also evaluated by the Bromage scale. There was good correlation (correlation coefficient 0.91) between RIEMG values and muscle force in knee extension during epidural anaesthesia. TURNS showed a non‐linear relationship to isometric force during epidural anaesthesia and added no further information. At the lower parts of the abdomen (T11), etidocaine gave more profound and longer motor blockade than mepivacaine. For quadriceps muscle function, motor blockade was almost complete with all three local anaesthetics; the duration of maximum motor blockade was short (45–60 min) for mepivacaine, but about 5 h with etidocaine. At the time when the Bromage scale indicated complete regression of motor blockade, the muscle force of knee extension was only 30% and the quadriceps RIEMG 35% of control values and 1–3 h remained until the time of mobilization. The difference between the segmental level of maximal mean pin‐prick analgesia and that of motor blockade was roughly 4 segments with mepivacaine and bupivacaine and 2.5 segments with etidocaine. The time of complete regression of analgesia and the time of complete regression of motor blockade (knee extension) were about the same for mepivacaine (180 min) and bupivacaine (380 min). With etidocaine, quadriceps muscle force reverted at 580 min and motor blockade outlasted sensory block by 150 min.
Interactions between Schwann cells and macrophages in injury and inherited demyelinating disease

In this article we first discuss the factors that regulate macrophage recruitment, activation, and myelin phagocytosis during Wallerian degeneration and some of the factors involved in the termination of inflammation at the end of the period of Wallerian degeneration after peripheral nerve injuries. In particular, we deal with the early events that trigger chemokine and cytokine expression; the role of phospholipase A2 in initiating the breakdown of compact myelin, and chemokine, cytokine expression; and the role of MCP‐1, MIP‐1α, and IL‐1β in macrophage recruitment and myelin phagocytosis. We also discuss how inflammation may be switched off and the recently identified role of the Nogo receptor on activated macrophages in the clearance of these cells from the injured nerve. In the second half of the article we focus on the role of certain Schwann cell borne cytokines and chemokines, such as M‐CSF and MCP‐1 as well as intracellular signaling that regulate their expression in animal models of inherited demyelinating disease. Additionally, we present the preservation of sensory nerves fibers from macrophage attack in these animal models as a challenging paradigm for the development of putative treatment approaches. Finally, we also discuss the similarities and differences in these Schwann cell‐macrophage responses in injury‐induced Wallerian degeneration and inherited demyelinating diseases. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying Schwann cell‐macrophage interaction under pathological conditions is an important prerequisite to develop effective treatment strategies for various peripheral nerve disorders. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of the NADPH oxidase regulates heme oxygenase 1 expression in chronic myeloid leukemia

Patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis have a poor response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors designed to inhibit the breakpoint cluster region–v‐Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (BCR‐ABL1) oncogene. Recent work has demonstrated that heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) expression is increased in BCR‐ABL1–expressing cells and that the inhibition of HO‐1 in CML leads to reduced cellular growth, suggesting that HO‐1 may be a plausible target for therapy. The objective of the current study was to clarify the mechanism of HO‐1 overexpression and the role of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase as a contributor to this mechanism in CML.
A trial Receptors with Nonmedullated Vagal Afferents in the Cat: Discharge Frequency and Pattern in Relation to Atrial Pressure

The response of 14 atrial receptors with nonmedullated vagal afferents to changes in atrial pressure was determined in anesthetized thoracotomized cats. Recordings were made from 11 single fibers and three two-fiber filaments. Mean conduction velocity was 0.9 m/sec (range, 0.35 to 2.2 m/sec). During the control period, either no activity was detected or there was a sparse discharge (mean, 1.4 impulses/sec), which occasionally was related to the a or v waves. As atrial pressure was increased by transfusion or by occlusion of the aortic, pulmonary arterial, mitral, and tricuspid orifices, an increased rate of firing occurred, often related to the atrial v wave. The threshold for individual receptors was between 2 and 3 mm Hg (mean pressure) in the right atrium, and 5 and 12 mm Hg in the left atrium. The maximal firing rate was 5–11 impulses/sec for right atrial and 10-20 impulses/sec for left atrial receptors. The receptors were localized by probing the opened heart, and were identified in both atria, in the interatrial septum, and in the atrial-venous junctions. Thus receptors connected to vagal C fibers are present throughout both atria and are activated by moderate changes in pressure.
Caractérisation et modélisation de diélectriques de grille des technologies CMOS 50nm

A microelectronique doit utiliser des dielectriques de grille de plus en plus minces pour les transistors MOS, ce qui donne lieu a un fort courant de grille. Une partie de ce travail a ainsi ete consacree a l'etude des proprietes de ce courant dans le cas de dielectriques de grille SiO2 ultra minces. Nous avons trouve une influence des etats d'interface a faible champ et de la resistance serie a fort champ, et developpe une methode de correction de l'influence du courant de grille sur le courant de drain. Un moyen pour diminuer le courant de grille est d'utiliser des dielectriques de grille a haute permittivite (high-k). Au cours de cette these, nous avons donc etudie les proprietes et les caracteristiques electriques de transistors MOS avec de l'oxyde d'hafnium (HfO2) comme dielectrique de grille, avec une fine couche de SiO2 a l'interface avec le substrat, et une grille metallique midgap TiN. Le courant tunnel a travers ce bicouche a ete simule et le role de differents parametres comme l'epaisseur des deux couches a ete explicite. Les mecanismes de conduction a travers ce dielectrique ont ete etudies et montrent une grande influence des defauts du HfO2. Une etude du piegeage dans le bicouche a donc ete effectuee. Comme pour tous les MOSFETs a dielectrique de grille high-k, la mobilite a ete trouvee degradee par rapport au cas du SiO2. Les causes de cette degradation ont ete etudiees par des mesures a differentes temperatures et par l'injection de charges dans le dielectrique, et montrent que les defauts charges presents dans le bicouche HfO2/SiO2 sont la principale cause de la faible mobilite observee sur ces dispositifs.
More Unfair Claims About Fair Use in Australia

This paper extends an earlier review of five studies that have been used by a number of large companies and private advocacy groups to promote major copyright policy changes in Asia Pacific. The earlier paper identified how some of the key arguments used by the proponents of these changes were based on faulty or misleading interpretations of data. This paper reviews a new report that has been recently released, written for Google, and authored by Deloitte: Access Economics (2018). This review again isolates a number of false claims being made, this time about the economic effects of fair use in Australia, including four key flawed assertions in the paper. Assertion 1: that substantial downstream value is lost as a result of current copyright law in Australia. The downstream uses of copyright works involved include: text and data mining, digital analytics, cloud computing, transformative, educational and informational uses involving existing copyright works. Assertion 2: that this downstream value is lost due to current copyright law in Australia reducing cumulative innovation, and that Fair Use can remedy that. Assertion 3: that creativity is booming in the digital world and that introducing Fair Use in Australia will benefit creative output. Assertion 4: that transaction costs would be lower under a Fair Use system. As we shall discuss this presents an unbalanced picture of the likely impacts of adopting Fair Use in Australia, the nature and extent of the real current market problems, the scope for market solutions to the alleged problems, the nature and role of copyright and of transaction costs. The paper is indeed based on a fundamental misinterpretation of copyright. It fails to adequately acknowledge that copyright merely requires the creator's consent, and provides the basis for a market in creative works and does not prevent use. The paper then does not adequately explain why any copyright market might be expected to fail in the manner alleged, nor why the proposed legal intervention (fair use) might be expected to improve outcomes. The paper also doesn’t present any real new evidence, particularly drawing on the so-called “big data” that must now be available on digital copyright market transactions. A more useful contribution would further have examined the practical limitations of licensing markets, and the extent to which these might be addressed by new digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technology in order to enhance creative market growth, investment and innovation.
Predicting the Onset of Tachycardia for Patients in Intensive Care Units

Tachycardia is a faster than normal heart rate at rest. In general, a resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute is accepted as tachycardia in adults [1]. While hospitalized patients can develop tachycardia from various benign clinical settings, some tachycardia events in the intensive care unit (ICU) could lead to cardiorespiratory instabilities such as shock and multi-organ hypoperfusion (lack of oxygenated blood flow) resulting in significant morbidity and mortality [2]. It is one of the most common types of instability in intensive care that happens before hypotension or organ failure. It is also one of the initial compensatory mechanisms to hypoxia and is one of the first measurable compensatory mechanism to shock. While most of ICUs are well-equipped to manage tachycardia, the event is not easily managed in majority of patients in a timely manner. This project aims to design and apply machine learning models that predict whether tachycardia will occur based on continuous bed-side monitoring data. It is intended to issue early warnings to enable earlier intervention and potentially prevent catastrophic events. The ultimate benefit will be increased survival rate among ICU patients.
A review and update of the current status of the vasculature-disabling agent combretastatin-A4 phosphate (CA4P)

Vascular-disrupting strategies impair a tumor's blood vessel network, which is essential for tumor progression and metastasis. Vascular-disrupting agents (VDAs) cause a rapid and selective vascular shutdown in tumors to produce extensive secondary neoplastic cell death due to ischemia. A lead agent in this therapeutic strategy is the tubulin depolymerizing agent combretastatin-A4 phosphate (CA4P). Used alone, CA4P induces extensive necrosis in a wide variety of preclinical cancer models and significant blood flow reductions in the patient tumors. Preclinical and clinical data further indicate that CA4P can effectively be combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Finally, the potential of combining VDAs with antiangiogenic therapies has shown considerable promise in preclinical models and such combinations are now beginning to be evaluated in patients.
Parameters Identification of Stochastic Nonstationary Process Used in Earthquake Modelling

This paper proposes a new deterministic envelope function to define non-stationary stochastic processes modeling seismic ground motion accelerations. The proposed envelope function modulates the amplitude of the time history of a stationary filtered white noise to properly represent the amplitude variations in the time histories of the ground motion accelerations. This function depends on two basic seismological indices: the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) and the kind of soil. These indices are widely used in earthquake engineering. Firstly, the envelope function is defined analytically from the Saragoni Hart’s function. Then its parameters are identified for a set of selected real records of earthquake collected in PEER Next Generation Attenuation database. Finally, functions of the parameters depending on the Peak Ground Acceleration and the kind of soil are defined from these identified values of the parameters of the envelope function through a regression analysis.
Research on the Construction of Partnership in the Corporate Workplace

Workplace partnerships refer to the establishment of new partnerships at the corporate workplace level that focus on win-win cooperation. The establishment of partnership in the workplace of Chinese enterprises takes into account the realization of the interests of the management, trade unions and employees. The article conceptualizes the meaning of partnership from the perspective of social exchange theory, and on this basis, puts forward how to implement effective cooperation measures in the workplace of enterprises, through the exchange relationship between enterprises, trade unions and employees, so that within the organization members form a mutually beneficial relationship.