Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drain data to predict clinically relevant pancreatic fistula.

BACKGROUND Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a common and potentially devastating complication of pancreas resection. Management of this complication is important to the pancreas surgeon. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether drain data accurately predicts clinically significant POPF. METHODS A prospectively maintained database with daily drain amylase concentrations and output volumes from 177 consecutive pancreatic resections was analysed. Drain data, demographic and operative data were correlated with POPF (ISGPF Grade: A--clinically silent, B--clinically evident, C--severe) to determine predictive factors. RESULTS Twenty-six (46.4%) out of 56 patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy and 52 (43.0%) out of 121 patients who underwent a Whipple procedure developed a POPF (Grade A-C). POPFs were classified as A (24, 42.9%) and C (2, 3.6%) after distal pancreatectomy whereas they were graded as A (35, 28.9%), B (15, 12.4%) and C (2, 1.7%) after Whipple procedures. Drain data analysis was limited to Whipple procedures because only two patients developed a clinically significant leak after distal pancreatectomy. The daily total drain output did not differ between patients with a clinical leak (Grades B/C) and patients without a clinical leak (no leak and Grade A) on post-operative day (POD) 1 to 7. Although the median amylase concentration was significantly higher in patients with a clinical leak on POD 1-6, there was no day that amylase concentration predicted a clinical leak better than simply classifying all patients as 'no leak' (maximum accuracy = 86.1% on POD 1, expected accuracy by chance = 85.6%, kappa = 10.2%). CONCLUSION Drain amylase data in the early post-operative period are not a sensitive or specific predictor of which patients will develop clinically significant POPF after pancreas resection.
α‐MSH activates immediate defense responses to UV‐induced oxidative stress in human melanocytes

Exposure of cultured human melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation (UV) results in DNA damage. In melanoma, UV‐signature mutations resulting from unrepaired photoproducts are rare, suggesting the possible involvement of oxidative DNA damage in melanocyte malignant transformation. Here we present data demonstrating immediate dose‐dependent generation of hydrogen peroxide in UV‐irradiated melanocytes, which correlated directly with a decrease in catalase activity. Pretreatment of melanocytes with α‐melanocortin (α‐MSH) reduced the UV‐induced generation of 7,8‐dihydro‐8‐oxyguanine (8‐oxodG), a major form of oxidative DNA damage. Pretreatment with α‐MSH also increased the protein levels of catalase and ferritin. The effect of α‐MSH on 8‐oxodG induction was mediated by activation of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), as it was absent in melanocytes expressing loss‐of‐function MC1R, and blocked by concomitant treatment with an analog of agouti signaling protein (ASIP), ASIP‐YY. This study provides unequivocal evidence for induction of oxidative DNA damage by UV in human melanocytes and reduction of this damage by α‐MSH. Our data unravel some mechanisms by which α‐MSH protects melanocytes from oxidative DNA damage, which partially explain the strong association of loss‐of‐function MC1R with melanoma.
Monitoring and Diagnostics of PV Plants by a Wireless Self-Powered Sensor for Individual Panels

In this paper, an innovative sensor suited to perform real-time measurements of operating voltage and current, open-circuit voltage, and short-circuit current of string-connected photovoltaic (PV) panels is presented. An effective disconnection system ensures that the sensor does not affect the behavior of the string during the measurement phase and offers many benefits like the automatic detection of bypass events; moreover, the sensor does not require additional cables thanks to a wireless communication and a power supply section based on energy harvesting. An extensive experimental campaign is performed to prove the reliability and usefulness of the sensor for continuous monitoring of PV plants. The capability to detect faults and accurately localize malfunctioning panels in a PV string is highlighted.
[Analysis of the intervertebral angle following anterior spinal fusion of thoracolumbar/lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes of intervertebral angle and relative factors after anterior correction and instrumentation in thoracolumbar/lumbar (PUMCIb, Ic) adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. METHODS The clinical data, including roentgenograms of 18 PUMCIb, Ic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients, including 13 patients of Ib type, 2 males and 11 females, and 5 patients of Ic type, all females, 1 who underwent anterior correction and instrumentation, were collected. The Cobb angle of the coronal curve, correction rate, trunk shift, apical vertebra translation, intervertebral angle, and so on, were measured and analyzed. RESULTS The average coronal Cobb angle were 44.72 +/- 10.20 degrees and 6.51 +/- 7.54 degrees before and after surgery respectively, with an average correction rate of 81.2%. The average preoperative intervertebral angle was 3.57 +/- 3.48 degrees , and 2.02 +/- 4.37 degrees and 5.26 +/- 5.92 degrees 1 week and 1 year postoperatively. The changes were of significance in the intervertebral angle between preoperative and 1-week postoperative values (P = 0.035), and between the 1-week and 1-year postoperative values (P = 0.029). All 18 patients were grouped to Group A (n = 12) and Group B (n = 6) according to the fusion levels. In Group A the preoperative intervertebral angle was 4.07 +/- 3.98 degrees ; the intervertebral angle 1-week and 1-year postoperatively were 1.23 +/- 3.46 degrees and 4.01 +/- 4.72 degrees respectively. In Group B, the preoperative intervertebral angle was 1.97 +/- 1.76 degrees ; and the intervertebral angle 1-week, and 1-year postoperatively were 4.21 +/- 4.47 degrees and 7.12 +/- 5.09 degrees respectively. There were significant changes between the two groups about the intervertebral angle in different stages (P < 0.05). The analysis and comparison of the other variables between these two groups revealed significant changes in the preoperative apical vertebra translocation, number of fused segments and T12 approximately LI lordosis (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The intervertebral angle is much improved after anterior correction and instrumentation surgery, but it increases gradually during the follow-up. The fusion levels, the preoperative apical vertebra translocation, T12 approximately LIV lordosis, and the preoperative intervertebral angle may be correlated with the changes of postoperative intervertebral angle. In the current opinion, it's unworthy of preventing postoperative intervertebral angle changes by decreasing the correction rate or sacrificing the motion segment.
Metagenomic Insights into The Diversity and Functions of Microbial Assemblages in Tasik Kenyir Ecosystem

Tropical freshwater lake such as Tasik Kenyir are underrepresented among the growing number of environmental metagenomic data sets. In Tasik Kenyir, water from two different sites, pristine and disturbed areas were sampled. After the filtration process, genomic DNA from both sites were extracted using Meta-G-nome DNA isolation kit and shotgun metagenomic sequencing was carried out on Illumina HiSeq2500 Desktop Sequencer (Illumina, Inc.). Raw data were then trimmed and assembled using Metagenomic Assembler program, MetaVelvet. Data analysis was carried out using software Blast2GO (BioBam Bioinformatic S.L). The total number of sequence reads was 189,158 from TKS1.5m (disturbed area) and 246,577 from TKS2.5m (pristine area). The results indicate that sequence reads of microbial species were presence at disturbed area near the aquaculture zone was lower than the sequence reads of microbial species were presence at pristine area. When compared to archaea, both samples were dominated by bacteria (more than 90%) suggesting that bacteria are absolutely dominant in the prokaryotic communities in the freshwater samples. The lake appears to contain a mixture of autotrophs and heterotrophs capable of performing main biogeochemical cycles like nitrogen fixation by Klebsiella sp for TKS1.5m and Pontibacter sp. for TKS2.5m. and carbon fixation by heterotrophic Alcaligenes sp. and Shewanella decolorationi in TKS1.5m, and by Pantoea sp. in TKS2.5m. Present study will advance our understanding of the importance of freshwater microbial communities for ecosystem and human health.
Postpartum depression among Pakistani women in Norway: Prevalence and risk factors

Objective. To assess the prevalence of and risk factors for postpartum depression among Pakistani women in Norway. Methods. A total of 207 pregnant Pakistani women living in Norway participated in a questionnaire study. The author interviewed the women face to face during pregnancy and 6 to 12 weeks after delivery. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale was used to identify the risk cases. Results. Only 7.6% of the immigrant Pakistani women were depressed postpartum. High scores on the life event scale, a history of prior depression, single marital status, a poor relationship to one's partner and an age of 30 years or more were found to be significant risk factors for postpartum depression. Conclusions. The prevalence of postpartum depression among immigrant Pakistani women seems to be low compared with the prevalence reported in immigrant populations elsewhere, it was however only slightly lower than the study of ethnic Norwegians (8.9%). The risk factors were similar to results from international reports; moreover, there were few cultural differences in risk factors between ethnic Norwegian and Pakistani immigrants.
Intravitreal drug delivery in retinal disease: are we out of our depth?

Introduction: With the ever-increasing global burden of retinal disease, there is an urgent need to vastly improve formulation strategies that enhance posterior eye delivery of therapeutics. Despite intravitreal administration having demonstrated notable superiority over other routes in enhancing retinal drug availability, there still exist various significant physical/biochemical barriers preventing optimal drug delivery into the retina. A further complication lies with an inability to reliably translate laboratory-based retinal models into a clinical setting. Several formulation approaches have recently been evaluated to improve intravitreal therapeutic outcomes, and our aim in this review is to highlight strategies that hold the most promise. Areas covered: We discuss the complex barriers faced by the intravitreal route and examine how formulation strategies including implants, nanoparticulate carriers, viral vectors and sonotherapy have been utilized to attain both sustained delivery and enhanced penetration through to the retina. We conclude by highlighting the advances and limitations of current in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo retinal models in use by researchers globally. Expert opinion: Various nanoparticle compositions have demonstrated the ability to overcome the retinal barriers successfully; however, their utility is limited to the laboratory setting. Optimization of these formulations and the development of more robust experimental retinal models are necessary to translate success in the laboratory into clinically efficacious outcomes.
Prevalence and predictors of parental grief and depression after the death of a child from cancer.

PURPOSE To investigate patterns of grief and depression in a sample of parents whose child had died of cancer, and to examine factors related to burden of illness and end-of-life care as potential predictors of parental grief and depression outcomes. METHODS Fifty-eight parents completed standardized self-report questionnaires measuring prolonged grief disorder (Inventory of Complicated Grief-Revised [ICG-R]) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition [BDI-II]) and participated in structured interviews designed to elicit their perceptions of their child's end-of-life care and burden of illness. The majority of participants were mothers (84%) and the mean length of time since child death was 4.5 (standard deviation [SD] = 2.4) years (range, 1.0-9.8 years). RESULTS Rates of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) were similar to those reported in other bereaved populations (10.3%); however, 41% of parents met diagnostic criteria for grief-related separation distress. Twenty-two percent of parents reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. Time since death and parental perception of the oncologist's care predicted parental grief symptoms but not depressive symptoms. Perceptions of the child's quality of life during the last month, preparedness for the child's death, and economic hardship also predicted grief and depression outcomes. CONCLUSIONS A minority of parents met criteria for PGD and depression, however, almost half the sample was experiencing significant separation distress associated with persistent longing and yearning for their child. Time since death is a significant predictor of parental psychological distress. This study also highlights the importance of end-of-life factors in parents' long-term adjustment and the need for optimal palliative care to ensure the best possible outcomes for parents.
Research on computerized adaptive testing system based on IRT

As a theoretical basis of computerized adaptive test, item response theory (IRT) has been the focus point of research on test theory of education at present and broken through the limitation of the classical test theory. The ability of examinee is related with his response in examination, and all of them are parameterized by IRT. At present, the research on computerized adaptive testing (CAT) based on IRT is limited in lonely study for dichotomous scoring model alone or multi-scoring model. A mixed-scoring CAT system based on the three-layered B/S model structure is developed in this thesis. The research on mixed-scoring model, which both including dichotomous scoring and multi-scoring, is still in development. This research tries to research on mixed-scoring CAT model based on two-parameter logistic model, and give a resolving method. The functional model and structure of the system is provided. The structure of CAT system and the process of test implement are described in details including the module of the system, the structure of the item-bank, the estimate of parameter, the test flow and so on. The test results show that this system has a better performance in calculating the ability of examinee and the test efficiency. The exposure of items is controlled, and the exposure excess of items is reduced. The ratio of superposition in test is lower, and the security of test is better.
Application of ``Intelligent'' Computer-Aided Design Techniques to Power Plant Design and Operation

This paper discusses the development philosophy and specific capabilities of an ``intelligent'' 3D modeling software system for power plants. The synergetic combination of interactive 3D computer modeling, graphics, and database management provides an efficient and flexible tool for plant design, verification, and operation. The advantages of an ``intelligent'' physical model and system drawings are outlined in detail, and examples of a wide range of applications are given.
EEG-Guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reveals Rapid Shifts in Motor Cortical Excitability during the Human Sleep Slow Oscillation

Evoked cortical responses do not follow a rigid input–output function but are dynamically shaped by intrinsic neural properties at the time of stimulation. Recent research has emphasized the role of oscillatory activity in determining cortical excitability. Here we employed EEG-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during non-rapid eye movement sleep to examine whether the spontaneous <1 Hz neocortical slow oscillation (SO) is associated with corresponding fluctuations of evoked responses. Whereas the SO's alternating phases of global depolarization (up-state) and hyperpolarization (down-state) are clearly associated with fluctuations in spontaneous neuronal excitation, less is known about state-dependent shifts in neocortical excitability. In 12 human volunteers, single-pulse TMS of the primary motor cortical hand area (M1HAND) was triggered online by automatic detection of SO up-states and down-states in the EEG. State-dependent changes in cortical excitability were traced by simultaneously recording motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and TMS-evoked EEG potentials (TEPs). Compared to wakefulness and regardless of SO state, sleep MEPs were smaller and delayed whereas sleep TEPs were fundamentally altered, closely resembling a spontaneous SO. However, both MEPs and TEPs were consistently larger when evoked during SO up-states than during down-states, and ampliudes within each SO state depended on the actual EEG potential at the time and site of stimulation. These results provide first-time evidence for a rapid state-dependent shift in neocortical excitability during a neuronal oscillation in the human brain. We further demonstrate that EEG-guided temporal neuronavigation is a powerful tool to investigate the phase-dependent effects of neuronal oscillations on perception, cognition, and motor control.
Musculo-skeletal loading conditions at the hip during walking and stair climbing

Musculo-skeletal loading plays an important role in the primary stability of joint replacements and in the biological processes involved in fracture healing. However, current knowledge of musculo-skeletal loading is still limited. In the past, a number of musculo-skeletal models have been developed to estimate loading conditions at the hip. So far, a cycle-to-cycle validation of predicted musculo-skeletal loading by in vivo measurements has not been possible. The aim of this study was to determine the musculo-skeletal loading conditions during walking and climbing stairs for a number of patients and compare these findings to in vivo data. Following total hip arthroplasty, four patients underwent gait analysis during walking and stair climbing. An instrumented femoral prosthesis enabled simultaneous measurement of in vivo hip contact forces. On the basis of CT and X-ray data, individual musculo-skeletal models of the lower extremity were developed for each patient. Muscle and joint contact forces were calculated using an optimization algorithm. The calculated peak hip contact forces both overand under-estimated the measured forces. They differed by a mean of 12% during walking and 14% during stair climbing. For the first time, a cycle-to-cycle validation of predicted musculo-skeletal loading was possible for walking and climbing stairs in several patients. In all cases, the comparison of in vivo measured and calculated hip contact forces showed good agreement. Thus, the authors consider the presented approach as a useful means to determine valid conditions for the analysis of prosthesis loading, bone modeling or remodeling processes around implants and fracture stability following internal fixation. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Low-carbohydrate diets and realities of weight loss.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and will be followed by a worldwide epidemic of diabetes. While diet, lifestyle, and exercise are the cornerstones of current approaches to treat obesity, they have been ineffective in stemming the current epidemic. In this issue of THE JOURNAL, the article by Bravata et al systematically reviews and synthesizes the literature on the use of low-carbohydrate diets for treatment of obesity. Their findings add to the review of popular diets published by Freedman et al. Among the principal findings in the analysis by Bravata et al are that lower-carbohydrate ( 60 g/d of carbohydrate) diets were associated with reduced calorie intake and that weight loss was predicted by calorie intake, diet duration, and baseline body weight, but not by carbohydrate content. At the end of their analysis, Bravata et al note several gaps in the current literature on lowcarbohydrate diets, including the need for better follow-up and for use of intent-totreat analyses.
Cytotoxic T Cells in Influenza Infection

Our studies have concerned several aspects of cytotoxic T cell (T,) responses and recognition patterns in a mouse model of influenza infection. T cells iire an important arm of the immune defence once an influenza infection has occurred and are of particular interest. because it major proportion of T, (and some T-helper cells (Th)) do not discriminate among serologically distinct influenza viruges within a type. both in the human and the mouse. ' I c recognition of influenza-infected cells contrasts with the viral recognition pattern of B cells and neutralizing antibodie\ that are directed mainly to the variable regions of the surface glycoprotein coat of the virus. In this paper we shall discuss the repertoire for the influenza components of class I-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)restricted T,. the genetics of T, responsiveness. and the iri uiuo function of T, (using T-cell clones) in murine infection in comparison to the function of 'Ih.
Phytoestrogens and bone health

Purpose of reviewThe present review summarizes the results of epidemiological studies and clinical trials assessing the skeletal effects of soy foods and soy dietary supplements. Recent findingsResults from epidemiological studies suggest a beneficial skeletal effect in Asian women consuming typical Asian diets, but clinical trials are conflictive regarding the effects of phytoestrogens on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Much of the controversy lies in differences in study design, reporting of results, participants' age and menopausal status, and type and dose of phytoestrogen used. SummaryAlthough western women will likely continue to incorporate soy foods and soy supplements into their diets with the increased availability of these products, published data are inconsistent and do not support soy's protective effect against bone loss. This conflicting evidence should be taken into account when considering using isoflavones in the prevention of bone loss and consequently fractures.
Expression of LAG-3 defines exhaustion of intratumoral PD-1+ T cells and correlates with poor outcome in follicular lymphoma

Exhausted T-cells in follicular lymphoma (FL) typically express PD-1, but expression of PD-1 is not limited to exhausted cells. Although expected to be functionally suppressed, we found that the population of intratumoral PD-1+ T cells were predominantly responsible for production of cytokines and granules. This surprising finding prompted us to explore the involvement of LAG-3 to specifically identify functionally exhausted T cells. We found that LAG-3 was expressed on a subset of intratumoral T cells from FL and LAG-3+ T cells almost exclusively came from PD-1+ population. CyTOF analysis revealed that intratumoral LAG-3+ T cells were phenotypically heterogeneous as LAG-3 was expressed on a variety of T cell subsets. In contrast to PD-1+LAG-3- cells, intratumoral PD-1+LAG-3+ T cells exhibited reduced capacity to produce cytokines and granules. LAG-3 expression could be substantially upregulated on CD4+ or CD8+ T cells by IL-12, a cytokine that has been shown to induce T-cell exhaustion and be increased in the serum of lymphoma patients. Furthermore, we found that blockade of both PD-1 and LAG-3 signaling enhanced the function of intratumoral CD8+ T cells resulting in increased IFN-γ and IL-2 production. Clinically, LAG-3 expression on intratumoral T cells correlated with a poor outcome in FL patients. Taken together, we find that LAG-3 expression is necessary to identify the population of intratumoral PD-1+ T cells that are functionally exhausted and, in contrast, find that PD-1+LAG-3- T cells are simply activated cells that are immunologically functional. These findings may have important implications for immune checkpoint therapy in FL.