Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival Analysis in Endometrial Carcinomas by Type of Surgical Approach: A Matched-Pair Study

Simple Summary We carried out a retrospective cohort study of 1382 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EC). A total of 684 (49.5%) were operated on by minimally invasive surgery (MIS), 233 (34%) by robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RAL), 451 (66%) by conventional laparoscopy (LPS), and 698 (50.5%) by open surgery (OP). Disease-free (DFS), overall (OS), and specific survival related to EC (SS) outcomes were significantly higher for MIS compared to OP. When matched by age, BMI, co-morbidities, ASA score, histological type, grade, myometrial invasion, and FIGO stage, the DFS, OS, and SS amounts were similar between the MIS and OP groups. The surgical approach for women with EC does not impact disease-free or overall survival amounts when matched by homogeneous groups, but laparoscopy seems to offer a higher specific overall survival rate compared to the open surgery approach. Abstract (1) Background: This study aimed to analyze the impact of surgical approach on survival rates in women diagnosed with endometrial cancer. (2) Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort of 1382 women diagnosed with EC was performed. A total of 684 (49.5%) women underwent minimally invasive surgery, 233 (34%) underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RAL), 451 (66%) underwent conventional laparoscopy (LPS), and 698 (50.5%) underwent open surgery (OP). Sociodemographic features, tumor characteristics, and survival rates were analyzed in the whole sample and in a matched-pair model. (3) Results: Women operated on by OP were significantly older, presented more comorbidities, and had more aggressive tumors. Disease-free (DFS), overall (OS), and specific survival related to EC (SS) amounts were significantly higher for MIS compared to OP (p < 0.001). When matched by age, body mass index, comorbidities, ASA score, histological type, grade, myometrial invasion, and FIGO stage, 798 patients were selected. DFS, OS, and SS amounts were similar between the MIS and OP groups. (4) Conclusions: The surgical approach for women with EC does not impact DFS or OS amounts when matched by homogeneous groups.
Guided Wave Phase Velocity Dispersion Reconstruction Based on Enhanced Phased Spectrum Method

Fibre-reinforced composite laminates are frequently used in various engineering structures, due to their increased weight-to-stiffness ratio, which allows to fulfil certain regulations of CO2 emissions. Limited inter-laminar strength makes composites prone to formation of various defects, which leads to progressive degradation of residual strength and fatigue life of the structure. Using ultrasonic guided waves is a common technique for assessing the structural integrity of composite laminates. Phase velocity is one of the fundamental characteristics of guided waves and can be used for defect detection, material property estimation, and evaluation of dispersion. In this paper, a phase velocity reconstruction approach, based on the phase-shift method, was proposed, which uses frequency sweep excitation to estimate velocity at specific frequency harmonics. In contrast to the conventional phase spectrum technique, the proposed approach is applicable to the narrowband piezoelectric transducers and suitable for the reconstruction of dispersion curves for direct, converted, and multiple co-existing modes with high accuracy. The proposed technique was validated with finite element simulations and experiments, both on isotropic and anisotropic structures, analysing the direct, converted, and overlapped modes. The results demonstrated that, using the proposed technique, the phase velocity dispersion can be reconstructed at −20 dB level bandwidth of the transducer, with a relative error of ±4%, compared to the theoretical velocity predictions.
How Important are Investment Indivisibilities for Development? Experimental Evidence from Uganda

Theoretically, indivisible investments together with ﬁnancial frictions can lower development, generate poverty traps, and lead agents to become risk-loving. Using experimental cash grants involving a choice between a safer, low payoﬀ and a riskier, large payoﬀ lottery, we ﬁnd that 27 percent choose the riskier, larger lottery. Small grant winners invest in livestock and business inventory, while large grant winners invest in land, which exhibits high capital gains. Our quantitative model shows that the aggregate eﬀects of ﬁnancial deepening are sizable if the indivisible investment can be accumulated (e.g., capital) but not if it is in ﬁxed supply (e.g., land).
Satellite and in situ Sampling Mismatches: Consequences for the Estimate of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Uncertainties

Validation of satellite sea surface salinity (SSS) products is typically based on comparisons with in-situ measurements at a few meters depth, that are mostly done at a single location and time. The difference in term of spatio-temporal resolution between the in-situ near-surface salinity and the two-dimensional satellite SSS results in a sampling mismatch uncertainty. The Climate Change Initiative (CCI) project has merged SSS from three satellite missions. Using an optimal interpolation, weekly and monthly SSS and their uncertainties are estimated at a 50 km spatial resolution over the global ocean. Over the 2016-2018 period the mean uncertainty on weekly CCI SSS is 0.13, whereas the standard deviation of weekly CCI minus in-situ Argo salinities is 0.24. Using high resolution SSS simulations, we estimate the expected uncertainty due to the CCI versus Argo sampling mismatch. Most of the largest spatial variability of the satellite minus Argo salinity are observed in regions with large mismatch. A quantitative validation is performed by considering the statistical distribution of the CCI minus Argo salinity normalized by the sampling and retrieval uncertainties. This quantity should follow a Gaussian distribution with a standard deviation of 1, if all uncertainty contributions are properly considered. We find that 1) the sampling mismatch can explain most of the observed differences between Argo and CCI data, especially for monthly products and in dynamical regions (river plumes, fronts), 2) overall, the uncertainties are well estimated in CCI version 3, much better compared to CCI version 2. There are a few dynamical regions where discrepancies remain, and where the satellite SSS, their associated uncertainties and the sampling mismatch estimates should be further validated.
An exploration of politicized healthcare access for Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Jordan: a question of equity

Purpose Refugees commonly face inequitable access to health care services in their host country. This study aimed to identify factors influence refugee access to health services and to assess perceptions of barriers to health care for different refugee groups in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach In-depth interviews were combined with document analysis and analyzed using thematic and framework methods. Findings Findings highlighted inequitable access to health services between different refugee groups. Unlike Palestinian refugees from the West Bank, Palestinian refugees from Gaza faced financial barriers to access health care as a result of citizenship status, which affected their health insurance, referrals for health care and legal right to work. Syrian refugees similarly lacked Jordanian citizenship and health insurance and mainly depended on UNHCR for health services, though some were able to acquire work permits and pay for private care. Originality/value This study demonstrates a need for politically and economically appropriate policies to minimize the disparity of health care access among these refugee groups.
Review on Sensor Technology to Detect Toxic Gases

Abstract The excess use and generation of various toxic gases from many industrial complexes and plant facilities have increased thepossibility of leakage or explosion accidents, which can cause fatal damage to human beings in the wide range of neighboringarea. To prevent the exposure to the fatal toxic gases, it is very important to monitor the leakage of toxic gases using gas sensorsin real time. Various types of gas sensors, which can be classified as semiconductor, electrochemical, optical, and catalytic com-bustion types according to the operating principles, have been developed. In this review, the operation principles of gas sensorsare explained and the performance of those sensors is compared. The state-of-the-art gas sensor technologies developed byresearch institutes or companies are reviewed also.Keywords: Toxic gases, Gas accident, Gas sensors, Safety 1. 독성가스 독성가스란 공기 중에 일정량 이상 존재하는 경우 인체에 유해한 독성을 가진 가스로서 허용 농도가 200 ppm 이하인 것을말한다[1]. 국내 독성가스 생산은 여수에서, 저장은 울산에서 가장 많은 가운데 지난 10년간 독성가스 사건은 전국 산업단지에서 36건이 발생했고, 이 중 암모니아 사고가 23건으로 가장 많이 보고되고 있다. 또한, 국내 독성가스 사용량은 연평균 39%로 증가하면서 이 같은 독성가스 사고가 발생할 가능성이 높아지고 있다[2]. 일반적으로 독성가스가 인체에 미치는 영향은 눈과 호흡기관의 점막 손상 및 염증, 두통, 구토, 급성 호흡곤란 등이 있으며,장시간 노출 될 시 홍반, 조직 파괴, 질식, 심하면 사망까지 이르게 할 수 있다. 독성가스의 중독으로부터 회복되었더라도 추후 여러 가지 후유증이 남을 수 있으므로 사전에 조치하고 예방하는 것이 중요하다. 한편, 독성가스에 노출되더라도 그 농도에 따라 증상이 미비하거나 매우 심각하게 나타날 수 있는데,일반적으로 독성가스의 인체 허용농도 기준을 정의하기 위해TLV-TWA (Threshold Limit Value-Time Weighted Average) 수치가 물질 고유 허용치로 활용된다. 이 값은 ‘시간 가중치로서 거의 모든 노동자가 1일 8시간 또는 주 40시간의 평상 작업에서악영향을 받지 않는다고 생각되는 농도로서 시간에 중점을 둔유해물질의 평균농도’를 뜻하며, Table 1은 TLV-TWA 수치에따른 대표적인 독성가스의 인체 허용농도를 나타낸다[3]. 하지만 인간의 감각기관으로는 독성가스의 농도를 정량 하거나 종류를 거의 판별할 수 없다. 이에 대응하기 위해 그 동안여러 물질의 물리적, 화학적 성질을 이용한 수많은 가스센서가연구, 개발 되어 가스의 누설감지, 농도의 측정, 기록 및 경보
Role of Coccinia indica in the prevention and management of breast cancer: A review

Cucurbitacin B is isolated from the fruit of Coccinia indica, have reported for treatment of several types of cancer due to its anticancer and antioxidant effect. Cucurbitacin B, inducing cell cycle arrest at G2/M as well as apoptosis. It can act as anti-proliferative agent for breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and reduces the ferrocynaide to ferrous. Cucurbitacin B inhibits telomerase activity in several breast cancer cell lines through down regulation of both the hTERT and c -Myc expression. The expression of the hTERT gene directly depends on the telomerase activity as the hTERT protein, is the catalytic rate-limiting determinant subunit of telomerase. Estrogen receptor activates a number of cellular signal transduction and also ERK/MAPK pathway. It leads to the translocation of activated MAP kinase to the nucleus where it regulates the expression of a number of transcription factors. Including pertinently, c -Myc but when cell lines treated with cucurbitacin B, directly modulates either the estrogen receptor or subsequent signalling pathway and the down regulate JAK/STAT pathway. Whereas some different biological pathway exist in estrogen negative cells, where c -Myc is primarily controlled at the level of RNA stability. However, cucurbitacin B exerts anticancer activity and inhibit the telomerase and induced apoptosis.
CARACTERIZACIÓN Y DISMINUCIÓN EN LA EXPRESIÓN DE UNA QUITINA SINTASA MEDIADA POR ARNi EN Hypothenemus hampei (CURCULIONIDAE)

La broca del café, Hypothenemus hampei, es un insecto plaga que causa daños significativos al grano de café y grandes pérdidas económicas a los productores en todo el mundo. Al igual que otros insectos, la broca de café requiere de quitina sintasas (CHS) para la biosíntesis de la quitina, componente principal del exoesqueleto del insecto, y de vital importancia para su crecimiento y desarrollo. En este estudio, el gen CHS1 de la broca del café (HhCHS1) fue identificado, caracterizado y posteriormente silenciado mediante el uso de ARNi, mecanismo que permite degradar el ARNm e interrumpir la expresión de proteínas de interés en un organismo. Los perfiles de expresión del gen HhCHS1, medidos por RT-qPCR, mostraron niveles de expresión diferencial en las diferentes etapas del desarrollo del insecto. Los niveles más altos de expresión se encontraron en larvas de segundo estadio (L2) y machos adultos. El ARNcd administrado por vía oral, a concentraciones de 2 µg/100 µL, generó un silenciamiento efectivo del gen HhCHS1 (84 %) después de 7 días de tratamiento. Estos resultados sugieren que el gen HhCHS1 desempeña un papel importante en el desarrollo del insecto, y que, por ende, podría usarse como objetivo para desarrollar nuevas estrategias de manejo de este insecto plaga, mediante el uso de ARNi. Palabras Clave: ARNcd, café, insecto plaga, quitina-sintasa, RT-qPCR.
Exploration-Based SLAM (e-SLAM) for the Indoor Mobile Robot Using Lidar

This paper attempts to uncover one possible method for the IMR (indoor mobile robot) to perform indoor exploration associated with SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) using LiDAR. Specifically, the IMR is required to construct a map when it has landed on an unexplored floor of a building. We had implemented the e-SLAM (exploration-based SLAM) using the coordinate transformation and the navigation prediction techniques to achieve that purpose in the engineering school building which consists of many 100-m2 labs, corridors, elevator waiting space and the lobby. We first derive the LiDAR mesh for the orthogonal walls and filter out the static furniture and dynamic humans in the same space as the IMR. Then, we define the LiDAR pose frame including the translation and rotation from the orthogonal walls. According to the MSC (most significant corner) obtained from the intersection of the orthogonal walls, we calculate the displacement of the IMR. The orientation of the IMR is calculated from the alignment of orthogonal walls in the consecutive LiDAR pose frames, which is also assisted by the LQE (linear quadratic estimation) method. All the computation can be done in a single processor machine in real-time. The e-SLAM technique leads to a potential for the in-house service robot to start operation without having pre-scan LiDAR maps, which can save the installation time of the service robot. In this study, we use only the LiDAR and compared our result with the IMU to verify the consistency between the two navigation sensors in the experiments. The scenario of the experiment consists of rooms, corridors, elevators, and the lobby, which is common to most office buildings.
More non-native fish species than natives, and an invasion of Malawi cichlids, in ancient Lake Poso, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Ancient Lake Poso in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, is among the deepest lakes in Asia, and hosts a largely endemic fauna of fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs. Introduction of non-native fish species started at least a century ago to foster local fish production. Recent fieldwork suggests that introduction of non-native fishes is ongoing, including species that originate from the ornamental pet trade. These include the hybridogenic ornamental “flowerhorn” cichlid, a fish that spread rapidly in Sulawesi’s Malili Lakes, and the “golden cichlid,” Melanochromis auratus from African Lake Malawi. This popular aquarium species colonized Lake Poso even more rapidly than the flowerhorn, and is omnipresent at benthic habitats across most of the lake. Here, we list records of 17 non-native fish species from Lake Poso, present the first assessment of golden cichlid stomach contents outside of their native habitat, report the occurrences of non-native crustaceans, molluscs and plants, and discuss potential impacts on the native fauna and ecosystem. Most of the non-native species have established substantial populations, and it appears very plausible that the non-native fauna affects endemics. This is supported by the finding that golden cichlid stomachs contained a broad spectrum of items, including fish, their scales, fins, eggs and larvae, and various invertebrates. We conclude that non-native species introduction poses a substantial and increasing threat to the Lake Poso fauna, a major hotspot of aquatic biodiversity in the Wallacea region.
Effect of virtual reality and haptic feedback on upper extremity function and functional independence in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a research protocol

Hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) is a subcategory of CP which is characterized by sensory motor deficits primarily on one side of the body that adversely affects functionality. Virtual reality (VR) systems have been advanced in the recent past for the use in rehabilitation of patients with neurological conditions. Virtual reality has an inherent motivational component that provides the much-needed compliance for active participation by children. The rationale of the proposed study is to investigate the effect of VR and haptic feedback for improvement of upper extremity function of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. This comparative experimental study will be recruiting 36 children with hemiplegic CP and will be treating them by VR and haptic feedback along with conventional physiotherapy in group A and by conventional physiotherapy only in group B. The children will undergo the treatment for six weeks (five days/week) with each session extending for 60 minutes/day. The primary outcome measures including `nine-hole peg test´ (9HPT) and `box and block test´ (BBT) will assess the manual dexterity and secondary outcome measures including `ABILHAND-kids´ and `WeeFIM (self-care)´ will assess the functional independence that are hypothesized to be gained by haptic enhanced VR intervention when combined with the conventional therapy.
Behavior of Shallow Circular Tunnels—Impact of the Soil Spatial Variability

Spatial variability is unavoidable for soils and it is important to consider such a feature in the design of geotechnical engineering as it may lead to some structure behaviors which cannot be predicted by a calculation assuming homogenous soils. This paper attempts to evaluate the performance of a shallow circular tunnel, in a context of the service limit state, considering the soil spatial variability. The Log-normal distributed random fields, generated by the Karhunen–Loeve expansion method, are used for the spatial modeling. A two-dimensional numerical model, based on the finite difference method, is constructed to deterministically estimate two quantities of interest (i.e., tunnel lining bending moment and surface settlement). The model is combined with the random fields and is implemented into the Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the effects of the soil spatial variability on the tunnel responses. The autocorrelation distance, an important parameter for random fields, is varied within multiple probabilistic analyses. For both of the two tunnel responses, their variabilities are increased with increasing the autocorrelation distance, while a minimum mean value can be observed with this parameter being approximately the tunnel radius. Such finding is very useful for practical designs. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to show the importance of each random parameter.
Alkali-Activated Red Mud and Construction and Demolition Waste-Based Components: Characterization and Environmental Assessment

The aluminum Bayer production process is the most diffused process in the world, but it creates a high amount of basic waste material known as red mud (RM). The use of RM as a precursor of alkali-activated materials is one of the best opportunities for both the ecosystem and the economy. In the present work, mortar samples were obtained by alkali activation of RM with various percentages of blast-furnace slag (BFS) and inert construction and demolition sands. This process creates samples that have a low environmental impact and that can be used as an alternative in the construction industry to cement materials or ceramic ones. The development of these new materials could also represent a way to reduce the CO2 emissions linked to cement and ceramic brick production. In the present study, cubic 40 mm samples reported very interesting values in compressive strength, with a maximum of about 70 MPa for low environmental impact mortars. With such a material, it is possible to create solid bricks for structural use and concrete tiles for road paving or use it for other purposes. Mortar specimens were prepared and characterized, and an LCA analysis with a “cradle-to-gate” approach was carried out for a comparison of the environmental impact of the studied mortars with other materials currently marketed.
Board 375 - Research Abstract Should the Manikin Die During Mock Codes? (Submission #1444)

Introduction/Background Most postgraduate pediatric training programmes include neonatal mock codes. Little is known about the anxiety they create. Although it is clinically realistic, the educational value of an unsuccessful resuscitation is debated. The aims of the study were: 1) Assess the impact of neonatal simulation, in particular the situation of the dying manikiin, on trainees stress level and performance; 2) Evaluate trainees’ application of the 10-minute resuscitation recommendation of the asystolic baby from the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). Methods Pediatric residents and Neonatalogy fellows were randomized to two neonatal simulation scenarios: 1) Term baby who remained pulseless (RP) despite all interventions; 2) Term baby who was born pulseless but responded to appropriate resuscitation (RR). Performance was assessed using the NRP megacode score sheet by two independent reviewers. Salivary cortisol was collected from participants on three occasions: baseline (lecture), pre-simulation (T1) and post-simulation (T2) (after the first simulation scenario). A questionnaire was filled after the simulation session. Results Forty two of forty seven trainees consented to the study. Eighty eight percent of participants were female. Salivary cortisol levels significantly increased from baseline to T1 (p<0.05) . T2 salivary cortisol levels were also significantly higher (p<0.001) than T1. This increase was not scenario dependent (p = 0.06) and was not associated with performance scores on the 1st (p=0.94) or 2nd scenario (p=0.73). Performance scores were similar for RP: 81% (65-98%) and RR: 81% (66-95%) (p=0.66), did not differ according to if RP scenario was done 1st or 2nd and were not different for junior or senior residents. On the post-simulation questionnaire, there is a significant positive association between trainees perceived and actual performance (p=0.003). There is, however no correlation between perceived stress level and actual increase in salivary cortisol (p=0.09) or with performance scores (p=0.41). In RP scenario, 29/42 (69%) of trainees cease resuscitation efforts at an average time of 14 minutes while 13/42 (31%) had not ceased resuscitation efforts by 20 minutes, at which time we interrupted them. Junior residents stop significantly less often than senior residents (p=0.05). Conclusion Neonatal simulation causes anticipatory stress and increases trainees anxiety level without interfering with performance. Trainees are good at evaluating their performance level during simulation. Having a manikin die during simulation does not increase trainees stress or interfere with their performance. A third of trainees do not apply the NRP recommendations on the duration of resuscitation efforts in an asystolic infant. Disclosures None.