Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for seroma formation after axillary lymph node dissection with special focus on the impact of early shoulder exercise

Abstract Background Shoulder and arm dysfunction such as reduced range of motion (ROM) and seroma formation, are common complications following axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). There are conflicting results on the effect of early postoperative exercise on the risk of seroma. This study aims to present incidence of symptomatic seroma formation in a large, population-based cohort, and assesses whether early shoulder mobilization, and other common patient and treatment-related factors are predictors of seroma. Methods This observational cohort study at the Surgical clinic at Lund University Hospital in Sweden, included 217 consecutive patients who underwent ALND due to breast cancer, cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), or carcinoma of unknown primary. A shoulder exercise program was introduced on the first postoperative day and data were collected at routine follow-up 4–6 weeks postsurgery. Main outcome was the strength of the associations between postsurgery exercise and seroma incidence based on logistic regression analyses, supported by data on seroma volume and number of aspirations. Results Two hundred patients completed the study. The overall seroma incidence was 67.5% and the odds of seroma were lower for patients practicing ROM exercise two times/day versus 0–1 time/day (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.18–0.96, p = .038). ROM exercise greater than two times/day did not increase the volume, neither did the arm cycling exercise. ALND combined with mastectomy and CMM surgery were associated with larger seroma volumes (1116 ± 1068ml, p = .006) and (1318 ± 920 ml, p < .001), respectively, compared to the breast conserving surgery (537 ± 478ml) while neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed no influence. The effect of age, patients ≥60 years compared to younger, or BMI ≥ 30.0 were weaker (p = .08). Conclusions Extensive surgical treatments for breast cancer and malignant melanoma produces more seroma, and higher age and obesity may also influence the risk. ROM exercises twice daily predict a lower incidence of seroma following ALND, and more frequent shoulder exercise do not increase the volumes.
Surgery for symptomatic hepatic hemangioma: Resection vs. enucleation, an experience over two decades

Backgrounds/Aims Hemangiomas are the most common benign liver lesions; however, they are usually asymptomatic and seldom require surgery. Enucleation and resection are the most commonly performed surgical procedures for symptomatic lesions. This study aims to compare the outcomes of these two surgical techniques. Methods A retrospective analysis of symptomatic hepatic hemangiomas (HH) operated upon between 2000 and 2021. Patients were categorized into the enucleation and resection groups. Demographic profile, intraoperative bleeding, and morbidity (Clavien-Dindo Grade) were compared. Independent t-test and chi-square tests were used for continuous and categorical variables respectively. p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Sixteen symptomatic HH patients aged 30 to 66 years underwent surgery (enucleation = 8, resection = 8) and majority were females (n = 10 [62.5%]). Fifteen patients presented with abdominal pain, and one patient had an interval increase in the size of the lesion from 9 to 12 cm. The size of hemangiomas varied from 6 to 23 cm. The median blood loss (enucleation: 350 vs. resection: 600 mL), operative time (enucleation: 5.8 vs. resection: 7.5 hours), and postoperative hospital stay (enucleation: 6.5 vs. resection: 11 days) were greater in the resection group (statistically insignificant). In the resection group, morbidity was significantly higher (62.6% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.05), including one mortality. All patients remained asymptomatic during the follow-up. Conclusions Enucleation was simpler with less morbidity as compared to resection in our series. However, considering the small number of patients, further studies are needed with comparable groups to confirm the superiority of enucleation over resection.
Analysis of optical neural stimulation effects on neural networks affected by neurodegenerative diseases

The number of people in risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease increases as the life expectancy grows due to medical advances. Multiple techniques have been developed to improve patient’s condition, from pharmacological to invasive electrodes approaches, but no definite cure has yet been discovered. In this work Optical Neural Stimulation (ONS) has been studied. ONS stimulates noninvasively the outer regions of the brain, mainly the neocortex. The relationship between the stimulation parameters and the therapeutic response is not totally clear. In order to find optimal ONS parameters to treat a particular neurodegenerative disease, mathematical modeling is necessary. Neural networks models have been employed to study the neural spiking activity change induced by ONS. Healthy and pathological neocortical networks have been considered to study the required stimulation to restore the normal activity. The network consisted of a group of interconnected neurons, which were assigned 2D spatial coordinates. The optical stimulation spatial profile was assumed to be Gaussian. The stimulation effects were modeled as synaptic current increases in the affected neurons, proportional to the stimulation fluence. Pathological networks were defined as the healthy ones with some neurons being inactivated, which presented no synaptic conductance. Neurons’ electrical activity was also studied in the frequency domain, focusing specially on the changes of the spectral bands corresponding to brain waves. The complete model could be used to determine the optimal ONS parameters in order to achieve the specific neural spiking patterns or the required local neural activity increase to treat particular neurodegenerative pathologies.
Phase II Randomized Trial of Lenalidomide in Children With Pilocytic Astrocytomas and Optic Pathway Gliomas: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group

PURPOSE Children with low-grade glioma often require long-term therapy and suffer from treatment morbidity. Although targeted agents are promising, tumor targets often encompass normal developmental pathways and long-term effects of inhibition are unknown. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent with wide-ranging properties. Phase I studies indicated greater tolerability of lenalidomide in children compared with adults and a potential dose-response effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a phase II trial of lenalidomide in children with pilocytic astrocytomas and optic pathway gliomas who failed initial therapy. Primary objectives included determination of objective response rate of children randomly assigned to regimen A, low-dose (20 mg/m2/dose), or regimen B, high-dose (115 mg/m2/dose) lenalidomide, and assessment for early progression. Secondary objectives included estimation of event-free survival, overall survival, incidence of toxic events, and assessment of plasma lenalidomide concentrations. Lenalidomide was administered once daily × 21 days of each 28-day cycle for each regimen. RESULTS Seventy-four eligible patients were enrolled (n = 37, each arm). The predefined activity level of interest was achieved for both arms. Four objective responses were observed in each arm, and the number of early progressors was low. Eighteen patients completed 26 cycles of therapy (regimen A, n = 12; regimen B, n = 6). The median number of cycles was 14 (range, 2-26) for regimen A and 11 for regimen B (range, 1-26). Of 74 eligible patients who received study drug, 30 required dose reduction for toxicity (regimen A, n = 6; regimen B, n = 24) and 16 discontinued because of toxicity (regimen A, n = 2; regimen B, n = 14). CONCLUSION Lenalidomide demonstrates a sufficient level of activity in children with low-grade glioma to warrant further exploration. Low-dose (20 mg/m2/dose administered once daily × 21 days of each 28-day cycle) lenalidomide appears to have better tolerability with comparable activity.
Design of Digital Low Pass IIR Filter using Real Coded Genetic Algorithm

This paper presents the design method for Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) digital filter with the use of Real Coded Genetic Algorithm (RGA/RCGA). Generally, nonlinear and multimodal error surface is observed in case of digital IIR filter. Hence, to avoid problems such as local minima, global optimization techniques are required. This paper gives effective method to design digital IIR filters. This paper finds the optimum coefficients of IIR digital filter by using RGA. RGA works on real numbers and is a powerful global optimization algorithm. To obtain minimum transition band, this designing of low pass IIR digital filter is proposed. It is observed that the calculated values are more optimal than those which are obtained by FDA tool available for design of filter in MATLAB. The improved mean-square-error (MSE) is observed in simulation results for example taken. General Terms Digital filter design, optimization algorithm, Frequency response, filter coefficients
Development of taste-masking microcapsules containing azithromycin by fluid bed coating for powder for suspension and in vivo evaluation

Abstract This research aims to develop bitter taste-masking microcapsules containing azithromycin (AZI) by a simpler and familiar method, fluid-bed coating technology, in comparison with Zithromax®. Cores of microcapsules, AZI microparticles, were prepared by fluid-bed granulation, then taste-masking polymer was covered on by fluid-bed coating technique. Eudragit L100, Eudragit RL100, and ethyl cellulose in single and combined with Eudragit L100 and Eudragit E100 were used as taste-masking polymers. The obtained microcapsules were characterised by taste-masking ability, in vitro release, SEM, coating thickness, and coating efficiency. Combination of ethyl cellulose and Eudragit E100 (3:1) in coating thickness of 45.13 ± 2.12% w/w prevents AZI release from microcapsules below bitter taste threshold (1.78 ± 1.17 µg/ml). Bioavailability of powders containing AZI microcapsules and pH modulators (50 mg Na3PO4 and 35 mg Mg(OH)2) was not significantly different from the reference product (Zithromax®, Pfizer, New York, NY) in the rabbit model (p > 0.05). These results support the possibility of developing a generic product containing AZI.
Disrupted hippocampal synchrony following maternal immune activation in a rat model

Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a risk factor for schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. MIA in rats models a number of the brain and behavioral changes that are observed in schizophrenia, including impaired memory. Recent studies in the MIA model have shown that the firing of the hippocampal place cells that are involved in memory processes appear relatively normal, but with abnormalities in the temporal ordering of firing. In this study, we re‐analyzed data from prior hippocampal electrophysiological recordings of MIA and control animals to determine whether temporal dysfunction was evident. We find that there is a decreased ratio of slow to fast gamma power, resulting from an increase in fast gamma power and a tendency toward reduced slow gamma power in MIA rats. Moreover, we observe a robust reduction in spectral coherence between hippocampal theta and both fast and slow gamma rhythms, as well as changes in the phase of theta at which fast gamma occurs. We also find the phasic organization of place cell phase precession on the theta wave to be abnormal in MIA rats. Lastly, we observe that the local field potential of MIA rats contains more frequent sharp‐wave ripple events, and that place cells were more likely to fire spikes during ripples in these animals than control. These findings provide further evidence of desynchrony in MIA animals and may point to circuit‐level changes that underlie failures to integrate and encode information in schizophrenia.
Socioeconomic Inequalities and Predictors of Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral

Objective The aim of the study is to identify factors associated with cardiac rehabilitation referral after an acute coronary syndrome at a university hospital. Design We analyzed 2814 hospitalizations due to acute coronary syndrome between 2017 and 2019 in Centro Hospitalar São João. The hospital’s morbidity database was used to retrieve patient information. Cardiac rehabilitation referral and participation were identified from administrative databases and clinical records. Socioeconomic data were obtained from municipality of residence-level data rather than patient-specific data. Results Of 2814 hospitalizations, 72% (2028 cases) were eligible for cardiac rehabilitation. Mean age was 65.2 ± 13.4 yrs; 72% men, 33% diabetic, 57.1% hypertensive, and 63.6% dyslipidemic. Cardiac rehabilitation referral rate was low, at 18.8%, with 42 (11.0%) not attending cardiac rehabilitation and 39 (10.2%) dropping out. Females (odds ratio = 0.72 [95% confidence interval = 0.52–1.00]), older patients (odds ratio = 0.57 [0.42–0.77]; 55–64 vs. <55 yrs), and those coming from lower-income municipalities (odds ratio = 0.53 [0.41–0.69], below median vs. above median) with lower education level (odds ratio = 0.70 [0.54–0.92]; ≤4 vs. >4 yrs) were less likely to be referred to cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusions There is a need for new strategies to promote cardiac rehabilitation in disadvantaged groups, as sex, age, and socioeconomic inequities in access to cardiac rehabilitation remain unresolved.
The association between reasons for first using cannabis, later pattern of use, and risk of first-episode psychosis: the EU-GEI case–control study

Abstract Background While cannabis use is a well-established risk factor for psychosis, little is known about any association between reasons for first using cannabis (RFUC) and later patterns of use and risk of psychosis. Methods We used data from 11 sites of the multicentre European Gene-Environment Interaction (EU-GEI) case–control study. 558 first-episode psychosis patients (FEPp) and 567 population controls who had used cannabis and reported their RFUC. We ran logistic regressions to examine whether RFUC were associated with first-episode psychosis (FEP) case–control status. Path analysis then examined the relationship between RFUC, subsequent patterns of cannabis use, and case–control status. Results Controls (86.1%) and FEPp (75.63%) were most likely to report ‘because of friends’ as their most common RFUC. However, 20.1% of FEPp compared to 5.8% of controls reported: ‘to feel better’ as their RFUC (χ2 = 50.97; p < 0.001). RFUC ‘to feel better’ was associated with being a FEPp (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.03–2.95) while RFUC ‘with friends’ was associated with being a control (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.37–0.83). The path model indicated an association between RFUC ‘to feel better’ with heavy cannabis use and with FEPp-control status. Conclusions Both FEPp and controls usually started using cannabis with their friends, but more patients than controls had begun to use ‘to feel better’. People who reported their reason for first using cannabis to ‘feel better’ were more likely to progress to heavy use and develop a psychotic disorder than those reporting ‘because of friends’.
Learning Non-linear Models of Shape and Motion

Deformable models have been an active area of research in computer vision for a number of years. Their ability to model non-ridgid objects through the combination of geometry and physics has proven a valuable tool in image processing. More recently a class of deformable objects known as Point Distribution Models or Eigen Models have been introduced. These statistical models of deformation overcome some of the shortfalls of earlier deformable models by learning what is 'allowable' deformation, for an object class, from a training set of examples. This semi-automated learning procedure provides a more generic approach to object recognition, tracking and classification. Their strength lies in their simplicity and speed of operation, allowing the robust ability to model complex deformations in cluttered environments. However, the automated construction of such models leads to a breakdown of the fundamental assumptions upon which they are based. Primarily, that the underlying mathematical model is linear in nature. Furthermore, as more complex objects are considered, these assumptions fail completely and what is produced is an unreliable model. This work addresses these problems and presents novel techniques for the automated construction and application of non-linear deformable models, which retain the speed, and simplicity of the linear Point Distribution Model. It is further shown how these non-linear models can be augmented with probabilistic temporal constraints, which are essential in object tracking and classification. This work presents, in essence, three developments to the field. Firstly, a piecewise linear approach to modelling non-linearity is proposed and results demonstrated that show its accuracy in modelling both low and high dimensional datasets with heavy non-linearity. The technique is then extended to the automated construction of models. Secondly, it is shown how the piecewise approach can be augmented with temporal constraints and used in both model prediction, animation and for the support of multiple hypotheses during tracking. It is further shown how these temporal models can be extended to incorporate ii information from other sources, providing more reliable tracking in the absence of complete training data. Thirdly, it is shown how elements can be combined statistically and used to infer information about an object from its shape alone. Using human motion capture as an example, it is demonstrated that models can be assembled which allow 3D structural information about body pose and motion to be inferred from a monoscopic image sequence using only natural features of the body as markers. iii Acknowledgements
Anxiety and depression: A top-down, bottom-up model of circuit function

A functional interplay of bottom‐up and top‐down processing allows an individual to appropriately respond to the dynamic environment around them. These processing modalities can be represented as attractor states using a dynamical systems model of the brain. The transition probability to move from one attractor state to another is dependent on the stability, depth, neuromodulatory tone, and tonic changes in plasticity. However, how does the relationship between these states change in disease states, such as anxiety or depression? We describe bottom‐up and top‐down processing from Marr's computational‐algorithmic‐implementation perspective to understand depressive and anxious disease states. We illustrate examples of bottom‐up processing as basolateral amygdala signaling and projections and top‐down processing as medial prefrontal cortex internal signaling and projections. Understanding these internal processing dynamics can help us better model the multifaceted elements of anxiety and depression.
The Numerical Simulation of an Unbalanced Jetlet and Its Role in the Palm Sunday 1994 Tornado Outbreak in Alabama and Georgia

Abstract Meso-beta-scale numerical model simulations and observational data are synthesized in an effort to develop a multistage paradigm for use in forecasting tornadic convection in the southeastern United States. The case study to be utilized as an example of the multistage sequence of events is the Palm Sunday 1994 outbreak, which culminates with the development of an unbalanced mesoscale jet streak or jetlet that focuses a given region for significant values of low-level vertical wind shear, low-level confluence and vertical vorticity, midtropospheric cooling, and storm-relative helicity. The five-stage paradigm includes 1) the existence of a jet exit region accompanying a deep balanced thermally indirect circulation south of the outbreak and a return branch ageostrophic low-level southerly jet, both typically accompanying the subtropical jet stream and the leading edge of hot continental air; 2) the existence of a jet entrance region accompanying a deep balanced thermally direct circulation north of.
Use of Thalamus L-Sign to Differentiate Periventricular Leukomalacia From Neurometabolic Disorders

Purpose To assess the diagnostic value of the thalamus L-sign on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in distinguishing between periventricular leukomalacia and neurometabolic disorders in pediatric patients. Methods In this retrospective study, clinical and imaging information was collected from 50 children with periventricular leukomalacia and 52 children with neurometabolic disorders. MRI was used to evaluate the L-sign of the thalamus (ie, injury to the posterolateral thalamus) and the lobar distribution of signal intensity changes. Age, sex, gestational age, and level of Gross Motor Function Classification System (only for periventricular leukomalacia) constituted the clinical parameters. Statistical evaluation of group differences for imaging and clinical variables were conducted using univariable statistical methods. The intra- and inter-observer agreement was evaluated using Cohen's kappa. Univariable or multivariable logistic regression was employed for selection of variables, determining independent predictors, and modeling. Results The thalamus L-sign was observed in 70% (35/50) of patients in the periventricular leukomalacia group, but in none of the patients with neurometabolic disorder (P < .001). The gestational age between groups varied significantly (P < .001). Involvement of frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes differed significantly between groups (P < .001). In the logistic regression, the best model included negative thalamus L-sign and gestational age, yielding an area under the curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision values of 0.995, 96.1%, 96%, 96.2%, and 96%, respectively. Both the lack of thalamus L-sign and gestational age were independent predictors (P < .001). Conclusions The thalamus L-sign and gestational age may be useful in distinguishing between periventricular leukomalacia and neurometabolic disorders.
Electrochemistry of Titanium Carbide MXenes in Supercapacitor

Novel electrode materials are always explored to achieve better performance of supercapacitors. Titanium carbide MXenes, Ti3C2Tx, are one of the very promising candidates for electrode materials in supercapacitors due to their unique structural and ion storage properties as 2D materials. Their large specific surface area, adjustable functionalized surface terminals, high electrical conductivities, hydrophilicity, and high Faradaic capacitance, also known widely but confusingly as pseudocapacitance, are highly desirable for making high‐performance electrodes with increased dis‐/charging rates and capacities. Herein, some selective electrochemical considerations of Ti3C2Tx MXenes for uses in supercapacitors are critically reviewed and assessed, aiming at a better fundamental understanding of the electrochemical basics and processes in Ti3C2Tx MXene‐based electrode materials for supercapacitor applications.