SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
Double incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DILC) with routinary intra-operative cholangiography (IOC)

Laparoscopic approach for cholecystectomy is, actually, the gold standard for gallbladder surgical benign diseases. Single transumbilical incision can further reduce abdominal wall trauma. Two main related issues are still to be enlighten: difficulty in obtaining a clear exposure of the Calot’s triangle and routinely use of intra-operative cholangiography (IOC). A standardized technique of double incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DILC) with routine IOC is described. Between January and May 2012, 30 consecutive patients scheduled for elective cholecystectomy underwent DILC with IOC. Exclusion criteria were: clinical and/or radiological suspect of gallbladder malignancy/acute cholecystitis (AC)/common duct stones; ASA > 3; previous extensive abdominal surgery. Follow-up was performed at 7, 30 and 60 days postoperatively. Three 5-mm trocars through the umbilicus and one 3-mm subcostally on the right are used, along with a 30° laparoscopic camera. IOC is performed through the 3-mm channel. Median age was 49.5 years (range 24–78); female/male was 21/9. Median BMI was 27.4 (range 16.2–38.9). AC was encountered in five cases (17 %). Synchronous AC and choledocolithiasis occurred in one case (3 %), requiring conversion to laparoscopic choledocolithotomy. Additional ports were required in these latter five patients (17 %). IOC was routinely attempted in all patients, succeeding in 26 (86 %). Median operative ‘skin to skin’ time was 47.8 min (range 25–75). In the subgroup not receiving IOC, median operative time was 35 min (range 25–45); 51.5 min as median time (range 25–75) was reported for the subgroup undergone the entire planned procedure. No intraoperative complications occurred. Median length of stay was 1.51 days (range 1–5). Postoperative minor complications occurred in three patients (10 %) and wound umbilical infection occurred in one (3.4 %). DILC with the routine use of IOC seems to be repeatable and safe. Even if DILC seems more easily learnt, further studies are needed to address this issue.
Multiple One-Dimensional FDTD Method for Coupled Transmission Lines and Stability Condition

This letter presents the multiple one-dimensional (M1-D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for coupled transmission lines and its stability condition. The coupled transmission line parameters based on even- and odd-mode approach are incorporated directly into the M1-D FDTD method, whose update equations are provided in detail. Using the M1-D FDTD method, the fine mesh required for the line width and spacing of coupled transmission lines can be omitted. The stability condition of the M1-D FDTD method for coupled transmission lines is determined. It is noted that the time step limit is different from (and usually more restrictive than) that for the single transmission line. To show the usefulness of the M1-D FDTD method for time-domain analysis, the coupled transmission lines are used to illustrate the real-time visualization of electromagnetic fields and to verify the stability condition. Microstrip filters with coupled lines are simulated to further validate the proposed method in frequency domain.
Smart phone-based fuzzy modeling to examine facial skin quality

Grooming made a good impression on the people. To accompany the demand of applying right cosmetics on face, multitudes of skin detectors emerged. Though small-scale skin detectors are easy to carry due to their lightweight and easy to use they need to contact the face by the metal part of the detector while examining. As photographic enhancements of the smart phones, taking and acquiring digital images become easier. Thus, this study uses smart phones to take facial skin images. Then, we can calculate the texture features, including contrast, entropy and inverse difference moment through gray level co-occurrence matrix. Finally, vertical, horizontal and diagonal texture features on the original gray image are found by Haar wavelet transform. After defining the six texture features of input and output membership functions of the skin types, the skin quality characteristics are inferred by the proposed fuzzy models. In order to reduce the computing time, we use principal component analysis method to discriminate texture features. The purpose is to examine the skin types with fewer features. With the six texture features from fuzzy inference results as a reference value, both the results from the principal component analysis and gray level co-occurrence matrix methods achieve the accuracy rates of 96.29% and 93.21%, respectively. These results verify that the proposed smart phone-based fuzzy models are effective for facial skin quality examination.
Surgical stent for dental implant using cone beam CT images

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to develop a surgical stent for dental implant procedure that can be easily applied and affordable by using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods : Aluminum, Teflon-PFA (perfluoroalkoxy), and acetal (polyoxymethylene plastic) were selected as materials for the surgical stent. Among these three materials, the appropriate material was chosen using the CBCT images. The surgical stent, which could be easily placed into an oral cavity, was designed with chosen material. CBCT images of the new surgical stent on mandible were obtained using Alphard-3030 dental CT system (Asahi Roentgen Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan). The point of insertion was prescribed on the surgical stent with the multiplanar reconstruction software of OnDemand3D (CyberMed Inc., Seoul, Korea). Guide holes were made at the point of insertion on the surgical stent using newly designed guide jig. CBCT scans was taken for the second time to verify the accuracy of the newly designed surgical stent. Results : Teflon-PFA showed radiologically excellent image characteristics for the surgical stent. High accuracy and reproducibility of implantation were confirmed with the surgical stent. Conclusion : The newly designed surgical stent can lead to the accurate implantation and achieve the clinically predictable result.
Fire Risks in Touristic Islands and their impact on Economic and Social Life/A Fire Shield for Tourists, Population and Monuments

The overall objective of the FIRETOURIS operation is to improve fire risk (FR) management capabilities of the regions with touristic islands, focusing on their special needs and their impact on touristic SMEs, local economies and societies. The sub-objectives encompassing the main objective are as follows: (1) to collect, document, discuss and understand all aspects of FR and FR management plans and procedures in each participating region among all stakeholders; (2) to document the history and experience from fires in the past and creating a full record of all relevant conditions; (3) to exchange this experience and information among all partners; (4) to develop “best practices” and “things to avoid” manuals based on experience; (5) to identify the needs for more efficient FR management; (6) to develop training programs for civil protection personnel, foresters, volunteers, touristic SMEs and their personnel; (7) to develop media campaigns to alert citizens and inform tourists on FRs; (8) to sensitize policy makers on the economic and social impact of FRs; (9) to optimize utilization of personnel, volunteers and resources, under various conditions of fire realization; (10) to map archaeological and medieval sites, while assessing their FR; (11) to develop requirements of FR observatories in touristic islands; (12) to develop FR assessment and management plans that can be replicated by the regions and training programs that can be adopted by the regions as part of their long term policy; (13)Maping the archeological and medieval sites in regard to fire risks and forest fires (14)Develope post-fire-rehabilitation plans (15) Organise the medical treatment of severely burned people (16) Establish an observatory of fire risks in touristic islands. Means for achieving the main objective and the sub-objectives are horizontal activities & studies. Each activity will be categorically interregional with an effort to address common problems and harmonize policies and practices. For each sub-objective quantifiable outputs and results will be specified and each activity has to produce the pre-specified results, supporting a particular sub-objective
Clinical application of new echo modalities in left ventricular dysfunction * Friday 10 December 2010, 14:00-15:30

Background: Epirubicin is a potent and widely used citotoxic drug, but its application is often limited by the cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. LV ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) are the most commonly used indices to demonstrate cardiac dysfunction. Since normal EF or FS can mask significant LV impairment, we hypothesized that LV systolic torsion and deformation represent better markers of epirubicin-induced subclinical cardiac dysfunction. Methods: 40 women with breast cancer (58+9 years), without known associated cardiac disease, scheduled to be treated with epirubicin-based chemotherapy, were assessed at baseline, and after 1 and 6 cycles of epirubicin (cumulative dose of 293+15 g/m2). Conventional echocardiography was used to assess LV geometry, EF and FS. 2D speckle tracking imaging was used to measure LV systolic rotation parameters: peak apical rotation (RotA), peak basal rotation (RotB), LV twist (LVT) (as the difference in LV rotation between apical and basal planes), and twist rate (LVTR); and also LV systolic deformation indices: radial strain (rS) and strain rate (rSR), and longitudinal strain (LS) and strain rate (LSR). Results: No changes in LV dimensions, EF, and FS were observed during follow-up. However, there were significant reductions in RotA, and consequently in LVT and LVTR, with no changes in RotB; and also a significant decrease of LV radial and longitudinal deformation found after the first cycle of epirubicin and persistent after the sixth cycle (see table). Univariate analysis showed that epirubicin cumulative dose was directly correlated with longitudinal strain and LV twist reduction after 6 months of treatment (r=0.59 and r=0.79; both p,0.01). Conclusion: LV torsion and deformation parameters, assessed by 2D speckle tracking imaging, detect subclinical LV dysfunction and, therefore, can be used to monitor epirubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction.
Androgen Depletion Induces Senescence in Prostate Cancer Cells through Down-regulation of Skp2

Although the induction of senescence in cancer cells is a potent mechanism of tumor suppression, senescent cells remain metabolically active and may secrete a broad spectrum of factors that promote tumorigenicity in neighboring malignant cells. Here we show that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a widely used treatment for advanced prostate cancer, induces a senescence-associated secretory phenotype in prostate cancer epithelial cells, indicated by increases in senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, heterochromatin protein 1β foci, and expression of cathepsin B and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3. Interestingly, ADT also induced high levels of vimentin expression in prostate cancer cell lines in vitro and in human prostate tumors in vivo. The induction of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype by androgen depletion was mediated, at least in part, by down-regulation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2, whereas the neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells was under separate control. These data demonstrate a previously unrecognized link between inhibition of androgen receptor signaling, down-regulation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2, and the appearance of secretory, tumor-promoting senescent cells in prostate tumors. We propose that ADT may contribute to the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer through modulation of the tissue microenvironment by senescent cells.
Wage inequality within and across firms: the role of market forces, government and firm policies

Wage inequality in industrialised countries has increased sharply over the past decades, and much of this increase has occurred between rather than within firms. Furthermore, substantial inequality between men and women persists in all industrialised countries, and a large part of the gender gaps observed today is attributable to the arrival of children. In this proposal, we put firms at the centre of the analysis and ask the following questions: First, which market forces can (partly) explain the increasing wage inequality between firms? Second, how do government policies alter the wage structure? And third, how do firm policies and the firm environment impact on gender inequality? All projects draw on four decades of German social security records comprising the near universe of workers and establishments, which we augment with survey and administrative data on firms. In Project A, we investigate how two important market forces, increased product market competition and routine-biased technological change, contributed to the increasing wage inequality between firms, by changing which firms operate in the market (selection) and how employment is distributed across low and high productivity firms (reallocation), and by differentially affecting wage growth across firm types (differential wage growth). In Project B, we study how two prominent government policies, the introduction of a minimum wage and changes in business tax rates, affect wage dispersion between firms through selection, reallocation and differential growth effects. In Project C, we first analyse whether firm provided family-friendly policies, most notably flexible working times and child care facilities, can be effective at reducing gender inequality. We then investigate how the firm environment, specifically the presence of co-workers who are likely to have a working mother and hold more egalitarian gender attitudes, shapes mothers’ return-to-work decisions and earnings trajectories after childbirth.
Promoting small scale fisheries and aquaculture transnational networking in Adriatic-Ionian macroregion PLUS

The ARIEL project led to significant milestones towards innovation speed-up and uptake in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sectors, outlining trajectories of development for future cooperation initiatives. However, a further step is needed to consolidate and widen ARIEL results, and operationalize the ARIEL tools. In this content, ARIEL PLUS main objective is to maximize the transferability and durability of the ARIEL project main outcomes towards small-scale fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders within and beyond the Adriatic and Ionian area, leveraging future initiatives and investments for smart and sustainable blue growth of coastal communities. The project intends to make the best use of the ARIEL approach, tactics and tools developed in 3 years of joint implementation, capitalizing and widening the ARIEL knowledge network and the cooperation put in place between local/regional/national public authorities, research bodies, small-scale fisheries and aquaculture socio-economic operators . Built on a deep understanding of these two sectors challenges at regional and ADRION level as well as on a set of policy and technical recommendations delivered in the previous project, ARIEL PLUS is expected to:
- boost the transnational dimension of ARIEL results and knowledge by means of raising awareness activities and events for beneficiaries and stakeholders of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sectors at local and Country level;
- give its transnational contribution to leverage future initiatives and investments on fisheries and aquaculture sectors by capacity building of potential beneficiaries and by supporting co-creation processes for the application, designing and managment  EU project proposals;
- widen the ARIEL innovation community tpwards new members and new cooperation opportunities;
- improve the operability of the existing ARIEL Platform, conceived as virtual place where small-scale fisheries and aquaculture actors can meet, exchange knowledge and cooperate.
To these, ARIEL PLUS will focus on the following ARIEL milestones:the ARIEL knowledge network;the ARIEL policy and technical recommendations paper;the ARIEL Chart of innovative services;the ARIEL Platform.A balanced partnership of 6 organizations from Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece, already involved in the ARIEL project, renewed their cooperation commitment for implementing ARIEL PLUS.
Cancer vaccines and gut microbiome: a rational approach to optimize  cancer immunotherapy

This proposal intends to shed light on the interplay between cancer immunity and gut microbiome as a way to optimize personalized cancer vaccines and immunotherapy. The project originates from two milestone discoveries. First, to be effective cancer immunotherapies have to target CD4+/CD8+ T cell neo-epitopes, which originate from tumor mutations. Second, the gut microbiome influences the effectiveness of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody immunotherapy both in animal models and in humans. We also recently showed in a mouse model that oral gavages with Bifidobacterial cocktails improved the therapeutic power of neo-epitope-based cancer vaccines. How microbiome affects anti-cancer immunity has not been fully elucidated yet and a deep understanding of the underlying mechanisms has the potential to substantially improve cancer immunotherapy. Since microbiome antigens are processed and presented by antigen-presenting cells and microbiome-induced T cells represent large fraction of the peripheral T cell repertoire, our hypothesis is that this large repertoire includes T cells which cross-react with cancer neo-epitopes (“molecular mimicry (MM)”). Depending upon the composition of gut microbiome, cross-reacting T cells can positively or negatively modulate anti-tumor immunity.  To demonstrate the role of MM in cancer immunity this project intends (i) to select the cross-reactive T cell epitopes as predicted by meta-omics analysis of gut microbiome and exome/transcriptome analysis of cancer cell lines, (ii) to formulate vaccines containing different combination of cross-reactive epitopes, and (iii) to test vaccine anti-tumor activities in normal mice, gnotobiotic mice and mice with engineered microbiome. The ultimate goals are: 1) to provide new criteria for neo-epitope selection in personalized cancer vaccines, 2) to develop prognostic tools based on microbiome analysis, and 3) to define microbial species to be used as immune-potentiators in patients undergoing cancer therapy.
Shock Waves in Dynamic Cavity Expansion

High velocity cavitation fields are investigated in the context of large strain J2 plasticity with strain hardening and elastic compressibility. The problem setting is that of an internally pressurized spherical cavity, embedded in an unbounded medium, which grows spontaneously with constant velocity and pressure. Expansion velocity is expected to be sufficiently high to induce a plastic shock wave, hardly considered in earlier dynamic cavitation studies. Jump conditions across singular spherical surfaces (shock waves) are fully accounted for and numerical illustrations are provided over a wide range of power hardening materials. Simple formulae are derived for shock wave characteristics and for the asymptotic behavior within near cavity wall boundary layer.
Les revêtements galvaniques éco-innovants Lubuskie répondent au besoin d’un marché automobile international.

En réponse à la demande croissante des clients, Zakład Wielobranżowy «Galwaniser» Sp. z o.o. à Δagań introduit deux revêtements galvaniques éco-innovants sur le marché automobile international. Cela sera possible grâce à l’utilisation de processus innovants mis en œuvre pour la première fois dans notre région et à l’achat d’une ligne technologique entièrement automatisée avec des technologies TIC intégrées. Grâce à la mise en œuvre du projet, la société Wielobranżowy «Galwanisernia» Sp. z o.o. réalisera la diversification des opérations, augmentera la capacité de production, augmentera les ventes et réduira le risque de faire des affaires. En introduisant l’innovation au niveau international, elle «sortira» de la concurrence. Le résultat de la mise en œuvre de nouveaux procédés pour l’application des revêtements galvaniques sera d’éliminer les composés nocifs pour l’environnement et la santé humaine et de donner aux revêtements de nouvelles caractéristiques attendues par les constructeurs automobiles — une plus grande résistance à la corrosion, une uniformité répétitive de la couche de revêtement même sur de petits détails, une plus grande dureté et une excellente adhérence appliquée dans les processus ultérieurs de joints, vernis et peintures. L’offre s’adressera aux entreprises automobiles mondiales produisant des composants pour des marques telles que Ford, Volkswagen, Suzuki, General Motors, Skoda, Audi, Porsche, Daimler, BMW, PSA, Fiat SpA, Renault, Toyota, Chrysler, Mazda, Peugeot, Citroen Scania, Volvo, Daf, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Nissan, Renault, Tesla Motors.[...]
Engineering scalable algorithms for the basic toolbox scalbox

ScAlBox aims at basic algorithmic tools that can be used in a wide spectrum of applications and that scale orders of magnitude better than the state of the art with respect to input size or number of processors.

In the last decades, we witness the transition into the information age with profound effects on science, technology, and our daily life. This transition is driven by a growing spectrum of computer applications that process larger and larger data sets using increasingly complex algorithms. However, the scalability challenge has emerged as a major road block to this progress:
An explosion of the amount of data to be processed (big data) coincides with stagnating performance of a single processor core. This widening performance gap can only be closed using many parallel processors. However, parallel algorithms have long been neglected by algorithm theory while heuristic software development optimizes for existing machines and inputs but fails to give predictable scalability for future, larger data sets and more processors.

We want to overcome this roadblock by developing scalable solutions for the basic toolbox of algorithms and data structures that are needed in many applications (e.g., sorting, searching, queues, basic graph algorithms, collective communication, and load balancing). My goal is to provide algorithms and software libraries that scale to millions of processors and give hard performance guarantees for arbitrary inputs. This is challenging due to large gaps between theory and practice and because such algorithms have to integrate scalable fault tolerance and dynamic load balancing to an unprecedented extent. I am the right person to achieve this due to my extensive experience in parallel algorithms for irregular problems and my leading role in algorithm engineering that integrates modeling, design, theoretical analysis, implementation, and experimental evaluation.