Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvements in survival of adults diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia in the early 21st century

This study shows that 5- and 10-year relative survival has improved substantially for younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia over the last 25 years. By contrast, survival remains poor in the oldest age group, which include a large proportion of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Treatment of adults with acute myeloblastic leukemia has changed substantially over the past two decades. Currently available estimates of survival do not reflect results from present state-of-the-art treatment due to a lag between the availability of new treatments and data concerning their effect on survival on the population level when traditional cohort analysis is used. We estimated trends in age-specific 5- and 10-year relative survival of acute myeloblastic leukemia patients aged over 15 years old for 5-year calendar periods from 1980–1984 through 2000–2004 using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Period analysis was employed to reveal recent developments in prognosis. Five and 10-year relative survival improved greathy between 1980–1984 and 2000–2004 for all patients except those aged over 75 years old. Improvements were greatest for patients aged 15–34, with increases in 5- and 10-year relative survival of greater than 30% points in this group. Five and 10-year relative survival reached 52.3% and 47.9%, respectively, in this group in 2000–2004. Less pronounced but still substantial improvements in relative survival were seen in the 35–54 and 55–64 age groups. Survival was unchanged, at less than 5%, for patients aged over 75 years old. Our period analysis reveals major improvement on the population level in long-term prognosis of younger patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia, most likely explained by multiple incremental improvements in care including better and more specific diagnosis, improvements in and extension of the use of stem cell transplantation and high dose therapy, and improved supportive care.
TOWARDS A RESOURCE-BASED VIEW OF CORPORATE INCUBATORS

Corporate incubators for technology development are a recent phenomenon whose functioning and implications are not yet well understood. The resource-based view can offer an explanatory model on how corporate incubators function as specialised corporate units that hatch new businesses. While tangible resources, such as the financial, physical and even explicit knowledge flow, are all visible, and therefore easy to measure, intangible resources such as tacit knowledge and branding flow are harder to detect and localise. Managing the resource flow requires the initial allocation of resources to the corporate incubator during its set-up as well as a continuous resource flow to the technology venture and, during the harvest phase, also from it. Two levels of analysis need to be distinguished: (1) the resource flow between the corporate incubator and the technology venture and (2) the resource flow interface between the corporate incubator and the technology venture. Our empirical findings are based on two phases: First, in-depth case studies of 22 companies through 47 semi-structured interviews that were conducted with managers of large technology-intensive corporations' corporate incubators in Europe and the U.S., and second, an analysis of the European Commission's benchmarking survey of 77 incubators.
A Defect in Coenzyme Q Biosynthesis Is Responsible for the Respiratory Deficiency in Saccharomyces cerevisiae abc1Mutants*

Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q or Q) is an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in eukaryotic cells. There are eight complementation groups of Q-deficientSaccharomyces cerevisiae mutants designatedcoq1-coq8. Here we report that COQ8 isABC1 (for Activity of bc 1 complex), which was originally isolated as a multicopy suppressor of a cytochrome bmRNA translation defect (Bousquet, I., Dujardin, G., and Slonimski, P. P. (1991) EMBO J. 10, 2023–2031). Previous studies of abc1 mutants suggested that the mitochondrial respiratory complexes were thermosensitive and function inefficiently. Although initial characterization of the abc1 mutants revealed characteristics of Q-deficient mutants, levels of Q were reported to be similar to wild type. The suggested function of Abc1p was that it acts as a chaperone-like protein essential for the proper conformation and functioning of the bc 1 and its neighboring complexes (Brasseur, G., Tron, P., Dujardin, G., Slonimski, P. P. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem. 246, 103–111). Studies presented here indicate that abc1/coq8 null mutants are defective in Q biosynthesis and accumulate 3-hexaprenyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid as the predominant intermediate. As observed in other yeast coq mutants, supplementation of growth media with Q6 rescues theabc1/coq8 null mutants for growth on nonfermentable carbon sources. Such supplementation also partially restores succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity in theabc1/coq8 null mutants. Abc1/Coq8p localizes to the mitochondria, and is proteolytically processed upon import. The findings presented here indicate that the previously reported thermosensitivity of the respiratory complexes of abc1/coq8mutants results from the lack of Q and a general deficiency in respiration, rather than a specific phenotype due to dysfunction of the Abc1 polypeptide. These results indicate that ABC1/COQ8 is essential for Q-biosynthesis and that the critical defect ofabc1/coq8 mutants is a lack of Q.
Predicting Conjunct Propagation and Other Extended Stanford Dependencies

In this work, we present a data-driven method to enhance syntax trees with additional dependencies as defined in the wellknown Stanford Dependencies scheme, so as to give more information about the structure of the sentence. This hybrid method utilizes both machine learning and a rule-based approach, and achieves a performance of 93.1% in F1-score, as evaluated using an existing treebank of Finnish. The resulting tool will be integrated into an existing Finnish parser and made publicly available at the address http://bionlp.utu. fi/.
Futile Na+ cycling at the root plasma membrane in rice (Oryza sativa L.): kinetics, energetics, and relationship to salinity tolerance

Globally, over one-third of irrigated land is affected by salinity, including much of the land under lowland rice cultivation in the tropics, seriously compromising yields of this most important of crop species. However, there remains an insufficient understanding of the cellular basis of salt tolerance in rice. Here, three methods of 24Na+ tracer analysis were used to investigate primary Na+ transport at the root plasma membrane in a salt-tolerant rice cultivar (Pokkali) and a salt-sensitive cultivar (IR29). Futile cycling of Na+ at the plasma membrane of intact roots occurred at both low and elevated levels of steady-state Na+ supply ([Na+]ext=1 mM and 25 mM) in both cultivars. At 25 mM [Na+]ext, a toxic condition for IR29, unidirectional influx and efflux of Na+ in this cultivar, but not in Pokkali, became very high [>100 μmol g (root FW)−1 h−1], demonstrating an inability to restrict sodium fluxes. Current models of sodium transport energetics across the plasma membrane in root cells predict that, if the sodium efflux were mediated by Na+/H+ antiport, this toxic scenario would impose a substantial respiratory cost in IR29. This cost is calculated here, and compared with root respiration, which, however, comprised only ∼50% of what would be required to sustain efflux by the antiporter. This suggests that either the conventional ‘leak-pump’ model of Na+ transport or the energetic model of proton-linked Na+ transport may require some revision. In addition, the lack of suppression of Na+ influx by both K+ and Ca2+, and by the application of the channel inhibitors Cs+, TEA+, and Ba2+, questions the participation of potassium channels and non-selective cation channels in the observed Na+ fluxes.
An Entity-Relationship Model Extended to Describe Historical Informatopm

The entity-relationship (ER) model has proved a successful conceptual capture and modelling tool for the relational data model. Much effort has recently been made to extend the relational data model to describe historical information, but as yet little corresponding development in ER modelling has been made. We describe in detail the various temporal behaviours that entities and relationships may exhibit, and apply the results to enhance a binary ER model with temporal semantics. The resultant ERT may be used to fully model historical relational database schemata.
Outcome of patients with radiation enteritis treated with home parenteral nutrition

OBJECTIVES:Intestinal failure requiring either surgery or home parenteral nutrition (HPN) develops in approximately 5% of patients treated with radiation. The aim of the study was to determine survival, duration of HPN, and complications associated with HPN in patients with intestinal failure after radiation therapy.METHODS:Fifty-four patients with radiation enteritis who received HPN were studied (39 women and 15 men with a mean age of 57.9 yr). Retrospective data were collected from the patients’ medical records dated between 1975 and 1999. The probability of survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS:HPN was initiated a median of 20 months (range = 2–432) from the start of radiation therapy. The mean number of intestinal operations for radiation-related complications was 2.2/patient (range = 0–6). The causes of intestinal failure resulting from radiation therapy were intestinal obstruction (27 patients), short bowel (17), malabsorption (five), fistula (three), and dysmotility (two). The mean duration of HPN was 20.4 months (range = 2–108). At last follow-up, 37 patients (68%) were dead, most as a result of recurrent cancer. One patient died of catheter sepsis, and no other deaths were directly related to HPN. The overall estimated 5-yr probability of survival on HPN calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 64%. CONCLUSIONS:HPN is a reasonable treatment option in patients with intestinal failure as a result of radiation enteritis. Survival and complications associated with HPN in patients with radiation enteritis seem to be similar to those in other HPN-treated groups.
Isolation and sequence analysis of a novel human tyrosine kinase gene

Using v-abl probes, we have identified and cloned a novel fes/fps-homologous human cDNA, which we have designated FER (pronounced "fair"). This apparently full-length cDNA of 3.0 kilobases has an open reading frame of 2,466 base pairs and the capacity to encode a protein of 94,000 molecular weight. The cDNA contains regions homologous to the highly conserved tyrosine protein kinase domain of other oncogenes and growth factor receptors but lacks a clear transmembrane region, indicating that it encodes a tyrosine kinase of the nonreceptor type. The deduced amino acid sequence of FER resembles that of c-fes/fps. Our data indicate that the protein product of FER, p94FER, corresponds to a previously reported cellular phosphoprotein, NCP94, detected with a v-fps-specific antipeptide antiserum.
A multisite randomized controlled trial on time to self-support among sickness absence beneficiaries. The Danish national return-to-work programme.

BACKGROUND In 2010, the Danish Government launched the Danish national return-to-work (RTW) programme to reduce sickness absence and promote labour market attainment. Multidisciplinary teams delivered the RTW programme, which comprised a coordinated, tailored and multidisciplinary effort (CTM) for sickness absence beneficiaries at high risk for exclusion from the labour market. The aim of this article was to evaluate the effectiveness of the RTW programme on self-support. METHODS Beneficiaries from three municipalities (denoted M1, M2 and M3) participated in a randomized controlled trial. We randomly assigned beneficiaries to CTM (M1: n = 598; M2: n = 459; M3: n = 331) or to ordinary sickness absence management (OSM) (M1: n = 393; M2: n = 324; M3: n = 95). We used the Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HR) comparing rates of becoming self-supporting between beneficiaries receiving CTM and OSM. RESULTS In M2, beneficiaries from employment receiving CTM became self-supporting faster compared with beneficiaries receiving OSM (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08-1.61). In M3, beneficiaries receiving CTM became self-supporting slower than beneficiaries receiving OSM (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54-0.95). In M1, we found no difference between the two groups (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.84-1.17). CONCLUSION The effect of the CTM programme on return to self-support differed substantially across the three participating municipalities. Thus, generalizing the study results to other Danish municipalities is not warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN43004323.
Multi-fractal Techniques for Emphysema Classification in Lung Tissue Images

This paper presents a multi-fractal based approach for the classification of emphysema patterns by calculating the local singularity coefficients of an image using different intensity measures. One of the primary statistical measures of self-similarity used in the processing of tissue images is holder exponent (αvalue) that represents the power law which the intensity distribution satisfies in local pixel neighbourhoods. The fractal dimension corresponding to each α-value gives a multi-fractal spectrum f(α) that could be used as a feature descriptor for classification. Experimental results show that multi-fractal spectrum could be effectively used for the classification of histopathological cases. Some important implementation aspects of the multi-fractal based classification scheme that could be used for improving classification accuracy are also discussed.
Increased cytosolic calcium stimulates exocytosis in bovine lactotrophs. Direct evidence from changes in membrane capacitance

The patch-clamp technique has been used to measure changes in membrane capacitance (Cm) of bovine lactotrophs in order to monitor fluctuations in cell surface area associated with exo- and endocytosis. Cells were prepared by an enrichment procedure and cultured for up to 14 d before use. Under whole-cell recording, cell cytoplasm was dialyzed with various Ca2(+)-containing solutions. The resting Cm of 6.05 +/- 1.68 pF was found to correlate well with squared cell radius, suggesting a specific Cm of 0.8 microF/cm2. Discrete Cm steps of 2-10 fF were recorded, which most likely reflect single fusion and retrieval events of prolactin-containing granules (0.2-0.6 microns in diameter). High Ca2+ resulted in a Cm increase of 20-50% from the resting value, demonstrating a role for [Ca2+]i in stimulus-secretion coupling. Spontaneous Cm changes have also been recorded, which presumably reflect prolactin secretion supported by a tonic influx of Ca2+ through the membrane. This is supported by the following findings: addition of Co2+ diminished or reversed the spontaneous Cm changes and decreased resting [Ca2+]i; and membrane depolarization increased Cm, indicating the role of voltage-activated channels in stimulus-secretion coupling. As bovine lactotrophs have been found to be largely devoid of spontaneous electrical activity, a mechanism involving modulation of a tonic Ca2+ influx is proposed; this is shown to provide adequate control of basal and triggered secretion monitored by Cm.
Association of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism with the risk of male infertility: a meta-analysis

Abstract Several molecular epidemiological studies have been conducted to examine the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and male infertility susceptibility, but the results remain inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. In this meta-analysis, a total of 26 case–control studies including 5659 infertility cases and 5528 controls were selected to evaluate the possible association. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess the strength of association of C677T polymorphism with male infertility in the additive model, dominant model, recessive model and allele-frequency genetic model. In the overall analysis, the frequency of the 677T allele was significantly associated with male infertility susceptibility (OR = 2.32, 95%CI = 2.04–2.65 for TT vs. CC genotype; OR = 1.09, 95%CI = 1.00–1.19 for CT vs. CC genotype; OR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.10–1.29 for CT/TT vs. CC genotype; OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.36–1.74 for TT vs. CC/TT genotype; OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.15–1.30 for T vs. C allele). A subgroup analysis of the subjects showed that significantly strong association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and male infertility was present only in Asians, but not in Caucasians. Additionally, MTHFR C677T was associated with a significant increase in the risk of azoospermia in all genetic models. Meanwhile, no significantly increased risks of oligoasthenotertozoospermia (OAT) were found in most of the genetic models. In conclusion, this meta-analysis is in favor that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is capable of causing male infertility susceptibility, especially in Asians and the subgroup of azoospermia.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF CHICKEN OFFAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR LOCAL FISH MEAL IN GROWING SNAILS

A total of ninety six growing snails of mean weight 91.23±2.4g were used to determine the effects of partial or total replacement of local fish meal, a source of protein but expensive to a less expensive, alternative source, chicken offal in the diet of growing snails. Completely randomized design was used for the study. The feeding trial had four treatments, C1, C2, C3 and C4 in which fish meal fraction of the diets was replaced at 0, 50, 75 and 100% with chicken offal respectively. The parameters taken were weight gain, feed intake. Feed conversion ratio, total feed cost, and cost per weight gain were calculated. The trial lasted for twelve weeks. Significant differences were not observed in the mean weekly feed intake of the snails in all the treatments. The mean weight gain in all the treatments were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of chicken offal in the diet (P>0.005). Total feed cost and cost/weight gain reduced as the level of the chicken offal increased while the lowest cost/weight gain was observed in C4. The inclusion of Chicken offal in all the diets had no detrimental effect on the snails in all the treatments. Based on the present results chicken offal could replace local fish meal in the diet of growing snail up to 100% and hereby reduce feed cost
Depression and work impairment.

OBJECTIVES This article estimates the prevalence of depression among employed Canadians aged 25 to 64, and examines its association with work impairment, as measured by reduced work activity, mental health/general disability days, and work absence. DATA SOURCES Data are from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-being and the longitudinal household component of the National Population Health Survey (1994/1995 to 2002/2003). ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES Cross-tabulations were used to estimate and determine factors associated with the prevalence of depression among the employed population. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine associations between depression and work impairment while controlling for other variables. Longitudinal data for 1994/1995 to 2002/2003 were used to examine the temporal sequence of depression and work impairment. MAIN RESULTS In 2002, almost 4% of employed people aged 25 to 64 had had an episode of depression in the previous year. Crosssectional analysis indicates that these workers had high odds of reducing work activity because of a long-term health condition, having at least one mental health disability day in the past two weeks, and being absent from work in the past week. Longitudinally, depression was associated with reduced work activity and disability days two years later.
New Insights on Plant Cell Elongation: A Role for Acetylcholine

We investigated the effect of auxin and acetylcholine on the expression of the tomato expansin gene LeEXPA2, a specific expansin gene expressed in elongating tomato hypocotyl segments. Since auxin interferes with clathrin-mediated endocytosis, in order to regulate cellular and developmental responses we produced protoplasts from tomato elongating hypocotyls and followed the endocytotic marker, FM4-64, internalization in response to treatments. Tomato protoplasts were observed during auxin and acetylcholine treatments after transient expression of chimerical markers of volume-control related compartments such as vacuoles. Here we describe the contribution of auxin and acetylcholine to LeEXPA2 expression regulation and we support the hypothesis that a possible subcellular target of acetylcholine signal is the vesicular transport, shedding some light on the characterization of this small molecule as local mediator in the plant physiological response.
Changes in Spatial Patterns of Caragana stenophylla along a Climatic Drought Gradient on the Inner Mongolian Plateau

Few studies have investigated the influence of water availability on plant population spatial patterns. We studied changes in the spatial patterns of Caragana stenophylla along a climatic drought gradient within the Inner Mongolian Plateau, China. We examined spatial patterns, seed density, “nurse effects” of shrubs on seedlings, transpiration rates and water use efficiency (WUE) of C. stenophylla across semi-arid, arid, and intensively arid zones. Our results showed that patches of C. stenophylla populations shifted from a random to a clumped spatial pattern towards drier environments. Seed density and seedling survival rate of C. stenophylla decreased from the semi-arid zone to the intensively arid zone. Across the three zones, there were more C. stenophylla seeds and seedlings underneath shrub canopies than outside shrub canopies; and in the intensively arid zone, there were almost no seeds or seedlings outside shrub canopies. Transpiration rates of outer-canopy leaves and WUE of both outer-canopy and inner-canopy leaves increased from the semi-arid zone to the intensively arid zone. In the intensively arid zone, transpiration rates and WUE of inner-canopy leaves were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than those of outer-canopy leaves. We conclude that, as drought stress increased, seed density decreased, seed proportions inside shrubs increased, and “nurse effects” of shrubs on seedlings became more important. These factors, combined with water-saving characteristics associated with clumped spatial patterns, are likely driving the changes in C. stenophylla spatial patterns.
The Ca2+-activated Cl− channel, ANO1 (TMEM16A), is a double-edged sword in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis

Since anoctamin 1 ANO1 (TMEM16A) was found to be a molecular component of Ca2+‐activated Cl− channels, its role in tumorigenesis has gained attention at a fast pace. ANO1 overexpression frequently occurs in the cancer tissues along with 11q13 chromosome amplification. Poor prognosis of many types of cancers has been closely correlated with ANO1 gene amplification and protein overexpression. ANO1 is now considered an excellent biomarker for certain cancers. Recent research suggests that it is the channel function of ANO1 that is involved in the tumorigenesis. However, how the overexpression of the functional ANO1 causes malignant transformation of tissues via signaling pathways, for example, MAPK remains to be investigated. Clarification of the reasons in future will avail to make ANO1 as a target for cancer treatment.