Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic and predictive value of ERβ1 and ERβ2 in the Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES)-first results from PathIES†.

BACKGROUND Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES) was a randomised study that showed a survival benefit of switching adjuvant endocrine therapy after 2-3 years from tamoxifen to exemestane. PathIES aimed to assess the potential prognostic and predictive value of ERβ1 and ERβ2 expression in primary tumours in order to determine benefit in the two treatment arms. PATIENTS AND METHODS Primary tumour samples were available for 1256 patients (27% IES population). ERβ1 and ERβ2 expression was dichotomised at the median IHC score (high if ERβ1 ≥ 191, ERβ2 ≥ 164). Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated by multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for clinicopathological factors. Treatment effects with biomarker expressions were determined by interaction tests. Analysis explored effects of markers both as a continuous variable and with dichotomised cut-offs. RESULTS Neither ERβ1 nor ERβ2 were associated with disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) in the whole cohort. In patients treated with continued tamoxifen, high ERβ1 expression compared with low was associated with better DFS [HR = 0.38:95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21-0.68, P = 0.001]. DFS benefit of exemestane over tamoxifen (HR = 0.40:95% CI 0.22-0.70) was found in the low ERβ1 subgroup (interaction P = 0.01). No significant difference with treatment was observed for ERβ2 expression in either DFS or OS. CONCLUSION In the PathIES population, exemestane appeared to be superior to tamoxifen among patients with low ERβ1 expression but not in those with high ERβ1 expression. This is the first trial of its kind to report a parameter potentially predicting benefit of an aromatase inhibitor when compared with tamoxifen and an independent validation is warranted.
Mountains of the world, water towers for humanity: Typology, mapping, and global significance

Mountains are important sources of freshwater for the adjacent lowlands. In view of increasingly scarce freshwater resources, this contribution should be clarified. While earlier studies focused on selected river systems in different climate zones, we attempt here a first spatially explicit, global typology of the so‐called “water towers” at the 0.5° × 0.5° resolution in order to identify critical regions where disproportionality of mountain runoff as compared to lowlands is maximum. Then, an Earth systems perspective is considered with incorporation of lowland climates, distinguishing four different types of water towers. We show that more than 50% of mountain areas have an essential or supportive role for downstream regions. Finally, the potential significance of water resources in mountains is illustrated by including the actual population in the adjacent lowlands and its water needs: 7% of global mountain area provides essential water resources, while another 37% delivers important supportive supply, especially in arid and semiarid regions where vulnerability for seasonal and regional water shortage is high.
High-Performance AlN/GaN HEMTs on Sapphire Substrate With an Oxidized Gate Insulator

This letter presents transistor device results on ultrathin AIN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors grown on a sapphire substrate with high dc/RF performance, including low gate leakage and high transconductance. Devices with 80and 180-nm T-gates are compared, which demonstrate drain-induced OFF-state gate leakage currents below 10-6 A/mm and extrinsic transconductance gm ~ 500 mS/mm by utilizing a ~2-3 nm amorphous oxide layer formed under the T-gate during processing. In addition, excellent dc results such as RC <; 0.50 Ω · mm and pulsed IDS,max ~1.75 A/mm are reported. Small-signal RF performance using an 80-nm T-gate achieved ft >; 100 GHz operation, which is among the best so far reported for AIN/GaN technology.
Propagation of ionizing radiation in Hii regions: the effects of optically thick density fluctuations

The accepted explanation of the observed dichotomy of two orders of magnitude between in situ measurements of electron density in Hii regions, derived from emission line ratios, and average measurements based on integrated emission measure, is the inhomogeneity of the ionized medium. This is expressed as a "filling factor", the volume ratio of dense to tenuous gas, measured with values of order 10 −3 . Implicit in the filling factor model as normally used, is the assumption that the clumps of dense gas are optically thin to ionizing radiat ion. Here we explore implications of assuming the contrary: that the clumps are optically thick. A first consequence is the pre sence within Hii regions of a major fraction of neutral hydrogen. We estimate the mean H ◦ /H + ratio for a population of Hii regions in the spiral galaxy NGC 1530 to be the order of 10, and support this inference using dynamical arguments. The optically thick clumpy models allow a significant fraction of the photons generated by the ionizing stars to escape from their Hii region. We show, by comparing model predictions with observations, that these models give an account at least as good as, and probably better than that of conventional models, of the radial s urface brightness distribution and of selected spectral line diag nostics for physical conditions within Hii regions. These models explain how an Hii region can appear, from its line ratios, to be ionization bou nded, yet permit a major fraction of its ionizing photons to escape.
Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals 129 Transcripts That Are Temporally Regulated during Anther Development and Meiotic Progression in Both Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Rice (Oryza sativa)

Meiosis is a specialised type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that generates genetic diversity and prevents chromosome doubling in successive generations. The last decade has seen forward and reverse genetic approaches identifying many genes in the plant kingdom which highlight similarities and differences in the mechanics of meiosis between taxonomic kingdoms. We present here a high throughput in silico analysis, using bread wheat and rice, which has generated a list of 129 transcripts containing genes with meiotic roles and some which are currently unknown.
Thrombosis in Inherited Fibrinogen Disorders

Although inherited fibrinogen disorders (IFD) are primarily considered to be bleeding disorders, they are associated with a higher thrombotic complication risk than defects in other clotting factors. Managing IFD patients with thrombosis is challenging as anticoagulant treatment may exacerbate the underlying bleeding risk which can be life-threatening. Due to the low prevalence of IFD, there is little information on pathophysiology or optimal treatment of thrombosis in these patients. We searched the literature for cases of thrombosis among IFD patients and identified a total of 128 patient reports. In approximately half of the cases, thromboses were spontaneous, while in the others trauma, surgery, and parturition contributed to the risk. The true mechanism(s) of thrombosis in IFD patients remain to be elucidated. A variety of anticoagulant treatments have been used in the treatment or prevention of thrombosis, sometimes with concurrent fibrinogen replacement therapy. There is no definite evidence that fibrinogen supplementation increases the risk of thrombosis, and it may potentially be effective in the treatment and prevention of both thrombosis and hemorrhage in IFD patients.
Polarization Switching Regions of Optically Injected Long-Wavelength VCSELs

We report on an experimental study of the injected optical power required for polarization switching (PS) in a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) subject to orthogonal optical injection. This power is found as a function of the frequency detuning between the injected light and suppressed linear polarization of the solitary VCSEL. Increasing the injected power, we found two types of PS when injecting light with wavelength close to the wavelength of the suppressed linear polarization and to that of the linear polarization of the solitary VCSEL. These two types of PS are, respectively: 1) single and double (with two minima of injected power necessary for PS) and 2) double PS (with two islands of PS and a separate region with a single minimum of injected power). Our experimental results confirm the theoretical predictions of Torre et al. Double PS is observed around the elliptically polarized injection locked states found by Lin et al. Different dynamics are found in the route to PS.
Application of Function Points to Software Based on Open Source: A Case Study

Many software are developed from Open Source. There is a crucial need to estimate the efforts spent in a project development based on Open Source. These estimates give room for comparison between the development model based on Open Source and others and lead to a decision making concerning a project, if it is judged worthy to be continued, discarded or combined with traditional approaches. In the present paper, a case study is made using approximation of functional size to the software based on Open Source in order to show that the development of applications based on Open Source has many advantages in terms of efforts. For this purpose, the present work sets out to adapt an Open Source software called TRIADE and to evaluate its functional size matching. The results show that this adaptation can decrease the functional size of software up to 90% compared to a development from scratch. The present study might constitute a research frame on the development and/or validation of a model of cost estimate of application development based on Open Source.
Modeling urban growth in Kigali city Rwanda

With decreasing interest in pursuing pure science programs, the onus is on Primary and Secondary schools to attract and maintain interest of students to pursue science subjects. Misunderstanding fundamental concepts leads to misconceptions about how processes work in nature. Many decades of teaching science to children without recourse to practical and hands on activities has led to disillusionment among learners that science is difficult to comprehend. It is discussed in this paper that this phenomenon is not restricted to the East African region but has also been documented and tackled in developed countries. It is proposed that introducing astronomy as a subject at all levels of education can revive interest in science and provide hands on experiences that can assist to remove fundamental misconceptions about processes in nature. Keywords: – Astronomy, Education, Science, Concepts, Misconceptions
Estimation of mutation rate at human glycophorin A locus in hematopoietic stem cell progenitors

Surveys of human mutant cells exhibit a few individuals with relatively high “outlying” values, which might be explained by rare mutations occurring during development. To estimate how commonly this occurs, mutant red cell frequencies at the glycophorin A locus in 135 neonates and 109 children and adolescents from three research centers are compared with simulations in which mutations arise from successive cycles of binary fission. The simulations predict the data most accurately when the mutation rate in stem cell precursors is about 2–4 × 10−7 per division cycle, which is similar to previous estimates from adult stem cell divisions. If these mutation rates are accurate, and the number of stem cell divisions during adult life is as low as previously estimated, it is predicted that up to one‐sixth of mutant stem cells over a lifetime arose in early life. However, these mutant stem cells would be difficult to detect in surveys because their distribution within the general population is so skewed. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 39:333–341, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards a Theory of Affect and Software Developers' Performance

For more than thirty years, it has been claimed that a way to improve software developers' productivity and software quality is to focus on people. The underlying assumption seems to be that "happy and satisfied software developers perform better". More specifically, affects-emotions and moods-have an impact on cognitive activities and the working performance of individuals. Development tasks are undertaken heavily through cognitive processes, yet software engineering research (SE) lacks theory on affects and their impact on software development activities. This PhD dissertation supports the advocates of studying the human and social aspects of SE and the psychology of programming. This dissertation aims to theorize on the link between affects and software development performance. A mixed method approach was employed, which comprises studies of the literature in psychology and SE, quantitative experiments, and a qualitative study, for constructing a multifaceted theory of the link between affects and programming performance. The theory explicates the linkage between affects and analytical problem-solving performance of developers, their software development task productivity, and the process behind the linkage. The results are novel in the domains of SE and psychology, and they fill an important lack that had been raised by both previous research and by practitioners. The implications of this PhD lie in setting out the basic building blocks for researching and understanding the affect of software developers, and how it is related to software development performance. Overall, the evidence hints that happy software developers perform better in analytic problem solving, are more productive while developing software, are prone to share their feelings in order to let researchers and managers understand them, and are susceptible to interventions for enhancing their affects on the job.
Cellulose Films: Designing Template-Free Nanoporous Cellulose Films on Semiconducting Surfaces

Abstract In this work, we report the preparation of ultrathin submicro- and nanoporous cellulose films onto Si (100). The effect of different experimental conditions of preparation on the film surface morphology was studied, namely the role of the film casting method (spin- versus dip-coating), solvent (toluene or tetrahydrofuran), substrate pretreatment (hydrophilicity degree), and regeneration procedure with HCl vapors (two consecutive dips followed by regeneration or regeneration after each dip). The surface morphological structures presented in this work were never obtained before without the use of templates. A rather regular two-dimensional pore network was obtained onto the less hydrophilic Si substrate (contact angle≅68°), after two consecutive dips (with an intercalary rotation of 180º) in trimethylsilyl cellulose diluted in toluene and regeneration at the end. All the surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy.
The Mechanisms Involved in Seed Dormancy Alleviation by Hydrogen Cyanide Unravel the Role of Reactive Oxygen Species as Key Factors of Cellular Signaling during Germination [ C ] [ W ]

The physiological dormancy of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) embryos can be overcome during dry storage (after-ripening) or by applying exogenous ethylene or hydrogen cyanide (HCN) during imbibition. The aim of this work was to provide a comprehensive model, based on oxidative signaling by reactive oxygen species (ROS), for explaining the cellular mode of action of HCN in dormancy alleviation. Beneficial HCN effect on germination of dormant embryos is associated with a marked increase in hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion generation in the embryonic axes. It is mimicked by the ROS-generating compounds methylviologen and menadione but suppressed by ROS scavengers. This increase results from an inhibition of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities and also involves activation of NADPH oxidase. However, it is not related to lipid reserve degradation or gluconeogenesis and not associated with marked changes in the cellular redox status controlled by the glutathione/glutathione disulfide couple. The expression of genes related to ROS production (NADPHox, POX, AO1, and AO2) and signaling (MAPK6, Ser/ThrPK, CaM, and PTP) is differentially affected by dormancy alleviation either during afterripening or by HCN treatment, and the effect of cyanide on gene expression is likely to be mediated by ROS. It is also demonstrated that HCN and ROS both activate similarly ERF1, a component of the ethylene signaling pathway. We propose that ROS play a key role in the control of sunflower seed germination and are second messengers of cyanide in seed dormancy release.
The effect of acute magnesium loading on the maximal exercise performance of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

OBJECTIVE: The potential influence of magnesium on exercise performance is a subject of increasing interest. Magnesium has been shown to have bronchodilatatory properties in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute magnesium IV loading on the aerobic exercise performance of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. METHODS: Twenty male chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (66.2±8.3 years old, FEV1: 49.3±19.8%) received an IV infusion of 2 g of either magnesium sulfate or saline on two randomly assigned occasions approximately two days apart. Spirometry was performed both before and 45 minutes after the infusions. A symptom-limited incremental maximal cardiopulmonary test was performed on a cycle ergometer at approximately 100 minutes after the end of the infusion. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00500864 RESULTS: Magnesium infusion was associated with significant reductions in the functional residual capacity (-0.41 l) and residual volume (-0.47 l), the mean arterial blood pressure (-5.6 mmHg) and the cardiac double product (-734.8 mmHg.bpm) at rest. Magnesium treatment led to significant increases in the maximal load reached (+8 w) and the respiratory exchange ratio (0.06) at peak exercise. The subgroup of patients who showed increases in the work load equal to or greater than 5 w also exhibited significantly greater improvements in inspiratory capacity (0.29 l). CONCLUSIONS: The acute IV loading of magnesium promotes a reduction in static lung hyperinflation and improves the exercise performance in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Improvements in respiratory mechanics appear to be responsible for the latter finding.
Adolescent Problematic Social Networking and School Experiences: The Mediating Effects of Sleep Disruptions and Sleep Quality

An important developmental task for adolescents is to become increasingly responsible for their own health behaviors. Establishing healthy sleep routines and controlling media use before bedtime are important for adequate, quality sleep so adolescents are alert during the day and perform well at school. Despite the prevalence of adolescent social media use and the large percentage of computers and cell phones in adolescents' bedrooms, no studies to date have investigated the link between problematic adolescent investment in social networking, their sleep practices, and associated experiences at school. A sample of 1,886 students in Australia aged between 12 and 18 years of age completed self-report data on problematic social networking use, sleep disturbances, sleep quality, and school satisfaction. Structural equation modeling (SEM) substantiated the serial mediation hypothesis: for adolescents, problematic social networking use significantly increased sleep disturbances, which adversely affected perceptions of sleep quality that, in turn, lowered adolescents' appraisals of their school satisfaction. This significant pattern was largely driven by the indirect effect of sleep disturbances. These findings suggest that adolescents are vulnerable to negative consequences from social networking use. Specifically, problematic social networking is associated with poor school experiences, which result from poor sleep habits. Promoting better sleep routines by minimizing sleep disturbances from social media use could improve school experiences for adolescents with enhanced emotional engagement and improved subjective well-being.
Innate immunity triggers oligodendrocyte progenitor reactivity and confines damages to brain injuries

Regarded as a damaging reaction, innate immune response can either improve or worsen brain outcome after injury. Hence, inflammatory molecules might modulate cell susceptibility or healing events. The remyelination that follows brain lesions is dependent on the recruitment of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and expression of genes controlling differentiation and myelin production, such as Olig1 and Olig2 bHLH transcription factors. We aimed to determine how innate immunity affects these processes. Here we report that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion triggered OPC reactivity. Acute inflammation changed the distribution of Olig1‐ and Olig2‐expressing cells following chemical demyelination, enhanced reappearance of transcription signals linked to remyelination and rapidly cleared myelin debris. Although cells expressing Olig1, Olig2, and proteolipid protein were attracted to demyelinated sites in the course of chronic inflammation, myelin loss was not associated with the effects of inflammation on OPC reactivity. In addition, the beneficial properties of brain immunity are broadened to an aggressive model of injury, wherein LPS through Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) reduced surfactant‐mediated damage while anti‐inflammatory treatment enlarged the lesion. In conclusion, TLR4 activation in microglia is a powerful mechanism for improving repair at the remyelination level and protecting the cerebral tissue in presence of agents with strong cytolytic properties.
Potential applications of lipid nanoparticles in edible packaging and nutraceutical delivery

OF THE DISSERTATION . ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . xi DEDICATION . xii TABLE OF CONTENTS . xiii LIST OF TABLES . xx LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . xxii RATIONALE AND HYPOTHESIS. xxvii CHAPTER
Development and validation of an electronic FFQ to assess food intake in the Slovene population

Abstract Objective To develop and validate an electronic FFQ that estimates the food and nutrient intakes, especially fat intake, in a healthy, adult population from the coastal (Mediterranean) part of Slovenia. Design A new electronic FFQ was developed for a survey entitled ‘A multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of obesity’, conducted at the University of Primorska, and validated against a 3 d weighed food record (FR). Setting Coastal region of Slovenia. Subjects Our study population included eighty-five healthy adults aged 25–49 years, recruited from the local coastal region of Slovenia. Intakes of food groups, macronutrients and energy, estimated by the FR and the FFQ, were compared using correlation coefficients, cross-classification and Bland–Altman plots. Results The mean value of most nutrient intakes tended to be higher in the FFQ compared with the FR, except for carbohydrate, fibre and energy. Regression analysis demonstrated an acceptable agreement between the FFQ and FR. The FFQ was moderately correlated with the FR (0·30–0·54), and most of the correlations increased after energy adjustment and after de-attenuation. Relatively high (more than 70 %) proportions of participants were correctly classified into the same or an adjacent quartile. Bland–Altman analysis confirmed an acceptable level of agreement between the two methods. Conclusions The electronic FFQ, developed for a healthy adult Slovene population from the coastal region, was shown to be a valid tool to assess food group and nutrient intakes, especially fat intakes, and to rank individuals by their intakes within gene–nutrient studies.