Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Signals of support: flexible work for mutual gain

Abstract Even where organizational policy provides for flexible work arrangements (FWAs), uptake of FWAs depends on employee perceptions of supervisor and organizational support for flexible work. Supervisor support has previously been identified as having significant influence on employee uptake of FWAs as supervisors can encourage or discourage FWA use. Supervisors work within an organizational context, so understanding how that organizational context shapes supervisor support is critical to improving FWA implementation. Incorporating both signaling theory and HR process theory, this case study of an Australian insurance organization examines the signals of support for FWAs that exist within an organization, and the influence of these signals, both explicit and implicit, on supervisor implementation of FWAs. The findings demonstrate how organizational statements, infrastructure investment, senior manager behavior, and organizational discourse shape supervisor support for FWAs. Theoretically, the study demonstrates that signals are an important feature of a strong HR system and can lead to a discourse of mutual gains which ultimately limits the use of particular FWAs, despite policy ostensibly supporting them. More broadly, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how the implementation of HR policy can differ from HR policy intent.
Monetary and Non-Monetary Incentives in Real-Effort Tournaments

Results from laboratory experiments using real-effort tasks provide mixed evidence on the relationship between monetary incentives and effort provision. To examine this issue, we design three experiments where subjects participate in two-player real-effort tournaments with two prizes. Experiment 1 shows that subjects exert high effort even if there are no monetary incentives, suggesting that non-monetary incentives are contributing to their effort choices. Moreover, increasing monetary incentives does not result in higher effort provision. Experiment 2 shows that the impact of non-monetary incentives can be reduced by providing subjects with the option of leaving the laboratory early, using an incentivized timeout button, or working on an incentivized alternative activity. Experiment 3 revisits the relationship between monetary incentives and effort provision using the insights from Experiment 2. Using a design with an incentivized alternative activity, we show that participants increase effort in response to monetary incentives. Taken together, the findings from the three experiments suggest that results from real-effort tasks require a careful evaluation and interpretation of the motivations underlying the observed performance.
Semi-automatic Volumetric Measurement of Treatment Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Trans-arterial Chemoembolization.

AIM To perform a quantitative, volumetric analysis of therapeutic effects of trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Entire tumor volume and a subset of hypervascular tumor portions were analyzed pre- and post-TACE in magnetic resonance imaging datasets of 22 HCC patients using a semi-automated segmentation and evaluation tool from the Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit. Results were compared to mRECIST measurements and inter-reader variability was assessed. RESULTS Mean total tumor volume increased statistical significantly after TACE (84.6 ml pre- vs. 97.1 ml post-TACE, p=0.03) while hypervascular tumor volume decreased from 9.1 ml pre- to 3.7 ml post-TACE (p=0.0001). Likewise, mRECIST diameters decreased significantly after therapy (44.2 vs. 15.4 mm). In the inter-reader assessment, overlap errors were 12.3-17.7% for entire and 36.3-64.2% for the enhancing tumor volume. CONCLUSION Quantification of therapeutic changes after TACE therapy is feasible using a semi-automated segmentation and evaluation tool. Following TACE, hypervascular tumor volume decreases significantly.
Na+−Ca2+ exchange and sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ regulation in ventricular myocytes from transgenic mice overexpressing the Na+−Ca2+ exchanger

1 The contribution of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and Na+−Ca2+ exchanger to intracellular Ca2+ regulation in mouse cardiac myocytes was investigated by measuring contraction after variable rest intervals, rapid cooling contractures (RCCs) and fast application of caffeine. The results obtained showed differences from other species in the roles played by the SR and the Na+−Ca2+ exchanger. They suggest that in mouse ventricular myocytes there is significant Ca2+ entry via the exchanger during rest and during the latter part of the Ca2+ transient. 2 In cardiac myocytes isolated from transgenic mice overexpressing the cardiac Na+−Ca2+ exchanger the time to peak and relaxation of twitches and RCCs were faster than in control littermates. The decline of Ca2+, assessed by indo‐1 fluorescence, was faster in transgenic myocytes even in the absence of Na+ and Ca2+ in the superfusing solution. This suggests that SR Ca2+ uptake is faster in these myocytes. However, no difference in the expression of SERCA2a, phospholamban or calsequestrin measured with Western blotting could be found in the two groups. 3 We measured SR Ca2+ content by integrating the caffeine‐induced transient inward current. The amount of Ca2+ stored in the SR of transgenic mouse myocytes was 69 % greater than in non‐transgenic littermates. The increased SR Ca2+ content may be responsible for the faster rate of SR Ca2+ release and uptake in cells from transgenic mice. 4 We performed experiments to assess whether the reversal potential of the Na+−Ca2+ exchanger (ENa‐Ca) was different in transgenic cardiac cells. We measured a Ni2+‐sensitive current elicited by voltage ramps in non‐dialysed myocytes. The current‐voltage relationship showed no difference in the reversal potential of the Na+−Ca2+ exchanger in transgenic and control myocytes. This suggests that the effects on the SR Ca2+ content in transgenic cardiac myocytes can be ascribed to the overexpression of the exchanger and are not secondary to changes in intracellular diastolic Ca2+ and Na+.
Cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil combined with mitoxantrone versus doxorubicin for breast cancer: superiority of doxorubicin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a randomized, multicenter study of intravenous cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 plus fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 combined with either mitoxantrone (Novantrone, Lederle Cyanamid Canada Ltd, Willowdale, Ontario) 10 mg/m2 (CNF) or doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Adria Laboratories of Canada Ltd, Mississauga, Ontario) 50 mg/m2 (CAF) every 3 weeks in advanced breast cancer. RESULTS The response rate in 249 randomized patients was 36% with CNF (44 of 121) and 48% with CAF (62 of 128) (P = .054), with complete remissions in 10 patients (8.3%) on CNF and in 13 (10.2%) on CAF. If only fully assessable patients are considered, the response rate was 48% (44 of 91) with CNF and 60% (62 of 103) with CAF (P = .098). At time of analysis, all except 10 patients (one CNF and nine CAF) had died. The median survival time with CAF was longer than with CNF (15.2 v 10.9 months; P = .003), and time to progression was also longer with CAF (5.3 v 3.2 months; P < .03). Survival differences remained significant (P = .006) if patients who failed to meet all eligibility criteria were excluded. Favorable prognostic factors for survival in a Cox regression model included good performance status (P < .0001); less than two organ systems involved by tumor (P < .0001); no involvement of lung, liver, or brain (P < .003); involvement of bone or bone marrow (P < .009), prior surgery for breast cancer (P < .006); being premenopausal (P < .03); > or = 3 years from diagnosis until randomization on this study (P < .03); and treatment with CAF (P < .03). Alopecia > or = grade 3 was reported in 55% of patients with CAF and 12% of patients with CNF (P < .001), while other > or = grade 3 toxicities did not differ significantly. Priestman-Baum quality-of-life assessment was comparable on the two study arms. CONCLUSION In patients with advanced breast cancer, CAF was associated with longer survival than was CNF, with an increase in alopecia, but not in other toxicities.
Terrorist group survival as a measure of effectiveness

Some terrorist groups only carry out one attack and then disappear, while others wage campaigns of terror for decades. Why do some terrorist groups last much longer than others? A growing body of research provides in-depth empirical evaluation of this important question (Cronin 2006, 2009; Daxecker and Hess 2013; Gaibulloev and Sandler 2014). However, there has been little effort to consolidate the findings that exist thus far.
Karyotyping, dermatoglyphic, and sweat pore analysis of five families affected with ectodermal dysplasia

Background: Hereditary ectodermal dysplasia is a genetic recessive trait characterized by hypohydrosis, hypotrichosis, and hypodontia. The affected individual show characteristic physiognomy like protruded forehead, depressed nasal bridge, periorbital wrinkling, protruded lips, etc. There is marked decrease in sweat and salivary secretion. Due to skin involvement palm and sole ridge patterns are disrupted. Aim: In this study an attempt has been made to classify the affected members according to the degree of penetrance by pedigree analysis and also study karyotyping for cytogenetics, dermatoglyphic analysis for the various ridge patterns and variations in the number of sweat glands by sweat pore analysis in affected individuals. Materials and Methods: A total of five families who were affected with ectodermal dysplasia were considered. Pedigree analysis was drawn up to three generation by obtaining history. Dermatoglyphics and sweat pore analysis was done by obtaining palm and finger print impression using stamp pad ink. Karyotyping was done by collecting 3–5 ml peripheral blood. Karyotyping was prepared using lymphocyte culture. Chromosomes were examined at 20 spreads selected randomly under ×100 magnification. Results were analyzed by calculating mean values and percentage was obtained. Results: Karyotyping did not show any abnormalities, dermatoglyphic analysis and sweat pore counts showed marked variations when compared with normal. Moreover, pedigree analysis confirmed the status of the disease as that of the recessive trait. Conclusion: Large number of affected patients needs to be evaluated for dermatoglypic analysis. Genetic aspect of the disease needs to be looked into the molecular level in an attempt to locate the gene locus responsible for ectodermal dysplasia and its manifestation.
Interaction between direct sympathetic and vagus nerve stimulation on heart rate in the isolated rabbit heart

The interaction between the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VS) and sympathetic stimulation (SS) on intrinsic heart rate was studied in the novel innervated isolated rabbit heart preparation. The effects of background VS, at different frequencies – 2 Hz (low), 5 Hz (medium), 7 Hz (high) – on the chronotropic effects of different frequencies of SS – 2 Hz (low), 5 Hz (medium), 10 Hz (high) – were studied. The experiments were repeated in the reverse direction studying the effects of different levels of background SS on the chronotropic effects of different levels of VS. Background VS reduced the overall positive chronotropic effect of SS at steady state in a frequency dependent manner and the rate of increase in heart rate during low and medium SS (but not high SS) was slowed in the presence of background VS. These results suggest that pre‐ and postjunctional mechanisms may be involved in the sympatho–vagal interaction on heart rate. On the other hand, the chronotropic effect of VS was enhanced in the presence of background SS. Vagal stimulation appears to play a dominant role over sympathetic stimulation in chronotropic effects on the isolated heart. The innervated isolated heart preparation is a valuable model to study the complex mechanisms underlying the interaction between sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation on cardiac function.
Interrelation of Controls for Autonomous Motivation: A Field Study of Productivity Gains Through Pressure-Induced Process Innovation

This field study investigates an empirical setting where the introduction of new formal results controls—stretch targets for productivity that are seemingly unachievable with current process efficiencies—is associated with high productivity gains over extended periods of time. Contrary to findings from the prior management accounting research, employees meet the targets by being creative and risk-taking in continuously innovating processes, despite the pressure induced by high target-level difficulty. Mobilizing self-determination theory, we argue that a specific interrelation of personnel and cultural control with results control supports internalization of the latter by employees. In this situation, employees perceive the high performance required by the results control assimilated into their own values, which facilitates the autonomous motivation necessary for their creativity. Our findings contribute to the literature by identifying the conditions, and discovering the mechanisms, that enhance the efficacy of stretch targets.
Final analysis of survival outcomes in the phase 3 FIRST trial of up-front treatment for multiple myeloma.

This FIRST trial final analysis examined survival outcomes in patients with transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) treated with lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone until disease progression (Rd continuous), Rd for 72 weeks (18 cycles; Rd18), or melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide (MPT; 72 weeks). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS; primary comparison: Rd continuous vs MPT). Overall survival (OS) was a key secondary endpoint (final analysis prespecified ≥60 months' follow-up). Patients were randomized to Rd continuous (n = 535), Rd18 (n = 541), or MPT (n = 547). At a median follow-up of 67 months, PFS was significantly longer with Rd continuous vs MPT (hazard ratio [HR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.79; P < .00001) and was similarly extended vs Rd18. Median OS was 10 months longer with Rd continuous vs MPT (59.1 vs 49.1 months; HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.92; P = .0023), and similar with Rd18 (62.3 months). In patients achieving complete or very good partial responses, Rd continuous had an ≈30-month longer median time to next treatment vs Rd18 (69.5 vs 39.9 months). Over half of all patients who received second-line treatment were given a bortezomib-based therapy. Second-line outcomes were improved in patients receiving bortezomib after Rd continuous and Rd18 vs after MPT. No new safety concerns, including risk for secondary malignancies, were observed. Treatment with Rd continuous significantly improved survival outcomes vs MPT, supporting Rd continuous as a standard of care for patients with transplant-ineligible NDMM. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT00689936 and EudraCT as 2007-004823-39.
CD4+ T-Lymphocytes Natural Decrease in HAART-Naïve HIV-Infected Adults in Abidjan

Abstract Objective: To study the CD4 natural decrease and its determinants in sub-Saharan African HIV-infected adults. Method: We performed a 7-year prospective cohort study, with biannual CD4 measurement. Follow-up was censored at the first severe morbidity event or at HAART initiation. Changes in CD4 values were studied by jointly modelling (a) the correlation between repeated measures through a linear mixed model and (b) the time to drop-out through a survival model. Results: 690 patients were followed up during 1,382 person-years. Contrasting with the baseline CD4 count and percentage, which were associated with numerous variables, the slopes of both CD4 count and CD4 percentage in the absence of severe morbidity episode were only associated with the follow-up time and with the baseline body mass index (BMI). The mean annual natural decrease in CD4 count (CD4%) was estimated at -81/mm3 (-2.2%), -69/mm3 (-1.7%), and -55/mm3 (-1.2%) for patients with baseline BMI at 16 kg/m2, 20.4 kg/m2, and 25 kg/m2, respectively (p < .001). A steeper decline in the CD4 count was independently associated with a shorter event-free follow-up time. Conclusion: These estimates of the CD4 natural decrease in sub-Saharan African patients, while they did not experience any episode of severe morbidity and before they initiate HAART, are in the bracket of those previously reported in industrialized countries. In sub-Saharan African settings with CD4 count being measured less frequently than in industrialized countries, the CD4 should be monitored more closely among adults with low BMI. Key words: body mass index, CD4 lymphocyte count, epidemiologic factors, natural history, sub-Saharan Africa
Synergistic Effects of Antimicrobial Peptides and Antibiotics against Clostridium difficile

ABSTRACT Accelerating rates of health care-associated infections caused by Clostridium difficile, with increasing recurrence and rising antibiotic resistance rates, have become a serious problem in recent years. This study was conducted to explore whether a combination of antibiotics with human antimicrobial peptides may lead to an increase in antibacterial activity. The in vitro activities of the antimicrobial peptides HBD1 to HBD3, HNP1, HD5, and LL-37 and the antibiotics tigecycline, moxifloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and meropenem alone or in combination against 10 toxinogenic and 10 nontoxinogenic C. difficile strains were investigated. Bacterial viability was determined by flow cytometry and toxin production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). When combined at subinhibitory concentrations, antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics generally led to an additive killing effect against toxinogenic and nontoxinogenic C. difficile strains. However, LL-37 and HBD3 acted in synergism with all the antibiotics that were tested. Electron microscopy revealed membrane perturbation in bacterial cell walls by HBD3. In 3 out of 10 toxinogenic strains, HBD3, LL-37, piperacillin-tazobactam, and meropenem administration led to an increased toxin release which was not neutralized by the addition of HNP1. Antimicrobial peptides increase the bacterial killing of antibiotics against C. difficile regardless of the antibiotics' mode of action. Membrane perturbation in or pore formation on the bacterial cell wall may enhance the uptake of antibiotics and increase their antibacterial effect. Therefore, a combination of antibiotics with antimicrobial peptides may represent a promising novel approach to the treatment of C. difficile infections.
Vasculogenic mimicry

The term vasculogenic mimicry describes the formation of fluid‐conducting channels by highly invasive and genetically dysregulated tumor cells. Two distinctive types of vasculogenic mimicry have been described. Vasculogenic mimicry of the tubular type may be confused morphologically with endothelial cell‐lined blood vessels. Vasculogenic mimicry of the patterned matrix type in no way resembles blood vessels morphologically or topologically. Matrix proteins such as laminin, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, and collagens IV and VI have been identified in these patterns. The patterned matrix anastomoses with blood vessels, and systemically injected tracers co‐localize to these patterns. Vasculogenic mimicry of the patterned matrix type has been identified in uveal, cutaneous and mucous membrane melanomas, inflammatory and ductal breast carcinoma, ovarian and prostatic carcinoma, and soft tissue sarcomas, including synovial sarcoma rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and pheochromocytoma. Because the microcirculation of many tumors may be heterogeneous – including incorporated or co‐opted vessels, angiogenic vessels, mosaic vessels, and vasculogenic mimicry of the tubular and patterned matrix types – therapeutic regimens that target angiogenesis alone may be ineffective against highly invasive tumors that contain patterned matrices. Vasculogenic mimicry provides an opportunity to investigate the interrelationships between the genetically dysregulated invasive tumor cell, the microenvironment, and the malignant switch.
Comparative test–retest reliability of metabolite values assessed with magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain. The LCModel versus the manufacturer software

Abstract Objective: Reproducibility is an essential strength of any diagnostic technique for cross-sectional and longitudinal works. To determine in vivo short-term comparatively, the test–retest reliability of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the brain was compared using the manufacturer's software package and the widely used linear combination of model (LCModel) technique. Methods: Single-voxel 1H-MRS was performed in a series of patients with different pathologies on a 1.5 T clinical scanner. Four areas of the brain were explored with the point resolved spectroscopy technique acquisition mode; the echo time was 35 milliseconds and the repetition time was 2000 milliseconds. We enrolled 15 patients for every area, and the intra-individual variations of metabolites were studied in two consecutive scans without removing the patient from the scanner. Curve fitting and analysis of metabolites were made with the software of GE and the LCModel. Spectra non-fulfilling the minimum criteria of quality in relation to linewidths and signal/noise ratio were rejected. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients for the N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratios were 0.93, 0.89, 0.9 and 0.8 for the posterior cingulate gyrus, occipital, prefrontal and temporal regions, respectively, with the GE software. For the LCModel, the coefficients were 0.9, 0.89, 0.87 and 0.84, respectively. For the absolute value of NAA, the GE software was also slightly more reproducible than LCModel. However, for the choline/Cr and myo-inositol/Cr ratios, the LCModel was more reliable than the GE software. The variability we have seen hovers around the percentages observed in previous reports (around 10% for the NAA/Cr ratios). Conclusion: We did not find that the LCModel software is superior to the software of the manufacturer. Reproducibility of metabolite values relies more on the observance of the quality parameters than on the software used.
Domestic Antidotes to Sudden Stops

Sudden Stops in net capital flows can be prevented when the actions of domestic investors offset a reduction in foreign lending. This paper presents evidence that while sudden stops in gross inflows—i.e., a tightening of the external borrowing constraint—are associated with global conditions and therefore, are largely outside of the control of local policymakers, domestic factors such as low levels of liability dollarization, exchange rate flexibility, inflation targeting regimes, and a solid institutional background are important to prevent these episodes from becoming sudden stops in net capital flows. Under these favorable local conditions, domestic investors may perceive reduced risk in bringing in resources at the time of an external shock, thus insulating the country from this shock.