Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prostate cancer detection in patients with total serum prostate-specific antigen levels of 4-10 ng/mL: diagnostic efficacy of diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and T2-weighted imaging.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of T2-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for detecting prostate cancer in patients with total serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4-10 ng/mL, which is referred to as the "gray zone. " MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty patients with gray-zone PSA levels underwent MRI before biopsy. According to the sites of biopsy, the prostate was divided into eight regions on MRI scans. These regions were evaluated individually for the following features: detectability of prostate cancer on per-region and per-patient bases, and relationship between tumor size and positive or negative MRI findings for tumor detection. RESULTS On a per-region basis, the sensitivity and specificity of tumor detection were 36% and 97% for T2-weighted imaging, 43% and 95% for DCE-MRI, 38% and 96% for DWI, and 53% and 93% for the combined method of MRI, respectively. The sensitivity of combined MRI to detect tumor was significantly higher than those of the individual methods (p < 0.001 to p = 0.001). Tumor size was significantly larger in regions with positive MRI findings than in regions with negative MRI findings (p = 0.004). On a per-patient basis, sensitivity and specificity of combined MRI to detect prostate cancer were 83% and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSION Combined T2-weighted imaging, DWI, and DCE-MRI findings appear to be potentially useful for detecting and managing prostate cancer, even when performed for patients with gray-zone PSA levels.
Predictive modelling and uncertainty quantification of UK forest growth

Forestry in the UK is dominated by coniferous plantations. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) are the most prevalent species and are mostly grown in single age mono-culture stands. Forest strategy for Scotland, England, and Wales all include efforts to achieve further afforestation. The aim of this afforestation is to provide a multi-functional forest with a broad range of benefits. Due to the time scale involved in forestry, accurate forecasts of stand productivity (along with clearly defined uncertainties) are essential to forest managers. These can be provided by a range of approaches to modelling forest growth. In this project model comparison, Bayesian calibration, and data assimilation methods were all used to attempt to improve forecasts and understanding of uncertainty therein of the two most important conifers in UK forestry. Three different forest growth models were compared in simulating growth of Scots pine. A yield table approach, the process-based 3PGN model, and a Stand Level Dynamic Growth (SLeDG) model were used. Predictions were compared graphically over the typical productivity range for Scots pine in the UK. Strengths and weaknesses of each model were considered. All three produced similar growth trajectories. The greatest difference between models was in volume and biomass in unthinned stands where the yield table predicted a much larger range compared to the other two models. Future advances in data availability and computing
Decumulation, Sequencing Risk and the Safe Withdrawal Rate: Why the 4% Withdrawal Rule leaves Money on the Table

We examine the consequences of alternative popular investment strategies for the decumulation of funds invested for retirement through a defined contribution pension scheme. We examine in detail the viability of specific ‘safe’ withdrawal rates including the ‘4%-rule’ of Bengen (1994). We find two powerful conclusions; first that smoothing the returns on individual assets by simple trend following techniques is a potent tool to enhance withdrawal rates. Secondly, we show that while diversification across asset classes does lead to higher withdrawal rates than simple equity/bond portfolios, ’smoothing’ returns in itself is far more powerful a tool for raising withdrawal rates. in fact, smoothing the popular equity/bond portfolios (such as the 60/40 portfolio) is in itself an excellent and simple solution to constructing a retirement portfolio. Alternatively, trend following enables portfolios to contain more risky assets, and the greater upside they offer, for the same level of overall risk compared to standard portfolios.
GPs' views on the practice of physician-assisted suicide and their role in proposed UK legalisation: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND A bill to legalise assisted dying in the UK has been proposed in Parliament's House of Lords three times since 2003. The House of Lords Select Committee concluded in 2005 that 'the few attempts to understand the basis of doctors' views have shown equivocal data varying over time'. Fresh research was recommended to gain a fuller understanding of health sector views. AIM To examine GPs' views of the practice of physician-assisted suicide as defined by the 2005/2006 House of Lords (Joffe) Bill and views of their role in the proposed legislation; and to explore the influences determining GPs' views on physician-assisted suicide. DESIGN OF STUDY Qualitative interview study. SETTING Primary care in South London, England. METHOD Semi-structured interviews with GPs were conducted by a lead interviewer and analysed in a search for themes, using the framework approach. RESULTS Thirteen GPs were interviewed. GPs who had not personally witnessed terminal suffering that could justify assisted dying were against the legislation. Some GPs felt their personal religious views, which regarded assisted dying as morally wrong, could not be the basis of a generalisable medical ethic for others. GPs who had witnessed a person's suffering that, in their opinion, justified physician-assisted suicide were in favour of legislative change. Some GPs felt a specialist referral pathway to provide assisted dying would help to ensure proper standards were met. CONCLUSION GPs' views on physician-assisted suicide ranged from support to opposition, depending principally on their interpretation of their experience of patients' suffering at the end of life. The goal to lessen suffering of the terminally ill, and apprehensions about patients being harmed, were common to both groups. Respect for autonomy and the right of self-determination versus the need to protect vulnerable people from the potential for harm from social coercion were the dominant themes.
Comparative developments in labour administration

The aims of this report are to take stock of recent developments in labour administration and highlight some of the ways in which national governments have sought to improve the functioning of their national systems of labour administration. Over the past two decades, substantial changes have taken place in the organization of national labour administration systems and the principles according to which they are managed. Reforms have been initiated so as to support new labour, employment and social protection policies and enhance the effectiveness of service delivery in these areas. The reforms have also taken place as a consequence of attempts by national governments to improve performance, transparency and accountability within the public sector. The widespread tightening of public finances that followed the economic crisis that began in 2008 has provided added impetus to these efforts. Labour administration bodies in many countries have experienced reductions in their budgets and therefore their capacity. Austerity has been accompanied by an even greater emphasis on ‘efficiency savings’.
Effect of Resin Cement Porosity on Retention of Glass-Fiber Posts to Root Dentin : An Experimental and F in i t e E l ement

stress distribution, post retention and failure mode of fiber post cemented to human root dentin. Ten human central upper incisors with circular root canal were selected. They were sectioned with 15 mm and were endodontically filled. The roots were scanned using micro-CT after post space preparation for root filling remaining evaluation. Fiber posts were cemented using self-adhesive resin cement (Rely X U200, 3M-ESPE). Two 1-mmthick slices from the cervical, medium and apical thirds were scanned for resin cement bubbles volume measurements and submitted to a push-out test (PBS). Three operators using stereomicroscopy and confocal laser microscopy classified the failure mode. Stress distributions during the push-out test were analyzed using 3D finite element analysis. PBS values (MPa) were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests and the failure modes using the Kappa coefficient to assess inter-operator agreement. Chi-square test was used to determine significant differences between the methods (α = 0.05). Pushout bond strength was significantly affected by the bubbles presence in all root depth (p<0.05). The stress concentration was higher when the bubbles were present. Adhesive dentin/resin cement interface failure was the most frequent type of failure. Confocal microscopy was better than stereomicroscopy for failure analysis. Bubbles generated during resin cement insertion into the root canal negatively affect the stress distribution and the bond strength. The use of confocal microscopy is recommended for failure analysis. Effect of Resin Cement Porosity on Retention of Glass-Fiber Posts to Root Dentin: An Experimental and F in i t e E l ement Ana lys i s
Molecular dynamics simulations of pentapeptides at interfaces: salt bridge and cation-pi interactions.

Peptide-membrane interactions are important for understanding the binding, partitioning, and folding of membrane proteins; the activity of antimicrobial and fusion peptides; and a number of other processes. We describe molecular dynamics simulations (10-25 ns) of two pentapeptides Ace-WLXLL (with X = Arg or Lys side chain) (White, S. H., and Wimley, W.C. (1996) Nat. Struct. Biol. 3, 842-848) in water and three different membrane mimetic systems: (i) a water/cyclohexane interface, (ii) water-saturated octanol, and (iii) a solvated dioleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer. A salt bridge is found between the protonated Arg or Lys side chains with the carboxyl terminus at the three interfaces. In water/cyclohexane, the salt bridge is most exposed to the water phase and least stable. In water/octanol and the lipid bilayer systems, the salt bridge once formed persists throughout the simulations. In the lipid bilayer, the salt bridge is more stable when the peptide penetrates deeper into the bilayer. In one of two peptides, a cation-pi interaction between the Arg and the Trp side chains is stable in the lipid bilayer for about 15 ns before breaking. In all cases, the conformations of the peptides are restricted by their presence at the interface and can be assigned to a few major conformational clusters. Side chains facing the water phase are most mobile. In the lipid bilayer, the peptides remain in the interface area, where they overlap with the carbonyl area of the lipid bilayer and perturb the local density profile of the bilayer. The tryptophan side chain remains in the water-lipid interface, where it interacts with the lipid choline group and forms hydrogen bonds with the ester carbonyl of the lipid and with water in the interface.
Immunological detection of large oxidized lipoproteins in hypertriglyceridemic serum

Background Triglyceride-rich, low-density lipoproteins (TG-rich LDL) have been reported as an oxidized lipoprotein species in patients with severe liver disease. Using TG-rich LDL as an immunogen, we obtained a monoclonal antibody (G11-6) that reacted with TG-rich LDL from patients with liver disease and with metal-oxidized LDL only in the early process of the oxidation reaction. This study determined the G11-6-reactive lipoproteins in hypertriglyceridemic serum. Methods Serum samples from healthy volunteers (n = 12) and hypertriglyceridemic patients (n = 9) were fractionated by gel filtration and subjected to a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using G11-6 and polyclonal anti-apolipoprotein B antibodies. Results Small LDL and larger lipoproteins reacted with G11-6. G11-6-reactive small LDL was identified in both the healthy subjects and hypertriglyceridemic patients, whereas G11-6-reactive larger lipoproteins were found only in the hypertriglyceridemic patients. Conclusions G11-6 is a useful tool for detecting increased large oxidized lipoproteins in hypertriglyceridemic patients.
Antipsychotics side effects' influence on stigma of mental illness: focus group study results.

BACKGROUND Little research was done on the influence of antipsychotics' side effects on stigma of mental illness. An overview of studies shows that people with mental illness state that because of medication side effects they feel discriminated in the field of employment, observe worsening of family relations and tend to skip or discontinue their regular medication. It is difficult to discriminate between stigmatizing effects of antipsychotics and other stigma related factors such as illness symptoms. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A focus group of ten patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with severe and remitting mental illness treated with antipsychotic medication was conducted to obtain their personal views on how side effects of antipsychotic drugs affect their everyday lives and contribute to the stigmatization because of mental illness. RESULTS The patients felt most stigmatized in areas of employment and occupation. They repeatedly skipped or discontinued regular medication due to side effects. Their families supported them throughout treatment and recovery despite problems associated with psychotropic medication. CONCLUSION Medication induced stigma affects patients' lives in substantial ways and therefore merits further research, part of which is the patients' personal experience.
Ectopic Pregnancy in Africa: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of ectopic pregnancy in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon (Central Africa). METHODS: In 2000, all women admitted for an ectopic pregnancy to health facilities in the city of Yaounde were systematically enrolled. Sociodemographic information on the women and their reproductive history was collected by questionnaire during a face-to-face interview. Medical and obstetrical data (clinical findings at hospital entry, medical history, type of surgery, and final vital status) were collected from gynecologic and surgical files and admission registers. RESULTS: We recorded 320 cases of ectopic pregnancy in health facilities in the city of Yaounde and we estimated that 40,100 live births occurred during the same study period (January to December 2000). The population-based incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy in the city of Yaounde was 0.79% (95% confidence interval 0.72%, 0.88%) in 2000. Three maternal deaths were recorded giving a mortality rate of 0.94% (95% confidence interval 0.32%, 2.72%). CONCLUSION: The 0.79% ectopic pregnancy incidence rate observed in this African country must be considered a minimum due to probable underestimation. Nevertheless, this rate is lower than that currently observed in industrialized countries. Late diagnosis, low percentage of conservative treatment, and subsequent maternal deaths are important findings that should encourage African gynecologists to promote ectopic pregnancy prevention programs and to improve the care given to women with ectopic pregnancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Combination of clinical factors predictive of growth of small choroidal melanocytic tumors.

OBJECTIVE To better define the effect of individual risk factors and combinations thereof on the growth of small choroidal melanocytic tumors. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. SETTING Clinical practice of ocular oncology. PATIENTS The study included 1287 patients with small suspicious choroidal melanocytic tumors, measuring 3 mm or less in thickness, managed with observation. RESULTS On multivariate analysis, the clinical risk factors predictive of growth of small choroidal melanocytic tumors include tumor thickness greater than 2.0 mm, posterior tumor margin touching the disc, visual symptoms, orange pigment, and subretinal fluid. Tumor growth was detected in 4% of those patients with no risk factors. Growth was detected in approximately 36% of patients with 1 risk factor, 45% of patients with 2 risk factors, 50% of patients with 3 risk factors, 51% of patients with 4 risk factors, and 56% of patients with all 5 risk factors. The combination of risk factors offering the greatest risk for growth was tumor thickness greater than 2.0 mm, tumor margin touching disc, and subretinal fluid that was associated with tumor growth in 63% of the affected patients. The relative risk for growth was 1.9 for 1 factor, 3.8 for 2 factors, 7.4 for 3 factors, 14.1 for 4 factors, and 27.1 for all 5 risk factors combined. CONCLUSIONS Five risk factors for growth of small choroidal melanocytic tumors have been identified. The combinations of various factors increase the risk for tumor growth from 4% if no factors are present to more than 50% if 3 or more risk factors are present. These factors may be important when counseling patients with small suspicious choroidal melanocytic tumors.
Precautionary Savings and the Self-Employed: Does Uncertainty Magnitude Matter?

Precautionary savings have often been analyzed with regard to its impact on current savings. This work focuses instead on the impact of uncertainty on savings under bequest form. We thus turn the focus on estimating whether and to what extent income variability does have an effect on post-mortem savings. We approximate the post-mortem savings with the closest dedicated savings, which is savings in term insurance, a lump sum inherited at the death of the subscriber. Furthermore, we test whether the intensity of the income variance or the riskiness of the job type - such as self-employment - matters more in the choice. Our results show that, even after controlling for income uncertainty, self-employment status is one of the most relevant variables affecting term insurance ownership.
Expression of VEGF and its receptors VEGFR1/VEGFR2 is associated with invasiveness of bladder cancer.

AIM Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is frequently altered in invasive tumor cells and is associated with patient outcome. In the present study, we examined VEGF, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 expression in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), and evaluated the association between VEGF and its receptors with disease characteristics and bladder cancer recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tissue microarrays containing bladder cancer specimens (n=212) and adjacent normal bladder mucosa (n=131) were immunostained using antibodies against VEGF, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2. The association between the expression of these proteins and clinical parameters including stage, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence-free survival were statistically evaluated. VEGF mRNA expression data were extracted from the public Oncomine database. RESULTS VEGF and VEGFR1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in bladder cancer specimens than that of normal mucosa (for VEGF, p<0.001; for VEGFR1, p=0.02). Analysis of their expression at protein levels showed that levels of VEGF and VEGFR1 were significantly higher in NMIBC than in MIBC (p<0.001), while that of VEGFR2 was significantly higher in all cancer specimens compared to benign urothelial mucosa (p=0.001). Further-more, the expression of VEGFR2 was significantly higher in MIBC, as compared to NMIBC (p<0.001). Patients with higher levels of VEGF, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 tended to have poorer recurrence-free survival than those with lower levels, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that alterations in the expression of VEGF and VEGF receptors are associated with disease stage and recurrence.
Foreign Investment and Dispute Resolution Law and Practice in Asia: An Overview

International investment, especially Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), continues to grow apace across the Asian region, despite the Asian Financial Crisis and now the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This paper is based on the introductory chapter for our 13-volume book (Foreign Investment and Dispute Resolution Law and Practice in Asia, forthcoming in October 2011 from Routledge). The book surveys both substantive law affecting FDI and investment dispute resolution law and practice, focusing on major capital exporting and importing countries in the region (especially Japan, China, India, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam). Another distinguishing feature of the book is the way it integrates comparative law studies of domestic legal systems with analyses of important emerging trends in international investment treaty law. With a Preface from the President of the International Bar Association, the book also brings together further chapters from a diverse group of senior and up-and-coming academics and practitioners expert in these fields: - Preface (by Akira Kawamura) - Investment Arbitration in Asia: Five Perspectives on Law and Practice (Luke Nottage and J. Romesh Weeramantry) - A Passive Player in International Investment Law: Typically Japanese? (Shotaro Hamamoto) - The Quandary for Chinese Regulators: Controlling the Flow of Investment into and out of China (Vivienne Bath) - China’s Investment Treaties: A Procedural Perspective (Nils Eliasson) - Foreign Investment in Indonesia: The Problem of Legal Uncertainty (Simon Butt) - The Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement: An Energy Security Perspective (Sita Sitaresmi) - Malaysia’s New Foreign Investment Law Regime (Salim Farrar) - Treaty Definitions of ‘Investment’ and the Role of Economic Development: A Critical Analysis of the Malaysian Historical Salvors Cases (Govert Coppens) - The ‘Object and Purpose’ of Indian Investment Agreements: Failing to Balance Investment Protection and Regulatory Power (Prabhash Ranjan) - The Evolution of Korea’s Investment Treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement Provisions (Joongi Kim) - Legal Issues in Vietnam’s FDI Law: Protections under Domestic Law, Bilateral Investment Treaties and Sovereign Guarantees (Hop Dang) - Review of Asian Views on Foreign Investment Law (Muthucumaraswamy Sornarajah) The present paper sets the scene for these other chapters in the book by outlining key features and some current controversies about FDI flows and the regulatory regimes under domestic and international law. Part II presents an historical overview of economic development and foreign investment in Asia, including the ASEAN sub-region, as well as the most recent trends. Part III provides a brief introduction to dispute resolution more generally throughout Asia. Part IV offers short summaries of the other chapters in the book.