Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The predictive value of the 1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer stage classification in determining failure patterns in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

A retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was performed in which the newly revised 1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage classification was applied and compared with the 1988 AJCC and Ho stage classifications, with emphasis on the predictive value of different staging systems in determining failure patterns in NPC.
Volatility Spillovers between Foreign Exchange Markets of India and China

In this work, we have examined the volatility and disproportionate influence in foreign exchange markets of India and China, using daily data for the period 10 January 2006 to 23 October 2015. Generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models are used to examine the volatility spillover between two markets. Exponential GARCH (EGARCH) model was utilised to catch the effect of good and bad news. Study revealed the bidirectional volatility and disproportionate influence among these markets during the period under observation. This examination would be useful to speculators and policymakers of the money-related markets to support hazard in current situation.
Sperm DNA damage: importance in the era of assisted reproduction

Purpose of review With the proliferation of assisted reproductive technologies, there is an increasing awareness of the importance of sperm DNA damage. With the recent advent of in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection, we are bypassing the normal natural selection barriers and potentially introducing sperm with damaged DNA. To date, these consequences are still largely unknown. Recent findings Infertile men possess substantially more DNA-damaged sperm than fertile men, and this DNA damage may adversely affect reproductive outcomes. There may be a threshold level of DNA damage beyond which embryo development and subsequent pregnancy are impaired. Protamine deficiency and the effect of reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the etiology of sperm DNA damage. Assays of DNA damage are being used clinically to quantify objectively the degree of DNA damage in the sperm of infertile men in the hope of identifying more accurate ways of gauging fertility potential. Summary There now exists clinical evidence to show that sperm DNA damage is detrimental to reproductive outcomes. Tests for DNA damage may provide better prognostic information and may allow for better decision-making than standard semen parameters when evaluating the infertile couple. The etiology of the DNA damage and the full extent of the damage on reproductive outcomes need further study.
[HPLC-ESI/MS analysis of stachydrine and its metabolites in rat urine].

AIM To identify the main metabolites of stachydrine in rat. METHODS The ionization, cleavage and chromatographic characteristics of stachydrine were studied by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS) for the first time. These characteristics of stachydrine were used as the basis for the analyses of metabolites in rat urine. The 0 - 24 h urine samples of rats after ig 25 mg x kg(-1) stachydrine were collected and purified by using C10 solid-phase extraction cartridge, and then analyzed by HPLC-ESI/MS to identify stachydrine and its metabolites. RESULTS The parent drug (stachydrine), 6 phase I metabolites (N-demethyl, dehydrogenation, ring-oxidation) and 2 phase II metabolites (glycine conjugates of 2 ring-oxidation products) were identified existing in rat urine. CONCLUSION The presented method was proved to be sensitive, rapid, high selective and specific for the identification of stachydrine and its metabolites in rat urine.
Supplementation of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells suppresses experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

Aims: To investigate whether supplementation of natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells ameliorates mouse experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) induced by CD4+ T cell-dependent interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). Methods: C57BL/6 mice were immunised with human interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein peptide 1–20 (IRBP1–20), and IRBP1–20-sensitised T cells were obtained. CD4+CD25+ T cells derived from naive mice were cocultured with IRBP1–20-sensitised T cells, and their proliferation responses and cytokine production were measured. In addition, CD4+CD25+ T cells were transferred intravenously into mice 7 or 15 days after immunisation with IRBP1–20, and the severity of EAU and T cell proliferation responses were evaluated. Results: CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells effectively inhibited both the proliferation of, and interleukin (IL)2, IL5 and interferon (IFN)γ production by, IRBP1–20-sensitised T cells. Adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells to IRBP1–20-immunised mice conferred considerable protection from EAU development and inhibition of T cell proliferation responses to IRBP1–20. Conclusion: These findings show that natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells possess the ability to inhibit activation of IRBP-reactive T cells that have been already sensitised in vivo, and adoptive transfer of these cells ameliorates EAU even in the effector phase. Supplementation of natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells may have therapeutic potential for effective treatment of uveitis.
Hypoalbuminemia in Critically Ill Patients With Cancer: Incidence and Mortality

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of hypoalbuminemia in critically ill patients with cancer and to describe the relationship of serum albumin levels to mortality. Design: An observational cohort study. There were no interventions. Results: During the study period, 200 patients were eligible for inclusion. A total of 164 (82%) patients had a serum albumin concentration below 35 g/L, of which 91 (55.5%) patients had levels of albumin ≤20 g/L. The mean serum albumin was 18.17 g/L. The crude mortality rate was 22.5%. The highest mortality rate (73%) was seen in the group of patients whose serum albumin levels were <20 g/L. Conclusion: The incidence of hypoalbuminemia in critically ill patients with cancer admitted to ICU was high.
The Systematic Risk of Short-Sale Restrictions

In finance literature it is known that on a financial market in which short-selling of risky assets is restricted, the market portfolio is typically not efficient (see e.g. Fama and French (2004)). This paper analyses two different kinds of regulatory policies of short-sales on financial markets in which asset returns are given by an exogenously generated stochastic process. The first constraint allows investors short-selling of a reasonable size whereas the second prohibits short-selling of any size. For both policies a modified market portfolio is introduced. These portfolios are mean-variance efficient with the highest possible Sharpe ratio and satisfy the corresponding short-sale constraint. For both cases a time-dependent security market line is implemented which allows for a decomposition into systematic and non-systematic risk. It is shown that, from a viewpoint of a regulator, the restricted short-sale constraint is a more suitable regulatory policy. In contrast to the prohibited short-sale constraint, the restricted short-sale constraint, does not reduce the possibility of diversification. Hence, the portfolio return in this case has no diversifiable risk, a higher Sharpe ratio and a smaller coefficient of variation, which yields a smaller default risk, provided the return process is multivariate elliptically distributed.
Novel Vip3A Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize approaches high-dose efficacy against Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under field conditions: Implications for resistance management

Sweet corn, Zea mays L. , transformed to express a novel vegetative insecticidal protein, Vip3A (event MIR162, Syngenta Seeds, Inc.), produced by the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), was evaluated over four field seasons in Maryland and two field seasons in Minnesota for efficacy against the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Hybrids expressing the Vip3A protein and pyramided in hybrids also expressing the Cry1Ab Bt protein (event Bt11, ATTRIBUTE®, Syngenta Seeds, Inc.) were compared to hybrids expressing only Cry1Ab or to genetically similar non-Bt hybrids each year. In addition to H. zea efficacy, results for Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) are presented. Over all years and locations, the non-Bt hybrids, without insecticide protection, averaged between 43 and 100% ears infested with a range of 0.24 to 1.74 H. zea larvae per ear. By comparison, in the pyramided Vip3A x Cry1Ab hybrids, no larvae were found and only minimal kernel damage (likely due to other insect pests) was recorded. Hybrids expressing only Cry1Ab incurred a moderate level of H. zea feeding damage, with surviving larvae mostly limited to the first or second instar as a result of previously documented growth inhibition from Cry1Ab. These results suggest that the Vip3A protein, pyramided with Cry1Ab, appears to provide the first “high-dose” under field conditions and will be valuable for ongoing resistance management.
Empirical research of users’ opinions on selected aspects in internet financial reporting

This study investigates the perceptions of users of corporate annual reports in relation to selected aspects of internet fi nancial reporting. This study also analyzes Web analytics (Web usage and Web content analytics) to discover fi nancial and non-fi nancial usage and content patterns from company websites and other sources of World data. The case studies submitted in this article partly demonstrates the developed Web analytics systems. To serve this purpose, a questionnaire was distributed to fi ve user groups (academics, students, managers, bank offi cers and auditors). From the survey, the analysis indicates that attracting’s foreign investors, promoting the company to a wider public, attract local investors and promote wider coverage are the four most important benefi ts of IFR to the company. The fi ndings revealed that three main benefi ts to the users who collect fi nancial information of companies via their website are: increases timeliness and effi ciency in obtaining fi nancial information, makes investment decision process easier and faster, and provides information about a company inexpensively. Preliminary fi ndings suggested three factors that are perceived as important by responding fi rms to engage in IFR: enhance corporate image, company teller with the technology development, and competitors in the industry. The fi ndings also revealed three factors that inhibit fi rms from engaging in IFR: required expertise from the company, need to keep information up to date to be of use and concern over security of information. The fi ndings also suggested increased information and analysis, and global reach and mass communication as the most important advantages from fi nancial reporting on the internet. On the other hand, security problems, and cost and expertise are the biggest disadvantages of placing fi nancial information on the internet. Finally, plausible implications of the fi ndings of the study are then presented and areas for future research are also proposed. Taken together, these research outcomes make an incremental contribution to the existing fi nancial reporting literature by providing useful insights into our knowledge of IFR especially for emerging capital markets like Malaysia.
The Interdependence of Monetary and Macroprudential Policy under the Zero Lower Bound

This paper considers the interdependence of monetary and macroprudential policy in a New Keynesian business cycle model under the zero lower bound constraint. Entrepreneurs borrow in nominal terms from banks and are subject to idiosyncratic default risk. The realized loan return to the bank varies with aggregate risk, such that bank balance sheets are affected by higher-than-expected rm defaults. Monetary and macroprudential policies are given by an interest rate rule and a capital requirement rule, respectively. We first characterize the model's stability properties under different steady state policies. We then analyze the transmission of a risk shock under the zero lower bound and different macroprudential policies. We finally investigate whether these policies are indeed optimal.
Green tea as a potent antioxidant in alcohol intoxication

Ethanol oxidation to acetaldehyde and next to acetate is accompanied by free radical generation. Free radicals can affect cell integrity when antioxidant mechanisms are no longer able to cope with the free radical generation observed in ethanol intoxication. Natural antioxidants are particularly useful in such a situation. The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of green tea as a source of water‐soluble antioxidants (catechins) on the liver and blood serum antioxidative potential of rats chronically (28 days) intoxicated with ethanol. Alcohol caused a decrease in liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and an increase in activity of glutathione reductase. Moreover, a decrease in the level of reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid, vitamins A and E and β‐carotene were observed. The activity of serum glutathione peroxidase decreased while glutathione reductase activity increased. The level of serum non‐enzymatic antioxidants was also decreased in the liver. Alcohol administration caused an increase in the liver and serum lipid peroxidation products, measured as thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances. However, green tea prevents the changes observed after ethanol intoxication. Green tea also protects membrane phospholipids from enhanced peroxidation. These results indicate a beneficial effect of green tea in alcohol intoxication.
Genetic variation and gene flow in Alpine diploid and tetraploid populations of Lotus (L. alpinus (D.C.) Schleicher/L. corniculatus L.). II. Insights from RFLP of chloroplast DNA

RFLP of chloroplast DNA was studied in two diploid (2x) and five tetraploid (4x) populations of Lotus alpinus (D.C.) Schleicher in the French Alps. This was compared with four non-Alpine populations and two cultivars of Lotus corniculatus L. (4x) introduced to the Alpine valleys. Based on the 13 site and 11 length mutations detected, seven distinct haplotypes could be identified, which clustered in two groups, corresponding to the two Lotus species. With only one exception, the diploid and the tetraploid L. alpinus plants had the same haplotype. This is to be expected, because morphological variation and tetrasomic inheritance suggest that the tetraploids were derived from the diploids by autopolyploidy. In L. corniculatus, two very similar haplotypes were found in the natural very distant populations. In contrast, the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) haplotypes of the two cultivars differed considerably from each other and were more related to those observed in L. alpinus, suggesting that these cultivars may be derived maternally from L. alpinus individuals. In one tetraploid L. alpinus population, a single cpDNA haplotype was identified. As this haplotype was related to those observed in the L. corniculatus group, local genetic introgression may have occurred between 4x L. alpinus plants and cultivated L. corniculatus.
Mass media and bureaucracy-bashing: Does the media influence public attitudes towards public administration?

At least part of the academic literature on public administration asserts that the mass media is responsible for the somewhat negative popular image of administrative agencies. Through negative reporting about the (mis-)behaviour of civil servants or about public administration as a whole, the media shape stereotypes in the collective mind of the citizens. However, while the ascribed role of mass media reporting is plausible, these effects have not yet been empirically verified. This article summarises the scientific discussion about the relationship between public administration and the mass media. Furthermore, it adds to this discussion by simultaneously examining both media usage and attitudes towards administrative agencies in Germany through a secondary analysis of data spanning nearly 30 years.
Prediction of head-up tilt test result by analysis of early heart rate variations.

BACKGROUND Head-up tilt testing is a useful test for investigating vasovagal syncope. The determination of early, accurate, predictive criteria for a negative result would permit a reduction in the duration of the tilt test. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with no drug use and no illnesses other than recurrent unexplained syncope were recruited. In an initial study (110 consecutive patients), we aimed to determine a predictive criterion based on heart rate variations during the first minutes of upright tilting that could distinguish between patients with positive and negative tilt tests (patients with an early continual decrease in heart rate or blood pressure were excluded). Then we tested the predictive value of the established criterion in a second independent sample of patients with unexplained syncope (109 consecutive patients). An early sustained increase in heart rate < or = 18 bpm during the first 6 minutes of upright tilting at a 60 degree angle allowed us to predict negative tilt tests with 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 88.6% sensitivity. This criterion was validated in the second, prospective arm of the study (96.4% specificity, 98.4% positive predictive value, and 87.3% sensitivity), even with subsequent use of isoproterenol in low doses. CONCLUSIONS In patients with no drug use and no illnesses other than recurrent unexplained syncope, a simple clinical criterion identifies patients who will not develop syncope during a prolonged upright tilt.
Immigration and the UK: Reflections after Brexit

The recent referendum in the UK on membership of the EU has sent shockwaves across the political establishment not just in the UK itself and throughout Europe, but also around the world. In the runup to the referendum, economists were (perhaps for the first time) united in pointing out that the economic case for Brexit is rather slim, that hardly any well-argued reason could be given by the Brexit camp as to why it may be a good idea to leave the EU, and that the economic consequences could be severe. That lack of economic argument in favour of Brexit, which should have been the key battleground in the run up to the referendum, led the debate to focus on one particular issue, Immigration. Like the free movement of goods, capital, and services, a fundamental pillar of the EU, and a non-negotiable requirement for any new member state, is the free movement of people. It is that particular aspect of EU membership that became the strongest single assertion of the Brexit camp. The inability to control immigration f m within the EU was made a symbol for everything else Brexit stood for (such as the idea of â€œsovereigntyâ€ or the pain of being subjugated to â€œrules made in Brussels and not the UKâ€ ), but â€“ again â€“ fact-based arguments against free mobility on economic or welfare grounds were hard to find. Nevertheless, free mobility within the EU became quickly the scapegoat for the economic and social woes that had distressed the country since the great recession, and perhaps even earlier, such as crime, real wage decline, inequality, unemployment, access to social services, health provision, and benefits and transfers. â€œImmigrationâ€ and everything people associated with it and were encouraged to believe by a relentless campaign of the majority of the tabloid press decisively contributed to the decision that the UK took on June 23, 2016. Immigration and free mobility will likely again be central in the negotiations between the UK and its European partners in developing a model for Brexit that minimises the economic costs fo both the UK and the EU.
[Contact lens fitting in 133 eyes with irregular astigmatism].

PURPOSE To study the adaptation of contact lens in a sample of 133 eyes with irregular astigmatism. METHODS A retrospective study was made in 133 eyes with irregular astigmatism. The selection criterion was to obtain a sample population with irregular astigmatism that was unlikely to be corrected with spectacles or conventional contact lens. A complete ophthalmologic exploration which included a topography with the Eye-Sys 2000 corneal topographer was made was made. The variables analyzed in the study were: refraction, visual acuity before and after the correction, cause of the astigmatism and contact lens used. RESULTS An equal number of women and men were enrolled in the study. The right eye was studied in 52% of cases, and the left eye in 46%. Both eyes were affected in 67% of the subjects. The reason for the astigmatism was keratoconus in 110 eyes (78.2%), and there were 4 corneal injuries, 9 ocular infections, and 6 idiopathic astigmatisms. Among the contact lens used in the study: in 103 eyes a hybrid lens (Softperm) was adapted, in 20 eyes a piggy-back system, in 5 eyes a thick hydrophilic lens (Queratosoft), in 4 eyes a hydrophilic contact lens and in 3 cases a rigid gas permeable contact lens. The average visual acuity before the adaptation was 0.28 (SD 0.24) (range 0.1-0.8). After the use of the lens the average visual acuity was 0.81 (SD 0.23) (range 0.1-1). Statistically significant differences between the visual acuity before and after treatment were found, with an improvement of 0.53 (SD 0.28) obtained. CONCLUSION Only with experience using a large variety of non-conventional contact lens can a specialist contact lens ophthalmologist achieve a good result.