Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From HER2 to Herceptin

SUMMARY HER2 overexpression occurs in 25% of breast cancers and seems to correlate with poor prognosis. HER2 overexpression may predict tamoxifen failure and different response rates to chemotherapeutic agents such as the taxanes and anthracyclines. The detection of HER2 and its overexpression is performed using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC). Trastuzumab [Herceptin (H)] is a humanised IgG monoclonal antibody specific for the growth factor receptor HER2. Pre-clinical trials using monoclonal antibodies have shown inhibition of breast tumour growth in athymic nude mice. Phase II and III clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of Herceptin in women with metastatic breast cancer in combination with other agents and as a single agent. Currently, Trastuzumab and paclitaxel is the only combination indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumours overexpress HER2. It is also indicated as a single agent in women with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer that has progressed after previous chemotherapy. Herceptin is a well-tolerated drug and the side-effects that are commonly seen with chemotherapy, such as neutropenia, alopecia and mucositis, are rarely observed. The main risk factors for cardiotoxicity are concurrent or previous anthracycline exposure The potential role of Herceptin in the adjuvant setting is currently being evaluated.
On the dynamics of gender differences in preferences

A growing literature highlights the role played by gender differences in preferences in the persistence of gender inequality, making it crucial to investigate the dynamics of the gender gap in preferences. To that end, we propose a two-sex cultural evolution model in which individuals may be either family-oriented or market-oriented. Preferences evolve jointly within the populations of males and females, and the dynamics of gender differences in preferences is shaped by the outcome of the household decision-making process. In particular, the long-run persistence of gender differences in preferences depends on the home production technology, the degree of patriarchy, or the level of the gender wage gap. We also show that, when the intra-household bargaining power or the gender wage gap are endogenous, the appearance and persistence of gender differences in preferences are crucially affected by initial conditions.
Methanol poisoning during late pregnancy.

CASE REPORT A 26-year-old woman ingested 250 to 500 mL methanol during the 38th week of pregnancy. The initial serum methanol concentration was 230 mg/dL and formate was 33.6 mg/dL. A mild metabolic acidosis was present. As gynecologic examination and fetal monitoring failed to detect fetal distress, it was decided to give tocolytic therapy until the treatment of methanol poisoning could be achieved in the mother. Therapy included ethanol infusion, bicarbonate administration and three courses of hemodialysis. Delivery occurred six days after methanol exposure, when methanol was no longer detected in maternal blood. No further complications were noted in the mother and her newborn. To our knowledge, there is no other case of methanol poisoning during pregnancy in the literature.
The Relationship Between the Density of the Alveolar Processes and that of Post-cranial Bone

Skeletal mass declines in all populations with age, and the literature suggests that changes in oral bone may be linked to the status of the post-cranial (systemic) skeleton. However, there is a lack of information defining the relationship between alveolar process bone and the post-cranial skeleton in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) if the bone densities of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes are related to the bone density of the spine, hip, or radius in healthy women; and (2) if the alveolar process densities decline with age. Forty-one dentate Caucasian women aged 20 to 78 years underwent assessment of post-cranial (systemic) and alveolar process bone. D-speed vertical bitewing and periapical radiographs incorporating aluminum stepwedges, controlled exposure and processing conditions, and a density correction algorithm were used to make alveolar process density assessments with regions of interest (ROIs) apical to crestal bone and intrabony defects. Anteroposterior lumbar (L1 to L4) and lateral lumbar (L2 to L4) spine, total hip (and subregions), and radius bone densities were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between maxillary alveolar process bone density and the density of the mandibular alveolar process (r = 0.57, p ≤ 0.001), anteroposterior lumbar spine (r = 0.53, p ≤ 0.001), lateral lumbar spine (r = 0.52, p ≤ 0.001), total hip (r = 0.39, p = 0.01), total radius (r = 0.39, p = 0.01), and age (r = -0.38, p = 0.01). A two-tailed t test comparison revealed significantly greater maxillary alveolar process bone density in women younger than 50 years of age than in those 50 and older (p ≤ 0.01). We conclude that the density of maxillary alveolar process bone is significantly related to the density of the mandibular alveolar process, lumbar spine, hip, and radius in healthy women and that maxillary alveolar process bone density declines with age.
Retinal emboli and cardiovascular disease: the Beaver Dam Eye Study.

PURPOSE To describe the 10-year incidence of retinal emboli, the associated risk factors, and the relationship of retinal emboli to stroke and ischemic heart disease mortality. METHODS The Beaver Dam Eye Study (n = 4,926) is a population-based study of persons 43 to 86 years of age. Retinal emboli were detected at baseline (1988-1990) and at a 5-year (1993-1995) and a 10-year (1998-2000) follow-up by grading of stereoscopic 30 degrees color fundus photographs using standardized protocols. Cause-specific mortality was determined from death certificates. RESULTS The 10-year cumulative incidence of retinal emboli was 1.5%. While adjusting for age and sex, the incidence of retinal emboli was associated with increased pulse pressure (odds ratio [OR] 4th versus 1st quartile range, 2.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.98-5.97; P test of trend = . 03), higher serum total cholesterol (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.06-7.23; P = .03), higher leukocyte count (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.04-4.96; P = .05), smoking status (OR current versus never smoker, 4.60: 95% CI, 2.08-10.16; P < .001), and a history of coronary artery bypass surgery (OR, 7.17; 95% CI, 3.18-16.18; P < .001) at baseline. While controlling for age, sex, and systemic factors, a significantly higher hazard of dying with a mention of stroke on the death certificate was found in people with retinal emboli (hazard ratio, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.16-4.99) compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS The data show an association of smoking and cardiovascular disease with the incidence of retinal emboli. Also, persons with retinal emboli are at increased risk of stroke-related death.
An Updated Review of General Dispersion Relation for Conditionally and Unconditionally Stable FDTD Algorithms

We present a general numerical dispersion equation which is applicable to all known conditionally and unconditionally stable finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithms on staggered rectangular grid, including Yee's FDTD, wavelet-based FDTD, extended curl FDTD, alternating direction implicit (ADI)-FDTD, Crank-Nicolson (CN)-FDTD, Crank-Nicolson split-step (CNSS)-FDTD, and their modifications of higher order spatial stencils. The real part of the complex eigenvalue of the total amplification matrix defines and distinguishes the dispersion relation for each individual scheme. Easy-to-check conditions are provided, under which the numerical dispersion of a particular time-domain scheme is governed by the proposed dispersion equation. These conditions are on the amplification matrix eigenvalues. The proposed dispersion equation includes each considered dispersion relation as a special case, and presents itself a general governing equation to estimate 3-D numerical dispersion of the aforementioned schemes in the frame of plane waves.
The Rtt106 Histone Chaperone Is Functionally Linked to Transcription Elongation and Is Involved in the Regulation of Spurious Transcription from Cryptic Promoters in Yeast*♦

Rtt106 is a histone chaperone that has been suggested to play a role in heterochromatin-mediated silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It interacts physically and functionally with the chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), which is associated with replication-coupled nucleosomal deposition. In this work, we have taken several approaches to study Rtt106 in greater detail and have identified a previously unknown function of Rtt106. We found genetic interactions between rtt106Δ and mutations in genes encoding transcription elongation factors, including Spt6, TFIIS, and members of the PAF and yeast DSIF complexes. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicates that Rtt106 is associated with transcribed regions of active genes. Furthermore, our results show that Rtt106 is required for the repression of transcription from a cryptic promoter within a coding region. This observation strongly suggests that Rtt106 is involved in the regulation of chromatin structure of transcribed regions. Finally, we provide evidence that Rtt106 plays a role in regulating the levels of histone H3 transcription-coupled deposition over transcribed regions. Taken together, our results indicate a direct link for Rtt106 with transcription elongation and the chromatin dynamics associated with RNA polymerase II passage.
Analysis of Morphological Relationship Between Micro‐ and Macromorphology of Mortierella Species Using a Flow‐Through Chamber Coupled with Image Analysis

ABSTRACT. Using a flow‐through chamber coupled with image analysis, the morphological parameters of 11 Mortierella species were quantified, and the relationship between micro‐ and macromorphology was investigated. On potato‐dextrose‐agar plates, 5 species formed rose petal‐like colonies, 3 formed large round colonies, and 3 formed donut‐like colonies. By observing micromorphology in a flow‐through chamber, fungi were divided into 3 groups, classified according to morphological parameters: (i) a group with a high branch formation rate (qb: tip/μm/h) and a low tip extension rate (qtip: μm/tip/h); (ii) a group with a low branch formation rate and a high tip extension rate; and (iii) a group intermediate between the former and the latter groups. In suspension culture, group (i) fungi formed a hyphal bundle with a pulpy pellet‐like morphology and a pellet core. In contrast, group (ii) fungi showed an aggregation of hyphae without the pellet core. In a narrow‐specific hyphal growth rate (μl) range (0.35–0.45 h−1), a higher branch formation rate led to increased hyphal branching, resulting in the formation of a hyphal bundle with a pulpy pellet‐like morphology and a pellet core. When the branch formation rate was lower than 2 × 10−3 tips/μm/h, the mycelia formed less branched but longer hypha. Our study surmises that a micromorphology consisting of a high hyphal growth rate (0.4 h−1), low tip extension rate (20 tips/μm/h), and high branch formation rate (8 × 10−3 tips/μm/h) forms the suitable macromorphology for arachidonic acid production.
Data science for modeling opinion dynamics on social media

Since the last decade, the arrival of social media has established new practices which have changed the way humans interact. Nowadays, anyone can access personal information by simply following a subset of relevant users with a social media account. The availability of online data has led to a recent surge in trying to understand how social influence impact human behavior. This work investigates a set of relevant questions concerning the study of online opinions. How precisely can we predict the variations of judgments resulting from social influence? Are we able to predict the voting behavior of citizens from their online posts and comments? In this thesis, we aim at understanding how opinions are expressed on social media, and whether their evolution can be anticipated by taking the interaction between agents into account. In the first part of the thesis, we introduced the concept of intrinsic noise through a variable that captures the part in human revision judgment that is compos. Document type : Thèse (Dissertation) Référence bibliographique Vande Kerckhove, Corentin. Data science for modeling opinion dynamics on social media. Prom. : Blondel, Vincent ; Hendrickx, Julien UNIVERSITÉ CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, ELECTRONICS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS Data Science for Modeling Opinion Dynamics on Social Media Corentin Vande Kerckhove Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Engineering Sciences
Urban Regimes and Growth Machines toward a Cross-National Research Agenda

The article begins with an appraisal of the concepts of urban regimes and growth machines and an assessment of their utility for cross-national urban political analysis, referring particularly to the United Kingdom. It then suggests that the formation of subnational development coalitions has become increasingly common across European liberal democracies but that political scientists, at least those in the United Kingdom, have yet to develop adequate conceptual tools with which to analyze this phenomenon. A final section suggests that the insights of the U.S. literature, suitably adapted, might be incorporated into a comparative research agenda based on the notion of urban governance.
Electoral Volatility in Latin America

Using an original database of legislative and presidential electoral results from the democratic transitions of the 1970s and 1980s to the present day, we provide a new assessment of electoral volatility in Latin America. Following a model established in studies of other regions, we decompose volatility into two subtypes: party replacement and stable party volatility. We demonstrate the relevance of this approach to Latin America and, further, document that volatility has persisted rather than waned in Latin America’s posttransition period largely because of party replacement. We then examine the contested link between economic performance and volatility and document temporal instability in this relationship: our analysis affirms previous conclusions regarding a connection in the 1980s in Latin America but uncovers scant evidence of a relationship between the economy and volatility for the 1990s to present day.
THE EVOLUTION OF POSTZYGOTIC ISOLATION: ACCUMULATING DOBZHANSKY‐MULLER INCOMPATIBILITIES

Abstract. — Hybrid sterility and inviability often result from the accumulation of substitutions that, while functional on their normal genetic backgrounds, cause a loss of fitness when brought together in hybrids. Previous theory has shown that such Dobzhansky‐Muller incompatibilities should accumulate at least as fast as the square of the number of substitutions separating two species, the so‐called snowball effect. Here we explicitly describe the stochastic accumulation of these incompatibilities as a function of time. The accumulation of these incompatibilities involves three levels of stochasticity: (1) the number of substitutions separating two allopatric lineages at a given time; (2) the number of incompatibilities resulting from these substitutions; and (3) the fitness effects of individual incompatibilities. Previous analyses ignored the stochasticity of molecular evolution (level 1) as well as that due to the variable effects of incompatibilities (level 3). Here we approximate the full stochastic process characterizing the accumulation of hybrid incompatibilities between pairs of loci. We derive the distribution of the number of incompatibilities as a function of divergence time between allopatric taxa as well as the distribution of waiting times to speciation by postzygotic isolation. We provide simple approximations for the mean and variance of these waiting times. These results let us estimate, albeit crudely, the probability, p, that two diverged sites from different species will contribute to hybrid sterility or inviability. Our analyses of data from Drosophila and Bombina suggest that p is generally very small, on the order of 10−6 or less.
Financial Friction Sources in Emerging Economies: Structural Estimation of Sovereign Default Models

There are two literature strands that explain stylized facts in emerging economies: the stochastic productivity trend or financial frictions. However, financial frictions are driven by both trend and stationary productivity shocks, thus distinguishing their impact from the direct role of output fluctuations is essential. We estimate sovereign default models, full-nonlinear dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) with micro-founded financial imperfections, applying a particle filter, and evaluate the source of financial frictions. The main finding is that stationary shocks rather than trend shocks account for financial frictions and the resulting countercyclicality, except for the post-1977 period in Mexico; however, the exception disappears for 1902? 2005 as long-run data. The sources of financial frictions are determined by the persistence and volatility of shocks, asymmetric domestic cost of sovereign default, and mismatch between sovereign default and business cycles.
A MAC level strategy for dynamic resource allocation in Cognitive Radio tactical networks

The ability to continuously self-adapt to the variations of the radio environment will be an interesting issue for future tactical radio networks. Cognitive Radio (CR) is the main enabling paradigm allowing the self-adaptation process in military communications minimizing the human intervention in the network management operations. In this paper we provide a MAC-level solution based on a game theoretic framework that covers these open issues. Thinking to the CR devices in the network as players of the same game, the resource allocation problem can be formulated as a S-Modular Game, since it provides a set of helpful tools aimed at defining multi-objective distributed algorithms in the radio-communications context. On the base of the proposed solution, CR devices are able to hierarchically self-configure the network and share the radio resources in a fair and energy-efficient way. Simulation results presented in this paper has been obtained within the CORASMA project and they show the good performance of the proposed solution for cognitive radio tactical networks.
A Novel ECG‐Index for Prediction of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients after Myocardial Infarction

Risk prediction of ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI) is still insufficient. Prolonged QTc is a known risk marker of mortality and ventricular arrhythmias. QTc has not achieved clinical importance in predicting arrhythmic events in patients after MI. Recent studies have displayed that the terminal part of the QT‐interval, Tpeak to Tend (TpTe), may be a more promising predictor of adverse outcome. Herein, we assessed whether TpTe may serve as a predictor of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with previous MI fulfilling current implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) indications.
Lay health workers and HIV programmes: implications for health systems

Abstract One of the consequences of massive investment in antiretroviral access and other AIDS programmes has been the rapid emergence of large numbers of lay workers in the health systems of developing countries. In South Africa, government estimates are 65,000, mostly HIV/TB care-related lay workers contribute their labour in the public health sector, outnumbering the main front-line primary health care providers and professional nurses. The phenomenon has grown organically and incrementally, playing a wide variety of care-giving, support and advocacy roles. Using South Africa as a case, this paper discusses the different forms, traditions and contradictory orientations taken by lay health work and the system-wide effects of a large lay worker presence. As pressures to regularise and formalise the status of lay health workers grow, important questions are raised as to their place in health systems, and more broadly what they represent as a new intermediary layer between state and citizen. It argues for a research agenda that seeks to better characterise types of lay involvement in the health system, particularly in an era of antiretroviral therapy, and which takes a wider perspective on the meanings of this recent re-emergence of an old concept in health systems heavily affected by HIV/AIDS.
Estimations of Nitrogen Concentration in Sugarcane Using Hyperspectral Imagery

This study aims to estimate the spatial variation of sugarcane Canopy Nitrogen Concentration (CNC) using spectral data, which were measured from a spaceborne hyperspectral image. Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression (SMLR) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) were applied to calibrate and validate the CNC estimation models. The raw spectral reflectance was transformed into a First-Derivative Spectrum (FDS) and absorption features to remove the spectral noise and finally used as input variables. The results indicate that the estimation models developed by non-linear SVR based Radial Basis Function (RBF) kernel yield the higher correlation coefficient with CNC compared with the models computed by SMLR. The best model shows the coefficient of determination value of 0.78 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) value of 0.035% nitrogen. The narrow sensitive spectral wavelengths for quantifying nitrogen content in the combined cultivar environments existed mainly in the electromagnetic spectrum of the visible-red, longer portion of red edge, shortwave infrared regions and far-near infrared. The most important conclusion from this experiment is that spectral signals from the space hyperspectral data contain the meaningful information for quantifying sugarcane CNC across larger geographic areas. The nutrient deficient areas could be corrected by applying suitable farm management.
THE PROCESS OF COOPETITIVE STRATEGY: A CASE STUDY OF MICROBREWERIES IN PORTO ALEGRE

ABSTRACT Purpose: The study presents a dynamic and complex procedural experience performed by small microbreweries in a cluster in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Thus, this article aims to establish theoretical propositions about coopetition strategies in this context. Originality/value: One of the gaps in the organizational studies is an understanding of how the process of developing a new strategic dynamic takes place. We consider coopetition to be a process that involves narrow strategies of simultaneous coopetition and cooperation between competing firms, in different areas and levels of interaction. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative, exploratory research was conducted, using data triangulation and multiple methods. The case study technique was adopted to perform an in-depth examination of the phenomenon of secondary data collection, participant observations, and semi-structured interviews. Findings: The results showed that microbreweries are developing a strategic process of coopetition through greater sharing of resources, information, interactions, learning, and inter-organizational and intra-organizational knowledge, essentially in the stages of distribution and sales. The reports and evidence of the research showed synergy between the mechanisms and common goals found, thus demonstrating the dynamic of these small businesses.