Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radiotherapy in well‐differentiated thyroid cancer: is it underutilized?

The usual management of thyroid cancer is surgery and radioactive iodine. The role of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in well‐differentiated thyroid carcinoma remains controversial. Indications for the use of EBRT, contained within both the American and British Thyroid Association published guidelines, include unresectable or non‐iodine avid disease, extra‐thyroidal extension or distant metastatic disease.
Articulation Rate in Childhood and Adolescence: Hebrew Speakers

This study aimed to quantify articulation rate among Hebrew speaking children and adolescents across a wide age range, and to assess whether age-related differences vary according to metric. One hundred and forty children, in seven age groups, participated in this cross-sectional study. All children were recorded during conversation and a picture description task, and articulation rate was measured using three metrics: word per minute (WPM), syllable per second (SPS) and phone per second (PPS). A significant increase in articulation rate was observed with age. Rate measurements during conversation were significantly faster than in picture description, and no gender differences were found. In general, the SPS and PPS metrics yielded equivalent results, which were different from those obtained with the WPM metric. Articulation rate among normally fluent children and adolescents increased with age. Furthermore, an increase in rate was evident after the age of 13 years.
Combined nimotuzumab with chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study.

AIMS To observe the efficacy and toxicities of combined nimotuzumab with chemoradiotherapy as the first-line treatment to advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS The clinical data of 43 patients with local advanced or metastatic ESCC treated with nimotuzumab combined with chemoradiotherapy in our hospital were included in this retrospective study. The overall response, adverse events, overall survival (OS), and progressive-free survival (PFS) were analyzed. RESULTS At 1 month after the treatment, objective response rate (complete response [CR] + partial response [PR]) was 65.12%, and disease control rate (CR + PR + stable disease [SD]) was 86.05%, with one patient (2.33%) showing CR, 27 (62.79%) patients with PR, 9 (20.93%) with SD, and 6 (13.95%) with progressive disease, respectively. The median OS was 15.5 months, and the median PFS was 8.83 months. Multivariate analysis showed that the patients with more cycles (>6 times) of nimotuzumab treatment had better PFS and OS than those with fewer cycles (≤6 times). Patients received high-dose radiation (>55 Gy) had a better PFS than those patients received low-dose radiation (≤55 Gy). Three patients suffered severe esophageal fistula, and three patients showed superficial skin erosion. CONCLUSIONS Chemoradiotherapy in combination with more than 6 weekly doses of nimotuzumab (>1400 mg) had a survival benefit to the patients with advanced ESCC. High-dose radiation therapy for primary tumor has been confirmed to improve PFS in these patients. Patients treated with nimotuzumab showed no increased risk of adverse events.
Experiential Learning: the field study trip, a student-centred curriculum.

Drawing from student-centered learning theories, this paper identifies key issues related to active participation of students, collaboration and independent learning. It draws from the author’s experience of developing and delivering a student-centered curriculum delivered around a field study trip. It explores approaches to active and experiential learning in Higher Education through the various stages of the curriculum development and the identification of the pedagogical benefits. The student-centered curriculum is part of a professional accredited course in Landscape architecture. The Field study trip is an opportunity to actively explore the topics of study in real settings and to learn through hands on experience, which is essential to form professionals confronted with making places through planning and design. More generally the field study trip module is an opportunity to understand how to practically embed experiential learning approaches in Higher Education. The paper also discusses the merits of field trip to address some issues related to the learning experience and participation in the context of the internationalisation of the students’ cohort.
Left ventricular remodelling in patients with moderate systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction: favourable effects of exercise training and predictive role of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide

Aims To investigate the effects of exercise training (ET) on left ventricular (LV) volumes, cardiopulmonary functional capacity and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in postinfarction patients with moderate LV dysfunction. Methods Sixty-one postinfarction patients were randomized into two groups: group T [n = 30, LV ejection fraction (EF) 41.6 ± 11.3%, mean ± SD] entered a 6-month ET programme, whereas group C (n = 31, EF 42.0 ± 7.6%, P=NS) did not. NT-proBNP assay, Doppler-echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed upon enrolment and at sixth months. Results At sixth months, trained patients showed an improvement in workload (+26%, P<0.001), Vo2peak (+31%, P<0.001), LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI; −9%, P<0.001), a reduction in NT-proBNP (−71%, P<0.001) and a significant correlation between changes in NT-proBNP and in LVEDVI (r=0.858, P<0.001). Baseline NT-proBNP correlated with changes in LVEDVI in both trained (r=0.673, P<0.001) and untrained (r=0.623, P<0.001) patients. Group C showed unfavourable LVEDVI dilation (+8%, P<0.001; T vs. C group, P<0.001) and a smaller reduction in NT-proBNP (−40%, P<0.001; T vs. C group, P<0.001). Conclusions Six month ET induced a favourable LV remodelling and a marked fall in NT-proBNP that could predict LV remodelling in postinfarction patients with moderate LV dysfunction.
Association of periodontal parameters with metabolic level and systemic inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUNDS Although worldwide evidence tends to prove that diabetes adversely affects periodontal health, there are insufficient clues indicating whether periodontitis may aggravate metabolic control and systemic inflammation. This study, as a preliminary part of an ongoing research project, aims to clarify the relationship of periodontal parameters with metabolic levels and systemic inflammatory markers in patients with diabetes. METHODS A total of 140 qualified, adult patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontitis were recruited into this study. Periodontal examinations, including a full-mouth assessment of probing depths (PDs), bleeding on probing, gingival recession, and clinical attachment level, were determined. Blood analyses were carried out for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and lipid profiles. Subjects were divided into three groups according to tertiles of the mean PD and compared. RESULTS Upon an analysis of covariance, subjects with an increased mean PD had significantly higher levels of HbA1c and hsCRP (P <0.05). No significant difference was found among different groups in the levels of serum TNF-alpha, fasting glucose, and lipid profiles (P >0.05). After controlling for age, gender, body mass index, duration of diabetes mellitus, smoking, regular physical exercise, and alcohol consumption, positive correlations were found between mean PD and HbA1c (r = 0.2272; P = 0.009) and between mean PD and hsCRP (r = 0.2336; P = 0.007). After adjustment for possible confounders, the mean PD emerged as a significant predictor variable for elevated levels of HbA1c and hsCRP (P <0.05). CONCLUSION Chronic periodontitis was associated with glycemic metabolic and serum hsCRP levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Single-Phase T-Type Inverter Performance Benchmark Using Si IGBTs, SiC MOSFETs, and GaN HEMTs

In this paper, benchmark of Si IGBT, SiC MOSFET, and Gallium nitride (GaN) HEMT power switches at 600-V class is conducted in single-phase T-type inverter. Gate driver requirements, switching performance, inverter efficiency performance, heat sink volume, output filter volume, and dead-time effect for each technology is evaluated. Gate driver study shows that GaN has the lowest gate driver losses above 100 kHz and below 100 kHz, SiC has lowest gate losses. GaN has the best switching performance among three technologies that allows high efficiency at high-frequency applications. GaN-based inverter operated at 160-kHz switching frequency with 97.3% efficiency at 2.5-kW output power. Performance of three device technologies at different temperature, switching frequency, and load conditions shows that heat sink volume of the converter can be reduced by 2.5 times by switching from Si to GaN solution at 60 °C case temperature, and for SiC and GaN, heat sink volume can be reduced by 2.36 and 4.92 times, respectively, by increasing heat sink temperature to 100 °C. Output filter volume can be reduced by 43% with 24, 26, and 61 W increase in device power loss for GaN-, SiC-, and Si-based converters, respectively. WBG devices allow reduction of harmonic distortion at output current from 3.5% to 1.5% at 100 kHz.
State Transitions from Rigidity to Fragility and Failure: The Case of Middle East and North Africa

ABSTRACT The taxonomy of the state’s effective governance capacity present in the literature is evolving around state fragility. However, this article argues that a state moves along the state transition curve, resulting in governance capacity variations over time. It begins as a fragile state, consolidating to becoming a vibrant state, only to embark, eventually, on a downward trajectory through phases of rigidity, decaying, and fragility, before becoming a failed state. About one-third of MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries are either fragile or failed states. Only technological change and knowledge accumulation and diffusion can shift this curve upward, thereby increasing a state’s effective governance capacity.
Scrub typhus and tropical rickettsioses

Purpose of review Recent developments in molecular taxonomic methods have led to a reclassification of rickettsial diseases. The agent responsible for scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi) has been removed from the genus Rickettsia and a bewildering array of new rickettsial pathogens have been described. An update of recent research findings is therefore particularly timely for the nonspecialist physician. Recent findings An estimated one billion people are at risk for scrub typhus and an estimated one million cases occur annually. The disease appears to be re-emerging in Japan, with seasonal transmission. O. tsutsugamushi has evolved a variety of mechanisms to remain viable in its intracellular habitat. Slowing the release of intracellular calcium inhibits apoptosis of macrophages. Subsets of chemokine genes are induced in infected cells, some in response to transcription factor activator protein 1. Cardiac involvement is uncommon and clinical complications are predominantly pulmonary. Serious pneumonitis occurred in 22% of Chinese patients. Dual infections with leptospirosis have been reported. Standardized diagnostic tests are being developed and attempts to improve treatment of women and children are being made. Of the numerous tick-borne rickettsioses identified in recent years, African tick-bite fever appears to be of particular importance to travellers. The newly described flea-borne spotted fever caused by Rickettsia felis may be global in distribution. Summary Rash and fever in a returning traveler could be rickettsial and presumptive doxycycline treatment can be curative. Recent research findings raise more questions than answers and should stimulate much needed research.
Clarifying the relationship between unexplained chronic fatigue and psychiatric morbidity: results from a community survey in Great Britain

The study examined the associations between several sociodemographic and psychosocial variables and unexplained chronic fatigue in the community before and after adjustment for psychiatric morbidity and determined the prevalence of fatigue and rate of disability resulting from fatigue in the general population. The study is a secondary analysis of 1993 data from a household survey of psychiatric morbidity conducted by the Office for Population Censuses and Surveys in Great Britain. The survey included 12,730 subjects age 16-64 years. Unexplained chronic fatigue was used as the dependent variable in a logistic regression analysis, with various sociodemographic and psychosocial variables and psychiatric morbidity as the independent variables. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed by using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule. Fatigue was measured by using the fatigue section of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule. A total of 10,108 subjects agreed to cooperate (79.4% participation rate). The prevalence of unexplained chronic fatigue was 9%. Subjects with psychiatric morbidity had higher rates of fatigue. Adjustment for psychiatric morbidity had a minor effect on the associations between sociodemographic factors and chronic fatigue. After adjustment, older subjects, women, and couples with children had higher rates of fatigue. Single subjects, widowed subjects, adults living with parents, and economically inactive subjects had lower rates of fatigue. Fatigue was associated with considerable disability, but the association between fatigue and psychiatric morbidity explained most of this disability. Unexplained chronic fatigue is a common condition, strongly associated with psychiatric morbidity. The close relationship between fatigue and psychiatric morbidity should not obscure the possibility of differences as well as similarities in their aetiologies.
Organizational policies and diversity management in Saudi Arabia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report empirical research conducted in Saudi Arabia on the impacts of organizational policies and practices on the diversity management of the Saudi private sector. To this end, the Saudization policy and views of key respondents have been tested and discussed.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were collected through questionnaire surveys from the largest 11 private sector organizations listed on the Saudi Stock Market in the financial/banking, oil and gas, petrochemical, private higher education and private health service sectors. Statistical tools such as means and standard deviations and one-samplet-tests were used for analysis.FindingsThe findings suggest that Saudization, retention, pay with benefits and health insurance policies significantly affect the diversity management in the Saudi private sector. Therefore, there is a need to develop organizational policies that support the existence of foreign employees for private businesses in Saudi Arabia. Considering differences as strengths that can be utilized to enhance performance, a diverse workforce might better be able to serve diverse markets.Research limitations/implicationsCollecting data from a closed environment such as Saudi Arabia is constrained by access difficulties, as well as inadequate literature on relevant diversity issues. However, the convenience sampling method and snowballing approach adopted in this study generated reliable data. As a result, this study has implications for both the multinational corporations operating in Saudi Arabia and Saudi owned companies operating in the West and intending to adopt and implement diversity management initiatives for branches in different countries. As such, further research on the gulf countries’ diversity management issues would be critical.Originality/valueThe current study is a first survey-based research endeavor on the topic of diversity management in the Saudi context. The findings contribute to the limited knowledge base on middle eastern countries, thus presenting new empirical evidence on the organizational policies and practices of Saudization, retention, pay and benefits and health insurance policies. The study of the Saudi case, thus adds value to the existing knowledge on diversity management.
Insulin Deficiency Decreases Lipoprotein Lipase Secretion by Murine Macrophages

We investigated the effects of insulin deficiency and insulin treatment on the secretion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) by murine macrophages. Streptozocin-induced insulin deficiency caused hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia in mice. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from insulin-deficient mice secreted 70% less LPL activity than control mice. A 65% decrease in LPL activity in epididymal adipose tissue, without any changes in heart LPL activity, was also seen with insulin deficiency. One week of insulin treatment lowered plasma glucose and triglyceride levels in insulin-deficient mice. Additionally, 1 wk of insulin treatment increased LPL secretion by macrophages, but to only one-half of control, while normalizing adipose tissue LPL activity. One injection of insulin also increased LPL secretion by macrophages to one-half of control and normalized adipose tissue LPL activity, even though plasma glucose and triglyceride levels were not affected. In vitro insulin treatment of macrophages isolated from control or insulin-deficient mice had no effect on LPL secretion. The results suggest that insulin does not exert a direct effect on the LPL secretion by macrophages but that deficiency of insulin indirectly causes a profound decrease in macrophage LPL secretion. These changes in macrophage LPL secretion may contribute to the atherosclerotic process in diabetes mellitus.
The socio-economic value of French language education in Lesotho: The learners’ voices

The introduction of a foreign language, especially one whose native country holds an esteemed position in the global economy, promises to be an instrumental tool in promoting individual, national and socio-economic development. In 2009, the Ministry of Education and Training in Lesotho therefore opted to reintroduce French as a foreign language in secondary schools after it had waned since its first introduction in schools in 1868. As the government forges on with this educational undertaking, it becomes necessary to evaluate various stakeholders’ attitudes on the value of French as a school subject in an effort to establish whether their views correlate with politicians’ aspirations or not. The study adopts a quantitative and qualitative approach in which a questionnaire is administered among secondary school learners where the French project has so far been piloted by the government, as opposed to where it has not been piloted. The findings show that the majority of participants, including those that have not studied French, generally embrace multilingualism with French as one of the languages that should be developed together with Sesotho and English in Lesotho. French is viewed as having the potential to open doors for further education and job opportunities. This makes it necessary for the Lesotho government to extend the teaching of French.
Degrees of Freedom for Allan Deviation Estimates of Multiple Clocks

The three-cornered-hat (TCH) technique is used frequently in the timing community to estimate the stability of single frequency standards (clocks) when the only measurement data available are paired differences. In previous work, we presented an analytic method to estimate the reduced degrees of freedom produced when using the TCH estimation technique. In this paper, we extend that method to estimate the reduced degrees of freedom related to the more general case of the M-cornered-hat.
Detection of Anaplasma ovis infection in goats by major surface protein 5 competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a major surface protein 5 (MSP5) B-cell epitope conserved among Anaplasma species was used to detect goats infected with Anaplasma ovis. We examined strains of A. ovis isolated from goats in Kenya and demonstrated that MSP5 and the target B-cell epitope, bound by monoclonal antibody ANAF16C1, were conserved. Sera from 149 goats in four regions of Kenya and from 302 goats in six U.S. states were tested for the presence of epitope-specific antibodies with the MSP5 competitive inhibition ELISA. Evidence that the assay can be used to detect A. ovis-infected goats includes the following: (i) 53 goats raised in confinement with arthropod control were all seronegative; (ii) six goats experimentally infected with A. ovis seroconverted at the same time that they developed detectable rickettsemia; (iii) seroconverted goats remained seropositive, consistent with the persistence of A. ovis in goats and the presence of anti-MSP5 antibody in cattle persistently infected with Anaplasma marginale; and (iv) 119 of 127 known A. ovis-infected goats in Kenya were seropositive. A. ovis infection, as determined serologically and by demonstration of infected erythrocytes, in goats from the four regions in Kenya was highly prevalent. In contrast, despite the presence of A. ovis and competent arthropod vectors in the United States, the prevalence of infection appeared to be very low. The high prevalence in Kenya and the occurrence of anemia in persistently infected goats may be impediments to current efforts to increase milk yields on small farms.
Two receptor systems for corticosterone in rat brain: microdistribution and differential occupation.

Two receptor systems for corticosterone (CORT) can be distinguished in rat brain: mineralocorticoid-like or CORT receptors (CR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR). The microdistribution and extent of occupation of each receptor population by CORT were studied. The CR system is restricted predominantly to the lateral septum and hippocampus. Within the hippocampus, the highest density occurs in the subiculum +/- CA1 cell field (144 fmol/mg protein) and the dentate gyrus (104 fmol/mg protein). Affinity of CR for CORT was very high (Kd, approximately 0.5 nM). The GR system has a more widespread distribution in the brain. The highest density for GR is in the lateral septum (195 fmol/mg protein), the dentate gyrus (133 fmol/mg protein), the nucleus tractus solitarii and central amygdala. Substantial amounts of GR are present in the paraventricular nucleus and locus coeruleus and low amounts in the raphe area and the subiculum + CA1 cell field. The affinity of GR for CORT (Kd, approximately 2.5-5 nM) was 6- to 10-fold lower than that of CR. Occupation of CR by endogenous ligand was 89.5% during morning trough levels of pituitary-adrenal activity (plasma CORT, 1.4 micrograms/100 ml). Similar levels of occupation (88.7% and 97.6%) were observed at the diurnal peak (plasma CORT, 27 micrograms/100 ml) and after 1 h of restraint stress (plasma CORT, 25 micrograms/100 ml), respectively. Furthermore, a dose of 1 microgram CORT/100 g BW, sc, resulted in 80% CORT receptor occupation, whereas GR were not occupied. For 50% occupation of GR, doses needed to be increased to 50-100 micrograms/100 g BW, and for 95% occupation, a dose of 1 mg CORT was required. The plasma CORT level at the time of half-maximal GR occupation was about 25 micrograms/100 ml, which is in the range of levels attained after stress or during the diurnal peak of pituitary-adrenal activity. Thus, CR are extensively filled (greater than 90%) with endogenous CORT under most circumstances, while GR become occupied concurrent with increasing plasma CORT concentrations due to stress or diurnal rhythm. We conclude that CORT action via CR may be involved in a tonic (permissive) influence on brain function with the septohippocampal complex as a primary target. In view of the almost complete occupation of CR by endogenous hormones, the regulation of the CORT signal via CR will, most likely, be by alterations in the number of such receptors. In contrast, CORT action via GR is involved in its feedback action on stress-activated brain mechanisms, and GR occur widely in the brain. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)