Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel applicator for low‐dose‐rate brachytherapy of gynecological cancers

The standard low-dose-rate (LDR) delivery system utilized in the definitive management of patients with cervical carcinoma involves an intrauterine tandem and a pair of vaginal colpostats (ovoids). This well-known application system may deliver inadequate dosage if the tumor extends to the lower vaginal mucosa. During the gauze packing of the ovoids, either operator error or narrowing of the vaginal apex can result in mal-alignment of the colpostats and subsequent inadequate dosing to the ecto-cervix. A novel vaginal cylinder has been designed to address these concerns. Beginning January 1, 2001, patients with cancer of the cervix, endometrium, or vagina requiring LDR brachytherapy have been enrolled into an institutionally sanctioned clinical trial. As of May 31, 2001, a total of 11 patients have been entered but only 10 were successfully implanted with the test device. Patient follow-up has ranged from 0.81 years to 1.2 years (median: 0.96 years). Using our study applicator, all patients received within 10% of the preimplant prescribed dose to tumor. Also, no one had cumulative dosage that exceeded 10% of the maximum allowed dose to the critical normal tissues. Thus far, all study patients have had no clinical evidence of persistence/recurrence of disease or complications from treatment. The preliminary results presented herein clearly demonstrate the feasibility of this novel LDR vaginal cylinder in the treatment of a variety of clinical situations involving gynecological cancers. Our institutional trial is continuing.
Adaptive Symmetric Interior Penalty Galerkin Method for Boundary Control Problems

We investigate an a posteriori error analysis of adaptive finite element approximations of linear-quadratic boundary optimal control problems under bilateral box constraints, which act on a Neumann boundary control. We use a symmetric interior Galerkin method as discretization technique. An efficient and reliable residual-type error estimator is introduced by invoking data oscillations. We then derive local upper and lower a posteriori error estimates for the boundary control problem. Adaptive mesh refinement indicated by a posteriori error estimates is applied. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the performance of the adaptive finite element approximation.
Withdrawal Behavior of Malaysian Islamic Bank Customers: Empirical Evidence from Three Major Issues

As interest is prohibited, the reliance of Islamic banking towards bank deposits from depositors is higher than conventional banking. Efforts that could help in preventing funds withdrawal by the depositors thus become necessary in order to avoid bank instability. This study is aimed at investigating factors that may influence the withdrawal behavior of Malaysian Islamic banks customers. The withdrawal behavior studied here is in conjunction with three major issues which are (i) issues of non-shariah compliance, (ii) lower returns as compared to other banks, and (iii) rumors about forthcoming financial crisis that may affect the performance of the bank. The research employed a direct survey through a self-administered questionnaire handed out to Islamic banks customers in Malaysia using the multi-stage sampling technique. The intention to avoid interest, type of account, working status, bank status, and bank ownership are the significant factors that could influence withdrawal behavior in model 1. Working status and bank ownership are the factors which influence withdrawal behavior in model 2. Lastly, for model 3, factors that emerged to be significant are type of account, total deposit in bank, awareness on deposit insurance, intention to avoid interest and perception that Islamic banks are less affected by the crisis.
European human resource management in transition

* The Context of EHRM - Anglo-Saxon Models of HRM: Theoretical Debates from Across the Water. * The European Perspective on HRM. * Strategic Pressures Driving Developments in EHRM. * Integration of EHRM. * The Influence of National Culture on HRM. * Strategic Pressures on EHRM - Strategic Pressures Driving Developments in EHRM. * The Organisational Response: Integration of European Management. * Convergence or Divergence in EHRM The Content of EHRM - Organisational Culture. * Structuring the Organisation. * External Resourcing - Recruitment. * Internal Resourcing - Training and Development. * Career Management. * Work Design. * Pay and Benefits. * Performance Management. * Industrial Relations. * Future Issues in EHRM - Emerging HRM Issues in the late 1990s.
PROGNOSTIC VARIABLES AFFECTING PRIMARY TREATMENT OUTCOME FOR MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER.

OBJECTIVE Identifying prognostic risk factors and determining the efficacy of common surgical treatments is critical to determine optimal treatment strategies for patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The objective of this study was to review a contemporary institutional experience with MTC primary treatment with 2 goals: to identify prognostic factors that impact survival and to study the effect of neck dissection on those outcomes. METHODS This study was a retrospective case series of patients with MTC who underwent at least a total thyroidectomy with curative intent. Clinical parameters including tumor and nodal staging with corresponding pathology findings were identified. Survival endpoints included overall survival, disease-free survival, and biochemical cure. RESULTS Sixty-seven patients were included. The majority presented with early T-stage disease. Fifty (76%) patients were N0 at presentation. Seventeen (24%) had some evidence of neck disease on clinical examination or imaging. Forty (71%) achieved biochemical cure, and the 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival for those cases was 86.5%. Among patients who had successful resection of all gross disease, 92% had no evidence of structural disease at 5 years. Overall survival was 91% at 5 years. Increased pre-operative calcitonin (Ct) level, primary tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and neck metastases decrease the rate of biochemical cure. Larger tumor size increases the risk of structural disease recurrence and biochemical relapse after initial cure. The presence and number of neck metastases correlate with biochemical relapse. The presence of lateral neck nodes (pN1b) does not have different survival implications than centrally confined disease (pN1a). CONCLUSION This study shows increasing tumor size, increased Ct level, and cervical metastases are poor prognostic factors. Patients with large tumors, high Ct level, or unfavorable pathologic findings may warrant more aggressive initial treatment, although limitations of the study prevent any conclusion regarding the effect of neck dissection. ABBREVIATIONS ATA = American Thyroid Association BRFS = biochemical recurrence-free survival CND = central neck dissection Ct = calcitonin DFS = disease-free survival MTC = medullary thyroid carcinoma OR = odds ratio OS = overall survival pCND = prophylactic CND.
Extent of white matter lesions is related to acute subcortical infarcts and predicts further stroke risk in patients with first ever ischaemic stroke

Objective: To investigate whether the extent of white matter lesions (WML) on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI sequences is an independent risk factor for recurrent stroke, and to document the pattern of acute cerebral infarcts using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in patients with different severities of WML. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 228 consecutive stroke patients were studied between 1999 and 2001 in a community hospital. The severity of WML was graded as 0 (no WML), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe) according to the FLAIR appearances. DWI was used to document the location and size of the infarct. Results: 31 patients had grade 0 WML, 69 had grade 1, 59 had grade 2, and 69 had grade 3. Age was independently associated with WML on logistic regression analysis (p = 0.0001). Acute cerebral infarcts in deep white matter were correlated with increasing severity of WML. On a median follow up of 23.0 months, life table analysis showed that recurrent stroke was related to the severity of WML (recurrence rate 7.8% in grade 0, 9.3% in grade 1, 17.7% in grade 2, 43.7% in grade 3; p = 0.0001). Survival was reduced in patients with severe WML (p = 0.0068). A Cox proportional hazards model showed WML to be predictive of recurrent stroke (p = 0.000, hazard ratio = 4.177 (95% confidence interval, 2.038 to 8.564)) and also for survival (p = 0.040, hazard ratio = 2.021 (1.032 to 3.960)). Conclusions: Patients with severe leukoaraiosis have increased risk of deep subcortical stroke and a higher risk of recurrent stroke.
CELLULOSE SYNTHASE INTERACTIVE3 Regulates Cellulose Biosynthesis in Both a Microtubule-Dependent and Microtubule-Independent Manner in Arabidopsis[C][W]

CELLULOSE SYNTHASE INTERACTIVE3 (CSI3) is an important regulator of cellulose biosynthesis and anisotropic growth. Together with CSI1, CSI3 regulates the rate of cellulose biosynthesis in both a microtubule-dependent and microtubule-independent manner in Arabidopsis. Anisotropic plant cell growth depends on the coordination between the orientation of cortical microtubules and the orientation of nascent cellulose microfibrils. CELLULOSE SYNTHASE INTERACTIVE1 (CSI1) is a key scaffold protein that guides primary cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) along cortical microtubules during cellulose biosynthesis. Here, we investigated the function of the CSI1-like protein, CSI3, in Arabidopsis thaliana. Similar to CSI1, CSI3 associates with primary CSCs in vitro, colocalizes with CSCs in vivo, and exhibits the same plasma membrane localization and bidirectional motility as CSI1. However, ProCSI1:GFP-CSI3 cannot complement the anisotropic cell growth defect in csi1 mutants, suggesting that CSI3 is not functionally equivalent to CSI1. Also, the colocalization ratio between CSI1 and CSI3 is low, which may suggest heterogeneity within the CSC population. csi1 csi3 double mutants showed an enhanced cell expansion defect as well as an additive reduction of CSC velocities, and CSI3 dynamics are dependent on CSI1 function. We propose that CSI3 is an important regulator of plant cellulose biosynthesis and plant anisotropic cell growth that modulates the velocity of CSCs in both a microtubule-dependent and microtubule-independent manner.
Equestrian injuries in New Zealand, 1993-2001: knowledge and experience.

AIMS The aims of this study were to investigate the extent of equestrian injuries in New Zealand and provide a range of prevention interventions. METHODS An examination of New Zealand Health Information Service (NZHIS) morbidity data for 1993 to 2001 and mortality data for 1993 to 1999 was undertaken. Recent studies on equestrian injuries were evaluated. RESULTS NZHIS data indicated that as a result of horse-related injuries 5613 people were hospitalised between 1993 and 2001 and there were 16 fatalities between 1993 and 1999. Horse-related injuries were most prevalent in young females aged 10 to 19 years. Among Maori (the indigenous people of New Zealand), men predominated in horse-related injury numbers. Overall, half of equestrian injuries occurred in those under the age of 19 years. The major injury site was the arm. High equestrian-injury rates were recorded in rural regions. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that age and regionally specific practical injury prevention strategies, health promotion messages and educational programmes are required. In particular, clear rules and regulations on protective and safety clothing are likely to enhance safety. Education in horse behaviour is required to facilitate safer environments on and around horses. A code of practice for horse riding and trekking establishments could decrease the risk of injury to those who hire horses.
Boardroom Brawls: An Empirical Analysis of Disputes Involving Directors

We investigate the internal workings of US corporate governance with a hand-collected dataset of director resignations that are related to power struggles within the board. About two-thirds of the conflicts arise because of how board members interact in carrying out their duties, while most of the remaining cases involve disagreements between directors and top management over corporate strategy or financial policy. Conflicts are more likely to occur at companies where the CEO is the founder or is relatively new to the position. Tensions also increase when there are independent directors with large blockholdings. Stock prices decline sharply on average after a director turnover amid dispute, which may indicate that investors expect the firm to continue to have poor operating performance. The aftermath of such a resignation often includes shareholder class-action lawsuits, proxy contests, asset divestitures, and stock market delistings. Our results highlight the importance of a well-functioning board for reducing agency problems and maximizing shareholder value.
Mechanisms of Schumpeterian Competition

This paper suggests employing Price's equation for mapping the evolution of productivity. It is discussed how the elements of the equation correspond to the various elements of Schumpeterian theories and models of economic evolution. Key elements are economic selection, entrepreneurship and innovation. It is then discussed how a strain of productivity studies, referred to here as \lq\lq productivity accounting\rq\rq , may be re-interpreted as employing Price's equation. By comparing such studies of Sweden and America to results for the Danish economy it is possible to identify differences in the evolution of labour productivity in these countries. It turns out that in all three countries Schumpeter's Mark~I model of evolution is more typical for service industries than for manufacturing industries and economic selection is strongest in manufacturing industries. The differences between Sweden and Denmark are few, but there are differences between these two Scandinavian countries and the US. Particularly the American service industries are set apart. They generally show strong selection, which is cancelled out by intra firm change towards lower productivity, so that productivity growth is almost exclusively attributed to new firms. In the Scandinavian countries productivity growth in service industries is attributed to a balance of intra firm change and new firms. JEL codes: L16, O47, B52 Mechanisms of Schumpeterian Competition Innovation and Selection in cross country comparison Paper prepared for the DRUID Summer Conference 2009, Copenhagen, June 17-19
Taxonomic variation in the Mycobacterium fortuitum third biovariant complex: description of Mycobacterium boenickei sp. nov., Mycobacterium houstonense sp. nov., Mycobacterium neworleansense sp. nov. and Mycobacterium brisbanense sp. nov. and recognition of Mycobacterium porcinum from human clinical

The Mycobacterium fortuitum third biovariant complex (sorbitol-negative and sorbitol-positive) contains unnamed taxa first characterized in 1991. These organisms can cause respiratory infections, a spectrum of soft tissue and skeletal infections, bacteraemia and disseminated disease. To evaluate this group of organisms, clinical reference isolates and the type strains of M. fortuitum third biovariant complex sorbitol-negative (n = 21), M. fortuitum third biovariant complex sorbitol-positive (n = 3), M. fortuitum (n = 3), Mycobacterium peregrinum (pipemidic acid-susceptible) (n = 1), Mycobacterium porcinum (n = 1), Mycobacterium senegalense (n = 2) and Mycobacterium septicum (n = 1) were characterized by using conventional phenotypic (morphological, physiological and antimicrobial susceptibilities), chemotaxonomic (HPLC and cellular fatty acids) and genotypic [RFLP of the rRNA gene (ribotyping), PCR-RFLP of a 439 bp segment of the 65 kDa hsp gene (PCR restriction analysis) and 16S rRNA gene sequence] analysis, DNA G + C content and DNA-DNA relatedness analyses. The results of these studies indicated that the strains comprised M. porcinum (n = 13), M. septicum (n = 1) and four novel closely related genetic groups within the M. fortuitum third biovariant complex: Mycobacterium boenickei sp. nov. (n = 6), Mycobacterium houstonense sp. nov. (n = 2), Mycobacterium neworleansense sp. nov. (n = 1) and Mycobacterium brisbanense sp. nov. (n = 1), with type strains ATCC 49935T (= W5998T = DSM 44677T), ATCC 49403T (= W5198T = DSM 44676T) ATCC 49404T (= W6705T = DSM 44679T) and ATCC 49938T (= W6743T = DSM 44680T), respectively.
Digitoxin as an anticancer agent with selectivity for cancer cells: possible mechanisms involved

Accumulating preclinical and clinical data suggest that the cardiac drug digitoxin might be used in cancer therapy. Recent reports have shown that digitoxin can inhibit the growth and induce apoptosis in cancer cells at concentrations commonly found in the plasma of cardiac patients treated with this drug. Several mechanisms have been associated with the anticancer activity of digitoxin, yet at present it is unknown why malignant cells are more susceptible to this cardiac glycoside than non-malignant cells. This report analyses the possible anticancer mechanisms of digitoxin and proposes that the inhibition of glycolysis may be a key mechanism by which this natural product selectively targets cancer cells. Finally, whether or not there is enough evidence to support the clinical evaluation of digitoxin in patients with cancer is discussed.
Effects of Temporal Distance on Brand Extension Evaluation

In this research, we examine whether and why temporal distance influences evaluations of two different types of brand extensions: concept-based extensions, defined as extensions primarily based on the importance or relevance of brand concepts to extension products; and similarity-based extensions, defined as extensions primarily based on the amount of feature similarity at the product-category level. In Study 1, we test the hypothesis that concept-based extensions are evaluated more favorably when they are framed to launch in the distant rather than in the near future, whereas similaritybased extensions are evaluated more favorably when they are framed to launch in the near rather than in the distant future. In Study 2, we confirm that this time-dependent differential evaluation is driven by the difference in construal level between the bases of the two types of extensions ? i.e., brand-concept consistency and product-category feature similarity. As such, we find that conceptbased extensions are evaluated more favorably under the abstract than concrete mindset, whereas similarity-based extensions are evaluated more favorably under the concrete than abstract mindset. In Study 3, we extend to the case for a broad brand (i.e., brands that market products across multiple categories), finding that making accessible a specific product category of a broad parent brand influences evaluations of near-future, but not distant-future, brand extensions. Combined together, our findings suggest that temporal distance influences brand extension evaluation through its effect on the importance placed on brand concepts and feature similarity. That is, consumers rely on different bases to evaluate brand extensions, depending on their perception of when the extensions take place and on under what mindset they are placed. This research makes theoretical contributions to the brand extension research by identifying one important determinant to brand extension evaluation and also uncovering its underlying dynamics. It also contributes to expanding the scope of the construal level theory by putting forth a novel interpretation of two bases of perceived fit in terms of construal level. Marketers who are about to launch and advertise brand extensions may benefit by considering temporal-distance information in determining what content to deliver about extensions in their communication efforts. Conceptual relation of a parent brand to extensions needs to be emphasized in the distant future, whereas feature similarity should be highlighted in the near future.
Financial Reporting Quality and Peer Group Composition

Firms often compose peer groups to benchmark the compensation package of the CEO and/or to benchmark the performance of the firm as part of a relative performance evaluation. When justifying the composition of the peer group, firms often claim that the peer firms are similar with respect to accounting-based and market-based measures. An implicit assumption in this argument is that the accounting numbers of the potential peer firms are accurate. In this study, we examine the relationship between financial reporting quality of a potential peer firm and the probability of being included in the peer group of another firm. We hypothesize that firms with weaker financial reporting quality are less likely to be included in the peer group of another firm because of the increased information asymmetry between the potential peer firm and the selecting firm and the potential contagious effects of selecting a firm with weak financial reporting quality. Based on data about the composition of compensation and performance peer groups of the S&P 900 firms from 2006 until 2011, we document that firms with weaker financial reporting quality are, after controlling for the known determinants of peer group composition, less likely to be included in the peer groups that are used to benchmark the compensation package of the CEO and/or the performance of the firm. Additional tests suggest that this effect is driven by the increased information asymmetry and the potential contagious effects as developed in our theory.
Improved survival of children with isolated CNS relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a pediatric oncology group study .

PURPOSE Isolated meningeal relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) usually has been followed by bone marrow relapse and limited survival. The purpose of this study was to prevent marrow relapse by administering intensive therapy before delayed craniospinal radiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-three patients with ALL in first bone marrow remission with an isolated CNS relapse were treated with systemic chemotherapy known to enter into the CSF and intrathecal chemotherapy for 6 months. Craniospinal irradiation (24 Gy cranial/15 Gy spinal) was then administered, followed by 1.5 years of maintenance chemotherapy. RESULTS All 83 patients achieved a second remission. The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was 71.1% +/- 5.3%. There was a fourfold increased risk of relapse for children whose initial remission was less than 18 months. The 4-year EFS rate for patients with a first complete remission >/= 18 months was 83.3% +/- 5.3%, and for those with a first complete remission less than 18 months, it was 46.2% +/- 10.2% (P =.0002.) There was a low incidence of neurologic toxicity and an unexpectedly high rate of allergic reactions to L-asparaginase. Five patients developed secondary malignancies: two with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia during therapy, one with myelodysplasia after therapy, and two with brain tumors 1.5 to 2 years after cessation of therapy. CONCLUSION For children with ALL and an isolated CNS relapse, treatment that delays definitive craniospinal irradiation by 6 months to allow for more intensive systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy results in better EFS than has been previously reported. Using this approach, the long-term prognosis for children with first complete remission >/= 18 months is comparable to that at the time of original diagnosis of ALL.