Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Underrepresentation of patients 65 years of age or older in cancer-treatment trials.

BACKGROUND Studies have documented the underrepresentation of women and blacks in clinical trials, and their recruitment is now federally mandated. However, little is known about the level of participation of elderly patients. We determined the rates of enrollment of patients 65 years of age or older in trials of treatment for cancer. METHODS We analyzed data on 16,396 patients consecutively enrolled in 164 Southwest Oncology Group treatment trials between 1993 and 1996 according to sex, race (black or white), and age under 65 years or 65 or older. These rates were compared with the corresponding rates in the general population of patients with cancer, derived from the 1990 U.S. Census and from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for the period from 1992 through 1994. Fifteen types of cancer were included in the analysis. RESULTS The overall proportions of women and blacks enrolled in Southwest Oncology Group trials were similar to or the same as the estimated proportions in the U.S. population of patients with cancer (women, 41 percent and 43 percent; blacks, 10 percent and 10 percent, respectively). In contrast, patients 65 years of age or older were underrepresented overall (25 percent vs. 63 percent, P<0.001) and in trials involving all 15 types of cancer except lymphoma. The underrepresentation was particularly notable in trials of treatment for breast cancer (9 percent vs. 49 percent, P<0.001). The findings were similar when data on patients who were 70 years of age or older were analyzed, when 15 trials that excluded older patients were eliminated from the analysis, and when community-based enrollment was analyzed separately from enrollment at academic centers. CONCLUSIONS There is substantial underrepresentation of patients 65 years of age or older in studies of treatment for cancer. The reasons should be clarified, and policies adopted to correct this underrepresentation.
Analysis of ICG Pharmacokinetics in Cancerous Tumors using NIR Optical Methods

In this paper, we present three different compartmental models to model the pharmacokinetics of Indocyanine green (ICG) in cancerous tumors. We introduce a systematic and robust method to analyze ICG pharmacokinetics based on extended Kalman filtering (EKF) framework. We introduced information theoretic criteria for best compartmental model selection in terms of statistical fit. We tested our approach using the ICG concentration data acquired from four Fischer rats carrying adenocarcinoma tumor cells collected using near infrared (NIR) techniques. Our study indicates that, in addition to the pharmacokinetic rates and ICG concentrations in different compartments, EKF model may provide parameters that may be useful for cancerous tumor differentiation
Excess Funds and Agency Problems: An Empirical Study of Incremental Cash Disbursements

This study investigates the excess funds hypothesis using samples of special dividends, regular dividend increases, and self-tender offers. All three types of firms tend to have funds in excess of industry norms before the events. The excess funds are largely nonrecurring for special dividend and self-tender offer firms and recurring for regular dividend increase firms. The analysis of the stock price reaction suggests that large incremental disbursements mitigate the agency problem associated with excess funds. In particular, the stock price reaction is positively related to excess funds for self-tender offers and large special dividends, but not for regular dividend increases (which tend to be smaller) or small special dividends. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Superposition Coding for Costa Channels

We present practical codes designed for the Gaussian dirty paper (Costa) channel. We show that the dirty paper decoding problem can be transformed into an equivalent multiple-access problem, for which we apply superposition coding. Our approach is a generalization of the nested lattices approach of Zamir, Shamai and Erez. We present simulation results which conrm the eectiveness of our methods.
Fostering Healthy Lifestyles in the African American Population

Approximately 8.3% of the U.S. population (25.8 million people) is affected by type 2 diabetes. The burden of diabetes is disproportionately greater in the African American community. Compared with non-Hispanic Caucasian adults, the risk of diagnosed type 2 diabetes was 77% higher among non-Hispanic Blacks, who are 27% more likely to die of diabetes complications than either Caucasians or Hispanics. The purpose of this longitudinal community intervention was to promote healthy lifestyles among African American participants through multiple channels, including individualized point-of-testing counseling, and weekly exercise and nutrition classes led by trained community health mentors. Data collection procedures were guided by the World Health Organization’s STEPS approach, which includes gathering demographic and health information, collecting anthropometric measurements, and analyzing biochemical blood work. Changes in body mass index were assessed from in-person measurements and changes in blood lipids and glucose were examined by biochemical analyses. A total of 157 individuals participated in this study. Results showed that weight gain during the intervention was prevented, glucose levels decreased (−10.88 mg/dL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased (−8.8 mg/dL), while high-density lipoprotein increased (+3.2 mg/dL). Lifestyle interventions and point-of-testing counseling can be successful in reducing risk factors for type 2 diabetes among the African American population. The results of this intervention indicate that the use of community health mentors and point-of-testing counseling may be effective in fostering healthy lifestyle changes, which can halt the progression of type 2 diabetes among non-Hispanic Black populations.
A prospective study of the epidemiology of colitis and colon cancer in cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus).

BACKGROUND & AIMS Spontaneous colitis and colon cancer in the cotton-top tamarin have been shown to resemble human ulcerative colitis and its associated cancer. The effect of environment and diet on the evolution of the disease was studied in animals from birth to 5 years of age. METHODS Newborn tamarins were assigned to three groups reared in (1) a colony in which colitis was highly prevalent and fed a standard diet; (2) an isolation unit and fed a standard diet or one of two semipurified diets; and (3) a multispecies nursery, returned to the colony, and fed the same semipurified diets. Mucosal biopsy specimens from the descending colon were taken at 4-month intervals. RESULTS Acute colitis and chronic mucosal changes were significantly higher in the colony than in the isolation unit. Diet had no effect on acute colitis, but chronic mucosal changes were significantly higher in animals fed a standard diet than semipurified diets. CONCLUSIONS Data suggest that acute colitis was associated with environment. Factors in the environment, including a transmissible agent, are discussed. Chronic mucosal changes were modified by diet. Cancer was associated with acute colitis and chronic changes and seems to be associated with diet.
Longitudinal Changes in Lens Thickness in Myopic Children Enrolled in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET)

ABSTRACT Purpose: To describe longitudinal changes in lens thickness in myopic children in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET) and to investigate the association between these changes and myopia progression. Methods: Four-hundred sixty-nine 6 to <12-year-old children with −1.25 to −4.50 D of myopia were enrolled in COMET, a clinical trial comparing single vision lenses (SVLs) versus progressive addition lenses (PALs) for slowing myopia. Children remained in their original lenses for 5 years and then could wear contact lenses, SVLs or PALs. Myopia by cycloplegic autorefraction (Nidek ARK 700A) and ocular components, including lens thickness, by A-scan ultrasound (Sonomed A2500) were measured annually over 11 years. Analyses of lens thickness were based on right eye data from 426 children with refractions fit with Gompertz functions. Longitudinal lens thickness measurements for each participant were fit with a third-degree polynomial function, and average polynomial functions were calculated for three groups of children previously identified based on Gompertz functions: 6–7 years at baseline (n = 40), ≥8 years with progressing myopia (n = 329), and ≥8 years with non-progressing myopia (n = 56). ANOVAs were used for comparing the lens curve-based parameters among the three groups. Associations between lens and Gompertz parameters were assessed using Pearson correlations. Results: Overall, between 6 and 18 years the lenses thinned and then thickened, with the minimum value of 3.37 ± 0.15mm reached at 11.56 ± 2.04 years. The minimum lens thickness did not differ among the three myopia groups (p = 0.09), nor was it correlated with the amount of myopia at lens minimum or amount of final myopia (r’s = −0.01 and −0.03, respectively, p’s > 0.05). Conclusion: As a similar pattern of change in lens thickness with age was found in all children, whether their myopia progressed or not, these results suggest that the association of lens thinning and thickening with the course of myopia is coincidental rather than causal.
Gender differences in the relationship between resting heart rate variability and 24-hour blood pressure variability

Abstract The study explored the relationship between time- and frequency-domain indices of cardiac autonomic control and 24 h blood pressure variability (BPV) in a sample of healthy men and women. Vagally mediated cardiac control was inversely related to 24 h BPV, and measures of cardiac autonomic control were better predictors of systolic BPV in men and better predictors of diastolic BPV in women. These findings may help researchers to understand the disparity in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality between men and women.
Microsatellite Allele A5.1 of MHC Class I Chain‐Related Gene A Is Associated with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults in Latvia

Abstract: NIDDM is one of the most common forms of diabetes. The diagnosis is based on WHO classification, which is a clinical classification and misses the autoimmune diabetes in adults. Therefore, among the clinically diagnosed NIDDM cases, there can be a certain number of patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). The MICA gene is located in the MHC class I region and is expressed by monocytes, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells. Sequence determination of the MICA gene identifies trinucleotide repeat (GCT) microsatellite polymorphism, which identifies 5 alleles with 4, 5, 6, and 9 repetitions of GCT (A4, A5, A6, and A9) or 5 repetitions of GCT with 1 additional G insertion for allele A5.1. From our previous studies, we have shown that microsatellite allele A5 of MICA is associated with IDDM. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that certain MICA alleles are associated with LADA among clinically diagnosed NIDDM. Out of 100 clinically diagnosed NIDDM patients, 49 tested positive for GAD65 and IA‐2 antibodies by use of 35S RIA. Samples from these 49 patients and 96 healthy controls were analyzed for MICA by PCR amplification, and fragment sizes were determined in an ABI prism DNA sequencer. Our results show that MICA allele A5.1 is significantly increased in antibody‐positive (GAD65 or IA‐2) NIDDM patients [35/49 (72%)] when compared to healthy controls [22/96 (23%)] (OR = 8.4; P < 0.0001). However, we do not see any association with each of the antibodies separately. From our study, we conclude that (a) MICA allele A5.1 is associated with LADA and (b) MICA may play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of LADA.
The Pupillary Light Reflex in Borderline Diabetics

Computerized IR videopupillography, using an open-loop photic stimulator, was used to compare the reflexes of borderline diabetics with overt non-insulin-dependent diabetics and with age- and sex-matched non-diabetic healthy controls. The patients were all male, aged 41–59 years. Overt non-insulin-dependent diabetics in their 40s had a smaller pupillary area and pupillary diameter prior to photic stimulus compared with borderline diabetics and healthy controls. Overt non-insulin-dependent diabetics in their 50s had a lower pupillary area and pupillary diameter prior to photic stimulus, maximum velocity and acceleration of constriction and maximum velocity of dilation than did borderline diabetics or controls. The only abnormality observed among borderline diabetics compared to controls was a smaller amplitude of constriction in response to light in patients in their 50s. Amplitude of constriction in response to light and velocity of constriction measurements of borderline diabetics, however, were considerably more frequently abnormal than were those of controls. The frequency of abnormal pupillary diameter prior to photic stimulus, maximum velocity of dilation and acceleration of constriction was higher in overt non-insulin-dependent diabetics than in borderline diabetics. The results indicate that borderline diabetics have autonomic neuropathy before the disease becomes overt. The importance of the pupillary light reflex examination is discussed.
Low-Power/Cost RNS Comparison via Partitioning the Dynamic Range

Residue number systems (RNSs) are the main choice in many comparisonand division-free applications (e.g., digital signal processing). However, the development of efficient RNS comparators can widen the spectrum of RNS applications. Such comparators can replace the straightforward, but slow and costly, practice of converting the comparison operands to binary, as inputs to a wide word binary comparator. This has motivated some researchers to design shortcut RNS comparison methods that obviate the need for full reverse conversions. However, the few actual realizations that we have encountered are based on moduli set τ = {2n - 1, 2n, 2n + 1}. In this paper, after brief review and performance evaluation of the previous methods, we present a new τ-comparator with considerably reduced cost and power dissipation, with no delay penalty. The underlying comparison algorithm is based on ordering the dynamic range into consecutive partitions, and locating the partitions that own the corresponding comparison operands. The required circuitry includes two n-bit adders, which are replaced by one compound parallel prefix architecture, in order to save area and power. Postlayout performance evaluations, of the proposed work and the best previous one, show small latency improvement, 17%(46%) reduction in area consumption, 30%(41%) in power dissipation, and 31%(47%) in power-delay product, for n = 8(22).
Thoracic dimensions at maximum lung inflation in normal subjects and in patients with obstructive and restrictive lung diseases.

OBJECTIVES To compare the distribution of lung volume at total lung capacity (TLC) among adult men and women known to have normal lung function or chronic obstructive disease or restrictive lung disease (RLD). DESIGN Five-year retrospective study. SETTING Review of available clinical pulmonary function testing (PFT) reports and chest radiographs. PATIENTS Sixty-four patients presenting with normal PFT and chest radiograph findings (normal subjects), 26 patients with severe COPD and increased TLC (COPD group), 29 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and increased TLC (CF group), and 19 patients with RLD with a clinical diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis and a reduced TLC (RLD group). MEASUREMENTS Average posteroanterior rib cage diameter (PAave), average lateral rib cage diameter (LAave), and average vertical height of the diaphragm (HDIave) were measured using radiography. Normal prediction equations were generated based on stature, body mass index (BMI), age, and sex as independent variables and then used in between-group comparisons. RESULTS PAave correlated positively with BMI and age but not with height, whereas LAave correlated positively with BMI and height but not with age. HDIave correlated positively with height and age but negatively with BMI. PAave and LAave were smaller and HDIave was greater in women than men having the same stature. In the COPD group and in male CF group patients, BMI was low and only HDIave was greater than in sex-, age-, and height-matched normal subjects, but in female CF group patients, only the rib cage diameters were greater than normal. In the RLD group, PAave and HDIave were smaller than predicted and inversely related to each other, but LAave was normal. CONCLUSION Variations in maximum lung volume caused by gender, growth, or by lung diseases are nonisotropic and entail substantial changes in chest wall shape.
Cross-Ownership, R&D Spillovers, and Antitrust Policy

This paper considers cost-reducing R&D investment with spillovers in a Cournot oligopoly with minority shareholdings. We nd that, with high market concentration and su¢ ciently convex demand, there is no scope for cross-ownership to improve welfare regardless of spillover levels. Otherwise, there is scope for crossownership provided that spillovers are su¢ ciently large. The socially optimal degree of cross-ownership increases with the number of rms, with the elasticity of demand and of the innovation function, and with the extent of spillover e¤ects. In terms of consumer surplus standard, the scope for cross-ownership is greatly reduced even under low market concentration. JEL classi cation numbers: D43, L13, O32 Keywords: competition policy; partial merger; collusion; innovation; minority shareholdings; modi ed HHI We thank Ramon Faulí-Oller for his insightful initial contributions to this paper. For helpful comments we thank Isabel Busom, Luis Cabral, Guillermo Caruana, Ricardo Flores-Fillol, Richard Gilbert, Gerard Llobet, Peter Neary, Patrick Rey, Yossi Spiegel, and Javier Suarez. We have received constructive suggestions from seminar participants at IESE (PPSRC), Universität Mannheim, Università di Bologna, Universitat de Barcelona, CEMFI, Paris School of Economics, and Universitat Rovira i Virgili as well as from conference participants at CRESSE 2012, Industrial Organization and Spatial Economics(HSE, Saint Petersburg), 5th Barcelona IO Workshop (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), EEA2013 (University of Gothenburg), Barcelona GSE Winter Workshop 2013 (IAE-CSIC), CEPR Applied IO Workshop 2014, Searle Antitrust Conference 2014, EARIE 2014, XXIX Jornadas de Economía Industrial (Barcelona GSE), the ES Boston Meeting 2015, the Barcelona GSE Summer Forum 2015, the World Congress of the Econometric Society 2015, and SAEe 2015. Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under ECO2011-29533, from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under ECO2015-63711-P, and from AGAUR under SGR 1326 (GRC), is gratefully acknowledged. yLópez: Departament dEconomia Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Public-Private Sector Research Center, IESE Business School. E-mail address: angelluis.lopez@uab.cat zVives: IESE Business School.
Comparing end-of-life care in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with and without palliative care in Taiwan

Background: We investigated the difference of clinical practice pattern between end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with and without palliative care at the end of life in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: A total of 91 COPD patients who died in an acute care hospital were enrolled from one community teaching hospital in northern Taiwan between September 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009. The patients were divided into palliative (n = 17) and non-palliative care (n = 74) groups. Demographics and medical care data obtained through retrospective review of medical records were analyzed to determine significant between-group differences. Results: There were no between-group differences in intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, duration of ICU stay, duration of ventilator usage, invasive diagnostic procedures, invasive treatments, medications, and total medical cost. Patients in the palliative group had longer hospital stays (median 26 days vs. 11 days, P < 0.01) and higher rate of do-not-resuscitate orders (100% vs. 51%, P < 0.001), but lower rates of ICU mortality (73% vs. 41%, P = 0.026), invasive ventilation (57% vs. 29%, P = 0.04), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (12% vs. 51%, P < 0.001), and daily medical cost (250 US dollars vs. 444 US dollars, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Palliative care was underutilized and referral was delayed for COPD patients. COPD patients are polysymptomatic approaching the end of life and this characteristic should be taken into account in providing appropriate end-of-life care in the same way as for cancer patients. Palliative care for COPD patients is urgently needed in Taiwan and should be promoted.
Update on Technical issues concerning Complementary Feeding of Young Children in Developing Countries and Implications for Intervention Programs

This paper provides an update to the 1998 WHO/UNICEF report on complementary feeding. New research findings are generally consistent with the guidelines in that report, but the adoption of new energy and micronutrient requirements for infants and young children will result in lower recommendations regarding minimum meal frequency and energy density of complementary foods, and will alter the list of “problem nutrients. ” Without fortification, the densities of iron, zinc, and vitamin B6 in complementary foods are often inadequate, and the intake of other nutrients may also be low in some populations. Strategies for obtaining the needed amounts of problem nutrients, as well as optimizing breastmilk intake when other foods are added to the diet, are discussed. The impact of complementary feeding interventions on child growth has been variable, which calls attention to the need for more comprehensive programs. A six-step approach to planning, implementing, and evaluating such programs is recommended.
Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Are Dispensable during Primary Influenza Virus Infection1

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are thought to be pivotal in the first line of defense against viral infections. Although previous studies have suggested that pDC regulate the immune response against respiratory syncytial virus, their role in pulmonary infection with influenza virus has remained unclear. Using mice with GFP-tagged pDC, we observed a marked increase in pDC numbers in the lung airways 3 days after intranasal infection with influenza virus A/PR/8/34. To further investigate their potential involvement in the disease, we made use of pDC-deficient IkarosL/L mice. In the absence of pDC, the recruitment of T cells to the bronchoalveolar space was delayed, which could be reversed by the adoptive transfer of pDC before infection. Surprisingly, however, when compared with wild-type animals, IkarosL/L mice revealed a similar course of disease, as determined by weight loss, viral titers, levels of neutralizing Ab, and lung pathology. Moreover, the activation and differentiation of influenza-specific CD8+ effector T cells was unaltered in the absence of pDC, as was the generation of CD8+ memory T cells. Taken together, our study suggests that pDC regulate the accumulation of T cells in the bronchoalveolar space during early influenza virus infection, but are dispensable for the control of this disease.