Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High Density of Tumor-infiltrating B-Lymphocytes and Plasma Cells Signifies Prolonged Overall Survival in Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagogastric Junction.

BACKGROUND Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been shown to be of prognostic significance in a variety of tumors. Not only T-cell, but also B-cell infiltration is commonly associated with improved survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS We assessed the density of tumor-infiltrating B-cells, as well as that of plasma cells, in 210 adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction through immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies against CD20 and CD138. RESULTS No correlation between density of B-cells or plasma cells and various clinicopathologic features could be established. High density of tumor-infiltrating B-cells, as well as plasma cells, showed significantly better overall survival (OS) compared to patients with no infiltrates (p=0.047 and p=0.022, respectively). Cox proportional hazard analysis could verify B-cell infiltration as an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio (HR)=0.683; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.517-0.901; p=0.007). CONCLUSION Plasma cell and B-cell infiltration correlates with prolonged OS and might identify a patient subset with favorable disease course.
ARYLSULPHATASES IN HUMAN BRAIN: SEPARATION, PURIFICATION, AND CERTAIN PROPERTIES OF THE TWO SOLUBLE ARYLSULPHATASES 1

Abstract— Arylsulphatases (aryl‐sulphate sulphohydrolases; E.C. 3.1.6.1) in the soluble subcellular fraction (105000g, 2 h) of human brain were partially purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, and Sephadex gel filtration. Potassium‐4‐methylumbelliferone‐sulphatase (MUS‐sulphatase) adsorbed on DEAE‐cellulose was purified approximately 700‐fold over activity in the soluble fraction and the unadsorbed MUS‐sulphatase was similarly purified approximately 600‐fold. The arylsulphatase adsorbed to DEAE‐cellulose exhibited a Km value for MUS of 12.5 mM and a pH optimum of 5.7, whereas the unadsorbed arylsulphatase exhibited a Km value for MUS of 8.3 mM and a pH optimum of 5.4. The molecular weights of the two enzymes were approximately 109,600 and 51,300, respectively. Sulphate (0.5 mM) showed pronounced mixed inhibition only of the unadsorbed arylsulphatase. Ag+ ions (0.25 mM) showed 96 per cent inhibition of the adsorbed arylsulphatase, whereas an activation of the unadsorbed arylsulphatase was observed.
Hearing preservation in acoustic tumor surgery: Results and prognostic factors

A retrospective study was conducted to assess the hearing results in patients who underwent acoustic neuroma removal via the middle fossa approach. A statistical correlation of results with preoperative clinical and audiological data determined if any prognostic indicators could be associated with successful hearing preservation. Of 93 patients included in the study, useful hearing was preserved in 54 (58%), and hearing was preserved near preoperative levels in 42 (45%). The potential for hearing preservation appeared to be inversely related to the size of the acoustic tumor, with hearing preserved in 39 (60%) of 65 patients with tumors less than or equal to 0.5 cm extension into the cerebellopontine angle. Preoperative hearing levels and electronystagmography seemed to have no prognostic value. However, auditory brainstem response showed that a wave V latency of less than 6.8 msec was associated with an increased chance of hearing preservation, and the presence of vertigo as a preoperative complaint appeared to be a good prognostic indicator of successful hearing preservation.
Infrared thermography applied to lower limb muscles in elite soccer players with functional ankle equinus and non-equinus condition

Gastrocnemius-soleus equinus (GSE) is a foot-ankle complaint in which the extensibility of the gastrocnemius (G) and soleus muscles (triceps surae) and ankle are limited to a dorsiflexion beyond a neutral ankle position. The asymmetric forces of leg muscles and the associated asymmetric loading forces might promote major activation of the triceps surae, tibialis anterior, transverses abdominal and multifidus muscles. Here, we made infrared recordings of 21 sportsmen (elite professional soccer players) before activity and after 30 min of running. These recordings were used to assess temperature modifications on the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and Achilles tendon in GSE and non-GSE participants. We identified significant temperature modifications among GSE and non-GSE participants for the tibialis anterior muscle (mean, minimum, and maximum temperature values). The cutaneous temperature increased as a direct consequence of muscle activity in GSE participants. IR imaging capture was reliable to muscle pattern activation for lower limb. Based on our findings, we propose that non-invasive IR evaluation is suitable for clinical evaluation of the status of these muscles.
Limited benefit of copaifera oil on gingivitis progression in humans.

AIM The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the antiplaque and antigingivitis effect of Copaifera sp (Cp). METHODS AND MATERIALS Twenty-three subjects participated in a randomized controlled clinical trial using a 21-day, partial-mouth experimental model of gingivitis. A custom tooth shield was fabricated for each subject to prevent the brushing of the four experimental posterior teeth in the lower-left quadrant. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the control group (using a placebo gel) or the test group (using the test gel containing 10% Cp). RESULTS The clinical results showed statistically significant differences for plaque (PLI), bleeding (BI), and gingival (GI) indexes at days 0 and 21 in both groups (p<0.05). However, on day 21 there was no statistically significant difference between groups for all indexes (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The test gel containing 10% Cp did not prevent plaque formation and development of gingivitis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Several medicinal herbs are used empirically by persons in the treatment and prevention of oral conditions. Research in this area must be encouraged to determine which herbal agents would be a useful addition to the current range of chemotherapeutic periodontal treatment options.
Multinational Corporations: Emergence and Evolution

PrefacePart I Introdution1. The theoretical foundationsPart II Multinational corporations from the resource abundant countries2. The emergence of multinational corporations from the United States: The period until 19143.The evolution of multinational corporations from the United States: The period since 19144. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Sweden5. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Brazil6. Conclusion: The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the resource abundant countriesPart III Multinational corporations from the resource scarce large countries7. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the United Kingdom8. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Germany9. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Japan10. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Taiwan11. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from South Korea12. Conclusion: The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the resource scarce large countries Part IV Multinational corporations from the resource scarce small countries13. The emergence and evolution of multinatioanl corporations from Switzerland14. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Hong Kong15. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from Singapore16. Conclusion: The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations from the resource scarce small countriesPart V Conclusion17. The emergence and evolution of multinational corporations: implications for theory
Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 18 cases with Immunohistochemical and Electron Microscopic Findings

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare tumor in the urinary bladder and accounts for ∼0.3% of all bladder malignancies. In this study, the clinicopathologic findings of 18 cases are described. Distribution of sex and age and clinical symptoms are not distinctive from transitional cell carcinoma. The tumor behaves as a high-grade malignancy with advanced initial stage and unfavorable outcome. Surgery is the therapy of choice. Histological differentiation from true sarcoma may be difficult. Recognition rests on the co-existence of an overt carcinomatous component or demonstration of the epithelial nature by immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy.
Customer service : career success through customer loyalty

1. Know Why Service Matters PART 1: LITTLE THINGS 2. Use Behaviors That Engage Your Customers 3. Listen to Your Customer (a Big "little thing") 4. Use the Telephone Well for Good Service 5. Use Friendly Web Sites and Electronic Communication PART 2: INSIGHTS 6. Recognize and Deal with Customer Turnoffs 7. Insight into Emerging Trends in Customer Service PART 3: FEEDBACK 8. Get Customer Feedback 9. Recover the Potentially Lost Customer PART 4: EXPECTATIONS 10. Exceed Customer Expectations with Value 11. Exceed Customer Expectations with Information 12. Exceed Customer Expectations with Convenience and Timing PART 5: LIVING LIFE 13. Dealing with Emotional Labor 14. Get Employees to Give Great Service
Affordable Housing Solutions: Affordable Housing Providers’ Perspective

Abstract Accessibility to housing for low to moderate income groups in Australia has experienced a severe decline since 2002. On the supply side, the public sector has been reducing its commitment to the direct provision of public housing. Despite strong demand for affordable housing, limited supply has been generated by nongovernment housing providers. This paper identifies and discusses some current affordable housing solutions which have been developed by non-government housing providers to ameliorate the problem. This study utilises case studies generated from nineteen housing providers during in-depth interviews in South East Queensland in 2007–2008. The case studies are classified into four categories which relate to the nature of their product: affordable rental housing, mixed housing, affordable housing for people with special needs and low cost home ownership. Each category is discussed on the basis of the characteristics typical of that organisation of housing provider, their partnership arrangements and main target market. In addition, the special design and facilities required for people with special needs which include high care accommodation and aged care are highlighted. Finally, this study recommends offering a continuum of solutions to affordable housing for low income people by means of a rent-to-buy scheme.
AVERTING MATERNAL DEATH AND DISABILITY The evidence for emergency obstetric care

Purpose: We searched for evidence for the effectiveness of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) interventions in reducing maternal mortality primarily in developing countries. Methods: We reviewed population-based studies with maternal mortality as the outcome variable and ranked them according to the system for ranking the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations developed by the US Preventive Services Task Force. A systematic search of published literature was conducted for this review, including searches of Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Database and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Results: The strength of the evidence is high in several studies with a design that places them in the second and third tier in the quality of evidence ranking system. No studies were found that are experimental in design that would give them a top ranking, due to the measurement challenges associated with maternal mortality, although many of the specific individual clinical interventions that comprise EmOC have been evaluated through experimental design. There is strong evidence based on studies, using quasi-experimental, observational and ecological designs, to support the contention that EmOC must be a critical component of any program to reduce maternal mortality. D 2004 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2005) 88, 181—193
How to design franchise contracts: the role of contractual hazards and experience

We analyze factors determining the degree of contractual completeness in franchising. We argue that heterogeneity in firms� contract design capabilities is an important factor along with different contractual hazards. Our results support these hypotheses showing that experienced franchisors draw up more complete contracts. Additionally, we ob- serve that the effects of contractual hazards on completeness are not always positive and direct and that there may be a substitution effect between formal and relational governance mechanisms because risks of bilateral expropriations might serve as a mutual guarantee. This also suggests that contract analysis must not focus on particu- lar clauses but on the contract as a whole.
FingerSound

We introduce FingerSound, an input technology to recognize unistroke thumb gestures, which are easy to learn and can be performed through eyes-free interaction. The gestures are performed using a thumb-mounted ring comprising a contact microphone and a gyroscope sensor. A K-Nearest-Neighbor(KNN) model with a distance function of Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) is built to recognize up to 42 common unistroke gestures. A user study, where the real-time classification results were given, shows an accuracy of 92%-98% by a machine learning model built with only 3 training samples per gesture. Based on the user study results, we further discuss the opportunities, challenges and practical limitations of FingerSound when deploying it to real-world applications in the future.
Growth and Profitability in Portuguese Companies: a Dynamic Panel Data Approach

In this article, using dynamic panel estimators, we test empirically the relationship between the growth of Portuguese companies and their profitability. The empirical evidence obtained indicates that growth in Portuguese companies means increased profitability. Growth in Portuguese companies is a catalysing factor of profitability, with the motivational effect on employees, given the expectation of greater gains in the future, being more relevant than the possible negative effects of growth on profitability, as a consequence of the need for new more formal labour relations in companies.
Resource Allocation Flexibility for Innovation Performance: The Effects of Breadth, Uncertainty, and Selectiveness

Our study shows empirically that the choice of resource allocation strategy affects innovation performance. A policy of allocating resources to a broader range of innovation projects increases sales of new products, especially if these are truly novel, i.e. new to the market. The effect of greater breadth appears to outweigh that of increased resource allocation per project. We find further indication that the performance effect of breadth increases with commercial uncertainty. It is also stronger for firms that allocate resources more selectively at later stages of the innovation process. Based on these results, we theorize that breadth increases performance as it spreads a firm's bets on unproven innovative endeavors, and more so when these endeavors are more uncertain. Limiting resource commitments through selectiveness contains breadth's disadvantages, a combination that provides flexibility in resource allocation.
Do Investors Respond to Analysts' Forecast Revisions as if Forecast Accuracy Is All That Matters?

Prior research suggests that investors' response to analyst forecast revisions increases with the analyst's forecast accuracy. We extend this research by examining whether investors appear to extract all of the information that analyst characteristics provide about forecast accuracy. We find that only some of the analyst characteristics that are associated with future forecast accuracy are also associated with return responses to forecast revisions. This suggests that investors fail to extract some of the information that analyst characteristics can provide about future forecast accuracy. In addition, forecast properties other than expected accuracy appear to be value‐relevant. For example, investors respond more strongly to forecasts released earlier in the year and to forecasts by analysts employed by large brokerages than appears warranted by the ability of forecast timeliness and broker size to predict forecast accuracy. We conclude that investors respond to analysts' forecast revisions as if forecast.
Child care: Welfare or investment?

Childcare (also called day care or preschool) has generally served three purposes: to care for children while parents are employed; to provide early childhood education; and to cater to the needs of poor and disadvantaged children. This article proposes that the welfare approach to childcare be augmented by a social investment approach to enhance human and social capital investments among low income families and communities and to contribute to wider social development goals. The Head Start program in the United States and the Integrated Child Development Scheme in India are used to illustrate this argument.
Vitronectin dictates intraglomerular fibrinolysis in immune‐mediated glomerulonephritis

During human glomerulonephritis, the severity of injuries correlates with glomerular fibrin deposits, which are tightly regulated by the intraglomerular fibrinolytic system. Here, we evaluated the role of vitronectin (VTN; also known as complement S protein), the principal cofactor of the plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1), in a mouse model of acute glomerulonephritis. We found that in mice subjected to nephrotoxic serum, the absence of VTN resulted in a lower glomerular PAI‐1 activity and a higher glomerular fibrinolytic activity. Challenged VTN–/– mice displayed significantly less fibrin deposits, proteinuria, and renal failure than their wild‐type counterparts. Notably, this protective effect afforded by VTN deficiency was still observed after a C3 depletion. Finally, the injection of VTN+/+ serum in VTN–/– mice induced the glomerular deposition of VTN, increased PAI‐1 deposition, decreased glomerular fibrinolytic activity, and aggravated glomerular injury. As in mice, abundant glomerular VTN deposits were also observed in patients with severe glomerulonephritis. Here, we show that plasma‐exchange therapy, admittedly beneficial in this clinical context, induces a significant depletion in circulating VTN, which might modulate PAI‐1 activity locally and accelerate the clearance of fibrin deposits in the glomeruli. Collectively, these results demonstrate that VTN exerts a deleterious role independently from complement, by directing PAI‐dependent fibrinolysis in the glomerular compartment. —Mesnard, L. , Rafat, C. , Vandermeersch, S. , Hertig, A. , Cathelina, D. , Xu‐Dubois, Y. ‐C. , Jouanneau, C. , Castro Keller, A. , Ribeil, J. –A. , Leite‐de‐Moraes, M. C. , Rondeau, E. Vitronectin dictates intraglomerular fibrinolysis in immune‐mediated glomerulonephritis. FASEB J. 25, 3543–3553 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Association of N-Terminal Pro–Brain Natriuretic Peptide, Matrix –Metalloprotinase-9, and 8-Oxo-2 Deoxy Guanosine with the Incidence of Essential Hypertension

Background and Objectives: Oxidative stress and inflammation are cooperative events involved in essential hypertension diseases. This study was as a step for elucidating the contribution of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, matrix-metalloprotinase-9 and 8-oxo2-deoxyguanosine with the essential hypertension incidence, development, and progression. Aims: The objective was to determine the serum studied parameters levels in essential hypertensive and normotensive subjects, and to assess the association between these biomarkers with the essential hypertension, and to investigate the effect of other confounding factors like stages, age, and gender and finally find the correlation between all studied parameters. Methods: This study was designed to examine the associations between the focused parameters with the essential hypertension on 50 patients of both genders, as well as an equal numbers of matched age–gender healthy adults were also enrolled in this study as a control group. The hypothesis suggesting that oxidative stress and inflammatory processes influence the risk of adverse clinical outcomes are worth investigating. These parameters were analyzed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 18. Results: Patients with essential hypertension exhibited significantly higher serum focused parameters levels as compared with the control group. The mean serum N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide levels in patients and control groups were 304.33 ± 204.19, 76.52±20.98 pg/ml respectively. The mean serum matrix–metalloprotinase-9 level in patients and control groups were 2.36±1.1, 1.4±0.8 respectively. The mean serum 8-oxo-2-deoxy guanosine level in patients and control groups were 170.40±41.95, 84.11±34.07 (mg/ml) respectively. Conclusions: Data suggested an association between these circulating biomarkers with the incidence, development, and progression of essential hypertension. No effect of age and gender present on serum levels of focused biomarkers in both groups. These focused parameters seem to be a simple, non-invasive tools and independent parameters for early detection, assessing disease severity, and involved in the etiology of disease. Data indicated an alteration in the oxidative status and inflammatory processes in patients with essential hypertension. Accordingly, this work was undertaken to assess contribution of the oxidative stress and inflammatory process as a risk factors. In addition, these parameters are regarded as markers with prognostic significance and as potential therapeutic targets. These biomarkers are tools that might aid the physicians in diagnosis and subsequent risk stratiﬁcation, guiding selection of therapy, secondary prevention, and serving as a target for therapy.
ON THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF IT ALIGNMENT: MEASURING ALIGNMENT OF IT PROJECT PORTFOLIO

While alignment has received extensive attention in IT research, up to now, we have predominately focused on the current business value of IT by studying the alignment of the existing IT applications (i.e., IT operation) with the current strategies. However, given the highly dynamic environmental context, we also need to think about the alignment of the developing IT applications (i.e., IT projects) that will lead to future business value of IT. The paper is about rethinking the notion of strategic alignment to include future oriented dimension by conceptualizing and operationalizing alignment of the developing IT applications. We develop a multilevel tool that emergently measures portfolio alignment based on its individual IT projects. In the empirical section we test the proposed tool in a large organization. Finally, the implications of including IT projects in the alignment have been discussed.