Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polymorphism in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene increases the risk of sporadic colorectal cancer in Swedish but not in Chinese populations

Objective. An insertion/deletion polymorphism (−94ins/delATTG) in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene correlates to an increased risk of ulcerative colitis, a known risk factor for colorectal cancer, but this polymorphism has not been studied in colorectal cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether this polymorphism is related to colorectal cancer risk and clinicopathological variables. Material and methods. Case samples were taken from four groups of Swedish patients: 193 unselected patients, 90 patients with ≥3 affected 1st-degree relatives, 85 patients with 2 affected 1st-degree relatives, and 109 sporadic cancer patients, and one group of 193 unselected Chinese patients. Controls included 439 Swedish and 458 Chinese healthy individuals. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results. The deletion increased the risk of colorectal cancer among Swedish unselected patients (OR=3.81, 95% CI: 2.17–6.69, p<0.0001 for heterozygote deletion, and OR=4.65, 95% CI: 2.43–8.89, p<0.0001 for homozygote deletion) and sporadic cancer patients (OR=7.73, 95% CI: 3.06–19.57, p<0.0001 for heterozygote deletion, and OR=6.58, 95% CI: 2.35–18.43, p<0.0001 for homozygote deletion) compared to homozygote insertion (wild-type), but not among the other Swedish or Chinese patients (p>0.05). Similar evidence was seen in age-adjusted analyses (p<0.0001). The polymorphism did not correlate to clinicopathological variables (p>0.05). Conclusions. Deletion of the polymorphism was associated with increased susceptibility to sporadic colorectal cancers in the Swedish population, but not in the Swedish patients with a family history of colorectal cancer or in Chinese patients.
Impact of incentives to voluntarily disclose corporate governance information in annual reports: an empirical study of Malaysian publicly listed companies

This study investigates the extent to which a company‟s corporate governance quality is related to (a) its voluntary disclosure of corporate governance information, (b) the incentives factors that affect the relationship and (c) whether this relationship is stronger in the presence of an in-house qualified company secretary. The hypotheses development of this research study is based on Dye‟s voluntary disclosure theory and agency theory. A broad corporate governance quality index that captures the four main factors of effective corporate governance is adopted from the Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group (MSWG) in Malaysia. It consists of two main components: basic compliance score (BCS) and international best practices score (IBP). In this research, the BCS component is used to measure the level of a company corporate governance quality and the IBP component is a proxy for voluntary disclosure of corporate governance information. Using a sample of 275 publicly listed companies in Malaysia, the empirical results indicate that companies with high corporate governance quality are more likely to voluntarily disclose corporate governance information in annual reports. This result suggests that Dye‟s voluntary disclosure theory holds in Malaysia, a country that is characterised by weak legal protection, highly concentrated ownership and strong cultural factors. Capital market transactions (issuance of new share and debt capital) and stock-based incentives (stock-based compensation and CEO shareholdings) are the two incentive factors that are examined in this research. The findings suggest that stock-based compensation statistically and positively affects the relationship between corporate governance quality and voluntary disclosures. However the other incentive factors do not affect the relationship. This study also examines the relationship between in-house qualified company secretaries and voluntary disclosures. It does this by distinguishing between two types of company secretaries, namely professional qualified versus license holders and in-house versus external. However, no evidence is found to support the hypothesis that in-house qualified company secretaries promote voluntary disclosures.
Surgical Treatment of Adult Scoliosis: Is Anterior Apical Release and Fusion Necessary for the Lumbar Curve?

Study Design. A retrospective study. Objectives. To analyze radiographic and functional outcomes after posterior segmental spinal instrumentation and fusion (PSSIF) with and without an anterior apical release of the lumbar curve in adult scoliosis patients. Summary of Background Data. No comparison study on PSSIF of adult lumbar scoliosis with apical release versus without has been published. Methods. Forty-eight adult patients with lumbar scoliosis (average age at surgery 49.6 years, average follow-up 3.7 years) who underwent PSSIF were analyzed with respect to radiographic change, perioperative and postoperative complications, and Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) outcome scores. Twenty-three patients underwent an anterior apical release of the lumbar curve via a thoracoabdominal approach followed by PSSIF (Group I). The remaining 25 patients underwent a PSSIF of the lumbar curve followed by anterior column support at the lumbosacral region through an anterior paramedian retroperitoneal or posterior transforaminal approach (Group II). Results. Before surgery, Group I showed a somewhat larger lumbar major Cobb angle (63.2° vs. 55.9°, P = 0.07), and both groups demonstrated significant differences in lumbar curve flexibility (26.9% vs. 37.2%, P = 0.02) and thoracolumbar kyphosis (27.0° vs. 15.0°, P = 0.03). After surgery, at the ultimate follow-up, there were no significant differences in major Cobb angle, C7 plumbline to the center sacral vertical line (P = 0.17), C7 plumbline to the posterior superior endplate of S1 (P = 0.44), and sagittal Cobb angles at the proximal junction (P = 0.57), T10–L2 (P = 0.24) and T12–S1 (P = 0.51). There were 4 pseudarthroses in Group I and one in Group II (P = 0.02). Postoperative total normalized SRS outcome scores at ultimate follow-up were significantly higher in Group II (69% vs. 79%, P = 0.01). Conclusion. Posterior segmental spinal instrumentation and fusion without anterior apical release of lumbar curves in adult scoliosis demonstrated better total SRS outcome scores and no differences in radiographic parameters without differences in clinical complications. However, the use of BMP in some of these patients (44%) may have also contributed to these differences.
The direct synthesis of phosphoenolpyruvate from pyruvate by Escherichia coli

Extracts of Escherichia coli are shown to contain an enzyme system which in the presence of Mg2+ catalyses the direct formation of phosphoenolpyruvate from pyruvate and ATP with concomitant formation of AMP and inorganic phosphate. This enzyme, which has been designated 'phosphoenolpyruvate synthase' (PEP-synthase) has been purified 80-fold and is free of pyruvate kinase activity; PEP synthesis proceeded most rapidly at pH 8 to 8.5. At pH values between 6.2 and 7.5 the enzyme can catalyse the formation of ATP and pyruvate from PEP, AMP and inorganic phosphate; if arsenate is used instead of phosphate, pyruvate andADP are produced instead. Studies of the enzymic formation ofPEP with ATP specifically labelled with 32P, and of the reverse reaction with [U-14C]AMP, suggest that the PEP-synthase reaction involves the transfer of a pyrophosphoryl-group. The physiological role of PEP-synthase has been demonstrated with mutants of E. coli devoid of the enzyme: in contrast to wild-type organisms, such mutants neither grow on pyruvate, lactate or alanine, nor form glycogen from lactate. It is thus concluded that PEP-synthase plays an important role in the anaplerotic and the biosynthetic reactions which enable the organisms to grow on pyruvate as sole carbon source.
GUIDELINES ON RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

itool=iconabstr 15. Johnson LB, Kno PC, Dafoe DC, Schweitzer EJ, Alfrey EJ, Klassen DK, Hoehn-Saric EW, Weir MR, Bartlett ST. Double adult renal allografts: a technique for expansion of the cadaveric kidney donor pool. Surgery 1996;120:580-583; discussion 583-584. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? db=pubmedc33:3759-3761. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved12:589-597. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved67:1191-1193. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved15(Suppl 7):39-51. http://www.ndt-educational.org/images/Renal%20Transplantation%201%20Section%20II.pdf 20. Andres A, Herrero JC, Morales E, Praga M, Vazquez S, Vereda M, Cebrian P, Rodicio JL, Morales JM, Aguirre F, Diaz R, Polo G, Leiva 0. The double or single renal graft depending on the percentage of glomerulosclerosis in the preimplant biopsy reduces the number of discarded kidneys from donors older than 60 years. Transplant Proc 1999;31:2285-2286. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved69:36-43. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved3:162-169. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved10:167-181. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved33:3774-3776. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved33:3779-3780. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved29:3671-3673. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved70:790-794. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved134:97l-975; discussion 975-976. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieved10:2591-2598. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov/entrez/query.fcgi? cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10589699&dopt= Abstract&itool=iconabstr
Performance appraisal across organizational life cycles

This paper develops a framework of performance appraisal across organizational life cycles. In building the framework, the theoretical foundations, including competitive status and organizational strategies in organizational life cycles are discussed first. Furthermore, the key processes regarding performance appraisal, including the needed employee behaviors, performance criteria, performance ambiguity, and appraisal methods, are reviewed. In each stage of organizational life cycles, these elements will be gone through so that the appropriate strategy of performance appraisal may be decided.
A 50 kV, 100 Hz Low Jitter Triggered Spark Gap with High Pressure Gas Mixtures

Recent research efforts at Texas Tech University on impulse antenna phased array has necessitated the need to develop a reliable high voltage, high repetition rate switch that will operate with ultra low jitter. An ideal jitter of a small fraction of the risetime is required to accurately synchronize the array to steer and preserve the risetime of the radiated pulse. In (Y. Chen et al., 2007), we showed the initial test system with sub-ns results for operations in different gases and gas mixtures. This paper presents the impact gases and gas mixtures have on switch performance which includes recovery rate and in particular jitter. A 50 Omega, 1 nF pulse forming line is charged to 50 kV and provides the low inductance voltage source to test the different gases. Triggering is provided by a solid state opening switch voltage source that supplies ~150 kV, 10 ns risetime pulses at a rep rate up to 100 Hz in burst mode. A hermetically sealed spark gap with a Kel-F lining is used to house the switch and high pressure gas. This paper discusses in detail 50 k, 100 Hz switch operations with different gases. Gases tested include, dry Air, H2, N2, and SF6, as well as H2-N2, and N2-SF6 gas mixtures. Switch jitter as a result of triggering conditions is discussed, also including a comprehensive evaluation of jitter as a function of formative delay in the various gases.
Insulin action and long-term electrically induced training in individuals with spinal cord injuries.

PURPOSE Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) have an increased prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In able-bodied individuals, training with large muscle groups increases insulin sensitivity and may prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, individuals with SCI cannot voluntarily recruit major muscle groups, but by functional electrical stimulation (FES) they can now perform ergometer bicycle training. METHODS Ten subjects with SCI (35 +/- 2 yr (mean +/- SE), 73 +/- 5 kg, level of lesion C6--Th4, time since injury: 12 +/- 2 yr) performed 1 yr of FES cycling (30 min x d(-1), 3 d x wk(-1) (intensive training)). Seven subjects continued 6 months with reduced training (1 d x wk(-1) (reduced training)). A sequential, hyperinsulinemic (50 mU x min(-1) x m(-2) (step 1) and 480 mU x min(-1) x m(-2) (step 2)), euglycemic clamp, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and determination of GLUT 4 transporter protein in muscle biopsies were performed before and after training. RESULTS Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake rates increased after intensive training (from 4.9 +/- 0.5 mg x min(-1) x kg(-1) to 6.2 +/- 0.6 mg x min(-1) x kg(-1) (P < 0.008) (step 1) and from 9.0 +/- 0.8 mg x min(-1) x kg(-1) to 10.6 +/- 0.8 mg x min(-1) x kg(-1) (P = 0.103) (step 2)). With the reduction in training, insulin sensitivity decreased to a similar level as before training (P > 0.05). GLUT 4 increased by 105% after intense training and decreased again with the training reduction. The subjects had impaired glucose tolerance before and after training, and neither glucose tolerance nor insulin responses to OGTT were significantly altered by training. CONCLUSIONS Electrically induced bicycle training, performed three times per week increases insulin sensitivity and GLUT 4 content in skeletal muscle in subjects with SCI. A reduction in training to once per week is not sufficient to maintain these effects. FES training may have a role in the prevention of the insulin resistance syndrome in persons with SCI.
A clinicopathologic study of breast lumps in Bhairahwa, Nepal.

BACKGROUND Various types of lesion from inflammation to carcinoma can affect breast. Some lesions are common in young females while others in elderly age group. Early presentation and prompt diagnosis is essential to relieve anxiety of non-neoplastic conditions, and in case of carcinoma, it can save the patient from metastases. Many cases related to breast lesions from the region are reported in the surgery clinics of this institute and various breast diseases are being managed in the clinical departments. Analysis of pattern and prevalence will be a valuable guideline for clinicians of this location to compare with that of others. METHODS In the retrospective clinical study during 9 years period, the cases of breast lesions and lumps underwent fine needle aspiration cytology. Pap staining was done in alcohol fixed smears. The doubtful cases 65 were diagnosed through histopathological examinations by conventional method of fixation, processing and staining with routine hematoxylin and eosin. The cases with undetermined and inconclusive material were excluded from the study. RESULTS In the study of total 243 cases, inflammatory conditions 22.6%, fibrocystic change 41.2%, fibroadenoma 21.8%, other benign breast disease 4.5%, gynaecomastia 2.5% and carcinoma 7.4% were detected. CONCLUSION Fibrocystic change was the commonest lesion in this study with 33 years as the average age of presentation. However, malignancy was detected above 40 years of age.
Long-Term Results of a Smoking Reduction Program

Introduction:There have been few comprehensive evaluations of smoking reduction, especially in health care delivery systems, and little is known about its cost, maintenance of reduced smoking, or robustness across patient subgroups. Methods:A generally representative sample of 320 adult smokers from an HMO scheduled for outpatient surgery or a diagnostic procedure was randomized to enhanced usual care or a theory-based smoking reduction intervention that combined telephone counseling and tailored newsletters. Outcomes included cigarettes smoked, carbon monoxide levels, and costs. Results:Both intervention and control conditions continued to improve from 3- to 12-month assessments. Between-condition differences using intent-to-treat analyses on both self-report and carbon monoxide measures were nonsignificant by the 12-month follow-up (25% vs. 19% achieved 50% or greater reductions in cigarettes smoked). The intervention was implemented consistently despite logistical constraints and was generally robust across patient characteristics (eg, education, ethnicity, health literacy, dependence). Conclusions:In the absence of nicotine replacement therapy, the long-term effects of this smoking reduction intervention seem modest and nonsignificant. Future research is indicated to enhance intervention effects and conduct more comprehensive economic analyses of program variations.
Balloon cell melanoma in three dogs: a histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

Balloon cell melanoma, a variant of malignant melanoma, has been reported on rare occasions in animals and is uncommon in man. Such tumours have variable numbers of large, round to polygonal cells with abundant, clear, often vacuolated cytoplasm containing fine melanin granules and variable amounts of lipid. This report describes balloon cell melanomas in three dogs. Immunohistochemically, these tumours showed reactions similar to those of human melanomas when tested with antibodies against S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and vimentin. Electron microscopically, numerous heterogeneous melanosomes were demonstrated in the balloon cell cytoplasm of one tumour. Although balloon cell melanoma apparently occurs infrequently in dogs, it should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of neoplasms containing clear cells.
Cochannel Interference in Satellite Communication Systems Derived from Rain Attenuation Measurements at 20 GHz

This paper reports experimental results on cochannel interference during rain, derived from measurements of simultaneous and copolar rain attenuations, in the 20 GHz band, in two convergent slant paths to fixed receivers at Spino d'Adda (Northern Italy), from the geostationary satellites Olympus (19°W) and Italsat (13°E). The results show that during rain the interference can be larger than that in clear sky, with probability 0.5 and that, in this case, the interfering level I = AC − An (dB), i.e. the difference between the simultaneous rain attenuations (dB) in the interfered path, AC (dB), and in the interfering path, An (dB), increases as the system power margin increases. For system design, the paper reports the cumulative distributions of I, conditioned to the maximum value of the attenuation not exceeded (i.e. system power margin) in the interfered link. It is shown how the results could be used in systems with regenerative or transparent transponders on board.
The modern enterprise and the stock market : exploring the effects of uncertainty on the valuation and on the financing of innovation and intangibles

• A submitted manuscript is the version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
Firm-Level Attributes and Performance of Micro-Finance Institutions

We identify two sets of explanatory variables; a) country-specific and b) firm-specific features, that explains MFIs financial performance and overall efficiency. Our study is one of the few recent researches to focus on a bigger cross-sectional dataset of total 2138 firm-years for 754 unique MFIs across 83 countries in six geographic regions. We show that overall effect of Country GDP size is generally negative for Return on Asset but once diversity of capital structure is accounted for, the impact on ROE is not robust. Country GDP growth has positive and fairly robust effect on ROA; however, positive and less robust for ROE; and negative and less robust effect on Real Yield on Loan Portfolio. Impact of MFIs information disclosure on overall performance is negative and significant for ROA but positive; less significant for ROE and fairly robust and positive for Real Yield. In general, user’s perception on MFIs legal status has positive impact on outreach measures and negative effects on default but negative ROA explains the trade-off from regulatory burden. In general, MFIs maturity is in general not significant for outreach measures and loan default measures but significant for Net Profit Margin. MFIs size and number of offices explain some variations in outreach measures and profitability measure although they do not explain much on loan default measures. We find weak evidence among MFIs women participation and their outreach measures, loan default and profitability measures across the geographical regions.
Misdivision analysis of centromere structure in maize.

The size and organization of a representative plant centromere from the supernumerary B chromosome were determined using a repeated sequence specific to the centric region. Several derivatives of the B chromosome that suffered from misdivision of the centromere were analyzed for the content and organization of their B repeat. In all these derivatives, major rearrangements were detected. Some misdivisions produced a significant reduction in size of the B‐specific cluster. These results demonstrate that the B repeat is part of the functional centromere, that it is spread throughout its length, and that plant centromeres are composed of repeat units that can be significantly changed in copy number without a change in function.
Effects of Educational Interventions In Diabetes Care: A Meta‐Analysis of Findings

Forty-seven studies on the effects of patient teaching on knowledge, self-care behaviors, and metabolic control were analyzed using meta-analysis. Variables, such as type of patient instruction, type of research design, and overall quality of the study, also were analyzed. The 236 effect sizes had an unweighted mean of 0.91 (SD = 0.75) and a weighted mean of 0.33 (SD = 0.01). The weighted mean effect size for studies with control groups (N = 27) was 0.40 (SD = 0.05), and the weighted mean effect size for studies using the one group pretest-post-test design (N = 20) was 0.53 (SD = 0.05). Homogeneity analyses resulted in weighted mean effect size estimates for knowledge subvariables ranging from 0.41 to 0.91; for skill performance, 0.25 to 0.38; for compliance, 0.24 to 1.01; and for metabolic control, 0.06 to 0.84. Experimental mortality was the only variable significantly correlated with the overall weighted mean effect size, r = . 52, p = . 002. The results of this study clearly support the notion that patient teaching has positive outcomes in diabetic adults. Furthermore, methodological issues were important factors which influenced these findings.
Mandatory disclosure in the annual reports of general insurers in Malaysia

This research attempts to investigate the extent to which firms conducting general insurance business comply with the disclosure requirements stipulated in MAS 3(Accounting for General Insurance Business), which was issued and adopted by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) in 1991, and the standard related to investments, namely SI 25 (Accounting for Investments). Based on the annual reports of 35 general insurers for the year 1994, the disclosure level was found to be unsatisfactory. The study further showed that insurance companies listed on the KLSE tend to have better disclosure compared with non-listed firms. Firm's size negatively influenced the level of disclosure. The size of the auditing firm, the scope of business and the number of shareholders did not influence the level of disclosure in this study.