Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in Endometriosis With Emphasis on Pathogenesis, Molecular Pathology, and Neoplastic Transformation

This article reviews recent advances in our understanding of endometriosis with special reference to its pathogenesis, recent molecular studies, and relationship to neoplasia. Pathogenetic factors include familial predisposition, immunological factors, cell adhesion factors, angiogenic factors, and hormonal factors. Recent molecular findings in endometriosis include the monoclonality of endometriotic cysts and loss of heterozygosity in the majority of cases associated with adenocarcinoma. Women with a long-standing history of endometriosis have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, most commonly endometrioid and clear cell adenocarcinomas. In these cases, there is a high frequency of atypia in the endometriosis, and the endometriosis and the associated ovarian carcinoma may show identical PTEN mutations.
Deep Phylogeographic Breaks in Magpie Pica pica Across the Holarctic: Concordance with Bioacoustics and Phenotypes

We examined sequences of the mitochondrial control region in magpies (Pica pica) from the entire distribution range and found deep genetic splits into four major lineages: (1) group West (Europe-Siberia), (2) group East (southern Far East), (3) P. p. mauritanica (North Africa), and (4) P. p. hudsonia (North America). These lineages show a geographic pattern corresponding to known subspecies or subspecies groups. Genetic variation within the widely-distributed group West is low and neutrality tests supported a recent expansion scenario. The haplotypes from Kamchatka, representing a separated sublineage with clear affinity to the European-Siberian group, are almost identical, implying a recent bottleneck. Group East contained two subclades without clear geographic pattern, presumably due to admixing of populations that had diverged in Pleistocene refuges. The homogeneity of the Kyushu population supports historical reports of introduction of the species from Korea. In contrast, the high variation in the recently established Hokkaido population may reflect an ongoing invasion from several populations of the Far Eastern mainland. Bioacoustic data based on chatter call differentiate groups of subspecies and reflect phylogeographic patterns, i.e., mitochondrial lineages. Furthermore, we report the fast spreading of P. p. jankowskii towards the west along the upper Amur River, and a slower shifting of P. p. leucoptera in the opposite direction thus yielding a new contact zone. Overall, our data support a scenario of divergence in geographic isolation, but the ongoing expansion of distribution ranges may lead to major changes in phylogeographic patterns.
Erlotinib Plus Gemcitabine Compared With Gemcitabine Alone in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Phase III Trial of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group

PURPOSE Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have a poor prognosis and there have been no improvements in survival since the introduction of gemcitabine in 1996. Pancreatic tumors often overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor type 1 (HER1/EGFR) and this is associated with a worse prognosis. We studied the effects of adding the HER1/EGFR-targeted agent erlotinib to gemcitabine in patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive standard gemcitabine plus erlotinib (100 or 150 mg/d orally) or gemcitabine plus placebo in a double-blind, international phase III trial. The primary end point was overall survival. RESULTS A total of 569 patients were randomly assigned. Overall survival based on an intent-to-treat analysis was significantly prolonged on the erlotinib/gemcitabine arm with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.99; P = .038, adjusted for stratification factors; median 6.24 months v 5.91 months). One-year survival was also greater with erlotinib plus gemcitabine (23% v 17%; P = .023). Progression-free survival was significantly longer with erlotinib plus gemcitabine with an estimated HR of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.92; P = .004). Objective response rates were not significantly different between the arms, although more patients on erlotinib had disease stabilization. There was a higher incidence of some adverse events with erlotinib plus gemcitabine, but most were grade 1 or 2. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this randomized phase III trial is the first to demonstrate statistically significantly improved survival in advanced pancreatic cancer by adding any agent to gemcitabine. The recommended dose of erlotinib with gemcitabine for this indication is 100 mg/d.
Comorbidity of learning disorders: prevalence and familial transmission.

BACKGROUND In order to fully specify the profiles of risk and protective factors of developmental disorders, a better understanding of the conditions under which they co-occur is required. So far, empirical evidence on comorbidities of specific learning disorders in arithmetic, reading and spelling is scarce. METHODS Prevalence and gender ratios of specific learning disorders in arithmetic (AD), reading (RD), and spelling (SD) and their co-occurrence were assessed in a large (N = 2586) population-based sample of elementary school children and in a subsample of 293 children with at least one learning disorder (LD-sample). A questionnaire on familial transmission was given to a subsample of 256 parents of children with a learning disorder and 146 typically developing children. RESULTS The rates of deficits in arithmetic, reading, or spelling were four to five times higher in samples already experiencing marked problems in one academic domain compared to the full population. Thus, comorbidity of learning disorders was confirmed in a fairly standard school population. Rates of co-occurrence decreased for AD and RD, but not isolated SD when more stringent cutoff criteria were applied, suggesting that the comorbidity of arithmetic and spelling disorder may be more strongly biologically mediated than the comorbidity of arithmetic and reading disorder. We found a preponderance of girls with AD and boys with SD. These imbalanced gender ratios were especially marked for isolated problems, while for comorbid problems gender ratios were mostly balanced with the exception of deficits in arithmetic and reading (but not spelling) which were more typical for girls. The parental questionnaire provided evidence for disorder-specific familial transmission and co-segregation of arithmetic and literacy deficits. CONCLUSIONS Comorbidities of learning disorders are not artificial. They are the result of a complex interplay between both general and disorder-specific aetiological factors.
Osteoblast-like Differentiation of Cultured Human Coronary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Bone Morphogenetic Protein Endothelial Cell Precursor-derived Regulator (BMPER)*

Background: Osteoblast-like differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a mechanism of vascular calcification. Results: Bone morphogenetic protein endothelial cell precursor-derived regulator (BMPER) was expressed in VSMCs and enhanced osteoblast-like differentiation of VSMCs via NF-κB activation. Conclusion: BMPER is a novel regulator of osteoblast-like differentiation of VSMCs. Significance: BMPER may be a potential target for prevention of vascular calcification. Differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) into osteoblast-like cells is considered to be a mechanism of vascular calcification. However, regulators of osteoblast-like differentiation of vascular SMCs are not fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-binding endothelial cell precursor-derived regulator (BMPER), a vertebrate homologue of Drosophila crossveinless-2, in vascular SMCs and the role and mode of action of BMPER in osteoblast-like differentiation of human coronary artery SMCs (HCASMCs). BMPER was expressed in cultured human vascular SMCs, including HCASMCs. Silencing of endogenous BMPER expression by an RNA interference technique inhibited osteoblast-like differentiation of HCASMCs, as evaluated by up-regulation of osteoblast markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), by down-regulation of a SMC marker α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), and by mineralization. Treatment with recombinant BMPER enhanced, whereas BMP-2 reduced osteoblast-like differentiation. BMPER antagonized BMP-2-induced phosphorylation of Smad 1/5/8, suggesting that the effect of BMPER was mediated by antagonizing the action of BMP. BMPER increased IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB activity and specific NF-κB decoy oligonucleotides deteriorated osteoblast-like differentiation of HCASMCs by BMPER. In human coronary artery with atherosclerotic plaque containing calcification, the BMPER-positive signals were observed in the neointimal and medial SMCs in the vicinity of the plaque. These findings indicate that BMPER is a novel regulator of the osteoblast-like differentiation of HCASMCs.
Development of a Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Detection of Haemophilus ducreyi

Background and Objectives: Haemophilus ducreyi, the causative agent of chancroid is a fastidious organism difficult to culture and identify. Consequently, culture is an insensitive method for diagnosis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) offers a sensitive and specific nonculture method for the detection of bacterial pathogens. Study Design: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect the presence of Haemophilus ducreyi. A pair of primers was selected from sequences of an anonymous fragment of DNA cloned from H. ducreyi. The primers were tested in amplification reactions with both purified DNA and lysed organisms for their ability to detect H. ducreyi, and with DNA from a variety of different bacteria for their specificity. The utility of the primers for the detection of H. ducreyi in samples taken from genital ulcers was also tested and compared with culture. Results: PCR was positive for 62% of the specimens that were culture-positive, however, PCR was also positive for 49% of the culture-negative specimens. Comparison of specimens that were dark field positive for T. pallidurn and PCR-positive with those that were culture-positive for herpes simplex virus and PCR positive suggested that PCR was giving true and not random positive results. Additional studies demonstrated that the failure of PCR to detect H. ducreyi in all of the culture-positive specimens probably resulted from inhibitors of the Taq DNA polymerase that were present in the nucleic acids extracted from the clinical specimen. Conclusion: PCR should be a useful method for the detection of H. ducreyi in genital lesions, especially where culture sensitivity is poor. However, the presence of unidentified Taq polymerase inhibitors in some ulcers specimens require the development of improved methods for specimen handling.
[Oral health status in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in relation to metabolic control of the disease].

INTRODUCTION As a systemic disease, diabetes mellitus may lead to several complications affecting both the quality and the length of life. While periodontal disease is one of the major oral health problems in patients with diabetes, reports of an increased risk of dental caries among diabetics are controversial. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate oral health status in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in relation to metabolic control of the disease. METHODS The study included 47 randomly sampled diabetics patients, divided into two groups; those with poorly controlled diabetes (glycosylated haemoglobin--HbA1c > or =9%) and those with better controlled diabetes (HbA1c < 9%). All patients completed a questionnaire about their medical and oral health. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded. RESULTS The patients with poorly controlled diabetes had a significantly higher number of tooth caries compared to those with better controlled diabetes (6.5 +/- 4.3 vs. 4.3 +/- 2.9; p < 0.05). Of periodontal parameters, only PPD was significantly higher in the patients with poorly controlled diabetes than in those with better controlled diabetes (5.8 +/- 0.9 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.8; p < 0.05). DMFT index, PI, PPD and CAL exhibited positive correlation only with patients' age. CONCLUSION The study indicates that there is a relationship between poor control of diabetes and caries, and periodontal disease.
Information Processing and Commitment

Beliefs are often found to be sticky and rather immune to new information. In this article, we highlight a specific mechanism that raises resistance to incorporate new information. We provide causal evidence that commitment to a first opinion leads to a neglect of new and challenging information. Being asked to write down an initial estimate before additional information is obtained significantly and substantially reduces the accuracy of final beliefs. Investigating the sources of this effect, we show that our findings are well explained by an internal desire to act consistently.
Incidence and correlates of hypertension in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and the Monitoring Trends and Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease (POL‐MONICA) project

Objective The purpose of this research is to assess short-term blood pressure change and hypertension incidence, and identify correlates of incident hypertension in the USA and Poland. Design and methods Population-based samples aged 45–64 years at enrollment from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) and the Pol-MONICA studies: including 3777 whites from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA suburbs (urban), 3635 whites from Washington County, Maryland, USA (semi-rural) and 3109 blacks from Jackson, Mississippi, USA surveyed in 1987–1989 and 1990–1992; and 389 persons from Warsaw, Poland (urban) and 322 from Tarnobrzeg Province, Poland (semi-rural) surveyed in 1987–1988 and 1992–1993. Results Age-standardized systolic and diastolic blood pressures at both screens were 9–20 and 5–9 mmHg higher in the Polish samples than in US blacks, who had higher levels than US whites. Age-adjusted annual hypertension incidence in both Polish male cohorts (6–8%) was higher than that in US white men (4%) and approaching that of US black men (7%); rates were also higher in Polish female cohorts (8–9%) than in US black women (8%), but nearly twice those in US white women (4%). Factors independently related to hypertension incidence included age, family history, smoking, baseline blood pressures and body mass index, and increase in body mass index and alcohol consumption between screenings. After adjustment for these factors, annualized hypertension incidence was similar in US white and Polish men (2.3 and 2.7%) compared with US black men (3.4%), and in US white and Polish women (1.5 and 1.3%) compared with US black women (3.9%). Conclusions Despite substantial differences in blood pressure levels and age-standardized hypertension incidence rates, the differences in incidence between Polish and US white men appear to be explained largely by differences in risk factors for hypertension.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic How to present online information to older cancer patients

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Does corporate governance affect the valuation of Spanish IPOs? The role of ownership structure and the board of directors

ABSTRACT We analyse the influence of the board of directors and ownership structure on the valuation of initial public offering (IPOs) in the Spanish capital market during the period 1998–2013. After controlling for other influences such as the auditor’s reputation, the underwriter’s reputation and the level of information asymmetry, our results lend strong support for the hypothesis of the influence exerted by ownership concentration over the level of IPO underpricing. Moreover, we find a nonlinear relationship between the proportion of shares in the IPO belonging to members of the board of directors and the level of underpricing. Other IPO and firm characteristics such as the size of the offer and its structure also prove to be statistically significant. Finally, we find that the market cycle influences the valuation of IPOs, as the relationship between the market return and the initial IPO return is positive and statistically significant.
Ultra-Wideband Bandpass Filters Using Multilayer Slot Coupled Transitions

New Ultra-Wideband (UWB) bandpass filters are proposed and tested. The filters are composed of two microstrip - Conductor-Backed Co-Planar Waveguide (CBCPW) transitions and a multiple-mode resonator, constituted by a line section. The both cases, where the line section is a microstrip or a CBCPW are tested. First, simulated and experimental results for the transition are presented, showing that a wide operating band is obtained. Then, the results for the proposed filters that use this transition structure are presented. Simulated and measured data show that the filters can provide an operating band from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz (–10 dB bandwidth), which is suitable for ultra-wideband systems. The group delay is about 0.3 ns over the most central band and less than 0.45 ns all over the operating band. In addition, using an optimization procedure, a bandwidth of 15 GHz can be achieved with the proposed filter which is more than what was fixed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for UWB radio systems. Moreover, a filter constituted by combining the two proposed filters was also designed and fabricated, to improve further the band rejection.
The Quality and Quantity of Leukemia-derived Dendritic Cells From Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome Are a Predictive Factor for the Lytic Potential of Dendritic Cells-primed Leukemia-Specific T Cells

Adoptive immunotherapy is an important therapy option to reduce relapse rates after stem-cell transplantation in patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Myeloid leukemic cells can regularly be induced to differentiate into leukemia-derived dendritic cells (DCleu), regaining the stimulatory capacity of professional dendritic cells (DCs) while presenting the known/unknown leukemic antigen repertoire. So far, induced antileukemic T-cell responses are variable or even mediate opposite effects. To further elicit DC/DCleu-induced T-cell-response patterns, we generated DC from 17 Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 2 myelodysplastic syndrome cases and carried out flowcytometry and (functional) nonradioactive fluorolysis assays before/after mixed lymphocyte cultures of matched (allogeneic) donor T cells (n=6), T cells prepared at relapse after stem-cell transplantation (n=4) or (autologous) patients' T cells (n=7) with blast containing mononuclear cells (“MNC”) or DCleu (“DC”). Compared with “MNC”, “DC” were better mediators of antileukemic-activity, although not in every case effective. We could define DC subtypes and cut-off proportions of DC subtypes/qualities (mature DC/DCleu) after “DC” priming, which were predictive for an antileukemic activity of primed T cells and the clinical course of the disease after immunotherapy (allogeneic stem-cell transplantation/donor lymphocytes infusion/therapy). In summary, our data show that the composition and quality of DC after a mixed lymphocyte culture-priming phase is predictive for a successful ex vivo antileukemic response, especially with respect to proportions of mature and leukemia-derived DC. These data contribute not only to predict DC-mediated functions or the clinical course of the diseases but also to develop and refine DC-vaccination strategies that may pave the way to develop and modify adoptive immunotherapy, especially for patients at relapse after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation.
Factors Influencing Brand Loyalty in Durable Goods Market

Industrial sector plays radical role in the economic development around the world. However, in Jordan, this vital sector faces some problems. They are not able to compete with foreign brands, and not paying more attention to brand loyalty. Brand loyalty is still a researchable area. Brand loyalty has become a vital strategy and has greatly contributed to brands success. Brand loyalty is affected by many variables. This study aims at identifying the impact of brand awareness, image and perceived quality in building loyalty towards the durable goods brand in Jordan since there is a debate in the literature about the significant relationship between these constructs on brand loyalty. Therefore, two-hundred valid surveys were obtained from the customers in Jordan. Data were analyzed using PLS-SEM technique. This study found direct significant relationships among the tested constructs. Finally, it introduces a number of recommendations and set of directions for future research.
On Decimations of l-Sequences

Maximal length feedback with carry shift register sequences have several remarkable statistical properties. Among them is the property that the arithmetic correlations between any two cyclically distinct decimations are precisely zero. It is open, however, whether all such pairs of decimations are indeed cyclically distinct. In this paper we show that the set of distinct decimations is large and, in some cases, all decimations are distinct.
Predicting supply chain effectiveness through supply chain finance

PurposeDue to globalization, textile small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operations have become complex which raised the needs of risk-free financing solutions to support the SMEs’ daily processes. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of supply chain (SC) finance, a risk-free financing solution, on SC effectiveness (SCE) in the context of textile SMEs by employing transaction cost (TC) approach.Design/methodology/approachThe participants of the study were recruited from textile SMEs through a structured questionnaire. The proposed model and structural relationships were assessed by employing AMOS 24.0. FindingsThe results of this paper indicate that supply chain finance (SCF) has a significant effect on SCE. Furthermore, all proposed factors of SCF adoption have a positive and significant effect on SCF.Practical implicationsThis study helps the SMEs executives or owners to adopt SCF as a secure financing scheme to reduce the credit TCs, optimize the firm working capital, reduce the risk of default, and improve SC effectiveness. SMEs and suppliers can build strong relationships while adopting the findings of this study. SMEs can engage the suppliers to work under strategic alliance through negotiation, collaboration, and work digitization, and extend their payment terms while providing an opportunity to the suppliers to get their payment back before a fixed time through discounting from financial institutions as needed.Originality/valueThe present study covered the gap related to SCF and SCE by identifying unique factors of SCF adoption which was ignored in the previous literature by employing TC approach.