Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of [18F]FDG PET for pathological response of breast cancer to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the predictive value of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for the pathological response of breast cancer after completion of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS Fifty patients with newly diagnosed, non-inflammatory, large or locally advanced breast cancer undergoing neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were eligible for this study. Clinical assessment was accomplished by comparing initial tumor size with preoperative tumor size. Pathological responses were classified into three groups: pathological non-response (pNR), pathological partial response (pPR) and pathological complete response (pCR). To determine the effect of reduction rate (RR) of peak standardized uptake values for tumor responses, logistic regression analyses were performed. To identify an optimal threshold value of RR for the prediction of pathological response, receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. RESULTS Eight per cent (four of 50) of the patients had pCR and 46% had pPR. Ten per cent of patients had clinical CR and 52% had clinical PR. In clinical response, the RRs (+/- SD) of CR (-83.4 +/- 12), PR (-81.8 +/- 22.7) and NR (-79.7 +/- 31.9) showed no statistical differences (P > 0.05). However, for pathological responses, the RR of CR (-96.5 +/- 3.4) had a lower value than those of PR (-87.9 +/- 15.1) and NR (-56.2 +/- 29.6) (P = 0.0006; CR versus PR, P < 0.05; CR versus NR, P < 0.05; PR versus NR, P < 0.01). When -88% of RR was used as threshold value for differentiation between pCR and pPR, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.788 [standard error (SE) 0.106; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.589-0.920]. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 56.5%, respectively. When -79% of RR was used as threshold value for differentiation between pathological responders and non-responders, the AUC was 0.838 (SE 0.059; 95% CI 0.707-0.927). The sensitivity and specificity were 85.2% and 82.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Despite some limitations, this study suggests a possible predictive value of FDG PET for the assessment of the pathological response of primary breast cancer after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. However, these findings deserve further investigation on a larger number of patients, and more frequent and earlier PET scans in each patient need to be performed to allow a better validation of the differentiation between the responder and non-responder groups.
The Effect of Dimensions of the Organizational Citizenship Behavior on performance of employees in Finance Sector with special reference to Banking sector in Lucknow

The paper focuses on the effect of dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior on performance of employees in Finance sector with special reference to Banking sector in Lucknow.This paper brings out as to which dimension is present in higher proportion . The study was conducted on 400 employees of banking sector in Lucknow and it uses convenience sampling. The data was collected from both the private banks and nationalized banks. The study brings out that the conscientiousness is present to a greatest degree in the employees of banking sector. While the sportsmanship behavior is present to the least degree in the employees of banking sector.
Operational auditing within Australian internal audit departments: Developing a framework

The current literature on operational auditing (OA) reveals considerable uncertainty as to its effectiveness due to a theory-practice gap. This study draws on international research into the practice of operational auditing and applies an agency and institutional theory perspective in the critical analysis of the published literature to generate new insights as to what are the problematic factors causing the theorypractice gap. The findings identify a range of problematic factors occurring at the OA concept, Internal Audit Function (IAF) and organizational levels which impacts on the effective application of the process. These new insights are used as a basis to develop a new conceptual model of enabling factors to address the problems and facilitate the effective practice of OAs. These findings contribute to ongoing literature on operational auditing and have practical implications for the improvement of existing standards or best practice guidelines for the conduct of operational auditing. The paper also provides avenues for further research to confirm the findings.
AN APPLIED STUDY ON THE CUSTOMER RETENTION DYNAMICS OF ORGANIZED READY-TO-WEAR TEXTILES RETAILERS IN REAL AND VIRTUAL MARKETS IN TURKEY

Purpose - This descriptive field study aims to reveal customer retention strategy formulation insights among top level marketing professionals of the organized ready-to-wear textiles retailers, who are members of United Brands Association (BMD) both active in off-line and online channels, in the Turkish market. Methodology - Regarding the literature review conducted a research model with seven variables was proposed, and depending on the proposed research model, six hypotheses were formulated. The research is conducted by a questionnaire which has been applied on-line, by e-mail, post; which is designed specifically to test the proposed relationships, namely the hypotheses constructed. Factor analysis has been conducted to reveal the dimensionality of the variables in the research model. In this regard, principle component analysis using Varimax rotation was performed and the reliabilities of the scales have been assessed by alpha coefficient. Depending on the results of the factor analysis, correlation and regression analyses have been used to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings - Results indicate that perceived product quality, service support and complaint handling, customer experience and suggestions provided and perceived price fairness have significant and positive effects on customer satisfaction. Furthermore, customer satisfaction, trust towards service provided, trust towards company and brand, corporate reputation and corporate social responsibility have significant and positive effects on customer retention. Conclusion - The outcomes and findings of the study were found to support the objectives of the study and the results of the statistical analysis were found to accept hypotheses of the study. Perceived product quality, perceived service quality, perceived price fairness, trust and corporate image are some vital challenges for customer retention.
Venous Thromboembolism in Young Patients From Western India: A Study

The goal of this article is to study the association of known markers of thrombophilia with venous thrombosis in young patients (< 45 years) from the Western part of India. A prospective study of 432 patients (252 males and 180 females, age 1-45 years) was conducted between 1994 and 2000 (6 years). The diagnosis was confirmed in all the patients by ultrasound with Doppler or by a computed tomograph (CT) scan of the brain with or without contrast depending on the case. Detailed clinical examination, and family history was taken to establish recurrent thrombosis and familial occurrence of thrombosis. The markers studied were protein C, protein S, antithrombin (AT) III, factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin gene G20210A polymorphism, and the thermolabile MTHFR variant C677T polymorphism, using appropriate techniques. Lupus inhibitor was tested in the first 72 patients using Dilute Russel Viper Venom Time (DRVVT) test, and anticardiolipin antibodies were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protein C, protein S, and AT III deficiency was detected in 9.5%, 6.5%, and 2.6%, respectively, among the patients. Anticardiolipin antibody was present in 9.9% of the patients, whereas lupus anticoagulant was present in 8.3% of patients; factor V Leiden mutation was detected in 3% of patients; thermolabile variant of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was present in 14.9% of patients with 1.2% homozygotes. Prothrombin G20210A polymorphism was not detected in any sample in this population. One hundred and four patients of 432 (24.9%) had recurrent attacks of thrombosis without any proximate precipitating cause, whereas 7.5 % of the patients had another close member of the family with a history of deep venous thrombosis. Eighty-six members from 28 families (out of 32 families giving family history of thrombosis) were investigated and found to have protein C and protein S deficiency in seven each; factor V Leiden was present in 6, and MTHFR C677T polymorphism was present in 5 cases. Hence, 25 of 86 members (28%) from the family of patients with familial history deep venous thrombosis had positive markers for thrombophilia. Thus, we could show that in young patients presenting with thrombosis, at least 34% of them had a demonstrable cause for thrombophilia. Prothrombin gene polymorphism G20210A seems to be nonexistent in our population and AT III deficiency also appears to be low compared to other markers of thrombophilia. There is a high prevalence of variant MTHFR C677T in our series, but the incidence of MTHFR C677T in our general population is also high. Hence, the significance of this finding in our cases of deep venous thrombosis remains to be seen, but we did not see any homozygotes when we tested 70 randomly selected asymptomatic persons, whereas in the present series, 1.8% of the patients had homozygosity for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism.
The complexity of interfunctional coordination when serving different market segments

This thesis focuses on interfunctional coordination. More specifically this thesis focuses on the potential increase of the complexity of interfunctional coordination within an organisation when an organisation serves multiple segments of customers with different desires. Although throughout the years market orientation literature has made a lot of progress, to my knowledge, no studies have been conducted that explores the influence of serving multiple customer segments with different customer values on solely interfunctional coordination.
ASEAN CREDIT GROWTH AND ASSET PRICE RESPONSE TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL CYCLE

An upsurge and volatility of capital flows to Emerging Asian Economies indicated that there is the potential effect of global financial cycle to emerging market. It provides an overview of investor risk aversion in short term investment after financial crisis 2008. Global financial cycle could have a significant impact not only to credit growth but also asset prices, including equity prices and property prices. Rey (2015) has triggered an interesting discussion about global financial cycle. She found that there was a global financial cycle in capital flows, asset prices and credit growth. This cycle was co-moves with the VIX, a measure of uncertainty and risk aversion of the markets. Therefore, this study attempts to analyze empirically global financial cycle shocks, measured by the VIX, on credit, equity prices and property prices in ASEAN-4, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. We estimate quarterly frequency data from Q1 1990 to Q2 2016 with Panel Vector Autoregressive (PVAR) approach. The result of this study showed that the response of asset markets and credit to global financial cycle shocks is negative. This result is consistent with ASEAN-4 as small open economies that remain vulnerable to the global factor. This study contributes to the literature in several ways. First, we identify not only cyclical expansions or contraction in asset markets but also the impact of global financial cycle to credit growth and asset markets in ASEAN-4 countries. Second, we also identify the pattern of cycle in ASEAN-4 countries. Third, we used PVAR approach that can capture heterogeneity.
Effects of Valproate, Phenobarbital, and Carbamazepine on Sex Steroid Setup in Women with Epilepsy

Serum levels of sex-hormones, sex-hormone binding globulin, gonadotropin, and prolactin were evaluated during the follicular and the luteal phases in 65 women with epilepsy and in 20 healthy controls. Twenty-one patients were treated with sodium valproate (VPA), 21 with phenobarbital (PB), and 23 with carbamazepine (CBZ). VPA does not stimulate liver microsome enzymes, whereas PB and CBZ do. Patients on VPA therapy showed higher body weight and body mass index, but no significant differences in hirsutism score, or in ovary volume or polycystic ovary prevalence (at ultrasound examination). Estradiol levels were lower in all patient groups than in healthy controls in the follicular but not in the luteal phases. VPA affected luteal progesterone surge in 63.6% of cases. This effect was significantly lower in the CBZ and PB groups. Furthermore, increases in testosterone and δ4-androstenedione levels and in free androgen index, along with a higher luteinizing hormone-follicle-stimulating hormone ratio in the luteal phase, were observed in women treated with VPA. Although sex-hormone binding globulin levels were higher in CBZ and PB than in VPA-treated patients, the differences were not significant because of the wide dispersion of the carrier protein levels. Inducer antiepileptic drugs decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels, which remained unchanged during VPA treatment. No significant differences occurred in basal gonadotropin and prolactin levels.
A New Sesquiterpene Lactone and Other Constituents of Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp. floccosum (Asteraceae)

A new guaianolide, 1S, 3S, 5R, 6S, 7S, 11R-1-hydroxy-11α,13-dihydrozaluzanin C (1), was isolated from Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp. floccosum trunk bark, together with fifteen known compounds, which were identified as 11α,13-dihydroglucozaluzanin C (2), 8α-hydroxy-11α,13-dihydrozaluzanin C (3), zaluzanin C (4), gochnatiolide B (5), ethyl caffeate (6), methyl chlorogenate (7), ethyl chlorogenate (8), methyl 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (9), ethyl 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (10), methyl 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (11), ethyl 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (12), ethyl 3,4-dicaffeoyl quinate (13), 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (14), 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (15), and 3,4-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (16). With the exception of 5, all known compounds are being reported for the first time in M. polymorphum.
Biochemical Characterization of Gyp6p, a Ypt/Rab-specific GTPase-activating Protein from Yeast*

Gyp6p from yeast belongs to the GYP family of Ypt/Rab-specific GTPase-activating proteins, and Ypt6p is its preferred substrate (Strom, M., Vollmer, P., Tan, T. J., and Gallwitz, D. (1993) Nature 361, 736–739). We have investigated the kinetic parameters of Gyp6p/Ypt6p interactions and find that Gyp6p accelerates the intrinsic GTPase activity of Ypt6p (0.0002 min−1) by a factor of 5 × 106 and that they have a very low affinity for its preferred substrate(K m = 592 μm). Substitution with alanine of several arginines, which Gyp6p shares with other GYP family members, resulted in significant inhibition of GAP activity. Replacement of arginine-155 with either alanine or lysine abolished its GAP activity, indicating a direct involvement of this strictly conserved arginine in catalysis. Physical interaction of the catalytically inactive Gyp6(R155A) mutant GAP with Ypt6 wild-type and Ypt6 mutant proteins could be demonstrated with the two-hybrid system. Short N-terminal and C-terminal truncations of Gyp6p resulted in a complete loss of GAP activity and Ypt6p binding, showing that in contrast to two other Gyp proteins studied previously, most of the 458 amino acid-long Gyp6p sequence is required to form a three-dimensional structure that allows substrate binding and catalysis.
Graphical methods for analysing feedback in biological networks – A survey

Observed phenotypes usually arise from complex networks of interacting cell components. Qualitative information about the structure of these networks is often available, while quantitative information may be partial or absent. It is natural then to ask what, if anything, we can learn about the behaviour of the system solely from its qualitative structure. In this article we review some techniques which can be applied to answer this question, focussing in particular on approaches involving graphical representations of model structure. By applying these techniques to various cellular network examples, we discuss their strengths and limitations, and point to future research directions.
Visual recognition memory: A double anatomo‐functional dissociation

There is an ongoing debate regarding the respective role of anterior subhippocampal structures and the hippocampus in recognition memory. Here, we report a double anatomo‐functional dissociation observed in two brain‐damaged patients, FRG and JMG. They both suffered from complete destruction of left MTL structures. In the right hemisphere however, FRG sustained extensive lesions to the hippocampus sparing anterior subhippocampal structures, while JMG suffered from the reversed pattern of lesion, i.e., extensive damage to anterior subhippocampal structures but preserved hippocampus. FRG was severely amnesic and failed all recall tasks involving visual material, but exhibited normal performance at a large battery of visual recognition memory tasks. JMG was not amnesic and showed the opposite pattern of performance. These results strongly support the view that right anterior subhippocampal structures are a critical relay for visual recognition memory in the human. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Internationalization and Firm Valuation: New Evidence from First Offshore Bond Issuances of US Firms

Does internationalization affect firm valuation? To answer this question, literature mainly considers firms from around the world internationalizing by issuing equity in the USA, whereas the current study focuses on US firms that internationalize by issuing debt in overseas markets. This paper provides evidence on theories of internationalization and capital structure, finding that overseas corporate debt offerings have a positive short-term effect on US firms' valuations. The effect varies in firm characteristics, timing, and the location of the issue. Additionally, firms with a strong need for external funds and growth prospects accelerate their offshore public debt market entry.
Ketosis in Hepatic Glycogenosis

The occurrence of ketosis in 41 patients with liver glycogenosis and a control group of 22 children was investigated. Fasting ketosis was present in children with a deficiency of the debranching enzyme system and in young children with a deficiency of the phosphorylase system, but never in patients with a glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency. Oral tolerance tests on a patient deficient in debranching enzyme showed that the blood levels of glucose and ketone bodies changed in the opposite direction. It is argued that, for biochemical reasons, the occurrence of ketosis in patients with a glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency is improbable.
MiR‐29b‐3p promotes chondrocyte apoptosis and facilitates the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis by targeting PGRN

This study was aimed to explore the role of miR‐29b‐3p and PGRN in chondrocyte apoptosis and the initiation and progress of osteoarthritis (OA). Both miR‐29b‐3p and PGRN were up‐regulated in cartilage tissue from patients with OA. Transfection of miR‐29b‐3p mimic into rat primary chondrocytes and SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells significantly suppressed PGRN expression and release, induced apoptosis, inhibited proliferation and scratch wound closure. By contrast, transfection of miR‐29b‐3p inhibitor exhibited the opposite effects. Moreover, the expression and secretion of cartilaginous degeneration‐related molecules were also altered by miR‐29b‐3p. Luciferase reporter gene assay showed rat GRN mRNA is directly targeted and repressed by miR‐29b‐3p. The fact that recombinant PGRN or shPGRN‐mediated PGRN interference abolished miR‐29b‐3p mimic‐induced cell apoptosis and growth inhibition suggested miR‐29b‐3p affect the cellular functions of chondrocyte through regulating PGRN expression. In vivo, joint cavity injection of miR‐29b‐3p antagomir prior to surgical induction of OA significantly suppressed the upregulation of miR‐29b‐3p, whereas further promoted the increased expression of PGRN. Articular chondrocytes apoptosis and cartilage loss in the knee joint of surgically induced OA rats were also ameliorated by the injection of miR‐29b‐3p antagomir, demonstrated by TUNEL and safranin O‐fast green staining. This work showed miR‐29b‐3p facilitates chondrocyte apoptosis and OA by targeting PGRN, and miR‐29b‐3p or PGRN may be the potential target for OA treatments.
rpoE, the gene encoding the second heat‐shock sigma factor, sigma E, in Escherichia coli.

In Escherichia coli, the heat shock response is under the control of two alternative sigma factors: sigma 32 and sigma E. The sigma 32‐regulated response is well understood, whereas little is known about that of sigma E, except that it responds to extracytoplasmic immature outer membrane proteins. To further understand this response, we located the rpoE gene at 55.5′ and analyzed the role of sigma E. sigma E is required at high temperature, and controls the transcription of at least 10 genes. Some of these might contribute to the integrity of the cell since delta rpoE cells are more sensitive to SDS plus EDTA and crystal violet. sigma E controls its own transcription from a sigma E‐dependent promoter, indicating that rpoE transcription plays a role in the regulation of E sigma E activity. Indeed, under steady‐state conditions, the transcription from this promoter mirrors the levels of E sigma E activity in the cell. However, it is unlikely that the rapid increase in E sigma E activity following induction can be accounted for solely by increased transcription of rpoE. Based upon homology arguments, we suggest that a gene encoding a negative regulator of sigma E activity is located immediately downstream of rpoE and may function as the target of the E sigma E inducing signal.
Preneoplastic lesions and gallbladder cancer: an estimate of the period required for progression.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Scarce biological information exists about the importance of preneoplastic lesions in gallbladder cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate the time required for the sequence of dysplasia (DY) to carcinoma of the gallbladder. METHODS Eighty-four cases of DY, 60 cases of early carcinomas (ECs), 181 cases of advanced carcinomas (ACs), and 121 cases of metastatic (ME) gallbladder cancer were analyzed. Age was used as the main parameter. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Among all cases, the mean age of female patients was lower than the mean age of male patients (P = 0.001). A significant difference in mean age between sexes by specific type of lesion was also observed (P < 0.001). The mean age was 46.3 years (SD, 16) in the DY group, 57.5 years (SD, 16.7) in the EC group, 59 (SD, 13.7) in the AC group, and 61.1 (SD, 12.1) in the ME group. Multiple regression analysis showed statistically significant differences (r = 0.386; P < 0.001) in the mean age of patients with dysplastic lesions compared with the carcinoma group. CONCLUSIONS According to these observations, the period required to progress from dysplasia to advanced gallbladder carcinoma would be around 15 years, observing a continuum in the progression of the lesions.