Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Postoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the esophagus: a prospective, randomized controlled study.

METHODS A prospective, randomized controlled study of radiotherapy after resection of esophageal carcinoma was carried out in 130 patients. Patients were stratified according to whether the resection was curative or palliative and were then randomized to receive postoperative radiotherapy or no additional treatment. Sixty patients underwent curative resection; 30 each were randomized into the radiotherapy group (CR + R) and the control group (CR). Seventy patients underwent palliative resection; 35 each were randomized into the radiotherapy group (PR + R) and the control group (PR). RESULTS No complications occurred while the patients were undergoing radiotherapy treatment. On follow-up, complications in the intrathoracic stomach occurred in 24 patients (37%) who underwent radiotherapy compared with four patients (6%) in the control group (p < 0.0001). Seventeen of these 24 patients in the radiotherapy group had gastric ulceration and there were five deaths as a result of bleeding. Local recurrence developed significantly less frequently in the PR + R group compared with the PR group (seven patients [20%] vs 16 patients [46%]; p = 0.04); no difference was observed between CR + R and CR groups (10% and 13%, respectively). Intrathoracic recurrence occurred in fewer patients in the radiotherapy groups (CR + R and PR + R) compared with the control groups (CR and PR) (four patients vs 15 patients; p = 0.01). In patients with residual tumor in the mediastinum after resection, two (7%) of 29 patients who underwent radiotherapy died of tracheobronchial obstruction, compared with nine (33%) of 27 patients in the control groups (p = 0.03). No difference in local recurrence was observed for extrathoracic or anastomotic recurrence. Distant metastasis developed in 12 patients (40%) in the CR + R group, nine patients (30%) in the CR group (p = 0.59), 24 patients (69%) in the PR + R group, and 18 patients (51%) in the PR group (p = 0.22). The time of onset of metastasis was 5.1 months for the PR + R group, which was shorter than the 8.5 months for the PR group (p = 0.05). The time of onset of metastasis was similar for the CR + R and CR groups (9.9 months and 11.0 months, respectively; p = 0.76). The overall median survival of patients after postoperative radiotherapy (CR + R and PR + R) was 8.7 months, which was shorter than the 15.2 months for the control groups (CR and PR) (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS The shorter survival of patients who underwent postoperative radiotherapy was the result of irradiation-related death and the early appearance of metastatic diseases. The role of postoperative radiotherapy is therefore limited to a specific group of patients with residual tumor in the mediastinum after operation, for whom radiotherapy can significantly reduce the incidence of local recurrence obstructing the tracheobronchial tree.
Tracking the Millennium Development Goals in sub-Saharan Africa

This paper reviews, assesses and evaluates the performance of sub‐Saharan African countries towards achieving the international development goals and targets set by the United Nations, UN Millennium Development Goals and the Agenda for Action of the 2nd Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Africa's recent economic performance is a reflection of the policies it has pursued since the 1960s. It summarises the progress of sub‐Saharan African countries with a view to providing a clearer understanding of the constraints they face in reaching the goals, with a special focus on the economic, poverty, education, and health targets. The paper also outlines the urgency for action at the national, regional, and international levels. It also demonstrates that the economic and social recovery that Africa experienced in the late 1990s cannot be sustained unless there is progress towards the goals. Africa's efforts alone cannot achieve the goals, it would require global support and understanding of the special needs of the region.
Diffusing the Internet in the Arab world: the role of social norms and technological culturation

Drawing on the theoretical work of Hill et al. and Straub et al., this study examines culture-specific inducements and impediments to using the Internet in the Arab world. Research questions were: (1) to what extent does the process of technology culturation affect the acceptance of the Internet? and (2) to what extent do social norms (SNs) affect the acceptance of the Internet? Of the two research methods employed, the first was a quantitative field study of knowledge workers. The instrument measured the extent to which respondents and their organizations are influenced by advanced technology cultures. Using partial least squares (PLS), the first of two models tested links between SNs; technological culturation and Internet usage for each respondent. The second model investigated links between technological culturation and Internet utilization for the respondent's organization. Findings show strong support for both models, explaining, respectively, 47% and 37% of the variance. The second method was a qualitative analysis of respondents' free-format comments. These findings reinforce the quantitative findings, on the one hand, and reveal additional cultural barriers that still need to be studied, on the other. Findings identify how culture can both inhibit and encourage technological innovation and how Arab cultures can move their economies more quickly into the digital age.
An Approach to Litter Generation and Littering Practices in a Mexico City Neighborhood

Urban litter is generated by human societies everywhere. Some litter is recyclable waste. In this study, the acronym RMSW is used to refer to recyclable municipal solid waste generated in streets. Public attitude towards RMSW generation, generators’ perceptions, and quantification of RMSW in streets were examined in a Mexico City neighborhood, where litter presence causes major environmental problems affecting the population year after year. Interviews with neighborhood residents and item counts were carried out from 2010 to 2011. In all, 58% of interviewees reported generating RMSW at variable frequencies while 42% said they did not generate this kind of waste. Laziness, lack of vigilance by municipal authorities, no litter bins in streets, and imitation were the main causes identified by interviewees as reasons for littering. Potential litter generators may be of any age, educational level or income. Interviewees’ perception of RMSW generation was compared with item counts in the neighborhood studied.
Characterization of toxin-producing cyanobacteria by using an oligonucleotide probe containing a tandemly repeated heptamer

Cyanobacteria produce toxins that kill animals. The two main classes of cyanobacterial toxins are cyclic peptides that cause liver damage and alkaloids that block nerve transmission. Many toxin-producing strains from Finnish lakes were brought into axenic culture, and their toxins were characterized. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, probing with a short tandemly repeated DNA sequence found at many locations in the chromosome of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, distinguishes hepatotoxic Anabaena isolates from neurotoxin-producing strains and from Nostoc spp.
Effects of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces training programme on body composition and reproductive hormones in male army recruits.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of a four month endurance training programme on body composition and reproductive hormone levels. DESIGN PRE and POST training comparative study. SETTING Zimbabwe Military Academy, Gweru, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS 77 male recruit volunteers participating in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces cadet training programme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Percent body fat, fat free mass, body mass index, total serum testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) compared using the paired t-test. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in all parameters measured after four months of endurance training. Decreases in body composition parameters were 54% in percent body fat, 6% in fat free mass, and 13% in body mass index. There was a dramatic 58% drop in testosterone, 60% drop in LH and 15% drop in FSH after four months of endurance training. CONCLUSIONS The Zimbabwe Defence Forces cadet training programme, an endurance training programme induces a state of negative energy balance in trainees. This results in a decrease in % body fat and body mass index due to utilisation of fat stores as a source of energy and a decrease in fat free mass due to gluconeogenic utilisation of muscle protein as energy source for muscle activity. There is impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis function as evidenced by the state of hypogonadal-hypogonadism (low testosterone, LH and FSH). This may be attributed to: 1. gonadotrophin releasing hormone pattern generator malfunction due to the stress of intense physical activity and 2. withdrawal of energy expenditure from reproductive machinery as a way of conserving energy for more vital processes in the prevailing state of energy starvation.
Isolation and characterization of a blood P1 active carbohydrate antigen of Echinococcus granulosus cyst membrane.

A glycoprotein antigen was isolated from the membrane of hydatid cysts of sheep and human origin. The constituent sugars of the carbohydrate moiety of this antigen are galactose, galactosamine, and glucosamine. The antigen shows a high P1 blood group activity when tested by hemagglutination-inhibition assay with anti-P1 sera. Moreover, it precipitates 11 out of 21 sera of human patients with echniococcosis. However, none of these sera has complete or incomplete agglutinating anti-P1 antibodies. The immunochemical analysis shows that P1 determinants reactive with anti-P1 sera, and antigenic determinants reactive with human precipitating antibodies are on the same macromolecule. Patients with cyst pulmonary localization show a higher reactivity as compared with those with hepatic localization. The immunodominant group involved in the precipitin reaction appears to be an α-galactosyl residue.
Genetics statistics and relationships of teat and udder traits, somatic cell counts, and milk production.

Teat lengths and diameters, udder clearance, cleft depth, and distances between teats were measured from 1967 to 1982 on Holstein cows. Numbers of observations per trait ranged from 5934 to 11,449. Cows were from six herds owned by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and two research herds of North Carolina State University. Repeatabilities between adjacent lactations for physical traits of udder were mostly between . 60 and . 80. Repeatabilities between first and second lactations for average somatic cell count and mean log somatic cell count were . 11 +/- . 04 and . 21 +/- . 04. Heritabilities in first lactation were . 63 for front teat length, . 44 for teat diameter, . 56 for rear udder clearance, . 10 for cleft depth, . 32 for mature equivalent milk, and . 18 for somatic cell counts. Heritabilities of distances between teats ranged from . 33 to . 48. Cows with udder clearance higher from the ground, deeper clefts, smaller distances between teats, and teats of smaller diameter had lower somatic cell counts. Multiple regression analysis showed that dams' somatic cell counts and rear udder clearances were not significant predictors of daughters' somatic cell counts. Lactation average somatic cell counts of daughters were predicted with greater accuracy from averages of somatic cell counts of multiple lactations of dams than from single lactations of dams. Milk production and somatic cell counts seemed positively genetically correlated, more so in first than later lactations.
Does CPAP delay the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea?

Large, long term, randomised clinical trials are needed to establish whether CPAP treatment of patients with OSAH has a cardiovascular benefit Obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea (OSAH) is a common under-recognised disorder characterised by recurrent upper airway collapse during sleep.1 These recurrent episodes of upper airway collapse lead to sleep fragmentation, oxyhaemoglobin desaturation, and excessive daytime sleepiness. OSAH also causes sustained activation of the sympathetic nervous system, systemic inflammation with increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6,2 glucose intolerance, and endothelial dysfunction.3 Many of these physiological/biochemical abnormalities are implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Indeed, there are compelling epidemiologic data implicating OSAH in the development of systemic hypertension, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular events. OSAH is an independent risk factor for CVD. In a recent study from the Sleep Heart Health Cohort the prevalence of CVD (including myocardial infarction, angina, coronary revascularization, heart failure, stroke) was 1.42 times greater in patients with OSAH (apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) >11 events/hour) than in those without OSAH (AHI 0–1.3 events/hour) after controlling for potential confounders.4 Furthermore, in a community based study, patients with moderate to severe OSAH were 2.89 times more likely to develop systemic hypertension over a 5 year period than patients without OSAH.5 Similarly, Mooe et al 6 followed 408 subjects with coronary disease diagnosed by cardiac catheterisation. Patients with OSAH had a much higher risk of the composite outcome (death, stroke, transient ischaemic attack, myocardial infarction) than patients without OSAH (26.3% v 16.2%) when followed for an average of 5.1 years. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the primary treatment for OSAH.7 It is very effective in eliminating upper airway collapse during sleep, improving sleep fragmentation, and decreasing daytime sleepiness.8 There are accumulating data that CPAP may reduce risks of CVD …
TOPIC HIGHLIGHT

Underweight and specific nutrient deficiencies are frequent in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition, a significant number of children with IBD, especially Crohn’s disease (CD) have impaired linear growth. Nutrition has an important role in the management of IBD. In adults with CD, enteral nutrition (EN) is effective in inducing clinical remission of IBD, although it is less efficient than corticosteroids. Exclusive EN is an established primary therapy for pediatric CD. Limited data suggests that EN is as efficient as corticosteroids for induction of remission. Additional advantages of nutritional therapy are control of inflammation, mucosal healing, positive benefits to growth and overall nutritional status with minimal adverse effects. The available evidence suggests that supplementary EN may be effective also for maintenance of remission in CD. More studies are needed to confirm these findings. However, EN supplementation could be considered as an alternative or as an adjunct to maintenance drug therapy in CD. EN does not have a primary therapeutic role in ulcerative colitis. Specific compositions of enteral diets-elemental diets or diets containing specific components-were not shown to have any advantage over standard polymeric diets and their place in the treatment of CD or UC need further evaluation. Recent theories suggest that diet may be implicated in the etiology of IBD, however there are no proven dietary approaches to reduce the risk of developing IBD. © 2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN AMONG GERIATRIC PATIENTS ADMITTED IN MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the drug utilization pattern in terms of defined daily dose (DDD) among geriatric patients admitted in medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Retrospective medical record analysis was performed for the geriatric patients (age ≥65 years) admitted in MICU from 1st January 2012 to 30th June 2012. The relevant data were collected in a proforma. The drugs were categorized by anatomical therapeutic classification and their DDD was calculated. Results: Diabetes mellitus was the most common cause for admission. Parenteral preparations (51.12%) constituted the largest share among all the drugs prescribed. Pantoprazole - A02BC02 with DDD 25.3 was the most commonly prescribed parenteral drug (23.5%). Amlodipine - C08CA01 with DDD 29.0 was the most commonly prescribed oral drug (27.6%). Average number of drugs per patient was 9.37±0.27. Average number of antimicrobials prescribed per patient was 1.26±0.09. Ceftriaxone was the commonly prescribed antimicrobial drug. Conclusion: This study shows the most common causes of admission among geriatric patients in MICU setup and the pattern of drugs used. Drug utilization studies of this type may ultimately help in improving the quality of healthcare given to the geriatric patients. Keywords: Anatomical therapeutic chemical classification, Defined daily dose system, Drug utilization pattern, Geriatric patients.
The Effect of Director Expertise on Acquisition Performance

Corporate boards contribute to firm value by providing oversight and advice during major strategic decisions such as acquisitions. This study posits that boards’ effectiveness in evaluating these strategic events can be enhanced by directors’ prior experience in acquisitions. I find that outside directors’ prior involvement in acquisitions is associated with a significant increase in acquisition announcement returns. Further analysis identifies two potential channels for this effect. First, firms with higher board acquisition expertise are better at target selection: they choose targets with higher synergies and are more likely to avoid large loss acquisitions. Second, firms with higher board acquisition expertise negotiate more effectively, by securing higher relative gains. Overall, the results demonstrate that outside directors with relevant experience can improve the quality of a firm’s strategic decision-making. *Department of Finance, Smeal College of Business, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802. E-mail address: anya@psu.edu. Fax: 814-865-3362. I thank James Conklin, Moussa Diop, Laura Field, Peter Iliev, Yelena Larkin, Michelle Lowry, Karl Muller, Zhan Shi, Jess Smith, Jianing Zhang, and the participants of a workshop at Penn State University for helpful comments.
The politics and epidemiology of transition: PEPFAR and AIDS in South Africa.

As South Africa (SA) and the US craft a new political relationship on AIDS, the stakes of success have never been higher. SA remains the country with the largest HIV epidemic in the world; yet, new science shows that an aggressive response could enable an epidemiologic transition, cutting HIV incidence and substantially improving overall population mortality. One of the most effective foreign aid efforts in history, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) SA, now is managing the largest “transition” of a global health program — withdrawing direct staff and funding for the treatment of hundreds of thousands of HIV-positive patients as the SA public sector takes over. Recent commentary has painted an optimistic picture of the transition and “country ownership” in SA. In important ways, however, the politics are outpacing effective health policy and the accelerated process is undermining the prospects for “getting to zero. ” Thousands of patients and the health system have experienced significant disruption. PEPFAR should take urgent steps to ensure that the transition does not undermine hard-fought gains in SA. More broadly, the SA experience has important lessons for the future of aid to fight global HIV.
Parallel processing of afferent olfactory sensory information

The functional synaptic connectivity between olfactory receptor neurons and principal cells within the olfactory bulb is not well understood. One view suggests that mitral cells, the primary output neuron of the olfactory bulb, are solely activated by feedforward excitation. Using focal, single glomerular stimulation, we demonstrate that mitral cells receive direct, monosynaptic input from olfactory receptor neurons. Compared to external tufted cells, mitral cells have a prolonged afferent‐evoked EPSC, which serves to amplify the synaptic input. The properties of presynaptic glutamate release from olfactory receptor neurons are similar between mitral and external tufted cells. Our data suggest that afferent input enters the olfactory bulb in a parallel fashion.
The Characteristics of Phytoremediation of Soil and Leachate Polluted by Landfills

Current landfill regulations provide for the responsible management of solid waste and a safer alternative to the outdated practices of open or illegal dumping. Aside from imparting aesthetic value, natural or planted vegetation on landfill sites has an important role in erosion control and removal of contaminants, and may also be used in leaching treatment. The use of leachate for the irrigation of landfill vegetation reduces its harmful effects, and the reuse of water aids in water conservation. The aim of this study was to search for ways to use leachate water from solid waste landfill sites for irrigation of plant species that normally grow in the wild. The study focuses on the plant species Alcea rosea (hollyhock), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) and Melilotus officinalis (yellow melilot). Over the 2-year study period, plants were irrigated with tap and leachate water under drought conditions. Wild plant diversity was identified, and the landfill was rehabilitated with various plant species. After the experiment, populations of Escherichia coli , total coliforms and fecal coliform bacteria in soil samples were analyzed. We observed that the use of leachate water for cultivation of different kinds of plants affected the density of total and fecal coliforms in the soil. hill planted with plants indigenous to the area. The aim of the current study was to search for ways to use leachate water from solid waste landfill sites for irrigation of plant species that grow wild under normal climate conditions. The study focuses on the plant species Alcea rosea (hollyhock) , Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) and Melilotus officinalis (yellow melilot). During the 2 years of the study, plants were irrigated with tap and leachate water under drought conditions. The wild plant species were determined in the hollyhock, Bermuda grass and yellow melilot parcels. After the experiment, populations of E. coli , total coliforms and fecal coliform bacteria in the soil samples were analyzed. Results showed that using leachate water to cultivate various types of plants affected total and fecal coliform populations in the soil.
The utility of Cox's Interaction Model to direct the assessment and prevention of adolescent aggression.

The current study of violence prevention is hampered by a lack of consensus on the definition of violence. There is, however, some agreement about the behavioral cues that may predict violent behavior such as aggression. Although it has been shown that individual-level variables (e.g., race, gender, and ethnicity) are correlated with aggressive behavior, it is clear that they alone are not explanatory of aggressive behavior. This article demonstrates how the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior is an important health behavior framework for the assessment of aggression in adolescents, offering insight into the contextual nature of adolescent aggression. Victimization and witnessing of violence, frequently identified to be precursors of adolescent aggression in current epidemiologic studies, are examined within this framework. On the basis of the interactional nature of the phenomenon, necessary components for successful prevention programs are suggested. Finally, future research implications calling for a well-designed study that integrates individual and contextual variables with the use of this theory-driven explanatory framework are proposed.