Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of erythrocyte-bound daunorubicin in patients with acute leukemia.

BACKGROUND The objective of the present study was in vitro and in vivo investigation of erythrocytes as vehicles for anthracycline antibiotics. MATERIAL/METHODS The kinetics of daunorubicin binding with erythrocytes was studied in blood and in washed erythrocyte suspensions from healthy donors and patients with acute leukemia. The effect of daunorubicin on erythrocyte deformability was studied using cell filtration through membranes with 3 microm-diameter cylindrical pores. Erythrocyte-bound daunorubicin (EBD), prepared by equilibrating anticoagulated autologous blood with the antibiotic, was administered (45 or 60 mg/m2 body surface) to 14 leukemic patients as part of the 7+ 3 or RACOP courses. The pharmacokinetics of daunorubicin and its tolerability were studied. RESULTS Human erythrocytes bound daunorubicin (rubomycin) in citrated whole blood or in washed saline suspension. The equilibrium erythrocyte/medium daunorubicin concentration ratios (attained in 30-60 min at 37 degrees C) averaged 2.9 +/- 0.5 (n=13) in blood and 5.7 +/- 0.6 (n=8) in suspension (p<0.001), without any significant difference between the erythrocytes of donors and patients with acute drug-resistant leukemia or leukemic relapses. Incubation of patient blood with daunorubicin (0.5 mg/ml cells) did not affect erythrocyte deformability (filterability). After intravenous administration, the peak drug concentration and its elimination rate were lower for EBD than for free daunorubicin. The patients tolerated EBD better than its standard free form. In nine patients who received three EBD infusions, side effects were less frequent than in those treated with free daunorubicin. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that daunorubicin-loaded erythrocytes are promising for clinical application and deserve further clinical study.
Shifts and Ladders: Comparing the Role of Internal and External Mobility in Executive Careers

Workers can build their careers either by moving into a different job within their current organization or else by moving into a new job within a different organization. We use matching perspectives on job mobility to develop predictions about the different roles that those internal and external moves will play within their careers. We propose that internal and external mobility are associated with very different rewards: upwards progression into a job with greater responsibilities is much more likely to happen through internal mobility, but external moves will nonetheless offer similar increases in pay, as employers seek to attract external hires. We also examine how these predictions change when moves take workers across job functions as well as when external mobility happens involuntarily. Analyses of data on the careers on MBA alumni are used to support these arguments. Despite growing interest in boundaryless careers, our findings indicate that internal and external mobility play very different roles in executives’ careers, with upwards mobility still happening overwhelmingly within organizations.
Handling the Dynamic Reconfiguration of Software Architectures using Intelligent Agents

Software systems evolve over their lifetime. New requirements are involved, and bugs must be fixed. Dynamism is fundamental for designing systems which often change their structure. To update a software system, it must be stopped, patched, and restarted. This causes time periods of unavailability, which is always a problem for highly available system. This paper introduces an approach for handling the dynamic reconfiguration in software architecture, by the use of intelligent agent techniques. An important feature of intelligent agents is their capability to autonomously acquire and perceive information from their environment. A set of intelligent agents was defined in this work, each of them has a precise role in the functioning and the control of software. Intelligent agents are running at the software background level and manage, control, adapt and check dynamically the software architecture reconfiguration and evolution.
HRM practices and organizational performance in the UAE banking sector: The mediating role of organizational innovation

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on organizational performance in the banking sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to test the mediating impact of organizational innovation on the HRM-organizational performance relationship, and to test HRM practices as mediator of the relationship between innovation strategy and organizational innovation. Design/methodology/approach - – Data were collected from 168 managers working in UAE banks. A structured questionnaire containing standard scales of HRM practices, innovation strategy, organizational innovation, organizational performance, and some demographic variables was used. The analytical method used to empirically test the hypotheses proposed is the structural equation modeling technique using PLS. The two steps are: the assessment of the outer model and the assessment of the inner model. Moreover, a bootstrapping method is employed in order to test indirect effects. Findings - – Results found that organizational innovation fully mediates HRM-organizational performance link. Moreover, with the existence of innovation strategy, HRM mediates the relationship between innovation strategy and organizational innovation. Research limitations/implications - – The limitations of common method bias and cross-sectional data are discussed in light of implications for future research. Nevertheless, the results provide new insights on the influence of HRM on organization innovation and performance in a non-Western context of the UAE by testing the role of some mediators in influencing the relationship between HRM and performance. Practical implications - – In general, enhancing the effectiveness of HRM can result in higher level of performance and innovation. In particular, the choice of an innovation strategy implies the use of an effective incentive-based compensation, training and development, recruitment and selection and performance appraisal. Originality/value - – This study is considered the first study to examine the mediating role of organizational innovation on the relationship between HRM and organizational performance in the Middle East. Also, the study is the first study to test the role of HRM as a mediator for the innovation strategy-innovation performance relationship in a non-Western context.
Phylogenetic Analysis of ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Subunits Reveals a Role of Subunit Interfaces in the Allosteric Properties of the Enzyme1[C][W][OA]

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) catalyzes a rate-limiting step in glycogen and starch synthesis in bacteria and plants, respectively. Plant AGPase consists of two large and two small subunits that were derived by gene duplication. AGPase large subunits have functionally diverged, leading to different kinetic and allosteric properties. Amino acid changes that could account for these differences were identified previously by evolutionary analysis. In this study, these large subunit residues were mapped onto a modeled structure of the maize (Zea mays) endosperm enzyme. Surprisingly, of 29 amino acids identified via evolutionary considerations, 17 were located at subunit interfaces. Fourteen of the 29 amino acids were mutagenized in the maize endosperm large subunit (SHRUNKEN-2 [SH2]), and resulting variants were expressed in Escherichia coli with the maize endosperm small subunit (BT2). Comparisons of the amount of glycogen produced in E. coli, and the kinetic and allosteric properties of the variants with wild-type SH2/BT2, indicate that 11 variants differ from the wild type in enzyme properties or in vivo glycogen level. More interestingly, six of nine residues located at subunit interfaces exhibit altered allosteric properties. These results indicate that the interfaces between the large and small subunits are important for the allosteric properties of AGPase, and changes at these interfaces contribute to AGPase functional specialization. Our results also demonstrate that evolutionary analysis can greatly facilitate enzyme structure-function analyses.
Cue‐evoked encoding of movement planning and execution in the rat nucleus accumbens

The nucleus accumbens is involved in the modulation of motivated behaviour by reward‐associated sensory information. However, little is known about the specific nature of the nucleus accumbens' contribution to generating movement. We investigated motor encoding by nucleus accumbens neurons in rats performing a delayed response task that allowed us to dissociate the effects of sensory and motor events on firing. In a subset of neurons, firing in the delay period preceding movement was highly selective; this selectivity was tightly correlated with the direction of the subsequent movement, but not with the sensory properties of the instructive cue. Direction selectivity in this population of neurons developed over the course of the delay period, with the strongest selectivity apparent just prior to movement onset. Selectivity was also apparent in nucleus accumbens neurons during movement, such that firing showed a tight correlation with movement direction, but not the instructive cue presented nor the spatial destination of the movement. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a subpopulation of nucleus accumbens neurons contributes to the selection and execution of specific motivated behaviours.
Issues in the Estimation of Ricean K-Factor from Correlated Samples

Knowledge of the Ricean K-factor is important for accurate assessment and simulation of wireless channels, particularly those in which both terminals are stationary and a strong line-of-sight or fixed component exists. While previous work has focused on development of novel K-factor estimators, the practical matter of determining the minimum number of samples N (or minimum sample duration T) required to estimate K to within a specified confidence interval sigmaK has not received much attention. Here, for the case of a simple moment-based K-factor estimator, we use Monte Carlo simulations to show how N and T depend upon the value of K, the confidence interval sigmaK, the correlation between successive samples, and the sampling interval DeltaT. The results will be useful to those who use such an estimator in practical systems for the purposes of channel state estimation and/or radio resource management.
DW MRI at 3.0 T versus FDG PET/CT for detection of malignant pulmonary tumors

Emerging evidence suggests that diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW MRI) could be useful for tumor detection with N and M staging of lung cancer in place of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT). DW MRI at 3.0 T and FDG PET/CT were performed before therapy in 113 patients with pulmonary nodules. Mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and Ki‐67 scores were assessed. Quantitatively, specificity and accuracy of ADC (91.7 and 92.9%, respectively) were significantly higher than those of SUVmax (66.7 and 77.9% respectively, p < 0.05), although sensitivity was not significantly different between them (93.5 and 83.1%, p > 0.05). Qualitatively, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of DW MRI (96.1, 83.3 and 92.0%, respectively) were also not significantly different from that of FDG PET/CT (88.3, 83.3 and 86.7%, respectively, p > 0.05). Significant negative correlation was found between Ki‐67 score and ADC (r = −0.66, p < 0.05), ADC and SUVmax (r = −0.37, p < 0.05), but not between Ki‐67 score and SUVmax (r = −0.11, p > 0.05). In conclusion, quantitative and qualitative assessments for detection of malignant pulmonary tumors with DW MRI at 3.0 T are superior to those with FDG PET/CT. Furthermore, ADC could predict the malignancy of lung cancer.
Comparison of ambulatory blood pressure measurement with home, office and pharmacy measurements: is arterial blood pressure measured at pharmacy reliable?

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Standardizing arterial blood pressure (BP) measurement is difficult because of different performers like doctor or pharmacy employee. We investigated the reliability between different BP measurement methods. METHODS The study was conducted in an internal medicine service with 160 patients in Ankara, Turkey. First, the subjects' BP was measured by doctor. Then, 24-hour BP monitoring devices were placed. Participants were then instructed to measure their BPs both at home and in pharmacy. The next day, arterial BP was measured by the doctor for the second time. RESULTS The prevalence rates of masked and white coat hypertension were 8.8% (n = 14) and 8.1% (n = 13), respectively. There was no statistically significant differences between ambulatory measurement and home, office and pharmacy measurements (P > 0.05). The consistency rate between ambulatory and home measurements was 97.5% (kappa = 0.947, P < 0.001). The consistency rate between ambulatory and pharmacy measurements was 82.5% (kappa = 0.634, P < 0.001). When compared with ambulatory measurement, the most sensitive (98.0%) and most specific (96.8%) method was home measurement. There was a moderate positive correlation between ambulatory and other measurements in both systolic and diastolic values. There was a positive and very strong correlation between ambulatory and home measurements of systolic and diastolic ABP values (respectively; r = 0.926 and r = 0.968) and there was a statistically significant relation between these measurements (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The results of all measurement methods were close to each other. The most sensitive and specific method was home measurement when compared with ambulatory measurement. But both office and pharmacy measurements had also high sensitivity and specificity.
Does subthalamotomy have a place in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease?

Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well established treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) with medically intractable levodopa induced motor fluctuations and dyskinesias.1 Its practical limitations include cost, availability and need for specialised training, postoperative programming and periodic pulse generator replacement. Safety and hardware issues include infection, haemorrhage, lead breakage, skin erosions, pulse generator failure and cosmetic effects of the hardware. Complications and hardware issues have required temporary or permanent discontinuation of treatment in as many as 5–10% of patients.1 The efficacy of surgical intervention in STN was first demonstrated by placing subthalamic lesions in primates with MPTP induced parkinsonism.2 3 Parkinsonism was reversed but variable transient or persistent hemichorea resulted.3 Because of concerns that STN lesioning would cause hemiballismus in humans, STN DBS was introduced first in nearly all centres. This effectively alleviated tremor, bradykinesia and rigidity while levodopa dosage and levodopa induced dyskinesias were both reduced.1 However, because of limited availability of DBS in some regions, subthalamotomy has also been explored as a surgical option in PD.4 5 6 7 Alvarez and colleagues8 confirm and update their previous published experience4 5 with subthalamotomy in PD (see page 979) . Eighty-nine patients underwent unilateral subthalamotomy, 68 of whom were assessed in an unblinded fashion for 12–36 months following surgery. STN was targeted using semi-microrecording and microstimulation. A thermolytic lesion was placed in the dorsolateral region of the STN with a volume of 40–60 mm3 although postoperative MRI lesion analysis was not provided in this paper. Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores while off medication improved by 50% at 12 months but improvement declined to 18% by 36 months. This magnitude of improvement at 12 months compares favourably with results …
Pharyngeal Dysfunctions and Their Interrelationship in Patients with Dysphagia

Cineradiographic examination of the pharynx is a valuable tool for evaluation of patients with swallowing complaints. The direct functional imaging is the essence of cineradiography of the pharynx during swallowing. In this way the motor function of the pharynx can be monitored. The kind and number of specific dysfunction can give a valuable information about the severity of pharyngeal impairment. Using a scoring system compensation and decompensation of pharyngeal function can be assessed, thereby offering an understanding of the patients' swallowing ability.
Influence of zinc on Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptibilities to imipenem

Serial dilution susceptibility testing of imipenem against 59 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, conducted simultaneously on single lots of Difco and BBL Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA), resulted in MICs for 90% of strains tested of 8 and 16 micrograms/ml, respectively. MICs for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas spp. were also higher on BBL MHA. Quantification of the cation content of the two MHAs by atomic absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that the zinc concentration in BBL MHA was 15 times greater than that measured in Difco MHA (2.61 and 0.17 micrograms/ml, respectively). Concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and copper in the two agars were similar. Addition of zinc to Difco MHA resulted in increases in MICs of imipenem for P. aeruginosa but not in the MICs of ceftazidime or cefpirome for P. aeruginosa (P < 0.01). A lesser zinc effect was seen on the activity of imipenem against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas spp. The activities of ceftazidime and cefpirome were similar on both MHAs when tested against all gram-negative organisms in this study. Thus, the effect of zinc in MHA was clearly demonstrated by a significant increase in the MICs of imipenem for P. aeruginosa, and, to a lesser extent, for other gram-negative bacilli.
Distribution of fos‐like immunoreactivity in the rat brain following intravenous lipopolysaccharide administration

The central nervous system, particularly the hypothalamus, is intimately involved in the coordination of various aspects of the inflammatory response, including the generation of fever. We used intravenous injections of bacterial cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 5 or 125 μg/kg) to stimulate the acute phase response and mapped the resultant distribution of Fos‐like immunoreactivity in the rat brain. In addition, we compared the patterns of Fos distribution with the thermoregulatory responses elicited by the LPS. Administration of LPS resulted in a dose‐ and time‐dependent pattern of Fos‐like immunoreactivity throughout the rat brain consistent with a coordinated autonomic, endocrine, and behavioral response to the LPS challenge that was most pronounced 2 hours following injection. Specifically, Fos‐like immunoreactivity was observed in key autonomic regulatory nuclear groups, including the insular and prelimbic cortices, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, parabrachial nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, and the rostral and caudal levels of the ventrolateral medulla. In addition, a significant sustained elevation of Fos‐like immunoreactivity was observed in a cell group adjacent to the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, which we termed the ventromedial preoptic area. This sustained elevation of Fos‐like immunoreactivity coupled with the alterations in body temperature elicited by LPS leads us to hypothesize that the ventromedial preoptic area may be a key site for the initiation of fever during endotoxemia. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The grading of rectal cancer: historical perspectives and a multivariate analysis of 447 cases

The grade of a tumour is gauged on the subjective assessment of a number of histopathological parameters. The problems associated with this exercise were viewed from a historical perspective and survival analysis of 447 patients receiving surgery for rectal adenocarcinoma was undertaken. Only deaths from rectal adenocarcinoma were included as events in the survival analysis. Seven grade‐related parameters were scored by one observer. A grading system was constructed using the Cox regression model. The variables in the best‐fitting parsimonious model comprised lymphocytic infiltration, tubule configuration and pattern of growth. Scores were derived from the model and a four grade system was created in which the groups were of similar size. Good reproducibility of the selected histopathological parameters was demonstrated. Grade‐related parameters were then allowed to compete with stage‐related parameters in an overall model of pathological prognostic categories. The parameters selected in the best model were number of affected lymph nodes, the presence of lymphocytic infiltration and extent of spread through bowel wall. A set of five prognostic categories was developed from this model.
Prognostic factors of esophageal carcinoma: Univariate and multivariate analyses

The correlation of 5‐year survival rate with various clinical and histopath‐ological factors was studied using univariate and multiple analyses of 128 patients who had undergone resection for esophageal carcinoma between 1965 and 1978 in the Department of Surgery, Kyushu University Hospital. The depth of penetration, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic or vascular invasion, and INF had a significant correlation with 5‐year survival in the univariate analysis; however, only depth of penetration and lymph node metastasis were prognostic factors with a significant difference, in the multivariate analysis.
The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in the endometrium during the peri-implantation period in women with and without polyps

Abstract Objective: This prospective study was designed to determine whether the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the endometrial tissue obtained from the peri-implantation period of women with endometrial polyp (EP) differs from that of control subjects without a polyp. Methods: Endometrial samples were collected from 30 patients with EP and 30 control subjects without EP, in the mid-secretory phase. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF in the endometrium was examined with the use of immunohistochemistry. Results: COX-2 and VEGF were predominantly expressed in endometrial glands. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF in the endometrium obtained from women with EP was lower than that of control subjects. Conclusion: The reduced expression of COX-2 and VEGF in the endometrium of women with EP may account for the association between EP and infertility.