Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Pembrolizumab in Patients With Noncolorectal High Microsatellite Instability/Mismatch Repair-Deficient Cancer: Results From the Phase II KEYNOTE-158 Study.

PURPOSE Genomes of tumors that are deficient in DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) have high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and harbor hundreds to thousands of somatic mutations that encode potential neoantigens. Such tumors are therefore likely to be immunogenic, triggering upregulation of immune checkpoint proteins. Pembrolizumab, an anti‒programmed death-1 monoclonal antibody, has antitumor activity against MSI-H/dMMR cancer. We report data from the phase II KEYNOTE-158 study of pembrolizumab in patients with previously treated, advanced noncolorectal MSI-H/dMMR cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients with histologically/cytologically confirmed MSI-H/dMMR advanced noncolorectal cancer who experienced failure with prior therapy received pembrolizumab 200 mg once every 3 weeks for 2 years or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. Radiologic imaging was performed every 9 weeks for the first year of therapy and every 12 weeks thereafter. The primary end point was objective response rate per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, as assessed by independent central radiologic review. RESULTS Among 233 enrolled patients, 27 tumor types were represented, with endometrial, gastric, cholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancers being the most common. Median follow up was 13.4 months. Objective response rate was 34.3% (95% CI, 28.3% to 40.8%). Median progression-free survival was 4.1 months (95% CI, 2.4 to 4.9 months) and median overall survival was 23.5 months (95% CI, 13.5 months to not reached). Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 151 patients (64.8%). Thirty-four patients (14.6%) had grade 3 to 5 treatment-related adverse events. Grade 5 pneumonia occurred in one patient; there were no other treatment-related fatal adverse events. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the clinical benefit of anti-programmed death-1 therapy with pembrolizumab among patients with previously treated unresectable or metastatic MSI-H/dMMR noncolorectal cancer. Toxicity was consistent with previous experience of pembrolizumab monotherapy.
Characterization of Omega-WINGS galaxy clusters: I. Stellar light and mass profiles

Galaxy clusters are the largest virialized structures in the observable Universe. The knowledge of their properties provides many useful astrophysical and cosmological information. Our aim is to derive the luminosity and stellar mass profiles of the nearby galaxy clusters of the Omega-WINGS survey and to study the main scaling relations valid for such systems. We have merged the data of the WINGS and Omega-WINGS databases, sorted the sources according to the distance from the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) and calculated the integrated luminosity profiles in the $B$ and $V$ bands, taking into account extinction, photometric and spatial completeness, K-correction and background contribution. Then, by exploiting the spectroscopic sample we derived the stellar mass profiles of the clusters. We got the luminosity profiles of 46 galaxy clusters, reaching $r_{200}$ in 30 cases, and the stellar mass profiles of 42 of our objects. We successfully fitted all the integrated luminosity growth profiles with one or two embedded S\'ersic components, deriving the main clusters parameters. Finally, we checked the main scaling relation among the clusters parameters in comparison with those obtained for a selected sample of early-type galaxies (ETGs) of the same clusters. We found that the nearby galaxy clusters are non-homologous structures like ETGs and exhibit a color-magnitude (CM) red-sequence relation very similar to that observed for galaxies in clusters. These properties are not expected in the current cluster formation scenarios. In particular the existence of a CM relation for clusters, shown here for the first time, suggests that the baryonic structures grow and evolve in a similar way at all scales.
Effects of low temperature stress on ferritin or aldose reductase overexpressing transgenic tobacco plants

The alfalfa ferritin overproducing CaMVF9 transgenic tobacco and the alfalfa aldose reductase overexpressing ALR1/9 line showed higher Fv/Fm ratios than SR1 plants during ROS generating low temperature stress. The chlorophyll content of CaMVF9 and ALR1/9 lines proved to be much more favourable than that of SR1 plants whereas there was no difference in the electrolyte leakage. Activities of all the tested antioxidant enzymes (POD, CAT, APX, GR, GST) in the leaves were significantly higher in CaMVF9 and ALR1/9 lines, the malondialdehyde content was significantly lowered in the transgenic lines. The antioxidant enzyme systems induced through several redox-signalling mechanisms have simultaneously contributed to the greater tolerance of CaMVF9 and ALR1/9 lines. Acta Biol Szeged 46(3-4):97-98 (2002)
Biology and ecology of the introduced snail Microxeromagna armillata in south eastern Australia

16 Declaration 17 Acknowledgements 18 Chapter 1 General introduction and thesis outline 21 Chapter 2 Life history traits of Microxeromagna armillata 24 2.1 General Introduction 24 2.2 Development of a culture technique for Microxeromagna armillata 25 2.3 Reproductive lifespan, number and size of offspring, and the influence of body size on key fecundity characteristics of Microxeromagna armillata 28 2.4 Mode of reproduction 61 2.5 Can Microxeromagna armillata aestivate and does this affect its reproductive characteristics? 90 2.6 Does adult density affect the reproductive characteristics of Microxeromagna armillata? 104 2.7 General Discussion 110 Chapter 3 Phenology and spatial distribution of Microxeromagna armillata 114 3.
Markers of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Pituitary Adenoma: A Case Series of 303 Patients

Abstract To assess the demographic characteristics and hormonal status of patients who presented to our clinic with pituitary adenoma and to demonstrate the presence, prevalence, and relationship of metabolic syndrome parameters in these patients. The study included 303 patients with known or newly diagnosed pituitary adenoma and 52 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The patients were classified into 3 groups; acromegaly (ACRO) (n=54),prolactinoma (PRLoma) (n=163), and non-functional adenoma (NFA) (n=86). in 55.6% (n=172) and 52% (n=163) of the patients, respectively. The waist circumference of all patients (p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) of patients with PRLoma (p=0.03) and ACRO (p<0.001) were found to be significantly higher than in the controls. The HbA1c, insulin and HOMA-IR values were significantly higher in the ACRO and PRLoma groups, whereas the insulin and HOMA-IR values were significantly higher in the NFA group compared with the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). When the 3 patient groups were compared, waist circumference and BMI were significantly higher in the ACRO group than in the PRLoma group (p=0.04 and p=0.03, respectively). In patients developing pituitary failure after treatment, age, waist circumference, plasma glucose, low-density lipoproteins and triglyceride values were significantly increased when compared with those without pituitary failure after treatment (p<0.001). In our study, it was found that there was increased metabolic and cardiovascular risk in functional pituitary adenoma and NFA.
From landscape resources to landscape commons: focussing on the non-utility values of landscape

Landscape is increasingly conceptualized as a resource. We argue that although a resource-based approach may be positive in terms of conservation outcomes, focusing on use value does not do sufficient justice to the many complex facets of landscape. Reiterating the Florence Declaration on Landscape, which considers that “landscape is a common good”, we suggest that the conceptualization of landscape as a commons will resolve the discrepancy. However, a conceptual shift towards a more holistic commons-based approach requires a detailed understanding of the different values of landscape. Based on a phenomenological conceptualization of the landscape, this article explores the theoretical roots of the definition of the different values of landscape. It distinguishes between use, existence (e.g. aesthetic) and intrinsic values. This exercise is not an end in itself, but is intended to establish a theoretical framework promoting a dialogue between these values and show how they complement each other. A precise understanding of the different landscape values contributes not only to the conceptualization of landscape as a commons, but also to a better understanding of real-life landscape conflicts. Drawing on the empirical example of the Lavaux UNESCO World Heritage Site in Switzerland, the article demonstrates that, in practice, landscape conservation projects that avoid deadlock succeed in striking a balance between the three conceptions of landscape value.
The Construction of a Low‐Cost Airline Network – Facing Competition and Exploring New Markets

The paper investigates the construction of a low-cost airline network by analyzing JetBlue Airways' entry decisions into non-stop domestic US airport-pair markets. Adopting duration models, we find that JetBlue consistently avoided concentrated airports and targeted concentrated routes; network economies also affected entry positively. For non-stop entry into routes that have not been served directly before, our analysis reveals that the carrier focused on thicker routes and secondary airports. Non-stop entry into existing non-stop markets, however, shows that JetBlue concentrated on longer-haul markets and avoided routes already operated by either other low-cost carriers or network carriers under bankruptcy protection. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MANDALA-COLORING AS A THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION FOR ANXIETY REDUCTION IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Objective: To study the effectiveness of mandala-coloring as a therapeutic intervention for reducing anxiety in university students.Study Design: Quasi experimental study.Place and Duration of Study: International Islamic University Islamabad, from Feb to Jun 2016.Material and Methods: A sample of 100 university students of 13-18 years of education was taken (men=50, women=50) with the age range of 18 to 34 years. Convenience sampling technique was used. A pretest-posttest design was adopted in which State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered to measure the levels of State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety before and after coloring a pre-drawn mandala.Results: Results were analyzed using t-test. They indicated that there was a significant difference in the levels of State and Trait Anxieties in the pretest and posttest measures in both men and women.Conclusion: Using mandala-coloring as a therapeutic intervention can reduce State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety in university students.
Elasticity of substitution and the stagnation of Italian productivity

ABSTACT The aim of this paper is to investigate the roots of the stagnation in the Italian total factor productivity (TFP). The analysis focuses on the specific pattern of technical progress in determining the dynamics of the TFP. This analysis cannot be done with Cobb-Douglas technology, but requires the employment of a constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function that allows distinguishing between the direction and the bias of technical progress. We employ a CES specification embodying both labor- and capital-augmenting technical change, with a σ less than 1. We obtain three main results. (1) There seems to have been a structural break around the mid-1990s in the direction and bias of technological change; (2) The first half of the sample features a labor-augmenting technical change and a capital bias; and (3) In the second part of the sample, both these characteristics seem to disappear, and the evolution of factor endowments assumes a key role. This fact may be seen as one of the potential causes of the stagnation in Italian productivity.
Corporate Governance, Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Firm’s Performance: Evidence from Construction Business, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia

Utilising agency theory, this research used primary data to identify the depth of the underlying structure and test the relationship between the variables. In addressing these issues, the study applied logistic regression to data collected from questionnaires, the study identifies the underlying structure of 9 items via factor analysis. The relationships between board committee size, board composition, remuneration committee, gender diversity, risk management committee, ownership concentration, audit committee, duality and firm’s performance measured by return on assets (ROA) were analysed by using logistic regression with the application of SAS(9.4) on data collected from 380 small and medium enterprises under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia. It was found that board size, board composition, remuneration committee, risk management committee and gender diversity has no significant impact on firm’s performance. While duality and audit committee have a significant positive relationship with firm’s performance. Meanwhile, ownership concentration has a significant negative relationship with firm’s performance. As a conclusion, the corporate governance mechanism has a significant impact on firm’s performance in the CIDB construction industry in Malaysia. The contribution of this study is deemed significant as this is the first study applied on CIDB registered enterprises in the Klang Valley, using a quantitative research design.
Income Distribution, Consumer Debt and Keeping Up with the Joneses

We extend Kaldor's theory of income distribution to include workers' debt accumulation and their motive to emulate rentiers' consumption. Our results show that (i) the interaction between income distribution and emulation can produce instability; (ii) instability is more likely when the workers' emulation motive is strong and bankers' lending decisions are highly accommodating; and (iii) a plausible assumption on the non-linearity of emulation behavior can generate a limit cycle. Our analysis provides an alternative perspective on the increase in household indebtedness for the decades before the recent crisis and the subsequent deleveraging process.
Improving Bronchiolitis Care in Outpatient Settings Across a Health Care System.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed (1) to reduce use of ineffective testing and therapies in children with bronchiolitis across outpatient settings in a large pediatric health care system and (2) to assess the cost impact and sustainability of these initiatives. METHODS We designed a system-wide quality improvement project for patients with bronchiolitis seen in 3 emergency departments (EDs) and 5 urgent care (UC) centers. Interventions included development of a best-practice guideline and education of all clinicians (physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists), ongoing performance feedback for physicians, and a small physician financial incentive. Measures evaluated included use of chest x-ray (CXR), albuterol, viral testing, and direct (variable) costs. Data were tracked using statistical process control charts. RESULTS For 3 bronchiolitis seasons, albuterol use decreased from 54% to 16% in UC and from 45% to 16% in ED. Chest x-ray usage decreased from 29% to 9% in UC and from 21% to 12% in the ED. Viral testing in UC decreased from 18% to 2%. Cost of care was reduced by $283,384 within our system in the first 2 seasons following guideline implementation. Improvements beginning in the first bronchiolitis season were sustained and strengthened in the second and third seasons. Admissions from the ED and admissions after return to the ED within 48 hours of initial discharge did not change. CONCLUSION A system-wide quality improvement project involving multiple outpatient care settings reduced the use of ineffective therapies and interventions in patients with bronchiolitis and resulted in significant cost savings. Improvements in care were sustained for 3 bronchiolitis seasons.
In Vitro Analysis of Anethole as an Anticancerous Agent for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of cancer that has none of the three markers that are currently used for targeted chemotherapy. These markers are estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2. In the present study anethole, an aromatic compound from anise and fennel has been tested with the TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231. Cytotoxicity assays were done to determine and optimize the dose. The events of apoptosis and DNA damage were analyzed by various staining techniques and comet assay respectively. The cytotoxicity assay (MTT assay) and cell viability assay (SRB assay) shows that anethole acts effectively against the cancer cell proliferation. Apoptotic cells were detected with DAPI, PI, AO/EtBr and Giemsa staining. The DNA damage was successively measured using comet assay. The present study clearly illustrated the phytochemical anethole possesses the anticancer activity against triple negative breast cancer.
Utilization of food crop wastes for the formulation of laboratory media used for cultivating soil fungi

A major problem experienced by both developed and developing countries is the management of wastes. Thus, there is a growing interest regarding the conversion of organic wastes generated by the food processing sector and through other human endeavors into useful forms. An investigation was carried out to test the suitability of food crop wastes (yam, sweet potato, carrot and Irish potato peels) for the formulation of media for cultivating soil fungi. Four formulated media which included Yam Peel Dextrose agar (YPDA), Sweet Potato Peel Dextrose Agar (SPPDA), Carrot Peel Dextrose Agar (CPDA) and Irish Potato Peel Dextrose Agar (IPPDA) were used to determine the growth of four test fungi isolated from the soil. Mean radial growths (MRGs) of the isolates on the formulated waste media were determined and compared with that of SDA which served as the control. The test organisms were aseptically inoculated unto the four different formulated media and the control medium in triplicates. The cultures were incubated for a period of six days and the radial growth of each of the fungi was measured thereafter. Growth rates on the test media were also calculated for each fungus. The fungal isolates from this study were
Evaluation of gap formation at the composite resin‐tooth interface after using universal adhesives: In vitro SEM study using the replica technique

The aim of this study was to evaluate gap formation after using two universal adhesives, Peak Universal Bond (P), which contains chlorhexidine and Adhese Universal (A), which contains 10‐MDP monomer, and to compare them with two gold standard adhesives. The adhesives were tested in different etching modes, etch‐and‐rinse (ER) or self‐etch (SE), and under thermomechanical loading (TML). Two identical Class V cavities were prepared in each of 30 human third molar teeth, and resin‐composite restorations were made. Before and after TML, replicas of the restorations were prepared. Gap formation and their frequency according to the modified classification of Blunck and Zaslansky and the width of the maximum marginal gap (MG) were separately evaluated in enamel and dentin. Gap frequency did not differ significantly only in the enamel before TML, despite the use of different adhesives or etching modes. At both timepoints, the highest MG values were obtained with the Peak Universal Bond self‐etch (PSE) group in enamel (6.2 μm before TML, 12.2 μm after TML) and the Peak Universal Bond etch‐and‐rinse (PER) group in dentine (21.3 μm before TML, 35.5 μm after TML). After TML, there was a significant increase of gap frequency for Adhese universal self‐etch (ASE) group and MG values for PER, PSE, ASE groups at the resin‐enamel interface, and gap frequency and MG values for all groups at the resin‐dentin interface. Universal adhesive with 10‐MDP monomer have beneficial effect on the resin‐dentin interface, while chlorhexidine may reduce the resistance of the universal adhesive system to oral cavity conditions.
A laboratory method to estimate the efficiency of plant extract to neutralize soil acidity

Water-soluble plant organic compounds have been proposed to be efficient in alleviating soil acidity. Laboratory methods were evaluated to estimate the efficiency of plant extracts to neutralize soil acidity. Plant samples were dried at 65oC for 48 h and ground to pass 1 mm sieve. Plant extraction procedure was: transfer 3.0 g of plant sample to a becker, add 150 ml of deionized water, shake for 8 h at 175 rpm and filter. Three laboratory methods were evaluated: S (Ca+Mg+K) of the plant extracts; electrical conductivity of the plant extracts and titration of plant extracts with NaOH solution between pH 3 to 7. These methods were compared with the effect of the plant extracts on acid soil chemistry. All laboratory methods were related with soil reaction. Increasing S (Ca+Mg+K), electrical conductivity and the volume of NaOH solution spent to neutralize H+ ion of the plant extracts were correlated with the effect of plant extract on increasing soil pH and exchangeable Ca and decreasing exchangeable Al. It is proposed the electrical conductivity method for estimating the efficiency of plant extract to neutralize soil acidity because it is easily adapted for routine analysis and uses simple instrumentations and materials.
Evaluation of potential nirs to predict pastures nutritive value

Abstract This paper describes the capability of near infra-reflectance (NIRS) to predict the nutritional quality of pastures from southern Chile (39°-40°S). A Fourier transformed near-infrared (FT-NIR) method for rapid determination of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), in vitro digestibility (IVD) and metabolizable energy (ME) was used. Calibration models were developed between chemical and NIRS spectral data using partial least squares (PLS) regression and external validation. The coefficients of determination in calibration (R 2 c ) were high varying between 0.89-0.99 and the root mean square errors of calibration (RMSEC) were low, ranging between 0.46-2.55 for the parameters analysed. The Residual Prediction Deviation (RPD) was higher than 2.5. Our results confirmed the convenience of using a wide range of samples applicability in the calibration set. Data also showed that the use of an independent set of samples for external validation increases the robustness of the models to predict unknown samples. Our results indicated RPD values higher than 2.5 which is the minimum recommended for this type of prediction. Thus, the result showed that NIRS was useful to estimate the nutritional quality of permanent pastures, and has a great potential to be used as a rapid decision tool for the studied analysis.
Micro Jumps, Macro Humps: Monetary Policy and Business Cycles in an Estimated Hank Model

We estimate a Heterogeneous-Agent New Keynesian model with sticky household expectations that matches existing microeconomic evidence on marginal propensities to consume and macroeconomic evidence on the impulse response to a monetary policy shock. Our estimated model uncovers a central role for investment in the transmission mechanism of monetary policy, as high MPCs amplify the investment response in the data. This force also generates a procyclical response of consumption to investment shocks, leading our model to infer a central role for these shocks as a source of business cycles.