Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical trials in the era of personalized oncology

The rapid pace of discoveries in tumor biology, imaging technology, and human genetics hold promise for an era of personalized oncology care. The successful development of a handful of new targeted agents has generated much hope and hype about the delivery of safer and more effective new treatments for cancer. The design and conduct of clinical trials has not yet adjusted to a new era of personalized oncology and so we are more in transition to that era than in it. With the development of treatments for breast cancer as a model, we review the approaches to clinical trials and the development of novel therapeutics in the prior era of population oncology, the current transitional era, and the future era of personalized oncology. CA Cancer J Clin 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Scalability and Resilience in Humanitarian Supply Chains

Purpose –Within the emerging research field of humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) the use of existing theoretical concepts and frameworks to provide explanation and understanding of the phenomena under scrutiny is not yet well understood. There is still a lack of research on which theoretical approaches are used in this field, and to what extent this emerging field “borrows” theories from other disciplines. The purpose of this paper is therefore to deepen the understanding of HSCM from a theoretical point of view by identifying and evaluating the use of theories in HSCM literature. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review is conducted based on academic journal articles included in a well-recognised and publicly available bibliography on HSCM articles (Tatham, 2015). A content analysis is applied to the articles in terms of level of theory, research methodology, disaster management stages, disaster types, and disaster name/region. Findings –A trend towards using more established, “middlerange” theories, is evident. However, the use of theoretical approaches is not evenly spread between the different phases of disaster relief. A strong emphasis on SCM as a background discipline is also mirrored in the choice of theories used, which indicates the solidification of humanitarian logistics as a primarily supply chain discipline. The lack of use of other theoretical perspectives and grand theories is, however, still evident, which provides an interesting research agenda for future research. Research limitations/implications – The use of the bibliography limits the generalisation of the findings although some trends are evident. Originality/value – This is a first review of theories used in HSCM. It provides an overview of the state of the art of HSCM research but contributes to the maturation of research in this field. The paper concludes with a research agenda.
Understanding the impact of service convenience on customer satisfaction in home delivery: evidence from Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to find out the impact of five types of service convenience namely decision, access, transaction, benefit and post-benefit on customer satisfaction in home delivery service of online retailing. Service convenience model is applied to identify the consumer's experience regarding different conveniences encountered at different stages of home delivery. For that purpose, the data was collected from 230 consumers who had experienced the home delivery service during online shopping. After applying EFA, regression analysis has been performed as a statistical technique to test the hypotheses. The result of the study shows that all the independent variables are having a positive and significant impact on customer satisfaction except the one which is access convenience. This shows that accessibility to service provider does not affect customer satisfaction as they are considering online shopping as an efficient virtual store, where they can complete the purchasing process by themselves. It is recommended that online retailers should have to focus in providing convenience services in order to increase customer satisfaction.
Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Urine and Tissue of Patients With Juvenile Polyps: Potential Biomarkers for the Presence of Polyps

Background and Aims: Juvenile polyps are the most common type of pediatric gastrointestinal polyp and are typically characterized as hamartomatous overgrowths. Juvenile polyps are highly vascularized tissues and display a markedly increased mucosal microcirculation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent enzymes that play an essential role in the physiological degradation of the extracellular matrix in normal development, tumor invasion, and metastasis, as well as angiogenesis. We hypothesized that the presence of these enzymes in urine may serve as clinical biomarkers of juvenile polyps. Patients and Methods: In this preliminary study, we analyzed 32 urine samples collected prospectively from 16 subjects with known or suspected juvenile polyps who presented to the endoscopy unit for colonoscopic evaluation and 16 age- and sex-matched controls. Urinary MMPs were analyzed by zymography and their localized tissue expression was assayed via immunohistochemistry of tissue sections. Results: MMPs were detected in the urine of patients with juvenile polyps with significantly higher frequency when compared with urine of control subjects. In addition, immunohistochemistry demonstrated that high levels of MMPs were localized in the epithelium and lamina propria of polyp tissue when compared with colonic tissue collected from healthy control subjects. Conclusions: These data are the first to demonstrate that MMPs are present in the urine and tissue of patients with juvenile polyps, and these enzymes have the potential to serve as surrogate markers for the presence of polyps.
Immune reconstitution syndrome after voriconazole treatment for cryptococcal meningitis in a liver transplant recipient

A new entity that comprises symptomatic worsening of an infectious or inflammatory process despite appropriate treatment was described a few years ago in human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. This entity was defined as immune reconstitution syndrome, and it is believed to result from an intense inflammatory reaction in patients with an appropriately treated infection who recover immunological status. Recently, immune reconstitution syndrome has also been described in transplant recipients, although information is scarce because of its low incidence. Here we describe a new case of immune reconstitution syndrome in a liver transplant recipient after successful treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. Liver Transpl 14:1671–1674, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.
Circadian Timing a

For any living system, two aspects of timing can be distinguished: Within the organism, a multiplicity of interacting processes has to be coordinated in time (as in space), and externally temporal adjustment of the organism’s behavior to that of other organisms and to changing conditions in the environment is also needed. In many ways, internal as well as external timing implies the measurement of time, for example, by the decoding of impulse frequencies within the central nervous system. To serve such purposes, various mechanisms can be imagined that do not necessarily represent permanently running clocks. There are, however, four prototypes of such clocks that have evolved in adaptation to the four main periodicities in the environment: the tides, day and night, the lunar cycle, and the seasons. Each of these environmental cycles represents a temporal program that repeats itself in regular intervals and is hence predictable. By incorporating into its organization a copy of such a program, an organism is enabled to adjust its activities to the periodically changing conditions, and to be prepared in advance of ensuing tasks, that is, to measure external time by means of a biological clock. ’ The characteristics of the four biological clocks resemble those of self-sustaining oscillations. ’ They persist in constant conditions with a frequency that slightly deviates from those of the environmental cycles that they mimic. This is indicated by the prefix “circa” used to designate circatidal, circadian, circalunar, and circannual clocks. To be useful as a time-measuring device, a circa-clock must run in synchrony with its environmental cycle. This is achieved through entraining signals from periodic factors in the environment, the zeitgebers. ’ The most ubiquitous and of prime importance are the circadian clocks, which have been documented in all eukaryotic species from unicellular organisms up to man. & Circadian clocks not only enable the organism to occupy a “temporal niche” in the environment, but also provide internal temporal order by imposing rhythmic variations on all functions including psychomotor performance and mental activities such as time perception. A discussion of these interactions requires a brief introduction into the basic principles of circadian rhythmicity.
A Multi-Perspective Framework for Modelling and Analysing the Determinants of Cloud Computing Adoption among SMEs in Australia

III LIST OF PUBLICATIONS . V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . VII TABLE OF CONTENTS . 9 LIST OF FIGURES . 15 LIST OF TABLES. 17 LIST OF ABBREVIATION . 19 GLOSSARY . 20
Drug-induced liver graft toxicity caused by cytochrome P450 poor metabolism.

UNLABELLED What is already known about this subject. The activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes, primarily cytochrome P450 enzymes, can determine a patient's response to a drug. Therapeutic failure or drug toxicity in the postoperative period after liver transplantation is influenced by the drug metabolizing capacity of the graft. Dose adjustment or selection of an alternative drug, which is not a substrate for the polymorphic enzyme may prevent the development of side-effects in recipients of poor metabolizer liver grafts. What this study adds. A validated analytical system with metabolomic tools has been developed to estimate the drug-metabolizing capacity of transplanted liver, which allows the prediction of potential poor metabolizer phenotypes of donors and facilitates the improvement of individual recipient therapy. In the test of drug-metabolizing status, one of the liver grafts was found to be a CYP2C9 poor metabolizer, while the other was a CYP2C19 poor metabolizer. Rationalization of the medication resulted in the recovery of both the grafts and the recipients within 1 week. AIMS The drug-metabolizing capacity of transplanted liver highly influences drug efficacy or toxicity, particularly in the early postoperative period. The aim of our study was to predict therapeutic failures or severe adverse drug reactions by phenotyping for cytochrome P450 (P450) polymorphism resulting in reduced or no activity of the key drug-metabolizing enzymes. METHODS A validated analytical system with metabolomic tools has been developed for estimation of the drug-metabolizing capacity of transplanted liver, which allows the prediction of potential poor metabolizer phenotypes of donors and facilitates improvement of the individual recipient therapy. RESULTS Of the 109 liver donors in Hungary, the frequency of poor metabolizers was found to be 0.92%, 5.5% and 8.3% for CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6, respectively. In the present study, two liver grafts transplanted in paediatric recipients were reported to be poor metabolizer phenotypes. The liver grafts presented normal function in the early postoperative days; 2 weeks after transplantation, however, increasing liver enzymes were detected. Histological investigation of a liver biopsy suggested drug toxicity. The test of drug metabolizing status showed one of the liver grafts to be a CYP2C9 poor metabolizer, and the other was found to be a CYP2C19 poor metabolizer. Rationalization of the medication resulted in the recovery of both the grafts and the recipients within 1 week. CONCLUSIONS Prospective investigation of the P450 status may lead to the optimization of drug choice and/or dose for a more effective therapy, avoid serious adverse effects, and decrease medical costs. Phenotyping donor livers and tailored medication can contribute to the improvement of graft and recipient survival.
Investment Decisions Under Uncertainty: Example of Russian Companies

The paper contains empirical estimates of how behavioral factor (an attitude towards risk), rationality and uncertainty influence on investment decisions (capital investment) of Russian companies. The research is guided by the models of Sandmo (1971), Bo and Sterken (2007). We have tested a hypothesis, that risk preferring companies tend to grow investment, while risk averse companies are more likely to decrease the number of investment projects under uncertainty. The following rational variables, explaining investment policy, are included into the model: sales growth, market power, return on equity, debt to equity ratio, current liquidity. Since the time span of the research includes both the crisis period (years 2008, 2009) and the period before the crisis (2004-2007) we have also estimated the time effect on the companies’ investments. The following estimators have been used to get the results: ordinary least squares; fixed effects model; random effects model; panel data models with binary variables controlling time effects; Hausman-Teylor’s model, generalized method of moments.
Restless legs syndrome: an update on genetics and future perspectives

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common, underdiagnosed neurological condition with an age‐dependent prevalence of up to 14%. Familial aggregation has been widely shown since Ekbom’s first description of the disorder in 1945. Five loci (12q, 14q, 9p, 2q, and 20p) have been described so far, although no positive association with any specific genes, either within these loci or additional candidates investigated, has been reported. Two recent genome‐wide association studies have reported positive association with sequence variants in or around specific genes on chromosomes 6p, 2p and 15q. The molecular findings, together with the variable expressivity of the phenotype, suggest a substantial clinical and genetic heterogeneity of RLS. This article reviews the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and epidemiology with a focus on the genetics and pathogenesis of RLS.
Co-creation of brand value. The new source for competitive advantage

A la luz de la novedad y la creciente importancia del concepto de cocreacion de marca, esta tesis pretende desarrollar un marco de referencia que ayude a los profesionales del branding a utilizar la cocreacion de marca como fuente de ventaja competitiva para sus empresas. El marco de la creacion de marca se ha construido a partir de un extenso analisis de la literatura existente y cubre una amplia gama de conceptos, entre ellos el valor, la ventaja competitiva y la marca, desde las perspectivas de la teoria de gestion y cultura de consumo. La investigacion esta basada en encuestas cualitativas a profesionales del branding para validar el marco de referencia y proporcionar insights sobre como pueden enfrentarse las empresas al proceso de cocreacion del valor de marca. El valor de esta tesis radica en la descripcion holistica del proceso de cocreacion del valor de marca, la creacion de un marco de referencia para guiar a los profesionales en su trabajo diario y la validacion de este marco con una relevante muestra de expertos en branding.
Papain entrapment in alginate beads for stability improvement and site-specific delivery: Physicochemical characterization and factorial optimization using neural network modeling

This work examines the influence of various process parameters (like sodium alginate concentration, calcium chloride concentration, and hardening time) on papain entrapped in ionotropically cross-linked alginate beads for stability improvement and site-specific delivery to the small intestine using neural network modeling. A 33 full-factorial design and feed-forward neural network with multilayer perceptron was used to investigate the effect of process variables on percentage of entrapment, time required for 50% and 90% of the enzyme release, particle size, and angle of repose. Topographical characterization was conducted by scanning electron microscopy, and entrapment was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Times required for 50% (T50) and 90% (T90) of enzyme release were increased in all 3 of the process variables. Percentage entrapment and particle size were found to be directly proportional to sodium alginate concentration and inversely proportional to calcium chloride concentration and hardening time, whereas angle of repose and degree of cross-linking showed exactly opposite proportionality. Beads with >90% entrapment and T50 of <10 minutes could be obtained at the low levels of all 3 of the process variables. The inability of beads to dissolve in acidic environment, with complete dissolution in buffer of pH≥6.8, showed the suitability of beads to release papain into the small intestine. The shelf-life of the capsules prepared using the papain-loaded alginate beads was found to be 3.60 years compared with 1.01 years of the marketed formulation. It can be inferred from the above results that the proposed methodology can be used to prepare papain-loaded alginate beads for stability improvement and site-specific delivery.
Maternal Caffeine Consumption and Spontaneous Abortion: A Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence

Since the 1980s, numerous studies have investigated whether caffeine intake during pregnancy affects the risk of spontaneous abortion. A clear consensus, however, has not been reached. Because of the public health importance of this question, we reviewed the results of 15 epidemiologic studies on this topic, with particular attention to the specific methodologic problems that would generate biased findings. These include selection and recall bias, confounding, several issues pertaining to exposure measurement, and the failure to account for fetal karyotype, caffeine metabolism, the timing of fetal demise, and the possibility that an effect of caffeine may be gestational age-specific. All of the studies reviewed suffer from important methodologic limitations that hinder both the interpretation of each study individually and the comparison of results across studies. Despite the fact that most epidemiologic studies have observed a positive association between maternal caffeine intake and the risk of spontaneous abortion, we conclude that the evidence must be considered to be equivocal, given the biases likely present and the fact that most of the potential biases would tend to overestimate any association. Until studies can overcome these limitations, evidence for a causal link between caffeine and spontaneous abortion will remain inconclusive.
Event-related potentials during hypnotic hallucination.

Event-related potentials were elicited by visual stimulation and recorded at frontal, central, and posterior scalp sites so as to study the psychophysiological process associated with hypnotic hallucination. Subjects were screened using two measures of hypnotic susceptibility (Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C). Seven high and 9 low hypnotizable right-handed females participated in the experiment. Eight intermediate hypnotizable right-handed females served as controls. Peak amplitudes and latencies of P1, N1, P2, N2, and P3 components were compared in two hypnotic conditions (obtained by means of hypnotic suggestions): stimulus enhancement and stimulus elimination. High hypnotizable subjects displayed a significant attenuation of the P1 and N1 amplitudes of the evoked response while experiencing stimulus elimination. The effect for the P1 component was greatest at the posterior sites compared to that found at the anterior and central sites. A similar trend across condition was also observed for P3 peak amplitude, even though the Group x Condition interaction was only marginally significant (p < .07). During negative hallucination, P3 peak latency for high hypnotizables was shorter than that obtained during stimulus enhancement. This effect was more pronounced across the right hemisphere. These results are discussed in light of previous findings.
Marginalized Binary Mixed‐Effects Models with Covariate‐Dependent Random Effects and Likelihood Inference

Summary Marginal models and conditional mixed‐effects models are commonly used for clustered binary data. However, regression parameters and predictions in nonlinear mixed‐effects models usually do not have a direct marginal interpretation, because the conditional functional form does not carry over to the margin. Because both marginal and conditional inferences are of interest, a unified approach is attractive. To this end, we investigate a parameterization of generalized linear mixed models with a structured random‐intercept distribution that matches the conditional and marginal shapes. We model the marginal mean of response distribution and select the distribution of the random intercept to produce the match and also to model covariate‐dependent random effects. We discuss the relation between this approach and some existing models and compare the approaches on two datasets.
LAGOS-NE: a multi-scaled geospatial and temporal database of lake ecological context and water quality for thousands of US lakes

Abstract Understanding the factors that affect water quality and the ecological services provided by freshwater ecosystems is an urgent global environmental issue. Predicting how water quality will respond to global changes not only requires water quality data, but also information about the ecological context of individual water bodies across broad spatial extents. Because lake water quality is usually sampled in limited geographic regions, often for limited time periods, assessing the environmental controls of water quality requires compilation of many data sets across broad regions and across time into an integrated database. LAGOS-NE accomplishes this goal for lakes in the northeastern-most 17 US states. LAGOS-NE contains data for 51 101 lakes and reservoirs larger than 4 ha in 17 lake-rich US states. The database includes 3 data modules for: lake location and physical characteristics for all lakes; ecological context (i.e., the land use, geologic, climatic, and hydrologic setting of lakes) for all lakes; and in situ measurements of lake water quality for a subset of the lakes from the past 3 decades for approximately 2600–12 000 lakes depending on the variable. The database contains approximately 150 000 measures of total phosphorus, 200 000 measures of chlorophyll, and 900 000 measures of Secchi depth. The water quality data were compiled from 87 lake water quality data sets from federal, state, tribal, and non-profit agencies, university researchers, and citizen scientists. This database is one of the largest and most comprehensive databases of its type because it includes both in situ measurements and ecological context data. Because ecological context can be used to study a variety of other questions about lakes, streams, and wetlands, this database can also be used as the foundation for other studies of freshwaters at broad spatial and ecological scales.