Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase II Study of Weekly Low-Dose Paclitaxel for Relapsed and Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Wisconsin Oncology Network Study

This study was performed to determine the clinical activity and safety of weekly low-dose paclitaxel (90 mg/m2) given as a 1-hour infusion in patients with relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Thirty patients were treated on a phase II protocol conducted at the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center and within the Wisconsin Oncology Network (WON). A cycle of therapy was defined as paclitaxel at 90 mg/m2 weekly for 6 consecutive weeks followed by a 2-week rest period. Cycles were repeated as long as there was no disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In general, the patients were heavily pretreated with a median of 4 prior therapies (range 2–11), and 73% were refractory to the most recent systemic therapy. The median age was 70 (range 44–97). All NHL histological subtypes were eligible. Of the 30 eligible patients enrolled, 26 were evaluable for response and 28 for toxicity. The overall response rate was 23% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.0–43.7%). One patient had a complete response, and 5 patients had partial responses. The median response duration was 3.2 months (range 1.4–11.8 months). The median event-free survival was 1.9 months. The major toxicity was neuropathy. Despite the limited marrow reserve in this patient population, myelosuppression was minimal. Paclitaxel given in this dose and schedule has modest activity in previously treated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The response rate appears similar to other reports using different doses and schedules. Myelosuppression appears less with this schedule than with other schedules.
Effects of Applicant Faking on Forced-Choice and Likert Scores

We introduce a novel, regression-based moderation framework to model faking effects that incorporates evaluation of faking tendency as a moderator. We also consider how perceived trait desirability may be factored into the framework and provide programming code for applied researchers to utilize the method in their research. Using this framework, we revisit a well-known response format (i.e., forced-choice) to formally evaluate its ability to mitigate the effects of applicant faking as compared to the widely used Likert format. The impetus for the latter evaluation stems from the use of item response theory (IRT) modeling to yield non-ipsative scores from forced-choice measures. We found strong support for the need to incorporate moderating effects of faking tendency and desirability in predicting applicants’ responses. Also, we found that the only substantial difference across formats lies in forced-choice scores yielding a lower mean inflation at high faking values. As a result, forced-choice scores do not outperform Likert scores when selection ratios are used but may be beneficial when cutoff scores are used. Application of the moderation framework presented extends to self-reported construct measures of varied kinds.
Visibility of unpredictably flickering lights.

We have measured the sensitivity of the visual system to temporal modulation with unpredictable, aperiodic signals. We used three kinds of stimulation, (i) a band-limited gaussian random signal, (ii) a passband-limited gaussian random signal, (iii) a periodically quenched random signal. The sensitivity to stimulation with random signals can be predicted from the sensitivity of the visual system to periodic temporal signals. The sensitivity to random signals with narrow frequency bands at high frequencies is governed by the pseudoflash phenomenon. If the bandwidth is such that the signal contains less than two independent samples per second, the psychometric curve follows from the amplitude distribution of the random signal. If the signal contains a larger number of independent samples per second, the psychometric curves are as steep as they are for sine-wave stimulation. If the De Lange characteristic is the envelope of the sensitivity characteristics of independent channels, sensitive to specific frequency bands, then these experiments permit us to estimate the bandwidth of the most-sensitive channel.
Apolipoprotein E modulates γ‐secretase cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein

Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene affect the risk of Alzheimer disease and the amount of amyloid β‐protein (Aβ) deposited in the brain. The apoE protein reduces Aβ levels in conditioned media from cells in culture, possibly through Aβ clearance mechanisms. To explore this effect, we treated multiple neural and non‐neural cell lines for 24 h with apoE at concentrations similar to those found in the cerebrospinal fluid (1–5 µg/mL). The apoE treatment reduced Aβ40 by 60–80% and Aβ42 to a lesser extent (20–30%) in the conditioned media. Surprisingly, apoE treatment resulted in an accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP)‐C‐terminal fragments in cell extracts and a marked reduction of APP intracellular domain‐mediated signaling, consistent with diminished γ‐secretase processing of APP. All three isoforms of apoE, E2, E3 and E4, had similar effects on Aβ and APP‐C‐terminal fragments, and the effects were independent of the low‐density lipoprotein receptor family. Apolipoprotein E had minimal effects on Notch cleavage and signaling in cell‐based assays. These data suggest that apoE reduces γ‐secretase cleavage of APP, lowering secreted Aβ levels, with stronger effects on Aβ40. The apoE modulation of Aβ production and APP signaling is a potential mechanism affecting Alzheimer disease risk.
Strong or Weak Phase Resetting by Light Pulses in Humans?

Minors et al. (1991) recently published the first phase response curve (PRC) for single light pulses in human subjects, adding substantially to earlier measurements by Honma and Honma (1988). Another PRC, using multiple pulses, has been published by Czeisler et al. (1989). There is an apparent discrepancy among the different PRCs now available. In particular, the PRC of Minors et al. (1991) shows weak (type 1) phase resetting (Winfree, 1980), whereas Czeisler et al. (1989) have claimed strong (type 0) phase resetting in humans. This apparent inconsistency calls for a better understanding of the effects of multiple versus single pulses. Phase-shift experiments have become a primary tool for the analysis of the kinetics of circadian oscillators. Over 300 measured PRCs have recently been collected in a &dquo;PRC
Knee pain in a 71-year-old man.

In February 2004, a 71-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of progressive knee pain with swelling and was treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medicines. He had no antecedent trauma and no constitutional symptoms, such as weight loss or fever. His past medical history included chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed in 1980 treated by splenectomy in 1981. He also had a remote history of melanoma. On physical examination, the patient appeared healthy with stable vital signs. There was mild swelling around the left knee with no overlying skin changes. He had full painless range of motion of the knee with fullness over the infrapatellar region. His ligamentous examination was normal, and there was no significant pain or tenderness to palpation in the medial or lateral joint lines. There was mild-to-moderate tenderness to palpation around the inferior pole of the patella and in the retropatellar fat pad. There was no diffuse lymphadenopathy or abdominal organomegaly. On laboratory examination the patient’s white cell count was 10.34 × 10 L, which is in normal limits, he had a hematocrit of 44%, and a platelet count of 277,000 L. Serum chemistry values were normal. Radiographic studies included anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs and magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the knee (Figs 1–3). Based on the history, physical examination, laboratory findings, and imagining studies, what is the differential diagnosis From the *Department of Orthopaedics, University of Miami, Miami, FL; and the †Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida. Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the reporting of this case report, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent was obtained. Correspondence to: Sean P. Scully, MD, PhD, University of Miami, Department of Orthopaedics/Rehabilitation, P.O. Box 016960 (D-27), Miami, FL 33101. Phone: 305-325-5532; Fax: 305-325-3928; E-mail: SScully@med . miami.edu. DOI: 10.1097/01.blo. 0000194680.94882. d3 CLINICAL ORTHOPAEDICS AND RELATED RESEARCH Number 445, pp. 269–275 © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Development of carcinoma of the thyroid in iodine‐deficient mice

The hypothesis that chronic over‐stimulation of the thyroid results in the formation of thyroid neoplasms was tested. After 6 to 12 months of iodine deficiency, 61 of 78 mice demonstrated extreme hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the thyroid. Eleven others had thyroids morphologically consistent with papillary adenocarcinoma. After 18 months of iodine deficiency, necropsy in 8 of 30 mice revealed malignant neoplasms of the thyroid. Initially, iodine deficiency was accompanied by diffuse hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the thyroid, which later became nodular. This progressed to cyst formation, papillary hyperplasia and nodular “solid cell” hyperplasia, sometimes followed by malignant change. These abnormalities appeared to be completely reversed by the addition of potassium iodide to the deficient diet up to 9 months. After 18 months nodular hyperplasia persisted despite treatment with iodine. Iodine deficiency results in decreased synthesis of thyroxin. A deficiency of circulating thyroid hormone causes increased production of TSH by the pituitary, which results in chronic overstimulation of the thyroid gland. Presumably this is the basic mechanism responsible for the development of these abnormalities.
Occurrence of impaired cortisol regulation in children with hypoglycemia associated with adrenal medullary hyporesponsiveness.

Eight patients with hypoglycemia had low or absent urinary epinephrine (EPI) response (AMH, ± sd : pre-insulin = 0.04 ± 0.02 μg/mg creatinine, post-insulin = 0.07 ± 0.04;contrasts: pre-insulin = 0.04 ± 0.04, post-insulin = 0.47 ± 0.42; p < 0,0025. During the insulin tolerance test (ITT) the clinical signs of hypoglycemia were lacking. The mean plasma glucose was significantly lower (AMH, ± sd: 17.5 ± 5.9 mg/100 ml; contrasts: 32.2 ± 7.4; p < 0.0005) and the rise of plasma glucose towards normality—as expressed by the recovery index—was significantly slower (AMH, ± sd: 193 ± 50; contrasts: 229 ± 35 ; p < 0.0005). There was no impairment of growth hormone (GH) response (maximum in AMH, ± sd: 18.3 ± 11,9 mμg/ml; contrasts: 18.8 ± 8.3; p < 0.475). The most impressive finding in this group of patients was alowered or deficient response of plasma F during the ITT (maximum in AMH, ± sd: 19.9 ± 6.2 mg/100 ml; contrasts: 31.4 ± 6.8; p < 0.001). This response could be shown to be impaired independently from the def.
E-shopping Success Dimensions : An Empirical Study in Kuwait

Despite that business to customers web sites (B2C) are growing very fast and is becoming an important marketing and purchasing channels still customers are not very keen to shop online and are not satisfied with the current design and operation of the shopping websites. Therefore success of e-commerce B2C web sites is still one of the biggest challenges management can face. While B2C success has been recently the focus of several e-commerce studies, notably these studies have all ignored the effect of gender on B2C success. This study aims fill in this gap and investigate the effect of gender on success of B2C web sites in an Arab country. The proposed research model integrates four variables: system quality, service quality, perceived value and user satisfactions, and was tested using a random sample of 198 Kuwaiti adults. Based on regression analyses this study revealed that gender plays an important factor on the proposed research model. Finding of this study have implications for researchers and practical.
NEUROPATHOLOGICAL DEFINITION OF ALZHEIMER DISEASE: MULTIVARIATE ANALYSES IN THE MORPHOMETRIC DISTINCTION BETWEEN ALZHEIMER DEMENTIA AND NORMAL AGING

Although establishing that a patient is suffering from dementia of the Alzheimer type initially reflects a clinician's opinion, neuropathological study is for the present the most definitive examination to confirm the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. We review several comprehensive publications attempting on a quantitative basis to differentiate the changes occurring with normal aging of the human brain from those indicative of Alzheimer disease. New morphometric data on 5 histopathological lesions in the mesial temporal cortex of 42 subjects indicate that, when multivariate analyses are performed on such microscopic information, a diagnostic prediction about the brain of any unknown individual should indeed be possible with a statistically calculated degree of certainty
Ethanolic Extract of Nigella sativa Seeds Lacks the Chemopreventive Efficacy in the Post Initiation Phase of DMH-Induced Colon Cancer in a Rat Model

Nigella sativa, belonging to the Ranunculacea family, is a versatile phytochemical mine bestowed with multi-dimensional medicinal effects. The current study was performed to investigate the chemopreventive efficacy, if any, of the ethanolic extract of indigenous Nigella sativa seeds (ENS) and to evaluate its potentials on tumor progression during the initiation and post initiation phases of Dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis in a rat model. ENS treatment during the initiation phase unveiled chemopreventive effect manifested by significant reductions in tumor incidence, multiplicity and tumor volumes. Histopathological findings and modified Duke’s classification of tumors provided evidence that ENS, administered in the initiation phase, is capable of delaying progression, restricting invasion and attenuating aggressiveness of colon tumors. These results imply that ENS may be a promising candidate in the primary prevention of colon cancer. On the contrary, we demonstrated that ENS lacked chemopreventive and tumorigenesis inhibitory effects in the post initiation phase. We speculate that the chemopreventive effect of ENS might be due to the synergistic actions of various constituents present in the extract. However, extensive studies are warranted and more efforts need to be dedicated to fractionate, analyze and to further appraise the anticancer effect of ENS before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Occurrence of Diffuse, Poorly Differentiated Hepatocellular Carcinoma During Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin Combination Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract Interferon therapy is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. We describe the case of a 66-year-old Italian woman who received pegylated interferon α-2a plus ribavirin combined therapy for HCV-related chronic liver disease. Preliminary hematochemical, ultrasound and bioptic investigations did not show liver cirrhosis or hepatocarcinoma. After 24 weeks of treatment transaminase serum levels were in the normal range and circulating HCVRNA was undetectable by PCR qualitative assay. On week 46 a serious adverse event occurred, with rapid transaminase increase, severe hyperpyrexia, and abdominal pain, leading to interruption of interferon and ribavirin. Liver biopsy was repeated and it revealed poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. Only palliative care could be performed and the patient died of liver failure within 2 months. The present case underlines that hepatocellular carcinoma can be misdiagnosed in spite of laboratory and instrumental follow-up. More sensitive tools are needed for tumor detection, to avoid IFN impairment of the liver, even though it eradicates HCV.
Symmetrical information disclosure for investors' investment decisions

Information disclosure is crucial in the financial market that allow investors to understand the current and future performance of companies and help them in their investment decisions. This paper aim to examine the importance of information disclosure to safeguard the investor investment. This paper will refine the theoretical background of agency theory associated with the information disclosure. The findings of this paper provide a new dimension of symmetrical information disclosure with the aim to sustain a firm in the financial market and enhance investors‟ confidence.
A Long-Day Photoperiod and 6-Benzyladenine Promote Runner Formation through Upregulation of Soluble Sugar Content in Strawberry

Commercial strawberries are mainly propagated using daughter plants produced on aerial runners because asexual propagation is faster than seed propagation, and daughter plants retain the characteristics of the mother plant. This study was conducted to investigate the effective factors for runner induction, as well as the molecular mechanisms behind the runner induction. An orthogonal test with 4 factors (photoperiod, temperature, gibberellin, and 6-benzyladenine), each with 3 levels was performed. Proteins were also extracted from the crowns with or without runners and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results of the orthogonal test showed that a long-day (LD) environment was the most influential factor for the runner formation, and 50 mg·L−1 of 6-BA significantly increased the number of runners. A proteomic analysis revealed that 32 proteins were differentially expressed (2-fold, p < 0.05) in the strawberry crowns with and without runners. A total of 16 spots were up-regulated in the crowns with runners induced by LD treatment. Identified proteins were classified into seven groups according to their biological roles. The most prominent groups were carbohydrate metabolism and photosynthesis, which indicated that the carbohydrate content may increase during runner formation. A further analysis demonstrated that the soluble sugar content was positively correlated with the number of runners. Thus, it is suggested that the photoperiod and 6-BA break the dormancy of the axillary buds and produce runners by increasing the soluble sugar content in strawberry.
Neovascularization, enhanced inflammatory response, and age-related cone dystrophy in the Nrl-/-Grk1-/- mouse retina.

PURPOSE The effects of aging and light exposure on cone photoreceptor survival were compared between mouse retinas of neural retina leucine zipper knockout (Nrl(-/-)) mice and double-knockout mice lacking G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 1 (Nrl(-/-)Grk1(-/-)). METHODS Mice were reared in total darkness, ambient cyclic light, or constant light, and their retinas were evaluated from 1 to 9 months of age using immunohistochemistry, electroretinography, and fluorescein angiography. Retinal gene expression and statistically significant probe sets were categorized using analysis software. Select gene expression changes were confirmed with quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS In contrast to retinas from Nrl(-/-), those from Nrl(-/-)Grk1(-/-) exhibit a progressive loss of the outer nuclear layer, retinal physiology deficits, and a higher rate of degeneration with increasing age that is independent of environmental light exposure. Changes in retinal neovascularization occur in the Nrl(-/-)Grk1(-/-) at 1 month, before the onset of significant cone functional deficits. Microarray analyses demonstrate statistically significant changes in transcript levels of more than 400 genes, of which the oncostatin M signaling pathway and the inflammatory disease response network were identified. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that the loss of functional Grk1 on the enhanced S-cone Nrl(-/-) background exacerbates age-related cone dystrophy in a light-independent manner, mediated partly through the inflammatory response pathway and neovascularization. According to these findings, Grk1 helps to maintain a healthy cone environment, and the Nrl(-/-)Grk1(-/-) mouse allows examination of the alternative roles of Grk1 in cone photoreceptor homeostasis.
Effects of multitasking on operator performance using computational and auditory tasks

This study investigated the effects of multiple cognitive tasks on human performance. Twenty-four students at North Carolina A&T State University participated in the study. The primary task was auditory signal change perception and the secondary task was a computational task. Results showed that participants' performance in a single task was statistically significantly different from their performance in combined tasks: (a) algebra problems (algebra problem primary and auditory perception secondary); (b) auditory perception tasks (auditory perception primary and algebra problems secondary); and (c) mean false-alarm score in auditory perception (auditory detection primary and algebra problems secondary). Using signal detection theory (SDT), participants' performance measured in terms of sensitivity was calculated as −0.54 for combined tasks (algebra problems the primary task) and −0.53 auditory perceptions the primary task. During auditory perception tasks alone, SDT was found to be 2.51. Performance was 83% in a single task compared to 17% when combined tasks.
Pseudomonas deficient in protease IV has significantly reduced corneal virulence.

PURPOSE The role of protease IV in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis was investigated by comparing a mutant strain completely deficient in protease IV activity with its protease IV activity-producing parent. METHODS A protease IV-deficient Pseudomonas strain PA103-29::Tn9 was generated by mutagenesis of strain PA103-29, which produces protease IV, through transposon insertion. Protease IV activity was determined by a casein agar assay, zymography, and cleavage of the chromogenic substrate, Chromozym PL. Corneal virulence was evaluated by slit lamp examination and bacterial cultures in both a rabbit intrastromal model and a mouse topical model of keratitis. RESULTS The protease IV-deficient strain PA103-29::Tn9 had significantly reduced corneal virulence relative to its parent strain PA103-29 in both a rabbit intrastromal model and a mouse topical model of infection. In the rabbit model, ocular damage (slit lamp examination score) mediated by the parent strain was severe at 32 hours after infection, whereas damage mediated by the mutant was minimal at both 32 and 55 hours after infection. This difference in virulence was not a result of differences in growth in vivo, because both strains grew equally. In the mouse model, eyes inoculated with the protease IV-producing parent strain had significant corneal damage as early as 24 hours after infection, whereas the protease IV-deficient mutant strain produced no significant corneal damage during 6 days of infection. CONCLUSIONS The ability to produce active protease IV was the determining factor in the severity of corneal virulence. Protease IV appears to mediate corneal virulence and should be considered as a target in the development of medications designed to minimize corneal damage during Pseudomonas keratitis.