Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D at the invasive edge correlates with lymph node metastasis and prognosis of patients with colorectal carcinoma

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C and VEGF‐D are potent lymphangiogenic factors produced by tumor and stromal cells. The purpose of this study was to determine whether expression of VEGF‐C and/or VEGF‐D correlates with clinicopathological features of human colorectal carcinoma. Expression of mRNAs for VEGF‐C, VEGF‐D, and their receptor VEGFR‐3 was examined by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in six colon carcinoma cell lines and in fresh endoscopic biopsy specimens from 20 patients with colorectal carcinoma. Expression of VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D protein was also examined immunohistochemically in 139 archival surgical specimens of human colorectal carcinoma. Of the six cell lines, one (Colo320D) constitutively expressed VEGF‐C and four (Colo320D, DLD‐1, km12sm, km12c) constitutively expressed VEGF‐D mRNA. Expression of VEGF‐D mRNA was increased under low oxygen conditions, and all six cell lines constitutively expressed VEGF‐D mRNA under hypoxic conditions. Of the 139 specimens of human colorectal carcinoma, 65 (46.8%) showed intense VEGF‐C immunoreactivity and 41 (29.5%) showed intense VEGF‐D immunoreactivity. In 49 (75.3%) of the 65 and 20 (48.8%) of the 41 cases, heterogeneous intratumoral staining was observed for VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D, respectively, with the highest levels of expression at the invasive edges. VEGF‐C expression correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymphatic involvement, venous involvement, lymph node metastasis, and liver metastasis, and VEGF‐D expression correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and liver metastasis. No correlation was observed between VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D expression in tumors. The survival time of patients with VEGF‐C‐positive tumors was significantly shorter than that of patients with VEGF‐C‐negative tumors, and the survival time of patients with VEGF‐D‐positive tumors was significantly shorter than that of patients with VEGF‐D‐negative tumors. The survival time of patients with both VEGF‐C‐ and VEGF‐D‐positive tumors was significantly shorter than that of patients with both VEGF‐C‐and VEGF‐D‐negative tumors. These results suggest that VEGF‐C and VEGF‐D may be independent and important prognostic factors in patients with human colorectal carcinoma. (Cancer Sci 2004; 95: 32–39)
Performance and Emission Characteristics of Spark Ignition Engine Fuelled with Ethanol and Methanol Gasoline Blended Fuels

Depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution has led researchers to anticipate the need to develop bio-fuels. Alcohols are an important category of bio-fuels. Methanol can be produced from coal, biomass or even natural gas with acceptable energy cost. Also, gasification of biomass can lead to methanol, mixed alcohols, and Fischer–Tropsch liquids (Chum and Overend, 2001). Ethanol is produced from sugars (particularly sugar cane) and starch by fermentation. The biomass industry can produce additional ethanol by fermenting some agricultural by-products (Prasad et al., 2007). Lignocellulosic biomass is a potential source for ethanol that is not directly linked to food production (Freudenberger, 2009). Shapouri et al. (1995) showed that the net energy value of corn ethanol has become positive in recent years due to technological advances in ethanol conversion and increased efficiency in farm production. Corn ethanol is energy efficient, as indicated by an energy ratio of 1.24, that is, for every Btu dedicated to producing ethanol, there is a 24-percent energy gain. Goldemberg et al. (2004) demonstrated, through the Brazilian experience with ethanol, that economy of scale and technological advances lead to increased competitiveness of this renewable alternative, reducing the gap with conventional fossil fuels. Consequently alcohols are particularly attractive as alternative fuels because they are a renewable biobased resource and oxygenated, thereby providing the potential to reduce particulate emissions in spark ignition engines. Kim and Dale (2004) estimated that the potential for ethanol production is equivalent to about 32% of the total gasoline consumption worldwide, when used in E85 (85% ethanol in gasoline) for a midsize passenger vehicle. Such a substitution immediately addresses the issue of reducing our use of non-renewable resources (fossil fuels) and the attendant impacts on climate change, especially carbon dioxide and the resulting greenhouse effect (von Blottnitz and Curran, 2007). The conversion of biomass to bio-fuel has some ecological drawbacks. It is well known that conversion of biomass requires additional energy inputs, most often provided in some form of fossil fuel. Also, agricultural production of biomass is relatively land intensive, and there
AAT polymorphisms in intron 20 of NOS1 confer vulnerability to mite-induced allergic rhinitis in Chinese patients.

B-C Yuan, R-F Chen, K-W Hsieh, M-C Yang, F-W Lung Department of Otolaryngology, Fooyin University Hospital, Pingtung County, Taiwan Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Institute of Biological Science, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm for the Multiple Crossdocks Problem

We study a multiple crossdocks problem with supplier and customer time windows, where any violation of time windows will incur a penalty cost and the flows through the crossdock are constrained by fixed transportation schedules and crossdock capacities. We prove this problem to be -hard in the strong sense and therefore focus on developing efficient heuristics. Based on the problem structure, we propose a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) integrating greedy technique and variable neighborhood search method to solve the problem. Extensive experiments under different scenarios were conducted, and results show that HGA outperforms CPLEX solver, providing solutions in realistic timescales.
Oral health-related quality of life of Portuguese adults with mild intellectual disabilities

Individuals with disabilities are regarded as a highly vulnerable population group, particularly as far as oral health is concern. However, few studies have assessed the impact of the oral condition on the quality of life of these individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study is to expand knowledge on the oral health status of the Portuguese adults with mild intellectual disability, and to assess how the patient’s oral health is related to their quality of life. A sample of 240 adults with mild intellectual disabilities linked to the Portuguese Federation for Intellectual Disability, were interviewed using a previously validated version of the Oral Health Impact Profile. An oral health examination was also conducted using three oral health indexes: Clinical Oral Health Index (COHI); Clinical Oral Care Needs Index (COCNI) and the Clinical Oral Prevention Index (COPI). Sociodemographic characteristics and dental health factors were also collected, following statistical analysis. More than half of the individuals (54,9%) presented one or more problems of major to severe impact on health (COHI level 2); only 4,6% of the individuals do not need treatment or examination (COCNI level 0) and 85% of the study sample needs measures of educational or preventive action (COPI level 1). In 76,9% of the participants, oral health had impact on the quality of life. The most affected dimensions of life were physical pain with 61,9%, followed by psychological discomfort and psychological disability with 45,1% and 45%, respectively. With relation to oral health factors and sociodemographic variables it was verified that fewer teeth and higher self-perception of need for dental treatment had a negative impact on the quality of life. On the other hand, institutionalization and an increase in at least one category in the self-perception of the oral health status had a positive impact on the quality of life. Given the high burden of oral disease and the considerable impact on quality of life found in this study, the establishment of guidelines to improve the oral health and quality of life of these individuals should be regarded as imperative.
Survey on perceptions and skills amongst postgraduate residents regarding breaking bad news at teaching hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE To assess the perception, skills and comfort level of postgraduate residents with respect to breaking bad news. METHODS Five workshops were conducted on communication skills, including the task of breaking bad news, at three teaching hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan. Teaching methods included interactive lectures, video presentations, role play and small group discussions. Pre- and post-workshop data was collected from all the 97 participants to assess their previous training, comfort level and perceptions regarding the subject and any improvement after attending the workshop. RESULTS Of the total participants, 92 (95%) residents had not received any training in communication skills at the undergraduate level. Only 64 (66%) residents had witnessed bad news being broken by a consultant. Before the workshop, 83 (85%) residents felt either not comfortable or somewhat comfortable while breaking bad news compared to 36% post-workshop (p < 0.0000). Besides, 64 (66%) residents reported breaking bad news to be extremely stressful or very stressful before the workshop versus 25% post-workshop (p < 0.0000). Before the workshop, 18 (19%) residents said they would withhold the information from the patient on family's insistence despite the patient's wish to be informed, compared to 6% post-workshop (p < 0.007). Regarding the utility of the workshop, 91 (94%) residents said it had changed their perceptions to a major extent, while 92 (95%) residents rated the workshop as extremely useful or very useful. CONCLUSION Formal structured training in breaking bad news is lacking both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Pakistan. Structured training programmes for residents can do the task effectively.
Psychological and Behavioural Impact of Genetic Testing Smokers for Lung Cancer Risk

The behavioural and psychological impact of genetic testing for lung cancer susceptibility was examined among smokers (N = 61) who were randomly allocated to a GSTM1 genetic testing group (with GSTM1-missing or GSTM1-present result) or no-test control group. The GSTM1-missing (higher risk) group reported greater motivation to quit smoking, and both genetic testing groups reported lower depression than the control group at one-week follow-up (p < .05 for all). Differences were not significant at two months follow-up. This study indicates the feasibility of much-needed research into the risks and benefits for individuals of emerging lifestyle-related genetic susceptibility tests.
Modeling the Relationship Between Descriptive Norms and Behaviors: A Test and Extension of the Theory of Normative Social Behavior (TNSB)

Informed by the theory of normative social behavior, this article sought to determine the underlying mediating and moderating factors in the relationship between descriptive norms and behavioral intentions. Furthermore, the theory was extended by asking whether and what role behavioral identity played in normative influences. Simulating the central message of norms-based interventions to reduce college students' alcohol consumption, in this field experiment, descriptive norms were manipulated by informing half of the students (n = 665) that their peers consumed less alcohol than they might believe. Others (n = 672) were not provided any norms information. students' injunctive norms, outcome expectations, group identity, behavioral identity, and behavioral intention surrounding alcohol consumption were then measured. Exposure to the low-norms information resulted in a significant drop in estimates of the prevalence of consumption. Injunctive norms and outcome expectations partially mediated and also moderated the relationship between descriptive norms and behavioral intentions. Group identity and behavioral identity also moderated the relationship between descriptive norms and behavioral intentions, but the effect size was relatively small for group identity. Implications for health campaigns are also discussed.
Selective Tissue Distribution Mediates Tissue-Dependent PPARγ Activation and Insulin Sensitization by INT131, a Selective PPARγ Modulator

The mechanisms underlying the enhancement of insulin sensitivity by selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ modulators (sPPARγMs) are still not completely known. Here, the representative sPPARγM, INT131, was used as a probe to investigate the insulin-sensitizing mechanisms of sPPARγM in the context of tissue selective compound distribution and PPARγ regulation. First, 30 mg kg−1 INT131 was observed to produce an insulin-sensitizing effect comparable to that of 10 mg kg−1 rosiglitazone (RSG) in both db/db and DIO mice using the oral glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Similar to RSG, INT131 significantly increased brown adipose tissue (BAT) mass and adipocyte size and up-regulated the expression of BAT-specific genes. Compared with RSG, INT131 exhibited greater potency in inducing white adipose tissue (WAT) browning, decreasing adipocyte size, and increasing BAT-specific and function-related gene expression in subcutaneous WAT (sWAT). However, it did not induce hepatomegaly or hepatic steatosis, which is associated with lower levels of lipogenic genes expression. Pharmacokinetic analysis reveals that in contrast with RSG, INT131 shows higher Cmax, and much longer residency time (AUC0−12h), as well relatively lower elimination rate in adipose tissues and skeletal muscle, this demonstrated INT131 distributed predominantly in adipose tissue. Whereas, INT131 was less abundant in the liver. These results thus suggest that the tissue-selective distribution underlies INT131's selective PPARγ modulation. Compounds favoring adipose tissue may aid in development of better, safer sPPARγM to address the insulin resistance of diabetes.
Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea: diagnosis and treatment

While John Starr was working as a senior registrar at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, an upsurge in episodes of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea seemed to be associated with increasing use of third generation cephalosporins. This article seeks to clarify some of the diagnostic problems and help with appropriate treatment of this condition.
Submission Number : EB-15-00070 Analyzing the Mobile-Banking Adoption Process among Low-Income Populations : A Sequential Logit Model

The purpose of this study is to uncover the socioeconomic factors that explain the adoption of mobile banking (mbanking), based on data collected from households in the suburbs of Dakar (Senegal). Starting from the hypothesis that adopting an innovation goes through three stages, at each stage we identify the factors that explain adoption. In the first stage, that of “knowledge,” the individual must know about the product and its uses. In the second stage, that of "possession,” the person must test the product. If the product is accessible and its advantages are observable, he/she can finally adopt it in the last stage of the process. Therefore, the steps "knowledge" and "possession" are required passages in the adoption process. In this article, we use a sequential logit model to highlight the determinants at each level of this process. The results show that age was the only determining factor in the first stage of adoption, that is, "knowledge" of m-banking. In the second phase, other factors appeared in addition; cognitive factors came into play, such as literacy, education level, as well as financial factors such as membership in a ROSCA (rotating credit and savings scheme) that influenced the ‘possession' of m-banking. At the final stage of the adoption process, the variables education level, wages and owning a business were the factors involved in the adoption of m-banking. This data in this article is part of a larger research project on “The Effect of Mobile-banking Use on Households' Well-being,” which has received funding from SIRCA of the Nanyang Technology University. Citation: François Seck Fall and Yaya Ky and Ousmane Birba, (2015) ''Analyzing the Mobile-Banking Adoption Process among LowIncome Populations: A Sequential Logit Model'', Economics Bulletin, Volume 35, Issue 4, pages 2085-2103 Contact: François Seck Fall Francois-Seck.Fall@ut-capitole.fr, Yaya Ky yky@cres-sn.org, Ousmane Birba birbaous@yahoo.fr. Submitted: February 24, 2015. Published: October 02, 2015. Submission Number: EB-15-00070 Analyzing the Mobile-Banking Adoption Process among LowIncome Populations: A Sequential Logit Model François Seck Fall Lereps (University of Toulouse) Yaya Ky Ousmane Birba Cres (Consortium pour la Recherche Economique et Sociale)-University of Dakar Cres (Consortium pour la Recherche Economique et Sociale)-University of Dakar
Combined Effects of Temperature and Salinity on Larval Development of the Mangrove Crab Parasesarma catenata Ortman, 1897 (Brachyura: Sesarmidae)

Keywords : larval development, temperature, salinity, Brachyura, mangroves The larval stages of the mangrove crab Parasesarma catenata were reared in the laboratory from eggs of females collected in the Mgazana estuary, South Africa. Survival and duration of larval stages were tested for the combined effects of temperature and salinity in a factorial design experiment, using three females each with two replicates of 15 larvae per combination. Combinations were made from five temperature (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 oC) and four salinity values (15, 25, 35 and 45 ‰). Results were tested by ANOVA and multiple regression was applied to generate contour models by polynomial equation. It was found that P. catenata larvae develop optimally in near to seawater salinity at a temperature of around 25 oC. These results support the assumption that newly-hatched larvae of this species are exported from the estuarine environment to the sea for development. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science Vol.2(1) 2003: 57-63
Discourse Semantics and Ideology

This article presents fragments of a new, multidisciplinary theory of ideology and its relations with discourse, formulated in the broader framework of a critical discourse analysis. Ideologies are defined as basic systems of fundamental social cognitions and organizing the attitudes and other social representations shared by members of groups. They thus indirectly control the mental representations (models) that form the interpretation basis and contextual embeddedness of discourse and its structures. In this framework, it is examined how semantic structures of discourse (such as topic, focus, propositional structure, local coherence, level of description, implications and macrostructures) are monitored by underlying ideologies, as expressed in opinion articles in the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Basic Characteristics of Chronic Hypotension Cases: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study from 1958 through 1999

Few epidemiological studies have been conducted on the prevalence, blood pressure trends by age, and basic characteristics of chronic hypotension. Among 13,370 subjects (5,094 men and 8,276 women) examined from 1958 to 1999 in Japan, 92 were identified as chronic hypotensives (11 men and 81 women) whose systolic blood pressure (SBP, mmHg) was lower than 100 mmHg for 8 or more years. Trends of SBP and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) were determined over a 16-year period in this group of chronic hypotensives and 276 age- and sex-matched controls (33 men and 243 women); during this 16-year period, the chronic hypotensives and controls ranged in age from 19 to 75 years. BMI, heart rate (HR, bpm), body temperature (°C), Hb (g/dl), and creatinine (Cre, mg/dl) were compared between the chronic hypotensives and the controls at the last examination. The chronic hypotensives had a female preponderance (0.2% in men and 1.0% in women, p=0.001), and their SBP and BMI increased little with increasing age. BMI (20.2±3.4), BMI-adjusted SBP (101±19), HR (63±10), body temperature (36.7±0.3), Hb (12.5±1.1), and Cre (0.81±0.13) were lower in the chronic hypotensives than those (22.9±3.4, 126±20, 68±10, 36.8±0.3, 12.9±1.1, and 0.86±0.12, respectively) in controls (p<0.05). The present results clearly show that chronic hypotensives have a female preponderance and low BMI, HR, body temperature, Hb, and Cre in addition to low SBP that does not increase with age.
The Large Cutting Tools from the South African Acheulean and the Question of Social Traditions1

Handaxes and cleavers are the keystone of the Acheulean, a stone‐tool‐making phenomenon which was made for over a million years (ca. < 1.7 to < 0.25 million years). These large cutting tools are considered a product of social learning within cooperating groups of Homo ergaster and Homo heidelbergensis in Africa and Europe. This paper concetrates on data from the Cave of Hearths and six other South African late Early Pleistocene and Middle Pleistocene sites. It argues that the influence of strong social learning which imposes communally sanctioned practices in manufacture and end product is absent. Individuals reproduce what they are already habituated to, but there is no cultural requirement of form or practice—this is negotiated by individuals. Many of the criteria used by archaeologists to identify benchmarks in hominin cognitive development, such as symmetry, need to be reassessed in the context of assemblage‐based understandings.
Autism as a strongly genetic disorder: evidence from a British twin study

Synopsis Two previous epidemiological studies of autistic twins suggested that autism was predominantly genetically determined, although the findings with regard to a broader phenotype of cognitive, and possibly social, abnormalities were contradictory. Obstetric and perinatal hazards were also invoked as environmentally determined aetiological factors. The first British twin sample has been re-examined and a second total population sample of autistic twins recruited. In the combined sample 60% of monozygotic (MZ) pairs were concordant for autism versus no dizygotic (DZ) pairs; 92% of MZ pairs were concordant for a broader spectrum of related cognitive or social abnormalities versus 10% of DZ pairs. The findings indicate that autism is under a high degree of genetic control and suggest the involvement of multiple genetic loci. Obstetric hazards usually appear to be consequences of genetically influenced abnormal development, rather than independent aetiological factors. Few new cases had possible medical aetiologies, refuting claims that recognized disorders are common aetiological influences.