Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Nearly half of all patients who undergo surgical resection of localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will develop and ultimately die of recurrent disease. The postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) meta-analysis showed adjuvant thoracic radiotherapy to have a detrimental effect on survival in this patient population. A meta-analysis of early trials of adjuvant chemotherapy by the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Collaborative Group showed that while chemotherapy with alkylating agents was also detrimental, chemotherapy with cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with an improved hazard ratio for death (HR = 0.87), equating to a 5 percent survival benefit at 5 years. However, the result was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Recently, results have been reported for several large Phase III trials of adjuvant chemotherapy which differed with respect to the stage of resected disease included, the type of chemotherapy used and the use of post-operative radiotherapy. Three trials (IALT, JBR 10, and ANITA) that utilized cisplatin-based doublets showed a significantly positive survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with Stage II-IIIA NSCLC. The magnitude of this benefit, which was suggested to be 4–5 percent at 5 years in the meta-analysis and by the IALT study, may be as large as 8–15 percent as indicated by more recent studies with modern platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. These data indicate that medically fit patients with resected Stage II-IIIA NSCLC should be offered adjuvant chemotherapy with a modern cisplatin-based doublet.
Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy on Infectious Complications in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Background: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a well-established, widely used and effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Unfortunately, side effects are frequent during CPAP treatment. Objectives: Little is known about the effects of CPAP on infectious complications in patients with OSAS. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the kinds and rate of infections of the upper airway in 246 consecutive patients (mean age, 59.7 years) with polysomnographically verified OSAS using CPAP with or without a heated humidifier and compared them with OSAS patients who received non-CPAP therapy. Results: Of the 246 patients, 40 received conservative therapy and 206 CPAP treatment, 36 of them with a heated humidifier. The mean follow-up period of the study group was 165.4 ± 92.1 weeks and did not differ between the three groups. Infectious diseases were frequent in all three groups, but patients using CPAP without humidifier suffered from upper airway infections significantly more frequently than controls (42.9 vs. 25%; p < 0.05), and more patients on CPAP therapy with humidifier than controls (22.2 vs. 2.5%; p < 0.01) reported an increased rate of upper airway infections since initiation of CPAP therapy or diagnosis of OSAS. Especially patients using a hot water bath humidifier who cleaned their devices inadequately had significantly more upper airway infections since diagnosis (57.1 vs. 20%; p < 0.05) or during the past 6 months (52.4 vs. 13.3%; p < 0.05) than patients who regularly cleaned CPAP machines, humidifiers and ventilatory circuits. Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients using CPAP therapy either with or without heated humidity seem to be at an increased risk of upper airway infections compared to conservatively treated patients.
Osteopontin Promotes Oncostatin M Production in Human Osteoblasts: Implication of Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Accumulating evidence indicates that subchondral bone might play an essential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteopontin (OPN) induces the production of an important proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of RA. This study evaluated the activation of oncostatin M (OSM) by OPN in human primary osteoblasts to understand RA pathogenesis and characterized the intracellular signaling pathways involved in this activation. Quantitative PCR, ELISA, and Western blot results indicated that stimulation of human primary osteoblasts with OPN induces OSM expression through αvβ3 integrin/c-Src/platelet-derived growth factor receptor transactivation/MEK/ERK. Treatment of osteoblasts with OPN also increased c-Jun phosphorylation, AP-1 luciferase activity, and c-Jun binding to the AP-1 element on the OSM promoter, as demonstrated using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Moreover, inhibition of OPN expression using lentiviral‐OPN short hairpin RNA resulted in the amelioration of articular swelling, cartilage erosion, and OSM expression in the ankle joint of mice with collagen-induced arthritis as shown using microcomputed tomography and immunohistochemistry staining. Our results imply that OSM expression in osteoblasts increases in response to OPN-induced inflammation in vitro. Finally, lentiviral‐OPN short hairpin RNA ameliorates the inflammatory response and bone destruction in mice with collagen-induced arthritis. Therefore, OPN may be a potential therapeutic target for RA.
The induction and repression of amino acid oxidation in Pseudomonas fluorescens.

It has been known for some time that P8eudomonas species are micro-organisms capable of oxidizing a number of amino acids (Webster & Bernheim, 1936) and of utilizing these compounds as growth substrates (den Dooren de Jong, 1926). Although the capacity of a single strain of P8eudomonas to grow at the expense of a variety of amino acids has not recently received emphasis, a number of workers have utilized selected strains to study the catabolic pathways for individual amino acids. The enzymes concerned are usually inducible and their formation in other organisms is known to be affected by the presence of glucose (Epps & Gale, 1942). This effect of glucose is considered to be one of the important regulatory mechanisms by which enzyme formation may be repressed despite the presence of an inducing substrate (see review by Magasanik, 1961). The present study shows that a single strain of P8eudomonas will utilize 18 of the commonly occurring amino acids as sole carbon source for growth and that the capacity to oxidize each amino acid involves the formation of inducible enzymes. In the presence of glucose amino acid adaptation is repressed. A more detailed examination of the effect of glucose on tyrosine and histidine degradation has been carried out with cell-free extracts. The first steps in the degradative pathway for tyrosine are
A Simplified Risk-Scoring System for Prematurity

Prematurity, the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, results from a multifactorial interaction of medical, historic, and psychosocial conditions. Although the literature contains several reports of prematurity risk-scoring systems, the relative importance of specific risk factors may depend on the population studied. This report represents the first prematurity risk-scoring system designed specifically for a predominantly Hispanic population in the United States. Retrospective analysis of 8240 births occurring at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center from July, 1979 to December, 1982 identified maternal prenatal risk factors that were found to be statistically related to prematurity. A linear logistic regression model was then employed to derive a composite risk score. Using the logistic risk scores, we developed a simplified model for identifying women at risk for preterm birth. The methodology and analyses provide a system for the development of population-specific risk scoring.
Quantum Circuits That Can Be Simulated Classically in Polynomial Time

A model of quantum computation based on unitary matrix operations was introduced by Feynman and Deutsch. It has been asked whether the power of this model exceeds that of classical Turing machines. We show here that a significant class of these quantum computations can be simulated classically in polynomial time. In particular we show that two-bit operations characterized by 4 × 4 matrices in which the sixteen entries obey a set of five polynomial relations can be composed according to certain rules to yield a class of circuits that can be simulated classically in polynomial time. This contrasts with the known universality of two-bit operations and demonstrates that efficient quantum computation of restricted classes is reconcilable with the Polynomial Time Turing Hypothesis. Therefore, it is possible that, The techniques introduced bring the quantum computational model within the realm of algebraic complexity theory. In a manner consistent with one view of quantum physics, the wave function is simulated deterministically, and randomization arises only in the course of making measurements. The results generalize the quantum model in that they do not require the matrices to be unitary. In a different direction these techniques also yield deterministic polynomial time algorithms for the decision and parity problems for certain classes of read-twice Boolean formulae. All our results are based on the use of gates that are defined in terms of their graph matching properties.
High-Sugar, but Not High-Fat, Food Activates Supraoptic Nucleus Neurons in the Male Rat

Oxytocin is a potent anorexigen and is believed to have a role in satiety signaling. We developed rat models to study the activity of oxytocin neurons in response to voluntary consumption or oral gavage of foods using c-Fos immunohistochemistry and in vivo electrophysiology. Using c-Fos expression as an indirect marker of neural activation, we showed that the percentage of magnocellular oxytocin neurons expressing c-Fos increased with voluntary consumption of sweetened condensed milk (SCM). To model the effect of food in the stomach, we gavaged anesthetized rats with SCM. The percentage of supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus magnocellular oxytocin-immunoreactive neurons expressing c-Fos increased with SCM gavage but not with gastric distention. To further examine the activity of the supraoptic nucleus, we made in vivo electrophysiological recordings from SON neurons, where anesthetized rats were gavaged with SCM or single cream. Pharmacologically identified oxytocin neurons responded to SCM gavage with a linear, proportional, and sustained increase in firing rate, but cream gavage resulted in a transient reduction in firing rate. Blood glucose increased after SCM gavage but not cream gavage. Plasma osmolarity and plasma sodium were unchanged throughout. We show that in response to high-sugar, but not high-fat, food in the stomach, there is an increase in the activity of oxytocin neurons. This does not appear to be a consequence of stomach distention or changes in osmotic pressure. Our data suggest that the presence of specific foods with different macronutrient profiles in the stomach differentially regulates the activity of oxytocin neurons.
Postpartum haemorrhage—a continuing problem

Summary. The factors responsible for postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in singleton vaginal deliveries, not complicated by a retained placenta, were identified by comparing labour characteristics in 86 women who had a PPH (blood loss > 500 ml) with 351 women whose blood loss at delivery was < 350 ml. Primiparity, induction of labour by amniotomy/ oxytocin, forceps delivery, long first and second stages, oxytocin com‐pared with syntometrine (oxytocin plus ergometrine maleate), as a prophylactic oxytocic, were identified as significant risk factors. Epi‐dural analgesia contributed indirectly to an increase in the risk of postpartum haemorrhage. The changes in labour ward practice over the last 20 years have resulted in the re‐emergence of PPH as a significant problem.
Coexistence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM crops in the European Union. A review

The adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Union (EU) raises questions on the feasibility of coexistence between GM and non-GM crops. Regulations to ensure that different cropping systems can develop side-by-side without excluding any agricultural option are currently implemented or developed by member states. The aim of this review is to explore whether nationally or regionally proposed coexistence strategies comply with the general principles established by the European Commission that ask for science-based and proportionate coexistence measures. In the first part, existing legal requirements and potential sources of adventitious mixing are reviewed. It is discussed what type of coexistence measures might be necessary to keep GM inputs below the legal tolerance threshold of 0.9%. Concentrating on cross-fertilisation as the major biological source of adventitious mixing in maize, it is then assessed to which extent available scientific data on cross-fertilisation can explain the diversity of currently proposed isolation distances by several member states. In the second part, it is analysed whether currently proposed isolation distances reflect contending policy objectives towards GM crops that largely exceed the economic scope of coexistence. It is investigated how coexistence is intersecting with a wider debate about the role of GM crops in agriculture. Based on the analysis of existing cross-fertilisation data, it is concluded that some of the currently proposed isolation distances are not in line with the coexistence principles laid down by the European Commission: they are (i) excessive from a scientific point of view; (ii) difficult to implement in practice; (iii) rarely proportional to the regional heterogeneity in the agricultural landscape; and (iv) not proportional to the farmers’ basic economic incentives for coexistence. Hence, the range of proposed isolation distances cannot simply be explained by different interpretations of available scientific data, possible error intervals and remaining uncertainties inherent in the scientific process. It is argued that other than scientific issues must be at play. One might thus claim that coexistence has become an arena of contending values and visions on the future of agriculture and on the role GM crops might play therein.
Effects of calcium antagonist diltiazem on liver calcium content and necrosis of hepatocytes in rats following treatment with CCL4.

To study the relationship between the changes in hepatocytes and calcium contents in the liver of 42 rats treated with CCl4 and the effect of a calcium antagonist diltiazem on the liver injury, we determined liver calcium content, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), the T3/T4 ratio, and calcium before and 6 to 72 hr after treatment with a single oral dose of CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg) in 21 rats (Group I) and in 21 rats treated with diltiazem (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally three times, 24 hr before, simultaneously with, and 24 hr after administration of the same doses of CCl4 (Group II). The maximum calcium content in Group I was 259.7 +/- 53.3 micrograms/g wet weight at 24 hr after treatment, whereas it was 113.0 +/- 51.1 micrograms/g wet weight in Group II, and a significant difference was seen between them (p less than 0.05). The ALT levels in both groups elevated after 18 to 24 hr and a significant difference was also found between the two levels at 24 hr (p less than 0.05). The T3/T4 ratio in Group I decreased immediately, but increased later. The ratio in Group II maintained the level before treatment. Correlation between the calcium content and the grade of centrilobular necrosis was significantly seen in Group I (r = 0.82, p less than 0.001), but was not found in Group II. The grade of centrilobular necrosis appeared to be more severe at 24 to 48 hr in Group I than in Group II. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Knowledge Management Using Information Technology: Determinants of Short-Term Impact on Firm Value

The importance of knowledge management (KM) processes for organizational performance is now well recognized. Seeking to better understand the short-term impact of KM on firm value, this article focuses on public announcements of information technology (IT)-based KM efforts, and uses cumulative abnormal return (CAR) associated with an announcement as the dependent variable. This article employs a contingency approach, arguing that the KM announcement would have a positive short-term impact on firm value in some conditions but not in others. Thus, it pursues the following research question: What are the effects of contextual factors on the CAR associated with the announcement of an IT-based KM effort? Specific hypotheses are proposed based on information-processing theory, organizational learning theory, the knowledge-based theory of the firm, and the theory of knowledge creation. These hypotheses link CARs to alignment between industry innovativeness and the KM process, alignment between firm efficiency and the KM process, firm-specific instability, and firm diversification. The empirical study utilizes secondary data on 89 KM announcements from 1995 to 2002. The results largely support the hypotheses. Overall, this article provides empirical support for the theory-based arguments, and helps develop a contingency framework of the effectiveness of KM efforts.
Pathologic Alterations of Canine and Feline Adrenal Glands

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and age-dependency of adrenal changes in dogs and cats, which were dissected between 2004 and 2006 at the Institute of Veterinary Pathology, LMU Munich. The adrenal glands of 101 dogs and 159 cats were dissected free from adjacent tissue, weighed, lamellated perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and were embedded in paraffin and plastic for histologic inspection. Ageing cats most frequently showed accessory cortical nodules in the capsule, cortex and medulla, pigment deposition and shock bodies. The appearance of accessory cortical nodules and pigment deposition were linked to the age of the cats and that of shock bodies was linked to infectious diseases. Inflammatory alterations were rare and neoplastic changes were not observed. In dogs, the most frequent alterations were accessory cortical nodules in the capsule, cortex and medulla and circulatory disturbances and there was a significant linkage of the appearance of cortical nodules and pigment deposition and age. Metabolic, inflammatory and tumorous diseases were rarely observed in the dogs examined. In summary, cats and dogs show similar incidental alterations of the adrenals. Clinical relevant adrenal lesions such as atrophy or primary neoplasia were rarely diagnosed.
The C. elegans NR4A nuclear receptor gene nhr‐6 promotes cell cycle progression in the spermatheca lineage

Background: NR4A nuclear receptors are a conserved, functionally diverse group of nuclear receptors that regulate multiple cellular processes including proliferation and differentiation. The gene nhr‐6 encodes the sole Caenorhabditis elegans NR4A nuclear receptor homolog with an essential role in reproduction by regulating morphogenesis of the spermatheca, a somatic gonad organ involved in ovulation and fertilization. Results: Here, we identify the spermatheca cell lineage defects that occur in nhr‐6 mutants. Utilizing cell marker analysis, we find that nhr‐6 is required for cell cycle progression and that the cell proliferation phenotype is not due to premature cell cycle exit. We also show that loss of the negative cell cycle regulators fzr‐1 and lin‐35 suppresses the cell proliferation defects. We further demonstrate that NHR‐6 activity intersects with Eph receptor signaling during spermatheca cell proliferation. Conclusions: NHR‐6 has an essential function in promoting cell cycle progression during G1 phase in a specific spermatheca cell lineage. Genetic suppression of the proliferation phenotype does not affect the differentiation phenotypes observed in nhr‐6 mutants, indicating a dualistic role for nhr‐6 in regulating cell proliferation and cell differentiation during spermatheca organogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 244:417–430, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
SEIFERT FIBERED KNOT MANIFOLDS

We consider the question of when is the closed manifold obtained by elementary surgery on an n-knot Seifert fibered over a 2-orbifold. The possible bases are strongly constrained by the fact that knot groups have weight 1. We present a new family of 2-knots with solvable groups, overlooked in earlier work. The knots in this new family are neither invertible nor amphicheiral, and the weight orbits for the knot groups are parametrized by ℤ. There are no known examples in higher dimensions.
Solving global two-dimensional routing problems using snell's law and a search

Long-range route planning is an important component in the intelligent control system of an autonomous agent. Most attempts to solve it with map data rely on applying simple search strategies to high-resolution, node-and-link representations of the map. These techniques have several disadvantages including large time and space requirements. We present an alternative which utilizes a more intelligent representation of the problem environment. Topographical features are represented as homogeneous-cost regions, greatly reducing storage requirements. Then, the A* search strategy is applied to a dynamically created graph, constructed according to Snell's law. Testing has shown significant speed improvements over competing techniques.
The Effects of Federal Estate Tax Policy on Charitable Contributions: Technical Paper 2001-2

Tax policy encourages charitable contributions during an individual’s life through both the personal income tax and the estate tax. The effect of the income tax on contributions is well known. Because annual charitable contributions reduce the size of an estate, and hence the likely estate tax burden, the estate tax should also affect contributions. Recently, Auten and Joulfaian (1996) studied that issue using the tobit method on 1982 Statistics of Income data and found that the estate tax significantly increases charitable contributions. In this study, we estimate a similar model and find
Beneficial Effect of TGFβ Antagonism in Treating Diabetic Nephropathy Depends on When Treatment Is Started

Background: In diabetic rats with maximal activation of RAS induced by uninephrectomy, late treatment with anti-TGFβ antibody limited renal injury only when combined with ACE inhibitor. We investigated whether in a two-kidney diabetic model the time at which treatment started predicted the response to TGFβ antagonist. Methods: 27 weeks after streptozotocin injection, animals had mild proteinuria and were randomized to receive irrelevant antibody, anti-TGFβ antibody (1D11) or enalapril till 52 weeks (early treatment). The effect of agents alone or combined was also evaluated at the time of overt proteinuria (late treatment, 52–61 weeks). Results: When given early, 1D11 displayed marked antihypertensive and antiproteinuric effects. Glomerulosclerosis was reduced to the extent that a remarkable percentage of glomeruli without sclerosis appeared after treatment. Podocyte number was normalized. Renoprotection of 1D11 was comparable to enalapril. Despite control of blood pressure, in late treatment single agents did not reduce proteinuria significantly. Glomerulosclerosis and podocyte loss were partially limited by 1D11 or enalapril, but full protection was achieved by combination. Conclusions: Renoprotective effect of TGFβ antagonism crucially depends on the time at which treatment started. Effectiveness of early treatment with 1D11 would indicate that TGFβ is a major mediator of damage in early diabetes. To tackle the renal damage in the phase of advanced disease, a combined treatment with ACE inhibitor is needed.