Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detecting Technical Debt through Issue Trackers

Managing technical debt effectively to prevent it from accumulating too quickly is of great concern to software stakeholders. To pay off technical debt regularly, software developers must be conscious of the existence of technical debt items. The first step is to make technical debt explicit; that is the identification of technical debt. Although there exist many kinds of static source code analysis tools to identify code-level technical debt, identifying non-code-level technical debt is very challenging and needs deep exploration. This paper proposed an approach to identifying non-code-level technical debt through issue tracking data sets using natural language processing and machine learning techniques and validated the feasibility and performance of this approach using an issue tracking data set recorded in Chinese from a commercial software project. We found that there are actually some common words that can be used as indicators of technical debt. Based on these key words, we achieved the precision of 0.72 and the recall of 0.81 for identifying technical debt items using machine learning techniques respectively. Keywords—technical debt; identification; issue tracking data sets; natural language processing; machine learning
A Comparative Analysis of Economic Farming Activity of Farmers Rice-Livestock Integrated Farming System (RLIFS) and Non RLIFS

Integrated farming system is a system that emphasized linkages and synergism of farming units waste utilization. The objective of this study was to analyze the economic farming activity of Rice Livestock Integrated Farming System (RLIFS) and non RLIFS farmers. The results showed the usage allocation of family and external labor to RLIFS farmers was relatively greater than non RLIFS farmers. The RLIFS farmers’ income of rice farming, other crops and non-agricultural was relatively larger than non RLIFS farmers, while non RLIFS farmers had greater income from livestock (cow and non cow) business and farm labor. The production costs of rice farming and livestock business were still greater in RLIFS farmers although they used manure produced by their own and also provide straw of rice production as animal feed. This was due to several factors (1) The proportion of the cost of using manure was very small in the cost of rice farming if the use of manure only a supporting fertilizer and not the main fertilizer for plant. (2) Some farmers were still buying and using anorganic or chemical fertilizers because of their mindset who wanted fast and instantaneous ones. Some farmers also felt that manure contained less nutrients so they used it in small quantities. The household income total of RLIFS farmers was higher than non RLIFS farmers.
Political Corruption and Corporate Cash Holdings

This study empirically analyzes the effects of political corruption on corporate cash holdings policy and the impact of cash holdings on firm performance using 97 multinational data. We find that there is a nonlinear cubic function relationship between the political corruption and corporate cash holdings with a negative coefficient of cubic term of political corruption. Specifically, in developed countries with low levels of political corruption, there is a U-shape relationship between political corruption and cash holdings; however, in frontier and emerging countries, there is an Inverted-U-shape relationship. These results show that two hypothesis ‘Expropriation Shielding hypothesis’ and ‘Preoccupancy hypothesis’ on previous literature are not conflicting, but can be explained differently according to the level of development of countries and the level of political corruption. In addition, we find that the effects of political corruption on firm performance when firms use cash are different in developed and developing countries. From these results, we suggest that political corruption is an important variable in corporate financial policy and firm performance.
Safety and Efficacy of Intratracheal Recombinant Human Clara Cell Protein in a Newborn Piglet Model of Acute Lung Injury

Despite the widespread use of exogenous surfactant, acute and chronic lung injury continues to be a major cause of morbidity in preterm infants. CC10 is a protein produced by Clara cells that inhibits phospholipase A2 and has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties. We studied whether intratracheal (IT) recombinant human Clara cell protein (rhCC10) could safely minimize lung injury in a newborn piglet model of acute lung injury. Twenty-nine newborn piglets were given Survanta and then ventilated for 48 h receiving the following: room air (group 1); 100% O2 (group 2); or 100% O2 and 25, 5, or 1 mg/kg (groups 3, 4, and 5, respectively) of IT rhCC10 (diluted to 2 mL/kg with saline) at time 0. Laboratory studies, oxygen ratios, static pressure-volume curves, bronchoalveolar lavage (for inflammatory markers), and histologic analyses were performed over the 48-h study period. Pulmonary compliance and oxygenation were significantly improved in animals receiving 5 mg/kg IT rhCC10 compared with room air and 100% O2 controls (p < 0.004 and p < 0.05, respectively, ANOVA). Reductions in inflammatory markers were seen in animals receiving rhCC10, although changes did not reach statistical significance. No significant toxicity was noted. rhCC10 appeared safe and improved pulmonary function in this newborn piglet model of hyperoxic lung injury. We speculate that rhCC10 may represent a promising therapy for the prevention of lung injury in preterm infants.
Tendencias de la innovación tecnológica en Colombia 1991-2013 a partir del análisis de patentes

This study offers an analysis of patents granted to Colombian institutions or inventors and registered in patent databases in the US, Europe, WIPO, Germany and Colombia. The trends regarding processes and products of technological innovation in Colombia during the period are observed showing that patents are in fact indicators of technological innovation. Moreover, Colombian inventions are not necessarily sponsored by Colombian institutions, and the and phenomenon of the solitary inventor is giving way to research teams working for large companies, which exercise control over production and marketing.
Hypoxia-Inducible PIM Kinase Expression Promotes Resistance to Antiangiogenic Agents

Purpose: Patients develop resistance to antiangiogenic drugs, secondary to changes in the tumor microenvironment, including hypoxia. PIM kinases are prosurvival kinases and their expression increases in hypoxia. The goal of this study was to determine whether targeting hypoxia-induced PIM kinase expression is effective in combination with VEGF-targeting agents. The rationale for this therapeutic approach is based on the fact that antiangiogenic drugs can make tumors hypoxic, and thus more sensitive to PIM inhibitors. Experimental Design: Xenograft and orthotopic models of prostate and colon cancer were used to assess the effect of PIM activation on the efficacy of VEGF-targeting agents. IHC and in vivo imaging were used to analyze angiogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis. Biochemical studies were performed to characterize the novel signaling pathway linking PIM and HIF1. Results: PIM was upregulated following treatment with anti-VEGF therapies, and PIM1 overexpression reduced the ability of these drugs to disrupt vasculature and block tumor growth. PIM inhibitors reduced HIF1 activity, opposing the shift to a pro-angiogenic gene signature associated with hypoxia. Combined inhibition of PIM and VEGF produced a synergistic antitumor response characterized by decreased proliferation, reduced tumor vasculature, and decreased metastasis. Conclusions: This study describes PIM kinase expression as a novel mechanism of resistance to antiangiogenic agents. Our data provide justification for combining PIM and VEGF inhibitors to treat solid tumors. The unique ability of PIM inhibitors to concomitantly target HIF1 and selectively kill hypoxic tumor cells addresses two major components of tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Clin Cancer Res; 24(1); 169–80. ©2017 AACR.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis before operation protects against lethal consequences of postoperative peritonitis.

BACKGROUND Postoperative peritonitis has a high mortality in human beings. It is accepted that cytokines are important mediators in pathophysiology of sepsis. The recent failure of clinical trials increased the necessity to proof new drugs in more clinically relevant animal models. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in addition to an antibiotic in postoperative peritonitis. METHODS Dose-response curves and experimental conditions were developed in a total of 295 rats. The main experiment included three groups: control animals receiving a fecal inoculum, a group treated with antibiotic, and a third group receiving G-CSF in addition to the antibiotic. The main outcome was death, but in addition, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) level was determined. RESULTS The mortality rate of 60% in antibiotic treated animals was considerably reduced by G-CSF to 20%. All animals of the control group died during the observation period of 120 hours. A correlation between TNF levels and mortality rate was observed. In G-CSF treated animals total suppression of TNF serum levels was accessible in contrast to the others. CONCLUSIONS In a clinically relevant animal model G-CSF was effective as an additional concept of prophylaxis. These data are promising toward clinical trials.
Congenital heart disease at a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS To study the epidemiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) at the American University of Beirut-Medical Center, we reviewed the medical records of all cardiac patients seen at our outpatient cardiology clinic (OPD) between 1980 and 1995. The charts of all patients with CHD seen as inpatients and/or outpatients at our center during the year 1995 were also reviewed. A cardiologist evaluated all patients and the diagnosis was confirmed at least by echocardiography. The frequency of CHD was reported among three groups: 1980-1995 OPD groups (Group A); the group with CHD seen during the year 1995 (Group B); and (Group C), a subgroup of group B, included all newborns with CHD born at our hospital during the year 1995. Stillbirth and premature infants with the diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus were excluded from the study. RESULTS Group A included 883 patients. 344 patients were evaluated in Group B, with a mean age of 3.8 years. The incidence of CHD was 11.5/1,000 live births at our center. There was a relatively low prevalence of complex lesions (i.e., hypoplastic left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries) and a relatively high prevalence of the simpler cardiac malformation (i.e., ventricular and atrial septal defects, pulmonary stenosis) in Groups A and B. CONCLUSION The relatively low prevalence of complex cardiac lesions in our study is probably related to the age of the studied patients, and reflects the high mortality of these complex lesions in our country early in life. The incidence of CHD of 11.5/1,000 live births at our center is higher than that reported in the literature, with evidence of more frequent ventricular septal defects and pulmonary atresia lesions. This may be related to high rate of consanguinity in our population. This review underscores the need for a national cardiac registry center for children in a developing country like Lebanon. Such a database will allow referral and care of complex cardiac lesions.
XPS and AFM characterization of the self‐assembled molecular monolayers of a 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane on silicon surface, and effects of substrate pretreatment by UV‐irradiation

The self‐assembled (SA) molecular monolayers of a 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3‐APTS) on a silicon (111) surface, and the effects of ultraviolet (UV) pre‐treatment for substrates on the assembling process have been studied using XPS and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results show that the SA 3‐APTS molecules are bonded to the substrate surface in a nearly vertical orientation, with a thickness of the monolayer of about 0.8–1.5 nm. The SA molecular monolayers show a substantial degree of disorder in molecular packing, which are believed to result from the interactions of amine tails in the silane molecules used with surface functionalities of the substrates, and the oxygen‐containing species from the ambient. UV irradiation for silicon substrates prior to the self‐assembly reaction can enhance the assembly process and hence, significantly increase the coverage of the monolayer assembled for the substrates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of methylation by adenosine in adenosine deaminase-inhibited, phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes.

Adenosine toxicity was studied in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated, normal human, peripheral lymphocytes in order to determine whether inhibition of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-mediated transmethylation reactions might contribute to the immune defect associated with heritable deficiency of the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA). Cells were treated with 20 µM erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine to inhibit ADA and with 20 µM uridine to prevent the pyrimidine starvation known to be caused by adenosine in this system. The further addition of 25 to 100 µM adenosine inhibited the uptake of radiolabeled thymidine and leucine into acid precipitable material, and also increased intracellular levels of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) from 3- to 8-fold. The formation in these experiments of AdoHcy, a potent inhibitor of AdoMet-mediated transmethylation reactions, presumably occurs through the action of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. Although the physiologic function of this enzyme is to hydrolyze AdoHcy, the reversibility of the reaction and an equilibrium constant favoring synthesis allow net synthesis of AdoHcy under conditions of adenosine excess. Inclusion of 100 to 200 µM L-homocysteine thiolactone in our experiments enhanced AdoHcy accumulation and also potentiated the inhibitory effects of adenosine on radiolabeled thymidine and leucine uptake. Cytotoxic concentrations of adenosine also caused significant inhibition of in vivo DNA methylation, a process known to be AdoMet-mediated, and a good correlation between this effect and AdoHcy levels was noted. These findings indicate that adenosine toxicity in cultured human lymphocytes is at least in part due to AdoHcy accumulation and resultant inhibition of essential AdoMet-mediated methylation reactions. The relevance of these findings to the pathogenesis of the immune defect in ADA-deficient patients is not established but deserves consideration.
A transcriptionally silent RXRα supports early embryonic morphogenesis and heart development

Retinoic acid (RA) receptors (RARs) α, β, and γ heterodimerized with rexinoid receptors (RXRs) α, β, and γ mediate the RA signal. To analyze the contribution of the transcriptional activity of RXRα, the main RXR during embryogenesis, we have engineered a mouse line harboring a transcriptionally silent RXRα mutant that lacks the activation functions AF1 and AF2. All homozygous mutants (Rxraafo) display the ocular defects previously observed in compound Rar-null and Rxra/Rar-null mutants, thus demonstrating that a transcriptionally active RXRα is required during eye development. In contrast, the vast majority of Rxraafo fetuses do not display the Rxra-null mutant hypoplasia of the myocardium, thus demonstrating that RXRα can act as a transcriptionally silent heterodimerization partner. Similarly, a transcriptionally silent RXRα mutant can support early embryogenesis, as Rxraafo/Rxrb-null embryos display a normal morphology, contrasting with the severe malformations exhibited by compound Rxra/Rxrb-null embryos. Along the same line, we show that a silent RXRα mutant is sufficient to allow the initial formation of the placental labyrinth, whereas later steps of trophoblast cell differentiation critically requires the AF2, but not the AF1, function of RXRα.
Propranolol in the Treatment of Acute Migraine Attacks

The efficacy of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol in the acute treatment of patients in attacks of either classical (migraine with aura) or common migraine (migraine without aura) headache was assessed in a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial with fixed doses. The trial was carried out on 25 patients. The treatment period was set at eight weeks, with the provision of shortening or lengthening it if necessary with a maximum period of seventeen weeks. A minimum of three migraine attacks were treated during each treatment period. Patients were assessed according to: the mean duration and mean severity per treatment period of migraine attacks. The secondary efficacy assessment was made on the basis of the percentage of attacks requiring escape medication per treatment period. The study, based on the t-distribution statistical model with a confidence level of 95%, showed that propranolol had no significant effect in aborting acute attacks of migraine when compared with placebo.
Model of Green Technology Adaptation in Small and Medium-Sized Tannery Industry

Green technology is an applied technology by industry to keep the process of sustainable development. This study aims to discuss the adaptation of green technology to reduce waste produced by the tannery industry. The method used in this article is data analysis approach from the research survey, which was followed by reviews of the causal relationship between model of green technology adaptation and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) of Tannery Industry in Sukaregang, Garut, Indonesia. The originality of this study focuses on adaptation pattern of green technology in small industry that encounter various resource limitations. The discussion findings showed that the adaptation pattern in the development of green technology for the Tannery Industry of SMEs need to consider the harmony with SMEs organization conditions, technological condition, and environmental influences. The significance of this study is to identify intervention patterns from the parties concerned with (stakeholders) to drive green technology in SMEs Tannery Industry.
Simultaneous Debt-Equity Holdings and The Resolution of Financial Distress

Constructing a comprehensive data set of financially distressed firms that restructured their debts from 2000-2014, we find that firms with financial institutions’ debt-equity simultaneous holdings are more likely to restructure out of court than to file for bankruptcy. The effect is stronger when loans are over-secured and when the expected bankruptcy costs are larger. We use mergers of financial institutions and instrumental variable estimations to establish causality. Firms with simultaneous holdings experience higher stock returns and are not more likely to reenter into financial distress. The evidence suggests that the mitigation of shareholder-creditor conflicts results in cost-effective resolutions of financial distress.
Color vision and macular recovery time in epileptic adolescents treated with valproate and carbamazepine

Visual dysfunction has been reported in patients diagnosed with epilepsy. Some of these visual disturbances may be attributable to either the disease process, or the anticonvulsant therapy prescribed to control the seizures. The aims of our study were to evaluate whether color vision and macular function are impaired in epileptic adolescents, to study if the monotherapy with valproic acid (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) can affect color vision and macular function and to determine the possible relationship between color vision, retinal function and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) dosage and their serum concentrations. We examined 45 (16 male and 29 female, mean age ± SD, 15.71 ± 2.01 years) Caucasian epileptic patients suffering from various types of cryptogenic epilepsy before the beginning of therapy and after 1 year of VPA or CBZ monotherapy and 40 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls. Color vision was assessed by Farnsworth Munsell (FM) 100‐hue test and total error score (TES) was evaluated. This test consists of colored caps: the testee has to arrange the caps according to their colors macular function was assessed by nyctometry evaluating initial recovery time (IRT) and summation method (SM). This test evaluates visual acuity after a period of intense illumination of macula. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the difference between controls and patients; moreover, Pearson's correlation test have been performed. Before the beginning of therapy, there were no differences in color vision and macular function between controls and epileptic patients. After 1 year, the patients, treated with VPA or CBZ, showed a deficit in FM 100‐hue test. At nyctometry, all patients showed no significant variation of macular function between baseline evaluation and second evaluation at end of the follow‐up. Our study demonstrates that, in our group of epileptic patients, epilepsy per se does not affect color vision and retinal function. In contrast, after 1 years of therapy with VPA and CBZ these patients showed a deficit in FM 100‐hue test although nyctometry evaluation continued to be normal allowing to exclude an impairment in macular function. Further investigations are required to determine the pathophysiological alteration(s) that are at the basis of color perception defects.
Mesenchymal stromal cells alone or expressing interferon-beta suppress pancreatic tumors in vivo, an effect countered by anti-inflammatory treatment.

BACKGROUND AIMS Because of the inflammatory nature and extensive stromal compartment in pancreatic tumors, we investigated the role of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) to engraft selectively in pancreatic carcinomas and serve as anti-tumor drug delivery vehicles to control pancreatic cancer progression. METHODS Human pancreatic carcinoma cells, PANC-1, expressing renilla luciferase were orthotopically implanted into SCID mice and allowed to develop for 10 days. Firefly luciferase-transduced MSC or MSC expressing interferon (IFN)-beta were then injected intraperitoneally weekly for 3 weeks. Mice were monitored by bioluminescent imaging for expression of renilla (PANC-1) and firefly (MSC) luciferase. RESULTS MSC selectively homed to sites of primary and metastatic pancreatic tumors and inhibited tumor growth (P=0.032). The production of IFN-beta within the tumor site by MSC-IFN-beta further suppressed tumor growth (P=0.0000083). Prior studies indicated that MSC home to sites of inflammation; therefore, we sought to alter the tumor microenvironment through treatment with a potent anti-inflammatory agent. After treatment, inflammation-associated mediators were effectively down-regulated, including NFkappaB, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin (IL)-6 as well as chemokines involved in MSC migration (CCL3 and CCL25). Treatment with the anti-inflammatory agent CDDO-Me before and after MSC-IFN-beta injections resulted in reduction of MSC in the tumors and reversed the positive effect of tumor inhibition by MSC-IFN-beta alone (P=0.041). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that MSC exhibit innate anti-tumor effects against PANC-1 cells and can serve as delivery vehicles for IFN-beta for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, these beneficial effects may be lost in therapies combining MSC with anti-inflammatory agents.