Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic and predictive importance of p53 and RAS for adjuvant chemotherapy in non small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE p53 and RAS are multifunctional proteins that are critical to cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, cell survival, gene transcription, response to stress, and DNA repair. We have evaluated the prognostic and predictive value of p53 gene/protein aberrations using tumor samples from JBR.10, a North American phase III intergroup trial that randomly assigned 482 patients with completely resected stage IB and II non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to receive four cycles of adjuvant cisplatin plus vinorelbine or observation alone. METHODS p53 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Mutations in exons 5 to 9 of the p53 gene were determined by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and confirmed by sequencing. RAS mutations were identified by allelic specific oligonucleotide hybridization. RESULTS Of 253 patients, 132 (52%) were positive for p53 protein overexpression. Untreated p53-positive patients had significantly shorter overall survival than did patients with p53-negative tumors (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.07 to 3.34; P = .03). However, these p53-positive patients also had a significantly greater survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 0.54; P = .02) compared with patients with p53-negative tumors (HR = 1.40; P = .26; interaction P = .02). Mutations of p53 and RAS genes were found in 124 (31%) of 397 and 117 (26%) of 450 patients, respectively. Mutations in these genes were neither prognostic for survival nor predictive of a differential benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION p53 protein overexpression is a significant prognostic marker of shortened survival, and also a significant predictive marker for a differentially greater benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in completely resected NSCLC patients.
Quantitative assessment of bio-aerosols contamination in indoor air of University dormitory rooms.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to provide insight into how students are exposed to indoor bio-aerosols in the dormitory rooms and to figure out the major possible factors that govern the contamination levels. METHODOLOGY The Bio-aerosols concentration level of indoor air of thirty dormitory rooms of Jimma University was determined by taking 120 samples. Passive air sampling technique; the settle plate method using open Petri-dishes containing different culture media was employed to collect sample twice daily. RESULTS The range of bio-aerosols contamination detected in the dormitory rooms was 511-9960 CFU/m(3) for bacterial and 531-6568 CFU/m(3) for fungi. Based on the criteria stated by WHO expert group, from the total 120 samples 95 of the samples were above the recommended level. The statistical analysis showed that, occupancy were significantly affected the concentrations of bacteria that were measured in all dormitory rooms at 6:00 am sampling time (p-value=0.000) and also the concentrations of bacteria that were measured in all dormitory rooms were significantly different to each other (p-value=0.013) as of their significance difference in occupancy (p-value=0.000). Moreover, there were a significant different on the contamination level of bacteria at 6:00 am and 7:00 pm sampling time (p=0.015), whereas there is no significant difference for fungi contamination level for two sampling times (p= 0.674). CONCLUSION There is excessive bio-aerosols contaminant in indoor air of dormitory rooms of Jimma University and human occupancy produces a marked concentration increase of bacterial contamination levels and most fungi species present into the rooms air of Jimma University dormitory were not human-borne.
Delinking: An Exploratory Study

Integrated circuit with leads extending essentially in one direction is packaged by pushing it against layer of crisp foam that can be electrically conductive, to cause the leads to penetrate into the foam. The integrated circuit is then covered with a plastic film that is adhered to the foam around the integrated circuit. Anti-stat coatings are applied on the various surfaces, and plastic film can be metallized.
Economic Effi ciency of Yam Production in Oyo State of Nigeria

Th is study estimates economic effi ciency of yam growing farmers in Oyo State of Nigeria using stochastic frontier production function. Th e empirical application used farm level data collected from 120 farms following 2007/2008 growing season. Th e results indicate that farm size, hired labour, yam set and equipment are the major factors that infl uence changes in yam output. Farm specifi c variables, such as farming experience, diversifi cation and extension, were the signifi cant factors infl uencing ineffi ciency among yam producers. Predicted economic effi ciencies range between 0.0094 and 0.876 with a mean economic effi ciency of 0.594. Based on these results, sample yam producers could increase their output by 40.6% through better use of available resources.
Measurements and thermodynamic modelling of liquid–liquid equilibrium of PEG 6000–phosphate affinity aqueous two-phase systems at various ligand concentrations and pH

ABSTRACT The equilibrium behaviours of affinity two-phase liquid−liquid systems composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 + phosphate salt + water were experimentally investigated at various pH values (4.5, 6, 7.5 and 8.4) and phosphate ligand mass fractions (PEG–PO4) (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%). The binodal curves were fitted to an empirical equation and the coefficients for the different pH and ligand concentration were estimated. The experimental tie-line compositions were estimated and correlated using the Othmer–Tobias and Bancroft equations, and the parameters were evaluated. The effects of the medium pH and the ligand amount on the phase behaviour were studied. It is found that the pH increasing and ligand concentration decreasing cause an expansion of the biphasic region. The liquid–liquid equilibrium experimental data obtained were well correlated to the activity coefficients of the non-random two-liquid (NRTL) model, and the mean deviations less than 0.68% between experimental and calculated mass fractions show that the NRTL activity model has a good ability to correlate the equilibrium compositions of the present system.
Cardiac Energy Metabolic Alterations in Pressure Overload–Induced Left and Right Heart Failure (2013 Grover Conference Series)

Pressure overload of the heart, such as seen with pulmonary hypertension and/or systemic hypertension, can result in cardiac hypertrophy and the eventual development of heart failure. The development of hypertrophy and heart failure is accompanied by numerous molecular changes in the heart, including alterations in cardiac energy metabolism. Under normal conditions, the high energy (adenosine triphosphate [ATP]) demands of the heart are primarily provided by the mitochondrial oxidation of fatty acids, carbohydrates (glucose and lactate), and ketones. In contrast, the hypertrophied failing heart is energy deficient because of its inability to produce adequate amounts of ATP. This can be attributed to a reduction in mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, with the heart becoming more reliant on glycolysis as a source of ATP production. If glycolysis is uncoupled from glucose oxidation, a decrease in cardiac efficiency can occur, which can contribute to the severity of heart failure due to pressure-overload hypertrophy. These metabolic changes are accompanied by alterations in the enzymes that are involved in the regulation of fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism. It is now becoming clear that optimizing both energy production and the source of energy production are potential targets for pharmacological intervention aimed at improving cardiac function in the hypertrophied failing heart. In this review, we will focus on what alterations in energy metabolism occur in pressure overload induced left and right heart failure. We will also discuss potential targets and pharmacological approaches that can be used to treat heart failure occurring secondary to pulmonary hypertension and/or systemic hypertension.
Participation of ER α and ER β in glucose homeostasis in skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue

Glucose uptake and homeostasis are regulated mainly by skeletal muscle (SM), white adipose tissue (WAT), pancreas and the liver. Participation of estradiol in this regulation is still under intense investigation. We have demonstrated that, in SM of male mice, expression of the insulin-regulated glucose transporter GLUT4, is reduced by estrogen receptor β (ER β ) agonists. In the present study, to investigate the relative contributions of ER α and ER β in glucose homeostasis, we examined the effects of tamoxifen (TAM) on GLUT4 expression in SM and WAT in WT and ER-/- mice. ER β -/- mice were characterized by fasting hypoglycemia, increased levels of SM GLUT4, pancreatic islet hypertrophy, and a belated rise in plasma insulin in response to a glucose challenge. ER α -/- mice, on the contrary, were hyperglycemic, glucose intolerant and expression of SM GLUT4 was markedly lower than in WT mice. TAM had no effect on glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity in WT mice. In ER α -/- mice, TAM increased GLUT4 and improved insulin sensitivity. i.e., it behaved as an ER β− antagonist in SM but it had no effect on WAT. In ER β -/- mice, TAM did not affect GLUT4 in SM but acted as an ER α -antagonist in WAT decreasing GLUT4. Thus in the interplay between ER α and ER β , ER β− mediated repression of GLUT4 predominates in SM, but ER α− mediated induction of GLUT4 predominates in WAT. This tissue-specific difference in dominance of one ER over the other is reflected in the ratio of the expression of the two receptors. ER α predominates in WAT and ER β in SM.
Do Schools Promote Executive Functions? Differential Working Memory Growth Across School-Year and Summer Months

Children’s working memory (WM) skills, which support both academic and social success, continue to improve significantly through the school years. This study leverages the first nationally representative data set with direct assessments of elementary school students’ WM skills to examine whether WM grows more during the school year or summer months and whether WM growth rates differ by household income. Results demonstrate that WM skills grow more during the school-year months compared to the summer months, suggesting that school environments provide children with unique opportunities to improve and practice their WM skills. Further, lower-income children have significantly faster WM growth rates in the first 2 years of school and the intervening summer, compared to their peers from higher-income families, leading to an overall narrowing in WM disparities by household income during the early school years. However, there was no evidence that schools equalize or exacerbate differences in WM skills between children from lower-income and higher-income households.
Informal and Formal Requirements Specification Languages: Bridging the Gap

The differences between informal and formal requirements specification languages are noted, and the issue of bridging the gap between them is discussed. Using structured analysis (SA) and the Vienna development method (VDM) as surrogates for informal and formal languages, respectively, two approaches are presented for integrating the two. The first approach uses the SA model of a system to guide the analyst's understanding of the system and the development of the VDM specifications. The second approach proposes a rule-based method for generating VDM specifications from a set of corresponding SA specifications. The two approaches are illustrated through a simplified payroll system case. The issues that emerge from the use of the two approaches are reported. >
What Drives People to Continue to Play Online Games? An Extension of Technology Model and Theory of Planned Behavior

Online gaming has become one of the fastest growing entertainment industries on the Internet over the past decade. However, little is known about why people continue to play certain online games or which design factors are most closely related to the amount of time spent by players at particular online gaming sites. The purpose of this study is to propose a theoretical research model, which integrates flow experience, human–computer interaction, social interaction, and perceived enjoyment, together with the technology acceptance model and theory of planned behavior to explain why people continue to play online games. The proposed model was examined through an empirical study involving 415 participants using structural equation modeling techniques. The results found that player attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, flow experience, and perceived enjoyment have a positive influence on players' continued intention to play online games and explain about 70% of variance. In addition, implications for online games development are discussed.
Coordinating Inventory Control and Pricing Strategies with Random Demand and Fixed Ordering Cost: The Finite Horizon Case

We analyze an infinite horizon, single-product, periodic review model in which pricing and production/inventory decisions are made simultaneously. Demands in different periods are identically distributed random variables that are independent of each other, and their distributions depend on the product price. Pricing and ordering decisions are made at the beginning of each period, and all shortages are backlogged. Ordering cost includes both a fixed cost and a variable cost proportional to the amount ordered. The objective is to maximize expected discounted, or expected average, profit over the infinite planning horizon. We show that a stationary ( s,S,p) policy is optimal for both the discounted and average profit models with general demand functions. In such a policy, the period inventory is managed based on the classical ( s,S) policy, and price is determined based on the inventory position at the beginning of each period.
Inflammatory bowel disease activity assessment with biologic markers and 99mTc-WBC scintigraphy: are there different trends in ileitis versus colitis?

UNLABELLED To evaluate whether scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-labeled white blood cells (WBC) can assess the intensity of bowel inflammation, a large dataset of laboratory values and clinical activity indices was correlated with (99m)Tc-WBC scintigraphy in children with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and miscellaneous colitis (MC). Also evaluated was whether stratification of children with CD as ileitis versus colitis results in different correlation coefficients for laboratory values versus (99m)Tc-WBC scintigraphy. METHODS Over a 6-y period, 313 (99m)Tc-WBC studies were performed. A dataset of 2,714 laboratory values is available for analysis. RESULTS There is a positive correlation between the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and large bowel uptake of (99m)Tc-WBC (P < 0.05) and a negative trend with small bowel uptake of (99m)Tc-WBC in children with CD. Similarly, there is a correlation between WBC counts and scintigraphy in most segments of the large bowel and a negative correlation with the small bowel (R = -0.32, P = 0.01) in children with CD. There is a correlation between platelets and (99m)Tc-WBC in children with CD or UC. There is no correlation between the ESR and (99m)Tc-WBC in children with UC or MC. Many clinical activity indices correlate (P < 0.001) with (99m)Tc-WBC in children with CD, but none correlates in children with UC. Numerous laboratory values correlate with each other. There is a negative correlation between protein, albumin, hemoglobin, and hematocrit versus (99m)Tc-WBC scintigraphy in children with CD. In children with UC, there is a negative correlation between hemoglobin and hematocrit versus (99m)Tc-WBC. CONCLUSION (99m)Tc-WBC scintigraphy, ESR, and WBC counts are good indicators of the inflammatory activity in CD if the inflammation is limited to the large bowel. There is a trend toward an inverse relationship when the inflammation is limited to the small bowel; thus, scintigraphy and the aforementioned markers may be of limited value. This report also demonstrates that (99m)Tc-WBC scintigraphy correlates with clinical activity indices in CD and with numerous biologic markers. In children with UC, scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-WBC and most laboratory markers are of limited value in assessing disease activity.
An Invariant Observer for Earth-Velocity-Aided Attitude Heading Reference Systems

Abstract In this paper we propose an invariant nonlinear observer (i.e. a “filter”) for estimating the velocity vector and orientation of a flying rigid body, using measurements from low-cost Earth-fixed velocity, inertial and magnetic sensors. It has a nice geometric structure which respects meaningful physical symmetries of the system. It can be seen as an easier-to-tune and computationally much simpler alternative to an Extended Kalman Filter.
Mutations in two unlinked genes are required to produce asparagine auxotrophy in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli K-12 has two genes, asnA+ and asnB+, either one of which is able to satisfy the need of cells for asparagine. In order for a strain to have an auxotrophic requirement for asparagine, both genes must be mutationally inactivated. We obtained mutants with Tn5 inserted in asnB. asnB was mapped by conjugation and by three-factor P1 transductions at 15 min on the E coli K-12 linkage map, between ubiF and nagB. Specialized transducing phage lamba 781 supE was shown to carry asnB, as well as supE, ubiF, nagA, and nagB. asnA is the previously mapped ilv-linked asn locus, whiich is between uncB and rbs. E. coli C also has two asn genes, corresponding to asnA and asnB.
Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 UL47 Protein in Infected Cells

ABSTRACT Previous studies with transfected cells have shown that the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) UL47 proteins shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. HSV-1 UL47 has also been shown to bind RNA. Here we examine the BHV-1 UL47 protein in infected cells using a green fluorescent protein-UL47-expressing virus. We show that UL47 is detected in the nucleus early in infection. We use fluorescence loss in photobleaching to show that nuclear UL47 undergoes rapid nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that actinomycin D inhibits the reaccumulation of UL47 in the nuclei of infected cells. These results suggest that UL47 exhibits behavior similar to that of previously characterized RNA-transporting proteins.
GTAP-Energy in GAMS: The Dataset and Static Model

The paper documents the energy-economy dataset GTAP-EG which is based on the general Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) database and OECD International Energy Agency(IEA) statistics. The GTAP-EG dataset is developed in collaboration with the researchers at Purdue University, who created a GEMPACK version of the energy dataset. In contrast to their work, the GTAP-EG is implemented in the GAMS programming language using a different calibration procedure. An illustrative static model in MPSGE syntax complementsfthe GTAP-EG. Having the dataset in GAMS is helpful for researchers because of its open architecture approach which permits to modify easily the dataset and the model for their own purposes. The document contains a description and directions for installing and using the GAMS-EG dataset. The paper also helps to quantify the extent to which the calibration method affects the data.
Human Studies with Glucagon‐like‐peptide‐1: Potential of the Gut Hormone for Clinical Use

So far, a wealth of data originating from in vitro or animal experiments has been collected supporting the concept that the gut hormone, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) may serve as a model molecule for the design of a new drug for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This is supported by observations that GLP‐1 has potent insulinotropic action in patients with non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It enhances β‐cell sensitivity to glucose stimulated insulin secretion. GLP‐1 may also have a role in the treatment of impaired glucose tolerance, where the β‐cell is already insensitive to changes in plasma glucose concentrations. It may, as has previously been shown in animal models of ‘prediabetes’, delay the progressive decline in glucose tolerance to NIDDM. The glucose‐dependent action of this peptide is an important feature in the treatment of NIDDM as it will protect against hypoglycaemic reactions, the most serious acute side‐effect of antidiabetic therapy. Glucose utilization may be enhanced which would improve metabolic control in both NIDDM and IDDM. A glucagon lowering effect will further enhance metabolic control. This article reviews current experiences of the effects of GLP‐1 in human studies. It points out the outcomes and limitations of previous trials and discusses future directions for the investigation of its potential use as a new agent in diabetes treatment.
Rotavirus and Norovirus in Pediatric Healthcare-Associated Gastroenteritis

Rotavirus and norovirus are important etiologies of gastroenteritis among hospitalized children. During 2012–2013, we tested 207 residual stool specimens from children with healthcare-associated vomiting and/or diarrhea for rotavirus and norovirus. Twenty (10%) were rotavirus positive, and 3 (3%) were norovirus positive, stressing the importance of these pathogens in hospitalized children.
Use of Ligase Chain Reaction with Urine versus Cervical Culture for Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in an Asymptomatic Military Population of Pregnant and Nonpregnant Females Attending Papanicolaou Smear Clinics

ABSTRACT Ligase chain reaction (LCR) (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.) with first-catch urine specimens was used to detectChlamydia trachomatis infections in 465 asymptomatic military women attending clinics for routine Papanicolaou smear tests. Results were compared to results of cervical culture to determine the sensitivity of the urine LCR and the possible presence of inhibitors of amplification in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Discrepant results for LCR and culture were resolved by direct fluorescent antibody staining of culture sediments, two different PCR assays, and LCR for the outer membrane protein 1 gene. The prevalence of Chlamydia in specimens by urine LCR was 7.3% compared to 5% by culture. For 434 women with matching specimens, there were 11 more specimens positive by LCR than were positive by culture, of which all but one were determined to be true positives. There were four culture-positive, LCR-negative specimens, all from nonpregnant women. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of urine LCR after discrepant results were resolved were 88.6, 99.7, 96.9, and 99.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of culture was 71.4%. From the 148 pregnant women (prevalence by LCR, 6.8%), there were no patients who were cervical culture positive and urine LCR negative to indicate the presence in pregnant women of inhibitors of LCR. Additionally, a subset of 55 of the LCR-negative frozen urine specimens from pregnant women that had been previously processed in LCR buffer were inoculated with 5 cell culture inclusion forming units of C. trachomatis each and retested by LCR; all tested positive, indicating the absence of inhibitors of LCR in urine from these pregnant women. The use of LCR testing of urine specimens from asymptomatic women, whether pregnant or not, offers a sensitive and easy method to detect C. trachomatis infection in women.