Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On extending the transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT)

The transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT), for evaluation of the null hypothesis of neither linkage nor association between a marker locus and disease, is extended to the more general situation of transmission of two multi‐allele marker loci from parents to affected offspring. Transmission probabilities are derived for a generalized single locus disease model, where the disease locus is taken to lie between the two marker loci. There could be unlinked modifier loci for the disease. Examples of the extended TDT are given and it is shown how the contribution from each locus can be evaluated, both separately and jointly.
Synergistic Antitumor Effects of Combined Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Targeted Therapy

Purpose: Combination therapies that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) pathways, are being actively tested for the treatment of cancer. In evaluating combination strategies, the ideal combination would be one in which the treatments interact in a way that is synergistic with regard to antitumor effects. Here, we have evaluated the interaction between anti-EGFR antibody Erbitux (cetuximab) and anti-VEGFR2 antibody, DC101, in preclinical models of pancreatic (BxPC-3) and colon (GEO) cancer. Experimental Design: Analysis of the interaction between cetuximab and DC101 in vivo used a novel method for establishing the upper 95% confidence limits for the combination index (CI) of isobologram analyses, where CI < 1 indicates synergy. Assessment of tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, VEGF production, and hypoxia, as well as tumor vascularization, was performed to gain insights into the mechanistic basis for synergy between agents targeting different tumor compartments. Results: Monotherapy ED50 values for tumor growth inhibition ranged from 1.8 to 2.3 mg/kg and 10.5 to 16.6 mg/kg for cetuximab and DC101, respectively. From the dose response of the combination treatment, it was determined that cetuximab and DC101 are synergistic in the BxPC-3 (CI = 0.1, P < 0.01) and GEO (CI = 0.1, P < 0.01) models. Overlapping effects on the tumor cell and vascular compartments form a basis for the interaction, with VEGF production and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α potentially acting as molecular links between EGFR and VEGFR2 inhibition. Conclusions: Results show antitumor synergy for combined EGFR and VEGFR2 targeted therapy, supporting the significant therapeutic potential of this combination strategy.
Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (MCST, MWCST): Normative Data in Children 4–13 Years Old, According to Classical and New Types of Scoring

According to Nelson's (1976) criteria, the MCST (MWCST) is a simplification of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). As the MCST is particularly suitable for children, the aim of this study was to establish the normative data presently lacking for that group. The MCST was administered to 1126 normal children aged 4 to 13 years. Scoring was based on all the classical parameters, according to existing criteria, plus two new ones that we propose (“categorizing efficiency” and “categorizing efficiency plus”). Strong correlation (or inverse correlation) with age is found for most parameters, including all criteria used for perseverative responses. This does not occur for “failure to maintain set,” calculated according to the usual criteria. “Categorizing efficiency” and “categorizing efficiency plus” avoid the ceiling effect occurring at higher ages in the parameter categories. The MCST may be used in children 4 years of age and above. Most, but not all, of its parameters show regular improvement with age, demonstrating their validity. However, our data suggest that a participant's performance on the MCST may be based essentially on two parameters: categorizing efficiency (or categorizing efficiency plus), measuring the participant's ability to categorize, and perseverative errors (or percent perseverative errors), measuring his or her difficulty in shifting, both considered typical executive functions.
Global Hydrological Cycles and World Water Resources

Water is a naturally circulating resource that is constantly recharged. Therefore, even though the stocks of water in natural and artificial reservoirs are helpful to increase the available water resources for human society, the flow of water should be the main focus in water resources assessments. The climate system puts an upper limit on the circulation rate of available renewable freshwater resources (RFWR). Although current global withdrawals are well below the upper limit, more than two billion people live in highly water-stressed areas because of the uneven distribution of RFWR in time and space. Climate change is expected to accelerate water cycles and thereby increase the available RFWR. This would slow down the increase of people living under water stress; however, changes in seasonal patterns and increasing probability of extreme events may offset this effect. Reducing current vulnerability will be the first step to prepare for such anticipated changes.
Plasma Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 Level and its Relation to Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Hemodialysis Patients

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Abbreviations: HD: Hemodialysis; ESRD: End Stage Renal Disease; CIMT: Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; PTH: Parathyroid Hormone; TC: Total cholesterol; HDL-C: High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; ELISA: Enzyme-Linked Immune Sorbent Assay; HRP: Horseradish Peroxidase; ECLIA: Electro Chemi Luminescence Immunoassay; SD: Standard Deviation; SE: Standard Error; ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; VSMCs: Vascular Smooth Muscles Cells
Mediastinal tumors--problems in diagnosis and treatment.

The cases of 64 patients with a mediastinal tumor have been reviewed. A systemic routine for evaluation of these lesions has evolved, based on their characteristic configuration as well as their predilections for certain sites in the mediastinum. The posteroanterior and lateral megavolt chest x-ray film will allow localization of the lesion in one of the three mediastinal compartments and an impression as to the pathologic process involved. Fifty-five per cent of the lesions were found in the anterior mediastinum, and were further evaluated by laminagraphy. Thirty-one per cent were in the middle mediastinum, where bronchoscopy, nodal biopsy, and skin tests were of value. Fourteen per cent were found in the posterior mediastinum, where laminagraphy and selective angiography were most helpful. Sixty-three per cent of the patients came to operation, while in the remainder a tissue diagnosis was obtained by other means. Fifty per cent of all lesions were malignant. Several case histories are presented to illustrate both interesting and difficult diagnostic problems.
The anabolic effects of IGF-1 in skeletal muscle after burn injury are not caused by increased cell volume.

BACKGROUND In a recent report, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) stimulated protein synthesis and inhibited protein breakdown in skeletal muscle after bum injury. The mechanism of the anabolic effects of IGF-1 in skeletal muscle is not known. We tested the hypotheses that IGF-1 stimulates protein synthesis and inhibits protein breakdown in skeletal muscle secondary to cell swelling and that cell swelling in itself induces an anabolic response in muscle tissue. METHODS Extensor digitorum longus muscles from control and burned rats were incubated in the absence or presence of 1 microg/mL of IGF-1. Protein synthesis and breakdown rates were determined by measuring incorporation of 14C-phenylalanine into protein and net release of tyrosine, respectively. Cell volume was measured by determining wet and dry weight and by using 3H-mannitol as an extracellular marker. RESULTS IGF-1 stimulated protein synthesis and inhibited protein breakdown in muscles from nonburned and burned rats without influencing cell volume. Incubating muscles in hypo-osmotic medium increased cell volume by 17% and inhibited protein breakdown by 14% but did not influence protein synthesis. CONCLUSIONS The anabolic effects of IGF-1 in skeletal muscle are not caused by increased cell volume. The results differ from those reported previously in liver cells in which the anabolic effects of IGF-1 were associated with cell swelling. The role of changes in cell volume in the regulation of protein metabolism may be different in skeletal muscle than in other tissues.
The Spacer Region of XPG Mediates Recruitment to Nucleotide Excision Repair Complexes and Determines Substrate Specificity*

XPG has structural and catalytic roles in nucleotide excision repair (NER) and belongs to the FEN-1 family of structure-specific nucleases. XPG contains a stretch of over 600 amino acids termed the “spacer region” between the conserved N- and I-nuclease regions. Its role is unknown, and it is not similar to any known protein. To investigate its possible functions, we generated and analyzed several deletion mutants of XPG. The spacer region is not required for endonuclease activity, but amino acids 111–550 contribute to the substrate specificity of XPG, and they are required for interaction with TFIIH and for NER activity in vitro and in vivo. Deletion of residues 184–210 and 554–730 leads only to a partial defect in NER activity and a weakened interaction with TFIIH. XPGΔ184–210 and XPGΔ554–730 are not observed at sites of local UV damage in living cells by immunofluorescence, suggesting that the weakened interaction between XPG and TFIIH results in an NER reaction with altered kinetics. This study demonstrates that the N-terminal portion of the spacer region is particularly important for NER progression by mediating the XPG-TFIIH interaction and XPG substrate specificity.
A land-surface hydrology parameterization with subgrid variability for general circulation models

Most of the existing generation of general circulation models (GCMs) use so-called bucket algorithms to represent land-surface hydrology. Biosphere-atmosphere models that include the transfer of energy, mass, and momentum between the atmosphere and the land surface are a recent alternative to this highly simplified representation of the land surface in GCMs. These models require estimation of a large number of parameters for which parameter estimation methods and supporting data remain to be developed. We describe a more incremental approach to generalizing the bucket representation of land-surface hydrology based on a model that represents the variation in infiltration capacity within a GCM grid cell. The variable infiltration capacity (VIC) model requires estimation of three parameters: an infiltration parameter, an evaporation parameter, and a base flow recession coefficient. The VIC model was explored through direct comparisons with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) bucket model for the French Broad River, North Carolina, and via sensitivity analysis for the GFDL R30 grid cell which contains the French Broad River. Generally, the bucket model runoff had much greater variability than the historic streamflows for short time scales (e.g., 1 day); the VIC model was much more similar to the observed flows in this respect. The results also showed that the bucket model tended to have unrealistically high short-term variability. The sensitivity analysis showed that the base flow parameter exerted the greatest influence on both the mean and variability of most of the hydrologic variables, especially winter runoff, summer evaporation, and summer and winter soil moisture.
Leishmaniasis in the Jordan Valley. IV. Attraction of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) to plants in the field.

The attraction of Phlebotomus papatasi to 12 plant species was examined in the field using plantbaited traps. Of the species tested, 8 attracted significantly more flies than unbaited controls, with Capparis spinosa var. aravensis, Solanum nigrum, Prosopis farcta, and Atriplex halimus giving the highest catches. Traps provided with a source of humidity also gave significantly higher catches than controls. Laboratory tests showed that 86.4, 75.6, 71, 52.1, and 43% of the P. papatasi fed on Prosopis farcta, Capparis spinosa, Ricinus communis, Solanum nigrum, and Kochia indica, respectively; these plants were also attractive to sand flies in the field. None of the flies fed in the laboratory on Atriplex halimus, Tamarix nilotica, or Chenopodium ambrosioides, which were attractive in the field, and 2.3, 4.7, 10, and 14.2%, respectively, fed in the laboratory on the nonattractive Salsola vermiculata, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Solanum incanum, and Amaranthus retroflexus.
Value of grading squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

We report a series of 3,294 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck seen by one of us between 1963 and 1990. Two thousand and seven patients had a histologically proven and graded, but previously untreated, squamous cell carcinoma of the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck. These tumors had been graded previously by many different pathologists in many different hospitals, both in the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as continental Europe, over this period. Of the host factors both sex and age were associated with differentiation: 34% of patients less than age 50 had a well‐differentiated tumor compared with 44% greater than age 50; 32% of women had a poorly differentiated tumor compared with 26% of men. General condition had no correlation with degree of differentiation. Site was closely associated with grading: well‐differentiated tumors were more common in the mouth and larynx and poorly differentiated tumors in the pharynx. Furthermore, of poorly differentiated tumors, 19% arose from areas normally lined by keratinized squamous epithelium, 22% from a nonkeratinized area, 36% from respiratory epithelium, and 45% from areas normally covered by lymphoid epithelium. T stage had no significant correlation with differentiation. However, 46% of patients with poorly differentiated tumors had a nodal metastasis at presentation compared with only 28% of well‐differentiated tumors. Distant metastases at presentation were found in 3.4% of poorly differentiated tumors compared with 1.8% of well‐differentiated tumors. The survival fell significantly from 33% for well‐differentiated tumors to 27% for poorly differentiated tumors. The recurrence rate at the primary site rose from 25% for well‐differentiated tumors to 27% for poorly differentiated tumors, and recurrence in the lymph nodes rose from 26% to 30%. Both differences were just significant.
Written Corrective Feedback: What Do Students and Teachers Prefer and Why?.

A growing body of research has examined the effectiveness of written corrective feedback (WCF) for L2 writing. An area that has attracted considerable attention recently is how students and teachers perceive the usefulness of WCF. However, research in this area has largely focused on students’ perspectives, with fewer studies comparing students’ and teachers’ opinions. This study investigated how ESL students and teachers perceive the usefulness of different types and amounts of WCF, and also the reasons they have for their preferences. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from 31 ESL teachers and 33 ESL students by means of written questionnaires. The results showed that while there were some areas of agreement between teachers and students, important discrepancies in their opinions did occur, not only in how WCF should be provided but also why. Pedagogical implications of the study are discussed. Resume De plus en plus etudes examinent l’efficacite des remarques ecrites des professeurs dans l’ecriture des etudiants de langue seconde. Un domaine d’etude qui attire de plus en plus attention recemment est l’un de la maniere dans lequel les etudiants et les professeurs percoivent l’utilite des remarques ecrites. La plupart des etudes dans cet domaine examinent les opinions des etudiants. Moins souvent ces etudes comparent les opinions des etudiants et des professeurs. Cet etude examine comment les etudiants et les professeurs de langue seconde percoivent l’eficacite des differents genres et quantites de remarques ecrites, et examine aussi les raisons pour ces perceptions. Employions un sondage, les responses qualitatives et quantitatives de 31 professeurs et de 33 etudiants ont ete ramasse. Les resultats montrent que bien qu’il y a des accords entre les opinions des etudiants et les opinions des professeurs dans quelques domaines, il y a aussi des desaccords importants, non seulement dans les perceptions concernant la maniere dans lequel les professeurs devrais remarquer sur l’ecriture des etudiants, mais aussi concernant les raisons pour lequel les professeurs devrais remarquer sur l’ecriture des etudiants. Les implications pedagogiques de cet etude sont discuter. CJAL * RCLA Amrhein & Nassaji 95
Analytical photon scanning tunneling microscopy.

The photon scanning tunneling microscope (PSTM) has been operated in spectroscopic mode to both image the topography and analyze stress features on a microindented, chromium-implanted sapphire surface. Light originating primarily from the evanescent field generated by an internally reflected beam, with some contribution from scattering by roughness features and radiation from fluorescence and luminescence, was coupled into the probe tip. The topographic resolution observed ({approximately}50 nm) is appreciably finer than the diffraction limit. Stresses of 3 kbar around microindents were measured by monitoring shifts in the photoluminescence peaks. A discussion of the spectroscopic resolution obtainable with this analytical PSTM'' and applications are presented.
Predictors of Tanning Salon Use

This study investigated cognitive predictors of tanning salon use, based on Jaccard’s Theory of Alternative Behavior. A total of 164 undergraduates completed questionnaires that assessed tanning salon use, attitudes toward tanning salon use and attitudes toward behavioral alternatives for enhancing appearance, relaxing and socializing. Results indicated that attitudes toward alternatives for enhancing appearance were not significantly related to tanning salon use. However, favorable attitudes toward engaging in a hobby to relax and going to the gym to socialize were inversely related to frequency of tanning salon use. Findings suggest that interventions for reducing skin cancer risk should focus not only on decreasing favorable attitudes toward tanning, but also on increasing favorable attitudes toward healthier alternatives to tanning salon use.
"Comet" lesion: an ocular sign of pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

“Comet” Lesion: An Ocular Sign of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is an inherited disorder associated with mineralization of the elastin in the dermis, arterial walls, and Bruch membrane. Clinical features of pseudoxanthoma elasticum include confluent yellow papules on the skin in flexural areas, premature calcification of large arteries of the extremities, gastrointestinal bleeding, and ocular fundus changes. These ocular fundus changes include angioid streaks, confluent yellowish lesions (“peau d’orange”) at the retinal pigment epithelium level, reticular or pulverulentis pattern macular dystrophy,1,2 and hyaline bodies of the optic disk.3 Figure 1 illustrates another important ocular sign of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, the “comet” lesion, that is characterized by a solitary, subretinal, nodular, crystalline or white body with a tapered white tail of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy extending posterior to the body.1 The body may have some pigmentation at its margin. One or more solitary comet lesions are found most commonly in the midperiphery of the inferior half of the fundus (Figures 1A, 1D, and 1E). A spray of comet lesions simulating a pyrotechnic display may occur adjacent to the optic disk (Figures 1B and 1C). Irrespective of their location, the orientation of their tail is always toward the optic disk. The size of the comet lesion varies from that of being barely visible to a diameter of several hundred micrometers. They show well-defined hyperfluorescence angiographically (Figure 1C). Comet lesions appear to be peculiar to patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. They and the peau d’orange mottling of the fundus may be present in young patients before the development of angioid streaks. Subretinal crystalline bodies and round white lesions without tails have been described in pseudoxanthoma elasticum by some investigators as atypical drusen4 and salmon spots, respectively.5 These lesions and comet lesions probably share a similar histopathology and pathogenesis, both of which are unknown.
Collaboration in Buyer-Seller Relationships as a New Approach to Competitive Advantage

Although recent academic work on business relationships often discusses relationship quality as a major subject, particularly with regard to the phenomenon of seller stratification, there is still little empirical research on this important construct. In this paper, the authors provide a thorough conceptualization of relationship quality and its possible antecedents, i.e., bond relationship, Temporal, Social, and Structural bond, drawing on an empirical base of 219 buyers questionnaires, Structural equations modeling (SEM) is used to assess the simultaneous effects of the predictive variables. An empirical survey confirms the impact of the relational bond dimension on the satisfaction. The satisfaction has an effect on the customer trust witch influence his commitment. The findings are discussed and the authors provide managerial implications for decision-makers from both buyer and supplier organizations.
Role of therapeutic plasma exchange in the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia: an experience

Hypertriglyceridemia of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes mellitus are highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a rare but well known cause of acute pancreatitis. In treatment pancreatic rest, lifestyle changes, and lipid-lowering medications are essential, but the response is slow. Recently the role of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been stressed for fast and effective management in addition to insulin and heparin infusion. TPE for hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis resulted in drastic improvements in clinical and laboratory findings and patient outcomes as suggested in our cases. However, this procedure is limited due to its high cost and availability only in specialized hospitals.
A Survey of Quality Prediction of Product Reviews

With the help of Web-2.0, the Internet offers a vast amount of reviews on many topics and in different domains. This has led to an explosive growth of product reviews and customer feedback, which presents the problem of how to handle the abundant volume of data. It is an expensive and time-consuming task to analyze this huge content of opinions. Therefore, the need for automated sentiment analysis systems is vital. However, these systems encounter many challenges; assessing the content quality of the posted opinions is an important area of study that is related to sentiment analysis. Currently, review helpfulness is assessed manually; however the task of automatically assessing it has gained more attention in recent years. This paper provides a survey of approaches to the challenge of identifying the content quality of product reviews.