Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socio-economic characteristics of soybean growers

The study was an “expost-facto” research carried out in Dharwad district of Karnataka State during the year 201314. The study covered 15 villages from 3 taluks of Dharwad district to form a sample of 150 respondents. A pre-tested structured interview schedule was used to collect the data from the respondents by personal interview method. It was observed from the study that 54.00 per cent of the soybean farmers were middle aged, followed by 26.66 per cent of the farmers studied up to high school level, 50.66 per cent of the farmers belong to semi-medium land holding category and 45.33 per cent of the soybean growers had medium level of extension contact. Further it also observed that 63 per cent of the farmers belonged to medium mass media participation category followed by 54.66 per cent of the respondents belonged to the category of medium innovativeness, 45.33 per cent of the respondents had medium level of scientific orientation and 37.33 per cent of the farmers belong to semi-medium soybean crop land holding category.
Prospective, randomized study of single compared with double autologous stem-cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: Bologna 96 clinical study.

PURPOSE We performed a prospective, randomized study of single (arm A) versus double (arm B) autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) for younger patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 321 patients were enrolled onto the study and were randomly assigned to receive either a single course of high-dose melphalan at 200 mg/m2 (arm A) or melphalan at 200 mg/m2 followed, after 3 to 6 months, by melphalan at 120 mg/m2 and busulfan at 12 mg/kilogram (arm B). RESULTS As compared with assignment to the single-transplantation group (n = 163 patients), random assignment to receive double ASCT (n = 158 patients) significantly increased the probability to attain at least a near complete response (nCR; 33% v 47%, respectively; P = .008), prolonged relapse-free survival (RFS) duration of 18 months (median, 24 v 42 months, respectively; P < .001), and significantly extended event-free survival (EFS; median, 23 v 35 months, respectively; P = .001). Administration of a second transplantation and of novel agents for treating sequential relapses in up to 50% of patients randomly assigned to receive a single ASCT likely contributed to prolong the survival duration of the whole group, whose 7-year rate (46%) was similar to that of the double-transplantation group (43%; P = .90). Transplantation-related mortality was 3% in arm A and 4% in arm B (P = .70). CONCLUSION In comparison with a single ASCT as up-front therapy for newly diagnosed MM, double ASCT effected superior CR or nCR rate, RFS, and EFS, but failed to significantly prolong overall survival. Benefits offered by double ASCT were particularly evident among patients who failed at least nCR after one autotransplantation.
Hospital discharge database as a tool to monitor incidence, survival and burden of cancer in adolescents and young adults.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND Cancer in young patients (15-39 years) is unique for the distribution of types, therapeutic options and clinical evolution. Administrative databases represent well-documented tools in epidemiology, and in oncology they are very important in those realities without cancer registries. Our study aimed to analyze the occurrence, outcomes and burden of cancer in young patients through the analysis of hospital discharge records. METHODS Hospital discharge databases and civil registries were analyzed through record linkage technique. Annual incidence rate (AIR), standardized incidence rate (SR), overall survival, hospitalization rate, and mean number of hospitalizations were evaluated. RESULTS Among 2,330,459 young adults, 1846 new cancer patients had been hospitalized in the analyzed period. The SR was 69.3/100,000/year: 1051, 56.9%, were females (AIR 91.0 and SR 76.0) and 795, 43.1%, were males (AIR 67.6 and SR 62.5). Hematological disease was more frequent in males than females (25.5% vs 14.7%, P <0.0001), whereas solid tumors were more frequent among females (85.3% vs 74.5, P <0.0001). The distribution by diagnostic group showed that among females breast cancer was the most frequent (n = 272, SR 17.2), whereas among males genitourinary tract cancer (n = 245, SR 19.2), especially testicular cancer (n = 187, SR 15.1), was the most frequent. Metastatic disease at diagnosis was already present in 198 patients with a solid cancer (13.3%), whereas 213 (11.5%) developed metastasis in the following years. At 12 months from the diagnosis, 87 of 1488 patients with solid cancers and 35 of 358 patients with hematologic disease failed: overall survival was 94% and 90%, respectively. Patients with a new diagnosis of cancer had produced 6663 hospitalizations, 4640 (69.6%) of which were due to solid tumors, 3992 (59.9%) produced by patients over 29 years old, and 3606 (54.1%) by females. The percentage of day hospital admissions increased proportionally with patient age: 25.7% of all hospitalizations among older adolescents (15-20 years) and 32.9% among young adults of 34-39 years. CONCLUSIONS Administrative data have clear advantages in terms of availability and large numbers. Comparison of our results with the literature showed that a health care delivery database can provide useful information for clinical-epidemiologic evaluations in oncology as well as for the analysis of health services utilization.
An interferon-free antiviral regimen for HCV after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation worldwide, and interferon-containing regimens are associated with low response rates owing to treatment-limiting toxic effects in immunosuppressed liver-transplant recipients. We evaluated the interferon-free regimen of the NS5A inhibitor ombitasvir coformulated with the ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor ABT-450 (ABT-450/r), the nonnucleoside NS5B polymerase inhibitor dasabuvir, and ribavirin in liver-transplant recipients with recurrent HCV genotype 1 infection. METHODS We enrolled 34 liver-transplant recipients with no fibrosis or mild fibrosis, who received ombitasvir-ABT-450/r (at a once-daily dose of 25 mg of ombitasvir, 150 mg of ABT-450, and 100 mg of ritonavir), dasabuvir (250 mg twice daily), and ribavirin for 24 weeks. Selection of the initial ribavirin dose and subsequent dose modifications for anemia were at the investigator's discretion. The primary efficacy end point was a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment. RESULTS Of the 34 study participants, 33 had a sustained virologic response at post-treatment weeks 12 and 24, for a rate of 97% (95% confidence interval, 85 to 100). The most common adverse events were fatigue, headache, and cough. Five patients (15%) required erythropoietin; no patient required blood transfusion. One patient discontinued the study drugs owing to adverse events after week 18 but had a sustained virologic response. Blood levels of calcineurin inhibitors were monitored, and dosages were modified to maintain therapeutic levels; no episode of graft rejection was observed during the study. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with the multitargeted regimen of ombitasvir-ABT-450/r and dasabuvir with ribavirin was associated with a low rate of serious adverse events and a high rate of sustained virologic response among liver-transplant recipients with recurrent HCV genotype 1 infection, a historically difficult-to-treat population. (Funded by AbbVie; CORAL-I ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01782495.).
A two-phase genetic K-means algorithm for placement of radioports in cellular networks

This paper proposes a two-phase hybrid algorithm for optimal placement of radioports. The placement strategy minimizes the dynamic range of the channel, and thus reduces the peak transmit power needed by a wireless handset. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with that of an exhaustive search, as well as with that of a simplex algorithm. Simulation results show that the two-phase hybrid algorithm, although suboptimal, outperforms the simplex algorithm with only a modest increase in computation time. It has the added advantage of being quite insensitive to the seed solution.
Diet and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in older women.

OBJECTIVE To test whether high dietary intakes of fat, protein, and milk are associated with the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in older women. DESIGN Prospective cohort study with a 7-year follow-up period. SETTING General community. PARTICIPANTS Sample of 35 156 Iowa women aged 55 to 69 years with no prior history of cancer who returned the 1986 baseline questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (104 incident cases). MAIN RESULTS After controlling for age, marital status, residence, total energy intake, and transfusion history, the relative risks (RRs) for the highest tertile of intake compared with the lowest were 2.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-3.30; P for trend = .01) for animal fat, 1.69 (95% CI, 1.07-2.67; P for trend = .02) for saturated fat, and 1.90 (95% CI, 1.18-3.04; P for trend = .01) for monounsaturated fat, and there was no association with vegetable fat or polyunsaturated fat. Greater intake of animal protein (RR = 1.52; 95% CI, 0.94-2.44; P for trend = .08), but not vegetable protein, was associated with elevated risk, and this was mainly explained by greater consumption of red meat (RR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.13-3.47; P for trend = .02) and hamburger in particular (RR = 2.35; 95% CI, 1.23-4.48; P for trend = .02). Milk and dairy product consumption were not associated with elevated risk. There was also a decreased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with greater consumption of fruits (RR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.40-1.05; P for trend = .07). CONCLUSIONS A high-meat diet and a high intake of fat from animal sources is associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in older women.
Prevalence and clinical significance of anti-phospholipid antibodies in multiple sclerosis: a study of 89 patients.

The prevalence of serum anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) was evaluated in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to search for a possible association with a distinct form of the disease. Anti-cardiolipin antibodies (Ab) (aCL) and anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I Ab (abeta2GPI) were measured together with antinuclear Ab (ANA), anti-double-stranded DNA Ab (anti-ds DNA) and anti-myelin Ab in 89 patients. Twenty-nine (32.6%) patients had serum aPL, 19xaCL (15 of the IgG and four of the IgM isotype), 14 abeta2GPI (two IgG and 12 IgM) (four of these patients had both Ab). Prevalence of aCL correlated with that of ANA, which were positive in 52 patients (P=0. 005) and with anti-myelin Ab detected in two patients (P=0.046) but not with that of anti-ds DNA (mostly of the IgM class) detected in 28% of case by ELISA. No correlation could be found between aPL and age, sex, duration of the disease from diagnosis, category of MS, clinical course, clinical symptoms, serum IgM levels nor atypical lesions by magnetic resonance imaging. Hence, aCL and abeta2GPI are neither rare in MS nor associated with a specific clinical form of the disease and they cannot be a diagnosis exclusion criteria.
Political Mobilisation and Discourse Networks: A New Youth and the Breakdown of the Soviet Union

Abstract The disintegrating discourse about youth during the perestroika period conveyed the fading legitimacy of the Soviet political order. During that era (1985–1991), media reports about young people’s discontent and political disillusionment questioned the very legitimacy of the Soviet system. Youth took to the streets early, contributing to the conditions needed to conceive of a possible failure of the USSR. This research uses a recent methodological development in text analysis—discourse network analysis—which allows for an analysis of the shifting paradigms of speaking about youth. I draw on a sample of newspaper articles to capture the variation of the heterogeneous Soviet discourse.
Do Labels Make A Difference: Estimating The Impacts Of Vermont’s Gmo Labeling Law On Perceptions And Prices

Vermont is the first and only state in the US to establish mandatory labels for food containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This thesis investigates the impact of the mandatory labeling law as it relates to changes in prices, quantities sold, and opinions of GMOs. First, grocery store scanner data from Vermont and Oregon are compared using triple difference (difference-indifference-in-difference) models. Next, Vermont, Oregon, and Colorado survey response data are compared using difference-in-difference models. The findings reveal that there is a general price premium for non-GMO goods of $0.05/oz across all states and times, that mandatory labeling laws do not result in a short-term change in quantities sold or prices of GMO products, and that both mandatory labeling laws and failed mandatory labeling referendums cause an increase in support for GMOs in the food supply. The implications of this research are that mandatory GMO labels did not impact short-term prices or sales and increased the level of support for GMOs.
Temperature variation during apicectomy with Er:YAG laser.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the generated temperature of the Er:YAG laser, with three different pulse durations for apicectomy, compared with tungsten bur and surgical saw. BACKGROUND DATA Apicectomy is an endodontic surgery performed to remove the root apex and curette adjacent periapical tissue because of lesions of the apical area that are not healing properly. METHODS Sixty single-rooted extracted human teeth were resected by three cutting methods: tungsten bur, surgical saw, and Er:YAG laser irradiation with three different pulse durations; pulse duration 50 μs, pulse duration 100 μs, and pulse duration 300 μs. Teflon-insulated, type K thermocouples were used to measure temperature changes during the apicectomy process. Data were analyzed using the general linear models procedure of the SPSS statistical software program. RESULTS Although there was no statistically significant difference for the mean values of temperature changes at 1 mm away to the cutting site of teeth, there was statistically significant difference among groups for the mean values of temperature changes at 3 mm away to the cutting site of teeth. Additionally, there was statistically significant difference among groups for the total time required for apicectomy. CONCLUSIONS The laser irradiation with pulse duration 50 μs appears to have the lowest temperature rise and the shortest time required for apicectomy of the three pulse durations. However, Er:YAG laser for apicectomy in all pulse durations could be used safely for resection in endodontics in the presence of sufficient water.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Inhibitors and enablers of physical activity in multiethnic hypertensive patients : qualitative study

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Political Management, Research and Development, and Advertising Capital in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Good Prognosis?

Regulatory oversight that affects the firm's product-market environment continues to increase. Political management capital (PMC) describes firm expenditure committed to address the political and regulatory context. Neoinstitutional theory casts PMC as an institutionally expected normative response investors use when evaluating firm performance. Although limited evidence has suggested that firms benefit from PMC, the authors demonstrate its effects across financial outcomes including firm value, systematic risk, and idiosyncratic risk. Likewise, they examine how PMC interacts with a firm's product market through research-and-development (R&D) capital and advertising capital. Regression analysis of an unbalanced data set of 212 firms in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, tracked from 2003 to 2014, reveals that while PMC improves investor expectations through firm value and systematic risk, it increases idiosyncratic risk. The authors find that PMC plays both substitutive and complementary roles with R&D such that increasing levels of both PMC and R&D weakens main effects. Political management capital has limited, but substitutive, effects with advertising likely because there is less regulatory oversight on advertising versus R&D in this industry. The authors explore these asymmetric effects, provide implications for neoinstitutional theory, and offer managerial insights.
Development of in situ gel for nasal delivery: design, optimization, in vitro and in vivo evaluation

Abstract Context: The mucoadhesive gel formulations are helpful to prolong the residence time at the nasal absorption site and thereby facilitate the uptake of drug. Sumatriptan succinate has oral bioavailability of 15% and undergoes hepatic metabolism, hence it is suitable for nasal administration. Objective: The objective of the investigation was to develop a mucoadhesive in situ gel to improve the bioavailability of the sumatriptan succinate. Materials and methods: Deacetylated gellan gum was used as gelling agent. In situ gel was formulated by ion activation mechanism in simulated nasal fluid. A 32 factorial design was found suitable to optimize batch. In vivo study was carried out in Spraugue-Dawley rats, and drug was estimated in plasma by UPLC-MS. Result: The optimized batch showed drug release of 98.57% within 5 h followed by Peppas model of drug release. Ex vivo studies on sheep nasal mucosa showed 93.33% within 5 h. In histopathological study, optimized batch was found to be safe and stable in accelerated stability study for three months. Optimized formulation, F7 has shown absolute bioavailability, which was found to be 164.70%. Drug targeting index for brain tissues was found to be 1.866. Discussion: Concentration of the gelling polymer was compromised for satisfactory gel strength and an acceptable viscosity. The release depended on viscosity of formulation. Drug targeting index indicates sumatriptan can reach to brain via olfactory pathway. Conclusion: In situ gel proved to be suitable for administration of sumatriptan succinate through nasal route. The ease of administration coupled with less frequent administration enhances patient compliance.
Food and Language: Price-Based Lexical Variation in Turkish Online Restaurant Reviews

Author: Cupery, Maria, J. Institution: Purdue University Degree Received: Title: Food and Language: Price-Based Lexical Variation in Turkish Restaurant Reviews Major Professor: Felicia Roberts Previous research has demonstrated price-based lexical variation in American online restaurant reviews and advertising (Freedman and Jurafsky, 2011; Jurafsky, Chahneau, Routledge & Smith 2014). According to the theories of Bourdieu (1986, 1987), and Douglas and Isherwood (2002), this type of variation may be the result of different social classes using differing cultural capital to evaluate their consumer experiences. As reviewers’ lexical choices reflect the criteria they apply to that good, the reviews of more expensive restaurants were expected to use significantly different lexicons than the reviews of less expensive restaurants. In comparing lexical, grammatical and etymological choices across four price rating levels in Turkish online restaurant reviews from Yelp, this study extends the research done previously in American corpora to see if price-based lexical variation occurs as expected in a new language and culture. The results showed multiple examples of price-based variation in the Turkish reviews, and these variations created lexical and etymological patterns that were unique to the Turkish corpora. When reviewing inexpensive restaurants, Turkish reviewers stressed health, homey authenticity and price. As prices increased, the reviewers used different terms for wait staff. The grammatical analysis showed no significant differences, but the etymological analysis showed a growing preference for words with Germanic and Romance roots as the price increased. In conclusion, price-based lexical variation was MA
Ibandronate, an Experimental Intravenous Bisphosphonate for Osteoporosis, Bone Metastases, and Hypercalcemia of Malignancy

Ibandronate is an experimental intravenous bisphosphonate under study for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis and skeletal complications of bone metastases, as well as hypercalcemia of malignancy. To review the data on this drug, PubMed/MEDLINE was searched for pertinent studies in English; data from January 1986–October 2005 were reviewed. In preclinical studies, ibandronate was an extremely potent bisphosphonate compared with its predecessors and was active in all animal models of human postmenopausal and corticosteroid‐associated osteoporosis. Similar to other bisphosphonates, ibandronate exhibits antitumor activity and prevents or reduces bone metastases. Forty to fifty percent of the dose is bound to bone; renal clearance of unchanged drug accounts for 70% of total body clearance. Early clinical trials demonstrated efficacy and tolerability of intravenous ibandronate in the prevention or treatment of postmenopausal and corticosteroid‐associated osteoporosis when administered once every 3 months. Intravenous ibandronate also reduces skeletal complications of bone metastases, including pain, although the cumulative dose used is much higher than that used in osteoporosis, as the drug is administered every 3–4 weeks. Single doses of intravenous ibandronate are probably also effective in the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy. The major tolerability issue with intravenous bisphosphonates is renal safety, thus the drugs generally require infusion (e.g., 0.25 hr for zoledronic acid, 2–24 hrs for pamidronate). However, intravenous ibandronate can be administered by bolus injection over a few minutes without an elevated risk of nephrotoxicity. The experimental intravenous dosage is 2 mg every 3 months for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis, and 2–6 mg every 3–4 weeks or in a single dose for treatment of bone metastases or hypercalcemia of malignancy, respectively. Ibandronate can be used in the presence of severe renal impairment with proper dosage adjustment. The drug will be an interesting addition to the available drugs for osteoporosis, bone metastases, and hypercalcemia of malignancy. Studies of intravenous ibandronate as an adjunctive treatment for cancers that tend to metastasize to bone are under way. Whether intravenous ibandronate will be a therapeutic advance is best answered by randomized, controlled trials. These are ongoing and should provide data with which to make better‐informed choices concerning intravenous bisphosphonates.