Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recombinant human erythropoietin prevents cisplatin-induced genotoxicity in rat liver and heart tissues via an antioxidant process

Cisplatin (Cisp) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents. However, at higher doses, liver and heart injuries may occur. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has recently been shown to exert an important cytoprotective effect in many tissues. For that reason, we tried to check the protective effect of rhEPO against Cisp-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in liver and heart tissues. Our experiments were performed using six groups of adult male Wistar rats. The control group was treated only with saline solution. The rhEPO group was given a single dose of rhEPO. The Cisp group was given a single injection of Cisp. The rhEPO+Cisp groups were given rhEPO simultaneously, 24 hours before, and 5 days after Cisp injection. Our results clearly showed that Cisp induced noticeable DNA damage in the liver and heart, accompanied by a significant increase in protein carbonyl level, reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion, and a decrease in catalase activity. Rats treated with rhEPO, simultaneously, before, or after Cisp injection, remarkably decreased DNA damage. It decreased also the protein carbonyl level, restored GSH depletion, and enhanced catalase activity. Our results highlight an interesting cytoprotective strategy using rhEPO against Cisp-induced liver and heart injuries.
Reoperative Inflammatory Bowel Disease Surgery

With the advent of restorative proctocolectomy or ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC), not only has there been potential for cure of UC but also patients have enjoyed marked improvements in bowel function, continence, and quality of life. However, IPAA can be complicated by postoperative small bowel obstruction, disease recurrence, and pouch failure secondary to pelvic sepsis, pouch dysfunction, mucosal inflammation, and neoplastic transformation. These may necessitate emergent or expeditious elective reoperation to salvage the pouch and preserve adequate function. Local, transanal, and transabdominal approaches to IPAA salvage are described, and their indications, outcomes, and the clinical parameters that affect the need for salvage are discussed. Pouch excision for failed salvage reoperation is reviewed as well. Relaparotomy is also frequently required for recurrent Crohn's disease (CD), especially given the nature of this as yet incurable illness. Risk factors for CD recurrence are examined, and the various surgical options and margins of resection are evaluated with a focus on bowel-sparing policy. Stricturoplasty, its outcomes, and its importance in recurrent disease are discussed, and segmental resection is compared with more extensive procedures such as total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis. Lastly, laparoscopy is addressed with respect to its long-term outcomes, effect on surgical recurrence, and its application in the management of recurrent CD.
End-to-end versus end-to-side esophagogastrostomy after esophageal cancer resection: a prospective randomized study.

W ith great interest, we read the article by Nederlof et al.1 The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing a single-layered hand-sewn cervical endto-side (ETS) versus end-to-end (ETE) gastroesophageal anastomosis after esophageal resection and gastric conduit reconstruction. The conclusion was drawn that the ETS technique is associated with lower anastomotic stricture rates and higher anastomotic leakage rates compared with the ETE technique. However, the incidence of anastomotic leakage in the ETS study population appeared to be remarkably high. In the ETS group, 26 out of 41 patients (41%) developed anastomotic leakage. The literature reports that the incidence of hand-sewn cervical ETS anastomoses is 1% to 14%, but it may be higher because not all studies specifically describe the type of hand-sewn technique that is used.2–5 The high incidence of anastomotic leakage in the ETS group was also recognized in the discussion by the authors. A possible explanation for the high leakage rate in the Nederlof et al’s article might be the influence of a learning curve. The surgeons who performed the ETS anastomoses in the randomized controlled trial were acquainted with the construction of an ETE anastomosis and perhaps, the learning curve for creation of the ETS anastomosis (that is not clearly defined yet) was not completed. This might have led to the high percentage of anastomotic leakage rates and possibly to the high rates of in-hospital mortality. An analysis of our own prospectively collected data of esophageal resection with ETS anastomosis from the last 5 years showed an improvement over time, from an initial leakage rate of 21.7% in 2005 to 16.6% in 2010, sug-
CEREBRAL GLIOSARCOMA, PULMONARY ADENOID‐CYSTIC CARCINOMA, AND PULMONARY METASTATIC GLIOSARCOMA: REPORT OF AN UNTREATED CASE

Summary An elderly woman had a cerebral gliosarcoma with a single pulmonary metastasis, together with a separate pulmonary adenoid‐cystic carcinoma. Spontaneous extraneural metastases of primary intracranial neoplasms are exceedingly unusual; so far, only 8 proven cases are recorded in the English language medical literature. The association of cerebral gliosarcoma and a pulmonary adenoid‐cystic carcinoma is presumably coincidental.
Burden of Smoking and Occupational Exposure on Etiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Workers of Southern Italy

Objective: This study evaluates the burden of smoking and occupational exposure on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Two thousand nineteen workers underwent a diagnostic protocol for COPD at the baseline and after 5 and 10 years. Taking into account individual and occupational exposures the sample was divided in four groups. Prevalence, incidence of COPD, differences among groups, and logistic regression were calculated. Results: Higher COPD prevalence and incidence were observed in the group with combined exposures. Smoking habits and occupational exposure were confirmed as risk factors for COPD and an interaction between smoking and occupational exposure was found. Conclusions: Workers exposed to both risk factors have to be considered in COPD high-risk class. Smoking cessation programs could play an important role particularly in activities where effects of smoking have a positive interaction with occupational exposure.
Corporate Taxes, Patent Shifting, and Anti-avoidance Rules: Empirical Evidence

We empirically assess international corporate tax avoidance by strategic location of innovative output. The analysis draws on the universe of patent applications to the European Patent Office from 1990 to 2006 linked with data on multinational entities (MNEs) in Europe. Four findings emerge: first, patent holdings are distorted toward low-tax countries. Second, patent location in low-tax countries is correlated with a geographic separation of research and development output and input. Third, MNEs systematically sort high-value (low-value) patents to low-tax (high-tax) countries. Fourth, the propensity to locate patent ownership in low-tax countries is significantly decreased if controlled foreign company rules are enacted in the MNE’s parent country. The tightening of transfer pricing legislation, in turn, exerts a weak negative effect on the location of patent ownership only.
Gender Disparity in Farmers Access to Agric Credit among Members of Cooperative Societies in Ogbaru Local Government Area if Anambra State

Women have been the core subject of gender and the term ̳gender issues‘ has been widely used to refer to disadvantages faced by women in the field of agriculture despite the theoretical meaning of gender as roles of males and females (Anaglo, Boateng1 & Boateng, 2014; Okali, 2011). Meinzen-Dick and Quisumbing (undated) noted that attention to gender in agriculture is not new, but in the past it has often been limited to a few specialized programs targeting women or ―mainstreaming‖ efforts that embed attention to gender within programs, with too little follow-through. That seems to be changing. A number of key development agencies and donors are drawing on gender analysis in their programming, targeting by gender, and building in accountability. For example, FAO‘s 2012 gender strategy commits to allocating 30 percent of operational budgets to interventions targeted to women and to disaggregating data in all FAO statistical databases by sex. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation‘s policy on gender-responsive agricultural programming is summarized as ―Know Her, Design for Her, Be Accountable to Her. ‖ It will be absolutely unfair to assert that women are marginalized in the agricultural sector without adequate research to establish it.
The potential of REDD+ to finance forestry sector in Vietnam

Key messagesDespite the great potential REDD+ shows for generating and contributing finance to support forestry in Vietnam, a reduction in both funds and funder commitment to REDD+, challenges in meeting funder requirements, and the significant finance required to implement the national REDD+ program in Vietnam, all imply that in reality REDD+’s contribution as a major financial source for the forestry sector is limited.Although the government has identified various public and private funding sources to cover the different phases of REDD+, the international public sector remains the primary funding source; limited contributions come from the private sector and state.To date the spending of REDD+ finance has been uncoordinated and fragmented, due to a lack of clarity on what Vietnam’s REDD+ priorities are.Effective and efficient implementation of REDD+ activities in Vietnam is being impeded by: limited and inaccurate data regarding REDD+ finance in Vietnam; an unclear definition of what REDD+ finance is; the absence of a national REDD+ financial tracking system; and limited technical capacity (within both government and civil society organizations) when it comes to monitoring REDD+ finance.To increase the potential for REDD+ to financially contribute to forestry in Vietnam, the following is required: better coordination across sectors and amongst donors and government agencies; enhanced capacity building on the tracking and management of REDD+ finance; development and effective implementation of REDD+ policies and measures, so that the government can access result-based payments from different international funding sources.
An osteopontin (SPP1) polymorphism is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Osteopontin (SPP1) is a soluble ligand with pleomorphic immunologic activities including activation of macrophage chemotaxis, promotion of Th1 responses, and activation of B1 B cells. It has been implicated in the development of murine lupus and is overexpressed in humans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We examined a polymorphism of osteopontin for an association with lupus in humans in an effort to determine whether there is any evidence that a genetic predisposition to altered osteopontin expression might explain the overexpression seen in human SLE patients. A silent polymorphism (707C>T, rs1126616) of osteopontin was significantly associated with SLE. Additional associations with renal disease and opportunisitic infections were suggested. This is the first phenotypic association with a polymorphic variant of osteopontin. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Microbiological Analysis of Sachet and Tap Water in Enugu State of Nigeria

The microbiological quality of sachet and tap water in Enugu,State,Nigeriawas analyzed. Sachet water was purchased from five different manufacturers. Samples Q1, T1, R1, J1, and M1 were directly from the manufacturers while samples Q2, T2, R2, J2, and M2 were obtained from the retailers. Tap water was collected from three different locations in the town. All water samples were subjected to bacteriological (aerobic and anaerobic) and fungal studies using standard bacteriological and mycological methods with little modifications. For sachet water, batch of five packets both from the manufacturer and retailers were analysed and average result taken. Five separate tap water samples were taken from the three different locations. For sachet water, E. coli and S. faecalis were isolated with colony forming units (CFU) ranging from 7 to >500. For tap water, isolates included Coliform, Cl. sp and Penicillium sp. An average of 66% Clostridium sp was recovered from all the tap water of the 3 different locations. Penicillium sp was isolated from only 16.6% of tap samples. Microbial quality may vary rapidly and widely but short-term peaks in pathogen concentration may increase disease risks considerably and may also trigger outbreaks of waterborne disease.
No association between tagging SNPs of SNARE complex genes (STX1A, VAMP2 and SNAP25) and schizophrenia in a Japanese population

Abnormalities in neural connections and the neurotransmitter system appear to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex, which consists of Syntaxin1A, vesicle‐associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) and synaptosomal‐associated protein 25 kDa (SNAP25), plays an important role in the neurotransmitter system, and is therefore an attractive place to search for candidate genes for schizophrenia. We conducted a two‐stage genetic association analysis of Syntaxin1A (STX1A), VAMP2 and SNAP25 genes with schizophrenia (first‐set screening samples: 377 cases and 377 controls, second‐set confirmation samples: 657 cases and 527 controls). Based on the linkage disequilibrium, 40 SNPs (STX1A, 8 SNPs; VAMP2, 3 SNPs; SNAP25, 29 SNPs) were selected as ‘tagging SNPs’. Only nominally significant associations of an SNP (rs12626080) and haplotype (rs363014 and rs12626080) in SNAP25 were detected in the first‐set screening scan. To validate this significance, we carried out a replication analysis of these SNP and haplotype associations in second‐set samples with a denser set of markers (including five additional SNPs). However, these associations could not be confirmed in the second‐set analysis. These results suggest that the SNARE complex‐related genes do not play a major role in susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Japanese population. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Value of Human Capital Synergies in M&A: Evidence from Global Asset Management

University, Email: alberto.manconi@unibocconi.it, corresponding author: David Schumacher, Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, Email: david.schumacher@mcgill.ca. We would like to thank Carlo Chiarella (discussant), Miguel Ferreira, Francesco Franzoni, Petri Jylha (discussant), Pedro Matos, Alberto Plazzi, MaryJane Rabier, David Robinson, David Stolin (discussant), Zhe Zhang (discussant), Lu Zheng, participants at the 32nd Int. Conference of the French Finance Association (AFFI), 2015 China International Conference in Finance (CICF), 2015 Berlin Asset Management Conference, 2015 BPI Nova Asset Management Conference, 2016 Rotterdam Asset Management Conference, 2016 FMA European Conference, and seminar participants at Tilburg University, McGill University, HEC Paris, ESSEC, ESCP-EAP, the Bank of Canada, Lancaster University, University of Lugano, University of Strathclyde, University of Geneva, and Gerzensee for helpful comments and discussions. We are grateful for research support under the Internal Social Sciences and Humanities Development Grant at McGill. Luo gratefully acknowledges financial support from the NWO Research Talent grant. Schumacher would like to thank the Institute of Financial Mathematics of Montreal (IFM2), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Fonds de Recherche du Quebec (FRQSC) for financial support. Sauraj Gambhir provided excellent research assistance. All errors are ours. Previous versions of this paper circulated under the titles “Are Investors for Sale? Evidence from Financial Mergers” and “Learning and Synergies in Financial Markets: Evidence from Financial Mergers”. The Value of Human Capital Synergies in M&A: Evidence from Global Asset Management
Asthma phenotypes in children and stratified pharmacological treatment regimens

ABSTRACT Introduction: Asthma is the most common inflammatory disease in childhood. The interaction of genetic, environmental and host factors may contribute to the development of childhood asthma and defines its progress, including persistence and severity. Until now, various classifications of childhood asthma phenotypes have been suggested based on patient’s age during onset of symptoms, type of inflammatory cells, response to treatment and disease severity. Many efforts have been carried out to identify childhood asthma phenotypes and to clarify which are the risk factors that define asthma prediction and the response to therapy. The identification of asthma phenotypes has not only prognostic but also therapeutic role. However, the classification of asthma phenotypes is complex due to the heterogeneity of the disease. Areas covered: The current childhood asthma phenotypes and the new therapeutic strategies for each phenotype are reviewed. Expert commentary: There are multiple phenotypes in childhood asthma and it is crucial to define them before the initiation of personalized treatment. Both the therapeutic strategy and monitoring should follow the recent guidelines.
A COMPARISON OF RECOMBINANT HIRUDIN WITH A LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HEPARIN TO PREVENT THROMBOEMBOLIC COMPLICATIONS AFTER TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

A BSTRACT Background Patients who undergo total hip replacement have a high risk of thromboembolic complications. Recombinant hirudin (desirudin), a specific inhibitor of thrombin, represents a new development in antithrombotic therapy. We compared the efficacy and safety of desirudin with those of a low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) for the prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients undergoing primary total hip replacement. Methods Both treatments, which were assigned in a randomized, double-blind manner, were started preoperatively: enoxaparin on the evening before surgery, and desirudin within 30 minutes before the start of surgery. The dose of desirudin was 15 mg subcutaneously twice daily, and the dose of enoxaparin was 40 mg subcutaneously once daily. The duration of treatment was 8 to 12 days. Deep-vein thrombosis was verified by bilateral venography performed at the end of the treatment period or earlier, if there were clinical signs of deep-vein thrombosis. Results At 31 centers in 10 European countries, 2079 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive desirudin or enoxaparin. A total of 1587 patients were included in the primary analysis of efficacy. In the desirudin group, as compared with the enoxaparin group, there was a significantly lower rate of proximal deep-vein thrombosis (4.5 vs. 7.5 percent, P 0.01; relative reduction in risk, 40.3 percent) and a lower overall rate of deep-vein thrombosis (18.4 vs. 25.5 percent, P 0.001; relative reduction in risk, 28.0 percent). The safety profiles were similar in the two treatment groups. Conclusions When administered 30 minutes before total hip replacement, desirudin is more effective than enoxaparin in preventing deep-vein thrombosis. (N Engl J Med 1997;337:1329-35.)
Babies Born Small for Gestational Age: Insulin Sensitivity and Growth Hormone Treatment

Epidemiological studies have identified an association between size at birth and adult risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. In contemporary populations, children who are relatively small at birth and show rapid infancy weight gain are at greatest risk for the development of childhood obesity, increased visceral fat and insulin resistance: possible early markers of adult disease risk. Individuals presenting to growth clinics with short stature and a history of low birthweight will not have shown post-natal catch-up growth and may be a very heterogeneous group. Nevertheless, there are some data to suggest that as a group they are insulin resistant with decreased lean mass. Growth hormone treatment leads to reversible worsening of the insulin resistance, and short-term data do not indicate an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. However, further long-term follow-up is required, and particular care should be taken in monitoring children with a strong family history of type 2 diabetes and those from ethnic groups in which there is a high background prevalence of the disease.
The Description Logic Handbook: Theory, Implementation, and Applications

This introduction presents the main motivations for the development of Description Logics (DL) as a formalism for representing knowledge, as well as some important basic notions underlying all systems that have been created in the DL tradition. In addition, we provide the reader with an overview of the entire book and some guidelines for reading it. We first address the relationship between Description Logics and earlier semantic network and frame systems, which represent the original heritage of the field. We delve into some of the key problems encountered with the older efforts. Subsequently, we introduce the basic features of Description Logic languages and related reasoning techniques. Description Logic languages are then viewed as the core of knowledge representation systems, considering both the structure of a DL knowledge base and its associated reasoning services. The development of some implemented knowledge representation systems based on Description Logics and the first applications built with such systems are then reviewed. Finally, we address the relationship of Description Logics to other fields of Computer Science. We also discuss some extensions of the basic representation language machinery; these include features proposed for incorporation in the formalism that originally arose in implemented systems, and features proposed to cope with the needs of certain application domains.
EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZER ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF COTTON FIBER QUALITY

Endogenous hormones are a key factor in cotton fiber quality. Studying the relationship among endogenous hormone contents and fiber quality can provide a theoretical basis for exploring physiological measurements to improve fiber quality. The relationships among endogenous hormone contents and fiber quality for different boll positions and potassium (K) conditions were investigated for the main cultivar ‘Xinluzao 24. ’ We used eight application rates of K fertilizer (K2O 0, 37.5, 75, 112.5, 150, 37.5 and sprayed 1% K2SO4, 75 and sprayed 1% K2SO4, and 150 and sprayed 1% K2SO4 kg ha under field conditions). We then measured the contents of indoleacetic acid (IAA), gibberellin (GA3), zeatin (Z), and abscisic acid (ABA) in relation to changes in fiber quality indices. Results showed that application of K fertilizer significantly increased the contents of IAA, GA3, and Z in the upper and middle boll, and decreased the contents of ABA in the upper, middle, and the lower boll. Compared with the control, applying K fertilizer between 37.5 kg K2O ha and 112.5 kg K2O ha can significantly increase the length, uniformity, strength, micronaire, and maturity of fiber in three parts of the plant. However, excessive application of K fertilizer can reduce fiber uniformity, strength, and micronaire in these locations. Through comprehensive comparison, we determined that the optimal application of K fertilizer for regulating endogenous hormones and improving fiber quality was a basal application of 75 kg K2O ha and a spray application of 1% K2SO4. The endogenous hormones IAA, GA3, and Z can improve cotton fiber quality, but ABA can inhibit cotton fiber quality. Results indicate that reasonable applications of potassium fertilizer could regulate endogenous hormones and improve fiber quality.