Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidermal growth factor receptor mutation analysis in cytological specimens and responsiveness to gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is the key predictor of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We conducted this study to verify the feasibility of EGFR mutation analysis in cytological specimens and investigate the responsiveness to gefitinib treatment in patients carrying EGFR mutations. METHODS A total of 210 cytological specimens were collected for EGFR mutation detection by both direct sequencing and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). We analyzed EGFR mutation status by both methods and evaluated the responsiveness to gefitinib treatment in patients harboring EGFR mutations by overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and progression free survival (PFS). RESULTS Of all patients, EGFR mutation rate was 28.6% (60/210) by direct sequencing and 45.2% (95/210) by ARMS (P<0.001) respectively. Among the EGFR wild type patients tested by direct sequencing, 26.7% of them were positive by ARMS. For the 72 EGFR mutation positive patients treated with gefitinib, the ORR, DCR and median PFS were 69.4%, 90.2% and 9.3 months respectively. The patients whose EGFR mutation status was negative by direct sequencing but positive by ARMS had lower ORR (48.0% vs. 80.9%, P=0.004) and shorter median PFS (7.4 vs. 10.5 months, P=0.009) as compared with that of EGFR mutation positive patients by both detection methods. CONCLUSIONS Our study verified the feasibility of EGFR analysis in cytological specimens in advanced NSCLC. ARMS is more sensitive than direct sequencing in EGFR mutation detection. EGFR Mutation status tested on cytological samples is applicable for predicting the response to gefitinib. Abundance of EGFR mutations might have an influence on TKIs efficacy.
MEMS switch with prolonged lifetime under hot switching conditions based on gold as contact material

Ohmic MEMS switches can be operated reliable under DC load if important factors determining its reliability are considered as a whole. First of all, these are bi-directional actuation with high forces, a very low contact resistance and good heat dissipation. The present work describes the reliability of a surface-micromachined ohmic switch with gold contacts, combining all this features. Hot switching of 50mA at 10Vdc is possible in ambient air for more than 50 million cycles. With a load of 10mA more than 100 million cycles have been demonstrated repeatedly.
Peak tornado activity is occurring earlier in the heart of “Tornado Alley”

Tornado frequency may increase as the factors that contribute to severe convection are altered by a changing climate. Attributing changes in tornado frequency to observed global climate change is complicated because observational effort has increased over time, but studies of the seasonal distribution of tornado activity may avoid sampling biases. We demonstrate that peak tornado activity has shifted 7 days earlier in the year over the past six decades in the central and southern US Great Plains, the area with the highest global incidence of tornado activity. Results are largely unrelated to large‐scale climate oscillations, and observed climate trends cannot fully account for observations, which suggest that changes to regional climate dynamics should be further investigated. Tornado preparedness efforts at individual to national levels should be cognizant of the trend toward earlier peak tornado activity across the heart of “Tornado Alley”.
lac fusion analysis of the bet genes of Escherichia coli: regulation by osmolarity, temperature, oxygen, choline, and glycine betaine

The synthesis of glycine betaine, a powerful osmoprotectant, from its precursor, choline, is a function of the bet genes. The bet genes code for the high-affinity transport of choline and the enzymes for its conversion to glycine betaine. These genes map at 7.5 min on the E. coli chromosome and are contained on the conjugative plasmid F'2. To study the transcriptional regulation of the bet genes in response to various environmental conditions, a collection of 30 lac operon fusions was isolated by utilizing the bet genes contained on F'2. Four osmoregulated bet loci (betA, betB, betC, and betT) were identified based on biochemical, regulatory, and merodiploid analysis of these fusions. All of the bet fusions demonstrated a 7- to 10-fold increase in transcription in response to increases in the osmotic strength of the growth medium. Choline further induced expression of lac fusions at the betA, betB, and betT loci when the cells were grown under conditions of osmotic stress. The end product of the pathway, glycine betaine, was a corepressor of choline induction for fusions at the betA and betT loci. Expression of the betA, betB, and betT loci was reduced 7- to 10-fold under anaerobic conditions. In addition, expression of the betB and betT loci was reduced when the cells were grown in high osmolarity at 16 degrees C. These studies demonstrate that the expression of the bet genes is under the control of several environmental stimuli.
Monetary policy, rule-of-thumb consumers and external habits: a G7 comparison

This article extends the standard New Keynesian Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model to agents who cannot smooth consumption (i.e. spenders) and are affected by external consumption habits. Although these assumptions are not new, their joint consideration strongly affects some theoretical and empirical results addressed by the recent literature. By deriving closed-form solutions, we identify different demand regimes and show that they are characterized by specific features regarding dynamic stability and monetary policy effectiveness. We also evaluate our model by stochastic simulations obtained from the Bayesian parameters estimates for the Group of Seven (G7) economies. From posterior impulse responses, we address the empirical relevance of the different regimes and provide comparative evidence on the heterogeneity of monetary policy effects among countries.
Influence of environmental factors on the infectivity of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs

The sensitivity of eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis to environmental and controlled laboratory conditions was tested. Egg material was exposed and the infectivity was subsequently monitored by in vitro activation and by oral infection of the natural host, Microtus arvalis. To study the impact of environmental conditions in an endemic area of south-western Germany, eggs were sealed into bags of nylon mesh and exposed to the natural climate during various seasons. The maximal survival time of eggs was 240 days in an experiment performed in autumn and winter and 78 days in summer. A study of the tenacity of eggs under laboratory conditions revealed a high sensitivity to elevated temperatures and to desiccation. At 45 °C and 85–95% relative humidity the infectivity was lost after 3 h as well as after 4 h exposure to 43 °C suspended in water. Exposure to 27% relative humidity at 25 °C as well as exposure to 15% relative humidity at 43 °C resulted in a total loss of infectivity within 48 and 2 h, respectively. Temperatures of 4 °C and of –18 °C were well tolerated (478 days and 240 days survival, respectively), whereas exposure to –83 °C and to –196 °C quickly killed off the eggs (within 48 h and 20 h, respectively). Eggs of E. multilocularis were not killed off by exposure to various commercially available disinfectants applied according to the manufacturers' instructions and by exposure for 24 h to low concentrations of ethanol. Irradiation with 40 krad. from a 137Caesium source prevented the development of metacestodes but allowed seroconversion of infected rodents.
Streptococcus suis infection in Hong Kong: an emerging infectious disease?

SUMMARY We conducted a 31-month retrospective review of all laboratory-confirmed Streptococcus suis infections admitted to public hospitals in Hong Kong. Strain identification, serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted on S. suis isolates. Twenty-one sporadic cases were identified, comprising 18 (86%) males and 3 (14%) females. About half were patients aged ⩾65 years. More cases occurred during summer. Occupational exposure was documented in five (24%) cases. The estimated annual incidence was 0·09/100 000 in the general population and 32/100 000 in people with occupational exposure to pigs and raw pork. The primary clinical manifestations were meningitis (48%), septicaemia (38%) and endocarditis (14%). The case-fatality rate was 5%. All available isolates from 15 patients were serotype 2, sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, but resistant to tetracycline. Injury prevention and proper handling of pigs or raw pork should be advocated to both at-risk occupational groups and the general population.
Relationship of somatic cell score and linear type trait evaluations of Holstein sires

Abstract Genetic evaluations of Holstein bulls for mean somatic cell score were compared with their standardized transmitting abilities for linear type traits. Based on first lactation daughter information from five dairy records processing centers, PTA for somatic cell scores for 712 sires ranged from –. 50 to . 56. Standardized transmitting abilities for 14 type traits were provided for these bulls by the Holstein Association. Mean transmitting abilities for udder traits were negative for the 100 bulls with highest PTA and positive for the 100 bulls with lowest PTA for somatic cell score. For all bulls, correlations of PTA for somatic cell score with udder trait evaluations were negative (–.31 for fore udder attachment, –.28 for udder depth, –.21 for front teat placement, –.17 for rear udder width, –.16 for udder cleft, and –.13 for rear udder height). The best five-trait model to predict PTA for somatic cell score consisted of transmitting abilities for fore udder attachment, thurl width, strength, dairy form, and body depth (R 2 = .142). If PTA for milk yield was included with evaluations for type traits, it replaced dairy form in the model. Inclusion of quadratic terms did not contribute greatly to prediction of PTA for somatic cell score. Selection for higher, more firmly attached udders should contribute to reducing somatic cell scores.
GATA-1-mediated Transcriptional Repression Yields Persistent Transcription Factor IIB-Chromatin Complexes*

The hematopoietic GATA factors GATA-1 and GATA-2, which have distinct and overlapping roles to regulate blood cell development, are reciprocally expressed during erythropoiesis. GATA-1 directly represses Gata2 transcription, and reduced GATA-2 synthesis promotes red blood cell development. Gata2 repression involves “GATA switches” in which GATA-1 displaces GATA-2 from Gata2 regulatory regions. We show that extragenic GATA switch sites occupied by GATA-2 associate with as much RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and basal transcription factors as present at the active Gata2 promoters. Pol II bound to GATA switch sites in the active locus was phosphorylated on serine 5 of the carboxyl-terminal domain, indicative of elongation competence. GATA-1-mediated displacement of GATA-2 from GATA switch sites reduced Pol II recruitment to all sites except the far upstream –77-kb region. Surprisingly, TFIIB occupancy persisted at most sites upon repression. These results indicate that GATA-2-bound extragenic regulatory elements recruit Pol II, GATA-1 binding expels Pol II, and despite the persistent TFIIB-chromatin complexes, Pol II recruitment is blocked.
Breast cancer chemoprevention: risk-benefit effects of the antioestrogen tamoxifen

The anti-oestrogen tamoxifen, which is widely used as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer, is undergoing evaluation as a chemopreventive agent in women at increased risk of developing this disease. Recent results from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) P-1 prevention trial show a 49% reduction in breast cancer incidence in healthy, high-risk women. However, tamoxifen treatment has the serious side effect of increasing the incidence of endometrial cancer in women and long-term administration of tamoxifen causes hepatic tumours in rats. These liver tumours are induced via a genotoxic mechanism, but the mechanisms responsible for endometrial cancer in women are not yet known and are a focus of much debate. This review describes the findings from the chemoprevention trials and problems associated with the use of tamoxifen in this setting. The mechanism of carcinogenesis in rat liver is explained in detail and compared to the situation in humans, with a view to assessing the risks associated with tamoxifen therapy and predicting whether other anti-oestrogens might be safer alternatives.
Complete Replication of Hepatitis C Virus in Cell Culture

Many aspects of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle have not been reproduced in cell culture, which has slowed research progress on this important human pathogen. Here, we describe a full-length HCV genome that replicates and produces virus particles that are infectious in cell culture (HCVcc). Replication of HCVcc was robust, producing nearly 105 infectious units per milliliter within 48 hours. Virus particles were filterable and neutralized with a monoclonal antibody against the viral glycoprotein E2. Viral entry was dependent on cellular expression of a putative HCV receptor, CD81. HCVcc replication was inhibited by interferon-α and by several HCV-specific antiviral compounds, suggesting that this in vitro system will aid in the search for improved antivirals.
Wet cupping therapy for treatment of herpes zoster: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND Wet cupping is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy commonly used in treating herpes zoster in China, and clinical studies have shown that wet cupping may have beneficial effect on herpes zoster compared with Western medication. METHODS We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on wet cupping for herpes zoster. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2008), China Network Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Fulltext Database VIP, and Wan Fang Database. All searches ended in February 2009. Two authors extracted data and assessed the trials' quality independently. RevMan 5.0. 18 software (The Cochrane Collaboration, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) was used for data analysis with effect estimate presented as relative risk (RR) and mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Eight RCTs involving 651 patients were included, and the methodological quality of trials was generally fair in terms of randomization, blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Meta-analyses showed wet cupping was superior to medication in the number of cured patients (RR 2.49, 95% CI 1.91 to 3.24, P < .00001), the number of patients with improved symptoms (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.26, P = .003), and reducing the incidence rate of postherpetic neuralgia (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.25, P = .0001). Wet cupping plus medication was significantly better than medication alone on number of cured patients (RR 1.93, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.04, P = .005) but demonstrated no difference in symptom improvement (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.08, P = .98). There were no serious adverse effects related to wet cupping therapy in the included trials. CONCLUSION Wet cupping appears to be effective in the treatment of herpes zoster. However, further large, rigorously designed
In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Isavuconazole against Madurella mycetomatis

ABSTRACT Currently, therapy of black-grain mycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomatis consists of extensive debridement of the infected tissue combined with prolonged antifungal therapy with ketoconazole or itraconazole. In the present study, the in vitro activity of the new triazole isavuconazole toward M. mycetomatis was evaluated. Isavuconazole appeared to have high activity against M. mycetomatis, with MICs ranging from ≤0.016 to 0.125 μg/ml. Due to its favorable pharmacokinetics, isavuconazole could be a promising antifungal agent in the treatment of mycetoma.
Mechanisms of the 2014-2016 Delayed Super El Niño Captured by Simple Dynamical Models

Recent studies suggest that atmospheric wind bursts in the tropical Pacific have played a major role during the 2014-2016 period marked by a failed El Niño favoring a subsequent super El Niño with dramatic worldwide impacts. Here we show that this new type of major event or so-called delayed super El Niño is realistically and easily captured by simple dynamical models with emphasis on the role of state-dependent stochastic wind bursts, both easterly and westerly. We analyze in particular 1) qualitative model surrogates for this event compared and contrasted with the 1997-1998 super El Niño, 2) their formation mechanisms and 3) statistical occurrence as generated by random wind bursts. Despite favorable ocean conditions atmospheric wind bursts differentiate the failure or development as well as the delay of El Niño events in the simple model. In particular, the early El Niño stalling by easterly wind bursts and subsequent development by westerly wind bursts observed during 2014-2016 is consistently retrieved along with a realistic spatial structure and chronology. The simple model further allows one to analyze El Niño ensemble statistics that reveals a significant occurrence of the delayed super El Niño Sulian Thual Department of Mathematics, and Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012 USA E-mail: sulian.thual@gmail.com Andrew J. Majda Department of Mathematics, and Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012 USA, and Center for Prototype Climate Modeling, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE. E-mail: jonjon@cims.nyu. edu Nan Chen Department of Mathematics, and Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012 USA E-mail: chennan@cims.nyu. edu (corresponding author) 2 Sulian Thual et al. type in addition to super events like the one of 1997-1998 and moderate events. The present theoretical findings therefore suggest that delayed super El Niño events are not necessarily unusual in the tropical Pacific despite not appearing in the recent observational record and could reoccur in the future.
Contracts, Games, and Refinement

We consider the notion of a contract that governs the behavior of a collection of agents. In particular, we study the question of whether a group among these agents can achieve a given goal by following the contract. We show that this can be reduced to studying the existence of winning strategies in a two-person game. A notion of correctness and refinement is introduced for contracts and contracts are shown to form a lattice and a monoid with respect to the refinement ordering. We define a weakest precondition semantics for contracts that permits us to compute the initial states from which a group of agents has a winning strategy to reach their goal. This semantics generalizes the traditional predicate transformer semantics for program statements to contracts and games. Ordinary programs and interactive programs are special kinds of contracts.
Searching as learning: A systematization based on literature

The paper surveys empirical studies on the relations between information searching and learning, and presents some reflections about learning in a search process based on the findings. First, the meaning of the concepts ‘learning’ and ‘searching’ is briefly defined. Learning is conceptualized as changes in one’s knowledge structures. Then it is described more in detail how learning occurs in the search process. The point of departure is to focus on tasks that require the restructuring of knowledge structures and to analyse how gradual stabilization of those structures is related to accessing and interacting with information sources. After that, empirical studies on searching and learning are categorized by identifying independent and dependent variables in those studies. In conclusion, some general remarks on the topic are presented.
Fine‐needle aspiration of soft tissue perineurioma: A comparative analysis of cytomorphology and immunohistochemistry with benign and malignant mimics

Soft tissue perineurioma (STP) is a benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor demonstrating uniform perineurial cell differentiation. To the authors' knowledge, the cytomorphologic features of STP remain incompletely characterized, and the distinction between STP and its benign (intramuscular/cellular myxoma) and malignant (low‐grade fibromyxoid sarcoma [LGFMS]) mimics is challenging.
Effect of dietary calcium and sodium on potassium requirement for lactating dairy cows.

In two experiments we studied the effect of dietary calcium and sodium on the potassium allowance of . 7 to . 8% for lactating cows. In Experiment 1, 12 first-lactation cows in midlactation were fed three diets containing . 52, . 77, and 1.04% potassium with four dietary calcium concentrations . 50, . 69, . 87, and 1.03%. Increasing dietary potassium from . 52 to 1.04 increased intake of dry feed as a function of body weight. With rations containing 17% coarsely ground fiber, increasing dietary calcium up to 1.03% increased intake and milk production 1.3 kg per day and 1.6 kg per day linearly. In Experiment 2, 16 cows in midlactation were fed rations with two potassium (.42 and .84%) and with two sodium concentrations (.31 and .52%). Increasing dietary potassium increased dry matter intake 1.2 kg per day while dietary sodium had no effect on intake. Potassium had no effect, but increasing sodium decreased fat-corrected milk 1.7 kg per day. Of potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium in serum, potassium was the element most consistently affected in both experiments. Increasing dietary potassium to . 77 and . 84% increased serum potassium. Dietary calcium and sodium had little effect on potassium required for lactating cows.