Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Randomized trial of alternating versus sequential radiotherapy/chemotherapy in limited-disease patients with small-cell lung cancer: a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Cooperative Group Study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effectiveness of alternating or sequential schedules of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide (CDE) chemotherapy and irradiation in patients with previously untreated small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 335 eligible patients were randomized between five courses of CDE chemotherapy followed by thoracic irradiation 50 Gy in 20 daily fractions (S) and the same total dose of chemotherapy and irradiation split into four courses of five daily fractions delivered on days 14 to 21 of the second and subsequent chemotherapy courses (A). Patients had a median age of 61 years (range, 33 to 75); 224 (66%) were male; the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) was 0 or 1 in 311; and 254 had weight loss less than 10%. RESULTS The overall median survival duration was 15 months, with 62% (95% confidence interval [CI], 57% to 67%) 1-year, 25% (95% CI, 20% to 30%) 2-year, and 14% (95% CI, 10% to 18%) 3-year survival rates. There was no significant difference between the arms. The median survival time was 14 months in A and 15 months in S. One-year survival was 60% in A (95% CI, 53% to 67%) and 64% in S (95% CI, 57% to 71%); 2-year survival was 26% in A (95% CI, 19% to 33%) and 23% in S (95% CI, 16% to 30%); and 3-year survival was 12% in A (95% CI, 6% to 18%) and 15% in S (95% CI, 9% to 21%). World Health Organization (WHO) grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurred in 90% of A and 77% of S patients (P < .001) and WHO grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia in 33% of A and 20% of S patients (P < .001). Rates of other acute and late toxicities were similar in both arms. Hematologic toxicity compromised treatment dose delivery; less than 50% of A patients received greater than 95% of prescribed chemotherapy and 77% their full radiation course, compared with 60% and 93% for arm S (P < .009). Local relapse was the site of first failure in 60% of all patients and 75% of these suffered an in-field relapse; no difference could be seen between the two arms. CONCLUSION This trial failed to confirm the superiority of an alternating schedule of delivery. For this combination of chemotherapy and irradiation, hematologic toxicity compromised treatment delivery and could have contributed to the overall result. The poor rates of local control are disappointing and require intensification of the radiation therapy strategy.
Heterogeneous expression of GAGE, NY‐ESO‐1, MAGE‐A and SSX proteins in esophageal cancer: Implications for immunotherapy

Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) elicit immune response in cancer patients and are therefore targets of immunotherapy. Current information on CTA expression is primarily based on mRNA assays and little is known about their expression at the protein level. The objectives of our study are to analyze GAGE, NY‐ESO‐1, MAGE‐A and SSX protein expression in esophageal cancer and to correlate their expression patterns with clinicopathologic parameters and survival. We examined CTA protein expression in 213 patients with esophageal cancer by immunohistochemistry. Antigen‐positive tumors were evaluated once and antigen‐negative tumors were evaluated 3 times by examining different parts of the cancer specimen. GAGE, NY‐ESO‐1 and MAGE‐A were heterogeneously expressed in 42 (20%), 44 (21%) and 111 (52%) tumors, respectively, whereas SSX expression was not detected. Of the 126 (59%) patients expressing CTAs, 70 (33%) expressed 1, 41 (19%) expressed 2 and 15 (7%) expressed 3 antigens. The expression of MAGE‐A was correlated with those of GAGE (p=0.001) and NY‐ESO‐1 (p=0.002), and the expression of GAGE was correlated with that of NY‐ESO‐1 (p=0.002). One hundred fifty‐six (79%) sections were positively stained in the first evaluation, whereas 37 (19%) and 4 (2%) positive sections were identified in the second and third evaluations, respectively. Particularly, MAGE and GAGE expression showed overlaps. GAGE, NY‐ESO‐1 and MAGE‐A protein expression was not correlated with the disease progression, TNM factors or survival. The detection of immunonegative cells in every specimen suggests addition of other drugs such as 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine to increase the therapeutic effect of CTA‐specific cancer vaccines. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of Thrombin Formation by Active Site Mutated (S360A) Activated Protein C*

Activated protein C (APC) down-regulates thrombin formation through proteolytic inactivation of factor Va (FVa) by cleavage at Arg506 and Arg306 and of factor VIIIa (FVIIIa) by cleavage at Arg336 and Arg562. To study substrate recognition by APC, active site-mutated APC (APC(S360A)) was used, which lacks proteolytic activity but exhibits anticoagulant activity. Experiments in model systems and in plasma show that APC(S360A), and not its zymogen protein C(S360A), expresses anticoagulant activities by competing with activated coagulation factors X and IX for binding to FVa and FVIIIa, respectively. APC(S360A) bound to FVa with a KD of 0.11 ± 0.05 nm and competed with active site-labeled Oregon Green activated coagulation factor X for binding to FVa. The binding of APC(S360A) to FVa was not affected by protein S but was inhibited by prothrombin. APC(S360A) binding to FVa was critically dependent upon the presence of Arg506 and not Arg306 and additionally required an active site accessible to substrates. Inhibition of FVIIIa activity by APC(S360A) was >100-fold less efficient than inhibition of FVa. Our results show that despite exosite interactions near the Arg506 cleavage site, binding of APC(S360A) to FVa is almost completely dependent on Arg506 interacting with APC(S360A) to form a nonproductive Michaelis complex. Because docking of APC to FVa and FVIIIa constitutes the first step in the inactivation of the cofactors, we hypothesize that the observed anticoagulant activity may be important for in vivo regulation of thrombin formation.
The Evaluation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program

The past decade has been marked by a massive housing bubble and foreclosure crisis. During the first half of the decade, home prices nationally experienced unprecedented growth, increasing 85 percent in real terms between 1997 and 2005 (Shiller, 2008). The increase was notable for its sheer magnitude and because it occurred in many markets throughout the country. In a report to Congress on the causes of the foreclosure crisis, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) detailed how, in a few short years, the country saw a housing market that had seemingly limitless potential for growth change into one that brought the economy to the brink of collapse (HUD, 2010).
Cleansing the Caliphate: Insurgent Violence against Sexual Minorities

Why do insurgents target certain groups for extermination? Despite a great deal of attention to the targeting of civilian ethnic minorities, comparatively little scholarship exists on insurgent violence against sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual individuals). This article maintains that the decision to target sexual minorities follows three distinct logics: two strategic and one ideological. First, insurgents face an incentive to outbid rivals by targeting sexual minorities when homophobic violence is politically and socially legitimated. Second, territorial control creates an incentive for insurgents to signal their ability to selectively punish, which they can accomplish through homophobic violence. Third, revolutionary ideologies provide legitimation for exclusionary violence in the pursuit of transforming society. Statistical analysis of insurgent violence against sexual minorities from 1985 to 2015 lends strong support for these arguments. Process tracing of the spread of violence against sexual minorities in Iraq and Syria clarifies the strategic causal mechanisms. When progovernment militias targeted perceived homosexuals with impunity, antigay violence was adopted by insurgent groups seeking to legitimize their claims to power; violence then quickly spread to competing insurgents. Two additional cases from Latin America demonstrate that ideology plays an important role in influencing which groups embrace homophobic violence even under these strategic constraints.
Creating project plans to focus product development.

The long-term competitiveness of most manufacturers depends on their product development capabilities. Yet few companies approach the development process systematically or strategically. They end up with an unruly collection of projects that do not match long-term business objectives and that consume far more development resources than are available. Instead of working on important projects, development engineers spend their time fighting fires. Their productivity sinks, and products are invariably late to market. To attack development malaise and reinvigorate the process, companies should put together an "aggregate project plan. " The plan helps managers restructure the development process so they no longer think in terms of individual projects but in terms of the "set" of projects. It is the set, not individual projects, that shapes the creation of a successful product line. The aggregate project plan also helps managers allocate resources, sequence projects, and build critical development capabilities. A central element of the aggregate project plan is the project map. The map categorizes projects into five types: breakthrough, platform, derivative, research and development, and partnerships. Each project type has its own unique characteristics and requires a different amount of development time. Companies should have projects in all categories to ensure a robust development process.
Perforated patch-clamp analysis of the passive membrane properties of three classes of hippocampal neurons.

1. Perforated patch-clamp recordings were made from the three major classes of hippocampal neurons in conventional in vitro slices prepared from adult guinea pigs. This technique provided experimental estimates of passive membrane properties (input resistance, RN, and membrane time constant, tau m) determined in the absence of the leak conductance associated with microelectrode impalement or the washout of cytoplasmic constituents associated with conventional whole-cell recordings. 2. To facilitate comparison of our data with previous results and to determine the passive membrane properties under conditions as physiological as possible, recordings were made at the resting potential, in physiological saline, and without any added blockers of voltage-dependent conductances. 3. Membrane-potential responses to current steps were analyzed, and four criteria were used to identify voltage responses that were the least affected by activation of voltage-dependent conductances. tau m was estimated from the slowest component (tau 0) of multiexponential fits of responses deemed passive by these criteria. RN was estimated from the slope of the linear region in the hyperpolarizing direction of the voltage-current relation. 4. It was not possible to measure purely passive membrane properties that were completely independent of membrane potential in any of the three classes of hippocampal neurons. Changing the membrane potential by constant current injection resulted in changes in RN and tau 0; subthreshold depolarization produced an increase, and hyperpolarization a decrease, in both RN and tau 0 for all three classes of hippocampal neurons. 5. Each of the three classes of hippocampal neurons also displayed a depolarizing "sag" during larger hyperpolarizing voltage transients. To evaluate the effect of the conductances underlying this sag on passive membrane properties, 2-5 mM Cs+ was added to the physiological saline. Extracellular Cs+ effectively blocked the sag in all three classes of hippocampal neurons, but the effect of Cs+ on RN, tau 0, and the voltage dependence of these parameters was unique for each class of neurons. 6. CA1 pyramidal neurons had an RN of 104 +/- 10 (SE) M omega and tau 0 of 28 +/- 2 ms at a resting potential of -64 +/- 2 mV (n = 12). RN and tau 0 were larger at more depolarized potentials in these neurons, but the addition of Cs+ to the physiological saline reversed this voltage dependence. 7. CA3 pyramidal neurons had an RN of 135 +/- 8 M omega and tau 0 of 66 +/- 4 ms at a resting potential of -64 +/- 1 mV (n = 14). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Bupivacaine for Postoperative Analgesia Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

This prospective study was conducted to examine pain after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The hypothesis was that a long‐acting anesthetic agent would result in patients experiencing less pain in the 24‐hour postoperative period and therefore needing fewer oral analgesics. We randomized 100 patients undergoing ESS to receive either lidocaine (1% or 2%) with epinephrine or bupivacaine (0.25% or 0.5%) with epinephrine as an anesthetic and for a sphenopalatine block. Postoperative pain was assessed with a standard numeric pain assessment scale at baseline and at 2, 6, and 24 hours after surgery. The use of analgesics during this period was also documented. We compared the results between patients receiving bupivacaine and those receiving lidocaine, as well as between patients who required nasal packing and those who did not. We discovered that in general, pain after ESS was less severe than expected. We further found that the type of anesthetic used did not significantly affect postoperative pain; pain score changes and use of analgesics were similar between the two anesthesia groups. Postoperative pain was also similar between the “packing” and “no packing” groups. Although patients receiving packing had consistently lower increases in pain (and in fact many patients in this group had decreases in pain from baseline), none of the differences between group means was statistically significant.
SUPERINTENDENT EFFECT ON STUDENT OUTCOMES: LEADERSHIP STYLE, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, AND EXPERIENCE

Superintendents with five years of experience (n=48) were surveyed on Full Range Leadership style, educational attainment, and years of experience to determine whether Kentucky school superintendents had an effect on student outcomes. Data was collected on each superintendent’s district Overall Accountability Score (OAS) to determine student performance. Using the district OAS as the dependent variable, independent t-tests were performed to compare high transformational leaders to low transformational leaders, high transactional leaders to low transactional leaders, and high laissez-faire leaders to low laissez-faire leaders. Again, using district OAS as the dependent variable, a t-test was performed to compare superintendents with Kentucky Rank I certification to superintendents who had completed a terminal degree. To measure the effect of experience, OAS was the dependent variable in a t-test was used to compare superintendents with up to 30 years of experience to superintendents with more than 30 years of experience. Finally, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare three groups of superintendent experience: up to five years of experience, six to ten years of experience, and over eleven years of experience. Results of all statistical analyses lacked significant results, indicating that superintendent leadership, educational attainment, and experience did not have a relationship to student outcomes. Discussion relates the outcomes of this study to existing research and literature on superintendent leadership, but also notes the challenges of quantifying superintendent effect when looking only at direct student outcomes.
Sustainability Labels: Are Price Premia Relevant in Online Food Retailing?

Abstract Consumers are willing to pay a higher price for products certified as sustainable. By implication, such certification is in the interest of producers, too. A general claim that sustainability characteristics automatically imply a price margin may not, however, be justified. Rather, several price premia might be necessary. This analysis based on 882 product prices of the German online retail, is concerned with the price premia attached to various labels and products. It estimates individual price premia for products, like coffee, tea, sweets, spices, etc., showing that sustainable food labeling is not always an indicator for a price markup. In fact, for some products (e.g. spices, chocolate) and labels (e.g. UTZ) a negative price effect is even estimated. Such markdowns may be due to a differing emphasis on sustainability issues along the supply chain for some products or the label’s certification policies.
The parsec-scale structure, kinematics, and polarization of radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

Abstract Several narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) have now been detected in gamma rays, providing firm evidence that at least some of this class of active galactic nuclei (AGN) produce relativistic jets. The presence of jets in NLS1s is surprising, as these sources are typified by comparatively small black hole masses and near- or super-Eddington accretion rates. This challenges the current understanding of the conditions necessary for jet production. Comparing the properties of the jets in NLS1s with those in more familiar jetted systems is thus essential to improve jet production models. We present early results from our campaign to monitor the kinematics and polarization of the parsec-scale jets in a sample of 15 NLS1s through multifrequency observations with the Very Long Baseline Array. These observations are complemented by fast-cadence 15 GHz monitoring with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory 40 m telescope and optical spectroscopic monitoring with with the 2 m class telescope at the Guillermo Haro Astrophysics Observatory in Cananea, Mexico.
Assessment of anodized titanium implants bioactivity.

OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to create nanostructured surface titanium implants by anodic oxidation process aiming to bring out bioactivity and to assess the resultant bioactivity both in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS An economic protocol was used to apply anodic spark discharge and create surface nanoporosities on grade II commercially pure titanium (cpTi). The in vitro investigation included morphology, surface chemical analysis, roughness and crystalline structure of titanium oxide (TiO₂) film prepared. Assessment of the bioactivity was carried out by immersing the specimens in simulate body fluid (SBF) and investigating the surface-deposited layer. The in vivo investigation was conducted by surgically placing the anodized implants into rabbits tibia for different healing periods. Then biomechanical evaluation was performed to verify the effect of treatments on the interface resistance to shear force. Routine histological analysis was performed to evaluate the bone tissue reactions to anodized implants. RESULTS Anodization of titanium implants produced morphological changes, raised the percentage of oxygen in the TiO₂ layer, increased surface area and roughness of implants remarkably, and modified the crystallinity of the film. The in vitro assessments of bioactivity showed that a layer of calcium phosphate was precipitated on the titanium surfaces 7 days after soaking into SBF. The implant-bone interface resistance to shear force was enhanced at 2-week healing period. This was confirmed by histological findings. CONCLUSION Nanostructured surface titanium implants could be prepared by anodic oxidation with resultant accelerated bioactivity that may be recommended for early loading.
Allele and Genotype Frequencies of CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 Polymorphisms in Egyptian Agricultural Workers

Genetic variability in cytochrome P-450 (CYP) has the potential to modify pharmacological and toxicological responses to many chemicals. Both CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 are pharmacologically and toxicologically relevant due to their ability to metabolize multiple drugs and environmental contaminants, including the organophosphorus (OP) pesticide chlorpyrifos. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 variants in an indigenous Egyptian population (n = 120) that was shown to be occupationally exposed to chlorpyrifos. Further, the genotyping data was compared for Egyptians with previously studied populations to determine between population differences. Allelic frequencies were CYP2B6 1459C > T (3.8%), CYP2B6 785A > G (30.4%), CYP2B6 516G > T (28.8%), CYP2C19 681G > A (3.8%), and CYP2C19 431G > A (0%). The most prevalent CYP2B6 genotype combinations were CYP2B6 *1/*1 (44%), *1/*6 (38%), *6/*6 (8%), and *1/*5 (6%). The frequency of the CYP2C19 genotype combinations were CYP2C19 *1/*1 (93%), *1/*2 (6%), and *2/*2 (1%). The frequency of the CYP2B6 516G > T and CYP2B6 785A > G polymorphisms in this Egyptian cohort is similar to that found North American and European populations but significantly different from that reported for West African populations, while that of CYP2B6 1459C > T is similar to that found in Africans and African Americans. The observed frequency of CYP2C19 681G > A in Egyptians is similar to that of African pygmies but significantly different from other world populations, while CYP2C19 431 G > A was significantly different from that of African pygmies but similar to other world populations.
Chronological Age-Grading of House Flies by Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract The sensitivity and accuracy of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was compared with that of the pteridine fluorescence technique for estimating the chronological age of house flies, Musca domestica (L.). Although results with both techniques were significantly correlated with fly age, confidence limits on predicted ages generally were smaller with NIRS. Young flies could be readily differentiated from old flies by using NIRS. Age predictions using the pteridine method are dependent upon size, sex, and temperature at which adult flies are exposed. In contrast, those factors do not need to be determined for age-grading using NIRS. Classification accuracy using the NIRS method was similar for whole flies, fresh heads, dried heads, and ethanol-preserved heads. The NIRS method was also suitable for predicting age of stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), and face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer. NIRS has several advantages over the measurement of pteridine levels for age-grading field-collected flies, including speed and portability of instrumentation, and not needing to determine sex, size, and temperatures to which adult flies were exposed.
Financial Performance Measures of Small Medium Enterprises in the 21st Century

Abstract Financial performance measures (FPMs) are the most commonly used measures of productivity and efficiency in companies, with less consideration for non-financial performance measures. FPMs are regarded as traditional measures that lead to sustainability of a firm, hence they need to be properly managed and controlled. This paper reports the extent to which SMEs recognize the significance of FPMs in their supply chain management (SCM). The study followed a positivist paradigm, with the use of questionnaires to collect data from owners and managers of SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Cape Town. The major findings indicate that although financial performance measures are highly regarded by these entities, they lack the skills to properly determine their financial measures, and do not know with certainty, which financial performance measures are of relevance to their businesses. Extensive training is one of the recommendations.