Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Score Predicting Survival After Resection of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Analysis of 3851 Patients

Background:Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) have a poorly defined natural history, and a staging system is not available. The objective of this study was to identify factors predicting survival after pancreatectomy for PNETs and to establish a postresection prognostic score. Patients and Methods:From the National Cancer Data Base (1985–2004), patients were identified who underwent PNET resection. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to assess the impact of patient, tumor, treatment, and hospital factors on survival. A prognostic score based on the predictive factors from the Cox model was developed. Results:Three thousand eight hundred fifty-one patients underwent resection for PNETs. Five-year overall survival was 59.3%, and the 10-year survival was 37.7%. On multivariable analysis, age, grade, distant metastases, tumor functionality, and type of resection were independent predictors of survival after resection of PNETs (P < 0.0001). Gender, race, socioeconomic status, tumor size, nodal status, margins, adjuvant chemotherapy, and hospital volume were not associated with survival. Age, grade, and distant metastases were the most significant predictors of survival and were incorporated into a PNET postresection prognostic score. The prognostic score correlated with outcomes and offered excellent survival discrimination by each of the 3 score subgroups: 76.7%, 50.9%, and 35.7% (P < 0.0001). The concordance index was 0.63 (95% CI 0.59–0.67), indicating reasonable agreement between actual outcomes and that predicted by the prognostic score. Conclusions:The prognostic score can be used to predict outcomes, guide adjuvant treatment, and stratify patients for clinical trials.
Embryonic expression of zebrafish MiT family genes tfe3b, tfeb, and tfec

The MiT family comprises four genes in mammals: Mitf, Tfe3, Tfeb, and Tfec, which encode transcription factors of the basic‐helix‐loop‐helix/leucine zipper class. Mitf is well‐known for its essential role in the development of melanocytes, however the functions of the other members of this family, and of interactions between them, are less well understood. We have now characterized the complete set of MiT genes from zebrafish, which totals six instead of four. The zebrafish genome contain two mitf (mitfa and mitfb), two tfe3 (tfe3a and tfe3b), and single tfeb and tfec genes; this distribution is shared with other teleosts. We present here the sequence and embryonic expression patterns for the zebrafish tfe3b, tfeb, and tfec genes, and identify a new isoform of tfe3a. These findings will assist in elucidating the roles of the MiT gene family over the course of vertebrate evolution. Developmental Dynamics 240:2529–2538, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Normative Model for Cold Pressor Test

The cold pressor test elicits an emotional/motivational pain experience from the immersion of a limb in cold water. It has been widely used to evaluate (experimental and chronic) pain. However, normative models for quantification and comparison for pain tolerance have not previously been established. This study developed a normative mathematical model for pain tolerance using the cold pressor test with over 600 subjects. Norms for age, sex, and ethnic group were calculated. In addition, chronic pain patients were compared with painfree patients to determine normative differences in response. The results indicate that at any given age Anglo-Saxon males have the longest tolerance time followed by non-Anglo-Saxon males, Anglo-Saxon females, and finally non- Anglo-Saxon females. There is a consistent decrease in tolerance time as the male age increases and minimal change in tolerance time as the female age increases. Chronic pain patients exhibited the same type of pain response pattern as healthy volunteers when corrected for age, sex, and ethnocultural subgroup.
Successful pregnancy in a living-related kidney transplant recipient who received sirolimus throughout the whole gestation.

tuoso AI, Alcazar R, et al. Higher graft salvage rate in renal allograft rupture associated with acute tubular necrosis. Transplant Proc 2004; 36: 3016. 11. Busi N, Capocasale E, Mazzoni MP, et al. Spontaneous renal allograft rupture without acute rejection. Acta Biomed 2004; 75: 131. 12. He B, Rao MM, Han X, et al. Surgical repair of spontaneous renal allograft rupture: A new procedure. ANZ J Surg 2003; 73: 381. 13. Guleria S, Khazanchi RK, Dinda AK, et al. Spontaneous renal allograft rupture: Is graft nephrectomy an option? Transplant Proc 2003; 35: 339. 14. Ramos M, Martins L, Dias L, et al. Renal allograft rupture: A clinicopathologic review. Transplant Proc 2000; 32: 2597. 15. Richardson AJ, Higgins RM, Jaskowski AJ, et al. Spontaneous rupture of renal allografts: The importance of renal vein thrombosis in the cyclosporin era. Br J Surg 1990; 77: 558. 16. Azar GJ, Zarifian AA, Frentz GD, et al. Renal allograft rupture: A clinical review. Clin Transplant 1996; 10(6 pt 2): 635. 17. Nghiem DD, Corry RJ. Long-term result of conservative surgical management of the ruptured renal transplant. Am Surg 1983; 49: 392. 18. Chopin DK, Abbou CC, Lottmann HB, et al. Conservative treatment of renal allograft rupture with polyglactin 910 mesh and gelatin resorcin formaldehyde glue. J Urol 1989; 142(2 pt 1): 363.
Determinants of mortality across a tropical lowland rainforest community

Tree mortality is an important process determining forest dynamics. However, in species-rich tropical forests it is largely unknown, how species differ in their response of mortality to resource availability and individual condition. We use a hierarchical Bayesian approach to quantify the impact of light availability, tree size and past growth on mortality of 284 woody species in a 50-ha long-term forest census plot in Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Light reaching each individual tree was estimated from yearly vertical censuses of vegetation density. Across the community, 78% of the species showed increasing mortality with increasing light. Considering species individually, just 29 species showed a significant response to light, all with increasing mortality at high light. Past growth had a significant impact on all but three species, with higher growth leading to lower mortality. For the majority of species, mortality decreased sharply with diameter in saplings, then levelled off or increased slightly towards the maximum diameter of the species. Diameter had the biggest impact on mortality, followed by past growth and finally light availability. Our results challenge many previous reports of higher mortality in shade, and we suggest that it is crucial to control for size effects when assessing the impact of environmental conditions on mortality.
Changes in Patterns of Hospitalized Children With Varicella and of Associated Varicella Genotypes After Introduction of Varicella Vaccine in Australia

Background: Varicella in children, although usually mild, can cause hospitalization and rarely death. This study examined patterns of hospitalized children with varicella, and associated varicella genotypes, in 4 tertiary children’s hospitals throughout Australia before and after varicella vaccine was introduced. Methods: We obtained coded data on discharge diagnoses from each hospital before (1999 to 2001) and after (2007 to 2010) varicella vaccine introduction in 2005, adding active surveillance to capture clinical features, complications and immunization history in the latter period. Varicella vesicles were swabbed, and genotyping of varicella strains was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results: Overall, a 68% reduction in coded hospitalizations (varicella, 73.2% [P < 0.001]; zoster, 40% [P = 0.002]) occurred post-vaccine introduction. Of children with detailed clinical data (97 varicella and 18 zoster cases), 46 (40%) were immunocompromised. Only 6 of 32 (19%) age-eligible immunocompetent children were immunized. Complications, most commonly secondary skin infections (n = 25) and neurologic conditions (n = 14), occurred in 44% of children. There were no deaths; but 3 immunocompetent unimmunized children had severe multiple complications requiring intensive care. All strains genotyped were “wild-type” varicella, with Clade 1 (European origin) predominating. Conclusions: After the introduction of varicella vaccine, coverage of greater than 80% at 2 years of age was achieved, with varicella hospitalizations reduced by almost 70%. Of hospitalized children age-eligible for varicella vaccine, 80% were unimmunized, including all cases requiring intensive care.
Evaluation of heterologous insulator function with regard to chromosomal position effect in the mouse blastocyst and fetus

Insulators are located at the boundaries of differentially regulated genes and delimit their interactions by establishing independent chromatin structures. Recently, an insulator sequence has been found in the 5′‐flanking region of arylsulfatase (ARS) gene from sea urchin. To investigate functional conservation of this ARS insulator in mice, we performed blastocyst assays to evaluate the effect of this insulator on the chromosomal position effect, quantitatively. We constructed transgenes that have a luciferase gene under the control of the CMV‐IE enhancer and the human elongation factor 1 α promoter in the presence or absence of the ARS insulator in both flanking regions. These transgenes were microinjected into 1‐cell mouse embryos and luciferase activity was measured at the blastocyst stage. We found that the presence of ARS insulator sequence doubled the number of luciferase‐expressing blastocysts, and that the proportion of the blastocysts with high‐level expression (≥ 1 × 104 relative light units (RLU)) was increased more than tenfold. In the case of transgenic fetuses, however, the presence of ARS insulator did not seem to improve transgene expression. These results suggest that the sea urchin ARS insulator confers position‐independent expression driven by the human elongation factor 1 α promoter, at least in the blastocyst stage of the mouse. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 57:232–237, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The cost of screening for colorectal cancer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim was to make projections of the likely costs and yield resulting from the implementation of a faecal occult blood screening programme for colorectal cancer. DESIGN--Cost and clinical data were derived from the MRC colorectal screening trial currently in progress in Nottingham, UK. SETTING--The above data were used as the basis for modelling the likely implications were the trial to be reproduced as a screening programme within a "typical" family practitioner committee area. MAIN RESULTS--For an average family practitioner committee area with a target population of 75,000 subjects aged 50-74 years, the initial screening round might be expected to detect 85 cancers at a total cost of approximately 250,000 pounds. This represents a cost per cancer detected of 2700 pounds and a cost per person screened of approximately 5 pounds. For subsequent screening rounds, total costs might be expected to fall although average costs are likely to remain approximately constant. CONCLUSIONS--The model is successful in generating "order of magnitude" estimates for the costs of implementation of a screening programme for colorectal cancer. As benefit estimates are not yet available, however, no cost-effectiveness analysis can be undertaken at this stage. In general, sensitivity analyses reveal that programme costs are more sensitive to changes in clinical variables, especially detection and compliance rates, than they are to variations in the costs of resource inputs. A screening programme with a more elaborate protocol than that currently employed in the Nottingham trial will entail considerable cost increases.
Damxungmacin A and B, Two New Amicoumacins with Rare Heterocyclic Cores Isolated from Bacillus subtilis XZ-7

Two new amicoumacins, named Damxungmacin A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the culture broth of a soil-derived bacterium Bacillus subtilis XZ-7. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic studies (UV, IR, NMR and HR-ESI-MS). Compound 1 possessed a 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2. 1]heptane-2-one ring system in its structure, which was reported for the first time, while 2 had a 1-acetylmorpholine-3-one moiety, which was naturally rare. Compound 1 exhibited moderate to weak cytotoxic activities against three human tumor cell lines (A549, HCT116 and HepG2) with IC50 values of 13.33, 14.34 and 13.64 μM, respectively. Meanwhile, compound 1 showed weak antibacterial activities against some strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, while compound 2 at 16 μg/mL did not show antibacterial activity.
Activation of (cid:1) -Isoform of Protein Kinase C Is Required for Oxidant-Induced Disruption of Both the Microtubule Cytoskeleton and Permeability Barrier of Intestinal Epithelia

Using monolayers of intestinal (Caco-2) cells, we showed that oxidants disassemble the microtubule cytoskeleton and disrupt barrier integrity (permeability) (Banan et al., 2000a). Because exposure of our parental cells to oxidants causes protein kinase C (PKC)- (cid:1) to be translocated to particulate fractions, we hypothesized that PKC-(cid:1) activation is required for these oxidant effects. Monolayers of parental Caco-2 cells were incubated with oxidant (H 2 O 2 ) (cid:1) modulators. Other cells were transfected with an inducible plasmid to stably overexpress PKC-(cid:1) or with a dominant negative plasmid to stably inhibit the activity of native PKC-(cid:1) . In parental cells, oxidants caused translocation of PKC-(cid:1) to the particulate (membrane (cid:2) cytoskeletal) fractions, activation of PKC-(cid:1) isoform, increases in monomeric (S1) tubulin and decreases in polymerized (S2) tubulin, disruption of the microtubule cytoarchitecture, and loss of barrier integrity (hyperpermeability). In transfected cells
Rifampicin resistance of RNA polymerase in the binary complex with DNA.

Addition of rifampicin to a preincubated mixture of RNA polymerase and DNA does not lead to inhibition of the subsequent initiation of RNA chain synthesis. The formation of the enzymatically active binary complex between RNA polymerase and DNA, however, proved to be very sensitive to the action of the inhibitor. Once the complex has formed in the absence of substrate the enzyme is resistant to the antibiotic. The presence of sigma factor is not required for the formation of the resistant complex. In the presence of sigma, however, more resistant complex is formed between enzyme and DNA containing sigma specific initiation sites. The binary complex between RNA polymerase containing sigma factor and sigma specific DNA is more rapidly inactivated during prolonged incubation with rifampicin than a complex formed with unspecific DNA or in the absence of sigma. Rifampicin may therefore be used as a tool to discriminate sigma specific and unspecific active complexes of RNA polymerase and template.
Effects of PEMF and glucocorticoids on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) can promote bone healing, while use of dexamethasone induces bone loss and osteoporosis. There is no report available on the combined effects of PEMF and dexamethasone on the activity of osteoblasts. Here, we investigated the effects of PEMF and dexamethasone on the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Our results showed that PEMF and dexamethasone respectively increased and decreased the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, meanwhile PEMF eliminated the effect of dexamethasone on MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Moreover, we also found that dexamethasone combined with PEMF upregulated the mRNA expression of IGF-1 at the early stage after the stimulation of PEMF and improved the decrease of COX-2 mRNA expression induced by dexamethasone at the late stage after the stimulation of PEMF. PEMF may be beneficial to improve dexamethasone-induced bone loss and osteoporosis.
CEO Turnover and Properties of Accounting Information

Multiple-performance-measure agency models predict that optimal contracts should place greater reliance on performance measures that are more precise and more sensitive to the agent's effort. We apply these predictions to CEO retention decisions. First, we develop an agency model to motivate proxies for signal and noise in firm-level performance measures. We then document that accounting information appears to receive greater weight in turnover decisions when accounting-based measures are more precise and more sensitive. We also present evidence suggesting that market-based performance measures receive less weight in turnover decisions when accounting-based measures are more sensitive or market returns are more variable.
Pattern of smoking initiation in Catalonia, Spain, from 1948 to 1992.

OBJECTIVES This study analyzed the pattern of smoking initiation by sex and educational level in Catalonia, Spain. METHODS Data from the 1994 Catalan Health Interview Survey were used (n = 12,245). The age and smoking status of each subject were reconstructed for each calendar period. Age-specific smoking initiation rates were calculated. RESULTS Smoking initiation among females was rare until the 1960s, but from the period 1968-1972 onward a converging pattern was observed between the genders. Women with higher levels of education started smoking before other women, but the gradient of educational level has changed in recent years, with higher initiation rates among less-educated women. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with diffusion-of-innovations theory and could be related to social and economic changes from the 1960s onward in Spain.
Prolonged analgesic effect of ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor inhibitor, in patients with chronic pain.

We examined the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in chronic (pathological) pain in humans by using the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine as a probe. Thirty patients with neuropathic pain in the trigeminal area were given an i.m. injection of ketamine 0.4 mg/kg combined with midazolam 0.05 mg/kg. Pethidine 1.0 mg/kg served as a control. Three different response patterns were observed. Ketamine caused a long-term (6-24 h) analgesic effect partly dissociated from the mental side effects in 8 of the 26 patients who completed the study; these patients also had a slight analgesic effect of pethidine. In nine patients, ketamine caused a short-lasting (<2 h) analgesic effect closely associated with the mental side effects, whereas pethidine caused little or no analgesia. The remaining nine patients did not experience any reduction of pain after either drug in spite of characteristic side effects. One week after the i.m. challenge the patients received either 4.0 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride or placebo capsules to be taken orally as a nightly dose for three consecutive nights. Five of the eight patients who had a long-term analgesic effect of the i.m. challenge reported decreased pain on days after ketamine. None of the others reported an analgesic effect. The phenomenon of long-term depression of pain in a subgroup of patients was thus confirmed when ketamine was given p.o. These findings indicate that NMDA receptors are involved in the perception and maintenance of pathological pain in some patients. In others, pain appears to be mediated by NMDA receptor-independent mechanisms. We suggest that NMDA receptor-independent transmission in central pain pathways may contribute to the reduced efficiency of analgesic drugs often seen in chronic pain states.
The Controversial ' Poison Pill ' Takeover Defense : How valid are the Arguments in Support of it ?

This paper extends the utility of support vector machines—a recent innovation in AI being adopted for cancer diagnostics—by analytically modelling the impact of imperfect class labelling of training data. It uses ROC computations to study the SVM's ability to classify new examples correctly even in the presence of misclassified data in training examples. It uses DOE to reveal that misclassifications present in training data affect training quality, and hence performance, albeit not as strongly as the SVM's primary design parameters. Still, our results give strong support for one's striving to develop the best trained SVM that is intended to be utilized, for instance, for medical diagnostics, for misclassified training data shrink decision boundary distance, and increasing generalization error. Further, this study affirms that to be effective, the SVM design optimization objective should incorporate real life costs or consequences of classifying wrongly.
Access to the Latent Benefits of Employment for Unemployed and Underemployed Individuals

A sample of job seekers (N = 161) were assessed on measures of well-being and the latent benefits of employment. The unemployed reported less access to the latent benefits than the underemployed. In a finer grained analysis, there was a monotonic increase from least to most access to the latent benefits from those with no paid work in the past three months, some paid work in the past three months, some current paid work, to those with considerable current paid work. Despite this, no differences in well-being were found.
Fruit odor discrimination and sympatric host race formation in Rhagoletis

Rhagoletis pomonella is a model for incipient sympatric speciation (divergence without geographic isolation) by host-plant shifts. Here, we show that historically derived apple- and ancestral hawthorn-infesting host races of the fly use fruit odor as a key olfactory cue to help distinguish between their respective plants. In flight-tunnel assays and field tests, apple and hawthorn flies preferentially oriented to, and were captured with, chemical blends of their natal fruit volatiles. Because R. pomonella rendezvous on or near the unabscised fruit of their hosts to mate, the behavioral preference for apple vs. hawthorn fruit odor translates directly into premating reproductive isolation between the fly races. We have therefore identified a key and recently evolved (<150 years) mechanism responsible for host choice in R. pomonella bearing directly on sympatric host race formation and speciation.