Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Should all patients with node‐negative breast cancer receive adjuvant therapy? Identifying additional subsets of low‐risk patients who are highly curable by surgery alone

This study, which used combined first‐generation prognostic factors (tumor size, histologic differentiation, and age) on 408 patients with axillary node‐negative (ANN) breast cancer treated by surgery alone without systemic adjuvant therapy between 1976 and 1987 at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, discerned four subsets of low‐risk patients with a 7‐year relapse rate of 6% or better. The first subset consisted of 48 patients (12% of the population) with tumors 1 cm or less in diameter that were well or moderately differentiated. These patients had a disease‐free rate (DFR) of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94% to 100%). The second subset consisted of 35 patients (9% of the population) with tumors less than or equal to 1 cm that were poorly differentiated or anaplastic. These patients older than 50 years of age had a DFR of 97% (95% CI, 91% to 100%). The third subset consisted of 36 patients (9% of the population) with tumors 1.1 to 2 cm that were well or moderately differentiated. These patients were older than 50 years of age and had a DFR of 94% (95% CI, 85% to 100%). The fourth subset consisted of 36 patients with ductal carcinoma in situ with microscopic invasion. These patients had a DFR of 100% (95% CI, 87% to 100%). Twenty‐two of these patients, not in the other subsets mentioned, comprised 5% of the total population. These patients at low risk of recurrence, who comprise one third of the entire node‐negative population, are highly curable by local therapy alone and may be spared the risks and costs of routine adjuvant systemic therapy (AST). Patients with tumors larger than 2 cm (152 patients; 37% of the population) are at high risk of recurrence (26% with a DFR of 74% [95% CI, 64% to 84%]) and should routinely receive systemic adjuvant therapy. Patients with tumors up to 2 cm who are not in the low‐risk groups fall in a gray area (recurrence, 15% to 21%; DFR, 79% to 85%). For these groups, combining second‐generation prognostic factors such as DNA ploidy, S‐phase fraction, or cathepsin D should give the physician additional information to aid in making decisions regarding adjuvant therapy.
Plasma protein Z levels in healthy and high‐risk newborn infants

Aim: To evaluate plasma protein Z (PZ) levels in healthy and high‐risk newborn infants. Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted. Inclusion criteria were: healthy term and pre‐term newborns normal for gestational age and newborns belonging to one of the following groups: newborns small for gestational age (SGA), newborns affected by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), newborns from mothers with pre‐eclampsia. Newborns with sepsis, congenital malformation or haemorrhagic disorders were excluded. Plasma PZ levels, protein C (PC) concentration, PC activity and protein‐induced vitamin K absence levels were measured. Results: 53 newborns were enrolled into the study. PZ and PC antigen levels varied significantly among analysed subgroups on day 1 (p < 0.01): lower levels of these inhibitors were found in RDS newborns (group C), newborns from mothers affected by pre‐eclampsia (group D) and SGA newborns (group E) than in healthy term and preterm newborns (groups A and B).
Spatial structure of deciduous forest stands with contrasting 4 human influence in northwest Spain 5 6 7

Five contrasting deciduous forest stands were studied to characterise the spatial structural 23 variability in human-influenced forests. These stands are representative of cultural forest types 24 widely represented in western Europe: one plantation, two coppices, one wood-pasture, and one 25 high forest stand. All stems with DBH > 5 cm were measured and mapped, and stem DBH 26 distributions, spatial structure of DBH, spatial point patterns and spatial associations were 27 analysed. Spatial autocorrelation for DBH was calculated with Moran’s I correlograms and 28 semivariograms. Complete spatial randomness hypothesis for spatial point patterns, and both 29 independence and random labelling hypotheses for spatial associations, were analysed using 30 Ripley’s K function. The results showed that tree sizes were conditioned by particular former 31 management systems, which determined unimodal symmetric, positively skewed, or compound 32 DBH distributions. Spatial structure was more complex when human influence became reduced. 33 Coppice stands showed clumped spatial patterns and independence among size classes, as a 34 consequence of sexual and vegetative establishment of new stems in open areas. The largest 35 clumping intensity was observed in the wood-pasture with an intermediate disturbance frequency 36 and low inter-tree competition. The high forest stand displayed spatial traits consistent with the 37 gap-dynamics paradigm, such as clumping of smaller trees, random arrangement of larger trees, 38 negative association between juveniles and adults, and high structural heterogeneity. It can be 39 expected that after cessation of human interference, coppices and wood-pastures would evolve to a 40 more heterogeneous structure, perhaps with a higher habitat and species diversity. 41 42
Impact of TSV induced thermo-mechanical stress on semiconductor device performance

Evaluation of the impact caused by Through-Silicon Vias (TSV) induced thermo-mechanical stress on device performance is becoming important due to the close proximity between TSVs and the semiconductor devices in 3D integration. From the literatures, there exist discrepancies between theory, simulated and experimental results presented. For accurate predictions, we simulated stress build-up by taking the full CMOS process flow into consideration. We considered the interaction between TSV, stressors such as tensile stress liner and Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) and device channel. From the results, it was found that the nMOSFET Ion variation is less than 2% at Keep Out Zone (KOZ) of 1 μm due to TSV induced stress while the Ion variation is about 30% due to the tensile stress liner. Hence, the impact of TSV induced stress on nMOSFET performance is insignificant compared to that of tensile stress liner in the device.
Courtship, aggression and avoidance: Pheromones, receptors and neurons for social behaviors in Drosophila

Chemical communication between individual Drosophila is extremely important for social behaviors required for survival and reproduction, such as con-specific recognition, courtship, aggression and avoidance of odor from "stressed" flies. Characterization of the receptors and neural circuits that detect pheromone cues and an understanding of how these circuits are modulated by the social interactions are fundamental questions about the neurobiology of social behaviors. Recent years have seen important advances in the identification of chemoreceptors and sensory neurons that are involved in sensing pheromones. Here we present a brief review of the current understanding of the peripheral chemosensory systems that are involved in social behaviors.
CONTRACTION PROPERTIES OF INTRINSIC LARYNGEAL MUSCLES.

The contraction times of laryngeal muscles in the dog were found to differ from 14 and 16 msec for the thyroarytenoid and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles to 30 and 35 msec for the posterior cricoarytenoid and the cricothyroid muscles respectively. The same relation between the contraction times of fast and slow muscles was characteristic also of some other species investigated. The view is advanced that the short contraction time of the two sphincter girdle muscles primarily serves the purpose of closing the laryngeal aperture in protective larynx reflexes. The thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid muscles of dog, chosen as representatives of fast and slow muscle, were subjected to a more detailed analysis. Determinations of the active state plateau by the method of superimposition of tension curves from one and two stimuli gave values of 3.0–4.0 msec for the thyroarytenoid and 3.5–4.5 msec for the cricothyroid muscle. After determinations of the tetanus-twitch ratios for the two muscles, the rate of decay of the active state could be estimated and was shown to be faster in the thyroarytenoid muscle. Tetanic direct stimulation showed that complete fusion may not occur until above 300 per sec in the cricothyroid and above 400 in the thyroarytenoid muscle. Analogous analyses performed by indirect stimulation of the fast and slow muscle gave very similar results with respect to mechanical separation time and fusion frequency. The results from an action potential analysis during short-interval nerve stimulation are discussed from the point of view of the active state conception.
Finding the 'boundary mediators': network analysis of the joint R&D project between Toyota and Panasonic

In recent years, a large and growing number of companies have attempted to develop core technologies for their products by conducting joint research with a company in a different industry. However, the mechanisms by which technologies are acquired and assimilated through cross-industry research remains unclear. In response to this ambiguity, we developed a theoretical framework for this mechanism, proposed hypotheses, and empirically examined data from a joint research project conducted by Toyota Motor Corporation and Panasonic Corporation to develop the nickel-hydrogen storage cell. Specifically, we analysed networks of inventors who filed patent applications through the joint research. The results indicate that there are ‘boundary mediators’ who facilitated the exchange of technologies between the two companies. On the basis of their wide range of technical knowledge, we found there to be two types of boundary mediators.
Wearable Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensors: A Revolution in Diabetes Treatment

Worldwide, the number of people affected by diabetes is rapidly increasing due to aging populations and sedentary lifestyles, with the prospect of exceeding 500 million cases in 2030, resulting in one of the most challenging socio-health emergencies of the third millennium. Daily management of diabetes by patients relies on the capability of correctly measuring glucose concentration levels in the blood by using suitable sensors. In recent years, glucose monitoring has been revolutionized by the development of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) sensors, wearable non/minimally-invasive devices that measure glucose concentration by exploiting different physical principles, e.g., glucose-oxidase, fluorescence, or skin dielectric properties, and provide real-time measurements every 1–5 min. CGM opened new challenges in different disciplines, e.g., medicine, physics, electronics, chemistry, ergonomics, data/signal processing, and software development to mention but a few. This paper first makes an overview of wearable CGM sensor technologies, covering both commercial devices and research prototypes. Then, the role of CGM in the actual evolution of decision support systems for diabetes therapy is discussed. Finally, the paper presents new possible horizons for wearable CGM sensor applications and perspectives in terms of big data analytics for personalized and proactive medicine.
Understandable learning machine system design for Transmembrane or Embedded Membrane segments prediction

We modified an existing association rule-based classifier CPAR to improve traditional black box model based learning machine approaches on Transmembrane (TM) segment prediction. The modified classifier was improved further by combining with SVM. The experimental results indicate that this hybrid scheme offers biologically meaningful rules on TM/EM segment prediction while maintaining the performance almost as well as the SVM method. The evaluation of the sturdiness and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis proved that this new scheme is robust and competent with SVM on TM/EM segment prediction. The prediction server is available at http://bmcc2.cs. gsu.edu/ haeh2/.
Effect of topical ascorbic acid on free radical tissue damage and inflammatory cell influx in the cornea after excimer laser corneal surgery.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of topical ascorbic acid on oxygen free radical tissue damage and the inflammatory cell influx in the cornea after excimer laser keratectomy. METHODS Five New Zealand white rabbits underwent bilateral phototherapeutic keratectomy with the 193-nm argon fluoride excimer laser. Following treatment, the right eye of each rabbit was treated with 10% ascorbic acid every 3 hours for 24 hours. The left eyes served as controls. After 24 hours, all animals were killed and their corneas were trephined and processed. Sections were stained with fast blue B and with hematoxylin-eosin. Oxidative tissue damage in the form of lipid peroxidation was detected by fluorescent peroxidized carbonyl compounds using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The quantity of these compounds was determined using the National Institutes of Health digital image analysis system. Statistical comparisons of lipid peroxidation and polymorphonuclear cell count between the ascorbic acid groups and the controls were performed using the Student t test. RESULTS Lipid peroxidation and polymorphonuclear cell counts were significantly decreased in the superficial cornea of ascorbic acid-treated eyes compared with control eyes (P <.03 and <.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Topical ascorbic acid application decreased oxygen radical tissue damage following excimer keratectomy; moreover, topical application of ascorbic acid was shown to reduce the acute inflammatory reaction efficiently. This suggests that topical ascorbic acid could be considered a complementary treatment in the pharmacological modulation after excimer laser corneal surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Corneal opacity may complicate excimer keratectomy. The use of an antioxidant to reduce tissue damage could help minimize postoperative stromal opacification.
The nutritional status of black adults in rural districts of Natal and Kwazulu.

A nutritional field survey was undertaken in 11 rural districts of Kwazulu. Standard anthropometric measurements (weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm circumference) were taken from 1 725 adults (616 males, 1 109 females), including 337 old-age pensioners, and a recall dietary intake questionnaire was completed by 297 male and 572 female Zulus. Mean body weights (+/- SD) were 95 +/- 10% of ideal for males and 118 +/- 15% for females. Consequently 39% of the male sample was undernourished (i.e. less than 80% ideal weight) and 17% of the female group obese (greater than 140% ideal weight). Undernutrition was significantly more common in old-age pensioners, with 73% of males and 23% of females being below 80% of the standard for body weight. Diet consisted mainly of refined maize meal (putu) 2-3 times per day. Meat and fresh milk were rarely taken, the average intake frequency for men being once a week and for women once a fortnight. Vegetable intake was seasonal, wild spinach and cabbage being consumed daily only during the summer rainfall months. Average fibre intake was therefore surprisingly low at approximately 10 g/d per individual. In conclusion, although poor socio-economic conditions are the root cause of most of the malnutrition problems observed, basic nutritional education can at least partially help by advising the population of the importance of a varied diet and the problems associated with obesity. More use of legumes, eggs, milk and fish products should significantly improve the diet. The reasons for the particularly high incidence of malnutrition among the elderly need further investigation.
EFFECT OF TAURINE ON BOVINE SPERMATOZOA MOTILITY PARAMETERS FOLLOWING CRYOPRESERVATION

The use of artificial insemination in animal production and especially in cattle breeding is an important intensification factor. For the purpose of maximal use of genetic potential, importance is always put on the creating conditions for effective insemination. The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the taurine addition to bovine ejaculates in the process of cryopreservation on the spermatozoa motility. Taurine was dissolved in a saline to obtain various concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mM) and added to the extender. Fresh ejaculates collected from six breeding bulls were used in the experiment. Ejaculates were placed to the prepared extender. The control sample consisted of the extender only. After four hours of exposure at 4 °C, the ejaculates were put into straws with a volume of 0.5 ml. The semen was then exposed to freezing temperature of nitrogen vapour for 10 min. The straws were stored for one month in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C. Thereafter, the spermatozoa motility parameters were analyzed using the CASA method. This assay was repeated four times in the intervals of 0, 30, 60 and 90 min at 39 °C. The correlation between the time after thawing and spermatozoa motility shows a regressive character in the curve. In semen doses with taurine at 200 mM significant increase in the motility and progressive motility, in comparison to the control sample, was recorded. The results show that the addition of taurine increases total motility and progressive motility of bovine spermatozoa.
Assessing the Barley Genome Zipper and Genomic Resources for Breeding Purposes

The aim of this study was to estimate the accuracy and convergence of newly developed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genomic resources, primarily genome zipper (GZ) and population sequencing (POPSEQ), at the genome‐wide level and to assess their usefulness in applied barley breeding by analyzing seven known loci. Comparison of barley GZ and POPSEQ maps to a newly developed consensus genetic map constructed with data from 13 individual linkage maps yielded an accuracy of 97.8% (GZ) and 99.3% (POPSEQ), respectively, regarding the chromosome assignment. The percentage of agreement in marker position indicates that on average only 3.7% GZ and 0.7% POPSEQ positions are not in accordance with their centimorgan coordinates in the consensus map. The fine‐scale comparison involved seven genetic regions on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 4H, 6H, and 7H, harboring major genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) for disease resistance. In total, 179 GZ loci were analyzed and 64 polymorphic markers were developed. Entirely, 89.1% of these were allocated within the targeted intervals and 84.2% followed the predicted order. Forty‐four markers showed a match to a POPSEQ‐anchored contig, the percentage of collinearity being 93.2%, on average. Forty‐four markers allowed the identification of twenty‐five fingerprinted contigs (FPCs) and a more clear delimitation of the physical regions containing the traits of interest. Our results demonstrate that an increase in marker density of barley maps by using new genomic data significantly improves the accuracy of GZ. In addition, the combination of different barley genomic resources can be considered as a powerful tool to accelerate barley breeding.
Potentiation of transmitter release by protein kinase C in goldfish retinal bipolar cells

1 We examined whether transmitter release could be modified by the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) of retinal bipolar cells. A bipolar cell with a large axon terminal was isolated from the goldfish retina. The presynaptic Ca2+ current was measured under whole‐cell voltage clamp, and the released transmitter (probably glutamate) was detected electrophysiologically by using the response of NMDA receptors of catfish horizontal cells as a reporter. 2 Transmitter release was potentiated by a PKC activator, phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA), but not by an ineffective phorbol ester, 4α‐phorbol 12,13‐didecanoate. A PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I, did not affect the transmitter release by itself but blocked the PMA‐induced potentiation of transmitter release. These results suggest that the actions of PMA were mediated via the activation of PKC. 3 Introduction of 5 mm EGTA into the presynaptic terminals of bipolar cells revealed two separate components of transmitter release. A rapid component was triggered immediately after depolarization while a slow component appeared with a delay. Application of PMA selectively potentiated the slow component without affecting the Ca2+ dependence of exocytosis. 4 We suggest that the activation of PKC may modify the recruitment process of synaptic vesicles in retinal bipolar cells.
Cemented or uncemented hemiarthroplasty for displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures

Hemiarthroplasty is a commonly done treatment for displaced fractures of the femoral neck in the elderly and is associated with better functional outcome and fewer reoperations than internal fixation. A large number of prostheses have been used with or without cement and no definite conclusions have been made regarding which type of arthroplasty is preferred. We performed a randomized controlled trial in 100 cases of intracapsular fractures of the neck of femur in patients above the age of 60 years, comparing hemiarthroplasty using cemented bipolar prosthesis with uncemented bipolar prosthesis. In present study, the mean Harris hip score was found to be 87.9 with an average of 89.25 in cemented group and 83.5 in uncemented group. Average time for full weight bearing was 6.45 days with an average of 7.55 days in uncemented group and 5.35 days in cemented group. In Indian population, cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty is better treatment option in elderly patients with intracapsular fractures of the neck of the femur, as they have better Harris hip score & reduced time for full weight bearing.