Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of HPV and ERCC1 in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN).

6006 Background: We studied the association of human papillomavirus (HPV) and excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1) tumor expression with clinical outcomes in patients (pts) with R/M SCCHN. Methods: Archival baseline specimens were obtained from pts on ECOG trials: E1395, phase III trial of cisplatin/paclitaxel (CP) vs. cisplatin/5-FU (CF), and E3301, phase II trial of docetaxel/irinotecan. HPV DNA was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH) with a wide spectrum HPV probe. Tumor p16 status was defined as positive if immunohistochemical staining for p16 was strong and present in >80% of tumor cells. ERCC1 expression was measured (HistoRx PM-2000) and data analyzed using AQUA algorithms, after tissue was stained with ERCC1 ab (1:5000 HPA0297731, Sigma), and a wide-spectrum cytokeratin ab (Dako Z0622) for tumor mask. A prior determined cut point for nuclear staining was utilized. Fisher's exact test and log-rank test were used to compare categorical variables and survival. Stratified logistic.
A Critical Review of the Cholesterolaemic Effects of Palm Oil

This paper reviews recent reports of the cholesterolaemic effects of palm oil. The evidence indicates that the substitution of palm oil or its lipid fractions for the usual fats in the diet does not result in an elevation of total serum cholesterol in lean, normocholesterolaemic individuals with a cholesterol intake of less than 300 mg per day. When threshold dietary levels of linoleic acid (18:2) are met, they tend to counter the cholesterol-raising effects of the 12and 16-carbon saturated fatty acids. In view of this, the use of a cholesterol saturated-fat index to measure the hypercholesterolaemic and atherogenic potential of foods can be misleading, particularly when applied to palm oil. Nutritionists and health professionals need to keep abreast of recent knowledge on the cholesterolaemic impact of dietary fats and fatty acids.
SEROLOGIC RESPONSE TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS, KERMANSHAH, IRAN

Background: Hepatitis B is a major infectious risk factor for health-care workers (HCWs) and public- safety workers. Although seroconversion rate following hepatitis B vaccination is estimated to be more than 90%, serologic response to Heberbiovac HB vaccine currently given in our center in Kermanshah province has been varied in different experiences, So, this study was conducted to determine serologic response in HCWs. Methods: In a descriptive-cross sectional study, in 138 HbcAb from 10 health care centers, HbcAb negatives and vaccinated with Heberbiovac HB (Cuba made, available vaccine in Iran), HbsAb titer was assessed by ELISA. Serologic response as antibody titer equal or more than 10mIU/ml considered protective level (serologic responder). The data were analyzed by SPSS software, using XÂ² and Fisher exact test. Results: Within 138 HCWs(60.1% female and 39.9% male), 69.6% had serologic response. The age had significant role in serologic response rate, but sex, weight, smoking and interval from the last time of vaccine reception were not effective factors. Conclusion: Serologic response rate to HBV vaccine in Kermanshah was much lower than other experiences. We need more information about the efficacy of Heberbiovac HB in high-risk groups and general population, the reasons of low efficacy and increasing serologic response. Keywords: Hepatitis B, Vaccine, Serologic response, Heberbiovac HB, Health-care workers
SchistosomiasisTh17 Cell Responses in Murine Critical for the Development of Pathogenic CD209a Expression on Dendritic Cells Is

In murine schistosomiasis, immunopathology and cytokine production in response to parasite eggs are uneven and strain dependent. CBA/J (CBA) mice develop severe hepatic granulomatous inﬂammation associated with prominent Th17 cell responses driven by dendritic cell (DC)-derived IL-1 b and IL-23. Such Th17 cells fail to develop in low-pathology C57BL/6 (BL/6) mice, and the reasons for these strain-speciﬁc differences in APC reactivity to eggs remain unclear. We show by gene proﬁling that CBA DCs display an 18-fold higher expression of the C-type lectin receptor CD209a, a murine homolog of human DC-speciﬁc ICAM-3–grabbing nonintegrin, compared with BL/6 DCs. Higher CD209a expression was observed in CBA splenic and granuloma APC subpopulations, but only DCs induced Th17 cell differentiation in response to schistosome eggs. Gene silencing in CBA DCs and overexpression in BL/6 DCs demonstrated that CD209a is essential for egg-elicited IL-1 b and IL-23 production and subsequent Th17 cell development, which is associated with SRC, RAF-1, and ERK1/2 activation. These ﬁndings reveal a novel mechanism controlling the development of Th17 cell–mediated severe immunopathology in helminthic disease. The Journal of Immunology ,
Genetic diversity and differentiation of Daphnia galeata in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China

Abstract Mitochondrial 16S rDNA and CO I gene were used as molecular markers for the analysis of the genetic diversity and differentiation of Daphnia galeata populations in nine water bodies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In the combined 16S rDNA and CO I gene sequences, 54 variable sites and 44 haplotypes were observed among 219 individuals belonging to nine D. galeata populations. Average haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were, respectively, 0.72% and 0.56%. The F‐statistics (F ST) value of the D. galeata populations was 0.149. According to the results of the neutral test, D. galeata in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River had experienced a bottleneck effect in the history. Molecular variance analysis indicated that the genetic differentiation of the D. galeata populations mainly occurred within populations (85.09%). Greater genetic differentiations of D. galeata among individuals within populations appeared in the populations from the Huaihe River basin, whereas smaller genetic differentiations occurred in the populations from the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Strong gene flows were all observed between Group I (four populations from the middle reaches of the Yangtze River) and Group ΙΙ (three populations from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River), and Group ΙΙΙ (two populations from the Huaihe River basin). The effective migration rates (M) were 851.49 from Group I to Group ΙΙ and 685.96 from Group I to Group ΙΙΙ, respectively. However, no significant relationship was observed between the genetic differentiation and geographical distance of the nine populations (r = .137, p > .05). Results suggested that the genetic differentiation of D. galeata in the water bodies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River resulted mainly from geographical isolation.
TURKISH ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION DISCUSSION PAPER 2004/15 http://www.tek.org.tr PARTIAL ADJUSTMENT WITHOUT APOLOGY

Many kinds of economic behavior appear to be governed by discrete and occasional individual choices. Despite this, econometric partial adjustment models perform relatively well at the aggregate level. Analyzing the classic employment adjustment problem, we show how discrete and occasional microeconomic adjustment is well described by a new form of partial adjustment model that aggregates the actions of a large number of heterogeneous producers. We begin by describing a basic model of discrete and occasional adjustment at the micro level, where production units are essentially restricted to either operate with a fixed number of workers or shut down. We show that this simple model is observationally equivalent at the market level to the standard rational expectations partial adjustment model. We then construct a related, but more realistic, model that incorporates the idea that increases or decreases in the size of an establishment’s workforce are subject to fixed adjustment costs. In the market equilibrium of this model, employment responses to aggregate disturbances include changes both in employment selected by individual establishments and in the measure of establishments actively undertaking adjustment. Yet the model retains a partial adjustment flavor in its aggregate responses. Moreover, in contrast to existing models of discrete adjustment, our generalized partial adjustment model is sufficiently tractable to allow extension to general equilibrium.
Environmental Filtering Drives Local Soil Fungal beta Diversity More than Dispersal Limitation in Six Forest Types along a Latitudinal Gradient in Eastern China

Biogeographic patterns of soil fungal diversity have been well documented in forest ecosystems, but the underlying mechanisms and processes that shape these patterns remain relatively unknown. This study took soil samples from 300 forest plots spanning six forest types along a latitudinal gradient in eastern China, which ranges from tropical rainforest to boreal forest ecosystems. A null-model analysis was used to compare the observed soil fungal beta diversity (β-diversity) with the β-diversity expected from random sampling of each local species pool. We also compared the relative importance of environmental and spatial variables on soil fungal β-diversity among forest types along the latitudinal gradient. Our results found that observed β-diversity was greater than expected β-diversity in all six forest types, which means that species tend to be more aggregated than expected. We determined that this species aggregation resulted from both environmental filtering and species dispersal limitations. Further, environmental variables had stronger influences on β-diversity than spatial dispersions. Additionally, the co-occurrence network showed that more species interactions occurred in the mid-latitude forests which lead to decreased soil fungal β-diversity and low interpretations of environmental and spatial variables. Study of these processes in different forest types along latitudinal gradients will provide important insights that local differences in the relative importance of different community assembly processes creates different gradients in global biodiversity.
A Dynamic Analysis of Sectoral Mismatch and the Wage-Tenure Profile

A dynamic multi-sector model with net and excess mobility is developed to quantify the salient features of the wage-mobility relationship. The model distinguishes between three factors: sector-specific skill accumulation, sectorallevel shocks, and dynamic worker-sector mismatch shocks. Sector-specific skill accumulation and dynamic mismatch shocks play an important role, while sectoral-level shocks have a negligible impact. The sector-specific skill premium drives the observed negative correlation between lifetime earnings and mobility. Excess mobility driven by the worker-sector mismatch shocks explains nearly 20 percent of the observed wage growth for recent movers. A model featuring only dynamic worker-sector mismatch shocks still captures the salient features of the wage-tenure profile and sectoral mobility.
Financial Sector Competition, Financial Dependence and Economic Growth

The relationship between competition in the financial sector, access of firms to external financing and associated economic growth is ambiguous in theory. Measuring competition in the financial sector furthermore can be complex. In this paper, we first estimate for sixteen countries an industrial organization-based measure of banking system competition. We then relate this competition measure to growth of industries and find that greater competition in countries’ banking systems allows financially dependent industries to grow faster. These results are robust using a variety of tests. Our results suggest that the degree of competition is an important aspect of financial sector functioning. * Claessens is at the University of Amsterdam and a Research Fellow at the CEPR. Laeven is at the World Bank and a Research Associate at the CEPR. We would like to thank participants at the Money, Finance and Growth workshop in Salford, organized by Charles Goodhart, the University of Amsterdam KAFEE lunch seminar, the Competition in Banking Markets conference at the Catholic University Leuven and a seminar at the University of Leicester for their comments. Furthermore, we especially like to thank the two referees for very valuable comments. We also thank Ying Lin for research assistance. The paper’s findings, interpretations, and conclusions are entirely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent.
Knowing the price of everything?

Much of the estimated $554 billion annual expenditure on management consultancy services is accounted for by projects with a direct link to client profitability. As such, it is critical for clients (and arguably the wider economy) that the purchase process for such services is managed effectively. For many within the management consultancy literature, this requires close, bilateral buy-side service end-user / supplier engagement. In recent years, however, this bilateral engagement has been modified by a significant increase in procurement professional involvement. This has caused concern within the management consultancy literature as it is believed it will inevitably lead to a cost-focused approach that disrupts close end-user / supplier engagement and causes sub-standard service outcomes. In this paper, we explore, via qualitative research, whether this concern is justified. In the event, the analysis suggested partial justification. However, examples of positive procurement involvement were also reported, suggesting that existing models and assumptions within the management consultancy literature regarding the impact of increased procurement involvement require modification.
Maternal palmvitee administration reduced plasma total bilirubin and uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase activity in hyperbilirubinaemic rat neonates

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinaemia (jaundice) is common during the first days of postnatal life. α-Tocopherol was reported to decrease serum total bilirubin in jaundiced human newborns. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal palmvitee administration on hyperbilirubinaemia induced by δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in rat neonates. Material and methods: Twenty-four successfully mated female Wistar rats were divided into three groups. They were given 50 or 200 mg palmvitee/kg body weight orally once daily from day 1 of pregnancy to delivery, while the other group was given olive oil (control). At postnatal day 14 (the optimal age to induce hyperbilirubinaemia as obtained earlier), the pups born to four dams of each group were induced with hyperbilirubinaemia, while the rest were given vehicle. Twenty-four hours after the induction, the neonates were sacrificed. Plasma total bilirubin, hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase (UGT) activity and vitamin E content were determined in the neonates. Results: ALA administration increased plasma total bilirubin. In the palmvitee-treated groups, plasma total bilirubin was lower than in the controls (0.19±0.01 and 0.10±0.01 vs. 0.35±0.18, p<0.05). ALA did not affect the hepatic UGT, but it was reduced in the palmvitee-treated groups (0.71±0.10 and 0.55±0.02 vs. 0.92±0.07, p<0.05). Neither ALA nor palmvitee influenced hepatic TBARS level. Maternal pretreatment with 200 mg/kg palmvitee increased the neonatal hepatic vitamin E content. Conclusions: The maternal administration of palmvitee showed a protective effect on hyperbilirubinaemia. However, this administration could lead to decreased hepatic glucuronidation activity in rat neonates.
Calculating Musical Rhythm Similarity

We present a method for comparing the rhythm of two songs. We use self-similarity features called beat spectra that are used to train a Gaussian mixture model which then describes the rhythm of a song. The mixture model parameters of two songs are compared using a perceptually-motivated approximation of the KLdivergence between mixture models.
Diphenyl Ditelluride: Redox-Modulating and Antiproliferative Properties

Tellurium is a rare element that has been regarded as a toxic, nonessential element, and its biological role is not clearly established. In addition, the biological effects of elemental tellurium and some of its organic and inorganic derivatives have been studied, leading to a set of interesting and promising applications. Diphenyl ditelluride (DPDT), an organic tellurium derivate, showed antioxidant, antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, and anticancer properties. The antioxidant and prooxidant properties of DPDT are complex and depend on experimental conditions, which may explain the contradictory reports of these properties. In addition, DPDT may exert its effects through different pathways, including distinct ones to those responsible for chemotherapy resistance phenotypes: transcription factors, membrane receptors, adhesion, structural molecules, cell cycle regulatory components, and apoptosis pathways. This review aims to present recent advances in our understanding of the biological effects, therapeutic potential, and safety of DPDT treatment. Moreover, original results demonstrating the cytotoxic effects of DPDT in different mammalian cell lines and systems biology analysis are included, and emerging approaches for possible future applications are inferred.
Genetic Polymorphisms of Toll-like receptors 2 and 9 as Susceptibility Factors for the Development of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Introduction Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are classified as spondyloarthritis (SpA), a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases with complex genetic etiology. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have an important role in the mechanism of innate immunity and may influence inflammatory responses. Polymorphisms in TLR genes that lead to changes in these receptors or that interfere with the transcription rates of mRNA TLR may be involved in the chronic inflammatory immune response observed in SpA. Currently, there is a lack of studies associating genetic polymorphisms in TLRs and SpA. Objective Therefore, this case-control study is aimed at analyzing the influence of the respective SNPs on TLR2 rs5743708, TLR6 rs5743810, and TLR9 rs5743836 and rs187084 in the immunopathogenesis of SpA. Methods The polymorphisms genotyped by PCR-RFLP were TLR2 rs5743708, TLR6 rs5743810, and TLR9 rs5743836 and rs187084. The HLA-B∗27 was performed by PCR-SSP. Results Logistic regression analysis showed a strong association between SNPs in TLR2 and TLR9 and susceptibility to SpA (OR = 12.56; CI = 6.5-25.9 and OR = 1.62; CI = 1.20-2.21, respectively). No association was observed among HLA-B∗27 and TLR polymorphisms (p = 0.72), nor among BASDAI and TLR polymorphisms (p = 0.85). Discussion Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in TLR2 and TLR9 genes may contribute to the immunopathogenesis of the SpA. The rs187084, rs5743836, and rs5743708 polymorphisms were associated with the risk of SpA development, in this study, and lead to significant changes in the innate and adaptive immune response profile, as well as the maintenance of the regulation of immunological mechanisms. Conclusion The polymorphism rs5743708 for the TLR2 and the rs187084_rs5743836 TLR9 haplotypes appear to be involved in the development of clinical forms of SpA and can be a possible therapeutic target for the spondyloarthritis.
Corporate Social Responsibility as an Antecedent of Innovation, Reputation, Performance, and Competitive Success: A Multiple Mediation Analysis

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) facilitates increased innovation and enhanced reputation and business performance. Small and medium-sized enterprises are commonly acknowledged to be a driver of economic growth, so these firms’ CSR and the competitive advantages it generates are of great interest. This study examined whether corporate managers’ positive predisposition toward CSR initiatives explains their companies’ level of innovation, achieved performance, competitive success, and reputation. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze a sample of 109 companies operating in Spain’s Autonomous Community of Extremadura. The results confirm that companies generally have a favorable orientation toward CSR and this strategy’s benefits include developing and improving firms’ reputation.
WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram which is Best for Instant Messaging?

There are many free instant messengers available now which allow to communicate with friends with text, phone call, video, sharing of files, in group or not and keep contact with them even internationally. But only very few of the instant messengers have gained a popularity and attention. Recent studies have shown that the most popular instant messengers are WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram. Even, Facebook acquired WhatsApp due to have huge users. Viber is another messenger with many integrated features that allows the phone calls and sends the text messages for free and there is no subscription like WhatsApp. While Telegram offers the users an open-source platform with no ads, a clean fast interface, asks for no payments whatsoever and the biggest selling point is security. WhatsApp, Viber and Telegram which instant messenger is best? The popularity of Telegram has reached at the top of Google play store and become the most downloaded messaging app in the world today. But at the moment WhatsApp is still the winner!
Is Matric Math a Good Predictor of Student’s Performance in the First Year of University Degree? A Case Study of Faculty of Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract Ordinarily speaking the performance of students at the first year commerce degree is related to matric total score and other socio-demographic variables. This study asserts that, since mathematical proficiency is a special skill that is necessary for commerce degree, matric (National Senior Certificate, NSC) math score is the key variable which significantly determines the pass rates in the first year university modules. The study tests this hypothesis with the new set of data for the University of KwaZulu-Natal with the help of an econometric model. Empirical results support the hypothesis and the study suggests some far-reaching policy implications for increasing pass rate and student retention in the commerce degree programs in South Africa.