Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for organ preservation in advanced laryngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND Induction chemotherapy with cisplatin plus fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy is the standard alternative to total laryngectomy for patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer. The value of adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy and the optimal timing of chemotherapy are unknown. METHODS We randomly assigned patients with locally advanced cancer of the larynx to one of three treatments: induction cisplatin plus fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy, radiotherapy with concurrent administration of cisplatin, or radiotherapy alone. The primary end point was preservation of the larynx. RESULTS A total of 547 patients were randomly assigned to one of the three study groups. The median follow-up period was 3.8 years. At two years, the proportion of patients who had an intact larynx after radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin (88 percent) differed significantly from the proportions in the groups given induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (75 percent, P=0.005) or radiotherapy alone (70 percent, P<0.001). The rate of locoregional control was also significantly better with radiotherapy and concurrent cisplatin (78 percent, vs. 61 percent with induction cisplatin plus fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy and 56 percent with radiotherapy alone). Both of the chemotherapy-based regimens suppressed distant metastases and resulted in better disease-free survival than radiotherapy alone. However, overall survival rates were similar in all three groups. The rate of high-grade toxic effects was greater with the chemotherapy-based regimens (81 percent with induction cisplatin plus fluorouracil followed by radiotherapy and 82 percent with radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin, vs. 61 percent with radiotherapy alone). The mucosal toxicity of concurrent radiotherapy and cisplatin was nearly twice as frequent as the mucosal toxicity of the other two treatments during radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS In patients with laryngeal cancer, radiotherapy with concurrent administration of cisplatin is superior to induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone for laryngeal preservation and locoregional control.
Demand–Supply Mismatches and Stock Market Performance: A Retailing Perspective

We provide empirical evidence that the volatility of inventory productivity relative to the volatility of demand is a predictor of future stock returns in a sample of publicly listed U.S. retailers over the period 1985–2013. This key performance indicator, entitled demand–supply mismatch (DSM), captures the fact that low variation in inventory productivity relative to variation in demand is indicative of the superior synchronization of demand‐ and supply‐side operations. Applying the Fama and French (1993) three‐factor model augmented with a momentum factor (Carhart 1997), we find that zero‐cost portfolios formed by buying the two lowest and selling the two highest quintiles of DSM stocks yield abnormal stock returns of up to 1.13%. These strong market anomalies related to DSM are observed over the entire sample period and persist after controlling for alternative inventory productivity measures and firm characteristics that are known to predict future stock returns. Further, we reveal that DSM is indicative of lower future earnings and lower sales growth and provide evidence that the observed market inefficiency results from investors’ failure to incorporate all of the information that inventory contains into the pricing of stocks.
The impact of Early Warning Score and Rapid Response Systems on nurses’ competence: An integrative literature review and synthesis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To describe, interpret and synthesise the current research findings on the impact of the Early Warning Score and Rapid Response Systems on nurses' competence in identifying and managing deteriorating patients in general hospital wards. BACKGROUND As patient safety initiatives designed to ensure the early identification and management of deteriorating patients, the Early Warning Score and Rapid Response Systems have broad appeal. However, it is still unclear how these systems impact nurses' competence when these systems are used in general hospital wards. METHODS CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE and Ovid MEDLINE databases were systematically searched for relevant articles. Articles were appraised, a thematic analysis was conducted, and similar and divergent perspectives on emergent themes and subthemes were extracted by a team of researchers. RESULTS Thirty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. The analysis of findings showed how the Early Warning Score and Rapid Response Systems impacted three competence areas: (i) Nurses' competence in assessing and caring for patients related to the subthemes: (a) sensing clinical deterioration and (b) the development of skills and knowledge. (ii). Nurses' competence in referring patients, related to the subthemes: (a) deciding whether to summon help and (b) the language and communication lines in the referral process. (ii) Nurses' coping and mastery experiences. CONCLUSION The impact of the Early Warning Score and Rapid Response Systems on nurses' competence in identifying and managing deteriorating patients is beneficial but also somewhat contradictory. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE A greater understanding of nurses' development of competence when using the Early Warning Score and Rapid Response Systems will facilitate the design of implementation strategies and the use of these systems to improve practice.
Progesterone: a pivotal hormone at menstruation

The human endometrium is exposed to repeated inflammation every month, culminating in tissue breakdown and menstruation. Subsequently, the endometrium has a remarkable capacity for efficient repair and remodeling to enable implantation if fertilization takes place. Endometrial function is known to be governed by the ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone. This review paper focuses on hormonal control of the cyclical tissue injury and repair that takes place in the local endometrial environment at the time of menstruation. Progesterone levels decline premenstrually as the corpus luteum regresses in the absence of pregnancy, and estradiol levels increase during the postmenstrual phase. The functional impact of these significant changes is discussed, including their immediate and downstream effects. Finally, we examine the contribution of aberrant endometrial function to the presentation of heavy menstrual bleeding and identify potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of this common gynecological problem.
Foreign Competition and Innovation: The Mediating Role of Imitation

This study examines the extent to which foreign competition affects the innovation performance of domestic firms through imitation, given firms’ absorptive capacity. In analysing longitudinal firm-level data from the UK, we find a mediating effect of imitation on the relationship between foreign competition and local firms’ innovation performance, and an inverted U-shaped relationship between imitation and the innovation performance of local firms. Our findings further reveal that absorptive capacity moderates the mediating effect of imitation, diminishing innovation gains at moderate levels of imitation and mitigating the diminishing innovation performance at high levels of imitation.
Regulation of Notch1 Gene Expression by p53 in Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT The E6 protein of cervical cancer-associated human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is known to suppress keratinocyte differentiation through unidentified mechanisms. Notch1 is a determinant of keratinocyte differentiation and functions as a tumor suppressor in mammalian epidermis. Here, we report that the Notch1 gene is a novel target of p53 and can be down-regulated by E6 through p53 degradation in normal human epithelial cells. Thus, inactivation of p53 by E6 or short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) resulted in reduced Notch1 expression at the transcription level, and a p53-responsive element could be identified in the Notch1 promoter. The expression of E6, p53 shRNA, or Notch1 shRNA suppressed both spontaneous keratinocyte differentiation in culture and its induction upon DNA damage. Furthermore, the induction of Notch1 and differentiation makers as well as thickening of the epidermal layer upon UV irradiation was observed in wild-type but not in p53-deficient mouse skin. Together, our findings not only demonstrate a novel link between p53 and Notch1 in keratinocyte differentiation upon genotoxic stress but also suggest a novel tumor suppressor mechanism of p53 in the development of squamous cell carcinomas, including HPV-induced tumors.
Patterns of cortical reorganization in complex regional pain syndrome

Objective: To use magnetoencephalography to assess possible cortical reorganization in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) of patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Background: Patterns of pain and sensory symptoms in CRPS may indicate plastic changes of the CNS. Methods: Magnetic source imaging was used to explore changes in the cortical representation of digits (D) 1 and 5 in relation to the lower lip on the unaffected and affected CRPS side in 12 patients. Results: The authors found a significant shrinkage of the extension of the cortical hand representation for the CRPS affected side. The center of the hand was shifted toward the cortical representation of the lip. The cortical reorganization correlated with the amount of CRPS pain (r = 0.792), as measured by the McGill questionnaire, and the extent of mechanical hyperalgesia (r = 0.860). Using multiple regression analysis, the best predictor for the plastic changes was found to be mechanical hyperalgesia. Additionally, S1 sources following tactile stimulation were significantly increased on the CRPS side compared to the unaffected limb. Conclusions: This study showed reorganization of the S1 cortex contralateral to the CRPS affected side. The reorganization appeared to be linked to complaints of neuropathic pain.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION, FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA

The study empirically examined the interconnectivity among energy use, financial development and economic growth in Nigeria. It adopts single equation generalized method of moments to estimate the relationship among energy consumption, financial development and economic growth in Nigeria. The result of the study suggests increased energy consumption will boost economic growth in Nigeria. Also this study also confirms the inducement effect of financial sector expansion on energy consumption. This study therefore recommends that government should formulate appropriate policy that will boost power sector that will inturn boost energy consumption with a multiplier effect on economic growth. Government should also know that financial sector expansion will induce energy use and inturn stimulate economic growth.
Right thoracic paravertebral anaesthesia for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of liver tumours.

OBJECTIVES Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) of liver tumours performed under local anaesthesia and intravenous sedation can cause severe pain to patients. This prospective study evaluated the efficacy of a right thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) for anaesthesia and analgesia during PRFA of liver tumours. METHODS 20 patients, aged 44-74 years, with liver malignancies received a multiple injection TPVB at the T6-10 levels 30 min before the PRFA. An intravenous infusion of propofol (3-5 mg kg(-1) h(-1)) was administered to patients who requested to be sedated and intravenous fentanyl (25 µg bolus) was administered as rescue analgesia. Pain during the TPVB and PRFA was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS; 0, no pain; 10, worst imaginable pain). Patients were also assessed for residual pain and analgesic consumption during the 24 h after the intervention. RESULTS The TPVB was well tolerated and produced ipsilateral sensory anaesthesia with satisfactory spread (median (range); 8 (6-11) dermatomes). The PRFA procedure caused mild pain (mean (standard deviation, SD); NRS 1.4 (1.9)) during the insertion of the ablation needle and the peak pain intensity during the therapeutic burn was moderate (mean (SD); NRS 5.0 (3.3)) in severity. During the 24 h after the PRFA, patients reported minimal pain and consumed very few analgesics. The mean (SD) satisfaction score (0, totally dissatisfied; 10, very satisfied) of the patients was 8.9 (1.1) and that of the radiologists was 8.8 (1.4). CONCLUSION A right TPVB is safe and effective for anaesthesia and analgesia during PRFA of malignant liver tumours.
The EU referendum, religion and identity: analysing the British Election Study

The post-2015 British Election Study ran from May to September last year surveying a random sample of the British public regarding their vote choice in May 2015. It also asked broader questions including attitudes towards the EU and whether respondents would vote Leave or Remain in a future referendum. Demographic data, including ethnicity and religious affiliation and attendance, were also gathered in the study. Here Siobhan McAndrew analyses this data, finding a notable difference in voting between Anglicans and members of other faith groups, as well as how an English identity (or its manifestation as distinct from Britishness) has a strong association with referendum voting intentions.
Huge Meningiomas: A Review of 93 Case

Between 1972 and 1996, 450 consecutive patients with intracranial meningiomas were operated on at Cukurova University School of Medicine. By size, intracranial meningiomas were classified as huge (>6 cm minimum diameter when extrapolated to anatomic size) or not huge (<6 cm). The present study involves 93 patients who underwent 109 craniotomies for the removal of huge meningiomas. All patients are adult, with 31 men and 62 women or a 1:2 male to female ratio, with a mean age of 48.7 +/- 2.3 years at the time of diagnosis. The average duration of observed survival in 85 patients followed in the computed tomography (CT) era was 4.8 years and that of 8 patients in the pre-CT era was 8.8 years. Eleven patients died by the last follow-up assessment. Seventy-nine patients were still alive at the last follow-up assessment. The overall postoperative mortality rate was 3.2%. The overall recurrence rate was 19%. In descending order of frequency, the first five anatomic locations of the huge meningiomas were the parasagittal region in 18 patients (19.3%), the cerebral convexity in 15 (16.1%), the olfactory groove in 15 (16.1%), the falx in 12 (12.9%), and the tuberculum sellae in 11 (11.8%). The overall results of surgical treatment in 93 patients were total removal in 59 (63.4%), radical subtotal in 18 (18.3%), and subtotal in 16 (17.2%), with good outcome in 69 (74.1%), fair in 16 (17.2%), and poor in 5 (5.3%). In conclusion, the huge size of meningiomas affects the extent of removal, recurrence rate, postoperative outcome, operative morbidity and mortality rates, and survival time negatively.
Baseline leukocyte count and acute coronary syndrome: predictor of adverse cardiac events, long and short-term mortality and association with traditional risk factors, cardiac biomarkers and C-reactive protein.

BACKGROUND The elevated WBC count has been accepted as part of healing response following myocardial infarction as well as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. The study was designed to find out correlation between WBC count and coronary risk factors, cardiac biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP), incidence of adverse cardiac events and mortality in patients of ACS in Pakistan. METHODS One hundred and thirty-three patients of ACS were stratified according to WBC categories, WBC1 (< 7000/mm3), WBC2 (7100-10,000/mm3) and WBC3 (> 10,000/mm3). The WBCs were counted on admission by Sysmex cell counter, CRP by immunoturbidimetric method, and CK-MB and Trop-I by enzyme immunoassay. Adverse cardiac events and mortality were recorded for 12 months of follow up period. RESULTS Long-term mortality in patients with ACS was 6.4% in WBC1, 18.2% in WBC2 and 40.9% in WBC3 categories, while short term mortality was 2.6%, 3.0% and 18.2% in WBC1, WBC2, and WBC3 categories respectively. Relative to patients in lower 2 WBC categories, patients in the highest category were 7 times more likely to die during 30 days (HR 7.83, p = 0.017) and more than 9 times during the total follow up period (HR 9.42, p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed WBC3 a strong independent predictor of mortality (HR 6.36, p = 0.016). WBC count showed a positive correlation with coronary risk factors, cardiac biomarkers and CRP. CONCLUSION WBC count is a strong independent predictor of mortality in patients with ACS and has positive correlation with coronary risk factors, cardiac biomarkers and CRP.
Always Playable: Recombining Routines for Creative Efficiency at Ubisoft Montreal's Video Game Studio

This study examines how an organization can redefine its core process when faced with a major crisis of creative efficiency. We analyze the case of the experimentation of the “Always Playable” project at Ubisoft Montreal, a leading video game development studio, where a crisis of creativity triggered an active reconfiguration of routines and their artifacts. To address this crisis, the organization attempted to restore a balance between efficiency and flexibility by modifying the generative relationship among the ostensive aspect, the performative aspect, and artifacts of routines. Our study shows that one way to reach this balance is by deliberately breaking, partitioning, and recombining aspects from different routines.
Alterations in Antithrombin III Activity and other Blood Coagulation Parameters after Retinal Detachment Surgery

Purpose To evaluate perioperative changes in blood coagulation in patients undergoing retinal detachment surgery. Materials Prospective study of 56 patients, aged from 19 to 82 (mean ± S.D. 53 ± 16.8) years, undergoing retinal detachment surgery (encirclement with scleral buckling) under general anesthesia. Excluded were patients with venous or arterial disease and any other factors that could affect the parameters under consideration. Methods Blood was sampled from the cubital vein one day before surgery, immediately after induction of anesthesia but before surgery, immediately after completion of the operation but before the termination of anesthesia and on days 1 and 4 after the operation. We measured antithrombin III activity (AT III), platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT). Results Intraoperative AT III activity and platelet count were significantly lower, aPTT was shortened and PT prolonged, although all values remained within the normal range. These results indicate moderate activation of coagulation during retinal detachment surgery. On the first postoperative day coagulation activity was reduced, with increases in AT III activity, fibrinogen concentration and platelet count and prolongation of aPTT. Conclusions During retinal detachment surgery there is moderate activation of coagulation in the systemic circulation.
Synthesis and disaggregation of asparagine repeat‐containing peptides

Of all amino acid repeats in eukaryotes, polyglutamine (polyQ) is the most frequent, followed by polyasparagine (polyN). Glutamine repeats are expanded in proteins associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. The expanded polyQ domain is known to induce aggregation, and it is hypothesized that aggregation is directly causative of pathology. Despite the widespread presence of asparagine repeats in invertebrate eukaryotes, polyN is curiously quite rare in vertebrates. Several investigators have characterized the conformational and aggregation properties of polyQ‐containing peptides and proteins, and to a lesser extent, peptides containing mixed glutamine and asparagine, but to our knowledge, there is no detailed characterization of polyN‐containing peptides. Such a comparison could elucidate reasons for the paucity of asparagine repeats in humans. In this study, we synthesized a peptide containing a 24‐asparagine repeat (N24). For aggregation studies, it is critical to start with monomeric unaggregated peptide. A protocol involving dissolution in mixed trifluoroacetic acid and hexafluoroisopropanol (TFA + HFIP) solvents is widely used for disaggregation of polyQ peptides. We used the same protocol for N24 but discovered that there was both oxidative damage and insufficient disaggregation. Oxidation of tryptophan, used as a flanking residue, was common. Moreover, we found evidence of Förster resonance energy transfer between Trp and its oxidation product N‐formylkynurenine, even in chemical denaturants. This suggested that N24 was insufficiently disaggregated, a conclusion that was further supported by gel electrophoresis analysis. Oxidation was reduced, but not eliminated, by addition of methionine to the buffer. Formic acid proved to be a better disaggregator and caused no oxidative damage. The glutamine repeat peptide Q24 also underwent some oxidation after extended incubation in TFA + HFIP, but there was no evidence of Förster resonance energy transfer, and samples appeared monomeric by gel electrophoresis. This result indicates that polyN‐containing peptides self‐associate more strongly than polyQ‐containing peptides. Circular dichroism spectra reveal a greater propensity for β‐turn formation in polyN than polyQ, providing an explanation for the increased stability of polyN aggregates relative to polyQ. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Celebrities’ Climate Change Advocacy on Twitter and its Effects on Public Perception and Behavioral Change

This research adds the growing body of literature on the role of celebrities as emergent spokespersons in climate advocacy and the process and consequences of its effects on public attitudes and behaviors to resolve the climate crisis. By applying social cognitive theory in conjunction with emotional appeals and language styles as message frames, the study examines the effects of role-modeling in adoption of eco-attitudes and behaviors. In a 2 x 2 design, the independent variables were emotion frame (fear, hope) and celebrity involvement frame (first person pronouns; FPP, non-first person pronouns; NFPP). For the manipulation check, the tweets were pilot tested. The main study was an experiment that asked participants to read tweets attributed to Leonardo DiCaprio or Pharrell Williams. Four main dependent variables were attitudes toward climate change mitigation and three behaviors, including support for government action, intention to engage in sustainable behavior, and intention to participate in activism for climate change mitigation. The role of two mediating variables (risk awareness, response efficacy) and one moderating variable, parasocial interaction (PSI) with the celebrity, were also examined. First, one-way ANCOVAs compared the effects of emotion frames to the control group. No evidence of the effects of emotion frame over unrelated messages on any dependent variables was found. Second, 2 (fear vs hope) x 2 (FPP vs NFPP) ANCOVAs found that fear-framed messages were more effective than hope-framed messages in driving intention for participation in activism, but emotion frame did not affect any other variables. The results also found that FPP frames led to more positive attitude (compared to NFPP frames), but had no effect on behaviors. Third, regression analyses found no evidence that risk awareness or response efficacy mediated the effect of emotion frames on attitudes or behaviors. In addition, the study discovered that PSI was a strong positive predictor of attitudes and all behaviors, but PSI did not moderate the impact of the celebrity involvement frame. The findings provide empirical evidence of the potential for celebrities to serve as role models in climate advocacy by psychologically involving people, which can be translated to the adoption of attitudes and behaviors. INDEX WORDS: Celebrity, Climate change, Environmental advocacy, Twitter, Message