Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival in men older than 75 years with low- and intermediate-grade prostate cancer managed with watchful waiting with active surveillance

Objective Recent studies have reported the underuse of active surveillance or watchful waiting for low-risk prostate cancer in the United States. This study examined prostate cancer–specific and all-cause death in elderly patients older than 75 years with low-risk tumors managed with active treatment versus watchful waiting with active surveillance (WWAS). Methods We performed survival analysis in a cohort of 18,599 men with low-risk tumors (early and localized tumors) who were 75 years or older at the time of prostate cancer diagnosis in the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database (from 1992 to 1998) and who were followed up through December 2003. WWAS was defined as having annual screening for prostate-specific antigen and/or digital rectal examination during the follow-up period. The risks of prostate cancer–specific and all-cause death were compared by Cox regression models. The propensity score matching technique was used to address potential selection bias. Results In patients with well-differentiated (Gleason score 2–4) and localized disease, those managed with WWAS without delayed treatment had higher risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.13–1.28) but a substantially lower risk of prostate cancer–specific death (hazard ratio 0.62, confidence interval 0.51–0.75) than patients undergoing active treatment. Patients managed with WWAS with delayed treatment had comparable mortality outcomes. Sensitivity analyses based on propensity score matching yielded similar results. Conclusion In men older than 75 years with well-differentiated and localized prostate cancer, WWAS without delayed treatment had a lower risk of prostate cancer–specific death and comparable all-cause death as compared with active treatment. Those patients in whom treatment was delayed had comparable mortality outcomes. Our results support WWAS as an initial management option for older men with well-differentiated and localized prostate cancer.
Pengaruh Tata Kelola Perusahaan, Leverage dan Return on Assets Terhadap Tax Avoidance

This study intends to test the influence of good corporate governance (GCG) by utilizing independent commissioners and the audit committee as proxies, leverage, and return on assets against tax avoidance. Population for the study is banking companies listed in the BEI from 2015 – 2017. By using purposive sampling method, 29 banking companies were selected as samples of the study. All the data used are secondary data which have been already published. The results proved that only audit committee that affected the practice of tax avoidance while independence commissioners, leverage and return on assets did not have any impact on tax avoidance. Keywords: GCG, leverage, ROA, tax avoidance.
Changes in endogenous auxin level during flower bud abscission process in Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)

The regulation of auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) level in plants is a complex mechanism and the concept is not completely understood. There are many lines of evidence suggesting that amino acid conjugates of IAA play a vital role in auxin homeostasis, but the involved plant enzymes are still under investigation. In the present study, the alteration in the levels of auxin and its conjugates in the different physiological stages and organs, as well as its role in flower bud abscission in Pistacia vera L. , were investigated. The levels of the auxin and its conjugates, such as IAA, indole butyric acid (IBA), IAA-Ala, IAA-Leu, IAA-Asp, and IAA-Glu, were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-MS/MS) technique. Among the auxin conjugates, IAA was the main conjugate and dominant indole detected in pistachio extract observed in this work. It has also been determined that quite a few organs of 'Off-year' trees have higher auxin content than 'On-year' trees. It was observed that the auxin level is low in fruit-bearing trees in both leaves and shoots. It affects fruit yield and fruit bud abscission and plays some role in the alternate bearing. Decreased levels of auxin were observed in most of the organs of 'On-year' trees during kernel development resulting in bud abscission. This study shows that auxin conjugates play an important role in IAA metabolism, particularly in flower bud abscission and fruit kernel development.
Forms of implementation and challenges of PBL in engineering education: a review of literature

ABSTRACT During the last 40 years, problem- and project-based learning (PBL) has been widely adopted in engineering education because of its expected effectiveness in developing students’ professional knowledge and transferable skills. With a growing number of PBL researches and practices in engineering education, systematic or meta-analysis reviews were conducted regarding the definitions, history and development of PBL, and benefits for student learning outcomes. However, challenges in PBL implementation was little addressed in the current review works, and even less attention has been paid on how these challenges in implementation are related to the diverse PBL practices. This paper reviewed 108 research articles to explore the levels at which the currently reported PBL practice is being implemented, and what challenges in PBL practices are being addressed. This research illustrates the variety of PBL implementation at the course level, cross-course level, curriculum level, and project level. Across these four levels, similar challenges are reported at the individual level for teachers and students, as well as at the institutional level and the culture level. Recommendations on future research directions for engineering educational researchers and suggestions for engineering faculty and staff are proposed to optimise PBL curriculum design and inform future PBL implementation.
Macro-Financial Linkages in the High-Frequency Domain: The Effects of Uncertainty on Realized Volatility

This paper estimates a bivariate HEAVY system including daily and intra-daily volatility equations and its macro-augmented asymmetric power extension. It focuses on economic factors that exacerbate stock market volatility and represent major threats to financial stability. In particular, it extends the HEAVY framework with powers, leverage, and macro effects that improve its forecasting accuracy significantly. Higher uncertainty is found to increase the leverage and macro effects from credit and commodity markets on stock market realized volatility. Specifically, Economic Policy Uncertainty is shown to be one of the main drivers of US and UK financial volatility alongside global credit and commodity factors.
Nitrogen fertilization and glyphosate doses as growth regulators in Esmeralda grass

ABSTRACT Despite maintaining the green color in turfgrasses, nitrogen (N) fertilization affects shoot growth and, consequently, the frequency of cuts, the main factor in the costs of turfgrass maintenance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate N fertilization and the use of glyphosate as a growth regulator in Esmeralda grass (Zoysia japonica Steud.). The experiment was conducted in the field, from August 2014 to July 2015, using a randomized block design in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme with four repetitions and 20 treatments, namely: control (without N), 15 g m-2 of N in soil without foliar N; 30 g m-2 of N in soil without foliar N; 15 g m-2 of N in soil with foliar N (1% urea in 200 L ha-1) and 30 g m-2 of N in soil with foliar N combined with glyphosate doses (0, 200, 400 and 600 g ha-1 active ingredient (a.i.)). The N doses were split into five applications along the year. The following variables were evaluated: height, leaf chlorophyll index and foliar accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fertilization with 15 g m-2 of N in soil without foliar N application, split into five times along the year, was adequate for the turfgrass, while foliar fertilization did not promote benefits. The glyphosate dose of 400 g ha-1 a.i. was effective in reducing the growth of Esmeralda grass, without compromising its color and promoted less N, P and K accumulation in the leaves, reducing the height and dry matter production.
Early Life Glucocorticoid Exposure Modulates Immune Function in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Larvae

In this study we have assessed the effects of increased cortisol levels during early embryonic development on immune function in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. Fertilized eggs were exposed to either a cortisol-containing, a dexamethasone-containing (to stimulate the glucocorticoid receptor selectively) or a control medium for 6 hours post-fertilisation (0-6 hpf). First, we measured baseline expression of a number of immune-related genes (socs3a, mpeg1.1, mpeg1.2 and irg1l) 5 days post-fertilisation (dpf) in larvae of the AB and TL strain to assess the effectiveness of our exposure procedure and potential strain differences. Cortisol and dexamethasone strongly up-regulated baseline expression of these genes independent of strain. The next series of experiments were therefore carried out in larvae of the AB strain only. We measured neutrophil/macrophage recruitment following tail fin amputation (performed at 3 dpf) and phenotypical changes as well as survival following LPS-induced sepsis (150 μg/ml; 4-5 dpf). Dexamethasone, but not cortisol, exposure at 0-6 hpf enhanced neutrophil recruitment 4 hours post tail fin amputation. Cortisol and dexamethasone exposure at 0-6 hpf led to a milder phenotype (e.g. less tail fin damage) and enhanced survival following LPS challenge compared to control exposure. Gene-expression analysis showed accompanying differences in transcript abundance of tlr4bb, cxcr4a, myd88, il1β and il10. These data show that early-life exposure to cortisol, which may be considered to be a model or proxy of maternal stress, induces an adaptive response to immune challenges, which seems mediated via the glucocorticoid receptor.
Introducing the 'Third Phase' of Priority Setting: Advancing Methods for Priority Setting Practice through the Contribution of Systems Theory. Lessons from a Case Study of District Health Planning and Priority Setting in Ethiopia

Over the last 20 years, there has been considerable scholarly attention paid to developing priority setting methods with an emphasis on improving the evidence base of priority setting decisions, the use of explicit decision criteria, and the fairness of decision-making processes. Case studies of priority setting in health institutions and systems internationally have identified a variety of factors in practice that influence the effectiveness of these methods. There is a paucity of research, however, that empirically examines how these factors operate and to what extent they comprise enablers or barriers to fair priority setting. The purpose of this dissertation is to advance priority-setting methods by examining how systems theory may inform our understanding of priority setting through a case study of district health planning in Ethiopia. To fulfill this purpose, three objectives were undertaken. The first objective sought to describe the district health planning and priority setting process in Ethiopia. A qualitative case study of Ethiopian district health planning was undertaken in 2010 and 2011. Methods included 57 in-depth key informant interviews with decision makers, participant observation, and document analysis. The second objective sought to analyze this description through the theoretical lens of Accountability for Reasonableness (A4R) and the Transformative Systems Change Framework
Drive2friends: Inferring Social Relationships From Individual Vehicle Mobility Data

The number of vehicles has increased year by year, especially individual vehicles. In addition to meeting basic transportation needs, vehicles are expected to serve varied location-based services and applications for humans. However, it can constitute severe risks for privacy. In this article, we concentrate on one of the most sensitive information, namely, social relationships, that can be inferred from the vehicle mobility data. We propose a social relationship inference model, which provides a new perspective for privacy preservation in human mobility data. In particular, we extract discriminative features from both the spatial and temporal dimensions. Then, the heterogeneous features are being merged with a fusion model to improve the performance of inference. Extensive experiments on the real-world data set validate the effectiveness of the extracted features in estimating social connections and demonstrate that our method significantly outperforms the baseline models.
Border Walls and Crime: Evidence From the Secure Fence Act

Despite a lack of rigorous empirical evidence, reduced crime is often touted as a potential benefit in the debate over increasing border infrastructure (i.e., border walls). This paper examines the effect of the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which led to unprecedented barrier construction along the US–Mexico border, on local crime using geospatial data on dates and locations of border wall construction. Synthetic control estimates across twelve border counties find no systematic evidence that border infrastructure reduced property or violent crime rates in the counties in which it was built. Further analysis using matched panel models indicates no effect on property crime rates and that observed declines in violent crime rates precede barrier construction, not the other way around. Taken together, this paper finds that potential crime reductions are not a compelling argument toward the benefits of expanding border infrastructure.
RELATIONSHIP OF OXIDATIVE STRESS TO URINARY ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME 2 IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS.

Context Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is highly expressed in the kidney and cleaves angiotensin II to Angiotensin (1-7), annihilating the deleterious effects of angiotensin II which is known to be a strong activator of oxidative stress. Objective We aimed to evaluate the relationship of oxidative stress to urinary ACE2 (uACE2) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Design We included consecutive normo or microalbuminuric T2DM patients in an observational transversal study. Routine laboratory investigations, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA, fluorimetric thiobarbituric method) as a marker of prooxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase (SOD, cytochrome reduction method) and catalase (CAT) activity (in erythrocyte lysate by the modification of absorbance method) as two measures of serum antioxidant capacity and uACE2 (ELISA method) were assessed. Results MDA showed a negative correlation with SOD (r=-0.44, p=0.001), CAT (r=-0.37, p=0.006), uACE2 (r=-0.33, p=0.016) and a positive correlation with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=0.49, p<0.001) and associated cardiovascular disease (r=0.42, p=0.001). CAT as also positively correlated to uACE2 (r=0.29, p=0.037). SOD was also negatively correlated with glycemia (r=-0.71, p<0.001) and HbA1c (r=-0.53, p<0.001). Patients with lower MDA (when divided according to median value of 3.88 nmol/mL) had higher uACE2 57.15(40.3-71.2) pg/mL compared to 38.5(31.8-45.95) pg/mL in patients with higher MDA (p<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression uACE2 was the only predictor for MDA above or below its median (OR=0.94, 95%CI[0.90-0.98], p=0.002). Conclusion Increased prooxidant serum capacity is associated with lower uACE2 levels in T2DM patients.
Persistent fatigue in disease-free breast cancer survivors: Evaluating long-term effects of pretreatment depression and cancer-specific avoidance coping

ii Acknowledgments . iv Vita . vi List of Tables . xi List of Figures . xiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 Cancer-related fatigue . 3 Assessment of cancer-related fatigue . 3 Prevalence of cancer-related fatigue . 6 Post-cancer fatigue and quality of life . 7 Contributing factors to post-cancer fatigue . 8 Factors influencing the trajectory of cancer-related fatigue . 13 Physical symptoms relate to elevated post-cancer emotional distress . 14 Cancer-specific intrusive thoughts, avoidance coping, and physical symptoms . 16 Emotion regulation and prior depression . 18 Avoidance coping and depression . 20 Study aims . 23 Hypotheses . 25 CHAPTER 2: METHODS . 26 Protocol . 26 Participants . 26 Measures . 27 Self-report measures . 27 Interviewer-assessed major depressive disorder . 30 Comorbidities . 30
Authentic leadership and meaningfulness at work

PurposeThis study aims to examine whether, how, and when authentic leadership shapes followers' perceptions of meaningfulness at work. Using authentic leadership theory, we posit that authentic leadership leads to more favorable perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which, in turn, results in enhanced experiences of meaningfulness at work. In addition to studying authentic leadership as a driver of CSR perceptions, and hence meaningfulness, we also examine if followers' attributions of self-centered motives to organizational engagement in CSR moderates the above relationship.Design/methodology/approachIn all, 368 employees from Indian IT industry participated in the survey. Data were analyzed using Process (Hayes 2013) in SPSS.FindingsResults supported the hypothesized moderated mediation model by revealing that attribution of self-centered motives undermines the positive impact of authentic leadership on CSR perceptions, and, subsequently, meaningfulness.Practical implicationsBy presenting CSR as a source of meaningfulness at work, this study establishes CSR as an important tool for fostering employee well-being. The internal corporate communication should emphasize how CSR activities of the organization represent core organizational values and organization’s genuine concern for the society.Originality/valueThe study adds to the leadership literature and integrates it with a divergent discipline of CSR by signifying the role of authentic leadership in the CSR process. By presenting a refined analysis of CSR in a developing country, this research expands the understanding of the expression of CSR in markets outside the developed core.
Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Quality of Life of Nurses suffering from Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain

Background: Socio demographic characteristics of nurses who work in hospitals may impact on their quality of life. This study aimed to assess the relationship between quality of life of nursing staff with chronic nonspecific low back and their socio demographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross section study. A total of 119 nurses were participated in this study. The 36-item short-form health survey questionnaire (SF-36) was used to assess Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of the participants. SPSS software version18 was applied to analyze data by appropriate statistical tests. Results: Totally 119 nurses including 93 female (78.1%) were participated in the study. The study showed that there was a significant relationship between age and physical function (P < 0.0001). Also there was significant relationship between income and physical role (P < 0.0001) as well as bodily pain (P = 0.015), mental health (P = 0.015), and social function (P = 0.03. ( Conclusions: The socio demographic characteristics of nurses could be considered while their QOL are assessed.
The Study of the Refractive Index in Anisotropic Absorptive Turbulent Magnetized Plasma

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Medical Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes towards Self-Medication in Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Introduction: Self-medication is a serious issue worldwide and its irrational use becomes a major cause of global concern. Aims: The present study aimed to determine the knowledge of and attitude of students towards self-medication. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among all medical students enrolled in Al-Iraqia Medical College, 400 (> 90%) students were the respondent sample size and data was collected using self-administrated questionnaire. Results: The study finding revealed the mean age of 400 enrolled students was 20.37, most of them
The Effect of Micronized Fenofibrate on Lipid Profiles of Patients Converted from Gemfibrozil

Although numerous studies have established the efficacy of micronized fenofibrate (MF) and gemfibrozil in improving lipid profiles, there are limited comparative data on the lipid-lowering effects of these two agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mean changes in lipid values of hypertriglyceridemic patients crossed over from gemfibrozil to MF. The Medical charts of 21 patients were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were maintained on gemfibrozil 600 mg twice daily for a minimum of 3 months. The patient's last fasting lipid profile on gemfibrozil was compared to the first lipid profile after crossover to MF 200 to 201 mg/day. Patients were excluded if there were alterations in other lipid-lowering therapy during the cross-over or documented non-adherence. The lipid profiles after the crossover showed a significant reduction in triglycerides (56%; P < 0.05) and TC/HDL ratio (38%; P < 0.05) and a significant increase in HDL (22%; P < 0.05). There were nonsignificant changes in other lipid values: TC (-22%; P = 0.058), LDL (+5%; P = 0.866) and LDL/HDL ratio (+6; P = 1.0). The results show that MF had additional favorable effects on triglycerides, HDL, and TC/HDL ratio compared with gemfibrozil. A larger, randomized trial to confirm these effects is warranted.