Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Value of PD-L1 Expression in Predicting the Efficacy of Anti-PD-1 or Anti-PD-L1 Therapy in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives Recent trials have shown an overall survival (OS) benefit in 10-40% advanced cancer patients treated with programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors. Here, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between PD-L1 expression and the therapeutic efficacy of PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with cancer with recurrent or metastatic disease, compared with control treatments. Methods We systematically searched Medline (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to Jan 2019 and pooled the treatment effects (hazard ratio or relative ratio) of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with different PD-L1 expression. Results Overall, twenty-four qualifying trials with over 14,860 subjects were eligible in this study. Compared with conventional agents, anti-PD/PD-L1 drugs significantly reduced the risk of death (hazard ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.78), irrespective of the tumor type. Additionally, when PD-L1 expression ≥1% was defined as positive, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy correlated with prolonged overall survival in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (0.72, 0.61 to 0.86) and other cancer types (0.66, 0.57 to 0.76) patients with PD-L1 positive, rather than those with PD-L1 negative (hazard ratio for NSCLC and other cancer types: 0.84 and 0.87, respectively; all P > 0.05). The subgroup analyses to experimental agents, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, PD-L1 antibody clone, and type of IHC scoring method validated the robustness of these findings. However, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 combination therapies can reduce the risk of death for patients with different cancer types, regardless of PD-L1 expression (P < 0.05 for all PD-L1 expression status). Conclusions We recommend PD-L1 expression as a predictive biomarker in patient selection for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy, but not for combination therapies.
Effect of Water Stress on Moisture Content Distribution in Soil and Morphological Characters of Two Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Cultivars

This study investigates the effects of water stress on moisture content distribution at different soil layers (pot) and on morphological characters of tomato plants. Three treatments of moisture level were imposed, viz, 100%, 70% and 40% of the field capacity. Moisture content distribution was higher at the surface and decreased with increasing stress at all growth stages. Yield and related morphological characters responded better at 70% of the field capacity compared with other treatments. Keywords: Tomato; Water stress; Moisture content; Tomato yield; Yield component. © 2011 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. doi:10.3329/jsr.v3i3. 7000 J. Sci. Res. 3 (3), 677-682 (2011)
Uptake of potassium and nitrogen by pasture from urine-affected soil

Abstract A field experiment was carried out to determine the depth of soil from which pasture plants growing in urine-affected soil recover urine potassium (K) and nitrogen (N). A comparison of the amounts of K and N taken up by the herbage with the decline in soil K and N levels showed that K and N were absorbed mainly from the 0–12 cm depth of soil. This coincides with the distribution of plant roots within the soil profile, as 86% of the roots in the 0–30 cm depth of soil were found in the top 15 cm. The experiment also showed that immediately after a dairy cow urination event in mid winter (July), up to 59% of the urine K moved preferentially through a network of soil macropores to below a soil depth of 14.5 cm. A simulation of the field trial in the glasshouse confirmed that preferential flow of the urine could result in large losses of urine K. Fortyeight percent of the urine-N was also unaccounted for by soil analysis immediately after the urination event, and is considered to have been lost prefer.
Modern Project Management Approaches in Uncertainty Environments: A Comparative Study Based on Action Research

Change and high uncertainty levels are the main characteristics of current project contexts. Years ago, the traditional project management faced problems when operating in these environments. Thus, at the end of the 20th century, new project management approaches were conceived to provide a more effective answer to such contexts. These methods propose a different approach, aimed at promoting the project flow by focusing on the short term. However, their adoption involves certain adjustments from a managerial perspective. The influence on the way resources are used is of special interest, as it may cause unexpected behaviors and reactions. The literature vastly analyzes the features and benefits of these methods. Nevertheless, there is a lack of empirical evidence about both the practical implications of the transition process toward them and their superior performance. Thus, this research aims to contribute to filling this gap by providing real-world based evidence related to the change process from a traditional project management approach to a flow-driven one. With this objective in mind, we analyzed the transition processes experienced by two design departments from companies of different industries. The results of the study confirm that the adoption of this type of approach can improve an organization’s performance and simplify its project management system. Therefore, we consider that our findings are useful for anybody interested in these methodologies. From the academic perspective, the evidence obtained in this study contributes to supporting the research works suggested by the literature. Furthermore, it can be helpful to guide further research and extend current knowledge. Additionally, they can assist companies in the improvement of their current project management approaches.
Fish Community Responses to Human-Induced Stresses in the Lower Mekong Basin

The Mekong River is one of the world’s largest rivers and has an annual captured fish production of about 2.3 million tonnes, equivalent to around 11 billion USD. Although the Mekong provides important ecological and socioeconomic benefits to millions of people, it is facing intensive change due to anthropogenic stressors. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the changes to the spatiotemporal fish communities to inform sustainable fisheries management. Here, we aimed to characterize patterns of the fish communities and identify the ecological status of each fish community using daily catch data from 2007 to 2018 at 25 monitoring sites in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB). The collected data were classified by a self-organizing map into four main groups. Group 4 represented the lower Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD), while groups 1, 2, and 3 were subdivided into subgroups 1a (upper LMB), 1b (upper and middle LMB), 2a (Mekong River below the Khone Falls and Sesan River), 2b (Mekong River below the Khone Falls and Sekong, Sesan and Srepok (3S) Rivers), 3a (Floodplain-Tonle Sap and Songkhram) and 3b (upper VMD). Among the 571 species recorded, 119 were identified as indicator species. Based on the abundance and biomass comparison curves, the fish community of 2b was in a healthier condition with a positive W-statistic value while the rest had a negative W-statistic value. The highest species richness and diversity were observed in 3a and 2b, so these subgroups deserve high management and conservation priority. Likewise, 1a should also be considered as a high priority area since it harbors several endangered and long-distant migratory fishes. It was also noticed that the fish communities of groups 3 and 4, located far from the hydropower dams, remained mostly unchanged compared to those of groups 1 and 2, close to the mainstream and tributary dams in the upper LMB and 3S Rivers.
Multinationality, Capital Structure, and Cost of Capital of Non-Financial Firm Listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange

Multinational firms are firm that do business internationally, the higher degree of multinationality of a firm, they have more ability to get greater funding because there are more chances to get funding from foreign country. Because of that condition, multinational firms have different cost of capital with domestic firms. The main purpose of this study is to understand the impact of degree of multinationality, capital structure, firm size, profitability and growth opportunity to cost of capital. Panel data is used on this research and multiple linear regression analysis is used as analytical model. The result suggest that Indonesia multinational firms have lower cost of capital, cost of equity, and cost of debt than Indonesia domestic firms. The study found that capital structure is negatively related to cost of capital, this means that Indonesia multinational firm use more debt than Indonesia domestic firms, and so lower the cost of debt after tax and hence the cost of capital.
Academic libraries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria

PurposeThe study aims to investigate the academic libraries' response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic situation in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachA survey research design was employed for the study. The population of the study was all the 584 approved academic institutions in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire administered online was designed to collect data with Google Form from heads of library (who are the chief principal officer) in all the academic institutions. The link to the survey was sent to the Nigeria Library Association (NLA) Online Forum, the platform on which Nigerian librarians fete and discuss issues relating to the profession. Social media tools such as WhatsApp and Telegram belonging to groups of academic librarians in Nigeria were also employed. The heads of the library from 108 academic libraries responded to the survey. The data generated were analyzed using a statistical tool and presented in tables.FindingsThe finding reveals that nearly all the students are not on campus since they have been directed to vacate their campus as a result of the lockdown. The study reveals some safety measures that were put in place by the libraries in Nigeria to include total closure of the library (59.3%), provision of hand sanitizer (55.6%) and the use of face mask and nose covers by library users (31.9%). The finding further indicates social distancing measures also put in place to include communication done via social media (59.3%), attendance to patrons (51.9%), class/lecture (51.9%), training/conferences (37%) and paper presentations (37%) that are all canceled, respectively. On access to library materials, a majority (87.96%) of the academic libraries in Nigeria provide only online materials to their users, while 9.26% of the academic libraries provide access to both prints and online materials.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper will contribute to the body of literature on academic libraries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and beyond.Practical implicationsWhile the disease is still very much with the world, libraries have to continue providing information resources in support of the research studies and sensitize the world on the measures to take to curtail the pandemic.Originality/valueThe results can help other libraries find ways and means to adjust services, so that they can still meet the needs of users in this pandemic.
Determinants of surgical morbidity in gastric cancer: experience of a single center and literature review

Background This study aimed to evaluate the severity of intraoperative and post operative complications of gastric cancer surgery and to investigate the predictive factors correlated to surgical morbidity. Methods We included 145 patients operated for gastric cancer. We investigated the risk factors associated with complications, length of hospital stay, operative time, and intraoperative blood transfusion (BT). Significant risk factors were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Postoperative complications occurred in 32 patients (22.1 %) and the rate of major complications was 7.6%. The rate of anastomotic fistula was 6.9% and was correlated to diabetes, tumor size, operative time, surgical margin, and extended lymphadenectomy. The mean risk factors for postoperative morbidity were the presence of comorbidities and ASA score (p = 0.021), intraoperative BT (p = 0.045) and prolonged operative time (p = 0.055). Conclusion surgical morbidity of gastric cancer is correlated to the extent of resection as well as the clinical and histological characteristics.
Recent advances in blended alkali-activated cements: a review

Abstract For the constantly evolving alkali-activated materials (AAMs), expanding and optimising the raw materials base in accordance with increasing ecological and technical requirements is one of the determining factors for a promising future. Because of developments in inorganic material chemistry, the range of potentially suitable aluminosilicates has changed and expanded continuously throughout the history of AAMs. Recently, new efforts have been undertaken to find more types of adequate alternative aluminosilicate sources and alkali activators, in addition to conventional granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), fly ash (FA), and metakaolin (MK). This search has led to extensive studies, which have substantially increased understanding of the suitability of various natural sources and wastes for the production of alkali-activated cements (AACs). Recent advances in the design and research of AACs based on several groups of aluminosilicates (non-ferrous slags, ash-form wastes, waste glasses, mining and ceramic wastes, natural rocks, and natural pozzolans) and alkali materials (ashes, waste glasses, chemicals, and alkaline wastes) are reviewed in this paper. By analogy with low-Portland clinker cements, alkali-activated low-GBFS, low-FA, and low-MK (up to 50%) cements incorporated with various alternative aluminosilicates have been found to represent very promising types of AACs in terms of availability of raw materials, engineering and economic performance, and commercialisation.
Precise and parallel segmentation model (PPSM) via MCET using hybrid distributions

PurposeImage segmentation is one of the most essential tasks in image processing applications. It is a valuable tool in many oriented applications such as health-care systems, pattern recognition, traffic control, surveillance systems, etc. However, an accurate segmentation is a critical task since finding a correct model that fits a different type of image processing application is a persistent problem. This paper develops a novel segmentation model that aims to be a unified model using any kind of image processing application. The proposed precise and parallel segmentation model (PPSM) combines the three benchmark distribution thresholding techniques to estimate an optimum threshold value that leads to optimum extraction of the segmented region: Gaussian, lognormal and gamma distributions. Moreover, a parallel boosting algorithm is proposed to improve the performance of the developed segmentation algorithm and minimize its computational cost. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed PPSM, different benchmark data sets for image segmentation are used such as Planet Hunters 2 (PH2), the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC), Microsoft Research in Cambridge (MSRC), the Berkley Segmentation Benchmark Data set (BSDS) and Common Objects in COntext (COCO). The obtained results indicate the efficacy of the proposed model in achieving high accuracy with significant processing time reduction compared to other segmentation models and using different types and fields of benchmarking data sets.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed PPSM combines the three benchmark distribution thresholding techniques to estimate an optimum threshold value that leads to optimum extraction of the segmented region: Gaussian, lognormal and gamma distributions.FindingsOn the basis of the achieved results, it can be observed that the proposed PPSM–minimum cross-entropy thresholding (PPSM–MCET)-based segmentation model is a robust, accurate and highly consistent method with high-performance ability.Originality/valueA novel hybrid segmentation model is constructed exploiting a combination of Gaussian, gamma and lognormal distributions using MCET. Moreover, and to provide an accurate and high-performance thresholding with minimum computational cost, the proposed PPSM uses a parallel processing method to minimize the computational effort in MCET computing. The proposed model might be used as a valuable tool in many oriented applications such as health-care systems, pattern recognition, traffic control, surveillance systems, etc.
Middle Cambrian slope deposits in northern Victoria Land, Antarctica: Fingerprinting small carbonate platforms dominated by grainy carbonates and microbial reefs

1 Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, 1 Kangwondaehak-gil, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea 2 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; *Corresponding author, E-mail: jusunwoo@snu.ac. kr 3 Division of Earth Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, 26 Songdomirae-ro, Incheon, 21990, Republic of Korea 4 Polar Science, University of Science & Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
Nutritional Impact of Canola Meal on Performance, Blood Constituents and Immune Response of Broilers

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) protein with canola meal (CM) protein on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, immune response, lymphoid organs, blood parameters, carcass fatty acids and cecum microbiota of broilers. A total of 160 one d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments of 5 replicates, where, CM protein replaced SBM protein at 0, 30, 60, and 90% for a 39 days feeding trial. The results showed no significant differences in productive performance parameters among control, 30% and 60% treatment groups, while, at 90% replacement level, all values decreased (P < 0.0001) all over the experimental period. The 90% replacement group showed depression of crude protein (P < 0.001) and crude fiber (P < 0.001) digestibility and spleen relative weight (P = 0.0386) with increase of thymus (P = 0.0555), bursa (P = 0.0334) and thyroid relative weight (P = 0.0276) as well as thyroid hormones (P = 0.0034, 0339) for T3, T4, respectively, while, there were no significant differences among control, 30% and 60% treatment groups for those criteria. However, CM levels had no effect on serum haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer against Newcastle disease. CM significantly decreased serum cholesterol content (P = 0.0002) while increased HDL (P = 0.0532), compared to the control. CM levels showed an increase in carcass meat content of unsaturated fatty acids content (P < 0.0001) as the replacement level gradually increased. Erucic acid did not detected in carcass. All CM levels decreased cecum content of E. coli (P = 0.0051) while increased that of Lactobacillus (P = 4094). Conclusively, CM can be used safely in broiler diet to replace up to 60% of SBM protein without negative effects on growth and immune response of broilers.
Chemical Composition of Teucrium alopecurus Essential Oil from Tunisia

Abstract The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from Teucrium alopecurus De Noé, an endemic limited to Matmata (southern Tunisia) was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Fifty-seven components were identified; the predominant compounds of the oil of Teucrium alopecurus were mainly sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons (61.3%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (26.9%); δ-cadinene (13.4%), nerolidyl acetate (12.3%), α-humulene (12.3%), α-guaiene (10.3%) and β-caryophyllene (8.2%).
Fortress tourism: exploring dynamics of tourism, security and peace around the Virunga transboundary conservation area

Abstract This paper examines the role of tourism in promoting peace around transboundary protected areas (TBPA) in conflict-affected regions through a case study of the Virunga TBPA straddling the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Also praised as ‘peace parks’, TBPAs embody the rationale that stimulating a tourism economy in shared conservation spaces will provide incentives for formerly antagonistic states and actors to cooperate. Virunga TBPA exemplifies this strategy by promoting high-end gorilla tourism in a region scarred by longstanding conflict. Drawing on twelve months of fieldwork, we found that these optimistic aspirations are contradicted by militarisation of the three National Parks constituting the TBPA, as well as prevalence of violence and political segregation among the countries. As park authorities sell ‘feelings of security’ by framing their neighbours as threats in order to attract visitors, intrastate competition and conflict intensifies. Peace tourism rhetoric and revenues allow the governments to justify and finance the militarisation as necessary to protect ‘their’ tourists while concealing their security interests in protecting national borders. This contradiction between tourism’s ostensive ‘peace dividend’ and the violence it generates within transboundary conservation efforts poses the question: what kind of ‘peace’ can be generated through tourism, and for whom?
Practices in software testing in Cameroon challenges and perspectives

Many software projects in Cameroon and elsewhere fail to produce the desired quality product due to low adoption of good software testing practices, including test automation. The fundamental questions are what are the local barriers to adopting structured approaches to specifying test cases? And what obstacles are preventing software testing from being automated? To answer these questions, this study analyzes software testing practices in Cameroon. The ultimate objective is to issue recommendations on the directions in which to direct research on software testing, in order to provide solutions promoting the adoption of good testing practices in projects, taking into account limited financial and human resources in developing countries. To do this, a survey was carried out among companies that carry out software development activities. The analysis of the results obtained reveals several interesting elements among which we can cite: (a) more than 80% of the respondents do not ensure that there has been a test other than that of the developer who does not follow a structured approach, (b) automated tests represent less than 8% of the number of tests carried out, (c) the most recurrent factors against test automation are the time required to configure or adapt the tools, the acquisition and implementation costs, costs of design, development, and maintenance of test cases.
Tinnitus and auditory cortex; Using adapted functional near‐infrared‐spectroscopy to expand brain imaging in humans

Phantom sound perception (tinnitus) may arise from altered brain activity within auditory cortex. Auditory cortex neurons in tinnitus animal models show increased spontaneous firing rates. This may be a core characteristic of tinnitus. Functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has shown similar findings in human auditory cortex. Current fNIRS approaches with cap recordings are limited to ∼3 cm depth of signal penetration due to the skull thickness. To address this limitation, we present an innovative fNIRS approach via probes adapted to the external auditory canal. The adapted probes were placed deeper and closer to temporal lobe of the brain to bypass confining skull bone and improve neural recordings.