Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lymph node staging in prostatic carcinoma revisited

Despite presumed curative operation almost one-third of patients with prostatic carcinoma relapse. One obvious reason is that the preoperative lymph node staging is not sufficiently effective. Imaging modalities (CT and NMR) have not resolved the problem. Presently lymphadenectomy is not recommended in patients with Gleason score <7 and PSA <20 ng/ml owing to the low frequency of positive nodes. However, these data are based on experience with limited dissection. Results from extended dissection reveal a higher rate of metastases than previously found. The results from extended dissections showed that more than half of the diagnosed lymph node metastases were found outside the generally recommended regions. The drawback is the higher complication rate that follows. Thus the staging can be improved but if this translates into a survival benefit it needs to be addressed in controlled trials. Alternative techniques for lymph node staging have recently been developed. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) method has been tested and proved feasible. The results corroborated those of extended dissection, namely that the obturator region is insufficient to reflect the field of metastases. High-resolution MRI with magnetic nanoparticles can detect small and otherwise undetectable lymph-node metastases. Positron emission tomography (PET), using acetate or choline as tracers, has performed better than fluoro-2-deoyglucose for detection of relapsing prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. Studies have also started to assess its role for lymph node staging. In summary, lymph node staging has to cover a larger anatomical field than routinely used. Whether surgical dissection can be replaced by the new imaging modalities is presently under investigation.
Offering Incentives for New Development: The Role of City Social Status, Politics, and Local Growth Experiences

The propensity of municipal governments to offer incentives for new development is empirically examined, drawing upon both the literature on local economic development policy and studies of local residential restrictions. The data are from a 1998 mail survey of city managers in California in which officials assessed the likelihood that their local governments would offer financial assistance or zoning changes to various types of new business and residential land uses in their communities. Multivariate analysis indicates that local conditions resulting from past growth patterns—commuting times, job/population balance, and housing affordability—play an important role in shaping respondents’ assessments as to whether their cities are likely to grant incentives. Such factors deserve an important role in explaining local government growth orientations, alongside measures of community status, political institutions, and the strength of progrowth coalitions.
The welfare state versus the social market economy—comparison and evaluation of housing policies in Denmark and west Germany with special importance attached to social housing and rent control

This article gives an overview of housing policy in Denmark and Germany and tries to evaluate its consequences for the housing market in the two countries. The purpose is to discuss some general questions concerning the nature of housing policy and to compare two distinct fields of housing policy—social housing and rent control—where the two countries have quite different systems.
Investor Response to Cash Flow Information

In this study the usefulness of cash flow data as required by the UK standard, "FRS1", is evaluated and cash flow per share is investigated as a possible specification of cash flow data that may contain information value for security markets. Recent innovation in earnings response models are used to test the robustness of the results and provide further insights into the time series properties of cash flow numbers. The findings indicate that the disaggregation of cash flow as required under "FRS1" contains information beyond aggregate cash flow but that the required disaggregation is not optimal from an information standpoint. There is little evidence of any incremental information value of cash flow per share over cash flow numbers. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1998.
Modeling of tendon driven soft wearable robot for the finger

Control of tendon driven wearable robot cannot be performed with rigid frame model because of nonlinearity factors of the robot. To control the tendon driven wearable robotic hand, development of model for tendon driven wearable robot hand is inevitable. As a first step, modeling of MCP joint flexion has been developed and presented in this paper.
Characteristics of the life habits of obese students at one of Japan's National Colleges of Technology

Abstract Aim This study clarified the characteristics of life habits of obese Japanese male students at the National Colleges of Technology, Japan. Materials and methods Healthy students aged 15–19 years answered a questionnaire containing 21 items on the following five categories of life habits: general exercise, meals, sleeping, leisure activity and illness or injury history. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the criteria of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%BF): non-obese (%BF < 20%, n = 420), overweight obese (%BF ≥ 20% and BMI ≥ 25, n = 99), and hidden obese (%BF ≥ 20% and BMI < 25, n = 60). The mean differences in waking time, bedtime and amount of time spent walking, sleeping and watching TV per day were examined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests for each item. Results The overweight obese and hidden obese groups engaged in less exercise time, were more likely to eat until they were full at meals and were less likely to eat between meals or late at night than the non-obese group. In addition, the non-obese group had significantly later waking times and significantly less TV-watching time than the overweight obese group. There were no significant differences with respect to leisure activity and illness or injury history among the three groups. Many students in all groups had regular waking times and were not performing any leisure activities. Conclusion The findings suggest that obese students may need further guidance to help them maintain a healthy life and appropriate weight.
A latent class approach to dealing with respondent uncertainty in a stated choice survey for fare simplification on bus journeys

This article presents the findings of an analysis making use of a stated choice survey looking at bus travellers’ preferences for specific fare structures. Specifically, respondents were given the choice between the current fare structure, which is largely distance based, a fixed fare structure, and a zonal fare structure. It was anticipated that there might be two sources of substantial respondent uncertainty, in relation to the current fare as well as the number of zones a specific journey covers. These two types of uncertainty could create a significant level of bias in the results, and in this article, we put forward a modelling approach based on a latent class structure that allows us to accommodate this respondent uncertainty and avoid the source of bias. Latent class structures are used widely to allow for variations in sensitivities across individual decision makers; here, we show how such a structure is equally well suited to deal with respondent uncertainty expressed through variations in the perceived fares of different journey options.
Research of a New Reactive Power Optimization Method Consider of the Voltage Optimization of the Whole Electric Network

A different objective function (OF) and model of reactive power optimization is proposed in this paper. In the model, the values of compensator are regarded as the controllable variables to be evaluated and the objective is to minimize the voltage deviation. An efficient algorithm for approximation of initial problem is described. The proposed method overcomes the drawbacks of conventional reactive power optimization method. Compared with that obtained using a traditional optimization method, Simulation has been applied to practical IEEE 30-bus system. The test results show that this method is feasible and practical method.
The linkage between aggregate stock market investor sentiment and commodity futures returns

This article investigates the predictive content of aggregate stock market investor sentiment on the returns of commodity futures. The sample consists of four subcategories: agricultural, livestock, energy and metal futures, for a total of 26 commodity futures spanning from the period 1968 to 2010. Overall, commodity futures perform better when investor sentiment is pessimistic rather than optimistic. The asymmetrical response to sentiment shocks may partially account for this difference. Cross-sectional analysis indicates a persistent negative relationship between investor sentiment and commodity futures returns, even after controlling for the effects of liquidity and open interest. Additional analysis shows that when conditional volatilities are high, the negative relationship between investor sentiment and commodity futures returns becomes more pronounced.
Using content analysis as a research method to inquire into intellectual capital reporting

Increasingly, researchers in the field of intellectual capital (IC) need to be able to justify the specific research methods they use to collect the empirical data that they examine to support and test opinions regarding the merit of different approaches to managing and reporting IC. Of the various methods available to researchers seeking to understand intellectual capital reporting (ICR), content analysis is the most popular. The aim of this paper is to review the use of content analysis as a research method in understanding ICR and to offer some observations on the practical utility of the method. Further, the paper examines several research method issues relating to the use of content analysis that have been discussed in the social environmental accounting literature, but not as yet in the IC literature, which we believe are relevant to investigations underway in the field of ICR. This paper reports on several developmental issues we have confronted when using content analysis to examine the voluntary disclosure of IC in annual reports by various organisations. The paper also suggests two theoretical foundations for further investigation into the voluntary disclosure of IC by organisations, and suggests why content analysis is well matched to both these theories as a means to collect empirical data to test research propositions.
Promoter variants of the cannabinoid receptor 1 gene (CNR1) in interaction with 5‐HTTLPR affect the anxious phenotype

Anxiety is a polygenic condition, and the recently discovered Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is one plausible candidate. Experimental data suggest that the ECS can modulate several neurotransmitter systems, including the serotonergic system, which itself plays a significant role in anxiety. However, to date there is no evidence of gene–gene interactions; indeed genetic studies focusing separately on the two systems provide conflicting data. Thus, the aim of our study was to analyze the interaction of the promoter regions of the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) genes on anxiety. We genotyped 706 individuals for the 5‐HTTLPR in the SLC6A4 promoter and 4 SNPs located in the CNR1 promoter region. Anxiety was measured by the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI‐S, STAI‐T), the anxiety subscale of TEMPS‐A (TEMPS‐Anx), and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI‐Anx). Significant 5‐HTTLPR x CNR1 promoter‐promoter interaction was observed using STAI‐T (P = 0.0006) and TEMPS‐Anx (P = 0.0013). The risk of high anxiety scores on BSI‐Anx was 4.6‐fold greater in homozygous 'GG' rs2180619 in combination with homozygous ‘SS’ 5‐HTTLPR (P = 0.0005) compared to other genotypes. The effect of previously described “TGC” haplotype in the alternative promoter of CNR1 depended both on the conventional promoter polymorphism and the 5‐HTTLPR. Our haplotype and putative transcription binding profile analyses strongly suggest that certain constellations of CB1‐receptor and 5‐HTT promoters yield extremely high or low synaptic 5‐HT concentrations, and these are associated with an anxious phenotype. In conclusion, genetically determined serotonergic and endocannabinoid dysfunctions could lead to a vulnerability causing anxiety disorders and possibly depression. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Business Gateway

The key role of the Business Gateway, an information service based in lowland Scotland and aimed at those who are setting up in business, those who are seeking to grow their business and companies planning to locate their businesses into the Scotland Enterprise area, is described. Particular attention is paid to the important role of Business Information Officers (BIOs) working within the Business Gateway in carrying out initial client assessments, directing clients to relevant support in a range of organizations and carrying out extensive business research. The typical range of enquiries handled by the Business Gateway and the resources available are illustrated by examples drawn from the Business Gateway North East Scotland. Describes the establishment of the Business Gateway in July 2003 as the access point for all businesses to publicly funded business support within the Scottish Enterprise area, as an extension of the Small Business Gateway Service, established in 2000. The Business Gateway now covers all businesses, not just start-ups and small businesses, and involves a partnership between all the main public bodies in the provision of support services to business, including: Scottish Enterprise Network; Scottish Development International; Scottish Executive and Local Authorities; and important subsidiary partner bodies. All BIOs are specially trained to diagnose client needs and perform a wide range of business information activities, including: advising clients on the range of services available through the Business Gateway and partner organizations; identifying relevant sources of help, such as the Euro Information Centre or the local Chamber of Commerce; searching for specific information using a range of resources; and assessing whether clients qualify for special services such as Business Investment for Growth. There is currently increased emphasis on the Referral Service, where clients are directed to support services available in their locality within a range of partner organizations.
Value‐creation initiatives in buyer‐seller relationships

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore important value‐creation initiatives in buyer‐seller relationships (BSRs). Design/methodology/approach – Following a literature review and the presentation of an appropriate conceptual framework, an exploratory study of 14 BSRs in a variety of European industries is undertaken using in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with key informants.Findings – The findings justify a distinction being drawn between two types of value‐creation initiatives: those that are important in transaction‐based arrangements (in which efficiency is paramount); and those that are important in interaction‐based relationships (in which effectiveness is paramount). Of the ten value‐creation initiatives identified in the literature review, seven were found to be of importance in the BSRs of the present sample.Research limitations/implications – Despite genuine attempts to select a heterogeneous sample, most of the data did come from sellers. Future studies could look more d.
*The Logic of Collective Action and Australia’S Climate Policy

We analyse the long-term efficiency of the emissions target and of the provisions to reduce carbon leakage in the Australian Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, as proposed in March 2009, and the nature and likely cause of changes to these features in the previous year. The target range of 5–15 per cent cuts in national emission entitlements during 2000–2020 was weak, in that on balance it is too low to minimise Australia’s long-term mitigation costs. The free allocation of output-linked, tradable emissions permits to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) sectors was much higher than proposed earlier, or shown to be needed to deal with carbon leakage. It plausibly means that EITE emissions can rise by 13 per cent during 2010–2020, while non-EITE sectors must cut emissions by 34–51 per cent (or make equivalent permit imports) to meet the national targets proposed, far from a cost-effective outcome. The weak targets and excessive EITE assistance illustrate the efficiency-damaging power of collective action by the ‘carbon lobby’. Resisting this requires new national or international institutions to assess lobby claims impartially, and more government publicity about the true economic importance of carbon-intensive sectors.
Is the Austrian public debt sustainable

Sustainability of public deficit and debt in the long run has received much attention in the international political agenda. This paper analyses whether Austrian fiscal policies have been sustainable during the last five decades. Tests indicate that Austrian fiscal policies were sustainable from 1960 to 1974, while from 1975 onwards public debt grew much more rapidly. Starting in 1975, the rate of unemployment played a significant role in the sense of a counter-cyclical orientation of Austrian fiscal policy as part of the concept of â€˜Austrokeynesianismâ€™. The development of public debt in Austria seems to be driven not only by ideology, but also by structural causes and a shift of the budgetary policy paradigm. We find some empirical evidence that governments in Austria dominated solely by one party run higher deficits than coalitions of the two large parties or the two conservative parties. There are no indications of a political business cycle.
Micromechanical control of cell–cell interactions

The development and function of living tissues depends largely on interactions between cells that can vary in both time and space; however, temporal control of cell–cell interaction is experimentally challenging. By using a micromachined silicon substrate with moving parts, we demonstrate the dynamic regulation of cell–cell interactions via direct manipulation of adherent cells with micrometer-scale precision. We thereby achieve mechanical control of both tissue composition and spatial organization. As a case study, we demonstrate the utility of this tool in deconstructing the dynamics of intercellular communication between hepatocytes and supportive stromal cells in coculture. Our findings indicate that the maintenance of the hepatocellular phenotype by stroma requires direct contact for a limited time (≈hours) followed by a sustained soluble signal that has an effective range of <400 μm. This platform enables investigation of dynamic cell–cell interaction in a multitude of applications, spanning embryogenesis, homeostasis, and pathogenic processes.
Extracting a needle from a haystack: reanalysis of whole genome data reveals a readily translatable finding

There is significant unmet need for more effective treatments for bipolar disorder. The drug discovery process is becoming prohibitively expensive. Hence, biomarker clues to assist or shortcut this process are now widely sought. Using the publicly available data from the whole genome association study conducted by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, we sought to identify groups of genetic markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in which each marker was independently associated with bipolar disorder, with a less stringent threshold than that set by the original investigators (p⩽1×10−4). We identified a group of markers occurring within the CACNA1C gene (encoding the alpha subunit of the calcium channel Cav1.2). We then ascertained that this locus had been previously associated with the disorder in both a smaller and a whole genome study, and that a number of drugs blocking this channel (including verapamil and diltiazem) had been trialled in the treatment of bipolar disorder. The dihydropyridine-based blockers such as nimodipine that bind specifically to Cav1.2 and are more penetrant to the central nervous system have shown some promising early results; however, further trials are indicated. In addition, migraine is commonly seen in affective disorder, and calcium channel antagonists are successfully used in the treatment of migraine. One such agent, flunarizine, is structurally related to other first-generation derivatives of antihistamines such as antipsychotics. This implies that flunarizine could be useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and, furthermore, that other currently licensed drugs should be investigated for antagonism of Cav1.2.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non–small cell lung cancer

The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of cancer has led to major changes to the therapeutic landscape of lung cancer. Improvements in overall survival relative to standard chemotherapy have been observed in the first‐line and second‐line therapy settings for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Consequently, every patient with advanced‐stage NSCLC is now a candidate for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. However, it is clear that the benefit from therapy is not universal, and identification of biomarkers to select therapy has assumed importance. In addition to programmed cell death receptor ligand 1 expression, both tissue‐based and blood‐based markers are under evaluation to select patients. In an era of increasing costs of care and potential for toxicities related to immune checkpoint inhibition, proper patient selection is critical to the optimal use of this new class of agents. In addition, development of novel combination approaches has also emerged as an important way to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition. Studies in earlier stages of NSCLC are already underway with the hope of improving the cure rate. In this article, the authors review the current landscape of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Cancer 2018;124:248‐61. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Assessing the impact of changes in climate and CO2 on potential carbon sequestration in agricultural soils

Changes in soil management can potentially increase the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC), thereby sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere. However, the amount of carbon sequestered in soils can be augmented or lessened due to changes in climate and atmospheric CO2 concentration. The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of climate and CO2 feedbacks on soil carbon sequestration using a terrestrial carbon cycle model. Model simulations consist of observed adoption rates of no‐tillage practices on croplands in the U.S. and Canada between 1981–2000. Model results indicate potential sequestration rates between 0.4–0.6 MgC/ha/yr in the Midwestern U.S. with decreasing rates towards the western, dryer regions of the U.S. It is estimated here that changes in climate and CO2 between 1981–2000 could be responsible for an additional soil carbon sequestration of 42 Tg. This is 5% of the soil carbon estimated to be potentially sequestered as the result of conversion to no‐tillage in the U.S. and Canada.