Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Retrospective Study of Efficacy and Safety of Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Background Nab-paclitaxel is a novel nanoparticle, albumin-bound, solvent-free, taxane-based chemotherapy approved for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study reports clinical benefit and toxicities experienced by women with MBC treated with nab-paclitaxel. Methods Women with MBC treated with single-agent nab-paclitaxel between January 2012 and March 2014 were included in this analysis. Retrospective data obtained included demographics, disease characteristics, prior chemotherapy, nab-paclitaxel treatment, toxicity and survival. Clinical benefit was defined as partial or complete response or stable disease (by clinical or radiologic evaluation, or both) at 6 months or more. Results Overall response rates (complete or partial responses) were 43% (95% CI: 35.3 - 60.0) for all patients. Median time to disease progression was 26.6 weeks, and median survival was 63.6 weeks. No severe hypersensitivity reactions were reported despite the lack of premedication. Toxicities observed were typical of paclitaxel and included grade 3 sensory neuropathy (14.3%), grade 4 neutropenia (7.14%) and grade 4 febrile neutropenia (7.14%). Patients received a median of six treatment cycles; three patients had 25% dose reductions because of toxicities. Conclusions Our clinical experience demonstrates that most women treated with nab-paclitaxel experienced some clinical benefit. Patients achieving clinical benefit lived significantly longer than those who did not. Nab-paclitaxel was well tolerated, with the primary toxicity being mild sensory neuropathy. Nab-paclitaxel represents another treatment option, with a favorable toxicity profile, for women with MBC.
Near-complete elimination of mutant mtDNA by iterative or dynamic dose-controlled treatment with mtZFNs

Mitochondrial diseases are frequently associated with mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In most cases, mutant and wild-type mtDNAs coexist, resulting in heteroplasmy. The selective elimination of mutant mtDNA, and consequent enrichment of wild-type mtDNA, can rescue pathological phenotypes in heteroplasmic cells. Use of the mitochondrially targeted zinc finger-nuclease (mtZFN) results in degradation of mutant mtDNA through site-specific DNA cleavage. Here, we describe a substantial enhancement of our previous mtZFN-based approaches to targeting mtDNA, allowing near-complete directional shifts of mtDNA heteroplasmy, either by iterative treatment or through finely controlled expression of mtZFN, which limits off-target catalysis and undesired mtDNA copy number depletion. To demonstrate the utility of this improved approach, we generated an isogenic distribution of heteroplasmic cells with variable mtDNA mutant level from the same parental source without clonal selection. Analysis of these populations demonstrated an altered metabolic signature in cells harbouring decreased levels of mutant m.8993T>G mtDNA, associated with neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP). We conclude that mtZFN-based approaches offer means for mtDNA heteroplasmy manipulation in basic research, and may provide a strategy for therapeutic intervention in selected mitochondrial diseases.
The Evolution of Stock Market Efficiency Over Time: A Survey of the Empirical Literature

This paper provides a systematic review of the weak-form market efficiency literature that examines return predictability from past price changes, with an exclusive focus on the stock markets. Our survey shows that the bulk of the empirical studies examine whether the stock market under study is or is not weak-form efficient in the absolute sense, assuming that the level of market efficiency remains unchanged throughout the estimation period. However, the possibility of time-varying weak-form market efficiency has received increasing attention in recent years. We categorize these emerging studies based on the research framework adopted, namely non-overlapping sub-period analysis, time-varying parameter model and rolling estimation window. An encouraging development is that the documented empirical evidence of evolving stock return predictability can be rationalized within the framework of the adaptive markets hypothesis.
Fungal mycelia show lag time before re‐growth on endogenous carbon

Nutrient starvation is a common occurrence for filamentous fungi. To better understand the effects of starvation, we used a parallel plate flow chamber to study individual fungal mycelia when subjected to a step change in glucose concentration. We report the presence of a finite “lag time” in starved mycelia during which they ceased to grow/extend while switching from growth on exogenous carbon to re‐growth on endogenous carbon. This lag time precedes other morphological or physiological changes such as change in growth rate (50–70% reduction), vacuolation (up to 16%), and decreased hyphal diameter (almost 50% reduction). Data suggests that during lag time, vacuolar degradation produces sufficient endogenous carbon to support survival and restart hyphal extension. Lag time is inversely related to the size of the mycelium at the time of starvation, which suggests a critical flow of endogenous carbon to the apical tip. We present a mathematical model consistent with our experimental observations that relate lag time, area, and flow of endogenous carbon. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 458–465. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Static analysis for optimizing big data queries

Query languages for big data analysis provide user extensibility through a mechanism of user-defined operators (UDOs). These operators allow programmers to write proprietary functionalities on top of a relational query skeleton. However, achieving effective query optimization for such languages is extremely challenging since the optimizer needs to understand data dependencies induced by UDOs. SCOPE, the query language from Microsoft, allows for hand coded declarations of UDO data dependencies. Unfortunately, most programmers avoid using this facility since writing and maintaining the declarations is tedious and error-prone. In this work, we designed and implemented two sound and robust static analyses for computing UDO data dependencies. The analyses can detect what columns of an input table are never used or pass-through a UDO unchanged. This information can be used to significantly improve execution of SCOPE scripts. We evaluate our analyses on thousands of real-world queries and show we can catch many unused and pass-through columns automatically without relying on any manually provided declarations.
Spatio-temporal autoencoder for feature learning in patient data with missing observations

Modern patient data tends to be large-scale and multi-dimensional, containing both spatial and temporal features. Learning good spatio-temporal features from large patient data is a challenging task, especially when there are missing observations. In this paper, we propose a spatio-temporal autoencoder (STAE), an unsupervised deep learning scheme, to learn features from large-scale and high-dimensional patient data with missing observations. Through both spatial and temporal encoding, STAE is able to automatically identify patterns and dependencies in the patient data, even with missing values, and learn a compact representation of each patient for better classification. Publicly available electroencephalogram (EEG) data are extracted from the UCI Machine Learning Repository to test and support our findings. Through simulations, we compare STAE with several baseline feature selection methods and demonstrate its effectiveness in the presence of missing data.
Noise trading and stock returns: evidence from China

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the trading behaviors of retail investors and investigate their impacts on stock returns. Design/methodology/approach - As retail investors are considered as the main noise traders in the capital market, using the trading records of Chinese retail investors from 2005 to 2009, the authors study their trading preferences and the correlation of their trades. Then, they use a multifactor model to test whether the co-movement of stock returns could be explained by individual sentiment. Findings - The authors' results show that the small-cap stocks are obviously preferred by retail investors. Meanwhile, the net stock demands of retail investors are systematically correlated, even when the effect of market risk is excluded. In the perspective of the net stock demands, the authors use BSI to measure the individual sentiment, finding that individual sentiment plays an important role in the formation of the cross-section of stock returns. However, the authors' results imply that BSI is a reverse indicator to predict the future returns, which implies that the trading behaviors of retail investors are irrational. Originality/value - Consistent with behavioral theory, the authors' findings support the viewpoint that stock returns could be affected by the systematic correlated trading of retail investors. To some extent, their findings highlight the need to know more details of individual investors' trading behaviors through which the fluctuations of asset prices can be better understood.
SWI: making knowledge technology work

A 15-year tradition of knowledge technology research and transfer has established a niche for SWI, the social science informatics department at the University of Amsterdam. The department distinguished itself through contributions in the development of the KADS and CommonKADS engineering methods for knowledge-based systems. CommonKADS, used in both research and commercial applications, is the most widely used method for KBS development.
The survival of foreign subsidiaries and domestically-owned companies in Denmark, 1895–1995

Abstract Over a long time period, 1895-1995, foreign subsidiaries in Denmark were found to have a lower survival-probability than domestically-owned manufacturing companies. The difference is highly significant and robust to control for size and industry effects. Since the number of foreign subsidiaries increased enormously throughout the period, lower relative survival rates are probably not an indicator of performance failure from the viewpoint of the parent companies. While low survival rates in foreign subsidiaries may be attributable to a number of factors (including differences between sales and production subsidiaries), this paper proposes governance differences between foreign subsidiaries and domestically-owned companies as a possible explanation. Consistent with hypothesized differences in corporate governance, domestically-owned companies are found to have higher equity reserves (equity/ assets ratios), which is found to have a positive impact on survival. For given equity - asset ratios no significant survival differences were found between the two groups.
PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation in primary and corresponding metastatic breast tumors after adjuvant endocrine therapy

Both preclinical and clinical data suggest that activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in response to hormonal therapy results in acquired endocrine therapy resistance. We evaluated differences in activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in estrogen receptor α (ERα) positive primary and corresponding metastatic breast cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry for downstream activated proteins, like phosphorylated mTOR (p‐mTOR), phosphorylated 4E Binding Protein 1 (p‐4EBP1) and phosphorylated p70S6K (p‐p70S6K). For p‐mTOR and p‐4EBP1, the proportion of immunostained tumor cells (0–100%) was scored. Cytoplasmic intensity (0–3) was assessed for p‐p70S6K. The difference between expression of these activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR proteins‐ in primary and metastatic tumor was calculated and tested for an association with adjuvant endocrine therapy. In patients who had received endocrine therapy (N = 34), p‐mTOR expression increased in metastatic tumor lesions compared to the primary tumor (median difference 45%), while in patients who had not received adjuvant endocrine therapy (N = 37), no difference was found. Similar results were observed for p‐4EBP1 and p‐p70S6K expression. In multivariate analyses, adjuvant endocrine therapy was significantly associated with an increase in p‐mTOR (p = 0.01), p‐4EBP1 (p = 0.03) and p‐p70S6K (p = 0.001), indicating that compensatory activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway might indeed be a clinically relevant resistance mechanism resulting in acquired endocrine therapy resistance.
Prospective clinical evaluation of 1920 Morse taper connection implants: results after 4 years of functional loading.

PURPOSE This study evaluated the survival rate and the clinical, radiographic and prosthetic success of 1920 Morse taper connection implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS One thousand nine hundred and twenty Morse taper connection implants were inserted in 689 consecutive patients, from January 2003 until December 2006. Implants were clinically and radiographically evaluated at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months after insertion (mean follow-up per implant: 25.42 months). Modified plaque index (mPI), modified sulcus bleeding index, probing depth (PD) and the distance between implant shoulder and first crestal bone-implant contact (DIB) were measured in mm. Success criteria included the absence of suppuration and clinically detectable implant mobility, PD<5 mm, DIB<1.5 mm after 12 months of functional loading and not exceeding 0.2 mm for each following year, the absence of recurrent prosthetic complications at the implant-abutment interface. Prosthetic restorations were fixed partial prostheses (364 units), single crowns (SCs: 307 units), fixed full-arch prostheses (53 units) and overdentures (67 units). RESULTS The overall cumulative implant survival rate was 97.56% (96.12% in the maxilla and 98.91% in the mandible). The cumulative implant success rate was 96.61% (95.25% in the maxilla and 98.64% in the mandible). Only a few prosthetic complications were reported (0.65% of loosening at implant-abutment interface in SCs). CONCLUSION The use of Morse taper connection implants represents a successful procedure for the rehabilitation of partially and completely edentulous arches. The absence of an implant-abutment interface (microgap) is associated with minimal crestal bone loss. The high mechanical stability significantly reduces prosthetic complications.
International Freight and Related CO2 Emissions by 2050: A New Modelling Tool

International trade has grown rapidly in the post-war era with trade volume growing twenty-seven fold between 1950 and 2007, three times faster than world GDP growth (WTO, 2007). Growth in trade is expected to outpace the GDP growth also over the next 50 years, according to recent OECD projections. The value of international trade is estimated to grow by a factor of four by 2050 in real terms (Fontagne et al., 2014). Trade patterns will however change due to fragmentation of production processes and integration of emerging markets into global markets. Trade liberalisation, either at global or regional level, will also have an impact on global patterns.
A practical approach to blend insurance in the banking network

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to look at the main empirical findings related to the bank-insurance model and to outline the market practices across the world. The market dynamics underpinning the bancassurance phenomenon are analyzed alongside discussions of the various bancassurance products and bank-insurance modes of entry. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents a brief survey of the bank-insurance trend and provides an insight into the underlying dynamics and corporate structures of financial conglomerates. Findings - There is an uneven success of the bancassurance phenomenon across the world. It is not clear whether re-regulation is the cause or response to globalization, and vice versa, which in turn both shape the bancassurance arena. A number of incentives for the formation of financial conglomerates are identified. Finally, three modes of entry have been documented to reflect market realities. Originality/value - The paper will be of value to those interested in financial conglomerates, banking and insurance. It is suitable for academics and practitioners alike.
Selec t ive Toxicity of Rhodamine 123 in Carcinoma Cells in Vitro

The study of mi tochondr ia in s i tu has recent ly been facil i tated through the use of rhodamine 123, a mi tochondr ia l -speci f ic f luorescent dye. It has been found to be nontoxic when appl ied for short per iods to a variety of cell types and has thus become an invaluable tool for examining mitochondr ia l morphology and funct ion in the intact living cell. In this report, however, we demonstrate that with cont inuous exposure, rhodamine 123 select ively kills carc inoma as compared to normal epithelial cells g rown in vitro. At doses of rhodamine 123 which were toxic to carc inoma cells, the conversion of mi tochondr ia l -specific to cytoplasmic-nonspeci f ic local izat ion of the drug was observed prior to cell death. At 10 /~g/ml, > 5 0 % cell death occur red within 7 days in all nine of the carc inoma cell types and lines of dif ferent origin studied, whi le six of six normal epithelial cell types and lines remained unaffected. Cotreat ing carc inoma cells with 2-deoxyg lucose and rhodamine 1 23 enhanced the inhibit ion of growth by rhodamine 123 alone in c lonogenic survival assays. The observat ion of the selective toxici ty of rhodamine 1 23 appears to be unique in view of the absence of selective toxici ty reported in v i t ro for the various ant i tumor agents current ly in clinical use. Prel iminary results with rhodamine 1 23 in animal tumor systems indicate ant i tumor activity for carcinomas.
Exploring the Role of Ownership Structures in the Results of Professional Health Care Franchises from a Multi-Actor Perspective

This paper explores how the ownership structure of professional health care franchises contributes to the achievement of positive results with franchising for the franchisor, the franchisee, professional service provider, and clients. We conducted a comparative embedded case study with three health care franchises in the Netherlands using data from 101 interviews, observations, and document analyses. We show that different ownership structures at the system-level (i.e., plural form, pure franchise, cooperative franchise) and the unit-level (i.e., stand-alone versus fractional, active versus passive, single versus multi-unit) have different effects as perceived by franchisors, franchisees, and professionals. Moreover, we reveal how this variation in experienced effects can be explained by differences in dynamics in regard to management, decision making, control, steering, support, interests, learning, and adaptation. Based on these analyses, we develop new typologies of ownership structures and show how combinations of system-level and unit-level structures can have mutually weakening or strengthening effects.
Patient Monitoring based on Mobile Sensor Network

Mobile sensor networks offer opportunities to monitor state of health without constraining the activities of a wearer. These mobile systems are now realizable due to miniaturization of integrated circuits, low power microcontrollers and wireless communications. This paper presents a design of mobile sensor network patient monitoring system based on several health status and movement monitoring sensors including ECG, GPS and accelerometer. Key functionalities of the software include calculating and displaying the values of heart rate variability parameters and movement patterns. Detection of QRS is based on Pan-Tompkins algorithm. Algorithms detect non-standard situation and in case of emergency sends an SMS to a selected number. System uses Android smartphone as a gateway to forward patient electronic health record to medical web server, where data are available via graphical web-based user interface.
Management innovation and cultural adaptivity in international online banking

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is both to determine Citibank's response to cultural diversity in the dynamic, highly competitive global market for online banking facilities and services, and whether or not international online bank web sites are constructed in a manner sensitive to the culture of their host country.Design/methodology/approach – This paper takes the perspective of managing innovation for shareholder wealth maximization where consumer behavior is mediated through the technology acceptance model (TAM) belief constructs. The incorporation of variables reflecting Hofstede's four‐factor framework in 45 country‐specific web sites operated directly by Citibank are compared with those variables in 189 web sites of indigenous banks.Findings – The results suggest that culture has an important influence on international online banking web sites and that Citibank has adapted the form and content of its web sites to local cultural influences in a manner comparable to that of the indigenous banks.
The first three years of NML: Central issues in the management of nonprofit organizations

The articles published in the first three years of NML define a broad spectrum of management challenges and problems for future research. These issues fall into five broad categories: governance, executive leadership, human resources management, development of financial resources, and strategic adaptation to change. This article summarizes the contributions of NML authors and suggests areas where new research would advance understanding and practice of nonprofit management and leadership.
Welfare Reform in the Nordic Countries in the 1990S: Using Fuzzy-Set Theory to Assess Conformity to Ideal Types

This article uses a new method for policy analysis, fuzzy-set theory, which is a framework that allows for a precise operationalization of theoretical concepts. Fuzzy-set theory is used to assess the conformity of the Nordic countries to a pre-conceptualized ideal-typical Nordic welfare model. This permits us to assess recent welfare reform and judge whether changes are of a qualitative or quantitative nature, i.e. whether reform amounts to differences in kind or degree. Comparing the development of benefits in kind and cash within three welfare areas (families, the unemployed and the elderly) during the 1990s and across the Nordic countries gives us an opportunity to assess patterns of welfare reform. The patterns of welfare reform are complex, but fuzzy-set theory permits the study of diversity. Despite numerous changes, all the countries still belong to the Nordic welfare model, although to varying degrees. Generally, Finland and Sweden have implemented more cut-backs than Denmark and Norway, and all countries have both expanded and contracted welfare programmes. Resilience at the national level thus masks a differential development between welfare areas and within welfare programmes. Tentatively, it seems that welfare policies operate within upper and lower limits which in turn are likely to vary over long time periods and among different types of welfare states; the most generous programmes are liable to cut-backs and the least generous programmes to improvements.