Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monotherapy of androgen deprivation therapy versus radical prostatectomy among veterans with localized prostate cancer: comparative effectiveness analysis of retrospective cohorts

Correspondence: Jinan Liu Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 1900, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA Tel +1 504 810 7282 Fax +1 504 988 3783 Email jliu4@tulane.edu Background: This retrospective cohort study aimed to examine the comparative effectiveness of monotherapy of primary androgen deprivation therapy or radical prostatectomy. Methods: Male patients with localized prostate cancer (T1-T2, N0, M0) were identified in the Veterans Affairs Veterans Integrated Service Network 16 data warehouse (January 2003 to June 2006), with one-year baseline and at least three-year follow-up data (until June 2009). Patients were required to be 18–75 years old and without other recorded cancer history. The initiation of primary androgen deprivation therapy or monotherapy of radical prostatectomy within six months after the first diagnosis of prostate cancer was used as the index date. Primary androgen deprivation therapy patients were matched to the radical prostatectomy patients via propensity score, which was predicted from a logistic regression of treatment selection (primary androgen deprivation therapy versus radical prostatectomy) on age, race, marital status, insurance type, cancer stage, Charlson comorbidity index, and alcohol and tobacco use. The overall survival from initiation of index treatment was then analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The two cohorts were well matched at baseline (all P . 0.05). During a median follow-up of 4.3 years, the cumulative incidence of death was 13 (10.57%) among 123 primary androgen deprivation therapy patients and four (3.25%) among 123 radical prostatectomy patients (P , 0.05). The overall three-year survival rate was 92.68% for primary androgen deprivation therapy and 98.37% for radical prostatectomy (P , 0.05). Patients who received primary androgen deprivation therapy had almost three times as high a mortality risk as those using radical prostatectomy (hazards ratio 3.388, 95% confidence interval 1.094–10.492, P = 0.034). Conclusion: After propensity score matching, overall three-year survival rate following radical prostatectomy among patients with localized prostate cancer was significantly higher than that after primary androgen deprivation therapy.
Reconstruction of MODIS land-surface temperature in a flat terrain and fragmented landscape

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land-surface temperature (LST) products provide important and reliable time-series data for the examination of global climate change, water cycling, and ecological evolution. In particular, in recently developed remote-sensing evapotranspiration models, such as the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land and the Surface Energy Balance System, LST is a critical parameter that can directly influence the accuracy and integrity of final results. However, clouds and other atmospheric disturbances, which cover a large area throughout most of the year, are read as blank values by these programs, creating a problem. To solve this, a number of algorithms have been proposed to reconstruct LST data, but few can be used to evaluate flat and relatively fragmented landscape regions, such as the Yellow River Delta in China. Here, we conducted an analysis where we considered the LST of a flat area to be mainly influenced by land cover and other environmental elements (e.g. soil moisture). We used maps such as land cover, normalized difference vegetation index, and MODIS band 7 as additional data in the reconstruction model. All of the LST pixels we used were randomly divided into two parts: one part was used to train the model, and the other part was used to validate the calculated results. Three different methods have been developed to reconstruct LST data – linear regression, regression tree (RT) analysis, and artificial neural networks. In comparing these methods, we found that the RT method is able to estimate the LST of MODIS pixels with the greatest accuracy, and that it is both convenient and useful for reconstructing the LST map in flat and fragmented regions.
Design and Fabrication of Bond Pads for Flip-Chip Bonding of Custom Dies to CMOS Dies

At the University of Alberta, the Imaging Science Lab aims to develop vertically-integrated (VI) CMOS image sensors with capabilities that exceed those of conventional CMOS image sensors. VI-CMOS image sensors are examples of 3D electronics because they consist of photodetectors that are placed in a layer above standard CMOS circuits. Although metal lines commonly pass over transistors in CMOS image sensors, a distinguishing characteristic of VI-CMOS image sensors is the layering of semiconductor devices. The main advantage of vertical integration is that the different layers may be fabricated using different processes, each one optimized to best suit the type of devices it contains.
The Moderating Effect of Cognitive Capability on Task Conflict : A Longitudinal Study of Task Conflict and Team Performance in Student Software Development Teams

For software development teams to achieve development success, task conflict needs to be managed skillfully to counteract its undesirable consequences to team performance. Conflict is dynamic in nature, and its effect on team performance varies during software development lifecycle. Based on information processing theory and team cognition theory, this study proposes cognitive capability as an important moderator on the task conflict – team performance relationship. A longitudinal study was conducted in 70 student software development teams and multi-level model of change was applied to analyze the data collected at different time points. Results supported the proposition that while task conflict interferes with team performance, its detrimental effects get more sever over time; and cognitive capability, which develops along with the maturing of team cognition as team members work together on the focal project, helps restrain and convert the undesirable effect of task conflict on team performance toward beneficial and constructive. Keyword: task conflict, software development teams, cognitive capability, longitudinal study He, Moderating Effect of Cognitive Capability on Task Conflict 2 The Moderating Effect of Cognitive Capability on Conflict: A Longitudinal Study of Conflict and Team Performance in Student Software Development Teams
Clinical Study Consumption of High-Polyphenol Dark Chocolate Improves Endothelial Function in Individuals with Stage 1 Hypertension and Excess BodyWeight

Background. Hypertension and excess body weight are important risk factors for endothelial dysfunction. Recent evidence suggests that high-polyphenol dark chocolate improves endothelial function and lowers blood pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the association of chocolate 70% cocoa intake with metabolic profile, oxidative stress, inflammation, blood pressure, and endothelial function in stage 1 hypertensives with excess body weight. Methods. Intervention clinical trial includes 22 stage 1 hypertensives without previous antihypertensive treatment, aged 18 to 60 years and presents a body mass index between 25.0 and 34.9 kg/m2. All participants were instructed to consume 50 g of chocolate 70% cocoa/day (2135 mg polyphenols) for 4 weeks. Endothelial function was evaluated by peripheral artery tonometry using Endo-PAT 2000 (Itamar Medical). Results. Twenty participants (10 men) completed the study. Comparison of pre-post intervention revealed that (1) there were no significant changes in anthropometric parameters, percentage body fat, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, biomarkers of inflammation, adhesion molecules, oxidized LDL, and blood pressure; (2) the assessment of endothelial function through the reactive hyperemia index showed a significant increase: 1.94 ± 0.18 to 2.22 ± 0.08, P = 0.01. Conclusion.In individuals with stage 1 hypertension and excess body weight, highpolyphenol dark chocolate improves endothelial function.
Absolute Surface Elevations Accuracies Assessment of Different DEMs Using Ground Truth Data Over Kingdom of Bahrain

For small islands, accurate digital elevation model (DEM) can help to understand the sea level rise prediction and scenarios impact on coastal zones, flooding risks assessment, flood inundation modelling, erosion and landslide, and environmental disaster process management. Currently, DEMs are available from several different sources using space borne systems, photogrammetry, surveying, topographic contour lines, etc. The aim of this study focuses on a comparison of absolute surface heights accuracies of four independent DEMs datasets over small island as Kingdom of Bahrain. The first two DEMs were acquired with space borne, Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM-V4.1) and Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER-V2.1) with 30 m pixel size. The second two DEMs with 2.5 m (DEM-2.5) and 5 m (DEM-5) spatial resolutions were derived from two different topographic contour lines maps at scales, respectively, 1:5000 and 1:25000 using inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation method. For validation purposes, a datasets of 400 ground control points uniformly distributed over the study site were used. They were measured using a Differential Global Position System (DGPS) assuring ± 1 and ± 2 cm accuracies, respectively, for planimetry and altimetry. The obtained results show that the derived DEM-2.5 exhibit the best accuracy ± 0.55 m which is excellent by reference to the tolerance or maximum error ± 0.78 m calculated based on errors sources propagation. As well, the DEM-5 shows very good accuracy ± 1.37 m by reference to the calculated tolerance ± 1.54 m. Then, SRTM shows a satisfactory performance with ± 3.00 m accuracy which is less than the absolute vertical height accuracy (± 5.6 m) advocated by NASA for African continent and Middle-East regions. Finally, the achieved ASTER accuracy ± 8.40 m is better than the estimated error (± 17.01 m) by USGS and JAXA.
Inter-Decadal Variability of the Wind Mode in the Black Sea Region

The surface pressure over the Black Sea in January–March, 1948–2012 is considered in the present article. The obtained climatic atmospheric pressure trends in this area reflect the relevant trends in the atmospheric circulation variability. It is shown that since the second half of the twentieth century, the North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAO), which characterizes the atmosphere circulation over Europe, showed the trend to the growth, where since the 1950's in the winter season was dominated by the zonal transfer in the atmosphere over Europe. At that the Black Sea region was mainly in the anticyclonic circulation area. It was found that the negative phase of the NAO surface the pressure oscillations over the western part of the sea were more than the average multi-annual one, than over its eastern part, and in the positive phase of the NAO – less. Analysis of the spatial variability of anomalies of surface wind speed module in the Black Sea region showed during the even cycle, i. e. when the positive phase of the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) index is mainly predominant, negative anomaly of the wind speed module is formed over the western part of the sea, whereas positive one –over the eastern part. The marked negative trend in wind speed module on coastal hydrometeorological stations confirms the trend to an increase in the influence of the Azores and Siberian anticyclone in the pressure field of the Black Sea region. Taking into account the positive phase of NAO is advantageously implemented during the even solar cycle and the negative one – during the odd cycle. It was found that in the even years of the cycle the maximum surface wind speed is observed over the eastern part of the Black Sea, the lowest one – over the western part. During the odd cycle of solar activity the signs of the surface wind anomaly modules above the western and eastern parts of the sea are changed into opposite ones.
Social Responsibility and Commitment in Management Institutes: Mediation by Engagement

Due to its major influence on individual’s performance, engagement is increasingly becoming popular among practitioners. While its influence on performance has been well established, research on the influence of variables related to organizations on engagement is still in its nascent stage. Therefore, this study examines the mediating role of employee engagement in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) – organizational commitment relationship. Multiple regression results using responses from 150 academics working in Indian management institutes predominantly owned by business groups partially support the relationships hypothesized. The findings may encourage Indian management institutes owned by business groups to consider CSR in teaching and research as serious investment areas in order to have a more engaged and committed workforce.
The Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies DYNAMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CDS AND STOCK MARKETS IN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

This study examines whether there is a price discovery type relationship between CDS and stock market at the level of 5 Eastern European countries for the period 2004-2014. The analysis follows the pattern of the financial time series: testing the structural breaks, the stationarity, cointegration and subsequently the development of VAR models. The study finds out that before and after the crisis, the stock market has played a crucial role in the price discovery phenomenon while during the financial crisis period and of the sovereign debts there has been an inverse relationship and the CDS has influenced the stock market.
Evaluation of the Yield of Histopathology in the Diagnosis of Lymph Node Tuberculosis in Morocco, 2017: Cross-Sectional Study

Background The frequency of occurrence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) has been increasing globally over the last two decades. In Morocco, EPTB cases account for 46% of the patients reported with a new episode of tuberculosis (TB). Lymph node TB (LNTB) is the most common form of EPTB. In line with the guidelines of the National TB Program, the diagnosis is mainly based on clinical evidence, including histopathology. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the yield of histopathology testing in the diagnosis of LNTB. Methods This cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted among patients with cervical lymph node who were enrolled in the study from November 2016 to May 2017 in three regions of Morocco. We compared the outcomes of histopathological testing with those of bacteriology. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of histopathology testing were calculated. Culture and Xpert tests were used as the gold standard Laboratoty Testing. Results A total of 262 patients were enrolled in this study. The Se, Sp, PPV, and NPV of histopathology testing were 95.6% (129/135), 64.6% (82/127), 74.1% (129/174), and 93.2% (82/88), respectively, in the presence of granuloma with or without caseous necrosis and were 84.4% (114/135), 74.8% (95/127), 78.1% (114/146), and 81.9% (95/116), respectively, in the presence of granuloma with caseous necrosis. The granuloma with caseous necrosis was associated with increased PPV and Sp of histopathology testing (P<.05). Conclusions The presence of the granuloma with caseous necrosis in the histopathological examination had significantly improved the yield of histopathology testing for the diagnosis of LNTB. The findings recommend to maintain histopathology testing in establishing the LNTB diagnosis and to explore other techniques to improve it.
Humans are Detected More Efficiently than Machines in the Context of Natural Scenes

In the context of natural scenes, we recently showed that detecting humans among machine distractors is more efficient than detecting machines among human distractors (Mayer, Vuong, & Thornton, 2015). We concluded that the attentional system is tuned to efficiently process human form and motion. However, our results are also consistent with the possibility that discarding machine distractors is more efficient than discarding human distractors. In the present study, we replicate our previous visual search experiment but this time embedded targets among the same type of distractors; namely scenes displaying natural motion (e.g., billowing clouds, trees moving in the wind). Detecting humans among natural motion was more efficient than detecting machines among the same distractors as reflected in shallower search slopes, smaller intercepts, shorter first fixation durations on targets and higher percentages of first fixations on targets. These findings are in line with efficient detection of human targets but not with efficient discarding of machine distractors.
1 Defining Relevant Product Markets for Pharmaceuticals

To identify the relevant product markets for Swedish pharmaceuticals, a spatial econometrics approach is employed. First, we calculate Moran’s Is for different market definitions and then we use a spatial Durbin model to determine the effect of price changes on quantity sold off own and competing products. As expected, the results show that competition is strongest between close substitutes; however, the relevant product markets for Swedish pharmaceuticals extend beyond close substitutes down to products included in the same class on the four-digit level of the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical system as defined by the World Health Organization. The spatial regression model further indicates that increases in the price of a product significantly lower the quantity sold of that product and in the same time increase the quantity sold of competing products. For close substitutes (products belonging to the same class on the seven-digit level of the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical system), as well as for products that, without being close substitutes, belong to the same therapeutic/pharmacological/chemical subgroup (the same class on the five-digit level of the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical system), a significant change towards increased competition is also visible after 1 July 2009 when the latest policy changes with regards to pharmaceuticals have been implemented in Sweden.
An Intrinsic Description of the Nonlinear Aeroelasticity of Very Flexible Wings

A modal solution is presented to the aeroelastic equations of very exible wings in intrinsic form, that is written using inertial velocities and strains as primary variables. After assuming 2-D thin-airfoil aerodynamics on the wing sections, it is shown that the equations of motion can be written in canonical state-space form on the intrinsic modal coordinates without any matrix inversion and including only quadratic nonlinearities. Flutter characteristics are readily obtained from a linearized description of the dynamics equations, and the approach provides an e cient way of computing the nonlinear response with large wing displacements. Both situations are exempli ed numerically on the Golang wing. The use of modal coordinates will serve to highlight some of the particular characteristics of the use of intrinsic beam solutions in aeroelastic problems with geometrical nonlinearities.
Effects of Stand Structure, Browsing, and Biophysical Conditions on Regeneration Following Mountain Pine Beetle in Mixed Lodgepole Pine and Aspen Forests of the Southern Rockies

Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) co-occur in the southern Rocky Mountains (USA), where mountain pine beetle (MPB, Dendroctonus ponderosae) has caused extensive lodgepole pine mortality since the late 1990s. Both species excel in post-disturbance high-light environments, but lodgepole pine has generally been thought to establish poorly on undisturbed seedbeds, and aspen suckering may be inhibited by intact aspen overstory. We ask whether lodgepole pine and aspen will regenerate in sufficient quantities to revegetate these forests. We visited a random sample of aspen and lodgepole pine stands across the affected landscape in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming to measure regeneration and overstory mortality. Lodgepole pine regeneration is occurring in 85% of stands, and most stands have >550 stems ha−1. The median aspen sucker density was 6175 stems ha−1. Surprisingly, neither lodgepole pine nor aspen regeneration density was related to overstory mortality level. Animal damage is currently affecting aspen in these forests. Over 50% of stands had damage to 60% or more of their suckers, but 30% of stands had <20% of their stems damaged. Browsed stems were significantly shorter for their ages and were shorter than the 2.5-m height threshold for possible elk browsing. However, the results suggest that sufficient quantities of down lodgepole pine may protect aspen from damage and allow aspen to successfully recruit to the overstory. Multiple regression analysis showed that down lodgepole pine basal area, followed by browsing pressure, were the most important predictors of sucker height and the proportion of suckers browsed. Although 15% of stands had no lodgepole pine regeneration, aspen and lodgepole pine forests are generally regenerating despite animal browsing on aspen. This study is the first to present a regional perspective on regeneration in MPB-affected lodgepole pine and aspen forests, and overall, intervention does not seem necessary to ensure a mix of both species in the future.
Use of Serology and Thin-Layer Chromatography for the Assembly of an Authenticated Collection of Serovars Within the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare-Mycobacterium scrofulaceum Complex

The seroagglutination test devised by Schaefer (Methods Microbiol. 13:23–344, 1980) and the thin-layer chromatography procedure of Brennan et al. (J. Clin. Microbiol. 8:374–379, 1978; 15:447–455, 1982) were used to assemble an authenticated collection composed of 30 of the 31 known serovars of the Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare-Mycobacterium scrofulaceum complex, and from these serovars an new set of absorbed specific homologous rabbit antisera was prepared. Isolates of a few serovars (serovars 18, 41, and 43) showed the expected seroagglutination reactions but also produced several thin-layer chromatographic profiles, a phenomenon which places further emphasis on the need to use both thin-layer chromatography and serological analyses when the epidemiological aspects of nontuberculous mycobacteria are examined.
Relationship Establishment in SCM in a Market with Enforcement and Regulation Challenges: Case of Tanzania

In absence of effective state institutions, informal and private sector operations tend to govern the market. This problem is evident in the petroleum industry in Tanzania. However, little is known about how players in petroleum industry operate in those business environments. The purpose of this chapter is to explore establishment of a relationship between supplier-logistic firms in a post planned economy. The study employed case study interview with two petroleum products distributors in Tanzania to achieve its objective. Data were analyzed by thematic analytical techniques. Three major findings regarding buyersuppliers relationships in developing economies are presented: actors do not prefer to enforce contract that they sign, discretional relationships exist in petroleum business among actors and ‘undugunization’ is the strongest criteria in selection of actors. Study implies that for a supplier-logistic relationship to exist government has a great role to play in enforcement of laws.