Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Stage IV Colon Cancer in the United States: A Patterns-of-Care Analysis.

BACKGROUND National guidelines recommend chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment for stage IV colon cancer, with primary tumor resection (PTR) reserved for patients with symptomatic primary or curable disease. The aims of this study were to characterize the treatment modalities received by patients with stage IV colon cancer and to determine the patient-, tumor-, and hospital-level factors associated with those treatments. METHODS Patients diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2014 were extracted from the SEER Patterns of Care initiative. Treatments were categorized into chemotherapy only, PTR only, PTR + chemotherapy, and none/unknown. RESULTS The total weighted number of cases was 3,336; 17% of patients received PTR only, 23% received chemotherapy only, 41% received PTR + chemotherapy, and 17% received no treatment. In multivariable analyses, compared with chemotherapy only, PTR + chemotherapy was associated with being married (odds ratio [OR], 1.9), having bowel obstruction (OR, 2.55), and having perforation (OR, 2.29), whereas older age (OR, 5.95), Medicaid coverage (OR, 2.46), higher T stage (OR, 3.51), and higher N stage (OR, 6.77) were associated with PTR only. Patients who received no treatment did not have more comorbidities or more severe disease burden but were more likely to be older (OR, 3.91) and non-Hispanic African American (OR, 2.92; all P<.05). Treatment at smaller, nonacademic hospitals was associated with PTR (± chemotherapy). CONCLUSIONS PTR was included in the treatment regimen for most patients with stage IV colon cancer and was associated with smaller, nonacademic hospitals. Efforts to improve guideline implementation may be beneficial in these hospitals and also in non-Hispanic African American and older populations.
Telephone health coaching with exercise monitoring using wearable activity trackers (TeGeCoach) for improving walking impairment in peripheral artery disease: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation

Introduction Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the third most prevalent cardiovascular disease worldwide, with smoking and diabetes being the strongest risk factors. The most prominent symptom is leg pain while walking, known as intermittent claudication. To improve mobility, first-line treatment for intermittent claudication is supervised exercise programmes, but these remain largely unavailable and economically impractical, which has led to the development of structured home-based exercise programmes. This trial aims to determine the effectiveness and cost advantage of TeGeCoach, a 12-month long home-based exercise programme, compared with usual care of PAD. It is hypothesised that TeGeCoach improves walking impairment and lowers the need of health care resources that are spent on patients with PAD. Methods and analysis The investigators conduct a prospective, pragmatic randomised controlled clinical trial in a health insurance setting. 1760 patients diagnosed with PAD at Fontaine stage II are randomly assigned to either TeGeCoach or care-as-usual. TeGeCoach consists of telemonitored intermittent walking exercise with medical supervision by a physician and telephone health coaching. Participants allocated to the usual care group receive information leaflets and can access supervised exercise programmes, physical therapy and a variety of programmes for promoting a healthy lifestyle. The primary outcome is patient reported walking ability based on the Walking Impairment Questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures include quality of life, health literacy and health behaviour. Claims data are used to collect total health care costs, healthcare resource use and (severe) adverse events. Outcomes are measured at baseline, 12 and 24 months. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval has been obtained from the Medical Association Hamburg. Findings are disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, reports to the funding body, conference presentations and media press releases. Data from this trial are made available to the public and researchers upon reasonable request. NCT03496948 (www.clinicaltrials.gov), Pre-results.
Relation between return and volatility of VIX futures ETNs: A behavioral explanation

I investigate the relation between returns and volatility at daily to 1-min intervals for VIX ETNs (like ETFs) and futures. As VIX is the implied volatility index and also known as “fear gauge”, this study is on relation between returns of volatility and volatilities of volatility. I find that, contrary to equity markets, volatility’s return and volatility exhibit positive relation at daily basis. However, negative relation appears at the finer-grained 5-min and 1-min intervals, with the latter stronger. This paper discovers a stronger behavioral case than Hibbert, Daigler and Dupoyet (2008) and shows that behavioral explanation is the only feasible one, among the three explanations of leverage, volatility feedback and behavioral effect. First, unlike equity, VIX ETNs and futures do not involve financial leverage. Second, the chance of any event having shocks to volatility of volatility is slim. Moreover, I observe negative relation only at very short intervals (less than 15-min) and a monotonic relation change from daily positive to intraday negative, while leverage and volatility feedback models suggest longer delayed effects and no such pattern of relation change. My findings imply that there are further behavioral effects when market deals with fear, which itself has already been a behavioral outcome. JEL Classifications: D03, G01, G32 Assistant Professor in Finance, Chinese Academy of Finance & Development, Central U. of Finance & Economics. Add: 39 South College Road, Haidian District, Beijing, P.R. China, 100081. Tel: +86 10 62288266. Fax: +86 10 62288779. Email: xiangfin@gmail.com, judexiang@cufe.edu. cn
Nevirapine Biotransformation Insights: An Integrated In Vitro Approach Unveils the Biocompetence and Glutathiolomic Profile of a Human Hepatocyte-Like Cell 3D Model

The need for competent in vitro liver models for toxicological assessment persists. The differentiation of stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells (HLC) has been adopted due to its human origin and availability. Our aim was to study the usefulness of an in vitro 3D model of mesenchymal stem cell-derived HLCs. 3D spheroids (3D-HLC) or monolayer (2D-HLC) cultures of HLCs were treated with the hepatotoxic drug nevirapine (NVP) for 3 and 10 days followed by analyses of Phase I and II metabolites, biotransformation enzymes and drug transporters involved in NVP disposition. To ascertain the toxic effects of NVP and its major metabolites, the changes in the glutathione net flux were also investigated. Phase I enzymes were induced in both systems yielding all known correspondent NVP metabolites. However, 3D-HLCs showed higher biocompetence in producing Phase II NVP metabolites and upregulating Phase II enzymes and MRP7. Accordingly, NVP-exposure led to decreased glutathione availability and alterations in the intracellular dynamics disfavoring free reduced glutathione and glutathionylated protein pools. Overall, these results demonstrate the adequacy of the 3D-HLC model for studying the bioactivation/metabolism of NVP representing a further step to unveil toxicity mechanisms associated with glutathione net flux changes.
Modulation of defense-response gene expression in wheat during Hessian fly larval feeding

Abstract Expression profiles of ten genes commonly up-regulated during plant defense against microbial pathogens were compared temporally during compatible and incompatible interactions with first-instar Hessian fly larvae, in two wheat lines carrying different resistance genes. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that while a lipoxygenase gene (WCI-2) was strongly up-regulated during the incompatible interactions, genes encoding β-1,3 endoglucanase (GNS) and an integral membrane protein (WIR1) were moderately responsive. Genes for thionin-like protein (WCI-3), PR-17-like protein (WCI-5), MAP kinase (WCK-1), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), pathogenesis-related protein-1 (PR-1), receptor-like kinase (LRK10) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were minimally responsive. The application of signaling molecules, salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MJ) and abscisic acid (ABA), to insect-free plants demonstrated association of these genes with specific defense-response pathways. SA-induced up-regulation of a gene related to lipoxygenases that are involved in jasmonic acid (JA)-biosynthesis is suggestive of positive cross-talk between SA- and JA-mediated signaling pathways. Data suggest that alternative mechanisms may be involved since few of these classical defense-response genes are significantly up-regulated during incompatible interactions between wheat and Hessian fly.
Platelet-to-lymphocyte and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratios Predict Target Vessel Restenosis after Infrainguinal Angioplasty with Stent Implantation

Platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR) ratios are associated with the occurrence of critical limb ischemia in peripheral artery disease (PAD). We therefore investigated whether PLR, NLR or LMR are linked to target vessel restenosis (TVR) following infrainguinal angioplasty and stenting. Moreover, we studied on-treatment platelet reactivity and neutrophil-platelet aggregate (NPA) formation as potential underlying mechanisms. Platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts were determined one day after angioplasty and stenting in 95 stable PAD patients. Platelet reactivity and NPA formation in response to protease-activated receptor−1 stimulation were measured by light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and flow cytometry, respectively. PLR and NLR were significantly higher in patients who subsequently developed TVR (both p < 0.05). In contrast, LMR did not differ significantly between patients without and with TVR (p = 0.28). A PLR ≥ 91 and NLR ≥2.75 were identified as the best thresholds to predict TVR, providing sensitivities of 87.5% and 81.3%, and specificities of 34.9% and 50.8%, respectively, and were therefore defined as high PLR and high NLR. TVR occurred significantly more often in patients with high PLR and high NLR than in those with lower ratios (both p < 0.05). Patients with high PLR and high NLR exhibited significantly increased on-treatment platelet aggregation compared to those with lower ratios, and patients with high PLR had higher levels of NPA formation (all p < 0.01). In conclusion, PLR and NLR predict TVR after infrainguinal angioplasty with stent implantation. Platelet activation and neutrophil-platelet interaction may be involved in the underlying pathomechanisms
Genetics of the incompatibility system in the crucifer Eruca sativa L

Genetically controlled incompatibility systems in the homomorphic angiosperms fall into two categories: (i) gametophytic and (ii) sporophytic (Lewis 1954; Crowe 1964; Williams 1964). The two systems differ basically in the control of the incompatibility reaction of the pollen, whether it is determined by the genotype of the pollen-grain (hence gametophytic), or it is imposed by parental genotype (hence sporophytic) and consequently all the pollen from a given plant show the same reaction irrespective of their genotype. Furthermore, some characteristics seem to be intimately or rather fundamentally linked with the two systems (Brewbaker 1957, 1959; Pandey 1960; Lundqvist, Osterbye, Larsen & Linde-Laursen 1973), particularly cytology of pollen at dehiscence, site of inhibition of incompatible pollen and the allelic interactions in the style (table 1). Such characteristics help in the inference of the system; although Pandey (1960) has pointed out three exceptions to these broad correlations, the uniformity of the system within families with homomorphic incompatibility still holds. In the family Cruciferae, Bateman (1954, 1955) not only invoked a 1-locus sporophytic system for the SI Iberis amara but also made a reinterpretation of the earlier data in the three crucifers accommodating them in the Iberis scheme. Later workers have confirmed the uniformity of the sporophytic system in the family Cruciferae (Sampson 1957a, b, 1964; Thompson 1957; Haruta 1962). However, the only report contradictory to Bateman’s generalization of the Crucifer system is that of Narsingdas (see Singh 1958) in Eruca sativa (an oleiferous crop) wherein he explained his results on the gametophytic system (cf. Kakizaki 1930). This prompted a reinvestigation of E. sativa in order to determine the nature and genetics of the system involved. To our surprise, the intrafamilial pollinations of F1 families revealed very abnormal data (Barjinder 1968) and the confirmation of the genetic interpretation invoked necessitated detailed analyses of F2 families (Indra 1970), which, in turn, made it imperative to pursue the case to F3 families involving larger numbers of plants in each family. This communication is intended to present the data, particularly of F2 and F3 families worked out by Miss Indra Dhir and Miss Renuka Malik respectively, and to interpret the same regarding the nature of the incompatibility system. The hypothesis has been tested in two F4 families derived from selfings of individuals from two F3 families. A new model proposed by D. Lewis, based on more than two loci with sporophytic control has been adopted, and at least two loci are analogous to the S and Z loci in grasses (Lundqvist 1956). The details of the genetics of the proposed model are presented in the following paper by Lewis (1976).
An Examination of the Direction and Spread of Currency Crises

What determines the direction of spread of currency crises? We examine data on waves of currency crises in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1998 to evaluate several hypotheses on the determinants of contagion. We simultaneously consider trade competition, financial links, and institutional similarity to the “ground-zero” country as potential drivers of contagion. To overcome data limitations and account for model uncertainty, we utilize Bayesian methodologies hitherto unused in the empirical literature on contagion. In particular, we use the Bayesian averaging of binary models which allows us to take into account the uncertainty regarding the appropriate set of regressors. We find that institutional similarity to the ground-zero country plays an important role in determining the direction of contagion in all the emerging market currency crises in our dataset. We thus provide persuasive evidence in favour of the “wake up call” hypothesis for financial contagion. Trade and financial links may also play a role in determining the direction of contagion, but their importance varies amongst the crisis periods. JEL Classification: F31, F32, C11
Contextualised strategies to increase childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage in South Africa: a mixed-methods study

Introduction Despite the unparalleled success of immunisation in the control of vaccine preventable diseases, immunisation coverage in South Africa remains suboptimal. While many evidence-based interventions have successfully improved vaccination coverage in other countries, they are not necessarily appropriate to the immunisation needs, barriers and facilitators of South Africa. The aim of this research is to investigate barriers and facilitators to optimal vaccination uptake, and develop contextualised strategies and implementation plans to increase childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage in South Africa. Methods The study will employ a mixed-methods research design. It will be conducted over three iterative phases and use the Adopt, Contextualise or Adapt (ACA) model as an overarching conceptual framework. Phase 1 will identify, and develop a sampling frame of, immunisation stakeholders involved in the design, planning and implementation of childhood and human papillomavirus immunisation programmes in South Africa. Phase 2 will identify the main barriers and facilitators to, and solutions for, increasing vaccination coverage. This phase will comprise exploratory qualitative research with stakeholders and a review of existing systematic reviews on interventions for improving vaccination coverage. Using the findings from Phase 2 and the ACA model, Phase 3 will develop a set of proposed interventions and implementation action plans for improving immunisation coverage in South Africa. These plans will be discussed, revised and finalised through a series of participatory stakeholder workshops and an online questionnaire, conducted as part of Phase 3. Ethics Ethical approval was obtained from the South African Medical Research Council (EC018-11/2018). No risks to participants are expected. Various steps will be taken to ensure the anonymity and confidentiality of participants. Dissemination The study findings will be shared at stakeholder workshops, the website of Cochrane South Africa and academic publications and conferences.
Randomized Trial of General Strength and Conditioning versus Motor Control and Manual Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain on Physical and Self-Report Outcomes

Exercise and spinal manipulative therapy are commonly used for the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) in Australia. Reduction in pain intensity is a common outcome; however, it is only one measure of intervention efficacy in clinical practice. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of two common clinical interventions on physical and self-report measures in CLBP. Participants were randomized to a 6-month intervention of general strength and conditioning (GSC; n = 20; up to 52 sessions) or motor control exercise plus manual therapy (MCMT; n = 20; up to 12 sessions). Pain intensity was measured at baseline and fortnightly throughout the intervention. Trunk extension and flexion endurance, leg muscle strength and endurance, paraspinal muscle volume, cardio-respiratory fitness and self-report measures of kinesiophobia, disability and quality of life were assessed at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up. Pain intensity differed favoring MCMT between-groups at week 14 and 16 of treatment (both, p = 0.003), but not at 6-month follow-up. Both GSC (mean change (95%CI): −10.7 (−18.7, −2.8) mm; p = 0.008) and MCMT (−19.2 (−28.1, −10.3) mm; p < 0.001) had within-group reductions in pain intensity at six months, but did not achieve clinically meaningful thresholds (20mm) within- or between-group. At 6-month follow-up, GSC increased trunk extension (mean difference (95% CI): 81.8 (34.8, 128.8) s; p = 0.004) and flexion endurance (51.5 (20.5, 82.6) s; p = 0.004), as well as leg muscle strength (24.7 (3.4, 46.0) kg; p = 0.001) and endurance (9.1 (1.7, 16.4) reps; p = 0.015) compared to MCMT. GSC reduced disability (−5.7 (−11.2, −0.2) pts; p = 0.041) and kinesiophobia (−6.6 (−9.9, −3.2) pts; p < 0.001) compared to MCMT at 6-month follow-up. Multifidus volume increased within-group for GSC (p = 0.003), but not MCMT or between-groups. No other between-group changes were observed at six months. Overall, GSC improved trunk endurance, leg muscle strength and endurance, self-report disability and kinesiophobia compared to MCMT at six months. These results show that GSC may provide a more diverse range of treatment effects compared to MCMT.
Beeswax exports and rainfall in the savanna woodlands of east central Africa

L'hypothese selon laquelles les exportations de cire selon laquelle les exportations de cire d'abeille d'une annee donnee precedente pour une savanne arboree ouverte (miombo) dans l'est de l'Afrique centrale a ete propose il y a plus de 60 ans mais n'a jamais ete testee. La production de cire par les abeilles melliferes (Apis mellifera L) est determinee par la recolte de nectar, qui depend elle-meme des precfipitations par l'intermediaire des floraisons. Aussi pour tester l'hypothese, nous avons etudie les correlations possibles entre les variables pertinentes. Les analyses de series temporelles et de regression portant sur les exportations de cire d'abeilles et les precipitations, pour le Kenya, la Tanzanie et la Zambie sur la periode 1936-1961, ont montre une correlation hautement significative (r=0,41, P=0,0001) entre lesz variables lorsqu'elles sont considerees sur une annee apicole (de juillet a juin de l'annee suivante) (fig 1). De meme, les precipitations et la production de miel sur la periode 1932-1938 pour un rucher donne dans la partie boisee de l'Afrique du Sud sont significativement correlees lorsqu'on les considere sur une annee apicole (r=0,41, P<0,0001). Il existe egalement une correlation hautement significative pour une meme annee apicole entre la production de miel et les exportations de cire pour la Tanzanie sur la periode 1906-1985. Les variations dfans l'activite humaine de recolte ont une action que l'on peut considerer comme negligeable sur la relation recolte de cire d'abeille-precipitations. L'hypothese de depart, selon laquelle la recolte de cire d'une annee depend des precipitations de l'annee precedente, est donc fortement confirme par une suite de relations causales. Elle est coherente avec le fait qu'en Afrique la principale contrainte pour la vegetation est l'eau, et non pas la temperature, et que la floraison pendant la saison seche de la majorite des arbres du miombo, sur lesquels les abeilles vont butiner, depend des precipitations de la saison humide de l'annee precedente.
Molecular and Physiological Alterations in Chickpea under Elevated CO2 Concentrations

Abstract The present study reports profiling of the elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration responsive global transcriptome in chickpea, along with a combinatorial approach for exploring interlinks between physiological and transcriptional changes, important for the climate change scenario. Various physiological parameters were recorded in two chickpea cultivars (JG 11 and KAK 2) grown in open top chambers under ambient [380 parts per million (ppm)] and two stressed/elevated CO2 concentrations (550 and 700 ppm), at different stages of plant growth. The elevated CO2 concentrations altered shoot and root length, nodulation (number of nodules), total chlorophyll content and nitrogen balance index, significantly. RNA-Seq from 12 tissues representing vegetative and reproductive growth stages of both cultivars under ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations identified 18,644 differentially expressed genes including 9,687 transcription factors (TF). The differential regulations in genes, gene networks and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) -derived expression dynamics of stress-responsive TFs were observed in both cultivars studied. A total of 138 pathways, mainly involved in sugar/starch metabolism, chlorophyll and secondary metabolites biosynthesis, deciphered the crosstalk operating behind the responses of chickpea to elevated CO2 concentration.
Yielding Potential of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in Sub-Optimal Environments

SUMMARY Rubber production has been extended to many sub-optimal environments worldwide during late 1970s. Prominent among them are northeast India, highlands and coastal areas of Vietnam, southern China and southern plateau of Brazil. In addition to near-ideal growing conditions, these areas offer stresses like low temperature, higher altitude, diseases and wind. South China experiences all these stresses due to expanse of land mass and extremely diverse climate. A number of rubber clones are being evaluated along with derivation of new recombinants adaptable to these areas. Rubber clones are seen to exhibit specific adaptation in these areas. A negative relationship of yield with minimum temperature, wind velocity and evaporation is very distinct in all clones in Tripura (NE India). While RRIM 600 can be adjudged as a universally adapted clone with moderate yield under all these sub-optimal environments, specificity in yield adaptation goes in favor of PB 235, RRII 208, RRII 203 and HAIKEN 1 (India); RRIM 600, GT 1 (Vietnam); REYAN 8-333, PB 235 (China) and PB 235, FX-3864 (Brazil). Though PB 235 gave higher yield in these areas, recommendations for commercial cultivation are impeded as a result of high wind damage. Clonal specificity for adaptation is distinct.