Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive Factors of Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer

Objective:This study evaluates factors associated with a pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer. Summary Background Data:Approximately 20% of rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation achieve pCR, which has been associated with decreased local recurrence and improved recurrence-free survival. Means of predicting pCR remain incompletely defined. Methods:A total of 306 consecutive patients with stage II or stage III rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation then surgery between 1997 and 2007 were identified from a single-institution. Sixty-four patients with concurrent inflammatory bowel disease, hereditary colorectal cancer, other malignancy, urgent surgery, incomplete chemoradiation, or insufficient data were excluded. All patients received neoadjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy and external beam radiation. Histologic response was categorized as pCR or not-pCR, which defined the 2 study cohorts. Variables were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis with pCR as the dependent variable. Fisher exact test, &khgr;2, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and logistic regression were used for analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Of the total patients, 242 were studied, including 58 (24%) that achieved pCR. The 2 groups were statistically similar in terms of age, gender, body mass index, tumor differentiation, radiation dose, and pretreatment stage. On multivariate analysis, an interval ≥8 weeks between treatment completion and surgical resection was significantly associated with a higher rate of pCR, which correlated with decreased local recurrence and improved overall survival. Conclusion:Despite traditional beliefs that certain patient and tumor factors influence pCR, an extended interval between completion of neoadjuvant therapy and surgery was the single most important determinant in achieving a pCR.
Simulation study of GaAsP/Si tandem cells including the impact of threading dislocations on the luminescent coupling between the cells

A model, derived from the detailed balance model from Shockley and Queisser, has been adapted to monolithically grown GaAsP/Si tandem dual junction solar cells. In this architecture, due to the difference of lattice parameters between the silicon bottom cell – acting as the substrate – and the GaAsP top cell, threading dislocations (TDs) arise at the IIIV/ Si interface and propagate in the top cell. These TDs act as non-radiative recombination centers, degrading the performances of the tandem cell. Our model takes into account the impact of TDs by integrating the NTT model developed by Yamaguchi et. al. Two surface geometries have been investigated: flat and ideally textured. Finally the model considers the luminescent coupling (LC) between the cells due to reemitted photons from the top cell cascading to the bottom cell. Without dislocations, LC allows a greater flexibility in the cell design by rebalancing the currents between the two cells when the top cell presents a higher short-circuit current. However we show that, as the TD density (TDD) increases, nonradiative recombinations take over radiative recombinations in the top cell and the LC is quenched. As a result, nonoptimized tandem cells with higher short-circuit current in the top cell experience a very fast degradation of efficiency for TDDs over 104cm-2. On the other hand optimized cells with matching currents only experience a small efficiency drop for TDDs up to 105cm-2. High TDD cells therefore need to be current-matched for optimal performances as the flexibility due to LC is lost.
Animal Models for Studying Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and Its Long Term Effects on Lung Function

Background: Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infection causes a spectrum of illnesses ranging from mild infection to life-threatening bronchiolitis and respiratory failure. Human studies on the pathogenesis of RSV infection are invaluable, but animal models permit advances with the use of experimental strategies that would be inappropriate in human studies. Methods: We review the advantages and disadvantages of various animal models for the study of hRSV infection. Results: No animal model of hRSV infection replicates the complete spectrum of disease severity seen in humans. Available models differ in their ability to incorporate genetic technology and to allow the study of immunity, vaccine efficacy and treatment interventions. Although hRSV establishes disease in primates, this advantage is outweighed by the impracticalities and cost of using such models. The study of bovine RSV infection in calves is appealing because of parallels with human disease. Among rodent models, BALB/c mice have helped delineate the mechanisms underlying vaccine-enhanced RSV disease, and cotton rats have been used for preclinical testing. The single major disadvantage of studying hRSV in rodent models is the limited extent to which this host-restricted human pneumovirus replicates in mouse lung tissue. The rodent-specific Pneumovirus pathogen, pneumonia virus of mice, causes an infection that mirrors severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants infected with RSV, including robust virus replication with profound inflammation. Conclusion: The recent development of the pneumonia virus of mice model has permitted exploration of the mechanisms of severe Pneumovirus disease in vivo with the use of sophisticated genetic tools and genetically manipulated mouse strains.
Efficient vlsi yield prediction with consideration of partial correlations

Efficient VLSI Yield Prediction with Consideration of Partial Correlations. (December 2007) Sridhar Varadan, B.E, Anna University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Jiang Hu With the emergence of the deep submicron era, process variations have gained importance in issues related to chip design. The impact of process variations is measured using manufacturing/parametric yield. In order to get an accurate estimate of yield, the parameters considered need to be monitored at a large number of locations. Nowadays, intra-die variations are an integral part of the overall process fluctuations. This leads to the difficult case where yield prediction has to be done while considering independent and partially correlated variations. The presence of partial correlations adds to the existing trouble caused by the volume of variables. This thesis proposes two techniques for reducing the number of variables and hence the complexity of the yield computation problem namely Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Adaptive Quadrisection (HAQ). Systematic process variations are also included in our yield model. The biggest plus in these two methods is reducing the size of the yield prediction problem (thus making it less time complex) without affecting the accuracy in yield. The efficiency of these two approaches is measured by comparing with the results obtained from Monte Carlo simulations. Compared to previous work, the PCA based method can reduce the error in yield estimation from 17.1% 21.1% to 1.3% 2.8% with 4.6× speedup. The HAQ technique can reduce the error to 4.1% 5.6% with 6× 9.4× speedup.
Resonance Analysis and Soft-Switching Design of Isolated Boost Converter With Coupled Inductors for Vehicle Inverter Application

The comprehensive resonance analysis and soft-switching design of the isolated boost converter with coupled inductors are investigated in this paper. Due to the resonance participated by the voltage doubler capacitor, clamping capacitor, and leakage inductance of coupled inductors, the reverse-recovery problem of the secondary diodes is restrained within the whole operation range. By choosing appropriate magnetic inductance of the coupled inductors, zero-voltage switching on of the main mosfets is obtained collectively at the same working conditions without any additional devices. Moreover, the range of duty ratio is enlarged to achieve soft switching and an optimal operation point is obtained with minimal input current ripple, when duty ratio approaches 0.5. Additionally, two kinds of resonances are analyzed and an optimized resonance is utilized to achieve better power density. The prototype is implemented for the vehicle inverter requiring a 150 W output power, input voltage range varying from 10.8 to 16 V, and 360 V output voltage. Experiment results verify the design and show that the minimum efficiency is about 93.55% and 90.53% at low load and full load, respectively.
The Relationship Between the Alternative exon 7 Splice Variant of the BF Gene and MHC‐Related Marek's Disease Resistance in Chickens

The study was to analyse the relationship between the alternative exon 7 splice variant of the BF gene and MHC‐related Marek's disease (MD) resistance in chickens. The experiment first determined whether or not the cocks of Xiayan chickens have alternative splicing‐out of the exon 7 of the BF gene from peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs). Then, selected two groups: Group K included the offspring of the selected cocks which have no alternative splicing‐out of the exon 7 of the BF gene; Group Y included the offspring of the selected cocks which have alternative splicing‐out of the exon 7 of the BF gene. All hens used in the cross‐breeding were non‐selected. The experimental chickens were challenged with a very virulent strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV) at 4 days old and were raised for 12 weeks. At this time, all the surviving chickens were killed and necropsy was also performed during the experiment whenever chickens died from the infection. Tumour incidence and mortality were calculated using SPSS, and the tissues were collected to detect MDV by PCR. The results showed that the mortalities of Group K and Y were 52.75% and 70.65%, respectively; and that the tumour incidences of non‐alternative splicing‐out of the exon 7 of the BF for Groups K and Y were 15.38% and 38.89%, respectively; the tumour incidences for the alternative splicing‐out of the exon 7 were 46.15% and 56.76%, respectively. The results demonstrated the tumour incidence was highly related with the alternative exon 7 splice variant of the BF gene (P < 0.05).
bldA dependence of undecylprodigiosin production in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) involves a pathway-specific regulatory cascade

The production of the red-pigmented tripyrrole antibiotic undecylprodigiosin (Red) by Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) depends on two pathway-specific regulatory genes, redD and redZ. RedD is homologous to several other proteins that regulate antibiotic production in streptomycetes; RedZ is a member of the response regulator family. redZ transcripts were detected during exponential growth and increased in amount during transition and stationary phases; transcription of redD was confined to the two latter stages of growth. Whereas mutation of redD had no effect on redZ transcription, transcription of redD was highly dependent on redZ, suggesting that RedZ is a transcriptional activator of redD. bldA, which encodes the only tRNA of S. coelicolor that can efficiently translate the rare leucine codon UUA, is required for Red production at higher phosphate concentrations. While the redD transcript contains no UUA codons, the redZ mRNA contains one. Transcription of redZ appeared to be unaffected in a bldA mutant; in contrast, redD transcription was undetectable, consistent with the translational dependence of redZ on bldA and the transcriptional dependence of redD on redZ. Red production in a bldA mutant was restored by multiple copies of redZ, presumably reflecting a low level of mistranslation of the redZ UUA codon, while multiple copies of redD had no effect, presumably a consequence of the severe dependence of redD transcription on RedZ. Transcription of redZ appears to be negatively autoregulated.
Targeting of the Arabidopsis Homomeric Acetyl-Coenzyme A Carboxylase to Plastids of Rapeseeds

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) occurs in at least two forms in rapeseed (Brassica napus): a homomeric (HO) and presumably cytosolic isozyme and a heteromeric, plastidial isozyme. We investigated whether the HO-ACCase of Arabidopsis can be targeted to plastids of B. napus seeds. A chloroplast transit peptide and the napin promoter were fused to the Arabidopsis ACC1 gene and transformed into B. napus, with the following results. (a) The small subunit transit peptide was sufficient to provide import of this very large protein into developing seed plastids. (b) HO-ACCase in isolated plastids was found to be biotinylated at a level comparable to extraplastidial HO-ACCase. (c) In vitro assays of HO-ACCase in isolated plastids from developing seeds indicate that it occurs as an enzymatically active form in the plastidial compartment. (d) ACCase activity in mature B. napus seeds is normally very low; however, plants expressing the SSU/ACC1 gene had 10- to 20-fold higher ACCase activity in mature seeds, suggesting that plastid localization prevents the turnover of HO-ACCase. (e) ACCase over-expression altered seed fatty acid composition, with the largest effect being an increase in oleic acid. (f) The total oil content of seeds was increased approximately 5% by the expression of HO-ACCase in plastids.
NF-kappaB activation at implantation window of the mouse uterus.

PROBLEM Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) is one candidate transcriptional modulator, which might regulate many kinds of molecules that play sequential roles at implantation in the endometrium. However, temporal and spatial activation of NF-kappaB at implantation window is unknown. METHODS Activation of NF-kappaB in the mouse uterus was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Localization of p50 and p65, components of NF-kappaB, was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS NF-kappaB was activated in the proestrus and estrus phases in non-pregnant uterus. In the pregnant uterus, NF-kappaB was activated after day 1.5 post-coitum, and the activation continued during implantation period. The immunoreactivities of p50 and p65 were mainly localized in endometrial epithelium, and were weaker in endometrial stroma cells. CONCLUSION NF-kappaB activity is dynamically regulated during the sexual cycle as well as during the implantation period in the endometrium, where the biochemical interaction between mother and conceptus first occurs.
Expression and epigenetic regulation of DACT1 and DACT2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND DACT genes regulates Wnt as well TGF-β pathway, and were already associated with hepatocellular and lung cancer. Alterations on Wnt/β-catenin were associated with head and neck cancer through β-catenin cytoplasmatic accumulation. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate DACT1 and DACT2 expression and methylation on oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC). METHODS 47 samples of salivary rinse and tissue were collected from 29 OSCC and 18 control patients. qMSP and RT-PCR reactions were performed in order to detect hypermethylation and expression of DACT1 and DACT2 genes. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate these genes as possible biomarkers for OSCC. RESULTS As expected man over 60 years old with tobacco and alcohol consumption history were associated with OSCC. There was no statistical difference between groups concerning DACT1 and DACT2 either in promoter hypermethylation or transcript levels. Age was associated with DACT2 promoter hypermethylation, especially over 56 years old. CONCLUSION Patients older than 56 years old were about 5 times more likely to have DACT2 promoter hypermethylation. These findings could partially explain why older subjects are more prone to carcinogenesis. Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays an important role in carcinogenesis, and the study of their regulators may help understand malignant transformation.
Towards a Competency-based Extension Education Curriculum: A Delphi Study

The purpose of this study was to determine the competencies entry–level Extension professionals will need in 2015. A Delphi panel of nationally recognized Cooperative Extension experts was developed to collect data. The 12 panelists reached consensus on 19 competencies. There were two key groupings among the competencies: extension program development process and core interpersonal skills. Cooperative Extension should examine ways to align its efforts with the competencies identified from this study in order to pro–actively plan for a successful future.
Selective Engagement in Corporate Social Responsibility: A Stakeholder Perspective

这篇论文试图在社团的社会责任(CSR ) 理解选择约会。 CSR 包含能从多重股东遇见要求的各种各样的期。 一个公司能集中于某些 CSR 期当从另外的股东忽略要求时，满足一个特别股东，否则它能由处理大量社会的期带一条更多的平衡途径去 CSR。 在这篇论文，我调查从主要股东(顾客，供应商，和雇员) 的三种类型的股东压力怎么在 CSR 塑造选择约会。 实验结果基于在 2000 年代初的超过 1,000 家小、中型的企业(制造工程师协会) 的一件代表性的样品建议公司基于仪器的考虑优先考虑他们的股东。 在焦点的公司上有更大的力量的那些股东将在一个公司 CSR 约会上施加更大的影响。 由有限经理的资源抑制了，公司一致注意到与突出的股东很相关的问题的一个有限范围。 明确地， MNC 同样主要的顾客迫使焦点的公司为产品质量承担更多的责任，以及在大量社会问题上；主要顾客和主要供应商迫使焦点的公司为雇员福利承担更多的责任的 SOEs；有高等教育的雇员迫使焦点的公司为雇员福利，并且为大量社会问题承担更多的责任。 这研究贡献制造工程师协会的 CSR 上的股东理论和研究，并且为 CSR 专业人员有重要含意。
Differential parental transmission of markers in RUNX2 among cleft case‐parent trios from four populations

Isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is among the most common human birth defects, with a prevalence around 1 in 700 live births. The Runt‐related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene has been suggested as a candidate gene for CL/P based largely on mouse models; however, no human studies have focused on RUNX2 as a risk factor for CL/P. This study examines the association between markers in RUNX2 and isolated, nonsyndromic CL/P using a case‐parent trio design, while considering parent‐of‐origin effects. Case‐parent trios from four populations (77 from Maryland, 146 from Taiwan, 35 from Singapore, and 40 from Korea) were genotyped for 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the RUNX2 gene. We performed the transmission disequilibrium test on individual SNPs. Parent‐of‐origin effects were assessed using the transmission asymmetry test and the parent‐of‐origin likelihood ratio test (PO‐LRT). When all trios were combined, the transmission asymmetry test revealed a block of 11 SNPs showing excess maternal transmission significant at the P<0.01 level, plus one SNP (rs1934328) showing excess paternal transmission (P=0.002). For the 11 SNPs showing excess maternal transmission, odds ratios of being transmitted to the case from the mother ranged between 3.00 and 4.00. The parent‐of‐origin likelihood ratio tests for equality of maternal and paternal transmission were significant for three individual SNPs (rs910586, rs2819861, and rs1934328). Thus, RUNX2 appears to influence risk of CL/P through a parent‐of‐origin effect with excess maternal transmission. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Behavioral Model based Simulation Methods for Charge-Pump PLL's

This paper discusses the ubiquitous problem of extremely long simulation times in transistor-level design of phase-locked loops (PLL). Methods for reducing time-domain simulation times arc presented. A Matlab simulation environment has been developed for the PLL simulations. Moreover, Spice macromodels for PLL building blocks have been introduced for achieving shorter time-domain Spice simulations. With these tools fast behavioural simulations, which are needed when dimensioning the PLL parameters, can be done in the Matlab environment, and the functionality of transistor level design of PLL blocks can be verified by a time-domain analysis in a reasonably short time
CD4 T-Cell Suppression by Cells from Toxoplasma gondii-Infected Retinas Is Mediated by Surface Protein PD-L1

ABSTRACT In the inflamed retina, CD4+ T cells can cause retinal damage when they are not properly regulated. Since tissue expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and costimulatory molecules is a key mechanism for regulating effector T cells, we tested the hypothesis that upregulation of these proteins in the retina contributes to the regulation of CD4 T cells. Here we report that in retinas infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, MHC class II is upregulated on infiltrating leukocytes as well as on resident retinal cells, including photoreceptors. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that B7 costimulatory family members (CD80, CD86, ICOS-L, and programmed death ligand 2 [PD-L2]) were not expressed on class II+ cells. In contrast, PD-L1 (also named B7-H1 or CD274) was expressed on the majority of both hematopoietic and resident retinal MHC class II-expressing cells. Retinal cells from Toxoplasma-infected animals were able to suppress T-cell activation in a PD-L1-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrate that the expression of MHC class II and PD-L1 was critically dependent on gamma interferon (IFN-γ) expression. These data suggest that retinal MHC class II and PD-L1 expression is a novel mechanism by which the retina protects itself from CD4 T-cell-mediated immune damage in ocular toxoplasmosis and other types of retinal immune responses.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: a tool for prediction of joint damage in early rheumatoid arthritis?

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting destructive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the knee joint, and to compare this method with clinical examination and conventional radiography (CR). Methods: Clinical evaluations of the knee joint, followed by MRI and CR examinations were performed in 30 patients with early RA. The MRI examination included evaluation of inflammation using a synovitis score and evaluation of destruction with an erosion score. The first examinations were performed within 14 months from disease onset. Twenty‐eight patients were re‐examined after 1 year, and 23 patients after 3 years. ‘Disease activity score’ (DAS), using a 28 joints score (DAS28); health assessment questionnaire (HAQ); rheumatoid factor (RF); and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were also analysed. Results: At baseline, MRI found synovitis in 29 patients, of whom 18 also had clinical synovitis. At baseline five patients had 17 MRI erosions, whereas on CR two patients had one erosion each. After 1 year 17 of 35 and after 3 years 28 of 55 MRI erosions were detected also on CR. In only one case CR showed an erosion that was not visible on MRI. The MRI synovitis score (reflecting the extent of the synovitis) at baseline correlated significantly with the number of erosions on MRI both at year 1 and 3, and with the number of erosions on CR at 3 years. In logistic multiple regression analyses the MRI‐synovitis score proved to be the best independent predictor of erosiveness. Conclusion: MRI was superior to clinical examination and CR in detecting erosions. MRI synovitis score was the best independent predictor of erosiveness in the knee joint in patients with early RA.