Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival and quality of life among patients receiving unproven as compared with conventional cancer therapy.

BACKGROUND Cancer treatments without proved efficacy have achieved new levels of popularity, particularly among well-educated patients. The value of these therapies is vigorously debated. METHODS We compared the length of survival and quality of life in patients who received treatment at a prominent unorthodox cancer clinic in addition to conventional treatment and in matched control patients from an academic cancer center who received only conventional treatment. All the patients had documented extensive malignant disease associated with a predicted median survival time of less than one year. The study sample consisted of 78 pairs of patients matched according to sex, race, age, diagnosis, and time from the diagnosis of metastatic or recurrent disease, who were enrolled over a period of 3 1/2 years. Periodic follow-up (approximately every two months) continued until death. RESULTS There was no difference between the two patient groups in length of survival. Median survival for both groups was 15 months (P = 0.22; relative risk, 1.23; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.72). Quality-of-life scores were consistently better among conventionally treated patients from enrollment on. CONCLUSIONS For this sample of patients with extensive disease and for this particular unorthodox treatment regimen, conventional and unorthodox treatments produced similar results.
Glutamate Receptor Ion Channels: Structure, Regulation, and Function

The mammalian ionotropic glutamate receptor family encodes 18 gene products that coassemble to form ligand-gated ion channels containing an agonist recognition site, a transmembrane ion permeation pathway, and gating elements that couple agonist-induced conformational changes to the opening or closing of the permeation pore. Glutamate receptors mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system and are localized on neuronal and non-neuronal cells. These receptors regulate a broad spectrum of processes in the brain, spinal cord, retina, and peripheral nervous system. Glutamate receptors are postulated to play important roles in numerous neurological diseases and have attracted intense scrutiny. The description of glutamate receptor structure, including its transmembrane elements, reveals a complex assembly of multiple semiautonomous extracellular domains linked to a pore-forming element with striking resemblance to an inverted potassium channel. In this review we discuss International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology glutamate receptor nomenclature, structure, assembly, accessory subunits, interacting proteins, gene expression and translation, post-translational modifications, agonist and antagonist pharmacology, allosteric modulation, mechanisms of gating and permeation, roles in normal physiological function, as well as the potential therapeutic use of pharmacological agents acting at glutamate receptors.
An Approach for Semantic Search by Matching RDF Graphs

The World Wide Web is developing rapidly, but neither recall nor precision of traditional search engines can satisfy the increasing demands of users. Presently, RDF is widely accepted as a standard for semantic representation of information on the Web, which makes possible the advanced search among web resources. In this paper, we introduce an approach for semantic search by matching RDF graphs. New similarity between RDF graphs is defined and ontologies on arcs as well as on nodes are employed. The implementation of a demonstration system on our method is currently in progress.
LANGUAGES WITH GENERALIZED QUANTIFIERS

Various existing query languages allow queries with embedded sub-queries as well as sub-query comparison statements. It is often argued that these features enhance the declarativeness of the query language. We establish a link between between the phenomenon of sub-query syntax in query languages and the theory of generalized quantifiers as it was introduced by Barwise and Cooper in linguistics. Having established this link, we formulate and defend a thesis which states that most natural queries can be formulated as a conjunction of first-order predicate statements and setpredicate statements over sub-queries. We also introduce the language QLGQ which is designed in accordance with this thesis. We conclude by showing how various existing query languages have implicitly adopted generalized quantifiers and discuss some related features of these languages.
The management of cancer pain

The experience of pain in cancer is widely accepted as a major threat to quality of life, and the relief of pain has emerged as a priority in oncology care. Pain is associated with both the disease as well as treatment, and management is essential from the onset of early disease through long‐term survivorship or end‐of‐life care. Effective relief of pain is contingent upon a comprehensive assessment to identify physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects and as a foundation for multidisciplinary interventions. Fortunately, advances in pain treatment and in the field of palliative care have provided effective treatments encompassing pharmacological, cognitive‐behavioral, and other approaches. The field of palliative care has emphasized that attention to symptoms such as pain is integral to quality cancer care. CA Cancer J Clin 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society, Inc.
Farm productivity and efficiency in rural Bangladesh: the role of education revisited

This article reassesses the debate over the role of education in farm production in Bangladesh using a large dataset on rice producing households from 141 villages. Average and stochastic production frontier functions are estimated to ascertain the effect of education on productivity and efficiency. A full set of proxies for farm education stock variables are incorporated to investigate the ‘internal’ as well as ‘external’ returns to education. The external effect is investigated in the context of rural neighbourhoods. Our analysis reveals that in addition to raising rice productivity and boosting potential output, household education significantly reduces production inefficiencies. However, we are unable to find any evidence of the externality benefit of schooling – neighbour's education does not matter in farm production. We discuss the implication of these findings for rural education programmes in Bangladesh.
A review of abusive supervision research

This paper reviews studies concerned with abusive supervision and provides a constructive revision of Tepper’s 2007 model. As a result of our review of the recent research, we revised the 2007 Tepper model and added additional variables and casual paths to increase its explanatory potential. The model we propose distinguishes between abusive supervisory behavior and abusive supervisory perceptions, suggesting that each of these variables needs to be studied separately until we know more about how they are related. The revised model also explicitly recognizes possibilities for reverse causation and stresses the importance of subordinates’ individual differences such as attribution style, negative affectivity, and implicit work theories, which have the potential to account for significant variability in subordinates’ perceptions of abuse. Suggestions for future research based on the original relationships identified by the Tepper review as well as the variables and causal paths suggested in the revised model are provided.
Learning generative models for protein fold families

We introduce a new approach to learning statistical models from multiple sequence alignments (MSA) of proteins. Our method, called GREMLIN (Generative REgularized ModeLs of proteINs), learns an undirected probabilistic graphical model of the amino acid composition within the MSA. The resulting model encodes both the position‐specific conservation statistics and the correlated mutation statistics between sequential and long‐range pairs of residues. Existing techniques for learning graphical models from MSA either make strong, and often inappropriate assumptions about the conditional independencies within the MSA (e.g., Hidden Markov Models), or else use suboptimal algorithms to learn the parameters of the model. In contrast, GREMLIN makes no a priori assumptions about the conditional independencies within the MSA. We formulate and solve a convex optimization problem, thus guaranteeing that we find a globally optimal model at convergence. The resulting model is also generative, allowing for the design of new protein sequences that have the same statistical properties as those in the MSA. We perform a detailed analysis of covariation statistics on the extensively studied WW and PDZ domains and show that our method out‐performs an existing algorithm for learning undirected probabilistic graphical models from MSA. We then apply our approach to 71 additional families from the PFAM database and demonstrate that the resulting models significantly out‐perform Hidden Markov Models in terms of predictive accuracy. Proteins 2011; © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Net Gains or Net Pains? Business Students' Use of the Internet

Within the wider drive in higher education to promote students' use of information and communications technology (ICT) it is assumed that the Internet will be a key application. Popular conceptions of a ‘wired’ generation of students at ease with on-line learning persist through official literature and the media. From this basis, the present paper takes an empirical perspective in students' use of the Internet, via focus group interviews with 77 students in two UK universities, and explores the factors underlying their use (and non-use) of the Internet in university. Four crucial themes were identified, namely: (i) the ways in which students were introduced to using the Internet; (ii) operational problems encountered when using the Internet as an information resource; (iii) treatment of information retrieved from the Internet; (iv) the social element of learning in on-line environments. These factors are examined in detail and discussed in relation to the future presentation and organisation of students' Internet use in university settings.
Point-of-Failure Swap Rerouting : Computing The Optimal Swaps Distributively

We consider the problem of computing the optimal swap edges of a shortest-path tree. This problem arises in designing systems that offer point-of-failure shortest-path rerouting service in presence of a single link failure: if the shortest path is not affected by the failed link, then the message will be delivered through that path; otherwise, the system will guarantee that, when the message reaches the node where the failure has occurred, the message will then be re-routed through the shortest-path to its destination. There exist highly efficient serial solutions for the problem, but unfortunately because of the structures they use, there is no known (nor foreseeable) efficient distributed implementation for them. A distributed protocol exists only for finding swap edges, not necessarily optimal ones. We present two simple and efficient distributed algorithms for computing the optimal swap edges of a shortest-path tree. One algorithm uses messages containing a constant amount of information, while the other is tailored for systems that allow long messages. The amount of data transferred by the protocols is the same and depends on the structure of the shortest-path spanning-tree; it is no more, and sometimes significantly less, than the cost of constructing the shortest-path tree.
A new approach to provide real-time services on high-speed local area networks

In the past few years, networks of workstations (NOWs) and clusters, based on high-speed local area networks (LANs), have emerged as a serious alternative to supercomputers and high-performance servers. Meanwhile, applications demanding real-time network services have also suffered a substantial growth. In order to use NOWs for distributed real-time processing, a topology change and faulttolerant mechanism that guarantees the maximum latency or the minimum bandwidth in the worst case must be provided. Up to now, the backup channel protocol (BCP), based on real-time channels, provides fault-tolerant realtime services. But in this approach, fault tolerance is limited by the alternative paths provided by the routing function to establish the backup channels and topology change tolerance is not supported. On the other hand, dynamic reconfiguration updates the routing tables without stopping user traffic when a topology change or fault occurs. However, dynamic reconfiguration by itself does not provide neither quality of service nor real-time services, but it provides support for an additional mechanism designed to meet realtime requirements. In this paper, we propose a new hardware-supported protocol to provide topology change and fault-tolerant real-time services on NOWs. The novelty of our proposal primarily relies on the ability to assimilate hot topology changes and faults while still providing real-time services through backup channels and dynamic reconfiguration. Our protocol increases fault tolerance beyond the level provided by the backup channel protocol so that fault tolerance is only limited by topology connectivity. Furthermore, to our knowledge, our protocol is the only mechanism which is able to assimilate hot updates without stopping neither realtime traffic nor normal network operation.
Genetic differences among populations in sexual dimorphism: evidence for selection on males in a dioecious plant

Genetic variation among populations in the degree of sexual dimorphism may be a consequence of selection on one or both sexes. We analysed genetic parameters from crosses involving three populations of the dioecious plant Silene latifolia, which exhibits sexual dimorphism in flower size, to determine whether population differentiation was a result of selection on one or both sexes. We took the novel approach of comparing the ratio of population differentiation of a quantitative trait (QST) to that of neutral genetic markers (FST) for males vs. females. We attributed 72.6% of calyx width variation in males to differences among populations vs. only 6.9% in females. The QST/FST ratio was 4.2 for males vs. 0.4 for females, suggesting that selection on males is responsible for differentiation among populations in calyx width and its degree of sexual dimorphism. This selection may be indirect via genetic correlations with other morphological and physiological traits.
Preparation of a polymer surface coated with a gradient of quantum dots

In the present study, we generated a polyethylene surface coated with a gradient of quantum dots for use in imaging experiments. The polyethylene surface was first treated with increasing coronal discharge along its length. Next, the surface was reacted with branched polyethyleneimine followed by biotin to produce a polyethylene surface with a gradient of biotin. Finally, the biotin-coated surface was reacted with streptavidin-coated quantum dots. Fluorescent imaging showed that the fluorescence intensity from the quantum dots gradually increased along its length. Such quantum-dot-modified gradient polyethylene surfaces may be useful in biomedical analyses.
Atrial Fibrillation and Revascularization Procedures: Clinical and Prognostic Significance. Incidence, Predictors, Treatment, and Long-Term Outcome

Atrial fibrillation is the most common disorder of cardiac rhythm. In spite of simplicity of diagnosis, patients with atrial fibrillation are difficult to treat. In the recent years with the description of the phenomenon called remodelling, it has been possible to better define the principal mechanisms responsible for initiation, maintenance and, in some instances, termination of atrial fibrillation. Electrical, mechanical and anatomical remodelling indicate those alterations that, once established, may baffle any attempt to restore sinus rhythm. Atrial fibrosis is probably the most critical component of the remodelling process and appears to be mediated by several factors. Several kinds of arrhythmias, especially ventricular ones and conduction disturbances, can occur during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), resulting from excess catheter manipulation, intracoronary dye injection, new ischemic events, or reperfusion injury. Supraventricular arrhythmias, including atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation (AF), may also occur during or after PCI, as a complication or a sequel of the revascularisation procedure. Also post operative AF is a common complication of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), occurring in 5-40% of patients during the first postoperative week, depending on definitions and methods of detection. Experimental and clinical data will be discussed here.
Effects of Thalidomide on the Expression of Adhesion Molecules in Rat Liver Cirrhosis

This study was to evaluate the effects of thalidomide on expression of adhesion molecules in liver cirrhosis. The cirrhosis was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4, and thalidomide (10 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day) was given by intragastric administration for 8 weeks. Liver histopathology and immunohistochemistry were significantly improved and the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and TNF-α mRNA and protein were decreased significantly in rats treated with a high dose of thalidomide. Close positive correlation was observed in the expression of the TNF-α mRNA and that of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin mRNA, respectively. These results indicate that thalidomide exerts its effect on the downregulation of adhesion molecules via TNF-α signaling pathway to inhibit liver fibrosis.
Auditing our ‘selves’

E-mail: kothariss@vsnl.com “It is not enough that we do our best, sometimes we have to do what is required,” — famously said Sir Winston Churchill during the world war. Are we doing ‘what is required’ is a vital question engaging doctors all the time and perhaps even more so for doctors in the field of pediatric cardiac care. There is a voluminous literature on clinical auditing and quality of medical care in more recent times, and each of us is expected to be conscious of the basic elements of these issues. [1,2] We tend to imbibe the fundamental tenets of good quality medical care intuitively during medical education, and we hope to get all the right practices by simply one key element of keeping the patient in the center of all our endeavors. However, modern medical care has become reasonably complex to not let us do ‘what is required’ in one single way; and all the multiple ways in which we render care are not equally effective either. Thus, there is a continuous need to introspect, even for the most well-trained technocrats amongst us.
Construction of a Single-Chain Interleukin-12-Expressing Retroviral Vector and Its Application in Cytokine Gene Therapy against Experimental Coccidioidomycosis

ABSTRACT T-cell-mediated immunity is an important determinant in protection against primary infection with Coccidioides immitis, a dimorphic fungal pathogen that causes the disease coccidioidomycosis. To determine if interleukin-12 (IL-12) gene therapy could potentiate host response against C. immitis, we constructed a single-chain cDNA encoding the p40 and p35 subunits linked by a polylinker and, using a retroviral vector, transfected J774 macrophages with the construct. The transduced J774 cells expressed IL-12 in vitro, with a mean concentration of 28,440 pg from 106 cells in 48 h as measured by an IL-12 (p75)-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The secreted IL-12 was biologically active, as judged by its ability to induce the production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) by spleen cells from BALB/c mice. Treatment of the highly susceptible BALB/c mouse strain with the IL-12-transduced J774 cells inhibitedC. immitis growth in tissues from mice challenged by a pulmonary route, as evidenced by 1.37-, 2.59-, and 1.22-log reductions in the number of CFU in the lungs, spleens, and livers, respectively, compared to the fungal load in mice given vector-transduced J774 cells. The protective effect of IL-12 gene therapy was accompanied by increased levels of IFN-γ in the lungs and sera of mice treated with IL-12-transduced J774 cells and the constitutive production of IFN-γ by their spleen cells cultured in vitro. These results suggest that IL-12 gene therapy could be used as adjunct therapy for coccidioidomycosis.
State synchronization in the presence of unknown, nonuniform and arbitrary large communication delays

This paper studies synchronization for multi-agent systems with agents that are identical and introspective (i.e. agents have access to their own states) and coupled through a network with unknown nonuniform and arbitrary large communication delays. Exact knowledge of the network is not available but only one specific lower bound is available. When the system is running, a given constant desired trajectory is provided to one of the agents. The objective is to design a decentralized protocol such that the multi-agent system achieves state synchronization for all possible networks, for any reference trajectory consistent with the system dynamics and for any arbitrary large nonuniform communication delay.
A Socio-semiotic Analysis of Olúyẹmisí Adébòwálé's Ìgbà Lonígbàákà.

Socio-semiotics is a relatively new field of study in Yoruba scholarship and in Yoruba written poetry in particular. Adeosun's (2012) work, A Socio-semiotic study of selected Yoruba written poetry, is the pioneering effort in the Yoruba written poetry. However, this study was an exploration of socio-semiotic approach for the analysis of six poems in Adebowale's Igba Lonigbaaka. It aimed at unravelling how the poet selected words to discuss the social happenings in her environment. Socio-semiotics emphasised the importance of context, both context of situation and context of culture, in reconstructing the meaning of a text. In the study, context of situation (i.e., field, tenor and mode of discourse) and context of culture were used for the interpretation of the selected poems. The major findings located in the field of discourse centred on the social vices that are prevalent among contemporary young girls and women, and also the issue of bribery that has eaten deep into the fabric of all sectors of the society. The tenor of discourse exhibited the poet's role interaction as a wife and mother. The mode of discourse was advising through the use of metaphorical expressions. The context of culture foregrounded the Yoruba ideological stance on the marriage institution. The study concluded that the deployment of socio-semiotic tools to analyse the selected poems made the interpretation of the poems more easier, by identifying some social problems in the society and also suggesting solutions to these problems.