Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Factors and Treatment Effects in Patients With Curatively Resected Brain Metastasis From Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer infrequently causes brain metastasis, and the prognosis is poor. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic factors associated with survival and outcome of treatment for patients with brain metastasis from colorectal cancer. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study from a prospectively collected database. SETTINGS: The investigation took place in a high-volume multidisciplinary tertiary cancer center in Japan. PATIENTS: From 1979 to 2010, 113 consecutive patients who were treated for brain metastasis from colorectal cancer were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was overall survival. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients had neurosurgical resection (including curative resection for 46 patients) followed by whole brain radiotherapy, 9 had stereotactic radiosurgery, 30 had whole brain radiotherapy, and 11 had steroid and palliative care. As a whole, the overall median survival time from diagnosis of brain metastasis was 5.4 months (95% CI, 4.3–7.6 months), and the 1-year survival rate was 29% (95% CI, 22%–38%). In the group of patients who underwent curative neurosurgical resection, the overall median survival time was 15.2 months (95% CI, 9.2–17.8 months), and the 1-year survival rate was 57% (95% CI, 43%–71%). On multivariate analysis, 1 or 2 brain metastatic lesions, no extracranial metastatic lesions, and neurosurgical resection were independent favorable prognostic factors overall (p = 0.0057, 0.0197, and <0.0001), and 1 or 2 brain metastatic lesions, no extracranial metastatic lesion, and no emergence of secondary brain metastatic lesions were independent favorable prognostic factors in the group of patients who underwent curative neurosurgical resection (p = 0.0137, 0.0081, and 0.0010). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its single-institute, retrospective, nonrandomized design and selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosurgical resection in select patients is a reasonable option for brain metastasis from colorectal cancer, although it is not associated with long-term (5-year) survival. (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A121 )
Ion transport peptide (ITP) regulates wing expansion and cuticle melanism in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

Ion transport peptide (ITP) and its alternatively spliced homologous ITP‐like (ITPL) products play important roles in various insect developmental processes. We found for the first time that alternative 5' untranslated regions (5' UTRs) of ITPL (NilluITPLs‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐4) control spatiotemporal expression in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, as demonstrated by reverse‐transcription quantitative PCR. By using an alternative 5' UTR, NilluITPL‐1 was expressed exclusively in the male reproductive system, resulting in the production of the NilluITPL seminal fluid protein. Interestingly, NilluITPLs‐3 and −4 were expressed exclusively in the integument, indicating a specialized function for NilluITPL during ecdysis and eclosion. We investigated the functions of NilluITP and NilluITPL using RNA interference (RNAi). We did not observe apparent phenotypes when expression of NilluITPLs was suppressed. However, when NilluITP expression was suppressed, the insect exhibited melanism and failed wing expansion, indicating that NilluITP is a neuropeptide associated with wing expansion in addition to bursicon. Additionally, in contrast to bursicon, the insects showed increased melanism when NilluITP was eliminated by RNAi. Unlike previous studies of ITP/ITPL in other species, NilluITP was very important in the control of N. lugens postecdysial behaviours but was not critical during ecdysis. Thus, the functions of ITP and ITPL are more complex in insects than previously thought.
Physical Database Design: the database professional's guide to exploiting indexes, views, storage, and more

The rapidly increasing volume of information contained in relational databases places a strain on databases, performance, and maintainability: DBAs are under greater pressure than ever to optimize database structure for system performance and administration. Physical Database Design discusses the concept of how physical structures of databases affect performance, including specific examples, guidelines, and best and worst practices for a variety of DBMSs and configurations. Something as simple as improving the table index design has a profound impact on performance. Every form of relational database, such as Online Transaction Processing (OLTP), Enterprise Resource Management (ERP), Data Mining (DM), or Management Resource Planning (MRP), can be improved using the methods provided in the book. · The first complete treatment on physical database design, written by the authors of the seminal, Database Modeling and Design: Logical Design, 4th edition. · Includes an introduction to the major concepts of physical database design as well as detailed examples, using methodologies and tools most popular for relational databases today: Oracle, DB2 (IBM), and SQL Server (Microsoft). · Focuses on physical database design for exploiting B+tree indexing, clustered indexes, multidimensional clustering (MDC), range partitioning, shared nothing partitioning, shared disk data placement, materialized views, bitmap indexes, automated design tools, and more!
Effect of plant density and mixing ratio on crop yield in sweet corn/mungbean intercropping.

In order to evaluate the ear and forage yield of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. Saccarata) in pure stand and intercropped with mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), a field experiment was conducted at Varamin region on summer 2006. Experiment was carried out in a split plot design based on randomized complete blocks with 4 replications. Plant density with 3 levels [Low (D1), Mean (D2) and High (D3) respecting 6, 8 and 10 m(-2) for sweet corn, cultivar S.C. 403 and 10, 20 and 30 m(-2) for mung bean cultivar, Partow] was arranged in main plots and 5 mixing ratios [(P1) = 0/100, (P2) = 25/75, (P3) = 50/50, (P4) = 75/25, (P5) = 100/0% for sweet corn/mung bean, respectively] were arranged in subplots. Quantitative attributes such as plant height, sucker numbers, LER, dry matter distribution in different plant organs were measured in sweet corn economical maturity. Furthermore the yield of cannable ear corn and yield components of sweet corn and mung bean were investigated. Results showed that plant density has not any significant effect on evaluated traits, while the effect of mixing ratio was significant (p < 0.01). Therefore, the mixing ratio of 75/25 (sweet corn/mung bean) could be introduced as the superior mixing ratio; because of it's maximum rate of total sweet corn's biomass, forage yield, yield and yield components of ear corn in intercropping. Regarding to profitability indices of intercropping, the mixing ratio 75/25 (sweet corn/mung bean) in low density (D1P2) which showed the LER = 1.03 and 1.09 for total crop yield before ear harvesting and total forage yield after ear harvest respectively, was better than corn or mung bean monoculture.
Elevated Protein Carbonyls as Plasma Markers of Oxidative Stress in Acute Pancreatitis

Background: Experimental studies have demonstrated that protein and lipid oxidation is a feature of acute pancreatitis and that antioxidant pretreatment can ameliorate the severity of the disease. Justification for a clinical trial of antioxidant therapy requires stronger evidence for oxidative stress in patients. Aims: To determine if oxidative stress is evident in patients with acute pancreatitis on admission to hospital, if it increases after admission and if it is related to disease severity. Methods: Measurement of plasma concentrations of protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde as markers of protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, respectively, in a consecutive series of 85 patients with acute pancreatitis 0, 2 and 5 days after admission. Results: Patients with acute pancreatitis had significantly increased concentrations of protein carbonyls in plasma on recruitment (median 27 h after the onset of symptoms) that persisted over 5 days. Protein carbonyls were higher in severe compared with mild disease (median 0.099 and 0.043 nmol/mg protein, respectively, p = 0.0016). They were higher at day 0 in patients recruited with more established pancreatitis than in those presenting early. No increases in malondialdehyde were seen. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that protein carbonyls at day 0 were comparable with C-reactive protein at predicting pancreatitis severity. Conclusion: Our demonstration of substantial protein oxidation provides further evidence for oxidative stress in patients with severe pancreatitis. Our results suggest that there could be a window for early antioxidant intervention and that protein carbonyls could be a useful plasma marker of oxidative injury.
Age-Specific Features of Soccer Players' Heart Dimensions

This work concentrates on the analysis of the echocardiographic part of our complex investigation which determined the characteristics of work capacity, the cardio-respiratory system and the nervous system. Professional healthy male soccer players of the best clubs of Estonia (n=236) aged 17 to 31 years were examined. Athletes were divided into three age groups. All tests were performed in the same training period. The statistical analysis of all characteristics (ANOVA-test, Pearson product moment correlation) allows us to conclude that the character of heart development depends on age. Soccer’s sport-specific effect on heart produces an adaption where both the dilatation and the wall thickening of the heart occur moderately but not at the same time.
Molecular Analysis of Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia with t(4;10) Showing Good Response to Imatinib Mesylate

A 38-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital in June 2003 for treatment of acute respiratory failure with severe eosinophilia. Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome had been diagnosed in 1994. However, karyotypic examination of bone marrow cells revealed that chromosomal translocation with t(4;10)(q12;p11) had occurred in 2000, and chronic eosinophilic leukemia was diagnosed. At admission, the patient’s respiratory condition was extremely serious, and mechanical support was necessary. Despite treatment with steroid pulse therapy and cytarabine, the blood eosinophil count did not decrease, and the patient’s respiratory condition worsened. After obtaining informed consent, we administered imatinib mesylate at a dose of 200 mg/day for 2 days and 100 mg/day for 3 days. The blood eosinophil count decreased dramatically over 5 days, and the patient’s condition rapidly improved, such that the patient could be discharged. In this case, we performed molecular analysis using peripheral blood. The FIP1-like 1 (FIP1L1)-platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) fusion transcript was found with the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. In this case, eosinophilia was possibly caused by constitutive activation of tyrosine kinase produced by the FIP1L1-PDGFRa fusion transcript.
TNFR1 and TNFR2 differentially mediate TNF‐α‐induced inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes

TNF‐α has long been implicated in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, how the receptors of TNF‐α, namely TNFR1 and TNFR2, mediate TNF‐α‐induced inflammatory responses in fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) in RA has not been elucidated. In the present study, primary FLS cells were isolated from RA patients and treated with TNF‐α in vitro. The exogenous TNF‐α induced the expression and release of endogenous TNF‐α in FLS. In addition, TNF‐α led to gradual downregulation of TNFR1 following 1 h treatment. By contrast, the expression of TNFR2 was markedly upregulated after 12 h treatment with TNF‐α. Moreover, following TNF‐α treatment, the expression of interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐6, and IL‐8 was gradually increased with time, but their mRNA levels dropped significantly at 48 h. We further investigated the differential functions of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in FLS by conducting siRNA‐mediated knockdown. The TNF‐α autocrine was inhibited to a greater extent in TNFR1‐silenced FLS compared with TNFR2‐silenced FLS. Silencing of TNFR1, not TNFR2, activated intrinsic apoptosis and inhibited TNF‐α‐induced cytokine production in FLS. These results suggest that TNFR1 is the major pro‐inflammatory mediator of TNF‐α in FLS, whereas TNFR2, which is upregulated in response to prolonged TNF‐α stimulation, may act as an immunosuppressor in FLS for the prevention of overwhelming inflammatory reactions.
Neurons of the lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei: A golgi study in the rat

Neurons in the lateral and basolateral nuclei of the rat amygdala were studied using Golgi‐Kopsch and rapid Golgi techniques. According to differences in perikaryal, dendritic, and axonal morphology, three main neuronal classes are recognized. Class I neurons, the predominant cell type in both nuclei, are large, spiny neurons that vary in size in different subdivisions of the lateral and basolateral nuclei. These neurons often have a pyramidal shape, exhibiting one or two thick “apical” dendrites and several thinner “basal” dendrites. Axons of class I neurons, which appear to pass out of the nucleus of origin, usually give off several collaterals that arborize modestly in the vicinity of the cell. Class II neurons are smaller, ovoid cells that comprise approximately 5% of impregnated neurons. These neurons are characterized by spine‐sparse dendrites and fairly dense local axonal arborizations. Class II neurons may be classified as multipolar, bitufted, or bipolar, depending on dendritic branching pattern. Another type of class II neuron, the amygdaloid chandelier cell, is recognized by virtue of its distinctive axon. The chandelier cell axon gives off numerous collaterals that form nestlike entanglements exhibiting clusters of axonal varicosities. Isolated chandelierlike axons of undetermined origin were observed forming multiple contacts with initial segments of class I axons. Several small, spherical class III neurons with short, varicose dendrites were observed. Axons branch profusely to form a dense tangle of collaterals in the vicinity of the cell. Both axons and dendrites establish numerous contacts with class I dendrites. This investigation, the first detailed Golgi study of the basolateral amygdala of the rat, reveals that the cytoarchitecture of this brain region in the rat is basically similar to that of the opossum and other mammals. Morphologic details described in this report should be useful in the interpretation of ultrastructural, immunocytochemical, and electro‐physiological studies of the basolateral amygdala.
Telomere Shortening Is Proportional to the Size of the G-rich Telomeric 3′-Overhang*

Most normal diploid human cells do not express telomerase activity and are unable to maintain telomere length with ongoing cell divisions. We show that the length of the single-stranded G-rich telomeric 3′-overhang is proportional to the rate of shortening in four human cell types that exhibit different rates of telomere shortening in culture. These results provide direct evidence that the size of the G-rich overhang is not fixed but subject to regulation. The potential ability to manipulate this rate has profound implications both for slowing the rate of replicative aging in normal cells and for accelerating the rate of telomere loss in cancer cells in combination with anti-telomerase therapies.
Microgravity Reduces the Differentiation of Human Osteoblastic MG‐63 Cells

Spaceflight leads to osteopenia in both humans and animals, principally as a result of decreased bone formation, which might be the consequence of impaired osteoblast differentiation. The effect of microgravity on osteoblast differentiation in vitro was investigated using the human osteosarcoma cell line MG‐63. Genes related to matrix formation and maturation were quantified both at the protein and mRNA level in untreated and hormone‐treated (dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], 10−7 M; transforming growth factor β2 (TGF‐β2), 10 ng/ml) cells cultured for 9 days under microgravity conditions aboard the Foton 10 satellite and compared with ground and inflight unit‐gravity cultures. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity following treatment at microgravity increased only by a factor of 1.8 compared with the 3.8‐fold increase at unit‐gravity (p < 0.01), whereas no alteration was detected in the production of collagen type I between unit‐ and microgravity. In addition, gene expression for collagen Iα1, ALP, and osteocalcin following treatment at microgravity was reduced to 51, 62, and 19%, respectively, of unit‐gravity levels (p < 0.02). The lack of correlation between collagen type I gene and protein expression induced by microgravity is most likely related to the different kinetics of gene and protein expression observed at unit‐gravity: following treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 and TGF‐β2, collagen Iα1 mRNA increased gradually during 72 h, but collagen type I production was already maximal after treatment for 48 h. In conclusion, microgravity decreases the activity of osteoblasts in vitro; in particular the differentiation of osteoblasts in response to systemic hormones and growth factors is reduced by microgravity.
Protocol for indicator scoring in the soil management assessment framework (SMAF)

Abstract Assessment tools are needed to evaluate agronomic management effects on critical soil functions such as carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and water partitioning. These tools need to be flexible in terms of selection of soil functions to be assessed and indicators to be measured to ensure that assessments are appropriate for the management goals. The soil management assessment framework (SMAF) is being developed to meet this need. The SMAF uses soil physical, chemical and biological indicator data to assess management effects on soil function using a three-step process for (1) indicator selection, (2) indicator interpretation and (3) integration into an index. While SMAF is functional in its present format, it is intended to be malleable so that user needs can be met. Development of additional indicator interpretation scoring curves is one way that this framework can be expanded. Scoring curve development is a multi-step process of identifying an indicator, determining the nature of the relationship of the indicator to a soil function, programming an algorithm and/or logic statements describing that relationship and validating the resulting scoring curve. This paper describes the steps involved in developing an SMAF scoring curve. Scoring curves for interpreting water-filled pore space (WFPS) and Mehlich extractable potassium (K) were developed using the described protocol. This protocol will assist users of the SMAF in understanding how the existing scoring curves were developed and others interested in developing scoring curves for indicators that are not in the current version.
Yeast culture to improve intake, nutrient digestibility, and performance by dairy cattle during early lactation.

Twenty-four primiparous Holstein cows were fed corn silage:grain (1:1, DM basis) and hay (.9 kg/d) beginning 30 d prepartum and through wk 18 of lactation. Ten grams of Biomate Yeast Plus (5 X 10(9) cfu of Saccharomyces cerevisiae/g) were top-dressed on the a.m. allotment of corn silage:grain fed to 12 cows. Corn silage:grain was restricted during prepartum and thereafter fed for ad libitum intake. Cows fed supplemental yeast peaked earlier and had a higher milk yield compared with control cows (wk 7, 29.5 kg/d vs. wk 11, 28.7 kg/d). Digestibilities of protein and cellulose were improved in cows fed supplemental yeast, contributing to a greater DMI during the first 6 wk of lactation and a higher average milk yield through wk 18 of lactation compared with control cows (27.2 vs. 26.0 kg/d).
Degree Project Level : Dalarna University Master ’ s Degree Standardisation of the Selling Process in Franchising A Take on Sales Funnel Management

This paper addresses the two opposing extremes of standardisation in franchising and the dynamics of sales in search of a juncture point in order to reduce franchisees’ uncertainties in sales and improve sales performance. A conceptual framework is developed based on both theory and practice in order to investigate the sales process of a specific franchise network. The research is conducted over a period of six weeks in form of a customised sales report considering the sales funnel concept and performance indicators along the sales process. The received quantitative data is analysed through descriptive statistics and logistic regressions in respect to what variations in the sales process can be discovered and what practices yield higher performance. The results indicate an advantage of a prioritisation guideline regarding the activities and choices to make as a salesperson over strict standardisation. Defining the sales funnel plus engaging in the process of monitoring sales in itself has proven to be a way of reducing uncertainty as the franchisor and franchisees alike inherently gain a greater understanding of the process. The extended knowledge gained from this research allowed for both practical as well as theoretical implications and expands the knowledge on standardisation of sales and the appropriateness of the sales funnel and its management for dealing with the dilemma between standardisation and flexibility of sales in franchising contexts.
Severe Hypercholesterolemia, Impaired Fat Tolerance, and Advanced Atherosclerosis in Mice Lacking Both Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 5 and Apolipoprotein E*

LDL receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) plays multiple roles, including embryonic development and bone accrual development. Recently, we demonstrated that LRP5 is also required for normal cholesterol metabolism and glucose-induced insulin secretion. To further define the role of LRP5 in the lipoprotein metabolism, we compared plasma lipoproteins in mice lacking LRP5, apolipoprotein E (apoE), or both (apoE;LRP5 double knockout). On a normal chow diet, the apoE;LRP5 double knockout mice (older than 4 months of age) had ∼60% higher plasma cholesterol levels compared with the age-matched apoE knockout mice. In contrast, LRP5 deficiency alone had no significant effects on the plasma cholesterol levels. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of plasma lipoproteins revealed that cholesterol levels in the very low density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein fractions were markedly increased in the apoE;LRP5 double knockout mice. There were no apparent differences in the pattern of apoproteins between the apoE knockout mice and the apoE;LRP5 double knockout mice. The plasma clearance of intragastrically loaded triglyceride was markedly impaired by LRP5 deficiency. The atherosclerotic lesions of the apoE;LRP5 double knockout mice aged 6 months were ∼3-fold greater than those in the age-matched apoE-knockout mice. Furthermore, histological examination revealed highly advanced arthrosclerosis, with remarkable accumulation of foam cells and destruction of the internal elastic lamina in the apoE;LRP5 double knockout mice. These data suggest that LRP5 mediates both apoE-dependent and apoE-independent catabolism of plasma lipoproteins.