Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An update on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in respect to classification and systemic therapy . Extended review

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the 10 most common cancers and demonstrates high mortality rates. Well known for its relation to smoking and alcohol consumption, in within the past 10 years a high number of cases, especially of the oropharynx could be shown to be based on an infection of human papilloma virus, high risk subtypes, mostly type 16 and 18. Often it is connected to younger age at onset, better outcome and better response to radiochemotherapy. Next to well established radiochemotherapy schemes, including targeted therapy as cetuximab, in the recent 2 years a complete new therapeutic approach manifested, called checkpoint inhibition. The drugs of this class block a binding of a membranous ligand to a surface receptor on T-cells. Without blocking, this binding is physiological in antigen-presenting cells or many other normal tissue cells (e.g. heart muscle, trophoblast) inhibiting activation of the cytotoxic T-cells. Research revealed an identical way of tumor cells escaping cell death caused by patient’s own immune system. By blocking this inhibition, in several carcinoma entities, a very effective disease control was achieved. So far, 2 pairs of binding are approved for treatment: CD80-CTLA4 and PD1-PDL1. In CD80-CTLA4, it is an inhibitor to CTLA4 (e. g. Ipilimumab), in PD1-PDL1, for both, the ligand an receptor are several inhibitors on the market (e. g. Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Atezolizumab, Durvalumab). So far, there could not be found a highly predictive marker for the grade of efficiency of these inhibitors. Next to very recent and complex markers, tumor mutational burden, the immunohistochemical staining for the ligand, PD-L1 could be established in a few number of carcinoma, incuding adenocarcinoma of the lung. Next to different ways of interpretation of the staining, also different staining procedures used in the trials are hindering an easy establishment of this marker in pathology laboratories. The staining procedures used in trials are not comparable with common immunohistochemistry due to very high costs of reagents (test-kits sold by the involved companies, so called companion diagnostic). To overcome these drawbacks, different studies were performed comparing the different antibody clones of immunohistochemical stains used in the official trials and antibodies of other companies. These harmonization studies brought to light that most antibodies stain equally, even the antibodies available from other companies thus making this stain more effordable and possible for introduction in the marker-portfolio of labs of pathology. In HNSCC there is a better response to checkpoint inhibitors in cases of high PD-L1 expression, but also in negative cases, an effect could be seen. The actual approval are exclusively for patients in second line without PD-L1 testing. Upcoming approvals for first line treatment by checkpoint inhibitors are likely to include immunohistochemical testing for PD-L1.
The Effect of Human Capital and Competition on Entrepreneurial Innovation

This study examines how innovation is affected by competition levels and human capital. It expands on previous literature by focussing on early-stage entrepreneurs. The relationship between competition and innovation has been a key issue of discussion in economics and ambiguity exists regarding this relationship both in terms of theoretical reasoning and empirical results (i.e. Arrow’s (1962) positive effect, Schumpeter’s (1934) negative effect and Aghion el al.’s (2005) inverted-u relationship between competition on innovation), whereas the relationship between human capital and innovation has rather explicit results (i.e. a positive effect of human capital on innovation (Dakhli and De Clercq, 2004; Marvel and Lumpkin, 2007)). The results of this paper expand on this discussion. In the analyses, a distinction is made between product and process innovation. The analyses are performed on a sample of 2,432 early-stage entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom between 2003 and 2005. Empirical support is found for positive relations between education and previous business ownership on the product innovativeness of earlystage entrepreneurs. The mark-up – which captures the economic rents on the industry – measures the competition level on industrial level. Support is found for a positive relation on entrepreneurial product innovation, which is in accordance to Arrow’s (1962) replacement effect and Kirzner’s (1997) logical deduction. However, none of these relations are supported concerning entrepreneurial process innovation, which is probably due to the measure itself. Yet, in order to stimulate product innovation among early-stage entrepreneurs, policy makers should focus on increasing competition, enhancing education and allow for easy exit barriers, as individuals can gain business ownership experience. Table of content
THE TIME-DOMAIN SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY: UNDERSTANDING THE OPTICALLY VARIABLE SKY WITH SEQUELS IN SDSS-III

The Time-Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS) is an SDSS-IV eBOSS subproject primarily aimed at obtaining identification spectra of ∼220,000 optically variable objects systematically selected from SDSS/Pan-STARRS1 multi-epoch imaging. We present a preview of the science enabled by TDSS, based on TDSS spectra taken over ∼320 deg2 of sky as part of the SEQUELS survey in SDSS-III, which is in part a pilot survey for eBOSS in SDSS-IV. Using the 15,746 TDSS-selected single-epoch spectra of photometrically variable objects in SEQUELS, we determine the demographics of our variability-selected sample and investigate the unique spectral characteristics inherent in samples selected by variability. We show that variability-based selection of quasars complements color-based selection by selecting additional redder quasars and mitigates redshift biases to produce a smooth quasar redshift distribution over a wide range of redshifts. The resulting quasar sample contains systematically higher fractions of blazars and broad absorption line quasars than from color-selected samples. Similarly, we show that M dwarfs in the TDSS-selected stellar sample have systematically higher chromospheric active fractions than the underlying M-dwarf population based on their Hα emission. TDSS also contains a large number of RR Lyrae and eclipsing binary stars with main-sequence colors, including a few composite-spectrum binaries. Finally, our visual inspection of TDSS spectra uncovers a significant number of peculiar spectra, and we highlight a few cases of these interesting objects. With a factor of ∼15 more spectra, the main TDSS survey in SDSS-IV will leverage the lessons learned from these early results for a variety of time-domain science applications.
A fast retrieval method for local or distributed data

In this paper, we propose an improvement to an approach to data retrieval which is performed in only one access to a bucket hash table or file. The idea behind it, is to let the system assign one digit to the record key so that the hashed new record key is "forced " to fall in a bucket according to some practical criteria. From a user point of view this forced hash procedure could be thought of as a “user-system cooperating code assignment”, since the user is free to code an object to be retrieved but the system may append s a digit to that code. For one access retrieval purposes, the new code key-digit is used to find its address. However, should the digit is not known, the retrieval process will find the key in its surrounding, provided it exists. In this approach it is unnecessary a bucket overflow area of any kind, since this method allows a high load factor for practical use. In the event of the hash table is nearly full, a simple procedure could be ran to extend the table size either by keeping the original digit or assigning new ones. For distributed data sets this methodology shows an appealing performance in real life and simulation results.
Update on Pituitary Folliculo-Stellate Cells

Folliculo-stellate cells (FSCs) are a non-endocrine population of sustentacular-like, star-shaped and follicle-forming cells, which contribute about 5-10% of elements from the anterior pituitary lobe. First identified with electron microscopy as non-hormone secreting accessory cells, light microscopy has revealed many of their cytophysiological features, and is known as positive for S-100 protein, a marker for FSCs. They are currently considered as functionally and phenotypically heterogeneous. Secretory cells are in close interconnection with this agranular functional units in an interactive endocrine networking. Due to FSCs communication with their endocrine neighbours, this opens the door to considering the pituitary as a cellular puzzle more ordered than the first thought. After a long period of pituitary research, many issues remain unsolved. In spite of many morphological and cytophysiological studies recently reported, a precise understanding of the major functions of FSCs in the pituitary gland remains unknown. New studies about the origin and differentiation of FSCs are expected to provide many relevant answers with respect to the debate about physiopathology of the pituitary gland. Here we review the characteristics of FSCs and their uncertain functions in the adenohypophysis, with focus on the present research points that we consider fundamental, such as their importance as stem cells, in the process of maturation and aging, and in the pathogenesis of pituitary tumors.
Assessing the Impact of Oil Spills on Marine Organisms

In a world with increasing crude oil production, oil spill accidents cannot be neglected when addressing pollution issues. The availability of crude oil constituents in the environment has posed serious threats to the marine community. Even biodegraded byproducts have also been discovered to be toxic to animals hence the need to know the impacts and future remediation methods. Marine organisms such as vertebrates and invertebrates are known to be affected by PAHs from the free floating embryo and larvae to their sexually matured adults. Impacts from lethal to sub-lethal dose of PAHs include habitat destruction and loss, mass mortality, impaired physiological functions such as reduced feeding, growth and development, respiration problems, loss of locomotion, balance and swimming. Most of these marine organisms take very long periods to recover and some never recover from these impacts which in tend affect the overall health and serenity of the marine environment. This paper seeks to review the lasting impacts of these spills on marine life and possible remediation methods.
Nanoscale computational analysis for an idealized bio-molecular motor

Molecular motors are nature’s nanomachines, and are the essential agents of movement that are an integral part of many living organisms. The supramolecular machine, called the nuclear pore complex (NPC), controls the transport of all cellular material between the cytoplasm and the nucleus that occurs naturally in all biological cells. In the presence of appropriate chemical stimuli, the NPC opens or closes, like a gating mechanism, and permits the flow of material into and out of the nucleus. As a first step in understanding the design characteristics of the NPC, nanoscale studies were conducted to understand the transport characteristics of an idealized NPC model using CFD analysis, discrete element transport and coupled fluid-solid analysis. Results of pressure and velocity profiles obtained from the models indicate that the fluid density, flexibility of walls and the geometry of the flow passage are important in the design of NPC based nanoand micro-motors.
DYNAMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ITALIAN HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER GRID

In this work, the Italian high-voltage power grid has been analysed by using a dynamical model based on Kuramoto-like oscillators. Synchronization in the network represents the normal working operating regime, after which the effect of perturbations has been studied to investigate the dynamical robustness of the network to faults. The analysis allows to define several dynamical parameters whose relationship with the topological ones is not-trivial. The results obtained have been then compared with those obtained on a surrogate random network.
Charge States of Bare Silicon Clusters up to Si8 by Non-Conventional Tight-Binding Method

A recently developed non-conventional tight-binding method was applied in combination with molecular dynamics to compute the geometric structures and cohesion energies of small stable pure Si clusters containing from 3 to 8 atoms, in neutral, positive and negative charge states. The influence of the charge state on the cluster configuration and cohesion energy is considered. The Anderson U(-) effect is observed in Si3-Si5 clusters. Doubly positively charged states are found to be the most energetically stable form for all clusters considered. The results computed with this semi-empirical approach are compared to predictions from state-of-the-art ab initio methods.
Growing Up in Poor Neighbourhoods

Drawing upon qualitative, longitudinal research with ‘socially excluded’ young adults from some of England’s poorest neighbourhoods, the article explores how locally-embedded, social networks become part of the process whereby poverty and class inequalities are reproduced. Networks of family and friends, rooted in severely de-industrialized locales, supported young people as they carved out transitions to adulthood in adverse circumstances. Examples are given in respect of informants’ highly localized housing careers and their longer-term experience of ‘poor work’. Paradoxically, though, while local networks helped in coping with the problems of growing up in poor neighbourhoods and generated a sense of inclusion, the sort of social capital embedded in them served simultaneously to close down opportunities and to limit the possibilities of escaping the conditions of social exclusion. Overall, and contrary to some recent youth sociology, the article stresses the continuing importance of class and place in shaping youth transitions.
Involvement and contribution to virulence of Endo-Beta-1,4-Xilanases of Fusarium Graminearum during host infection

Fusarium graminearum is the fungal pathogen mainly responsible for Fusarium head blight (FHB) of cereal crops, which attacks wheat spikes, reducing crop production and quality of grain by producing trichothecene mycotoxins. Several cytohistological studies showed that spike infection is associated with the production of cell wall degrading enzymes. Wheat tissue, as in other commelinoid monocot plants, is particularly rich in xylan which can be hydrolyzed by fungal endo-β-1,4-xylanase. The FGSG_03624 is one of the most expressed xylanase genes in wheat spikes 3 days after inoculation and was heterologously expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The recombinant protein (22.7 kDa) possessed xylanase activity and induced cell death and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in wheat leaves infiltrated with 10 ng/μl or in wheat glume surface treated with 20 ng/μl. This effect reflects that observed with other described fungal xylanases (from Trichoderma reesei, T. viride and Botrytis cinerea) with which the FGSG_03624 protein shares a stretch of amino acids reported as essential for elicitation of necrotic responses. Several F. graminearum mutants with the FGSG_03624 gene disrupted were obtained, and showed about 40% reduction of total xylanase activity in comparison to the wild type when grown in culture with xylan as carbon source. Even if the FGSG_03624 xylanase is able to induce hypersensitive-like symptoms on a monocot plant, FGSG_03624 gene deletion mutants were fully virulent on wheat cvs. Bobwhite and Nandu, probably because of xylanase gene redundancy. Therefore the role of this xylanase during wheat infection remains elusive. To get insight about the importance of xylanase activities produced by the pathogen during infection of host plants, Xyr1, a transcriptional regulator factor putatively regulating the expression of several xylanase genes has been deleted by targeted homologous recombination. Deleted mutants of the FGSG_17662 gene, encoding Xyr1, were heavily impaired both in total secreted xylanase activity and in fungal biomass formation when grown in liquid culture with xylan as sole carbon source. In comparison to WT, the fungal dry weight was reduced, by 40% to 70% and the total xylanase activity was reduced by about 90%. F. graminearum Xyr1 deletion mutants are now available to be submitted to expression analysis in vivo to verify the Xyr1 mediated regulation of the expression of genes encoding for xylanolitic enzymes during plant infection. The Xyr1 disrupted mutants will be characterized for their virulence by inoculating Triticum aestivum spikes. If these mutants will be verified as impaired in virulence, in planta overexpression of xylanase inhibitors may be considered as a new tool to control FHB
Biogeochemical decoupling: how, where and when?

Research has dealt with coupling of chemical element cycles and feedback in recent 21 years. Sometimes, this biogeochemical coupling is reversed through abiotic or biotic (including 22 man-made) processes. It is then called biogeochemical decoupling and is a disconnection 23 between two chemical elements whereby transformations of one affect cycling of the other, and 24 results in asynchronical behavior of chemical elements. It appears to be more important and 25 widespread than earlier reports suggest, and gives rise to important changes in element 26 stoichiometry of resources. These changes in turn modify organismal stoichiometry that, if great 27 enough, can affect biodiversity and food webs, thus altering community structure and function. 28 Biogeochemical decoupling then impinges on ecosystem dynamics and may impair ecosystem 29 services. 30
Azimuthal Signature of Coincidental Brightness Temperature and Normalized Radar Cross-section Obtained Using Airborne PALS Instrument

Coincidental airborne brightness temperature (TB) and normalized radar-cross section (NRCS) measurements were carried out with the PALS (Passive and Active L- and S- band) instrument in the SMAPVEX08 (SMAP Validation Experiment 2008) fleld campaign. This paper describes results obtained from a set of ∞ights which measured a fleld in 45 - steps over the azimuth angle. The fleld contained mature soy beans with distinct row structure. The measurement shows that both TB and NRCS experience modulation efiects over the azimuth as expected based on the theory. The result is useful in development and validation of land surface parameter forward models and retrieval algorithms, such as the soil moisture algorithm for NASA's SMAP (Soil Moisture Active and Passive) mission. Although the footprint of the SMAP will not be sensitive to the small resolution scale efiects as the one presented in this paper, it is nevertheless important to understand the efiects at smaller scale. The airborne PALS (Passive and Active L- and S-band) instrument was used in the SMAPVEX08 (SMAP Validation Experiment 2008) campaign (2) to measure the brightness temperature (TB) and normalized radar cross-section (NRCS) at L-band during a period of several days over an area spanning tens of kilometers in Maryland and Delaware. SMAP (Soil Moisture Active and Passive) is a NASA mission to measure global soil moisture and boreal land surface freeze/thaw state (1). The satellite will carry radar (active) and radiometer (passive) L-band instruments that will perform simultaneous and coincident measurements of the Earth's surface. The airborne PALS instrument
Assessment of bacterial species present in Pasig River and Marikina River soil using 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis

The Pasig River system, which includes its major tributaries, the Marikina, Taguig-Pateros, and San Juan Rivers, is the most important river system in Metro Manila. It is known to be heavily polluted due to the dumping of domestic, industrial and solid wastes. Identification of microbial species present in the riverbed may be used to assess water and soil quality, and can help in assessing the river’s capability of supporting other flora and fauna. In this study, 16S rRNA gene or 16S rDNA sequences obtained from community bacterial DNA extracted from riverbed soil of Napindan (an upstream site along the Pasig River) and Vargas (which is along the Marikina River) were used to obtain a snapshot of the types of bacteria populating these sites. The 16S rDNA sequences of amplicons produced in PCR with total DNA extracted from soil samples as template were used to build clone libraries. Four positive clones were identified from each site and were sequenced. BLAST analysis revealed that none of the contiguous sequences obtained had complete sequence similarity to any known cultured bacterial species. Using the classification output of the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) Classifier and DECIPHER programs, 16S rDNA sequences of closely related species were collated and used to construct a neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree using MEGA6. Six out of the 8 cloned samples were found to belong to obligate anaerobe species, suggesting that these species live deep within the sediment layer and do not have access to dissolved oxygen. Three species were found to be associated with sulfate-reducing bacteria, which suggests an abundance of sulfur containing compounds in the riverbed. This is the first census report of the Pasig River microbial population using an approach that utilizes 16S rDNA sequences without culture nor isolation of bacteria. Further studies employing multiple composite samples and larger sample sizes are recommended for more comprehensive bacterial taxonomic profiles as well as evaluation of interactions between community members and bacterial response to environmental perturbations. Keywords—16S rDNA, metagenomics, Pasig River system, DNA sequence analysis, molecular phylogeny
The semi-aquatic fly fauna (Diptera) of wetlands of the Åland Islands

Semiaquatic flies (Diptera, Nematocera: Limoniidae, Tipulidae, Pediciidae, Cylindrotomidae, Ptychopteridae, Psychodidae and Dixidae) of wetlands in the Aland Islands were collected from 19 sites withMalaise traps. Sites included openmires, woodedmires, rich fens, Baltic shore meadows, ditches and a grove. A total of 104 species were found of which 58 were recorded for the first time from the Aland Islands. Baltic shore meadows were the most species rich habitat type with 44 species. They were followed by ditches (41 spp.). However, local nematoceran communities of the Aland Islands are on average composed of fewer species than in other parts of southern Finland. Also the known total number of species is lower in the region of Aland than in the other regions of southern Finland. The theory of island biogeography may partly explain this. Aland is situated about 40 km from the nearest continental area. However, the best explanation for the observed species numbermay be that the islands are lacking some of themost species-rich habitats, for example, brooks and springs.
Functional decomposition of combinational logic circuits with PKmin

In this paper, an application of the PKmin program for functional decomposition of multiinput multi-output combinational circuits is presented. The main focus is on balanced multilevel decomposition of logic circuits into minimal number of blocks, such as LUTs in FPGAs. Reduction of the input redundancy is available. Decomposition schemes include parallel, joint/ disjoint serial and a mixed one. The decomposition with PKmin can be automated by means of a heuristic algorithm or can be supervised by the designer. A distinctive feature of PKmin is the visualization of the design steps and the final layout of blocks and their interconnections. PKmin is compared in an example with the program DEMAIN.