Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accelerated-intensified cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil (CEF) compared with standard CEF in metastatic breast cancer patients: results of a multicenter, randomized phase III study of the Italian Gruppo Oncologico Nord-Ouest-Mammella Inter Gruppo Group.

PURPOSE To evaluate whether an accelerated-intensified cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil (CEF) chemotherapy regimen with the support of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) induces a higher activity and efficacy compared with standard CEF in metastatic breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Stage IV breast cancer patients were randomized to receive as first-line chemotherapy either standard CEF (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2), epirubicin 60 mg/m(2), and fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2)) administered every 21 days (CEF21) or accelerated-intensified CEF (cyclophosphamide 1,000 mg/m(2), epirubicin 80 mg/m(2), and fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2)) administered every 14 days (HD-CEF14) with the support of G-CSF. Treatment was administered for eight cycles. RESULTS A total of 151 patients were randomized (74 patients on the CEF21 arm and 77 on the HD-CEF14 arm). In both arms, the median number of administered cycles was eight. The dose-intensity actually administered was 93% and 86% of that planned, in CEF21- and HD-CEF14-treated patients, respectively. Compared with the CEF21 arm, the dose-intensity increase in the HD-CEF14 arm was 80%. Both nonhematologic and hematologic toxicities were higher in the HD-CEF14 arm than in the CEF21 arm. During chemotherapy, four deaths occurred in the HD-CEF14 arm. No difference in overall response rate (complete plus partial responses) was observed: 49% and 51% in the CEF21 and HD-CEF14 arms, respectively (P =.94). A slightly non-statistically significant higher percentage of complete response was observed in the HD-CEF14 arm (20% v 15%). No difference in efficacy was observed. The median time to progression was 14.3 and 12.8 months in the CEF21 and HD-CEF14 arms, respectively (P =.69). Median overall survival was 32.7 and 27.2 months in the CEF21 and HD-CEF14 arms, respectively (P =.16). CONCLUSION In metastatic breast cancer patients, an 80% increase in dose-intensity of the CEF regimen, obtained by both acceleration and dose intensification, does not improve the activity and the efficacy compared with a standard dose-intensity CEF regimen.
Open Assessment of the Effect of Prazosin on Plasma Lipids

Seventeen patients with newly diagnosed hypertension, or with hypertension not optimally controlled by previous treatment, completed an open, noneomparative study on the effects of prazosin on plasma lipids. Patients with diabetes mellitus. raised triglycerides, or alcohol consumption of over 250 g/week, and patients on concomitant treatment with drugs known to affect lipid levels were excluded. Diastolic blood pressure varied between 90 and 1 15 mm Hg. Prazosin was given initially in a dose of I mg three times a day for the first 2 weeks. If the drug was well tolerated but the blood pressure response was not satisfactory, the dose was increased at fortnightly intervals to 2 mg t.i. d. 4 mg t.i. d. , and to a maximum of 6 mg t.i. d. Patients were reviewed twice before the start of prazosin treatment, the intervals between visits being not less than 2 weeks, and after 2. 4. ft. S. and 12 weeks of prazosin treatment. Patients attended in the morning after an overnight fast of 12–16 h. Duplicate measurements of blood pressure and heart rate were recorded after 5 min lying down and after 2 min standing. Blood was taken for measurements of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, as well as other hematological and biochemical parameters. Prazosin reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly. There was a slight tendency to increase HDL and reduce total cholesterol. but in neither case were these changes statistically significant. Triglyceride levels did not change significantly either
Informationization project approval in shanghai colleges and universities

This research focused on the annual approval proceedings of informationization project in Shanghai colleges and universities. By analyzing the actual data from 2008 to 2013, the major cause for colleges and universities neglecting the approval tasks are proposed, and the deviation of the directorsÂÂ understanding in municipal information departments about informatization construction in colleges and universities are interpreted comprehensively. Considering the pilot national project of education reform, Provincial Government Comprehensive Reform for Education Coordination, concrete proposals for promoting the approval work are given according to standards, coordination and data.
A discrete derivative control technique for DC link voltage in shunt compensator

This paper presents a discrete derivative control technique for dc-link voltage in shunt compensator. It is desired to maintain the dc-link voltage at reference level value for current compensation using Distribution Static Compensator (DSTATCOM) to improve the power quality of distribution systems. The proposed control strategy improves the dynamic performance of DC control loop by taking the values of the error of the reference and feedback quantity with its discrete derivative value. Multiplied these values with the proportional factors in such a way that they maintained these values at the same scale level. The errors with their absolute values are taken in account to keep the calculation amount close to that of PI (Proportional Integral) controller. The performance was studied by MATLAB software simulation using Power System toolbox, result shows reduction in the occurrence of transient occurred on DC-Link voltage at the initial stage, also it reaches the reference level so fast. The control technique has been implemented with the Anti-Hebbian control algorithm developed for the extraction of fundamental reference source currents required for power devices switching. The control technique has been verified for power factor correction to improve the power quality of a three phase distribution system using DSTATCOM. MATLAB Simulink platform is used to study the performance of the proposed control technique under dynamic conditions of nonlinear load.
Modelling the heterogeneous effects of stocking rate on dairy production: an application of unconditional quantile regression with fixed effects

ABSTRACT This article analyses the effects of stocking rate on dairy production, using New Zealand dairy farm business data for the period 2005–2014. Unlike previous studies that assume a homogenous relationship between stocking rate and dairy production, we contribute to the literature by investigating the heterogeneous effects of stocking rate on milksolids production and applying an unconditional quantile regression model with fixed effects to control for unobserved farm-specific traits that are time invariant. The empirical results show that stocking rate exerts significant heterogeneous effects on milksolids production at different quantiles. In particular, we find that an additional increase in stocking rate (i.e. one cow/ha increase) increases milksolids production per hectare by between 17% and 25% but decreases milksolids production per cow by between 5% and 12%. In addition, we find that milking interval, dairy breed, farm labour, access to irrigation and farm location are important factors that increase milksolids production.
Promising results after vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction.

INTRODUCTION Patients with an open abdomen (OA) present a major challenge to the surgeon. High mortality and associated complication rates have been reported depending on the specific method of temporary abdominal closure, the primary disorder and any co-morbidity. Vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) is a novel technique recently introduced for late fascial closure of the OA. In previous studies, the disease aetiologies were mainly vascular and visceral surgical disease and trauma. We report our results using VAWCM in a non-trauma patient population treated with an OA due to visceral surgical disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS Medical records of all patients in our department treated with VAWCM during the period from 1 August 2009 to 31 May 2011 were reviewed. All sixteen patients were non-trauma patients. The initial treatment was vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) (Abdominal Dressing System KCI, San Antonio, Texas, USA). VAWCM treatment was initiated if complete fascial closure could not be obtained with VAC. RESULTS Two patients died of multiple organ failure that was not associated with the VAWCM treatment. In one patient, treatment was terminated due to a very short life expectancy. We achieved a complete fascial closure rate in seven out of 16 patients. One patient had a pancreatic fistula at discharge that was not associated with the VAWCM treatment. No enteric fistulas occurred. CONCLUSION It seems that VAWCM can improve the rate of complete fascial closure after treatment with OA without increasing the mortality or the occurrence of enteric fistula compared with other kinds of temporary abdominal closure. FUNDING not relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION not relevant.
Response of Complicated Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Endocarditis to the Addition of Trovafloxacin

The newer fluoroquinolones have many properties such as safety, bioavailability, and tissue penetration that make them attractive in the therapy of complicated infections. Unfortunately, the rapid development of resistance by Staphylococcus aureus to ciprofloxacin has dampened interest in these agents for serious staphylococcal infections. A patient with right‐sided methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) endocarditis with a complicated clinical course received trovafloxacin in addition to vancomycin and rifampin. He was initially treated with vancomycin, gentamicin, and rifampin for serious MRSA infection, but because of complications, including septic central nervous system emboli, persistent fever, and leukocytosis, gentamicin was stopped and trovafloxacin begun. After this addition the patient improved and completely recovered. In vitro and animal model data show that many newer fluoroquinolones have excellent activity against S. aureus, including MRSA, and are also less likely to induce resistance. Animal models of endocarditis support their efficacy in serious staphylococcal infections.
Minimum wage and young workers: UK evidence

The minimum wage is a popular, if controversial, tool of economic policy making and for regulating the labour markets.2 On the one hand, it is seen as delivering a number of positive effects: it prevents the exploitation of marginal and vulnerable workers, reduces poverty and inequality, raises the standard of living of poorly-paid workers, and increases the labour supply. However, the minimum wage also has the potential to hurt those that it was intended to protect by increasing the cost of labour, reducing demand for labour, and even making the least productive workers unemployable. With ever progressing globalisation and digitalisation of production, poorly-paid workers’ jobs can often be easily offshored or replaced by a clever machine or an app. The UK introduced a national minimum wage in April 1999. After its introduction, its employment effects were analysed by a number of studies. Stewart (2004) and Dickens and Draca (2005) consider the effect of the minimum wage introduction and the annual increases, respectively. Dolton, Rosazza-Bondibene and Wadsworth (2009) draw on the fact that, unlike the minimum wage rates, average earnings vary considerably across the regions of the UK. They use the resulting variation in the ‘bite’ of the minimum wage at the regional level to assess its impact on employment. These studies find little evidence that the UK minimum wage has had an adverse effect on employment. The main (and probably only) exception so far is Dickens, Riley and Wilkinson (2015) who present evidence that the introduction, and annual minimum wage increases, reduce the employment of part-time women, a segment of the labour market that is especially exposed to the minimum wage. To gauge the effects of a policy, one should look at those who are most likely to be affected by it. In the UK, as in many other developed countries, the incidence of the minimum wage is much higher among young and
Serum vascular endothelial growth factor-D prospectively distinguishes lymphangioleiomyomatosis from other diseases.

OBJECTIVES The majority of women with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) present with cystic lung disease, and most require lung biopsy for definitive diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the prospective diagnostic usefulness of a serologic test for vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D), a lymphangiogenic growth factor. METHODS We prospectively measured serum VEGF-D levels by enzyme-linked immunoassay in 48 women presenting with cystic lung disease. Diagnostic test performance was determined from a cohort of 195 women, with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), TSC-LAM, sporadic LAM (S-LAM), and other cystic lung diseases in the differential diagnosis, including biopsy-proven or genetically proven pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, emphysema, Sjögren syndrome, or Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome. RESULTS Serum VEGF-D levels were significantly greater in S-LAM (median 1,175 [interquartile range (IQR): 780-2,013] pg/mL; n = 56) than in other cystic lung diseases (median 281 [IQR 203-351] pg/mL; n = 44, P < .001). In the cohort evaluated prospectively, 12 of the 15 individuals ultimately diagnosed with LAM by biopsy had VEGF-D levels of > 800 pg/mL, whereas levels were < 600 pg/mL in all 18 subjects later diagnosed with other causes of cystic lung disease. Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that VEGF-D effectively identified LAM, with an area under the curve of 0.961(95% CI, 0.923-0.992). A VEGF-D level of > 600 pg/mL was highly associated with a diagnosis of LAM (specificity 97.6%, likelihood ratio 35.2) and values > 800 pg/mL were diagnostically specific. Serum VEGF-D levels were significantly elevated in women with TSC-LAM (median 3,465 [IQR 1,970-7,195] pg/mL) compared with women with TSC only (median 370 [IQR 291-520] pg/mL), P < . 001). CONCLUSIONS A serum VEGF-D level of > 800 pg/mL in a woman with typical cystic changes on high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan is diagnostically specific for S-LAM and identifies LAM in women with TSC. A negative VEGF-D result does not exclude the diagnosis of LAM. The usefulness of serum VEGF-D testing in men or in women who do not have cystic lung disease on HRCT scan is unknown.
The impact of operational risk incidents and moderating influence of corporate governance on credit risk and firm performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the association among operational risk incidents, corporate governance, credit risk and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach First, the authors regress corporate credit risk on the incurrence of operating losses (driven by operational risk events) and corporate governance variables. The purpose is to test the correlation between operational risk, corporate governance and credit risk. Second, in the authors’ next regression, the authors’ dependent variable is firm performance, and the independent variable is operational risk and corporate governance to test the correlation between operational risk, corporate governance and firm performance. In this study, the authors measure corporate governance using four surrogates, focusing on CEO duality, extent of independent board members, extent of foreign ownership and board member presence ratio. Findings The authors’ findings indicate that the higher level of operational risk incidents is linked to higher likelihood of credit default and to poorer performance. More importantly, the authors find that higher-quality corporate governance is associated with lower levels of operational risk incidents, better performance and lower likelihood of credit fault. Originality/value The authors use a rigid theoretical and empirical framework to examine the association among the incidents of operational risk, credit risk, corporate governance and firm performance. The authors’ study is important because it first facilitates understanding of causes leading to operational risk, and second if and how greater financial effects of operational risk negatively influences operating performance and credit risk of nonfinancial institutions in emerging markets.
An ultrasonic sensor distance induced automatic braking automobile collision avoidance system

Collisions in automobiles have become a major safety concern; cases of damage and death due to automobile collisions are frequently reported. The number of pedestrians knocked to death by automobiles is also on the rise in cities and highways. Further into the game reserves, wild animals are also frequently knocked to death by automobiles. The cost of a life cannot be estimated, the cost of damages to the automobiles also impacts negatively on investment. In most cases drivers fail to notice the presence of obstacles ahead and brakes need a driver's response to operate thus increasing the response time, hence reducing their reliability. Many approaches to automobile crash avoidance systems have been proposed in recent time, however, such approaches mainly concentrate on steering maneuvering control. In addition, these approaches do not take into consideration the safety distance to stoppage of the automobile, more so, many approaches only provide a warning signal to the driver for activating the automatic braking. This always provides a room for human error. This paper presents the development of an automatic microcontroller based crash avoidance system that employs obstacle detection and distance measurement using ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles and their distances. Once the obstacle has been detected and safe separation distance is reached, the automobile performs safety distance induced braking at that distance to bring the automobile to a stoppage. From the results obtained after tests, the system has an average response time of 0.86s to the activation of the brakes and a 12.8 percentage error with respect to the obstacle real distance.
Effects of protein kinase inhibitors on radiation‐induced WAF1 accumulation in human cultured melanoma cells

To examine whether protein kinase C (PKC) and A (PKA) contribute to WAF1 induction by ionizing radiation (IR) in cultured human melanomas, the effect of PK inhibitors 1‐(5′‐isoquinolinesulphonyl)‐2‐methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H7), bisindolylmaleimide (GF) and N‐[2(p‐dromocinnamylamino)ethyl]‐5‐isoquinolinesulphonamide (H89) on IR‐induced WAF1 accumulation was analysed by Western blot analysis. Gamma‐ray‐induced accumulation of WAF1 showed a peak at 6 Gy in all the cell lines. After γ‐ray irradiation of 6 Gy, a peak of WAF1 accumulation was observed at 6 h in SK‐Mel‐26, G361 and HM6KO cells, and at 3 h in MeWo cells. In MeWo and SK‐Mel‐26 cells, the X‐ray‐induced WAF1 accumulation was decreased by PK inhibitors, GF (PKC inhibitor) or H89 (PKA inhibitor); this did not occur in G361 and HM6KO. In all the cell lines, accumulation of WAF1 induced by X‐ray irradiation was suppressed by H7 (PKC and PKA inhibitor). In addition, polymerase chain reaction–single strand conformational polymorphism analysis detected no aberrations in the p53 gene of the four cell lines used. These results suggest that IR‐induced WAF1 expression involves PKC and/or PKA activity depending on cell type.
Teaching and Assessing Professionalism in Medicine

Professionalism is the single most important of the clinical competencies. Lack of professional behavior, in turn, is the single most common cause for disciplinary action against third and fourth-year medical students, residents, fellows, and clinical practitioners. Desirable professional attributes include humility, honesty, responsibility, reliability, and accountability. The ability to preserve an appropriate balance between patient care responsibilities and personal commitments also is an important feature of professional behavior. Altruism, respectfulness, loyalty, compassion, sensitivity, and tactfulness are other desirable professional attributes. In addition, professionalism requires a heightened sense of intellectual curiosity, insight into personal strengths and weaknesses, maturity, and commitment to clinical excellence and self-directed learning. Professionalism can be taught and assessed through lectures, small-group seminars, role-playing exercises, directed reading, and one-on-one observation and counseling. However, the most effective way of teaching professionalism is for instructors to model appropriate behavior and to impose a consistent policy of zero tolerance for unprofessional behavior.
Event corruption: A game theoretic approach

This article applies economics of doping theory (game theory) to corruption. Similarities and significant differences between the two topics are identified. As a consequence of such differences, the corruptive action – the bribe – is introduced as a decision variable for the players. Nash equilibria of the “corruption game” are structurally similar to the doping situation – e.g. “everybody is corrupt”. However, the size of the bribe becomes, as a consequence of a significant revision of the basic models, “as high as possible”; indicating that the event corruption case should be at least as hard to handle as the doping problem and with possibly even more drastic adverse effects. Although the article focuses on corruption in sports and events, the results are also relevant for other types of corruptive action. Corruption in sports is a problem threatening the existence of professional sports. Hence, the methods for better understanding presented in this article are of vital importance for the professional sports business.
Protein Interacting with C-Kinase 1/Protein Kinase Cα-Mediated Endocytosis Converts Netrin-1-Mediated Repulsion to Attraction

In vertebrates, the receptor families deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and UNC5 mediate responses to the bifunctional guidance cue netrin-1. DCC mediates attraction, whereas a complex of DCC and UNC5 mediates repulsion. Thus, a primary determinant of the responsiveness of an axon to netrin-1 is the presence or absence of UNC5 family members on the cell surface. Currently, little is known about the role of receptor trafficking in regulating neuronal responses to netrin-1. We show that protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1) recruits activated protein kinase Cα (PKCα) to MycUNC5A at the plasma membrane, stimulating its endocytosis. We identify two PKCα phosphorylation sites at serines 408 and 587, as well as dileucine internalization motifs, which are required for this endocytosis. We find that PKCα-stimulated internalization of UNC5A alters the functional response of developing hippocampal axons to netrin-1, preventing UNC5A-mediated growth cone collapse and converting netrin-1-stimulated chemorepulsion to attraction. To address whether this conversion in axonal response occurs in neurons expressing endogenous levels of UNC5, we show that mouse cerebellar granule axons exhibit chemorepulsion in a netrin-1 gradient and that this chemorepulsion is converted to chemoattraction after PKCα activation. We demonstrate that this repulsion depends on UNC5A because Unc5a−/− axons are not repelled and show this conversion depends on PICK1 because PICK1−/− axons are not converted to chemoattraction after PKCα activation. Together, these data provide a potential mechanism to explain how developing neurons alter their responsiveness to netrin-1 at intermediate choice points as they navigate to their targets.