Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DataSHIELD: An Ethically Robust Solution to Multiple-Site Individual-Level Data Analysis

Background: DataSHIELD (Data Aggregation Through Anonymous Summary-statistics from Harmonised Individual levEL Databases) has been proposed to facilitate the co-analysis of individual-level data from multiple studies without physically sharing the data. In a previous paper, we investigated whether DataSHIELD could protect participant confidentiality in accordance with UK law. In this follow-up paper, we investigate whether DataSHIELD addresses a broader range of ethics-related data-sharing concerns. Methods: Ethics-related data-sharing concerns of Institutional Review Boards, ethics experts, international research consortia and research participants were identified through a literature search and systematically examined at a multidisciplinary workshop to determine whether DataSHIELD proposes mechanisms which can address these concerns. Results: DataSHIELD addresses several ethics-related data-sharing concerns related to privacy, confidentiality, and the protection of the research participant's rights while sharing data and after the data have been shared. The data remain entirely under the direct management of the study that collected them. Data processing commands are strictly supervised, and the data are queried in a protected environment. Issues related to the return of individual research results when data are shared are eliminated; the responsibility for return remains at the study of origin. Conclusion: DataSHIELD can provide an innovative and robust solution for addressing commonly encountered ethics-related data-sharing concerns.
Cyclophosphamide improves the function of post-infarct hearts by reducing old infarct area and accelerating the mobilization of CD34+ cells.

BACKGROUND Myelosuppressives such as cyclophosphamide (Cy) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU), which can increase circulating CD34+ cells, may have a beneficial effect in the post-infarct heart. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-four hours after 30-min ischemia-reperfusion, rabbits were intravenously treated with Cy (20 mg/kg), 5FU (15 mg/kg) or saline (S). Cy significantly improved cardiac function and remodeling and decreased the old infarct area 1 month after infarction, compared with those given S. The number of circulating CD34+ cells was higher and neovascularization and matrix metalloproteinase-1 was induced in the Cy group. CONCLUSION Cy has potential for post-infarct treatment.
Why do Hong Kong patients need total hip arthroplasty? An analysis of 512 hips from 1998 to 2010.

INTRODUCTION The number of patients undergoing total hip replacement surgeries has increased as a result of a rise in the ageing population. This study reviewed the demographics and disease spectrum leading to primary total hip replacement in the Chinese population from 1998 to 2010. METHODS This case series was conducted in a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong. Data from the prospective joint registry of all patients who underwent primary total hip replacement from January 1998 to December 2010 were reviewed. Patients' age and sex, diagnosis, as well as the Harris Hip Scores before operation and at the last follow-up were described. RESULTS There were 512 primary total hip replacements performed on 419 patients (43.4% males) during the study period. All had clinical follow-up for at least 2 years. The mean age of the patients was 57.6 (standard deviation, 16.6) years. In males, the main aetiology was osteonecrosis (50.9%), ankylosing spondylitis (19.5%), and post-traumatic arthritis (8.5%). For females, it was osteonecrosis (33.0%), primary osteoarthritis (18.8%), and post-traumatic arthritis (15.8%). Alcohol-induced (52.5%) and idiopathic (40.7%) was the most common cause of osteonecrosis in males and females, respectively. The mean preoperative Harris Hip Score and that at last follow-up was 43.9 (standard deviation, 18.3) and 89.7 (standard deviation, 13.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Osteonecrosis was the most common aetiology leading to total hip replacement although there were different causes in both sexes leading to it. The clinical result in terms of Harris Hip Score was good for all patients who required total hip replacement.
Ischemic preconditioning: a defense mechanism against the reactive oxygen species generated after hepatic ischemia reperfusion1

Background. Preconditioning protects against both liver and lung damage after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Xanthine and xanthine oxidase (XOD) may contribute to the development of hepatic I/R. Objective. To evaluate whether preconditioning could modulate the injurious effects of xanthine/XOD on the liver and lung after hepatic I/R. Methods. Hepatic I/R or preconditioning previous to I/R was induced in rats. Xanthine and xanthine dehydrogenase/xanthine oxidase (XDH/XOD) in liver and plasma were measured. Hepatic injury and inflammatory response in the lung was evaluated. Results. Preconditioning reduced xanthine accumulation and conversion of XDH to XOD in liver during sustained ischemia. This could reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from XOD, and therefore, attenuate hepatic I/R injury. Inhibition of XOD prevented postischemic ROS generation and hepatic injury. Administration of xanthine and XOD to preconditioned rats led to hepatic MDA and transaminase levels similar to those found after hepatic I/R. Preconditioning, resulting in low circulating levels of xanthine and XOD activity, reduced neutrophil accumulation, oxidative stress, and microvascular disorders seen in lung after hepatic I/R. Inhibition of XOD attenuated the inflammatory damage in lung after hepatic I/R. Administration of xanthine and XOD abolished the benefits of preconditioning on lung damage. Conclusions. Preconditioning, by blocking the xanthine/XOD pathway for ROS generation, would confer protection against the liver and lung injuries induced by hepatic I/R.
Effective palliation for inoperable esophageal cancer using intensive intracavitary radiation

In a pilot study between May 1988 and May 1989, ten consecutive patients with advanced esophageal cancer were treated with a short intensive course of intraluminal curietherapy without external beam irradiation at the Kaiser Permanente‐Los Angeles Medical Center. Nine of ten patients achieved effective palliation comparable to that of standard external beam teletherapy from other series. Most patients had already failed other palliative modalities including chemotherapy, laser debridement, dilation, and electrocautery. The duration of response was generally longer than with these techniques. All patients completed therapy, and tolerance was excellent. Intraluminal irradiation is an attractive, effectual therapeutic alternative, especially in patients with advanced local or distant disease unlikely to tolerate 5 to 7 weeks of external beam therapy.
Lack of influence of menopause on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk profile: a 16-year longitudinal study concerning a cohort of 568 women

Objective To analyse the effect of menopause on blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Design From an Italian general population, 568 women (408 pre- and 160 post-menopausal) were screened twice, in 1978 and 16 years later. Methods Cross-sectional analyses both in 1978 and in 1994, and longitudinal analysis in the 1978-1994 period. Results For the general analysis the cohort was reduced to 525 women with paired data in 1978 and 1994. In both cross-sectional studies, unadjusted blood pressure and cardiovascular risk were higher after than they were before menopause, but any difference disappeared after adjustment or matching for age. In 1994 we studied three groups of women: those who were still premenopausal, those who were fertile in 1978 but postmenopausal in 1994 and those who were already postmenopausal in 1978. The 16-year blood pressure increment was similar in all three groups. The incidence of myocardial infarction and angina pectoris was greater in those who were already postmenopausal than it was in those who had their menopause during the study period. An analysis of mortality was performed for all of the 568 women. Forty-three of them died, 14 from cardiovascular causes (six before and eight after menopause), menopause), 18 from neoplasia (two before and 16 after menopause) and 11 from other diseases. Menopausal status was rejected from the Cox equations both of overall and of cardiovascular mortality, showing a significantly predictive value only for neoplastic mortality. Conclusion Menopause has no influence on high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. The greater blood pressure levels, mortality and morbidity observed in postmenopausal women are simply attributable to their older age and are no longer detectable in an age-matched sample.
A Phase 2 study of bortezomib combined with either idarubicin/cytarabine or cytarabine/etoposide in children with relapsed, refractory or secondary acute myeloid leukemia: A report from the Children's Oncology Group

This Phase 2 study tested the tolerability and efficacy of bortezomib combined with reinduction chemotherapy for pediatric patients with relapsed, refractory or secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Correlative studies measured putative AML leukemia initiating cells (AML‐LIC) before and after treatment.
The Fans’ Perception of Competitive Balance and Its Impact on Willingness-to-Pay for a Single Game

The economics literature related to the uncertainty of outcome hypothesis reopens the discussion of whether the fans’ perceptions of competitive balance (CB) are in line with Rottenberg’s and Neale’s theory. This article contributes to the literature by analyzing the effect of fans’ perceptions of suspensefulness on their willingness-to-pay for a single-game ticket and evaluating monetarily the (un)importance of CB. Results suggest that fans’ notions of competitiveness influence their spending behavior, rising as perceived balance rises, at least up to high levels of competitiveness.
Pharmacologic induction of weight loss to treat type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Most individuals with type 2 diabetes are overweight, and weight loss for them is an important therapeutic objective. However, usual weight-loss strategies have generally not produced sustained weight loss. Pharmacologic agents to assist weight loss might be useful, but no long-term data on their effectiveness and safety in patients with type 2 diabetes are available. We therefore initiated a 2-year placebo-controlled trial of the weight-loss medications fenfluramine and phentermine in type 2 diabetic subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 44 overweight (> 120% ideal body weight) subjects with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of fenfluramine and phentermine. All subjects received intensive nutrition counseling, an exercise prescription, and instruction in behavior modification. Subjects were randomly assigned to 20 mg fenfluramine three times a day and 37.5 mg phentermine daily (n = 23) or dual placebos (n = 21). Diabetes medications were adjusted as necessary to achieve glycemic goals. Changes in weight, glycemia, lipemia, and blood pressure were assessed every 2 months, as were adverse events. In September 1997, when fenfluramine was withdrawn from the U.S. market, fenfluramine was stopped in all subjects. Thus the length of drug treatment varied, but 16 subjects (8 in each group) reached 12 months of treatment. Only data obtained before the withdrawal of fenfluramine are included in this report. RESULTS A study termination, diabetes medications had been reduced in 1 subject in the placebo group (5%) and 11 subjects in the drug treatment group (52%) (P = 0.005). Drug treatment resulted in significant reductions in body weight, BMI, and HbA1c at all time points through 6 months. Changes in weight at 6 months were -2.7 +/- 1.4 kg (mean +/- SEM) with placebo treatment and -9.6 +/- 1.5 kg with drug treatment (P = 0.003). Even though more subjects in the drug treatment group required reductions in diabetes medications, at 6 months, changes in HbA1c were -0.3 +/- 0.2% with placebo treatment and -1.6 +/- 0.3% with drug treatment (P = 0.002). Fasting plasma glucose and triglycerides were significantly reduced at some time points with drug treatment. No serious adverse events attributable to study medications were observed. CONCLUSIONS Premature study termination decreased the power of our study at later time points. However, our data suggest that weight loss medications are an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes during active weight loss. Whether the benefit persists after weight loss has stopped remains to be determined.
The talent organization: a contextual analyses of universities in the Netherlands using a multi perspective approach

The aim of the paper is a contextual analysis of universities in the Netherlands: an analysis of the key issues and external developments, and how they affect the academic organization, the organization of academic work and the characteristics and preferences of scientists. Subsequently, we will discuss effects of these developments on the HRM system and policy (and in specific the management of talent or excellence). We will use multiple theoretical frameworks and perspectives grounded in organizational theory to describe Dutch universities and their context: structural frame, professional frame, cultural frame and political frame. Most literature discusses one aspect of the academic organization: education or research aspect, HRM aspect, financial aspect et cetera. Seldom the different aspects have been presented as one integrated entity. We want to show that using multiple frames or lenses will lead to an integrated, enriched and more balanced view of a situation.
Appendix to “ Can Higher Prices Stimulate Product Use ? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Zambia ” November 3 , 2009 A Formal Model

We will consider household behavior in some number of periods indexed by t. In each period t, each household i must decide whether to purchase Clorin and, if so, whether to use it in their drinking water. In period t, each household i can decide to purchase Clorin for an exogenous, possibly household-specific offer price pit ∈ (0, R] , where R > 0 is the retail price of Clorin. If the household decides to buy Clorin, it may receive an exogenous discount, so that it will only have to pay the transaction price p̃it ∈ [0, pit]. We assume that households do not anticipate the possibility of a discount, or, equivalently, that they consider the probability of a discount after purchase to be negligible. We experimentally manipulate the prices faced by households in a particular period t′. For simplicity, we will assume that in all previous and subsequent periods, Clorin retails at R, and there are no discounts. That is, we assume that, in any period t 6= t′, pit = p̃it = R. In period t′, however, prices pit′ and p̃it′ are randomly assigned across households in a manner specified in section IIExperimental and Survey Designsection.2 of the paper. We will also assume for simplicity that the utility from using Clorin in a given period is independent of its use in previous or future periods.1 We will think of a period as approximately one month, about the time it takes to use up a bottle of Clorin in drinking water for a family of six. We assume that Clorin cannot be stored across periods. Chemically, Clorin is storable, but in practice the vast majority of households in our sample appear to have exhausted the Clorin we sold them within the six weeks of our followup period. This suggests that it is reasonable to focus on within-period use. Implicitly, we are
Personal and environmental factors associated with physical inactivity among different racial-ethnic groups of U.S. middle-aged and older-aged women.

Personal, program-based, and environmental barriers to physical activity were explored among a U.S. population-derived sample of 2,912 women 40 years of age and older. Factors significantly associated with inactivity included American Indian ethnicity, older age, less education, lack of energy, lack of hills in one's neighborhood, absence of enjoyable scenery, and infrequent observation of others exercising in one's neighborhood. For all ethnic subgroups, caregiving duties and lacking energy to exercise ranked among the top 4 most frequently reported barriers. Approximately 62% of respondents rated exercise on one's own with instruction as more appealing than undertaking exercise in an instructor-led group, regardless of ethnicity or current physical activity levels. The results underscore the importance of a multifaceted approach to understanding physical activity determinants in this understudied, high-risk population segment.
Up‐Regulation of Actin mRNA and Reorganization of the Cytoskeleton in Entamoeba histolytica Trophozoites

ABSTRACT. Actin mRNA levels were measured in Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites after experimentally inducing changes in the organization of the cytoskeleton. The treatment of trophozoites with forskolin, N6,2′‐O‐dibutyryl‐adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate, and phorbol myristate acetate induced the organization of actin into multiple dots and defined structures with a concomitant increase in F‐actin content. Cytochalasin D elicited polarization of the structured actin and formation of aggregates, as well as an increment in F‐actin. Simultaneously, up‐regulation of actin mRNA levels was produced by all the drugs. De novo synthesis of actin mRNA, as measured by nuclear run‐ons, showed increased transcription of actin mRNA. On the other hand, treatment of cells with actinomycin D blocked the elevation of actin mRNA synthesis induced by forskolin, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or cytochalasin D whereas, the increment induced by PMA was not affected. These data indicate a regulatory control of actin mRNA synthesis at the transcriptional level by forskolin, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and cytochalasin D, and transcriptional as well as post‐transcriptional controls by phorbol myristate acetate. The experiments presented here suggest the possibility that, regulation of actin mRNA transcription in E. histolytica trophozoites is linked to growth conditions, that are accompanied by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and thus, related to the motility and invasiveness of the parasite.
A Risk Assessment of Campylobacteriosis and Salmonellosis Linked to Chicken Meals Prepared in Households in Dakar, Senegal

We used a quantitative microbiological risk assessment model to describe the risk of Campylobacter and Salmonella infection linked to chicken meals prepared in households in Dakar, Senegal. The model uses data collected specifically for this study, such as the prevalence and level of bacteria on the neck skin of chickens bought in Dakar markets, time‐temperature profiles recorded from purchase to consumption, an observational survey of meal preparation in private kitchens, and detection and enumeration of pathogens on kitchenware and cooks’ hands. Thorough heating kills all bacteria present on chicken during cooking, but cross‐contamination of cooked chicken or ready‐to‐eat food prepared for the meal via kitchenware and cooks’ hands leads to a high expected frequency of pathogen ingestion. Additionally, significant growth of Salmonella is predicted during food storage at ambient temperature before and after meal preparation. These high exposures lead to a high estimated risk of campylobacteriosis and/or salmonellosis in Dakar households. The public health consequences could be amplified by the high level of antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella and Campylobacter observed in this setting. A significant decrease in the number of ingested bacteria and in the risk could be achieved through a reduction of the prevalence of chicken contamination at slaughter, and by the use of simple hygienic measures in the kitchen. There is an urgent need to reinforce the hygiene education of food handlers in Senegal.
3D IPD on thru Glass via substrate using panel Manufacturing Technology for RF applications

As electronic products becomes smaller and thinner with increasing number of functions, the demand for high density and high integration becomes stronger. Glass has many properties that make it an ideal substrate for high integration substrate such as; ultra high resistivity, adjustable thermal expansion (CTE) high modulus, low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss and manufacturability with large panel sizes. Multi-bands with carrier aggregation, WiFi/GPS coexistence, and LTE-U make RF front end more and more complicated. 3D IPD (integrated passive devices) on Glass substrate technology could be advantage solution include reducing power consumption and small form factor. This paper presents a demonstration of 3D RF front end filters using 3D solenoid inductor with through glass vias (TGV) on Gen1Glass substrate (300mm × 400mm) panel format. For inductors, drastic performance (size and low resistance therefore high-quality factor) improvement have been demonstrated by technology evolutions from 3D solenoid using TGV with conformal Cu plating method, achieving low resistance of 2.73mohm per 70um diameter TGV on a 400um thick glass panel. This low-resistance TGV with 1.3mOhm/sq TGV connections on both sides of the glass substrate, record high inductor quality factor of was obtained at 1GHz using three and half turn inductor of 5nH inductance.
Drought resilience of Australian rangelands under intense hydroclimatic variability

Rangelands comprise ~81% of Australia's landmass, extend over a broad range of climates and vegetation types, and provide important social-economical functions (Fig. 1). The climate of Australia's rangelands is extremely variable. This variability was reflected in recent events of extreme flooding immediately following one of the most intense droughts in history over the early 21st century [1,2]. These extreme climatic events provide an opportunity to assess how Australian rangelands respond to hydroclimatic variations, and further generalise knowledge regarding resilience of these ecosystems to contrasting drought and wet extremes.
Individual decision making under risk and uncertainty: a perspective in the literature

In the past 15 years much research has been done in the area of individuai decision making under risk and uncertainty. Such work has focussed on sys tematic violations of Expected Utility theory, either expressed in the von Neu mann and Morgentern's formulation (1944) for choice under risk or in Savage's (1954) setting for choice under uncertainty, as well as on the de velopment of alternative models capable of explaining such violations. Several valuable surveys cover different aspects of this literature: Ap pleby and Starmer (1987) review the evidence against Expected Utility for choice under risk; Machina (1987); Sugden (1986) and Weber Camerer (1987) discuss analytical properties of some of the models developed to accommo date such evidence; Camerer Weber (1991) survey both the experimental evi dence and the non-expected utility models for choice under uncertainty; Fish burn, (1988); Kischka Puppe (1990), and Karni Schmeidler (1991) inspect the axiomatic foundations of the non-Expected Utility models both for choice under risk and for choice under uncertainty; Hey (1991) presents an over view of the methodological issues connected with the development of ex perimental tests for such theories; and Epstein (1990) surveys some economie applications of the «for choice under risk» models. One essential feature of the research work in this area, emphasized by ali the above reviews, is that no single model appears to be able to accom modate ali the violations against the conventional Expected Utility model. The aim of this survey is to provide a guide for the selection of a proper