Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase II study of an AKT inhibitor MK2206 in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma

We conducted a phase II study of the AKT inhibitor, MK2206 in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma of any histology excluding Burkitt lymphoma or lymphoblastic lymphoma. MK‐2206 was administered orally at 200 mg once weekly in 28‐d cycles up to 12 cycles in the absence of progression or significant toxicity. The dose was adjusted based on tolerance. A total of 59 patients were enrolled. The final doses patients received were 300 mg (n = 33), 250 mg (n = 2), 200 mg (n = 16) and 135 mg (n = 8). Based on intent‐to‐treat analysis, objective response was observed in 8 (14%) patients (2 complete response and 6 partial response), with median response duration of 5·8 months. The overall response rate was 20% in 25 patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Rash was the most common toxicity (any grade 53%, Grade 3 in 15%) and was observed in a dose‐dependent manner. The correlative cytokine analysis showed paradoxical increase in several cytokines, which may be explained by negative feedback mechanism induced by the on‐target effect of AKT inhibitor. Our data demonstrate that MK2206 has a favourable safety profile with a modest activity in patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. The future studies should explore mechanism‐based combinations (clinicaltrials.gov NCT01258998).
Analysis of glycine‐activated inhibitory post‐synaptic channels in brain‐stem neurones of the lamprey.

Voltage‐clamp techniques were used to measure fluctuations in membrane current produced by the application of glycine to Müller cells in the brain stem of the lamprey. The power density spectrum of the glycine‐induced current ‘noise’ was consistent with the hypothesis that glycine activated a single population of conductance channels with open times determined by first‐order kinetics. In normal bathing solution the channel conductance was 73 +/‐ 12 pS (mean +/‐ S.D.) and the channel open time 34 +/‐ 6 msec at 5 degrees C. The reversal potential for the response was 66 +/‐ 5 mV. Neither channel conductance nor mean open time was voltage‐dependent. Replacement of Cl‐ in the bathing solution by isethionate and sulphate reversibly abolished the response to glycine. Increasing intracellular Cl‐, either by using Cl‐ ‐filled micropipettes or by raising extracellular K+, decreased channel conductance. This unexpected decrease was a direct effect of intracellular Cl‐ and was not related to coincident changes in reversal potential. Channel open time was unaffected by intracellular Cl‐ concentration. Reducing extracellular Cl‐ concentration from 126.5 to 31 mM reduced channel conductance at all levels of intracellular Cl‐ without affecting open time. Increasing the temperature of the preparation resulted in increase in channel conductance and a decrease in mean open time. Q10S for the effects were of the order of 1.3 and ‐2.3 respectively in the range 4‐14 degrees C.
Annual Competencies Through Self-Governance and Evidence-Based Learning

Meeting the constant demands for the educational needs of nurses is extremely challenging. The pressure from various stakeholders to meet these demands can lead to hasty programs in which learning is questionable. An example of evidence-based learning methods using a self-governance model is presented. Outcomes from this approach promoted real learning, improved performance, and improved teamwork.
CHRONIC SUPPLEMENTATION OF CREATINE AND VITAMINS C AND E INCREASES SURVIVAL AND IMPROVES BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AFTER DOXORUBICIN TREATMENT IN RATS

1 Doxorubicin is an anti‐cancer drug with well‐described effects against a wide range of tumours. However, doxorubicin also exhibits dose‐dependent cytotoxicity. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether chronic supplementation of creatine or a mix of vitamins C and E could increase survival and improve plasma parameters 48 h after doxorubicin treatment. 2 Rats were divided into four groups: (i) saline (control); (ii) doxorubicin treated; (iii) a creatine (0.2 g/kg per day)‐supplemented group; and (iv) a vitamin C (250 mg/kg per day) and E (400 IU/kg per day)‐supplemented group. After 30 days supplementation of rats with either creatine or the vitamins, one dose of doxorubicin (15 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered. 3 There was no difference in weight loss among the groups until the 3rd day after doxorubicin treatment, but the creatine‐ and vitamin‐supplemented groups lived longer compared with the doxorubicin only treated group (6, 7 and 3 days, respectively). The doxorubicin‐treated group lost 13.4% bodyweight over 3 days, whereas the creatine‐ and vitamin‐supplemented groups lost approximately 35% 3 days after the administration of doxorubicin. Doxorubicin treatment resulted in an increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT; P < 0.05), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; P < 0.05), urea (P < 0.05) and creatinine (P < 0.05) compared with levels observed in the control group. Conversely, creatine supplementation promoted a partial return to control values for LDH (P < 0.05) and creatinine (P < 0.05), whereas the vitamin mix reversed the changes in ALT (P < 0.05), LDH (P < 0.05), urea (P < 0.05) and creatinine (P < 0.05). 4 In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the two supplementation protocols decreased the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin and that a protective effect was more noticeable in animals supplemented with the mixture of vitamins C and E.
Market conditions and hedge fund survival

As the hedge fund industry has grown, there has been increased concern that, during sharp market moves, hedge fund failures could exacerbate the deterioration in financial conditions and deepen a crisis. However, there has not been much formal analysis regarding the impact of financial market conditions on hedge fund survival. To help fill this gap, this paper examines the relationship between financial market conditions and the likelihood of hedge fund failure after controlling for performance and other characteristics. The analysis is conducted using data on individual funds and industry aggregates. We find that market returns and volatility influence fund failures, although the impact depends on the funds' investment strategies. The results of the analysis are then used to predict hedge fund failures based on actual market returns and on stress scenarios. We find that the hedge fund industry is generally robust to different shocks.
Effect of pH on rheotaxis of bull sperm using microfluidics

The aim of the present research is to study the effect of pH values on the sperm rheotaxis properties. Semen collected from bulls was diluted with SOF medium (1:10). pH of the medium was adjusted using a digital pH meter to the following pH values: 6.0, 6.2, 6.4, 6.4, 6.8, 7.0. All kinetic parameters of sperm (n = 3,385) were determined through a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system using microfluidic devices with controlled flow velocity. The following parameters were determined: total motility (TM%), positive rheotaxis (PR%), straightline velocity (VSL, μm/s), average path velocity (VAP, μm/s), linearity (LIN, as VSL/VCL, %), beat cross-frequency (BCF, Hz) and curvilinear velocity (VCL, μm/s). Nitric oxide, calcium and potassium were estimated in semen at different pH values. To confirm the effect of nitric oxide and K+ , we used sodium nitroprusside (an NO donor) and KCL as (a K+ donor) to see their effect on sperm PR%. The results showed no difference in TM% at pH (6-7). The PR% was the lowest at pH 6 and 7. The best parameters for the PR% were at pH 6.4-6.6. The concentration of Ca+2 did not change at different pH values. The mean NO values decreased with the increase of pH; however, the mean values of K+ increased with the increase of pH. Addition of high concentration of NO and K+ to the semen media at fixed pH level had a negative effect on TM% and PR%. In conclusion, the bull sperm had the best rheotaxis properties at pH 6.4-6.6 and sensitive to the change of seminal NO and K+ .
Comparison of blind tracheal intubation through the intubating laryngeal mask airway (LMA FastrachTM) and the Air‐QTM

This study assessed two disposable devices, the LMA FastrachTM and the newly developed supraglottic airway device, the Air‐QTM, as a conduit for tracheal intubation in 154 healthy adults undergoing elective surgery. Using a non‐inferiority approach, the primary outcome measure was successful tracheal intubation within two blind insertion attempts. Successful blind intubation after two attempts was achieved in 75/76 (99%) of the patients in the LMA Fastrach group vs 60/78 (77%) in the Air‐Q group (95% CI for the difference 12–32%, p < 0.0001). Fibreoptic intubation was used to assist the third attempt. The rate of successful intubation after three attempts was 100% in the LMA Fastrach group and 95% in Air‐Q group. The single‐use LMA Fastrach appears superior compared with the Air‐Q, as a conduit to facilitate blind tracheal intubation.
A reversible jump sampler for autoregressive time series

We use reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods to address the problem of model order uncertainty in autoregressive (AR) time series within a Bayesian framework. Efficient model jumping is achieved by proposing model space moves from the the full conditional density for the AR parameters, which is obtained analytically. This is compared with an alternative method, for which the moves are cheaper to compute, in which proposals are made only for new parameters in each move. Results are presented for both synthetic and audio time series.
Strategic investment, forward markets and competition

I model the strategic interaction between firms, that face decisions on investment, forward contracts and spot market quantities. For an investment decision that takes place after firms have contracted forward but before firms compete on the spot market (medium term investment), competition becomes fierce. Thus, the efficiency gains from forward trading found by Allaz and Villa (1993) still are present. However, for an investment that takes place before firms contract forward (long term investment), competition becomes rather weak. When investment matters, from a welfare point of view the desirability of forward trading critically depends on the structure of decision making.
The synaptology of the granule cells of the olfactory bulb.

The granule cells of the olfactory bulb of the rat have been studied in material prepared by the Golgi-Kopsch method for examination with the light microscope, and in material examined with the electron microscope. With the Golgi method, the granule cells are found to have no process which can be identified as a typical axon, but from the superficial aspect of the somata stout peripheral processes arise and pass into the overlying external plexiform layer, while from the opposite side of the cell body several thinner deep dendntes extend towards the deeper parts of the bulb. Both types of processes, as well as the perikarya, have numerous spine-like appendages. On the distal portions of the peripheral processes in the external plexiform layer the appendages are much larger than on the deeper parts of the cell. The deep dendrites have localized swellings along their length which give them a varicose appearance, appendages often arise from these varicosities. The electron-microscopic features of the granule cells correspond well with the appearance of these cells in material impregnated with the Golgi method. The cell somata are small, with very little cytoplasm, and have a relatively large nucleus. The peripheral processes can be identified passing superficially from the perikarya of the granule cells; at their junction with the cell body their appearance is typically dendritic; all the cytoplasmic organelles found in the cytoplasm extend into these processes and none of the features of the initial segments of axons are found. In the external plexiform layer large spine-like appendages, which have been termed ‘gemmules’, arise from the distal portions of the peripheral processes, and participate in reciprocal synapses with the dendrites of mitral and tufted cells. The deep dendrites are much finer than the peripheral processes, and the varicosities which are seen in Golgi material may also be found with the electron microscope. Spines are found on all parts of the granule cells in the granule cell layer, including the peripheral processes, the perikarya and the deep dendrites. In addition to a spine apparatus, these spines commonly have numerous inclusions, including mitochondria, ribosomes, and vesicles which are the same size and shape as the synaptic vesicles present in the gemmules; no synapses oriented away from the spines have ever been found.
The Impact of Financial Literacy Education on Subsequent Financial Behavior

This study examined the differential impact on 79 high school students of a personal financial management course completed 1 to 4 years earlier. This study used a matched sample design based on a school system’s records to identify students who had and had not taken a course in personal financial management. The findings indicated that those who took the course were no more financially literate than those who had not. In addition, those who took the course did not evaluate themselves to be more savings-oriented and did not appear to have better financial behavior than those who had not taken the course. The study raises serious questions about the longer-term effectiveness of high school financial literacy courses.
Personality of Servers: What Kind of People Wait Tables?

This study investigated personalities of servers in the restaurant industry. Using the Big Five Inventory (BFI), the five dimensions of personality (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness) were measured in 21 servers who participated in the study. Hypotheses regarding dominant personality dimensions, and the relationship between years spent working in the industry and personality were tested. The results showed servers exhibiting high levels of Conscientiousness and Openness, with no support for a relationship between years working as a server and the five personality dimensions. An interpretation of the results is presented. Suggestions for future research are aimed at gaining a precise understanding of the personality of servers in order to maximize productivity, profitability, and minimize employee turnover.
Capital requirements for agriculture in developing countries to 2050.

and conclusions 2 Introduction 3 Methodology and Measurement: What has been measured, what not, and how 3 The Results 7 4.1 Projected capital stocks and investment needs 7 4.2 How resources will be put to work: Performance indicators for agricultural production, capital stocks, labour and land 11 References 19 Annex 1: List of countries included in the analysis 20 Annex 2: Cumulative investment requirements over 2005/07 to 2050 in billion 2009 US$ by region 21
Structure and Function of the UvrB Protein (*)

UvrB plays a central role in (A)BC excinuclease. To identify the regions of UvrB which are involved in interacting with UvrA, UvrC, and DNA, deletion mutants, point mutants, and various fusion forms of UvrB were constructed and characterized. We found that the region encompassing amino acid residues 115-250 of UvrB binds to UvrA, while the region encompassing amino acid residues 547-673 binds to both UvrA and UvrC. In addition, the region between these two domains, which contains the helicase motifs II-VI, was found to be involved in binding to DNA. Within this DNA-binding region, two point mutants, E265A and E338A, were found to be unable to bind DNA while two residues, Phe-365 and Phe-496, were identified to interact with DNA. Furthermore, fluorescence quenching studies with mutants F365W and F496W and repair of thymine cyclobutane dimers by photoinduced electron transfer by these mutants suggest that residues Phe-365 and Phe-496 interact with DNA most likely through stacking interactions.
Fabrication and characterization of IDE ZnO thin films using sol-gel method for PBS solution measurement

Microelectronics technologies have contributed a lot of facilities to fabricate small scale devices. With the enhancement of microelectronics technologies, IDE in micro-gap size is successfully fabricated on the SiO2/Si substrate. In this paper, ZnO thin films, which were prepared using low-cost sol-gel method, were coated on the IDE device. As to study the influence of different solvent to the morphology, particles size and quality of the ZnO thin films, two types of solvent had been chosen, namely ethanol and methanol. For the study of morphology, grain size and uniformity distribution of the ZnO on the substrate, AFM had been chosen. XRD result shows that all annealed polycrystalline ZnO thin film exhibit highly crystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure. The optical characteristic of the ZnO thin films had been determined using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The capacitance and conductance of the device at certain frequency had been conducted using dielectrical analyzer. The influence of PBS solution on the IDE ZnO device had been studied using dielectrical analyzer.
Distinct Molecular Bases for pH Sensitivity of the Guard Cell K+ Channels KST1 and KAT1*

Acid-induced potassium uptake through K+ channels is a prerequisite for stomatal opening. Our previous studies identified a pore histidine as a major component of the acid activation mechanism of the potato guard cell K+ channel KST1 (1). Although this histidine is highly conserved among all plant K+ uptake channels cloned so far, the pH-dependent gating of the Arabidopsis thaliana guard cell K+ channel KAT1 was not affected by mutations of this histidine. In both channels, KST1 and KAT1, aspartate mutants in the K+ channel consensus sequence GYGD adjacent to the histidine (KST1-D269N and KAT1-D265N) were inhibited by a rise in the extracellular proton concentration. pH changes affected the half-maximal activation voltage V 1 2 of the KST1 mutant, whereas in the mutant channel KAT1-D265N an acid-induced decrease in the maximum conductance g maxindicated the presence of a proton block. In contrast to the wild type KST1, the S4-mutant channel KST1-R181Q exhibited an activation upon alcalization of the extracellular solution. From our electrophysiological studies on channel mutants with respect to the pore histidine as well as the aspartate, we conclude that the common proton-supported shift in the voltage dependence of KST1 and KAT1 is based on distinct molecular elements.
The neuroprotective effects of human growth hormone as a potential treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Human growth hormone (GH) is a single-chain polypeptide of 191 amino acids that is involved in the regulation of various physiological processes, such as growth and metabolism. GH is synthesized and secreted by somatotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland. Its secretion is primarily regulated by a balance between growth hormone-releasing hormone and growth hormone-inhibiting hormone, which are released from the hypothalamus. In addition, GH secretion can be stimulated by ghrelin, estrogen, levodopa (L-DOPA), exercise, and fasting, and inhibited by hyperglycemia, glucocorticoids, and dihydrotestosterone. Synthetic GH can be produced with recombinant DNA technology, and is referred to as somatropin. Somatropin is used for the treatment of GH deficiency in children and adults, and has replaced endogenous GH obtained from human cadavers.
Success and Failure Factors of the Mergers and Acquisitions Performance: Evidence from Bulgaria

This paper presents a study on the success and failure factors that influence the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) performance. In the initial part major theoretical studies, developed in the field of strategic management, corporate finance, organisational studies, and human resources are analysed. These works are used to outline ten main elements that can be considered essential for the success of the transactions. The discussed examines are founded on a number of leading theories – Agency theory, Resourced-based theory, Diversification theory, Learning theory, etc. Therefore, the empirical application of these theories is tested in the local context of the Bulgarian M&A deals. By the means of factor and regression analysis, three specific factors of successful M&A performance are empirically drawn. The conclusions are that leadership qualities of the managers, synergy of resources, and fast post-merger integration appear to be crucial for the successful performance of these strategic combinations.
Rapid immunodiagnosis of active cytomegalovirus infection by monoclonal antibody staining of blood leucocytes

The appearance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen positive blood leucocytes (CMV antigenaemia) was investigated in 52 renal transplant recipients during the first three months after transplantation. Using a mixture of three monoclonal antibodies, CMV (immediate early) antigens were detected in cytocentrifuged blood leucocytes within 3–5 h after sampling. The results were related to virus isolation from buffy coats (CMV viraemia), serology with a sensitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and clinical symptoms of CMV disease.
Physician Incentives and Treatment Choices in Heart Attack Management

We estimate how physiciansâ€™ financial incentives affect their treatment choices in heart attack management, using a large dataset of private health insurance claims. Different insurance plans pay physicians different amounts for the same services, generating the required variation in financial incentives. We begin by presenting evidence that, unconditionally, plans that pay physicians more for more invasive treatments are associated with a consider- ably larger fraction of such treatments. To interpret this correlation as causal, we continue by showing that it survives conditioning on a rich set of diagnosis and provider-specific variables. We perform a host of additional checks verifying that differences in unobservable patient or provider characteristics across plans are unlikely to be driving our results. We find that physiciansâ€™ treatment choices respond positively to the payments they receive, and that the response is quite large. If physicians received bundled payments instead of fee- for-service incentives, for example, heart attack management would become considerably more conservative. Our estimates imply that 20 percent of patients would receive different treatments, physician costs would decrease by 27 percent, and social welfare would increase.
A nuclear‐encoded protein of prokaryotic origin is essential for the stability of photosystem II in Arabidopsis thaliana

To understand the regulatory mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of photosystem II (PSII) we have characterized the nuclear mutant hcf136 of Arabidopsis thaliana and isolated the affected gene. The mutant is devoid of any photosystem II activity, and none of the nuclear‐ and plastome‐encoded subunits of this photosystem accumulate to significant levels. Protein labelling studies in the presence of cycloheximide showed that the plastome‐encoded PSII subunits are synthesized but are not stable. The HCF136 gene was isolated by virtue of its T‐DNA tag, and its identity was confirmed by complementation of homozygous hcf136 seedlings. Immunoblot analysis of fractionated chloroplasts showed that the HCF136 protein is a lumenal protein, found only in stromal thylakoid lamellae. The HCF136 protein is produced already in dark‐grown seedlings and its levels do not increase dramatically during light‐induced greening. This accumulation profile confirms the mutational data by showing that the HCF136 protein must be present when PSII complexes are made. HCF136 homologues are found in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis species PCC6803 (slr2034) and the cyanelle genome of Cyanophora paradoxa (ORF333), but are lacking in the plastomes of chlorophytes and metaphytes as well as from those of rhodo‐ and chromophytes. We conclude that HCF136 encodes a stability and/or assembly factor of PSII which dates back to the cyanobacterial‐like endosymbiont that led to the plastids of the present photosynthetic eukaryotes.