Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of excisional margins by conventional histopathological techniques in the treatment of skin tumours. An alternative to Mohs' technique

For histological control of excisional margins, routinely fixed tumour specimens or, under certain conditions, specimens fixed immediately in warm formalin are processed in the histology laboratory. Strips are then cut from the undersurface, edge, and cross‐section of the remainder of the specimen and processed further by routine paraffin techniques until H&E‐stained sections of the entire periphery and midsection are available. We suggest that the method is simple, easy to apply, and suitable for the assessment of excisional margins of a variety of skin tumours. Extremely low recurrence rates over a relatively long follow‐up period substantiate the effectiveness of the method.
[The molecular bases of Huntington's disease: the role played by oxidative stress].

INTRODUCTION Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative, autosomal dominant disease that mainly affects the basal ganglia. The disorder is caused by mutation in the gene encoding the huntingtin protein (Htt), producing intracellular aggregates. The adult form (chorea with dementia) is the most frequent. It is characterized by unpredictable, spasmodic, involuntary and constant movements, mostly associated with psychiatric and cognitive alterations. DEVELOPMENT The main characteristics of Huntington's disease are: neuronal loss, glyosis, and accumulations of mutated Htt, all associated with different underlying channels in the pathogenesis of the disease, such as: excitotoxicity, energy deficit (ATP depletion), reduction in the synthesis and release of neurotrophic factors (BDNF and GDNF), and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, and numerous studies have shown the existence of oxidative damage in the plasma and tissue of patients suffering from this disease. CONCLUSIONS Oxidative stress in patients with Huntington's disease may be used as an evolutionary-prognostic marker of both the disease and therapeutic effectiveness, as well as an interesting field of research for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of oxycodone after intramuscular and oral administration to healthy subjects.

1. The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of oxycodone were studied in nine healthy young volunteers in a cross-over study. Each subject received oxycodone chloride once intramuscularly (0.14 mg kg-1) and twice orally (0.28 mg kg-1) at intervals of 2 weeks. A double-blind randomized pretreatment with amitriptyline (10-50 mg a day) or placebo was given prior to oral oxycodone. 2. The concentrations of oxycodone, noroxycodone and oxymorphone in plasma and the 24 h urine recoveries of their conjugated and unconjugated forms were measured by gas chromatography. 3. No differences were found between treatments in mean Cmax and AUC values of oxycodone which varied from 34 to 38 ng ml-1 and from 208 to 245 ng ml-1 h, respectively. The median tmax of oxycodone was 1 h in all groups. The bioavailability of oral relative to i.m. oxycodone was 60%. The mean renal clearance of oxycodone was 0.07-0.08 l min-1. The kinetics of oxycodone were unaffected by amitriptyline. 4. The mean ratio of the AUC(0.24 h) values of unconjugated noroxycodone to oxycodone was 0.45 after i.m. oxycodone and 0.6-0.8 after oral oxycodone. Plasma oxymorphone concentrations were below the limit of the assay. Eight to 14% of the dose of oxycodone was excreted in the urine as unconjugated and conjugated oxycodone over 24 h. Oxymorphone was excreted mainly as a conjugate whereas noroxycodone was recovered mostly in an unconjugated form.
Association between lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual dysfunction assessed using the core lower urinary tract symptom score and International index of erectile function-5 questionnaires

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) using the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score (CLSS) and the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF)-5 questionnaires. Methods: A total of 220 consecutive treatment-naive men completed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), CLSS, and IIEF-5 questionnaires. The clinical diagnoses were benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH, n = 58), prostatic cancer (n = 51), prostatitis (n = 28), overactive bladder wet (OAB wet, n = 16), other diagnoses (n = 39), and controls (n = 28). Simple statistics and predictability of low IIEF-5 score were examined. Results: The total IIEF-5 score significantly correlated with both the IPSS and CLSS questionnaires (p = 0.0001). Among IPSS and CLSS symptoms, factors other than daytime frequency and incomplete emptying showed significant correlation with the total IIEF-5 score. A multivariate regression model indicated nocturia and urethral pain as independent factors for low IIEF-5 scores. Conclusion: Urethral pain was identified as an independent factor for erectile dysfunction. The extraction of pain symptoms using CLSS questionnaire may be useful to evaluate LUTS in men with pelvic health problems.
The Impact of Urbanization Induced Foreign Direct Investment in Emerging India

Globalization accompanied with internationalization enhanced urbanization across the globe. Cities and towns became the central point for economic activities, most of them fueled by the inward flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) especially in the emerging economies. Globalization initiated urbanization in most of the emerging economies. As an outcome of globalization directly and with urbanization indirectly it resulted in the growth of inward foreign direct investment across the globe. This chapter makes an attempt to identify the influence of urbanization upon inward FDI and economic growth for emerging India. To study this phenomenon, data for a period of twenty years were taken from 19902010. Multiple regression analysis was used. Results of the study are significant and indicate that, urbanization is playing an important role in enhancing the inflow of FDI into India in the study period. 66.9% of the changes in the dependent variable that is inward FDI is explained jointly by urbanization and economic growth, which shows that cities and towns are becoming an integral part in receiving FDI. This chapter also add some insight into the changing consumption and lifestyles of urbanites effected due to FDI.
Membrane Localization and Topology of Leukotriene C4 Synthase*

Leukotriene C4(LTC4) synthase conjugates LTA4 with GSH to form LTC4. Determining the site of LTC4synthesis and the topology of LTC4 synthase may uncover unappreciated intracellular roles for LTC4, as well as how LTC4 is transferred to its export carrier, the multidrug resistance protein-1. We have determined the membrane localization of LTC4 synthase by immunoelectron microscopy. In contrast to the closely related five-lipoxygenase-activating protein, LTC4 synthase is distributed in the outer nuclear membrane and peripheral endoplasmic reticulum but is excluded from the inner nuclear membrane. We have combined immunofluorescence with differential membrane permeabilization to determine the topology of LTC4 synthase. The active site of LTC4 synthase is localized in the lumen of the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum. These results indicate that the synthesis of LTB4 and LTC4 occurs in different subcellular locations and suggests that LTC4 must be returned to the cytoplasmic side of the membrane for export by multidrug resistance protein-1. The differential localization of two very similar integral membrane proteins suggests that mechanisms other than size-dependent exclusion regulate their passage to the inner nuclear membrane.
Differential protection of injured retinal ganglion cell dendrites by brimonidine.

PURPOSE To determine whether brimonidine protects against the retraction and loss of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendrites after optic nerve crush (ONC). METHODS Fluorescent RGCs of mice expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) under the control of the Thy-1 promoter (Thy1-YFP mice) were imaged in vivo and assigned to one of six groups according to dendrite structure. The mice then received brimonidine every other day starting 2 days before, or 2 or 6 days after, unilateral ONC. Control animals received vehicle every other day starting 2 days before ONC. Control animals received vehicle every other day starting 2 days before ONC. Total dendrite length, dendrite branching complexity, and the time until complete loss of dendrites were assessed weekly for 4 weeks. RESULTS Overall, brimonidine treatment significantly slowed the complete loss of RGC dendrites and significantly slowed the reduction of total dendrite length and branching complexity. Separate analysis of each RGC group showed brimonidine significantly delayed the time until complete loss of dendrites in four of the RGC groups. These delays generally were similar when treatment started either 2 days before or 2 days after ONC, but were smaller or absent when treatment started 6 days after ONC Protection against loss of total dendrite length and loss of branching complexity was observed in three of the RGC groups. In two of these RGC groups, protective effects persisted until the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS Brimonidine protects many RGC types against dendrite retraction, loss of branching complexity, and complete loss of dendrites following ONC. However, the pattern and magnitude of this protection differs substantially among different RGC types. These results indicate that requirements for RGC-protective therapies following optic nerve injury may differ among RGC types.
The semiconscious choice of food as a potential obesogenity marker

The semiconscious choice of unhealthy foods is investigated to provide a transferable branding-like method to quantify obesogenity in terms of consumers’ propensities to habituation. Some triggers of unhealthy food consumption and all the food choices associated to such cues were found as statistically independent from consumers’ motivations, particularly for two-thirds of consumers.
Risk factors for invasive group A streptococcal infections in children with varicella: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE To identify characteristic clinical manifestations and potential risk factors for invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease in children with varicella. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS A case-control study was conducted in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, CA. Cases were children with varicella who developed invasive GAS disease between January 1 and May 3, 1994 (n = 25). Controls were acquaintance, neighborhood or schoolmate children with uncomplicated varicella during the study period (n = 62). Cases were compared with controls with regard to underlying illness, child care practices, parental home health practices, health care-seeking behaviors, sociodemographic characteristics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS Controlling for age we found that cases were more likely than controls: (1) to be cared for in the home vs. out-of-home child care (odds ratio (OR), 4.4 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.1 to 17)); (2) to report having asthma (OR, 6.2 (95% CI, 1.2 to 41.0)) and to be taking albuterol (OR, 11.6 ((95% CI, 1.0 to 581)); (3) to be secondary varicella cases within a household (OR, 7.3 (95% CI, 2.2 to 25)); (4) to report fever after Day 2 of varicella; and (5) to have contacted their health care provider later than controls (Day 3.8 rather than Day 1.7, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge this is the first case-control study exploring potential risk factors for invasive GAS disease in children with varicella. Both previously healthy children with varicella and those with underlying medical problems, including asthma, may be at increased risk for GAS complications. Interventions should be targeted to parents and health care providers to increase awareness of early signs and symptoms of invasive GAS disease in children with varicella. Additional studies are needed to confirm the associations suggested by this study between GAS complications of varicella and asthma, in-home child care, secondary vs. primary varicella household cases and delayed contact with medical care providers.
The mediating effect of corporate social responsibility and spirituality on balanced scorecard in Yemen’s private universities

Fahmi FadhlThe dearth of adequate information for planning and monitoring of financial performance at private universities of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), as well as an over-emphasis on financial indicators at the expense of non-financial indicators are caused by the absence of a suitable model that encompasses all important aspects of performance. Previous researchers have examined the determinants of financial performance through the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), which aligns organisational initiatives with their strategic planning. However, the influence of the non-financial perspective on private universities financial performance remains unsolved. Moreover, the question of how the BSC can be enhanced by incorporating more nonfinancial perspective to increase efficiency is still being raised, coupled with their mediating effects. This study aims at developing an integrated organisational performance model for private universities in Yemen with the incorporation of new variables (corporate social responsibility (CSR) and spirituality). The mediating effects of the BSC non-financial perspectives on the financial performance for the private universities were investigated. The model depicts the mediating influences of non-financial perspective on financial performance. To achieve the study objectives, eleven major hypotheses were formulated, with analyses of six mediating influences and two additional analyses. Data were collected through a survey on 137 respondents from private universities in Yemen. Various interrelationships of the research model were investigated using partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results of the study indicate that there are connections between organisational financial perspectives with the non-financial perspective. On the one hand, there are significant direct relationships between non-financial perspectives of the BSC with its financial perspective. In addition, this study reveals that there is a significant direct relationship between spirituality and financial perspective. On the other hand, the analysis on the financial and non-financial perspectives of the BSC indicates that there is a significant direct relationship between CSR and non-financial perspectives of the BSC. Also, the partial mediation effects of the non-financial perspectives were highlighted for the six interrelationships considered. Furthermore, the findings of this study strongly support most of the hypothesised relationships proposed by the research model. This study has extended the present theory, methodology and practice, by incorporating CSR and spirituality as non-financial contributors to financial performance of private universities in Yemen.
Agrobacterium-Mediated Root Transformation Is Inhibited by Mutation of an Arabidopsis Cellulose Synthase-Like Gene1

Agrobacterium-mediated plant genetic transformation involves a complex interaction between the bacterium and the host plant. Relatively little is known about the role plant genes and proteins play in this process. We previously identified an Arabidopsis mutant, rat4, that is resistant to Agrobacterium transformation. We show here that rat4 contains a T-DNA insertion into the 3′-untranslated region of the cellulose synthase-like gene CSLA9. CSLA9 transcripts are greatly reduced in the rat4 mutant. Genetic complementation of rat4 with wild-type genomic copies of the CSLA9 gene restores both transformation competence and the wild-type level of CSLA9 transcripts. The CSLA9 promoter shows a distinct pattern of expression in Arabidopsis plants. In particular, the promoter is active in the elongation zone of roots, the root tissue that we previously showed is most susceptible to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Disruption of the CSLA9 gene in the rat4 mutant results in reduced numbers and rate of growth of lateral roots and reduced ability of the roots to bind A. tumefaciens cells under certain conditions. No major differences in the linkage structure of the non-cellulosic polysaccharides could be traced to the defective CSLA9 gene.
On the performance of job scheduling for noncontiguous allocation in 2D mesh-connected multicomputers

The performance of non-contiguous allocation can be significantly affected by the job scheduling strategy used for determining the order in which jobs are selected for execution. In this paper, the performance of the well-known Greedy Available Busy List (GABL) non-contiguous allocation strategy for 2D mesh-connected multicomputers is re-visited considering several important job scheduling strategies. These are the First-Come-First-Served (FCFS), Out-of-Order (OO), and Window-Based job scheduling strategies. They are compared using detailed flit-level simulations. Extensive simulation results based on synthetic and real workload models indicate that the Window-Based job scheduling strategy exhibits good performance when the scheduling window size is large and heavy system loads. In particular, it is substantially superior to FCFS in terms of system utilization and average job turnaround times under medium to heavy system loads. Also, it is superior to Out-of-Order scheduling in terms of maximum job waiting delays. Window-Based job scheduling can improve both overall system performance and fairness (i.e., maximum job waiting delays) by adopting a large job scheduling window.
Classification of tweets into policy agenda topics

Twitter is a novel online microblogging service launched in July 2006. This service has been rapidly gaining worldwide popularity. It has more than 500 million users, out of which there are more than 332 million active users in May 2015. Twitter website is one of the ten most visited websites and has been described as “the SMS of the Internet. ” It is not only widely used in a person’s daily life, but also in politics, such as running election campaigns, mining or influencing public opinions. We study the problem of automated classification of tweets posted on official accounts by a state’s senate and a state’s House of Representatives as well as accounts by individual senators and house representatives, to one of the 21 policy agenda topics specified by Policy Agenda Project [2]. This problem is a multi-class classification problem for short text since each tweet has a limit of 140 characters. Compared with traditional text classification, short text classification has a special characteristic that the content is short and sparse. Therefore, it is very challenging to extract a useful feature for classification. To achieve a reasonable performance, we investigate three methods including Support Vector Machine (SVM) with Linear Kernel, SVM with Topics Grouping and Tweets Merging, and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). Based on the experimental results, the CNN method achieved the best performance of 77.34% accuracy on an independent testing set of 1,388 tweets in the Iowa dataset. Furthermore, the CNN method is robust and stable without the need to manually tune the hyper-parameters, which are the attributes of the neural network such as the number of hidden layers, the number of units per layer, and the connections per unit.
Local Festival Marketing and Application Plan for Agricultural Products by Utilizing Big Data from Online Shopping Mall

The purpose of this research is to propose an establishment method of plans and marketing strategies for local festivals by utilizing issue categories and associated keywords obtained through big data analysis on online shopping mall. For this research, analysis was performed on organic product registration status and product titles which were posted on the biggest online shopping malls in Korea -- G Market, Auction, 11st -- on November 6, 2014 (1st round) and November 13th, 2014 (2nd round). As a result of the analysis, level of buzz was highest in the order of 'coffee/drink', 'infant/child clothing', 'pet product', and 'organic cotton' was obtained the most as the keyword related to organic product. The analysis has its significance in establishing marketing strategy by utilizing structured and unstructured web data of online shopping malls which have been rapidly growing recently.
Battery assignment and scheduling for drone delivery businesses

Recent advances in battery and drone technologies have opened up possibilities of commercial use of drones. Private companies are looking into the possibilities of using drones for commercial deliveries from the legal, technical, and economical perspective. Nevertheless, the battery management perspective of such businesses has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this paper, we identify that battery management of such application has a major impact of the costs, and formulate an optimization problem to reduce the aging of batteries. We identify two sub-problems, battery assignment, and battery scheduling to derive a solution that minimizes the aging of the batteries. We show that the formulation enables leveraging the trade-off relationships between the packet waiting time and battery purchasing cost. The experimental results show the proposed method reduce the electricity and battery purchasing cost by 25%, and average packet waiting time by more than 50%.
Molecular Analysis of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria of the β Subdivision of the Class Proteobacteria in Compost and Composted Materials

ABSTRACT Although the practice of composting animal wastes for use as biofertilizers has increased in recent years, little is known about the microorganisms responsible for the nitrogen transformations which occur in compost and during the composting process. Ammonia is the principle available nitrogenous compound in composting material, and the conversion of this compound to nitrite in the environment by chemolithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria is an essential step in nitrogen cycling. Therefore, the distribution of ammonia-oxidizing members of the β subdivision of the class Proteobacteriain a variety of composting materials was assessed by amplifying 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and 16S rRNA by PCR and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. The PCR and RT-PCR products were separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and were identified by hybridization with a hierarchical set of oligonucleotide probes designed to detect ammonia oxidizer-like sequence clusters in the genera Nitrosospira and Nitrosomonas. Ammonia oxidizer-like 16S rDNA was detected in almost all of the materials tested, including industrial and experimental composts, manure, and commercial biofertilizers. A comparison of the DGGE and hybridization results after specific PCR and RT-PCR suggested that not all of the different ammonia oxidizer groups detected in compost are equally active. amoA, the gene encoding the active-site-containing subunit of ammonia monooxygenase, was also targeted by PCR, and template concentrations were estimated by competitive PCR. Detection of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the composts tested suggested that such materials may not be biologically inert with respect to nitrification and that the fate of nitrogen during composting and compost storage may be affected by the presence of these organisms.