Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Everolimus-Eluting Stents or Bypass Surgery for Left Main Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND Patients with obstructive left main coronary artery disease are usually treated with coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG). Randomized trials have suggested that drug-eluting stents may be an acceptable alternative to CABG in selected patients with left main coronary disease. METHODS We randomly assigned 1905 eligible patients with left main coronary artery disease of low or intermediate anatomical complexity to undergo either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with fluoropolymer-based cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stents (PCI group, 948 patients) or CABG (CABG group, 957 patients). Anatomic complexity was assessed at the sites and defined by a Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score of 32 or lower (the SYNTAX score reflects a comprehensive angiographic assessment of the coronary vasculature, with 0 as the lowest score and higher scores [no upper limit] indicating more complex coronary anatomy). The primary end point was the rate of a composite of death from any cause, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 3 years, and the trial was powered for noninferiority testing of the primary end point (noninferiority margin, 4.2 percentage points). Major secondary end points included the rate of a composite of death from any cause, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 30 days and the rate of a composite of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization at 3 years. Event rates were based on Kaplan-Meier estimates in time-to-first-event analyses. RESULTS At 3 years, a primary end-point event had occurred in 15.4% of the patients in the PCI group and in 14.7% of the patients in the CABG group (difference, 0.7 percentage points; upper 97.5% confidence limit, 4.0 percentage points; P=0.02 for noninferiority; hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.79 to 1.26; P=0.98 for superiority). The secondary end-point event of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 30 days occurred in 4.9% of the patients in the PCI group and in 7.9% in the CABG group (P<0.001 for noninferiority, P=0.008 for superiority). The secondary end-point event of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization at 3 years occurred in 23.1% of the patients in the PCI group and in 19.1% in the CABG group (P=0.01 for noninferiority, P=0.10 for superiority). CONCLUSIONS In patients with left main coronary artery disease and low or intermediate SYNTAX scores by site assessment, PCI with everolimus-eluting stents was noninferior to CABG with respect to the rate of the composite end point of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction at 3 years. (Funded by Abbott Vascular; EXCEL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01205776 .).
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): involvement in bovine follicular cysts etiopathogenesis

Ovulation is compared to an acute inflammatory process during which vasoactive agents, prostanoids, leukotrienes and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) develop. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of ROS in cystic and follicular fluid, in order to establish their involvement in the etiopathogenesis of Cystic Ovarian Follicle (COF) in dairy cows. The study was conducted in 30 healthy cows (group C) and 30 cows affected by COF (group COF). The fluid of follicular cysts and of preovulatory follicles was drawn by means of ultrasound guided aspiration from the cows of both groups. The fluid obtained was analyzed by a photometric analytical system to detect ROS level. ROS concentration was statistically lower in the cystic fluid than in the follicular one (62.4 ± 13.36 U.Carr vs. 84.89 ± 26.99 U.Carr) (p<0.05), thus suggesting that an alteration of the cascade responsible for ROS production may be implicated in the complex etipathogenesis of COF.
Novel memory organization and circuit designs for efficient data access in applications of 3D graphics and multimedia coding

Memory has become one of the critical components in many applications. This paper presents new designs of SRAM memory circuit and architectures for applications in 3D graphics, JPEG2000, and multimedia codec. In the 3D graphics pipeline, the memory initialization is realized by modifying the circuits in the SRAM decoder and storage cell. In the bit-plane coder (BPC) of JPEG2000, we propose a new 3D memory architecture design and the corresponding circuit designs for efficient data access in processing the stripe-based bit planes. The 3D memory design can be also applied to the design of parallel-in-parallel-out transpose memory that is frequently encountered in the design of 2D DCT in JPEG and MPEG codec. We also develop a memory generator to allow for easy generation of the application-specific memory units of various sizes to be embedded in conventional cell-based design flow
Is it still economic to build a new coal-fired power plant in the U.S.? A real option analysis

ABSTRACT In the U.S., virtually no new coal-fired power plants have been built in recent years. Both industry experts and academics seem to believe that no rational firm will build a new coal-fired plant. Will such a trend continue in the future? To provide insights into this question, we investigate the optimal decision of an electricity company with an irreversible and deferrable opportunity to build either a new coal-fired or natural gas-fired power plant as its new base-load resource. According to our real option analysis, the optimal decision depends on the location. In the case of the eastern U.S., it is optimal to choose a natural gas plant if a firm is given a choice among a new natural gas plant, a new coal plant and deferring the investment. However, contrary to the common sentiment in the industry and academia, building a new coal plant in the western U.S. is still more economical than building a new natural gas plant in the absence of emission pricing. Furthermore, introducing carbon pricing to western U.S. states, as California did, can substantially increase the probability that a firm will optimally choose a natural gas plant over a coal plant.
A familial analysis of aggressive periodontitis - clinical and genetic findings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Family history is a primary diagnostic criterion for current classification of aggressive periodontitis (AgP). However, results of previous studies have shed controversy over the degree of familiarity of AgP and its possible inheritance mechanisms. The aims of this study were to estimate the percentage of affected relatives of AgP individuals, to analyse the disease phenotypes in relatives and to explore the distributions of genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in AgP patients and in diseased and healthy relatives. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with AgP were clinically examined and asked to provide relatives for examination. First-degree relatives were clinically and radiographically diagnosed. Blood samples were collected, DNA was extracted and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-6 (at positions -174, -1363 and -1480) by polymerase chain reaction was performed in patients and relatives. RESULTS Fifty-five AgP patients provided relatives for examination. A total of 100 first-degree relatives were assessed and 10 of them (10%) were found to have AgP. All relatives diagnosed with AgP had the same disease as the corresponding proband (localized AgP/localized AgP or generalized AgP/generalized AgP). The same IL-6 genotypes (-174 GG, -1480 CC) previously associated with AgP showed a tendency for association with AgP in relatives. CONCLUSION This pilot study confirmed a relatively high risk for relatives of AgP patients to have AgP (10%). Genetic polymorphisms in the IL-6 gene may have an impact in aetiopathogenesis. This study provides a sample size calculation for a novel study design using healthy relatives as control subjects.
Identification of baculovirus gene that promotes Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus replication in a nonpermissive insect cell line

A gene that promotes Autographa californica M nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) replication in IPLB-Ld652Y cells, a cell line that is nonpermissive for AcMNPV, was identified in Lymantria dispar M nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdMNPV). Cotransfection of AcMNPV DNA and a plasmid carrying the LdMNPV gene into IPLB-Ld652Y cells results in AcMNPV replication. The gene maps between 43.3 and 43.8 map units on the 162-kbp genome of LdMNPV. It comprises a 218-codon open reading frame and encodes a polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 25.7 kDa. The predicted polypeptide is glutamic acid and valine rich and negatively charged, with a pI of 4.61. No protein sequence motifs were identified, and no matches with known nucleotide or peptide sequences were found in the AcMNPV genome or database searches that suggest how this gene might function. A recombinant AcMNPV bearing the LdMNPV gene overcomes a block in protein synthesis observed in AcMNPV-infected IPLB-Ld652Y cells. Using Southern blotting techniques, we were unable to identify a homolog in Orgyia pseudotsugata M nuclear polyhedrosis virus, a baculovirus that is routinely propagated in IPLB-Ld652Y cells. This suggests that the LdMNPV host range is unique among the baculoviruses studied to date. We named this gene hrf-1 (for host range factor 1).
Flooding constraints on tree (Taxodium distichum) and herb growth responses to elevated CO2

Elevated CO2 generally stimulates C3-type photosynthesis, but it is unclear how an increase in CO2 assimilation will interact with other factors that influence plant growth. In wetlands, the response of plants to elevated CO2 will interact with soil saturation, particularly in forested wetlands where soil saturation is a strong regulator of plant productivity. We performed a four-month experiment to determine whether elevated CO2 and flooding interact to influence the growth of a flood-tolerant tree (Taxodium distichum) and a flood-tolerant herbaceous emergent macrophyte (Orontium aquaticum). Seedlings were grown in glass-houses at two CO2 levels (350 and 700 μL L−1) crossed with two water depths (5 cm above and ≥5 cm below the soil surface). We hypothesized that elevated CO2 would increase photosynthesis regardless of water depth and species; however, we also expected flooding to prevent elevated CO2 from increasing the growth of the tree species due to O2 limitation or other physiological stresses associated with reduced soil environments. We found that elevated CO2 increased whole-plant photosynthesis in both species regardless of the flooding treatment. ForT. distichum, this higher photosynthetic rate resulted in greater biomass only in the non-flooded treatment. This result suggests that some factor related to flooding constrained the biomass response of the flooded woody plants to elevated CO2. In contrast, elevated CO2 increasedO. aquaticum biomass regardless of the flooding regime, perhaps because it occurs in wetter landscape positions thanT. distichum and is less sensitive to flooding. We conclude that flooding may limit plant growth responses to elevated CO2, particularly in woody plant species.
Functional Interplay between Two Response Elements with Distinct Binding Characteristics Dictates Androgen Specificity of the Mouse Sex-limited Protein Enhancer*

Many of the aspects involved in steroid-specific transcriptional regulation are still unsolved to date. We describe here the detailed characterization of the mouse sex-limited protein enhancer as a paradigm for androgen-specific control of gene expression. By deletion analysis, we delineate the minimal enhancer region displaying androgen sensitivity and specificity. We also show that each of the three hormone response elements (HRE), which constitute this minimal enhancer region, is essential but not sufficient for its functionality. When investigated as isolated elements, HRE1 is inactive and HRE3 is a potent androgen response element as well as GRE. Only the non-canonical HRE2 (5-TGGTCAgccAGTTCT-3′) is capable of conferring an androgen-specific transcriptional response to a heterologous promoter. This finding is correlated with the fact that HRE2 is recognized in binding assaysin vitro by the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of the androgen but not the glucocorticoid receptor, while HRE3 is recognized by both DBDs. Differential binding of the androgen receptor to HRE2 in the context of the enhancer was analyzed in more detail in footprinting assays in vitro. In transient transfection experiments using chimeric receptors, the inability of the glucocorticoid receptor to transactivate via the slp-ARU as well as the isolatedslp-HRE2 was rescued by the replacement of its DNA-binding domain with that of the androgen receptor. Our data suggest that the functional interplay between the weak, but highly androgen-specific HRE2 and the adjacent strong, but non-selective HRE3 is the major determinant in the generation of androgen specificity of transcriptional response via the sex-limited protein enhancer.
Quantitative exploration of the contribution of settlement, growth, dispersal and grazing to the accumulation of natural marine biofilms on antifouling and fouling-release coatings

The accumulation of microbial biofilms on ships’ hulls negatively affects ship performance and efficiency while also playing a role in the establishment of even more detrimental hard-fouling communities. However, there is little quantitative information on how the accumulation rate of microbial biofilms is impacted by the balance of the rates of cell settlement, in situ production (ie growth), dispersal to surrounding waters and mortality induced by grazers. These rates were quantified on test panels coated with copper-based antifouling (AF) or polymer-based fouling-release (FR) coatings by using phospholipids as molecular proxies for microbial biomass. The results confirmed the accepted modes of efficacy of these two types of coatings. In a more extensive set of experiments with only the FR coatings, it was found that seasonally averaged cellular production rates were 1.5 ± 0.5 times greater than settlement and the dispersal rates were 2.7 ± 0.8 greater than grazing. The results of this study quantitatively describe the dynamic balance of processes leading to the accumulation of microbial biofilm on coatings designed for ships’ hulls.
Residues from anabolic preparations after _good veterinary practice *

The purpose of this study was to determine the endogenous concentrations of estrogens, particularly estradiol‐17β (E2β), in edible tissues of beef cattle (females and intact and neutered males) and the concentrations of E2β, and trenbolone beta and alpha (βTb, αTb) after an E2β and/or trenbolone acetate (TA) ear implant. Radioimmunoassays were validated for quantitation of E2β (active isomer), E2α, estrone (E1), βTb and αTb for bovine muscle, liver, kidney and fat tissues. The criteria of accuracy, precision, specificity and sensitivity were applied according to the standards of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. In steer tissues, endogenous E2β was <15 ppt, as was heifer muscle; but heifer liver and kidney were 3‐fold greater. An E2β implant in steers had no effect on muscle E2β concentration, but increased E2β in liver and fat 4‐ and 3‐fold, respectively, but by 24 h post‐implant removal, E2β had fallen by half. Tissue E1 concentrations in cyclic females were similar to E2β, but rose many fold greater than did E2β during gestation; E2β rose 3‐fold during gestation. After E2β/TA implant, steer tissues had E2β concentrations equal to (for muscle and fat) and one‐half (for liver) the E2β measured in E2β implant only steers; βTb was in a low range (250–380 ppt) in muscle, liver and fat and αTb was even lower, except in liver (800–1500 ppt). An implant of TA only (no E2β) resulted in βTb and αTb concentrations 2–3‐fold greater in liver, kidney and fat, but no greater in muscle than βTb in tissues of E2β/TA implant steers. In conclusion, anabolic implants in steers resulted in tissue E2β concentrations less than the FDA allowable increment and βTb in the lowest quartile (0.25) of a part per billion 30 days after implant.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Scale

Background: Women with breast cancer experience a wide spectrum of symptoms after diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms experienced by this specific population might not be fully assessed using available traditional Chinese-language symptom measures. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the latent constructs and psychometric properties of the Chinese Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (C-BCPT) Symptom Scale. Methods: Two hundred women with breast cancer were recruited in Taiwan. Psychometric properties, including construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, of the C-BCPT Symptom Scale were tested after translating the original instrument. Results: A 21-item C-BCPT Symptom Scale, with 7 extracted factors accounting for 72.26% of the total variance, resulted from an exploratory factor analysis. Construct validity was confirmed by significant correlations between scores on the C-BCPT Symptom Scale and the Taiwan-version Short Form–36 Health Survey (r = −0.49 to −0.53)/Greene Climacteric Scale (r = 0.81). Reliability coefficients for the overall scale/6 extracted factors (Cronbach's &agr; = 0.72–0.88) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.77–0.94) of the translated instrument were satisfactory, whereas 1 reliability coefficient for 1 extracted factor was inadequate (Cronbach's &agr; = 0.57). Conclusion: An interpretable structure with preliminary acceptable psychometric properties of the C-BCPT Symptom Scale was obtained; the C-BCPT can help traditional Chinese-speaking healthcare professionals perform adequate assessments of the symptoms experienced by women with breast cancer. Implications for Practice: The C-BCPT Symptom Scale can be used in clinical practice and research to assess symptoms experienced by this specific population or effects of related interventions.
Early vs late intraoperative administration of tropisetron for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy

Background: Tropisetron is a long‐acting 5HT3 receptor antagonist and was shown to be effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after tonsillectomy. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of early vs late intraoperative administration of tropisetron with regard to prevention of PONV during the first 48 h after extubation.
Is this adverse selection or something else to determine the non-performing loans? Dynamic panel evidence from South Asian countries

In the South Asian region, one of the major causes of higher non-performing loans (NPL) is the adverse selection of borrowers by the banks. Using the GMM estimator, we empirically studied the bank-specific, industry specific and macroeconomic specific determinants of non-performing loans of banks in the South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan) for the period of 1997-2012 and found that the adverse selection hypothesis of Stiglitz and Weiss (1981) still effective. We found evidence for the bad luck, bad management, skimping and moral hazard hypotheses of Berger and DeYoung (1997) and their effect on the credit risk determination. Bank size, industry concentration, inflation and GDP growth rate all significantly affect the sample countries' non-performing loans. Empirical results show a moderate degree of persistence of NPL and a late-hit of the global financial crisis in the banking sector of the region.
Logic Models as Aids in Managing Health Programs

Logic models, which are graphic depictions of how programs are intended to operate, can be very useful devices for improving the management of health programs in two important ways. They can assist program managers to perform the core management activities of strategizing, designing, and leading other program participants in an integrated manner. Logic models also can assist managers in establishing and maintaining good program stakeholder relationships.
with Asymptotic Criteria

Assume (1) asset returns follow a stochastic multi-factor process with time-varying conditional expectations; (2) investments are linear functions of factors. This paper calculates asymptotic joint moments of the logarithm of investor’s wealth and the factors. These formulas enable fast computation of a wide range of investment criteria. The results are illustrated by a numerical example that shows that the optimal portfolio rules are sensitive to the specification of the investment criterion.
High brightness visible (660 nm) resonant-cavity light-emitting diode

Visible (660 nm) resonant-cavity light-emitting (RCLEDs) have been fabricated. The top-emitting devices employed two AlGaAs-AlAs-Bragg mirrors and GaInP-AlGaInP quantum-well active layers. The device performance was characterized as a function of the device diameters, ranging from 24 to 202 /spl mu/m. The larger devices exhibited a nearly linear increase of output power with injected current with 8.4-mW emission at 120 mA. A maximum external efficiency of 4.8% was measured at 4 mA on the 84-/spl mu/m aperture devices. All devices exhibited a narrow emission at 659-661 nm with a linewidth around 3 nm. The results show that RCLED's are promising low-cost light sources for plastic fiber transmission as well as display applications.
Does gender diversity on boards reduce information asymmetry problems? Empirical evidence from the French market

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of female members in boards of directors on asymmetric information in the French stock market. Design/methodology/approach The authors use two proxies for asymmetric information: the idiosyncratic volatility and the bid-ask spread. This study is conducted on all listed firms in the SBF 120 index between 2002 and 2012. Findings Results show that gender diversity in boardrooms has a negative effect on the level of private information in stock markets and reduces the bid-ask spread. However, these effects are significant in family-controlled firms: female inside directors significantly increase the idiosyncratic volatility and the bid-ask spread, while female independent directors decrease both proxies for stock market liquidity. Research limitations/implications Our empirical findings contribute to the current debate on the benefits of gender diversity on corporate boards from the market perspective. It shows that, under specific conditions, financial markets could be receptive to the presence of female directors in boardrooms. Practical implications Practitioners and policymakers advocate the benefits of gender diversity on corporate boards. This paper shows that when the protection of minority shareholders is poor, the stock market is receptive to the presence of women independent directors, only in family controlled firms. This is a further argument that could help women to overcome glass-ceiling barriers they usually face to achieve top management positions. Originality/value This paper provides support for the increased attention paid to gender-diverse boards. It addresses the market sensitivity toward the presence of women members in French boardrooms and their positions. This is the first paper, to the best of our knowledge, to address how appointing women to different positions in the boardroom could provide signals to investors in the presence of asymmetric information. French firms are mostly family controlled. Thus, the findings bring valuable information of the impact of board diversity on the stock market considering family and nonfamily firms.