Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23: A Possible Cause of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hemodialysis Patients

Background:Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common cardiovascular disorder and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death in dialysis patients. Hyperphosphatemia is associated with LVH. Previous studies have shown that fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), which has an important role in phosphate metabolism, is elevated in chronic hemodialysis patients. Objectives:The aim of this study is to determine the association of FGF23 and LVH and the prognostic value of FGF23 in chronic hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods:One hundred twenty-four end-stage renal disease patients were evaluated for LVH by echocardiography. Serum FGF23 levels were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results:Patients with LVH were more likely to have poor urea clearance (Kt/V), higher systolic blood pressure, and comorbidity of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. LVH was also associated with higher levels of FGF23. Multivariate analysis indicated that FGF23 level, systolic blood pressure, and comorbidity of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease remained correlated with LVH. This suggested that serum FGF23 level is independently associated with LVH in our hemodialysis patients. Cox analysis indicated no significant difference in risk of death for patients with elevated levels of FGF23. Conclusion:LVH has a high prevalence in hemodialysis patients, and FGF23 is independently associated with LVH but is not a predictor for short-term prognosis (2-year follow-up).
Multivariate Polynomial System Solving Using Intersections of Eigenspaces

The solutions of a polynomial system can be computed using eigenvalues and eigenvectors of certain endomorphisms. There are two different approaches, one by using the (right) eigenvectors of the representation matrices, one by using the (right) eigenvectors of their transposed ones, i.e. their left eigenvectors. For both approaches, we describe the common eigenspaces and give an algorithm for computing the solution of the algebraic system. As a byproduct, we present a new method for computing radicals of zero-dimensional ideals.
Principal Recruitment: Assessing Job Pursuit Intentions among Educators Enrolled in Principal Certification Programs

A statewide cadre of principal certification students (N = 516) completed a principal job survey and role-played as applicants for a principal position by completing a principal job evaluation instrument. Significant predictors of principal job rating included the following: self-reported capability to do the job expected satisfaction with work hours and family time, expected satisfaction with intrinsic job facets and job security expected satisfaction with job enrichment opportunities and responsibility and expected satisfaction with income and career advancement opportunities. Implications for recruitment practice and future research are discussed.
Screening Mammography in Men with BRCA Mutations: Is There a Role?

Abstract: Male breast cancer is rare, with an estimated incidence of 1.08 per 100,000 men, and a death rate less than one third of that. However, the incidence of breast cancer in men with the BRCA2 mutation is significantly higher, 7.1% before age 70 (Evans et al., J Med Genet. 2010; 47:710). Due to the low incidence of male breast carcinoma, and even lower incidence of male BRCA2 positive breast cancers, clear screening guidelines for patients at risk for male for breast cancer have not been established. We report a case of male breast carcinoma in a patient with the BRCA2 mutation detected by screening mammography, and review the literature regarding screening mammography in men.
Looking Beyond the Lumen.

D ifferent strategies to visualize the vessels are available to Radiology and depend on the clinical question at hand. Phase-contrast and time-of-flight magnetic resonance (MR) angiographies visualize the flow through the lumen and thus— indirectly—allow us to evaluate the lumen of the vessel. Despite their noninvasive nature, their lack of radiation exposure, and excellent spatial resolution, these MRA techniques are prone to artifacts and only identify pathology if the lumen is affected. Conventional angiographies, as well as contrast-enhanced noninvasive imaging modalities including CTA or contrast-enhanced MRA are less prone to these flow related artifacts, can evaluate the vascular lumen in high cross-sectional or 3-dimensional views, but, again, are ‘‘luminographies,’’ that is, methods that show the ‘‘cast of the vessel’’ and as such will show pathology only if the lumen is affected. Timeresolved angiographies (both in computed tomography [CT] and MR) allow us to visualize the arteriovenous transit time, but the increased temporal resolution may go along with decreased spatial accuracy, and it is—again—only the lumen that is visualized. Pathology of the vessels, however, goes beyond the lumen; in fact, there is a growing body of evidence that the abluminal pathology may, for certain diseases, be as or even more clinically important than the luminal pathology. This change in paradigm may be best highlighted by the shift of risk factor assessment for extracranial stenosis. Although the established criteria (as proven by the NASCET, ACAS and ACST studies) for risk of subsequent stroke in symptomatic carotid stenosis are based on luminal characteristics (degree of stenosis), recent work that focused on imaging of the plaque itself revealed that certain abluminal factors (ie, the plaque composition) were highly predictive for subsequent ischemic events, indicating that plaque imaging may play an important role in the management of carotid artery disease. For the extracranial carotid arteries, the evaluation of the plaque in relation to the thickness (or rupture state) of the fibrous cap, the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage, and a lipid-rich necrotic core
Anticancer Effects of a New Aminosugar-conjugated Platinum Complex Agent Against Cisplatin-resistant Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM Resistance against cisplatin is a problem for the success of gastric cancer chemotherapy. Herein, we evaluated the antitumor effect of a new aminosugar-conjugated, mono-functional platinum complex (Pt-Oqn), which forms a single covalent bond with DNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS We compared the cytotoxicity of Pt-Oqn to that of cisplatin (CDDP), oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and carboplatin (CBDCA). We also compared Pt-Oqn and cisplatin for DNA double-strand breaks based on phosphorylated histone H2AX levels in cancer cells and antitumor effects in xenograft models. RESULTS The resistance factor (RF) for Pt-Oqn was low among the four drugs, indicating the potential of Pt-Oqn for overcoming CDDP-induced resistance. In MKN45-R cells, γ-H2AX protein increased following treatment with Pt-Oqn, but not with cisplatin. Finally, Pt-Oqn, but not cisplatin, showed significant antitumor effects in MKN45-R xenografts. CONCLUSION This new aminosugar-conjugated platinum complex is a promising candidate agent for overcoming the drug resistance of cisplatin-resistant stomach cancer.
Normalized-cut algorithm for hierarchical vector field data segmentation

In the context of vector field data visualization, it is often desirable to construct a hierarchical data representation. One possibility to construct a hierarchy is based on clustering vectors using certain similarity criteria. We combine two fundamental approaches to cluster vectors and construct hierarchical vector field representations. For clustering, a locally constructed linear least-squares approximation is incorporated into a similarity measure that considers both Euclidean distance between point pairs (for which dependent vector data are given) and difference in vector values. A modified normalized cut (NC) method is used to obtain a near-optimal clustering of a given discrete vector field data set. To obtain a hierarchical representation, the NC method is applied recursively after the construction of coarse-level clusters. We have applied our NC-based segmentation method to simple, analytically defined vector fields as well as discrete vector field data generated by turbulent flow simulation. Our test results indicate that our proposed adaptation of the original NC method is a promising method as it leads to segmentation results that capture the qualitative and topological nature of vector field data.
Influence of sex and age on fluorouracil clearance.

PURPOSE Currently, fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the major drugs used in cancer chemotherapy. Several investigators, including ourselves, have demonstrated a link between abnormalities in 5-FU clearance (Cl) and the risk of developing more or less 5-FU-related toxicities. Age and sex are among the host factors that have been implicated in the pharmacokinetic variability of drugs. Presently, no data are available on the possible influence of sex and age on 5-FU Cl. PATIENTS AND METHODS Three hundred eighty patients (mean age, 61.7 years; range, 25 to 91; 301 men and 79 women) with squamous cell carcinoma (sre) of the head and neck were treated in our institution between 1987 and 1991. 5-FU Cl was determined for a total of 1,092 chemotherapy cycles. Each cycle consisted of cisplatin and 5-day continuous intravenous infusion 5-FU (daily doses ranging between 365 and 1,224 mg/m2). RESULTS 5-FU Cl values (L/h/m2) showed a wide dispersion for both men (median, 179; range, 29 to 739) and women (median, 155; range, 56 to 466). 5-FU Cl values were lower significantly for women compared with men (P = .0005). When adjusted for age and dose, the influence of sex on log Cl remained significant (P = .013). There was no evidence that age modified 5-FU Cl when adjusted for sex and dose. Interestingly, for both men and women, the oldest patients (greater than 70 years) maintained their ability to clear 5-FU with daily doses that ranged from 500 to 1,000 mg/m2. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that the capacities to clear 5-FU are lower in women compared with men and are not influenced by age. It would be of interest to know whether this sex-related difference in 5-FU Cl may be clinically relevant by considering both toxicity and tumor response to 5-FU treatment.
Adaptive Aspirations and Performance Heterogeneity: Attention Allocation Among Multiple Reference Points

type="main" xml:id="smj2260-abs-0001"> Organizations learn and adapt their aspiration levels based on reference points (prior aspiration, prior performance, and prior performance of reference groups). The relative attention that organizations allocate to these reference points impacts organizational search and strategic decisions. However, very little research has explored this. Therefore, we build a recursive feedback model of learning from organizational experience that explains heterogeneity of attention allocation to the reference points in adaptive aspirations. In a sample of the German magazine industry (1972–2010), we find when early in their life cycle and as they or their parent company age, organizations tend to focus more on their own aspirations; however, when at the verge of bankruptcy, they increase their attention to competitors' performance . Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
BUSINESS PLANNING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND LOCALIZATION - A STUDY OF 131 INCUBATEES LOCATED ON 16 INCUBATORS IN SWEDEN

The research question in this study specifically relates to the potential for performance associated with business plans and market development (as it affects the firm), product development (firm dimension) and localization (incubator dimension). The developed analytical model examines the effects of these different dimensions on small firm performance (as seen via capital resources, profit margin and level of sales). This study builds upon data collected from a survey in 2005 of 16 incubators in Sweden. The survey was sent out to the managers of the new technology-based firms (incubatees). Thus, out of the 133 answers (response rate 69%) we were able to use 131 small new technology-based firms localized at 16 incubators in the statistical analysis. Moreover, from a firm’s perspective the incubator provides an opportunity of gaining access to such as technology together with the creation of those systems important for running its business activities and improving performance. Factor analysis was used to divide the variables into the five latent variables: business plans and prognoses, product development, region and proximity, university and incubator linkage, and transportation and facilities. However, we found a very limited number of connections between firm performance (capital resources, profit margin and level of sales) and these 5 selected variables. Regarding the financing situation, we note that the only statistical connection occurs between the financial resources over the past three years and the [latent variable] business plans and prognoses. There was no overall statistical support for connections between sales level, profit margin and the five latent variables.
Consumer driven electronic transformation : applying new technologies to enthuse consumers and transform the supply chain

PART 1: EMERGING TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT. - Improvement Opportunities in Retail Logistics. - A Dynamic Real-time Vehicle Routing System for Distribution Operations. - Bargaining and Alliances in Supply Chains . - Last-mile Supply Chain Integration: Easy Connection and Information Exchange between Suppliers and Retailers. - Extending ECR into Product Innovation. - PART 2: MULTICHANNEL RETAILING: RELATIONSHIPS, INTEGRATION AND ELECTRONIC TRANSFORMATIONS. - Multichannel Retailing and Brand Policy. - Developing Alternative Store Layouts for Internet Retailing . - In Search for Viable e-Solutions. - PART 3: BEYOND CPFR: DEFINING THE FUTURE OF SUPPLY CHAIN COLLABORATION. - On Shelf Availability: An Examination of the Extent, the Causes and the Efforts to Address Retail Out-of-Stocks. - Increasing Shelf Availability through Internet-Based Information Sharing and Collaborative Store Ordering . - Towards the Development of an Algorithm to Discover Out-Of-Shelf Situations. - Food Value Chain Analysis. - PART 4: BEYOND RFID: SUPPORTING SUPPLY-CHAIN MANAGEMENT WITH INTELLIGENT TAGGING. - Turning Signals into Profits in the RFID-Enabled Supply Chain. - Shopping in the 21st century: Embedding Technology in the Retail Arena. - Towards 'Smarter' Supply and Demand-Chain Collaboration Practices enabled by RFID Technology.
A Kernel function optimization and selection algorithm based on cost function maximization

Kernel function optimization and selection is an open and challenging problem in statistic learning theory and kernel methods research area at present. The existing kernel optimization algorithms usually work in specific application, and it is efficient when used with one kind of kernel function. A kernel optimization and selection algorithm based on cost function maximization is proposed. Compared with present methods, it was applied to different kinds of kernel functions and it integrates kernel optimization and selection. The proposed method is applied to the application of infrared (IR) dim and small target detection based on Kernel RLS (KRLS) algorithm. The validity of the optimization and selection method is demonstrated by experiments.
Ein Routing-Atlas für die strukturelle und visuelle Exposition des deutschen Internets

Zusammenfassung Ursprünglich wurde das Internets von der Idee geprägt, Übertragungsdienste für alle anzubieten, die eine wechselseitige Kopplung eingehen wollten. Seine skalierbare Architektur zielte auf eine globale Informationsinfrastruktur, in welcher nationale Ebenen oder staatengebundene Strukturen bedeutungslos waren. Das heutige Internet bildet jedoch in vielen Ländern eine potentiell kritische Infrastruktur, deren transparentes Funktionieren für die öffentliche Verwaltung und das private Geschäftshandeln, für Erziehung und Wissenschaft sowie die Information und Unterhaltung großer Bevölkerungskreise maßgeblich ist. Folgerichtig haben die Funktionsweise und die Funktionsqualität der Internet-Infrastruktur eine vielbeachtete politische Dimension angenommen. In diesem Beitrag stellen wir Verfahren, methodische Auswertungen und deren Ergebnisse vor, welche das ‚deutsche Internet‘ identifizieren, inhaltlich und strukturell charakterisieren sowie seine verschiedenen Aspekte visualisieren. Ausgehend von der Fragestellung, welche Akteure an üblichen Kommunikationsprozessen mitwirken und diese folglich beeinflussen können, rekonstruieren und visualisieren wir Routing-Graphen auf der Ebene Autonomer Systeme, welche die zum Messzeitpunkt gültige Vermittlungsstruktur wiedergeben. Diese Messungen und Charakterisierungen werden aus einer vollständig automatisierten Kette von Abfrage- und Verfeinerungswerkzeugen gewonnen. Das Vorgehen ist insofern geeignet, ein online Monitoring-System für die Fehler- und Leistungsüberwachung des deutschen Internet-Routings zu errichten.
Hot-electron-induced MOSFET degradation&#8212;Model, monitor, and improvement

Evidence suggests that MOSFET degradation is due to interface-states generation by electrons having 3.7 eV and higher energies. This critical energy and the observed time dependence is explained with physical model involving the breaking of the ≡ Si<inf>s</inf>H bonds. The device lifetime τ is proportional to<tex>I_{sub}^{-2.9}I_{d}^{1.9}\Delta V_{t}^{1.5}</tex>. If I<inf>sub</inf>is large because of small<tex>L</tex>or large V<inf>d</inf>, etc., τ will be small. I<inf>sub</inf>(and possibly light emission) is thus a powerful predictor of τ. The proportionality constant has been found to vary by a factor of 100 for different technologies, offering hope for substantially better reliability through future improvements in dielectric /interface technologies. A simple physical model can relate the channel field E<inf>m</inf>to all the device parameters and bias voltages. Its use in interpreting and guiding hot-electron scaling are described. LDD structures can reduce E<inf>m</inf>and I<inf>sub</inf>and, when properly designed, reduce device degradation.
Eating and Drinking Recognition via Integrated Information of Head Directions and Joint Positions in a Group

Recent years have seen the introduction of service robots as waiters or waitresses in restaurants and cafes. In such venues, it is common for customers to visit in groups a s well as for them to engage in conversation while eating and drinking. It is important for cyber serving staff to understand whether they are eating and drinking, or not, in order to wait on tables at appropriate ti mes. In this paper, we present a method by which the robots can recognize eating and drinking actions perfor med by individuals in a group. Our approach uses the positions of joints in the human body as a feature and long short-term memory to achieve a recognition task on time-series data. We also used head directions in our method, as we assumed that it is effective for recognition in a group. The information garnered from head d irections and joint positions is integrated via logistic regression and employed in recognition. The resul ts show that this yielded the highest accuracy and effectiveness of the robots’ tasks.
Antihistaminic and antianaphylactic activity of HK-07, a herbal formulation

Objective: To study the antianaphylactic, antihistaminic and mast cell stabilization activity of HK-07 in experimental animals. Materials and Methods: HK-07 is a polyherbal formulation containing extracts of various plant constituents. The compound HK-07 was evaluated using Wistar rats and Duncan Hartley guinea pigs. The antianaphylactic activity was investigated in rats using the active anaphylaxis model. The effect on mast cell stabilization was performed by ex vivo challenge of antigen in sensitized rat intestinal mesenteries. Antihistaminic activity was studied in guinea pigs using histamine-induced bronchospasm where preconvulsive dyspnea was used as an end point following exposure to histamine aerosol. Dose response studies of HK-07 were conducted at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, p.o. in anaphylactic shock-induced bronchospasm in rats. The optimal dose level was used for the remaining experimental models. Results: Treatment with HK-07 at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, p.o. showed significant reduction in signs and severity of symptoms (P Conclusion: The findings from various studies reveal that the antihistaminic and antianaphylactic activity of HK-07 may be due to the mast cell stabilizing potential, suppression of IgE, and inhibition of release of inflammatory mediators.
Towards measuring object-oriented class stability

Stable software, the capability of software to evolve while preserving its design, is an important software feature that software engineers strive for. Stable software tends to reduce maintenance cost and effort. Object-oriented (OO) classes form the basic components of the software systems; hence, stable OO classes may contribute to reducing the maintenance and effort cost. The authors identified factors that affect class stability and then used these factors to propose new class stability metric (CSM). Also, the authors theoretically and empirically validated CSM. The results show that the proposed CSM is negatively correlated with the maintenance effort.
p90RSK Blocks Bad-mediated Cell Death via a Protein Kinase C-dependent Pathway*

Although activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is known to promote cell survival and protect against cell death, the PKC targets and pathways that serve this function have remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that two potent activators of PKC, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and bryostatin, both stimulate phosphorylation of Bad at Ser112, a site known to regulate apoptotic cell death by interleukin-3. PKC inhibitors but not PI 3-kinase/Akt inhibitors block 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-stimulated Bad phosphorylation. PKC isoforms tested in vitro were unable to phosphorylate Bad at Ser112, suggesting that PKC acts indirectly to activate a downstream Bad kinase. p90RSK and family members RSK-2 and RSK-3 are activated by phorbol ester and phosphorylate Bad at Ser112 both in vitro andin vivo. p90RSK stimulates binding of Bad to 14-3-3 and blocks Bad-mediated cell death in a Ser112-dependent manner. These findings suggest that p90RSK can function in a PKC-dependent pathway to promote cell survival via phosphorylation and inactivation of Bad-mediated cell death.