nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Is Overexpression of Ki-67 a Prognostic Biomarker of Upper Tract Urinary Carcinoma? A Retrospective Cohort Study and Meta-Analysis

Upper tract urinary carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively uncommon but aggressive disease. The Ki-67 antigen is a classic marker of cellular proliferation, but there is still controversy regarding the significance and importance of Ki-67 in tumor progression.  In this study, we first detected Ki-67 expression in UTUC patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Subsequently, we quantitatively combined the results with those from the published literature in a meta-analysis after searching several databases.  IHC results demonstrated that patients with muscle-invasive tumors (T2-T4) had higher Ki-67 expression than those with non-muscle-invasive tumors (Tis-T1), suggesting that high Ki-67 expression may be associated with the aggressive form of UTUC. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with high Ki-67 expression had significantly poorer cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Furthermore, multivariate analysis suggested that Ki-67 expression was an independent prognostic factor for CSS (hazard ratio, HR=3.196) and DFS (HR=3.517) in UTUC patients. Then, a meta-analysis of the published literature investigating Ki-67 expression and its effects on UTUC prognosis was conducted. After searching the PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases, 12 articles met the eligibility criteria for this analysis. The eligible studies included a total of 1740 patients with a mean number of 82 patients per study (range, 38-475). The combined results showed that increased Ki-67 levels were associated with poor survival and disease progression, with a pooled HR estimate of 2.081 and 2.791, respectively. In subgroup analysis, the pooled HR was statistically significant for cancer-specific survival (HR=2.276), metastasis-free survival (HR=3.008) and disease-free survival (HR=6.336).  In conclusion, high Ki-67 expression was associated with poor survival in patients with UTUC, as well as a high risk of disease progression, although these findings need to be interpreted with caution. Large-scale, adequately designed, prospective trials are needed to further confirm the value of Ki-67 in prognosis of UTUC patients.

Field of study: Biology, Chemistry
Research on Countermeasures and Financing Risk of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in China

SMEs have played an important role in deepening of construction of socialist market economy in China. Their contribution rate to our country's economy is rising continuously, they also stimulate technical innovation. However, because of their small scale, credit margin and other factors and imperfect market mechanism, SMEs are facing a severe situation in the process of financing, the huge financing risk has become the core problem restricting the development of SMEs. This paper employed the KMV model to make an empirical analysis. Then, the author puts forward corresponding suggestions for the financing of SMEs in the future.

Field of study: Business
The effect of hypothermia on the expression of neurotrophin mRNA in the hippocampus following transient cerebral ischemia in the rat.

The expression of the mRNAs of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and the neurotrophin receptor, TrkB, was studied in the rat hippocampus by in situ hybridization following normothermic (37 degreesC) and protective hypothermic (33 degreesC) transient cerebral ischemia of 15 min duration. In the resistant dentate gyrus, normothermic ischemia transiently induced NGF mRNA at around 8 h of recovery, while the NT3 mRNA levels were depressed over at least a 24-h recovery period. The levels of BDNF and TrkB were transiently and markedly elevated with a maximal expression at 24 h of recovery. Intraischemic hypothermia reduced the induction of NGF mRNA, while the increase of BDNF mRNA expression occurred earlier during recovery, and the post-ischemic NT3 mRNA depression was not affected. Also, the expression of TrkB mRNA was enhanced, and occurred concomitantly with the elevation of BDNF mRNA. In contrast, there were no changes in neurotrophin and TrkB mRNA in the CA3 and CA1 regions. The expression of BDNF mRNA at 24 h after normothermic ischemia, was attenuated by intraischemic hypothermia. We conclude that, the expressions of NGF, BDNF, NT3 or TrkB mRNA in ischemia-sensitive hippocampal subregions are not increased by protective hypothermia. In contrast, hypothermia induces neurotrophin mRNA alterations in the ischemia-resistant dentate gyrus that may convey protection to sensitive regions.

Field of study: Biology
Antioxidant pretreatment does not ameliorate alcohol-induced Purkinje cell loss in the developing rat cerebellum.

Recent research has suggested that oxidative stress is a potential mechanism for alcohol-induced injury and that supplementation with antioxidants can ameliorate alcohol-induced damage. In this study, two known antioxidants, melatonin and U83836E, were assessed for their effectiveness in blocking the expected alcohol-induced cerebellar Purkinje cell loss in neonatal rat pups.



Sprague-Dawley rat pups were artificially reared from postnatal days (PDs) 4-9 and were exposed to either alcohol or antioxidants (melatonin or U83836E) individually or in combination. A normal control group (raised by rat dams) was included in this study. On PD 9, the brain from each pup was removed and weighed, and the cerebellar vermis was processed for stereological cell counting.



Alcohol exposure during the brain growth spurt produced microencephaly, in addition to significant decreases in the number and density of Purkinje cells in lobule I and the volume of lobule I. The antioxidants did not reduce any of the adverse effects observed from alcohol exposure, and they did not decrease the Purkinje cell number when administered alone. Furthermore, antioxidants did not change the only blood alcohol concentration measured on PD 6.



The results confirmed alcohol-induced microencephaly and cerebellar Purkinje cell loss from neonatal alcohol exposure, and they showed that neither antioxidant could attenuate these adverse effects on the developing brain. The inability of antioxidants to reduce Purkinje cell loss from neonatal alcohol exposure suggests the existence of alternative mechanisms for developmental alcohol-induced Purkinje cell loss.

Field of study: Medicine
A MAINLAND CHINA HOMOgENIZED HISTORICAL TEMPERATURE DATASET Of 1951-2004

The China Homogenized Historical Temperature (CHHT) dataset (1951-2004) version 1.0 consists of monthly and daily surface observations from all national stations in mainland China. The primary objective of CHHT 1.0 is to build a set of homogenized observational climatic datasets to reduce uncertainty in the detection of observed climatic change and variability.  version 1.0 covers the years 1951-2004 in two formats that are stations and grids with 2.5°×2.5° spatial resolution and dataset is developed by using observations of daily mean, minimum and maximum temperatures from a total of 731 national weather stations distributed throughout mainland China. CHHT 1.0 quality control starts with fundamental checks that include the checking of range and limiting values, checking the internal consistency and, checking the measurements against each other. The CHHT 1.0 temperature data include two different datasets that are the original data and a homogeneity-adjusted version.

Field of study: Environmental science
The Formation of Cyclopropane Derivatives Bearing 1,2-Dicarbonyl Groups through Tandem Michael–Favorskii-Type Reactions with(E)-β-Styrylselenonium Triflate

A novel tandem Michael–Favorskii-type reaction is described. Treatment of active methylene carbanions, prepared by the reaction of NaH and active methylene compounds, with (E)-β-styrylselenonium triflate in DMF at 70 °C for 3 h gave cyclopropane derivatives bearing 1,2-dicarbonyl groups in moderate to good yields. On the other hand, the carbanions derived from malonates reacted with the selenonium salt to afford 1,1-dicarbonylcyclopropane compounds in good yields.

Field of study: Chemistry
From Economic Freedom to Economic and Social Poverty: Institutional Approaches to the Business Enterprise, Structural Change, and the Role for Government

The extent to which freedom should prevail continues to be a lingering question in the economic discipline. The article focuses on how freedom is conceptualized. The question addressed is whose freedoms are being served through economic self-governance. The profit seeking microeconomic objective of capitalists, as addressed by Karl Marx, must lead to structural change resulting in unemployment. But unemployment has disastrous social costs. So the promotion of freedom for capitalists comes at a high cost toward society. Thus it is argued that the concept of freedom is itself a paradox. Freedom itself must be constrained to be viable.

Field of study: Economics
Application of a LC–MS/MS method for multi-mycotoxin analysis in infant formula and milk-based products for young children commercialized in Southern Brazil

An analytical method based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was validated and applied for the analysis of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), ochratoxin A (OTA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in infant formula and milk-based products for young children commercialized in Brazil. A total of 38 samples were evaluated, including 12 infant formula, 14 follow-on formula and 12 samples of milk-based products. AFM1 was detected in 12 (32%) samples, and seven (18%) samples contained AFM1 levels above the method limit of quantification in a concentration range between 0.013 and 0.067 ng mL−1 (0.026 ± 0.019). Two samples of milk-based products exceeded the maximum level (ML) fixed by the European Union for AFM1 in baby foods, however, all samples were in agreement with the levels established by the Brazilian regulation. OTA and DON were not detected in any of the analyzed samples.

Field of study: Agricultural and Food sciences
Pentaquark baryon production in nuclear reactions

Using a hadronic model with empirical coupling constants and form factors, we have evaluated the cross sections for the production of exotic pentaquark $\Theta^+$ and/or $\Xi_5^+$ and $\Xi_5^{--}$ in reactions induced by photons, nucleons, pions, and kaons on nucleon targets. We have also predicted the $\Theta^+$ yield in relativistic heavy ion collisions using a kinetic model that takes into account both $\Theta^+$ production from the coalescence of quarks and antiquarks in the quark-gluon plasma and the effects due to subsequent hadronic absorption and regeneration.

Field of study: Physics
Comparing two books and establishing probably efficacious treatment for low sexual desire.

Using a sample of 45 women, this study compared the effectiveness of a previously studied (Mintz, Balzer, Zhao, & Bush, 2012) bibliotherapy intervention (Mintz, 2009), a similar self-help book (Hall, 2004), and a wait-list control (WLC) group. To examine intervention effectiveness, between and within group standardized effect sizes (interpreted with Cohen's, 1988 benchmarks .20 = small, .50 = medium, .80+ = large) and their confidence limits are used. In comparison to the WLC group, both interventions yielded large between-group posttest effect sizes on a measure of sexual desire. Additionally, large between-group posttest effect sizes were found for sexual satisfaction and lubrication among those reading the Mintz book. When examining within-group pretest to posttest effect sizes, medium to large effects were found for desire, lubrication, and orgasm for both books and for satisfaction and arousal for those reading the Mintz book. When directly comparing the books, all between-group posttest effect sizes were likely obtained by chance. It is concluded that both books are equally effective in terms of the outcome of desire, but whether or not there is differential efficacy in terms of other domains of sexual functioning is equivocal. Tentative evidence is provided for the longer term effectiveness of both books in enhancing desire. Arguing for applying criteria for empirically supported treatments to self-help, results are purported to establish the Mintz book as probably efficacious and to comprise a first step in this designation for the Hall book.

Field of study: Psychology
RITM: a mini /spl gamma/ camera for pre and per-operative radio guided cancer surgery evaluation for bone tumor localization in theater blocks

The authors have developed a multi-functional portable /spl gamma/-radio-imager (RITM) based on a position sensitive photo-multiplier tube (PSPMT) in order to evaluate the potential of such a mini /spl gamma/-camera concept in radio-pharmacology and nuclear medicine. The authors report here an evaluation of their RITM device for bone surgery. It concerns localization of the Osteoid Osteoma (benign bone tumor) performed in the theater block before skin incision and during the surgical lesion extraction. In the over 13 cases the authors studied, the diagnosis furnished by RITM was always confirmed by post-operation anatomopathological analysis. This shows how RITM can be used as an additional indicator to monitor the operation. Following RITM experience, the authors are developing a new small field of view /spl gamma/-per-operative compact imager (POCI) with submillimeter spatial resolution performance. It consists of a high resolution collimator and a YAP:Ce crystal assembly coupled to an intensified position sensitive diode (IPSD). This hand-held imaging probe is first dedicated to intra-operative monitoring for thyroid tumor and neuroblastoma removal. Characteristics of the POCI device and preliminary results are briefly presented.

Field of study: Physics
The Mexican Supreme Court and the Juntas de Conciliación y Arbitraje, 1917–1924: The Judicialisation of Labour Relations after the Revolution*

This article reviews Mexican Supreme Court decisions concerning the legal status of juntas de conciliación y arbitraje (state labour boards of conciliation and arbitration) between 1917 and 1924. During this period the Court played an important role in legitimising these administrative boards, which have since become a constituent part of Mexico's state–labour regime. This examination of the Court's decisions shows how judge-made law contributed to the evolution of industrial relations in the country in the early 1920s. Furthermore, the article's discussion of the connection between the Court's evolving case law and its changing membership in this period indicates how its legal decisions were sensitive to political changes. This presents an early instance of the more recent trend toward the judicialisation of politics in Latin America.  Este artículo revisa las decisiones de la Corte Suprema mexicana relacionadas con el estatus legal de las juntas de conciliación y arbitraje laborales del Estado entre 1917 y 1924. Durante este periodo, la Corte jugó un papel importante en la legitimización de tales juntas administrativas, que se habían vuelto parte constituyente del régimen laboral estatal de México. Este examen de las decisiones de la Corte muestra cómo leyes hechas por jueces contribuyeron a la evolución de las relaciones industriales en el país a principios de los años 20. Asimismo, la discusión de la conexión entre la jurisprudencia de la Corte y su cambiante membresía en ese periodo indica que sus decisiones legales fueron sensibles a los cambios políticos. Lo anterior representa una temprana instancia de la tendencia más reciente alrededor de la judicialización de la política en Latinoamérica.  O artigo examina decisões do Supremo Tribunal de Justiça do México referentes ao estado legal de conselhos estatais de conciliação e arbitragem trabalhista entre 1917 e 1924. Ao longo deste período o tribunal desempenhou importante papel em legitimar os conselhos administrativos que desde então se tornaram parte constitutiva do regime mexicano trabalhista estatal. A análise das decisões do tribunal demonstra como leis escritas por juízes contribuíram para a evolução das relações industriais no país no início da década de 1920. A discussão sobre a conexão entre o direito jurisprudencial em evolução e o quadro de membros em transformação durante o período ainda indica a suscetibilidade das decisões legais às mudanças políticas. Representa uma das primeiras instâncias da tendência mais recente em direção à judicialização da política na América Latina.

Field of study: Political science
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOLATILE YIELD AND PETROGRAPHICANALYSIS DURING PYROLYSIS OF SHENMU MACERALS

The mass loss in pyrolysis of macerals from Shenmu coal wa s systematically investigated by using TG-151 pressurized thermobalance at differ ent final temperatures and heating rates.The volatile yield was related to petr ographic composition.The results of ΔW,the difference of coal volatile yie lds between experimental and theoretical ones, indicated that vitrinite and iner tinite had significant synergistic effect during pyrolysis. With increasing tem perature, the synergism of vitrinite and inertinite during pyrolysis increased. The heating rate had different effect on the synergism which depended on the fin al temperature.

Field of study: Chemistry, Environmental science
Mobile Proximity Usage Behaviors Based on User Characteristics

Mobile adoption and use research are a relatively mature Information Systems (IS) research area; however, few studies have taken a user-centered approach to examining this phenomenon. This research focuses on the user characteristics of self-efficacy and time urgency, a construct adopted from psychology, and relates them to traditional adoption and use theories. Further, this research substitutes mobile proximity as a usage construct to explicitly recognize the features of the mobile device that make it unique, thereby enriching the use literature. The proposed model explains 24% of the variance in mobile proximity and highlights four significant hypotheses. Our findings indicate that the newly applied time urgency and mobile proximity constructs are applicable in adoption and use studies and should be further explored in IS literature. Implications for research and practice are outlined, including the relative ease of access to mobile devices and the importance of personality traits as related to adoption.

Field of study: Computer science
Significance of porosity for stratigraphy and textural composition in subsurface, coarse fluvial deposits: Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site

Recognition and quantitative characterization of subsurface stratigraphic units in coarse unconsolidated fluvial deposits are difficult because large grain size and the large scale of sedimentary structures make direct interpretation from core difficult or impossible. In this paper, we use porosity data from well logs and grain-size distribution (GSD) data from core to investigate four pebble- and cobble-dominated units that have been identified in porosity logs in deposits at a research well field (Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site). Lacking direct observation at an appropriate scale, questions about distribution of parameters and textural composition in these units are analyzed with statistical tests. The four pebble- and cobble-dominated “porosity stratigraphic” units may be grouped into two types: (1) Units 1 and 3 have low porosity (mean ∼0.17–0.18) and low porosity variance; and (2) Units 2 and 4 have higher porosity (mean ∼ 0.23–0.24) and higher porosity variance. Based on GSD data, core samples are subdivided into five lithotypes. The five lithotypes occur in different proportions and have different vertical transition probability characteristics in the two types of units: (1) Units 1 and 3 have only framework-gravel–dominated lithotypes and have random vertical transition probability between these two lithotypes; and (2) Units 2 and 4 consist of both framework-gravel–dominated and sand- or matrix-dominated lithotypes and have structured vertical transition probability. The two framework-gravel–dominated lithotypes occur in all four stratigraphic units but have distinctly lower porosity in Units 1 and 3 (i.e., tighter packing) than in Units 2 and 4 (looser packing). Considering the repeated stratigraphic occurrence of (and the statistical significance of differences between) the two types of units, both the individual unit distinctions and the two unit groupings appear to be valid. It is reasonable to interpret that the observed packing differences associated with Units 1 and 3 compared with Units 2 and 4 are related to different sedimentary processes that produce different bedforms or grain fabrics, perhaps under different bedload transport rates.

Field of study: Geology
Research on Optimization of Residual Natural Gas Distribution for Combined Cycle Unit Shutdown Process

Although combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) has been utilized and studied intensively, little attention was paid on optimizing its shutdown process. Under limited residual natural gas, the optimization of shutdown process of CCGT becomes a problem needed to be solved, and no research has been conducted on solving this particular problem. In this study, the overall performance and characteristics of the shutdown process of CCGT were analyzed and modeled. This model was proposed to allocate gas consumption during shutdown process for creating maximum power generation and maximum economic benefit. Based on the shutdown process model, optimal shutdown scheme was proposed and proved, and optimizing algorithms were developed to facilitate the decision making procedure. The calculations of different load-up rates and load-off rates of CCGT showed that the total power generation is more relevant with the load-off rates rather than the load-up rates. When the residual natural gas volume assumed to be 105 m3, the shutdown optimization could generate an extra power of 28.41 MW⋅h and an extra profit of 4.79 million Yuan annually. This program was applied on three CCGTs in a power plant in Zhejiang Province, China, as a case study. The testing results proved that the obtained optimization scheme is technically stable and effective in the real working condition. Thus, the model and the optimization algorithms were also valid and feasible for potential applications.

Field of study: Engineering
RISK TAKING AND TEST-WISENESS OF CHINESE STUDENTS

Eighty-six male and forty-five female 12th grade Chinese students took the Standard Educational Intelligence Test which contains measures of risk-taking and test-wiseness. The reliability (.88) and the mean (.68) of the risk measure were the same magnitudes as that reported for 12th grade American students. Further analysis of the data indicated that sex and risk-taking, and penalty-experience and risk-taking were not related, but that the test-taking experience and risk were weakly related. The Kuder-Richardson number 20 values for the four TW subscales were low. The mean scores for all four TW subscales were lower for Chinese Ss than for American Ss. Furthermore, the mean score for the stem-option scale was essentially equal to chance, and the mean score for the specific-determiner scale was even less than chance. In two separate sex by test-experience and sex by penalty-experience multivariate analyses of variance, none of the relationships appeared to be significant.

Field of study: Education
Studies in the Byzantine Monetary Economy c.300-1450

This book represents an attempt to depict the late Roman and Byzantine monetary economy in its fullest possible social, economic and administrative context, with the aim of establishing the basic dynamics behind the production of the coinage, the major mechanisms affecting its distribution, and the general characteristics of its behaviour once in circulation. The book consists of four main sections, on economy and society, on finance, and on the circulation and production of coinage, and has made an unrivalled contribution in the field of late classical, Byzantine and medieval economic history. The text is fully supported by the extensive quotation of translated sources, and by maps, tables and plates.

Field of study: Economics, History