Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitive biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): urinary 1-hydroxyprene glucuronide in relation to smoking and low ambient levels of exposure

Abstract The study was conducted in a Chinese population with occupational or environmental exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A total of 106 subjects were recruited from coke-oven workers (workers), residents in a metropolitan area (residents) and suburban gardeners (gardeners). All subjects were monitored twice for their personal exposures to PAHs. The biological samples were collected for measurements of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and cotinine in urine. The geometric means of personal exposure levels of pyrene, benz(a)anthracene (BaA) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in workers were 1.470, 0.978 and 0.805 µg m−3, respectively. The corresponding levels in residents were 0.050, 0.034 and 0.025 µg m−3; and those in gardeners were 0.011, 0.020 and 0.008 µg m−3, respectively. The conjugate of 1-OHP with glucuronide (1-OHP-G) is the predominant form of pyrene metabolite in urine and it showed strong associations with exposures not only to pyrene, but also to BaA, BaP and total PAHs. Most importantly, a significant difference in 1-OHP-G was even detected between the subgroups with exposures to BaP at < 0.010 and > 0.010 but < 0.020 µg m−3, suggesting that 1-OHP-G is a good marker that can be used for the risk assessment of BaP exposure at levels currently encountered in ambient air. Furthermore, multiple regression analyses of 1-OHP-G on PAHs exposure indicated that cigarette smoke was a major confounding factor and should be considered and adjusted for while using 1-OHP to estimate PAHs exposure.
Identification of Campath-1 (CD52) as Novel Drug Target in Neoplastic Stem Cells in 5q-Patients with MDS and AML

Purpose: The CD52-targeted antibody alemtuzumab induces major clinical responses in a group of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The mechanism underlying this drug effect remains unknown. Experimental Design: We asked whether neoplastic stem cells (NSC) in patients with MDS (n = 29) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML; n = 62) express CD52. Results: As assessed by flow cytometry, CD52 was found to be expressed on NSC-enriched CD34+/CD38− cells in 8/11 patients with MDS and isolated del(5q). In most other patients with MDS, CD52 was weakly expressed or not detectable on NSC. In AML, CD34+/CD38− cells displayed CD52 in 23/62 patients, including four with complex karyotype and del(5q) and one with del(5q) and t(1;17;X). In quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses, purified NSC obtained from del(5q) patients expressed CD52 mRNA. We were also able to show that CD52 mRNA levels correlate with EVI1 expression and that NRAS induces the expression of CD52 in AML cells. The CD52-targeting drug alemtuzumab, was found to induce complement-dependent lysis of CD34+/CD38−/CD52+ NSC, but did not induce lysis in CD52− NSC. Alemtuzumab also suppressed engraftment of CD52+ NSC in NSG mice. Finally, CD52 expression on NSC was found to correlate with a poor survival in patients with MDS and AML. Conclusions: The cell surface target Campath-1 (CD52) is expressed on NSC in a group of patients with MDS and AML. CD52 is a novel prognostic NSC marker and a potential NSC target in a subset of patients with MDS and AML, which may have clinical implications and may explain clinical effects produced by alemtuzumab in these patients. Clin Cancer Res; 20(13); 3589–602. ©2014 AACR.
What contributes to driving ability in Parkinson's disease

Purpose. To determine the most significant clinical predictors that influence driving ability in Parkinson disease (PD). Methods. National-multi-centre, cross-sectional study covering PD outpatients. Clinical assessment was based on the following questionnaires: cognition (SCOPA-Cog); motor impairment and disabilities (SCOPA motor); depression/anxiety; sleep (SCOPA-Sleep); psychosis and severity/global impairment (HY and CISI-PD). Driving status data was obtained using a standardized questionnaire. Comparisons between drivers and ex-drivers were calculated using χ2 and Student t-tests as appropriate. Multi-variate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent driving ability clinical predictors. Results. Compared with the drivers, the ex-drivers were older (p = 0.00005), had longer disease duration (p = 0.03), had more overall cognitive dysfunction (p = 0.004) and had greater motor impairment, as measured by the CISI (p = 0.02), HY stage (p = 0.034) and by the SCOPA-motor scale (p = 0.002) and difficulty in activities of daily life (p = 0.002). In the regression model analysis, aging and ADL impairment were the principal clinical predictors that differentiated drivers from ex-drivers. Conclusions. Although overall driving impairment in PD is associated with advancing disease severity, driving ability seems to be more strongly influenced by age and ADL impairment. Multi-disciplinary teams are required to assess driving ability in patients with PD and develop rehabilitation measures for safer driving.
When clusters meet partitions: new density-based methods for circuit decomposition

Top-down partitioning has focused on minimum cut or ratio cut objectives, while bottom-up clustering has focused on density-based objectives. In seeking a more unified perspective, we propose a new sum of densities measure for multi-way circuit decomposition, where the density of a subhypergraph is the ratio of the number of edges to the number of nodes in the subhypergraph. Finding a k-way partition that maximizes the sum of k subhypergraph densities is NP-hard, but an efficient flow-based method can find the optimal (maximum-density) subhypergraph in a given hypergraph. Based on this method, we develop a heuristic which in practice has less than 10% error from an optimal sum of densities decomposition. Other results suggest that density-based heuristics can capture cut-based objectives, whereas the converse would seem difficult. <<ETX>>
Monetary Policy, Liquidity, and Growth

In this paper, we use cross-industry, cross-country panel data to test whether industry growth is positively affected by the interaction between the reactivity of real short term interest rates to the business cycle and industry-level measures of financial constraints. Financial constraints are measured, either by the extent to which an industry is prone to being "credit constrained", or by the extent to which it is prone to being "liquidity constrained". Our main findings are that: (i) the interaction between credit or liquidity constraints and monetary policy countercyclicality, has a positive, significant, and robust impact on the average annual rate of labor productivity in the domestic industry; (ii) these interaction effects tend to be more significant in downturns than in upturns.
Dynamic analysis of current regulators for AC motors using complex vectors

The analysis and design of current regulators for polyphase AC loads is presented using complex vector notation. The AC motor current regulation problem is analyzed by studying both the command tracking and disturbance rejection capability of the current regulator. The use of complex vector notation and the generalization of classical control tools like root locus, frequency response functions, and dynamic stiffness functions to complex vectors provide a way of comparing the performance of different controller topologies. Limitations in the performance of the synchronous frame PI current regulator are outlined and several ways of improving its performance are suggested and investigated.
Systematic analysis of dynamic miRNA-target interactions during C. elegans development

Although microRNA (miRNA)-mediated functions have been implicated in many aspects of animal development, the majority of miRNA::mRNA regulatory interactions remain to be characterized experimentally. We used an AIN/GW182 protein immunoprecipitation approach to systematically analyze miRNA::mRNA interactions during C. elegans development. We characterized the composition of miRNAs in functional miRNA-induced silencing complexes (miRISCs) at each developmental stage and identified three sets of miRNAs with distinct stage-specificity of function. We then identified thousands of miRNA targets in each developmental stage, including a significant portion that is subject to differential miRNA regulation during development. By identifying thousands of miRNA family-mRNA pairs with temporally correlated patterns of AIN-2 association, we gained valuable information on the principles of physiological miRNA::target recognition and predicted 1589 high-confidence miRNA family::mRNA interactions. Our data support the idea that miRNAs preferentially target genes involved in signaling processes and avoid genes with housekeeping functions, and that miRNAs orchestrate temporal developmental programs by coordinately targeting or avoiding genes involved in particular biological functions.
Efficient local behavioral change strategies to reduce the spread of epidemics in networks

It has recently become established that the spread of infectious diseases between humans is affected not only by the pathogen itself but also by changes in behavior as the population becomes aware of the epidemic, for example, social distancing. It is also well known that community structure (the existence of relatively densely connected groups of vertices) in contact networks influences the spread of disease. We propose a set of local strategies for social distancing, based on community structure, that can be employed in the event of an epidemic to reduce the epidemic size. Unlike most social distancing methods, ours do not require individuals to know the disease state (infected or susceptible, etc.) of others, and we do not make the unrealistic assumption that the structure of the entire contact network is known. Instead, the recommended behavior change is based only on an individual's local view of the network. Each individual avoids contact with a fraction of his/her contacts, using knowledge of his/her local network to decide which contacts should be avoided. If the behavior change occurs only when an individual becomes ill or aware of the disease, these strategies can substantially reduce epidemic size with a relatively small cost, measured by the number of contacts avoided.
A Comparative Evaluation for Biologic Width following Surgical Crown Lengthening Using Gingivectomy and Ostectomy Procedure

Surgical crown lengthening has been proposed as a means of facilitating restorative procedures and preventing injuries in teeth with structurally inadequate clinical crown or exposing tooth structure in the presence of deep, subgingival pathologies which may hamper the access for proper restorative measures. Histological studies utilizing animal models have shown that postoperative crestal resorption allowed reestablishment of the biologic width. However, very little has been done in humans. Aims. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential changes in the periodontal tissues, particularly the biologic width, following surgical crown lengthening by two surgical procedures before and after crown placement. Methods and Material. Twenty (20) patients who needed surgical crown lengthening to gain retention necessary for prosthetic treatment and/or to access caries, tooth fracture, or previous prosthetic margins entered the study. The following parameters were obtained from line angles of treated teeth (teeth requiring surgical crown lengthening) and adjacent sites: Plaque and Gingival Indices (PI) & (GI), Position of Gingival Margin from reference Stent (PGMRS), Probing depth (PD), and Biologic Width (BW). Statistical Analysis Used. Student “t” Test. Results. Initial baseline values of biologic width were 2.55 mm (Gingivectomy procedure B1 Group) and 1.95 mm (Ostectomy procedure B2 Group) and after surgical procedure the values were 1.15 mm and 1.25 mm. Conclusions. Within the limitations of the study the biologic width, at treated sites, was re-established to its original vertical dimension by 3 months. Ostectomy with apically positioned flap can be considered as a more effective procedure than Gingivectomy for Surgical Crown Lengthening.
Embryo pooling: a promising strategy for managing insufficient number of embryos in preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Abstract This retrospective study evaluated the embryo pooling strategy for managing insufficient number of embryos in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) through serial vitrification of cleavage-stage embryos from consecutive cycles, and simultaneous blastocysts biopsy in combination with blastocysts obtained in ultimate fresh cycle. A retrospective analysis of the cumulative pregnancy rate of 68 patients underwent cleavage-stage embryos accumulation (Embryo Pooling Group) and 94 patients underwent one stimulation cycle (Control Group) over a 2-year period were conducted. The blastocyst formation rate was comparable between the consecutive cycles and the ultimate cycle in embryo pooling group (56.0 versus 62.0%, p = .078). No significant difference existed between twice-vitrified and once-vitrified warmed blastocysts with respect to implantation rate (50.8 versus 46.3%, p = .658). The implantation rate and cumulative pregnancy rate of embryo pooling group were 49.0 and 67.6%, respectively, which were statistically comparable to the corresponding values of 48.9 and 73.4% obtained in control group. Our study suggests that in patients undergoing ICSI-PGD who do not reach enough embryos in a single stimulation cycle, pooling embryos from consecutive ovarian stimulation cycles is a promising strategy, which can render a cumulative pregnancy rate comparable to those patients who only require one stimulation cycle.
The Extending of Observing Altitudes of Plasma and Ion Lines During Ionospheric Heating

The ultrahigh‐frequency observation during an ionospheric heating experiment on 11 March 2014 at the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association Tromsø site illustrated a remarkable extension of observing altitudes of the enhanced plasma line and the ion line, implying that the enhanced ion acoustic wave and Langmuir wave should satisfy the Bragg condition within the extending altitude range. An analysis shows that the dependence of the wave number of the traveling ion acoustic wave on the profiles of enhanced electron temperature and ion mass, as are expected from the dispersion relation of the ion acoustic wave, leads to the extension of observing altitudes of the enhanced ion line. In addition, the altitude extension of the enhanced plasma line is dependent mainly on the profile of the electron density, although it is not independent of the profile of the electron temperature. Considering a small gradient profile of electron density, however, the enhanced electron temperature, as well as the thermal conduction along the magnetic field, may lead to the altitude extension of the enhanced plasma line.
The cyclophilin A DIAGEOTROPICA gene affects auxin transport in both root and shoot to control lateral root formation

Cyclophilin A is a conserved peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) best known as the cellular receptor of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A. Despite significant effort, evidence of developmental functions of cyclophilin A in non-plant systems has remained obscure. Mutations in a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cyclophilin A ortholog, DIAGEOTROPICA (DGT), have been shown to abolish the organogenesis of lateral roots; however, a mechanistic explanation of the phenotype is lacking. Here, we show that the dgt mutant lacks auxin maxima relevant to priming and specification of lateral root founder cells. DGT is expressed in shoot and root, and localizes to both the nucleus and cytoplasm during lateral root organogenesis. Mutation of ENTIRE/IAA9, a member of the auxin-responsive Aux/IAA protein family of transcriptional repressors, partially restores the inability of dgt to initiate lateral root primordia but not the primordia outgrowth. By comparison, grafting of a wild-type scion restores the process of lateral root formation, consistent with participation of a mobile signal. Antibodies do not detect movement of the DGT protein into the dgt rootstock; however, experiments with radiolabeled auxin and an auxin-specific microelectrode demonstrate abnormal auxin fluxes. Functional studies of DGT in heterologous yeast and tobacco-leaf auxin-transport systems demonstrate that DGT negatively regulates PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux transporters by affecting their plasma membrane localization. Studies in tomato support complex effects of the dgt mutation on PIN expression level, expression domain and plasma membrane localization. Our data demonstrate that DGT regulates auxin transport in lateral root formation. Summary: DIAGEOTROPICA modulates the localization of PIN proteins and is required for proper polar auxin transport, highlighting a new developmental role for this cyclophilin.
Dispersal and Resedimentation ofthe Benthic Plume from Deep-SeaMining Operations: A Model with Calibration

An analytical solution of the time-dependent mass conservation equation is used to describe the passive dispersion of deep-sea particulates resuspended during mining. Data from bottom photographs, deep-sea particulate casts, and moored nephelometers taken during North Pacific manganese nodule test mining have been used to fix model parameters. The settling velocity spectrum of the resuspended particulates and the near-bottom vertical turbulent eddy diffusivity have been estimated by the least-squares method.
Five-Year Prognosis for Depression in Old Age

The 5-year prognosis for 264 depressed elderly Finns (60 years or older) living in the community and treated through the primary health care service is described. The majority of the patients were suffering from dysthymic disorder. It was found that 25% of the men and 35% of the women had recovered, 29% of the men and 24% of the women were still suffering from depression after the five-year period, 9% of the men and 11% of the women had become demented, 33% of the men and 26% of the women had died, and 4% of the cases were not contacted. The prognosis did not differ between the sexes, neither was it associated with age. Poor psychic health and pronounced depressive symptoms at the beginning of the treatment, and the occurrence of a serious disease or a decline in functional capacities during the follow-up were related to a poor prognosis in both sexes. The specific disease group related to a poor prognosis in women was that of cardiovascular diseases. A close connection between a poor prognosis and a low socioeconomic status was found in the depressed men, while a favorable prognosis was shown for relatively healthy, even widowed, depressed women who moved to live alone during the follow-up period, women who increased their amount of physical exercise, and men and women whose hobby activities increased.
Whole-body protein metabolism in chronic heart failure: relationship to anabolic and catabolic hormones.

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic heart failure frequently experience profound wasting during the course of the disease, a condition termed cardiac cachexia. Although protein is the primary structural and functional component of most tissues, few studies have examined the effect of heart failure on protein metabolism. Moreover, no study has assessed the relationship of protein turnover to hormonal alterations thought to promote cachexia. Thus, our goal was to determine if whole-body protein metabolism is altered in heart failure patients and to assess the relationship of protein kinetics to circulating levels of anabolic and catabolic hormones. METHODS We measured whole-body protein metabolism using 13C-leucine, body composition, and circulating anabolic and catabolic hormone levels in 10 patients with chronic heart failure and 11 elderly controls. RESULTS No differences in leucine rate of appearance, oxidation, or nonoxidative disposal were noted between heart failure patients and controls. However, in a subgroup of patients characterized by increased resting energy expenditure for their metabolic body size (n = 4; > or = 20% above that predicted from fat-free mass), leucine rate of appearance (mean +/- SE; 146 +/- 6 micromol/min), an index of protein breakdown, tended to be higher compared with patients with normal resting energy expenditure (n = 5; 120 +/- 8 micromol/min) and controls (127 +/- 4 micromol/min; p = .06). Alterations in anabolic/catabolic hormone balance did not explain increased protein breakdown in this subgroup, and no correlations were found between hormone levels and protein breakdown in the heart failure group as a whole. In contrast, increased circulating interleukin-6 soluble receptor (r = 0.829; p < .01) and reduced insulin-like growth factor-I (r =-.751; p < .05) levels were related to greater rates of leucine oxidation in heart failure patients. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that, although increased protein turnover is not a generalized feature of heart failure, there is a subgroup of patients characterized by resting hypermetabolism and increased protein breakdown. Moreover, hormonal alterations related to the heart failure syndrome were related to increased protein oxidation.
Investigators' viewpoint of clinical trials in India: Past, present and future

India's success in producing food and milk for its population (Green Revolution and White Revolution) happened because of scientific research and field trials. Likewise improving the health of Indians needs clinical research and clinical trials. A Large proportion of the sick Indians are poor, illiterate with no access to good health care. They are highly vulnerable to inducement and exploitation in clinical trials. The past two decades saw the rise and fall of clinical trials in India. The rise happened when our regulators created a favorable environment, and Indian investigators were invited to participate in global clinical trials. The gap between the demand and supply resulted in inadequate protection of the trial participants. Reports of abuses of the vulnerable trial participants followed by public interest litigations led to strengthening of regulations by the regulators. The stringent new regulations made the conduct of clinical trials more laborious and increased the cost of clinical trials in India. There was a loss of interest in sponsored clinical trials resulting in the fall in global clinical trials in India. Following repeated appeals by the investigators, the Indian regulators have recently relaxed some of the stringent regulations, while continuing to ensure the adequate patient protection. Clinical trials that are relevant to our population and conducted by well-trained investigators and monitored by trained and registered Ethics Committees will increase in the future. We must remain vigilant, avoid previous mistakes, and strive hard to protect the trial participants in the future trials.
A Relative Exponential Weighing Algorithm for Adversarial Utility-based Dueling Bandits

We study the K-armed dueling bandit problem which is a variation of the classical Multi-Armed Bandit (MAB) problem in which the learner receives only relative feedback about the selected pairs of arms. We propose an efficient algorithm called Relative Exponential-weight algorithm for Exploration and Exploitation (REX3) to handle the adversarial utility-based formulation of this problem. We prove a finite time expected regret upper bound of order O(√Kln(K)T) for this algorithm and a general lower bound of order Ω(√KT). At the end, we provide experimental results using real data from information retrieval applications.