Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Nanobody against T-cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin-3 (tim-3)

Original article Objective(s): As T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) is an immune regulatory molecule; its blocking or stimulating could alter the pattern of immune response towards a desired condition. Based on the unique features of nanobodies, we aimed to construct an anti-TIM-3 nanobody as an appropriate tool for manipulating immune responses for future therapeutic purposes. Materials and Methods: We immunized a camel with TIM-3 antigen and then, synthesized a VHH phagemid library from its B cell's transcriptome using nested PCR. Library selection against TIM-3antigen was performed in three rounds of panning. Using phage-ELISA, the most reactive colonies were selected for sub-cloning in soluble protein expression vectors. The Nanobody was purified and confirmed with a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) column, SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. A flowcytometric analysis was performed to analyze the binding and biologic activities of theTIM-3 specific nanobody with TIM-3 expressing HL-60 and HEK cell lines. Results: Specific 15kD band representing for nanobody was observed on the gel and confirmed with Western blotting. The nanobody showed significant specific immune-reactivity against TIM-3 with a relatively high binding affinity. The nanobody significantly suppressed the proliferation of TIM-3 expressing HL-60 cell line. Conclusion: Finally, we successfully prepared a functional anti-humanTIM-3 specific nanobody with a high affinity and an anti-proliferative activity on an AML cell line in vitro. Antibody Heavy chain antibody Nanobody Phage display T-cell immunoglobulin and-mucin domain 3
Pre-operative embolization facilitating a posterior approach for the surgical resection of giant sacral neurogenic tumors

The present study aimed to assess a posterior approach for the surgical resection of giant sacral neurogenic tumors, and to evaluate the oncological and functional outcomes. A total of 16 patients with giant sacral neurogenic tumors underwent pre-operative embolization and subsequent posterior sacral resection between January 2000 and June 2010. Benign tumors were identified in 12 cases, while four cases exhibited malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). An evaluation of the operative techniques used, the level of blood loss, any complications and the functional and oncological outcomes was performed. All tumor masses were removed completely without intra-operative shock or fatalities. The mean tumor size was 17.5 cm (range, 11.5–28 cm) at the greatest diameter. The average level of intra-operative blood loss was 1,293 ml (range, 400–4,500 ml). Wound complications occurred in four patients (25%), including three cases of cutaneous necrosis and one wound infection. The mean follow-up time was 59 months (range, 24–110 months). Tumor recurrence or patient mortality as a result of the disease did not occur in any of the patients with benign sacral neurogenic tumors. The survival rate of the patients with malignant lesions was 75% (3/4 patients) since 25 % (1/4 patients) had multiple local recurrences and succumbed to the disease. The patients with benign tumors scored an average of 92.8% on the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score functional evaluation, while the patients with malignant tumors scored an average of 60.3%. A posterior approach for the surgical resection of giant sacral neurogenic tumors, combined with pre-operative embolization may be safely conducted with satisfactory oncological and functional outcomes.
Control of Listeria monocytogenes growth in soft cheeses by bacteriophage P100

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of bacteriophage P100 on strains of Listeria monocytogenes in artificially inoculated soft cheeses. A mix of L. monocytogenes 1/2a and Scott A was inoculated in Minas Frescal and Coalho cheeses (approximately 105 cfu/g) with the bacteriophage added thereafter (8.3 × 107 PFU/g). Samples were analyzed immediately, and then stored at 10 °C for seven days. At time zero, 30 min post-infection, the bacteriophage P100 reduced L. monocytogenes counts by 2.3 log units in Minas Frescal cheese and by 2.1 log units in Coalho cheese, compared to controls without bacteriophage. However, in samples stored under refrigeration for seven days, the bacteriophage P100 was only weakly antilisterial, with the lowest decimal reduction (DR) for the cheeses: 1.0 log unit for Minas Frescal and 0.8 log units for Coalho cheese. The treatment produced a statistically significant decrease in the counts of viable cells (p < 0.05) and in all assays performed, we observed an increase of approximately one log cycle in the number of viable cells of L. monocytogenes in the samples under refrigeration for seven days. Moreover, a smaller effect of phages was observed. These results, along with other published data, indicate that the effectiveness of the phage treatment depends on the initial concentration of L. monocytogenes, and that a high concentration of phages per unit area is required to ensure sustained inactivation of target pathogens on food surfaces.
The Prognostic Impact of Heat Shock Proteins Expression in Patients with Esophageal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved molecular chaperones. There are various studies that assess the prognostic value of HSPs in patients with esophageal cancer, but the conclusion remains controversial. This is the first meta-analysis study aiming to summarize the evidence on the suitability of HSPs to predict patients' survival. Materials and Methods Searching PubMed, Web of science and Medline until May 31, 2014, data were compared for overall survival in patients with down-regulated HSPs level with those with up-regulated level. We conducted a meta-analysis of 9 studies (801 patients) that correlated HSPs levels with overall survival. Data were synthesized with hazard ratios (HRs). Results The estimated risk of death was 2.93-fold greater in HSP27 negative patients than HSP27 positive patients [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-7.62]. When limited to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the risk of death in HSP27 negative patients seemed more significant (HR, 3.90; 95% CI, 2.35-6.49). Decreased expression of HSP70 was also associated with worse survival in esophageal cancer (HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.90-4.23) and, when limited to ESCC, HR was 3.21 (95% CI, 1.94-5.30). Data collected, however, were not sufficient to determine the prognostic value of HSP90 in patients with ESCC nor esophageal adenocarcinomas (EADC). Conclusion In this meta-analysis, reduced HSP27 and HSP70 expressions were associated with poor survival in patients with esophageal cancer, especially esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
PK‐PD modeling of individual lesion FDG‐PET response to predict overall survival in patients with sunitinib‐treated gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Pharmacometric models were developed to characterize the relationships between lesion‐level tumor metabolic activity, as assessed by the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) obtained on [18F]‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), tumor size, and overall survival (OS) in 66 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) treated with intermittent sunitinib. An indirect response model in which sunitinib stimulates tumor loss best described the typically rapid decrease in SUVmax during on‐treatment periods and the recovery during off‐treatment periods. Substantial interindividual and interlesion variability were identified in SUVmax baseline and drug sensitivity. A parametric time‐to‐event model identified the relative change in SUVmax at one week for the lesion with the most pronounced response as a better predictor of OS than tumor size. Based on the proposed modeling framework, early changes in FDG‐PET response may serve as predictor for long‐term outcome in sunitinib‐treated GIST.
Renal Effects of Aliskiren Compared With and in Combination With Irbesartan in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, and Albuminuria

OBJECTIVE We investigated whether the antiproteinuric effect of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren is comparable to that of irbesartan and the effect of the combination. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial. After a 1-month washout period, 26 patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and albuminuria (>100 mg/day) were randomly assigned to four 2-month treatment periods in random order with placebo, 300 mg aliskiren once daily, 300 mg irbesartan once daily, or the combination using identical doses. Patients received furosemide in a stable dose throughout the study. The primary end point was a change in albuminuria. Secondary measures included change in 24-h blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). RESULTS Placebo geometric mean albuminuria was 258 mg/day (range 84–2,361), mean ± SD 24-h blood pressure was 140/73 ± 15/8 mmHg, and GFR was 89 ± 27 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Aliskiren treatment reduced albuminuria by 48% (95% CI 27–62) compared with placebo (P < 0.001), not significantly different from the 58% (42–79) reduction with irbesartan treatment (P < 0.001 vs. placebo). Combination treatment reduced albuminuria by 71% (59–79), more than either monotherapy (P < 0.001 and P = 0.028). Fractional clearances of albumin were significantly reduced (46, 56, and 67% reduction vs. placebo). Twenty-four-hour blood pressure was reduced 3/4 mmHg by aliskiren (NS/P = 0.009), 12/5 mmHg by irbesartan (P < 0.001/P = 0.002), and 10/6 mmHg by the combination (P = 0.001/P < 0.001). GFR was significantly reduced 4.6 (95% CI 0.3–8.8) ml/min per 1.73 m2 by aliskiren, 8.0 (3.6–12.3) ml/min per 1.73 m2 by irbesartan, and 11.7 (7.4–15.9) ml/min per 1.73 m2 by the combination. CONCLUSIONS The combination of aliskiren and irbesartan is more antiproteinuric in type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria than monotherapy.
How do we measure up?

Research into the pedagogies employed by CLIL teachers has been limited to date and, as such, has been identified as a key area in need of further investigation (Pérez-Cañado, 2012; Dalton-Puffer & Smit, 2013). This review uses an elaborated 4Cs Analysis Framework (adapted from Coyle, Hood, & Marsh, 2010; Coyle, 2015a, 2015b) as a basis for analysis of studies of pedagogies implemented by CLIL subject teachers internationally and in Dutch classrooms. This allows us to place the Dutch situation in an international context and to identify avenues for future research and development. The following questions guided the review: (1) What appear to be the most prominent international trends with regard to the implementation of the 4Cs in CLIL subject pedagogies? ; and, (2) To what extent do Dutch CLIL subject pedagogies appear to reflect these international trends? Findings about pedagogies reported in the reviewed studies suggest that, in general, studies from the Netherlands stand out compared to international studies in several respects. Specifically, there is evidence of a relatively strong pedagogic focus in the Netherlands on developing students’ intercultural competence. The Dutch studies also stand out, however, for not addressing the role that the L1 can play in CLIL pedagogy. Furthermore, a main finding is that both the Dutch and the international studies reviewed provide little insight into aspects of CLIL pedagogy related to subject-specific culture and into ways in which content and language are integrated.
A meta-analysis of research in random forests for classification

Since their introduction, random forests (RFs) have successfully been employed in a vast array of application areas. Fairly recently, a number of algorithms that are related to Breiman's original Forest-RI algorithm have been proposed in the literature. In this paper we conduct a meta-analysis of all (34) 2001–2015 papers that could be found in which a novel RF algorithm was proposed and compared to already established RF algorithms. The analysis revealed several limitations regarding the choice of performance measures, the way in which these measures are estimated, and the methodology for comparisons of multiple algorithms over multiple data sets. In fact, it is shown that in almost a third of the results from RF research papers, a significant improvement over the performance of Forest-RI is not found when comparisons are made using appropriate statistical tests.
How Pleasant Sounds Promote and Annoying Sounds Impede Health: A Cognitive Approach

This theoretical paper addresses the cognitive functions via which quiet and in general pleasurable sounds promote and annoying sounds impede health. The article comprises a literature analysis and an interpretation of how the bidirectional influence of appraising the environment and the feelings of the perceiver can be understood in terms of core affect and motivation. This conceptual basis allows the formulation of a detailed cognitive model describing how sonic content, related to indicators of safety and danger, either allows full freedom over mind-states or forces the activation of a vigilance function with associated arousal. The model leads to a number of detailed predictions that can be used to provide existing soundscape approaches with a solid cognitive science foundation that may lead to novel approaches to soundscape design. These will take into account that louder sounds typically contribute to distal situational awareness while subtle environmental sounds provide proximal situational awareness. The role of safety indicators, mediated by proximal situational awareness and subtle sounds, should become more important in future soundscape research.
SIMULATION OF LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING UNDER STORM CONDITIONS

Recent development of numerical methods for a coupled simulation of fluid flow and flow-induced motion of rigid bodies have made it possible to simulate launching of lifeboats from offshore platforms or marine vessels, taking into account all relevant details of the geometry, the wind and the waves. One such method developed by authors and coworkers is described, and an example of simulation of lifeboat launching under storm conditions is presented. It is shown that by using overlapping grids and local mesh refinement, one can perform a simulation covering 6 s of real time on a single processor in less than a day, using a grid with about 300,000 control volumes for half of the geometry. This is considered sufficient to undertake design studies and to find the near-optimum lifeboat shape for most likely usage conditions, since earlier studies with calm water and no wind conditions showed acceptable agreement between simulation and experiment.
Overexploitation of Renewable Resources by Ancient Societies and the Role of Sunk-Cost Effects

One of the most persistent mysteries in the history of humankind is the collapse of ancient societies. It is puzzling that societies that achieved such high levels of development disappeared so suddenly. It has been argued that overexploitation of environmental resources played a role in the collapse of such societies. In this paper, we propose an explanation why overexploitation seems more common in ancient societies that built larger structures. This explanation is based on the well-studied sunk-cost effect in human decision making: decisions are often based on past investments rather than expected future returns. This leads to an unwillingness to abandon something (e. g., a settlement) if a great deal has been invested in it, even if future prospects are dim. Empirical study suggests that there are indications of sunk-cost effects in the histories of several ancient societies. A stylized model is used to illustrate under which conditions societal collapse may be expected. Finally, we discuss the consequences of these insights for current societies.
A Cohort Analysis of the Transition to First Marriage among Taiwanese

An objective lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group having a lens pair, a third lens group having a lens pair, a fourth lens group having a lens pair, a fifth lens group having a lens pair, and a sixth lens group. The objective lens is configured so as to satisfy the following conditional expressions:where L(mm) is the overall length of the objective lens; d(mm) is the air gap of each of the lens pair; Rp is the radius of curvature of each of positive refractive power surfaces opposing each other with the air gap therebetween; and Rn is the radius of curvature of a negative refractive power surface. Whereby, chromatic aberration can be corrected and resolution is exponentially improved without using a cemented lens, providing a deep ultra-violet objective lens with a high NA capable of auto focussing instantaneously.
A comparison of drive, cognitive-attentional, and cybernetic models of test anxiety and social facilitation

Twenty high- and twenty low-test-anxious females performed a paired-associates task either alone or in the presence of an evaluative audience. One purpose of the study was to compare predictions generated from Zajonc's drive theory, Wine's cognitive-attentional model, and Carver and Scheier's cybernetic approach. Since the task was primarily composed of items in which the dominant response was initially incorrect, Zajonc's theory hypothesized that the audience would have a negative impact on the performance of both high- and low-test-anxious persons. Wine's analysis indicates that the spectator should have a more beneficial or less detrimental effect on the performance of low- than high- test-anxious individuals. Carver and Scheier's theory contends that the directional effects of an audience depend on expectation level. Since all subjects were led to anticipate success, their cybernetic interpretation predicts that the audience will facilitate the performance of high- as well as low-test-anxious persons.
The loss‐bet paradox: Actuaries, accountants, and other numerate people rate numerically inferior gambles as superior

Abstract Psychologists have convincingly demonstrated that preferences are not always stable and, instead, are often “constructed” based on information available in the judgment or decision context. In 4 studies with experts (accountants and actuaries in Studies 1 and 2, respectively) and a diverse lay population (Studies 3 and 4), the evidence was consistent with the highly numerate being more likely than the less numerate to construct their preferences by rating a numerically inferior bet as superior (i.e., the bets effect). Thus, the effect generalizes beyond a college student sample, and preference construction differs by numeracy. Contrary to prior thinking about preference construction, however, high expertise and high ability (rather than low) consistently related to the paradoxical phenomenon. Results across studies including Study 3's experimental modifications of the task supported the hypothesized number comparison process (and not a lack of expertise with monetary outcomes and probabilities or numeracy‐related differences in attention to numbers) as the effect's underlying cause. The bets effect was not attenuated by Study 4's instructions to think about what would be purchased with bet winnings. Task results combined with free‐response coding supported the notion that highly numerate participants have a systematic and persistent inclination for doing simple and complex number operations that drive their judgments (even after controlling for nonnumeric intelligence). Implications for 3 types of dual‐process theories are discussed. The results were inconsistent with default‐interventionist theories, consistent or unclear with respect to fuzzy trace theory, and consistent with interactive theories.
Lymphoma stem cells: enough evidence to support their existence?

While leukemia-originating stem cells are critical in the initiation and maintenance of leukemias, the existence of similar cell populations that may generate B-cell lymphoma upon mutation remains uncertain. Here we propose that committed lymphoid progenitor/precursor cells with an active V-D-J recombination program are the initiating cells of follicular lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma when targeted by immunoglobulin (IG)- gene translocations in the bone marrow. However, these pre-malignant lymphoma-initiating cells cannot drive complete malignant transformation, requiring additional cooperating mutations in specific stem-cell programs to be converted into the lymphoma-originating cells able to generate and sustain lymphoma development. Conversely, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and sporadic Burkitt’s lymphoma derive from B lymphocytes that acquire translocations through IG-hyper-mutation or class-switching errors within the germinal center. Although secondary reprogramming mutations are generally required, some cells such as centroblasts or memory B cells that have certain stem cell-like features, or lymphocytes with MYC rearrangements that deregulate self-renewal pathways, may bypass this need and directly function as the lymphoma-originating cells. An alternative model supports an aberrant epigenetic modification of gene sets as the first occurring hit, which either leads to retaining stem-cell features in hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells, or reprograms stemness into more committed lymphocytes, followed by secondary chromosomal translocations that eventually drive lymphoma development. Isolation and characterization of the cells that are at the origin of the different B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas will provide critical insights into the disease pathogenesis and will represent a step towards the development of more effective therapies.
The Role of Affect in Shaping the Behavioral Consequences of CEO Option Incentives

We advance behavioral agency theory by exploring the influence of mood or “affect” on the behavioral consequences of stock option incentives. Drawing on insights from psychology and behavioral decision theory, we describe how affect influences agent risk behavior. We argue that positive affect amplifies both the extent to which executives reduce strategic risk taking in response to risk bearing and engage in strategic risk taking in response to incentives for further enrichment. Building again on the psychology literature, we describe how CEO accountability attenuates the influence of affect on CEO risk behavior in response to stock option incentives. We test our expectations in a longitudinal data set of CEO stock option incentives, affect, and strategic risk taking by U.S. firms.