Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol: an independent risk factor for late adverse cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients

Long‐term kidney transplant graft and patient survival is often limited by cardiovascular (CV) disease. Risk factors for CV disease such as diabetes, hypertension and elevated low‐density lipoprotein levels are well documented; however, the impact of low levels of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) has not been defined. We performed a retrospective chart review of 324 consecutive renal transplant recipients from 2001 to 2007 to correlate baseline HDL levels with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) defined as a composite of new onset CV illness, cerebral vascular events and peripheral vascular disease. A total of 92 MACEs occurred over a total of 1913 patient years of follow‐up. Low HDL cholesterol levels were noted in 58.3% of patients. Compared with those with normal HDL levels, a greater percentage of patients with low HDL levels had post‐transplant MACEs (20% vs. 60% respectively) and experienced an increased rate of all cause mortality. Sixty‐two percent of all MACEs occurred in patients with low HDL levels. In the low HDL group, the odds ratio for experiencing a MACE was 1.92. Therefore, HDL cholesterol may provide an important new therapeutic target to prevent vascular morbidity and mortality following renal transplantation.
Online) Subgradient Methods for Structured Prediction

Promising approaches to structured learning problems have recently been developed in the maximum margin framework. Unfortunately, algorithms that are computationally and memory efficient enough to solve large scale problems have lagged behind. We propose using simple subgradient-based techniques for optimizing a regularized risk formulation of these problems in both online and batch settings, and analyze the theoretical convergence, generalization, and robustness properties of the resulting techniques. These algorithms are are simple, memory efficient, fast to converge, and have small regret in the online setting. We also investigate a novel convex regression formulation of structured learning. Finally, we demonstrate the benefits of the subgradient approach on three structured prediction problems.
Influence Blocking Maximization in Social Networks under the Competitive Linear Threshold Model

In many real-world situations, different and often opposite opinions, innovations, or products are competing with one another for their social influence in a networked society. In this paper, we study competitive influence propagation in social networks under the competitive linear threshold (CLT) model, an extension to the classic linear threshold model. Under the CLT model, we focus on the problem that one entity tries to block the influence propagation of its competing entity as much as possible by strategically selecting a number of seed nodes that could initiate its own influence propagation. We call this problem the influence blocking maximization (IBM) problem. We prove that the objective function of IBM in the CLT model is submodular, and thus a greedy algorithm could achieve 1 − 1/e approximation ratio. However, the greedy algorithm requires Monte-Carlo simulations of competitive influence propagation, which makes the algorithm not efficient. We design an efficient algorithm CLDAG, which utilizes the properties of the CLT model, to address this issue. We conduct extensive simulations of CLDAG, the greedy algorithm, and other baseline algorithms on real-world and synthetic datasets. Our results show that CLDAG is able to provide best accuracy in par with the greedy algorithm and often better than other algorithms, while it is two orders of magnitude faster than the greedy algorithm.
Immunodominance of Poxviral-Specific CTL in a Human Trial of Recombinant-Modified Vaccinia Ankara1

Many recombinant poxviral vaccines are currently in clinical trials for cancer and infectious diseases. However, these agents have failed to generate T cell responses specific for recombinant gene products at levels comparable with T cell responses associated with natural viral infections. The recent identification of vaccinia-encoded CTL epitopes, including a new epitope described in this study, allows the simultaneous comparison of CTL responses specific for poxviral and recombinant epitopes. We performed detailed kinetic analyses of CTL responses in HLA-A*0201 patients receiving repeated injections of recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara encoding a string of melanoma tumor Ag epitopes. The vaccine-driven CTL hierarchy was dominated by modified vaccinia Ankara epitope-specific responses, even in patients who had not received previous smallpox vaccination. The only recombinant epitope that was able to impact on the CTL hierarchy was the melan-A26–35 analog epitope, whereas responses specific for the weaker affinity epitope NY-ESO-1157–165 failed to be expanded above the level detected in prevaccination samples. Our results demonstrate that immunodominant vaccinia-specific CTL responses limit the effectiveness of poxviruses in recombinant vaccination strategies and that more powerful priming strategies are required to overcome immunodominance of poxvirus-specific T cell responses.
Using DNA Microarray to Identify Sp1 as a Transcriptional Regulatory Element of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in Cardiac Muscle Cells

Abstract— High throughput gene expression profiling with DNA microarray provides an opportunity to analyze transcriptional regulation of hundreds or thousands of similarly regulated genes. Transcriptional regulation of gene expression plays an important role in myocardial remodeling. We have studied cardiac muscle gene expression with DNA microarray and used a computational strategy to identify common promoter motifs that respond to insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) stimulation in cardiac muscle cells. The analysis showed that the Sp1 binding site is a likely target of IGF-1 action. Further experiments with gel shift assay indicated that IGF-1 regulated the Sp1 site in cardiomyocytes, by increasing the abundance of Sp1 and Sp3 proteins. Using firefly luciferase as reporter gene, additional experiments showed that IGF-1 activated the promoter of cyclin D3 and Glut1. Both promoters contain one Sp1 site. The effect of IGF-1 on these two promoters was abolished with siRNA for Sp1. Thus, the transcriptional activation of these two promoters by IGF-1 requires the induction of Sp1 protein. These experiments suggest that the global transcriptional regulatory actions of IGF-1 involve activation of the Sp1 site in cardiac muscle. The computational model we have developed is a prototypical method that may be further developed to identify unique cis- and trans-acting elements in response to hormonal stimulation during cardiac muscle growth, repair, and remodeling in normal and abnormal cardiac muscle.
High performance germanium n-MOSFET with antimony dopant activation beyond 1×1020 cm−3

For the first time, high performance Ge nMOSFET is fabricated using laser annealing of ion-implanted antimony (Sb) dopants which provides donor activation beyond 1×10<sup>20</sup>cm<sup>−3</sup> in germanium. Record I<inf>on</inf>/I<inf>off</inf> > 10<sup>5</sup> is demonstrated for n<sup>+</sup>/p junctions combined with significant reduction of contact resistance to 7×10<sup>−7</sup> Ω-cm<sup>2</sup>. Performance projections for ITRS HP 22nm technology node are also discussed.
Irrational Exuberance or Value Creation : Feedback Effect of Stock Currency on Fundamental Values

In a departure from existing literature, we argue there is a reverse causality between the level of a firm’s stock price and its fundamental value. This is particularly true for capital constrained firms. Higher stock prices relax a firm’s budget constraint by enabling it to sell new shares at higher prices, raise debt at more attractive rates and acquire larger targets through stock-swaps. Higher prices may also signal improved prospects to managers encouraging them to alter their investment decisions. Ascribing a feedback role to stock prices can help explain “excess volatility” and also why trading appears to induce volatility. It also implies large traders need to condition on not only how their trades change prices, but also on how these price changes induce further price changes through their impact on firm’s fundamentals. In this setup, “bubble-like” price movements can be value creating. (JEL G10) A body of recent research has documented that, contrary to Modigliani-Miller’s irrelevance principle, financial slack appears to impact firm investment decisions. This result has been established in surprisingly varied settings using different experiments and tests. Though not all issues related to endogeneity problems are resolved, the preponderance of evidence speaks clearly to financial slack being important. If financial slack is indeed important, any event, shock or strategy that impacts financial slack will also impact firm value through changes in its investments. This aspect has been studied extensively but in a different context of how financial con-
Tail asymptotics for processor-sharing queues

The basic queueing system considered in this paper is the M/G/1 processor-sharing queue with or without impatience and with finite or infinite capacity. Under some mild assumptions, a criterion for the validity of the reduced-service-rate approximation is established when service times are heavy tailed. This result is applied to various models based on M/G/1 processor-sharing queues.
HPV genotyping linear assay test comparison in cervical cancer patients: implications for HPV prevalence and molecular epidemiology in a limited-resource area in Bandung, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND Persistent infection with high risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) is strongly associated with cervical cancer. Normal cervical cells may also harbor hrHPV, and detection of early hrHPV infection may minimize risk of cervical cancer development. This study aimed to compare two commercial HPV genotyping assays that may affordable for early screening in a limited-resource setting in Bandung, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS DNA from cervical biopsies with histologically confirmed as squamous cell cervical cacinoma were HPV genotyped by Linear Assay 1 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) or Linear Assay 2 (Digene HPV Genotyping RH Test, Qiagen Gaithersburg, MD). In a subset of samples of each group, HPV genotype results were then compared. RESULTS Of 28 samples genotyped by linear assay 1, 22 (78.6%) demonstrated multiple infections with HPV-16 and other hrHPV types 18, 45 and/or 52. In another set of 38 samples genotyped by linear assay 2, 28 (68.4%) were mostly single infections by hrHPV type 16 or 18. Interestingly, 4 samples that had been tested by both kits showed discordant results. CONCLUSIONS In a limited-resource area such as in Indonesia, country with a high prevalence of HPV infection a reliable cervical screening test in general population for early hrHPV detection is needed. Geographical variation in HPV genotyping result might have impacts for HPV prevalence and molecular epidemiology as the distribution in HPV genotypes should give clear information to assess the impact of HPV prophylactic vaccines.
The Fasciola hepatica Tegumental Antigen Suppresses Dendritic Cell Maturation and Function

ABSTRACT Parasitic worms and molecules derived from them have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and are shown to have therapeutic effects on inflammatory diseases. The helminth Fasciola hepatica has been reported to suppress antigen-specific Th1 responses in concurrent bacterial infections, thus demonstrating its anti-inflammatory ability in vivo. Here, F. hepatica tegumental antigen (Teg) was shown to significantly suppress serum levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70) in a model of septic shock. Since dendritic cells (DCs) are a good source of IL-12p70 and critical in driving adaptive immunity, we investigated the effects of F. hepatica Teg on the activation and function of murine DCs. While Teg alone did not induce cytokine production or cell surface marker expression on DCs, it significantly suppressed cytokine production (IL-12p70, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and nitrite) and cell surface marker expression (CD80, CD86, and CD40) in DCs matured with a range of Toll-like receptor (TLR) and non-TLR ligands. Teg works independently of the TLR4 pathway, since it still functioned in DCs generated from TLR4 mutant and knockout mice. It impaired DC function by inhibiting their phagocytic capacity and their ability to prime T cells. It does not appear to target the common components (extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Jun N-terminal protein kinase, or p38) of the TLR pathways; however, it suppressed the active p65 subunit of the transcription factor NF-κB in mature DCs, which could explain the impairment of proinflammatory cytokine production. Overall, our results demonstrate the potent anti-inflammatory properties of F. hepatica Teg and its therapeutic potential as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Thermal and mass implications of magmatic evolution in the Lassen volcanic region, California, and minimum constraints on basalt influx to the lower crust

We have analyzed the heat and mass demands of a petrologic model of basalt-driven magmatic evolution in which variously fractionated mafic magmas mix with silicic partial melts of the lower crust. We have formulated steady state heat budgets for two volcanically distinct areas in the Lassen region: the large, late Quaternary, intermediate to silicic Lassen volcanic center and the nearby, coeval, less evolved Caribou volcanic field. At Caribou volcanic field, heat provided by cooling and fractional crystallization of 52 km3 of basalt is more than sufficient to produce 10 km of rhyolitic melt by partial melting of lower crust. Net heat added by basalt intrusion at Caribou volcanic field is equivalent to an increase in lower crustal heat flow of ∼7 mW m−2, indicating that the field is not a major crustal thermal anomaly. Addition of cumulates from fractionation is offset by removal of erupted partial melts. A minimum basalt influx of 0.3 km3 (km2 Ma)−1 is needed to supply Caribou volcanic field. Our methodology does not fully account for an influx of basalt that remains in the crust as derivative intrusives. On the basis of comparison to deep heat flow, the input of basalt could be ∼3 to 7 times the amount we calculate. At Lassen volcanic center, at least 203 km3 of mantle-derived basalt is needed to produce 141 km3 of partial melt and drive the volcanic system. Partial melting mobilizes lower crustal material, augmenting the magmatic volume available for eruption at Lassen volcanic center; thus the erupted volume of 215 km3 exceeds the calculated basalt input of 203 km3. The minimum basalt input of 1.6 km3 (km2 Ma)−1 is >5 times the minimum influx to the Caribou volcanic field. Basalt influx high enough to sustain considerable partial melting, coupled with locally high extension rate, is a crucial factor in development of Lassen volcanic center; in contrast, Caribou volcanic field has failed to develop into a large silicic center primarily because basalt supply there has been insufficient.
An Early to Middle Ordovician succession of conodont faunas at Mäekalda, northern Estonia

The Mäekalda section presents a c. 12 m thick succession of mainly limestones, dolomites and siltstones of late Tremadoc to late Llanvirn age, exposed on the eastern outskirts of Tallinn, northern Estonia. The condensed sequence is rich in well-preserved conodont elements that provide the basis for detailed biozonation. In the Baltoscandian zonation, beds from the upper Varangu Paltodus deltifer Zone up to the lower Aseri Eoplacognathus foliaceus Subzone have been identified. In all, the conodont faunas exhibit a close resemblance to Swedish faunas. Many intervals can also be compared with coeval strata in western Russia. The presence at some levels of representatives of Laurentian conodont lineages provides an unusual opportunity for correlating Baltoscandian sequences with sequences in North America, especially in the lower Arenig part of the succession. The middle Volkhov (upper middle Arenig) Paroistodus originalis Zone at Mäekalda is remarkably complete bearing in mind the highly condensed nature of the section as a whole. The details of this zone can be correlated with the equivalent intervals in Swedish sections. In the upper Volkhov–lower Kunda beds there is a considerable stratigraphic gap in the section, but the upper Kunda has provided an excellent series of successive populations of Eoplacognathus, indicating that in this part the section is virtually complete.
40Ar/39Ar Dating of Geological Events of the Allchar Deposit and its Host Rocks

Allchar is a Sb�As�Tl�Au deposit with an uncertain geodynamic setting located at the western part of the Vardar Zone, close to the border between Macedonia and Greece. Allchar is unique because of the abundant presence of the mineral lorandite (TlAsS2). A total of 25 mineral concentrates from 18 samples has been measured with the 40Ar/39Ar method to examine the relationship between volcanism and secondary alteration associated with mineralization. Our results suggest that there is no relationship between volcanism and alteration/mineralization in the basement.
Regional Variation in Home Care Use in Manitoba

ABSTRACT Previous studies report geographic variation in the use of home care services. In the province of Manitoba, home care is a core service that Manitoba' twelve regional health authorities (RHAs) are obligated to deliver. Manitoba' RHAs range from remote northern and rural southern regions to a major city, resulting in different challenges for delivering home care. Given this potential for inconsistent delivery and the previous findings of regional variation in other settings, the objective of this study was to measure and assess variation in the use of home care across Manitoba' RHAs. We used data from the Provincial Home Care Program' client registry, other health care administrative databases, and Vital Statistics. Home care use was measured using multiple indicators, including rates of population use, use after hospitalization, before entry to a long-term care facility, and before death. While some important differences emerged, overall we found comparable use of home care across Manitoba. RÉSUMÉ Des recherches antérieures avaient fait état de variations géographiques en ce qui a trait à l'utilisation des services de soins à domicile. Au Manitoba, les soins à domicile font partie des services essentiels que les douze autorités régionales des soins de santé (RHA) du Manitoba sont tenues de fournir. Les RHA du Manitoba gèrent aussi bien des régions rurales du nord et du sud qu'une grande ville, ce qui entraîne des défis différents pour la prestation de soins à domicile. Compte tenu de l'inégalité potentielle en matière de prestation de services ainsi que des conclusions préalables en matière de variation régionale dans un autre contexte, l'objectif de cette étude était de mesurer et d'évaluer la variation dans l'utilisation des soins à domicile dans l'ensemble des RHA du Manitoba. Les chercheurs se sont servis de données tirées du registre des clients du Provincial Home Care Program, d'autres bases de données administratives en santé ainsi que du Bureau de l'état civil. L'utilisation des soins à domicile a été mesurée au moyen de multiples indicateurs, notamment la fréquence de l'utilisation dans la population, de l'utilisation après une hospitalisation, avant l'admission dans un établissement de soins de longue durée et avant un décès. Bien que l'étude ait révélé certaines différences importantes, dans l'ensemble, nous avons constaté que les soins à domicile étaient utilisés de façon comparable partout au Manitoba.
Impact of successive sugarcane harvests and trash management practices on soil microbiological properties

Sugarcane culture is replanted after five–eight successive harvests and intensely fertilised and mechanised. The influence on bacteria (total, nitrifying, denitrifying), fungi, microbial biomass-C, and dynamic processes (respiratory activity, N mineralisation, potential nitrification, P-solubilising activity) and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, urease, phosphatase) was studied for six successive harvests of the crop. The straw of the second and third harvest was burned. Soil microbial counts and activities were reduced after successive harvests. Fungi counts, N mineralisation, potential nitrification, and the P-solubilising, urease, and phosphatase activities decreased gradually from the first harvest to the third, increased again after the fourth, and then decreased again. Total, nitrifying, and denitrifying bacteria and fungi counts decreased, on average, 55, 22, 17, and 77%, respectively, in the sixth harvest in relation to the first. Reductions also occurred in microbial biomass-C (43%), respiratory activity (39%), N mineralisation (35%), potential nitrification (40%), and P-solubilising activity (35%). Reductions were observed in dehydrogenase (58%) and urease (36%) activities, but not in phosphatase activity. Successive sugarcane harvests may significantly influence microbial populations and activities, with harmful consequences to the C, N, and P cycles, and may decrease crop productivity.
A linear inverse scattering algorithm for realistic GPR applications

The paper deals with a microwave-tomography-based solution algorithm tailored for use with GPR data-processing applications. The algorithm tackles an inverse scattering problem in the frequency domain through the use of a linear model of the electromagnetic scattering, based on the Born approximation. In particular, we evaluate the reconstruction capabilities of the linear inversion algorithm in terms of the retrievable spatial variations of the unknown contrast function, whilst considering the problem of choosing an optimal frequency measurement step, theoretically, using diffraction tomography arguments. A numerical analysis of the technique is performed by means of the singular-value decomposition tool, which allows us to extend the theoretical results to more realistic cases involving lossy soils. Finally, we present a series of reconstructions, obtained using synthetic and experimental data, which show the performance of the method under realistic conditions.
PROCESS TEST WORK FOR THE RECOVERY OF TANTALITE – COLUMBITE CONCENTRATES FROM RARE METAL BEARING PEGMATITES OF NASSARAWA AREA, CENTRAL NIGERIA

The Nassarawa Pegmatoids which intrude gneisses, schists and metabasites occur in the northeastern part of half – degree sheet 209. The study aims at elevating the knowledge of economic potentials of Ta – Nb mineralization in the area and enhancing the recovery and extraction percentage of the Ta – Nb concentrates in the weathered (eluvial) and whole rock occurrences. Ten samples of both the alluvial and whole rock pegmatoids were studied. 10kg of the weathered eluvial samples were prepared and subjected to gravity concentration by panning, wilfy laboratory shaking table and a Mozley laboratory separator before being analysed. Result show that the recovery of Ta and Nb in the – 2.0mm fractions for eluvial samples was 33. 4% and 28.3% at the combined concentrate grade of 12.2% Ta205 and 5.89% of Nb205. A further 13.2% of Nb205 and 11.3% of Ta205 reported to + 2.0mm panned concentrate grade of 2,400 pmm Nb and 5000 ppmm Ta. Back calculated grades of Nb205 and Ta205 were 77pmm and 190ppm respectively. The whole rock gave combined concentrate at 23.5% Nb205 and 31.5% Ta205 with recoveries, at 70.6% and 70.5% respectively. The back calculated head grade subjected to gravity processing was 128 ppm Nb205 and 172ppm Ta205. This test work results show that the two types of ores can be processed to produce Ta –Nb concentrates at economic grade. Key words: Pegmatoids, concentrates, elluvial, whole rock, recovery. [Global Jnl Geol. Sci. Vol.1(1) 2003: 95-103] AJOL Home Page How to order photocopies Order Form INASP Home Page