Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous Lymphoma International Consortium Study of Outcome in Advanced Stages of Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome: Effect of Specific Prognostic Markers on Survival and Development of a Prognostic Model.

PURPOSE Advanced-stage mycosis fungoides (MF; stage IIB to IV) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are aggressive lymphomas with a median survival of 1 to 5 years. Clinical management is stage based; however, there is wide range of outcome within stages. Published prognostic studies in MF/SS have been single-center trials. Because of the rarity of MF/SS, only a large collaboration would power a study to identify independent prognostic markers. PATIENTS AND METHODS Literature review identified the following 10 candidate markers: stage, age, sex, cutaneous histologic features of folliculotropism, CD30 positivity, proliferation index, large-cell transformation, WBC/lymphocyte count, serum lactate dehydrogenase, and identical T-cell clone in blood and skin. Data were collected at specialist centers on patients diagnosed with advanced-stage MF/SS from 2007. Each parameter recorded at diagnosis was tested against overall survival (OS). RESULTS Staging data on 1,275 patients with advanced MF/SS from 29 international sites were included for survival analysis. The median OS was 63 months, with 2- and 5-year survival rates of 77% and 52%, respectively. The median OS for patients with stage IIB disease was 68 months, but patients diagnosed with stage III disease had slightly improved survival compared with patients with stage IIB, although patients diagnosed with stage IV disease had significantly worse survival (48 months for stage IVA and 33 months for stage IVB). Of the 10 variables tested, four (stage IV, age > 60 years, large-cell transformation, and increased lactate dehydrogenase) were independent prognostic markers for a worse survival. Combining these four factors in a prognostic index model identified the following three risk groups across stages with significantly different 5-year survival rates: low risk (68%), intermediate risk (44%), and high risk (28%). CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this study includes the largest cohort of patients with advanced-stage MF/SS and identifies markers with independent prognostic value, which, used together in a prognostic index, may be useful to stratify advanced-stage patients.
Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies on Reaction of Cytochrome P450nor with Nitric Oxide

Cytochrome P450 purified from Fusarium oxysporum (P450nor) is a unique heme enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nitric oxide to nitrous oxide with electrons directly transferred from NADH (2NO + NADH + H N2O + H2O + NAD). We studied the reaction of P450nor with NO and NADH using stopped-flow rapid scan and low temperature spectroscopic methods. The NO ligand can bind to the ferric enzyme to form the stable NO bound complex, P450nor(FeNO). Reduction of P450nor(FeNO) with NADH yielded an intermediate, which transiently formed ( = 100 ms) and spontaneously decomposed to the Fe state. The optical absorption spectrum of the intermediate was different from that of P450nor(FeNO), which was formed by either a one-electron reduction of P450nor(FeNO) with Na2S2O4 or NO binding to P450nor(Fe). On the basis of these observations, we suggested that the intermediate is presumably a two-electron reduced product of P450nor(FeNO) by NADH, formally the (FeNO) complex. We determined the rate constants of these reactions at 10°C for the NO binding to P450nor(Fe) (2.6 × 107M s), the NADH reduction of P450nor(FeNO) (0.9 × 106M s), and the spontaneous decomposition of the intermediate (0.027 s). In these kinetic measurements, it was found that the former two processes are fast enough, while the latter is extremely slow, compared with the fast turnover of the catalytic reaction (1200 s at 10°C), which we measured by monitoring the NADH consumption. Therefore, we suggested that in the catalytic cycle, decomposition of the intermediate is fairly accelerated by free NO, resulting in such a fast turnover. On the basis of several lines of the spectroscopic and the kinetic evidence, we proposed a possible mechanism of the NO reduction by P450nor.
Breeding biology of Physalaemus centralis Bokermann, 1962 (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in southeastern Brazil

Physalaemus centralis is widely distributed in areas of cerrado vegetation in South America. Here we describe the temporal variation in activity and explore eventual effects of climatic conditions on activity, calling sites, territorial behaviour; courtship behaviour, egg clutches and tadpole development of P. centralis in southeastern Brazil. Field observations were made from January 1996 to February 1997. Vocalisations and reproductive activity were restricted to the rainy season, with a peak of activity in October. The number of calling males was significantly correlated with relative humidity, mean air temperature, and air pressure values of the previous day. Courtship is simple and did not include any physical contact before amplexus; furthermore, females seem to choose their mates. Amplectant pairs were observed from mid‐October to mid‐December. Most foam nests observed were anchored within the vegetation. The number of eggs in the foam nests ranged from 1549 to 2405. Tadpoles were mainly found in shallow parts of the water from October to mid‐January. The reproductive biology of P. centralis is similar to that of closely related species of the P. cuvieri group, suggesting conservatism in this lineage.
Evaluation of Molecular Methods To Improve the Detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Soil and Water Samples from Laos

ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei is the cause of melioidosis, a severe and potentially fatal disease of humans and animals. It is endemic in northern Australia and Southeast Asia and is found in soil and surface water. The environmental distribution of B. pseudomallei worldwide and within countries where it is endemic, such as the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos), remains unclear. However, this knowledge is important to our understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of B. pseudomallei and to facilitate public health interventions. Sensitive and specific methods to detect B. pseudomallei in environmental samples are therefore needed. The aim of this study was to compare molecular and culture-based methods for the detection of B. pseudomallei in soil and surface water in order to identify the optimal approach for future environmental studies in Laos. Molecular detection by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was attempted after DNA extraction directly from soil or water samples or after an overnight enrichment step. The positivity rates obtained by qPCR were compared to those obtained by different culture techniques. The rate of detection from soil samples by qPCR following culture enrichment was significantly higher (84/100) than that by individual culture methods and all culture methods combined (44/100; P < 0.001). Similarly, qPCR following enrichment was the most sensitive method for filtered river water compared with the sensitivity of the individual methods and all individual methods combined. In conclusion, molecular detection following an enrichment step has proven to be a sensitive and reliable approach for B. pseudomallei detection in Lao environmental samples and is recommended as the preferred method for future surveys.
Discopersicus n. gen., a New Member of the Family Tylenchidae Orley, 1880 with Detailed SEM Study on Two Known Species of the Genus Discotylenchus Siddiqi, 1980 (Nematoda; Tylenchidae) from Iran

Abstract Discopersicus iranicus n. gen., n. comb. , previously described from Iran as a new species under the genus Discotylenchus, is illustrated using light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations and further studied using molecular characters. SEM studies revealed the newly proposed genus has oblique amphidial apertures on the lateral sides of the lip region. SEM images are also provided for two species of Discotylenchus, namely D. discretus and D. brevicaudatus, as the first SEM study of the genus. These results confirmed longitudinal amphidial aperture type on lateral sides of the lip region in genus Discotylenchus, as noted by Siddiqi while erecting the genus with D. discretus as the type species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using partial small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences revealed the affinity of the genus Discopersicus n. gen. with members of the subfamily Boleodorinae, as supported by morphological characters (mainly, the oblique amphidial opening).
Network Modeling Identifies Molecular Functions Targeted by miR-204 to Suppress Head and Neck Tumor Metastasis

Due to the large number of putative microRNA gene targets predicted by sequence-alignment databases and the relative low accuracy of such predictions which are conducted independently of biological context by design, systematic experimental identification and validation of every functional microRNA target is currently challenging. Consequently, biological studies have yet to identify, on a genome scale, key regulatory networks perturbed by altered microRNA functions in the context of cancer. In this report, we demonstrate for the first time how phenotypic knowledge of inheritable cancer traits and of risk factor loci can be utilized jointly with gene expression analysis to efficiently prioritize deregulated microRNAs for biological characterization. Using this approach we characterize miR-204 as a tumor suppressor microRNA and uncover previously unknown connections between microRNA regulation, network topology, and expression dynamics. Specifically, we validate 18 gene targets of miR-204 that show elevated mRNA expression and are enriched in biological processes associated with tumor progression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). We further demonstrate the enrichment of bottleneckness, a key molecular network topology, among miR-204 gene targets. Restoration of miR-204 function in HNSCC cell lines inhibits the expression of its functionally related gene targets, leads to the reduced adhesion, migration and invasion in vitro and attenuates experimental lung metastasis in vivo. As importantly, our investigation also provides experimental evidence linking the function of microRNAs that are located in the cancer-associated genomic regions (CAGRs) to the observed predisposition to human cancers. Specifically, we show miR-204 may serve as a tumor suppressor gene at the 9q21.1–22.3 CAGR locus, a well established risk factor locus in head and neck cancers for which tumor suppressor genes have not been identified. This new strategy that integrates expression profiling, genetics and novel computational biology approaches provides for improved efficiency in characterization and modeling of microRNA functions in cancer as compared to the state of art and is applicable to the investigation of microRNA functions in other biological processes and diseases.
GLAST Prospects for Swift-Era Afterglows

We calculate the GeV spectra of gamma-ray burst afterglows produced by inverse Compton scattering of these objects' sub-MeV emission. We improve on earlier treatments by using refined afterglow parameters and new model developments motivated by recent Swift observations. We present time-dependent GeV spectra for standard, constant-parameter models, as well as for models with energy injection and with time-varying parameters, for a range of burst parameters. We evaluate the limiting redshift to which such afterglows can be detected by the GLAST Large Area Telescope, as well as by AGILE.
Maintaining Warm, Trusting Relationships with Brands: Increased Temperature Perceptions after Thinking of Communal Brands

Classical theories on interpersonal relations have long suggested that social interactions are influenced by sensation, such as the experience of warmth. Past empirical work now confirms that perceived differences in temperature impact how people form thoughts about relationships. The present work first integrates our knowledge database on brand research with this idea of “grounded social cognition”. It then leverages a large sample (total N = 2,552) toward elucidating links between estimates of temperature and positive versus negative evaluations of communal brands. In five studies, the authors have found that thinking about positively (vs. negatively) perceived communal brands leads to heightened temperature estimates. A meta-analysis of the five studies shows a small but consistent effect in this noisy environment, r = . 11, 95% CI, . 05, . 18. Exploratory analyses in Studies 1a and b further suggest that temperature perceptions mediate the (significant) relationship between perceived communality and willingness to purchase from the brand. The authors discuss implications for theory and practice and consider the effects from a Social Baseline Perspective.
Do all nonsurvivors of cardiogenic shock die with a low cardiac index?

STUDY OBJECTIVES To characterize the hemodynamic course of cardiogenic shock and to relate the cause of death to ongoing cardiac failure or multiple organ dysfunction. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING A 31-bed department of intensive care in a university hospital. PATIENTS All patients admitted for cardiogenic shock from January 1999 to December 2000. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Charts were reviewed for demographic, clinical, hemodynamic, oxygen transport, inflammation, and organ dysfunction data. Of 62 patients with cardiogenic shock, 40 (65%) did not survive. Eight patients (20%) died from fatal arrhythmia, 14 patients (35%) died with low cardiac index (CI) [ie, < 2.2 L/min/m(2)], and 18 patients (45%) died with normalized CI (ie, > 2.2 L/min/m(2)) and a higher CI/oxygen extraction ratio. Of these 18 patients, 9 had evidence of infection. The patients with normalized CI were younger and stayed longer in the ICU than patients with low CI. CONCLUSION A substantial number of patients with cardiogenic shock die with a normalized CI, suggesting a distributive defect, in the absence of obvious infection. These patients are younger and have a longer ICU course. The release of mediators may be secondary to gut hypoperfusion.
The association of stillbirth with depressive symptoms 6-36 months post-delivery.

BACKGROUND Stillbirths (≥ 20 weeks' gestation), which account for about 1 in 200 US pregnancies, may grieve parents deeply. Unresolved grief may lead to persistent depression. METHODS We compared depressive symptoms in 2009 (6-36 months after index delivery) among consenting women in the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network's population-based case-control study conducted 2006-08 (n = 275 who delivered a stillbirth and n = 522 who delivered a healthy livebirth (excluding livebirths < 37 weeks, infants who had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit or who died). Women scoring > 12 on the Edinburgh Depression Scale were classified as currently depressed. Crude (cOR) and adjusted (aOR) odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals [CI] were computed from univariate and multivariable logistic models, with weighting for study design and differential consent. Marginal structural models examined potential selection bias due to low follow-up. RESULTS Current depression was more likely in women with stillbirth (14.8%) vs. healthy livebirth (8.3%, cOR 1.90 [95% CI 1.20, 3.02]). However, after control for history of depression and factors associated with both depression and stillbirth, the stillbirth association was no longer significant (aOR 1.35 [95% CI 0.79, 2.30]). Conversely, for the 76% of women with no history of depression, a significant association remained after adjustment for confounders (aOR 1.98 [95% CI 1.02, 3.82]). CONCLUSIONS Improved screening for depression and referral may be needed for women's health care. Research should focus on defining optimal methods for support of women suffering stillbirth so as to lower the risk of subsequent depression.
Feature-based head pose estimation from images

Estimating the head pose is an important capability of a robot when interacting with humans since the head pose usually indicates the focus of attention. In this paper, we present a novel approach to estimate the head pose from monocular images. Our approach proceeds in three stages. First, a face detector roughly classifies the pose as frontal, left, or right profile. Then, classifiers trained with AdaBoost using Haar-like features, detect distinctive facial features such as the nose tip and the eyes. Based on the positions of these features, a neural network finally estimates the three continuous rotation angles we use to model the head pose. Since we have a compact representation of the face using only few distinctive features, our approach is computationally highly efficient. As we show in experiments with standard databases as well as with real-time image data, our system locates the distinctive features with a high accuracy and provides robust estimates of the head pose.
Waveform Aliasing in Satellite Radar Altimetry

The full deramp pulse compression scheme employed by satellite radar altimeters digitizes each radar echo at a sampling rate matched to the chirp bandwidth. Echo power is undersampled by a factor of 2 when the power samples are simply obtained by squaring the magnitude of the echo samples, without first resampling, as is done in all altimeters to date. This results in inadequate sampling of the leading edge of the waveform if the significant wave height (SWH) is low. For a typical Ku-band altimeter with a chirp bandwidth of 320 MHz, simple squaring should be inadequate over ocean surfaces with SWH less than 2 m, that is, half of the ocean. Simply zero-padding the digital samples prior to range Fourier transform alleviates the problem introduced by magnitude squaring. Data from the CryoSat altimeter are used to demonstrate this remedy, and it is found that this reduces the variance in estimated range by 10% and in SWH by 20%. These improvements are confined to a range of SWH values between 1 and 4 m. Zero-padding also seems to have some small impact on values estimated over very flat surfaces (SWH ≪ 1 m), although theory suggests that better resolution of such surfaces would require a bandwidth exceeding 320 MHz. The 500-MHz bandwidth of the Ka-band altimeter on the Satellite with ARGOS and AltiKa mission should encounter these difficulties at smaller SWH values. Onboard range tracking and automatic gain control loops in future altimeters might be improved if zero-padding were employed during onboard waveform processing.
Polyglutamine domain flexibility mediates the proximity between flanking sequences in huntingtin

Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion within the huntingtin gene that encodes a polymorphic glutamine tract at the amino terminus of the huntingtin protein. HD is one of nine polyglutamine expansion diseases. The clinical threshold of polyglutamine expansion for HD is near 37 repeats, but the mechanism of this pathogenic length is poorly understood. Using Förster resonance energy transfer, we describe an intramolecular proximity between the N17 domain and the downstream polyproline region that flanks the polyglutamine tract of huntingtin. Our data support the hypothesis that the polyglutamine tract can act as a flexible domain, allowing the flanking domains to come into close spatial proximity. This flexibility is impaired with expanded polyglutamine tracts, and we can detect changes in huntingtin conformation at the pathogenic threshold for HD. Altering the structure of N17, either via phosphomimicry or with small molecules, also affects the proximity between the flanking domains. The structural capacity of N17 to fold back toward distal regions within huntingtin requires an interacting protein, protein kinase C and casein kinase 2 substrate in neurons 1 (PACSIN1). This protein has the ability to bind both N17 and the polyproline region, stabilizing the interaction between these two domains. We also developed an antibody-based FRET assay that can detect conformational changes within endogenous huntingtin in wild-type versus HD fibroblasts. Therefore, we hypothesize that wild-type length polyglutamine tracts within huntingtin can form a flexible domain that is essential for proper functional intramolecular proximity, conformations, and dynamics.
Antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine ameliorates symptoms of premature aging associated with the deficiency of the circadian protein BMAL1

Deficiency of the circadian clock protein BMAL1 leads to premature aging and increased levels of reactivate oxygen species in several tissues of mice. In order to investigate the role of oxidative stress in accelerated aging and development of age-related pathologies, we continuously administered the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine toBmal1-deficient mice through their entire lifespan by supplementing drinking water. We found that the life long treatment with antioxidant significantly increased average and maximal lifespan and reduced the rate of age-dependent weight loss and development of cataracts. At the same time, it had no effect on time of onset and severity of other age-related pathologies characteristic of Bmal1-/- mice, such as joint ossification, reduced hair regrowth and sarcopenia. We conclude that chronic oxidative stress affects longevity and contributes to the development of at least some age-associated pathology, although ROS-independent mechanisms may also play a role. Our bioinformatics analysis identified the presence of a conservative E box element in the promoter regions of several genes encoding major antioxidant enzymes. We speculate that BMAL1 controls antioxidant defense by regulating the expression of major antioxidant enzymes.
Internally Simulated Movement Sensations during Motor Imagery Activate Cortical Motor Areas and the Cerebellum

It has been proposed that motor imagery contains an element of sensory experiences (kinesthetic sensations), which is a substitute for the sensory feedback that would normally arise from the overt action. No evidence has been provided about whether kinesthetic sensation is centrally simulated during motor imagery. We psychophysically tested whether motor imagery of palmar flexion or dorsiflexion of the right wrist would influence the sensation of illusory palmar flexion elicited by tendon vibration. We also tested whether motor imagery of wrist movement shared the same neural substrates involving the illusory sensation elicited by the peripheral stimuli. Regional cerebral blood flow was measured with H215O and positron emission tomography in 10 right-handed subjects. The right tendon of the wrist extensor was vibrated at 83 Hz (“illusion”) or at 12.5 Hz with no illusion (“vibration”). Subjects imagined doing wrist movements of alternating palmar and dorsiflexion at the same speed with the experienced illusory movements (“imagery”). A “rest” condition with eyes closed was included. We identified common active fields between the contrasts of imagery versus rest and illusion versus vibration. Motor imagery of palmar flexion psychophysically enhanced the experienced illusory angles of plamar flexion, whereas dorsiflexion imagery reduced it in the absence of overt movement. Motor imagery and the illusory sensation commonly activated the contralateral cingulate motor areas, supplementary motor area, dorsal premotor cortex, and ipsilateral cerebellum. We conclude that kinesthetic sensation associated with imagined movement is internally simulated during motor imagery by recruiting multiple motor areas.