Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dendritic Cell-Based Adjuvant Vaccination Targeting Wilms’ Tumor 1 in Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Despite significant recent advances in the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer involving metastasis to distant organs remains challenging. We conducted a phase I study to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of Wilms’ tumor (WT1) class I/II peptides-pulsed dendritic cell DC vaccination for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Standard treatment comprising surgical resection and chemotherapy was followed by one course of seven biweekly administrations of 1–2 × 107 DCs with 1–2 KE of OK-432 (streptococcal preparation) in three patients. Clinical efficacy was confirmed based on WT1 expression using immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tissues and immune monitoring using tetramer analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assays. WT1 expression with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I molecules was detected in surgical resected tissues. Adverse reactions to DC vaccinations were tolerable under an adjuvant setting. WT1-specific cytotoxic T cells were detected by both modified WT1-peptide/HLA-A*24:02 tetramer analysis and/or interferon-γ-producing cells through the use of ELISPOT assays after the first DC vaccination. Immunity acquired from DC vaccination persisted for two years with prolonged disease-free and overall survival. The present study indicated that DC vaccination targeting WT1 demonstrated the safety and immunogenicity as an adjuvant therapy in patients with resectable advanced colorectal cancer.
Social organization, stress, and health

© Oxford University Press, 2014. This chapter takes up the issue of biological plausibility. It addresses two issues: First, is it plausible that the organization of work, degree of social isolation, and sense of control over life could affect the likelihood of developing and dying from chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease? The various biological pathways that can plausibly change the risk of developing major disease are discussed. The second issue is more complicated - do any of the plausible biological pathways actually operate; that is, not could they cause disease, but do they? The evidence on this is incomplete and is an important topic for current and future research, but it is sufficiently suggestive to point to hypotheses for testing.
Evaluation of risk factors for preterm delivery and creasy's risk scoring

Background: Preterm birth is a poorly understood domain so it is a one of the most serious problem encountered in case of pregnant women. Because of the incomplete knowledge of biochemical and molecular reasons for preterm birth, many authors have shown interest in various predicting risk factors of preterm birth. Aim: This study was undertaken to know risk factors for preterm delivery and to investigate the usefulness of the most widely used creasy scoring system in identifying the high risk group of women at the tertiary care center of India. In this study also included observation of perinatal mortality and morbidity associated with preterm deliveries. Material and Methods: In the present study of 175 women who gave birth to preterm babies, detail history was taken. Then all the Data were statistically analyzed based on percentage. Result: Preterm delivery is particularly affected by precipitating of some risk factors (Hb, weight, parity of mother etc.). Conclusion: so we can say that such risk factors acting as a precipitating factor for preterm deliveries. Awareness of such risk factors is essential to plan public education programs and to consider appropriate perinatal care options for women at potentially higher risk for preterm delivery.
Online peer tutoring behaviour in a higher education context

In the present study cross-age peer tutoring was implemented in a higher education context. Fourth-year students (N=39) operated as online tutors to support freshmen in discussing cases and solving authentic problems. This study contributes to a better understanding of the supportive interventions of tutors in asynchronous discussion groups. Peer tutor interventions were studied by means of a content analysis scheme based on the e-moderating model of Salmon (2000). The descriptive results revealed that the type of tutor activities varies over the consecutive discussion themes. No evidence was however found for a significant evolution from introductory and social talk to contributions eliciting cognitive processing along the themes. Tutors’ social support seemed to be of continuous importance. Further, cluster analysis resulted in a classification of the tutors into three different subtypes or tutor styles (motivators, informers, and knowledge constructors), which was interpreted as confirmation of tutor-dependent online peer tutoring behaviour.
Clinical utility of sperm DNA fragmentation testing: practice recommendations based on clinical scenarios

Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has been generally acknowledged as a valuable tool for male fertility evaluation. While its detrimental implications on sperm function were extensively investigated, little is known about the actual indications for performing SDF analysis. This review delivers practice based recommendations on commonly encountered scenarios in the clinic. An illustrative description of the different SDF measurement techniques is presented. SDF testing is recommended in patients with clinical varicocele and borderline to normal semen parameters as it can better select varicocelectomy candidates. High SDF is also linked with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and can influence outcomes of different assisted reproductive techniques. Several studies have shown some benefit in using testicular sperm rather than ejaculated sperm in men with high SDF, oligozoospermia or recurrent in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure. Infertile men with evidence of exposure to pollutants can benefit from sperm DNA testing as it can help reinforce the importance of lifestyle modification (e.g., cessation of cigarette smoking, antioxidant therapy), predict fertility and monitor the patient’s response to intervention.
The Sensitivity of Long-Term Interest Rates to Economic News: Comment

Refet Gurkaynak, Brian Sack, and Eric Swanson (2005) provide empirical evidence that long forward nominal rates are overly sensitive to monetary policy shocks, and that this is consistent with a model where long-term inflation expectations are not anchored because agents must infer the central bank's inflation target from noisy interest rate movements. Using the same data, methodology, and model, we show that their empirical results are neither persistent nor robust to small changes in sample period or methodology. In addition, their theoretical results rely mainly on an ad hoc law of motion for the inflation target-imperfect information about the target plays only a small role in un-anchoring expectations in their model.
Redox Regulation of NMDA Receptors in a Ketamine Model of Schizophrenia

The oxidative hypothesis of schizophrenia has recently emerged as leading candidate for the pathological mechanisms of the disease. At its core, the hypothesis states that alterations within redox regulatory systems in the brain produce a cascade of dysfunction that ultimately results in schizophrenia. Here I present early results indicating that redox regulation of NMDA receptors within parvalbumin-positive inhibitory (PV+) neurons may play a central role in the development of the disorder. These experiment were performed by first mutating the gene for the NR2A subunit of NMDA receptors to lack a specific redox site, then the gene was inserted into neurons, utilizing a virus, to examine the role of redox-regulation of NMDA receptors in maintaining the inhibitory phenotype of PV+ neurons. The results from this experiment show that the removal of the redox regulatory site from the subunit attenuated the effects of an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine, on downregulating PV and GAD67 in PV+ neurons. These results suggest a role for redox dysregulation of NMDA receptors in the ketamine model of schizophrenia
Dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and female sexual dysfunction

Objective To evaluate whether smoking is a risk factor for female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and to determine the relationship between the cumulative smoking dose and FSD in premenopausal women. Methods The study population consisted of sexually active premenopausal women. The frequency of FSD and female sexual function index (FSFI) total score were evaluated according to the smoking status (never/former and current smokers). Evaluation of sexual function was done using FSFI questionnaire, and women with FSFI score of ≤26.55 were considered to have FSD. In current smokers, sexual function was also evaluated according to the cumulative smoking dose and nicotine dependency. Results A total of 900 women were included, and the frequency of current smokers and the frequency of FSD were 62 (6.9%) and 496 (55.1%), respectively. In current smokers, the frequency of FSD was significantly higher and the median total FSFI score was significantly lower than in never/former smokers, and this difference of FSD remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables. Among current smokers, the cumulative smoking dose (pack-years) and the total FSFI score showed negative correlation, in which increased cumulative smoking dose was associated with lower total FSFI score (r=-0.278, P<0.05). In terms of nicotine dependency, the total FSFI score of moderately to heavily nicotine dependent smokers was significantly lower than that of lightly dependent smokers. Conclusion In premenopausal women, current smoking was an independent risk factor for FSD. And cumulative smoking dose and nicotine dependency were associated with higher risk of FSD.
Acute Effects of Dropsets Among Different Resistance Training Methods in Upper Body Performance

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the influence of including dropset exercises in different orders, both in the pre-exhaustion, as in the post-exhaustion method, and to analyze the performance of total work on the bench press and chest flying exercise. Twenty-two male volunteers with a recreational experience in ST were evaluated in six visits in non-consecutive days, at approximately the same time of the day. During the first visit, subjects signed an informed consent form and underwent an anthropometric evaluation and testing of 10RM. The second visit involved a re-test of 10RM. From third to sixth visits, the subjects were randomly grouped into the following experimental situations: 3rd Visit (V3 - Post-exhaustion): Bench Press (dropset) + Chest Flying (10RM); 4th visit (V4 - Post-exhaustion): Bench Press (10RM) + Chest Flying (dropset); 5th Visit (V5 - pre-exhaustion): Chest Flying (dropset) + Bench Press (10RM); 6th Visit (V6 - pre-exhaustion): Chest Flying (10RM) + Bench Press (dropset). The protocol of dropset was performed with 3 sets and no rest intervals 10RM + 80% 10RM + 60% 10RM. An interval between sets was adopted for 2 minutes. The primary results showed a significant difference in Total Work for visits V3 and V6, which was included in the dropset multiarticular exercises. These results suggest that the exercise order with the dropset method in the preexhaustion or post-exhaustion methods had an acute influence on Total Work.
Optimizing stem-loop qPCR assays through multiplexed cDNA synthesis of U6 and miRNAs

We recently reported that hairpin (or stem-loop) priming is better-suited than polyA tailing to generate cDNA for plant microRNA qPCR. One major limitation of this method is the need to perform individual cDNA synthesis reactions for the reference gene and test miRNAs. Here, we report a novel fusion primer that allows multiplexed hairpin cDNA synthesis of the most-commonly used reference gene, nucleolar small RNA U6, together with test miRNAs. We also propose the use of miR1515 as a house keeping control for tropical legumes. We show that multiplexed cDNA synthesis does not result in loss of sensitivity and reduces the amount of RNA required for miRNA gene expression assays.
Long Time Accuracy of Lie-Trotter Splitting Methods for Langevin Dynamics

A new characterization of sufficient conditions for the Lie-Trotter splitting to capture the numerical invariant measure of nonlinear ergodic Langevin dynamics up to an arbitrary order is discussed. Our characterization relies on backward error analysis and needs weaker assumptions than assumed so far in the literature. In particular, neither high weak order of the splitting scheme nor symplecticity are necessary to achieve high order approximation of the invariant measure of the Langevin dynamics. Numerical experiments confirm our theoretical findings.
Doing the right thing: Measuring wellbeing for public policy

Many experts now recognize that income is not a measure that alone captures the wellbeing of individuals, and governments around the world are starting to rethink the ways in which they measure the welfare of their citizens. Wellbeing is best understood as a multifaceted phenomenon that can be assessed by measuring a wide array of subjective and objective constructs. This review summarizes the state of research on the various domains of wellbeing measured by psychologists and social scientists, and provides an overview of the main theoretical perspectives that integrate these domains. Among these theoretical perspectives, we highlight Well-being Theory, which decomposes the wellbeing construct into five domains: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA). We conclude by formulating recommendations for future research on the measurement of wellbeing. These recommendations include the need to combine both objective and subjective indicators, and the use of a dashboard approach to measurement. This approach conveys the multifaceted nature of wellbeing and will help policy-makers and citizens understand which domains of wellbeing should constitute priorities for public policy.
Radar Backscatter Database of Sea Ice Types Using O perational Analysis of Heterogeneous Ice Regimes

A new algorithm has been developed to compile a database of radiometric emission/scattering from different surfaces based on satellite observations obtained from heterogeneous areas that comprise those surfaces. An application is presented to compile a backscatter database of ice types during the freeze-up season in the Canadian Arctic using operational analysis of Radarsat-1 images from the Canadian Ice Services. Mean backscatter of each ice types is presented as a function of radar incidence angle. Backscatter from open sea water and sea water confined between ice floes are also presented as function of radar incidence angle and surface wind speed. In general, the output backscatter differs from backscatter obtained from homogeneous “training” areas but it confirms the underlying physics of radar interaction with sea ice. The algorithm also identifies anomalies in the visual analysis of Radarsat images, which is used as an input. Anomalies are areas in which the analysis results are not consistent with the results from the entire record of the image analysis. This is the first quantitative measure to assess the robustness of this analysis.
Standard versus trans-epithelial collagen cross-linking in keratoconus patients suitable for standard collagen cross-linking

Purpose Evaluating the clinical results of trans-epithelial collagen cross-linking (CXL) and standard CXL in patients with progressive keratoconus. Methods This prospective study comprised 20 eyes of 20 patients with progressive keratoconus. Ten eyes were treated by standard CXL and ten by trans-epithelial cross-linking (TE-CXL, epithelium on) with 1 year of follow-up. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic testing that included pre- and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity, corrected visual acuity, spherical error, spherical equivalent, corneal astigmatism, simulated maximum, minimum, and average keratometry, coma and spherical aberration, optical pachymetry, and endothelial cell density. Intra-and postoperative complications were recorded. The solution used for standard CXL comprised riboflavin 0.1% and dextran 20.0% (Ricrolin), while the solution for TE-CXL (Ricrolin, TE) comprised riboflavin 0.1%, dextran 15.0%, trometamol (Tris), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Ultraviolet-A treatment was performed with UV-X System at 3 mW/cm2. Results In both the standard CXL group (ten patients, ten eyes; mean age, 30.4±7.3 years) and the TE-CXL group (ten patients, ten eyes; mean age, 28±3.8 years), uncorrected visual acuity and corrected visual acuity improved significantly after treatment. Furthermore, a significant improvement in topographic outcomes, spherical error, and spherical equivalent was observed in both groups at month 12 posttreatment. No significant variations were recorded in other parameters. No complications were noted. Conclusion A 1-year follow-up showed stability of clinical and refractive outcomes after standard CXL and TE-CXL.
Stability of Iterative Decoding of Multi-Edge Type Doubly-Generalized LDPC Codes over the BEC

Using the EXIT chart approach, a necessary and sufficient condition is developed for the local stability of iterative decoding of multi-edge type (MET) doubly-generalized low-density parity-check (D-GLDPC) code ensembles. In such code ensembles, the use of arbitrary linear block codes as component codes is combined with the further design of local Tanner graph connectivity through the use of multiple edge types. The stability condition for these code ensembles is shown to be succinctly described in terms of the value of the spectral radius of an appropriately defined polynomial matrix.
GABA\(_A\) Receptors Containing the \(\alpha\)2 Subunit Are Critical for Direction-Selective Inhibition in the Retina

Far from being a simple sensor, the retina actively participates in processing visual signals. One of the best understood aspects of this processing is the detection of motion direction. Direction-selective (DS) retinal circuits include several subtypes of ganglion cells (GCs) and inhibitory interneurons, such as starburst amacrine cells (SACs). Recent studies demonstrated a surprising complexity in the arrangement of synapses in the DS circuit, i.e. between SACs and DS ganglion cells. Thus, to fully understand retinal DS mechanisms, detailed knowledge of all synaptic elements involved, particularly the nature and localization of neurotransmitter receptors, is needed. Since inhibition from SACs onto DSGCs is crucial for generating retinal direction selectivity, we investigate here the nature of the GABA receptors mediating this interaction. We found that in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of mouse and rabbit retina, GABA A receptor subunit a 2 (GABA A R a 2) aggregated in synaptic clusters along two bands overlapping the dendritic plexuses of both ON and OFF SACs. On distal dendrites of individually labeled SACs in rabbit, GABA A R a 2 was aligned with the majority of varicosities, the cell’s output structures, and found postsynaptically on DSGC dendrites, both in the ON and OFF portion of the IPL. In GABA A R a 2 knock-out (KO) mice, light responses of retinal GCs recorded with two-photon calcium imaging revealed a significant impairment of DS responses compared to their wild-type littermates. We observed a dramatic drop in the proportion of cells exhibiting DS phenotype in both the ON and ON-OFF populations, which strongly supports our anatomical findings that a 2-containing GABA A Rs are critical for mediating retinal DS inhibition. Our study reveals for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the precise functional localization of a specific receptor subunit in the retinal DS circuit.
Investigating the effectiveness of peephole interaction for smartwatches in a map navigation task

With the increasing availability of smartwatches the question of suited input modalities arises. While direct touch input comes at the cost of the fat-finger problem, we propose to use a dynamic peephole to explore larger content such as websites or maps. In this paper, we present the results of a user study comparing the performance of static and dynamic peephole interactions for a map navigation task on a smartwatch display. As a first method, we investigated the static peephole methaphor where the displayed map is moved on the device via direct touch interaction. In contrast, for the second method - the dynamic peephole - the device is moved and the map is static with respect to an external frame of reference. We compared both methods in terms of task performance and perceived user experience. The results show that the dynamic peephole interaction performs significantly more slowly in terms of task completion time.
A New Search Technique for Short Orbital Period Binary Pulsars

We describe a new and efficient technique, which we call sideband or phase-modulation searching, that allows one to detect short-period binary pulsars in observations longer than the orbital period. The orbital motion of the pulsar during long observations effectively modulates the phase of the pulsar signal, causing sidebands to appear around the pulsar spin frequency and its harmonics in the Fourier transform. For the majority of binary radio pulsars or low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), large numbers of sidebands are present, allowing efficient searches using Fourier transforms of short portions of the original power spectrum. Analysis of the complex amplitudes and phases of the sidebands can provide enough information to solve for the Keplerian orbital parameters. This technique is particularly applicable to radio pulsar searches in globular clusters and searches for coherent X-ray pulsations from LMXBs and is complementary to more standard "acceleration" searches.
Integrating a financial option based model with GridSim for pricing Grid resources

Analysis of grid resources utilization from real grid trace data shows the feasibility of a financial option based model for pricing grid resources to attract more users for profitability for the grid provider while providing high Quality of Service (QoS) to users. However, in the absence of grid resource pricing benchmarks, we simulate grid resources usage in order to justify our pricing model using GridSim toolkit. In this work we integrate a financial option based pricing model with GridSim framework and use it as a grid simulation tool to price grid compute resources.
Neural Responses in Parietal and Occipital Areas in Response to Visual Events Are Modulated by Prior Multisensory Stimuli

The effect of multi-modal vs uni-modal prior stimuli on the subsequent processing of a simple flash stimulus was studied in the context of the audio-visual ‘flash-beep’ illusion, in which the number of flashes a person sees is influenced by accompanying beep stimuli. EEG recordings were made while combinations of simple visual and audio-visual stimuli were presented. The experiments found that the electric field strength related to a flash stimulus was stronger when it was preceded by a multi-modal flash/beep stimulus, compared to when it was preceded by another uni-modal flash stimulus. This difference was found to be significant in two distinct timeframes – an early timeframe, from 130–160 ms, and a late timeframe, from 300–320 ms. Source localisation analysis found that the increased activity in the early interval was localised to an area centred on the inferior and superior parietal lobes, whereas the later increase was associated with stronger activity in an area centred on primary and secondary visual cortex, in the occipital lobe. The results suggest that processing of a visual stimulus can be affected by the presence of an immediately prior multisensory event. Relatively long-lasting interactions generated by the initial auditory and visual stimuli altered the processing of a subsequent visual stimulus.