Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Graft Failure after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Graft failure is a significant complication following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). It may be due to rejection caused by recipient T-cells, NK-cells or antibodies. It is increased in HLA-mismatched grafts, unrelated grafts, T-cell replete transplants, sensitized patients and in patients treated with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). In recipients of unrelated grafts, graft failure is increased in patients receiving major AB0 blood group mismatched transplants (p=0.008). Recent data also suggest that donor-specific antibodies to CD34+/VEGFR-2+ cells may be involved in graft failure after AHCT. Graft failure may be overcome by more intensified conditioning, increased cell dose, or more effective immunosuppression.With more frequent use of RIC, cord blood grafts and other HLA-mismatched transplants, graft failure is an increasing problem after AHCT.
Production , Manufacturing and Logistics The influence of demand variability on the performance of a make-to-stock queue

Variability, in general, has a deteriorating effect on the performance of stochastic inventory systems. In particular, previous results indicate that demand variability causes a performance degradation in terms of inventory related costs when production capacity is unlimited. In order to investigate the effects of demand variability in capacitated production settings, we analyze a make-to-stock queue with general demand arrival times operated according to a basestock policy. We show that when demand inter-arrival distributions are ordered in a stochastic sense, increased arrival time variability indeed leads to an augmentation of optimal base-stock levels and to a corresponding increase in optimal inventory related costs. We quantify these effects through several numerical examples. 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Syrian Refugees and Digital Health in Lebanon: Opportunities for Improving Antenatal Health

There are currently over 1.1 million Syrian refugees in need of healthcare services from an already overstretched Lebanese healthcare system. Access to antenatal care (ANC) services presents a particular challenge. We conducted focus groups with 59 refugees in rural Lebanon to identify contextual and cultural factors that can inform the design of digital technologies to support refugee ANC. Previously identified high utilization of smartphones by the refugee population offers a particular opportunity for using digital technology to support access to ANC as well as health advocacy. Our findings revealed a number of considerations that should be taken into account in the design of refugee ANC technologies, including: refugee health beliefs and experiences, literacy levels, refugee perceptions of negative attitudes of healthcare providers, and hierarchal and familial structures.
Repurposing Conversation: Experiments with the Continuous Speech Stream

Voice interaction with mobile devices has been focused on hands-free interaction or situations where visual interfaces are not applicable. In this paper we explore a subtler means of interaction -- speech recognition from continual, in the background, audio recording of conversations. We call this the 'continuous speech stream' and explore how it could be repurposed as user input. We analyse ten days of recorded audio from our participants, alongside corresponding interviews, to explore how systems might make use of extracts from this stream. Rather than containing directly actionable items, our data suggests that the continuous speech stream is a rich resource for identifying users' next actions, along with the interests and dispositions of those being recorded. Through design workshops we explored new interactions using the speech stream, and describe concepts for individual, shared and distributed use.
Negevirus: a Proposed New Taxon of Insect-Specific Viruses with Wide Geographic Distribution

ABSTRACT Six novel insect-specific viruses, isolated from mosquitoes and phlebotomine sand flies collected in Brazil, Peru, the United States, Ivory Coast, Israel, and Indonesia, are described. Their genomes consist of single-stranded, positive-sense RNAs with poly(A) tails. By electron microscopy, the virions appear as spherical particles with diameters of ∼45 to 55 nm. Based on their genome organization and phylogenetic relationship, the six viruses, designated Negev, Ngewotan, Piura, Loreto, Dezidougou, and Santana, appear to form a new taxon, tentatively designated Negevirus. Their closest but still distant relatives are citrus leposis virus C (CiLV-C) and viruses in the genus Cilevirus, which are mite-transmitted plant viruses. The negeviruses replicate rapidly and to high titer (up to 1010 PFU/ml) in mosquito cells, producing extensive cytopathic effect and plaques, but they do not appear to replicate in mammalian cells or mice. A discussion follows on their possible biological significance and effect on mosquito vector competence for arboviruses.
The 92-kDa gelatinase B is expressed by advanced stage melanoma cells: suppression by somatic cell hybridization with early stage melanoma cells.

The production and local release of various proteolytic enzymes, either by tumor cells or tumor-associated stromal cells, is thought to facilitate the malignant behavior of solid tumors. Human cutaneous melanoma offers an excellent clinical model to study the possible contribution of such proteases to solid tumor progression because melanoma goes through a series of well defined stages in its pathogenesis; moreover, permanent cell lines have been established from these various stages. As a first step to analyzing the gelatinolytic enzymes in melanoma pathology, we examined cell lines derived from early stage primary melanomas in which patients were cured of their disease and compared the results to those obtained with cell lines established from advanced stage primary lesions or metastases (i.e., from patients who eventually succumbed to the disease). We found that 80% of cell lines examined from early stage lesions constitutively produced only the 72-kDa gelatinase A but never the 92-kDa gelatinase B. In contrast, the majority of advanced stage cell lines examined produced both the 72-kDa gelatinase A and the 92-kDa gelatinase B. Advanced stage cell lines that did not constitutively produce the 92-kDa gelatinase B could be induced to do so with transforming growth factor beta, interleukin 1 beta or 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate. In total, 0 of 5 early stage cell lines constitutively expressed the 92-kDa gelatinase B, and only 2 of 5 could be induced to produce this activity. In contrast, all advanced stage cell lines that were evaluated either constitutively or inducibly produced the 92-kDa gelatinase B. To analyze the mechanism by which 92-kDa gelatinase B production is switched on in the advanced stage melanoma cell lines, somatic cell hybrids were constructed using an advanced stage melanoma cell line as one partner and either one of two early stage cell lines as the other. Constitutive production of the 92-kDa gelatinase B in such hybrids was lost and could not be induced in such hybrids. Coculture of the early and advanced stage cell lines failed to recapitulate what was seen after somatic hybridization, and zymographic analysis of lysates from hybrid cell lines demonstrated no 92-kDa gelatinase B activity. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis demonstrated that the loss of 92-kDa gelatinase B production occurred at the level of steady-state mRNA for the enzyme. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Genetic generation of both the weights and architecture for a neural network

Shows how to find both the weights and architecture for a neural network, including the number of layers, the number of processing elements per layer, and the connectivity between processing elements. This is accomplished by using a recently developed extension to the genetic algorithm which genetically breeds a population of LISP symbolic expressions of varying size and shape until the desired performance by the network is successfully evolved. The novel 'genetic programming' paradigm is applied to the problem of generating a neural network for a one-bit adder. <<ETX>>
Cellular Cofactors of Lentiviral Integrase: From Target Validation to Drug Discovery

To accomplish their life cycle, lentiviruses make use of host proteins, the so-called cellular cofactors. Interactions between host cell and viral proteins during early stages of lentiviral infection provide attractive new antiviral targets. The insertion of lentiviral cDNA in a host cell chromosome is a step of no return in the replication cycle, after which the host cell becomes a permanent carrier of the viral genome and a producer of lentiviral progeny. Integration is carried out by integrase (IN), an enzyme playing also an important role during nuclear import. Plenty of cellular cofactors of HIV-1 IN have been proposed. To date, the lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75) is the best studied cofactor of HIV-1 IN. Moreover, small molecules that block the LEDGF/p75-IN interaction have recently been developed for the treatment of HIV infection. The nuclear import factor transportin-SR2 (TRN-SR2) has been proposed as another interactor of HIV IN-mediating nuclear import of the virus. Using both proteins as examples, we will describe approaches to be taken to identify and validate novel cofactors as new antiviral targets. Finally, we will highlight recent advances in the design and the development of small-molecule inhibitors binding to the LEDGF/p75-binding pocket in IN (LEDGINs).
Cardiorespiratory fitness, but not physical activity, is associated with academic achievement in children and adolescents

Abstract Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) seem to have positive effects on academic achievement (AA), although in most studies, objective methods of assessment have not been used. Aim: To examine the associations of CRF and PA with AA. Subjects and methods: A sample of 640 youngsters (10–18 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. CRF was estimated with the 20-metre shuttle run test and PA was measured using accelerometers. School grades were used to describe AA using mathematics and native language final grades. The relationship between CRF and PA with AA was analysed using ANCOVA. Results: Results show a significant effect of CRF levels on native language grades, after adjustment for confounders [F(3,414) = 3,99 p < 0.05], but not for mathematics [F(3,360) = 0.95 p > 0.05]. No significant effects of PA levels on AA were found. Conclusions: CRF is associated with moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and higher levels of CRF may influence AA. CRF is positively correlated with MVPA, suggesting that higher amounts of MVPA might improve CRF and indirectly influence AA. Since CRF is dependent on higher intensities of PA, we can suggest a focus on implementing improvement strategies to increase the intensity of physical education lessons.
The hSNM1 protein is a DNA 5′-exonuclease

The human SNM1 protein is a member of a highly conserved group of proteins catalyzing the hydrolysis of nucleic acid substrates. Although overproduction is unstable in mammalian cells, we have overproduced a recombinant hSNM1 protein in an insect cell system. The protein is a single-strand 5′-exonuclease, like its yeast homolog. The enzyme utilizes either DNA or RNA substrates, requires a 5′-phosphate moiety, shows very little activity on double-strand substrates, and functions at a size consistent with a monomer. The exonuclease activity requires the conserved β-lactamase domain; site-directed mutagenesis of a conserved aspartate inactivates the exonuclease.
Anticlockwise pressure–temperature paths record Variscan upper‐plate exhumation: Example from micaschists of the Porto Vecchio region, Corsica

To better understand the evolution of deep‐seated crust of the Variscan orogen in the Sardinia‐Corsica region, we studied garnet‐bearing micaschists which were sampled 3 km east and 15 km northeast of Porto Vecchio, south‐eastern Corsica. After a careful investigation of the textural relations and compositions of minerals, especially of zoned garnet, a P–T path was reconstructed using contoured P–T pseudosections. U–Th–Pb dating of monazite in the micaschists was undertaken with the electron microprobe. The micaschists from both localities were formed along similar anticlockwise P–T paths. The prograde branch of these paths starts at 3 kbar close to 600°C in the P–T field of sillimanite and reaches peak conditions at 7 kbar and 600 (15 km NE of Porto Vecchio) to 630°C (3 km E of Porto Vecchio). The metamorphism at peak P–T conditions happened c. 340 Ma based on low‐Y (<0.65 wt% Y2O3) monazite. Ages of monazite with high‐Y contents (>2 wt% Y2O3), which probably have formed before garnet, scatter around 362 Ma. The retrograde branch of the P–T paths passes through 4 kbar at ~550°C. We conclude that the micaschists belong to a common metasedimentary sequence, which extends over the Porto Vecchio region and is separated from other metamorphic rock sequences in the north and the south by major tectonic boundaries. This sequence had experienced peak pressures which are lower than those determined for metamorphic rocks, such as micaschist and gneiss, from north‐eastern Sardinia. At present, we favour a continent–continent collisional scenario with the studied metasedimentary sequence buried during the collisional event as part of the upper plate. The contemporaneous high‐P metamorphic rocks from NE Sardinia were part of the upper portion of the lower plate. The addressed rocks from both plates were exhumed in an exhumation channel.
Velocity modelling and depth conversion uncertainty analysis of onshore reservoirs in the Niger Delta basin

Depth uncertainty is one of the major uncertainties associated with hydrocarbon field development. This uncertainty mostly arises due to the complexity of the subsurface, paucity of data, time-to-depth conversion, seismic picks, fault positioning and well ties. These uncertainties explain the non-uniqueness of models built and can have a significant impact on fluid contact and hydrocarbon in-place evaluation. To manage depth uncertainty, The Polynomial and Vo_K method were adopted to build velocity models for depth conversion and residual analysis for several reservoir levels to determine the method that will give the best depth residuals. Depth conversion residual analysis result of both velocity models for the reservoirs studied gave average depth residual of less than 50ft for reservoir levels below 9000ft. As the depth increases, the polynomial method derived average residual becomes unreliable with depth uncertainty of over 100ft for the deeper MOT reservoir, compared to 11. 65ft of the Vo_K method for the same reservoir. This was expected at depth since the polymonial method adopts average velocities while the Vo_K method uses instantaneous velocity. Hence, the latter is expected to give a better result at great depth during depth conversion and should be preferably employed for velocity modeling and depth conversion study of reservoir in the Niger delta Basin. Key Words : Depth-Conversion, Velocity-Modelling, Polynomial-Function, Vo_K -Function, Niger- Delta.
Cardiac Dysrhythmias During Outpatient Dental Anaesthesia With Enflurane. The Role of “Beta Blockade”

In a study of 120 unpremedicated outpatients presenting for outpatient dental anaesthesia, the incidence of dysrhythmias was lower with enflurane than had previously been found with halothane (1). The intravenous use of the cardioselective beta adrencrgic blocking agents practolol and metoprolol, in a dose of 0.05–0.22 and 0.16–0.17 mg/kg body weight, respectively, proved effective in the treatment of sinus tachycardia in excess of 150 beats/min and/or ventricular dysrhythmias. Although metoprolol, unlike practolol, has no intrinsic sympathetic activity, there were no side‐effects related to either beta‐blocker in the dosages used during enflurane anaesthesia.
Medical and dental health status of orphan children in central Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the medical and dental health status of orphan children from 4 to 12-years-old, and compare them with children living with their parents. METHODS This analytical, cross-sectional study took place in 3 government orphanages and 3 ordinary schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 2011 to January 2012. All orphans aged 4-12 year were selected (N=90). Ninety children living with their parents were selected randomly to serve as the controls. Demographic data, medical, and dental history were obtained through a questionnaire answered by the orphans' foster mothers and children's parents. The study groups were examined to evaluate their caries status using the Decayed-Missing and-Filled Teeth/Surface indices (DMFT/DMFS) for permanent teeth and (dmft/dmfs) for primary teeth. Oral hygiene status (OHI), plaque deposition (PI), and gingival health (GI) were also assessed. Pearson Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Approximately 36% of the orphans had medical conditions compared to 14.4% of the control children. The control children visited the dentist more than the orphans (p<0.001). Approximately 96% of the orphans had dental caries compared to 90% of the control children (p<0.001). Decayed-missing and-filled teeth/surface index scores were higher among orphans (p=0.004) compared to the control children (p<0.001). Orphans scored higher in PI (p=0.009), GI (p=0.002), and OHI (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Medical health conditions were more prevalent among orphans living in government orphanages, but they were provided with good and continuous medical care. However, they had more dental caries and worse oral hygiene, as dental care was provided to them only in case of emergency.
Incremental redundancy: A comparison of a sphere-packing analysis and convolutional codes

Theoretical analysis has long indicated that feedback improves the error exponent but not the capacity of memoryless Gaussian channels. Chen et al. [1] demonstrated that a modified incremental redundancy scheme can use noiseless feedback to help short convolutional codes deliver the bit-error-rate performance of a long blocklength turbo code, but with much lower latency. This paper presents a code-independent analysis based on sphere-packing that approximates the throughput-vs.-latency achievable region possible with feedback and incremental redundancy for a specified AWGN SNR. Simulation results indicate that tail-biting convolutional codes employing feedback and incremental redundancy perform close to the sphere-packing approximation until the throughput reaches the limit of the system's ability to approach the channel capacity.
Measurement of competence: achievable goal or 'holy grail'?

the OHPIP triage tool, the investigators found considerable disagreement between clinicians over which category patients should be placed in. The practice of medicine in general and critical care in particular will be altered significantly when we face our next pandemic of an infectious disease, and clinicians will be thrust into the forefront of rationing decisions in an attempt to achieve the best utilitarian outcome. The best available scoring systems may help us to identify patients who are critically unwell and in need of advanced support, but they remain imperfect and are likely to perform less well than the opinion of an experienced clinician. For now, the best we have is the subjective view of the individual charged withmaking the decision at the time, a moral decision by amoral agent. The numbers cannot absolve us of this responsibility, at least not yet.
Document Modeling with Gated Recurrent Neural Network for Sentiment Classification

Document level sentiment classification remains a challenge: encoding the intrinsic relations between sentences in the semantic meaning of a document. To address this, we introduce a neural network model to learn vector-based document representation in a unified, bottom-up fashion. The model first learns sentence representation with convolutional neural network or long short-term memory. Afterwards, semantics of sentences and their relations are adaptively encoded in document representation with gated recurrent neural network. We conduct document level sentiment classification on four large-scale review datasets from IMDB and Yelp Dataset Challenge. Experimental results show that: (1) our neural model shows superior performances over several state-of-the-art algorithms; (2) gated recurrent neural network dramatically outperforms standard recurrent neural network in document modeling for sentiment classification. 1
Solving Linear Systems of Equations using a Memetic Algorithm

This paper proposes a memetic algorithm (MA) to solve linear systems of equations, by transforming the linear system of equations into an optimization problem. Such exploitation of knowledge obtained in a local search/optimization allows the evolutionary programming implementation to produce very good results at a relatively low computational cost. The proposed MA is able to determine solutions of a given linear system of equations, even in cases where traditional methods fail ( determinant null, ill-conditioned systems, subdeterminate systems, supradeterminate systems, system doesn’t satisfy the convergence conditions etc). In situations when a linear system of equations has multiple solutions, in proposed approach, the task is to find as many solutions as possible, inside of a given interval. In cases where no accurate solution for a linear system of equations exists, an approximate solution can be acceptable and it can be obtained by the proposed method.
Lack of an Association between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and PSA Failure of Prostate Cancer Patients Who Underwent Radical Prostatectomy

Introduction. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which can be easily calculated from routine complete blood counts of the peripheral blood, has been suggested to serve as a prognostic factor for some solid malignancies. In the present study, we aimed to determine the relationship between NLR in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) and their prognosis. Materials and Methods. We assessed NLR in 73 men (patients) who received RP for their prostate cancer. We also performed immunohistochemistry for CD8 and CD66b in a separate set of RP specimens. Results. The median NLR in the 73 patients was 1.85. There were no significant correlations of NLR with tumor grade (p = 0.834), pathological T stage (p = 0.082), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.062), or resection margin status (p = 0.772). Based on the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) to predict biochemical recurrence after RP, potential NLR cut-off point was determined to be 2.88 or 3.88. However, both of these cut-off points did not precisely predict the prognosis. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of CD66b-positive neutrophils or CD8-positive lymphocytes between stromal tissues adjacent to cancer glands and stromal tissues away from cancer glands and between different grades or stages of tumors. Conclusions. There was no association between NLR and biochemical failure after prostatectomy.