Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phase I Study of High-Stringency CD8 Depletion of Donor Leukocyte Infusions After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Background. Donor leukocyte infusions (DLI) are given after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation to eradicate persistent tumor or correct mixed chimerism (MC). The drawback of DLI is the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this phase I study, we examined the potential of highly extensive CD8 depletion of DLI as a means of improving its safety profile. Methods. High-stringency immunomagnetic CD8 depletion of DLI was performed after steady state donor apheresis. Patients with persistent disease or MC received escalated dose CD8-depleted DLI at 3-month intervals starting from 6 months posttransplantation. The starting dose was 1×106 CD4 cells/kg in recipients of unrelated and 3×106 CD4 cells/kg in recipients of related donor transplantations. Results. Twenty-eight patients received CD8-depleted DLI (n=16 unrelated or mismatched, n=12 human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling). Median CD8 depletion was more than 4 log. The median overall dose of CD4+ cells/kg given was 4×106 (range 1×106–43×106). Conversion from MC to full donor chimerism was observed in 8 of 16 evaluable patients, and disease responses occurred in 5 of 11 patients (complete response in four and partial response in one). Five of 28 patients developed severe acute pattern (grade II–IV) GVHD. Two patients died as a result of complications relating to GVHD. Conclusions. Graft-versus-tumor effects can be observed after high-stringency CD8-depleted DLI, although the major toxicity remains GVHD in this high-risk patient group. The safety and efficacy profile of this approach will require testing in a randomized controlled study.
Safety and Efficacy of Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumor Removal Using a Minimally Invasive Approach

BACKGROUND: Although minimally invasive surgery for intradural tumors offers the potential benefits of less postoperative pain, a quicker recovery, and the avoidance of long-term instability from multilevel laminectomy, there are concerns over whether one can safely and effectively remove intradural extramedullary tumors in a fashion comparable to open techniques and whether the advantages of minimally invasive surgery are clinically significant. OBJECTIVE: To review our early experience with minimally invasive techniques for intradural extramedullary tumors of the spine. METHODS: Thirteen intradural tumors (1 cervical, 6 thoracic, 6 lumbar) in 11 patients were operated on using a muscle-splitting, tube-assisted paramedian oblique approach with hemilaminectomy to access the spinal canal while preserving the spinous process and ligaments. Fluoroscopy and navigation were used to determine the surgical level in all thoracic and lumbar cases. RESULTS: Satisfactory tumor resection using standard microsurgical techniques was achieved in all but 1 case using a minimally invasive approach. Surgical time and intraoperative blood loss were favorable compared with our open technique cases. There was no postoperative morbidity with the minimally invasive approach, although in 2 patients with tumors in the mid- and upper thoracic spine, the surgical incision was inaccurately placed by 1 level. In 1 case, the approach was converted to open when the tumor could not be found, and postoperatively there was a cerebrospinal fluid leak with infection that required readmission. CONCLUSION: Intradural extramedullary tumors can be safely and effectively removed using minimally invasive techniques. The pros and cons of minimally invasive vs open surgery are discussed.
The Presenilin 1 Protein Is a Component of a High Molecular Weight Intracellular Complex That Contains β-Catenin*

The presenilin (PS) genes associated with Alzheimer disease encode polytopic transmembrane proteins which undergo physiologic endoproteolytic cleavage to generate stable NH2- and COOH-terminal fragments (NTF or CTF) which co-localize in intracellular membranes, but are tightly regulated in their stoichiometry and abundance. We have used linear glycerol velocity and discontinuous sucrose gradient analysis to investigate the distribution and native conformation of PS1 and PS2 during this regulated processing in cultured cells and in brain. The PS1 NTF and CTF co-localize in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in the Golgi apparatus, where they are components of a ∼250-kDa complex. This complex also contains β-catenin but not β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). In contrast, the PS1 holoprotein precursor is predominantly localized to the rough ER and smooth ER, where it is a component of a ∼180-kDa native complex. PS2 forms similar but independent complexes. Restricted incorporation of the presenilin NTF and CTF along with a potentially functional ligand (β-catenin) into a multimeric complex in the ER and Golgi apparatus may provide an explanation for the regulated accumulation of the NTF and CTF.
Trade Policies and Integration of the Western Balkans

Based on a newly constructed multi-country input-output table including all European countries, we estimate the economic effects of the EU accession countries entering the ‘Stabilisation and Association Agreement’ (SAA) with the EU and the potential effects of joining the European Single Market applying a structural gravity framework. The results point towards strong positive effects on trade for the SAA countries, but only small effects for the EU Member States. Conducting a counterfactual analysis, the paper gives an indication of the magnitude of the positive impacts on GDP for these countries. In addition, a detailed industry breakdown of these effects is provided.
The Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation, Technological Capability, and Consumer Attitude on Firm Performance: A Multi‐Theory Perspective*

Despite the maturing entrepreneurial orientation literature, limited advance has occurred in the theoretical aspect of entrepreneurial orientation–firm performance relationship, and wide‐ranging empirical investigations are few. The authors address these concerns by testing a comprehensive model and by extending the theoretical boundary. Specifically, drawing on dynamic capability theory, core competence perspective, and consumer theories, we argue that technological capability is central for growth and financial performance of an entrepreneurially oriented firm. We introduce a construct called consumer attitude dynamism. We reason that this variable influences the growth of entrepreneurial firms. Our theory and empirical results primarily contribute to the entrepreneurship literature.
An Experimental Test of the Consistent-Conjectures Hypothesis

This paper compares the theoretical predictions of the consistent-conjectures hypothesis with data for individuals’ behavior in several laboratory experiments. Subjects simultaneously choose either price or quantity in a sequence of market periods, and are given payoff tables that provide complete information about the relationship between decisions and payoffs for all participants. The matching protocols include both fixed pairings for a random number of periods and a deterministic rotation that implements a series of one-shot games. The table has been expanded so that there is no decision that the consistent conjectures equilibrium decision is not dominated, and a constant added to all payoffs ensures a reasonable level of earnings in this proposed equilibrium. This equilibrium concept does not provide good predictions in these experiments. The data are more consistent with the Cournot/Nash prediction, especially in the later rounds of the deterministic rotation protocol. With fixed pairings, some pairs managed to reach tacitly collusive outcomes.
Drug addiction in hepatitis C patients leads to a lower quality of life

The subjective health status of hepatitis C patients has been relatively poorly studied. By using the Short Form 36 (SF-36), health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed in a group of 42 hepatitis C patients. In all nine scales examined, the scores were generally low, and present drug use and being single were associated with especially large reductions in HRQOL. Compared with the Norwegian norms, scores were lower across all nine scales and significantly lower in eight. The study showed that the hepatitis C patients had definite reductions in HRQOL, but the impairment could not be fully explained by their hepatitis. Different non-viral factors such as drug use and marital status significantly influenced the results. This underlines the importance of taking other factors into account when studying the health status of hepatitis C patients.
A compensation strategy for two-stage operational transconductance amplifiers based on zero splitting

This paper presents a compensation method in which the phase margin and unity gain bandwidth of an Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) is improved by addition a(n) active/passive resistive to the frequency compensation circuit. This improvement is achieved without changing the power consumption of the OTA. Based on the proposed strategy, three different compensation structures including RHC, RRHC and composite are introduced. Simulation results in a 180nm CMOS technology show that for power consumption of about 6 mW and DC voltage gain of 100 dB, the conventional Hybrid Cascode Compensation structure shows unity gain bandwidth (UGBW) and phase margin (PM) of about 310 MHz and 60°, respectively. For the same power and DC voltage gain, the proposed RHC and RRHC structures demonstrate UGBW/PM of about 405 MHz/60° and 425 MHz/65°, respectively. The proposed composite structure with active compensation path shows DC voltage gain of 105 dB, UGBW of 345 MHz, and PM of 60° while its power consumption is about 6 mW.
Impact of Social, Political and Economic Globalization on Gender Inequality Index in Pakistan: A Time Series Analysis

This study is designed to calculate the newly introduced Gender Inequality Index for Pakistan according to the formula mentioned in technical notes of United Nations Development Report (2010) and then finding the impact of Social, Political and Economic Globalization on Gender Inequality Index. Time series data from 1980 to 2014 is used for Gender Inequality Index, Social, Political and Economic Globalization. Johnsons Co-integration technique is applied to investigate the impact of social, economic and political globalization on gender inequality index in Pakistan. The results of study show negative and significant relationship between economic globalization, social globalization and gender inequality index, while a negative but insignificant relationship is found between political globalization and gender inequality index. The results of the study are consistent with various theoretical and empirical studies. The policies related to globalization promotion are recommended to enrich the country with development through gender balances. To increase impact of political globalization, Pakistan needs to put more emphasis in following the spirit of treaties which target gender disparity of which she is the signatory.
The Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment in the Relationship between the Empowering Leadership Behavior and Work Engagement: A Study Applied on the Cement Sector in Upper Egypt

This study aims to test the relationship between perceived empowering leadership behavior and the work engagement. Also, the mediating role of psychological empowerment in this relation has been examined. The study applied on a sample of 360 employees at the Egyptian cement industry in Upper Egypt. Data was collected using work engagement questionnaire based on the Schaufeli, Salanova, González-Romá, and Bakker (2002) scale. The current study used the scale of the Zhang & Bartol study (2010), prepared by Ahearne et al., (2005) to measure the empowering leadership behaviors. Psychological empowerment has been measured using Spreitzer (1995) and Zhung and Bartol (2010). The study was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program in data processing for AMOS to test the quality of compatibility between the collected data and the theoretical data, and the structural model to test the study hypotheses. The results did not support the direct relationship between leadership empowered behavior and work engagement. The empowering leadership behavior is positively affecting the psychological empowerment. Psychological empowerment was found to be positively affecting work engagement. However, the psychological empowerment was found to be mediating the relationship between the two variables. The study reached some conclusions related to this relationship and how to have it enhanced in the Cement industry in Upper Egypt.
Axon Formation in Neocortical Neurons Depends on Stage-Specific Regulation of Microtubule Stability by the Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase–c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Pathway

Studies using cultured neurons have established the critical role of microtubule regulators in neuronal polarization. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is one of the candidate signaling pathways driving microtubule regulation during neuronal polarization. However, the significance of the JNK pathway in axon formation, a fundamental step in neuronal polarization, in vivo, remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence supporting the notion that the JNK pathway contributes to axon formation, in vivo, by identifying the genetic interactions between mouse JNK1 and dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK). Double mutants exhibited severe defects in axon formation in the cerebral neocortex. Moreover, RNA interference rescue experiments, in vitro, showed that DLK and JNK1 function in a common pathway to support neuronal polarization by promoting short-neurite and axon formation. Defects in axon formation caused by perturbations of the DLK–JNK pathway were significantly improved by Taxol. However, defects in short-neurite formation caused by perturbations of the DLK–JNK pathway were enhanced by Taxol. Together, these in vivo and in vitro observations indicate that the DLK–JNK pathway facilitates axon formation in neocortical neurons via stage-specific regulation of microtubule stability.
Sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in non‐occupationally exposed Koreans

Urinary 1‐hydroxypyrene (1‐OHP), an exposure biomarker for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), was used to identify potential sources of PAH exposure for 660 Koreans who were not occupationally exposed to PAHs (65% male; 35% female; mean age, 36.5 ± 11.1 years). In this study, 74% of subjects had detectable levels of urinary 1‐OHP, with a concentration range of 0.001–3.796 μg/L (median, 0.079 μg/L). A backward elimination was conducted: five variables were selected with a significance level for removal of P ≤ 0.1. The results of this study showed that residence in areas with relatively poor environmental conditions (Seoul and Suwon) was strongly associated with high concentrations of urinary 1‐OHP (P = 0.007), while consumption of fried chicken and length of time spent outdoors had marginal positive associations with urinary 1‐OHP levels (P = 0.06 and P = 0.09, respectively). Compared with the above three factors, tobacco smoking and urinary cotinine levels were poorly associated with urinary 1‐OHP (P = 0.16 and 0.23, respectively). Pear consumption had an inverse association with urinary 1‐OHP levels (P < 0.01). Individual variations in urinary 1‐OHP concentrations were evaluated by considering the subjects' age, sex, and genetic polymorphisms in enzymes involved in the metabolism of PAHs. Among the individual variations, GSTT1‐present subjects showed higher 1‐OHP levels than GSTT1‐absent subjects in cities having 10‐μm particulate matter (PM10) levels and population density lower than those of Seoul and Suwon (P < 0.05). These epidemiological results suggest that the above factors that should be considered in preventing PAH exposure. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 42:250–257, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bayesian Approaches to Joint Cure‐Rate and Longitudinal Models with Applications to Cancer Vaccine Trials

Summary. Complex issues arise when investigating the association between longitudinal immunologic measures and time to an event, such as time to relapse, in cancer vaccine trials. Unlike many clinical trials, we may encounter patients who are cured and no longer susceptible to the time‐to‐event endpoint. If there are cured patients in the population, there is a plateau in the survival function, S(t), after sufficient follow‐up. If we want to determine the association between the longitudinal measure and the time‐to‐event in the presence of cure, existing methods for jointly modeling longitudinal and survival data would be inappropriate, since they do not account for the plateau in the survival function. The nature of the longitudinal data in cancer vaccine trials is also unique, as many patients may not exhibit an immune response to vaccination at varying time points throughout the trial. We present a new joint model for longitudinal and survival data that accounts both for the possibility that a subject is cured and for the unique nature of the longitudinal data. An example is presented from a cancer vaccine clinical trial.
Parasitic helminths: a pharmacopeia of anti-inflammatory molecules

SUMMARY Infection with parasitic helminths takes a heavy toll on the health and well-being of humans and their domestic livestock, concomitantly resulting in major economic losses. Analyses have consistently revealed bioactive molecules in extracts of helminths or in their excretory/secretory products that modulate the immune response of the host. It is our view that parasitic helminths are an untapped source of immunomodulatory substances that, in pure form, could become new drugs (or models for drug design) to treat disease. Here, we illustrate the range of immunomodulatory molecules in selected parasitic trematodes, cestodes and nematodes, their impact on the immune cells in the host and how the host may recognize these molecules. There are many examples of the partial characterization of helminth-derived immunomodulatory molecules, but these have not yet translated into new drugs, reflecting the difficulty of isolating and fully characterizing proteins, glycoproteins and lipid-based molecules from small amounts of parasite material. However, this should not deter the investigator, since analytical techniques are now being used to accrue considerable structural information on parasite-derived molecules, even when only minute quantities of tissue are available. With the introduction of methodologies to purify and structurally-characterize molecules from small amounts of tissue and the application of high throughput immunological assays, one would predict that an assessment of parasitic helminths will yield a variety of novel drug candidates in the coming years.
Phylogenetic analyses place the monotypic Dryopolystichum within Lomariopsidaceae

Abstract The monotypic fern genus Dryopolystichum Copel. combines a unique assortment of characters that obscures its relationship to other ferns. Its thin-walled sporangium with a vertical and interrupted annulus, round sorus with peltate indusium, and petiole with several vascular bundles place it in suborder Polypodiineae, but more precise placement has eluded previous authors. Here we investigate its phylogenetic position using three plastid DNA markers, rbcL, rps4-trnS, and trnL-F, and a broad sampling of Polypodiineae. We also provide new data on Dryopolystichum including spore number counts, reproductive mode, spore SEM images, and chromosome counts. Our maximum-likelihood and Bayesian-inference phylogenetic analyses unambiguously place Dryopolystichum within Lomariopsidaceae, a position not previously suggested. Dryopolystichum was resolved as sister to a clade comprising Dracoglossum and Lomariopsis, with Cyclopeltis as sister to these, but clade support is not robust. All examined sporangia of Dryopolystichum produced 32 spores, and the chromosome number of sporophyte somatic cells is ca. 164. Flow cytometric results indicated that the genome size in the spore nuclei is approximately half the size of those from sporophyte leaf tissues, suggesting that Dryopolystichum reproduces sexually. Our findings render Lomariopsidaceae as one of the most morphologically heterogeneous fern families. A recircumscription is provided for both Lomariopsidaceae and Dryopolystichum, and selected characters are briefly discussed considering the newly generated data.
Chronic oxygen dependency in infants born at less than 32 weeks' gestation: incidence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE To assess incidence and clinical risk factors of chronic oxygen dependency (COD) among survivors who were born at or before 31 weeks' gestation. METHODS This prospective, multicenter study enrolled 802 infants who were born at or before 31 weeks' gestation and admitted to 8 level III neonatal intensive care units in northern and eastern France from January 1 through December 31, 1997. Need for oxygen to maintain oxygen saturation between 92% and 96% was assessed at 28 days of life and at 36 and 42 weeks' postconceptional age (PCA). Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify the incidence of COD and the risk factors related to its occurrence. RESULTS The mortality rate was 14%. Antenatal corticotherapy was administered to 51% of patients, surfactant therapy to 76% of the ventilated patients, and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation at day 1 to 32%. At 28 days and 36 and 42 weeks' PCA, respectively, 25%, 15%, and 6% of survivors had COD. After adjustment for intercenter variations, we identified the significant risk factors for COD at these dates: a low gestational age, a high score on the Clinical Risk Index for Infants, intrauterine growth restriction, and surfactant treatment. CONCLUSION COD incidence was high at 28 days of life but decreased dramatically by 42 weeks' PCA. This study confirmed previously reported risk factors and underlined the importance of intrauterine growth restriction and the Clinical Risk Index for Infants as significant risk factors.
The perceived impact of risks on travel decisions

The recent phenomena of infectious diseases, natural disasters and terrorist attacks have imposed an unprecedented threat to the global tourism industry. This paper reports on a study that investigated the perceived probability of occurrence, magnitude of threat and efficacy of official media on major types of risks from 1304 international travellers. The study also examined the perceived usefulness of a set of measures that aims to strengthen the confidence of travellers. This paper should provide tourism practitioners and policy-makers an updated view from the perspective of travellers, which in turn, can assist the formulation of risk management strategies, an area that has long been of interest to tourism researchers and practitioners. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Empathy goes a long way in weight loss discussions.

PURPOSE This study explores how weight-related topics are discussed between physicians and their overweight and obese female patients. METHODS We surveyed and audio-recorded preventive health and chronic care visits with 25 overweight and obese female patients. We coded both for quantity (content and time) of weight-related discussions and quality (adherence to Motivational Interviewing [MI] techniques). We then tested correlations of these measures with patients' reported attempts to lose weight, change diet, and change exercise patterns 1 month after the visit. RESULTS Weight was routinely addressed (19 of 25 encounters). Patients usually initiated the topic (67% of time). Physicians' use of MI techniques resulted in patients attempting to lose weight and changing their exercise patterns. CONCLUSION Physicians may benefit from MI training to help patients lose weight.