Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Basal Radial Glia Occurs in Marsupials and Underlies the Evolution of an Expanded Neocortex in Therian Mammals

A hallmark of mammalian brain evolution is the emergence of the neocortex, which has expanded in all mammalian infraclasses (Eutheria, Marsupialia, Monotremata). In eutherians, neocortical neurons derive from distinct neural stem and progenitor cells (NPCs). However, precise data on the presence and abundance of the NPCs, especially of basal radial glia (bRG), in the neocortex of marsupials are lacking. This study characterized and quantified the NPCs in the developing neocortex of a marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Our data demonstrate that its neocortex is characterized by high NPC diversity. Importantly, we show that bRG exist at high relative abundance in the tammar indicating that this cell type is not specific to the eutherian neocortex and that similar mechanisms may underlie the formation of an expanded neocortex in eutherian and marsupial mammals. We also show that bRG are likely to have been present in the therian ancestor, so did not emerge independently in the eutherian and marsupial lineages. Moreover, our data support the concept that changes in multiple parameters contribute to neocortex expansion and demonstrate the importance of bRG and other NPCs for the development and expansion of the mammalian neocortex.
Reference Intervals of Routine Coagulation Assays During the Pregnancy and Puerperium Period

Significant changes occur in the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems during pregnancy and puerperium in the plasma levels. However, reference ranges based on healthy people are not optimal for informing clinical decisions during the pregnancy and puerperium. Therefore, it is essential to explore coagulation assays’ reference ranges during the pregnancy and puerperium.
Sliding wear experiments on clad gold-nickel material systems lubricated with a 6-ring polyphenyl ether

This paper presents sliding wear data collected on clad 96% Au-4% Ni and 90% Au-10% Ni material systems, with and without a flash gold outer layer. These material systems are under evaluation for unlubricated and lubricated sliding wear durability. The lubricant used was a 6-ring polyphenyl ether. The material systems were lubricated by dipping them in a 2% to 3% solution by volume of the 6 ring polyphenyl ether (OS 138) mixed with propylene glycol monomethyl ether. A connector pin and a bent metal strip that had been clad with the Au-Ni material system were mated to form a pseudo-crossed rod configuration. The metal strip was formed with a small radius of curvature, hemi-cylindrical, bent to produce a linear contact surface perpendicular to the pin. This pseudo-crossed rod configuration was used to approximate a pin/socket type contact. Sliding wear experiments were conducted at 150 g normal force. The amplitude of the motion was 2.5 mm with a velocity of 2.5 mm/s. Sliding wear tests were conducted until either the dynamic friction coefficient exceeded 0.4 or until reaching 1000 sliding wear cycles. Three different series of experiments were conducted during this sliding wear research project. These series included unlubricated, lubricated and partially lubricated experiments.
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiation therapy for treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by radiotherapy (RT) in treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods Eligibility criteria were as follows: newly diagnosed with HCC, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C, Child-Pugh class A or B, and no prior treatment for HCC. Patients with extrahepatic spread were excluded. A total of 59 patients were retrospectively enrolled. All patients were treated with TACE followed by RT. The time interval between TACE and RT was 2 weeks as per protocol. A median RT dose was 47.25 Gy10 as the biologically effective dose using the α/β = 10 (range, 39 to 65.25 Gy10). Results At 1 month, complete response was obtained in 3 patients (5%), partial response in 27 patients (46%), stable disease in 13 patients (22%), and progressive disease in 16 patients (27%). The actuarial one- and two-year OS rates were 60.1% and 47.2%, respectively. The median OS was 17 months (95% confidence interval, 5.6 to 28.4 months). The median time to progression was 4 months (range, 1 to 35 months). Grade 3 or greater liver enzyme elevation occurred in only two patients (3%) after RT. Grade 3 gastroduodenal toxicity developed in two patients (3%). Conclusion The combination treatment of TACE followed by RT with two-week interval was safe and it showed favorable outcomes in treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced HCC. A prospective randomized trial is needed to validate these results.
Abagovomab as maintenance therapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: a phase III trial of the AGO OVAR, COGI, GINECO, and GEICO--the MIMOSA study.

PURPOSE To determine whether abagovomab maintenance therapy prolongs recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with ovarian cancer in first clinical remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III to IV ovarian cancer in complete clinical remission after primary surgery and platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned at a ratio of 2:1 in a phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Abagovomab 2 mg or placebo was administered as 1-mL suspension once every 2 weeks for 6 weeks (induction phase) and then once every 4 weeks (maintenance phase) until recurrence or up to 21 months after random assignment of the last patient. The primary end point was RFS; secondary end points were OS and immunologic response. RESULTS Characteristics of the 888 patients included: mean age, 56.3 years; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, ≤ 1 in > 99% of patients; serous papillary subtype, 81.5%; stage III, 85.9%; and cancer antigen 125 ≤ 35 U/mL after third cycle, 80.9%. Mean exposure to study treatment (± standard deviation) was 449.7 ± 333.08 days. Hazard ratio (HR) of RFS for the treatment group using tumor size categorization (≤ 1 cm, > 1 cm) was 1.099 (95% CI, 0.919 to 1.315; P = .301). HR of OS using tumor size categorization (≤ 1 cm, > 1 cm) was 1.150 (95% CI, 0.872 to 1.518; P = .322). The most frequently reported type of adverse event was an injection site reaction in 445 patients (50.2%), followed by injection site erythema and fatigue in 227 (25.6%) and 212 patients (23.9%), respectively. By the final visit, median anti-anti-idiotypic antibody level was 493,000.0 ng/mL, indicating a robust response. CONCLUSION Abagovomab administered as repeated monthly injections is safe and induces a measurable immune response. Administration as maintenance therapy for patients with ovarian cancer in first remission does not prolong RFS or OS.
A survey on Cigré and IEEE procedures for the estimation of the lightning performance of overhead transmission and distribution lines

This lecture focuses on lightning performance of transmission and distribution lines. Modeling procedures and source data recommended by CIGRÉ and IEEE are reviewed and compared. Emphasis is given to differences, when present, between procedures proposed in the two frameworks. First, transmission lines performance is covered, with special attention to statistical distribution of lightning current amplitude, to the attachment process, and to the assessment of the shielding failure and backflashover rates. Distribution lines performance is then dealt with, with special attention to electromagnetic coupling models, to statistical procedures to evaluate the line lightning performance, and to the influence of the distribution line configuration on the final results. Joint CIGRÉ-CIRED WGs have produced relevant documents that this lecture is in part aimed at summarizing and at comparing with what accomplished on the same subject within the IEEE framework. The need for re-assessment of data and modeling procedures is emphasized, and reference to new initiatives in this respect is also made.
Scientific rationale and study design of the individualized dosing efficacy vs flat dosing to assess optimal pegylated interferon therapy (IDEAL) trial: determining optimal dosing in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C

Summary. Current standard‐of‐care antiviral treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C is combination therapy with pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) alfa plus ribavirin. Two large clinical trials determined that each PEG‐IFN alfa compound, when given in combination with ribavirin, results in overall sustained virological response (SVR) rates of approximately 50%; SVR rates in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 are typically lower (42–46%). Differences in study design, treatment regimens, and patient populations preclude comparison of the data across trials; therefore, the most effective use of PEG‐IFN alfa in combination with ribavirin is unclear. The Individualized Dosing Efficacy vs Flat Dosing to Assess Optimal Pegylated Interferon Therapy (IDEAL) study is a phase 3b, randomized, parallel‐group, US multicentre trial in treatment‐naive genotype 1 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Initially, this study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of weight‐based ribavirin dosing (800–1400 mg / day) and PEG‐IFN alfa‐2b dosing (arm 1: PEG‐IFN alfa‐2b 1.5 μg / kg / week; arm 2: PEG‐IFN alfa‐2b 1.0 μg / kg / week). However, because a clinical trial directly comparing the efficacy and safety of PEG‐IFN alfa‐2a and alfa‐2b in combination with weight‐based ribavirin dosing has not been performed, an additional arm (arm 3: PEG‐IFN alfa‐2a 180 μg / week plus ribavirin 1000–1200 mg / day) was included to address this important issue. IDEAL is fully enrolled (>3000 patients) and complete study data, including SVR rates, are expected in early 2008. Herein, we present the scientific rationale and study design, discuss key data from other trials, and summarize our expectations of this study.
Blast injury in children: An analysis from Afghanistan and Iraq, 2002–2010

BACKGROUND Throughout history, children have been victims of armed conflict, including the blast injury complex, however, the pattern of injury, physiologic impact, and treatment needs of children with this injury are not well documented. METHODS The Joint Theatre Trauma Registry provides data on all civilians admitted to US military treatment facilities from 2002 to 2010 with injuries from an explosive device. The data were stratified by age and analyzed for differences in anatomic injury patterns, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), mortality, intensive care unit days, and length of hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression was done to determine independent predictors of mortality. All operative procedures with a specified site were tabulated and categorized by body region and age. RESULTS A total of 4,983 civilian patients were admitted, 25% of whom were younger than 15 years. Pediatric patients aged 8 to 14 years had a higher ISS and hospital stay than other age groups, and children younger than 15 years had a longer intensive care unit stay. Injuries in children were more likely to occur in the head and neck and less likely in the bony pelvis and extremities. Children had a lower RTS than the other age groups. Mortality correlated highly with burns, head injury, transfusion, and RTS. Adolescent patients had a lower mortality rate than the other age groups. Improvised explosive devices were the most common cause of injury in all age groups. CONCLUSION Children experiencing blast injury complex have an anatomic pattern that is unique and an RTS that reflects more severe physiologic derangement. Injuries requiring transfusion or involving the head and neck and burns were predictive of mortality, and this persisted across all age groups. The mortality rate of children with blast injury is significant (7%), and treatment is resource intensive, requiring many surgical subspecialties. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.
Time Synchronization and Ranging in OFDM Systems Using Time-Reversal

In this paper, we propose a new two-way time synchronization (TS) method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based wireless systems. It relies on the time-reversal (TR) technique to remove the effect of the channel phase after the signal round-trip. Thus, the method is named TR-TS. TR technique yields a linear phase rotation across subcarriers, regardless whether the channel is minimum, maximum, or mixed phase. This phase is proportional to the difference of the OFDM symbol-timing synchronization errors at the two receivers. Thus, the clock-offset between the radios is determined using the local reception times and the estimated linear phase resulting from the TR technique. A reliable low-complexity algorithm called fast Fourier transform-weighted least-squares is proposed to estimate the linear phase slope, and its mean-square error is compared with the Cramér-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB). The results show that the proposed algorithm attains the CRLB at low SNR, even when a single OFDM symbol is used. The OFDM packets are time-stamped at the medium access control layer, which allows eliminating errors caused by different and varying delays in the internal lower level processing of the data. Hence, an accurate estimate of the clock-offset is obtained. The impact of various nonidealities on the proposed algorithm is also studied. In addition, we propose a ranging method that employs the novel TS method and a first-path delay estimation technique. The performance of the proposed methods is studied in simulations, as well as using real-world measured channels. The results show that the proposed methods can be successfully applied in low to moderate mobility scenarios such as indoors despite harsh multipath, since they rely on channel reciprocity.
Seeking out the Party: A study of the Communist Party of China’s membership recruitment among Chinese college students

Being recruited to the Communist Party of China (CPC) begins with a self-initiated application. Prospective candidates are selected by the Party from an applicant pool and then go through an evaluation process that is at least 12 months long. Only those who meet the Party’s expectations will be allowed to join. This study examines the impact of factors such as political attitude, personality, family background and college ranking on university students’ eagerness to join the Party and their prospects of being accepted. The data are based on the College Student Panel Survey in Beijing, 2009–2012. We find that both applicants and selected candidates are typically top academic performers who are student leaders, active in community service and popular with fellow students. However, in comparison to non-applicants, both applicants and selected candidates score lower in self-esteem, ambition and career-mindedness. Furthermore, Party membership applicants tend to be more socially conscientious and less pragmatic, more obedient to institutional rules and decisions, and less independent-minded. These traits do not seem to affect applicants’ chances of Party membership admission, however. Instead, we find that college ranking has replaced family background to become a major factor in determining application and acceptance of CPC membership among college students.
Induction of an Antitumoral Immune Response by Wild-Type Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 in an In Vivo Model of Pancreatic Carcinoma

We analyzed the immunologic impact of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2), a small single-stranded parvovirus with tumorsuppressive properties, on DSL6A pancreatic carcinoma in syngeneic rats. Established tumors of animals treated with AAV-2 or mock infected were resected (Ro), and DSL6A cells were rechallenged on the different site. Eleven (92%) of 12 mock-infected animals but only 3 (25%) of 12 AAV-2-treated animals redeveloped tumors. Adeno-associated virus type 2 infection provoked systemic raises in monocytes and neutrophils numbers and in levels of the proinflammatory monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and interleukin 10. Adeno-associated virus type 2-treated tumors were infiltrated with monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, CD4+ T cells, and especially CD8+ T cells. In cytotoxicity assays, AAV-2-infected DSL6A tumor cells were recognized by lymphocytes from AAV-2-treated animals and from controls. Yet, uninfected DSL6A cells were exclusively killed by lymphocytes from AAV-2-treated animals. Additionally, those lymphocytes displayed high natural killer cell activity but failed to attack unrelated tumor targets. Taken together, these results suggest that the antiviral response toward AAV-2 cross-activates the immune system toward simultaneously present tumor disease. This and the known potential to significantly reduce toxic side effects of chemotherapy make nonpathogenic viruses such as AAV-2 as "1-agent combination therapy" to an interesting treatment option of residual tumor disease.Abbreviations: AAV-2 - Adeno-Associated Virus type 2, Ad-2 - Adenovirus type 2, CCR-2 - monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 receptor, IL - interleukin, INF - interferon, MCP-1 - monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MOI - multiplicity of infection, NK-cells - natural killer cells, TNF - tumor necrosis factor
Further Simulations and Analyses Demonstrate Open Problems of Phylostratigraphy

Abstract Phylostratigraphy, originally designed for gene age estimation by BLAST-based protein homology searches of sequenced genomes, has been widely used for studying patterns and inferring mechanisms of gene origination and evolution. We previously showed by computer simulation that phylostratigraphy underestimates gene age for a nonnegligible fraction of genes and that the underestimation is severer for genes with certain properties such as fast evolution and short protein sequences. Consequently, many previously reported age distributions of gene properties may have been methodological artifacts rather than biological realities. Domazet-Lošo and colleagues recently argued that our simulations were flawed and that phylostratigraphic bias does not impact inferences about gene emergence and evolution. Here we discuss conceptual difficulties of phylostratigraphy, identify numerous problems in Domazet-Lošo et al.’s argument, reconfirm phylostratigraphic error using simulations suggested by Domazet-Lošo and colleagues, and demonstrate that a phylostratigraphic trend claimed to be robust to error disappears when genes likely to be error-resistant are analyzed. We conclude that extreme caution is needed in interpreting phylostratigraphic results because of the inherent biases of the method and that reanalysis using genes exhibiting no error in realistic simulations may help reduce spurious findings.
Management and Performance in U.S. Nursing Homes

Accountability pressures have generated complex performance measurement regimes to evaluate and improve public or publicly-funded services. Performance management, however, faces many challenges including the tradeoffs posed by numerous dimensions of performance and a lack of consensus on which organizational and environmental factors can improve these results. This study seeks to understand the effect of management and other factors on different dimensions and measures of performance in U.S. public, nonprofit, and for-profit nursing homes. Using a hybrid data set that combines archival government data on performance in nursing homes with a recent nursing home administrators’ survey, we find that innovative management significantly1 improves the quality of care. In addition, more innovation and less power sharing in management are associated with serving fewer Medicaid-funded clients. Significant differences in performance exist across public, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations. These differences are notable across both the archival and perceptual models of performance.
The allocation of China’s higher education talent (2003–2013)

ABSTRACT Using the job placement data of college graduates, we document the allocation of college-educated skilled labour in China during 2003 and 2013. We find that public sectors (governments and state-owned enterprises) enjoy a privileged position in absorbing the most talented in the labour market in contrast to the difficulties that domestic private enterprises suffer. The appeal of the public sectors does not come from the monetary salaries offered at the entry level.
How we treat elderly patients with Hodgkin lymphoma

Purpose of review To review Hodgkin lymphoma in older adults with regard to epidemiology, disease characteristics, prognosis, treatment, and future developments. Recent findings Older Hodgkin lymphoma patients defined by chronological age represent a heterogeneous population in terms of life expectancy, morbidities, and functional status. Twenty-one percent of Swedish Hodgkin lymphoma patients are greater than 65 years (5%, >81 years) at diagnosis. In general, less than 10% of patients included in broad clinical trials are greater than 60 years. The proportion of mixed cellularity histopathology and EBV-genome-positive tumors is higher in older adults. Five-year relative survival of Swedish patients 66–80 and greater than 81 years is 0.58 and 0.26, respectively. Older patients have lower remission rates, but relapse-free survival is less impaired. No standard treatment recommendations exist. In older fit patients less than 65–70 years – go for ‘young’ treatment. Estimate thoroughly the individual patient's frailness/comorbidities in order to properly adjust treatment, thus saving patients from over/undertreatment. The use of early PET should be optimized in clinical practice. Representativeness of large clinical trials including evaluation of functional status and comorbidity remains crucial. Summary Elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients still do poorly and improved prognostics, personalized and targeted treatment options associated with fewer side-effects will hopefully advance the clinical Hodgkin lymphoma field.
Molecular Mechanisms of Acetaldehyde-Mediated Carcinogenesis in Squamous Epithelium

Acetaldehyde is a highly reactive compound that causes various forms of damage to DNA, including DNA adducts, single- and/or double-strand breaks (DSBs), point mutations, sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and DNA–DNA cross-links. Among these, DNA adducts such as N2-ethylidene-2′-deoxyguanosine, N2-ethyl-2′-deoxyguanosine, N2-propano-2′-deoxyguanosine, and N2-etheno-2′-deoxyguanosine are central to acetaldehyde-mediated DNA damage because they are associated with the induction of DNA mutations, DNA–DNA cross-links, DSBs, and SCEs. Acetaldehyde is produced endogenously by alcohol metabolism and is catalyzed by aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). Alcohol consumption increases blood and salivary acetaldehyde levels, especially in individuals with ALDH2 polymorphisms, which are highly associated with the risk of squamous cell carcinomas in the upper aerodigestive tract. Based on extensive epidemiological evidence, the International Agency for Research on Cancer defined acetaldehyde associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages as a “group 1 carcinogen” (definite carcinogen) for the esophagus and/or head and neck. In this article, we review recent advances from studies of acetaldehyde-mediated carcinogenesis in the squamous epithelium, focusing especially on acetaldehyde-mediated DNA adducts. We also give attention to research on acetaldehyde-mediated DNA repair pathways such as the Fanconi anemia pathway and refer to our studies on the prevention of acetaldehyde-mediated DNA damage.