Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vaccination with Predesignated or Evidence-Based Peptides for Patients with Recurrent Gynecologic Cancers

Two different trials of peptide vaccination were conducted for patients with recurrent gynecologic cancers. In the first regimen, four HLA-A24+ patients (two with cervical cancer and two with ovarian cancer) were vaccinated with peptides that were predesignated before vaccination. Three patients exhibited with a grade 1 adverse effect, and no clinical response was observed in any patients. In the second regimen, six HLA-A24+ and four HLA-A2+ patients (five with cervical cancer, one with endometrial cancer, one with uterine sarcoma, and three with ovarian cancer) were vaccinated with peptides (maximum four) to which preexisting cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors in the periphery were confirmed before vaccination. With this regimen, grade 1 adverse effects were observed in eight patients, a grade 2 adverse effect in one patient, and a grade 3 adverse effect (ie, rectal bleeding) in one patient. However, this regimen was able to enhance peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in seven of ten patients, and three of five cervical cancer patients showed objective tumor regression. Analysis of immunoglobulin G -reactive to administered peptides suggested that the induction of peptide-specific immunoglobulin G was correlated with clinical responses. Overall, these results suggest that peptide vaccination of patients showing evidence of preexisting peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors could be superior to vaccination with predesignated peptides, and that the evidence-based regimen is applicable for clinical trials in treatment of patients with recurrent gynecologic cancers.
Clinical characteristics and outcome analysis of pediatric B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. Experience with FAB‐LMB 96 and UKCCSG B‐cell NHL guidelines in a developing country

Aim: To analyze the clinical characteristics of B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients and the therapeutic efficacy of French‐American‐British Lymphoma Malins de Burkitt 96 and the recent United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group B‐cell NHL guidelines in the tertiary care hospital of a developing country.
Effects of varying intensities of laser energy on articular cartilage: A preliminary study

The effects of laser energy on articular cartilage were studied utilizing the neo‐dymium YAG laser. Partial‐thickness cartilage defects were surgically attempted in the femoral condyles of knee joints in guinea pigs. The defects were exposed to laser energy of varying intensities [group I, 25 J (5 W × 5 sec); group II, 75 J (15 W × 5 sec); group III, 125 J (25 W × 5 sec)]. A fourth group was studied, in which the defect was not lased. Animals were killed at weekly intervals from 1 to 6 weeks and the knee joints were subjected to histological analysis. At 5 weeks, the knees exposed to 25 and 75 J demonstrated a reparative process with chondral proliferation. The knees exposed to 125 J demonstrated fibrotic tissue and tissue necrosis that resulted in fibrosis. In the knees not exposed to laser energy, numerous foci of granulation tissue were present at all stages with the end point of healing being one of fibrosis with disorganized patchy cartilage islands.
Lithium Inhibits Cell Cycle Progression and Induces Stabilization of p53 in Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells*

Lithium affects development of various organisms and cell fate through the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and induction of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects of lithium on primary bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Lithium treatment of BAEC induced β-catenin stabilization but failed to activate the transcriptional activity of the β-catenin/T-cell factor complex. Lithium caused a sustained G2/M cell cycle arrest without affecting cell viability. Reversibility of this cell cycle arrest occurred up to 3 days after treatment but was reduced thereafter. Lithium-treated BAEC exhibited a senescent-like morphology with an increase in cells positive for the senescence-associated-β-galactosidase activity. Lithium also increased the expression of p21Cip, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, both at the protein and RNA levels. No change in p21Cip mRNA stability was observed, whereas the transcriptional activity of a p21Cippromoter-luciferase construct containing p53 binding sites was increased after lithium treatment. Furthermore, lithium caused increased transcription of a reporter gene under the control of a promoter containing the p53 consensus binding sites both in transiently transfected BAEC and in a stably transfected fibroblast cell line. Lithium caused accumulation of p53 protein in BAEC without affecting p53 mRNA levels. Finally, up-regulation of p21Cip in response to lithium did not occur in mouse embryonic fibroblasts that were null for p53 alleles, confirming the dependence on a p53 pathway for this lithium effect. These findings demonstrate for the first time that lithium induces also stabilization of the tumor suppressor p53 and reveal a new mechanism that may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of lithium.
A new, objective, database of East Coast Lows

East Coast Lows (ECL), strong low pressure systems off the east coast of Australia, can cause severe rain and flooding in this highly-populated region, in addition to strong winds, heavy seas and coastal erosion. While some databases of such events have been previously compiled, this paper discusses a new database developed using an objective low tracking scheme and MSLP reanalysis data between 1950 and 2008, which can be maintained and updated with relative ease on an ongoing basis. The database is verified in comparison to previous subjective ECL analyses, with a particular focus on detection of ECLs associated with significant wind and rain events, and used to develop a climatology of ECLs between 1950 and 2008.
Telephone monitoring of distress in patients aged 65 years or older with advanced stage cancer

Significant barriers to cancer patients receiving mental health treatment for distress have been reported in the literature. The objective of the current study was to determine whether distress in older patients (aged 65 years and older) would be reduced with educational materials (EM) supplemented by monthly telephone monitoring (TM) (TM + EM) compared with the use of EM alone because of more timely referrals to appropriate health professionals.
Gray matter integrity within regions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortical-subcortical network predicts executive function and fine motor dexterity in spina bifida.

OBJECTIVES This study examined microstructural properties of cortical and subcortical gray matter components of the dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) cortical-subcortical circuit in relation to parent-rated executive function and fine motor dexterity performance in youth with spina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM). Aberrant gray matter integrity of the DLPFC, basal ganglia nuclei, and thalamus were hypothesized to differentially relate to neurobehavioral outcomes. METHODS Forty-nine youth between 8 and 18 years (M = 12.34) old with SBM underwent a 3T MRI including diffusion tensor imaging. Neurobehavioral measures of parent-rated executive function and fine motor dexterity were obtained from a standardized neuropsychological evaluation. Relations among indices of gray matter microstructural integrity (mean diffusivity [MD], fractional anisotropy [FA], cortical thickness) and neurobehavior were examined using 3 correlational methods to enhance reliability of brain-behavior relations. RESULTS In SBM, higher FA values in the caudate were associated with poorer behavioral regulation. Higher FA values in the putamen and greater DLPFC thickness were both associated with poorer fine motor dexterity. CONCLUSION Behavioral regulation and FA in the caudate related to behavioral inhibition in SBM. Similarly, associations between fine motor dexterity and indices of gray matter integrity in the putamen and DLPFC support fronto-striatal involvement in motor control in SBM. Examination of these neurobehavioral correlates revealed a pattern of attenuated behavioral impairments when gray matter structure was more similar to that of typically developing youth. (PsycINFO Database Record
Portfolio Choice with Capital Gain Taxation and the Limited Use of Losses

We study the consumption-portfolio problem with realized capital gain taxation. The distinguishing feature of our analysis is that we impose on the model an important element of the tax code that has received little attention in the academic literature: the limited use of capital losses. Existing capital gain tax portfolio choice work assumes the full use of capital losses (FUL). We show that this common assumption leads to counterfactual welfare results. Due to the tax rebates generated from tax loss selling, an untaxed investor would actually prefer to pay a capital gain tax. Instead, when only the limited use of capital losses (LUL) is allowed for, which is consistent with the U.S. tax code, an investor's optimal equity-to-wealth ratio is shown to be strongly non-monotonic in the portfolio's tax basis. For a tax basis significantly below the current stock price, LUL investors with no unrealized capital losses trade equity similar to FUL investors as the probability of tax loss selling in the future is small. For a tax basis close to the current stock price, LUL investors hold significantly less equity relative to FUL investors and untaxed investors. When LUL investors have large unused capital losses or a tax basis significantly above the current stock price, they trade as if they are not taxed on capital gains because they can use accumulated capital losses to offset any future taxes. This difference in trading strategies and the usage of capital losses leads to lower lifetime wealth and equity holdings for LUL investors relative to FUL investors and untaxed investors. These wealth and equity holding reductions are small under parameters from the current U.S. tax code, but are larger for capital gain tax rates consistent with past U.S. tax codes as well as tax codes in several foreign countries.
The Mammalian Zip5 Protein Is a Zinc Transporter That Localizes to the Basolateral Surface of Polarized Cells*

The mouse and human Zip5 proteins are members of the ZIP family of metal ion transporters. In this study, we present evidence that mouse Zip5 is a zinc uptake transporter that is specific for Zn(II) over other potential metal ion substrates. We also show that, unlike many other mammalian ZIP proteins, the endocytic removal of mZip5 from the plasma membrane is not triggered by zinc treatment. Thus, the activity of mZip5 does not appear to be down-regulated by zinc repletion. Zip5 expression is restricted to many tissues important for zinc homeostasis, including the intestine, pancreas, liver, and kidney. Zip5 is similar in sequence to the Zip4 protein, which is involved in the uptake of dietary zinc. Co-expression of Zip4 and Zip5 in the intestine led to the hypothesis that these proteins play overlapping roles in the uptake of dietary zinc across the apical membrane of intestinal enterocytes. Surprisingly, however, we found that mZip5 localizes specifically to the basolateral membrane of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. These observations suggest that Zip5 plays a novel role in polarized cells by carrying out serosal-to-mucosal zinc transport. Furthermore, given its expression in tissues important to zinc homeostasis, we propose that Zip5 plays a central role in controlling organismal zinc status.
The Null-Space-based Behavioral Control for Mobile Robots with Velocity Actuator Saturations

In this paper we present the application of the Null-Space-based Behavioral (NSB) approach to the motion control of mobile robots with velocity saturated actuators. The NSB is a behavior-based robot control approach that uses a hierarchical organization of the tasks to guarantee that they are executed according to a desired priority: it uses a projection technique to avoid that, in the absence of actuator saturations, low-priority tasks could influence higher-priority tasks. The main contribution of this paper is the extension of the NSB approach to the case where actuator velocity saturation bounds are explicitly taken into account. The proposed solution dynamically scales task velocity commands so that the hierarchy of task priorities is preserved in spite of actuator velocity saturations. The approach has been validated on two specific case studies. In the first case, the NSB elaborates the motion directives for a single mobile robot that has to reach a target while avoiding a point obstacle1 in this case, the mission is composed of two tasks. In the second case, the NSB elaborates the motion directives for a team of six mobile robots that has orates the motion directives for a team of six mobile robots that has to entrap and escort a target1 in this case the mission is composed of four tasks. The approach is validated by numerical simulations and by experiments with real mobile robots.
Opportunities and challenges in creating an international centralised knowledge base for clinical decision support systems in ePrescribing

Prescribing errors cause substantial potentially avoidable patient harm. There is increasing evidence that the implementation of clinical decision support systems to support prescribing may reduce the risk of such errors. Efforts have thus far concentrated on the implementation of these systems within local health communities. However, considerable potential benefit exists in sharing the content of these prescribing decision support systems across geographical boundaries, including the sharing of experiences and expertise and cost reduction, which could in turn potentially increase accessibility to low resource settings. Technical, commercial and regulatory issues would however first need to be overcome in order to facilitate such a development. In this paper, the authors reflect on some of the opportunities and challenges inherent in trying to develop an internationally agreed and shared computerised decision support system aiming to enhance prescribing safety.
Localization in two-dimensional quantum percolation.

Etude du probleme de site quantique et de percolation de liaison. Pour le reseau carre simple, tous les etats sont localises exponentiellement pour toute quantite de desordre. Ceci concorde avec la theorie d'echelle de localisation mais pas avec certains travaux de transition de localisation en deux dimensions
Exploring limits of neuropsychological screening in ALS: The FAB problem

ISSN 2167-8421 print/ISSN 2167-9223 online © 2013 Informa Healthcare DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2012. 746990 in Raaphorst ’ s one, we agree that motor impairment is a major determinant of this outcome, as did Raaphorst (1). Interestingly, previous works have used the FAB without reporting problems; however, on closer inspection, ALS patients enrolled in these papers had milder disease, as documented by higher ALSFRS-R mean scores (e.g. Oskarsson et al., 2010, ALSFRS-R: 35.19 5.81, n 16 (2); Floris et al., 2012, ALSFRS-R: 40 in 15 patients out of 20 (3); Ahn et al., 2011, ALSFRS-R: 38.4 3.5, n 61 (4); Morimoto et al., 2012, ALSFRS-R: 40.4 6.4 and 37.5 3.6, n 23 and 12 (5)). Most probably, the FAB is a feasible tool only during the fi rst stages of ALS (3), and its value progressively diminishes with advancing motor impairment. This might be not the case of behavioural impairment that has been reported to be independent from motor impairment (6). In addition, also the sensitivity of the FAB as a screening tool seems not to be perfect, as suggested by the fact that in the Raphorst subgroup of eight ALS patients with a diagnosis of behavioural variant of frontal dementia, at least one had a FAB score of 18, i.e . at the top. In general, our data are, therefore, in agreement with those of Raaphorst et al. (1); raw FAB might return a low rate of completion and other tests less affected by motor performances might offer advantages. We decided to use WST just for further stressing this point, since this test can be administered with a minimum motor involvement, but the test alone may be hardly considered a suitable screening tool because it explores only a single executive function, i.e. sorting ability, as opposed to the FAB, which is a mini-battery. In conclusion, the need for dedicated tools for screening cognitive and behavioural dysfunctions in ALS patients is stronger than ever, especially when Dear Sir,
Do Funds of Mutual Funds Add Any Value ?

This paper examines funds of mutual funds (FoMFs) as a competing structure to advisory services to see if they offer any value to investors. First, the flow-performance relationship associated with FoMF buys and sells suggests that affiliated FoMFs (i.e., funds that only invest in funds within their own family) instill a competitive environment in the family by increasing inflows to good performing funds and withdrawing investments from poorly performing funds. These affiliated FoMFs, who are “insiders” within the fund complex, also tend to buy/sell the right funds and therefore display a superior fund selection skill. In other words, the affiliated FoMFs’ capital allocation decision is smart and generates positive abnormal returns. However, unaffiliated FoMFs show no sensitivity to performance nor do they display fund selection ability. This result is partly driven by the strict regulatory constraint unaffiliated FoMFs face. Overall, professional oversight of fund operations and superior selection of constituent funds are the value-additions that FoMFs provide for the investors. Current Draft: Nov-5-2010
Neonatal Growth Outcomes at Birth and one Month Postpartum Following In Utero Exposure to Antidepressant Medication

Objective: There is evidence of increasing prescription of antidepressant medication in pregnant women. This has arisen from the recognition of the importance of treating maternal depression. This must be balanced, however, with information on outcomes for infants and children exposed to antidepressants in pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to examine whether neonatal outcomes including gestational age at birth, neonatal growth outcomes at birth and then at 1 month postpartum were altered by in utero exposure to antidepressant medication using a prospective and controlled design. Method: A prospective case–control study recruited 27 pregnant women taking antidepressant medication and 27 matched controls who were not taking antidepressant medication in pregnancy at an obstetric hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Of the 27 women taking medication, 25 remained on medication in the third trimester. A purpose-designed self-report questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory-II were completed in pregnancy, after birth and at one month postpartum. In addition information was collected on exposed and non-exposed infants including Apgar scores, birthweight/length/head circumference and gestational age at birth. Weight/length/head circumference was again collected at 1 month of age. Results: Infants exposed to antidepressants in utero were eightfold more likely to be born at a premature gestational age, had significantly lower birthweight and were smaller in length and head circumference than non-exposed infants. There was no association between birth outcomes and maternal depression. At 1 month, the difference in weight in the exposed group became significantly greater than the control group. Conclusion: Antidepressant exposure in utero may affect gestational age at birth and neonatal outcomes independently of antenatal maternal depression. Further studies are needed to examine whether these findings vary according to the type of antidepressant prescribed and follow up growth and development in exposed infants beyond 1 month.
TRACKING CHANGES IN THE UPPER BOUNDARY OF THE HEAVY-INTENSITY EXERCISE DOMAIN: END-TEST POWER VERSUS RESPIRATORY COMPENSATION POINT

The aim of this study was to compare how respiratory compensation point (RCP) and end-test power (EP) change in response to the same four-week high intensity interval training (HIIT). The power output associated with RCP and EP before and after HIIT were recorded in 24 recreationally active participants (14 men and 10 women). RCP was determined from an incremental exercise test and EP was derived from a three-minute maximal effort test on a cycle ergometer. A significant time (pretest/posttest) × measurement (EP/RCP) interaction was found (F(1, 23)=5.119, p<. 05). Results from a paired-sample t-test indicated that both EP (t(23)= -5.221, p<. 05) and RCP (t(23)=-3.049, p<. 05) increased significantly from pretest to posttest. Furthermore, a small effect size (d=.36, 90%CI=[.13, .58]) was calculated for the pre/posttest changes in the examined thresholds indicating greater potential improvements in EP compared to RCP. The pre/posttest change in EP (mean=21 W, 90%CI=[14, 28 W]) exceeded its standard error of estimate (14 W), while RCP did not. Correlation analysis revealed that EP correlated with RCP at both pretest (r=.813, p<.05) and posttest (r=.873, p<.05), however, delta values between the two measures were not significantly related. Both EP and RCP can be used to assess the change of aerobic capacity after HIIT, but may be reflective of different physiological adaptations. Further, EP may be preferred over RCP when assessing the effects of HIIT. Key words: training, testing, physiology, fatigue
CD14 and CD11b mediate serum-independent binding to human monocytes of an acylpolygalactoside isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae

A water-soluble acylpolygalactosyl (APG) of 34 kDa was obtained from the Klebsiella pneumoniae membrane by alkaline hydrolysis and delipidation. APG comprises a poly(1,3)galactose chain, a core, and a lipid moiety made of a glucosamine disaccharide with two N-linked beta OH-myristates. The monocyte binding sites for APG were investigated by flow cytometry. Biotin-labelled APG (Biot-APG) bound to monocytes at 4 degrees C in the absence of serum, calcium, and magnesium. The binding was dose dependent, saturable, and displaced by unlabelled APG. Neither the polysaccharide chain present in APG-related molecules nor the PPi group or additional ester-linked myristates and palmitates were required for APG binding. The role of CD11b and CD14 was demonstrated by competitive inhibition with monoclonal antibodies and by the uptake of APG by these solubilized proteins. APG was rapidly internalized into monocytes at 37 degrees C while CD14 and CD11b/CD18 molecules were partially down-modulated. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the same K. pneumoniae strain and from Escherichia coli and Salmonella minnesota partially competed for Biot-APG binding in the absence but not in the presence of serum. When altered by alkaline hydrolysis, those LPS became strong competitors for APG binding. It was concluded that alkaline hydrolysis of the K. pneumoniae membrane yielded molecules structurally related to LPS which bind to LPS membrane receptors in the absence of serum.