Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dendritic cell vaccines based on immunogenic cell death elicit danger signals and T cell–driven rejection of high-grade glioma

Combining an immunogenic cell death inducer with dendritic cell immunotherapy treats high-grade glioma in a preclinical model. DAMPening Glioma Dendritic cell (DC)–based vaccines have shown promise for treating high-grade glioma (HGG), but efficacy has been limited by antigenic heterogeneity of the tumors. Now, Garg et al. combine DC vaccines with hypericin-based photodynamic therapy–induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) to treat HGG in an animal model. They found that ICD-based DC vaccines improved survival, and that this effect was dependent on the cell-associated reactive oxygen species and release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) acting as danger signals. These ICD-based DC vaccines synergized with standard-of-care therapy to further improve survival in HGG-bearing mice and shifted the tumor immune signature from regulatory to TH1/TH17, which is associated with positive outcome in patients. The promise of dendritic cell (DC)–based immunotherapy has been established by two decades of translational research. Of the four malignancies most targeted with clinical DC immunotherapy, high-grade glioma (HGG) has shown the highest susceptibility. HGG-induced immunosuppression is a roadblock to immunotherapy, but may be overcome by the application of T helper 1 (TH1) immunity–biased, next-generation, DC immunotherapy. To this end, we combined DC immunotherapy with immunogenic cell death (ICD; a modality shown to induce TH1 immunity) induced by hypericin-based photodynamic therapy. In an orthotopic HGG mouse model involving prophylactic/curative setups, both biologically and clinically relevant versions of ICD-based DC vaccines provided strong anti-HGG survival benefit. We found that the ability of DC vaccines to elicit HGG rejection was significantly blunted if cancer cell–associated reactive oxygen species and emanating danger signals were blocked either singly or concomitantly, showing hierarchical effect on immunogenicity, or if DCs, DC-associated MyD88 signal, or the adaptive immune system (especially CD8+ T cells) were depleted. In a curative setting, ICD-based DC vaccines synergized with standard-of-care chemotherapy (temozolomide) to increase survival of HGG-bearing mice by ~300%, resulting in ~50% long-term survivors. Additionally, DC vaccines also induced an immunostimulatory shift in the brain immune contexture from regulatory T cells to TH1/cytotoxic T lymphocyte/TH17 cells. Analysis of the The Cancer Genome Atlas glioblastoma cohort confirmed that increased intratumor prevalence of TH1/cytotoxic T lymphocyte/TH17 cells linked genetic signatures was associated with good patient prognosis. Therefore, pending final preclinical checks, ICD-based vaccines can be clinically translated for glioma treatment.
Mitochondrial Sequencing Reveals Five Separate Origins of ‘Black’ Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Eastern Australian Commercial Colonies

ABSTRACT Establishment of a closed population honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), breeding program based on ‘black’ strains has been proposed for eastern Australia. Long-term success of such a program requires a high level of genetic variance. To determine the likely extent of genetic variation available, 50 colonies from 11 different commercial apiaries were sequenced in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II intergenic region. Five distinct and novel mitotypes were identified. No colonies were found with the A. mellifera mellifera mitotype, which is often associated with undesirable feral strains. One group of mitotypes was consistent with a caucasica origin, two with carnica, and two with ligustica. The results suggest that there is sufficient genetic diversity to support a breeding program provided all these five sources were pooled.
Identification and validation of highly frequent CpG island hypermethylation in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas

In our study, whole‐genome methylation arrays were applied to identify novel genes with tumor specific DNA methylation of promoter CpG islands in pre‐malignant and malignant colorectal lesions. Using a combination of Illumina HumanMethylation27 beadchips, Methylation‐Sensitive High Resolution Melting (MS‐HRM) analysis, and Exon arrays (Affymetrix) the DNA methylation pattern of ∼14,000 genes and their transcript levels were investigated in six normal mucosas, six adenomas and 30 MSI and MSS carcinomas. Sixty eight genes with tumor‐specific hypermethylation were identified (p < 0.005). Identified hypermethylated sites were validated in an independent sample set of eight normal mucosas, 12 adenomas, 40 MSS and nine MSI cancer samples. The methylation patterns of 15 selected genes, hypermethylated in adenomas and carcinomas (FLI1, ST6GALNAC5, TWIST1, ADHFE1, JAM2, IRF4, CNRIP1, NRG1 and EYA4), in carcinomas only (ABHD9, AOX1 and RERG), or in MSI but not MSS carcinomas (RAMP2, DSC3 and MLH1) were validated using MS‐HRM. Four of these genes (MLH1, AOX1, EYA4 and TWIST1) had previously been reported to be hypermethylated in CRC. Eleven genes, not previously known to be affected by CRC specific hypermethylation, were identified and validated. Inverse correlation to gene expression was observed for six of the 15 genes with Spearman correlation coefficients ranging from −0.39 to −0.60. For six of these genes the altered methylation patterns had a profound transcriptional association, indicating that methylation of these genes may play a direct regulatory role. The hypermethylation changes often occurred already in adenomas, indicating that they may be used as biomarkers for early detection of CRC.
The Incarcerated Intrauterine Device

Summary: Complete embedding or incarceration of the IUD is likely to cause difficulty at removal. Attempts at vaginal removal with ‘heavy’ instrumentation are hazardous and should be abandoned in favour of an abdominal approach. A trial demonstrating the superiority of the latter approach is described. The characteristics of patients with an incarcerated loop make concomitant tubal ligation possible in most instances.
Crowd and Community: Organizations and Occupations in Crowdsourced Work

Over the past two decades, firms have relied increasingly upon external workers rather than employees for their core production tasks. More recently, firms in the hightechnology and software industries have come to rely on crowdsourced workers, who are formally external to firms and organized via the Internet. This project investigates the management of crowdsourced work by firms, the experiences of crowdsourced workers themselves, and the implications for organizational boundaries and occupational identity within and outside of firms. Three motivating questions are central to the research presented here. First, how does crowdsourced work remain socially embedded despite pressures toward atomization? Second, in the absence of employment relationships, how do organizations approach the socialization of crowdsourced workers as variously organizational and occupational members. Third, how is control established among nonemployees when work is completed online? To answer these questions, this project relies on organizational ethnography, practiced online and offline for two years, and interviews with crowdsourced workers and employees of three software firms. These firms were similar in their reliance on crowdsourced work, yet distinct in size, product, skill requirements, and models of incorporating external workers.
Short term wind and energy prediction for offshore wind farms using neural networks

Forecasting short term wind speed is of high importance for wind farm managers. The knowledge of the expected winds helps taking decisions (decision support) as the likes of maintenance and repair jobs or finishing works as health and safety is not guaranteed anymore. There are a number of methods and computations currently being used for forecasts: fuzzy logic, linear prediction or neural networks. For the latter there are also various algorithms and methods, from feed forward up to recurrent neural networks (RNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). Recurrent neural networks belong to the group of machine learning algorithms and are part of artificial intelligence research. This paper is about forecasting wind speed and pressure using RNN.
Male first-line managers' experiences of the work situation in elderly care: an empowerment perspective.

AIM To describe male first-line managers' experiences of their work situation in elderly care. BACKGROUND First-line managers' work is challenging. However, less attention has been paid to male managers' work situation in health care. Knowledge is needed to empower male managers. METHOD Fourteen male first-line managers were interviewed. The interview text was subjected to qualitative content analysis. RESULT Work situations were described as complex and challenging; challenges were the driving force. They talked about 'Being on one's own but not feeling left alone', 'Having freedom within set boundaries', 'Feeling a sense of satisfaction and stimulation', 'Feeling a sense of frustration' and 'Having a feeling of dejection and resignation'. CONCLUSION Although the male managers report deficiencies in the support structure, they largely experience their work as a positive challenge. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT To meet increasing challenges, male first-line managers need better access to supportive structural conditions. Better access to resources is needed in particular, allowing managers to be more visible for staff and to work with development and quality issues instead of administrative tasks. Regarding organisational changes and the scrutiny of management and the media, they lack and thus need support and information from superiors.
Myopia Progression During Three Years of Soft Contact Lens Wear

Purpose. To analyze the effect of lens material alone on myopia progression in a multi-center non-randomized prospective study of daily wear hydrogel and continuous wear silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Methods. Refractive error data from completing subjects were collected during a 3-year study of 54 subjects wearing low-Dk/t hydrogel contact lenses for daily wear and 230 wearing silicone hydrogel contact lenses for up to 30 nights continuous wear. Univariate analysis of refractive error changes was first conducted on factors of lens type, age at baseline, and baseline refractive error. Multivariate analysis was then performed to control for potential confounders of age (categorical by decade and continuous), and baseline refractive error. Results. Multivariate analysis showed that refractive error changes were significantly affected by lens type (F = 78.2, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.218) and subject age (F = 131.2, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.319) but not baseline refractive error (F = 2.56, p = 0.11, R2 = 0.009). The model’s overall R2 value is 0.376; the age-adjusted refractive error changes are +0.02 D for the silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers and –0.41 D for the hydrogel contact lenses for the 3-year follow-up period. Conclusions. Subject age and lens type significantly influenced the degree of myopic progression, with younger subjects and low-Dk/t hydrogel contact lens wearers increasing more during the study. The Lotrafilcon A silicone hydrogel lens material may contribute to less myopia progression in adult contact lens wearers.
Use of mycophenolate mofetil in immunosuppressive protocols in elderly renal transplant recipients.

We welcome Dr. Sureshkamur’s reported experience with azathioprineand mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based immunosuppression protocols in elderly renal transplant recipients at the Allegheny General Hospital. In contrast with the results of our study (1) and those of Meier-Kriesche et al. (2), azathioprine-treated patients at the Allegheny General Hospital demonstrated significantly worse graft and patient survival rates than MMF-treated patients. Infectious complications were not reported by Dr. Sureshkamur, but it is noteworthy that the 1-year graft survival rate for azathioprine-treated patients at the Allegheny General Hospital was particularly poor (1-year survival of 79% vs. 96% for our unit). This indicates the possibility of under-immunosuppression in this cohort, which is supported to some extent by the relatively low dose of azathioprine used (1.5 mg/kg/day). The generalizability of Dr. Sureshkamur’s data is therefore questionable. Dr. Sureshkamur’s report is also limited by the presentation of univariate outcome analyses, the possibility of cointervention bias, and the lack of information about important confounding variables (e.g., live renal donor transplants), which may have been more prevalent in the MMF era. In contrast, our study attempted to overcome these potential pitfalls by statistically adjusting outcome results for all known potentially confounding factors, including immunosuppressive drugs, age, gender, racial status, body mass index, donor status, initial graft function, total ischemic time, episodes of acute rejection, exposure to antilymphocyte antibody preparations, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, and previous ischemic heart disease. Dr. Sureshkamur’s contention (3) that the observed differences in outcomes between the two studies could be explained by our use of intravenous methylprednisolone for the treatment of acute rejection is unlikely, because this occurrence was less frequent in the MMF group in our study and was adjusted for in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis. Finally, we agree with Dr. Sureshkamur’s concluding remarks that although the overall benefits of MMF-based protocols seem to be significant, their risk and benefit ratios need further evaluation in elderly patients. Only a prospective controlled clinical trial comparing azathioprineand MMF-based immunosuppression protocols in elderly renal transplant recipients will be able to definitively resolve this important issue.
Foreign Investors and Domestic Company Growth: Evidence From US Venture Capital Investments in Sweden

Do foreign venture capitalists help the domestic economy, or hamper it by slowing down growth, potentially moving economic activity away? This paper addresses this long-standing policy question by examining the differential effects of US venture capital investments on the growth of Swedish start-up companies. It finds that US venture capital results in more employment, not less. These findings continue to hold after controlling for endogenous selection effects. US investments are also accompanied by increases in local employment and start-up rates. The paper also examines effect on wages, sales, earnings, foreign subsidiaries, subsequent funding rounds, and exits. Overall there is no evidence that US venture capital investments hamper the domestic growth of Swedish companies.
Al‐Awadi/Raas‐Rothschild syndrome: Two new cases and review

Al‐Awadi/Raas‐Rothschild syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by severe malformations of the upper and lower limbs, and a hypoplastic pelvis. We describe two new cases with the typical manifestations, report some new findings, review the relevant literature, and present minimal criteria for the diagnosis. A single homozygous WNT7A mutation was identified by Woods et al. [ 2006 ]: 1179C → T, resulting in Arg292Cys with complete loss of WNT7A function. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Morphology and ultrastructure of the chorioallantoic placenta of the Iberian mole (Talpa occidentalis) with special reference to heterophagous areolas and the nature of interhaemal barrier

This study provides a contribution to the reconstruction of the eulipotyphlan placental morphotype and also may help resolving a long‐standing conflict about the interhaemal barrier in moles. As detailed descriptions of talpid placentation, only available for Talpa europaea and Scalopus aquaticus, led to a controversial debate on the nature of interhaemal barrier, the collection of more placental data of further mole species was strongly desired. Hence, the placentas of six gestational stages of Talpa occidentalis have been studied concerning their morphogenesis and ultrastructure with special focus on the structure of the interhaemal barrier and heterophagous regions. Generally, the mode of placentation in T. occidentalis resembles that of T. europaea, including a broad, discoid, antimesometrial, definitive chorioallantoic placenta of labyrinthine type being still villous in earlier stages. Within the labyrinth, the zona intima shows an endotheliochorial interhaemal barrier with a two‐layered trophoblast. This clearly contradicts former statements on the S. aquaticus placenta made by Prasad et al. (1979) , although their findings cannot exclude a totally different interpretation. Regardless, the placenta of moles represents the least invasive mode of placentation among Eulipotyphla, which otherwise have highly invasive placentas. Although the phagocytic areolas situated above uterine gland openings are heterophagous, they mainly seem to serve fetal histiotrophic nutrition, at least early in pregnancy. In later stages the number of glands and areolas decreases. This special type of additional phagocytic region is usually most common in species with noninvasive, epitheliochorial placentation, which suggests a correlation between placental invasiveness and the occurrence and type of phagocytic placental structures. The compact and invasive mode of placentation of Talpidae and all other Eulipotyphla seems to be plesiomorphic within Laurasiatheria and is always correlated with an altricial neonate.
Measures of outcome in lung cancer screening: maximising the benefits.

In their article, Miller and colleagues report on the survival results of smokers enrolled in their communitybased multicentre computed tomography (CT) screening program for lung cancer (1). In a cohort of 1,267 primarily moderate to high risk smokers, followed with annual CT screening for 5 years, 36 subjects underwent biopsy, 30 were confirmed to have lung cancer of which 28 were primary lung cancers. Overall 5-year survival was 64% and 5-year lung cancer specific survival was 71% in the screened patients, where the overall-survival compared favourably to the 5-year survival in a group of non-screened lung cancer patients (64% vs . 19% respectively, P<0.001) (1).
Analysis of Budget Planning, Competence of Human Resources and Implementation of the Viii Lldikti Region Budget with Organizational Commitment as A Moderation

The aim of research to analysis factors that effect to absorption of the budget. The factors that affects the absorption of the budget are budget planning, Human resources kompetence, and commitment. Limited sources of state revenue require the government to prioritize activities and allocate effective and efficient budgets. Failure to target the absorption of the budget indicates an inefficiency and the ineffectiveness of budget allocations (Carsidiawan, 2009). This research will be conducted at LLDIKTI Region VIII, Denpasar-Bali. The sampling technique used is saturated sample because researchers want to make generalizations with relatively small errors. The number of samples in this study is 36. Testing the effect of budget planning, HR competence on budget absorption using multiple regression analysis. Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA) with interaction tests is used to test the effect of the moderating variable interactions. The following equation model is used to answer hypothesis 1 (H₁), hypothesis 2 (H₂), hypothesis 3 (H₃) and hypothesis 4 (H₄). The result research show that: Budget planning has a statistically positive effect on the absorption of the Region VIII LLDIKTI budget. HR competencies have a statistically positive effect on the absorption of the Region VIII LLDIKTI budget. Organizational commitment strengthens the influence of budget planning on the absorption of the Region VIII LLDIKTI budget. Organizational commitment does not strengthen the influence of HR competencies on the absorption of the Region VIII LLDIKTI budget.
Pengaruh literasi keuangan syariah dan shariah governance terhadap keputusan mahasiswa dalam menggunakan jasa perbankan syariah : studi kasus pada Kelompok Studi Ekonomi Islam (KSEI) FORSHEI UIN Walisongo Semarang

Rendahnya market share perbankan syariah (5,78%) atas perbankan nasional salah satunya adalah disebabkan oleh rendahnya literasi keuangan syariah masyarakat, khususnya sektor perbankan syariah. Literasi keuangan memiliki hubungan positif dengan inklusi keuangan, semakin tinggi literasi keuangan maka semakin tinggi pula inklusi keuangan.Namun, berdasarkan Survei Nasional Literasi dan Inklusi Keuangan tahun 2016, literasi keuangan syariah dan inklusi keuangan syariah memiliki korelasi yang lemah. Indeks inklusi keuangan syariah (11,1%) lebih tinggi dibandingkan indeks literasi keuangan syariah (8,1%). Permasalahan dalam penelitian ini yaitu antara literasi keuangan syariah dengan inklusi keuangan syariah, apakah benar ada pengaruh positif atau sebaliknya yaitu pengaruh negatif.Selain itu, permasalahan yang berkaitan dengan penerapan prinsip-prinsip syariah (shariah governance) pada bank syariah, adakah pengaruh antara shariah governance terhadap inklusi keuangan syariah ataukah tidak terdapat pengaruh.Sehingga masyarakat menggunakan jasa keuangan syariah bukan atas dasar literasi yang dimiliki ataupun memperhatikan penerapan shariah governance. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis adanya pengaruh antara literasi keuangan syariah dan shariah governance terhadap keputusan mahasiswa dalam menggunakan jasa perbankan syariah.Objek dari penelitian ini adalah Kelompok Studi Ekonomi Islam (KSEI) Forshei UIN Walisongo Semarang.Metode yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi linier berganda dengan pengolahan data menggunakan SPSS versi 23.Variabel Independen dalam penelitian ini yaitu literasi keuangan syariah dan shariah governance, sedangkan variabel dependen dalam penelitian yaitu keputusan mahasiswa dalam menggunakan jasa perbankan syariah.Hasil penelitian, menunjukkan bahwa variabel independen (literasi keuangan syariah dan shariah governance) secara simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap keputusan mahasiswa. Kemudian, secara parsial literasi keuangan syariah dan shariah governance juga berpengaruh signifikan terhadap keputusan mahasiswa dalam menggunakan jasa perbankan syariah.
Post-Polymerization Modification of Poly(l-glutamic acid) with d-(+)-Glucosamine

Carboxyl functional groups of poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGlu) were modified with a D-(+)-glucosamine (GlcN) by amidation using 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride (DMTMM) as a coupling reagent. The coupling reaction was performed in aqueous medium without protection of hydroxyl functional groups of D-(+)-glucosamine. Poly(L-glutamic acid) and GlcN functionalized polyglutamates (P(Glu-GlcN)) were thoroughly characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and SEC-MALS to gain detailed information on their structure, composition and molar mass characteristics. The results reveal successful functionalization with GlcN through the amide bond and also to a minor extent through ester bond formation in position 1 of GlcN. In addition, a ratio between the α- and β-form of glucosamine substituent coupled to polyglutamate repeating units as well as the content of residual dimethoxy triazinyl active ester moiety in the samples were evaluated.