Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adjusted Conditioning for Allogeneic Transplantation in a Single Center Setting: Mixed Chimerism Heralds Relapse

The role of mixed chimerism on subsequent relapse was prospectively evaluated in an allotransplant program. Sixty-six patients with median age of 54 and mainly high-risk hematologic disease and/or solid tumors had individually adjusted non-myeloablative conditioning. Thirty-nine donors were siblings and 27 unrelated. Frequent chimerism analyses supported immune manipulation including donor lymphocyte infusions. The need for transfusions, iv fluids, and antibiotics, and weight loss was less than in a control cohort. Most patients had immediate full and consistent donor chimerism; one-third required immune manipulation. Eight of ten evaluable CML patients were BCR/ABL-negative at days 14-58 post-transplant. Mixed chimerism frequently preceded relapse, and the relapse rate was 38% in 26 patients with mixed chimerism vs. 11% among 35 with consistent full donor chimerism (p =0.015). The current transplant- and disease-related mortality were 11 and 9%, respectively, among 35 non-high-risk patients, and 35 and 10% for 29 high-risk patients with hematologic malignancy. With a median follow-up of 15 months the 2-year overall survival is 73% for non-high-risk, and 46% for high-risk patients. Adjusted conditioning reduces early toxicity and resource requirements without impairing tumor control, probably due to a rapid establishment of the graft-versus-cancer effect. Mixed chimerism heralded relapse, and tumor-related mortality is not greater with adjusted than with conventional conditioning.
Baseline symptom severity predicts serotonin transporter change during psychotherapy in patients with major depression

The role of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in the pathophysiology of depression is unclear and only a few follow‐up studies exist. Our aim was to measure changes in SERT availability during psychodynamic psychotherapy in patients with major depression over a follow‐up time of 12 or 18 months.
Oral miltefosine treatment in children with mild to moderate Indian visceral leishmaniasis

Background. Miltefosine is the first oral drug with demonstrable success in treating visceral leishmaniasis in adults. Because approximately one-half of the visceral leishmaniasis patients worldwide are children, we performed a Phase I/II dose ranging study in the pediatric population in India. Methods. Thirty-nine (39) children (defined as <12 years of age) with visceral leishmaniasis demonstrated by parasites in splenic aspirates, were treated with oral miltefosine daily for 28 days: 21 patients received 1.5 mg/kg/day (Group A); and 18 patients received 2.5 mg/kg/day (Group B). About one-half of these children had failed prior antileishmanial treatment. Results. All patients were parasitologically negative and symptomatically improved by the end of therapy on Day 28 of therapy; the initial parasitologic cure rate was 100%. Two patients in each treatment group relapsed with fever, splenomegaly and parasite-positive splenic aspirates by the end of the 6-month follow-up. The per protocol final clinical cure rate was 19 of 21 = 90% in Group A and 15 of 17 = 88% in Group B. Miltefosine was well-tolerated. As per the adult experience, gastrointestinal adverse events were seen: 33 and 39% of children experienced vomiting and 5 and 17% experienced diarrhea in Groups A and B, respectively, but all episodes were mild to moderate in severity and commonly lasted <1 day without symptomatic treatment. Conclusion. Oral miltefosine was safe and ∼90% effective in this initial clinical trial of childhood visceral leishmaniasis.
Analysis of individual brain activation maps using hierarchical description and multiscale detection

The authors propose a new method for the analysis of brain activation images that aims at detecting activated volumes rather than pixels. The method is based on Poisson process modeling, hierarchical description, and multiscale detection (MSD). Its performances have been assessed using both Monte Carlo simulated images and experimental PET brain activation data. As compared to other methods, the MSD approach shows enhanced sensitivity with a controlled overall type I error, and has the ability to provide an estimate of the spatial limits of the detected signals. It is applicable to any kind of difference image for which the spatial autocorrelation function can be approximated by a stationary Gaussian function.
Calibration procedures for the quantitative determination of membrane potential in human cells using anionic dyes

Quantitative determinations of the cell membrane potential of lymphocytes (Wilson et al., J Cell Physiol 1985;125:72–81) and thymocytes (Krasznai et al., J Photochem Photobiol B 1995;28:93–99) using the anionic dye DiBAC4(3) proved that dye depletion in the extracellular medium as a result of cellular uptake can be negligible over a wide range of cell densities. In contrast, most flow cytometric studies have not verified this condition but rather assumed it from the start. Consequently, the initially prepared extracellular dye concentration has usually been used for the calculation of the Nernst potential of the dye. In this study, however, external dye depletion could be observed in both large IGR‐1 and small LCL‐HO cells under experimental conditions, which have often been applied routinely in spectrofluorimetry and flow cytometry. The maximum cell density at which dye depletion could be virtually avoided was dependent on cell size and membrane potential and definitely needed to be taken into account to ensure reliable results. In addition, accepted calibration procedures based on the partition of sodium and potassium (Goldman‐Hodgkin‐Katz equation) or potassium alone (Nernst equation) were performed by flow cytometry on cell suspensions with an appropriately low cell density. The observed extensive lack of concordance between the correspondingly calculated membrane potential and the equilibrium potential of DiBAC4(3) revealed that these methods require the additional measurement of cation parameters (membrane permeability and/or intracellular concentration). In contrast, due to the linear relation between fluorescence and low DiBAC4(3) concentrations, the Nernst potential of the dye for totally depolarized cells can be reliably used for calibration with an essentially lower effort and expense. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Short-term bone marker responses to teriparatide and strontium ranelate in patients with osteoporosis previously treated with bisphosphonates.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the responses of serum beta-CTX and osteocalcin in patients who were undergoing treatment with teriparatide or strontium ranelate (SR). SUBJECTS AND METHODS We analyzed 14 patients (12 women and 2 men; mean age of 71 years) taking teriparatide, and 13 female patients (mean age of 70 years) taking SR; all the patients having previously been on bisphosphonates. Serum beta-CTX and osteocalcin levels were determined before and after the first and third months of teriparatide treatment and up to the fourth month of treatment with SR. RESULTS We observed an initial significant increase in osteocalcin levels during the first month (165%, p = 0.01) followed by a peak of beta-CTX (180%, p = 0.02) after the third month of treatment with teriparatide. An increase in these markers was also observed with SR: 49% in osteocalcin (p = 0.002) and 80% in beta-CTX (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION SR had a predominantly short-term bone-forming effect in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis previously treated with bisphosphonates in a lesser degree than with teriparatide.
Emissão de Dívida e Gerenciamento de Resultados

The aim of this paper is to analyze earnings management (EM) surrounding debenture issues of companies listed on the BM&FBOVESPA. EM is an intentional intervention in external financial reports in order to obtain some private gain. This practice is especially important at the time of issuing debentures because if earnings are inflated, investors may pay an artificially high price. To measure earnings management, current discretionary accruals were used as a proxy, based on the Modified Jones and Modified Jones with ROA econometric models. All of the regressions considered the fixed effects of the companies and the time series effects of the analyses. Evidence was found that companies inflate their financial results in the issuing period in order to positively influence their investors. The results suggest that there is EM in the quarter preceding the issue (t = - 1), indicating the influence that investors may have been under when making the decision to invest in debentures from these companies. In addition, it was verified that companies with higher debt, profitability, and sales growth ratios have higher levels of earnings management. The reputation of the auditor was not statistically significant regarding reductions in the level of management. The results also show that companies listed on Level II and New Market had higher levels of management when considering the Modified Jones with ROA model. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a greater level of earnings management in companies that issue debentures in the period preceding the event. Finally, the variable that is directly related to the level of earnings management is sales growth.
Teacher collaboration : a study of the teaching-learning relationship

This study served two purposes. First, it provided a synthesis of the literature relating teacher collaboration to teaching-learning outcomes. Second, it investigated empirically the existence of links posited in the literature reviewed. From the literature a conceptual framework was synthesized regarding the postulated relationships, with respect to teacher collaboration, between and among: (1) teacher trust for the teaching partner, (2) the teaching partner's supervisory beliefs, (3) teacher efficacy, (4) teacher reflection, (5) teacher classroom behaviour, (6) pupil achievement, (7) pupil attitudes, and (8) pupil behaviour. The general question under investigation was: "What is the relationship between teacher participation in a teacher collaboration programme and teaching-learning outcomes? To test the aptness of the model, data for each of the eight variables listed above were collected at the beginning and at the end of the 1991/92 school year from four collaboration groups and one non-collaboration group. The five groups represented the following teacher collaboration strategies: (1) collaborative consultation, (2) collaborative consultation in a team teaching environment, (3) collaborative consultation without direct classroom observation by the teaching partner, (4) collegial consultation without direct classroom observation by the teaching partner, and (5) teachers who did not work with a teaching partner. The groups self-selected from two School Districts in
Connexin43 in Rat Oocytes: Developmental Modulation of Its Phosphorylation1

Abstract It is well established that the 43-kDa connexin (Cx43) is predominantly expressed by ovarian somatic cells, whereas the identity of the connexins contributed by the oocyte to form gap junctions with its neighboring cells is not fully elucidated. Our study aimed to examine oocytes for the expression and regulation of Cx43 throughout oogenesis. Growing and fully grown rat oocytes that were meiotically incompetent and competent, respectively, were examined. Fully grown oocytes were analyzed either before or after reinitiation of meiosis as well as at the second meiotic metaphase. Immunofluorescent analysis of zona pellucida-free oocytes using conventional and confocal microscopy demonstrated a characteristic pattern of punctuated staining of Cx43 on the oolema. Immunogold electron microscopy localized Cx43 to the oocyte surface and the microvillar processes. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis revealed similar amounts of Cx43 gene and protein in oocytes of different developmental stages. However, a relative increase in the phosphorylated forms of the protein was observed in fully grown oocytes that had completed their maturation. Our findings demonstrate that rat oocytes express a developmentally regulated Cx43. They further suggest that homotypic gap junctions that consist of Cx43 may be present between rat oocytes and their adjacent cumulus cells.
Impact Assessment of Climate Change on Paddy Yield: A Case Study of Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), Tarahara, Nepal

Climate change and global warming are burning issues, which significantly threat agriculture and global food security. Change in solar radiation, temperature and precipitation will influence the change in crop yields and hence economy of agriculture. It is possible to understand the phenomenon of climate change on crop production and to develop adaptation strategies for sustainability in food production, using a suitable crop simulation model. CERES-Rice model of DSSAT v4.0 was used to simulate the rice yield of the region under climate change scenarios using the historical weather data at Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) Tarahara (1989-2008). The Crop Model was calibrated using the experimental crop data, climate data and soil data for two years (2000-2001) and was validated by using the data of the year 2002 at NARC Tarahara. In this study various scenarios were undertaken to analyze the rice yield. The change in values of weather parameters due to climate change and its effects on the rice yield were studied. It was observed that increase in maximum temperature up to 2°C and 1°C in minimum temperature have positive impact on rice yield but beyond that temperature it was observed negative impact in both cases of paddy production in ambient temperature. Similarly, it was observed that increased in mean temperature, have negative impacts on rice yield. The impact of solar radiation in rice yield was observed positive during the time of study period. Adjustments were made in the fertilizer rate, plant density per square meter, planting date and application of water rate to investigate suitable agronomic options for adaptation under the future climate change scenarios. Highest yield was obtained when the water application was increased up to 3 mm depth and nitrogen application rate was 140 kg/ha respectively. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/jie.v8i3. 5941 JIE 2011; 8(3): 147-167
The role of hybridization in the evolution of sexual system diversity in a clonal, aquatic plant

The stable coexistence within populations of females, males, and hermaphrodites (subdioecy) is enigmatic because theoretical models indicate that maintenance of this sexual system involves highly restricted conditions. Subdioecy is more commonly interpreted as a transitory stage along the gynodioecious pathway from hermaphroditism to dioecy. The widespread, North American, aquatic plant Sagittaria latifolia is largely composed of monoecious or dioecious populations; however, subdioecious populations with high frequencies of hermaphrodites (mean frequency = 0.50) characterize the northern range boundary of dioecy in eastern North America. We investigated two hypotheses for the origin of subdioecy in this region. Using polymorphic microsatellite loci, we evaluated whether subdioecy arises through selection on standing genetic variation for male sex inconstancy in dioecious populations, or results from hybridization between monoecious and dioecious populations. We found evidence for both pathways to subdioecy, although hybridization was the more common mechanism, with genetic evidence of admixture in nine of 14 subdioecious populations examined. Hybridization has also played a role in the origin of androdioecious populations in S. latifolia, a mechanism not often considered in the evolution of this rare sexual system. Our study demonstrates how hybridization has the potential to play a role in the diversification of plant sexual systems.
Social context variables as predictors of smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE: To examine positive and negative social support and other selected social context variables (age, education, marital status, gender, and exposure to other smokers inside and outside the home) as predictors of smoking cessation in non-hospitalised adults with diagnosed cardiovascular disease at follow up after one, six, and 12 months. DESIGN: Discriminant function analyses (DFA) and longitudinal "lag" analyses. SUBJECTS: 137 Non-hospitalised adults with diagnosed cardiovascular health problems. RESULTS: Examination of the concurrent DFAs revealed significant univariate F ratios for the predictor variables of gender and marital status at one year and low negative support at all three follow ups. Quitters reported significantly lower levels of negative support than non-quitters over the course of the year and tended to be male and married. Longitudinal "lag" analyses, however, revealed that higher positive social support at one month and higher negative support at six months were both predictive of smoking cessation at one year. At one year more men than women and more married than not married smokers were successful in quitting. No effects for age, education, or exposure to others smoking inside or outside the home were found on any of the concurrent DFAs or longitudinal analyses. CONCLUSION: A series of concurrent DFAs revealed that positive support was a significant predictor of quitting at one year and negative support was predictive of not quitting at all three follow ups. Longitudinal "lag" analyses showed that positive support at one month and negative support at six months both predicted quitting at one year. Being male and married were found to contribute to quitting on both sets of analyses. The effects for positive and negative support on the smoking behaviour of adults with cardiovascular disease tended to change over the course of a year. These findings suggest that positive and negative social support may have differential effects over time. As the smoker moves along the "quitting trajectory" it may be that more "nagging" or negative interactions are needed at some point to get smokers to quit, if positive support has not worked or is not working. Progression of disease also may have served as a stimulus for family members and friends to become more insistent and negative about the person's continued smoking. More research is needed to examine the quitting process to determine which and how social context variables contribute.
Retrospective study of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes in a Chinese Han population from Shandong, East China

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the clinical features, diagnostic strategies and therapeutic methods associated with paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. Methods: A retrospective study of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes was performed at a single center in Shandong, East China. The medical records and follow-up data of 28 patients were intensively reviewed between February 2011 and December 2014. Results: Twenty-four (85.7%) patients experienced subacute or chronic onset of disease, and the most common symptoms reported were mild myasthenia and paresthesias. Twenty-five (89.3%) patients presented nervous system lesions prior to occult tumors, and the median time frame between paraneoplastic neurological syndromes onset and the diagnosis of a tumor was 15 weeks. Sensorimotor neuropathy, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and limbic encephalitis were the three most common neurological syndromes reported. Elevated serum tumor markers were observed in 44.0% of patients, while 40.7% of patients were positive for onconeural antibodies. Tumors were detected in 21 (75.0%) patients after repeated whole-body screening, and lung carcinomas were the most common primary tumor detected. Seventeen patients received anti-tumor or immunological therapy, and clinical symptoms were relieved in 13 (76.5%) of these patients. Conclusions: In the majority of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes patients, the onset of disease is subacute or chronic with mild clinical symptoms. Nervous system lesions usually occur prior to occult tumors with complicated and various clinical manifestations. Neither tumor markers nor onconeural antibodies exhibit a high rate of occurrence, while repeated whole-body screening is helpful in identifying occult tumors. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to these patients.
Determination of fractional flow reserve (FFR) based on scaling laws: a simulation study

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) provides an objective physiological evaluation of stenosis severity. A technique that can measure FFR using only angiographic images would be a valuable tool in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. To perform this, the diseased blood flow can be measured with a first pass distribution analysis and the theoretical normal blood flow can be estimated from the total coronary arterial volume based on scaling laws. A computer simulation of the coronary arterial network was used to gain a better understanding of how hemodynamic conditions and coronary artery disease can affect blood flow, arterial volume and FFR estimation. Changes in coronary arterial flow and volume due to coronary stenosis, aortic pressure and venous pressure were examined to evaluate the potential use of flow and volume for FFR determination. This study showed that FFR can be estimated using arterial volume and a scaling coefficient corrected for aortic pressure. However, variations in venous pressure were found to introduce some error in FFR estimation. A relative form of FFR was introduced and was found to cancel out the influence of pressure on coronary flow, arterial volume and FFR estimation. The use of coronary flow and arterial volume for FFR determination appears promising.
Infantile spasms

Infantile spasms is a catastrophic form of epilepsy found only in infants and young toddlers, with the peak incidence between 4 – 7 months of age. Estimated prevalence is 1 in 2000 – 6000 live births. There are many causes of infantile spasms, including tuberous sclerosis, hypoxic-ischaemic injury, congenital infectious diseases, inborn errors of metabolism, malformations of cortical development, genetic syndromes such as Aicardi’s syndrome and chromosomal abnormalities. A small percentage of patients have idiopathic infantile spasms, with normal growth and development prior to the onset of infantile spasms and no known aetiology. Because of the poor prognosis of infantile spasms, treatment is usually aggressive and immediate, with the hopes of altering the natural history of the disease. The majority of patients with infantile spasms have a poor prognosis with intractable epilepsy, severe developmental delays and/or significant cognitive impairments. Of all patients with infantile spasms, 70 – 90% have mental retardation. Furthermore, 20 – 50% of patients with infantile spasms develop Lennox-Gastaut syndrome with multiple seizure types, cognitive impairments and a markedly abnormal electroencephalogram, arguably one of the most difficult epilepsy syndromes to treat. Infantile spasms are resistant to most of the standard antiepileptic drugs. Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) or oral steroids result in a significant reduction of seizures, as well as an improvement in the electroencephalogram. Some studies have indicated that infants treated with ACTH within the first month of onset have a more favourable prognosis. Vigabatrin has also been shown to be effective in the treatment, although it is not yet FDA-approved in the US. Valproate has also been used in the treatment of infantile spasms, with an efficacy of ∼ 25 – 40%. However, in the very young infant, it does carry a high risk of fatal hepatotoxicity. Surgical resection may be the treatment of choice for those infants with focal cortical dysplasia and intractable infantile spasms. Emerging therapeutic possibilities include topiramate, felbamate, lamotrigine, zonisamide and perhaps levetiracetam. With the advancements in molecular biology, genetics and neuroimaging, there is the hope of novel therapies in the future.