Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stratifying Patients Based on Epitope Mismatching: Ready for Primetime?

In this issue,Wiebeet al (1) showasynergisticeffect between the number of HLA class II eplet mismatches among donors and recipients, their nonadherence status and their increased risk for acute rejection and lower graft survival. The choice of this particular study group to analyze effects of HLA and eplet mismatching is excellent. Given that there was a systematic and an accurate measurement of subclinical nonadherence, this population provides a simulation of potentially managed immunosuppression withdrawal. In other words, the results of this study provide some indication of the likely effects of eplet mismatching on the ability to wean off or taper immunosuppression and its effects on risk for acute rejection and lower graft survival.
Medulloblastoma—Biology and Microenvironment: A Review

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a cancer of the cerebellum and the most common primary pediatric malignancy of the central nervous system. Classified as a primitive neural ectoderm tumor; it is thought to arise from granule cell precursors in the cerebellum. The standard of care consists of surgery, chemotherapy and age-dependent radiation therapy. Despite aggressive multimodality therapy; approximately 30% of MB patients remain incurable. Moreover, for long-term survivors, the treatment related sequelae are often debilitating. Side effects include cerebellar mutism, sterility, neurocognitive deficits, and a substantial risk of developing secondary cancers. In a quest for more effective and targeted therapies, scientists have begun to investigate the biological events that not only initiate but also sustain the malignant phenotype in MB. Of particular interest is, the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor pathogenesis. This review seeks to highlight several key processes observed in cancer biology, particularly the involvement of the tumor microenvironment, with relevant examples from MB.
On The Fast Fading Multiple-Antenna Gaussian Broadcast Channel with Confidential Messages and Partial CSIT

In wiretap channels the eavesdropper's channel state information (CSI) is commonly assumed to be known at transmitter, fully or partially. However, under perfect secrecy constraint the eavesdropper may not be motivated to feedback any correct CSI. In this paper we consider a more feasible problem for the transmitter to have eavesdropper's CSI. That is, the fast fading multiple-antenna Gaussian broadcast channels (FMGBC-CM) with confidential messages, where both receivers are legitimate users such that they both are willing to feedback accurate CSI to maintain their secure transmission, and not to be eavesdropped by the other. We assume that only the statistics of the channel state information are known by the transmitter. We first show the necessary condition for the FMGBC-CM not to be degraded to the common wiretap channels. Then we derive the achievable rate region for the FMGBC-CM where the channel input covariance matrices and the inflation factor are left unknown and to be solved. After that we provide an analytical solution to the channel input covariance matrices. We also propose an iterative algorithm to solve the channel input covariance matrices and the inflation factor. Due to the complicated rate region formulae in normal SNR, we resort to low SNR analysis to investigate the characteristics of the channel. Finally, numerical examples show that under perfect secrecy constraint both users can achieve positive rates simultaneously, which verifies our derived necessary condition. Numerical results also elucidate the effectiveness of the analytic solution and proposed algorithm of solving the channel input covariance matrices and the inflation factor under different conditions.
Evaluation of MT Systems to Translate User Generated Content

This paper presents the evaluation results of a study conducted to determine the ability of various Machine Translation systems in translating User-Generated Content, particularly online forum content. Four systems are compared in this paper, focusing on the English>German and English>French language pairs, including a system called VICTOR, which is based on the Moses and IRSTLM toolkits. After describing some of the characteristics of these systems, the methodological framework used during a medium scale evaluation campaign is described. A careful analysis of both human and automated scores show that one system is overall significantly better than the other three systems for the English>German language pair, but that very little difference exists for specific post types (such as questions and solutions). The results are also much more balanced for the English>French language pair, suggesting that all systems could be useful in a multi-system deployment scenario. Our results also show that human scores and automated scores do not consistently correlate, penalizing certain systems more than others. Finally, we also show that the quality and coverage of the source posts impacts systems and language
Public Policy for Regulating the Interaction between Labor Market Supply and Higher Education Demand - Israel as a Case Study

The global labor market in general and the Israeli market in particular have been experiencing considerable changes in recent decades, affecting the supply of jobs in various occupations. There seems to be an association between changes in the supply of jobs in the labor market and shifts in the demand for higher education. Examination of two case studies in the Israeli economy shows a bidirectional interaction between the labor market and the system of higher education. In one case, the growing supply of jobs in the field of computers and engineering was found to result in an increasing demand for academic education in this discipline. In the second case, the growing demand for academic education in law resulted in a flooded labor market in this industry with bad effects for the industry. The public policy formed in Israel to regulate the labor market and the system of higher education is aimed at the short term and makes do with examining actual circumstances retrospectively and attempting to improve them by directing students to various disciplines in order to meet the needs of the labor market or correct its failures. It does not, however, examine future trends and try to identify prospective needs and faults that can be predicted in the present.
Nitrogen dioxide is genotoxic in urban concentrations

Abstract In the discussion on toxic and genotoxic thresholds of air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), realistically low urban concentration ranges are of major interest. For NO2, the WHO defines the annual limit value as corresponding to 0.02 ppm. In the present study, the toxicity and genotoxicity of NO2 is set at a concentration under this limit value and examined in human nasal epithelium at different exposure durations in vitro. Nasal epithelial mucosa samples of 10 donors were harvested during nasal air passage surgery and cultured as an air–liquid interface. Exposure to 0.01 ppm NO2 or synthetic air as a control was performed for 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 h. Analysis included the caspase-3 ELISA, the single cell microgel electrophoresis (comet) assay and the micronucleus assay. The caspase-3 activity was not influenced by NO2 exposure, DNA strand fragmentation correlated with exposure durations to NO2 at 0.01 ppm NO2, and no cytotoxic effects such as apoptosis, necrosis or disturbances of cell proliferation were present. However, micronucleus induction as a sign of genotoxicity at an exposure duration of 3 h could be shown. Shorter exposures did not induce micronucleus formation. In summary, genotoxicity of NO2 could be demonstrated at a common urban concentration in vitro, but a threshold of NO2 genotoxicity could not be defined based on the present experiments.
Maximal motor unit firing rates during isometric resistance training in men

This study measured changes in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, percentage maximal activation, maximal surface EMG, M‐wave amplitude and average motor unit firing rates during the initial 3 weeks of isometric resistance training of the quadriceps muscle. Ten men participated in a resistance training programme three times a week for 3 weeks and 10 men participated as a control group. In the training group, MVC increased by 35% (from 761 ± 77 to 1031 ± 78 N) by the end of the 3 weeks. There were no changes in mean motor unit firing rates during submaximal or maximal voluntary contractions of 50 (15.51 ± 1.48 Hz), 75 (20.23 ± 1.85 Hz) or 100% MVC (42.25 ± 2.72 Hz) with isometric resistance training. There was also no change in maximal surface EMG relative to the M‐wave amplitude. However, there was a small increase in maximal activation (from 95.7 ± 1.83 to 98.44 ± 0.66%) as measured by the twitch interpolation technique. There were no changes in any of the parameters measured in the control group. It is suggested that mechanisms other than increases in average motor unit firing rates contributed to the increase in maximal force output with resistance training. Such mechanisms may include a combination of increased motor unit recruitment, enhanced protein synthesis, and changes in motor unit synchronization and muscle activation patterns across the quadriceps synergy.
SURVIVAL OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII OOCYSTS IN EASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA)

Toxoplasma gondii has recently been recognized to be widely prevalent in the marine environment. It has previously been determined that Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) can remove sporulated T. gondii oocysts from seawater and that oocysts retain their infectivity for mice. This study examined the long-term survival of T. gondii oocysts in oysters and examined how efficient oysters were at removing oocysts from seawater. Oysters in 76-L aquaria (15 oysters per aquarium) were exposed to 1 × 106 oocysts for 24 hr and examined at intervals up to 85 days postexposure (PE). Ninety percent (9 of 10) of these oysters were positive on day 1 PE using mouse bioassay. Tissue cysts were observed in 1 of 2 mice fed tissue from oysters exposed 21 days previously. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were found in 2 of 3 mice fed oysters that had been exposed 85 days previously. In another study, groups of 10 oysters in 76-L aquaria were exposed to 1 × 105, 5 × 104, or 1 × 104 sporulated T. gondii oocysts for 24 hr and then processed for bioassay in mice. All oysters exposed to 1 × 105 oocysts were infected, and 60% of oysters exposed to 5 × 104 oocysts were positive when fed to mice. The studies with exposure to 1 × 104 oocysts were repeated twice, and 10 and 25% of oysters were positive when fed to mice. These studies indicate that T. gondii can survive for several months in oysters and that oysters can readily remove T. gondii oocysts from seawater. Infected filter feeders may serve as a source of T. gondii for marine mammals and possibly humans.
Pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Over the last 10 years, pyocin typing has been a useful tool for the epidemiological fingerprinting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The widely used "scrape-andstreak" method of Gillies and Govan, although simple to perform, has not been sensitive enough in differentiation of strains. Use of additional indicator strains might correct this deficiency. The "growth-in-broth" method of typing has shown promise; because it is easily automated, it may become the method of choice when very sensitive results are required. The value of pyocin typing appears to be well established in the study of nosocomial infections; however, in some situations it may give misleading results. Further studies are required for demonstration of the relative value and relationships of serological, pyocin, and bacteriophage typing.
Thrombocytosis following splenectomy: with or without additional organ resection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Splenectomy is one of the main causes of reactive thrombocytosis. In most cases, thrombocytosis found incidentally is harmless and resolves spontaneously; however, extreme thrombocytosis may result in thrombotic events such as acute myocardial infarction, mesenteric vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Thus, there are no clear indications for determining which patients with reactive thrombocytosis require treatment. In this study, we evaluated reactive thrombocytosis that developed after splenectomy with or without additional organ resection. METHODOLOGY We retrospectively studied 70 patients who underwent splenectomy. These patients were divided into 2 groups: the only splenectomy group (group A) and the splenectomy with additional organ resection group (group B). RESULTS Both the platelet count at 1 week and 1 month after the operation (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively) and the incidence rate of thrombocytosis at 1 week and 1 month (p<0.4089 and p<0.0007, respectively) were significantly higher in group A than in group B. All patients in both groups recovered from thrombocytosis without any platelet reduction therapy and there was no postoperative thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS Splenectomy often results in reactive thrombocytosis; however, platelet reduction therapy is not required for treating postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis.
Quality of life benefits and cost impact of prolonged release oxycodone/naloxone versus prolonged release oxycodone in patients with moderate-to-severe non-malignant pain and opioid-induced constipation: a UK cost-utility analysis

Abstract Objective: To compare the cost effectiveness of prolonged release oxycodone/naloxone (OXN) tablets (Targinact) and prolonged release oxycodone (OXY) tablets (OxyContin) in patients with moderate-to-severe non-malignant pain and opioid-induced constipation (OIC) from the perspective of the UK healthcare system. Methods: A cohort model used data from a phase III randomised, controlled trial (RCT). It calculated the cost difference between treatments by combining the cost of pain therapy with costs of laxatives and other resources used to manage constipated patients. SF-36 scores were converted into EQ-5D utility values to calculate the quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gains. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: The incremental cost of OXN versus OXY was £159.68 for the average treatment duration of 301 days. OXN gave an incremental QALY gain of 0.0273. The estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was £5841.56 per QALY. Sensitivity analyses gave a maximum ICER of £10,347.03. In some scenarios, OXN dominated with a cost saving of up to £4254.70. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that OXN had approximately 96.6% probability of cost effectiveness at the £20,000 threshold. Limitations: The model was conservative in predicting the probability of constipation beyond the 12-week RCT period. UK cost of constipation data were limited and based on primary care physician opinion. Conclusions: In the base case, direct treatment costs were slightly higher for patients treated with OXN than for those treated with OXY. However, patients treated with OXN experienced a quality of life gain, and had an ICER considerably below thresholds commonly applied in the UK. The model was most sensitive to the estimated cost of constipation with a number of realistic scenarios in the sensitivity analysis demonstrating a cost saving with OXN (OXN dominant). OXN is therefore estimated to be a cost-effective option for treating patients with severe non-malignant pain and OIC.
The Changing Role of China in the Global Illegal Cigarette Trade

This study explores the history of the illegal production, distribution, and smuggling of cigarettes in mainland China. Data were obtained from a content analysis of 931 media reports retrieved from LexisNexis for the time period 1975 until 2010, and from other open sources. The illegal cigarette trade first emerged in the form of violations of state tobacco monopoly regulations. In the course of the restructuring of the legal tobacco sector, which occurred under external political pressure to open the Chinese market to foreign competition, an illegal cigarette industry emerged which at first primarily produced fake Chinese brand cigarettes for the domestic black market. At the same time, China became a destination country for smuggled genuine Western brand cigarettes. It was only after effective crackdowns against cigarette smuggling and domestic distribution channels in the late 1990s that the Chinese illegal cigarette industry shifted to exporting large numbers of counterfeit Western brand cigarettes to black markets abroad. China’s current role as a leading supplier of counterfeit cigarettes is a result of the contradictions of the economic reform process and of external licit and illicit forces that worked toward opening up the Chinese tobacco sector to the outside world.
Influence of steam-peeled potato-processing waste inclusion level in beef finishing diets: effects on digestion, feedlot performance, and meat quality.

Inclusion of potato-processing waste (PW) from the frozen potato products industry in high-grain beef cattle finishing diets was evaluated in two studies. In a randomized complete block design, 125 crossbred yearling heifers (365 +/- 0.3 kg initial BW; five pens per treatment; five heifers per pen) were used to evaluate PW level on feedlot performance and meat quality. Heifers were fed for 85 (two blocks) or 104 d (three blocks). In a digestion study, four ruminally, duodenally, and ileally cannulated Holstein steers (474.7 +/- 26.6 kg initial BW) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to evaluate effects of PW level on ruminal fermentation, site of digestion, and microbial protein synthesis. The control diet for both studies contained 80% corn, 10% alfalfa hay, 5% concentrated separator by-product (CSB), and 5% supplement (DM basis). Potato waste replaced corn and separator by-product (DM basis) in the diet at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% in the feedlot study, and at 0, 13, 27, and 40% in the digestion study. In the feedlot study, DMI decreased (linear; P = 0.007) with increasing inclusion of PW. Increasing PW decreased ADG and feed efficiency from 0 to 30% and then increased at 40% (quadratic; P < 0.01). Calculated dietary NEg concentrations did not differ among treatments (P = 0.18). Hot carcass weight decreased as PW increased from 0 to 30% and then increased at 40% PW (cubic; P < 0.01). Fat thickness and longissimus muscle area decreased with increasing PW (linear; P < 0.05). Level of PW did not affect marbling or liver scores (P > 0.30). No difference (P > 0.20) was observed for Warner-Bratzler shear force at 0, 10, 20, and 30% PW levels; however, 40% PW resulted in lower (P = 0.05) shear force values. Taste panel scores for juiciness and flavor intensity did not differ with increasing PW (P > 0.30). Steaks from cattle fed 0% were scored less tender than 10 and 40% PW (cubic; P < 0.05). In the digestion study, DMI decreased (quadratic; P < 0.01) with increasing PW. Ruminal pH and total VFA concentration increased (linear; P < 0.05) and true N disappearance from the stomach complex and apparent total-tract N disappearance decreased with increasing level of PW (linear; P < 0.01). Starch intake and ruminal disappearance decreased with increasing level of PW (quadratic; P < 0.05). Inclusion of PW decreased feedlot performance, with little effect on carcass characteristics or meat quality. Optimal inclusion of PW in finishing diets may depend on the cost of transportation and other dietary ingredients.
Towards a Better Understanding of Deep Neural Networks Representations using Deep Generative Networks

This paper presents a novel approach to deep-dream-like image generation for convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Images are produced by a deep generative network from a smaller dimensional feature vector. This method allows for the generation of more realistic looking images than traditional activation-maximization methods and gives insight into the CNN’s internal representations. Training is achieved by standard backprop-
Hemodynamic effects in dogs anesthetized with isoflurane and remifentanil-isoflurane.

OBJECTIVE To compare hemodynamic effects in dogs anesthetized with remifentanilisoflurane and with isoflurane alone. ANIMALS 6 adult dogs. PROCEDURES Mechanically ventilated, isoflurane-anesthetized dogs received increasing constant rate infusions (CRIs) of remifentanil (0.15, 0.30, 0.60, and 0.90 μg/kg/min) or physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control treatment), with a 1-week washout interval between treatments. Each CRI of remifentanil or saline solution was maintained for 60 minutes with equipotent end-tidal isoflurane concentrations that corresponded to 1.3 times the minimum alveolar concentration. Hemodynamic measurements and plasma vasopressin concentrations were determined before and at the end of each CRI and 60 minutes after the end of the infusion regimen. RESULTS Compared with the control treatment, remifentanil CRIs significantly decreased heart rate (HR) and cardiac index (CI) and significantly increased systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and plasma vasopressin concentration. Greatest differences in mean values between treatments were recorded for remifentanil at 0.60 μg/kg/min (HR and Cl were 55% and 47% lower, respectively, and SVRI was 91% higher than for the control treatment). Mean arterial pressure increased significantly during the highest remifentanil CRI (9% higher than for the control treatment). The increase in vascular resistance was positively correlated with increases in vasopressin concentrations (coefficient of determination, 0.65) during anesthesia with remifentanil-isoflurane. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Anesthesia maintained with remifentanil-isoflurane may decrease tissue perfusion as a result of a decrease in Cl. However, hypotension may not develop because of systemic vasoconstriction. An increase in plasma vasopressin concentration was associated with the vasoconstriction observed in dogs anesthetized with remifentanil-isoflurane.
Impact of Environmental Factors on Financing Agriculture Entrepreneurs

A common agricultural policy is important to help young farmers to start up their businesses. Such policies encourage entrepreneurs to establish agricultural ventures and nonagricultural businesses that lead to rural development and motivate young people in rural areas. The aim of this paper is to clarify the main environmental factors influencing the financing of small projects. It proposes to measure the extent to which the social, economic, legal and institutional environment can contribute to encouraging entrepreneurial projects, especially those in the agricultural field in Dongola-Soudan. The results reveal that the economic environment positively and significantly influences the financing of small projects. Conditions related to demand and product prices and the availability of inputs, as well as banks’ strategies in promoting agricultural investment, are the major economic policies to promote agricultural entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, in fewer developing countries the institutional, legal and social environment, from the point of view of 56 surveyed bankers, is still immature, and no significant correlation emerges in the model. The paper outlines that less developed countries have to modernize institutions and business law.