Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relation between grip strength and hand bone mineral density in healthy women aged 30-70.

AIM OF STUDY To determine the site-specific relationship between grip strength and hand bone mineral density (BMD) measured with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in healthy women. The correlation of hand BMD and BMD at axial sites has also been assessed. METHOD Twenty-nine healthy housewives, aged 30-70, were included in the study. Women were grouped according to their menopausal status (12 premenopausal and 17 postmenopausal). Grip strength of the dominant hand was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. BMD of the antero-posterior spine, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle were measured with DXA. For the hand BMD measurements, the analysis software, which was modified from the software of small animals and developed for hand BMD measurements, was used. RESULTS Hand BMD moderately correlated with grip strength in postmenopausal women. There was no significant correlation between grip strength and hand BMD in premenopausal women. Significant positive correlations were determined between the hand BMD and BMD at axial sites. CONCLUSION Grip strength may be an independent indicator of hand BMD in postmenopausal women, and also a site-specific relationship. Hand BMD measurements may indirectly reflect the BMD of axial sites especially in postmenopausal women.
Ofatumumab for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Ofatumumab is a humanized second-generation monoclonal antibody with the affinity to a transmembrane protein CD20. In in vitro studies, it exhibits higher efficacy towards chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells compared to rituximab, and it can be explained by the fact that its epitope on the target CD20 protein is different as it includes a short as well as a long extracellular loop. Ofatumumab is especially effective in the lysis of CD20 low-expressing lymphocytes that are often observed in CLL. Currently, this agent is approved for the treatment of fludarabine- and alemtuzumab-refractory CLL. There are also promising preliminary results of the studies that indicate benefits of ofatumumab not only in patients with bulky/fludarabine-refractory CLL but also in treatment-naive patients with CLL with contraindications to fludarabine and in maintenance treatment.
An Explorative Study on Requirements for Ambient Displays Presenting Mood Awareness

In face-to-face meetings important information about other team members’ mood can be grasped from facial expressions. In distributed teams this information is missing. Media Spaces connect users in different rooms over distance via audio and video links. While studies on awareness have shown that mutual information—including the mood—improves social interaction, concerns with respect to users’ privacy in the connected rooms are increasing. In this paper we report on a study exploring the design space of ambient displays as means of capturing and presenting mood awareness while preserving present users’ privacy. Our survey (N=19) revealed interesting requirements for the design of ambient displays and shows that the actual mood has a strong influence on the willingness to share one’s mood.
RAIL: Risk-Averse Imitation Learning

Imitation learning algorithms learn viable policies by imitating an expert's behavior when reward signals are not available. Generative Adversarial Imitation Learning (GAIL) is a state-of-the-art algorithm for learning policies when the expert's behavior is available as a fixed set of trajectories. We evaluate in terms of the expert's cost function and observe that the distribution of trajectory-costs is often more heavy-tailed for GAIL-agents than the expert at a number of benchmark continuous-control tasks. Thus, high-cost trajectories, corresponding to tail-end events of catastrophic failure, are more likely to be encountered by the GAIL-agents than the expert. This makes the reliability of GAIL-agents questionable when it comes to deployment in risk-sensitive applications like robotic surgery and autonomous driving. In this work, we aim to minimize the occurrence of tail-end events by minimizing tail risk within the GAIL framework. We quantify tail risk by the Conditional-Value-at-Risk (CVaR) of trajectories and develop the Risk-Averse Imitation Learning (RAIL) algorithm. We observe that the policies learned with RAIL show lower tail-end risk than those of vanilla GAIL. Thus the proposed RAIL algorithm appears as a potent alternative to GAIL for improved reliability in risk-sensitive applications.
The pathobiology of the oncogenic tyrosine kinase NPM-ALK: a brief update

Extensive research has been carried out in the past two decades to study the pathobiology of nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK), which is an oncogenic fusion protein found exclusively in a specific type of T-cell lymphoid malignancy, namely ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Results from these studies have provided highly useful insights into the mechanisms by which a constitutively tyrosine kinase, such as NPM-ALK, promotes tumorigenesis. Several previous publications have comprehensively summarized the advances in this field. In this review, we provide readers with a brief update on specific areas of NPM-ALK pathobiology. In the first part, the NPM-ALK/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling axis is discussed, with an emphasis on the existence of multiple biochemical defects that have been shown to amplify the oncogenic effects of this signaling axis. Specifically, findings regarding JAK3, SHP1 and the stimulatory effects of several cytokines including interleukin (IL)-9, IL-21 and IL-22 are summarized. New concepts stemming from recent observations regarding the functional interactions among the NPM-ALK/STAT3 axis, β catenin and glycogen synthase kinase 3β will be postulated. Lastly, new mechanisms by which the NPM-ALK/STAT3 axis promotes tumorigenesis, such as its modulations of Twist1, hypoxia-induced factor 1α, CD274, will be described. In the second part, we summarize recent data generated by mass spectrometry studies of NPM-ALK, and use MSH2 and heat shock proteins as examples to illustrate the use of mass spectrometry data in stimulating new research in this field. In the third part, the evolving field of microRNA in the context of NPM-ALK biology is discussed.
Effects of Mutations in DNA Repair Genes on Formation of Ribosomal DNA Circles and Life Span inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT A cause of aging in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the accumulation of extrachromosomal ribosomal DNA circles (ERCs). Introduction of an ERC into young mother cells shortens life span and accelerates the onset of age-associated sterility. It is important to understand the process by which ERCs are generated. Here, we demonstrate that homologous recombination is necessary for ERC formation. rad52 mutant cells, defective in DNA repair through homologous recombination, do not accumulate ERCs with age, and mutations in other genes of the RAD52 class have varying effects on ERC formation. rad52 mutation leads to a progressive delocalization of Sir3p from telomeres to other nuclear sites with age and, surprisingly, shortens life span. We speculate that spontaneous DNA damage, perhaps double-strand breaks, causes lethality in mutants of the RAD52 class and may be an initial step of aging in wild-type cells.
Diagnosis of hypertension in children and adolescents based on home versus ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Objective To investigate the usefulness of home blood pressure measurements in comparison with ambulatory monitoring in the diagnosis of sustained, white-coat hypertension and masked hypertension in children and adolescents. Subjects and methods One hundred and two subjects, referred for elevated blood pressure, were assessed with clinic (two visits), home (6 days) and awake ambulatory blood pressure measurements [64 boys, mean age 12.8 ± 2.9 (SD) years, range 6–18 years]. Results Office hypertension was diagnosed in 38 subjects, ambulatory hypertension in 31 and home hypertension in 23 (P = 0.07). On the basis of clinic and ambulatory blood pressure, 52% of subjects were normotensive, 20% hypertensive, 18% had white-coat hypertension and 11% masked hypertension, whereas on the basis of clinic and home blood pressure, 55, 15, 23 and 8%, respectively. There was an agreement between ambulatory and home blood pressure in the diagnosis of hypertension in 82 cases (80%). When a 5-mmHg gray zone of diagnostic uncertainty was applied above and below the diagnostic thresholds, there were only eight cases with clinically important disagreement. By taking ambulatory blood pressure as the reference method for the diagnosis of hypertension, the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of home blood pressure were 55, 92, 74 and 82%, respectively, for the diagnosis of white-coat hypertension 89, 92, 70 and 98%, respectively, and for masked hypertension 36, 96, 50 and 93%, respectively. Conclusion In children and adolescents, there is a reasonable agreement between home and ambulatory blood pressure measurements as diagnostic methods in hypertension. Home blood pressure appears to be a useful diagnostic test in this population, particularly for the detection of white-coat hypertension.
Persistent polyclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis in identical twins

This is the first report of the unusual syndrome of persistent polyclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis occurring in monozygotic twins. The syndrome is characterized by a lymphocytosis, with circulating atypical, binucleated lymphocytes, mild splenomegaly and raised serum IgM. It occurs predominantly in females, with serological evidence of previous EBV infection, and is associated with cigarette smoking and HLA‐DR7 phenotype. The association with DR7 suggests a genetic predisposition. Its occurrence in identical twins, documented here, provides stronger support for a hereditary/genetic basis for the syndrome.
Assessment of teratogenicity

Animal tests for teratogenicity of drugs have more medicolegal and political significance than relevance to human therapeutics. Test conditions differ widely from human therapeutic regimens and major species differences are common. Occasionally the tests will define a drug or group of drugs with an unpleasant potential, and sometimes a mode of action which needs careful exploration in humans will be found. Anecdotal case reports of purported associations between drug use and congenital malformations provide a vast source of misinformation, yet they were responsible for the indictment of thalidomide as a human teratogen. Retrospective studies on patients who have taken a drug in pregnancy are susceptible to recall bias, and at best provide a basis for planned prospective studies which are seldom instituted for fear of medicolegal consequences. Prospective surveillance of drugs already accepted for use in pregnancy and reporting of `adverse reactions' to drugs inadvertently used in pregnancy thus provide the only effective source of information on teratogenicity of psychotropic drugs in humans.
Theophylline pharmacokinetics: comparison of Cyp1a1(−/−) and Cyp1a2(−/−) knockout mice, humanized hCYP1A1_1A2 knock-in mice lacking either the mouse Cyp1a1 or Cyp1a2 gene, and Cyp1(+/+) wild-type mice

Objectives Pharmacokinetics of theophylline was investigated in Cyp1(+/+) wild-type mice, Cyp1a1(−/−) and Cyp1a2(−/−) knockout mice, and humanized hCYP1A1_1A2 mice lacking either the mouse Cyp1a1 or Cyp1a2 gene. Methods and results Animals received a single dose of theophylline (8 mg/kg i.p.), either alone or pretreated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; 10 μg/kg i.p.) 24 h prior to theophylline. We found that mouse or human CYP1A2 is the predominant enzyme for theophylline metabolism, the contribution of mouse or human CYP1A1 to theophylline metabolism is negligible, and another TCDD-inducible enzyme plays a minor role in 1-methyluric acid and 1,3-dimethyluric acid formation as well as enhanced theophylline clearance from the body. The half-life of elimination from plasma was more than four times longer in Cyp1a2(−/−) than Cyp1(+/+) mice and more than 10 times different after TCDD pretreatment. In humanized hCYP1A1_1A2 mice lacking the mouse Cyp1a2 gene, the half-life of elimination from plasma was two to three times longer than that in Cyp1(+/+) mice and four to five times different after TCDD pretreatment. Conclusion Replacement of mouse Cyp1a2 with a functional human CYP1A2 gene restored the ability to metabolize theophylline, and the metabolism changed to a humanized profile (i.e. 3-methylxanthine formation, not seen in the wild-type mouse). TCDD-pretreated hCYP1A1_1A2 Cyp1a2(−/−) mice exhibited enhanced theophylline metabolism and clearance, due to induction of the human CYP1A2 enzyme. Comparing the hCYP1A1_1A2 Cyp1a2(−/−) and wild-type mice with published clinical studies, we found theophylline clearance to be about 5 times and 12 times, respectively, greater than that reported in humans.
Dengue and Zika Virus Infection; Immunopathogenetic Likeness?

Dengue and Zika viruses are closely related. They have the same mode of transmission, are structurally similar and sequential infections do occur. These observations have led to the hypothesis that these viruses share a common pathogenesis. Both cellular and humoral immunity play a role in Dengue virus infection. Research is being conducted to determine if the same immune mechanisms are responsible for spread and pathogenesis of Zika virus as well.
Predictive Factors for Postoperative Pulmonary Complications and Mortality After Esophagectomy for Cancer

Objective:This study aimed at: (1) documenting the evolution of surgical results of esophagectomy in a high-volume center, (2) identifying predictive factors of pulmonary complications and mortality, and (3) examining whether preoperative chemoradiation therapy would complicate postoperative recovery. Summary Background Data:Pulmonary complications and mortality rate after esophagectomy remain substantial, and factors responsible have not been adequately studied. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is widely used; it is hypothesized that this may lead to adverse postoperative outcome. Methods:Prospectively collected data were used to analyze outcome in 421 patients with intrathoracic squamous cell esophageal cancer who underwent resection. Logistic regression analyses determined independent predictors of pulmonary complications and death. Two time periods were compared: period I (January 1990 to June 1995) and period II (July 1995 to December 2001). In the later period, neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy was introduced. Results:Transthoracic resections were carried out in 83% of patients. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation was given to 42% of patients in period II. Major pulmonary complications occurred in 15.9%, and were primarily responsible for 55% of hospital deaths. Thirty-day and hospital mortality rates were 1.4% and 4.8%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis identified age, operation duration, and proximal tumor location as risk factors for pulmonary complications, whereas advanced age and higher blood loss were predictive of mortality. Chemoradiation did not lead to worse outcome. When period I and II were compared, hospital mortality rate reduced from 7.8% to 1.1%, P = 0.001, with correspondingly less blood loss (median blood loss was 700 ml (range: 200–2700 (period I) and 450 ml (range: 100–7000) (period II), P < 0.01). Conclusion:A 1.1% mortality rate was achieved in the last 6 years of the study period. Preoperative chemoradiation did not result in worse outcome. Reduction in mortality rate correlated with decreased blood loss.
Factors Influencing the Choice of Social Network Sites in the Light of Cross-cultural Research

The main purpose of the paper is to identify the factors of social networking sites (SNS) that influence individual users’ choice in foreign markets (cultures) and to determine endogenous characteristics (age and gender) differentiating this choice. Besides, the specific objective of the paper is to indicate interdependencies between the importance of particular factors of SNS and the devices used by users. The literature studies have been enriched with empirical studies carried out in China, Poland, and the United States. Empirical research was conducted with the use of a quantitative research method such as paper and electronic inquiry forms (CAWI), filled out by the respondents themselves. Referring to the importance of the characteristic features of SNS, it needs to be emphasized that the results of the empirical studies showed little differences among the researched countries. It was noted that the endogenous characteristics of users, such as gender and age, differentiate the significance of particular elements. The greatest interdependencies between the endogenous factors and the elements of SNS were observed in the Chinese group. The research also showed great significance of mobile devices in using SNS. The presented results have a significant application value for business entities creating SNS and their mobile applications in the foreign market.
Chemokine Like Receptor-1 (CMKLR-1) Receptor: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Management of Chemerin Induced Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cancer.

BACKGROUND Chemerin is an adipokine that induces insulin resistance by the mechanism of inflammation in adipose tissue but these are still unclear. A high level of chemerin in humans is considered as a marker of inflammation in insulin resistance and obesity as well as in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite the role of chemerin in insulin resistance progression, chemerin as one of the novel adipokines is proposed to be involved in high cancer risk and mortality. AIM The aim of this paper was to review the role of CMKLR-1 receptor and the potential therapeutic target in the management of chemerin induced type 2 diabetes mellitus and cancer. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Increased chemerin secretion activates an inflammatory response. The inflammatory response will increase the oxidative stress in adipose tissue and consequently results in an insulin-resistant state. The occurrence of inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance leads to the progression of cancers. CONCLUSION Chemerin is one of the markers that may involve in development of both cancer and insulin resistance. Chemokine like receptor- 1 (CMKLR-1) receptor that regulates chemerin levels exhibits a potential therapeutic target for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cancer treatment.
Noncontact optical coherence tomography for measurement of corneal flap and residual stromal bed thickness after laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE Studies show significant variability in the thickness of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) corneal flaps cut by various microkeratomes. Most studies of corneal flap thickness are based on contact ultrasonic pachymetry measurements taken during the surgical procedure. This study reports a technique to obtain reproducible corneal flap thickness and residual stromal bed thickness measurements using noncontact optical coherence tomography (OCT) following LASIK. METHODS The corneal flap thicknesses of 26 eyes of 15 patients were measured following LASIK in which the flap was created using the Amadeus microkeratome: 160-microm head, 9.5-mm ring, 4.0-mm/s translation speed, 8000 oscillations/m, and full vacuum. Zeiss Humphrey OCT-2 line scans were performed on postoperative days 1 and 7. The raw data from three scans for each eye and day were exported to Microsoft Excel for processing, averaging, and analysis. RESULTS The OCT corneal flap thickness and residual stromal bed thickness measurements correlated well with ultrasonic pachymetry measurements performed during surgery (R2 = .92). The OCT technique yielded reproducible results, as the variance for repeated scans was only 2.5% of the variance between eyes. In bilateral cases a single blade was used for both eyes. The mean flap thickness of 15 first eyes was significantly greater than that of the 10 second eyes: 181 +/- 31 microm vs. 143 +/- 41 microm (P < .01). A positive correlation was found between the preoperative pachymetry and corneal flap thickness. CONCLUSIONS The OCT scan averaging technique is a reproducible, noncontact postoperative method for measuring corneal flap and residual stromal bed thicknesses following LASIK.
Mining protein lists from proteomics studies: applications for drug discovery

Importance of the field: In recent years, proteomics has become a common technique applied to a wide spectrum of scientific problems, including the identification of diagnostic biomarkers, monitoring the effects of drug treatments or identification of chemical properties of a protein or a drug. Although being significantly different in scientific essence, the ultimate result of the majority of proteomics studies is a protein list. Thousands of independent proteomics studies have reported protein lists in various functional contexts. Areas covered in this review: We review here the spectrum of scientific problems where proteomics technology was applied recently to deliver protein lists. The available bioinformatics methods commonly used to understand the properties of the protein lists are compared. What the reader will gain: The types and common functional properties of the reported protein lists are discussed. The range of scientific problems where this knowledge could be potentially helpful with a focus on drug discovery issues is explored. Take home message: Reported protein lists represent a valuable resource which can be used for a variety of goals, ranging from biomarkers discovery to identification of novel therapeutic implications of known drugs.
Pricing jump risk with utility indifference

This paper is concerned with option pricing in an incomplete market driven by a jump-diffusion process. We price options according to the principle of utility indifference. Our main contribution is an efficient multi-nomial tree method for computing the utility indifference prices for both European and American options. Moreover, we conduct an extensive numerical study to examine how the indifference prices vary in response to changes in the major model parameters. It is shown that the model reproduces ‘crash-o-phobia’ and other features of market prices of options. In addition, we find that the volatility smile generated by the model corresponds to a zero mean jump size, while the volatility skew corresponds to a negative mean jump size.
Exploring the Effects of Contest Mechanisms on Idea Shortlisting in an Open Idea Competition

Picking the most promising from a multitude of crowd-generated ideas challenges organizations that employ open idea competitions. Hence, hosts of such contests often filter submitted ideas into shortlists to help juries selecting the winning ideas. While contest communities and rewards have been conceptually associated with advancing idea development, the effect of IT-enabled contest mechanisms on idea shortlisting lacks empirical assessment. We draw on data from an online idea competition to improve our understanding of determinants for idea shortlisting. We conceptualize and operationalize three contest mechanisms: idea development, community appreciation, and early host appreciation. We find that these contest mechanisms are associated with the likelihood of an idea being shortlisted. Our findings help to better understand what determines idea shortlisting and may also lay the foundation for designing IT-enabled contest mechanisms so that they allow the efficient identification of promising ideas out