Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persistence of cytogenetic abnormalities at complete remission after induction in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: prognostic significance and the potential role of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation.

PURPOSE To determine the prognostic impact of persistent cytogenetic abnormalities at complete remission (CR) on relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to examine the potential role of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) in this setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from 254 adult patients with AML (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia) who achieved CR after induction chemotherapy on various first-line protocols were examined. RESULTS Median follow-up for surviving patients was 43 months. Patients with cytogenetic abnormalities at CR (n = 71) had significantly shorter RFS (P = .001) and OS (P < .001) compared with patients with normal cytogenetics at CR (n = 183); 3-year RFS was 15% and 45%, and 3-year OS was 15% and 56%, respectively. Among the patients with persistent cytogenetic abnormalities at CR, those who underwent SCT in first CR (CR1; n = 15) had better RFS and OS compared to those without SCT (n = 56; P = .04 and .06, respectively). In multivariate analysis, persistent cytogenetic abnormalities at CR was an independent predictor for RFS (P < .001) and OS (P = .001), but among patients with persistent cytogenetic abnormalities at CR, no significant differences in OS (P = .25) was observed between those who did or did not receive SCT with a trend favoring SCT for RFS (P = .08). CONCLUSION Persistent cytogenetically abnormal cells at CR predict a significantly shorter RFS and OS. SCT in CR1 may improve the clinical outcome of patients lacking cytogenetic remission after induction although this depends on patient selection.
Land snails from Norfolk Island sites

Fourteen sequences of land snails were sampled by corer from the Emily Bay settlement site and four from Cemetery Bay. Thirty-nine samples of modern land snails were collected from six environmental zones on Norfolk Island. The modern fauna is depauperate compared to the prehistoric one, with loss occurring mostly among the larger species. We suggest this is due first to predation by Rattus exulans introduced by prehistoric Polynesians and later to habitat loss following European settlement. We consider we cannot use the land snail data to make any interpretation of direct human impact on the Norfolk Island environment. We note however that the density and diversity of snails is high in the prehistoric cultural layer and below it, showing that the settlement area probably provided a more vegetated and wetter environment for the earliest settlers than is now present.
T-helper (1) cytokines increase during early pregnancy in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.

BACKGROUND The measurement of various cytokines may provide different tools for evaluation of the immune system. The objective of this study was to assess the role of the Th1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta in this phenomenon, and detection of Th1 cytokines in women with RSA. MATERIAL/METHODS The control group consisted of 40 women with no history of pregnancy loss. The abortion group comprised of 92 women having at least 3 pregnancy losses. Blood samples from the control group and women with RSA were taken at the end of first trimester of gestational age and at the time of abortion, respectively. Sera were separated and lymphocytes were challenged with PHA. All samples were tested for concentration of Th1 cytokines using ELISA methods. RESULTS It was found that sera from women with RSA produce higher concentration of TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, and IL-2 in comparison with sera from normal pregnant women (NPW) (P<0.001). We were not able to detect IL-2 in (NPW) whereas in 31% sera from RSA group, IL-2 was detectable (P<0.001). However, there was no significant differences between IFN-g, concentration in sera from patients and control group (P<0.182). Tissue culture supernatant from women with RSA also produced higher concentration of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-beta and IL2, than control group. CONCLUSIONS These data may explain the increase NK-cells cytolytic activity during early pregnancy in RSA group. It may also provide a diagnostic tool to predict the outcome of pregnancy.
Influence of different types of exercise on the expression of haem oxygenase-1 in leukocytes

Haem-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an antioxidant stress protein that is mainly induced by reactive oxygen species, inflammatory cytokines and hyperthermia. We assessed the influence of different types of exercise on HO-1 expression in leukocytes of the peripheral blood in three groups of male participants: a short exhaustive run above the lactate steady state (n = 15), eccentric exercise (n = 12) and an intensive endurance run (half-marathon, n = 12). Blood samples were taken at rest and up to 24 h after exercise. Blood lactate concentration after exercise was 9.0 ± 2.1, 3.8 ± 1.6 and 5.1 ± 2.2 mmol · l − 1 (mean ± s) for the exhaustive run, eccentric exercise and half-marathon groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Creatine kinase concentration was highest 24 h after exercise: 133 ± 91, 231 ± 139 and 289 ± 221 U · l − 1 for the exhaustive run, eccentric exercise and half-marathon groups, respectively (P < 0.05). The maximal increase in leukocyte counts after exercise was 11.5 ± 19.2, 6.2 ± 1.4 and 14.7 ± 2.1 × 109 · l − 1. There was no change in HO-1 as a result of the short exhaustive run or the eccentric exercise, whereas the half-marathon had a significant stimulatory effect on HO-1-expression in lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes (P<0.001) using flow cytometry analyses. In conclusion, eccentric exercise alone or short-term heavy exercise are not sufficient to stimulate the antioxidative stress protein HO-1 in peripheral leukocytes
Rapid dissemination by the agent of Lyme disease in hosts that permit fulminating infection

We determined whether the agent of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) disseminates more rapidly following deposition in hosts that permit fulminating infection than in hosts in which infection is relatively benign. Thus, individual infected nymphal deer ticks (Ixodes dammini) were permitted to engorge on the ears of C3H mice, and the site of attachment was excised at intervals thereafter. Infection in each mouse was determined by serology and by examining previously noninfected ticks that had engorged on these mice. These results were compared with data obtained similarly by using the CD-1 strain of mice in which the agent is relatively nonpathogenic. When the site of inoculation was ablated within 2 days after the infected tick became replete, dissemination was aborted. Spirochetemia could not be demonstrated in any of these mice. We conclude that Lyme disease spirochetes disseminate from the feeding lesion of an infecting tick more rapidly in certain highly spirochete-susceptible mice than in others in which pathogenesis is less severe.
Macro Expectations, Aggregate Uncertainty, and Expected Term Premia

Based on individual expectations from the Survey of Professional Forecasters, we construct a realtime proxy for expected term premium changes on long-term bonds. We empirically investigate the relation of these bond term premium expectations with expectations about key macroeconomic variables as well as aggregate macroeconomic uncertainty at the level of individual forecasters. We find that expected term premia are (i) time-varying and reasonably persistent, (ii) strongly related to expectations about future output growth, and (iii) positively affected by uncertainty about future output growth and in ation rates. Expectations about real macroeconomic variables seem to matter more than expectations about nominal factors. Additional findings on term structure factors suggest that the level and slope factor capture information related to uncertainty about real and nominal macroeconomic prospects, and that curvature is related to subjective term premium expectations themselves. Finally, an aggregate measure of forecasters' term premium expectations has predictive power for bond excess returns over horizons of up to one year.
[A case of aconitine poisoning saved with cardiopulmonary bypass].

"Torikabuto" is a kind of plant which contains deadly poison. Its ingredient is aconitine alkaloids. We report a case of aconitine poisoning with fatal arrhythmia and acute pulmonary edema who was saved with cardio pulmonary bypass. A 41-year-old male ate to mistake "Torikabuto" for wild plant. He developed symptoms of dysarthria and admitted to our hospital. He developed ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation soon after his admission. Then he developed cardiogenic shock. He was resuscitated and supported with a percutaneous cardio pulmonary bypass. Ventricular tachycardia disappeared 24 hours after admittion. About 1 week later, cardio pulmonary bypass was terminated and about 3 months later, he discharged from our hospital.
A General Framework for Diffractive Optics and Its Applications to Lasers with Large Spectrums and Short Pulses

The aim of this article is to generalize the usual tools of diffractive optics in order to allow the study of phenomena which are out of their range. This generalization relies on the algebra of oscillations with a continuous oscillatory spectrum, which is wider than the usual spaces of periodic or almost-periodic functions. We perform the analysis for general nonlinear hyperbolic systems, both in the dispersive and in the nondispersive cases, and particularly focus on the behavior of the nonlinearities. Our tools yield considerable simplifications in these nonlinearities, which allows us to point out qualitative differences between the dispersive and the nondispersive cases. Finally, we study in detail two physical examples which can be modeled with the present tools: lasers with large spectrums, and those with ultrashort pulses.
Dynamic assembly of surface structures in living cells

Although the dynamics of cell membranes and associated structures is vital for cell function, little is known due to lack of suitable methods. We found, using scanning ion conductance microscopy, that microvilli, membrane projections supported by internal actin bundles, undergo a life cycle: fast height-dependent growth, relatively short steady state, and slow height-independent retraction. The microvilli can aggregate into relatively stable structures where the steady state is extended. We suggest that the intrinsic dynamics of microvilli, combined with their ability to make stable structures, allows them to act as elementary “building blocks” for the assembly of specialized structures on the cell surface.
Recent Techniques used for Isolation and Characterization of Staphylococcus Aureus from Mastitic Cows.

A total of 152 cows was examined in this study for Staphylococcus species, it was found that 44.3% of cows and were clinically mastitic whereas 14.5% were subclinically mastitic respectively. The identification of Staphylococcus species revealed that S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. intermedius and S. hyicus for cows were (17.2%, 7.5%, 3.9% and 1.6%) respectively. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were confirmed after biochemical identification by API test. The study of virulence factors of total S. aureus isolates from mastitic cows revealed that lipase, fibrinolysin, DNase and protein A production were presented as percentage 67.3, 74.0, 85.6 and 84.6 respectively. The antibiotic sensitivity for S. aureus revealed that 96.2% of cow isolates were methicillin sensitive which considered the drug of choice for these isolates. The study also included the identification of S. aureus enterotoxins using set-RPLA and multiplex PCR. The incidence of enterotoxins C,A,B and D by set-RPLA were 36.5%, 14.4%, 10.6% and 2.9% respectively. Meanwhile the results of multiplex PCR were 7 isolates as enterotoxin C,4 isolates as enterotoxin E and one isolate for each A,B, and D respectively. The identification of MRSA of cow's isolates using PCR revealed that 3 isolates out of 5 isolates were positive. (El-Seedy,F.R, El-Shabrawy, M; Hakim, A. S; Dorgham,S.M.m Ata, S. Nagwa; Bakry, M.A and Osman,N.M.N. Recent Techniques used for Isolation and Characterization of Staphylococcus Aureus from Mastitic Cows. Journal of American Science 2010;6(12):701-708). (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience. org.
Aprender jugando, resolviendo: diseñando experiencias positivas de aprendizaje

Resumen. La experiencia pedagogica que se presenta pretende implicar a los alumnos del Ciclo Formativo de Alojamientos Turisticos en el proceso de su aprendizaje en el modulo gestion del departamento de pisos o housekeeping. Asignatura que los alumnos consideran un mero tramite para la obtencion de su titulacion, al no ser un departamento deseado por el alumnado donde ejercer profesionalmente, aunque la formacion adquirida si les permite optar a puestos de responsabilidad como jefe del departamento. Con el proposito de fomentar la asistencia a clase, el aprendizaje significativo de los contenidos y el desarrollo competencial de los estudiantes, se disenan actividades donde se combina el uso de metodologias de aprendizaje participativas como la educacion expandida, realizando actividades en salidas a hoteles; a traves de la gamificacion, convirtiendo el aprendizaje en una experiencia significativa y motivadora mediante el empleo de mecanicas de juego en combinacion con el uso de metodologias de aprendizaje experiencial: “learning by doing”. Durante el desarrollo de las diferentes actividades, los alumnos estuvieron mas participativos e involucrados en el desarrollo de las tareas, alcanzaron los objetivos de aprendizaje, trabajaron competencias profesionales, y valoraron de forma mas positiva la labor y funcion del departamento de pisos dentro del hotel.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Under Spinal Anaesthesia : Experience From Secondary Care Centre

Background: laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually performed under general anaesthesia. However, many studies have been done to assess feasibility of spinal anaesthesia for the same, and it was found to be safe and feasible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. At our centre laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually performed under spinal anaesthesia with very good results. This study done over a period of one year, shows the feasibility of spinal anaesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Material and methods: 164 patients aged between 20-70 years with ASA grade I or II having gallstone disease, posted for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy after their consent for spinal anaesthesia were included in this study, which was carried out over a period of one year. Spinal anaesthesia was given to all the patients included in the study. Patient’s refusal for spinal anaesthesia, any contra-indication to spinal anaesthesia and obese patients were excluded from this study. Results: spinal anaesthesia was found to be feasible, safe and cost effective alternative to general anaesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy with good post-operative recovery. Keyword: feasibility, general anaesthesia, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, spinal anaesthesia.
The Tau Gene Haplotype H1 Confers a Susceptibility to Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Polymorphisms in the tau gene may be associated with increased risk for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, most of previous association studies have been underpowered to detect a potentially modest contribution of the tau variants to PD risk. Objective: To clarify the relationship between genetic variation in tau gene and PD risk, we conducted a meta-analysis of all published association studies. We identified 14 independent case-control studies including 2,093 PD cases and 2,258 controls. After excluding two studies contributing to most of between-study heterogeneity, the pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of PD were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.23–1.65) for those with H1/H1 genotype compared with all others and 1.52 (95% CI, 1.12–2.04) for all individuals carrying H1 haplotype versus all others. Based on the data available, the results were not significantly different according to sex, family history of PD, age at onset and dementia status. Conclusions: Our results support the notion that tau gene H1 haplotype may be an important risk factor of PD.
Changes in the fatty acid profiles through the digestive tract of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris

The gut of many soil arthropods contains a complex and mutualistic microbial community that usually assists the host with digestion. The same is probably true for earthworms, but the nature and function of the microbiota inhabiting their gut are virtually unknown. In this paper, we studied the microbial community in the gut content of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. and in the bulk soil by assessing their fatty acid (FA) profiles. Our results indicated that the total FA concentration in the earthworm gut was about two orders of magnitude greater than in bulk soil, with higher concentration of bacteria (up to 500-fold), fungal and metazoanderived FAs. Several FAs appearing in the gut were not present in bulk soil. PCA analysis revealed that the microbial community in the gut was different from that in the bulk soil, and that significant changes occurred between midgut, hindgut and proctodeum. Cluster analysis of bacterial and fungal-derived FA profiles grouped the bulk soil samples apart from the gut samples, where the hindgut profiles were more closely related to those from the proctodeum than those from the midgut. We showed important changes in the FA concentration and composition occurring at very small spatial scales inside the gut of the earthworm L. terrestris. These results have implications for understanding earthworm digestion, and they suggest that the microbial community in the earthworm gut is not a casual combination of microorganisms already present in the soil. Further study is needed to determine how these gut microbial communities are involved in earthworm digestion processes. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Learning Flexible Block based Local Binary Patterns for unconstrained face detection

Face detection has been a very active research topic in recent years. However, when applied to uncontrolled environments, some systems exhibit poor generalization ability. Even though few of existing methods can achieve promising results in some challenging situations, they usually have the requirement of high computational cost. This will definitely limit the use of those methods in some mobile platforms which have limited computational resources and strict power-consumption control. In this paper, a novel facial representation method for multi-view face detection in uncontrolled environment is presented. The proposed method, named Flexible Block based Local Binary Patterns (FBLBP), has low storage requirements and it is fast to compute; while its performance is comparable with the state of the art methods, demonstrated on the challenging Face Detection Data set and Benchmark (FDDB).
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ENDOTHELIN‐B RECEPTOR EXPRESSION AND VASOMOTOR FUNCTION DURING EXPERIMENTAL CEREBRAL VASOSPASM

OBJECTIVESeveral investigations suggest a key role of endothelin (ET) in the development of cerebral vasospasm (CVS). In the cerebrovasculature, physiologically ET-dependent constriction is mediated by the ET(A) receptor, whereas activation of the endothelial ET(B) receptor results in relaxation. However, existence of a contractile ET(B) receptor was postulated after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), according to gene expression studies. The aim of the present investigation is, therefore, to characterize the function and the expression of the ET(B) receptor in the cerebrovasculature during CVS. METHODSCVS was induced in the rat double-hemorrhage model and assessed by perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans. Rats were sacrificed on Days 3 and 5 after SAH, and immunohistochemical staining for ET(B) receptors was performed. Isometric force of basilar artery ring segments with (E+) and without (E−) endothelial function was measured. Concentration effect curves for the ET(B) receptor agonist, sarafotoxin 6c, were constructed by cumulative application in segments under resting tension and after precontraction. RESULTSImmunoreactivity for the ET(B) receptor was observed exclusively in the endothelium and was not significantly altered after SAH. Under resting tension, sarafotoxin 6c did not induce significant contraction in E+ or E− segments. After precontraction, a significant relaxation was induced by sarafotoxin 6c administration in sham-operated rats (mean maximum effect, 103 ± 10%), which decreased time dependently after SAH (Day 3, 68 ± 3%; Day 5, 42 ± 3%). Endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine, however, was not significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONThe present investigation provides evidence for the loss of the ET(B) receptor-mediated vasomotor function after SAH. Thus, antagonism of the ET(B) receptor may be undesirable for the treatment of CVS.
Enjoying and fearing laughter: Personality characteristics of gelotophobes, gelotophiles, and katagelasticists

People differ in the way they deal with ridicule. The study examines the personality correlates of those who fear being laughed at (gelotophobes), those who enjoy being laughed at (gelotophiles) and those who enjoy laughing at others (katagelasticists). Gelotophobes do not interpret laughter by others as something positive but more as a mean to put them down. Gelotophiles enjoy being laughed at and interpret the laughter by others positively, as a sign of appreciation. Katagelasticists enjoy laughing at others and do not feel that there is anything wrong in doing so. In an empirical study (N = 394), gelotophobia, gelotophilia, and katagelasticism were related to the PEN-model. Gelotophobes were found to be introverted neurotics. Gelotophilia was primarily related to extraversion and in a multiple regression analysis gender (higher among males) turned out to be predictive as well. Katagelasticists were found to be younger males with higher scores in extraversion and psychoticism. Overall, in a regression analysis the content scales of the short form of the EPQ-R predicted gelotophobia best, but gelotophilia and katagelasticism also yielded robust relations.
Pharmacokinetic interaction between neuroleptics and tricyclic antidepressants in the rat.

The metabolism and disposition of 14C-nortriptyline and 14C-imipramine in the rat was studied after intraperitoneal administration of single doses of the drug. With 14C-nortriptyline, it was found that concomitant administration of perphenazine caused a rise in plasma level and tissue concentration of unchanged nortriptyline. With 14C-imipramine, it was found that administration of perphenazine caused an increase in tissue concentration of imipramine, desipramine, and iminodibenzyl. At the same time total excretion by the faeces and the urinary excretion of glucuronides and other polar metabolites was decreased. The urinary excretion of imipramine-N-oxide was increased in perphenazine pretreated rats. These results indicate that perphenazine in rats inhibits the hydroxylation and/or glucuronide formation of imipramine, whereas demethylation, N-oxidation, and dealkylation seem to be unaffected. Dose response studies showed that perphenazine and chlorpromazine have equivalent potency with regard to the increased tissue concentration of 14C-imipramine.