Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sp17 Protein Expression and Major Histocompatibility Class I and II Epitope Presentation in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma Patients

Improved therapies are urgently needed for patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Success using immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell technology has fuelled demand for validated cancer epitopes. Immunogenic cancer testis antigens (CTAs), with their widespread expression in many tumours but highly restricted normal tissue distribution, represent attractive immunotherapeutic targets that may improve treatment options for DLBCL and other malignancies. Sperm protein 17 (Sp17), a CTA reported to be immunogenic in ovarian cancer and myeloma patients, is expressed in DLBCL. The aim of the present study was to investigate Sp17 epitope presentation via the presence of a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) and a CD4 T-helper (Th) response in DLBCL patients. A significant γ-interferon CTL response was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 13/31 DLBCL patients following short-term cell stimulation with two novel HLA-A⁎0201 peptides and one previously reported HLA-A⁎0101-restricted nine-mer Sp17 peptide. No significant responses were detected in the HLA-A⁎0201-negative DLBCL patients or four healthy subjects. A novel immunogenic 20-mer CD4 Th Sp17 peptide was detected in 8/17 DLBCL patients. This is the first report of a CTL and a CD4 Th response to Sp17 in DLBCL and supports Sp17 as a potential immunotherapeutic target for DLBCL.
Factors associated with oral health‐related quality of life in patients with diabetes

BACKGROUND Oral pathologies are prevalent in diabetes, and they may affect the quality of life and patient's perception of their oral health. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with oral health-related quality of life of patients with diabetes. METHODS A cross sectional study was conducted involving 316 patients visiting a hospital diabetic unit. Sociodemographic, oral and medical care data were recorded, and a General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) questionnaire was completed. A multivariable analysis was performed. RESULTS Of the 316 study participants, 61.7% had type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 20.5% had poorly controlled diabetes. Forty-five percent had at least one oral complication, 55% had visited a dentist within the past year and 67% reported having poor oral health and 281 answered the GOHAI questionnaire. A low GOHAI score (≤50) was obtained for 24.6% of the patients and was associated with T2DM, poorer oral health, dry mouth sensation and use of a removable prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS Oral health status was poorer and had a negative effect on the quality of life among patients with T2DM, possibly contributing to poorly balanced nutrition.
4′-O-Methylglycosylation of Curcumin by Beauveria bassiana

The applications of curcumin have been limited by its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. In this study, we successfully synthesized a new curcumin derivative, curcumin-8′-O-4″-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, by biotransformation with the fungal strain Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159. The structure of this new product was determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. This is the first record of a curcumin glycoside that has been synthesized by a fungus.
Corporate Credit Spreads and the Sovereign Ceiling in Latin America

ABSTRACT We exploit a panel of 72 US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Latin American publicly listed firms between 1996 and 2004, a period of regional financial crises, to answer the following three questions: (1) Is sovereign risk a statistically and economically significant determinant of the corporate credit spread, controlling for firm- and bond-specific characteristics? (2) If yes, do market participants apply the sovereign ceiling rule adopted by rating agencies in the pricing of our bond market data? And (3) how do market views compare with the rating agencies ceiling policy for each corporate bond? We find strong evidence of an economically and statistically significant effect of sovereign risk on corporate spreads across different panel econometric specifications and bonds. Moreover, markets do not apply the ceiling rule in 77–90% of the bonds we sample and these findings are consistent with rating agencies’ policies toward the latter for about 50% of the firms. These results are robust to the inclusion of firm- and bond-specific variables derived from the structural approach to credit risk and to the business cycle in each country.
Your Gain My Pain? The Effects of Accounting Information in Uncertain Negotiations

Prior studies on buyer-supplier negotiations show that refined accounting information can enhance negotiation processes and outcomes. We extend these studies by considering the influence of uncertainty, which is commonly present during negotiations. Uncertainty increases friction between negotiators as they take different reference points, exacerbating the level of conflict. We theorize that refined accounting information, even when unrelated to the source of uncertainty, helps to limit its adversarial effects on behavior and outcomes by enabling negotiators to identify mutually beneficial tradeoffs. We develop an experiment in which 89 dyads of buyers and suppliers participate to test our expectations about how uncertainty interacts with accounting information in affecting negotiation behavior and outcomes. Results show that uncertainty reduces negotiators’ use of integrative tactics relative to distributive tactics, which in turn negatively influences joint profit. Refined accounting information, however, weakens the negative impact of uncertainty on behavior, mitigating the negative impact on joint profit.
Statin therapy and the risk for diabetes among adult women: do the benefits outweigh the risk?

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review was to examine statin therapy and the risk for diabetes among adult women using a selective review. Recent findings: The literature contains reports of new-onset diabetes associated with statin use. While many studies do not report sex-specific results, there is evidence indicating the risk to benefit ratio may vary by gender. However, the absolute effects are not clear because women have historically been under-represented in clinical trials. Summary: A review of the literature indicates that the cardiovascular benefits of statins appear to outweigh the risk for statin-related diabetes. However, the effect may depend upon baseline diabetes risk, dose, and statin potency. Rigorous, long-term studies focused on the risks and benefits of statins in women are unavailable to sort for gender-specific differences. Until this changes, individualized attention to risk assessment, and strong prevention with lifestyle changes must prevail.
The clinical status of cadaveric renal transplant patients treated for 10 year with cyclosporine therapy

In this paper we assessed the clinical status of 150 cadaveric renal transplant patients who received cyclosporine without interruption for 10 yr. The mean creatinine clearance was 59.2±15.71 at 1 yr and 55.6±24.91 mL/min at 10 yr (p=0.039). Patients were subdivided into four quartiles according to the mean creatinine clearance at 1 yr. The 14 patients with the lowest quartile showed a significant decrease of creatinine clearance from the 1st to 10th year (from 31.5±5.83 to 24.8±14.00 mL/min; p=0.038) while no difference between the mean creatinine clearance at 1 and at 10 yr was found in the other three quartiles. At 10 yr, 84.6% patients needed antihypertensive therapy, a rate similar to that seen at 1 yr (81.4%). The mean plasma cholesterol (253±57.8 mg/dL) and triglyceride (197±113.1 mg/dL) at 10 yr were similar to those found at 1 yr (243±48.2 and 201±143.0 mg/dL, respectively). Most patients have a high degree of rehabilitation 10 yr after uninterrupted cyclosporine therapy and all patients but 3 were able to work.
Extracellular H+ inactivation of Na(+)‐H+ exchange in the sheep cardiac Purkinje fibre.

1. The inhibition of acid extrusion via Na(+)‐H+ exchange caused by reducing pHo (extracellular pH) was examined in the sheep cardiac Purkinje fibre. Intracellular pH (pHi) and intracellular Na+ activity (alpha 1 Na) were recorded using ion‐selective microelectrodes. Acid extrusion via Na(+)‐H+ exchange was estimated from the pHi recovery rate (multiplied by intracellular buffering power, beta) in response to an internal acid load induced by 20 mM‐NH4Cl removal (nominally CO2‐HCO3‐free media). 2. At a given pHi, acid extrusion decreased sigmoidally with decreases of pHo in the range 8.5 to 6.5 (50% inhibition of efflux occurred at a pHo between 7.0 and 7.5). This inhibition was associated with a parallel decrease in Na+ influx as evidenced from a decrease in the rise of alpha i Na measured during acid extrusion, suggesting inhibition of Na(+)‐H+ exchange. 3. The background acid‐loading rate (estimated by adding 1 mM‐amiloride to inhibit Na(+)‐H+ exchange and recording the initial rate of fall of pHi) was found to be unaffected in the steady state by changes of pHo. We therefore conclude that the slowing of pHi recovery at low pHo is due to direct inhibition of Na(+)‐H+ exchange rather than to an increase of background acid loading. 4. Reducing pHo (constant pHi) inhibited acid efflux by producing a parallel shift of the efflux versus pHi relationship to lower values of pHi, consistent with a decrease in the apparent internal H+ ion affinity (pKi) of the system. 5. Raising pHi (constant pHo) also inhibited acid efflux, but this was associated with a rise in the pHo required for 50% maximal inhibition of acid efflux (pKo), consistent with an increase in apparent affinity for external H ions. Thus reduction of pHo reduces pKi (point 4) while reduction of pHi reduces pKo (point 5). 6. Inhibition by elevated Ho+ was not linearly related to the decrease in chemical driving force for Na(+)‐H+ exchange, nor was it related to a reversal of the transmembrane H+ gradient. We found that efflux still occurred when pHo less than pHi. 7. Efflux was not a unique function of the transmembrane H+ ratio (i.e. pHo‐pHi). At appropriate values of pHi and pHo, acid efflux could be kept constant despite a four‐fold change in the transmembrane H+ ratio. 8. Inhibition by low pHo was a saturating function of Ho+ ions with a Hill coefficient of 1.2. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Impact of Socio-cultural Business Environment on Entrepreneurial Intention: A Conceptual Approach

The purpose of this paper was to examine the impact of Socio-cultural Business Environment on Entrepreneurial Intention. The paper set out to weigh the influence of Education, Religion and Family background in the making of entrepreneurs. The study was built on related literature review for the purpose of attaining the set objective. The study revealed that the Socio-cultural Business Environment is a very vital factor in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Intention, especially with regards to breeding new entrepreneurs. Education, Religion and Family background were also found to be instrumental elements in studying the Socio-cultural Business Environment, hence, the reason for positive and significant impact on Entrepreneurial Intention. An empirical study was recommended in order to establish empirical evidence to further consolidate the findings of this work. The findings could be of great benefit to Public Policy makers and firms by explicitly describing how much Socio-cultural Business Environment could be relied upon to help boost supply of entrepreneurs, which would in turn translate into reducing unemployment (especially among the youths) and poverty. Therefore the findings are expected to provide an insight on how Socio-cultural Business Environment can be harnessed to achieve great results in upturning entrepreneurship activities especially among the youths.
Functional equivalence and evolutionary convergence in complex communities of microbial sponge symbionts

Microorganisms often form symbiotic relationships with eukaryotes, and the complexity of these relationships can range from those with one single dominant symbiont to associations with hundreds of symbiont species. Microbial symbionts occupying equivalent niches in different eukaryotic hosts may share functional aspects, and convergent genome evolution has been reported for simple symbiont systems in insects. However, for complex symbiont communities, it is largely unknown how prevalent functional equivalence is and whether equivalent functions are conducted by evolutionarily convergent mechanisms. Sponges represent an evolutionarily divergent group of species with common physiological and ecological traits. They also host complex communities of microbial symbionts and thus are the ideal model to test whether functional equivalence and evolutionary convergence exist in complex symbiont communities across phylogenetically divergent hosts. Here we use a sampling design to determine the phylogenetic and functional profiles of microbial communities associated with six sponge species. We identify common functions in the six microbiomes, demonstrating the existence of functional equivalence. These core functions are consistent with our current understanding of the biological and ecological roles of sponge-associated microorganisms and also provide insight into symbiont functions. Importantly, core functions also are provided in each sponge species by analogous enzymes and biosynthetic pathways. Moreover, the abundance of elements involved in horizontal gene transfer suggests their key roles in the genomic evolution of symbionts. Our data thus demonstrate evolutionary convergence in complex symbiont communities and reveal the details and mechanisms that underpin the process.
Delay in access to appropriate care for children presenting with musculoskeletal symptoms and ultimately diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To document pathways of care, management, and interval from onset of symptoms to first pediatric rheumatology multidisciplinary team (PRhMDT) assessment for children with incident juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study of children with incident JIA over a 3-year period. RESULTS The study included 152 patients with JIA (87 females). The median interval from symptom onset to first PRhMDT assessment was 20 weeks (range 0-416), with significant variation between JIA subtypes (P = 0.0097); children with extended oligoarticular JIA had the longest interval (median 60 weeks, range 12-320). Prior to pediatric rheumatology assessment, many children had referrals to multiple secondary care specialties and had been subjected to multiple and often invasive procedures including arthroscopy/synovial biopsy (18 [11.8%] of 152), but none were referred for ophthalmologic screening, physical therapy, or nursing input and a diagnosis of JIA was rarely made (98%). At first PRhMDT assessment, most patients had untreated active disease with active joint count >or=1 (135 [89%] of 152), restricted joint count >or=1 (135 [89%] of 152), and functional disability by Child Health Assessment Questionnaire score >0 (53 [68%] of 118); 1 child had undetected uveitis. Following PRhMDT assessment, interventions were invariably indicated, including joint injections (69 [45%] of 152), methotrexate (49 [32%] of 152), and physical therapy programs (all patients). CONCLUSION Delay in access to pediatric rheumatology assessment is common with complex pathways of referral. Many children were subjected to inappropriate invasive investigations and many had prolonged untreated active disease at the initial PRhMDT assessment. This delay is likely to affect long-term outcome and warrants further exploration.
Brief Screen to Identify 5 of the Most Common Forms of Psychosocial Distress in Cardiac Patients: Validation of the Screening Tool for Psychological Distress

Objective: To develop and validate a brief psychosocial screening tool (Screening Tool for Psychological Distress [STOP-D]) for use in the outpatient cardiology setting. Background: Psychosocial factors contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery disease. Yet, it is often considered overly burdensome to implement full-scale psychological assessments for every patient. Methods: Over 3 months, 194 cardiac patients were consecutively recruited from 3 cardiac clinics: heart transplant (pre and post), cardiac rehabilitation, and adult congenital heart. Subjects filled out a questionnaire that included: (1) demographics, (2) STOP-D, (3) Beck Depression Inventory-II, (4) Beck Anxiety Inventory, (5) State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, and (6) MOS Social Support Survey. Results: Analyses reveal all STOP-D items are highly correlated with the corresponding measures and have robust receiver operating characteristic curves. Severity scores on STOP-D-depression and STOP-D-anxiety correlate well with established severity cutoff scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Conclusions: Overall, the STOP-D performs very well when compared with other longer and validated measures. The STOP-D is a 5-item self-report measure, which provides severity scores for: depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and poor social support. The STOP-D is self-administered and takes between 1 and 2 minutes to fill out, gives valid severity scores on 5 key areas of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and poor social support), requires no scoring, and is free to use.
Broken Wire Tests on a Model Transmission Line System

This paper presents the results of broken wire tests which were conducted on a model transmission line system as part of a research project funded by the Electric Power Research Institute. The purpose of these tests was to provide static and dynamic data on the longitudinal loadings and structure responses, which are produced by broken conductors, broken shield wires, or ice shedding conditions. Results from these tests were used for comparisons with analytical methods for predicting residual static and peak dynamic longitudinal loads and for the development of a method for predicting elastic response of the structures to the dynamic loads. A design procedure is outlined for determining the dynamic loads and structure responses for prototype line systems
Binding of Clostridium botulinum type C neurotoxin to different neuroblastoma cell lines

Binding of type C neurotoxin (C1 toxin) from Clostridium botulinum (strain Stockholm) to neuroblastoma cell lines was studied by using biotinylated anti-toxin antibody and avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex. The neurotoxin bound with high efficiency to mouse neuroblastoma (NS-20Y and NIE-115) cells and to hybridomas of rat glioblastoma and mouse neuroblastoma (NG108-C15) cells. The toxin bound little to human neuroblastoma, rat astrocytoma, and nonneural cell lines. Binding of the neurotoxin to NG108-C15 cells was inhibited by gangliosides (GT1b and GM1) and by monoclonal antibodies (CA-12 and C-9), although inhibition was not complete. Sequential preincubation of C1 toxin with GT1b and CA-12 caused complete inhibition. A Scatchard plot of binding of 125I-labeled C1 toxin to NG108-C15 cells showed a hyperbolic curve. Monoclonal antibody CA-12 but not C-9 neutralized the lethal activity of the toxin toward mice. Only C-9 clearly inhibited toxin binding to GT1b. These results suggest that NG108-C15 cells have at least two kinds of receptors for C1 toxin. From the results of binding tests with neuraminidase-, pronase-, and trypsin-treated NG108-C15 cells, the chemical nature of the high-affinity site was presumed to be a glycoprotein containing sialic acid. GT1b may have an important role in low-affinity sites.
Simultaneous Measurement of Temperature and Strain Using a Single Bragg Grating in a Few-Mode Polymer Optical Fiber

A few-mode polymer optical fiber (POF) with a highly photosensitive core doped with benzil dimethyl ketal (BDK) was fabricated and used to write a Bragg grating using the modified Sagnac optical interference technique. Bragg gratings formed in the few-mode POF show multiple reflection peaks. The response characteristics of the temperature and the strain of the few-mode POF Bragg grating (POFBG) were theoretically analyzed and experimentally verified. The results show almost the same strain response but a different temperature response for all guided modes in the few-mode POFBG. A new method of measuring temperature and strain simultaneously was proposed and demonstrated experimentally by using a single few-mode POFBG.
Environmental interactions with the toxicity of plant essential oils to the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

The toxicity of a range of plant essential oils to the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer) (Acari: Dermanyssidae), a serious ectoparasitic pest of laying hens throughout Europe and elsewhere, was assessed in the laboratory. Dermanyssus gallinae may cause losses in egg production, anaemia and, in extreme cases, death of hens. With changes in legislation and consumer demand, alternatives to synthetic acaricides are needed to manage this pest. Fifty plant essential oils were selected for their toxicity to arthropods reported in the literature. Twenty‐four of these essential oils were found to kill > 75% of adult D. gallinae in contact toxicity tests over a 24‐h period at a rate of 0.21 mg/cm2. Subsequent testing at lower rates showed that the essential oils of cade, manuka and thyme were especially toxic to adult D. gallinae. The toxicity of the seven most acaricidal essential oils was found to be stable at different temperatures likely to be encountered in commercial poultry housing (15°C, 22°C and 29°C), although results suggest that humidity and dust might influence the toxicity of some of the oils tested. The toxicity of clove bud essential oil to D. gallinae, for example, was increased at high humidity and dust levels compared with ambient levels. The results suggest that certain essential oils may make effective botanical pesticides for use against D. gallinae, although it is likely that issues relating to the consistency of the toxic effect of some oils will determine which oils will be most effective in practice.
Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor During Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Previous studies have found that soluble urokinase plasminogen activation receptor (suPAR) increases during inflammatory and malignant illness and elevated suPAR levels may be associated with poor clinical outcome. The purpose of this study was to investigate plasma levels of suPAR during the course of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Twenty SCT patients were included in the study. suPAR was measured by ELISA in daily taken plasma samples during the pretransplant conditioning with chemotherapy and weekly for 1 month after infusion of the graft. suPAR levels before the start of the conditioning were significantly elevated when compared to those of healthy controls. During the conditioning in particular treatment with antithymocyte globulin was associated with significantly increased suPAR levels (P = 0.012). At day +7 after infusion of the graft, suPAR levels had decreased to pretreatment levels. High suPAR levels at day 0 were associated with increased mortality (P = 0.011). The present study found increased suPAR levels during the conditioning in SCT patients. Further, the data indicated that increased suPAR levels may be associated with increased mortality, suggesting suPAR as a candidate for further studies as an outcome predictor in SCT.