Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An approach to fertility preservation in prepubertal and postpubertal females: A critical review of current literature

Advancements in childhood cancer treatment have led to increasing survivorship, creating a greater emphasis on long‐term management of patients, including quality of life and side effects from therapy; foremost of which is preserving fertility. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently revised their guidelines and recommend fertility preservation options be discussed at the earliest possible opportunity for newly diagnosed patients, including methods available for children that remain investigational. Herein, we discuss the current barriers to and the impact of these guidelines for pediatric oncologists caring for young female patients, and provide some suggestions on how to approach this complicated topic. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:935–939. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward the user-commitment continuum: establishing the importance of realisation

Understanding how users learn and become committed to a new information system helps developers design better implementation methods and academics identify the factors influencing that commitment. The authors propose the idea of a user continuum, in which 'learning' and 'use' increase commitment over time and are influenced by a variety of change events. We develop a model of commitment and examine the first stage. To test this model, the authors focused on the first phase of a major enterprise resource planning ERP implementation at a military installation, proposed a series of testable hypotheses, and used a participant survey with partial least squares analysis to measure the effects of user awareness, information transfer, and recognition on user realisation of the system. Pre-and post-training results showed model R2's of.77 and.57, respectively, and increases in the initial stage of user commitment was statistically significant.
Efficient mining of interesting weighted patterns from directed graph traversals

Data mining for traversal patterns has been found useful in many applications. Traditional methods of traversal patterns mining only considered unweighted traversals. The support measure in weighted cases no longer satisfies the anti-monotone property and previous algorithms cannot be applied. In this paper, a transformational model between EWDG (Edge-Weighted Directed Graph) and VWDG (Vertex-Weighted Directed Graph) is proposed. Based on the model, we explore the problem of mining interesting patterns - frequent patterns and closed frequent patterns form traversals on WDG and propose two algorithms respectively called WTFPMiner (Weighted Traversal Frequent Patterns Miner) and CWTFPMiner (Closed Weighted Traversal Frequent Patterns Miner). WTFPMiner devises a novel property between weighted patterns - scalable property, which is similar to the well-known downward closure property, to convert weighted pattern mining problem into corresponding pattern scalability decision problem, and finally exploits this property to mine the weighted frequent patterns efficiently from traversals on WDG. Based on an improved model of weighted support, algorithm CWTFPMiner adopts a divide-and-conquer paradigm in a pattern growth manner to mine closed weighted frequent patterns efficiently from the traversals on weighted directed graph. It incorporates the closure property with weight constrain to dramatically reduce search space and extracts succinct and lossless patterns from traversal transactions of WDG. Our performance study shows that the two algorithms are efficient and scalable for the problem of mining frequent patterns based on weighted directed graph traversals. Moreover, they can be applied in diversiform environments which can be modeled as a WDG.
Patterns of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic non‐A, non‐B hepatitis and their relationship to viral replication and liver disease

Patients with hepatitis C virus infection may have circulating antibodies to various structural and nonstructural antigens of the virus. To assess whether the antibody profile is related to epidemiological or clinical features of chronic infection or to viral replication, sera from 172 consecutive patients with biopsyproven chronic non‐A, non‐B hepatitis were studied for antibodies to nonstructural and structural hepatitis C virus antigens and for serum hepatitis C virus RNA with the polymerase chain reaction using primers derived from the 5′ noncoding region. Three subgroups could be identified on the basis of their seroreactivity to hepatitis C virus: 133 cases (77.3% [group A]) were positive on first‐ and second‐generation assays and had antibodies to C100‐3 and to C22, C33c or both identified on recombinant immunoblot assay; 23 cases (13.4% [group B]) were positive only on second‐generation assay and reacted with C22, C33c or both but not with C100‐3; and 26 cases (9.3% [group C]) were negative for all hepatitis C virus antibodies. Mean age and sex distributions were similar among the three groups; a history of transfusion was more frequent among cases in group B (p = 0.06). These patients also had the highest serum aminotransferase values (p = 0.001). Liver histological studies showed active necroinflammatory changes in 69.2% of patients in group A and 52.2% of those in group B but only in 25% of cases in group C. Serum hepatitis C virus RNA was frequently detected in patients of groups A and B, independent of their recombinant immunoblot assay profiles. Hepatitis C virus RNA was also detected in 57% of cases with indeterminate patterns of reactivity on recombinant immunoblot assay. However, none of the patients without hepatitis C virus antibody reactivity had detectable hepatitis C virus RNA in serum. These results identify different subgroups of patients with chronic hepatitis C and indicate that chronic non‐A, non‐B, non‐C hepatitis does exist in our region and that it appears to cause less severe liver injury than does documented hepatitis C. (HEPATOLOGY 1993;17:179–182.)
Antiparasitic Effect of Vitamin B12 on Trypanosoma cruzi

ABSTRACT A nutritional characteristic of trypanosomatid protozoa is that they need a heme compound as a growth factor. Because of the cytotoxic activity of heme and its structural similarity to cobalamins, we have investigated the in vitro and in vivo effect of vitamin B12 (or cyanocobalamin) on the different forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Cyanocobalamin showed a marked antiparasitic activity against epimastigotes (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], 2.42 μM), amastigotes (IC50, 10.69 μM), and trypomastigotes (IC50, 9.46 μM). Anti-epimastigote and -trypomastigote values were 1.7 to 4 times lower than those obtained with the reference drug benznidazole (Bnz). We also found that B12 and hemin do not interact with each other in their modes of action. Our results show that B12 increases intracellular oxidative activity and stimulates both superoxide dismutase (50%) and ascorbate peroxidase (20%) activities, while the activity of trypanothione reductase was not modified. In addition, we found that the antioxidants dithiothreitol and ascorbic acid increase the susceptibility of the parasite to the cytotoxic action of B12. We propose that vitamin B12 exerts its growth-inhibitory effect through the generation of reactive oxygen species. In an in vivo assay, a significant reduction in the number of circulating parasites was found in T. cruzi-infected mice treated with cyanocobalamin and ascorbic acid. The reduction of parasitemia in benznidazole-treated mice was improved by the addition of these vitamins. According to our results, a combination of B12 and Bnz should be further investigated due to its potential as a new therapeutic modality for the treatment of Chagas' disease.
Chloroplastic Glycolipids Fuel Aldehyde Biosynthesis in the Marine Diatom Thalassiosira rotula

Enzymatic preparations and specialized analytical tools have shown that chloroplast‐derived glycolipids are the main substrates for the biosynthetic pathway that produces antiproliferative polyunsaturated aldehydes in broken cells of the marine diatom Thalassiosira rotula. This process, which is associated with the formation of free fatty acids and lyso compounds from polar lipids but not triglycerides, is largely dependent on glycolipid hydrolytic activity, rather than phospholipase A2 as previously suggested. Preliminary characterization of lipolytic enzymes has revealed protein bands of 40–45 kDa. Under native conditions these proteins seem to be associated with soluble aggregates that have an apparent molecular weight of approximately 200 kDa. The biochemical process, which is similar to that described in the algal‐bloom forming diatom Skeletonema costatum, suggests a mechanism based on decompartmentalization and mixing of preexisting enzymes and substrates.
The Influence of Interstitial Collagenas-1 Genotype Polymorphism on Colorectal Cancer Risk in Iranian Population

Interstitial collagenas-1 degrades a variety of extracellular matrix components. A single Guanine insertion polymorphism in the promoter has been found that influences on the transcription and expression level of the gene. It is suggested that this polymorphism may enhance susceptibility to some types of cancer. Therefore, this case-control study evaluated the association of this genotype polymorphism with susceptibility to initiation and invasion of colorectal cancer. For this reason, whole blood samples were obtained from 150 CRC patients and 100 control subjects in Tehran. Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. We showed that 2G allele and 2G/2G genotype had higher frequencies in patients (60% and 39%, respectively) than in controls (47% and 23%, respectively). The CRC patients were divided into two groups: with metastasis (M+) and without metastasis (M−) groups. The 2G allele was more frequent in M+ group compared with control group. However, no significantly difference was observed between M-group and control (χ2 = 0.48, P = 0.78 for 2G/2G genotype). Further stratification analyses showed that only gender (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 0.89–7.52 for women and OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.62–10.42 for men) and smoking (OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.28–7.16 for non-smokers and OR = 4.09, 95% CI = 1.18–4.15 for smoker) may modify the risk of colorectal invasion related to 2G/2G genotype. Furthermore, individual with 2G/2G genotype seems to spread metastasis, 3 years earlier than those who were 1G/1G and 1G/2G. In conclusion, to our knowledge, the present epidemiological study for the first time indicates the relationship of 2G/2G genotype polymorphism with invasion risk of colorectal cancer in subgroups of gender and smoking, especially in smoker men.
Long-term complete remission in a multiple myeloma patient after Stevens-Johnson syndrome due to lenalidomide therapy

Myeloma tumor cells may contain a multitude of tumor antigens that can stimulate an increased repertoire of anti-tumor T cells and lead to an induction of stronger antimyeloma responses. Myeloma plasma cells may in fact express MHC class-I antigens; adhesion molecules, such as CD44, CD56, CD54, and VLA-4; signaling or costimulatory molecules CD40 and CD28; as well as the Fas antigen (CD95). Some of the plasma cells also express HLA-DR, CD80, and CD86 [1,2]. Results from recent research have indicated that myeloma cells are susceptible to T cell-mediated cytolysis. In the post-allograft relapse setting, in which myeloma patients are chemotherapy refractory, long-lasting disease remission has been achieved after infusion of donor lymphocytes, a phenomenon termed graft-versus-myeloma (GVM) effect [3]. This GVM effect is closely associated with graft-versushost disease (GVHD), and donor-derived alloreactive and tumor-specifi c T cells are believed to mediate these effects. Here, we describe a patient with multiple myeloma (MM) who experienced a long lasting complete remission after Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) onset while receiving lenalidomide in combination with prednisolone. We discuss the possible mechanisms that led to the long-lasting remission.
The Tragedy of Maldistribution: Climate, Sustainability, and Equity

This essay is an initial exploration of the dimensions of the equity/sustainability linkage from the perspective of public goods analysis. Sustainability requires an abundance of public goods. Where these commons lack governance, sustainability is at risk. Equity is a critical component of sustainability that can itself be viewed as a public good, subject to deterioration (maldistribution) when left ungoverned. As is the case for so many forms of environmental degradation, the private benefits of maldistribution tend to overshadow the larger social costs, and the result is a degradation of equity. This article sketches out the analogy of equity as a public good by: examining the evidence regarding current and historical income equality within and between countries; introducing the characteristics of public goods and grounding equity in this idiom; reviewing several theories explaining the sub-optimal provision of environmental goods; applying these theoretical frameworks to the case of equity, with an examination of the potential causes of, and solutions to, maldistribution; and, finally, addressing equity’s critical role as a component of sustainability in the case of climate change, with implications for climate policy.
Acceleration of Fully 3D Monte Carlo Based System Matrix Computation for Image Reconstruction in Small Animal SPECT

It has already been proved that Fully Three Dimensional Monte Carlo (F3DMC) is a robust image reconstruction algorithm that can be applied in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomgraphy (SPECT) and small animal Positron Emission Tomography (PET). F3DMC has still not yet been validated on real data in small animal SPECT application. The advantage of such image reconstruction technique is that all the physical processes occuring within the detector and its geometrical parameters can be precisely modelled within the system matrix thanks to powerful Monte Carlo Simulation toolkit. Once the system matrix is computed, it can be integrated within an iterative reconstruction algorithm such as Maximum Likelihood Estimation Maximization (MLEM) in order to resolve the inverse image reconstruction problem. However, such reconstruction technique is penalized by the huge time consumption required for the computation of the system matrix since the accuracy of this latter requires the simulation of large number of photons tracks from the imaged subject to the detector. In this study, we proposed two main solutions to tackle the problem of time consumption. The first has already been proposed in anterior works and consists in parallelizing the Monte Carlo simulations performed with the Geant4 toolkit on a Computing Grid (CG) and the second suggests to apply a Forced Detection (FD) technique in order to accelerate the convergence of the system matrix elements. Results show that an accelerated version of a F3DMC technique is feasible in a reasonable delay and leads to reconstructed images with good spatial resolution and a good capability of restoring relative quantification. Hence, it has been proven that F3DMC is an applicable reconstruction technique in small animal SPECT.
Brain Aging, Cognition in Youth and Old Age and Vascular Disease in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936: Rationale, Design and Methodology of the Imaging Protocol*

Rationale As the population of the world ages, age-related cognitive decline is becoming an ever-increasing problem. However, the changes in brain structure that accompany normal aging, and the role they play in cognitive decline, remain to be fully elucidated. Aims This study aims to characterize changes in brain structure in old age, and to investigate relationships between brain aging and cognitive decline using the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Here, we report the rationale, design and methodology of the brain and neurovascular imaging protocol developed to study this cohort. Design An observational, longitudinal study of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, which comprises 1091 relatively healthy individuals now in their 70s and living in the Edinburgh area. They are surviving participants of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947, which involved a test of general intelligence taken at age 11 years. At age 70 years, the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 undertook detailed cognitive, medical and genetic testing, and provided social, family, nutritional, quality of life and physical activity information. At mean age 73 years they underwent detailed brain MRI and neurovascular ultrasound imaging, repeat cognitive and other testing. The MRI protocol is designed to provide qualitative and quantitative measures of gray and white matter atrophy, severity and location of white matter lesions, enlarged perivascular spaces, brain mineral deposits, microbleeds and integrity of major white matter tracts. The neurovascular ultrasound imaging provides velocity, stenosis and intima–media thickness measurements of the carotid and vertebral arteries. Study This valuable imaging dataset will be used to determine which changes in brain structural parameters have the largest effects on cognitive aging. Analysis will include multimodal image analysis and multivariate techniques, such as factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Especially valuable is the ability within this sample to examine the influence that early life intelligence has on brain structural parameters in old age, and the role of genetic, vascular, educational and lifestyle factors. Outcomes Final outcomes include associations between early and late life cognition and integrity of key white matter tracts, volume of gray and white matter, myelination, brain water content, and visible abnormalities such as white matter lesions and mineral deposits; and influences of vascular risk factors, diet, environment, social metrics, education and genetics on healthy brain aging. It is intended that this information will help to inform and develop strategies for successful cognitive aging.
Phasic firing enhances vasopressin release from the rat neurohypophysis

1. Isolated rat neural lobes were incubated in vitro and electrically stimulated to release vasopressin. The released vasopressin was assayed using a radioimmunoassay and there was a reasonably good correlation (r = 0.81) between results obtained with this assay and those obtained by bioassay with the rat blood pressure method.
Weekly Docetaxel as Salvage Therapy in Patients with Gemcitabine-Refractory Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy provides very limited disease control in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Approximately half of the patients failing upfront treatment present good performance status and are willing to undergo further treatment. Docetaxel activity against pancreatic cancer is reported both in the preclinical and clinical setting. Between November 2004 and November 2005, 10 patients (median age 59; median KPS 80) with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, progressive disease after gemcitabine-containing chemotherapy, KPS >50, adequate organ function, were treated with weekly docetaxel at 30 mg/m2 until progressive disease. Docetaxel dose intensity was 100% of the intended dose. No grade >2 toxicity was observed. No objective response to treatment was obtained. Median progression-free survival was 1.5 months (range 1-3.5 months); median survival was 4.0 months (range 2.0-7.5). Weekly administration of single-agent docetaxel does not seem to have any activity in the treatment of gemcitabine-resistant metastatic pancreatic cancer
How Independent, Competent and Incentivized Should Non-Executive Directors Be? An Empirical Investigation of Good Governance Codes

There is a commonly held conviction among governance scholars and practitioners that increasing the number of non-executive directors may have beneficial effects on board practices. This view has gained momentum after each wave of scandals. Given the relevance of the issue in governance studies and practices, the aim of this paper is to investigate how independent, competent and incentivized non-executive directors should be according to governance scholars and board best practices. To answer this question, we conducted a review of the literature on non-executive directors. We then collected corporate governance codes developed worldwide at the end of 2005, and made a comparative analysis of their recommendations about the independence, the competencies and the incentives of non-executive directors. Our results show that (i) non-executive directors' independence is a commonly recommended governance practice, the meaning of which differs widely among countries; (ii) non-executive directors' competencies and incentives are not considered a governance issue to be regulated in detail; (iii) agency theory and the search for appropriate board demography tend to dominate the recommendations of governance literature and codes. Our findings have implications for both research and practice.
Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor of the Pancreas: Cross-Sectional Imaging and Pathologic Correlation

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cross-sectional imaging features of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP) with pathologic correlation. Methods: Imaging features of 29 cases with SPTP proven by histopathologic examinations, including 26 women and 3 men with a mean age of 27 years, were retrospectively investigated and correlated to their pathologic findings. According to the largest diameter, all cases were divided into 23 large tumors (>3.0 cm) and 6 small ones (≤3.0 cm). Results: Large tumors commonly displayed the typical imaging features: a large well-encapsulated mass with varying solid-cystic and hemorrhagic areas and early peripheral heterogeneous enhancement with progressive fill-in on dynamic contrast-enhanced examination, which agreed with their pathologic findings: a large fibrous pseudocapsule-surrounded mass with variegated and variable combinations of solid, hemorrhagic, or cystic-necrotic areas in cut surface. The computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging features of small tumors were atypical: a small rarely encapsulated mass without observed hemorrhagic areas and cystic changes with gradual enhancement less than normal pancreatic parenchyma on dynamic contrast-enhanced images. Conclusions: Imaging appearances were different between large and small SPTPs. Compared with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging was more powerful to identify the capsule, solid-cystic portions, and hemorrhagic areas of SPTP and to avoid misdiagnosis.