Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of treatment interruption monitored by CD4 cell count on mitochondrial DNA content in HIV-infected patients: a prospective study

Background:HIV infection per se and HAART can alter mitochondrial functionality, leading to a decrease in mitochondrial DNA content. Objective:To evaluate whether treatment interruption monitored by CD4 cell count can restore mitochondrial DNA content in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Methods:Mitochondrial DNA content was measured in platelet-free CD4 and CD8 T cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction; flow cytometry was used to identify and quantify activated CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. Results:The 30 patients had been treated for a mean of 107 months (range, 27–197). Median CD4 cell count at discontinuation was 702 cells/μl (range, 547–798). Median observational time from HAART discontinuation was 11.3 months (range, 4–26). Discontinuation of treatment provoked significant increases in mitochondrial DNA in CD8 T cells, which started only 6 months after therapy discontinuation [5.12 copies/cell per month from 0 to 6 months (P = 0.37) and 26.96 copies/cell per month from 6 to 12 months (P < 0.0001)]. Conclusions:This study is the first showing that mitochondrial DNA content can increase in peripheral blood lymphocytes during treatment interruption, but only after at least 6 months of interruption. Consequently, interruptions of shorter periods, whether by clinician or patient decision, are unlikely to allow restoration of mitochondrial DNA and so decrease HAART-related toxicity.
Angiographic Validation of the American College of Cardiology Foundation–The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Collaboration on the Comparative Effectiveness of Revascularization Strategies Study

Background—The goal of this study was to compare angiographic interpretation of coronary arteriograms by sites in community practice versus those made by a centralized angiographic core laboratory. Methods and Results—The study population consisted of 2013 American College of Cardiology–National Cardiovascular Data Registry (ACC–NCDR) records with 2- and 3- vessel coronary disease from 54 sites in 2004 to 2007. The primary analysis compared Registry (NCDR)-defined 2- and 3-vessel disease versus those from an angiographic core laboratory analysis. Vessel-level kappa coefficients suggested moderate agreement between NCDR and core laboratory analysis, ranging from kappa=0.39 (95% confidence intervals, 0.32–0.45) for the left anterior descending artery to kappa=0.59 (95% confidence intervals, 0.55–0.64) for the right coronary artery. Overall, 6.3% (n=127 out of 2013) of those patients identified with multivessel disease at NCDR sites had had 0- or 1-vessel disease by core laboratory reading. There was no directional bias with regard to overcall, that is, 12.3% of cases read as 3-vessel disease by the sites were read as <3-vessel disease by the core laboratory, and 13.9% of core laboratory 3-vessel cases were read as <3-vessel by the sites. For a subset of patients with left main coronary disease, registry overcall was not linked to increased rates of mortality or myocardial infarction. Conclusions—There was only modest agreement between angiographic readings in clinical practice and those from an independent core laboratory. Further study will be needed because the implications for patient management are uncertain.
On the regulation of geoengineering

New evidence that the climate system may be especially sensitive to the build-up of greenhouse gases and that humans are doing a poor job of controlling their effluent has animated discussions around the possibility of offsetting the human impact on climate through ‘geoengineering’. Nearly all assessments of geoengineering have concluded that the option, while ridden with flaws and unknown side effects, is intriguing because of its low cost and the ability for one or a few nations to geoengineer the planet without cooperation from others. I argue that norms to govern deployment of geoengineering systems will be needed soon. The standard instruments for establishing such norms, such as treaties, are unlikely to be effective in constraining geoengineers because the interests of key players diverge and it is relatively easy for countries to avoid inconvenient international commitments and act unilaterally. Instead, efforts to craft new norms ‘bottom up’ will be more effective. Such an approach, which would change the underlying interests of key countries and thus make them more willing to adopt binding norms in the future, will require active, open research programmes and assessments of geoengineering. Meaningful research may also require actual trial deployment of geoengineering systems so that norms are informed by relevant experience and command respect through use. Standard methods for international assessment organized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are unlikely to yield useful evaluations of geoengineering options because the most important areas for assessment lie in the improbable, harmful, and unexpected side effects of geoengineering, not the ‘consensus science’ that IPCC does well. I also suggest that real-world geoengineering will be a lot more complex and expensive than currently thought because simple interventions-such as putting reflective particles in the stratosphere-will be combined with many other costlier interventions to offset nasty side effects.
VEGF-A and FGF-2 synergistically promote neoangiogenesis through enhancement of endogenous PDGF-B–PDGFRβ signaling

Combined stimulation with VEGF-A, FGF-2, or PDGF-BB has emerged as a potent strategy for therapeutic angiogenesis, although the mechanisms underlying the synergism of these factors are not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of synergism between VEGF-A and FGF-2 by using Matrigel plug assay in vivo and embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-positive cells in vitro. Experiments in vitro revealed that, in addition to having direct mitogenic effects, these molecules enhance intercellular PDGF-B signaling in a cell-type specific manner: VEGF-A enhances endothelial PDGF-B expression, whereas FGF-2 enhances mural PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) expression. Co-stimulation with VEGF-A and FGF-2 caused significant mural cell recruitment in vitro and formation of functional neovasculature in vivo, compared with single-agent stimulation. These effects were abrogated not only by anti-PDGFRβ neutralizing antibody, but also by exogenous PDGF-BB, which could overwhelm the endogenous PDGF-BB distribution. These findings indicated the importance of preservation of the periendothelial PDGF-BB gradient. Thus, we demonstrated that the directional enhancement of endogenous PDGF-B–PDGFRβ signaling is indispensable for the synergistic effect of VEGF-A and FGF-2 on neoangiogenesis in adults. The findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the effects of co-stimulation by growth factors, which could lead to rational design of therapeutic angiogenic strategies.
I Just Want to Play

Golf does not inherently privilege men or women physically, yet men are much more likely to participate in golf. The authors explore the institutional(e.g., societal level) and interactional barriers to women’s golf participation and uncover strategies women use to negotiate playing and persisting in golf. Guided by research on tokenism in occupations, statistical discrimination, and feminist research in the sociology of sport, the authors use 10 interviews with recreational women golfers to explore these issues. Similar to women in predominantly male occupations, the women in this study report heightened visibility and experiences with typecasting on the golf course. In addition, social closure operates in the form of unwelcoming courses; women reported feeling ignored, overlooked, or unimportant on the course. The authors discuss several strategies the women in the sample use to overcome sexism and persist in golf.
Prognostic factors for survival of patients with advanced urothelial tumors treated with methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin chemotherapy

Between February 1983 and February 1986, 132 patients with advanced urothelial tract tumors were treated with methotrexate, vinblastine, Adriamycin (doxorubicin), and cisplatin (M‐VAC) chemotherapy. Analysis of prognostic factors for survival of the first 92 patients was undertaken using the Cox proportional hazards model. Normal alkaline phosphatase and high Karnofsky performance status (KPS) were predominant for long survival. Patients 60 years or older at initiation of therapy were likely to survive longer than younger patients, perhaps indicating physician selectivity of older patients for this therapy, and those with initial hemoglobin in the normal range were also likely to survive longer. The additional 40 patients' data were used to validate the model. Clinical implications of the prognostic factors are discussed.
Supplement use among cancer survivors in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study cohort.

OBJECTIVES Although dietary supplement use is believed to be prevalent among patients with cancer, less is known about specific associations of supplements with types of cancer. These analyses describe the use of specific supplements by 10,857 cancer survivors in comparison to cancer-free controls (n = 64,226). DESIGN Cross-sectional cohort study. SUBJECTS/SETTINGS/LOCATION: Participants were members of the VITAL (Vitamins and Lifestyle) study, a cohort study of 75,288 men and women in western Washington State, 50-76 years of age, examining supplement use and future cancer risk. INTERVENTIONS/OUTCOME MEASURES: Respondents completed a 24-page questionnaire, including information on cancer history, demographic characteristics, and current use of vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. RESULTS In this cohort, cancer survivors used similar numbers of supplements as cancer-free controls. Analyses examined the association of a diagnosis history of 11 specific cancers (n > or = 280), by anatomic site, with the high use of multivitamins and 16 individual vitamin/mineral and 20 herbal/specialty supplements. In analyses adjusted for gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the strongest positive associations were: cranberry pills with bladder cancer 3.44 (1.86, 6.35); zinc with ovarian cancer 2.19 (1.41, 3.40); soy with prostate cancer 1.99 (1.38, 2.87); melatonin with cervical cancer 1.86 (1.19, 2.90); and vitamin D with thyroid cancer 1.66 (1.21, 2.28). CONCLUSIONS Future research needs to assess the efficacy and safety of these specific supplements in these specific cancer populations.
Effects on Brain Development Leading to Cognitive Impairment: A Worldwide Epidemic

ABSTRACT. This article reviews causes of cognitive impairment in children with a focus on those in developing countries. The number of children with cognitive limitations is increasing, and for the majority there is little access to professional expertise. Causes include malnutrition, genetic diseases, infectious diseases such as meningitis, parasites, and cerebral malaria, in utero drug and alcohol exposure, newborn asphyxia, low birth weight, head injuries, and endocrine disorders. Many of these are preventable; however, resources for prevention are limited in most developing areas of the world. The challenge for this century is to encourage community leaders and government officials to take on the prevention of cognitive impairment as the highest priority for society. This article proposes that specialists in child behavior and development work with United Nations agencies to develop a “world cognitive impairment watch” to assess and assist each country annually in terms of risk factors, prevention programs, and early intervention programs.
Respective influences of age and weaning on skeletal and visceral muscle protein synthesis in the lamb.

1. The influences of age and weaning on muscle protein synthesis were studied in vivo, by injecting a large dose of [3H]valine into 1-, 5- and 8-week-old suckling or 8-week-old weaned lambs. 2. The fractional rates of protein synthesis, in red- and white-fibre-type skeletal muscles or striated and smooth visceral muscles, were in 8-week-old suckling animals 24-37% of their values at 1 week of age. This developmental decline was related to decreased capacities for protein synthesis, i.e. RNA/protein ratios. 3. At 8 weeks of age, suckling and weaned lambs had similar fractional synthesis rates, capacities for protein synthesis and efficiencies of protein synthesis (i.e. rates of protein synthesis relative to RNA) in skeletal muscles. 4. In contrast, visceral-muscle fractional synthesis rates were lower in 8-week-old suckling lambs than in weaned animals, owing to decreased efficiencies of protein synthesis. It was concluded that developmental factors and the change to a solid diet, or weaning in itself, or both, affect differently skeletal and visceral muscle protein synthesis in the immature lamb.
Ultrathin GaAs Solar Cells With a Silver Back Mirror

We report on the fabrication and characterization of ultrathin GaAs solar cells with a silver back mirror and absorber thicknesses of only t = 120 nm and t = 220 nm. The silver back mirror is combined with localized ohmic contacts. Without antireflection coating, Fabry-Perot resonances lead to strong enhancement over single-pass absorption (up to 4), and external quantum efficiency reaches 0.8 at resonance wavelengths. An analytical model is used to determine the resonance wavelengths and the absorption maxima. A short-circuit improvement of 27% results from the enhanced absorption induced by the Fabry-Perot resonances. By implementing an additional antireflection coating, short-circuit currents reach 16.3 mA/cm2 fort = 120 nm and 20.7 mA/cm2 for t = 220 nm, corresponding to efficiencies of 8.7 % and 12.9 %, respectively.
Alkaline phosphatase release assay to determine cytotoxicity for Listeria species

A simple cytotoxicity assay for Listeria species was developed by assaying alkaline phosphatase (AP) release from an infected hybrid B lymphocyte (Ped‐2E9) line. Eight of eight L. monocytogenes and six of 11 L. ivanovii strains induced significantly high AP release from Ped‐2E9 cells compared to five other L. ivanovii strains and other Listeria spp. In contrast, all L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii test strains showed high release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity from Ped‐2E9 cells. The molecular mass of AP was estimated to be about 128–165 kDa, suggesting severe membrane damage in Ped‐2E9 cells due to Listeria infection. The data presented here indicate that AP assay could be used over LDH assay to detect Listeria‐induced cell cytotoxicity.
Privacy Preserving Implementation of the Max-Sum Algorithm and its Variants

One of the basic motivations for solving DCOPs is maintaining agents' privacy. Thus, researchers have evaluated the privacy loss of DCOP algorithms and defined corresponding notions of privacy preservation for secured DCOP algorithms. However, no secured protocol was proposed for Max-Sum, which is among the most studied DCOP algorithms. As part of the ongoing effort of designing secure DCOP algorithms, we propose P-Max-Sum, the first private algorithm that is based on Max-Sum. The proposed algorithm has multiple agents preforming the role of each node in the factor graph, on which the Max-Sum algorithm operates. P-Max-Sum preserves three types of privacy: topology privacy, constraint privacy, and assignment/decision privacy. By allowing a single call to a trusted coordinator, P-Max-Sum also preserves agent privacy. The two main cryptographic means that enable this privacy preservation are secret sharing and homomorphic encryption. In addition, we design privacy-preserving implementations of four variants of Max-Sum. We conclude by analyzing the price of privacy in terns of runtime overhead, both theoretically and by extensive experimentation.
Proteomic analysis of cellular responses to low concentration N‐methyl‐N′‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine in human amnion FL cells

We have shown previously that exposure to a low concentration of N‐methyl‐N′‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induces comprehensive changes in the protein expression profile of human amnion FL cells, including the induction, suppression, upregulation, and downregulation of various proteins. In addition, by proteomic analysis combining two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) and mass spectrometry, some of the induced and suppressed proteins were identified. In this study, we identified an additional 18 proteins among those that were either up‐ or downregulated by MNNG treatment. The proteins identified were a heterogeneous group that included several zinc finger proteins, proteins involved in signal transduction, cytoskeletal proteins, cell‐cycle regulation proteins, and proteins with unknown functions. The involvement of these proteins in the cellular responses to alkylating agents has not been reported before and their physiological relevance is not clear. Therefore, our findings may help better understand the global cellular stress responses to chemical carcinogens, and may lead to new studies on the functions of these MNNG‐responsive proteins. Furthermore, some of these proteins may serve as biomarkers for detecting exposure of human populations to environmental carcinogens. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 43:93–99, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Application of therapeutic plasma exchange in patients having severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome

Background/Aims Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a viral hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate. However, effective treatments for SFTS cases not responded to supportive therapy have not been established. Herein, we introduced the therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in SFTS patients in a tertiary hospital between 2013 and 2015. Methods TPE was performed in patients with rapidly progressing SFTS. Clinical, laboratory, and virological parameters were compared before and after TPE. Results Among 27 confirmed SFTS patients, two patients were treated with TPE and ribavirin combination in May 2013, then, 14 patients with rapidly progressing SFTS patients were treated with only TPE from June 2013 to September 2015: their median age was 58 years (interquartile range, 50 to 70) and eight (57.1%) were male. Body temperature, pressure-adjusted heart rate, white blood cell and platelet counts, coagulation profile, serum creatinine, and multiple organ dysfunction score improved immediately after TPE. In addition, the mean cyclic threshold value of real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for SFTS virus after TPE (mean ± standard deviation, 31.3 ± 2.9) was significantly higher than that before TPE (26.5 ± 2.9; p < 0.001), indicating that serum viral loads decreased after TPE. Finally, 13 of 14 TPE-treated patients (92.8%) recovered from rapidly progressing SFTS without sequelae. Conclusions SFTS patients treated with TPE showed improvements in clinical, laboratory, and virological parameters. These results suggest that TPE would be a therapeutic modality as rescue therapy in patients with rapidly progressing SFTS.
Semirigid supergravity.

We formulate two-dimensional topological gravity starting from local N = 2 superconformal geometry. The theory is free from the very beginning. The usual ‘‘twisting’’ of the N = 2 algebra emerges from symmetry breaking when we expand about a nonzero value for one of the ghost fields. The mysterious linear term in the supercurrent emerges automatically, as does a full superfield formalism for the whole system including ghosts. We analyze the moduli space of the ‘‘semirigid’’ super Riemann surfaces associated with this theory, including their allowed degenerations. Disciplines Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/physics_papers/576
The protective effect of zinc sulphate in experimental sporidesmin intoxication of lactating dairy cows.

Abstract Zinc sulphate solution, administered concurrently with the mycotoxin sporidesmin, gave significant protection against the toxin. The protective effect was shown in maintained milk production and bodyweights, and in reduced liver damage as determined by serum enzyme (gamma-glutamyltransferase, ornithine carbamyltransferase) analysis and by subjective grading of the liver damage after slaughter. There was no overt facial eczema in either group but, in sporidesmin dosed cows not receiving zinc sulphate, there was a fall in milk yield and in bodyweight. Serum enzyme levels did not rise until more than a week after dosing at which time milk yields were showing partial recovery. Serum concentrations of the enzyme gamma-gluta-myltransferase (EC 23.2.2) were found to be correlated to the severity of the liver damage observed at post-mortem.
Expression of DDR1 and DVL1 in invasive ductal and lobular breast carcinoma does not correlate with histological type, grade and hormone receptor status.

BACKGROUND Invasive ductal (IDC) and lobular (ILC) carcinomas are the common histological types of breast carcinoma which are difficult to distinguish when poorly differentiated. Discoidin domain receptor (DDR1) and Drosophila dishevelled protein (DVL1) were recently suggested to differentiate IDC from ILC. OBJECTIVES To assess the expression of DDR1 and DVL1 and their association with histological type, grading and hormonal status of IDC and ILC. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross sectional study was conducted on IDC and ILC breast tumours. Tumours were immunohistochemically stained for (DDR1) and (DVL1) as well as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and C-erbB2 receptor. Demographic data including age and ethnicity were obtained from patient records. RESULTS A total of 51 cases (30 IDCs and 21 ILCs) were assessed. DDR1 and DVL1 expression was not significantly associated with histological type (p=0.57 and p=0.66 respectively). There was no association between DDR1 and DVL1 expression and tumour grade (p=0.32 and p=1.00 respectively), ER (p=0.62 and 0.50 respectively), PR (p=0.38 and p=0.63 respectively) and C-erbB2 expression (p=0.19 and p=0.33 respectively) in IDC. There was no association between DDR1 and DVL1 expression and tumour grade (p=0.52 and p=0.33 respectively), ER (p=0.06 and p=0.76 respectively), PR (p=0.61 and p=0.43 respectively) and C-erbB2 expression (p=0.58 and p=0.76 respectively) in ILC. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that DDR1 and DVL1 are present in both IDC and ILC regardless of the tumour differentiation. More studies are needed to assess the potential of these two proteins in distinguishing IDC from ILC in breast tumours.
Organic Thin-Film Transistor Memory With Nanoparticle Floating Gate

Organic thin-film transistor memory devices were realized by inserting a layer of nanoparticles (such as Ag or CaF2) between two Nylon 6 gate dielectrics as the floating gate. The transistor memories were fabricated on glass substrates by full thermal deposition. The transistors exhibit significant hysteresis behavior in current-voltage characteristics, due to the separated Ag or CaF2 nanoparticle islands that act as charge trap centers. The mechanism of the transistor memory operation was discussed.