Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of multiparametric flow cytometry in the detection of minimal residual disease in acute leukaemia

Summary Flow cytometry is the most accessible method for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection due to its availability in most haematological centres. Using a precise combination of different antibodies, immunophenotypic detection of MRD in acute leukaemia can be performed by identifying abnormal combinations or expressions of antigens on malignant cells at diagnosis, during and post treatment. These abnormal phenotypes, referred to as leukaemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIPs) are either absent or expressed at low frequency in normal bone marrow (BM) cells and are used to monitor the behaviour and quantitate the amount of residual disease following treatment. In paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the level of MRD by multiparametric flow cytometry (MPFC) during therapy is recognised as an important predictor of outcome. Although less extensively studied, adult ALL and adult and paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) have also demonstrated similar findings. The challenge now is incorporating this information for risk-stratification so that therapy can be tailored individually and ultimately improve outcome while also limiting treatment-related toxicity. In this review we will elaborate on the current and future role of MPFC in MRD in acute leukaemia while also addressing its limitations.
Kidney function is associated with short-term, mid-term and long-term clinical outcome after coronary angiography and intervention

Abstract Background: Patients with kidney dysfunction are at risk of developing ischaemic heart disease. We investigated the association between eGFR and early-, mid- and long-term clinical outcome in patients undergoing coronary angiography and intervention. Methods: Retrospective study on 4968 patients with complete data on eGFR, 65% male and aged 32–80 years, admitted to Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden for coronary angiography and intervention from 2006 to 2008. Data were censored at 0–30 days, 31–365 days and 366–1825 days of follow-up. Results: Baseline eGFR was strongly associated with all-cause mortality at all three time periods studied with each 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 increase in eGFR being associated with a ∼30% (p < .001), 25% (p = .002) and 20% (p < .001) decrease in all-cause mortality at 30, 365 and 1825 days respectively. Each 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 increase in eGFR was associated with a ∼21% (p < .001) decrease in re-hospitalisation for MI at 365 days and a 6% decrease (p = .03) at day 30 for re-vascularisation. Conclusions: We report a strong association between kidney function and all-cause mortality at both early, mid- and long-term follow-up in patients undergoing coronary angiography and intervention, with eGFR significantly associated with MI-related mortality after one month of follow-up. Kidney function was also shown to be associated with risk for re-vascularisation at one month, indicating mostly procedural-related risk and with new MI at mid-term follow-up. Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms linking kidney function and cardiovascular disease to improve both the short- and long-term care of these patients.
Use of non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics and risk of falls in older men.

BACKGROUND To ascertain whether use of non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics is associated with risk of falls and compare this to risk of falls associated with use of benzodiazepines. METHODS Among 4450 community-dwelling men, aged 71 years and older, enrolled in the population-based prospective cohort study, Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS), use of nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics and benzodiazepines was assessed by interview and verified from medication containers at the third annual visit of the MrOS study. Falls in the subsequent one-year period were ascertained by tri-annual questionnaires and a computerized dictionary used to categorize type of medication. RESULTS In age-adjusted models, non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic use was associated with an increased risk of any falls (one or more falls) (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.15, 1.81) and recurrent falls (2 or more falls) (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.07, 2.14). Use of benzodiazepines was associated with a similar increase in age-adjusted risk of falling. Depressive symptoms, inability to stand from a chair, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) impairment modestly attenuated these associations. The association between non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic use and falls was most pronounced among men without a history of falls in the previous year: in a multivariable model controlling for multiple potential confounders, the RR of any falls was 1.74 (95% CI 1.13, 2.68) in this subgroup. CONCLUSIONS Use of non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics is associated with an increased risk of falls. Non-pharmacologic approaches to sleep disturbances may represent the safest approach to sleep difficulties in older adults.
Generation of Subsurface Voids, Incubation Effect, and Formation of Nanoparticles in Short Pulse Laser Interactions with Bulk Metal Targets in Liquid: Molecular Dynamics Study

The ability of short pulse laser ablation in liquids to produce clean colloidal nanoparticles and unusual surface morphology has been employed in a broad range of practical applications. In this paper, we report the results of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations aimed at revealing the key processes that control the surface morphology and nanoparticle size distributions by pulsed laser ablation in liquids. The simulations of bulk Ag targets irradiated in water are performed with an advanced computational model combining a coarse-grained representation of liquid environment and an atomistic description of laser interaction with metal targets. For the irradiation conditions that correspond to the spallation regime in vacuum, the simulations predict that the water environment can prevent the complete separation of the spalled layer from the target, leading to the formation of large subsurface voids stabilized by rapid cooling and solidification. The subsequent irradiation of the laser-modified surface is found to result in a more efficient ablation and nanoparticle generation, thus suggesting the possibility of the incubation effect in multipulse laser ablation in liquids. The simulations performed at higher laser fluences that correspond to the phase explosion regime in vacuum reveal the accumulation of the ablation plume at the interface with the water environment and the formation of a hot metal layer. The water in contact with the metal layer is brought to the supercritical state and provides an environment suitable for nucleation and growth of small metal nanoparticles from metal atoms emitted from the hot metal layer. The metal layer itself has limited stability and can readily disintegrate into large (tens of nanometers) nanoparticles. The layer disintegration is facilitated by the Rayleigh–Taylor instability of the interface between the higher density metal layer decelerated by the pressure from the lighter supercritical water. The nanoparticles emerging from the layer disintegration are rapidly cooled and solidified due to the interaction with water environment, with a cooling rate of ∼2 × 1012 K/s observed in the simulations. The computational prediction of two distinct mechanisms of nanoparticle formation yielding nanoparticles with different characteristic sizes provides a plausible explanation for the experimental observations of bimodal nanoparticle size distributions in laser ablation in liquids. The ultrahigh cooling and solidification rates suggest the possibility for generation of nanoparticles featuring metastable phases and highly nonequilibrium structures.
5-Lipoxygenase–Deficient Mice Infected with Borrelia burgdorferi Develop Persistent Arthritis

The enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid into the leukotrienes, which are critical regulators of inflammation and inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and arthritis. Although leukotrienes are present in the synovial fluid of Lyme disease patients, their role in the development of Lyme arthritis has not been determined. In the current study, we used a murine model of Lyme arthritis to investigate the role 5-LO products might have in the development of this inflammatory disease. After infection of Lyme arthritis-susceptible C3H/HeJ mice with Borrelia burgdorferi, mRNA expression of 5-LO and 5-LO–activating protein was induced in the joints, and the 5-LO product leukotriene B4 was produced. Using C3H 5-LO–deficient mice, we demonstrated that 5-LO activity was not necessary for the induction of Lyme arthritis, but that its deficiency resulted in earlier joint swelling and an inability to resolve arthritis as demonstrated by sustained arthritis pathology through day 60 postinfection. Although production of anti-Borrelia IgG was decreased in 5-LO–deficient mice, bacterial clearance from the joints was unaffected. Phagocytosis of B. burgdorferi and efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils was defective in macrophages from 5-LO–deficient mice, and uptake of opsonized spirochetes by neutrophils was reduced. These results demonstrate that products of the 5-LO metabolic pathway are not required for the development of disease in all models of arthritis and that caution should be used when targeting 5-LO as therapy for inflammatory diseases.
Hormonal Responses to Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training with Different Exercise Orders

Abstract Cadore, EL, Izquierdo, M, dos Santos, MG, Martins, JB, Lhullier, FLR, Pinto, RS, Silva, RF, and Kruel, LFM. Hormonal responses to concurrent strength and endurance training with different exercise orders. J Strength Cond Res 26(12): 3281–3288, 2012—The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the intrasession sequencing of concurrent strength and aerobic training on the acute testosterone (TT) and cortisol (COR) responses. Ten recreationally strength-trained young men (23.5 ± 0.9 years) performed 2 exercise interventions: aerobic-strength (AS) and strength-aerobic (SA), which consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer at 75% of maximal heart rate and 3 sets of 8 repetitions at 75% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) in 4 strength exercises. Maximal heart rate was determined using a maximal incremental test on a cycle ergometer. Blood samples were collected before, between exercise modalities, and immediately after the concurrent training sessions to determine basal and acute total TT and COR concentrations. There were significant increases in TT after the first modality in both exercise orders (p < 0.05). However, the TT level remained significantly higher than the resting levels after the second exercise modality only in the AS (p < 0.05) which resulted in a significant higher relative total change after the complete concurrent training session compared with SA (p < 0.05). Regarding COR, there were significant increases after the first modality in both AS and SA orders (p < 0.05), but the COR returned to resting levels after the second modality in both AS and SA interventions. During AS and SA, the change observed after the first modality performance was greater than that after the second in both hormones. The present results suggest that the TT response is optimized after the AS order, whereas both AS and SA produced similar hormonal levels at all time points. However, it is important to state that the present results should be applied only when short duration and moderate intensity aerobic training is performed.
Performance analysis and comparison of BLDC motor drive using PI and FOC

BLDC motors and their drives are gaining attention day by day from various industrial and household appliance manufactures because of its high efficiency, high power density, high torque, and low inertia, less noise, compact form, almost no maintenance, salient operation, and reliability. The BLDC motor can also be thought of an intermediate between a DC motor and a synchronous motor, which extracts the advantages of each of them and rejects their disadvantages. BLDC motor is inverter fed permanent magnet synchronous motor, having permanent magnet on rotor and trapezoidal or sinusoidal shaped back EMF. The BLDC motor employs a DC supply to stator phase winding of the motor by power devices, the commutation of phase is achieved by electronics commutation system instead of brushes and commutator. Hence the rotor position at six steps needed to achieve electronics commutation perfectly. The BLDC motor emerging as the dominant new technology in motion control. The paper builds simple, accurate and fast running model of BLDC motor drive in MATLAB/Simulink. They are especially beneficial in the situation where actual system does not exist. Changing the values of parameters can often be done more quickly than by conducting a series of experimental studies on actual system. In this dissertation, Modelling, simulation and analysis of PI controller and field oriented controller (FOC) based sensor less scheme for a BLDC motor has been carried out.
Relationship of childhood maltreatment to the onset and course of major depression in adulthood

The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of retrospectively recalled childhood trauma among despressed patients and to examine the relationship between retrospective recall of childhood maltreatment and the onset, course, and severity of major depression in adulthood. Forty‐seven adults with DSM‐IV major depression and forty‐one healthy comparison subjects were administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), a self‐report measure of traumatic experiences in childhood. Age at onset of first depressive episode, number of lifetime depressive episodes, current depressive severity, and presence of lifetime anxiety and substance use comorbidity were determined for the depressed patients using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV. Patients with major depression recalled significantly more severe emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical abuse than the healthy comparison subjects. Among the depressed subjects, the severity of childhood trauma (most notably emotional abuse) predicted 25–28% of the variance in age at onset of first depressive episode (earlier onset) and number of lifetime depressive episodes (more episodes). Depressed patients with recall of childhood trauma also experienced a significantly greater number of comorbid mental disorders (2.9 vs. 1.9) than depressed patients without trauma histories. The findings must be tempered by the possibility of a recall bias toward more adverse childhood experiences in the depressed patients. To the extent that these data are valid, they suggest that childhood maltreatment may influence the onset, course, and comorbid character of major depression. Depression and Anxiety 9:169–174, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patterns of use of chemotherapy for breast cancer in older women: findings from Medicare claims data.

PURPOSE There is little population-based information available on the use of chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. This study describes the use of chemotherapy through analysis of Medicare claims and determines the correlates of chemotherapy use. PATIENTS AND METHODS We used the merged Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database and identified women > or = 65 years of age diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and 1992. Chemotherapy was ascertained from Medicare claims through procedure codes for chemotherapy made within 24 months of the diagnosis. RESULTS In women with stages I, II, III, and IV breast cancer, the percentage receiving chemotherapy within 24 months of diagnosis was 5.1%, 19.5%, 33.9%, and 35.2%, respectively. Most women receiving chemotherapy had two to 12 claims; the median number was eight. Use of chemotherapy decreased significantly with age across all tumor stages; eg, in women with stage III cancer, the use of chemotherapy declined from 49% in those aged 65 to 69 years to 10% in those > or = 80 years old. In a multivariate analysis, there was little variation by ethnicity. Chemotherapy use was highest (70%) in women aged 65 to 69 years with node-positive and estrogen receptor-negative tumors and lowest (5%) in those with node-negative and estrogen receptor-positive tumors. Compared with those without comorbid diseases, patients with a comorbidity score of 2 had significantly lower use of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Medicare claims data seem to provide valuable information on the use of chemotherapy for breast cancer in older women. However, external validation of the accuracy and completeness of these data is required before any firm conclusion can be drawn.
Respiratory viruses predisposing to bacterial infections: role of neuraminidase

Background and methods. Viral-bacterial coinfections in humans are well-documented. Viral infections often lead to bacterial superinfections. In vitro and animal models for influenza, as well as molecular microbiology study of viruses and bacteria, provide an understanding of the mechanisms that explain how respiratory viruses and bacteria combine to cause disease. This article focuses on viral and bacterial combinations, particularly synergism between influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Results. Potential mechanisms for synergism between viruses and bacteria include: virus destruction of respiratory epithelium may increase bacterial adhesion; virus-induced immunosuppression may cause bacterial superinfections; and inflammatory response to viral infection may up-regulate expression of molecules that bacteria utilize as receptors. Influenza and parainfluenza viruses possess neuraminidase (NA) activity, which appears to increase bacterial adherence after viral preincubation. Experimental studies demonstrate that viral NA exposes pneumococcal receptors on host cells by removing terminal sialic acids. Other studies show that inhibition of viral NA activity reduces adherence and invasion of S. pneumoniae, independently of effects on viral replication. Clinical studies reveal that influenza vaccination reduces the incidence of secondary bacterial respiratory tract infections. Conclusions. Detection of viral factors (e.g. high NA activity) that increase the likely potential of epidemic/pandemic influenza strains for causing morbidity and mortality from secondary bacterial infections provides new possibilities for intervention. Additional study is needed to identify the mechanisms for the development of bacterial complications after infections with respiratory syncytial virus and other important respiratory viruses that lack NA activity. Prevention of bacterial superinfection is likely to depend on effective antiviral measures.
Price discrimination factors for competitive non-regulated taxi markets

The lack of information on price discrimination regarding which characteristics of the client are used and how they influence the definition of the initial price offered in a competitive non-regulated taxi market is the main problem that encouraged this investigation. The study differs from other studies in its use of an experimental research method which allowed analysis of the problem as close as possible to the natural context of the phenomenon. Interviews with 10 taxi drivers produced six variables affecting the process of price definition. A group of 16 people matching those variables collected rates offered by a random sample of taxi drivers. Due to the lack of normality in the distribution of the prices collected, an ordered regression model was implemented. The findings are that price discrimination exists in a nonregulated market such as that of taxis in Lima and that phenotype and the accent of the client are individual characteristics that have a significant influence on the initial price offer. The results confirm that price discrimination is applied in a context like the one of the study, but the question remains as to why it is naturally present and what conditions make it work.
Wnt/β-Catenin and noncanonical Wnt signaling interact in tissue evagination in the simple eumetazoan Hydra

In and evaginations of 2D cell sheets are major shape generating processes in animal development. They result from directed movement and intercalation of polarized cells associated with cell shape changes. Work on several bilaterian model organisms has emphasized the role of noncanonical Wnt signaling in cell polarization and movement. However, the molecular processes responsible for generating tissue and body shape in ancestral, prebilaterian animals are unknown. We show that noncanonical Wnt signaling acts in mass tissue movements during bud and tentacle evagination and regeneration in the cnidarian polyp Hydra. The wnt5, wnt8, frizzled2 (fz2), and dishevelled-expressing cell clusters define the positions, where bud and tentacle evaginations are initiated; wnt8, fz2, and dishevelled remain up-regulated in those epithelial cells, undergoing cell shape changes during the entire evagination process. Downstream of wnt and dsh expression, JNK activity is required for the evagination process. Multiple ectopic wnt5, wnt8, fz2, and dishevelled-expressing centers and the subsequent evagination of ectopic tentacles are induced throughout the body column by activation of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling. Our results indicate that integration of axial patterning and tissue morphogenesis by the coordinated action of canonical and noncanonical Wnt pathways was crucial for the evolution of eumetazoan body plans.
Skin Cancer Prevention Counseling and Clinical Practices of Pediatricians

Abstract: Little is known about pediatricians' counseling and clinical practices to reduce skin cancer risk among their patients. Thus our objectives were to characterize skin cancer preventive counseling and clinical practices in a sample of pediatricians and identify correlates of these practices. Physicians practicing general pediatrics in Harris County, Texas, received a mail survey that assessed their sun protection recommendations and skin cancer preventive counseling and clinical practices. Pediatrician, patient, and medical practice variables were assessed as correlates. Most (76%) pediatricians routinely recommended sunscreen; however, relatively few (24%) suggested reapplying it after prolonged periods outside. About half routinely recommended protective clothing (53%), shade (47%), or limiting midday sun exposure (46%). Even fewer pediatricians routinely discussed skin cancer risk factors, passed out sunscreen samples, made educational materials available, took a family history of skin cancer, or documented risk factors in a patient's chart. More than half reported that they routinely performed full‐body skin examinations during a first visit (65%) and annually (56%). Perceived barriers, perceived relevance of skin cancer prevention, and personal sun protection practices were important factors associated with professional practices in this sample. Interventions are needed to increase pediatricians' counseling and clinical practices to reduce skin cancer risk among patients.
Enabling energy efficient sensory data collection using multiple mobile sink

Mobile sink is the challenging task for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In this paper we propose to design an efficient routing protocol for single mobile sink and multiple mobile sink for data gathering in WSN. In this process, a biased random walk method is used to determine the next position of the sink. Then, a rendezvous point selection with splitting tree technique is used to find the optimal data transmission path. If the sink moves within the range of the rendezvous point, it receives the gathered data and if moved out, it selects a relay node from its neighbours to relay packets from rendezvous point to the sink. Proposed algorithm reduces the signal overhead and improves the triangular routing problem. Here the sink acts as a vehicle and collect the data from the sensor. The results show that the proposed model effectively supports sink mobility with low overhead and delay when compared with Intelligent Agent-based Routing protocol (IAR) and also increases the reliability and delivery ratio when the number of sources increases.