Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigational drugs for T-cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT Introduction: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies frequently associated with a poor outcome. The frontline treatment strategy for PTCL relies mostly on CHOP or CHOP-like regimens, which are associated with a high failure rate and frequent relapses. Areas covered: In this review, the authors present recently registered drugs and their positioning in the therapeutic armamentarium against PTCL and new drugs currently in development. The successful results in CD30-positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas suggest that a better characterization of these lymphomas could open new areas of efficient drug development. Expert opinion: Advances in the field of molecular biology have started to unravel the anomalies associated with T-cell malignancies. Recent knowledge on potential epigenetic modifiers like IDH2, which is frequently mutated in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, opens new areas of research and confirms that epigenetic drugs could represent an attractive area of clinical research. The recently developed immune checkpoints regulators might represent another area of potential interest.
Three-Dimensional Data Registration Based on Human Perception

Abstract : Registration, the process of transforming different sets of data into a common coordinate system, is often required to allow the comparison or integration of the data sets. Techniques such as the widely used Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm have limited effectiveness on data sets that require significant transformation or that have large degrees of inconsistencies. This paper describes a biologically inspired algorithm for data registration that is based on two theories of human perception. The use of macro level registration based on these theories combined with micro level registration using the ICP algorithm provides enhanced registration of these challenging data sets. The new algorithm was tested extensively on simulated sensor images in several scenarios key to successful application to autonomous ground navigation. The excellent performance of the biologically inspired algorithm in these cases makes it a promising candidate for this field.
Slowing of Pulses to c/10 With Subwatt Power Levels and Low Latency Using Brillouin Amplification in a Bismuth-Oxide Optical Fiber

We report the generation of slow light using Brillouin amplification in a short length of highly nonlinear bismuth-oxide fiber. By using just 2 m of fiber, we demonstrate a five-fold reduction in group velocity for ~200-ns pulses, which we believe to be a record for a slow-light propagation in an optical fiber. Moreover, by virtue of the high nonlinearity per unit length of this fiber, we achieve this at a very modest pump power level of just ~400 mW and with a low inherent device latency of 14 ns. These results highlight both the merits and practicality of using high nonlinearity nonsilica fibers for slow-light devices
Postpartum Sexual Function; Conflict in Marriage Stability: A Systematic Review

Background : One of the most important issues affecting the stability of marriage is sexual function, so its problem can lead to divorce or separation of the couple. Pregnancy and delivery as one the most important periods of women's life can have significant effects on sexual function. This study reviews the postpartum sexual function and its related factors in Iran. Methods: This study is a systematic review of the sexual function after childbirth in Iran. By using of valid keywords and searching in databases such as Google scholar, SID, Magiran, Medlib, Irandoc, Iranmedex, the total number of 15 articles between 2005 and 2012 years have been evaluated. Results were reported quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: Total Sample was 4109 women, with an average of 274 samples per study. Plenty of studies in Tehran was 46% and other cities was 54%. The majority of studies showed no relation between mode of delivery and sexual function (P=0.14), but there were significant relation between lactation and postpartum sexual function (P<0.05) as, breastfeeding decreased sexual function. Also sexual function score has decreased with increasing parity. Conclusion: According to the effects of lactation and parity on women sexual function, therefore high risk for divorce, sex education after childbirth, especially in the first six months after delivery, maybe helpful in prevention of sexual dysfunction after delivery.
A Study of Wood-Pigeon Shooting: The Exploitation of a Natural Animal Population

Twenty-two species of algae, including 10 Cyanophyta, 4 Chlorophyta, 6 Bacillariophyta and 2 Euglenophyta, were isolated and identified from the semi-desert algal crusts in Shapotou, Ningxia Autonomous Region. The relationship between algae and soil matrix was studied by grinding and superprobe, and the distribution of algal species in eight layers of crusts was examined under light and scanning electron microscopes. It was found that the algae exhibited a layer-typed distribution in intermicron, and the layers of algal crust from surface to inner were in order of inorganic mineral protection layer(ca. 0.02 mm), alga-enriched layer(0.02-2.5 mm) and sparse algae layer(2.5-5.0 mm). The filaments of algae were united with clay mineral by the polysaccharides and protein of their sheath, or extended directly into mineral granules to network and band sand and soil particles.
Evaluation of Staphylococcal Cell Surface Display and Flow Cytometry for Postselectional Characterization of Affinity Proteins in Combinatorial Protein Engineering Applications

ABSTRACT For efficient generation of high-affinity protein-based binding molecules, fast and reliable downstream characterization platforms are needed. In this work, we have explored the use of staphylococcal cell surface display together with flow cytometry for affinity characterization of candidate affibody molecules directly on the cell surface. A model system comprising three closely related affibody molecules with different affinities for immunoglobulin G and an albumin binding domain with affinity for human serum albumin was used to investigate advantages and differences compared to biosensor technology in a side-by-side manner. Equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) determinations as well as dissociation rate analysis were performed using both methods, and the results show that the on-cell determinations give both KD and dissociation rate values in a very fast and reproducible manner and that the relative affinities are very similar to the biosensor results. Interestingly, the results also show that there are differences between the absolute affinities determined with the two different technologies, and possible explanations for this are discussed. This work demonstrates the advantages of cell surface display for directed evolution of affinity proteins in terms of fast postselectional, on-cell characterization of candidate clones without the need for subcloning and subsequent protein expression and purification but also demonstrates that it is important to be aware that absolute affinities determined using different methods often vary substantially and that such comparisons therefore could be difficult.
A prediction model of survival for patients with bone metastasis from uterine corpus cancer.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to establish a predictive model of survival period after bone metastasis from endometrial cancer. METHODS A total of 28 patients with bone metastasis from uterine corpus cancer were included in the study. Data at the time of bone metastasis diagnosis, which included presence of extraskeletal metastasis, performance status, history of any previous radiation/chemotherapy and the number of bone metastases, were collected. Survival data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS The most common site of bone metastasis was the pelvis (50.0%), followed by lumbar spine (32.1%), thoracic spine (25.0%) and rib bone (17.9%). The median survival period after bone metastasis was 25 weeks. The overall rate of survival after bone metastasis of the entire cohort was 75.0% at 13 weeks, 46.4% at 26 weeks and 42.9% at 52 weeks. Performance status of 3-4 was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor (Hazard ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-8.70) and multiple bone metastases tended to be associated with poor prognosis (Hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-5.97). A prognostic score was calculated by adding up the number of these two factors. The 26-week survival rates after bone metastasis were 88.9% for those with a score of 0, 45.5% for those with a score of 1 and 0% for those with a score of 2 (P = 0.0006). CONCLUSIONS This scoring system can be used to determine the optimal treatment for patients with bone metastasis from endometrial cancer.
Synergistic activity of azoles with amiodarone against clinically resistant Candida albicans tested by chequerboard and time-kill methods.

Candida albicans is the most common candidal pathogen, causing serious systemic disease in immunocompromised patients. Azoles are widely applied and largely effective; however, they are generally fungistatic and clinically resistant isolates are emerging increasingly. The present study provided in vitro evidence using a chequerboard technique that amiodarone is strongly synergistic with azoles against resistant C. albicans, with mean fractional inhibitory concentration indices of 0.01 and high-percentage synergistic interactions of 1250 %. A time-kill study performed by both colony counting and a colorimetric reduction assay confirmed the synergistic interaction, with a >or=2 log10 decrease in c.f. u. ml(-1) compared with the corresponding azoles alone. These results suggest the possibility of supplementing azoles with amiodarone to treat resistant C. albicans infections.
Quench Protection Study of the Eurocircol 16 T cosθ Dipole for the Future Circular Collider (FCC)

After Large Hadron Collider will be turned off, a new, more energetic machine will be needed in order to explore unknown regions of the high-energy physics. For this reason, the project Future Circular Collider (FCC) has started, with the goal of developing a 100-km-circumference collider of 50 TeV proton beams. The Eurocircol collaboration is part of the FCC study under the European Community leadership, and it aims to develop a conceptual design of FCC till 2019. One of the main targets is to design a bending dipole able to reach 16 T operation magnetic field, in order to accomplish the size and energy constraints. Such a magnetic field can be reached using Nb3Sn conductors. One option under exploration is the Cosθ dipole, by INFN of Milano and Genova. Because of the high stored energy and the large current densities due to the conductor performances, quench protection is one of the most challenging aspects of the design. In this paper, the quench protection of the cosθ design is presented. A standard quench protection study is accompanied by a less conservative study which includes ac effects on the power dissipation inside the coils and on the magnet inductance, in order to not exclude preventively more convenient designs, and to develop a more performing magnet as possible.
Segmentation of articular cartilage using active contours and prior knowledge

A diffusion snake segmentation algorithm was evaluated on synthetic and real MR images of articular cartilage. The algorithm proved to be robust to missing boundaries and the initial contour converges over large distances. Compared with a standard B-spline snake, more accurate and reproducible segmentations were obtained, with less effort during initialisation of the algorithm.
Foreclosure Spillovers and Individual Well-Being: Evidence from the Great Recession

Abstract This paper explores the causal effect of foreclosure on individual well-being and social capital. Using plausibly exogenous variation in the timing of interest rate changes on different types of adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), we find that a 10% rise in foreclosures is associated with a 0.58% and 0.28% decline in current and expected future life satisfaction. These effects are primarily driven by the effects on local optimism and social capital. The results are consistent with models of spatial externalities where large-scale shocks generate adverse effects on communities, not just individuals.
Combination therapy approaches to target insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling in breast cancer.

Insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) signaling as a therapeutic target has been widely studied and clinically tested. Despite the vast amount of literature supporting the biological role of IGF1R in breast cancer, effective clinical translation in targeting its activity as a cancer therapy has not been successful. The intrinsic complexity of cancer cell signaling mediated by many tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors that work together to modulate each other and intracellular downstream mediators in the cell highlights that studying IGF1R expression and activity as a prognostic factor and therapeutic target in isolation is certainly associated with problems. This review discusses the current literature and clinical trials associated with IGF-1 signaling and attempts to look at new ways of designing novel IGF1R-directed breast cancer therapy approaches to target its activity and/or intracellular downstream signaling pathways in IGF1R-expressing breast cancers.
Lipopolysaccharide-Activated B Cells Down-Regulate Th1 Immunity and Prevent Autoimmune Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice1

B cells can serve dual roles in modulating T cell immunity through their potent capacity to present Ag and induce regulatory tolerance. Although B cells are necessary components for the initiation of spontaneous T cell autoimmunity to β cell Ags in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, the role of activated B cells in the autoimmune process is poorly understood. In this study, we show that LPS-activated B cells, but not control B cells, express Fas ligand and secrete TGF-β. Coincubation of diabetogenic T cells with activated B cells in vitro leads to the apoptosis of both T and B lymphocytes. Transfusion of activated B cells, but not control B cells, into prediabetic NOD mice inhibited spontaneous Th1 autoimmunity, but did not promote Th2 responses to β cell autoantigens. Furthermore, this treatment induced mononuclear cell apoptosis predominantly in the spleen and temporarily impaired the activity of APCs. Cotransfer of activated B cells with diabetogenic splenic T cells prevented the adoptive transfer of type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) to NOD/scid mice. Importantly, whereas 90% of NOD mice treated with control B cells developed T1DM within 27 wk, <20% of the NOD mice treated with activated B cells became hyperglycemic up to 1 year of age. Our data suggest that activated B cells can down-regulate pathogenic Th1 immunity through triggering the apoptosis of Th1 cells and/or inhibition of APC activity by the secretion of TGF-β. These findings provide new insights into T-B cell interactions and may aid in the design of new therapies for human T1DM.
A Model for Digitally-Enabled Process Innovation: the Case of the U.S. Minority Business Network

This paper presents a model for investigating digitally-enabled process innovations and their impact on business network performance. The key features of the model are its focus on innovation across business networks and the assumption that benefits of investments in IT are most likely to occur when mediated by innovations in related business process capabilities. The paper presents the model and its underlying rationale. In addition, it details how the model is being applied to a longitudinal examination of a digitally-enabled transformation within NMSDC a business network for minorityowned suppliers in the U.S. Minority business enterprises (MBEs) face challenges and misconceptions regarding their size, owner ambition and sophistication, and business potential. These significant economic and social challenges continue to limit opportunities for MBE growth. The NMSDC, through its affiliated regional councils, exists to promote and coordinate MBEs supplying corporate members. Previously, these matchmaking opportunities were coordinated in non-standard fashion by the regional councils with little transparency. The ongoing investigation is situated within Open Systems, Inc. and its development of a standardized IT platform (called the National Affiliate Portal – or NAP) sponsored by the NMSDC and implemented in the 39 regional councils across the US. The paper shows how the proposed model is applied to answer the following research questions in the context of NMSDC: a) How are process capabilities of regional councils impacted by information technology (IT) use? b) How do process capabilities impact business network performance in terms of matchmaking opportunities?
Low extracellular magnesium induces epileptiform activity and spreading depression in rat hippocampal slices.

The effect of low extracellular Mg2+ concentration ([Mg2+]o) on neuronal activity was studied in rat hippocampal slices. After 20-40 min of perfusion with Mg2+-free medium, when [Mg2+]o declined to approximately 0.1-0.4 mM, spontaneous field potentials developed in the CA1 and CA3 regions, but not in the dentate gyrus. In the CA3 pyramidal cell layer, these potentials consisted of repetitive (0.3-0.5 Hz), 40- to 120-ms-long positive deflections (2-5 mV) with superimposed population spikes. In the stratum (str.) pyramidale of the CA1 region, positive-negative deflections (less than 3 mV) lasting for 30-80 ms were observed, which occurred with a frequency of 0.3-0.5 Hz. In some cases, longer lasting and rapidly recurring events were also observed. In CA3 pyramidal cells, the intracellular correlates of the field potential transients were 20- to 30-mV paroxysmal depolarization shifts (PDS) with superimposed bursts of action potentials, followed by large (greater than 10 mV), 500- to 1,200-ms-long afterhyperpolarizations (AHP). In contrast, pyramidal neurons of the CA1 area did not show PDSs; instead, sequences of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)/inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) accompanied the transient field potential changes. Occasionally, spontaneous EPSPs/IPSPs, occurring with high frequencies, could also be observed in CA1 without any field potential transients. In both hippocampal regions, the epileptiform activity evolved without significant alterations in the resting membrane potential (RMP) and input resistance (RN) of the neurons, although a 2- to 5-mV reduction in action potential threshold was noted. The spontaneous activity in Mg2+-free medium was readily suppressed by raising the extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) from 1.6 to 3.6 mM. The perfusion of 10-30 microns DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (2-APV), an antagonist for the glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type, also attenuated or reversibly blocked the spontaneous activity. Surgical isolation of area CA1 from CA3 ceased the occurrence of the transients in CA1 but not in CA3. The synaptic input/output curves were shifted to the left in the absence of [Mg2+]o. Threshold intensity for eliciting population spikes was 50-75% of that in normal medium. Paired-pulse facilitation was still present near threshold, but was reduced at higher stimulus intensities. Decreases in [Ca2+]o, produced by repetitive stimulation (20-Hz/5-10 s) of the Schaffer collateral/commissural pathway and monitored with ion-selective microelectrodes in the CA1 region, were enhanced in Mg2+-free medium. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
LEAFSPOT OF PEANUT ASSOCIATED WITH MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY.

It is generally recognized that the susceptibility and prevalence of many plant diseases are associated with plant nutrition. The peanut plant is susceptible to leafspot infection which becomes economically important during the last half of its growth period when the crop is planted in the spring. The severity and rapid spread of infection in the field may not be due to the mere presence of the organism, which is ubiquitous, but to the susceptibility of plants suffering from improper nutrition in certain stages of their growth. Results herein reported of a nutritional study with the Dixie Runner variety of peanut support this assumption. The experimental peanut plants were grown in sand culture with the roots of each plant in a single gallon glass jug which completely isolated the roots from the fruiting or pegging zone of the plant (fig. 1). The nutrients were applied to the rooting medium by the continuous flow method of Shive and Stahl (? ), while the nutrients on the pegging zone were applied on the surface and by feeding through the base of the box. For 75 days after germination the rooting and fruiting zones of all cultures were supplied Hoagland's (4) no. 1 complete nutrient solution modified by reducing the concentration of the macronutrients by half and the micronutrients to onetenth. Ferrous iron was added as needed. At the end of that period the following nutrient treatments were begun on the rooting medium : complete, minus phosphorus, minus potassium, minus calcium, minus magnesium, minus sulphur, and minus micronutrient elements. The complete nutrient solution was applied to the fruiting medium throughout the experiment. There were three replicates of single plants to each treatment and the roots of each culture received 1.5 liters of nutrient solution daily ; the pegging region received 3.5 liters of solution weekly. Plants were grown 21 days in the greenhouse after germination and then because of high temperature were moved outside under a frame covered with one thickness of cheese-
Deterministic Delivery of a Single Atom

We report the realization of a deterministic source of single atoms. A standing-wave dipole trap is loaded with one or any desired number of cold cesium atoms from a magneto-optical trap. By controlling the motion of the standing wave, we adiabatically transport the atom with submicrometer precision over macroscopic distances on the order of a centimeter. The displaced atom is observed directly in the dipole trap by fluorescence detection. The trapping field can also be accelerated to eject a single atom into free flight with well-defined velocities.
Heat capacity changes associated with DNA duplex formation: salt- and sequence-dependent effects.

Duplexes are the most fundamental elements of nucleic acid folding. Although it has become increasingly clear that duplex formation can be associated with a significant change in heat capacity (deltaC(p)), this parameter is typically overlooked in thermodynamic studies of nucleic acid folding. Analogy to protein folding suggests that base stacking events coupled to duplex formation should give rise to a deltaC(p) due to the release of waters solvating aromatic surfaces of nucleotide bases. In previous work, we showed that the deltaC(p) observed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) for RNA duplex formation depended on salt and sequence [Takach, J. C. , Mikulecky, P. J., and Feig, A. L. (2004) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, 6530-6531]. In the present work, we apply calorimetric and spectroscopic techniques to a series of designed DNA duplexes to demonstrate that both the salt dependence and sequence dependence of deltaC(p)s observed by ITC reflect perturbations to the same fundamental phenomenon: stacking in the single-stranded state. By measuring the thermodynamics of single strand melting, one can accurately predict the deltaC(p)s observed for duplex formation by ITC at high and low ionic strength. We discuss our results in light of the larger issue of contributions to deltaC(p) from coupled equilibria and conclude that observed deltaC(p)s can be useful indicators of intermediate states in nucleic acid folding phenomena.