Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma Exosomes From HLA-Sensitized Kidney Transplant Recipients Contain mRNA Transcripts Which Predict Development of Antibody-Mediated Rejection

Background Sensitization to HLA remains a significant immunologic barrier to successful transplantation. Identifying immune mechanisms responsible for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is an important goal. Here, we explored the possibility of predicting the risk for AMR by measuring mRNA transcripts of AMR-associated genes in plasma exosomes from kidney transplant patients. Methods Total RNA was extracted from exosomes purified from 152 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-plasma samples of 64 patients (18 AMR, 8 cell-mediated rejection [CMR], 38 no rejection in desensitized [DES] and non-DES control groups) for reverse transcription into cDNA, preamplification and then real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for 21 candidate genes. The mRNA transcript levels of each gene were calculated. Comparisons were made among 4 patient groups for each gene and also for a gene combination score based on selected genes. Results Among 21 candidate genes, we identified multiple genes (gp130, CCL4, TNF&agr;, SH2D1B, CAV1, atypical chemokine receptor 1 [duffy blood group]) whose mRNA transcript levels in plasma exosomes significantly increased among AMR compared with CMR and/or control patients. A gene combination score calculated from 4 genes of gp130, SH2D1B, TNF&agr;, and CCL4 was significantly higher in the AMR than the CMR (P < 0.0001) and no rejection control groups (P < 0.01 vs DES control, P < 0.05 vs non-DES control). Conclusions Our results suggest that plasma exosomes may contain information indicating clinical conditions of kidney transplant patients. mRNA transcript profiles based on gp130, SH2D1B, TNF&agr;, and CCL4 in plasma exosomes may be used to predict on-going and/or imminent AMR.
Evaluation of Fujinon intelligent chromo endoscopy-assisted capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure gastroenterology bleeding.

AIM To investigate the potential benefit of Fujinon intelligent chromo endoscopy (FICE)-assisted small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) for detection and characterization of small bowel lesions in patients with obscure gastroenterology bleeding (OGIB). METHODS The SBCE examinations (Pillcam SB2, Given Imaging Ltd) were retrospectively analyzed by two GI fellows (observers) with and without FICE enhancement. Randomization was such that a fellow did not assess the same examination with and without FICE enhancement. The senior consultant described findings as P0, P1 and P2 lesions (non-pathological, intermediate bleed potential, high bleed potential), which were considered as reference findings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Inter-observer correlation was calculated using kappa statistics. Sensitivity and specificity for P2 lesions was calculated for FICE and white light SBCE. RESULTS In 60 patients, the intra-class kappa correlations between the observers and reference findings were 0.88 and 0.92 (P2), 0.61 and 0.79 (P1), for SBCE using FICE and white light, respectively. Overall 157 lesions were diagnosed using FICE as compared to 114 with white light SBCE (P = 0.15). For P2 lesions, the sensitivity was 94% vs 97% and specificity was 95% vs 96% for FICE and white light, respectively. Five (P2 lesions) out of 55 arterio-venous malformations could be better characterized by FICE as compared to white light SBCE. Significantly more P0 lesions were diagnosed when FICE was used as compared to white light (39 vs 8, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION FICE was not better than white light for diagnosing and characterizing significant lesions on SBCE for OGIB. FICE detected significantly more non-pathological lesions. Nevertheless, some vascular lesions could be more accurately characterized with FICE as compared to white light SBCE.
Effects of Currency Devaluation on the Performance of Businesses in the North-western Nigeria: A Conceptual Model

This is a conceptual study that proposes to examine the association between Currency Devaluation/ depreciation and the performances of businesses in the North-western geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Strategic management analysts are in agreement on the fact that business are at the receiving end of environmental factors. Currency devaluation is thus a crucial environmental factor been a macroeconomic policy tool. The idea of devaluing the Naira as a matter of policy started in 1986 when the Structural Adjustment Program. Recently, with the spiralling decline in the price of crude oil in the global market, there is a renewed call by the IMF and some experts on a further devaluation of the Naira. The government of Nigeria and other experts are kicking against the idea citing adversity of the policy on local businesses in the light of Nigeria's poor foreign trade base. There also seem to be a theoretical conflict between the resort to devaluation and Nigeria's state of foreign trade in the light of Marshal-Lerner condition. This study has extensively reviewed related literature and seeks to elicit data using survey of six organisations to be purposively identified; and secondary data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) publications. Descriptive statistics will be employed to test the hypothesized model.
Prognostic Value of miRNA-155 Expression in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Objective: MicroRNA-155 (miRNA-155) resides within the B-cell integration cluster gene on chromosome 21. It can act either as an oncogene or as a tumor-suppressor gene, depending on the cell background in which miRNA-155 is performing its specific target gene controlling function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate miRNA-155 expression in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and its relation to disease prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Materials and Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to evaluate the expression levels of miRNA-155 in 84 patients with newly diagnosed B-cell NHL and 15 normal controls. Results: Compared with normal controls, miRNA-155 expression was significantly upregulated in patients. Moreover, higher levels of miRNA-155 were associated with the presence of B symptoms, involvement of extranodal sites, and high Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score. Higher levels of miRNA-155 in DLBCL were associated with non-germinal B-cell-like type, the presence of B symptoms, involvement of extranodal sites, and higher International Prognostic Index (IPI) and ECOG scores. Only the high IPI score and high miRNA-155 expression indicated a higher risk of lower event-free survival using multivariate Cox regression analysis. Our data demonstrated that the expression of miRNA-155 was upregulated in newly diagnosed B-cell NHL patients. miRNA-155 is expressed at a lower level in GCB-subtype DLBCL. Low IPI score and miRNA-155 expression were predictors of longer event-free survival. Conclusion: Despite contradicting literature reports, the current findings suggest the potential value of miRNA-155 as a biomarker of prognosis and monitoring in B-cell NHL, and especially that of the DLBCL type.
Compression of a Slovak speech database using harmonic, noise and transient model

In this article, we propose an improved analysis/synthesis model for speech that effectively parameterizes and compresses the speech signal. The method is based on HNM (harmonic plus noise) model, which is extended by transient model. However, the method for noise modeling used in our HNM system is different than in the classical HNM model. Moreover, as mentioned, to process sounds like plosives, the transient model was added. The whole system allows us to compress the parameterized speech into a format, in which it is easy to take prosodic modifications of the speech needed for speech synthesis. This approach of speech representation and compression allows us to reduce significantly the database size of speech segments for a concatenative or diphone speech synthesis, too.
A new map-based approach to video de-interlacing using Forward-Backward algorithm

De-interlacing is revisited as the problem of assigning a sequence of interpolation methods (interpolators) to a sequence of missing pixels of an interlaced frame (field). With this assumption, our algorithm undergoes transitions from one interpolator to another as it moves from one missing pixel position to the next one. We assume that the next state depends only on the current state which implies a first-order Markov-chain on the sequence of interpolators. For estimation of the optimum sequence of interpolators our algorithm introduces a novel cost function and then makes use of Forward-Backward algorithm to find the global optimum sequence of interpolators. Simulation results prove that the proposed method is superior to the well-known de-interlacing algorithms proposed in this field.
Hepatoma‐derived growth factor is a novel prognostic factor for gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Proliferating activity as mitotic count is generally accepted as a major prognostic indicator for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Hepatoma‐derived growth factor (HDGF) is a novel growth factor and elevated in several types of cancer. Our study was designed to elucidate the expression and prognostic role of HDGF in GISTs. A total 178 surgically resected CD117‐positive GISTs specimens were collected for immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies against HDGF. The immunoreactivities were scored as labeling index (LI) and correlated with clinicopathologic parameters of GIST patients. The HDGF immunoreactivities were detected in both nucleus and cytoplasm of GISTs tissues. Besides, the nuclear and cytoplasmic HDGF was parallely upregulated in GISTs (p < 0.001). The nuclear HDGF LI were positively correlated with that of PCNA (p < 0.001) and Ki‐67 (p < 0.001), tumor mitosis (p < 0.001), tumor sizes (p = 0.007) and NIH risk categories (p < 0.001). In addition, the cytoplasmic HDGF LI were also positively correlated with that of PCNA (p = 0.031) and Ki‐67 (p = 0.038), tumor sizes (p = 0.003) and tumor mitosis (p = 0.015). Patients with higher HDGF levels had earlier tumor recurrence and unfavorable outcome (p < 0.05). In addition to standard prognostic factors (NIH risk categories), the nuclear HDGF LI is an independent prognostic factor for disease free and overall survivals of GIST patients after operation. We conclude that HDGF is a novel prognostic factor for GIST patients. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multidomain Pseudospectral Time Domain Algorithm Using a Symplectic Integrator

The novel multidomain pseudospectral time domain method based on a symplectic integrator scheme is presented in this paper. A symplectic integrator scheme is a decomposition of the exponential operator or a general propagation technique. The scheme is nondissipative and does not require additional memory for temporary storage of data for the internal stages. The good performance of the scheme is demonstrated by numerical examples
A simulation‐based study of wireless sensor network middleware

Future wireless sensor networks (WSNs) will transport high‐bandwidth, low‐latency streaming data, and will host sophisticated processing, such as image fusion and object tracking, in‐network on sensor network nodes. Recent middleware proposals provide capabilities for in‐network processing, reducing energy drain based on communication costs alone. However, hosting complex processing on WSN nodes incurs additional processing energy and latency costs that impact network lifetime and application performance. There is a need for a WSN planning framework to explore energy saving and application performance trade‐offs for models of future sensor networks that account for processing costs in addition to communication costs. In this work, we present a simulation framework to analyze the interplay between resource requirements for compute‐ and communication‐intensive in‐network processing for streaming applications. We simulate a surveillance application workload with middleware capabilities for data fusion, adaptive policy‐driven migration of data fusion computation across network nodes, and prefetching of streaming data inputs for fusion processing. Our study sheds light on application figures of merit such as latency, throughput, and lifetime with respect to migration policy and node CPU and radio characteristics. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gender Representation and Student Performance: Representative Bureaucracy Goes to Korea

The literature on representative bureaucracy argues that bureaucrats who reflect the diversity of citizens are more likely to be responsive to the public. Although substantial research has supported the claim, most studies are conducted in Western countries such as the United States, and the evidence from other contexts is extremely limited. This raises two important questions: Does the relationship remain valid in a centralized Asian country? If so, under what conditions does representative bureaucracy matter more? This study investigates these questions by using a data set on secondary education in South Korea. Findings suggest that female students perform better when they are taught by female teachers, which strengthens the external validity of the theory. The positive link between female teachers and female student performance is greater when teachers have more discretion and interact more with each other. However, value consensus weakens the relationship between gender representation and student performance. Clientele diversity matters in gender representation at the managerial level, but sector differences are not statistically supported. These findings illustrate the need to take both national and organizational contexts seriously in representative bureaucracy theory.
Comparative Study of Antimicrobial Release Kinetics from Polymethylmethacrylate

Polymethylmethacrylate loaded with antimicrobial agents (most commonly vancomycin and/or aminoglycosides) is used for treatment and prevention of orthopaedic infections. Emergence of organisms resistant to vancomycin or aminoglycosides or both has been reported. Therefore, we studied in vitro release from polymethylmethacrylate beads of antimicrobials with suitable spectra for orthopaedic infections, including cefazolin, ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, linezolid, and rifampin (2.5%, 7.5%, and 15%). Beads were placed in a continuous flow chamber, and antimicrobial concentrations in chamber outflow were determined by bioassay at timed intervals thereafter. Release profiles were bimodal with initial rapid release of high concentrations followed by sustained, slow release. Antimicrobial agents studied showed varied release profiles, indicating that elution from polymethylmethacrylate is unique to individual antimicrobial agents. Increasing antimicrobial concentration in polymethylmethacrylate increased peak concentrations and area under the curve. Cefazolin, ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, linezolid, and rifampin may be suitable for incorporation into polymethylmethacrylate for management of orthopaedic infections.
Dynamic Localization of a Transcription Factor in Bacillus subtilis: the LicT Antiterminator Relocalizes in Response to Inducer Availability

ABSTRACT Bacillus subtilis transports β-glucosides such as salicin by a dedicated phosphotransferase system (PTS). The expression of the β-glucoside permease BglP is induced in the presence of the substrate salicin, and this induction requires the binding of the antiterminator protein LicT to a specific RNA target in the 5′ region of the bglP mRNA to prevent the formation of a transcription terminator. LicT is composed of an N-terminal RNA-binding domain and two consecutive PTS regulation domains, PRD1 and PRD2. In the absence of salicin, LicT is phosphorylated on PRD1 by BglP and thereby inactivated. In the presence of the inducer, the phosphate group from PRD1 is transferred back to BglP and consequently to the incoming substrate, resulting in the activation of LicT. In this study, we have investigated the intracellular localization of LicT. While the protein was evenly distributed in the cell in the absence of the inducer, we observed a subpolar localization of LicT if salicin was present in the medium. Upon addition or removal of the inducer, LicT rapidly relocalized in the cells. This dynamic relocalization did not depend on the binding of LicT to its RNA target sites, since the localization pattern was not affected by deletion of all LicT binding sites. In contrast, experiments with mutants affected in the PTS components as well as mutations of the LicT phosphorylation sites revealed that phosphorylation of LicT by the PTS components plays a major role in the control of the subcellular localization of this RNA-binding transcription factor.
Hedging with temporary price impact

We consider the problem of hedging a European contingent claim in a Bachelier model with temporary price impact as proposed by Almgren and Chriss (J Risk 3:5–39, 2001). Following the approach of Rogers and Singh (Math Financ 20:597–615, 2010) and Naujokat and Westray (Math Financ Econ 4(4):299–335, 2011), the hedging problem can be regarded as a cost optimal tracking problem of the frictionless hedging strategy. We solve this problem explicitly for general predictable target hedging strategies. It turns out that, rather than towards the current target position, the optimal policy trades towards a weighted average of expected future target positions. This generalizes an observation of Gârleanu and Pedersen (Dynamic portfolio choice with frictions. Preprint, 2013b) from their homogenous Markovian optimal investment problem to a general hedging problem. Our findings complement a number of previous studies in the literature on optimal strategies in illiquid markets as, e.g., Gârleanu and Pedersen (Dynamic portfolio choice with frictions. Preprint, 2013b), Naujokat and Westray (Math Financ Econ 4(4):299–335, 2011), Rogers and Singh (Math Financ 20:597–615, 2010), Almgren and Li (Option hedging with smooth market impact. Preprint, 2015), Moreau et al. (Math Financ. doi:10.1111/mafi.12098, 2015), Kallsen and Muhle-Karbe (High-resilience limits of block-shaped order books. Preprint, 2014), Guasoni and Weber (Mathematical Financ. doi:10.1111/mafi.12099, 2015a; Nonlinear price impact and portfolio choice. Preprint, 2015b), where the frictionless hedging strategy is confined to diffusions. The consideration of general predictable reference strategies is made possible by the use of a convex analysis approach instead of the more common dynamic programming methods.
The dosimetric impact of leaf interdigitation and leaf width on VMAT treatment planning in Pinnacle: comparing Pareto fronts

To evaluate in an objective way the effect of leaf interdigitation and leaf width on volumetric modulated arc therapy plans in Pinnacle. Three multileaf collimators (MLCs) were modeled: two 10 mm leaf width MLCs, with and without interdigitating leafs, and a 5 mm leaf width MLC with interdigitating leafs. Three rectum patients and three prostate patients were used for the planning study. In order to compare treatment techniques in an objective way, a Pareto front comparison was carried out. 200 plans were generated in an automated way, per patient per MLC model, resulting in a total of 3600 plans. From these plans, Pareto-optimal plans were selected which were evaluated for various dosimetric variables. The capability of leaf interdigitation showed little dosimetric impact on the treatment plans, when comparing the 10 mm leaf width MLC with and without leaf interdigitation. When comparing the 10 mm leaf width MLC with the 5 mm leaf width MLC, both with interdigitating leafs, improvement in plan quality was observed. For both patient groups, the integral dose was reduced by 0.6 J for the thin MLC. For the prostate patients, the mean dose to the anal sphincter was reduced by 1.8 Gy and the conformity of the V95% was reduced by 0.02 using the thin MLC. The V65% of the rectum was reduced by 0.1% and the dose homogeneity with 1.5%. For rectum patients, the mean dose to the bowel was reduced by 1.4 Gy and the mean dose to the bladder with 0.8 Gy for the thin MLC. The conformity of the V95% was equivalent for the 10 and 5 mm leaf width MLCs for the rectum patients. We have objectively compared three types of MLCs in a planning study for prostate and rectum patients by analyzing Pareto-optimal plans which were generated in an automated way. Interdigitation of MLC leafs does not generate better plans using the SmartArc algorithm in Pinnacle. Changing the MLC leaf width from 10 to 5 mm generates better treatment plans although the clinical relevance remains to be proven.
Effects of Weighted Sled Towing With Heavy Versus Light Load on Sprint Acceleration Ability

Abstract Kawamori, N, Newton, RU, Hori, N, and Nosaka, K. Effects of weighted sled towing with heavy versus light load on sprint acceleration ability. J Strength Cond Res 28(10): 2738–2745, 2014—Weighted sled towing is used by athletes to improve sprint acceleration ability. The typical coaching recommendation is to use relatively light loads, as excessively heavy loads are hypothesized to disrupt running mechanics and be detrimental to sprint performance. However, this coaching recommendation has not been empirically tested. This study compared the effects of weighted sled towing with 2 different external loads on sprint acceleration ability. Twenty-one physically active men were randomly allocated to heavy- (n = 10) or light-load weighted sled towing (n = 11) groups. All subjects participated in 2 training sessions per week for 8 weeks. The subjects in the heavy and light groups performed weighted sled towing using external loads that reduced sprint velocity by approximately 30 and 10%, respectively. Before and after the training, the subjects performed a 10-m sprint test, in which split time was measured at 5 and 10 m from the start. The heavy group significantly improved both the 5- and 10-m sprint time by 5.7 ± 5.7 and 5.0 ± 3.5%, respectively (P < 0.05), whereas only 10-m sprint time was improved significantly by 3.0 ± 3.5% (P < 0.05) in the light group. No significant differences were found between the groups in the changes in 5-m and 10-m sprint time from pre- to posttraining. These results question the notion that training loads that induce greater than 10% reduction in sprint velocity would negatively affect sprint performance and point out the potential benefit of using a heavier load for weighted sled towing.