Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia without cytarabine.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of omission of cytarabine (ara-C) from treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), which allows administration of more anthracycline. PATIENTS AND METHODS Induction consisted of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) 45 mg/m2 daily until complete remission (CR) and idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 4 days beginning on day 5 of ATRA. Patients in CR received two courses of idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 3 days and then, until 2 years post-CR date, alternated three cycles of mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone (POMP) with one cycle of idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 2 days. Results in the 43 patients treated (41 with t(15;17) on standard or Southern analysis) were compared with those in 57 historic newly diagnosed APL patients given ara-C with either doxorubicin, amsacrine (AMSA), or daunorubicin without ATRA, using logistic and Cox regression to assess effects of non-treatment-related covariates on patient outcomes. RESULTS The CR rate in the current group was 77% (95% confidence interval [CI], 62% to 88%) and was not significantly different from the historic rate. In contrast, disease-free survival (DFS) in CR is superior in the current group (probability at 1 year 0.87; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.0). This has translated into superior overall DFS for the current group (P = .03 adjusting for the predictive covariates initial WBC and platelet count; 1-year DFS probability 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.82; median follow-up 102 weeks). The current treatment appears better both in patients with and without t(15; 17) on standard cytogenetic analysis. CONCLUSION Given the difficulties inherent in comparing sequential studies and recognizing the multiple differences in treatment between current and historic groups, our results suggest that a large randomized trial incorporating use of ATRA should assess the utility of omitting ara-C from treatment of newly diagnosed APL, thus allowing delivery of more anthracycline.
Irredundance in inflated graphs

The inflation GI of a graph G with n(G) vertices and m(G) edges is obtained by replacing every vertex of degree d of G by a clique Kd. We study the lower and upper irredundance parameters ir and IR of an inflation. We prove in particular that if γ denotes the domination number of a graph, γ(GI) - ir(GI) can be arbitrarily large, IR(GI) ≤ m(G) and IR(GI) ≤ n2(G)-4. These results disprove a conjecture of Dunbar and Haynes (Congr. Num. 118 (1996), 143154) and answer another open question. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 28: 97104, 1998
Characterization of a marine gammaproteobacterium capable of aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis

Members of the gammaproteobacterial clade NOR5/OM60 regularly form an abundant part, up to 11%, of the bacterioplankton community in coastal systems during the summer months. Here, we report the nearly complete genome sequence of one cultured representative, Congregibacter litoralis strain KT71, isolated from North Sea surface water. Unexpectedly, a complete photosynthesis superoperon, including genes for accessory pigments, was discovered. It has a high sequence similarity to BAC clones from Monterey Bay [Beja O, Suzuki MT, Heidelberg JF, Nelson WC, Preston CM, et al. (2002) Nature 415:630–633], which also share a nearly identical gene arrangement. Although cultures of KT71 show no obvious pigmentation, bacteriochlorophyll a and spirilloxanthin-like carotenoids could be detected by HPLC analysis in cell extracts. The presence of two potential BLUF (blue light using flavin adenine dinucleotide sensors), one of which was found adjacent to the photosynthesis operon in the genome, indicates a light- and redox-dependent regulation of gene expression. Like other aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs (AAnPs), KT71 is able to grow neither anaerobically nor photoautotrophically. Cultivation experiments and genomic evidence show that KT71 needs organic substrates like carboxylic acids, oligopeptides, or fatty acids for growth. The strain grows optimally under microaerobic conditions and actively places itself in a zone of ≈10% oxygen saturation. The genome analysis of C. litoralis strain KT71 identifies the gammaproteobacterial marine AAnPs, postulated based on BAC sequences, as members of the NOR5/OM60 clade. KT71 enables future experiments investigating the importance of this group of gammaproteobacterial AAnPs in coastal environments.
Self-localization algorithm for deep mine Wireless Sensor Networks based on MDS and rigid subset

In order to adapt to the narrow space and complex branch in deep mine roadway, which have an adverse impact on the accuracy of nodes localization, a self-localization algorithm for deep mine wireless sensor networks based on MDS-MDS and rigid subset (Rigid-MDS) was proposed. The new distributed algorithm divides whole network into some globally rigid subset based on rigid graph theory, in which nodes have close spatial correlation, less hop and alike path direction with all of other nodes in the same subset, and it reduces the error by shortest path. And afterwards, some boundary nodes close to other subsets is chosen as framework with anchor nodes to locate the whole network. Finally, homogeneous coordinate system is used to make the geometric change. Simulation results show that the Rigid-MDS can reduce error in the roadway branch compared with MDS-MAP.
Blind SNR Estimation on WCDMA system with Unequal Power Signals and without any Prior Knowledge

In this paper we have estimated signal to noise ratio (SNR) of active users in uplink scenario of CDMA systems blindly. We have not any knowledge about PN (pseudo noise) code, frequency, and timing of received signals. In this way first we synchronized received signal of desired user and then we use subspace method for SNR estimation of synchronized user. This type of SNR estimation is classified as non data aided (NDA) methods. Our synchronization is based on maximizing of covariance matrix Frobenius norm. After that by estimating PN code of strongest signal we are able to estimate transmitted signal data, and by using estimated SNR, we can eliminate this signal from received signal by using SIC (serial interference canceller). By repetition this cycle for each user we can estimate SNR of active users in uplink scenario. Also, in this paper we use minimum description length (MDL) criteria for estimating signal subspace dimension. Standard divisions of estimated SNR show that good agreement with exact SNR for all users.
The Tsetse Fly Obligate Mutualist Wigglesworthia morsitans Alters Gene Expression and Population Density via Exogenous Nutrient Provisioning

ABSTRACT The obligate mutualist Wigglesworthia morsitans provisions nutrients to tsetse flies. The symbiont's response to thiamine (B1) supplementation of blood meals, specifically towards the regulation of thiamine biosynthesis and population density, is described. Despite an ancient symbiosis and associated genome tailoring, Wigglesworthia responds to nutrient availability, potentially accommodating a decreased need.
Alternative Approach for the Derivation of Black-Scholes Partial Differential Equation in the Theory of Options Pricing Using Risk Neutral Binomial Process

This paper presents a risk neutral binomial process as an alternative approach for the derivation of analytic pricing equation called “Black - Scholes Partial differential Equation” in the theory of option pricing. Binomial option pricing is a powerful technique that can be used to solve many complex option pricing problems. In contra st to the Black - Scholes model and other option pricing models that require solutions to stochastic differential equations, the binomial model is mathematically simple. Binomial model is based on the assumption of no arbitrage. The assumption of no arbitra ge implies that all risk - free investments earn the risk - free rate of return and no investment opportunity exists that requires zero amounts of investment but yield positive returns.
Involvement of nitric oxide in neurodegeneration: a study on the experimental models of Parkinson's disease

Abstract The present study was undertaken to explore involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the experimental models of Parkinson's disease. Neurodegeneration was induced by unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the right striatum. Lesions were functionally evaluated by amphetamine-induced asymmetrical behaviour and by decrease in the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining. An induction in the expression of iNOS and augmentation in nitrite content was observed in both the models. The extent of increase in iNOS expression was, however, different but the elevation in the nitrite content was comparable in both the models. The increase in iNOS expression inversely correlated with the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunolabeling. Animals pretreated with a NOS inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), exhibited complete protection against amphetamine induced rotations in both the models. Thus, augmented NO availability subsequent to iNOS induction seems to play an important role in the initial phase of neurodegeneration.
On the Processing of harmonics and interharmonics: using Hanning window in standard framework

The harmonic and interharmonic analysis recommendations contained in the latest International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards on power quality are considered. The spectral leakage problems due to synchronization errors of the analyzed waveforms with the window widths adopted are analyzed. Improvements of the signal processing recommended by the IEC, based on the utilization of the classical Hanning window in place of the rectangular window, are proposed and made compatible with the grouping technique introduced in the standards. Sensitivity analyses on simple case studies together with experimental results show the sensitivity of the signal processing recommended by the IEC to synchronization errors and the usefulness of the improvements proposed.
Precise Construction and Control of Implicit Fillets in the BlobTree

Skeletal implicit modelling systems have been used to design models of both organic and man-made structures, however existing systems lack convenient and accurate methods for users to define fillets when building prototype engineering models. In this work we extend the methodology and skeletal primitives found in the BlobTree and introduce an improved method for modelling fillets. This is done by interpolating between hard-edged and soft-edged representations of a primitive, using the field to control the interpolation. Blending planes are introduced as a way of providing user control for this interpolation. The new methods are expressed as blend operators between two objects and can thus be implemented as a new node in the BlobTree. In addition we introduce an efficient methodology for modelling hard edged primitives.
Design and Performance Investigation of a Dual-Element PIFA Array at 2.5 GHz for MIMO Terminal

A study is described of a modified planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) operating in 2.5 GHz band on a printed circuit board (PCB) of a mobile phone handset. The antenna dimension is reduced substantially with a miniature ground plane and capacitive loading. While inheriting the attractive features of PIFAs, such as low profile, easy fabrication and low cost, the proposed antenna exhibits low coupling to the PCB. A dual-element PIFA array is implemented on a mobile handset PCB and the diversity performance of the dual-element PIFA array is evaluated in both simulation and measurement.
Security and privacy in cloud-assisted wireless wearable communications: Challenges, solutions, and future directions

Cloud-assisted wireless wearable communications have been increasingly pervasive with the profound development of sensor, wireless communication, and cloud computing technologies, in addition to the wide adoption of e-health, location-based service, and mobile smart communities. In this article we mainly focus on the goals and tactics of privacy-preserving data aggregation in cloud-assisted wireless wearable communications. With respect to the unique security and privacy requirements and the efficiency consideration for resource-constrained wearable devices, we identify the inappropriateness of secure multiparty computation and fully homomorphic encryption and give new generalized solutions to tackle the challenging issue of efficient privacy-preserving data aggregation and outsourced computation in wireless wearable communications. Last but not least, a series of interesting open problems are suggested along with potential solutions to cast light on the research in this emerging area.
The human bile salt export pump: characterization of substrate specificity and identification of inhibitors.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The bile salt export pump (BSEP) is the major bile salt transporter in the liver canalicular membrane. Our aim was to determine the affinity of the human BSEP for bile salts and identify inhibitors. METHODS Human BSEP was expressed in insect cells. Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) assays were performed, and bile salt transport studies were undertaken. RESULTS The BSEP gene, ABCB11, was cloned and a recombinant baculovirus was generated. Infected insect cells expressed a 140-kilodalton protein that was absent in uninfected and in mock-infected cells. An ATPase assay showed BSEP to have a high basal ATPase activity. Transport assays were used to determine the Michaelis constant for taurocholate as 4.25 micromol/L, with a maximum velocity of 200 pmol x min(-1) x mg(-1) protein. Inhibition constant values for other bile salts were 11 micromol/L for glycocholate, 7 micromol/L for glycochenodeoxycholate, and 28 micromol/L for taurochenodeoxycholate. Cyclosporin A, rifampicin, and glibenclamide were proved to be competitive inhibitors of BSEP taurocholate transport, with inhibition constant values of 9.5 micromol/L, 31 micromol/L, and 27.5 micromol/L, respectively. Progesterone and tamoxifen did not inhibit BSEP. CONCLUSIONS The human BSEP is a high-affinity bile salt transporter. The relative affinities for the major bile salts differ from those seen in rodents and reflect the different bile salt pools. BSEP is competitively inhibited by therapeutic drugs. This is a potentially significant mechanism for drug-induced cholestasis.
Comparison of two oscillometric blood pressure monitors in subjects with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE To compare blood pressure readings obtained with two commonly used oscillometric monitors: Omron HEM 711 AC (OM) and Welch-Allyn 52000 series NIBP/oximeter (WA) with mercury sphygmomanometers (Merc) in subjects with atrial fibrillation. METHODS We recruited 51 hemodynamically stable subjects with atrial fibrillation. Fifty four subjects in normal sinus rhythm served as controls. Supine blood pressure readings in each arm were recorded simultaneously using one monitor and Merc. The second monitor then replaced the first and readings were repeated. Merc was then switched to the opposite arm, and both monitors retested. Apical heart rates were ascertained with a stethoscope. We used the averaged, same arm Merc readings as "gold standard". RESULTS Automated blood pressure readings were obtained in all control subjects and in all but three of those with atrial fibrillation. Both monitors, and operators, noted a difference between apical and radial/brachial pulse rates: apical-recorded: Merc 6.1 + or - 15.0; OM 5.5 + or - 13.7; WA 10.0 + or - 21.2 beats per minute. Both monitors were accurate in controls: over 90% of readings were within 10 mmHg of averaged Merc, and both achieved European Hypertension Society standards. In subjects with atrial fibrillation, about one quarter of all oscillometric readings differed from Merc by more than 10 mmHg. Both falsely high and falsely low readings occurred, some up to 30 mmHg. There was no relation between accuracy and heart rate. CONCLUSIONS Single blood pressure readings, taken with oscillometric monitors in subjects with atrial fibrillation differ, often markedly, from those taken manually. Health care professionals should record multiple readings manually, using validated instruments when making therapeutic decisions.
Appraising the Roles of CBLL1 and the Ubiquitin/Proteasome System for Flavivirus Entry and Replication

ABSTRACT The ubiquitin ligase CBLL1 (also known as HAKAI) has been proposed to be a critical cellular factor exploited by West Nile virus (WNV) for productive infection. CBLL1 has emerged as a major hit in a recent RNA interference screen designed to identify cellular factors required for the early stages of the WNV life cycle. Follow-up experiments showed that HeLa cells knocked down for CBLL1 by a small interfering RNA (siRNA) failed to internalize WNV particles and resisted infection. Furthermore, depletion of a free-ubiquitin pool by the proteasome inhibitor MG132 abolished WNV endocytosis, suggesting that CBLL1 acts in concert with the ubiquitin proteasome system to mediate virus internalization. Here, we examined the effect of CBLL1 knockdown and proteasome inhibitors on infection by WNV and other flaviviruses. We identified new siRNAs that repress the CBLL1 protein and strongly inhibit the endocytosis of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterial pathogen known to require CBLL1 to invade host cells. Strikingly, however, we detected efficient WNV, dengue virus, and yellow fever virus infection of human cells, despite potent downregulation of CBLL1 by RNA interference. In addition, we found that the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin did not affect WNV internalization but strongly repressed flavivirus RNA translation and replication. Together, these data do not support a requirement for CBLL1 during flavivirus entry and rather suggest an essential role of the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway for flavivirus genome amplification.
Molecular basis of thrombin recognition by protein C inhibitor revealed by the 1.6-Å structure of the heparin-bridged complex

Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a serpin with many roles in biology, including a dual role as pro- and anticoagulant in blood. The protease specificity and local function of PCI depend on its interaction with cofactors such as heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and thrombomodulin (TM). Both cofactors significantly increase the rate of thrombin inhibition, but GAGs serve to promote the anticoagulant activity of PCI, and TM promotes its procoagulant function. To gain insight into how PCI recognition of thrombin is aided by these cofactors, we determined a crystallographic structure of the Michaelis complex of PCI, thrombin, and heparin to 1.6 Å resolution. Thrombin interacts with PCI in an unusual fashion that depends on the length of PCI's reactive center loop (RCL) to align the heparin-binding sites of the two proteins. The principal exosite contact is engendered by movement of thrombin's 60-loop in response to the unique P2 Phe of PCI. This mechanism of communication between the active site of thrombin and its recognition exosite is previously uncharacterized and may relate to other thrombin substrate–cofactor interactions. The cofactor activity of heparin thus depends on the formation of a heparin-bridged Michaelis complex and substrate-induced exosite contacts. We also investigated the cofactor effect of TM, establishing that TM bridges PCI to thrombin through additional direct interactions. A model of the PCI–thrombin–TM complex was built and evaluated by mutagenesis and suggests distinct binding sites for heparin and TM on PCI. These data significantly improve our understanding of the cofactor-dependent roles of PCI in hemostasis.
Thylakoid Membrane Remodeling during State Transitions in Arabidopsis[W]

Adaptability of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms to fluctuations in light spectral composition and intensity is conferred by state transitions, short-term regulatory processes that enable the photosynthetic apparatus to rapidly adjust to variations in light quality. In green algae and higher plants, these processes are accompanied by reversible structural rearrangements in the thylakoid membranes. We studied these structural changes in the thylakoid membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts using atomic force microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and confocal imaging. Based on our results and on the recently determined three-dimensional structure of higher-plant thylakoids trapped in one of the two major light-adapted states, we propose a model for the transitions in membrane architecture. The model suggests that reorganization of the membranes involves fission and fusion events that occur at the interface between the appressed (granal) and nonappressed (stroma lamellar) domains of the thylakoid membranes. Vertical and lateral displacements of the grana layers presumably follow these localized events, eventually leading to macroscopic rearrangements of the entire membrane network.
Encapsulated Quantum Dot Nanofilms Inside Hollow Core Optical Fibers for Temperature Measurement

In this paper, a way to build a nanostructured coating on the inner surface of a hollow core fiber (HCF) is presented. This coated HCF is subsequently spliced to two standard multimode fibers (MMF) obtaining an encapsulated all fiber structure that protects the nanocoating from the environment. Using quantum dot (QD) nanofilms in this structure, an improvement in the photobleaching effect is observed with respect to previous fiber optic temperature sensors based on similar QD nanofilms. When the film is deposited on the outer surface of the fiber, the sensors suffered an 80% decrease in the fluorescence emission after 1.5 h of continuous illumination. The enhanced structure presented here achieves a diminution of only 6.3% after 4 h at the same conditions. In addition, it is experimentally shown that these sensors can be used in a parallel setup to measure temperature changes simultaneously in two different locations.
Sure based model selection for hyperspectral imaging

Mean squared error (MSE) is commonly used for evaluating the performance of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) methods. MSE depends on the true (unknown) signal to be estimated and is therefore not computable for real data. Therefore, HSI methods are usually evaluated using simulated data. Stein's unbiased risk estimator (SURE) is an unbiased estimator of the MSE that does not require knowledge of the true signal. The main aim of this paper is to promote the use of SURE for evaluating HSI models. To achieve that goal we compare three wavelet models, spectral, spatial and spectral-spatial, for hyperspectral images. Hyperspectral images are modeled based on their sparse wavelet components. The penalized least squares with i.e. penalty (to promote sparsity) is considered for sparse reconstruction. By comparing the SURE values for the three models, it is shown that the spatial model performs better than spectral model and spectral-spatial model outperforms both spectral and spatial models.
Sensorless control and initial position estimation of permanent magnet flux switching motor

A 6-slot 4-pole permanent magnet flux switching motor (PMFSM) presents a potential of high-speed operation and low-cost manufacturing. However, with both magnets and armature windings located on the stator, it is difficult to utilize low-cost hall sensors for position detection if no individual sensing magnets arc installed on the rotor. Therefore, a simple sensorless control strategy with initial position estimation is proposed in this paper, using the unique winding inductance variation with the rotor position. The method is verified with FE data-based Simulink analysis.