Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Possible role for gene expression profiling in predicting responses to conventional or targeted drugs in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

The introduction of imatinib has profoundly changed the clinical management and prognosis of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, prognostic scores introduced during the interferon-era have lost their prognostic value when applied to patients treated with imatinib. Gene expression profiling represents a unique and powerful tool for the identification of responders and non-responders to cancer therapy. Thus, this technology may also represent a valuable strategy to identify patients with insufficient response prior to or during imatinib treatment, who might benefit from alternative treatment modalities. This review will briefly summarize the recently published data on gene expression profiling for imatinib response prediction in CML patients.
Suppression of Human Choriocarcinoma Maintained in the Hamster Cheek-Pouch by Extracts and Alkaloids of Vinca rosea

Summary Crude extract of Vinca rosea as well as the alkaloids, Vincaleukoblastine and Leurosine markedly inhibit growth of a heterologously transplanted human choriocarcinoma in the hamster cheek-pouch. The host tolerance to these agents suggests their potential clinical usefulness. The able technical assistance of Messrs. Howard Erwin, Charles K. Turner, and James Brice is gratefully acknowledged.
A dual-active-bridge based bi-directional micro-inverter with integrated short-term Li-Ion ultra-capacitor storage and active power smoothing for modular PV systems

This work targets modular nanogrids for remote locations, where photovoltaic modules can be gradually introduced to grow the renewable energy capacity at minimal capital cost, while reducing diesel fuel consumption. Today's grid-tied micro-inverters provide a modular solution for ac power generation in nanogrids but battery storage remains centralized, requiring an additional ac-dc converter. The main contribution of this work is a new micro-inverter platform and control scheme with bidirectional power flow between the nanogrid, the photovoltaic module and integrated short-term storage, using new high energy-density Lithium-Ion Capacitor technology. A real-time power smoothing algorithm is also proposed and the performance of the new 100 W micro-inverter is experimentally verified under various closed-loop dynamic conditions.
High efficiency and output power from second- and third-harmonic millimeter-wave InP-TED oscillators at frequencies above 170 GHz

InP TED (transferred electron device) oscillators have been experimentally investigated for frequencies between 170 and 279 GHz. It has been found that output powers of more than 7 and 0.2 mW are possible at 180 and 272 GHz using second- and third-harmonic mode operation, respectively. Conversion efficiencies of more than 13% and 0.3% between fundamental and second harmonic and fundamental and third harmonic, respectively, have been found. The conversion efficiencies are comparable to GaAs TEDs. The output powers, conversion efficiencies, and tuning ranges (more than 22%) are the biggest reported for InP TEDs at these frequencies. The output power at third harmonic was sufficient for supplying a superconducting mixer with local oscillator power. <<ETX>>
Labor Market Responses to Payroll Tax Subsidies

In a high tax, high minimum wage labor market like France, payroll subsidies can reduce the minimum labor cost and expand employment opportunities for the low-skilled. Effects of these subsidies go beyond the directly affected. A particular concern is that high quality jobs may be replaced with lower quality ones, which hurts the employment opportunities of highly skilled workers and is costly for the aggregate productivity. We quantify the direct and indirect effects payroll tax subsidies using an equilibrium search-and-matching model estimated from the French administrative data. We find that concentrating payroll subsidies to minimum wage jobs has distributional advantages, but it has negative effects as job creation from low-productivity firms makes it harder for high-productivity workers to find suitable employment. Using our framework, we are able to determine which jobs should benefit from payroll subsidies. We also note that the nominal incidence of a tax subsidy affects equilibrium outcomes when a statutory minimum wage is present. However, our simulation shows that, when combined with an appropriate minimum wage reduction, an employee subsidy has similar effects as an employer subsidy.
Evaluation of cationic micropeptides derived from the innate immune system as inhibitors of marine biofouling

A series of 13 short synthetic amphiphilic cationic micropeptides, derived from the antimicrobial iron-binding innate defence protein lactoferrin, have been evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the marine fouling process. The whole biofouling process was studied and microfouling organisms such as marine bacteria and microalgae were included as well as the macrofouling barnacle Balanus improvisus. In total 19 different marine fouling organisms (18 microfoulers and one macrofouler) were included and both the adhesion and growth of the microfoulers were investigated. It was shown that the majority of the peptides inhibited barnacle cyprid settlement via a reversible nontoxic mechanism, with IC50 values as low as 0.5 μg ml−1. Six peptides inhibited adhesion and growth of microorganisms. Two of these were particularly active against the microfoulers with MIC-values ranging between 0.01 and 1 μg ml−1, which is comparable with the commercial reference antifoulant SeaNine.
Bilateral adrenal neuroblastoma in the infant: Is it an image-defined risk factor?

ABSTRACT The treatment of neuroblastoma is based on the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group stratification considering life-threatening symptoms, image-defined risk factors (IDRFs), presence and site of metastases, biology, and histopathology. The authors present an infant with bilateral nonmetastatic adrenal neuroblastoma with favorable biology. Both tumors were resectable and without IDRFs, but bilateral resection was considered mutilating, so it was decided to operate one side only. The authors suggest considering bilaterality among IDRFs.
Asymptotic properties of the inhomogeneous Lotka-Von Foerster system.

"In this paper, we investigate an extension of the multistate stable population model, which makes allowances for migration. The model is formulated as an inhomogeneous system of first order partial differential equations with integral boundary conditions. First, we construct its classical solution. Next, we reformulate the system as an abstract inhomogeneous Cauchy problem on a Banach space, and give its mild solution by using the population semigroup. Our main purpose is to investigate the asymptotic behavior of the mild solution. " (SUMMARY IN FRE)
Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus in Korea

Mortality due to liver cancer in Korea ranks as one of the highest in the world. Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are high-risk factors for liver cancer. Although HBV is by far the more important risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea, HCV infection is more closely associated with HCC in elderly patients. Therefore, the evaluation of risk factors for HCV infection, including blood transfusion, is important. This study reviews the literature on HCV prevalence and risk factors among the general population, as well as the distribution of HCV genotypes in Korea. An overall estimate of the prevalence of anti-HCV among Koreans older than 40 years was 1.29% (95% confidence interval 1.12–1.48) during 1995–2000. Blood transfusion was the strongest risk factor for transmission of HCV infection. Risk factors for HCV infection in Korea other than blood transfusion and history of acupuncture have not been proven. The most prevalent HCV genotype is 1b followed by 2a. Even though the prevalence of anti-HCV in Korea has been reduced and the risk of HCV transmission through blood transfusion has markedly decreased, public-health programs to prevent de novo infections should be developed. Moreover, most people infected with HCV in Korea are older than 40 years, and therefore, the surveillance of adults (≧40 years) for HCV infection will be helpful in early detection of HCC developing in them.
INBREEDING IN THE GREATER WHITE‐TOOTHED SHREW, CROCIDURA RUSSULA

Abstract We combined mark‐and‐recapture studies with genetic techniques of parentage assignment to evaluate the interactions between mating, dispersal, and inbreeding, in a free‐ranging population of Crocidura russula. We found a pattern of limited and female‐biased dispersal, followed by random mating within individual neighborhoods. This results in significant inbreeding at the population level: mating among relatives occurs more often than random, and FIT analyses reveal significant deficits in heterozygotes. However, related mating partners were not less fecund, and inbred offspring had no lower lifetime reproductive output. Power analyses show these negative results to be quite robust. Absence of phenotypic evidence of inbreeding depression might result from a history of purging: local populations are small and undergo disequilibrium gene dynamics. Dispersal is likely caused by local saturation and (re)colonization of empty breeding sites, rather than inbreeding avoidance.
Response actions to difficulties in using everyday technology after acquired brain injury

Abstract Purpose: People with acquired brain injury (ABI) have difficulties using everyday technology (ET) in daily tasks at home and in society. To support them in managing the demands imposed by using ET, knowledge is needed concerning their response actions to the difficulties. The aim of this study was to explore and describe what characterizes response actions to difficulties using ET, their conditions, and how they influence the experiences of tasks in daily life among people with ABI. Methods: Interviews and observations were undertaken with 13 persons with an ABI. Data were analysed qualitatively using the constant comparative method. Results: The participants' response actions were categorized as (i) deliberate and organized planning, (ii) random and inflexible repeating (iii), re-evaluating tasks, (iv) explaining difficulties related to others, and (iv) proving and protecting capability. Certain conditions were decisive for the different response actions to be applied and also for their effectiveness in enabling engagement in tasks in daily life. Each participant used several types of response actions and the same action could be applied in several situations. Conclusion: To support people with an ABI to manage the demands imposed by using ET, it is important to identify the uniqueness of each client and his or her response actions to difficulties using ET and thereafter adjust the interventions accordingly.
Cadherin‐8 and N‐cadherin differentially regulate pre‐ and postsynaptic development of the hippocampal mossy fiber pathway

Cells sort into regions and groups in part by their selective surface expression of particular classic cadherins during development. In the nervous system, cadherin‐based sorting can define axon tracts, restrict axonal and dendritic arbors to particular regions or layers, and may encode certain aspects of synapse specificity. The underlying model has been that afferents and their targets hold in common the expression of a particular cadherin, thereby providing a recognition code of homophilic cadherin binding. However, most neurons express multiple cadherins, and it is not clear whether multiple cadherins all act similarly in shaping neural circuitry. Here we asked how two such cadherins, cadherin‐8 and N‐cadherin, influence the guidance and differentiation of hippocampal mossy fibers. Using organotypic hippocampal cultures, we find that cadherin‐8 regulates mossy fiber fasciculation and targeting, but has little effect on CA3 dendrites. In contrast, N‐cadherin regulates mossy fiber fasciculation, but has little impact on axonal growth and targeting. However, N‐cadherin is essential for CA3 dendrite arborization. Both cadherins are required for formation of proper numbers of presynaptic terminals. Mechanistically, such differential actions of these two cadherins could, in theory, reflect coupling to distinct intracellular binding partners. However, we find that both cadherins bind β‐catenin in dentate gyrus (DG). This suggests that cadherins may engage different intracellular signaling cascades downstream of β‐catenin, coopt different extracellular binding partners, or target distinct subcellular domains. Together our findings demonstrate that cadherin‐8 and N‐cadherin are critical for generating the mossy fiber pathway, but that each contributes differentially to afferent and target differentiation, thereby complementing one another in the assembly of a synaptic circuit. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in protein expression in the sheep abomasum following trickle infection with Teladorsagia circumcincta

SUMMARY Continual low-level exposure of sheep to the helminth Teladorsagia circumcincta elicits a temporary protective immunity, where factors in the immune abomasal mucosa prevent penetration of infective larvae, but which is essentially lost within 6 weeks of cessation of parasite challenge. Here, a proteomic approach was used to identify proteins that are differentially regulated in immune compared to naïve sheep, as potential key mediators of immunity. Six naïve sheep and 12 sheep trickle-infected with T. circumcincta were treated with anthelmintic, and the naïve (control) and 6 immune sheep were killed 7 days later. The remaining 6 sheep (immune waning) were killed 42 days after anthelmintic treatment. Abomasal tissue samples were subjected to 2D-gel electrophoresis and densitometric analysis. Selected spots (n=73) were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting and confirmatory Western blotting was carried out for 10 proteins. Spots selectively up-regulated in immune versus control, but not immune waning versus control sheep, included galectin-15 and thioredoxin, which were confirmed by Western blotting. In immune sheep, serum albumin was significantly down-regulated and albumin proteolytic cleavage fragments were increased compared to controls. Unexpectedly, albumin mRNA was relatively highly expressed in control mucosa, down-regulated in immune, and was immunolocalized to mucus-producing epithelial cells. Thus we have identified differential expression of a number of proteins following T. circumcincta trickle infection that may play a role in host protection and inhibition of parasite establishment.
"Out-of-pitch" but still "in-time". An auditory psychophysical study in congenital amusic adults.

Congenital amusia is a lifelong disability, commonly known as tone deafness, that prevents afflicted individuals from developing basic musical skills despite normal audiometry and above-average intellectual, memory, and language skills. Although it is estimated that 4% of the general population would be born with such a musical handicap, the underlying cause is presently unknown. Recently, we proposed that this disorder could be traced to a deficit in pitch perception on the basis of a single case. Here we provide psychophysical evidence for the existence of a generalized defect that is both fine grained and specific to pitch because time is unaffected.
Contribution of baroreceptors and chemoreceptors to ventricular hypertrophy produced by sino‐aortic denervation in rats

1 To test whether sino‐aortic denervation (SAD)‐induced right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is a consequence of baroreceptor or chemoreceptor denervation, we compared the effects of aortic denervation (AD), carotid denervation (CD), SAD and a SAD procedure modified to spare the carotid chemoreceptors (mSAD), 6 weeks after denervation surgery in rats. A sham surgery group served as the control. 2 The blood pressure (BP) level was unaffected by AD, CD or SAD, but increased (9 %) following mSAD. The mean heart rate level was not affected. Short‐term BP variability was elevated following AD (81 %), SAD (144 %) and mSAD (146 %), but not after CD. Baroreflex heart rate responses to phenylephrine were attenuated in all denervation groups. 3 Significant RVH occurred only following CD and SAD. These procedures also produced high mortality (CD and SAD) and significant increases in right ventricular pressures and haematocrit (CD). 4 Significant left ventricular hypertrophy occurred following CD, SAD and mSAD. Normalized left ventricular weight was significantly correlated with indices of BP variability. 5 These results suggest that SAD‐induced RVH is a consequence of chemoreceptor, not baroreceptor, denervation. Our results also demonstrate that a mSAD procedure designed to spare the carotid chemoreceptors produced profound baroreflex dysfunction and significant left, but not right, ventricular hypertrophy.
Isolation of insertion, deletion, and nonsense mutations of the uracil-DNA glycosylase (ung) gene of Escherichia coli K-12

Two uracil-DNA glycosylase (ung) mutation selection procedures based upon the ability of uracil glycosylase to degrade the chromosomes of organisms containing uracil-DNA were devised to obtain a collection of well-defined ung alleles. In an enrichment procedure, lysogens were selected from Escherichia coli cultures infected with lambda pKanr phage containing uracil in their DNA. (These uracil-DNA phage were prepared by growth on host cells deficient in both dUTPase and uracil-DNA glycosylase.) The lysogenic Kanr population was enriched for uracil glycosylase-deficient mutants by a factor of 10(4). In a phage suicide selection procedure, lambda pung+ phage were unable to form plaques on dut ung cells containing uracil-DNA in their chromosomes, and all of the progeny were lambda pung-. Deletion, insertion (ung::Mu and ung::Tn10), nonsense, and missense mutants were isolated by using these procedures. Extracts of three insertion mutants contained no detectable enzyme activity. All of the other mutant isolates had less than 1% of the normal uracil glycosylase specific activity. The previously studied ung-1 allele, which was derived by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis, produced about 0.02% of the normal amount of uracil glycosylase activity. No significant phenotypic differences between ung-1 and ung::Tn10 alleles were observed. Variations of the lysogen selection procedure may be helpful for isolating other DNA glycosylase mutations in E. coli and other organisms.
Standards for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring clinical reporting in daily practice: recommendations from the Italian Society of Hypertension

This paper aims to provide practical indications to healthcare professionals and manufacturers of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) devices on the characteristics and minimum required contents of a standard ABPM report to be used in the clinical practice. Such indications will help make ABPM reports more easily interpretable and independent from the ABPM device and software used. The first important and unavoidable step of ABPM reporting is a quality assessment: if a recording does not meet the minimum requirements for quality criteria, the reporting physician should advise the patient to repeat the test and should not further proceed to a diagnostic evaluation and interpretation of the recording. A basic clinical report must contain the list of each single reading, the graphical display of individual readings and hourly average values, the mean, minimum and maximum values, and SDs of blood pressure and heart rate values for the 24 h, daytime and night-time, day–night differences, and blood pressure loads. The final medical report should be prepared in a quite logically structured way, considering the following: (i) a judgment on the overall quality of the 24 h recording; (ii) an indication of whether average 24 h, daytime and night-time systolic, and diastolic blood pressure values are within or above the normal limits; and (iii) a description of the 24 h pattern of blood pressure fluctuations. A final general statement on the normotensive or hypertensive status and on the degree of blood pressure control in case of treated patients should also be provided.
Central Serotonin and Impulsive Aggression

The role of central serotonergic (5-HT) system dysfunction in the regulation of aggression in both animals and man has been investigated for more than the past two decades. Evidence for reduced central 5-HT in the mediation of aggression comes from both behavioural and correlative studies. Functional reduction and augmentation of 5-HT activity is respectively associated with increased and decreased aggression in various animal models of aggression. While similar studies in man have not been performed, strong and consistent associations between indices reflecting reduced pre-synaptic 5-HT activity and aggression have been reported. Evidence of post-synaptic receptor upregulation in the brains of suicide victims has also been reported leaving the functional status 5-HT activity in such patients an open question. However, reduced neuroendocrine (i.e. prolactin) responses to fenfluramine, a 5-HT uptake inhibitor/releaser, which activates both pre- and post-synaptic sides of the 5-HT synapse, strongly suggest that overall central 5-HT activity is reduced in mood and/or personality disorder patients with history of suicidal and/or impulsive aggressive behaviour. Preliminary data with the 5-HT receptor agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine further suggest that reduced activity of post-synaptic 5-HT receptors may be an important correlate of impulsive aggressive behaviour. Pharmacological agents with potent 5-HT pre- and/or post-synaptic augmenting effects should be tested clinically to determine their efficacy in the treatment of impulsive aggressive behaviour in psychiatric patients.