Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the immunogenicity of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine using 2 versus 3 doses at month 21: An epidemiological surveillance mechanism for alternate vaccination schemes

The cost of HPV vaccines and the need for 3 doses remains a barrier for their inclusion in routine vaccination schedules for girls in low and middle income countries. In a non-inferiority study, we aimed to compare the immunogenicity of a standard 3 doses and a 2 doses schedule. We enrolled 450 participants in an open-label non-randomized clinical trial to evaluate the immunogenicity induced at different ages by the licensed HPV6/11/16/18 quadrivalent vaccine in a 2 doses schedule (0–6 months, n = 150 girls aged 9–10 y) and 3 doses schedule (0, 2, and 6 months; n = 150 girls aged 9–10 y and n=150 women aged 18 to 24 years). To assess the antibody response, blood samples were obtained at Month 7 and 21 after the first vaccination from participants in all study groups. cLIA testing was performed at Merck Research Laboratories. Antibody levels were expressed as milli-Merck units (mMU) per ml. Primary outcome was non-inferiority (95% CI, lower bound >0.5) of the geometric mean titers (GMT) ratios for HPV6, HPV11, HPV16 and HPV18 antibodies 7 and 21 months after the first dose among girls receiving 2 doses compared with young women and girls receiving 3 doses. All vaccinees were seropositive for both HPV16 and HPV18 antibodies at month 7. At month 21, 98.5 and 56.6% of women 18–24 y old were seropositive for HPV16 and 18, respectively. For girls in the three doses group, seropositivity rates were 99.3 and 86.3% for HPV16 and 18, respectively. For girls in the two doses group rates were 99.3 and 70.2% for HPV16 and 18, respectively. The two doses schedule was non-inferior compared to the 3 doses schedule in same-age girls and to the group of adult women after 21 months of the first vaccine dose. Our results are in agreement with similar trials evaluating the immune response of a 2 doses schedule of both HPV vaccines, supporting the recent WHO recommendation as well as the Mexican policy to incorporate the 2 doses schedule for girls aged 9–11 y.
Noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has emerged as a significant advance in the management of respiratory failure. There is now a wide body of prospective randomized-controlled trial data to support its use, particularly in the management of patients with acute or respiratory failure due to exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its successful application results in a more rapid resolution of the physiological derangements, reduces the need for intubation and, in larger studies, improves survival. A reduction in the number of infectious complications is a particular advantage. In patients with acute exacerbations of COPD there is evidence of benefit when NIV is introduced earlier in the course of the illness than would be the case for invasive ventilation and it should now be considered even with mild acidosis (pH<7.35) and tachypnoea (respiratory rate >23 breaths·min−1) after initial medical therapy. There is less clinical-trial data in patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure, but again as with COPD those with less severe physiological disturbance are more likely to benefit. By contrast noninvasive continuous positive airways pressure, while being widely used has not been shown to reduce the need for intubation or to improve survival in patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure, with the exception of acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Noninvasive ventilation has been a real advance in the treatment of the critically ill. Most of the studies published to date, have excluded patients needing immediate intubation and it should be viewed as a complimentary technique rather than an alternative to invasive ventilation. It is best viewed as a means of preventing the need for endotracheal intubation and as a result should be introduced earlier than would be the case for invasive ventilation.
Co-Salient Object Detection Based on Deep Saliency Networks and Seed Propagation Over an Integrated Graph

This paper presents a co-salient object detection method to find common salient regions in a set of images. We utilize deep saliency networks to transfer co-saliency prior knowledge and better capture high-level semantic information. The resulting initial co-saliency maps are enhanced by seed propagation steps over an integrated graph. The deep saliency networks are trained in a supervised manner to avoid weakly supervised online learning and exploit them not only to extract high-level features but also to produce both intra- and inter-image saliency maps. Through a refinement step, the initial co-saliency maps can uniformly highlight co-salient regions and locate accurate object boundaries. To handle input image groups inconsistent in size, we propose to pool multi-regional descriptors including both within-segment and within-group information. In addition, the integrated multilayer graph is constructed to find the regions that the previous steps may not detect by seed propagation with low-level descriptors. In this paper, we utilize the useful complementary components of high- and low-level information and several learning-based steps. Our experiments have demonstrated that the proposed approach outperforms comparable co-saliency detection methods on widely used public databases and can also be directly applied to co-segmentation tasks.
Refugees in the UK Labour Market: The Conflict between Economic Integration and Policy-led Labour Market Restriction

This article draws on data from a survey of 400 refugees and shows low levels of labour market activity. The minority of refugees who are working are in secondary sector jobs with little opportunity for progression. Moreover, refugees with high levels of skills who are working are not in jobs commensurate with their skills and qualifications. The article examines the human capacity and personal characteristics that have an impact on refugee employment, and finds the greatest difference in employment is between men and women, although English language fluency and training are also very important. Employment is a major part of the refugee integration strategy, and employment initiatives focus on capacity-building rather than discrimination or reversing restrictive policies. The article concludes that strategies need to focus on individual employability as well as measures to overcome personal and structural barriers to the labour market.
Preferences for unemployment insurance and labor-market risks: over-time developments in Germany and the United States

This article examines the relationship between labor-market risks and demand for social insurance. It looks at the over-time variations in preferences for unemployment insurance in Germany and the United States, and delineates the links with these and one's position in the labor market. The results suggest that rather than the type of human capital investment, occupational unemployment rate is explanatory for the demand for social insurance, along with income. Our analysis challenges the widespread association, in the literature, between higher specificity and higher social spending.
Organising new business development: open innovation at Degussa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse different organisational tools of business development used in practice. This analysis seeks to address the question of how an organisation can achieve the recurring shift from exploration to exploitation and at the same time manage to balance its open and closed innovation tools.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical basis for analysing the organisational implications of open vs closed innovation is built by Creavis, the business venturing arm of Degussa AG, a specialty chemicals company headquartered in Germany.Findings – Companies face the ambiguity of creating new business options and exploiting these at a later stage. Since exploitative and explorative units require a different organisational set‐up, it is difficult for a company to shift its exploratory endeavours to exploitative means. The presented case study offers an answer to this dilemma by showing how organisations manage to combine both by a unique organisational set‐up allowing for an e.
Alopecia areata. Autoreactive T cells are variably enriched in scalp lesions relative to peripheral blood.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN Alopecia areata is a condition characterized by hair loss in association with perifollicular infiltration of T cells and antigen-presenting cells. Autoreactive T cells are postulated to amplify this abnormality by interacting with DR+ follicular epithelium. These cells may recognize either autologous major histocompatibility complex class II antigen or an autoantigen restricted by major histocompatibility complex class II. Limiting dilution analysis was used to determine the frequency of autoreactive lymphocytes in scalp biopsy specimens and peripheral blood from seven adult patients with alopecia areata. Autoreactive T cells are defined for this study as those that proliferate in response to autologous irradiated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS Autoreactive lymphocytes were enriched in scalp biopsy specimens relative to peripheral blood in five of seven patients. This enrichment was statistically significant in four of five patients. Five autoreactive T-cell clones derived from lesional scalp were characterized. Four of these clones were CD3+CD4+CD8- and one clone was CD3+CD4-CD8+. CONCLUSIONS Enrichment of autoreactive cells in lesions of alopecia areata supports a role for these cells in the pathogenesis of this condition. Enrichment of autoreactive lymphocytes is also found in allergic contact dermatitis. Thus, these autoreactive lymphocytes may have a general role in inflammation.
Recombinant Growth Factor Gene Expression in Vascular Cells in Vivo

Several issues are important to the use of direct gene transfer as an investigative tool and as a potential therapeutic modality (Table 3). Transfection efficiencies of different vectors must be improved and optimized. Retroviral vectors and DNA liposome conjugates currently used in animal models are low-efficiency vectors. Adenoviruses and adenoviral conjugates appear promising, but issues related to gene persistence, germ-line transmission, and stability of expression must be explored. Second, the pharmacology or dose-response properties of recombinant gene expression have not been investigated. It is not currently known how many cells must be transfected in an arterial segment in order to produce a desired biological effect. Our studies suggest that only a small population of cells is required to secrete a recombinant gene product into the local milieu. This gene product may then have local paracrine effects with amplification of the biological response, suggesting a "gain of function. " Third, methods must be developed to target recombinant genes specifically to endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells using cell-specific promoters. Finally, gene expression should be regulated through inducible or repressible promoters. Nonetheless, during the past ten years a dramatic expansion in the fields of gene transfer and gene therapy has occurred. We have entered a new era in which molecular genetic techniques are being increasingly used to investigate the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disorders and to design potential therapies for these diseases. Although technical hurdles related to optimization of vectors and regulated gene expression must be solved, molecular genetic approaches will be increasingly used to study and treat cardiovascular diseases.
Proteins secreted by the parasitic nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis act as adjuvants for Th2 responses

Infections with parasitic helminths such as Nippostronglyus brasiliensis induce dominant type 2 responses from antigen‐specific T helper cells. The potency of the Th2 bias can also drive Th2 responses to bystander antigens introduced at the same time as infection. We now report that the Th2‐promoting effect of infection can be reproduced with soluble N. brasiliensis excretory‐secretory proteins (NES) released by adult parasites in vitro. Immunization of BALB / c mice with NES results in the production of IL‐4 with elevated total serum IgE and specific IgG1 antibodies. NES is also able to stimulate IL‐4 and polyclonal IgE production in other mouse strains (C57BL / 6, B10.D2, CBA). These features are seen whether NES is administered without adjuvant as soluble protein in phosphate‐buffered saline or with complete Freund's adjuvant which normally favors Th1 responses. Thus, NES possesses intrinsic adjuvanticity. Moreover, co‐administration of hen egg lysozyme (HEL) with NES in the absence of other adjuvants results in generation of HEL‐specific lymphocyte proliferation, IL‐4 release and IgG1 antibody responses, documenting that NES can act as an adjuvant for third‐party antigens. Proteinase K digestion or heat treatment of NES before immunization abolished the IL‐4‐stimulating activity, indicating that the factors acting to promote Th2 induction are proteins secreted by the adult parasite.
A New Measure of Cross-Sectional Risk and its Empirical Implications for Portfolio Risk Management

Litterman, Scheinkman, and Weiss (1991) and Engle and Ng (1993) provide empirical evidence of a relation between yield curve shape and volatility. This study offers theoretical support for that finding in the general context of cross-sectional time series. We introduce a new risk measure quantifying the link between cross-sectional shape and market risk. A simple econometric procedure allows us to represent the risk experienced by cross-sections over a time period in terms of independent factors reproducing possible cross-sectional deformations. We compare our risk measure to the traditional cross-yield covariance according to their relative performance. Empirical investigation in the US interest rate market shows that 1) cross-shape risk factors outperform cross-yield risk factors (i.e., yield curve level, slope, and convexity) in explaining the market risk of yield curve dynamics; 2) hedging multiple liabilities against cross-shape risk delivers superior trading strategies compared to those stemming from cross-yield risk management.
Oxaliplatin combined with weekly bolus fluorouracil and leucovorin as surgical adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and III colon cancer: results from NSABP C-07.

PURPOSE This phase III clinical trial evaluated the impact on disease-free survival (DFS) of adding oxaliplatin to bolus weekly fluorouracil (FU) combined with leucovorin as surgical adjuvant therapy for stage II and III colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients who had undergone a potentially curative resection were randomly assigned to either FU 500 mg/m2 intravenous (IV) bolus weekly for 6 weeks plus leucovorin 500 mg/m2 IV weekly for 6 weeks during each 8-week cycle for three cycles (FULV), or the same FULV regimen with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 IV administered on weeks 1, 3, and 5 of each 8-week cycle for three cycles (FLOX). RESULTS A total of 2,407 patients (96.6%) of the 2,492 patients randomly assigned were eligible. Median follow-up for patients still alive is 42.5 months. The hazard ratio (FLOX v FULV) is 0.80 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.93), a 20% risk reduction in favor of FLOX (P < .004). The 3- and 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 71.8% and 67.0% for FULV and 76.1% and 73.2% for FLOX, respectively. Grade 3 neurosensory toxicity was noted in 8.2% of patients receiving FLOX and in 0.7% of those receiving FULV (P < .001). Hospitalization for diarrhea associated with bowel wall thickening occurred in 5.5% of the patients receiving FLOX and in 3.0% of the patients receiving FULV (P < .01). A total of 1.2% of patients died as a result of any cause within 60 days of receiving chemotherapy, with no significant difference between regimens. CONCLUSION The addition of oxaliplatin to weekly FULV significantly improved DFS in patients with stage II and III colon cancer. FLOX can be recommended as an effective option in clinical practice.
Jensen-cotes upper and lower bounds on the gaussian Q-function and related functions

We present new families of lower and upper bounds on Q -functions. First, we consider the Craig form of the Gaussian Q-function Q(x) and shown that its integrand phi(thetas;x) can be partitioned into a pair of complementary convex and concave segments. This property is then exploited in conjunction with the Jensen inequality and the Newton-Cotes' quadrature rule to produce a complete family of upper and lower bounds on Q(x), which can be made arbitrarily tight by finer segmentation. The basic idea is then utilized to derive families of upper and lower bounds also for the squared Gaussian Q-function Q2(x), the 2D joint Gaussian Q-function Q(x,y,p), and the generalized Marcum Q-function QM(x,y)The bounds are shown to be tighter than alternatives found in the literature, and in some cases the lower bounds provided find no equivalent in current literature. The generality of the principle is the elegant point of the method and the resulting Jensen-Cotes bounds are easy to implement and evaluate since only elementary transcendental functions are involved. As an example of application to the analysis of communication systems, we consider the bit error rates (BER's) of decode-and-forward (DF) cooperative relaying schemes with coherent and differential phase-shift keying (PSK) modulations, which have been shown to have an intricate dependence on the Gaussian Q-function, complicated by crossproducts, irrational functional arguments and multiple numerical integrations. In that example the bounds substantially reduce the complexity required to evaluate the expressions, retaining tightness despite multiple numerical integrations with infinite limits.
Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate Duration of Action and Individualized Dosing Intervals in Dogs with Primary Hypoadrenocorticism

Background Clinicians alter dosing for desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) to mitigate costs, but this practice has not been critically evaluated in a prospective clinical trial. Hypothesis/Objectives The duration of action of DOCP is longer than 30 days in dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH). Animals A total of 53 client‐owned dogs with PH. Twenty‐four dogs with newly diagnosed PH (Group 1) and 29 dogs with treated PH (Group 2). Methods Prospective, multicenter, clinical trial. For phase I, DOCP was administered and plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were measured until the dog developed hyponatremia or hyperkalemia at a planned evaluation, or displayed clinical signs with plasma electrolyte concentrations outside of the reference interval independent of a planned evaluation, thus defining DOCP duration of action. Plasma electrolyte concentrations then were assessed at the end of the individualized dosing interval (IDI; i.e., DOCP duration of action minus 7 days, phase II and at least 3 months after concluding phase II, phase III). Results The duration of action of DOCP in dogs in phase I with naïve PH (n = 24) ranged from 32 to 94 days (median, 62 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 57, 65) and previously treated PH (n = 29) from 41 to 124 days (median, 67 days; CI, 56, 72). Overall, the final DOCP dosing interval for all dogs that completed phase II (n = 36) ranged from 38 days to 90 days (median, 58 days; CI, 53, 61). No dog that completed phase III (n = 15) required reduction in the IDI. The DOCP duration of action, independent of group, was not significantly associated with several baseline variables. The median drug cost reduction using IDI was approximately 57.5% per year. Conclusion and Clinical Importance The duration of action of DOCP in dogs with PH is >30 days, and plasma sodium and potassium concentrations can be maintained with an IDI >30 days long term.
Smoking policy and prevalence in Greece: an overview.

BACKGROUND Smoking is one of the largest public heath problems and a cause of major concern not only among European members such as Greece but also worldwide. Greece over the past years has been suffering from a smoking epidemic with dramatic consequences on the economy and the cost of health services. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the extent of tobacco usage, the methods used to control tobacco consumption, and the main reasons of anti-tobacco legislation failure over the past decades in Greece. METHODS Data were collected from the international PubMed database and from the Greek database, Iatrotek, during January 2006 and the tobacco legislation was discussed with other counterparts in Greece and was rechecked with the Greek ministry of Health and Social Welfare. RESULTS Currently Greece has the highest smoking prevalence not only among members of the European Union but also among all members of the OECD. Recent epidemiological studies estimate that 40% of the adult population are daily smokers, with one in two adolescents in certain areas also current smokers. Although anti-smoking policies do exist, and have been enforced over the years, many factors have contributed to their failure with a pro-tobacco culture and an increasing number of adolescent smokers exacerbating the problem. CONCLUSIONS It is obvious that the strict enforcement of a nationwide anti-tobacco policy must be a priority on the national health agenda, if we are to ever effectively combat the high prevalence of smoking in Greece.
Determination of Resin Bond Strength to Zirconia Ceramic Surface Using Different Primers

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the effect of different primers on the bond strength of adhesive resin cement to zirconia ceramic surface in vitro. Material and methods. Thirty zirconia disk-shaped ceramic specimens (10×2 mm2) were divided into three equal groups for the application of different primers: Monobons-S, Clearfil Ceramic Primer and Signum Zirconia Bond. A further 10 specimens served as a control group. Forty composite resin blocks (6×2 mm2) were cemented (Panavia F 2.0) to zirconia ceramic specimens. Shear bond strengths were measured. Treated zirconia ceramic surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Results. One-way ANOVA showed that the application of different primers affected the shear bond strength of adhesive resin cement to zirconia ceramic. The highest test values were obtained with application of Signum Zirconia Bond, and the lowest values were obtained in the control group. Conclusion. Signum Zirconia Bond is effective for increasing the bond strength of adhesive resin cement to zirconia ceramic.
Form postponement effects on operational performance: a typological theory

Form postponement postulates that changes in product form occur at the latest possible point along a production and distribution process. The potential benefits of form postponement have been widely investigated in the literature on the subject. However, conflicting or hard-to-relate findings are quite frequent in this literature. In this paper, we demonstrate that past research findings can be reconciled by distinguishing among three mutually exclusive types of form postponement. We build this thesis by developing a typological theory that formalizes how, why and under which assumptions each type of form postponement affects inventory holding costs, delivery lead times, processing costs.