Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunotherapy of bladder cancer using autologous dendritic cells pulsed with human lymphocyte antigen-A24-specific MAGE-3 peptide.

Recent investigations have demonstrated the efficacy of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with tumor antigens to generate tumor-specific CTLs against cancer cells. Melanoma antigens (MAGE) are a family of tumor-specific antigens shown to be expressed in various tumors, including bladder cancers and melanoma, but not in normal tissues except for the testis. Because invasive bladder cancers are frequently reported to express MAGE, we explored the possibility of establishing a new immunotherapeutic modality against advanced bladder cancer using autologous DCs pulsed with one of the MAGE-3 epitope peptides (IMPKAGLLI), which is synthesized to bind specifically to HLA-A24. A MAGE-3-expressing bladder cancer cell line, FY, was newly established from a lymph node metastasis of bladder cancer in a HLA-A24+ patient. The FY cell-specific CTL response was significantly higher when CTL was induced by autologous DCs pulsed with IMPKAGLLI than by FY cells alone or by nonpulsed DCs in vitro. A total of four HLA-A24+ patients with advanced MAGE-3+ bladder cancers were treated with s.c. injections of autologous DCs pulsed with IMPKAGLLI every 2 weeks for a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 18 times. Three of four patients showed significant reductions in the size of lymph node metastases and/or liver metastasis. No significant untoward side effects were noted in these patients. This study indicated that, at sometime in the future, tumor-specific DC-based cancer immunotherapy may be useful as an additional treatment modality against advanced bladder cancer.
Correlation, Contagion, and Asian Evidence

This paper examines the empirical literature on financial market contagion in Asia during the 199798 financial crises with respect to existing tests of contagion. Empirical evidence shows that contagion affects both developed and emerging markets and does not seem to vary with the relative fundamental economic health or trade and financial linkages of the Asian economies. Contagion occurs across both asset types and geographical borders and tends to have larger effects in equity markets than in currency and bond markets. There is evidence to support the hypothesis that contagion is regional and transmitted through developed markets. A discussion of the behavior of correlation coefficients in the presence of contagion and financial crises suggests that they are not a reliable metric for detecting contagion.
Building a virtual ligand screening pipeline using free software: a survey

Virtual screening, the search for bioactive compounds via computational methods, provides a wide range of opportunities to speed up drug development and reduce the associated risks and costs. While virtual screening is already a standard practice in pharmaceutical companies, its applications in preclinical academic research still remain under-exploited, in spite of an increasing availability of dedicated free databases and software tools. In this survey, an overview of recent developments in this field is presented, focusing on free software and data repositories for screening as alternatives to their commercial counterparts, and outlining how available resources can be interlinked into a comprehensive virtual screening pipeline using typical academic computing facilities. Finally, to facilitate the set-up of corresponding pipelines, a downloadable software system is provided, using platform virtualization to integrate pre-installed screening tools and scripts for reproducible application across different operating systems.
Urban air pollution and emergency admissions for cerebrovascular diseases in Taipei, Taiwan.

AIMS This study was designed to evaluate the association between urban air pollutants and emergency admissions for cerebrovascular diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS Daily emergency admissions for cerebrovascular diseases (ICD-9-CM, 430-437) to the National Taiwan University Hospital were regressed against daily concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), sulphur dioxide (SO(2)), ozone (O(3)), and particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 (PM(2.5)) and 10 microm (PM(10)) from 12 April 1997 to 31 December 2002 in Taipei metropolitan areas by the Poisson regression models adjusting for meteorological conditions and temporal trends. Single-pollutant models showed O(3) lagged 0 day, CO lagged 2 days, and PM(2.5) and PM(10) lagged 3 days were significantly associated with increasing emergency admissions for cerebrovascular diseases and CO lagged 2 days was significantly associated with increasing emergency admissions for strokes (ICD-9-CM, 430-434). Such association remained significant for O(3), CO, and cerebrovascular admissions after adjusting for PM(2.5) and PM(10) in two-pollutant models. The odds ratios were 1.021-1.022 per 31.3 ppb O(3) and 1.023-1.031 per 0.8 ppm CO, respectively. However, only CO was significantly associated with emergency admissions for stroke in the three-pollutant models with CO, O(3), and PM(2.5) or PM(10). CONCLUSION Emergency admissions for cerebrovascular diseases among adults were positively associated with increasing urban air pollution levels of O(3) lagged 0 day and CO lagged 2 days in Taipei.
Performance‐based financing for better quality of services in Rwandan health centres: 3‐year experience

In 2005, the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, with the support of the Belgian Technical Cooperation, launched a strategy of performance‐based financing (PBF) in a group of 74 health centres (HCs), covering 2‐m inhabitants. In 2006, PBF was extended to an additional group of 85 HCs, thus reaching 3.8‐m inhabitants. This study evaluates the effect of PBF on HC performance from 2005 to 2007. Composite indicators for measuring quantity and quality of services were developed and evaluated through monthly formative supervisions by qualified and well‐trained district supervisors. The strategy was based on a fixed fee per quality‐approved service. The entire budget spent on the implementation of PBF amounted to $0.25/cap/year, of which $0.20/cap/year for subsidies and an estimated $0.05/cap/year for administration, supervision and training. A positive effect on utilization rates was only seen for activities that were previously less well organized; in this case, growth monitoring services and institutional deliveries. The quality of services, defined as the compliance rate with national and international norms, rose considerably for all services in both groups. A sustained level of quality between 80% and 95% was reached within 18 months in the first group. A similar result was reached in the second group in 8 months.
STXBP 4 Drives Tumor Growth and Is Associated with Poor Prognosis through PDGF Receptor Signaling in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: Expression of the DN isoform of p63 (DNp63) is a diagnostic marker highly specific for lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We previously found that Syntaxin Binding Protein 4 (STXBP4) regulates DNp63 ubiquitination, suggesting that STXBP4 may also be an SCC biomarker. To address this issue, we investigated the role of STXBP4 expression in SCC biology and the impact of STXBP4 expression on SCC prognosis. Experimental Design:We carried out a clinicopathologic analysis of STXBP4 expression in 87 lung SCC patients. Whole transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq was performed in STXBP4-positive and STXBP4-negative tumors of lung SCC. Soft-agar assay and xenograft assay were performed using overexpressing or knockdown SCC cells. Results: Significantly higher levels of STXBP4 expression were correlated with accumulations of DNp63 in clinical lung SCC specimens (Spearman rank correlation r 1⁄4 0.219). Notably, STXBP4-positive tumors correlated with three important clinical parameters: T factor (P < 0.001), disease stage (P 1⁄4 0.030), and pleural involvement (P 1⁄4 0.028). Whole transcriptome sequencing followed by pathway analysis indicated that STXBP4 is involved in functional gene networks that regulate cell growth, proliferation, cell death, and survival in cancer. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRa) was a key downstream mediator of STXBP4 function. In line with this, shRNA mediated STXBP4 and PDGFRA knockdown suppressed tumor growth in soft-agar and xenograft assays. Conclusions: STXBP4 plays a crucial role in driving SCC growth and is an independent prognostic factor for predicting worse outcome in lung SCC. These data suggest that STXBP4 is a relevant therapeutic target for patients with lung SCC. Clin Cancer Res; 1–11. 2017 AACR.
Modeling and simulation of the flow behavior of the phosphate slurry through the pipeline

The pipeline was primarily perceived as a means of transporting different materials. In this study, we looked at the flow of phosphate pulp in the pipeline linking the Khouribga mine pole (Morocco) and the Eljorf-Lasfar industrial platform in El Jadida (Morocco). We carried out a mathematical modeling on a number of parameters influencing the process of conducting phosphate through the pipeline. In this way, we have been interested in modeling the linear or regular load losses, the hydraulic gradient, the friction factor, the roughness of the pipe and the fluid mechanics of the phosphate pulp. The result is grouped into a program on Matlab that can provide us with the pressure in any point of the pipeline and the behavior of the pressure drops. In addition, this program allows us to follow a geographical route followed by the behavior and behavior of the piezometric line along the pipeline.
Bidirectional Dependency Parser for Indian Languages

In this paper, we apply bidirectional dependency parsing algorithm for parsing Indian languages such as Hindi, Bangla and Telugu as part of NLP Tools Contest, ICON 2010. The parser builds the dependency tree incrementally with the two operations namely proj and non-proj. The complete dependency tree given by the unlabeled parser is used by SVM (Support Vector Machines) classifier for labeling. The system achieved Labeled Attachment Score (LAS) of 84.79%, 69.09%, 68.95% for Hindi, Bangla and Telugu. While using fine-grained dependency labels, it achieved LAS of 83.12%, 65.97%, 67.45% respectively.
Workload Aware Hybrid Partitioning

Real life databases exhibit highly skewed access patterns. These skewed access patterns can be exploited to partition the data considering the query workload. The presented work proposes Workload Aware Hybrid Partitioning (WAHP). WAHP identifies clusters of attributes which are queried together. It identifies workload aware clusters for the actual query workload using a hybrid combination of horizontal and vertical partitioning. The paper demonstrates WAHP experiment using TPC-C benchmark, where 9% of the actual TPC-C data in workload aware clusters, is able to answer 73% of hottest query-workload with an average execution time gain of 37% against original database.
Disease-modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis: current and future aspects

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the human CNS, affecting an estimated 2.5 million people in the world. Until the 1990s, treatment was mainly symptomatic, but a new era began with the introduction of disease-modifying therapy that seems to alter the natural course of MS. Current drugs include three interferons (IFNs): IFN-β1a (Avonex® intramuscular; Biogen, Cambridge, USA; Rebif® subcutaneous; Serono, Geneva, Switzerland), IFN-β1b (Betaseron® subcutaneous; Schering, Berlin, Germany) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone® subcutaneous; Teva, Petach Tikva, Israel). Ongoing research targeting a variety of mechanisms and processes means there is much promise for the future treatment of MS.
Stimulation of activity in online communities

Motivation -- Identify the factors that relate to the activity within a community, to derive a framework which can be used to stimulate activity in both new and existing online communities and to test the effectiveness of the framework. Research approach -- The relations between 9 metrics of community success and 26 community properties have been identified in a statistical analysis of 58 online communities. Guidelines derived from this analysis have been applied to a case study. Findings/Design -- 13 factors have been identified. These factors have been incorporated into the Community Activity (CA) framework and 11 guidelines for stimulating online community activity. Application of this framework to an existing online community resulted in more interest in parts of the website and increased actual usage. Research limitations/Implications -- Only (health-based) social communities have been used in the analysis. Generalisation to other kinds of online communities (e.g. technical) may require additional research. Originality/Value -- The research provides an insight as to why communities may fail, by presenting factors that may have a positive or negative effect on member activity. Take away message -- Functionality available within online communities may influence member activity. Place focus on privacy options, notifications and member profiles.
[Gemcitabine/cisplatin vs. MVAC. 5 year survival outcome of the phase III study of chemotherapy of advanced urothelial carcinoma in Germany].

Of 405 patients with stage IV transitional cell carcinoma from an international multicenter phase III trial, 70 were randomized in Germany to receive either gemcitabine/cisplatin or standard MVAC systemic chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. Overall survival as the primary endpoint of the study was similar in both arms (median survival GC 15.4 months vs MVAC 16.1 months), as were tumor-specific survival and time to progressive disease. In the intent-to-treat analysis, the 5-year overall survival rate was 10% for patients randomized to GC and 18% randomized to MVAC. Tumor overall response rates (GC 54%, MVAC 53%) were similar. The toxic death rate was 0% in the GC arm and 3% (one patient) in the MVAC arm. Significantly more GC than MVAC patients experienced grade 3/4 anemia (GC 52%, MVAC 20%) with significantly more red blood cell transfusions in the GC arm.Significantly more GC than MVAC patients had grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (GC 54%, MVAC 17%) without grade 3/4 hemorrhage or hematuria in either arm. More MVAC patients experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia (GC 56%, MVAC 61%, p=1.000), neutropenic or leukopenic fever (GC 0%, MVAC 10%, p=0.237), mucositis (GC 0%, MVAC 7%, p=0.495), and alopecia (GC 6%, MVAC 36%, p=0.004). GC represents a reasonable alternative for the palliative treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic transitional cell carcinoma. Sustained long-term survival was only found for patients with locally advanced cancer, lymphatic metastases, or solitary distant metastasis but not for visceral metastatic disease.
Aromatic amino acid metabolism of neonatal piglets receiving TPN: effect of tyrosine precursors.

Low tyrosine solubility in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions complicates meeting the aromatic amino acid needs of infants. This study compared the effectiveness of two tyrosine precursors to supply the aromatic amino acid needs of TPN-fed neonatal piglets with a control group in which total aromatic acid needs were met by the addition of phenylalanine (Phe). Eighteen 3-day-old male Yorkshire piglets (6/group) received TPN for 8 days by central line. The solution was supplemented with Phe or one of the following two tyrosine precursors: N-acetyltyrosine (N-AcTyr) or glycyltyrosine (GlyTyr). Aromatic amino acid metabolism, growth, and nitrogen utilization were measured. Average amino acid and energy intakes were 14.6 g.kg-1.day-1 and 1,050 kJ.kg-1.day-1. Nitrogen balance and utilization were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in piglets in the control Phe group and on the GlyTyr regimen. The high urinary excretion of N-AcTyr (65%) confirms its low bioavailability. Flux and oxidation were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the Phe group. High plasma Phe levels and excretion of Phe catabolites, as well as the high plasma tyrosine in the GlyTyr group, indicate that current strategies employed to meet the aromatic amino acid needs of neonates on TPN need further refinement.
Quantum field theory on the noncommutative plane with Eq(2) symmetry

We study properties of a scalar quantum field theory on the two-dimensional noncommutative plane with Eq(2) quantum symmetry. We start from the consideration of a firstly quantized quantum particle on the noncommutative plane. Then we define quantum fields depending on noncommutative coordinates and construct a field theoretical action using the Eq(2)-invariant measure on the noncommutative plane. With the help of the partial wave decomposition we show that this quantum field theory can be considered as a second quantization of the particle theory on the noncommutative plane and that this field theory has (contrary to the common belief) even more severe ultraviolet divergences than its counterpart on the usual commutative plane. Finally we introduce the symmetry transformations of physical states on noncommutative spaces and discuss them in detail for the case of the Eq(2) quantum group.
Photocatalytic behaviour of anodised titanium using different cathodes

In the last decades, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely researched because of its applications in photocatalytic environmental pollution removal and in hydrogen generation. Hence, this work deals with the synthesis of titanium dioxide by anodising titanium sheets, however using different cathodes, which may induce differences in the composition and structure of the obtained oxide layers so that these suspected differences can be observed. All specimens were equally thermally treated after anodising to enhance their photocatalytic activity, since this step allows the titanium dioxide to crystallise. Their morphology and crystal structure were characterised by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared, and optical properties were characterised by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, tests of their photocatalytic properties in the degradation of organic dyes were performed in order to have a first evaluation. Indeed, differences in the photocatalytic behaviour of the anodised specimens using different cathodes were found and evaluated.
ENTROPY THEORY: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL OF IMPROVING THE COMPUTATIONAL TRANSLATION

Elimination of the ambiguity is the key to the computational translation. In order to find an effective way to improve the accuracy of the computational translation, the cross entropy was introduced. After the analysis of the reasons of the low accuracy, the information entropy was introduced into the disambiguation. The practice of ambiguity elimination shows the method has high accuracy and this study provides an effective way to improve the computational translation. The study has significance in theory and practice for the development of computational translation.
A 1.2 V, 0.84 pJ/conv.-Step ultra-low power capacitance to digital converter for microphone based auscultation

In this paper, we propose a novel Capacitance to Digital Converter (CDC) architecture using a second order continuous time delta-sigma modulator (CT-ΔΣM) with multi-bit quantization. The proposed architecture embeds a Capacitance to Voltage Converter (CVC) in the delta-sigma loop for improving the dynamic range and the energy efficiency of the CDC. VCO-integrator/multi-bit quantizer, used as one of the loop filters, helps in reducing the swing at the output of CVC. Measurement results from a test chip fabricated in 0.18 μm CMOS technology show that the CDC achieves 13-bit resolution with a measurement time of 0.125 ms while consuming only 42 μΑ at 1.2V. This corresponds to a state-of-the-art figure-of-merit (FoM) of 0.84 pJ/conversion-step.
A Deep Semi-NMF Model for Learning Hidden Representations

Semi-NMF is a matrix factorization technique that learns a low-dimensional representation of a dataset that lends itself to a clustering interpretation. It is possible that the mapping between this new representation and our original features contains rather complex hierarchical information with implicit lower-level hidden attributes, that classical one level clustering methodologies can not interpret. In this work we propose a novel model, Deep Semi-NMF, that is able to learn such hidden representations that allow themselves to an interpretation of clustering according to different, unknown attributes of a given dataset. We show that by doing so, our model is able to learn low-dimensional representations that are better suited for clustering, outperforming Semi-NMF, but also other NMF variants.
A PETRI NET-BASED DEADLOCK CONTROL POLICY FOR FLEXIBLE ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS

Abstract This paper presents a Petri net-based method for deadlock control in flexible assembly systems (FAS). Instead of a process-oriented modeling method, a resource-oriented Petri net modeling method is used. A new control policy is thus formulated and proved to outperform the existing one in the literature. The deadlock problem in FAS is often more difficult since deadlock can arise from improper base component flow and part flow, as well as ill-synchronized assembly operations.
Neutrophilic urticaria with systemic inflammation: a case series.

IMPORTANCE Predominantly neutrophilic infiltrates are seen in a subset of patients with urticaria. The lesions tend to be less itchy and poorly responsive to standard therapy, including antihistamines. We describe 2 patients having neutrophilic urticaria with systemic inflammation (NUSI) without known connective tissue disorder or malignancy. We propose the term NUSI to help classify a previously undefined multisystemic inflammatory entity likely mediated by interleukin 1 (IL-1). OBSERVATIONS Patient 1, a 47-year-old woman, was seen with urticaria and associated night sweats, fevers, and polyarticular arthritis. Acute-phase reactants were elevated with worsening of symptoms. Initial treatment with a combination of topical and systemic corticosteroids, antihistamines, and immunosuppressants was unsuccessful. A 100% clinical resolution was achieved with anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist. Patient 2, a 24-year-old woman, was seen with urticaria and associated joint pain and swelling. Initial treatment included a combination of antihistamines, colchicine, and dapsone. Only colchicine provided moderate benefit but was stopped because of significant gastrointestinal tract discomfort. Anakinra was initiated; the patient achieved 100% control while receiving daily therapy. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The diagnosis of NUSI is important to consider in patients who are seen with antihistamine-resistant urticaria in combination with systemic inflammatory symptoms. Interleukin 1 blockade is a viable option for therapy.