Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene Transfer of Tumor-Reactive TCR Confers Both High Avidity and Tumor Reactivity to Nonreactive Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes1

Cell-based antitumor immunity is driven by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells bearing TCR that recognize specific tumor-associated peptides bound to class I MHC molecules. Of several cellular proteins involved in T cell:target-cell interaction, the TCR determines specificity of binding; however, the relative amount of its contribution to cellular avidity remains unknown. To study the relationship between TCR affinity and cellular avidity, with the intent of identifying optimal TCR for gene therapy, we derived 24 MART-1:27-35 (MART-1) melanoma Ag-reactive tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) clones from the tumors of five patients. These MART-1-reactive clones displayed a wide variety of cellular avidities. α and β TCR genes were isolated from these clones, and TCR RNA was electroporated into the same non-MART-1-reactive allogeneic donor PBMC and TIL. TCR recipient cells gained the ability to recognize both MART-1 peptide and MART-1-expressing tumors in vitro, with avidities that closely corresponded to the original TCR clones (p = 0.018–0.0003). Clone DMF5, from a TIL infusion that mediated tumor regression clinically, showed the highest avidity against MART-1 expressing tumors in vitro, both endogenously in the TIL clone, and after RNA electroporation into donor T cells. Thus, we demonstrated that the TCR appeared to be the core determinant of MART-1 Ag-specific cellular avidity in these activated T cells and that nonreactive PBMC or TIL could be made tumor-reactive with a specific and predetermined avidity. We propose that inducing expression of this highly avid TCR in patient PBMC has the potential to induce tumor regression, as an “off-the-shelf” reagent for allogeneic melanoma patient gene therapy.
Seepage-Induced Streambank Erosion and Instability: In Situ Constant-Head Experiments

AbstractThe effects of seepage on streambank erosion and failure are less understood compared to fluvial processes, especially the linkage between surface water and groundwater mechanisms. Field data are needed to validate laboratory seepage erosion and instability conclusions and to understand how engineering tools and methods may be applied to field conditions. An innovative trench injection system was utilized to provide a constant head on a near-streambank groundwater system when filled with stream water. This research was performed on a streambank of Dry Creek, a deeply incised stream with near-vertical banks located in Mississippi. Experiments included installing a trench (2.8 m from the bank and 2 m below ground surface) and a network of tensiometers and observation wells to measure soil-water pressures and water table elevations. Bank stratigraphy consisted of a sloping, conductive loamy sand layer between cohesive streambank layers. Groundwater conditions were monitored during a series of induced.
Holonic control-based Sensor management

This paper discusses the application of holonic control paradigm to sensor management in military surveillance operations. Sensor management is described both as part of the data fusion process and as a control problem. The choice of holonic control as the most adequate architecture for sensor management in the military environment is explained and its application to surveillance operations illustrated. Holonic control is then simulated using a littoral surveillance scenario to test sensor management with and without feedback from high-level fusion (closed-loop versus open-loop). The results show that closed-loop sensor management significantly enhances global surveillance performance, reduces detection time of threatening objects, and reduces platforms' load, thus increasing stealth and decreasing detectability.
Relative importance of systemic determinants of retinal arteriolar and venular caliber: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relative contributions of systemic cardiovascular factors to retinal arteriolar and venular caliber in men and women and in whites and African Americans. METHODS In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, retinal arteriolar caliber (central retinal arteriolar equivalent), and venular caliber (central retinal venular equivalent) were measured from digitized retinal photographs of 8794 participants. RESULTS The main systemic determinants of narrower central retinal arteriolar equivalent were, in order of relative decreasing contribution, higher current mean arterial blood pressure, lower serum albumin level, current alcohol consumption, and higher body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). The main systemic determinants of wider central retinal venular equivalent were current cigarette smoking and higher current mean arterial blood pressure, followed by higher white blood cell count, body mass index, and plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These associations were generally similar in whites and African Americans and in men and women. CONCLUSIONS The major systemic determinant of narrower retinal arteriolar caliber is higher blood pressure, while those of wider retinal venular caliber are cigarette smoking, higher blood pressure, systemic inflammation, and obesity. These data offer further insights into the systemic processes influencing arteriolar and venular characteristics and may help explain the observed associations of retinal vascular caliber and the risk of clinical cardiovascular disease.
Differential Expression of Glycolysis-Related Proteins in Follicular Neoplasms versus Hürthle Cell Neoplasms: A Retrospective Analysis

Purpose Although currently classified as variants of follicular neoplasms (FNs), Hürthle cell neoplasms (HCNs) exhibit distinct biological characteristics. Hence, the metabolism of both neoplasms may also be different. The aims of this study were to investigate and compare the expression of glycolysis-related proteins in HCNs and FNs and to determine the clinical implications of such expression. Methods Tissue microarrays were constructed with 265 samples of FNs (112 follicular carcinomas (FCs) and 153 follicular adenomas (FAs)) as well as 108 samples of HCNs (27 Hürthle cell carcinomas (HCCs) and 81 Hürthle cell adenomas (HCAs)). Immunohistochemical staining for the glycolysis-related molecules Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 was performed. Results The expression levels of Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 were significantly higher in HCNs than in FNs (p < 0.001). Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 expression levels were highest in HCC, followed by HCA, FC, and FA (all p < 0.001). In HCC, hexokinase II positivity was associated with large tumor size (>4 cm) (p = 0.046), CAIX positivity with vascular invasion (p = 0.005), and MCT4 positivity with extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.030). Conclusion The expression levels of the glycolysis-related proteins Glut-1, hexokinase II, CAIX, and MCT4 were higher in HCNs than in FNs and in HCCs than in HCAs.
Obesity and onset of significant depressive symptoms: results from a prospective community-based cohort study of older men and women.

OBJECTIVE Although several cross-sectional studies have linked obesity and depression, less is known about their longitudinal association and about the relative influence of obesity subtypes. We prospectively examined whether obesity (specifically, abdominal) increased the risk of onset of depression in a population-based sample of older persons. METHOD Participants were 2,547 nondepressed, well-functioning white and black persons, aged 70-79 years, enrolled in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study, an ongoing prospective community-based cohort study. Baseline measurements were conducted between April 1997 and June 1998. Overall obesity was assessed by body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), whereas abdominal obesity measures included waist circumference, sagittal diameter, and visceral fat (measured by computer tomography). Onset of significant depressive symptoms was defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression 10-item score > or = 10 at any annual follow-up over 5 years and/or new antidepressant medication use. Persistent depression was defined as depression at 2 consecutive follow-up visits. RESULTS Over 5 years, significant depressive symptoms emerged in 23.7% of initially nondepressed persons. In men, both overall (BMI: hazard ratio [HR] per SD increase = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03-1.40) and abdominal obesity (visceral fat: HR per SD increase = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.33) predicted onset of depressive symptoms after adjustment for sociodemographics. When BMI and visceral fat were adjusted for each other, only visceral fat was significantly associated with depression onset (HR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.34). Stronger associations were found for persistent depressive symptoms. No associations were found in women. CONCLUSION This study shows that obesity, in particular visceral fat, increases the risk of onset of significant depressive symptoms in men. These results suggest that specific mechanisms might relate visceral fat to the onset of depression.
Does Racial/Ethnic Identity Influence the Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Intervention for African American and Latino Adults With Type 2 Diabetes?

Background. Community health worker (CHW) interventions are known to be an effective strategy to improve health behaviors and outcomes in relation to diabetes, particularly for racial/ethnic communities. Although understanding the function of identity with same race/ethnicity among clients of CHW interventions could contribute to more effective program design, few studies have explored whether levels of racial/ethnic identity among participants can influence the effectiveness of CHW interventions. Aims. We tested the relationship between level of racial/ethnic identity and changes in hemoglobin A1c and diabetes self-efficacy among low-income African American and Latino adults with type 2 diabetes who participated in a CHW intervention. Methods. Data came from a randomized controlled trial of the CHW intervention with a 6-month delayed control group design for 164 African American and Latino adults in Detroit, Michigan. Racial/ethnic identity was created from two items and classified into high, moderate, and low. We combined the two arms (immediate and delayed) into one because there was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, other than age and postintervention self-efficacy, and multivariable linear regression models were applied in the analysis. Results. Possession of high racial/ethnic identity was associated with greater improvement both in hemoglobin A1c and diabetes self-efficacy at 6 months. Moreover, among those with high hemoglobin A1c at preintervention, higher racial/ethnic identity had a greater impact on hemoglobin A1c improvement, compared with those with lower identity. Conclusions. This study suggests the importance of considering racial/ethnic identity of the participants in designing and operating the CHW intervention for racial/ethnic minority population.
ACCF/ACR/AHA/NASCI/SCMR 2010 expert consensus document on cardiovascular magnetic resonance: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Task Force on Expert Consensus Documents.

Robert A. Harrington, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair Jeffrey L. Anderson, MD, FACC, FAHA[††][1] Eric R. Bates, MD, FACC Charles R. Bridges, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA Mark J. Eisenberg, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA Victor A. Ferrari, MD, FACC, FAHA Cindy L. Grines, MD, FACC[††][1] Mark A. Hlatky, MD, FACC,
Deep Learning for Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting: A New Approach for Predicting Quantitative Parameter Values from Time Series

The purpose of this work is to evaluate methods from deep learning for application to Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF). MRF is a recently proposed measurement technique for generating quantitative parameter maps. In MRF a non-steady state signal is generated by a pseudo-random excitation pattern. A comparison of the measured signal in each voxel with the physical model yields quantitative parameter maps. Currently, the comparison is done by matching a dictionary of simulated signals to the acquired signals. To accelerate the computation of quantitative maps we train a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) on simulated dictionary data. As a proof of principle we show that the neural network implicitly encodes the dictionary and can replace the matching process.
Thrombotic Microangiopathy with Targeted Cancer Agents

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) are clinically similar disorders characterized by microvascular thrombosis, hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and end-organ damage. Although they may present with overlapping symptoms, multiple etiologies have been proposed for these thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA). Chemotherapy-induced TMA, which has been described with the use of mitomycin, gemcitabine, and other drugs, has a poor prognosis. Recently, reports of TMA associated with targeted cancer agents have surfaced in the literature. We discuss the clinical presentation, outcome, and etiology of TMA reported with the use of immunotoxins, monoclonal antibodies, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. A search of PubMed and meeting abstracts was conducted for cases of TMA with the use of targeted cancer agents. The defining symptoms, laboratory values, time to onset, and patient outcomes were compiled. Consistent definitions of TMA and grading of severity in these cases are lacking. However, presentation of TMA in these cases revealed the importance of monitoring for renal toxicity, hemolysis, and thrombocytopenia. Patient outcomes seem to differ from those seen in cases of chemotherapy-induced TMA and may reflect a different underlying etiology. Little is known about the pathogenesis of TMA with targeted cancer agents. In contrast to chemotherapy-induced TMA, partial to full reversibility may be a common outcome. However, further research is warranted into optimal management of patients diagnosed with TMA following treatment with targeted agents. Clin Cancer Res; 17(18); 5858–66. ©2011 AACR.
Psychological stress is related to treatment outcome in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and Embryo transplantation

Objective: To explore whether psychological stress is related to treatment outcome in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in the Reproductive Medicine Center of a university hospital in Henan. 435 infertile women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET) participated in the study. The basal sex hormones were measured. Self-reported questionnaire (Fertility Problem Inventory) was used to assess perceived psychological stress. Then, we separated participants into three groups according to their total FPI scores and observed their IVF treatment outcomes. Results: Higher perceived psychological stress was related to a rise of FSH and LH and dosage of GnRha, while a decrease of retrieved oocyte counts, lower high quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate. The results from the logistic regression analysis showed that high psychological stress was a risk factor of pregnancy failure of IVF-ET. Conclusion: Psychological stress was related to basal sex hormones and pregnancy outcome among women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation.
A regular expressions matching algorithm based on templates finite automata

When applying the method of the grouping rules to the problem of state explosion of the Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA), the efficiency of space compression significantly decreases with the increase of the quantity of the rules. Therefore, the paper proposes the Templates Finite Automata Grouping Algorithm (TFA), which divides rule sets into different groups based on templates of the rules. Each group is used to construct its corresponding matching engine. At the meantime, the number of rule subsets is altered according to the quantity of actual rules and the structure of a system to achieve better matching efficiency. Theoretical analysis and the experiments conducted indicate that comparing with the conventional grouping algorithms, the TFA requires far fewer groups at the relatively similar level of storage space compression; and comparing with other classical DFA improved algorithms, the TFA achieves shorter pretreatment time and demands smaller storage space with no noticeably decrease in the matching efficiency.
Simulated yield and profitability of five potential crops for intensifying the dryland wheat-fallow production system

Greater precipitation use efficiency (PUE) and economic returns by increasing cropping frequency through the addition of summer crops to the dryland winter wheat-fallow (WF) cropping system have been reported in the semiarid Central Great Plains of USA. However, due to the highly variable nature of precipitation and uncertain water availability, selection of a crop with assured positive net returns to add to the system to increase cropping frequency is a challenge in the absence of reliable seasonal precipitation forecasts. The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term yields and net returns of several potential summer crops at various soil water contents at planting to assess their potential use in increasing dryland cropping frequency. Three grain crops [corn (Zea mays L.), canola (Brassica napus), and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)] and two forage crops [foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv.) and spring triticale (X Triticosecale rimpaui Wittm.)] for which the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) had been calibrated at Akron, CO and/or Sidney, NE, were selected for investigation through modeling. The calibrated model was used to simulate yield responses of the crops to 25, 50, 75 and 100% of plant available water (PAW) in the soil profile at planting using recorded weather data from Akron, CO and Sidney, NE (1948-2008). Average costs of production and 10-yr average commodity prices for northeast Colorado were used to calculate net returns for each of the crops at the varying PAW levels. All crops showed significant (p < 0.05) simulated yield increases in response to increasing initial PAW levels when those changes occurred in the entire 0–180 cm soil profile. The two forage crops gave greater net returns than the three grain crops for all initial PAW levels when calculated with 10-yr average prices received. Among the grain crops, proso millet was slightly more profitable than corn at Akron, while corn was the least profitable crop at Sidney. Using current commodity prices (13 September 2011) resulted in proso millet being the least profitable crop at Sidney, while corn was the most profitable grain crop at Akron and showed net returns that were similar to those found for the forage crops. The results of this study may guide the selection of a springor summer-planted crop and help farmers assess risk as they contemplate intensifying the WF system by using a measure or estimate of PAW at planting. Published by Elsevier B.V.
"Retweet to Pass the Blunt": Analyzing Geographic and Content Features of Cannabis-Related Tweeting Across the United States.

OBJECTIVE Twitter data offer new possibilities for tracking health-related communications. This study is among the first to apply advanced information processing to identify geographic and content features of cannabis-related tweeting in the United States. METHOD Tweets were collected using streaming Application Programming Interface (March-May 2016) and were processed by eDrugTrends to identify geolocation and classify content by source (personal communication, media, retail) and sentiment (positive, negative, neutral). States were grouped by cannabis legalization policies into "recreational," "medical, less restrictive," "medical, more restrictive," and "illegal. " Permutation tests were performed to analyze differences among four groups in adjusted percentages of all tweets, unique users, personal communications only, and positive-to-negative sentiment ratios. RESULTS About 30% of all 13,233,837 cannabis-related tweets had identifiable state-level geo-information. Among geolocated tweets, 76.2% were personal communications, 21.1% media, and 2.7% retail. About 71% of personal communication tweets expressed positive sentiment toward cannabis; 16% expressed negative sentiment. States in the recreational group had significantly greater average adjusted percentage of cannabis tweets (3.01%) compared with other groups. For personal communication tweets only, the recreational group (2.47%) was significantly greater than the medical, more restrictive (1.84%) and illegal (1.85%) groups. Similarly, the recreational group had significantly greater average positive-to-negative sentiment ratio (4.64) compared with the medical, more restrictive (4.15) and illegal (4.19) groups. Average adjusted percentages of unique users showed similar differences between recreational and other groups. CONCLUSIONS States with less restrictive policies displayed greater cannabis-related tweeting and conveyed more positive sentiment. The study demonstrates the potential of Twitter data to become a valuable indicator of drug-related communications in the context of varying policy environments.
Risk-Accepting Personality and Personal Protective Equipment Use Within the Agricultural Health Study

ABSTRACT Pesticide exposures can be reduced by use of personal protective equipment as well as proper mixing and application practices. The authors examined the effects of risk-accepting personality on personal protective equipment (PPE) use and mixing and application practices among private pesticide applicators and their spouses within the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) in Iowa and North Carolina and commercial applicators in Iowa. The AHS follow-up questionnaire included four questions designed to assess attitudes toward risk. Analysis was limited to those who were currently working on a farm or registered as a commercial applicator and indicated current pesticide use (n = 25,166). Respondents who answered three or more questions in the affirmative (private applicators: n = 4160 [21%]; commercial applicators: n = 199 [14%]; spouses: n = 829 [23%]) were classified as having a risk-accepting personality. Logistic regression was used to evaluate specific work practices associated with risk-accepting attitudes. Among private applicators, the likelihood of using any PPE when mixing or loading pesticides was lower among risk-acceptors compared to risk-averse individuals (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–0.79). A similar relationship was observed among commercial applicators (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.34–1.77) but not among spouses (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.90–1.33). Among private applicators, risk-acceptors were more likely than the risk-averse to apply pesticides within 50 feet of the home (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01–1.44), compared to further than ¼ mile. These findings suggest that the decisions to use personal protective equipment and properly handle/apply pesticides may be driven by risk-accepting personality traits. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Agromedicine for the following free supplemental resource: Adjusted odds ratios of PPE use and risk accepting personality traits among participants currently applying pesticides in the Agricultural Health Study (1999–2005)]