Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HERITABILITY ESTIMATES FOR AGE AND LENGTH AT MATURITY IN TWO POPULATIONS OF MOSQUITOFISH THAT SHARED ANCESTORS IN 1905

Two broad methods can be used to infer selection pressures: direct observation of factors causing differential survival and fecundity in the field, and inference from estimates of heritabilities made in the laboratory. Where possible, both methods should be used, but for many species and many ecological situations, the laboratory method is more practical and is done first. This paper reports estimates of the heritability of two ecologically important traits, age and length at maturity, in two populations of mosquitofish (Gambusia afjinis: Poeciliidae) that shared ancestors in 1905. It also presents information on the significance of genetic effects on growth parameters in these two populations, and on age and length at maturity in an additional four populations. The use of quantitative genetics to investigate ecologically significant traits is a relatively recent development. Sokal (1970), Mertz (1975), Rose and Charlesworth (1980, 1981 a, 1981 b), Taylor and Condra (1980), Barclay and Gregory (1981), and Mueller and Ayala (1981) did selection experiments on flour beetles or fruit flies aimed at understanding the genetic relationship between longevity and fitness traits expressed early in life. Antagonistic pleiotropy is well-supported as the evolutionary mechanism leading to senescence in fruit flies (Rose and Charlesworth, 1980), and is consistent with results from flour beetles (Sokal, 1970; Mertz, 1975). These results suggest a second point that has been supported by other experiments. Dingle et al. (1977), Istock et al. (1976), Doyle (1981), Rez-
P2X7 receptors on microglial cells mediate injury to cortical neurons in vitro

The P2X7 receptor has been implicated in the release of cytokines and in the induction of cell death, and is up‐regulated in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Using cocultures of rat cortical neurons and microglia, we show that ATP and the more potent P2X7 agonist benzoylbenzoyl‐ATP (BzATP) cause neuronal cell injury. The deleterious effects of BzATP‐treated microglia were prevented by nonselective P2X antagonists (PPADS and oxidized ATP) and by the more selective P2X7 antagonist Brilliant Blue G. Similar concentrations of BzATP caused release of superoxide and nitric oxide from isolated microglia, and neuronal cell injury was attenuated by a superoxide dismutase mimetic and by a peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst, suggesting a role for reactive oxide species. Cocultures composed of wild‐type cortical neurons, and microglia from P2X7 receptor‐deficient mice failed to exhibit neuronal cell injury in the presence of BzATP, but retained sensitivity to injury when microglia were derived from genotypically matched normal (P2X7+/+ mice), thereby establishing P2X7 involvement in the injury process. P2X7 receptor activation on microglia thus appears necessary for microglial‐mediated injury of neurons, and proposes that targeting P2X7 receptors may constitute a novel approach for the treatment of acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders where a microglial component is evident. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cell‐Mediated Immunity to Predict Cytomegalovirus Disease in High‐Risk Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Late‐onset cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease commonly occurs after discontinuation of antiviral prophylaxis. We determined the utility of testing CD8+ T‐cell response against CMV as a predictor of late‐onset CMV disease after a standard course of antiviral prophylaxis. Transplant patients at high‐risk for CMV disease were enrolled. CD8+ T‐cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) was tested using the QuantiFERON‐CMV assay at baseline, 1, 2 and 3 months posttransplant by measurement of interferon‐γ response to whole blood stimulation with a 21‐peptide pool. The primary outcome was the ability of CMI testing to predict CMV disease in the first 6 months posttransplant. There were 108 evaluable patients (D+/R+ n = 39; D‐/R+ n = 34; D+/R‐ n = 35) of whom 18 (16.7%) developed symptomatic CMV disease. At the end of prophylaxis, CMI was detectable in 38/108 (35.2%) patients (cutoff 0.1 IU/mL interferon‐γ). CMV disease occurred in 2/38 (5.3%) patients with a detectable interferon‐γ response versus 16/70 (22.9%) patients with a negative response; p = 0.038. In the subgroup of D+/R‐ patients, CMV disease occurred in 1/10 (10.0%) patients with a detectable interferon‐γ response (cutoff 0.1 IU/mL) versus 10/25 (40.0%) patients with a negative CMI, p = 0.12. Monitoring of CMI may be useful for predicting late‐onset CMV disease.
Prácticas de formación y resultados organizativos

Resumen: Utilizando una muestra de 316 empresas espanolas se analiza si las distintas practicas de formacion que la empresa proporciona a sus directivos y vendedores influyen en los resultados que obtiene. La mayoria de estudios publicados sobre formacion de trabajadores coinciden en senalar que esta actividad tiene un efecto positivo sobre los resultados pero muy pocos han tenido en cuenta si las diferencias existentes entre las acciones formativas inciden en esta relacion. Analizando cinco practicas de formacion que la empresa puede ofrecer a sus empleados, en este trabajo se ha detectado que cuanto mas se planifica la formacion, mas se emplean los sistemas avanzados para impartir formacion y mas se orienta esta hacia necesidades futuras de la empresa mejores son los resultados que se alcanzan. Palabras clave: Practicas de formacion / Resultados organizativos. Training Practices and Organizational Performance
Hyperthermia and radiotherapy in the management of head and neck cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the outcome of controlled clinical trials in head and neck cancers (HNCs) using hyperthermia and radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone. Material and methods: A total of 498 abstracts were screened from four databases and hand searched as per the PRISMA guidelines. Only two-arm studies treating HNCs with either radiotherapy alone, or hyperthermia and radiotherapy without concurrent chemotherapy or surgery were considered. The evaluated end point was complete response (CR). Results: Following a detailed screening of the titles, abstracts and full text papers, six articles fulfilling the above eligibility criteria were considered. In total 451 clinical cases from six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Five of six trials were randomised. The overall CR with radiotherapy alone was 39.6% (92/232) and varied between 31.3% and 46.9% across the six trials. With thermoradiotherapy, the overall CR reported was 62.5% (137/219), (range 33.9–83.3%). The odds ratio was 2.92 (95% CI: 1.58–5.42, p = 0.001); the risk ratio was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.32–1.97, p < 0.0001) and the risk difference was 0.25 (95% CI: 0.12–0.39, p < 0.0001), all in favour of combined treatment with hyperthermia and radiotherapy over radiotherapy alone. Acute and late grade III/IV toxicities were reported to be similar in both the groups. Conclusions: Hyperthermia along with radiotherapy enhances the likelihood of CR in HNCs by around 25% compared to radiotherapy alone with no significant additional acute and late morbidities. This level I evidence should justify the integration of hyperthermia into the multimodality therapy of HNCs.
Activated human T cells directly induce osteoclastogenesis from human monocytes: possible role of T cells in bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the direct role of human T cells in the induction of osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), by studying human monocytes and the pathogenetic roles of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL), RANK, and osteoprotegerin (OPG). METHODS Synovial tissue obtained at total knee replacement was stained immunohistologically using anti-RANKL, CD3, and CD4 antibodies. Synovial fluid was obtained from patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), gout, or trauma. Concentrations of the soluble form of RANKL (sRANKL) and OPG in the synovial fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Activated T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy volunteers were cultured with human monocytes from PBMC. RESULTS Immunostaining of the synovial tissue of RA patients demonstrated that RANKL-positive cells were detected in a subset of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and infiltrating mononuclear cells. Double immunostaining revealed that RANKL-positive cells were detected in a subset of CD3+ cells and CD4+ cells. An increased concentration of sRANKL and a decreased concentration of OPG were detected in synovial fluid from RA patients. The ratio of the concentration of sRANKL to that of OPG was significantly higher in synovial fluid of RA patients than in synovial fluid of patients with OA or gout. The activated T cells expressing RANKL induced osteoclastogenesis from autologous peripheral monocytes. The role of RANKL in this osteoclastogenetic process was confirmed by dose-dependent inhibition by OPG. CONCLUSION The present study is the first to demonstrate osteoclastogenesis using human-derived T cells and monocytes. In addition, the present findings suggest that excess production of RANKL by activated T cells increases the level of sRANKL in synovial fluid and may contribute to osteoclastic bone resorption in RA patients.
The most powerful quasar outﬂows as revealed by the C IV λ 1549 resonance line

Outﬂows from quasars may be almost ubiqui-tous, but there are signiﬁcant differences on a source- by-source basis. These differences can be organized along the 4D Eigenvector 1 sequence: at low z, only the Population A sources radiating at relatively high Eddington ratio show evidences of prominent high- velocity outﬂows from the Civ λ 1549 line proﬁles. Here we discuss, starting from recent observations of high-luminosity sample of Hamburg-ESO quasars, the Civ λ 1549 emission line proﬁles and how they are affected by outﬂow motion as a function of the quasar luminosity. Our high-luminosity sample has the no-table advantage that the rest frame has been set by previous H β observations in the J, H, and K band, therefore making measurements of inter-line shift accurate and free of systemic biases. As the redshift increases and the luminosity of the brightest quasars grows, powerful, high-velocity outﬂows may become more frequent. We then discuss the outﬂow contextualisation following the 4DE1 approach as a tool for unveiling the nature of the so-called Weak Lined Quasars (WLQs) that have emerged in recent years as a new, poorly understood class of quasars. We estimate the kinetic
Does a study focused on trauma encourage patients with psychotic symptoms to seek treatment?

OBJECTIVE This study explored, in a randomized trial of psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), why a surprisingly high percentage of study applicants presented with psychotic symptoms and what clinical implications this finding might prompt. METHODS Raters reviewed the records of applicants who completed an initial psychiatric interview and compared those who had psychotic symptoms with all other study-eligible participants and with those who ultimately were enrolled in the study. RESULTS Of 223 consecutively evaluated individuals who applied for study entry, 38 (17%) were found ineligible because of psychotic symptoms. These individuals were more likely to be male and to have suffered child abuse, and they had taken a greater number of lifetime medications than study-eligible applicants. Most individuals with psychotic symptoms met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. CONCLUSIONS A trauma-informed framework might be a helpful part of a comprehensive treatment plan for some individuals with psychotic symptoms, possibly leading to greater treatment engagement and more positive outcomes.
Evidence of Robust Coupling of Atrioventricular Mechanical Function of the Right Side of the Heart: Insights from M‐Mode Analysis of Annular Motion

Background: Extensive data exist regarding annular descent and ventricular function. We have already demonstrated significant differences in amplitude and timing of events between maximal mitral (MAPSE) and tricuspid (TAPSE) annular plane systolic excursion as well as described quantitative temporal differences in annular ascent (AA) between the right and left sides of the heart. However, whether any relationship exists between annular ascent and descent components remains uninvestigated. Methods: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), MAPSE, TAPSE, MV, and TV AA as well as pulsed tissue Doppler of the lateral MV and TV annuli were recorded from 53 patients. Results: In this population (age 55 ± 17 years) mean LVEF was 55 ± 19%, mean RVFAC was 47 ± 20%, mean MAPSE was 2.11 ± 0.72 cm, mean TAPSE was 1.48 ± 0.44 cm, mean MV AA was 0.52 ± 0.17 cm, TV AA was 0.96 ± 0.47, MV A‐wave 0.10 ± 0.04 cm/s, and TV A‐wave was 0.13 ± 0.05 cm/s. A more robust correlation was seen between TV AA and RVFAC than between MV AA and LVEF and also between TV AA and pulsed TDI TV A‐wave velocity than between MV AA and pulsed TDI MV A‐wave. Conclusion: Our data reveal that mechanical systolic functions of the atria and the ventricles are more closely coupled on the right than on the left side of the heart. Whether this is a result of anatomic linking or chamber geometry will require further study.
CONSECUENCIAS DEL MANEJO DE CRISIS INTERNACIONALES: ¿EXISTE ALGO COMO UNA GUERRA INADVERTIDA? (*)

En la mayoria de las crisis internacionales los estados se encuentran en una situacion de tension que los puede llevar al enfrentamiento armado. Para resolverla sin recurrir a la fuerza las partes pueden intentar "manejar la crisis". El manejo exitoso alejaria el peligro de la guerra y permitiria continuar la busqueda de una solucion conveniente para las partes. Sin embargo, los investigadores reconocen que no todas las crisis internacionales son igualmente manejables y que a veces puede llegarse al enfrentamiento armado sin que las partes se lo hubieran propuesto. En estos casos, se diferencian dos posibilidades. La primera corresponde a la "guerra accidental", como resultado de acciones no autorizadas por los decisores politicos principales o por la correspodiente cadena de mando. La segunda posibilidad, "guerra inadvertida", se autoriza la guerra durante el curso de la crisis aun cuando al inicio de la misma ninguno de los dicisores quisieran o esperaran alcanzar ese resultado. A partir del analisis de cuatro crisis internacionales (Fashoda 1898, Chino-sovietica 1969, Julio de 1914 y Seis Dias de 1967), el presente trabajo sostiene que la definicion de "guerra inadvertida" como la guerra que nadie quiso es mas un concepto teorico que una realidad de los hechos. Ademas, se muestra que cuando las partes se encuentran en una situacion de crisis su desenlace depende de cuan dispuestos o motivados estan para aceptar el riesgo de una guerra. La crisis termina en una guerra cuando alguna de las partes o todas estan predispuestos a recurrir a esa actividad. De este modo, no es posible pensar que ninguno queria la guerra. Por lo tanto, si existe tal proclividad, las posibilidades de un manejo exitoso se reducen. Comprender este hecho ayudaria a los decisores a tener en cuenta las motivaciones propias y del adversario al intentar manejar una crisis.
Automated vehicle guidance using spotmark

A new idea of guiding an unmanned vehicle is proposed. This is a variation of optical system with discrete marks. The vehicle is made to follow discretely set marks, which is optically detected. The marks are retro-reflective "spots" which will be irradiated by a set of light source on the vehicle, and its reflection will be detected by a camera, also on the vehicle. The vision system will process this camera signal to calculate its position. The marks are easy to set, remove or replace, so great flexibility in designing the vehicle's route is provided. In this paper, first the basic geometry of mark detection is explained, and then we refer to the vehicle architecture to describe how it is made to travel along the desired path.
Para‐aortic lymphadenectomy improves survival in patients with intermediate to high‐risk endometrial carcinoma

Objective. Surgical staging of endometrial carcinoma is practiced to identify the true extent of disease. The impact of para‐aortic lymphadenectomy (PALD) on survival is unproven. The purpose of this study was to determine if a staging procedure that includes PALD is associated with improved survival in endometrial carcinoma patients who had been surgically staged. Design. Retrospective review of patients’ records. Setting. Ajou University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in South Korea. Population. One hundred and sixty patients with endometrial carcinoma. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed a total of 160 FIGO stage I–III endometrial carcinoma patients without grossly metastatic para‐aortic lymph nodes, who underwent surgery between 1994 and 2007. Exclusion criteria included presurgical radiation, stage IV disease and sarcomas. Two groups were identified: patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLD) and PALD (n = 85) versus those who underwent PLD alone (n = 75). Survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. Main outcome measures. Disease‐free and overall survival. Results. Overall, patients who underwent PALD demonstrated improved 5‐year disease‐free survival (81.0 vs 91.2%) and overall survival (85.8 vs 96.2%) compared to those who underwent PLD alone (p = 0.019 and p = 0.039, respectively). After multivariate analysis, patients’ age (p = 0.028), FIGO stage (p<0.001) and lymphadenectomy (p = 0.014) were independent prognostic factors. The type of lymphadenectomy did not affect survival of low‐risk patients. In intermediate to high‐risk patients, PALD improved disease‐free survival and showed a trend toward improvement of overall survival. Conclusion. These data demonstrate that PALD has a potentially therapeutic benefit on survival in surgically staged patients with intermediate to high‐risk endometrial carcinoma.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in vascular surgery: increasing prevalence.

BACKGROUND Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism that causes substantial infection-related morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. For example, MRSA infection of prosthetic vascular grafts can be limb- and life-threatening in surgical patients. We investigated the incidence of MRSA infection in vascular surgical patients who developed postoperative infectious complications. METHODS Prospective data (including procedure, nature of complication, and outcome) were collected on all vascular surgery patients (n = 772) over a two-year period from January, 2000, to December, 2001. The study cohort included all patients who developed postoperative complications (n = 119, 15.4%), including infection, unplanned or prolonged intubation, metabolic abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia. Bacteriologic data of all clinical cultures were reviewed and infection-related outcomes were examined. RESULTS Hospital-acquired infection occurred in 79 (66.4%) of 119 patients who developed postoperative complications. Review of microbiology data (total, 197 bacterial isolates) confirmed that gram-positive organisms were the leading cause of infections, with 120 gram-positive isolates (60.9%). Of the gram-positive isolates, S. aureus was the most common pathogen, isolated in 73 (60.8%) cultures. The single most prevalent organism was MRSA, identified in 42 of 73 (57.5%) of cultures. The site of MRSA infection was confirmed to be the surgical site (54.8%), sputum (17.0%), blood (14.3%), urine (9.5%), peritoneal fluid (2.4%), or catheter insertion site (2.4%). Only four patients had prior MRSA infection or colonization. Prosthetic vascular grafts were placed in 51 (42.9%) of the 119 vascular patients, and 26 patients (51.6%) acquired MRSA infection. Graft removal was required in three patients due to infection (MRSA infection in two patients, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in one patient). Forty percent of patients with MRSA infection required an amputation as their surgical procedure. No patient died of MRSA bacteremia during the study period. Mean hospital length of stay (LOS) was longer in patients with MRSA infection (29.6 d vs. 22.7 days, range 2-174 days, p < 0.05) compared to the total study cohort of vascular patients with postoperative infections. CONCLUSIONS Methicillin-resistant S. aureus has emerged as the leading cause of postoperative infection in vascular surgery patients, and is associated with substantial morbidity, increased hospital LOS, and higher incidences of amputation and graft removal. Greater emphasis on preoperative screening protocols for MRSA colonization is warranted, in conjunction with aggressive infection control measures, alteration of preoperative prophylactic antimicrobial use in MRSA-colonized patients, and meticulous postoperative surveillance for MRSA infection. Furthermore, antimicrobial treatment of postoperative infectious complications in vascular surgery patients should include empiric coverage for MRSA in institutions where MRSA is endemic.
MicroRNA‐494 Activation Suppresses Bone Marrow Stromal Cell‐Mediated Drug Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is not sensitive to chemotherapy partially because of the protection of AML cells by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Our previous studies found that MSCs protected AML cells from apoptosis through the c‐Myc‐dependent pathway. However, the mechanism by which MSCs regulate c‐Myc in AML cells is still unknown. To elucidate the mechanism, we performed microRNA array analysis of AML cell lines and validated by TaqMan realtime PCR. The results showed that the expression of microRNA‐494 (miR‐494) in AML cells after coculture with MSCs was downregulated. Reporter gene analysis confirmed miR‐494 as one of the regulators of c‐Myc. In the coculture system, activation of miR‐494 in AML cells suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis of AML cells in vitro. After addition of mitoxantrone to the coculture system, the proliferation of AML cells with miR‐494 activation was suppressed more than that of control cells. After subcutaneous injection of AML cell lines in combination with MSC, tumor growth was suppressed in mice injected with miR‐494‐overexpressing AML cells. The rate of tumor formation was even lower after mitoxantrone treatment in the miR‐494 overexpressing group. Moreover, miR‐494 activation resulted in a decrease of leukemic cell counts in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow, and prolonged survival in mice injected with miR‐494‐overexpressing AML cellls and MSCs compared to the control mice. Our results indicate that miR‐494 suppresses drug resistance in AML cells by downregulating c‐Myc through interaction with MSCs and that miR‐494 therefore is a potential therapeutic target. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 1387–1395, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Distributed and Layered Codes for Relaying

Block-Markov coding and modulation methods for relay channels are presented that are motivated by coding meth- ods for multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) channels. A partial decode-and-forward strategy is shown to achieve high rates. Us- ing this strategy, protocols employing one, two, and three codes are discussed and compared. Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes are designed and simulated for a protocol related to Diago- nal Bell-Labs Layered Space-Time (D-BLAST).