Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T-cell-depleted allogeneic transplant without donor leukocyte infusions results in excellent long-term survival in patients with multiply relapsed Lymphoma. Predictors for survival after transplant relapse

We analyzed 67 patients with lymphoma who received alemtuzumab-based conditioning regimens for allogeneic stem cell transplant and no post-transplant DLI. The median age was 54 (24–70), 43% had unrelated donors, 34% had chemotherapy refractory disease, and 25% had an elevated LDH. With a median follow-up for survivors of 35 months, the estimated 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 30% and 47%, respectively. Chemosensitivity by CT and pre-transplant LDH were independent prognostic factors for both overall survival and progression-free survival. Patient age, performance status, donor type, lymphoma subtype, disease sensitivity by PET, and conditioning regimen did not correlate with PFS and OS. Patients who relapsed greater than 6 months after allogeneic transplant were frequently able to re-enter a subsequent durable remission. Our experience confirms the curative potential of alemtuzumab-containing RIC regimens for allogeneic HCT in patients with relapsed lymphoma without prophylactic DLI. An elevated pre-transplant LDH and chemorefractory disease prior to transplant confer a worse prognosis, while PET scan findings do not have this same implication. Patients who relapse greater than 6 months after their transplant are likely to achieve a subsequent remission with any of a variety of interventions, suggesting that GVL effects can be operative even after recurrence. Our outcomes challenge the utility of the common practice of prophylactic DLI after T-depleted transplant for lymphoma.
Novel deletion of SPAST in a Chinese family with hereditary spastic paraplegia.

INTRODUCTION Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) belongs to a large, heterogeneous group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases characterised by progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity, which is caused by developmental failure or degeneration of motor axons in the corticospinal tract. Classical genetic studies have identified at least 46 genetic loci responsible for HSP. METHODS A genetic study was conducted on a four-generation Chinese family with autosomal dominant HSP. The SPAST gene was investigated using linkage analysis and direct sequencing. Findings were compared with unaffected family members and 50 normal, unaffected individuals who were matched for geographical ancestry. RESULTS We identified a novel 14-bp heterozygous deletion that induced a frameshift mutation in exon 15 of SPAST (SPG4). This mutation is predicted to have functional impact and found to cosegregate with the disease phenotype. CONCLUSION Our results have expanded the mutation spectrum of the SPAST gene. These findings could help clinicians provide prenatal diagnosis of affected foetuses in families with a known history of such neurodegenerative diseases.
Fullrmc, a rigid body reverse monte carlo modeling package enabled with machine learning and artificial intelligence

A new Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) package “fullrmc” for atomic or rigid body and molecular, amorphous, or crystalline materials is presented. fullrmc main purpose is to provide a fully modular, fast and flexible software, thoroughly documented, complex molecules enabled, written in a modern programming language (python, cython, C and C++ when performance is needed) and complying to modern programming practices. fullrmc approach in solving an atomic or molecular structure is different from existing RMC algorithms and software. In a nutshell, traditional RMC methods and software randomly adjust atom positions until the whole system has the greatest consistency with a set of experimental data. In contrast, fullrmc applies smart moves endorsed with reinforcement machine learning to groups of atoms. While fullrmc allows running traditional RMC modeling, the uniqueness of this approach resides in its ability to customize grouping atoms in any convenient way with no additional programming efforts and to apply smart and more physically meaningful moves to the defined groups of atoms. In addition, fullrmc provides a unique way with almost no additional computational cost to recur a group's selection, allowing the system to go out of local minimas by refining a group's position or exploring through and beyond not allowed positions and energy barriers the unrestricted three dimensional space around a group. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Moral Choice Within the Financial Sector of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, People's Republic of China

The following paper examines the classical agency assumptions as they might apply within a little researched region, a Special Economic Zone within the People's Republic of China. It was found that the predictive strength of the theory was again proved within the context of an experimental design model, which involved 400 employees within ten large financial sector organizations. When faced with a significant moral hazard and the possession of private information, financial sector employees displayed a preference not to advise management about the existence of unethical practices within the workplace. An analysis of the data demographics identified female employees within the 25 to 30-year age bracket, who do not have supervisory responsibilities, as the group most at risk in this situation. It is apparent that levels of adversity to risk change depending on an employee's personal demographics
Valvular calcification in hemodialysis patients randomized to calcium-based phosphorus binders or sevelamer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Valvular calcification is common in patients with end-stage renal disease, and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. It was hypothesized that sevelamer, a non-calcium-based phosphorus binder, might attenuate the progression of valvular calcification. METHODS Two hundred subjects on maintenance hemodialysis received either sevelamer or calcium-based phosphorus binders. To assess the extent of calcification, 186 subjects underwent baseline electron beam tomography (EBT) of the coronary arteries, aorta and mitral and aortic valves, and 132 had follow up EBT scans at week 52. Changes in valvular calcification and combined valvular/vascular calcification were monitored and compared. RESULTS At baseline, mitral valve calcification was seen in 46% of subjects, aortic valve calcification in 33%. Most subjects with zero values at baseline failed to progress over one year. Aortic valve calcification was significantly increased in calcium-treated subjects. Changes in mitral valve calcification, and combined mitral + aortic valve calcification were less in sevelamer-treated than in calcium-treated subjects, but not significantly so. When combining valvular and vascular calcification, the median (10%, 90%) change in sevelamer-treated subjects was significantly lower than in calcium-treated subjects (6, -5084 to 1180 versus 81, -1150 to 2944, p = 0.04). The effect of sevelamer remained significant after adjustment for baseline calcification and the time-averaged calcium-phosphorus product, and was independent of the calcium preparation (acetate versus carbonate), geographic region (US versus Europe), LDL- or HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein and statin use. Significantly more sevelamer-treated subjects experienced an arrest (45 versus 28%, p = 0.047) or regression (26 versus 10%, p = 0.02) in total valvular and vascular calcification. CONCLUSION Sevelamer arrested the progression of valvular and vascular calcification in almost 50% of hemodialysis subjects. Sevelamer treatment, plus intensive control of calcium and phosphorus levels, may attenuate progression of, or achieve regression in, cardiac valvular calcification.
Bacterial translocation: Overview of mechanisms and clinical impact

Bacterial translocation (BT) is a phenomenon in which live bacteria or its products cross the intestinal barrier. Gut translocation of bacteria has been shown in both animal and human studies. BT and its complications have been shown clearly to occur in animal models, but its existence and importance in humans has been difficult to ascertain. We review the mechanisms of BT and its clinical impact based on the current literature.
Mutational analysis of a nucleosidase involved in quorum-sensing autoinducer-2 biosynthesis.

5'-Methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase (MTAN) is important in a number of cellular functions such as polyamine biosynthesis, methionine salvaging, biological methylation, and quorum sensing. The nucleosidase is found in many microbes but not in mammalian systems, thus making MTAN a broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug target. Substrate binding and catalytic residues were identified from the crystal structure of MTAN complexed with 5'-methylthiotubercidin [Lee, J. E. , Cornell, K. A. , Riscoe, M. K. and Howell, P. L. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278 (10) 8761-8770]. The roles of active site residues Met9, Glu12, Ile50, Ser76, Val102, Phe105, Tyr107, Phe151, Met173, Glu174, Arg193, Ser196, Asp197, and Phe207 have been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and steady-state kinetics. Mutagenesis of residues Glu12, Glu174, and Asp197 completely abolished activity. The location of Asp197 and Glu12 in the active site is consistent with their having a direct role in enzyme catalysis. Glu174 is suggested to be involved in catalysis by stabilizing the transition state positive charge at the O3', C2', and C3' atoms and by polarizing the 3'-hydroxyl to aid in the flow of electrons to the electron withdrawing purine base. This represents the first indication of the importance of the 3'-hydroxyl in the stabilization of the transition state. Furthermore, mutation of Arg193 to alanine shows that the nucleophilic water is able to direct its attack without assistance from the enzyme. This mutagenesis study has allowed a reevaluation of the catalytic mechanism.
Outcome of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Treatment 12 Days Post AI and Double Insemination on Conception Rate of Repeat Breeding Cows in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

The aim of the present study was to determine outcome of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue given 12 days post AI and double inseminations during estrous period of dairy cattle and improvement of conception rate. Field trial was carried out on repeat breeding cross breed dairy cows which are lactating, apparently healthy and exhibits estrus regularly. A total of Sixty three repeat-breeding cows from twenty eight herds were selected and assigned randomly in to three equal groups G (1, 2 and 3); two treated and one control group. Group1 (n=21) cattle were treated intramuscularly with 10 µg buserelin acetate 12 days post AI. Group2 (n=21) cattle were inseminated twice during estrus exhibition with 6-8 hours interval. Group3 (n=21) cattle were receive no treatment, inseminated once as heat was detected and considered as a control group. Dairy cows were examined for pregnancy after three months through rectal palpation. Pregnancy rates recorded were 52%, 38% and 28% in G1, G2 and G3 respectively. Conception rates of treated groups (G1 and G2) exceed control group by 24% and 10% respectively and showed a significant statistical variation (P<0.05) as compared to control groups. Comparison between treated groups also indicated that G1 has statistical significant difference from G2. From this experiment, it is recommended that use of GnRH 12 days can improve pregnancy rate as compared to double insemination and single service.
Total cholesterol and leptin concentrations are associated with prospective changes in systemic blood pressure in healthy pregnant women

Background: Lipids and leptin have been associated with high blood pressure (BP) levels during pregnancy. The aim was to evaluate the associations between serum lipids and leptin concentrations during the first trimester and longitudinal changes of SBP and DBP in healthy pregnancies. Methods: Prospective cohort of pregnant women followed at a public healthcare center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. SBP and DBP were obtained at the ⩽13th, 20–26th, and 30–36th weeks of gestation and were the dependent variables. Serum lipids and plasma leptin concentrations were collected at 13 weeks or less of gestation and were the main independent variables. Statistical analyses included longitudinal linear mixed-effects regression models, with (&bgr;) coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Mean BPs were 109.8/66.9, 107.8/64.3, and 111.2/66.9 mmHg, respectively in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester. Multiple longitudinal regressions revealed that leisure time physical activity before pregnancy (&bgr;SBP = −3.003, 95% CI = −5.034 to −0.971; &bgr;DBP = −2.620, 95% CI = −4.177 to −1.064), baseline BMI (&bgr;SBP = 4.003, 95% CI = 1.924–6.081; &bgr;DBP = 1.862, 95% CI = 0.252–3.412), parity (&bgr;SBP = −2.778, 95% CI = −4.627 to −0.929; &bgr;DBP = −1.780, 95% CI = −3.168 to −0.392), and Homeostasis model of assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR; &bgr;SBP = 2.554, 95% CI = 0.552–4.557; &bgr;DBP = 2.962, 95% CI = 1.436–4.489) were the covariates independently associated with SBP and DBP changes. Monthly per-capita family income (&bgr;SBP = −0.006, 95% CI = −0.010 to −0.001), total cholesterol (&bgr;SBP = 2.094, 95% CI = 0.223–3.965), and leptin (&bgr;SBP = 2.211, 95% CI = 0.159–4.263) were associated only with SBP changes. Conclusion: Serum total cholesterol and leptin concentrations, HOMA-IR, and BMI were positively associated with changes in BP during healthy pregnancies, whereas physical activity, parity, and family income were negatively associated.
Subjective measures of binge drinking and alcohol-specific adverse health outcomes: a prospective cohort study.

AIM To determine the performance of subjectively defined intoxications, hangovers and alcohol-induced pass-outs in identifying drinkers at risk for adverse health outcomes. DESIGN Prospective population-based cohort study. SETTING Working-aged Finnish general population. PARTICIPANTS A total of 21,204 alcohol-drinking men and women aged 20-24, 30-34, 40-44 and 50-54 years at baseline who participated in the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) postal survey in 1998. MEASUREMENTS Binge drinking was measured by subjectively defined intoxications/drunkenness, hangovers and alcohol-induced pass-outs. Hazardous drinking was defined according to Finnish guidelines as weekly total intake of >287 g of ethanol for men, and for women > 191 g of ethanol (≥24 and ≥16 standard drinks, respectively). Study participants were followed-up for 7 years for alcohol-specific hospitalizations and deaths. Proportional hazard models and areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) were used to analyse the data. FINDINGS Of the drinkers, 6.5% exceeded the weekly limit for hazardous drinking, and 1.5% experienced the alcohol-specific end-point during the follow-up. Subjective intoxications, hangovers and alcohol-induced pass-outs all predicted future alcohol-specific diagnoses independently of average intake and of several other potential confounders. In identifying baseline hazardous drinking, subjective intoxications had a superior performance in relation to other subjective measures of binge drinking. In identifying future alcohol-specific hospitalizations or death, subjective intoxications had also the best performance, but this was not significantly different from the other binge drinking measures, or average intake. CONCLUSIONS Subjectively defined intoxications, hangovers and alcohol-induced pass-outs are population-level proxy measures of at-risk drinking patterns.
Development of a Faith-Based Mental Health Literacy Program to Improve Treatment Engagement Among Caribbean Latinos in the Northeastern United States of America

Depression is one of the leading causes of years lived with disability (YLDs) worldwide. Although depression can be successfully treated, 75% of Americans do not receive care. Treatment rates among Latinos immigrants are significantly lower than non-immigrant Latinos and non-Hispanic Whites. Known factors for mental health-care disparities such as poverty, insurance coverage, language barriers, and access to specialty mental health services in Latino neighborhoods do not fully explain the differences in treatment rates. Significant, but poorly understood factors influencing depression treatment among Latinos in the United States are lack of culturally congruent care, low mental health literacy, and stigma. Even though churches are a major source of health information, social and spiritual support for Latinos, the conceptualization of culturally congruent care rarely addresses religious beliefs. Therefore, one strategy to reduce disparities in depression treatment is to partner with churches to address faith-based stigma. Community-based participatory research is recognized as a methodology particularly well suited for creating successful culturally targeted interventions. The purpose of this article is to describe the process of creating a faith-based mental health literacy intervention in the Caribbean Latino community using the principles of community-based participatory research.
Design and optimization of magnetic resonance coupling by using relay effect

Wireless power transfer (WPT) is a device that transmits electrical energy from a power unit to an electrical load through the air wirelessly or without the interconnection of any conductors. The designs of current WPT are quite large and inappropriate for many applications, especially for electronic devices. The small scale (mid-range WPT) with 1 meter distance was investigated to develop a wirelessly transmitted energy for the use of electronic devices, particularly to charge portable devices. The distance of a mid-range WPT can be increased by placing the resonators between the transmitter and receiver to achieve the 1-meter distance of the WPT. The power transfer efficiency (PTE) was significantly enhanced when the resonators was placed. The high efficiency was maintained due to the increasing distance of the WPT. As a result, more power can be transmitted from transmitter to the receiver respectively.
Models for the kinetics of biodegradation of organic compounds not supporting growth

We developed 12 models of kinetics to describe the metabolism of organic substrates that are not supporting bacterial growth. These models can be used to describe the biodegradation of organic compounds that are not supporting growth when the responsible populations are growing logistically, logarithmically, or linearly or are not increasing in numbers. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to fit patterns of mineralization by two bacteria to these kinetic models. Pseudomonas acidovorans mineralized 1 ng of phenol per ml while growing exponentially at the expense of uncharacterized organic carbon in a synthetic medium. Phenol at a concentration of 1 ng/ml did not affect the growth of P. acidovorans. These data were best fit by the model that incorporates the equation for logarithmic growth and assumes a concentration of test substrate well below its Km value. In the absence of a second substrate, glucose at concentrations below those supporting growth was mineralized by Salmonella typhimurium in a manner best described by pseudo first-order kinetics. In the presence of different concentrations of arabinose, however, the kinetics of glucose mineralization by S. typhimurium reflected linear, logistic, or logarithmic growth of the population on arabinose. We conclude that the kinetics of mineralization of organic compounds at concentrations too low to support growth are best described either by the first-order model or by models that incorporate expressions for the kinetics of growth of the metabolizing population on other substrates. When growth is at the expense of other substrates, the kinetics observed reflect such growth, as well as the concentration of the substrate of interest. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Institutional Entrepreneurship in Defence Acquisition: What Don't We Understand?

One of the most common arguments used to justify the outsourcing of defence activities is that the private sector is more innovative than the public sector. New Public Management has been widely promoted as the most effective means by which the public sector can engage with markets and gain access to the greater entrepreneurial capabilities offered by the private sector. However, a major obstacle to generating the improvements sought by having greater access to entrepreneurial businesses is bound up in the inherent tensions generated by divergent institutional logics. Government departments are motivated to move towards stasis while the entrepreneurial market spirit ideally embraces institutional change. This chapter examines the challenges faced by defence acquisition in changing these potentially opposing institutional logics before concluding with suggestions on how to progress an applied research agenda for defence acquisition in order to make better use of entrepreneurial capabilities.
PCA-Based On-Line Diagnosis of Induction Motor Stator Fault Feed by PWM Inverter

In this paper an automatic PCA (principal component analysis) based algorithm is presented for an on-line diagnostics of three-phase PWM feed induction motor stator fault. The analysis of the fault is derived from the two first principal components of the power inverter output current alphabeta-vector patterns. The obtained eigenvalues are used to discern if the motor is healthy or not, and the correspondent eigenvectors can infer the phase in which the fault occurs. The method is simple to implement and is able to indicate the extend of the fault; rather then only detect its presence
[Surgical resection versus percutaneous thermal ablation for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical results of surgical resection (SR) and percutaneous thermal ablation (PTA) for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (single tumor nodule <or= 5 cm in diameter, or <or= 3 nodules with <or= 3 cm in diameter). METHODS One hundred and five patients with 114 HCC nodules were randomly allocated to SR (n = 54) and ultrasound-guided PTA with microwave or radiofrequency energy (n = 51). RESULTS The complete tumor elimination rates in SR and PTA groups were similar (100% vs 94.7%) and the local recurrence rates were both 0. There were no significant differences in distance recurrence rate (16.7% vs 27.5%, P = 0.182) and time to the first recurrence (4.9 month vs 9.6 month, P = 0.130) between the SR and PTA groups. One, 2-, and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 82.4%, 82.4% and 82.4%, respectively, in SR group, whereas they were 78.5%, 61.5% and 51.3% in PTA group, respectively. The difference between these two groups was statistically not significant (P = 0.128). The overall survival rates in SR group were 91.3%, 86.4% and 86.4% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, and those in PTA group were 93.5%, 87.1% and 87.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between these two groups (P = 0.808). Compared with SR, PTA required less treatment time (27 min vs 145 min, P < 0.005), less necessity for blood transfusion (0 patient vs 7 patients, P = 0.013) and less hospital-stay (5.2 d vs 19.1, P < 0.005). There was no significant difference in the rate of treatment-related complication between the two groups (11.1% for SR vs 7.8% for PTA, P = 0.742). At day 7 and day 30 after treatment, the numbers of patient with physical status (WHO Performance Status grades) of grade 0 - 1 were 32 and 44 in PTA group, respectively, significantly more than 16 and 33 in SR group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION Besides minimal invasiveness, easy to access and cost saving, PTA achieved equivalent local therapeutical effectiveness and 3-year survival outcomes as SR did, and may be considered as a one of the first-choice treatment modality for treatment of early-stage HCC.