Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circulating cell-free DNA content as blood based biomarker in endometrial cancer

Background Altered circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels are related to cancer development and aggressiveness. Up to now, very few studies have been performed for evaluating cfDNA content in endometrial cancer (EC). Methods First, we measured cfDNA release in blood serum of EC cancer patients collected before surgery and before the beginning of any treatment by SYBR Gold assay and correlated it with tumor aggressiveness. We also assessed the relative mitochondrial cell-free DNA (cfmtDNA) content by qRT-PCR. Next, we correlated cfDNA levels with BMI, age, hypertension and inflammation markers. Results CfDNA levels are higher in G2 and G3 compared with G1 EC sera. A significant modulation of cfDNA content was detected in sera from patients with BMI>30 compared with those with BMI<30. We observed a further and significant alteration in cfDNA level in hypertensive patients with G2-G3, but not in G1 EC. Analysis of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR) ratios suggests a contribution of the host response in the altered cfDNA levels in EC. Conclusions Our data indicate that assessment of total and mitochondrial cfDNA levels in blood sera and the relative NLR and MLR in blood obtained from preoperative patients may help clinical management and prognosis in EC.
The Developing Nervous System: A Series of Review Articles: Neurobiology of Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury in the Developing Brain

Hypoxic ischemia is a common cause of damage to the fetal and neonatal brain. Although systemic and cerebrovascular physiologic factors play an important role in the initial phases of hypoxic-ischemic injuries, the intrinsic vulnerability of specific cell types and systems in the developing brain may be more important in determining the final pattern of damage and functional disability. Excitotoxicity, a term applied to the death of neurons and certain other cells caused by overstimulation of excitatory, mainly glutamate, neurotransmitter receptors, plays a critical role in these processes. Selected neuronal circuits as well as certain populations of glia such as immature periventricular oligodendroglia may die from excitotoxicity triggered by hypoxic ischemia. These patterns of neuropathologic vulnerability are associated with clinical syndromes of neurologic disability such as the extrapyramidal and spastic diplegia forms of cerebral palsy. The cascade of biochemical and histopathologic events triggered by hypoxic ischemia can extend for days to weeks after the insult is triggered, creating the potential for therapeutic interventions.
Gene‐Based Approaches to the Treatment of Hemophilia

Several examples of novel geneand cell-based approaches to the treatment of hemophilia were reviewed. These included in vivo gene transfer strategies in which an adenoassociated virus (AAV) vector is used to introduce the factor IX gene into hepatocytes or skeletal muscle, as well as ex vivo approaches in which the gene for factor VIII is introduced into autologous fibroblasts or endothelial cells. Although progress in these areas has been rapid and some approaches are already under evaluation in clinical studies, many problems remain to be solved. Vector technology must be further developed. There is a need for analysis of determinants of sustained expression. For inherited diseases like hemophilia, longterm expression of the donated gene is the goal. Development of gene targeting technology is needed. For many diseases, expression of the donated gene must occur in a specific cell type. Current efforts are addressed at defining cell-type tropisms for different vectors and at engineering vectors so that they can transduce specific cell types. “Switch” systems that allow regulated expression of a transgene are in need of refinement. A number of safety issues are critical for human applications. Compilation of data on long-term effects of therapy with integrating gene sequences in humans will be needed, including evaluation of safety and efficacy of in vivo and ex vivo approaches and analysis of the molecular state of vector sequences in recipient cells. The molecular consequences of integration will need to be determined, including the analysis of immunological consequences of de novo endogenous synthesis of proteins to which the recipient may not be tolerant. The use of autologous cells for tissue replacement is in need of further investigation. Nuclear reprogramming may permit the use of mature cells to give rise to multipotent precursors. The ability to effect stem cell redirection will have many applications. The role of specific peptide factors in determination of cell fate needs to be better understood. Finally, all stakeholders need to pay attention to educating the lay public about possibilities afforded by, and limitations of, gene transfer/tissue engineering strategies.1–9
Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract: Strongyloides stercoralis is endemic in tropical, subtropical, and even temperate regions, and infects up to 100 million people worldwide. The diagnosis of strongyloidiasis can be difficult because of intermittent larval output in stool and nonspecific symptoms with mild peripheral eosinophilia. In this case report, a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia underwent peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and was subsequently diagnosed with strongyloidiasis. Strongyloidiasis should be considered in immunocompromised patients from endemic areas who have unexplained peripheral eosinophilia. If screening tests are positive for S. stercoralis or if a patient has unexplained eosinophilia with even a remote history of travel to or residence in endemic areas, then ivermectin should be given before HSCT to prevent often fatal hyperinfection syndrome from occurring after HSCT.
Chance Constrained Optimization in a Home Energy Management System

This paper details a proposed demand response (DR) application to optimize the operation of appliances in an indeterminate environment in a home energy management system. An indeterminate environment results from forecasted errors of electricity prices and system loads, so a probabilistic analysis of the system performance is of significant interest. Herein, a chance constrained optimization-based model is formulated to accommodate these uncertainties. The resulting DR application can be easily embedded in resource limited electric devices. To reduce the computational cost, both improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) and a two-point estimate method are presented to solve the chance constrained problem. The improved PSO is used to provide the optimum solution, while the probabilistic assessment of uncertainties is estimated using a two-point estimate method. Numerical comparisons were made to justify the effectiveness of the method. The simulated results obtained using the models indicate that the proposed method can significantly reduce the computational burden while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
Utility–Customer Communication

The aim of this article is to shed light on the theory and praxis of utility stakeholder communication. Our general research objective is to contrast citizens’ experiences of utility-specific information needs with the views of communication managers of municipal water utilities. Empirical data for the study were gathered using two methods. Citizens’ views were gathered from street interviews in several Finnish middle-sized cities, whereas the views of communication professionals of municipal water utilities were collected via email-based survey. Empirical analysis shows that one-way communication has its relevance, and it should actually be improved most notably in exceptional situations, such as water supply disruptions. More profound changes in customer communication require, however, that utilities support customers’ strive for sustainable and economical water consumption. The overall challenge to utilities is to get closer to the everyday needs of their customers and to develop new communication culture to support such an endeavor.
Comprehensive mutation analysis by whole-exome sequencing in 41 Chinese families with Leber congenital amaurosis.

PURPOSE Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a genetically heterogeneous disease with, to date, 19 identified causative genes. Our aim was to evaluate the mutations in all 19 genes in Chinese families with LCA. METHODS LCA patients from 41 unrelated Chinese families were enrolled, including 25 previously unanalyzed families and 16 families screened previously by Sanger sequencing, but with no identified mutations. Genetic variations were screened by whole-exome sequencing and then validated using Sanger sequencing. RESULTS A total of 41 variants predicted to affect protein coding or splicing was detected by whole-exome sequencing, and 40 were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Bioinformatic and segregation analyses revealed 22 potentially pathogenic variants (17 novel) in 15 probands, comprised of 3 of 16 previously analyzed families and 12 of 25 (48%) previously unanalyzed families. In the latter 12 families, mutations were found in CEP290 (three probands); GUCY2D (two probands); and CRB1, CRX, RPE65, IQCB1, LCA5, TULP1, and IMPDH1 (one proband each). Based on the results from 87 previously analyzed probands and 25 new cases, GUCY2D, CRB1, RPGRIP1, CEP290, and CRX were the five most frequently mutated genes, which was similar to the results from studies in Caucasian subjects. CONCLUSIONS Whole-exome sequencing detected mutations in the 19 known LCA genes in approximately half of Chinese families with LCA. These results, together with our previous results, demonstrate the spectrum and frequency of mutations of the 19 genes responsible for LCA in Han Chinese individuals. Whole-exome sequencing is an efficient method for detecting mutations in highly heterogeneous hereditary diseases. Chinese Abstract.
REVIEW: Intrahepatic cholestasis. A puzzling disorder of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is characterized by skin pruritus and a biochemical cholestasis of mild to moderate severity appearing during pregnancy (mainly in the third trimester) and disappearing after delivery. It recurs in 40–60% of future pregnancies. The intensity of pruritus and the laboratory alterations (increased serum bile salts and transaminases in almost all patients, hyperbilirubinaemia in 20% of patients) fluctuate during one pregnancy and also vary in subsequent affected pregnancies. This disease has no meaningful consequences for the mother; in contrast, it is associated with an increased risk of foetal distress, causing premature deliveries and stillbirths. Cholestasis of pregnancy has been recognized in most countries and ethnic groups but its prevalence is higher in Chile (14% of deliveries in 1975 and approximately 4% in 1995) and in Sweden than in other countries. The cause is unknown. Sex hormones, mainly oestrogens and progesterone, appear to be involved in its pathogenesis. An interplay between a genetic metabolic predisposition and some environmental factor(s) is apparently relevant. Clinical and experimental studies suggest that a marginal selenium deficiency could be a dietary pathogenic factor. Some drugs attenuate pruritus and improve maternal cholestasis, but not the foetal prognosis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) administration provides a significant improvement in maternal pruritus and in the biochemical abnormalities, with no adverse effects in the mother or child. Recent clinical and experimental studies show that UDCA administration improves maternal disease and foetal prognosis without any detectable adverse effects.
Systemic Assessment of Patients Undergoing Dental Implant Surgeries: A Trans- and Post-operative Analysis

Background: Procedure-related and patient-related factors influence the prognosis of dental implants to a major extent. Hence, we aimed to evaluate and analyze various systemic factors in patients receiving dental implants. Materials and Methods: Fifty-one patients were included in the study, in which a total of 110 dental implants were placed. Complete examination of the subjects was done before and after placement of dental implants. Implant surgery was planned, and osseointegrated dental implants were placed in the subjects. Postoperative evaluation of the dental implant patients was done after 3 weeks. Anxiety levels were determined using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire on the surgery day and after 1 week of surgery. The participant describes how they feel at the moment by responding to twenty items as follows: (1) absolutely not, (2) slightly, (3) somewhat, or (4) very much. All the results were recorded and statistical analyzed by SPSS software. Results: Out of 51, 29 patients were males while 22 were females, with ratio of 1.32:1. Female patients' mean age was 50.18 years while male patients' mean age was 52.71 years, with statistically nonsignificant difference between them. Functional rehabilitation was the main purpose of choosing dental implants in more than 90% of the subjects. Diameter of 3.75 mm was the shortest implants to be placed in the present study, whereas in terms of length, 8.5 mm was the shortest length of dental implant used in the present study. Tooth area in which maximum implants were placed in our study was 36 tooth region. Maximum implants were placed in Type II bone quality (n = 38). Implants installed in the mandible were clamped more efficiently than implants placed in the maxilla (P < 0.001). The difference of average STAI-State subscore before and after the surgery was statistically significant (P < 0.05; significant). Conclusion: Mandibular dental implants show more clamping (torque) than maxillary dental implants.
Assessing Financial Openness and Access to Credit Facilities: The Case of Banks in Ho, Ghana

The main purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between financial openness and easy access to credit facilities from banks. Besides secondary data, questionnaires are used to collect primary data from the twelve banks in Ho, Ghana. Using descriptive method, the study finds that higher financial openness builds higher trust for easier access to credit facilities. Clients with reliable track records and obey full disclosure principles would have more opportunities to access credit facilities than those who do not have any evidence of track records. The study concludes that financial openness is not an end itself, but a means to an end; thus, it is a process of revealing more trade/finance secrets so as to accumulate more trust to enhance credit accessibility. However, financial openness has a reciprocal cost/benefit-decision effect on both supply and demand sides. Policy makers will find this study useful for effective decision making.
Is Trauma Transfer Influenced by Factors Other Than Medical Need? An Examination of Insurance Status and Transfer in Patients With Mild Head Injury

BACKGROUND:The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act was meant to provide access to emergency medical care irrespective of financial resources. Yet, many Level I trauma Centers have raised concerns about the financial drivers influencing transfer. OBJECTIVE:To study the relationship between insurance status and transfer, we focused on patients with mild head injury to tease apart the medical necessity for transfer from other potential drivers, such as financial factors. METHODS:Using the 2002 to 2006 American College of Surgeons National Trauma Databank and Massachusetts General Hospital's Trauma Databank from 1993 to 2009, we conducted a retrospective study and limited our population to patients with mild head injuries and mild to moderate systemic injuries as determined by the Glasgow Coma Scale, Abbreviated Injury Scale, or Injury Severity Score. Statistical analyses were conducted with STATA software. RESULTS:In a nationalized database, (1) uninsured patients with mild head injury are more likely to be transferred out of a Level II or III facility (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.07; P = .000) compared with privately insured patients and (2) uninsured patients are less likely to be accepted by a Level II or III facility for transfer compared with privately insured patients (adjusted OR: = .143; P = .000l). For transfers received by 1 Level I trauma center (Massachusetts General Hospital), uninsured patients are more likely to be transferred to (1) Massachusetts General Hospital between midnight and 6 am (adjusted OR: 5.201; P = .000) compared with other time periods throughout the day and (2) Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday (adjusted OR: 1.09; P = .000) compared with other days of the week. CONCLUSION:Insurance status appears to influence transfer patterns.
Fine mapping of the three rRNA operons on the updated genomic map of Campylobacter jejuni TGH9011 (ATCC 43431)

The three rRNA gene loci of Campylobacter jejuni TGH9011 (ATCC 43431) were cloned. All three rRNA operons were shown to possess a contiguous 16S-23S structure and contain intercistronic tRNA(Ala) and tRNA(Ile). The three RNA operons and additional 14 genetic markers were mapped in the updated genomic map of C. jejuni TGH9011, which now has a total of 24 genetic markers.
Comparative Studies of Class IIa Bacteriocins of Lactic Acid Bacteria

ABSTRACT Four class IIa bacteriocins (pediocin PA-1, enterocin A, sakacin P, and curvacin A) were purified to homogeneity and tested for activity toward a variety of indicator strains. Pediocin PA-1 and enterocin A inhibited more strains and had generally lower MICs than sakacin P and curvacin A. The antagonistic activity of pediocin-PA1 and enterocin A was much more sensitive to reduction of disulfide bonds than the antagonistic activity of sakacin P and curvacin A, suggesting that an extra disulfide bond that is present in the former two may contribute to their high levels of activity. The food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes was among the most sensitive indicator strains for all four bacteriocins. Enterocin A was most effective in inhibitingListeria, having MICs in the range of 0.1 to 1 ng/ml. Sakacin P had the interesting property of being very active towardListeria but not having concomitant high levels of activity toward lactic acid bacteria. Strains producing class IIa bacteriocins displayed various degrees of resistance toward noncognate class IIa bacteriocins; for the sakacin P producer, it was shown that this resistance is correlated with the expression of immunity genes. It is hypothesized that variation in the presence and/or expression of such immunity genes accounts in part for the remarkably large variation in bacteriocin sensitivity displayed by lactic acid bacteria.
Scaffolding Networks: Incremental Learning and Teaching Through Questioning

We introduce a new paradigm of learning for reasoning, understanding, and prediction, as well as the scaffolding network to implement this paradigm. The scaffolding network embodies an incremental learning approach that is formulated as a teacher-student network architecture to teach machines how to understand text and do reasoning. The key to our computational scaffolding approach is the interactions between the teacher and the student through sequential questioning. The student observes each sentence in the text incrementally, and it uses an attention-based neural net to discover and register the key information in relation to its current memory. Meanwhile, the teacher asks questions about the observed text, and the student network gets rewarded by correctly answering these questions. The entire network is updated continually using reinforcement learning. Our experimental results on synthetic and real datasets show that the scaffolding network not only outperforms state-of-the-art methods but also learns to do reasoning in a scalable way even with little human generated input.
Hu‐K4 is a ubiquitously expressed type 2 transmembrane protein associated with the endoplasmic reticulum

Hu‐K4 is a human protein homologous to the K4L protein of vaccinia virus. Due to the presence of two HKD motifs, Hu‐K4 was assigned to the family of Phospholipase D proteins although so far no catalytic activity has been shown. The Hu‐K4 mRNA is found in many human organs with highest expression levels in the central nervous system. We extended the ORF of Hu‐K4 to the 5′ direction. As a consequence the protein is 53 amino acids larger than originally predicted, now harbouring a putative transmembrane domain. The exon/intron structure of the Hu‐K4 gene reveals extensive alternative splicing in the 5′ untranslated region. Due to the absence of G/C‐rich regions and upstream ATG codons, the mRNA isoform in brain may be translated with higher efficacy leading to a high Hu‐K4 protein concentration in this tissue. Using a specific antiserum produced against Hu‐K4 we found that Hu‐K4 is a membrane‐bound protein colocalizing with protein disulfide isomerase, a marker of the endoplasmic reticulum. Glycosylation of Hu‐K4 as shown by treatment with peptide N‐glycosidase F or tunicamycin indicates that Hu‐K4 has a type 2 transmembrane topology.
Identifying potential coupling sources in the x86 instruction set

Computer languages design is a fundamental subject in Computer Science and instruction sets are not an exception. Considering concurrency, and particularly superscalar processing, an important fact is to identify those characteristics of the instruction set architecture that may cause extra code coupling. Because of its current extended use, the x86 instruction set was chosen for analysis. We present a study of the use distribution of architectonic registers, including implicit usage, taken from execution traces of a test bench. Then we identify as potential coupling sources the implicit and dedicated use of certain registers, condition codes utilization and some mechanisms of effective memory address computation.
Integrating productivity-oriented programming languages with high-performance data structures

This paper shows that Julia provides sufficient performance to bridge the performance gap between productivity-oriented languages and low-level languages for complex memory intensive computation tasks such as graph traversal. We provide performance guidelines for using complex low-level data structures in high productivity languages and present the first parallel integration on the productivity-oriented language side for graph analysis. Performance on the Graph500 benchmark demonstrates that the Julia implementation is competitive with the native C/OpenMP implementation.