Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct evidence for dissociated megakaryocytic chimaerism in a Wiskott‐Aldrich patient successfully allografted

Summary. We report a Wiskott‐Aldrich patient who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from his HLA‐identical sister at the age of 25. Conditioning regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide (180mg/kg) and thoracoabdominal irradiation (6 Grays). Cytogenetic follow‐up revealed rapid and complete lymphoid chimaerism, but prolonged mixed bone marrow chimaerism. Correlative interphase cytogenetics performed on bone marrow smears using dual‐colour fluorescence in situ hybridization with × and Y specific probes showed that the proportion of donor cells was significantly higher within megakaryocytes than in other lineages. This patient therefore presented with dissociated lineage engraftment, which is not exceptional in congenital diseases and aplastic anaemia, but has not previously been described in Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome. Bone marrow transplantation was successful despite this delayed engraftment which ensured adequate production in the involved cell lines.
Modulation of HIV transcription by CD8+ cells is mediated via multiple elements of the long terminal repeat

HIV replication and LTR‐mediated gene expression can be modulated by CD8+ cells in a cell type‐dependent manner. We have previously shown that supernatant fluids of activated CD8+ cells of HIV‐infected individuals suppress long terminal repeat (LTR)‐mediated transcription of HIV in T cells while enhancing transcription in monocytic cells. Here, we have examined the effect of culture of T cells and monocytic cells with CD8+ supernatant fluids, and subsequent binding of transcription factors to the HIV‐1 LTR. In transfections using constructs in which NFκB or NFAT‐1 sites were mutated, the LTR retained the ability to respond positively to culture with CD8 supernatant fluid in monocytic cells. Nuclear extracts prepared from both Jurkat T cells and U38 monocytic cells cultured with CD8+ cell supernatant fluid demonstrated increased binding to the HIV‐1 LTR at an AP‐1 site which overlapped the chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter (COUP) site. In monocytic cells, increased binding activity was observed at the NFκB sites of the LTR. In contrast, an inhibition in binding at the NFκB sites was observed in Jurkat cells. Examination of two NFAT‐1 sites revealed enhanced binding at − 260 to − 275 bp in U38 cells which was reduced by cellular activation. PMA and ionomycin‐induced binding at a second NFAT‐1 site (− 205 to − 216 bp) was abrogated by CD8+ cell supernatant fluid in T cells. These results, taken together, suggest that factors present in CD8+ supernatant fluids may act through several sites of the LTR to modulate transcription in a cell type‐dependant manner.
Hepatitis C infection among Egyptian blood donors in the eastern Saudi Arabia with / without past history of schistosomiasis.

During 1991-1992, phlebotomists at blood bank facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia collected blood sera from 8934 adult male volunteer blood donors from Saudi Arabia and other countries (Egyptians, other Mid- Easterners, Southeast Asians, and Southern Asians). Laboratory personnel screened the sera for hepatitis C virus and the sera of Egyptian donors for hepatitis B virus. They interviewed all the Egyptian donors to determine their past history of exposure to and/or treatment for Bilharziasis. The total incidence of hepatitis C virus antibodies stood at 1.66%. It was 1.16% for Saudis, 1.24% for Mid- Easterners (other than Egyptians), 1.44% for Southeast Asians, and 1.36% for Southern Asians. It was significantly higher among Egyptians (18.15%; p .05). Egyptians who has a past history of schistosomiasis were much more likely to have hepatitis C virus antibodies (22.42% vs. 9.4%; p .001). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the incidence of hepatitis B virus markers between the 2 groups of Egyptians (7.28-8%.48% with positive history vs. 7.23-9.64% for negative history). These findings show a correlation between hepatitis C virus and Bilharziasis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the theory that the correlation of hepatitis C virus with the Egyptian liver is due to genetic susceptibility of the liver or to different hepatitis C virus subtype or special strains. Another theory is that the presence of autoantibodies and/or high level of gamma globulins in the sera interfere with hepatitis c tests, resulting in more false positive results.
Verbal Communication During Airway Management and Emergent Endotracheal Intubation: Observations of Team Behavior Among Multi-institutional Pediatric Intensive Care Unit In Situ Simulations

Objective To assess health-care teams’ verbal communication, an observable teamwork behavior, during simulations involving pediatric emergency airway management and intubation. Methods We conducted video-recorded, risk-informed in situ simulations at 5 hospitals with pediatric intensive care units in the Chicago, Illinois, area. Clinicians participated in their clinical roles (eg, attending physician, bedside nurse) and had access to hospital operational systems (eg, electronic health record, medical imaging, laboratory services). Video-recordings were transcribed; 3 pediatric critical care physicians analyzed the transcripts to assess preintubation communication: (a) the declaration of an airway emergency, (b) intubation medication request(s), and (c) preintubation medication administration. Results Ten pediatric intensive care unit simulations were analyzed. Statements to notify the care team of an airway emergency varied widely. In 3 simulations, a dosage for every medication was verbalized in the physician’s initial medication request; however, in 4 simulations, a nurse was the first to verbalize the medication dosage(s) before administration. In 6 of the simulations where preintubation medications were administered, multiple requests for medications were verbalized. A clinician verbally confirmed that each medication was administered in only 2 of the simulations. Conclusions No uniform statement was identified to declare an airway emergency among the care teams. Preintubation medication dosages were not consistently included in intubation medication orders, and frequently, there were multiple requests to obtain medications. Using standardized language to declare an airway emergency and verbally communicating medication requests and dosages and confirming administration may improve the quality of care in this critical event.
Space Debris Observation via Space-based ISAR Imaging

This paper designs a project to observe dangerous space debris via space-based inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging techniques. The project represents orbital difference observation method to deal with capacious special exploration difficulties, with specific task analyze, feasibility demonstration and radar parameters setting combined with ISAR imaging theories. Moreover, it shows ISAR imaging simulation results and propose orbital intercross algorithm to obtain precise position of space debris. Finally, an overview of the system's virtue and demerit is given.
Reducing the recurrence rate of duodenal ulceration after highly selective vagotomy: a study in the rat and in man.

Acid secretion after highly selective vagotomy (HSV) gradually increases with time and may be related to the rate of duodenal ulcer recurrence following this operation. Studies were carried out in the rat and in man to examine whether preventing recommunication of the vagal branches with their distal stumps reduces the rate of acid secretion recovery and duodenal ulcer recurrence after HSV. Male rats were allocated at random to three groups: (i) sham HSV, (ii) HSV, (iii) HSV with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch stitched against the denervated area of lesser curve. After housing for 2 years, the basal acid output of the HSV group was significantly (P < 0.01) depressed relative to control values (6.9 +/- 0.2 vs 14.1 +/- 0.4 mumole/hr, mean +/- SEM, n = 39 and 40, respectively). HSV with a patch had a basal acid output significantly (P < 0.01) lower than that of the HSV group (1.4 +/- 0.1 mumole/hr, mean +/- SEM, n = 41). Insulin significantly (P < 0.001) stimulated acid secretion in the HSV group but failed to do so in the group provided with a patch (1.4 +/- 0.1 vs 2.3 +/- 0.2 mumole/hr, mean +/- SEM, n = 41). Subcutaneous infusion of pentagastrin (4 micrograms/kg min) and carbachol (0.8 micrograms/kg min) for 24 hr produced duodenal ulceration in all of the control animals and in 20% of those in the HSV group, but in none of the HSV with a patch group. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The CitST two‐component system regulates the expression of the Mg‐citrate transporter in Bacillus subtilis

citS and citT genes encoding a new two‐component system were identified in the 71° region between the pel and citM loci on the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. citS‐ and citT‐deficient strains were unable to grow on minimal plates including citrate as a sole carbon source. In addition, a strain deficient in citM, which encodes the secondary transporter of the Mg‐citrate complex, exhibited the same phenotype on this medium. Northern blot analysis revealed that citM was polycistronically transcribed with the downstream yflN gene, and that CitS and CitT were necessary for transcription of the citM–yflN operon. Upon addition of 2 mM citrate to DSM, this operon was strongly induced after the middle of the exponential growth phase in the wild type, but not in the citST double null mutant. Moreover, the transcription of this operon was completely repressed in the presence of 1% glucose. We found a sequence exhibiting homology to a catabolite‐responsive element (cre) in the citM promoter region. Glucose repression was lost in ccpA and citM–cre mutants. From the result of a citM–promoter deletion experiment, putative CitT target sequences were found to be located around two regions, from −62 to −74 and from −149 to −189, relative to the citM start point. Furthermore, DNase I footprinting assays revealed that these two CitT target regions extended maximally from −36 to −84 and from −168 to −194. From these findings, we concluded that the expression of citM is positively regulated by the CitST system and negatively regulated by CcpA.
Interconversion of three differentially modified and assembled forms of BiP.

The immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein BiP/GRP78 is post‐translationally modified by phosphorylation and ADP ribosylation. In cells induced to synthesize higher levels of BiP, either due to the accumulation of nontransported proteins or to glucose starvation, both BiP phosphorylation and ADP ribosylation are reduced. BiP bound to other proteins is unmodified, suggesting that both phosphorylation and ADP ribosylation are restricted to the unbound BiP pool. In the present study, both modifications were further characterized in terms of their stability, the pool of BiP that harbored these modifications, and the relationship between the modified and unmodified forms of BiP. While levels of BiP synthesis vary according to the physiological state of a cell, we found that both induced and uninduced cells contain similar amounts of free BiP. However, free BiP in uninduced cells was found primarily in an aggregated state, whereas in cells that accumulate nontransported proteins, it was predominantly monomeric. Both phosphorylation and ADP ribosylation were restricted to the aggregated form of free BiP. These post‐translational modifications occurred upon release of BiP from associated proteins, and could be reversed upon induction of BiP synthesis. Therefore, BiP exists either (1) complexed to other proteins, (2) as a free unmodified monomer, or (3) as free modified aggregates. Our data suggest that BiP can be interconverted from one state to another, and that the various forms are functionally distinct.
Optimal portfolio trading subject to stochastic dominance constraints under second-order autoregressive price dynamics

This paper studies the optimal portfolio trading problem under the generalized second-order autoregressive execution price model. The problem of minimizing expected execution cost under the proposed price model is formulated as a quadratic programming (QP) problem. For a risk-averse trader, problem formulation under the second-order stochastic dominance constraints results in a quadratically constrained QP problem. Under some conditions on the execution price model, it is proved that the portfolio trading problems for risk-neutral and risk-averse traders become convex programming problems, which have many theoretical and computational advantages over the general class of optimization problems. Extensive numerical illustrations are provided, which render the practical significance of the proposed execution price model and the portfolio trading problems.
One Step Closer to the Field: Visual Method in Marketing and Consumer Research

The purpose of this study is to examine the use of visual research methods in the area of recent marketing and consumer research. All articles published in Journal of Consumer Research (JCR), Journal of Marketing (JM), Journal of Marketing Research (JMR), Journal of Marketing Management (JMM), Consumption, Markets, and Culture (CMC), and Qualitative Market Research (QMR) from year 2002 to 2010 were examined. A total of one hundred and twenty two articles with images or pictures were selected for further analysis. This study found that a total of sixty research studies employed photograph or video as ‘projective stimuli’, a total of forty four research studies used ‘cultural inventories’, and seven research studies employed ‘social artifacts’. Overall, this study found that a growing number of marketing and consumer researchers utilize visual methods in various ways to achieve their research goals
Catalytic Sites for 3′ and 5′ Incision of Escherichia coli Nucleotide Excision Repair Are Both Located in UvrC*

Nucleotide excision repair in Escherichia coli is a multistep process in which DNA damage is removed by incision of the DNA on both sides of the damage, followed by removal of the oligonucleotide containing the lesion. The two incision reactions take place in a complex of damaged DNA with UvrB and UvrC. It has been shown (Lin, J.-J., and Sancar, A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 17688–17692) that the catalytic site for incision on the 5′ side of the damage is located in the UvrC protein. Here we show that the catalytic site for incision on the 3′ side is in this protein as well, because substitution R42A abolishes 3′ incision, whereas formation of the UvrBC-DNA complex and the 5′ incision reaction are unaffected. Arg42 is part of a region that is homologous to the catalytic domain of the homing endonuclease I-TevI. We propose that the UvrC protein consists of two functional parts, with the N-terminal half for the 3′ incision reaction and the C-terminal half containing all the determinants for the 5′ incision reaction.
L-Arginine attenuates xanthine oxidase and myeloperoxidase activities in hearts of rats during exhaustive exercise

The present study was to investigate the effects of l-arginine (l-Arg) supplementation on cardiac oxidative stress and the inflammatory response in rats following acute exhaustive exercise on a treadmill. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: sedentary control (SC); SC with l-Arg treatment (SC+Arg); exhaustive exercise (E); exhaustive exercise with l-Arg treatment (E+Arg). Rats in groups SC+Arg and E+Arg received a 2% l-Arg diet. Rats in groups E and E+Arg performed an exhaustive running test on a treadmill at a final speed of 30m/min, 10% grade, at approximately 70–75% VO2max. The results showed a significant increase in cardiac xanthine oxidase (XO) and myeloperoxidase activities and membrane lipid peroxidation endproduct (malondialdehyde; MDA) levels of exercised rats compared with SC rats. The increased cardiac XO activity and MDA levels in exercised rats were significantly decreased in exercised rats supplemented with l-Arg. Myocardial GSSG content increased whereas the GSH:GSSG ratio was depressed in exercised rats compared with SC rats. Cardiac GSSG levels significantly decreased, whereas total glutathione, GSH and the GSH:GSSG ratio increased in exercised rats supplemented with l-Arg compared with exercised rats. The activities of creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate, uric acid, and nitrite and nitrate levels in the plasma significantly increased in exercised rats compared with SC rats. The activities of plasma CK and LDH were significantly decreased in l-Arg-supplemented plus exercised rats compared with exercised rats. These findings suggest that l-Arg supplementation reduces the oxidative damage and inflammatory response on the myocardium caused by exhaustive exercise in rats.
Design and Outage Performance Analysis of Relay-Assisted Two-Way Wireless Communications

Two-way wireless communication has regained significant attention recently over relay channels and network coding techniques have been adopted to improve the spectral efficiency. In the literature, most works assumed knowledge of the channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) and focused mainly on the three-step network coding (NetC) and two-step superposition coding (SupC) schemes. This work instead targets systems without CSIT and explores in detail the features and limitations of SupC and NetC under both the two-step and three-step frameworks. Equal-rate bi-directional traffic is considered and a comparative study of the schemes is provided. The maximum goodput and robustness to channel knowledge discrepancies are evaluated. Key results include theoretically derived outage regions and performance, and the analysis of the complementary role of NetC and SupC. Special features of the three-step framework and a simple yet efficient protocol, adaptive relay-assisted and direct transmission (ARDT), which smartly exploits the direct link in the absence of CSIT, will also be presented. Optimal power allocation at the relay is also derived for the three-step SupC scheme by exploiting the channel reciprocity (no CSIT required). A significant advantage of ARDT is demonstrated over the recently developed two-step SupC scheme. Numerical results together with extensive discussions are provided.
Attenuation of Murine Graft-Versus-Host Disease by a Tea Polyphenol

Since donor T-cells' allorecognition of host antigens is a prerequisite for the onset of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), blocking their cellular signaling pathways can decrease the severity of GVHD. We hypothesized that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), due to its strong affinity to macromolecules, would adhere to surface molecules of donor T cells, inhibit their allorecognition, and attenuate GVHD in the recipient. We tested the hypothesis by treating donor splenocytes with EGCG in both in vitro and in vivo murine GVHD models. EGCG treatment decreased the proliferation of donor cells in MLR cultures and secretion of IL-2 and INF-γ. It also reduced the epitope detection of CD3∊, CD4, and CD28 but did not downregulate the protein expression of these molecules, suggesting blockage of cell surface stimulatory signals. Similarly, EGCG treatment did not decrease mRNA expression for some of these molecules but decreased mitogen-induced cell proliferation, indicating that EGCG did not interfere the transcription of these genes but affected cell proliferation pathways. Furthermore, EGCG-treated donor splenocytes, when transplanted into immunocompromized recipient mice, decreased of proliferation, and the treatment extended the recipients' survival at least during the early stage of GVHD. These results strongly suggest that EGCG attenuates GVHD by both blocking specific cell surface molecules and affecting the donor T-cell proliferation pathways.
Molecular classification and prognostication of 300 node-negative breast cancer cases: A tertiary care experience

Abstract Background: The proportion of node-negative breast cancer patients has been increasing with improvement of diagnostic modalities and early detection. However, there is a 20-30% recurrence in node-negative breast cancers. Determining who should receive adjuvant therapy is challenging, as the majority are cured by surgery alone. Hence, it requires further stratification using additional prognostic and predictive factors. Subjects and Methods: Ours is a single institution retrospective study, on 300 node-negative breast cancer cases, who underwent primary surgery over a period of 7 years (2005-2011). We excluded all cases who took NACT. Prognostic factors of age, size, lymphovascular emboli, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2neu Ki-67, grade and molecular classification were analyzed with respect to those with and without early events (recurrence, metastases or second malignancy, death) using-Pearson Chi-square method and logistic regression method for statistical analysis. Results: Majority belonged to the age group of 50-70 years. On univariate analysis, size >5 cm (P = 0.03) and ER negativity had significant association (P = 0.05) for early failures; PR negativity and lymphovascular emboli (LVE) had borderline significance (P = 0.07). Multivariate analysis showed size >5 cm to be significant (P = 0.04) and LVE positivity showed borderline significant association (P = 0.07) with early failures. About 62% belonged to luminal category followed by basal-like (25%) in molecular classification. Conclusions: ER negativity, PR negativity, LVE/lymphovascular invasion positivity and size >5 cm (T3 and T4) are associated with poor prognosis in node-negative breast cancers.
Deregulation of Proteasome Function Induces Abl-mediated Cell Death by Uncoupling p130CAS and c-CrkII*

Cell migration and survival are coordinately regulated through activation of c-Abl (Abl) family tyrosine kinases. Activated Abl phosphorylates tyrosine 221 of c-CrkII (Crk; Crk-Y221-P), which prevents Crk from binding to the docking protein p130CAS (CAS). Disruption of CAS-Crk binding blocks downstream effectors of the actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesion assembly, inhibits cell migration, and disrupts survival signals leading to apoptosis. Here we show that inhibition of the 26 S proteasome and ubiquitination facilitates Abl-mediated Crk-Y221-P, leading to disassembly of CAS-Crk complexes in cells. Surprisingly, inhibition of these molecular interactions does not perturb cell migration but rather specifically induces apoptosis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that attachment to an extracellular matrix plays a key role in regulating the apoptotic machinery through caspase-mediated cleavage of Abl and Crk-Y221-P. Our findings indicate that regulated protein degradation by the proteasome specifically controls cell death through regulation of Abl-mediated Crk Tyr221 phosphorylation and assembly of the CAS-Crk signaling scaffold.
A pilot study of videotelephone-based support for newly diagnosed paediatric oncology patients and their families

As part of the preparation for a randomized controlled trial, we conducted a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of providing videotelephone-based support to a sample of families (n = 8) with a child diagnosed with cancer, returning home for the first time after diagnosis and initial treatment. Seven of these families received support via videotelephone over a three-month period. Twenty videotelephone calls were made totalling 400 minutes (median 21 min, IQR 16–24). All videotelephone calls involved the specialist nurse providing support to mothers (85%) or fathers (15%) and involved communicating directly with the patient in most of the calls (55%). Social workers were involved in three calls (15%). All families expressed satisfaction with services delivered in this way. There were few technical problems. The use of a hybrid approach to providing videotelephony, using the family home computer and Internet connection for video and the home telephone line for full-duplex audio, was less costly than the custom-made device used in past studies.