Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PD-1 expression conditions T cell avidity within an antigen-specific repertoire

ABSTRACT Despite its negative regulatory role on tumor-specific T cells, Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is also a marker of activated tumor-infiltrating T cells. In cancer, PD-1 blockade partially reverses T cell dysfunction allowing the amplification of tumor reactive T cells. Here, we investigated the role of PD-1 signaling on effector/memory human T cells specific for shared melanoma antigens, derived from blood. We documented for the first time the existence of melanoma-specific T cell clones unable to express PD-1. This stable feature was due to the persistent methylation of the PDCD1 promoter. These PD-1neg clones were of lower avidity than their PD-1pos counterparts, suggesting that high-affinity-specific T cell clones unable to express PD-1 are not or rarely present in peripheral blood, as they are probably eliminated by negative selection, due to their high reactivity. We also documented the existence of such PD-1neg T cell clones in melanoma tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), which also exhibited a lower functional avidity than PD-1pos TIL clones. This clearly shows that PD-1 expression identifies antigen-specific T cell clonotypes of high functional avidity. Finally, we demonstrated that PD-1 blockade during the in vitro selection process of Melan-A-specific T cells favored the amplification of higher avidity T cell clonotypes. This preferential amplification of high-avidity memory T cells upon PD-1 blockade resonates with the expansion of reactive T cells, including neo-antigen-specific T cells observed in anti-PD-1-treated patients. This feature should also be a useful biomarker of clinical efficiency, while providing new insights for adoptive transfer treatments.
Effects of self-service technology on customer value and customer readiness: The case of banking industry

Article history: Received January 12, 2013 Received in revised format 30 April 2013 Accepted 5 June 2013 Available online June 7 2013 The recent development on internet banking has contributed to this industry, significantly. People could do their banking transactions by clicking a bottom and transfer funds, pay bills, etc. In this paper, we present an empirical investigation to find out the effects of different factors on continuous internet banking. The proposed study of this paper has adopted a questionnaire, which was originally developed by Ho and Ko (2008) [Ho, S. H. , & Ko, Y. Y. (2008). Effects of self-service technology on customer value and customer readiness: The case of Internet banking. Internet Research, 18(4), 427-446. ]. We have used Pearson correlation test as well as stepwise regression techniques to verify the effect of different factors and the results of our survey show that four variables of easy implementation, usefulness, cost reduction and self-control positively influence continuous internet banking. © 2013 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Predictors of Diffuse Renal Microembolization Following Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

We evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical consequences of renal microembolic events following endovascular aneurysm repair using suprarenal or infrarenal fixation. Pre- and postoperative (1 month) computed tomographic angiograms were reviewed for new renal perfusion defects. Suprarenal aortic and infrarenal neck thrombus load was classified by circumference involved and thrombus thickness. Serum creatinine was measured preoperatively, on the first postoperative day, and 1 month postoperatively. Among 136 patients, 8 (5.9%) had bilateral microembolic cortical defects. Patients with moderate or severe suprarenal thrombus were more likely to have renal microemboli than those with no or mild suprarenal thrombus (17% vs 0%; p < .001). Similarly, patients with moderate or severe infrarenal neck thrombus were more likely to have renal microemboli than those with no or mild infrarenal thrombus (9.6% vs 1.5%; p = .08). Severe infrarenal thrombus was independently predictive of microembolization (odds ratio 15.0; 95% confidence interval 1.6–142; p = .018). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of renal microembolization when comparing suprarenal and infrarenal fixation (8.2% vs 4.0%; p = .47). Changes in creatinine from baseline were not different in those with or without renal microemboli. Renal microembolization is an uncommon but distinct radiographic finding that is more associated with significant neck thrombus than fixation level.
Darwin: A Life in Science

Charles Darwin, a man far ahead of his time, left an extraordinary scientific legacy - as influential to modern thought as Newton or Einstein. Yet, in his lifetime, he faced a barrage of criticism for his "heretical" new theories, both from those closest to him and from the leading scientific and religious thinkers of the day. It was only in death that Darwin was finally recognized as a great scientist by the establishment - and today his writings are regarded as seminal works. This book not only examines the man behind the science - a man plagued with ill health and personal tragedy - but explains the enormous impact of his thinking on topics such as natural selection, evolution and genetics, and brings its readers up to date in terms of how Darwinism has moulded modern scientific thought.
Lack of dehydroepiandrosterone effect on a combined endurance and resistance exercise program in postmenopausal women.

CONTEXT Recent studies disputed the widely promoted anti-aging effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation; however, conflicting data exist on whether physiological DHEA supplementation enhances exercise training effects on body composition, physical performance, and cardiometabolic risk in healthy postmenopausal women. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether 12 wk of DHEA supplementation (50 mg/d) in postmenopausal women enhances exercise-related changes in body composition, physical performance, and cardiometabolic risk. DESIGN AND SETTING This study was a 12-wk randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and took place at the Mayo Clinic General Clinical Research Center (Rochester, MN). PARTICIPANTS Thirty-one sedentary, postmenopausal, Caucasian women (mean +/- sem age 64.6 +/- 1.0 yr) completed the study. INTERVENTION Participants were randomized to one of two 12-wk interventions: 1) exercise training plus 50 mg/d of DHEA (n = 17), or 2) exercise training plus placebo (n = 14). The exercise intervention consisted of both endurance (4 d/wk) and resistance (3 d/wk) exercise components. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcomes were measures of body composition, physical performance, and measures of cardiometabolic risk. RESULTS DHEA treatment with exercise resulted in increases in circulating sulfated DHEA (650%), total testosterone (100%), estradiol (165%), estrone (85%), and IGF-I (30%) (all P < or = 0.05, for all within and between treatment comparisons). Although exercise training alone significantly improved physical performance, body composition, and insulin sensitivity, administration of DHEA provided no additional benefits. CONCLUSIONS Twelve weeks of combined endurance and resistance training significantly improved body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol particle number and size, whereas DHEA had no additional benefits.
The Ba813 chromosomal DNA sequence effectively traces the whole Bacillus anthracis community

Plasmid genes that are responsible for virulence of Bacillus anthracis are important targets for the DNA‐based detection of anthrax. We evaluated the distribution of the Ba813 chromosomal DNA sequence (Ba813) within closely related Bacillus species. Ba813 was systematically identified from 47 strains or isolates of B. anthracis tested, thus indicating its reliability as a tracer for that species. From the 60 strains of closely related Bacillus spp. examined, three bona fide B. cereus and one bona fide B. thuringiensis were found to harbour Ba813. This marker was also detected in Bacillus sp. isolates that were present at high levels in soil samples collected in a place where an anthrax outbreak had occurred. The significance and the possible function of the Ba813 locus is discussed.
EquipAsso: un algoritmo para el descubrimiento de conjuntos de ítems frecuentes sin generación de candidatos

Con las grandes cantidades de datos continuamente recolectadas y almacenadas en las bases de datos, el problema de derivar asociaciones a partir de los datos ha sido siempre un foco de investigacion en Mineria de Datos. Todo el rendimiento de generar reglas de asociacion es determinado por el descubrimiento de conjuntos de items frecuentes. Un conjunto de items es frecuente si su soporte excede un predeterminado soporte minimo. La gran mayoria de algoritmos propuestos para reglas de Asociacion (Apriori, AprioriTid, AprioriHibrido, DHP y DIC entre otros), se basan en la generacion de conjuntos de items candidatos, para el calculo de los conjuntos frecuentes. En este articulo se propone el algoritmo EquipAsso. Este algoritmo encuentra directamente los conjuntos de items frecuentes sin la generacion de conjuntos candidatos, utilizando los operadores algebraicos relacionales EquiKeep y Associator. Palabras Clave: Mineria de Datos, Reglas de Asociacion, Conjunto de Items Frecuentes, Operadores Algebraicos
Realization of a Modular Indirect Matrix Converter System Using Normally Off SiC JFETs

Silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors are becoming the preferable choice over silicon (Si) semiconductors for power converter applications within the 200 V to 1.2 kV range due to their superior performances. Indirect matrix converters (IMCs) have more potential than traditional back-to-back power converters (BBCs) for achieving higher power densities and longer equipment lifetimes. This paper combines normally off SiC JFETs and the IMC topology to develop a module-based IMC system whose power stage consists of a bidirectional rectifier power module (BPM) and an inverter power module. This combination achieves a power density of approximately 72 kVA/L at the module level. A 5-kVA IMC prototype operating at a switching frequency of 30 kHz and connected to an RL load demonstrates the functionality of the proposed modular IMC system.
Human Salivary Micro-RNA in Patients with Parotid Salivary Gland Neoplasms

Background Currently, clinical examination, ultrasound scanning (with or without fine needle aspiration cytology), preoperative CT-scan and MRI are available for the differential diagnosis of parotid gland swelling. A preliminary non-invasive salivary diagnostic tool may be helpful in the clinical decision making process. Altered salivary micro-RNA (miRNA) expression levels have been observed in saliva from patients with various cancers. Therefore, we investigated miRNA expression levels in saliva samples from patients with a parotid gland neoplasm using Human miRNA cards in comparison to controls. Results In the discovery phase, eight miRNAs were identified having different expression levels in patients compared to controls. In the validation phase, the differences in miRNA expression levels between patients and controls were confirmed for seven out of eight discovered miRNAs (p < 0.001). A combination of two miRNAs yielded a receiver-operator-characteristics curve with an AUC of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.87–1.00; sensitivity 91%; specificity 86%). Validation of discovered miRNAs in segregated collected parotid saliva revealed that expression of these miRNAs differ between whole saliva and parotid saliva. Conclusions A two miRNA combination can predict the presence of a parotid gland neoplasm. Furthermore, this study suggested that the identified, patient-specific, salivary miRNAs were not derived from the parotid gland itself.
The prognostic significance of growth factors and growth factor receptors in gastric adenocarcinoma

We evaluated growth factors/receptors expression in gastric adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF‐D, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)‐2, VEGFR‐3, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐α, TGF‐β1, and TGF‐β‐RII in tissue microarrays of adenocarcinoma, dysplasia, metaplasia, and gastritis. In adenocarcinoma, the expression rates of EGFR, VEGF, VEGF‐D, VEGFR‐2, VEGFR‐3, TGF‐α, TGF‐β1, and TGF‐β‐RII were 2.0%, 0%, 10.7%, 4.4%, 11.2%, 26.3%, 9.4%, and 19.5%, respectively. VEGF‐D, TGF‐α, TGF‐β1, and TGF‐β‐RII expression rate were higher in adenocarcinoma than in other groups. TGF‐β‐RII expression was correlated with VEGFR‐3, VEGF‐D, and TGF‐α expression in adenocarcinomas. Tumor location, histologic type, stage, lymphatic invasion, perineural invasion, angioinvasion, VEGF‐D, and VEGFR‐2 expressions were associated with patient survival in a log rank test and advanced stage and positive expression of VEGF‐D were poor prognostic factors using Cox analysis. VEGF‐D expression may be of prognostic value in gastric adenocarcinoma, whereas EGFR and TGF family expression may only have a minor influence.
Effect of genetic obesity and experimental diabetes on hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase activities

In male rats, genetic obesity and experimental diabetes are associated with altered activities of several of the hepatic microsomal P‐450 isozymes concerned with steroid and xenobiotic oxidation. The present study examined the roles of insulin and ketonaemia in effecting these changes. In obese male Zucker rats, androstenedione 6β‐, 16α‐ and 16β‐hydroxylase activities (mediated by P450PCN‐E, P‐450UT‐A and P450PB‐B, respectively) were significantly decreased to 21%, 20% and 43% of lean control. Obesity was also associated with a significant decrease in the activities of N‐nitrosodimethylamine demethylase (P‐450j) and aniline p‐hydroxylase to about 70%. A similar decrease in total microsomal P‐450 was also observed. Androstenedione 7α‐hydroxylase activity (mediated by P‐450UT‐F) was unchanged in these animals.
Republished: How to reduce sudden cardiac death in patients with renal failure

Prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important target for improving survival in various patient groups and many prevention options have been evaluated. In the past decade several trials have documented beneficial effects for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation in patients surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (secondary prevention) and in patients with diminished left ventricular function (primary prevention). 1 However, within these patient groups a variety of comorbidities is present which might influence the benefit conferred by prophylactic ICD implantation. One of these comorbidities is chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition that is highly prevalent among patients with a current ICD indication. CKD is of particular interest since this condition is associated with a substantial risk for non-arrhythmic death and this might negatively influence the beneficial effects of prophylactic ICD implantation. Accordingly this raises the question whether ICD implantation in these patients is appropriate for prevention of SCD or whether other more conservative treatment strategies are preferred with regard to safety and cost effectiveness. The mechanisms that underlie SCD in patients with CKD are complex and many factors have been associated with increasing the risk for SCD. Beside coronary artery disease (CAD), present in 80% of the patients dying from SCD, many other factors are believed to contribute to the development of SCD in patients with CKD which also might form therapeutic targets for preventing SCD in these patients. The key factors in the development of SCD, including CAD, will be discussed below and are summarised in table 1. View this table: Table 1 Mechanisms associated with sudden cardiac death in patients with chronic kidney disease ### Ischaemic heart disease CAD is highly prevalent among patients with CKD and is more severe compared to …
Low-power W-band CPWG InAs/AlSb HEMT low-noise amplifier

We present the development of a low-power W-band low-noise amplifier (LNA) designed in a 200-nm InAs/AlSb high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) technology fabricated on a 50-mum GaAs substrate. A single-stage coplanar waveguide with ground (CPWG) LNA is described. The LNA exhibits a noise figure of 2.5 dB and an associated gain of 5.6 dB at 90 GHz while consuming 2.0 mW of total dc power. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the lowest reported noise figure for an InAs/AlSb HEMT LNA at 90 GHz. Biased for maximum gain, the single-stage amplifier presents 6.7-dB gain and an output 1-dB gain compression point (P1dB) of -6.7dBm at 90 GHz. The amplifier provides broad-band gain, greater than 5dB over the entire W-band
Study on fault tolerant switched reluctance machines

The paper's goal is to compare a usual switched reluctance machine and a fault tolerant variant of it. By coupled Flux 2D and Simulink transient simulations the behaviour of the fault tolerant drive system under different winding fault conditions were studied. It was proved that using the proposed machine structure and converter topology same torque capability of the machine in faulty states as in healthy conditions can be assured. A short discussion on fault-tolerant converters is included in the paper, too.
Comparison of lntegrin Organization Between Newest and Previous Regions of Advancing Motile Cells

Motile chick skeletal fibroblasts adhere to a laminin substrate by means of clustered/3~ integrins. These integfin "macroaggregates" are similar to classic focal contacts but do not appear dark under interference-reflection microscopy. They contain ~5 integrin and are associated with extracellular fibronectin. To study their behavior during cell movement, time-lapse, low-light video microscopy was used to image integrins on living cells tagged with a fluorescent anti-#~ integrin antibody. Integrin macroaggregates remain fixed with respect to the substratum, despite the fact that they fluctuate in size, density, and shape over a period of minutes. Upon detachment of the cell rear, as much as 85 % of the ~ integrin density of a macroaggregate remains behind on the substrate, along with both or5 integrin and fibronectin. Release of the cell rear does not involve cleavage of the ~ integrin cytoplasmic domain from the remainder of the protein. These resuits indicate that cell motility does not require regulated detachment of integrin receptors from the substrate. On the other hand, cytoskeletal components and a variable fraction of the integrins are carried forward with the cell during detachment, suggesting that some type of cortical disassembly process does
Chandra Observations of Extended X-Ray Emission in Arp 220

We resolve the extended X-ray emission from the prototypical ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220. Extended, faint, edge-brightened, soft X-ray lobes outside the optical galaxy are observed to a distance of 10-15 kpc on each side of the nuclear region. Bright plumes inside the optical isophotes coincide with the optical line emission and extend 11 kpc from end to end across the nucleus. The data for the plumes cannot be fitted by a single-temperature plasma and display a range of temperatures from 0.2 to 1 keV. The plumes emerge from bright, diffuse circumnuclear emission in the inner 3 kpc centered on the Hα peak, which is displaced from the radio nuclei. There is a close morphological correspondence between the Hα and soft X-ray emission on all spatial scales. We interpret the plumes as a starburst-driven superwind and discuss two interpretations of the emission from the lobes in the context of simulations of the merger dynamics of Arp 220.
Servers Voice Graphical Authentication

Graphical password authentication techniques have been opening new doors in the world of Password Security. This technique acquires graphical password authentication in such a way that it prevents Shoulder Surfing Attack when an adversary is watching a user while user enters a password. Graphical password authentication is more venerable to shoulder attack. The Servers Voice Graphical Authentication having graphical passwords prevents them along with the users ease. This technique involves a server voice coming to a user which the user only listens. Processes and then enters it into a graphical symbol pad. So this technique comprises of a server voice, then a factor of authentication Something You Process and lastly graphical password entrance.
Stability of Coupled Map Networks with Delays

We consider networks of coupled scalar maps, with weighted connections which may include a time delay, and study the stability of equilibria with respect to the delays and connection structure. We prove that the largest eigenvalue of the graph Laplacian determines the effect of the connection topology on stability. The stability region in the parameter plane shrinks with increasing values of the largest eigenvalue, or of the time delay of the same parity. In particular, all bipartite graphs have an identical stability region, regardless of the delay or graph size, which is also the smallest stability region among those of all graphs. Furthermore, for certain parameter ranges, unstable (and possibly chaotic) maps can be stabilized via diffusive coupling with an odd time delay, provided that the network does not have a nontrivial and connected bipartite component. On the other hand, stabilization is not possible for even values of the delay or for bipartite networks.
What ’ s Inside VP ? New ( and old ) Evidence from Russian

In a derivational approach to syntax, there are two logical possibilities for the underlying internal structure of ditransitive VPs with one Dative and one Accusative internal argument: Dative above Accusative or Accusative above Dative. Given the fact that in Russian, the word order patterns V>ACC>DAT and V>DAT>ACC are both perfectly grammatical, as shown in (1), it is clear that either order could, in principle, be the derivational source of the other. (1) a. Vanya otpravil pis’ma studentam Vanya sent lettersACC studentsDAT ‘Vanya sent (the) letters to (the) students. ’ b. Vanya otpravil studentam pis’ma Vanya sent studentsDAT lettersACC ‘Vanya sent (the) students (the) letters. ’
High platelet reactivity is associated with myocardial infarction in premenopausal women: a population‐based case–control study

Summary. Background: Platelets are involved in the occlusion of coronary arteries after rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. Furthermore, activated platelets release large quantities of growth factors, chemokines and interleukines that regulate inflammatory reactions. Therefore, we hypothesized that high basal platelet reactivity may contribute to an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in premenopausal women. Methods: We assessed the relation between high platelet reactivity and MI in a population‐based case–control study among premenopausal women (aged < 50 years). We used multivariable logistic regression to quantify the effect of high platelet reactivity, adjusted for potential confounders. Platelet reactivity was estimated by plasma levels of neutrophil activating peptide 2 (NAP‐2), CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)4, soluble glycoprotein 1b (sGPIb) and soluble P‐selectin. Results: High platelet reactivity (i.e. levels ≥ 90th percentile control subjects) was associated with a 2‐ to 3‐fold increased incidence of MI: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 3.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–6.4] for NAP‐2, 2.2 (0.9–5.1) for CXCL4, 1.9 (0.7–4.6) for sP‐selectin and 2.5 (1.1–5.7) for sGPIb. The incidence of MI dose‐dependently increased when more markers were elevated. High platelet reactivity according to both NAP‐2 and sGPIb was associated with an up to tenfold increased incidence (9.9, 95% confidence interval 2.0–48.3). Conclusions: High basal platelet reactivity was associated with a 2‐ to 3‐fold higher incidence of MI compared with normal platelet reactivity in premenopausal women. Our results suggest that high basal platelet reactivity may contribute to a higher risk of MI.