Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High frequency of CD34+CD38-/low immature leukemia cells is correlated with unfavorable prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia

AIM To evaluate the importance of the CD34+CD38- cell population when compared to the CD34+CD38+/low and CD34+CD38+/high leukemic cell sub-populations and to determine its correlations with leukemia characteristics and known prognostic factors, as well as with response to therapy and survival. METHODS Two hundred bone marrow samples were obtained at diagnosis from 200 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were studied between September 2008 and December 2010 at our Institution (Hematology Department, Lyon, France). The CD34/CD38 cell profile was analyzed by multiparameter flowcytometry approach using 8C panels and FACS CANTO and Diva software (BD Bioscience). RESULTS We analyzed CD34 and CD38 expression in bone marrow samples of 200 AML patients at diagnosis, and investigated the prognostic value of the most immature CD34+CD38- population. Using a cut-off value of 1% of CD34+CD38- from total “bulk leukemic cells” we found that a high (> 1%) level of CD34+CD38- blasts at diagnosis was correlated with advanced age, adverse cytogenetics as well as with a lower rate of complete response after induction and shorter disease-free survival. In a multivariate analysis considering age, leukocytosis, the % of CD34+ blasts cells and the standardized cytogenetic and molecular risk subgroups, a percentage of CD34+CD38- leukemic cells > 1% was an independent predictor of DFS [HR = 2.8 (1.02-7.73), P = 0.04] and OS [HR = 2.65 (1.09-6.43), P = 0.03]. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results show that a CD34/CD38 “backbone” for leukemic cell analysis by multicolour flowcytometry at diagnosis provides useful prognostic information.
Adenoviruses as gene-delivery vehicles.

For gene therapy to realize its clinical potential, there must be efficient and safe strategies of delivering therapeutic genes to somatic cells in vivo. Perhaps this problem simply represents a special case of drug delivery in which the therapeutic gene constitutes the drug. But the relevance of traditional drug development to technological developments in gene therapy is questionable. Recombinant genes that can independently express a therapeutic RNA or protein are extraordinarily large and polar molecules — 10,000 times larger than traditional pharmaceutical agents. Moreover, the administration of genes as therapy requires vehicles —so-called vectors — that encapsulate the gene and .
Analysing EU Sectoral Trade Integration with Gravity Model of Trade

The objective of this research is provide an overview of EU integration effects on international trade and sectoral trade integration as reported by a relevant gravity model and fixed effect panel estimation. In order to evaluate the EU economic integration effects across sectors, I build up a sectoral gravity model. Gravity model based studies have achieved empirical success in explaining various types of flows, including migration, commuting, goods, money capital information and international trade. Trade within Europe is still impeded by significant barriers. In particular, there remain many non-tariff barriers, including so-called TBT "Technical Barriers to Trade”. (Theie, 2014) These barriers result from regulations by requiring specific product characteristics or production processes. (Chen and Novy 2011) The sectoral trade integration analysis is deepened with capturing TBT coefficient compiled for separate sectors. The aim of this paper is to explore the implicit trade obstacles or barriers that still exist among EU members and to prove the trade-reducing effect of such remaining obstacles in separate sectors. My hypothesis is that different types of goods might face diverse entry barriers, and thus their gravity equation coefficients would differ across sectors.
Performance Evaluation of Multipath Cellular Networks in Obstacle Mobility Model for Downlink Packet Video Communication

Obstacles present in the line of sight transmission path of a wireless signal severely attenuates the received signal power. Extreme fluctuations of the received signal power caused by shadowing can create "blind spots". Blind spots are areas within the cellular coverage area from where no communication is possible to the base station (BS). For single path packet based services link failures results in total loss of communication. The problem of link failure and blind spots can almost be eliminated in the recently proposed multipath cellular architecture (MCA) which provisions up to three different communication links from the mobile node (MN) to three adjacent BSs through overlapped coverage. Voice and/or multimedia packet delivery can thus benefit by establishing communication from the best interface in terms of received signal power. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of the multi-path MCA model in reducing link failure and blind spot communication problems in presence of multiple obstacles and shadow fading. Obstacle mobility model is utilized as the preferred user mobility model. Video transmission performance improves significantly in terms of reduced packet loss and improved reproduced signal quality at the receiver for the multipath MCA model compared to the existing single path cellular network architecture.
Corporate investment decisions under political uncertainty

I investigate how political uncertainty influences corporate investment decisions employing a unique panel dataset of German manufacturing firms. I use data on firms’ self-reported investment realizations, plans and revisions. The firm-specific user cost of capital captures the current institutional framework, but does not reflect the uncertainty about changes in government policies firms are faced with. I therefore augment the neo-classical investment model by a measure of political uncertainty resulting from the electoral process. The results show that realized investment ratios decreased by 10.5% in years when state elections occurred relative to the average investment ratio in years with no state election. Firms however seem to anticipate electoral uncertainty already when making investment plans and hardly revise their plans. Investment revisions occur because of updated information about realized sales growth and not because of resolved electoral uncertainty. I also find that electoral uncertainty negatively influences add-on investments which face a high degree of irreversibility, while non-capacity expanding investments are not influenced by electoral uncertainty.
VTCO2 and dynamic compliance-guided lung recruitment in surfactant-depleted piglets: A computed tomography study

Objective: Using computed tomography (CT) as reference, our primary objectives were to test if maximal tidal elimination of carbon dioxide (VTCO2) could be used as a marker of “optimal recruitment,” indicating maximal available lung tissue for gas exchange and if a decrease in dynamic compliance (Cdyn) indicated the beginning of lung collapse during a downward positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration. Design: Prospective laboratory animal investigation. Setting: Clinical physiology research laboratory. Subjects: Six piglets undergoing lung lavage. Interventions: Saline-lavaged piglets were initially ventilated without PEEP at a tidal volume (VT) of 10 mL/kg followed by baseline ventilation at end-inspiratory pressure (EIP) 25 cm H2O and PEEP 6 cm H2O. PEEP was increased to 12 or 15 cm H2O. Then EIP was increased in steps of 5 cm H2O and the EIP where VTCO2 peaked or leveled off was assumed to define optimally recruited lungs. A downward PEEP titration followed from 12 or 15 to 4 cm H2O in steps of 1 cm H2O. First decline of Cdyn was assumed to define onset of lung collapse. VTCO2 and Cdyn were continuously recorded and CT scans iterated for each change of ventilation. “Open-lung PEEP” was set 2 cm H2O above PEEP at the first Cdyn decline and was used for a final period of “open-lung ventilation. ” Measurements and Main Results: CT images showed recruited lungs at peak VTCO2 and that a minimal amount of normally aerated lung was added by further increase in EIP. Cdyn declined just before CT scans indicated lung collapse. Compared with baseline, the target VT of 10 mL/kg was achieved at lower EIP and pressure amplitude (EIP-PEEP) during the final open-lung ventilation with more normally aerated and fewer collapsed lungs. Cdyn was doubled after recruitment. Conclusions: The lung recruitment maneuver was effective and lungs optimally recruited at maximal VTCO2. A fall in Cdyn indicated lung collapse during downward PEEP titration as confirmed by CT.
Three Forms of BT Separation: Objectives, Solutions and Effects

Following its latest strategic review of the digital communications sector, Ofcom has proposed that BT’s access services division, Openreach, becomes a subsidiary of BT plc. More recently, Ofcom announced that it was proceeding with formal notification to require BT to legally separate the Openreach division as a separate legal entity within the BT Group. BT has put forward a counter proposal it terms Enhanced Functional Separation. This paper reviews the two proposals and compares them with the current situation, known as “Functional Separation”. It finds that the differences between BT’s and Ofcom’s proposals are less substantive that might appear at first sight. The paper presents a simple model that analyses whether the incentives for BT to invest in taking fibre access networks closer to the customer are likely to be any different under the two proposals. The paper is sceptical that the legal separation proposed by Ofcom would result in greater incentives than would occur under Enhanced Functional Separation.
Predicting Health: The Interplay Between Interpersonal Communication and Health Campaigns

The present study experimentally investigated the interplay between interpersonal communication and health message exposure in relation to alcohol consumption intentions. Participants were 174 students who took part in a study on the effects of an antialcohol message. At baseline, the authors assessed intention to refrain from binge drinking. At the second wave (2 weeks later), participants were assigned to the conditions of a 2 (antialcohol message or no-alcohol message) × 2 (alcohol conversation or control conversation) between-subjects design, after which intention was again assessed. Results showed that when participants talked about alcohol (instead of the control topic) and were not exposed to an antialcohol message, they were less inclined to refrain from binge drinking, an effect that was not visible when participants talked about alcohol after viewing an antialcohol message. These findings suggest that health campaign exposure moderates the influence of interpersonal communication on health variables.
Keratocyte and subbasal nerve density after penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE To determine central keratocyte and subbasal nerve densities after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in clear grafts and in grafts with late endothelial failure (LEF). METHODS Ninety-nine clear grafts of 74 patients and 21 grafts with LEF in 19 patients were examined by confocal microscopy at 1 to 31 years after PK. Keratocyte density and number of keratocytes in a full-thickness column of stroma with frontal area of 1 mm(2) were determined from images. Subbasal nerve fiber bundle density was measured in the central cornea as the visible length of nerve per frame area. Comparisons were made to normal corneas. RESULTS Full-thickness keratocyte density in clear grafts (22,101 +/- 3,799 cells/mm(3), mean +/- SD, n = 99) was lower than in normal corneas (26,610 +/- 3,683 cells/mm(3), n = 63, P < . 001) but did not differ from grafts with LEF (21,268 +/- 3,298 cells/mm(3), n = 12, P = . 47). The number of keratocytes in clear grafts (10,325 +/- 1,708 cells, n = 99) was lower than in normal corneas (11,466 +/- 1,503 cells, n = 63, P < .001) but did not differ from grafts with LEF (10,778 +/- 1,760 cells, n=12, P = .39). Median subbasal nerve density in clear grafts (150 microm/mm(2), n = 94) was lower than in normal corneas (7,025 microm/mm(2), n = 76, P < . 001), and nerve recovery correlated with time after PK (r = 0.36, P < .001, n = 94). CONCLUSIONS Keratocyte density and number of keratocytes are decreased in penetrating grafts compared to normal corneas, but not compared to grafts with LEF. Subbasal nerve density does not recover to normal through 30 years after PK.
Author ' s personal copy Do people really believe they are above average ? q

A question that has plagued self-enhancement research is whether participants truly believe the overly positive self-assessments they report, or whether better-than-average effects reflect mere hopes or self-presentation. In a test of people’s belief in the accuracy of their self-enhancing trait ratings, participants made a series of bets, each time choosing between betting that they had scored at least as high on a personality test as a random other participant, or betting on a random drawing in which the probability of success was matched to their self-assigned percentile rank on the test. They also reported the point at which they would switch their bet from their self-rating to the drawing, or vice versa. Participants were indifferent between betting on themselves or on the drawing, and it took only a slight change in the drawing’s probability for them to switch their bet, indicating that people truly believe their self-enhancing self-assessments. 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
COMBINED HAMARTOMAS OF THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM AND RETINA

Combined hamartomas of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retina are rare, benign lesions usually occurring in individuals with no underlying systemic abnormalities. The authors report two cases of combined hamartomas of the RPE and retina. In one case, combined macular hamartomas of the RPE and retina were present in a 5-month-old infant. This is the earliest reported case of bilateral macular involvement. In both patients, multiple cafeau-lait spots were present, and the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis was considered. The authors suggest that combined hamartomas of the RPE and retina are congenital lesions and may be one of the ophthalmic manifestations of the phakomatoses.
Cortical cholinergic signaling controls the detection of cues

Significance Virtually the entire cortex is innervated by cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain. Traditionally, this neuronal system has been described as a neuromodulator system that supports global states such as cortical arousal. The presence of fast and regionally specific bursts in cholinergic neurotransmission suggests a more specialized role in cortical processing. Here we used optogenetic methods to investigate the capacity of phasic cholinergic signaling to control behavior. Our findings indicate a causal role of phasic cholinergic signaling in using external cues to guide behavioral choice. These findings indicate the significance of phasic cholinergic activity and also illustrate the potential impact of abnormal, phasic cholinergic neurotransmission on fundamental cognitive functions that involve cue-based behavioral decisions. The cortical cholinergic input system has been described as a neuromodulator system that influences broadly defined behavioral and brain states. The discovery of phasic, trial-based increases in extracellular choline (transients), resulting from the hydrolysis of newly released acetylcholine (ACh), in the cortex of animals reporting the presence of cues suggests that ACh may have a more specialized role in cognitive processes. Here we expressed channelrhodopsin or halorhodopsin in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons of mice with optic fibers directed into this region and prefrontal cortex. Cholinergic transients, evoked in accordance with photostimulation parameters determined in vivo, were generated in mice performing a task necessitating the reporting of cue and noncue events. Generating cholinergic transients in conjunction with cues enhanced cue detection rates. Moreover, generating transients in noncued trials, where cholinergic transients normally are not observed, increased the number of invalid claims for cues. Enhancing hits and generating false alarms both scaled with stimulation intensity. Suppression of endogenous cholinergic activity during cued trials reduced hit rates. Cholinergic transients may be essential for synchronizing cortical neuronal output driven by salient cues and executing cue-guided responses.
Glomerular sequence of events concerning monocyte/ macrophage accumulation and ICAM‐1 expression during experimental serum sickness nephritis in the rat 2

Serum sickness nephritis was induced in Fisher rats by preimmunization and repeated immunization with chicken egg albumin. This experimental model is characterized by marked accumulation of monocytes/macrophages (MO) and deposition of immune complexes (IC) in glomerull during the inflammatory stage and, thereafter, the advancement to glomeruloscierods. The correlations between glomerular tissue damage, MO participation, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAY‐1) expression and IC deposition were analyzed during the long‐term disease process. The grade of ICAM‐1 expression was well correlated with MO accumulation and IC deposition, and its distribution was observed on the glomerular endothelial layer, mesanglum, and along the parietal epithelial layer of the Bowman's capsule. It is suggested that glomerular MO accumulation is largely affected by the ICAM‐1 expression on glomeruli and, underneath such adhesion molecules, MO may play a role In subendoth‐elial or mesangial migration, mesangial cell activation, inducing sclerosis and monocytic‐epithellal crescent formation.
Useful Complaints: How Petitions Assist Decentralized Authoritarianism in China Jing Chen Lanham, Boulder, New York and London: Lexington Books, 2016 xv + 186 pp. £54.95 ISBN 978-1-4985-3452-9

primary elite governing value. To achieve stability and popular legitimacy, the regime has adopted three strategies: patriotic education, stability maintenance (weiwen) and a service-oriented government posture, all within the framework of the single-party system. None of these governing responses necessarily provides fertile soil for economic, much less political, reform. The volume’s second part, “International challenges to rising China,” flows naturally from the political-economy analysis in part one. In their chapter on “Xi Jinping and the challenges to Chinese security,” Robert Ross and Mingjiang Li summarize the problems facing Chinese foreign and national security policy: the difficulty in reconciling the contradiction between “peaceful rise” and defending Chinese interests; nationalism at home and abroad; reduced Communist Party legitimacy that can lead to external assertiveness; and, a fragmented policy-making system (p. 253), the latter consideration admirably explained in Linda Jakobson’s chapter. In this reviewer’s reading, no chapter writer excludes the possibility of reinvigorated (economic) reform in the remainder of the Xi era (however long that may prove to be), but a sense of increasing doubt suffuses the volume. Compounding the sobriety of this volume’s analysis are developments in the world beyond the PRC. China’s foreign policy is driven not only by its own internal dynamics, but also by stimuli from the outside world. Since this volume went to press, the outside world has changed considerably, with the rise of nationalist/populist/antiglobalist leaders around the world. Of all the significant external wild cards for China, none is more significant than the inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington. The book title this development suggests is: China–US Relations in the Eras of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
Symmetric Channel Hopping for Blind Rendezvous in Cognitive Radio Networks Based on Union of Disjoint Difference Sets

In order to exchange control information without relying on any fixed control channel, neighboring cognitive users (CUs) in a multichannel cognitive radio network (CRN) can tune their transceivers to hop among a common set of spectrum channels and communicate when they rendezvous at a common channel in the blind fashion. Based on the combinatorial concept of the union of disjoint difference sets ( UDDS), the present paper proposes two novel symmetric channel hopping (CH) schemes, namely UDDS-SCH and UDDS-ACH, for CUs with or without a synchronized time clock, respectively, to achieve blind rendezvous. By deriving their performance metrics, we then point out that both UDDS-SCH and -ACH can be optimized by adopting a special UDDS, which can be partitioned into mutually disjoint minimal difference sets (MDSs) as many as possible. This stimulates us to further develop exhaustive and heuristic solutions for searching the optimal and suboptimal numbers of mutually disjoint MDSs at high and low computational complexities, respectively. Based on these searching results, we finally show that both UDDS-SCH and -ACH can achieve better performance metrics than most existing symmetric CH schemes and remedy one major shortcoming of the best known ones, i.e., incapability to rendezvous at an arbitrary number of spectrum channels. Numerical simulation demonstrates that, when primary users may appear at part of or all rendezvous channels, the proposed CH schemes will outperform the existing ones in terms of the average transmission throughput and time of the CRN.
TRPA1 Contributes to Cold Hypersensitivity

TRPA1 is a nonselective cation channel expressed by nociceptors. Although it is widely accepted that TRPA1 serves as a broad irritancy receptor for a variety of reactive chemicals, its role in cold sensation remains controversial. Here, we demonstrate that mild cooling markedly increases agonist-evoked rat TRPA1 currents. In the absence of an agonist, even noxious cold only increases current amplitude slightly. These results suggest that TRPA1 is a key mediator of cold hypersensitivity in pathological conditions in which reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory activators of the channel are present, but likely plays a comparatively minor role in acute cold sensation. Supporting this, cold hypersensitivity can be induced in wild-type but not Trpa1−/− mice by subcutaneous administration of a TRPA1 agonist. Furthermore, the selective TRPA1 antagonist HC-030031 [2-(1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-7H-purin-7-yl)-N-(4-isopropylphenyl)acetamide] reduces cold hypersensitivity in rodent models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Textural analysis of contrast‐enhanced MR images of the breast

Texture analysis was applied to high‐resolution, contrast‐enhanced (CE) images of the breast to provide a method of lesion discrimination. Significant differences were seen between benign and malignant lesions for a number of textural features, including entropy and sum entropy. Using logistic regression analysis (LRA), a diagnostic accuracy of Az = 0.80 ± 0.07 was obtained with a model requiring only three parameters. By initially dividing the patient data into training and test datasets, reasonable model robustness was also established. On combining features obtained using textural analysis with lesion size, time to maximum enhancement, and patient age, a diagnostic accuracy of Az = 0.92 ± 0.05 was demonstrated. Magn Reson Med 50:92–98, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.