Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long Delays and Missed Opportunities in Diagnosing Smear-Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Kampala, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Early detection and treatment of tuberculosis cases are the hallmark of successful tuberculosis control. We conducted a cross-sectional study at public primary health facilities in Kampala city, Uganda to quantify diagnostic delay among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients, assess associated factors, and describe trajectories of patients' health care seeking. Methodology/Principal Findings Semi-structured interviews with new smear-positive PTB patients (≥15 years) registered for treatment. Between April 2007 and April 2008, 253 patients were studied. The median total delay was 8 weeks (IQR 4–12), median patient delay was 4 weeks (inter-quartile range [IQR] 1–8) and median health service delay was 4 weeks (IQR 2–8). Long total delay (>14 weeks) was observed for 61/253 (24.1%) of patients, long health service delay (>6 weeks) for 71/242 (29.3%) and long patient delay (>8 weeks) for 47/242 (19.4%). Patients who knew that TB was curable were less likely to have long total delay (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 0.28; 95%CI 0.11–0.73) and long patient delay (aOR 0.36; 95%CI 0.13–0.97). Being female (aOR 1.98; 95%CI 1.06–3.71), staying for more than 5 years at current residence (aOR 2.24 95%CI 1.18–4.27) and having been tested for HIV before (aOR 3.72; 95%CI 1.42–9.75) was associated with long health service delay. Health service delay contributed 50% of the total delay. Ninety-one percent (231) of patients had visited one or more health care providers before they were diagnosed, for an average (median) of 4 visits (range 1–30). All but four patients had systemic symptoms by the time the diagnosis of TB was made. Conclusions/Significance Diagnostic delay among tuberculosis patients in Kampala is common and long. This reflects patients waiting too long before seeking care and health services waiting until systemic symptoms are present before examining sputum smears; this results in missed opportunities for diagnosis.
Star Formation in Isolated Disk Galaxies. I. Models and Characteristics of Nonlinear Gravitational Collapse

We model gravitational collapse leading to star formation in a wide range of isolated disk galaxies using a three-dimensional, smoothed particle hydrodynamics code. The model galaxies include a dark matter halo and a disk of stars and isothermal gas. Absorbing sink particles are used to directly measure the mass of gravitationally collapsing gas. They reach masses characteristic of stellar clusters. In this paper we describe our galaxy models and numerical methods, followed by an investigation of the gravitational instability in these galaxies. Gravitational collapse forms star clusters with correlated positions and ages, as observed, for example, in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Gravitational instability alone acting in unperturbed galaxies appears sufficient to produce flocculent spiral arms, although not more organized patterns. Unstable galaxies show collapse in thin layers in the galactic plane; associated dust will form thin dust lanes in those galaxies, in agreement with observations. We find an exponential relationship between the global collapse timescale and the minimum value in a galaxy of the Toomre instability parameter for a combination of stars and gas Qsg. Furthermore, collapse occurs only in regions with Qsg < 1.6. Our results suggest that vigorous starbursts occur where Qsg ≪ 1, while slow star formation takes place at higher values of Qsg below 1.6. A massive, or gas-rich, galaxy has low initial Qsg, giving it a high star formation rate, while a low-mass, or gas-poor, galaxy has a high initial Qsg, giving it a low star formation rate.
Cognitive skills affect economic preferences, strategic behavior, and job attachment

Economic analysis has so far said little about how an individual's cognitive skills (CS) are related to the individual's economic preferences in different choice domains, such as risk taking or saving, and how preferences in different domains are related to each other. Using a sample of 1,000 trainee truckers we report three findings. First, there is a strong and significant relationship between an individual's CS and preferences. Individuals with better CS are more patient, in both short- and long-run. Better CS are also associated with a greater willingness to take calculated risks. Second, CS predict social awareness and choices in a sequential Prisoner's Dilemma game. Subjects with better CS more accurately forecast others' behavior and differentiate their behavior as a second mover more strongly depending on the first-mover's choice. Third, CS, and in particular, the ability to plan, strongly predict perseverance on the job in a setting with a substantial financial penalty for early exit. Consistent with CS being a common factor in all of these preferences and behaviors, we find a strong pattern of correlation among them. These results, taken together with the theoretical explanation we offer for the relationships we find, suggest that higher CS systematically affect preferences and choices in ways that favor economic success.
Strategic alignment and business performance : Operationalizing and Testing a Covariation Model

Strategic alignment or "fit" is a notion that is deemed crucial to understand how organizations can translate their deployment of information technology into actual increases in performance. While previous theoretical and methodological works have provided foundations for identifying the dimensions and performance impacts of the strategic alignment between information technology, strategy, and structure, few attempts have been made to empirically test proposed theory and operationalize fit systemically. Based on a covariation perspective of fit, an operational model of strategic alignment is proposed and empirically validated through a mail survey of 110 small firms. Using structural equation modeling to analyze the sample data, it was found that the coalignment of business strategy, organizational structure, IT strategy
Systemic but No Local Effects of Combined Zoledronate and Parathyroid Hormone Treatment in Experimental Autoimmune Arthritis

Introduction Local bone erosions and osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the result of a more pronounced bone resorption than bone formation. Present treatment strategies for RA inhibit inflammation, but do not directly target bone erosions. The aim of the study was in experimental arthritis to investigate the juxtaarticular and systemic effects of simultaneous osteoclast inhibition with zoledronate (ZLN) and osteoblast stimulation with parathyroid hormone (PTH). Methods Arthritis was induced in 36 SKG mice. The mice were randomized to three treatment groups and an untreated group: ZLN, PTH, PTH+ZLN, and untreated. Arthritis score and ankle width measurements were performed. Histological sections were cut from the right hind paw, and design-based stereological estimators were used to quantify histological variables of bone volume and bone formation and resorption. The femora were DXA- and μCT-scanned, and the bone strength was determined at the femoral neck and mid-diaphysis. Results Locally, we found no differences in arthritis score or ankle width throughout the study. Similarly, none of the treatments inhibited bone erosions or stimulated bone formation in the paw. Systemically, all treatments improved bone mineral density, strength of the femoral neck and mid-diaphysis, and μCT parameters of both cortical and trabecular bone. In addition, there was an additive effect of combination treatment compared with single treatments for most trabecular parameters including bone mineral density and bone volume fraction. Conclusions No local effect on bone was found by the combined action of inhibiting bone resorption and stimulating bone formation. However, a clear systemic effect of the combination treatment was demonstrated.
X-ray properties of active M dwarfs as observed by XMM-Newton

We present a comparative study of X-ray emission from a sample of active M dwarfs with spectral types M3.5-M4.5 using XMM-Newton observations of two single stars, AD Leonis and EV Lacertae, and two unresolved binary systems, AT Microscopii and EQ Pegasi. The light curves reveal frequent flaring during all four observations. We perform a uniform spectral analysis and determine plasma temperatures, abundances and emission measures in different states of activity. Applying multi-temperature models with variable abundances separately to data obtained with the EPIC and RGS detectors we are able to investigate the consistency of the results obtained by the different instruments onboard XMM-Newton. We find that the X-ray properties of the sample M dwarfs are very similar, with the coronal abundances of all sample stars following a trend of increasing abundance with increasing first ionization potential, the inverse FIP effect. The overall metallicities are below solar photospheric ones but appear consistent with the measured photospheric abundances of M dwarfs like these. A significant increase in the prominence of the hotter plasma components is observed during flares while the cool plasma component is only marginally affected by flaring, pointing to different coronal structures. AT Mic, probably a young pre-main-sequence system, has the highest X-ray luminosity and exhibits also the hottest corona. While results of EQ Peg and EV Lac are presented here for the first time, AT Mic and AD Leo have been investigated before with different analysis approaches, allowing a comparison of the results.
Implications of Binary Properties for Theories of Star Formation

The overall frequency and other statistical properties of binary systems suggest that star formation is intrinsically a complex and chaotic process, and that most binaries and single stars actually originate from the decay of multiple systems. Interactions between stars forming in close proximity to each other may play an important role in the star formation process itself, for example via tidally induced accretion from disks. Some of the energetic activity of newly formed stars could be due to bursts of rapid accretion triggered by interactions with close companions.
On Two Web IR Boosting Tools: Clustering and Ranking

This thesis investigates several research problems which arise in modern Web Information Retrieval (WebIR). The Holy Grail of modern WebIR is to find a way to organize and to rank results so that the most “relevant” come first. The first break-through technique was the exploitation of the link structure of the Web graph in order to rank the result pages, using the well-known Pagerank and Hits algorithms. This link-analysis approaches have been improved and extended, but yet they seem to be insufficient inadequate to provide satisfying search experience. In many situations a flat list of ten search results is not enough, and the users might desire to have a larger number of search results grouped on-the-fly in folders of similar topics. In addition, the folders should be annotated with meaningful labels for rapid identification of the desired group of results. In other situations, users may have different search goals even when they express them with the same query. In this case the search results should be personalized according to the users’ on-line activities. In order to address this need, we will discuss the algorithmic ideas behind SnakeT, a hierarchical clustering meta-search engine which personalizes searches according to the clusters selected on-the-fly by users. There are also situations where users might desire to access fresh information. In these cases, traditional link analysis could not be suitable. In fact, it is possible that there is not enough time to have many links pointing to a recently produced piece of information. In order to address this necessity, we will discuss the algorithmic and numerical ideas behind a new ranking algorithm suitable for ranking fresh type of information, such as news articles. When link analysis suffices to produce good quality search results, the huge amount of Web information asks for fast ranking methodologies. We will discuss numerical methodologies for accelerating the eingenvector-like computation, commonly used by link analysis. An important result of this thesis is that we show how to address the above predominant issues of Web Information Retrieval by using clustering and ranking methodologies. We will demonstrate that both clustering and ranking have a mutual reinforcement property that has not yet been studied intensively. This property can be exploited to boost the precision of both the methodologies. Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink. Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. to Leonardo, Lorenzo and Francesca
An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Financial Development in Pakistan

This study attempts to discern the relationship between economic and financial development in Pakistan for the period 1973 - 2006. Vector error-correction modeling is used toidentify the causality between economic and financial development and the exogeneity of the variable(s) in the model. These error correction terms have been derived from Johansen’s multivariate cointegrating procedure. Results indicate that, in the long run, economic development causes financial development. Furthermore, the real output variable is found to beexogenous. Thus, financial development is seen to be ineffective in terms of economic development determination in Pakistan.
Channeling the Say in Political Decision Bodies

We examine optimal procedures for public project provision, financing, and redistribution in democracy. We consider a large and heterogeneous decision body and show that first-best outcomes are obtained by a procedure that involves two proposal-making rounds, the right of the minority to move first, and a ban on subsidies for the agenda-setters. We explore the robustness of the result and consider applications of our rules. For instance, the result rationalizes those rules of democracies that grant minorities in the electorate or in parliament the right to initiate collective decisions on new project proposals. We further show that the above procedure constitutes the unique minimal form of political competition that ensures first-best outcomes.
Lp - Approximation of Analytic Functions on Compact Sets Bounded by Jordan Curves

This paper is concerned with functions analytic on compact sets bounded by Jordan curves having rapidly increasingmaximum modulus such that order of function is infinite. To study the precise rates of growth of such functionsthe concept of index has been used. The q􀀀order and lower q􀀀order of analytic functions have been obtained in termsof Lp􀀀approximation error. Our results improve and refine the results of Andre Giroux (Giroux, 1980) and Kapoorand Nautiyal (Kapoor & Nautiyal, 1982) for non entire case.
Computer Software tool for heart rate variability (HRV), T-wave alternans (TWA) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) analysis from ECGs

Summary Background This paper presents a software package for quantitative evaluation of heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate turbulence (HRT), and T-wave alternans (TWA) from ECG recordings. The software has been developed for the purpose of scientific research rather than clinical diagnosis. Material/Methods The software is written in Matlab Mathematical Language. Procedures for evaluation of HRV, HRT and TWA were implemented. HRV analysis was carried out by applying statistical and spectral parametric and nonparametric methods. HRT parameters were derived using the Schmidt algorithm. TWA analysis was performed both in spectral and in time domain by applying Poincare mapping. A flexibility of choosing from a number of classical modelling approaches and their modifications was foreseen and implemented. The software underwent preliminary verification tests both on ECGs from the Physionet online ECG signal repository and recordings taken at the Department of Electrocardiology of the Medical University Hospital in Lodz. Results The result of the research is a program enabling simultaneous analysis of a number of parameters computed from ECG recordings with the use of the indicated analysis methods. The program offers options to preview the intermediate results and to alter the preprocessing steps. Conclusions By offering the possibility to cross-validate the results of analyses obtained by several methods and to preview the intermediate analysis steps, the program can serve as a helpful aid for clinicians in comprehensive research studies. The software tool can also be utilized in training programs for students and medical personnel.
Crushing Virtual Cigarettes Reduces Tobacco Addiction and Treatment Discontinuation

Pilot studies revealed promising results regarding crushing virtual cigarettes to reduce tobacco addiction. In this study, 91 regular smokers were randomly assigned to two treatment conditions that differ only by the action performed in the virtual environment: crushing virtual cigarettes or grasping virtual balls. All participants also received minimal psychosocial support from nurses during each of 12 visits to the clinic. An affordable virtual reality system was used (eMagin HMD) with a virtual environment created by modifying a 3D game. Results revealed that crushing virtual cigarettes during 4 weekly sessions led to a statistically significant reduction in nicotine addiction (assessed with the Fagerström test), abstinence rate (confirmed with exhaled carbon monoxide), and drop-out rate from the 12-week psychosocial minimal-support treatment program. Increased retention in the program is discussed as a potential explanation for treatment success, and hypotheses are raised about self-efficacy, motivation, and learning.
Enzymes: principles and biotechnological applications

Enzymes are biological catalysts (also known as biocatalysts) that speed up biochemical reactions in living organisms, and which can be extracted from cells and then used to catalyse a wide range of commercially important processes. This chapter covers the basic principles of enzymology, such as classification, structure, kinetics and inhibition, and also provides an overview of industrial applications. In addition, techniques for the purification of enzymes are discussed.
The superoxide-generating oxidase of leucocytes. NADPH-dependent reduction of flavin and cytochrome b in solubilized preparations.

An NADPH-dependent O2. - -generating oxidase was solubilized from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-activated pig neutrophils by using a mixture of detergents. Recovery of oxidase was approx. 40%. The extract contained cytochrome b-245 (331 pmol/mg of protein) and FAD (421 pmol/mg of protein); approx. 30% of each was reduced within 60s when NADPH was added to anaerobic incubations. Three different additives, quinacrine, p-chloromercuribenzoate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, strongly inhibited O2. - generation; they also inhibited the reduction by NADPH of cytochrome b at the same low concentrations. In the presence of p-chloromercuribenzoate cytochrome b reduction was strongly inhibited and flavin reduction was less inhibited. A detergent extract prepared from non-stimulated neutrophils also contained flavin and cytochrome b, but its rate of O2. - production was less than 1% of that from activated cells; its initial rate of cytochrome b and flavin reduction was low, although the state of reduction at equilibrium was similar to that of extracts of activated cells. Even in the non-activated cell extract the reduction of flavin and cytochrome was made fast and complete when Methyl Viologen was added to the anaerobic incubations. The oxidase was temperature-sensitive, with a sharp maximum at 25 degrees C; temperatures above this caused loss of O2. - generation, and this coincided with loss of the characteristic cytochrome b spectrum, indicate of denaturation of the cytochrome. The cytochrome b formed a complex with butyl isocyanide (close to 100% binding at 10mM); butyl isocyanide also inhibited the oxidase activity of stimulated whole neutrophils (22.5% inhibition at 10mM). Photoreduced FMN stimulated O2 uptake by the oxidase. The results support a scheme of electron transport within the oxidase complex involving NADPH, FAD, cytochrome b-245 and O2 in that sequence.
On Optimality, Endogenous Discounting and Wealth Accumulation

We endogenize the discount rate via a broad measure of wealth and provide empirical evidence that wealth affects the discount rate negatively. We demonstrate that the Pontryagin conditions require positive felicity for intuitive results, whereas the concavity of the Hamiltonian requires negative felicity for optimality. This dilemma also holds for the endogenizations of Obstfeld (1990) and followers. We solve the model with positive felicity and resolve when optimality is possible. We discuss the impact on technological change, savings and convergence which are more in line with empirics. Finally, we discuss time consistency of a planner who cannot predict his preferences.
HIV-1 DNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cannabis use are associated with intermittent HIV shedding in semen of men who have sex with men on successful antiretroviral regimens.

BACKGROUND Few data exist on the efficacy of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in semen of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with sustained control of HIV replication in blood. METHODS HIV-1 infected MSM on successful cART for >6 months were enrolled. HIV-RNA was quantified in seminal plasma (spVL) and in blood plasma (bpVL) from 2 paired samples collected 4 weeks apart. Relationship between spVL and bpVL (measured by an ultrasensitive assay, LOQ 10 copies/mL), total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)-associated HIV-DNA, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and self-reported socio-behavioral characteristics was assessed using GEE logistic regression. RESULTS In total, 157 patients were included. Median time with bpVL <50 copies/mL was 3.3 years. spVL was detectable in 23/304 samples (prevalence 7.6%). Median spVL was 145 cp/mL (100-1475). spVL was detectable on the first, on the second, and on both samples in 5, 14, and 2 men, respectively. In sum, 33 individuals (21%) had STIs (asymptomatic in 24/33). Residual bpVL was undetectable by ultrasensitive assay in 225/300 samples (75%). After multivariable adjustments, PBMC-associated HIV-DNA (OR 2.6[1.2; 6.0], for HIV-DNA > 2.5 log10 cp/10(6) PBMC, P = . 02), and cannabis use during sexual intercourse (OR 2.8[1.2; 6.7], P = .02) were the only factors associated significantly with spVL. CONCLUSION We show that HIV-RNA can be detected intermittently in semen of HIV-1 infected MSM despite successful cART. The size of blood HIV-1 reservoir predicted spVL detection. Our results indicated also that the possible effect of cannabis should be taken into account when developing prevention interventions targeted toward HIV-infected MSM on successful cART.