Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BUTIMBA: Intensifying the Hunt for Child TB in Swaziland through Household Contact Tracing

Background Limited data exists to inform contact tracing guidelines in children and HIV-affected populations. We evaluated the yield and additionality of household contact and source case investigations in Swaziland, a TB/HIV high-burden setting, while prioritizing identification of childhood TB. Methods In partnership with 7 local TB clinics, we implemented standardized contact tracing of index cases (IC) receiving TB treatment. Prioritizing child contacts and HIV-affected households, screening officers screened contacts for TB symptoms and to identify risk factors associated with TB. We ascertained factors moderating the yield of contact tracing and measured the impact of our program by additional notifications. Results From March 2013 to November 2015, 3,258 ICs (54% bacteriologically confirmed; 70% HIV-infected; 85% adults) were enrolled leading to evaluation of 12,175 contacts (median age 18 years, IQR 24–42; 45% children; 9% HIV-infected). Among contacts, 196 TB cases (56% bacteriologically confirmed) were diagnosed resulting in a program yield of 1.6% for all forms of TB. The number needed to screen (NNS) to identify a bacteriologically confirmed TB case or all forms TB case traced from a child IC <5 years was respectively 62% and 40% greater than the NNS for tracing from an adult IC. In year one, we demonstrated a 32% increase in detection of bacteriologically confirmed child TB. Contacts were more likely to have TB if <5 years (OR = 2.0), HIV-infected (OR = 4.9), reporting ≥1 TB symptoms (OR = 7.7), and sharing a bed (OR = 1.7) or home (OR = 1.4) with the IC. There was a 1.4 fold increased chance of detecting a TB case in households known to be HIV-affected. Conclusion Contact tracing prioritizing children is not only feasible in a TB/HIV high-burden setting but contributes to overall case detection. Our findings support WHO guidelines prioritizing contact tracing among children and HIV-infected populations while highlighting potential to integrate TB and HIV case finding.
A Complex Network Approach to Distributional Semantic Models

A number of studies on network analysis have focused on language networks based on free word association, which reflects human lexical knowledge, and have demonstrated the small-world and scale-free properties in the word association network. Nevertheless, there have been very few attempts at applying network analysis to distributional semantic models, despite the fact that these models have been studied extensively as computational or cognitive models of human lexical knowledge. In this paper, we analyze three network properties, namely, small-world, scale-free, and hierarchical properties, of semantic networks created by distributional semantic models. We demonstrate that the created networks generally exhibit the same properties as word association networks. In particular, we show that the distribution of the number of connections in these networks follows the truncated power law, which is also observed in an association network. This indicates that distributional semantic models can provide a plausible model of lexical knowledge. Additionally, the observed differences in the network properties of various implementations of distributional semantic models are consistently explained or predicted by considering the intrinsic semantic features of a word-context matrix and the functions of matrix weighting and smoothing. Furthermore, to simulate a semantic network with the observed network properties, we propose a new growing network model based on the model of Steyvers and Tenenbaum. The idea underlying the proposed model is that both preferential and random attachments are required to reflect different types of semantic relations in network growth process. We demonstrate that this model provides a better explanation of network behaviors generated by distributional semantic models.
Preoperative Assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and Right Ventricular Systolic Function Have Independent and Incremental Prognostic Value in Prediction of Early Postoperative Mortality in Redo Valve Surgery

Redo valve surgery is associated with increased risk of mortality that may be underestimated by current risk scores. In this study, we hypothesized that additional echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular diastolic and right ventricular systolic function would have independent prognostic value in the prediction of early postoperative mortality in patients undergoing redo valve surgery.
MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS OF RICE THROUGH ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACH

Rice is one of the most important staple foods of India including the state of Jharkhand. The crop is usually badly affected by half of a dozen of major insect pests . Use of chemical insecticides is one of the most effective tool of pest management but it’s injudicious usage has too many side effects. So use of eco– friendly and neem based tools of IPM namely HPR, suitable adjustment in dates of planting and use of eco-friendly insecticides is a need of present time for sustainable management of pests without harming the environment and ecosystem. Keeping all these facts in view the present investigation was undertaken. Out of 16 prevailing insect pest species in rice ecosystem, five of them occurred as major pest’s viz. YSB, hispa, leaf folder, GLH and ear bug. The rice varieties viz., Kavya, Suraksha, IR-36, and BG-380-2 remained resistant to the five major insect pests, resulting in higher yield of 38.70, 35.80, 26.70and 42.80 q/ha respectively, even when they were grown in the unprotected condition. TN-1, Pusa Basmati -1, IR-64,Swarna and Birsa mati exhibited susceptibility to the pests resulting in lower yield of 16.38 , 42.50, 38.50,40.50, and 44.50 q/ha respectively . Minimum incidence of major pests namely – YSB, hispa , GLH and gundhi bug was observed when the crop was transplanted at the earliest (i.e. on 1 of July , 15) whereas maximum incidence of gundhi bug was found when the transplantation of the crop was delayed. Highest yield was also found when the crop was transplanted at the earliest. Need based foliar sprays with neem based insecticides applied at 25, 35, 50, 80 and 115 days after transplanting (DAT) proved to be highly effective against prevailing major insect pest. Monocrotophos being the most effective in this regard resulting in the highest yield when compared to 11 neem based insecticides, Achook, Neemark, and NSKE-5% proved more effective in reducing the incidence of the major insect pests. As such, integration of various IPM tools i.e., HPR (i.e. resistant varieties) coupled with early planting of the crop, need based and judicious application of the neem formulations could be highly effective component (tool) as an integral part of IPM/ICM for sustainable rice production.
Transfer of spaTial-knowledge from virTual To real environmenT : effecT of acTive / passive learning depending on a TesT-reTesT procedure and The Type of reTrieval TesTs

The aim of this study was to compare subjects’ spatial performance on a pedestrian route depending on three factors: (1) the type of learning environment (real vs. virtual); (2) the exploration mode during the learning phase (active vs. passive); and (3) the type of spatial test administered at retrieval (i.e., wayfinding, sketch mapping, and picture ordering). Moreover, each subject was tested two times: 48hr and 7 days after the learning phase.
Joint Source and Relay Optimization for Two-Way MIMO Multi-Relay Networks

In this letter, we study two-way nonregenerative multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay communications with multiple relay nodes. An iterative algorithm is developed to jointly optimize the source, relay, and receive matrices such that the two-way sum mean-squared error (MSE) of the signal waveform estimation is minimized. Numerical examples demonstrate a better performance of the proposed algorithm compared with existing algorithms for two-way MIMO multi-relay networks.
Do digital innovations for HIV and sexually transmitted infections work? Results from a systematic review (1996-2017)

Objective Digital innovations with internet/mobile phones offer a potential cost-saving solution for overburdened health systems with high service delivery costs to improve efficiency of HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infections) control initiatives. However, their overall evidence has not yet been appraised. We evaluated the feasibility and impact of all digital innovations for all HIV/STIs. Design Systematic review. Setting/participants All settings/all participants. Intervention We classified digital innovations into (1) mobile health-based (mHealth: SMS (short message service)/phone calls), (2) internet-based mobile and/or electronic health (mHealth/eHealth: social media, avatar-guided computer programs, websites, mobile applications, streamed soap opera videos) and (3) combined innovations (included both SMS/phone calls and internet-based mHealth/eHealth). Primary and secondary outcome measures Feasibility, acceptability, impact. Methods We searched databases MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and Web of Science, abstracted data, explored heterogeneity, performed a random effects subgroup analysis. Results We reviewed 99 studies, 63 (64%) were from America/Europe, 36 (36%) from Africa/Asia; 79% (79/99) were clinical trials; 84% (83/99) evaluated impact. Of innovations, mHealth based: 70% (69/99); internet based: 21% (21/99); combined: 9% (9/99). All digital innovations were highly accepted (26/31; 84%), and feasible (20/31; 65%). Regarding impacted measures, mHealth-based innovations (SMS) significantly improved antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence (pooled OR=2.15(95%CI: 1.18 to 3.91)) and clinic attendance rates (pooled OR=1.76(95%CI: 1.28, 2.42)); internet-based innovations improved clinic attendance (6/6), ART adherence (4/4), self-care (1/1), while reducing risk (5/5); combined innovations increased clinic attendance, ART adherence, partner notifications and self-care. Confounding (68%) and selection bias (66%) were observed in observational studies and attrition bias in 31% of clinical trials. Conclusion Digital innovations were acceptable, feasible and generated impact. A trend towards the use of internet-based and combined (internet and mobile) innovations was noted. Large scale-up studies of high quality, with new integrated impact metrics, and cost-effectiveness are needed. Findings will appeal to all stakeholders in the HIV/STI global initiatives space.
Group music therapy for severe mental illness: a randomized embedded‐experimental mixed methods study

Music therapy is an innovative approach to support people with severe mental illness (SMI). The aim of the study was to determine whether group music therapy (GMT) positively impacted on quality of life (QoL), social enrichment, self‐esteem, spirituality and psychiatric symptoms of participants with SMI and how they experienced the intervention.
Nutrients for neurocognition in health and disease: measures, methodologies and mechanisms

Effective pharmaceutical treatments for age-related cognitive decline have proved elusive. There is, however, compelling evidence that nutritional status and supplementation could play crucial roles in modifying the expression of cognitive change through the lifespan. Subjective memory impairment and mild cognitive impairment can be harbingers of dementia but this is by no means inevitable. Neurocognitive change is influenced by a variety of processes, many of which are involved in other aspects of systemic health, including cardiovascular function. Importantly, many of these processes are governed by mechanisms which may be modified by specific classes of bioactive nutrients. There is increasing, converging evidence from controlled trials that nutritional interventions can improve mood and cognitive function in both clinical and healthy populations. Specific examples include selected botanical extracts such as the flavonoids. Some nutritional supplements (e.g. broad-spectrum micronutrient supplementation) appear to support improved cognitive function, possibly through redressing insufficient nutrient status (i.e. suboptimal but above the threshold for frank deficiency). Recent mechanistic research has unveiled physiologically plausible, modifiable, cognition-relevant targets for nutrition and nutraceuticals. These include processes involved in both systemic and central vascular function, inflammation, metabolism, central activation, improved neural efficiency and angiogenesis. The advent and development of human neuroimaging methodology have greatly aided our understanding of the core central mechanisms of cognitive change. Different imaging modalities can provide insights into modifiable central mechanisms which may be targeted by bioactive nutrients. The latter may contribute to slowing age-related decline through supporting neurocognitive scaffolding mechanisms.
Biohybrid Nanostructured Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Satureja hortensis to Prevent Fungal Biofilm Development

Cutaneous wounds are often superinfected during the healing process and this leads to prolonged convalescence and discomfort. Usage of suitable wound dressings is very important for an appropriate wound care leading to a correct healing. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the influence of a nano-coated wound dressing (WD) on Candida albicans colonization rate and biofilm formation. The modified WD was achieved by submerging the dressing pieces into a nanofluid composed of functionalized magnetite nanoparticles and Satureja hortensis (SO) essential oil (EO). Chemical composition of the EO was established by GC-MS. The fabricated nanostructure was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The analysis of the colonized surfaces using (Scanning Electron Microscopy) SEM revealed that C. albicans adherence and subsequent biofilm development are strongly inhibited on the surface of wound dressing fibers coated with the obtained nanofluid, comparing with regular uncoated materials. The results were also confirmed by the assay of the viable fungal cells embedded in the biofilm. Our data demonstrate that the obtained phytonanocoating improve the resistance of wound dressing surface to C. albicans colonization, which is often an etiological cause of local infections, impairing the appropriate wound healing.
Saliency Prediction with Active Semantic Segmentation

Ming Jiang1 mjiang@u.nus.edu Xavier Boix1,3 elexbb@nus.edu. sg Juan Xu1 jxu@nus.edu. sg Gemma Roig2,3 gemmar@mit.edu Luc Van Gool3 vangool@vision.ee. ethz.ch Qi Zhao1 eleqiz@nus.edu. sg 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering National University of Singapore Singapore 2 CBMM, LCSL Massachusetts Institute of Technology Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Cambridge, MA 3 Computer Vision Laboratory ETH Zurich Switzerland
Respiratory Viruses

In 1963 the World Health Organization established a system for the collection and distribution of information on viruses. By 1973 laboratories in 45 countries were participating in this scheme. The present study is an analysis of the reports on adenovirus, influenza viruses A, B, and C, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, rhinovirus, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae during 1967-73. In the northern hemisphere,from which over95 % of the reports were received, a clear pattern of the seasonal incidence ofdifferent respiratory tract infections emerged. Over 70 % of the total number of reported adenovirus infections, over 80 % ofthe parainfluenza virus infections, and over 90 % of the RS virus infections were in children. M. pneumoniae infections were most frequently reported in adults. Influenza A virus infection was predominant in the adult population, with a high proportion in those aged 60 years and over. Influenza B infections were reported equally in adults and children, but over one third were in children of school age. The proportion of lower respiratory infections to total respiratory infections variedfrom one virus to another, and rangedfrom less than halffor adenovirus to over four fifths for mycoplasma infections. Nonlocalizing fever was usually the second principal clinical condition reported in association with respiratory viruses.
trans-acting requirements for replication of Epstein-Barr virus ori-Lyt

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) utilizes a completely different mode of DNA replication during the lytic cycle than that employed during latency. The latency origin of replication, ori-P, which functions in the replication of the latent episomal form of the EBV genome, requires only a single virally encoded protein, EBNA-1, for its activity. During the lytic cycle, a separate origin, ori-Lyt, is utilized. Relatively little is known about the trans-acting proteins involved in ori-Lyt replication. We established a cotransfection-replication assay to identify EBV genes whose products are required for replication of ori-Lyt. In this assay, a BamHI-H plasmid containing ori-Lyt was replicated in Vero cells cotransfected with the BamHI-H target, the three EBV lytic-cycle transactivators Zta, Rta, and Mta, and the EBV genome provided in the form of a set of six overlapping cosmid clones. By removing individual cosmids from the cotransfection mixture, we found that only three of the six cosmids were necessary for ori-Lyt replication. Subcloning of the essential cosmids led to the identification of six EBV genes that encode replication proteins. These genes and their functions (either known or predicted on the basis of sequence comparison with herpes simplex virus) are BALF5, the DNA polymerase; BALF2, the single-stranded DNA-binding protein homolog; BMRF1, the DNA polymerase processivity factor; BSLF1 and BBLF4, the primase and helicase homologs; and BBLF2/3, a potential homolog of the third component of the helicase-primase complex. In addition, ori-Lyt replication in this cotransfection assay was also dependent on one or more genes provided by the EBV SalI-F fragment and on the three lytic-cycle transactivators Zta, Rta, and Mta.
Effects of risk assessment, predator behavior, and habitat on escape behavior in Columbian black-tailed deer

The relationship between preflight risk assessment by prey and the escape behaviors they perform while fleeing from predators is relatively unexplored. To examine this relationship, a human observer approached groups of Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), varying his behavior to simulate more or less threatening behavior. We measured the focal deer's angle of escape, distance moved during flight, duration of trotting and stotting behavior, and change in elevation during flight. Analyses revealed positive relationships between the distance moved during flight and the distance at which they fled. When flight was initiated when the approacher was close, deer fled relatively shorter distances and took flight paths at more acute angles, a property that would force a real predator to change direction suddenly. Our results indicate that deer do not compensate for allowing the observer to approach more closely by fleeing greater distances. Rather, distance moved and flight initiation distance are linked by level of reactivity and habituation: more reactive or less habituated deer both flee at a greater distance and move away to a greater distance during flight. More threatening behavior by the approacher led to longer durations of rapid flight behavior (e.g., trotting and stotting), and deer tended to flee uphill and into taller vegetation, using these landscape features as refuge from danger. Finally, we provide the first evidence for Pitcher's untested "antiambush" hypothesis for the function of stotting and discuss its significance. In general, both preflight predator behavior and habitat features influence both duration and direction of escape. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Fuzzy internal model controller of MCFC

A kind of fuzzy internal model controller (FIMC) is posed for molten carbonate fuel cell stack (MCFCS). MCFCS is a complex electrochemical system. It is difficult to control by the traditional controller. The new controller not only has the well-established structure of internal model controller (IMC), but also has the ability to deal with the nonlinear system or complex system with the help of fuzzy model. A fuzzy neural network (FNN) is used to model MCFCS. FNN structure and parameters are easier to comprehend than artificial neural network. After self-learning of structure and parameters of FNN, the fuzzy relational model (FRM) of MCFCS can be deduced from FNN model. Using the novel inversion method FRM is inverted and used in the internal model control structure. The performance of the control system is tested in the paper too.
The neural substrates of writing: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Background: Hypotheses regarding the neural substrates of writing have been derived from the study of individuals with acquired agraphia. Functional neuroimaging offers another methodology to test these hypotheses in neurologically intact individuals. Aims: This study was designed to identify possible neural substrates for the linguistic and motor components of writing in normal English-speaking individuals. Methods & Procedures: Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used with 12 adults to examine activation associated with generative writing of words from semantic categories contrasted with writing letters of the alphabet and drawing circles. In addition, the generative writing condition was contrasted with a subvocal generative naming condition. Outcomes & Results: Semantically guided retrieval of orthographic word forms for the generative writing condition revealed activation in the left inferior and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, as well as the left posterior inferior temporal lobe (BA 37). However, no activation was detected in the left angular gyrus (BA 39). The motor components of writing were associated with activation in left fronto-parietal cortex including the region of the intraparietal sulcus, superior parietal lobule, dorsolateral and medial premotor cortex, and sensorimotor areas for the hand. Conclusions: These observations suggest an important role of the left posterior inferior temporal cortex in lexical-orthographic processing and fail to support the long-held notion that the dominant angular gyrus is the storage site for orthographic representations of familiar words. Our findings also demonstrate the involvement of left superior parietal and frontal premotor regions in translating orthographic information into appropriate hand movements.
Infection Dynamics in Coexisting Sexual and Asexual Host Populations: Support for the Red Queen Hypothesis*

The persistence of sexual reproduction is a classic problem in evolutionary biology. The problem stems from the fact that, all else equal, asexual lineages should rapidly replace coexisting sexual individuals due to the cost of producing males in sexual populations. One possible countervailing advantage to sexual reproduction is that, on average, outcrossed offspring are more resistant than common clones to coevolving parasites, as predicted under the Red Queen hypothesis. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of infection by a sterilizing trematode (Microphallus sp.) in a natural population of freshwater snails that was composed of both sexual and asexual individuals (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). More specifically, we compared the frequency of infection in sexual and asexual individuals over a 5-year period at four sites at a natural glacial lake (Lake Alexandrina, South Island, New Zealand). We found that at most sites and over most years, the sexual population was less infected than the coexisting asexual population. Moreover, the frequency of uninfected sexual females was periodically greater than two times the frequency of uninfected asexual females. These results give clear support for a fluctuating parasite-mediated advantage to sexual reproduction in a natural population.