Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD4 decline in seroconverter and seroprevalent individuals in the precombination of antiretroviral therapy era

Background:Studies based on seroconverters have increased our understanding of HIV disease. It is not clear, however, whether their disease progression differs from that of the general HIV population, given their reasons for presenting for testing. Methods:Using linear mixed models we compared CD4 decline rates for a seroconverter (CASCADE) and seroprevalent group (Concorde trial) with time origin being dates of seroconversion and randomization, respectively. Follow-up was censored at the earlier of last alive date and 1 January 1996. Analyses were adjusted for risk group, age and sex. To explore the role of symptomatic seroconversion we further categorized seroconverters into two groups: with and without an HIV test interval below 30 days as proxy. Results:The 7226 seroconverter and 1746 seroprevalent eligible individuals were mainly men (78 and 85%, respectively) infected through sex between men (52 and 63%) with mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] baseline CD4 cell count of 610 (602, 619) and 492 (479, 505) cells/μl, respectively. There was no evidence that rate of CD4 decline differs between the two groups even after adjusting for potential confounders (P = 0.67). Estimated loss in the year after reaching an arbitrary threshold of 400 cells/μl was 67 (95% CI 65, 69) and 67 (64, 69) cells/μl in the seroconverter and seroprevalent group, respectively. Whereas seroconverters with test interval below 30 days (n = 310) experienced faster decline, there was no difference in rates between other seroconverters and seroprevalent individuals (P = 0.87). Conclusions:These data suggest that estimates of HIV progression derived from seroconverters are likely to hold more generally for the HIV-infected population.
Modelling Paraphasias in Normal and Aphasic Speech

We model word substitution errors made by normal and aphasic speakers with an interactive activation model of lexicalization. This comprises a three-layer architecture of semantic, lexical, and phonological units. We test four hypotheses about the origin of aphasic word substitutions: that they result from pathological decay, loss of within-level inhibitory connections, increased initial random noise, or reduced flow of activation from the semantic to the lexical level. We conclude that a version of the final hypothesis best explains the aphasic data, but with random fluctuations in connection strength rather than a uniform decrement. This model accounts for aspects of recovery in aphasia, and frequency and imageability effects in paraphasias. Pathological lexical access is related to transient lexical access difficulties in normal speakers to provide an account of normal word substitution errors. We argue that similar constraints operate in each case. This model predicts imageability and frequency effects which are verified by analysis of our normal speech error data.
Rearrangeable nonblocking Log2d (N, m, p) networks

Previously, a new class of switching networks, called Log/sub 2/ (N, m, p) networks, has been created for high-speed switching systems. The basic switching element used is a 2/spl times/2 crossbar. Although it is generally true that different sizes of switching elements can be used as the basic building block for the same design paradigm, the results are quite different. The sizes of the basic building block are often a trade-off among many factors such as combinatorial power, computation time of routing, fault tolerance, hardware complexity, and growth rate of a network. The authors study the design principle for Log/sub 2d/ (N, m, p) systems in this paper where d/spl ges/1. >
Respiratory Virus Infections in Adults with Hematologic Malignancies: A Prospective Study

Abstract During a 2-year period, 157 consecutive episodes of respiratory virus infections that occurred in 130 patients with upper or lower respiratory tract infection were analyzed for respiratory viruses. A respiratory virus was identified in 75 episodes (48%), and several viruses were found in 13 episodes: there were a total of 56 influenza A virus infections, 14 respiratory syncytial virus infections, 8 adenovirus infections, 8 infections with parainfluenza virus types 1 or 3, and 7 enterovirus infections. On multivariate analysis, the only variable that predicted progression to pneumonia in patients with an upper respiratory tract infection was the presence of respiratory syncytial virus, whereas lymphocytopenia had a nonsignificant trend. Also, among the 38 patients who had pneumonia at any time during the episode, both respiratory syncytial virus and lymphocytopenia were commonly found. For both epidemiological and therapeutic considerations, frequent screening for respiratory viruses should be incorporated into the routine diagnostic study of patients with hematologic malignancies.
Maximum Bending Moment at Different Loading Level for the Six Cases

Drilled shafts have been frequently used as a foundation to support lateral loads. The p-y method of analysis has been widely used for predicting the behavior of laterally loaded drilled shafts. The existing p-y criteria for cohesive soils are divided into soft or stiff clays, on the basis of a limited number of lateral load test results. Currently, there is no p-y criterion developed for cohesive intermediate geomaterial. In this paper, a hyperbolic equation for p-y curve is presented for cohesive soils and intermediate geomaterials. Based on 3-D FEM simulation results, a new empirical equation is presented for calculating the initial tangent to p-y curve. The proposed hyperbolic p-y criterion is verified by using the results of six full-scale lateral load tests on fully instrumented drilled shafts with diameters ranging from 0.76 m to 1.83 m in the geo-medium ranging from soft clays to intermediate geomaterial. The proposed hyperbolic p-y criterion is shown to be capable of predicting the loaddeflection and bending moments of the laterally loaded shafts for the six cases studied in this paper.
Evaluation of the Perceptual Characteristics of a Force Induced by Asymmetric Vibrations

This paper describes the perceptual characteristics of a sense of a force induced by asymmetric vibration using a vibration speaker-type non-grounded haptic interface. We confirm that the vibration speaker generates a perceived force that pulls or pushes a user's hand in a particular direction when an asymmetric amplitude signal that is generated by inverting a part of a sine wave is input. In this paper, to verify the system with respect to various factors of force perception caused by asymmetric vibration, we conducted six experiments and the following results were obtained. (1) The force vector can be controlled by reversing the asymmetric waves. (2) By investigating the physical characteristics of the vibration, asymmetric vibration was confirmed. (3) The presentation of vibration in the shear direction on the finger pad is effective. (4) The point of subjective equality of the perceived force can be controlled by up to 0.43 N by changing the amplitude voltage of the input signals. (5) The minimum stimulation time required for force perception is 66.7 ms. (6) When the vibration is continuously presented for 40 to 50 s, the perceived force decreases because of adaptation. Hence, we confirmed that we can control both the direction and magnitude of the reaction force by changing the input signal of the vibration speaker.
From nominal to higher-order rewriting and back again

We present a translation function from nominal rewriting systems (NRSs) to combinatory reduction systems (CRSs), transforming closed nominal rules and ground nominal terms to CRSs rules and terms, respectively, while preserving the rewriting relation. We also provide a reduction-preserving translation in the other direction, from CRSs to NRSs, improving over a previously defined translation. These tools, together with existing translations between CRSs and other higher-order rewriting formalisms, open up the path for a transfer of results between higher-order and nominal rewriting. In particular, techniques and properties of the rewriting relation, such as termination, can be exported from one formalism to the other.
Biomechanical Pullout Strength and Stability of the Cervical Artificial Pedicle Screw

Study Design. This study used cadaveric specimens to compare the biomechanical performance of artificial pedicle screws (APS) versus lateral mass screws (LMS). Objective. The goal of this study was to biomechanically characterize APS range-of-motion and pullout strength in surgical instances that preclude LMS insertion. Summary of Background Data. Posterior approaches used in instances of ventral spine tumors often necessitate complete facetectomy, thereby removing fixation points for LMS and requiring longer constructs with fewer segmental fixations to span the resected levels. Recently, APS were developed to overcome this obstacle. Although APS have been used successfully in clinical cases, they have yet to be biomechanically validated. Methods. Seven fresh-frozen cervical spine segments (C2–C7) were harvested from human donors (F = 1, M = 6; 65 ± 5 years old, range: 50–72 years old). Nondestructive range-of-motion tests were conducted on each specimen in its intact and surgically destabilized states, and after each of 3 different APS and LMS surgical stabilizations. After nondestructive bending tests, a final pullout test of APS and LMS at the C4 level was performed for each specimen. Results. The pullout strength of the APS was twice as strong on average as that for the LMS (503.4 ± 338.3 vs.— 254.3 ± 142.3 N); this difference approached but was not statistically significant (P = 0.07). There was no significant difference in specimen stiffness between the APS- and LMS-instrumented configurations in all ranges of primary and off-axis motions (P > 0.05). However, all fixation methods increased specimen stiffness in comparison with the intact conditions (1.7–36.5 times increase; P < 0.05). Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that APS provide comparable stability to LMS and can therefore be considered a viable alternative in surgical scenarios requiring the complete removal of lateral masses. Moreover, APS may provide some enhanced strength in the face of destructive pullout forces.
GASTRIC ANTIBODIES STUDIED BY FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY.

Antibody specific for the mucosa of the body of human stomach was detected by the method of complement-fixation in 62 percent of patients with Addisonian pernicious anaemia, in 20 per cent of patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis, in 25 per cent of patients with spontaneous hypothyroidism, and in 3 per cent of blood donors. Using the technique of fluorescence microscopy the specificity of this gastric antibody has been further defined to a particulate component of parietal cell cytoplasm. It is an auto-antibody that will react equally well with homologous gastric mucosa provided the mucosa contains a normal concentration of healthy parietal cells. The indirect fluorescent antibody technique is a more sensitive test for parietal cell antibody than the method of complementfixation and the incidence of positive results in Addisonian pernicious anaemia, Hashimoto thyroiditis, spontaneous hypothyroidism and blood donors is correspondingly higher at 78, 25, 32 and 4 per cent respectively. Complementfixing gastric antibody is distinct from antibody to intrinsic factor but the latter does not appear to stain any other cell type in the gastric body mucosa with the fluorescent antibody technique. The relationship between pernicious anaemia, chronic thyroiditis and idiopathic adrenal insufficiency is discussed and it is argued that one of the basic factors in the pathogenesis of these three conditions is a genetically determined defect in immunological tolerance.
Complainer Profile Identification (CPI): properties of a new questionnaire on subjective cognitive complaints

ABSTRACT Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and their role as a possible indicator for subsequent dementia became of growing interest in recent research. In contrast to studies that focused primarily on memory complaints, we aimed to (a) evaluate a questionnaire to register SCC in multiple cognitive domains (Complainer Profile Identification, CPI), (b) assess the association between SCC and psychosocial variables, and (c) assess whether complainer types can be differentiated. Confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate construct validity was computed based on a sample of 734 healthy participants (mean [M] = 43.15 years). On a subsample of 644 participants, the relationship between the total level of SCC with age, depression, social integration, and aging stereotypes was assessed utilizing multiple regression analysis. Differences in complainer types were assessed by multivariate analysis of variance. The results indicate sound psychometric properties of the CPI. The overall level of SCC is largely influenced by depressiveness, whereas executive complainers show the highest level of depressive affect, being overall younger and less socially integrated.
Differences in the DNA sequence of the translational attenuator of several constitutively expressed erm(A) genes from clinical isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae.

OBJECTIVES To study the regulatory region of a constitutively expressed erm(A) gene in Streptococcus agalactiae clinical isolates. METHODS Thirty clinical isolates of S. agalactiae which were cross-resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin and with a clindamycin MIC higher than that of erythromycin were studied by PCR, sequencing and molecular typing. RESULTS PCR analysis revealed that all the strains harboured the erm(A) gene, either alone (26 isolates) or in combination with erm(B) (four isolates). Sequencing of the region upstream of erm(A) showed that all isolates possessed two types of genetic alteration. Most of the strains showed point mutations in the second leader peptide (mainly A137C) and, in four isolates (two clones), an insertion fragment with high homology to IS1381 and transposase genes was detected. Epidemiological analysis of strains indicated several clonal origins of isolates. CONCLUSIONS The mutations described here are thought to result in increased or constitutive expression of the erm(A) gene.
Poorly controlled type 1 diabetes is associated with altered glutathione homeostasis in adolescents: apparent resistance to N‐acetylcysteine supplementation

Blood glutathione concentrations represent a measure of protection against oxidative damage. In earlier studies, we observed that, in adolescents with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), blood glutathione is significantly depleted because of increased rates of glutathione utilization. To determine whether increased availability of cysteine – one of the three constitutive amino acids of glutathione – would attenuate the alterations in glutathione metabolism, ten 16 ± 1 yr‐old adolescents with poorly controlled T1DM [hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): 9.9 ± 1.3%] received 5‐h infusions of l‐[3,3‐2H2] cysteine and d‐[6,6‐2H2]glucose on two occasions, 3 wk apart, after a 10‐d oral supplementation with (i) N‐acetylcysteine (NAC, 30–45 mg/kg/d) or (ii) l‐alanine, in randomized order, and with a 3‐wk ‘washout’ interim period. Blood glucose was maintained in the same hyperglycemic range on both infusion study days, using intravenous insulin. Glutathione fractional synthesis rate (FSR) was determined from 2H2‐cysteine incorporation into blood glutathione. NAC supplementation failed to raise erythrocyte cysteine concentrations (23 ± 6 vs. 17 ± 1 μmol/L, p = 0.853) and did not alter erythrocyte glutathione concentrations (838 ± 106 vs. 793 ± 111 μmol/L, p = 0.220) or glutathione FSR (96 ± 20 vs. 89 ± 19%/d, p = 0.974). We conclude that in adolescents with poorly controlled T1DM, dietary cysteine supplementation alone cannot correct glutathione status. In the presence of relative insulinopenia, either higher amino acid doses or aggressive insulin therapy may be needed to achieve this goal. This would require further study.
Relation of pulse pressure and blood pressure reduction to the incidence of myocardial infarction.

To the editor I was extremely interested in the article by Madhavan et al "Relation of pulse pressure and blood pressure reduction to the incidence of myocardial infarction" (Hypertension. 1994;23:395401.), and I have personally no doubt as to the relevance of the data. However, I should like to comment on two points: the first one on the J-shaped curve, and the second one on the predictive value of body size on the risk of myocardial infarction. Because of the propagation of a pressure wave along the arterial tree and to the summation between incident and reflected pressure waves, pulse pressure is physiologically higher in peripheral than in central arteries for the same mean arterial pressure. Thus, it is difficult to extrapolate coronary systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressures from brachial pressure measurements. Particularly in younger subjects, systolic blood pressure is expected to be lower and diastolic blood pressure higher at the site of the coronary artery compared with the brachial artery. Subsequently, the finding of a J-shaped curve between brachial diastolic pressure and coronary events should be considered as a simple association and not as a cause-and-effect relation. There is another argument in favor of this interpretation. The so-called J-shaped curve presented in epidemiologic studies represents in fact a steady-state curve. This pattern does not represent at all the primary physiological experiments, which relate acute changes between pressure and flow, thus characterizing coronary pressure-flow curves. As established from studies of pulsatile arterial hemodynamics, pulse pressure is due to the summation between an incident pressure wave and a backward pressure wave. It is the backward pressure wave that may be detrimental to the heart, particularly when it returns during systole, thus causing a mechanical force that may be opposed to ventricular ejection. The backward pressure wave is influenced by several hemodynamic factors, one of the most important being the distance between the heart and reflection sites. When reflection sites are closer to the heart, there is an enhanced backward pressure wave and a higher pulse pressure. This distance is particularly influenced by the length of the vasculature and therefore by body height. This important aspect has been recently recognized in humans, particularly in subjects with end-stage renal disease. It probably explains the incidence of systolic hypertension in older women, whose height is shorter than that of men. Moreover, reduced height is now recognized as an independent factor for cardiovascular risk, particularly for myocardial infarction.1 should be pleased if you could introduce body height in your Cox model in order to evaluate whether this parameter may influence pulse pressure and/or the incidence of myocardial infarction.
Pallidal and thalamic deep brain stimulation in myoclonus‐dystonia

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) and ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus (VIM) are established treatment options in primary dystonia and tremor syndromes and have been reported anecdotally to be efficacious in myoclonus‐dystonia (MD). We investigated short‐ and long‐term effects on motor function, cognition, affective state, and quality of life (QoL) of GPi‐ and VIM‐DBS in MD. Ten MD‐patients (nine ε‐sarcoglycan‐mutation‐positive) were evaluated pre‐ and post‐surgically following continuous bilateral GPi‐ and VIM‐DBS at four time points: presurgical, 6, 12, and as a last follow‐up at a mean of 62.3 months postsurgically, and in OFF‐, GPi‐, VIM‐, and GPi‐VIM‐DBS conditions by validated motor [unified myoclonus rating scale (UMRS), TSUI Score, Burke‐Fahn‐Marsden dystonia rating scale (BFMDRS)], cognitive, affective, and QoL‐scores. MD‐symptoms significantly improved at 6 months post‐surgery (UMRS: 61.5%, TSUI Score: 36.5%, BFMDRS: 47.3%). Beneficial effects were sustained at long‐term evaluation post‐surgery (UMRS: 65.5%, TSUI Score: 35.1%, BFMDRS: 48.2%). QoL was significantly ameliorated; affective status and cognition remained unchanged postsurgically irrespective of the stimulation conditions. No serious long‐lasting stimulation‐related adverse events (AEs) were observed. Both GPi‐ and VIM‐DBS offer equally effective and safe treatment options for MD. With respect to fewer adverse, stimulation‐induced events of GPi‐DBS in comparison with VIM‐DBS, GPi‐DBS seems to be preferable. Combined GPi‐VIM‐DBS can be useful in cases of incapaciting myoclonus, refractory to GPi‐DBS alone. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
LOCAL MOVES AND GORDIAN COMPLEXES

By the works of Gusarov [2] and Habiro [3], it is known that a local move called the Cn move is strongly related to Vassiliev invariants of order less than n. The coefficient of the zn term in the Conway polynomial is known to be a Vassiliev invariant of order n. In this note, we will consider to what degree the relationship is strong with respect to Conway polynomial. Let K be a knot, and KCn the set of knots obtained from a knot K by a single Cn move. Let ∇K be the set of the Conway polynomials {∇K(z)}K∈K for a set of knots K. Our main result is the following: There exists a pair of knots K1, K2 such that ∇K1 = ∇K2, and ∇Kn 1 = ∇Kn 2 . In other words, the Cn Gordian complex is not homogeneous with respect to Conway polynomial.
ESTIMATING THE PROBABILITY OF LONG-DISTANCE OVERLAND DISPERSAL OF INVADING AQUATIC SPECIES

Accurately predicting the pattern and rate of spread of invading species is difficult, particularly for species that disperse long distances. Though relatively rare, and often stochastic, long-distance dispersal events increase the maximum rate and geographic extent of invasion. Human activities are responsible for the spread of many exotic species, particularly aquatic species such as the zebra mussel, which are primarily transported within North America by recreational boaters. We estimated spatial and temporal patterns of boating traffic among Wisconsin's inland waterbodies using results of a large, randomized survey of recreational boaters conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Re- sources. Of the survey respondents, >90% of boaters traveled locally, within a county or to adjacent counties, 8.4% moved >50 km, and only 0.8% moved extreme long distances (>261 km, two standard deviations above the mean of intercounty travel). Extreme long- distance boater movements were correlated positively with greater numbers of registered boaters in source and destination counties, and with greater surface area and numbers of named lakes in destination counties. We compared the observed spatial and temporal pat- terns of the zebra mussel invasion to those estimated from recreational boater movement by simple diffusion models. Diffusion models underestimated the maximum rate and geo- graphic extent of the zebra mussel invasion and overestimated the invasion of suitable habitats within this extent. Patterns of recreational boater activity in Wisconsin were a better predictor of the observed zebra mussel invasion pattern because they provided prob- abilistic estimates of invasion at finer spatial resolution. These estimates may be used to manage the spread of boater-dispersed aquatic invaders. To slow the spread of boater- dispersed aquatic invaders such as the zebra mussel, management efforts should target high- frequency, long-distance boater movements, and regions with the greatest volume of source and/or destination boater movement.