Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A randomized study comparing a three- and four-drug HAART regimen in first-line therapy (QUAD study).

BACKGROUND Evidence from randomized controlled trials supports the use of triple therapy. Research is required on the effectiveness of quadruple therapy in comparison to this and the relative effectiveness of specific highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) combinations. METHODS Antiretroviral-naive individuals (n = 53) with an HIV-1 viral load >100 000 copies/mL were randomized to receive three-drug HAART with zidovudine/lamivudine (Combivir) and efavirenz or quadruple therapy with zidovudine/lamivudine/abacavir (Trizivir) and efavirenz (quad regimen). Patients continued on HAART for 48 weeks with regular clinical and immunological assessment. Standard and ultrasensitive (<5 copies/mL) viral load testing was carried out. RESULTS A DAVG (difference in averages) analysis of the fall in viral load and increase in CD4 count showed no significant differences between regimens. Triple therapy resulted in a -4.17 log change (95% CI, -4.48 to -3.85) and quadruple therapy in a -4.36 log change (95% CI, -4.68 to -4.03) in viral load. For CD4 counts, the triple therapy arm increased by 164 cells/mm(3) (95% CI 112-217) and the quadruple arm by 185 (95% CI, 133-237). In an intent-to-treat analysis, 77% of patients in the triple therapy group reached an undetectable viral load (<50 copies/mL) compared with 84.2% of the quadruple therapy group. For ultrasensitive viral load testing, 23% and 18% of each group, respectively, reached undetectable viral loads. The hazard ratio for attaining a viral load of <5 copies/mL was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.26-1.33) for quadruple versus triple therapy. Three individuals in the triple therapy arm and nine in the quadruple therapy arm discontinued treatment. CONCLUSIONS No differences in any analyses were observed between a standard of care regimen (zidovudine/lamivudine and efavirenz) and the quad regimen (zidovudine/lamivudine/abacavir and efavirenz).
Effects of coiling on the micromechanics of the mammalian cochlea

The cochlea transduces sound-induced vibrations in the inner ear into electrical signals in the auditory nerve via complex fluid–structure interactions. The mammalian cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ, which is often uncoiled for cochlear modelling. In those few studies where coiling has been considered, the cochlear partition was often reduced to the basilar membrane only. Here, we extend our recently developed hybrid analytical/numerical micromechanics model to include curvature effects, which were previously ignored. We also use a realistic cross-section geometry, including the tectorial membrane and cellular structures of the organ of Corti, to model the apical and basal regions of a guinea-pig cochlea. We formulate the governing equations of the fluid and solid domains in a curvilinear coordinate system. The WKB perturbation method is used to treat the propagation of travelling waves along the coiled cochlear duct, and the O(1) system of the governing equations is solved in the transverse plane using finite-element analysis. We find that the curvature of the cochlear geometry has an important functional significance; at the apex, it greatly increases the shear gain of the cochlear partition, which is a measure of the bending efficiency of the outer hair cell stereocilia.
PI3K/Akt signaling requires spatial compartmentalization in plasma membrane microdomains

Spatial compartmentalization of signaling pathway components generally defines the specificity and enhances the efficiency of signal transduction. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is known to be compartmentalized within plasma membrane microdomains; however, the underlying mechanisms and functional impact of this compartmentalization are not well understood. Here, we show that phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 is activated in membrane rafts in response to growth factors, whereas the negative regulator of the pathway, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), is primarily localized in nonraft regions. Alteration of this compartmentalization, either by genetic targeting or ceramide-induced recruitment of PTEN to rafts, abolishes the activity of the entire pathway. These findings reveal critical steps in raft-mediated PI3K/Akt activation and demonstrate the essential role of membrane microdomain compartmentalization in enabling PI3K/Akt signaling. They further suggest that dysregulation of this compartmentalization may underlie pathological complications such as insulin resistance.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Inhibitors Block NMDA Antagonist-Stimulated Motoric Behaviors and Medial Prefrontal Cortical Glutamate Efflux

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a critical role in the motoric and glutamate releasing action of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-antagonist stimulants. Earlier studies utilized neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitors (nNOS) for studying the neurobehavioral effects of non-competitive NMDA-antagonist stimulants such as dizocilpine (MK-801) and phencyclidine (PCP). This study explores the role of the inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitors (iNOS) aminoguanidine (AG) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in NMDA-antagonist induced motoric behavior and prefrontal cortical glutamate eﬄux. Adult male rats were administered a dose range of AG, EGCG, or vehicle prior to receiving NMDA antagonists MK-801, PCP, or a conventional psychostimulant (cocaine) and tested for motoric behavior in an open arena. Glutamate in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was measured using in vivo microdialysis after a combination of AG or EGCG prior to MK-801. Acute administration of AG or EGCG dose-dependently attenuated the locomotor and ataxic properties of MK-801 and PCP. Both AG and EGCG were unable to block the motoric effects of cocaine, indicating the acute pharmacologic action of AG and EGCG is specific to NMDA antagonism and not generalizable to all stimulant class drugs. AG and EGCG normalized MK-801-stimulated mPFC glutamate eﬄux. These data demonstrate that AG and EGCG attenuates NMDA antagonist-stimulated motoric behavior and cortical glutamate eﬄux. Our results suggest that EGCG-like polyphenol nutraceuticals (contained in “green tea” and chocolate) may be clinically useful in protecting against the adverse behavioral dissociative and cortical glutamate stimulating effects of NMDA antagonists. Medications that interfere with NMDA antagonists such as MK-801 and PCP have been proposed as treatments for schizophrenia.
Resistant hypertension: a frequent and ominous finding among hypertensive patients with atherothrombosis.

AIMS The effect of resistant hypertension on outcomes in patients with atherothrombotic disease is currently unknown. Accordingly, we sought to determine the prevalence and outcomes of resistant hypertension in stable hypertensive outpatients with subclinical or established atherothombotic disease enrolled in the international Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) registry. METHODS AND RESULTS Resistant hypertension was defined as a blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg at baseline (≥130/80 mmHg if diabetes/renal insufficiency) with the use of ≥3 antihypertensive medications, including a diuretic. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke at 4 years. A total of 53 530 hypertensive patients were included. The prevalence of resistant hypertension was 12.7%; 6.2% on 3 antihypertensive agents, 4.6% on 4 agents, and 1.9% on ≥5 agents (mean: 4.7 ± 0.8). In addition to a diuretic, these patients were being treated mostly with ACE-inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (90.1%), beta-blockers (67.0%), and calcium channel blockers (50.8%). Patients with resistant hypertension had a higher risk of the primary endpoint on multivariable analysis [hazard ratio (HR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.20; P = 0.017], including an increased non-fatal stroke risk (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.10-1.45; P = 0.0008). Hospitalizations due to congestive heart failure were higher (P < 0.0001). Patients on ≥5 agents had a higher adjusted risk for the primary endpoint when compared with those on ≤3 agents (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION The presence of resistant hypertension identifies a subgroup of patients with hypertension and atherothrombosis who are at heightened risk for adverse long-term outcomes.
Part-Based Recognition of Handwritten Characters

In the part-based recognition method proposed in this paper, a handwritten character image is represented by just a set of local parts. Then, each local part of the input pattern is recognized by a nearest-neighbor classifier. Finally, the category of the input pattern is determined by aggregating the local recognition results. This approach is opposed to conventional character recognition approaches which try to benefit from the global structure information as much as possible. Despite a pessimistic expectation, we have reached recognition rates much higher than 90% for a digit recognition task. In this paper we provide a detailed analysis in order to understand the results and find the merits of the local approach.
Effects of melatonin and phospholipid on adhesion formation and correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rats.

BACKGROUND The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of melatonin and phospholipid on adhesion formation and the correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in rats. METHODS Sixty Wistar-Albino rats were divided into four groups as sham, control and two study groups, each including 15 rats. In the sham group, laparotomy was the only procedure. Left lower parietal peritoneum was abraded after laparotomy and serosal defects formed on the cecum, ileum and right uterine horn in the study and control groups. Ringer lactate was then applied to the control group, while melatonin and phospholipid suspension were applied separately in the two study groups. Relaparotomy was performed in all groups on the 15th day to score and evaluate the adhesion formation. RESULTS Adhesion formation was significantly lower in the sham, melatonin and phospholipid groups than in the control group (p<0.05). VEGF staining was significantly higher in the control group with adhesion areas compared to the other groups (p<0.05). When VEGF staining was compared, there was no significant difference between VEGF- stained and normal areas in the melatonin and phospholipid groups. CONCLUSION Melatonin and phospholipid decreased the adhesion formation in an experimental adhesion model in rats. There is a correlation between adhesion severity and VEGF expression.
Creep Behavior of Cement Paste, Mortar, and Concrete: The Role of Relative Humidity and Interface Porosity

Delayed deformations in concrete under sustained loading may depend on complex chemo-hydro-mechanical phenomena. Generally, the creep deformation of a cement paste is distinguished in the short-term and long-term. Simply speaking, the former can be associated to the diffusion of gel water in pores and cracks and it is mainly volumetric (i.e., volumetric deformation), reversible, and bounded. The latter can be associated to the sliding of the sheets of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (C-S-H), which is mainly deviatoric (i.e., shape deformation), irreversible and with an unbounded asymptotic deformation. From an experimental point of view, recent studies have shown that microindentation is a powerful technique to quickly characterize basic creep thanks to the reduced characteristic time of a sample size of few micrometers. The objective of this project is twofold: (1) investigating the effect of relative humidity on the creep behavior by microindentation; (2) characterize the viscous behavior of the interface transition zones (ITZ) around a rigid inclusion. In particular, the project investigated two different relative humidity, 33% and 85%, by considering both creep and relaxation microindentation tests. The presented results show the effect of the moisture content on the creep behavior of cement paste both at short and long terms. In addition, the results showed that the ITZ zone around an aggregate showed higher creep than the bulk cement paste. Those results provide new insights to understand the role of water and interface porosity on the creep mechanisms of concrete.
A super-compact 0dB/3dB forward coupler composed of multi-layered CRLH transmission lines with double left-handed shunt-inductors

This paper proposes a super-compact 0dB/3dB forward coupler composed of symmetrically installed two multi-layered (ML) composite right-/left-handed (CRLH) transmission lines (TLs). Each CRLH TL has double left-handed shunt-inductors to produce a large phase difference between even and odd modes, leading to significant size-reduction of forward couplers. Utilizing an inherent superior feature of ML CRLH TLs, that is, a large electrical length can be provided by an extremely short physical length, a 0dB/3dB forward coupler is designed at 3.0 GHz and 4.0 GHz respectively with very short coupling length of 1.57 mm. The dimensions of the coupler is 5.0 × 7.0 × 2.85 mm3 with a dielectric material of εr=2.59.
0.7-V Three-Stage Class-AB CMOS Operational Transconductance Amplifier

A simple high-performance architecture for bulk-driven operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) is presented. The solution, suitable for operation under sub 1-V single supply, is made up of three gain stages and, as an additional feature, provides inherent class-AB behavior with accurate and robust standby current control. The OTA is fabricated in a 180-nm standard CMOS technology, occupies an area of $19.8\cdot 10^{-3}\ \text{mm}^{2}$ and is powered from 0.7 V with a standby current consumption of around 36 $\mu\text{A}$. DC gain and unity gain frequency are 57 dB and 3 MHz, respectively, under a capacitive load of 20 pF. Overall good large-signal and small-signal performances are achieved, making the solution extremely competitive in comparison to the state of the art.
Relationship between hypnosis and personality trait in participants with high or low hypnotic susceptibility

Background The relationship between normal personality and hypnotic susceptibility is important for understanding mental processing and mental disorders, but it is less consistent in normal people or in patients with a psychiatric disorder. We have hypothesized that the correlation exists but varies in individuals with different levels of hypnotizability. Participants and methods We invited 72 individuals with high (HIGH group) and 47 individuals with low (LOW group) hypnotic susceptibilities to undertake tests of NEO-PI-R and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSSC). Results The HIGH group scored significantly higher than the LOW group did on openness to experience and its facet openness to feelings. In the LOW group, SHSSC total was positively predicted by openness to ideas; age regression was positively predicted by openness to experience and negatively predicted by extraversion; anosmia to ammonia was negatively predicted by agreeableness; and negative visual hallucination was positively predicted by openness to experience. In the HIGH group, hallucinated voice was positively predicted by openness to experience and negatively predicted by agreeableness, and posthypnotic amnesia was positively predicted by extraversion and negatively predicted by openness to experience. Conclusion The associations between normal personality traits and hypnotic susceptibility items were weak and different in the two groups, which imply that managing mental or somatoform disorders might be through adjusting hypnotizability and mobilizing personality functions.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the tensor vastus intermedius: A topographic study based on anatomical dissections

The tensor of the vastus intermedius (TVI) is a newly described component of the extensor apparatus of the knee joint. The objective of this study was to evaluate the appearance of the TVI on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and its association with the adjacent vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus intermedius (VI) muscles and to compare these findings with the corresponding anatomy. MR images were analyzed from a cadaveric thigh where the TVI, as part of the extensor apparatus of the knee joint, had been dissected. The course of the TVI in relation to the adjacent VL and VI was studied. The anatomic dissection and MR imaging revealed a multilayered organization of the lateral extensor apparatus of the knee joint. The TVI is an intervening muscle between the VL and VI that combined into a broad flat aponeurosis in the midthigh and merged into the quadriceps tendon. Dorsally, the muscle fibers of the TVI joined those of the VL and VI and blended into the attachment at the lateral lip of the linea aspera. In this area, distinguishing between these three muscles was not possible macroscopically or virtually by MR imaging. In the dorsal aspect, the onion‐like muscle layers of the VL, TVI, and VI fuse to a hardly separable muscle mass indicating that these muscles work in conjunction to produce knee extension torque when knee joint action is performed. Clin. Anat. 30:1096–1102, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Queueing processes in GPS and PGPS with LRD traffic inputs

Long range dependent (LRD) traffic whose single server queue process is Weibull Bounded (WB) is first analyzed. Two upper bounds on the individual session's queue length of LRD traffic under the generalized processor sharing (GPS) scheduling discipline are then contributed. It is shown that the index parameter in the upper bound of one LRD flow, (in addition to the decay rate and the asymptotic constant), may be affected by other LRD flows. A new concept, called LRD isolation, is subsequently contributed and accompanying it, a new technique is contributed to check whether a flow, with a given GPS weight assignment, can be guaranteed to be LRD isolated. This technique is also amenable for use in an online call admission control (CAC) scenario. When existing flows have already been assigned contract weights that cannot be changed, our technique can be used to determine minimum contract weights to be assigned to a new flow in order to guarantee the flow to be LRD isolated. The results are also extended to a PGPS (packet-based GPS) scheduler and relevant numerical results are provided to show the usefulness of our bounds and LRD isolation technique.
Relationship between maternal periodontal disease and Apgar score of newborns

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal periodontal disease and the health status of newborns using Apgar scores. Methods One hundred pregnant women with periodontal disease were included in the case series and 100 pregnant women without periodontal disease were placed in the control group, respectively. The periodontal parameters of bleeding on probing (BOP), clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD), birth weight, and Apgar scores were recorded in both groups. T-tests and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to determine the birth weight odds ratio to analyze the relationship between the periodontal parameters of BOP, CAL, and PD on the one hand and an Apgar score of less than 7. An unpaired Student's t-test was used to analyze differences in means between the case and control groups using SPSS ver. 13. Results The means of the ages, periodontal pocket depths, attachment loss, areas with BOP, Apgar score in the first 5 minutes and infant birth weight exhibited statistically significant differences between the case and control groups. The ratio of an Apgar score of <7 to periodontal disease was 3.14; the ratio of low birth weight risk in mothers with periodontal disease to that in mothers without periodontal disease was 2.74. Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed a significant correlation between the infant birth weight and BOP, CAL, and PD of the mother. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the Apgar score and BOP, CAL, and PD and also between the Apgar score and infant birth weight. Conclusions The results of this study showed a significant relationship between periodontal disease and infant birth weight; in addition, there was a significant relationship between the periodontal indexes of BOP, CAL, and PD on the one hand and the Apgar score on the other.
Maximizing Energy Efficiency in Multiple Access Channels by Exploiting Packet Dropping and Transmitter Buffering

Quality of service (QoS) for a network is characterized in terms of various parameters specifying packet delay and loss tolerance requirements for the application. The unpredictable nature of the wireless channel demands for application of certain mechanisms to meet the QoS requirements. Traditionally, medium access control (MAC) and network layers perform these tasks. However, these mechanisms do not take (fading) channel conditions into account. In this paper, we investigate the problem using cross layer techniques where information flow and joint optimization of higher and physical layer is permitted. We propose a scheduling scheme to optimize the energy consumption of a multiuser multi-access system such that QoS constraints in terms of packet loss are fulfilled while the system is able to maximize the advantages emerging from multiuser diversity. Specifically, this work focuses on modeling and analyzing the effects of packet buffering capabilities of the transmitter on the system energy for a packet loss tolerant application. We discuss low complexity schemes which show comparable performance to the proposed scheme. The numerical evaluation reveals useful insights about the coupling effects of different QoS parameters on the system energy consumption and validates our analytical results.
Identification and characterisation of mutations underlying Sanfilippo syndrome type B (mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB)

Sanfilippo syndrome type B or mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG, EC 3.2.1.50). NAG catalyses the removal of terminal α-N-acetylglucosamine residues from heparan sulphate. In the absence of NAG, partially degraded heparan sulphate accumulates in tissues and is excreted in the urine. Affected subjects show developmental delay, attention deficit disorder, uncontrollable hyperactivity, and aggressive behaviour, followed by progressive dementia with death usually in the late teens.1 Cloning of the NAG gene and cDNA has enabled studies of the molecular basis of this syndrome.2,3 At present, over 50 different mutations underlying MPS IIIB have been identified, including deletions, insertions, point mutations, and splicing site mutations.3–10 The extensive allelic heterogeneity reflects the wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes reported in MPS IIIB patients.11 In this study, the molecular lesions of six unrelated Chinese patients with MPS IIIB were investigated. Five novel and two previously reported mutations were found. We used transient expression studies to examine the effects of the mutations on NAG catalytic activity, mRNA stability, and protein stability. ### DNA preparation and PCR amplification The six patients with MPS IIIB had a typical, severe disease course with symptoms and enzyme deficiency diagnosed during early childhood. Patients 773 and 155 died at 8 and 17 years, respectively. The four living patients are 4 to 9 years old, all with moderate mental retardation. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood according to standard procedures.12 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of NAG exons including adjacent intronic regions was done with primers and conditions listed in table 1. Genomic DNA (100 ng) was used for a 25 μl PCR reaction containing 10 mmol/l Tris, pH 8.3, 50 mmol/l KCl, 0.1% triton X-100, 0.2 mmol/l dNTPs, 0.4 μmol/l of each primer, and 0.5 U …