Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toxicities associated with dual nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimens in HIV-infected children.

BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy includes a backbone of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Toxicities associated with NRTIs are not fully defined in children. METHODS We studied 2233 children < or =13 years of age who were perinatally infected with HIV and were receiving > or =2 NRTIs, to determine the relative toxicities of the 5 most common NRTI pairs: zidovudine (ZDV)/lamivudine (3TC), ZDV/didanosine (ddI), stavudine (d4T)/3TC, d4T/ddI, and ddI/3TC. Incidence rates for clinical and laboratory toxicities were estimated, and NRTI pairs were compared with regard to the time to the first toxicity. RESULTS The most common clinical toxicities noted were hepatitis, peripheral neuropathy, lipodystrophy/lipoatrophy, and pancreatitis, whereas the most common laboratory toxicities were an elevated anion gap, an increased total amylase level, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Overall, regimens containing ZDV were associated with a significantly lower rate of clinical toxicities than were those containing d4T (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.49; P = .02) ); regimens containing ddI were associated with a significantly lower rate of laboratory toxicities than were those containing 3TC (adjusted HR, 0.78; P = .04). ZDV/3TC was associated with a lower rate of clinical toxicities than were d4T/ddI and ddI/3TC and with a higher rate of laboratory toxicities than was ZDV/ddI. ZDV/ddI was associated with a lower rate of clinical toxicities than was d4T/3TC. CONCLUSIONS In children, regimens containing ZDV have less toxicity than do those containing d4T, thereby supporting their use in first-line regimens. D4T/3TC, d4T/ddI, and ddI/3TC have similar toxicity rates and are appropriate for second-line therapy.
Oral manifestations in growth hormone disorders

Growth hormone is of vital importance for normal growth and development. Individuals with growth hormone deficiency develop pituitary dwarfism with disproportionate delayed growth of skull and facial skeleton giving them a small facial appearance for their age. Both hyper and hypopituitarism have a marked effect on development of oro-facial structures including eruption and shedding patterns of teeth, thus giving an opportunity to treating dental professionals to first see the signs and symptoms of these growth disorders and correctly diagnose the serious underlying disease.
KNN-CF Approach: Incorporating Certainty Factor to kNN Classification

— K NN classification finds k nearest neighbors of a query in training data and then predicts the class of the query as the most frequent one occurring in the neighbors. This is a typical method based on the majority rule. Although majority-rule based methods have widely and successfully been used in real applications, they can be unsuitable to the learning setting of skewed class distribution. This paper incorporates certainty factor (CF) measure to k NN classification, called k NN-CF classification, so as to deal with the above issue. This CF-measure based strategy can be applied on the top of a k NN classification algorithm (or a hot-deck method) to meet the need of imbalanced learning. This leads to that an existing k NN classification algorithm can easily be extended to the setting of skewed class distribution. Some experiments are conducted for evaluating the efficiency, and demonstrate that the k NN-CF classification outperforms standard k NN classification in accuracy .
Dynamics of Inter-Meeting Time in Human Contact Networks

We envision new communication paradigms, using physical dynamic interconnectedness among people. Delay Tolerant Networks (DTNs) are a new communication paradigm to support such network environments, and our focus is a type of DTN that provides intermittent communication for humans carrying mobile devices: the Pocket Switched Network (PSN). Information propagation in PSNs is highly influenced by human connectivity networks, i.e. social networks. In our previous work, we have exploited constructing weighted networks using characteristics of pair connections such as the duration of contact time and frequency of contacts from time series of human connectivity network traces. The approach we took is based on empirical and heuristic and the focus is finding a single aggregated logical network structure. The physical network topology in the real world is time dependent and it is a complex task to describe its dynamics. This paper aims to identify dynamics of meeting groups in human connectivity traces, where meeting groups are expected to be a group interacting among the nodes in physical space. Thus, we define ‘meeting group’ differently from ‘community’. We exploit statistical approach that provides quantitative attributes to uncover meeting groups. We identify the power law behavior of meetings that is important for supporting to understanding dynamics of information flow between meeting groups and building group oriented communication protocol.
From Nash Equilibria to Chain Recurrent Sets: Solution Concepts and Topology

Nash's universal existence theorem for his notion of equilibria was essentially an ingenious application of fixed point theorems, the most sophisticated result in his era's topology --- in fact, recent algorithmic work has established that Nash equilibria are in fact computationally equivalent to fixed points. Here, we shift focus to universal non-equilibrium solution concepts that arise from an important theorem in the topology of dynamical systems that was unavailable to Nash. This approach takes as input both a game and a learning dynamic, defined over mixed strategies. Nash equilibria are guaranteed to be fixed points of such dynamics; however, the system behavior is captured by a more general object that is known in dynamical systems theory as chain recurrent set. Informally, once we focus on this solution concept, every game behaves like a potential game with the dynamic converging to these states. We characterize this solution for simple benchmark games under replicator dynamics, arguably the best known evolutionary dynamic in game theory. For potential games it coincides with the notion of equilibrium; however, in simple zero sum games, it can cover the whole state space. We discuss numerous novel computational as well as structural, combinatorial questions that chain recurrence raises.
Potential Value of Major Antigenic Protein 2 for Serological Diagnosis of Heartwater and Related Ehrlichial Infections

ABSTRACT Cowdria ruminantium is the etiologic agent of heartwater, a disease causing major economic loss in ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. Development of a serodiagnostic test is essential for determining the carrier status of animals from regions where heartwater is endemic, but most available tests give false-positive reactions with sera against relatedErhlichia species. Current approaches rely on molecular methods to define proteins and epitopes that may allow specific diagnosis. Two major antigenic proteins (MAPs), MAP1 and MAP2, have been examined for their use as antigens in the serodiagnosis of heartwater. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine if MAP2 is conserved among five geographically divergent strains ofC. ruminantium and (ii) to determine if MAP2 homologs are present in Ehrlichia canis, the causative agent of canine ehrlichiosis, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the organism responsible for human monocytic ehrlichiosis. These two agents are closely related to C. ruminantium. The map2gene from four strains of C. ruminantium was cloned, sequenced, and compared with the previously reported map2gene from the Crystal Springs strain. Only 10 nucleic acid differences between the strains were identified, and they translate to only 3 amino acid changes, indicating that MAP2 is highly conserved. Genes encoding MAP2 homologs from E. canis and E. chaffeensisalso were cloned and sequenced. Amino acid analysis of MAP2 homologs ofE. chaffeensis and E. canis with MAP2 ofC. ruminantium revealed 83.4 and 84.4% identities, respectively. Further analysis of MAP2 and its homologs revealed that the whole protein lacks specificity for heartwater diagnosis. The development of epitope-specific assays using this sequence information may produce diagnostic tests suitable for C. ruminantium and also other related rickettsiae.
Multi-task Learning with Labeled and Unlabeled Tasks

In multi-task learning, a learner is given a collection of prediction tasks and needs to solve all of them. In contrast to previous work, which required that annotated training data is available for all tasks, we consider a new setting, in which for some tasks, potentially most of them, only unlabeled training data is provided. Consequently, to solve all tasks, information must be transferred between tasks with labels and tasks without labels. Focusing on an instance-based transfer method we analyze two variants of this setting: when the set of labeled tasks is fixed, and when it can be actively selected by the learner. We state and prove a generalization bound that covers both scenarios and derive from it an algorithm for making the choice of labeled tasks (in the active case) and for transferring information between the tasks in a principled way. We also illustrate the effectiveness of the algorithm by experiments on synthetic and real data.
Estimating in situ exposure in the presence of acoustic nonlinearity.

Evidence is presented for excess attenuation of pulsed ultrasound due to finite amplitude effects in water. Measurements on a modern scanner are used to demonstrate that linear derating can underestimate many exposure quantities, including all safety indices apart from the cranial thermal index. More appropriate methods for estimating in situ exposure are reviewed. A preferred procedure that requires exposure measurements to be made in water under "small signal" conditions is selected. A spectral index is defined that is proposed as an indicator of finite amplitude effects, where spectral index = 0.1 defines the threshold between nonlinear and quasi‐linear conditions.
Incidence of tuberculosis and mycobacteriosis among HIV-infected patients--clinical and epidemiological analysis of patients from north-eastern Poland.

INTRODUCTION According to WHO data, among patients infected with HIV, tuberculosis occurs in about 30% of patients and causes approximately 25% of deaths due to AIDS worldwide. The incidence rate of tuberculosis in the Polish population was 22.2/100,000 in 2011, while the average in European Union countries in 2011 was 14/100,000. Since 1985 to 30 April 2013 HIV infection in Poland was confirmed in 16,588 patients, while the number of reported tuberculosis cases in HIV-infected individuals in 2011 was 26. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical course of tuberculosis and mycobacterial disease in HIV-infected patients treated in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology in Białystok. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analysed documentation of 577 HIV-infected patients, their demographic data, epidemiological status, degree of immunosuppression (T CD4 and CD8 numbers) and stage of HIV infection. RESULTS Complete follow-up was possible in 389 patients, of whom 265 (68%) were male. Tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed in 41 patients (10.5%) and mycobacteriosis in 4 patients (1.03%). In 19 patients (42%) HIV and TB or mycobacteriosis were diagnosed simultaneously. The median CD4 T lymphocyte count was lower in patients with a simultaneous diagnosis of HIV and tuberculosis or mycobacteriosis compared to the group in whom TB/mycobacteriosis was diagnosed later. The number of CD4 T-cells less than 50 cells/μL was found in 63.2% (12/19) of patients when HIV and TB or mycobacteriosis were diagnosed simultaneously and in 38.5% (10/26) of patients who were diagnosed with TB or mycobacteriosis later than the HIV infection (p = 0.14). The median HIV viral load in patients in whom HIV infection and tuberculosis or mycobacteriosis were diagnosed at the same time was higher than in other patients and this difference was statistically significant. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common form of clinical disease and accounted for 60% of all cases. Among the analysed cases with HIV and tuberculosis or mycobacteriosis coinfection, tuberculosis or mycobacteriosis was the cause of death in 8 patients, and 9 died of other causes. CONCLUSION In our material of 389 HIV-infected patients, tuberculosis was diagnosed in 41 (10.5%) and mycobacterial diseases in 4 (1.03%). In 42% of co-infected patients (HIV+TB or mycobacteriosis) the diagnosis of both diseases was made at the same time. In these patients, a deep deficit of cellular immunity (CD4 < 50 cells/μL) was observed more frequently than in patients diagnosed with TB or mycobacteriosis in the later course of HIV. HIV RNA viral load was significantly higher in the group diagnosed simultaneously than in the remaining patients with HIV and TB or mycobacteriosis coinfection.
Send Orders of Reprints at Reprints@benthamscience.net Prp for the Treatment of Cartilage Pathology

In recent years biological strategies are being more widely used to treat cartilage lesions. One of the most exploited novel treatments is Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP), whose high content of growth factors is supposed to determine a regenerative stimulus to cartilaginous tissue. Despite many promising in vitro and in vivo studies, when discussing clinical application a clear indication for the use of PRP cannot be assessed. There are initial encouraging clinical data, but only a few randomized controlled trials have been published, so it is not possible to fully endorse this kind of approach for the treatment of cartilage pathology. Furthermore, study comparison is very difficult due to the great variability in PRP preparation methods, cell content and concentration, storage modalities, activation methods and even application protocols. These factors partially explain the lack of high quality controlled trials up to now. This paper discusses the main aspects concerning the basic biology of PRP, the principal sources of variability, and summarizes the available literature on PRP use, both in surgical and conservative treatments. Based on current evidence, PRP treatment should only be indicated for low-grade cartilage degeneration and in case of failure of more traditional conservative approaches.
A synthesis of nitrogen transformations and transfers from land to the sea in the Yaqui Valley agricultural region of northwest Mexico

Intensification of agricultural systems represents one of the most significant land use changes of the last century. High fertilizer inputs have been a key component of intensification and have contributed to increases in crop yield in most areas, but they can also cause profound alterations in the biogeochemical functioning of the soil, water, and air resources of these systems, particularly with regard to the nutrient nitrogen (N). Comprehensive studies linking field‐scale fertilization with regional N fates and consequences for water resources are surprisingly sparse, particularly in the rapidly developing tropics and subtropics. Here we synthesize 15 years of research in wheat fields, drainage canals, estuaries, and coastal waters of the Yaqui Valley region of Sonora, Mexico. Although a relatively low proportion (<4%) of total N inputs are exported via surface water to the coast, the episodic nature of these losses can have significant ecological consequences. For instance, gaseous and dissolved N fluxes from agricultural fields are among the highest observed, and N‐rich runoff from the Yaqui Valley fuels phytoplankton blooms in coastal waters. Reductions in N losses with improved timing of fertilizer application relative to crop demand are possible without negatively affecting crop yield or quality and may help to move this and similar regions closer to sustainability.
Algorithmic Design of CMOS LNAs and PAs for 60-GHz Radio

Sixty-gigahertz power (PA) and low-noise (LNA) amplifiers have been implemented, based on algorithmic design methodologies for mm-wave CMOS amplifiers, in a 90-nm RF-CMOS process with thick 9-metal-layer Cu backend and transistor fT/fMAX of 120 GHz/200 GHz. The PA, fabricated for the first time in CMOS at 60 GHz, operates from a 1.5-V supply with 5.2 dB power gain, a 3-dB bandwidth >13 GHz, a P 1dB of +6.4 dBm with 7% PAE and a saturated output power of +9.3 dBm at 60 GHz. The LNA represents the first 90-nm CMOS implementation at 60 GHz and demonstrates improvements in noise, gain and power dissipation compared to earlier 60-GHz LNAs in 160-GHz SiGe HBT and 0.13-mum CMOS technologies. It features 14.6 dB gain, an IIP 3 of -6.8 dBm, and a noise figure lower than 5.5 dB, while drawing 16 mA from a 1.5-V supply. The use of spiral inductors for on-chip matching results in highly compact layouts, with the total PA and LNA die areas with pads measuring 0.35times0. 43 mm2 and 0.35times0. 40 mm2, respectively
Non-equivalence of Key Positively Charged Residues of the Free Fatty Acid 2 Receptor in the Recognition and Function of Agonist Versus Antagonist Ligands*

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced in the gut by bacterial fermentation of poorly digested carbohydrates. A key mediator of their actions is the G protein-coupled free fatty acid 2 (FFA2) receptor, and this has been suggested as a therapeutic target for the treatment of both metabolic and inflammatory diseases. However, a lack of understanding of the molecular determinants dictating how ligands bind to this receptor has hindered development. We have developed a novel radiolabeled FFA2 antagonist to probe ligand binding to FFA2, and in combination with mutagenesis and molecular modeling studies, we define how agonist and antagonist ligands interact with the receptor. Although both agonist and antagonist ligands contain negatively charged carboxylates that interact with two key positively charged arginine residues in transmembrane domains V and VII of FFA2, there are clear differences in how these interactions occur. Specifically, although agonists require interaction with both arginine residues to bind the receptor, antagonists require an interaction with only one of the two. Moreover, different chemical series of antagonist interact preferentially with different arginine residues. A homology model capable of rationalizing these observations was developed and provides a tool that will be invaluable for identifying improved FFA2 agonists and antagonists to further define function and therapeutic opportunities of this receptor.
Strategy-Proofness and Pivotal Voters: A Direct Proof of the Gibbard-Satterthwaite Theorem

This paper presents a proof of the Gibbard-Satterthwaite theorem. The importance of the theorem itself has been widely recognized, and there already exist several alternative proofs. The present one is offered because it is technically simple, direct, and emphasizes the role of pivotal individuals in the manipulation of voting schemes. Some indirect proofs of the theorem rely on the connections between voting schemes and social welfare functions, and one interesting corollary of such proofs is to provide new arguments in behalf of Arrow's condition of independence of irrelevant alternatives. Yet, a direct proof has the advantage of showing the complete independence of the manipulation phenomena from any requirement of consistency in choice under varying sets of alternatives. Also, our proof emphasizes the role of pivotal individuals in manipulation. A classical approach in social choice theory is to concentrate on the global distribution of power among groups of agenits, i.e., on the ability of coalitions to impose outcomes regardless of the preferences of agents not in the coalition. For example, standard proofs of Arrow's Theorem concentrate on decisive coalitions, to end up proving that there must exist one such coalition containing a single individual, the dictator. Our approach concentrates on the local distribution of power among single agents, i.e., on the ability of each single individual to determine the social outcome, given the preferences of all other members of society. ' This approach may be more intuitive for some readers; moreover, it closely parallels the work on incentives in economic environments with public goods and suggests a possible way to unify results which have been obtained from different initial specifications. We do not attempt such a rejoinder here, but let us observe the following. For certain environments with public goods, where transfer payments make perfect sense, nontrivial strategy-proof mechanisms can be obtained by appropriately taxing pivotal agents so that they take into account the costs that their actions impose upon others.2 One explanation for the nonexistence of equivalent mechanisms in our case is that the environment, as specified, does not allow for a corresponding procedure whereby different costs to individuals could be attached to different acts of preference revelation.
Pre-Trial EEG-Based Single-Trial Motor Performance Prediction to Enhance Neuroergonomics for a Hand Force Task

We propose a framework for building electrophysiological predictors of single-trial motor performance variations, exemplified for SVIPT, a sequential isometric force control task suitable for hand motor rehabilitation after stroke. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data of 20 subjects with mean age of 53 years was recorded prior to and during 400 trials of SVIPT. They were executed within a single session with the non-dominant left hand, while receiving continuous visual feedback of the produced force trajectories. The behavioral data showed strong trial-by-trial performance variations for five clinically relevant metrics, which accounted for reaction time as well as for the smoothness and precision of the produced force trajectory. 18 out of 20 tested subjects remained after preprocessing and entered offline analysis. Source Power Comodulation (SPoC) was applied on EEG data of a short time interval prior to the start of each SVIPT trial. For 11 subjects, SPoC revealed robust oscillatory EEG subspace components, whose bandpower activity are predictive for the performance of the upcoming trial. Since SPoC may overfit to non-informative subspaces, we propose to apply three selection criteria accounting for the meaningfulness of the features. Across all subjects, the obtained components were spread along the frequency spectrum and showed a variety of spatial activity patterns. Those containing the highest level of predictive information resided in and close to the alpha band. Their spatial patterns resemble topologies reported for visual attention processes as well as those of imagined or executed hand motor tasks. In summary, we identified subject-specific single predictors that explain up to 36% of the performance fluctuations and may serve for enhancing neuroergonomics of motor rehabilitation scenarios.