Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biofilm-Forming Ability of Candida albicans Is Unlikely To Contribute to High Levels of Oral Yeast Carriage in Cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

ABSTRACT An increased prevalence of candidal carriage and oral candidiasis is common in cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and the reasons for this may include the enhanced ability of colonizing yeasts to produce biofilms on mucosal surfaces. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine the differences, if any, in the biofilm-forming abilities of 26 Candida albicans yeast isolates from HIV-infected individuals and 20 isolates from HIV-free individuals, as this attribute of yeast isolates from patients with HIV disease has not been examined before. Biofilm formation in microtiter plate wells was quantitatively determined by both the 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) reduction method and the crystal violet method. Although candidal biofilm formation could be quantitatively evaluated by either technique, the better reproducibility (P < 0.05) of the XTT reduction assay compared with that of the crystal violet method led us to conclude that the former is more reliable. There were no significant quantitative differences in biofilm formation between C. albicans isolates from HIV-infected patients and isolates from HIV-free individuals during in vitro incubation in a multiwell culture system over a period of 66 h. Three of eight host factors in the HIV-infected group were found to be associated with candidal biofilm formation. Thus, yeasts isolated from older individuals and those with higher CD4-cell counts exhibited decreased biofilm formation, while the findings for yeasts from individuals receiving zidovudine showed the reverse (P < 0.05 for all comparison). Our data indicate that attributes other than biofilm formation may contribute to the increased oral yeast carriage rates in cases of HIV infection.
IL‐6 in diabetes and cardiovascular complications

IL‐6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that participates in normal functions of the immune system, haematopoiesis, metabolism, as well as in the pathogenesis of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Both pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory roles of IL‐6 have been described, which are distinguished by different cascades of signalling transduction, namely classic and trans‐signalling. The present review summarizes the basic principles of IL‐6 signalling and discusses its roles in diabetes and associated cardiovascular complications, with emphasis on the different outcomes mediated by the two modes of IL‐6 signalling and the value of developing therapeutic strategies to specifically target the deleterious trans‐signalling of IL‐6.
An Interactive Video System for Learning and Knowledge Management

Interactive videos have high potential in a wide range of learning scenarios in both private and professional life. Due to their unique combination of characteristics they can be used to create situational, exploratory and personalized learning experiences. As we are currently investigating the applicability, costs and benefits of interactive videos, we learned that interactive videos are a useful instrument especially in several areas of knowledge management, E-Business and E-Learning as well as entertainment. This article aims at providing a comprehensive understanding for the context, functionality, technical implementation and suitable application scenarios of interactive video as well as provide experience gathered in several application projects in practice.
aparoscopic Surgery for Cancer : Systematic Review and a Way Forward

s o r C lthough laparoscopic approaches are used for many abominal procedures and allow for faster recovery of bowel unction, better immunologic response, and overall accelrated recovery for the patient, use of laparoscopy for caner surgery is still a matter of debate. For patients with ancer, questions remain about the immunologic implicaions of laparoscopic surgery, the adequacy and standardzation of laparoscopic techniques, risk for disease recurence, and impact on survival. The safety and efficacy of aparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer has certainly een established, but the same rigorous approach to other ancers has yet to be reported. In this article, we review the urrent data and state of the art for laparoscopic approaches n abdominal cancer surgery.
Subthalamic Nucleus Neurons Are Synchronized to Primary Motor Cortex Local Field Potentials in Parkinson's Disease

In Parkinson's disease (PD), striatal dopamine denervation results in a cascade of abnormalities in the single-unit activity of downstream basal ganglia nuclei that include increased firing rate, altered firing patterns, and increased oscillatory activity. However, the effects of these abnormalities on cortical function are poorly understood. Here, in humans undergoing deep brain stimulator implantation surgery, we use the novel technique of subdural electrocorticography in combination with subthalamic nucleus (STN) single-unit recording to study basal ganglia–cortex interactions at the millisecond time scale. We show that in patients with PD, STN spiking is synchronized with primary motor cortex (M1) local field potentials in two distinct patterns: first, STN spikes are phase-synchronized with M1 rhythms in the theta, alpha, or beta (4–30 Hz) bands. Second, STN spikes are synchronized with M1 gamma activity over a broad spectral range (50–200 Hz). The amplitude of STN spike-synchronized gamma activity in M1 is itself rhythmically modulated by the phase of a lower-frequency rhythm (phase-amplitude coupling), such that “waves” of phase-synchronized gamma activity precede the occurrence of STN spikes. We show the disease specificity of these phenomena in PD, by comparison with STN-M1 paired recordings performed in a group of patients with a different disorder, primary craniocervical dystonia. Our findings support a model of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop in PD in which gamma activity in primary motor cortex, modulated by the phase of low-frequency rhythms, drives STN unit discharge.
The Dust Opacity of Star‐forming Galaxies

The presence of dust in galaxies removes one‐half or more of the stellar energy from the UV‐optical budget of the universe and has a profound impact on our understanding of how galaxies evolve. Measures of opacity in local galaxies are reviewed together with widely used theoretical and empirical methods for quantifying its effects. Existing evidence shows that the dust content of nearby galaxies depends not only on their morphology but also on their luminosity and activity level. A digression is devoted to starbursts in view of their potential relevance for measures of opacity in distant galaxies. Scarcity of coherent multiwavelength data sets hampers our ability to derive reliable obscuration estimates in intermediate‐ and high‐redshift galaxies. This, in turn, limits the reliability of inferred physical quantities, such as star formation rates, stellar population ages, galaxy luminosity functions, and others.
A Two-Phase Clustering Analysis for B2B Customer Segmentation

In recent years data mining (DM) has been heavily applied in customer relationship management (CRM). The objective of this paper is the categorization of customer records into several groups in the Business-to-Business (B2B) context, using clustering analysis. The obtained categories are then used to make suitable marketing strategy recommendations for each group of customers. This is accomplished by first using the Length, Recency, Frequency, Monetary (LRFM) customer lifetime value model, which scores customers according to four attributes, the relationship length with the company (L), recency of latest transaction (R), purchasing frequency (F), and monetary value of customer (M). Secondly, the paper introduces a proposed enhanced clustering model using the k-means++ algorithm, where customer records are segmented based on their respective LRFM values. Also, the proposed model is integrated with a bootstrapping phase, where the selection of the number of clusters is performed by employing both the Calinski-Harabasz and Rand cluster validity indices. In addition, the firmographics data of each customer are taken into account by analyzing groups based on both the sale sector, and the location of customers, as means of enhancing the clustering analysis. Finally, the clustering results are evaluated and discussed. This study is performed on a dataset obtained from a well-known, multi-national, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company in Egypt, resulting in useful insights into the nature of their customers.
The comparison of surface hardness between thermoplastic nylon resin and heat-cured acrylic resin

The surface hardness level of a denture base material is related to the resistance to abrasion, scratch, polishing and water sorption. Nowadays, thermoplastic nylon resins and heat-cured acrylic resins are used as denture base materials. Denture base must be immersed in water to maintain its humidity. The objective of this research was to compare the surface hardness level between thermoplastic nylon resins and heat-cured acrylic resins. Materials used for the research were thermoplastic nylon resins from Valplast and heat-cured acrylic resins QC-20, with a sample size of 64x(10±0.03)x(2.5±0.03) mm. Surface hardness is measured with Vickers Microhardness Tester and the data were analyzed by ANOVA method. The results showed that comparison ratio of surface hardness level between thermoplastic nylon resins and heat-cured acrylic resins before immersion is 3.2:7.3 VHN respectively, while the comparison value of both resins after immersion is 2.8:6.6 VHN. In conclusion, the surface hardness level of thermoplastic nylon resins is lower compared to heat-cured acrylic resins. This result is due to thermoplastic nylon resin’s higher porosity, its different polymer chains, and the plasticizers effect after immersion in water.
On Reasoning with Default Rules and Exceptions

We report empirical results on factors that influence how people reason with default rules of the form "Most x's have property P", in scenarios that specify information about exceptions to these rules and in scenarios that specify default-rule inheritance. These factors include (a) whether the individual, to which the default rule might apply, is similar to a known exception, when that similarity may explain why the exception did not follow the default, and (b) whether the problem involves classes of naturally occurring kinds or classes of artifacts. We consider how these findings might be integrated into formal approaches to default reasoning and also consider the relation of this sort of qualitative default reasoning to statistical
Manuka honey vs. hydrogel--a prospective, open label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial to compare desloughing efficacy and healing outcomes in venous ulcers.

OBJECTIVE Comparison of desloughing efficacy after four weeks and healing outcomes after 12 weeks in sloughy venous leg ulcers treated with Manuka honey (Woundcare 18+) vs. standard hydrogel therapy (IntraSite Gel). BACKGROUND Expert opinion suggests that Manuka honey is effective as a desloughing agent but clinical evidence in the form of a randomised controlled trial is not available. There is a paucity of research which uses Manuka honey in venous ulcers. DESIGN Prospective, multicentre, open label randomised controlled trial. METHOD Randomisation was via remote telephone. One hundred and eight patients with venous leg ulcers having >or=50% wound area covered in slough, not taking antibiotics or immunosuppressant therapy were recruited from vascular centres, acute and community care hospitals and leg ulcer clinics. The efficacy of WoundCare 18+ to deslough the wounds after four weeks and its impact on healing after 12 weeks when compared with IntraSite Gel control was determined. Treatment was applied weekly for four weeks and follow-up was made at week 12. RESULTS At week 4, mean % reduction in slough was 67% WoundCare 18+ vs. 52.9% IntraSite Gel (p = 0.054). Mean wound area covered in slough reduced to 29% and 43%, respectively (p = 0.065). Median reduction in wound size was 34% vs. 13% (p = 0.001). At 12 weeks, 44% vs. 33% healed (p = 0.037). Wounds having >50% reduction in slough had greater probability of healing at week 12 (95% confidence interval 1.12, 9.7; risk ratio 3.3; p = 0.029). Infection developed in 6 of the WoundCare 18+ group vs. 12 in the IntraSite Gel group. CONCLUSION The WoundCare 18+ group had increased incidence of healing, effective desloughing and a lower incidence of infection than the control. Manuka honey has therapeutic value and further research is required to examine its use in other wound aetiologies. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study confirms that Manuka honey may be considered by clinicians for use in sloughy venous ulcers. Additionally, effective desloughing significantly improves healing outcomes.
Wesleyan University From the SelectedWorks of Ruth Striegel Weissman 2007 Longitudinal patterns of breakfast eating in black and white adolescent girls

ALBERTSON, ANN M. , DEBRA L. FRANKO, DOUGLAS THOMPSON, ALISON L. ELDRIDGE, NORT HOLSCHUH, SANDRA G. AFFENITO, ROBERT BAUSERMAN, AND RUTH H. STRIEGEL-MOORE. Longitudinal patterns of breakfast eating in black and white adolescent girls. Obesity. 2007;15:2282–2292. Objective: The objective was to describe the pattern of breakfast eating over time (“breakfast history”) and examine its associations with BMI and physical activity. Research Methods and Procedures: This longitudinal investigation of patterns of breakfast eating included 1210 black and 1161 white girls who participated in the 10-year, longitudinal National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS). Three-day food records were collected during annual visits beginning at ages 9 or 10 up to age 19. Linear regression and path analysis were used to estimate the associations between breakfast history, BMI, and physical activity. Results: Among girls with a high BMI at baseline, those who ate breakfast more often had lower BMI at the end of the study (age 19), compared with those who ate breakfast less often. Path analysis indicated that energy intake and physical activity mediated the association between patterns of breakfast eating over time and BMI in late adolescence. Discussion: The association between regular breakfast consumption over time and moderation of body weight among girls who began the study with relatively high BMI suggests that programs to address overweight in children and adolescents should emphasize the importance of physical activity and eating breakfast consistently.
Assessment of nickel alloy 625 weld overlays deposited by the electroslag process

Abstract Nickel-base alloy weld overlays are commonly used in the oil and gas industry to extend the life of equipment under aggressive corrosion environments, since the overlays improve the corrosion resistance without a significant increase in the cost of manufacture when compared to massive equipment. Usually, the joints are welded by SMAW, GMAW or GTAW processes. In this respect, the electro slag welding process (ESW), which promotes high heat inputs and low dilution welds, can be an interesting option for this application as it provides high productivity as only one layer is necessary. The present work evaluates mechanical, microstructural and corrosion properties of an Alloy 625 weld overlay deposited on ASTM A516 Grade 70 carbon steel by the ESW process. The deposition was done with one and two layers in plates of dimension 50 mm × 400 mm × 400 mm, in the flat position and an average energy welding 11.7 kJ/mm. After welding, a post-weld heat treatment at 620 °C for 10 h was performed, this condition being compared with the as-welded condition. Bending tests showed no evidences of cracks. Microstructural evaluation performed using both optical (OM), scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy techniques showed an austenitic microstructure of the weld deposit with a low proportion of secondary phases for all conditions, and the post-welding heat treatment did not promote significant changes in the mechanical properties. At the coarse grain heat-affected zone (CGHAZ), the occurrence of proeutectoid ferrite, pearlite and bainite were found for one layer deposit and refined pearlite and ferrite for two layer deposits where the microstructural constituents were observed due to the low cooling rate. In addition, no evidence of partially diluted zones (PDZ) were verified. Corrosion tests conducted on samples removed from the top layer of the weld overlay cladding deposit according to ASTM G 48 Method A Standard were considered satisfactory once no evidence of pittings was verified and the loss of mass was very much reduced.
DETERMINANTS OF PREGNANCY AND INDUCED AND SPONTANEOUS ABORTION IN A JOINTLY DETERMINED FRAMEWORK: EVIDENCE FROM A COUNTRY-WIDE, DISTRICT-LEVEL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN INDIA

Summary This study provides evidence on the principal determinants of pregnancy and abortion in India using a large country-wide district-level data set (DLHS 2007). The paper provides an economic framework for the analysis of pregnancy and abortion. The study distinguishes between induced and spontaneous abortion and compares the effects of their determinants. The results show that there are wide differences between induced and spontaneous abortions in terms of the sign and magnitude of the estimated effects of several of their determinants, most notably wealth, the woman's age and her desire for children. The study makes a methodological contribution by proposing a trivariate probit estimation framework that recognizes the joint dependence of pregnancy and induced and spontaneous abortion, and provides evidence in support of this joint dependence. The study reports an inverted U-shaped effect of a woman's age on her pregnancy and both forms of abortion. The turning point in each case is quite robust to the estimation framework. A significant effect of contextual variables, at the village level, constructed from the individual responses, on a woman's pregnancy is found. The effects are weaker in the case of induced abortion, and insignificant in the case of spontaneous abortion. The results are shown to be fairly robust. This paper extends the literature on the relation between son preference and fertility by examining the link between mother's son preference and desire for more children with abortion rates.
Two Lamprey Hedgehog Genes Share Non-Coding Regulatory Sequences and Expression Patterns with Gnathostome Hedgehogs

Hedgehog (Hh) genes play major roles in animal development and studies of their evolution, expression and function point to major differences among chordates. Here we focused on Hh genes in lampreys in order to characterize the evolution of Hh signalling at the emergence of vertebrates. Screening of a cosmid library of the river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis and searching the preliminary genome assembly of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus indicate that lampreys have two Hh genes, named Hha and Hhb. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that Hha and Hhb are lamprey-specific paralogs closely related to Sonic/Indian Hh genes. Expression analysis indicates that Hha and Hhb are expressed in a Sonic Hh-like pattern. The two transcripts are expressed in largely overlapping but not identical domains in the lamprey embryonic brain, including a newly-described expression domain in the nasohypophyseal placode. Global alignments of genomic sequences and local alignment with known gnathostome regulatory motifs show that lamprey Hhs share conserved non-coding elements (CNE) with gnathostome Hhs albeit with sequences that have significantly diverged and dispersed. Functional assays using zebrafish embryos demonstrate gnathostome-like midline enhancer activity for CNEs contained in intron2. We conclude that lamprey Hh genes are gnathostome Shh-like in terms of expression and regulation. In addition, they show some lamprey-specific features, including duplication and structural (but not functional) changes in the intronic/regulatory sequences.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine and Protection against Pandemic (H1N1) 2009-Associated Illness among US Military Personnel

Introduction A novel A/H1N1 virus is the cause of the present influenza pandemic; vaccination is a key countermeasure, however, few data assessing prior seasonal vaccine effectiveness (VE) against the pandemic strain of H1N1 (pH1N1) virus are available. Materials and Methods Surveillance of influenza-related medical encounter data of active duty military service members stationed in the United States during the period of April–October 2009 with comparison of pH1N1-confirmed cases and location and date-matched controls. Crude odds ratios (OR) and VE estimates for immunized versus non-immunized were calculated as well as adjusted OR (AOR) controlling for sex, age group, and history of prior influenza vaccination. Separate stratified VE analyses by vaccine type (trivalent inactivated [TIV] or live attenuated [LAIV]), age groups and hospitalization status were also performed. For the period of April 20 to October 15, 2009, a total of 1,205 cases of pH1N1-confirmed cases were reported, 966 (80%) among males and over one-half (58%) under 25 years of age. Overall VE for service members was found to be 45% (95% CI, 33 to 55%). Immunization with prior season's TIV (VE = 44%, 95% CI, 32 to 54%) as well as LAIV (VE = 24%, 95% CI, 6 to 38%) were both found to be associated with protection. Of significance, VE against a severe disease outcome was higher (VE = 62%, 95% CI, 14 to 84%) than against milder outcomes (VE = 42%, 95% CI, 29 to 53%). Conclusion A moderate association with protection against clinically apparent, laboratory-confirmed Pandemic (H1N1) 2009-associated illness was found for immunization with either TIV or LAIV 2008–09 seasonal influenza vaccines. This association with protection was found to be especially apparent for severe disease as compared to milder outcome, as well as in the youngest and older populations. Prior vaccination with seasonal influenza vaccines in 2004–08 was also independently associated with protection.
Structural and Optical Properties of Luminescent Copper(I) Chloride Thin Films Deposited by Sequentially Pulsed Chemical Vapour Deposition

Sequentially pulsed chemical vapour deposition was used to successfully deposit thin nanocrystalline films of copper(I) chloride using an atomic layer deposition system in order to investigate their application to UV optoelectronics. The films were deposited at 125 °C using [Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene](hexafluoroacetylacetonato)copper(I) as a Cu precursor and pyridine hydrochloride as a new Cl precursor. The films were analysed by XRD, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SEM, photoluminescence, and spectroscopic reflectance. Capping layers of aluminium oxide were deposited in situ by ALD (atomic layer deposition) to avoid environmental degradation. The film adopted a polycrystalline zinc blende-structure. The main contaminants were found to be organic materials from the precursor. Photoluminescence showed the characteristic free and bound exciton emissions from CuCl and the characteristic exciton absorption peaks could also be detected by reflectance measurements.