Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rates and determinants of hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen and hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance during long-term follow-up of patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B virus

Objective:This study determines rates and risk factors associated with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen (HBeAg) seroclearance, two important prognostic indicators during infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), in a large contemporary cohort of patients coinfected with HIV–HBV. Design:Prospective cohort study of predominately antiretroviral therapy (ART) experienced, coinfected patients. Methods:Participants enrolled in the French HIV–HBV Cohort had complete HBV serological battery conducted at inclusion and every yearly visit. Piecewise-exponential survival models were used to determine risk factors associated with seroclearance. Results:A total of 290 patients, of whom 151 (52.1%) were HBeAg positive, had been followed for a median 7.4 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 3.1–8.0). Tenofovir (TDF) containing ART became increasingly more frequent, as rates of undetectable HBV-DNA increased accordingly (at baseline = 39.3%, end of follow-up = 91.0%). In HBeAg-positive patients, 60 of 151 had HBeAg seroclearance (cumulative 46.4% at end of follow-up) after a median 3.0 years (IQR = 2.0–4.9). Overall, 17 of 290 patients had HBsAg seroclearance (cumulative 7.4% at end of follow-up) after a median 4.6 years (IQR = 2.1–7.2). Lower levels of time-averaged cumulative HBV-DNA were significantly associated with both HBeAg and HBsAg seroclearance (P < 0.001 and P = 0.01, respectively). In post hoc analysis among patients initiating TDF, incidence rates of HBeAg seroclearance peaked at year 4 of TDF treatment (13.1/100 person-years), whereas a steep drop in HBsAg seroclearance incidence rates occurred after year 3 (at year 3 = 1.2/100 person-years versus thereafter = 0.6/100 person-years). Conclusion:HBsAg seroclearance and, to a lesser extent, HBeAg seroclearance remain difficult endpoints for patients coinfected with HIV–HBV to achieve. HBV-DNA suppression, associated with effective treatment, is strongly linked to seroclearance, but this mostly occurs within the first years of ART-containing highly potent anti-HBV activity.
Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Sporadic Breast Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Background A large number of epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between Epstein-Barr virus infection and breast carcinoma risk but results have been inconsistent. Methodology Research using the polymerase chain reaction technique for detecting the Epstein-Barr virus was selected; 24 studies and 1535 cases were reviewed. Information on the study populations, sample types, publication calendar period and histological types of breast carcinoma were collected. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to analyze potential parameters related to the Epstein-Barr virus prevalence. A Kappa test was used to evaluate the consistency in detecting different Epstein-Barr virus DNA regions. Nine studies that included control groups and 1045 breast cancer cases were adopted in this meta-analysis. Conclusions We found that 29.32% of the patients with breast carcinoma were infected with the Epstein-Barr virus. The prevalence of Epstein-Barr was highest in Asia (35.25%) and lowest in the USA (18.27%). Statistical analysis revealed a trend that showed lobular breast carcinoma might have the strongest association with Epstein-Barr virus infection. This meta-analysis showed a significant increase in breast malignancy risk in patients testing positive for the Epstein-Barr virus (OR = 6.29, 95% CI = 2.13–18.59). This result suggests that an Epstein-Barr virus infection is statistically associated with increased breast carcinoma risk.
Understanding neurophobia: Reasons behind impaired understanding and learning of neuroanatomy in cross‐disciplinary healthcare students

Recent studies have highlighted a fear or difficulty with the study and understanding of neuroanatomy among medical and healthcare students. This has been linked with a diminished confidence of clinical practitioners and students to manage patients with neurological conditions. The underlying reasons for this difficulty have been queried among a broad cohort of medical, dental, occupational therapy, and speech and language sciences students. Direct evidence of the students’ perception regarding specific difficulties associated with learning neuroanatomy has been provided and some of the measures required to address these issues have been identified. Neuroanatomy is perceived as a more difficult subject compared to other anatomy topics (e.g., reproductive/pelvic anatomy) and not all components of the neuroanatomy curriculum are viewed as equally challenging. The difficulty in understanding neuroanatomical concepts is linked to intrinsic factors such as the inherent complex nature of the topic rather than outside influences (e.g., lecture duration). Participants reporting high levels of interest in the subject reported higher levels of knowledge, suggesting that teaching tools aimed at increasing interest, such as case‐based scenarios, could facilitate acquisition of knowledge. Newer pedagogies, including web‐resources and computer assisted learning (CAL) are considered important tools to improve neuroanatomy learning, whereas traditional tools such as lecture slides and notes were considered less important. In conclusion, it is suggested that understanding of neuroanatomy could be enhanced and neurophobia be decreased by purposefully designed CAL resources. This data could help curricular designers to refocus attention and guide educators to develop improved neuroanatomy web‐resources in future. Anat Sci Educ 11: 81–93. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.
Appetitive and Aversive goal values are encoded in the medial orbitofrontal cortex at the time of decision-making

An essential feature of choice is the assignment of goal values (GVs) to the different options under consideration at the time of decision making. This computation is done when choosing among appetitive and aversive items. Several groups have studied the location of GV computations for appetitive stimuli, but the problem of valuation in aversive contexts at the time of decision making has been ignored. Thus, although dissociations between appetitive and aversive components of value signals have been shown in other domains such as anticipatory and outcome values, it is not known whether appetitive and aversive GVs are computed in similar brain regions or in separate ones. We investigated this question using two different functional magnetic resonance imaging studies while human subjects placed real bids in an economic auction for the right to eat/avoid eating liked/disliked foods. We found that activity in a common area of the medial orbitofrontal cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex correlated with both appetitive and aversive GVs. These findings suggest that these regions might form part of a common network.
First Metatarsal-Phalangeal Joint Arthrodesis: A Biomechanical Assessment of Stability

Background: First metatarsal phalangeal joint (MTP) arthrodesis is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of hallux rigidus, severe and recurrent bunion deformities, rheumatoid arthritis and other less common disorders of the joint. There are different techniques of fixation of the joint to promote arthrodesis including oblique lag screw fixation, lag screw and dorsal plate fixation, crossed Kirschner wires, dorsal plate fixation alone and various types of external fixation. Ideally the fixation method should be reproducible, lead to a high rate of fusion, and have a low incidence of complications. Methods: In the present study, we compared the strength of fixation of five commonly utilized techniques of first MTP joint arthrodesis. These were: Surface excision with machined conical reaming and fixation with a 3.5 mm cortical interfragmentary lag screw. Surface excision with machined conical reaming and fixation with crossed 0.062 Kirschner wires. Surface excision with machined conical reaming and fixation with a 3.5 mm cortical lag screw and a four hole dorsal miniplate secured with 3.5 mm cortical screws. Surface excision with machined conical reaming and fixation with a four hole dorsal miniplate secured with 3.5 mm cortical screws and no lag screw. Planar surface excision and fixation with a single oblique 3.5 mm interfragmentary cortical lag screw. Testing was done on an Instron materials testing device loading the first MTP joint in dorsiflexion. Liquid metal strain gauges were placed over the joint and micromotion was detected with varying loads and cycles. Results: The most stable technique was the combination of machined conical reaming and an oblique interfragmentary lag screw and dorsal plate. This was greater than two times stronger than an oblique lag screw alone. Dorsal plate alone and Kirschner wire fixation were the weakest techniques. Conclusions: First MTP fusion is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of a variety of disorders of the first MTP joint. The most stable technique for obtaining fusion in this study was the combination of an oblique lag screw and a dorsal plate. This should lead to higher rates of arthrodesis.
Energy Efficient Geographical Routing Protocol with Location Awareness in Mobile

A Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) is a kind of wireless ad-hoc network, and is a self configuring network of mobile routers (and associated hosts) connected by wireless links the union of which forms an arbitrary topology. The routers are free to move randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily, thus the network's wireless topology may change rapidly and unpredictably. Energy is a vital resource for MANET. The amount of work one can perform while mobile node is fundamentally constrained by the limited energy supplied by one’s battery. Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocol is one of the most well known routing algorithms for ad hoc wireless networks. DSR uses source routing, which allows packet routing to be loop free. DSR increases its efficiency by allowing nodes that are either forwarding route discovery requests or overhearing packets through having frequent listening mode to cache the routing information. This paper suggests an approach to utilize location awareness information using Geographical Routing Protocol (GRP) to improve performance of Dynamic Source routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks. By using location awareness information, the proposed GRP maintain table after every transmission of data update its routing table for that node to sending data with smallest path in mobile ad hoc network. Our experimental results show the effectiveness of performance on sending data from updated table to conserve power and time and obtain minimum time delay, maximum throughput and minimum data drop and retransmission attempts.
Using Dependency Information to Select the Test Focus in the Integration Testing Process

Existing software systems consist of thousands of software components realizing countless requirements. To fulfill these requirements, components have to interact with or depend on each other. The goal of the integration testing process is to test that the interactions between these components are correctly realized. However, it is impossible to test all dependencies because of time and budget constraints. Therefore, error-prone dependencies have to be selected as tests. This paper presents an approach to select the test focus in the integration test process. It uses dependency and error information of previous versions of the system under test. Error-prone dependency properties are identified by statistical approaches and used to select dependencies in the current version of the system. The results of two case studies with real software systems are presented.
NanoPhotonic structures for biosensing applications

A novel sensing structure on a silicon platform is proposed with access silicon waveguide ports. The sensing mechanism is mainly based the interference effect between the SPP wave on both interferences. The sensing platform contains a metal channel deposited on silicon nitride base. The top and the bottom metal surfaces carry 2 decoupled SPP modes. The dimensions are optimized to maximize the coupling from the input silicon waveguide to the SPP wave at the top and bottom metal interfaces. High sensitivity and small foot print is achieved using this integrated simple plasmonic design. Full wave analysis is performed to examine the performance and optimize the dimensions and material. The optimized design and optimal material yield enhanced sensitivities of 19000 nm/RIU.
Seasonal Changes in Testosterone, Neural Attributes of Song Control Nuclei, and Song Structure in Wild Songbirds

Seasonal changes in the neural attributes of brain nuclei that control song in songbirds are among the most pronounced examples of naturally occurring plasticity in the adult brain of any vertebrate. The behavioral correlates of this seasonal neural plasticity have not been well characterized, particularly in songbird species that lack adult song learning. To address this question, we investigated the relationship between seasonal changes in gonadal steroids, song nuclei, and song behavior in adult male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). At four times of the year, we measured plasma concentrations of testosterone, neural attributes of song nuclei, and several aspects of song structure in wild song sparrows of a nonmigratory population. We found seasonal changes in the song nuclei that were temporally correlated with changes in testosterone concentrations and with changes in song stereotypy. Male song sparrows sang songs that were more variable in structure in the fall, when testosterone concentrations were low and song nuclei were small, than in the spring, when testosterone concentrations were higher and song nuclei were larger. Despite seasonal changes in the song nuclei, the song sparrows continued to sing the same number of different song types, indicating that changes in the song nuclei were not correlated with changes in song repertoire size. These results suggest that song stereotypy, but not repertoire size, is a potential behavioral correlate of seasonal plasticity in the avian song control system.
Glucosamine Sulfate Inhibits TNF-and IFN-- Induced Production of ICAM-1 in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells In Vitro

METHODS. ARPE-19 cells were used as a model to determine the effects of GS on the expression of the ICAM-1 gene upregulated by TNFor IFN, by Western blot analysis and semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The activation and nuclear translocation of the nuclear factors NFB and STAT1 were evaluated by immunocytochemistry, Western blot analysis, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).
the urban spectrum the USA ? Epidemiological findings across distributed inequitably by income and race in Are neighbourhood food resources

Objective: Many recent policies focus on socioeconomic inequities in availability of healthy food stores and restaurants. Yet understanding of how socioeconomic inequities vary across neighbourhood racial composition and across the range from rural to urban settings is limited, largely due to lack of large, geographically and socio-demographically diverse study populations. Using a national sample, the authors examined differences in neighbourhood food resource availability according to neighbourhood-level poverty and racial/ethnic population in non-urban, low-density urban and high-density urban areas. Design: Cross-sectional data from an observational cohort study representative of the US middle and high school-aged population in 1994 followed into young adulthood. Participants: Using neighbourhood characteristics of participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Wave III, 2001e2002; n1⁄413 995 young adults aged 18e28 years representing 7588 US block groups), the authors examined associations between neighbourhood poverty and race/ethnicity with neighbourhood food resource availability in urbanicity-stratified multivariable linear regression. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Neighbourhood availability of grocery/ supermarkets, convenience stores and fast-food restaurants (measured as number of outlets per 100 km roadway). Results: Neighbourhood race and income disparities were most pronounced in low-density urban areas, where high-poverty/high-minority areas had lower availability of grocery/supermarkets (b coefficient (b)1⁄4e1.91, 95% CI e2.73 to e1.09) and convenience stores (b1⁄4e2.38, 95% CI e3.62 to e1.14) and greater availability of fast-food restaurants (b1⁄44.87, 95% CI 2.26 to 7.48) than low-poverty/low-minority areas. However, in high-density urban areas, highpoverty/low-minority neighbourhoods had comparatively greater availability of grocery/ supermarkets (b1⁄48.05, 95% CI 2.52 to 13.57), convenience stores (b1⁄42.89, 95% CI 0.64 to 5.14) and fast-food restaurants (b1⁄44.03, 95% CI 1.97 to 6.09), relative to low-poverty/low-minority areas. Conclusions: In addition to targeting disproportionate fast-food availability in disadvantaged dense urban areas, our findings suggest that policies should also target disparities in grocery/supermarket and fast-food restaurant availability in low-density areas. INTRODUCTION National, state and local policies increasingly focus on improving availability of healthy foods in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Expectations that such policies will improve diets in low-income and race/ethnic minority populations stem from evidence that inequitable access to healthy foods may underlie differentials in diet quality, obesity and To cite: Richardson AS, Boone-Heinonen J, Popkin BM, et al. Are neighbourhood food resources distributed inequitably by income and
Living Standards and Plague in London, 1560-1665

We use individual records of 920,000 burials and 630,000 baptisms to reconstruct the spatial and temporal patterns of birth and death in London from 1560 to 1665, a period dominated by recurrent plague. The plagues of 1563, 1603, 1625, and 1665 appear of roughly equal magnitude, with deaths running at five to six times their usual rate, but the impact on wealthier central parishes falls markedly through time. Tracking the weekly spread of plague before 1665 we find a consistent pattern of elevated mortality spreading from the same northern suburbs. Looking at the seasonal pattern of mortality, we find that the characteristic autumn spike associated with plague continued into the early 1700s. Given that individual cases of plague and typhus are frequently indistinguishable, claims that plague suddenly vanished after 1665 should be treated with caution. Natural increase improved as smaller plagues disappeared after 1590, but fewer than half of those born survived childhood.
The status of the tropical rainfall measuring mission (TRMM) after two years in orbit

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite was launched on 27 November 1997, and data from all the instruments first became available approximately 30 days after the launch. Since then, much progress has been made in the calibration of the sensors, the improvement of the rainfall algorithms, and applications of these results to areas such as data assimilation and model initialization. The TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) calibration has been corrected and verified to account for a small source of radiation leaking into the TMI receiver. The precipitation radar calibration has been adjusted upward slightly (by 0.6 dB Z) to match better the ground reference targets; the visible and infrared sensor calibration remains largely unchanged. Two versions of the TRMM rainfall algorithms are discussed. The at-launch (version 4) algorithms showed differences of 40% when averaged over the global Tropics over 30-day periods. The improvements to the rainfall algorithms that were undertaken after launch are presented, and intercomparisons of these products (version 5) show agreement improving to 24% for global tropical monthly averages. The ground-based radar rainfall product generation is discussed. Quality-control issues have delayed the routine production of these products until the summer of 2000, but comparisons of TRMM products with early versions of the ground validation products as well as with rain gauge network data suggest that uncertainties among the TRMM algorithms are of approximately the same magnitude as differences between TRMM products and ground-based rainfall estimates. The TRMM field experiment program is discussed to describe active areas of measurements and plans to use these data for further algorithm improvements. In addition to the many papers in this special issue, results coming from the analysis of TRMM products to study the diurnal cycle, the climatological description of the vertical profile of precipitation, storm types, and the distribution of shallow convection, as well as advances in data assimilation of moisture and model forecast improvements using TRMM data, are discussed in a companion TRMM special issue in the Journal of Climate (1 December 2000, Vol. 13, No. 23).
Morphologic study of small intestinal submucosa as a body wall repair device.

BACKGROUND The extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) has been used as a constructive scaffold for tissue repair in both preclinical animal studies and human clinical trials. Quantitative characterization of the host tissue response to this xenogeneic scaffold material has been lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS The morphologic response to a multilaminate form of the SIS-ECM was evaluated in a chronic, 2-year study of body wall repair in two separate species: the dog and the rat. Morphologic response to the SIS-ECM was compared to that for three other commonly used bioscaffold materials including Marlex mesh, Dexon, and Perigard. Quantitative measurements were made of tissue consistency, polymorphonuclear cell response, mononuclear cell response, tissue organization, and vascularity at five time points after surgical implantation: 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months, and 2 years. RESULTS All bioscaffold materials functioned well as a repair device for large ventral abdominal wall defects created in these two animal models. The SIS-ECM bioscaffold showed a greater number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes at the 1-week time point and a greater degree of graft site tissue organization after 3 months compared to the other three scaffold materials. There was no evidence for local infection or other detrimental local pathology to any of the graft materials at any time point. CONCLUSIONS Like Marlex, Dexon, and Perigard, the SIS-ECM is an effective bioscaffold for long-term repair of body wall defects. Unlike the other scaffold materials, the resorbable SIS-ECM scaffold was replaced by well-organized host tissues including differentiated skeletal muscle.
PATHOGENICITY OF Blastocystis sp. TO THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF MICE: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INOCULUM SIZE AND PERIOD OF INFECTION

The pathogenic potential of Blastocystis sp. in experimental models requires further investigation. In this work, the pathogenicity of this parasite in the gastrointestinal tract of male Swiss mice was evaluated according to the inoculum size and period of infection. Animals were infected intragastrically, with 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 Blastocystis sp. vacuolar forms obtained from a mixture of eight human isolates cultured axenically in Jones' medium. After seven, 14, 21, 28 and 60 days of infection, the animals were sacrificed and fragments of the small intestine (duodenum), large intestine, and cecum were subjected to histopathological analysis. Blastocystis sp. triggered an inflammatory response in the different tissues analyzed, with a predominance of mononuclear cells. The parasite was found in the muscular layer of the cecum, showing its invasive character. Larger inocula triggered inflammatory processes earlier (seven days) than smaller ones (from 21 days). We conclude that, in the proposed model, the pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp. isolates that were studied is related to inoculum size and period of infection.