Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vaccination of Macaques against Pathogenic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus with Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Replicon Particles

ABSTRACT Vaccine vectors derived from Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) that expressed simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) immunogens were tested in rhesus macaques as part of the effort to design a safe and effective vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus. Immunization with VEE replicon particles induced both humoral and cellular immune responses. Four of four vaccinated animals were protected against disease for at least 16 months following intravenous challenge with a pathogenic SIV swarm, while two of four controls required euthanasia at 10 and 11 weeks. Vaccination reduced the mean peak viral load 100-fold. The plasma viral load was reduced to below the limit of detection (1,500 genome copies/ml) in one vaccinated animal between 6 and 16 weeks postchallenge and in another from week 6 through the last sampling time (40 weeks postchallenge). The extent of reduction in challenge virus replication was directly correlated with the strength of the immune response induced by the vectors, which suggests that vaccination was effective.
Serum iPTH, calcium and phosphate, and the risk of mortality in a European haemodialysis population

Background. A number of US observational studies reported an increased mortality risk with higher intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium and/or phosphate. The existence of such a link in a European haemodialysis population was explored as part of the Analysing Data, Recognising Excellence and Optimising Outcomes (ARO) Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Research Initiative. Methods. The association between the markers of mineral and bone disease and clinical outcomes was examined in 7970 patients treated in European Fresenius Medical Care facilities over a median of 21 months. Baseline and time-dependent (TD) Cox regression were performed using Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) target ranges as reference categories, adjusting for demographics, medical history, dialysis parameters, inflammation, medications and laboratory parameters. Fractional polynomial (FP) models were also used. Results. Hazard ratio (HR) estimates from baseline analysis for iPTH were U-shaped [>600 pg/mL, HR = 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62–2.73; <75 pg/mL, HR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.17–1.83]. TD analysis confirmed the results for iPTH. Baseline analysis showed that calcium >2.75 mmol/L increased risk of death (HR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.19–2.42). TD analysis showed that both low (HR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.04–1.37) and high calcium (HR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.30–2.34) increased risk of death. Baseline analysis for phosphate showed a U-shaped pattern (<1.13 mmol/L, HR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.37; >1.78 mmol/L, HR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.13–1.55). TD analysis confirmed the results for phosphate <1.13 mmol/L. HR estimates were higher in patients with diabetes versus those without diabetes for baseline analysis only (P-value = 0.014). FP analysis confirmed the results of baseline and TD analyses. Conclusion. Patients with iPTH, calcium and phosphate levels within the KDOQI target ranges have the lowest risk of mortality compared with those outside the target ranges.
Nonspherical femoral head shape (pistol grip deformity), neck shaft angle, and risk of hip osteoarthritis: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether 2-dimensional measures of femoral head shape and angle are associated with hip osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS We compared cases with symptomatic radiographic hip OA with asymptomatic controls with no radiographic hip OA. On anteroposterior pelvis radiographs, we measured "pistol grip deformity" for each hip (visually categorized as nonspherical, indeterminate, or spherical), the femoral head-to-femoral neck ratio as an interval measure of femoral head shape, and the femoral neck shaft angle. The relative risk of hip OA associated with each feature was estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), adjusted for possible confounders using a logistic regression model. RESULTS Of 1,007 cases, 965 had definite radiographic hip OA; of 1,123 controls, 1,111 had no radiographic OA. The prevalence of pistol grip deformity in at least 1 hip was 3.61% in controls and 17.71% in cases (OR 6.95 [95% CI 4.64-10.41]), and the prevalence of abnormal femoral head-to-femoral neck ratio in at least 1 hip was 3.70% in controls and 24.27% in cases (OR 12.08 [95% CI 8.05-18.15]). The risk of hip OA increased as the femoral head-to-femoral neck ratio decreased (P for trend<0.001) and with each extreme of neck shaft angle (P<0.05). In cases with unilateral hip OA, the prevalence of abnormal femoral head-to-femoral neck ratio in the unaffected hip was 2 times greater than that in controls (OR 1.82 [95% CI 1.07-3.07]); in contrast, an abnormally low, but not abnormally high, neck shaft angle was more common in unaffected hips than in controls (OR 1.79 [95% CI 1.03-3.14]). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that pistol grip deformity is associated with hip OA. The increased prevalence of pistol grip deformity and an abnormally low neck shaft angle in unaffected hips of cases with unilateral OA suggests that they are risk factors for development of hip OA. However, both a nonspherical head shape and an increase in neck shaft angle may occur as a consequence of OA.
An integrative literature review of Study Abroad Programs for Nursing Students

ABSTRACT Nurse researchers need to explore study abroad programs and identify their impact on the development of cultural competence and global perspectives in nursing students. Despite the anecdotal professional and personal benefits that have been attributed to study abroad in other disciplines, current nursing literature regarding this topic is limited and has only emerged in nursing research within the last decade. There is a significant gap in the existing body of knowledge with respect to American nursing students who study abroad and the reported benefits of and impediments to their experiences. Much of the nursing research conducted with American nursing students has been quantitative as opposed to qualitative studies with European and Australian nursing students. Many samples are homogenous and therefore exclude diverse populations. Further research involving all methodological designs is warranted to better understand this type of engaged learning.
Inhaled amikacin for treatment of refractory pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease.

RATIONALE Treatment of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria, especially Mycobacterium abscessus, requires prolonged, multidrug regimens with high toxicity and suboptimal efficacy. Options for refractory disease are limited. OBJECTIVES We reviewed the efficacy and toxicity of inhaled amikacin in patients with treatment-refractory nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. METHODS Records were queried to identify patients who had inhaled amikacin added to failing regimens. Lower airway microbiology, symptoms, and computed tomography scan changes were assessed together with reported toxicity. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The majority (80%) of the 20 patients who met entry criteria were women; all had bronchiectasis, two had cystic fibrosis and one had primary ciliary dyskinesia. At initiation of inhaled amikacin, 15 were culture positive for M. abscessus and 5 for Mycobacterium avium complex and had received a median (range) of 60 (6, 190) months of mycobacterial treatment. Patients were followed for a median of 19 (1, 50) months. Eight (40%) patients had at least one negative culture and 5 (25%) had persistently negative cultures. A decrease in smear quantity was noted in 9 of 20 (45%) and in mycobacterial culture growth for 10 of 19 (53%). Symptom scores improved in nine (45%), were unchanged in seven (35%), and worsened in four (20%). Improvement on computed tomography scans was noted in 6 (30%), unchanged in 3 (15%), and worsened in 11 (55%). Seven (35%) stopped amikacin due to: ototoxicity in two (10%), hemoptysis in two (10%), and nephrotoxicity, persistent dysphonia, and vertigo in one each. CONCLUSIONS In some patients with treatment-refractory pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease, the addition of inhaled amikacin was associated with microbiologic and/or symptomatic improvement; however, toxicity was common. Prospective evaluation of inhaled amikacin for mycobacterial disease is warranted.
Evaluation of deep convolutional nets for document image classification and retrieval

This paper presents a new state-of-the-art for document image classification and retrieval, using features learned by deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). In object and scene analysis, deep neural nets are capable of learning a hierarchical chain of abstraction from pixel inputs to concise and descriptive representations. The current work explores this capacity in the realm of document analysis, and confirms that this representation strategy is superior to a variety of popular handcrafted alternatives. Extensive experiments show that (i) features extracted from CNNs are robust to compression, (ii) CNNs trained on non-document images transfer well to document analysis tasks, and (iii) enforcing region-specific feature-learning is unnecessary given sufficient training data. This work also makes available a new labelled subset of the IIT-CDIP collection, containing 400,000 document images across 16 categories.
Modification by Tissue Glutathione Levels Noninvasive Imaging of Tumor Redox Status and Its Updated Version

Therapeutic regimens such as radiation or chemotherapy attempt to exploit the physiological differences between normal and malignant tissue. Tissue redox status and pO2 are two factors that are hypothesized to be different in normal and malignant tissues. Methods that can detect subtle differences in the above physiological parameters would greatly aid in devising appropriate treatment strategies. We have previously used in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and imaging techniques and shown that tumor tissues are highly reducing and hypoxic compared with normal tissues (P. Kuppusamy et al., Cancer Res., 58: 1562–1568, 1998). The purpose of the present study was to obtain spatially resolved redox data from normal and tumor tissues of radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) tumor-bearing mice and to examine the role of intracellular glutathione (GSH) on the tissue redox status. Experiments were performed using low-frequency (1.3 GHz) in vivo EPR spectroscopy and imaging techniques with a nitroxide redox probe. L-buthionine-S,Rsulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, was used to deplete tissue GSH levels. The results show the existence of significant heterogeneity of redox status in the tumor tissue compared with normal tissue. The tumor tissues show at least 4-fold higher concentrations of GSH levels compared with normal tissues in the tumor-bearing mice. Also BSO treatment showed a differential depletion of GSH and reducing equivalents in the tumor tissue. Thus, it appears that there is significant heterogeneity of tumor redox status and that manipulation of the tumor redox status may be important in tumor growth and therapy.
A New Iterative Doppler-Assisted Channel Estimation Joint With Parallel ICI Cancellation for High-Mobility MIMO-OFDM Systems

In this paper, we propose an iterative channel estimation and intercarrier interference (ICI) cancellation method for highly mobile users in long-term evolution (LTE) systems. The proposed scheme estimates the wireless channel by using pilot symbols, estimates of the data symbols, and Doppler spread information at the receiver. The wireless channel is expressed by weighted time-domain channel interpolation, where the interpolation weights are designed based on the Doppler spread and time-domain channel correlations. The channel estimates are obtained by employing a least-square (LS) method. A simplified parallel interference cancellation (PIC) scheme coupled with decision statistical combining (DSC) is used to cancel the ICI and to improve data symbol detection. These data symbols are then utilized to further refine the channel estimation iteratively. The simulation results show that the performance degradation of the proposed iterative channel estimation and ICI cancellation scheme in a high-mobility environment (e.g., normalized Doppler spread of 0.1), compared with the performance of a system when users are static and perfect channel state information (CSI) is available at the receiver, is minimal.
The use of thermodynamic models in the prediction of the glass-forming range of binary alloys

Analytical expressions describing the various thermodynamic phases in binary systems can be derived by the CALPHAD approach, whereby the parameters in these expressions are obtained from fits to measured phase equilibrium data. Extrapolations of these models can be used to predict metastable equilibria. Different thermodynamic models proposed for the Ni–Ti and the Cu–Ti systems are used to calculate the T _0 curves that are relevant to the prediction of the glass-forming range in rapidly cooled molten alloys. Although all the models give acceptable fits for the equilibrium range for which they were derived, significant differences are found for the metastable regime. The problems that need to be addressed in order to improve the extrapolations into the metastable regime are discussed. Simple thermodynamic considerations predict that the glass-forming range for rapidly quenched alloys exceeds that for amorphous alloys synthesized by isothermal solid-state interdiffusion reactions.
Phonological-Lexical Feedback during Early Abstract Encoding: The Case of Deaf Readers

In the masked priming technique, physical identity between prime and target enjoys an advantage over nominal identity in nonwords (GEDA-GEDA faster than geda-GEDA). However, nominal identity overrides physical identity in words (e.g., REAL-REAL similar to real-REAL). Here we tested whether the lack of an advantage of the physical identity condition for words was due to top-down feedback from phonological-lexical information. We examined this issue with deaf readers, as their phonological representations are not as fully developed as in hearing readers. Results revealed that physical identity enjoyed a processing advantage over nominal identity not only in nonwords but also in words (GEDA-GEDA faster than geda-GEDA; REAL-REAL faster than real-REAL). This suggests the existence of fundamental differences in the early stages of visual word recognition of hearing and deaf readers, possibly related to the amount of feedback from higher levels of information.
Genetic transposition inspired incremental genetic programming for efficient coevolution of locomotion and sensing of simulated snake-like robot

Genetic transposition (GT) is a process of moving sequences of DNA to different positions within the genome of a single cell. It is recognized that the transposons (the jumping genes) facilitate the evolution of increasingly complex forms of life by providing the creative playground for the mutation where the latter could experiment with developing novel genetic structures without the risk of damaging the already existing, well-functioning genome. In this work we investigate the effect of a GT-inspired mechanism on the efficiency of genetic programming (GP) employed for coevolution of locomotion gaits and sensing of the simulated snake like robot (Snakebot). In the proposed approach, the task of coevolving the locomotion and the sensing morphology of Snakebot in a challenging environment is decomposed into two subtasks, implemented as two consecutive evolutionary stages. At first stage we employ GP to evolve a pool of simple, sensorless bots that are able to move fast in a smooth, open terrain. Then, during the second stage, we use these Snakebots to seed the initial population of the bots that are further subjected to coevolution of their locomotion control and sensing in a more challenging environment. For the second phase the seed is used as it is to create only part of a new individual, and the rest of the new individual’s genetic makeup is created by a mutant copy of the seed. Experimental results suggest that the proposed two-staged GT inspired incremental evolution contributes to significant increase in the efficiency of the evolution of fast moving and sensing Snakebots.
Functional Fiber Based Materials for Microsystem Applications

This thesis explores the integration of functional electrospun micro- and nanofiber based materials in two fields of microsystem technology: fibrous scaffolds as cell culture substrates and fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites as thermal interface materials (TIMs). Electrospun structures have been found to carry great potential as biomimicking microenvironments for future tissue engineering and cell culture applications. In the first part of this thesis, electrospun polyurethane fiber architectures have been fabricated, characterized and studied as cell culture scaffolds. The effects of plasma treatment, as a physical surface modification of the electrospun scaffold interface, are characterized and demonstrated to improve the possibility for human embryonic stem cell culture expansion. Electrospun scaffolds with specific fiber diameters are shown to allow maintenance of astrocytes with complex morphologies, limit up-regulation of protein expression related to astrocyte stress and activation, and to facilitate the formation of three-dimensional neuronal networks. Taken together, these findings indicate that electrospun scaffolds can be used to complement or improve traditional in vitro culture methods. To enable detailed studies of the interplay between physical and chemical cues for cells in controlled microenvironments, a method to integrate electrospun structures with microfluidic systems was devised. Thermal interface materials have been identified by the semiconductor industry as one of the major bottlenecks in the heat dissipation for high power density devices. The second part of this thesis presents the development of a novel metal matrix composite TIM technology utilizing fiber reinforcements formed through electrospinning. Employed as a TIM, the composite structure relies on heat conduction through its continuous metal phase, while the fiber network modifies the thermo-mechanical properties. Three specific implementations have been developed: Polyimide fibers with an indium matrix and a tin-silver-copper (SnAgCu) alloy matrix, and carbonized mesophase-pitch based fibers with a SnAgCu alloy matrix. To facilitate liquid phase infiltration of the indium matrix into the polyimide fibers, a chemical reduction based method for coating Ag nanoparticles on the fiber surface was developed. Using the same Ag coating, the SnAgCu composite was fabricated and demonstrated to exhibit a reduced elastic modulus, which indicates the potential to lower the thermally induced stress when bonding materials with thermal expansion mismatch. The expected increase in thermal conductivity when switching from polymer to carbonized fibers is found to be limited, and improved methods to reduce the thermal contact resistance at the matrix-fiber interface are needed. Measurements of low thermal contact resistances (<1 Kmm2/W) and high thermal conductivities (~20 W/mK) show that the composite architectures are promising candidates for future applications when compared to both existing and other emerging TIM technologies.
Serological Identification of Actinomyces Using Fluorescent Antibody Techniques

Species-specific FITC conjugated antiserum can be prepared for each of the five species of Actinomyces and for Arachnia propionica. These serums can be used for rapid and specific identification of pure or mixed cultures of the bacteria and for identification of organisms seen in direct smears of clinical material or in tissue sections. Two serotypes each of A bovis, A odontolyticus, A israelii, A viscosus, and A propionica have been established, and A naeslundii has been tentatively divided into four serotypes.
Retarded outer segment development in TrkB knockout mouse retina organ culture.

PURPOSE To determine the effects of trkB deficiency in the mouse retina on photoreceptor development and retinal organization, in the absence of confounding systemic effects. METHODS Newborn mice that carried two null trkB alleles (trkB-/-) and their wild type (WT) littermates were used for retinal organ cultures. On Day 21, rod development was assessed histologically in plastic sections (outer segment length) and retinal organization was analyzed using retinal cell-type specific antibodies. Anatomical data obtained from the organ cultures were compared to previously published histological results from in vivo data. RESULTS (1) Rod outer segment length was significantly shorter in retinas from trkB-/- mice in the presence of normal numbers of rods. (2) No dopaminergic amacrine cells were observed in the knockout retina. (3) Unlike in the in vivo condition, recoverin-positive OFF-cone bipolar cells were present in trkB-/- retinas grown in culture. CONCLUSIONS (1) These results demonstrate that rod outer segment development is compromised in the absence of trkB in the retina. (2) This study further supports our previous conclusion that the elimination of trkB expression alters rod development, because the presence of trkB receptors within the retina is essential for normal rod maturation and not because of confounding systemic effects. (3) More generally, this study stresses the importance of investigating complex phenotypes in gene knockout mice under conditions that isolate the organ under investigation from unrelated systemic variations.
Quantitative in vivo retinal thickness measurement in chinese healthy subjects with retinal thickness analyzer.

PURPOSE To measure the retinal thickness of the posterior pole in healthy Chinese subjects using a retinal thickness analyzer and to compare the retinal thicknesses between different age, gender, and refractive error groups. METHODS Between February 2002 and September 2004, healthy Chinese subjects (age range, 21-50 years), underwent measurements of visual acuity, refractive error, intraocular pressure, and posterior pole retinal thickness with the RTA, as well as ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp examinations. Eleven retinal thickness parameters were directly derived from the reports of the RTA measurement. The average value of each parameter was compared between the male and female groups, the emmetropia and low-myopia groups, and the three age groups (21-30, 31-40, and 41-50 years). Linear regression analysis was also applied to determine the effect of age on 11 parameters. Some participants were also enrolled in the reproducibility assessment procedure. RESULTS The 272 eyes of 272 subjects (mean age, 34.4 years) were included. The intraclass correlation coefficients of intravisit and intervisit reproducibility were 0.95 and 0.88, respectively. The average retinal thicknesses at the foveola and fovea are 147.6 and 160.0 microm, respectively. No significant difference was found in any of the parameters between the different gender groups, emmetropia and low-myopia groups, or age groups. Regression analysis revealed no significant negative linear correlation between any of the parameter values and age. CONCLUSIONS The retinal thickness of macular region in the Chinese is a little lower than in Westerners, but not statistically significant. The Chinese retinal thickness was not gender or refractive error related.
OSMOTIC FRAGILITY OF LEUKAEMIC AND NORMAL LYMPHOCYTES

Summary The osmotic fragility of cord blood lymphocytes (CBLs), normal adult lymphocytes (NALs) and leukaemic cells was studied using hypotonic saline. Leukaemic cells were more resistant to hypotonic treatment than cord blood or adult lymphocytes. At low hypotonic saline concentrations (less than 0.2% NaCI), almost all of the NALs and CBLs were lysed after thirty minutes at 4°C, whilst a large proportion of chronic lymphatic‐leukaemia cells remained intact. This phenomenon could conceivably be used to separate tumour cells from normal lymphoid cells.