Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of HIV infection on recurrence of tuberculosis in South African gold miners.

UNLABELLED DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES: Potential risk factors for recurrence of tuberculosis (TB) were investigated in a retrospective cohort study of 305 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and 984 HIV-negative South African gold miners treated for TB with directly-observed, rifampicin-based regimens. Standard treatment changed from rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide (RHZ) to RHZ plus ethambutol (RHZE) during the study period. RESULTS Recurrence occurred in 37 HIV-positive and 46 HIV-negative men. HIV infection was associated with a significantly higher recurrence rate (8.2 vs 2.2 per 100 person-years; multivariate-adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] 4.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0-8.1), as were post-tuberculous scarring (multivariate-adjusted IRR 1.6 for one or two scarred lung zones, 4.0 for three or more zones; test for trend P < 0.001) and drug resistance (multivariate-adjusted IRR 2.7, 95%CI 1.01-7.4). The recurrence rate was significantly higher following treatment with RHZ than RHZE (multivariate-adjusted IRR 2.1, 95%CI 1.1-4.0). The difference between regimens needs to be interpreted with caution, however, as allocation was not randomised. CONCLUSION The high recurrence rate among HIV-positive men requires further investigation to distinguish relapse from re-infection as the predominant cause, leading to consideration of further intensification of the initial regimen or use of secondary prophylaxis.
Dapagliflozin Pretreatment Prevents Cardiac Electrophysiological Changes in a Diet and Streptozotocin Induction of Type 2 Diabetes in Rats: A Potential New First-Line?

Purpose Dapagliflozin exerts cardioprotective effects in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). However, whether these effects prevent electrocardiographic changes associated with T2DM altogether remain unknown. Our aim was to investigate the prophylactic effect of dapagliflozin pretreatment on the rat ECG using a high-fat, high-fructose (HFHf) diet and a low dose streptozotocin (STZ) model of T2DM. Methods Twenty-five (25) rats were randomized into five (5) groups: normal control receiving a normal diet while the other groups received an 8-week HFHf and 40mg/kg STZ on day 42, and either: saline for the diabetic control (1 mg/kg/d), low dose (1.0 mg/kg/d) and high dose dapagliflozin (1.6 mg/kg/d), or metformin (250 mg/kg/d). Oral glucose tolerance (OGT), electrocardiograms (ECGs), paracardial adipose mass, and left ventricular fibrosis were determined. Data were analyzed using GraphPad version 9.0. 0.121, with the level of significance at p < 0.05. Results Compared to the diabetic control group, a high dose of dapagliflozin preserved the OGT (p = 0.0001), QRS-duration (p = 0.0263), QT-interval (p = 0.0399), and QTc intervals (p = 0.0463). Furthermore, the high dose dapagliflozin group had the lowest paracardial adipose mass (p = 0.0104) and fibrotic area (p = 0.0001). In contrast, while metformin showed favorable effects on OGT (p = 0.0025), paracardial adiposity (p = 0.0153) and ventricular fibrosis (p = 0.0291), it did not demonstrate significant antiarrhythmic effects. Conclusion Pretreatment with higher doses of Dapagliflozin exhibits prophylactic cardioprotective characteristics against diabetic cardiomyopathy that include antifibrotic and antiarrhythmic qualities. This suggests that higher doses of dapagliflozin could be a more effective initial therapeutic option in T2DM.
Geology of the area between Golo and Tavignano Valleys (Central Corsica): a snapshot of the continental metamorphic units of Alpine Corsica.

ABSTRACT The area between Golo and Tavignano valleys in Central Corsica (latitudes 42°23′12,18″N to 42°18′24,60″N, longitudes 9°07′49,30″E to 9°11′35,90″E) is characterized by the occurrence of continental metamorphic units belonging to the Lower Units of Alpine Corsica. These units, also known as Corte Slices, represent the fragments of the European continental margin involved in the continental subduction and the subsequent collision, both resulting from the closure of the Ligure-Piemontese oceanic Basin. These units are thus characterized by complex, polyphased deformation history developed under blueschist to greenschist metamorphic facies conditions during the Late Eocene to Early Miocene time span. In the study area, the Corte Slices have been investigated by a multidisciplinary approach consisting of a detailed mapping associated with meso- and micro-structural analyses and estimate of the P-T conditions of the metamorphic events. The 1:10,000 scale geological map illustrates the results of this approach that has provided a detailed snapshot of the stratigraphic and structural setting of Corte Slices.
Limits of IT-driven knowledge management initiatives for interactive innovation processes: towards a community-based approach

This paper begins with a critical review of the literature on Knowledge Management (KM), arguing that its focus on IT-based tools limits its potential for encouraging the knowledge sharing that is crucial to interactive innovation processes. Interactive innovation processes depend on the integration of knowledge across disparate social communities and require the exploration (creation) of knowledge, rather than simply the improved exploration of knowledge. Knowledge exploration depends on shared understanding, which is difficult where those involved are from different cultural and disciplinary bad grounds. In these situations, knowledge has to be continuously negotiated through interactive social networking processes. These processes are under-emphasised in most of the KM literature. Two cases of interactive innovation processes are presented. The contrast between these two cases leads to the development of two alternative approaches to KM: the community approach emphasises dialogue occurring through networks (which may be IT-enabled) while the cognitive approach emphasises linear information flows. It is argued that, at least in terms of encouraging interactive innovation processes, the community model is superior.
Assessment of bearing capacity and failure mechanism of single and interfering strip footings on sloping ground

ABSTRACT Estimation of the bearing capacity of a shallow footing located at the crest of a slope is an intricate problem. The problem becomes much more complicated when multiple numbers of closely spaced footings interact with each other while resting on the slope. In this regard, a sequence of finite-element analysis has been carried out using Plaxis 3D vAE.01 to investigate the ultimate bearing capacity of isolated and interfering surface strip footings placed at the crest of the c-φ soil slope. In the numerical analysis, the influence of different geo-parameters on ultimate bearing capacity has been studied. From the failure mechanism, it has been observed that the impact of slope and the influence interference disappeared above a critical setback ratio (b/B) of 6 and beyond a critical spacing ratio (S/B) of 3 for single and interfering strip footings located at the crest of slope, respectively.
The Effects of Dantrolene on Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury in the Neonatal Rat Brain

BACKGROUND:The pathophysiology of brain damage from hypoxia or ischemia has been ascribed to various mechanisms and cascades. Intracellular calcium overload and a calcium excitotoxic cascade have been implicated. It has been suggested that disturbances of endoplasmic reticulum calcium homeostasis are involved in the induction of neuronal cell injury. Two types of intracellular Ca2+-release channels, involving the ryanodyne receptor and the inositol (1,4,5)-triphosphate receptor, are essential for Ca2+ signaling in cells. Dantrolene, which is used for the treatment of malignant hyperthermia syndrome, has been reported to inhibit Ca2+ release through ryanodyne receptors from the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol. We designed this study to investigate the neuroprotective effects of dantrolene on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in the neonatal rat brain. METHODS:Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into two groups; control group (n = 69) and dantrolene group (n = 60). Dimethyl sulfoxide was administered intracerebroventricularly in the control group, and dantrolene in dimethyl sulfoxide was similarly administered to the dantrolene group, before hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HII). HII was induced by the ligation of the common carotid artery under isoflurane anesthesia, followed by exposure to about 2.5 h of hypoxia (oxygen concentration was maintained at 7%-8%). 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed 1 day after HII. This noninvasive method evaluated apoptotic processes in the brain after HII. Morphologic score analyses and the calculated percentage of infarct areas after 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining 14 days after HII were also used to evaluate the effects of dantrolene on HII. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed 1 day after HII using 24 more rats. RESULTS:The lipid/creatine ratios in the right hemispheres in the dantrolene group 1 day after HII were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratios. The gross morphologic scores were lower in the dantrolene group than in the control group (P < 0.05), and infarct area (%) after 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was less in the dantrolene group than in the control group (P < 0.05) 14 days after HII. Further work with 24 rats showed no significant difference, however, in the number of TUNEL positive cells on the two groups. CONCLUSIONS:Our results show that dantrolene, administered intracerebroventricularly before HII, had a neuroprotective effect in HII model of the neonatal rat brain.
Sectional Anatomic and Computed Tomography Features of the Nasal and Oral Cavities of the One‐humped Camel (Camelus Dromedarius)

The purpose of the study was to provide a description of normal cross‐sectional anatomy of the camel nasal and oral cavities using computed tomography (CT) and macroscopic cross‐sections. Transverse images of two isolated camel cadaver heads were obtained by an axial CT equipment. Computed tomography scans were processed with a detailed algorithm using nasal and soft tissue windows settings and compared with the corresponding frozen cross‐sections of the heads, to assist in the accurate identification of nasal and oral structures. In our study, nasal window provided excellent anatomic details of nasal conchae, bones and teeth; however, other soft tissue components of the nasal and oral cavities are better differentiated using a soft tissue window. These CT images are intended to be a useful anatomic reference in the interpretation for clinical CT imaging studies of the nasal and oral cavities in dromedary camels.
TB-ResNet: Bridging the Gap from TDNN to ResNet in Automatic Speaker Verification with Temporal-Bottleneck Enhancement

This paper focuses on the transition of automatic speaker verification systems from time delay neural networks (TDNN) to ResNet-based networks. TDNN-based systems use a statistics pooling layer to aggregate temporal information which is suitable for two-dimensional tensors. Even though ResNet-based models produce three-dimensional tensors, they continue to incorporate the statistics pooling layer. However, the reduction in spatial dimensions in ResNet due to convolution operations, including the temporal axis, raises concerns about temporal information loss and its compatibility with statistics pooling. To address this, we introduce Temporal-Bottleneck ResNet (TB-ResNet), a ResNet-based system that can utilize the nature of statistics pooling more effectively by capturing and retaining frame-level contexts through a temporal bottle-neck configuration in its building blocks. The performance of TB-ResNets outperforms the original ResNet counterparts on VoxCeleb1, achieving a significant reduction in both the equal error rate and the minimum detection cost function.
HUMAN LEARNING.

Human Learning Systems The sixth edition of Human Learning covers a broad-range of learning theories and key perspectives on learning related to education, including: behaviorist, cognitive, social cognitive, contextual, and developmental theories, always highlighting relationships between concepts. Additionally, the text details associationistic processes (e.g., classical and instrumental conditioning), and more complex and distinctly human processes
Tetracycline-Based System for Controlled Inducible Expression of Group III Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

A stable and inducible expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 4, 7, and 8 was obtained in T-REx 293 cells using the tetracycline system. Tetracycline administration to the cell medium resulted in rapid induction and time-dependent expression of mGlu receptors, which also correlates with its functionality in a cAMP accumulation assay. The pharmacological properties of recombinant mGlu receptors were verified using orthosteric and allosteric ligands. Data suggest that the Tet-on inducible system is suitable for functional mGlu receptors’ expression and characterization by means of the cAMP accumulation assay. It makes this system a precise, reproducible, and large-scale screening method, as well as a reasonable tool to study signaling properties of mGlu receptors.
A Multiagent Modeling Environment for Simulating Work Practice in Organizations

In this paper we position Brahms as a tool for simulating organizational processes. Brahms is a modeling and simulation environment for analyzing human work practice, and for using such models to develop intelligent software agents to support the work practice in organizations. Brahms is the result of more than ten years of research at the Institute for Research on Learning (IRL), NYNEX Science & Technology (the former R&D institute of the Baby Bell telephone company in New York, now Verizon), and for the last six years at NASA Ames Research Center, in the Work Systems Design and Evaluation group, part of the Computational Sciences Division (Code IC). Brahms has been used on more than ten modeling and simulation research projects, and recently has been used as a distributed multiagent development environment for developing work practice support tools for human in-situ science exploration on planetary surfaces, in particular a human mission to Mars. Brahms was originally conceived of as a business process modeling and simulation tool that incorporates the social systems of work, by illuminating how formal process flow descriptions relate to people s actual located activities in the workplace. Our research started in the early nineties as a reaction to experiences with work process modeling and simulation . Although an effective tool for convincing management of the potential cost-savings of the newly designed work processes, the modeling and simulation environment was only able to describe work as a normative workflow. However, the social systems, uncovered in work practices studied by the design team played a significant role in how work actually got done-actual lived work. Multi- tasking, informal assistance and circumstantial work interactions could not easily be represented in a tool with a strict workflow modeling paradigm. In response, we began to develop a tool that would have the benefits of work process modeling and simulation, but be distinctively able to represent the relations of people, locations, systems, artifacts, communication and information content.
The guinea pig I region. II. Functional analysis

We have examined whether an association exists between specific Ia antigen genes and Ir genes which are encoded within the same haplotype. Functionally monospecific sera to the Ia antigens of the guinea pig MHC were selective in their ability to inhibit antigen-specific T-cell proliferation and we were thus able to demonstrate an association between individual Ia specificities and specific Ir genes. The results of these studies in inbred animals were confirmed by examining the association of Ir genes and Ia antigens in the outbred guinea pig population. Of great interest was the observation that antisera made against cross-reactive Ia antigens of strains lacking specific Ir genes would still inhibit immune responses of strains possessing the Ir gene, if the Ir gene was associated with that Ia antigen in the responder strain.
Genetics of preparation and response control in ADHD: the role of DRD4 and DAT1.

BACKGROUND Difficulties with performance and brain activity related to attentional orienting (Cue-P3), cognitive or response preparation (Cue-CNV) and inhibitory response control (Nogo-P3) during tasks tapping executive functions are familial in ADHD and may represent endophenotypes. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) and dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene polymorphisms on these processes in ADHD and control children. METHODS Behavioural and electrophysiological parameters from cued continuous performance tests with low and high attentional load were assessed in boys with ADHD combined type (N = 94) and controls without family history of ADHD (N = 31). Both groups were split for the presence of at least one DRD4 7-repeat allele and the DAT1 10-6 haplotype. RESULTS Children with ADHD showed diminished performance and lower Cue-P3, CNV and Nogo-P3 amplitudes. Children with DRD4 7R showed similar performance problems and lower Cue-P3 and CNV, but Nogo-P3 was not reduced. Children with the DAT1 10-6 haplotype had no difficulties with performance or Cue-P3 and CNV, but contrary to expectations increased Nogo-P3. There were no Genotype by ADHD interactions. CONCLUSIONS This study detected specific effects of DRD4 7R on performance and brain activity related to attentional orienting and response preparation, while DAT1 10-6 was associated with elevated brain activity related to inhibitory response control, which potentially compensates increased impulsivity. As these genotype effects were additive to the impact of ADHD, the current results indicate that DRD4 and DAT1 polymorphisms are functionally relevant risk factors for ADHD and presumably other disorders sharing these endophenotypes.
A Study in How NLU Performance Can Affect the Choice of Dialogue System Architecture

This paper presents an analysis of how the level of performance achievable by an NLU module can affect the optimal modular design of a dialogue system. We present an evaluation that shows how NLU accuracy levels impact the overall performance of a system that includes an NLU module and a rule-based dialogue policy. We contrast these performance levels with the performance of a direct classification design that omits a separate NLU module. We conclude with a discussion of the potential for a hybrid architecture incorporating the strengths of both approaches.
The Salivary IgA Flow Rate Is Increased by High Concentrations of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in the Cecum of Rats Ingesting Fructooligosaccharides

Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) serves as a major effector in mucosal immunity by preventing submucosal invasion of pathogens. However, the mechanism by which consumption of fermentable fibers increases IgA in saliva was not fully elucidated. This study investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) intake and time after feeding on IgA levels in the saliva and cecal digesta and on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the cecum in rats. Five-week-old rats were fed a fiber-free diet or a diet with 50 g/kg FOS for zero, one, four, and eight weeks. Ingestion of FOS at one and eight weeks led to a higher IgA flow rate of saliva per weight of submandibular gland tissue (p < 0.05), which positively correlated with the concentration of SCFA in the cecal digesta (rs = 0.86, p = 0.0006, n = 12), but showed no correlation with the concentration of IgA in the cecal digesta (rs = 0.15, p = 0.3, n = 48). These results suggested that ingestion of FOS increased salivary IgA secretion through high levels of SCFA in the large intestine, which was produced by fermentation of FOS. Thus, continuously ingesting FOS for more than one week could increase secretion of salivary IgA.
Baseline knee adduction moment interacts with body mass index to predict loss of medial tibial cartilage volume over 2.5 years in knee Osteoarthritis

This study aimed to determine the extent to which changes over 2.5 years in medial knee cartilage thickness and volume were predicted by: (1) Peak values of the knee adduction (KAM) and flexion moments; and (2) KAM impulse and loading frequency, representing cumulative load, after controlling for age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Adults with clinical knee osteoarthritis participated. At baseline and approximately 2.5 years follow‐up, cartilage thickness and volume of the medial tibia and femur were segmented from magnetic resonance imaging scans. Gait kinematics and kinetics, and daily knee loading frequency were also collected at baseline. Multiple linear regressions predicted changes in cartilage morphology from baseline gait mechanics. Data were collected from 52 participants (41 women) [age 61.0 (6.9) y; BMI 28.5 (5.7) kg/m2] over 2.56 (0.51) years. There were significant KAM peak‐by‐BMI (p = 0.023) and KAM impulse‐by‐BMI (p = 0.034) interactions, which revealed that larger joint loads in those with higher BMIs were associated with greater loss of medial tibial cartilage volume. In conclusion, with adjustments for age, sex, and cartilage measurement at baseline, large magnitude KAM peak and KAM impulse each interacted with BMI to predict loss of cartilage volume of the medial tibia over 2.5 years among individuals with knee osteoarthritis. These data suggest that, in clinical knee osteoarthritis, exposure to large KAMs may be detrimental to cartilage in those with larger BMIs. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2476–2483, 2017.
Effect of MRI on preterm infants and their families: a randomised trial with nested diagnostic and economic evaluation

Background We tested the hypothesis that routine MRI would improve the care and well-being of preterm infants and their families. Design Parallel-group randomised trial (1.1 allocation; intention-to-treat) with nested diagnostic and cost evaluations (EudraCT 2009-011602-42). Setting Participants from 14 London hospitals, imaged at a single centre. Patients 511 infants born before 33 weeks gestation underwent both MRI and ultrasound around term. 255 were randomly allocated (siblings together) to receive only MRI results and 255 only ultrasound from a paediatrician unaware of unallocated results; one withdrew before allocation. Main outcome measures Maternal anxiety, measured by the State-Trait Anxiety inventory (STAI) assessed in 206/214 mothers receiving MRI and 217/220 receiving ultrasound. Secondary outcomes included: prediction of neurodevelopment, health-related costs and quality of life. Results After MRI, STAI fell from 36.81 (95% CI 35.18 to 38.44) to 32.77 (95% CI 31.54 to 34.01), 31.87 (95% CI 30.63 to 33.12) and 31.82 (95% CI 30.65 to 33.00) at 14 days, 12 and 20 months, respectively. STAI fell less after ultrasound: from 37.59 (95% CI 36.00 to 39.18) to 33.97 (95% CI 32.78 to 35.17), 33.43 (95% CI 32.22 to 34.63) and 33.63 (95% CI 32.49 to 34.77), p=0.02. There were no differences in health-related quality of life. MRI predicted moderate or severe functional motor impairment at 20 months slightly better than ultrasound (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (CI) 0.74; 0.66 to 0.83 vs 0.64; 0.56 to 0.72, p=0.01) but cost £315 (CI £295–£336) more per infant. Conclusions MRI increased costs and provided only modest benefits. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01049594 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01049594. EudraCT: EudraCT: 2009-011602-42 (https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/).