Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis C eradication with sofosbuvir leads to significant metabolic changes

AIM To assess the effect of sofosbuvir (SOF) based regimens on glycemic and lipid control. METHODS This is a retrospective analysis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients treated and cured with a SOF regimen [SOF/ribavirin/interferon, SOF/simeprevir, or SOF/ledipasvir (LDV) ± ribavirin] from January 2014 to March 2015. Patients with hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and lipid panels within six months before and six months after therapy were identified and included in our study. Due to the known hemolytic effect of ribavirin, HbA1C was obtained a minimum of three months post-treatment for the patients treated with a ribavirin regimen. Medical history, demographics, HCV genotype, pre-therapy RNA, and liver biopsies were included in our analysis. The patients who started a new medication or had an adjustment of baseline medical management for hyperlipidemia or diabetes mellitus (DM) were excluded from our analysis. RESULTS Two hundred and thirty-four patients were reviewed, of which 60 patients met inclusion criteria. Sixty-three point three percent were male, 26.7% were Caucasian, 41.7% were African American and 91.7% were infected with hepatitis C genotype 1. Mean age was 60.6 ± 6.7 years. Thirty-nine patients had HbA1C checked before and after treatment, of which 22 had the diagnosis of DM type 2. HbA1C significantly decreased with treatment of HCV (pretreatment 6.66% ± 0.95% vs post-treatment 6.14% ± 0.65%, P < 0.005). Those treated with SOF/LDV had a lower HbA1C response than those treated with other regimens (0.26% ± 0.53% vs 0.71% ± 0.83%, P = 0.070). Fifty-two patients had pre- and post-treatment lipid panels; there was a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TC) after treatment (LDL: 99.5 ± 28.9 mg/dL vs 128.3 ± 34.9 mg/dL, P < 0.001; TC: 171.6 ± 32.5 mg/dL vs 199.7 ± 40.0 mg/dL, P < 0.001). Pre-treatment body-mass index (BMI) did not differ from post-treatment BMI (P = 0.684). CONCLUSION Eradication of HCV with a SOF regimen resulted in a significant drop in HbA1C and an increase in LDL and TC post therapy.
Differential Transcriptional Control of the Superoxide Dismutase-2 κB Element in Neurons and Astrocytes*

In addition to their conventional G-C/T target sequences, Sp1 family transcription factors (Sp-factors) can interact with a subset of the target sequences for NFκB. Due to the low level of bona fide NFκB activity in most resting cells, this interaction between Sp-factors and κB-sites could play important roles in cell function. Here we used mutagenesis of a canonical κB element from the immunoglobulin and HIV promoters to identify the GC-rich sequences at each end required for Sp-factor targeting. Through screening of multiple κB elements, a sequence element located in the second intron of superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2) was identified as a good candidate for both NFκB and Sp-factor binding. In neurons, the prominent proteins interacting with this site were Sp3 and Sp4, whereas Sp1, Sp3, and NFκB were associated with this site in astroglia. The neuronal Sp-factors repressed transcriptional activity through this κB-site. In contrast, astroglial Sp-factors activated promoter activity through the same element. NFκB contributed to control of the SOD2 κB element only in astrocytes. These findings imply that cell-type specificity of transcription in the central nervous system, particularly with regard to κB elements, may include two unique aspects of neurons: 1) a recalcitrant NFκB and 2) the substitution of Sp4 for Sp1.
Alcohol-related sickness absence among young employees: gender differences and the prevention paradox.

BACKGROUND Few studies have examined alcohol-related sickness absence among young employees, although young adults are known to drink quite heavily. There are substantial differences in drinking patterns between men and women, yet gender differences have rarely been the main focus in research on alcohol-related sickness absence. Thus the present paper aims to examine gender differences in the prevalence of alcohol-related sickness absence among young employees in Norway, and in the associations between drinking patterns and such absence. Further, to examine whether the prevention paradox applies to alcohol-related sickness absence among both genders. METHODS A sample of employed young adults, 49.7% male (N = 1762, mean age = 28.3; SD = 1.9), was obtained from a general population survey of Norwegians. Self-reported measures on alcohol-related sickness absence and various drinking measures were applied. RESULTS Men reported absence from work due to drinking almost twice as often as women. There was a statistically significant gender difference in the drinking-absence association only for one of the three alcohol measures, indicating a stronger relationship among women. The heaviest drinkers (about 6% of the sample) reported a disproportionally large share of alcohol-related sickness absence (19%), yet the vast majority of such absence was found among the moderate drinkers (81%). CONCLUSIONS Alcohol-related sickness absence is more common among men than women. This gender difference may reflect differences in drinking habits rather than the likelihood of being absent after drinking. The results indicate that the prevention paradox applies to alcohol-related sickness absence among young employees of both genders.
Low-loss GaInNAs saturable Bragg reflector for mode-locking of a femtosecond Cr/sup 4+/ : forsterite-laser

A GaInNAs saturable Bragg reflector is used to mode-lock a Cr/sup 4+/ : forsterite solid-state laser. This low-loss saturable absorber mediates the generation of tunable femtosecond pulses having durations as short as 62 fs in the 1300-nm spectral region.
Biosignals as an Advanced Man-Machine Interface

An electric power generating set for a fluid pipeline, comprising a turbine coupled to the pipeline for rotating under the pressure of the fluid moving in the pipeline; a generator coupled to the downstream end of the turbine for generating electric power upon rotation, and a heat exchanger for communicating the fluid from the turbine to the pipeline for absorbing heat from the generator.
Fine‐scale spatial ecology drives kin selection relatedness among cooperating amoebae

Cooperation among microbes is important for traits as diverse as antibiotic resistance, pathogen virulence, and sporulation. The evolutionary stability of cooperation against “cheater” mutants depends critically on the extent to which microbes interact with genetically similar individuals. The causes of this genetic social structure in natural microbial systems, however, are unknown. Here, we show that social structure among cooperative Dictyostelium amoebae is driven by the population ecology of colonization, growth, and dispersal acting at spatial scales as small as fruiting bodies themselves. Despite the fact that amoebae disperse while grazing, all it takes to create substantial genetic clonality within multicellular fruiting bodies is a few millimeters distance between the cells colonizing a feeding site. Even adjacent fruiting bodies can consist of different genotypes. Soil populations of amoebae are sparse and patchily distributed at millimeter scales. The fine‐scale spatial structure of cells and genotypes can thus account for the otherwise unexplained high genetic uniformity of spores in fruiting bodies from natural substrates. These results show how a full understanding of microbial cooperation requires understanding ecology and social structure at the small spatial scales microbes themselves experience.
Thrombocytopenia in malaria--correlation with type and severity of malaria.

AIM OF THE STUDY Malaria is a major health problem in the tropics with increased morbidity and mortality. Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in malaria. Although a reliable diagnostic marker, prognostic implications could vary in the two types of malaria. This study was undertaken to correlate the presence and severity of thrombocytopenia with the type of malaria. DESIGN A total of 1565 subjects were included in the study and identified positive for malaria parasites on peripheral smear examination with conventional microscopy. Platelet count was done on a fully automated, quantitative, hematology Coulter analyser. RESULTS Normal platelet count was noted in 21.6% cases. The mean platelet count in vivax malaria (n=973) was 1,15,390/microl (SD 64,580) with a range of 8000-5,73,000/microl, as against falciparum malaria (n=590) where the mean platelet count was 100,900/microl (SD 75,437) with a range of 2000-497,000/microl (Pearson coefficient 8.825, p < 0.0001). Platelet count < 20,000/microl was noted in only 1.5% cases in vivax malaria as against 8.5% cases of falciparum malaria, and none of the subjects with vivax malaria had a platelet count less than 5000/microl. CONCLUSION Although absence of thrombocytopenia is uncommon in malaria, its presence is not a distinguishing feature between the two types. Thrombocytopenia less than 20,000/microl can occur in P. vivax malaria although statistically more common with P. falciparum malaria. The above findings can have therapeutic implications in context of avoiding unnecessary platelet infusions with the relatively more benign course in P. vivax malaria.
Gender inequality in science

How should a better gender balance be achieved? [Also see Report by Leslie et al.] Why are women underrepresented in many areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)? This is a question with no easy answers. In science, as in many areas of life, bias against women exists (1), but researchers disagree on how much bias matters: Some suggest that the effects of bias accumulate over time to shape careers (2), whereas others argue that gender differences in preferences are much more important (3). However, it is likely impossible to disentangle the effects of societal bias and individual preferences, because people's understanding of gender differences shape their preferences (4). Research suggests differences in innate ability are unlikely to play a major role (3), but one route to more equal representation across academic fields might be convincing both women and men that this is true. On page 262 of this issue, Leslie et al. (5) show that how ability is viewed within a field plays a key role in how well women are represented.
Getting the rehabilitation message across: emerging barriers and positive health benefits

The world's press frequently contains stories of failed rehabilitation attempts 1 by media personalities, and popular songs on this topic can galvanize strong views 2. Such events highlight the popularisation of a faulty view that rehabilitation offers only a marginal opportunity for benefit and as such should be avoided at all costs. It is unclear if such scepticism, reinforced by the media, impacts upon those with long-term illness and whether it limits, for example, what pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programmes have to offer. In a recent local Primary Care Trust chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) service evaluation report, patients voiced their concern over the term “rehab” 3 as they believe that there is stigma attached to the term. This previously unrecognised concern may form a new barrier to pulmonary rehabilitation programmes. Clearly, any such concern needs to be addressed as these are interventions of great benefit to our patients 4, 5. However as recruitment and retention of patients into rehabilitation programmes is not easy, as a specialty we need to reflect upon the terminologies we use and how best we “sell” or market these interventions to our patients. COPD represents a global health burden 6 and will move from being the 12th cause to the 5th cause of disability adjusted-life years lost by the year 2020 7. In the UK, >5% of all deaths have been attributed to COPD and up to one in eight emergency hospital admissions may be due to the condition 8. Patients who experience acute exacerbations of COPD have: 1) more frequent visits to the emergency department and hospitalisation 9, 10; 2) a more rapid decline in lung function 11; and 3) a reduced quality of life 12. Pulmonary rehabilitation, which contains elements of …
Solving Complex Legal Cases Using the Intuitive System

Aim Two major challenges in legal decision making arise from the usually high complexity of the cases and from the high level of uncertainty caused by incomplete or missing information. In most cases it is not possible to apply Bayesian probability calculus, and legal standards prohibit the application of fast-and-frugal heuristics. Based on a connectionist approach to decision making, Simon (2004) argued that decision making in legal decisions is governed by coherence-based reasoning. The underlying parallel constraint satisfaction processes, which belong to the intuitive system, are unconscious and enable individuals to quickly integrate huge amounts of information (Glöckner & Betsch, 2006; 2007). The aim of this work was to test the parallel constraint satisfaction approach to decision making in complex legal cases using U.S. official jury instructions, and to manipulate the standard of proof, the predictive power of evidence and the framing of the legal case.
Use of In Vivo-Induced Antigen Technology for Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Proteins Expressed during Human Infection

ABSTRACT Using in vivo-induced antigen technology (IVIAT), a modified immunoscreening technique that circumvents the need for animal models, we directly identified immunogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (O157) proteins expressed either specifically during human infection but not during growth under standard laboratory conditions or at significantly higher levels in vivo than in vitro. IVIAT identified 223 O157 proteins expressed during human infection, several of which were unique to this study. These in vivo-induced (ivi) proteins, encoded by ivi genes, mapped to the backbone, O islands (OIs), and pO157. Lack of in vitro expression of O157-specific ivi proteins was confirmed by proteomic analysis of a mid-exponential-phase culture of E. coli O157 grown in LB broth. Because ivi proteins are expressed in response to specific cues during infection and might help pathogens adapt to and counter hostile in vivo environments, those identified in this study are potential targets for drug and vaccine development. Also, such proteins may be exploited as markers of O157 infection in stool specimens.
The Place of Home-based Enterprises in the Informal Sector: Evidence from Cochabamba, New Delhi, Surabaya and Pretoria

Home-based enterprises (HBEs) are an accepted component in the informal sector in rapidly developing cities. However, they have generally received quite a bad press, especially through a concentration on the exploitation evident in piece-rate homework. From our work in low-income neighbourhoods in Cochabamba (Bolivia), New Delhi (India), Surabaya (Indonesia) and Pretoria (South Africa), we assess HBEs with respect to the characteristics of the informal sector put forward in the literature. We examine our samples of HBEs against such characteristics as small, low operator incomes, informal labour relations and non-separation of production and consumption. We find that they largely conform to expectations. Incomes are low but they are very significant in poverty alleviation. Although many HBEs require few skills, a few compete effectively in international markets.
PKS1932−46: a radio source in an interacting group?★

We present the results of a multiwavelength study of the z= 0.23 radio source PKS1932−46. Integral field unit spectroscopy using the Visible Multi-object Spectrograph (VIMOS) on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) is used to study the morphology, kinematics and ionization state of the extended emission-line region (EELR) surrounding this source, and also a companion galaxy at a similar redshift. Near- and far-infrared imaging observations obtained using the New Technology Telescope and Spitzer are used to analyse the underlying galaxy morphologies and the nature of the active galactic nucleus (AGN). The host galaxy is identified as an ∼M★ elliptical. Combining Spitzer mid-infrared (mid-IR) with X-ray, optical and near-IR imaging observations of this source, we conclude that its AGN is underluminous for a radio source of this type, despite its status as a broad-line object. However, given its relatively large [O iii] luminosity it is likely that the AGN was substantially more luminous in the recent past (≲104 yr ago). The EELR is remarkably extensive and complex, reminiscent of the systems observed around sources at higher redshifts/radio powers, and the gas is predominantly ionized by a mixture of AGN photoionization and emission from young stars. We confirm the presence of a series of star-forming knots extending north–south from the host galaxy, with more prodigious star formation occurring in the merging companion galaxy to the north-east, which has sufficient luminosity at mid- to far-IR (MFIR) wavelengths to be classified as a luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG). The most plausible explanation of our observations is that PKS1932−46 is a member of an interacting galaxy group, and that the impressive EELR is populated by star-forming, tidal debris. We suggest that the AGN itself may currently be fuelled by material associated either with the current interaction or with a previous merger event. Surprisingly, it is the companion object, rather than the radio source host galaxy, which is undergoing the bulk of the star formation activity within the group.
Species and Mating-Type Distribution of Tapesia yallundae and T. acuformis and Occurrence of Apothecia in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

ABSTRACT Eyespot of wheat is caused by the discomycete fungi Tapesia yallundae and T. acuformis. T. yallundae is considered the most important causal agent of the disease in this region but no apothecia of either species have been found in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW). Two compatible isolates of T. yallundae from the PNW were used to inoculate a field plot in the fall of 1998 and apothecia developed in the spring and fall of 2000 on standing wheat stubble. In the spring of 2000, wheat stubble from eight naturally infected fields was examined for the presence of apothecia of T. yallundae and T. acuformis. Apothecia of T. acuformis were found in two fields but no apothecia of T. yallundae were found. This is the first report of apothecia of the eyespot pathogens occurring in the PNW. Species and mating-type distribution of T. yallundae and T. acuformis in the PNW were determined from 817 isolates collected from diseased wheat over 3 years at spatial scales ranging from within fields to across states. In all, 460 isolates were identified as T. yallundae and 357 isolates were identified as T. acuformis with MAT1-1/MAT1-2 ratios not significantly different from 1:1 based on chi(2) tests at most scales tested. The apparent increase in frequency of T. acuformis from previous surveys may indicate a shift in the predominant species causing eyespot. The occurrence of apothecia under field conditions, along with the widespread distribution of mating types of both species, suggests that sexual reproduction may be occurring in both species.
Deal or No Deal? Decision Making under Risk in a Large-Payoff Game Show

We examine the risky choices of contestants in the popular TV game show “Deal or No Deal” and related classroom experiments. Contrary to the traditional view of expected utility theory, the choices can be explained in large part by previous outcomes experienced during the game. Risk aversion decreases after earlier expectations have been shattered by unfavorable outcomes or surpassed by favorable outcomes. Our results point to reference-dependent choice theories such as prospect theory, and suggest that path-dependence is relevant, even when the choice problems are simple and well-defined, and when large real monetary amounts are at stake.
Online HIV prevention information: How black female college students are seeking and perceiving

Purpose – Two research questions are addressed: what are black female college students’ perceptions of current messages present on web sites about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention? ; and what messages do black female college students find culturally relevant to them, and why? Results indicate that these women perceive several communication barriers including lack of trust and unfamiliarity with information sources, stigma ascribed to HIV, as well as misconceptions and traditional values held by some in the black community and health institutions. HIV prevention messages are perceived as relevant if they exhibit qualities including interactive features. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – To understand black collegiate women as health information seekers, it is important to engage paradigms that allow researchers to make sense of how group members construct their content needs, what helps shape this construction, and the meaning derived from the consumption of the informat.
Randomized trial of adjuvant 13-cis-retinoic acid and interferon alfa for patients with aggressive skin squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE To conduct a phase III trial of adjuvant 13-cis-retinoic acid (13cRA) plus interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) for preventing tumor recurrence and second primary tumors (SPTs) of skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) among patients with aggressive skin SCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-six patients with aggressive skin SCC were randomly assigned to receive either 6 months of combined 13cRA (1 mg/kg/d orally) and IFN-alpha (3 x 10(6) U subcutaneously three times per week) or no adjuvant therapy (control group) after SCC surgery and/or radiation. RESULTS At 21.5 months median follow-up, treatment did not improve the time to tumor recurrence and SPT versus control (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 0.53 to 2.41), time to tumor recurrence (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.43 to 2.72), or time to SPT (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.27 to 2.93). Adjuvant 13cRA and IFN-alpha was moderately tolerable; 29% of patients in the treatment arm required dose reductions for grade 3 or 4 toxicities. CONCLUSION Results of this phase III trial do not support 13cRA plus IFN-alpha for adjuvant therapy of aggressive skin SCC. With high rates of tumor recurrence and SPTs, patients with aggressive skin SCC continue to have an unmet medical need, with devastating mortality, morbidity, and financial consequences. Promising agents with preclinical and early clinical results relevant to aggressive skin SCC deserve a high priority for future clinical drug development.
A representational ecology for learning classifier systems

The representation used by a learning algorithm introduces a bias which is more or less well-suited to any given learning problem. It is well known that, across all possible problems, one algorithm is no better than any other. Accordingly, the traditional approach in machine learning is to choose an appropriate representation making use of some domain-specific knowledge, and this representation is then used exclusively during the learning process.To reduce reliance on domain-knowledge and its appropriate use it would be desirable for the learning algorithm to select its own representation for the problem.We investigate this with XCS, a Michigan-style Learning Classifier System.We begin with an analysis of two representations from the literature: hyperplanes and hyperspheres. We then apply XCS with either one or the other representation to two Boolean functions, the well-known multiplexer function and a function defined by hyperspheres, and confirm that planes are better suited to the multiplexer and spheres to the sphere-based function.Finally, we allow both representations to compete within XCS, which learns the most appropriate representation for problem thanks to the pressure against overlapping rules which its niche GA supplies. The result is an ecology in which the representations are species.