Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Danoprevir Monotherapy Decreases Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Danoprevir is a potent and selective direct-acting antiviral agent that targets the protease activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A. This agent results in a significant rapid decline in HCV RNA levels when it is used in monotherapy. The present study evaluated whether plasma concentrations of the inflammatory markers gamma interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and neopterin or the interferon-stimulated gene product 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS-1) were correlated with the plasma HCV RNA concentration before or during 14-day danoprevir monotherapy. In contrast to pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment, a higher baseline IP-10 concentration was positively correlated with a greater first-phase HCV RNA decline upon danoprevir administration. Changes in the IP-10 plasma concentration during danoprevir administration were also associated with categorical changes in HCV RNA concentration at days 7 and 14. The neopterin concentration appeared to be moderately decreased during danoprevir administration, although these changes were not statistically significant. However, changes in neopterin concentration showed a statistically significant correlation with changes in IP-10 concentration. Considerable variation in the OAS-1 concentration was observed before and during treatment, including in patients treated with placebo and/or patients with minimal virologic response. Overall, these results suggest that effective treatment with a direct-acting antiviral agent may reduce hepatic inflammation and that first-phase HCV RNA decline during treatment with an NS3/4A protease inhibitor is more robust in patients with high baseline IP-10 concentrations.
Fast and approximate stream mining of quantiles and frequencies using graphics processors

We present algorithms for fast quantile and frequency estimation in large data streams using graphics processors (GPUs). We exploit the high computation power and memory bandwidth of graphics processors and present a new sorting algorithm that performs rasterization operations on the GPUs. We use sorting as the main computational component for histogram approximation and construction of ε-approximate quantile and frequency summaries. Our algorithms for numerical statistics computation on data streams are deterministic, applicable to fixed or variable-sized sliding windows and use a limited memory footprint. We use GPU as a co-processor and minimize the data transmission between the CPU and GPU by taking into account the low bus bandwidth. We implemented our algorithms on a PC with a NVIDIA GeForce FX 6800 Ultra GPU and a 3.4 GHz Pentium IV CPU and applied them to large data streams consisting of more than 100 million values. We also compared the performance of our GPU-based algorithms with optimized implementations of prior CPU-based algorithms. Overall, our results demonstrate that the graphics processors available on a commodity computer system are efficient stream-processor and useful co-processors for mining data streams.
Effective Interventions for Diabetes Patients by Community Pharmacists: A Meta-analysis of Pharmaceutical Care Components

Objective: To evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included interventions provided by community pharmacists for patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes, the analysis of each component of the intervention(s), and the description of the training that the pharmacists received. Data Sources: The literature research was conducted in PubMed and in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (January 2000 to April 2016) for RCTs with interventions provided by community pharmacists for patients with diabetes. Corresponding authors were contacted about missing data and intervention and training design. Study Selection and Data Extraction: RCTs published in English or German were included if pharmaceutical care or medication therapy management was conducted by community pharmacists with diabetes patients. Basic information, intervention and training design data were extracted. Data Synthesis: The literature research resulted in 11 eligible studies for further analysis. The corresponding authors of 6 studies responded to our request and sent their raw data. The calculated meta-analytical effect of 640 analyzed patients was a hemoglobin A1C (A1C) difference of −0.66%, with a 95% CI of −0.86% to −0.45%. The analysis revealed that most intervention elements had a significant positive meta-analytical effect on the A1C values. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that community pharmacist–led interventions can improve glycemic control in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The most effective intervention components were patient centered and interdisciplinary. Pharmaceutical care interventions should, therefore, include the following components: sending feedback to the physician, setting individual goals, reviewing medication, and assessing patients’ health beliefs and medication knowledge.
Recurrent Subluxation of the Peroneal Tendons

Background Recurrent peroneal tendon subluxation is uncommon. Hypothesis The authors tested the null hypothesis that there are no differences between preoperative and postoperative status after anatomical repair of the superior peroneal retinaculum. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods In the period 1996 to 2001, the authors operated on 14 patients (all men; mean age, 25.3 ± 6.3 years; range, 18-37 years) with traumatic recurrent unilateral peroneal tendon subluxation, with a follow-up of 38 ± 3 months (range, 22-47 months). Results No patient experienced a further episode of peroneal tendon subluxation, and all had returned to their normal activities. Maximum calf circumference, functional ability, peak torque, total work, and mean power of plantar flexion were always lower in the operated leg, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Scale score increased significantly from 54.3 ± 11.4 to 94.5 ± 6.4 (P = .03), with 5 patients reporting a fully normal ankle. Conclusion If an anatomical approach is used, reattachment of the superior retinaculum is a most appropriate technique. It returns patients to a high level of physical activity and gives a high rate of satisfactory results both objectively and subjectively. Randomized control trials may be the way forward in determining the best surgical management method. However, the relative rarity of the condition and the large number of techniques make such a study difficult.
Hypermedia learning and prior knowledge: domain expertise vs. system expertise

Prior knowledge is often argued to be an important determinant in hypermedia learning, and may be thought of as including two important elements: domain expertise and system expertise. However, there has been a lack of research considering these issues together. In an attempt to address this shortcoming, this paper presents a study that examines how domain expertise and system expertise influence students' learning performance in, and perceptions of, a hypermedia system. The results indicate that participants with lower domain knowledge show a greater improvement in their learning performance than those with higher domain knowledge. Furthermore, those who enjoy using the Web more are likely to have positive perceptions of non-linear interaction. Discussions on how to accommodate the different needs of students with varying levels of prior knowledge are provided based on the results.
Inhibitory effect of silibinin on ligand binding to erbB1 and associated mitogenic signaling, growth, and DNA synthesis in advanced human prostate carcinoma cells

We recently showed the inhibitory effect of a flavonoid antioxidant, silymarin, on erbB1‐Shc activation in prostate cancer (PCA) DU145 cells. In the present study, we performed more detailed mechanistic and molecular modeling studies with pure silibinin to assess and define its effect on membrane signaling related to erbB1 activation in human PCA LNCaP and DU145 cells. Studies also were performed to establish the biologic responses toward extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation, cell growth, and DNA synthesis. Treatment of serum‐starved cells with various doses of silibinin for 2 h followed by 125I‐epidermal growth factor (EGF) showed 30–75% inhibition in ligand binding and 55–95% inhibition in its internalization in LNCaP cells and 20–64% and 12–27% inhibition in these two events in DU145 cells. Time‐response studies showed similar effects. In further studies, treatment of serum‐starved cultures with silibinin followed by EGF showed strong inhibitory effects on membrane and cytoplasmic signaling molecules. In the case of erbB1 activation, silibinin showed a 58–75% decrease in LNCaP and a 40–100% decrease in DU145 cells at 50, 75, and 100‐μg/mL doses. Inhibitory effects of silibinin also were evident on ERK1/2 activation (20–80% inhibition) in both cell lines. Treatment of serum‐starved cultures with silibinin resulted in 20–40% and 30–55% inhibition of LNCaP and DU145 cell growth, respectively, at similar doses after 1–3 d of treatment, and 10–50% cell death in both cell lines. Under 10% serum conditions, identical silibinin treatments resulted in 20–65% inhibition of cell growth in LNCaP and DU145 cells but did not cause any cell death. Similar doses of silibinin treatments for 24 h also resulted in 25–60%, 35–40%, and 36–50% inhibition of DNA synthesis when cells were cultured in 10% serum, totally serum starved, and serum starved plus stimulated with EGF, respectively. Molecular modeling of silibinin showed that it is a highly lipophilic compound, suggesting that it interacts with lipid‐rich plasma membrane, including binding with erbB1, thereby competing with the EGF‐erbB1 interaction. Because the ligand‐erbB1 autocrine‐loop is causally involved in advanced and androgen‐independent PCA, the observed effects of silibinin and its strong lipophilic nature could be useful in developing this agent for the prevention and therapy of PCA. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pancreatic cancer immunotherapy using a tumor lysate vaccine, engineered to express α-gal epitopes, targets pancreatic cancer stem cells.

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease that remains one of the most resistant to traditional therapies. Immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer induces the recruitment and activation of T cells that recognize tumor-associated antigens (TAAs); thus, the mechanism differs from that of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The goal of cancer immunotherapy is to elicit immune responses against autologous tumors, and especially to induce multiple T cell clones against a variety of TAAs. In the present study, we prepared a polyvalent tumor lysate vaccine engineered to express the α-gal epitopes, Galα1-3Galβ1-4 GlcNAc-R (i.e., α-gal tumor lysate), from primary tumors. The vaccine elicited strong antibody production against multiple TAAs in pancreatic cancer cells and induced activation of multiple tumor-specific T cells in α1,3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) knockout (KO) mice. The tumor lysate vaccine exhibited a similar effect on pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) with the CD44+CD24+ phenotype. Furthermore, in vivo experiments using NOD/SCID mice, inoculated with splenocytes from KO mice vaccinated with the α-gal tumor lysate and injected with pancreatic cancer cells, showed successful induction of a marked immune response that resulted in suppression of tumorigenesis and significant improvement in overall survival. In contrast, inoculation of lymphocytes from KO mice vaccinated with control tumor lysate vaccine had no effects on tumor growth and survival. The results of both in vitro and in vivo experiments emphasize the efficiency of tumor lysate vaccines expressing α-gal epitopes in targeting all pancreatic cancer cells, including differentiated cancer cells and pancreatic CSCs. The α-gal tumor lysate vaccine could be the basis for a novel therapeutic approach in human clinical trials.
Caught in the headlights: Designing for creative learning and teaching in higher education

This study was an exploration of the different ways that educators conceptualise and approach creative learning and teaching. The research revealed theoretical and practice-based insights, demonstrating that exemplary teachers adopt an ecological approach to designing for student creativity; this approach acknowledges and works with the complexity of the higher education environment and the dynamic relationships between students, peers and teachers. The inquiry confirmed the value of using learning design patterns to uncover hidden creative processes.
UNCOVERING THE PUTATIVE B-STAR BINARY COMPANION OF THE SN 1993J PROGENITOR

The Type IIb supernova (SN) 1993J is one of only a few stripped-envelope SNe with a progenitor star identified in pre-explosion images. SN IIb models typically invoke H envelope stripping by mass transfer in a binary system. For the case of SN 1993J, the models suggest that the companion grew to 22 M☉ and became a source of ultraviolet (UV) excess. Located in M81, at a distance of only 3.6 Mpc, SN 1993J offers one of the best opportunities to detect the putative companion and test the progenitor model. Previously published near-UV spectra in 2004 showed evidence for absorption lines consistent with a hot (B2 Ia) star, but the field was crowded and dominated by flux from the SN. Here we present Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and Wide-Field Camera 3 observations of SN 1993J from 2012, at which point the flux from the SN had faded sufficiently to potentially measure the UV continuum properties from the putative companion. The resulting UV spectrum is consistent with contributions from both a hot B star and the SN, although we cannot rule out line-of-sight coincidences.
It's alive!: exploring the design space of a gesturing phone

Recent technical developments with flexible display materials have diversified the possible forms of near-future handheld devices. We envision smartphones that will deploy these materials for physical, device-originated gestural display as expressive channels for user communication. Over several iterations, we designed both human-actuated and mechanized prototypes that animate the standard block-like smartphone form-factor with evocative life-like gestures. We present three basic prototypes developed through an exploratory study, and a medium fidelity prototype developed in a second study, which enact a combination of visual and haptic gestural displays including breathing, curling, crawling, ears, and vibration. Through two evaluations we find that (a) users are receptive to the use of gestural displays to enrich their communications; and (b) smartphone-embodied gestural displays are capable of expressing both common notifications (e.g., incoming calls) and emotional content through the dimensions of arousal and, to a small extent, valence. Finally, we conclude with several guidelines for the design of gestural mobile devices.
Efeitos de quatro modelos de treinamento experimental de natação sobre biomarcadores de adaptação e capacidades aeróbia e anaeróbia em ratos wistar

The objective of this study was to determine in rats the effects of 4 training models (endurance monotonous training, anaerobic intermittent training, linear periodization training and block periodization training) on anaerobic and aerobic performance, creatine kinase, muscle and liver glycogen, antioxidants and hormones. The rats (60 days old) were separated in: sedentary, endurance monotonous training, anaerobic intermittent training, linear periodization training and block periodization training groups. The aerobic and anaerobic performance was evaluated by lactate minimum test. The exercise groups were submitted to 6 day/wk, 12 wk. The endurance monotonous training was constant and equivalent to 100%, 90% and 80% of aerobic capacity determined by minimum lactate test. The anaerobic intermittent training had 4 sets x 10 jumps with a load corresponding to 50% of the body weight (bw). The linear periodized training was divided into Basic (6 weeks), specific (4.5 weeks) and taper (1.5 weeks), with intensities (% bw) ranging between 80 and 240 % of individual anaerobic threshold. The block training was divided into three periods lasting from 6 weeks (Block 1), 4.5 weeks (Block 2) and 1.5 weeks (Block 3) and in each block contained the basic periods, specific and taper with intensities (% bw) ranging between 80 and 240% of individual anaerobic threshold. The results in all tests were expressed as mean ± standard error and had the statistical procedure tests: Three Way ANOVA, with significance levels prefixed at P <0.05. The anaerobic performance improved after linear periodization training while aerobic capacity increased after anaerobic intermittent training. The endurance monotonous training did not affect aerobic performance, but reduced the anaerobic performance after 12 weeks. The aerobic and anaerobic decadence in the sedentary group was attenuated with linear periodization training and anaerobic intermittent training. The main changes in biomarkers occurred in hepatic and soleus glycogen after the period of high volume. Furthermore, the concentrations of creatinine, urea, uric acid, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase did not show significant alterations over the period of training.
Development of the Drosophila genital disc requires interactions between its segmental primordia

In both sexes, the Drosophila genital disc comprises three segmental primordia: the female genital primordium derived from segment A8, the male genital primordium derived from segment A9 and the anal primordium derived from segments A10-11. Each segmental primordium has an anterior (A) and a posterior (P) compartment, the P cells of the three segments being contiguous at the lateral edges of the disc. We show that Hedgehog (Hh) expressed in the P compartment differentially signals A cells at the AP compartment border and A cells at the segmental border. As in the wing imaginal disc, cell lineage restriction of the AP compartment border is defined by Hh signalling. There is also a lineage restriction barrier at the segmental borders, even though the P compartment cells of the three segments converge in the lateral areas of the disc. Lineage restriction between segments A9 and A10-11 depends on factors other than the Hh, En and Hox genes. The segmental borders, however, can be permeable to some morphogenetic signals. Furthermore, cell ablation experiments show that the presence of all primordia (either the anal or the genital primordium) during development are required for normal development of genital disc. Collectively, these findings suggest that interaction between segmental primordia is required for the normal development of the genital disc.
Proestrous Surge of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion Inhibits Apoptosis of Anterior Pituitary Cells in Cycling Female Rats

Estrogen affects apoptotic cell death in estrogen-responsive tissues. The purpose of the present study was to examine dynamic changes in apoptotic cell death in the anterior pituitary gland during the estrous cycle and to investigate neuroendocrine regulation of these changes in cycling female rats. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) for in situ detection of DNA strand breaks revealed that the number of TUNEL-positive anterior pituitary cells was changing during the estrous cycle, with a maximum in the morning of proestrus and a minimum in the morning of estrus. A similar pattern was observed with Bax immunostaining; however, no difference was observed in Bcl-2 immunostaining. Most of Bax-immunoreactive cells were identified as a subpopulation of gonadotropes. Pentobarbital administered in the afternoon of proestrus attenuated the decrease in TUNEL-positive or Bax-immunoreactive cells in the morning of estrus, although estradiol treatment failed to affect it. This action of pentobarbital was reduced by simultaneous treatment with an ovulation-inducing dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), but not with progesterone, an ovarian steroid also released after GnRH treatment. These results suggest that anterior pituitary cells, mostly gonadotropes, undergo a cyclic change in apoptotic cell death during the estrous cycle and that the inhibition of apoptosis on estrus is due, at least in part, to the proestrous surge of GnRH secretion.
Weakly supervised object detector learning with model drift detection

A conventional approach to learning object detectors uses fully supervised learning techniques which assumes that a training image set with manual annotation of object bounding boxes are provided. The manual annotation of objects in large image sets is tedious and unreliable. Therefore, a weakly supervised learning approach is desirable, where the training set needs only binary labels regarding whether an image contains the target object class. In the weakly supervised approach a detector is used to iteratively annotate the training set and learn the object model. We present a novel weakly supervised learning framework for learning an object detector. Our framework incorporates a new initial annotation model to start the iterative learning of a detector and a model drift detection method that is able to detect and stop the iterative learning when the detector starts to drift away from the objects of interest. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on the challenging PASCAL 2007 dataset.
Electromagnetic Modelling of Fiber Sensors for Low-Cost and High Sensitivity Temperature Monitoring

An accurate design of an innovative fiber optic temperature sensor is developed. The sensor is based on a cascade of three microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). In the first one a suitable cascade of long period gratings is designed into the core. A single mode intermediate and a rare-earth activated Fabry-Perot optical cavity are the other two sensor MOF sections. An exhaustive theoretic feasibility investigation is performed employing computer code. The complete set-up for temperature monitoring can be obtained by utilizing only a low cost pump diode laser at 980 nm wavelength and a commercial optical power detector. The simulated sensitivity S = 315.1 μW/°C and the operation range ΔT = 100 °C is good enough for actual applications.
Measuring attitudes cross-nationally : lessons from the European social survey

A Measurement Model for Comparative Surveys - Roger Jowell and Max Kaase From Design to Implementation - Rory Fitzgerald, Gillian Eva, Caroline Bryson and Ruth O'Shea How Representative can a Multi-Nation Survey Be? - Sabine Hader and Peter Lynn Can Questions Travel Successfully? - Willem E Saris and Irmtraud Gallhofer Improving Equivalence in Translations - Janet A Harkness The Impact of External Events - Ineke A L Stoop Understanding and Improving Response Rates - Jaak Billiet, Achim Koch and Michel Philippens Free and Immediate Access to Data - Kirstine Kolsrud, Knut Kalgraff Skjak and Bjorn Henrichsen Measuring Changing Value Orientations Across Nations - Shalom H Schwartz Understanding Attitudes to Immigration and National Exclusiveness - David Card, Christian Dustmann and Ian Preston Political and Social Participation in Europe - Kenneth Newton and Jose Ramon Montero A Continental Divide? Social Capital in the US and Europe - Pippa Norris and James Davis What is Being Learned From the ESS? - Peter Mohler