Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crosslanguage blog mining and trend visualisation

People use weblogs to express thoughts, present ideas and share knowledge, therefore weblogs are extraordinarily valuable resources, amongs others, for trend analysis. Trends are derived from the chronological sequence of blog post count per topic. The comparison with a reference corpus allows qualitative statements over identified trends. We propose a crosslanguage blog mining and trend visualisation system to analyse blogs across languages and topics. The trend visualisation facilitates the identification of trends and the comparison with the reference news article corpus. To prove the correctness of our system we computed the correlation between trends in blogs and news articles for a subset of blogs and topics. The evaluation corroborated our hypothesis of a high correlation coefficient for these subsets and therefore the correctness of our system for different languages and topics is proven.
HIV-1 Dynamics and Coreceptor Usage in Maraviroc-Treated Patients with Ongoing Replication

ABSTRACT There is evidence that HIV-1 evolution under maraviroc (MVC) pressure can lead to the selection of either X4-tropic variants and/or R5-tropic, MVC-resistant isolates. However, the viral dynamics of HIV-1 variants in patients with virological failure (VF) on MVC-containing regimens remain poorly studied. Here, we investigated the V3 loop evolution of HIV-1 on MVC in relation to coreceptor usage and the nature of HIV-1 quasispecies before MVC therapy using bulk population sequences and ultradeep sequencing. The majority of patients had no detectable minority X4 variant at baseline. The evolution of tropism was followed up until VF and showed three possibilities for viral evolution in these patients: emergence of preexisting X4 variants, de novo selection of R5 variants presenting V3 loop mutations, or replication of R5 variants without selection of known mutations.
Automata and Logics over Signals

We extend some of the classical connections between automata and logic due to Büchi [1] and McNaughton and Papert [2], to languages of finitely varying functions or “signals”. In particular we introduce a natural class of automata for generating finitely varying functions called ST-NFA’s, and show that it coincides in terms of language-definability with a natural monadic second-order logic interpreted over finitely varying functions [3]. We also identify a “counter-free” subclass of ST-NFA’s which characterize the first-order definable languages of finitely varying functions. Our proofs mainly factor through the classical results for word languages. These results have applications in automata characterisations for continuously interpreted real-time logics like Metric Temporal Logic (MTL) [4, 5].
Radioactive iodine administered for thyroid remnant ablation following recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone preparation also has an important adjuvant therapy function.

BACKGROUND In December 2007, the USFDA approved recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (rhTSH) for radioiodine remnant ablation after total thyroidectomy in patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer without evidence of metastatic disease. Because previously undetected radioactive iodine (RAI)-avid metastatic lesions can be identified during remnant ablation, we sought to determine if rhTSH-stimulated uptake of RAI into these incidentally discovered metastases is associated with a significant therapeutic (tumoricidal) effect. METHODS This retrospective review describes the clinical outcome of 84 well-differentiated thyroid cancer patients in whom RAI-avid lesions outside the thyroid bed were first identified at the time of RAI remnant ablation (64 rhTSH stimulated, 20 thyroid hormone withdrawal [THW]) on either the diagnostic (63/84, 75%) or posttherapy (21/84, 25%) whole body scan (76 with locoregional metastasis only and 8 with pulmonary uptake). Following ablation, patients were classified as having either no evidence of disease or persistent disease on the basis of subsequent diagnostic whole body RAI scans, stimulated thyroglobulin, and cross-sectional imaging studies. RESULTS Despite having RAI-avid metastatic disease identified outside the thyroid bed at the time of initial ablation, 70% (45/64) of rhTSH-assisted patients and 55% (11/20) of the THW group had no evidence of disease at a median of 2.7 years following the initial RAI ablation (p = 0.159). THW and rhTSH-stimulated RAI ablation had similar efficacy in eliminating RAI-avid locoregional metastases (42/60, 70% of rhTSH and 10/16, 63% of THW, p = 0.65) and pulmonary metastases (3/4, 75% of rhTSH and 1/4, 25% of THW, p = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS Preparation with either rhTSH or THW in this retrospective study appears to have similar therapeutic (tumoricidal) effects on small volume RAI-avid metastatic disease incidentally discovered at the time of ablation in both locoregional lymph nodes and pulmonary parenchyma.
Chemical evolution of bulges at high redshift

Abstract We present a new class of hydrodynamical models for the formation of bulges (either massive elliptical galaxies or classical bulges in spirals) in which we implement detailed prescriptions for the chemical evolution of H, He, O and Fe. Our results hint toward an outside-in formation in the context of the supernovae-driven wind scenario. The build-up of the chemical properties of the stellar populations inhabiting the galactic core is very fast. Therefore we predict a non significant evolution of both the mass-metallicity and the mass-[α/Fe] relations after the first 0.5 − 1 Gyr. In this framework we explain how the observed slopes, either positive or negative, in the radial gradient of the mean stellar [α/Fe], and their apparent lack of any correlation with all the other observables, can arise as a consequence of the interplay between star formation and metal-enhanced internal gas flows.
Engagement of students with lectures in biochemistry and pharmacology

Academic staff at universities have become concerned about the decrease in student attendance at lectures and the implication of this on student achievement and learning. Few studies have measured actual lecture attendance in a coherent or comprehensive way. The aim of this study was to measure actual lecture attendance of students over two year levels enrolled in two separate science disciplines, biochemistry and pharmacology. The study further sought to determine the factors that influence lecture attendance. Attendance at lectures in four units of study was monitored over a 12‐week semester. Attendance at lectures decreased over the semester and was lower at early morning lectures (8 A.M.; 9 A.M.). A questionnaire surveying students about their preparation for lectures, their compensation for missed lectures and the factors influencing their nonattendance was administered at the end of the semester. Students reported that the major factors influencing their attendance at lectures related to timetable issues and the quality of lecturing. If students missed lectures, the majority read the lecture notes and listened to the online recordings. The availability of online recordings of lectures was not a major influence on attendance at lectures. In three of the four units studied there was no correlation between self‐reported lecture attendance and exam performance. The results of the study indicate that universities should dedicate more resources to timetabling and to supporting staff to improve the quality of their lectures.
Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6-9 years in Wukro, northern Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6-9 years in northern Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out and the data were analysed for 824 (61.5%) of 1339 eligible children for whom there was complete information on biochemical vitamin A status, dietary vitamin A intake, ocular examination for xerophthalmia, and anthropometry. FINDINGS The prevalence of xerophthalmia was 5.8%; serum retinol levels were below 0.35 mumol/l and between 0.35 and 0.70 mumol/l in 8.4% and 51.1% of the children respectively. The liver vitamin A reserve (modified relative dose response ratio > or = 0.06) was low in 41.0% of the children. CONCLUSION The high prevalence of severe vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6-9 years indicates the need to reevaluate the practice of targeting vitamin A supplementation programmes on children under 6 years of age in areas where vitamin A deficiency is endemic.
Serum concentration of visfatin is decreased in patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND There is an increasing interest in the role of adipocytokines in cardiovascular pathophysiology. AIM The aim of the study was to compare visfatin levels, a novel adipokine, in patients with heart failure (HF) due to the left ventricular systolic dysfunction with those in age- and body mass index (BMI) - matched healthy controls in relation to the parameters of glucose metabolism and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. MATERIAL/SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study population consisted of 28 males with systolic HF referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing, divided into two subgroups based on their NYHA class (HF patients NYHA(I+II), n=17, and HF patients NYHA(III+IV,) n=11), and 23 controls. The following indices were measured in a serum samples: visfatin, hsCRP, glucose and lipid metabolism parameters, and the insulin resistance index HOMA(IR) (homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance) was calculated. RESULTS Concentrations of visfatin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) in the HF subjects were significantly lower (p≤0.01) than in controls. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences between three groups (controls and both subgroups of heart failure patients) in mean levels of visfatin, hsCRP, glucose, HOMA(IR) and HDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSION Serum visfatin concentrations in patients with systolic HF, particularly with more advanced NYHA classes, are significantly lower in comparison to healthy controls and are independent of age or anthropometric and metabolic parameters.
Implementation of EMG- and Force-Based Control Interfaces in Active Elbow Supports for Men With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Feasibility Study

While there is an extensive number of studies on the development and evaluation of electromyography (EMG)- and force-based control interfaces for assistive devices, no studies have focused on testing these control strategies for the specific case of adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This paper presents a feasibility study on the use of EMG and force as control interfaces for the operation of active arm supports for men with DMD. We have built an experimental active elbow support, with a threefold objective: 1) to investigate whether adult men with DMD could use EMG- and force-based control interfaces; 2) to evaluate their performance during a discrete position-tracking task; and 3) to examine users' acceptance of the control methods. The system was tested in three adults with DMD (21-22 years). Although none of the three participants had performed any voluntary movements with their arms for the past 3-5 years, all of them were 100% successful in performing the series of tracking tasks using both control interfaces (mean task completion time EMG: 6.8 ± 4.8 s, force: 5.1 ± 1.8 s). While movements with the force-based control were considerably smoother in Subject 3 and faster in Subject 1, EMG based-control was perceived as less fatiguing by all three subjects. Both EMG- and force-based interfaces are feasible solutions for the control of active elbow supports in adults with DMD and should be considered for further investigations on multi-DOF control.
TMC-SNPdb: an Indian germline variant database derived from whole exome sequences

Cancer is predominantly a somatic disease. A mutant allele present in a cancer cell genome is considered somatic when it’s absent in the paired normal genome along with public SNP databases. The current build of dbSNP, the most comprehensive public SNP database, however inadequately represents several non-European Caucasian populations, posing a limitation in cancer genomic analyses of data from these populations. We present the Tata Memorial Centre-SNP database (TMC-SNPdb), as the first open source, flexible, upgradable, and freely available SNP database (accessible through dbSNP build 149 and ANNOVAR)—representing 114 309 unique germline variants—generated from whole exome data of 62 normal samples derived from cancer patients of Indian origin. The TMC-SNPdb is presented with a companion subtraction tool that can be executed with command line option or using an easy-to-use graphical user interface with the ability to deplete additional Indian population specific SNPs over and above dbSNP and 1000 Genomes databases. Using an institutional generated whole exome data set of 132 samples of Indian origin, we demonstrate that TMC-SNPdb could deplete 42, 33 and 28% false positive somatic events post dbSNP depletion in Indian origin tongue, gallbladder, and cervical cancer samples, respectively. Beyond cancer somatic analyses, we anticipate utility of the TMC-SNPdb in several Mendelian germline diseases. In addition to dbSNP build 149 and ANNOVAR, the TMC-SNPdb along with the subtraction tool is available for download in the public domain at the following: Database URL: http://www.actrec. gov.in/pi-webpages/AmitDutt/TMCSNP/TMCSNPdp.html
Severity of comorbid conditions and early-stage breast cancer therapy: linked SEER-medicare data from 1993 to 2005

Comorbidity burden has been suggested as influencing early‐stage breast cancer therapy but previous studies have not considered the severity of these comorbidities. Therefore, we examined the influence of comorbidity severity by age and race/ethnicity on early‐stage breast cancer treatment over time. We used linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare data to determine whether comorbidity severity influences receipt of definitive and preferred early‐stage breast cancer treatment and explains racial/ethnic and age disparities in receiving such therapy. Definitive surgical therapy was defined as any primary surgery other than breast conserving surgery (BCS) without radiation therapy (RT). Preferred surgical therapy was defined as BCS plus RT. Comorbidities were defined as either “unstable” (life threatening or difficult to control) or “stable” (less serious but with potential to influence daily activity). Surgical treatment trends from 1993 to 2005 were analyzed in regression models adjusting for comorbidity burden, age, and race/ethnicity in 93,596 elderly female Medicare beneficiaries with stage 1–2 invasive breast cancer. Receipt of BCS alone (compared with any definitive surgical therapy) was independently associated with neighborhood socioeconomic status, unmarried status (OR [odds ratio] 1.18, 95% CI: 1.12–1.23), tumor size (OR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69–0.87 for tumors ≥4 cm vs. <2 cm), tumor grade (OR = 0.89, 0.88, and 0.81 for grades 2–4 vs. 1, respectively), stable comorbidities (OR = 0.76, 0.71, and 0.72 for 1, 2, and 3 vs. 0 stable comorbidities, respectively), and unstable comorbidities (OR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.14–1.28). Black women were 4–5% more likely to receive suboptimal therapy (BCS alone), even after adjusting for all available patient, tumor, and regional characteristics. Black race/ethnicity was associated with higher probability of receiving suboptimal treatment, independent of comorbidities, although we do not know whether this effect was due to clinicians' failure to offer RT or patients' failure to accept it.
Characterization of pH dependent Mn(II) oxidation strategies and formation of a bixbyite-like phase by Mesorhizobium australicum T-G1

Despite the ubiquity of Mn oxides in natural environments, there are only a few observations of biological Mn(II) oxidation at pH < 6. The lack of low pH Mn-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) isolates limits our understanding of how pH influences biological Mn(II) oxidation in extreme environments. Here, we report that a novel MOB isolate, Mesorhizobium australicum strain T-G1, isolated from an acidic and metalliferous uranium mining area, can oxidize Mn(II) at both acidic and neutral pH using different enzymatic pathways. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that T-G1 initiated bixbyite-like Mn oxide formation at pH 5.5 which coincided with multi-copper oxidase expression from early exponential phase to late stationary phase. In contrast, reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly superoxide, appeared to be more important for T-G1 mediated Mn(II) oxidation at neutral pH. ROS was produced in parallel with the occurrence of Mn(II) oxidation at pH 7.2 from early stationary phase. Solid phase Mn oxides did not precipitate, which is consistent with the presence of a high amount of H2O2 and lower activity of catalase in the liquid culture at pH 7.2. Our results show that M. australicum T-G1, an acid tolerant MOB, can initiate Mn(II) oxidation by varying its oxidation mechanisms depending on the pH and may play an important role in low pH manganese biogeochemical cycling.
Efficient gossip-based aggregate computation

Recently, there has been a growing interest in gossip-based protocols that employ randomized communication to ensure robust information dissemination. In this paper, we present a novel gossip-based scheme using which all the nodes in an n-node overlay network can compute the common aggregates of MIN, MAX, SUM, AVERAGE, and RANK of their values using O(n log log n) messages within O(log n log log n) rounds of communication. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first result that shows how to compute these aggregates with high probability using only O(n log log n) messages. In contrast, the best known gossip-based algorithm for computing these aggregates requires O(nlog n) messages and O(log n) rounds. Thus, our algorithm allows system designers to trade off a small increase in round complexity with a significant reduction in message complexity. This can lead to dramatically lower network congestion and longer node lifetimes in wireless and sensor networks, where channel bandwidth and battery life are severely constrained.
Legionella contamination in hospitals of the Campania Region: five years of environmental surveillance results.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the presence and the distribution of Legionella serotypes in 50 hospital facilities in the Campania Region (Italy) through the sampling of their waters. METHODS From January 2008 to December 2012, in compliance with the Italian Monitoring Guidelines for Legionellosis, 4.842 water samples were collected from the end points of hot water distribution networks, air conditioning systems, boilers and cooling towers. RESULTS 1.426 (29.4%) of the 4.842 samples resulted positive for Legionella spp, with a bacterial average of 3.40 log10 cfu/L. The frequency of Legionella isolation in the specimens progressively decreased during the study (43.8% in 2008 vs 22.9% in 2012). Samples from cooling towers (32.7%), showers and taps (31.9%) revealed a more frequent presence of the microorganism, although considerable bacterial concentration variability was found in all examined points. A bacterial average of 3.33 + 0.88 log10 cfu/L was detected in cooling towers, whereas the lowest values (2.89 + 0.92 cfu/L) were found in ACSs. The most frequently isolated species were L. pneumophila 2-14, detected in 60.6% of positive samples. Within serotypes, types 6 (23.8%), 8 (21.9%) and 3 (21.4%) resulted as being the most representative. CONCLUSIONS A significant contamination was found in examined centers. It is therefore advisable to systematically implement currently available surveillance and monitoring strategies through the scrupulous monitoring of systems as well as through the application of validated and effective procedures.
Simulated tempering: a new Monte Carlo scheme

We propose a new global optimization method (Simulated Tempering) for simulating effectively a system with a rough free-energy landscape (i.e., many coexisting states) at finite nonzero temperature. This method is related to simulated annealing, but here the temperature becomes a dynamic variable, and the system is always kept at equilibrium. We analyse the method on the Random Field Ising Model, and we find a dramatic improvement over conventional Metropolis and cluster methods. We analyse and discuss the conditions under which the method has optimal performances.
A Psychogenetic Perspective on Children's Understanding about Letter Associations during Alphabet Book Readings

This study examined two preschoolers' understandings about letter associations during repeated alphabet book read alouds with their parents from a Piagetian perspective. Data for the present investigation was excerpted from a larger study in which six preschoolers, ages 3 1/2 to 4 1/2, read seven picture storybooks and two alphabet books three times each in a multiple baseline design over approximately a 30-day period. Applying the principles of Piaget's clinical or inquiry method, a qualitative analysis of the two children's responses to their parents' prompts or use of the formulaic phrase “—– is for —–” showed that neither one associated representative letters with the beginning sounds of names or other appropriate words. Letters were either associated indiscriminately with objects in the pictures or with words in the oral dialogue, irrespective of their beginning sounds. A psychogenetic theory of alphabet book reading is postulated where children first associate letters with any pictured object, then with selected words in the oral text, and only later with initial sound segments. Implications for research and practice regarding the slow evolution of metalinguistic differentiation at the phoneme level and the influence of genre on parent-child discourse are offered.
Polymicrobial early postpartum endometritis with facultative and anaerobic bacteria, genital mycoplasmas, and Chlamydia trachomatis: treatment with piperacillin or cefoxitin.

A protected, triple-lumen transcervical culture method was used to recover organisms from the endometrium. At least one facultative or one anaerobic species of bacteria was recovered from 82% of the patients, and genital mycoplasmas were recovered from 76% of the women with endometritis. Bacteria together with genital mycoplasmas were present in 61% of the women, bacteria alone were present in 20%, genital mycoplasmas alone were present in 16%, and Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 2% of the patients. The most common organisms included Gardnerella vaginalis, Peptococcus spp. , Bacteroides spp. , Staphylococcus epidermidis, group B Streptococcus, and Ureaplasma urealyticum. A randomized, double-blind regimen of either piperacillin or cefoxitin was equally successful in treating the postpartum endometritis.