Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence of a large, international network of HCV transmission in HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Since 2000, there has been a marked rise in acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted an international phylogenetic study to investigate the existence of an HCV transmission network among MSM. METHODS HIV-positive MSM diagnosed with recent HCV (n = 226) in England (107), The Netherlands (58), France (12), Germany (25), and Australia (24) between 2000 and 2006 were enrolled into a molecular phylogenetic study. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the NS5B region of the HCV genome (436 base pair) was amplified, sequenced, and compared with unrelated NS5B sequences. RESULTS NS5B sequences were obtained from 200 (89%) cases. Circulating HCV genotypes were 1a (59%), 4d (23%), 3a (11%), 1b (5%), and 2b/c (3%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed 156 (78%) sequences that formed 11 clusters (bootstrap value > 70%) containing between 4 and 37 individual sequences. Country mixing was associated with larger cluster size (17 vs 4.5 sequences; P = .03). "Molecular clock" analysis indicated that the majority (85%) of transmissions occurred since 1996. CONCLUSIONS Phylogenetic analysis revealed a large international network of HCV transmission among HIV-positive MSM. The rapid spread of HCV among neighboring countries is supported by the large proportion (74%) of European MSM infected with an HCV strain co-circulating in multiple European countries, the low evolutionary distances among HCV isolates from different countries, and the trend toward increased country mixing with increasing cluster size. Temporally, this epidemic coincides with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy and associated increases in sexual risk behaviors. International collaborative public health efforts are needed to mitigate HCV transmission among this population.
Cholinergic inhibition of Ca2+ current in guinea‐pig gastric and tracheal smooth muscle cells.

1. Cholinergic regulation of L‐type Ca2+ channels was investigated in freshly dissociated guinea‐pig gastric and tracheal smooth muscle cells. Acetylcholine (ACh, 50 microM) decreased Ca2+ channel current (ICa) by 37 +/‐ 3% (mean +/‐ S.E.M., 46 cells). 2. ACh reduced ICa at all voltages, with no shift in the current‐voltage relationship. Effects of ACh were rapid (within 5 s) and repeatable, with multiple applications reproducibly inhibiting ICa in the continued presence of extracellular Ca2+ and in the presence of protein kinase C inhibitors. 3. The involvement of Ca2+ stores in this inhibition was investigated using Ca(2+)‐free solution or cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) to deplete the stores. ACh initially inhibited ICa in the Ca(2+)‐free solution (Na+ as charge carrier, 53 +/‐ 4% decrease, 18 cells) with subsequent responses significantly attenuated (n = 9). CPA (1 microM) reduced, then abolished, the effects of ACh on ICa (n = 5). 4. When studied in cell‐attached patches (Ba2+ as charge carrier), ACh reduced Ca2+ channel open probability in twenty‐two of thirty‐six cells, consistent with the involvement of a diffusible cytosolic messenger. 5. ACh also inhibited ICa in tracheal muscle cells (reduction of 38 +/‐ 6% in 1 mM Ca2+, 4 cells; 77 +/‐ 3% in Ca(2+)‐free solution, 7 cells). Furthermore, in cells where ACh elicited oscillating Ca(2+)‐activated Cl‐ current, oscillatory inhibition of ICa was also observed (3 cells). 6. In summary, ACh causes rapid and reversible inhibition of ICa in gastric and tracheal muscles. Ca2+ stores were required to initiate this effect, with the rapid onset and oscillatory inhibition consistent with Ca2+ inhibition of the channel. Suppression of ICa would reduce Ca2+ entry during cholinergic excitation.
A discrete state-space model for SSR stabilizing controller design for TCSC compensated systems

A sampled-data model for a thyristor controlled series capacitor compensated system is derived for use in stabilizing controller design for subsynchronous modes of oscillation. The model is a refinement of the existing models based on the Poincare/spl acute/ mapping techniques already developed in the literature. The special features of the model are to increase the sampling frequency to six times the synchronous frequency and to directly express the small signal variation of the state of the whole system on the variation of the thyristor firing angles. The effectiveness of the model is shown by using it to design an all stabilizing controller for the IEEE First SSR Benchmark Model.
Adaptive evolution of malaria parasites in French Guiana: Reversal of chloroquine resistance by acquisition of a mutation in pfcrt

Significance This study addresses the evolutionary dynamics of antimalarial drug resistance after changes in drug use. We show that chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum from French Guiana was lost after sustained drug removal, whereas the resistance marker PfCRT K76T remained fixed in the parasite population. This phenotypic reversion was caused by the acquisition of a single additional C350R substitution in PfCRT. This genetic change also impaired susceptibility to piperaquine, suggesting that piperaquine pressure drove the expansion of this allele. These findings have important implications for understanding drug resistance evolution when standard resistance alleles reach fixation and can lose their utility as markers because of adaptive changes at other amino acid positions or loci in the genome. In regions with high malaria endemicity, the withdrawal of chloroquine (CQ) as first-line treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infections has typically led to the restoration of CQ susceptibility through the reexpansion of the wild-type (WT) allele K76 of the chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) at the expense of less fit mutant alleles carrying the CQ resistance (CQR) marker K76T. In low-transmission settings, such as South America, drug resistance mutations can attain 100% prevalence, thereby precluding the return of WT parasites after the complete removal of drug pressure. In French Guiana, despite the fixation of the K76T allele, the prevalence of CQR isolates progressively dropped from >90% to <30% during 17 y after CQ withdrawal in 1995. Using a genome-wide association study with CQ-sensitive (CQS) and CQR isolates, we have identified a single mutation in pfcrt encoding a C350R substitution that is associated with the restoration of CQ susceptibility. Genome editing of the CQR reference strain 7G8 to incorporate PfCRT C350R caused a complete loss of CQR. A retrospective molecular survey on 580 isolates collected from 1997 to 2012 identified all C350R mutant parasites as being CQS. This mutation emerged in 2002 and rapidly spread throughout the P. falciparum population. The C350R allele is also associated with a significant decrease in piperaquine susceptibility in vitro, suggesting that piperaquine pressure in addition to potential fitness costs associated with the 7G8-type CQR pfcrt allele may have selected for this mutation. These findings have important implications for understanding the evolutionary dynamics of antimalarial drug resistance.
Le rôle de la passion dans le bien-être subjectif des aînés.

Meme si de nombreuses etudes suggerent que le fait de demeurer actif semble contribuer au bien-etre subjectif (BES) des personnes âgees, les facteurs qui permettent d'expliquer cette relation sont moins bienconnus. Il est propose que la conceptualisation de la passion (Vallerand, Blanchard, Mageau, Koestner, Râtelle, Leonard, Gagne et Marsolais, 2003), qui met l'accent sur les activites que les individus trouvent interessantes et importantes, pourrait permettre de mieux comprendre comment la pratique d'activites peut amener les personnes âgees a etre plus heureuses. Le but de cet article est de decrire cette conceptualisation de la passion et de demontrer comment la passion peut influencer le BES des personnes âgees.
Improved event-driven touch CMOS sensor

In this paper, we present a new version of previously fabricated event driven tactile sensor [1] with modifications across its circuits and methods involved using the AMS CMOS 0. 18μm technology. Electrical characterization experimental results are shown and compared to the ones from the previous proving the advantages of the new sensor concerning area saving, sensing small input signals and power consumption.
Response to: Comment on: “Denosumab Rapidly Increases Cortical Bone in Key Locations of the Femur: A 3D Bone Mapping Study in Women With Osteoporosis”

Kenneth ES Poole, Graham M Treece, Andrew H Gee, Jacques P Brown, Michael R McClung, Andrea Wang, and Cesar Libanati Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK CHU de Qu ebec Research Centre (CRCHU), Laval University, Quebec City, Qu ebec, Canada Oregon Osteoporosis Center, Portland, OR, USA Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Invertir en ciencia y tecnología en tiempos de austeridad económica: ¿que opinan los ciudadanos?

D los ultimos veinte anos los paises mas desarrollados han gozado de una situacion economica fundamentalmente estable, con momentos importantes de crecimiento y de bonanza, que han propiciado una elevada inversion de recursos publicos en transporte, infraestructuras y telecomunicaciones. Durante estos anos, en la Union Europea y en Estados Unidos se fue difundiendo y aceptando la creencia de que, para seguir competiendo con los paises emergentes, como China e India, era necesario desarrollar lo que se denomino inicialmente como “economia del conocimiento” y, mas tarde, de forma especifica, como “bioeconomia basada en el conocimiento” (EU, 2007). Esta vision, desarrollada por primera vez en la Estrategia de Lisboa (EC, 2000), sugiere que para mantener la superioridad economica y una alta tasa de crecimiento y competitividad los paises necesitan invertir una elevada cantidad de recursos publicos y privados en ciencia y tecnologia. Asi, durante estos anos, los gastos en I+D+I se han mantenido muy altos, y tanto los gobiernos nacionales como la Union Europea se han comprometido a apoyar y fortalecer la investigacion basica y aplicada, sobre todo en los sectores mas novedosos, como las biotecnologias agricolas y medicas, la nanotecnologia y las tecnologias de las telecomunicaciones.
Risk Factors for the First-Time Development of Venous Ulcers of the Lower Limbs: The Influence of Heredity and Physical Activity

The objective of this prospective case-control study was to identify and quantify demographic and clinical risk factors for venous ulcer disease, with special emphasis on heredity and physical activity. Patients presenting to a participating vascular surgery department between January and December 1997 with a first open venous ulcer served as cases. Controls were sampled among patients with subacute conditions such as skin problems, back pain, cold, headache/migraine, sore throat, and mild ear infections and were matched on referral physician, age (±5 years), and gender. Subjects were eligible if they were 18 years or older and were excluded if they had nonpalpable pedal pulse or any chronic active diseases such as cancer or AIDS. Cases' and controls' statuses were ascertained by the participating physi cians. Data on risk factors were collected with an interviewer-administered questionnaire and were self-reported by patients. The mean age of participants was 61 years for cases (n = 102) and 59 years for controls (n = 200). Family history of maternal venous insufficiency (odds ratio (OR) = 6.8, 95% confidence interval (Cl) = [1.9, 24.3]95%), vigorous exercise (OR = 8.9, Cl = [1.1, 72.0]95%), and history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (OR = 17.6, Cl = [2.9, 106.8]95%) were found to be significant predictors of venous ulcers in matched multivariate logistic regression analysis; number of pregnancies was also a significant risk factor in women (OR = 1.2, Cl = [1.0, 1.5]95%). Our study suggests that knowledge of family history of venous insufficiency and monitoring of physical activity will lead to ulcer prevention. Although physical activity is recommended for patients with venous insufficiency, vigorous exercise increases the likelihood of ulcerations.
Periampullary extraluminal duodenal diverticula and acute pancreatitis: an underestimated etiological association.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the etiological role of periampullary extraluminal duodenal diverticula (PEDD) in acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS The study included 433 consecutive patients who underwent successful ERCP during the period 1992-1994; PEDD were discovered in 58 cases (13.4%); patients without PEDD (n = 375) were considered the control group. Indication for ERCP and final diagnosis were recorded in each case. RESULTS The age of patients with PEDD was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than that of controls. The incidence of biliary lithiasis was 65.5% in PEDD and 40.8% in controls (p = 0.0001). A recent episode or acute phase of AP constituted the indication for ERCP in 62% of PEDD and 24.8% of controls (p < 0.0001); idiopathic AP was found more often (p = 0.04) in PEDD patients (13.7%) than in controls (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS PEDD should be included in the list of possible etiological factors of AP. The presence of PEDD should be verified, mainly in elderly patients, before defining an AP episode as idiopathic.
Disc colours in field and cluster spiral galaxies at 0.5 ≲z≲ 0.8

We present a detailed study of the colours of late-type galaxy discs for ten of the EDisCS galaxy clusters with 0.5 ≲ z ≲ 0.8. Our cluster sample contains 172 spiral galaxies, and our control sample is composed of 96 field disc galaxies. We deconvolved their ground-based V and I images obtained with FORS2 at the VLT with initial spatial resolutions between 0.4 and 0.8 arcsec to achieve a final resolution of 0.1 arcsec with 0.05 arcsec pixels, which is close to the resolution of the ACS at the HST. After removing the central region of each galaxy to avoid pollution by the bulges, we measured the V−I colours of the discs. We find that 50% of cluster spiral galaxies have disc V−I colours redder by more than 1σ of the mean colours of their field counterparts. This is well above the 16% expected for a normal distribution centred on the field disc properties. The prominence of galaxies with red discs depends neither on the mass of their parent cluster nor on the distance of the galaxies to the cluster cores. Passive spiral galaxies constitute 20% of our sample. These systems are not abnormally dusty. They are are made of old stars and are located on the cluster red sequences. Another 24% of our sample is composed of galaxies that are still active and star forming, but less so than galaxies with similar morphologies in the field. These galaxies are naturally located in the blue sequence of their parent cluster colour–magnitude diagrams. The reddest of the discs in clusters must have stopped forming stars more than ~5 Gyr ago. Some of them are found among infalling galaxies, suggesting preprocessing. Our results confirm that galaxies are able to continue forming stars for some significant period of time after being accreted into clusters, and suggest that star formation can decline on seemingly long (1 to 5 Gyr) timescales.
Cooperative programme on short-term assays for carcinogenicity in Japan.

This entry consists of charts noting mutagenicity or carcinogenicity of 182 compounds examined under a project of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98, Bacillus subtilis, hamster lung fibroblast cells, human embryo fibroblasts, bone-marrow cells, and silk worms.
Pyothorax‐associated lymphoma (PAL): a western case with marked angiocentricity and review of the literature

Aims : To report a case of pyothorax‐associated lymphoma in a non‐immunocompromised 78‐year‐old man with a 45‐year history of tuberculous pleuritis and left pleural effusion. Pyothorax‐associated lymphoma is a high‐grade non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring in 2% of patients with long‐standing tuberculous pleuritis and pyothorax. Pyothorax‐associated lymphoma is frequently Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated, mainly reported in Japan but exceedingly rare in western countries.
Lithium Accumulation in Erythrocytes of Manic-Depressive Patients: An in vivo Twin Study

Summary Genetic factors play an important role in drug metabolism and drug response. In order to investigate genetic variables in lithium prophylaxis and lithium distribution across the erythrocyte in manic-depression, we have examined forty-two pairs of twins monozygotic (n = 25) and dizygotic (n = 17) with manic-depression. Concordant twins as a group show better lithium prophylaxis than do discordant twins. These results are consistent with previously published family studies of affective illness suggesting a positive relationship between genetic background and success of lithium prophylaxis. Lithium distribution across the red blood cell (RBC) was assessed by estimating lithium RBC/plasma ratios. The lithium ratio's intrapair differences in both groups of twins were minimal with a high heritability index suggesting that genetic factors play a role in lithium ion distribution. A high linear correlation was found between lithium ratio and plasma lithium and there was no difference in lithium ratios according to sex, affective state and response to lithium. The distribution of lithium ratios was homogenous in the lithium responders' population but this was not the case in the non-responders, suggesting biological heterogeneity of lithium distribution in lithium failures. The implications of these results are discussed as they relate to the genetic determinates of lithium prophylaxis in manic-depressive illness. These results indicate that lithium ratios are of limited value in lithium maintenance therapy. Our lithium kinetic data, however, are consistent with the concept of a lithium extrusion mechanism from red blood cells.
Radioautographic and chemical studies of incorporation into sycamore vascular tissue walls.

Chemical and radioautographic studies on sycamore seedling stems have shown an involvement of the Golgi body in cell-wall polysaccharide synthesis from tritiated glucose. Tritiated phenylalanine is shown to be incorporated only into lignin after short incubation times. The patterns of labelling are compared and discussed for the two precursors.
Local control of TRPV 4 channels by AKAP 150-targeted PKC in arterial smooth muscle

Arterial myocytes have the intrinsic ability to contract in response to increases in intravascular pressure (Bayliss, 1902). It has been proposed that this myogenic response is initiated by the stretch-induced activation of the nonselective cation channels TRPP2, TRPC6, and TRPM4, which depolarize arterial myocytes (Welsh et al., 2002; Earley et al., 2004; Spassova et al., 2006; Narayanan et al., 2013). Membrane depolarization activates voltage-gated L-type CaV1.2 channels (Harder et al., 1987; Fleischmann et al., 1994; Rubart et al., 1996; Jaggar et al., 1998). The influx of Ca via a single CaV1.2 channel can be optically detected in the form of a “CaV1.2 sparklet” (Navedo et al., 2005; Amberg et al., 2007). Simultaneous activation of multiple CaV1.2 sparklets induces a cell-wide increase in intracellular Ca ([Ca]i) that activates myosin light chain kinase and thus triggers contraction. This myogenic
Early Immune Responses to Marek's Disease Vaccines

Abstract Marek's disease virus (MDV), a highly cell-associated lymphotropic α-herpesvirus, is the causative agent of Marek's disease (MD) in domestic chickens. MDV replicates in chicken cells and establishes a latent infection within CD4+ T cells. Although MD vaccines have been in use for several decades, the exact mechanism of vaccine-induced protection is unclear. It is believed that the innate immune system plays a role in vaccine-induced immunity against pathogenic strains of MDV. To shed light on the possible function of the innate immunity in vaccine-mediated protection, we investigated the effect of vaccination, Rispens/CVI988, on the activation of cellular components of the innate immune system by analyzing the expression pattern of select immune-related genes in the cecal tonsils (CT) and duodenum of two MD-susceptible and MD-resistant chicken lines at 3, 5, and 10 days postvaccination (dpv). The differential expression patterns of the tested genes within the CT and duodenum of vaccinated birds r.
Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Parkinson disease diagnosis and progression

There is a clear need to develop biomarkers for Parkinson disease (PD) diagnosis, differential diagnosis of Parkinsonian disorders, and monitoring disease progression. We and others have demonstrated that a decrease in DJ‐1 and/or α‐synuclein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a potential index for Parkinson disease diagnosis, but not for PD severity.
Recognizing Complex Cognition through Innovative Technology in Stone Age and Palaeolithic Sites

Cognitive complexity is defined here as the capacity for abstract thought, analogical reasoning, cognitive fluidity, innovative thought, complex goal-directed actions, flexibility in problem-solving, multi-tasking, task switching, response inhibition and planning over long distances or time. Some of these attributes are archaeologically recognizable in transformative technologies such as heat treatment of rocks and ochre, and the manufacture of compound adhesives and paints. Advanced executive functions of the brain are also required for remote capture during snaring, which is implied by circumstantial archaeological evidence. Some technologies seem good indicators of complex cognition and the emphasis here is on making the connection, but this does not mean that cognition necessarily drove innovation in the past any more than it does today. The recursive relationships between cognition, social behaviour and technology mean that change cannot be attributed to a single stimulus.
Measuring the similarity of target volume delineations independent of the number of observers

The variability of target delineations is a topic of interest in radiotherapy. The similarity of delineations is often quantified by use of a conformity index (CI) defined as the ratio of common to encompassing volume. Several forms of CI are in use, but no consensus exists on how to calculate the CI for more than two delineations. This study proposes a generalization of the CI applicable to any number of delineations. The generalization of the CI was developed, unbiased with respect to the number of delineations. Numerical values were calculated for clinical and theoretical cases, and differences with other forms of CI were considered. A simple expression could be derived, applicable to any number of delineations, and is equivalent to the known CI for two delineations. The use of this index is advised, although another frequently used index obtained from averaging the CI between all possible pairs of delineations results in minor differences. The use of the third generalization for the CI which is based upon the volume common to all delineations shows a clear dependence upon the number of delineations and is discouraged.