Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Baseline Resistance and Virological Outcome in Patients with Virological Failure who Start a Regimen Containing Abacavir: Eurosida Study

Objectives To investigate the ability of several HIV-1 drug-resistance interpretation systems, as well as the number of pre-specified combinations of abacavir-related mutations, to predict virological response to abacavir-containing regimens in antiretroviral therapy-experienced, abacavir-naive patients starting an abacavir-containing regimen in the EuroSIDA cohort. Patients and methods A total of 100 HIV-infected patients with viral load (VL) >500 copies/ml who had a plasma sample available at the time of starting abacavir (baseline) were included. Resistance to abacavir was interpreted by using eight different commonly used systems that consisted of rules-based algorithms or tables of mutations. Correlation between baseline abacavir-resistance mutations and month 6 virological response was performed on this population using a multivariable linear regression model accounting for censored data. Results The baseline VL was 4.36 log10 RNA copies/ml [interquartile range (IQR): 3.65–4.99 log10 RNA copies/ml] and the median CD4 cell count was 210 cells/μl (IQR: 67–305 cells/μl). Our patients were pre-exposed to a median of seven antiretrovirals (2–12) before starting abacavir therapy. The median (range) number of abacavir mutations (according to the International AIDS Society-USA) detected at baseline was 3.5 (0–8). Overall, the Kaplan–Meier estimate of the median month 6 VL decline was 0.86 log10 RNA copies/ml [95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 0.45–1.24]. The VL in those patients (n=31) who intensified treatment by adding only abacavir decreased by a median 0.20 log10 RNA copies/ml (95% CI: -0.18; +0.94). The proportion of patients who harboured viruses fully resistant to abacavir among the eight genotypic resistance interpretation algorithms ranged from 12% [Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA (ANRS)] to 79% [Stanford HIV RT and PR Sequence Database (HIVdb)]. Some interpretation systems showed statistically significant associations between the predicted resistance status and the virological response while others showed no consistent association. The number of active drugs in the regimen was associated with greater virological suppression (additional month 6 VL reduction per additional sensitive drug=0.51, 95% CI: 0.15–0.88, P=0.006); baseline VL was also weakly associated (additional month 6 VL reduction per log10 higher=0.30, 95% CI: -0.02; +0.62, P=0.06). In contrast, the number of drugs previously received was associated with diminished viral reduction (additional month 6 VL reduction per additional drug=-0.14, 95% CI: -0.28; 0.00, P=0.05). Conclusions Our results revealed a high degree of variability among several genotypic resistance interpretation algorithms currently in use for abacavir. Therefore, the interpretation of genotypic resistance for predicting response to regimens containing abacavir remains a major challenge.
Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy: Review of the Native Cardiac Progenitor Cells and Future Direction

Abstract: Various stem cell types have been tested for regenerating damaged myocardium after myocardial infarction. However, the results of clinical trials have not been consistent, with only some of the trials reporting small improvements in cardiac function. It seems that engraftment and survival of injected cells is limited and transplanted stem cells either do not differentiate into cardiac cells or differentiate into only limited number of cardiac cells. The exact mechanism(s) of cardiac functional improvement by cell therapy are unclear, but paracrine effect may play a central role. The resident cardiac progenitor cells identified within the adult myocardium have distinct advantages over other stem cell types for cardiac cell therapy, as they are likely precommitted to the cardiovascular fate. However, isolating and expanding these cells from cardiac biopsies is a challenge. More recently, direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes has given new hope for myocardial regeneration. Here we will review different stem cells used in cardiac cell therapy with a focus on the native cardiac progenitor cells and briefly outline future directions of cardiac cell therapy.
In vitro studies on the evaluation of mycotoxin detoxifying agents for their efficacy on deoxynivalenol and zearalenone

A simple in vitro system was developed to study the efficacy of commercially available mycotoxin detoxifying agents and adsorbing substances as feed additives to detoxify deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) in situ. The in vitro model simulates the conditions (pH, temperature and transit time) of the porcine gastrointestinal tract, as pigs react most sensitively to these mycotoxins. The commercially available products were not effective in detoxifying DON and ZON under the applied conditions, while activated carbon was able to bind both toxins and cholestyramine, and a modified aluminosilicate showed good adsorption abilities for ZON. Data obtained in dose dependency studies showed an estimated adsorption capacity of cholestyramine and the modified aluminosilicate of 11.7 and 5.7 g ZON/kg detoxifying agent. The in vitro system deployed in the present study was demonstrated to be a simple, helpful tool in screening substances for their ability to detoxify DON and ZON under the simulated conditions of the porcine gastrointestinal tract. Nonetheless in vivo experiments are indispensable to proof the efficacy.
Experiencia de enseñanza de programación con realidad aumentada

En este trabajo se presenta una experiencia innovadora realizada para la ensenanza de conceptos basicos de programacion utilizando un material educativo que incluye actividades de Realidad Aumentada (RA), con alumnos de primer ano de las carreras de Informatica. La Realidad Aumentada comprende aquella tecnologia capaz de complementar la percepcion e interaccion con el mundo real, brindando al usuario un escenario real, aumentado con informacion adicional generada por una computadora. En primer lugar, se describen las etapas realizadas para llevar adelante la experiencia, esto es: la planificacion, el desarrollo y la evaluacion, que incluyen las sesiones de trabajo con los alumnos y docentes. Luego se explica brevemente el diseno del material educativo desarrollado y utilizado en el marco de la experiencia, y finalmente se presentan los primeros resultados obtenidos en la evaluacion. A partir de las primeras evaluaciones realizadas se observa que la Realidad Aumentada ha logrado la motivacion de los alumnos y docentes para el tratamiento del tema seleccionado, y se vislumbra una mejora en la comprension de las estructuras de control que se abordan como parte del material desarrollado.
Risk factors for obstetric fistulae in north-eastern Nigeria

Summary This prospective comparative study of obstetric fistulae (OF) was aimed at identifying risk factors. A total of 80 obstetric fistulae treated at the gynaecological unit of the FMCG, and 80 inpatients without fistulae recruited randomly as controls formed the basis of this study. Through interview and case record review, information on age, parity and marital status was collected. Other features were educational status, occupation and booking status of the pregnancy that might have led to this condition. The duration of labour, place of birth and mode of delivery, including its outcome were also collected. The data were analysed using the Epi Info. The majority of the patients were Hausa/Fulani 87.5%, Muslims 91.2%, with large vesicovaginal fistulae (average size 5.0 cm) mainly resulting from obstructed labour (93.7%). Major risk factors included early age at first marriage (average 14 years), short stature (average height 146.2 cm) and illiteracy (96.3%). Also low social class and lack of gainful employment were factors. Failure to book for antenatal care (93.7%), and rural place of residence (95%) were also factors associated with acquiring the fistulae. Living far away (>3 km) from a health facility also contributed or predisposed to the development of an obstetric fistula. Social violence and stigma associated with the fistulae included divorce, being ostracised as a social outcast, and lack of assistance from relations in terms of finding and funding treatment. This study supports improved access to basic essential obstetric care, family planning services, and timely referral when and where necessary. Universal education will provide a long-term solution by improving the standard of living and quality of life. Especially important are media- and community-based programmes on the ills of teenage marriage and child pregnancy using cultural and religiously-based values to give sound advice. In a male dominated society, reaching out to men with traditionally palatable messages that will change their attitude and practices to taking responsibility in reproductive health could be a winning strategy.
Extra‐pulmonary aspects of acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis as predicted by granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor‐deficient mice

Abstract: Granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF)–/– mice are an invaluable model for exploring the effects of systemic GM‐CSF deficiency. Their lung phenotype exactly reproduces the abnormalities seen in human pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). However, GM‐CSF–/– mice also have significant systemic functional abnormalities. These include immune defects which result in a reduced susceptibility to a range of experimentally induced autoimmune disorders. These immunological defects are also functionally manifest as an impaired ability to resolve a range of infections under certain conditions, usually implicating cellular effectors, including Listeria, Group B streptococcus, adenovirus, Pneumocystis carinii, and malaria. These observations are consistent with the known propensity for patients with PAP to develop a range of opportunistic infections. Conversely, the diminished immunological response to inflammatory stimuli may be beneficial in some settings by limiting inflammatory cell recruitment and pro‐inflammatory mediator‐release. GM‐CSF–/– mice also have distinct fertility defects, manifest as reduced litter size and an increased rate of early fetal loss. These observations may be clinically relevant for women affected by PAP and further support the evaluation of the role of GM‐CSF in human reproduction. These observations reinforce the importance of clinicians viewing PAP as a state of systemic functional GM‐CSF deficiency, albeit with prominent pulmonary manifestations, rather than purely a ‘lung disease’. These systemic manifestations of GM‐CSF deficiency should also be considered when deciding on the choice between pulmonary or systemic delivery of GM‐CSF as therapy for PAP, as only systemic drug delivery has the potential capcity to correct the systemic manifestations of GM‐CSF deficiency in these patients.
Multicenter Trial of Single‐Dose Azithromycin vs. Ceftriaxone in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Gonorrhea

Background and Objectives Azithromycin is a new, long-acting azalide antibiotic that is active against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. A single oral dose of 1.0 g is effective against uncomplicated genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. Goal of this Study To compare the efficacy and tolerance of single-dose treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea with azithromycin, 2.0 g orally, and ceftriaxone, 250 mg intramuscularly. Study Design Seven hundred twenty-four men and women with presumptive, uncomplicated gonorrhea were treated with azithromycin 2.0 g orally or ceftriaxone 250 mg intramuscularly in a 2:1 ratio in a multicenter, open, randomized control trial in 10 public sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States. Patients were followed up in 5 to 9 days and, for a subset of patients, 12 to 18 days after treatment. The main outcome measures were the isolation of N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis and patient-reported side effects. Results Among infected patients who returned for follow-up, N. gonorrhoeae was eradicated from all anatomic sites in 370 of 374 (98.9%; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 97.9%-100%) treated with azithromycin and 171 of 175 (97.7%; 95%CI 95.5%-99.9%) given ceftriaxone. Treatment with either drug was effective in all 73 patients infected with β-Iactamase-producing N. gonorrhoeae. Chlamydial infection was eradicated in all 17 patients given azithromycin who returned and were recultured at follow-up and in two of seven patients given ceftriaxone (P< 0.001). Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in 35.3% (95%CI 30.7%-39.8%) of patients given azithromycin; of thosewith symptoms, these were moderate in 10.1% and severe in 2.9%. Conclusions Azithromycin 2.0 g and ceftriaxone 250 mg are equally effective in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea. Azithromycin was associated with a relatively high frequency of gastrointestinal side effects and is expensive, but it has the advantages of oral administration and efficacy against concomitant chlamydial infection.
The Effect of Job Satisfaction on Job Search: Not Just Whether, But Also Where

Using survey data of public sector employees in the Netherlands, this paper shows that workers' satisfaction with various job domains not only affects whether but also where workers search for another job. An intuitive pattern emerges. Workers try to leave their current employer when their job search is instigated by dissatisfaction with an organisation-specific job domain, like management. Conversely, more job-specific problems, like a lack of autonomy, lead workers to opt for another position within their current organisation. Dissatisfaction with job domains which may have an industry-specific component, such as job duties, drives workers out of their industry. These findings suggest that on-the-job experience provides workers with information about the quality of their own job as well as of other jobs in their organisation and industry.
Experimental study concerning the utilization of polymeric materials in distribution lines

This paper presents the results of a research project related to the utilization of compact distribution lines in places near the coast. An accelerated ageing test that would be able to reproduce the typical damage observed in polymeric material of distribution lines was developed. Different types of line spacers available in the Brazilian market were tested and the results of the investigation provided important information concerning the application of compact distribution lines in coastal areas. Tests were also performed in the laboratory with different configurations of polymeric materials used in distribution lines, considering line spacers, covered cable and ring ties.
Underwater target localization in the presence of asynchronous clock and noise measurement

Most applications of underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) rely upon accurate location information of target. However, the asynchronous clock and noise measurement characteristics of underwater environment make target localization more challenging as compared to the terrestrial sensor networks. In this paper, we design an asynchronous localization algorithm for UASNs, where the synchronous clock assumption is relaxed. In order to reduce the influence of noise measurement, a consensus-based unscented Kalman filtering(UKF) algorithm is proposed to obtain the location of target. Finally, simulation results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. It is demonstrated that the proposed localization method can effectively improve the localization accuracy.
Linkage disequilibrium and genetic variability.

It has been shown previously that, even in the absence of linkage, selection can cause an appreciable change in the genetic variance of a metric character due to disequilibrium; this change is temporary and is rapidly reversed when selection ceases. This result is here extended to allow for the effect of linkage, and it is shown that the change in the variance is effectively determined by the harmonic mean of the recombination fractions. The validity of the approximate general formula derived here has been checked by comparison with exact results obtained from models with five or six loci. In order to determine the likely value of the harmonic mean recombination fraction, a simple model was constructed in which it was assumed that loci are distributed at random along the chromosome maps. Results of computer simulations of this model are reported for different chromosome numbers and numbers of loci.
Dynamic Capabilities and Their Characteristic Qualities: Insights from a Lab Experiment

Despite the prominence of dynamic capabilities in the strategy and organization literatures, we still lack an empirically grounded understanding of the construct. Featuring an extended version of an established card game, our study uses an experiment to induce dynamic capabilities in the laboratory. Our findings reveal that (a) more efficient use of resources, (b) increasing efficiency of coordination, (c) reliance on more appropriate action sequences, and (d) greater deliberation in action are characteristic qualities of dynamic capabilities. Beyond empirically identifying dynamic capabilities, we offer implications for dynamic capabilities and transfer theory.
Identification and characterization of genes required for post‐translational modification of Campylobacter coli VC167 flagellin

Two genes have been identified in Campylobacter coli VC167 which are required for the biosynthesis of post‐translational modifications on flagellin proteins. The ptmA gene encodes a protein of predicted Mr 28 486 which shows significant homology to a family of alcohol dehydrogenases from a variety of bacteria. The ptmB gene encodes a protein of predicted Mr 26 598 with significant homology to CMP‐N‐acetylneuraminic acid synthetase enyzmes involved in sialic acid capsular biosynthesis in Neisseria meninigitidis and Escherichia coli K1. Site‐specific mutation of either ptmA or ptmB caused loss of reactivity with antisera specific to the post‐translational modifications and a change in the isoelectric focusing fingerprints relative to the parent strains. Mutation of ptmB, but not of ptmA, caused a change in apparent Mr of the flagellin subunit in SDS–PAGE gels. The ptmA and ptmB genes are present in other strains of Campylobacter. In a rabbit model the ptmA mutant showed a reduced ability to elicit protection against subsequent challenge with heterologous strains of the same Lior serotype compared to the parental wild‐type strain. This suggests that the surface‐exposed post‐translational modifications may play a significant role in the protective immune response.
Représentations Temps-Fréquence et Temps-Echelle Bilinéaires: Synthèse et Contributions

Cette these est consacree a l'etude des distributions energetiques temps-frequence et temps-echelle, qui sont deux types de representations conjointes bilineaires de signaux. Bien que leurs vocations respectives different, on montre dans une premiere partie qu'il est possible d'unifier le cadre de leur etude en les presentant comme des representations unitaires dans un espace de Hilbert, de groupes algebriques munis de reges operatorielles particulieres. Ainsi, la classe de Cohen, representation unitaire du groupe de Weyl-Heisenberg, est attachee a des proprietes naturelles de covariance par translation en temps et en frequence. Les distributions temps-echelle de la classe affine etant, quant a elles, des representations du groupe affine, sont precisement les distributions covariantes par translation en temps et changement d'echelle. Ce faisant, il est ensuite possible d'elargir le champ des distributions covariantes par un couple specifique d'operateurs en faisant usage d'equivalences unitaires entre classe de representations. Un autre aspect de ces representations bilineaires, qui est aborde dans la deuxieme partie de la these, est lie aux formes quadratiques qui les sous-tendent. Celles-ci sont notamment responsables de l'existence d'interferences obeissant a des regles de construction geometriques en lien avec la nature des operateurs mis en jeu. Ces regles de construction sont formalisees dans le cas de certaines distributions affines localisees, et les predictions theoriques sont confrontees a des resultats de simulation. Enfin dans une derniere partie, nous abordons certaines situations pour lesquelles les caracterisations temps-echelle sont d'un recours avantageux face aux analyses temps-frequence. Parmi les problematiques soulevees (qui incluent la tolerance a l'effet Doppler et l'estimation spectrale de bruits en « 1/f »), l'estimation de singularites du type holderienne occupe une place importante dans la mesure ou ces dernieres developpent une structuration en loi d'echelle que les representations affines permettent de reveler.
A Non-standard Instance Checking for the Description Logic ELH

In Description Logics (DLs), an instance checking is regarded as one of the most important reasoning services involving individuals. Though the usability of the reasoner has been seemingly proven in many real-life applications, the classified results are merely a binary response, i.e. whether or not a given individual is an instance of a concept. As being a standard reasoning service, unsatisfying one among all sufficient conditions would basically lead to a negative conclusion. This work introduces a new method to enhance the capability of the instance checking in which the degree of membership could be unveiled though sufficient conditions are not completely satisfied. The proposed algorithm is developed based on the adoption of a homomorphism mapping.
Inhibition of chemotaxis by organic acids from anaerobes may prevent a purulent response in bacterial vaginosis.

It has been postulated that certain organic acids produced by the anaerobes associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) could prevent a purulent response in this infection. Varying concentrations of pure succinic, acetic and lactic acids were incubated in vitro with a monocytic cell line (MonoMac 6). High inhibition of chemotaxis was produced by succinic acid; lower inhibition and no inhibition was shown by acetic acid and lactic acid respectively. Succinic and acetic acids were detected in high concentrations in the vaginal fluid of women with BV and in culture supernates of Prevotella and Mobiluncus spp. ; these acids impaired chemotaxis of MonoMac 6 cells in vitro. The vaginal fluids of normal women and the culture supernates of Lactobacillus spp. had no effect on chemotaxis.