Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influenza epidemiology—past, present, and future

In April 2009, Mexican, American, and Canadian authorities announced that a novel influenza virus with pandemic potential had been identified in large segments of the population. Within weeks, it became apparent that the world was dealing with the first influenza pandemic in >40 yrs. Despite the unpredictable nature of influenza severity and spread in the pandemics of the 20th century, understanding the epidemiology of the past pandemics and current influenza pandemic will help prepare physicians, hospitals, and governments to predict and prepare for the subsequent waves and subsequent pandemics. We present a summary of the biology that predisposes influenza to cause sudden pandemics, as well as a summary of the epidemiology of the 20th century pandemics. We also report on the epidemiology, disease severity, and risk factors for severe disease and intensive care admission from the first wave of the current pandemic (April-August 2009). Last, we provide a mathematical model based on transmission dynamics of the H1N1 influenza virus that may provide some guidance in terms of disease incidence and hospital impact.
Application of acoustic agglomeration to enhance air filtration efficiency in air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems

The recent episodes of haze in Southeast Asia have caused some of the worst regional atmospheric pollution ever recorded in history. In order to control the levels of airborne fine particulate matters (PM) indoors, filtration systems providing high PM capturing efficiency are often sought, which inadvertently also results in high airflow resistance (or pressure drop) that increases the energy consumption for air distribution. A pre-conditioning mechanism promoting the formation of particle clusters to enhance PM capturing efficiency without adding flow resistance in the air distribution ductwork could provide an energy-efficient solution. This pre-conditioning mechanism can be fulfilled by acoustic agglomeration, which is a phenomenon that promotes the coagulation of suspended particles by acoustic waves propagating in the fluid medium. This paper discusses the basic mechanisms of acoustic agglomeration along with influencing factors that could affect the agglomeration efficiency. The feasibility to apply acoustic agglomeration to improve filtration in air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems is investigated experimentally in a small-scale wind tunnel. Experimental results indicate that this novel application of acoustic pre-conditioning improves the PM2.5 filtration efficiency of the test filters by up to 10% without introducing additional pressure drop. The fan energy savings from not having to switch to a high capturing efficiency filter largely outstrip the additional energy consumed by the acoustics system. This, as a whole, demonstrates potential energy savings from the combined acoustic-enhanced filtration system without compromising on PM capturing efficiency.
Etude multi-échelles de la séparation solide-liquide dans la trituration du lin oléagineux

Le procede actuel de trituration du lin base sur un pressage mecanique suivi d’une filtration repond aux contraintes du developpement durable. Le but de ce travail est d’etudier le lien entre la composition de la matiere premiere traitee (les graines ou l’huile de lin) et les performances du procede. Nous avons montre que le mucilage (polysaccharides de la cuticule de la graine) n’est pas un parametre regissant le pressage a froid des graines de lin. Dans la graine, l’accumulation du mucilage et des substances de reserves telles que l’huile sont fortement influencees par les conditions meteorologiques. Dans ces conditions, le pressage de graines avant maturite a confirme que la meilleure periode de recolte des graines de lin se situait a la fin de la maturation (au-dela de 700 degres jours de croissance). Une concordance entre les performances de pressage a l’echelle laboratoire (3 g en batch) et a l’echelle pilote (5 kg/h) a ete obtenue, ce qui laisse presager une transposition possible vers l’echelle industrielle. Un fort impact des phospholipides sur la filtration de l’huile de pressage a ete montre. Une concentration optimale a 2% de lecithine a ete identifiee pour la filtration de l’huile. L’agitation de la suspension lors de la filtration n’est pas necessaire pour ameliorer le procede, mais la filtration a 50°C permet une augmentation tres significative de la vitesse de filtration. La poursuite de ces travaux aux echelles pilote et industrielle devrait permettre de beneficier d’une methode de determination de la pressabilite des graines au laboratoire permettant une prediction des performances industrielles dans les etapes de selection varietale des graines.
Interactions of monovalent cations with sodium channels in squid axon. II. Modification of pharmacological inactivation gating

The time-, frequency-, and voltage-dependent blocking actions of several cationic drug molecules on open Na channels were investigated in voltage-clamped, internally perfused squid giant axons. The relative potencies and time courses of block by the agents (pancuronium [PC], octylguanidinium [C8G], QX-314, and 9-aminoacridine [9-AA]) were compared in different intracellular ionic solutions; specifically, the influences of internal Cs, tetramethylammonium (TMA), and Na ions on block were examined. TMA+ was found to inhibit the steady state block of open Na channels by all of the compounds. The time-dependent, inactivation-like decay of Na currents in pronase-treated axons perfused with either PC, 9-AA, or C8G was retarded by internal TMA+. The apparent dissociation constants (at zero voltage) for interaction between PC and 9-AA with their binding sites were increased when TMA+ was substituted for Cs+ in the internal solution. The steepness of the voltage dependence of 9-AA or PC block found with internal Cs+ solutions was greatly reduced by TMA+, resulting in estimates for the fractional electrical distance of the 9-AA binding site of 0.56 and 0.22 in Cs+ and TMA+, respectively. This change may reflect a shift from predominantly 9-AA block in the presence of Cs+ to predominantly TMA+ block. The depth, but not the rate, of frequency-dependent block by QX-314 and 9-AA is reduced by internal TMA+. In addition, recovery from frequency-dependent block is not altered. Elevation of internal Na produces effects on 9-AA block qualitatively similar to those seen with TMA+. The results are consistent with a scheme in which the open channel blocking drugs, TMA (and Na) ions, and the inactivation gate all compete for a site or for access to a site in the channel from the intracellular surface. In addition, TMA ions decrease the apparent blocking rates of other drugs in a manner analogous to their inhibition of the inactivation process. Multiple occupancy of Na channels and mutual exclusion of drug molecules may play a role in the complex gating behaviors seen under these conditions.
Assessment of MRI issues for a 3-T "immune" programmable CSF shunt valve.

OBJECTIVE A newly developed CSF shunt valve that incorporates a magnetically adjustable mechanism designed to resist unintended setting changes was evaluated for problems during 3-T MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS Standardized protocols were used to assess magnetic field interactions, MRI-related heating, artifacts, and functional changes related to multiple exposures and various MRI conditions in nine different samples at 3 T. RESULTS The magnetic field interactions were not excessive. MRI-related heating, which was studied at a relatively high, MRI system-reported whole body-averaged specific absorption rate (2.9 W/kg), was at a level that should not pose a hazard to a patient. Although artifacts were large in relation to the dimensions of this programmable CSF shunt valve, the results were consistent with similar devices containing permanent magnets. Multiple exposures and various MRI conditions at 3 T did not damage or affect the functional aspects of the devices, and no unintentional changes to the valve setting were observed. CONCLUSION In consideration of the test results, this new programmable CSF shunt valve is not adversely affected by the 3-T MRI environment and is acceptable for a patient undergoing MRI at 3 T or less when specific guidelines are followed, including verifying the valve setting according to manufacturer recommendations immediately after the MRI procedure.
Capturing transitions and trajectories: the role of socioeconomic status in later life disability.

OBJECTIVES Disability is conceptualized as a life course process and measured using either transitions or trajectories. Previous research does not simultaneously explore both aspects of disablement, accounting for timing and trajectory. The role of education is noted in disability research, but its independent effects over time have not been fully examined. I investigate the effects of education and income on disability onset and progression over a decade. METHODS I use a latent curve modeling approach with four waves of the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly data to independently test the preventive and mediating effects education and income provide for disability. RESULTS Education has a preventive effect for disability onset but no significant effect on progression once income is held constant. Income has both a preventive and mediating effect on disability, although preventive effects are stronger for education. DISCUSSION Later life disability is measured here using both onset and trajectory. Findings are consistent with health research suggesting that education and income work through shared and independent mechanisms to affect disability over time. These findings also highlight the importance of modeling timing when studying health trajectories.
Analysis by High Density cDNA Arrays of Altered Gene Expression in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells in Response to Infection with the Invasive Enteric BacteriaSalmonella *

Many clinically important enteric pathogens initiate disease by invading and passing through the intestinal epithelium, a process accompanied by increased epithelial expression of proinflammatory cytokines. To further define the role intestinal epithelial cells play in initiating and modulating the host response to infection with invasive bacteria, hybrid selection on high density cDNA arrays was used to characterize the mRNA expression profile of ∼4,300 genes in human intestinal epithelial cells after infection with the prototypic invasive bacteria,Salmonella. Selected findings were further evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Northern blot analysis, and protein assays. Epithelial infection withSalmonella significantly up-regulated mRNA expression of a relatively small fraction of all genes tested. Of these, several cytokines (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, inhibin A, Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3, interleukin-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-2α), kinases (TKT, Eck, HEK), transcription factors (interferon regulatory factor-1), and HLA class I were the most prominent. Furthermore, the transcription factor NF-κB is shown to be important for inducible mRNA expression for a broad group of genes tested. These findings expand the repertoire of known epithelial cell responses to infection with an invasive enteric pathogen. The results also show that evaluation of mRNA expression profiles by cDNA array analysis is a powerful approach to characterizing and understanding host-pathogen interactions.
Mammals in Which Females are Larger Than Males

Females are larger than males in more species of mammals than is generally supposed. A provisional list of the mammalian cases is provided. The phenomenon is not correlated with an unusually large degree of male parental investment, polyandry, greater aggressiveness in females than in males, greater development of weapons in females, female dominance, or matriarchy. The phenomenon may have evolved in a variety of ways, but it is rarely, if ever, the result of sexual selection acting upon the females sex. The most common selective pressures favoring large size in female mammals are probably those associated with the fact that a big mother is often a better mother and those resulting from more intense competition among females for some resource than among males. It appears that, in general, more than one such pressure must affect the females of a species, and that their combined effects must not be countered by even stronger selective pressures favoring large size in males, before the result is that of larger size in the female sex. Sexual selection may often be operating upon the male sex in mammals even when it is the smaller. Present knowledge about the species of mammals in which females are larger than males is quite rudimentary. Much more information is needed before we will be able to speak of the selective pressures accounting for the phenomenon with any reasonable degree of certainty. Perhaps the most fruitful approach would be a series of field studies of groups of related species in which females are larger in some species and males are larger in others.
SMN genotypes producing less SMN protein increase susceptibility to and severity of sporadic ALS

Background: ALS is believed to be multifactorial in origin with modifying genes affecting its clinical expression. Childhood-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder of motor neurons, caused by mutations of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. The SMN gene exists in two highly homologous variants: SMN1, the causative gene responsible for the production of the majority of functional SMN protein, and SMN2, responsible for the production of less protein but sufficient for modifying the SMA phenotype. Objective: To test whether SMN genotypes are associated with susceptibility to and severity of sporadic ALS. Methods: We performed competitive quantitative PCR analysis for both SMN1 and SMN2 genes in 242 clinically well-defined ALS patients and 175 controls. The combined determination of SMN1 and SMN2 copies also allowed for an estimation of the level of SMN for each patient (estimated SMN protein level = SMN1 copy number + 0.20 × SMN2 copy number). Results: One copy of SMN1 was associated with an increased risk of developing ALS (odds ratio = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.2 to 14.2, p = 0.02) and ALS patients carried fewer SMN2 copy numbers (p < 0.001). Sixty-one percent of patients had an estimated protein SMN level ≤2.2 vs only 36% of controls (p = 0.0000004). Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that lower SMN2 copy numbers and lower levels of estimated SMN protein (hazard ratio = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.6, p = 0.03) were associated with an increased mortality rate. Conclusions: SMN genotypes producing less SMN protein increase susceptibility to and severity of ALS.
Awareness and implications of fish consumption advisories in a women's health setting.

OBJECTIVE To determine awareness of fish consumption advisories and fish consumption patterns among women and to explore demographic associations with advisory awareness and fish consumption. STUDY DESIGN An anonymous survey was given in 2006-2007 to women seeking care at the Medical University of South Carolina Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Family Medicine. RESULTS The population (N = 453) was predominantly black, with an annual income of < $50,000, and 36.5% were pregnant. Overall, 47.0% reported awareness of fish consumption advisories, with pregnant women more knowledgeable compared to nonpregnant, and whites more aware than blacks. Fish consumption in this population is low, with 97.3% of respondents consuming fish twice per week or less. Fish advisory information is commonly obtained via the popular media. CONCLUSION Fewer than half of the women in a health care setting report knowledge of fish consumption advisories. Fewer than 5% of women consumed fish above Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency advisory levels. Pregnant women report higher advisory awareness, but also higher fish avoidance, potentially missing beneficial aspects of fish consumption during pregnancy. Novel educational interventions targeting specific populations should be developed to encourage safe consumption of fish, especially in reproductive-age women.
Feasibility of methods based on nucleic acid amplification techniques to fulfil the requirements for microbiological analysis of water quality

Molecular methods based on nucleic acid recognition and amplification are valuable tools to complement and support water management decisions. At present, these decisions are mostly supported by the principle of end‐point monitoring for indicators and a small number of selected measured by traditional methods. Nucleic acid methods show enormous potential for identifying isolates from conventional culture methods, providing data on cultivable and noncultivable micro‐organisms, informing on the presence of pathogens in waters, determining the causes of waterborne outbreaks, and, in some cases, detecting emerging pathogens. However, some features of water microbiology affect the performance of nucleic acid‐based molecular techniques and thus challenge their suitability for routine water quality control. These features include the variable composition of target water samples, the generally low numbers of target micro‐organisms, the variable water quality required for different uses and the physiological status or condition of such micro‐organisms. The standardization of these molecular techniques is also an important challenge for its routine use in terms of accuracy (trueness and precision) and robustness (reproducibility and reliability during normal usage). Most of national and international water regulations recommend the application of standard methods, and any new technique must be validated respect to established methods and procedures. Moreover, molecular methods show a high cost‐effectiveness value that limits its practicability on some microbial water analyses. However, new molecular techniques could contribute with new information or at least to supplement the limitation of traditional culture‐based methods. Undoubtedly, challenges for these nucleic acid‐based methods need to be identified and solved to improve their feasibility for routine microbial water monitoring.
Correlates of frailty phenotype and frailty index and their associations with clinical outcomes

Frailty is a predictor of adverse health outcomes and can be measured across the life course, including among people living with HIV. The purpose of this study was to examine two commonly used measures of frailty ‐ the frailty index (FI) and frailty phenotype – to assess common characteristics and to describe associations with multimorbidity, falls, and disability in people aging with HIV.
Do the presence of pathologic changes and the level of operator experience alter the rate of intra-articular injection of the first metatarsophalangeal joint? A cadaver study.

BACKGROUND Injections, punctures, and aspirations of the first metatarsophalangeal joint are common interventions. Accurate intra-articular placement of the needle is a prerequisite for the achievement of desirable results and the avoidance of complications. We evaluated the rate of successful intra-articular injections and the influence of the degree of operator experience in achieving this success. METHODS A total of 106 cadaveric metatarsophalangeal joints were injected with a methylene blue-containing solution and subsequently dissected to distinguish intra-articular from periarticular injections. To evaluate the importance of experience, 38 injections were performed by a student, 38 by a trained resident, and 30 by an experienced surgeon. In the second part of the study, we examined the relation of pathologic findings of the metatarsophalangeal joint and the accuracy of intra-articular injection. RESULTS The overall rate of unintentional periarticular injections remained low (9.4%; 10 of 106 joints). The student achieved a successful intra-articular injection in 86.8% of joints (33 of 38), the resident in 92.1% (35 of 38), and the specialist in 93.3% (28 of 30). The number of extra-articular injections increased significantly with the presence of deformity (hallux valgus) and arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. CONCLUSIONS The presence of pathologic changes reduces the rate of successful intra-articular joint puncture. However, the overall frequency of successful intra-articular injections can be improved through experience and the use of imaging.
5'-terminal sequences influence the segregation of ground squirrel hepatitis virus RNAs into polyribosomes and viral core particles

To determine which of the major ground squirrel hepatitis virus RNAs serve as mRNAs and which serve as templates for reverse transcription of the genome, we analyzed the subcellular distribution of these RNAs in livers of infected ground squirrels. Both major classes of viral RNA, the 2.3- and 3.5-kilobase (kb) classes, are unspliced, are polyadenylated at a common position, and display heterogeneous 5' ends that can encode proteins with different amino termini (G.H. Enders, D. Ganem, and H. Varmus, Cell 42:297-308, 1985). Both of the 2.3-kb RNAs, which encode surface antigens, appear to be predominantly associated with polyribosomes. Of the three 3.5-kb RNAs, the two longer, which can encode a protein initiated from the first methionine codon in the core antigen gene, appear to be predominantly associated with polyribosomes, and a minority of the shortest 3.5-kb RNAs, which can encode a protein initiated from the second methionine in the core antigen gene, appears to be associated with polyribosomes. This last RNA is instead found predominantly within viral core particles, consistent with evidence that indirectly implicates it in two steps of viral DNA synthesis (C. Seeger, D. Ganem, and H.E. Varmus, Science 232:477-484, 1986). None of the other viral RNAs is detectably packaged into cores. These findings provide independent evidence that the shortest 3.5-kb RNA is the template for synthesis of the viral genome and reveal a novel selectivity in viral RNA packaging.
A Temporal Domain Based Method against Pilot Contamination for Multi-Cell Massive MIMO Systems

Massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) systems have draw a lot of attention, due to its outstanding performance in energy saving and spectrum efficiency [1]. In massive MIMO systems, the intra-cell interference, uncorrelated noise and fast fading nearly vanish. Further study reveals that for multi-cell massive MIMO systems the performance will be limited by so-called pilot contamination (inter-cell interference) [2], where the transmitted CSI at one BS includes the channel coefficients from all the users using the same pilot. However, the analysis in [2] ignores a fact that the spatial/temporal characters of channel coefficients of different users are different such that they are distinguishable in certain extends. In practice, utterly isolating the user channels is extremely hard or even not feasible in certain cases. This paper firstly presents a practical temporal domain based method against pilot contamination without coordination, which just remains the strongest channel impulse responses (CIR) as the effective channel information. Simulation results show the outperformance of the proposed method with low complexity.