Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell-associated HIV DNA Measured Early During Infection has Prognostic Value Independent of Serum HIV RNA Measured Concomitantly

Using data from the Danish AIDS Cohort of HIV-infected homosexual men established in the 1980s, the prognostic value of early HIV DNA loads was evaluated. In addition to DNA measurements, concomitant serum HIV RNA levels, CD4 cell counts and CCR5 genotypes were determined. The patients were divided into 3 groups, according to whether their cell-associated HIV DNA load was ≤⃒ 100, 500 or ≥ 2,500 DNA copies/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Clinical progression rates differed significantly between the groups (p < 0.005). Cell-associated HIV DNA load had prognostic value independent of serum HIV RNA (p < 0.02). However, when HIV DNA, HIV RNA and CD4 cell counts were all included in a Cox model, only serum HIV RNA had independent prognostic value. Patients heterozygous for the CCR5δ32 allele had significantly lower HIV DNA loads than those homozygous for the normal allele (p < 0.05). The interplay between HIV RNA and DNA levels is discussed, together with the possibility that cell-associated HIV DNA load is a marker of the HIV RNA peak seen shortly after primary HIV infection.
Islamic banking and prohibition of Riba/interest

The 21st century came with blending of threats and opportunities due to the inception of Islamic banking practices across the globe. Islamic and conventional banking could be differentiated due to interest, risk sharing and objectivity. This study describes the Islamic instruction regarding Islamic banking and prohibition of Riba/interest, and also presents a glossary regarding prohibition of Riba/interest in the light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah (Ahadith). It depicts the superiority of Islamic banking as interest free banking over conventional banking (interest based banking) due to its long lasting benefits. Islamic banking is desirable because it promotes cooperation and mutual benefit oriented behavior among different stakeholders with the assurance of a welfare oriented society. This study attempts to differentiate Islamic banking from conventional banking on the basis of interest. Key words: Islamic banking, Riba, Holy Quran, Sunnah, prohibition of interest.
Goose Mx and OASL Play Vital Roles in the Antiviral Effects of Type I, II, and III Interferon against Newly Emerging Avian Flavivirus

Duck Tembusu virus (TMUV), an emerging avian flavivirus, is highly pathogenic to birds and has the potential to become a zoonotic pathogen. Here, the molecular antiviral mechanism of goose type I, II, and III interferon (goIFNα, goIFNγ, and goIFNλ), the key components of the innate immune pathway, against TMUV was studied. We found that the transcription of goIFNs was obviously driven by TMUV infection in vivo and in vitro, and the titers and copies of TMUV were significantly reduced following treatment with goIFNs. The results of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that goIFN stimulation triggered a set of differentially expressed genes at different levels and a positive regulatory feedback loop of IFN release against infection. Two important interferon-stimulated genes, goMx and goOASL, were identified as workhorse IFNs in the inhibition of TMUV replication. The antiviral effects of goMx and goOASL were confirmed by transient overexpression and knockdown assay in vitro. Overall, our findings defined that goose Mx and OASL play key roles in the antiviral effects of type I, II, and III interferon against the TMUV. These results extend our understanding of the transcriptional profile of the goose IFN-mediated signaling pathway and provide insight into the antiviral mechanism of goIFNs against flavivirus infection.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Cardiomyopathy—A Case Series Demonstrating a Reversible Form of Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Myocarditis is reported to be a common postmortem finding of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, most case reports on SLE cardiomyopathy (CM) have not found evidence of myocarditis upon biopsy. Our aim was to characterize the nature, course, and reversibility of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with SLE.
Use of Metformin in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Metformin is quite an old drug, but it is optimal for the control of glycemia in Type 2 diabetes. It was reported, 15 years ago, that insulin resistance was abnormally high in most polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Starting from that moment, increasing numbers of studies were performed to demonstrate the efficacy of metformin in controlling and/or modulating several aspects of PCOS, which is the most common cause of menstrual irregularity, inesthetisms and infertility. Metformin induces higher glucose uptake, thus inducing a lower synthesis/secretion of insulin. Such an effect permits the possible restoration of the normal biological functions that are severely affected by the compensatory hyperinsulinemia reactive to the increased peripheral insulin resistance. These are the basis of the many positive effects of this drug, such as the restoration of menstrual cyclicity, ovulatory cycles and fertility, because abnormal insulin levels affect the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian function, as well as the use of glucose in peripheral tissues. Metformin improves the impairments typically observed in hyperinsulinemic PCOS patients, reducing the possible evolution towards metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes; and when pregnancy occurs, it consistently reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, eclampsia and hypertension. PCOS seems to be the perfect physiopathological condition that might have higher benefits from metformin administration, obviously after Type 2 diabetes. This review focuses on the many aspects of PCOS and on the possible issues of this disease for which metformin might be a putative optimal treatment.
Bank Capital Regulation in General Equilibrium

We study whether the socially optimal level of stability of the banking system can be implemented with regulatory capital requirements in a multi-period general equilibrium model of banking. We show that: (i) bank capital is costly because of the unique liquidity services provided by demand deposits, so a bank regulator may optimally choose to have a risky banking system; (ii) even if the regulator prefers more capital in the system, the regulator is constrained by the private cost of bank capital, which determines whether bank shareholders will agree to meet capital requirements rather than exit the industry.
Concept of Nursing Empowerment

Introduction: Nursing has become a field wherein empowerment has become a key need factor. 95% of nursing work forces in India are women. Empowered nurses experience less burn out and job stress. Nurses have the ability to influence others with knowledge, skill and transformational power in the care they provide. Yet in the arena of empowerment, nurses feel underpowered. This study aims at investigating their concept of nursing empowerment. Objective: Assess the nurses’ concept of empowerment, delineate the areas where nurses feel empowered and to find the association between key areas of unempowerment and selected demographic variables. Materials and Methods: A Survey was conducted among 170 trained nursing officers using a descriptive cross sectional design. Non purposive convenient sampling was used. “Nursing Empowerment. Assessment tool” was used consisting of a self structured questionnaire. Results: The study results revealed that (51.7%) nursing empowerment encompassed of all the areas that is bringing innovations, developing skills, being techno savvy, and having fancy designations. Nursing empowerment was found high amongst senior nursing personnel (2030 yrs) of service. A statistically significant relationship was found between years of experience and feeling of being empowered ( p value<0.009 df= 2). Conclusion: Empowering nurses not only guarantees a contended work force, it also enables the client to experience a high degree of satisfaction and promote a positive environment. This area requires much attention in addressing areas of professionalism.
Posttranslational processing and identification of a neutralization domain of the GP4 protein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus

GP4 is a minor structural glycoprotein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus (LV). When it was immunoprecipitated from cell lysates and extracellular virus of CL2621 cells infected with LV, it was shown to have an apparent molecular mass of approximately 28 and 31 kDa, respectively. This difference in size occurred because its core N-glycans were modified to complex type N-glycans during the transport of the protein through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartment. A panel of 15 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reacted with the native GP4 protein expressed by LV and the recombinant GP4 protein expressed in a Semliki Forest virus expression system. However, these MAbs did not react with the GP4 protein of U.S. isolate VR2332. To map the binding site of the MAbs, chimeric constructs composed of ORF4 of LV and VR2332 were generated. The reactivity of these constructs indicated that all the MAbs were directed against a region spanning amino acids 40 to 79 of the GP4 protein of LV. Six MAbs reacted with solid-phase synthetic dodecapeptides. The core of this site consists of amino acids 59 to 67 (SAAQEKISF). Comparison of the amino acid sequences of GP4 proteins from various European and North American isolates indicated that the neutralization domain spanning amino acids 40 to 79 is the most variable region of GP4. The neutralization domain of GP4, described here, is the first identified for LV.
Using Markov Random Fields and Algebraic Geometry to Extract 3D Symmetry Properties

In this paper, we present a new technique for solving the difficult problem of estimating the axis of symmetry for axially symmetric surfaces. Accurate solutions to this problem are important in archaeology for systems that seek to reconstruct pottery vessels from measurements of their fragment s. Our approach estimates quadratic surfaces at each measured surface point and uses a Markov Random Field superimposed on measured mesh surface to combine surface estimates into surface patches, each of which lies close to a single 3D quadratic surface. For each surface patch, we estimate a quadratic implicit polynomial whose coefficient s directly provide an estimate of the unknown axis location and orientation. Using the bootstrap method, distribution s for the axis parameters associated with each surface patch are computed. These competing estimates of the global axis are combined using Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) to provide the final estimate. Our approach differs from past approaches by combining estimates derived from large surface regions that include many measurements instead of combining many local (often pointwise) estimates of the surface to determine the global estimate. Estimates from these large regions are more robust to noise and have sufficient data to provide statistical estimates of the uncertainty in the computed estimates. Major benefits of this technique include: (i) a pre-segmentation of the surface to identify noisy, i.e., a-symmetric, regions and (ii) a Bayes ian method for merging estimates that makes the axis estimate robust to outliers and highly-variable estimates.
Attention Deficit Disorder and hospitalization due to injury among older adolescents in New South Wales, Australia

The association between Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and injuries among children has long been studied. More recently, research interest has extended to the long-term consequences of childhood ADD in adolescents and young adults, mainly focusing on motor vehicle-related accidents, but not other injuries. Very little work has investigated the associations between individual characteristics, type of injuries, outcomes, and the diagnosis of ADD upon admission of injured patients to a hospital. To investigate these associations, this study used a population-based epidemiological design that analyzed data routinely collected on patients hospitalized due to injuries. Results showed that younger, male, and more socioeconomically disadvantaged patients were more likely to be diagnosed with ADD upon admission. Significant association between different causes of injuries, in particular self-inflicted injuries, and diagnosis of ADD were also found. Patients diagnosed with ADD stayed in the hospital longer than others regardless of the cause of their injury. These results illustrate clearly that ADD is underrecognized among injured patients upon admission to hospitals. Information on the ADD status of injured patients is important for treatment decision making. A screening tool should be developed for assessing all injured patients upon admission to hospitals.
Impact of low birthweight on early childhood caries in 6–36 months old infants in Uganda: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective. Focusing on 6–36 months old infants, this study assessed (1) whether socio-economic status, current anthropometric status, presence of enamel hypoplasia, number of erupted teeth, oral hygiene and consumption of sugared snacks varied between children with normal birthweight (NBW) and low birthweight (LBW) and (2) the association between ECC and birthweight whilst adjusting for covariates of ECC, such as current anthropometric status. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kampala in 2007, involving 816 child/caretaker pairs. All caretakers completed face-to-face interviews. Children were examined for ECC and enamel defects using WHO (1997) criteria and the developmental defects of enamel (DDE) index. Weight at birth was obtained from hospital records and current anthropometric status was assessed using z-scores for weight-for-length (WLZ), length-for-age (LAZ) and weight-for-age (WAZ). Results. Prevalence of LBW (< 2500 g) and ECC were estimated to 11.5% and 18.1%, respectively. Children with LBW and those with ECC presented with more visible plaque, higher sugar consumption and more current underweight (WAZ < −2) than children with normal birth weight (NBW) and no caries; 26.7% of LBW vs 17.3% (p < 0.001) of NBW children presented with ECC. Enamel defects (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.6–4.8) and presence of visible plaque (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.3–4.1), but not LBW, were associated with ECC in multiple variable logistic regression analyses. Conclusion. Both LBW and ECC were associated with poor oral hygiene, high intake of sugars and current underweight. Enamel defects were associated with ECC. Adjusting for covariates there were no clear association between LBW and ECC. Studies using a prospective study design are needed for further investigation.
QUALITY PERCEPTIONS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Consumers′ perceptions of quality for apparel products from five countries of origin are studied from the perspective of congruity theory. Utilising random digit dialling, telephone interviews were obtained from households throughout the United States. Findings suggest that different countries of origin have various effects on consumers′ quality perceptions, with the magnitude of such an effect tending to reflect the country of origin′s level of industrial development. The least industrialised country, Costa Rica, had the most negative impact on perceived quality. Conversely, with the USA and Italy being more industrialised countries, association with apparel made in the USA usually had a positive influence on the quality image, while Italy′s influence was more neutral. Therefore, this study provides retailers with an additional perspective when sourcing their apparel products through the examination of the relationship between consumer perception of apparel quality and a country of origin′s level of indu.
Developmental regulation of the morphology of mouse retinal horizontal cells by visual experience

Visual deprivation during development alters the normal refinement of connections, neurotransmitter expression and physiological function in the retina. We investigated the effects of different forms of visual experience on the anatomy of retinal neurons in the mouse. Although it is generally assumed that outer retinal cells are not affected morphologically by visual experience, we found changes in the outer retinas of animals reared with light but no contrast. In postnatal day 30 animals reared in control, dark and high‐contrast environments, horizontal‐cell processes ramified normally in the outer plexiform layer. However, in postnatal day 30 no‐contrast‐reared retinas, horizontal‐cell processes emerged from the outer plexiform layer and ramified in the inner nuclear layer. Similar sprouting processes of horizontal cells were found in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. In conclusion, our data show that a lack of contrast during development alters the morphology of horizontal cells and may thus affect normal visual processing. This effect may be relevant for young patients with cloudy vision (e.g. cataract).
Ionic currents of solitary horizontal cells isolated from goldfish retina.

Solitary horizontal cells, dissociated from papain‐treated goldfish retinas, produce action potentials and show a non‐linear current‐voltage relationship. Underlying ion‐conductance mechanisms were analysed by a single‐micro‐electrode voltage‐clamp technique. Pharmacological and ion‐substitution experiments revealed that ionic currents could be separated into at least four voltage‐dependent currents: a Ca current and three types of K currents. The Ca current was activated by membrane depolarization beyond ‐45 mV, reached a maximal value near 0 mV, and became smaller at more positive potentials. By extrapolation, the reversal potential was estimated to be approximately +50 mV. The Ca current was inactivated by accumulation of intracellular Ca ions but not by membrane depolarization. Co ions (4mM) blocked this current. The first type of K current showed anomalous (inward‐going) rectification near the resting potential (congruent to ‐60 mV). Hyperpolarization from the resting level produced a large, almost steady inward current, while depolarization evoked only a small, steady outward current. The current‐voltage relationship revealed a shallow negative resistance region at membrane potentials beyond ‐50 mV. The current was blocked by Cs (10 mM) or Ba (1 mM) ions. The second type of K current (the transient outward current) was activated by membrane depolarization beyond ‐25 mV. The peak amplitude increased almost exponentially as the membrane was depolarized. During steady depolarization this current decayed exponentially (time constant congruent to 500 ms at +20 mV). The current was inactivated by conditioning depolarization (greater than 10 s) beyond ‐30 mV and blocked by 4‐aminopyridine (10 mM). The third type of K current was the maintained outward current which was activated by membrane depolarization beyond ‐20 mV, increased to a steady level in a few hundred milliseconds, and showed little inactivation. The amplitude increased as the membrane was depolarized. The current was blocked by tetraethylammonium ions (20 mM). A Ca‐mediated K current was not detected. Action potentials and the non‐linear current‐voltage relationship of solitary horizontal cells can be explained qualitatively by the combination of the four ionic currents.
Interaction of coding region mutations and the Gilbert-type promoter abnormality of the UGT1A1 gene causes moderate degrees of unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia and may lead to neonatal kernicterus

Editor—Crigler-Najjar syndrome types 1 and 2 (CN1 and CN2) are inherited as autosomal recessive conditions and are characterised by severe non-haemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. CN1 is the most severe form, in which a virtual absence of hepatic bilirubin-uridinediphosphoglucuronate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) (PIR Accession A31340) activity results in serum bilirubin levels of 340-685 μmol/l or higher (normal 1.7-17.1 μmol/l). 1 A milder variant of this disorder, termed CN2, is associated with intermediate levels of hyperbilirubinaemia (120-340 μmol/l) as a result of an incomplete deficiency of hepatic UGT1A1 activity. Usually, the residual UGT1A1 activity can be induced by phenobarbital administration, resulting in partial amelioration of jaundice.2 A third type of inherited unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia, termed Gilbert's syndrome, is associated with mild, fluctuating hyperbilirubinaemia, ranging from normal levels to up to 85 μmol/l.3 Hepatic UGT1A1 activity is reduced to approximately 30% of normal in Gilbert's syndrome. In all three forms of inherited hyperbilirubinaemia, other hepatic functions are unaffected and the liver is morphologically normal.4 Before the institution of routine phototherapy, CN1 used to be uniformly lethal because of bilirubin encephalopathy (kernicterus). 5 6 Although phototherapy has prolonged survival, it becomes progressively ineffective around puberty.6 7 Hepatocyte transplantation has resulted in partial amelioration of jaundice,8 9 but at present liver transplantation remains the only definitive therapy.10 11Kernicterus is much less common in CN2, and does not occur in Gilbert's syndrome. UGT1A1 is one of the several UGT isoforms that are expressed from the UGT1A gene locus,12 located in human chromosome 2q37.13 The locus contains four exons at the 3′ end (exons 2, 3, 4, and 5), which are used in several UGT1A isoform mRNAs and encode the identical carboxy-terminal half of these enzymes. Upstream to these common region exons are a series of unique exons (exon …
What Do Our Patients Truly Want? Conjoint Analysis of an Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Practice Using Internet Crowdsourcing

Background What do patients want when looking for an aesthetic surgeon? When faced with attributes like reputation, years in practice, testimonials, photos, and pricing, which is more valuable? Moreover, are attributes procedure-specific? Currently, inadequate evidence exists on which attributes are most important to patients, and to our knowledge, none on procedure-specific preferences. Objectives First, to determine the most important attributes to breast augmentation, combined breast/abdominal surgery, and facelift patients using conjoint analysis. Second, to test the conjoint using an internet crowdsourcing service (Amazon Mechanical Turk [MTurk]). Methods Anonymous university members were asked, via mass electronic survey, to pick a surgeon for facelift surgery based on five attributes. Attribute importance and preference was calculated. Once pre-tested, the facelift, breast augmentation and combined breast/abdominal surgery surveys were administered worldwide to MTurk. Results The university facelift cohort valued testimonials (33.9%) as the most important, followed by photos (31.6%), reputation (18.2%), pricing (14.4%), and practice years (1.9%). MTurk breast augmentation participants valued photos (35.3%), then testimonials (33.9%), reputation (15.7%), pricing (12.2%), and practice years (3%). MTurk combined breast/abdominal surgery and facelift participants valued testimonials (38.3% and 38.1%, respectively), then photos (27.9%, 29.4%), reputation (17.5%, 15.8%), pricing (13.9%, 13.9%), practice years (2.4%, 2.8%). Conclusions Breast augmentation patients placed higher importance on photos; combined breast/abdominal surgery and facelift patients valued testimonials. Conjoint analysis has had limited application in plastic surgery. To our knowledge, internet crowdsourcing is a novel participant recruitment method in plastic surgery. Its unique benefits include broad, diverse and anonymous participant pools, low-cost, rapid data collection, and high completion rate.