Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebrospinal fluid HIV-1 RNA levels in asymptomatic patients with early stage chronic HIV-1 infection: support for the hypothesis of local virus replication.

OBJECTIVE To assess HIV-1 RNA levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their potential correlation with plasma viral load and central nervous system (CNS) HIV-1 infection markers in stable asymptomatic patients with a CD4 T cell count >500x10(6) cells/l. PATIENTS AND METHODS Consecutive patients screened for two trials were eligible for lumbar puncture assessment. At day 0, simultaneous samples of CSF and plasma were obtained and levels of total proteins, albumin, IgG, antibodies against HIV-1 p24 antigen, HIV-1 RNA (using the polymerase chain technique) and white cells were measured. RESULTS The integrity of the blood-brain barrier was preserved (albumin index > or =7) in 59 out of 70 patients (84%). Intrathecal production of antibodies against HIV-1 p24 antigen was demonstrated in 55 out of 70 individuals (78%). Viral load in CSF was significantly lower than plasma values (3.13+/-0.95 versus 4.53+/-0.53, P = 0.0001). HIV-1 RNA was not detected in CSF in only three of the 70 patients (4%). Overall, there was a significant correlation between plasma and CSF HIV-1 RNA levels (r = 0.43, P = 0.0001); however, in 29 patients (41%) there were significant differences (>1.5 log10 copies/ml) between the viral loads in plasma and CSF. In the multivariate analysis, a high level of protein and white cells in CSF, but not the HIV-1 RNA plasma level, were factors independently associated with a higher level of HIV-1 RNA in CSF (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS HIV-1 RNA can be detected almost always in CSF of asymptomatic patients in early stages of HIV-1 infection including those with a preserved integrity of the blood-brain barrier. The important discrepancies between plasma and CSF viral load, and the independent association between CSF abnormalities and CSF viral load, support the hypothesis of local production of HIV-1.
On the Policy Implications of Endogenous Technological Progress

One of the most well-known empirical regularities in the R&D-productivity literature is the existence of substantial under-investment in R&D. This strongly suggests that government should actively promote research activities. However, the so-called "quality-ladders" models of endogenous technological progress are inconsistent with this observation. In an extreme case, Grossman and Helpman (1991,Ch.4) suggest that R&D should always be taxed irrespective of the size of quality improvement. This paper attempts to reconcile these empirical and theoretical findings by showing that the normative results of Grossman and Helpman are not robust.
Killifish opercular skin: a flat epithelium with a high density of chloride cells.

In teleosts the head region, particularly the gills, plays the key role in osmoregulatory NaCl transport, presumably by mechanisms located in the chloride cell. As interest has focused on specific mechanisms of chloride cell function, two classical preparations, the intact fish and the isolated, perfused gill, have continued to serve as the only available model systems. However, both of these preparations have severe limitations, e.g., as they are not flat sheets, they cannot be studied readily under the ideal thermodynamic conditions achieved with the short-circuit current technique. The present sutdy describes the histology and ultrastructure of a particular area of skin in the head region of both killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) and sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus). This skin lies on the inside of the operculum and possesses a flat epithelium containing chloride cells. In the present study the identity of the chloride cell in this epithelium was definitively established with the electron microscope. Although the opercular epithelium from the marine sea raven contains few chloride cells, that from the euryhaline killifish adapted to pond water, 100%-, and 200% artificial seawater is predominately chloride cells. Significantly, the teleost gill has never been reported to contain more than 10% chloride cells. Thus the opercular skin of the killifish can serve as a model to study the adaptive role of chloride cells in euryhaline teleosts. A separate electrophysiological study has deminstrated that the short-circuit current technique can be applied to this skin.
The impact of research and development on economic growth

This book is designed for experienced Economists and students of Economics. It addresses a very relevant subject that should be given serious considerations especially by developing economies. Research and development is critical for economic development. This book's goal is also to trigger future research on the major drivers of economic growth not only for developing economies but for developed economies as well.
Mesalamine in the treatment and maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease of the GI tract that is characterized by mucosal inflammation in the colon. Mesalamine (mesalazine) is a 5-aminosalicylic acid compound that is the first-line treatment for patients with mild-to-moderate UC. There are multiple formulations of mesalamine available, primarily differentiated by their means of delivering active mesalamine to the colon. Mesalamine has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials to induce both clinical response and remission, and maintain clinical remission, in these patients. It has few serious adverse effects and is generally well tolerated by patients. The main areas of uncertainty with use of mesalamine in patients with UC center on the optimal dose for induction of response, how to maintain patient adherence and the role of mesalamine in cancer chemoprophylaxis. Generic forms of mesalamine have yet to be approved by regulatory bodies in the USA.
DNA protecting and genotoxic effects of olive oil related components in cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide

In search for compounds, able to protect nuclear DNA in cells exposed to oxidative stress, extracts from olive leaves, olive fruits, olive oil and olive mill waste water were tested by using the “single cell gel electrophoresis” methodology (comet assay). Jurkat cells in culture were exposed to continuously generated hydrogen peroxide (11.8±1.5 μM per min) by direct addition into the growth medium of the appropriate amount of the enzyme “glucose oxidase” in the presence or absence of the tested total extracts. The protective effects of the tested extracts or isolated compounds were evaluated from their ability to decrease hydrogen peroxide-induced formation of single strand breaks in the nuclear DNA, while the toxic effects were estimated from the increase of DNA damage when the extracts or isolated compounds were incubated directly with the cells. Significant protection was observed in extracts from olive oil and olive mill waste water. However, above a concentration of 100 μg/ml olive oil extracts exerted DNA damaging effects by themselves in the absence of any H2O2. Extracts from olive leaves and olive fruits although protective, were also able to induce DNA damage by themselves. Main compounds isolated from the above described total extracts, like oleuropein glucoside, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol and caffeic acid, were tested in the same experimental system and found to exert cytotoxic (oleuropein glucoside), no effect (tyrosol) or protective effects (hydroxytyrosol and caffeic acid). In conclusion, cytoprotective as well as cytotoxic compounds with potential pharmaceutical properties were detected in extracts from olive oil related sources by using the comet assay methodology.
Early visual cortical processing suggested by transcranial magnetic stimulation

Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the occipital pole of healthy subjects while they performed a forced-choice visual letter-identification task. Pulses were applied on the midline but with a left-right asymmetric polarity; pulse application occurred at a variable delay after letter presentation onset; letters were presented in left or right hemifield. Averaging data over subjects and hemifields showed that performance attained local minima at 20 ms and 100 ms; averaging data over subjects and delays showed that performance was biased towards the same hemifield during both delay intervals; averaging data over subjects showed that the hemifield bias progressively decreased from 20 ms to 50 ms. The data are consistent with the possibility that also the earlier delay interval reflects visual cortical processing.
Needle puncture injury causes acute and long‐term mechanical deficiency in a mouse model of intervertebral disc degeneration

Low back pain is a significant socioeconomic burden and intervertebral disc degeneration has been implicated as a cause. A reliable animal model of disc degeneration is necessary to evaluate therapeutics, and functional metrics are essential to quantify their benefit. To this end, needle puncture injuries were created in the caudal intervertebral discs of mice to induce disc degeneration. Compression, torsion, and creep mechanics were assessed both immediately and after eight weeks to distinguish between the effects of injury and the subsequent reparative or degenerative response. Two needle sizes (29 and 26 gauge) were used to determine injury size‐dependence. Compressive stiffness (62%), torsional stiffness (60%), and early damping stiffness (84%) decreased immediately after injury with the large needle (26G). These mechanical properties did not change over time despite structural and compositional changes. At 8 weeks following large needle injury, disc height decreased (37%), nucleus pulposus (NP) glycosaminoglycan content decreased (41%), and NP collagen content increased (45%). The small needle size had no significant effect on mechanics and did not initiate degenerative changes in structure and composition. Thus, the injection of therapeutics into the NP with a minimal needle size may limit damage due to the needle insertion. These findings, along with the wide commercial availability of mouse‐specific biological probes, indicate that the mouse caudal disc model can be a powerful tool for investigating disc degeneration and therapy. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1276–1282, 2013
Genetic characterization of RS‐12 (S‐12), an Iranian isolate of mumps virus, by sequence analysis and comparative genomics of F, SH, and HN genes

RS‐12 mumps virus strain was isolated in 1986, in monkey kidney cells, from the throat‐washing of an Iranian patient and developed to RS‐12 vaccine by serial passage of the pathogen in MRC‐5 cells. During the present study, an early passage RS‐12 containing its virulent pathogenic phenotype, was characterized genetically. Its F, SH and HN genes were isolated by RT‐PCR amplification and sequenced. It is quite evident that RS‐12 belongs to genotype H, closely related to European strains but distinguishable from Asian strains. The deduced amino acid sequences of HN and F proteins that comprise immunogenic epitopes, were compared to other vaccine and wild strains. The multiple sequence alignment revealed that the RS‐12 has isoleucine and aspartic acid at positions 269 and 523 of its F and HN proteins, respectively, which could differentiate RS‐12 from other available sequences. This isolate has trivial variations in the major antigenic sites of HN protein. The frequency and pattern of F and HN glycosylation sites seems to be similar to most other strains. It seems that the mumps regional outbreak during 1986 in Iran was caused by genotype H and this strain has been spreading in countries surrounding the Caspian sea for over 17 years. These data support the previous results that RS‐12 could be an efficient vaccine, especially in the Middle East. This is the first genotype report from Iranian isolates and provides strong data on the molecular epidemiology of mumps in Iran, the Middle East, Central Asia, Russia and other countries of this region. J. Med. Virol. 80:702–710, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy.

PURPOSE The associations between pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy for hospitalized Medicare patients who had diagnoses indicating probable treatment with these antibiotics and the major health care outcomes of death rate, length of stay, Medicare charges, hearing loss, and renal impairment were explored. METHODS Pharmacist management of drug therapy was evaluated in a study population composed of 199,082 Medicare patients treated in 961 hospitals. RESULTS In hospitals that did not have pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy, death rates were 6.71% higher (1,048 excess deaths [chi(2) (1) = 43.801, p < 0.0001]), length of stay was 12.28% higher (131,660 excess patient days [U = 4.701 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), total Medicare charges were 6.30% higher (140,745,924 US dollars in excess total Medicare charges [U = 4.864 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), drug charges were 8.15% higher (34,769,250 US dollars in excess drug charges [U = 4.785 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), laboratory charges were 7.80% higher (22,530,474 US dollars in excess laboratory charges [U = 4.860 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), hearing loss was 46.42% higher (134 more patients with hearing loss [chi(2) = 54.423, df = 1, p < 0.0001]), renal impairment was 33.95% higher (2,801 more patients with renal impairment [chi(2) = 118.13, df = 1, p < 0.0001]), and the death rate in patients who developed complications was 10.15% higher (231 excess deaths [chi(2) = 22.345, df = 1, p < 0.0001]) than in hospitals with pharmacists managing these drugs. CONCLUSION The presence of pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy was associated with significant improvement in health care and economic outcomes for Medicare patients who received these drugs.
Changing heat and moisture exchangers after 96 hours rather than after 24 hours: A clinical and microbiological evaluation

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether changing heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) every 96 hrs rather than 24 hrs would affect their efficacy to preserve the heat and moisture of inspiratory gases. The impact of a prolonged use of the HME on its microbial colonization was also assessed. Design: Prospective cohort observational study. Setting: Intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients: Thirteen consecutive patients with no previous history of respiratory disease requiring controlled mechanical ventilation with an HME for >4 days were evaluated. Interventions: The same HME was used for 96 hrs in each patient. Measurements and Main Results: In each patient, during the inspiration phase, the following measurements were performed: peak and mean airway pressures, mean values of temperature, and relative and absolute humidity of inspired gases. In each patient, measurements were performed after 1 hr of HME use and then daily up to the fourth day. On days 1 and 4, microbiological samples were obtained from the patients' bronchial secretions and the ventilator side of the HME. After 96 hrs of ventilation with the same HME, tracheal tube occlusion was never observed. Using the same HME for 96 hrs rather than 24 hrs did not affect its technical performances: temperature at 24 hrs: 32.2 ± 1.5°C (90.0 ± 34.7°F), at 96 hrs: 32.1 ± 1.6°C (89.8 ± 34.9°F); relative humidity at 24 hrs: 97.9 ± 2%, at 96 hrs: 98.1 ± 1.7%; absolute humidity at 24 hrs: 33.1 ± 2.4 mg H2O/L, at 96 hrs: 33.0 ± 2.5 mg H2O/L. This analysis was based on a total of 312 measurements performed on the 13 patients. Peak and mean airway pressures did not change during the 96‐hr study period, with identical tidal and minute volumes in the study patients. On day 1, ten patients had a positive culture of their tracheal secretions at a colony count of ≥103 colony forming units/mL. After 96 hrs of use with the same HME, only seven patients had a positive culture of their tracheal secretions. Cultures from the ventilator sides of the HMEs were all sterile (13/13) after 96 hrs of use. Conclusions: In patients free from previous chronic respiratory disorder and ventilated for neurologic reasons, changing the HME after 96 hrs rather than 24 hrs did not affect its technical performance in terms of heat and water preservation of ventilatory gases. There is also some indirect evidence of very little, if any, changes in the HME resistance. No bacterial colonization of the ventilator sides of the HMEs was observed after 96 hrs of use. However, other large clinical trials should be undertaken to confirm the safety of extending the time between HME changes.
Exponential Lower Bounds for History-Based Simplex Pivot Rules on Abstract Cubes

The behavior of the simplex algorithm is a widely studied subject. Specifically, the question of the existence of a polynomial pivot rule for the simplex algorithm is of major importance. Here, we give exponential lower bounds for three history-based pivot rules. Those rules decide their next step based on memory of the past steps. In particular, we study Zadeh's least entered rule, Johnson's least-recently basic rule and Cunningham's least-recently considered (or round-robin) rule. We give exponential lower bounds on Acyclic Unique Sink Orientations (AUSO) of the abstract cube, for all of these pivot rules. For Johnson's rule our bound is the first superpolynomial one in any context; for Zadeh's it is the first one for AUSO. Those two are our main results.
Prenatal diagnosis of the Meckel syndrome

Prenatal diagnosis of the Meckel syndrome was made at 20 weeks of gestation from the findings of a biparietal diameter smaller than expected for gestational age, a grossly raised amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein level and a rapid growth of foetal macrophages after 20 hours culture. Termination at 23 weeks of gestation resulted in a male foetus with an occipital encephalocele, microcephaly, Polydactyly, and bilateral polycystic kidneys. This case report emphasises the importance for genetic counselling of delineating the Meckel syndrome from the multifactorial cases of neural tube defects, and also illustrates, at least in some cases, that the syndrome can be diagnosed in utero.
TRANSIT HUB: A SMART DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERATIONS

The allure of smart city technologies lies in its promise to enrich the lives of residents by empowering the stakeholders to make efficient and informed decisions and help alleviate complex issues. One such issue that is universally faced by large cities of the world is the problem of commuter traffic. Solutions are difficult, partly because so much of our physical infrastructure was designed for a different era—when no one could imagine just how many cars would hit the streets each day—and partly because options like mass transit and adopting car shares, biking, and walking are seen by many as “trading down” making their commute less convenient. The irony is that very often, a short walk or bus ride would be far faster, easier, and cheaper than driving. Unfortunately, there is a general lack of awareness among people about the effectiveness of these options. For example, consider the city of Nashville, TN. The traffic congestion in the city has nearly doubled over the last decade and is expected to grow at an even faster rate in future—a recent study found it to be the top 25 congested cities in
Population Structure of Sao Miguel Island, Azores: A Surname Study

The knowledge of a population structure may constitute a powerful tool for mapping genes underlying susceptibility to Mendelian and complex diseases. To obtain a better understanding of the population structure of Sao Miguel Island (Azorean Archipelago, Portugal), we carried out a surname survey using the surnames listed in the most recent telephone book (2001). We identified 1315 different surnames in a total of 27,621 subscribers. The frequency of the different surnames was used to calculate the following parameters: isonymy (I), random component of inbreeding (FST), genetic diversity according to Fisher (a), migration rate according to Karlin- McGregor (v) and NeiÕs genetic distance. Eleven localities were selected, according to population size and geographic distribution, for analysis using the above parameters. Our results show that 51% of SalgaÕs population and 52% of Sete CidadesÕs population are represented by six and eight surnames, respectively. These figures demonstrate the effective isolation of these two small places, which are located at opposite ends of Sao Miguel Island. Salga, Achada, and Sete Cidades present the lowest values of FisherÕs, a indicating less genetic diversity. In contrast, the capital, Ponta Delgada, presents the highest value of a (78.13), indicating more genetic diversity. Our data indicate that the clustering of the localities corresponds to the geographic features of the island, where localities close together tend to share similar surnames. In conclusion, the population of Sao Miguel is relatively homogeneous and may constitute an ideal model for genetic mapping studies.
Development of a curriculum for advanced nurse practitioners working with older people with frailty in the acute hospital through a modified Delphi process.

BACKGROUND advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) are experienced nurses who undertake some activities traditionally performed by medical staff. There are four pillars of advanced practice: advanced clinical skills, leadership, education and research. ANPs are starting to specialise in the management of older adults with frailty in the acute hospital. However, the role and competencies required for this have not been well defined. This study aimed to establish an expert consensus on the role description and essential competencies for ANPs working with older people with frailty to develop a curriculum. METHODS a literature review and workshops including multi-professional and lay representatives generated a role description and a list of 69 competencies. A modified Delphi process was then conducted with three rounds involving a panel of 31 experts including representatives from the RCN, BGS Education and Training Committee, BGS Senior Nurses and Practitioners Group, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Older People Network, College of Occupational Therapists Older People Specialist Section and lay representatives. Consensus on the statements was established by 70% panel agreement. RESULTS the role description reached 100% agreement within three rounds. Twenty-five essential competencies were agreed after Round 1, increasing to 43 after Round 2 and 49 after Round 3. CONCLUSION this Delphi study has allowed, for the first time, a national panel of clinical experts and lay representatives to refine and agree a set of competencies for ANPs working with older people with frailty. It is the first step towards ensuring consistency in the training of ANPs in geriatric medicine.