Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of analytical treatment interruption and reinitiation of antiretroviral therapy on HIV reservoirs and immunologic parameters in infected individuals

Therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free HIV remission in infected individuals are under active investigation. Considering the vast majority of HIV-infected individuals experience plasma viral rebound upon cessation of therapy, clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of curative strategies would likely require inclusion of ART interruption. However, it is unclear what impact short-term analytical treatment interruption (ATI) and subsequent reinitiation of ART have on immunologic and virologic parameters of HIV-infected individuals. Here, we show a significant increase of HIV burden in the CD4+ T cells of infected individuals during ATI that was correlated with the level of plasma viral rebound. However, the size of the HIV reservoirs as well as immune parameters, including markers of exhaustion and activation, returned to pre-ATI levels 6–12 months after the study participants resumed ART. Of note, the proportions of near full-length, genome-intact and structurally defective HIV proviral DNA sequences were similar prior to ATI and following reinitiation of ART. In addition, there was no evidence of emergence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations within intact HIV proviral DNA sequences following reinitiation of ART. These data demonstrate that short-term ATI does not necessarily lead to expansion of the persistent HIV reservoir nor irreparable damages to the immune system in the peripheral blood, warranting the inclusion of ATI in future clinical trials evaluating curative strategies.
Interest-free monetary policy and its impact on inflation and unemployment rates

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effects of interest-free and interest-based monetary policy on inflation and unemployment rates for two groups of countries where in one group, interest-free monetary policy (IFMP) was pursued, while in the other group, interest-based monetary policy (IBMP) was followed. Design/methodology/approach This study involves a sample of 23 developed countries divided into two groups. The authors measure economic performance by misery index (MI), and MI is calculated as unemployment rate plus inflation rate. A group of countries, where MI is lower, performs better compared to the other group where MI is relatively higher. Findings The results reveal that in group of 12 countries where IFMP is adopted, the MI is lower and thus performs better compared to a group of countries where IBMP is pursued. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study have profound implications for the policymakers and government leaders who look for a solution to maintain both low inflation and unemployment rates. The findings in this study clearly portray that such ideal situations can only be achieved by pursuing IFMP. No wonder the countries which have been historically pursuing IFMP such as Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark have been able to contain both inflation and unemployment rates compared to their counterparts among the English-speaking countries. Originality/value This is one of the most recent tests on the differences in economic performance between IFMP and IBMP. These results have significant value for policymakers and central bankers who have been struggling to maintain lower MI for decades.
Platelet Serotonin Content and Transpulmonary Platelet Serotonin Gradient in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension

Background: The serotonin system has repeatedly been associated with the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Objective: To comparatively analyze plasmatic and intrathrombocytic serotonin levels in arterial and mixed venous blood of patients with PH and unaffected controls to elucidate pulmonary serotonin metabolisms. Patients and Methods: Catheters were placed in the radial and pulmonary artery in patients with PH (n = 13) for diagnosis and in age-matched controls (n = 6) undergoing percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale. Arterial and mixed venous blood samples were immediately centrifuged to obtain plasma and platelets and thereafter frozen at –20°C. After careful thawing, plasmatic and platelet serotonin levels were determined by ELISA. Results: PH was classified as arterial in 4 and chronic thromboembolic in 9 patients with a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 37 (interquartile range: 32–43) mm Hg. Platelet serotonin content was significantly lower in the PH patients than in the controls. The mean transpulmonary gradient (arterial-mixed venous) was negative in the PH group and positive in the controls. An inverse correlation was found between the arterial blood platelet serotonin content and pulmonary hemodynamics. Plasmatic serotonin levels did not differ between the PH and control groups. Conclusion: The lower platelet serotonin concentration in PH patients compared with unaffected controls is an unprecedented finding. The negative transpulmonary platelet serotonin gradient and the strong negative correlation of arterial blood platelet serotonin with pulmonary hemodynamics might indicate increased serotonin uptake in the lungs of PH patients.
Application of Particle Swarm Optimization Based BP Neural Network on Engineering Project Risk Evaluating

The purpose of this paper is to improve the risk evaluating quality of engineering project. The topology structure of particle swarm optimization (PSO) based BP (PSOBP) neural network is described, the principle of PSOBP neural network is introduced, and the implement step of PSOBP neural network is given. The combination algorithm is applied to risk evaluating for the engineering project, and its result is compared with that of conventional BP neural network. The comparing result shows that PSOBP neural network fits to complex system such as risk evaluating for engineering project, it improves in a certain extent on training speed and precision, it can improve the quality of engineering project risk evaluating, and it fits to solve some problems in which evaluating indexes weights are difficult to be determined or there exists complex non-linear relation among them.
Security analysis of Open Home Automation Bus system

Today's modern homes are becoming complex live systems in which virtually all functionality, from lighting and heating control to security and occupancy simulation, is mediated by computerized controllers leading to IoT future. The smart nature of these homes raises obvious security concerns and history has shown that a vulnerability in only one component may provide the means to compromise the system as a whole. Thus, the addition of every new component, and especially new components with external networking capability, increases risks that must be carefully considered. In this paper we examine one of the most active open source home automation framework, Open Home Automation Bus (openHAB) which is used as platform for many other IoT supported devices. First, we go through openHAB security architecture and supported features following the challenge of a static source code analysis of several most used openHAB packages (called bindings) and carefully crafted test cases that revealed many undocumented features of the platform. Next, we exploited security flaws by constructing two proof-of-concept attacks that: (1) openHAB system denial of service; (2) inject custom binding for message bus monitoring and control; We conclude the paper with security best practices for the design of custom openHAB bindings.
Unemployment and the

We study a model in which management and a union bargain over a rule that will later determine the level of employment, and over a wage. The government then chooses an output or an employment subsidy. An exogenous natural turnover rate in the unionized sector creates unemployment whenever the union wage exceeds the competitive wage. Government intervention can increase both the equilibrium amount of unemployment and worsen the intersectoral allocation of labour, because of the induced change in the endogenous wage. Unemployment weakens but does not eliminate the possibility of a "labour-management conspiracy. "
All India Survey of Photovoltaic Module Degradation 2014: Survey methodology and statistics

This paper presents an overview of the 2nd All India Survey of Photovoltaic Module Degradation, conducted in the months of September to December 2014. A total of 1080 modules belonging to different photovoltaic technologies were inspected from 45 different sites which are spread across the 5 different climatic zones of India. This is the first survey in India in which electroluminescence, illuminated and dark I-V measurements, insulation resistance and various other tests were carried out on PV modules installed in the field. The goal of the survey is to determine the degradation in the field-aged PV modules and find correlations between visual, electrical and physical degradation of the PV modules. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the survey methodology and statistics to the PV community.
Parallel Eight Channels All-Optical NRZ-to-RZ Format Conversions at 40 Gb/s Using a Single SOA

We experimentally demonstrate simultaneous nonreturn-to-zero to return-to-zero (RZ) conversion for eight channels at 40 Gb/s with a single semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and a subsequent delay interferometer (DI), which is designed to have a specific free spectral range to accommodate the multiple dense wavelength-division-multiplexing channel spacing. The proposed conversions are based on the cross-phase modulation effect in a single SOA, which is operated in deep saturation to mitigate the undesired cross-gain modulation. Good quality RZ signals can be achieved by optimizing the detuning between the peaks in the DI spectrum and each corresponding carrier. The bit-error ratio results show that the conversions can be achieved with negative power penalty.
Role of ATP-Sensitive K+-Channels in Hemodynamic Effects of Peroxynitrite in Anesthetized Rats

The aim of this study was to determine whether the hypotensive and vasodilator actions of peroxynitrite in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats involve the activation of ATP-sensitive K+-channels (K+ATP-channels). The effects of the K+ATP-channel agonist, cromakalim (9-36 μg/kg, iv), peroxynitrite (0.5-10 μmol/kg iv), and L-S-nitrosocysteine (12.5-200 nmol/kg, iv) on mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and mesenteric (MR) and hindquarter (HQR) vascular resistances were determined before and after injection of the K+ATP-channel blocker, glibenclamide (40 μmol/kg, iv). Cromakalim, peroxynitrite, and L-S-nitrosocysteine produced dose-dependent reductions in MAP, MR, and HQR. Administration of glibenclamide did not affect resting hemodynamic parameters but markedly attenuated the hemodynamic actions of cromakalim. The maximal falls in MAP and HQR produced by peroxynitrite were attenuated by glibenclamide whereas the maximal falls in MR were not affected. In addition, the duration of the hypotensive and vasodilator effects of peroxynitrite in the mesenteric and hindquarter beds were markedly diminished by glibenclamide. In contrast, glibenclamide did not affect the maximal hypotensive or vasodilator effects of L-S-nitrosocysteine or the duration of these responses. These results suggest that the hypotensive and vasodilator actions of peroxynitrite in anesthetized rats involve the activation of K+ATP-channels whereas the hemodynamic actions of L-S-nitrosocysteine do not.
Estimates of genetic parameters for live animal ultrasound, actual carcass data, and growth traits in beef cattle.

Growth and carcass measurements were made on 2,411 Hereford steers slaughtered at a constant weight from a designed reference sire program involving 137 sires. A second data set consisted of ultrasound measures of backfat (USFAT) and longissimus muscle area (USREA) from 3,482 yearling Hereford cattle representing 441 sires. Restricted maximum likelihood procedures were used to estimate genetic parameters among carcass traits and live animal weight traits from these two separate data sets. Heritability estimates for the slaughter weight constant steer carcass backfat (FAT) and longissimus muscle area (REA) were . 49 and . 46, respectively. In addition, FAT had a negative genetic correlation with REA (-.37), weaning weight (-.28), and yearling weight (-.13) but positive with marbling (.19) and carcass weight (.36). Marbling was moderately heritable (.35) and highly correlated with total postweaning average daily gain (.54) and feedlot relative growth rate (.62). Heritability estimates for weight constant USFAT and USREA were . 26 and . 25, respectively. The genetic correlation between weight constant USFAT and USREA was positive (.39), indicating that in these young animals USFAT does not seem to be an indication of maturity. Mean USFAT measures and variability were small (.48 +/- .17 cm, n = 3,482). Results indicate that carcass fat on slaughter steers and ultrasound measures of backfat on young breeding animals may have different relationships with growth and muscling. These relationships need to be explored before wide scale selection based on ultrasound is implemented.
Decision Tree Based Predictive Models for Breast Cancer Survivability on Imbalanced Data

Based on imbalanced data, the predictive models for 5-year survivability of breast cancer using decision tree are proposed. After data preprocessing from SEER breast cancer datasets, it is obviously that the category of data distribution is imbalanced. Under-sampling is taken to make up the disadvantage of the performance of models caused by the imbalanced data. The performance of the models is evaluated by AUC under ROC curve, accuracy, specificity and sensitivity with 10-fold stratified cross-validation. The performance of models is best while the distribution of data is approximately equal. Bagging algorithm is used to build an integration decision tree model for predicting breast cancer survivability.
React to the future: political visualization, emotional reactions and political behavior

Abstract This study explores the mediating role political visualization – the process of imagining future political scenarios – plays in determining how political advertising affects voting behaviour. Specifically, we theorize that when partisans are exposed to political ads that are narrative (compared to non-narrative) in nature, they will engage in more political visualization. Partisans will then experience emotional reactions to these imagined futures – specifically, enthusiasm for the in-group candidate and anger towards the out-group candidate. These emotional reactions, in turn, will make a partisan more likely to vote for the in-group candidate and less likely to vote for the out-group candidate. We test this model by employing an experimental design where American partisans were presented a political ad (in the form of an email) that is either narrative or non-narrative. Results provide support for most of our expectations and suggest that visualization may play an important role in determining the influence of a political ad.
Enterovirus RNA shedding in the genital tract of childbearing‐aged women living in Central Africa

Enteroviruses (EVs) (Picornaviridae) in the female genital tract may constitute possible sources of antenatal or perinatal infection. The presence of EV genomes in the acellular part of cervicovaginal lavages of 119 non‐pregnant childbearing‐aged African women was determined using a semiquantitative RT‐PCR and hybridization detection assay. EV‐specific cervicovaginal IgA and IgG antibodies were also detected by immunocapture ELISA assays. Of 119 CVS samples tested, only 10 (8%) were positive for the detection of EV RNA, demonstrating an genital shedding of EVs in African woman. EV‐RNA positivity was not associated with the HIV serostatus or with the presence of semen traces in female genital secretion. The microwell hybridization assay of EV amplified RT‐PCR products indicated the presence of low levels of EV genomes, ranging from 50 to 100 RNA copies per ml of genital fluids. EV‐specific cervicovaginal IgA or IgG antibodies were detected only in two hemoglobin‐positive cervicovaginal secretions samples from women without genital EVs. The lack of EV specific IgA or IgG antibody secretion by the cervicovaginal mucosa supported the hypothesis of genital shedding of EVs without ongoing viral replication in the female genital tract. In conclusion, the findings demonstrated the presence of EV genomes in nearly 10% of childbearing‐aged women living in Central Africa, and provided the basis of possible antenatal or perinatal transmission of EV from mother‐to‐child. J. Med. Virol. 78:591–597, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
LET dependence of the yield of single-, double-strand breaks and base lesions in fully hydrated plasmid DNA films by 4He2+ ion irradiation

Purpose: To characterize the complexity of DNA damage through determination of the yields of single (SSB) and double strand breaks (DSB), base lesions and clustered damage sites induced in fully hydrated plasmid DNA by direct radiation effects as a function of the ionizing density of the radiation using 4He2+ ion irradiation with linear energy-transfer (LET) values in the range 19 to 148 keV/μm. Materials and methods: Hydrated plasmid DNA (pUC18) containing 34.5 water molecules/nucleotide was irradiated with He2+ ions with LET values of 19, 63, 95, 121 and 148 keV/μm. From quantification of the conformational changes of the irradiated samples (closed circular, open or linear forms) analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, the yields of SSB and DSB were obtained. Base lesions were visualized as additional strand breaks by treatment with base excision repair enzymes (endonuclease III (Nth) and formamidpyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg)). Results: The yield of prompt SSB does not depend significantly on LET of the 4He2+ ions, whereas the yield of prompt DSB increases with increasing LET. The yields of isolated base lesions, revealed by Nth and Fpg as additional SSB, decrease drastically with increasing LET. The sum of the yields of DSB and additional DSB revealed by Nth and Fpg increase with increasing LET of the 4He2+ ions except at the highest LET investigated. Conclusion: The yields of clustered damage, revealed as DSB and non-DSB clustered damage sites, but not isolated lesions, namely SSB, increase with increasing ionization density of the 4He2+ ions except at the highest LET investigated.
Formal Descriptions and Adaptive Mechanisms for Changes in Controlled Medical Vocabularies

Abstract: Standard controlled medical vocabularies are typically based on a coding scheme, while medical informatics applications tend to have a more formal conceptual foundation. When such applications attempt to use data coded with standard vocabularies, problems can arise when the standard vocabulary changes over time. A formal taxonomy is presented for describing the semantic changes which can occur in a vocabulary, such as simple addition, refinement, precoordination, disambiguation, redundancy, obsolescence, discovered redundancy, major name changes, minor name changes, code reuse, and changed codes. The taxonomy is described that used to effect change in one concept-based vocabulary (the Medical Entities Dictionary), and the utility of the approach is demonstrated by applying it to the changes appearing in the 1994 release of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, with Clinical Modifications (ICD-9-CM).
Sepsis induces increased apoptosis in lamina propria mononuclear cells which is associated with altered cytokine gene expression.

Studies indicate that lymphoid tissue (e.g., thymus, bone marrow, and Peyer's patches) shows evidence of increase apoptosis (Ao, a form of nonnecrotic cell death) during sepsis. However, it is not known if mucosal lymphoid tissue, such as lamina propria (LP), also shows evidence of increased Ao and if so, is this associated with functional changes, i.e., cytokine gene expression in the LP. To examine this, male C3H/HeN mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) were harvested at 4 h (early sepsis) or 24 h (late sepsis). Alterations in the cell phenotype as well as Ao (Tunel assay) were determined by three-color flow cytometry. Cytokine gene expression was assessed by multiprobe RNase protection assay. Sham LPMC preparations were found to be 34.4 +/- 2.4% B220(+) (B-cells), while 12.4 +/- 2.1% were CD8(+) (cytotoxic T-cells), 22.0 +/- 0.8% were CD4(+) (helper T-cells), and 6.4 +/- 0.7% were F4/80(+) (macrophages). The frequency of B220(+) (9%* upward arrow) and CD8 (6%* upward arrow) populations increased markedly at 4 h after CLP; however, this increase was not seen at 24 h. The percentage of Ao+ in CD8(+), B220(+), and F4/80(+) cells increased markedly at both 4 and 24 h. CD4(+) cells showed a marked increase in Ao only at 24 h after CLP. When LPMC mRNA expression was examined, a significant increase in IL-2, -10, and -15 gene expression was observed only at 24 h but not 4 h after CLP. Thus, the early phenotypic changes associated with increased Ao may be a reflection of localized immune cell activation in early sepsis contributing to the increased cytokine gene expression seen in late sepsis. This localized activation may contribute to gastrointestinal inflammation and/or immune dysfunction in sepsis.
Alcohol-related emergency department visits among people ages 13 to 25 years.

OBJECTIVE Data from a large, nationally representative sample of hospital emergency departments (EDs) were used to assess the prevalence and characteristics of alcohol-related ED visits among people ages 13 to 25 years in the United States. METHOD Emergency department visits recorded in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program were coded for alcohol involvement based on alcohol product codes and abstractions of chart narratives. National estimates and confidence intervals were calculated using SUDAAN statistical software. RESULTS Based on these chart data, in the United States in 2001 there were an estimated 244,331 alcohol-related ED visits among people ages 13 to 25 (3.2% of total visits). Of these, an estimated 119,503 (49%) involved people below the legal drinking age of 21. The number of alcohol-related visits increased throughout adolescence and young adulthood to the age of 21, after which they decreased to levels similar to those seen for 18 to 20 year olds. Alcohol-related visits were most frequent on weekends and among males and were more strongly associated with visits related to assault or self-harm than to visits for unintentional injuries or injuries of unknown intent. In this population, 38% of alcohol-related visits involved no external cause of injury (e.g., drinking to excess only). CONCLUSIONS These data highlight the need for stronger efforts to delay initiation of alcohol use among adolescents as long as possible and to limit access to alcohol for underage drinkers.
ASYMMETRIC EFFECT OF OIL SHOCKS ON FOOD PRICES IN NIGERIA: A NON LINEAR AUTOREGRESSIVE DISTRIBUTED LAGS ANALYSIS

This paper examines the asymmetric effect of oil shocks on food prices in Nigeria, using quarterly time series data for the period of January 2010 to December, 2017. Non Linear Autoregressive distributive lag framework was used to analyse both the asymmetric short run and long run effect of oil shocks on food prices. The results indicate that positive oil price shocks have a positive and significant effect on food price while negative changes have no significant effect on food prices. Thus, the paper suggests the need for the government to strengthen its effort in the development of agricultural sector as well as diversifying its sources of income. There is also need for an institution that is mandated to save and invest the excess liquidity that arises from positive oil shocks in the development of agricultural sector and other sectors of the economy.