Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initial plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and progression to AIDS in women and men.

BACKGROUND It is unclear whether there are differences between men and women with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in the plasma level of viral RNA (the viral load). In men, the initial viral load after seroconversion predicts the likelihood of progression to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but the relation between the two has not been assessed in women. Currently, the guidelines for initiating antiretroviral therapy are applied uniformly to women and men. METHODS From 1988 through 1998, the viral load and the CD4+ lymphocyte count were measured approximately every six months in 156 male and 46 female injection-drug users who were followed prospectively after HIV-1 seroconversion. RESULTS The median initial viral load was 50,766 copies of HIV-1 RNA per milliliter in the men but only 15,103 copies per milliliter in the women (P<0.001). The median initial CD4+ count did not differ significantly according to sex (659 and 672 cells per cubic millimeter, respectively). HIV-1 infection progressed to AIDS in 29 men and 15 women, and the risk of progression did not differ significantly according to sex. For each increase of 1 log in the viral load (on a base 10 scale), the hazard ratio for progression to AIDS was 1.55 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.97 to 2.47) among the men and 1.43 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.76 to 2.69) among the women. The median initial viral load was 77,822 HIV-1 RNA copies per milliliter in the men in whom AIDS developed and 40,634 copies per milliliter in the men in whom it did not; the corresponding values in the women were 17,149 and 12,043 copies per milliliter. Given the recommendation that treatment should be initiated when the viral load reaches 20,000 copies per milliliter, 74 percent of the men but only 37 percent of the women in our study would have been eligible for therapy at the first visit after seroconversion (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Although the initial level of HIV-1 RNA was lower in women than in men, the rates of progression to AIDS were similar. Treatment guidelines that are based on the viral load, rather than the CD4+ lymphocyte count, will lead to differences in eligibility for antiretroviral treatment according to sex.
Optical Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) from Riparian Soil by Using Excitation-Emission Matrix (EEM) Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry

Understanding the quantity and quality of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) in riparian buffer zones is critical for explaining the biogeochemical processes of soil DOM in river ecosystems. Here, we investigated the dissolved organic carbon, fluorescent DOM (FDOM), and DOM molecules from riparian soils on Chongming Island in eastern China. Simultaneously, the soil DOM was extensively characterized in terms of the total aromaticity index (TAI) and several optical indices. The excitation (Ex)-emission (Em) matrix parallel factor analysis results showed that two humic-like components were present (Ex/Em = 283(364)/454 nm; 337/410 nm), a fulvic-like component (Ex/Em = 241/426 nm) and a microbial degradation component (Ex/Em = 295/382 nm). The humic-like and fulvic-like substances were the main components in the riparian soil FDOM, accounting for ~90% of the FDOM. Mass spectrometry provided more detailed information for the soil DOM molecules. Six chemical fractions, amino acids, carbonyl compounds, fatty acids, lipids, proteins and sugars, were identified using liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Lipids, proteins, and carbonyl compounds were dominant in the soil DOM, accounting for . 85% of the detected molecules (m/z < 1000). Significant differences were observed between the quantities of the six soil DOM chemical fractions at the different sampling locations. Discriminant molecules verified the hypothesis that the chemical soil DOM fractions varied with the land use of the adjacent watersheds. The TAI for the soil DOM could provide more reliable information regarding the biogeochemical processes of DOM. The carbonyl compounds and lipid fractions controlled this index. Overall, the optical indices and TAI values can improve our understanding of soil DOM quality; however, the optical indices did not provide quantitative evidence regarding the sources or properties of the soil DOM. The observations from this study provided detailed information regarding the soil DOM quality and the presence of specific molecules and improved our understanding of the biogeochemical processes of DOM.
Benefit of 6 months long-term physical training in polymyositis/dermatomyositis patients.

OBJECTIVE The benefit of long-term physical training in patients with chronic polymyositis or dermatomyositis (PM/DM) was studied prospectively. METHODS Eight patients with chronic PM/DM participated in a training programme for 6 months. A group of five PM/DM patients without any physical training was observed for control purposes. RESULTS While there was no significant change in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, the 'activities of daily living (ADL)' score improved significantly (P < 0.03), peak isometric torque (PIT) generated by muscle groups in the lower extremities rose significantly (P < 0.03) and there was a statistically highly significant increase in peak oxygen uptake (VO2max) relative to body weight (P < 0.02) due to the long-term training. The patients improved their aerobic capacity by 28%, which is clinically significant. In the untrained patients, no improvement in these target parameters was observed. CONCLUSION In clinically stable DM/PM patients, long-term physical training can safely be performed and is recommended as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation management, particularly in view of the cardiopulmonary risk in these patients.
The effect of resveratrol on surgery‐induced peritoneal adhesions in an experimental model

Adhesion formation is a common cause of complications following surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on intra‐abdominal adhesion prevention in a rat model. Twenty one Wistar‐Albino rats weighing 200–250 g were assigned to three groups, of 7 rats each. After a midline laparotomy was performed, a 1 cm area of the ceacum was abraded in two of the groups. They were then given either resveratrol (Group 1), or saline (Group 2) intraperitoneally. Group 3 rats (sham operation) received no treatment, without the serosal damage. On the 14th day, the rats were killed and the adhesion score was determined according to Mazuji's adhesion grade scale. The tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. The mean Mazuji's adhesion grade in the resveratrol group was 1.0 ± 0.0, in the saline group 2.57 ± 1.51, and zero in the sham operated group (p < 0.05 between the resveratrol group and saline group comparison). The levels of MDA and NO in the resveratrol group were significantly lower than those of the saline group (p < 0.001). The level of GSH in the resveratrol group was significantly higher than in the saline and sham operated groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Introduction of resveratrol into the peritoneal cavity at the time of surgery reduced adhesion formation effectively in this model. Resveratrol probably acts through reduction of lipid peroxidation products. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Time-Varying Effects of Prasugrel Versus Clopidogrel on the Long-Term Risks of Stroke After Acute Coronary Syndromes: Results From the TRILOGY ACS Trial

Background and Purpose— The role of more intense, sustained platelet inhibition in preventing stroke after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unclear. We observed a signal for reduced stroke risk in the Targeted Platelet Inhibition to Clarify the Optimal Strategy to Medically Manage Acute Coronary Syndromes (TRILOGY ACS) trial after 12 months of treatment with prasugrel versus clopidogrel in medically managed patients with ACS. Methods— We examined 7243 patients with ACS, aged <75 years and without prior stroke, analyzing differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without a stroke event through 30 months with a Cox proportional hazards model. We also assessed the effect of prasugrel versus clopidogrel (plus aspirin) on risk of all stroke events and ischemic stroke over time with an extended Cox proportional hazards model. Results— Stroke events were infrequent through 30 months (ischemic stroke=62; hemorrhagic stroke=15). Patients with stroke were older, had more comorbidities, and had a higher Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score. There was a trend for a lower unadjusted frequency of all stroke events through 30 months for prasugrel versus clopidogrel: 31 (1.5%) versus 46 (2.2%); P=0.08. There was a significant treatment-by-time interaction for those with ischemic stroke (P=0.03), consistent with the 12-month landmarked Kaplan–Meier log-rank test showing a reduced hazard of ischemic stroke after 12 months with prasugrel (P=0.04). No significant interactions between treatment effect of prasugrel versus clopidogrel and time were observed for all stroke events. Conclusions— We observed a potential late treatment effect for prasugrel versus clopidogrel for a reduced risk of ischemic stroke in medically managed patients with ACS aged <75 years. These hypothesis-generating findings suggest that longer duration and more potent platelet inhibition with prasugrel may be associated with lower risk of ischemic stroke after 12 months. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00699998.
INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE OF SPORTS BIOMECHANICS SERIALS

This study measured the prestige of seventy-five serials in the international sports biomechanics community. The 2007 ISBS membership was surveyed by electronic mail and asked to rate the typical quality/prestige of the serials on a five point scale. Descriptive statistics of ratings were calculated for the sixty-five respondents and correlated with the 2006 impact factor (IF) reported in the Journal Citation Reports. Mean ratings showed that international perception of sports biomechanics serials was unique from other areas of biomechanics and this perception was weakly (r = 0.34) correlated with the IF. Based on these data, it appears that the IF is an inappropriate index for evaluating the international prestige of sports biomechanics serials.
Differential Effects of Protein Kinase A on Ras Effector Pathways

ABSTRACT Ras mutants with the ability to interact with different effectors have played a critical role in the identification of Ras-dependent signaling pathways. We used two mutants, RasS35 and RasG37, which differ in their ability to bind Raf-1, to examine Ras-dependent signaling in thyroid epithelial cells. Wistar rat thyroid cells are dependent upon thyrotropin (TSH) for growth. Although TSH-stimulated mitogenesis requires Ras, TSH activates protein kinase A (PKA) and downregulates signaling through Raf and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Cells expressing RasS35, a mutant which binds Raf, or RasG37, a mutant which binds RalGDS, exhibited TSH-independent proliferation. RasS35stimulated morphological transformation and anchorage-independent growth. RasG37 stimulated proliferation but not transformation as measured by these indices. TSH exerted markedly different effects on the Ras mutants and transiently repressed MAPK phosphorylation in RasS35-expressing cells. In contrast, TSH stimulated MAPK phosphorylation and growth in cells expressing RasG37. The Ras mutants, in turn, exerted differential effects on TSH signaling. RasS35 abolished TSH-stimulated changes in cell morphology and thyroglobulin expression, while RasG37 had no effect on these activities. Together, the data indicate that cross talk between Ras and PKA discriminates between distinct Ras effector pathways.
A Tactical Fourth Amendment

What rules regulate when police can kill? As ongoing public controversy over high-profile police killings drives home, the civil and criminal and administrative rules governing police use of force all remain deeply contested. Members of the public may assume that police rules and procedures provide detailed direction for when officers can use deadly force. However, many agencies train officers to respond to threats according to a force “continuum” that does not provide hard-edged rules for when or how police can use force or deadly force. Nor, as recent cases have illustrated, does a criminal prosecution under state law readily lend itself to defining appropriate police uses of force. People might assume that the U.S. Constitution protects citizens against completely unjustified uses of deadly force. They would be wrong to expect clear constitutional rules either, particular in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Graham v. Connor. Can the Fourth Amendment doctrine be revitalized? This Article begins by excavating key lessons from an earlier moment in time when the Supreme Court did, after carefully consideration, adopt in Tennessee v. Garner constitutional rules based on the then-new field of police tactics. Today, where can we turn to develop sound guidance for police use of force? Police tactics have advanced considerably in the decades since, as has policing technology. We conducted an empirical analysis of the force policies of the 50 largest policing agencies in the U.S., and found that many agencies lacked guidance on key subjects, such as the need to provide verbal warnings before using force. However, we identify a consistent approach among prominent agencies that adopt detailed policies incorporating tactical methods to de-escalate and minimize the need to use force, some in response to Department of Justice consent decrees. We also find real promise in lower court rulings that rely on tactical research and policy when assessing liability of police. This Article develops a theory of police of force grounded in the growing body of police tactics research designed to accomplish law enforcement goals while protecting the lives of officers and citizens. The courts and law enforcement and the public all desperately require a revitalized constitutional standard regulating police use of force: it is time that we adopt a tactical Fourth Amendment.
Language maintenance and language shift in Mauritius : a sociolinguistic investigation into the language practices of Bhojpurias

The present research is a sociolinguistic investigation into language use in Mauritius, focusing on the language practices of the largest ethnolinguistic group within Mauritius. The aim of the research is twofold: (i) to determine to what extent Mauritians belonging to such an ethnolinguistic group (Bhojpuria) make use of the ancestral language (Bhojpuri); (ii) to investigate the societal and institutional factors that both constrain and promote the use of given languages in particular contexts, and offer explanations as to why it is that Mauritian Bhojpuri -a form illustrated as being quite distinct from any of the Indian varieties is losing ground to other languages spoken and studied in Mauritius. The present research provides an overview of the Mauritian linguistic situation and assesses the difficulties in interpreting official data relating to language use in a complex multilingual environment such as Mauritius (Chapter 1). A comprehensive investigation of the linguistic literature and of existing theoretical approaches is undertaken, focusing on contact induced change, and maintenance and shift the latter from both societal and individualistic perspectives (Chapter 2). The importance of considering the socio-historical background of an ethno-linguistic group is asserted throughout the research; accordingly, a review is given of Indian settlement in Mauritius and of both the education of Indians and the use of Indian languages in the educational system. This review critically appraises historical facts and incorporates unpublished data to provide an up to date socio-historical account (Chapter 3). With the incorporation of interviews conducted (Chapter 4) and questionnaire data gathered during a period of fieldwork (Chapter 5), the research provides a wholly new analysis and interpretation of Bhojpuria patterns of language use and attitudes towards language use. The research concludes with an evaluation of existing sociolinguistic approaches towards language maintenance and language shift, and suggests alternative, potentially more productive approaches.
A Combined Pharmacodynamic Quantitative and Qualitative Model Reveals the Potent Activity of Daptomycin and Delafloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms

ABSTRACT Biofilms are associated with persistence of Staphylococcus aureus infections and therapeutic failures. Our aim was to set up a pharmacodynamic model comparing antibiotic activities against biofilms and examining in parallel their effects on viability and biofilm mass. Biofilms of S. aureus ATCC 25923 (methicillin-sensitive S. aureus [MSSA]) or ATCC 33591 (methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) were obtained by culture in 96-well plates for 6 h/24 h. Antibiotic activities were assessed after 24/48 h of exposure to concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 512 times the MIC. Biofilm mass and bacterial viability were quantified using crystal violet and the redox indicator resazurin. Biofilms stained with Live/Dead probes were observed by using confocal microscopy. Concentration-effect curves fitted sigmoidal regressions, with a 50% reduction toward both matrix and viability obtained at sub-MIC or low multiples of MICs against young biofilms for all antibiotics tested. Against mature biofilms, maximal efficacies and potencies were reduced, with none of the antibiotics being able to completely destroy the matrix. Delafloxacin and daptomycin were the most potent, reducing viability by more than 50% at clinically achievable concentrations against both strains, as well as reducing biofilm depth, as observed in confocal microscopy. Rifampin, tigecycline, and moxifloxacin were effective against mature MRSA biofilms, while oxacillin demonstrated activity against MSSA. Fusidic acid, vancomycin, and linezolid were less potent overall. Antibiotic activity depends on biofilm maturity and bacterial strain. The pharmacodynamic model developed allows ranking of antibiotics with respect to efficacy and potency at clinically achievable concentrations and highlights the potential utility of daptomycin and delafloxacin for the treatment of biofilm-related infections.
Public Management and Performance: Performance management: does it work?

Introduction The idea that organizations should measure and actively manage their performance is a core element of recent public sector reforms in many nations, and is strongly encouraged by international bodies such as the OECD and World Bank. This doctrine of ‘performance management’ has taken root not only in US federal (Milakovich 2006), state (Moynihan 2006) and local governments (Krane 2008) but also in national government agencies in China (Chan and Gao 2009), New Zealand (Norman 2002) and Western Europe (Pollitt 2005), in local governments in the UK (Boyne et al . 2004), and in former Soviet states (Verheijen and Dobrolyubova 2007). Thus it can be argued that performance management appears to be viewed positively by governments across the globe, and is believed by senior policy-makers to lead to better public service performance. Like many aspects of New Public management (NPM), performance management has roots in public choice theory (Boyne et al . 2003). In the era before the deluge of performance indicators in the public sector, writers such as Niskanen (1971) argued that public organizations were less efficient than their private sector counterparts, partly because their performance was opaque to citizens and politicians. Only the bureaucrats knew the true cost of services, and so were able to ‘budget-maximize’, thereby pursuing their own interests rather than the public interest and reducing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of service delivery. One policy response to this problem was to expose public agencies to competition, which was intended to reveal the price and performance of alternative providers and so pressurize the bureaucracy to deliver better results. Another response was to encourage or force public organizations to collect and publish data on their performance.
Three-dimensional Shape Coding in Grasping Circuits: A Comparison between the Anterior Intraparietal Area and Ventral Premotor Area F5a

Depth information is necessary for adjusting the hand to the three-dimensional (3-D) shape of an object to grasp it. The transformation of visual information into appropriate distal motor commands is critically dependent on the anterior intraparietal area (AIP) and the ventral premotor cortex (area F5), particularly the F5p sector. Recent studies have demonstrated that both AIP and the F5a sector of the ventral premotor cortex contain neurons that respond selectively to disparity-defined 3-D shape. To investigate the neural coding of 3-D shape and the behavioral role of 3-D shape-selective neurons in these two areas, we recorded single-cell activity in AIP and F5a during passive fixation of curved surfaces and during grasping of real-world objects. Similar to those in AIP, F5a neurons were either first- or second-order disparity selective, frequently showed selectivity for discrete approximations of smoothly curved surfaces that contained disparity discontinuities, and exhibited mostly monotonic tuning for the degree of disparity variation. Furthermore, in both areas, 3-D shape-selective neurons were colocalized with neurons that were active during grasping of real-world objects. Thus, area AIP and F5a contain highly similar representations of 3-D shape, which is consistent with the proposed transfer of object information from AIP to the motor system through the ventral premotor cortex.
Employment Stabilization Inside Firms: An Empirical Investigation of Worker Cooperatives

There is evidence that worker cooperatives provide a greater stabilization of employment compared to capital-managed firms. While the reasons of this behaviour can be ascribed to their property and governance structure, less is known of the tools to put it into practice. I discuss two possible ways to guarantee employment insurance: by letting wages fluctuate, or by accumulating reinvested profits into an income stabilizing fund that copes with downturns without firing and without reducing wages. In this second case, I find out that asset locks play a wage smoothing role. This may explain the large share of profits that are reinvested in this indivisible and not appropriable fund. I provide evidence for this mechanism by means of original data at the firm level and of first-hand collected survey data at the individual level on risk perception in a sample of Italian cooperatives.