Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Opportunistic infections as causes of death in HIV-infected patients in the HAART era in France

The objective of the study was to describe the underlying causes of death of HIV-infected patients in the HAART era and to focus on those related to opportunistic infection (OI), in a national multicentre study (‘Mortalité 2000’). A total of 964 deaths were recorded and 924 cases were available for analysis. Underlying cause of death were AIDS-related (47%), viral hepatitis (11%), non-AIDS cancers (11%), cardiovascular diseases (7%) and others (11%). Among patients who died of AIDS events, 262 (27%) died of at least one OI. OIs reported at the time of death were Cytomegalovirus infection 67 times, Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia 56, disseminated Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection 53 and cerebral toxoplasmosis 48. Compared to patients who died of other causes, patients who died of OIs were younger and more likely to be infected through heterosexual contact, in poor socioeconomic conditions, migrants, more recently diagnosed for HIV infection, and naive of antiretroviral therapy and OI prophylaxis. OIs are still a major cause of death in HIV-infected patient in the HAART era, especially among patients recently diagnosed for HIV infection and who do not have access to care, as well as in long term infected patients where prophylaxis should be revisited.
HypophosphataemiaPathophysiology, effects and management on the intensive care unit

Routine detection and treatment of hypophosphataemia on the intensive care unit is commonplace. Hypophosphataemia has been associated with a multitude of clinical effects and there are many associations between correction of hypophosphataemia and improvement in symptoms. However, there is no evidence at present to support the routine correction of hypophosphataemia in the absence of clinical symptoms or signs.
Altered deoxyuridine and thymidine in plasma following capecitabine treatment in colorectal cancer patients.

AIMS To investigate the relationship between changes in plasma deoxynucleoside concentrations and response and toxicity in patients treated with capecitabine. METHODS Twenty-six patients received 2 g capecitabine twice daily orally for 2 weeks of a 3-week cycle. Blood samples were collected on day 0 (baseline), day 8, day 15 and day 22 of the first cycle for the determination of plasma thymidine (TdR) and deoxyuridine (UdR) concentrations. Patients were reviewed weekly during the first cycle, then 3-weekly for toxicity assessment. Response was assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) criteria. RESULTS The plasma UdR and UdR/TdR ratios were significantly elevated (P < 0.001) compared with baseline (49.3 +/- 20.8 nmol l(-1)) for the entire 3-week treatment period. In contrast, the plasma TdR concentrations of these patients were significantly reduced only on day 8 (P < 0.01) compared with baseline (12.1 +/- 3.83 nmol l(-1)), but returned gradually to basal levels by day 15. There were no significant correlations demonstrated between pretreatment or maximal post-treatment plasma nucleoside ratio and either toxicity or response. The TSER genotype frequencies of homozygous TSER*2, TSER*3 and heterozygous TSER*2/*3 were 7.7%, 42.3% and 50%, respectively. These preliminary data also indicate no direct relationship between thymidylate synthase (TS) genotype and plasma nucleoside levels. CONCLUSIONS Capecitabine mimics continuous infusion of 5-FU to achieve sustained cellular TS inhibitory effects and suggests the antiproliferative mechanism of capectabine is at least partly due to TS inhibition through its active metabolite FdUMP. Although plasma UdR and TdR concentrations and the UdR/TdR ratio can provide some pharmacodynamic indication of TS inhibition, they are unlikely to predict therapeutic response or toxicity accurately following capecitabine treatment in cancer patients.
(3R,4S)-3,4-Isopropylidenedioxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole 1-oxide

The title compound C7H11NO3 was prepared by intramolecular nucleophilic displacement of 2,3-O-iso-propylidene-d-erythronolactol. There are two molecules in the asymmetric unit, which are related by a pseudo-inversion centre. The crystal structure determination confirms unequivocally the configuration of the chiral centres as 3S,4R. In the crystal structure, intermolecular C—H⋯O interactions link the molecules (into infinite zigzag chains along the a axis.
Static-Output-Feedback ${\mathscr H}_{\bm \infty }$ Control of Continuous-Time T - S Fuzzy Affine Systems Via Piecewise Lyapunov Functions

This paper investigates the problem of robust H∞ output feedback control for a class of continuous-time Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy affine dynamic systems with parametric uncertainties and input constraints. The objective is to design a suitable constrained piecewise affine static output feedback controller, guaranteeing the asymptotic stability of the resulting closed-loop fuzzy control system with a prescribed H∞ disturbance attenuation level. Based on a smooth piecewise quadratic Lyapunov function combined with S-procedure and some matrix inequality convexification techniques, some new results are developed for static output feedback controller synthesis of the underlying continuous-time T-S fuzzy affine systems. It is shown that the controller gains can be obtained by solving a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Finally, three examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Yield in almond is related more to the abundance of flowers than the relative number of flowers that set fruit

Almond tree yield is a function of the number of flowers on a tree and the percentage of flowers that set fruit. Almonds are borne on spurs (short proleptic shoots that can have both leaves and flowers). Almond tree spur dynamics research has documented that previous year spur leaf area is a predictive parameter for year-to-year spur survival, spur flowering and to a lesser extent spur fruiting, while previous year fruit bearing has a negative impact on subsequent year flowering. However, a question remained about whether yields are more dependent on flower numbers or relative fruit set of the flowers that are present. The aim of the present work was to compare the importance of flower abundance with that of relative fruit set in determining the productivity of a population of tagged spurs in almond trees over a 6-year period. Overall tree yield among years was more sensitive to total number of flowers on a tree rather than relative fruit set. These results emphasize the importance of maintaining large populations of healthy flowering spurs for sustained high production in almond orchards.
Substrate binding to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase: evidence for negative cooperativity from equilibrium and kinetic constants for binary and ternary complexes.

Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) catalyzes the acetyl-CoA-dependent acetylation of chloramphenicol by a ternary complex mechanism with a rapid equilibrium and essentially random order of addition of substrates. Such a kinetic mechanism for a two-substrate reaction provides an opportunity to compare the affinity of enzyme for each substrate in the binary complexes (1/Kd) with corresponding values (1/Km) for affinities in the ternary complex where any effect of the other substrate should be manifest. The pursuit of such information for CAT involved the use of four independent methods to determine the dissociation constant (Kd) for chloramphenicol in the binary complex, techniques which included stopped-flow measurements of on and off rates, and a novel fluorometric titration method. The binary complex dissociation constant (Kd) for acetyl-CoA was measured by fluorescence enhancement and steady-state kinetic analysis. The ternary complex dissociation constant (Km) for each substrate (in the presence of the other) was determined by kinetic and fluorometric methods, using CoA or ethyl-CoA to form nonproductive ternary complexes. The results demonstrate an unequivocal decrease in affinity of CAT for each of its substrates on progression from the binary to the ternary complex, a phenomenon most economically described as negative cooperativity. The binary complex dissociation constants (Kd) for chloramphenicol and acetyl-CoA are 4 microM and 30 microM whereas the corresponding dissociation constants in the ternary complex (Km) are 12 microM and 90 microM, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
SECONDARY POISONING OF EAGLES FOLLOWING INTENTIONAL POISONING OF COYOTES WITH ANTICHOLINESTERASE PESTICIDES IN WESTERN CANADA

Records of eagles, coyotes (Canis latrans), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) necropsied at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, between 1967 and 2002 were reviewed for cases suggestive of anticholinesterase poisoning. From 1993 to 2002, 54 putative poisoning incidents involving 70 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and 10 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetus) were identified. Of these, 50 incidents occurred in Saskatchewan, two were in Manitoba, and one occurred in each of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The diagnosis was confirmed in eight instances by demonstration of pesticide in ingesta from eagles or known use of pesticide at the site together with brain cholinesterase (AChE) reduction of >50% in at least one animal. A presumptive diagnosis of poisoning was made in 33 incidents based on brain AChE reduction of >50% in at least one animal; 13 incidents were considered suspicious because of circumstantial evidence of the death of eagles in association with other species and limited AChE reduction. Other wild species were found dead in 85% of the incidents involving eagles. Coyotes, foxes, black-billed magpies (Pica pica), and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were associated with 34, six, six, and three incidents, respectively. There were eight additional incidents that did not involve eagles in which poisoning was diagnosed in coyotes. Carbofuran was identified in nine incidents. Carbamate poisoning was indicated on the basis of reactivation of brain AChE activity in two additional incidents. Brain AChE activity was not reduced from normal in eagles in four of seven incidents in which carbofuran was identified. The organophosphorous insecticide terbufos was found together with carbofuran in one incident. Brain AChE activity was measured in wild canids and in eagles in 15 incidents; in all of these incidents, brain AChE was reduced by >50% in at least one mammal, whereas this level of reduction occurred in eagles in only four incidents. Use of anticholinesterase pesticides to poison coyotes is illegal, but the practice continues and secondary poisoning of eagles is a problem of unknown proportions in western North America.
The use of Kielland's forceps and obstetricians' anxiety trait

Summary There is very limited literature available on the use of Kielland's forceps in the management of deep transverse arrest, and currently no studies looking at the correlation between obstetricians' personality traits and Kielland's forceps use. This study, therefore, aims to explore this relationship. All practicing consultant obstetricians in Wales received a postal invitation, including a psychometric questionnaire. The results showed that 32.7% currently use Kielland's compared with 36.7% who have never used Kielland's forceps. The remainder (30.6%) have used Kielland's in the past, but have since abandoned their use. Anxiety levels were actually lowest in those consultants who have never used Kielland's and highest in those who have abandoned their use. This could reflect the fact that Kielland's users tend to be the more senior consultants, who have perhaps become discouraged by recent changes in practice.
STOCK MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM ZIMBABWE

The study explores the causal linkage between stock market development and economic growth in Zimbabwe for the period 1990:I to 2010:IV. Applying the Augmented Dickey Fuller(ADF) unit root tests and the long-run Grangernoncausality estimation technique proposed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995), we tested the nature and direction of the causality between economic growth proxy by the real GDP growth rate and stock market development proxy by real market capitalization, value traded ratio and stock market volatility; and found that in line with the supply leading hypothesisa bi-directional causality exists between economic growth and stock market development. The study recommends that both economy planners and stock market managers should ensure that the market and economy should be stimulated to grow at an increasingly consistent rate.
Characterization of Osmotically Induced Filaments of Salmonella enterica

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica forms aseptate filaments with multiple nucleoids when cultured in hyperosmotic conditions. These osmotic-induced filaments are viable and form single colonies on agar plates even though they contain multiple genomes and have the potential to divide into multiple daughter cells. Introducing filaments that are formed during osmotic stress into culture conditions without additional humectants results in the formation of septa and their division into individual cells, which could present challenges to retrospective analyses of infectious dose and risk assessments. We sought to characterize the underlying mechanisms of osmotic-induced filament formation. The concentration of proteins and chromosomal DNA in filaments and control cells was similar when standardized by biomass. Furthermore, penicillin-binding proteins in the membrane of salmonellae were active in vitro. The activity of penicillin-binding protein 2 was greater in filaments than in control cells, suggesting that it may have a role in osmotic-induced filament formation. Filaments contained more ATP than did control cells in standardized cell suspensions, though the levels of two F0F1-ATP synthase subunits were reduced. Furthermore, filaments could septate and divide within 8 h in 0.2× Luria-Bertani broth at 23°C, while nonfilamentous control cells did not replicate. Based upon the ability of filaments to septate and divide in this diluted broth, a method was developed to enumerate by plate count the number of individual, viable cells within a population of filaments. This method could aid in retrospective analyses of infectious dose of filamented salmonellae.
Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions for Congestive Heart Failure in a Tropical City: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

This study was undertaken to determine whether there was an association between air pollutant levels and hospital admissions for congestive heart failure (CHF) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for CHF and ambient air pollution data for Kaohsiung were obtained for the period 1996–2004. The relative risk of hospital admission was estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for weather variables, day of the week, seasonality, and long-term time trends. In the single-pollutant models, on warm days (> 25°C) statistically significant positive associations were found in all pollutants except sulfur dioxide (SO2). On cool days (< 25°C), all pollutants were significantly associated with CHF admissions. For the two-pollutant model, CO and O3 were significant in combination with each of the other four pollutants on warm days. On cool days, NO2 remained statistically significant in all the two-pollutant models. This study provides evidence that higher levels of ambient air pollutants increase the risk of hospital admissions for CHF and that the effects of air pollutants on hospital admissions for CHF were temperature dependent.
Effect of gender and exercise on haematological and biochemical parameters in Holsteiner horses

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of exercise of average intensity in the haematological and biochemical values, as well as acidic resistance of erythrocytes in mares and stallions of Holsteiner breed. A total of seventeen horses of Holstein breed (seven mares and 10 stallions aged 6 years) were used in this study. The blood samples were assessed for haematocrit (HCT) value, haemoglobin concentration (HGB), the amount of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLT), leucogram, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), red cell distribution width (RDW) and platelet distribution width (PDW). Serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as oxidative stress biomarkers were analysed. Stallions showed a significant increase in leucocytes and granulocytes amount, as well as erythrocytes, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels after exercise test. Pre-exercise level of mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration was higher in stallions. At the same time, mares showed significant decrease in platelet volume after exercise test. Physical effort in stallions leads to significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase activity. Trained mares and stallions showed a decrease in lipid peroxidation after exercise. Exercise also caused increase in oxidative modified protein of erythrocytes in stallions indicating by exercise-induced oxidative stress. The resistance of erythrocytes in 0.1 m HCl was similar between females and males. No statistically significant differences in the percentage of haemolysed erythrocytes before and after exercise were observed.
Treatment of primary mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using photodynamic therapy: results after 25 treated cases

The use of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of malignant and non-malignant conditions is increasing. This paper demonstrates the efficacy of a second-generation photosensitizer, Foscan®, in the primary treatment of a wide range of mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Tumours ranged in stage from T1 to T3. A complete response to primary treatment was seen in 19/21 patients (90 per cent). In laryngeal cancer recurrent after radical radiotherapy, one out of four patients treated obtained a complete response (25 per cent). Six patients (24 per cent) required surgery after photodynamic therapy, for local recurrence or dysplasia. Mean follow up was for 27.3 months (standard deviation 20.6 months).
Does fear of serious disease predict consulting behaviour amongst patients with dyspepsia in general practice?

BACKGROUND There have been relatively few studies of health care utilization amongst patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) complaints. We postulated that health care utilization amongst patients with dyspepsia is primarily driven by fear of serious disease. METHOD Consecutive patients presenting to primary care with dyspepsia were questioned about their health care utilization over a 12-month pre-consultation period. The patients completed a questionnaire which included validated measures of GI symptoms (including symptom frequency, duration and severity), and the shortened neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. In total, 614 patients were recruited into the study, and 596 patients provided details of their health care utilization. Previous health care utilization was defined as one or more primary care visits for upper GI symptoms in the 12 months prior to the index visit; frequent health care utilization was defined as six or more visits over the same period. RESULTS Previous health care utilization was reported by 80% of patients, while frequent health care utilization was reported by 26% of patients. Fear of serious illness and fear of cancer were univariately associated with previous and frequent health care utilization (both P = 0.001). However, the only independent predictors of previous health care utilization were frequent dyspepsia (odds ratio (OR) = 2.17), pain-related anxiety (OR = 2.08-4.66) and higher neuroticism scores (OR = 1.12); independent predictors of frequent health care utilization were frequent dyspepsia (OR = 3.25), pain-related anxiety (OR = 1.74-6.08), female gender (OR = 1.73) and being a non-drinker (OR = 1.72). Health care utilization was not independently associated with symptom severity or duration, or with patients' characteristics, such as age, marital status, ethnicity, smoking status or the use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. CONCLUSIONS Consulting behaviour amongst patients with dyspepsia is driven in part by psychological factors and, in particular, by symptom-related anxiety as well as by the frequency of dyspepsia, but not primarily by fear of serious disease. Anxiety may help sustain health care utilization once the behaviour has been established.
The Brunhes Epoch: Isotopic Paleotemperatures and Geochronology

Oxygent isotopic analysis of a long piston core from the western equatorial Pacific has produced a record for the entire Brunhes epoch. This record can be correlated point by point with the isotopic records of previously analyzed Atlantic and Caribbean cores, leading to the construction of a generalized temperature curve for the entire Brunhes epoch.
CONCENTRATION-DEPENDENT LINKAGE OF DIETARY METHIONINE RESTRICTION TO THE COMPONENTS OF ITS METABOLIC PHENOTYPE

Restricting dietary methionine to 0.17% produces a series of physiological responses through coordinated transcriptional effects in liver and adipose tissue. The goal of the present work was to determine the threshold concentrations above and below 0.17% at which the beneficial responses to 0.17% dietary methionine are preserved.
Fishing Bridge Point (48YE381): A Stratified Prehistoric Site at Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming

Abstract Excavations at the Fishing Bridge Point site (48YE381) at Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming reveal stratified Early Archaic, Middle Archaic, Late Archaic, and Late Prehistoric period occupations. Results of specialized studies such as lithics, X-ray fluorescence, protein residue, pollen, ethnobotanical, and sub-surface imaging contribute to existing information regarding prehistoric human use of high-elevation lake basins within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Among the significant findings are the remains of the only radiocarbon-dated Early Archaic hearth feature excavated within Yellowstone National Park. Lithic raw material use patterns of Native Americans in the Early Archaic occupation greatly contrast those from the nearby Late Paleoindian Osprey Beach site, suggesting changing material use patterns at the beginning of the Holocene at Yellowstone Lake. Late Prehistoric lithic material use patterns also contrast those of the preceding Middle and Late Archaic periods.
Measuring life events in an adolescent population: methodological issues and related findings

Synopsis Issues surrounding the collection of accurate information about the life events of girls aged 15–20 were tested on 67 mother/daughter pairs in a community sample. The Bedford system of classifying and rating the events was modified to accommodate the perspective of an adolescent. Mothers recalled fewer events than their daughters, but the difference was most marked for the ‘severe’ events of girls aged over 17. There was a marked fall-off in the reporting of severe and non-severe events after the 30th week, and a significant difference between the rate of events in the furthest 6 months, compared with the proximal 6 months.