Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impacts des variations de prix sur la qualité nutritionnelle du panier alimentaire des ménages français

Cette these etudie les conditions de taxation indirecte optimale qui permettent d'ameliorer l'adequation de la ration alimentaire des menages francais aux recommandations nutritionnelles. L'approche adoptee exige d'estimer un systeme complet de demande alimentaire afin de mettre a jour les elasticites-prix. Les comportements de consommation alimentaire des menages sont decrits par une forme fonctionnelle AI (Deaton et Muellbauer, 1980). Deux specifications quadratique et dynamique autorisant, respectivement, de possibles non-linearites des courbes d'Engel et la persistance d'habitudes de consommation sont testees. L'estimation se fait par les moindres carres lineaires iteres (Blundell et Robin, 1999) sur donnees de pseudo-panel. Une base de donnees s'etalant sur 156 periodes de 4 semaines, de 1996 a 2007, a ete constituee par l'aggregation en 8 cohortes de menages et le regroupement de coupes transversales issues de TNS Worldpanel. Dans la lignee des mecanismes theoriques de taxation optimale initiee par Ramsey (1927), un application a un objectif de politique nutritionnelle permet de deriver les variations de prix, ou taux de taxe, optimales. Chacune apparait comme une fonction des elasticites-prix, directes et croisees, de la demande et d'indicateurs d'adequation aux recommandations. L'impact des variations de prix sur l'adequation aux recommandations nutritionnelles du panier alimentaire, ainsi les taux de taxation de produits optimaux sont estimes. L'incidence de ces scenarios de politique sur le bien-etre des menages et les inegalites nutritionnelles est abordee dans un dernier chapitre.
Brain Tissue Mapping and Segmentation by MRI-based Blind-Source-Separation Techniques

Brain or any other tissue signatures are considered to be linear combinations of tissue components. Mixtures of such tissue components are "blindly" separated by means of geometrical sparse component analysis. The original set of at least two MR images, acquired by using the spin-echo or spoiled FLASH techniques with specific set of Tr and Te, are sparsified by using multiple wavelets and curvelets. The algorithms and techniques are investigated by separating simulated MRI images, where the ground truth is available. They are then applied to clinical data. Both iterative FCM and robust regression lend themselves to good estimation of the mixing matrix and thereby separation of the tissue components. Further improvements are discussed
Successful treatment of recurrent dysthyroid optic neuropathy following medical decompression

To document the successful treatment of patients with recurrent dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) by medical decompression. We presenting a case of 60 year-old Malay lady have been diagnosed to have thyrotoxicosis with multi nodular goiter more than 10 years. During the course of illness she had multiple episodes of recurrent DON on both eyes. She was successfully treated with cortico-steroid therapy and regained back her previous good vision. Medical decompression with cortico-steroid gives good outcome even in patient with recurrent optic neuropathy.
Mercury released from dental "silver" fillings provokes an increase in mercury- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in oral and intestinal floras of primates

In a survey of 640 human subjects, a subgroup of 356 persons without recent exposure to antibiotics demonstrated that those with a high prevalence of Hg resistance in their intestinal floras were significantly more likely to also have resistance to two or more antibiotics. This observation led us to consider the possibility that mercury released from amalgam ("silver") dental restorations might be a selective agent for both mercury- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the oral and intestinal floras of primates. Resistances to mercury and to several antibiotics were examined in the oral and intestinal floras of six adult monkeys prior to the installation of amalgam fillings, during the time they were in place, and after replacement of the amalgam fillings with glass ionomer fillings (in four of the monkeys). The monkeys were fed an antibiotic-free diet, and fecal mercury concentrations were monitored. There was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of mercury-resistant bacteria during the 5 weeks following installation of the amalgam fillings and during the 5 weeks immediately following their replacement with glass ionomer fillings. These peaks in incidence of mercury-resistant bacteria correlated with peaks of Hg elimination (as high as 1 mM in the feces) immediately following amalgam placement and immediately after replacement of the amalgam fillings. Representative mercury-resistant isolates of three selected bacterial families (oral streptococci, members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and enterococci) were also resistant to one or more antibiotics, including ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, kanamycin, and chloramphenicol. While such mercury- and antibiotic-resistant isolates among the staphylococci, the enterococci, and members of the family Enterobacteriaceae have been described, this is the first report of mercury resistance in the oral streptococci. Many of the enterobacterial strains were able to transfer mercury and antibiotic resistances together to laboratory bacterial recipients, suggesting that the loci for these resistances are genetically linked. Our findings indicate that mercury released from amalgam fillings can cause an enrichment of mercury resistance plasmids in the normal bacterial floras of primates. Many of these plasmids also carry antibiotic resistance, implicating the exposure to mercury from dental amalgams in an increased incidence of multiple antibiotic resistance plasmids in the normal floras of nonmedicated subjects.
Bacteremia in Children With Sickle Hemoglobinopathies

Background: Bacteremia is one of the most feared infectious complications of sickle cell disease, and it is associated with a high mortality rate in children. The objective of our study was to investigate the proportion of bacteremia among febrile children with sickle hemoglobinopathies and the clinical factors associated with bacteremia. Methods: Clinical and microbiological data from children with sickle hemoglobinopathies being followed up at the Pediatric Hematology Clinic at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, were retrospectively analyzed. The data were collected from medical records covering the time period of June 1997 to December 2006, which included the periods before and after the introduction of routine heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine usage. Proportions of positive blood cultures among febrile children, the types of organisms causing bacteremia, and clinical and sociodemographic factors were analyzed by &khgr;2 and t tests as appropriate. Results: The overall proportion of positive blood cultures was 3.8%; 1% was considered to yield true pathogens. Pneumococcal bacteremia decreased from 0.7% in the pre–pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-7 era to 0.2% in the post–pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-7 era; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Pathogens other than pneumococcus were responsible for most bacteremic episodes. No clinical or social factors were found to have statistically significant associations with positive blood cultures. Conclusions: Approximately 1% of children with sickle hemoglobinopathies with fever have bacteremia despite current penicillin prophylaxis and pneumococcal immunization, although most episodes are due to nonpneumococcal pathogens. Prompt evaluation of such febrile children with sickle hemoglobinopathies remains warranted.
Embrace or Fear Uncertainty: Growth Options, Limited Risk Sharing, and Asset Prices∗

The impact of uncertainty shocks on asset prices and macroeconomic dynamics depends on the degree of risk sharing in the economy and the origin of uncertainty. We develop a general equilibrium model with imperfect risk sharing and two sources of uncertainty shocks: (i) productivity uncertainty shocks, which affect the idiosyncratic volatility of firms’ productivity, and (ii) investment uncertainty shocks, which affect the idiosyncratic variability of firms’ investment opportunities. My model deviates from the neoclassical setting in two respects: first, firms’ investment policies are set by the managers who are subject to a moral hazard problem and thus must maintain an undiversified ownership stake in the firm; and second, costly hedging can be obtained through intermediaries. As a result, risk sharing capacity between managers and other investors is limited, which is governed by the intermediary condition. Limited risk sharing distorts equilibrium investment choices, firm valuation, and prices of risk in equilibrium relative to the frictionless benchmark. In the calibrated model, the risk premium on investment uncertainty shocks is negative when risk sharing capacity is low and positive otherwise. Moreover, the cross-sectional spread in valuations between value and growth stocks loads positively on the investment uncertainty shocks under poor risk sharing conditions and negatively otherwise. The calibrated model provides quantitative implications that help understand empirical patterns. Empirical tests also support the predictions of the model. ∗
Comparison of different soil tillage systems in soybean and winter wheat production in Slavonia.

U razdoblju od 2002. 2004. godine provedena su istraživanja u primjeni tri razlicita sustava obrade i njihovom utjecaju na proizvodnju soje [Glycine max. (L.) Merr. ] i ozime psenice (Triticum aestivum L.) on Gleyic Podzoluvisol na podrucju sredisnje Slavonije, gospodarstvo Lila. Primijenjeni su sljedeci sustavi obrade tla: konvencionalni, konverzacijski i no-till. Cilj istraživanja je bio odrediti utjecaj sustava obrade tla na urod, utrosak energije i ljudskog rada. U prvoj godini najveci prinos je postignut u proizvodnji soje primjenom no-till sustava i iznosio je 3.07 Mg ha-1, primjenom ostalih sustava obrade tla zabilježen je manji prinos, ali ne znacajno razlicit. U drugoj godini primjenom no-till i konvencionalnog sustava obrade postignut je prinos ozime psenice u iznosu od 6.79 Mg ha-1 i 6.49 Mg ha-1, usporedba i razlika u odnosu na reducirani sustav obrade je statisticki znacajan na razini vjerojatnosti p? 0.05. Primjena konvencionalnog sustava je potvrdila najvecu potrosnju goriva od 57.46 L ha-1 u proizvodnji soje i 54.50 L ha-1 u proizvodnji ozime psenice. Usporedba sustava obrade s obzirom na utrosak energije u proizvodnji pokazuje da je reducirani sustav obrade tla omogucio ustedu od 31, 8% kod soje, te 32, 5% kod ozime psenice. No-till sustav je ustedio cak 90, 2% energije u proizvodnji ozime psenice. Usporedba utroska ljudskog rada racunanog po toni zrna pokazuje da se primjenom reduciranog sustava obrade usteđuje 31, 6% odnosno 26, 4% ; dok se primjenom no-till sustava može ustedjeti 88, 2% I 88, 1%. Ekonomska analiza pokazuje da je prag rentabilnosti kod reduciranog i no-till sustava veci od konvencionalnog sustava obrade tla u proizvodnji soje i ozime psenice.
SMS pour la science

Le projet « Faites don de vos SMS a la science » a permis de rassembler des SMS dans une base de donnees qui constitue aujourd’hui la plus vaste source d’information accessible pour la recherche. Cette base compte 30 000 SMS rassembles en Belgique francophone sous l’egide de deux centres de recherche de l’Universite catholique de Louvain : le Centre de traitement automatique du langage, et le Centre d’etudes sur les lexiques romans.
Apparent ivermectin resistance of Parascaris equorum in foals in Denmark

ANTHELMINTIC resistance has been reported in equine nematodes since the 1960s (Kaplan 2002, 2004). Cyathostomins are currently reported to be widely resistant to benzimidazoles and pyrantel salts, leaving avermectin/milbemycins (macrocyclic lactones) as the only fully effective group of drugs. It is therefore of major concern that two recent reports have identified foals infected with Parascaris equorum apparently resistant to drugs in this group (Boersema and others 2002, Hearn and Peregrine 2003). So far, these have been the only two studies reporting this resistance, and it is not known how widespread the phenomenon is on horse farms in different countries. This short communication describes cases of P equorum apparently resistant to ivermectin in foals in Denmark. In 2003, the attending veterinarian at a standardbred trotter farm in Jutland, Denmark, observed decreased efficacy of an ivermectin oral paste formulation (Virbalan Vet; ChemVet) against P equorum infections in foals. Faecal samples from four foals analysed nine days after treatment revealed P equorum eggs in all of them, with egg counts of up to 1150 eggs per gram of faeces (epg). In 2004, five foals were born on the farm between April 8 and May 4, and a protocol for treatments and faecal analyses was established to investigate the efficacy of ivermectin further. Faecal samples from the foals and their dams were analysed on July 19 and August 23. Horses with detectable ascarid or strongyle eggs in the faeces were treated with an ivermectin oral paste formulation (Noromectin Vet; Biovet ApS) on both occasions. On September 2, faecal analyses were performed again, and foals still positive for P equorum were treated with pyrantel pamoate oral paste (Banminth Vet; Orion Pharma Animal Health). Faecal samples were analysed again on September 13, and any foals with ascarid eggs were retreated with pyrantel pamoate. Follow-up faecal samples were analysed on October 4. The faecal egg counts were performed using a modified McMaster method with a sensitivity of 10 epg (Henriksen and Korsholm 1984). The first author administered all the treatments. Each dam received a full syringe and the foals half a syringe of anthelmintic paste on each occasion; this gave doses above the label dosages of 0·2 mg/kg ivermectin and 19 mg/kg pyrantel pamoate for all the animals. Faecal egg count reductions were calculated by the formula:
Dispersal and genetic structure in the American marten, Martes americana

Natal dispersal in a vagile carnivore, the American marten (Martes americana), was studied by comparing radio‐tracking data and microsatellite genetic structure in two populations occupying contrasting habitats. The genetic differentiation determined among groups of individuals using FST indices appeared to be weak in both landscapes, and showed no increase with geographical distance. Genetic structure investigated using pairwise genetic distances between individuals conversely showed a pattern of isolation by distance (IBD), but only in the population occurring in a homogeneous high‐quality habitat, therefore showing the advantage of individual‐based analyses in detecting within‐population processes and local landscape effects. The telemetry study of juveniles revealed a leptokurtic distribution of dispersal distances in both populations, and estimates of the mean squared parent–offspring axial distance (σ2) inferred both from the genetic pattern of IBD and from the radio‐tracking survey showed that most juveniles make little contribution to gene flow.
Functional Subclone Profiling for Prediction of Treatment-Induced Intratumor Population Shifts and Discovery of Rational Drug Combinations in Human Glioblastoma

Purpose: Investigation of clonal heterogeneity may be key to understanding mechanisms of therapeutic failure in human cancer. However, little is known on the consequences of therapeutic intervention on the clonal composition of solid tumors. Experimental Design: Here, we used 33 single cell–derived subclones generated from five clinical glioblastoma specimens for exploring intra- and interindividual spectra of drug resistance profiles in vitro. In a personalized setting, we explored whether differences in pharmacologic sensitivity among subclones could be employed to predict drug-dependent changes to the clonal composition of tumors. Results: Subclones from individual tumors exhibited a remarkable heterogeneity of drug resistance to a library of potential antiglioblastoma compounds. A more comprehensive intratumoral analysis revealed that stable genetic and phenotypic characteristics of coexisting subclones could be correlated with distinct drug sensitivity profiles. The data obtained from differential drug response analysis could be employed to predict clonal population shifts within the naïve parental tumor in vitro and in orthotopic xenografts. Furthermore, the value of pharmacologic profiles could be shown for establishing rational strategies for individualized secondary lines of treatment. Conclusions: Our data provide a previously unrecognized strategy for revealing functional consequences of intratumor heterogeneity by enabling predictive modeling of treatment-related subclone dynamics in human glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(2); 562–74. ©2016 AACR.
Serum testosterone levels in diabetic men with and without erectile dysfunction

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease, affecting 0.5–2% worldwide. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study reported that up to 75% of men with diabetes have a lifetime risk of developing ED. Type 2 diabetes is associated with low total serum testosterone (TT) identified in several cross‐sectional studies and systemic analyses. There is a lack of consensus regarding what constitutes the lowest level of testosterone within the boundaries of normality. In this retrospective study, we sought to evaluate the effect of associated co‐morbidities on serum total testosterone (TT) level in men with type 2 diabetes DM, either with or without erectile dysfunction (ED). Three hundred and ninety‐one patients were evaluated for erectile function using an abridged, five‐item version of the International Index of Erectile Function‐5. Measurements of TT, fasting lipid profile, blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were conducted. Penile hemodynamics was assessed using intracavernosal injection and penile duplex study. Hypogonadism was found in 126 cases (33.2%), and normal TT was observed in 254 (66.8%). ED was detected in 119 cases in the hypogonadal group (94.4%) as compared to 155/254 (61.0%) in eugonadal group, P = 0.0001. TT was lower in diabetic men with ED as compared to those with normal erectile function (EF), 392.4 ± 314.9 versus 524.3 ± 140.2 ng dl−1, respectively, P < 0.0001. After exclusion of patients with hypertension and dyslipidaemia, 185 men were evaluated, and there was no difference in the mean TT level among men with ED 490.6 ± 498.2 ng dl−1 versus normal EF 540.6 ± 133.4 ng dl−1 although, HbA1c remained lower in men with normal erectile function. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of TT in men without associated co‐morbidities showed that EF was compromised at TT = 403.5 ng dl−1 or less. Sensitivity of 63.3% and a specificity of 94.0% were detected. At this level, ED was found in 33/38 (86.8%) men with TT 403.5 ng dl−1, whereas ED was observed in 57/147 (38.8%) men with TT ≥ 403.5 ng dl−1 (P < 0.0001). We propose a cut‐off value of 403.5 ng dl−1 of TT blood levels as an indicator for initiation of testosterone replacement therapy in diabetic men with ED. Further prospective controlled trials are recommended.
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid inhibits apoptosis induced by Z alpha‐1 antitrypsin via inhibition of bad

Z alpha‐1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic disease associated with accumulation of misfolded AAT in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hepatocytes. ZAAT‐expressing cells display ER stress responses including nuclear factor kappaB activation and apoptosis. Using an in vitro model of ZAAT ER accumulation, we investigated the mechanism of ZAAT‐mediated ER‐induced apoptosis and evaluated methods to inhibit this process. Here we demonstrate that expression of ZAAT, but not normal MAAT, in HEK293 cells leads to cleavage and activation of caspase‐4 and induces apoptosis that is characterized by activation of caspase‐3 and caspase‐7 and DNA fragmentation. Similar effects are also induced using the ER agonist thapsigargin. A caspase‐4–specific short interfering RNA (siRNA) does not impair ZAAT‐induced caspase‐3/7 activation or cell death in these cells. However, inhibition studies performed using tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) demonstrate its ability to inhibit caspase‐4 and caspase‐3/7 activation, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and caspase‐3 cleavage induced by ZAAT and to promote cell survival. The mechanism by which TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholic acid) promotes cell survival in ZAAT‐expressing cells involves phosphorylation and inactivation of the proapoptotic factor Bad. TUDCA is unable to rescue cells from apoptosis or phosphorylate Bad in the presence of LY294002, a selective P‐I‐3‐kinase inhibitor. Conclusion: These data show that caspase‐4 is not essential for ZAAT‐induced apoptosis in HEK293 cells and implicates P‐I‐3‐kinase and Bad as potential therapeutic targets for the liver disease associated with ZAAT deficiency. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.)
Discrimination or discretion? Exploring dentists' views on treating patients with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND People with hepatitis C (over 259 000 Australians) experience stigma and discrimination, whether perceived or actual, in health care settings. They are less likely to access health care, presenting a major barrier to preventive care and treatment. This study aims to identify factors contributing to such discrimination, barriers to optimal care and strategies to overcome these. METHODS A purposive sample of 25 Victorian dentists took part in semi-structured interviews to investigate their experiences and attitudes in providing care to people with hepatitis C. Interviews were taped, transcribed and coded for thematic analysis. RESULTS All dentists interviewed were aware of Standard Precautions. However, there were some who changed practices when seeing a client with hepatitis C, suggesting that they lack confidence in Standard Precautions. When prompted, these dentists were concerned that patients may perceive these actions as discriminatory. All participants, including a small minority who expressed negative views about injecting drug users, felt a professional obligation to treat all patients. CONCLUSIONS Most dentists have appropriate attitudes regarding patients with blood-borne viruses. However, it is important for dentists to understand how their actions may be interpreted by those who feel sensitive about their status. Dentists need to feel genuinely confident about Standard Precautions and have a realistic view of the infection risk posed by patients with blood-borne viruses.
The Impact of a Peer-Designed and -Led USMLE Step 1 Review Course: Improvement in Preparation and Scores

Background Medical students use several strategies for United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 preparation. At Ohio State University College of Medicine, a yearlong, peer-designed and -led Step 1 review course is a new option for our second-year students. This study aims to ascertain the value of the peer-designed and -led Step 1 review course, to assess the difference in Step 1 scores between participants and nonparticipants, and to understand the course's role in improving preparation for Step 1 among participants. Method Eligible students completed a confidential survey. Scores between participants and nonparticipants were compared, controlling for preexisting differences between groups. Results Course participants had a higher average Step 1 score than nonparticipants (P = .005). The majority of participants felt the course was a valuable use of time and would recommend it to future students. Conclusions A Step 1 review course designed and led by near-peer senior medical students, those who had successfully completed the USMLE Step 1 exam within the previous year, was shown to be valuable to second-year medical students and improved Step 1 score outcomes.