Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CCR5 Genotyping and Chemokine Receptor usage among HIV-1 Treatment - Naive and Experienced Patients in India

The reverse transcriptase and proteaseinhibitors form the backbone of the AIDS control programme in India. Increasing reports on transmitted and second line antiretroviral resistance alarms the need for new drugs that could be used for effective patient management. In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of CCR5 antagonist in HIV-1 infected treatment experienced patients. Thus, we aimed to determine the clinical feasibility of using CCR5 antagonist in HIV1 infected treatment naive (n=23) and experienced (n=22) patients. Cotropism testing, CCR5 genotyping and mutational resistance profile for first and second line antiretroviral drugs were determined for each patient. None of the patients (0%, 0/45) conferred mutant CCR5 genotype. HIV-1 subtype ‘C’ was found to be predominant in 95.6% (43/45, 95% CI:84100) patients, while 4.4% patients (2/45, 95% CI:0-16) were infected with circulating recombinant forms. Mutational testing reported 43.4% (10/23, 95% CI:26-63) treatment naive and 36.3% (8/22, 95% CI:20-57) treatment experienced patients to confer first and/or secondline antiretroviral drug resistance. Further, cotropism testing revealed use of R5 coreceptor for viral entry in 80% (8/10, 95% CI:48-95) treatment naive and 37.5% (3/8, 95% CI:13-70) treatment experienced drug resistant patients; indicating CCR5 antagonists should be considered for treating HIV-1 infected patients in India.
The Musculoskeletal Consequences of Breast Reconstruction using the Latissimus Dorsi Muscle:A Focus Group Study

Background: Breast reconstruction using the latissimus dorsi (LD) flap following mastectomy is an important management option in breast cancer. However, one common, but often ignored, complication following LD flap reconstruction is shoulder dysfunction. The aim of the study, therefore, was to explore the musculoskeletal consequences of this surgery and their impact on function and quality of life as perceived by patients and the healthcare professionals who manage this client group.Materials and Methods: An integrated methodology was used in this study. Five focus groups were conducted; three with women who had undergone reconstructive surgery (n = 15) and two with the healthcare professionals (n = 11). The women also completed a demographics questionnaire, and their shoulder movement was assessed. All focus groups were audio and video recorded. Inductive content analysis was used to analyse transcripts and to develop core themes and sub-themes.Results: The over-arching theme to emerge from the women's focus groups was ‘Resilience’, sub-themes were ‘preparation and awareness’, ‘coping’ and ‘self-management’. Women reported a change in their musculoskeletal ability post-surgery but gradually returned to ‘new normal’ function, stating that they could now carry out their daily activities albeit for shorter periods of time, with assistance, or by adapting how they performed the task. The women recognised their lack of awareness regarding the potential long-term musculoskeletal implications of surgery, acknowledging pre and post-operative care to be mainly concerning wound healing and aesthetic outcome. This was reflected in the healthcare professionals group, whereby the breast care nurses demonstrated a varying awareness of the musculoskeletal impact of surgery, anticipating full recovery between three to twelve months. It was evident from the groups that the relative importance of overcoming the cancer and recovering from the adjuvant treatments was of higher priority than the potential of reduced function of the shoulder, following surgery.Conclusions: LD breast reconstruction has an impact on function and activities of daily living to varying extents, with women facing on-going challenges at least one year post-operative. As a result of the musculoskeletal implications of surgery women are adjusting to a ‘new normal’, demonstrating resilience in their approach to coping with this adaptive way of living. There is a lack of awareness regarding the long-term musculoskeletal consequences of surgery, with short-term follow up mainly regarding wound healing and aesthetic outcome, this has clinical implications for physiotherapists and breast care nurses in this area.
‘Is global warming affecting the weather?’ Evidence for increased attribution beliefs among coastal versus inland US residents

ABSTRACT Increasingly, researchers studying public beliefs about global warming have turned to the question of whether individuals have begun to perceive changes to their local climate conditions and to what extent they attribute these changes to the phenomenon of global warming. Perceptions of particular types of extreme events, i.e. extreme heat and droughts, have attracted the most attention, whereas the possible effects of place (such as proximity to coastal areas vulnerable to sea-level rise) on public beliefs about the link between changes to weather patterns and global warming have been largely neglected. This study matches geo-located responses to a nationally representative survey of US residents with climate extremes data in order to investigate the social and physical factors shaping public views about the links between global warming and extreme weather. Specifically, regional-level Climate Extremes Indices (CEI) are modelled together with individual-level socio-demographic characteristics and an indicator of coastal residence to test whether the incidence of extreme events and proximity to the coasts, net of social and economic factors, correspond to increased perceptions that global warming has affected the weather. Results indicate that coastal shoreline county residence significantly predicts individuals’ beliefs about the extent to which global warming is affecting the weather.
Amendments of the Structural and Physical Properties of Cotton Fabrics Dyed with Natural Dye and Treated with Different Mordants

ABSTRACT In the present work, cotton fabrics were dyed with natural dye extracted from the barks of a plant named Calligonum comosum. The dyed fabrics were mordanting with four mordants (potassium aluminium sulphate, black eco-crumb, ferrous chloride, and ferrous sulphate) applied separately. The effect of the mordants was described by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, DSC and TGA techniques. From the obtained results, various bands ratio displayed differences was observed; FT-IR shows a decrease in O-H band intensity; SEM images illustrate that the fabric was firmly woven. Thermal results propose the improvement of the thermal molecular mobility of the cellulose molecules. The evaluation of antimicrobial activity was tested using the modified streak method. The data indicated that the dyed and treated cotton fabrics with ferrous chloride and ferrous sulphate mordants have higher crystallinity indices in agreement with the obtained thermal data and exhibited higher thermal stability as well as expressively altered the morphological structure of cotton fabrics, and imparted a series of functionalities including; antioxidant and antibacterial properties to cotton fabrics.
Hydrologic Change in New Zealand During the Last Deglaciation Linked to Reorganization of the Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds

Millennial‐scale climate anomalies punctuating the last deglaciation were expressed differently in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. While changes in oceanic meridional overturning circulation have been invoked to explain these disparities, the nearly synchronous onset of such events requires atmospheric mediation. Yet the extent and structure of atmospheric reorganization on millennial timescales remains unclear. In particular, the role of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds and associated storm tracks is poorly constrained, largely due to the paucity of accessible archives of wind behavior. Here we present a new paleohydrologic record from a Lake Hayes, New Zealand (45°S), sediment core from ~17–9 ka. Using two independent proxies for lake hydrology (Ca/Ti in sediments and δD values of aquatic plant biomarkers), we find evidence for a wetter Antarctic Cold Reversal (14.7–13.0 ka) and a drying trend during the Younger Dryas (12.9–11.6 ka) and early Holocene (11.7 ka onward in this record). Comparisons of the Lake Hayes record with other Southern Hemisphere sites indicate coherent atmospheric shifts during the Antarctic Cold Reversal and Younger Dryas, whereby the former is wetter/cooler and the latter is drier/warmer. The wet/cool phase is associated with a northward shift and/or strengthening of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds, whereas the drier/warmer phase indicates weaker midlatitude winds. These climatic trends are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. There is a decoupling of climatic trends between Southern Hemisphere low‐latitude and midlatitude climates in the early Holocene, which could be explained by several mechanisms, such as the retreat of Antarctic sea ice.
Size of the Atmospheric Blocking Events: Scaling Law and Response to Climate Change

Understanding the response of atmospheric blocking events to climate change has been of great interest in recent years. However, potential changes in the blocking area (size), which can affect the spatiotemporal characteristics of the resulting extreme events, have not received much attention. Using two large‐ensemble, fully coupled general circulation model (GCM) simulations, we show that the size of blocking events increases with climate change, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere (by as much as 17%). Using a two‐layer quasi‐geostrophic model and a dimensional analysis technique, we derive a scaling law for the size of blocking events, which shows that area mostly scales with width of the jet times the Kuo scale (i.e., the length of stationary Rossby waves). The scaling law is validated in a range of idealized GCM simulations. Predictions of this scaling law agree well with changes in blocking events' size under climate change in fully coupled GCMs in winters but not in summers.
Fabrication of eggshell membrane–based novel buccal mucosa–mimetic surface and mucoadhesion testing of chitosan oligosaccharide films

Fabrication of simulated buccal mucosa could minimize sacrificing the animals (rabbits and pigs) to extract buccal mucosa for in vitro testing of buccal formulations. Novel artificial buccal mucosa was fabricated using eggshell membrane, extracted from poultry egg, and bovine submaxillary mucin. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS)–based blended films were fabricated using solvent casting technique. Patches of equal dimensions were cut precisely from whole film. COS-based blended patches were analyzed for their physicochemical and mechanical properties. These patches, proposed to be used for buccal drug delivery, were tested for their mucoadhesion timing using the artificial mucosal membrane. The COS–PVA–blended patch displayed better mucoadhesion than chitosan oligosaccharide–alginate–blended film with the fabricated simulated buccal mucosa. Novel buccal mucosa mimetic–surface such as the one reported in this research article could prove to be a very useful tool in minimizing the use of excised animal buccal mucosa for mucoadhesion testing of buccal drug delivery formulations. Novel COS-blended films were fabricated as a proposed mucoadhesive buccal drug delivery vehicle.
Dielectric elastomer actuators

Stress and strain are introduced as tensor properties. Several theoretical models of stress-strain behaviour are presented, of which the Ogden model is capable of fitting the observed behaviour in the entire range of measurement. Dielectricity is defined, and Maxwell stress is derived. The theories of elasticity and Maxwell stress are combined, in the special case of a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) constrained in width. The resulting model has no adjustable parameters. Percolation properties are introduced, and an experiment is presented, in which the fraction of conducting graphite in insulating silicone rubber is varied. Mixtures of conducting carbon black in insulating polymer were developed and used as compliant electrodes. In order to produce stable electrodes, a system of one-component silicone glue and Ketjenblack suspended in heptane is developed. This mixture is sprayed on pre-strained silicone elastomer films, providing stable compliant electrodes. Procedures for manufacturing of DEA with two kinds of elastomer film are presented. Silicone actuators are made from spun elastomer films. Handling of thin silicone elastomer films is possible if temporary frames are used. VHBTM4910 actuators are made from a commercial glue, which has a higher dielectric constant and stretches farther than silicone. The manufacture and handling of VHB4910 actuators is easier, since the film itself provides gluing, such that frames and electrodes are very easy to apply. These DEA structures are simple, making it easier to describe them theoretically. Force-strain measurements are obtained using an actuator test bench. For a silicone actuator, the force-strain curve included artefacts of the additional stress from the compliant electrodes. Introducing a cut-off function, similar to the Fermi-Dirac distribution function, it is possible to fit the force-strain curve in the whole range of strain. The blocking force of a VHBTM4910 actuator is presented. The dependence of the blocking force on applied voltage was parabolic, as expected from the Maxwell stress equation. There are discrepancies, which are explained as a channelling of the developed actuation stress in the transversal direction. Measurements of electric breakdown strength of pre-strained VHBTM4910 are presented, for isotropic pre-strains. The electric breakdown strength is shown to be near inversely proportional to the thickness of the stretched elas-
Economic feasibility of timber harvesting in lowlands

Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) is an important commercial tree species in the New England and Great Lakes regions of the USA and adjacent Canada, yet cedar-dominated stands are comparatively less harvested. This is mainly attributed to the operational challenges associated with fragile and poorly drained soils in lowlands where the species is commonly found. In terms of forest operations, such conditions can pose safety hazards for both crew and machines and harvesting might not be economically viable. The objectives of this study were to 1) estimate cost and productivity of timber harvesting operations in a sensitive-soil stand relative to those of an operation on sturdy ground, 2) understand the effects of stand variables on productivity as expressed by delay-free cycle (DFC) times. The study was conducted in Maine, USA using cut-to-length (CTL) harvesting during the winter of 2019. Stands selected for the treatments were lowland cedar-dominated (>80% cedar, with fragile soils) and non-cedardominated (~10% cedar, with a sturdy soil profile). DFC times and predictor variables were recorded for the harvester and forwarder using detailed time-motion study techniques. Harvested wood timber volume was estimated from scaling data and scale tickets. Machine rate calculations to determine hourly production cost were performed utilizing information from the forest management company. The cost of the operation was found to be higher for the cedar stand (USD 31.93 m-3) than the adjacent non-cedar stand (USD 24.27 m-3). Cost of extraction was reduced by 34–41% when the landing was shifted to stand boundary. Apportioning methods showed that the cost of felling and processing cedar (USD 6.35 m-3) was higher than hardwoods (USD 6.09 m-3) and other softwoods (USD 5.66 m-3). Sensitivity analysis showed that increases in predictor variables such as butt-end diameter, distance between the trees, and number of cuts per cycle increased the DFC time of the harvester. In the case of the forwarder, length and diameter of the log were inversely proportional to the DFC time, whereas an increase in forwarding distance and number of pieces increased the DFC time. Though few, if any direct effects of soils were found on winter harvesting productivity and costs, tree species composition was an influential factor and is itself related to soils. This work will allow foresters and timberland managers to make more informed decisions regarding cost-effective and sustainable forest management in lowlands.
Effect of food simulating liquids on bulk-fill composites: A dynamic analysis approach / Ahmed Hesham Ahmed Mohamed Eweis

Objective: To determine the effect of food simulating liquids on visco-elastic properties of bulk-fill restoratives using dynamic mechanical analysis. Material and Methods: Four dental composites were evaluated which included a conventional composite (Filtek Z350 [FZ]), two bulk-fill composites (Filtek Bulk-fill [FB] and Tetric N Ceram [TN]) and a bulk-fill giomer (Beautifil-Bulk Restorative [BB]). Test specimens (12 x 2 x 2mm) were fabricated using customized stainless steel molds. The specimens were light-cured, removed from their molds, finished, measured and randomly divided into six groups. The groups (n=10) were conditioned in the following mediums for 7 days at 37°C: air (control), artificial saliva (SAGF), distilled water, 0.02N citric acid, heptane, 50% ethanol-water solution. Specimens were then assessed using dynamic mechanical testing in flexural three-point bending mode and their respective mediums at 37°C and a frequency range of 0.1 to 10 Hz. The distance between the supports were fixed at 10mm and an axial load of 5N was employed. Data for elastic modulus, viscous modulus and loss tangent were subjected to ANOVA/Tukey’s tests at significance level p<0.05. Results: Significant difference in visco-elastic properties was observed between composite materials and conditioning mediums. With the exception of bulk-fill giomer restorative (BB), the highest elastic modulus was observed after conditioning in heptane. For BB, conditioning in air gave the highest elastic modulus. Excluding FB, the lowest elastic modulus was noted after exposure to ethanol. FB showed the lowest elastic modulus after conditioning in distilled water. No apparent trends were noted for viscous modulus. Excluding BB where exposure to citric acid gave the greatest values, iv loss tangent was the highest when the composites were conditioned in ethanol. For all materials, air and heptane had the lowest loss tangent values. Conclusion: The effect of food simulating liquids on the visco-elastic properties of the evaluated bulk-fill composites was material and medium dependent. The UDMA-based bulk-fill composite (FB), however, appeared to be more resistant to degradation effects of ethanol when compared to BisGMA-based conventional and bulk-fill composites.
The effects of the combined process of enzymatic bleach clean-up, enzymatic defibrillation and dyeing on the comfort and physical properties of Tencel/cotton knitted fabrics

This study aimed to investigate the comfort and physical properties of raw and finished knitted fabrics made of yarns with different Tencel/cotton blend ratios. For this purpose, Ne 20 yarns were produced with the same twist coefficient on the same production line. Fabric samples were produced on the same knitting machine. The raw fabrics were subjected to two different combined enzymatic pre-treatments and dyeing processes. In the first process, enzymatic defibrillation and dyeing were carried out in the same bath. In the second, enzymatic bleach clean-up, defibrillation and dyeing were conducted in the same bath. The comfort and physical properties of all the raw and finished fabric samples were measured according to the relevant standards. The results were assessed statistically. The results of this study showed that with increased percentage of Tencel in the blend, the water vapor and air permeability, fabric roughness, pilling, thermal absorption and loss of mass values of the fabrics increased, whereas thermal conductivity values decreased. It was observed that the fabrics which were subjected to enzymatic defibrillation and dyeing processes in a single bath gave lower surface roughness and abrasion values but higher air permeability values; while those subjected to enzymatic bleach clean-up, defibrillation and dyeing in a single bath gave higher thermal conductivity and thermal absorptivity values. Comparison of the two processes showed that there were no significant differences in the pilling and the water vapor permeability values obtained from both processes.
FREEZING UNDER ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC DISTURBANCES; A REVIEW

Phase change in biological tissues may be affected by electrical and magnetic disturbances. This presentation proposes a review based on existing literature as well as some very recent results on freezing under static electric field (SEF), magnetic field (MF) and microwave conditions. Freezing under static electric field of water, aqueous solution and pork meat has been investigated by the authors, showing the ability of this process to refine ice crystals in frozen matrices. SEF permits to lower the supercooling and to trigger the phase change of water to ice. The use of radiofrequencies and microwaves has been used recently by researchers to promote refined ice crystallization in food systems. Even though the energy optimization of the process is still in debate, the benefit in terms of size of ice crystals has been evidenced.
The Effect of Cell Size and Surface Roughness on the Compressive Properties of ABS Lattice Structures Fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling

Postprocessing is an important step in many manufacturing methods, but it is especially important for additive manufacturing. Researchers looking to improve the surface roughness of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) parts fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) have determined that acetone smoothing not only achieves improved surface roughness but increases compressive strength as well. This could be very beneficial to lattice structures, which are known for already having an excellent strength to weight ratio. If the compressive strength of ABS lattice structures could be improved even further using acetone smoothing, it could expand the applications for plastic lattice structures and improve their uses across the board. However, the sensitivity of small-scale ABS parts to acetone smoothing has not been explored. In this study we investigated FDM-fabricated ABS lattice structures of various cell sizes subjected to cold acetone vapor smoothing to determine the combined effect of cell size and acetone smoothing on the compressive properties of the lattice structures. The acetone-smoothed specimens performed better than the as-built specimens in both compression modulus and maximum load, and there was a decrease in those compressive properties with decreasing cell size. The difference between as-built and acetone-smoothed specimens was found to increase with decreasing cell size for the maximum load.
Urban skateboarding, social enterprise groups, and community capacity-building in the San Francisco Bay area

Urban skateboarding’s current community includes a diverse range of participants and an ever-increasing array of “social enterprise” conglomerations involving city councils, private industries, and nonprofit organizations. We conducted a three and a half-year ethnographic study of San Francisco Bay Area skateboarding, in part, to understand how these evolving public-private entities use skateboarding to build “community relationships”. Research suggests that social enterprise groups aim to develop social capital in underserved urban contexts. Community capacity development encourages social capital, but more intentionally addresses the emergence of socially inclusive and democratic values as well as socially aware learning cultures to benefit youths and their local communities. We used two Oakland, California, case studies of For the Town (FTT) skateboarding and the Skate Like a Girl (SLAG) organization, to exemplify how community capacity-building strategies and practices may occur within urban skateboarding, while also highlighting challenges to this type of practice.