Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virological success after 12 and 24 months of antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa: Comparing results of trials, cohorts and cross-sectional studies using a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background UNAIDS recently defined the 90-90-90 target as a way to end the HIV epidemic. However, the proportion of virological success following antiretroviral therapy (ART) may not be as high as the anticipated 90%, and may in fact be highly heterogeneous. We aimed to describe the proportion of virological success in sub-Saharan Africa and to identify factors associated with the proportion of virological success. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on the proportion of patients in sub-Saharan Africa who demonstrate virological success at 12 and 24 months since ART initiation, as well as at 6 and 36 months, where possible. Programme factors associated with the proportion of virological success were identified using meta-regression. Analyses were conducted using both on-treatment (OT) and intention-to-treat (ITT) approaches. Results Eighty-five articles were included in the meta-analysis, corresponding to 125 independent study populations. Using an on-treatment approach, the proportions (95% confidence interval (CI)) of virological success at 12 (n = 64) and at 24 (n = 32) months since ART initiation were 87.7% (81.3–91.0) and 83.7% (79.8–87.6), respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the proportion of virological success was not different by study design. Multivariate analysis at 24 months showed that the proportion of virological success was significantly larger in studies conducted in public sector sites than in other sites (p = 0.045). Using an ITT approach, the proportions (95% CI) of virological success at 12 (n = 50) and at 24 (n = 20) months were 65.4% (61.8–69.1) and 56.8% (51.3–62.4), respectively. At 12 months, multivariate analysis showed that the proportion of success was significantly lower in cohort studies than in trials (63.0% vs. 71.1%; p = 0.017). At 24 months, univariate analysis demonstrated that the proportion of success was also lower in cohorts. Discussion Regardless of the time following ART initiation, and of the threshold, proportions of virological success were highly variable. Evidence from this review suggests that the new international target of 90% of patients controlled is not yet being achieved, and that in order to improve the virological outcome, efforts should be made to improve retention in care.
Virtual hybrid-FDM system to enhance surface finish

Many rapid prototyping systems which produce prototypes by layer-by-layer material deposition are now commercially available. The layer-by-layer deposition process leads to a stepped surface known as staircase. Staircase formation is a geometric constraint of the layered manufacturing, which can not be eliminated. The presence of staircase on the surface of a prototype detracts from the surface finish and hence restricts functionality of prototypes. It is realized that there is a need to make modifications in RP (rapid prototyping) systems so that prototypes with better surface finish can be produced without incurring high production costs. A virtual hybrid fused deposition modelling system (hybrid-FDM) is proposed in the present work that uses both layer-by-layer deposition and machining. In this system, CAD model is sliced adaptively using limited centre line average (Ra) value as a criterion (Pandey et al. 2003a). Hot cutter machining/ploughing (HCM) (Pandey et al. 2003b) is recommended to machine the build edges (staircase) of ABS material. Numerically controlled x−y traversing mechanism is proposed as an attachment to move hot cutters along the periphery of slices to machine build edges. In this paper, geometrical designs of cutters are proposed. A process planning system to decide the number of layers to be deposited and then machined in order to access intricate features of a part is implemented. The developed system simulates surface roughness, before and after hot cutter machining. An experimental study is carried out by machining the build edges of an axisymmetric FDM part on lathe machine to form a basis for a hybrid-FDM system.
Performance Evaluation of Image Conversion Module Based on MapReduce for Transcoding and Transmoding in SMCCSE

We presented the author's SMCCSE (Social Media Cloud Computing Service Environment) that supports the development and construction of Social Networking Service (SNS) based on large amounts of social media including audio, video and image in earlier publication. The main contributions of this paper are to present how to design and implement Map Reduce-based image conversion module for social media transcoding and transmoding that are the core functions in our SMCCSE as well as to verify performance evaluation results for image conversion module. In this paper, we show a partially functional image conversion module based on Hadoop in SMCCSE except for video and audio. Moreover, we discuss experimental results performed on a 28 node SMCCSE cluster under varying experimental conditions in order to verify the performance for image conversion function.
Multiplex-PCR and oligonucleotide microarray for detection of single 1 nucleotide polymorphisms associated with drug resistance in Plasmodium 2 falciparum 3 4 ( Running title : Microarray for drug-resistance SNPs in Pf )

Multiplex-PCR and oligonucleotide microarray for detection of single 1 nucleotide polymorphisms associated with drug resistance in Plasmodium 2 falciparum 3 4 (Running title: Microarray for drug-resistance SNPs in Pf) 5 6 Guo Qing Zhang , Ya Yi Guan , Hai Hui Sheng , Bin Zheng , Song Wu , Hua Sheng 7 Xiao , and Lin Hua Tang * 8 9 National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and 10 Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, 207 11 Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China 1 12 13 National Engineering Center for Biochip at Shanghai, 151 Li Bing Road, Pudong, 14 Shanghai 201203, China 2 15 16 * Corresponding author. Mailing address: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese 17 Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 207 Rui Jin Er Road, Shanghai 200025, China. 18 Phone: 86-21-64373359. Fax: 86-21-64332670. E-mail: ipd_sh@163.com. 19 20 AC CE PT ED Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved. J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.00081-08 JCM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 30 April 2008
Enhanced component interfaces to support dynamic adaption and extension

Current component systems offer the possibility to integrate different enterprise systems, e.g., by wrapping legacy components or integrating several object protocols such as RMI, Corba-IIOP, etc. A disadvantage of todays component systems is that the interface descriptions of their component model do not give alone sufficient information to deploy a component correctly and reliably. Therefore the definition of new interface models, which are enhanced by (semantic) applicability information play an important role in enterprise application integration. We describe a new model of software component interfaces, using an extension of finite state machines to describe the protocol to use a component's offered services, and the sequences of calls to external services the component requires to fulfil its offered services. Our model concentrates on protocol issues of interoperability. We present a description of our new interface model and present the algorithms for integration checking, automatic adaption and dynamic extension. These algorithms are implemented in our CoCoNut/J-prototype.
The associations between mast cell infiltration, clinical features and molecular types of invasive breast cancer

Associations between mast cell infiltration and the clinical features and known molecular profile of breast cancer remain unclear. The distribution difference of mast cell was evaluated, in 219 patients with no special type of invasive carcinoma, using sorts of age, max diameter of cancer, histological type, lymph node metastasis as well as the expressions of estrogen receptor (ER), progestogen receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) and nuclear protein Ki67. The mast cell density (MCD) in patients younger than 50 years old was significantly higher than that in patients with age ≥ 50. The MCD in ER or PR positive patients was significantly higher than MCD in ER or PR negative patients. The MCD in patients with Ki67 ≤ 14% was also significantly higher than MDC in patients with Ki67 > 14%. The MCD of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma was significantly higher than MCD of patients with invasive lobular carcinoma. No significant distribution difference of MCD was found to be associated with max diameter of cancer, lymph node metastasis and HER-2. Further analysis found that MDC was significantly higher in patients after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The distribution difference of mast cell widely exists in patients with distinct clinical features, the role of mast cell in breast cancer need further research with detailed and reasonable classification to clarify.
Cardiovascular Management in Pregnancy: Antithrombotic Agents and Antiplatelet Agents

Thrombotic complications of pregnancy are a major cause of morbidity and mortality to the mother and fetus. Pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of maternal death and accounts for 10.3% of all maternal deaths in the United States.1,2 Overall, pregnancy increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) 5-fold, with an additional increase in risk in the postpartum period.3,4 Pregnancy is associated with a hypercoaguable state attributable to relative increases in fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitors, clotting factors VII, VIII, and X, von Willebrand Factor, and platelet adhesion molecules, and relative decreases in protein S activity, as well.5,6 Pregnancy is also a time of dramatic hemodynamic change including a reduction in lower extremity venous flow velocity by up to 50% at the end of the second trimester, which persists until 6 weeks postpartum.7 Recommendations for thrombosis prevention and anticoagulation in pregnant women are derived largely from algorithms from the nonpregnant population. We review the use of both older and new anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications during pregnancy and highlight their clinical utility in conditions including VTE, thrombophilias, mechanical heart valves, antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and placental abruption. ### Vitamin K Antagonists #### Warfarin Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist that easily crosses the placenta.8 Exposure in the first trimester is associated with warfarin embryopathy characterized by nasal bone hypoplasia and stippled epiphyses.9 Case series of pregnant women taking warfarin in the setting of mechanical heart valves found warfarin embryopathy rates of 5.6% and 6.4%, respectively.10,11 Warfarin use in the second and third trimester is associated with possible neurological sequelae including seizures, developmental delay, and hypotonia in the developing fetus attributable to intracranial microhemorrhages.12 Increased fetal risk for hemorrhage has been attributed to the greater affinity of albumin for bilirubin …
Simulation and Application of Top Lance with Various Tilt Angles in Dephosphorization Ladle Furnace

Phosphorus is known as embrittlement prone during heat treatment and to decrease the ductility of steel. For petroleum pipeline, cryogenic vessel, marine and automobile exterior,1,2) lowering phosphorus content in steel is a critical requirement. Dephosphorization is an optional oxidation process of phosphorus and carbon. Considering the thermodynamic condition of the dephosphorization reaction,3–5) the temperature of molten bath should be low and carbon– oxygen reaction should be restrained. The key to dephosphorization operation is to attain P contents as close to equilibrium as possible and strengthen the stirring effects of dephosphorization. Many researchers3–7) had reported previous works on removing phosphorus from liquid iron and there were several methods8–12) to remove phosphorus to produce low phosphorus steel. In particular, Healy,3) in 1970, published the formula (Eq. (1)) very often referred to the calculation of equilibrium phosphorus partition ratio involving phosphorus partition ratio, lime, and iron contents in slag and temperature. Simulation and Application of Top Lance with Various Tilt Angles in Dephosphorization Ladle Furnace
Realization of nonuniformity correction of LED display panel based on FPGA

Aiming at the problem of high non-uniformity of the LED (Light Emitting Diode) display images caused by gradation distortion appearing in the process of modules splicing into a LED display panel, we can obtain a correction matrix when one module has only one pixel point, by means of analyzing the gray level matrix of LED display images theoretic ally. This paper provides a novel design method and system structure of non-uniformity correction using a Look-Up-Table technology based on FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). After designing how to realize the function of non-uniformity correction in the inner FPGA, we simulate the proposed method in the Quartus Π. The results of simulation show that the proposed correction method and system based on FPGA can reduce the non-uniformity of LED display images.
Energetic Charged Particles in Saturn's Magnetosphere: Voyager 2 Results

Results from the cosmic-ray system on Voyager 2 in Saturn's magnetosphere are presented. During the inbound pass through the outer magnetosphere, the ≥ 0.43-million-electron-volt proton flux was more intense, and both the proton and electron fluxes were more variable, than previously observed. These changes are attributed to the influence on the magnetosphere of variations in the solar wind conditions. Outbound, beyond 18 Saturn radii, impulsive bursts of 0.14- to > 1.0- million-electron-volt electrons were observed. In the inner magnetosphere, the charged particle absorption signatures of Mimas, Enceladus, and Tethys are used to constrain the possible tilt and offset of Saturn's internal magnetic dipole. At ∼ 3 Saturn radii, a transient decrease was observed in the electron flux which was not due to Mimas. Characteristics of this decrease suggest the existence of additional material, perhaps another satellite, in the orbit of Mimas.
Biotemplating arrays of nanomagnets using the biomineralisation protein Mms6

High quality magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are used in applications such as electronic data storage. Current methods for synthesising the consistent MNPs required use high temperatures, harsh chemicals and bespoke equipment. As this is energy intensive, expensive and not very environmentally friendly, cheaper and „greener‟ alternatives are being sought. Mms6 is a biomineralisation protein from a magnetic bacterium (Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1), which is able to biotemplate the formation of uniform cubo-octahedral magnetite nanoparticles in vitro under mild reaction conditions. The N-terminal section is hydrophobic, and may cause the protein to self-assemble in aqueous solution. This self-assembly may facilitate the biotemplating ability of the protein, but it is the acidic C-terminal section of the protein that is the most important for binding iron and templating uniform MNPs. Attachment of Mms6 via the N-terminus to a micro-contact printed (μCP) patterned self-assembled monolayer (SAM) allows the protein to biotemplate uniform, ferrimagnetic magnetite MNPs in situ. These biotemplated MNPs were investigated with magnetic force microscopy (MFM), which found that they form multi-particle zones of attraction and repulsion. This is likely to be due to exchange-coupling of MNPs on the surface, with the long-axis of these magnetic features running parallel to the long axis of the assembly of patterned nanoparticles. As magnetite is magnetically soft, the system was doped with cobalt to increase the coercivity of the MNPs, both when templated onto a surface and in a bulk solution. To create biotemplated MNPs for use in data storage, a high coercivity is necessary to ensure that the magnetic orientation, and therefore the data recorded, is retained. The work presented here demonstrates that biotemplating can be used to produce high quality magnetic materials under far milder conditions than required in current industrial synthesis techniques, which should allow the development of more environmentally friendly bioinspired devices in the future.
Morphology of Polymers - Development of Electron Microscopy Methods

Most polymeric materials used today are not simple homopolymers, but consist of more than one polymer, which lead to morphologies of different length scale and shape. It is important to receive knowledge of the morphologies because the properties of the materials change depending on the structure. This thesis describes methods developed to study polymer morphologies by electron microscopy and also how to make a correct interpretation of the result. TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) are described for studying morphologies in PVC (polyvinyl chloride) resin, polymer blends, compatibilizer in polymer blends, latex particles, latex films and bitumen/polymer blends. Following polymer blends were studied: Carbon black filled NBR/EPDM (nitril butadiene rubber/ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer), PP/PA (polypropylene/polyamid) Modified with SEBS-MA (polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-stat-butylene)-block-polystyrene) modified by grafting with maleic anhydride, PS/PA (polystyrene/polyamide) compatibilized by a PS/PEO (polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide)) grafted compatibilizer. Waterborne two-phase latexs are used as binding material in paints, adhesives, paper and other coatings. Methods to examine the morphology of the particles and the films in TEM were developed and PS/PMMA (polystyrene/poly(methacrylate)) and PS/PI (polystyrene/polyisoprene) was studied. Bitumen roofing material is improved by mixing the bitumen with polymers. The morphology of bitumen/SBS (polystyrene-block-butadien) was studied by fluorescence microscope, SEM and TEM and the results were compared. (Less)
Quantum State Smoothing.

Smoothing is an estimation method whereby a classical state (probability distribution for classical variables) at a given time is conditioned on all-time (both earlier and later) observations. Here we define a smoothed quantum state for a partially monitored open quantum system, conditioned on an all-time monitoring-derived record. We calculate the smoothed distribution for a hypothetical unobserved record which, when added to the real record, would complete the monitoring, yielding a pure-state "quantum trajectory. " Averaging the pure state over this smoothed distribution yields the (mixed) smoothed quantum state. We study how the choice of actual unraveling affects the purity increase over that of the conventional (filtered) state conditioned only on the past record.
Procaine, lidocaine, and hypothermia inhibit calcium paradox in glial cells.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of local anesthetics (lidocaine and procaine) and hypothermic perfusion on Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity during reperfusion-induced calcium paradox in vitro. Hypothetically, this work provides a mechanism for reperfusion paradox injury in vitro that may relate to a variety of ischemic insults in vivo. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in individual cells was measured using a fura-2 photometry system during protocols previously shown to dramatically and persistently increase [Ca2+]i in a manner that replicates certain phases of reperfusion injury in vivo. Our results suggest that short (< 5.0 min) exposure to hypocalcia prompts subsequent, potentially lethal, sodium-dependent calcium entry via the reverse phase of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The local anesthetics lidocaine or procaine are able to block [Ca2+]i increases when added at the time of reperfusion. Furthermore, since [Ca2+]i is normally increased when local anesthetics are added by themselves, the results suggest that local anesthetics promote the forward mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchange (i.e., Na-dependent calcium removal) in addition to reverse Na+/Ca2+ exchanger blockade. Low temperature (18 degrees C) perfusion or reperfusion also affects exchanger dynamics and attenuates calcium entry during such protocols. These experiments further implicate the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in reperfusion-mediated cell injury and provide potential ways to therapeutically modify such phenomena in vivo.
The Kinetics of Static Recrystallization in Microalloyed Hypereutectoid Steels

Compression tests were conducted in order to study the static recrystallization kinetics of hot deformed austenite in hypereutectoid steels containing 1 % carbon with different levels of vanadium and silicon. Tests were performed over a temperature range of 875 to 1 100°C using strain rates of 0.01, 0.1 and 1 s -1 . Graphs of the recrystallized fraction versus time were used to quantify the kinetics of the strain-induced precipitation and generate the precipitation temperature time diagrams for the three steels. A kinetic model for static recrystallization is proposed which takes the V and Si concentrations into account.
Aircraft control based on fast non-linear MPC & multiple-shooting

For extreme maneuvers, feasible flight trajectories can be difficult to compute. If the aircraft is controlled based on linear approximations of the system dynamics that are computed along infeasible trajectories, poor control actions and violations of the flight envelope constraints can result. This paper proposes a Non-linear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) approach, to handle extreme maneuvers, respect the flight envelope, handle actuator failure, and perform emergency obstacle avoidance with a single, non-hierarchical controller that can be implemented in real time.
The BioCAT Microprobe for X-Ray Fluorescence Imaging, MicroXAFS and Microdiffraction Studies on Biological Samples

Microbeam capabilities have been recently added to the Biophysics Collaborative Access Team (BioCAT) beamline 18-ID at the Advanced Photon Source to allow x-ray elemental mapping, micro x-ray absorption fine structure and microdiffraction studies on biological samples. The microprobe setup comprises a pair of platinum coated silicon KB mirrors; a sample holder mounted in a high precision positioner (100 nm accuracy); fluorescence detectors including a Si drift detector, Fe and Zn Bent Laue analyzers and a Ge detector; and a CCD detector for micro-diffraction experiments. The energy range of the microprobe is from 3.5 keV up to 17 keV. The fast scanning capabilities of the Bio-CAT beamline facilitate rapid acquisition of x-ray elemental images and micro-XAFS spectra. This paper reports the results of commissioning the KB mirror system and its performance in initial x-ray fluorescence mapping and micro-diffraction studies.
INDEPENDENT COMPONENT ANALYSIS WITH SEVERAL MIXING MATRICES Wakako Hashimoto Lab

A new algorithm is proposed for the variation of independent component analysis (ICA) in which there are several mixing matrices and, for each set of independent components, one of the matrices is randomly chosen to mix the components. The algorithm utilizes high-order moments and can obtain consistent estimators even if the true probability density function of independent components is not obtained. The effectiveness of our algorithm is verified by a numerical experiment. This method can be used to analyze a class of data generated overcompletely, and to classify data in an unsupervised manner.