Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drug-resistant HIV-1 in sub-Saharan Africa : clinical and public health studies Hamers

Access to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for persons infected with HIV in subSaharan Africa has greatly improved over the past few years. However, data on long-term clinical outcomes of Africans receiving ART, patterns of HIV resistance to antiretroviral drugs and implications of HIV type-1 (HIV-1) subtype diversity in Africa for resistance, are limited. In resource-limited settings, concerns have been raised that deficiencies in health systems could create the conditions for accelerated development of resistance. Coordinated surveillance systems are being established to assess the emergence of resistance and the factors associated with resistance development, and to create the possibility for adjusting treatment guidelines as necessary. The purpose of this report is to review the literature on HIV-1 resistance to antiretroviral drugs in sub-Saharan Africa, in relation to the drug regimens used in Africa, HIV-1 subtype diversity and overall prevalence of resistance. The report focuses on resistance associated with treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and transmitted resistance. It also outlines priorities for public health action and research. Review of HIV drug resistance in Africa 29
The Conquest of South American Inflation

We infer determinants of Latin American hyperinflations and stabilizations by using the method of maximum likelihood to estimate a hidden Markov model that assigns roles both to fundamentals in the form of government deficits that are financed by money creation and to destabilizing expectations dynamics that can occasionally divorce inflation from fundamentals. Levels and conditional volatilities of monetized deficits drove most hyperinflations and stabilizations, with a notable exception in Peru, where a cosmetic reform of the type emphasized by Marcet and Nicolini occurred.
THE CONQUEST OF SOUTH AMERICAN INFLATION

We infer determinants of Latin American hyperinflations and stabilizations by using the method of maximum likelihood to estimate a hidden Markov model that potentially assigns roles both to fundamentals in the form of government deficits that are financed by money creation and to destabilizing expectations dynamics that can occasionally divorce inflation from fundamentals. Our maximum likelihood estimates allow us to interpret observed inflation rates in terms of variations in the deficits, sequences of shocks that trigger temporary episodes of expectations driven hyperinflations, and occasional superficial reforms that cut inflation without reforming deficits. Our estimates also allow us to infer the deficit adjustments that seem to have permanently stabilized inflation processes. Perhaps the simple rational expectations assumption is at fault here, for it is difficult to believe that economic agents in the hyperinflations understood the dynamic processes in which they were participating without undergoing some learning process that would be the equivalent of adaptive expectations. Stanley Fischer, 1987 Date: August 19, 2006. This paper has benefited from help and encouragement of many people. We thank Eduardo Ganapolsky, Karsten Jeske, Albert Marcet, David Romer, and especially Christopher Sims, Dan Waggoner, and Michael Woodford for helpful discussions. Sagiri Kitao, Tomasz Piskorski, and Demian Pouzo provided their outstanding research assistance; Namgeun Jeong and Eric Wang provided indispensable assistance on clustering and parallel computing in the Linux operating system. We acknowledge the technical support of the Computing College of Georgia Institute of Technology on grid computation techniques. Finally, we thank Mike Chriszt, Jose Ricardo, Diego Vilan, and Elena Whisler for their help with both collecting the data and understanding institutional details. Sargent thanks the National Science Foundation for research support. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or the Federal Reserve System. 1 THE CONQUEST OF SOUTH AMERICAN INFLATION 2 The Larida proposal starts from the premise that indexation, not monetized deficits, is the cause of inflation, and I share that view completely. Money creation, and more importantly, rising velocity because of monetary deregulation, are at best the air in the tires; indexation is decidedly the engine of inflation. Rudiger Dornbusch, 1985
The Liquidation of Government Debt

High public debt often produces the drama of default and restructuring. But debt is also reduced through financial repression, a tax on bondholders and savers via negative or below market real interest rates. After WWII, capital controls and regulatory restrictions created a captive audience for government debt, limiting tax-base erosion. Financial repression is most successful in liquidating debt when accompanied by inflation. For the advanced economies, real interest rates were negative ½ of the time during 1945–1980. Average annual interest expense savings for a 12-country sample range from about 1 to 5 percent of GDP for the full1945–1980 period. We suggest that, once again, financial repression may be part of the toolkit deployed to cope with the most recent surge in public debt in advanced economies.
The Effect of Implicit Contracts on the Movement of Wages Over the Business Cycle: Evidence from Micro Data

In this paper we address the question of whether wages are affected by labor market conditions in a manner more consistent with a contract approach than with a standard spot market model. From a simple implicit contract model, we derive implications about the links between wages and past labor market conditions. Using individual data from the Current Population Survey and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we find that an implicit contract model with costless mobility describes these links better than either a simple spot market model or an implicit contract model with costly mobility.
The content and bioaccessibility of carotenoids from selected commercially available health supplements

The potential health benefits of algae and wheatgrass, due to their vitamins, amino acids, minerals, carotenoids and other bioactive compounds, have been widely reported. Chlorella (Chlorella) are single-celled green algae and kelp (Laminaria) are multi-celled brown algae. Spirulina (Arthrospira) are a genus of green–blue cyanobacteria of which the species Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima are utilised as a food supplement. Wheatgrass is obtained from the common wheat Triticum aestivum. The aims of the present study were to measure the content and bioaccessibility of carotenoids from chlorella, kelp, spirulina and wheatgrass supplements. The supplements were purchased in a local health food store. Each supplement was weighed (2 g), homogenised and then subjected to in-vitro digestion to simulate the human gastric and intestinal digestion system. Subsequently, the micelle fractions of the digested material were isolated via ultracentrifugation. Both the undigested and digested samples were saponified and the carotenoid fraction was extracted using hexane. HPLC was used to quantify the carotenoid content of the supplements.
Verteporfin photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal triamcinolone for choroidal neovascularization due to angioid streaks

Purpose: To report the visual outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to angioid streaks (AS). Methods: Five eyes of five consecutive patients (mean age 45 ± 10 years) with CNV secondary to AS were treated by combination of PDT and IVTA. TA (4 mg/0.1 mL) was injected 7 days before PDT. Results: All patients completed the 12-month follow-up. CNV was subfoveal in three cases and extrafoveal in two. Median best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.3 LogMAR (70 letters) at baseline (range 1.3–0.1), and 0.5 LogMAR (60 letters) at the final examination (range 1.0–0.1). At 12 months, one patient had severe visual deterioration, with a loss of seven lines of VA; Two patients lost up to three lines. One patient had no change in BCVA and the fifth gained nine lines of VA. Two patients received one further combination of PDT and IVTA after the first combination treatment. All eyes showed the CNV closure at the 12-month follow-up visit. Conclusions: Combination of PDT and IVTA may reduce the need for retreatment and could be potentially useful for preserving vision in some patients with CNV due to AS.
23. JURASSIC TO PALEOCENE PALEOLATITUDES OF THE PACIFIC PLATE DERIVED FROM THE PALEOMAGNETISM OF THE SEDIMENTARY SEQUENCES AT SITES 800, 801, AND 8021

The remanent magnetizations contained in the three sedimentary sections recovered by Leg 129 are of relatively strong intensities and have notably minor amounts of secondary magnetization. Both alternating field and thermal demagnetization techniques readily separate magnetization components, resulting in remanent directions that are exceptionally single component at the higher stages of demagnetizati on. In all types of lithology, the magnetization is carried by a mineral with blocking temperatures below 570°C, presumably a member of the titanomagnetite series. The resulting inclinations are generally very consistent among samples from the same time periods. Substantially incomplete recovery at each site, a result of the disruptive effect on coring and recovery in mixed sediments of chert interspersed with calcareous and clayey sediments, prevented reconstruction of complete magnetostratigraphic records from these sedimentary sequences. The inclination records from the three holes provide a relatively continuous history of the paleolatitudinal motion of the oldest portion of the Pacific plate from the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous to the Callovian/Bathonian boundary of the Middle Jurassic; data of somewhat lessor quality were also obtained for the early Miocene through Paleocene. All data indicate that this embryonic portion of the Pacific plate was in southern paleolatitudes from the Middle Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous and probably crossed the equator between the Turonian and the late Paleocene. These data suggest that during the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous, the plate was never too far from the equator, varying between about 20°S and equatorial latitudes. If the phenomenon of inclination error is operative in these sediments, as has been claimed for many oceanic sediments, then obviously the plate was at higher southern latitudes than indicated by these data. However, qualitative estimates of paleolatitudes from nannofossil abundances (Erba, this volume) indicate paleolatitudes quite similar to those calculated from the remanent inclinations. Moreover, calculations of expected inclination error from published analyses result in paleolatitudes much farther south than predicted by Seamount paleopoles or magnetic anomaly skewness. Therefore, the paleolatitudes determined from the inclinations recorded in the sediments of this study may represent approximately the true paleopositions of the Pacific plate.
Louis Working Paper Series Externalities , Endogenous Productivity , and Poverty Traps

We present a version of the neoclassical model with an endogenous industry structure. We construct a distribution of rmsproductivity that implies multiple steady-state equilibria even with an arbitrarily small degree of increasing returns to scale. While the most productive rms operate across all the steady states, in a poverty trap less productive rms operate as well. This results in lower average rm productivity and total factor productivity. The distributions of employment by rm size across steady states are consistent with the empirical observation that poor countries have a higher fraction of employment in small rms than rich countries. Di¤erences in output and total factor productivity across steady states are increasing in the degree of returns to scale, the capital share, and the Frisch elasticity of labor supply. JEL: L16, O11, O33, O40
Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks

Individual preparedness is an important element of our nation's strategy for homeland security. This report provides a rigorous way to identify actions individuals can take to protect their health and safety. The authors detail a prospective individual's strategy across four types of terrorist attacks-chemical, radiological, nuclear, and biological-consisting of overarching goals and simple responses and preparations. The actions are designed to be sensitive to potential variations and defined in terms of simple rules that should be easy for individuals to adopt.
The Role of Information in the Take-Up of Student Loans

We study student loan behavior in the Netherlands where (i) higher education students know little about the conditions of the government's financial aid program and (ii) take-up rates are low. In a field experiment we manipulated the amount of information students have about these conditions. The treatment has no impact on loan take-up, which is not due to students already having decided to take a loan or students not absorbing the information. We conclude that a lack of knowledge about specific policy parameters does not necessarily imply a binding information constraint.
Improving algorithms and uncertainty estimates for satellite NO 2 retrievals : Results from the Quality Assurance for Essential Climate Variables ( QA 4 ECV ) project

Global observations of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) columns have been shown to be feasible from space, but consistent multi-sensor records do not yet exist, nor are they covered by planned activities on the international level. Harmonised, multi-decadal records of NO2 columns and their associated uncertainties can provide crucial information how the emissions and concentrations of nitrogen oxides evolve over time. Here we describe the development of a new, community best practice 25 NO2 retrieval algorithm based on a synthesis of existing approaches. Detailed comparisons of these approaches led us to implement an enhanced spectral fitting method for NO2, a 1°×1° TM5-MP data
Edge-on Low Surface Brightness Galaxies in the SDSS and the Red Halo Phenomenon

Abstract Extremely red halos have been detected around high surface brightness (HSB) disk galaxies and blue compact galaxies. We analyse the halo emission of a sample of 970 stacked edge-on low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies in the SDSS (DR4) down to μg ~ 30 mag arcsec−2. These are divided by g − r colour limits into a “blue” Sample A (336 galaxies), “yellow” Sample B (318 galaxies) and “red” Sample C (316 galaxies). The gri colours indicate a prominent red excess in the polar direction, strongly deviating from any normal stellar population.
Gabapentin for the Symptomatic Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Late-Stage Lyme Borreliosis: A Pilot Study

Background: Chronic neuropathic pain occurs in 10–15% of patients with neuroborreliosis and is difficult to treat. Objective: We evaluated the effect of gabapentin monotherapy on residual pain in patients with neuroborreliosis after intravenous ceftriaxone treatment. Methods: Ten patients with neuroborreliosis and a long-lasting history of neurologic symptoms were treated with gabapentin, starting with 300 mg/day. Doses were raised over a period of 4–12 weeks to the individually effective and tolerated maximum dose (500–1,200 mg). Treatment was maintained until pain disappeared and then gradually reduced in dose over weeks. If symptoms recurred, the doses were raised again. Therapy was maintained over an average of 1–2 years. Results: Pain quality and pain quantity were evaluated using the McGill pain questionnaire and a visual analogue scale. There was an improvement of ‘crawling’ and ‘burning’ pain sensations, neck and radiating lumbar pain in 9/10 (90%) patients as well as a positive effect on mood, general feeling of health and quality of sleep in 5/10 (50%) patients. The average dose leading to a clear-cut pain reduction was 700 mg. Conclusions: In an open pilot study (10 patients), gabapentin monotherapy which has to our knowledge not been published as treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in patients with late Lyme borreliosis is efficacious in treating pain associated with neuroborreliosis and can thus improve quality of life in these patients.
Interactive comment on “ Quantifying atmospheric nitrate formation pathways based on a global model of the oxygen isotopic composition ( ∆ 17 O ) of atmospheric nitrate ” by B

Alexander et al. (2009a) have carried out the first global-scale simulation of the isotope anomaly (∆17O) of atmospheric nitrate. Following-up several box-model assessments of the causes of the variations of ∆17O in atmospheric nitrate (e.g. Michalski et al., 2003; Morin et al., 2008), this work at the global scale represents a landmark in this rapidly growing scientific field, and is most likely to set the stage for subsequent studies on this topic. ∆17O of atmospheric nitrate is believed to be a powerful tracer of
An Exotic Eclogite/Blueschist Slice in a Barrovian Style Metamorphic Terrain, Alanya Nappes, Southern Turkey

A 600 m thick, more than 40 km long slice of eclogite fades rocks, called the Sugozu Nappe, occurs in the Alanya area, southern Turkey, sandwiched between two other crystalline nappes which do not show HP/Lrmetamorphism. All three nappes were affected by a later Barrovian-type metamorphism and penetrative deformation which welded the nappes into a single tectonic unit The Sugozu Nappe consists predominantly of garnet-mica schists with lenses of eclogite and blueschist metabasites. The mineral assemblage in the eclogites, garnet + omphacite + glaucophane + paragonite + quartz + phengite + rutile, is estimated to have formed at 13-5± 1-5 kb and 510±25cC. The eclogite assemblage is variably overprinted by a later Barrovian metamorphism with the development of barroisite, chlorite, and albite. The extent of the Barrovian overprint was controlled by the supply of fluid to the rocks. The Barrovian metamorphism increases in grade downwards in the structural sequence; biotite and garnet isograds are mapped in the lowermost Mahmutlar Nappe, made up mostly of metapelites and metapsammites. The metapelites in the garnet zone consist of garnet + biotite + chlorite + muscovite + albite + oligoclase + quartz + ilmenite; metamorphic conditions are estimated as 6-5 ± 10 kb and 469±13°C. The HP/L7* rocks of the Sugozu Nappe underwent a cooling of about 100 °C during a dry uplift from a depth of about 48 km to 21 km where they were intercalated with the other nappes, and affected by a Barrovian metamorphism caused by the incoming fluids. The case of the Alanya Nappes illustrates that the Barrovian overprint observed in many eclogites and blueschists may not be due to increasing temperature during uplift, but simply due to the introduction of a fluid phase during part of the uplift P-T path.
A Survey of microbial contamination in Traditional Cheese distributed in Markazi Province in 2010

Background and aim: Traditional cheese has a special place in the diets of our community because of cultural, favorite taste, odor and its nutritional values as an important protein source. However, its pathogenic infection can endanger the human being health and cause serious economic losses. The aim of this study was measurement and determination of microbial infection in traditional cheese distributed in Markazi province in 2010. Material and methods: Markazi Province was divided into 10 districts; eight sample were chosen from each district at summer, 2011. Samples were transferred to the laboratory under sterile conditions and were analyzed by microbiological tests. The data were analyzed statistically by T-test using SAS software. Results: The results indicated that all of samples had coliform, staphylococcus aurous, mold, and yeast contamination greater than Iranian standards (P<0.001). It was found that 34 percent of the samples had E.coli contamination; moreover, 24 and 8 percent of samples had Coagulase-positive staphylococcal and salmonella contamination respectively. Conclusion: These results indicate a notable contamination of traditional cheese with microbial infection in Markazi province.
The Financial Crisis and the Policy Responses: An Empirical Analysis of What Went Wrong

This paper is an empirical investigation of the role of government actions and interventions in the financial crisis that flared up in August 2007. It integrates and summarizes several ongoing empirical research projects with the aim of learning from past policy. The evidence is presented in a series of charts which are backed up by statistical analysis in these research projects.
The Financial Center Leverage Cycle: Does it Spread Around the World?

With a novel database, we examine the evolution of capital flows since the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in the early 1970s. We decompose capital flows into global, regional, and idiosyncratic factors. In contrast to previous findings, which mostly use data from the 2000s, we find that booms and busts in capital flows are mainly explained by regional factors and not the global factor. We link leverage in the financial center to regional capital flows and the cost of borrowing in international capital markets to examine the drivers of capital flow bonanzas and busts.
Hydrological response of a Brazilian semi‐arid catchment to different land use and climate change scenarios: a modelling study

Brazilian semi‐arid regions are characterized by water scarcity, vulnerability to desertification, and climate variability. The investigation of hydrological processes in this region is of major interest not only for water planning strategies but also to address the possible impact of future climate and land‐use changes on water resources. A hydrological distributed catchment‐scale model (DiCaSM) has been applied to simulate hydrological processes in a small representative catchment of the Brazilian northeast semi‐arid region, and also to investigate the impact of climate and land‐use changes, as well as changes associated with biofuel/energy crops production. The catchment is part of the Brazilian network for semi‐arid hydrology, established by the Brazilian Federal Government. Estimating and modelling streamflow (STF) and recharge in semi‐arid areas is a challenging task, mainly because of limitation in in situ measurements, and also due to the local nature of some processes. Direct recharge measurements are very difficult in semi‐arid catchments and contain a high level of uncertainty. The latter is usually addressed by short‐ and long‐time‐scale calibration and validation at catchment scale, as well as by examining the model sensitivity to the physical parameters responsible for the recharge. The DiCaSM model was run from 2000 to 2008, and streamflow was successfully simulated, with a Nash–Sutcliffe (NS) efficiency coefficient of 0·73, and R2 of 0·79. On the basis of a range of climate change scenarios for the region, the DiCaSM model forecasted a reduction by 35%, 68%, and 77%, in groundwater recharge (GWR), and by 34%, 65%, and 72%, in streamflow, for the time spans 2010–2039, 2040–2069, and 2070–2099, respectively, could take place for a dry future climate scenario. These reductions would produce severe impact on water availability in the region. Introducing castor beans to the catchment would increase the GWR and streamflow, mainly if the caatinga areas would be converted into castor beans production. Changing an area of 1000 ha from caatinga to castor beans would increase the GWR by 46% and streamflow by 3%. If the same area of pasture is converted into castor beans, there would be an increase in GWR and streamflow by 24% and 5%, respectively. Such results are expected to contribute towards environmental policies for north‐east Brazil (NEB), and to biofuel production perspectives in the region. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.