Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuraminidase Inhibitor-Resistant Recombinant A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) Influenza Viruses Retain Their Replication Efficiency and Pathogenicity In Vitro and In Vivo

ABSTRACT Effective antiviral drugs are essential for early control of an influenza pandemic. It is therefore crucial to evaluate the possible threat posed by neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor-resistant influenza viruses with pandemic potential. Four NA mutations (E119G, H274Y, R292K, and N294S) that have been reported to confer resistance to NA inhibitors were each introduced into recombinant A/Vietnam/1203/04 (VN1203) H5N1 influenza virus. For comparison, the same mutations were introduced into recombinant A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) H1N1 influenza virus. The E119G and R292K mutations significantly compromised viral growth in vitro, but the H274Y and N294S mutations were stably maintained in VN1203 and PR8 viruses. In both backgrounds, the H274Y and N294S mutations conferred resistance to oseltamivir carboxylate (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] increases, >250-fold and >20-fold, respectively), and the N294S mutation reduced susceptibility to zanamivir (IC50 increase, >3.0-fold). Although the H274Y and N294S mutations did not compromise the replication efficiency of VN1203 or PR8 viruses in vitro, these mutations slightly reduced the lethality of PR8 virus in mice. However, the VN1203 virus carrying either the H274Y or N294S mutation exhibited lethality similar to that of the wild-type VN1203 virus. The different enzyme kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) of avian-like VN1203 NA and human-like PR8 NA suggest that resistance-associated NA mutations can cause different levels of functional loss in NA glycoproteins of the same subtype. Our results suggest that NA inhibitor-resistant H5N1 variants may retain the high pathogenicity of the wild-type virus in mammalian species. Patients receiving NA inhibitors for H5N1 influenza virus infection should be closely monitored for the emergence of resistant variants.
Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F Treatment for Idiopathic Refractory Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) is a Chinese herbal medicine with immunosuppressive effects and an established history of use in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We have carried out a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs which assessed the effectiveness of TwHF in the treatment for idiopathic refractory nephrotic syndrome (IRNS). After reading the full text, only three RCTs or quasi-RCTs meeting our inclusion criteria were selected. Our meta-analysis indicated that TwHF has beneficial effects on the remission of IRNS. There was no significant publication bias in the meta-analysis studies. However, studies with a larger sample size and including patients with both a mild and severe histopathological change involvement separately are needed to assess the effects of TwHF in IRNS patients before exact conclusions can be drawn.
Feeder Cells at the Interface of Natural Killer Cell Activation, Expansion and Gene Editing

Genome engineered natural killer (NK) cell therapies are emerging as a promising cancer immunotherapy platform with potential advantages and remaining uncertainties. Feeder cells induce activation and proliferation of NK cells via cell surface receptor-ligand interactions, supported by cytokines. Feeder cell expanded NK cell products have supported several NK cell adoptive transfer clinical trials over the past decade. Genome engineered NK cell therapies, including CAR-NK cells, seek to combine innate and alloreactive NK cell anti-tumor activity with antigen specific targeting or additional modifications aimed at improving NK cell persistence, homing or effector function. The profound activating and expansion stimulus provided by feeder cells is integral to current applications of clinical-scale genome engineering approaches in donor-derived, primary NK cells. Herein we explore the complex interactions that exist between feeder cells and both viral and emerging non-viral genome editing technologies in NK cell engineering. We focus on two established clinical-grade feeder systems; Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines and genetically engineered K562.mbIL21. 4-1BBL feeder cells.
Mass univariate testing biases the detection of interaction effects in whole-brain analysis of variance

Whole-brain analysis of variance (ANOVA) is a common analytic approach in cognitive neuroscience. Researchers are often interested in exploring whether brain activity reflects to the interaction of two factors. Disordinal interactions — where there is a reversal of the effect of one independent variable at a level of a second independent variable — are common in the literature. It is well established in power-analyses of factorial ANOVAs that certain patterns of interactions, such as disordinal (e.g., cross-over interactions) require less power than others to detect. This fact, combined with the perils of mass univariate testing suggests that testing for interactions in whole-brain ANOVAs, may be biased towards the detection of disordinal interactions. Here, we report on a series of simulated analysis --including whole-brain fMRI data using realistic multi-source noise parameters-- that demonstrate a bias towards the detection of disordinal interactions in mass-univariate contexts. Moreover, results of these simulations indicated that spurious disordinal interactions are found at common thresholds and cluster sizes at the group level. Moreover, simulations based on implanting true ordinal interaction effects can nevertheless appear like crossover effects at realistic levels of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when performing mass univariate testing at the whole-brain level, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions when interpreted as is. Simulations of varying sample sizes and SNR levels show that this bias is driven primarily by SNR and larger sample sizes do little to ameliorate this issue. Together, the results of these simulations argue for caution when searching for ordinal interactions in whole-brain ANOVA.
Noticeable or Distractive?: A Design Space for Gaze-Contingent User Interface Notifications

Users are interrupted by an ever-increasing number of notifications, ranging from error messages, over new email or chat alerts, to advertisement pop-ups. We explore gaze-contingent user interfaces notifications that are shown depending on users' current gaze location. Specifically, we evaluate how different design properties influence notification noticeability and distractiveness. We measure noticeability quantitatively by analyzing participants' performance in confirming notifications and distractiveness using a questionnaire. Based on a 12-participant user study on a public display, we show that each of these properties affects noticeability and distractiveness differently and that the properties, in turn, allow for fine-grained optimization of notification display. These findings inform the design of future attentive user interfaces that could optimize the trade-off between, for example, the notification importance and the cost of interruption.
Estimating the Impact of Leadership Styles on Knowledge Management Application Strategies

This study analysed the influences of leadership st yles on knowledge management application strategies from the perspective of managers and employees working at five stars hotels located in the capital of Jordan- A mman, the results of the study indicate that the majority of managers heavily adopted a combination of telling a nd selling as leadership styles and they rarely used the delegati ng leadership style in their attempt to apply knowl edge management strategies. From the employees perspective knowledge management application strategies implies that ma nagers should be capable for allowing to employees to dete rmine their own organizational objectives because t hey are know more about their jobs than mangers, so it should al low to employees to carry out the decisions to do t heir jobs.
Imaging of back pain in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE To present the imaging findings of the wide spectrum of musculoskeletal diseases causing back pain in children and adolescents. DISCUSSION Back pain in children is a rare condition but may denote a serious health problem; hence, full clinical history, physical examination, and appropriate laboratory studies should be obtained. In this scientific exhibit, we present the imaging findings of the variable musculoskeletal diseases that are associated with back pain in children and adolescents. These disease processes include scoliosis of various causes; spondylolysis; spondylolisthesis; traumatic injuries; disc degeneration and herniation; Scheuermann's disease; spondylodiscitis; tumors (primary, secondary, hematogenous); and miscellaneous conditions (eg, metabolic disorders, sickle cell disease, osteoporosis). CONCLUSION A wide spectrum of diseases causing back pain in children is presented. Radiologists should be aware of the imaging findings of this rather uncommon entity to help in reaching the appropriate diagnosis.
Feature Selective Validation applied to the comparison of calibration data

This paper presents an alternative application of the Feature Selective Validation (FSV) for comparing metrological data such as those coming from calibration certificates, standard references and historical records of intermediate verifications. Through the examples developed in this work, it is shown how the FSV method can be used to study the drift of the characteristic response of a measuring device, transducer or accessory, allowing identifying when the deviations observed are unacceptable requiring performing adjustments within the measurement chain. This approach can also be used to measure the improvement on a calibration method or of an specific condition of it.
Mass Detection in Digital Mammograms System Based on PSO Algorithm

For the early detection of breast cancer, radio logists often rely on their experiences and read mammograms with the naked eye. This method of detection, however, leaves many breast cancer lesions undetected. In this article, we discuss the development of a new technology, which identifies masses in mammograms. This technology is able to mark the positions of possible masses, allowing further assessment by the radiologists and effectively increasing the rate of correct diagnosis of breast cancer. Because masses in mammograms present themselves as low frequency signals, we have established the following steps for detecting them: Firstly, the original image undergoes wavelet transformation and enhances the mass signals before being inverse-transformed backward to an image, an image with enhanced processes would make masses easier to discern. Second, possible masses are identified and positioned using particle swarm optimization, PSO. Mammograms used in this study were sourced from the Mammographic Image Analysis Society (MIAS) database in Europe. Experimental results show that a detection rate of 94.44% or higher can be achieved using this method, hence improved accuracy in breast cancer lesion detection.
Cautious Use of Intrathecal Baclofen in Walking Spastic Patients: Results on Long‐term Follow‐up

Intrathecal baclofen is presently the most effective treatment for diffuse spasticity whatever the cause. The fact that both spasticity is always accompanied by a degree of muscle weakness and that any antispastic treatment causes a decrease in muscle strength indicate that major attention must be paid in treating spasticity in ambulant patients.
Teoria do comportamento planejado decomposto: determinantes de utilização do serviço mobile banking

This work has brought about the understanding of background that explains the intention of the bank clients accepting mobile banking - the self-service banking that is done by using a mobile channel - as a new way of interaction with the banks. In achieving this objective, it has developed a conceptual mark in respect of the advances in the information technology's field in the banking sector. Furthermore, it has been showed some patterns that explain the behaviour of the consumers in the using of innovation. Beyond the showed patterns, it has been chosen to be tested the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (TAYLOR and TODD,1995). The procedure of this conclusive and descriptive study happened in two stages. In the exploratory stage there have been interviews and group sessions with a particular focal point. In the descriptive stage, the quantitative analysis, it explored the validation of a sample of 515 banking clients. Multivariate techniques, like Modelling of Structural Equation have been used in the statistic analysis of the data. The results validate the pattern, however with some alterations. The factors Subjective Rules and Perception Control did not have a significant impact in the behaviourist intention, wich contradicts the original pattern test. Another difference of this study was the inclusion of a new variable in the original pattern - security, inserted in the analysis from the exploratory stage of the data collection. This factor showed the influence of the interaction and adoption of new technologies. The relationships between the factors found support in the analysis of the data. It has been proved that the variation in the attitude and security, explain 74% of the variation of the intention in using mobile banking by the participants. Furthermore, through this work it has been found that the interation is an antecedent of the real behaviour, corroborating with what is said in the bibliography. Perception control and intention achieved R2 of 0,28 in the explanation of the real behaviour.
Survey of Finding Solution for optimization problem using Ant Colony Optimization

: Ant Colony Optimization is one of the meta-heuristic algorithms and first member of ACO is Ant System (AS). AS uses a population of co-operating ants also known as agents. The cooperation phenomenon among the ants is called foraging and recruiting behavior. This describes how ants explore the world in search of food sources, then find their way back to the nest and indicate the food source to the other ants of the colony. The nature of ants, that collectively solve hard problems, gave rise to artificial ant algorithms. These algorithms were also proposed as a multi-agent approach in order to solve hard combinatorial optimization problems. ACO meta-heuristic introduces main features of artificial and these features have inspired different ant algorithms to solve hard optimization problems.
Managing uncertainty in the process of going public

This thesis explores the potential of novel mechanisms towards the reduction of issuers’ ex ante uncertainty in the process of going public: i) the recruitment of directors with exceptional academic backgrounds and ii) obtaining credit ratings. Given the information scarcity in the private domain, IPO firms can use these strategies to provide investors with solid, readily identifiable benchmarks to assess their standing. Notwithstanding whether these informational cues are associated with positive or negative prospects, they cause a significant portion of uncertainty in valuation to subside. Ultimately, this should act to constrain the phenomenon of IPO underpricing causing firms to claim a larger portion of the surplus value created on the issue day. First, we examine whether CEO educational and professional attainments are associated with short-run IPOs performance. We find that returns are negatively associated with Ivy-League education, the existence of at least one University degree and the total number of qualifications. After controlling for endogeneity and self-selection bias, the results show that at the graduate level of education the Master of Arts, the MBA, the Juris and Medical Doctor titles exhibit negative relation with the money left on the table. The same is true for any professional qualification. It is also reported that only in the case of the PhD title the Nobel Elite group of Universities outperforms the rest of the sample. Second, we examine the effect of multiple credit ratings on IPO performance. The evidence comes from the U.S. and shows that the acquisition of credit ratings constitutes a valid investment decision for the issuing firm as it leaves less money on the table. Both individual as well as any combination of ratings from the three largest agencies associates with lower underpricing. This effect exacerbates with higher grade levels which are also found to decrease initial returns. Additionally, rated IPOs systematically experience negative filing price revisions. The results offer new insight to the facilitation of the going public process. Finally, we contribute to the large literature associating IPOs with earnings management. In this respect, we explore a special niche, i.e. politically connected firms. A priori, these issuers can be expected to refrain from discretionary accruals manipulation to avoid causing discontent to their contacts. Alternatively, the case may be that the powerful acquaintances fuel managers with overconfidence which permeates the financial statements. Assembling a hand-collected database on firms’ political donations, we come up with strong support for the latter conjecture. In particular lobbying activity and candidate campaign financing are both shown to be among the important determinants of aggressiveness in reporting. Our findings tie in with a growing body of literature showing businesses actively involved in politics to be prone to abuses and professional misconduct.
Effect of atropine on the hyperresponsiveness of ragweed-sensitized canine tracheal smooth muscle.

The present studies were undertaken to obtain histamine (HIST) dose-response curves for tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) from an actively ragweed-sensitized canine model of asthma and to compare these results with 1) HIST dose-response data from littermate control dogs, 2) initially nonsensitized TSM passively sensitized (in vitro) to ragweed and 3) the dose-response curve to an agonist that opens primarily voltage-sensitive calcium channels, i.e., K+. Actively ragweed-sensitized TSM was significantly hyperreactive (upward shift of the dose-response curve) to HIST (1.882 kg of force produced normalized to cross-sectional area-kg/cm2 +/- 0.087 S.E. vs. littermate controls 1.151 +/- 0.253) and hypersensitive as indicated by the leftward shift in the median effective dose or ED50 (1.86 X 10(-6) +/- 0.24 vs. 5.54 X 10(-6) +/- 1.35 M). Passively sensitized TSM (using serum from ragweed-sensitized dogs) also showed a hyperreactivity to HIST when compared to control TSM incubated with control serum (1.204 +/- 0.127 vs. 0.825 +/- 0.081 kg/cm2). No significant difference was found in the ED50 values, indicating similar sensitivities. Atropine (10(-7) M) reduced the hypersensitivity of actively sensitized TSM significantly toward control values; however, the hyperreactivity persisted. Atropine did not affect responses to HIST in control TSM. Ragweed actively sensitized TSMs were also hyperreactive and hypersensitive to K+ when compared to littermate control TSM. Atropine abolished both the hyperreactivity and hypersensitivity to K+ but had no effect on the dose-response curve of control TSM to K+. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT): a randomized trial in the Republic of Belarus.

CONTEXT Current evidence that breastfeeding is beneficial for infant and child health is based exclusively on observational studies. Potential sources of bias in such studies have led to doubts about the magnitude of these health benefits in industrialized countries. OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of breastfeeding promotion on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity and gastrointestinal and respiratory infection and atopic eczema among infants. DESIGN The Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT), a cluster-randomized trial conducted June 1996-December 1997 with a 1-year follow-up. SETTING Thirty-one maternity hospitals and polyclinics in the Republic of Belarus. PARTICIPANTS A total of 17 046 mother-infant pairs consisting of full-term singleton infants weighing at least 2500 g and their healthy mothers who intended to breastfeed, 16491 (96.7%) of which completed the entire 12 months of follow-up. INTERVENTIONS Sites were randomly assigned to receive an experimental intervention (n = 16) modeled on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative of the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund, which emphasizes health care worker assistance with initiating and maintaining breastfeeding and lactation and postnatal breastfeeding support, or a control intervention (n = 15) of continuing usual infant feeding practices and policies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Duration of any breastfeeding, prevalence of predominant and exclusive breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months of life and occurrence of 1 or more episodes of gastrointestinal tract infection, 2 or more episodes of respiratory tract infection, and atopic eczema during the first 12 months of life, compared between the intervention and control groups. RESULTS Infants from the intervention sites were significantly more likely than control infants to be breastfed to any degree at 12 months (19.7% vs 11.4%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.69), were more likely to be exclusively breastfed at 3 months (43.3% vs 6.4%; P<.001) and at 6 months (7.9% vs 0.6%; P =.01), and had a significant reduction in the risk of 1 or more gastrointestinal tract infections (9.1% vs 13.2%; adjusted OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.40-0.91) and of atopic eczema (3.3% vs 6.3%; adjusted OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.95), but no significant reduction in respiratory tract infection (intervention group, 39.2%; control group, 39.4%; adjusted OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.59-1.28). CONCLUSIONS Our experimental intervention increased the duration and degree (exclusivity) of breastfeeding and decreased the risk of gastrointestinal tract infection and atopic eczema in the first year of life. These results provide a solid scientific underpinning for future interventions to promote breastfeeding.