Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative effectiveness of goal setting in diabetes mellitus group clinics: randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (DM) group clinics can effectively control hypertension, but data to support glycemic control are equivocal. This study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of 2 DM group clinic interventions on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels in primary care. METHODS Eighty-seven participants were recruited from a DM registry of a single regional Veterans Affairs medical center to participate in an open, randomized comparative effectiveness study. Two primary care-based DM group interventions of 3 months' duration were compared. Empowering Patients in Care (EPIC) was a clinician-led, patient-centered group clinic consisting of 4 sessions on setting self-management action plans (diet, exercise, home monitoring, medications, etc) and communicating about progress with action plans. The comparison intervention consisted of group education sessions with a DM educator and dietician followed by an additional visit with one's primary care provider. Hemoglobin A(1c) levels were compared after intervention and at the 1-year follow-up. RESULTS Participants in the EPIC intervention had significantly greater improvements in HbA(1c) levels immediately following the active intervention (8.86%-8.04% vs 8.74%-8.70% of total hemoglobin; mean [SD] between-group difference 0.67% [1.3%]; P=.03), and these differences persisted at the 1 year follow-up (0.59% [1.4%], P=.05). A repeated-measures analysis using all study time points found a significant time-by-treatment interaction effect on HbA(1c) levels favoring the EPIC intervention (F(2,85)=3.55; P=. 03). The effect of the time-by-treatment interaction seems to be partially mediated by DM self-efficacy (F(1,85)=10.39; P=. 002). CONCLUSION Primary care-based DM group clinics that include structured goal-setting approaches to self-management can significantly improve HbA(1c) levels after intervention and maintain improvements for 1 year. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00481286.
Génération de plaquettes in vitro à partir de cellules souches hématopoïétiques

La megacaryopoiese represente le processus de differenciation des cellules souches hematopoietiques (CSH) en megacaryocytes (MK). Ce processus precede la thrombopoiese qui aboutira a la formation des plaquettes sanguines. Ces processus complexes ont lieu 1) au sein de la structure tridimensionnelle (3D) de la moelle osseuse, 2) dans les vaisseaux sinusoides de la moelle et 3) dans la circulation sanguine. Le but general de ce travail a ete de comprendre le mecanisme de chaque etape. Le premier objectif a ete d’etudier les effets d’une structure poreuse 3D mimant celle de la moelle osseuse, sur la differenciation megacaryocytaire et la production plaquettaire in vitro. Cette etude a permis de demontrer que la synergie entre l’organisation spatiale et les signaux du microenvironnement ameliore la production en MK et en plaquettes. Par la suite, nous avons souhaite caracteriser in vitro et in vivo les plaquettes produites en conditions de flux. Nous avons notamment mis en evidence la capacite des plaquettes produites in vitro dans un systeme de microfluidique, a s’incorporer et a participer a la formation d’un thrombus in vitro et in vivo contrairement aux plaquettes obtenues en statique. Ces travaux prouvent donc l’interet d’une part, de mimer le microenvironnement de la moelle osseuse et d’autre part, de reproduire les forces de cisaillement du sang afin d’ameliorer et d’augmenter la production de plaquettes in vitro pour de futures applications en therapeutique.
Water security for Texas: a post-secondary education pathway for water workforce readiness

Water and wastewater industry leaders in Texas and throughout the United States have expressed concern over high rates of retirement eligibility and difficulties finding and attracting workers ready to fill job openings, especially for work in smaller systems. In late January 2018, the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report on water workforce readiness and a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to establish a water infrastructure workforce development program. Concern over existing education of workers in water and demographic information projecting future workforce readiness are commonly cited as signaling a coming crisis for the water industry. An alignment of post-secondary training and industry needs is recommended to meet coming workforce employment requirements for Texas and the nation. A model post-secondary education pathway for water science and technology is described to support water workforce readiness. Citation: Rosen RA, Cifuentes LA, Fischer J, Marquise H, Tracy JC. 2018. Water security for Texas: a post-secondary education pathway for water workforce readiness. Texas Water Journal. 9(1):120-128. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v9i1. 7078.
The Role of CDS Trading in the Commercialization of New Lending Relationships

We investigate how the development of the credit default swap (CDS) market affects lenders’ incentives to initiate new lending relationships. We predict that CDSs reduce the adverse selection that non-relationship lenders face when competing for loans, by allowing those lenders to hedge loan exposure and by the revelation of private information through CDS spreads. We find that, following CDS initiation on a borrower’s debt, non-relationship lead arrangers are more likely to originate its loans and non-relationship participants are more likely to join loan syndicates. We also show that lead arrangers that initiate lending relationships following CDS initiation focus more on commercial aspects of lending relationship. These lead arrangers are more likely to pursue new borrowers with high cross-selling potential, which are expected to generate substantial fee business. The commercialization of the new lending relationships is also reflected in nonrelationship lead arrangers’ lower incentives for costly borrower monitoring, as indicated by their weaker control rights and the smaller loan share they retain. In addition, relative to relationship lenders, non-relationship lenders are likely to be more distant from borrowers, foreign, and less reputable once CDSs become available, further emphasizing their lower commitment to monitoring. Overall, our findings suggest that CDSs significantly change relationship lending dynamics in the loan market and demonstrate, in contrast to prior research, that the adverse effect of CDSs on lender monitoring stems primarily from lenders that initiate a relationship with the borrower after CDS initiation, while relationship lenders do not reduce their monitoring efforts.
Représentation des images au moyen de motifs fréquents et émergents pour la classification et la recherche d'images. (Representation of images by means of common and emerging patterns for classification and image search)

Cette these a pour but d'ameliorer les performances de differentes tâches de vision par ordinateur en se focalisant sur l'etape de representation des images. Notre idee cle est d'integrer des relations portant sur des descripteurs de l'image a sa representation originelle, ces relations apportant une information additionnelle utile par exemple pour discriminer les images.La recherche de telles relations est une tâche complexe compte-tenu de la grande combinatoire entre descripteurs. Nous proposons pour cela d'employer des techniques de fouille de donnees fondees sur la recherche de motifs pour mettre en evidence des relations pertinentes entre les descripteurs d'images. En effet, la fouille de donnees est appropriee a l'analyse de grandes quantites de donnees et la decouverte de motifs interessants traduisant des dependances, le regroupement de donnees ou encore la detection d'anomalies.Un premier obstacle a l'emploi de techniques de fouille de donnees en vision par ordinateur porte sur le recodage des descripteurs des images. Ces dernieres possedent usuellement des valeurs reelles alors que les methodes d'extraction de motifs sont appropriees aux donnees discretes. Pour traiter ce probleme, nous proposons des techniques fondees sur des seuillages locaux. Le nombre de motifs extraits etant eleve, ceux-ci ne peuvent pas etre directement utilises dans une tâche comme la classification supervisee. Aussi, nous presentons une methode d'agregation des motifs permettant d'obtenir une representation compacte evitant le sur-apprentissage.Les resultats experimentaux sur de nombreuses bases d'images montrent que notre approche est largement au niveau de l'etat de l'art.Nous montrons que les caracteristiques de la fouille de donnees sont aussi propices a d'autres tâches de vision par ordinateur. Ainsi, nous avons concu une methode de detection de doublons reposant sur l'utilisation de motifs fermes dans de grandes bases d'images. Nous avons teste notre methode sur une base de 1 million d'images obtenues avec Google image : les doublons sont decouverts en moins de 3 minutes. Enfin, nous avons developpe une methode de re-classement d'images fondee sur le nombre de motifs frequents que chaque image supporte, cette methode permet d'ameliorer le classement initial.
Host Pathogen Interactions of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae with Porcine 1 Lung and Tracheal Epithelial Cells 2 3 Running title : Host Pathogen Interactions of A . pleuropneumoniae 4 5

24 25 Host pathogen interactions are of great importance in understanding the pathogenesis 26 of infectious microorganisms. We developed in vitro models to study the host-pathogen 27 interactions of porcine respiratory tract pathogens using two immortalized epithelial cell 28 lines, namely the Newborn Pig Trachea (NPTr) and the St. Jude Porcine Lung (SJPL) cell 29 lines. We first studied the interactions of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, an important 30 swine pathogen, in these models. In conditions where cytotoxicity was absent or low, we 31 showed that A. pleuropneumoniae adheres to both cell lines stimulating the induction of 32 NF-κB. The NPTr cells consequently secrete IL-8 while the SJPL cells do not as they are 33 deprived of the NF-κB p65 subunit. Cell death ultimately occurs by necrosis, not 34 apoptosis. The transcriptomic profile of A. pleuropneumoniae was determined after 35 contact with the porcine lung epithelial cells using DNA microarrays. Genes such as 36 tadB, rcpA, members of a putative adhesin locus, and a gene with high homology to the 37 Hsf autotransporter adhesin of Haemophilus influenzae were upregulated as well as genes 38 pgaBC involved in biofilm biosynthesis, while capsular polysaccharide associated genes 39 were down-regulated. The in vitro models also proved to be efficient with other swine 40 pathogens such as Actinobacillus suis, Haemophilus parasuis and Pasteurella multocida. 41 Our results demonstrate that interactions of A. pleuropneumoniae with host epithelial 42 cells seems to involve complex cross-talk which results in regulation of various bacterial 43 genes including some coding for putative adhesins. Furthermore, our data demonstrate 44 the potential of these in vitro models in studying the host pathogen interactions of other 45 porcine respiratory tract pathogens. 46 AC CE PT ED on N ovem er 1, 2017 by gest http/iai.asm . rg/ D ow nladed fom
CASCADED CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE MODULAR MULTILEVEL CONVERTER FOR FEEDING VARIABLE SPEED DRIVES USING FUZZY LOZIC CONTROL

, The design process of a holistic control system for a MMC to feed variable-speed drives is proposed in this paper.The performance of the control system is finally validated by measurements on a lowvoltage MMC prototype, which feeds a field-oriented controlled induction machineFor high-power drive applications the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is an upcoming topology especially in the medium voltage range. First,from the analysis of the equivalent circuits the design of the current control for the independent adjustment of several current components is derived. Second, the current and voltage components by the investigation of the transformed arm power components for balancing the energies in the arms of the MMC are identified systematically. At minimum necessary internal currents over the complete frequency range The control system ensures a dynamic balancing of the energies in the cells of the MMC. Simultaneously, all other circulating current components are avoided to minimize current stress and additional voltage pulsations. Here we are using the fuzzy controller compared to other controllers i.e. The fuzzy controller is the most suitable for the human decision-making mechanism, providing the operation of an electronic system with decisions of experts. In addition, using the fuzzy controller for a nonlinear system allows for a reduction of uncertain effects in the system controland improve the efficiency.A cascaded structure with subordinated current control loops and filterbased energy control loops is proposed in this paper.Simulation results are shown below.
A biologically-inspired multi-agent framework for autonomic service management

This paper describes the design of a scalable bio‐mimetic framework that addresses several key issues of autonomous agents in the functional management domain of complex Ubiquitous Service‐Oriented Networks.We propose an autonomous network service management platform ‐ SwarmingNet, which is motivated by observations of the swarm intelligence in biological systems (e.g., Termite, Ant/Bees colonies, or Locusts ). In this SwarmingNet architecture, the required network service processes are implemented by a group of highly diverse and autonomic objects. These objects are called TeleService Solons (TSSs) as elements of TeleService Holons (TSHs), analoguous to individual insects as members of the whole colony. A single TSS is only able to pursue simple behaviors and interactions with local neighbors, on the contrary, a group of TSSs have the capabilities of fulfilling the complex tasks relating to service discovery and service activation.We simulate a service configuration process for a Multimedia Messaging Ser.
Towards a software maintenance methodology using Semantic Web techniques and paradigmatic documentation modelling

Research that is ongoing to develop a methodology for the paradigmatic description of software to enhance the prospects for software maintenance is described. The authors discuss theories of software system descriptions in terms of Kuhn's paradigms and the application of metadata to software. The authors then propose the collection of software system metadata, which may include functional and non-functional requirement documentation, metrics, the success or failure of tests and the means by which various components interact or were intended to interact. The authors show how changes to metadata may be recorded and tracked and propose how they may be used to proactively notify developers of changing requirements and quality measurements that may impact maintenance. The authors show how Semantic Web techniques can be used to enable language-neutral relational navigation of software systems, thus facilitating software understanding and maintenance. Proposed extensions to this research are outlined, including the development of a toolset for distributed software maintenance.
The Influence of Corporate Governance and Intellectual Capital towards Financial Distress (Empirical Study of Manufacturing Company in IDX for the Period of 2014-2016)

This study aims to test and find empirical evidence on the effects of corporate governance and intellectual capital on financial distress. In this study, the data sample used are manufacturing companies that publish their financial reporting in rupiah currency and listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange. Data collection method using purposive sampling and collected 249 samples from 2014-2016. The method of analysis used in this study is multiple regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that corporate governance does not have a significant effect on the financial distress of the company. While the relationship between intellectual capital and financial distress of the company showed a significant positive effect.
Hypertonic saline solutions in brain injury

Purpose of review Hypertonic saline solutions have received renewed attention as effective agents for the treatment of cerebral edema and in brain resuscitation in a variety of brain injury paradigms. Although evidence of the beneficial action of hypertonic saline solutions in traumatic brain injury is robust, data supporting use in other conditions are only now mounting. Recent findings Osmotic properties of hypertonic saline solutions have been well studied in laboratory-based studies in animal models and in patients with acute brain injury. There are, in addition, emerging data on the extraosmotic actions on brain pathophysiology. This review cites baseline literature and provides new evidence of actions of hypertonic saline solutions: (a) in augmenting cerebral blood flow after subarachnoid hemorrhage, (b) as an antiinflammatory adjunct, and (c) utility in chemonucleolysis for intervertebral disc disease and treatment of seizures associated with severe hyponatremia. Summary Brain injury from diverse etiologies including trauma, ischemic stroke, global cerebral ischemia from cardiac arrest, intraparenchymal or subarachnoid hemorrhage, infection, or toxic-metabolic derangements are commonly encountered in the clinical setting. Many of these conditions are associated with cerebral edema with or without elevated intracranial pressure. Osmotherapy constitutes the cornerstone of medical therapy for such patients. Hypertonic saline solutions have received renewed attention in clinical practice as osmotic agents for cerebral resuscitation. This article reviews experimental and clinical evidence of the efficacy of hypertonic saline solutions and elaborates on their use in patients with acute neurologic injury. Important areas for current and future research are highlighted before the use of hypertonic saline solutions can be accepted for widespread use.
Education Decisions, Equilibrium Policies and Wages Dispersion

This paper compares partial and general equilibrium effects of alternative financial aid policies intended to promote college participation. We build an overlapping generations life-cycle, heterogeneous-agent, incomplete-markets model with education, labor supply, and consumption/saving decisions. Altruistic parents make inter vivos transfers to their children. Labor supply during college, government grants and loans, as well as private loans, complement parental transfers as sources of funding for college education. We find that the current financial aid system in the U.S. improves welfare, and removing it would reduce GDP by two percentage points in the long-run. Any further relaxation of government-sponsored loan limits would have no salient effects. The short-run partial equilibrium effects of expanding tuition grants (especially their need-based component) are sizeable. However, long-run general equilibrium effects are 3-4 times smaller. Every additional dollar of government grants crowds out 20-30 cents of parental transfers. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Detergent-resistant membrane domains but not the proteasome are involved in the misfolding of a PrP mutant retained in the endoplasmic reticulum

Inherited prion diseases are neurodegenerative pathologies related to genetic mutations in the prion protein (PrP) gene, which favour the conversion of PrPC into a conformationally altered pathogenic form, PrPSc. The molecular basis of PrPC/PrPSc conversion, the intracellular compartment where it occurs and how this process leads to neurological dysfunction are not yet known. We have studied the intracellular synthesis, degradation and localization of a PrP mutant associated with a genetic form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), PrPT182A, in transfected FRT cells. PrPT182A is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is mainly associated with detergent-resistant microdomains (DRMs) and is partially resistant to proteinase K digestion. Although an untranslocated form of this mutant is polyubiquitylated and undergoes ER-associated degradation, the proteasome is not responsible for the degradation of its misfolded form, suggesting that it does not have a role in the pathogenesis of inherited diseases. On the contrary, impairment of PrPT182A association with DRMs by cholesterol depletion leads to its accumulation in the ER and substantially increases its misfolding. These data support the previous hypothesis that DRMs are important for the correct folding of PrP and suggest that they might have a protective role in pathological scrapie-like conversion of PrP mutants.
Nephrotoxicity of iopamidol in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients who have undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

PURPOSE To assess the effects of the low-osmolar contrast agent iopamidol and antimicrobial drugs on renal function in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation (BMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of records of 120 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent allogeneic BMT in 1997 or 1998 was performed. Eighty-nine patients (median age, 8.1 years) fulfilled study eligibility criteria. Cumulative doses of nephrotoxic antimicrobial drugs were recorded, as well as serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations from 24 hours before to 72 hours after each administration of iopamidol during a computed tomographic examination performed within 100 days after BMT. Random coefficient models were used to estimate nephrotoxic effects. RESULTS Mean baseline glomerular filtration rate was 130.2 mL/min/1.73 m(2), and mean baseline creatinine concentration was 0.51 mg/dL (45 micro mol/L). Older age at BMT (P <.001), use of foscarnet (P =.003), and receipt of iopamidol (P =.073) each prompted a rise in serum creatinine concentration. The antiviral drug foscarnet was associated with the largest increase in the creatinine level; the use of iopamidol effected a relatively small rise in creatinine level. CONCLUSION Iopamidol nephrotoxicity was negligible in this cohort of pediatric patients who had undergone allogeneic BMT, even in the presence of elevated renal function levels.
The Autolysin-Encoding Gene (lytA) ofStreptococcus pneumoniae Displays Restricted Allelic Variation despite Localized Recombination Events with Genes of Pneumococcal Bacteriophage Encoding Cell Wall Lytic Enzymes

ABSTRACT The lytA-encoded autolysin (N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase) ofStreptococcus pneumoniae is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infection and has been identified as a putative vaccine target. Allelic diversity oflytA in an extensive collection of clinical isolates was assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and confirmatory sequencing studies. Genetic diversity within lytA is limited, especially compared to the high levels of diversity seen in other pneumococcal virulence factor genes, although small blocks generating mosaic structure were identified. Sequence comparisons with genes encoding cell wall lytic enzymes of pneumococcal bacteriophage suggest that localized recombination events have occurred between hostlytA and these bacteriophage genes. These results confirm earlier suggestions that recombination between DNA encoding bacteriophage autolytic enzymes and chromosomally encodedlytA might be important in the evolution oflytA. The implications of these findings for understanding the evolution of lytA and the potential utility of LytA as a vaccine target are discussed.