Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of a novel HIV-1 complex circulating recombinant form (CRF18_cpx) of Central African origin in Cuba

Background:Analysis of partial pol and env sequences have indicated a high diversity of HIV-1 genetic forms in Cuba, including two potential novel circulating recombinant forms (CRF): Upol/Henv and Dpol/Aenv. Objectives:To determine whether Upol/Henv recombinant viruses from Cuba, detected in 7% of samples, represent a novel HIV-1 CRF, and to identify non-Cuban viruses related to this recombinant form. Methods:Near full-length genome amplification was carried out by nested polymerase chain reaction in four overlapping DNA segments of two epidemiologically unlinked viruses in uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The sequences were analysed phylogenetically. Recombinant structures and phylogenetic relationships were analysed by bootscanning and by maximum likelihood. Searches for related viruses in databases were initially based on sequence homology and sharing of signature nucleotides. Results:Both Cuban viruses clustered uniformly in bootscans all along the genome with each other and with a virus from Cameroon, CM53379, indicating that all three represent the same recombinant form. Their genome comprised multiple segments clustering with subtypes A1, F, G, H and K, as well as segments failing to cluster with recognized subtypes. The newly defined CRF, designated CRF18_cpx, was phylogenetically related in partial segments to CRF13_cpx, CRF04_cpx and 36 additional viruses, most of them from Central Africa. One of the viruses from Cameroon, sequenced in the near full-length genome, was a CRF18_cpx/subtype G secondary recombinant. Conclusions:A novel HIV-1 complex circulating recombinant form (CRF18_cpx) has been identified that is circulating in Cuba and Central Africa.
The PedsQL in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scales and type 1 Diabetes Module.

OBJECTIVE The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) is a modular instrument designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents aged 2-18 years. The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales are child self-report and parent proxy-report scales developed as the generic core measure to be integrated with the PedsQL disease-specific modules. The PedsQL 3.0 Type 1 Diabetes Module was designed to measure diabetes-specific HRQOL. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The PedsQL Generic Core Scales and Diabetes Module were administered to 300 pediatric patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and 308 parents. RESULTS Internal consistency reliability for the PedsQL Generic Core Total Scale score (alpha = 0.88 child, 0.89 parent-report) and most Diabetes Module scales (average alpha = 0.71 child, 0.77 parent-report) was acceptable for group comparisons. The PedsQL 4.0 distinguished between healthy children and children with diabetes. The Diabetes Module demonstrated intercorrelations with dimensions of generic and diabetes-specific HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the reliability and validity of the PedsQL in diabetes. The PedsQL may be used as an outcome measure for diabetes clinical trials and research.
Rosuvastatin Suppresses the Oxidative Response in the Venous Limb of an Arteriovenous Fistula and Enhances the Fistula Blood Flow in Diabetic Rats

Objective: The blood flow in the arteriovenous (AV) fistula is significantly reduced in diabetic patients. Statins are known to mediate pleiotropic effects in the vascular endothelium and attenuate inflammatory responses. This study tested the vascular protective effect of rosuvastatin in an experimental model of AV fistula. Methods: One week after the induction of diabetes mellitus (DM) in rats, a fistula was created in the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. Rats received placebo or rosuvastatin (15 mg/kg/day) in chow for 2 weeks. The blood flow in the venous segments of the fistula was measured. The expression of proinflammatory genes and the generation of superoxide in the venous fistula were examined. Results: The blood flow and luminal diameter of the AV fistula was significantly enhanced in animals treated with rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin attenuated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, NADPH oxidase, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the fistula. The levels of superoxide anions and proinflammatory cytokines were also suppressed in rosuvastatin-treated animals. Neointimal formation in the AV fistula was not affected following treatment with rosuvastatin. Conclusions: We demonstrated that rosuvastatin improves luminal dilatation and blood flow in the AV fistula of subjects with DM. These vascular protective effects of rosuvastatin are most likely mediated by the attenuation of proinflammatory activities in the remodeled vasculature.
A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Distance Asthma Learning Program for Pediatricians

Objectives. To assess provider acceptability of a distance learning program for pediatric asthma and pilot test its effects on physician knowledge, attitudes and treatment practices. Design. Randomized controlled trial. Setting. Louisville and the surrounding central Kentucky region. Participants. Twenty-four pediatricians in clinical practice. Interventions. A distance learning program for pediatric asthma consisting of Web- or CD-ROM–based multimedia learning modules and two teleconference calls. Outcome Measures. Learner satisfaction and change in physician asthma knowledge, attitudes, and treatment behavior at 1 to 4 months (short term) and 6 to 8 months (long term). Results. Pediatricians had graduated from medical school a mean of 11.6 years before baseline (SD ±8.9); 56% were female. On all learner satisfaction items, the average score was a 4.0 or greater on a 5-point scale, indicating a favorable response from the participants. Participants in the education group reported increased familiarity with asthma guideline for prescribing daily-inhaled corticosteroids compared to control physicians (p = .03) at short-term follow-up. Participants also expressed increased confidence in selecting a medicine for patients requiring a low-dose inhaled steroid (p = .03). However, these differences were not seen at long-term follow-up. Compared to the control group, there was no significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving inhaled steroids for persistent asthma at short- or long-term follow-up. Conclusions. Pediatricians utilizing an asthma distance learning program expressed a high degree of learner satisfaction. The program was associated with a temporary increase in familiarity and confidence in implementing components of the asthma guidelines.
Influence of Growth Factors on Bovine Embryo Development

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iv LIST OF TABLES . vii LIST OF FIGURES . viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . xi CHAPTER ONE . 1 REVIEW OF LITERATURE.1 1.1 Overview of in vitro Embryo Production . 1 1.1.1 Supplementing in vitro maturation and culture media.1 1.2 Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species.3 1.3 Antioxidants.5 1.3. 1 Metabolizable non-enzymatic antioxidant: Cysteine.5 1.3. 2 Enzymatic antioxidants: Cu-Zn and Mn superoxide dismutases.7 1.4 Growth Factors . 8 1.4. 1 Epidermal growth factor.9 1.4. 2 Insulin-like growth factor-I.9 1.5 Quality of in vitro produced embryos.10 1.5. 1 Apoptosis as a measure of embryo quality . 11 1.5. 2 Bcl-2 family.12 1.6 Total cell number and DNA fragmentation.13 1.7 OBJECTIVES . 14 1.8 LITERATURE CITED . 15
Oral ganciclovir for patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis treated with a ganciclovir implant. Roche Ganciclovir Study Group.

BACKGROUND The intraocular ganciclovir implant is effective for local treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but it does not treat or prevent other systemic manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection. METHODS Three hundred seventy-seven patients with AIDS and unilateral cytomegalovirus retinitis were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: a ganciclovir implant plus oral ganciclovir (4.5 g daily), a ganciclovir implant plus oral placebo, or intravenous ganciclovir alone. The primary outcome measure was the development of new cytomegalovirus disease, either contralateral retinitis or biopsy-proved extraocular disease. RESULTS The incidence of new cytomegalovirus disease at six months was 44.3 percent in the group assigned to the ganciclovir implant plus placebo, as compared with 24.3 percent in the group assigned to the ganciclovir implant plus oral ganciclovir (P=0.002) and 19.6 percent in the group assigned to intravenous ganciclovir alone (P<0.001). As compared with placebo, oral ganciclovir reduced the overall risk of new cytomegalovirus disease by 37.6 percent over the one-year period of the study (P=0.02). However, in the subgroup of 103 patients who took protease inhibitors, the rates of new cytomegalovirus disease were low and of similar magnitude, regardless of treatment assignment. Progression of retinitis in the eye that initially received an implant was delayed by the addition of oral ganciclovir, as compared with placebo (P=0.03). Treatment with oral or intravenous ganciclovir reduced the risk of Kaposi's sarcoma by 75 percent (P=0.008) and 93 percent (P<0.001), respectively, as compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS In patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis, oral ganciclovir in conjunction with a ganciclovir implant reduces the incidence of new cytomegalovirus disease and delays progression of the retinitis. Treatment with oral or intravenous ganciclovir also reduces the risk of Kaposi's sarcoma.
Hatching asynchrony aggravates inbreeding depression in a songbird (Serinus canaria): An inbreeding–environment interaction

Understanding how the intensity of inbreeding depression is influenced by stressful environmental conditions is an important area of enquiry in various fields of biology. In birds, environmental stress during early development is often related to hatching asynchrony; differences in age, and thus size, impose a gradient in conditions ranging from benign (first hatched chick) to harsh (last hatched chick). Here, we compared the effect of hatching order on growth rate in inbred (parents are full siblings) and outbred (parents are unrelated) canary chicks (Serinus canaria). We found that inbreeding depression was more severe under more stressful conditions, being most evident in later hatched chicks. Thus, consideration of inbreeding‐environment interactions is of vital importance for our understanding of the biological significance of inbreeding depression and hatching asynchrony. The latter is particularly relevant given that hatching asynchrony is a widespread phenomenon, occurring in many bird species. The exact causes of the observed inbreeding‐environment interaction are as yet unknown, but may be related to a decrease in maternal investment in egg contents with laying position (i.e. prehatching environment), or to performance of the chicks during sibling competition and/or their resilience to food shortage (i.e. posthatching environment).
Association between cholesterol synthesis/absorption markers and effects of cholesterol lowering by atorvastatin among patients with high risk of coronary heart disease[S]

No indices are currently available to facilitate clinicians to identify patients who need either statin monotherapy or statin-ezetimibe combined treatment. We aimed to investigate whether cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers can predict the cholesterol-lowering response to statin. Total 306 statin-naïve patients with high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) were treated with atorvastatin 20 mg/day for 1 month. Cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were measured before and after treatment. Atorvastatin decreased LDL-C by 36.8% (range: decrease of 74.5% to increase of 31.9%). Baseline cholesterol synthesis marker lathosterol and cholesterol absorption marker campesterol codetermined the effect of atorvastatin treatment. The effect of cholesterol lowering by atorvastatin was significantly associated with baseline lathosterol levels but modified bidirectionally by baseline campesterol levels. In patients with the highest baseline campesterol levels, atorvastatin treatment decreased cholesterol absorption by 46.1%, which enhanced the effect of LDL-C lowering. Atorvastatin treatment increased cholesterol absorption by 52.3% in those with the lowest baseline campesterol levels, which attenuated the effect of LDL-C reduction. Especially those with the highest lathosterol but the lowest campesterol levels at baseline had significantly less LDL-C reduction than those with the same baseline lathosterol levels but the highest campesterol levels (27.3% versus 42.4%, P = 0.002). These results suggest that combined patterns of cholesterol synthesis/absorption markers, rather than each single marker, are potential predictors of the LDL-C-lowering effects of atorvastatin in high-risk CHD patients.
Design of a novel hybrid power for EV

A novel high efficient hybrid power with ultra-capacitor (UC) for electric vehicle (EV) is proposed in this paper. On this basis, the energy management strategies are designed according to various work modes of the EV. Two switch schemes could be achieved in the proposed hybrid power while discharging, and the UC would have the highest priority to recycle the energy in the recharge scheme. Simulation results show that the over-discharge of the batteries could be avoid and efficiency could be improved up to 3.5% in the proposed hybrid power, comparing to the equally improved hybrid power.
Artificial mosaic protein containing antigenic epitopes of hepatitis E virus

A synthetic gene encoding an artificial polypeptide composed of antigenic epitopes of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) proteins was constructed from short oligodeoxyribonucleotides by using PCR. The polypeptide comprises a mosaic of three antigenically active dominant regions from the protein encoded by open reading frame 2 (ORF2), one antigenically active region from the protein encoded by ORF3 of the Burmese HEV strain, and one antigenically active region from the protein encoded by ORF3 of the Mexican HEV strain. The mosaic protein was expressed in Escherichia coli as a chimera with glutathione S-transferase or beta-galactosidase. Guinea pig sera containing antibodies to the corresponding HEV synthetic peptides were used to demonstrate by Western immunoblot analysis and enzyme immunoassay the presence and accessibility of all HEV-specific antigenic epitopes introduced into the mosaic protein. Both the glutathione S-transferase and beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins were analyzed by using a panel of human anti-HEV-positive and -negative sera. The data obtained strongly indicate a diagnostic potential for the mosaic protein.
Dynamics and Function of Phospholipase D and Phosphatidic Acid During Phagocytosis

Phospholipase D (PLD) produces phosphatidic acid (PA), an established intracellular signalling lipid that has been also implicated in vesicular trafficking, and as such, PLD could play multiple roles during phagocytosis. Using an RNA interference strategy, we show that endogenous PLD1 and PLD2 are necessary for efficient phagocytosis in murine macrophages, in line with results obtained with wild‐type constructs and catalytically inactive PLD mutants which, respectively, enhance and inhibit phagocytosis. Furthermore, we found that PA is transiently produced at sites of phagosome formation. Macrophage PLD1 and PLD2 differ in their subcellular distributions. PLD1 is associated with cytoplasmic vesicles, identified as a late endosomal/lysosomal compartment, whereas PLD2 localizes at the plasma membrane. In living cells undergoing phagocytosis, PLD1 vesicles are recruited to nascent and internalized phagosomes, whereas PLD2 is only observed on nascent phagosomes. These results provide evidence that both PLD isoforms are required for phagosome formation, but only PLD1 seems to be implicated in later stages of phagocytosis occurring after phagosomal internalization.
Evaluation of scientific production, patents and human resources training in the Brazilian nursing

Objective:to evaluate scientifi c production, patents and human resources training of nursing researchers with scholarships of research productivity (PQ) in National Counsel for Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) in the 2000-2012 historic series; to verify the association between this production and characteristics of the researchers regarding gender, education and origin.Methods:this analytic cross-sectional study whose inclusion criterion was to be a nursing PQ/CNPq researcher during the period in question. We analyzed curriculum lattes of 208 researchers with scholarships between 2000 and 2012. For statistical analyses we used the SPSS® software.Results:the study points to female predominance, concentration in the Southeast region and existence of an association between scientific production, patents and human resources training and education, gender and origin of the researcher.Conclusion:the study presents a significant participation of nursing PQ/CNPq researchers in scientific production and in human resources training, and a modest involvement in the production of patents.
Comportement de la bactérie pathogène Bacillus cereus dans des aliments prêts à l'emploi - Impact des conditions physico-chimiques

Les personnes âgees sont souvent victimes de denutrition pouvant conduire a de multiples degradations de la sante. La prevention de cet etat de denutrition est une des principales preoccupations des autorites de sante. C’est dans cet objectif que le projet OPTIFEL a concu de nouveaux produits alimentaires optimises, afin d’ameliorer l’alimentation des personnes âgees, en tenant compte de leurs besoins et souhaits, tout en preservant leur securite sanitaire. Bacillus cereus est une bacterie pathogene sporulee capable de se developper dans des conditions variables comme le froid, l’absence d’oxygene, des bas pH ainsi que des matrices alimentaires diverses. Elle est l’une des principales causes de Toxi-Infection Alimentaire Collective (TIAC) surtout en Institut Medico-Sociaux (IMS). Ce travail de these avait donc pour objectif de determiner le comportement de B. cereus a differentes etapes de la vie d’un produit alimentaire. La conservation au froid peut permettre la multiplication de souches psychrotolerantes de B. cereus qui peuvent alors representer un risque d’infection pour le consommateur. Les conditions anaerobies reduisent la capacite d’adaptation de B. cereus au froid et aux bas pH. La composition de l’aliment et sa preparation influence egalement le comportement de B. cereus, comme nous l’avons constate avec un bouillon de carotte dans lequel la presence d’oxygene cree un effet letal pour la bacterie. Certaines souches psychrotolerantes de B. cereus sont capables de produire de la toxine emetique appelee cereulide. Nous avons montre que cette production peut se faire a partir de 8°C et atteindre des concentrations pouvant causer des intoxications a partir de 10°C. S’il est produit dans l’aliment, le cereulide ne serait pas detruit lors de la preparation de l’aliment. Par contre les cellules vegetatives de B. cereus sont tres thermosensibles et celles qui auraient pu se developper pourront etre detruites par un rechauffage du produit avant sa consommation. Ce travail a permis de definir les parametres importants pour limiter le risque d’infection alimentaire par B. cereus.
Comparison Of Interpolations Used In Solving Delay Differential Equations By Runge-Kutta Method

Delay differential equations are solved using embedded Singly Diagonally Implicit Runge-Kutta (SDIRK) method (3,4) in (4,5). The approximation of the delay term is obtained by Newton divided difference interpolation and interpolation developed by In't Hout. Numerical results based on these two types of interpolation are compared. The stability polynomial and the stability regions of SDIRK method (2,2) using In't Hout interpolation for the delay term are presented.
Esquema y recomendaciones para el uso de los Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales

espanolEn los ultimos treinta anos el uso de los Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales (SEM) ha ido incrementandose de una manera exponencial. Tal es este incremento que asistimos, a veces, a una aplicacion de la tecnica estadistica algo alejada de la praxis correcta y adecuada con este tipo de tecnicas multivariantes. En este breve trabajo se trata de efectuar una presentacion de las distintas fases a seguir en el uso de los SEM, una presentacion de las opciones mas habituales y de las recomendaciones a considerar en esas mismas fases. EnglishIn the last thirty years the use of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) has been increasing in an exponential manner. Such is this increase that we are witnessing, sometimes a use so far from the correct and appropriate practice with this type of multivariate statistical technique. In this short paper we want to make a presentation of the different stages to follow in the use of SEM, and a presentation of the most common options and recommendations to consider in those same phases.
Stable estimation of horizontal velocity for planetary lander with motion constraints

The planetary lander usually selects image feature points and tracks them from frame to frame in order to determine its own position and velocity during landing. Aiming to keep features tracking in consecutive frames, this paper proposes an approach of calculating the field of view (FOV) overlapping area in a 2D plane. Then the rotational and translational motion constraints of the lander can be found. If the FOVs intersects each other, the horizontal velocity of the lander is quickly estimated based on the least square method after the ill-conditioned matrices are eliminated previously. The Monte Carlo simulation results show that the proposed approach is not only able to recover the ego-motion of planetary lander, but also improves the stabilization performance. The relationship of the estimation error, running time and number of points is shown in the simulation results as well.
Theoretical estimation of core loss in a trapezoidal Back-EMF motor

Non-sinusoidal magnetic induction variation pattern (IVP) makes the estimation of iron loss a challenging step of designing a trapezoidal back-EMF machine. Commercially available finite element analysis (FEA) based machine design tools fail to accurately estimate core losses in such situations. Previously proposed methods to address that problem either compromise too much on accuracy, or are too time-consuming to be applied to every design-iteration. This paper proposes a simple theoretical approach to address this problem. Flux density variations under both no-load and loaded conditions were studied and their relations with the machine's design details were derived. The complete approach was verified by 2D time stepped FEA. The loss expressions presented were verified by experiments on a sample material.
Total mechanical energy of a ventricle model and cardiac oxygen consumption.

Mechanical energy (ENG) required by a time-varying elastance model of the ventricle was compared with oxygen consumption per beat (VO2) of the canine left ventricle contracting under a variety of loading conditions. ENG needed for this model to increase its elastance during systole is shown to be equal to the sum of the potential energy built in the elastance during systole plus the external mechanical stroke work. This ENG is equivalent to the area (PVA) bounded by the end-systolic and end-diastolic P-V curves and the systolic limb of the P-V loop trajectory in the P-V plane. There was a high correlation (r = 0.89) between VO2s documented in the literature and PVAs assessed by the author from the accompanying P-V data from both isovolumic and ejecting contractions in 11 hearts. A linear regression analysis yielded an empirical equation: VO2 (ml O2/beat) = a . PVA (mmHg . ml/beat) + b, where a = 1.37 X 10(-5) and b = 0.027, which can be used to predict VO2 from PVA. A preliminary experimental study in my laboratory confirmed the validity of this empirical equation.