Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of human immunodeficiency virus 1 DNA polymerase chain reaction and qualitative and quantitative RNA polymerase chain reaction in human immunodeficiency virus 1-exposed infants.

BACKGROUND HIV-1 RNA PCR is a widely available and sensitive assay but has not been studied for use in early diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in infants. METHODS Research HIV-1 DNA PCR and HIV-1 RNA PCR were performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma, respectively, from 284 blood samples from 204 infants. A commercially available HIV-1 quantitative RNA PCR was also performed on plasma from the 132 samples from HIV-1-infected infants and 22 of the samples from HIV-1-uninfected infants. RESULTS Sensitivities of all assays varied with infant age. HIV-1 DNA PCR had a sensitivity of 27% in the < or = 3-week age group (n = 11) whereas qualitative and quantitative RNA PCR had sensitivities of 64 and 55%, respectively (P not significant). Each assay had a sensitivity of 96.2% at 4 to 6 weeks (n = 26) and 100% at > or = 7 weeks of age (n = 95). Specificity of HIV-1 DNA PCR for all age groups was 100%, whereas specificities of qualitative and quantitative RNA PCR assay were 96.1 and 95.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS HIV-1 RNA PCR may offer a slight advantage in sensitivity over DNA PCR in the diagnosis of HIV infection in young infants. Positive RNA results can be found in a small number of infants who are not HIV-1-infected. HIV-1 RNA detection should not be routinely used alone for the diagnosis of HIV infection in young infants.
Comparative characterization of the nonlinear elastic properties of aluminum alloy AMg6 and nanocarbon composite 0.3wt.%C60/AMg6 from third order elastic constants and ultrasonic nonlinear parameter measurements

We experimentally investigated how nanostructuring affects the third-order elastic constants Cijklqr (TOECs) and ultrasonic nonlinear parameter N (NP) of the aluminum alloy AMg6 (Al-Mg-Mn system), and we had prepared a nanocomposite 0.3wt. %C60/AMg6 (n-AMg6) from it. The study of the nonlinear elastic properties was conducted in two ways: TOECs were measured by Thurston-Brugger method and the NPs were measured by spectral method. We also wanted to evaluate how these two methods are consistent and complement each other.
The Relationship between Organizational Justice and Organizational Commitment of Physical Education Teachers of Tabriz

The aim of conducting this research is determining the relationship between organizational justice and organizational commitment of physical education teachers of Tabriz. The research method is descriptive-correlative. The population included all physical education teachers of Tabriz, among which 181 individuals participated in the research. Data collection tools were organizational justice inventory by Niehoff and Moorman and Allen and Meyer organizational commitment questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for data analysis. Results showed that there was a significant correlation between three components of organizational justice, affective organizational commitment, normative organizational commitment and continuance organizational commitment. It is suggested to managers of physical education to use strategies for increasing organizational justice in order to increase the organizational commitment of physical education teachers
Pivotal Role of the P1 N-terminal Domain in the Assembly of the Mammalian Ribosomal Stalk and in the Proteosynthetic Activity*

In the 60 S ribosomal subunit, the lateral stalk made of the P-proteins plays a major role in translation. It contains P0, an insoluble protein anchoring P1 and P2 to the ribosome. Here, rat recombinant P0 was overproduced in inclusion bodies and solubilized in complex with the other P-proteins. This method of solubilization appeared suitable to show protein complexes and revealed that P1, but not P2, interacted with P0. Furthermore, the use of truncated mutants of P1 and P2 indicated that residues 1–63 in P1 connected P0 to residues 1–65 in P2. Additional experiments resulted in the conclusion that P1 and P2 bound one another, either connected with P0 or free, as found in the cytoplasm. Accordingly, a model of association for the P-proteins in the stalk is proposed. Recombinant P0 in complex with phosphorylated P2 and either P1 or its (1–63) domain efficiently restored the proteosynthetic activity of 60 S subunits deprived of native P-proteins. Therefore, refolded P0 was functional and residues 1–63 only in P1 were essential. Furthermore, our results emphasize that the refolding principle used here is worth considering for solubilizing other insoluble proteins.
A new triadic creative role for advertising industry: a study of creatives’ role identity in the rise of social media advertising

ABSTRACT Within the social networks online, consumers are no longer adopting a passive role in relation to dominant media; they have become a part of the media, constructing and promoting cultural meanings and values for consumption within their consumer culture. In this new era, advertising creatives were having increasingly direct contact with clients rather than depending on account managers. However, the question of how advertising organizations need to change in response to this changing environment has not been discussed extensively. Building upon the key experiences of advertising creatives in this empirical research, a triadic structure of advertising creatives’ emergent role that was identified from the analyses of in-depth interview data in different types and levels of current advertising organizations. The contributions to both theory and practice in advertising and organizational studies are examined. The triadic role of advertising creatives identified in this study help to shape contemporary advertising creatives’ identities in the social media advertising era, providing insights into employee perspectives on organizational roles. Although this study only offered a micro-level perspective on advertising creatives’ practices and advertising organizations, which is still relatively rare in advertising and organizational literature.
Using technological innovation to improve health care utilization in China’s hospitals: the emerging ‘online’ health service delivery

ABSTRACT This article shows how the Internet and mobile technologies are being adopted by Chinese hospitals to reduce the difficulties that patients face in obtaining hospital services. It presents the ways in which new technologies reduces the number of queuing patients at the hospital and the overall service time associated with accessing hospital services, while increasing the service volume and number of service providers in China’s health sector. Although the online platform reduces patients’ difficulties in obtaining hospital services, reform efforts should still be made offline to solve the issues that trouble the Chinese health care sector in the long run.
DdrI, a cAMP Receptor Protein Family Member, Acts as a Major Regulator for Adaptation of Deinococcus radiodurans to Various Stresses

ABSTRACT The DNA damage response ddrI gene encodes a transcription regulator belonging to the cAMP receptor protein (CRP) family. Cells devoid of the DdrI protein exhibit a pleiotropic phenotype, including growth defects and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and to oxidative stress. Here, we show that the absence of the DdrI protein also confers sensitivity to heat shock treatment, and several genes involved in heat shock response were shown to be upregulated in a DdrI-dependent manner. Interestingly, expression of the Escherichia coli CRP partially compensates for the absence of the DdrI protein. Microscopic observations of ΔddrI mutant cells revealed an increased proportion of two-tetrad and anucleated cells in the population compared to the wild-type strain, indicating that DdrI is crucial for the completion of cell division and/or chromosome segregation. We show that DdrI is also involved in the megaplasmid MP1 stability and in efficient plasmid transformation by facilitating the maintenance of the incoming plasmid in the cell. The in silico prediction of putative DdrI binding sites in the D. radiodurans genome suggests that hundreds of genes, belonging to several functional groups, may be regulated by DdrI. In addition, the DdrI protein absolutely requires cAMP for in vitro binding to specific target sequences, and it acts as a dimer. All these data underline the major role of DdrI in D. radiodurans physiology under normal and stress conditions by regulating, both directly and indirectly, a cohort of genes involved in various cellular processes, including central metabolism and specific responses to diverse harmful environments. IMPORTANCE Deinococcus radiodurans has been extensively studied to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for its exceptional ability to withstand lethal effects of various DNA-damaging agents. A complex network, including efficient DNA repair, protein protection against oxidation, and diverse metabolic pathways, plays a crucial role for its radioresistance. The regulatory networks orchestrating these various pathways are still missing. Our data provide new insights into the crucial contribution of the transcription factor DdrI for the D. radiodurans ability to withstand harmful conditions, including UV radiation, mitomycin C treatment, heat shock, and oxidative stress. Finally, we highlight that DdrI is also required for accurate cell division, for maintenance of plasmid replicons, and for central metabolism processes responsible for the overall cell physiology.
Supervisor support and work-life balance

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relations between supervisor support (SS), work-life balance (WLB), job attitudes and performance of employees in the Australian financial sector. More specifically, the study explore the impact of SS, WLB and job attitudes on employees’ job performance (JP). ,Using an online panel, the data comprised 305 employees working in financial organisations to test a model with structural equation modelling. A list of survey items was tested that replicated extensively in work-life research in the past. ,The research contributed to the existing literature by identifying a significant mechanism through which SS was linked to WLB that influenced job satisfaction, life satisfaction and organisational commitment and JP given the paucity of such research in the Australian financial sector. ,The study would guide employers, employees and managers involved in the financial sector to implement policies which aim to augment JP and promote balance between work, home and life.
Endovascular treatment of cribriform plate dural arteriovenous fistulas: technical difficulties and complications avoidance

Objective Cribriform plate dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is a rare pathology, for which the treatment of choice used to be neurosurgery. Technological advances in micro-catheters and embolic agents permitted new endovascular alternatives. Methods We included all patients treated endovascularly for a cribriform plate dAVF between 2008 and 2013. We retrospectively analysed data focusing on the type of treatment chosen. Results Ten patients were treated by endovascular approach, with a need for an additional surgical exclusion of the fistula in two cases. Thirteen embolisation sessions were done. Embolisation of the fistula through an ethmoidal artery was the technique of choice; the catheterism of the ophthalmic artery was impossible in two cases and the embolic agent did not penetrate in four cases. The embolisation through the middle meningeal artery was successful in one case but the tortuosity of this artery prevented good penetration of the embolic agent. Venous approach was successful in all cases but was limited to fistulas with superficial venous drainage. Conclusions Endovascular treatment of cribriform plate dAVF is safe and effective. The embolisation through ethmoidal artery is the method of choice. Branches of the middle meningeal artery are tortuous and prevent the penetration of embolic agent. Venous approach is effective but is limited to cases of failure of the arterial approach.
Achieving recommended low density lipoprotein cholesterol goals and the factors associated with target achievement of hypercholesterolemia patients with rosuvastatin in primary care

Abstract Objective: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and requires continuous management. The role of primary physicians in this regard is important, yet the factors associated with successful lipid lowering treatments in primary clinics have not been clearly identified. We aimed to evaluate the rate of successful hypercholesterolemia treatment in Korean primary care, and to identify the factors associated with achieving low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. Methods: We prospectively recruited and retrospectively assessed 1851 Korean patients with hypercholesterolemia who visited family physicians and were prescribed rosuvastatin for the first time. LDL-C lowering targets, defined according to NCEP ATP III guidelines, were evaluated at 6 months after the first prescription. The factors associated with achieving these targets were also assessed. Results: Overall, 87.6% of our participants attained their LDL-C goals. In multiple logistic regression analysis, good adherence to medication was strongly associated with the achievement of target LDL-C levels, whereas higher cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes (in both sexes), low high density lipoprotein, and current smoking status (in males), and hypertension (in females) were related to LDL-C target level failures. Conclusion: Our observations of the short period for hypercholesterolemia in Korean primary care has revealed that the rate of achieving target LDL-C levels was high in these patients, whereas patients at higher risk for cardiovascular disease tended to have lower LDL-C achievement outcomes. Primary care physicians should pay more attention to patients showing higher cardiovascular risk and stress the need for good adherence and management regimens in these individuals.
Comparison of two types of catheters through femoral vein catheterization in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A retrospective study

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects and complications of different types of peripherally inserted central catheters through femoral vein catheterization in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 158 patients with lung cancer undergoing implantation of a venous access through femoral vein catheterization was performed. The patients were divided into two groups by convenience sampling: the single-lumen silicone Groshong peripherally inserted central catheters with valved tip were used in patients in group A, the single-lumen power-injectable polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheters with no valve were used in patients in group B. The gravity flow rate and indwelling time of the catheter and incidences of total obstruction, transient obstruction, irreversible obstruction, catheter-related thrombosis, catheter breakage, and accidental dislodgment were compared between the two groups. Results: The catheter indwelling time and incidences of irreversible obstruction, catheter-related thrombosis, and accidental dislodgment in the two groups were not statistically significantly different (p > 0.05). The catheter gravity flow rate and incidences of total obstruction, transient obstruction, and catheter breakage were statistically significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Single-lumen power-injectable peripherally inserted central catheters with no valve had a high gravity flow rate, were strong and not prone to rupture, tolerant to high-pressure injection, and were more suitable for femorally inserted central venous catheterization in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
Kindler syndrome with severe mucosal involvement in a large Palestinian pedigree

BackgroundKindler syndrome (KS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease of skin fragility, photosensitivity and progressive poikiloderma. Mucous membranes may also be involved. KS is caused by mutations in the FERMT1 gene encoding kindlin-1.ObjectivesWe report the clinical and molecular features of the largest kindred with KS to date, comprising 18 affected family members (age range: 12–63 years) from the Gaza Strip.Materials and methodsAll the affected family members were clinically examined. In addition a skin biopsy for immunofluorescence testing was obtained from the index case. Molecular analysis of the FERMT1 gene was performed on genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood of 5 patients.ResultsAll patients presented skin and eye photosensitivity, cutaneous atrophy, dyschromia and poikiloderma, oral cavity involvement, dysphagia and constipation with anal fissures. In addition, nail dystrophy and digit webbing were observed in most of them. Ocular manifestations detected in all patients comprised ectropion and keratoconjunctivitis, with early development of symblepharon in 17 out of 18 cases and blindness in one. Of note, 17 out of 18 affected family members also suffered from urethral strictures since childhood. Diagnosis was supported by immunofluorescence findings and definitely confirmed by FERMT1 sequencing which identified the homozygous frame-shift mutation c. 137_140delTAGT. ConclusionsThe high rate of mucosal involvement, its early onset and progressive course are noticeable features of our kindred. Also noteworthy is the lack of muco-cutaneous malignancies, despite the sunny habitat.
Shear modulus imaging with 2-D transient elastography

In previous work, we have shown that time-resolved 2-D transient elastography is a promising technique for characterizing the elasticity of soft tissues. It involves the measurement of the displacements induced by the propagation of low frequency (LF) pulsed shear waves in biological tissues. In this paper, we present a novel apparatus that contains a LF vibrating device surrounding a linear array of 128 ultrasonic transducers that performs ultrafast ultrasonic imaging (up to 10,000 frames/s) and that is able to follow in real time the propagation of a LF shear wave in the human body. The vibrating device is made of two rods, fixed to electromagnetic vibrators, that produce in the ultrasonic image area a large amplitude shear wave. The geometry has been chosen both to enhance the sensitivity and to create a quasi linear shear wave front in the imaging plane. An inversion algorithm is used to recover the shear modulus map from the spatio-temporal data, and the first experimental results obtained from tissue-equivalent materials are presented.
Clonally amplified cardiac stem cells are regulated by Sca-1 signaling for efficient cardiovascular regeneration

Recent studies have shown that cardiac stem cells (CSCs) from the adult mammalian heart can give rise to functional cardiomyocytes; however, the definite surface markers to identify a definitive single entity of CSCs and the molecular mechanisms regulating their growth are so far unknown. Here, we demonstrate a single-cell deposition analysis to isolate individually selected CSCs from adult murine hearts and investigate the signals required for their proliferation and survival. Clonally proliferated CSCs express stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) with embryonic stem (ES) cell-like and mesenchymal cell-like characteristics and are associated with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). Using a transgene that expresses a GFP reporter under the control of the TERT promoter, we demonstrated that TERTGFP-positive fractions from the heart were enriched for cells expressing Sca-1. Knockdown of Sca-1 transcripts in CSCs led to retarded ex vivo expansion and apoptosis through Akt inactivation. We also show that ongoing CSC proliferation and survival after direct cell-grafting into ischemic myocardium require Sca-1 to upregulate the secreted paracrine effectors that augment neoangiogenesis and limit cardiac apoptosis. Thus, Sca-1 might be an essential component to promote CSC proliferation and survival to directly facilitate early engraftment, and might indirectly exert the effects on late cardiovascular differentiation after CSC transplantation.
Acculturative stress as a mental health predictor of North Korean refugees in South Korea

South Korea is an emerging immigration destination where over half of the country’s immigrant population are ethnic return migrants. Thus far, little attention has been given to the effect of acculturation on the mental health of coethnic migrants in non-traditional immigration states such as South Korea. Using 2010 survey data on 1,200 North Korean refugees, this study examines the effect of preserving cultural norms and practices from the home country on the mental health of North Koreans in the South. Based on an acculturation typology, we categorize respondents into four groups based on their attitudes toward home and host cultures. Given South Korea’s homogenous context, our cluster analyses extracted two acculturation types—the integrated and the assimilated groups. The finding that integrated or bicultural individuals had better mental health status than assimilated individuals underscores the crucial role of the culture of origin in attenuating acculturative distress for coethnic migrants in South Korea.
Optimal Control of Capital Injections by Reinsurance with a Constant Rate of Interest

We consider a classical risk model and its diffusion approximation, where the individual claims are reinsured by a reinsurance treaty with deductible b ∈ [0, b ]. Here b = b means ‘no reinsurance’ and b = 0 means ‘full reinsurance’. In addition, the insurer is allowed to invest in a riskless asset with some constant interest rate m > 0. The cedent can choose an adapted reinsurance strategy { b t } t ≥0 , i.e. the parameter can be changed continuously. If the surplus process becomes negative, the cedent has to inject additional capital. Our aim is to minimise the expected discounted capital injections over all admissible reinsurance strategies. We find an explicit expression for the value function and the optimal strategy using the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman approach in the case of a diffusion approximation. In the case of the classical risk model, we show the existence of a ‘weak’ solution and calculate the value function numerically.
3D magnetic field mapping in large-scale indoor environment using measurement robot and Gaussian processes

Magnetic fields are used for localization and navigation in the field of robotics. In recent years, because of the spread of mobile devices equipped with magnetic sensors (e.g., smart phones), the use of magnetic fields has been extensive, especially for position tracking of mobile devices. One example application of such tracking is in identifying the position of a person with a mobile device. Development of this application requires a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic map that represents the magnetic distribution of a 3D environment since the device moves around in 3D space. It is, however, difficult to construct a 3D magnetic map of a large-scale environment because measuring the magnetic field is time consuming and expensive. In this paper we propose an efficient method for mapping the 3D magnetic field of a large-scale environment. The method uses a mobile manipulator to measure the 3D magnetic field, enabling 3D magnetic data to be automatically collected. Moreover, the method uses Gaussian processes (GPs) for regression of the magnetic field. In this study, we first evaluate the performance of the GPs and then describe the measurement robot. In an experiment, a 3D magnetic field of an indoor environment is visualized by using this method and the performance of the presented method is demonstrated.