Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence and risk factors of first-line antiretroviral treatment failure among human immunodeficiency virus-infected children in Amhara regional state, Ethiopia: a retrospective follow-up study

Objective This study aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors of treatment failure among HIV/AIDS-infected children who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective follow-up study was conducted from January 2010 to March 2016. A total of 824 children under the age of 15 who had started ART were included in the study. Data were collected from children’s medical charts and ART registration logbook using a standard checklist. A Weibull regression model was used to identify the risk factors of treatment failure. Adjusted HRs (AHRs) with 95% CIs were used to declare statistical significance. Results The mean (±SD) age of the children was 6.4±3.6 years, with a median (IQR) follow-up of 30.5 (14.6–51.4) months. Sixty-three children (7.7%, 95% CI 5.8 to 9.5) developed treatment failure, 17 (27.0%) of whom were immunological and 46 (73.0%) were clinical failures. The incidence rate of treatment failure was 22.1/10 000 person-months. The cumulative probability of failure was 0.4, with 28 562.5 person-month observations. Lack of disclosure (AHR=4. 4, 95% CI 1.8 to 11.3), opportunistic infections during initiation of ART (AHR=2.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.1) and prolonged follow-up (AHR=0.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.18) were the main predictors of treatment failure. Conclusion This study revealed that the incidence of treatment failure remains a significant public health concern in Ethiopia. Undisclosed HIV status to children, the presence of opportunistic infections during initiation of ART and prolonged follow-up were found to be the main predictors of treatment failure. Hence, early detection of treatment failure and further studies on viral monitoring need to be considered.
Autofluorescence imaging of human RPE cell granules using structured illumination microscopy

Background/aims To characterise single autofluorescent (AF) granules in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells using structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Methods Morphological characteristics and autofluorescence behaviour of lipofuscin (LF) and melanolipofuscin (MLF) granules of macular RPE cells (66-year-old donor) were examined with SIM using three different laser light excitation wavelengths (488, 568 and 647 nm). High-resolution images were reconstructed and exported to Matlab R2009a (The Mathworks Inc, Natick, MA, USA) to determine accurate size and emission intensities of LF and MLF granules. Results SIM doubles lateral resolution compared with conventionally used wide-field microscopy and allows visualisation of intracellular structures down to 110 nm lateral resolution. AF patterns were examined in 133 LF and 27 MLF granules. LF granules (968±220 nm) were significantly smaller in diameter than MLF granules (1097±110 nm; p<0.001). LF granules showed an inhomogeneous intragranular pattern, and the average intensity negatively correlated with the size of these granules when excited at 647 nm. The autofluorescence of MLF granules was more homogeneous, but shifted towards higher excitation wavelengths in the centre of the granules. Conclusion SIM is a useful tool for examining AF signals within single LF and MLF granules in RPE cells. This allows new insights into RPE autofluorescence patterns.
Perspective alignment in spatial language

It is well known that perspective alignment plays a major role in the planning and interpretation of spatial language. In order to understand the role of perspective alignment and the cognitive processes involved, we have made precise complete cognitive models of situated embodied agents that self-organise a communication system for dialoging about the position and movement of real world objects in their immediate surroundings. We show in a series of robotic experiments which cognitive mechanisms are necessary and sufficient to achieve successful spatial language and why and how perspective alignment can take place, either implicitly or based on explicit marking.
Quantitative trace-element analyses of sulfides from Sudbury and Stillwater by proton microprobe

Major sulfide ore minerals from mineral deposits in the Sudbury area, Ontario, and from the Stillwater Complex, Montana, have been analyzed with the Heidelberg proton microprobe in a search for trace quantities of the platinumgroup elements @cE). No PGE were detected in Sudbury sulfides, down to minimum detection-levels of 1.2 to 3 ppm for Pd and Rh and 50-60 ppm for Pt. Stillwater pentlandite, on the other hand, contains tlre following pGE in solid solution: Pd 1870 to 13600 ppm, Rh < 26 to ll0 ppm, and Ru < 14 to 80 ppm. Chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrrholite from Sudbury and Stillwater contain Se in solid solution. Sudbury chalcopyrite, in addition, contains Zn in the form of a heterogeneous olid-solution ( < 35 to 2520 ppm). The data demonstrate the gxeat potential ofthe proton microprobe in research on the geochemistry of sulfides and other minerals. The low levels determined for extenr of solid solution of the PGE in Sudbury sulfides are helpful in guiding future mineralogical research and in directing improvements in PGE recoveries. The data on Stjllwater sulfides help understand distribution of the PGE in other Merensky-type deposits and will also assist metallurgists in improving metal recoveries, should tle Stillwater deposit be exploited. Data on other trace-elements are of interest in questions concerning ore genesis and flotation research.
PLOVER: Fast, Multi-core Scalable Virtual Machine Fault-tolerance

Cloud computing enables a vast deployment of online services in virtualized infrastructures, making it crucial to provide fast fault-tolerance for virtual machines (VM). Unfortunately, despite much effort, achieving fast and multi-core scalable VM fault-tolerance is still an open problem. A main reason is that the dominant primarybackup approach (e.g., REMUS) transfers an excessive amount of memory pages, all of them, updated by a service replicated on the primary VM and the backup VM. This approach makes the two VMs identical but greatly degrades the performance of services. State machine replication (SMR) enforces the same total order of inputs for a service replicated across physical hosts. This makes most updated memory pages across hosts the same and they do not need to be transferred. We present Virtualized SMR (VSMR), a new approach to tackle this open problem. VSMR enforces the same order of inputs for a VM replicated across hosts. It uses commodity hardware to efficiently compute updated page hashes and to compare them across replicas. Therefore, VSMR can efficiently enforce identical VMs by transferring only divergent pages. An extensive evaluation on PLOVER, the first VSMR system, shows that PLOVER’s throughput on multi-core is 2.2X to 3.8X higher than three popular primary-backup systems. Meanwhile, PLOVER consumed 9.2X less network bandwidth than both of them. PLOVER’s source code and raw results are released on github.com/ hku-systems/plover.
Analyses of guide update approaches for vector evaluated particle swarm optimisation on dynamic multi-objective optimisation problems

The vector evaluated particle swarm optimisation (VEPSO) algorithm is a multi-swarm variation of particle swarm optimisation (PSO) used to solve static multi-objective optimisation problems (SMOOPs). Recently, VEPSO was extended to the dynamic VEPSO (DVEPSO) algorithm to solve dynamic multi-objective optimisation problems (DMOOPs) that have at least one objective that changes over time. The search process of DVEPSO is driven through local and global guides that can be updated in various ways. This paper investigates the influence of various guide update approaches on the performance of DVEPSO. DVEPSO is also compared against a competitive-cooperative evolutionary algorithm. The results indicate that DVEPSO performs well in fast changing environments, but struggles to converge to discontinuous Pareto-optimal fronts (POFs).
PowerMan: An Out-of-Band Management Network for Datacenters Using Power Line Communication

Management tasks in datacenters are usually executed in-band with the data plane applications, making them susceptible to faults and failures in the data plane. In this paper, we introduce power line communication (PLC) to datacenters as an out-of-band management channel. We design PowerMan, a novel datacenter management network that can be readily built into existing datacenter power systems. With commercially available PLC devices, we implement a small 2-layer PowerMan prototype with 12 servers. Using this real testbed, as well as large-scale simulations, we demonstrate the potential of PowerMan as a management network in terms of performance, reliability, and cost.
Molecular docking revealed the binding of nucleotide/side inhibitors to Zika viral polymerase solved structures

Abstract A new Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak started in 2015. According to the World Health Organization, 84 countries confirmed ZIKV infection. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) was an appealing target for drug designers during the last two decades. Through molecular docking, we screened 16 nucleotide/side inhibitors against ZIKV RdRp. While the mode of interaction with ZIKV is different from that in the hepatitis C virus (HCV), nucleotide/side inhibitors in this study (mostly anti-HCV) showed promising binding affinities (−6.2 to −9.7 kcal/mol calculated by AutoDock Vina) to ZIKV RdRp. Setrobuvir, YAK and, to a lesser extent, IDX-184 reveal promising results compared to other inhibitors in terms of binding ZIKV RdRp. These candidates would be powerful anti-ZIKV drugs.
Cytochrome P450 CYP6EV11 in Chironomus kiiensis Larvae Involved in Phenol Stress

Phenol is one of the organic pollutants which can cause water environment pollution. It is not only enriched in aquatic organisms but is also a serious threat to human health. Chironomus kiiensis is very sensitive to the contaminants in water and its cytochrome P450s are usually chosen as biomarkers for water pollution. To examine whether CYP6EV11 plays a role in the oxidative metabolism of phenol, we measured the silencing efficiency of CYP6EV11 and evaluated larval susceptibility to sublethal phenol levels by RNA interference (RNAi) technology. The results showed that the transcription of CYP6EV11 was found significantly up-regulated when the 4th instar C. kiiensis larvae were exposed to three doses of phenol. However, the transcriptional levels of CYP6EV11 were significantly suppressed by 92.7% in the 4th instar C. kiiensis larvae soaked in dsCYP6EV11 compared with those soaked in dsGFP for 6 h. The CYP6EV11 expression and mortality of the 4th instar C. kiiensis larvae with CYP6EV11 silencing were mostly decreased under phenol stress. Therefore, the CYP6EV11 gene may be used as a molecular biomarker for earlier warning and monitoring for water pollution.
Variational Composite Autoencoders

Learning in the latent variable model is challenging in the presence of the complex data structure or the intractable latent variable. Previous variational autoencoders can be low effective due to the straightforward encoder-decoder structure. In this paper, we propose a variational composite autoencoder to sidestep this issue by amortizing on top of the hierarchical latent variable model. The experimental results confirm the advantages of our model.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUSED PHALANGES OF THE INNER TOE IN THE ACCIPITRIDAE

In certain members of the Accipitridae, the basal phalanges (1 and 2) of the inner toe (digit II) are fused to form a single functional unit. Although this condition has in the past been considered to have taxonomic significance, I have found that all the literature concerning the distribution of this character is either incomplete or inaccurate. As this appears to be a uniquely derived character that can perhaps be used to define a small, monopbyletic group within the large and diverse family of hawks and eagles, it is of particular value because the intrafamilial systematic^ of the Accipitridae have been very poorly documented. Therefore, I conducted a comprehensive survey of the osteology of the bones of the inner toe in the Accipitridae in order to determine more precisely which taxa possess the fused condition of the phalanges.
An information system risk assessment model: a case study in online banking system

Today, almost all bank affairs are automatic and all transactions, processing and money transfers are performed by applying information systems technologies. Moreover, to codify the strategies and making management decisions more effectively, banks rely on electronic information systems. The remarkable point is the security and the security risk management of information systems which the traditional point of view would not overcome its future challenge. This paper identified the relevant elements to the security risks of informational electronic banking systems based on previous research studies. The final weight of all elements was then determined by fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and Chung weighing method. After that, the final weights of all elements in three case studies from banking section have been calculated. Ultimately, elements securities of those banks were clarified by using Jaeger fuzzy classification. The results indicated that the vulnerability element has the most weight.
Detection Under One-Bit Messaging Over Adaptive Networks

This paper studies the operation of multi-agent networks engaged in binary decision tasks, and derives performance expressions and performance operating curves under challenging conditions with some revealing insights. One of the main challenges in the analysis is that agents are only allowed to exchange one-bit messages, and the information at each agent therefore consists of both continuous and discrete components. Due to this mixed nature, the steady-state distribution of the state of each agent cannot be inferred from direct application of central limit arguments. Instead, the behavior of the continuous component is characterized in integral form by using a log-characteristic function, while the behavior of the discrete component is characterized by means of an asymmetric Bernoulli convolution. By exploiting these results, this paper derives reliable approximate performance expressions for the network nodes that match well with the simulated results for a wide range of system parameters. The results also reveal an important interplay between continuous adaptation under constant step-size learning and the binary nature of the messages exchanged with neighbors.
The Indirect Path From Mindful Parenting to Emotional Problems in Adolescents: The Role of Maternal Warmth and Adolescents’ Mindfulness

Mindfulness has been demonstrated to have positive effects on children’s emotional functioning, and adaptive parenting practices are associated with fewer emotional problems. However, the association between mindful parenting and adolescent emotional problems has not been studied much. In the current study, the indirect path from mindful parenting to adolescent emotional problems was examined, with maternal warmth and adolescent dispositional mindfulness as potential mediators. A sample of 168 mother–child dyads participated in this study. A serial indirect effects model showed mother’s mindful parenting could decrease adolescent emotional problems through adolescent’s perceived maternal warmth and their dispositional mindfulness. Findings of this study imply that intervention in mindful parenting may have benefits for adolescents’ emotional problems through enhancing maternal warmth and children’s trait mindfulness.
Containment Control in Mobile Networks

In this paper, the problem of driving a collection of mobile robots to a given target destination is studied. In particular, we are interested in achieving this transfer in an orderly manner so as to ensure that the agents remain in the convex polytope spanned by the leader-agents, while the remaining agents, only employ local interaction rules. To this aim we exploit the theory of partial difference equations and propose hybrid control schemes based on stop-go rules for the leader-agents. Non-Zenoness, liveness and convergence of the resulting system are also analyzed.
Shikonin Prevents Early Phase Inflammation Associated with Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colon Cancer and Induces Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Abstract Shikonin is the main active principle in the root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. Recent research highlights shikoninʼs antitumor properties and capacity to prevent acute ulcerative colitis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of shikonin to prevent, in vivo, the early phases of colorectal cancer development, with special focus on its cytotoxic mechanism in vitro. We employed the azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium model of colitis in Balb/C mice. Body weight and drinking were monitored throughout the experiment, and length of colon and lesions of the colon were recorded on termination of the experiment in all of the experimental groups. Colons underwent histological evaluation and biochemical analyses [myeloperoxidase activity assay, measurement of interleukin-6, evaluation of proinflammatory enzymes (cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase), and nuclear factor-κB activation by Western blot]. Caco-2 cells were used to evaluate, in vitro, the effect of shikonin on proliferation, cytotoxicity, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Our results reveal that shikonin significantly protected the intestinal tissue of our animals by preventing the shortening of the colorectum and ulcer formation in a dose-dependent manner. Shikonin attenuated the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and myeloperoxidase activity, and inhibited the production of interleukin-6 and activation of nuclear factor-κB. It induced Bcl-2 and inhibited caspase 3. In conclusion, shikonin acts as a chemopreventive agent in the azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium model through inhibition of the proinflammatory milieu generated during the disease, an important risk factor in cancer development.
Modification of Local Urban Aerosol Properties by Long-Range Transport of Biomass Burning Aerosol

During August 2016, a quasi-stationary high-pressure system spreading over Central and North-Eastern Europe, caused weather conditions that allowed for 24/7 observations of aerosol optical properties by using a complex multi-wavelength PollyXT lidar system with Raman, polarization and water vapour capabilities, based at the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET network) urban site in Warsaw, Poland. During 24–30 August 2016, the lidar-derived products (boundary layer height, aerosol optical depth, Angstrom exponent, lidar ratio, depolarization ratio) were analysed in terms of air mass transport (HYSPLIT model), aerosol load (CAMS data) and type (NAAPS model) and confronted with active and passive remote sensing at the ground level (PolandAOD, AERONET, WIOS-AQ networks) and aboard satellites (SEVIRI, MODIS, CATS sensors). Optical properties for less than a day-old fresh biomass burning aerosol, advected into Warsaw’s boundary layer from over Ukraine, were compared with the properties of long-range transported 3–5 day-old aged biomass burning aerosol detected in the free troposphere over Warsaw. Analyses of temporal changes of aerosol properties within the boundary layer, revealed an increase of aerosol optical depth and Angstrom exponent accompanied by an increase of surface PM10 and PM2.5. Intrusions of advected biomass burning particles into the urban boundary layer seem to affect not only the optical properties observed but also the top height of the boundary layer, by moderating its increase.
Notice of RetractionInfluence of Organizational Boundary on Psychological Empowerment in Multi-organization Network

Psychological Empowerment means one type of employees' perception, the perception of power, which is influenced by factors inside and outside of organization in multi-organization network. In order to explore the impact of Organizational Authority Boundary on Psychological Empowerment, 143 managers of the clients, consultants, contractors and designers of Chinese hydropower development industry were surveyed through questionnaires and interviews. The results revealed strong correlations between satisfaction on organizational authority boundary and psychological empowerment. This shows that in some organizational networks, Organizational Authority Boundary has an impact on the Psychological Empowerment of employees, and an organization can increase employees' Psychological Empowerment by modifying the Organizational Authority Boundary in multi-organization network.
Preparation and Characterization of Porous Bioglass® and PLLA Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications

Three-dimensional porous scaffold network structures of Bioglass® and poly-l-lactide (PLLA) have been fabricated using camphene-based freeze cast reticulation technique using polyurethane foam templates of appropriate structures and solvent extraction methods. Sublimation of camphene was controlled during freeze casting of Bioglass® slurries at −78°C. PLLA scaffolds were prepared by solvent extraction at temperatures between 25°C and −196°C. Both methods produced open, uniform and interconnected porous structures with 180–1100 μm and porosities of 80%–90% for Bioglass® and wide pore size ranges 150–600 μm with porosities up to 90% for PLLA scaffolds. PLLA scaffolds exhibited a strong dependence on freezing temperature and type of the solvent used. Camphene sublimation resulted in micropores of 1–10 μm, known to facilitate cell adhesion and proliferation. Compressive yield strength of 0.8 MPa close to the upper range of cancellous bone was achieved. The mean compressive strength of Bioglass® scaffolds compared favorably with the theoretical model of porosity variation with strength and was higher than reported values. A maximum of 25% shrinkage resulted, but the original foam template structure was accurately replicated within 4% experimental limit and the conformity was maintained even at high temperatures. The strut sizes of both type of scaffolds varied between 4-10 μm. Surface crystallization up to 5 μm was evident at 900°C.