Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in National Antiretroviral Prescribing Patterns Between Black and White Patients with HIV/AIDS, 1996–2006

Objectives The benefit of improved health outcomes for blacks receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) lags behind that of whites. This project therefore sought to determine whether the reason for this discrepancy in health outcomes could be attributed to disparities in use of antiretroviral therapy between black and white patients with HIV. Materials and Methods The 1996–2006 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys were used to identify hospital outpatient visits that documented antiretrovirals. Patients younger than 18 years, of nonblack or nonwhite race, and lacking documentation of antiretrovirals were excluded. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed with race as the independent variable and use of HAART as the dependent variable. Results Approximately 3 million HIV/AIDS patient visits were evaluated. Blacks were less likely than whites to use HAART and protease inhibitors (odds ratio, 95% CI 0.81 [0.81–0.82] and 0.67 [0.67–0.68], respectively). More blacks than whites used non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (odds ratio, 95% CI 1.18 [1.17–1.18]). In 1996, the crude rates of HAART were relatively low for both black and white cohorts (5% vs 6%). The rise in HAART for blacks appeared to lag behind that of whites for several years, until 2002, when the proportion of blacks receiving HAART slightly exceeded the proportion of whites receiving HAART. In later years, the rates of HAART were similar for blacks and whites (81% vs 82% in 2006). Blacks appeared less likely than whites to use protease inhibitors and more likely than whites to use non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors from 2000 to 2004. Conclusions Blacks experienced a lag in the use of antiretrovirals at the beginning of the study; this discrepancy dissipated in more recent years.
Design Procedure of Quasi-Class-E Power Amplifier for Low-Breakdown-Voltage Devices

This paper presents new design procedure for a general class-E power amplifier, here referred to as quasi-class-E, with finite dc-feed inductance and switch on-resistance and variable duty cycle under variable voltage switching (VVS), and variable derivative voltage switching (VDS), taking into account the switch breakdown voltage. It is shown that for non-zero switch on-resistance in class-E power amplifier, zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero derivative switching (ZDS) conditions do not necessarily result in maximum efficiency. Hence, by assuming VVS and VDS, new design equations are derived. The new equations can be solved with a simple and fast numerical method in MATLAB. The theoretical results show efficiency improvement for quasi-class-E power amplifier compared to conventional designs. Circuit simulations confirm the validity of the theoretical results.
Study on multi-scale-based 3-D surface topography evaluation algorithm

In machining and testing field of MEMS parts, due to anisotropy commonly exists in some technics, the evaluation for 3D surface topography is a difficult program. Existing evaluation algorithm is short of representation capability. Based on discussing of extracting methods of surface topography characteristics, the contourlet Transform (CT) which may provide tight bracing and mutli-scale analysis was introduced. We present a new 3-D surface topography evaluation algorithm. This algorithm has some excellent performances such as multi-scale analysis, high-resolution, time-frequency- localization and multi-directions. And it is good at describing high dimensions data. Meanwhile, according to the theory that noise is not correlated with signal, correlation theory was explored as Discriminant Function. The contourlet transform is rebuilt to an adaptive filter based on this discriminant. Thus high-frequency noise, roughness and waviness information may be separated from. However, we found a question in experiment, so a datum plane was established according to the definition of flatness. Above-mentioned CT and two discriminants may be seen as three low-pass filter banks from the view of filtering. Thus, microcosmical 3-D surface topography of a part may be appraised finely under the three filters work together. The algorithm is verified by simulations. A conclusion can be draw that this algorithm can reliably obtain benchmark of appraisemnt. And the surface information of measured part can be extracted and analyzed without distortion. Comparing with existent 3-D surface topography evaluation algorithm, this method is preponderant in practicality of MEMS and nano surface evaluation.
Knockdown of REGγ inhibits the proliferation and migration and promotes the apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells by downregulating NF-κB signal pathway

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of REGγ knockdown on the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of multiple myeloma (MM) cells, and reveal the potential regulatory mechanisms. Methods: The expression of REGγ on myeloma cells of 28 MM patients was detected by Western blot. shRNA-REGγ-1 and shRNA-REGγ-2 were constructed to downregulate REGγ in RPMI-8226 cells. The proliferation, apoptosis and migration of transfected cells were analyzed by Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8), flow cytometry and transwell chamber, respectively. The expression of phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), p65, NF-kappa-B inhibitor ε (IkBε), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), B-cell lymphoma xL (Bcl-xL) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in transfected cells was detected by Western blot. Using cycloheximide (CHX), the half-life period of IkBε was detected by Western blot. Results: The expression of REGγ was positive in myeloma cells. The proliferation and migration of RPMI-8226 cells were significantly inhibited by shRNA-REGγ-1/shRNA-REGγ-2, while the apoptosis rates were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The expression of p-p65 and IkBε was significantly reduced in RPMI-8226 cells transfected with shRNA-REGγ-1/shRNA-REGγ-2. The degradation of IkBε was significantly lower in RPMI-8226 cells transfected with shRNA-REGγ-1 than the control (longer half-life period). Besides, the expression of MMP2, Bcl-xL and XIAP in RPMI-8226 cells was significantly inhibited by shRNA-REGγ-1/shRNA-REGγ-2. Discussion: Knockdown of REGγ may inhibit the proliferation and migration, and promote the apoptosis of RPMI-8226 cells possibly by downregulating NF-κB signal pathway.
Ethnicity and mortality from systemic lupus erythematosus in the US

Objective: To study ethnic differences in mortality from systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) in two large, population-based datasets. Methods: We analysed the national death data (1979–98) from the National Center for Health Statistics (Hyattsville, Maryland, USA) and hospitalisation data (1993–2002) from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest hospitalisation database in the US. Results: The overall, unadjusted, lupus mortality in the National Center for Health Statistics data was 4.6 per million, whereas the proportion of in-hospital mortality from the NIS was 2.9%. African-Americans had disproportionately higher mortality risk than Caucasians (all-cause mortality relative risk adjusted for age = 1.24 (women), 1.36 (men); lupus mortality relative risk = 3.91 (women), 2.40 (men)). Excess risk was found among in-hospital deaths (odds ratio adjusted for age = 1.4 (women), 1.3 (men)). Lupus death rates increased overall from 1979 to 98 (p<0.001). The proportional increase was greatest among African-Americans. Among Caucasian men, death rates declined significantly (p<0.001), but rates did not change substantially for African-American men. The African-American:Caucasian mortality ratio rose with time among men, but there was little change among women. In analyses of the NIS data adjusted for age, the in-hospital mortality risk decreased with time among Caucasian women (p<0.001). Conclusions: African-Americans with lupus have 2–3-fold higher lupus mortality risk than Caucasians. The magnitude of the risk disparity is disproportionately higher than the disparity in all-cause mortality. A lupus-specific biological factor, as opposed to socioeconomic and access-to-care factors, may be responsible for this phenomenon.
Hypertension and the Heart

The interactions linking high blood pressure with hypertensive heart disease are reciprocal. Hypertension can be regarded as a source of adverse effects on myocardial structure and function by favoring the development and progression of left ventricular hypertrophy and of left ventricular dysfunction and failure in the advanced phases of the disease. Conversely, the heart can be regarded as a source of reflex influences on the cardiovascular system, which appear to be deranged in the hypertensive state. The clinical relevance of this reflex dysfunction is based on the evidence that these alterations may favor the occurrence of an increased sympathetic vasoconstrictor drive, thereby promoting the development of the1 hypertensive state. Both phenomena have important clinic and therapeutic implications potentiating the cardiovascular risk profile of the hypertensive patient.
The role of proline‐containing peptide triads in β‐sheet formation: A kinetic study

The design of biomimetic materials through molecular self‐assembly is a growing area of modern nanotechnology. With problems of protein folding, self‐assembly, and sequence–structure relationships as essential in nanotechnology as in biology, the effect of the nucleation of β‐hairpin formation by proline on the folding process has been investigated in model studies. Previously such studies were limited to investigations of the influence of proline on the formation of turns in short peptide sequences. The effect of proline‐based triads on the folding of an 11‐kDa amyloidogenic peptide GH6[(GA)3GY(GA)3GE]8GAH6 (YE8) was investigated by selective substitution of the proline‐substituted triads at the γ‐turn sites. The folding and fibrillation of the singly proline‐substituted polypeptides, e.g., GH6[(GA)3GY(GA)3GE]7(GA)3GY(GA)3PDGAH6 (8PD), and doubly proline‐substituted polypeptides, e.g., GH6[(GA)3GY(GA)3GE]3(GA)3GY(GA)3PD[(GA)3GY(GA)3GE]3(GA)3GY(GA)3PDGAH6 (4,8PD), were directly monitored by circular dichroism and deep UV resonance Raman and fluorescence spectroscopies. These findings were used to identify the essential folding domains, i.e., the minimum number of β‐strands necessary for stable folding. These experimental findings may be especially useful in the design and construction of peptidic materials for a wide range of applications as well as in understanding the mechanisms of folding critical to fibril formation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 103: 339–350, 2015.
Use of fluorescence labeled mesenchymal stem cells in pluronic F127 and porous hydroxyapatite as a bone substitute for posterolateral spinal fusion

Posterolateral spinal fusion is used to treat patients with degenerative spinal disorders. We investigated the effectiveness of a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)/Pluronic F127/Interpore hybrid graft for spinal fusion in rabbits. Spinal fusion was examined using radiography, manual palpation, computed tomography (CT), torsional loading tests, and histological analysis. Using a PKH fluorescence labeling system, we also examined whether the newly formed bone was derived from the transplanted MSCs. We found that the MSCs adhered to the Interpore surface and within its pores, and differentiated into osteoblasts. Radiographs and CT images showed a continuous bone bridge and a satisfactory fusion mass incorporated into the transverse processes. The results of manual palpation and biomechanical data did not differ significantly from an autograft group. Histology from both groups revealed the presence of fibrous tissue, cartilage, and endochondral ossification in the gaps between the grafted fragments. In both groups, the degree of mature bone formation was greater at 12 weeks than at 6 weeks after grafting. Quantitative histomorphometry revealed no significant differences between the two groups at either time point. In situ tracing of the PKH 67‐labeled MSCs indicated that the transplanted MSCs were partly responsible for the new bone formation in both the repaired transverse processes and the grafted fragments. Thus, the MSC/Pluronic F127/Interpore hybrid graft could be used effectively to achieve posterolateral spinal fusion. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:1631–1636, 2009
Multiple-Output Regression with High-Order Structure Information

In this paper, we propose a new method to learn the regression coefficient matrix for multiple-output regression, which is inspired by multi-task learning. We attempt to incorporate high-order structure information among the regression coefficients into the estimated process of regression coefficient matrix, which is of great importance for multiple-output regression. Meanwhile, we also intend to describe the output structure with noise covariance matrix to assist in learning model parameters. Taking account of the real-world data often corrupted by noise, we place a constraint of minimizing norm on regression coefficient matrix to make it robust to noise. The experiments are conducted on three public available datasets, and the experimental results demonstrate the power of the proposed method against the state-of-the-art methods.
Gains by a space-time-code based signaling scheme for multiple-antenna RFID tags

Radio frequency identification (RFID) channel is with deeper small-scale fades than a traditional one-way wireless channel. This paper presents a new signaling scheme based on space-time block coding (STBC) for multiple-antenna RF tags. Simulation results of 1×2×1 and 2 × 2 × 2 RFID channels, when considering various values of link correlation coefficient between the forward and backscatter links, suggest that further diversity gain can be achieved by the proposed STBC-based signaling scheme for multi-antenna RF tag when compared with the identical signaling scheme.
Indirect assessment of stifle angle for improved accuracy of preoperative planning of tibial osteotomy procedures in dogs

To assess reliability of the mechanical axes stifle angle in dogs positioned for radiography with a neutral stifle (neutral stifle angle (nSA)). To investigate radiographic landmarks for assessment of nSA from a collimated radiographic view. One hundred radiographs were taken of normal stifles belonging to 55 skeletally mature medium and large breed dogs, positioned using a repeatable protocol. Radiographs were widely collimated to include the femoral head and the talus. The angle of Blumensaat's line through the intercondylar fossa relative to the Mechanical Axis of the femur (intercondylar fossa angle, IFA), the angle of inclination of a tibial crest tangent line relative to the Mechanical Axis of the tibia (tibial crest angle, TCA) and the tibial plateau angle (TPA) were recorded. Mean nSA was 133.5°. Mean IFA was 155.5°. TCA had a mean of 6.7°. Estimates for nSA were calculated using mean IFA combined with mean TCA (enSA1), mean TPA (enSA2) and the mechanical axis of the tibia (enSA3). Mean percentage error relative was 2.99 per cent for enSA1, 2.82 per cent for enSA2, 1.67 per cent for enSA3. Blumensaat's line provides a consistent radiological feature for assessment of nSA. Assessment of nSA and correction for values varying from 135° may allow more consistent and accurate measurement of patellar tendon angle for presurgical planning.
Most AAL toxin-sensitive Nicotiana species are resistant to the tomato fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici.

The phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici produces AAL toxins required to colonize susceptible tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants. AAL toxins and fumonisins of the unrelated fungus Fusarium moniliforme are sphinganine-analog mycotoxins (SAMs), which are toxic for some plant species and mammalian cell lines. Insensitivity of tomato to SAMs is determined by the Alternaria stem canker gene 1 (Asc-1), and sensitivity is associated with a mutated Asc-1. We show that SAM-sensitive species occur at a low frequency in the Nicotiana genus and that candidate Asc-1 homologs are still present in those species. In Nicotiana spp. , SAM-sensitivity and insensitivity also is mediated by a single codominant locus, suggesting that SAM-sensitive genotypes are host for A. alternata f. sp. lycopersici. Nicotiana umbratica plants homozygous for SAM-sensitivity are indeed susceptible to A. alternata f. sp. lycopersici. In contrast, SAM-sensitive genotypes of Nicotiana spegazzinii, Nicotiana acuminata var. acuminata, Nicotiana bonariensis, and Nicotiana langsdorffii are resistant to A. alternata f. sp. lycopersici infection concomitant with localized cell death. Additional (nonhost) resistance mechanisms to A. alternata f. sp. lycopersici that are not based on an insensitivity to SAMs are proposed to be present in Nicotiana species.
Reverse Link Power Control for Managing Inter-Cell Interference in Orthogonal Multiple Access Systems

Several next generation mobile wireless technologies have adopted orthogonal multiple access techniques in the reverse link. An orthogonal reverse link implies that same cell (or intra-cell) interference is no longer the dominating factor limiting system performance, rather it is the interference from mobile transmissions in neighboring cells (inter-cell interference) which ultimately limits the performance of the system, especially with a reuse factor of 1. In this work we propose a simple reverse link power control scheme which is effective in managing the interference generated to neighboring cells. Parameterization of the power control scheme allows flexible tradeoff between overall spectral efficiency and cell-edge bit rates. In addition, we show that the variance of the inter-cell interference distribution is reduced compared to existing power control methods, which leads to significantly improved system performance.
Quantifying Family, School, and Location Effects in the Presence of Complementarities and Sorting

We extend Altonji and Mansfield’s control function approach to allow for multiple group levels and complementarities. Our analysis provides a foundation for a causal interpretation of multilevel mixed effects models in the presence of sorting. In our empirical application, we obtain lower-bound estimates of the importance of school and commuting zone inputs for education and wages. A school/location combination at the 90th versus 10th percentile of the school/location quality distribution increases high school graduation and college enrollment probability by at least . 06 and . 17, respectively. Treatment effects are heterogeneous across subgroups, primarily due to nonlinearity in the educational attainment model.
Proceedings of the ACM SIGKDD Workshop on Interactive Data Exploration and Analytics

We have entered the era of big data. Massive datasets, surpassing terabytes and petabytes in size are now commonplace. They arise in numerous settings in science, government, and enterprises, and technology exists by which we can collect and store such massive amounts of information. Yet, making sense of these data remains a fundamental challenge. We lack the means to exploratively analyze databases of this scale. Currently, few technologies allow us to freely "wander" around the data, and make discoveries by following our intuition, or serendipity. While standard data mining aims at finding highly interesting results, it is typically computationally demanding and time consuming, thus may not be well-suited for interactive exploration of large datasets. Interactive data mining techniques that aptly integrate human intuition, by means of visualization and intuitive human-computer interaction techniques, and machine computation support have been shown to help people gain significant insights into a wide range of problems. However, as datasets are being generated in larger volumes, higher velocity, and greater variety, creating effective interactive data mining techniques becomes a much harder task.
Safeguarding the forest tenure rights of forest-dependent communities in Uganda: Insights from a national-level participatory prospective analysis workshop

Key messagesParticipatory Prospective Analysis (PPA) proved to be effective for encouraging collective reflection to identify threats to forest tenure security and to develop ways for improving it at a national-level workshop in Uganda, where stakeholders identified several factors that strongly influence the forest tenure rights of forest-dependent communities.Factors influencing forestry tenure security that they identified were: forest resource governance; community capacity to sustainably manage forests and demand/defend tenure rights; the priority level of forestry and tenure security for development partners; local norms and beliefs that impact upon vulnerable groups' tenure rights; forestry sector financing in national budgetary allocations; and local communities' legal literacy on land / forest tenure.When analyzing the potential evolution of forest tenure security over the next 25 years, stakeholders identified some desirable potential outcomes. Among them are: forestry being prioritized in national development plans; availability of adequate financial resources; existence of capable, well-coordinated district- and national-level government structures to promote community forest tenure; availability of technical staff with capacity to equip communities with knowledge and skills to enable them to exercise their tenure rights; presence of enterprising communities with skills to innovate and adopt alternatives to forestry products; and effective enforcement of gender-sensitive forestry-related laws and policies to promote benefit-sharing equity.After analyzing potential future outcomes, both negative and positive, PPA stakeholders recommended prioritizing a set of actions to safeguard the future forest tenure security of forest-dependent communities. These actions were: improving coordination of key government agencies; adopting inclusive and participatory decision-making processes for tenure-related activity implementation; improving stakeholders' technical and financial capacity with traditional and emerging innovative financing mechanisms; and implementing policies and strategies designed to provide alternative livelihood sources, thus reducing local dependence on forests and forest products.
Near field program-dependent EMI measurement and data reduction for IOMarking method

IOMarking method can characterize program-dependent conducted EMI (cEMI). This paper firstly proposes a direct extension for program-dependent near-field EMI (rEMI) behaviors under a complex HW/SW environment. For the program-dependent EMI analysis by IOMarking, sample rate is a major parameter that affects the bandwidth. Due to high sample rate and long program execution time, large amounts of sample points are acquired for the analysis. The second contribution of this paper is to overcome the difficulty by finding a size-reduction general rule. In this paper, we find a partial IOMarking data for EMI characterizing can be done without too much reducing the analysis accuracy. This means the processing and storage efficiency are greatly improved. About the reduction percentages, our case study shows that, for a high speed data acquisition system (1.5G sample per sec), the IOMarking EMI characterization can be reduced up to 30% of the total data size without too much affecting the EMI analysis accuracy. When the reduced size is below 20%, the analysis still remains but with less accuracy.