Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Migration and HIV infection in Malawi

Objective:To evaluate the assumption that moving heightens HIV infection by examining the time-order between migration and HIV infection and investigate differences in HIV infection by migration destination and permanence. Methods:We employ four waves of longitudinal data (2004–2010) for 4265 men and women from a household-based study in rural Malawi and a follow-up of migrants (2013). Using these data, we examine HIV status prior to migration. Migrants are disaggregated by destination (rural, town, and urban) and duration (return and permanent); all compared with individuals who consistently resided in the rural origin (‘nonmigrants’). Results:HIV-positive individuals have significantly greater odds of migration than those who are HIV negative [odds ratio 2.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89–4.01]. Being HIV positive significantly increases the relative risk (RR) that respondent will be a rural–urban migrant [RR ratio (RRR) 6.28; 95% CI 1.77–22.26), rural–town migrant (RRR 3.62; 95% CI 1.24–10.54), and a rural–rural migrant (RRR 4.09; 95% CI 1.68–9.97), instead of a nonmigrant. Being HIV positive significantly increases the RR that a respondent will move and return to the village of origin (RRR 2.58; 95% CI 1.82–3.66) and become a permanent migrant (RRR 3.21; 95% CI 1.77–5.82) instead of not migrating. Conclusion:HIV-positive status has a profound impact on mobility: HIV infection leads to significantly higher mobility through all forms of migration captured in our study. These findings emphasize that migration is more than just an independent risk factor for HIV infection: greater prevalence of HIV among migrants is partly due to selection of HIV-positive individuals into migration.
Kobot: A mobile robot designed specifically for swarm robotics research

The requirements of a mobile robot to be used as part of a swarm robotic system differs from that of a mobile robot to be used as stand-alone. In this paper, we first provide a wishlist of requirements that would be sought for in mobile robot platforms to be used in swarm robotics research. Then, we describe Kobot, as a new mobile robot platform which is designed to satisfy as much of these requirements. Specifically, we first describe in detail, an infrared-based short-range sensing system that can make proximity measurements with minimal interference from environmental lighting conditions as well as from other robots. The performance of the system, is evaluated with systematic experiments. Then, we present an IEEE802.15. 4/ZigBee-based communication system, which is used to develop a system, that can wirelessly program robots either one-by-one or in parallel. Finally, we provide snapshots from the flocking of a Kobot robotic swarm. The paper, reviews and evaluates existing robot platforms that are developed for, or being used in, swarm robotics research in comparison with the Kobot platform and concludes.
Modified kinematic models for wheel-legged robot considering the rolling effect during leg-support phase

In this paper, the kinematic modeling problem of a wheel-legged robot is investigated. Modified forward and inverse kinematic models are built to eliminate the hip joint misplacement caused by rolling effect that the wheel will roll on the ground when the leg supports robot body moving forward. First, accurate modified forward kinematic model is built for the contact point of the stance leg and ground. Second, by analysing the rolling distance, the modified inverse kinimatic model is built, whose solution is formulated via numerical method. And then the problem is also studied when wheel-legged robot walks on slope terrain further. Finally, the numerical simulation results have shown the correctness of the modified models.
Complex Bilobular, Bisaccular, and Broad-Neck Microsurgical Aneurysm Formation in the Rabbit Bifurcation Model for the Study of Upcoming Endovascular Techniques

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite rapid advances in the development of materials and techniques for endovascular intracranial aneurysm treatment, occlusion of large broad-neck aneurysms remains a challenge. Animal models featuring complex aneurysm architecture are needed to test endovascular innovations and train interventionalists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven adult female New Zealand rabbits were assigned to 3 experimental groups. Complex bilobular, bisaccular, and broad-neck venous pouch aneurysms were surgically formed at an artificially created bifurcation of both CCAs. Three and 5 weeks postoperatively, the rabbits underwent 2D-DSA and CE-3D-MRA, respectively. RESULTS: Mortality was 0%. We observed no neurologic, respiratory, or gastrointestinal complications. The aneurysm patency rate was 91% (1 aneurysm thrombosis). There was 1 postoperative aneurysm hemorrhage (9% morbidity). The mean aneurysm volumes were 176.9 ± 63.6 mm3, 298.6 ± 75.2 mm3, and 183.4 ± 72.4 mm3 in bilobular, bisaccular, and broad-neck aneurysms, respectively. The mean operation time was 245 minutes (range, 175–290 minutes). An average of 27 ± 4 interrupted sutures (range, 21–32) were needed to create the aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of creating complex venous pouch bifurcation aneurysms in the rabbit with low morbidity, mortality, and high short-term aneurysm patency. The necks, domes, and volumes of the bilobular, bisaccular, and broad-neck aneurysms created are larger than those previously described. These new complex aneurysm formations are a promising tool for in vivo animal testing of new endovascular devices.
The use of biotin-labelled, synthetic DNA oligomers for the detection and identification of Plasmodium falciparum

SUMMARY An oligonucleotide mixture based on the 21 base pair repeat sequence of Plasmodium falciparum was covalently coupled to biotin and used as a probe to detect P. falciparum DNA. The limit of detection was 10 ng. This method was further developed as a fingerprint assay for parasite strain typing. After restrictian enzyme digestion, blotting and hybridization, distinct banding patterns were obtained for the strains tested and these were reproducible. In addition, discrete differences were found between PLF-3 S + /S-strains which may implicate genetic reorganization in the switching mechanism which occurs when parasites are passed from an intact to a splenectomized animal.
Price Competition under Subsidization : Applications to Medicare Reform

We consider price competition models for oligopolistic markets, in which a significant part of the product or service price is paid by a third party, as a subsidy. The consumer is, therefore, impacted by the net price, defined as the difference between the nominal price and the subsidy, while the firms earn the full nominal price, partially paid by the subsidizing third party and the remainder by the consumer. When choosing among the various competing options, the consumer trades off the net price paid with various other product or service attributes, as in standard price competition models. The subsidy may be exogenously specified and pre-announced to the competing firms. Alternatively, it may be endogenously determined, as a function of the set of nominal prices selected by the competing firms, for example the lowest or the second lowest price. We first characterize the equilibrium behavior under a general subsidy scheme of the above type; this in a base model, where we assume that the consumer choice model is of the general MultiNomialLogit (MNL) type. We also derive comparison results for the price equilibria that arise under alternative subsidy schemes. We proceed to apply our results to the Medicare insurance market, both in terms of its existing structure, as well as in terms of various proposals to redesign the program, in particular the Wyden-Ryan plan. We show that implementation of the latter plan in 2010 would have reduced the capitation rates, on average by 18.5% and enabled savings of 16.2% in the governments’ costs. These numbers are significantly larger than traditional estimates obtained under the assumption that the plans’ premia and market shares would not be affected by the new capitation rate scheme. For beneficiaries continuing to opt for the traditional Medicare plan, the average monthly cost is roughly $64. Finally, we discuss extension of our model to Mixed MultiNominal Logit demand systems and prospect theoretical price competition models.
Treatment of adolescent depression: Frequency of services and impact on functioning in young adulthood

In this report, we (a) present descriptive information about the extent and the kinds of treatments being provided to depressed adolescents; (b) identify the factors that are related to treatment utilization; and (c) examine whether the provision of treatment during adolescence reduced the risk for the occurrence of depression during young adulthood (19–24 years). The sample consisted of 1,507 randomly selected high school students who were diagnostically assessed on two occasions with an interval of approximately one year; 627 were assessed a third time when they reached the age of 24. The findings may be summarized as follows: 60.7% of those with major depressive disorder were provided with treatment. The modal treatment was outpatient, individual psychotherapy administered by a mental health provider. Inpatient treatment and medications were rare. Factors found to be related to treatment utilization were the severity of the depression, the existence of a comorbid nonaffective disorder, the number of previous episodes of depression, history of suicide attempt, academic problems, lack of intact family, and female gender. Unexpectedly, those who had received treatment were not less likely to relapse into another episode of depression during young adulthood. Depression and Anxiety 7:47–52, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Finding Shortest Paths on Surfaces Using Level Sets Propagation

We present a new algorithm for determining minimal length paths between two regions on a three dimensional surface. The numerical implementation is based on finding equal geodesic distance contours from a given area. These contours are calculated as zero sets of a bivariate function designed to evolve so as to track the equal distance curves on the given surface. The algorithm produces all paths of minimal length between the source and destination areas on the surface given as height values on a rectangular grid. >
Invariant Vα14 Chain NKT Cells Promote Plasmodium berghei Circumsporozoite Protein-Specific Gamma Interferon- and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Producing CD8+ T Cells in the Liver after Poxvirus Vaccination of Mice

ABSTRACT Understanding the protective mechanism in the liver induced by recombinant vaccines against the pre-erythrocytic stages of malaria is important for vaccine development. Most studies in mice have focused on splenic and peripheral blood T cells and identified gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing CD8+ T cells as correlates of protection, which can be induced by prime-boost vaccination with recombinant poxviruses. Invariant natural killer T (Vα14iNKT) cells can also protect against liver stage malaria, when activated, and are abundant in the liver. Since poxviruses have nonspecific immunomodulating effects, which are incompletely understood, we investigated whether recombinant poxviruses affect the protective properties of hepatic Vα14iNKT cells and thus vaccine efficacy. We show that intradermal vaccination with recombinant poxviruses activated Vα14iNKT cells and NK cells in the livers of BALB/c mice while inducing IFN-γ- and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-producing pre-erythrocytic stage antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Greater numbers of hepatic Vα14iNKT cells secreted interleukin-4 than IFN-γ. Vaccinated Vα14iNKT-cell-deficient mice had lower, but still protective levels of hepatic and splenic IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ CD8+ T cells and better protection rates later after challenge with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. Therefore, vaccine-activated hepatic Vα14iNKT cells help in generating specific T cells but are not required for protection induced by recombinant poxviruses. Furthermore, double-positive INF-γ+/TNF-α+ CD8+ T cells were enriched in protected livers, suggesting that cells expressing both of these cytokines may be most relevant for protection.
Losses estimation method by simulation for the modular multilevel converter

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is the most promising solution to connect HVDC grids to an HVAC one. The installation of new equipment in the HVDC transmission systems requires an economic study where the power losses play an important role. Since the MMC is composed of a high number of semiconductors elements, the losses estimation becomes complex. This paper proposes a simulation-based method for the losses estimation that combines the MMC averaged and instantaneous model in a modular way. The method brings the possibility to compare performances for different modules technologies as well as different high and low level control techniques. The losses characteristics within the MMC are also discussed. The passive losses are taken into account for the first time.
Shear instabilities in a tilting tube

Shear instabilities in a tilting tube Edmund Tedford 1 , Jeff Carpenter 2 and Greg Lawrence 1 Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia ttedford@eos.ubc. ca Institute of Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht jeff.carpenter@hzg.de Abstract Shear instabilities were investigated in an exchange flow in a tilting channel. The channel is connected to a freshwater reservoir at one end and a salt water reservoir at the other end. When the channel is initially horizontal, a steady two-layer flow occurs that supports symmetric Holmboe instabilities. When the channel is tilted, as in closed tilting channel experiments, shear increases and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities are generated. The KH instabilities break down the sharp interface between the two-layers resulting in a broad region of mixing. Subsequent levelling of the tube results in a three-layer exchange flow. The upper and lower layers are nearly pure fresh and salt water respectively. Separating these two layers is a relatively thin layer of homogeneous mixed fluid. Within this layer a third mode of instability forms that resembles a Taylor-Caulfield instability. The wave characteristics and appearance of these instabilities are compared with the results of linear stability analysis and direct numerical simulations. Introduction Stratified shear flows in the laboratory can exhibit a variety of wave-like features. In experiments with relatively strong shear, spiralling Kelvin Helmholtz (KH) instabilities occur. These instabilities are stationary and cause intense mixing and broadening of the region of shear. In experiments with relatively weak shear Holmboe instabilities can form. These instabilities form as cusps that propagate. Tilting tube experiments, exchange flow experiments and splitter plate experiments can exhibit either KH or Holmboe instabilities or a complex mix of both KH and Holmboe instabilities. The experiments described here generate initially symmetric Holmboe instabilities, then KH instabilities, and then, during a period of three layer exchange, an instability that resembles the instability predicted by Taylor (1931) and observed by Caulfield et al. (1995). This third mode of instability, referred to here as the Taylor-Caulfield instability, relies on the interaction of two density interfaces (see figure 2). Experimental setup The shear instabilities are studied in an exchange flow facility with an open ended tilting channel (2.3 m long, 0.23 m wide by 0.2 m deep, figure 1). One end of the channel is open VIII th Int. Symp. on Stratified Flows, San Diego, USA, Aug. 29 - Sept. 1, 2016
Endoplasmic reticulum stress is sufficient for the induction of IL-1β production via activation of the NF-κB and inflammasome pathways

The mechanisms underlying pathophysiological states such as metabolic syndrome and obesity include endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and aberrant inflammatory responses. ER stress results from the accumulation of misfolded proteins during stress conditions. However, the precise mechanisms by which ER stress modulates inflammation remain incompletely understood. In this study, we hypothesized that ER stress alone could represent a sufficient signal for the modulation of inflammasome-dependent cytokine responses. We found that several ER stress-inducing chemicals and the free fatty acid palmitate can trigger IL-1β secretion in various cell types, including monocytic leukemia cells, primary macrophages and differentiated adipocytes. We show that ER stress primes cells for the expression of pro-IL-1β via NF-κB activation and promotes IL-1β secretion. Enhanced IL-1β secretion depended on the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome through a mechanism involving reactive oxygen species formation and activation of thioredoxin-interacting protein. Chemical chaperone treatment and the pharmacological application of carbon monoxide inhibited IL-1β secretion in response to ER stress. Our results provide a mechanistic link between ER stress and the regulation of inflammation, and suggest that modulation of ER stress may provide a therapeutic opportunity to block progression of low grade chronic inflammation to metabolic syndrome.
Infinite Remix Machine: Automatic Analysis and Arrangement of Musical Recordings

We live in a world where music can be remixed and re-imagined with a few simple button clicks, but at what point can this process stop requiring human input totally and work in an algorithmic fashion to explore machine creativity? The aim of this research is to investigate whether a machine can automatically analyse music and use the data to effectively combine it with other music to create a previously unheard piece.
Social Representations in and of the Public Sphere: Towards a Theoretical Articulation

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Double-blind randomized study comparing the efficacies and safeties of a short (3-day) course of azithromycin and a 5-day course of amoxicillin in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

The efficacies and safeties of a three-dose regimen of azithromycin (500 mg once daily for 3 days) and a 15-dose regimen of amoxicillin (500 mg three times daily for 5 days) were compared in a double-blind manner in patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. A total of 92% of patients suffered a type 1 exacerbation. Treatment success, defined as cure or major improvement, was achieved in all patients in the azithromycin group by day 5, compared with 23 (92%) of 25 patients in the amoxicillin group. On day 12, these data were 24 of 25 (96%) in the azithromycin group and 20 of 25 (80%) in the amoxicillin group (results were not significantly different). Several pathogens were isolated (MIC ranges [micrograms per milliliter] in parentheses): Haemophilus influenzae or Haemophilus parainfluenzae was isolated 23 times (azithromycin, less than or equal to 0.06 to 32; amoxicillin, 0.12 to 2); Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from 11 patients (azithromcyin, less than or equal to 0.06 greater than 256; amoxicillin, less than or equal to 0.06 to 0.25); Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis was isolated from eight patients (azithromycin, less than or equal to 0.06; amoxicillin, less than or equal to 0.06 to 16); and other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from eight patients. One patient treated with azithromycin had Legionella pneumophila pneumonia, and another in that group had a significant rise in titer of antibody against influenza A virus. One patient treated with amoxicillin also had a significant rise in titer of antibody against influenza A virus. Microbiological response rates were comparable. One patient who received azithromycin developed abnormal liver function. Two patients treated with amoxicillin developed abnormal liver functions, one developed exanthema, and one treatment was stopped because of nausea. It is concluded that a three-dose (3-day) regimen of azithromycin is as effective clinically and microbiologically as a 15-dose (5-day) regimen of amoxicillin in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.
The interplay of information retrieval and query by singing with words

Speech recognition can be used in music retrieval systems to identify the words in users' sung queries. Our aim was to determine which of several techniques is most suitable for retrieving songs given a sung query with words. We used Sphinx for speech recognition, and tested several retrieval techniques on the output of the recognition system. The most effective retrieval technique was a combination of Edit Distance and Okapi, which persistently retrieved the correct song at the top one ranked results given that the queries were at least 50% correct. However, techniques performed differently when the queries were split into four buckets with varying level of correctness in the range of 0 to 73%.
Socio-psychological Reflection of Religious Mobility: A Case of Thachanadan Moopan

Abstract This paper deals with religious life of Thachanadan Moopan, a tribal group of Wayanad, Kerala, with an intention to focus upon the changes that are taking place in their life, especially in the religious sphere. They still practice some traditional elements of culture. Traditionally, they believed in ancestral spirits and they have their own deities. The social and political structure of the traditional Thacahandan Moopan completely is contingent with the religious beliefs and practices. Traditional religious pattern and behavior is mainly based on the myths, sacred and secular performances, sorcery witchcraft etc. The present study focuses on the changes happening in the religious life of Thachandan Moopan. The main research questions were: What are the factors that lead to religious mobility? What are the subsequent changes appearing in the social institutions after religious mobility? It is revealed that the close cultural contacts and the socio-psychological conditions are the strong determinants for their option for other religions such as Hinduism and Christianity. The major factors for such adoptions are the influence of missionaries, mass media and the longing to move upwards in the social stratum. To be equal with the other plains people, they have to imitate them because they are surrounded by the vast environment of Hinduism. Education and medical camps are the attracting factors behind Christianity. The process of Hinduization and Christianization is increasing day by day fragmenting Thachanadan Moopan into segregated smaller groups with new identities.
AUDITORY AGNOSIA WITHOUT APHASIA.

ALTHOUGH cases of agnosia for sound and music have been reported for more than 80 years, 1-10 such defects were invariably observed to be associated with at least a mild impairment in language recognition, ie, auditory verbal agnosia. According to Nielsen, 11 only one case of an agnosia for sounds without evidence of aphasia either in the history or in the present clinical picture has so far been on record. This patient was a 52-year-old Mexican man who was examined with the aid of an interpreter. 12 An older vascular lesion had caused a left hemiparesis in this patient, and a more recent lesion resulted in a total loss of light perception, disorientation in space, loss of ability to visualize, incapacity to form nonlanguage concepts through sensory impressions, and unawareness of the left side of the body. The patient denied the loss of vision and in doing so would, eg,