Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeted screening for primary HIV infection through pooled HIV-RNA testing in men who have sex with men

HIV-RNA testing may identify individuals with primary HIV infection. Men who have sex with men (MSM) having HIV testing through Public Health, Seattle and King County were screened for primary infection through pooled RNA testing. Eighty-one out of 3525 specimens (2.3%) had detectable antibody and RNA, and seven out of 3439 antibody-negative specimens (0.2%) had HIV RNA. Targeted screening for primary infection through pooled RNA testing in MSM is a useful addition to HIV case finding.
GENÇLİK VE SPOR GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ’NÜN ÖRGÜT İKLİMİ VE ÇALIŞANLARIN KATILIMLA İLGİLİ ALGILAMALARI

Turkiye’de toplumsal degisim surecinde, teknik ve ekonomik boyutla ilgili hizmet orgutleri giderek guclenir ve buyurken, devletin yurutmekle sorumlu oldugu geleneksel hizmet kuruluslari kuculmekle beraber varligini surdurmektedir. Bu calismanin amaci, geleneksel hizmet kurulusu olan ve ulkemizde sporu yoneten kurum Genclik ve Spor Genel Mudurlugu (GSGM) merkez orgutu calisanlarinin, katilim algilamalariyla orgut iklimi arasindaki iliskiyi incelemektir. Cagimizda yeni bir bilim dali olarak gelisen spor yonetim biliminin temel sorunlari ve tartisma konulari arasinda yer alan spor orgutlerinin yeniden yapilandirilmasinda orgutsel iklim calismalari onem tasimaktadir. Cunku orgutsel etkinligi artirici her turlu program ve proje orgut iklimini anlamayi gerektirmektedir. Bu arastirmada, hazirlanan anket yoluyla veriler GSGM’nin 437 calisanindan toplanmistir. Arastirici tarafindan olcme araci olarak ‘Orgutsel Iklim Olcegi’ gelistirilmistir. Verilerin analizinde yordamsal istatistik kullanilmistir. Yonetim kaynaklarinda varolan katilimin uc boyutu; iletisim, ekip calismasi ve karar vermeye katilim olarak belirlenmistir. Orgutsel iklim boyutlari olarak; burokratik iklim, destekleyici iklim ve yenilikci iklim ele alinmistir. Calisanlarin etkili tutumlari olarak da; is doyumu, orgutsel baglilik ve stres belirlenmistir. Arastirma hipotezlerinin test edilmesi icin yapilan hiyerarsik regresyon analizine oncelikle calisanlarin demografik degiskenleri girilmis, ikinci asamada calisanlarin tutumlari girilmis, ucuncu asamada da iklim degiskenleri girilmistir. Yapilan tum regresyon analizlerinde sonuc olarak, orgute baglilik ve destekleyici iklim anlamli ve belirleyici olarak bulunmustur. Sonuclar yonetim kaynaklarindaki arastirmacilarin ve uygulayicilarin tartismalariyla paralellik gostermektedir
Redundancy resolution in robots using parameterization through space

This paper deals with the solution of the inverse kinematic problem for kinematically redundant robots. After summarizing the most widespread methods currently used, a new algorithm is proposed which finds the solution with a constrained optimization, using a parameterized form of the kinematic equation's null space. Along with the derivation of the new algorithm, extension possibilities (e.g., singularity handling) are also described. Further comparison then shows the relation between gradient projection and optimization methods through a special case. Finally, application examples are presented for an eight-degrees-of-freedom arm and a mobile manipulator.
Intraoperative Detection of Cell Injury and Cell Death with an 800 nm Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Annexin V Derivative

The intraoperative detection of cell injury and cell death is fundamental to human surgeries such as organ transplantation and resection. Because of low autofluorescence background and relatively high tissue penetration, invisible light in the 800 nm region provides sensitive detection of disease pathology without changing the appearance of the surgical field. In order to provide surgeons with real‐time intraoperative detection of cell injury and death after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), we have developed a bioactive derivative of human annexin V (annexin800), which fluoresces at 800 nm. Total fluorescence yield, as a function of bioactivity, was optimized in vitro, and final performance was assessed in vivo. In liver, intestine and heart animal models of I/R, an optimal signal to background ratio was obtained 30 min after intravenous injection of annexin800, and histology confirmed concordance between planar reflectance images and actual deep tissue injury. In summary, annexin800 permits sensitive, real‐time detection of cell injury and cell death after I/R in the intraoperative setting, and can be used during a variety of surgeries for rapid assessment of tissue and organ status.
Nonlinear acceleration methods for even-parity neutron transport

Convergence acceleration methods for even-parity transport were developed that have the potential to speed up transport calculations and provide a natural avenue for an implicitly coupled multiphysics code. An investigation was performed into the acceleration properties of the introduction of a nonlinear quasi-diffusion-like tensor in linear and nonlinear solution schemes. Using the tensor reduced matrix as a preconditioner for the conjugate gradients method proves highly efficient and effective. The results for the linear and nonlinear case serve as the basis for further research into the application in a full three-dimensional spherical-harmonics even-parity transport code. Once moved into the nonlinear solution scheme, the implicit coupling of the convergence accelerated transport method into codes for other physics can be done seamlessly, providing an efficient, fully implicitly coupled multiphysics code with high order transport.
An approach for assessment of level of degradation and RUL estimation for a dynamic systeme

In this paper, we propose an approach for failure prognosis by assessing the level of degradation and estimating the residual life before failure of a dynamic system. During its operation, an industrial process as a dynamic system evolves physically. This evolution can have an impact on the modes of operation: nominal, degraded or failure. The proposed approach is based on knowledge of the behavior model of the system. It deals with systems where available measurements are not able to provide information on the level of degradation reached by the system. Since the available data are not usable, and in order to generate indicator signals of degradation, the method based on the generation of residues by an observer was selected. Due to the model uncertainties and disturbances, the evolution of the characteristics of residues is not necessarily correlated with the evolution of the level of degradation. Therefore, the residues generated were exploited to model the degradation behavior. We selected a Hidden Markov Model or its multi-stream extension in the case of a stream of residuals. The proposed approach was conducted in two phases: a learning phase to model the degradation behavior and a prognosis phase to assess the level of degradation and estimate the Remaining Useful Life. To illustrate the approach, a simulated induction motor was used.
Middleware Systems for Opportunistic Computing in Challenged Wireless Networks. (Support des applications distribuées dans les réseaux mobiles ad hoc à continuité partielle)

Opportunistic networks (OppNets) constitute an appealing solution to complement fixed network infrastructures –or make up for the lack thereof– in challenged areas. Researches in the last few years have mostly addressed the problem of supporting networking in OppNets, yet this can only be a first step towards getting real benefit from these networks. Opportunistic computing goes beyond the concept of opportunistic networking, and provides a new paradigm to enable collaborative computing tasks in such environments. In the realm of opportunistic computing, properly designing, implementing and deploying distributed applications are important tasks. An OppNet-dedicated application must be able to operate and maintain an acceptable level of service while addressing the many problems that can occur in these networks, such as disconnections, partitioning, long transmission delays, transmission failures, resource constraints, frequent changes in topology, and heterogeneous devices. Much of the complexity and cost of building OppNet-dedicated applications can be alleviated by the use of high-level programming models. Such models can be supported by middleware systems capable of transparently addressing all the above-mentioned problems. The work reported in this dissertation focused on providing insight into the fundamental problems posed by OppNets, so as to analyze and solve the problems faced by application developers while dealing with these environments. The research focused on identifying well-known high-level programming models that can be satisfactorily implemented for OppNets, and that can prove useful for application developers. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of application development for OppNets, while assessing the benefits brought about by carefully designed middleware systems, a couple of such systems have been designed, implemented, and evaluated as part of this work. These middleware systems respectively support distributed messaging (through message queues and topics), the tuple-space model, and consensus solving in OppNets. They are supplemented with fully-functional implementations, that can be used in real settings, and that are all distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). Real-life experiments and simulations have been realized so as to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of these systems in real conditions.
Clinical Review about the Role of Platelet Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Traumatic and Degenerative Musculoskeletal Disorders

The use of orthobiologics is expanding at a rapid pace in the field of bone and joint surgery, tendon and wound healing [1]. While a precise definition has not been elaborated, orthobiologics are considered to be the naturally occurring elements that are used in order to initiate, augment or modulate healing of bone, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles and/or cutaneous defects. Among the biological compounds currently considered as orthobiologics are included the bone grafts of various origins, autologous blood and conditioned serum, platelet rich plasma (PRP), growth factors and stem cells. Some of these factors such as bone grafts or autologous blood have a long history of use in orthopaedic and/or rheumatologic settings. The use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) or stem cells has been initiated with the beginning of the third millennium and is currently in different stages of penetrating clinical practice. Taking advantage of cutting edge research and using advanced technologies, orthobiologics are processed or engineered to respond to a certain clinical need.
Recycling of wood for particle board production: accounting of greenhouse gases and global warming contributions

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to the recycling of wood waste have been assessed with the purpose to provide useful data that can be used in accounting of greenhouse gas emissions. Here we present data related to the activities in a material recovery facility (MRF) where wood waste is shredded and foreign objects are removed in order to produce wood chips for use in the production of particleboard. The data are presented in accordance with the UOD (upstream, operational, downstream) framework presented in Gentil et al. (Waste Management & Research, 27, 2009). The GHG accounting shows that the emissions related to upstream activities (5 to 41 kg CO2-equivalents tonne —1 wood waste) and to activities at the MRF (approximately 5 kg CO2-equivalents tonne—1 wood waste) are negligible compared to the downstream processing (—560 to —120 kg CO2equivalents tonne—1 wood waste). The magnitude of the savings in GHG emissions downstream are mainly related to savings in energy consumption for drying of fresh wood for particleboard production. However, the GHG account highly depends on the choices made in the modelling of the downstream system. The inclusion of saved electricity from avoided chipping of virgin wood does not change the results radically (—665 to —125 kg CO2-equivalents tonne— 1 wood waste). However, if in addition it is assumed that the GHG emissions from combustion of wood has no global warming potential (GWP) and that the energy produced from excess wood due to recycling substitutes energy from fossil fuels, here assumed to be coal, potentially large downstream GHG emissions savings can be achieved by recycling of waste wood (—1.9 to —1.3 tonnes CO2-equivalents tonne— 1 wood waste). As the data ranges are broad, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the feasibility of the data in the specific system which the GHG accounting is to be applied to.
Central dopamine turnover in schizophrenic syndromes.

Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), and probenecid were measured in groups of patients suffering from schizophrenia or affective disorder following administration of probenecid (100 mg/kg over 18 hours) to block acid monoamine metabolite egress from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF HVA value was lower in the total schizophrenic group compared with that of the affective disorder group and in a poor prognosis group of schizophrenics compared with that in a good prognosis group. These differences could not be accounted for by differences in CSF probenecid. Comparable net increases in HVA were produced by antipsychotic drug administration in subgroups from the two groups of schizophrenics. If clinical schizophrenia is characterized by increased central dopaminergic transmission, this increased transmission is not associated with increased central HVA formation, as determined by the measurement of lumbar CSF HVA following probenecid.
Procalcitonin kinetics – prognostic and diagnostic significance in septic patients

Introduction Severe sepsis and septic shock are advanced clinical conditions representing the patient's response to infection and having a variable but high mortality rate. Early evaluation of sepsis stage and choice of adequate treatment are key factors for survival. Some study results suggest the necessity of daily procalcitonin (PCT) monitoring because of its prognostic and discriminative value. Material and methods An observational and prospective study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic and discriminative value of PCT kinetics in comparison to PCT absolute value measurements. In a group of 50 intensive care unit patients with diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock, serum PCT measurements were performed on admission, and on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th day of therapy. The level of PCT was determined with a commercially available test according to the manufacturer's protocol. Results The kinetics of PCT assessed by ΔPCT was statistically significant in the survivors vs. the non-survivors subgroup (ΔPCT3/1, p = 0.022; ΔPCT5/1, p = 0.021). ΔPCT has no statistical significance in the severe sepsis and septic shock subgroups for all analyzed days. Only the 5th day PCT level was significantly higher in the non-survivors vs. survivors group (p = 0.008). The 1st day PCT level in the severe sepsis vs. septic shock group has a discriminative impact (p = 0.009). Conclusions According to the results, single serum PCT measurement, regardless of absolute value, has a discriminative impact but no prognostic significance, during the first 2 days of therapy. The PCT kinetics is of prognostic value from the 3rd day and is of earlier prognostic significance in comparison to changes in the patient's clinical condition evaluated by SOFA score kinetics.
Target-Localized Nanograting-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Detection toward Label-free Molecular Biosensing

We explore the sensitivity enhancement of label-free detection based on localized surface plasmon resonance using surface-relief nanograting structures. A nanograting structure was modeled, so that target molecular interactions are localized in hot spots of the near fields. The nanograting structure was optimized numerically for the highest enhancement of sensitivity with hybridization between complementary strands of DNA as the model target interaction. Experimentally, angled evaporation was performed to fabricate the target-localized nanograting samples. Measured data confirm the numerical results that sensitivity enhancement by an order of magnitude may be feasible on a per-unit-volume basis through target localization.
Evidence-Based Practice Guideline: Increasing Physical Activity in Schools—Kindergarten Through 8th Grade

Because of the growing obesity epidemic across all age groups in the United States, interventions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviors have become a priority. Evidence is growing that interventions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviors have positive results and are generally inexpensive to implement. National and international health organizations are calling for a comprehensive approach for reducing obesity in children that includes increasing physical activity in the school setting. Although the call to increase activity levels in schools is clear, little guidance has been given to schools on specific methods to accomplish this task. This article provides an overview of an evidence-based guideline developed by a physical education teacher and a school nurse to provide inexpensive, easy-to-implement, effective strategies to increase physical activity in students. Tools are also included in the guideline to measure the effectiveness of the intervention.
A Cytosolic Granzyme B Inhibitor Related to the Viral Apoptotic Regulator Cytokine Response Modifier A Is Present in Cytotoxic Lymphocytes*

Using a polymerase chain reaction strategy we identified a serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) in human bone marrow that is related to the cellular serpin proteinase inhibitor 6 (PI-6) and the viral serpin cytokine response modifier A (CrmA). This serpin, proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI-9), has an unusual reactive center P1(Glu)-P1′(Cys), which suggests that it inhibits serine proteinases that cleave after acidic residues. The only known serine proteinase with this specificity is granzyme B, a granule cytotoxin produced by cytotoxic lymphocytes. To test the interaction of PI-9 with granzyme B we prepared recombinant hexa-histidine tagged PI-9 in a yeast expression system. Addition of the recombinant protein to native granzyme B resulted in an SDS-resistant complex typical of serpin-serine proteinase interactions. Further analysis showed that complex formation followed bimolecular kinetics with a second order rate constant of 1.7 ± 0.3 × 106 M−1 s−1, which is in the range for a physiologically significant serpin-proteinase interaction. Recombinant PI-9 also completely abrogated granzyme B and perforin-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. Examination of PI-9 mRNA distribution demonstrated that it is expressed in immune tissue, primarily in lymphocytes. The highest levels of PI-9 mRNA and protein were observed in natural killer cell leukemia cell lines and in interleukin-2 stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which also produce granzyme B. Like PI-6, PI-9 was shown to be a cytosolic protein that is not secreted. Fractionation of natural killer cells and stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells demonstrated that PI-9 is in a separate subcellular compartment to granzyme B. These results suggest that PI-9 serves to inactivate misdirected granzyme B following cytotoxic cell degranulation. This may explain why cytotoxic cells are not damaged by their own granzyme B during destruction of abnormal cells.
The Feature Selection Problem: Traditional Methods and a New Algorithm

For real-world concept learning problems, feature selection is important to speed up learning and to improve concept quality. We review and analyze past approaches to feature selection and note their strengths and weaknesses. We then introduce and theoretically examine a new algorithm Rellef which selects relevant features using a statistical method. Relief does not depend on heuristics, is accurate even if features interact, and is noise-tolerant. It requires only linear time in the number of given features and the number of training instances, regardless of the target concept complexity. The algorithm also has certain limitations such as nonoptimal feature set size. Ways to overcome the limitations are suggested. We also report the test results of comparison between Relief and other feature selection algorithms. The empirical results support the theoretical analysis, suggesting a practical approach to feature selection for real-world problems.
Cloning and expression of synthetic genes encoding angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory bioactive peptides in Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum.

A wide range of biopeptides potentially able to lower blood pressure through inhibition of the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) is produced in fermented foods by proteolytic starter cultures. This work applies a procedure based on recombinant DNA technologies for the synthesis and expression of three ACE-inhibitory peptides using a probiotic cell factory. ACE-inhibitory genes and their pro-active precursors were designed, synthesized by PCR, and cloned in Escherichia coli; after which, they were cloned into the pAM1 E. coli-bifidobacteria shuttle vector. After E. coli transformation, constructs carrying the six recombinant clones were electrotransferred into the Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum M115 probiotic strain. Interestingly, five of the six constructs proved to be stable. Their expression was confirmed by reverse transcription PCR. Furthermore, transformed strains displayed ACE-inhibitory activity linearly correlated to increasing amounts of cell-free cellular lysates. In particular, 50 μg of lysates from constructs pAM1-Pro-BP3 and pAM1-BP2 showed a 50% higher ACE-inhibitory activity than that of the controls. As a comparison, addition of 50 ng of Pro-BP1 and Pro-BP3 synthetic peptides to 50 μg of cell-free extracts of B. pseudocatenulatum M115 wild-type strain showed an average of 67% of ACE inhibition; this allowed estimating the amount of the peptides produced by the transformants. Engineering of bifidobacteria for the production of biopeptides is envisioned as a promising cell factory model system.
APOPTOSIS AND EXPRESSION OF BCL-2 AND BAX DURING EARLY HUMAN EMBRYOGENESIS

Apoptosis is an important process that plays a fundamental role in embryonic development. The aim of this study was to detect apoptotic cells in the tissues and organs of human embryos during early embryogenesis and to correlate the level of apoptosis with the expression of BCL-2 and BAX as proteins which are known to regulate this vital process. Tissue samples from 42 human embryos, aged 4 to 30 weeks of intrauterine development, were studied using the TUNEL technique. The standard, three-step, indirect immunohistochemical method was used for the detection of BCL-2 and BAX. A high level of apoptosis was observed at the following sites: anlages of the vertebral bodies, interdigital zones of limb anlages, left lobe of the liver anlage, spongious layer of the primitive myocardium and apical parts of the primitive intestinal villi. The relationship between BCL-2 expression and the level of apoptosis and BAX expression appeared to be inversely proportional. In other issues, i.e., skeletal muscles and lungs, the described relationship was not so convincing.