Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antiretroviral-Drug Concentrations in Semen: Implications for Sexual Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

The majority of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections result from seminal transmission (17, 104). The size of the viral innoculum in seminal fluid is likely the major determinant of transmissibility. Current HIV prevention strategies include comprehensive population interventions promoting condom use, early diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and education programs to decrease the rate of sexual-partner change and other high-risk sexual behavior (17, 18, 40, 76, 115). However, antiretroviral therapy targeted to reduce viral shedding in genital secretions may also assist in preventing transmission (17, 86). Although the HIV-1 pandemic continues to be driven by transmission of virus in genital fluids, little is known about the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antiretroviral drugs in the genital tract (46). Similarly to the effect of antiretroviral therapy on viral burden in blood and lymphoid tissue (6, 14, 41, 42, 120, 132), potent combinations of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors which concentrate in semen may lead to marked viral suppression in this compartment (2, 21, 30, 37, 38, 41–43, 58–60, 84, 117, 118, 124, 138). This article reviews the biology of HIV-1 in the male genital tract, the impact of antiretroviral therapy on seminal shedding, and the emergence of drug-resistant variants. Major determinants of drug distribution into semen are discussed, and strategies for using this information to predict antiretroviral concentrations in this compartment are suggested. Finally, a discussion of animal models critical to investigating correlations between seminal antiretroviral concentrations and viral transmission is included.
A Simple, Linearized, Phase-Modulated Analog Optical Transmission System

We describe and experimentally demonstrate a new technique to suppress third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD) in a coherent phase-modulated RF optical link. The anisotropic electrooptic coefficient of lithium niobate is exploited to simultaneously modulate orthogonally polarized fields. These fields are then combined to eliminate the third-order distortion. This technique uses a single phase modulator, requiring no external bias or control, for a highly linear photonic microwave relay. The resulting suboctave dynamic range is limited by fifth-order IMD instead of third-order IMD
Who Is the Celebrity Endorser? Cultural Foundations of the Endorsement Process

This article offers a new approach to celebrity endorsement. Previous explanations, especially the source credibility and source attractiveness models are criticized, and an alternative meaning transfer model is proposed. According to this model, celebrities' effectiveness as endorsers stems from the cultural meanings with which they are endowed. The model shows how meanings pass from celebrity to product and from product to consumer. The implications of this model for our understanding of the consumer society are considered. Research avenues suggested by the model are also discussed. Copyright 1989 by the University of Chicago.
Attraction and retention of qualified health workers to rural areas in Nigeria: a case study of four LGAs in Ogun State, Nigeria.

UNLABELLED INTRTODUCTION: A shortage of health workers is a major problem for Nigeria, especially in rural areas where more than 70% of the population live. At the primary care level, trained community health officers provide services normally reserved for doctors or medical specialists. The community health officers must therefore be supported and motivated to provide effective quality healthcare services. This study aimed to determine factors that will attract and retain rural and urban health workers to rural Nigerian communities, and to examine differences between the two groups. METHODS A cross-sectional survey measured health workers' work experience, satisfaction with, and reasons for undertaking their current work; as well as reasons for leaving a work location. Data were also gathered on factors that attract health workers to rural settings and also retain them. RESULTS; Rural health workers were generally more likely to work in rural settings (62.5%) than their urban counterparts (16.5%). Major rural motivators for both groups included: assurances of better working conditions; effective and efficient support systems; opportunities for career development; financial incentives; better living conditions and family support systems. The main de-motivator was poor job satisfaction resulting from inadequate infrastructure. Rural health workers were particularly dissatisfied with career advancement opportunities. More urban than rural health workers expressed a wish to leave their current job due to poor job satisfaction resulting from poor working and living conditions and the lack of career advancement opportunities. CONCLUSIONS Motivational factors for attraction to and retention in rural employment were similar for both groups although there were subtle differences. Addressing rural health manpower shortages will require the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based rural health manpower improvement strategy that incorporates a coordinated intersectoral approach, involving partnership with a range of stakeholders in rural health development.
The doppel gene biology: a scientific journey from brain to testis, and return

Doppel is a newly recognized prion-like molecule encoded by a novel gene locus, PRND, located on the same chromosomal region of the prion (PRNP) coding gene. Doppel was considered a paralogue and the first member of the prion-gene family, possibly originated through an ancestral gene duplication event. Prion and doppel have different expression patterns, suggesting that the gene products exhibit different biological functions. Actually, doppel is not involved in the aetiology of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) or “prion diseases” and is highly expressed only within the testicular tissue, suggesting an important physiological role in the process of spermatogenesis. The restricted spatial and temporal expression profile of doppel has suggested its investigation within particular pathological contexts, such as cancers, showing that it might represent a novel and attractive diagnostic molecular marker and that might provide insights into the regulatory pathways of tumor-cell transformation.
Child Care Changes, Home Environment Quality, and the Social Competence of African American Children at Age 3

Research Findings: Recent work has demonstrated that the changes young children experience in their child care settings before age 5 may be related to subsequent development, especially social development. Several of these studies have included samples of middle-class children, with almost no emphasis on understanding these processes for low-income and/or African American children. This study examined a rural African American sample of children from birth to 3 years of age to understand not only the role of child care changes in children's social development but, in addition, the role played by children's home environment quality. Results suggested that more changes in child care up to age 3 (defined as “big changes” in provider, location, or quantity of care) were associated with lower child care provider ratings of children's social competence. Furthermore, this link appeared to be stronger for children whose home environment was of low quality. Practice or Policy: Policy, practice, and research implications are discussed.
Sequential or Combination Antifungal Therapy with Voriconazole and Liposomal Amphotericin B in a Guinea Pig Model of Invasive Aspergillosis

ABSTRACT We evaluated combinations of voriconazole (VRC) and liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) in a guinea pig invasive aspergillosis model. Simultaneous VRC and L-AMB was most effective, although VRC monotherapy was also effective. These regimens as well as sequential L-AMB followed by VRC were more effective than L-AMB alone or VRC followed by L-AMB.
SOCIAL NETWORKS FOR EPIDEMIC SPREADING : A CASE STUDY

The study of social networks and the spread of disease on networks has recently attracted considerable attention and there is a huge amount of work dealing with this matter. The current work presents and develops a social network model based on the multigraph idea in order to simulate the spread of an epidemic. The paper deals with a real example which refers to the spread and evolution of A/H1N1 virus in Romania. The simulations obtained by applying the proposed model approximate very well the real evolution of the virus studied over a period of 10 months.
From genes to circuits and behaviors

Neuropeptide signaling remodels the composition of a chemosensory circuit and shapes behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. We reported that the ASE left (ASEL) salt sensory neuron uses a proprotein convertase, BLI-4, to cleave the insulin-like peptide INS-6. INS-6 peptides are released from the ASEL neuron in response to large, but not small changes in salt stimuli. Fast INS-6 signaling functionally transforms the AWC olfactory sensory neuron into an interneuron in the neural circuit for high salt. This new circuit configuration potentiates behavioral attraction to high salt. Here, in the context of genes, circuits, and behaviors, we discuss the diverse modes of neuropeptide processing and signaling, which expand the coding potential of the nervous system. First, neuropeptide processing and release genes prepare insulin peptides to signal in the nervous system. Second, this neuropeptide signaling diversifies the communication of neural circuits and introduces circuit-level flexibility. Finally, the resulting multisensory neurons and circuits drive finely tuned behavioral choices.
On the Impact of Network Coding Delay for IEEE 802.11s Infrastructure Wireless Mesh Networks

The distributed coordination function (DCF) may reduce the potential of network coding in 802.11 wireless networks. Due to the randomness of DCF, the coding delay, defined as the time that a packet must wait for a coding opportunity, may increase and degrade the network performance. In this paper, we study the potential impact of the coding delay in the performance of TCP over IEEE 802.11s infrastructure wireless mesh networks. By means of simulation, we evaluate the formation of coding opportunities at the mesh access points. We find that as TCP traffic increases, the coding opportunities rise up to 70% and the coding delay increases considerably. We propose to adjust dynamically the maximum time that a packet can wait in the coding queues to reduce the coding delay. We evaluate different moving-average estimation methods for this aim. Our results show that the coding delay may be reduced with these methods using at the same time an estimation threshold. This threshold increases the estimation's mean in order to exploit a high percentage of the coding opportunities.
L’examen cytologique a-t-il encore sa place dans l’analyse extemporanée du ganglion sentinelle dans le cancer du sein ?

Resume L’analyse extemporanee des ganglions sentinelles (GAS), preleves dans les carcinomes infiltrants du sein, permet, en cas d’envahissement metastatique, de realiser un curage axillaire dans le meme temps operatoire. Or, le principe, l’efficacite et la methode d’analyse extemporanee (cytologique, histologique) sont controverses. Le but de notre etude a ete d’evaluer la pertinence de l’examen extemporane cytologique pratique dans notre institut. Methodes Nous avons realise une analyse retrospective sur 24 mois des resultats de l’examen extemporane cytologique des GAS effectues pour des cancers mammaires invasifs cT1N0. Resultats Parmi les patientes, 187 femmes ont eu un examen de 360 GAS. Deux cent soixante-dix-sept GAS chez 156 femmes ont ete analyses extemporanement par cytologie. Dix-neuf sur 48 GAS positifs a l’analyse histologique definitive avaient ete detectes par l’examen extemporane cytologique (sensibilite 39,6 % ; specificite 100 %, valeur predictive positive [VPP] de 100 %, valeur predictive negative [VPN] de 88,7 %, exactitude 89,5 %). Le taux de faux negatif (FN) de l’examen extemporane cytologique est de 11,2 % par GAS et 18,3 % par patiente. Les facteurs predictifs de FN de l’extemporane cytologique, en analyse univariee, sont la presence d’emboles peritumoraux, de cT1b et c, de grade histologique SBR 2 ou 3. Seuls les emboles sont predictifs en analyse multivariee (OR = 3,3, IC 1,3-8,4). Conclusion La technique d’analyse extemporanee cytologique des GAS dans le cancer du sein presente un taux eleve de FN posant la question de la pertinence de cet examen dans ce cadre.
New Professionalism and New Public Management: Changes, Continuities and Consequences

The links between New Public Management (NPM) and the possible emergence of a new and different form of professionalism raise interesting and challenging questions for sociologists of professional groups. In this paper, an ideal-type (organizational/occupational professionalism) is used to examine the links between NPM and professionalism in the contexts of the public services of western post-industrial societies. Then the changes to and the continuities in professionalism in these organizational contexts and with NPM are indicated. The discussion section examines some of the consequences of the changes in professionalism for practitioner workers and their clients in public service sector work.
A Mathematical Model for the Coreceptors SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE1 and SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE3 in BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1-Mediated Signaling[C][W]

Complex physiological responses of the brassinosteroid pathway can be explained by a biochemical model based on kinase loss-of-function alleles with brassinosteroid receptor complex occupancy as the central estimated parameter. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are key regulators in plant growth and development. The main BR-perceiving receptor in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1). Seedling root growth and hypocotyl elongation can be accurately predicted using a model for BRI1 receptor activity. Genetic evidence shows that non-ligand-binding coreceptors of the SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SERK) family are essential for BRI1 signal transduction. A relatively simple biochemical model based on the properties of SERK loss-of-function alleles explains complex physiological responses of the BRI1-mediated BR pathway. The model uses BRI1-BR occupancy as the central estimated parameter and includes BRI1-SERK interaction based on mass action kinetics and accurately describes wild-type root growth and hypocotyl elongation. Simulation studies suggest that the SERK coreceptors primarily act to increase the magnitude of the BRI1 signal. The model predicts that only a small number of active BRI1-SERK complexes are required to carry out BR signaling at physiological ligand concentration. Finally, when calibrated with single mutants, the model predicts that roots of the serk1serk3 double mutant are almost completely brassinolide (BL) insensitive, while the double mutant hypocotyls remain sensitive. This points to residual BRI1 signaling or to a different coreceptor requirement in shoots.
Improved Named Entity Recognition using Machine Translation-based Cross-lingual Information

In this paper, we describe a technique to improve named entity recognition in a resource-poor language (Hindi) by using cross-lingual information. We use an on-line machine translation system and a separate word alignment phase to find the projection of each Hindi word into the translated English sentence. We estimate the cross-lingual features using an English named entity recognizer and the alignment information. We use these cross-lingual features in a support vector machine-based classifier. The use of cross-lingual features improves F 1 score by 2.1 points absolute (2.9% relative) over a good-performing baseline model.
The selective advantage of microbial fratricide.

Selective lysis of siblings appears to be a highly evolved and complex process. Streptococcus pneumoniae , a leading cause of serious infections, including pneumonia, infections of the middle ear, and meningitis (recently reviewed in ref. 1), is an organism of great public health concern. Antibiotic resistance among S. pneumoniae strains is rapidly increasing, complicating treatment (2). S. pneumoniae , previously known as Diplococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus, played a central role in discovery of DNA as the “transforming principle,” the molecule that contained the encoded information necessary to transform a bacterial cell from an unencapsulated avirulent type to a virulent encapsulated type (3, 4). Since these seminal observations, the mechanism of DNA uptake by S. pneumoniae and its ecological and medical significance have been subjects of great interest. In this issue of PNAS, Jean-Pierre Claverys and coworkers (5) describe a novel mechanism that ties together the development of competence (the ability to take up DNA from the environment) with the fratricide of siblings, leading to the release of a key S. pneumoniae virulence factor, pneumolysin [Ply (6)], in the process. The release of Ply and other cytoplasmic contents, which occurs at the expense of a large portion of the bacterial population, suggests that the survival benefit of being virulent or alerting the host to its presence outweighs the disadvantage of losing many members of the S. pneumoniae population. Proficiency in uptake of DNA from the environment by S. pneumoniae has contributed to the development of multidrug-resistant strains, providing direct evidence for its importance in the continuing evolution of this species. For example, the mosaic penicillin-binding proteins that render S. pneumoniae resistant to β-lactam antibiotics appear to have originated in oral streptococci, such as Streptococcus mitis (7). The ability of S. pneumoniae to take up DNA is transient and regulated by …
The properties of batrachotoxin-modified cardiac Na channels, including state-dependent block by tetrodotoxin

Batrachotoxin (BTX) modification and tetrodotoxin (TTX) block of BTX- modified Na channels were studied in single cardiac cells of neonatal rats using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. The properties of BTX-modified Na channels in heart are qualitatively similar to those in nerve. However, quantitative differences do exist between the modified channels of these two tissues. In the heart, the shift of the conductance-voltage curve for the modified channel was less pronounced, the maximal activation rate constant, (tau m)max, of modified channels was considerably slower, and the slow inactivation of the BTX-modified cardiac Na channels was only partially abolished. TTX blocked BTX-modified mammalian cardiac Na channels and the block decreased over the potential range of -80 to -40 mV. The apparent dissociation constant of TTX changed from 0.23 microM at -50 mV to 0.69 microM at 0 mV. No further reduction of block was observed at potentials greater than -40 mV. This is the potential range over which gating from closed to open states occurred. These results were explained by assuming that TTX has a higher affinity for closed BTX- modified channels than for open modified channels. Hence, the TTX- binding rate constants are considered to be state dependent rather than voltage dependent. This differs from the voltage dependence of TTX block reported for BTX-modified Na channels from membrane vesicles incorporated into lipid bilayers and from amphibian node of Ranvier.
Human Erythrocyte Recycling of Ascorbic Acid

Recycling of ascorbic acid from its oxidized forms helps to maintain the vitamin in human erythrocytes. To determine the relative contributions of recycling from the ascorbate radical and dehydroascorbic acid, we studied erythrocytes exposed to a trans-membrane oxidant stress from ferricyanide. Ferricyanide was used both to induce oxidant stress across the cell membrane and to quantify ascorbate recycling. Erythrocytes reduced ferricyanide with generation of intracellular ascorbate radical, the concentrations of which saturated with increasing intracellular ascorbate and which were sustained over time in cells incubated with glucose. Ferricyanide also generated dehydroascorbic acid that accumulated in the cells and incubation medium to concentrations much higher than those of the radical, especially in the absence of glucose. Ferricyanide-stimulated ascorbate recycling from dehydroascorbic acid depended on intracellular GSH but was well maintained at the expense of intracellular ascorbate when GSH was severely depleted by diethylmaleate. This likely reflects continued radical reduction, which is not dependent on GSH. Erythrocyte hemolysates showed both NAD- and NADPH-dependent ascorbate radical reduction. The latter was partially due to thioredoxin reductase. GSH-dependent dehydroascorbate reduction in hemolysates, which was both direct and enzyme-dependent, was greater than that of the radical reductase activity but of lower apparent affinity. Together, these results suggest an efficient two-tiered system in which high affinity reduction of the ascorbate radical is sufficient to remove low concentrations of the radical that might be encountered by cells not under oxidant stress, with back-up by a high capacity system for reducing dehydroascorbate under conditions of more severe oxidant stress.
Nonverbal Expressions and the Accessibility of Life Experience Memories: A Congruence Hypothesis

People seem to remember positive or negative material with greater ease when in corresponding mood states. These memory effects may sometimes be partially mediated by different expressions that people often naturally come to exhibit when in different moods. The present research tested a “congruence” hypothesis about the priming effects of facial and body posture patternings on memory retrieval. This predicts that the accessibility of pleasant experiences from one's own life history may be disproportionately increased when nonverbal expressive patterns are positive in valence instead of negative, such as when an individual smiles and has expansive physical posture; and the accessibility of unpleasant experiences from one's life history may be disporportionately increased when nonverbal expressive patterns are negative in valence instead of positive, such as when an individual frowns and has a slumped posture. The two experiments described here used different procedures, direct or indirect, to put subjects .
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ Pro 12 Ala polymorphism decrease the risk of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes : a meta analysis

Background: The association between peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) Pro12Ala polymorphism and T2DN risk is inconclusive and contradictory. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis. Methods: All relevant studies were searched by using the PubMed and EMBASE. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Effect model selection was on the basis of heterogeneity test. Results: A total of 20 case-control studies with 9357 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. We found that PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism significantly associated with decreased T2DN risk (OR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.59-0.94; P = 0.01). In the subgroup analysis by race, Caucasian with PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism showed decreased T2DN risk (OR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.46-0.88; P = 0.006). But Asian with PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism did not show decreased T2DN risk (OR = 0.87; 95% CI 0.62-1.22; P = 0.41). Conclusions: In conclusion, our meta-analysis study confirmed that PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism might contribute to the risk for T2DN.