Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antifungal drugs combinations: a patent review 2000-2015

ABSTRACT Introduction: Combination therapy has emerged as an approach to improve the efficacy of antifungal drugs. Its main objective is to achieve synergistic interaction with higher antifungal properties and lower toxic effects than each substance alone. Areas covered: Twenty-four patents disclosed in the period of 2000-2015 were covered in this review. Twenty of them were devoted to pharmacodynamic potentiation, while four were dedicated to pharmacokinetic actions. Expert opinion: The common characteristic of most patents published in this area is that the main partner is a commercial antifungal drug. In the most innovative combinations the second component was either a modifier of proton homeostasis, an antibody, an inhibitor of the adhesion of epithelial or endothelial cells or a keratinolytic agent that improves the skin penetration. The evaluation of synergism is always made with simple in vitro methods, which constitutes a weakness of the disclosed patents, due to the lack of in vivo studies, since the in vitro tests cannot predict the in vivo behavior. Also, it is surprising that none of the patents analyze the toxicity of the new combinations, taking into account that one of the main objectives of the combinations is to reduce the toxicity of the existing antifungal drugs.
Convergence: User Expectations, Communications Enablers and Business Opportunities (Telecoms Explained)

Convergence: User Expectations, Communications Enablers and Business Opportunities offers a user-centric and business-oriented analysis of the rapidly changing communications industry. Clear summaries of key technology areas provide the backdrop for an extensive analysis of the expectations set by users and the challenges and opportunities this presents to companies. The process of convergence is characterised by complex interactions between different technical fields, business areas and end-user relations, where traditional telecommunications services, internet-based services and media broadcast services are blending into a continuum of rich new offerings. With these changes the existing hardwired links between user services and specific industry segments are rapidly dissolving. Presents guide to end-user market trends and expectations Includes models and analysis of new industry structures and dynamics Contains comprehensive discussion of innovation as a business driver Provides wide range of references to reflect the cross-disciplinary scope of convergence Offers motivation and suggestions for refocus of key business strategies Convergence bridges the fields of business, economics, technology and social studies and analyses business models and practices from across a range of industry segments. The wide scope makes the book an ideal text for technically-minded executives, business-oriented engineers and anyone with an interest in the intricacies of the convergence triggered market changes.
Cost Effective Management of Intermediate Datasets in Cloud Environment

Cloud computing technology helps users to share resources. Cloud computing provides good computing power, reasonable cost of services, scalability, high performance, accessibility and availability. The cost of service is based on the pay as per usage scheme. Companies can scale up or scale down based on their business requirements. In some cases it is cost-effective to save the intermediate datasets that are produced when data is processed. Communities interested in a particular resource, may share the stoed information. When resources are shared, security concerns arise. There is also a need to store the data efficiently as storage cost depends on the amount of data stored. This paper deals with storing the intermediate datasets securely and cost-effectively.
Using Neural Word Embeddings in the Analysis of the Clinical Semantic Verbal Fluency Task

The Semantic Verbal Fluency Task is a common neuropsychological assessment for cognitive disorders: patients are prompted to name as many words from a semantic category as possible in a time interval; the count of correctly named concepts is assessed. Patients often organise their retrieval around semantically related clusters. The definition of clusters is usually based on handmade taxonomies and the patient's performance is manually evaluated. In order to overcome limitations of such an approach, we propose a statistical method using distributional semantics. Based on transcribed speech samples from 100 French elderly, 53 diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment and 47 healthy, we used distributional semantic models to cluster words in each sample and compare performance with a taxonomic baseline approach in a realistic classification task. The distributional models outperform the baseline. Comparing different linguistic corpora as basis for the models, our results indicate that models trained on larger corpora perform better.
Recording of DNA binding events during gut commensalism reveals the action of a repurposed Candida albicans regulatory network

Candida albicans is a central fungal component of the human gut microbiota and an opportunistic pathogen. Two C. albicans transcription factors, Wor1 and Efg1, control its ability to colonize the mammalian gut. They are also master regulators of an epigenetic switch required for mating. Here, we show that six additional mating regulators influence gut commensalism. Using an adapted Calling Card-Seq protocol to record Candida transcription factor DNA binding events in the host, we validated these relationships during murine gut colonization. Finally, by comparing the in-host transcriptomes of regulatory mutants with enhanced vs. diminished commensal fitness, we identified a set of candidate commensalism effectors. These include Cht2, a GPI-linked chitinase whose gene is bound by Wor1, Czf1, and Efg1 in vivo and that we show to promote commensalism. We conclude that the network required for a C. albicans sexual switch is biochemically active in the host digestive tract, where it is repurposed to direct commensalism.
Clinically Assessed Knee Joint Laxity as a Predictor for Reconstruction after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Background The association of early knee joint laxity with the need for later reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament has not been extensively studied. Hypothesis The grade of knee laxity can be used as an early predictor of the need for later reconstruction. Study Design Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods One hundred consecutive patients with an acute arthroscopically verified total anterior cruciate ligament rupture were followed prospectively for 15 years. Lachman and pivot-shift tests were performed with the patient under general anesthesia before arthroscopy. After 3 months, the tests were repeated in an ordinary clinical setting. All patients underwent rehabilitation as the first choice of treatment. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed only in cases of significant reinjuries (n = 16) or reparable meniscal lesions (n = 6) at a mean of 4 years after injury (range, 4 months-11 years). After 15 years, 94 patients were available for follow-up. Results Of the later reconstructed patients (n = 18), 82% had a high-grade Lachman test under anesthesia compared with 63% of the nonreconstructed patients (n = 45; P = .048). At 3 months, 44% of the nonreconstructed patients (n = 32) had a high-grade Lachman test compared with 82% of the reconstructed patients (n = 18; P = .007). Twenty-five patients displayed a normal pivot-shift test at 3 months, of whom 1 underwent later reconstruction (P = .009). A high-grade pivot-shift test at 3 months was associated with an 11.4 relative risk for reconstruction. Conclusion A positive pivot-shift test at 3 months after injury in an awake patient is the strongest predictor for the future need for reconstruction. Furthermore, a normal pivot-shift test at 3 months indicates a low risk for reconstruction and is characteristic for copers.
Automated tether management system for extravehicular activities

Safe extravehicular activity (EVA) requires astronauts to employ tethers to ensure proximity to their spacecraft. This research strives to improve EVA efficiency by allowing crew members to remotely release and retract their safety tether from extended distances using a tether management system consisting of a remotely releasable robotic gripper and a retractor that controls the length of tether. This circumvents the current need to travel back to the tether anchor and manually release the tether, which requires the crew member to travel three times further than necessary. The automated tether management system is essentially a multifunctional teleoperated robotic system that has the potential to improve EVA efficiency, reduce crew‐member fatigue, and improve efficiency of existing robots such as Robonaut. Design and performance requirements are specified to comply with current safety standards. The multifunctional gripper is designed to provide fail‐safe self‐locking positive engagement on a variety of spacecraft anchors. The retractor employs motorized and passive retraction to minimize power consumption, allow the retractor to mimic existing retractable safety tethers functionality, and facilitate control over gripper flight. A nonconductive fiber‐optic core structural tether is designed to transmit commands to the gripper while reducing the risk of developing electrical charges at orbital velocities. Experiments in a simulated microgravity environment evaluate behavior during gripper release and retraction and provide guidelines for improved system operation. Based on these guidelines, the system is then further optimized via simulation for improved retraction considering orbital dynamics. These results provide a recommended operating envelope to allow safe automated gripper retraction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A rostering optimization model for physician scheduling in medical department – a case study in district hospital

Abstract Hospitals provide a 24-hour service under high working pressure. Nowadays, physician schedule faces a problem from shortage of staff. This situation makes it difficult for physicians to provide a non-stop service all day long and results in frequent overtime. Therefore, an applicable shift becomes more important for that. In this study, we developed a mathematical programming model for scheduling the shift of the physicians and residents of the medical department. Except the rules that must to restricted, we regard the preference of people who choose the shifts will be involved in objective function which maximize the satisfaction of all physicians and residents in real case. The result shows the optimal schedules are much better than ones as before and more efficiency to create in few seconds.
The effect of prior bisphosphonate therapy on the subsequent BMD and bone turnover response to strontium ranelate

Strontium ranelate is an effective treatment for osteoporosis in treatment‐naive women. In the United Kingdom, bisphosphonates are often used first line. Prior bisphosphonate use may blunt the bone mineral density (BMD) response to strontium ranelate by reducing strontium uptake into the bone. Sixty bisphosphonate‐naive women and 60 women discontinuing bisphosphonates were recruited. All women commenced strontium ranelate and calcium/vitamin D. BMD and bone turnover markers were recorded for 12 months. After 12 months, the bisphosphonate‐naive group's BMD increased by 5.6% (p < .001) at the spine, 3.4% (p < .001) at the total hip, and 4.0% (p < .001) at the heel. By comparison, the prior bisphosphonate group had a 2.1% (p = .002) increase at the spine but no change at the hip or heel. At all time points, BMD was significantly greater in the bisphosphonate‐naive group. In the prior bisphosphonate group, there was no significant change in BMD during the first 6 months at the spine, but between months 6 and 12 there was a parallel gain in BMD (0.027 versus 0.020 g/cm2, p = .40). The baseline difference in bone markers was no longer significant by 3 months for bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) and 6 months for procollagen type 1 amino‐terminal propeptide (P1NP) and carboxy‐terminal cross‐linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX). More women in the prior bisphosphonate group suffered a vertebral fracture (2 versus 8 women, p = .047). After bisphosphonates, bone turnover remains suppressed for up to 6 months, with blunting of the BMD response to strontium ranelate during this time. After 6 months, BMD increases in the spine but not at the hip or heel. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Natural antibodies, intravenous immunoglobulin and their role in autoimmunity, cancer and inflammation

Natural antibodies are produced by B lymphocytes in the absence of external antigen stimulation. With their ability to recognize self, altered self and foreign antigens, they comprise an important first‐line defence against invading pathogens, but are also important for tissue homeostasis. By recognizing oligosaccharides expressed on tumour cells and modified cell surface structures accompanying necrosis, natural antibodies have an important anti‐tumorigenic function. IVIg contains a wide spectrum of specificities presented in normal plasma including natural antibodies and has been shown to exert inhibitory effects on tumour cells through a subfraction of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies with anti‐angiogenic properties. IgA antibodies also have potent immunomodulatory properties, being able to both induce and suppress immune responses. IgA‐mediated inhibitory function is able to inhibit several inflammatory diseases including asthma and glomerulonephritis. Autoantibodies of the IgM type, on the other hand, have shown promising results in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. These autoantibodies promote remyelination rather than modulating inflammation. Oxidation‐specific epitopes, as found in atherosclerotic lesions and on apoptotic cells, comprise one important target of natural antibodies. By recognizing these epitopes, natural antibodies neutralize proinflammatory responses and mediate atheroprotection.
A synergetic application of surface plasmon and field effect to improve Si solar cell performance

We report a synergetic application of surface plasmon (SP) and field effect (FE) to improve crystalline Si solar cell performance. The SPs are supported by small-sized Ag nanoparticles with an average diameter of 36.7 nm. The localized SP electromagnetic field from Ag nanoparticles excites extra electron–hole pairs at the surface region of the Si solar cell emitter, and meanwhile, the electron–hole pairs are detached by the electrostatic field that crosses the emitter surface. This synergism of SP and FE produces extra charges and enhances the Si solar cell efficiency. As compared to a Si solar cell applying SP and FE independently, a more than 10% efficiency enhancement is achieved by using them synergistically.
Concentration Effect on Quenching of Chlorophyll a Fluorescence by All-Trans-β-Carotene in Photosynthesis

Absorption, fluorescence spectra of chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and all-trans-β-carotene (β-Car) mixing solution are investigated in different polarity and polarizability solvents. The carotenoids regulate the energy flow in photosynthesis by interaction with chlorophyll, leading to an observable reduction of Chl-a fluorescence. The fluorescence red shifts with the increasing solvent polarizability. The energy transfer in the Chl-a and β-Car system is proposed. The electron transfer should be dominant in quenching Chl-a fluorescence rather than the energy transfer in this system. Polar solvent with large polarizability shows high quenching efficiency. When dissolved in carbon tetrachloride, Chl-a presents red shift of absorption and blue shift of fluorescence spectra with increasing β-Car concentration, which implies a Chl-a conformational change.
Performance Analysis of UHF RFID Tags Dedicated to Power Supply Cords

This communication describes the embedding of UHF RFID tags dedicated to power supply cords. A general purpose commercial RFID module is coupled to microstrip dipoles to realize tags, which are wrapped and taped around the cords. The tag dimensions are optimized for a maximum power transmission to the chip and a maximum reading distance in the presence of the cord. Experimental read ranges of the order of 5 m are obtained, whereas commercial tag outperforming the optimized tag in free-space only performs well at 2 m on power cords.
Consuming, Studying, and Regulating Genetically Modified Foods: a Case For transformative Consumer Research

ACR 2005 North American Conference calls for Transformative Consumer Research (TCR). Based on the principles of TCR, the objective of this paper is to provide a platform to involve consumers more directly with public policy issues related to food biotechnologies, so that this technology can actually make positive impacts on consumers’ lives, both present and future generations. More specifically, through an iterative and rigorous multi-stage research design, we aim to provide valuable insights for consumers, for the academic community, and for public policy makers with respect to genetically modified foods.
Direct observation of DNA overwinding by reverse gyrase

Significance Reverse gyrase resides in bacteria that live in hot conditions. The enzyme further intertwines the double helix of DNA to make it tighter. In biochemical assays, reverse gyrase appears quite inefficient, requiring many enzyme molecules per DNA and yet taking many minutes to wind it up. Here, we show that one reverse gyrase molecule rapidly overwinds relaxed DNA but begins to idle as torsion accumulates. Excess torsion would hamper replication/transcription activities, whereas quick restoration of modest torsion prevents thermal denaturation of DNA. We discuss how reverse gyrase lets one strand of DNA pass the other in a preferred direction to achieve overwinding. Reverse gyrase, found in hyperthermophiles, is the only enzyme known to overwind (introduce positive supercoils into) DNA. The ATP-dependent activity, detected at >70 °C, has so far been studied solely by gel electrophoresis; thus, the reaction dynamics remain obscure. Here, we image the overwinding reaction at 71 °C under a microscope, using DNA containing consecutive 30 mismatched base pairs that serve as a well-defined substrate site. A single reverse gyrase molecule processively winds the DNA for >100 turns. Bound enzyme shows moderate temperature dependence, retaining significant activity down to 50 °C. The unloaded reaction rate at 71 °C exceeds five turns per second, which is >102-fold higher than hitherto indicated but lower than the measured ATPase rate of 20 s−1, indicating loose coupling. The overwinding reaction sharply slows down as the torsional stress accumulates in DNA and ceases at stress of mere ∼5 pN⋅nm, where one more turn would cost only sixfold the thermal energy. The enzyme would thus keep DNA in a slightly overwound state to protect, but not overprotect, the genome of hyperthermophiles against thermal melting. Overwinding activity is also highly sensitive to DNA tension, with an effective interaction length exceeding the size of reverse gyrase, implying requirement for slack DNA. All results point to the mechanism where strand passage relying on thermal motions, as in topoisomerase IA, is actively but loosely biased toward overwinding.
An analysis of DNA repair as a determinant of survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is frequently resistant to chemotherapy, and this resistance has been associated with elevated nucleotide excision repair (NER) in tumor tissue. We hypothesized that patients with NSCLC who had effective systemic (host) NER would have poorer survival than patients with suboptimal NER and that the association between NER effectiveness and survival would be most marked in patients receiving chemotherapy. METHODS 375 patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC were accrued for a case-control study between July 1995 and December 1999. NER activity was estimated as the DNA repair capacity (DRC) measured in the patient's peripheral lymphocytes by the host cell reactivation assay. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between DRC and survival. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS For every unit (percentage) increase in DRC, the relative risk (RR) of death was 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00 to 1.10; P =.05) for the 345 patients for whom weight loss information was available and 1.06 (95% CI = 1.00 to 1.12; P =.03) for the 275 patients with complete follow-up information. In 86 patients treated with chemotherapy only, the RR of death increased to 1.11 (95% CI = 1.02 to 1.21; P =.01) for every unit (percentage) increase in DRC. Of those 86 patients, patients in the top quartile of the DRC distribution were at twice the RR of death as those in the lowest quartile (RR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.24 to 5.95; P =.01). Effective DRC was not a risk factor for death in patients who were not treated with chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that effective host DRC may be associated with poorer survival in patients with NSCLC who are treated with chemotherapy.
O processo de internacionalização de uma empresa do setor encarroçador The Internationalization Process of a Company in the Bus Bodybuilding Sector

The purpose of this article is to describe the internationalization process, through a case study from the sector of bus bodybuilding. The theoretical basis for this case is behavioral and economic theories of the internationalization. This research was carried out through analysis of data provided by the company, the Internet and an interview with an executive. The result of the internationalization process is positive for the company analyzed. The research confirms the prior conjectures of the behavioral approach sustained by gradualism and the psychic distance theory of Uppsala. Through economic theory explain direct investments joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions. Keyword: Internationalization; Fusion and Acquisitions; Joint Venture.