Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential signaling pathways are initiated in macrophages during infection depending on the intracellular fate of Chlamydia spp.

Chlamydia muridarum and Chlamydia caviae have equivalent growth rates in mouse epithelial cells but only C. muridarum replicates inside mouse macrophages, while C. caviae does not. Macrophages infected with C. muridarum or C. caviae were used to address the hypothesis that the early signaling pathways initiated during infection depend on the fate of chlamydiae in the host cell. Transmission electron microscopy of C. muridarum‐infected macrophages showed intact chlamydial elementary bodies and reticulate bodies 2 h postinfection in compact vacuoles. Conversely, in macrophages infected with C. caviae, chlamydiae were observed in large phagocytic vacuoles. Furthermore, C. caviae infections failed to develop into inclusions or produce viable bacteria. Expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL‐1β and MMP13 was similar in C. caviae‐ or C. muridarum‐infected macrophages at 3 h postinfection, indicating that chlamydial survival is not required for initiation of these responses. IL‐1β secretion, dependent on inflammasome activation, occurred in C. caviae‐infected macrophages despite no chlamydial growth. Conversely, IFNβ mRNA was observed only in C. muridarum‐ but not in C. caviae‐infected macrophages. These data demonstrate that differential signaling events are initiated during a productive versus nonproductive chlamydial infection in a macrophage.
Development and calibration of an automatic spectral albedometer to estimate near-surface snow SSA time series

Abstract. Spectral albedo of the snow surface in the visible/near-infrared range has been measured for 3 years by an automatic spectral radiometer installed at Dome C (75° S, 123° E) in Antarctica in order to retrieve the specific surface area (SSA) of superficial snow. This study focuses on the uncertainties of the SSA retrieval due to instrumental and data processing limitations. We find that when the solar zenith angle is high, the main source of uncertainties is the imperfect angular response of the light collectors. This imperfection introduces a small spurious wavelength-dependent trend in the albedo spectra which greatly affects the SSA retrieval. By modeling this effect, we show that for typical snow and illumination conditions encountered at Dome C, retrieving SSA with an accuracy better than 15 % (our target) requires the difference of response between 400 and 1100 nm to not exceed 2 %. Such a small difference can be achieved only by (i) a careful design of the collectors, (ii) an ad hoc correction of the spectra using the actual measured angular response of the collectors, and (iii) for solar zenith angles less than 75°. The 3-year time series of retrieved SSA features a 3-fold decrease every summer which is significantly larger than the estimated uncertainties. This highlights the high dynamics of near-surface SSA at Dome C.
Evaluation in terms of dietary habits of rheumatic process: A clinical study.

OBJECTIVE This study compared the dietary habits of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The nutritional status of 56 patients, seen at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic and diagnosed with RA based on the ACR-2010 criteria, was compared with that of 28 patients diagnosed with AS using the modified New York criteria. Nutritional status was determined using a form that was filled out during face-to-face interviews with all patients. Patient demographics, disease activity, smoking and alcohol use, concomitant diseases, disease duration and nutritional status were determined using a questionnaire. RESULTS RA patients consumed butter on 2 days a week, and AS patients on 1 day per month. Yoghurt was consumed by RA patients daily and by AS patients 3 days a week. CONCLUSIONS Compared to the diet of AS patients, the diet of RA patients was richer in protein and lipids. The impact of diet on these two diseases remains to be determined in large-scale studies.
Applying machine learning to big data streams : An overview of challenges

The importance of processing stream data increases with new technologies and new use cases. Applying machine learning to stream data and process them in real time leads to challenges in different ways. Model changes, concept drift or insufficient time to train models are a few examples. We illustrate big data characteristics and machine learning techniques derived from literature and conclude with available approaches and drawbacks.
TerrSysMP–PDAF (version 1.0): a modular high-performance data assimilation framework for an integrated land surface–subsurface model

Abstract. Modelling of terrestrial systems is continuously moving towards more integrated modelling approaches, where different terrestrial compartment models are combined in order to realise a more sophisticated physical description of water, energy and carbon fluxes across compartment boundaries and to provide a more integrated view on terrestrial processes. While such models can effectively reduce certain parameterisation errors of single compartment models, model predictions are still prone to uncertainties regarding model input variables. The resulting uncertainties of model predictions can be effectively tackled by data assimilation techniques, which allow one to correct model predictions with observations taking into account both the model and measurement uncertainties. The steadily increasing availability of computational resources makes it now increasingly possible to perform data assimilation also for computationally highly demanding integrated terrestrial system models. However, as the computational burden for integrated models as well as data assimilation techniques is quite large, there is an increasing need to provide computationally efficient data assimilation frameworks for integrated models that allow one to run on and to make efficient use of massively parallel computational resources. In this paper we present a data assimilation framework for the land surface–subsurface part of the Terrestrial System Modelling Platform (TerrSysMP). TerrSysMP is connected via a memory-based coupling approach with the pre-existing parallel data assimilation library PDAF (Parallel Data Assimilation Framework). This framework provides a fully parallel modular environment for performing data assimilation for the land surface and the subsurface compartment. A simple synthetic case study for a land surface–subsurface system (0.8 million unknowns) is used to demonstrate the effects of data assimilation in the integrated model TerrSysMP and to assess the scaling behaviour of the data assimilation system. Results show that data assimilation effectively corrects model states and parameters of the integrated model towards the reference values. Scaling tests provide evidence that the data assimilation system for TerrSysMP can make efficient use of parallel computational resources for > 30 k processors. Simulations with a large problem size (20 million unknowns) for the forward model were also efficiently handled by the data assimilation system. The proposed data assimilation framework is useful in simulating and estimating uncertainties in predicted states and fluxes of the terrestrial system over large spatial scales at high resolution utilising integrated models.
Clinical, laboratory and epidemiological aspects of HPV infection in a low-income population from South Bahia, Brazil

SUMMARY The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the Southern region of the State of Bahia, evaluating the performance of alternative complementary methods for cervical lesion detection. Cervical samples from women who attended healthcare units were collected and diagnosed by visual inspection, cervical cytology and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Moreover, hemi-nested PCR was performed to detect different HPV genotypes. The prevalence of HPV infection was 47·7%, with genotype 16 detected in most cases. Infection was associated with dyspareunia and bleeding (P < 0·001, odds ratio (OR) 5·6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·815–11·14) and hormonal contraceptive use (P = 0·007, OR 2·33, 95% CI 1·25–4·34). There was a positive correlation between positive PCR and positive visual inspection, cervical cytology and symptoms reported. Furthermore, visual inspection was twice as specific, and had a greater positive predictive value than cytology. We showed a high prevalence of HPV infection in Southern Bahia, with HPV 16 being the most common type, and visual inspection being most effective at detecting HPV lesions, corroborating the suggestion that it can be applied in routine gynecologic examinations for low-income populations.
Fuzzy logic hybrid model with semantic filtering approach for pseudo relevance feedback-based query expansion

Individual query expansion term selection methods have been widely investigated in an attempt to improve their performance. Each expansion term selection method has its own weaknesses and strengths. To overcome the weaknesses and utilize the strengths of individual methods, this paper combined multiple term selection methods. In this paper, initially the possibility of improving the overall performance using individual query expansion (QE) term selection methods are explored. Secondly, some well-known rank aggregation approaches are used for combining multiple QE term selection methods. Thirdly, a new fuzzy logic-based QE approach that considers the relevance score produced by different rank aggregation approaches is proposed. The proposed fuzzy logic approach combines different weights of each term using fuzzy rules to infer the weights of the additional query terms. Finally, Word2vec approach is used to filter semantically irrelevant terms obtained after applying the fuzzy logic approach. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approaches achieve significant improvements over each individual term selection method, aggregated method and related state-of-the-art method.
α -Fair resource allocation in non-orthogonal multiple access systems

A non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system is now considered as a promising radio access technique for next-generation networks owing to its benefits, e.g. spectral efficiency improvement. Due to the successive interference cancellation order at receivers, fairness among users in NOMA may not be guaranteed. In this study, the authors focus on α -fair resource allocation in NOMA. The complexity of the considered problem is then analysed. In particular, the problem is shown to be convex when 1 ≤ α < ∞ and α = ∞ , non-deterministic polynomial-time (NP)-hard when 0 < α < 1 , and polynomial-time solvable when α = 0 . Finally, simulation results are provided to examine the effects of the fairness degree on the system performance and verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Cholecalciferol treatment downregulates renin–angiotensin system and improves endothelial function in essential hypertensive patients with hypovitaminosid D

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is related to an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system suppression and vascular dysfunction are considered among the main mechanisms implicated in this association. However, interventional studies demonstrating that vitamin D replacement reduces circulating renin–angiotensin–aldosterone components and improves vascular function in humans are still lacking. Methods: Thirty-three consecutive patients with essential hypertension and hypovitaminosis D underwent therapy with cholecalciferol 50 000 IU/week orally for 8 weeks. Thirty-three hypertensive patients with normal vitamin D levels and 20 normotensive individuals were also enrolled as control groups. At baseline and at the end of the study, we evaluated plasma renin activity, circulating renin, angiotensin II, aldosterone and plasma vitamin D levels. Endothelial function [flow-mediated dilation (FMD)], carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index, peripheral and central blood pressure were also acquired. Results: After 8-week cholecalciferol administration, all treated patients normalized plasma 25(OH)D values. Furthermore, a reduction in plasma levels of plasma renin activity (1.17 ± 0.3 vs 1.51 ± 0.4 ng/ml per h, P = 0.02), renin (13.4 ± 1.7 vs 19.2 ± 2.9 pg/ml, P < 0.001), angiotensin II (11.6 ± 1.6 vs 15.8 ± 2.7 pg/ml, P = 0.02) was observed at the end of the study. FMD was significantly increased after cholecalciferol treatment (4.4 ± 2.6 vs 3.3 ± 2.1%, P < 0.05), in the absence of changes of brachial artery diameter and endothelium-independent vasodilation. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index were not modified, as well peripheral and central blood pressure. Conclusion: The restoration of normal vitamin D levels after 8-week cholecalciferol treatment is able to inhibit peripheral renin–angiotensin system and improve FMD in essential hypertensive patients with hypovitaminosis D.
Systematic Reviews andMeta-and Pooled Analyses Heterogeneity in Estimates of the Impact of In fl uenza on PopulationMortality : A Systematic Review

Influenza viruses are associated with a substantial global burden of morbidity and mortality every year. Estimates of influenza-associated mortality often vary between studies due to differences in study settings, methods, and measurement of outcomes.We reviewed 103 published articles assessing population-based influenza-associatedmortality through searches of PubMed and Embase, and we identified considerable variation in the statistical methods used across studies. Studies using regression models with an influenza activity proxy applied 4 approaches to estimate influenza-associated mortality. The estimates increased with age and ranged widely, from −0.3–1.3 and 0.6–8.3 respiratory deaths per 100,000 population for children and adults, respectively, to 4–119 respiratory deaths per 100,000 population for older adults. Meta-regression analysis identified that study design features were associated with the observed variation in estimates. The estimates increased with broader cause-of-death classification and were higher for older adults than for children. The multiplier methods tended to produce lower estimates, while Serfling-type models were associated with higher estimates than other methods. No “average” estimate of excess mortality could reliably bemade due to the substantial variability of the estimates, partially attributable tomethodological differences in the studies. Standardization of methodology in estimation of influenza-associated mortality would permit improved comparisons in the future.
Increasing Messenger service capability and security on mobile devices using Hybrid Compression-HR2 algorithm

Messenger service, such as SMS and Whatsapp, was considered as insecure service in a mobile device and has a potential to be used by man in the middle attack. To increase Messeger service capability and security, the Huffman compression method is used to shorten character followed by the security algorithms which is the combination of RSA and ROT13. The Messages will be processed by compressed the text using Huffman compression then rotated 13 characters and encrypted using the RSA algorithm with the addition of the values in the ASCII value per looping character (Hybrid Compression-HR2 algorithm). This approach is considered a secured approach as the same text/char acters in the different block, will produce different encrypted and compressed text. This approach is also unique which offer better protection in concise message length.
A recommendation system by collaborative filtering including information and characteristics on users and items

In this research, a revised recommendation system to generate recommended items for each user is constructed, such as “recommended for you” on the e-commerce websites. By using both the purchase and the browsing data, sparseness of matrix derived from the user's behavior history data is reduced. The main purpose is to construct a recommendation system that can recommend new items not browsed by users and appropriate items matching user preferences. As a procedure for generating recommended items, a user-item matrix and must-link constraints are first constructed from user's behavior history data. We add rows and columns to represent various item and user information to the user-item matrix. Next, semi-supervised learning is performed using the user-item matrix and the must-link constraint, and a new user-item matrix is generated. From this matrix on the basis of Pearson similarity, item similarity and user similarity are obtained. Finally, item-based collaborative filtering and user-based collaborative filtering are performed to generate recommended items. Experimental results show that the F-measure to represent the recommendation accuracy increases by generating recommended items with the proposed model using must-link constraints, user information and item information. In addition, it can be seen that the proposed model is more likely to purchase recommended items than the model of existing models.
Fifteen‐year trends in the management of cardiogenic shock and associated 1‐year mortality in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction: the FAST‐MI programme

Alhough cardiogenic shock (CS) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is more common in elderly patients, information on the epidemiology of these patients is scarce. This study aimed to assess the trends in prevalence, characteristics, management, and outcomes of elderly patients admitted with CS complicating AMI between 1995 and 2010, using data from the FAST‐MI programme.
Control of blood pressure and risk attenuation: a public health intervention in rural Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka feasibility trial results

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is the leading attributable risk for cardiovascular disease globally. There is little information on effective and sustainable public health system strategies for managing hypertension in South Asian countries. We conducted a feasibility study to gather preliminary data to optimize BP-lowering strategies for a public health intervention in rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Methods: A mixed method feasibility study comprised a 3-month pre and postevaluation of a multicomponent intervention (MCI), including BP screening and home health education by trained government community health worker (CHW); providers trained in hypertension management, and compensation of CHW for additional services. Checklists were used to document care. Stakeholder interviews were also conducted. Individuals aged 40 years and above with high BP (systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg based on two readings from 2 separate days, or receiving antihypertensive medications) were enrolled from rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. BP was measured at baseline and 3 months postintervention. Results: A total of 412 (90%) of the 454 eligible individuals were recruited. Of those recruited, 90% received home health education session by trained CHWs, 80% were referred to trained providers, of whom 83% completed the management checklist. A follow-up rate of 95.6% was achieved. The mean SBP declined significantly by 4.5 mmHg 95% confidence interval (2.3, 6.7) mmHg (P < 0.001) in the overall pooled analysis in three countries; however, it varied among countries. BP decline was 10.5 mmHg (8.1, 13.0 mmHg) (P < 0.001) in the pooled analysis of individuals with uncontrolled hypertension at baseline, and was also significant each of the three countries. All 98 stakeholders strongly supported upscaling the proposed MCI strategies. Conclusion: The proposed MCI is feasible for implementation and requires long-term, large-scale evaluation in the rural public health infrastructure in South Asian countries to determine sustainability of health system changes and BP control. If these long-term effects are confirmed, MCI may be a long-term strategy for tackling rising rates of cardiovascular disease in low-resourced countries. Clintrial.gov NCT02341651
Peculiar Concentration Dependence of H/D Exchange Reaction in 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate-D2O Mixtures

We have investigated the H/D exchange reaction between heavy water and an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]), throughout the whole concentration region as a function of D2O mol% at room temperature. We expected that the extent of the H/D reaction would increase linearly with increasing content of D2O, but the results show an extended N-shaped behavior having a small maximum at around 40 mol% and the reaction becomes very slow at a specific concentration around 80 mol%. We found that this non-linear concentration dependence correlates with the pD dependence of the solutions.
Assignment of the human oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor gene (OLR1) to chromosome 12p13.1→p12.3, and identification of a polymorphic CA-repeat marker in the OLR1 gene

An endothelium-derived oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (LOX-1) was recently reported and characterized (Samara et al., 1997). LOX-1 specifically interacts with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) but not native LDL, suggesting that LOX-1 may be involved in atherosclerosis. LOX-1 was also reported for its high level of expression in vessels (aorta and vein) of hypertensive rats (Nagase et al., 1997). To further explore biological function and pathophysiological roles of the human LOX-1 gene (OLR1), we have characterized two cDNA clones identified from an activated human monocyte cDNA library, and mapped OLR1 to chromosome 12p13.1→p12.3 by somatic cell hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization and radiation hybrid mapping analyses. We also identified a highly polymorphic (CA)n dinucleotide repeat in the 3)-untranslated region (UTR) of OLR1. The present study will facilitate further investigation of OLR1 in hereditary disorders with a candidate gene approach. Materials and methods
Patterns of predator neophobia: a meta-analytic review

Neophobia, the fear of novel stimuli, plays a major role in animal ecology. Here, we review studies on predator neophobia and explore its underlying patterns within an ecological framework. Predator neophobia is typically assessed by observing behaviours in novel areas that bring potential risk from unknown predators, or by observing behaviours towards certain kinds of objects and odours that are novel. We conducted a literature review across taxa, surveying research on baseline and induced neophobia versus controls. We calculated effect sizes for the intensity of neophobic responses, and categorized data according to six factors (taxa, age class, background type, trophic position, test cue type and experimental treatment type). While accounting for each of the other factors, we found that baseline neophobia was stronger among birds and mammals, and towards novel areas, relative to other taxa and cue types. Baseline neophobia was lower for wild-caught animals and for those that were higher in trophic position, compared with those reared in captivity and from lower trophic levels. By contrast, induced neophobia was similar in intensity across taxa, background types and testing cue types, while again being lower among upper trophic-level members and among juvenile animals. Although induced neophobia occurred across all treatment types, brain lesions induced stronger neophobia than predation risk or social isolation. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying these results and highlight gaps in the literature.