Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between age of coital debut and HIV seroprevalence among women in Durban, South Africa: a cohort study

Objectives To investigate the impact of early sexual debut on HIV seroprevalence and incidence rates among a cohort of women. Design Prospective study. Setting KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants A total of 3492 sexually active women who consented to screen a HIV prevention trial during September 2002 to September 2005; a total of 1485 of them were followed for approximately 24 months. Primary and secondary outcome measures HIV seroprevalence among those who were screened for the trial and HIV seroconversion among those who seroconverted during the study. Results Lowest quintiles of age at sexual debut, less than high school education, a higher number of lifetime sexual partners and lack of cohabitation, being diagnosed as having herpes simplex virus 2 and other sexually transmitted infections were all significantly associated with prevalent HIV infection in multivariate analysis. During follow-up, 148 (6.8 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 5.8 to 8.0) women seroconverted. Highest seroconversion rate was observed among women who had reported to have had sex 15 years or younger (12.0 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 8.0 to 18.0). Overall, impact of risk factors considered in this study was associated with considerable potential reductions in HIV prevalence and incidence rates (population attributable risk: 85%, 95% CI 84% to 87% and population attributable risk: 77%, 95% CI 72% to 82%, respectively). Conclusions The association of HIV status with younger age at sexual debut may likely due to an increased number of lifetime partners. This increase could result from longer duration of sexual life. Prevention of HIV infection should include efforts to delay age at first sex in young women. Trial registration number NCT00121459.
Western blot antibody determination in sera from patients diagnosed with Anisakis sensitization with different antigenic fractions of Anisakis simplex purified by affinity chromatography

Abstract Using Western blot techniques, the specificities of crude and purified (PAK and PAS) Anisakis simplex antigens were compared against 24 sera from patients diagnosed with Anisakis sensitization. All patients recognized a 60 kDa protein against the A. simplex crude extract, while 37.5% and 12.5% reacted with proteins of 40 and 25 kDa, respectively, when IgG was tested. In the case of IgE determination, 41.6% of sera were negative, while 12.5% and 20.8% appeared to cross-react against Toxocara canis and Ascaris suum, respectively. When the PAK antigen (A. simplex antigen purified by means of a column of IgG anti-A. simplex) was tested, immune recognition towards the 60, 40 and 25 kDa proteins increased in 83.3%, 16.7% and 4.2%, respectively, when the Ig antibodies were tested. In the case of the PAS antigen (PAK antigen purified by means of a column of IgG anti-A. suum), the reaction against the 40 and 25 kDa proteins increased to 45.8% and 25%, respectively, when Ig antibodies were used. Finally, when the EAS antigen (eluted from the anti-A. suum column after PAK purification) was tested, 83.3% of the assayed sera reacted against the 14 kDa protein, when the Ig antibodies, IgG and IgM immunoglobulins were measured. With the IgE determination, the reactions were observed in 41.7% of patients with proteins between 60 and 35 kDa against the PAS antigen. With the EAS antigen, reactive bands of 184, 84 and 14 kDa appeared. In conclusion, in the purification process of the A. simplex larval crude extract, the proteins implicated in cross-reactions with Ascaris and Toxocara were eliminated, with an important concentration of proteins responsible for the induction of specific responses.
Binary EEG Control for Two-Dimensional Cursor Movement: An Online Approach

Electroencephalography (EEG) is an appealing basis for brain-computer interface technology because EEG is non-invasive. However, because EEG signals are spatially blurred and typically have very low signal-to-noise ratios, extracting relevant information in the single-event case is challenging. The most easily accessible information is one-dimensional (for example, mu rhythm amplitude, average hemispherical power, or presence of a P300 evoked potential). Many studies have attempted to use such one-dimensional parameters as a basis for control. Robust results may be obtained when control is restricted to answering "yes" or "no" questions, such as comparison of a value to a threshold. However, possible applications of such control have been limited, and more dimensions of control are desirable. This research presents a new technique for obtaining more dimensions of control from existing technology. Yes/no answers are taken sequentially in groups of n, and in combination designate a specific choice from 2^n possible values. This is homologous to the function of bits, and consequently has been termed "binary control. " To demonstrate this approach, a two-dimensional cursor control paradigm was developed in MATLAB. Users move a cursor among squares of a grid towards a target while avoiding a trap. At each move, there are up to four positions into which the cursor may be directed (up, down, left, and right). In this embodiment, control is achieved by twice comparing average alpha-and beta-frequency power of each hemisphere during continuous imagined lateralized hand movement. The first comparison narrows the four choices to two, and the second uniquely determines the cursor movement. This paradigm was shown to be compatible with the Brain-Computer Interface-to-Virtual Reality (BCI2VR) software, and preliminary tests were run on normal volunteers. These tests demonstrated the feasibility of pursuing future research with binary control. Binary control is promising because of its robust underlying principles, and because it is easily expandable and adaptable. The source of control may be any EEG feature that can signal a yes/no answer, and the quantity of possible choices doubles with the addition of each answer "bit. " This might provide means for more complex control, such as of a robotic arm or virtual keyboard. The binary approach might also prove more efficient than current EEG-based control methods, possibly with less computational demand.
Energy efficient control technique for switched reluctance motor drives

This paper describes modeling and machine independent method to minimize the energy consumption of a speed controlled Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM). The method for modeling depends on the mathematical models of SRM under an a-b-c stationary frame and a d-q synchronous frame. The control strategy is to vary the duty cycle of the applied current regulator in order to obtain the desired speed quickly. When operating in steady state vary the turn-on angle (θon) of the phase-voltage to minimize the energy consumption. The power flow is measured in the DC part and used to control the turn-on angle. Simulations the system on a 6/4 pole SRM justify the algorithm. Measurements on load systems show it is possible to minimize the energy consumption on-line in a speed controlled SRM without loosing the dynamic performance. The algorithm is fully applicable to other SRM at other power levels or with other pole configurations.
Vasomotricité coronaire et hypertension artérielle

L’hypertension arterielle est un facteur de risque coronaire majeur lie a l’atherosclerose. Par ailleurs, plusieurs arguments suggerent l’existence d’episodes « d’ischemie myocardique » silencieuse ou non chez les hypertendus sans stenose coronaire et en fait, plusieurs processus physiopathologiques impliques dans les alterations du lit vasculaire coronaire sont deleteres au maintien de l’equilibre entre la demande et l’apport en oxygene du myocarde et a l’adaptation de la circulation et du debit coronaire a une augmentation de la demande en oxygene du myocarde. En dehors de l’atherosclerose coronaire et des modifications de la structure des arteres et des arterioles coronaires, la fibrose perivasculaire limite la surface fonctionnelle des microvaisseaux, qui sont par ailleurs comprimes par la pression intramyocardique elevee, ce qui diminue la capacite de dilatation de la microcirculation. De plus, dans l’hypertension arterielle, la dilatation endothelium-dependante mediee par le monoxyde d’azote est deprimee, principalement par la stimulation du stress oxydant consecutive a l’augmentation de la contrainte mecanique exercee sur l’endothelium vasculaire, ce qui altere l’adaptation du debit coronaire a l’augmentation de la demande metabolique du myocarde. Parce que le stress oxydant joue egalement un role determinant dans l’oxydation du LDL-cholesterol, les consequences de l’hypertension arterielle peuvent etre rassemblees dans un schema physiopathologique integratif. Toutes ces modifications ne sont pas liees a l’hypertrophie myocardique, bien que cette derniere aggrave les consequences des alterations circulatoires. Certains traitements antihypertenseurs peuvent avoir des effets benefiques en diminuant la masse myocardique a perfuser et la pression arterielle, en retablissant une structure et une fonction normales des vaisseaux, et en ameliorant la vasomotricite coronaire.
Demonstration of a Remotely Dual-Pumped Long-Reach PON for Flexible Deployment

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a flexible wavelength division multiplexing/time division multiplexing network architecture for converged metro-access environment. Entire passiveness in the fiber plant is achieved with remote amplification in the signal distribution nodes along the metro ring and in the power splitters of the local access tree. We assist a traditional remote pumping scheme with a distributed pump provided by the optical network units and demonstrate that loss budgets beyond 30 dB can be supported. Data transmission of up to 10 Gb/s is evaluated in different deployment scenarios, reaching from a 78 km long reach rural to a dense 1:128 split/λ urban configuration with field installed fibers, including also worst case resilience configurations.
A persisting perception disorder after cannabis use

Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder is a disorder of uncertain aetiology occurring mainly after ‘classical’ hallucinogen use (ie mescaline, psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine and LSD) use. Here, the authors describe the case of a boy with similar symptoms developing after he reported using cannabis seven times.
A conditioning lesion promotes in vivo nerve regeneration in the contralateral sciatic nerve of rats.

A conditioning lesion in the sciatic nerve increases in vivo axonal regeneration in the nerve after a second transection. We studied whether this increased regeneration also occurs in the contralateral nerve. The left sciatic nerve was transected and sutured in Wistar rats; the nerve was exposed but not transected in controls. After 5 days, the right sciatic nerves of all rats were transected and sutured. Neuronal regeneration was measured at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days with the pinch test and histological staining. IL-1beta and TGF-beta1 expression was also measured. The initial delay in the experimental group was significantly shorter, but the regeneration rates were the same. The expression of IL-1beta and TGF-beta1 in the right dorsal root ganglia was significantly higher in the experimental group. Nerve injury enhances cytokine expression in the contralateral dorsal root ganglion and promotes contralateral nerve regeneration in vivo by shortening the initial delay.
Optical studies of nitrogen to 130 GPa.

Nitrogen is observed to remain a molecular solid up to 130 GPa, contrary to recent theoretical predictions of metallization below 100 GPa. Raman scattering reveals three new phases at 20, 66, and 100 GPa, which are distinguished by branching of existing vibronic modes. One mode increases in frequency to a broad maximum at 66 GPa and then decreases, similar to the case of H/sub 2/. In H/sub 2/, such behavior was attributed to a weakening of the H-H bond. In N/sub 2/, three other vibronic frequencies continue to increase, showing the situation to be more complicated than just a weakening of the N-N bond.
Correlation of somatic hypermutation specificity and A-T base pair substitution errors by DNA polymerase η during copying of a mouse immunoglobulin κ light chain transgene

To test the hypothesis that inaccurate DNA synthesis by mammalian DNA polymerase η (pol η) contributes to somatic hypermutation (SHM) of Ig genes, we measured the error specificity of mouse pol η during synthesis of each strand of a mouse Ig κ light chain transgene. We then compared the results to the base substitution specificity of SHM of this same gene in the mouse. The in vitro and in vivo base substitution spectra shared a number of common features. A highly significant correlation was observed for overall substitutions at A-T pairs but not for substitutions at G-C pairs. Sixteen mutational hotspots at A-T pairs observed in vivo were also found in spectra generated by mouse pol η in vitro. The correlation was strongest for errors made by pol η during synthesis of the non-transcribed strand, but it was also observed for synthesis of the transcribed strand. These facts, and the distribution of substitutions generated in vivo, support the hypothesis that pol η contributes to SHM of Ig genes at A-T pairs via short patches of low fidelity DNA synthesis of both strands, but with a preference for the non-transcribed strand.
Hepatitis B virus infection in upper and lower Egypt

The relative prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti‐HBs, and anti‐hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBc), as markers of hepatitis B virus infection, among 1,866 apparently healthy residents of two Egyptian provinces representing Upper and Lower Egypt populations was determined using solid–phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA).
Use of a High-Resolution Melt Assay To Characterize Codon 54 of the cyp51A Gene of Aspergillus fumigatus on a Rotor-Gene 6000 Instrument

ABSTRACT A high-resolution melt (HRM) assay using a Rotor-Gene 6000 instrument was developed to characterize the codon for glycine 54 in the cyp51A genes from 13 reference isolates and 12 clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus. Mutations in this codon confer reduced susceptibility to itraconazole and posaconazole. The assay is simple to perform, and a result of “wild type” or “mutant” is available after approximately 1 h following DNA extraction using commercially available reagents and conventional primers.
Mouse Taste Preference Tests: Influence of Drinking Spout Position

1Address all correspondence to: Michael G. Tordoff, Ph.D., Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3308, USA, e-mail: tordoff@monell.org TORDOFF, M.G. , AND BACHMANOV, A.A. , Mouse taste preference tests: Influence of drinking spout position. Unpublished. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the results of two-bottle taste tests are influenced by cage layout, in particular, the position of the drinking spouts. To this end, we measured the 2 mM saccharin, 50 mM citric acid, 0.3 mM quinine hydrochloride, and 75 mM NaCl intakes and preferences of 129X1/SvJ (129) and C57BL/6J (B6) mice with various cage layouts. We found that the position of drinking spouts relative to the food (in a hopper or on the floor), the distance apart of the drinking spouts (2, 8, or 16 cm), or their relative orientation (horizontal or vertical) had no consistent effect on taste solution preferences. During tests with two bottles of water, the 129 (but not B6) mice demonstrated a left spout side preference when the spouts were close together (2 cm) but not when they were far apart (8 or 16 cm) or arranged vertically. These results suggest that drinking tube placement has little influence on the results of two-bottle tests, although placing the drinking tubes at least 8 cm apart reduces the spout side preferences displayed by some strains of mice.
Enriquecimiento de textos en español mediante generación automática de hipertexto

Se presenta un proyecto actualmente en desarrollo cuyo objetivo es la creacion de un modelo de enriquecimiento de textos basado en la integracion de recursos disponibles en el espacio web. El modelo propuesto pretende transformar textos planos lineales en hipertextos que provean informacion y recursos multimedia sobre entidades reconocidas. Con esta aplicacion los usuarios podran transformar textos en hipertextos auto-explicativos que les posibilitaran una mayor comprension y les ahorraran realizar busquedas individuales de informacion afin. La evolucion al concepto de web 2.0 y la proliferacion y popularizacion de buscadores alternativos, blogs, wikis, servicios de tagging, de question/answering, etc. resultan ideales para explotar de manera eficiente los recursos que provee Internet y utilizarlos estrategicamente en el enriquecimiento de texto.
Smart Meters and Spot Pricing: Experiments and Potential

Responsive microprocessor meters are approaching a life-cycle cost that is cheaper than that of electromechanical time-of-use meters, and they are currently being tested in Britain and the U.S. The English residential Credit and Load Management Unit (CALMU) can respond to dynamic prices broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation and can in principle turn off individual equipment at prices preselected by the homeowner. In the U.S., a consortium led by Integrated Communication Systems, Inc. (ICS) has started similar experiments, and many ``smart houses'' are being planned. Responsive meters (and the thermal storage they will incite) could displace 100 GW of peak power in the U.S. in the next 20-40 years.
Identification of quantitative trait loci controlling cold tolerance at the reproductive stage in Yunnan landrace of rice, Kunmingxiaobaigu

This study focused on a Yunnan landrace of rice, Kunmingxiaobaigu, to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling cold tolerance at the reproductive stage using DNA markers. A linkage map with 16 linkage groups covering 1,354.4 cM with a total of 122 markers was constructed based on an F-2 population consisting of 250 individuals of a cross between Kunmingxiaobaigu and a Japanese variety, Towada. Nine QTLs were detected by interval mapping in the F-2 population. The nine QTLs were distributed on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs), 3, 4, 6 (2 QTLs), 7, 10 and 12. The total variance explained by these nine QTLs was 54.2%, while the variance explained by a single QTL ranged from 5.0% to 37.8%. The validity of four QTLs on chromosomes 3, 6 (2 QTLs) and 7 was confirmed by single-marker analysis in the F-3 population and they were designated as qRCT3, qRCT6a, qRCT6b and qRCT7, respectively. The QTLs qRCT3, qRCT6a and qRCT6b were reported here for the first time. The QTL qRCT7 displayed the largest effect, reaching a value of 20.6%.
Predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in diagnosis of prostate cancer among men who underwent template-guided prostate biopsy

AbstractTo evaluate the predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). Data of 662 patients who underwent prostate biopsy from January 2012 to June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The receiver operating characteristic–derived area under the curve analyses were performed to assess the predictive accuracy. Simultaneously, Youden's index was calculated to determine the optimal NLR cutoff. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between NLR value and PCa detection. On account of an NLR value of 2.44 was shown with the maximal Youden's index on the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cutoff value of NLR was set at 2.44. Accordingly, patients were classified into high-NLR or low-NLR group. The patients in high-NLR group might have significant higher risk to be diagnosed with PCa (HR 1.640; P = 0.031), especially in the subgroup with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ranged from 4 to 10 ng mL−1 (hazard ratio [HR] 4.364; P = 0.003). The high-NLR was independent of age of diagnosis, PSA, prostate volume, abnormal digital rectal examination, and hypoechoic lesion on transrectal ultrasound for positive prostate biopsy. In the so-called gray area, combination of NLR value could raise 4.6% of the accuracy of the multivariate logistic model in PCa prediction, but not in advanced PCa prediction.The patients with high-NLR value may have significant higher risk to be diagnosed with PCa, especially among the patients with PSA ranged from 4 to 10 ng mL−1. In this subgroup, the adding of NLR value in the multivariate model can improve the accuracy of PCa prediction in a large degree. If validated, the NLR will become a promising, accessible, inexpensive biomarker for PCa prediction.
Functional Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed Upper Extremity After Spinal Cord Injury by Noninvasive Hybrid Neuroprostheses

For individuals with high spinal cord injury (SCI), restoring missing grasping function is a high priority. Neuroprostheses based on functional electrical stimulation (FES) can partly compensate the loss of upper extremity function in people suffering from tetraplegia. With noninvasive, multichannel neuroprostheses a pinch and power grasp can be accomplished for everyday use. Hybrid systems combining FES with active orthoses hold promise for restoring a completely lost arm function. Novel control interfaces are needed to make full use of the many degrees of freedom of complex hybrid neuroprostheses. Motor imagery (MI)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are an emerging technology that may serve as a valuable adjunct to traditional control interfaces for neuroprosthetic control. Shared control and context-specific autonomy are most effective for reducing the users' workload. The modularity of upper extremity neuroprostheses as well as their associated control interfaces enable customization of the systems to adapt to the impairment and needs of each individual end user. This work provides an overview of the application of noninvasive hybrid BCI-controlled upper extremity neuroprostheses in individuals with high SCI with a strong focus on the results from the European Integrated Project Tools for Brain-Computer Interaction and will describe the challenges and promises for the future.
Closing the Blinds: Four Strategies for Protecting Smart Home Privacy from Network Observers

The growing market for smart home IoT devices promises new conveniences for consumers while presenting novel challenges for preserving privacy within the home. Specifically, Internet service providers or neighborhood WiFi eavesdroppers can measure Internet traffic rates from smart home devices and infer consumers' private in-home behaviors. Here we propose four strategies that device manufacturers and third parties can take to protect consumers from side-channel traffic rate privacy threats: 1) blocking traffic, 2) concealing DNS, 3) tunneling traffic, and 4) shaping and injecting traffic. We hope that these strategies, and the implementation nuances we discuss, will provide a foundation for the future development of privacy-sensitive smart homes.
Induction of Cyclooxygenase‐2 in the Brain by Cytokines

The present study revealed that (1) a pyrogenic dose of IL-1 beta induced COX-2 mRNA in the brain vasculature and leptomeninges, and (2) the cells positive for COX-2 mRNA in the blood vessels were endothelial cells that possess receptors for IL-1. These results imply that circulating IL-1 beta acts on its receptor on the endothelial cells of the brain vasculature to induce COX-2 mRNA, which is possibly responsible for the elevated level of PGE2 seen during fever. In this sense, the endothelial cells in the brain vasculatures seem to play a role as an interface between the blood borne substance and the brain. The nature of the COX-2 mRNA-positive cells in the leptomeninges will be identified in our future study.