Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eficacia del tratamiento guiado por cultivo en la infección por Helicobacter pylori

Los estudios que conforman esta Tesis Doctoral van dirigidos a ofrecer un analisis cualitativo y cuantitativo de la eficacia del tratamiento guiado por cultivo en la infeccion por Helicobacter pylori. Los resultados de estos estudios han sido recogidos en 2 articulos originales publicados en revistas de amplia difusion internacional. Tras la investigacion de la eficacia del tratamiento guiado por cultivo, continuamos investigando la eficacia del tratamiento triple empirico con amoxicilina, metronidazol e inhibidores de la bomba de protones. Los resultados de estos estudios estan recogidos en otros 2 articulos diferentes. Sin embargo, con el objetivo de hacer mas concreta la linea de investigacion, estos articulos no han sido incluidos en los resultados de la tesis y tan solo se mencionan en la introduccion y en la bibliografia. En la introduccion se resume la microbiologia, patogenia, manifestaciones clinicas, metodos diagnosticos y tratamiento de la infeccion por H. pylori. El objetivo de la investigacion es realizar una revision sistematica y meta-analisis de la eficacia del tratamiento guiado por cultivo, de acuerdo con la linea de tratamiento (primera, segunda o tercera). Los resultados principales ponen de manifiesto que una vez se ha realizado una endoscopia digestiva alta, el tratamiento guiado por cultivo es mas eficaz que el tratamiento triple durante 7-10 dias en primera linea. No hay suficiente evidencia que demuestre que el tratamiento guiado por cultivo sea superior a los tratamiento cuadruples recomendados actualmente en primera linea. En segunda linea de tratamiento no hay diferencias significativas entre el tratamiento empirico y el guiado por cultivo. En tercera linea de tratamiento no hay estudios que comparen el tratamiento empirico con el guiado por cultivo. Sin embargo, la tasa media de erradicacion por ITT basada en estudios observacionales no comparativos alcanza el 72% tras dos fracasos de tratamiento. En la discusion se enfatiza que la mayoria de los estudios aleatorizan a los pacientes a tratamiento empirico o guiado por cultivo una vez ya se ha realizado la endoscopia o incluso una vez ya se ha obtenido crecimiento de H. pylori en el cultivo. Esto limita la evidencia de su aplicabilidad en la practica clinica, ya que requiere de una prueba invasiva (endoscopia digestiva alta) que los pacientes pueden no aceptar, y el cultivo de un microorganismo que es dificil que crezca y con frecuencia es negativo. Se pone de relieve la necesidad de estudios bien disenados que evaluen la efectividad del tratamiento guiado por cultivo en la practica clinica, teniendo en cuenta su aceptabilidad y aplicabilidad.
Deterministic learning enhanced neutral network control of unmanned helicopter

In this article, a neural network–based tracking controller is developed for an unmanned helicopter system with guaranteed global stability in the presence of uncertain system dynamics. Due to the coupling and modeling uncertainties of the helicopter systems, neutral networks approximation techniques are employed to compensate the unknown dynamics of each subsystem. In order to extend the semiglobal stability achieved by conventional neural control to global stability, a switching mechanism is also integrated into the control design, such that the resulted neural controller is always valid without any concern on either initial conditions or range of state variables. In addition, deterministic learning is applied to the neutral network learning control, such that the adaptive neutral networks are able to store the learned knowledge that could be reused to construct neutral network controller with improved control performance. Simulation studies are carried out on a helicopter model to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control design.
RISK OF RELAPSE IN CHILDHOOD ACUTE LEUKEMIA

Leukemia is a hematological malignancy that involves bone marrow. Polymorphism of biotransformation genes plays an important role in primary childhood leukemia and affects the incidence and character of acute leukemia relapse. A biochip designed to assess some polymorphisms of biotransformation genes was used to determine the frequency of the polymorphic variants of CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GSTT1, GSTM1, MTHFR, MTRR, NQO1, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and NAT2 in 332 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 71 children with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). The CYP1A1 *1/*2A, GSTT1 non null and GSTM1 non null genotypes were more frequent in patients with primary leukemia than in relapse. Analysis of the NAT2 genotype frequency revealed a characteristic genotype for each type of leukemia, which prevailed in patients with relapse: the genotype 341C/–, 481T/–, 590G/G, 857G/G prevailed in ALL patients with relapse, and the genotype 341T/T, 481C/C, 590A/– in AML patients with relapse when compared with patients having primary ALL or AML, respectively. Thus, the polymorphisms of CYP1A1, GSTT1, GSTM1 and NAT2 genes can be considered as markers for risk of relapse in childhood acute leukemia and can be used for the prognosis and individualization of standard therapy.
Scleractinian coral communities of the inner Seychelles 10 years after the 1998 mortality event

1. The size structure and taxonomic composition of coral communities in the inner (Granitic) Seychelles were studied 10 years after a thermal stress-induced mass mortality event. 2. A survey of the abundance, population size structure and community composition of hard corals across 21 sites from three different geomorphological reef types on the Seychelles Bank provided high resolution data for discriminating coral communities based on diversity, taxonomic composition, colony abundance, surface area and size frequency distributions. 3. Results emphasize the severely impoverished and depauperate nature of inner Seychelles hard coral communities, which had lower generic diversity (40 genera recorded), and lower abundance (3.3 colonies m-2) of hard corals (excluding juveniles) than other coral reef regions of the Indian Ocean for which comparable data are currently available. 4. Analysis of coral communities indicated that management had no appreciable effect on juvenile or adult coral abundance at this point in time, and that low juvenile density (9.9 colonies m-2) may severely limit recovery of many individual reefs in the inner Seychelles. 5. While some sites were found to have appreciable coral cover (>20%), others, including long-standing protected areas with no fishing, are now in an advanced state of erosion and framework collapse with very low juvenile coral replenishment and negligible available hard substratum suitable for coral settlement. 6. Some of these reefs may have passed the threshold of viable recovery, now being in a self-reinforcing, non-coral dominated erosional phase. 7. These findings indicate variable coral community condition, with many sites showing little sign of recovery. If persistence of live hard coral is a management goal, the existing protected areas within the Seychelles Bank may require review to ensure protection of sites with high recovery potential, while a suite of other management tools should be implemented in the remaining areas.
Structural Metrics to Assess Processes

As products are becoming more and more integrated and thus complex, so do design processes. In turn, process management puts more and more focus to continuously rework and improve design processes. Often, complex and confusing process maps or “wallpapers” are the result. Yet, there is little methodical support to systematically identify possible weak spots in such a process map. The focus of this research is the identification of particular patterns in a process map and evaluating them through the systematic application of complexity metrics. These metrics are exclusively targeted on structural characteristics, i.e. patterns of how the different entities of the process are related to each other qualitatively. There are a number of other methodologies, e.g. CPM (critical path method), that evaluate processes quantitatively, for example with a focus to lead times or cost. The metrics proposed here allow for easy examination of a given process map by pointing the user to features of the process that stand out. As such, the metrics do not necessarily indicate whether the occurrence of a certain feature is good or bad, but they only describe the process in a form that makes possible weak spots more easily accessible; a possible example might be spotting the one document that, if faulty, will induce errors into all subsequent tasks that use this one document.
The SmartH2O project and the role of social computing in promoting efficient residential water use: a first analysis

SmartH2O is an EU funded project which aims at creating a virtuous feedback cycle between water users and the utilities, providing users information on their consumption in quasi real time, and thus enabling water utilities to plan and implement strategies to reduce/reallocate water consumption. Traditional metering data, usually gathered twice a year, can be used to model consumers' behaviour at an aggregate level, but the motivations and individual attitudes of consumers are hidden. The advent of smart water meters allows gathering high frequency consumption data that can be used to provide instantaneous information to water utilities on the state of the network. At the same time, the consumption information can be fed back to the user to stimulate increased awareness on water use. The SmartH2O project aims at developing methodologies to involve consumers and promote water savings by increasing their awareness, using a social computing approach, and also exploring their sensitivity to water prices, e.g., to penalise water waste during droughts. In this paper, first we review similar experiences that exploit consumer awareness to reduce consumption, then we review the role of persuasive games for sustainability, and finally we present the SmartH2O approach, sketching the architecture of its modelling and social computing components.
STM observations of GaAs(110) showing the top and bottom zig-zag rows of the surface

We present an unusual image form of the GaAs(110) surface observed in cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy in UHV. It clearly shows the zig-zag row formed between the cations and anions in the top row of the GaAs(110) surface, as well as traces of the bottom row that lies between the top rows. It thereby closely resembles the true atomic lattice usually depicted by ball-and-stick models. We interpret the occurrence of this image form in terms of a chemical bond that forms between the apex of the tip and the nearest Ga atom in the top row of the sample surface. The formation of such a bond has recently been predicted theoretically. The results thus show that the tip-sample interaction, when it becomes significant, can give rise to entirely different and interesting image forms.
Comparative Study of IFN-Based Versus IFN-Free Regimens and Their Efficacy in Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infections

The hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection is a global health burden, WHO estimates 130–150 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C virus worldwide. Additional 3–4 million people become newly infected annually and more than 350,000 people die each year of HCV-related liver diseases. HCV infection exhibits higher genetic diversity with regional variations in genotypic prevalence resulting big challenges on disease manage-ment. Introduction of DAAs revolutionised the new era of all oral therapy in treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection and is the regimens of choice in present days. However, IFN-based combination therapy with sofosbuvir has promising efficacy in genotypes 3, 4, 5 or 6 infections compared to genotypes 1 and 2 infections. So, these regimens could be an option in DAAs regimen failure cases. The poor availability of data on recent DAAs (IFN-free) regimens questioned on regular use and cost effectiveness is the another chal - lenge with DAAs regimens. So phase III trials (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) of recent DAAs with pangenotypic actions and better tolerability in HCV infected patients are the future advances in treatment of chronic hepatitis C. After all those recent combination therapies with better SVR, the combination of pegylated interferon with ribavirin is the only option available where unavailability of other regimens still exists.
Post-Crisis Lesson for EMU Governance from the Principal-Agent Approach

This paper contributes to the ongoing debate on fiscal consolidation and the questionable effectiveness of the Stability and Growth Pact by addressing the problem of economic governance in the EMU with a game-theoretic principal-agent approach. Following the theory of delegation, we develop a principal-multi agent model where the EMU authorities act as a collective principal that designs contracts for each of two agents that reflect Europe’s ”South” and ”North”. We investigate what happens when agents face hidden-information moral hazard problem and when they are able to coordinate their actions. Bearing in mind the applicability of incentive mechanisms, we discuss the optimal contracts for the principal and each of the agents. We prove that the most efficient solution consists of tailor-made contracts, according to which highly indebted countries must be offered strong incentive mechanisms in the form of substantial penalties but also rewards (e.g., preferential loans). We also stress the importance of taking into account positive spillover effects, which could be facilitated by economic integration and fiscal policy coordination between the EMU Members.
Innovators in Digital News

News organisations are struggling with technology transitions and fearful for their future. Yet a cadre of these institutions – some new, some old – has emerged who are succeeding with digital news. Why are Vice and BuzzFeed investing in journalism and why are pedigree journalists joining them? Why are established news organisations letting experienced journalists go but recruiting technologists? This book looks at several key players in the digital news industry – including the Guardian, the New York Times, Quartz, BuzzFeed and Vice – and draws on extensive first-hand research inside the organisations. How do they operate? How do they innovate? This book identifies and discusses the common elements that underlie their success, and provides valuable pointers for how all players, legacy and clean sheet, can seize the growth potential that digital markets present.
Basel III and Bank Efficiency: Does One Solution Fit All? Evidence from Islamic and Conventional Banks

This study examines the impact of the Basel III regulatory framework on the efficiency of Islamic and conventional banks using conditional quantile regressions. We find that Islamic banks are significantly more efficient than conventional banks. We also find that, relative to conventional banks, the Basel III requirements for higher capital and liquidity are negatively associated with the efficiency of Islamic banks while financial leverage has an opposite effect. Our results are even stronger when examining small and highly liquid banks. Furthermore, we find that higher capital, higher liquidity, and lower leverage resulted in better efficiency for conventional than Islamic banks during the subprime crisis.
Interference between driving and dissipation in the spin-boson model: Effect of counter-rotating terms

The quantum dynamics of the dissipative two-level system in the Ohmic bath with Rabi driving is studied by means of a modified Bloch-Redfield approach based on a unitary transformation. The main purpose is to understand the effect of counter-rotating terms of the system-environment interaction on the dynamics of the two-level system and, in particular, if it is possible to control the effective system-environment coupling by their effect on the interference between driving and dissipation. By calculating the nonequilibrium correlation P(t) for a finite driving it is shown that the counter-rotating terms of the system-environment interaction play an important role in the dynamic evolution with a longer coherent time and a weaker amplitude of the long-time driven oscillation.
Incidence of the Endophyte Neotyphodium occultans in annual ryegrass in Southern New South Wales

Annual ryegrass ( Lolium rigidum Gaudin) is a major weed of economic importance in winter crops in southern Australia. A shift in farming practices from cultivation to minimum or no-till systems with a heavy dependence on herbicides for weed control, has led to the evolution of herbicide resistance in many annual ryegrass populations. This has resulted in a loss of diversity in the chemical modes of action left available to control this weed. Annual ryegrass is host to the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium occultans (Moon et al. 2000). Studies in other grass/Neotyphodium associations have determined significant effects on the morphology and physiology of the host plant. Studies by Vila-Aiub et al. (2003) have found that Italian ryegrass infected with Neotyphodium sp. may play a part in the evolution of herbicide resistance. This paper reports the incidence of N. occultans in populations of annual ryegrass across southern New South Wales. Results will provide a benchmark for further studies across Australia relating to herbicide resistance and endophyte infection. Endophyte was found in all populations studied but the level of infection varied with an average infestation of 50%.
Applying of an Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System for Prediction of Unsaturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity

The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of soil (Ku) is one of the most principal parameters in the study of water movement in the soil. The field measurement methods of (Ku) are hard and expensive. So, indirect prediction of (Ku) has received considerable attention as published in the research papers to be an alternative approach. However, prediction models for soil hydraulic conductivity are now widely used informative tools for rapid and cost-effective assessment. Thus in this study, an attempt has been made to apply an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for predicting (Ku). The input variables were ECRatio (electric conductivity of water divided by electric conductivity of soil), SARRatio (sodium adsorption ratio of water divided by sodium adsorption ratio of soil), soil texture index (calculated from clay, sand and silt), suction rate, organic matter in the soil, initial soil moisture content and initial soil bulk density. The Gaussian membership function was the best for the input variables. The Hybrid learning was selected for predicting (Ku) with ANFIS. Three performance functions namely; root mean squared error (RMSE), mean error (ME) and coefficient of determination (R2), were used to evaluate the predictive capability of the suggested (ANFIS). The obtained results for testing data (9 points) indicated that the R2 values relating predicted versus measured estimates of (Ku) was 0.783, ME was found to be 0.118 cm/sec and RMSE was found to be 0.472 cm/sec. As a result, it appears that applying ANFIS suggests a new approach for determining (Ku) along with saving time and cost.
Structural and tidal models of Titan and inferences on cryovolcanism

Titan, Saturn's largest satellite, is subject to solid body tides exerted by Saturn on the timescale of its orbital period. The tide‐induced internal redistribution of mass results in tidal stress variations, which could play a major role for Titan's geologic surface record. We construct models of Titan's interior that are consistent with the satellite's mean density, polar moment‐of‐inertia factor, obliquity, and tidal potential Love number k2 as derived from Cassini observations of Titan's low‐degree gravity field and rotational state. In the presence of a global liquid reservoir, the tidal gravity field is found to be consistent with a subsurface water‐ammonia ocean more than 180 km thick and overlain by an outer ice shell of less than 110 km thickness. The model calculations suggest comparatively low ocean ammonia contents of less than 5 wt % and ocean temperatures in excess of 255 K, i.e., higher than previously thought, thereby substantially increasing Titan's potential for habitable locations. The calculated diurnal tidal stresses at Titan's surface amount to 20 kPa, almost comparable to those expected at Enceladus and Europa. Tidal shear stresses are concentrated in the polar areas, while tensile stresses predominate in the near‐equatorial, midlatitude areas of the sub‐ and anti‐Saturnian hemispheres. The characteristic pattern of maximum diurnal tidal stresses is largely compliant with the distribution of active regions such as cryovolcanic candidate areas. The latter could be important for Titan's habitability since those may provide possible pathways for liquid water‐ammonia outbursts on the surface and the release of methane in the satellite's atmosphere.
Analysis of Circular Disk Patch Antenna Loaded with U- and V-shape slot for Broadband Operation

A broadband antenna is achieved by introducing two different shapes of slot in circular disk patch. In U- slot loaded disk antenna, typically 24.21 % bandwidth is obtained however in V- slot loaded patch antenna bandwidth improves up to 34.58 %. Variation of slot length (Ls), slot width (T), base length ( Lb) as well as V-arm angle (
Música y competencias emocionales: posibles implicaciones para la mejora de la educación musical

El presente articulo estudia las relaciones existentes entre la musica y el desarrollo de las competencias emocionales. Se explora la capacidad de la musica para inducir emociones en el individuo. Se examina la predisposicion natural del ser humano hacia la musica, asi como los efectos que la practica instrumental genera en el cerebro. Se explican los efectos que la musica produce en el comportamiento del oyente e interpretes. Finalmente, se sugiere como la educacion musical podria ayudar al desarrollo de las competencias emocionales y las posibles implicaciones que esto tiene para la mejora de la educacion musical.
Detection of JC virus DNA from whole blood and urine samples

JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) is ubiquitous in humans and an etiological agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The primary infection with this virus occurs in childhood and persists in the kidneys throughout life. Recently, detection of JC virus DNA from blood samples has been needed for forensic purposes. However, the reported detection rate of this virus from whole blood is unclear. Here, we detected JCPyV DNA from the whole blood and urine of 50 forensic cases who died from external injuries with no apparent illness. JCPyV DNA was detected in eight urine samples (16%) and one blood sample (2%). However, the case we detected from blood died in poor physical condition. Therefore, JCPyV may not present in the blood of healthy individuals and only re-spread into blood vessels in cases with immunosupressed status.
Word Learning Ability of 9-Month-Old Ethnic Chinese Infants

The conventional nature of language refers to the fact that words have meaning because they are shared among speakers of the same linguistic community. Evidence from previous research suggests that infants who are around 9-13 months of age have a basic understanding of the conventional nature of language. However, it remains unknown whether younger infants understand that words have consistent labels and these labels should be generalized across different people. To answer this question, the present study examined whether 9-month-old Chinese infants who are habituated to the event in which a speaker provides a label for a novel object, would expect a second speaker to apply the same label to the same objects. Findings indicate that 9-month-olds expect different speakers to use the same label to refer to the same objects. Thus, by 9 months of age, infants have some understanding that an object label should be remain consistent on different occasions across people. The mechanism underlying the acquisition of conventional knowledge and implications for word learning and culture are discussed.