Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Author ' s personal copy Short and long term improvements in quality of chronic care delivery predict program sustainability q

Empirical evidence on sustainability of programs that improve the quality of care delivery over time is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to identify the predictive role of short and long term improvements in quality of chronic care delivery on program sustainability. In this longitudinal study, professionals [2010 (T0): n1⁄4 218, 55% response rate; 2011 (T1): n1⁄4 300, 68% response rate; 2012 (T2): n1⁄4 265, 63% response rate] from 22 Dutch disease-management programs completed surveys assessing quality of care and program sustainability. Our study findings indicated that quality of chronic care delivery improved significantly in the first 2 years after implementation of the disease-management programs. At T1, overall quality, self-management support, delivery system design, and integration of chronic care components, as well as health care delivery and clinical information systems and decision support, had improved. At T2, overall quality again improved significantly, as did community linkages, delivery system design, clinical information systems, decision support and integration of chronic care components, and self-management support. Multilevel regression analysis revealed that quality of chronic care delivery at T0 (p< 0.001) and quality changes in the first (p< 0.001) and second (p< 0.01) years predicted program sustainability. In conclusion this study showed that disease-management programs based on the chronic care model improved the quality of chronic care delivery over time and that short and long term changes in the quality of chronic care delivery predicted the sustainability of the projects. 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Basic vocabulary and Bayesian phylolinguistics: issues of understanding and representation

Donohue et al.’s critique of our work on the origins and spread of the Austronesian language family is marred by misunderstandings. We respond to these by noting that our Bayesian phylogenetic approach: (1) distinguishes between retentions and innovations probabilistically, (2) focuses on basic vocabulary not ‘the lexicon’, (3) eliminates known loanwords, (4) produces results that are congruent with the results of the comparative method and conflict with the scenarios requiring unprecedented amounts of language shift postulated by Donohue et al.
Analysis and implementation of hybrid switching

The switching scheme of a point-to-point network determines how packets flow through each node, and is a primary element in determining the network's performance. In this paper, we present and evaluate a new switching scheme called hybrid switching. Hybrid switching dynamically combines both virtual cut-through and wormhole switching to provide higher achievable throughput than wormhole alone, while significantly reducing the buffer space required at intermediate nodes when compared to virtual cut-through. This scheme is motivated by a comparison of virtual cut-through and wormhole switching through cycle-level simulations, and then evaluated using the same methods. To show the feasibility of hybrid switching, as well as to provide a common base for simulating and implementing a variety of switching schemes, we have designed SPIDER, a communication adapter built around a custom ASIC, the Programmable Routing Controller (PRC).
NRAS mutations are rare in acute myeloid leukaemias with t(8;21) or inv(16)

Abstract: Using PCR and direct sequence methodology, 19 haematologic malignancies with trisomy 8, 18 with t(8;21)(q22;q22) and 8 with inv(16)(p13q22) were screened for NRAS mutations. Of the 45 samples analyzed, 4 (9%) had a mutation; both wild‐type and mutated alleles were observed in these 4 cases. Three of the mutations (involving codons 12 and 13) were found in the trisomy 8 group and 1 (codon 61) among the inv(16) samples. No specific clinical similarities were found in the 3 patients with + 8 and NRAS mutation. By analyzing two sequential samples from the patient with inv(16) and NRAS mutation, it was shown that the mutation had occurred after the inversion. Since no NRAS mutations were detected among the t(8;21) samples and only 1 was found in the inv(16) group, we conclude that acute myeloid leukaemias with t(8;21) or inv(16) generally arise and progress without the involvement of NRAS mutations.
Structure of the baboon endogenous virus genome: cloning of circular virus DNA in bacteriophage lambda.

Linear, small and large circular forms of unintegrated viral DNAs were detected in Hirt supernatant fraction of human cultured cells infected with baboon endogenous virus M7. The circular M7 DNAs were cloned in bacteriophage lambda, Charon 28. Seventeen independent clones were isolated and analyzed by restriction endonuclease mapping. Nine clones were carrying a viral sequence of 8.6 kilobase pairs (kb) with two tandem repeats of 0.6 kb, which correspond to the large circular form of the unintegrated M7 DNA. Eight other clones had the viral insert of 8.0 kb, i. e. , the small circular form, and were deleted one of the repeated sequences. The repeated sequences correspond to the long terminal repeats of 0.6 kb, located at both ends of the linear M7 DNA of 8.6 kb. One of the recombinants of the large circular M7 DNA had an inversion of 2.5 kb. One end of the inverted sequence was near the terminus of the long terminal repeats and the other in the gag gene region. The inversion seems to be occurred by integration of a viral DNA within itself during early periods of infection. The mechanism of the processes leading to integration is discussed from the structure of these unintegrated M7 DNAs as the precursors.
Recursion Relations for one-loop gravity amplitudes

We study the application of recursion relations to the calculation of finite one-loop gravity amplitudes. It is shown explicitly that the known five, and six graviton one-loop amplitudes for which the external legs have identical outgoing helicities, and the four graviton amplitude with helicities -+++ can be derived from simple recursion relations. The latter amplitude is derived by introducing a one-loop three-point vertex of gravitons of positive helicity, which is the counterpart in gravity of the one-loop three-plus vertex in Yang-Mills. We show that new issues arise for the five point amplitude with helicities -++++, where the application of known methods does not appear to work, and we discuss possible resolutions.
Identification of Rift Valley Fever Virus Nucleocapsid Protein-RNA Binding Inhibitors Using a High-Throughput Screening Assay

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging infectious pathogen that causes severe disease in humans and livestock and has the potential for global spread. Currently, there is no proven effective treatment for RVFV infection, and there is no licensed vaccine. Inhibition of RNA binding to the essential viral nucleocapsid (N) protein represents a potential antiviral therapeutic strategy because all of the functions performed by N during infection involve RNA binding. To target this interaction, we developed a fluorescence polarization–based high-throughput drug-screening assay and tested 26 424 chemical compounds for their ability to disrupt an N-RNA complex. From libraries of Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs, druglike molecules, and natural product extracts, we identified several lead compounds that are promising candidates for medicinal chemistry.
Porin Activity of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Outer Membrane Fraction and Purified P44

ABSTRACT Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an obligatory intracellular bacterium that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis, has significantly less coding capacity for biosynthesis and central intermediary metabolism than do free-living bacteria. Thus, A. phagocytophilum needs to usurp and acquire various compounds from its host. Here we demonstrate that the isolated outer membrane of A. phagocytophilum has porin activity, as measured by a liposome swelling assay. The activity allows the diffusion of l-glutamine, the monosaccharides arabinose and glucose, the disaccharide sucrose, and even the tetrasaccharide stachyose, and this diffusion could be inhibited with an anti-P44 monoclonal antibody. P44s are the most abundant outer membrane proteins and neutralizing targets of A. phagocytophilum. The P44 protein demonstrates characteristics consistent with porins of gram-negative bacteria, including detergent solubility, heat modifiability, a predicted structure of amphipathic and antiparallel β-strands, an abundance of polar residues, and a C-terminal phenylalanine. We purified native P44s under two different nondenaturing conditions. When reconstituted into proteoliposomes, both purified P44s exhibited porin activity. P44s are encoded by approximately 100 p44 paralogs and go through extensive antigenic variation. The 16-transmembrane-domain β-strands consist of conserved P44 N- and C-terminal regions. By looping out the hypervariable region, the porin structure is conserved among diverse P44 proteins yet enables antigenic variation for immunoevasion. The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle of A. phagocytophilum is incomplete and requires the exogenous acquisition of l-glutamine or l-glutamate for function. Efficient diffusion of l-glutamine across the outer membrane suggests that the porin feeds the Anaplasma TCA cycle and that the relatively large pore size provides Anaplasma with the necessary metabolic intermediates from the host cytoplasm.
Protective Roles of Mast Cells Against Enterobacterial Infection Are Mediated by Toll-Like Receptor 41

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are mammalian homologues of the Drosophila Toll receptors and are thought to have roles in innate recognition of bacteria. We demonstrated that TLR 2, 4, 6, and 8 but not TLR5 were expressed on mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Using BMMCs from the genetically TLR4-mutated strain C3H/HeJ, we demonstrated that functional TLR4 was required for a full responsiveness of BMMCs to produce inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-13) by LPS stimulation. TLR4-mediated stimulation of mast cells by LPS was followed by activation of NF-κB but not by stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase signaling. In addition, in the cecal ligation and puncture-induced acute septic peritonitis model, we demonstrated that genetically mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice that were reconstituted with TLR4-mutated BMMCs had significantly higher mortality than W/Wv mice reconstituted with TLR4-intact BMMCs. Higher mortality of TLR4-mutated BMMC-reconstituted W/Wv mice was well correlated with defective neutrophil recruitment and production of proinflammatory cytokines in the peritoneal cavity. Taken together, these observations provide definitive evidence that mast cells play important roles in exerting the innate immunity by releasing inflammatory cytokines and recruitment of neutrophils after recognition of enterobacteria through TLR4 on mast cells.
3 D Colon Object Reconstruction Framework in CT Colonography

Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. It is the second leading cause of death caused by cancers and the third most common form of cancer in the United States [1]. Computer tomographic colonography (CTC) is a minimally invasive technique and rapidly evolving diagnostic tool for the location, detection and identification of benign polyps in the early stage before their malignant transformation. Computer aided detection (CAD) for colonic polyp is a rapidly evolving diagnostic tool for the location, detection and identification of benign polyps on the colon wall on the early stage before their malignant transformation. The typical CAD system as shown in Figure 1, mainly includes: 1) colon segmentation, 2) 3D colon object reconstruction, 3) 3D centerline extraction as the optimal flying-path for navigation, 4) colonic polyp detection using either geometric features or statistical features, 5) color coding for polyp candidates visualization, 6) polyp features extraction, and 7) benign/malignant polyp classification. In this paper, we propose a general framework for colon segmentation and reconstruction. The proposed framework has been validated on 10 real CT colon datasets, and the segmentation accuracy has achieved 96.06%. The 3D colon objects are reconstructed from the segmented slices by computing their isosurfaces using MarchingCube algorithm.
On the Approximability of DAG Edge Deletion

The DAG Edge Deletion problem of k , or DED( k ) , is to delete the minimum weight set of edges from a directed acyclic graph such that the remaining graph has no path of length k . In 2012, Svensson showed it was hard to approximate the vertex deletion version with a ratio better than k assuming the Unique Games Conjecture is true [14], and in 2015 Kenkre et al. introduced the DED( k ) problem and used this result to show that DED( k ) is UGC-hard to approximate better than (cid:98) k 2 (cid:99) for k ≥ 4 [6]. They motivate it as the minimization version of the problem Max-k - Ordering on DAGs, which is to assign a labeling (cid:96) : V → [ k ] that maximizes the number of edges ( i, j ) with (cid:96) ( i ) < (cid:96) ( j ). This in turn has applications to scheduling jobs with soft precedence constraints. However, the best known approximation algorithm for DED( k ) , given by Kenkre et al. [6], has a ratio of k . In this work we tighten this gap by giving a ( 23 k + O (1))-approximation for DED( k ) , as well as a 1.375-approximation for DED(2) , a 2-approximation for DED(3) , and a 34 k -approximation for small k . We then address a combinatorial problem of ﬁnding a class of DAGs for which the Max-k -Ordering is as small as possible. We show that a DAG given by Alon et al. [1] that was shown to have a maximum directed cut of size at most ( 14 + o (1)) | E | in fact has a Max-k -Ordering of at most ( k − 1 2 k + o (1)) | E | . From this result follows a k +12 integrality gap for Kenkre et al.’s LP, nearly matching the UGC-hardness factor. We state ﬁnding either a k +12 rounding for this LP or an improved integrality gap as an open problem.
CD57+ T lymphocytes are derived from CD57− precursors by differentiation occurring in late immune responses

CD3+ T cells expressing the 110‐kDa CD57 antigen are found in survivors of renal, cardiac and bone marrow transplants, in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. They are also present in normal individuals and expand upon ageing. They do not grow in culture and their role in the immune response is poorly understood. The expression of the various isoforms of the leukocyte common antigen (CD45) identifies a spectrum of differentiation in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells ranging from naive (CD45RA+CD45RBbrightCD45RO−) through early primed cells (CD45RA−RBbrightROdull) to highly differentiated memory cells which are CD45RA−RBdullRObright. CD45 isoforms expressed by CD57+ T cells showed distinct differences between CD4+ and CD8+ populations, but in each case indicated an advanced state of differentiation. The expression of T cell receptor Vβ families was highly variable between individuals, but both CD57+ and CD57− cells show a full range of the specificities tested. Vβ expression was more closely related within either the CD4+ or the CD8+ subsets, irrespective of CD57 expression, than between these subsets, suggesting a relationship between CD57+ and CD57− cells within the same T cell pool. This possibility was supported by experiments showing that CD3+CD57+ lymphocytes were similar to CD3+CD57− T cells in terms of the production of basic T cell cytokines [interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4, and interferon‐γ]. Furthermore, in vitro stimulation of CD3+CD57− T cells in secondary mixed leukocyte reaction or by co‐culture with IL‐2 and IL‐4 induced the appearance of CD3+CD57+ cells with phenotypic and functional similarities to in vivo CD3+CD57+ cells. These data strongly suggest that the expression of CD57 is a differentiation event which occurs on CD57− T cells late in the immune response.
Aberrant synaptic input to retinal ganglion cells varies with morphology in a mouse model of retinal degeneration

Retinal degeneration describes a group of disorders which lead to progressive photoreceptor cell death, resulting in blindness. As this occurs, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) begin to develop oscillatory physiological activity. Here we studied the morphological and physiological properties of RGCs in rd1 mice, aged 30–60 days, to determine how this aberrant activity correlates with morphology. Patch‐clamp recordings of excitatory and inhibitory currents were performed, then dendritic structures were visualized by infusion of fluorescent dye. Only RGCs with oscillatory activity were selected for further analysis. Oscillatory frequency and power were calculated using power spectral density analysis of recorded currents. Dendritic arbor stratification, total length, and area were measured from confocal microscope image stacks. These measurements were used to sort RGCs by cluster analysis using Ward's Method. This resulted in a total of 10 clusters, with monostratified and bistratified cells having five clusters each. Both populations exhibited correlations between arbor stratification and aberrant inhibitory input, while excitatory input did not vary with arbor distribution. These findings illustrate the relationship between aberrant activity and RGC morphology at early stages of retinal degeneration. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:4085–4099, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A two‐step model for Langerhans cell migration to skin‐draining LN

Although the role of Langerhans cells (LC) in skin immune responses is still a matter of debate, it is known that LC require the chemokine receptor CCR7 for migrating to skin‐draining LN. A report in the current issue of the European Journal of Immunology unfolds some of the intricacies of LC migration, showing that LC need CXCR4, but not CCR7, for their migration from the epidermis to the dermis. Thus, LC migration to skin‐draining LN occurs in two distinct phases: a first step from the epidermis to the dermis regulated by CXCR4 and a second CCR7‐dependent step from the dermis to LN. Here we discuss the potential implications of this new two‐step LC migration paradigm.
Sickness behavior, its mechanisms and significance

Abstract Recent studies have begun to clarify the pathogenesis of sickness behavior. Cytokines released by macrophages, dendritic cells and mast cells act on the brain to trigger behavioral changes in infected animals. The major cytokines, interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and others, all act on the hypothalamus to provoke alterations in the normal homeostatic condition. These include elevated body temperature, increased sleep, and loss of appetite as well as major alterations in lipid and protein metabolism leading to significant weight loss. Some of these changes are clearly directed towards enhancing the normal immune responses. The benefits of others such as appetite loss are unclear. It is also important to recognize that other animals may recognize sickness behavior as a sign of weakness and mark the victim out for targeting by predators. As a result, some prey species may work very hard to mask their sickness, a response that serves to complicate veterinary diagnosis.
CD4 Cell Counts of 800 Cells/mm3 or Greater After 7 Years of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Are Feasible in Most Patients Starting With 350 Cells/mm3 or Greater

Objective:CD4 cell count changes in therapy-naive patients were investigated during 7 years of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in an observational cohort. Methods:Three endpoints were studied: (1) time to ≥800 CD4 cells/mm3 in 5299 therapy-naive patients starting HAART, (2) CD4 cell count changes during 7 years of uninterrupted HAART in a subset of 544 patients, and (3) reaching a plateau in CD4 cell restoration after 5 years of HAART in 366 virologically suppressed patients. Results:Among patients with <50, 50 to 200, 200 to 350, 350 to 500, and ≥500 CD4 cells/mm3 at baseline, respectively, 20%, 26%, 46%, 73%, and 87% reached ≥800 CD4 cells/mm3 within 7 years of starting HAART. Periods with HIV RNA levels >500 copies/mL and age ≥50 years were associated with lesser increases in CD4 cell counts between 6 months and 7 years. Having reached ≥800 CD4 cells/mm3 at 5 years, age ≥50 years, and ≥1 HIV RNA measurement >1000 copies/mL between 5 and 7 years were associated with a plateau in CD4 cell restoration. Conclusions:Restoration to CD4 cell counts ≥800 cells/mm3 is feasible within 7 years of HAART in most HIV-infected patients starting with ≥350 cells/mm3 and achieving sufficient suppression of viral replication. Particularly in patients ≥50 years of age, it may be beneficial to start earlier than current guidelines recommend.
Will Genetic Testing for Complex Diseases Increase Motivation to Quit Smoking? Anticipated Reactions in a Survey of Smokers

The aim of this study was to improve understanding of smokers’ potential reactions to genetic testing for smoking-related diseases. One thousand twenty-four respondents completed a postal survey; 186were smokers. Questions addressed anticipated psychological and behavioral reactions to genetic test results using hypothetical scenarios. Of smokers, 65% anticipated being motivated to quit smoking upon receiving a positive genetic test result; 39% anticipated being demotivated by a negative result. More smokers anticipated being depressed in response to receiving a positive result for cancer than for heart disease (40% vs. 24%). Anticipated motivation was associated with higher desire to quit and lower nicotine addiction, anticipated depression with poorer understanding of genetic testing, and anticipated demotivation with lower education. Smokers who have a high desire to quit may use genetic testing as a motivational tool. Understanding of genetics may be important in determining how individuals respond to genetic tests for complex diseases.
Women challenge Irish law on abortion in Europe on human rights grounds

The strict anti-abortion laws of the Republic of Ireland were challenged this week at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The grand chamber of 17 judges was told that the country’s virtual ban on abortion was endangering women’s health and wellbeing and forcing them to travel abroad for terminations. Representing three women living in Ireland who had their abortions in the United Kingdom, senior counsel Julie Kay told the judges that all three women had to borrow money to travel abroad for “clandestine” abortions. The women, backed by the Irish Family Planning Association …
EFFETS DE LA STRUCTURE DE PROPRIETE SUR LA PERFORMANCE COMPTABLE: ETUDE EMPIRIQUE SUR LES ENTREPRISES TUNISIENNES INDISTRUELLES NON COTEES

Cette recherche examine les effets de la structure de propriete sur la performance comptable d'un echantillon d'entreprises industrielles tunisiennes non cotees et observees entre 1999 et 2002. Dans cette etude, trois variables definissent la structure de propriete: la concentration du capital, la nature des actionnaires majoritaires et la propriete manageriale. La performance des firmes est mesuree par le rendement sur les capitaux propres et le rendement sur actif. Les resultats confirment qu'il n'existe pas de relation entre la concentration du capital et la performance. Par ailleurs, ils montrent que la relation supposee non lineaire entre la propriete manageriale et la performance financiere n'est pas confirmee pour le cas des entreprises de cette etude.