Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AIDS and global justice

> “The bottom line is, the people who are dying from AIDS don't matter in this world. ”1 Remember HIV/AIDS? This theme issue of the BMJ challenges the global community to overcome its amnesia and fatigue, mobilise its ample collective resources, and make 2002 the turning point in tackling HIV. The theme that dominates these pages is the need for justice. In his Theory of Justice , John Rawls, perhaps the most important moral philosopher of the 20th century, argued that justice is required when there is a struggle for scarce resources and when life is brief.2 Both of these conditions are met in those countries devastated by HIV. Authors in this week's BMJ demand actions that are based on justice: the distribution of antiretroviral drugs to the world's poorest people; the empowerment of women; the urgent search for an HIV vaccine; and the care and education of children orphaned by AIDS. Wealthy countries must take the lead in acting justly. Their colonisation of the regions now struggling with rising HIV rates, like India and Africa, left behind a legacy …
Evaluation of a 24-Hour Fluorogenic Assay for the Enumeration of Escherichia coli From Foods.

A 24 h assay for the detection and enumeration of Escherichia coli in foods was evaluated. The procedure used 4-methylumbellifery1-β-D-glucuronide (MUG) incorporated into trypticase soy agar (TSA) and violet red bile agar (VRBA). The procedure was evaluated using 106 different stock cultures, and 165 isolates from a variety of naturally contaminated foods. Samples were first surface plated on TSA-MUG, and allowed to incubate at room temperature for 1-2 h. Plates were then overlaid with VRBA-MUG and incubated at 35°C for 24 h. The TSA/VRBA-MUG assay was able to detect 94.1% of the E. coli cultures tested, and 95.8% of E. coli strains isolated from foods, giving false-negative rates of 5.9% and 4.2% respectively. False positives were found with 2 of 31 Salmonella spp. isolates and 4 of 4 Shigella spp. isolates from the culture collection. There were no false positives from food isolates. The TSA/VRBA-MUG assay was able to detect E. coli in six food samples that were not detected by our routine procedure. The visible fluorescent halo around each E. coli colony gave immediate confirmation, without the need for further tests. The TSA/VRBA-MUG assay provided an accurate, simple, inexpensive method for detection of E. coli , from a wide variety of food products.
Quantifying the throughput and latency contribution in secured IEEE 802.15.6 WBAN simulated transmission

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) allows medical experts monitor patients remotely using sensors that obtain real-time data from the human body. Recently, IEEE released the 802.15. 6 standard which specifies the WBAN's MAC layer and PHY layer, which aims to provide higher data rates, lower power consumption, include data security, and improve Quality of Service. This work investigates the latency and throughput of a WBAN following the specifications introduced by the IEEE 802.15. 6 via simulation under secured transmission. Simulations show that security contributes about 0.15% to the latency. Furthermore, at -2dB SNR, the throughput starts to decrease below the specified requirement.
Immune Suppression in vivo with Antigen-Modified Syngeneic Cells

Intravenous administration of syngeneic spleen cells coupled with the palmitoyl derivative of fowl γ-globulin (p-FγG) results in a profound state of FγG-specific tolerance in C57BL/6 mice. Administration of p-FγG coupled syngeneic cells specifically reduces both the primary and secondary hapten and carrier-specific PFC responses to TNP-FγG. Since the haptenic response is affected, the tolerance functions at the level of the FγG-specific helper T cell. As few as 103 p-FγG spleen cells carrying only 1 ng of p-FγG can induce tolerance. At least a 2-day-induction period is required. This nonresponsiveness is long lived, lasting over 120 days. Spleen cells from tolerized mice can transfer suppression to normal syngeneic recipients. Treatment of tolerant spleens with anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum + C eliminates the suppressor cell activity. In addition, thymocytes and purified splenic T cells from tolerized mice can transfer suppression to normal recipients. Thus, at least a component of this nonresponsiveness is mediated by suppressor T cells. The requirement of antigen association with cell membrane components and the general applicability of this method of inducing T cell nonresponsiveness are discussed.
Rapidly shifting environmental baselines among fishers of the Gulf of California

Shifting environmental baselines are inter-generational changes in perception of the state of the environment. As one generation replaces another, people's perceptions of what is natural change even to the extent that they no longer believe historical anecdotes of past abundance or size of species. Although widely accepted, this phenomenon has yet to be quantitatively tested. Here we survey three generations of fishers from Mexico's Gulf of California (N=108), where fish populations have declined steeply over the last 60 years, to investigate how far and fast their environmental baselines are shifting. Compared to young fishers, old fishers named five times as many species and four times as many fishing sites as once being abundant/productive but now depleted (Kruskal–Wallis tests, both p<0.001) with no evidence of a slowdown in rates of loss experienced by younger compared to older generations (Kruskall-Wallis test, NS in both cases). Old fishers caught up to 25 times as many Gulf grouper Mycteroperca jordani as young fishers on their best ever fishing day (regression r2=0.62, p<0.001). Despite times of plentiful large fish still being within living memory, few young fishers appreciated that large species had ever been common or nearshore sites productive. Such rapid shifts in perception of what is natural help explain why society is tolerant of the creeping loss of biodiversity. They imply a large educational hurdle in efforts to reset expectations and targets for conservation.
Detecting abnormal attention in online social networks from local views

With the development of the Internet, more and more people actively interact with others via online social networks. Potentially, people can hide themselves in the dark and continually gather information from other users from the Internet. To assist individual users to protect their privacy and security, in this paper a computational approach for abnormal attention detection is presented. The proposed approach can detect abnormal attention from the local view of a user, without invading other people's privacy.
Genetic studies of common types of obesity: a critique of the current use of phenotypes

Recent research into the genetic basis of obesity has focused upon the study of candidate genes, both functional and positional, of genes underlying weight‐related Mendelian disorders and of susceptibility loci identified in genome‐wide association studies. Three large genome‐wide association studies on obesity, together involving more than 150 000 individuals, were published in Nature Genetics last year. The results suggested the involvement of a large number of genetic variants in disease susceptibility. Most genetic effects upon body weight are likely to become obscured by the use of inappropriate phenotypes. In particular, clinical categories such as the body mass index and Metabolic Syndrome do not provide sufficient etiological information for them to be used sensibly in genetic studies on obesity or obesity‐related disease. Alleviation of this situation will not come from new genomic research tools, sophisticated statistical algorithms or ever larger sample sizes. Instead, the above notions argue in favour of so‐called ‘deep phenotyping’.
Leading IT Flexibility: Anticipation, Agility and Adaptability

Chief information managers (CIOs) lead IT organizations in a changing and uncertain competitive environment. IT managers deal with external environmental changes, changing internal customer needs, and rapid technology changes. Studies suggest that to manage change and prepare for uncertainty, IT leaders should create an organization that is more flexible. The authors propose in this conceptual paper that flexibility can be analyzed and introduced systematically within the IT organization. The authors suggest that three distinct organizational characteristics, anticipation, agility, and adaptability, be combined into a unique ‘IT Flexibility Framework (IFF). ’ CIOs could use this IFF to assess the IT organization’s readiness for change and improve its capability to support the agile enterprise. On-going research is planned to validate the IFF and its potential usefulness to manage IT change and uncertainty, while still providing cost-effective and reliable services.
Level of vocal folds as projected on the exterior thyroid cartilage

Objective: This study aims to identify the level of the vocal folds as projected on the exterior thyroid cartilage. Study Design: Anatomic study of human cadaver larynges. Methods: The study includes 83 fresh larynges harvested at autopsy from 62 male and 21 female cadavers. The larynges were excised and divided in the midline posteriorly. One needle was inserted at the level of anterior commissure from endolarynx, and the other was inserted at the thyroid ala just anterior to the vocal process along the superior surface of the right vocal cord. Measurements of vocal cord projections on the thyroid ala were done with a caliper. Results: The mean value of the ratio of the distances from the superior thyroid notch to anterior commissure and the midline height from thyroid notch to the inferior border of thyroid cartilage was found to be 0.41 in males and 0.38 in females. No statistical differences were observed between these two groups (P = .062). We found that the distance from the anterior commissure to the inferior thyroid border in midline “c” was longer than the distance from the posterior border of the vocal cord to the inferior border of the inferior tubercle of the thyroid ala “d” in 44 (71%) males and in 7 (33%) females. On the other hand, “d” was longer than “c” in 8 (12.9%) males and in 8 (38.1%) females. These two distances were equal in 10 (16.1%) males and in 6 (28.6%) females. Conclusion: In this study, we found that the anterior commissure lies approximately at the juncture of the upper two fifths and lower three fifths of the midline height of thyroid cartilage in the majority of the larynges of the male and female cadavers. The position of the posterior border of the vocal cords was found to be at a lower level than anterior commissure in two thirds of males and in one third of females. This means that the vocal cords slope downward posteriorly in the majority of the larynges of the males. This may be one of the causes of failure of some type I thyroplasties.
Excessive anticoagulation in patients with mild renal insufficiency receiving long‐term therapeutic enoxaparin

Low‐molecular‐weight heparins, such as enoxaparin, are increasingly being used for treatment of venous thromboembolism. We describe two patients who received therapeutic enoxaparin for several months. Although their serum creatinine values were normal, both had mild renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance 60–70 ml/min), and both accumulated the drug abnormally and experienced clinical bleeding. These results suggest that patients receiving enoxaparin (or other low‐molecular‐weight heparins) in therapeutic doses for periods of more than 4 weeks should be considered for laboratory monitoring to avoid bleeding. Am. J. Hematol. 67:54–56, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Glaucoma Automated Segmentation of Optic Nerve Head Structures With Optical Coherence Tomography

Citation: Almobarak FA, O’Leary N, Reis ASC, et al. Automated segmentation of optic nerve head structures with optical coherence tomography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55:1161–1168. DOI:10.1167/ iovs.13-13310 PURPOSE. To quantify and characterize the difference between automated and manual segmentation of optic nerve head structures with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
Controversial snake relationships supported by reproductive anatomy

Since the advent of molecular character sets in phylogenetic systematics our understanding of the evolutionary history of snakes has changed considerably. In some cases the novel topologies reconstructed from molecular datasets have left researchers puzzled, as no morphological feature seems to support the new relationships found. This is the case for ‘Amerophidia’sensu Vidal et al. (2007; Biology of the Boas and Pythons, Eagle Mountain: Eagle Mountain Publishing; Aniliidae + Tropidophiidae), a grouping of the Red Pipesnakes and Neotropical Dwarf Boas. We contend that in some cases the apparent lack of historical morphological support for the molecular phylogenies is due to our poor understanding of the organisms as a whole, and not the complete lack of morphological support for controversial clades. For example, we found novel evidence from reproductive anatomy that demonstrates a unique association of the oviducts and cloaca in Amerophidia. Whereas in all other female squamates the oviducts communicate directly with the cloaca, the oviducts of Aniliidae and Tropidophiidae communicate with diverticuli of the cloaca. At present this is the only unambiguous synapomorphy for the Amerophidia. We feel that confirmation of controversial molecular relationships will revolve around the investigation of non‐traditional morphological characters such as reproductive anatomy.
Multigrid Waveform Relaxation for the Time-Fractional Heat Equation

In this work, we propose an efficient and robust multigrid method for solving the time-fractional heat equation. The algorithm is based on the waveform relaxation approach, which is implemented for one- and two-dimensional problems. A semi-algebraic mode analysis is also developed to theoretically confirm the good results obtained. Several numerical experiments, including examples with nonsmooth solutions and a nonlinear problem with applications in porous media, are presented.
Application notes and recommendations on using TMS320F28335 digital Signal Processor to control voltage source converters

This paper presents general recommendations on utilizing TMS320F28335 Digital Signal Controller (DSC) as the controller for Voltage Source Converters (VSC). First, a comparison is provided on different DSCs that can be used for such applications and the reasons for selecting this specific Texas Instrument device are discussed. Later, the strategy for realtime algorithm developed in the DSC, also referred to as digital Signal Processor (DSP) is explained and its main features that are used for VSC control are described. Some new functions are developed and their characteristics and specifications are summarized. The paper also presents a discussion on the most probable difficulties when programming the DSC/DSP for VSC control applications followed by some improvement methods proposed for tackling these difficulties.
Cellular bases of behavioral plasticity: establishing and modifying synaptic circuits in the Drosophila genetic system.

Genetic malleability and amenability to behavioral assays make Drosophila an attractive model for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of complex behaviors, such as learning and memory. At a cellular level, Drosophila has contributed a wealth of information on the mechanisms regulating membrane excitability and synapse formation, function, and plasticity. Until recently, however, these studies have relied almost exclusively on analyses of the peripheral neuromuscular junction, with a smaller body of work on neurons grown in primary culture. These experimental systems are, by themselves, clearly inadequate for assessing neuronal function at the many levels necessary for an understanding of behavioral regulation. The pressing need is for access to physiologically relevant neuronal circuits as they develop and are modified throughout life. In the past few years, progress has been made in developing experimental approaches to examine functional properties of identified populations of Drosophila central neurons, both in cell culture and in vivo. This review focuses on these exciting developments, which promise to rapidly expand the frontiers of functional cellular neurobiology studies in Drosophila. We discuss here the technical advances that have begun to reveal the excitability and synaptic transmission properties of central neurons in flies, and discuss how these studies promise to substantially increase our understanding of neuronal mechanisms underlying behavioral plasticity.
Rod and cone inputs to bipolar cells in goldfish retina

Five morphological types of bipolar cells which make synaptic contact with rods and cones are distinguished in the retina of adult goldfish (Carassius auratus) by characteristics readily observable in the light microscope. Cells were designated type a or type b according to whether their axons terminate in the distal part (sublamina a) or proximal part (sublamina b) of the inner plexiform layer, respectively. Analysis of serial semi‐thin sections of Golgiimpregnated cells demonstrates that each subtype of bipolar contacts rods and a characteristic set of chromatic subtypes of cones: types al and bl cells contact rods and red‐sensitive cones, while types a2, b2, and b3 contact rods and red and green‐sensitive cones. Comparison with published descriptions of cells stained with Procion Yellow after intracellular recordings had been made suggests that type a cells should be off‐center types and type b on‐center. Furthermore, it is suggested that the receptive fields of cell types al and bl should be non‐color‐coded, and those of a2, b2, and b3 color‐coded.
Polymorphism and hemophilia A causing inversions in distal Xq28: a complex picture

Two varieties of an inversion breaking the factor VIII gene (F8) and causing half of all severe hemophilia A have previously been described. These were thought to involve the intron 22 sequence: int22h-1 [1] interacting with either the proximal (int22h-2), or the distal (int22h-3) of two extragenic and telomeric copies. However, new sequence data show that only int22h-3 should be involved in these inversions [2]. We explain this discrepancy and note that the new sequence data predict a confounding complication for mutation detection in some families with hemophilia A. In 1993, it was shown that int22h-3 is in inverse orientation to int22h-1 and the same was thought to be true for int22h-2 because BclI blots indicated that both int22h-2 and int22h-3 recombined with int22h-1 to cause inversions [3]. By contrast, the new sequence of the human X chromosome [2] shows that int22h-1 is in the same orientation as int22h-2 so that their interaction should lead to deletion and duplication rather than inversion. These data show that int22h-2 and int22h-3 form the arms of an imperfect palindrome separated by a 65 kb
Differences among Slopes and Intercepts for Regression Lines Predicting Children's Connotative and Denotative Knowledge of Familiar and Unfamiliar Words on the Basis of Age

90 children from Grades 2, 4, and 6 were asked to define words and to rate them in terms of emotional meaning. Significant differences among criterion means and among slopes and intercepts of lines predicting definitional and emotional accuracy on the basis of age suggest that knowledge about the pleasantness of familiar words (pleasantness accuracy) begins early, is high, and asymptotes earlier in comparison to definitional knowledge or to the WISC—R Vocabulary subtest in which knowledge (accuracy) begins to grow at a later age, grows faster, and does not reach the same over-all mean.
Genes for Chromosomal Proteins Expressed before and after Meiosis a

Cloned gene sequences have been isolated for two testis-specific chromosomal proteins, one of which, histone (H1t), appears during meiosis, whereas the other, transition protein 1 (TP1), appears only during the later steps of spermatid development. Aspects of the regulation of each gene have been examined. In the case of H1t, analysis of its promoter region shows that it contains excellent matches to each of the four sequence homologies identified for the usual somatic H1 variants, so that the factor(s) that restrict H1t expression to spermatocytes remain a mystery. In the case of TP1, a cDNA clone allowed identification of its message by Northern blots as well as by in situ hybridization. The message appears postmeiotically in late round spermatids but is translationally repressed until the spermatid nucleus begins to condense.
A controlled trial of sustained-release bupropion, a nicotine patch, or both for smoking cessation.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Use of nicotine-replacement therapies and the antidepressant bupropion helps people stop smoking. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of sustained-release bupropion (244 subjects), a nicotine patch (244 subjects), bupropion and a nicotine patch (245 subjects), and placebo (160 subjects) for smoking cessation. Smokers with clinical depression were excluded. Treatment consisted of nine weeks of bupropion (150 mg a day for the first three days, and then 150 mg twice daily) or placebo, as well as eight weeks of nicotine-patch therapy (21 mg per day during weeks 2 through 7, 14 mg per day during week 8, and 7 mg per day during week 9) or placebo. The target day for quitting smoking was usually day 8. RESULTS The abstinence rates at 12 months were 15.6 percent in the placebo group, as compared with 16.4 percent in the nicotine-patch group, 30.3 percent in the bupropion group (P<0.001), and 35.5 percent in the group given bupropion and the nicotine patch (P<0.001). By week 7, subjects in the placebo group had gained an average of 2.1 kg, as compared with a gain of 1.6 kg in the nicotine-patch group, a gain of 1.7 kg in the bupropion group, and a gain of 1.1 kg in the combined-treatment group (P<0.05). Weight gain at seven weeks was significantly less in the combined-treatment group than in the bupropion group and the placebo group (P<0.05 for both comparisons). A total of 311 subjects (34.8 percent) discontinued one or both medications. Seventy-nine subjects stopped treatment because of adverse events: 6 in the placebo group (3.8 percent), 16 in the nicotine-patch group (6.6 percent), 29 in the bupropion group (11.9 percent), and 28 in the combined-treatment group (11.4 percent). The most common adverse events were insomnia and headache. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with sustained-release bupropion alone or in combination with a nicotine patch resulted in significantly higher long-term rates of smoking cessation than use of either the nicotine patch alone or placebo. Abstinence rates were higher with combination therapy than with bupropion alone, but the difference was not statistically significant.