Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost–effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV: a review

Purpose of reviewThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of tenofovir–emtricitabine for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. PrEP is also being investigated in clinical trials as a component of HIV prevention in resource-limited settings. Cost–effectiveness models are useful in identifying health programs with the greatest societal value and projecting long-term program impacts. This review examines six recent studies of the cost–effectiveness of PrEP for preventing HIV transmission in the USA and South Africa. Recent findingsStudies used both individual-level and population-level transmission models. PrEP was found to be a cost-effective HIV-prevention intervention in high-risk MSM with HIV incidence at least 2% in the USA (<US$100 000 per quality-adjusted life year) and in young women in South Africa (cost per life year <GDP per capita). Results were sensitive to the cost and efficacy of PrEP and to assumptions about HIV testing and access to treatment in the absence of PrEP. SummaryFuture cost effectiveness studies should consider PrEP implementation issues (uptake in high-risk versus low-risk groups, duration on PrEP, adherence), budget impact, and the role of PrEP as part of combination HIV-prevention strategies including expanded testing and treatment access.
Uptake of solvents in the blood and tissues of man. A review.

Print ISSN: 0355-3140 Electronic ISSN: 1795-990X Copyright (c) Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health Original article Scand J Work Environ Health 1975;1(4):199-218 doi:10.5271/sjweh.2845 Uptake of solvents in the blood and tissues of man. A review. by Åstrand I The following article refers to this text: 1979;5(3):167-306 Key terms: blood; circulation; diffusion; experimental physiology; exposure; man; methylchloroform; methylene chloride; review; solubility; solvent; styrene; tissue; toluene; trichloroethylene; uptake; ventilation; white spirit
A Medição de Recém-Nascidos numa Maternidade Portuguesa. Sugestão de um Modelo de Neonatómetro.

Com o proposito de dar um contributo para uma avaliacao mais exacta do comprimento dos recem-nascidos da Maternidade do Hospital de DonaEstefânia, procedeu-se a comparacao entre o metodo habitualmente realizado neste local e outro que foi considerado mais correcto pelos autores. Neste ultimoparticiparam sempre dois observadores e foi testado um modelo de neonatometro construido com materiais considerados acessiveis.As diferencas entre os dois metodos, na medicao de 76 recem-nascidos, traduziram-se por um valor medio de 0,53 cm (p < 0,001), tendo sido superioresos valores registados com a metodologia proposta.Com base nos resultados obtidos, salienta-se a necessidade da colaboracao sistematica de dois observadores para a avaliacao do comprimento do recem--nascido e a vantagem da utilizacao do neonatometro em relacao a tradicional craveira.
kappa-Opioid receptor binding populations in rhesus monkey brain: relationship to an assay of thermal antinociception.

The binding characteristics of the kappa opioid ligands [3H]U69,593 and [3H]bremazocine, the mu opioid ligand [3H][D-ala2,N-Me-Phe4,glycol5]enkephalin and the delta opioid ligand [3H]p-Cl-[D-pen2,5]enkephalin were studied in rhesus monkey brain membranes in saturation binding experiments and were followed by competition binding experiments with a variety of peptidic and nonpeptidic opioid ligands. The [3H]U69,593 sites appeared to be a subset of kappa opioid receptors (kappa-1 receptors: Kd, 1.2 nM; Bmax, 66 fmol/mg). [3H]Bremazocine (in the presence of mu and delta receptor-masking agents), bound to a larger population of kappa receptors (kappa-all: Kd, 0.39 nM; Bmax, 227 fmol/mg), which presumably included the aforementioned kappa-1 sites. Competition binding experiments revealed that the presently defined kappa-1 sites were similar to previously reported sites in other mammalian species, particularly in terms of the higher kappa-1 selectivity observed with arylacetamide (e.g., U50,488) vs. benzomorphan kappa agonists (e.g., ethylketocyclazocine). The kappa-selective antagonist norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI) displayed a very small (2.3-fold) selectivity for kappa-1 vs. kappa-all sites. This led to the prediction that in rhesus monkeys (n = 3), systemically administered nor-BNI (10 mg/kg s.c.) should have a very moderate degree of antagonist selectivity for the antinociceptive effects of a putative kappa-1-agonist, the arylacetamide U50,488 (0.1-3.2 mg/kg s.c.), vs. those of the benzomorphan kappa agonist ethylketocyclazocine (0.01-056 mg/kg s.c.). This prediction was confirmed in vivo because nor-BNI (10 mg/kg) caused a robust and long lasting (up to 21 days) antagonism of the antinociceptive effects of U50,488 and a small but significant antagonism of ethylketocyclazocine. The arylacetamide congener Cl-977 (enadoline), which displayed an 11-fold kappa-1 vs. kappa-all binding selectivity, was not sensitive to nor-BNI pretreatment. This indicates that the kappa subtype-binding profile of an agonist is not necessarily predictive of its sensitivity to nor-BNI in vivo. Overall, the present results suggest that at least two functional kappa receptor populations may be present in rhesus monkey brain.
A Generalized Cracks Simulation on 3D-Meshes

This article describes a method for simulating the formation and the development of cracks on the surface of a shrinking volume. The simulated cracks are applied afterwards to any surface provided with a parameterization. The 2D path of the cracks is automatically precalculated by an appropriate algorithm which gives a graph of discrete ways. We newly propose to take into account a possibly inhomogeneous thickness of the shrinking layer by using a watershed transformation to compute this path. The propagation of one crack is then based on the respect of the primary orientation of the crack. Another originality of our method is the calculation of the enlargement of each crack by a discrete shrinkage volume propagation. We consider the shrinking layer as a set of cubic cells which contain volumes of matter and pores. During the dessiccation process, the matter shrinks, creating what we call a "shrinkage volume". We propagate this shrinkage volume among the cells up to the cracked ones, and we deduce the width of the cracks from the resulting shrinkage volume in these cells. In this paper, this method is presented in detail and we give images obtained from different simulations. Initially designed to help for the prediction of seedlings emergence in an agronomic environment, the method we present can also be applied to enhance the realism of virtual 3D objects.
Early Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnostic Considerations

• An 82-year-old cognitively healthy man was assessed longitudinally until very mild senile dementia of the Alzheimer type was diagnosed by clinical research criteria and documented by psychometric testing at age 85 years. Four months after diagnosis, Alzheimer's disease was confirmed neuropathologically. The diagnostic difficulties involved in distinguishing early senile dementia of the Alzheimer type-Alzheimer's disease from normal aging are examined and clinical and pathologic features useful for their discrimination are discussed.
Role of processing speed and premorbid IQ on visual recognition in patients with schizophrenia

Previous research had shown that processing speed and premorbid IQ are predictors of verbal-memory efficiency in patients with schizophrenia. We investigated whether the same factors are involved in visual memory. A total of 49 patients with schizophrenia and 43 healthy controls were administered a picture recognition task. Half of the pictures were black and white, and half were in color, in order to vary the depth of encoding. Processing speed was measured by three standard tasks, and premorbid IQ was measured by the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Patients were significantly impaired in picture recognition. Regression analyses revealed that NART score was a significant predictor of the recognition of both types of picture in patients. Processing speed was a significant predictor of the recognition of the colored pictures. The effect of diagnosis on the recognition of colored pictures was reduced to nonsignificance when processing speed was entered in the regression. These data suggest that premorbid IQ is involved in visual-recognition efficiency. However, the deficit observed in patients is accounted for by decreased processing speed.
The effect of overall discretization scheme on Jacobian structure, convergence rate, and solution accuracy within the local rectangular refinement method

The local rectangular refinement (LRR) solution‐adaptive gridding method automatically produces orthogonal unstructured adaptive grids and incorporates multiple‐scale finite differences to discretize systems of elliptic governing partial differential equations (PDEs). The coupled non‐linear discretized equations are solved simultaneously via Newton's method with a Bi‐CGSTAB linear system solver. The grids' unstructured nature produces a nonstandard sparsity pattern within the Jacobian.
Permissive Hypercapnia with and without Expiratory Washout in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background: Permissive hypercapnia is a ventilatory strategy aimed at avoiding lung volutrauma in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Expiratory washout (EWO) is a modality of tracheal gas insufflation that enhances carbon dioxide removal during mechanical ventilation by reducing dead space. The goal of this prospective study was to determine the efficacy of EWO in reducing the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in patients with severe ARDS treated using permissive hypercapnia. Methods: Seven critically ill patients with severe ARDS (lung injury severity score, 3.1 +/‐ 0.3) and no contraindications for permissive hypercapnia were studied. On the first day, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters were measured and the extent of lung hyperdensities was assessed using computed tomography. A positive end‐expiratory pressure equal to the opening pressure identified on the pressure‐volume curve was applied. Tidal volume was reduced until a plateau airway pressure of 25 cm H2 O was reached. On the second day, after implementation of permissive hypercapnia, EWO was instituted at a flow of 15 l/min administered during the entire expiratory phase into the trachea through the proximal channel of an endotracheal tube using a ventilator equipped with a special flow generator. Cardiorespiratory parameters were studied under three conditions: permissive hypercapnia, permissive hypercapnia with EWO, and permissive hypercapnia. Results: During permissive hypercapnia, EWO decreased PaCO2 from 76 +/‐ 4 mmHg to 53 +/‐ 3 mmHg (‐30%; P < 0.0001), increased pH from 7.20 +/‐ 0.03 to 7.34 +/‐ 0.04 (P < 0.0001), and increased PaO2 from 205 +/‐ 28 to 296 +/‐ 38 mmHg (P < 0.05). The reduction in PaCO sub 2 was accompanied by an increase in end‐inspiratory plateau pressure from 26 +/‐ 1 to 32 +/‐ 2 cm H2 O (P = 0.001). Expiratory washout also decreased cardiac index from 4.6 +/‐ 0.4 to 3.7 +/‐ 0.3 l [center dot] min sup ‐1 [center dot] m sup ‐2 (P < 0.01), mean pulmonary arterial pressure from 28 +/‐ 2 to 25 +/‐ 2 mmHg (P < 0.01), and true pulmonary shunt from 47 +/‐ 2 to 36 +/‐ 3% (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Expiratory washout is an effective and easy‐to‐use ventilatory modality to reduce PaCO2 and increase pH during permissive hypercapnia. However, it significantly increases airway pressures and lung volume through expiratory flow limitation, reexposing some patients to a risk of lung volutrauma if the extrinsic positive end‐expiratory pressure is not substantially reduced.
Análise da conduta ética do pediatra frente a crianças vítima de maus tratos

O objetivo do presente trabalho e avaliar o conhecimento do pediatra acerca das responsabilidades e condutas eticas, em relacao ao individuo infantil vitima de maus tratos e abuso. Foi elaborado um questionario semi-estruturado contendo questoes relativas ao tempo de formacao profissional, identificacao da faculdade, preparo do profissional para atender criancas vitimas de maus tratos, os principais tipos de agressoes identificados, conhecimentos das penalidades e das atitudes a serem tomadas apos constatacao da violencia infantil. Foram distribuidos 270 questionarios a pediatras que atuam nas cidades de Cuiaba, Rondonopolis e Caceres. Dos 270 questionarios enviados, apenas 96 retornaram devidamente respondidos (35,5%). Dos pediatras consultados, 50 eram do sexo feminino e 46 do masculino, sendo que 63% dos consultados tinham mais de 10 anos de formado. Destes, 55% ja tinham atendido criancas com caracteristicas de maus tratos, tendo descrito os sinais e sintomas mais comuns: hematomas, sangramento vaginal e anal, medo excessivo, fraturas, agressividade, cicatrizes pelo corpo, mau desempenho nas atividades escolares, comprometimento nutricional, gagueira, queimaduras e crise convulsiva. Um percentual significativo dos pediatras entrevistados nao apresenta condicoes de receber, avaliar e encaminhar as vitimas de maus tratos infantis, havendo a necessidade de maior treinamento com educacao continuada na area medico-legal.
Dual Labeling with Green Fluorescent Proteins for Confocal Microscopy

ABSTRACT We report a dual labeling technique involving two green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants that is compatible with confocal microscopy. Two lasers were used to obtain images of (i) mixed cultures of cells, where one species contained GFPuv and another species contained GFPmut2 or GFPmut3, and (ii) a single species containing both GFPuv and GFPmut2 in the same cell. This method shows promise for monitoring gene expression and as a nondestructive and in situ technique for confocal microscopy of multispecies biofilms.
Computing Best Transition Pathways in High-Dimensional Dynamical Systems: Application to the AlphaL \leftrightharpoons Beta \leftrightharpoons AlphaR Transitions in Octaalanine

The direct computation of rare transitions in high-dimensional dynamical systems such as biomolecules via numerical integration or Monte Carlo is limited by the sampling problem. Alternatively, the dynamics of these systems can be modeled by transition networks (TNs) which are weighted graphs whose edges represent transitions between stable states of the system. The computation of the globally best transition paths connecting two selected stable states is straightforward with available graph-theoretical methods. However, these methods require that the energy barriers of all TN edges be determined, which is often computationally infeasible for large systems. Here, we introduce energy-bounded TNs, in which the transition barriers are specified in terms of lower and upper bounds. We present algorithms permitting the determination of the globally best paths on these TNs while requiring the computation of only a small subset of the true transition barriers. Several variants of the algorithm are given which ach.
The Nutrition Transition in American Indians

The purpose of this article was to examine whether a nutritional transition has occurred among American Indians (AI) by evaluating related articles and government health statistics. Findings indicate that although the primary health risk for the AI population around 1970 was undernutrition, now there is an obesity epidemic among all age groups that is associated with a loss of traditional food practices and reduced physical activity. Deaths caused by cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancer have outpaced death from infectious disease. With abundant high-energy foods and limited physical activity, the acculturated environment has resulted in obesity and increased mortality from chronic diseases. To improve AI health and survival, the obesity epidemic must be approached in a concerted, culturally appropriate manner with encouragement of traditional foods and safe opportunities for physical activity.
Bax is necessary for PGC1α pro-apoptotic effect in colorectal cancer cells

We have recently shown that the transcriptional coactivator PGC1α, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and function, is involved in the control of the intestinal epithelium cell fate. Furthermore, PGC1α protects against colon cancer formation by promoting ROS accumulation and, consequently, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Here we provide an additional mechanistic insight into the tumor suppressor activity of PGC1α showing that its pro-apoptotic effect is mediated by Bax. In fact, PGC1α overexpression in HCT116 Bax-/- colorectal cancer cells stimulates mitochondrial production and activity, but it fails to induce cell death as well as to oppose tumor growth in the xenograft model. The lack of ROS accumulation in the Bax-/- cells strengthens our view that the PGC1α-induced oxidative burst represents one of the main apoptosis-driving factors in colorectal cancer cells.
The properties of SiC in comparison with Si semiconductor devices

The SiC - silicon carbide MOSFET has exclusive features thanks its become better switch than Si - silicon semiconductor switch. There are some special features that need to be understood for use to in full devices potential. The advantages and differences of SiC MOSFETs have been described in this article in compare with Si IGBT transistor.
Association between a glutathione S‐transferase A1 promoter polymorphism and survival after breast cancer treatment

Glutathione S‐transferase (GST) enzymes detoxify chemotherapeutic drugs, and several studies have reported differences in survival for cancer patients who have variant genotypes for GSTP1, GSTM1 or GSTT1 enzymes. A recently described polymorphism alters hepatic expression of GSTA1, a GST with high activity in glutathione conjugation of metabolites of cyclophosphamide (CP). To consider the possible influence of the reduced‐expression GSTA1*B allele on cancer patient survival, we have conducted a pilot study of breast cancer patients treated with CP‐containing combination chemotherapy. GSTA1 genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Kaplan‐Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate survival in relation to genotype. Among 245 subjects, 35% were GSTA1*A/*A, 49% GSTA1*A/*B and 16% GSTA1*B/*B; the genotype distribution did not differ by ethnic group, age or stage at diagnosis. Among patients who had 0 or 1 GSTA1*B allele, the proportion surviving at 5 years was 0.66 (95% CI = 0.59–0.72), whereas for GSTA1*B/*B subjects the proportion was higher, 0.86 (95% CI = 0.67–0.95). Significantly reduced hazard of death was observed for GSTA1*B/*B subjects during the first 5 years after diagnosis, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1–0.8. The association varied with time, with no survival difference observed for subjects who survived beyond 5 years. These results, although based on a small study population, describe an apparent difference in survival after treatment for breast cancer according to GSTA1 genotype. Further studies should consider the possible association between the novel GSTA1*B variant and outcomes of cancer therapy. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Botanical recording, distribution maps and species frequency

A standardised botanical survey technique was used to investigate sources of variation in botanical surveys used to produce distribution maps and assess species frequency, The most significant sources of variation between visits were the individual botanists; the number of habitats visited and length of route recorded also explained some variation. The number of records for each species increased proportionally with the amount of recording as species were encountered in essentially a random manner. The results demonstrate that as recording for atlas projects is unlikely to be comprehensive, care should be taken to obtain even coverage and minimise the variations in recording. Recommendations to improve the quality of atlas data are given.
Molecular cloning and characterization of the cys-3 regulatory gene of Neurospora crassa

The regulatory gene cys-3+ controls the synthesis of a number of enzymes involved in sulfur metabolism. cys-3 mutants show a multiple loss of enzymes in different pathways of sulfur metabolism. The cys-3+ gene was isolated by transformation of an aro-9 qa-2 cys-3 inl strain with a clone bank followed by screening with the "sib selection" method. The library used (pRAL1) contained inserts of Sau3a partial digest fragments of about 9 kilobases as well as the Neurospora qa-2+ gene. Double selection for qa-2+ and cys-3+ function was carried out. The transformants obtained with the isolated cys-3+ clone show recovery of the enzyme activities associated with the cys-3 mutation (e.g., arylsulfatase and sulfate permease). Restriction fragment length polymorphism experiments confirmed the identity of the clone, mRNA studies with Northern blots show that the expression of the cys-3+ gene is inducible. In contrast to cys-3+, the cys-3 (P22) mutant gene was not expressed at a higher level under sulfur-derepressed conditions.
Bit-Rate-Variable DPSK Demodulation Using Silicon Microring Resonators With Electro-Optic Wavelength Tuning

We demonstrate a bit-rate-variable differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) demodulator based on silicon microring resonators (MRRs) with an integrated diode for wavelength tuning. The resonance wavelength of the MRR may be tuned by carrier injection and depletion. Error-free operations (bit error rate <;10-9) have been achieved for all tuning wavelengths. In addition, the proposed scheme can demodulate DPSK signals over a wide range of bit rates from below 25 to 40 Gb/s.
Design of a high-speed electro-absorption modulator based on graphene and microfiber

A high-speed traveling wave electro-absorption modulator based on grapheme-micro fiber is designed. Graphene modulates the optical transmission intensity by changing its fermi level under different applied voltages. Graphene has an extremely high carrier mobility which has a potential electrical bandwidth of 500 GHz. However, the bandwidth of the state-of-art graphene based modulator is limited by the RC constants rather than the carrier transit time. Here we apply the traveling wave electrodes to improve the bandwidth of the graphene-microfiber modulator. The coplanar strip electrodes are designed to match the group velocity of the microwave and optical signal. We also target to reduce the RF loss and realize the impedance matching. We have designed a graphene-microfiber electro-absorption modulator with 15dB extinction ratio and 62GHz electrical bandwidth.
GLOBOSA: a homeotic gene which interacts with DEFICIENS in the control of Antirrhinum floral organogenesis.

GLOBOSA (GLO) is a homeotic gene whose mutants show sepaloid petals and carpelloid stamens. The similarity of Glo mutants to those of the DEFICIENS (DEFA) gene suggests that the two genes have comparable functions in floral morphogenesis. The GLO cDNA has been cloned by virtue of its homology to the MADS‐box, a conserved DNA‐binding domain also contained in the DEFA gene. We have determined the structure of the wild type GLO gene as well as of several glo mutant alleles which contain transposable element insertions responsible for somatic and germinal instability of Glo mutants. Analyses of the temporal and spatial expression patterns of the DEFA and GLO genes during development of wild type flowers and in flowers of various stable and unstable defA and glo alleles indicate independent induction of DEFA and GLO transcription. In contrast, organ‐specific up‐regulation of the two genes in petals and stamens depends on expression of both DEFA and GLO. In vitro DNA‐binding studies were used to demonstrate that the DEFA and GLO proteins specifically bind, as a heterodimer, to motifs in the promoters of both genes. A model is presented which proposes both combinatorial and cross‐regulatory interactions between the DEFA and GLO genes during petal and stamen organogenesis in the second and third whorls of the flower. The function of the two genes controlling determinate growth of the floral meristem is also discussed.