Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacogenetic Study of Drug-Metabolising Enzyme Polymorphisms on the Risk of Anti-Tuberculosis Drug-Induced Liver Injury: A Meta-Analysis

Background Three first-line antituberculosis drugs, isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide, may induce liver injury, especially isoniazid. This antituberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI) ranges from a mild to severe form, and the associated mortality cases are not rare. In the past decade, many investigations have focused the association between drug-metabolising enzyme (DME) gene polymorphisms and risk for ATLI; however, these studies have yielded contradictory results. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, ISI web of science and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. A meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between polymorphisms from 4 DME genes (NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1 and GSTT1) and susceptibility to ATLI. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity among articles and their publication bias were also tested. Results 38 studies involving 2,225 patients and 4,906 controls were included. Overall, significantly increased ATLI risk was associated with slow NAT2 genotype and GSTM1 null genotype when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis. Significantly increased risk was also found for CYP2E1*1A in East Asians when stratified by ethnicity. However, no significant results were observed for GSTT1. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that slow NAT2 genotype, CYP2E1*1A and GSTM1 null have a modest effect on genetic susceptibility to ATLI.
Bioprospecting Solanum nigrum Linn. (Solanaceae) as a potential source of Anti-Microbial agents against selected Bacterial strains

Solanum nigrum Linn. is used in Indian traditional and folklore medicines to cure various ailments. Crude extracts of different plant parts of S. nigrum were obtained using different solvents viz. petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and methanol. Phytochemical constituents in different solvent extracts were analyzed. In vitro antibacterial studies on the leaf extracts were carried out on selected bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia, using disc diffusion assay. Results indicate that the leaf aqueous extract was more active against all the microbes tested however, with variations. This indicates that the composition of phytochemicals depend on the type of solvent system employed in extraction.
The Case for Optically Thick High-Velocity Broad-Line Region Gas in Active Galactic Nuclei

A combined analysis of the profiles of the main broad quasar emission lines in both Hubble Space Telescope and optical spectra shows that while the profiles of the strong UV lines are quite similar, there is frequently a strong increase in the Lyα/Hα ratio in the high-velocity gas. We show that the suggestion that the high-velocity gas is optically thin presents many problems. We show that the relative strengths of the high-velocity wings arise naturally in an optically thick BLR component. An optically thick model successfully explains the equivalent widths of the lines, the Lyα/Hα ratios and flatter Balmer decrements in the line wings, the strengths of C III] and the λ1400 blend, and the strong variability in flux of high-velocity, high-ionization lines (especially He II and He I).
Why adaptable individuals perform better: The role of orientation to happiness

Based on career construction theory, this research aimed to investigate the mediating role of orientation to happiness in the relationship between career adaptability and in-role and extra-role performance of employees in the hospitality industry. Using data collected from 360 respondents working in 6 five-star hotels in Pakistan, the authors found that career adaptability was positively associated with orientation to happiness, in-role performance, and extra-role performance. Moreover, orientation to happiness mediated the relationship between career adaptability and both in-role and extra-role performance. The study has important theoretical and practical implications.
High School Students' Affective Reaction to English Speaking Activities.

This study aims to measure fifty-two high school students’ affective reactions after doing individual and pair-based speaking activities then completing a semantic differential scale of nine bipolar adjectives. Results do not show significant statistical differences between the two types of activities or the schools involved in this study, but participants from both schools present a similar affective reaction towards individual and pair-based speaking activities.
Yale Working Papers on Economic Applications and Policy How Black Candidates Affect Voter Turnout* How Black Candidates Affect Voter Turnout

Both Black and White voter turnout increases 2-3 percentage points with each Black Democrat on the ballot. Given the groups' representations in the population, the White response is numerically greater. Whites of both parties are less likely to vote for their parties' candidate when s/he is Black. The turnout findings are not explained away by voter, election, or politician characteristics. However the fact that there is no turnout response to Black Republicans suggests that a perception of Blacks' ideology may be a factor.
STUDY OF DEMOTIVATED VS. MOTIVATED EFL LEARNERS PREFERENCES TOWARDS TEACHERS ORAL ERROR CORRECTION

The purpose of this study is to compare the possible differences between demotivated vs. motivated EFL learners’ preferences toward teachers’ oral error correction, including the necessity, frequency, timing, type, method, and delivering agent of error correction. To this end, 141 Iranian EFL learners at the departments of foreign language in Zabol and Sistan and Baluchestan universities participated in this study. The learners’ preferences for error correction questionnaire, the demotivation questionnaire, semistructured interviews, and classroom observations were used to collect the data. The results of independent sample t-tests indicated that there were no significant differences between the two groups regardless of their demotivation level toward oral error correction. The findings revealed five suggestions: firstly, errors should be corrected and sometimes to be corrected. Secondly, correcting errors “after the student finishes speaking” was the most appropriate time among the two groups. Thirdly, “serious spoken errors that may cause problems in listeners’ understanding” and “frequent errors” should be corrected more than other errors. Fourthly, “elicitation” and “explicit feedback” were the most popular methods of corrective feedback among the two groups. Finally, teachers were the most preferred person to deliver corrective feedback. Furthermore, the results of the observation data showed that what students received as error correction in oral classes were not in line with what students preferred to be corrected. Pedagogical implications for providing oral error correction have also been discussed.
Innate Immunity to Aspergillus Species

SUMMARY All humans are continuously exposed to inhaled Aspergillus conidia, yet healthy hosts clear the organism without developing disease and without the development of antibody- or cell-mediated acquired immunity to this organism. This suggests that for most healthy humans, innate immunity is sufficient to clear the organism. A failure of these defenses results in a uniquely diverse set of illnesses caused by Aspergillus species, which includes diseases caused by the colonization of the respiratory tract, invasive infection, and hypersensitivity. A key concept in immune responses to Aspergillus species is that the susceptibilities of the host determine the morphological form, antigenic structure, and physical location of the fungus. In this review, we summarize the current literature on the multiple layers of innate defenses against Aspergillus species that dictate the outcome of this host-microbe interaction.
Sequential decision making in repeated coalition formation under uncertainty

The problem of coalition formation when agents are uncertain about the types or capabilities of their potential partners is a critical one. In [3] a Bayesian reinforcement learning framework is developed for this problem when coalitions are formed (and tasks undertaken) repeatedly: not only does the model allow agents to refine their beliefs about the types of others, but uses value of information to define optimal exploration policies. However, computational approximations in that work are purely myopic. We present novel, non-myopic learning algorithms to approximate the optimal Bayesian solution, providing tractable means to ensure good sequential performance. We evaluate our algorithms in a variety of settings, and show that one, in particular, exhibits consistently good sequential performance. Further, it enables the Bayesian agents to transfer acquired knowledge among different dynamic tasks.
Forming attachments in adoption and foster care

Developing trust and security with a new primary caregiver may be particularly difficult for children who have experienced trauma, separation and loss within their birth families and through the care system. However, the development of a secure attachment can protect against future psychosocial and emotional difficulties, prevalent in fostered and adopted children. It is important to better understand the influences upon, and experiences of, attachment relationships that develop within this context, in order to inform policy and practice in promoting attachment security within new families. Chapter one is a systematic review of the literature exploring the links between maternal sensitivity, mind-mindedness and attachment security in children who are adopted and fostered. Twelve studies were included in the review following database and manual searches. In line with studies in birth families, maternal sensitivity was shown to have a partial influence on attachment security. Stronger relationships were found in foster care and longitudinal adoption studies. The impact of mind-mindedness may be related to the developmental stage of the child. Methodological limitations are suggested to have limited the strength of findings, and are considered in addition to future research, policy and practice implications. Chapter two is an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of seven mothers who adopted an older child, aged four to seven. The study focuses upon the experience within the first years after placement of developing mother-child relationships, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach. Three overarching themes emerged from the data. These pertained to the sense of fragility experienced within relationships as a consequence of children_is rejection and challenging behaviours; mothers_i commitment to their children; and the process of acceptance. Implications for future research, clinical practice and policy are discussed with particular regard to the need for increased support and training. Chapter three is a reflective account of experience during the research process. The reflexive process is explored, and parallels are drawn between the researcher and the participant is experience, and issues of reflexivity as a researcher and clinician. Attention is given to the process of developing acceptance across the journey of research
Estimated IR and phosphorescence emission fluxes for specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Red Rectangle

Following tentative identification of the blue luminescence in the Red Rectangle by Vijh et al., we computed absolute fluxes for the vibrational IR emission and phosphorescence bands of three small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The calculated IR spectra were compared with available ISO observations. A subset of the emission bands are predicted to be observable using presently available facilities, and can be used for an immediate, independent, discriminating test of their alleged presence in this well-known astronomical object.
Burkitt lymphoma in adolescents and young adults: management challenges

About one-half of all Burkitt lymphoma (BL) patients are younger than 40 years, and one-third belong to the adolescent and young adult (AYA) subset, defined by an age between 15 and 25–40 years, based on selection criteria used in different reports. BL is an aggressive B-cell neoplasm displaying highly characteristic clinico-diagnostic features, the biologic hallmark of which is a translocation involving immunoglobulin and c-MYC genes. It presents as sporadic, endemic, or epidemic disease. Endemicity is pathogenetically linked to an imbalance of the immune system which occurs in African children infected by malaria parasites and Epstein–Barr virus, while the epidemic form strictly follows the pattern of infection by HIV. BL shows propensity to extranodal involvement of abdominal organs, bone marrow, and central nervous system, and can cause severe metabolic and renal impairment. Nevertheless, BL is highly responsive to specifically designed short-intensive, rotational multiagent chemotherapy programs, empowered by the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab. When carefully applied with appropriate supportive measures, these modern programs achieve a cure rate of approximately 90% in the average AYA patient, irrespective of clinical stage, which is the best result achievable in any aggressive lymphoid malignancy to date. The challenges ahead concern the following: optimization of management in underdeveloped countries, with reduction of diagnostic and referral-for-care intervals, and the applicability of currently curative regimens; the development of lower intensity but equally effective treatments for frail or immunocompromised patients at risk of death by complications; the identification of very high-risk patients through positron-emission tomography and minimal residual disease assays; and the assessment in these and the few refractory/relapsed ones of new monoclonals (ofatumumab, blinatumomab, inotuzumab ozogamicin) and new molecules targeting c-MYC and key proliferative steps of B-cell malignancies.
Effect of Cis Acting Potential Regulators in the β Globin Gene Cluster on the Production of HbF in Thalassemia Patients

The clinical presentation of β-thalassemia intermedia phenotypes are influenced by many factors. The persistence of fetal hemoglobin and several polymorphisms located in the promoters of γ- and β-globin genes are some of them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of the −158 Gγ (C→T) polymorphism and of the (AT)x(T)y configuration, as well as their eventual association with elevated levels of HbF in β-thalassemia carriers, β-thalassemia intermedia, β-thalassemia major and normal controls of Indian origin. The −158 Gγ T allele was found to be associated with increased levels of HbF in β thalassemia carriers, and not in wild-type subjects. In the homozygous group, the −158 Gγ T allele was significantly higher in the thalassemia intermedia group (66%) as against the thalassemia major group (21%). The (AT)9(T)5 allele did not show any association with raised HbF levels. However 24% of milder cases showed presence of this allele. This study suggests that two regions of the β globin cluster, whether in cis or in trans to each other, can interact to enhance HbF expression when a β thalassemic determinant is present in heterozygosity and help in amelioration of the severity of the disease in homozygotes.
Raindrop detection on car windshields using geometric-photometric environment construction and intensity-based correlation

Vision-based Driver Assistance Systems (DAS) are becoming pervasive in today's automotive industry. However, most of these systems are designed to perform in good weather conditions and they perform very poorly in adverse weather particularly in rain. A big problem related to rainy weather conditions that highly limits the performance of DAS is raindrops on car windshields. We present a novel approach that detects raindrops on a car windshield using only a single image from an in-vehicle camera and a standard interest point detector for pre-selection of raindrop candidates. The algorithm models the geometric shape of a raindrop on the car windshield, utilizes its photometric properties and establishes a relationship between raindrop and environment. The proposed algorithm outperforms existing machine vision-based approaches for the task of raindrop modeling and detection from an in-vehicle perspective. It functions very accurately and is robust in terms of imprecise positions of raindrop candidates. Its results can be further used for image restoration and vision enhancement and hence it is a valuable tool for DAS.
New evidence of risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia: a population-based study

The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), with special emphasis on modifiable risk factors and those applicable to the general population. A population-based, case–control study was conducted, with a target population of 859,033 inhabitants aged >14 yrs. A total of 1,336 patients with confirmed CAP were matched to control subjects by age, sex and primary centre over 1 yr. In the univariate analysis, outstanding risk factors were passive smoking in never-smokers aged >65 yrs, heavy alcohol intake, contact with pets, households with >10 people, contact with children, interventions on the upper airways and poor dental health. Risky treatments included amiodarone, N-acetylcysteine and oral steroids. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine, and visiting the dentist were protective factors. Multivariable analysis confirmed cigarette smoking, usual contact with children, sudden changes of temperature at work, inhalation therapy (particularly containing steroids and using plastic pear-spacers), oxygen therapy, asthma and chronic bronchitis as independent risk factors. Interventions for reducing community-acquired pneumonia should integrate health habits and lifestyle factors related to household, work and community, together with individual clinical conditions, comorbidities and oral or inhaled regular treatments. Prevention would include vaccination, dental hygiene and avoidance of upper respiratory colonisation.
Forest edges have high conservation value for bird communities in mosaic landscapes

Abstract A major conservation challenge in mosaic landscapes is to understand how trait‐specific responses to habitat edges affect bird communities, including potential cascading effects on bird functions providing ecosystem services to forests, such as pest control. Here, we examined how bird species richness, abundance and community composition varied from interior forest habitats and their edges into adjacent open habitats, within a multi‐regional sampling scheme. We further analyzed variations in Conservation Value Index (CVI), Community Specialization Index (CSI) and functional traits across the forest‐edge‐open habitat gradient. Bird species richness, total abundance and CVI were significantly higher at forest edges while CSI peaked at interior open habitats, i.e., furthest from forest edge. In addition, there were important variations in trait‐ and species‐specific responses to forest edges among bird communities. Positive responses to forest edges were found for several forest bird species with unfavorable conservation status. These species were in general insectivores, understorey gleaners, cavity nesters and long‐distance migrants, all traits that displayed higher abundance at forest edges than in forest interiors or adjacent open habitats. Furthermore, consistently with predictions, negative edge effects were recorded in some forest specialist birds and in most open‐habitat birds, showing increasing densities from edges to interior habitats. We thus suggest that increasing landscape‐scale habitat complexity would be beneficial to declining species living in mosaic landscapes combining small woodlands and open habitats. Edge effects between forests and adjacent open habitats may also favor bird functional guilds providing valuable ecosystem services to forests in longstanding fragmented landscapes.
Risk factors for agitation in critically ill patients

Objective To evaluate the incidence of agitation in the first 7 days after intensive care unit admission, its risk factors and its associations with clinical outcomes. Methods This single-center prospective cohort study included all patients older than 18 years with a predicted stay > 48 hours within the first 24 hours of intensive care unit admission. Agitation was defined as a Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale score ≥ +2, an episode of agitation or the use of a specific medication recorded in patient charts. Results Agitation occurred in 31.8% of the 113 patients. Multivariate analysis showed that delirium [OR = 24.14; CI95% 5.15 - 113.14; p < 0.001], moderate or severe pain [OR = 5.74; CI95% 1.73 - 19.10; p = 0.004], mechanical ventilation [OR = 10.14; CI95% 2.93 - 35.10; p < 0.001], and smoking habits [OR = 4.49; CI95% 1.33 - 15.17; p = 0.015] were independent factors for agitation, while hyperlactatemia was associated with a lower risk [OR = 0.169; CI95% 0.04 - 0.77; p = 0.021]. Agitated patients had fewer mechanical ventilation-free days at day 7 (p = 0.003). Conclusion The incidence of agitation in the first 7 days after admission to the intensive care unit was high. Delirium, moderate/severe pain, mechanical ventilation, and smoking habits were independent risk factors. Agitated patients had fewer ventilator-free days in the first 7 days.
Lymphedema: A primer on the identification and management of a chronic condition in oncologic treatment

The primary goals of oncologic therapy are the compassionate care of cancer patients, eradication of disease, and palliation of symptoms. Advances in various targeted therapies such as highly conformal and image‐guided radiotherapy techniques, sentinel lymph node dissection, and molecularly targeted agents hold the promise of allowing those goals to be reached with fewer treatment‐related complications. Unfortunately, certain side effects remain problematic due to the inability to completely avoid injuring normal tissues. Lymphedema, a chronic condition that occurs as a result of the body's inability to drain lymph fluid from the tissues, is a common treatment‐related side effect experienced by cancer patients. In this review, many of the important aspects of lymphedema with which clinicians who treat cancer patients should be familiar are outlined, including the anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of this condition. The authors also identify some of the resources available both to cancer patients with lymphedema and to the clinicians who treat them. It is hoped that this review will convey the importance of the early identification and management of this incurable disorder because this is essential to minimizing its complications. CA Cancer J Clin 2009;59:8–24. © 2009 American Cancer Society.