Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Undifferentiated Gender Role Orientation, Drinking Motives, and Increased Alcohol Use in Men and Women

ABSTRACT Background: Alcohol misuse has historically affected men more than women. However, the differences in drinking behaviors across sex have steadily decreased over time and accumulating research suggests that gender role orientation, or culturally scripted gender-specific characteristics, and negative reinforcement drinking motives may better explain risk for alcohol use and related problems than sex. Objectives: The current study tested a mediational model of the undifferentiated orientation (low masculinity and low femininity), an oft neglected orientation despite evidence that it could carry much weight in drinking behaviors, versus the other three gender role orientations, coping and conformity drinking motives, and hazardous alcohol use. Method: Participants were 426 current drinkers over age 21 (41% men; 77.8% Caucasian; Mage = 34.5, range = 21–73) residing across the United States who completed an online survey. Results: Structural equation modeling analyses suggested that individuals with an undifferentiated orientation (n = 99), compared to masculine (high masculinity, low femininity; n = 102), feminine (high femininity, low masculinity; n = 113), or androgynous (high masculinity, high femininity; n = 112) orientations, reported higher coping drinking motives, which were positively associated with levels of hazardous alcohol use. Although analyses suggested that undifferentiated individuals reported drinking for conformity motives more often than masculine and androgynous individuals, conformity motives were not associated with increased use. Conclusions/Importance: An undifferentiated gender role orientation may contribute a unique risk for alcohol use and related problems by increasing frequency of drinking to cope, a motive specifically associated with hazardous use trajectories.
Uveitis Associated with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, our Observations

Introduction: Uveitis as extra-articular manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is present in 20% of children with the persistent form, in 30% with the extended oligoarticular form, while it is present in psoriatic and polyarticular rheumatoid factor (RF) negative arthritis in 10% and 14%, respectively. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of uveitis and its complications in children with JIA. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with an analysis of the medical records of children with JIA who were treated for the last 5 years. The analysis included the following: the child’s age and sex, age at onset of arthritis, of uveitis, complications, RF values and antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Results: The study included 97 children with JIA: in 14 (14.4%) uveitis was observed; the most common form of JIA was the oligoarticular extended form (6/14), oligoarticular persistent form was observed in 5 children, while 3 children with uveitis had polyarticular RF negative JIA. The age of arthritis onset was lower in children with uveitis (4.7 vs 8.2 years); ANA positivity was more common in children with JIA and uveitis (64% vs 41%). Uveitis was the first manifestation of the disease for 2 children; 28.6% of children had clinically asymptomatic uveitis, while 42.4% of children developed uveitis within 4 years from the JIA onset. 8/14 children developed uveitis complications: 3 cases of synechia, 2 band keratopathy, 2 cataracta, 1 glaucoma. Conclusion: Uveitis as significantly present manifestation of JIA requires to timely recognize, treat, monitor children in order to prevent complications.
Rectal 1% Tenofovir Gel Use Associates with Altered Epidermal Protein Expression

Abstract Rectal use of a 1% tenofovir (TFV) gel is currently being evaluated for HIV prevention. While careful assessment of mucosal safety of candidate microbicides is a primary concern, tools to assess mucosal toxicity are limited. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is a sensitive and high-throughput technique that can provide in-depth information on inflammation processes in biological systems. In this study, we utilized a proteomics approach to characterize mucosal responses in study participants involved in a phase 1 clinical trial of a rectal TFV-based gel. Project Gel was a phase 1 randomized (1:1), double-blind, multisite, placebo-controlled trial in which 24 participants received rectal TFV or a universal placebo [hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)] over a course of 8 daily doses. Rectal mucosal swabs were collected after 0, 1, and 8 doses and were analyzed by label-free tandem mass spectrometry. Differential protein expression was evaluated using a combination of paired (time-effects) and unpaired (across study arm) t-tests, and multivariate [least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)] modeling. Within the TFV arm, 7% (17/249, p < .05) and 10% (25/249, p < .05) of total proteins changed after 1 and 8 daily applications of TFV gel, respectively, compared to 3% (7/249, p < .05) and 6% (16/249, p < .05) in the HEC arm. Biofunctional analysis associated TFV use with a decrease in epidermal barrier proteins (adj. p = 1.21 × 10−10). Multivariate modeling identified 13 proteins that confidently separated TFV gel users (100% calibration and 96% cross-validation accuracy), including the epithelial integrity factors (FLMNB, CRNN, CALM), serpins (SPB13, SPB5), and cytoskeletal proteins (VILI, VIME, WRD1). This study suggested that daily rectal applications of a 1% TFV gel may be associated with mucosal proteome changes involving epidermal development. Further assessment of more extended use of TFV-gel is recommended to validate these initial associations.
Amniopatch treatment of iatrogenic preterm premature rupture of membranes (iPPROM) after fetoscopic laser surgery for twin–twin transfusion syndrome

Abstract Objectives: Amniopatch is a proposed treatment of iatrogenic preterm premature rupture of membranes (iPPROM). We studied characteristics associated with successful amniopatch treatment of iPPROM after fetoscopic laser surgery for twin–twin transfusion syndrome. Methods: Patients with iPPROM within 15 days of laser surgery treated with an amniopatch were studied. Factors associated with amniopatch success (i.e. cessation of leakage with normalization of amniotic fluid volume) were tested univariately and in multivariate logistic regression models. Continuous variables are expressed as median (range). Results: Of 1124 patients undergoing laser surgery, 19 (1.7%) had iPPROM and subsequent amniopatch. Twelve (63.2%) were successful. Latency in days from iPPROM to delivery was greater in the successful group (114.0 [87.0–141.0]) versus (44.0 [3.9–88.0], p = 0.0005), which translated into greater gestational age (GA) (weeks) at delivery (35.1 [30.9–39.4] versus 28.1 [22.0–31.0], p = 0.0005). The 30-day survival of the affected recipient twin was improved (100% versus 57.1%, p = 0.0361). After multivariate testing, GA < 20 weeks at the time of the amniopatch placement was the only variable that remained associated with successful sealing of the membranes. Conclusions: Treatment of iPPROM via amniopatch was successful in almost two-thirds of cases and was associated with higher GA at delivery and improved perinatal survival.
College-Related Alcohol Beliefs and Problematic Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies as a Mediator

ABSTRACT Background: College-related alcohol beliefs, or beliefs that drinking alcohol is central to the college experience, have been shown to robustly predict alcohol-related outcomes among college students. Given the strength of these associations, it is imperative to understand more proximal factors (i.e., closer in a causal chain leading to alcohol-related outcomes) that can explain these associations. Objectives: The current research examined alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as a potential mediator of the association between college-related alcohol beliefs and alcohol outcomes among college student drinkers. Method: Participants were undergraduate students from a large southeastern university (Sample 1; n = 561) and a large southwestern university (Sample 2; n = 563) in the United States that consumed alcohol at least once in the previous month. Results: Path analysis was conducted examining the concurrent associations between college-related alcohol beliefs, PBS use (both as a single facet and multidimensionally), alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related consequences (i.e., double mediation). In both samples, there was a significant double-mediated association that suggested that higher college-related alcohol beliefs is associated with lower PBS use (single facet), which is associated with higher alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Multidimensionally, only one double-mediation effect (in Sample 2 only) was significant (i.e., college-related alcohol beliefs → manner of drinking PBS → alcohol consumption → alcohol-related consequences). Conclusions/Importance: These results suggest that targeting these college-related alcohol beliefs as well as PBS use are promising targets for college alcohol interventions. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Psychophysical well‐being profiles in patients before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The literature offers very few in‐depth reports on the time directly before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Also, researchers have focused on selected aspects of psychophysical well‐being and treated the sample as homogeneous. Thus, we chose to investigate distinct multidimensional well‐being profiles (including anxiety, depressive symptoms, and health‐related quality of life [HRQOL] domains) among patients just before HSCT, as well as profile predictors (generalized self‐efficacy) and outcomes (transplant appraisal) on the basis of the transactional stress model.
Vesper: Using Echo Analysis to Detect Man-in-the-Middle Attacks in LANs

The man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack is a cyber attack in which an attacker intercepts traffic, thus harming the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the network. It remains a popular attack vector due to its simplicity. However, existing solutions are either not portable, suffer from a high false positive rate, or simply not generic. In this paper, we propose Vesper: a novel plug-and-play MitM detector for local area networks. Vesper uses a technique inspired from impulse response analysis used in the domain of acoustic signal processing. Analogous to how echoes in a cave capture the shape and construction of the environment, so to can a short and intense pulse of ICMP echo requests model the link between two network hosts. Vesper uses neural networks called autoencoders to model the normal patterns of the echoed pulses and detect when the environment changes. Using this technique, Vesper is able to detect MitM attacks with high accuracy while incurring minimal network overhead. We evaluate Vesper on LANs consisting of video surveillance cameras, servers, and PC workstations. We also investigate several possible adversarial attacks against Vesper and demonstrate how Vesper mitigates these attacks.
Comparative evaluation of treatment effects between two fixed functional appliances for correction of Class II malocclusion: A single-center, randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of PowerScope and Forsus in the treatment of Class II division 1 malocclusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a 2-arm parallel, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 28 Class II division 1 malocclusion patients indicated for treatment with fixed functional appliances were randomized and equally divided (n = 14) among PowerScope (American Orthodontics, Sheboygan, Wis; mean age 14.11 ± 1.3 years) and Forsus (3M Unitek Corp, Monrovia, Calif; mean age 15.5 ± 1.1 years) groups. Skeletal and dentoalveolar effects of PowerScope and Forsus were compared. The secondary outcomes were evaluation of patient comfort and operator convenience. Randomization was accomplished with a 1:1 allocation ratio, and concealment was achieved by sealed opaque envelopes. The participants and data collectors were all blinded to study group allocation. Data were analyzed for 26 patients, 13 in each group, as one patient from each group discontinued treatment. Statistical comparisons were carried out using Student's t-tests and chi square tests ( P ≤ .05). RESULTS A significantly greater mesial mandibular movement and improvement in sagittal skeletal relation were found in the Forsus patients ( P ≤ .05). The forward movement of the mandibular molar and incisors were greater in the PowerScope patients (2.3 mm and 2.80 mm) than in the Forsus patients (1.9 mm and 2.38 mm). CONCLUSIONS Both PowerScope and Forsus are effective in correcting Class II malocclusion. The percentage of dentoalveolar effects in correcting Class II malocclusion is more for PowerScope when compared with Forsus. Patient comfort was the same with both appliances. This trial was registered.
Development of stable haploid strains and molecular genetic tools for Naumovozyma castellii (Saccharomyces castellii)

The budding yeast Naumovozyma castellii (syn. Saccharomyces castellii) has been included in comparative genomics studies and functional analyses of centromere DNA elements, and has been shown to possess beneficial traits for telomere biology research. To provide useful tools for molecular genetic approaches, we produced stable haploid heterothallic strains from an early ancestral strain derived from the N. castellii collection strain CBS 4310. To this end, we deleted the gene encoding the Ho endonuclease, which is essential for the mating type switching. Gene replacement of HO with the kanMX3 resistance cassette was performed in diploid strains, followed by sporulation and tetrad microdissection of the haploid spores. The mating type (MATa or MATα) was determined for each hoΔ mutant, and was stable under sporulation‐inducing conditions, showing that the switching system was totally non‐functional. The hoΔstrains showed wild‐type growth rates and were successfully transformed with linear DNA using the general protocol. Opposite mating types of the hoΔstrains were mated, resulting in diploid cells that efficiently formed asci and generated viable spores when microdissected. By introduction of a point mutation in the URA3 gene, we created a uracil auxotrophic strain, and by exchanging the kanMX3 cassette for the hphMX4 cassette we show that hygromycin B resistance can be used as a selection marker in N. castellii. These haploid strains containing genetic markers will be useful tools for performing genetic analyses in N. castellii. Moreover, we demonstrate that homology regions of 200–230 bp can be successfully used for target site‐specific integration into genomic loci. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homeobox B9 facilitates hypertrophic scar formation via activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway

The functions and underlying mechanisms of homeobox B9 (HOXB9) in scar formation remain unclear; therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether HOXB9 is highly expressed in hypertrophic scar formation. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine the expression levels of laminin, fibronectin (FN), collagen type I (Col1) and HOXB9 in hypertrophic scar and healthy skin tissues, and in lentivirus-constructed HOXB9-overexpressed or -silenced fibroblasts (FBs). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression levels of HOXB9, laminin, FN, Col1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p-ERK and p-p38. A gel contraction assay was used to evaluate the effect of HOXB9 on FB contraction. Co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to verify the reciprocal interactions between HOXB9 and ERK, JNK and p38. It was demonstrated that HOXB9, laminin, FN and Col1 were upregulated in hypertrophic scar tissues, and HOXB9 upregulated laminin, FN, Col1, p-ERK, p-JNK and p38, potentially by interacting directly with p38. Furthermore, FBs overexpressing HOXB9 exhibited enhanced contractile capacity. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that HOXB9 may facilitate hypertrophic scar formation via activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.
Testing the redintegration hypothesis by a single probe recognition paradigm

ABSTRACT The lexicality effect in verbal short-term memory (STM), in which word lists are better recalled than nonwords lists, is considered to reflect the influence of linguistic long-term memory (LTM) knowledge on verbal STM performance. The locus of this effect remains, however, a matter of debate. The redintegrative account considers that degrading phonological traces of memoranda are reconstructed at recall by selecting lexical LTM representations that match the phonological traces. According to a strong version of this account, redintegrative processes should be strongly reduced in recognition paradigms, leading to reduced LTM effects. We tested this prediction by contrasting word and nonword memoranda in a fast encoding probe recognition paradigm. We observed a very strong lexicality effect, with better and faster recognition performance for words as compared to nonwords. These results do not support a strong version of the redintegrative account of LTM effects in STM which considers that these LTM effects would be the exclusive product of reconstruction mechanisms. If redintegration processes intervene in STM recognition tasks, they must be very fast, which at the same time provides support for models considering direct activation of lexico-semantic knowledge during verbal STM tasks.
Diagnostic value of the 2011 International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy Terminology in predicting cervical lesions

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the 2011 International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC) colposcopic terminology. Methods The clinicopathological data of 2262 patients who underwent colposcopy from September 2012 to September 2016 were reviewed. The colposcopic findings, colposcopic impression, and cervical histopathology of the patients were analyzed. Correlations between variables were evaluated using cervical histopathology as the gold standard. Results Colposcopic diagnosis matched biopsy histopathology in 1482 patients (65.5%), and the weighted kappa strength of agreement was 0.480 (P<0.01). Colposcopic diagnoses more often underestimated (22.1%) than overestimated (12.3%) cervical pathology. There was no significant difference between the colposcopic diagnosis and cervical pathology agreement among the various grades of lesions (P=0.282). The sensitivity, specificity for detecting high-grade lesions/carcinoma was 71.6% and 98.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that major changes were independent factors in predicting high-grade lesion/carcinoma, whereas transformation zone, lesion size, and non-stained were not statistically related to high-grade lesion/carcinoma. Conclusions The 2011 IFCPC terminology can improve the diagnostic accuracy for all lesion severities. The categorization of major changes and minor changes is appropriate. However, colposcopic diagnosis remains unsatisfactory. Poor reproducibility of type 2 transformation zone and the significance of leukoplakia require further study.
DAWNBench : An End-to-End Deep Learning Benchmark and Competition

Despite considerable research on systems, algorithms and hardware to speed up deep learning workloads, there is no standard means of evaluating end-to-end deep learning performance. Existing benchmarks measure proxy metrics, such as time to process one minibatch of data, that do not indicate whether the system as a whole will converge faster to a high-quality result. In this work, we introduce DAWNBench, a benchmark and competition focused on end-to-end training time to achieve a state-of-the-art accuracy level, as well as inference with that accuracy. We have seeded the benchmark with entries for image classification on CIFAR10 and ImageNet, and question answering on SQuAD, showing differences across models, software and hardware. We believe DAWNBench will provide a useful, reproducible means of evaluating the many tradeoffs in deep learning systems.
Contribution of the Chromosomal ccdAB Operon to Bacterial Drug Tolerance

ABSTRACT One of the first identified and best-studied toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems in Escherichia coli is the F-plasmid-based CcdAB system. This system is involved in plasmid maintenance through postsegregational killing. More recently, ccdAB homologs have been found on the chromosome, including in pathogenic strains of E. coli and other bacteria. However, the functional role of chromosomal ccdAB genes, if any, has remained unclear. We show that both the native ccd operon of the E. coli O157 strain (ccd O157) and the ccd operon from the F plasmid (ccd F), when inserted on the E. coli chromosome, lead to protection from cell death under multiple antibiotic stress conditions through formation of persisters, with the O157 operon showing higher protection. While the plasmid-encoded CcdB toxin is a potent gyrase inhibitor and leads to bacterial cell death even under fully repressed conditions, the chromosomally encoded toxin leads to growth inhibition, except at high expression levels, where some cell death is seen. This was further confirmed by transiently activating the chromosomal ccd operon through overexpression of an active-site inactive mutant of F-plasmid-encoded CcdB. Both the ccd F and ccd O157 operons may share common mechanisms for activation under stress conditions, eventually leading to multidrug-tolerant persister cells. This study clearly demonstrates an important role for chromosomal ccd systems in bacterial persistence. IMPORTANCE A large number of free-living and pathogenic bacteria are known to harbor multiple toxin-antitoxin systems, on plasmids as well as on chromosomes. The F-plasmid CcdAB system has been extensively studied and is known to be involved in plasmid maintenance. However, little is known about the function of its chromosomal counterpart, found in several pathogenic E. coli strains. We show that the native chromosomal ccd operon of the E. coli O157 strain is involved in drug tolerance and confers protection from cell death under multiple antibiotic stress conditions. This has implications for generation of potential therapeutics that target these TA systems and has clinical significance because the presence of persisters in an antibiotic-treated population can lead to resuscitation of chronic infection and may contribute to failure of antibiotic treatment.