Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validity and Reliability of a Self-Reported Measure of Antihypertensive Medication Adherence in Uganda

Background The Morisky Medication Adherence scale (MMAS-8) is a widely used self-reported measure of adherence to antihypertensive medications that has not been validated in hypertensive patients in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study to examine psychometric properties of a translated MMAS-8 (MMAS-U) in a tertiary care hypertension clinic in Uganda. We administered the MMAS-U to consecutively selected hypertensive adults and used principal factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha to determine its validity and internal consistency respectively. Then we randomly selected one-sixth of participants for a 2-week test-retest telephone interview. Lastly, we used ordinal logistic regression modeling to explore factors associated with levels of medication adherence. Results Of the 329 participants, 228 (69%) were females, median age of 55 years [Interquartile range (IQR) (46–66)], and median duration of hypertension of 4 years [IQR (2–8)]. The adherence levels were low (MMAS-U score ≤ 5) in 85%, moderate (MMAS-U score 6–7) in 12% and high (MMAS-U score ≥8) in 3%. The factor analysis of construct validity was good (overall Kaiser’s measure of sampling adequacy for residuals of 0.72) and identified unidimensionality of MMAS-U. The internal consistency of MMAS-U was moderate (Cronbach α = 0.65), and test-retest reliability was low (weighted kappa = 0.36; 95% CI -0.01, 0.73). Age of 40 years or greater was associated with low medication adherence (p = 0.02) whereas a family member buying medication for participants (p = 0.02) and purchasing medication from a private clinic (p = 0.02) were associated with high adherence. Conclusion The Ugandan version of the MMAS-8 (MMAS-U) is a valid and reliable measure of adherence to antihypertensive medication among Ugandan outpatients receiving care at a public tertiary facility. Though the limited supply of medication affected adherence, this easy to use tool can be adapted to assess medication adherence among adults with hypertension in Uganda.
Non-linear feeding functional responses in the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) predict immediate negative impact of wetland degradation on this flagship species

Accurate knowledge of the functional response of predators to prey density is essential for understanding food web dynamics, to parameterize mechanistic models of animal responses to environmental change, and for designing appropriate conservation measures. Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus), a flagship species of Mediterranean wetlands, primarily feed on Artemias (Artemia spp.) in commercial salt pans, an industry which may collapse for economic reasons. Flamingos also feed on alternative prey such as Chironomid larvae (e.g., Chironomid spp.) and rice seeds (Oryza sativa). However, the profitability of these food items for flamingos remains unknown. We determined the functional responses of flamingos feeding on Artemias, Chironomids, or rice. Experiments were conducted on 11 captive flamingos. For each food item, we offered different ranges of food densities, up to 13 times natural abundance. Video footage allowed estimating intake rates. Contrary to theoretical predictions for filter feeders, intake rates did not increase linearly with increasing food density (type I). Intake rates rather increased asymptotically with increasing food density (type II) or followed a sigmoid shape (type III). Hence, flamingos were not able to ingest food in direct proportion to their abundance, possibly because of unique bill structure resulting in limited filtering capabilities. Overall, flamingos foraged more efficiently on Artemias. When feeding on Chironomids, birds had lower instantaneous rates of food discovery and required more time to extract food from the sediment and ingest it, than when filtering Artemias from the water column. However, feeding on rice was energetically more profitable for flamingos than feeding on Artemias or Chironomids, explaining their attraction for rice fields. Crucially, we found that food densities required for flamingos to reach asymptotic intake rates are rarely met under natural conditions. This allows us to predict an immediate negative effect of any decrease in prey density upon flamingo foraging performance.
Intima-Media Thickness in the Carotid and Femoral Arteries for Detection of Arteriosclerosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Individuals

Background The prevalence of atherosclerosis is higher in HIV-positive people, who also experience it earlier than the general population. Objectives To assess and compare the prevalence of atherosclerosis evaluated by the intima-media thickness of carotid and femoral arteries, and by the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) in HIV patients treated or not treated with protease inhibitors (PIs) and controls. Methods Eighty HIV+ subjects (40 using PIs and 40 not using PIs) and 65 controls were included in the study. Atherosclerosis was diagnosed by (carotid and femoral) ITM measurement and ABPI. Classical risk factors for atherosclerosis and HIV were compared between the groups by statistical tests. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results An IMT > P75 or the presence of plaque was higher in the HIV+ than in the control group (37.5% vs 19%, p = 0.04). Comparative analysis showed a significant difference (p=0.014) in carotid IMT between HIV+ with PIs (0.71 ± 0.28 mm), without PIs 0.63 ± 0.11 mm and, and controls (0.59 ± 0.11 mm). There was no significant difference in femoral IMT between the groups or in ABPI between HIV+ subjects and controls. However, a significant difference (p=0.015) was found between HIV+ patients not treated with PIs (1.17 [1.08 - 1.23]), and controls 1.08 [1.07 - 1.17]). Conclusion In HIV patients, atherosclerosis is more prevalent and seems to occur earlier with particular characteristics compared with HIV-negative subjects.
Cognitive stimulation for healthy older adults through computer-based programs: a review of the literature / Estimulación cognitiva para personas mayores sanas mediante programas computarizados: una revisión de la literatura

Abstract Cognitive stimulation programs are widely used as a preventive tool for cognitive decline in older adults, as they can favour positive ageing by maintaining older persons’ autonomy and preserving their cognitive functions. Because of this, and due to its potentially easy application on a large scale and at a low cost, the incorporation of technologies for the cognitive stimulation of older adults has become an area of growing interest. This review outlines the advantages and disadvantages of computer-based cognitive stimulation programs aimed at healthy older adults, focusing on aspects that influence their effectiveness and future direction. Twenty-five articles were considered, including original studies, literature reviews and meta-analyses, published between 2013 and 2017. It was concluded that there is a need to generate more randomized studies with active control groups to assess the effectiveness of cognitive stimulation through computer-based programs, as well as develop designs to establish strategies that increase older adults’ adherence and ensure their motivation to carry out these activities.
NGF and HB-EGF: Potential Biomarkers that Reflect the Effects of Fesoterodine in Patients with Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Purpose To determine whether levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) can be used to objectively assess overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) treatment outcome and to evaluate the effects of fixed-dose fesoterodine on OAB symptoms. Materials and Methods This study included 124 participants (62 patients with OAB and 62 controls) in Severance Hospital between 2010 and 2012. In patients with OAB, 4 mg fesoterodine was administered once daily. Repeated evaluations of putative biomarker levels, urine creatinine (Cr) levels, and questionnaire responses, including the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB q), were performed from baseline to 16 weeks. Results Urinary levels of NGF/Cr (OAB: 1.13±0.9 pg/mg; control: 0.5±0.29 pg/mg) and HB-EGF/Cr (OAB: 8.73±6.55 pg/mg; control: 4.45±2.93 pg/mg) were significantly higher in subjects with OAB than in controls (p<0.001). After 16 weeks of fixed-dose fesoterodine treatment, urinary NGF/Cr levels (baseline: 1.13±0.08 pg/mg; 16 weeks: 0.60±0.4 pg/mg; p=0.02) and HB-EGF/Cr levels significantly decreased (baseline: 8.73±6.55 pg/mg; 16 weeks: 4.72±2.69 pg/mg; p=0.03, respectively). Both the OABSS and OAB q scores improved (p<0.001). However, there were no a statistically significant correlations between these urinary markers and symptomatic scores. Conclusion Urinary levels of NGF and HB-EGF may be potential biomarkers for evaluating outcome of OAB treatment. Fixed-dose fesoterodine improved OAB symptoms. Future studies are needed to further examine the significance of urinary NGF and HB-EGF levels as therapeutic markers for OAB.
Evaluation Criteria of New Product Development Process

New product development (NPD) is one of the most importance processes for firms to increase their profit and competitiveness. This study presents the results of a comparison study between Taiwan and Indonesia in the employment of evaluation criteria for NPD process. This study is guided by a stage-gate process to derive a structured NPD performance evaluation framework. In this study we use 20 evaluation criteria that are grouped into five dimensions, market-, financial-, product-, process-, and intuition-based measures. Based on a sample of 148 industrial firms, the findings of the study reveal that evaluation criteria under market-based dimensions are more stressed during the later phases of NPD gates. Financial-based criteria are appearing importantly during the business-analysis gate and product-based criteria are strongly higher than other evaluation dimensions in the product-testing gate. The results of the experiments present useful guidelines for R&D managers as measuring product development and employ appropriate evaluation dimensions for effectiveness and efficiency in NPD related decision making.
GENETIC CONFLICTS, INTRINSIC MALE FERTILITY, AND EJACULATE INVESTMENT

Few aspects of biology are linked to so many evolutionary conflicts as sperm production and fertilization. Segregation distortion and maternal inheritance of cytoplasmic genes, causing maladapted males, are common sources of variation in the competitive ability of sperm, leading males to vary in their intrinsic fertility. Here, I theoretically analyze the effect of such variation in male intrinsic fertility on ejaculate investment. The model reveals that with increasing variation in male fertility, males should overall spend less resources on their ejaculates. Furthermore, if males differing in intrinsic fertility are able to invest differently in sperm production, there are two contrasting outcomes. Typically, less fertile males should invest more. However, if female mating frequency is relatively low and differences between males relatively large, the most common male genotype should invest more. These results have important consequences both for the understanding of sperm competition strategies as well as for the evolution of female polyandry and female mating preferences.
Velocity Dispersion of the High Rotational Levels of H2

We present a study of the high rotational bands (J ≥ 2) of H2 toward four early-type Galactic stars: HD 73882, HD 192639, HD 206267, and HD 207538. In each case, the velocity dispersion, characterized by the spectrum fitting parameter b, increases with the level of excitation, a phenomenon that has previously been detected by the Copernicus and IMAPS observatories. In particular, we show with 4 σ confidence that for HD 192639 it is not possible to fit all J levels with a single b-value and that higher b-values are needed for the higher levels. The amplitude of the line broadening, which can be as high as 10 km s-1, makes explanations such as inhomogeneous spatial distribution unlikely. We investigate a mechanism in which the broadening is due to the molecules that are rotationally excited through the excess energy acquired after their formation on a grain (H2 formation pumping). We show that different dispersions would be a natural consequence of this mechanism. We note, however, that such a process would require a formation rate 10 times higher than what was inferred from other observations. In view of this result, and of the difficulty in accounting for the velocity dispersion as thermal broadening (T would be around 10,000 K), we conclude then that we are most certainly observing some highly turbulent warm layer associated with the cold diffuse cloud. Embedded in a magnetic field, it could be responsible for the high quantities of CH+ measured in the cold neutral medium.
Méthodes de Point Fixe pour la Simulation du Partage d ’ une Boucle Locale par un Grand Nombre de Connexions TCP en Interaction

We study the interaction of a large number of connections over the Internet, sharing the same local loop and controlled by TCP. We focus on the case when the connections are homogeneous and the access router has a Fair-Queueing scheduling discipline, whereas the Internet is represented by a set of First-In-First-Out (FIFO) routers. We use both simulation and analytical results to determine the characteristics of the throughput obtained by each connection under a realistic description of the traffic offered to the network. The key idea for the analysis consists in a fixed point method which is based on the exact description of one TCP connection and a simplified description of the interaction with the other connections. The convergence of this fixed point method is substantiated by extensive simulations. The validation of the approach is carried out using NS simulation in cases where both methods can be used. We show that the goodput obtained by each connection and its fluctuations can be accurately evaluated from this approach. Key-words: TCP, access router, HTTP traffic, internet, throughput, quality of service. INRIA & ENS, ENS, Département d’Informatique, 45 rue d’Ulm 75005, Paris, France INRIA & ENS, ENS, Département d’Informatique, 45 rue d’Ulm 75005, Paris, France IBM, T.J. Watson Center, 30 Saw Mill River Road, Hawthorne, NY 10532, USA Méthodes de Point Fixe pour la Simulation du Partage d’une Boucle Locale par un Grand Nombre de Connexions TCP en Interaction Résumé : Nous étudions l’interaction d’un grand nombre de connexions sur l’Internet, partageant une même boucle locale et toutes contrôlées par TCP. Nous nous concentrons sur le cas où les connexions sont homogènes et le routeur d’accès a une discipline de service du type fair queueing. L’Internet est représenté par un ensemble de routeurs PAPS. Nous utilisons un mélange de méthodes analytiques et de simulation pour déterminer les caractéristiques du débit obtenu par chaque connexion sous des hypothèses réalistes concernant le trafic offert au réseau. L’idée principale réside dans une méthode de point fixe fondée sur la description exacte d’une connexion contrôlée par TCP et sur une description simplifiée de son interaction avec les autres connexions. La convergence de cette méthode de point fixe est testée au moyen de nombreuses simulations. Les résultats sont aussi validés par comparaison avec des simulations en NS. Nous montrons que le débit obtenu par chaque connexion, sa moyenne et les fluctuations autour de cette moyenne, peuvent être prédits avec précision par cette approche. Mots-clés : TCP, routeur d’accès, Trafic HTTP, Internet, débit, qualité de service. Fixed Point Methods for Interacting TCP Connections 3
Functoriality and the inverse Galois problem

Abstract We prove that, for any prime ℓ and any even integer n, there are infinitely many exponents k for which $\mathrm {PSp}_n(\mathbb {F}_{\ell ^k})$ appears as a Galois group over $\mathbb {Q}$. This generalizes a result of Wiese from 2006, which inspired this paper.
Prognostic Value and Clinicopathological Differences of HIFs in Colorectal Cancer: Evidence from Meta-Analysis

Background The prognostic value of HIFs in colorectal cancer was evaluated in a large number of studies, but the conclusions were inconclusive. Meanwhile, clinicopathologic differences of HIF-1α and HIF-2α were rarely compared in recent studies. Methodology Identical search strategies were used to search relevant literatures in the PubMed and Web of Science databases. The prognostic significances and clinicopathological differences of HIFs in CRC were analyzed. Principal Findings A total of 23studies comprising 2984 CRC patients met the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that overexpressed HIFs were significantly associated with increase of mortality risk, including overall survival (OS) (HR 2.06 95%CI 1.55–2.74) and disease free survival (HR 2.84, 95%CI 1.87–4.31). Subgroup analysis revealed that both overexpressed HIF-1α and HIF-2α had correlations with worse prognosis. The pooled HRs were 2.01 (95% CI: 1.55–2.6) and 2.07(95% CI: 1.01–4.26). Further subgroup analysis on HIF-1α was performed by study location, number of patients, quality score and cut-off value. The results showed that HIF-1α overexpression was significantly associated with poor OS, particularly in Asian countries (HR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.74–3.01), while not in European or other countries. In addition, overexpression of HIF-1α was closely related with these clinicopathological features, including Dukes' stages (OR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17–0.89), UICC stages (OR 0.42 95% CI: 0.3–0.59), depth of invasion (OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51–0.99), lymphnode status (OR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32–0.73) and metastasis (OR 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11–0.81). While overexpression of HIF-2α was only associated with grade of differentiation (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.29–0.81). Conclusions This study showed that both HIF-1α and HIF-2α overexpression were associated with an unfavorable prognosis. HIF-1α overexpression seemed to be associated with worse prognosis in Asian countries. Additionally, HIF-1α and HIF-2α indicated distinct clinicopathologic features.
An Analysis on Education for Children with Disabilities: A Qualitative Study on Head- Teachers, Teachers and Conductor-Teachers Perception towards Inclusion in Hungary

The purpose of this study is to gain some insights into the challenges faced by the academic workforce in special/segregated and inclusive schools in Hungary and to investigate their perceptionsregarding the barriers to inclusion.This paper has also examined in-depththe literature review on the barriers to successful implementation of inclusive education in any society. Fourteensemi-structured interviews (in English and Hungarian languages) were carried out in five schools in Budapest city, Hungary and the sample compromised of head-teachers, teachers and conductor-teachers. Two teachers with disabilities also participated in this study. The main results show, (a) the professional barriers faced by teachers at schools, and, (b) thedifferent barriers to successful inclusive education. This study also provides an overview on gender occupation imbalances within teaching profession. The importance of “people first language” in context to people with disabilities is discussed. Acknowledging the limitations, the literature on successful implementation of inclusive education is more focused on Western European countries andqualitative research on teachers’ perception towards children with disabilities in Hungary is limited.This study concluded with recommendations for future studies.  Index Term—Children with disabilities, inclusive education, segregated schools, teachers
The DEEP Groth Strip Survey XII: The Metallicity of Field Galaxies at 0.26

Using spectroscopic data from the Deep Extragalactic Evolutionary Probe (DEEP) Groth Strip survey (DGSS), we analyze the gas-phase oxygen abundances for 56 emission-line field galaxies in the redshift range 0.26<z<0.82. Oxygen abundances relative to hydrogen range between 8.4<12+log(O/H)<9.0 with typical uncertainties of 0.17 dex. The 56 DGSS galaxies collectively exhibit a correlation between B-band luminosity and metallicity, i.e., an L-Z relation. Subsets of DGSS galaxies binned by redshift also exhibit L-Z correlations but with different zero points. Galaxies in the highest redshift bin (z=0.6-0.82) are brighter by ~1 mag compared to the lowest redshift bin (z=0.26-0.40) and brighter by ~1-2 mag compared to local (z<0.1) field galaxies. This offset from the local L-Z relation is greatest for objects at the low-luminosity (M_B ~ -19) end of the sample, and vanishingly small for objects at the high-luminosity end of the sample (M_B ~ -22). Thus, both the slope and zero point of the L-Z relation appear to evolve. Either the least-luminous DGSS field galaxies have faded by 1--2 mag due to decreasing levels of star formation, or they have experienced an increase in the mean metallicity of the interstellar medium by factors of 1.3--2 (0.1-0.3 dex). The relatively greater degree of luminosity and metallicity evolution seen among the lower luminosity (sub L*) galaxies in the last 8 Gyr implies either a more protracted assembly process, or a more recent formation epoch compared to more luminous L* galaxies. (abridged)
The effects of a deleterious mutation load on patterns of influenza A/H3N2's antigenic evolution in humans

Recent phylogenetic analyses indicate that RNA virus populations carry a significant deleterious mutation load. This mutation load has the potential to shape patterns of adaptive evolution via genetic linkage to beneficial mutations. Here, we examine the effect of deleterious mutations on patterns of influenza A subtype H3N2's antigenic evolution in humans. By first analyzing simple models of influenza that incorporate a mutation load, we show that deleterious mutations, as expected, act to slow the virus's rate of antigenic evolution, while making it more punctuated in nature. These models further predict three distinct molecular pathways by which antigenic cluster transitions occur, and we find phylogenetic patterns consistent with each of these pathways in influenza virus sequences. Simulations of a more complex phylodynamic model further indicate that antigenic mutations act in concert with deleterious mutations to reproduce influenza's spindly hemagglutinin phylogeny, co-circulation of antigenic variants, and high annual attack rates. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.07361. 001