Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
If One Doesn’t Get You Another One Will

Research on prisoner reentry has largely neglected the perspective of formerly incarcerated persons concerning the stigma and discrimination they face in society. The purpose of this study is to address this gap by examining whether formerly incarcerated persons perceive themselves to be discriminated against due to their membership in 10 disadvantaged groups, and if these perceptions are related to self-esteem. The findings indicate the vast majority of men and women feel discriminated against for one reason, with most indicating multiple reasons. Moreover, the findings provide support for past research indicating that perceptions of discrimination are negatively related to self-esteem.
Professional Competence of Teachers: Effects on Instructional Quality and Student Development

This study investigates teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge, professional beliefs, work-related motivation, and self-regulation as aspects of their professional competence. Specifically, it examines how these aspects impact instruction and, in turn, student outcomes. In a nationally representative sample of 194 German secondary school mathematics classes, multiple measures were used to assess teacher competence, instructional quality, and students’ achievement and motivation. The effect of teachers’ professional competence on student outcomes was estimated in a 1-year repeated-measures design. Two-level structural equation models revealed positive effects of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge, enthusiasm for teaching, and self-regulatory skills on instructional quality, which in turn affected student outcomes. In contrast, teachers’ general academic ability did not affect their instruction. The multidimensional model of teachers’ professional competence introduced in this article seems suited to stimulate further research on the personal indicators of teacher quality.
Is there an epidemic of HIV/AIDS among heterosexuals in the USA?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, reports HIV infections and AIDS cases in the United States biannually. Trends in the distribution of HIV/AIDS cases according to sex, race or ethnic group, and various categories of exposure to HIV were analysed. The groups in which there were the greatest percentage increases over time were the group with heterosexual contact and the group for whom the risk factors were not reported or identified. The CDC should be encouraged to provide additional information regarding sexual and drug-using behaviours of those patients listed as “undetermined”.
Preoperative selective portal vein embolization before hepatectomy for liver metastases: long-term results and impact on survival.

BACKGROUND Some patients cannot undergo curative surgical procedures for liver metastases because of the risk of severe postoperative hepatic failure, which stems from a too-small future remaining liver (FRL). Preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) is an effective means of creating hypertrophy of the FRL, thus permitting safe hepatic resection. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the long-term results of this technique. METHODS Sixty-eight patients underwent PVE. Of those, 60 (88%) subsequently underwent hepatic resection. Indication for PVE was an estimated FRL ratio (assessed by volumetric computed tomography) of less than 30%. However, if the patient had undergone multiple courses of chemotherapy, the threshold was 40%. The origin of the primary neoplasm was colorectal in 41 patients (68%); in the remaining 19 (32%), the primary neoplasms originated at other sites. RESULTS Mean growth of the estimated FRL measured by computed tomography 1 month after PVE was 13%. Major complications after hepatectomy occurred in 27% of the patients, and the operative mortality rate was 3%. For the 60 patients who underwent PVE followed by hepatic resection, the 5-year overall survival rate and the disease-free survival rate were 34% and 24%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate and the disease-free survival rate of patients with colorectal metastases only were 37% and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The long-term survival rate after PVE followed by resection is comparable with the survival rate obtained after resection without preoperative PVE. The 5-year survival rate of patients undergoing PVE followed by hepatectomy justifies the use of this technique. This technique thus increases the suitability of resection as a treatment choice for patients with liver metastases. PVE should number among the therapeutic options available to every hepatic surgeon.
Pharmacotherapy of panic disorder in the elderly: a naturalistic 12-month follow-up outcome study

Background: Despite the previously accepted notion that panic disorder (PD) is rare in the elderly, recent data have shown that late-life PD may be more common than previously thought. Paroxetine is a selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitor which has had clear efficacy in the treatment of PD in the general adult population. In this study we aimed to examine the treatment outcome of paroxetine pharmacotherapy for late-life PD. Method: In this long-term naturalistic follow-up study, a group of 61 elderly (aged 59 years or older) PD patients were compared with a group of 95 younger (aged between 18 and 59 years) PD patients in terms of treatment response to paroxetine pharmacotherapy. The two groups were followed during both the initial short-term treatment phase (first 3 months) and throughout long-term (month 4–12) maintenance treatment. The two groups were also compared for side effects of paroxetine therapy. Results: No differences were found between the two patient groups in terms of response rate, si.
Extrahepatic biliary atresia with cartilaginous metaplasia in the gallbladder remnants

Extrahepatic biliary atresia (EBA) is a chronic inflammatory process leading to fibrous obliteration of the biliary tree. Cartilaginous metaplasia within the remaining walls of the biliary main ducts in EBA has been reported once, although as cartilage heterotopia. A similar finding is presented here, but in the gallbladder of an infant with the full-blown manifestations of EBA; it is proposed that the alteration results from metaplasia of local connective tissue. Also of note is the complete disappearance of smooth muscle cells in the walls of the biliary tree in EBA, a fact which seems to be missing in the description of the pathology in these cases.
Quantum noise in second generation, signal recycled laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors

It has long been thought that the sensitivity of laser interferometric gravitational-wave detectors is limited by the free-mass standard quantum limit, unless radical redesigns of the interferometers or modifications of their input or output optics are introduced. Within a fully quantum-mechanical approach we show that in a second-generation interferometer composed of arm cavities and a signal recycling cavity, e.g., the LIGO-II configuration, (i) quantum shot noise and quantum radiation-pressure-fluctuation noise are dynamically correlated, (ii) the noise curve exhibits two resonant dips, (iii) the standard quantum limit can be beaten by a factor of 2, over a frequency range Δf/f∼1, but at the price of increasing noise at lower frequencies.
Shifting the Blame: On Delegation and Responsibility

To fully understand the motives for delegating a decision right, it is important to study responsibility attributions for outcomes of delegated decisions. We conducted an experiment in which subjects were able to delegate the choice between a fair or unfair allocation, and used a punishment option to elicit responsibility attributions. Our results show that, first, responsibility attribution can be effectively shifted and, second, this constitutes a powerful motive for the delegation of a decision right. Furthermore, we propose a formal measure of responsibility and show that this measure outperforms measures based on outcome or intention in predicting punishment behavior.
Mutations in E2-PePHD, NS5A-PKRBD, NS5A-ISDR, and NS5A-V3 of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 and Their Relationships to Pegylated Interferon-Ribavirin Treatment Responses

ABSTRACT Mutations in several subgenomic regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been implicated in influencing the response to interferon (IFN) therapy. Sequences within HCV NS5A (PKR binding domain [PKRBD], IFN sensitivity-determining region [ISDR], and variable region 3 [V3]) were analyzed for the pretreatment serum samples of 60 HCV genotype 1-infected patients treated with pegylated IFN plus ribavirin (1b, n = 47; 1a, n = 13) but with different treatment outcomes, those with sustained virologic responses (SVR; n = 36) or nonresponders (NR; n = 24). Additionally, the sequence of the PKR/eIF-2α phosphorylation homology domain (E2-PePHD) region was determined for 23 patients (11 SVR and 12 NR). The presence of >4 mutations in the PKRBD region was associated with SVR (P = 0.001) and early virologic responses (EVR; 12 weeks) (P = 0.037) but not rapid virologic responses (4 weeks). In the ISDR, the difference was almost statistically significant (68% of SVR patients with mutations versus 45% without mutations; P = 0.07). The V3 region had a very high genetic variability, but this was not related to SVR. Finally, the E2-PePHD (n = 23) region was well conserved. The presence of >4 mutations in the PKRBD region (odds ratio [OR] = 9.9; P = 0.006) and an age of ≤40 years (OR = 3.2; P = 0.056) were selected in a multivariate analysis as predictive factors of SVR. NS5A sequences from serum samples taken after 1 month of treatment and posttreatment were examined for 3 SVR and 15 NR patients to select treatment-resistant viral subpopulations, and it was found that in the V3 and flanking regions, the mutations increased significantly in posttreatment sera (P = 0.05). The genetic variability in the PKRBD (>4 mutations) is a predictive factor of SVR and EVR in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with pegylated IFN and ribavirin.
Reactive oxygen intermediates contribute to necrotic and apoptotic neuronal injury in an infant rat model of bacterial meningitis due to group B streptococci.

Reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) contribute to neuronal injury in cerebral ischemia and trauma. In this study we explored the role of ROI in bacterial meningitis. Meningitis caused by group B streptococci in infant rats led to two distinct forms of neuronal injury, areas of necrosis in the cortex and neuronal loss in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, the latter showing evidence for apoptosis. Staining of brain sections with diaminobenzidine after perfusion with manganese buffer and measurement of lipid peroxidation products in brain homogenates both provided evidence that meningitis led to the generation of ROI. Treatment with the radical scavenger alpha-phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) (100 mg/kg q8h i.p.) beginning at the time of infection completely abolished ROI detection and the increase in lipidperoxidation. Cerebral cortical perfusion was reduced in animals with meningitis to 37.5+/-21.0% of uninfected controls (P < 0.05), and PBN restored cortical perfusion to 72.0+/-8.1% of controls (P < 0.05 vs meningitis). PBN also completely prevented neuronal injury in the cortex and hippocampus, when started at the time of infection (P < 0.02), and significantly reduced both forms of injury, when started 18 h after infection together with antibiotics (P < 0.004 for cortex and P < 0.001 for hippocampus). These data indicate that the generation of ROI is a major contributor to cerebral ischemia and necrotic and apoptotic neuronal injury in this model of neonatal meningitis.
The Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid Induce Mouse Dendritic Cells Maturation but Reduce T-Cell Responses In Vitro

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might regulate T-cell activation and lineage commitment. Here, we measured the effects of omega-3 (n-3), n-6 and n-9 fatty acids on the interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and naïve T cells. Spleen DCs from BALB/c mice were cultured in vitro with ovalbumin (OVA) with 50 μM fatty acids; α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid or oleic acid and thereafter OVA-specific DO11.10 T cells were added to the cultures. Fatty acids were taken up by the DCs, as shown by gas chromatography analysis. After culture with arachidonic acid or DHA CD11c+ CD11b+ and CD11c+ CD11bneg DCs expressed more CD40, CD80, CD83, CD86 and PDL-1, while IAd remained unchanged. However, fewer T cells co-cultured with these DCs proliferated (CellTrace Violetlow) and expressed CD69 or CD25, while more were necrotic (7AAD+). We noted an increased proportion of T cells with a regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype, i.e., when gating on CD4+ FoxP3+ CTLA-4+, CD4+ FoxP3+ Helios+ or CD4+ FoxP3+ PD-1+, in co-cultures with arachidonic acid- or DHA-primed DCs relative to control cultures. The proportion of putative Tregs was inversely correlated to T-cell proliferation, indicating a suppressive function of these cells. With arachidonic acid DCs produced higher levels of prostaglandin E2 while T cells produced lower amounts of IL-10 and IFNγ. In conclusion arachidonic acid and DHA induced up-regulation of activation markers on DCs. However arachidonic acid- and DHA-primed DCs reduced T-cell proliferation and increased the proportion of T cells expressing FoxP3, indicating that these fatty acids can promote induction of regulatory T cells.
Forensic Process as a Service (FPaaS) for Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the technology that enables individuals and businesses to utilize computing services (e.g. online file storage, social networking sites, webmail)and a shared pool of resources (e.g. data storage space, networks, user applications) from anywhere over the Internet. Cloud computing has become popular as a cost-effective and convenient computing paradigm. However, cloud computing architecture is at its infancy stage and lacks support for security and forensic investigations. Due to the distributed and virtual nature of cloud, malicious activities can be carried out very easily and are very difficult to subsequently investigate. Cloud forensic investigators currently face challenges as they lack forensic tools and techniques in context of cloud. This highlights the need to develop the new research area of digital forensics in the cloud computing model. This paper presents a cloud forensic process that consists of (i) Identification, (ii) Collection/Acquisition and preservation, (iii) Examination/Processing and analysis, and (iv) Results dissemination phases. In addition, this paper develops the proposed forensic process as a service (FPaaS) using cloud-based Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) that combines the four phases/services into a new composite service called FPaaS.
Early-Onset Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Adults Randomized Clinical Trial: Comparison of 8 versus 15 Days of Antibiotic Treatment

Purpose The optimal treatment duration for ventilator-associated pneumonia is based on one study dealing with late-onset of the condition. Shortening the length of antibiotic treatment remains a major prevention factor for the emergence of multiresistant bacteria. Objective To demonstrate that 2 different antibiotic treatment durations (8 versus 15 days) are equivalent in terms of clinical cure for early-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia. Methods Randomized, prospective, open, multicenter trial carried out from 1998 to 2002. Measurements The primary endpoint was the clinical cure rate at day 21. The mortality rate was evaluated on days 21 and 90. Results 225 patients were included in 13 centers. 191 (84.9%) patients were cured: 92 out of 109 (84.4%) in the 15 day cohort and 99 out of 116 (85.3%) in the 8 day cohort (difference = 0.9%, odds ratio = 0.929). 95% two-sided confidence intervals for difference and odds ratio were [−8.4% to 10.3%] and [0.448 to 1.928] respectively. Taking into account the limits of equivalence (10% for difference and 2.25 for odds ratio), the objective of demonstrative equivalence between the 2 treatment durations was fulfilled. Although the rate of secondary infection was greater in the 8 day than the 15 day cohort, the number of days of antibiotic treatment remained lower in the 8 day cohort. There was no difference in mortality rate between the 2 groups on days 21 and 90. Conclusion Our results suggest that an 8-day course of antibiotic therapy is safe for early-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia in intubated patients. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01559753
System-Level Analysis of Closed-Loop Power Control in the Uplink of DS-CDMA Cellular Networks

A system-level model for power control in the uplink of direct-sequence code-division multiple access (DS-CDMA) cellular networks is presented. The model takes into account the effects of the closed loop, namely average transmit power rise, power headroom, and variable soft hand-off gains, which are not considered in existing power control models. The power control problem is analyzed in this setting, and a number of properties are derived which generalize results from the classical model without closed-loop effects. Based on this analysis, an algorithm is given that determines required transmit powers taking into account these effects. This algorithm is a generalization of classical iterative algorithms without closed-loop effects. Finally, simulation results are presented to assess the validity of the approach
We Acquire Vocabulary and Spelling by Reading: Additional Evidence for the Input Hypothesis

attention to vocabulary and spelling. ' First, there are practical reasons. A large vocabulary is, of course, essential for mastery of a language. Second language acquirers know this; they carry dictionaries with them, not grammar books, and regularly report that lack of vocabulary is a major problem. Spelling, especially for treacherous languages such as English, is also a problem. Our standards in spelling are 100%; a single spelling error in public can mean humiliation. On the theoretical level, the study of the acquisition of vocabulary and spelling ability can help us understand language acquisition in general. In my view, the most promising hypothesis is that vocabulary and spelling are acquired in fundamentally the same way the rest of language is acquired. If this supposition is true, these areas can be useful laboratories for the
Fuzzy logic control of knee extension for FES-assisted walking with spring brake orthosis

This paper presents a simulation of bipedal locomotion to control the stimulation pulses of functional electrical stimulation (FES) for activating muscles for paraplegic walking with spring brake orthosis (SBO). The work is a first effort towards restoring natural like swing phase in paraplegic gait through a new hybrid orthosis, referred to as spring brake orthosis (SBO). This mechanism simplifies the control task and results in smooth motion and more-natural like trajectory produced by the flexion reflex for gait in spinal cord injured subjects. The study is carried out with a model of humanoid with wheel walker using the Visual Nastran (Vn4D) dynamic simulation software. Stimulated muscle model of quadriceps is developed for knee extension. Fuzzy logic control (FLC) is developed in Matlab/Simulink to regulate the muscle stimulation pulse-width required to drive FES-assisted walking gait and the computed motion is visualised in graphic animation from Vn4D. The results show that SBO can reduce torque and stimulation pulses required for FES-assisted paraplegic walking with wheel walker and FLC is found to be appropriate controller for the leg extension.
Sport events and ethnic reconciliation: Attempting to create social change between Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim sportspeople in war-torn Sri Lanka

Reconciliation is about bringing disparate communities together and creating the communication necessary to reduce intergroup barriers, generate understanding, and connect with others to achieve a peaceful togetherness. This article investigates the role of sport events in contributing to reconciliation and inclusive social change between disparate communities in ethnically divided Sri Lanka. Following an interpretive mode of enquiry, findings suggest that if strategically designed, sport events allow the establishment of interpersonal friendships and the creation of inclusive social identities along national lines, organizational lines, common interests and imagined factors. Events can create ‘momenta of togetherness’ for members of disparate ethnic groups and as such may contribute to positive social change and a sense of imagiNation. While sport events provide a starting point, booster and catalyst for positive social change and development on a community level, they need to be integrated into a larger agenda of socio-political support to make a significant contribution to reconciliation and peace in divided societies.
Transcription factor NF‐E2‐related factor 1 impairs glucose metabolism in mice

Nrf1 (NF‐E2‐related factor 1) is a basic region leucine zipper‐type transcription factor belonging to the CNC (cap‐'n'‐collar) family. Major pathophysiological contribution of Nrf1 remains unclear. As single nucleotide polymorphism rs3764400 in 5′‐flanking region of NRF1 gene appears to associate with obesity, in this study, we focused on the Nrf1 function on metabolism. We found that the risk C allele of rs3764400 increased NRF1 gene transcriptional activity compared with the T allele in hepatoma cell lines. Therefore, we newly established Nrf1 transgenic (Nrf1‐Tg) mouse lines and examined roles that Nrf1 plays on the obesity and metabolism. Unexpectedly, Nrf1 over‐expression repressed bodyweight gain in both lean and diet‐induced obesity mice. Of note, Nrf1‐Tg mice showed rise in blood glucose levels; Nrf1 strongly reduced glucose infusion rate in euglycemic–hyperinsulinemic clamp test and increased blood glucose levels in insulin tolerance test, indicating that Nrf1 induces insulin resistance in mice. Nrf1 repressed insulin‐regulated glycolysis‐related gene expression and gave rise to loss of glucose‐6‐phosphate and fructose‐6‐phosphate contents in liver. Consistently, Nrf1 heterozygote improved impaired glucose regulations in diet‐induced obesity model. These results showed that Nrf1 contributes to metabolic regulation, which gain‐of‐function develops diabetes mellitus in mice.
A nested double pseudoknot is required for self-cleavage activity of both the genomic and antigenomic hepatitis delta virus ribozymes.

The crystal structure of a genomic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme 3' cleavage product predicts the existence of a 2 bp duplex, P1.1, that had not been previously identified in the HDV ribozymes. P1.1 consists of two canonical C-G base pairs stacked beneath the G.U wobble pair at the cleavage site and would appear to pull together critical structural elements of the ribozyme. P1.1 is the second stem of a second pseudoknot in the ribozyme, making the overall fold of the ribozyme a nested double pseudoknot. Sequence comparison suggests the potential for P1.1 and a similar fold in the antigenomic ribozyme. In this study, the base pairing requirements of P1.1 for cleavage activity were tested in both the genomic and antigenomic HDV ribozymes by mutagenesis. In both sequences, cleavage activity was severely reduced when mismatches were introduced into P1.1, but restored when alternative base pairing combinations were incorporated. Thus, P1.1 is an essential structural element required for cleavage of both the genomic and antigenomic HDV ribozymes and the model for the antigenomic ribozyme secondary structure should also be modified to include P1.1.