Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research into health, population and social transitions in rural South Africa: Data and methods of the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System1

Rationale for study: Vital registration is generally lacking in infrastructurally weak areas where health and development problems are most pressing. Health and demographic surveillance is a response to the lack of a valid information base that can provide high-quality longitudinal data on population dynamics, health, and social change to inform policy and practice. Design and measurement procedures: Continuous demographic monitoring of an entire geographically defined population involves a multi-round, prospective community study, with annual recording of all vital events (births, deaths, migrations). Status observations and special modules add value to particular research areas. A verbal autopsy is conducted on every death to determine its probable cause. A geographic surveillance system supports spatial analyses, and strengthens field management. Population and sample size considerations: Health and demographic surveillance covers the Agincourt sub-district population, sited in rural north-eastern South Africa, of some 70,000 people (nearly a third are Mozambican immigrants) in 21 villages and 11,700 households. Data enumerated are consistent or more detailed when compared with national sources; strategies to improve incomplete data, such as counts of perinatal deaths, have been introduced with positive effect. Basic characteristics: A major health and demographic transition was documented over a 12-year period with marked changes in population structure, escalating mortality, declining fertility, and high levels of temporary migration increasing particularly amongst women. A dual burden of infectious and non-communicable disease exists against a background of dramatically progressing HIV/AIDS. Potential and research questions: Health and demographic surveillance sites — fundamental to the INDEPTH Network — generate research questions and hypotheses from empirical data, highlight health, social and population priorities, provide cost-effective support for diverse study designs, and track population change and the impact of interventions over time.
Packing 2-dimensional bins in harmony

We consider 2-Dimensional (Finite) Bin Packing (2BP), which is one of the most important generalizations of the well-known Bin Packing (BP) and calls for orthogonally packing a given set of rectangles (that cannot be rotated) into the minimum number of unit size squares. There are many open questions concerning the approximability of 2BP, whereas the situation for the 2-stage case, in which the items must first be packed into shelves that are then packed into bins, is essentially settled. For this reason, we study the asymptotic worst-case ratio between the optimal solution values of the 2-stage and general 2BP, showing that it is equal to T/sub /spl infin//=1.691. , the well-known worst-case ratio of the Harmonic algorithm for BP. This ratio is achieved by packing the items into shelves by decreasing heights as in the Harmonic algorithm and then optimally packing the resulting shelves into bins. This immediately yields polynomial time approximation algorithms for 2BP whose asymptotic worst-case ratio is arbitrarily close to T/sub /spl infin//, i.e. substantially smaller than 2+/spl epsi/, that was the best ratio achievable so far and constituted the first (recent) improvement over the 2.125 ratio shown in the early 80s. In particular, we manage to push the approximability threshold below 2, which is often a critical value in approximation. The main idea in our analysis is to use the fact that the fractional and integer BP solutions have almost the same value, which is implicit in the approximation schemes for the problem, as a stand-alone structural result. This implies the existence of modified heights for the shelves whose sum yields approximately the number of bins needed to pack them. With this in mind, our proof can easily be adapted to different cases. For instance, we can derive new upper bounds on the worst-case ratio of several shelf heuristics for 2BP, among which a bound of (17/10)(11/9)=2.077. (rather than 2.125) on the 20-years-lasting champion mentioned above. Moreover, we can easily derive the asymptotic worst-case ratio between the 2-stage and general 2BP solution values as a function of the maximum width of the rectangles, showing that this ratio is independent of the maximum height. Finally, under a conjecture that appears to be supported by experimental evidence, we show that our main heuristic has an asymptotic worst-case ratio in the interval (1.490,1.507) when all the rectangles to be packed are squares. This would improve the current best worst-case ratio of 14/9=1.555. for this special case.
Beyond “Gotcha!”: Situating Plagiarism in Policy and Pedagogy

Plagiarism is difficult, if not impossible, to define. In this paper, I argue for a context sensitive understanding of plagiarism by analyzing a set of written institutional policies and suggesting ways that they might be revised. In closing, I offer examples of classroom practices to help teach a concept of plagiarism as situated in context.
Strategic Patenting Decision and Barrier to Entry

In this paper we investigate whether a patent can be a strategic barrier to entry. Indeed, patent protection restricts entry rather than preventing it. A potential entrant can enter a market if his product does not infringe on the current patent: he must respect a legal novelty requirement. We consider a model of process innovation in which the demand can be either low or high. We show that when the information concerning the demand is symmetric, high demand will always attract a potential entrant, even though he must respect the novelty requirement. As the patentholder cannot deter entry, she can just save the renewal cost if she does not renew her patent. However, for low demand, the renewal of the patent is sufficient to deter entry. Nevertheless, if the patentholder has more information concerning the demand size than her potential competitor, we show that she will want to pretend that the demand is low to signal a low profitability of entry. Thus, the renewal decision will be strategic to deter entry and the patent can be a strategic barrier to entry.
Hemoglobin Transforms Anti-Inflammatory Salmonella typhi Virulence Polysaccharide into a TLR-2 Agonist

Vi capsular polysaccharide is a major virulence determinant of the human typhoid- causing pathogen Salmonella typhi; it is absent in nontyphoidal Salmonella serovars. We show in this study that through its specific interaction with the membrane recognition complex containing the prohibitin family of molecules, Vi can inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines from mononuclear phagocytes stimulated with Salmonella flagellin. Remarkably, Vi lost this anti-inflammatory capability and switched to a proinflammatory state when cell stimulations were performed in the presence of serum. The serum-transformed proinflammatory form of Vi induced secretion of cytokines from monocytes by specifically engaging TLR-2/TLR-1. The molecule responsible for bringing about this conversion of Vi from an anti-inflammatory to a proinflammatory form was serum-derived hemoglobin. Derivatives of Vi incapable of interacting with hemoglobin did not switch to a proinflammatory state in vitro or in vivo. These findings provide compelling evidence for a role of hemoglobin in transforming the anti-inflammatory S. typhi virulence polysaccharide into an immune activator.
Cytogenetics and molecular genetics of childhood leukemia

Childhood leukemia is the commonest form of childhood cancer and represents clonal proliferation of transformed hemopoietic cells as a result of genetic changes. Molecular characterization of these changes, in particular chromosomal translocations, has yielded a wealth of information on the mechanisms of leukemogenesis. These findings have also allowed the development of sensitive assays for the identification of underlying molecular defects, which is applicable to disease diagnosis and to monitor response to treatment. Genetic alterations in childhood leukemia are powerful prognostic indicators. TEL‐AML1 fusion and hyperdiploidy >50 chromosomes are associated with a good prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, whereas BCR‐ABL fusion and MLL rearrangements are associated with a poor prognosis. Hence cytogenetic and molecular genetic classification of childhood leukemia will significantly improve the ability of clinicians to predict therapeutic response and prognosis, which paves the way for risk stratification based on clinical and genetic features. Finally, deciphering of genetic lesions in leukemia has allowed elucidation of the molecular basis of current treatment, as typified by the success of all‐trans retinoic treatment in acute promyelocytic leukemia, and has identified targets for novel therapeutic approaches. It is envisaged that efforts in characterization of molecular defects in childhood leukemia will ultimately be translated into better clinical outcome for patients. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is a fatty pancreas a banal lesion?

Abstract So far, a fatty pancreas has been related to obesity and the ageing processes in the body. The current list of pathogenetic factors of the condition is clearly extended with genetically conditioned diseases (cystic fibrosis, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome and Johanson-Blizzard syndrome), pancreatitis, especially hereditary and obstructive, metabolic and hormonal disorders (hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperinsulinemia and hypercortisolemia), alcohol overuse, taking some medicines (especially adrenal cortex hormones), disease of the liver and visceral adiposis. As regards lipomatosis of that organ resulting mainly from dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia, the term “nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease” was introduced. Experimental studies on animals and histological preparations of the pancreatic fragments show that the lipotoxicity of the collected adipocytes collected ion the organ release a cascade of proinflammatory phenomena, and even induces the processes of carcinogenesis. Pancreas adiposis is best defined in Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. However, a series of works proved the usefulness in the diagnostics of that pathology of transabdominal and endoscopic ultrasonography. In that method, the degree of adiposis was based on the comparison of echogenicity of the pancreas and the liver, renal parenchyma, spleen and/or retroperitoneal adipose. Recently, the evaluation was expanded by the evaluation of the degree of pancreatic adipose with the pancreas-to-liver index, utilizing to that end a special computer program. According to our experience, the simplest solution is the method utilized by us. On one crosssection of the body of the pancreas, its echogenicity is assessed in comparison to retroperitoneal adipose and the visibility of the splenic vein, pancreatic duct and the major retroperitoneal vessels. Depending on the visualization of these structures, it is possible to determine the degree of pancreas adiposis. Such a study applies to 250 people, in whom the adiposis was detected in 16.5%, which is close to other cohort US examinations results.
Method Comparison for Enhanced Recovery, Isolation and Qualitative Detection of C. jejuni and C. coli from Wastewater Effluent Samples

Seeking a sensitive protocol, culture-dependent methods were compared to detect thermophilic Campylobacter species in untreated urban effluents. We evaluated various combinations of selective media, with and without an enrichment steps, as well as an extra filtration step. Culture-independent real-time quantitative PCR was also included and all detected isolates underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All tested water samples contained Campylobacter DNA, but only 64% were positive after culture. Although enrichment using Preston broth resulted in better recovery of potentially stressed Campylobacter than Bolton or Campyfood broth (CFB), there was no significant increase in efficiency compared to direct plating. The type of selective agar media used, on the other hand, had a significant effect, with CASA plates performing better than mCCDA or CFA ones. Inclusion of an enrichment step increased the ratio of C. coli vs. C. jejuni being isolated. Resistances against all antimicrobials tested were observed in C. coli, but fewer instances of resistance were found in C. jejuni isolates. Whether this difference was the result of selection during the enrichment step could not be determined. The presence of Campylobacter in urban effluents can be considered as a valuable proxy for Campylobacter populations present in urban environments.
Effect of Lamin A/C Knockdown on Osteoblast Differentiation and Function

Recent studies have associated mutations in lamin A/C, a component of the nuclear lamina, with premature aging and severe bone loss. In this study, we hypothesized that reduced expression of lamin A/C has a negative impact on osteoblastogenesis and bone formation in vitro. We inhibited lamin A/C using increasing doses of lamin A/C siRNA in normal human osteoblasts and differentiating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Untreated cells and cells treated with vehicle but without the siRNA‐oligo were used as control. The level of effectiveness of siRNA was determined by RT‐PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. Nuclear blebbing, a typical finding of lamin A/C inhibition, was quantified using propidium iodine staining, and its effect on cell survival was determined using MTS‐formazan. Furthermore, alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase staining were correlated with osteocalcin secretion and levels of expression of osteocalcin, osterix, bone sialoprotein, and Runx2. Finally, the nuclear binding activity of Runx2, an essential transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation, was assessed using ELISA and EMSA. A successful inhibitory effect on the lamin A/C gene at doses of 400–800 nM oligo was obtained without affecting cell survival. Whereas osteoblast function was significantly affected by lamin A/C inhibition, siRNA‐treated MSC showed a higher incidence of nuclear changes, lower osteoblast differentiation, and enhanced adipocyte differentiation. Finally, lamin A/C knockdown reduced Runx2 nuclear binding activity without affecting Runx2 expression. In summary, our results indicate that lamin A/C is a new factor needed for osteoblast differentiation that plays an important role in the cellular mechanisms of age‐related bone loss.
Hepatocyte growth factor and c-Met in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: overexpression of proteins associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus and human immunodeficiency virus.

PURPOSE High prevalence of squamous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) linked to oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) exits in HIV-infected women. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, c-Met, promote cell proliferation and are involved in tumor progression. Nothing is yet known about their expression in low- and high-grade CIN. Therefore, the expression, localization, and behavior of HGF and c-Met in normal and dysplastic cervical epithelium were investigated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We studied normal cervical mucosa from 10 healthy women, and low- and high-grade cervical lesions, uninfected (condyloma acuminata) or infected with oncogenic HPVs, from 40 HIV-negative and 48 HIV-positive women, using in situ molecular techniques, immunocytochemistry and morphoquantitative methods. RESULTS In 154 oncogenic HPV-infected CIN encountered in biopsy samples, the total number of epithelial cell layers increased significantly during lesion progression. This number was significantly higher in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative women for CIN1 and CIN2 (P < 0.025 to P < 0.01). In HIV-negative women, the number and percentage of HGF and c-Met immunostained cell layers, and the intensity of immunostaining were enhanced in oncogenic HPV-infected lesions as compared with normal mucosa and condyloma acuminata. The latter parameters were significantly higher in tissues of HIV-positive women (oncogenic HPV-infected CIN1 and CIN2, normal-appearing mucosa contiguous to CIN, condyloma acuminata) than in the corresponding tissues of HIV-negative women (P < 0.025 to P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of HGF/c-Met complex strongly correlates with oncogenic HPV and HIV infection. This overexpressed complex may stimulate cell proliferation in condyloma acuminata and participate in tumor progression in oncogenic HPV-infected lesions.
Trait rejection sensitivity is associated with vigilance and defensive response rather than detection of social rejection cues

Prior studies suggest that psychological difficulties arise from higher trait Rejection Sensitivity (RS)—heightened vigilance and differential detection of social rejection cues and defensive response to. On the other hand, from an evolutionary perspective, rapid and efficient detection of social rejection cues can be considered beneficial. We conducted a survey and an electrophysiological experiment to reconcile this seeming contradiction. We compared the effects of RS and Rejection Detection Capability (RDC) on perceived interpersonal experiences (Study 1) and on neurocognitive processes in response to cues of social rejection (disgusted faces; Study 2). We found that RS and RDC were not significantly related, although RS was positively related to perceived social rejection experiences and RDC was positively related to perceived social inclusion experiences. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) revealed that higher RS was related to cognitive avoidance (i.e., P1) and heightened motivated attention (i.e., late positive potential: LPP), but not to facial expression encoding (i.e., N170) toward disgusted faces. On the other hand, higher RDC was related to heightened N170 amplitude, but not to P1 and LPP amplitudes. These findings imply that sensitivity to rejection is apparently distinct from the ability to detect social rejection cues and instead reflects intense vigilance and defensive response to those cues. We discussed an alternative explanation of the relationship between RS and RDC from a signal detection perspective.
Granzyme A in Human Platelets Regulates the Synthesis of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Monocytes in Aging

Dysregulated inflammation is implicated in the pathobiology of aging, yet platelet–leukocyte interactions and downstream cytokine synthesis in aging remains poorly understood. Platelets and monocytes were isolated from healthy younger (age <45, n = 37) and older (age ≥65, n = 30) adults and incubated together under autologous and nonautologous conditions. Synthesis of inflammatory cytokines by monocytes, alone or in the presence of platelets, was examined. Next-generation RNA-sequencing allowed for unbiased profiling of the platelet transcriptome in aging. Basal IL-8 and MCP-1 synthesis by monocytes alone did not differ between older and younger adults. However, in the presence of autologous platelets, monocytes from older adults synthesized greater IL-8 (41 ± 5 versus 9 ± 2 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) and MCP-1 (867 ± 150 versus 216 ± 36 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) than younger adults. Platelets from older adults were sufficient for upregulating the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines by monocytes. Using RNA-sequencing of platelets followed by validation via RT-PCR and immunoblot, we discovered that granzyme A (GrmA), a serine protease not previously identified in human platelets, increases with aging (∼9-fold versus younger adults, p < 0.05) and governs increased IL-8 and MCP-1 synthesis through TLR4 and caspase-1. Inhibiting GrmA reduced excessive IL-8 and MCP-1 synthesis in aging to levels similar to younger adults. In summary, human aging is associated with changes in the platelet transcriptome and proteome. GrmA is present and bioactive in human platelets, is higher in older adults, and controls the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines by monocytes. Alterations in the platelet molecular signature and signaling to monocytes may contribute to dysregulated inflammatory syndromes in older adults.
Serial QuantiFERON TB-2G testing over a four-year period in healthcare workers at a city hospital.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance and practicality of QuantiFERON TB-2G (QFT-2G) testing for screening healthcare workers (HCWs) at a city hospital in Japan without a tuberculosis (TB)-specific ward. METHODS We performed a chart review of 951 HCWs (251 men and 700 women) who underwent QFT-2G testing as a part of their pre-employment or annual employee screening between April 2007 and March 2010. RESULTS The initial QFT-2G test was interpreted as positive in 28 (2.9%) HCWs, negative in 884 HCWs (92.9%) and indeterminate in 39 HCWs (4.1%). During the four-year study period, 37 HCWs were diagnosed as being positive at least once. Nine (0.98%) of the 923 HCWs with indeterminate or negative results on the initial testing converted to a positive status, including 6/479 (1.25%) nurses, 2/100 (2.0%) office staff members and 1/147 (0.68%) physicians. No HCWs with a positive result had a history of tuberculosis (TB) or any apparent contact with active TB patients and did not opt for treatment of latent TB. Seven (25%) of the 28 HCWs who were determined to be positive on the initial testing reverted to an indeterminate or negative status. CONCLUSION In a series of annual serial QFT-2G tests, some HCWs exhibited conversion and/or reversion. Therefore, caution is required when interpreting mild fluctuations in interferon-γ responses.
Does the Husband Matter? Married Women and Employment in Italy

In this paper I analyse how a wife's participation and outcomes in the labour market (LM) are influenced by her husband's parallel career. According to New Home Economics, both husband and wife join in making decisions about their participation and effort in paid work, evaluating the comparative advantage they have in paid and unpaid domestic work. This theory implies that a husband's career has a negative effect on his wife's participation and outcomes in the LM. Different conclusions can be drawn by interpreting the husband's occupational resources as social capital at his wife's disposal. Being married to a husband who has a high position in the LM might have positive results for the wife's employment, in terms of disposable information, direct transmission of human and cultural capital, and personal influence in the job-matching process. I assess the plausibility of the hypotheses drawn from the economic and sociological theories by means of dynamic analysis. I use work histories collected in 1996 for a national representative sample of Italian married women. The results show that the husband's resources have a negative effect on the wife's participation in the LM, while they have a positive effect on her occupational attainment. These results suggest that the economic and sociological theories can be integrated in order to account for different aspects of the mechanism determining married women's careers in the LM