Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroepidemiology of High-Risk HPV in HIV-Negative and HIV-Infected MSM: The H2M Study

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM), in particular HIV-infected MSM, are at increased risk for diseases related to human papilloma virus (HPV). Our goal was to assess the effect of HIV status on the presence of type-specific antibodies against seven high-risk HPV types in HPV-unvaccinated MSM. Moreover, we compared determinants of HPV seropositivity between HIV-negative and HIV-infected MSM. Methods: MSM ≥18 years of age were recruited from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies, a sexually transmitted infection clinic, and an HIV-treatment center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants completed a risk-factor questionnaire; serum samples were analyzed using a fluorescent bead-based multiplex assay. Results: MSM (n = 795) were recruited in 2010 to 2011; 758 MSM were included in this analysis. Median age was 40.1 years (interquartile range 34.8–47.5) and 308 MSM (40.6%) were HIV-infected. Seroprevalence of HPV-16 was 37.1% in HIV-negative and 62.7% in HIV-infected MSM (P < 0.001); seroprevalence of HPV-18 was 29.1% in HIV-negative MSM and 42.5% in HIV-infected MSM (P < 0.001). Similar patterns of seroprevalence were observed for HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. In multivariable analyses, HPV seropositivity was associated with HIV infection [adjusted OR = 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.6–2.6]. In multivariable analyses stratified by HIV status, increasing age and number of lifetime male sex partners were significantly associated with HPV seropositivity in HIV-negative, but not HIV-infected MSM. Conclusions: Seroprevalence of high-risk HPV types is high among unvaccinated MSM. Impact: HIV infection is a strong and independent determinant for HPV seropositivity, which we hypothesize is because of increased persistence of HPV infection in HIV-infected MSM. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(10); 1698–708. ©2013 AACR.
Expression of epithelial membrane protein‐2 is associated with endometrial adenocarcinoma of unfavorable outcome

Epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) is an estrus‐regulated tetraspan protein that is required for endometrial competence in blastocyst implantation. EMP2 controls surface levels of several classes of integrin and other cell‐interaction molecules, and their trafficking to glycolipid‐enriched lipid raft domains is important in receptor signaling. These features suggest that EMP2 may contribute to neoplastic traits of endometrial cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of EMP2 expression in endometrial neoplasms and its clinical significance.
SAR and optical time series for crop classification

In this study, we compare the classification performance of time series with single polarized SAR data, optical data and fused optical and SAR data through the Gram-Schmidt transform. Different machine learning algorithms for crop classification were applied. Specifically Gradient Boosting Trees (GBT) yielded good results as they are known to perform well with imbalanced feature labels and datasets with different probability density functions. Surprisingly, the speckle-filtered time series SAR data performed worst, whereas the fused dataset yielded the highest overall accuracy score. Results showed that post-processing of the SAR classification improves accuracy scores.
Nonlinear Minimum Variance Estimation for Discrete-Time Multi-Channel Systems

A nonlinear operator approach to estimation in discrete-time systems is described. It involves inferential estimation of a signal which enters a communications channel involving both nonlinearities and transport delays. The measurements are assumed to be corrupted by a colored noise signal which is correlated with the signal to be estimated. The system model may also include a communications channel involving either static or dynamic nonlinearities. The signal channel is represented in a very general nonlinear operator form. The algorithm is relatively simple to derive and to implement.
Nitrofurantoin compares favorably to recommended agents as empirical treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in a decision and cost analysis.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the costs of nitrofurantoin use compared to those of other antibiotics recommended for treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI). PATIENTS AND METHODS We used a decision analysis model to perform cost-minimization and sensitivity analyses to determine the level of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and fluoroquinolone resistance that would favor the use of nitrofurantoin as a first-line empirical treatment of uncomplicated UTIs. The model used a program perspective to evaluate costs. RESULTS Nitrofurantoin was cost-minimizing when the prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance exceeded 12% among uropathogens or the prevalence of TMP-SMX resistance exceeded 17%. On 2-way sensitivity analysis, variables that had a significant impact on our cost-minimization threshold included cost of antibiotics and probability of clinical cure with antibiotics. CONCLUSION From a payer perspective, nitrofurantoin appears to be a reasonable alternative to TMP-SMX and fluoroquinolones for empirical treatment of uncomplicated UTIs, especially given the current prevalence of antibiotic resistance among community uropathogens. On the basis of efficacy, cost, and low impact on promoting antimicrobial resistance, clinicians should consider nitrofurantoin as a reasonable alternative to TMP-SMX and fluoroquinolones for first-line therapy for uncomplicated UTIs.
Enzyme Immunoassays for Serological Diagnosis of Bovine Brucellosis: A Trial in Latin America

ABSTRACT The results of a field trial conducted in Latin America with two indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and two competitive ELISAs (CELISAs) for the detection of bovine antibody toBrucella abortus are reported. One of the CELISA formats performed most accurately. The percentage of positive reactions in the CELISA relative to the selected positive rose bengal agglutination test (RBT) and complement fixation test (CFT) results was 97.47%, the percentage of negatives relative to the selected negative RBT and CFT results for unexposed cattle was 98.32%, and the percentage of negatives in cattle vaccinated with B. abortus 19 was 96.51%. The same assay format under Canadian conditions had an actual sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 99.90% in nonvaccinates, and a specificity of 97.7% in a strain 19-vaccinated population. Overall, the CELISA performed as expected and the results were not dissimilar from the results obtained in the Canadian study. This provided further evidence that this CELISA can in many instances differentiate infected cattle from those that are vaccinated or infected with a cross-reacting organism while still giving very few false-positive or false-negative results.
Role of Modern Imaging Techniques for Diagnosis of Infection in the Era of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography

SUMMARY During the past several years, it has become quite evident that positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging can play a major role in the management of patients with suspected infection. Particularly, several groups have demonstrated that this powerful imaging methodology is very effective in the evaluation of osteomyelitis, infected prostheses, fever of unknown origin, and AIDS. In view of its extraordinary sensitivity in detecting disease activity and the ability to quantitate the degree of FDG uptake, PET might prove to be an appropriate modality for monitoring disease activity and evaluating response to therapy. FDG-PET has many advantages over existing imaging techniques for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. These include feasibility of securing diagnostic results within 1.5 to 2 h, excellent spatial resolution, and accurate anatomical localization of sites of abnormality. The availability of PET/computed tomography as a practical tool has further enhanced the role of metabolic imaging in many settings. In the future, this modality is very likely to be employed on a routine basis for detecting, characterizing, and monitoring patients with suspected and proven infection.
GCF IL-1beta profiles in periodontal disease.

OBJECTIVES Studies suggest a genetic influence on levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Levels of IL-1beta in GCF, however, are also dependent upon the clinical parameters at the site of collection, including probing depth (PD) and level of attachment (AL). To examine this issue, IL-1beta in GCF was evaluated from patients with varying degrees of periodontal disease. The influence of both the status of the patient and the probing depth at the sampled sites were considered in the analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS GCF IL-1beta was determined by ELISA at 6-8 molar sites from 29 non-smoking adults with mild, moderate, or severe periodontal disease at baseline, 2 weeks, and 24 weeks following scaling and root planing. For later analysis, patients were dichotomized on the basis of disease severity (mild/moderate vs severe). Sampled sites were classified at baseline by PD as, shallow (<4 mm), intermediate (4-6 mm), or deep (>6 mm). RESULTS PD and AL were each strongly correlated with IL-1beta levels at baseline. However, patients with severe disease had higher levels of IL-1beta in each PD category than those with mild/moderate disease. As compared to patients with mild/moderate disease, IL-1beta levels in shallow sites from patients with severe disease was elevated nearly 2 fold (p<0.001). IL-1beta levels were reduced in all groups at 2 weeks and were still significantly reduced in patients with mild/moderate disease at 24 weeks. At 24 weeks IL-1beta returned to near baseline levels in patients with severe disease. CONCLUSION While PD and AL are each associated with increased GCF IL-1beta, patients with severe disease show higher IL-1beta GCF levels in shallow sites, suggesting that high GCF IL-1beta expression is in part a host trait, and not strictly a function of clinical parameters.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Monitoring Network: A Five‐Year Experience of Household Poisonings in Two French Regions

Background. In France, the epidemiological situation of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is only partially known. The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiological situation of household poisonings in two French regions where a regional toxicovigilance network was active. Methods. During five years, we studied, by means of a standardized data collection form, cases of acute CO poisoning admitted to regional hospitals and notified by hospital physicians. Results. From 1997 to 2001, 1,458 people were involved in 489 places. Household poisonings represented the first circumstance of CO poisoning with 811 people involved in 293 places. So, analysis was performed only for household poisonings. The mean age was 33.3 years. Twenty patients died (2.6%), 16 patients were in coma (2.1%), and 111 patients had an initial isolated loss of consciousness (14.4%). Responsible appliances in household poisonings were identified in 84% of places. The appliances most often involved were vented heating systems (46.4%), mobile heaters (13.2%), and thermal motors (8.7%). In 63% of the 293 places, investigation showed that poisoning occurred because of a faulty installation. Vented gas heaters and mobile heaters were responsible for half of the severe household CO poisonings. Conclusion. In the countries of Rhoˆne-Alpes and Auvergne, most of household CO poisonings are no longer caused by waterheaters but by gas heating systems. Poisonings caused by mobile heaters more frequently led to coma and death and thermal motors played a large part in moderate poisonings. These recently emerging trends justify the efforts focused on ongoing monitoring and the introduction of preventive measures.
Using the Repertory Grid Test

The repertory grid test, originally devised by Kelly [1, 2, 3, 9], has found widespread use in marketing research in Great Britain [4, 5, 6, 12, 13], although there is no published evidence of its use by American marketing researchers. It has been used to obtain objectively attitude scale items, or constructs (Kelly's terminology) in the language of the consumer; it has sometimes replaced intensive individual interviews and group discussions. Very little appears to have been written, however, on respondent performance and the nature of items generated. In the test, stimuli in the form of cards depicting products or brands or actual packs, drawings, and the like are presented to respondents. The number of stimuli varies from a minimum of 8 to 10 to a maximum of about 30; 16 to 20 are optimum. An initial screening removes any stimuli unfamiliar to respondents. Stimuli are presented in groups of three, one triad at a time, according to a predetermined random order which ensures that identical triads are never repeated. The respondent is asked to state in which way two stimuli are alike and different from the third, and descriptions for likeness and difference are recorded on a specially designed grid sheet [9, 13]. For the second and subsequent triads the respondent is asked to mention another similarity/difference than the one already mentioned. The process is repeated until the respondent cannot provide any more new "items. " For example, in the triad Dacron, Orlon, and cotton, a response might be: "Dacron and Orlon are man-made fibres, cotton is produced by nature. " Slight variations from this standard approach are detailed in [13].
Application of on-wafer TRL calibration on the measurement of microwave properties of Ba/sub 0.5/Sr/sub 0.5/TiO/sub 3/ films

A series of Al/Ba/sub 0.5/Sr/sub 0.5/TiO/sub 3/ (BST) /sapphire multi-layered coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission lines of different geometries and thin-film configurations was fabricated. We employed an accurate on-wafer Through-Line-Reflect (TRL) calibration technique and quasi-TEM analysis to measure the dielectric constant, loss tangent, and tunability of BST thin films using this CPW structure. Experimental results show that the overall insertion loss is less than 3 dB/cm even at frequencies as high as 20 GHz, which is the lowest obtained to date for metal/BST CPW devices. This result indicates that, with optimized impedance matching, normal conductors are also possibly suitable for fabricating low-loss tunable phase-shifter devices.
Pattern analysis of total item score and item response of the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K6) in a nationally representative sample of US adults

BACKGROUND Several recent studies have shown that total scores on depressive symptom measures in a general population approximate an exponential pattern except for the lower end of the distribution. Furthermore, we confirmed that the exponential pattern is present for the individual item responses on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). To confirm the reproducibility of such findings, we investigated the total score distribution and item responses of the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K6) in a nationally representative study. METHODS Data were drawn from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), which comprises four subsamples: (1) a national random digit dialing (RDD) sample, (2) oversamples from five metropolitan areas, (3) siblings of individuals from the RDD sample, and (4) a national RDD sample of twin pairs. K6 items are scored using a 5-point scale: "none of the time," "a little of the time," "some of the time," "most of the time," and "all of the time. " The pattern of total score distribution and item responses were analyzed using graphical analysis and exponential regression model. RESULTS The total score distributions of the four subsamples exhibited an exponential pattern with similar rate parameters. The item responses of the K6 approximated a linear pattern from "a little of the time" to "all of the time" on log-normal scales, while "none of the time" response was not related to this exponential pattern. DISCUSSION The total score distribution and item responses of the K6 showed exponential patterns, consistent with other depressive symptom scales.
Leadership and identity in the Catholic school: an Australian perspective

This article explores the nature of leadership as expressed in literature and workshop commentary on the identity of the Catholic school within an Australian context. Employing a qualitative methodology, data from workshops designed around school mission were compared and integrated with data from texts of selected Post Conciliar documents on the Catholic school for the purpose of gaining insights on identity. Within the identified theme of ‘school’ in the two bodies of narrative, the dimension of leadership was explored in its practical nature. The discussion of findings identifies the diversity of leadership practice, its dynamic relationship with the ecclesial community of the school and the desirability of an integrative image to capture this diversity and relationship. The article concludes that leadership within the Catholic school can be imagined as a response to Baptism and as such be sacramental in nature as it manifests itself as sign and instrument of the life of Christ.
The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically

3. Bortz, Walter M. “Dare to Be 100: Peter Singer’s Mighty Voice. ” Huffington Post, June 2, 2015. I there a best way to live? In The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically1, moral philosopher Peter Singer announces there is a key to living the most fully ethical life, and it turns on a simple principle: do the most good you can. Known internationally for his 1972 essay, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality,” and for his foundational work in animal rights philosophy, Animal Liberation, Singer has seized upon his intellectual capital in this newest work to advocate for effective altruism, what he defines as “a philosophy and social movement which applies evidence and reason to working out the most effective ways to improve the world. ”2
Use of Secondary Data in Numerical Taxonomy of the Genus Erwinia

Lockhart, W. R. (Iowa State University, Ames), and Karen Koenig. Use of secondary data in numerical taxonomy of the genus Erwinia. J. Bacteriol. 90:1638–1644. 1965. —Numerical methods were used to study 34 bacterial cultures, including several species of Erwinia and selected representatives of other genera of the Enterobacteriaceae. Separate computations were made by use of varying amounts of secondary data (i.e., information regarding descriptive or quantitative characters applicable only to organisms yielding a positive result in another primary character). Substantially the same groupings of the test organisms were obtained in all computations, but definition of groups seemed to be more precise when secondary data were included. The results confirm proposals by other workers that E. carotovora, E. aroideae, E. atroseptica, and E. ananas be placed in a single species, separate from E. amylovora. Limited evidence suggests that E. nimipressuralis and E. chrysanthemi may be distinct species, and that some strains of E. amylovora are not very similar either to one another or to other members of the Enterobacteriaceae.
Measurement of Respiratory Chain Enzyme Activity in Human Renal Biopsy Specimens

Background: Mitochondrial disorders can present as kidney disease in children and be difficult to diagnose. Measurement of mitochondrial function in kidney tissue may help diagnosis. This study was to assess the feasibility of obtaining renal samples and analysing them for respiratory chain enzyme activity. Methods: The subjects were children undergoing a routine diagnostic renal biopsy, in whom a clinical condition of renal inflammation, scarring and primary metabolic disorder was unlikely. A fresh sample of kidney was snap frozen and later assayed for the activities of respiratory chain enzyme complexes I, II/III, and IV using spectrophotometric enzyme assay, and expressed as a ratio of citrate synthase activity. Results: The range of respiratory chain enzyme activity for complex I was 0.161 to 0.866 (mean 0.404, SD 0.2), for complex II/III was 0.021 to 0.318 (mean 0.177, SD 0.095) and for complex IV was 0.001 to 0.025 (mean 0.015, SD 0.006). There were correlations between the different activities but not between them and the age of the children or a measure of the amount of chronic damage in the kidneys. Conclusion: It is feasible to measure respiratory chain enzyme activity in routine renal biopsy specimens.
New directions in pharmacological treatment of acromegaly

Background/objectives: The aim of treatment for acromegaly is to control tumour growth, relieve symptoms and ensure biochemical cure. With specific, well-tolerated medication, long-time primary or preoperative treatment should be discussed. Methods: A PubMed search for literature (‘somatostatin’ and ‘pituitary’) was performed to explore different medical treatment options in today's clinics, which often use a combination of modalities. Clinical trial databases (ClinicalTrials.gov) were also searched for current clinical studies on acromegaly in order to reassess new directions in medical treatment. The cornerstone for medical treatment is somatostatin analogues (SAs). SAs control tumour growth and hormone hypersecretion in most patients. There seems, however, to be dissociation between the antisecretory and antiproliferative effects. New analogues with high affinity for other somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtypes are being investigated. Chimeric compounds, which bind the SSTR as well as the dopamine receptor, are new potential alternatives. Patients not controlled on SAs (or dopamine agonists, or a combination) will be evaluated for treatment with the highly effective growth hormone receptor antagonist, as monotherapy or in combination with SAs. Results/conclusion: With the variety of medications we have today and those expected to come into clinical use in coming years, acromegaly can be controlled in almost all patients. There has already been a drift towards medical treatment also as a primary option, and it is to be expected that this will continue. Treatment should be tailored for the individual case, also taking into account long-term effects, convenience for the patient and costs for society.
Comparing Stress Buffering and Main Effects Models of Social Support for Married and Widowed Older Women

Social support has been shown to lessen the negative effects of life stress on psychological and physical health. The stress buffering model and the main effects model of social support were compared using two samples of women over the age of 50 who were either married or recently widowed. These two groups represent low and high uncontrollable major life stress respectively. Other life stress events were also taken into account. Measures assessed current level of life stress, perceived social support, satisfaction with social support, and psychological symptomatology. Results using overall psychological health as the dependent variable support the main effects model.