Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Hepatitis B Prevalence among Children and Mothers: Results from a Nationwide, Population-Based Survey in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Background Hepatitis B is regarded as a serious public health issue in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), a Southeast Asian country. However, disease epidemiology among the general population is not well known, and thus a nationwide cross-sectional survey for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence in children and their mothers was conducted. Methods and findings We applied three-stage cluster sampling using probability proportionate to size. After randomly selecting child (5 to 9 years old) and mother (15 to 45 years old) pairs from the selected villages, questionnaires and HBsAg rapid tests were conducted. Data from 965 child and mother pairs were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the independent association of individual background characteristics for the odds of being HBsAg positive. In total, 17 children and 27 mothers were HBsAg positive. HBsAg prevalence was estimated to be 1.7% (95% confidence interval: 0.8%-2.6%) in children, and 2.9% (95% confidence interval: 1.7%–4.2%) in their mothers after taking sampling design and weight of each sample into account. Mother's infection status was positively associated with HBsAg positivity in children (p<0.001), whereas other potential risk factors, such as ethnicity, proximity to health centers, and history of surgery, were not. There were no significant associations between mother's HBsAg status and history of surgery, and other sociodemographic factors. Conclusions Despite the slow implementation of the hepatitis B vaccination program, HBsAg prevalence among children and their mothers was not high in Lao PDR compared to reports from neighboring countries. The reasons for the differences in prevalence among these countries are unclear. We recommend that prevalence surveys be conducted in populations born before and after the implementation of a hepatitis B vaccination program to better understand the epidemiology of hepatitis B.
A Single Subunit (GB2) Is Required for G-protein Activation by the Heterodimeric GABAB Receptor*

Although G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to assemble into functional homo or heteromers, the role of each protomer in G-protein activation is not known. Among the GPCRs, the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type B receptor (GABABR) is the only one known so far that needs two subunits, GB1 and GB2, to function. The GB1 subunit contains the GABA binding site but is unable to activate G-proteins alone. In contrast the GB2 subunit, which does not bind GABA, has an heptahelical domain able to activate G-proteins when assembled into homodimers (Galvez, T., Duthey, B., Kniazeff, J., Blahos, J., Rovelli, G., Bettler, B., Prézeau, L., and Pin, J.-P. (2001) EMBO J. 20, 2152–2159). In the present study, we have examined the role of each subunit within the GB1-GB2 heteromer, in G-protein coupling. To that end, point mutations in the highly conserved third intracellular loop known to prevent G-protein activation of the related Ca-sensing or metabotropic glutamate receptors were introduced into GB1 and GB2. One mutation, L686P introduced in GB2 prevents the formation of a functional receptor, even though the heteromer reaches the cell surface, and even though the mutated subunit still associates with GB1 and increases GABA affinity on GB1. This was observed either in HEK293 cells where the activation of the G-protein was assessed by measurement of inositol phosphate accumulation, or in cultured neurons where the inhibition of the Ca2+ channel current was measured. In contrast, the same mutation when introduced into GB1 does not modify the G-protein coupling properties of the heteromeric GABABreceptor either in HEK293 cells or in neurons. Accordingly, whereas in all GPCRs the same protein is responsible for both agonist binding and G-protein activation, these two functions are assumed by two distinct subunits in the GABAB heteromer: one subunit, GB1, binds the agonists whereas the other, GB2, activates the G-protein. This illustrates the importance of a single subunit for G-protein activation within a dimeric receptor.
Continuous Local Infiltration Analgesia for Pain Control After Total Knee Arthroplasty

AbstractA total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has always been associated with moderate to severe pain. As more research is conducted on the use of continuous local infiltration analgesia (CLIA) to manage pain after a TKA, it is necessary to reassess the efficacy and safety of the TKA method. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pain control of CLIA versus placebo after a TKA.In January 2015, a systematic computer-based search was conducted in the Medline, Embase, PubMed, CENTRAL (Cochrane Controlled Trials Register), Web of Science, Google database, and Chinese Wanfang databases. This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement criteria. The primary endpoint was the visual analog scale score after a TKA with rest or mobilization at 24, 48, and 72 hours, which represents the effect of pain control after TKA. The complications of infection, nausea, and whether it prolonged wound drainage were also compiled to assess the safety of CLIA. RevMan 5.30 software was used for the meta-analysis. After testing for publication bias and heterogeneity across studies, data were aggregated for random-effects modeling when necessary.Ten studies involving 735 patients met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that continuous infusion analgesia provided better pain control with rest at 24 hours (mean difference [MD] −12.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] −16.63 to 8.45), and with mobilization at 24 hours (MD −18.27, 95% CI −27.52 to 9.02) and 48 hours (MD −14.19, 95% CI −21.46 to 6.93). There was no significant difference with respect to the visual analog scale score at 48 hours (MD −6.15, 95% CI −13.51 to 1.22, P = 0.10) and 72 hours (MD −3.63, 95% CI −10.43 to 3.16, P = 0.29) with rest and at 72 hours with mobilization (MD −4.25, 95% CI −16.27 to 7.77, P = 0.49). However, CLIA increased the rate of infection (relative risk [RR] 3.16, 95% CI 1.18–8.50, P = 0.02) and the rate of nausea or vomiting (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.37–0.96, P = 0.03). There were no significant differences in the length of hospital stay (MD −0.34, 95% CI −1.09 to 0.42, P = 0.38), deep venous thrombosis (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.41, P = 0.99), or duration of surgery (MD 1.20, 95% CI −4.59 to 6.98, P = 0.69). On the basis of the current meta-analysis, CLIA was more efficacious for reducing postoperative pain than the placebo at 24 hours with rest and at 24 and 48 hours with mobilization, but it increased the risk of infection. However, CLIA did not prolong the length of hospital stay or the duration of surgery. There was also a higher heterogeneity of different analgesic drugs mixed and a high risk of selection bias in this analysis; therefore, more high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized CLIA are necessary for proper comparisons of this technique with other methods.
Comparative anatomical and neurohistological observations on the tongue of slow loris (Nycticebus coucang)

On the dorsum of the slow loris tongue there are three vallate papillae, arranged in an inverted V‐shape. They contain abundant plexiform nerves and isolated nerve cells but have many taste buds only in its sides, closely associated with the subgemmal nerve plexus. Some ducts of serous glands locating deeply in this region directly open on the upper surface passing through the papilla. No foliate papillae are observed in the posterolateral region of the tongue, but instead of them is found a papilla of fungiform type, which wholly contains abundant plexiform nerves and has a furrow without serous gland ducts and taste buds. Furthermore, its summit is at the same level as the surface and same as its base in diameter, and has embryonic taste buds. From these neurohistologic characteristics this papilla should be regarded as an interformed papilla between the foliate and the ordinary fungiform papillae. Tongue lyssa consisting of hyalin cartilage and striated muscles innervated with motor end plate and simple sensory nerves seems to play a role as receptive organ of the tongue. Underneath the tongue is found well‐developed sublingua, which consists of hyalin cartilaginous skeleton and mucosa but has no taste buds. From segmental arrangement of neurovascular spaces in the skeleton it may be an ancestral structure of the tongue.
Factors associated with ischemic stroke during aspirin therapy in atrial fibrillation: analysis of 2012 participants in the SPAF I-III clinical trials. The Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Investigators.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is a strong, independent risk factor for stroke, but the absolute rate of stroke varies widely among AF patients, importantly influencing the potential benefit of antithrombotic prophylaxis. We explore factors associated with ischemic stroke in AF patients taking aspirin. METHODS We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis of 2012 participants given aspirin alone or in combination with low, inefficacious doses of warfarin in the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation I-III trials followed for a mean of 2.0 years, during which 130 ischemic strokes were observed. RESULTS Age (relative risk [RR]=1.8 per decade, P<0.001), female sex (RR=1.6, P=0.01), history of hypertension (RR=2.0, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure >160 mm Hg (RR=2.3, P<0.001), and prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (RR=2.9, P<0.001) were independently associated with increased stroke risk. Regular consumption of >/=14 alcohol-containing drinks per week was associated with reduced stroke risk (adjusted RR=0.4, P=0.04). Among SPAF III participants, estrogen hormone replacement therapy was associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted RR=3.2, P=0.007). With the use of these variables, a risk stratification scheme for primary prevention separated participants into those with high (7.1%/y, 22% of the cohort), moderate (2.6%/y, 37% of the cohort), and low (0.9%/y, 41% of the cohort) rates of stroke. Ischemic strokes in low-risk participants were less often disabling (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with AF who have high and low rates of stroke during treatment with aspirin can be identified. However, validation of our risk stratification scheme is necessary before it can be applied with confidence to clinical management. Postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy and moderate alcohol consumption may additionally modify the risk of stroke in AF, but these findings require confirmation.
Openings in frog microvascular endothelium induced by high intravascular pressures.

1. We have investigated the effects of microvascular pressures, high enough to rupture the vessel wall, upon the ultrastructure and permeability of mesenteric capillaries in pithed frogs. 2. The vessels were perfused via micropipettes with Ringer solutions containing bovine serum albumin (1 mg ml‐1) and a few human red cells. After a perfused section of vessel had been closed downstream, pressure (applied via the micropipette) was raised in a series of steps of 10 mmHg, each lasting approximately 10 s, until the vessel ruptured. Fluid filtration through the vessel wall prior to rupture was estimated from the movements of the red cells. 3. Seven vessels were fixed in glutaraldehyde immediately after rupture and prepared for electron microscopy. The electron micrographs revealed openings in the vessel walls and thirty‐six of these gaps were completely defined in runs of serial sections made on four of the vessels. Twenty‐nine of these gaps passed through the endothelial cells (transcellular) and seven were intercellular. 4. The pressure at which a vessel ruptured, Pb, was measured in twenty‐nine vessels and had a mean +/‐ S.E. M. value of 79.6 +/‐ 5.0 cmH2O. In ten of these vessels, which had a mean +/‐ S.E. M. Pb of 84.2 +/‐ 6.5 cmH2O, microvascular pressure was lowered immediately after the initial rupture and the vessel perfused at a pressure of 20 cmH2O. Pb was then remeasured and found to be 69.9 +/‐ 8.4 cmH2O, which was not significantly different from its initial value. 5. Hydraulic permeability (Lp) was measured in six vessels over the range of 15‐30 cmH2O before and 10 min after the vessel wall ruptured at high pressure. Mean values were 5.5 x 10(‐7) and 4.0 x 10(‐7) cms‐1 cmH2O‐1 and were not significantly different. 6. At pressures equal to and 10 mmHg below Pb, small short‐lived increases in filtration rate were observed. It is suggested that these may correspond to the increased permeability to fluid and macromolecules observed at high microvascular pressures in intact capillary beds.
Spring-like leg behaviour, musculoskeletal mechanics and control in maximum and submaximum height human hopping

The purpose of this study was to understand how humans regulate their ‘leg stiffness’ in hopping, and to determine whether this regulation is intended to minimize energy expenditure. ‘Leg stiffness’ is the slope of the relationship between ground reaction force and displacement of the centre of mass (CM). Variations in leg stiffness were achieved in six subjects by having them hop at maximum and submaximum heights at a frequency of 1.7 Hz. Kinematics, ground reaction forces and electromyograms were measured. Leg stiffness decreased with hopping height, from 350 N m−1 kg−1 at 26 cm to 150 N m−1 kg−1 at 14 cm. Subjects reduced hopping height primarily by reducing the amplitude of muscle activation. Experimental results were reproduced with a model of the musculoskeletal system comprising four body segments and nine Hill-type muscles, with muscle stimulation STIM(t) as only input. Correspondence between simulated hops and experimental hops was poor when STIM(t) was optimized to minimize mechanical energy expenditure, but good when an objective function was used that penalized jerk of CM motion, suggesting that hopping subjects are not minimizing energy expenditure. Instead, we speculated, subjects are using a simple control strategy that results in smooth movements and a decrease in leg stiffness with hopping height.
The long‐term influence of repetitive cellular cardiac rejections on left ventricular longitudinal myocardial deformation in heart transplant recipients

The aim of the study was to evaluate the long‐term influence of repeated acute cellular rejections on left ventricular longitudinal deformation in heart transplantation (HTX) patients. One hundred and seventy‐eight HTX patients were included in the study. Rejections were classified according to the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) classification (0R–3R). Patients were divided into three groups according to rejection scores (RSs). Group 1: <50% of biopsies with 1R rejection and no ≥2R rejections; Group 2: ≥50% of biopsies with 1R rejection or one biopsy with ≥2R rejection; Group 3: ≥Two biopsies with ≥2R rejections. All patients had a comprehensive echocardiographic examination and coronary angiography. We found significantly decreasing global longitudinal strain (GLS) comparing to rejection groups (GLS group 1: −16.8 ± 2.4 (%); GLS group 2: −15.9 ± 3.3 (%); GLS group 3: −14.5 ± 2.9 (%), P = 0.0003). After excluding patients with LVEF < 50% or vasculopathy, GLS was still significantly reduced according to RS groups (P = 0.0096). Total number of 1R and 2R rejections correlated significant to GLS in a linear regression model. In contrast, we found fractional shortening and LVEF to be unaffected by repeated rejections. In conclusion, repeated cardiac rejections lead to impaired graft function as detected by decreasing magnitude of GLS. In contrast, traditional systolic graft function surveillance by LVEF did not correlate to rejection burden.
Yield and Efficiency of Mental Health Screening: A Comparison of Screening Protocols at Intake to Prison

Background The value of screening for mental illness has increasingly been questioned in low prevalence settings due to high false positive rates. However, since false positive rates are related to prevalence, screening may be more effective in higher prevalence settings, including correctional institutions. We compared the yield (i.e. newly detected cases) and efficiency (i.e. false positives) of five screening protocols to detect mental illness in prisons against the use of mental health history taking (the prior approach to detecting mental illness). Methods and Findings We estimated the accuracy of the six approaches to detect an Axis I disorder among a sample of 467 newly admitted male inmates (83.1% participation rate). Mental health history taking identified only 41.0% (95% CI 32.1, 50.6) of all inmates with mental illness. Screening protocols identified between 61.9 and 85.7% of all cases, but referred between 2 and 3 additional individuals who did not have a mental illness for every additional case detected compared to the mental health history taking approach. In low prevalence settings (i.e. 10% or less) the screening protocols would have had between 4.6 and 16.2 false positives per true positive. Conclusions While screening may not be practical in low prevalence settings, it may be beneficial in jails and prisons where the prevalence of mental illness is higher. Further consideration of the context in which screening is being implemented, and of the impacts of policies and clinical practices on the benefits and harms of screening is needed to determine the effectiveness of screening in these settings.
A 2-Vpp 80-200-MHz fourth-order continuous-time linear phase filter with automatic frequency tuning

A CMOS 80-200-MHz fourth-order continuous-time 0.05/spl deg/ equiripple linear phase filter with an automatic frequency tuning system is presented. An operational transconductance amplifier based on transistors operating in triode region is used and a circuit that combines common-mode feedback, common-mode feedforward, and adaptive bias is introduced. The chip was fabricated in a 0.35-/spl mu/m process; filter experimental results have shown a total harmonic distortion less than -44 dB for a 2-V/sub pp/ differential input with a single 2.3-V power supply. The group delay ripple is less than 4% for frequencies up to 1.5 f/sub c/. The frequency tuning error is below 5%.
Selection of reference genes for quantitative gene expression studies in the house fly (Musca domestica L.) using reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR.

Ming Zhong1, Xiang Wang1, Jifang Wen1*, Jifeng Cai2, Chang Wu1, and Sanaa Mohamed Aly2 Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China *Correspondence address. Tel: þ86-731-82650400; Fax: þ86-731-82650410; E-mail: jifangw@yahoo.com
Pro‐inflammatory chemokine–chemokine receptor interactions within the Ewing sarcoma microenvironment determine CD8+ T‐lymphocyte infiltration and affect tumour progression

Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive round cell sarcoma with poor patient prognosis, particularly in cases of advanced‐stage disease. Dynamic tumor‐host immune interations within the tumor microenvironment may polarize in situ immune responses and shape tumor development and/or progression. To gain insight into the nature of tumour–host immune interactions within the Ewing sarcoma microenvironment, the presence and spatial distribution of infiltrating CD8+/CD4+ T‐lymphocytes were evaluated in therapy‐naive Ewing sarcoma. Expression profiling of 40 different chemokines and several chemokine receptors was performed in therapy‐naive tumours and cell lines by qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Considerable inter‐tumour variation was observed regarding density, type, and distribution of infiltrating T‐lymphocytes. Tumour‐infiltrating T‐cells contained significantly higher percentages of CD8+ T‐lymphocytes as compared to stroma‐infiltrating cells, suggesting preferential migration of this T‐cell type into tumour areas. Gene expression levels of several type 1‐associated, pro‐inflammatory chemokines (CXCR3‐ and CCR5‐ligands CXCL9, CXCL10, and CCL5) correlated positively with infiltrating (CD8+) T‐lymphocyte numbers expressing corresponding chemokine receptors. Survival analyses demonstrated an impact of tumour‐infiltrating, and not stroma‐infiltrating, CD8+ T‐lymphocytes on tumour progression. At protein level, both tumour and stromal cells expressed the IFNγ‐inducible chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10. CCR5‐ligand CCL5 was exclusively expressed by non‐tumoural stromal/infiltrating cells. Together, our results indicate that an inflammatory immune microenvironment with high expression of type 1‐associated chemokines may be critical for the recruitment of (CD8+) T‐lymphocytes expressing corresponding chemokine receptors. The observed impact of tumour‐infiltrating (CD8+) T‐lymphocytes is consistent with a role for adaptive anti‐tumour immunity in the prevention of Ewing sarcoma progression. Recognition of the merits and exploitation/induction of an inflammatory microenvironment may improve the efficacy of natural immune responses against, and (adoptive) immunotherapeutic approaches for, Ewing sarcoma. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Examining Relationships among Faculty-Student Interactions, Academic Self-Efficacy, Self-Regulation, and Academic Achievement of Undergraduate Students

ii This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution-noderivs 3.0 unported license. iii DEDICATION I'd like to dedicate my thesis to my parents Paul and Brigitte Gnoleba. You all have supported me from the beginning. You have given me words of encouragement and prayers when I needed it the most. I am proud to tell you that the egg is fully boiled with no cracks! Thank you again and God Bless. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Words cannot express how thankful I am for the support that I have received throughout my educational career at George Mason University. I'd like to give a big thank you to the members of my thesis committee for their time and efforts throughout the process. Dr. your guidance and support was greatly appreciated. A special thank you to my committee chair, Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas. Thank you Dr. Kitsantas for always supporting my ideas and challenging me to produce quality work. You've always had high expectations and it has really helped me throughout the entire process. Thank you Dr. Suzanne Hiller for making my ideas into a research project. EDRS 590 was one of my favorite courses throughout my graduate school work. Erin Ramirez, thanks for being a great statistics professor. I received an A in your stats class because of your hard work and patience for all questions. Thank you Dr. Kimberly Holmes for working with me on retention research. Thank you Dr. Todd Rose for being a great advisor. I have learned so much from you and I will continue to grow as a student affairs professional. Thank you to the University of Mary Washington Psychology Department. Your continuous support is appreciated. Dr. Miriam Liss and Dr. Mindy Erchull, thank you for offering a great undergraduate research experience. My experience from our research team is what inspired me to write a thesis in graduate school. Dr. Liss, you have supported me since Psychology 100. As a student, you were always willing to teach me new concepts and you have encouraged me to strive for my dreams ever since. Our relationship is what inspired me to investigate the importance of quality faculty-student interaction. As an undergraduate student, my academic self-efficacy increased because of your support and I will ensure that I have quality interactions with students as a student affairs professional. Thank you to my parents and family for their support. Thank you to my partner …