Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure to Violence and Victimization and Depression, Hopelessness, and Purpose in Life Among Adolescents Living in and Around Public Housing

This study examines the relationships between exposure to violence and depression, hopelessness, and purpose in life among black adolescents living in or around public housing developments. Black adolescents (N= 225, males = 44%) ages 11 to 19 years in a southern city were administered an anonymous questionnaire. Depression was correlated with the exposure to violence (r= .28), family conflict (r= .29), and corporal punishment (r= .32) scales, perceived probability of being alive at age 25 years (r = -.14), socioeconomic status of head of household (r = .14), anticipated socioeconomic status as an adult (r = .21), and number of sexual partners (r = .22). Based on multiple regression analysis, corporal punishment, family conflict, educational level of head of household, and perceived probability of being alive at age 25 years explained 18% (p ≤ .0001) of the variation in depression. Family conflict, corporal punishment, and unemployed head of household explained 11% of the variation in the hopelessness scale. Unemployed head of household, the corporal punishment scale, and number of sexual partners explained 9.7% of the variation in purpose in life. Even when accounting for other social factors, exposure to violence in the home was associated with psychological distress in this sample of adolescents.
Constipation incidence and impact in medical critical care patients: importance of the definition criterion

Background Constipation incidence and impact remain controversial in the ICU. This may depend on the definition criterion used in the previous studies on the field. We aimed to determine the frequency and significance of constipation according to its definition criterion. Methods This is a prospective observational study. Adult patients without a cause of transit time modification and laxative intake within the first 3 days were screened. Constipation was defined by a first stool passage occurring after 3 days of ICU stay. Thereafter, we identified two subgroups of patients: absence of stool passage more than 3 days but less than 6 days (3-day subgroup), and no stool passage for 6 days or more (6-day subgroup). Survival, length of stay and time spent under mechanical ventilation (MV) were compared according to constipation status. Results Among 189 included patients [age 60.8 (49.5–74.2) years, SAPS II 44 (34–53)], 98 (51.9%) exhibited constipation (3-day subgroup n=53, 6-day subgroup n=45). Constipated patients were more likely to receive MV, sedation, vasopressors, enteral nutrition and neuromuscular blocking agents. ICU length of stay and time spent under MV was longer in the 6-day subgroup but not in the 3-day subgroup of patients. Conclusion With regard to outcomes, defining constipation by the absence of stool passage less than 6 days after ICU admission does not identify a specific subset of population. Further studies on the management of this condition should focus on these ‘long-term’ constipated patients.
Multilocus Fragment Typing and Genetic Structure of Cryptosporidium parvum Isolates from Diarrheic Preweaned Calves in Spain

ABSTRACT A collection of 140 Cryptosporidium parvum isolates previously analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequence analyses of the small-subunit (SSU) rRNA and 60-kDa glycoprotein (GP60) genes was further characterized by multilocus fragment typing of six minisatellite (MSB and MS5) and microsatellite (ML1, ML2, TP14, and 5B12) loci. Isolates were collected from diarrheic preweaned calves originating from 61 dairy cattle farms in northern Spain. A capillary electrophoresis-based tool combining three different fluorescent tags was used to analyze all six satellites in one capillary. Fragment sizes were adjusted after comparison with sizes obtained by sequence analysis of a selection of isolates for every allele. Size discrepancies at all but the 5B12 locus were found for those isolates that were typed by both techniques, although identical size differences were reported for every allele within each locus. A total of eight alleles were seen at the ML2 marker, which contributed the most to the discriminatory power of the multilocus approach. Multilocus fragment typing clearly improved the discriminatory power of GP60 sequencing, since a total of 59 multilocus subtypes were identified based on the combination of alleles at the six satellite loci, in contrast to the 7 GP60 subtypes previously reported. The majority of farms (38) displayed a unique multilocus subtype, and individual isolates with mixed multilocus subtypes were seen at 22 farms. Bayesian structure analysis based on combined data for both satellite and GP60 loci suggested the presence of two major clusters among the C. parvum isolates from cattle farms in this geographical area.
Peroxynitrite Inhibits Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel Activity in Smooth Muscle of Human Coronary Arterioles

Abstract— We examined the hypothesis that ONOO−, a product of the interaction between superoxide (O2·−) and nitric oxide (NO), inhibits calcium-activated K+ (KCa) channel activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of human coronary arterioles (HCAs), thereby reducing hyperpolarization-mediated vasodilation. HCAs were dissected from right atrial appendages. The interaction of ONOO− with microvessels was determined by immunohistochemistry using a nitrotyrosine antibody. Strong staining was observed in arteries exposed to authentic ONOO− or to sodium nitroprusside (SNP)+xanthine (XA)+xanthine oxidase (XO). Dilation to 10−8 mol/L bradykinin (BK) was abolished in vessels exposed to ONOO− (−2.5±8%;P <0.05) but not DC-ONOO− (65±8%). Reduced dilation to BK was also observed after application of XO and SNP. Dilation to NS1619 (KCa channel opener) was reduced in endothelial denuded arterioles treated with ONOO−. In isolated VSMCs, whole-cell peak K+ current density was reduced by ONOO− (control 65±15 pA/pF; ONOO− 42±9 pA/pF;P <0.05). Iberiotoxin had no further effect on whole-cell K+ current. In inside-out patches, ONOO− but not DC-ONOO− decreased open state probability (NPo) of KCa channel by 50±12%. O2·− generated by XA+XO had no effect on BK-induced dilation and NPo of KCa channels. These results suggest that ONOO−, but not O2·−, inhibits KCa channel activity in VSMCs possibly by a direct effect. This mechanism may contribute to impaired EDHF-mediated dilation in conditions such as ischemia/reperfusion where increased activity of NO synthase occurs in the presence of excess of O2·−.
Supplementation of Natural Antioxidants to Reduced Crude Protein Diets for Japanese Quails Exposed to Heat Stress

The study aimed at comparing the effects of the supplementation of natural antioxidant sources to a reduced crude protein diet on the performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, liver antioxidant enzyme activities and meat lipid peroxidation of Japanese quails exposed to heat stress. A total of 640 14-day-old male Japanese quails were exposed to two different temperature treatments (TT): thermoneutral (TN) or heat stress (HS)and were fed five different dietary treatments (DTs). A normal-protein diet (SCP) was formulated according to the National Research Council (24% CP). The reduced crude protein diet (RCP) was formulated to contain 3% less protein than that of the SCP diet. Three additional diets were prepared by supplementing the RCP with200 mg/kg of α-tocopherol acetate (RCP+TA200), pomegranate peel extract (RCP+PPE200) or apple peel extract (RCP+APE200). HS significantly deteriorated the growth performance of quails throughout the experiment. Quails fed the SCP and RCP+PPE200 presented higher hematocrit values. Feeding the RCP+TA200 and RCP+PPE200 diets reduced the blood heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio compared with the other diets. Quails fed the SCP, RCP+TA200, RCP+PPE200 and RCP+APE200 diets presented higher liver catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, plasma uric acid level, and lower meat malondialdehyde value at 7days of age compared with those fed the RCP diet. In conclusion, the results show that the extracts of pomegranate peel and apple peel can be used as alternative natural antioxidant sources to vitamin E in the diets of Japanese quails exposed to heat stress and fed a reduced crude protein diet.
The Epigenetics of Colorectal Cancer

Aberrant DNA methylation patterns are a universal feature of cancer, yet we understand relatively little of the cause and consequence of DNA methylation in the cancer process. Colorectal cancer (CRC) morbidity and mortality is a massive burden on the New Zealand, and worldwide, health care system. CRC represents an exciting model for the study of DNA methylation in cancer owing to the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) subtype, which has a high degree of cancer-specific DNA methylation. This PhD is comprised of three chapters investigating: a) aberrant DNA methylation in CRC b) the mechanisms underlying the observed methylation patterns and c) the potential clinical utility of cancer-specific DNA methylation. In the first chapter, genome-wide DNA methylation is characterised using the high-density Illumina 450K HumanMethylation beadchip. Three distinct methylation subtypes (CIMP-High, CIMP-Low and CIMP-Negative) were identified within the tumours analysed. Hypermethylation was detected at over 2,000 CpG islands across the cohort, however many of these CpG islands were hypermethylated in only a fraction of cases. In contrast to this, a set of over 250 CpG islands were hypermethylated in more than 90% of CIMP-H tumours. This was likened to the model of ‘mountains’ (the small number of highly consistent events) and ‘hills’ (the large number of events which occur at a very low frequency), which has previously been used to describe driver and passenger mutation frequencies in cancer. The consistently hypermethylated CpG islands are linked to biologically relevant genes which play important roles in cellular differentiation and cell fate decisions. During this PhD, another group demonstrated a mechanistic link between activating BRAF and KRAS mutations and the CIMP-High and CIMP-Low phenotypes. Prompted by this discovery, I investigated the activity of the RAS/RAF pathway in the 20-30% of CIMP-H tumours which lack characteristic BRAF/KRAS mutations. I show that activation of the RAS/RAF pathway occurs even in BRAF/KRAS wildtype tumours, and propose a model in which DNA methylation is critical to the progression of CIMP tumours. Finally, I investigate the capacity for aberrant DNA methylation marks to
Comparative analysis of perennial and annual Phaseolus seed nutrient concentrations

Malnutrition is a global public health concern and identifying mechanisms to elevate the nutrient output of crops may minimize nutrient deficiencies. Perennial grains within an agroforestry context offers one solution. The development and integration of perennial crops for food has critically influenced dialogue on the ecological intensification of agriculture and agroforestry. However, the nutrient compositions of wild, perennial, herbaceous species, such as those related to the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) are not well known. In this study, seed amino acid and ion concentrations of perennial and annual Phaseolus species were quantified using ionomics and mass spectrometry. No statistical difference was observed for Zn, toxic ions (e.g. As) or essential amino acid concentrations (except threonine) between perennial and annual Phaseolus species. However, differences were observed for some nutritionally important ions among and within lifespan groups. Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, and P concentrations were higher in annual species. Intraspecific variability in ion concentrations and amino acids was observed within species; further, ion concentrations and amino acids differ among annual species and among perennial species. Ion and amino acid concentration appear to be largely independent of each other. These results suggest variability in ion and amino acid concentrations exist in nature. As new crop candidates are considered for ecological services, nutritional quality should be optimized to maximize nutrient output of sustainable food crops.
Self-Reported Symptoms of ADHD Among College Students in China and the United States

Objective: The present study examined ADHD symptoms among college students in China and the United States. Method: A total of 283 (45%) American and 343 (55%) Chinese students completed the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the Current Symptoms Scale (CSS), in addition to other measures. Results: Both of the ADHD measures appear to be reliable and valid, with good internal consistency, similar factor structures, and predicted relationships with other variables, such as depression and self-esteem. However, differences exist between the cultures in gender and overall reported symptom severity. Conclusion: ADHD symptomatology is present among college students in China in a pattern similar to that found in American college students. The WURS and the CSS appear to be effective screening measures for the disorder in China, although further research on gender and cultural differences is necessary. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 11(5) 558-567)
Human immunodeficiency virus-associated polymyositis: a longitudinal study of outcome.

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical course and optimum treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated myositis. METHODS Sixty-four patients attending a county outpatient HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome facility were referred for the presence of elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels or muscle weakness. Patients underwent neurologic and rheumatologic evaluation, electromyography, and muscle biopsy after exclusion for recreational drug or alcohol use, metabolic/endocrine disorders, zidovudine therapy, and other infections. RESULTS Thirteen patients (20%) had biopsy-proven myositis. The median duration of HIV infection prior to diagnosis of myositis was 4.3 years (range 0-11 years). Six patients had concomitant diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome. There was no correlation of severity of weakness, stage of HIV infection, or retroviral treatment with the CK level at diagnosis. Eight patients received prednisone (60 mg/day) with 5 attaining complete resolution of myositis. The remaining 3 patients received immunosuppressive therapy (azathioprine or methotrexate and intravenous immunoglobulin) and had normalization of strength and CK. Four patients had spontaneous resolution of their myositis without treatment. CONCLUSION HIV-associated myositis occurs at any stage of HIV infection, has a relatively good prognosis, responds well to immunosuppressive therapy, and has little evidence of adverse outcome on the HIV infection.
Are Attitude Towards Capital Punishment and Right-Wing Authoritarianism Related to Capital and Non-Capital Sentencing?

Having completed measures of attitude towards capital punishment and of right-wing authoritarianism, 807 undergraduates read a murder scenario and made judgments about offender punishment. People were more likely to recommend the death penalty if they had a positive rather than a negative attitude towards capital punishment, if they were higher than lower on right-wing authoritarianism, and if they were male rather than female. Men also chose a more severe method of execution. Importantly, people with a positive attitude towards capital punishment recommended longer prison sentences than those with a negative attitude. Practically, this implies that attitude towards capital punishment can be an extralegal factor that biases prison sentences. Theoretically, the results show that attitudes have a stronger relationship to behavior to which they are more closely related, but they do not support the contention that attitude towards capital punishment is based on right-wing authoritarianism.
How Convolutional Neural Networks Diagnose Plant Disease

Deep learning with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has achieved great success in the classification of various plant diseases. However, a limited number of studies have elucidated the process of inference, leaving it as an untouchable black box. Revealing the CNN to extract the learned feature as an interpretable form not only ensures its reliability but also enables the validation of the model authenticity and the training dataset by human intervention. In this study, a variety of neuron-wise and layer-wise visualization methods were applied using a CNN, trained with a publicly available plant disease image dataset. We showed that neural networks can capture the colors and textures of lesions specific to respective diseases upon diagnosis, which resembles human decision-making. While several visualization methods were used as they are, others had to be optimized to target a specific layer that fully captures the features to generate consequential outputs. Moreover, by interpreting the generated attention maps, we identified several layers that were not contributing to inference and removed such layers inside the network, decreasing the number of parameters by 75% without affecting the classification accuracy. The results provide an impetus for the CNN black box users in the field of plant science to better understand the diagnosis process and lead to further efficient use of deep learning for plant disease diagnosis.
The effects of male age on sperm DNA damage in healthy non-smokers.

BACKGROUND The trend for men to have children at older age raises concerns that advancing age may increase the production of genetically defective sperm, increasing the risks of transmitting germ-line mutations. METHODS We investigated the associations between male age and sperm DNA damage and the influence of several lifestyle factors in a healthy non-clinical group of 80 non-smokers (mean age: 46.4 years, range: 22-80 years) with no known fertility problems using the sperm Comet analyses. RESULTS The average percentage of DNA that migrated out of the sperm nucleus under alkaline electrophoresis increased with age (0.18% per year, P = 0.006), but there was no age association for damage measured under neutral conditions (P = 0.7). Men who consumed >3 cups coffee per day had approximately 20% higher percentage tail DNA under neutral but not alkaline conditions compared with men who consumed no caffeine (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that (i) older men have increased sperm DNA damage associated with alkali-labile sites or single-strand DNA breaks and (ii) independent of age, men with substantial daily caffeine consumption have increased sperm DNA damage associated with double-strand DNA breaks. DNA damage in sperm can be converted to chromosomal aberrations and gene mutations after fertilization, increasing the risks of developmental defects and genetic diseases among offspring.
International Risk Cycles

Recent work in international finance suggests that the forward premium puzzle can be accounted for if (1) aggregate uncertainty is time-varying, and (2) countries have heterogeneous exposures to a world aggregate shock. We embed these features in a standard two-country real business cycle framework, and calibrate the model to match the differences between low and high interest rates countries. Unlike traditional real business cycle models, our model generates volatile exchange rates, a large currency forward premium, "excess comovement'' of asset prices relative to quantities, and an imperfect correlation between relative consumption growth and exchange rates. Our model implies, however, that high interest rate countries have smoother quantities, equity returns and interest rates than low interest rate countries, contrary to the data.
Spatial Decentralization and Program Evaluation: Theory and an Example from Indonesia

This paper proposes a novel instrumental variable method for program evaluation that only requires a single cross-section of data on the spatial intensity of programs and outcomes. The instruments are derived from a simple theoretical model of government decision-making in which governments are responsive to the attributes of places and their populations, rather than to the attributes of individuals, in making allocation decisions across space, and have a social welfare function that is spatially weakly separable, that is, that the budgeting process is multi-stage with respect to administrative districts and sub-districts. The spatial instrumental variables model is then estimated and tested by GMM with a single cross-section of Indonesian census data. The results offer support to the identification strategy proposed.
Immunohistochemical Expression of p16 and Ki-67 Correlates With Degree of Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) is a human papilloma virus related lesion. It has been shown that infection with high-risk human papilloma virus results in up-regulation of p16 and increased cellular proliferation. The objective of this study is to correlate p16 expression and cellular proliferation measured by Ki-67 staining with the degree of dysplasia in the anal canal and to determine the efficacy of these markers in diagnosing high-grade AIN. Seventy-five anal specimens from 55 patients (37 men; 18 women; mean age: 48 y; median: 44 y; range 25 to 96 y) were studied including 35 normal/reactive lesions, 23 low-grade AIN (AIN I and condyloma), and 17 high-grade AIN (AIN II and III). Immunostaining for p16 and Ki-67 was performed. Expression of p16 in AIN correlated with that of Ki-67 (P<0.001). High-grade AIN often demonstrated p16 staining in more than one-third of the thickness of the epithelium in a diffuse/continuous fashion. p16 expression in low-grade AIN was often restricted to the lower 1/3 of the epithelium and/or was focal and discontinuous. The expression of both p16 and Ki-67 correlated with the degree of dysplasia (P<0.01). When positive p16 staining was defined as the presence of diffuse/continuous staining in more than one-third of the thickness of epithelium, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of p16 as a marker for diagnosing high-grade AIN were 76%, 86%, and 84%, respectively. When positive Ki-67 staining was defined as the presence of nuclear staining in more than 25% of the cells in more than one-third of the thickness of epithelium, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Ki-67 as a marker for diagnosing high-grade AIN were 71%, 84%, and 83% respectively. Both p16 and Ki-67 are reliable markers for diagnosing high-grade AIN.
Body mass changes and nutrient intake of dinghy sailors while racing

Abstract Dinghy sailing is a physically challenging sport with competitors on water for several hours. Regulations and space in the boat limit the amount of food and fluid competitors can carry. Consequently, it is possible that the hydration and nutritional status of dinghy sailors may be compromised while racing. Despite this, the food and fluid intake of sailors while racing are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake of a group of club sailors while racing and compare this with current sports nutrition guidelines. Thirty-five sailors (9 females, 26 males) were monitored during a club regatta. Body mass changes were measured before and after racing, as were food and fluid intake. Results showed that most participants were in negative fluid balance after racing (males: mean −2.1%[95% confidence limits −1.7 to −2.5%]; females: −0.9%[0 to −1.8%]), most likely due to low voluntary fluid intake (males: 1215 ml [734 to 1695 ml]; females: 792 ml [468 to 1117 m]). Carbohydrate intake (males: 59 g [21 to 97 g]; females: 30 g [0 to 61 g]) was below recommendations for normal sports activity. Results revealed that the nutritional practices of club sailors do not comply with current sports nutrition guidelines. However, the performance implications of a compromise in nutrient intake remain to be investigated. Practical advice on methods of overcoming space limitations for the carriage of adequate fluid and food is offered.