Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Levels of self-reported depression and anxiety among HIV-positive patients in Albania: a cross-sectional study

Aim To gain an initial perspective of mental health issues facing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive population at the University Hospital Center of Tirana (UHCT) HIV/AIDS Ambulatory Clinic. Methods From June-August 2009, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 79 patients (93% response rate) at the UHCT HIV/AIDS Ambulatory Clinic. The interviews assessed patient-reported histories of mental health diagnoses, patients’ demographics, and current emotional health status. Results The percentage of patients who reported a history of diagnosis of depression or anxiety was high – 62.3% and 82.3%, respectively. Factors associated with a history of depression included having been diagnosed with anxiety (P < 0.001), having a higher number of barriers to care (P < 0.001), having a higher number of current medical and social needs (P < 0.001), or having not obtained antiretroviral therapy (ART) abroad (P = 0.004). Factors associated with a history of anxiety included having been on first-line ART (P = 0.008), having been diagnosed with HIV for shorter periods of time (P = 0.043), having been diagnosed with depression (P < 0.001), having a higher number of current medical and social needs (P = 0.035), or having not obtained ART abroad (P = 0.003). Conclusions Mental health problems are widespread among the known HIV-positive patient population in Albania. The high prevalences of anxiety and depression and of dual diagnoses of these conditions suggest the need for more mental health care for HIV-positive patients in Albania.
The Effects of Media Exposure on Body Satisfaction, Beliefs About Attractiveness, Mood and Bulimic Symptomatology Among College Women

The research of Stice et al. (1994) and Stice and Shaw (1994) proposed several mechanisms that may mediate the adverse effects of media exposure to the thin ideal including internalization of the thin-ideal, negative affect, and body dissatisfaction. The purpose of this study was to extend initial research of Stice and Shaw (1994) by incorporating two forms of media (e.g., TV and Magazines) to assess the effects of exposure to the media portrayal of ideal body shape on women's mood, body satisfaction, and internalization of societal values concerning attractiveness. The relation of these variables to bulimic symptomatology was examined. The current study improved upon Stice and Shaw's study (1994) by matching participants' scores on BMI, level of negative affect, and level of body satisfaction before random assignment to the experimental conditions. Female undergraduates aged 18 to 25 years participated in premeasure (N = 198) and post measure (N = 164) conditions. Results from repeated mulitvariate analysis indicated media exposure to ideal-body images demonstrated no significant changes in women's affect, body satisfaction or endorsement of the thin ideal. Indirect support for the sociocultural theory of eating disorders was provided by multiple regression analyses that demonstrated lower levels of satisfaction with size and shape of body and higher levels of negative affect predicted bulimic symptomatology in women. Future research should determine which females are at greater risk than others for the development of body dissatisfaction, negative mood, and internalization of U.S. values of attractiveness in response to media related messages communicating a thin ideal.
Protective Factors and Risk Factors in Preschool Aged Children

Do resiliency or protective factors moderate risk factors in preschool aged children? This study looks at pre- and post-treatment data from 49 preschool children whose average age was 4 years old. The treatment included prevention and early intervention programs that promote emotional well-being and the development of healthy interpersonal relationships in children, ages birth to eight, and their caregivers. The Devereux Early Childhood Assessment Scale (DECA) was used to measure protective factors as well as behavior concerns by parents and teachers. There was no significant interaction effect between the number of risk factors and the post-treatment protective factors scores. This result does not support prior
Non-autonomous conformal iterated function systems and Moran-set constructions

We study non-autonomous conformal iterated function systems, with finite or countably infinite alphabet alike. These differ from the usual (autonomous) iterated function systems in that the contractions applied at each step in time are allowed to vary. (In the case where all maps are affine similarities, the resulting system is also called a "Moran set construction".) We shall show that, given a suitable restriction on the growth of the number of contractions used at each step, the Hausdorff dimension of the limit set of such a system is determined by an equation known as Bowen's formula. We also give examples that show the optimality of our results. In addition, we prove Bowen's formula for a class of infinite-alphabet-systems and deal with Hausdorff and packing measures for finite systems, as well as continuity of topological pressure and Hausdorff dimension for both finite and infinite systems. In particular, we strengthen the existing continuity results for infinite autonomous systems. As a simple application of our results, we show that, for a transcendental meromorphic function, the Hausdorff dimension of the set of transitive points (i.e., those points whose orbits are dense in the Julia set) is bounded from below by the hyperbolic dimension (in the sense of Shishikura).
Co-Occurring Severe Mental Illnesses and Substance Abuse Disorders as Predictors of State Prison Inmate Assaults

Using hierarchical logistic regression with a nationally representative sample of state prisoners (n = 12,504), we found inmates with dual severe psychiatric and substance abuse disorders to be at higher risk of being assaulted and to assault others in prison than nonmentally ill inmates. Dually disordered inmates may be “importing” characteristics that put them at more risk of involvement in assaults. Next, more than 50% of assault victims were themselves the perpetrators of assault, and significant percentages of inmates reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses and physical and sexual victimizations. With other studies linking PTSD and being assaulted with revictimization and violence toward others, substance abuse, and poorer psychiatric outcomes, a study implication is providing inmates with effective trauma-relevant treatments.
A Protocol of Intermittent Exercise (Shuttle Runs) to Train Young Basketball Players

Zadro, I, Sepulcri, L, Lazzer, S, Fregolent, R, and Zamparo, P. A protocol of intermittent exercise (shuttle runs) to train young basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 25(6): 1767-1773, 2011—The purpose of this study was to set up a protocol of intermittent exercise to train young basketball players. Twenty-one players were asked to complete (a) an incremental test to determine maximal oxygen uptake (&OV0312;O2max), the speed at the ventilatory threshold (vthr) and the energy cost of “linear” running (Cr) and (b) an intermittent test composed of 10 shuttle runs of 10-second duration and 30-seconds of recovery (total duration: about 6 minutes). The exercise intensity (the running speed, vi) was set at 130% of vthr. During the intermittent tests, oxygen uptake (&OV0312;O2) and blood lactate concentration (Lab) were measured. The average pretraining &OV0312;O2 calculated for a single bout (131 ± 9 ml·min−1 kg−1) was about 2.4 times greater than the subjects' measured &OV0312;O2max (54.7 ± 4.6 ml·min−1·kg−1). The net energy cost of running (9.2 ± 0.9 J·m−1·kg−1) was about 2.4 times higher than that measured at constant “linear” speed (3.9 ± 0.3 J·m−1·kg−1). The intermittent test was repeated after 7 weeks of training: 9 subjects (control group [CG]) maintained their traditional training schedule, whereas for 12 subjects (experimental group [EG]) part of the training was replaced by intermittent exercise (the same shuttle test as described above). After training, the &OV0312;O2 measured during the intermittent test was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in both groups (−10.9% in EG and − 4.6 in CG %), whereas Lab decreased significantly only for EG (−31.5%). These data suggest that this training protocol is effective in reducing lactate accumulation in young basketball players.
Differential regulation of neuronal nicotinic ACh receptor subunit genes in cultured neonatal rat sympathetic neurons: specific induction of alpha 7 by membrane depolarization through a Ca2+/calmodulin- dependent kinase pathway

We have examined the regulation of neuronal nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) genes and ACh-evoked currents by neonatal rat sympathetic neurons developing in culture. These neurons contain 5 nAChR transcripts: alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 7, beta 2, and beta 4. When developing in culture, the neurons express 4 of these transcripts, alpha 3, alpha 5, beta 2, and beta 4, at levels similar to those in neurons developing in vivo: alpha 3 mRNA levels increase two- to threefold over the first week, whereas the levels for alpha 5, beta 2, and beta 4 remain essentially constant. In contrast, alpha 7 mRNA levels drop by 60–75% within the first 48 hr and remain low. We show that during the first week, the ACh-evoked current densities on these cultured neurons increase twofold and correlate well with the increase in alpha 3 mRNA levels. Depolarizing the neurons with 40 mM KCl for 1–2 d upregulates the alpha 7 gene; this specific change in alpha 7 mRNA level correlates with an increase in alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) binding on the surface of the neurons. Depolarization has little effect on the expression of the other four transcripts, or on the magnitude or kinetics of the ACh-evoked currents. Furthermore, activators or inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), or tyrosine kinase do not affect nAChR transcript levels in these cultured neurons. The effect of membrane depolarization on alpha 7 expression is a result of Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels, and we show that alpha 7 is upregulated through a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) pathway. The identification of CaM kinase as a link between activity and neurotransmitter receptor expression may indicate a novel mechanism that underlies some forms of synaptic plasticity.
Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the gene coding for bile acid 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708

Southern blot analysis indicated that the gene encoding the constitutive, NADP-linked bile acid 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708 was located on a 6.5-kb EcoRI fragment of the chromosomal DNA. This fragment was cloned into bacteriophage lambda gt11, and a 2.9-kb piece of this insert was subcloned into pUC19, yielding the recombinant plasmid pBH51. DNA sequence analysis of the 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene in pBH51 revealed a 798-bp open reading frame, coding for a protein with a calculated molecular weight of 28,500. A putative promoter sequence and ribosome binding site were identified. The 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA transcript in Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708 was about 0.94 kb in length, suggesting that it is monocistronic. An Escherichia coli DH5 alpha transformant harboring pBH51 had approximately 30-fold greater levels of 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA, immunoreactive protein, and specific activity than Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708. The 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase purified from the pBH51 transformant was similar in subunit molecular weight, specific activity, and kinetic properties to that from Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708, and it reached with antiserum raised against the authentic enzyme on Western immunoblots. Alignment of the amino acid sequence of the 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with those of 10 other pyridine nucleotide-linked alcohol/polyol dehydrogenases revealed six conserved amino acid residues in the N-terminal regions thought to function in coenzyme binding.
Glucose homeostasis in Egyptian children and adolescents with β-Thalassemia major: Relationship to oxidative stress

Background: Oxidative stress in children with β-thalassemia may contribute to shortened life span of erythrocytes and endocrinal abnormalities. Aim: This study was aimed to evaluate glucose homeostasis in Egyptian children and adolescents with β-thalassemia major and its relation to oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Sixty children and adolescents with β-thalassemia major were studied in comparison to 30 healthy age and sex-matched subjects. Detailed medical history, thorough clinical examination, and laboratory assessment of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), serum ferritin, alanine transferase (ALT), fasting insulin levels, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) as oxidant marker and serum total antioxidants capacity (TAC) were performed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of abnormal OGTT. Results: The prevalence of diabetes was 5% (3 of 60) and impaired glucose tolerance test (IGT) was 8% (5 of 60). Fasting blood glucose, 2-hour post-load plasma glucose, serum ferritin, ALT, fasting insulin level, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and MDA levels were significantly elevated while TAC level was significantly decreased in thalassemic patients compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001 for each). The difference was more evident in patients with abnormal OGTT than those with normal oral glucose tolerance (P < 0.001 for each). We also observed that thalassemic patients not receiving or on irregular chelation therapy had significantly higher fasting, 2-h post-load plasma glucose, serum ferritin, ALT, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, oxidative stress markers OSI and MDA levels and significantly lower TAC compared with either those on regular chelation or controls. HOMA-IR was positively correlated with age, serum ferritin, ALT, MDA, and negatively correlated with TAC. Conclusions: The development of abnormal glucose tolerance in Egyptian children and adolescents with β--thalassemia is associated with alteration in oxidant-antioxidant status and increase in insulin resistance. Recommendation: 1- Glucose tolerance tests, HOMA-IR, and MDA should be an integral part of the long-term follow-up of children and adolescents with β-thalassemia major. 2- Regular iron chelation and antioxidant therapy should be advised for thalassemic patients to improve glucose hemostasis.
The Microstructure of Infants' Gaze as They View Adult Shifts in Overt Attention

We presented infants (5, 6, 9, and 12 months old) with movies in which a female model turned toward and fixated 1 of 2 toys placed on a table. Infants' gaze was measured using a Tobii 1750 eye tracker. Six-, 9-, and 12-month-olds' first gaze shift from the model's face (after the model started turning) was directed to the attended toy. The 5-month-olds performed at random. Following this initial response, 5-, 6-, and 9-month-olds performed more gaze shifts to the attended target; 12-month-olds performed at random. Infants at all ages displayed longer looking times to the attended toy. We discuss a number of explanations for 5-month-olds' ability to follow a shift in overt attention by an adult after an initially random response, including the possibility that infants' initial gaze response strengthens the representation of the objects in the peripheral visual field.
Teachers’ Understanding and Conceptualisation of the HIV and AIDS Policy: The Case of Secondary Schools in Zimbabwe

This study examined secondary school teachers’ understanding of the HIV and AIDS education policy and curriculum in Zimbabwe. The study was informed by the Concerns-Based Adoption Model. Twenty teachers, four school heads from the participating schools and two Ministry of Education officials from Masvingo provincial offices participated in the study. Data for the qualitative case study were collected via individual interviews, focus group interviews and open-ended questionnaires. The study found that teachers had mixed perceptions of the HIV and AIDS school policy. Few teachers had a clear understanding of the policy and curriculum innovation while most of them were uninformed, ignorant, frustrated or confused regarding this policy and the implementation thereof. Overall, there was a disjunction between policy, curriculum requirements and teacher understanding and conceptualisation of the subject area due to a lack of professional qualifications and the non-availability of policy and curriculum documents. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education should become proactive in developing teachers’ knowledge and skills via significant and ongoing professional development and training for all teachers in HIV and AIDS education. School heads should provide support with regard to enhancing teachers’ understanding of HIV and AIDS education for effective implementation of the subject area in schools.
Host Plants Identification for Adult Agrotis ipsilon, a Long-Distance Migratory Insect

In this study, we determined the host relationship of Agrotis ipsilon moths by identifying pollen species adhering them during their long-distance migration. Pollen carried by A. ipsilon moths was collected from 2012 to 2014 on a small island in the center of the Bohai Strait, which is a seasonal migration pathway of this pest species. Genomic DNA of single pollen grains was amplified by using whole genome amplification technology, and a portion of the chloroplast rbcL sequence was then amplified from this material. Pollen species were identified by a combination of DNA barcoding and pollen morphology. We found 28 species of pollen from 18 families on the tested moths, mainly from Angiosperm, Dicotyledoneae. From this, we were able to determine that these moths visit woody plants more than herbaceous plants that they carry more pollen in the early and late stages of the migration season, and that the amounts of pollen transportation were related to moth sex, moth body part, and plant species. In general, 31% of female and 26% of male moths were found to be carrying pollen. Amounts of pollen on the proboscis was higher for female than male moths, while the reverse was true for pollen loads on the antennae. This work provides a new approach to study the interactions between noctuid moth and their host plants. Identification of plant hosts for adult moths furthers understanding of the coevolution processes between moths and their host plants.
Cyclooxygenase-1 Deletion Enhances Apoptosis but Does Not Protect Against Ultraviolet Light-Induced Tumors

Inhibition or deletion of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 has been demonstrated to protect against squamous cell cancer in many studies. Although much effort has focused on COX-2 inhibition, recent work indicates that COX-1 deletion may be nearly as protective. In this study, we used SKH-1 hairless mice in which COX-1 was selectively deleted to examine the role of COX-1 in photocarcinogenesis. After UV exposure, 40–60% less prostaglandin E2 was detected in COX-1−/− animals compared with wild-type (WT) controls. A 4-fold induction of keratinocyte apoptosis was observed in knockouts relative to WT animals, as documented by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and caspase-3 staining. Proliferation was not significantly different in COX-1+/+, COX-1+/−, and COX-1−/− animals. When susceptibility to UV-induced tumor formation was studied, tumor number, average tumor size, and time of tumor onset in COX-1−/− animals were identical to WT controls. Thus, enhanced apoptosis did not alter UV-induced skin carcinogenesis, suggesting other effects are key to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug chemoprevention. These results contrast sharply with data obtained using the classic 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate cancer model in which a prominent protective effect of COX-1−/− is present. The lack of protection observed here confirms cancer mechanisms are distinct in UV- and tumor promotor-induced cancer models and indicates that chemoprevention strategies must specifically address cancer causes to be effective.
Preservice Music Teachers’ Employment Preferences

This study was designed to investigate preservice music teachers’ (N = 187) perceptions of employment preferences when considering future teaching positions. Adaptive Conjoint Analysis, a business market–based research tool, was used to determine preferences for personal factors (e.g., salary, commute), school environmental factors (e.g., administrative support, school type, student race-ethnicity, student socioeconomic status [SES]), and music teaching factors (e.g., resources, facilities, program sustainability, parental and community support). Results indicated that preservice music teachers perceived administrative support, parental and community support, and program sustainability as most important factors and student SES and student race-ethnicity composition as least important factors when considering future employment.
ParseNet: Looking Wider to See Better

We present a technique for adding global context to deep convolutional networks for semantic segmentation. The approach is simple, using the average feature for a layer to augment the features at each location. In addition, we study several idiosyncrasies of training, significantly increasing the performance of baseline networks (e.g. from FCN). When we add our proposed global feature, and a technique for learning normalization parameters, accuracy increases consistently even over our improved versions of the baselines. Our proposed approach, ParseNet, achieves state-of-the-art performance on SiftFlow and PASCAL-Context with small additional computational cost over baselines, and near current state-of-the-art performance on PASCAL VOC 2012 semantic segmentation with a simple approach. Code is available at this https URL .