Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk of Congenital Syphilis (CS) Following Treatment of Maternal Syphilis: Results of a CS Control Program in China

Background Early screening for syphilis among pregnant women and the effective treatment of maternal syphilis is fundamental to prevent congenital syphilis (CS). Methods We obtained data from the Shenzhen Program for Prevention of CS (SPPCS) and estimated incidence rates of CS among infants born to syphilis-seropositive women treated with different regimens or untreated for maternal syphilis. Results A total of 4746 matched cases of syphilis-seropositive mothers and their infants were included for analyses, and 162 infants were diagnosed with CS, providing an overall incidence of 3.41% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.91%-3.98%). Among infants born to syphilis-seropositive women who had syphilis and were adequately treated before pregnancy, the incidence was 0.22% (95% CI, .05%-.66%). There were 159 cases of CS occurring in 3519 infants born to women who were syphilis-seropositive during their pregnancies, for an incidence of 4.52% (95% CI, 3.84%-5.28%). The incidence of CS was 1.82%-11.90% lower among infants born to the women treated with early benzathine penicillin G (BPG) compared with those treated with late BPG (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 8.06 [95% CI, 2.93-22.21]; P < .001), other antibiotics (aOR, 7.71 [95% CI, .86-69.28]; P = .068), or those untreated (aOR, 68.28 [95% CI, 29.64-157.28]; P < .001). The incidence rates were 0.22% (95% CI, .06%-.80%) and 0.59% (95% CI, .35%-1.02%) in infants born to women treated with 2 courses and 1 course of BPG, respectively, corresponding to a risk difference of 0.37% (aOR, 1.74; 95% CI, .37-8.26). Conclusions Treatment of syphilis-seropositive pregnant women with 1 course of intramuscular BPG before 28 gestational weeks is critical for prevention of CS.
Our Ultimate Fellow Travelers: A Pilot Exploration of Sibling Support for Adults With Developmental Disabilities

Abstract People with developmental disabilities often experience needs for support that extend beyond the caregiving capacity of their aging parents and their siblings tend to be looked to as next-generation support providers. Yet, sibling support relationships are distinct for their simultaneously obligatory and voluntary nature. This pilot exploration, using in-depth focus group data from five siblings of people with developmental disabilities, is aimed at enriching understandings of the nature of, and expectations surrounding, sibling support for brothers and sisters with developmental disabilities. Findings reflect how sibling support evolves over time and can manifest in siblings assuming roles of: (1) companion and protector; (2) follower; (3) caregiver; and (4) within family protector. Siblings are a vital resource, yet not one that can be assumed as automatically forthcoming.
Low Birth Weight in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Exposed Uninfected Infants in Bronx, New York

Background Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been highly successful. However, HIV-exposed uninfected (HIV-EU) infants might be at increased risk for low birth weight and/or preterm birth. We compared the birth weights and gestational ages of HIV-EU infants to those of HIV-unexposed control infants in Bronx, New York, an epicenter of the HIV epidemic in the United States. Methods This study was performed with a retrospective cohort of HIV-EU infants born at Montefiore Medical Center between 2008 and 2012 and HIV-unexposed control infants. Each HIV-EU infant was matched according to year of birth with 5 HIV-unexposed controls from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene birth certificate database. We used regression models to assess the association between HIV exposure and birth weight while controlling for potential confounders. A secondary analysis was performed to determine the association of maternal protease inhibitor-based ART use and birth weight among HIV-EU infants. Results We included 155 HIV-EU infants born between 2008 and 2012 (51% female, 61% black, 32% Hispanic) and 775 HIV-unexposed infants. The mean (± standard deviation) unadjusted birth weights were 2971 ± 616 g (HIV-EU infants) and 3163 ± 644 g (HIV-unexposed infants) (P < .01). Multivariable regression revealed significantly lower birth weight for the HIV-EU infants (difference, -101.5 g [95% confidence interval, -181.4 to -21.6]). We found no difference in mean birth weight or gestational age with maternal protease inhibitor-based ART use when compared to the use of other regimens. Conclusions We found significantly lower birth weight among HIV-EU infants. Long-term prospective studies are necessary to determine the implications of this finding on infant growth and development.
Burst reduction properties of rate-control throttles: downstream queue behavior

Considers rate-based flow control throttles feeding a sequence of single server infinite capacity queues. Specifically, the authors consider two types of throttles, the token bank and the leaky bucket. They show that the cell waiting times at the downstream queues are increasing functions of the token buffer capacity. These results are established when the rate-based throttles have finite capacity data buffers as well as infinite capacity buffers. In the case that the data buffer has finite capacity, they require that the sum of the capacities of the data buffer and token buffer be a constant. Last, they establish similar results for the process of number of losses at the last downstream queue in the case that the waiting buffer has finite capacity. >
Peptides and proteins with antimicrobial activity

The increase of microbial resistance to antibiotics has led to a continuing search for newer and more effective drugs. Antimicrobial peptides are generally found in animals, plants, and microorganisms and are of great interest to medicine, pharmacology, and the food industry. These peptides are capable of inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms. They can attack parasites, while causing little or no harm to the host cells. The defensins are peptides found in granules in the polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and are responsible for the defense of the organism. Several animal defensins, like dermaseptin, antileukoprotease, protegrin, and others, have had their activities and efficacy tested and been shown to be effective against bacteria, fungi, and protists; there are also specific defensins from invertebrates, e.g., drosomycin and heliomicin; from plants, e.g., the types A and B; and the bacteriocins, e.g., acrocin, marcescin, etc. The aim of the present work was to compile a comprehensive bibliographic review of the diverse potentially antimicrobial peptides in an effort to systematize the current knowledge on these substances as a contribution for further researches. The currently available bibliography does not give a holistic approach on this subject. The present work intends to show that the mechanism of defense represented by defensins is promising from the perspective of its application in the treatment of infectious diseases in human, animals and plants.
Monge parametrizations and integration of rectangular linear differential systems

Most algorithms for computing local or global solutions of linear differential systems handle only the case of square systems. However, in many applications such as control theory, systems that appear are generally non-square. In this paper, we use a constructive algebraic analysis approach to reduce the integration of a rectangular linear ordinary differential system to that of a square system. In this way, algorithms for computing a given type of solutions of square systems can also be used to provide analogous solutions of rectangular systems. This method has already been sketched in [4] for computing regular formal solutions. An implementation is provided. 1 Algebraic analysis approach to linear systems theory A linear functional system (e.g., linear system of ODEs, PDEs, OD time-delay equations, difference equations) can always be written as Rη = 0 where R ∈ Dq×p is a q×p matrix with coefficients in a noncommutative polynomial ring D of functional operators (e.g., OD or PD operators, time-delay operators, shift operators, difference operators) and η is a vector of unknown functions. More precisely, if F denotes a left D-module, namely, ∀ d1, d2 ∈ D, ∀ η1, η2 ∈ F : d1 η1 + d2 η2 ∈ F , then we can consider the linear functional system kerF (R.) = {η ∈ F | Rη = 0}, i.e., the abelian group formed by the solutions in F of the linear system Rη = 0. The algebraic analysis approach to mathematical systems theory (see [5, 10, 13] and references therein) is based on the fact that the linear functional system kerF (R.) can be studied by means of the left D-module M = D1×p/(D1×q R) given by the following finite presentation: D1×q . R −→ D1×p π −→ M −→ 0 λ = (λ1 . . . λq) 7−→ λR.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF SHEAR DEFICIENT LARGE SIZE REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS

The shear failure of reinforced concrete beams considered as a very complex fracture phenomenon for which a purely mathematical approach is not possible at present. However, detailed modeling of the fracture mechanism is not necessary for establishing the general form of the size effect. This paper reports the details of the finite element analysis using "ANSYS" program for eight large-size reinforced concrete beams. The beams were analyzed without web reinforcements to evaluate the nominal shear strength provided by the concrete. The main variables included in the study are the a/d, concrete compressive strength , and the type (conventional or high-strength steel) and amount of the longitudinal steel reinforcement. The finite element models are developed using a smeared cracking approach for reinforced concrete. The concrete is modeled using "SOLID65"eight node brick element, which is capable of simulating the cracking and crushing behavior of brittle materials. The steel reinforcement has been modeled discreetly using "LINK8" 3D spar element and it has two nodes. A comparison between the finite element analysis results, namely, loads, deflections and cracking behavior and the available experimental results were made and good agreement was obtained. Results show that the use of high strength steel as a longitudinal reinforcement improves the shear strength and post cracking tensile stiffness of the concrete.
Association Between Serum Lipoprotein(a) and Diabetic Retinopathy in Han Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Context Contrasting observations have been made on the relationship between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Objective To measure serum Lp(a) concentrations in patients with T2D to investigate whether Lp(a) affects risk for DR. Design and Patients Serum Lp(a) was determined in 377 Han Chinese patients with T2D. Demographic and clinical information, including presence of DR and vision-threatening DR (VTDR), were collected on admission. The relationship between serum Lp(a) and DR or VTDR was evaluated using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results Patients with DR or VTDR had significantly higher serum Lp(a) concentrations on admission (P < 0.001). The distribution across Lp(a) quartiles ranged from 11.7% (DR) and 4.3% (VTDR) in the first quartile to 47.9% (DR) and 19.1% (VTDR) in the fourth quartile (P for trend < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for common DR and VTDR risk factors showed that the third and fourth Lp(a) quartiles were significantly associated with DR and VTDR compared with the first Lp(a) quartile (P < 0.001). The patient group with highest concentrations of both Lp(a) (fourth quartile) and hemoglobin A1c (≥7%) had an odds ratio for DR of 5.15 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.78 to 9.55; P < 0.001] and for VTDR of 5.32 (95% CI, 2.92 to 10.15; P < 0.001) compared with patients with lower concentrations of both factors. Conclusions Lp(a) concentration was independently associated with DR in patients with T2D. More frequent retinal examinations should be recommended for patients with T2D and high Lp(a) concentrations.
Aging Together: Self-Perceptions of Aging and Family Experiences Among Korean Baby Boomer Couples

Background and Objectives Korean baby boomers (born 1955-1963) comprise the largest segment of the population approaching old age in Korea, and the majority is married or partnered. However, little is known about how couples share subjective aging experiences and how their self-perceptions of aging are associated with family experiences in midlife. Research Design and Methods We analyzed 727 couples from the Korean Baby Boomer Panel Study. Using Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, we investigated whether major health problems within a family and marital quality were associated with perceptions of aging and future time. Results We found substantial within-couple similarity in self-perceptions of aging among Korean baby boomers. Own health problems were associated with more time limitation for both spouses, but family members' health problems (i.e., parents, spouse, and children) were associated with wives' self-perceptions of aging only. Furthermore, higher spousal support was associated with more positive self-perceptions of aging for both husbands and wives. Both own and partner reports of spousal strain were associated with husbands' higher levels of aging anxiety. Discussion and Implications Given the significance of family events and marital quality on perceptions of aging among Korean baby boomer couples, both intergenerational and spousal contexts should be considered in examining subjective aging experiences in midlife.
Hepatitis A outbreak since November 2016 affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chile connected to the current outbreak in MSM in Europe, situation up to October 2017

A hepatitis A outbreak has occurred in Chile since November 2016. Men are predominantly affected, with a large proportion of men who have sex with men (MSM). We describe 12 consecutive unrelated confirmed cases who presented at our healthcare institution in Santiago Metropolitan Area. Nine were men, all reporting having had sex with men. Ten viral sequences, genotyped as IA, clustered with the V16–25801 strain causing outbreaks mostly in MSM in Europe since mid-2016.
The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on empathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Empathy is a multi-dimensional concept with affective and cognitive components, the latter often referred to as Theory of Mind (ToM). Impaired empathy is prevalent in people with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as personality disorder, psychopathy, and schizophrenia, highlighting the need to develop therapeutic interventions to address this. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive therapeutic technique that has been effective in treating various neuropsychiatric conditions, can be potentially used to modulate empathy. To our knowledge, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses in this field have been conducted. The aim of the current study was to review the literature on the use of rTMS to modulate empathy in adults. Seven electronic databases (AMED, Cochrane library, EMBASE, Medline, Pubmed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science) were searched using appropriate search terms. Twenty-two studies were identified, all bar one study involved interventions in healthy rather than clinical populations, and 18 of them, providing results for 24 trials, were included in the meta-analyses. Results showed an overall small, but statistically significant, effect in favour of active rTMS in healthy individuals. Differential effects across cognitive and affective ToM were evident. Subgroup analyses for cognitive ToM revealed significant effect sizes on excitatory rTMS, offline paradigms, and non-randomised design trials. Subgroup analyses for affective ToM revealed significant effect sizes on excitatory rTMS, offline paradigms, and non-randomised design trials. Meta-regression revealed no significant sources of heterogeneity. In conclusion, rTMS may have discernible effects on different components of empathy. Further research is required to examine the effects of rTMS on empathy in clinical and non-clinical populations, using appropriate empathy tasks and rTMS protocols.
Targeted Secure Messages to Facilitate Access to Tobacco Treatment Counseling for Veterans: Feasibility Study

Background Studies show that combining nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with tobacco treatment counseling is most effective for smoking cessation. However, tobacco treatment counseling has been underutilized across the nation. A secure email message sent to patients already taking NRT was hypothesized to increase the utilization of tobacco treatment counseling among Veterans in New Jersey. Secure messaging for communication between patients and providers was implemented through a web-based password-protected, secure messaging account, where Veterans get notified through their personal email when they have a message awaiting them. Objective The main objective of this project was to determine if there was a significant increase in adoption of tobacco treatment counseling among Veterans who received a secure message describing the options for tobacco treatment counseling available to them. Secondary objectives were to demographically characterize Veterans who were and were not enrolled in secure messaging, as well as those who opened or did not open a message. Finally, because the language and content of the messages were changed across project phases, this project also sought to determine (by analysis of response rates) the type of language that was most effective at eliciting a response. Methods Over two phases, messages were sent to two samples of Veterans prescribed NRT within the prior 90 days of each phase. In phase 1, one message was sent in December 2015 (message 1). In phase 2, one message was sent in July 2016 (message 2) and the same message (message 3) was resent in August 2016 to persons who did not open message 2. Messages 2 and 3 were more directive than message 1. Response rates to message 1 versus message 2 were compared. A logistic regression analysis determined effect of age and gender on enrollment in secure messaging across both phases. The effectiveness of each phase at increasing tobacco treatment counseling was analyzed using a McNemar test. Results Message 2, sent to 423 Veterans, had a significantly higher response rate than message 1, sent to 348 Veterans (18%, 17/93 vs 8%, 6/78, P=.04). Phase 2 (ie, messages 2 and 3) significantly increased utilization of tobacco treatment counseling (net increase of six tobacco treatment counseling adopters, P=.04), whereas phase 1 (ie, message 1) did not (net increase of two tobacco treatment counseling adopters, P=.48). Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3) and those aged 30 to 49 years (compared to other age groups) were more likely to be enrolled in secure messaging. Gender and age were not significant predictors of opening or replying to either message. Conclusions Although the effect was small, secure messaging was a useful modality to increase tobacco treatment counseling. Directive content with a follow-up message appeared useful. Female Veterans and/or Veterans aged between 30 and 49 years are more likely to use secure messaging.
Objectively Assessed Sleep Variability as an Acute Warning Sign of Suicidal Ideation in a Longitudinal Evaluation of Young Adults at High Suicide Risk.

OBJECTIVE Young adults attempt suicide at disproportionately high rates relative to other groups and demonstrate high rates of sleep disturbance. No study has yet prospectively evaluated disturbed sleep as an acute indicator of risk using an objective index of sleep. We investigated objective and subjective parameters of disturbed sleep as a warning sign of suicidal ideation among young adults over an acute period. METHODS A longitudinal study across a 21-day observation period and 3 time points. Fifty of 4,847 participants (aged 18-23 years) were prescreened from a university undergraduate research pool (February 2007-June 2008) on the basis of suicide attempt history and recent suicidal ideation. Actigraphic and subjective sleep parameters were evaluated as acute predictors of suicidal ideation (Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation), with adjustment for baseline symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to predict residual change scores. RESULTS Ninety-six percent of participants (n = 48) endorsed a suicide attempt history. Mean actigraphy values revealed objectively disturbed sleep parameters; 78% (n = 39) and 36% (n = 18) endorsed clinically significant insomnia and nightmares, respectively. When results were controlled for baseline suicidal and depressive symptoms, actigraphic and subjective sleep parameters predicted suicidal ideation residual change scores at 7- and 21-day follow-ups (P < .001). Specifically, actigraphy-defined variability in sleep timing, insomnia, and nightmares predicted increases in suicidal ideation (P < .05). In a test of competing risk factors, sleep variability outperformed depressive symptoms in the longitudinal prediction of suicidal ideation across time points (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Objectively and subjectively measured sleep disturbances predicted acute suicidal ideation increases in this population, independent of depressed mood. Self-reported insomnia and nightmares and actigraphically assessed sleep variability emerged as acute warning signs of suicidal ideation. These findings highlight the potential utility of sleep as a proposed biomarker of suicide risk and a therapeutic target.
Multi-User Low Intrusive Occupancy Detection

Smart spaces are those that are aware of their state and can act accordingly. Among the central elements of such a state is the presence of humans and their number. For a smart office building, such information can be used for saving energy and safety purposes. While acquiring presence information is crucial, using sensing techniques that are highly intrusive, such as cameras, is often not acceptable for the building occupants. In this paper, we illustrate a proposal for occupancy detection which is low intrusive; it is based on equipment typically available in modern offices such as room-level power-metering and an app running on workers’ mobile phones. For power metering, we collect the aggregated power consumption and disaggregate the load of each device. For the mobile phone, we use the Received Signal Strength (RSS) of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) nodes deployed around workspaces to localize the phone in a room. We test the system in our offices. The experiments show that sensor fusion of the two sensing modalities gives 87–90% accuracy, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Variations in strength of lime-treated soft clays

Strength is often the most significant parameter in measuring the effect of soil improvement in geotechnical engineering practice. In this paper, a primary study is made of the variation in unconfined compressive strength of lime-treated soft clays under various practical conditions. There are three major factors that affect the strength development: lime content, curing time, and curing temperature. The variations in strength with the three factors are analysed and quantified by proposed empirical equations. These equations are verified against experimental data independently. Based on an analysis of the above simulations, a general strength equation is proposed, unifying the influence of all the three factors into a single equation. The capacity of the general equation is demonstrated and it is seen that the proposed strength equations have the potential for predicting the strength of lime-treated clays under various conditions.