Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consistency of Condom Use During Receptive Anal Intercourse Among Women and Men Who Have Sex With Men: Findings From the Safe in the City Behavioral Study

Background Unprotected receptive anal intercourse poses HIV risk for men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual women. Little is known about differences in consistent condom use during anal intercourse among these populations. Methods Data were analyzed from a nested study conducted from 2004 to 2005 within a behavioral intervention trial of approximately 40,000 urban US sexually transmitted disease clinic patients. Analyses were restricted to women and MSM who reported receptive anal intercourse with at least 1 partner in the prior 3 months at baseline, or 3-month follow-up surveys. Condom use was categorized as consistent (100% of receptive acts) or inconsistent/nonuse (0–99% of receptive acts). Multivariable regression with general estimating equations was used to identify factors associated with consistent condom use within each population. Results Approximately 31% of women and 70% of MSM reported receptive anal intercourse at least once in the past 3 months. Men who have sex with men were significantly more likely to report consistent condom use compared with women. For women, intention to use condoms, partner support for condom use, the belief they could stop having sex when condoms were unavailable, and believing their partner had not given them a sexually transmitted infection (STI) were associated with using condoms consistently. For MSM, intention to use condoms, condom use self-efficacy, perceived partner support for condom use, having a nonmain partner, believing their partner had not given them an STI, and fewer sex acts were associated with consistent condom use. Conclusions Findings confirm the importance of considering anal intercourse when assessing STI/HIV risk in MSM and heterosexual women.
First-line treatment of apatinib in elderly patient of advanced gastric carcinoma: A case report of NGS-driven targeted therapy

ABSTRACT Gastric carcinoma (GC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy with high incidence and mortality worldwide, and most patients are diagnosed in the late stages of disease. Palliative chemotherapy provides a survival benefit for patients with inoperable advanced GC. However, elderly patients who are unable to tolerate chemotherapy had worse prognosis due to lack of effective treatment. Herein we reported a Chinese elderly GC patient using next generation sequencing (NGS)-based tumor DNA analysis. Valuable gene variants of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A gene amplification were detected. Additionally, a novel NOTCH1-BPHL fusion has been identified. He received antiangiogenic drug apatinib and showed both good clinical and radiographic response, but eventually died of non-cancer related cause, with progression free survival time (PFS) and overall survival time (OS) up to 9.53 months. This was the first GC case with apatinib usage as first-line treatment under the guidance of NGS gene profiling.
The Economic Cost of Substance Abuse Treatment in the State of Florida

Objective: Public and private stakeholders of substance abuse treatment services require economic cost data to guide program evaluations and funding decisions. Background: Rigorous cost assessments have been conducted for several treatment programs across the United States, but a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of programs in a particular state has never been attempted. Research Design: The present study recruited all publicly funded treatment programs in the State of Florida and administered the Brief Drug Abuse Treatment Cost Analysis Program. Subjects: A total of 175 programs participated in the study, representing a 71% response rate. Measures: Annual, weekly, and episode costs are estimated by modality. Conclusion: The study procedures and empirical findings from this research can be used by program evaluators and government officials in Florida and other states as they develop service reimbursement algorithms and initiate more extensive evaluations of publicly funded substance abuse treatment programs.
A Short-Run View of What Computers Do: Evidence from a UK Tax Incentive

We study the short-run, causal effect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) adoption on the employment and wage distribution, providing direct insight into how ICT alters the demand for work within the firm. We exploit a unique natural experiment generated by a generous tax allowance on ICT investments for small UK firms and find that the primary short-run effect of ICT is to complement non-routine congnitive-intensive work. At the same time, we find less extensive substitution for routine cognitive work, a result at odds with existing long-run extimates. We find no effect of ICT on manual work in the short run. Overall, ICT raises average labor productivity within the firm.
An algorithm for area and delay optimisation of sequential machines through decomposition

Presents a new algorithm for decomposing a Finite State Machine (FSM) to reduce the area and delay. For a known state encoding, it partitions the next state and output bits so as to decrease the cost, which is a function of the area and delay. A state encoding which yields a low cost is derived by using a heuristic algorithm. This algorithm differs from existing algorithms in that it uses a measure for the area that is more reflective of the actual area of the final chip. <<ETX>>
Executive Control Goes to School: Implications of Preschool Executive Performance for Observed Elementary Classroom Learning Engagement

The transition to elementary school is accompanied by increasing demands for children to regulate their attention and behavior within the classroom setting. Executive control (EC) may be critical for meeting these demands; however, few studies have rigorously examined the association between EC and observed classroom behavior. This study examined EC in preschool (age 5 years 3 months) as a predictor of classroom learning engagement behaviors in first grade, using a battery of performance-based EC tasks and live classroom observations in a longitudinal sample of 313 children. Multilevel modeling results indicated that stronger EC predicted more focused engagement and fewer task management and competing responses, controlling for socioeconomic status, child sex, and age at observations. Results suggest that early EC may support subsequent classroom engagement behaviors that are critical for successful transition to elementary school and long-term learning trajectories.
Colorectal cancer: influence of diet and lifestyle factors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, with more than 944,000 cases and 492,000 cancer-related deaths reported worldwide in 2000 (1). Migrant and temporal studies suggest that colorectal cancer is determined largely by environmental exposures, as it is shown by large rate variations between different countries and by dramatic increases in incidence among populations migrating from low-risk to high-risk areas (2). Based on such epidemiological studies, it has been estimated that as much as 70-80% of colorectal cancer could be attributed to the contribution of environmental and lifestyle factors (3,4). These observations suggest the importance of potentially modifiable factors that may be largely preventable. On the other hand, although the environment is central to the etiology of most cases of colorectal cancer, individual, genetically-determined susceptibility is also important and plays a decisive role through its interaction with the other different etiologic factors, as it is shown by the recent discoveries related to the interaction between gene, environment and diet. At this point, the implications of environmental causes of colon cancer are evident. If we could identify and modify these relevant factors, then we might be able to prevent most colorectal cancer incidence. The challenge is to discover the environmental factors that are responsible for this disease and then change them.
Behaviour of hollow pultruded GFRP square beams with different shear span-to-depth ratios

It is important to determine accurately the elastic properties of fibre-reinforced polymer composites material, considering that their member design is often governed by deflection rather than strength. In this study, the elastic properties of the pultruded glass fibre-reinforced polymer square sections were evaluated firstly using full-scale with different shear span to depth (a/d) ratios and tested under static four-point bending. Back calculation and simultaneous methods were then employed to evaluate the flexural modulus and shear stiffness and were compared with the results of the coupon tests. Secondly, the full-scale beams were tested up to failure to determine their capacity and failure mechanisms. Finally, prediction equations describing the behaviour of the pultruded glass fibre-reinforced polymer square beams were proposed and compared with the experimental results. The results indicate that the back calculation method gives more reliable values of elastic properties of glass fibre-reinforced polymer profiles. In addition, the behaviour of the beams is strongly affected by the a/d ratios. The shear was found to have a significant contribution on the behaviour of beams with lower a/d ratios while the flexural stress played a major part for higher a/d ratios. The proposed equation, which accounts for the combined effect of the shear and flexural stresses, reasonably predicted the failure load of pultruded glass fibre-reinforced polymer square beams.
Joining of Zirconia Reinforced Metal-Matrix Composites

Metal-matrix composite materials, based on a metastable austenitic stainless steel reinforced with a magnesia partially stabilised zirconia have been prepared by a ceramics-derived extrusion technology. Using this powder metallurgical method enables the shaping of lightweight cellular structures as well as bulk specimens with a variety of steel/ceramic ratios at room temperature. However, the extrusion of composite structures is limited by the uniform cross section throughout its entire length. Joining of these metal-matrix composite preforms after sintering by conventional welding techniques is a challenging task. The presence of ceramic fractions may lead to several complications and the subsequent heat exposure during joining may initiate phase transformations in both metastable components resulting in a deterioration of the mechanical properties of the composite material. An adapted ceramics-derived joining technology allows the combination of varying TRIP-steel/zirconia composite materials. The main features are the machining and joining of the parts in their dry green state at room temperature before their thermal treatment. Thus, the material’s consolidation and the formation of the joint take place simultaneously. The ability of joining different parts offers the possibility to create structures for complex applications and testing conditions. The key to advanced properties of the joining zone are the base materials, the surface treatment of the parts, and the paste used for joining. The joining process of different base materials, the mechanical properties, and the microstructure of sinter-joint samples are presented.
Simulation of the Prokaryotic Cell Cycle at http://simon.bio.uva.nl/cellcycle/

The bacterial Cell Cycle is presented using the Simulation program CCSim, which employs four parameters related to time (inter-division  , replication C , division D ) and size (mass at replication initiation Mi ), sufficient to describe and compare bacterial cells under various conditions. The parameter values can be altered and the effects of the alterations can be seen. CCSim is easy to use and presents the kinetics of cell growth in a digestible format. Replicating chromosomes and growing bacillary cells are coupled to parameters that affect the cell cycle and animated. It serves as an educational tool to teach bacteriology and to compare experimental observations with the model best describing cell growth thus improve our understanding of regulatory mechanisms. Examples are displayed of transitions between known physiological states that are consistent with experimental results, including one that explains strange observations. The program predicts enhanced division frequencies after a period of slow replication under thymine limitation if a minimal distance (Eclipse) exists between successive replisomes, as observed. Missing features and ways to improve, extend and refine CCSim are proposed, for both single cells and random populations under steady-states of exponential growth and during well-defined transitions. Future improvements and extensions are proposed for single cells and populations.
Epidemiological investigation of pseudorabies in Shandong Province from 2013 to 2016

In late 2011, a variant pseudorabies virus (vPRV) emerged in Bartha-K61-vaccinated pig herds, resulting in high morbidity and mortality of piglets in China. Since 2013, the autopsy lesions, histological examinations, virus isolation, phylogenetic analysis and selection pressure analysis of the gE gene of vPRV were recorded for 395 clinical cases, and 5,033 pig serum samples were detected by PRV gE-coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The major clinical symptoms were abortion in pregnant sows, fatal neurological signs in piglets and respiratory disease in growing pigs. Necrotic splenitis, hepatitis and lymphadenitis, haemorrhagic nephritis and non-suppurative encephalitis were observed by histopathological examination. Typical eosinophilic inclusion bodies were found in the nuclei of liver cells. Using PCR, 110 samples among 395 clinical cases tested positive for the gE gene. Fifteen vPRV strains were isolated and confirmed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the gE gene. The strains shared 97.1%-99.9% nucleotide (nt) and 96.6%-99.5% amino acid (aa) homology with PRV reference strains. Selection pressure analysis showed that one site in the codons of glycoprotein E was under positive selection. Of the 5,033 serum samples, 2,909 were positive by ELISA for a positive rate of 57.8%. These results showed that vPRV was still prevalent in Shandong Province, indicating severe PRV infectious pressure. The preparation of new vaccines against PRV is extremely urgent.
Optical fiber solutions for laser ablation of tissue and immunostimulating interstitial laser thermotherapy – Product development in the network of developers, industry and users

Abstract: Clinical Laserthermia Systems AB (CLS) has developed a treatment protocol named immunostimulating interstitial laser thermotherapy (imILTCLS) which is intended to improve current treatment regimens for metastatic cancer diseases. It aims at a controlled local tumor ablation with a subsequent release of tumor specific antigens resulting in a systemic immune activation against the remaining cancer cells. The approach has its origins in the laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy procedure and is based on a proprietary and patented technique to optimize the immunological effect. CLS has gained know-how through long experience both in clinical and pre-clinical studies of the application, laser technology, thermometry, and expertise in regulatory affairs. However, CLS does not have the in-house expertise required for fiber development and production. Therefore the company has actively searched for industrial partners to collaborate with on the design and development of a fiber delivery system tailored to imILTCLS. The aim of this collaboration is to design an application-specific laser fiber that allows the treatment of a wider range of tumors with a single treatment and overcomes the limitations of currently available laser fibers, such as the limited achievable lesion sizes due the maximum power that can be used without carbonizing tissue. The present contribution gives a short overview about the current development steps within the network of developers, industry and users.
Sexual addiction, sexual compulsivity, sexual impulsivity, or what? Toward a theoretical model

We critically review the concepts of sexual addiction, sexual compulsivity, and sexual impulsivity and discuss their theoretical bases. A sample of 31 self‐defined sex addicts was assessed by means of interview and questionnaires and compared with a large age‐matched control group. A tendency to experience increased sexual interest in states of depression or anxiety was strongly characteristic of the sex addict group. Dissociative experiences were described by 45% of sex addicts and may have some explanatory relevance. Obsessive‐compulsive mechanisms may be relevant in some cases, and the addiction concept may prove to be relevant with further research. Overall, results suggested that out of control sexual behavior results from a variety of mechanisms. We propose an alternative theoretical approach to investigating these mechanisms based on the dual control model and recent research on the relation between mood and sexuality.
Correlation Between Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody Levels and Thymic Pathology in Myasthenia Gravis: A Review

Abstract Myasthenia gravis is the most common chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease. Anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies are found in at least 80% of patients with generalized myasthenia and have been implicated in disease pathogenesis. Thymic abnormalities are frequently found in seropositive patients, and the thymus is thought to be involved in generation of autoimmunity. This article reviews existing literature on the role of AChR antibodies in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis, and the correlation between AChR antibody titers and thymic pathology. Most studies found that highest titers are seen in thymic hyperplasia, followed by intermediate titers in thymoma, and lowest titers in atrophic or normal thymus. One publication found no difference between titers in thymoma and normal thymus.
Recollection and familiarity for words and faces: a study comparing Remember–Know judgements and the Process Dissociation Procedure

ABSTRACT Measures of recollection and familiarity often differ depending on the paradigm utilised. Remember–Know (R–K) and Process Dissociation Procedure (PDP) methods have been commonly used but rarely compared within a single study. In the current experiments, R–K and PDP were compared by examining the effect of attention at study and time to respond at test on recollection and familiarity using the same experimental procedures for each paradigm. We also included faces in addition to words to test the generality of the findings often obtained using words. The results from the R–K paradigm revealed that recollection and familiarity were similarly affected by attention at study and time to respond at test. However, in the case of PDP, the measures of recollection and familiarity showed a different pattern of results. The effects observed for recollection were similar to those obtained with the R–K method, whereas familiarity was affected by time to respond but not by attention at study. These results are discussed in relation to the controlled-automatic processing distinction and the contribution of each paradigm to research on recognition memory.
Investigation of electrochemical combustion plant for rural water disinfection and industrial organic effluent removal

Recent years have seen the development of various treatment methods for the purification of industrial waste waters due to the increased demand for reduced pollutant effluents. Aqueous waste streams containing toxic organic compounds are of special interest, since conventional treatment methods such as biological waste treatment can not always be used. Other popular treatment methods are often ineffective. Catalytic oxidation of organic wastes has been investigated since the 1960s with varying degrees of success. A major problem associated with this method is the high temperatures and pressures required to improve the activation energies involved. Electrochemical oxidation has become a popular method in the literature of treating these wastes, since the applied voltage determines the activation energy, and therefore the process can often be performed at ambient conditions. This thesis investigates the capability of a unique reactor system in the treatment of these wastes. The reactor utilises proton-exchange membrane technology to eliminate the requirement of conductivity in treated waste streams; thus the membrane serves as a solid electrolyte. The reactor system has therefore been referred to as a solid-polymer-electrolyte reactor. Novel metal oxide anodes are responsible for the oxidation of the organic molecules. These metal oxide catalysts show promise in the treatment of a wide variety of organic wastes. A SnO2 catalyst doped with ZrO2 is used as anode in this study. Dopants are added to the catalyst to improve properties such as catalytic activity and conductivity. Kinetic data was obtained on a wide range of values for the chosen experimental parameters (current density and flow rate). Phenol, an organic molecule often referred to in the literature as model contaminant due to its resistance to oxidation,
Catalytic Nanoparticle Additives in the Combustion of AP/HTPB Composite Solid Propellant

Catalytic Nanoparticles in the Combustion of AP/HTPB Composite Solid Propellant. (December 2010) Kevin R. Kreitz, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Eric Petersen Presented in this thesis is a study of the effects of nano-sized particles used as a catalytic additive in composite solid propellant. This study was done with titanium oxide (titania)-based particles, but much of the findings and theory are applicable to any metal oxide produced by a similar method. The process required for efficiently producing larger batches of nanoparticle additives was seen to have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the additive to modify the burning rate of composite propellant consisting of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). Specifically, titania was seen to be both an effective and ineffective burning rate modifier depending on how the nanoparticle additive was dried and subsequently heat treated. Nanoadditives were produced by various synthesis methods and tested in composite propellant consisting of 80% AP. Processability and scale-up effects are examined in selecting ideal synthesis methods of nanoscale titanium oxide for use as a burning rate modifier in composite propellant. Sintering of spray-dried additive agglomerates during the heat-treating process was shown to make the agglomerates difficult to break up during mixing and hinder the dispersion of the additive in the