Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HIV Care Outcomes Among Blacks with Diagnosed HIV — United States, 2014

Since the release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) (1) and the establishment of the federal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care Continuum Initiative (2), federal efforts have accelerated to improve and increase HIV testing, care, and treatment and to reduce HIV-related disparities in the United States. National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS)* data are used to monitor progress toward reaching NHAS goals,† and recent data indicate that blacks have lower levels of care and viral suppression than do persons of other racial and ethnic groups (3). Among persons with HIV infection diagnosed through 2012 who were alive at year-end 2013, 68.1% of blacks received any HIV medical care compared with 74.4% of whites (3). CDC used NHSS data to describe HIV care outcomes among blacks who received a diagnosis of HIV. Among blacks with HIV infection diagnosed in 2014, 21.9% had infection classified as HIV stage 3 (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]) at the time of diagnosis compared with 22.5% of whites; 71.6% of blacks were linked to care within 1 month after diagnosis compared with 79.0% of whites. Among blacks with HIV infection diagnosed through 2012 who were alive on December 31, 2013, 53.5% were receiving continuous HIV medical care compared with 58.2% of whites; 48.5% of blacks achieved viral suppression compared with 62.0% of whites. Intensified efforts and implementation of effective interventions and public health strategies that increase engagement in care and viral suppression among blacks (1,4) are needed to achieve NHAS goals.
Two-dimensional photonic crystal confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The two-dimensional photonic crystal (2-D PhC) structure has been investigated as a method for lateral mode control of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). The 2-D PhC structures were designed using an equivalent index model developed for photonic crystal fibers combined with a plane wave expansion method. The etching depth dependence of the PhC structure was incorporated for the first time to design practical devices. 2-D PhC-confined VCSELs are demonstrated to operate in single PhC-confined mode using either a single- or seven-point defect.
The Immigrant Rights Struggle, and the Paradoxes of Radical Activism in Europe

This paper discusses one of the dilemmas inherent in social movement mobilizations: the lack of an aligned frame within a movement. It shows how the existence of a dominant and a subordinate faction (European activists and refugees) with different social and ideological identities within the immigrant rights mobilizations in Berlin led to the emergence of paradoxes, and became counterproductive. This had two consequences: first, a power structure emerged which privileged European activists over the very people they sought to empower. Second, some refugees began to adopt the European activists' framing of the issue as anti-colonial/capitalist, in spite of the fact that it contradicted their primary demands concerning permission to work and reside in Germany.
Enhancing Student Learning with Brain-Based Research.

Enhancing Student Learning with Brain-Based Research This paper discusses brain-based learning and its relation to classroom instruction. A growing quantity of research currently exists regarding how the brain perceives, processes, and ultimately learns new information. In order to maximize their teaching efficacy, educators should have a basic understanding of key memory functions in the brain, and how these functions relate to student learning. In this paper, the author surveys current literature to identify foundational instructional strategies that are supported by brain-based research. A Microsoft PowerPoint® presentation is included that is intended for use at an in-service training with the goal of providing participants with (1) an overview of research findings with respect to the information processing and memory functions of the brain, and (2) overarching areas of instructional strategies that are supported by current research. The presentation is designed for use by educators and others involved in direct instruction in both primary and secondary education.
Grades and Rank: Impacts of Non-Financial Incentives on Test Performance

How does effort respond to being graded and ranked? This paper examines the effects of non-financial incentives on test performance. We conduct a randomized field experiment on more than a thousand sixth graders in Swedish primary schools. Extrinsic non-financial incentives play an important role in motivating highly skilled students to exert more effort. We find significant differences in test scores between the intrinsically motivated control group and three of four extrinsically motivated treatment groups. The only treatment not increasing test performance is criterion-based grading on an A–F scale, which is the typical grading method. Test performance is significantly higher if employing rank-based grading or giving students a symbolic reward. The motivational strengths of the non-financial incentives differ across the test score distribution, across the skill distribution, with peer familiarity, and with respect to gender. Boys are only motivated by rank-based incentives, while girls are also motivated by receiving a symbolic reward. Rank-based grading and symbolic rewards tend to crowd out intrinsic motivation for students with low skills, while girls also respond less to rank-based incentives if tested with less familiar peers.
Blinding prosecutors to defendants’ race: A policy proposal to reduce unconscious bias in the criminal justice system

Racial minorities are disproportionately imprisoned in the United States. This disparity is unlikely to be due solely to differences in criminal behavior. Behavioral science research has documented that prosecutors harbor unconscious racial biases. These unconscious biases play a role whenever prosecutors exercise their broad discretion, such as in choosing what crimes to charge and when negotiating plea bargains. To reduce this risk of unconscious racial bias, we propose a policy change: Prosecutors should be blinded to the race of criminal defendants wherever feasible. This could be accomplished by removing information identifying or suggesting the defendant's race from police dossiers shared with prosecutors and by avoiding mentions of race in conversations between prosecutors and defense attorneys. Race is almost always irrelevant to the merits of a criminal prosecution; it should be omitted from the proceedings whenever possible for the sake of justice.
Disturbance Agents and Their Associated Effects on the Health of Interior Douglas-Fir Forests in the Central Rocky Mountains

Interior Douglas-fir is a prevalent forest type throughout the central Rocky Mountains. Past management actions, specifically fire suppression, have led to an expansion of this forest type. Although Douglas-fir forests cover a broad geographic range, few studies have described the interactive effects of various disturbance agents on forest health conditions. In this paper, we review pertinent literature describing the roles, linkages, and mechanisms by which disturbances, including insect outbreaks, pathogens, fire, and other abiotic factors, affect the development, structure, and distribution of interior montane forests primarily comprised of Douglas-fir. We also discuss how these effects may influence important resource values such as water, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, timber, and recreation. Finally, we identify gaps where further research may increase our understanding of these disturbance agents, their interacting roles, and how they influence long-term forest health.
The molecular and clinical verification of therapeutic resistance via the p38 MAPK–Hsp27 axis in lung cancer

Treatment failure followed by relapse and metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer is often the result of acquired resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. A cancer stem cell (CSC)-mediated anti-apoptotic phenomenon is responsible for the development of drug resistance. The underlying molecular mechanism related to cisplatin resistance is still controversial, and a new strategy is needed to counteract cisplatin resistance. We used a nonadhesive culture system to generate drug-resistant spheres (DRSPs) derived from cisplatin-resistant H23 lung cancer cells. The expressions of drug-resistance genes, properties of CSCs, and markers of anti-apoptotic proteins were compared between control cells and DRSPs. DRSPs exhibited upregulation of cisplatin resistance-related genes. Gradual morphological alterations showing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenomenon and increased invasion and migration abilities were seen during induction of DRSPs. Compared with control cells, DRSPs displayed increased CSC and anti-apoptotic properties, greater resistance to cisplatin, and overexpression of p-Hsp27 via activation of p38 MAPK signaling. Knockdown of Hsp27 or p38 decreased cisplatin resistance and increased apoptosis in DRSPs. Clinical studies confirmed that the expression of p-Hsp27 was closely associated with prognosis. Overexpression of p-Hsp27 was usually detected in advanced-stage patients with lung cancer and indicated short survival. Summary DRSPs were useful for investigating drug resistance and may provide a practical model for studying the crucial role of p-Hsp27 in the p38 MAPK–Hsp27 axis in CSC-mediated cisplatin resistance. Targeting this axis using siRNA Hsp27 may provide a treatment strategy to improve prognosis and prolong survival in lung cancer patients.
Presence of carcinoembryonic antigen in children's colonic mucosa

The colonic mucosa of 48 young children, nine of them being over one year, and two being seven years old, was studied for the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In all the cases, immunofluorescence with specific anti CEA antiserum was positive. Phytic extracts of three pools of juvenile colonic mucosae contained an antigen giving an identity reaction with reference CEA. CEA is thus a normal antigen in children's colonic mucosa.
Imidazoleacetic acid-ribotide: an endogenous ligand that stimulates imidazol(in)e receptors.

We identified the previously unknown structures of ribosylated imidazoleacetic acids in rat, bovine, and human tissues to be imidazole-4-acetic acid-ribotide (IAA-RP) and its metabolite, imidazole-4-acetic acid-riboside. We also found that IAA-RP has physicochemical properties similar to those of an unidentified substance(s) extracted from mammalian tissues that interacts with imidazol(in)e receptors (I-Rs). ["Imidazoline," by consensus (International Union of Pharmacology), includes imidazole, imidazoline, and related compounds. We demonstrate that the imidazole IAA-RP acts at I-Rs, and because few (if any) imidazolines exist in vivo, we have adopted the term "imidazol(in)e-Rs. "] The latter regulate multiple functions in the CNS and periphery. We now show that IAA-RP (i) is present in brain and tissue extracts that exhibit I-R activity; (ii) is present in neurons of brainstem areas, including the rostroventrolateral medulla, a region where drugs active at I-Rs are known to modulate blood pressure; (iii) is present within synaptosome-enriched fractions of brain where its release is Ca(2+)-dependent, consistent with transmitter function; (iv) produces I-R-linked effects in vitro (e.g., arachidonic acid and insulin release) that are blocked by relevant antagonists; and (v) produces hypertension when microinjected into the rostroventrolateral medulla. Our data also suggest that IAA-RP may interact with a novel imidazol(in)e-like receptor at this site. We propose that IAA-RP is a neuroregulator acting via I-Rs.
The prediction of targeting peptides is enhanced by sequentially biased recurrent networks

Knowledge of targeting signals is of immense importance for understanding the sorting process that underlies the trafficking of proteins, their function and potential interactions. We explore this issue as a fundamentally difficult machine learning problem, and investigate the application of recurrent neural networks – machines naturally biased towards detecting sequential patterns. This paper presents a machine learning solution which goes beyond the prediction accuracy of the well-known TargetP localization predictor. The predictor incorporating the presented improvements is available online.
The BDFM as a Generator in Wind Turbines

The Brushless Doubly-Fed Machine (BDFM) is attractive for use in wind turbines, especially offshore, as it offers high reliability by virtue of the absence of brushgear. Critical issues in the use of the BDFM in this role at a system level include the appropriate mode of operation, the sizing of associated converter and the control of the machine. At a machine level, the design of the machine and the determination of its ratings are important. Both system and machine issues are reviewed in the light of recent advances in the study of the BDFM, and preliminary comparisons are made with the well-established doubly fed wound rotor induction generator.
Collecting Data via the Internet: The Development and Deployment of a Web-Based Survey

SUMMARY This report discusses the process of developing and deploying an Internet-based study that sought to replicate the results of a traditionally administered questionnaire. We present data on the characteristics of respondents, hit and completion rates, and the effectiveness of a dozen different methods of advertising the survey. Overall, we were very successful in soliciting a gay and lesbian sample of Internet-users and collected one of the largest samples for a Web-based survey to date. Publicity methods that addressed the target audience's specific interests were far more effective than broader advertising methods.
Comparative Analysis of Alcohol Control Policies in 30 Countries

Background Alcohol consumption causes an estimated 4% of the global disease burden, prompting goverments to impose regulations to mitigate the adverse effects of alcohol. To assist public health leaders and policymakers, the authors developed a composite indicator—the Alcohol Policy Index—to gauge the strength of a country's alcohol control policies. Methods and Findings The Index generates a score based on policies from five regulatory domains—physical availability of alcohol, drinking context, alcohol prices, alcohol advertising, and operation of motor vehicles. The Index was applied to the 30 countries that compose the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between policy score and per capita alcohol consumption. Countries attained a median score of 42.4 of a possible 100 points, ranging from 14.5 (Luxembourg) to 67.3 (Norway). The analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between score and consumption (r = −0.57; p = 0.001): a 10-point increase in the score was associated with a one-liter decrease in absolute alcohol consumption per person per year (95% confidence interval, 0.4–1.5 l). A sensitivity analysis demonstrated the robustness of the Index by showing that countries' scores and ranks remained relatively stable in response to variations in methodological assumptions. Conclusions The strength of alcohol control policies, as estimated by the Alcohol Policy Index, varied widely among 30 countries located in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. The study revealed a clear inverse relationship between policy strength and alcohol consumption. The Index provides a straightforward tool for facilitating international comparisons. In addition, it can help policymakers review and strengthen existing regulations aimed at minimizing alcohol-related harm and estimate the likely impact of policy changes.
Hubungan Social Support Dengan Flow Pada Mahasiswa Fakultas Psikologi

Tujuan peneliti adalah ingin mengetahui apakah mahasiswa fakultas psikologi angkatan 2012 kelas praktikum observasi-interview merasakan Flow serta apakah ada hubungan antara social support yang diterima dengan flow yang dirasakan. Metode yang digunakan daam penelitian ini adalah metode korelasi yaitu yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan antara dua variabel atau lebih. Pengolahan data dilakukan dengan pengolahan statistik dengan menggunakan bantuan software IBM SPSS Statistics 20, menggunakan uji korelasi menggunakan product moment dari Pearson.Tujuan dilakukannya penelitian ini yaitu memperoleh data empirik mengenai keeratan hubungan antara Social Support dengan Flow pada Mahasiswa Fakultas Psikologi Angkatan 2012 Kelas Praktikum Observasi-Interview UNISBA. Hasil dari pengolahan data menunjukkan nilai r = 0,818 dengan α = 0,05, sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa terdapat hubungan yang erat antara Social Support dengan Flow pada Mahasiswa Fakultas Psikologi Angkatan 2012 Kelas Praktikum Observasi-Interview UNISBA.
Viscoelastic Characterization and Modeling of Polymer Transducers for Biological Applications

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an important polymeric material widely used in bio-MEMS devices such as micropillar arrays for cellular mechanical force measurements. The accuracy of such a measurement relies on choosing an appropriate material constitutive model for converting the measured structural deformations into corresponding reaction forces. However, although PDMS is a well-known viscoelastic material, many researchers in the past have treated it as a linear elastic material, which could result in errors of cellular traction force interpretation. In this paper, the mechanical properties of PDMS were characterized by using uniaxial compression, dynamic mechanical analysis, and nanoindentation tests, as well as finite element analysis (FEA). A generalized Maxwell model with the use of two exponential terms was used to emulate the mechanical behavior of PDMS at room temperature. After we found the viscoelastic constitutive law of PDMS, we used it to develop a more accurate model for converting deflection data to cellular traction forces. Moreover, in situ cellular traction force evolutions of cardiac myocytes were demonstrated by using this new conversion model. The results presented by this paper are believed to be useful for biologists who are interpreting similar physiological processes.
Comparison of Psychological Symptoms of Women Requesting Removal of Breast Implants with Those of Breast Cancer Patients and Healthy Controls

&NA; Concern about the safety of silicone breast implants has led many women with numerous physical and psychological symptoms to seek breast implant removal. This retrospective group comparison study describes the psychological profile of women requesting breast implant removal compared with two control groups. The Brief Symptom Inventory was used to compare psychological symptoms of three groups of women: a preoperative breast implant group requesting removal of implants (n = 78), a postoperative breast cancer group without breast implants (n = 64), and a control group with no known breast disease and unknown breast implant status (n = 68). Scores were compared on the Global Severity Index of the Brief Symptom Inventory as well as on nine subscales: somatization, obsessive‐compulsiveness, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. The breast implant group had significantly elevated Global Severity Index scores, as well as somatization, obsessive‐compulsiveness, depression, hostility, and anxiety subscale scores, when compared with the other groups. Post hoc data analysis revealed that women who had implants after subcutaneous mastectomy as prophylaxis for breast cancer (n = 18) had a significantly different symptom profile and higher Global Severity Index scores than women who had cosmetic augmentation (n = 53). Additionally, women who had subcutaneous mastectomy and implants had significantly higher subscales of interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism than the cosmetic implant subjects. Women requesting removal of silicone breast implants had greater psychological distress than women who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer or controls with no known breast disease and unknown implant status. Within the implant group, however, women who had subcutaneous mastectomy showed greater psychological disturbance than those who had augmentation mammaplasty. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 99: 680, 1997.)
Analysis and Comparison of the Antioxidant Component of Portulaca Oleracea Leaves Obtained by Different Solid-Liquid Extraction Techniques

Portulaca oleracea is a wild plant pest of orchards and gardens, but is also an edible vegetable rich in beneficial nutrients. It possesses many antioxidant properties due to the high content of vitamins, minerals, omega-3 essential fatty acids and other healthful compounds; therefore, the intake of purslane and/or its bioactive compounds could help to improve the health and function of the whole human organism. Accordingly, in this work it was analyzed and compared to the extractive capacity of the antioxidant component of purslane leaves obtained by solid-liquid extraction techniques such as: hot-maceration, maceration with ultrasound, rapid solid-liquid dynamic extraction using the Naviglio extractor, and a combination of two techniques (mix extraction). The chromatographic analysis by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) of the methanolic extract of dried purslane leaves allowed the identification of various polyphenolic compounds for comparison with the standards. In addition, the properties of the different extracts were calculated on dry matter and the antioxidant properties of the total polyphenol components analyzed by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. The results showed that mix extraction was the most efficient compared to other techniques. In fact, it obtained a quantity of polyphenols amounting to 237.8 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/100 g of fresh weight, while in other techniques, the range varied from 60–160 mg GAE/100 g fresh weight. In addition, a qualitative analysis by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) of the phenolic compounds present in the purslane leaves examined was carried out. The compounds were identified by comparison of their molecular weight, fragmentation pattern and retention time with those of standards, using the “Multiple Reaction Monitoring” mode (MRM). Therefore, this study allowed the re-evaluation of a little-known plant that possesses as its beneficial properties, a great potential for use in both the food and the nutraceuticals and cosmetic field.
Links between paternal depressive symptoms, parental sensitivity and children's responsiveness: A study on Israeli children with feeding disorders

This study examined mechanisms by which paternal depressive symptoms are related to children's responsiveness to their fathers and mothers among children with feeding disorders (FD). Participants included 28 children diagnosed with FD and their parents and 27 children and parents in non-FD families. Measures included paternal reports of depressive symptoms and videotaping of parents' sensitivity and children's responsiveness, as exhibited during play and feeding interactions. Analyses revealed that in both groups, paternal sensitivity mediated the link between paternal depressive symptoms and children's responsiveness to their fathers. However, crossover effects of paternal depressive symptoms on the mother-child relationship were evident only among the FD group. Specifically, paternal depressive symptoms were linked to lower maternal sensitivity, which in turn, was linked to children's reduced responsiveness to their mothers. The paper discusses the role of paternal depressive symptoms in the parent-child relationship, especially in families having children with FD, as well as different mediation processes for mothers and fathers.