Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevated Anti-Müllerian Hormone Is an Independent Risk Factor for Preterm Birth Among Patients With Overweight Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective To explore whether elevated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels affect the rate of preterm birth (PTB) among PCOS patients with different BMIs. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, patients with PCOS who had undergone IVF/ICSI from January 2017 to December 2019 were included for potential evaluation. A total of 2368 singleton live births from PCOS patients were included. According to the BMI, all the PCOS patients were divided into two groups: BMI<24 kg/m2 and BMI≥24 kg/m2. In total, 1339 PCOS patients with a BMI<24 kg/m2 were grouped according to their serum AMH levels: ① <2.71 ng/ml (n=333), ② 2.71-4.08 ng/ml (n=330), ③ 4.09-6.45 ng/ml (n=351), and ④ >6.45 ng/ml (n=325). Additionally, 1029 cycles of patients with a BMI≥24 kg/m2 were grouped according to the serum AMH level: ① <2.71 ng/ml (n=255), ② 2.71-4.08 ng/ml (n=267), ③ 4.09-6.45 ng/ml (n=239), and ④ >6.45 ng/ml (n=268), with <2.71 ng/ml being considered the reference group. The grouping was based mainly on the interquartile range of serum AMH levels. The primary outcome of the study was PTB. The secondary outcomes were low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), macrosomia and large for gestational age (LGA). Results Regarding PCOS patients with a BMI<24 kg/m2, compared with the PTB rate of the AMH <2.71 ng/ml group, the PTB rates of the different groups were not significantly different (AMH 2.71-4.08, AOR (95% CI)=1.01 (0.52-2.00), P=0.99; AMH 4.09-6.45, AOR (95% CI)=0.93 (0.45-1.91), P=0.85; AMH>6.45, AOR (95% CI)=0.78 (0.35-1.73), P=0.54). Regarding PCOS patients with a BMI ≥24 kg/m2, compared with the PTB rate of the AMH <2.71 ng/ml group, the PTB rate of the AMH>6.45 ng/ml group was significantly higher (OR=2.47; 95% CI=1.34-4.55). After multiple logistic regression analysis, the risk of PTB in the AMH>6.45 ng/ml group was 2.1 times that in the AMH<2.71 ng/ml group (AOR=2.1, 95% CI=1.01-4.37, P=0.04). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the rate of SGA, LBW, macrosomia or LGA among patients in the different serum AMH groups. Conclusion For PCOS patients, a BMI≥24 kg/m2 plus serum AMH>6.45 ng/ml (75th percentile) is an independent risk factor for PTB.
Catastrophe bonds as innovations in an agent-based CAPM

This thesis studies the effect of catastrophe (CAT) bonds as innovations in a financial market. It provides a new and alternative approach to the description of CAT bonds, by utilizing an agent-based CAPM to analyse the behaviour of CAT bonds in a financial-market setting that comprises key features of an insurance industry. First, a model of CAT bonds as new assets in the single-period CAPM is developed. In this model, a CAT bond price is determined by a market clearing condition. The effects of CAT bonds on the financial market are discussed. Conditions under which investors include new assets in their portfolios to increase utility are established. The premium and coupon of a CAT bond are determined, which provides an equilibrium theoretical foundation of the premium calculation principle from actuarial science. The notion of transferable insurance risk is developed and conditions for the transferability of catastrophe risk from the insurance industry to the financial market by means of CAT bonds are established. In a second step, CAT bonds are introduced in an agent-based multi-period CAPM with investors holding heterogeneous beliefs regarding future payoffs of assets. The minimum premium and coupon are determined. The notion of transferable risk is adapted to an agent-based framework. The concept of perceived Pareto superiority is introduced. Stochastic difference equations are derived to describe the co-evolution of asset and CAT bond prices. The changes in the market price of risk are analysed. The concept of a perfect forecasting rule is generalized to CAT bonds. Finally, a compound Poisson process that describes the evolution of insurance losses related to catastrophe risk is introduced. The loss that CAT bonds cover at each time period is simulated and discussed according to two different scenarios. By applying the loss process, the effects of CAT bonds on the financial market are simulated in terms of investors' behaviour and market risk.
Feasibility and efficacy of chronic transfusion for stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease

Objectives: In children with sickle cell disease (SCD), chronic transfusion to maintain haemoglobin S (HbS) below 30% markedly decreases both the risk of a first stroke when transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography shows abnormal cerebral blood flow velocities and the risk of recurrent stroke. Maintaining HbS below 30% may be difficult, especially in countries where blood donors and recipients belong to different ethnic groups and where the availability of closely matched blood products is limited. We assessed the feasibility and efficacy of chronic transfusion with an HbS target of 30% in children with SCD living in the Paris area.
Ubiquitin-protein ligase activity of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein promotes proteasomal degradation of caspase-3 and enhances its anti-apoptotic effect in Fas-induced cell death

The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family of anti-apoptotic proteins regulate programmed cell death and/or apoptosis. One such protein, X-linked IAP (XIAP), inhibits the activity of the cell death proteases, caspase-3, -7, and -9. In this study, using constitutively active mutants of caspase-3, we found that XIAP promotes the degradation of active-form caspase-3, but not procaspase-3, in living cells. The XIAP mutants, which cannot interact with caspase-3, had little or no activity of promoting the degradation of caspase-3. RING finger mutants of XIAP also could not promote the degradation of caspase-3. A proteasome inhibitor suppressed the degradation of caspase-3 by XIAP, suggesting the involvement of a ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the degradation. An in vitro ubiquitination assay revealed that XIAP acts as a ubiquitin-protein ligase for caspase-3. Caspase-3 was ubiquitinated in the presence of XIAP in living cells. Both the association of XIAP with caspase-3 and the RING finger domain of XIAP were essential for ubiquitination. Finally, the RING finger mutants of XIAP were less effective than wild-type XIAP at preventing apoptosis induced by overexpression of either active-form caspase-3 or Fas. These results demonstrate that the ubiquitin-protein ligase activity of XIAP promotes the degradation of caspase-3, which enhances its anti-apoptotic effect.
Chloroplast Genome Traits Correlate With Organismal Complexity and Ecological Traits in Chlorophyta

A positive relationship between cell size and chloroplast genome size within chloroplast-bearing protists has been hypothesized in the past and shown in some case studies, but other factors influencing chloroplast genome size during the evolution of chlorophyte algae have been less studied. We study chloroplast genome size and GC content as a function of habitats and cell size of chlorophyte algae. The chloroplast genome size of green algae in freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats was differed significantly, with terrestrial algae having larger chloroplast genome sizes in general. The most important contributor to these enlarged genomes in terrestrial species was the length of intergenic regions. There was no clear difference in the GC content of chloroplast genomes from the three habitats categories. Functional morphological categories also showed differences in chloroplast genome size, with filamentous algae having substantially larger genomes than other forms of algae, and foliose algae had lower GC content than other groups. Chloroplast genome size showed no significant differences among the classes Ulvophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, and Chlorophyceae, but the GC content of Chlorophyceae chloroplast genomes was significantly lower than that of Ulvophyceae and Trebouxiophyceae. There was a certain positive relationship between chloroplast genome size and cell size for the Chlorophyta as a whole and within each of three major classes. Our data also confirmed previous reports that ancestral quadripartite architecture had been lost many times independently in Chlorophyta. Finally, the comparison of the phenotype of chlorophytes algae harboring plastids uncovered that most of the investigated Chlorophyta algae housed a single plastid per cell.
HIV providers’ likelihood to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention differs by patient type: a short report

ABSTRACT Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the antiretroviral treatment regimen for HIV-negative people at high risk of acquiring HIV, has demonstrated efficacy across clinical trials in several patient populations. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have released detailed guidelines to aid providers in prescribing PrEP for their high-risk patients, including men who have sex with men (MSM), high-risk heterosexuals, and injection drug users (IDUs). Given that much attention in PrEP has focused on MSM patients, the present study used an online survey to assess factors involved in HIV care providers’ (n = 363) decisions about prescribing PrEP, along with their willingness to prescribe PrEP to patients from various risk populations (e.g., MSM, heterosexuals, IDUs). The efficacy of PrEP was an important factor in providers' decisions about prescribing PrEP, as were considerations about patients’ adherence to the regimen, regular follow-up for care, and medication costs. This survey's findings also suggest that providers’ willingness to prescribe PrEP varies by patient group, with providers most willing to initiate the regimen with MSM who have an HIV-positive partner, and least willing to prescribe to high-risk heterosexuals or IDUs. In the context of the current CDC recommendations for PrEP that include MSM, heterosexuals, and IDUs, examining providers’ rationales for and barriers against supporting this HIV prevention strategy across patient groups merits further attention.
Backlighting the European Indium Recycling Potentials

With increased understanding of the effects of human activities on the environment and added awareness of the increasing societal value of natural resources, researchers have begun to focus on the characterization of elemental cycles. Indium has captured significant attention due to the potential for supply shortages and nonexistent recycling at end of life. Such a combination of potentially critical features is magnified for countries that depend on imports of indium, notably many European countries. With the aims of analyzing the dynamics of material flows and of estimating the magnitude of secondary indium sources available for recycling, the anthropogenic indium cycle in Europe has been investigated by material flow analysis. The results showed that the region is a major consumer of finished goods containing indium, and the cumulative addition of indium in urban mines was estimated at about 500 tonnes of indium. We discuss these results from the perspective of closing the metal cycle in the region. Securing access to critical raw materials is a priority for Europe, but the preference for recycling metal urban mines risks to remain only theoretical for indium unless innovations in waste collection and processing unlock the development of technologies that are economically feasible and environmentally sustainable.
Doll therapy: A therapeutic means to meet past attachment needs and diminish behaviours of concern in a person living with dementia – a case study approach

The aim of this research study was to examine the impact of the provision of a lifelike baby doll as a therapeutic tool on the behaviour of a person living with dementia. Specifically, this single case study assessed the potential benefits, if any, of the use of doll therapy in reducing behaviours of concern such as anxiety and agitation that may be associated with observed attachment needs of a person living with dementia. Method: A single case study of a female participant, with moderately advanced Alzheimer’s disease, was the subject of this research. The case study used both qualitative and quantitative research design and methodology in data collection and analysis. Results: Demonstrated that doll therapy was a positive intervention for the person living with dementia who was the participant in this research. The findings indicate a reduction in behaviours of concern related to the need for attachment and a considerable decline in levels of anxiety and agitation. There was extensive ongoing improvement in social interaction and communication. Conclusion: This research supports doll therapy as a therapeutic intervention that may be utilized within the ongoing care of some persons with dementia to meet needs for attachment and to reduce behaviours of concern. Despite some controversy on this topic, doll therapy should be considered as a therapeutic approach to further dementia care in light of this positive outcome.
#EngineersWeek: Broadening our Understanding of Community Engagement Through Analysis of Twitter Use During the National Engineers Week

Community engagement efforts have become an important avenue for raising public interest and know-how related to engineering. These efforts draw the young and the diverse into seeing engineering as a worthwhile profession. One such effort at the national level in the U.S. is the “National Engineers Week”. This is a week-long celebration held every February that consists of numerous events and activities organized for the general public with a focus towards students, women, and under-represented groups. In this paper, we examined this effort through the lens of social media and analyzed Twitter data collected for two hashtags used during the National Engineers Week 2017: “#eweek2017” and “#engineersweek”. Our dataset consisted of 6,583 original tweets and 10,885 retweets. To study the impact of the outreach we used three analytical approaches: descriptive analysis, content analysis, and network analysis. We found that the Twitter campaign participation was dominated by engineering companies and individual users followed by a limited participation of educational institutions, professional engineering associations, and non-profits. As opposed to other popular hashtag campaigns, not a single news media organization was identified as a participating user signaling a lower new media-driven propagation of the campaign among the public. From a content perspective, the tweets can be categorized as event promotion, showcasing employees of engineering companies, or encouraging and inspiring public (especially women and children) towards engineering. With the growing popularity of social media, community engagement efforts need to strategically leverage hashtags and other media elements for a broader impact.
Ethogram Analysis Reveals New Body Patterning Behavior of the Tropical Arrow Squid Doryteuthis plei off the São Paulo Coast

Squids can express several body patterns, aided by a variety of visual signals that are produced by chromatophore organs. However, for several squid species, body patterning behavior during reproductive activity is still not completely understood. For example, what are the specific patterning changes and other visual signals, how do they appear, and how long do they last? To test the hypothesis that distinct chromatic components appear at different durations on the skin of the tropical arrow squid Doryteuthis plei in the Southern Hemisphere, we identified and described its body patterning behavior. Specimen squids were obtained from off the South Brazil Bight, near the coast of the São Paulo shelf. Animals were maintained and monitored in circular tanks for 62 d over six observation periods, from 2011 through 2013. An ethogram was constructed showing 19 chromatic, 5 locomotor, and 12 postural components, or body patterns, associated with reproductive behavior. New chromatic components (i.e., those not yet reported in the North Atlantic D. plei species), particularly those linked to female sexual maturity, were observed. A postural component, the “J-Posture,” linked to defenses and alarm, also was noted. The average time spent for “light” components was 32 s. The corresponding “dark” components had an average duration of 28 s. Females displayed the chromatic components related to calm behavior longer than males. However, males appeared to be more dedicated to disputes over resources, and used rapid, miscellaneous visual signaling. In conclusion, new basic types of body patterns are described for D. plei. The repertoire of chromatic components reported in the ethogram is, to our knowledge, the first record for D. plei of the Southern Hemisphere.
Clinical and prognostic features of patients with pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus in the intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical and prognostic features of patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) with pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus. METHODS Patients admitted to the intensive care unit for severe pneumonia associated with pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus were evaluated. RESULTS The study included 20 patients with the mean age of 36±13. Of the 20 subjects, 17 (85%) had underlying conditions. Of the 20 patients, 11(55%) were discharged and 9 (45%) died. Cardinal symptoms were fever, myalgia, and hemoptysis with the rates of 85 %, 75 % and 45 %, respectively. All patients had pneumonic infiltrations in their chest roentgenograms. Main laboratory findings were lymphopenia, high creatin phosphokinase (CPK) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. All patients had positivity on real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). None of the patients had pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus vaccination. None of them had taken oseltamivir within 48 hours. Main reasons for mortality were cardiovascular complications and ventilatory associated pneumonia due to Acynetobacter baumannii. CONCLUSION Early diagnosis and antiviral treatment in these cases seem to be the best approach to avoid serious illness. Special attention should be given to patients having underlying conditions such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and pregnancy.
Esthetic impact of tooth extraction in Pakistani patients.

BACKGROUND The norms of Pakistani female patients differ from other Asian patients, this difference should be considered during diagnosis and treatment planning and they should be treated with different protocols in terms of tooth extraction and non-extraction treatments. The present study will provide clinical guidelines to assist in the decision-making process for borderline patients when considering extraction or non-extraction in the orthodontic treatment plan. METHODS Panels of 40 dentists and 40 laypersons evaluated randomly presented pre- treatment and post-treatment soft-tissue profiles of 30 extraction and 30 non-extraction female patients. Borderline patients were selected based on their initial diagnostic records. Two panels were asked to compare the pre-treatment and post-treatment soft tissue profile tracings and to quantify their perceptions of the aesthetic impact of treatment change using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS The mean VAS scores of dentists and laypersons for extraction treatment strategy were +23.03±27.89 and +19.41±26.79 mm (p=0.182) respectively. For non-extraction treatment strategy, mean VAS scores of dentists and laypersons were +12.51? 26.56 and +14.55±21.22 mm (p=0.448) respectively. The mean change in lower lip protrusion after extraction treatment was 2.15±3.38 mm (p=0.002) and after non-extraction treatment was 0.83+2.75 mm (p=0.109). CONCLUSIONS No significant difference was found between dentists and laypersons in their perception of aesthetic impact of a treatment strategy. There was significant change in lower lip protrusion only after the extraction treatment strategy.
Age- and serotype-specific pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease: insights from systematic surveillance in Santiago, Chile, 1994--2007.

BACKGROUND We monitored pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Santiago, Chile, from 1994 to 2007. METHODS Three related data sets were generated: (1) IPD cases requiring hospitalization, 1994--2007; (2) cases of bacteremia detected among febrile patients aged 0-35 months seen in emergency departments, 2000--2007; and (3) nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococcal serotypes, determined from repetitive culturing, among 524 newborns followed up through age 23 months. RESULTS Of 2369 IPD cases requiring hospitalization, 1878 (79.3%) occurred in those aged 0-59 months, and 1200 (50.7%) occurred in those aged 6-35 months. Among infants aged 0-5 months, meningitis and sepsis comprised 48.4% of all IPD cases (serotype 5 predominated); among those 6-35 months old, 522 (43.5%) of 1200 cases were bacteremic pneumonia (serotype 14 predominated). Serotype 1 peritonitis was common among 5-14-year-old girls. Meningitis and sepsis exhibited high case fatality rates (14%-29%) among all ages. Remarkably, 34 (28.8%) of 118 children with sepsis died, versus 1 fatality (0.4%) among 276 children hospitalized with bacteremia without a focus (P < .001, Fisher's exact test). Serotype 5 was significantly more common among hospitalized patients < 36 months of age, whereas serotype 18C was overrepresented among ambulatory patients. The annual incidence of serotype 14 was stable; those of serotypes 1 and 5 fluctuated markedly. Serotypes 14, 5, and 1 were overrepresented among invasive compared with nasopharyngeal isolates. CONCLUSIONS Clinical syndromes of IPD and predominant serotypes vary with age.
Using Epistemological Positions and Orientations to Instruction to Explore School-Based, Agricultural Educators' Perceptual Identities: A Q-Sort Study.

Mounting empirical evidence suggests the conflation of teachers’ instructional orientations and personal epistemological beliefs helps form the perceptual identity of educators. The current study, therefore, sought to describe in what way Oklahoma agricultural education teachers’ epistemological beliefs and orientations toward instruction combine to form the dominant perceptual identities of school-based, agricultural education (SBAE) instructors. To accomplish this, a Q methodological approach was employed. Findings revealed three key perceptual identities of SBAE instructors: Diligent Educator, Daring Educator, and Devoted Educator. Each perceptual identity stressed the importance of experiential learning. However, positions differed in how they believed experiential learning should be delivered to students. For example, Diligent Educators maintained that learning should involve a well-designed educational plan that stresses hard work. Devoted Educators, however, placed emphasis on nurturing students throughout the learning process. Meanwhile, Daring Educators contend knowledge is more fluid and self-constructed. Using Perry’s (1970) epistemological development scheme and Bowden’s (1990) conception of phenomenographic pedagogy, recommendations for praxis are offered for each perceptual identity.