Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological distress as a correlate of a biologically confirmed STI, risky sexual practices, self-efficacy and communication with male sex partners in African-American female adolescents

Previous research has established the association between psychosocial factors and risky sexual behaviour. However, few studies have examined the relationship between psychological distress and sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV-associated behaviours in African-American youth. The present study examined the association of psychological distress with STI/HIV-risk behaviour and psycho-social mediators of HIV-preventive behaviours. A sample of 715 African-American female adolescents, 15–21 years old, completed an audio computer assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) assessing sociodemographics, psychological distress, self-efficacy, communication and STI/HIV-associated sexual behaviours. Participants also provided self-collected vaginal swab specimens, which were assayed for STIs. High levels of psychological distress were defined as having a score of ≥7 on the eight-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale. The overall prevalence of high levels of psychological distress was 44.5%. Logistic regression analyses revealed that adolescents with high psychological distress, relative to those with low psychological distress, were more likely to have a biologically confirmed STI (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 1.40), use condoms inconsistently (AOR = 1.50), not use condoms during their last casual sexual encounter (AOR = 1.89), have sex while high on alcohol or drugs (AOR = 1.47), have male sexual partners with concurrent female sexual partners (AOR = 1.98), have low condom use self-efficacy (AOR = 1.54), partner sexual communication self-efficacy (AOR = 1.77), refusal self-efficacy (AOR = 2.05) and be more fearful of communicating with their partners (AOR = 1.98). These findings, although preliminary, could be used to inform HIV intervention programs and physicians/clinicians providing regular health care maintenance to African-American female adolescents engaging in risky sexual behaviour.
Zfp703 Is a Wnt/β-Catenin Feedback Suppressor Targeting the β-Catenin/Tcf1 Complex

ABSTRACT The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway controls embryonic development and adult stem cell maintenance through the regulation of transcription. Failure to downregulate Wnt signaling can result in embryonic malformations and cancer, highlighting the important role of negative regulators of the pathway. The Wnt pathway activates several negative feedback targets, including axin2 and Dkk1, that function at different levels of the signaling cascade; however, none have been identified that directly target active β-catenin/Tcf1 transcriptional complexes. We show that Zfp703 is a Wnt target gene that inhibits Wnt/β-catenin activity in Wnt reporter assays and in Wnt-dependent mesoderm differentiation in embryonic stem cells. Zfp703 binds directly to Tcf1 to inhibit β-catenin/Tcf1 complex formation and does so independently of the Groucho/Tle transcriptional corepressor. We propose that Zfp703 is a novel feedback suppressor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling that functions by inhibiting the association of β-catenin with Tcf1 on Wnt response elements in target gene enhancers.
Experimental candidiasis in neutropenic dogs: tissue burden of infection and granulocyte transfusion effects.

Neutropenic dogs with systemic candidiasis were studied to establish quantitative relationships between tissue burdens of microorganisms and the kinetics of transfused granulocytes. Three groups of dogs rendered neutropenic by chemotherapy were evaluated. Group I consisted of 8 control dogs that were not challenged with Candida albicans; group II. 6 dogs challenged with 1 0#{176} C. albicans; group III. 7 dogs challenged with 1 0 C. albicans. Granulecytes obtained from random donors were transfused 24 and 48 hr after fungal challenge in groups II and Ill and at comparable times in noninfected controls. Serial granulecyte counts obtained following each transfusion were compared for 1 -hr increments and half-time disappearance (T’/2). At autopsy, 24 hr following the last transfusion. tissues were quantitatively assayed for C. albicans.
R&D Drivers and Obstacles to Innovation in the Energy Industry

The energy industry is facing substantial challenges that require innovation to be fostered. Nevertheless, levels of R&D investment and innovation remain quite low in comparison with other sectors. In this paper we analyse the main drivers of R&D investment and obstacles to innovation in the energy industry. We examine, firstly, whether the stated R&D objectives pursued by firms play a role in their R&D effort. Secondly, we analyse the effects of financial, knowledge and market barriers on the innovation outcomes of the firms. We rely on data from the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC) for Spanish firms for the period 2003-2010. We use a structural model with three equations corresponding to the decision to carry out R&D or not, the R&D effort and the production of innovations. The results of the econometric estimations show, first, that R&D intensity is positively related to process innovation. Second, the main barriers that hamper innovation in the energy industry are related to market factors while financial and knowledge obstacles are not significant.
Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Aged 35 or less – A Different Beast?

Aim: To assess the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 200 consecutive patients aged 35 years or less undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Patients and Methods: Findings in these 200 patients (≤ 35 years of age) were analyzed to find the extent and severity of CAD. The mean age was 31.69 (±3.76) years. Majority were males (94%) and from the Arab ethnicity (70.5%). Result: Smoking (71%) and history of premature CAD (27%) were the most frequent risk factors (RF). History of previous ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) was present in 68%. Anterior wall MI was the most frequent location (63.3%). The majority (54.3%) had moderate or large size MI. Ejection fraction (EF) less than 50% was noted in 30.3%. Left main or triple vessel CAD was seen in 15%. One- and two-vessel CAD was seen in 32.5% and 19% patients, respectively. Coronary angiogram was completely normal in 23.5%. The majority (54.5%) were treated conservatively and the rest (45.5%) needed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The mean number of stents used was 1.3 ± 0.67 and the mean length of stents used was 20.3 ± 12.6 mm. Conclusion: The extent and severity of CAD was very significant in this subgroup of very young (≤35 years) Asian patients. Smoking was the main risk factor and half of the patients needed either PCI or CABG.
Reduction in intrasubject variability in the pharmacokinetic response to insulin after subcutaneous co-administration with recombinant human hyaluronidase in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to test the hypothesis that co-administration of recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) with regular insulin or insulin lispro will reduce intrasubject variability in pharmacokinetic end points compared with lispro alone. METHODS Healthy adult volunteers (18-55 years old) were enrolled in this phase 1, randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Subjects were administered two injections, each on a separate occasion, of three treatments during six euglycemic clamps. Treatments were 0.15 U/kg insulin lispro, 0.15 U/kg insulin lispro with 5 μg/mL rHuPH20, and 0.15 IU/kg regular insulin with 5 μg/mL rHuPH20. Insulin formulations were administered at a concentration of 40 U/mL. Serum immunoreactive insulin levels, blood glucose concentration, and glucose infusion rate determinations were made at baseline and for approximately 8 h after study drug administration. Intrasubject variability was assessed using a general linear mixed model with a fixed effect for treatment using a compound symmetric covariance matrix. RESULTS Co-injection of rHuPH20 with lispro significantly reduced intrasubject root mean square differences in time to peak serum insulin, time to early 50% peak serum insulin (t(50%)), and time to late t(50%) levels compared with lispro alone. Also, the intrasubject coefficient of variation for percentage of total area under the plasma concentration-versus-time curve for early time intervals compared with lispro alone was reduced. Intrasubject variability for regular insulin with rHuPH20 for most pharmacokinetic parameters was similar to the variability of lispro alone, although variability in early exposure was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS Co-administration of rHuPH20 with lispro significantly reduced the variability of insulin pharmacokinetics relative to insulin lispro alone.
BRONCHOCONSTRICTION-TRIGGERED COUGH IN CONSCIOUS GUINEA PIGS

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between bronchoconstriction and cough induced by methacholine (Mch) inhalation and to elucidate the role of C-fibers and rapidly adapting irritant receptors (RARs) in these reactions in conscious guinea pigs. The authors measured enhanced pause (Penh) as an index of bronchoconstriction and also measured the number of coughs induced by Mch inhalation in conscious guinea pigs. The authors also examined the effects of pretreatment with procaterol, capsaicin desensitization and moguisteine on these responses. There was a significant positive correlation between the increase in Penh and the number of coughs induced by Mch inhalation. Procaterol (0.1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [i.p.]) completely abolished both the Mch-induced increase in Penh and cough. Capsaicin desensitization had no effect on Penh or the number of coughs. Moguisteine (0.02, 0.2, or 2 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently inhibited the number of coughs but not the increase in Penh induced by Mch inhalation. Bronchoconstriction causes cough via RARs, but not C-fibers. Neither RARs nor C-fibers are involved in Mch-induced bronchoconstriction itself.
Automatic Orthorectification of High-Resolution Optical Satellite Images Using Vector Roads

This paper presents a completely automatic processing chain for orthorectification of optical pushbroom sensors. The procedure is robust and works without manual intervention from raw satellite image to orthoimage. It is modularly divided in four main steps: metadata extraction, automatic ground control point (GCP) extraction, geometric modeling, and orthorectification. The GCP extraction step uses georeferenced vector roads as a reference and produces a file with a list of points and their accuracy estimation. The physical geometric model is based on collinearity equations and works with sensor-corrected (level 1) optical satellite images. It models the sensor position and attitude with second-order piecewise polynomials depending on the acquisition time. The exterior orientation parameters are estimated in a least squares adjustment, employing random sample consensus and robust estimation algorithms for the removal of erroneous points and fine-tuning of the results. The images are finally orthorectified using a digital elevation model and positioned in a national coordinate system. The usability of the method is presented by testing three RapidEye images of regions with different terrain configurations. Several tests were carried out to verify the efficiency of the procedure and to make it more robust. Using the geometric model, subpixel accuracy on independent check points was achieved, and positional accuracy of orthoimages was around one pixel. The proposed procedure is general and can be easily adapted to various sensors.
Credit Watch , Earnings Management , and Credit Analyst Efficiency with Respect to Accounting Information *

This study empirically tests whether the credit Watchlist creates an implicit contract between debt issuing firms and credit rating agencies (CRAs), whereby the CRA effectively motivates the issuer to take necessary actions that alleviate conditions that might otherwise lower the credit rating and then effectively monitors those actions. Based on Boot Milbourn, and Schmeits (2006), I hypothesize and provide evidence that, in response to negative economic news, issuers most likely to effectively respond to the terms of the implicit contract appear on the Watchlist. In addition, I find that firms placed on Watchlists generally manage earnings upward in both the year before and the year of the CRA announcement that the firm is “on watch. ” I investigate various forms of earnings management, including accruals and real operating activities manipulation. Some evidence suggests that firms manage earnings in attempts to gain favorable Watchlist treatment. However, I find no evidence that the CRA is fooled by these attempts. Rather, it appears more likely that interpretation of other information or firm characteristics that make positive (negative) Watchlist firms poor candidates for credit upgrades (confirmations) guides CRA decisions and the CRA effectively “sees through” earnings manipulation aimed at managing CRA perceptions.
Can established CT attenuation and washout criteria for adrenal adenoma accurately exclude pheochromocytoma?

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to determine the proportion of pheochromocytomas that mimic adrenal adenoma using established CT washout and attenuation criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS The CT characteristics of pheochromocytomas confirmed by histologic analysis (n = 46) and (131)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (n = 1) were compared with those of 98 adrenal adenomas (negative plasma and urinary metanephrines or catecholamines, and one or more of the following characteristics: unenhanced attenuation ≤ 10 HU, absolute washout ≥ 60%, and relative washout ≥ 40%). CT numbers were measured in all available phases (unenhanced [n = 37], 1-minute contrast enhanced [n = 46], and delayed contrast enhanced [n = 43]) using a region of interest that encompassed the majority of the mass. Absolute washout, relative washout, and degree of enhancement (1-minute minus unenhanced) were calculated. Mass size and heterogeneity were recorded and compared using the Student t test and a chi-square test, respectively. RESULTS Twenty-four of 47 (51%) pheochromocytomas were imaged with a triphasic examination using a 15-minute delay. Eight of 24 (33%) met relative (6/24 [25%]) or absolute (7/24 [29%]) washout criteria for the diagnosis of a lipid-poor adenoma. Four of these (50% [4/8]) were homogeneous on all three phases. None of the pheochromocytomas had an unenhanced attenuation of 10 HU or less. Pheochromocytomas were significantly larger than adrenal adenomas (mean diameter, 3.9 cm [range, 0.6-14 cm] vs 2.0 cm [range, 0.8-3.9 cm]; p < 0.0001) and were significantly less likely to be homogeneous (15/47 [32%] vs 95/98 [97%]; p < 0.0001), but there was overlap. CONCLUSION A substantial minority of pheochromocytomas have absolute or relative washout characteristics that overlap with those of lipid-poor adenomas.
New Investigation in Energy Regeneration of Hydraulic Elevators

In the conventional valve-controlled hydraulic elevator, when the cabin moves downwards, the entire potential energy of the cabin is wasted and converted into fluid heat by throttling. Thus, the energy consumption of a traditional hydraulic elevator is much higher than that of the traction elevator. To reduce the energy consumption and power installation requirements, the energy-regenerative hydraulic elevators have been developed since 1997. In this paper, different generations of the design are discussed for energy-regenerative system; in particular, a new generation is focused on in detail. Experimental studies of this new design are carried out to compare the energy consumption of different system designs of hydraulic elevator. Finally, a conclusion is drawn that the new generation of hydraulic elevator can achieve a significant energy-saving performance compared to the traditional elevators.
Hippocampal adult neurogenesis is enhanced by chronic eszopiclone treatment in rats

The adult hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) exhibits cell proliferation and neurogenesis throughout life. We examined the effects of daily administration of eszopiclone (Esz), a commonly used hypnotic drug and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, compared with vehicle, on DG cell proliferation and neurogenesis, and on sleep–wake patterns. Esz was administered during the usual sleep period of rats, to mimic typical use in humans. Esz treatment for 7 days did not affect the rate of cell proliferation, as measured by 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunostaining. However, twice‐daily Esz administration for 2 weeks increased survival of newborn cells by 46%. Most surviving cells exhibited a neuronal phenotype, identified as BrdU–neuronal nuclei (NeuN) double‐labeling. NeuN is a marker of neurons. Non‐rapid eye movement sleep was increased on day 1, but not on days 7 or 14 of Esz administration. Delta electroencephalogram activity was increased on days 1 and 7 of treatment, but not on day 14. There is evidence that enhancement of DG neurogenesis is a critical component of the effects of antidepressant treatments of major depressive disorder (MDD). Adult‐born DG cells are responsive to GABAergic stimulation, which promotes cell maturation. The present study suggests that Esz, presumably acting as a GABA agonist, has pro‐neurogenic effects in the adult DG. This result is consistent with evidence that Esz enhances the antidepressant treatment response of patients with MDD with insomnia.
Infective endocarditis in patients with negative blood cultures: analysis of 88 cases from a one-year nationwide survey in France.

Blood cultures were negative in 88 (14%) of 620 cases of infective endocarditis (IE) documented in France during a 1-year nationwide survey. In 15 of these 88 cases, the causative microorganism was identified: seven cases of Q fever endocarditis and two cases of chlamydial endocarditis were diagnosed by serological and/or immunohistologic techniques, and a pathogen was cultured from five surgically removed valves and one arterial septic embolus. Forty-two (48%) of the 88 cases involved patients who had received antibiotics before the first blood sample was taken for culture. Mortality was lower in this group than among patients who had not previously received antibiotics (7% vs. 22%, P = .05). Comparison of blood culture-negative cases of IE with blood culture-positive cases revealed that the former tended to occur more often on prosthetic valves (32% vs. 22%, P = .16), were more often left-sided (97% vs. 83%, P = .0009), less often included extracardiac symptoms at presentation (52% vs. 63%, P = .06), and were more often surgically treated (53% vs. 34%, P = .001). Mortality was similar regardless of the results of blood culture (15% vs. 21%, P = .18). This study showed that more than 10% of all cases of IE in France are still associated with negative blood cultures and confirmed that a search for pathogens such as Coxiella burnetii and Chlamydia species is worthwhile in this situation.
Dynamique des formations agroforestières en Côte d'Ivoire (depuis les années 1980 aux années 2000) : suivi par télédétection et développement d'une approche cartographique

La Cote d'Ivoire connait depuis les annees 1960 un net recul des surfaces forestieres au profit des espaces cultives, essentiellement a des fins commerciales, par l'implantation de parcelles de cafe ou de cacao. Les superficies forestieres sont passees de 8 a 2 millions d'hectares entre 1960 et 2000. En outre, au sein de ces massifs, on estime a plus de 500000 hectares la superficie des plantations de cafe et de cacao. Ce phenomene a ete accentue par la forte croissance demographique et par un mouvement d'exode des villes vers les campagnes lors des crises economiques. Ces mutations sont a l'origine de l'appropriation de l'espace au detriment des zones forestieres. Toutefois, les retombees environnementales de ces phenomenes sont encore mal connues, les etudes approfondies a des echelles spatio-temporelles differentes en Cote d'Ivoire sont encore peu nombreuses. Nous allons donc utiliser la teledetection et les SIG afin de renseigner la dynamique de l'occupation des sols entre les annees 1980 et 2000, tout en s'interessant a des questions scientifiques connexes comme le role de la diminution des precipitations en Afrique de l'Ouest depuis les annees 1950.
The Greek Language

What follows on Negatives is a good example of the difficulty of adding new matter to an old book. Negation is treated in chapter xi and reference is here (p. 69) made to it, though with the wrong chapter-number. In chapter iv we have a brief indication of the kind of sentence-construction in which ov plays a part and pyq cannot, such as negativing a whole ftev+Se complex, so that ov becomes equivalent to 'it is not true to say that'. The pity is that the opportunity was not taken for a more extensive revision of the chapter on negatives itself and for the correction of some errors of interpretation. Here are two from Xhucydides—npovXeyov TO Trepl Meyapiwv <frrj</>iafia KaBeXovoi fj/rj av yiyveadai •noXefiov (i. 139). Humbert translates correctly but adds 'Le participe implique une hypothese, qui entraine Pemploi de yvq'—a remark which would only be relevant if the /xij belonged to the protasis, which it clearly does not. And in TO iriveaOai oi>x ofioXoyeiv TIVI alaxpov, aXXa. /J.^ Siax/>evyeiv epya> aiax^ov (ii. 40) the ovx is not, even at first glance, 'contrairement a Pattente', since it negatives alaxpov and the sense is not 'the non-admission of poverty'. On p. 349, § 619 a quotation from Lucian is apparently intended to illustrate the tendency in literary Koan\ (cf. § 643) to use /jtf in causal clauses. But if so, it is badly chosen, since yJ\ goes with the participle irpoanoajxigas, and the usage is quite classical.
Oxidative Metabolism of Cord Blood Neutrophils: Relationship to Content and Degranulation of Cytoplasmic Granules

ABSTRACT. Generation of oxygen metabolites is an important component of the neutrophil's armamentarium against microbes. Production of superoxide anion (O−2) and generation of hydroxyl radical (·OH) were measured in neutrophils from cord blood of 12 vaginally delivered, term newborn infants and 12 adults after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and opsonized zymosan. With either stimulus, generation of ·OH was relatively less than production of O−2 for all infants studied. This discrepancy might be related to abnormal release or diminished cell content of a cofactor necessary for production of ·OH from O−2 Since both lactoferrin (LF) found in specific granules and myeloperoxidase (MPO) found in azurophilic granules have been shown to enhance ·OH generation, we compared degranulation of both granule types in response to PMA and opsonized zymosan and total neutrophil content of MPO, LF, and lysozyme in cord blood and adult neutrophils. Degranulation, even after pretreatment with cytochalasin B, was the same for newborn and adult neutrophils. Content of MPO was identical (adult, 204 ± 24 A units, mean ± SEM, n = 9; newborn, 201 ± 21, n = 9) but lysozyme was mildly diminished (adults, 111 ± 10 A units; newborn, 89 ± 6, n = 9, p < 0.05), and lactoferrin was moderately decreased (adult, 89.0±7.3 μg/mg cell protein, n = 11; newborn, 43.2±7.0, n=11 < 0.005). Generation of ·OH in response to PMA and LF content were measured in seven cord blood-adult control pairs. Both LF and ·OH generation were diminished in newborn cells and there was a direct relationship between OH generation and LF content. Electron microsopic studies of newborn neutrophils demonstrated evidence of degranulation and loss of specific granules. these dificits may be related to defective bactericidal activity exhibite by neutrophils from neonates. Activation of neutrophils during partuition may be the cause of the decrease in specific granules and the diminished LF content.