Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Which Immigrants Should Be Naturalized? Which Should Be Deported? Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Côte d’Ivoire

Experimental studies on immigration attitudes have been conducted overwhelmingly in Western countries and have focused on immigrant admission and naturalization, neglecting deportation as a possible outcome. In a survey experiment in Côte d’Ivoire, where immigrants represent more than one-tenth of the population, we randomized attributes of hypothetical immigrants to determine which factors influenced respondents’ support for naturalization or deportation compared with staying in the country without citizenship. Support for naturalization was shaped by several expected economic and social attributes, while deportation preferences were influenced primarily by the immigrant’s legal status and level of savings. Cultural proximity produced mixed results, with respondents less likely to support the naturalization of immigrants from neighboring African countries but also less likely to deport immigrants with whom they shared a religious faith. Finally, respondents were more likely to support the naturalization of immigrants who planned to vote if granted citizenship, especially when they were of the same religion as the respondent, indicating a degree of electoral calculation in a context where voting patterns are associated with religious identities. Together, these findings suggest that citizen preferences for naturalization and deportation are influenced by somewhat different factors, a possibility that warrants further testing in other contexts.
Fluoroscopic angiography in the gross anatomy dissection laboratory: Visualizing the aortic arch and its branches in a cadaver

We present fluoroscopic images of the aortic arch and its branches obtained in a first year medical gross anatomy teaching laboratory after an aberrant right subclavian artery was discovered during dissection. The aortic arch and its branches in the cadaver were filled with contrast medium in molten agar. After the agar solidified, a portable fluoroscope was used to obtain radiographic images. These post‐mortem images were then compared with computed tomography images obtained while the individual was living. The embryology, prevalence, and clinical findings of this arterial variation are reviewed, and the importance of recognizing the presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery before performing various procedures is discussed. This exercise gave students the unique opportunity to compare the three‐dimensional anatomy seen in the dissection laboratory with the two‐dimensional presentation of that same anatomy in the radiographic images that they will see in clinical practice. Clin. Anat. 24:253–257, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mobile phones for agricultural and rural development: a literature review and future research directions.

1 A. Background and Aims . 2 B. Framing and Methodology . 3 C. Mapping Mobile Phones for ARD: Issues and Evidence . 6 C1. ADDRESSING NEEDS . 7 C2. ADOPTION AND USE . 8 C3. OUTPUT AND IMPACT. 10 D. Conceptual Approaches and Methodological Issues . 14 D1. CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES . 14 D2. METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES . 16 E. Research Gaps and Future Research Directions . 21 E1. GAPS IN ISSUES AND EVIDENCE . 21 E2. GAPS IN CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH . 23 E3. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDA . 24 F. References . 27 Manchester Centre for Development Informatics Working Paper 50 1 Mobile Phones for Agricultural and Rural Development: A Literature Review and Future Research Directions Richard Duncombe Centre for Development Informatics IDPM, University of Manchester, UK Email: richard.duncombe@manchester.ac. uk
Dynamic topographical pattern classification of multichannel prefrontal NIRS signals: II. Online differentiation of mental arithmetic and rest

Objective. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has recently gained attention as a modality for brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), which may serve as an alternative access pathway for individuals with severe motor impairments. For NIRS–BCIs to be used as a real communication pathway, reliable online operation must be achieved. Yet, only a limited number of studies have been conducted online to date. These few studies were carried out under a synchronous paradigm and did not accommodate an unconstrained resting state, precluding their practical clinical implication. Furthermore, the potentially discriminative power of spatiotemporal characteristics of activation has yet to be considered in an online NIRS system. Approach. In this study, we developed and evaluated an online system-paced NIRS–BCI which was driven by a mental arithmetic activation task and accommodated an unconstrained rest state. With a dual-wavelength, frequency domain near-infrared spectrometer, measurements were acquired over nine sites of the prefrontal cortex, while ten able-bodied participants selected letters from an on-screen scanning keyboard via intentionally controlled brain activity (using mental arithmetic). Participants were provided dynamic NIR topograms as continuous visual feedback of their brain activity as well as binary feedback of the BCI's decision (i.e. if the letter was selected or not). To classify the hemodynamic activity, temporal features extracted from the NIRS signals and spatiotemporal features extracted from the dynamic NIR topograms were used in a majority vote combination of multiple linear classifiers. Main results. An overall online classification accuracy of 77.4 ± 10.5% was achieved across all participants. The binary feedback was found to be very useful during BCI use, while not all participants found value in the continuous feedback provided. Significance. These results demonstrate that mental arithmetic is a potent mental task for driving an online system-paced NIRS–BCI. BCI feedback that reflects the classifier's decision has the potential to improve user performance. The proposed system can provide a framework for future online NIRS–BCI development and testing.
Northwest African distribution of the CD4/Alu microsatellite haplotypes

We have analysed a linked microsatellite/Alu polymorphism at the CD4 locus (CD4/Alu) in 666 chromosomes from samples of the Iberian Peninsula, Northwest Africa, and West sub‐Saharan Africa. The Iberian Peninsula differs from other European populations by its higher levels of haplotype diversity (0.75), and weaker association between the microsatellite allele 90 and Alu(−) chromosomes. These results are explainable by a substantial gene flow from Northwest Africa. Significant geographic clines for the five major haplotypes suggest a south to north migration from sub‐Saharan Africa into Northwest Africa. In spite of this, the consistent presence of haplotype 110(−) in this area is congruent with an ancient and autochthonous human presence in Northwest Africa.
Contents and readability of currently used surgical/procedure informed consent forms in Nigerian tertiary health institutions.

BACKGROUND Surgical informed consent forms should have evidence that their use will enhance a shared decision-making which is the fundamental objective of informed consent in clinical practice. In the absence of any guideline in Nigeria on the content and language of informed consent forms, we sort to examine the surgical and procedure consent forms used by Federal tertiary health institutions in Nigeria, to know whether they fulfill the basic elements of informed consent. MATERIALS AND METHODS The surgical and procedure informed consent forms of 33 tertiary health institutions in Nigeria were assessed for their readability and contents. Adequacy of their content was evaluated based on provision for 28 content items identified as necessary information to be provided in a good consent form. The potential of the forms to be comprehended were assessed with Flesch readability formula. RESULTS The contents of majority of the forms were scant. None of the forms made provision for documentation of the patient's permission for blood transfusion, tissue disposal, awareness of the risks of not undergoing the prescribed treatment, and the risk of anesthesia. Risk disclosures were only mentioned in specific terms in 11.4% of the forms. Less than 10% of the forms made provisions for an interpreter, signature of anesthetists, alternative to the procedure to be mentioned, and answering of the patient's questions. The Flesch reading ease scores of the forms ranged from 34.1 (Difficult) to 67.5 (Standard), with a mean score of 55.2 (Fairly difficult level). Field evaluation of the forms show that they shall be partly understood by 13- to 15-year-old patients with basic education but are best understood by literate adult patients. CONCLUSION The content of majority of the informed consent forms used in Nigerian tertiary health institutions are poor and their readability scores are not better than those used in developed parts of the world. Health Institutions in Nigeria should revise their informed consent forms to improve their contents and do a usability trial on the sample forms before deployment in order to ensure that they are comprehensible for their patient population.
Resident and Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Become Dominant IL-12 Producers under Different Conditions and Signaling Pathways

IL-12 is such a pivotal cytokine that it has been called the third signal for T cell activation, TCR engagement being the first and costimulation being the second. It has been generally viewed that the resident CD8+ dendritic cell (DC) subset is the predominant IL-12–producing cell type. In this study, we found, although this is so under steady state conditions, under inflammatory conditions monocyte-derived DC (mDC) became a major cell type producing IL-12. Depletion of either type of DC resulted in reduced production of IL-12 in vivo. For CD8+ DC, IL-12 production could be stimulated by various pathways viz. signaling through MyD88, Trif, or nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-like receptors. In contrast, for mDC, IL-12 production was mainly dependent on MyD88 signaling. Thus, conventional DCs and mDCs use different pathways to regulate IL-12 production.
Hepatic arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of survival rates with different embolic agents.

PURPOSE The optimal embolic agent for transhepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been identified. This study reports outcomes of TACE for HCC with Gelfoam powder and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-one patients underwent 152 TACE sessions with Gelfoam powder (n = 41) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Ethiodol (n = 40) as the embolic agent. Chemotherapeutic drugs were the same for all patients (50 mg cisplatin, 20 mg doxorubicin, 10 mg mitomycin-c). The groups were compared based on number of TACE sessions, maximum tumor size, bilirubin level, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels, Child-Pugh score, Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, and hepatitis B or C virus positivity. The number of cases of each Child class in each group was also evaluated. Survival starting from the first TACE session was calculated according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. Forty-eight patients died during the study period, 19 received transplants, and 14 were alive at the end of the study period. RESULTS The groups were statistically similar in all categories regarding liver function, Child-Pugh score, tumor size, hepatitis status, and percentage of patients with Child class A, B, and C disease. The number of TACE sessions was significantly greater for the Gelfoam powder group (mean, 2.2) versus the PVA group (mean, 1.6; P = .01). Overall survival was similar between groups whether patients who received transplants were included in the analysis (mean, 659 days +/- 83 with Gelfoam powder vs 565 days +/- 71 with PVA; P = .42) or were excluded (mean, 519 days +/- 80 with Gelfoam powder vs 511 days +/- 75 with PVA; P = .93). CONCLUSION In similar patient groups, survival after treatment of HCC with TACE with Gelfoam powder or PVA and Ethiodol was similar.
Inhibitory effects of docetaxel on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells through blocking PDGF-receptor β phosphorylation.

The abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in arterial wall is an important pathogenic factor for vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. The present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of docetaxel on VSMC proliferation, as well as the molecular mechanism of this inhibition. Docetaxel at 10, 20 and 40 µM significantly inhibited both the proliferation and the DNA synthesis of fetal bovine serum (FBS)- and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-stimulated VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. In accordance with these findings, docetaxel blocked the FBS- and PDGF-BB-induced progression of synchronized cells through the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Docetaxel also decreased the expressions of cell cycle-related proteins, including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, cyclin E, CDK4, cyclin D1, retinoblastoma protein, and proliferative cell nuclear antigen in PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs. Docetaxel significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, Akt, and phospholipase C-γ1, downstream molecule in the PDGF-BB signaling pathway. Docetaxel suppressed the phosphorylation of PDGF receptor (PDGF-R) β, the upstream molecule in PDGF-BB signaling cascade, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of docetaxel on the proliferation of VSMCs may occur by blocking PDGF-Rβ phosphorylation. Thus, docetaxel may be a potential antiproliferative agent for the treatment of atherosclerosis and angioplasty restenosis. [Supplementary Figures: available only at http://dx.doi. org/10.1254/jphs.10276FP].
Analysis of direct spectrum measurement of a sinusoidal signal impaired by either fractional Gaussian phase noise or fractional Brownian phase motion

This article discusses the empirical spectrum (periodogram) of a sinusoidal signal that is phase modulated by either fractional Gaussian noise (fGn) or fractional Brownian motion (fBm). These two cases are of note because they are frequently used to model oscillator phase instabilities known as "1/f noise" and "1/f3 noise," respectively. This work demonstrates that an fGn phase noise may result in a 1/f-shaped spectrum, as might be expected. However, we also show that a sinusoid impaired by an fBm phase noise with 1/f3 noise properties will yield either a Gaussian shaped spectrum or a 1/f2-shaped spectrum, depending on measurement duration. We also prove that the empirical spectrum in both cases is ergodic. Thus, it is guaranteed that a spectrum measurement performed on a single sinusoidal source will result in the same spectrum shapes as listed above, providing that sufficient averaging of consecutive captures is conducted.
Can a sustainable community intervention reduce the health gap? -10-Year evaluation of a Swedish community intervention program for the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Objectives: This paper evaluates the 10-year outcomes of a Northern Sweden community intervention program for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with special reference to the social patterning of risk development. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, trends in risk factors and predicted mortality in an intervention area (Norsjö municipality) are compared with those in a reference area (Northern Sweden region) by repeated independent cross-sectional surveys. Results: There were significant differences in changes in total cholesterol level and systolic blood pressure between the intervention and reference populations. The predicted coronary heart disease mortality (based on the North Karelia risk equation), after adjustment for age and education, was reduced by 36% in the interventionarea and by 1 % in the reference area. Conclusions: We conclude that a long-term community-based CVD prevention program which combines population and individual strategies can substantially promote a health shift in CVD risk in a high risk rural population. When evaluated for different social strata, we found no signs of an increasing health gap between socially privileged and less privileged groups. Socially less-privileged groups benefited the most from the present prevention program.
Enacting Research Ethics in Partnerships with Indigenous Communities in Canada: “Do it in a Good Way”

Two studies conducted through community-campus partnerships demonstrated emerging frameworks for ethical conduct of research involving Indigenous peoples in Canada. Both projects involved multiple Indigenous community partners whose interests in promoting children's development and fathers' involvement motivated the projects. The Indigenous projects were conceived within a broader social agenda of restorative justice and self-determination of Indigenous peoples in Canada following centuries of colonial government interventions. Guiding principles included community relevance, community participation, mutual capacity building, and benefit to Indigenous communities. Memoranda of Understanding negotiated with each community partner specified the roles of community and university partners and research team members in each phase of the research. Testimonials obtained from community representatives before and after the research projects indicated the success of the projects in yielding benefits to the communities in the form of substantive knowledge and strengthened capacities to engage in collaborative research through community-campus partnerships. The larger collaborative research projects in which these two Indigenous projects were embedded created challenges and opportunities due to varying recognition within these networks of the primacy of relationships as a foundation for research and the indeterminacy of outcomes when ownership of data and control over dissemination is in the hands of community partners.
A Novel Unsupervised Adaptive Learning Method for Long-Term Electromyography (EMG) Pattern Recognition

Performance degradation will be caused by a variety of interfering factors for pattern recognition-based myoelectric control methods in the long term. This paper proposes an adaptive learning method with low computational cost to mitigate the effect in unsupervised adaptive learning scenarios. We presents a particle adaptive classifier (PAC), by constructing a particle adaptive learning strategy and universal incremental least square support vector classifier (LS-SVC). We compared PAC performance with incremental support vector classifier (ISVC) and non-adapting SVC (NSVC) in a long-term pattern recognition task in both unsupervised and supervised adaptive learning scenarios. Retraining time cost and recognition accuracy were compared by validating the classification performance on both simulated and realistic long-term EMG data. The classification results of realistic long-term EMG data showed that the PAC significantly decreased the performance degradation in unsupervised adaptive learning scenarios compared with NSVC (9.03% ± 2.23%, p < 0.05) and ISVC (13.38% ± 2.62%, p = 0.001), and reduced the retraining time cost compared with ISVC (2 ms per updating cycle vs. 50 ms per updating cycle).
2009 Influenza A Infection and Acute Kidney Injury: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Complications

Background: 2009 influenza A has spread globally. Respiratory complications and renal failure have been the leading causes for hospitalization and critical illness. We describe the risk factors and complications of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with influenza A. Methods: Observational study of adult patients tested for influenza A. Outcome measures include AKI [AKI Network (AKIN) criteria] and mortality. Results: From August through December 2009, 17% (89/515) of hospitalized subjects were tested positive for influenza A. The incidence of AKI (AKINI–III) was 42% (37/89) in subjects with influenza A; the majority (65%, 24/37) of whom were critically ill. Risk factors for AKI included obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and elevated creatine kinase. Positive influenza A status was associated with lower AKI (AKINI–III) risk compared to seronegative subjects (OR 0.5, CI 0.3–0.9). Mortality in patients with influenza A and AKI requiring dialysis was 50%. Conclusions: Obesity, CKD, and elevated creatine kinase are associated with AKI in patients with influenza A. Influenza A is not independently associated with higher incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients. AKI is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with influenza A.
Oral Administration of Tualang and Manuka Honeys Modulates Breast Cancer Progression in Sprague-Dawley Rats Model

Breast cancer has been recognized as the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Research has shown the importance of complementary and alternative therapies in cancer. In this study, we investigated the antitumoural therapeutic effects of Malaysian Tualang honey (TH) and Australian/New Zealand Manuka honey (MH) against breast cancer in rats. Thirty syngeneic virgin female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were induced by the carcinogen 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) 80 mg/kg. The treatment started when first palpable tumour reached 10–12 mm in size by dividing rats into following groups: Group 0 (negative control); Group 1 (positive control); and Groups 2 and 3 which received 1.0 g/kg body weight/day of TH and MH, respectively, for 120 days. The data demonstrate that cancer masses in TH and MH treated groups showed a lower median tumour size, weight, and multiplicity compared with the nontreated positive control (p < 0.05). Treatment also showed a dramatic slower growth rate (up to 70.82%) compared with the nontreated control (0%) (p < 0.05). The antitumoural effect was mediated through modulation of tumour growth, tumour grading, estrogenic activity, and haematological parameters. Our findings demonstrate that systemic administration of TH and MH increases the susceptibility of expression of proapoptotic proteins (Apaf-1, Caspase-9, IFN-γ, IFNGR1, and p53) and decreases the expression of antiapoptotic proteins (TNF-α, COX-2, and Bcl-xL 1) in its mechanism of action. This highlights a potential novel role for TH and MH in alleviating breast cancer.
Complex genital structures indicate cryptic female choice in a haplogyne spider (arachnida, araneae, oonopidae, gamasomorphinae)

Female genital structures with their allied muscles of the haplogyne spider Opopaea fosuma are described. A functional explanation of this system is given, which indicates that cryptic female choice may occur in these spiders: the anterior wall of their spermatheca is strongly sclerotized and possesses a cone‐shaped hole in its upper part. A transverse sclerite that serves as muscle attachment bears a nail‐like structure and lies in a chitinized area of the anterior wall of the uterus externus. Muscle contraction presses this nail into the hole of the spermatheca. In this way, the uterus externus gets both locked and fixed. Furthermore, as this occurs the copulatory orifice is enlarged and the resulting suction probably leads to previously deposited sperm being drawn from the spermatheca and dumped. This is a common mechanism used by females to influence a male's chances of fathering their offspring in a process known as cryptic female choice. J. Morphol. 255:80–93, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Butanol fraction containing berberine or related compound from nexrutine® inhibits NFκB signaling and induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

Epidemiological and laboratory studies support the hypothesis that several plant components influence prostate carcinogenesis and holds promise for disease prevention. Previously we reported that Nexrutine® (bark extract from Phellodendron amurense) inhibits proliferation of prostate cancer cells and prostate tumor development in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) model through modulation of Akt signaling pathway. In the present investigation we conducted studies to further define the mechanism of action of Nexrutine® and to identify the active component associated with its biological activity.