Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond assumptions of negligible risk: sexually transmitted diseases and women who have sex with women.

OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the association of female-female sexual behavior with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). METHODS Female participants (n = 286) were recruited from the Twin Cities Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Pride Festival. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between female-female sexual behavior and STDs. RESULTS Women in all partner history groups, including 13% of women with only female partners, reported a history of STD. Increased sexual exposures with women predicted an increase in the likelihood of STDs after known risk factors had been controlled. Neither number of female partners nor number of exposures was associated with obtaining regular STD testing. CONCLUSIONS The risk of STDs through female-female sexual exposure is not negligible. Nevertheless, patterns of STD testing do not reflect this risk.
Components of Promyelocytic Leukemia Nuclear Bodies (ND10) Act Cooperatively To Repress Herpesvirus Infection

ABSTRACT Upon the entry of the viral genome into the nucleus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gene expression is rapidly repressed by constitutively expressed cellular proteins. This intrinsic antiviral defense is normally counteracted by ICP0, which allows virus infection to proceed efficiently. Replication of ICP0-null mutant HSV-1, however, is severely repressed by mechanisms that are conferred, at least in part, by nuclear domain 10 (ND10) components, including hDaxx, the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein, and Sp100. To investigate if these ND10 components repress viral gene expression in a cooperative manner, we simultaneously depleted host cells for hDaxx, PML, and Sp100 by multiple short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown from a single lentivirus vector. We found that replication and gene expression of ICP0-null mutant HSV-1 were cooperatively repressed by hDaxx, PML, and Sp100 immediately upon infection, and all stages of virus replication were inhibited. Plaque-forming efficiency was enhanced at least 50-fold in the triple-depleted cells, a much larger increase than achieved by depletion of any single ND10 protein. Similar effects were also observed during infection of triple-depleted cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Moreover, using a cell culture model of quiescent infection, we found that triple depletion resulted in a much larger number of viral genomes escaping repression. However, triple depletion was unable to fully overcome the ICP0-null phenotype, implying the presence of additional repressive host factors, possibly components of the SUMO modification or DNA repair pathways. We conclude that several ND10 components cooperate in an additive manner to regulate HSV-1 and HCMV infection.
Padrões de atividade física em adolescentes de 10-12 anos de idade: determinantes precoces e contemporâneos.

A atividade fisica (AF) na adolescencia acarreta varios beneficios a saude, seja por um efeito direto sobre a morbidade na propria adolescencia, seja por um efeito mediado pelo nivel de AF na idade adulta. Avaliou-se a prevalencia de sedentarismo e fatores associados em 4451 adolescentes de 10-12 anos de idade, participantes do Estudo de Coorte de Nascimentos de 1993 em Pelotas. Sedentarismo foi definido como <300 minutos por semana de AF. As perdas de acompanhamento desde o nascimento totalizaram 12,5%. A prevalencia de sedentarismo foi de 58,2% (IC95% 56,759,7). Na analise multivariavel, o sedentarismo se associou positivamente ao sexo feminino, ao nivel socioeconomico, a ter mae inativa e ao tempo diario assistindo televisao. O sedentarismo se associou negativamente com o tempo diario de uso de video game. Adolescentes de nivel economico baixo apresentaram maior frequencia de deslocamento ativo para a escola. Estrategias efetivas de combate ao sedentarismo na adolescencia sao necessarias devido a sua alta prevalencia e sua associacao com inatividade fisica na idade adulta.
The Impact of Market-Related Variables on Forward-Looking Disclosure in the Annual Reports of Non-Financial Egyptian Companies

— The main objective of this study is to test the relationship between numbers of variables representing the firm characteristics (market-related variables) and the extent of voluntary disclosure levels (forward-looking disclosure) in the annual reports of Egyptian firms listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange. The results show that audit firm size is significantly positively correlated (in all the three years) with the level of forward-looking disclosure. However, industry type variable (which divided to: industries, cement, construction, petrochemicals and services), is found being insignificantly association with the level of forward-looking information disclosed in the annual reports for all the three years.
Fatty‐acid composition in serum phospholipids and risk of breast cancer: An incident case‐control study in Sweden

The study of the relationship between dietary intake of fatty acids and the risk of breast cancer has not yielded definite conclusions with respect to causality, possibly because of methodological issues inherent to nutritional epidemiology. To evaluate the hypothesis of possible protection of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) against breast cancer in women, we examined the fatty‐acid composition of phospholipids in pre‐diagnostic sera of 196 women who developed breast cancer, and of 388 controls matched for age at recruitment and duration of follow‐up, in a prospective cohort study in Umeå, northern Sweden. Individual fatty acids were measured as a percentage of total fatty acids, using capillary gas chromatography. Conditional logistic‐regression models showed no significant association between n‐3 PUFA and breast‐cancer risk. In contrast, women in the highest quartile of stearic acid had a relative risk of 0.49 (95% confidence interval, 0.22–1.08) compared with women in the lowest quartile (trend p = 0.047), suggesting a protective role of stearic acid in breast‐cancer risk. Besides stearic acid, women in the highest quartile of the 18:0/18:1 n‐9c ratio had a relative risk of 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.23–1.10) compared with women in the lowest quartile (trend p = 0.064), suggesting a decrease in breast‐cancer risk in women with low activity of the enzyme delta 9‐desaturase (stearoyl CoA desaturase), which may reflect an underlying metabolic profile characterized by insulin resistance and chronic hyper‐insulinemia. Int. J. Cancer 83:585–590, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Toward Integration of Data Race Detection in DSM Systems

We present a distributed algorithm, called djit, for detecting data races in dsm systems. djit is designed as a dsm add-on, detecting a race condition as soon as one is created. It instantly displays to the user the precise place in the program where the race occurred. There are no false detections, and no data races are missed. We have implemented djit on top of millipage? a fine granularity, page-based dsm system. Our implementation makes novel use of the operating system protection mechanisms. In particular, we propose a protection cache, which can be used for local logging of accesses to variables. As a result, our implementation does not increase the message complexity of the execution, piggybacking all its communication activity on top of the dsm-related messages. The performance figures show that our data race detection mechanism has only a minor influence on performance. The measured overheads, averaging only few percent, are two orders of magnitude smaller than those achieved in previous work. Thus, our technique makes the integration of on-the-fly data race detection during the regular dsm execution feasible for the first time.
Linkage disequilibrium of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism in children with a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype.

OBJECTIVE Transmission of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66 allele in children with a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype was examined. METHOD The prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype was defined as current DSM-IV bipolar I disorder (manic or mixed phase) with at least one cardinal mania criterion (i.e., euphoria and/or grandiosity) to ensure differentiation from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Probands (mean age=10.7 years, SD=2.7) were obtained by consecutive new case ascertainment from designated pediatric and psychiatric venues. Parents and probands were interviewed separately by research nurses who were blind to the probands' diagnoses. Genotyping was done with TaqMan Assay-on-Demand. Analysis was done with the Family Based Association Test program. RESULTS There were 53 complete, independent trios. The BDNF Val66 allele was preferentially transmitted (Family Based Association Test: chi(2)=6.0, df=1, p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS This finding in child bipolar disorder is consistent with data for adults with bipolar disorder that show preferential transmission of the Val66 allele.
Inappropriate calibration and optimisation of pan-keratin (pan-CK) and low molecular weight keratin (LMWCK) immunohistochemistry tests: Canadian Immunohistochemistry Quality Control (CIQC) experience

Aims Pan-cytokeratin (pan-CK) and low molecular weight cytokeratin (LMWCK) tests are the most common immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests used to support evidence of epithelial differentiation. Canadian Immunohistochemistry Quality Control (CIQC), a new provider of proficiency testing for Canadian clinical IHC laboratories, has evaluated the performance of Canadian IHC laboratories in two proficiency testing challenges for both pan-CK and LMWCK. Methods CIQC has designed a 70-sample tissue microarray (TMA) for challenge 1 and a 30-sample TMA for challenge 2. There were 13 participants in challenge 1, and 62 in challenge 2. All results were evaluated and scored by CIQC assessors and compared with reference laboratory results. Results Participating laboratories often produced false-negative results that ranged from 20% to 80%. False-positive results were also detected. About half of participating clinical laboratories have inappropriately calibrated IHC tests for pan-CK and LMWCK, which are the most commonly used markers for demonstration of epithelial differentiation. The great majority of laboratories were not aware of the problem with calibration of pan-CK and LMWCK tests because of inappropriate selection of external positive controls and samples for optimisation of these tests. Benign liver and kidney are the most important tissues to include as positive controls for both pan-CK and LMWCK. Conclusions Participation in external quality assurance is important for peer comparison and proper calibration of IHC tests, which is also helpful for appropriate selection of positive control material and material for optimisation of the tests.
The Assessment of Accommodation and Convergence System in the Bank Employees

Article history: Received: 19 June 2011. Accepted: 12 Mar 2012 Available online: 28 Oct 2012 ZJRMS 2013; 15(2): 98-101 Background: Regarding the high outbreak rate of the eye disorders and problems particularly accommodation disorders and convergence insufficiency in computer users, the study tries to determine the convergence, accommodation system, condition, fusion reserves and vision dimension in bank employees (who work with computers) and the control group (who are not computer users) and then to compare the mentioned parameters in the two groups. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional and observational study a total of 44 bank employees and 44 people as the control group members were selected randomly. Initially, refractive problems were reformed, and then accommodation, convergence and vision dimension evaluative tests were conducted. The test included measuring the near point of convergence, jump convergence, phoria, accommodation range (one eye, both eyes), ease of accommodation (one eye, both eyes), positive and negative related accommodation, near fusion versions and TNO. Results: Our results showed that there was a not significant difference among the near point of convergence, jump convergence, near phoria, accommodation range (one eye and both eyes), ease of accommodation (one eye, both eyes), positive and negative related accommodation in bank employees and control group. Conclusion: Regarding the studies, the outbreak rate of accommodation and convergence disorders is higher in bank employees than the control group which would be due to over working with computer within a fixed interval. Copyright © 2013 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
Structure-activity relationships and binding mode of styrylquinolines as potent inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase and replication of HIV-1 in cell culture.

Our prior studies showed that polyhydroxylated styrylquinolines are potent HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors that block the replication of HIV-1 in cell culture at nontoxic concentrations. To explore the mechanism of action of these inhibitors, various novel styrylquinoline derivatives were synthesized and tested against HIV-1 IN and in cell-based assays. Regarding the in vitro experiments, the structural requirements for biological activity are a carboxyl group at C-7, a hydroxyl group at C-8 in the quinoline subunit, and an ancillary phenyl ring. However the in vitro inhibitory profile tolerates deep alterations of this ring, e.g. by the introduction of various substituents or its replacement by heteroatomic nuclei. Regarding the ex vivo assays, the structural requirements for activity are more stringent than for in vitro inhibition. Thus, in addition to an o-hydroxy acid group in the quinoline, the presence of one ortho pair of substituents at C-3' and C-4', particularly two hydroxyl groups, in the ancillary phenyl ring is imperatively required for inhibitory potency. Starting from literature data and the SARs developed in this work, a putative binding mode of styrylquinoline inhibitors to HIV-1 IN was derived.
mdm2 expression is induced by wild type p53 activity.

We have recently characterized a 95 kDa protein, p95, which exhibits enhanced binding to temperature‐sensitive p53 (ts‐p53) when cells are shifted down to 32.5 degrees C, a temperature at which ts‐p53 possesses wild‐type (wt)‐like activities. In the present study we show that p95 is a product of the mdm2 putative proto‐oncogene. The enhanced complex formation of mdm2 with ts‐p53 in cells maintained at 32.5 degrees C is due to an elevation in total mdm2 protein levels following the temperature shift. We further demonstrate that the induction of mdm2 expression by t p53 activity is at the mRNA level. The induction occurs with very rapid kinetics and does not require de novo protein synthesis, suggesting a direct involvement of p53 in the process. Based on these data and on recent findings implicating p53 as a transcription factor, we suggest that the mdm2 gene is a target for activation by wt p53. In view of the ability of mdm2 to act as a specific antagonist of p53 activity, this induction process may serve to tightly autoregulate p53 activity in living cells.
Pandemic (Avian) Influenza

Pandemics of influenza have been reported since the early sixteenth century. Recent pandemics include the Spanish flu (H1N1) from 1918 to 1920 (resulting in approximately 50 million deaths worldwide); the Asian flu (H2N2) from 1957 to 1958 (resulting in more than 1 million deaths); the Hong Kong flu (H3N2) from 1968 to 1970 (responsible for approximately 700,000 deaths). Avian influenza viruses have now been identified as a source of novel hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidases (NAs) associated with pandemics. Although infections in humans with avian strains are uncommon, several outbreaks of severe influenza with highly virulent H5N1 strains derived from infected poultry were reported in China and other Asian countries since 2003. Large-scale culling operations and intensified surveillance led to eradication of H5N1 infection in poultry in some countries, but H5N1 infection in wild birds and domestic poultry has become endemic in many countries. The potential exists for global pandemics of unprecedented magnitude. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology and genetics of avian influenza viruses, the potential for transmission of disease to humans, clinical features of avian influenza infections in humans, appropriate diagnostic testing, and treatment. We also discuss global efforts for disease prevention via a host of programs, including intensified surveillance, culling of infected birds, education of medical personnel and the public, production of vaccines, and use of specific antiviral agents (e.g., adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors).
HIV Vaccine Trial Participation Among Ethnic Minority Communities: Barriers, Motivators, and Implications for Recruitment

Background:Underrepresentation of ethnic minority communities limits the generalizability of HIV vaccine trial results. We explored perceived barriers and motivators regarding HIV vaccine trial participation among low-socioeconomic ethnic minority respondents at risk for HIV. Methods:Six focus group interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Participants (N = 58, mean age = 36 years, 37% female, and 56% Latino/a and 35% African American) were recruited using venue-based sampling in Los Angeles. Data were analyzed using narrative thematic analysis and Ethnograph qualitative software. Results:Perceived barriers to HIV vaccine trial participation, in rank order, were (1) vaccine-induced HIV infection, (2) physical side effects, (3) uncertainty about vaccine efficacy, (4) uncertainty about other vaccine characteristics, (5) mistrust, (6) low perceived HIV risk, (7) study demands, (8) stigma, and (9) vaccine-induced HIV seropositivity. Motivators were (1) protection against HIV infection, (2) free insurance and/or medical care, (3) altruism, and (4) monetary incentives. Conclusions:Population-specific HIV vaccine trial recruitment and implementation strategies should address trial risks from a family perspective, cultural gender norms, mistrust, low perceived HIV risk, the importance of African-American and Latino/a community participation in HIV vaccine trials, and misconceptions about gaining protection against HIV infection. Increasing the cultural relevance of trial recruitment and implementation should facilitate the participation of Latinos/as and African Americans in HIV vaccine trials.
Evaluation of the Specificities of Five DNA Amplification Methods for the Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

ABSTRACT The intragenus specificities of five molecular diagnostic methods for Neisseria gonorrhoeae were determined. Three assays were considered suboptimal. Molecular detection of N. gonorrhoeae from sites where other Neisseria spp. commonly occur or from any site in low-prevalence settings should be confirmed by a test targeting a different genetic locus.
Can Assessment of Disease Burden Prior to Changes in Initial COPD Maintenance Treatment Provide Insight into Remaining Unmet Needs? A Retrospective Database Study in UK Primary Care

ABSTRACT This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess treatment patterns over 24 months amongst patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), initiating a new COPD maintenance treatment, and to understand clinical indicators of treatment change. Patients included in the study initiated a long-acting β2-agonist (LABA), a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), or a combination of LABA and an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS/LABA) between January 1, 2009, and November 30, 2013, as recorded in the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink (UK CPRD). Treatment modifications (switching or adding maintenance treatments) over 24 months were assessed, and patient characteristics, disease burden, medication and healthcare resource use during the 30 days before treatment modification were evaluated. The cohort comprised 17,258 patients [LABA (8%), LAMA (39%) and ICS/LABA (54%)] with similar age, body mass index and dyspnoea distribution. LABA users were more likely than LAMA users to add a maintenance therapy. Distinct patterns of treatment augmentations were noted, whereby LABA users typically received dual therapy before moving to triple therapy, while LAMA users moved to triple therapy by directly adding an ICS/LABA. Exacerbation events immediately prior to treatment change were not frequently recorded; however, the need for rescue short-acting medication and assessment of dyspnoea in the 30 days prior to the treatment change suggest that dyspnoea is a remaining unmet need driving therapy change.
The K1 Protein of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Augments Viral Lytic Replication

ABSTRACT The K1 gene product of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is encoded by the first open reading frame (ORF) of the viral genome. To investigate the role of the K1 gene during the KSHV life cycle, we constructed a set of recombinant viruses that contained either wild-type (WT) K1, a deleted K1 ORF (KSHVΔK1), stop codons within the K1 ORF (KSHV-K15×STOP), or a revertant K1 virus (KSHV-K1REV). We report that the recombinant viruses KSHVΔK1 and KSHV-K15×STOP displayed significantly reduced lytic replication compared to WT KSHV and KSHV-K1REV upon reactivation from latency. Additionally, cells infected with the recombinant viruses KSHVΔK1 and KSHV-K15×STOP also yielded smaller amounts of infectious progeny upon reactivation than did WT KSHV- and KSHV-K1REV-infected cells. Upon reactivation from latency, WT KSHV- and KSHV-K1REV-infected cells displayed activated Akt kinase, as evidenced by its phosphorylation, while cells infected with viruses deleted for K1 showed reduced phosphorylation and activation of Akt kinase. Overall, our results suggest that K1 plays an important role during the KSHV life cycle. IMPORTANCE Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent of three human malignancies, and KSHV K1 is a signaling protein that has been shown to be involved in cellular transformation and to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway. In order to investigate the role of the K1 protein in the life cycle of KSHV, we constructed recombinant viruses that were deficient for K1. We found that K1 deletion viruses displayed reduced lytic replication compared to the WT virus and also yielded smaller numbers of infectious progeny. We report that K1 plays an important role in the life cycle of KSHV.
Phenomenology and epidemiology of social phobia

Social phobia is a psychological disorder characterized by the fear of being scrutinized by others and the belief that embarrassment or humiliation will be the result when contact is made with other people. Its point prevalence is believed to be in the range of 5–10%, with the lifetime prevalence being even higher. At least two subtypes of social phobia, discrete and generalized, are seen in clinical samples, with the latter subtype being associated with greater functional impairment. The onset of social phobia is early, usually preceding the onset of comorbid conditions such as major depression or alcohol use disorders. It thus represents a potential tar-gel for early intervention by those who seek to ameliorate the condition and thereby prevent secondary complications.
Nonvolatile Resistance Effect Modulated by Pulse With Laser Observed in Nano-Carbon Film

A nonvolatile resistance effect modulated by pulse with laser was observed in nano-carbon oxide semiconductor structures. By applying a short voltage pulse with laser illumination, the lateral resistance of the structure can be permanently changed. The resistance change ratio can reach up to 65%. More interestingly, the effect shows polarity under different illumination spot and voltage directions. This phenomenon is attributed to the trapping effect of laser-stimulated electrons in be useful for the development of laser-and pulse-modulated resistors, switches, and sensors.