Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of commercial sex workers among Hispanic migrants in North Carolina: implications for the spread of HIV.

CONTEXT Rates of HIV and AIDS have risen among U.S. Hispanics and in migrant-sending regions of Mexico and Central America, pointing to a link between migration and HIV. However, little is known about male migrants' sexual risk behaviors, such as the use of commercial sex workers. METHODS The prevalence and frequency of commercial sex worker use was examined among 442 randomly selected Hispanic migrants in Durham, North Carolina. Logistic and Poisson regression techniques were used to model predictors of commercial sex worker use, and descriptive data on condom use with commercial sex workers were examined. RESULTS Twenty-eight percent of respondents reported using the services of a commercial sex worker during the previous year; rates reached 46% among single men and 40% among married men living apart from their wives. Men with spouses in Durham were less likely than other men to use commercial sex workers (odds ratio, 0.1). Among men who used commercial sex workers, the frequency of visits declined with greater education (incidence rate ratio, 0.9) and increased with hourly wage (1.1). Frequency and use declined with years of residence, although the results were of borderline significance. Reported rates of condom use with commercial sex workers were high, but were likely to fall if familiarity with a commercial sex worker increased. CONCLUSIONS Commercial sex workers represent an important potential source of HIV infection. Educational and behavioral interventions that take into account social context and target the most vulnerable migrants are needed to help migrants and their partners avoid HIV infection.
Differential effect of tumor necrosis factor on proliferation of primary human keratinocytes and cell lines containing human papillomavirus types 16 and 18

Keratinocytes immortalized by human papillomaviruses (HPV) 16 and 18 are partially resistant to the inhibition of proliferation exerted by transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β). To determine if this finding reflects a generalized resistance to inhibitory cytokines, we studied the effect of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) on subconfluent cultures of both normal and HPV‐immortalized human foreskin keratinocytes. Whereas primary and HPV‐16‐immortalized keratinocytes were sensitive to TNF‐α, HPV‐18‐immortalized keratinocytes (and those immortalized by simian virus 40) were resistant to the inhibitory effects of this cytokine. The ability of HPV‐18 to induce a more resistant phenotype correlated with its more potent in vitro transforming activity and its apparent association with more aggressive tumors. Interestingly, the state of TNF‐induced growth inhibition in normal or HPV‐16—immortalized keratinocytes was not accompanied by a reduction in the expression of c‐myc RNA or protein. This contrasts sharply with the ability of TGF‐β to inhibit c‐myc RNA expression in normal cells. Evidently, the resistance of HPV‐immortalized keratinocytes to TNF‐β and TGF‐β proceeds along different regulatory pathways. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Models for predicting enteric methane emissions from dairy cows in North America, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand

There are several models in the literature for predicting enteric methane (CH4) emissions. These models were often developed on region or country‐specific data and may not be able to predict the emissions successfully in every region. The majority of extant models require dry matter intake (DMI) of individual animals, which is not routinely measured. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate performance of extant models in predicting enteric CH4 emissions from dairy cows in North America (NA), Europe (EU), and Australia and New Zealand (AUNZ) and (ii) explore the performance using estimated DMI. Forty extant models were challenged on 55, 105, and 52 enteric CH4 measurements (g per lactating cow per day) from NA, EU, and AUNZ, respectively. The models were ranked using root mean square prediction error as a percentage of the average observed value (RMSPE) and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). A modified model of Nielsen et al. (Acta Agriculturae Scand Section A, 63, 2013 and 126) using DMI, and dietary digestible neutral detergent fiber and fatty acid contents as predictor variables, were ranked highest in NA (RMSPE = 13.1% and CCC = 0.78). The gross energy intake‐based model of Yan et al. (Livestock Production Science, 64, 2000 and 253) and the updated IPCC Tier 2 model were ranked highest in EU (RMSPE = 11.0% and CCC = 0.66) and AUNZ (RMSPE = 15.6% and CCC = 0.75), respectively. DMI of cows in NA and EU was estimated satisfactorily with body weight and fat‐corrected milk yield data (RMSPE < 12.0% and CCC > 0.60). Using estimated DMI, the Nielsen et al. (2013) (RMSPE = 12.7 and CCC = 0.79) and Yan et al. (2000) (RMSPE = 13.7 and CCC = 0.50) models still predicted emissions in respective regions well. Enteric CH4 emissions from dairy cows can be predicted successfully (i.e., RMSPE < 15%), if DMI can be estimated with reasonable accuracy (i.e., RMSPE < 10%).
INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB AS SUPPLEMENTAL TREATMENT OR MONOTHERAPY FOR SEVERE RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY

Purpose: To investigate the benefit of intravitreal bevacizumab as supplemental or primary treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. Methods: The files of nine consecutive infants treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for bilateral severe posterior retinopathy of prematurity were reviewed. Results: Gestational age was 24 weeks to 27 weeks, and birth weight was 660 g to 1,131 g. Indications for treatment were retinopathy of prematurity progression from Stage 3 to 4A or 2 to 3 with extraretinal neovascularization despite laser treatment; active neovascular Stage 4A disease after laser and cryo-treatment; anterior segment neovascularization and bleeding after laser treatment; and aggressive posterior disease with tunica vasculosa lentis and vitreous haze, which prevented laser treatment. One patient (two eyes) underwent lens-sparing vitrectomy after bevacizumab treatment; one eye acquired macular fold. One patient underwent bilateral scleral buckle. Bevacizumab treatment was associated with subsidence of the active vascular component in all eyes. Anatomical results were favorable in 17 eyes. There were no local or systemic complications. Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab may serve as a supplemental therapeutic agent for severe laser-refractory retinopathy of prematurity or as monotherapy when media opacities preclude diode laser photocoagulation or the patient is too sick for lengthy laser treatment.
Gender difference in skin reactivity to purified protein derivative among carriers of HTLV-I in Japan.

The incidence of malignancies due to oncogenic virus infections tends to be higher in men than in women. Gender-related differences in cell-mediated immunity, which plays a role in viral pathogenesis, may explain this observation. To explore this possibility in the context of HTLV-I infection, we examined skin reactivity to purified protein derivative (PPD) among 128 residents of an HTLV-I endemic area in Japan, who were born before 1921 and are assumed to have been exposed to M. tuberculosis bacilli. The odds ratio (OR) for reduced PPD reactivity (erythema <10 mm in diameter) was calculated by multiple logistic regression analysis. Men were significantly less likely than women to have reduced PPD reactivity among HTLV-I-negative individuals (26% versus 59%; p < .01); whereas this gender difference was not apparent among HTLV-I carriers (63% versus 62%; p = .87). HTLV-I positivity was strongly associated with reduced PPD reactivity in men, but not in women (odds ratio [OR], 7.3 versus 1.2; p = .05). Although this observation may be due, in part, to a longer average duration of HTLV-I infection in men compared with women, the finding also raises the possibility that men may be inherently more susceptible to loss of PPD reactivity by HTLV-I infection.
Automatic PMD compensator in a 160-Gb/s OTDM transmission over deployed fiber using RZ-DPSK modulation format

We report on a magneto- and electrooptically tuned dynamic polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) compensator that enabled error-free single-channel 160-Gb/s RZ-DPSK transmission over a 75-km SMF link with a mean differential group delay (DGD) of more than 30% of the bit period. Polarization scrambling and DOP measurements were utilized to automatically adapt the compensator. We present bit error rate (BER) measurements and describe the operation of the compensator in detail.
A model based decimeter-scale device-free localization system using COTS wi-fi devices

Commodity Wi-Fi based device-free localization has attracted a great attention in recent years. Previous related work is either fingerprint-based or model-based. In this demo, we will demonstrate a generic Fresnel Penetration Model (FPM) based real-time device-free localization system called MFDL. Using only three to four commodity Wi-Fi devices, it can localize a metal plate reflector with 6cm median error in the open space and localize a moving person with 45cm median error in an outdoor space of 36m2 and 50-75cm median error in indoor environments with a size ranging from 25m2 to 72m2, outperforming the state-of-the-art device-free localization approaches in similar settings.
Glycated hemoglobin and antidiabetic strategies as risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM To evaluate the relationship between glycemic control [assessed by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)], antidiabetic therapies and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We recruited 465 patients with HCC, 618 cases with liver cirrhosis and 490 controls with no liver disease. Among subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), the associations between the antidiabetic strategies and HbA1c level with HCC were determined through 2 series of multivariate logistic regression models using cirrhotic patients and controls as comparison groups. RESULTS DM2 prevalence was 31.2% in patients with HCC, 23.2% in cirrhotic patients and 12.6% in controls (P < 0.0001). In 86% of study subjects, DM2 had been diagnosed for more than 1 year before the HCC diagnosis. HCC patients with DM2 had a 1.5-2.5-fold increased risk of liver cancer. The HbA1c mean levels were significantly higher in DM2 patients with HCC than in cirrhotic and control DM2 patients. Antidiabetic treatment with metformin was more common among cirrhotic and control DM2 subjects than among cases with HCC. In both series of multivariate analyses, treatment with metformin significantly reduced the risk of HCC by more than 80% compared with sulphonylureas and insulin therapy. No significant differences were seen between sulphonylureas and insulin treatment. Elevated HbA1c levels were positively related to the risk for HCC in diabetic patients, with a 26%-50% increase in risk for each 1% increase in HbA1c values. CONCLUSION In patients with preexisting DM2, the risk of HCC is positively associated with poor chronic glycemic control and significantly decreased by metformin therapy.
Value of measuring end tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide as an adjunct to treadmill exercise testing

The end tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco2) was measured during treadmill exercise in 30 normal controls and 113 patients referred for assessment of chest pain. Among the 92 patients without significant ST depression hypocapnia occurred more often in those reporting “typical” than “atypical” chest pain (17 of 22 patients compared with 29 of 70; p<0·01). Hypocapnia was uncommon in patients with significant ST depression whether reporting typical or atypical chest pain (one of 10 patients and two of 11, respectively). Hypocapnia at rest (Pco2 <4 kPa) occurred in 16 (14%) patients but in only one control. Hypocapnia occurred during or after exercise in only one control and three of the 21 patients with significant ST depression on exercise (group 1). The remaining 92 patients were divided into those with a history suggestive of hyperventilation (group 2; n=30) and those without (group 3; n=62). Hypocapnia developed significantly more often in both these groups (21 and 25 patients respectively) than in controls or patients with significant ST depression. An abnormal response of the Pco2 to exercise provided objective data to support a clinical suspicion of chest pain induced by hyperventilation in 24 cases, suggested a cause for equivocal ST depression other than coronary stenosis in five patients, and led to the diagnosis of previously unsuspected respiratory disease in 14 patients. Measurement of end tidal Pco2 gives additional valuable diagnostic information during the conventional treadmill exercise test in patients with both typical and atypical chest pain.
Performance of the revised Atlanta and determinant‐based classifications for severity in acute pancreatitis

Severity classification systems aim to stratify patients with acute pancreatitis reliably into coherent risk groups. Recently, the Atlanta 1992 classification has been revised (Atlanta 2012) and a novel determinant‐based classification (DBC) system developed. This study assessed the ability of the three systems to stratify disease severity among patients with acute pancreatitis.
Daily variation in death in patients treated by long-term dialysis: comparison of in-center hemodialysis to peritoneal and home hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND There has been little study to date of daily variation in cardiac death in dialysis patients and whether such variation differs according to dialysis modality and session frequency. STUDY DESIGN Observational cohort study using ANZDATA (Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant) Registry data. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS All adult patients with end-stage kidney failure treated by dialysis in Australia and New Zealand who died between 1999 and 2008. PREDICTORS Timing of death (day of week), dialysis modality, hemodialysis (HD) session frequency, and demographic, clinical, and facility variables. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS Cardiac and noncardiac mortality. RESULTS 14,636 adult dialysis patients died during the study period (HD, n = 10,338; peritoneal dialysis [PD], n = 4,298). Cardiac death accounted for 40% of deaths and was significantly more likely to occur on Mondays in in-center HD patients receiving 3 or fewer dialysis sessions per week (n = 9,503; adjusted OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.40; P < 0.001 compared with the mean odds of cardiac death for all days of the week). This daily variation in cardiac death was not seen in PD patients, in-center HD patients receiving more than 3 sessions per week (n = 251), or home HD patients (n = 573). Subgroup analyses showed that deaths related to hyperkalemia and myocardial infarction also were associated with daily variation in risk in HD patients. This pattern was not seen for vascular, infective, malignant, dialysis therapy withdrawal, or other deaths. LIMITATIONS Limited covariate adjustment. Residual confounding and coding bias could not be excluded. Possible type 2 statistical error due to limited sample size of home HD and enhanced-frequency HD cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Daily variation in the pattern of cardiac deaths was observed in HD patients receiving 3 or fewer dialysis sessions per week, but not in PD, home HD, and HD patients receiving more than 3 sessions per week.
Tyrosine phosphorylation of L1 family adhesion molecules: Implication of the Eph kinase Cek5

The L1 family comprises transmembrane cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily that play an important role in neuronal migration and axon outgrowth, fasciculation, and myelination. Consistent with a crucial role in developmental processes, mutations in L1 cause severe brain malformations. Although L1 activates intracellular signaling pathways, little is known about the membrane proximal events of L1 signaling. The cytoplasmic domains of L1 family proteins contain several conserved tyrosine residues that are potential targets for receptor tyrosine kinases. Here, we report that the L1 family protein Ng‐CAM is phosphorylated on tyrosine in embryonic day 13 chicken retina. This is the first demonstration of in (vivo) tyrosine phosphorylation of an L1‐like molecule. Because chicken embryo kinase 5 (Cek5) is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in neuronal processes and activated in the chicken embryonic retina, we have analyzed the possible role of Cek5 in L1 phosphorylation. The rat glioblastoma cell line B28 was stably transfected with human L1. Additional transient transfection with Cek5 cDNA led to expression of Cek5 in its tyrosine‐phosphorylated, activated form. Biochemical analysis revealed that L1 is phosphorylated on tyrosine in Cek5‐transfected cells but not in control transfectants. Furthermore, direct phosphorylation of the L1 cytoplasmic domain by Cek5 was demonstrated in an in vitro kinase assay. Tyrosine phosphorylation may represent a novel mechanism of signal cascade initiation through L1. J. Neurosci. Res. 47:655–665, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HSD3B1 as a Novel Trophoblast-associated Marker That Assists in the Differential Diagnosis of Trophoblastic Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions

Trophoblastic tumors and tumorlike lesions can be confused with a variety of nontrophoblastic tumors; therefore, a trophoblast-associated marker that is expressed in all types of trophoblastic lesions is useful in differential diagnosis. In this report, we assessed the potential of hydroxyl-δ-5-steroid dehydrogenase (HSD3B1), an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative conversion of δ-5-3 β-hydroxy steroids to the δ-4-3-keto configuration and that is involved in steroid hormone synthesis,14 as a diagnostic trophoblastic marker. First, the gene expression profile of HSD3B1 was analyzed in silica using serial analysis of gene expression in the database deposited in the public domain and found that HSD3B1 was not expressed in 159 libraries of breast, lung, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian carcinomas, and a wide variety of normal adult and fetal tissues. Second, an immunohistochemical analysis was performed using a commercially available anti-HSD3B1 monoclonal antibody on paraffin sections. HSD3B1 immunoreactivity was detected in intermediate trophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast in 21 early placentas, 18 complete hydatidiform moles, 67 trophoblastic tumors, including placental site trophoblastic tumors, epithelioid trophoblastic tumors, and choriocarcinomas, and 28 tumorlike lesions including placental site nodules and exaggerated placental site. HSD3B1 immunoreactivity was diffuse and intense in the majority of trophoblastic lesions with the exception of a few choriocarcinomas. In contrast, only 3 (<1%) of 319 nontrophoblastic carcinomas from the uterus, lung, and breast reacted with the HSD3B1 antibody. Moreover, the immunoreactivity in these lesions was focal and weak. In conclusion, as compared with other trophoblastic markers, HSD3B1 is highly specific and sensitive, being expressed in all types of trophoblastic lesions but not in a variety of nontrophoblastic tumors of the uterus, lung, and breast.
Promoting Active Transport in Older Adolescents Before They Obtain Their Driving Licence: A Matched Control Intervention Study

Background Active transport has great potential to increase physical activity in older adolescents (17–18 years). Therefore, a theory- and evidence-based intervention was developed aiming to promote active transport among older adolescents. The intervention aimed to influence psychosocial factors of active transport since this is the first step in order to achieve a change in behaviour. The present study aimed to examine the effect of the intervention on the following psychosocial factors: intention to use active transport after obtaining a driving licence, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, subjective norm, self-efficacy, habit and awareness towards active transport. Methods A matched control three-arm study was conducted and consisted of a pre-test post-test design with intervention and control schools in Flanders (northern part of Belgium). A lesson promoting active transport was implemented as the last lesson in the course ‘Driving Licence at School’ in intervention schools (intervention group 1). Individuals in intervention group 2 received this active transport lesson and, in addition, they were asked to become a member of a Facebook group on active transport. Individuals in the control group only attended the regular course ‘Driving Licence at School’. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing socio-demographics and psychosocial variables at baseline, post (after one week) and follow-up (after eight weeks). To assess intervention effects, multilevel linear mixed models analyses were performed. Results A sample of 441 older adolescents (56.8% female; 17.4 (0.7) years) was analysed. For awareness regarding the existence of car sharing schemes, a significant increase in awareness from baseline to post measurement was found within intervention group 1 (p = 0.001) and intervention group 2 (p = 0.030) compared to the control group in which no change was found. In addition, a significant increase in awareness from baseline to follow-up measurement was found within intervention group 1 (p = 0.043) compared to a decrease in awareness from baseline to follow-up measurement within the control group. Conclusions Overall, the intervention was not effective to increase psychosocial correlates of active transport. Future intervention studies should search for alternative strategies to motivate and involve this hard to reach target group.
Diagnosing, treating, and preventing venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer.

Mr. L, a 48-year-old African American with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, presented to the clinic with complaints of increased dyspnea for the previous 48 hours. Medical history was remarkable for arterial hypertension, coronary atherosclerotic disease successfully treated with percutaneous coronary intervention without stent insertion three years earlier, and left upper-lobe lung adenocarcinoma associated with bilateral lung and multiple liver metastases. Therapy included ramipril, aspirin, and an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. Mr. L also had been given first-line chemotherapy with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab and recently had completed his third treatment cycle. Physical examination showed a mildly obese man with no respiratory distress. Vital signs included a pulse of 115 beats per minute, blood pressure of 135/85, a respiratory rate at 24 breaths per minute, temperature of 37.6C, and oxygen saturation of 82% in ambient air corrected by oxygen supplementation of 2 L per minute with nasal prongs. No central vein catheter or jugular vein distension was present. Heart and lung sounds and the abdominal examination were normal. No extremity swelling or discomfort was noted.