Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and correlates of partner violence among South African adolescents.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the prevalence of partner violence among adolescents, nor of the factors with which it is associated. The objectives of this study were to document prevalence rates for partner violence among high school students in Cape Town, and to explore factors that are associated with such violence. METHOD The sample consisted of 596 Grade 8 and 11 students attending public high schools in Cape Town, who were selected using a multistage cluster design. They completed an anonymous and confidential questionnaire. The dependent variable was whether they had ever perpetrated partner violence, or intended to do so. The independent variables, which were derived from a modified version of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), included attitudes, subjective norms (general and peer social influence and outcome expectancy) and self-efficacy. Separate multiple logistic regression models were developed of partner violence intentions or behaviours on the scales derived from the TPB and demographic variables. Regression coefficients from adjusted models were used to examine the potential mediating role of partner violence intentions in the association between each scale and partner violence behaviours using the Sobel test. RESULTS Among participants who reported being in a relationship, 20.7% reported perpetrating partner violence, and 16.4% reported intending to do so. After adjusting for demographic characteristics and other predictor scales, perpetration of partner violence was significantly associated with attitudes and outcome expectancy, while intention to perpetrate partner violence was significantly associated with attitudes and general social influence. The influence of attitude and general social influence on violent behaviours were each partially mediated by partner violence intentions. CONCLUSIONS There are high levels of partner violence among high school students in Cape Town. Interventions to address this problem should focus on violence-related attitudes and outcome expectancy.
Pharmacology of Smokeless Tobacco Use : Nicotine Addiction and Nicotine – Related Health Consequences

consequences of ST use. Because nicotine is the cause of addiction to cigarettes, ST use may have a similar addiction liability. Cessation of ST use is difficult for many people. The nicotine withdrawal syndrome that follows the cessation of regular ST use supports the idea that some users are addicted to ST. Experimental data in support of this proposition indicate that ST users adjust their tobacco-consuming behavior to regulate levels of nicotine in the body. ST use results in cardiovascular effects that are similar to those of cigarette smoking. Chronic systemic exposure to nicotine from cigarette smoking may contribute to accelerated coronary and peripheral vascular disease, acute cardiac ischemic events, delayed wound healing, reproductive disturbances, peptic ulcer disease, and esophageal reflux. Insofar as nicotine contributes to the adverse health effects of cigarette smoking, the nicotine in ST would be expected to present similar hazards. Illness caused by systemic absorption of nicotine and other toxins from ST should be considered a potential sequel to long-term tobacco use. INTRODUCTION In addition to causing oral pathology, there is concern that habitual, long-term smokeless tobacco use produces systemic effects that might adversely affect health. Of particular concern is exposure to nicotine, which is present in large amounts in smokeless tobacco (Table 1). This paper reviews the pharmacology of nicotine as related to the use and potential health hazards of smokeless tobacco. PHARMACOLOGY OF NICOTINE Nicotine is a tertiary amine composed of a pyridine and a pyrrolidine ring. Nicotine binds to acetylcholine receptors at ganglia and neuromuscular junctions and in the brain (Benowitz, 1988). In its non-ionized form, nicotine freely permeates membranes, including the buccal mucosa and the blood-brain barrier. As a weak base, nicotine is less ionized and penetrates membranes more easily in alkaline solutions. Chewing tobacco and snuff, as well as nicotine gum, are buffered to an alkaline pH to facilitate absorption of nicotine. Nicotine is absorbed more slowly from ST than from tobacco smoke, but peak venous levels are similar (Figure 1). Whereas blood levels of nicotine fall rapidly after smoking, the concentrations plateau during and after ST use, consistent with continued absorption even after the tobacco is removed from the mouth (Benowitz et al., 1988). Possibly, continued absorption of nicotine is attributable to release of nicotine from mucous membranes and/or absorption of nicotine that has been swallowed. The systemic absorption of nicotine per dose is greater with the use of chewing tobacco (average 4.5 mg nicotine from an average dose of 7.9 g chewed for 1 Supported in part by grants no. CA-32389, DA-02277, DA-01696, and RR-00083 from the National Institutes of Health. 1 Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph No. 2 220 Table 1 Nicotine content of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco
Wind and water erosion and transport in semi‐arid shrubland, grassland and forest ecosystems: quantifying dominance of horizontal wind‐driven transport

Soil erosion is an important process in dryland ecosystems, yet measurements and comparisons of wind and water erosion within and among such ecosystems are lacking. Here we compare wind erosion and transport ﬁeld measurements with water erosion and transport from rainfall‐simulation for three different semi‐arid ecosystems: a shrubland near Carlsbad, New Mexico; a grassland near Denver, Colorado; and a forest near Los Alamos, New Mexico. In addition to comparing erosion loss from an area, we propose a framework for comparing horizontal mass transport of wind‐ and water‐driven materials as a metric for local soil redistribution. Median erosion rates from wind for vertical mass ﬂux measurements (g m−2 d−1) were 1·5 × 10−2 for the shrubland, 8·3 × 10−3 for the grassland, and 9·1 × 10−3 for the forest. Wind‐driven transport from horizontal mass ﬂux measurements was greatest in the shrubland (15·0 g m−2 d−1) followed by the grassland (1·5 g m−2 d−1) and the forest sites (0·17 g m−2 d−1). Annual projections accounting for longer‐term site meteorology suggest that wind erosion exceeds water erosion at the shrubland by c. 33 times and by c. ﬁve times at the forest, but not the grassland site, where the high clay content of the soils contributed to greater amounts of water erosion: water erosion exceeded wind erosion by about three times. Horizontal transport by wind was greater than that by water for all three systems, overwhelmingly so in the shrubland (factor of c. 2200). Our results, which include some of the only wind erosion measurements to date for semi‐arid grasslands and forests, provide a basis for hypothesizing trends in wind and water erosion among ecosystems, highlight the importance of wind erosion and transport in semi‐arid ecosystems, and have implications for land surface geomorphology, contaminant transport, and ecosystem biogeochemistry. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Aloe vera on leukocyte adhesion and TNF-α and IL-6 levels in burn wounded rats

The effects ofAloe vera on microcirculation and levels of TNFα and IL-6 were investigated in rats after inducing burn. Seventy-two male Wistar Furth rats were equally divided into four groups as follow: controls (CON), untreated burnwound rats (BURN), normal saline-treated burn-wound rats (BURN-NSS) and Aloe vera-treated burn-wound rats (BURNALOE). The animals in each group were equally subdivided into three subgroups for the study on day 3, 7 and 14 post-burn. Dorsal skinfold chamber preparation and intravital fluorescence microscopic technique were performed to examine leukocyte adhesion on postcapillary venules. ELISA techniques were performed to examine serum TNFα and IL-6 levels. It was found that the amount of leukocyte adhesion was significantly reduced in the BURN-ALOE group compared to rats in the BURN group on day 14. Levels of TNFα and IL-6 were also decreased significantly compared to BURN at all three monitored time points. Aloe vera could inhibit the inflammatory process following burn injury, as characterized by the reduction of leukocyte adhesion, as well as those pro-inflammatory cytokines.
The Effect of Using Some Treatments on Reduction of Acrylamide Formation in Processed Potatoes

Reduction of acrylamide formation in potato chips was investigated in relation to ten pretreatments before frying. Potato slices were fried at 170 C for 5 min. Prior to frying, potato slices were soaked in one of the following solutions for 60min : (1) tap water ; (2-4) NaCl solutions (1%, 2% and 3%); (5-7) citric acid solutions (0.5 %, 1 % and 2%); (8) combined solution (NaCl 3% +0.5% citric acid); (9)tomato juice and (10) combined tomato juice(tomato juice + 1% NaCl + 0.5% citric acid). Reducing sugars and asparagine contents were determined in potato slices before frying, whereas acrylamide content was determined in the resultant fried potato chips. All studied treatments decreased both of reducing sugars and asparagene content (except tap water with asparagene), and consequently acrylamide formation. The highest reduction effects were recorded for combined tomato juice, tomato juice and combined solution of 3% NaCl+ 0.5 % citric acid, respectively. Oil uptake of fried potato only affected by NaCl treatments either separated or combined and tomato juice. In relation to sensory parameters, all studied treatments improved the sensory characteristics, with 2 exceptions: the first is the undesirable effect of citric acid treatments on taste and the second is the undesirable effect of 2% NaCl on crispiness. The highest value of over all acceptability was recorded for combined tomato juice followed by tomato juice. Keywords: Potato slices; Frying; Acrylamide; Reducing sugars; Asparagine ;oil uptake, sensory characteristics
Effect of incubation time, inoculum size, temperature, pasteurization time, goat milk powder and whey powder on ACE inhibitory activity in fermented milk by L. plantarum LP69.

BACKGROUND Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important physiological role in regulating hypertension. Lactic acid bacteria are known to produce ACE inhibitory peptides which can lower hypertension during fermentation. METHODS The effect of incubation time (0~36 h), inoculum size (3, 4, 5, 6 and 7%, v/v), temperature (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C), sterilization time (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min), concentration of goat milk powder (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16%, w/v) and whey powder (0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9%, w/v) on ACE inhibitory peptides fermented from goat milk by Lactobacillus plantarum LP69 was investigated using single factor experiment. RESULTS The optimal incubation time, inoculum size, temperature, pasteurization time, goat milk powder and whey powder in fermented milk by L. plantarum LP69 was 14 h, 3.0%, 35°C, 20 min, 14% and 0.70% for ACE inhibitory activity and 22 h, 3.0%, 40°C, 25 min, 16% and 0.60% for viable cell counts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The incubation time, inoculum size, temperature, pasteurization time, goat milk powder and whey powder had a significant influence on ACE inhibitory activity in fermented milk by Lactobacillus plantarum LP69, the results are beneficial for further screening of main factors by using fractional factorial designs.
Expression and localization of insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins in normal and proteinuric kidney glomeruli

Aim: Insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) acts on target cells in an endocrine and/or local manner through the IGF‐I receptor (IGF‐IR), and its actions are modulated by multiple IGF binding proteins (IGFBP). To elucidate the roles of local IGFBP in kidney glomeruli, the expression and localization of their genes were examined and compared with normal and proteinuric kidney glomeruli.
A case report of inadvertent hysteroscopy and laparoscopy in a patient of uterus didelphys with early pregnancy

Adenomatoid tumours (AT) are non-recurring benign mesothelial neoplasms (Mai et al. 1999) of the genital tract. The incidence of uterine ATs is 1.2% (Tiltman 1980). They largely appear as solitary silent tumours, commonly arising subserosally. Macroscopic appearance is that of leiomyomas. Quigley and Hart (1981) described four basic histologic types – adenoid, angiomatoid, solid and cystic; the cystic variant being the rarest. An overlap of two or more histologic types is not uncommon. This variety is morphologically similar to multicystic mesothelioma found elsewhere in the body (Nogales et al. 2001). In males, the epididymis is reported as the most common site and in females, fallopian tubes followed by uterus. Cases of uterine ATs are reported in women from 25 years (Luchs et al. 2000) to 65 years. (Nogales et al. 2001) of age. The most common clinical presentation is menorrhagia. Radiological appearance can vary from small solid to cystic tumours but the diagnosis can only be reached by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Other differentials include lymphangioma or developmental cysts. Enucleation of the tumour with conservation of uterus is an acceptable management. Cases have been reported with successful pregnancy outcomes after tumour enucleation (Irikoma et al. 2001).
Real‐Time Contrast‐Enhanced Sonography of Renal Transplant Recipients Predicts Chronic Allograft Nephropathy

Real‐time contrast‐enhanced sonography (RT‐CES) can assess microvascular tissue perfusion using gas‐filled microbubbles. The study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of RT‐CES in detecting chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) in comparison to color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS). A total of 26 consecutive renal transplant recipients were prospectively studied using RT‐CES and conventional CDUS. Transplant tissue perfusion imaging was performed by low‐power imaging during i.v. administration of the sonocontrast Optison™. Renal tissue perfusion was assessed quantitatively using flash replenishment kinetics of microbubbles to estimate renal blood flow A *β (A = peak signal intensity, β= slope of signal intensity rise). In contrast to conventional CDUS resistance and pulsatility indices, renal blood flow estimated by CES was highly significant related to S‐creatinine (r =–0.62, p = 0.0004). Determination of renal blood flow by CES reached a higher sensitivity (91% vs. 82%, p < 0.05), specificity (82% vs. 64%, p < 0.05) and accuracy (85% vs. 73%, p < 0.05) for the diagnosis of CAN as compared to conventional CDUS resistance indices. Perfusion parameters derived from RT‐CES significantly improve the early detection of CAN compared to conventional CDUS. RT‐CES using low‐power real‐time perfusion imaging is a feasible method to evaluate microvascular perfusion in renal allograft recipients.
Urinary and renal interstitial concentrations of TNF-alpha increase prior to the rise in albuminuria in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND The development of diabetic nephropathy has been linked to the release of vasoactive hormones and growth factors. Currently the role of inflammatory cytokines in this pathogenic process is not clear. METHODS We utilized the microdialysis technique to monitor early changes in tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in the renal interstitial fluid and urine of conscious Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 8) before and after induction of diabetes with streptozotocin (STZ). Measurement of the urinary albumin excretion (UAE) was utilized to monitor the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. RESULTS UAE increased from 0.56 +/- 0.20 microg/min to 8.14 +/- 2.98 microg/min 17 days after induction of diabetes (P = 0.01). Renal interstitial fluid TNF-alpha increased from 11.96 +/- 5.32 pg/mL at baseline to 45.02 +/- 11.69 pg/mL 5 days after induction of diabetes (P = 0.03). Renal interstitial fluid TNF-alpha levels remained elevated throughout the remainder of the study period. Urinary TNF-alpha also increased significantly compared to baseline 3 days after induction of diabetes (294.18 +/- 36.94 pg/mL vs. 16.05 +/- 6.07 pg/mL, P < 0.002). There was a second significant rise in urinary TNF-alpha concentration to 638.16 +/- 36.94 pg/mL 21 days after induction of diabetes (P < 0.001). Serum TNF-alpha levels were undetectable before STZ injection and remained undetectable by the end of the study. Urinary and renal interstitial fluid TNF-alpha in the control rats (N = 5) did not change throughout the study. CONCLUSION We found an early rise in renal TNF-alpha levels after induction of diabetes with STZ, which precedes the rise in UAE by about 2 weeks. These findings suggest a possible contribution of TNF-alpha in the complicated pathogenic process resulting in microalbuminuria in diabetes.
Schizophrenia, the metabolic syndrome and diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes is increased in patients with schizophrenia. Although many reasons, including hereditary and lifestyle factors, contribute to this association, recently there has been heightened interest in the subject because of the link between the use of the newer atypical anti‐psychotic drugs and the development of diabetes. These drugs cause significant weight gain and this may be one of the mechanisms by which they increase incident diabetes. The increased prevalence of diabetes among people with schizophrenia has implications for the delivery of care by psychiatrists, diabetologists and primary care.
The effects of raloxifene on mammographic breast density: a review of clinical trials

Objective: Breast density is an independent risk factor for the development of invasive breast cancer (BC). It has been hypothesized that because raloxifene (RLX) has been shown to reduce BC risk, its use will result in reduced breast density. Methods: This article provides a review of seven clinical studies that examined the effects of RLX on breast density. Results: Overall, RLX did not increase or decrease mammographic breast density. This article provides a review of the various methods used to determine breast density in these RLX studies and offers a potential explanation as to why the studies failed to show an effect on mammographic density. Conclusions: Presently, no clinical recommendations can be made with regard to RLX and its effects on breast density. To determine the effect of RLX on breast density, larger studies need to be conducted in postmenopausal women with high breast density at baseline who are at high risk for BC, with a standardized method of breast density measurement.
Nozzle ablation model: Calculation of nozzle ablation intensity and its influence on state of SF6 gas in thermal chamber

Energy released by electric arc during short circuit switching is mostly absorbed by the surrounding cold SF6 gas. However, a considerable part of this energy is also transferred and absorbed by other elements of the circuit breaker interrupter which are located near the electric arc. The most important parts are the transfer of energy to the arcing contacts and to the nozzles, absorption of the energy by these elements and the resulting effects. The absorption of the energy causes heating, melting and finally the vaporization of structural material and it is the main cause of wearing of arcing contacts and nozzles, where the latter is commonly referred to as the nozzle ablation. The nozzle ablation causes an increase in the nozzle throat diameter which generally has a negative effect on the circuit breakers breaking performance. The other significant effect is the mixing of SF6 gas and the nozzle vaporized material in the nozzle space and in the surrounding chambers. It is obvious that the ablation process has a considerable influence on the state of SF6 gas in the contact gap but also in the adjacent interrupting chambers, in particular on the state of gas in the thermal chamber in case of self-blast interrupting units. In this paper, a method of calculation of intensity of nozzle ablation is presented as well as a variety of calculation results. The calculated nozzle ablation intensity is verified by comparing the calculated results of the nozzle diameter increase and mass losses, with experimentally obtained data. In addition to the nozzle ablation intensity, the influence of the ablated nozzle material on the state of SF6 gas in the thermal chamber is also analyzed and discussed. The model is incorporated into a computer application for high voltage circuit breaker interruption simulation.
The V1/V2 Domain of gp120 Is a Global Regulator of the Sensitivity of Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Isolates to Neutralization by Antibodies Commonly Induced upon Infection

ABSTRACT A major problem hampering the development of an effective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the resistance of many primary viral isolates to antibody-mediated neutralization. To identify factors responsible for this resistance, determinants of the large differences in neutralization sensitivities of HIV-1 pseudotyped with Env proteins derived from two prototypic clade B primary isolates were mapped. SF162 Env pseudotypes were neutralized very potently by a panel of sera from HIV-infected individuals, while JR-FL Env pseudotypes were neutralized by only a small fraction of these sera. This differential sensitivity to neutralization was also observed for a number of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against sites in the V2, V3, and CD4 binding domains, despite often similar binding affinities of these MAbs towards the two soluble rgp120s. The neutralization phenotypes were switched for chimeric Envs in which the V1/V2 domains of these two sequences were exchanged, indicating that the V1/V2 region regulated the overall neutralization sensitivity of these Envs. These results suggested that the inherent neutralization resistance of JR-FL, and presumably of related primary isolates, is to a great extent mediated by gp120 V1/V2 domain structure rather than by sequence variations at the target sites. Three MAbs (immunoglobulin G-b12, 2G12, and 2F5) previously reported to possess broad neutralizing activity for primary HIV-1 isolates neutralized JR-FL virus at least as well as SF162 virus and were not significantly affected by the V1/V2 domain exchanges. The rare antibodies capable of neutralizing a broad range of primary isolates thus appeared to be targeted to exceptional epitopes that are not sensitive to V1/V2 domain regulation of neutralization sensitivity.
Immobilization of oxyreductases on inorganic supports based on alumina-immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase on nonmodified and modified alumina.

Immobilisation de l'enzyme sur de l'alumine choisie pour sa porosite facilement controlable, et dont les caracteristiques acido-basiques de surface peuvent etre optimisees. La stabilite peut etre accrue par traitement de l'enzyme, par le glutaraldehyde et le carbodiimide