Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sequential Outbreaks Due to a New Strain of Neisseria Meningitidis Serogroup C in Northern Nigeria, 2013-14

Background Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC) outbreaks occur infrequently in the African meningitis belt; the most recent report of an outbreak of this serogroup was in Burkina Faso, 1979. Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) has been responding to outbreaks of meningitis in northwest Nigeria since 2007 with no reported cases of serogroup C from 2007-2012. MenAfrivac®, a serogroup A conjugate vaccine, was first used for mass vaccination in northwest Nigeria in late 2012. Reactive vaccination using polysaccharide ACYW135 vaccine was done by MSF in parts of the region in 2008 and 2009; no other vaccination campaigns are known to have occurred in the area during this period. We describe the general characteristics of an outbreak due to a novel strain of NmC in Sokoto State, Nigeria, in 2013, and a smaller outbreak in 2014 in the adjacent state, Kebbi. Methods Information on cases and deaths was collected using a standard line-list during each week of each meningitis outbreak in 2013 and 2014 in northwest Nigeria. Initial serogroup confirmation was by rapid Pastorex agglutination tests. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from suspected meningitis patients were sent to the WHO Reference Laboratory in Oslo, where bacterial isolates, serogrouping, antimicrobial sensitivity testing, genotype characterisation and real-time PCR analysis were performed. Results In the most highly affected outbreak areas, all of the 856 and 333 clinically suspected meningitis cases were treated in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Overall attack (AR) and case fatality (CFR) rates were 673/100,000 population and 6.8% in 2013, and 165/100,000 and 10.5% in 2014. Both outbreaks affected small geographical areas of less than 150km2 and populations of less than 210,000, and occurred in neighbouring regions in two adjacent states in the successive years. Initial rapid testing identified NmC as the causative agent. Of the 21 and 17 CSF samples analysed in Oslo, NmC alone was confirmed in 11 and 10 samples in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Samples confirmed as NmC through bacterial culture had sequence type (ST)-10217. Conclusions These are the first recorded outbreaks of NmC in the region since 1979, and the sequence (ST)-10217 has not been identified anywhere else in the world. The outbreaks had similar characteristics to previously recorded NmC outbreaks. Outbreaks of NmC in 2 consecutive years in northern Nigeria indicate a possible emergence of this serogroup. Increased surveillance for multiple serogroups in the region is needed, along with consideration of vaccination with conjugate vaccines rather than for NmA alone.
Retrotransposon silencing by DNA methylation contributed to the evolution of placentation and genomic imprinting in mammals

The evolution of two mammalian‐specific traits, viviparous reproduction with a placenta and genomic imprinting, have been addressed by multiple studies of two retrotransposon derived, mammalian‐specific genes. These gene targeting experiments in mice, together with recent comparative genomic analyses among three mammalian groups, suggest that extremely rare events; namely exaptations from retrotransposons, made crucial contributions to the establishment and diversification of mammals via placental formation. We propose that nearly neutral evolution, as well as Darwinian evolution (natural selection), plays an important role in the exaptation process. Comparative genomic analysis of various imprinted regions has also revealed that an imprinting control element essential for parent‐of‐origin specific monoallelic expression of imprinted genes emerged in each of the imprinted regions, possibly by the insertion of exogenous DNAs, such as retrotransposons. In both cases, DNA methylation in germ cells must have been of critical importance to repress the exogenous DNAs inserted into the genomes of mammalian ancestors. We propose that the ability of germ line DNA methylation enabled the emergence of certain mammalian‐specific features during the course of evolution.
Field-Dependence—Independence as “Sensitivity” of the Nervous System: Supportive Evidence with Color and Weight Discrimination

Consistent with a conceptualization of field-dependence as a partially genetically based “sensitivity” of the nervous system, it was hypothesized that field-independent Ss would perform better than field-dependent Ss on tests of color and weight discrimination. 56 Ss selected as extreme on tests of both field-dependence—independence and introversion—extraversion performed color and weight discrimination tasks. The color discrimination results very strongly support the hypothesis. The weight data provide additional support, but weight discrimination appears to interact with introversion—extraversion in addition to being related to field-dependence.
Blood and Seminal Plasma HIV-1 RNA Levels Among HIV-1-Infected Injecting Drug Users Participating in the AIDSVAX B/E Efficacy Trial in Bangkok, Thailand

Background:We investigated effects of vaccination with AIDSVAX B/E HIV-1 candidate vaccine on blood and seminal plasma HIV-1 RNA viral loads (BVL and SVL, respectively) in vaccine recipients (VRs) and placebo recipients (PRs) who acquired infection. Methods:Linear mixed models were fitted for repeated measurements of BVL. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the difference in SVL detectability between VRs and PRs. Results:A total of 196 participants became HIV-1 infected during the trial. Thirty-two (16%) became infected with HIV-1 subtype B and 164 (84%) with HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE. Per protocol-specified analysis, there were no differences in BVL levels between VRs and PRs. When stratified by HIV-1-infecting subtype, vaccination with AIDSVAX B/E was initially associated with higher BVL among HIV-1 CRF01_AE-infected VRs compared with HIV-1 CRF01_AE-infected PRs; however, this difference did not persist over time. HIV-1 subtype B-infected VRs had slightly higher BVL levels and were more likely to have detectable SVL during the follow-up period than HIV-1 subtype B-infected PRs. Conclusions:Subtle differences in BVL and SVL were detected between VRs and PRs. These results may help to further understand the dynamics between HIV-1 vaccination, HIV-1-infecting subtypes, and subsequent viral expression in different body compartments.
Oxygen Limitation Contributes to Antibiotic Tolerance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Biofilms

ABSTRACT The role of oxygen limitation in protecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains growing in biofilms from killing by antibiotics was investigated in vitro. Bacteria in mature (48-h-old) colony biofilms were poorly killed when they were exposed to tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, carbenicillin, ceftazidime, chloramphenicol, or tetracycline for 12 h. It was shown with oxygen microelectrodes that these biofilms contain large anoxic regions. Oxygen penetrated about 50 μm into the biofilms, which averaged 210 μm thick. The region of active protein synthesis was visualized by using an inducible green fluorescent protein. This zone was also limited to a narrow band , approximately 30 μm wide, adjacent to the air interface of the biofilm. The bacteria in mature biofilms exhibited a specific growth rate of only 0.02 h−1. These results show that 48-h-old colony biofilms are physiologically heterogeneous and that most of the cells in the biofilm occupy an oxygen-limited, stationary-phase state. In contrast, bacteria in 4-h-old colony biofilms were still growing, active, and susceptible to antibiotics when they were challenged in air. When 4-h-old colony biofilms were challenged under anaerobic conditions, the level of killing by antibiotics was reduced compared to that for the controls grown aerobically. Oxygen limitation could explain 70% or more of the protection afforded to 48-h-old colony biofilms for all antibiotics tested. Nitrate amendment stimulated the growth of untreated control P. aeruginosa isolates grown under anaerobic conditions but decreased the susceptibilities of the organisms to antibiotics. Local oxygen limitation and the presence of nitrate may contribute to the reduced susceptibilities of P. aeruginosa biofilms causing infections in vivo.
Higher education in health promotion in Europe: a comparative analysis of master's level training programmes using HP-Source.net

This report summarises opportunities in Europe for master's degree level training in health promotion. Using data available at www.HP-Source.net, 105 study programmes at 71 institutions, spread over 20 European countries, were identified that include health promotion as a main subject. The programmes were analysed along a number of dimensions, including title, learning objectives, curricula, learning and teaching methods, entry requirements, duration, accreditation, language(s) of instruction and participation in European educational structures. The present analysis reveals great diversity along all these dimensions, but also several clusters of programmes that offer quite similar education in health promotion. Of special interest is the range of options available in Europe for length of study, ranging from one to two years, with part-time as well as full-time options. (Promot Educ, 2008; 15 (1): pp 30-35)
Lower Bounds on Crosspoints in Concentrators

Lower bounds on the required number of crosspoints in concentrators, a class of interconnection networks, are given. The lower bounds are obtained from a straightforward necessary condition on the number of crosspoints in sparse crossbar full capacity concentrators. Because this condition must be satisfied by all full capacity concentrators embedded in more general concentrators, the general necessary condition is established. Several sparse crossbar designs that contain the minimum number of crosspoints are presented. An extension of the results to a more general class of interconnection networks is described.
INPH GUIDELINES , PART II DIAGNOSING IDIOPATHIC NORMAL-PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS

Reprint requests: Anthony Marmarou, Ph.D., Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1001 East Broad Street, Suite 235, P.O. Box 980508, Richmond, VA 23298-0508. Email: marmarou@hsc.vcu. edu OBJECTIVE: The precise incidence and prevalence of idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) is not known, and evidence-based clinical diagnostic criteria have not been developed previously. This report contains evidence-based guidelines for clinical diagnosis of INPH that are intended to facilitate future epidemiological studies of INPH, promote earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and ultimately improve treatment outcome. METHODS: The criteria for the diagnosis of INPH are based on evidence from the medical literature, supplemented as necessary by expert opinion. From 1966 to 2003, 653 publications on “normal-pressure hydrocephalus” were cited in MEDLINE, including 29 articles that met the more stringent criteria of including “idiopathic normalpressure hydrocephalus” in their title. Additional studies were considered that explicitly identified INPH cases and/or specified the criteria for a diagnosis of INPH. Studies were graded according to the class of evidence and results summarized in evidentiary tables. For issues of clinical relevance that lacked substantive evidence from the medical literature, the opinions of consulting experts were considered and contributed to “Options. ” RESULTS: Evidence-based guidelines for the clinical diagnosis of INPH have been developed. A detailed understanding of the range of clinical manifestations of this disorder and adherence to practice guidelines should improve the timely and accurate recognition of this disorder. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that INPH be classified into probable, possible, and unlikely categories. We hope that these criteria will be widely applied in clinical practice and will promote greater consistency in patient selection in future clinical investigations involving INPH.
Relationships between affective constructs and mathematics achievement: A modeling approach

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship of preservice teachers’ affective characteristics using structural equation modelling to examine the relative contributions of latent factors, and to find the strength of their impacts to mathematics achievement. Based on the presage-process-product model of student learning (Biggs, 1987), 410 first-year students in the certificate education course at Hong Kong Institute of Education are used to build a hypothesized model to investigate how preservice teachers’ mathematics self-concept, mathematics teaching self-efficacy, beliefs and attitudes towards mathematics and mathematics education, influence cognitive activities in the learning process and subsequently mathematics achievement outcomes. The result shows that mathematics teaching self-efficacy acts as the mediator of affective characteristics, learning approaches and mathematics achievement. The finding proves useful to educators in the research areas of affective domain of mathematics education. It is hopeful that the proposed model will become a useful reference for further investigations on affective domain of mathematics education
Burnout prevalence and correlates amongst Colombian dental students: the STRESSCODE study.

INTRODUCTION Accumulating evidence amongst dental students indicates an alarming prevalence of stress, which can precipitate the development of burnout--a state of mental or physical exhaustion and disengagement. Understanding individual and educational correlates of burnout is necessary for its prevention. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of burnout amongst a large sample of Colombian dental undergraduates and investigate its psychosocial and educational correlates. MATERIALS AND METHODS Survey data collected from 5647 students participating in the Stress in Colombian Dental Education study were used for this analysis. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS). Covariates included participants' socio-demographic characteristics and perceived stress, as well as educational environment factors. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate methods based on multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression modelling were used for data analysis. RESULTS Seven per cent of the students surveyed met the criteria for burnout. The prevalence of burnout was higher amongst upper classes, older and married students, those who reported not having passed all required courses and not having dentistry as their first career choice, as well as students in public institutions and those with large class sizes. Moreover, students' perceived stress in the domains of workload and self-efficacy was significantly and positively associated with burnout. CONCLUSIONS Both personal and educational environment characteristics were found to be associated with burnout. Irrespective of these factors, students' perceived stress with regard to workload and self-efficacy was a strong influence on burnout and its alleviation may be a promising avenue to prevent psychological morbidity.
CUP–A New High-Flux Irradiation Position at the ANITA Neutron Facility at TSL

A new irradiation position has been constructed, characterized, and put into operation at the ANITA facility in The Svedberg Laboratory (TSL) for accelerated testing of components and systems for single event effects. Results of beam characterization measurements are reported. The energy-integrated neutron flux above 10 MeV, amounting to more than 107 cm-2 · s-1, is the highest among the facilities with atmospheric-like spectra. The employed characterization and simulation techniques are applicable for a broad class of neutron facilities.
Afzelin ameliorates D‐galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide‐induced fulminant hepatic failure by modulating mitochondrial quality control and dynamics

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a fatal clinical syndrome that results in excessive inflammation and hepatocyte death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be a possible mechanism of FHF. Afzelin, a flavonol glycoside found in Houttuynia cordata Thunberg, has anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study elucidated the cytoprotective mechanisms of afzelin against D‐galactosamine (GalN)/LPS induced FHF, particularly focusing on mitochondrial quality control and dynamics.
Early patterned stimulation leads to changes in adult behavior and gene expression in C. elegans

Across phylogeny, early experience plays a critical role in nervous system development. In these experiments, we investigated the long‐term effects that specific patterns of sensory experience during development had on the biology and function of the Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system. The delivery of a specific pattern of mechanosensory stimulation in the first larval stage (L1) produced significant enhancement in the tap withdrawal behavioral response, expression patterns of an ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) subunit and mRNA levels for that receptor in 3‐day‐old adult worms and a depression of these same three measures in 5‐day‐old adult worms. A critical period for the 3‐day enhanced behavior and GLR distribution was observed in L1, whereas there was no critical period for the depressed effects observed in 5‐day‐old worms. The spaced pattern of stimulation was essential for expression of this effect: Various forms of massed training produced neither the enhancement at 3 days nor the depression at 5 days. The 5‐day depressed behavioral response had many features in common with long‐term memory, including sensitivity to disruption following retrieval. The different behavioral and molecular effects that early patterned mechanosensory stimulation produced in 3 and 5‐day‐old worms led us to hypothesize that separate cellular phenomena produced the enhanced 3‐day and depressed 5‐day behaviors and molecular effects.
Cholesterol as an independent predictor of outcome after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND The debate on the role of high serum cholesterol levels in cardiovascular disease or chronic vascular rejection in kidney-transplanted patients has not yet been settled. METHODS We studied the influence of serum cholesterol at 1 year after transplantation on the failure risk in all 676 kidney graft recipients who survived with a functioning graft. Other variables included in this analysis were donor/recipient age and gender, original disease, race, number of HLA-A and -B mismatches, previous transplants, postmortal or living-related transplantation, and transplantation year. At 1 year after transplantation, we included: serum cholesterol, serum creatinine, proteinuria, and hypertension. RESULTS In the Cox proportional hazards analysis, serum cholesterol at 1 year after transplantation turned out to be an important, independent variable influencing all end points (adjusted for all other variables in the model). The influence on graft failure censored for death was log-linear, and there was interaction with serum creatinine at 1 year. The adverse effect of elevated serum cholesterol levels on the graft failure rate decreased with increasing serum creatinine levels. The influence of serum cholesterol on the rate ratio (RR) for patient failure was linear too, and here there was interaction with recipient age. The negative influence of serum cholesterol on the RR for patient failure decreased with increasing recipient age. The risk for over-all graft failure was influenced by increasing serum cholesterol levels, and there was interaction with recipient age. Because recipient age had interaction with donor age and serum creatinine, the influence of all four variables together on the RR was estimated. It is shown that whereas the RR for over-all graft failure in young recipients of a renal transplant increases significantly with higher cholesterol levels, there is very little influence on the RR of elderly recipients. The risk increases proportionally with increasing serum creatinine levels. CONCLUSION Serum cholesterol levels have an independent influence on graft, patient, and over-all graft failure.
Understanding delay in treatment for first-episode psychosis

Background. A lengthy delay often occurs between the onset of symptoms of psychotic disorders and initiation of adequate treatment. In this paper we examine the extent to which this represents a delay in individuals contacting health professionals or a delay in receiving treatment once such contact is made. Method. Pathways to care were examined in 110 patients of the Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychosis in London, Canada. Data were collected using structured interviews with patients, family members, consultation with clinicians and review of case records. Results. Family physicians and hospital emergency rooms were prominent components of pathways to care. Both delay to contact with a helping professional and delay from such contact to initiation of adequate treatment appear to be about equally important for the sample as a whole, but some individuals appear to be at risk for particularly lengthy delay in the second component. Individuals with younger age of onset, or who had initial contact with professional helpers before the onset of psychosis and were being seen on an ongoing basis at the time of onset of psychosis, had longer delays from first service contact after onset to initiation of adequate treatment. The greater delay to treatment for those being seen at the onset of psychosis does not appear to reflect differences in age, gender, symptoms, drug use or willingness to take medication. Conclusions. Interventions to reduce treatment delay should increase the public's awareness of the symptoms of psychotic illness and the need to seek treatment, but of equal importance is the education of service providers to recognize such illness and the potential benefits of earlier intervention.