Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of a culturally appropriate intervention on breast and cervical screening among native Hawaiian women.

BACKGROUND Native Hawaiian women have the highest breast and cervical cancer mortality rates and lowest screening rates in Hawai'i. This paper summarizes impacts of a breast and cervical cancer screening intervention spearheaded by a Native Hawaiian community. METHODS Six hundred seventy-eight randomly selected Native Hawaiian women completed two telephone surveys assessing their cancer screening behaviors: 318 women from a community that implemented an intervention, known as a Kokua Group, to provide culturally tailored education and support in a group setting and 360 women from communities without this intervention. The surveys were conducted before intervention implementation and 3 years later, 4 to 5 months after the last intervention session. RESULTS At posttest, intervention community women reported positive changes in 4 of 12 screening activities (P < or = 0.05), while no changes were found among controls. Some women in both communities had heard about and/or participated in Kokua Groups. Hierarchical logistic regression showed that controlling for community, demographics, and pretest scores, Kokua Group knowledge or participation was a significant predictor (P < 0.05) of 9 of 12 screening-related behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Positive changes in screening activities among women aware of the intervention support the importance of information diffusion by community consumers. Diffusion may occur beyond the boundaries of the community as defined.
Review of Transportation Mode Detection techniques

This paper reviews the works found in the literature in the field of Transportation Mode Detection (TMD) which is a subfield of Activity Recognition aiming at indentifying (i.e. classifying) the mean of transportation a person is using. The solutions found in literature have different characteristics according to the device for which the solution was tailored (smartphones or other systems such as, e.g., GPS loggers) and to the algorithm used for the classification task. This may vary a lot according to the number and type of input used (e.g. accelerations, GPS, maps information or GIS Geographical Information System information) and to the identified classes of transportation mode. These two aspects are the most relevant to consider when evaluating and comparing the accuracies claimed by each work. A comparison of the works is proposed taking into account the characteristics discussed above. In general the accelerometer is the most widely used sensor for TMD applications, as it limits battery consumption and captures relevant features for detecting motion. Indeed a key challenge in TMD is to detect different motorized classes such as bus, car, train and metro because they share common characteristics (such as e.g. the average speed and accelerations) which make hard identifying suitable features for the classification algorithm. Identifying the “walk” and “stationary” transportation modes is a simpler task because they are characterized by distinct features.
Labelling of retinal microglial cells following an intravenous injection of a fluorescent dye into rats of different ages

Retinal microglia were selectively and sequentially labelled in different layers of the retina of postnatal rats following a single intravenous injection of the fluorescent dye, rhodamine isothiocyanate (RhIc). The fluorescent cells were doubly immunostained with OX‐42 and ED‐1 antibodies that recognise complement type 3 (CR3) receptors and macrophage antigen, respectively. RhIc was first detected in the retinal blood vessels 5 min after injection. At 1 h, a variable number of microglia in the inner layers of the retina, namely, the nerve fibre and ganglion cell layers appeared to emit weak fluorescence. Labelled microglial cells in the inner nuclear and outer plexiform layers were not detected until 1 and 2 d had elapsed following RhIc injection. The number of labelled retinal microglia was progressively increased with time, peaking at 4 d after RhIc injection. The frequency of RhIc labelled cells also increased with age, with the largest number of cells occurring in 7‐d‐old rats but declined thereafter. In 11 d or older rats, RhIc was confined to the retinal blood vessels. It is concluded that when injected into the circulation, RhIc could readily gain access into the retina tissues due to an inefficient blood‐retina barrier in early postnatal stages. It became impeded with maturation of the blood‐retina barrier, which was established between 11 and 13 d of age. RhIc that inundated the retinal tissues was thoroughly sequestered by the resident microglial cells. It is therefore suggested that the latter could play a protective role against serum‐derived substances that may be deleterious to the developing retina.
ABO Blood Groups and Secretor Character in Rheumatic Carditis

Case 16. -A man aged 46 had had shadowing in the right uppcr lobe since 1947, with local extension in 1949. This was regarded as probably tuberculosis in spite of repeatedly negative sputum examinations. In 1952 a further reactivation in the right upper lobe occurred, and he also developed severe bronchitis followed by a left spontaneous pneumothorax. This proved difficult to re-expand. There were numerous scattered opacities throughout both lung fields, particularly in the upper zones. It was decided to do a lung biopsy and at the same time identify an air leak. On thoracotomy (January 1, 1957) a large leak and small emphysematous bullae were present in the left upper lobe and apex of the left lower lobe. Both lobes were fibrotic, with numerous hard calcified nodules scattered throughout. Microscopical examination of a biopsy specimen showed lesions strongly suggestive of calcifying chronic miliary tuberculosis. He was put on antituberculous drugs for the first time.
Intonation and Speaker Identification

The work described investigated the ability of listeners to identify familiar speakers solely on the basis of suprasegmental laryngeal information. The results of perceptual experiments using both natural stimuli, and synthetic stimuli with manipulations in the time and frequency domains, show that mean fundamental frequency and fundamental-frequency contour shape provide important speaker identifying information for an age-, sex- and accent- matched group even in the absence of all supraglottal features. The investigation is set in the context of the normalisation level of speech perception.
Ergonomic Intervention in the Treatment of a Patient With Upper Extremity and Neck Pain

Background and Purpose: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are widespread among computer users and costly to the health care system. Workstation setup and worker postures contribute to upper-extremity and neck symptoms among computer users. Ergonomic interventions such as work risk analysis and workstation modifications can improve workers' symptoms. However, ergonomic interventions do not appear to be a common component of traditional physical therapy treatment. Case Description: The patient was a 26-year-old woman with right upper-extremity and neck pain referred for physical therapy. A course of traditional physical therapy treatment was performed followed by an ergonomic intervention. Outcomes: Following 4 weeks of traditional physical therapy, the patient showed a 1.0-cm improvement in her resting pain level but no change in her pain level during exacerbations on the visual analog scale. An ergonomic intervention was performed following traditional physical therapy. At the conclusion of the full course of treatment (traditional physical therapy plus ergonomic intervention), resting pain level decreased by 4.6 cm and exacerbation pain level decreased by 3.2 cm. Improvements in Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and Workstyle scores also were realized. Discussion: This case report demonstrates the importance of examining the work habits and work-related postures of a patient who complains of upper-extremity and neck pain that is exacerbated by work. Providing an ergonomic intervention in concert with traditional physical therapy may be the most beneficial course of treatment.
Islamic Credit Card: Are Demographic Factors a Good Indicator?

This study investigates on the relationship between demographic factors and the usage of Islamic credit card as well as Conventional credit card demonstrates their interdependencies. The debatable issues as been addressed by many authorities not only in terms of the numbers of credit card flooding the nation’s economy, but the amount of transactions that end up with payment default and the numbers of credit card fraud as been recorded which threatened the economy should be seriously focused. Nevertheless the advances and changing habits in purchasing activities significantly contributed the diffusion of credit card as becoming more important and relevant in maintaining the purchasing activities. The study was conducted involving 305 respondents as a sample of study. While 26 items were used for addressing the research questions. Section A of the questionnaire seeks for information concerning the demographic profile of the respondents whilst section B and C that used Likert scale aimed to investigate information related to income and usage of credit card. The results of the study offer certain important managerial implications for the policy makers, finance institutions and the authorities bodies that take controls the credit card activities.
[Study on virulence factors of Candida tropicalis isolated from clinical samples].

OBJECTIVE To determine the in vitro production of virulence factors for Candida (C.) tropicalis, including aspartyl proteinases, phospholipases and hemolytic activities, describe the regulation of virulence factors varying with time in C. tropicalis, and analyze the differences in aspartyl proteinases and hemolytic activities of C. tropicalis isolated from anatomically distinct sites. METHODS A total of 64 C. tropicalis strains were spot-inoculated onto bovine albumin agar, egg yolk agar and sheep blood agar plates, respectively. Then the plates were incubated for 24, 48 and 72 hour at 37 °C, respectively. The aspartyl proteinases, phospholipase and hemolytic activities were determined at each time point, respectively. RESULTS All the C. tropiclais isolates showed positive aspartyl proteinases and hemolytic activities at each time point, but no phospholipases activity was detected in C. tropicalis. On comparison of aspartyl proteinases and hemolytic activities at different time points, aspartyl proteinases activity at 48 and 72 hour was higher than that at 24 hour. During 72 hour, hemolytic activity of C. tropicalis increased. No statistical significant differences in aspartyl proteinases and hemolytic activities of C. tropicalis were observed among different infection sites (P=0.368 and 0.985). CONCLUSION The C. tropicalis clinical isolates in China have aspartyl proteinases activity, hemolytic activity, but have no phospholipase activity.
S-2-hydroxyglutarate regulates CD 8 + T-lymphocyte fate

In response to T-cell receptor (TCR) triggering, quiescent CD8+ T lymphocytes transition to a proliferative effector state. During this response, memory CD8+ T lymphocytes form and can persist for the entire lifespan of the organism, mounting rapid recall responses, thereby providing long-term immunity. The metabolic programs of these different CD8+ T-lymphocyte states are distinct and important for function1–4. Effector CD8+ T lymphocytes generate most ATP and biomass through glycolysis5; both naive and memory cells rely heavily on oxidative phosphorylation6,7. Various cytokines and transcription factors are important for the differentiation of CD8+ T lymphocytes, and it is evident that immunological memory is influenced by epigenetic mechanisms8–12. CD8+ T lymphocytes traffic into severely hypoxic areas within tumours and inflammatory tissue13. The response to oxygenation, mediated by the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) and HIF-α proteins, is an essential regulator of metabolism and CD8+ T-lymphocyte function14–16. Here we demonstrate that CD8+ T lymphocytes produce 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) in response to TCR triggering and environmental hypoxia. Using CD8+ T-lymphocytes isolated from Mus musculus with CD8specific genetic deletions of Vhl, Hif-1α and Hif-2α, driven by cre expressed under the distal promoter of the lymphocyte protein tyrosine kinase (dLckcre), we highlight the dependency of this metabolic feature on the HIF pathway. S-2HG constitutes the majority of the 2HG pool, and we show that S-2HG alters the phenotypic and functional characteristics of CD8+ T lymphocytes, maintaining a state of increased proliferative, survival and anti-tumour capacity.
Does infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus affect the antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum antigenic determinants in asymptomatic pregnant women?

OBJECTIVES HIV-seropositive pregnant women are more susceptible to malaria than HIV-seronegative women. We assessed whether HIV infection alters maternal and cord plasma malarial antibody responses and the mother-to-infant transfer of malaria antibodies. METHODS We determined plasma levels of maternal and cord antibodies [Immunoglobulin (IgG)] to recombinant malarial proteins [merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1(19kD)), the erythrocyte binding antigen (EBA-175)], the synthetic peptides [MSP-2, MSP-3, rhoptry associated protein 1 (RAP-1), and the pre-erythrocytic stage, circumsporozoite protein (NANP)(5)] antigenic determinants of Plasmodium falciparum; and tetanus toxoid (TT) by ELISA among samples of 99 HIV-seropositive mothers, 69 of their infants, 102 HIV-seronegative mothers and 62 of their infants. RESULTS The prevalence of maternal antibodies to the malarial antigenic determinants ranged from 18% on MSP3 to 91% on EBA-175; in cord plasma it ranged from 13% to 91%, respectively. More than 97% of maternal and cord samples had antibodies to TT. In multivariate analysis, HIV infection was only associated with reduced antibodies to (NANP)(5) in maternal (P=0.001) and cord plasma (P=0.001); and reduced mother-to-infant antibody transfer to (NANP)(5) (P=0.012). This effect of HIV was independent of maternal age, gravidity and placental malaria. No consistent HIV-associated differences were observed for other antigenic determinants. CONCLUSION An effect of HIV infection was only observed on one malarial antigenic determinant, suggesting that the increased susceptibility to malaria among HIV-infected pregnant women may not be explained on the basis of their reduced antibody response to malaria antigens.
Retrospective serological study on sequential dengue virus serotypes 1 to 4 epidemics in Tainan City, Taiwan, 1994 to 2000.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We previously reported the development of a non-structural protein NS1 serotype-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for dengue serodiagnosis and seroepidemiological study. This assay can be used to differentiate the immunologic status of individuals into naive, primary, or secondary dengue virus (DENV) infection and identify the DENV serotypes of primary infection. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the serological responses of confirmed dengue cases infected during each of the sequential DENV-1 (August 1994 to February 1995), DENV-2 (August to December 1997), DENV-3 (August 1998 to January 1999), and DENV-4 (June to December 2000) epidemics in Tainan City, Taiwan. METHODS 218 serum samples collected 1.1 to 7.2 years postinfection were analyzed by NS1 serotype-specific IgG ELISA together with corresponding acute and/or convalescent serum samples when available. The immunological status and the infecting DENV serotypes were determined for these individuals. RESULTS High titers of dengue NS1 serotype-specific IgG antibody could be detected in serum samples. Differentiation of immunological status showed that 76.6% and 23.4% of cases had primary and secondary infections, respectively. A significant age-dependent increase in the rate of secondary infection was observed for those cases born before 1942. Notably, analysis of postinfection serum samples of 17 dengue hemorrhagic fever patients infected during the 1998 DENV-3 epidemic showed that 9 cases (53%) had primary infections. CONCLUSIONS Our data revealed that a majority of the population born after 1943 in Tainan City are naive to DENV infection and are at high risk of infection with all 4 DENV serotypes.
Analysis of Student Performance After Implementing Active Teaching Methods in an Engineering Classroom

There is an abundance of data that suggest that implementing active teaching methods in the classroom produces a deeper, longer lasting understanding and increased enjoyment of course material. However, most engineering educators do not employ these techniques. This study implemented a few basic active teaching methods in two electrical engineering courses for 3 consecutive semesters. The objective of the study was to address three typical concerns engineering educators have about implementing active teaching methods: 1. “I don’t have enough time to change my course material,” 2. “It is difficult to employ active teaching techniques with my course material so it won’t be effective,” and 3. “I won’t be able to cover all my material if I allow time for the activities in class. ” The first part of the study compared three aspects; (1) the amount of course preparation time between an active teaching course and a traditionally taught course; (2) the amount of material covered using active teaching versus the material traditionally covered; (3) student performance as compared to the same group of students’ performance in previous courses with the same instructor when material was traditionally taught. The second part of the study, presented here, compared a new group of students in the same two courses; comparisons where made against historical performance and against a number of control questions developed during the first part of the study. Student performance was compared against the amount of exposure to these active teaching methods over an extend period of time. Student retention of course material was also compared. Results continue to show that students were more engaged and scored higher on topics covered using simple active teaching methods as opposed to traditional lectures. Students in the second part of this study scored comparatively the same on control questions based on topics taught with active teaching methods as compared to the students in the first part of the study. However, students taught with traditional methods in the first part of the study, but taught with active teaching in the second part of the study scored significantly higher on control questions for both methods. Students who learned material from active teaching methods scored significantly higher in long term retention as well. Results also suggest that while some students start off resistant to active methods of teaching, they quickly adapt and appraise those methods positively; however, extended exposure to the same techniques appear to desensitize the students and become less effective over time.
Photonic Generation of Broadly Tunable Microwave Signals Utilizing a Dual-Beam Optically Injected Semiconductor Laser

We propose and study photonic generation of broadly tunable microwave signals utilizing a dual-beam optically injected semiconductor laser. By injecting a slave laser with two detuned master lasers at the stable locking states, microwave signals with frequencies corresponding to the frequency spacing of the master lasers can be generated. Without the need for a microwave reference source, the dual-beam optical injection scheme has the advantages of low cost and less system complexity. Moreover, without the limitations of period-doubling bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation, by utilizing the period-one oscillation state with a single-beam injection scheme, the microwave signals generated with the proposed scheme have a much broader tuning range. In this paper, optical and power spectra of the microwave signals generated with the dual-beam optical injection scheme are compared with those generated with the optical mixing, the single-beam injection, and the unlocked dual-beam injection schemes. Generation of tunable microwave signals up to 120 GHz is demonstrated, which is currently limited by the locking range of the slave laser determined by the frequency difference between the Hopf (higher frequency) and the saddle node (lower frequency) bifurcation curves.
A comparison of simulation models applied to epidemics

This paper presents a new approach to infectious disease analysis through computer simulation. The case study concerns the spread of Bovine Leukemia, a viral pathology sustained by a retrovirus from the same family as HIV that exclusively strikes cattle within dairy farms. Although analytical models of epidemic spread have been implemented, their practical use is often difficult, above all for predictive and quantitative analysis. Computer simulation provides a new possible approach, and here we apply two methodologies: "System Dynamics" and "Agent Based". Furthermore the case study is used like a workbench to illustrate the differences between the two approaches and to explain how these techniques can help with the understanding of the problem. At the same time epidemiological researchers are able to do a preliminary "what-if" analysis with the purpose of assessing the system's behaviour under various conditions and evaluating which alternative sanitary policies to adopt. Thanks to model results, experts have reached their first suppositions in order to fight the endemic behaviour of Bovine Leukemia. The models implemented can easily be extended to collect the details of the system to be investigated more efficiently and to allow more refined analyses to be made.
Current Outcomes and Indications for Cryopreserved Vein Allografts in Hemodialysis Access Surgery

Introduction Cryopreserved vein allografts (cadaveric vein) have emerged as an option for arteriovenous graft reconstruction; however, indications for their use in hemodialysis access remains to be clearly defined. Observations from our own experience have suggested that cadaveric vein grafts (CVGs) provide good outcomes, particularly in patients with a history of infection, recurrent access failure and advanced age. Methods This is a 10-year retrospective study. Primary outcomes were (1) to identify characteristics specific to this patient population and (2) to better define indications for use of cadaveric vein in hemodialysis access creation. Results Indications for creation of CVGs included patient history of either active or recent infection (41.5%), recurrent access failure (43.4%) or surgeon preference secondary to patients’ advanced age (9.4%). Observed primary patency rates were 84.9% (30 days), 22.6% (1 year) and 16.0% (2 years). Secondary patency was 93.4% (30 days), 66.0% (1 year) and 52.8% (2 years). Patient death was the highest cause of graft abandonment (52.9%) followed by thrombosis (19.1%), infection (11.7%) and rupture (11.7%). CVG patency at the time of patient death was 83.7%. Conclusions The rates of both primary and secondary patency in CVGs are highly comparable to the reported patency rates of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts and allow for lifelong maintenance of dialysis access. Our observed outcome suggests that CVGs should be considered for patients needing vascular access in the presence of infection. CVGs may likewise be viable alternatives to PTFE grafts in the elderly and patients with limited access options.