Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards accurate detection of obfuscated web tracking

Web tracking is currently recognized as one of the most important privacy threats on the Internet. Over the last years, many methodologies have been developed to uncover web trackers. Most of them are based on static code analysis and the use of predefined blacklists. However, our main hypothesis is that web tracking has started to use obfuscated programming, a transformation of code that renders previous detection methodologies ineffective and easy to evade. In this paper, we propose a new methodology based on dynamic code analysis that monitors the actual JavaScript calls made by the browser and compares them to the original source code of the website in order to detect obfuscated tracking. The main advantage of this approach is that detection cannot be evaded by code obfuscation. We applied this methodology to detect the use of canvas-font tracking and canvas fingerprinting on the top-10K most visited websites according to Alexa's ranking. Canvas-based tracking is a fingerprinting method based on JavaScript that uses the HTML5 canvas element to uniquely identify a user. Our results show that 10.44% of the top-10K websites use canvas-based tracking (canvas-font and canvas fingerprinting), while obfuscation was used in 2.25% of them. These results confirm our initial hypothesis that obfuscated programming in web tracking is already in use. Finally, we argue that canvas-based tracking can be more present in secondary pages than in the home page of websites.
MLH1 and XRCC1 polymorphisms in Mexican patients with colorectal cancer.

DNA repair proteins maintain DNA integrity; polymorphisms in genes coding for these proteins can increase susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC) development. We analyzed a possible association of MLH1 -93G>A and 655A>G and XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln polymorphisms with CRC in Mexican patients. Genomic DNA samples were obtained from peripheral blood of 108 individuals with CRC (study group) at diagnosis and 120 blood donors (control group) from Western Mexico; both groups were mestizos. The polymorphisms were detected by PCR-RFLP. Association was estimated by calculating the odds ratio (OR). We found that the MLH1 and XRCC1 polymorphisms were in Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium. The MLH1 655A>G polymorphism in the 655G allele was associated with a 2-fold increase risk for CRC (OR = 2.04 and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.12-3.69; P < 0.01), while the MLH1 -93G>A polymorphism allele was associated with a protective effect (OR = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.40-0.89; P = 0.01 in the -93A allele and OR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.13-0.79; P = 0.01 in the AA genotype). The XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln polymorphisms did not show any significant associations. In conclusion, we found that MLH1 -93G>A and 655A>G polymorphisms are associated with CRC in Mexican patients.
HLA-B27-restricted antigen presentation by human chondrocytes to CD8+ T cells: potential contribution to local immunopathologic processes in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE Analysis of the histopathologic features of hip arthritis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has revealed accumulation of infiltrating mononuclear cells in the bone end plate and presence of hyaline articular cartilage that is not found in areas of total cartilage destruction. This study was undertaken to assess whether chondrocytes attract lymphocytes and whether cartilage chondrocytes from patients with AS have the potential to directly stimulate T cells in an HLA-restricted manner. METHODS Human HLA-B27+ T cell lines, specific for the Epstein-Barr virus-derived peptide EBNA258-266, and autologous chondrocytes, serving as nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), were available for use in a model system to study chondrocyte functions in femoral head joint cartilage of patients with AS. Peptide functionality of cytotoxic T cells was assessed by flow cytometry, and cellular interactions were detected by fluorescence confocal microscopy. RESULTS When maintained in an alginate matrix, chondrocytes isolated from the femoral heads of patients with AS constitutively expressed type II collagen and CD80. When pulsed with the EBNA258-266 peptide, autologous chondrocytes functioned as APCs and, specifically, induced interferon-gamma production in CD8+ T cells. In mixed chondrocyte-T cell cultures, cell-cell contacts were dependent on the presence of the EBNA258-266 peptide. T cells adjacent to chondrocytes produced perforin and granzyme B; both molecules were found in focal aggregates, a prerequisite for antigen-specific lysis of target cells. CONCLUSION Antigen presentation through human chondrocytes allows the stimulation of peptide-specific CD8+ T cells. These results indicate that human chondrocytes can act as nonprofessional APCs, and suggest that there is an interferon-gamma-triggered autocrine loop of immune cell-mediated chondrocyte activation in the already inflamed environment. Thus, local HLA-dependent activation of peptide-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells by chondrocytes might contribute to inflammatory processes in the spondylarthritides.
Manipulation effects of prior exercise intensity feedback by the Borg scale during open-loop cycling

Objective To verify the effects of exercise intensity deception by the Borg scale on the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR) and performance responses during a constant power output open-loop exercise. Methods Eight healthy men underwent a maximal incremental test on a cycle ergometer to identify the peak power output (PPO) and heart rate deflection point (HRDP). Subsequently, they performed a constant power output trial to exhaustion set at the HRDP intensity, in deception (DEC) and informed (INF) conditions: DEC—subjects were told that they would be cycling at an intensity corresponding to two categories below the RPE quantified at the HRDP; INF—subjects were told that they would cycle at the exact intensity corresponding to the RPE quantified at the HRDP. Results The PPO and power output at the HRDP obtained in maximal incremental tests were 247.5±32.1 W and 208.1±27.1 W, respectively. No significant difference in the time to exhaustion was found between DEC (525±244 s) or INF (499±224 s) trials. The slope and the first and second measurements of the RPE and HR parameters showed no significant difference between trials. Conclusions Psychophysiological variables such as RPE and HR as well as performance were not affected when exercise intensity was deceptively manipulated via RPE scores. This may suggest that unaltered RPE during exercise is a regulator of performance in this open-loop exercise.
Neuronal activation related to auditory perception in the brain of a non‐songbird, the ring dove

In songbirds, parrots, and hummingbirds, which need to learn their songs, exposure to conspecific song leads to increased expression of the immediate early gene (IEG) ZENK in a number of forebrain regions, including the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM) and the caudomedial mesopallium (CMM). Here we investigated the pattern of IEG expression in response to auditory stimulation in the brain of the ring dove (Streptopelia risoria), a non‐songbird that does not need to learn its vocalizations. Ring dove males were exposed to conspecific vocalizations (coos), to heterospecific vocalizations (zebra finch song) or they were kept in silence. IEG expression was investigated by means of immunocytochemical analysis of the distribution of the ZENK protein product Zenk. In all three groups there was Zenk expression in several forebrain regions including the NCM and the CMM, similar to earlier findings in song‐learning species. Quantitative analysis of the NCM, the CMM, and the hippocampus revealed significantly greater Zenk expression in birds exposed to conspecific vocalizations than in birds kept in silence, in the CMM only. These results show that there is substantial Zenk expression in the forebrain of a non‐song‐learning bird, comparable to that in avian song‐learning taxa. These findings suggest that there is IEG expression specific to conspecific auditory stimulation in the CMM in both songbirds and non‐songbirds. J. Comp. Neurol. 488:342–351, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
BMP‐2 inhibits tumor growth of human renal cell carcinoma and induces bone formation

Bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2), a member of the transforming growth factor superfamily, has been shown to have inhibitory effect on many tumor types. However, the effect of BMP‐2 on human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still unknown. We previously showed that BMP‐2 inhibits tumorigenicity of cancer stem cells in human osteosarcoma OS99‐1 cells. Our study investigates the effect of BMP‐2 on human RCC using ACHN and Caki‐2 cell lines. Three types of BMP receptors were found to be expressed in ACHN and Caki‐2 cells. In vitro, BMP‐2 was found to inhibit the growth of ACHN and Caki‐2 cells. The antiproliferative effect seems to be due to cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, which was revealed by flow cytometry analysis. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis, we demonstrated BMP‐2 upregulated osteogenic markers Runx‐2 and Collagen Type I gene expression in ACHN and Caki‐2 cells. Treatment of ACHN and Caki‐2 cells with BMP‐2 induced a rapid phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8. In vivo, all animals receiving low number of ACHN (1 × 104) and Caki‐2 (5 × 104) cells treated with 30 μg of BMP‐2 per animal showed limited tumor growth with significant bone formation, whereas untreated cells developed large tumor masses without bone formation in immunodeficient non‐obese diabetic (NOD)/severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. These results suggest that BMP‐2 inhibits growth of RCC as well as causes induction of osseous bone formation. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between inhibition of cell proliferation and bone induction.
Traditional birth attendants in rural Nepal: Knowledge, attitudes and practices about maternal and newborn health

Abstract Efforts to formalise the role of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in maternal and neonatal health programmes have had limited success. TBAs’ continued attendance at home deliveries suggests the potential to influence maternal and neonatal outcomes. The objective of this qualitative study was to identify and understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices of TBAs in rural Nepal. Twenty-one trained and untrained TBAs participated in focus groups and in-depth interviews about antenatal care, delivery practices, maternal complications and newborn care. Antenatal care included advice about nutrition and tetanus toxoid (TT) immunisation, but did not include planning ahead for transport in cases of complications. Clean delivery practices were observed by most TBAs, though hand-washing practices differed by training status. There was no standard practice to identify maternal complications, such as excessive bleeding, prolonged labour, or retained placenta, and most referred outside in the event of such complications. Newborn care practices included breastfeeding with supplemental feeds, thermal care after bathing, and mustard seed oil massage. TBAs reported high job satisfaction and desire to improve their skills. Despite uncertainty regarding the role of TBAs to manage maternal complications, TBAs may be strategically placed to make potential contributions to newborn survival.
The influence of microwave radiation from cellular phone on fetal rat brain

The increasing use of cellular phones in our society has brought focus on the potential detrimental effects to human health by microwave radiation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the intensity of oxidative stress and the level of neurotransmitters in the brains of fetal rats chronically exposed to cellular phones. The experiment was performed on pregnant rats exposed to different intensities of microwave radiation from cellular phones. Thirty-two pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups: CG, GL, GM, and GH. CG accepted no microwave radiation, GL group radiated 10 min each time, GM group radiated 30 min, and GH group radiated 60 min. The 3 experimental groups were radiated 3 times a day from the first pregnant day for consecutively 20 days, and on the 21st day, the fetal rats were taken and then the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), noradrenaline (NE), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HT) in the brain were assayed. Compared with CG, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) found in the contents of SOD, GSH-Px, and MDA in GM and GH; the contents of SOD and GSH-Px decreased and the content of MDA increased. The significant content differences of NE and DA were found in fetal rat brains in GL and GH groups, with the GL group increased and the GH group decreased. Through this study, we concluded that receiving a certain period of microwave radiation from cellular phones during pregnancy has certain harm on fetal rat brains.
The lost to trauma patient follow-up: A system or patient problem

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to explore the reasons for trauma patients’ failure to follow up at a trauma clinic (TC). METHODS A 1-year retrospective analysis was conducted on those trauma services patients (n = 799) who were discharged from Parkview Hospital in 2009. Hospital electronic medical records were examined to identify variables of interest; telephone interviews were attempted on those patients who failed to follow up (FTF); and calls were made to the offices of involved subspecialist (SS) to determine if any follow-up had occurred. Data analysis was performed by Microsoft Excel and SPSS. RESULTS Two hundred thirty-three patients were identified as having FTF in the TC. Patient or external factors caused a follow-up loss for 147 patients (63.1%), and 44% of them did have a follow-up with an SS. Hospital or internal factors resulted in 86 patients (36.9%) being FTF, and 43% of them were seen by an SS. The physician compliance rate per policy was 89.2% (713 of 799). The patient compliance rate at TC follow-up was 79.3% (566 of 713). The total patient compliance rate both at the TC and SS follow-up was 87.2% (669 of 767). No significant demographic differences in age, sex, Injury Severity Scores, hospital payment status, or distance from the hospital were noted between those patients who had FTF in the external or internal factor groups. Of the 130 patients who had no follow-up, 39% did meet follow-up criteria. CONCLUSION Only 10.8% of the trauma patients who had appointments for any posttrauma follow-up had FTF, implying that the patient is not the reason for FTF but that FTF is a system issue. With improved patient education on the day of hospital discharge and improved physician discharge orders, trauma patient follow-up could approach 100%. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.
Multiple signaling functions of song in a polymorphic species with alternative reproductive strategies

Abstract Vocal traits can be sexually selected to reflect male quality, but may also evolve to serve additional signaling functions. We used a long‐term dataset to examine the signaling potential of song in dimorphic white‐throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). We investigated whether song conveys multifaceted information about the vocalizing individual, including fitness, species identity, individual identity, and morph. We also evaluated whether song traits correlate differently with fitness in the two morphs, as the more promiscuous strategy of white, relative to tan, morph males might impose stronger sexual selection. Males with high song rates achieved higher lifetime reproductive success, and this pattern was driven by white morph males. In addition, males that sang songs with many notes survived longer, but this pattern was less robust. Thus, song traits reflect differences in fitness and may more strongly affect fitness in the white morph. Song frequency was unrelated to fitness, body size, or morph, but was individual specific and could signal individual identity. Songs of the two morphs displayed similar frequency ratios and bandwidths. However, tan morph males sang songs with longer first notes, fewer notes, and higher variability. Thus, song could be used in morph discrimination. Variation in frequency ratios between notes was low and could function in conspecific recognition, but pitch change dynamics did differ between four different song types observed. Our results support a multiple messages model for white‐throated sparrow song, in which different song traits communicate discrete information about the vocalizing individual.
Perinatal and chronic hypothyroidism impair behavioural development in male and female rats

A lack of thyroid hormone, i.e. hypothyroidism, during early development results in multiple morphological and functional alterations in the developing brain. In the present study, behavioural effects of perinatal and chronic hypothyroidism were assessed during development in both male and female offspring of hypothyroid rats. To induce hypothyroidism, dams and offspring were fed an iodide‐poor diet and drinking water with 0.75% sodium perchlorate; dams starting 2 weeks prior to mating and pups either until the day of killing (chronic hypothyroidism) or only until weaning (perinatal hypothyroidism) to test for reversibility of the effects observed. Neuromotor competence, locomotor activity and cognitive function were monitored in the offspring until postnatal day 71 and were compared with age‐matched control rats. Early neuromotor competence, as assessed in the grip test and balance beam test, was impaired by both chronic and perinatal hypothyroidism. The open field test, assessing locomotor activity, revealed hyperactive locomotor behavioural patterns in chronic hypothyroid animals only. The Morris water maze test, used to assess cognitive performance, showed that chronic hypothyroidism affected spatial memory in a negative manner. In contrast, perinatal hypothyroidism was found to impair spatial memory in female rats only. In general, the effects of chronic hypothyroidism on development were more pronounced than the effects of perinatal hypothyroidism, suggesting the early effects of hypothyroidism on functional alterations of the developing brain to be partly reversible and to depend on developmental timing of the deficiency.
The social and gender context of HIV disclosure in sub-Saharan Africa: A review of policies and practices

This paper reviews the legal and policy context of HIV disclosure in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as what is known about rates, consequences and social context of disclosure, with special attention to gender issues and the role of health services. Persistent rates of nondisclosure by those diagnosed with HIV raise difficult ethical, public health and human rights questions about how to protect the medical confidentiality, health and well-being of people living with HIV on the one hand, and how to protect partners and children from HIV transmission on the other. Both globally and within the sub-Saharan African region, a spate of recent laws, policies and programmes have tried to encourage or – in some cases – mandate HIV disclosure. These policies have generated ethical and policy debates. While there is consensus that the criminalization of transmission and nondisclosure undermines rights while serving little public health benefit, there is less clarity about the ethics of third party notification, especially in resource-constrained settings. Despite initiatives to encourage voluntary HIV disclosure and to increase partner testing in sub-Saharan Africa, health workers continue to grapple with difficult challenges in the face of nondisclosure, and often express a need for more guidance and support in this area. A large body of research indicates that gender issues are key to HIV disclosure in the region, and must be considered within policies and programmes. Taken as a whole, this evidence suggests a need for more attention to the challenges and dilemmas faced by both clients and providers in relation to HIV disclosure in this region and for continued efforts to consider the perspectives and rights of all those affected.
Childhood obesity in ambulatory children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy in Korea.

OBJECTIVE Childhood obesity is an emerging health issue in Korea. We investigated the prevalence of obesity and its trend over time in ambulatory Korean children with CP. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,397 children with CP between 1995 and 2008. The data were grouped into 4 time periods (1995-1997, 1998-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2008). The prevalence of obesity over each period and its relationship to gender, birth weight, age, and gross motor function classification system were investigated. RESULTS The percentage of obese children was 5.8%, overweight children 11.2%, and underweight children 10.4%. The prevalence of obesity significantly increased from the first time period to the third time period. The prevalence of obesity found in our study was significantly lower than the report from the U.S.A. during same time period between 1994 and 2004 (p<0.05). The prevalence of obesity significantly decreased with age as well. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of obesity in our subjects significantly increased and has reached a plateau in recent years. Compared to the prevalence of childhood obesity in ambulatory individuals with CP in the U.S.A. study, the prevalence in our study was significantly lower.
Mutual proximity graphs for improved reachability in music recommendation

This paper is concerned with the impact of hubness, a general problem of machine learning in high-dimensional spaces, on a real-world music recommendation system based on visualisation of a k-nearest neighbour (knn) graph. Due to a problem of measuring distances in high dimensions, hub objects are recommended over and over again while anti-hubs are nonexistent in recommendation lists, resulting in poor reachability of the music catalogue. We present mutual proximity graphs, which are an alternative to knn and mutual knn graphs, and are able to avoid hub vertices having abnormally high connectivity. We show that mutual proximity graphs yield much better graph connectivity resulting in improved reachability compared to knn graphs, mutual knn graphs and mutual knn graphs enhanced with minimum spanning trees, while simultaneously reducing the negative effects of hubness.
A Novel Reliability Evaluation Technique for Stochastic-Flow Manufacturing Networks With Multiple Production Lines

This paper presents a novel technique to measure the performance of a stochastic-flow manufacturing network (SMN) which violates the so-called flow conservation law due to the failure rates of stations. We address the mission reliability, the probability of demand satisfaction, as a performance indicator for the SMN while considering both the stochastic capacities and the multiple production lines. First, we construct a manufacturing system as an SMN through a graphical transformation, and decompose the transformed SMN into several paths for further analysis. Subsequently, two algorithms for different scenarios are designed to generate all minimal capacity vectors that stations should provide to satisfy the given demand. The first scenario is for the SMN with identical production lines in parallel. The second scenario is for distinct production lines with common stations in the SMN. We derive the mission reliability in terms of minimal capacity vectors by applying the recursive sum of disjoint products (RSDP) algorithm. A decision making issue is also discussed to decide a reliable production strategy.