Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with perinatal HIV using a novel machine learning algorithm

Background A subset of children with perinatal HIV (pHIV) experience long-term neurocognitive symptoms despite treatment with antiretroviral therapy. However, predictors of neurocognitive outcomes remain elusive, particularly for children with pHIV residing in low-to-middle income countries. The present study utilized a novel data analytic approach to identify clinically-relevant predictors of neurocognitive development in children with pHIV. Methods Analyses were conducted on a large repository of longitudinal data from 285 children with pHIV in Thailand (n=170) and Cambodia (n=115). Participants were designated as neurocognitively resilient (i.e., positive slope; n=143) or at risk (i.e., negative slope; n=142) according to annual performances on the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration over an average of 5.4 years. Gradient-boosted multivariate regression (GBM) with 5-fold cross validation was utilized to identify the optimal combination of demographic, HIV disease, blood markers, and emotional health indices that predicted classification into the two neurocognitive subgroups. Model performance was assessed using Receiver Operator Curves and sensitivity/specificity. Results The analytic approach distinguished neurocognitive subgroups with high accuracy (93%; sensitivity and specificity each > 90%). Dynamic change indices and interactions between mental health and biological indices emerged as key predictors. Conclusion Machine learning-based regression defined a unique explanatory model of neurocognitive outcomes among children with pHIV. The predictive algorithm included a combination of HIV, physical health, and mental health indices extracted from readily available clinical measures. Studies are needed to explore the clinical relevance of the data-driven explanatory model, including potential to inform targeted interventions aimed at modifiable risk factors.
Recent Trends and Impacts of Fisheries Exploitation on Mediterranean Stocks and Ecosystems

This review focuses on the recent data on Mediterranean fishing fleets and landings, results from stock assessments and ecosystem models to provide an overview of the multiple impacts of fishing exploitation in the different Mediterranean geographical sub-areas (GSAs). A fleet of about 73.000 vessels is widespread along the Mediterranean coasts. Artisanal activities are predominant in South Mediterranean and in the eastern basin, while trawling features GSAs in the western basin and the Adriatic. The overall landings of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, after peaking during mid ‘90s at about one million tons, declined at about 700.000 in 2013. However, while landings are declining in EU countries since the 90s, in non-EU a decreasing trend was observed only in the last 5-10 years. The current levels of fishing effort determine a general overexploitation status of commercial stocks with more than 90% of the stock assessed out of safe biological limits. Indicators obtained from available ecosystem models included primary production required to sustain fisheries (PPR), mean trophic level of the catch (mTLc), the loss in secondary production index (L index) and the probability of the ecosystem to be sustainably fished (psust). In areas exploited sustainably (e.g. Gulf of Gabes, Eastern Ionian and Aegean Sea) fishing pressure was characterized by either low number of vessels per unit of shelf area or the large prevalence of artisanal/small scale fisheries. Conversely, GSAs in Western and Adriatic showed very low ecosystem sustainability of fisheries that can be easily related with the high fishing pressure and the large proportion of overfished stocks obtained from single species assessments. We showed that the current knowledge on Mediterranean fisheries and ecosystems depict a worrisome picture where the effect of poorly regulated fisheries, in combination with the ongoing climate forcing and the rapid expansion of non-indigenous species, are rapidly changing the structure and functioning of the ecosystem with unpredictable effects on the goods and services provided. Although this would call for urgent conservation actions, the management system implemented in the region appears too slow and probably inadequate to protect biodiversity and secure fisheries resources for the future generations.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of comprehensive and continuous pediatric care.

Two controlled studies were undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive and continuous pediatric care. In the first study, 220 infants of primiparous adolescents were randomly allocated to either a comprehensive care (CC) or traditional care (TC) group. CC infants received all medical care, preventive and therapeutic, in a hospital-based program staffed by a pediatrician, public health nurse, and social worker. Mothers of TC infants were left to obtain care from emergency rooms, well-baby and outpatient clinics. One year after delivery, each mother was interviewed and her infant's medical records abstracted. No differences were found between CC and TC infants in completeness of immunization, utilization of medical resources, morbidity, or mortality. In a second study, it was hypothesized that patient compliance with physicians' recommendations would be favorably influenced by continuous care. Seventy-seven children on daily oral penicillin prophylaxis for history of rheumatic fever (RF) were studied. For one year, compliance was determined by periodic urine tests for penicillin. Patients were then stratified for age, sex, and compliance and randomly allocated to continuous care (CC) or traditional care (TC) groups. CC patients received all medical care, even for problems unrelated to RF, from the same two physicians for 15 months. TC patients continued to receive specialty clinic care, were seen at the RF clinic by different physicians and referred elsewhere for all problems unrelated to RF. Urine specimens were tested periodically for penicillin. After 15 months, no differences were observed between CC and TC groups in proportion of noncompliers or in internal shifts in compliance which had occurred during the study. Thus, neither of these studies was able to demonstrate that comprehensive and continuous care was more effective than conventional ambulatory care for children.
Occupational Health Hazards Facing Mortuary Attendants

The mortuary is the most neglected and ignored place in almost all the hospitals. It is not having even basic facilities for the departed souls, public and officials working there. The risk of working in a mortuary is enormous; Cadavers pose the risk of infection like tuberculosis, HIV, Hepatitis B and C viruses to mortuary attendants. High risk of psychological stress among mortuary attendants, leading or contributing manifestations such as alcoholism and substance abuse is present. It is suggested that the staff should be educated on the risks involved in their work and on the preventive measures they could employ to minimize them. Measures like stress management, vaccination, improved mortuary hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) need to be instituted as a matter of urgency.
Prevalence of hemoglobin A1c greater than 6.5% and 7.0% among hospitalized patients without known diagnosis of diabetes at an urban inner city hospital.

CONTEXT Bronx, New York, an urban county with a large low-income, immigrant and minority population, has a prevalence of diabetes that is among the highest in the United States. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in identifying patients at risk for diabetes on an in-patient medical service of a hospital serving a high prevalence community. DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a prospective cohort study at an urban public hospital. PATIENTS The study included 971 patients (1132 admissions) admitted to the general medicine service over 4 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES HbA1c was measured on all patients. Records were checked for prior diagnosis of diabetes and other clinical data. Follow-up data were obtained for those with repeat HbA1c testing or glucose within 1 yr after admission. RESULTS We found that 35.2% of the patients (n = 342) had an established diagnosis of diabetes. The remaining 629 patients defined the study cohort of patients without known diabetes. Mean HbA1c was 6.05 +/- 0.87%. A total of 152 patients (24%) had admission HbA1c of at least 6.5% and 62 (9.9%) had HbA1c of at least 7.0%. Fifty-five patients with HbA1c of at least 6.5% had follow-up HbA1c within 1 yr. Of those, 44 (80.0%) met the criteria for diabetes as proposed by The International Expert Committee using repeated HbA1c testing. CONCLUSION In communities with high prevalence of diabetes, a large percentage of patients without a diagnosis of diabetes who are admitted as in-patients have HbA1c of at least 6.5% and 7.0%. Hospital-based HbA1c testing might identify patients for whom further testing is indicated to make the diagnosis of diabetes.
Family bilingualism in Pretoria East

Hierdie studie van Weetalige gesinne in die oostelike voorstede van Pretoria is 'n ondersoek na die aard en dimensies van tweetaligheid binne die konteks van die gesin. Tweetalige gesinne is geklassifiseer in terme van die taalagtergrond van die huweliksgenote en die taalstrategiee binne die gesin. Agt subkategoriee is geidentifiseer en geillustreer met behulp van gevallestudies. Die taalbeleid en houdings van die ouers blyk die belangrikste rol te speel in die ontwikkeling en behoud van gesinstweetaligheid.
Trihalomethanes in drinking water and human colorectal cancer.

The relation of trihalomethanes (THM) to colorectal cancer was evaluated. A total of 395 colorectal cancer deaths among white women teachers in New York State was compared to an equal number of deaths of teachers from noncancerous causes. Cumulative chloroform (CHCl3) exposure was estimated by the application of a statistical model to operational records from the individual water treatment facilities that served the home and work addresses of each study subject during the 20 years prior to death. The odds of exposure to a surface source containing little or no THM was no greater for cases than for controls. The odds ratio = 1.07; the 90% confidence interval = 0.79-1.43; and the P = . 68. The distribution of CHCl3 exposure was not significantly different between cases and controls (rated by Wilcoxon signed rank statistic = -0.52; P = .60). No effect of cumulative CHCl3 exposure on outcome was seen in a logistic analysis controlling for average source type, population density, marital status, age, and year of death (likelihood ratio test statistic = 0.047; P = .83).
Rethinking “the Third Sphere”: The Dualistic Unity of State and Society in China, Past and Present

This article reconsiders the author’s multiple pieces over the years about “the third sphere” between state and society in China, past and present, to explain more clearly its connection with the “centralized minimalism” tradition of Chinese governance, and to summarize multiple positive and negative empirical examples to make explicit how state and society have interacted, complemented, or mutually shaped one another in a dualistic whole. The article examines the logics and mechanisms in that changing third sphere from imperial to modern times, and from the collective era to the Reform era of China. The article includes also a discussion of and dialogue with Li-An Zhou’s theory of “administrative contracting. ” The article further attempts to provide a prospective vision for a distinctively Chinese political-legal and political-economic system.
Challenges to Technology Innovation in Italy

Italy is an economy with few incentives for technology innovation, due to the social, cultural, and economic consequences of a society that is based on privilege rather than merit. The lag in innovation in Italy vis-à-vis the other main industrial countries is one of the effects of the fragmentation of the production system into many small firms that have trouble bearing the high cost of R&D and taking the related risks. Most people have little incentive to create innovative companies, as they perceive that those with privileges have an unfair business advantage and consequently many entrepreneurs are wary to invest in innovation. The mainstay of this paper is to list and understand the challenges that affect technology innovation in Italy. The paper suggests the necessary involvement of all members of the society in the process of design public policies and socio-technical infrastructures in order to overcome this existing innovation gap. In particular, Italian entrepreneurs should work together to transform the network of pernicious institutions that perpetuate the lack of a meritocracy, as well as the corruption that hinders the development of Italy.
A noise robust audio fingerprint extraction technique for mobile devices using gradient histograms

Audio fingerprinting technology is commonly used in the field of automatic content recognition (ACR). Although various audio fingerprinting techniques have previously been proposed, we propose an advanced landmark extraction technique built on gradient-based features. With the widespread use of smart phones, a large number of audio fingerprinting applications are currently running on mobile phones in outdoor environments. As a result, these audio fingerprinting systems suffer from noise interference. To overcome this problem, we propose a novel scheme to effectively extract salient features and identify an audio signal from them. Test results show that our proposed approach can more accurately identify an audio signal in a noisy environment.
Emergent Life Cycle: The Tension Between Knowledge Change and Knowledge Retention in Open Online Coproduction Communities

Online coproduction communities often face a challenge of whether to change or retain the knowledge they have created. Disparate and often conflicting theoretical models have been used to explain how these communities respond to this tension. We conducted a case study of how one online coproduction community—the nine-year history of the Wikipedia article on autism—handles this tension. We find that the nature of the change–retain tension and the community’s response to it fluctuates considerably over the life of the community. These changes bear striking similarities to processes associated with traditional software development life cycles, despite the absence of traditional control mechanisms. What initially appear to be conflicts in the extant literature actually describe different roles and production focus at the different stages of development. Disruptive events signal the need for the community to shift production focus, which often involves members joining and leaving the production process, rather.
Whole-body vibration training: Metabolic cost of synchronous, side-alternating or no vibrations

Abstract Whole-body vibration training improves strength and can increase maximal oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O2max). No study has compared the metabolic demand of synchronous and side-alternating whole-body vibration. We measured [Vdot]O2 and heart rate during a typical synchronous or side-alternating whole-body vibration session in 10 young female sedentary participants. The 20-min session consisted of three sets of six 45-s exercises, with 15 s recovery between exercises. Three conditions wererandomly tested on separate days: synchronous at 35 Hz and 4 mm amplitude, side-alternating at 26 Hz and 7.5 mm amplitude (peak acceleration matched at 20 g in both vibration conditions), and no vibrations. Mean [Vdot]O2 (expressed as %[Vdot]O2max) did not differ between conditions: 29.7 ± 4.2%, 32.4 ± 6.5%, and 28.7 ± 6.7% for synchronous, side-alternating, and no vibrations respectively (P = 0.103). Mean heart rate (% maximal heart rate) was 65.6 ± 7.3%, 69.8 ± 7.9%, and 64.7 ± 5.6% for synchronous, side-alternating, and no vibrations respectively, with the side-alternating vibrations being significantly higher (P = 0.019). When analysing changes over exercise sessions, mean [Vdot]O2 was higher for side-alternating (P < 0.001) than for synchronous and no vibrations. In conclusion, side-alternating whole-body vibration elicits higher heart rate responses than synchronous or no vibrations, and could elevate [Vdot]O2, provided the session lasts more than 20 min.
Effect of garlic on isoniazid and rifampicin-induced hepatic injury in rats.

AIM To evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of garlic on liver injury induced by isoniazid (ZNH) and rifampicin (RIF). METHODS Wistar rats weighing 150-200 g were treated orally with 50 mg/kg of INH and RIF daily each for 28 d. For hepatoprotective studies, 0.25 g/kg per day of freshly prepared garlic homogenate was administered orally half an hour before the INH+RIF doses. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and bilirubin were estimated on d 0, 14, 21, and 28 in all the rats. Histological analysis was carried out to assess the injury to the liver. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) as a marker of oxidative stress and non-protein thiols (glutathione) for antioxidant levels were measured in liver homogenate. RESULTS The treatment of rats with INH+RIF (50 mg/kg per day each) induced hepatotoxicity in all the treated animals as judged by elevated serum ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels, presence of focal hepatocytic necrosis (6/8) and portal triaditis (8/8). Garlic simultaneously administered at a dose of 0.25 g/kg per day prevented the induction of histopathological injuries in INH+RIF co-treated animals, except in 4 animals, which showed only moderate portal triaditis. The histological changes correlated with oxidative stress in INH+RIF treated animals. The group which received 0.25 g/kg per day garlic homogenate along with INH+RIF showed higher levels of glutathione (P<0.05) and low levels of LPO (P<0.05) as compared to INH+RIF treated group. CONCLUSION Freshly prepared garlic homogenate protects against INH+RIF-induced liver injury in experimental animal model.
The Dynamics of Peroneus Brevis Tendon Splits: A Proposed Mechanism, Technique of Diagnosis, and Classification of Injury

The etiology of peroneus brevis splits is unclear. 16,26 Because longitudinal splits in the peroneus brevis tendon do not necessarily effect the integrity or strength of the tendon, it is difficult to ascertain whether or not injury to the peroneus brevis tendon is present. Recent clinical, anatomic, and histologic reports have suggested that the split develops from prolonged mechanical attrition within the fibular groove as a result of ankle trauma with resultant lateral ankle instability and incompetency of the superior peroneal retinaculum with resultant subluxation of the peroneal tendons. 15,17,22 –25 This cascade of events may result in splitting of the peroneus brevis tendon. The purpose of this paper was to report the investigation of the mechanism by which peroneus brevis splits develop, to describe a technique of diagnosis, and to propose a classification of injury. Peroneus brevis splits are the result of a dynamic mechanical insult at the fibular groove. Laxity of the superior peroneal retinaculum combined with peroneus longus mechanical compression causes the peroneus brevis to splay out and eventually split over the sharp posterior edge of the fibula. Anatomic factors, such as a shallow fibular groove (congenital convex groove) or the presence of an anomalous low-lying peroneus brevis muscle belly or peroneus quartus tendon, 4,7,25 may also play a role in this mechanism by interfering with the competence of the superior peroneal retinaculum.
Diversification in Banking: Is Noninterest Income the Answer?

This paper assesses potential diversification benefits in the U.S. banking industry from the steady shift toward activities that generate fee income, trading revenue, and other types of noninterest income. In the aggregate, declining volatility of net operating revenue reflects reduced volatility of net interest income, not diversification benefits from noninterest income, which is quite volatile and increasingly correlated with net interest income. At the bank level, greater reliance on noninterest income, particularly trading revenue, is associated with lower risk-adjusted profits and higher risk. This suggests few obvious diversification benefits from the ongoing shift toward noninterest income.
Autocrine and Paracrine Regulation of Prolactin Secretion by Prolactin Variants and by Hypothalamic Hormones

© 2013 Mena et al., licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Autocrine and Paracrine Regulation of Prolactin Secretion by Prolactin Variants and by Hypothalamic Hormones
A Comparison of Screening Tools for the Early Detection of Peripheral Neuropathy in Adults with and without Type 2 Diabetes

Objective Examine the effectiveness of the 128 Hz tuning fork, two monofilaments, and Norfolk Quality of Life Diabetic Neuropathy (QOL-DN) questionnaire as tools for the early detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in overweight, obese, and inactive (OOI) adults or those who have prediabetes (PD) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). Research Design and Methods Thirty-four adults (mean age 58.4 years ± 12.1) were divided by glycemia (10 OOI normoglycemic, 13 PD, and 11 T2D). Sural nerves were tested bilaterally with the NC-stat DPNCheck to determine sural nerve amplitude potential (SNAP) and sural nerve conduction velocity (SNCV). All other testing results were compared to SNAP and SNCV. Results Total 1 g monofilament scores significantly correlated with SNAP values and yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity combinations of tested measures. Total QOL-DN scores negatively correlated with SNAP values, as did QOL-DN symptoms. QOL-DN activities of daily living correlated with the right SNAP, and the QOL-DN small fiber subscore correlated with SNCV. Conclusions The 1 g monofilament and total QOL-DN are effective, low-cost tools for the early detection of DPN in OOI, PD, and T2D adults. The 128 Hz tuning fork and 10 g monofilament may assist DPN screening as a tandem, but not primary, early DPN detection screening tools.
Report on a Sheet Plastination Technique using Commercial Epoxy Resin

La plastinacion es una tecnica anatomica de conservacion cadaverica que permite la preservacion por tiempo indeterminado, en forma seca y sin olor, de piezas anatomicas. En particular, la tecnica de plastinacion por cortes, con resina epoxy, permite a su vez la generacion de cortes delgados de diversas regiones anatomicas, permitiendo una visualizacion precisa de estructuras anatomicas de dificil acceso a traves de la diseccion o la exploracion cadaverica. El objetivo de este trabajo es el de presentar el desarrollo por parte de nuestro laboratorio de una tecnica de plastinacion de cortes con resina epoxy comercial, alternativa a las tecnicas clasicas de plastinacion de cortes existentes. Se aplico la tecnica en una rodilla humana, obteniendose cortes de 5 mm de espesor, los cuales fueron comparados con imagenes de tomografia computada. El desarrollo de una tecnica alternativa de plastinacion de cortes con resina epoxy permitira la conservacion de regiones anatomicas de dificil estudio, con posibilidad de realizar la comparacion de cortes con estudios imagenologicos, para combinar en forma adecuada la anatomia con la experiencia clinica y, de esta manera, permitir que el alumno alcance un aprendizaje mas significativo de la anatomia, ademas de asegurar la obtencion de muestras anatomicas para el desarrollo de investigacion en el area de las ciencias morfologicas.