Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Workplace and HIV-related sexual behaviours and perceptions among female migrant workers

Abstract Data from 1,543 female migrants working in eight occupational clusters in Beijing and Nanjing, China were analysed to examine the association of workplace with HIV-related behaviours and perceptions. For sexually experienced women (n = 666, 43.2%), those working in entertainment establishments or personal service (e.g., nightclubs, dancing halls, barbershops, beauty salons, massage parlours, etc.) engaged in risky sexual practices twice as frequently as those working in non-entertainment establishments (e.g. restaurants, stalls, domestic service, factories, etc.). About 10% of women in the entertainment establishments reported having sold sex, 30% having multiple sexual partners and 40% having sex with men with multiple sexual partners. The rate of consistent condom use was less than 15%. They also tended to have a higher level of perceptions of both peer risk involvement and positive expectancy of risk behaviours, and lower perceptions of severity of STDs and HIV. For women who were not sexually experienced, those working in ‘stalls’ or ‘domestic service’ tended to perceive higher peer risk involvement, less severity of HIV infection, and less effectiveness of protective behaviour. The occupational pattern of sexual risk behaviours and perceptions observed in the current study indicates employment conditions are associated with HIV risk. Intervention strategies should be tailored to address occupational-related factors.
Presence of ADAMTS13 Activity in a Patient with Metastatic Cancer and Thrombotic Microangiopathy

Patients with metastatic cancers occasionally present with microangiopathic hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. A patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon and microangiopathic hemolysis was treated with plasma exchange for a presumptive diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). However, her condition continued to deteriorate and a determination of ADAMTS13 activity revealed that she did not have TTP. Despite similarity in clinical manifestation, microangiopathic hemolysis in patients with metastatic cancers may not be caused by ADAMTS13 deficiency and the role of plasma exchange in such patients should be reevaluated.
Admissible thrust control laws for quadrotor position tracking

In this paper a hierarchical position tracking controller for a quadrotor is presented, which consists of an inner attitude controller and an outer position controller. The tracking error dynamics form a nonautonomous cascade built up by a linear attitude error subsystem and a linear position error subsystem, coupled by a nonlinear interconnection term. The stability properties of the cascaded system essentially rely on the characteristics of the interconnection term, which strongly depends on the choice of the thrust. We characterize a class of admissible thrust control laws in terms of closed loop asymptotic stability and demonstrate the significant influence of different laws on the transient behavior of the system.
Chronic Inflammation Increases the Sensitivity of Mouse Treg for TNFR2 Costimulation

TNF receptor type 2 (TNFR2) has gained attention as a costimulatory receptor for T cells and as critical factor for the development of regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid suppressor cells. Using the TNFR2-specific agonist TNCscTNF80, direct effects of TNFR2 activation on myeloid cells and T cells were investigated in mice. In vitro, TNCscTNF80 induced T cell proliferation in a costimulatory fashion, and also supported in vitro expansion of Treg cells. In addition, activation of TNFR2 retarded differentiation of bone marrow-derived immature myeloid cells in culture and reduced their suppressor function. In vivo application of TNCscTNF80-induced mild myelopoiesis in naïve mice without affecting the immune cell composition. Already a single application expanded Treg cells and improved suppression of CD4 T cells in mice with chronic inflammation. By contrast, multiple applications of the TNFR2 agonist were required to expand Treg cells in naïve mice. Improved suppression of T cell proliferation depended on expression of TNFR2 by T cells in mice repeatedly treated with TNCscTNF80, without a major contribution of TNFR2 on myeloid cells. Thus, TNFR2 activation on T cells in naïve mice can lead to immune suppression in vivo. These findings support the important role of TNFR2 for Treg cells in immune regulation.
Differences in Crowdsourced vs. Lab-based Mobile and Desktop Input Performance Data

Research on the viability of using crowdsourcing for HCI performance experiments has concluded that online results are similar to those achieved in the lab---at least for desktop interactions. However, mobile devices, the most popular form of online access today, may be more problematic due to variability in the user's posture and in movement of the device. To assess this possibility, we conducted two experiments with 30 lab-based and 303 crowdsourced participants using basic mouse and touchscreen tasks. Our findings show that: (1) separately analyzing the crowd and lab data yields different study conclusions-touchscreen input was significantly less error prone than mouse input in the lab but more error prone online; (2) age-matched crowdsourced participants were significantly faster and less accurate than their lab-based counterparts, contrasting past work; (3) variability in mobile device movement and orientation increased as experimenter control decreased--a potential factor affecting the touchscreen error differences. This study cautions against assuming that crowdsourced data for performance experiments will directly reflect lab-based data, particularly for mobile devices.
Prevention of NTDs with periconceptional multivitamin supplementation containing folic acid in China.

BACKGROUND Maternal nutritional factors seem to contribute substantially to the complex etiologies of NTDs. Foremost among these factors is the periconceptional use of supplementation containing folic acid, which is associated with a reduction in the risk of women having NTD-affected pregnancies. This study was designed to observe the effectiveness of multivitamin supplementation containing folic acid in preventing NTDs in a Chinese population and to detect factors that would impact the effectiveness. METHODS Through family planning networks, a population-based community intervention study was carried out in 18 counties of China. Participants were divided into an intervention (taking multivitamin) group and a control group, and were followed up according to periconceptional multivitamin supplementation (in general 6 mg) for 2 years. Women who had a pregnancy were followed up from 28 weeks gestation at least to pregnancy termination, and the outcome was recorded. The incidence rate of the two groups and the relative risks were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of the multivitamin supplement in preventing NTDs. RESULTS During 2000 and 2002, all of the women having pregnancies with birth defects and women whose pregnancies were without any birth defects were interviewed. Nine NTDs were recorded from 25,444 pregnancies (NTD birth prevalence = 0.35/1,000 pregnancies) in the intervention group and 48 NTDs among 26,599 pregnancies (NTD birth prevalence = 1.80/1,000 pregnancies) in the control group. The protective rate was 80.4%. CONCLUSIONS Periconceptional multivitamin supplementation containing folic acid can prevent the occurrence of NTDs with the beneficial effect dependent on the frequency and timing of the supplementation. Our study suggests that multivitamin supplement containing folic acid taken from a time point of 2 months before conception and continuing until completion of the second month after conception and taken more than five times per week can significantly reduce the risks of NTDs.
Reorganization of Locomotor Activity during Development in the Prenatal Rata

Abstract: Development of neuronal circuits generating locomotor activity was studied using an isolated lumbar spinal cord preparation from fetal and neonatal rats. Bath application of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) or 5‐HT evoked patterned motor activity resembling that seen during normal fictive locomotion on embryonic day (E) 20.5. Glycine‐mediated inhibition was essential to the formation of this coordinated motor activity. In preparations from fetuses at the earlier stages (E14.5‐E16.5), we observed spontaneous motoneuronal activity and chemically induced rhythmic bursts, which were synchronized on the two sides in the corresponding ventral roots. The spontaneous activity was not blocked by kynurenate, the glutamate receptor blocker, although it was completely abolished by strychnine, the glycine receptor antagonist. A brief application of glycine evoked excitatory responses resembling the spontaneous bursts in both time course and amplitude. It is concluded that glycine functions transiently as excitatory transmitters at these stages. These results suggest that functional change in glycine‐induced responses during development plays an important role in differentiation of the neuronal circuits generating locomotion.
Economic Growth- Female Labour Supply Nexus: A Dynamic U-Shaped Perspective for Pakistan

The developing and fast growing economy of Pakistan is going through the process of structural and demographic change. Hence, the contemporary pattern of economic growth demands both males and females to contribute in the labour market activities. Therefore, the idea of the study revolves around the fact that improvement in economic conditions of women would motivate them to participate in the labour market. The prime concern of the study is to investigate a U-shaped dynamic nexus between variables of economic growth and female labour supply in the context of Pakistan for the time span of 1990-2017. The study has employed the dynamic perspective through employing the ARDL technique. This specific method has assessed to trace out both long and short run relationship between core variables. It is conclude that the U-shaped dynamic association between economic growth and female labour supply is prominent for the economy of Pakistan. Considering the findings of the study, a few doable policy recommendations are also recommended. Keywords: Economic development, female labour supply, U-shaped hypothesis, dynamic analysis, ARDL. DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-8-07 Publication date : April 30 th 2019
CD133 (AC133) expression on AML cells and progenitors.

BACKGROUND AML blasts differ in their functional capability, creating a hierarchy of progenitors. CD133 (AC133) is a newly described transmembrane protein expressed on CD34(+) and CD34(-) normal progenitors. We characterized the prognostic significance of CD133 expression in AML and expression of CD133 on AML progenitors thought to be responsible for maintaining this disease. METHODS AML cells from 102 patients were analyzed for CD133 and CD34 expression, and correlated with outcome in 92 treated patients. AML cells were also FACS sorted into CD34(+)/CD133(+), CD34(+)/CD133(-), CD34(-)/CD133(+) and CD34(-)/CD133(-) subfractions, and assayed in vitro in colony-forming assay (CFU) and in suspension culture (SC) assay for up to 8 weeks, and in vivo in non-obese diabetic (NOD)/SCID mice to determine the phenotype of progenitors detected in these assays. RESULTS CD133 expression was not correlated with event-free or overall survival, FAB subtype, cytogenetic abnormality or WBCC, but was correlated with CD34 expression. Primary AML CFU were present in all four sorted fractions. After an increasing period of time in SC, a higher proportion of cells capable of forming leukemic CFU were found in the CD34(+)/CD133(+) subfraction. Cells capable of producing leukemic engraftment in NOD/SCID mice were found in all subfractions, including the CD34(-)/CD133(-) subfraction in many patients. DISCUSSION CD133 is not useful as a prognostic marker in AML. CD133 is expressed with CD34 on most primitive leukemic progenitors detected in vitro, however, in vivo progenitors could not be purified using CD133 in these patients.
Multidisciplinary cancer care in Australia: A national audit highlights gaps in care and medico‐legal risk for clinicians

Aim: Multidisciplinary care (MDC) is accepted as best practice in cancer treatment planning and care. Despite recognition of the importance of a team approach, limited data are available about the extent to which MDC has been implemented in Australia. The aim of the audit was to investigate the implementation of MDC for five main cancer types across Australia in line with best practice.
The Research Topics on E-Grocery: Trends and Existing Gaps

The aim of this paper is to analyse through a systematic literature review the main topics studied on a relatively new concept: e-grocery. This study examines the existing literature through the use of some interactive Scopus applications with the goal to provide: (1) a better understanding of the main topics that have been analysed up to now; (2) the principal methodologies that have been used; and (3) the challenges that still exist as well as literature gaps. First, we provide a summary of what has been previously researched in the field, analysing the trends regarding time, sources, authors, countries and document types. Then, tokenization, and a natural language process (NLP) that applies the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) method, is used to extract the main topics in the field. We obtain that the research topics in the discipline have always been linked with technological changes, innovation and diffusion, and environmental effects have been a cornerstone since the origin of the field. In comparison with other fields in transport economics, we notice that experimental design and choice modelling are not very popular. As a step towards future research, we propose an integrative framework for e-grocery consumer behaviour that starts from the Engel–Kollat–Blackwell (EKB) model.
Psychometric Testing of the Chinese Version of the Decisional Balance Scale (CDBS)

The purpose of this study was to conduct psychometric testing on the Chinese version of the decisional balance scale (CDBS) with Taiwanese seventh, eighth,and ninth graders who were recruitedfrom the Taipei metropolitan area. A random cluster sampling method was used with 554 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 years. Factor analysis procedures showed two components, Pros and Cons, accounting for 74.32% of the total variances andcontrastedgroupcomparisonsaffirmedthe constructvalidityof the Pros, the Cons, andthe CDBS. Item-to-subtotalcorrelationcoefficients for the two subscales, the Pros and Cons, were greater than . 50 and their reliability was supported by Cronbach's alpha coefficients, . 87 and . 91, respectively. The validity and reliability of the CDBS suggestedthat the CDBS was applicableto and congruentwith the culture of the Taiwanese adolescent's smoking behavior. Further validation of the CDBS scale with different populations and larger sample size is suggested.
Performance of 11C-Pittsburgh Compound B PET Binding Potential Images in the Detection of Amyloid Deposits on Equivocal Static Images

The goal of this study was to clarify whether binding potential (BP) images using 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (11C-PiB) and dynamic PET can reliably detect cortical amyloid deposits for patients whose 11C-PiB PET static images are ambiguous and whether visual ratings are affected by white matter retention. Methods: Static and BP images were constructed for 85 consecutive patients with cognitive impairment after 11C-PiB dynamic PET. Cortical uptake was visually assessed as positive, negative, or equivocal for both types of images. Quantitatively, the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) from the static image, the nondisplaceable BP from the dynamic image for mean gray matter uptake, and the ratio of gray matter uptake to white matter retention were compared among 11C-PiB–positive, 11C-PiB–equivocal, and 11C-PiB–negative groups. Results: Forty-three scans were visually assessed as 11C-PiB–positive in both the static and the BP images. Ten scans were 11C-PiB–equivocal in the static images. In 8 of them, the BP images were 11C-PiB–positive, whereas the other 2 were 11C-PiB–equivocal. Thirty-two scans were assessed as 11C-PiB–negative in the static images. In the BP images, 4 were 11C-PiB–positive and 2 were 11C-PiB–equivocal. The mean gray matter uptake of 11C-PiB in SUVR and nondisplaceable BP, respectively, showed statistically significant differences among the 11C-PiB–positive, 11C-PiB–equivocal, and 11C-PiB–negative groups. The ratio of gray matter uptake to white matter retention was lower in the BP images than static images from the 11C-PiB–negative and 11C-PiB–equivocal groups, whereas it was higher in the 11C-PiB–positive group. Conclusion: 11C-PiB PET BP images can clarify visual interpretation of clinical static 11C-PiB–equivocal images by reducing the interference of nonspecific white matter retention. We conclude that 11C-PiB–equivocal PET findings on static images reflect cortical amyloid deposits, which can be verified using BP images. Furthermore, quantitative assessments, such as SUVR and nondisplaceable BP, are of no use for correctly rating equivocal visual findings.
Improving delayed face recognition in Alzheimer's disease by differential outcomes.

OBJECTIVE Previous studies have demonstrated the benefit of the differential outcomes procedure (DOP) in human learning. In the present study we aimed to explore whether the DOP might also help to overcome the face recognition memory deficit commonly observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. METHOD A delayed matching-to-sample task was used. Participants were instructed to choose which of the 4 alternative faces (comparison stimuli) matched the previously seen face (sample stimulus). Either short (5 seconds) or long (25 seconds) delays were interposed between the sample and the comparison stimuli. In the differential outcomes condition each sample face was paired with its own outcome. In contrast, in the nondifferential condition, outcomes were randomly arranged. RESULTS The differential outcomes effect (DOE) was evident in the AD patients with both accuracy and latency data. That is, they showed a significantly better and faster delayed face recognition when differential outcomes were arranged. The analyses also revealed a significant main effect of delay; participants were slower in the 25 seconds condition than in the 5 seconds condition, but the difference was higher in the patients than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, that face recognition memory in patients with Alzheimer is improved when differential outcomes are used and draw attention to the potential of this procedure as a therapeutic technique.
Combinatorial optimization with use of guided evolutionary simulated annealing

Feasible approaches to the task of solving NP-complete problems usually entails the incorporation of heuristic procedures so as to increase the efficiency of the methods used. We propose a new technique, which incorporates the idea of simulated annealing into the practice of simulated evolution, in place of arbitrary heuristics. The proposed technique is called guided evolutionary simulated annealing (GESA). We report on the use of GESA approach primarily for combinatorial optimization. In addition, we report the case of function optimization, treating the task as a search problem. The traveling salesman problem is taken as a benchmark problem in the first case. Simulation results are reported. The results show that the GESA approach can discover a very good near optimum solution after examining an extremely small fraction of possible solutions. A very complicated function with many local minima is used in the second case. The results in both cases indicate that the GESA technique is a practicable method which yields consistent and good near optimal solutions, superior to simulated evolution.
Multilevel Analysis of Primary Metabolism Provides New Insights into the Role of Potassium Nutrition for Glycolysis and Nitrogen Assimilation in Arabidopsis Roots1[W][OA]

Potassium (K) is required in large quantities by growing crops, but faced with high fertilizer prices, farmers often neglect K application in favor of nitrogen and phosphorus. As a result, large areas of farmland are now depleted of K. K deficiency affects the metabolite content of crops with negative consequences for nutritional quality, mechanical stability, and pathogen/pest resistance. Known functions of K in solute transport, protein synthesis, and enzyme activation point to a close relationship between K and metabolism, but it is unclear which of these are the most critical ones and should be targeted in biotechnological efforts to improve K usage efficiency. To identify metabolic targets and signaling components of K stress, we adopted a multilevel approach combining transcript profiles with enzyme activities and metabolite profiles of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants subjected to low K and K resupply. Roots and shoots were analyzed separately. Our results show that regulation of enzymes at the level of transcripts and proteins is likely to play an important role in plant adaptation to K deficiency by (1) maintaining carbon flux into amino acids and proteins, (2) decreasing negative metabolic charge, and (3) increasing the nitrogen-carbon ratio in amino acids. However, changes in transcripts and enzyme activities do not explain the strong and reversible depletion of pyruvate and accumulation of sugars observed in the roots of low-K plants. We propose that the primary cause of metabolic disorders in low-K plants resides in the direct inhibition of pyruvate kinase activity by low cytoplasmic K in root cells.
Changes in Public Attitudes toward Alcohol Control Policies since the Warning Label Mandate of 1988

The author reports on changes in public attitudes toward alcohol control policies in the U.S. since the implementation of warning labels on alcoholic beverage containers, using general population survey data collected six months before and 18 months after implementation. Of the 13 policies assessed, only the warning label elicited sustained support in the intervening two years. Persons who reported seeing the label on a beverage container were twice as likely as others to support the warning label policy. More than half of the respondents believed warning labels are an effective way to change people's behavior, though supporters are split on the question of whether the label signals that alcohol is a dangerous product. Implications of these findings are discussed.