Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of six rounds of single dose mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin on Wuchereria bancrofti infection and its implications for lymphatic filariasis elimination

Annual mass treatment with single‐dose diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin (IVM) in combination with albendazole (ALB) for 4–6 years is the principal tool of lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination strategy. This placebo‐controlled study examined the potential of six rounds of mass treatment with DEC or IVM to eliminate Wuchereria bancrofti infection in humans in rural areas in south India. Apercentage of 54–75 of the eligible population (≥15 kg body weight) received treatment during different rounds of treatment – 27.4% in the DEC arm and 30.7% in the IVM arm received all six treatments, 4.8% and 5.6% received none, and the remainder received one to five treatments. After six cycles of treatment, the microfilaria (Mf) prevalence in treated communities dropped by 86% in the DEC arm (P < 0.01) (n = 5 villages) and by 72% in the IVM arm (P < 0.01) (n = 5 villages), compared with 37% in the placebo arm (P < 0.05) (n = 5 villages). The geometric mean intensity of Mf fell by 91% (t = 8.11, P < 0.05), 84% (t = 6.91, P < 0.05) and 46% (t = 2.98, P < 0.05) in the DEC, IVM and placebo arms, respectively. The proportion of high‐count Mf (>50 Mf per 60 mm3 of blood) carriers was reduced by 94% (P < 0.01) in the DEC arm and by 90% (P < 0.01) in the IVM arm. Among those who received all six treatments, 1.4% in the DEC arm and 2.4% in the IVM arm remained positive for Mf. Two of five villages in the DEC arm and one of five in the IVM arm showed zero Mf prevalence, but continued to have low levels of transmission of infection. The results also indicate that DEC is as effective as or slightly better than IVM against microfilaraemia. Results from this and other recent operational studies proved that single‐dose treatment with antifilarials is very effective at community level, feasible, logistically easier and cheap and hence a highly appropriate strategy to control or eliminate LF. Higher treatment coverage than that observed in this study and a few more than six cycles of treatment and more effective treatment tools/strategies may be necessary to reduce microfilaraemia to zero level in all communities, which may lead to elimination of LF.
Downregulation and growth inhibitory role of FHL1 in lung cancer

Four and a half Lin‐11, Isl‐1, Mac‐3 (LIM) protein 1 (FHL1) has been linked to carcinogenesis. However, the role of FHL1 in lung cancer remains unclear and the detailed mechanism underlying its tumor suppressive role is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine FHL1 expression in lung cancer patients and to investigate how it was associated with lung cancer cell growth. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry showed that FHL1 protein was downregulated in over 90% of 80 lung cancer patients. FHL1 expression was strongly correlated with tumor histological types (p < 10−4) and the differentiation of the tumor (p = 0.002). FHL1 inhibited anchorage‐dependent and ‐independent growth of human lung cancer cell lines. The inhibitory effects of FHL1 on lung cancer cell growth were associated with both the G1 and the G2/M cell cycle arrest concomitant with a marked inhibition of cyclin A, cyclin B1 and cyclin D as well as the induction of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors p21 (WAF1/CIP1) and p27 (Kip1). Direct intratumoral injection of an adenovirus expressing FHL1 dramatically suppressed the growth of A549 lung cancer cells in nude mice. Our data suggest that reduced expression of FHL1 may play an important role in the development and progression of lung cancer and that FHL1 may be a useful target for lung cancer gene therapy.
Cads and Dads on Screen

Two laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of exposure to varying media representations of partner availability on the traits women found desirable in potential romantic and sexual partners. In each study, after watching media narratives featuring either an abundance or scarcity of male prospective sexual partners, women indicated their interest in hypothetical sexual partners with characteristics typical of the Cad (e.g., aggressive, promiscuous) or Dad (e.g. devoted, upright) for long-term and short-term relationships. Viewing any romantic narrative caused a decline in interest in a partner with Cad traits, particularly for a short-term relationship. Viewing romantic narratives in which romantic relationships were framed in terms of male abundance caused women with short-term relationship goals to be less interested in a partner with Dad traits; viewing the male scarcity trailers caused a similar reduction for women with long-term relationship goals.
Stitching 3D ultrasound head images of neonates to monitor changes in ventricular volume

Ultrasound (US) images are taken in 3-dimensional (3D) space to monitor the changes in the ventricular volume of neonates. Due to the small field of view of US imaging, the head image is taken as two parts. To properly monitor and analyze the images, the two parts need to be stitched together in 3D space. In this paper, we propose a technique based on rigid registration for this purpose. User provided corresponding landmarks of the two images are used for coarse alignment. Then mutual information based rigid transformation is performed for fine alignment of moving image on to the fixed image. Finally, the fixed and moving images are stitched together to produce the final output. Furthermore, we have analyzed the optimal parameter settings for the registration procedure to minimize the registration error. We achieved a mean registration accuracy of 2.71mm for four data sets of neonatal 3D US head images using the proposed method.
Correction: Phytophthora capsici Zoospore Infection of Pepper Fruit in Various Physical Environments

Phytophthora capsici is a pathogen on several economically important crops including pepper. The fungus attacks the roots, stems, leaves and fruit of the plant. Experiments were conducted to determine environmental conditions that may affect infection of pepper fruit by zoospores of P. capsici. Two techniques were used to inoculate the mature green pepper fruit. First, the blossom end of the fruit was submerged in an aqueous suspension of zoospores. This technique attempted to simulate dispersal of zoospores by flood irrigation. The second technique involved placing water drops of the zoospore suspension on the fruit. Disease incidence and severity were greater for the first technique than for the second technique. In addition, 100% of fruit were infected when immersed in the zoospore suspension for 10 min. Disease incidence and lesion length were greatest at 27 °C. Drop sizes of 10, 50, and 100 µ µ µl with identical zoospore content (5000 zoospores/drop) did not significantly affect lesion size. Disease incidence, however, was significantly greater when a 100-µ µ µl drop was used for inoculation, compared to the 10- and 50-µl drops. These data suggest that the most severe infection occurs when peppers are in contact with a large volume of inoculum (i.e. flood irrigation), in contrast to a small droplet with the same concentration of zoospores.
Examining the relationships between willingness to communicate in English, communication confidence, and classroom environment

The purpose of the present study is to examine the Iranian EFL learners' level of willingness to communicate in English, and the relationships between willingness to communicate, communication confidence, and classroom environment. For this purpose, 243 Iranian EFL learners participated in this study. Results of the descriptive statistics indicated that participants were moderately willing to communicate in English inside the language classroom, felt low levels of anxiety, and perceived themselves moderately confident to communicate in English in the classroom. Correlational analyses also indicated that willingness to communicate is positively correlated with classroom environment and perceived communicative competence, and negatively correlated with communication anxiety.
Medical student characteristics associated with time in study: Is spending more time always a good thing?

Background: Time in study may reflect motivation, but may also reflect inefficient study habits. Purpose: To determine how time in study relates to motivation and study approaches. Methods: A total of 173 fourth- and fifth-year students in a six-year curriculum completed diaries over seven consecutive days. Time studying was correlated with motivation and approaches to study. Results: Time in study correlated with achieving motive, achieving strategy, deep strategy, motivation and planning/organisation. Deep motive correlated with time on assignments. Students who were less certain they wanted to work as a doctor undertook less study activity and spent less time with patients. Students who lacked confidence they would make a good doctor spent more time in non-timetabled discretionary study but also spent less time with patients. Conclusion: A desire to achieve, certainty of career choice and lack of confidence are associated with time in study. Unconfident students divert their time away from patients.
Influence of poor effort on self-reported symptoms and neurocognitive test performance following mild traumatic brain injury

When considering a diagnosis of postconcussion syndrome, clinicians must systematically evaluate and eliminate the possible contribution of many differential diagnoses, comorbidities, and factors that may cause or maintain self-reported symptoms long after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). One potentially significant contributing factor is symptom exaggeration. The purpose of the study is to examine the influence of poor effort on self-reported symptoms (postconcussion symptoms and cognitive complaints) and neurocognitive test performance following MTBI. The MTBI sample consisted of 63 referrals to a concussion clinic, evaluated within 5 months post injury (M = 2.0, SD = 1.0, range = 0.6–4.6), who were receiving financial compensation from the Workers' Compensation Board. Participants completed the Post-Concussion Scale (PCS), British Columbia Cognitive Complaints Inventory (BC-CCI), selected tests from the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery Screening Module (S-NAB), and the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). Participants were divided into two groups based on TOMM performance (15 fail, 48 pass). There were significant main effects and large effect sizes for the PCS (p = .002, d = 0.79) and BC-CCI (p = .011, d = 0.98) total scores. Patients in the TOMM fail group scored higher than those in the TOMM pass group on both measures. Similarly, there were significant main effects and/or large effect sizes on the S-NAB. Patients in the TOMM fail group performed more poorly on the Attention (p = .004, d = 1.26), Memory (p = .006, d = 1.16), and Executive Functioning (p > .05, d = 0.70) indexes. These results highlight the importance of considering the influence of poor effort, in conjunction with a growing list of factors that can influence, maintain, and/or mimic the persistent postconcussion syndrome.
Clearing Persistent Extracellular Antigen of Hepatitis B Virus: An Immunomodulatory Strategy To Reverse Tolerance for an Effective Therapeutic Vaccination

Development of therapeutic vaccines/strategies to control chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been challenging because of HBV-induced tolerance. In this study, we explored strategies for breaking tolerance and restoring the immune response to the HBV surface Ag in tolerant mice. We demonstrated that immune tolerance status is attributed to the level and duration of circulating HBsAg in HBV carrier models. Removal of circulating HBsAg by a monoclonal anti-HBsAg Ab in tolerant mice could gradually reduce tolerance and reestablish B cell and CD4+ T cell responses to subsequent Engerix-B vaccination, producing protective IgG. Furthermore, HBsAg-specific CD8+ T cells induced by the addition of a TLR agonist resulted in clearance of HBV in both serum and liver. Thus, generation of protective immunity can be achieved by clearing extracellular viral Ag with neutralizing Abs followed by vaccination.
New targets for deep brain stimulation treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the globus pallidus pars interna (GPi) has been shown to be an effective treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Strong clinical evidence supports the improvement of motor and non-motor complications and quality of life, with some data suggesting that GPi DBS might be less effective than STN DBS. However, neither STN nor GPi stimulation provides a satisfactory control of non-dopaminergic symptoms, such as gait and balance impairment and cognitive decline, which are frequent and disabling symptoms in advanced Parkinson’s disease patients. Therefore, several efforts have been made to discover alternative and new targets to overcome these current DBS limitations. Among these new targets, the stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus has initially appeared encouraging. However, findings from different double-blind trials have mitigated the enthusiasm. A multi-target strategy aimed at improving symptoms with different pathogenetic mechanisms might be a promising approach in the next years.
TP53 codon 72 polymorphism in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a multifactorial neoplasm related to tobacco smoke, alcohol consumption and molecular genetic changes such as p53 mutations. The human tumor suppressor gene TP53 contains single nucleotide polymorphism that encodes either arginin (Arg) or proline (Pro) at amino acid codon 72 of the p53 protein. The relationship between human cancer susceptibility and p53 polymorphism at codon 72 is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between this polymorphism and OSCC development in a Brazilian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-two patients with OSCC and 82 age-sex-matched controls were included in the study. DNA was extracted from all subjects' normal oral mucosa and the polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR) was performed for detection of the TP53 genotypes. PCR products were analyzed in a 6.5% polycrylamide gel and silver-stained. Statistical analyses were performed with the chi 2 test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS The frequencies of the genotypes Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro and Pro/Pro, were 37.8%, 54.8% and 7.4%, respectively, for OSCC cases and 40.2%, 54.8% and 4.9% for controls. No significant differences in the distribution of TP53 genotypes were seen between the groups (p = 0.794). CONCLUSION The present study does not support the hypothesis that this TP53 polymorphism is associated with oral cancer susceptibility.
Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Streptococcus Pneumoniae and Serotypes Indentified among Nursing Home Residents in Comparison to the Elderly and Patients Younger than 65 Years Living in Domestic Environment

Abstract Introduction In Slovenia, there is little data available on pneumococcal vaccination rates and no data on asymptomatic NPCR and serotypes in the population of nursing home residents in comparison to the elderly living in domestic environment, therefore the goal was to gain these data. Methods A cross sectional epidemiological study was performed. Nasopharyngeal swabs from 151 nursing home residents, 150 elderly living in domestic environment, and 38 adults less than 65 years old were collected twice (in two consecutive years). The swabs were analysed for pneumococcal identification and serotyping. Patient data were collected from medical files and medical history. Results No statistically significant differences in NPCR were seen between compared groups in two consecutive years. An average NPCR in two consecutive years in nursing home residents was 1.45%, in the elderly living in domestic environment 0.85%, and in adults less than 65 years old 7.05%. Serotypes identified among nursing home residents were 6B and 9N, among the group of elderly living in domestic environment, 6A and among adults less than 65 years old, 35F, 18C and 3. Pneumococcal vaccination rates were low (3.3% in nursing home residents, 6% in the elderly from domestic environment and 0% in the group of adults less than 65 years old). Conclusions Our data suggests that NPCR and the proportion of people vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine among the elderly are low. We identified different serotypes in all groups, only one person was a chronic carrier (serotype 35F).
Larvicidal efficacies of plants from Midwestern Brazil: melianodiol from Guarea kunthiana as a potential biopesticide against Aedes aegypti

A total of 36 ethanol extracts from different anatomical parts of 27 plant species (18 families), native to the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes in Midwest Brazil, was assessed for their effect against Aedes aegypti larvae, the vector of dengue, hemorrhagic dengue, Zika and chikungunya fevers. Only the extract obtained from seeds of Guarea kunthiana (Meliaceae) proved active (LC50 = 169.93 μg/mL). A bioassay-guided investigation of this extract led to the isolation and identification of melianodiol, a protolimonoid, as the active constituent (LC50 = 14.44 mg/mL). Meliantriol, which was also obtained from the bioactive fraction, was nevertheless devoid of any larval toxicity, even at the highest concentration tested (LC50 > 100.0 mg/mL). These results indicate that the larvicidal activity of melianodiol stems from the presence of the carbonyl moiety at C-3 in the 21,23-epoxy-21,24,25-trihydroxy-tirucall-7-ene-type skeleton. The structures of both protolimonoids were established on the basis of spectral methods (1H and 13C NMR and MS). This is the first report on the toxicity of melianodiol against Ae. aegypti larvae. Based on the results, melianodiol can be regarded as a potential candidate for use as an ecologically sound biocontrol agent for reducing the larval population of this vector.
Benzodiazepines in Depressive Disorders

Some investigators have found benzodiazepines effective in the treatment of anxious depression and thus have argued that benzodiazepines were "antidepressants. " We reviewed the literature on benzodiazepines in depressive disorders. Comparative studies indicate they are less effective than standard antidepressants in the treatment of several types of depressive illnesses. Although they display definite anxiolytic properties and may elevate mood, they exert limited effect on the core symptoms of endogenous depression. An argument is made that benzodiazepines are primarily anxiolytic rather than antidepressant.
Associative Processes in Addiction and Reward The Role of Amygdala‐Ventral Striatal Subsystems

ABSTRACT: Only recently have the functional implications of the organization of the ventral striatum, amygdala, and related limbic‐cortical structures, and their neuroanatomical interactions begun to be clarified. Processes of activation and reward have long been associated with the NAcc and its dopamine innervation, but the precise relationships between these constructs have remained elusive. We have sought to enrich our understanding of the special role of the ventral striatum in coordinating the contribution of different functional subsystems to confer flexibility, as well as coherence and vigor, to goal‐directed behavior, through different forms of associative learning. Such appetitive behavior comprises many subcomponents, some of which we have isolated in these experiments to reveal that, not surprisingly, the mechanisms by which an animal sequences responding to reach a goal are complex. The data reveal how the different components, pavlovian approach (or sign‐tracking), conditioned reinforcement (whereby pavlovian stimuli control goal‐directed action), and also more general response‐invigorating processes (often called “activation,”“stress,” or “drive”) may be integrated within the ventral striatum through convergent interactions of the amygdala, other limbic cortical structures, and the mesolimbic dopamine system to produce coherent behavior. The position is probably not far different when considering aversively motivated behavior. Although it may be necessary to employ simplified, even abstract, paradigms for isolating these mechanisms, their concerted action can readily be appreciated in an adaptive, functional setting, such as the responding by rats for intravenous cocaine under a second‐order schedule of reinforcement. Here, the interactions of primary reinforcement, psychomotor activation, pavlovian conditioning, and the control that drug cues exert over the integrated drug‐seeking response can be seen to operate both serially and concurrently. The power of our analytic techniques for understanding complex motivated behavior has been evident for some time. However, the crucial point is that we are now able to map these components with increasing certainty onto discrete amygdaloid, and other limbic cortical‐ventral striatal subsystems. The neural dissection of these mechanisms also serves an important theoretical purpose in helping to validate the various hypothetical constructs and further developing theory. Major challenges remain, not the least of which is an understanding of the operation of the ventral striatum together with its dopaminergic innervation and its interactions with the basolateral amygdala, hippocampal formation, and prefrontal cortex at a more mechanistic, neuronal level.
Generalized Einstein relation for disordered semiconductors—implications for device performance

The ratio between mobility and diffusion parameters is derived for a Gaussian-like density of states. This steady-state analysis is expected to be applicable to a wide range of organic materials (polymers or small molecules) as it relies on the existence of quasiequilibrium only. Our analysis shows that there is an inherent dependence of the transport in trap-free disordered organic materials on the charge density. The implications for the contact phenomena and exciton generation rate in light emitting diodes as well as channel width in field-effect transistors is discussed.
Fiscal Deficit and Economic Growth: An Analysis Of Pakistan's Economy

Effective macroeconomic management is critical for growth-induced employment generation and poverty reduction. Within this perspective, private investment plays an important role in revitalizing the economy leading to improvement in the living standard of the masses. However, persistence of macroeconomic imbalances, which unfortunately is the hall mark of Pakistan’s economy, has posed serious threat to economic growth and development. The current study, therefore, aims at verifying the impact of government fiscal deficit on investment and economic growth using time series of thirty years stretching between 1980 and 2009.We believe that fiscal profligacy has seriously undermined the growth objectives thereby adversely impacting physical and social infrastructure in the country.
A CLASS OF ANTICIPATING LINEAR STOCHASTIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

In this paper, we present the white noise methods for solving linear stochastic dierential equations of anticipating type. Such equations may be solved using the S-transform, an important tool within the white noise theory. This approach provides a useful remedy to the fact that the Ito theory of stochastic integration is inapplicable to such equations. The technique is presented with several examples, including an application to finance.