Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Home visits during pregnancy enhance male partner HIV counselling and testing in Kenya: a randomized clinical trial

Background:HIV testing male partners of pregnant women may decrease HIV transmission to women and promote uptake of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) interventions. However, it has been difficult to access male partners in antenatal care (ANC) clinics. We hypothesized that home visits to offer HIV testing to partners of women attending ANC would increase partner HIV testing. Methods:Women attending their first ANC were enrolled, interviewed using smartphone audio-computer-assisted self-interviews and randomized to home visits or written invitations for male partners to come to clinic, if they were married or cohabiting, unaccompanied by partners and had no prior couple HIV counselling and testing (CHCT). Enrolled men were offered CHCT (HIV testing and mutual disclosure). Prevalence of CHCT, male HIV seropositivity, couple serodiscordance and intimate partner violence, reported as physical threat from partner, were compared at 6 weeks. Results:Among 495 women screened, 312 were eligible, and 300 randomized to clinic-based or home-based CHCT. Median age was 22 years (interquartile range 20–26 years), and 87% were monogamous. CHCT was significantly higher in home-visit than in clinic-invitation arm (n = 128, 85% vs. n = 54, 36%; P < 0.001). Home-arm identified more HIV-seropositive men (12.0 vs. 8.0%; P = 0.248) and more HIV-discordant couples (14.7 vs. 4.7%; P = 0.003). There was no difference in intimate partner violence. Conclusion:Home visits of pregnant women were safe and resulted in more male partner testing and mutual disclosure of HIV status. This strategy could facilitate prevention of maternal HIV acquisition, improve PMTCT uptake and increase male HIV diagnosis.
Upper and lower gastrointestinal causes of iron deficiency anemia in elderly compared with adult outpatients.

AIM In the elderly, prevalence of bleeding- and/or iron malabsorption-related gastrointestinal (GI) causes of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has not been addressed yet. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of malabsorptive diseases and bleeding lesions of the upper and lower GI tract in early (65-74 year-old) and late (over 75 year-old) elderly group compared with adult (50-64 year-old) outpatients. METHODS The study enrolled 136 consecutive adult (N.=31), early (N.=48) and late elderly (N.=57) IDA outpatients who were referred to the Gastroenterology Department for IDA evaluation and underwent gastroscopy/histology and colonoscopy. RESULTS Bleeding lesions were significantly less frequent in adult patients than in elderly patients (29% vs. 49.5%, P=0.0252). The most common bleeding lesions were large hiatal hernia (14.7%) and colon cancer (12.5%). Iron malabsorption diseases (Hp-related pangastritis, atrophic body gastritis and celiac disease) were more frequent in the adult group than in the early elderly group (80.6% vs. 56.2%, P=0.0367). In elderly patients, the observed prevalence of bleeding and iron malabsorption IDA causes was similar, whereas in adult patients iron malabsoptive diseases were more frequently detected (P<0.0001). The occurrence of concomitant IDA causes was not different among the three age-groups. CONCLUSION In the early and late elderly, almost half of GI IDA causes are related to bleeding lesions which are more frequently observed respect to the adult patients. Iron malabsorption diseases affect almost 60% of early and late elderly groups. As for adult patients, an accurate upper and lower endoscopical/histological evaluation diagnoses IDA causes in the vast majority of the elderly outpatients.
A Novel Mechanism for Complement Activation at the Surface of B Cells Following Antigen Binding1

Coligation of CD21 with BCR on the surface of B cells provides a costimulatory signal essential for efficient Ab responses to T-dependent Ags. To achieve this, Ag must be directly linked to C3 fragments, but how this occurs in vivo is not fully understood. Using BCR transgenic mice, we demonstrated that C3 was deposited on the surface of B cells following both high- and moderate-affinity Ag binding. This was dependent on the specific binding of IgM to the BCR-bound Ag and can occur independently of soluble immune complex formation. Based on these data, we propose a novel model in which immune complexes can form directly on the surface of the B cell following Ag binding. This model has implications for our understanding of B lymphocyte activation.
Neural correlates of the females' susceptibility to negative emotions: An insight into gender‐related prevalence of affective disturbances

Considerable studies reported that females are more susceptible to affective disturbances such as depression, anxiety disorder, and phobia compared to males. Based on the close relation between emotional sensitivity and liability to affective disturbances (Hofer et al. [ 2006 ]: NeuroImage 32, 854–862; Spearing [ 2001 ]: Bipolar disorder, 2nd ed. Bethesda (MA): National institute of Mental Health), this study investigated the neural mechanism underlying the females' liability to affective disturbances by hypothesizing that females are more susceptible to negative emotions than males. Event‐related potentials (ERPs) were recorded for highly negative (HN), moderately negative (MN), and neutral images in Experiment 1, and for highly positive, moderately positive, and neutral images in Experiment 2, whereas subjects (15 males and 15 females) performed a standard/deviant distinction task, irrespective of the emotional valence of deviants in both experiments. In addition to the prominent emotional reactions evoked by HN stimuli in both genders, Experiment 1 displayed conspicuous emotional responses of females to MN stimuli across N2 and P3 components, which were absent in males. In contrast, Experiment 2 demonstrated neither significant valence effect, nor significant valence by gender interaction effect at these components. Thus, although both genders are sensitive to HN stimuli, females, instead of males, are particularly susceptible to negative stimuli of lesser salience, and this female specific susceptibility does not exist to the positive stimuli. Therefore, females must be more susceptible to negative emotions in life settings, which may be one important mechanism underlying their higher prevalence of affective disturbances. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transient reduction of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine is associated with active DNA demethylation during regeneration of zebrafish fin

Although dedifferentiation, transformation of differentiated cells into progenitor cells, is a critical step in the regeneration of amphibians and fish, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process, including epigenetic changes, remain unclear. Dot blot assays and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that, during regeneration of zebrafish fin, the levels of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) are transiently reduced in blastema cells and cells adjacent to the amputation plane at 30 h post-amputation (hpa), and the level of 5mC, but not 5hmC, is almost restored by 72 hpa. We observed that the dedifferentiated cells showed reduced levels of 5mC and 5hmC independent of cell proliferation by 24 hpa. Furthermore, expressions of the proposed demethylation- and DNA repair-related genes were detected during fin regeneration. Taken together, our findings illustrate that the transient reduction of 5mC and 5hmC in dedifferentiated cells is associated with active demethylation during regeneration of zebrafish fin.
Transfer of Tolerance to Collagen Type V Suppresses T-Helper-Cell-17 Lymphocyte-Mediated Acute Lung Transplant Rejection

Background. Rat lung allograft rejection is mediated by collagen type V (col(V)) specific T-helper-cell 17 (Th17) cells. Adoptive transfer of these cells is sufficient to induce rejection pathology in isografts, whereas tolerance to col(V) suppresses allograft rejection. Therefore, we tested whether regulatory T cells from tolerant rats could suppress the Th17-mediated rejection in the syngeneic model of lung transplantation. Methods. Rats were subjected to syngeneic left lung transplantation, and acute rejection was induced by adoptive transfer of lymph node cells from col(V)-immunized rats. Tolerance was induced by intravenous injection of col(V), and spleen lymphocytes were used for adoptive transfer. CD4+ T cells were depleted using magnetic beads. Lung isografts were analyzed using micro-positron emission tomography imaging and histochemistry. The transvivo delayed type hypersensitivity assay was used to analyze the Th17 response. Results. Adoptive cotransfer of col(V)-specific effector cells with cells from col(V)-tolerized rats suppressed severe vasculitis and bronchiolitis with parenchymal inflammation, and the expression of interleukin (IL)-17 transcripts in mediastinal lymph nodes induced by effector cells alone. Analysis by transvivo delayed type hypersensitivity showed that the reactivity to col(V) was dependent on the presence of tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and IL-17 but not interferon-&ggr;. Depletion of CD4+ T cells from the suppressor cell population abrogated the col(V)-specific protection. Conclusion. Th17-mediated acute rejection after lung transplantation is ameliorated by CD4+ col(V)-specific regulatory T cells. The mechanism for this Th17 suppression is consistent with tolerance induction to col(V). The goal of transplantation treatment, therefore, should target Th17 development and not suppression of T-cell activation by suppressing IL-2.
Lung surgery in interstitial lung disease-a safe and useful procedure?

The group of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) includes a wide spectrum of disorders with variable clinical presentation, treatment response and prognosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is by far the most dismal disease in this group, with a median survival time of just 3-4 years (1). The diagnostic criteria for IPF are based on exclusion of any other cause for ILD by thorough clinical history, and a typical radiographic image revealing a so-called usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern in a high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) (2).
The effect of motivations on social indirect reciprocity: an experimental analysis

This article investigates the effect of motivations on the perceived kindness of an action within the context of social indirect reciprocity (if A helps B, then C helps A). We test experimentally the hypothesis that, for a given distributional outcome, an action is perceived by a third party to be less kind if it can be strategically motivated. As a consequence, intention-based reciprocity should be stronger in the absence of strategic motivations. The results do not support this hypothesis: social indirect reciprocity is found to be less strong when strategic motivations can be ruled out.
Assessment and medium-term follow up of heart transplant candidates undergoing low-intensity exercise.

OBJECTIVE To study cardiovascular behavior and safety regarding a low-intensity exercise program for heart transplant candidates with severe heart failure. METHODS Twenty-one patients with severe heart failure on the transplant list of the UNIFESP university hospital (Brazil) were studied. Following evaluation, the patients were monitored during an exercise program with six progressive phases (1--upper limbs; 2--lower limbs; 3--walking; 4--½ flight of stairs; 5--walking 200 m; and 6--whole flight of stairs), with the intensity estimated at two to six metabolic equivalents (1 MET = 3.5 ml of O2/kg/min.). The patients were prospectively followed up for approximately 17 months for the occurrence of clinical complications and death. RESULTS Three patients were unable to perform the complete program; BMI, maximal respiratory pressure (Pimax and Pemax, cmH2O) and number of previous hospitalizations were considered predictors for this subgroup. Heart rate (HR, bpm), double product (DP, bpm x mmHg) and Borg perceived exertion scale (PE) underwent the greatest oscillation during exercise, especially in phase 5 (H"METS), and are considered the best markers related to exertion. Blood pressure (BP, mmHg) oscillated little. There was no increase in the incidence of arrhythmia (Kappa = 0.552) during exercise. There was a moderate positive correlation between PE and BP (r = 0.4; P = 0.02) in phase 5 (walking 200 m). The patients who died had low Pimax values upon the initial evaluation. During the exercise program, there was a reduction in BP response and an increase in HR response. CONCLUSION Regarding cardiovascular behavior, the exercise program proved safe and well tolerated, but there is a need for monitoring. Information obtained upon the initial evaluation and during exercise program is associated to decompensation and death. Such information could assist in determining the stage of the disease.
Low‐grade inflammatory polarization of monocytes impairs wound healing

Impaired wound healing often accompanies low‐grade inflammatory conditions, during which circulating levels of subclinical super‐low‐dose endotoxin may persist. Low‐grade inflammatory monocyte polarization may occur during chronic inflammation and deter effective wound repair. However, little is understood about the potential mechanisms of monocyte polarization by sustained insult of subclinical super‐low‐dose endotoxin. We observed that super‐low‐dose endotoxin preferentially programmes a low‐grade inflammatory monocyte state in vitro and in vivo, as represented by the elevated population of CD11b+ Ly6Chigh monocytes and sustained expression of CCR5. Mechanistically, super‐low‐dose endotoxin caused cellular stress, altered lysosome function and increased the transcription factor IRF5. TUDCA, a potent inhibitor of cellular stress, effectively blocked monocyte polarization and improved wound healing in mice injected with super‐low‐dose endotoxin. Our data revealed the polarization of low‐grade inflammatory monocytes by sustained endotoxin challenge, its underlying mechanisms and a potential intervention strategy. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Motivation and performance in a game-based intelligent tutoring system

One strength of educational games stems from their potential to increase students’ motivation and engagement during educational tasks. However, game features may also detract from principle learning goals and interfere with students’ ability to master the target material. To assess the potential impact of game-based learning environments, in this study we examined motivation and learning for 84 high-school students across eight 1-hr sessions comparing 2 versions of a reading strategy tutoring system, an intelligent tutoring system (iSTART) and its game-based version (iSTART–ME). The results demonstrate equivalent target task performance (i.e., learning) across environments at pretest, posttest, and retention, but significantly higher levels of enjoyment and motivation for the game-based system. Analyses of performance across sessions reveal an initial decrease in performance followed by improvement within the game-based training condition. These results suggest possible constraints and benefits of game-based training, including time-scale effects. The findings from this study offer a potential explanation for some of the mixed findings within the literature and support the integration of game-based features within intelligent tutoring environments that require long-term interactions for students to develop skill mastery.
An Empirical Research on the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility Ratings and U.S. Listed Companies' Value

This paper examines the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings and firm value, by using a sample of U.S. companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Stock Market, over 2008-2011. The Corporate Social Responsibility Index (CSRI) developed by Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and Reputation Institute was used as a proxy for corporate social responsibility. A certain company is perceived in three dimensions: citizenship (the community and the environment), governance (ethics and transparency), and workplace practices, that quantified through numerical variables are reflected into the CSRI ranking score. The Tobin’s Q ratio adjusted according to activity sector was employed in order to quantify firm value. After the estimation of panel data regression models, unbalanced, both without cross-sectional effects and with fixed effects, our results show that corporate social responsibility positively influences firm value. The empirical evidence is consistent with the instrumental stakeholder theory view, since the companies involved in corporate social responsibility undertakings use in a more effective way their resources in order to better satisfy stakeholders’ needs. CSR activities can add value to the firm if they are wisely managed and implemented, as well as sufficiently disclosed and reported.
The relationship between interictal and ictal paroxysms in an in vitro model of focal hippocampal epilepsy

In studies of focal epilepsy it is frequently assumed that the interictal spike is the elementary form of epileptic activity and that seizure, or ictal, episodes evolve by temporal summation and spatial expansion of interictal paroxysms. We examined this hypothesis in an in vitro model of acute focal epilepsy produced by perfusing rat hippocampal slices with solutions containing moderately elevated concentrations of K+. Some of the preparations treated in this way displayed recurring electrical seizures in the CA1 field. Each seizure episode typically evolved by a seemingly smooth progression of brief interictal bursts into sustained ictal discharge. However, exposure of preparations showing electrical seizures to blockers of synaptic transmission or to cholinergic agonists abolished interictal spiking in all hippocampal fields but did not impede the initiation of ictal episodes in area CA1. Likewise, severing the connections between areas CA3 and CA1 abolished interictal spiking in area CA1 without disrupting the initiation of seizures in this region. These data clearly show that in this model, focal seizures arise independent of interictal spikes and through different cellular mechanisms. While interictal electrogenesis requires chemical synaptic excitation, ictal episodes can be initiated and maintained by nonsynaptic neuronal interactions.
Potent T cell response to a class I‐binding 13‐mer viral epitope and the influence of HLA micropolymorphism in controlling epitope length

The BZLF1 antigen of Epstein‐Barr virus includes three overlapping sequences of different lengths that conform to the binding motif of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B*3501. These 9‐mer (56LPQGQLTAY64), 11‐mer (54EPLPQGQLTAY64), and 13‐mer (52LPEPLPQGQLTAY64) peptides all bound well to B*3501; however, the CTL response in individuals expressing this HLA allele was directed strongly and exclusively towards the 11‐mer peptide. In contrast, EBV‐exposed donors expressing HLA B*3503 showed no significant CTL response to these peptides because the single amino acid difference between B*3501 and B*3503 within the F pocket inhibited HLA binding by these peptides. The extraordinarily long 13‐mer peptide was the target for the CTL response in individuals expressing B*3508, which differs from B*3501 at a single position within the D pocket (B*3501, 156Leucine; B*3508, 156Arginine). This minor difference was shown to enhance binding of the 13‐mer peptide, presumably through a stabilizing interaction between the negatively charged glutamate at position 3 of the peptide and the positively charged arginine at HLA position 156. The 13‐mer epitope defined in this study represents the longest class I‐binding viral epitope identified to date as a minimal determinant. Furthermore, the potency of the response indicates that peptides of this length do not present a major structural barrier to CTL recognition.
A Simplified, Benchmark, Stock-Flow Consistent Post-Keynesian Growth Model

Despite being arguably one of the most active areas of research in heterodox macroeconomics, the study of the dynamic properties of stock-flow consistent (SFC) growth models of financially sophisticated economies is still in its early stages. This paper attempts to offer a contribution to this line of research by presenting a simplified Post-Keynesian SFC growth model with well-defined dynamic properties, and using it to shed light on the merits and limitations of the current heterodox SFC literature.
Cerebral vasocapacitance and TIAs

We report the vasocapacitance of the cerebral circulation, as determined by cerebral blood flow reactivity to induced hypercapnia using fluoromethane positron emission tomography, in 32 patients with unilateral anterior circulation transient ischemic attacks. A hemodynamic subset of eight patients, defined based on exertional, positional, orthostatic, or cardiac dysrhythmic induction of symptomatology, is characterized by multiple (median, 4.5 attacks per patient), brief (median, 2.5 minutes per attack), continued episodes of hemispheric ischemia including focal limb shaking. Symptomatic middle cerebral artery flow territories show significantly lower (p < 0.04) and more asymmetric (p = 0.036) vasodilatory responses in the hemodynamic subset. Although ipsilateral internal carotid artery occlusion is more prevalent in the hemodynamic subset, the features of age, mean arterial blood pressure, carbon dioxide values, serum glucose, serum hematocrit, and number or type of risk factors do not differ significantly between groups. These studies of vasocapacitance help validate clinical criteria for cerebral hemodynamic events with an objective physiologic measurement.
Remedying Students’ Misconceptions in Learning of Chemical Bonding and Spontaneity through Intervention Discussion Learning Model (IDLM)

In the past few decades, the field of chemistry education has grown tremendously and researches indicated that after traditional chemistry instruction students often lacked deep conceptual understanding and failed to integrate their ideas into coherent conceptual framework. For several concepts in chemistry, students at all levels have demonstrated difficulty in changing their initial perceptions. Their perceptions are most often wrong and don't agree with correct scientific concepts. This study explored the effectiveness of intervention discussion sections for a college general chemistry course designed to apply research on students preconceptions, knowledge integration and student explanation. Three interventions discussions lasting three hours on bond energy and spontaneity were done tested and intervention (treatment) students’ performances were compared with that of control group which did not use the experimental pedagogy. Results indicated that this instruction which was capable of identifying students' misconceptions, initial conceptions and integrating those ideas into class discussion led to enhanced conceptual understanding and better achievement for the experimental group.