Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimized Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) E2 Glycoproteins and their Immunogenicity in Combination with MVA-HCV

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a major global health challenge and an efficient vaccine is urgently needed. Many HCV vaccination strategies employ recombinant versions of the viral E2 glycoprotein. However, recombinant E2 readily forms disulfide-bonded aggregates that might not be optimally suited for vaccines. Therefore, we have designed an E2 protein in which we strategically changed eight cysteines to alanines (E2.C8A). E2.C8A formed predominantly monomers and virtually no aggregates. Furthermore, E2.C8A also interacted more efficiently with broadly neutralizing antibodies than conventional E2. We used mice to evaluate different prime/boost immunization strategies involving a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the nearly full-length genome of HCV (MVA-HCV) in combination with either the E2 aggregates or the E2.C8A monomers. The combined MVA-HCV/E2 aggregates prime/boost strategy markedly enhanced HCV-specific effector memory CD4+ T cell responses and antibody levels compared to MVA-HCV/MVA-HCV. Moreover, the aggregated form of E2 induced higher levels of anti-E2 antibodies in vaccinated mice than E2.C8A monomers. These antibodies were cross-reactive and mainly of the IgG1 isotype. Our findings revealed how two E2 viral proteins that differ in their capacity to form aggregates are able to enhance to different extent the HCV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, either alone or in combination with MVA-HCV. These combined protocols of MVA-HCV/E2 could serve as a basis for the development of a more effective HCV vaccine.
Comparisons of Daily Sea Surface Temperature Analyses for 2007–08

Abstract Six different SST analyses are compared with each other and with buoy data for the period 2007–08. All analyses used different combinations of satellite data [for example, infrared Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and microwave Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) instruments] with different algorithms, spatial resolution, etc. The analyses considered are the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) AVHRR-only and AMSR+AVHRR, the Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation (NCODA), the Remote Sensing Systems (RSS), the Real-Time Global High-Resolution (RTG-HR), and the Operational SST and Sea Ice Analysis (OSTIA); the spatial grid sizes were , respectively. In addition, all analyses except RSS used in situ data. Most analysis procedures and weighting functions differed. Thus, differences among analyses could be large in high-gradient and data-sparse regions. An example off the coast of South Carolina showed winter SST differences that exceeded 5°C. To help quantify SST analysis diff.
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Associated Factors among Health Professionals in University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Introduction Hepatitis B virus infection is one of the commonest occupational risks in healthcare workers. However; there is limited evidence regarding the prevalence of hepatitis in health professionals in Ethiopia. Objective This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of hepatitis B and associated factors in health professionals. Methods Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among health professionals at University of Gondar Hospital from January to February, 2015. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic variables and blood sample was also taken to determine hepatitis B virus sero-status. Chi square test with 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to assess the associations of different factors with hepatitis B infection. Result A total of 332 health professionals (with a response rate of 92.2%) participated in the study. Most (98.5%) of health professionals were not vaccinated for hepatitis B. The prevalence of hepatitis B in health professionals at UOG hospital was found to be 4.52% (95% CI: 2.4, 6.5). Hepatitis B infection was more common among males (P value =0.0299). Conclusion. The prevalence of hepatitis B in health professionals in this study was comparable with other studies done in Ethiopia among health professionals. Males were more affected than females for hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B virus vaccine, treatment for the infected, and training on infection prevention should be more available for healthcare workers.
Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults.

ISSUES ADDRESSED While the psychological health benefits of older people's engagement in formal volunteering are well-documented, there is limited research assessing how volunteering may produce these favourable outcomes. To guide the development of volunteer positions that optimise outcomes, this study examined (i) which aspects of the volunteering experience are most strongly associated with favourable psychological health among older adults and (ii) whether relationships between these aspects and psychological outcomes are moderated by sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS A sample of 293 volunteers aged 60+ years (69% female, mean age=73.33 years) completed measures assessing their engagement in volunteering, various aspects of their volunteer experience, and their psychological health. RESULTS Being adequately appreciated for one's contribution, perceived social and mental intensity of the volunteer role, and believing that others benefit from one's volunteering efforts were found to be associated with higher levels of psychological health. CONCLUSIONS Ensuring the contributions of volunteers are explicitly recognised, providing opportunities for engagement in social and cognitive activities, and informing volunteers of the benefits others experience constitute potential means of enhancing volunteer outcomes and may assist with volunteer retention. SO WHAT? : This study builds upon the limited research assessing which aspects of the volunteering experience are most strongly associated with favourable psychological health among older adults. The findings point to the potential importance of four specific aspects of the volunteer experience in enhancing psychological health outcomes.
Work study : design of a randomized controlled trial on the effect of a workers ' health surveillance mental module for nurses and allied health professionals

Background: Employees in health care service are at high risk for developing mental health complaints. The effects of mental health complaints on work can have serious consequences for the quality of care provided by these workers. To help health service workers remain healthy and productive, preventive actions are necessary. A Workers’ Health Surveillance (WHS) mental module may be an effective strategy to monitor and promote good (mental) health and work performance. The objective of this paper is to describe the design of a three arm cluster randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of a WHS mental module for nurses and allied health professionals. Two strategies for this WHS mental module will be compared along with data from a control group. Additionally, the cost effectiveness of the approaches will be evaluated from a societal perspective. Methods: The study is designed as a cluster randomized controlled trial consisting of three arms (two intervention groups, 1 control group) with randomization at ward level. The study population consists of 86 departments in one Dutch academic medical center with a total of 1731 nurses and allied health professionals. At baseline, after three months and after six months of follow-up, outcomes will be assessed by online questionnaires. In both intervention arms, participants will complete a screening to detect problems in mental health and work functioning and receive feedback on their screening results. In cases of impairments in mental health or work functioning in the first intervention arm, a consultation with an occupational physician will be offered. The second intervention arm offers a choice of self-help e-mental health interventions, which will be tailored based on each individual’s mental health state and work functioning. The primary outcomes will be help-seeking behavior and work functioning. Secondary outcomes will be mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, cost-effectiveness in both intervention arms will be assessed, and a process evaluation will be performed. Discussion: When it is proven effective compared to a control group, a WHS mental module for nurses and allied health professionals could be implemented and used on a regular basis by occupational health services in hospitals to improve employees’ mental health and work functioning. Trial RegistrationNTR2786 * Correspondence: F.R. Gartner@amc.uva. nl Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands Full list of author information is available at the end of the article Gärtner et al. BMC Public Health 2011, 11:290 http://www.biomedcentral. com/1471-2458/11/290 © 2011 Gärtner et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Fast food consumption among young adolescents aged 12–15 years in 54 low- and middle-income countries

ABSTRACT Background Most countries worldwide, especially low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are facing an increasing prevalence of fast-food consumption and multiple burdens of malnutrition among young adolescents. Objective To compare the prevalence of fast-food consumption among young adolescents in LMICs. Methods We used data from the most recent Global School-Based Student Health Survey (2009–2015), which had been collected using a standardized questionnaire. The weighted prevalence and 95% confidential intervals of fast-food consumption were calculated overall and in subgroups stratified by age, sex, and nutritional status. The pooled overall and regional estimates were obtained using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The associated risk factors for fast-food consumption were explored using logistic regression analysis. Results Our study comprised 153,496 young adolescents (46.90% boys) from 54 LMICs. Overall, approximately 55.2% (51.3–59.1%) of the adolescents consumed fast food at least 1 day per week, and 10.3% (8.3–12.4%) did so 4–7 days per week. The prevalence of fast-food consumption 4–7 days per week was lowest in the Americas (8.3%; 6.7–9.9%) and highest in Southeast Asia (17.7%; 2.3–33.2%). At a country level, the prevalence was lowest in Pakistan (1.5%; 1.0–2.0%) and highest in Thailand (43.3%; 40.4–46.1%). Furthermore, in subgroups stratified by nutritional status, the prevalence was lowest in the obesity group (6.6%; 4.5–8.7%). Factors such as age, sex, BMI, food insecurity, fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, soft-drink consumption, smoking, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior level were found to be correlated with fast-food consumption. Conclusions The identified high prevalence of fast-food consumption among young adolescents in LMICs indicates the urgent need to prioritize the implementation of healthy-diet promotion programs to improve adolescent health in these countries.
Perceptual learning of ensemble and outlier perception

Previous studies have demonstrated a complex relationship between ensemble perception and outlier detection. We presented two array of heterogeneously oriented stimulus bars and different mean orientations and/or a bar with an outlier orientation, asking participants to discriminate the mean orientations or detect the outlier. Perceptual learning was found in every case, with improved performance accuracy and speeded responses. Testing for improved accuracy through cross-task transfer, we found considerable transfer from training outlier detection to mean discrimination performance, and none in the opposite direction. Implicit learning in terms of increased accuracy was not found in either direction when participants performed one task, and the second task's stimulus features were present. Reaction time improvement was found to transfer in all cases. This study adds to the already broad knowledge concerning perceptual learning and cross-task transfer of training effects.
Evaluation of Mass Trapping and Bait Stations to Control Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) Fruit Flies in Mango Orchards of Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract The use of insecticide baits is one of the most common and efficient methods worldwide to control fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). However, this strategy has commonly been associated with environmental contamination and undesirable effects on non-target organisms. The use of lure-and-kill devices (bait stations) or mass trapping could be alternative control methods to overcome these ecological concerns. In this study, we evaluated several mass trapping devices and attractants in comparison with ground-applied insecticide bait sprays for the control of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) and Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in mango orchards in Chiapas, Mexico. Among the bait stations evaluated, we found that a wide-mouth 2 L plastic bottle baited with Cera Trap®, an enzymatic hydrolyzed protein, and used at the density of 25 traps per ha was most efficient at reducing the fruit fly populations. Our results showed that bait stations to control fruit flies, in addition to using less insecticide, were as effective as ground sprays and were superior under rainy conditions. These properties represent a great advantage considering the tropical conditions in several mango production zones around the world.
Absolute Accelerometer-Based Intensity Prescription Compared to Physiological Variables in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women

Estimation of the intensity of physical activity (PA) based on absolute accelerometer cut points (Cp) likely over- or underestimates intensity for a specific individual. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between absolute moderate intensity Cp and the first ventilatory threshold (VT1). A group of 24 pregnant and 15 nonpregnant women who performed a submaximal incremental walking test with measures of ventilatory parameters and accelerations from three different accelerometers on the wrist (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT, GENEActiv, Axivity AX3) and one on the hip (Actigraph wGT3X-BT) were analyzed. Cp were determined corresponding to 3 metabolic equivalents of task (MET), using the conventional MET definition (Cp3.5) (3.5 mL/kg×min) and individual resting metabolic rate (Cpind). The ventilatory equivalent (VE/VO2) was used to determine VT1. Accelerations at VT1 were significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to Cp3.5 and Cpind in both groups. Cp3.5 and Cpind were significantly different in nonpregnant (p < 0.01) but not in pregnant women. Walking speed at VT1 (5.7 ± 0.5/6.2 ± 0.8 km/h) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in pregnant compared to nonpregnant women and correspondent to 3.8 ± 0.7/4.9 ± 1.4 conventional METs. Intensity at absolute Cp was lower compared to the intensity at VT1 independent of the device or placement in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Therefore, we recommend individually tailored cut points such as the VT1 to better assess the effect of the intensity of PA.
Out of obscurity: The contemporary private investigator in Australia

The business of private investigation has grown significantly in the past two decades. No longer can private investigating be considered an obscure form of private policing. Yet, despite the recent growth of interest in private policing, little research has been conducted on the services provided by private investigators. This article presents the results of an analysis of 33 in-depth interviews with Australian private investigators in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The article discusses their contemporary role in the context of providing justice, public policing and future regulatory challenges. The article extends the limited research on the services private investigators provide, including corporate fraud and financial investigations, risk advisory, and cyber and misconduct investigations. It identifies their backgrounds and education, and describes their clients. The study found that, contrary to expectations, to meet these new services, private investigators are now highly qualified academically and professionally. It was found that regulatory gaps have been created in the licensing of contemporary private investigators, and the use of private investigators allows clients to sidestep the justice system.
Joint Maximum Likelihood Estimation for High-dimensional Exploratory Item Response Analysis

Multidimensional item response theory is widely used in education and psychology for measuring multiple latent traits. However, exploratory analysis of large-scale item response data with many items, respondents, and latent traits is still a challenge. In this paper, we consider a high-dimensional setting that both the number of items and the number of respondents grow to infinity. A constrained joint maximum likelihood estimator is proposed for estimating both item and person parameters, which yields good theoretical properties and computational advantage. Specifically, we derive error bounds for parameter estimation and develop an efficient algorithm that can scale to very large datasets. The proposed method is applied to a large scale personality assessment data set from the Synthetic Aperture Personality Assessment (SAPA) project. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the proposed method.
Evaluation of Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid-Coated β-Tricalcium Phosphate Bone Substitute as a Graft Material for Ridge Preservation after Tooth Extraction in Dog Mandible: A Comparative Study with Conventional β-Tricalcium Phosphate Granules

This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-coated β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) liquid activator (PLGA/β-TCP) on alveolar ridge preservation after tooth extraction in dog mandible. Thirty-two extraction sites were prepared in eight dog mandibles. A distal root of the mandibular premolar was extracted and randomly grafted with one of the following bone substitutes: (1) PLGA/β-TCP, (2) β-TCP, or (3) left empty as a control, and wounds were closed with keratinized mucosa graft. Post-operative wound healing was observed and scored to evaluate safety. After 12 and 24 weeks, the bone regeneration was evaluated with micro-computed tomography (CT) images and histomorphometric analyses. Gingival epithelization progressed over time without complication or infection. Micro-CT images and histological observation revealed that both PLGA/β-TCP and β-TCP granules supported sufficient new bone formation. Although bone formation and substrate resorption were delayed slightly with the PLGA and the NMP-containing plasticizer as compared to those treated with conventional β-TCP, it can be concluded that the PLGA and the NMP-containing plasticizer that facilitated the in situ hardening properties of the material had no negative influence on the biocompatibility of the material.
Rising Inequality: Transitory or Persistent? New Evidence from a Panel of U.S. Tax Returns

We use a new, large, and confidential panel of tax returns to study the persistent-versus-transitory nature of rising inequality in male labor earnings and in total household income, both before and after taxes, in the United States over the period 1987-2009. We apply various statistical decomposition methods that allow for different ways of characterizing persistent and transitory income components. For male labor earnings, we find that the entire increase in cross-sectional inequality over our sample period was driven by an increase in the dispersion of the persistent component of earnings. For total household income, we find that most of the increase in inequality reflects an increase in the dispersion of the persistent income component, but the transitory component also appears to have played some role. We also show that the tax system partly mitigated the increase in income inequality, but not sufficiently to alter its broadly increasing trend over the period.
Minimally important differences for interpreting the EORTC QLQ‐C30 in patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ‐C30) assesses the health‐related quality of life of patients in cancer trials. There are currently no minimally important difference (MID) guidelines for the EORTC QLQ‐C30 for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to estimate MIDs for the EORTC QLQ‐C30 scales in patients with advanced CRC treated with chemotherapy and enrolled in clinical trials.
CAX and Xsel: a software bundle to aid in automating NAA spectrum analysis

In this work, the scripting capabilities of Genie-2000 were used to develop a software (CAX) that automatically analyses all spectrum files in either Ortec's CHN or Canberra's MCA or CNF formats in a folder, generating two output files: a print-ready text file (.DAT) and a Comma-Separated Values (.CSV) file which can be easily imported in any major spreadsheet software. A second tool, named Xsel, consists in an Excel spreadsheet which automatically identifies the spectrum lines associated with the elements of interest, generating a clean output sheet which can be easily imported in a general spreadsheet that calculates the concentrations; an important addition to this spreadsheet is the ability to automatically recalibrate each spectrum, increasing the reliability of the peak identification procedure. These software are already used in daily routines in IPEN's Neutron Activation Laboratory, greatly reducing the time required for sample analyses, as well as reducing the possibility of transcription errors.
Middle East experience from the Asia And Latin America Fracture Observational Study (ALAFOS): Baseline characteristics of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis using teriparatide

Objective We aimed to describe the baseline clinical characteristics and fracture history of patients taking teriparatide in routine clinical practice in the Middle East (ME) subregional cohort of the Asia and Latin America Fracture Observational Study (ALAFOS). Methods Herein, we report baseline clinical characteristics of patients who were prescribed teriparatide (20 µg/day, subcutaneous injection) in four participant ME countries (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Lebanon). Results The ME cohort included 707 patients mean (SD) age 69.3 (11.6) years. Mean (SD) bone mineral density (BMD) T-scores at baseline were −3.13 (1.28) for lumbar spine, −2.88 (0.94) for total hip, and −2.65 (1.02) for femoral neck. Osteoporotic fractures after age 40 years were reported in 45.8% (vertebral fracture 14.4%, hip fracture 18.4%) and comorbidities in 57.4% of patients. Before starting teriparatide, 19.9% of patients took other osteoporosis medications. The median (Q1; Q3) EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level visual analog scale score for perceived overall health status was 70 (50; 80). Mean (SD) worst back pain in the previous 24 hours was 4.0 (3.2) using a 10-point numeric rating scale. Conclusion This analysis indicated that in ME countries, teriparatide is usually prescribed to patients with low BMD and high comorbidities, with prior fractures.