Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of sexual transmission risk behaviors among HIV-positive young men

Reduction in the incidence of high-risk sexual behaviors among HIV-positive men is a priority. We examined the roles of proximal substance use and delinquency-related variables, and more distal demographic and psychosocial variables as predictors of serious high-risk sexual behaviors among 248 HIV-positive young males, aged 15–24 years. In a mediated latent variable model, demographics (ethnicity, sexual orientation and poverty) and background psychosocial factors (coping style, peer norms, emotional distress, self-esteem and social support) predicted recent problem behaviors (delinquency, common drug use and hard drug use), which in turn predicted recent high-risk sexual behaviors. Hard drug use and delinquency were found to predict sexual risk behaviors directly, as did lower self-esteem, white ethnicity and being gay/bisexual. Negative peer norms strongly influenced delinquency and substance use and positive coping predicted less delinquency. In turn, less positive coping and negative peer norms exerted indirect effects on sexual transmission risk behavior through delinquency and hard drug use. Results suggest targeting hard drug use, delinquency, maladaptive peer norms, dysfunctional styles of escaping stress and self-esteem in the design of intervention programs for HIV-positive individuals.
Fuzzy terminal sliding mode controller for robot arm actuated by pneumatic artificial muscles

In this paper, we present a combination of the Terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) and Fuzzy Logic (FL) technique. This approach called Fuzzy Terminal Sliding Mode Control (FTSMC) can compensate the chattering problem caused by (TSMC). In addition, this technique can decrease significantly the rule number and present the robustness compared with the parameters uncertainty and external disturbance. We applied the proposed (FTSMC) to control of the position and the velocity of each joint of a robot arm actuated by pneumatic artificial muscles. The simulation results are presented for objective to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Development of consonants and vowels in a child with cri du chat syndrome

Language development in persons with cri du chat syndrome (CDCS) has only been described in very general terms. Three tendencies have been noted in the literature: First of all, there is a discrepancy between chronological age and linguistic age in children with CDCS. Second, there is a discrepancy between receptive and expressive linguistic abilities in these children. Third, their articulation is characterized by omissions and substitutions. However, little is known about the exact nature of these articulation problems. In this paper longitudinal phonological data from a Norwegian girl with CDCS are presented and compared to data from normally developing Norwegian-speaking children.
Protease-Activated Receptor 2 Activation Inhibits N-Type Ca2+ Currents in Rat Peripheral Sympathetic Neurons

The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although several mechanisms have been suggested to explain PAR-2-induced hypotension, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. To investigate this possibility, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 activation on N-type Ca2+ currents (ICa-N) in isolated neurons of the celiac ganglion (CG), which is involved in the sympathetic regulation of mesenteric artery vascular tone. PAR-2 agonists irreversibly diminished voltage-gated Ca2+ currents (ICa), measured using the patch-clamp method, in rat CG neurons, whereas thrombin had little effect on ICa. This PAR-2-induced inhibition was almost completely prevented by ω-CgTx, a potent N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, suggesting the involvement of N-type Ca2+ channels in PAR-2-induced inhibition. In addition, PAR-2 agonists inhibited ICa–N in a voltage-independent manner in rat CG neurons. Moreover, PAR-2 agonists reduced action potential (AP) firing frequency as measured using the current-clamp method in rat CG neurons. This inhibition of AP firing induced by PAR-2 agonists was almost completely prevented by ω-CgTx, indicating that PAR-2 activation may regulate the membrane excitability of peripheral sympathetic neurons through modulation of N-type Ca2+ channels. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that the activation of PAR-2 suppresses peripheral sympathetic outflow by modulating N-type Ca2+ channel activity, which appears to be involved in PAR-2-induced hypotension, in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals.
Microcephaly, epilepsy, and neonatal diabetes due to compound heterozygous mutations in IER3IP1: insights into the natural history of a rare disorder

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is known to have over 20 different monogenic causes. A syndrome of permanent neonatal diabetes along with primary microcephaly with simplified gyral pattern associated with severe infantile epileptic encephalopathy was recently described in two independent reports in which disease‐causing homozygous mutations were identified in the immediate early response‐3 interacting protein‐1 (IER3IP1) gene. We report here an affected male born to a non‐consanguineous couple who was noted to have insulin‐requiring permanent neonatal diabetes, microcephaly, and generalized seizures. He was also found to have cortical blindness, severe developmental delay and numerous dysmorphic features. He experienced a slow improvement but not abrogation of seizure frequency and severity on numerous anti‐epileptic agents. His clinical course was further complicated by recurrent respiratory tract infections and he died at 8 years of age.
Solifenacin: scientific evidence in the treatment of overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVES This article aims to analyse the use of solifenacin in the treatment of overactive bladder in order to show its efficacy and safety within the framework of the scientific evidence. METHODS The available scientific literature was reviewed, including most of the relevant clinical trials performed with solifenacin. RESULTS All the studies analysed show significant improvements in patients treated with solifenacin versus placebo and tolterodine. Efficacy parameters were assessed in objective and subjective terms, with particular emphasis placed on quality of life. Urgency improves in 60% of patients (40 % report no urgency), 58% of patients get continence and 69% perceive an improvement in bladder capacity. On completion of treatment, 80% are satisfied with the results and 79% are willing to continue with the treatment in the long term. CONCLUSIONS Solifenacin is effective in the treatment of overactive bladder. The possibility of finding the most effective and tolerable dose with the best response in terms of quality of life constitutes an important difference with regard to other antimuscarinics. The increase to 10 mg gets additional improvements in terms of efficacy, without a significant increase in adverse effects. The side effects perceived were mild or moderate in most cases, and did not lead to more withdrawals compared to placebo. Most patients were satisfied with the treatment and are willing to stay on it in the long term.
Long-Term performance of Corporate Governance in Thailand

The purpose of this study is to review the impact of the market on Adoption of Corporate Governance in Thailand for a decade during 2003-2017. The study examines the firm-level return in both operations, from ROA & ROE, and equity price return from different level of Corporate Governance rating in comparison to the market-Stock Exchange of Thailand through out the period. The study employs the long-term cross sectional comparison between firms which separate the Corporate Governance Rating firms into four quartile rank as Excellence, Very Good, Good and Poor Corporate Governance Rating. The test of quartile differences indicated that the Excellent level of Corporate Governance firms were performing better in comparison to the Poor level in four measures of returns which are Annual Monthly Return and Annual Holding Period Return, ROE and ROA as well as the TOBINQ.
Integrated analysis of genome-wide genetic and epigenetic association data for identification of disease mechanisms

Many human diseases are multifactorial, involving multiple genetic and environmental factors impacting on one or more biological pathways. Much of the environmental effect is believed to be mediated through epigenetic changes. Although many genome-wide genetic and epigenetic association studies have been conducted for different diseases and traits, it is still far from clear to what extent the genomic loci and biological pathways identified in the genetic and epigenetic studies are shared. There is also a lack of statistical tools to assess these important aspects of disease mechanisms. In the present study, we describe a protocol for the integrated analysis of genome-wide genetic and epigenetic data based on permutation of a sum statistic for the combined effects in a locus or pathway. The method was then applied to published type 1 diabetes (T1D) genome-wide- and epigenome-wide-association studies data to identify genomic loci and biological pathways that are associated with T1D genetically and epigenetically. Through combined analysis, novel loci and pathways were also identified, which could add to our understanding of disease mechanisms of T1D as well as complex diseases in general.
Effects of recombinant human thrombopoietin on megakaryocyte colony formation and megakaryocyte ploidy by human CD34+ cells in a serum‐free system

In serum‐free cultures of human CD34 cells, recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO) induced megakaryocyte colony formation in a dose‐dependent fashion that was further enhanced by the presence of interleukin‐3 (IL‐3) and stem cell factor (SCF), but not by IL‐6, IL‐11 or erythropoietin. TPO gave rise to much smaller colonies and at an earlier time than IL‐3, indicating that TPO affects predominantly more mature megakaryocytic progenitors. In liquid cultures, TPO increased the percentage and the absolute number of ≥8N megakaryocytes, but it did not shift their modal ploidy from 2N. TPO‐induced endomitosis was totally inhibited by the presence of, or previous exposure of cells to, IL‐3 and/or SCF. The mechanism by which TPO overcomes in vivo the negative effects of IL‐3 and SCF on megakaryocyte ploidy remains unknown.
Severe, Early and Selective Loss of a Subpopulation of GABAergic Inhibitory Neurons in Experimental Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

Little is known about the pathogenetic basis of characteristic symptoms in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) such as myoclonus and characteristic EEG hyperactivity. We investigated the GABAergic system and its subpopulations in mice inoculated with experimental scrapie (ME7, RML, 22A strains) and Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (CJD; Fujisaki strain), to study damage to inhibitory neurons. Since recent studies have shown electrophysiological changes in prion protein (PrP) knockout mice, we also studied mice lacking or overexpressing the PrP gene. Antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CB), and calretinin (CR) were used to stain GABAergic neurons, and isolectin‐B4 to stain perineuronal nets around PV+ neurons. In scrapie infected mice, cortical PV+ neurons were severely reduced while CB+ and CR+ neurons were well preserved. In CJD inoculated mice, loss of PV+ neurons was severe and occurred very early after inoculation. PrP‐/‐ and tg20 mice showed normal appearance of PV, CB, CR, GAD+ neurons and their neuropil, and of isolectin‐B4+ perineuronal nets. The early, severe and selective loss of cortical PV+ neurons in experimental scrapie and CJD suggest selective loss of PV+ GABAergic neurons as important event during disease development, possibly as one basis of excitatory symptoms in TSEs.
Making sense of diagnostic tests likelihood ratios

A smart mother makes often a better diagnosis than a poor doctor. August Bier German, professor of surgery 1861–1949. Statistical diagnosis is a mystery to many health practitioners.1 Information is often presented as test accuracy (sensitivity and specificity). However, at the bedside we need to know how a test result predicts the diagnosis or outcome of interest. Attempts to demystify approaches to diagnosis include the construction of 2 by 2 boxes, nomograms, and rules such as SpPin (with a Specific test the Positive Rules in) and SnNout (with a Sensitive test the Negative Rules out). In our teachings of evidence-based medicine, we have found an easier, intuitive way to interpret the results of diagnostic studies based on 2 elements: the likelihood ratio of the test and the pretest odds. The likelihood ratio (LR) summarises information about the diagnostic test by combining information about the sensitivity and specificity . It tells you how much a positive or negative result changes …
Sulfonylurea Enhances Insulin-Induced Acetyl Coenzyme A Carboxylase Activity in Rat Adipocytes

The effect of sulfonylurea on the activity of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, a rate limiting enzyme of lipogenesis, was investigated using isolated rat adipocytes. Insulin significantly increased the enzyme activity by 170% of the control level, while glucagon and epinephrine decreased the activity of the enzyme by 53% and 64% of the control, respectively. In the presence of tolbutamide (10(-3) M) or glibenclamide (10(-6) M), a significant potentiation of insulin action was found in adipocytes. In addition, sulfonylurea restored the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase reduced by glucagon or epinephrine to the control level. Sulfonylurea enhancement of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity may offer one possible explanation for a mechanism of antilipolytic action of the drug in adipocytes.
Ablation procedures in Sweden during 2007: results from the Swedish Catheter Ablation Registry.

AIMS Catheter ablation research is reported extensively. Much less is known about the clinical practice in the field. Study databases and surveys target selected populations. A general registry is needed to evaluate the actual results of routine catheter ablation. We present statistics from the Swedish Catheter Ablation Registry. METHODS AND RESULTS The registry is a nation-wide database collecting data from all the eight centres serving the country's population of 9.18 million inhabitants. During each ablation procedure, the data are entered into a local database. On demand, the data are transferred to the central data management facility. The central SQL-database presently covers 7018 ablations performed in 5885 patients during 2004-07. In 2007, 2314 ablation procedures [521 for atrial fibrillation (AF)] were performed (252 ablations per million inhabitants and 57 AF procedures per million inhabitants). Mean procedure and fluoroscopy times ranked from 75 and 12 min, respectively, for atrioventricular junction ablation to 224 and 43 min, respectively, for AF ablation. The incidence of complications during 2007 was 1.8%. One death after a procedure for AF was reported, due to a cerebrovascular embolus. CONCLUSION The report presents prospective-gathered annual data from a nation-wide ablation register with voluntary participation. Several major complications have been reported, but the overall complication rate was low.
Validity and Reliability of Optojump Photoelectric Cells for Estimating Vertical Jump Height

Glatthorn, JF, Gouge, S, Nussbaumer, S, Stauffacher, S, Impellizzeri, FM, and Maffiuletti, NA. Validity and reliability of Optojump photoelectric cells for estimating vertical jump height. J Strength Cond Res 25(2): 556-560, 2011-Vertical jump is one of the most prevalent acts performed in several sport activities. It is therefore important to ensure that the measurements of vertical jump height made as a part of research or athlete support work have adequate validity and reliability. The aim of this study was to evaluate concurrent validity and reliability of the Optojump photocell system (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) with force plate measurements for estimating vertical jump height. Twenty subjects were asked to perform maximal squat jumps and countermovement jumps, and flight time-derived jump heights obtained by the force plate were compared with those provided by Optojump, to examine its concurrent (criterion-related) validity (study 1). Twenty other subjects completed the same jump series on 2 different occasions (separated by 1 week), and jump heights of session 1 were compared with session 2, to investigate test-retest reliability of the Optojump system (study 2). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for validity were very high (0.997-0.998), even if a systematic difference was consistently observed between force plate and Optojump (−1.06 cm; p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability of the Optojump system was excellent, with ICCs ranging from 0.982 to 0.989, low coefficients of variation (2.7%), and low random errors (±2.81 cm). The Optojump photocell system demonstrated strong concurrent validity and excellent test-retest reliability for the estimation of vertical jump height. We propose the following equation that allows force plate and Optojump results to be used interchangeably: force plate jump height (cm) = 1.02 × Optojump jump height + 0.29. In conclusion, the use of Optojump photoelectric cells is legitimate for field-based assessments of vertical jump height.
Classroom Management: A Critical Part of Educational Psychology, With Implications for Teacher Education

Research on classroom management is reviewed, with an emphasis on lines of inquiry originating in educational psychology with implications for teacher education. Preventive, group based approaches to management provide a basis for teachers to plan and organize classroom activities and behaviors. Studies of teacher expertise and affect provide additional perspective on teacher development and on factors that influence management. Cooperative learning activities and inclusion of children with special needs illustrate particular contexts that affect management. Utilization of classroom management content in educational psychology components of teacher preparation is discussed.
Cognitive Anchoring on Self-Generated Decisions Reduces Operator Reliance on Automated Diagnostic Aids

Automation users often disagree with diagnostic aids that are imperfectly reliable. The extent to which users' agreements with an aid are anchored to their personal, self-generated diagnoses was explored. Participants (N = 75) performed 200 trials in which they diagnosed pump failures using an imperfectly reliable automated aid. One group (nonforced anchor, n = 50) provided diagnoses only after consulting the aid. Another group (forced anchor, n = 25) provided diagnoses both before and after receiving feedback from the aid. Within the nonforced anchor group, participants' self-reported tendency to prediagnose system failures significantly predicted their tendency to disagree with the aid, revealing a cognitive anchoring effect. Agreement rates of participants in the forced anchor group indicated that public commitment to a diagnosis did not strengthen this effect. Potential applications include the development of methods for reducing cognitive anchoring effects and improving automation utilization in high-risk domains.
Potential contributions of performance science to education.

For over 30 years, we have tried to structure and apply a science of human performance, induding a technology of instructional design. And although we have performed most of our work in the setting of business and industry, we have also seized every available opportunity to apply this work in schools. The book Human Competence: Engineering Worthy Performance (Gilbert, 1978) describes many of the details of what we call performance science. Is performance science now sufficiently advanced to make a noticeable contribution to education? Yes, it certainly is. By practicing it diligently, we could greatly reduce instructional time (by, say, 80 to 90%), yet at the same time improve its effectiveness. This would leave a lot of time to supplement the usual school curriculum. The problem is not one of technical limitations on getting results, but on how well we can sell the science. Let's begin with some definitions. What is performance science and how is it different from behavior science? We have been practicing both ever since leaving academia to expose ourselves to the so-called real world. And one of the first things we learned then was the absolute necessity for distinguishing between behavior and performance. The pictorial definition in Figure 1 says it all. "Performance" is one of those transactional words like "sales. " A sale requires both a seller and a buyer; you can't make sense by saying, "I sold him but he didn't buy. " "Information" is another such transactional word. It doesn't make sense to say, "I informed them but they didn't understand. " Yet we are producing such nonsense every time we confuse information with data. Really we should
Heart and Soul: Transferring ‘Socio-emotional Wealth’ (SEW) in Family Business Succession

Abstract The importance of the family business (FB) is not only stable but it is also improving its position in the global economy and playing a key role in the European economy. They represent 60 per cent of the employment and more than 60 million jobs in the private sector. But they face many internal challenges, of which the importance of ‘company succession’ is growing together with the need for technology renewal and attracting the right skills/talents (PwC, 2014). This article focuses on the transfer of socio-emotional wealth (SEW) as a key intangible asset during intergenerational changes in the FB (Debicki, Kellermanns, Chrisman, Pearson, & Spencer, 2016; Gómez-Mehija, Takács Haynes, Núnez-Nickel, Jackobson, & Moyano-Fuentes, 2007; Martinez-Romero & Rojo-Ramírez, 2016). Using empirical experiences based on multi-site company case studies in three countries (Hungary, Poland and the UK), the analysis presents the transfer of the following key components of the SEW to the next generation: a trust-based social-system, generic human values (namely, openness, mutual respect, correctness, reliability and responsibility) and ‘practice based–embedded collective knowledge’. We find that a key lesson is that transferring physical assets in the succession process seems to be less important than the transfer of the intangible ones embedded in the company’s culture because of the complex, informal and dynamic nature of the transferring mechanisms and of the role they play in sustaining entrepreneurial willingness and economic success over generations.