Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of sex education and HIV education interventions in schools in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE To review the impact of sex education and HIV education interventions in schools in developing countries on both risk behaviours for HIV and the psychosocial factors that affect them. METHODS We conducted a systematic review. Searches identified studies in developing countries that evaluated interventions using either experimental or strong quasi-experimental designs and measured the impact of the intervention on sexual risk behaviours. Each study was summarized and coded, and the results were tabulated by type of intervention. FINDINGS Twenty-two intervention evaluations met the inclusion criteria: 17 were based on a curriculum and 5 were not, and 19 were implemented primarily by adults and 3 by peers. These 22 interventions significantly improved 21 out of 55 sexual behaviours measured. Only one of the interventions (a non-curriculum-based peer-led intervention) increased any measure of reported sexual intercourse; 7 interventions delayed the reported onset of sex; 3 reduced the reported number of sexual partners; and 1 reduced the reported frequency of sexual activity. Furthermore, 16 of the 22 interventions significantly delayed sex, reduced the frequency of sex, decreased the number of sexual partners, increased the use of condoms or contraceptives or reduced the incidence of unprotected sex. Of the 17 curriculum-based interventions, 13 had most of the characteristics believed to be important according to research in developed and developing countries and were taught by adults. Of these 13 studies, 11 significantly improved one or more reported sexual behaviours, and the remaining 2 showed non-significant improvements in reported sexual behaviour. Among these 13 studies, interventions led by both teachers and other adults had strong evidence of positive impact on reported behaviour. Of the 5 non-curriculum-based interventions, 2 of 4 adult-led and the 1 peer-led intervention improved one or more sexual behaviours. CONCLUSIONS A large majority of school-based sex education and HIV education interventions reduced reported risky sexual behaviours in developing countries. The curriculum-based interventions having the characteristics of effective interventions in the developed and developing world should be implemented more widely. All types of school-based interventions need additional rigorous evaluation, and more rigorous evaluations of peer-led and non-curriculum-based interventions are necessary before they can be widely recommended.
Factors Mediating the Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence and Cervical Cancer Among Thai Women

Previous research suggests that intimate partner violence (IPV), particularly physical or sexual violence, was associated with cervical cancer. However, there is less work examining the mechanism of the relationship between IPV and cervical cancer. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine psychosocial factors (e.g., stress, social support, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms) as mediators of the relationship between IPV and cervical cancer among 532 Thai women with gynecological problems. About 21.1% of participants reported any type of IPV (e.g., physical, sexual, or emotional violence) in the past year and 22.2% had cervical cancer. IPV was significantly positively associated with stress, depressive symptoms, and cervical cancer but negatively correlated with social support and self-esteem. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that not only did IPV exhibit significantly direct effects on social support, stress, and depressive symptoms, and indirect effects on self-esteem, but it also had a significant, positive, total effect on cervical cancer. IPV exhibited the significant indirect effect on cervical cancer through social support, self-esteem, stress, and depressive symptoms. The model fitted very well to the empirical data and explained 9% of variance. The findings affirmed that those psychosocial factors were mediators of the relationship between IPV and cervical cancer. Health care protocols for abused women should include screening for and treatment of IPV-related psychosocial factors. Interventions that provide social support and protect self-esteem should reduce stress and depressive symptoms among abused women, thereby reducing the risk of cervical cancer.
THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF LEAD TO CHLOROPHYLL A AND CHLOROPHYLL B OF Elodea canadensis Michx.

This study aims to determine the changes in quantities of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in various lead concentrations. The main parts of Elodea canadensis have been subjected to lead concentrations, such as 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg L-1, with periods of 24, 48, 72, 120, 168 and 216 hours. Chlorophyll a and b quantities were measured in control plants and lead concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 100 mg L-1 as 30 – 120 mg L-1 and in lead concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg L-1 as 20-70 mg L-1. Some morphological indications related with senescence were observed on leaves of the samples that were exposed to 50 and 100 mg L-1 lead concentrations beginning from the 168th hour.
Nepetoidin B, a Natural Product, Inhibits LPS‐stimulated Nitric Oxide Production via Modulation of iNOS Mediated by NF‐κB/MKP‐5 Pathways

Previous reports showed that nepetoidin B (NTB), a natural product isolated from many herbs, has anti‐fungal and anti‐bacterial effects. In this study, the antiinflammatory effect of NTB was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The cytotoxic effect of NTB and LPS was determined by MTT assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was detected by Griess assay. The TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kits. Protein expressions were tested by western blotting. The transcription activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was detected by luciferase assay. Immunofluorescence assay was used to observe the visualization of NF‐κB/p65 nuclear translocation. NTB and LPS showed no obvious cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells. NTB remarkably inhibited LPS‐induced NO and TNF‐α secretion in a concentration‐dependent manner while showed no significant effect on IL‐6 secretion. NTB inhibited LPS‐induced iNOS protein expression and transcription activity without affecting cyclooxygenase‐2. Furthermore, NTB suppressed LPS‐stimulated NF‐κB/p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. In addition, NTB significantly inhibited LPS‐induced phosphorylation of JNK1/2 and p38MAPK without affecting ERK1/2. LPS‐induced inhibition of mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphatase‐5 (MKP‐5) was completely reversed by NTB. In conclusion, these results suggested that NTB inhibited LPS‐stimulated NO production possibly via modulation of iNOS mediated by MKP‐5/NF‐κB pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facilitated Transcription through the Nucleosome at High Ionic Strength Occurs via a Histone Octamer Transfer Mechanism*

The rate of transcription through the nucleosome, the fine structure of the nucleosomal barrier, and the fate of the nucleosome during transcription at different salt concentrations were analyzed using linear 227-base pair mononucleosomal templates containing a uniquely positioned nucleosome core. At lower ionic strength (30 mm NaCl), the nucleosome constitutes a strong barrier for SP6 RNA polymerase. At higher ionic strength (330 mm NaCl), the rates of transcription on nucleosomal and histone-free DNA templates are very similar. At both higher and lower ionic strengths, the complete histone octamer is transferred over the same distance by fundamentally similar mechanisms. The data indicate that even at the rate of transcription characteristic of histone-free DNA, the transfer intermediates can be formed quite efficiently. This suggests possible mechanisms that could facilitate transcription through the nucleosome at physiological ionic strength.
Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) treatment of candidiasis in normal and diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) are used for treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus in treatment of established systemic infection with Candida albicans in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS Sixty normoglycemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were selected and randomly divided into six groups (n= 10): normal control, control + C. albicans, control + eucalyptus + C. albicans, diabetic control, diabetic + C. albicans, diabetic + eucalyptus + C. albicans. Diabetes was induced after a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight) and eucalyptus was added to the diet (62.5 g/kg) and drinking water (2.5 g/L) of treated animals for 4 weeks. The concerned groups were inoculated with C. albicans 15 days after diabetes induction. At the end of one month experiment, fasted rats were killed by cervical decapitation. Blood was collected from neck vein for estimation of glucose. C. albicans concentrations were estimated in liver and kidneys using serial dilution culture of tissue homogenates. RESULTS Eucalyptus administration significantly improved the hyperglycemia, polydipsia, polyphagia, and it also compensated weight loss of diabetic rats (P less than 0.05). Moreover, eucalyptus caused a significant reduction in C. albicans concentration in liver and kidney homogenates (P less than 0.01). CONCLUSION The results revealed that eucalyptus improves Candidia infection in normal and diabetic rats that in some ways validates the traditional use of this plant in treatment of diabetic patients.
Free Space Optical link performance simulation under different atmospheric conditions and diversity

High speed and tap proof communication systems is the growing need for FSO (Free Space Optical) systems. FSO is a communication process that uses light carrying information to travel in free space to exchange data between two or more points. High security, quicker establishment, permit free ranges are its principle favorable circumstances. FSO technology is useful in cases where fiber optic cables are difficult due to high costs. Use of multiple Tx/Rx in the Free Space Optics System (1×1, 2×2, 4×4, 8×8) increases the performance under different atmospheric disturbances. The performance of single to multiple Tx/Rx FSO system under three different conditions like clear, haze and fog conditions has been analyzed in this paper using eye diagrams. In this analysis the 8×8 FSO channel shows good results in comparison to other systems. Commercial available software OptiSystem from Optiwave Inc. has been used for Free Space Optical link modeling and simulation in this paper.
Extra‐pair paternity in waved albatrosses

We estimated the rate of extra‐pair fertilizations (EPFs) in waved albatrosses (Phoebastria irrorata) on Isla Española, Galápagos, Ecuador, using multilocus minisatellite DNA fingerprinting. Waved albatrosses are socially monogamous, long‐lived seabirds whose main population is on Española. Aggressive extra‐pair copulation (EPC) attempts have been observed in the breeding colony during the days preceding egg‐laying. Our genetic analyses of 16 families (single chicks and their attending parents) revealed evidence of EPFs in four families. In all cases males were the excluded parent. These data suggest that waved albatrosses have an unusually high rate of EPF relative to taxa with similar life histories. Future behavioural observations will determine the extent to which forced vs. unforced EPCs contribute to this high EPF rate.
A better way to discover gene function in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum

For many years, the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum has served as a system to understand what it takes to generate a multicellular organism. Biochemistry and biophysics have defined many of the underlying interactions of protein and cytoskeletal complexes, and sequence analyses have quantitatively defined the changes in gene expression programs. However, the dearth of genetic studies that offer insight into the roles of specific genes has prevented the more widespread use of this fascinating model organism. The eukaryotic amoebas of Dictyostelium provide all the advantages of growth as a microorganism and development as a multicellular organism. As a consequence, they can be analyzed using the techniques of microbial genetics that rely on having mil-lions, even billions, of cells from which to select rare mutant strains; at the same time, they present a myriad of multicellular phenotypes from which to pick. The fact that Dictyostelium can grow and develop just as well as a haploid or a diploid makes the initial screening for mutants fast and simple and allows straightforward mapping by complementation. Dominance and recessiv-ity can be easily determined in diploids formed with wild-type strains. These characteristics were exploited from 1950 to 1990, ini-tiallybyMauriceSussmanatBrandeisUniversityinMassachusetts, and then by John Asworth, Bill Loomis, Peter Newell, Keith Williams, Kai Yanagisawa, and their students all over the world, who collectively formed the Dictyostelium community (Newell 1978; Loomis 1987). N -methyl- N ′ -nitro- N -nitrosoguanidine (NTG) was soon found to be the mutagen of choice that allowed a large number of morphological and temperature-sensitive mutants to be isolated. Loci were recognized by failure of alleles to comple-ment in diploids and then mapped to specific chromosomes by parasexual genetics. The developmental genes could be formally
Creative Evaluation

Interactive systems are traditionally evaluated against an 'intended' use by involving external participants. This approach has been challenged recently because of difficulties in addressing applications without an `intended' use or an 'intended' interpretation, but also because the propositionality of the evaluation medium may not address the aesthetics of interactive systems sufficiently. We turn our attention to the evaluation of interactive art, in which, although both difficulties emerge, traditional evaluation methods are commonly used. In trying to stay open to interpretation and address aesthetic thinking and knowledge, we introduce and apply creative evaluation. Ten artists were asked to both direct themselves enacting their interaction experience and to express it using artistic media. Inspiration was obtained in two interactive installations. The results of this experiment demonstrate the ability of artistic practice to maintain interpretation variability and its capacity to address aesthetic thinking and knowledge in the evaluation of interactive systems.
SAMPLING METHODS AND APPROACHES USING RADIONUCLIDE TRACERS IN THE STUDY OF SEDIMENT RESUSPENSION AND CROSS MARGIN TRANSPORT IN NEARSHORE OF THE LAURENTIAN GREAT LAKES

Preliminary results from an investigation of the U-238/Th-234 parent/daughter pair in the nearshore environments of Lake Michigan show that short-lived, naturally-occurring radionuclides are useful in determining the time scales of sediment transport processes on the orders of days to weeks. While the long term, depositional sink for some new particles entering the lake, either from rivers or shoreline erosion, has been well documented, the aggregate time scale of the processes by which these particles move from source to sink is not well quantified. These relatively “new” particles may undergo numerous episodes of resuspension and redeposition before making their way through the coastal margin and entering the long term focusing processes active in the depositional basins of the lake. These episodic events can be large in scale and magnitude, resuspending as much or more material than is permanently deposited in the lake on an annual basis. Th-234, a particle reactive radionuclide with a 24 day half-life, would appear to be well suited as a tracer for following rapid particle movement, particle residence times in the overlying water, and alongshore transport processes. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed technique for collection of surface sediments residing in nondepositional (hard bottom) lakebeds and some preliminary time series results for transient excess Th234 inventories in the nearshore of Lake Michigan are described.
ESTUDO PRELIMINAR DAS PROPRIEDADES DE COMPENSADOS PRODUZIDOS COM LÂMINAS DE PARICÁ (Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke) MODIFICADAS TERMOMECANICAMENTE

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar, preliminarmente, os efeitos da modificacao termomecânica de lâminas de Parica (Schizolobium amazonicum Huber ex Ducke) para producao de compensados de melhor qualidade em termos de higroscopicidade e propriedades mecânicas. Para isso, foram usadas 24 lâminas de 25 x 25 cm, tratadas a temperatura de 150°C, tempos de cinco, 10 e 15 minutos e pressao de 1 N.mm-2, constituindo tres tratamentos e uma testemunha nao tratada. Os compensados foram colados com o adesivo resorcinol-formaldeido, na gramatura de 360 g.m-² e prensados a temperatura ambiente a 1 N.mm-2, durante 10 horas. A avaliacao das amostras foi realizada por meio da analise colorimetrica e das propriedades fisico-mecânicas. A analise colorimetrica mostrou que houve escurecimento da madeira com o aumento do tempo do tratamento. O tratamento nao se mostrou eficiente em reduzir o inchamento em espessura dos compensados, somente reduziu a absorcao de agua. Das propriedades mecânicas apenas o modulo de elasticidade foi afetado significativamente pelo tratamento.
Prática como Componente Curricular: questões e reflexões

A presente reflexao e motivada pelas dificuldades postas aos cursos de licenciatura para interpretarem o significado da Pratica como Componente Curricular (PCC), dificuldades essas expressas nas diferentes formas de sua implementacao. O objetivo e contribuir com a construcao de uma concepcao de PCC integrada ao projeto politico-pedagogico do curso e que colabore com o aprimoramento da formacao do professor, de modo a superar ajustes curriculares formais nos quais a PCC serve apenas como mecanismo facilitador do cumprimento da carga horaria minima do curso. O ponto de partida e a analise de modelos de PCC vigentes numa universidade publica, seus avancos e desafios. Em seguida, sao discutidas as ambiguidades das diretrizes legais acerca do conceito de pratica presentes nas formulacoes “Pratica de ensino e estagio supervisionado”, “Estagio” e “PCC”. O lugar da PCC no curriculo tambem e problematizado: trata-se de resgatar a pratica como referencia da formacao, de superar a indistincao entre PCC e Estagio e as dicotomias existentes entre disciplinas de formacao especifica e pedagogicas. Por fim, com base em pressupostos teoricos que articulam teoria e pratica, sao propostos projetos integradores por meio dos quais a PCC pode contribuir para a organicidade do curso, a interdisciplinaridade, o trabalho coletivo, a ampliacao da formacao para alem da sala de aula e para a formacao de professores mais bem preparados ao enfrentamento dos desafios atuais. keywords : Pratica como Componente Curricular. Curriculo. Formacao docente.
Towards Systematic Design of Enterprise Networks

Enterprise networks are important, with size and complexity even surpassing carrier networks. Yet, the design of enterprise networks remains ad hoc and poorly understood. In this paper, we show how a systematic design approach can handle two key areas of enterprise design: virtual local area networks (VLANs) and reachability control. We focus on these tasks given their complexity, prevalence, and time-consuming nature. Our contributions are threefold. First, we show how these design tasks may be formulated in terms of network-wide performance, security, and resilience requirements. Our formulations capture the correctness and feasibility constraints on the design, and they model each task as one of optimizing desired criteria subject to the constraints. The optimization criteria may further be customized to meet operator-preferred design strategies. Second, we develop a set of algorithms to solve the problems that we formulate. Third, we demonstrate the feasibility and value of our systematic design approach through validation on a large-scale campus network with hundreds of routers and VLANs.
The Effect of Fragment Shape and Species' Sensitivity to Habitat Edges on Animal Population Size

Abstract: Habitat fragmentation causes extinction of local animal populations by decreasing the amount of viable “core” habitat area and increasing edge effects. It is widely accepted that larger fragments make better nature reserves because core‐dwelling species have a larger amount of suitable habitat. Nevertheless, fragments in real landscapes have complex, irregular shapes. We modeled the population sizes of species that have a representative range of preferences for or aversions to habitat edges at five spatial scales (within 10, 32, 100, 320, and 1000 m of an edge) in a nation‐wide analysis of forest remnants in New Zealand. We hypothesized that the irregular shapes of fragments in real landscapes should generate statistically significant correlations between population density and fragment area, purely as a “geometric” effect of varying species responses to the distribution of edge habitat. Irregularly shaped fragments consistently reduced the population size of core‐dwelling species by 10–100%, depending on the scale over which species responded to habitat edges. Moreover, core populations within individual fragments were spatially discontinuous, containing multiple, disjunct populations that inhabited small spatial areas and had reduced population size. The geometric effect was highly nonlinear and depended on the range of fragment sizes sampled and the scale at which species responded to habitat edges. Fragment shape played a strong role in determining population size in fragmented landscapes; thus, habitat restoration efforts may be more effective if they focus on connecting disjunct cores rather than isolated fragments.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of Helicobacter pylori eradication in preventing gastric cancer

Background Increasing evidence has suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication might prevent the development of gastric cancer (GC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to better explore the role of H. pylori eradication in preventing GC, with particular reference to patients with precancerous lesions at baseline histology. Methods Searches for human studies were performed through October 2016 and risk ratios (RRs), were obtained. Heterogeneity between studies was estimated using the Cochran Q test and I2 values, whereas the possibility of publication bias was estimated with funnel plots. Additionally, we performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Results In 26 studies suitable for meta-analysis (10 randomized controlled trials and 16 cohort studies) 52,363 subjects were included. The risk of GC among patients in whom H. pylori was successfully eradicated was significantly lower than that among controls: pooled RRs [95% CI] 0.56 [0.48-0.66], Z= -7.27, P=0.00001. This finding applied separately for randomized controlled trials (0.65 [0.51-0.84], Z= -3.33, P=0.0009) and for cohort studies (0.51 [0.42-0.62], Z= -6.63, P=0.00001). Concerning H. pylori eradication in patients with precancerous lesions, subgroup analyses showed that patients with non-atrophic or atrophic gastritis benefited from H. pylori eradication for the risk of GC development, whereas those with intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia did not. Conclusion H. pylori eradication is associated with a significantly lower risk of GC; this finding has significant implications for the prevention of this cancer. The benefit is maximized when H. pylori eradication is applied at early stages of the infection.