Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification and Characterization of Adolescent Internet User’s Profiles

Abstract The percentages of adolescent Internet use in general terms have been measured for nearly two decades now; however, it might be thought that not every teenager behaves online in the same way. This study aims to identify the different types or profiles of adolescents and to characterize them from an attitudinal, behavioral and socio-demographic viewpoint. A questionnaire was applied to a representative sample of 2,339 Compulsory Secondary School students (M = 13.77 years old) from Galicia (a North-Western region of Spain) for this purpose. A two-stage cluster analysis, based on the response pattern in relation to their attitudes toward Internet, was carried out. Four different segments with specific characteristics were identified: the first steppers, the trainees, the sensible users, and the heavy users. Besides the relevance of descriptive data, these results are of particular interest at an applied level, because they could lead to a better fit of programs to prevent risky behaviors and problematic Internet use in adolescents.
Betaine protects chronic alcohol and omega-3 PUFA-mediated down-regulations of PON1 gene, serum PON1 and homocysteine thiolactonase activities with restoration of liver GSH.

BACKGROUND Paraoxonase (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme that prevents LDL oxidation as well as detoxifies homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL), both of which can cause atherosclerosis. Chronic alcohol (ETOH) and high omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) consumption may affect PON1 status presumably via reactive oxygen species by depleting liver glutathione (GSH), whereas betaine may counter their effects. Therefore, we investigated the influence of ETOH, omega-3 PUFA, and betaine on liver GSH, PON1 expression, lipid score, as well as serum PON1 and HCTLase activities. METHODS Experimental rats belonging to various dietary groups were pair-fed with Lieber-DeCarli low (2.8% the dietary calories as omega3-fatty acids) and high (13.8% the dietary calories as omega3-fatty acids) menhaden fish alcohol-liquid diets with and without betaine (10 g/l diet) for 8 weeks after which liver PON1 mRNA, GSH, lipid score, and serum PON1, HCTLase, and ALT activities were measured. RESULTS High omega-3 PUFA decreased liver PON1 mRNA expression, serum PON1, and HCTLase activity by 23% (p < 0.01), 20% (p < 0.05), and 28% (p < 0.05), respectively compared to the low omega-3 PUFA group. ETOH decreased PON1 mRNA expression by 25 and 30% (p < 0.01) with concomitant 27% (p < 0.05) and 38% (p < 0.01), decrease in liver GSH levels in low and high omega-3 PUFA groups, respectively. Correspondingly, serum PON1 activity decreased by 23% (p < 0.05) and 58% (p < 0.01) while serum HCTLase activity decreased by 25% (p < 0.05) and 59% (p < 0.01) in the low and high omega-3 PUFA ETOH groups, respectively. Betaine restored liver PON1 mRNA expressions in low and high omega-3 PUFA ETOH groups with parallel restorations of PON1 activity and liver GSH. Concomitantly, betaine reduced hepatosteatosis accompanied by alleviation of liver injury caused by chronic alcohol and high omega-3 PUFA. CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, we conclude that dietary betaine not only atheroprotective by restoring liver GSH that quenches free radicals, but also may alleviate liver injury by reducing hepatosteatosis.
Developing a comprehensive performance measurement system for waqf institutions

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature on management of Design/methodology/approach - It conducts a thorough and critical review of the literature on relevant performance measurement literature of third sector organizations and Findings - The findings suggest that an effective PMS is undoubtedly significant in promoting good governance and ethical management of Practical implications - The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, the authors develop a contingency framework for assessing performance of Originality/value - The novelty of this paper lies in highlighting the feasibility of adopting qualitative approaches by
HIV in persons born outside the United States, 2007-2010.

CONTEXT Persons born outside the United States comprise about 13% of the US population, and the challenges these persons face in accessing health care may lead to poorer human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease outcomes. OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiology of HIV among persons born outside the United States and among US-born persons diagnosed in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Analysis of the estimated number of US-born persons and persons born outside the United States diagnosed with HIV from 2007 through 2010 in 46 states and 5 US territories, the demographic characteristics, and the HIV transmission risk factors reported to the National HIV Surveillance System. Foreign-born persons were defined as persons born outside the United States and its territories, inclusive of naturalized citizens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Diagnosis of HIV infection. RESULTS From 2007 through 2010, HIV was diagnosed in 191,697 persons in the US population; of these, 16.2% (95% CI, 16.0%-16.3%) (n = 30,995) were born outside the United States. Of the 25,255 persons with a specified country or region of birth outside the United States, 14.5% (n = 3656) were from Africa, 41.0% (n = 10,343) were from Central America (including Mexico), and 21.5% (n = 5418) were from the Caribbean. The 4 states (California, Florida, New York, and Texas) reporting the highest numbers of persons born outside the United States and diagnosed with HIV were also the top 4 reporters of HIV cases overall. Among persons born outside the United States with HIV, 73.5% (n = 22,773) were male. Among whites, 1841 of 55,574 (3.3%) of HIV diagnoses were in persons born outside the United States; in blacks, 8614 of 86,547 diagnoses (10.0%); in Hispanics, 17,913 of 42,431 diagnoses (42.2%); and in Asians, 1987 of 3088 diagnoses (64.3%). The percentage infected through heterosexual contact was 39.4% among persons born outside the United States vs 27.2% for US-born persons. CONCLUSIONS Among persons in 46 US states and 5 US territories who received a diagnosis of HIV from 2007 through 2010, 16.2% were born outside the United States. Compared with US-born persons diagnosed with HIV, persons born outside the United States had different epidemiologic characteristics.
A novel scheme for feature extraction and classification of magnetic resonance brain images based on Slantlet Transform and Support Vector Machine

Automated diagnosis of various brain abnormalcies is possible if classification of magnetic resonance (MR) human brain images can be carried out in an efficacious manner. The present paper proposes the development of a new approach for automated diagnosis, which rests on classification of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. In our present work we propose a method that uses an improved version of orthogonal discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for feature extraction, called Slantlet transform, which can especially be useful to provide superior time localization with simultaneous achievement of shorter supports for the filters. The features, hence, obtained are used to train a support vector machine (SVM) based binary classifier that automatically infers whether the images that of a normal brain or that of a pathological one. An excellent classification ratio of 100% could be achieved for a set of benchmark MR brain images, which is significantly better than the results reported in a recent research work employing combination of different feature extraction and classification tools e.g. wavelet transform, neural networks and SVM.
Molecular cytogenetic analyses of hTERC (3q26) and MYC (8q24) genes amplifications in correlation with oncogenic human papillomavirus infection in Czech patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical carcinomas.

UNLABELLED It is known that cervical cancer develop from precancerous intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) which is characterized by series of genetic abnormalities. The progression of CIN to cervical carcinoma has been associated especially with the genomic integration of oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) and gain of the human telomerase RNA gene hTERC (3q26) and MYC (8q24). In this study, cytology specimens of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical carcinoma from 74 Czech women were analyzed using the triple-color Cervical FISH Probe Kit designed for identification of HPV infected cells and copy number aberration of the hTERC and MYC genes. HPV-positivity exhibited 70% of patients with premalignant lesions (CIN I - CIN III, carcinoma in situ), chromosomal changes were found in 53.3% of cases - MYC amplification had 33.3% of women with CIN I - CIN III and 50% with carcinoma in situ. Amplification of hTERC was detected in 16.7% of patient with CIN I, in 50% with CIN II, in 58.3% with CIN III and in 66.7% with carcinoma in situ. Based on HPV-positivity and the occurrence of chromosomal aberrations, patients were divided into high-, intermediate- and low-risk group. Among women with cervical carcinomas, HPV infection was detected in 90.1% of specimens and chromosomal aberrations were found in 87.5% of samples. Amplification of MYC gene was detected in 25% and hTERC gene in 62.5% of patients. According to the histopathological grade of tumors, MYC gene amplification occurred more frequently in specimens of spinocellular carcinoma than adenocarcinoma (p=0.029). We found no association between the frequency of cytogenetic lesions and the incidence of lymphangiogenesis or lymph node metastases in cervical carcinoma patients. Simultaneous hTERC and MYC genes amplification was significantly more frequent in samples of cervical carcinomas than in premalignant lesions (p=0.008). In a cohort of 26 patients with cervical carcinoma we used oligo-based GGH+SNP microarray technique for the high resolution mapping of copy number changes of hTERC and MYC genes. We found that recurrent gain of genetic material in chromosome 3q26 area carrying hTERC gene of size 43.6 Mb between 3q25.1-3qter and duplication of 3q were the most common genomic identifications of amplified gene. In MYC locus array-CGH profiling identified duplication of 8q and trisomy 8 as frequent genomic changes.Our work confirmed that in cervical carcinoma gains of hTERC and MYC genes are specific genomic changes associated with developing of malignant phenotype. We also showed that in premalignant stages HPV-FISH assay can be used as an effective diagnostic procedure to identify patients carrying highly risking HPV infection and chromosomal aberrations associated with this malignancy. KEYWORDS cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, HPV infection, hTERC amplification, MYC amplification, FISH, array-CGH.
odelling crash propensity of carshare members

Carshare systems are considered a promising solution for sustainable development of cities. To promote carsharing it is imperative to make them cost effective, which includes reduction in costs associated to crashes and insurance. To achieve this goal, it is important to characterize carshare users involved in crashes and understand factors that can explain at-fault and not-at fault drivers. This study utilizes data from GoGet carshare users in Sydney, Australia. Based on this study it was found that carshare users who utilize cars less frequently, own one or more cars, have less number of accidents in the past ten years, have chosen a higher insurance excess and have had a license for a longer period of time are less likely to be involved in a crash. However, if a crash occurs, carshare users not needing a car on the weekend, driving less than 1000 km in the last year, rarely using a car and having an Australian license increases the likelihood to be at-fault. Since the dataset contained information about all members as well as notat-fault drivers, it provided a unique opportunity to explore some aspects of quasi-induced exposure. The results indicate systematic differences in the distribution between the not-at-fault drivers and the carshare members based on the kilometres driven last year, main mode of travel, car ownership status and how often the car is needed. Finally, based on this study it is recommended that creating an incentive structure based on training and experience (based on kilometres driven), possibly tagged to the insurance excess could improve safety, and reduce costs associated to crashes for carshare systems. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A mutation in the human phospholamban gene, deleting arginine 14, results in lethal, hereditary cardiomyopathy

The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-cycling proteins are key regulators of cardiac contractility, and alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-cycling properties have been shown to be causal of familial cardiomyopathies. Through genetic screening of dilated cardiomyopathy patients, we identified a previously uncharacterized deletion of arginine 14 (PLN-R14Del) in the coding region of the phospholamban (PLN) gene in a large family with hereditary heart failure. No homozygous individuals were identified. By middle age, heterozygous individuals developed left ventricular dilation, contractile dysfunction, and episodic ventricular arrhythmias, with overt heart failure in some cases. Transgenic mice overexpressing the mutant PLN-R14Del recapitulated human cardiomyopathy exhibiting similar histopathologic abnormalities and premature death. Coexpression of the normal and mutant-PLN in HEK-293 cells resulted in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase superinhibition. The dominant effect of the PLN-R14Del mutation could not be fully removed, even upon phosphorylation by protein kinase A. Thus, by chronic suppression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity, the nonreversible superinhibitory function of mutant PLN-R14Del may lead to inherited dilated cardiomyopathy and premature death in both humans and mice.
The Performative Return: Israeli and Palestinian Site-Specific Re-enactments

In this article Daphna Ben-Shaul explores politically engaged Israeli and Palestinian site-specific re-enactments that pursue what she terms a ‘performative return’. This includes performed aesthetic and political re-enactments of real-life events, which bring about a re-conceptualization of reality. Three contemporary cases of return are discussed with regard to the historical precedent of Evreinov’s 1920 The Storming of the Winter Palace. The first is an activist, unauthorized return to the village of Iqrit in northern Israel by a group of young Palestinians, whose families were required to leave their homes temporarily in the 1948 war, and have since not been allowed to return. The second is Kibbutz, a project by the Empty House Group, which involved an unauthorized temporary settlement on an abandoned site in Jerusalem. The third is Civil Fast, a twenty-four-hour action by Public Movement, which was hosted mainly on a central public square in Jerusalem, integrated into the urban flow. The article draws attention to the fine line these actions straddle between political activism and aesthetic order, and explores their critical and performative effectiveness. Daphna Ben-Shaul is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, Tel Aviv University. Her current research on site-specific performance in Israel is funded by a grant from the Israeli Science Foundation. She is the editor of a book on the Israeli art and performance group Zik (Keter, 2005), and has published articles in major journals.
Pathogen detection from phalaenopsis orchids by using an integrated microfluidic system

Early detection of pathogens in high-value agricultural species is crucial. Therefore. , many methods which can detect agricultural pathogens to prevent economic loss have been developed. Among them. , immunoassays. , nucleic acid hybridization and polymerase chain reaction have been demonstrated to detect pathogens in Phalaenopsis orchid successfully with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity. However. , above-mentioned methods all have some disadvantages including lengthy process or requiring specialized laboratory facilities and well-trained technicians. The current study therefore presents an integrated micro fluidic system for rapid and automatic detection of pathogens in agricultural species. The entire procedure. , including pathogen-specific ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification. , nucleic acid amplification using reverse transcription loop-mediated-isothermal-amplification (RT-LAMP) and optical detection. , can be automatically performed on a single chip within 65 minutes. Moreover. , the detection module can be interchanged between a fluorescent detector and a turbidity detector. , depending on the need of the operator. Furthermore. , the developed system can detect pathogens directly from fresh agriculture tissues such as leaves and flowers of the Phalaneopsis orchids. This is the first time that an interchangeable integrated micro fluidic system for the detection of Phalaneopsis orchids has been demonstrated. Some of the most prevalent Phalaenopsis orchid pathogens. , such as Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) for Phalaneopsis orchids were used in the current study to demonstrate the capabilities of the developed system. It is concluded that this system with dual detection units can directly detect pathogens from crude agricultural materials successfully.
Performance of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome

Objective Central obesity is a prerequisite for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Precise measurement of visceral fat by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been validated. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of BIA in MetS and validate the best cutoff in a large adult cohort. Materials and Methods The study was performed on the MELEN Study cohort—a prospectively designed survey on the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in Turkish adults. The final cohort consisted of 2219 participants. Weight and visceral body composition were measured without shoes in light indoor clothes using a bioimpedance analyzer (Omron BF 510; Omron Corp, Kyoto, Japan). Plasma concentrations of cholesterol, insulin, fasting triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and other biochemical variables were measured. The diagnostic performance of visceral fat measurement by BIA in patients with MetS was assessed. Results Metabolic syndrome was detected in 751 participants (520 women and 231 men with a mean age of 55 [12] years; 34% of the whole study population). Total body fat and visceral fat levels were higher in subjects with MetS. Correlation analyses showed that there were significant correlations between anthropometric and BIA measurements. Receiver operating curve characteristics of visceral adiposity revealed the best cutoff values as greater than 12% for men and greater than 9% for women. The diagnostic performance was good in both sexes (the sensitivity/specificity and area-under-the-curve values were 76%/75% and 0.83 for men and 83%/67% and 0.81 for women, respectively). Conclusions Visceral fat measured with BIA is an easily applicable and useful method for identifying people with MetS. The best cutoff values were higher than 12% for men and higher than 9% for women.
Aging and the liver: an update.

The issue of whether or not liver function is compromised in the elderly population remains unresolved. Numerous age-related changes in hepatic structure and function have been described, but many of these observations are qualitative, were made under suboptimal experimental conditions, or are simply contradictory. Changes in hepato-cellular structural parameters, e.g., increased hepatocyte size, increase in the number of binucleated cells, altered mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum, have been reported. However, quantitative morphological analyses have refuted many of these observations. There are few functional data that correlate with structural changes. Serum and biliary cholesterol appear to rise, predisposing elderly people to increased incidences of coronary disease and gallstones, respectively. The rate of liver regeneration declines in old animals, but the regenerative capacity remains unchanged, perhaps reflecting an age-associated reduction in the response to hepatotrophic factors. This senescent change has important clinical implications with regard to surgical intervention for liver disease, e.g., resection or transplantation. Nevertheless, most outcomes studies suggest that age alone should not be a determining factor in such clinical decisions. Geriatric patients exhibit a decline in the hepatic clearance of certain drugs and a marked increase in the frequency of adverse drug reactions, reflecting an increase in polypharmacy regimens and declines in liver volume and blood flow rather than reduced Phase I metabolism. Although the livers of elderly subjects are characterized by a decline in adaptive responsiveness and reduced reserve capacity, clinical tests suggest that liver function is well-maintained in this age group.
A practical cone-beam CT scatter correction method with optimized Monte Carlo simulations for image-guided radiation therapy

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) has become the standard image guidance tool for patient setup in image-guided radiation therapy. However, due to its large illumination field, scattered photons severely degrade its image quality. While kernel-based scatter correction methods have been used routinely in the clinic, it is still desirable to develop Monte Carlo (MC) simulation-based methods due to their accuracy. However, the high computational burden of the MC method has prevented routine clinical application. This paper reports our recent development of a practical method of MC-based scatter estimation and removal for CBCT. In contrast with conventional MC approaches that estimate scatter signals using a scatter-contaminated CBCT image, our method used a planning CT image for MC simulation, which has the advantages of accurate image intensity and absence of image truncation. In our method, the planning CT was first rigidly registered with the CBCT. Scatter signals were then estimated via MC simulation. After scatter signals were removed from the raw CBCT projections, a corrected CBCT image was reconstructed. The entire workflow was implemented on a GPU platform for high computational efficiency. Strategies such as projection denoising, CT image downsampling, and interpolation along the angular direction were employed to further enhance the calculation speed. We studied the impact of key parameters in the workflow on the resulting accuracy and efficiency, based on which the optimal parameter values were determined. Our method was evaluated in numerical simulation, phantom, and real patient cases. In the simulation cases, our method reduced mean HU errors from 44 to 3 HU and from 78 to 9 HU in the full-fan and the half-fan cases, respectively. In both the phantom and the patient cases, image artifacts caused by scatter, such as ring artifacts around the bowtie area, were reduced. With all the techniques employed, we achieved computation time of less than 30 s including the time for both the scatter estimation and CBCT reconstruction steps. The efficacy of our method and its high computational efficiency make our method attractive for clinical use.