Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using an intersectional approach to advance understanding of homeless persons’ vulnerability to disaster

ABSTRACT Too often groups deemed as ‘vulnerable’ are homogenized in terms of their characteristics and experiences leading up to, during and after disaster. Although important exceptions exist, the identities of members of marginalized groups such as homeless populations are frequently homogenized in practice without regard for the intersecting traits and contextual factors that result in unequal disaster and environmental outcomes. This paper explores the utility of an intersectional approach to analyze the complexity of lived experiences within homeless communities during disaster. I use qualitative methodologies, including unstructured and semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participant observation, to better understand the intersecting identities of homeless participants and their experiences during the 2013 Colorado floods. Throughout the paper, I argue for the merits of using intersectional approaches to analyzing the complex lived experiences of vulnerable groups during disaster. The conclusion presents a call for further integration of intersectional analyses into disaster and environmental justice scholarship.
Prevalence and Incidence of HPV Genital Infection in Women

Background: A prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine could benefit adult women if they are susceptible to incident genital HPV infections and are acquiring new infections with vaccine HPV types to which they were previously not exposed. This report presents baseline and prospective data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the quadrivalent HPV (Type 6/11/16/18) vaccine in women ages 24 to 45. Methods: We present the results of an epidemiologic analysis of 3730 women enrolled in a quadrivalent HPV vaccine efficacy trial between June 18, 2004 and April 30, 2008. Subjects were enrolled from 7 countries (Colombia, France, Germany, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, and the United States) through community and academic health centers and primary health care providers. Results: Average baseline prevalence of anogenital infection and/or seropositivity was 32.8% for ≥1 vaccine HPV types and 0.3% for all vaccine HPV types. Incidence of anogential infection with any vaccine HPV type was ∼10.5%. The rate of persistent infection was ∼5% over a 30-month period among women in the placebo arm naïve to the relevant type at baseline. Predictors of incident infection included younger age, marital status other than first marriage, higher number of lifetime and recent sex partners, and Chlamydia/gonorrhea infection at baseline. Conclusions: These findings indicate that women up to age 45 are susceptible to vaccine HPV types and some are acquiring anogenital infections with vaccine HPV types. Future study concerning incident and prevalent HPV infection among women up to age 45 is warranted (Trial NCT number NCT00090220).
The role of museums in learning to teach with a critical lens

The role of museums in learning to teach with a critical lens Sarita Ramsaroop (Received 19 August 2016; accepted 8 May 2017) Abstract This study set out to explore the potential of student teachers learning to teach apartheid era history to learners in the primary school when learning in apartheid museums is blended with coursework. Using qualitative methods of inquiry, the findings show that student teachers learning in museums that dovetail with coursework at the university strengthens their ability to ‘know, think, feel and act like a teacher’. The multiple narratives contributed towards addressing misconceptions, strengthened citizenship and pedagogic content knowledge, fundamentals that can equip student teachers to teach apartheid era history with an informed lens. The study highlights the importance of developing in student teachers investigative skills before and after museum visits so as to ensure that they are not merely consumers but are able to interrogate multiple narratives, resulting in them being active producers of knowledge.
Environmental Sustainability as a Source of Product Innovation: The Role of Governance Mechanisms in Manufacturing Firms

Over the past two decades, since the emergence of the triple bottom line philosophy, the relationship between environmental sustainability and corporate performance has received a lot of attention, but has generated mixed or often even contradictory results. A few recent studies have inferred that innovations are the missing link that connects the environmental sustainability of a firm to other performance metrics; however, the evidence of such a proposition has been restricted to being conceptual or anecdotal. Relying on a knowledge governance approach, this study presents exploratory empirical evidence indicating that the impacts of a firm’s sustainability initiatives on its innovation performance originate from the governance mechanism it uses for sustainability, not sustainability outcomes per se. We tested this research proposition by using a subsample of Global Manufacturing Research Group’s global survey data. Our results support the positive impacts of two widely-used environmental sustainability governance mechanisms (i.e., internal monitoring and supplier collaboration) on product innovation capability. The findings further provide more useful and effective options for manufacturing firms and managers, to establish environmental sustainability governance mechanisms that can be converted into product innovation capability.
Virus-specific glycoproteins associated with the nuclear fraction of herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells

Monospecific antisera to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoproteins gB, gC, and gD were used to identify the HSV-1-specific glycoproteins associated with the nuclear fraction as compared with those associated with cytoplasmic fraction, whole-cell lysates, and purified virions. The results indicate that a predominance of HSV glycoprotein precursors pgC(105), pgB(110), and pgD(52) is associated with the nuclear fraction. Treatment of the nuclear fraction with the enzyme endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H indicated that the lower-molecular-weight glycoproteins are sensitive to this endoglycosidase. These results suggest that in the nuclear fraction of HSV-1-infected cells virus-specific glycoproteins gB, gC, and gD are predominately in the high-mannose precursor form; however, detectable amounts of the fully glycosylated forms of gC and gD were also found.
Numerical analysis of large reflector system used as a ground station antenna

In this paper, we investigate a large dual-reflector (Cassegrain) antenna system, typically used as a ground station antenna in the space communication link. The study includes the blockage effects of the subreflector and the struts on the radiation performance of the antenna, as well as the estimation of the combination to the pattern degradation due to the panel gaps. The large electrical dimension of the reflector (thousands of wavelengths in diameter in the frequency range of interest) makes it impractical to analyze it via direct numerical simulation using the available computer codes. However, the problem becomes manageable if we first use the body of revolution version of the finite difference time domain code we have developed to model the axially-symmetric part of the structure viz., the feed, the reflector and the subreflector, and then modify the obtained aperture field by nulling out the fields in the regions that correspond to the projections of the gaps and the struts in the aperture. Finally, we carry out the numerical integration of the modified aperture field in order to obtain the radiation pattern. Then, by comparing the resulting pattern with the original one, we estimate the effects of the struts and the gaps on the sidelobe level and the relative gain loss. We validate the method by considering, as a test case, a simple reflector with annular ring-type gaps, and solving the problem by using both the direct and shadowing approaches. An excellent agreement is achieved between the two methods, and this serves to validate the proposed scheme
Remote ischaemic preconditioning protects against cardiopulmonary bypass-induced tissue injury: a preclinical study

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that remote ischaemic preconditioning (rIPC) reduces injury after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Design: Randomised study with an experimental model of CPB (3 h CPB with 2 h of cardioplegic arrest). Twelve 15 kg pigs were randomly assigned to control or rIPC before CPB and followed up for 6 h. Intervention: rIPC was induced by four 5 min cycles of lower limb ischaemia before CPB. Main outcome measures: Troponin I, glial protein S-100B, lactate concentrations, load-independent indices (conductance catheter) of systolic and diastolic function, and pulmonary resistance and compliance were measured before and for 6 h after CPB. Results: Troponin I increased after CPB in both groups but during reperfusion the rIPC group had lower concentrations than controls (mean area under the curve −57.3 (SEM 7.3) v 89.0 (11.6) ng·h/ml, p = 0.02). Lactate increased after CPB in both groups but during reperfusion the control group had significantly more prolonged hyperlactataemia (p = 0.04). S-100B did not differ between groups. Indices of ventricular function did not differ. There was a tendency to improved lung compliance (p = 0.07), and pulmonary resistance changed less in the rIPC than in the control group during reperfusion (p = 0.02). Subsequently, peak inspiratory pressure was lower (p = 0.001). Conclusion: rIPC significantly attenuated clinically relevant markers of myocardial and pulmonary injury after CPB. Transient limb ischaemia as an rIPC stimulus has potentially important clinical applications.
Revisiting Email Spoofing Attacks

The email system is the central battleground against phishing and social engineering attacks, and yet email providers still face key challenges to authenticate incoming emails. As a result, attackers can apply spoofing techniques to impersonate a trusted entity to conduct highly deceptive phishing attacks. In this work, we study email spoofing to answer three key questions: (1) How do email providers detect and handle forged emails? (2) Under what conditions can forged emails penetrate the defense to reach user inbox? (3) Once the forged email gets in, how email providers warn users? Is the warning truly effective? We answer these questions through end-to-end measurements on 35 popular email providers (used by billions of users), and extensive user studies (N = 913) that consist of both simulated and real-world phishing experiments. We have four key findings. First, most popular email providers have the necessary protocols to detect spoofing, but still allow forged emails to get into user inbox (e.g., Yahoo Mail, iCloud, Gmail). Second, once a forged email gets in, most email providers have no warnings for users, particularly on mobile email apps. Some providers (e.g., Gmail Inbox) even have misleading UIs that make the forged email look authentic. Third, a few email providers (9/35) have implemented visual security cues for unverified emails, which demonstrate a positive impact to reduce risky user actions. Comparing simulated experiments with realistic phishing tests, we observe that the impact of security cue is less significant when users are caught off guard in the real-world setting.
Antiviral activity of the neutralizing antibodies 2F5 and 2G12 in asymptomatic HIV-1-infected humans: a phase I evaluation

Background: The human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 2F5 and 2G12 were identified to be two of the most potent neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1. In a first human study they have been shown to be safe after repeated intravenous infusions to asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals. However, the antiviral effects of antibody treatment have not been fully analyzed in this first clinical trial. Methods: The aim of the present study was to gain a preliminary insight into the antiviral effects of 2F5 and 2G12 in humans. For this purpose, plasma samples obtained from the previous phase I study were studied for RNA copy numbers by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. As a measure for activation of complement levels of the major complement factor C3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry was used to study T-lymphocyte counts and the amount of infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was determined by co-culture with uninfected donor PBMC. Virus escape from antibody neutralization was determined in vitro in a PBMC neutralization assay. Results: Transient reduction in viral loads was observed in five of seven patients. Vigorous complement activation was observed directly after HIV-specific antibody infusions. The number of infective peripheral blood mononuclear cells was reduced in some patients whereas CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were transiently increased in all patients. Virus escape occurred only against 2G12. Conclusions: Analysis of disease progression markers indicate that antibody therapy may have antiviral effects. These findings suggest that neutralizing antibodies should be further evaluated as an alternative therapeutic approach in HIV-1 disease.
Development of a toolkit for early identification of cauda equina syndrome

Aim To develop a simple cauda equina syndrome (CES) toolkit to facilitate the subjective examination of low back pain patients potentially at risk of CES. To undertake preliminary validation of the content of the toolkit. Background CES is a rare condition which can be very challenging to identify in a generalist medical setting. Method A three phase iterative design with two stake holder groups; extended scope practitioners experienced in managing CES patients and CES sufferers. Toolkit development Synthesis of existing CES literature with CES patient data generated from in depth interviews. Toolkit validation Content validation of the draft toolkit with CES patients. Toolkit validation Content validation of the draft toolkit with extended scope physiotherapists. Findings A three arm toolkit has been developed for use with patients considered by the clinician as at risk of developing CES (eg, worsening low back pain with symptoms/signs of progressive sensory-motor deficit in the lower limbs); patient expertise, clinical expertise, research and pathways. Uniquely, the toolkit drew upon the lived experiences of patients suffering from CES to inform the content.
The effect of cidofovir on cytomegalovirus-induced hearing loss in a Guinea pig model.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the utility of therapy with the cyclic cogener of the anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) agent cidofovir against CMV-induced hearing loss in a guinea pig model. DESIGN Thirty-six guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups of 9. All groups underwent auditory brainstem response testing on days 0, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Group 1 received no intervention. Group 2 underwent sham surgery consisting of unilateral round window injection of 25 microL of sterile viral media on day 0. Groups 3 and 4 underwent round window injection of 1.7 x 10(5) plaque-forming units of guinea pig CMV on day 0. Group 4 received antiviral treatment with intraperitoneal injection of cidofovir (20 mg/kg) on days 1 and 5 after inoculation. SETTING An animal research facility. SUBJECTS Thirty-six weanling Hartley guinea pigs. RESULTS Of the animals who received guinea pig CMV and no cidofovir treatment, 4 of 9 (day 4) and 5 of 9 (days 7 and 28) demonstrated a hearing loss of at least 30 dB. In contrast, none of the animals in the untreated, sham surgery, or cidofovir-treated groups had a hearing loss of greater than 20 dB. This difference was statistically significant for day 4 (P = .04, 1-tailed Fisher exact test), day 7 (P = .01), and day 28 (P = .01). Histologic evaluation of hearing-impaired animals revealed inflammatory infiltrates, particularly in the scala tympani. Fibrosis of the basal turn of the cochlea was observed in 7 of 9 untreated animals and 1 of 9 treated animals. CONCLUSION Cidofovir therapy prevents CMV-induced hearing loss and associated histologic changes in guinea pigs.
Compact All-Quantum-Dot-Based Tunable THz Laser Source

We demonstrate an ultracompact, room temperature, tunable terahertz (THz) generating laser source based on difference-frequency-driven photomixing in a coplanar stripline InAs/GaAs quantum-dot (QD) antenna pumped by a broadly tunable, high power, continuous wave InAs/GaAs QD laser diode in the double-grating quasi-Littrow configuration. The dual-wavelength QD laser operating in the 1150– 1301 nm wavelength region with a maximum output power of 280 mW and with tunable difference-frequency (277 GHz to 30 THz) was used to achieve tunable THz generation in the QD antenna with a photoconductive gap of 50 μm. The best THz output performance was observed at pump wavelengths around the first excited state of the InAs/GaAs QDs (∼1160 nm), where a maximum output power of 0.6 nW at 0.83 THz was demonstrated.
Choosing the Base Curve for an Ophthalmic Lens

&NA; Although optometrists can be expected to be responsible for the base curve, which determines the form of the lens they prescribe, they seldom specify the base curve to the optical laboratory. They may ask for a corrected‐curve lens without specifying the kind of corrected‐curve lens. If optometrists were to specify what they want in terms of a convex spherical base curve and allow the laboratory a leeway of ± 1.00 D, the laboratory could probably fill the order with an uncut lens from stock. With a series of semifinished lenses with convex spherical base curves spaced 2.00 D apart, the laboratory can supply a finished lens that will meet almost any need. For glasses to be used for distant objects, first consideration is usually given to minimizing the unwanted sphere and cylinder in the periphery of the lenses. For those who want to aim at this objective, I have worked out a series of convex spherical base curves that can be used for various combinations of spheres and cylinders.
The Influence of SME Owners's Education on Their Perception of Business Environment in Czech Republic

DOI: 10.14254/2071789X.2017/10-3/22 ABSTRACT. The aim of this article is to find out how SME owners in Czech Republic perceive the role of the state and whether this perception differs according to their level of education. In the course of this project managers or owners of small and medium enterprises were asked to answer the questions about business environment. The following three variables influencing business environment had been chosen: conditions for starting a business, state financial support for business, improving conditions for business in a longer-term pespective. For each of the answers, ordinal mean values were searched for, and discrete ordinal variances were calculated. In order to test for the dependencies, Pearson's Chi-squared test was applied. It was found that the lower education the businesspersons have, the higher is their satisfaction with the role of the state in the business environment of Czech Republic. Better-educated businesspersons are more aware of administrative obstructions when starting a business. Majority of SMEs were not satisfied with the financial support for businesses provided the state.
Effect of changing antiretroviral treatment eligibility criteria on patient load in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract In many resource-poor countries, CD4 count thresholds of eligibility for antiretroviral treatment (ART) were initially low (<200 cells/mm3) but are now being increased to improve patient survival and to reduce HIV transmission. There are few quantitative data on the effect of such increases on the demand for ART. The objective of this study was to measure HIV prevalence and the proportion of HIV-positives eligible for antiretroviral therapy at different CD4 cut-off levels among users of public health care services in Kampala, Uganda. We recruited 1200 adults from three primary care clinics in Kampala, including equal numbers of family planning (FP) clients, pregnant women, adult patients with any complaint, and persons seeking HIV counseling and testing. All participants were screened for HIV and those positive had a CD4 count done. HIV prevalence in all patients was 16.9% (203/1200). ART eligibility based on CD4 counts significantly increased from 36% at a 200 cells/mm3 cut-off to 44% at 250 cells and to 57% at 350 cells cut-off (p for χ2 trend<0.001). We concluded that changing cut-off levels to higher CD4 counts will significantly increase patient load in Kampala's primary care clinics, but a phased implementation should minimize negative effects on quality of care.
Cytosol protein kinase C downregulation in fibroblasts from Alzheimer's disease patients

We attempted to determine whether changes in protein kinase C (PKC) activity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains are also present in cultured skin fibroblasts from living patients. Biopsies collected from shoulder skin were transferred to culture plates with an appropriate growth medium, and histone-directed PKC activity as well as phorbol ester binding were individually determined in soluble and particulate fractions prepared from AD and non-AD fibroblast cell lines. Binding experiments indicated that PKC was unevenly distributed between cytosol (78%) and particulate (22%). The Bmax values for phorbol ester binding in soluble and particulate fractions were similar in AD and non-AD patients. Kd values in the cytosol were 94% higher in AD patients, indicating lower affinity of the enzyme for the ligand. Accordingly, the soluble PKC activity was 30% lower in AD patients. The data suggest that the changes in PKC phosphorylating activity represent a diffuse cellular defect in AD and are not confined to the brain. The alterations of the enzyme may participate in the disregulation in processing of β-amyloid precursor protein in AD.
Uncertainty About QE Effects When an Interest Rate Peg is Anticipated

After hitting the lower bound on interest rates, the Eurosystem engaged in a public sector purchase programme (PSPP) and forward guidance (FG). We use prior and posterior predictive analysis to evaluate the importance of parameter uncertainty in an analysis of these policies. We model FG as an anticipated temporary interest rate peg. The degree of parameter uncertainty is considerable and increasing in the length of FG. The probability of being able to reset prices and wages is the most important factor driving uncertainty about inflation. In contrast, variations in financial intermediaries' net worth adjustment costs have little impact on in ation outcomes.
Newly Emerging Mutations in the Matrix Genes of the Human Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) Viruses Reduce the Detection Sensitivity of Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR

ABSTRACT New variants of the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses were detected in Taiwan between 2012 and 2013. Some of these variants were not detected in clinical specimens using a common real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay that targeted the conserved regions of the viral matrix (M) genes. An analysis of the M gene sequences of the new variants revealed that several newly emerging mutations were located in the regions where the primers or probes of the real-time RT-PCR assay bind; these included three mutations (G225A, T228C, and G238A) in the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, as well as one mutation (C163T) in the A(H3N2) virus. These accumulated mismatch mutations, together with the previously identified C154T mutation of the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus and the C153T and G189T mutations of the A(H3N2) virus, result in a reduced detection sensitivity for the real-time RT-PCR assay. To overcome the loss of assay sensitivity due to mismatch mutations, we established a real-time RT-PCR assay using degenerate nucleotide bases in both the primers and probe and successfully increased the sensitivity of the assay to detect circulating variants of the human influenza A viruses. Our observations highlight the importance of the simultaneous use of different gene-targeting real-time RT-PCR assays for the clinical diagnosis of influenza.