Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The experience and management of HIV stigma among HIV-negative adults in heterosexual serodiscordant relationships in New York City

ABSTRACT Despite treatment advances that have improved the health and life expectancy of HIV-positive people and contribute to the prevention of HIV transmission, HIV stigma is still frequently experienced by HIV-infected individuals and those close to them. This study investigated the types of HIV-related stigma experienced by HIV-negative adults in serodiscordant heterosexual relationships when their partner’s HIV-positive status was revealed to family and friends and their strategies to manage such stigma. In-depth interviews were conducted in New York City with 56 men and 44 women who were HIV negative and had been in a relationship for at least six months with an HIV-positive partner of the opposite sex. Those who had disclosed the HIV status of their partner to family or friends experienced four main types of stigmatizing behaviours: distancing (avoidance of the participant or his/her partner for fear of infection), depreciation of the partner (being told their partner is not worthy of them), violation of privacy (people spreading the information that the partner is HIV positive), or accusations (being told that it was wrong to be in a relationship with HIV-positive people or to try to conceive with them). Participants described four main ways of managing actual or anticipated stigma: secrecy (not disclosing the HIV status of their partner to anyone), avoidance (breaking ties with people who held stigmatizing views), seeking support from their partner or the HIV-positive community (e.g., HIV-related organizations or their partner’s family or friends), or education (informing family or friends about HIV treatment and prevention). Findings show that HIV-related “courtesy” stigma is frequently experienced by HIV-negative people in serodiscordant relationships but often can be managed. Offering support to individuals in serodiscordant relationships can improve the quality of life of HIV-positive people and their HIV-negative partners and potentially reduce HIV stigma.
Increasing secret key capacity of OFDM systems: a geometric program approach

Extracting secret keys from the common randomness of wireless channels has attracted prominent attention recently. Orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM) systems can provide extra randomness in view of the use of multiple subchannels. So far, the secret key capacity of OFDM systems is still an open issue. In this paper, the secret key capacity of OFDM systems based on the subchannel state information is analyzed, and an expression of the secret key capacity is derived under the assumption that the subchannels are independent. To increase the secret key capacity, a power allocation scheme based on geometric program is proposed. Furthermore, an underlying propagation protocol is designed to realize the power allocation scheme. Performance simulations show that the proposed scheme achieves greater secret key capacity in comparison with equal power allocation scheme, especially at low signal‐to‐noise ratio region. Besides, the secret key bits mismatch rate during the secret key generation based on the power allocated subchannels is decreased.
Prediction of Driver’s Intention of Lane Change by Augmenting Sensor Information Using Machine Learning Techniques

Driver assistance systems have become a major safety feature of modern passenger vehicles. The advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is one of the active safety systems to improve the vehicle control performance and, thus, the safety of the driver and the passengers. To use the ADAS for lane change control, rapid and correct detection of the driver’s intention is essential. This study proposes a novel preprocessing algorithm for the ADAS to improve the accuracy in classifying the driver’s intention for lane change by augmenting basic measurements from conventional on-board sensors. The information on the vehicle states and the road surface condition is augmented by using an artificial neural network (ANN) models, and the augmented information is fed to a support vector machine (SVM) to detect the driver’s intention with high accuracy. The feasibility of the developed algorithm was tested through driving simulator experiments. The results show that the classification accuracy for the driver’s intention can be improved by providing an SVM model with sufficient driving information augmented by using ANN models of vehicle dynamics.
Position and pose recognition of randomly stacked objects using highly observable 3D vector pairs

We propose a fast and reliable 3D object detection method that can be applied for complicated scenes consisting of randomly stacked objects. The proposed method uses "3D vector pair" that has a common start point and different end points and it has surface normal distribution as the feature descriptor. By considering the observability of vector pairs, the proposed method has been achieved high recognition performance. Observability factor of the vector pair is calculated by simulating the visible state of the vector pair from various viewpoints. By integrating the observability factor and the distinctiveness factor proposed in our previous work, vector pairs that have effectiveness for matching are extracted and these are used for object pose estimation. Experiments have confirmed that the proposed method increases the recognition success rate from 45.8% to 93.1%, in comparison with the state-of-the-arts method. The processing time of the proposed method is fast enough for the robotic bin-picking.
Staphylococcus aureus Complex in the Straw-Colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) in Nigeria

Bats are economically important animals and serve as food sources in some African regions. They can be colonized with the Staphylococcus aureus complex, which includes Staphylococcus schweitzeri and Staphylococcus argenteus. Fecal carriage of S. aureus complex in the straw-colored fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) has been described. However, data on their transmission and adaptation in animals and humans are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the population structure of the S. aureus complex in E. helvum and to assess the geographical spread of S. aureus complex among other animals and humans. Fecal samples were collected from E. helvum in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, spa typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Isolates were screened for the presence of lukS/lukF-PV and the immune evasion cluster (scn, sak, chp) which is frequently found in isolates adapted to the human host. A Neighbor-Joining tree was constructed using the concatenated sequences of the seven MLST genes. A total of 250 fecal samples were collected and 53 isolates were included in the final analysis. They were identified as S. aureus (n = 28), S. schweitzeri (n = 11) and S. argenteus (n = 14). Only one S. aureus was resistant to penicillin and another isolate was intermediately susceptible to tetracycline. The scn, sak, and chp gene were not detected. Species-specific MLST clonal complexes (CC) were detected for S. aureus (CC1725), S. argenteus (CC3960, CC3961), and S. schweitzeri (CC2463). STs of S. schweitzeri from this study were similar to STs from bats in Nigeria (ST2464) and Gabon (ST1700) or from monkey in Côte d'Ivoire (ST2058, ST2072). This suggests host adaptation of certain clones to wildlife mammals with a wide geographical spread in Africa. In conclusion, there is evidence of fecal carriage of members of S. aureus complex in E. helvum. S. schweitzeri from bats in Nigeria are closely related to those from bats and monkeys in West and Central Africa suggesting a cross-species transmission and wide geographical distribution. The low antimicrobial resistance rates and the absence of the immune evasion cluster suggests a limited exposure of these isolates to humans.
Bidirectional cascaded quasi-Z-source DC-DC converter

This paper proposes bidirectional cascaded quasi-Z-source dc-dc converter (BC-qZSC). Compared to the traditional cascaded quasi-Z-source network (C-qZSN), the diodes in C-qZSN are replaced by active switches with a parallel diode. BC-qZSC has the higher boost ability and the lower input current ripple than those of the bidirectional quasi-Z-source dc-dc converter (B-qZSC). In this paper, the operational principle, analysis, and experiment results of BC-qZSC are shown. Also, those of the voltage-fed B-qZSC in the regeneration mode are shown in order to compare BC-qZSC with B-qZSC.
A Robust Framework for Microbial Archaeology

Microbial archaeology is flourishing in the era of high-throughput sequencing, revealing the agents behind devastating historical plagues, identifying the cryptic movements of pathogens in prehistory, and reconstructing the ancestral microbiota of humans. Here, we introduce the fundamental concepts and theoretical framework of the discipline, then discuss applied methodologies for pathogen identification and microbiome characterization from archaeological samples. We give special attention to the process of identifying, validating, and authenticating ancient microbes using high-throughput DNA sequencing data. Finally, we outline standards and precautions to guide future research in the field.
Reflections of Homeless Women and Women with Mental Health Challenges on Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Decisions: Power, Trust, and Communication with Care Providers

This study conducted in Toronto, Canada, explored the perceptions of women living in homeless shelters and women with severe mental health challenges about the factors influencing their decision-making processes regarding breast and cervical cancer screening. Twenty-six in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted. The objectives of this research were (i) to provide new insights about women’s decision-making processes, (ii) to describe the barriers to and facilitators for breast and cervical cancer screening, and (iii) to offer recommendations for future outreach, education, and screening initiatives developed specifically for under/never-screened marginalized women living in urban centers. This exploratory study utilized thematic analysis to broaden our understanding about women’s decision-making processes. A constructed ontology1 was used in an attempt to understand and describe participants’ constructed realities. The epistemological framework was subjective and reflected co-created knowledge. The approach was hegemonic, values-based, and context-specific. The aim of the analysis was to focus on meanings and actions with a broader view to identify the interplay between participants’ narratives and social structures, medical praxis, and policy implications. Results from 26 qualitative interviews conducted in 2013–2014 provided insights on both positive and negative prior cancer screening experiences, the role of power and trust in women’s decision-making, and areas for improvement in health care provider/patient interactions. Outcomes of this investigation contribute to the future development of appropriately designed intervention programs for marginalized women, as well as for sensitivity training for health care providers. Tailored and effective health promotion strategies leading to life-long cancer screening behaviors among marginalized women may improve clinical outcomes, decrease treatment costs, and save lives.
Computer analysis of filament over-wrapped metallic pressure vessels with an optimum head shape

A simple theoretical approach along with a numerical finite element method is used for designing of filament over-wrapped metallic cylindrical pressure vessels. An optimum geodesic solution, based on a balanced stress condition is presented in this study. A 3-D laminated composite shell element, which includes deformation due to membrane, bending and membrane-bending coupling effect, is seen to be suitable for modelling moderately thick to thin laminated composite shells. Metallic mandrel is also modeled as non-linear 3-D shell element and a 3-D GAP/Friction element is taken to model the contact between two metal and composite phases. Based on filament-winding process the thickness of the composite in cap area is variable and makes a marked changes in stress distribution. Also, the minimum thickness of thin metallic mandrel is determined based on maximum deformation due to internal pressure, buckling under external pressure from composite shrinkage and fatigue resistance during life loading.
Tools for Music Bibliographic Network Analysis

Many metadata repositories have been used to enrich music information retrieval applications, focusing on topics such as recorded music or performance catalogues. We present a database of bibliographic information that focuses on indexing writings on music, containing expert-curated subject terms from a controlled vocabulary, embedded inter-lingual equivalencies of these terms, and links that connect works and terms with canonical reference identifiers. An ontology of these terms, as well as an API to programatically access them, is under development for use in exploring and analyzing musicological bibliographic networks across domains, languages, and cultures.
Inorganic phosphate, arsenate, and vanadate enhance exonuclease transcript cleavage by RNA polymerase by 2000-fold

Significance To understand how RNA polymerase (RNAP) can synthesize or degrade RNA, and how these processes are regulated, it is necessary to elucidate the catalytic mechanisms of these reactions. Catalysis is sensitive to external factors that modulate the rate of polymerization or hydrolytic attack on the RNA. Here we report that a ubiquitous cellular metabolite, inorganic phosphate, stimulates RNAP exonuclease transcript cleavage activity nearly 2,000-fold. This finding represents a stunning example of how simple cellular molecules can reprogram an enzyme’s active center by providing functional groups and suggests an additional important role for inorganic phosphate in cell biology. Inorganic Pi is involved in all major biochemical pathways. Here we describe a previously unreported activity of Pi. We show that Pi and its structural mimics, vanadate and arsenate, enhance nascent transcript cleavage by RNA polymerase (RNAP). They engage an Mg2+ ion in catalysis and activate an attacking water molecule. Pi, vanadate, and arsenate stimulate the intrinsic exonuclease activity of the enzyme nearly 2,000-fold at saturating concentrations of the reactant anions and Mg2+. This enhancement is comparable to that of specialized transcript cleavage protein factors Gre and TFIIS (3,000- to 4,000-fold). Unlike these protein factors, Pi and its analogs do not stimulate endonuclease transcript cleavage. Conversely, the protein factors only marginally enhance exonucleolytic cleavage. Pi thus complements cellular protein factors in assisting hydrolytic RNA cleavage by extending the repertoire of RNAP transcript degradation modes.
Application-Aware Swapping for Mobile Systems

There has been a constant demand for memory in modern mobile systems to provide users with better experience. Swapping is one of the cost-effective software solutions to provide extra usable memory by reclaiming inactive pages and improving memory utilization. However, swapping has not been actively adopted to mobile systems since it incurs a significant amount of I/O, which in fact impairs system performance as well as user experience. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme to properly harness the swapping to mobile systems. We identify that a vast amount of I/O for swapping comes from the conflict of the traditional page-level approach of the swapping and the process-level memory management scheme tailored to mobile systems. Moreover, we find out that the current victim page selection policy is not effective due to the process-level policy. To address these problems, we revise the victim selection policy to resolve the conflict and to selectively perform swapping according to the efficacy of swapping. Evaluation using a running prototype with realistic workloads indicates that the propose scheme effectively reduces the paging traffic, thereby improving user experience as well as energy consumption.
Identification of a common neurobiological substrate for mental illness.

IMPORTANCE Psychiatric diagnoses are currently distinguished based on sets of specific symptoms. However, genetic and clinical analyses find similarities across a wide variety of diagnoses, suggesting that a common neurobiological substrate may exist across mental illness. OBJECTIVE To conduct a meta-analysis of structural neuroimaging studies across multiple psychiatric diagnoses, followed by parallel analyses of 3 large-scale healthy participant data sets to help interpret structural findings in the meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES PubMed was searched to identify voxel-based morphometry studies through July 2012 comparing psychiatric patients to healthy control individuals for the meta-analysis. The 3 parallel healthy participant data sets included resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, a database of activation foci across thousands of neuroimaging experiments, and a data set with structural imaging and cognitive task performance data. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they reported voxel-based morphometry differences between patients with an Axis I diagnosis and control individuals in stereotactic coordinates across the whole brain, did not present predominantly in childhood, and had at least 10 studies contributing to that diagnosis (or across closely related diagnoses). The meta-analysis was conducted on peak voxel coordinates using an activation likelihood estimation approach. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We tested for areas of common gray matter volume increase or decrease across Axis I diagnoses, as well as areas differing between diagnoses. Follow-up analyses on other healthy participant data sets tested connectivity related to regions arising from the meta-analysis and the relationship of gray matter volume to cognition. RESULTS Based on the voxel-based morphometry meta-analysis of 193 studies comprising 15 892 individuals across 6 diverse diagnostic groups (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety), we found that gray matter loss converged across diagnoses in 3 regions: the dorsal anterior cingulate, right insula, and left insula. By contrast, there were few diagnosis-specific effects, distinguishing only schizophrenia and depression from other diagnoses. In the parallel follow-up analyses of the 3 independent healthy participant data sets, we found that the common gray matter loss regions formed a tightly interconnected network during tasks and at resting and that lower gray matter in this network was associated with poor executive functioning. CONCLUSIONS AND REVELANCE We identified a concordance across psychiatric diagnoses in terms of integrity of an anterior insula/dorsal anterior cingulate-based network, which may relate to executive function deficits observed across diagnoses. This concordance provides an organizing model that emphasizes the importance of shared neural substrates across psychopathology, despite likely diverse etiologies, which is currently not an explicit component of psychiatric nosology.
Proteolytic Characterization and Lysosomal Localization of Echinoderm Cathepsin D

Cathepsin D is an important lysosomal aspartic protease and is transported to the lysosomes in both mannose 6-phosphate dependent and independent manner. The present study reports lysosomal transport and proteolytic characterization of cathepsin D purified from gonads of starfish Asterias Rubens. Activity of the purified enzyme was confirmed by a zymogram assay on hemoglobin. Characterization of proteolytic activity on bovine serum albumin and ovalbumin showed that the enzyme cleaves these proteins with high specificity when compared to human enzymes. Lysosomal localization of the purified enzyme in human embryonic kidney cells was studied using Fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated enzyme and anti-goat cation independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor antibody. Primary sequence based studies and phylogenetic analysis showed that the echinoderm cathepsin D is more related to plant aspartic protease phytepsin and may have three intra molecular disulfide linkages. The results show that the lysosomal transport of the enzyme in marine invertebrates is facilitated through the mannose 6-phosphate (m6-p) receptor mediated pathway even though m6-p independent pathways for homologues of the enzyme are also prevalent in higher organisms.
Sensor-Driven Musculoskeletal Dynamic Modeling *

The creation of a descriptive human dynamical model useful in upper-limb prosthesis and exoskeleton control remains an open problem. We here present a framework that approaches model generation from a “sensor-driven” design perspective that explicitly avoids over-fitting parameters and minimally relies on literature values and biological assumptions. We further apply this framework to a simplified dynamical model of the human elbow and verify using synthetic data that the problem of fitting this model to a real system is wellposed. Lastly, we apply the same simplified model to real surface electromyography (sEMG) and contact force data of a single subject. While the dynamical model extracted from this data is biologically nonsensical, the results indicate that this framework represents a viable starting point from which to build more sophisticated fully-recoverable dynamical models.