Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Models for psychosocial services in the developed and developing world

Summary. This paper is based on the assumption that psychosocial services can add important mental and social dimensions to the traditional concepts of help and medicine. Peer support which has been established world‐wide for people with haemophilia and their families is invaluable and irreplaceable. However the role of the professional psychosocial worker is underutilized in most countries, mostly because of lack of financial resources. This paper will argue that skilled workers can assist individuals and groups to reach their full potential in a variety of creative and non‐threatening ways. Psychosocial workers have strict codes of conduct and requirements relating to accreditation to ensure accountability in their work. They can work in a variety of individual roles and have a wide range of individual mandates within work settings.
VirB11 ATPases are dynamic hexameric assemblies: new insights into bacterial type IV secretion

The coupling of ATP binding/hydrolysis to macromolecular secretion systems is crucial to the pathogenicity of Gram‐negative bacteria. We reported previously the structure of the ADP‐bound form of the hexameric traffic VirB11 ATPase of the Helicobacter pylori type IV secretion system (named HP0525), and proposed that it functions as a gating molecule at the inner membrane, cycling through closed and open forms regulated by ATP binding/hydrolysis. Here, we combine crystal structures with analytical ultracentrifugation experiments to show that VirB11 ATPases indeed function as dynamic hexameric assemblies. In the absence of nucleotide, the N‐terminal domains exhibit a collection of rigid‐body conformations. Nucleotide binding ‘locks’ the hexamer into a symmetric and compact structure. We propose that VirB11s use the mechanical leverage generated by such nucleotide‐dependent conformational changes to facilitate the export of substrates or the assembly of the type IV secretion apparatus. Bio chemical characterization of mutant forms of HP0525 coupled with electron microscopy and in vivo assays support such hypothesis, and establish the relevance of VirB11s ATPases as drug targets against pathogenic bacteria.
Restitution of Land to New Zealand Maori: The Role of Social Structure

or twenty-five years the government of New Zealand has been engaged in a process of restitution of property to Maori. The first version of the restitution law was passed in 1975; it was very limited in scope and applicable only to grievances incurred post-1975. In 1985, the law was amended to extend coverage back to 1840, thus enabling a multitude of tribes and individuals to file claims. The law provided for creation of a special court, the Waitangi Tribunal, to hear claims, to make findings, and to make recommendations to the government for settling claims found to be valid. Over 700 claims have been filed. Those being given priority are the historic claims of tribes for alienated property, primarily land, but also including fishing rights. This article describes settlements of historic tribal claims to land achieved
Trends in late HIV diagnosis among men who have sex with men in Jiangsu province, China: Results from four consecutive community-based surveys, 2011-2014

Objectives To examine trends in HIV testing, late HIV diagnosis and associated factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Jiangsu province, China. Methods Four consecutive community-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted among MSM from 2011 to 2014 in eight cities in the province. Participants were recruited from MSM venues and via the internet. HIV bio-behavioral surveys were conducted to collect demographic and behavioral data and measure HIV infection. HIV-infected participants with CD4 counts less than 350 cells/uL were defined as having a late HIV diagnosis. Chi-square trend tests were used to compare temporal changes over the years and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with late diagnosis. Results A total of 2,441, 2,677, 2,591 and 2,610 participants were enrolled in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Testing for HIV in the last 12 months decreased over the time period, from 59.9% to 52.5% (p<0.001). Late HIV diagnosis remained high and steady, ranging from 33.3% to 44.2% over the years with no significant change over time (p = 0.418). MSM who were older than 24 years (aOR = 1.748, p = 0.020 for 25–39 years old; aOR = 3.148, p<0.001 for 40 years old or older), were recruited via internet (aOR = 1.596, p = 0.024), and did not have an HIV test in the past 12 months (aOR = 3.385, p<0.001) were more likely to be late diagnosed. Conclusions Our study showed a plateau in HIV testing among MSM in China, in parallel to high levels of late diagnosis. Emerging and innovative strategies such as HIV self-testing and reaching more MSM by internet, both highly acceptable to MSM in China, may reduce late diagnosis.
Early testicular changes after vasectomy and vasovasostomy in Lewis rats

The testes of Lewis rats were studied at intervals from 2 weeks to 3 months after bilateral vasectomy, vasectomy followed 1 month later by vasovasostomy, or sham operations. Aims were to determine the nature of early alterations after vasectomy, and to determine whether vasovasostomy after 1 month would result in reversal of vasectomy‐induced changes. Approximately one‐fourth of the testes in the vasectomy and vasovasostomy groups displayed histological changes, which consisted mainly of depletion of germ cells. The extent of the depletion varied greatly in different seminiferous tubules. In tests altered in this way, no abnormal infiltrations of lymphocytes, macrophages, or other cells were observed in the seminiferous epithelium or in the interstitium. The rete testis and straight tubules were normal in testes with altered seminiferous epithelium. A few testes in the vasectomy and vasovasostomy groups had necrotic centers. The results suggest that depletion of germ cells occurred as a result of shedding from the seminiferous epithelium into the lumen of the tubules. A cellular immune response, such as occurs in experimental allergic orchitis in other species, did not appear to be responsible for the observed loss of germ cells. This suggests a possible role for humoral antibody in this model, since there is an association between testicular changes and serum antisperm antibodies at longer intervals after vasectomy. Testicular alterations were not reversed by performance of a vasovasostomy 1 month after vasectomy.
Impact of concentration of oesophageal and gastric cardia cancer surgery on long‐term population‐based survival

The objective was to evaluate the impact of concentration of surgery for oesophageal and gastric cardia cancer on long‐term survival in the population‐based Eindhoven Cancer Registry area. In contrast to most previous studies, this study aimed to evaluate both surgically and non‐surgically treated patients, to avoid the confounding effect of selective referral.
Physical‐chemical plant‐derived signals induce differentiation in Ustilago maydis

Ustilago maydis is able to initiate pathogenic development after fusion of two haploid cells with different mating type. On the maize leaf surface, the resulting dikaryon switches to filamentous growth, differentiates appressoria and penetrates the host. Here, we report on the plant signals required for filament formation and appressorium development in U. maydis. In vitro, hydroxy‐fatty acids stimulate filament formation via the induction of pheromone genes and this signal can be bypassed by genetically activating the downstream MAP kinase module. Hydrophobicity also induces filaments and these resemble the dikaryotic filaments formed on the plant surface. With the help of a marker gene that is specifically expressed in the tip cell of those hyphae that have formed an appressorium, hydrophobicity is shown to be essential for appressorium development in vitro. Hydroxy‐fatty acids or a cutin monomer mixture isolated from maize leaves have a stimulatory role when a hydrophobic surface is provided. Our results suggest that the early phase of communication between U. maydis and its host plant is governed by two different stimuli.
The correlation of microsatellite instability and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and sporadic colorectal cancers: the significance of different types of lymphocyte infiltration.

BACKGROUND Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are strictly divided into two categories: those lymphocytes in stroma and those in between cancer cells. However, there has been no fully adequate comparison of these two categories, especially analysis in relation to microsatellite instability (MSI). METHODS The materials were derived from patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery in Jichi Medical School and Omiya Medical Center. There were 19 hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) patients who were compatible with Japanese criteria A and 106 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer (sCRC) in either Dukes B or C stage. As microsatellite markers, the global standard five markers were selected. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using the anti-CD3, -CD4, -CD8 and -S-100 antibodies and the results were evaluated according to the degree of infiltration, which was classified into three grades. RESULTS As for stroma-infiltrating lymphocytes (SIL) in sCRCs, severe infiltration was observed in 20% of high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) patients and 12.8% of low microsatellite instability (MSI-L)/stable microsatellite (MSS) patients without a statistically significant difference. In contrast, severe infiltration of intra-tumor cell-infiltrating lymphocytes (ITCIL) was observed in 41.7% of MSI-H sCRC patients and 4.3% of MSI-L/MSS patients. Thus, there was a close correlation between ITCIL severity and increased microsatellite instability (P < 0.001). In examination of ITCIL, patients with severe infiltration tended to show a better survival rate than those with moderate or mild infiltration. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that different factors are involved in the infiltration of SIL and ITCIL. Although there were no statistically significant differences, the cumulative survival rates tended to be higher in severe ITCIL cases than in those with moderate and poor ITCIL (P < 0.09). We suggest that there might be a possibility of ITCIL having a role for a better prognosis after colorectal cancer surgery, which is closely related to MSI.
Monitoring Alendronate Therapy for Osteoporosis

Alendronate is an antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis and results in a decrease in bone turnover. To choose the optimal measurement for monitoring this therapy, the size of the change needs to be compared with the variability of the measurement. We studied 26 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (bone mineral density [BMD] T score < –2.5), who were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive alendronate (10 mg/day) and calcium carbonate (500 mg/day) or calcium carbonate alone for 6 months. We measured serum markers of bone formation (osteocalcin [OC], bone isoform of alkaline phosphatase [BAP], and collagen type I C‐terminal propeptide [CICP]) and urinary markers of bone resorption (cross‐linked N‐telopeptide [NTx], free deoxypyridinoline [iFDpd], and free pyridinolines). All subjects had two measurements 1 week apart at baseline to calculate the short‐term variability. Biochemical measurements were then made at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 25 weeks. Measurements of bone mass were made by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and proximal femur twice at baseline and then at 24 and 25 weeks. The mean difference in change in BMD and markers between both groups at the end of the study that were significant were (short‐term variability in brackets): DXA total hip 4.3% (2.5%), NTX 49% (10%), iFDpd 22% (12%), OC 28% (13%), BAP 31% (13%), and CICP 31% (11%). Five of the six markers showed significant responses to alendronate therapy, but they differed in the relationship between size of response and variability. These biochemical markers performed better than DXA for monitoring alendronate therapy over 6 months.
Synthesis of [(7-Chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]chalcones: Potential Antimalarial and Anticancer Agents

[(7-Chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]chalcone derivatives derived from the corresponding 3- or 4-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]acetophenone were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antimalarial and anticancer activity. The most active compounds 12, 13, 15, 17 and 19 from the 3-substituted series displayed inhibitory values against heme cristallization in the range of 93.14 ± 1.74 – 94.93 ± 1.50 % as an antimalarial mechanism and cytotoxic effect with IC50 values of 7.93 ± 2.05, 7.11 ± 2.06 and 6.95 ± 1.62 μg/mL for 13, 17 and 19 respectively against humane prostate LNCaP tumor cells.
An autoantibody targeting glycated IgG is associated with elevated serum immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Advanced glycation end‐products (AGE) play a role in diabetes complications and in RA. An autoantibody to IgG‐AGE has been shown to correlate with RA disease activity. Thus we sought to analyse serum immune complexes (IC) and AGE‐modified proteins in Caucasians and North American Indians to see if the presence of anti‐IgG‐AGE influenced their composition. Polyethylene glycol precipitation of IC from the serum of anti‐IgG‐AGE‐positive or ‐negative RA patients, and healthy and diabetic controls were examined. Concentrations of circulating IC were highest in anti‐IgG‐AGE+ RA patients, followed by anti‐IgG‐AGE− RA patients, which were greater than healthy controls. IC amounts in the Ojibwe were consistently higher than in Caucasians. Affinity purification of AGE‐modified proteins from IC and immunoblotting with antibodies against Ig γ and μ heavy chains, κ and λ light chains, and AGE Nε(carboxymethyl)lysine and imidazolone yielded similar results: anti‐AGE+ RA patients had elevated levels relative to those without the autoantibody. Levels in both RA groups were higher than in controls. Glycated albumin amounts followed a similar distribution, but were not influenced by the presence of anti‐AGE antibodies. A heavily glycated κ‐chain was present primarily in IC from anti‐IgG‐AGE+ patients. These studies indicate that anti‐AGE antibodies have a direct impact on the accumulation of IgG‐AGE but not glycated albumin, and may block the normal clearance of IgG‐AGE through AGE receptors.
The inotropic effect of cardioactive glycosides in ventricular myocytes requires Na+–Ca2+ exchanger function

Glycoside‐induced cardiac inotropy has traditionally been attributed to direct Na+–K+‐ATPase inhibition, causing increased intracellular [Na+] and consequent Ca2+ gain via the Na+–Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). However, recent studies suggested alternative mechanisms of glycoside‐induced inotropy: (1) direct activation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channels (ryanodine receptors; RyRs); (2) increased Ca2+ selectivity of Na+ channels (slip‐mode conductance); and (3) other signal transduction pathways. None of these proposed mechanisms requires NCX or an altered [Na+] gradient. Here we tested the ability of ouabain (OUA, 3 μm), digoxin (DIG, 20 μm) or acetylstrophanthidin (ACS, 4 μm) to alter Ca2+ transients in completely Na+‐free conditions in intact ferret and cat ventricular myocytes. We also tested whether OUA directly activates RyRs in permeabilized cat myocytes (measuring Ca2+ sparks by confocal microscopy). In intact ferret myocytes (stimulated at 0.2 Hz), DIG and ACS enhanced Ca2+ transients and cell shortening during twitches, as expected. However, prior depletion of [Na+]i (in Na+‐free, Ca2+‐free solution) and in Na+‐free solution (replaced by Li+) the inotropic effects of DIG and ACS were completely prevented. In voltage‐clamped cat myocytes, OUA increased Ca2+ transients by 48 ± 4% but OUA had no effect in Na+‐depleted cells (replaced by N‐methyl‐d‐glucamine). In permeabilized cat myocytes, OUA did not change Ca2+ spark frequency, amplitude or spatial spread (although spark duration was slightly prolonged). We conclude that the acute inotropic effects of DIG, ACS and OUA (and the effects on RyRs) depend on the presence of Na+ and a functional NCX in ferret and cat myocytes (rather than alternate Na+‐independent mechanisms).
Denser and more stable FinFET SRAM using multiple fin heights

Stability and integration density are two important SRAM performance metrics. A well designed SRAM cell has high stability and high integration density. Stability and integration density are competing parameters. Increasing the stability usually requires increasing the width of the access (AC) transistor, which decreases the integration density. SRAM occupies a high percentage of chip area in modern-day chips. Any method to decrease the cell area increases the integration density of the chip, and potentially decreases the cost. Traditional scaling relied on decreasing the device dimensions by 0.7× to decrease the area by 0.5×. In the recent times, as the gate length (LG) scaling slowed down, techniques like thin-cell layouts and Self-Aligned Contacts (SAC) are used to maintain the area scaling trend [1]. We propose an SRAM cell with Selectively-Recessed Shallow-Trench Isolation (SR-STI) FinFET to improve the stability and decrease cell area.
Dietary intakes of women during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract Objective To provide a better understanding of dietary intakes of pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries. Design Systematic review was performed to identify relevant studies which reported nutrient intakes or food consumption of pregnant women in developing countries. Macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were compared by region and the FAO/WHO Estimated Average Requirements. Food consumption was summarized by region. Setting Developing countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean and Central/South America. Subjects Pregnant women in the second or third trimester of their pregnancies. Results From a total of 1499 retrieved articles, sixty-two relevant studies were analysed. The ranges of mean/median intakes of energy, fat, protein and carbohydrate were relatively higher in women residing in the Caribbean and Central/South America than in Africa and Asia. Percentages of energy from carbohydrate and fat varied inversely across studies in all regions, whereas percentage of energy from protein was relatively stable. Among selected micronutrients, folate and Fe intakes were most frequently below the Estimated Average Requirements, followed by Ca and Zn. Usual dietary patterns were heavily cereal based across regions. Conclusions Imbalanced macronutrients, inadequate micronutrient intakes and predominantly plant-based diets were common features of the diet of pregnant women in developing countries. Cohesive public health efforts involving improving access to nutrient-rich local foods, micronutrient supplementation and fortification are needed to improve the nutrition of pregnant women in developing countries.
Exploring values, attitudes, beliefs, social norms and policy preferences towards water reallocation in Southern Alberta

There is an increasing need, in southern Alberta, to reallocate water to meet growing urban and environmental demands and adapt to uncertain future water supply in the face of climate change. Since irrigation accounts for 72% of the water allocated in the SSRB, it is inevitable that reallocation will move water out of agriculture. Public reaction to previous water allocation transfers has been mixed, with opposition based on a wide variety of perceived impacts, ranging from economic to environmental and social. Although the majority of tax revenues that might be used to ameliorate such effects of water reallocation come from large urban centres, non-farm dwellers in more rural areas have significant policy influence due to disproportionate representation in the provincial legislature. As a result, the differing perceptions of non-irrigators along the urban to rural spectrum toward water reallocation policy are of great interest to policy makers. In particular, the values and attitudes that shape people’s perceptions of reallocating water from agriculture to other uses has been theorized to be related to their social and physical separation from agriculture. This paper explores this issue based on findings from extensive surveys of non-irrigators in Calgary and Strathmore.
Novel design of dual-band unequal Wilkinson power divider with wide band-ratios and simple layout

This paper presents the design of an unequal-split Wilkinson power divider operating at arbitrary dual-band without reactive components. Unlike the traditional approaches, a pair of coupled lines is introduced to achieve the dual-band operation. The proposed divider can operate over a wide range of band-ratios. Moreover, the overall structure of power divider can be simplified with small number of transmission line sections using the proposed method. Closed-form equations of the proposed structure are derived based on transmission line theory. For verification, the measured results of a 2:1 power-divider circuits operating at 1 and 2 GHz are given.
Potential applications of nanoparticles in cancer immunotherapy

ABSTRACT In recent years considerable progress has been made in the field of cancer immunotherapy whereby treatments that modulate the body's own immune system are used to combat cancer. This has the potential to not only elicit strong anti-cancer immune responses which can break pre-existing tolerance and help promote tumor regression, but could also induce immunological memory which may help prevent tumor recurrence. In order to ensure effective delivery of immunotherapeutic agents, such as vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapeutic agents and nucleic acids, a safe and effective delivery system is often required. One such approach is the use of multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs), such as liposomes, polymers, micelles, dendrimers, inorganic NPs, and hybrid NPs, which have the potential to combine the delivery of a diverse range of therapeutic immunomodulators thereby increasing the efficacy of tumor cell killing. This review focuses on recent progress in NP-mediated immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
Color‐vision polymorphism in wild capuchins (Cebus capucinus) and spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in Costa Rica

New World monkeys are unique in exhibiting a color‐vision polymorphism due to an allelic variation of the red‐green visual pigment gene. This makes these monkeys excellent subjects for studying the adaptive evolution of the visual system from both molecular and ecological viewpoints. However, the allele frequencies of the pigments within a natural population have not been well investigated. As a first step toward understanding the relationship between vision and behavior, we conducted color‐vision typing by analyzing fecal DNA from two wild groups of white‐faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) and one group of black‐handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) inhabiting Santa Rosa National Park of Costa Rica. All color‐typed monkeys were individually identified. In C. capucinus and A. geoffroyi we found three and two pigment types, respectively, and the spectral mechanism that created one of the two Ateles pigments was found to be novel. In one Cebus group and the Ateles group, all alleles were present, whereas in the other Cebus group only two alleles were found, with one allele predominating. This was likely due to the effect of close inbreeding, indicating that wild populations can exhibit a variety of allele compositions. This result also suggests that the color‐vision polymorphism can be easily distorted by natural factors, such as inbreeding, skewing the population structure. Am. J. Primatol. 67:447–461, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.