Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHITOSAN NANOPARTICULATE AND THEIR APPLICATIONS: A REVIEW

Chitosan has reached a prominent position as the carrier-forming material, as diverse methods can be applied to produce nanoparticles using that excipient. Chitosan polymers are extensively used for the delivery of an active pharmaceutical ingredient. They can form a matrix or membrane that can control the release of a drug over a prolonged period of time or sustained release of drugs, thus avoiding repetitive dosing. Several methods have been developed to produce chitosan nanoparticles, since those have been shown to offer attractive advantages as drug delivery carriers. Chitosan is an effective material for biomedical applications because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability and non-toxicity, apart from their antimicrobial activity and low immunogenicity, which clearly points to an immense potential for future development. This review summarizes the biomedical applications of multifunctional chitosan based nanomaterials in drug delivery and as a support medium for enzyme immobilization.
The role of angiogenesis inhibitors re-challenge in colorectal cancer previously treated with bevacizumab: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE The potential usefulness of angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs) re-challenge in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) who previously treated with bevacizumab has not been established yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS We identified relevant clinical studies through searching databases up to October 2016. Prospective clinical trials investigating AIs re-challenge in metastatic CRC were included for analysis. The primary endpoint was overall survival with secondary endpoint progression-free survival. Estimates of treatment effect from individual trials were combined using standard techniques. RESULTS A total of 2.686 patients with metastatic CRC who previously received bevacizumab were identified for analysis. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that AI re-challenge significantly improved progression-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.52-0.76, p < 0.001) and overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.89, p < 0.001) when compared to non-AI containing regimens. No publication bias was detected by Begg's and Egger's tests for PFS (p = 0.09 and p = 0.32) and OS (p = 0.85 and p = 0.50). CONCLUSIONS Our pooled analysis shows that AIs re-challenge offers an improved PFS and OS in the treatment of metastatic CRC patients who relapsed after a first-line bevacizumab-containing therapy. Further prospective clinical trials are still needed to confirm our findings.
Clinical and Epidemiologic Description of Orofacial Clefts in Bogota and Cali, Colombia, 2001-2015

Objectives: Among congenital craniofacial anomalies, orofacial clefts (OFCs) are the most common. Global prevalence is 2 in 1000 and in Colombia, 1 in 700. Our goal was to describe cleft palate (CP) prevalence and cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL±P) from 2001 to 2015 in Bogota and Cali, Colombia. Method: Using the ECLAMC case-control design method, information was obtained from the Congenital Anomalies Monitoring and Surveillance Programs in Bogota and Cali. We describe the prevalence of cases classified into the following groups: isolated, polymalformed, and syndromic. The proportion of cases and controls was 1:4. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution and Student t test to compare means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: We identified 529 OFC cases and 2116 controls from 448,930 births: a rate of 11.8 per 10,000 (CI = 10.80-12.83). From the total cases, 73% were identified with CL/CP compared to 27% with CP. Males had higher CL±P (59%) prevalence, whereas the highest neonatal mortality was observed among polymalformed cases (7%). The most common anomaly identified among our cases was cleft lip without isolated cleft palate (58%). We found that OFCs are linked to birthweight, size, and gestational age and higher parity with statistically significant differences in all variables compared to controls. Conclusions: OFC is a highly prevalent anomaly in Colombia, with a range of maternal and infant differences across case subgroups. The identification of important OFC subgroups that follow certain patterns of prevalence may prove useful to primary and tertiary care facilities with the goal of reducing further disability.
Increase of Frictional Force of Rubber Block by Uniform Contact Pressure Distribution and its Application to Tire

Abstract The theorem on the relationship between pressure distribution and the frictional force was derived: “The frictional force is maximized when the pressure distribution is uniform, if μ(P)P is convex with respect to P where μ(P) and P are friction coefficient and pressure. ” In order to verify this theorem, the surface shape of the rubber block with the uniform pressure distribution was designed by the optimization technique. The surface shape of the optimized block was dependent on the friction coefficient of contact surface. The optimized block for dry surface increased the frictional force two to ten percent on dry steel and the optimized block for ice surface increased eight percent on ice. The technology of optimized block for dry surface was applied to a tire and verified to be effective for traction on dry asphalt road, maneuverability, comfort and wear.
Weight Stigma Goes Viral on the Internet: Systematic Assessment of YouTube Comments Attacking Overweight Men and Women

Background Anonymous verbal attacks against overweight individuals on social media are common and widespread. These comments often use negative, misogynist, or derogatory words, which stigmatize the targeted individuals with obesity. These verbal attacks may cause depression in overweight individuals, which could subsequently promote unhealthy eating behavior (ie, binge eating) and further weight gain. To develop an intervention policy and strategies that tackle the anonymous, Web-based verbal attacks, a thorough understanding of the comments is necessary. Objective This study aimed to examine how anonymous users verbally attack or defend overweight individuals in terms of 3 themes: (1) topic of verbal attack (ie, what aspects of overweight individuals are verbally attacked), (2) gender of commenters and targeted overweight individuals, and (3) intensity of derogation depending on the targeted gender (ie, the number of swear words used within comments). Methods This study analyzed the content of YouTube comments that discuss overweight individuals or groups from 2 viral videos, titled “Fat Girl Tinder Date” and “Fat Guy Tinder Date. ” The twin videos provide an avenue through which to analyze discussions of obesity as they organically occurred in a contemporary setting. We randomly sampled and analyzed 320 comments based on a coding instrument developed for this study. Results First, there were twice as many comments verbally attacking overweight individuals (n=174) than comments defending them (n=89). Second, overweight women are attacked for their capacities (eg, laziness, maturity; 14/51, 28%), whereas overweight men are attacked for their heterosocial skills (eg, rudeness, annoyance; 24/29, 83%). Third, the majority of commenters who attacked overweight women are male (42/52, 81%). Fourth, attacking comments generated toward overweight women included more swear words (mean 0.44, SD 0.77) than those targeting men (mean 0.23, SD 0.48). Conclusions Our data elucidate a worrying situation of frequent disinhibited aggressive messages against overweight individuals online. Importantly, the patterns of verbal aggression differ depending on the gender of the targeted overweight individuals. Thus, gender-tailored intervention strategies that specifically tackle Internet users’ verbal aggression against overweight individuals need to be developed.
Functional neuroimaging of high-risk 6-month-old infants predicts a diagnosis of autism at 24 months of age

Functional brain imaging of 6-month-old infants with a high familial risk for autism predicts a diagnosis of autism at 24 months of age. Predicting the future with brain imaging In a new study, Emerson et al. show that brain function in infancy can be used to accurately predict which high-risk infants will later receive an autism diagnosis. Using machine learning techniques that identify patterns in the brain’s functional connections, Emerson and colleagues were able to predict with greater than 96% accuracy whether a 6-month-old infant would develop autism at 24 months of age. These findings must be replicated, but they represent an important step toward the early identification of individuals with autism before its characteristic symptoms develop. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits and repetitive behaviors that typically emerge by 24 months of age. To develop effective early interventions that can potentially ameliorate the defining deficits of ASD and improve long-term outcomes, early detection is essential. Using prospective neuroimaging of 59 6-month-old infants with a high familial risk for ASD, we show that functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging correctly identified which individual children would receive a research clinical best-estimate diagnosis of ASD at 24 months of age. Functional brain connections were defined in 6-month-old infants that correlated with 24-month scores on measures of social behavior, language, motor development, and repetitive behavior, which are all features common to the diagnosis of ASD. A fully cross-validated machine learning algorithm applied at age 6 months had a positive predictive value of 100% [95% confidence interval (CI), 62.9 to 100], correctly predicting 9 of 11 infants who received a diagnosis of ASD at 24 months (sensitivity, 81.8%; 95% CI, 47.8 to 96.8). All 48 6-month-old infants who were not diagnosed with ASD were correctly classified [specificity, 100% (95% CI, 90.8 to 100); negative predictive value, 96.0% (95% CI, 85.1 to 99.3)]. These findings have clinical implications for early risk assessment and the feasibility of developing early preventative interventions for ASD.
Research reports

The California Poverty Measure is a new index that improves upon conventional poverty measures. The CPM tracks the full range of necessary expenditures, adjusts for geographic differences in housing costs, and includes food stamps and other non-cash benefits as resources available to poor families. The CPM reveals which groups and counties have the highest poverty rates and whether California's safety net is successfully reducing poverty. The CPM is jointly produced by the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality [2] (CPI) and the Public Policy Institute of California [3] (PPIC).
Denosumab May Increase the Risk of Local Recurrence in Patients with Giant-Cell Tumor of Bone Treated with Curettage

Background: Recent clinical studies have suggested that denosumab is associated with tumor response and reduced surgical morbidity in patients with giant-cell tumor of bone (GCTB). We therefore evaluated the recurrence-free survival rate of patients who had GCTB in an extremity and were treated with surgery and denosumab, to determine the influence of denosumab and clinical factors on the risk of local recurrence. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 408 patients treated for GCTB in an extremity in a single institution from 1990 through 2013. Two hundred and forty-seven patients underwent curettage (intralesional surgery) with a high-speed burr, and 161 underwent resection. Phenol adjuvant was used in 221 of the 247 patients who had curettage. We also reviewed the medical records of 30 patients treated surgically (25 with curettage and 5 with resection) and with denosumab from 2010 through 2013 and compared their clinical results with 378 historical control subjects. The overall minimum duration of follow-up was 24 months. Results: The local recurrence rates were 60% (15) of 25 patients treated with curettage and denosumab and 16% (36) of 222 patients treated with curettage alone. The joint preservation rates were 80% (20) of 25 patients treated with curettage and denosumab and 94% (209) of 222 patients treated with curettage alone. Univariate and multivariable analyses showed that denosumab was the only independent factor associated with a poor prognosis when recurrence-free survival and joint preservation were considered. The overall median duration of follow-up was 85.6 months (interquartile range, 54.3 to 125.1 months). Viable tumor was present in all 30 specimens from patients treated with denosumab. Conclusions: There was a higher rate of recurrence in the cohort exposed to denosumab. Because there were substantial differences in the cohorts and randomization was not applied, however, causation could not be evaluated. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Social Support for Changing Multiple Behaviors: Factors Associated With Seeking Support and the Impact of Offered Support

Introduction. Social support is important for behavior change, and it may be particularly important for the complexities of changing multiple risk behaviors (MRB). Research is needed to determine if participants in an MRB intervention can be encouraged to activate their social network to aid their change efforts. Methods. Healthy Directions 2, a cluster-randomized controlled trial of an intervention conducted in two urban health centers, targeted five behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, red meat consumption, multivitamin use, and smoking). The self-guided intervention emphasized changing MRB simultaneously, focused on self-monitoring and action planning, and encouraged participants to seek support from social network members. An MRB score was calculated for each participant, with one point being assigned for each behavioral recommendation that was not met. Analyses were conducted to identify demographic and social contextual factors (e.g., interpersonal, neighborhood, and organizational resources) associated with seeking support and to determine if type and frequency of offered support were associated with changes in MRB score. Results. Half (49.6%) of participants identified a support person. Interpersonal resources were the only contextual factor that predicted engagement of a support person. Compared to individuals who did not seek support, those who identified one support person had 61% greater reduction in MRB score, and participants identifying multiple support persons had 100% greater reduction. Conclusion. Engagement of one’s social network leads to significantly greater change across multiple risk behaviors. Future research should explore strategies to address support need for individuals with limited interpersonal resources.
Factors associated with dental caries, periodontitis and intra-oral lesions in individuals with HIV / AIDS*

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with oral diseases in individuals with HIV/AIDS. A cross sectional study was carried out which included 312 individuals registered in the Specialized Care Services for HIV/AIDS in three municipalities of the State of Bahia: Feira de Santana, Santo Antonio de Jesus and Juazeiro, Brazil. Socioeconomic-demographic characteristics related to life style and to dental caries, periodontitis and intra-oral mucosal lesions were investigated in patients with HIV/AIDS infection. Prevalence Ratio with 95% Confidence Interval and significance level of 5% were employed for the statistical analysis. The majority of the individuals evaluated were male with a mean age (± standard deviation) of 41.5 ± 11.3 years, and a mean time of HIV infection diagnosis (± standard deviation) of 5.2 ± 4.4 years. The presence of dental caries was observed in 78.7% of the sample, periodontitis in 25.4% and 36.2% showed intra-oral lesions. Oral health status showed a statistically significant association with the following variables: gender, age, schooling level, current occupation, family income, past and current smoking, antiretroviral use time, latest viral burden dosage, latest CD4-positive T lymphocyte count, use of complete/partial dental prosthesis, need for dental prosthesis, and use of dental floss. With the exception of those factors directly related to HIV/AIDS i.e., antiretroviral use time, latest viral burden dosage and latest CD4-positive T lymphocyte count, the factors associated with oral diseases in this population were the same as those associated with oral diseases in the non-HIV/AIDS population.
Early protection to stress mediated by CDK-dependent PI3,5P2 signaling from the vacuole/lysosome

Adaptation to environmental stress is critical for cell survival. Adaptation generally occurs via changes in transcription and translation. However, there is a time lag before changes in gene expression, which suggests that more rapid mechanisms likely exist. In this study, we show that in yeast, the cyclin-dependent kinase Pho85/CDK5 provides protection against hyperosmotic stress and acts before long-term adaptation provided by Hog1. This protection requires the vacuolar/endolysosomal signaling lipid PI3,5P2. We show that Pho85/CDK5 directly phosphorylates and positively regulates the PI3P-5 kinase Fab1/PIKfyve complex and provide evidence that this regulation is conserved in mammalian cells. Moreover, this regulation is particularly crucial in yeast for the stress-induced transient elevation of PI3,5P2. Our study reveals a rapid protection mechanism regulated by Pho85/CDK5 via signaling from the vacuole/lysosome, which is distinct temporally and spatially from the previously discovered long-term adaptation Hog1 pathway, which signals from the nucleus.
Uplink capacity and user association for cooperative heterogeneous cellular networks

This paper aims at studying user association for uplink (UL) transmission in cooperative heterogeneous cellular networks, where small cell sum rate is limited by the backhaul (BH) capacity. The investigated architecture can be modeled as a multiple-access relay channel (MARC) channel where multiple users communicate with a final destination (the macro base station) with the help of a relay (the small cell base station). A network-coding-based MARC, which exploits both the direct and relayed transmissions, is introduced to deal with low-capacity BH. We assess the UL average system capacity for 1) the baseline association based on the strongest reference signal received power (RSRP) in downlink (DL) and 2) the optimized user association chosen to improve the overall network UL sum-rate. Our results show that the network-coding-based MARC scheme achieves significant gains with respect to the pure relaying strategy. We further show that the optimized user association provides significant gains in network UL sum-rate with respect to the RSRP association, for the same sum power constraint and without degrading DL performance, especially when the BH capacity is sufficiently large.
Longitudinal heritability of childhood aggression

The genetic and environmental contributions to the variation and longitudinal stability in childhood aggressive behavior were assessed in two large twin cohorts, the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR), and the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS; United Kingdom). In NTR, maternal ratings on aggression from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were available for 10,765 twin pairs at age 7, for 8,557 twin pairs at age 9/10, and for 7,176 twin pairs at age 12. In TEDS, parental ratings of conduct disorder from the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) were available for 6,897 twin pairs at age 7, for 3,028 twin pairs at age 9 and for 5,716 twin pairs at age 12. In both studies, stability and heritability of aggressive behavioral problems was high. Heritability was on average somewhat, but significantly, lower in TEDS (around 60%) than in NTR (between 50% and 80%) and sex differences were slightly larger in the NTR sample. In both studies, the influence of shared environment was similar: in boys shared environment explained around 20% of the variation in aggression across all ages while in girls its influence was absent around age 7 and only came into play at later ages. Longitudinal genetic correlations were the main reason for stability of aggressive behavior. Individual differences in CBCL‐Aggressive Behavior and SDQ‐Conduct disorder throughout childhood are driven by a comparable but significantly different genetic architecture. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polymer diffusion and the evolution of adhesive bond strength

An attempt has been made to establish the role of diffusion across the polymer interface as a contributing factor to lap-shear bond strength. The assemblies studied were polypropylene/linear low-density polyethylene (PP/LLDPE); polystyrene/polyvinyl chloride (PS/PVC); polystyrene/polymethyl methacrylate (PS/PMMA); and polyvinyl chloride/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVC/PVDF). Initial bond strength measurements were followed by measurements on joints that had been annealed for up to 72 h at temperatures in the range of 60-160°C. Following induction times of tens of minutes where bond characteristics remained constant, substantial increments in bond strength were observed for PP/LLDPE and for PS/PVC but not for PS/PMMA or PVC/PVDF. Results point to a significant contribution to bond strength arising from diffusion when dispersion forces and favorable acid/base interactions act at the interface. The times required to establish the apparent diffusion effects far exceed normal bonding times and may account for the failure of diffusion to be recognized as a significant mechanism in the formation and maintenance of adhesive bonds.
Rule Creation in a Knowledge-assisted Visual Analytics Prototype for Malware Analysis

The increasing number of malicious software (malware) requires domain experts to shift their analysis process towards more individualized approaches to acquire more information about unknown malware samples. KAMAS is a knowledgeassisted visual analytics prototype for behavioral malware analysis. It allows IT-security experts to categorize and store potentially harmful system call sequences (rules) in a knowledge database. To meet the increasing demand for individualization of analysis processes, analysts should be able to create individual rules. This paper is a visualization design study, which describes the design and implementation of a Rule Creation Area (RCA) into KAMAS and its evaluation by domain experts. It became clear that continuous integration of experts in interaction processes improves the knowledge generation mechanism of KAMAS. Additionally, the outcome of the evaluation revealed that there is a demand for adjustment and re-usage of already stored rules in the RCA.