Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among indigent urban pregnant women in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among indigent pregnant women. DESIGN A serological survey study of indigent pregnant women admitted for labour and delivery. SETTING Harare Maternity Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. SUBJECTS A random sample of 1,607 women, delivering at the hospital during the study period agreed to participate in the research. Serum samples were available for 1,591 women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to HCV using a second generation agglutination assay and a third generation enzyme immuno-assay (EIA). RESULTS Of the 1,591 women tested 25 (1.6%) were anti-HCV positive (95% confidence interval 1.0% to 2.2%). The frequency of anti-HCV positives was associated with maternal age (p = 0.0202) and maternal syphilis status (p = 0.020). Gravidas aged 25 to 29 years had the highest anti-HCV seroprevalence (3.4%) as compared with gravidas of other age categories (1.0% to 1.5%). Women with serologic evidence of syphilis infection during the index pregnancy had an increased prevalence of anti-HCV as compared with those women without evidence of syphilis infection (7.9% versus 1.4%, p = 0.020). There was some evidence (p = 0.094) that a positive prior history of delivering a stillborn infant was also associated with an increased prevalence of anti-HCV (4.1% vs 1.4%). Other maternal characteristics, including hepatitis B virus carriage status, parity, and whether she had received prenatal care during the index pregnancy were not determinants of maternal anti-HCV status. CONCLUSIONS Overall, hepatitis C antibody was detected in 1.6% of indigent women delivering at Harare Maternity Hospital. This proportion of anti-HCV positive pregnant women is similar to estimates published for North American and European women. Factors positively associated with maternal seropositivity in our population included maternal age (between 25 to 29 years), prior history of delivering a stillborn infant, and seropositivity for syphilis during the index pregnancy. Given the relatively low seroprevalence of HCV and the fact that risk factors for HCV infection remain largely unknown, more studies are needed to identify high risk populations likely to benefit from HCV screening and treatment programmes.
Intestinal permeability: functional assessment and significance.

The intestinal epithelium demonstrates differential properties, providing both barrier and transport functions with respect to luminal molecules. Intestinal permeability relates to barrier function and, although it is the ‘permeation’ of molecular markers that is used to measure ‘permeability’, the terms are often confused. Permeability is that property of the intestinal epithelium or of a membrane which refers to the facility with which it allows molecules to pass through by non-mediated diffusion [ 11, whereas the term permeation describes the act of nonmediated diffusion itself. Non-mediated diffusion means the passage of molecules down a concentration (or pressure) gradient without the assistance of a passive or active biochemical carrier system. Intestinal permeability in a clinical context mainly concerns the permeation of molecules with a molecular mass > 150 Da, rather than ions such as sodium or chloride, to which the term membrane permeability is usually applied. In some respects the barrier function shows dynamic properties [2], as shown by the observation that altered permeability induced by hyperosmotic stress is reversible within a few hours [3]. Intestinal barrier function is also affected by disease, drugs, diet, cytokines, hormones or the environment, but does not appear to be much influenced by age, race or hereditary factors. The consequences of impaired barrier function for antigen access [4], which could initiate or perpetuate inflammation, and the potential for non-invasive assessment of disease or therapeutic manipulation, are reasons for the current interest in intestinal permeability. This review is divided into two parts. The first part outlines the nature of the intestinal epithelial barrier and our still incomplete understanding of the pathways of permeation, as well as mechanisms by which permeability can be altered. The second part discusses methods available for measuring intestinal permeability in vivo, the clinical circumstances in which it is altered, and the relevance of clinical tests of permeability. First, a brief history of intestinal permeability is appropriate.
A Review in Image Super Resolution

1 M.Tech Student 2 Assistant Professor 1,2 School of Engineering, RK University, Rajkot, India Abstract— Super resolution (SR) is a class of techniques that enhance the resolution of an imaging system. In some SR techniques – termed optical SR – the diffraction limit of system is transcended, while in others – geometrical SR – the resolution of digital imaging sensors is enhanced. This is a basic need of digital images for higher resolution and quality. Frame alignment is important in SR process. In this paper, basic idea of super resolution image reconstruction and different methods are introduced. We critique these methods and identify areas which promise performance improvements.
Prevención del cáncer cervicouterino: la prueba Pap y la vacuna contra el VPH

La asistencia a mujeres con insuficiencia renal y otras secuelas del cancer avanzado de cuello uterino constituyo, en otra epoca, un componente habitual del ejercicio de la medicina interna. Antes de que se difundiera el cribado mediante la prueba Pap a mediados de los anos cincuenta, la incidencia del cancer cervicouterino excedia de 25 por cada 100.000 mujeres en algunas regiones de EE. UU. [1]. A partir de los anos cincuenta, sin embargo, las tasas de incidencia y de mortalidad del cancer cervicouterino han disminuido de forma espectacular. Su incidencia, ajustada por edades, ha descendido en mas de la mitad en EE. UU. en los ultimos 30 anos, desde 14,8 por cada 100.000 mujeres en 1975 hasta 7 por cada 100.000 mujeres en 2004 [2]. El descenso entre las mujeres afroamericanas se ha triplicado, desde 33,1 hasta 10,3 [2]. Esta reduccion se atribuye sobre todo a la amplia aceptacion del cribado periodico mediante citologia cervical con la prueba Pap, tanto por las mujeres norteamericanas como por los profesionales sanitarios de este pais. Las mujeres acuden a los internistas y a otros medicos de Atencion Primaria para recibir una atencion preventiva. Aunque muchas de las mujeres dependen, durante los anos fertiles, de los obstetras y ginecologos para las pruebas Pap, el internista sigue asistiendo, con frecuencia, a mujeres cuando estas sienten que no necesitan acudir mas a aquellos especialistas. Conviene recordar que las pruebas Pap periodicas son tan importantes para la atencion continuada de la mujer como las evaluaciones periodicas de los lipidos, las mamografias, el cribado del cancer de colon o cualquiera de las demas evaluaciones recomendadas. Este articulo proporciona a los medicos de Atencion Primaria la informacion necesaria para realizar las pruebas Pap en los intervalos adecuados o, si no disponen del equipo necesario, para efectuar la revision pertinente. Asimismo, se suministran los datos necesarios para asesorar a las mujeres con resultados anomalos de la prueba Pap, que precisan colposcopia u otras revisiones. Por ultimo, se resume la
Tracking Deformable Objects and Dealing with Same Class Object Occlusion

This paper presents an extension of a previously reported method for object tracking in video sequences to handle the problems of object crossing and occlusion by other objects in the same class that the one followed. The proposed solution is embedded in a system that integrates recognition and tracking in a probabilistic framework. In a recent work, a method to approach the object occlusion problem was proposed that failed when the object crossed or was occluded by another object of the same class. Here we present an attempt to overcome this limitation and show some promising results. The method is based on the assumption that when two objects cross each other there is not a brusque change of the trajectories. Our system uses object recognition results provided by a neural net that are computed from colour features of image regions for each frame. The location of tracked objects is represented through probability images that are updated dynamically using both recognition and tracking results. From these probabilities and a prediction of the motion of the object in the image, a binary decision is made for each pixel and object.
Psychosis, Affective Disorders and Anxiety in Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Prevalence and Nosological Considerations

Background: This review aimed to find relevant published studies on the co-morbidity of autism and Asperger’s syndrome with psychotic, anxiety and/or mood disorders, assess them, synthesize the findings, present an overview and make recommendations for future research. Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed using several databases. Selected articles had to describe an original study that provided prevalence and/or incidence estimates on autism and/or Asperger’s syndrome co-morbidity with psychotic, anxiety and/or mood disorders. Results and Conclusion: There is conflicting evidence regarding the frequency of schizophrenia in this population. Depression appears to be common, although most individuals with autism do not have sufficient language skills to verbalize changes in mood. Anxiety disorders represent the most common psychiatric co-morbidity in this population.
Comparaison des embryogeneses zygotique et somatique chez la carotte (daucus carota l. ). Identification et induction de proteines de maturation

Notre objectif etait d'etudier la maturation des embryons somatiques de carotte en focalisant notre interet sur l'accumulation, naturelle ou artificielle, de proteines de reserve. Une premiere analyse individuelle des embryogeneses zygotique (de l'akene a la plantule) et somatique (du stade suspension cellulaire embryogene a la plantule) a ete conduite. Une deuxieme analyse comparative entre les deux types d'embryogenese a ensuite ete effectuee. Enfin, differents inducteurs de la maturation ont ete testes afin de trouver des conditions telles que le profil de l'embryon somatique mime celui de l'embryon zygotique. Differentes techniques d'analyse des proteines ont ete exploitees: l'etude des isozymes, des proteines totales par electrophorese monomensionnelle et essentiellement par electrophorese bidimensionnelle, et la detection immunologique ; les proteines majoritaires ont ete caracterisees par microsequencage. Chez l'embryon zygotique, une proteine de reserve de 50 kd, nommee la daucine, a ete identifiee comme etant de type globuline ainsi qu'une proteine de 25 kd, identifiee comme une proteine lea de type rab. Ces proteines ne se retrouvent pas dans le profil de l'akene dans lequel des globulines de 30 et 90 kd ont ete identifiees ainsi qu'une b-1,3-glucanase de 42 kd ; des glycoproteines de 58 kd ont egalement ete mises en evidence. En ce qui concerne l'embryogenese somatique sensu lato, la comparaison, par ebd, des stades de l'expression et de l'induction de l'embryogenese fait apparaitre une discontinuite qui est progressivement attenuee au cours du developpement de l'embryon somatique. Les relations de proximite entre les differents stades ont ete traduites sous la forme d'un arbre non racine. L'eventuel role des auxines sur les phases d'induction et d'expression de l'embryogenese a ete discute. Les embryogeneses zygotique et somatique ont ete comparees par les memes approches. Il apparait que si l'embryon somatique est ontogeniquement voisin de l'embryon zygotique, leurs profils proteiques sont distincts ; par ailleurs, la plantule somatique s'apparente a la plantule zygotique de 5 jours seulement apres passage sur milieu gelose pendant 10 jours. L'accumulation de reserves proteiques ou amylacees a ete obtenue dans l'embryon somatique sous l'action de differents inducteurs de maturation tels que l'aba et le stress hydrique. La daucine, la rab25 ainsi que d'autres marqueurs zygotiques ont en particulier ete induits. Un modele preliminaire de cinetique d'expression de ces proteines a ete propose sur la base de ces donnees experimentales
Effectiveness of the nutritional supplement used in the Mexican Oportunidades programme on growth, anaemia, morbidity and cognitive development in children aged 12–24 months

Abstract Objective To determine the effectiveness of the nutritional supplement developed for the Oportunidades programme on growth, prevalence of anaemia, morbidity and cognitive function of pre-school children. Design In a randomised, placebo-controlled longitudinal trial, children were assigned to one of three experimental treatment groups: Oportunidades food supplement (OFS), powdered milk (PM) and placebo (PL). Treatments were administered daily for 6 months. Weight, height and Hb were measured in all participants before and after supplementation. Morbidity was assessed two times per week for 6 months using validated questionnaires. The Bayley Scale of Infant Development Test was administered at baseline and after 6 months. Setting Three marginal rural communities of the state of Queretaro, Mexico. Subjects A total of 224 children, mean age 22·4 (sd 5·9) months, were recruited. After the 6-month intervention, 186 completed the study. Results No differences were found in the adjusted changes of weight, height or anaemia between treatment groups and PL. No differences were found in the number of episodes of gastrointestinal or respiratory disease, nor were there any differences in cognitive performance between treatment and PL groups after 6 months of supplementation. Conclusions Daily supplementation of 12–24-month-old children with OFS has no additional benefits in growth, anaemia, morbidity or cognitive performance.
Microbial biofilms and wound healing: an ecological hypothesis

Man has lived together with microbes for so long that we have become completely dependent on their presence. Most microbes reside in biofilms; structured communities encased in a protective matrix of biopolymers. Under healthy conditions, the microbial biofilm is in balance with itself (endo-balance) and with the host (exo-balance). Integrity of the skin is an important immunological function. Wounds go through a well-orchestrated series of healing steps. However, if for some reason healing times are extended, serious problems related to infection and homeostasis can develop. Based on recent advances in biofilm research and microbiological identification we discuss two hypotheses describing the role of microbial biofilms in chronic wound biology. The first hypothesis describes microbial biofilms as the cause of extended healing times. The second hypothesis is based on the host as cause of extended healing times and basically treats microbial biofilms as a logical consequence of failure to re-build the integrity of the skin.
Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase Catalyzing Synthesis of Double-stranded Arbovirus Ribonucleic Acid

The large-particle fraction from the cytoplasm of chick embryo fibroblasts infected with Semliki Forest virus was found to catalyze the incorporation of the 5′-triphosphates of guanosine, adenine, cytidine, and uridine into an acid-insoluble alkali-labile product. The conditions affecting the preparation and assay of this enzyme were investigated. The ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase was not present in uninfected cells, and it appeared in infected cells at the time of rapid viral RNA synthesis. The polymerase was found to catalyze the synthesis of a species of RNA which was resistant to ribonuclease and which exhibited the sedimentation properties, buoyant density, and thermal transition temperature of the double-stranded RNA found in vivo in chick cells infected with Semliki forest virus. Attempts to demonstrate that the reaction product of this enzyme also included single-stranded viral RNA were not successful. Although other interpretations are possible, these results give some support to the suggestion that more than one enzyme may be involved in the replication of viral RNA.
Stroke care in the home: the impact of social support on the general health of family caregivers.

BACKGROUND Throughout the stroke rehabilitation process, community care is one of the most important elements. Learning to live with and take care of a family member with a stroke is immensely complex and demanding. Without appropriate support, family caregivers are at risk of their own general health decreasing, thus becoming a patient themselves - the second patient in the family. AIM The aim of this study was to examine aspects of social support available to family caregivers during the first 12-week transitional period following hospital discharge. DESIGN AND METHOD This study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design. Regression analysis was performed for examining the types of social support received and the general health of family caregivers. Open-ended questions were used to gain a better understanding of situation-specific supports including their availability, utilization and eventual satisfaction. RESULTS Findings confirm that home care for the stroke survivor is heavy and demanding. Health-related care tasks were the most stressful. Around 40% of the family caregivers reported somatic symptoms. Fewer persons in the social network of the family caregivers had provided support compared with the number of support people that caregivers thought available. Two inadequate types of support were tangible support and information support. Professional advice and feedback in relation to home care skills were particularly lacking. CONCLUSION Findings of this study affirmed that stroke care needs exceed the hospital boundary. Professional support to family caregivers is essential so as to sustain home care and protect the caregiver's health. This is particular important during the first 12 weeks transitional period after hospital discharge. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE. This study highlighted the implications of social support to nursing practice, especially in predischarge planning and community care. Findings of this study may provide information and data for service planning and community resources co-ordination to support community stroke care.
The sac Mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Reveal Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Control of Cysteine Biosynthesis1

Algae and vascular plants are cysteine (Cys) prototrophs. They are able to import, reduce, and assimilate sulfate into Cys, methionine, and other organic sulfur-containing compounds. Characterization of genes encoding the enzymes required for Cys biosynthesis from the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reveals that transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms regulate the pathway. The derived amino acid sequences of the C. reinhardtiigenes encoding 5′-adenylylsulfate (APS) reductase and serine (Ser) acetyltransferase are orthologous to sequences from vascular plants. The Cys biosynthetic pathway of C. reinhardtii is regulated by sulfate availability. The steady-state level of transcripts and activity of ATP sulfurylase, APS reductase, Ser acetyltransferase, and O-acetyl-Ser (thiol) lyase increase when cells are deprived of sulfate. Thesac1 mutation, which impairs C. reinhardtii ability to acclimate to sulfur-deficient conditions, prevents the increase in accumulation of the transcripts encoding these enzymes and also prevents the increase in activity of all the enzymes except APS reductase. The sac2 mutation, which does not affect accumulation of APS reductase transcripts, blocks the increase in APS reductase activity. These results suggest that APS reductase activity is regulated posttranscriptionally in aSAC2-dependent process.
Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Algorithm for Power Information System Security Level Based on the Internet of Things

With the development of information and communications technology, communication technology has been widely used in the electric power industry and has brought threats to the safe operation of power systems. Things can not only connect people; things can also connect other things. Therefore, the Internet of things plays an important role in power information system security. This study proposes a triangular fuzzy number weight method to calculate the index weight based on the analysis of the existing fuzzy algorithm and the security of a power information system. A fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is established in accordance with matrix theory, statistical theory, and other methods after experimental data are analyzed. Results show that this algorithm can accurately evaluate system status and provide reference for managing power systems. The fuzzy algorithm for power information system security level ensures the safe operation of the power system and promotes its healthy development. This algorithm can significantly promote economic development in China.
Effects of ageing on folate metabolism in rats fed a long-term folate deficient diet.

The present study was focused on the effects of feeding to young (2 mo. old) and aged (30 mo. old) rats either a folate repleted or a folate deficient diet for seven weeks on several markers of folate metabolism. Serum and liver folate contents were determined, and hepatic distribution of folates based on glutamic acid chain length and pteridine ring was obtained. In addition, liver s-adenosylmethionine (Ado Met) and s-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) concentrations, as well as serum homocysteine concentration have been also determined. Ageing itself seems not to be associated with lower hepatic folate content, but in serum a 50% decrease was observed. Feeding the folate deficient diet did result in significant lower (p < 0.001) liver folate content in both age groups, and in marked decreases in serum folates. These quantitative changes in the folate deficient groups were associated with an elongation of the glutamate chain length, mostly represented by a significant decrease in the proportion of pentaglutamyl derivatives, an increase of hexaglutamyl, and appearance of hepta and octaglutamyl folate derivatives. However, there were no important modifications in the pteridine ring distribution regardless of the age and level of dietary folate. In the present study, ageing seems to be associated with a significantly lower AdoMet/AdoHc ratio (65% decrease, p < 0.05), irrespective of the folic acid included in the diet. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)