Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of human papillomavirus infection among fishermen along Lake Victoria Shore in the Kisumu District, Kenya

Objectives: The epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men in Kenya is largely uncharacterised. We set out to determine the prevalence and determinants of HPV infection among sexually active fishermen along Lake Victoria in the Kisumu district of Kenya. Methods: Genital swabs were obtained from 250 consenting fishermen from 18 beaches and a detailed sociodemographic questionnaire was administered. HPV positivity was determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification and detected by dot blot hybridisation with generic HPV and β-globin probes. HPV positive samples were genotyped using the Roche Linear array assay. Results: Overall, 144 (57.6%) fishermen had detectable HPV DNA, 106 (42.4%) were infected with oncogenic HPV types, with HPV-16 being the most frequent type (12.4%). Among HPV positive men, 105 (72.9%) were infected with more than one HPV type and 20 (13.9%) were infected with more than six different types. HIV seropositive men (PR 1.49, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.86) and those divorced or separated (PR 1.62, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.33) were more likely to be infected with HPV. HIV infection (PR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.47) was the only factor independently associated with infection with multiple types of HPV. Conclusion: The prevalence of oncogenic HPV infection is high among this population and is associated with HIV serostatus and marital status. This community could benefit from enhanced sexually transmitted infection and HIV prevention interventions.
Anticipating Critical Transitions of Chinese Housing Markets

We introduce a novel quantitative methodology to detect real estate bubbles and forecast their critical end time, which we apply to the housing markets of China's major cities. Building on the Log-Periodic Power Law Singular (LPPLS) model of self-reinforcing feedback loops, we use the quantile regression calibration approach recently introduced by two of us to build confidence intervals and explore possible distinct scenarios. We propose to consolidate the quantile regressions into the arithmetic average of the quantile-based DS LPPLS Confidence indicator, which accounts for the robustness of the calibration with respect to bootstrapped residuals. We make three main contributions to the literature of real estate bubbles. First, we verify the validity of the arithmetic average of the quantile-based DS LPPLS Confidence indicator by studying the critical times of historical housing price bubbles in the U.S., Hong Kong, U.K. and Canada. Second, the LPPLS detection methods are applied to provide early warning signals of the housing markets in China's major cities. Third, we determine the possible turning points of the markets in BeiJing, ShangHai, ShenZhen, GuangZhou, TianJin and ChengDu and forecast the future evolution of China's housing market via our multi-scales and multi-quantiles analyses.
Technology in the Sialkot Gloves Manufacturing Sector

This paper uses a unique sample of sports glove manufacturers from Sialkot to develop an index of technological sophistication. The data shows that total factor productivity (TFP) and total revenue productivity (TRP) cluster around their mean levels. The medium-tech and high-tech firms seem to have a higher TFP and LP than the low-tech firms. Another interesting result is that, across firms, the level of retained earnings has a negative impact on TFP and TRP.
Aerobic Exercise Increases Mathematical Ability in Undergraduate Students

Aerobic fitness has been associated with improved mental function, psychological outlooks and decreased stress. Our study looked at the ability of participants to improve in performance on mathematical and memory tests after a short period of aerobic exercise. Participants were asked to bicycle until they reached a perceived exertion of six or seven on the Borg activity scale which corresponds to a moderate to high level of activity. Following the exercise, participants performed a math and memory test. Electroencephalogram (EEG) power data, heart rate, and oxygen saturation level were recorded during the experiment. We found statistically significant improvement in performance on the mathematical test. There was also a slight, but not significant, decrease in the success of the memory test. There was a statistically significant relationship between theta waves and mathematical test accuracy, but no conclusions can be drawn due to the small number of participants, and variable EEG data. These trends showcase there may be a relationship between exercise and math, but more research needs to be conducted to reach a conclusion.
Gene-expression studies in understanding the mechanism of action of lithium

Lithium salts are among the drugs of choice for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Despite six decades of intensive research and an accumulating number of known cellular targets, lithium’s mechanism of action still needs to be unraveled. The evolution of large-scale gene-expression analysis methodologies has provided a promising tool to understand the cellular events underlying the mood-stabilizing effect of the drug. However, despite great improvement achieved in transcriptome studies, findings of genes differentially expressed by lithium treatment exhibit, so far, a low reproducibility rate. This review discusses the different design and data analysis strategies applied in the studies and summarizes the possible reasons for the discrepancies among the reports.
A wideband microstrip two-finger antenna for applications of multi-system integration

A simple two-finger strip antenna with wideband performance and dual-band circular polarization (CP) has been presented in this paper. The proposed antenna is fed by a coplanar-waveguide transmission line. Firstly, to excite a right-hand circularly polarized wave, a rectangular patch is added at the end of the left finger. Secondly, the dimension of the left side of the ground plane is modified in order to excite the left-hand circular polarization. Finally, to reduce the lower resonant frequency, an open-stub is added at the left side ground plane so that wideband characteristics can be obtained. The measured impedance bandwidth ranging from 1.49 to 2.92 GHz covers the operated bandwidth of most commercial wireless communication systems.
Secondary spectrum trading in TV white spaces

In this article, we discuss a spectrum trading mechanism implemented by the spectrum broker in TV whitespaces. TVWS are spectrum frequency bands unused by DTV, interleaved in both frequency and space. Underutilization of these bands results from the fact that the DTV transmission systems now operational in the spectrum from 470 to 790 MHz are multifrequency systems employing high tower and high power network geometries, and must be managed for interference between transmitters. We motivate the use of a spectrum broker, an entity that manages the TVWS secondary spectrum market. Such a TVWS broker's responsibilities include planning the possible broad uses of the available spectrum in the TVWS; packaging the spectrum for short-term disposal through trading mechanisms; serving the broker's customers, with spectrum-leasing contracts; and acting as the port of call to handle interference caused by its customers to the primary DTV systems or between its customers themselves. We discuss the spectrum broker's merchant and auction modes for spectrum trading. In the merchant mode, the base price is decided by the allocation procedure, which considers various factors influencing the value of TVWS in a given place. In the auction mode, the customers' demands and bids decide the final price of the spectrum. We discuss the auction design and show results of the spectrum trading mechanisms, which have been successfully applied in a real-world test scenario in the area of Munich, Germany.
Promoter identification and expression analysis of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli nrdEF operons encoding one of two class I ribonucleotide reductases present in both bacteria

Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli cells have two different class I ribonucleotide reductases encoded by the nrdEF and nrdAB operons. Despite the presence of one additional ribonucleotide reductase, the nrdAB‐encoded enzyme is essential to the aerobic growth of the cell because nrdAB‐defective mutants of both species are not viable in the presence of oxygen. Several factors controlling nrdAB gene transcription have been analysed intensively. Nothing is known about the expression of the nrdEF genes. To study this subject, and after cloning of E. coli nrdEF genes and sequencing of their 5′ ends, the promoter of this operon has been identified by primer extension in both bacterial species. The + 1 position was 691 bp and 692 bp upstream of the translational start points of the nrdE genes of S. typhimurium and E. coli, respectively. Downstream of the + 1 position, and before the nrdE gene, two open reading frames (ORFs) of 81 and 136 amino acid residues are present in both bacteria. The synthesis of a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 9 kDa, corresponding to the first of these two ORFs, was observed by using the T7 RNA polymerase expression system. Comparison of the amino acid predicted sequence of this ORF reveals a significant similarity with glutaredoxin proteins. Competitive, reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments indicate that transcription from the nrdEF promoter normally takes place in wild‐type cells. nrdEF transcription is increased by hydroxyurea, which inhibits class I ribonucleotide reductase activity, in both RecA+ and RecA− cells. nrdAts mutants show a higher level of nrdEF transcription than wild‐type cells at either the permissive or the restrictive temperature. nrdEF expression was unaffected by changes in DNA supercoiling whether caused by the introduction of either topA ::Tn10 and hns ::Tn10 mutations or by the inhibition of DNA gyrase with the antibiotic novobiocin. In contrast to the nrdAB genes, the nrdEF operon is not essential to the cells because nrdEF‐defective mutants are viable under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Life events are positively associated with luteinizing hormone in middle age adult men: role of cortisol as a third variable

Abstract Previous studies have tested the relationship between chronic stress and sex hormones, but inconsistent results have been found. One possibility is that this association may depend on other biological factors. This study examined the relationship between stressful life events (LE) and sex hormones in men, and whether cortisol is involved in this relationship. From a total number of 2906 men who completed a screening for the early detection of prostate cancer, 139 healthy men (mean ± SD age, 57.8 ± 5.7 years) were included in this study. Participants were assessed with the Holmes and Rahe questionnaire in relation to their experience of LE during the previous 1–5 years. Salivary and serum cortisol was measured at 08:00–09:00 h, as well as luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone, epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE). LE weight sum and LE number positively correlated with LH (r = 0.293, p = 0.004; r = 0.220, p = 0.031, respectively). In a multiple regression analysis, LE-sum explained an additional and significant 10.4% of the variance in LH levels, after statistically controlling for the effects of age, waist circumference (WC) and BMI (F(1,90) = 6.61, p < 0.05). Importantly, cortisol interacted with LE in relation to total testosterone. In men with high cortisol values (≥15.4 µg/dl), there was a statistically significant positive relationship between LE number and total testosterone levels (p = 0.05), while LE were unrelated to total testosterone in men with low cortisol. LE correlated with sex hormones, predicting LH values, and in men with high cortisol levels shows a possible moderator effect of cortisol on the relationship between LE and total testosterone.
Wnt Signaling Is Critical for Maladaptive Cardiac Hypertrophy and Accelerates Myocardial Remodeling

The evolutionary conserved Wnt signaling pathway regulates cardiogenesis. However, members of the Wnt pathway are also expressed in the adult heart. Although Wnt-signaling is quiescent under normal conditions, we noticed activation on pathological stress of the heart, such as chronic afterload increase. To examine the role of Wnt signaling on the postnatal heart, we modified the expression and function of the Wnt regulator dishevelled 1 (Dvl-1) both in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Dvl-1 (Dvl-1-Tg) and in cultured cardiac myocytes. Dvl-1-Tg mice (3 months) had severe cardiac hypertrophy (heart weight:body weight ratio: 5.2±0.3 mg/g wild-type [WT] versus 6.4±0.7 mg/g Dvl-1-Tg; P<0.01), an increase in cardiomyocyte size (86% increase in Dvl-1-Tg compared with WT; P<0.01) and marked raise of atrial natriuretic factor expression (12-fold increase versus WT; P<0.01). Hypertrophy was associated with left ventricular dilatation in Dvl-1-Tg and a reduction of ejection fraction (4.4±0.1 mm versus 5.5±0.2 mm, 80±2% and 43±4% in WT versus Dvl-1-Tg, respectively; P<0.01). Transgenic animals died prematurely before 6 months of age. Both canonical as well as noncanonical Wnt signaling branches were activated in the Dvl-1-Tg animals. Small interfering RNA–mediated depletion of Dvl-1 was used to further characterize the role of Dvl-1 in cardiac myocytes. Whereas baseline parameters were unaltered, &bgr;-adrenergic hypertrophic response was abrogated in Dvl-1 knockdown cardiac myocytes, indicating a mandatory role in &bgr;-adrenergic stimulation. Therefore, activation of Wnt signaling is sufficient and critical for the induction of myocardial hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy.
Beck Depression Inventory-II Items Associated With Self-Reported Symptoms of ADHD in Adult Psychiatric Outpatients

The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) and the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale-Self-Report: Screening Version (CAARS-S:SV; Conners, Erhardt, & Sparrow, 1999) were administered to 371 (64%) female and 204 (36%) male adult ( 18 years old) outpatients who were diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders to determine whether any of the 21 items or subsets of items in the BDI-II were related to symptoms of attention deficits and hyperactivity as measured by the CAARS-S:SV DSM-IV Total ADHD Symptoms scale (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] Symptoms). Stepwise multiple-regression analyses found that the BDI-II Concentration Difficulty explained 30% of the variance in these total scores. Ratings > 1 for the BDI-II Concentration Difficulty item were discussed as being useful for ruling out possible symptoms of ADHD.
Autophosphorylation of αCaMKII affects social interactions in mice

The α‐Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII), a key regulator of the glutamatergic synapse, has been implicated in many psychiatric disorders characterized by social impairments. Here we tested whether autophosphorylation of αCaMKII at threonine 286, which prolongs the activity of the enzyme, affects social behaviors in mice. We observed that autophosphorylation‐deficient (αCaMKII‐T286A) mutant female mice showed abnormal social behaviors characterized by decreased social preference and interest in conspecifics of the same sex, as compared to their wild‐type littermates. Moreover, we developed a mathematical approach to analyze social interactions in group‐housed mice in the automated IntelliCages. Using this approach we observed that αCaMKII‐T286A mutants show decreased levels of social interactions in a social group, as compared with WT mice. WT mice increased the frequency of close social interactions when learning about the location of the food reward. This phenomenon was absent in the mutants. Overall, our data indicates that autophosphorylation of αCaMKII affects social interactions.
Positive predictive value of the Becton Dickinson VIPER system and the ProbeTec GC Qx assay, in extracted mode, for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Objectives Performance of the new Becton Dickinson ProbeTec GC Qx assay on the BD VIPER platform was evaluated to ascertain whether confirmatory testing is required in our clinical setting. Methods Positive predictive value (PPV) was determined by comparison with culture and a confirmatory nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)-based Neisseria gonorrhoeae assay from genital and extragenital samples (rectal and pharyngeal) collected from a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. Results Among 14 223 clinical genital samples, 149 (1.0%) specimens were positive using the ProbeTec GC Qx assay, automated on the VIPER platform; 141 of these were confirmed by either culture or a real-time PCR targeting two gonococcal-specific targets (PPV 94.6%; 95% CI 90% to 98%). Among 840 pharyngeal samples, 26 (3.1%) were positive by the ProbeTec GC Qx assay; 13 were confirmed (PPV 50%; 95% CI 30% to 70%). Among 593 rectal samples, 17 tested positive by the ProbeTec GC Qx assay; all were confirmed (PPV 100%; 95% CI 80% to 100%). Conclusions The lower 95% CI of the PPV for the ProbeTec GC Qx assay for genital specimens was >90% in this GUM clinic population, and therefore confirmatory testing for genital specimens is not required. Confirmatory testing of pharyngeal and rectal samples should continue in line with national guidelines.
Global rape: An escalating problem

Sexual and Gender-Based Violent (SGBV) has increased substantially in many countries. This tormenting experience is well-manifested in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of India. In South Africa, it was exposed that the amended Sexual Offences Act has achieved little in curbing high levels of rape crimes. This is because South Africa ranks second following the United States of America with regards to the highest number of rape cases reported to police. The current reality compromises the fight against HIV in the country because about 20% of rapists are presumably infected with the virus. As for the DRC, rape crimes were found to be stimulated by ceaseless conflict. The concept of “rape as a weapon of war” seems to play an influential role in promoting gang and multiple rapes committed by rebel groups. Due to this expanding crisis, the judicial system in the DRC is dysfunctional. Rapists are barely penalised because the government has no capacity to protect women and children who are the key targets. The India experience though helps to illustrate that sexual violence cannot be tolerated. India has introduced the death sentence against perpetrators who brutally rape and murder victims. Although the death sentence is not endorsed in South Africa, more can be done to eradicate high levels of rape incidents. Strong leadership is needed in this regard.
Cytokine‐induced killer cells against autologous CLL: Direct cytotoxic effects and induction of immune accessory molecules by interferon‐γ

Cytokine‐induced killer cells (CIK cells), coexpressing CD3 and CD56, can be expanded from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by the timed addition of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), IL‐2 and OKT3. The effects of CIK cells on primary, autologous CLL cells are described. We used MACS to separate CD3+ cells for expansion of CIK cell effectors and CD19+ targets from peripheral blood of 16 CLL patients. Apoptosis was assessed by measuring annexinV staining in CLL cells. After incubation of autologous CIK with CLL, specific apoptosis in CLL cells was 15%. Coincubation with irradiated CIK cells for 48 hr before adding vital CIK cells resulted in an increased ICAM‐1 expression on CLL cells and an increase in apoptosis of CLL targets (30%). These effects were mediated by IFN‐γ secretion of CIK cells. In addition to their direct cytotoxic effect, CIK cells secrete IFN‐γ that modulates the expression of adhesion molecules on CLL cells, and this enhances apoptosis induction by cytotoxic effector cells. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Price modelling in the Canadian fish supply chain with forecasts and simulations of the producer price of fish

ABSTRACT This research article reports the results of two time-series models defined on the producer price of fish in Canada. An ARMAX model is specified to provide a parsimonious characterization of producer prices and used to simulate price effects from exchange rate shocks. Results show the importance of exogenous shocks, outside the control of fisheries management on welfare/income of Canadian fishermen. An error-correction model is specified to link the price in the first-hand market to the price in the processing market. This model measures both the short- and long-run parameters in defining price, provides estimates on the length of time to regain the equilibrium from price shocks and to forecast producer price response. Interestingly, results show that process price can be considered weakly exogenous with respect to both the short and long run and is the price leader in determining producer price.
Characterization of typical and atypical enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in Kagoshima, Japan: biofilm formation and acid resistance

EAEC is increasingly recognized as an emerging enteric pathogen. Typical EAEC expressing the AggR regulon have been proven to be an important cause of childhood diarrhea in industrialized countries as well as in the developing world, while atypical EAEC without this regulon have not been thoroughly investigated. To investigate the bacteriological characteristics of EAEC, including both typical and atypical strains in Kagoshima, Japan, 2417 E. coli strains from Japanese children with diarrhea were screened by a quantitative biofilm assay to detect possible EAEC strains, resulting in the identification of 102 (4.2%) of these strains by the HEp‐2 cell adherence test. Virulence gene patterns, PFGE analysis and O‐serogrouping demonstrated the heterogeneity of the EAEC. The EAEC strains were classified into two groups: typical EAEC with aggR (74.5%, 76/102) and atypical EAEC without aggR (25.5%, 26/102). There was no significant difference between the typical EAEC strains (median OD570= 0.73) and the atypical strains (median OD570= 0.61) in biofilm formation (P= 0.17). Incidences of resistance against ampicillin, cefotaxime and tetracycline were significantly higher in the typical EAEC strains than the atypical EAEC strains (84.2% vs. 53.8%, 36.8% vs. 7.7% and 93.4% vs. 73.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). The typical EAEC strains showed significantly higher resistance ratios against HCl and lactate than the atypical strains (94.7% vs. 61.5% and 92.1% vs. 57.7%, respectively, P < 0.001). To investigate the pathogenicity of not only typical but also atypical EAEC, further bacteriological and epidemiologic studies including atypical EAEC are needed.
Stable analogues of aminoacyl-tRNA for inhibition of an essential step of bacterial cell-wall synthesis.

A stable analogue of Ala-tRNAAla containing 1,2,4 oxadiazole as a mime of the 3‘ amino acyl ester was synthesized and showed to inhibit FemXWv (IC50 = 1.4 μM), an alanyl transferase essential to form the peptidoglycan network of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. The oxadiazole ring is a good candidate for design of nucleotide analogues which may be applicable to important targets including amino acyl-tRNA synthetases and the ribosomal peptidyl-transferase center.
Prenatal RR fluctuations dynamics: detecting fetal short‐range fractal correlations

Several studies have suggested that the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) during gestation provides indications of the development or maturation of fetal cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we evaluate the existence of short‐range fractal‐like correlations in fetal RR fluctuations data from the second half of human gestation.