Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interpersonal Influences in the Scale-up of Male Circumcision Services in a Traditionally Non-circumcising Community in Rural Western Kenya

Promoting male circumcision (MC) is now recognized as an additional, important strategy for the prevention of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men, and plans are underway to scale-up this intervention especially in non-circumcising communities, with generalized HIV pandemic. This qualitative study identifies and characterizes the role of social and interpersonal factors in the scale-up of MC services in a rural non-circumcising community in western Kenya. Twenty-four sex-specific focus group discussions were conducted with a purposive sample of Luo men and women (15-34 years). Peer and youth groups, girlfriends and women, parents, and cultural political, religious, school leaders were identified as key influences in the scale-up of MC services. The study concludes that social and interpersonal forces create opportunities and constraints for scaling up the MC intervention. Planners of MC projects should therefore harness the power of informal networks and social structures to enhance community engagement, motivate behaviour change and increase demand for MC services.
Hyperlactataemia in HIV-Infected Patients: The Role of NRTI-Treatment

Background Long-term treatment with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) can induce mitochondrial dysfunction, most severely represented by lactic acidosis. Diagnostic tests for mitochondrial dysfunction are lacking, although persistently elevated serum lactate might be a surrogate marker. Objectives To determine the occurrence of hyperlactataemia in HIV-infected patients on NRTI-treatment and to evaluate the possible risk factors. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of lactic-acid levels in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients. Hyperlactactaemia was considered mild if between 2.0–5 mmol/l, serious if >5 mmol/l and lactic acidosis was defined as lactic acid levels >5 mmol/l with bicarbonate <20 mmol/l. Possible risk factors, such as current and preceding NRTI-treatment as well as treatment with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or protease inhibitors and concurrent liver disease, were analysed. Results Two hundred and twenty three asymptomatic HIV-infected patients were studied, including 174 patients (78%) on NRTI treatment, 12 patients (5%) treated without NRTIs and 37 patients (17%) not treated. Mild hyperlactataemia was found in 42 patients (19%), from whom 38/42 (90%) were NRTI-treated and the remaining patients (4/42, 10%) received no treatment (χ2, P<0.05). The significant risk factors for hyperlactataemia in the univariate analysis were NRTI-treatment as a group (P=0.03) and elevated ALT (P=0.008). In multivariate analysis NRTI use (P=0.05) and ALT level (P=0.03) remained a significant determinant of hyperlactataemia. Among the different individual NRTIs, a stavudine-containing (P=0.004) and a zalcitabine-containing (P=0.07) regimen were most notably associated with the development of hyperlactataemia, whereas for the combinations of NRTIs, such association was only found for stavudine/lamivudine (P=0.05). Conclusions A correlation between hyperlactataemia and NRTI treatment was found, but the value of routine lactate measurement for individual treatment monitoring remains uncertain.
Definition of the tempo of sequence diversity across an alignment and automatic identification of sequence motifs: Application to protein homologous families and superfamilies

It is often possible to identify sequence motifs that characterize a protein family in terms of its fold and/or function from aligned protein sequences. Such motifs can be used to search for new family members. Partitioning of sequence alignments into regions of similar amino acid variability is usually done by hand. Here, I present a completely automatic method for this purpose: one that is guaranteed to produce globally optimal solutions at all levels of partition granularity. The method is used to compare the tempo of sequence diversity across reliable three‐dimensional (3D) structure‐based alignments of 209 protein families (HOMSTRAD) and that for 69 superfamilies (CAMPASS). (The mean alignment length for HOMSTRAD and CAMPASS are very similar.) Surprisingly, the optimal segmentation distributions for the closely related proteins and distantly related ones are found to be very similar. Also, optimal segmentation identifies an unusual protein superfamily. Finally, protein 3D structure clues from the tempo of sequence diversity across alignments are examined. The method is general, and could be applied to any area of comparative biological sequence and 3D structure analysis where the constraint of the inherent linear organization of the data imposes an ordering on the set of objects to be clustered.
A New Method of Image Fusion Based on M-Band Wavelet Transform

In this paper, a new image fusion method based on M-band wavelet is proposed. M-band wavelet transform domain has its superiority to 2-band wavelet transform domain in energy compaction and direction selection. Considering both the multi-scale-multi-direction information and the correlation property in M-band wavelet domain, an image fusion scheme based on cross-band-window is brought forward. The simulation results in multi-focus image fusion verify the superiority of our proposed method to the method based on 2-band wavelet in both the subjective and objective evaluation
PTSD symptom course during the first year of college.

OBJECTIVES In this study we examined patterns of transition in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms over the 1st year of college. We also examined 2 factors that might predict these transitions: trauma exposure and alcohol involvement. METHOD Matriculating students (N = 944; 65% female) completed assessments of PTSD, trauma exposure, and alcohol use and consequences multiple times in their freshman year. Three symptom classes (no symptoms, moderate symptoms, and severe symptoms) were identified. Examination of transitions from 1 status to another was conducted with latent transition analysis. RESULTS These models revealed considerable variability in the course of PTSD symptoms. The most common pattern was resolution, yet a significant portion of students showed other patterns. Symptom worsening was more commonly observed in the 2nd semester. Trauma exposure had a deleterious effect on PTSD symptom change trajectories, as did alcohol involvement, though less consistently so. CONCLUSIONS Interventions that focus on the timing and correlates of symptom progression may benefit college students with posttraumatic distress. (PsycINFO Database Record
Prostate-specific antigen levels in the United States: implications of various definitions for abnormal.

BACKGROUND The finding that some men with a normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (i.e., less than 4 ng/mL) nonetheless have microscopic evidence of prostate cancer has led to some suggestions that the threshold defining abnormal should be lowered to 2.5 ng/mL. We examined the effect of this lower threshold on the number of American men who would be labeled abnormal by a single PSA test. METHODS We obtained PSA data on a nationally representative sample of American men 40 years of age and older with no history of prostate cancer and no current inflammation or infection of the prostate gland (n = 1308) from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We obtained data on the 10-year risk of prostate cancer death in the pre-PSA era from DevCan, the National Cancer Institute's software to calculate the probability of dying of cancer. RESULTS Based on NHANES data, approximately 1.5 million American men aged 40 to 69 years have a PSA level over 4.0 ng/mL. Lowering the threshold to 2.5 ng/mL would label an additional 1.8 million men as abnormal, if all men were screened. For men aged 70 years or older, the corresponding numbers are 1.5 and 1.2 million. The proportion of the population affected by different thresholds would vary with age. Among men in their 60s, for example, 17% have a PSA level over 2.5 ng/mL, 5.7% have a PSA level over 4.0 ng/mL, and 1.7% have a PSA level over 10.0 ng/mL. For context, only 0.9% of men in their 60s are expected to die from prostate cancer in the next 10 years. CONCLUSION Lowering the PSA threshold to 2.5 ng/mL would double the number of men defined as abnormal, to up to 6 million. Until there is evidence that screening is effective, increasing the number of men recommended for prostate biopsy--and the number potentially diagnosed and treated unnecessarily--would be a mistake.
Domestic violence among ever married women of reproductive age group in a slum area of Kolkata.

BACKGROUND Domestic violence has serious impact on women's health and well-being. A nationwide survey conducted in India observed that 37.2% of women experienced violence after marriage. OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of domestic violence among the ever married women in reproductive age group and to find out the types of domestic violence and factors associated with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was a community based cross-sectional study, conducted in a slum area of Kolkata. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Overall prevalence of domestic violence was 54%, of which 41.9% suffered from both current and lifetime physical and psychological violence. Presence of property, higher per capita income and social support were protective factors against domestic violence, whereas alcohol addiction and multiple sex partners were the important contributory factors for it. The study recommended more social support, awareness and income generation for women in the slum areas.
Morphogenesis of the peri-implant mucosa: an experimental study in dogs.

PURPOSE The objective of the present experiment was to study the morphogenesis of the mucosal attachment to implants made of c.p. titanium. MATERIAL AND METHODS All mandibular premolars were extracted in 20 Labrador dogs. After a healing period of 3 months, four implants (ITI Dental Implant System) were placed in the right and left sides of the mandible. A non-submerged implant installation technique was used and the mucosal tissues were secured to the conical marginal portion of the implants with interrupted sutures. The sutures were removed after 2 weeks and a plaque control program including daily cleaning of the remaining teeth and the implants was initiated. The animals were sacrificed and biopsies were obtained at various intervals to provide healing periods extending from Day 0 (2 h) to 12 weeks. The mandibles were removed and placed in the fixative. The implant sites were dissected using a diamond saw and processed for histological analysis. RESULTS Large numbers of neutrophils infiltrated and degraded the coagulum that occupied the compartment between the mucosa and the implant during the initial phase of healing. At 2 weeks after surgery, fibroblasts were the dominating cell population in the connective tissue interface but at 4 weeks the density of fibroblasts had decreased. Furthermore, the first signs of epithelial proliferation were observed in specimens representing 1-2 weeks of healing and a mature barrier epithelium occurred after 6-8 weeks of healing. The collagen fibers of the mucosa were organized after 4-6 weeks of healing. CONCLUSION It is suggested that the soft-tissue attachment to implants placed using a non-submerged installation procedure is properly established after several weeks following surgery.
An Empirical Study of Regional Mutual Funds’ Diversification Value

This article studies three samples of United States-based regional mutual funds from the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America, to assess whether higher fund diversification translates into higher diversification values to fund shareholders. To measure mutual funds’ portfolio diversification, we implement a modified Herfindahl index. To assess diversification values we employ a methodology that considers Sharpe ratio funds and its correlation with existent portfolios. We found that Asian-Pacific funds are the most diversified, whereas European funds provide the highest diversification value to fund shareholders. The correlation between fund diversification and diversification value is positive only in the case of Asian-Pacific funds. To the best of our knowledge, the relation between portfolio diversification and diversification value of regional mutual funds has not yet been addressed in the literature.
MINSKY E A FRAGILIDADE FINANCEIRA DAS DISTRIBUIDORAS DO SETOR ELÉTRICO BRASILEIRO

RESUMO: Este trabalho apresenta os resultados da aplicacao da Teoria da Fragilidade Financeira (TIF) de Minsky ao setor de distribuicao de energia eletrica no Brasil. Essa teoria permite identificar o risco de as empresas conseguirem saldar de forma sustentada suas dividas em condicoes adversas de mercado. A TIF disponibiliza uma taxonomia que classifica as firmas conforme o nivel de seu risco financeiro. Este trabalho adapta os indicadores e a taxonomia da TIF as condicoes do setor de distribuicao de energia eletrica e os aplica aos dados da contabilidade regulatoria de mais de 60 empresas entre 2007 e 2015. Constitui uma iniciativa original pela sua aplicacao a um setor especifico da economia e tambem a um setor regulado pelo governo. Ha estudos que contemplam essa mesma linha aplicada de pesquisa, entretanto essa literatura tem predominantemente uma preocupacao diferente, de natureza macroeconomica. Os resultados mostram um aumento substantivo da fragilidade financeira das distribuidoras do setor eletrico brasileiro ao longo do periodo analisado. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: fragilidade financeira; Minsky; teoria da instabilidade financeira; distribuicao de energia eletrica; Brasil ============================ ABSTRACT: This paper applies Hyman Minsky’s Financial Fragility Theory (FFT) to analyze the sector of power distribution in Brazil. This theory provides a methodology to classify companies according to the risk of defaulting when facing adverse market conditions. This work adapts the FFT’s indicators and taxonomy to the conditions of the electricity distribution sector and applies them to the regulatory accounting data of more than 60 companies between 2007 and 2015. This work gives an original contribution as the major part of the literature of applied studies in the Minskyian tradition has a macroeconomic focus. Differently, this article analyses the sectoral level and works with a government-regulated sector. The results show an increase in the financial fragility of these power distribution firms throughout the period. KEYWORDS: financial fragility; Minsky; theory of financial instability; electric energy distribution; Brazil
Neurochemical alterations in adolescent bipolar depression: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy pilot study of the prefrontal cortex.

OBJECTIVE Identifying neurochemical alterations in adolescent bipolar depression may enhance our understanding of the neurophysiology of bipolar disorder across the age spectrum. The objective of this study was to compare in vivo neurometabolite concentrations in bipolar adolescents with a depressed episode and healthy adolescents using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS). METHOD Bipolar adolescents with a depressed episode (n = 28) and healthy adolescents (n = 10) underwent a (1)H MRS scan. Anterior cingulate (ACC) and left and right ventral lateral prefrontal (LVLPFC, RVLPFC) metabolite concentrations were calculated and compared between groups using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS ANCOVA showed significant group differences in ACC N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) (F(1,33) = 17.8, p = 0.0002), LVLPFC choline (Cho) (F(1,32) = 13.1, p = 0.001), creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr) (F(1,32) = 18.5, p = 0.0002), and NAA (F(1,32) = 13.6, p = 0.0008), and RVLPFC Cr (F(1,32) = 9.6, p = 0.004), mI (F(1,32) = 11.1, p = 0.002), and NAA (F(1,32) = 11.4, p = 0.002) concentrations. In general, the bipolar depressed group had higher neurometabolite concentrations than the healthy group. CONCLUSIONS There may be localized alterations in brain neurometabolites in adolescents with bipolar depression. Limitations include lack of bipolar adolescents in other mood states and potential confounding effects of prior psychotropic medication use. Confirmatory (1)H MRS studies in larger samples of youths with bipolar depression are needed.
Hybrid Huffman coding scheme for efficient and secured condition monitoring of a substation

This paper aims to monitor a substation from a centralized control station based on the data related to different buses and their secured and efficient communication. The data of the buses in a substation may primarily consist of the bus number, magnitudes of voltage, current, delta angle etc. In order to ensure data security while sending the bus information to a centralized monitoring station, the authors have proposed a hybrid data compression technique where Differential Pulse Code Modulation (DPCM) is first applied on the original data followed by Huffman coding. This results in efficient monitoring of a substation. Moreover, the data compression ratio is also found to be well within the limit. This has further enhanced the data security as well.
The Effects of Catholic Secondary Schooling on Educational Achievement

This article examines the effect of Catholic secondary schooling on high school graduation rates, college graduation rates, and future wages. The article introduces new measures of access to Catholic schools that serve as potential instruments for Catholic school attendance. Catholic secondary schools are geographically concentrated in urban areas, and Catholic schooling does increase educational attainment significantly among urban minorities. The gains from Catholic schooling are modest for urban whites and negligible for suburban students. Related analyses suggest that urban minorities benefit greatly from access to Catholic schooling primarily because the public schools available to them are quite poor.
Travel motivations of first-time, repeat, and serial backpackers

This study explores travel motivations of first-time, repeat, and serial backpackers. Data were obtained through an online survey administered to a convenience sample of Danish backpackers. Using explorative factor analysis on 40 motivational variables drawn from the research literature, the study delineated eight push and five pull motivational factors. Among them, Stimulation, Host-site Involvement, and Nature are the three most important motivational factors. Sun and Beach, Gastronomic Experiences, Recognition, and Volunteering are the least rated motivational factors. Additionally, the study detects differences in motivational factors between first-time, repeat, and serial backpacker trips. While first-time and repeat backpackers only differ on self-actualization and gaining recognition, factors which are rated higher among first-time backpackers; serial backpackers rate eight of the thirteen motivational factors lower than first-time backpackers. Thus, the results support a quest for a more detailed classification of backpackers, instead of the traditional first-time versus repeat backpacker distinction. Implications for academics and practitioners as well as suggestions for further research are provided at the end of the article.
Gallbladder Mechanics in Newborn Piglets

ABSTRACT. The mechanical properties of the newborn piglet gallbladder were evaluated in both the stimulated and unstimulated states. The pressure-volume relationships, compliance, and the estimated active tension of the gallbladder were determined in 10 newborn piglets (2–7 days of age). Agonist stimulation was achieved by administration of histamine (25 /μg/kg/h) and cholecystokinin (CCK) (60 ng/kg/h). Both histamine and CCK increased the intracholecystic pressure at the 50% resting volume from 12.4 cm H2O to 18.9 and 15.5 cm H2O, respectively. This resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the active tension. However, no significant changes were observed in the gallbladder compliance after stimulation. These findings characterize the mechanical properties of the normal neonatal gallbladder. The low magnitude of intracholecystic pressure response to agonist stimulation, when compared to adult data, may explain the occurrence of decreased neonatal choledochal bile flow.
Cysts in a Brunner ’ s GlanD Hamartoma : a Clue to DiaGnosis

(BGHs) are uncommon duodenal lesions, and account for approximately 5% of all duodenal masses (1). BGHs contain cysts on rare occasions, and only a very small number of cases of cystic BGH with accompanying computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) documentation have been reported (2-4). Imaging diagnosis of BGHs is usually a challenge, due to their nonspecific appearance. The presence of cysts can limit the differential diagnosis to cystic duodenal lesions. Characterization of the cysts in BGHs may facilitate their differentiation from other cystic duodenal lesions. Herein, we present a case of duodenal cystic BGH and review the cases reported to date, to determine the differences between the cysts of BGHs and those of other cystic duodenal lesions.
Physiological and psycho logical measurements of emotional state using various types of video content during TV viewing

Using 42-inch plasma screens and showing four kinds of content, we experimentally evaluated the relationship between TV viewers' emotional state and selected physiological and psychological indices. Our results indicated that near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF), representing nervous system activities, are potentially useful indices for evaluating emotional states that include “stressed—relaxed,” “comfortable—uncomfortable,” and “like—dislike. ” Moreover, LF/HF and HR are affected by the complex emotional states of each participant.
Atorvastatin Reduces the Ability of Clopidogrel to Inhibit Platelet Aggregation: A New Drug–Drug Interaction

Background—We observed that the prodrug clopidogrel was less effective in inhibiting platelet aggregation with coadministration of atorvastatin during point-of-care platelet function testing. Because atorvastatin is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, we hypothesized that clopidogrel might be activated by CYP3A4. Methods and Results—Platelet aggregation was measured in 44 patients undergoing coronary artery stent implantation treated with clopidogrel or clopidogrel plus pravastatin or atorvastatin, and in 27 volunteers treated with clopidogrel and either erythromycin or troleandomycin, CYP3A4 inhibitors, or rifampin, a CYP3A4 inducer. Atorvastatin, but not pravastatin, attenuated the antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel in a dose-dependent manner. Percent platelet aggregation was 34±23, 58±15 (P =0.027), 74±10 (P =0.002), and 89±7 (P =0.001) in the presence of clopidogrel and 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg of atorvastatin, respectively. Erythromycin attenuated platelet aggregation inhibition (55±12 versus 42±12% platelet aggregation;P =0.002), as did troleandomycin (78±18 versus 45±18% platelet aggregation;P <0.0003), whereas rifampin enhanced platelet aggregation inhibition (33±18 versus 56±20% platelet aggregation, P =0.001). Conclusions—CYP3A4 activates clopidogrel. Atorvastatin, another CYP3A4 substrate, competitively inhibits this activation. Use of a statin not metabolized by CYP3A4 and point-of-care platelet function testing may be warranted in patients treated with clopidogrel.
Non‐adherence in adolescent transplant recipients: The role of uncertainty in health care providers

Aujoulat I, Deccache A, Charles A‐S, Janssen M, Struyf C, Pélicand J, Ciccarelli O, Dobbels F, Reding R. Non‐adherence in adolescent transplant recipients: The role of uncertainty in health care providers. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15:148–156. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.