Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PrEP: A case study

PurposeThe purpose of this case study is to present information and raise awareness about the provision of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to those individuals who are at risk for HIV infection. Data sourcesPubMed, CINAHL, government websites, press releases, and the author's clinical experiences. ConclusionsPrEP is the latest tool available for HIV prevention that has been approved by the FDA. It involves taking the HIV medication TDF/FTC on a daily basis. Documented side effects are minimal but renal monitoring is recommended because of possible kidney damage. PrEP may provide as much as 90% protection against HIV infection, but this is dependent upon patient compliance. Implications for practiceNurse practitioners are in an ideal position to be the gatekeepers for information and access to PrEP. However, this requires that they engage in thorough risk assessments with their patients. This includes both a comprehensive sexual history and drug use history. The case study demonstrates the importance of intervention in and recognition of high‐risk stigmatized populations such as transgender individuals and that prompt action may prevent future HIV infections.
The CD 4 / CD 8 Lineage Choice : New Insights into Epigenetic Regulation during T Cell Development

Differentiation of progenitor cells into various progeny with distinct functional properties is achieved by the regulated activation and silencing of batteries of genes. The final differentiated state is thus defined by the expression pattern of these genes, which is heritably maintained as cells undergo subsequent cell divisions. Hematopoiesis offers an ideal developmental system to study how progenitors differentiate into cells of distinct lineage and function and how differentiated states are then stably maintained. A series of transcription factors required for differentiation of erythroid, myeloid, and lymphocyte lineages have been described (Cantor and Orkin, 2001; Singh et al., 1999). Within the lymphoid lineages, activation of the Notch signaling pathway in the thymus favors T cell development, at the expense of B lymphocytes (Izon et al., 2002). This is followed by a series of developmental choices as thymocytes differentiate into T cells with distinct antigen recognition properties and effector functions. Differentiation of thymocytes and their subsequent selection results in export to peripheral secondary lymphoid organs of a large variety of cells: CD4þ T helper cells (Th), CD8 þ cytotoxic cells (CTL or Tc), CD4 þ regulatory or suppressor cells (Treg), CD8 þ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), NKT cells with restricted T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoires, and other T cells with restricted TCRs that localize to various peripheral organs and mucosal regions. The molecular events leading to the differentiation of each of these lineages remain largely unexplored. Expression of the CD4 and CD8 glycoproteins defines the major lineages of T lymphocyes, and is coupled to the transcriptional programs that characterize the helper and cytotoxic lineages, respectively (Killeen and Littman, 1996). Regulation of expression of the genes encoding these coreceptor molecules has been studied in some detail, with the expectation that such studies could elucidate the mechanisms involved in lineage commitment and establishment of differentiated states. These studies have revealed a complex network of positive regulatory elements in both genes, as well as an extensively characterized negative regulatory region within
Industrial Tomography Applications

The technique of computerized photon tomography has been applied in the nondestructive evaluation of a number of inanimate objects. 1,2,3 Hardware and software capabilities for industrial tomographic analysis, particularly of high-density objects, have been developed. Spatial resolution is on the order of 1-2mm for density variations of a few percent.
Optimal Scheduling of Cascaded Hydrothermal Systems Using a New Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Technique

Optimum scheduling of hydrothermal plants generation is of great importance to electric utilities. Many evolutionary techniques such as particle swarm optimization, differential evolution have been applied to solve these problems and found to perform in a better way in comparison with conventional optimization methods. But often these methods converge to a sub-optimal solution prematurely. This paper presents a new improved particle swarm optimization technique called self-organizing hierarchical particle swarm optimization technique with time-varying acceleration coefficients (SOHPSO_TVAC) for solving short-term economic generation scheduling of hydrothermal systems to avoid premature convergence. A multi-reservoir cascaded hydrothermal system with nonlinear relationship between water discharge rate, power generation and net head is considered here. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated on two test systems comprising of hydro and thermal units. The results obtained by the proposed methods are compared with other methods. The results show that the proposed technique is capable of producing better results.
The Behavior of Leaders

WILL greatly increase our understanding of leadership phenomena if we abandon the notion of "leadership" as a trait, and concentrate instead upon an analysis of the behavior of leaders. It is not easy to accomplish this shift in viewpoint, for our ways of thinking about "leadership" have been encumbered by many beliefs not in accord with be havioral facts. The problem is further exacerbated because "leadership" is a value-laden concept charged with much emotion. To be a leader is "good"; not to lead is "bad" so each of us fancies himself a leader. We consequently have tended to use ""leadership" primarily as a slogan, not as a strictly scientific concept. But even our gains from the use of this term as a rallying cry have been short lived and spurious because we inevitably have been plagued by the fuzziness of our definitions. Hence, in the present context we first shall examine the defini tional problem, noting the strategic ad vantage of studying leader behavior as distinguished from "leadership" per se; and shall then describe two leader be havior skills that clearly characterize "effective" leaders, and comment on their pertinence for teachers.
GIS-Based Approach to Construct a Plan and Reconstruction Software of County Distribution Grids

Power grid construction is based on the county distribution grid planning. Scientific and reasonable planning is useful for the safe and economical running of county distribution grids. According to the demand analysis to the actual grids, a planning and reconstructing software of the county power grids is developed based on GIS (Geography Information System), where power information and geographic information of the grids are integrated. The general structure of the software is described in this paper. The GIS technology used in the software is instructed in detail. The important function modules and solutions are discussed. Finally, a real planning example is shown for the development requirement of one county power grid in Hebei Province. The actual trial shows that the software can be used to provide scientific, reasonable and efficient planning scheme of the county distribution grids, which is significant to construct intelligent, safe and economical power systems.
Social support satisfaction in adults with eating disorders: Does stance matter?

Although the role of social support is clearly established in the recovery of youth with eating disorders, little is known about factors that contribute to support satisfaction and improved treatment outcome in adults. This study examined the contribution of patient factors and perceived support stance used by family and friends in determining social support satisfaction. Individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for an eating disorder (n = 182) completed measures of eating disorder and psychiatric severity, interpersonal functioning, perceived support stance used by family and friends, and social support satisfaction. Correlations indicated that both patient factors (lower psychiatric distress and fewer interpersonal difficulties) and perceived support stance (higher concerned and lower directive support) were associated with patient support satisfaction. Multiple regression analyses indicated that perceived support stance accounted for greater variance in social support satisfaction than did patient factors. Patient age was associated with differences in preferred support stance: expressions of caring were most critical for younger patients, whereas not being criticized or told what to do was most significant for older patients. This research suggests that the stance used when offering support is vital to the care of individuals with eating disorders.
BUREAU OF MINES

The Bureau of Mines has conducted extensive studies on the recovery of alumina from kaolinitic clay by a HCI leaching-HCI sparging process. The current study reports a modification of the process, which involves a double-leaching system. The first leach of the calcined clay is made at as high a HCI acid strength as possible so that the dissolution of aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCI3*6H20) is suppressed, Most of the impurities, but very little aluminum, are soluble in the strong acid. After liquid-solid separation and washing, the solids are leached with recycled weak HCI, which dissolves the AICI3'6HzO. The pregnant liquor is separated from the gangue, and AICI3'6HzO is crystallized from solution by injecting HCI gas. A proposed flowsheet is presented, and the effect of bleedstream size on AlC13'6H20 purity is discussed. Supervisory chemical engineer. 2Research chemist. Reno Research Center, Bureau of Mines, Reno, NV.
Preoperative TN staging of esophageal cancer: comparison of miniprobe ultrasonography, spiral CT and MRI.

AIM To evaluate the value of miniprobe sonography (MPS), spiral CT and MR imaging (MRI) in the tumor and regional lymph node staging of esophageal cancer. METHODS Eight-six patients (56 men and 30 women; age range of 39-73 years, mean 62 years) with esophageal carcinoma were staged preoperatively with imaging modalities. Of them, 81 (94 %) had squamous cell carcinoma, 4(5 %) adenocarcinoma, and 1(1 %) adenoacanthoma. Eleven patients (12 %) had malignancy of the upper one third, 41 (48 %) of the mid-esophagus and 34 (40 %) of the distal one third. Forty-one were examined by spiral CT in whom 13 were co-examined by MPS, and forty-five by MRI in whom 18 were also co-examined by MPS. These imaging results were compared with the findings of the histopathologic examination for resected specimens. RESULTS In staging the depth of tumor growth, MPS was significantly more accurate (84 %) than spiral CT and MRI (68 % and 60 %, respectively, P<0.05). The specificity and sensitivity were 82 % and 85 % for MPS; 60 % and 69 % for spiral CT; and 40 % and 63 % for MRI, respectively. In staging regional lymph nodes, spiral CT was more accurate (78 %) than MPS and MRI (71 % and 64 %, respectively), but the difference was not statistically significant. The specificity and sensitivity were 79 % and 77 % for spiral CT; 75 % and 68 % for MPS; and 68 % and 62 % for MRI, respectively. CONCLUSION MPS is superior to spiral CT or MRI for T staging, especially in early esophageal cancer. However, the three modalities have the similar accuracy in N staging. Spiral CT or MRI is helpful for the detection of far-distance metastasis in esophageal cancer.
The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) and cardiovascular disease

Recent and compelling investigation has expanded our view of the biological settings in which the products of nonenzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins and lipids – the advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) – form and accumulate. Beyond diabetes, natural ageing and renal failure, AGEs form in inflammation, oxidative stress and in ischaemia–reperfusion. The chief signal transduction receptor for AGEs – the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) – is a multiligand-binding member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. In addition to AGEs, RAGE binds certain members of the S100/calgranulin family, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and β-amyloid peptide and β-sheet fibrils. Recent studies demonstrate beneficial effects of RAGE antagonism and genetic deletion in rodent models of atherosclerosis and ischaemia–reperfusion injury in the heart and great vessels. Experimental evidence is accruing that RAGE ligand generation and release during ischaemia–reperfusion may signal through RAGE, thus suggesting that antagonism of this receptor might provide a novel form of therapeutic intervention in heart disease. However, it is plausible that innate, tissue-regenerative roles for these RAGE ligands may also impact the failing heart – perhaps through RAGE and/or distinct receptors. In this review, we focus on RAGE and the consequences of its activation in the cardiovasculature.
Eating disorders: Insights from imaging and behavioral approaches to treatment

Understanding factors that contribute to eating disorders, which affect 13% of females, is critical to developing effective prevention and treatment programs. In this paper, we summarize results from prospective studies that identified factors predicting onset and persistence of eating disorders and core symptom dimensions. Next, implications for intervention targets for prevention, and treatment interventions from the risk- and maintenance-factor findings are discussed. Third, given that evidence suggests eating disorders are highly heritable, implying biological risk and maintenance factors for eating disorders, we offer working hypotheses about biological factors that might contribute to eating disorders, based on extant risk factor findings, theory, and cross-sectional studies. Finally, potentially fruitful directions for future research are presented. We suggest that it would be useful for experimental therapeutics trials to evaluate the effects of reducing the risk factors on future onset of eating pathology and on reducing maintenance factors on the risk for persistence of eating pathology, and encourage researchers to utilize prospective high-risk studies so that knowledge regarding potential intervention targets for prevention and treatment interventions for eating disorders can be advanced. Using the most rigorous research designs should help improve the efficacy of prevention and treatment interventions for eating disorders.
Prevalence and abundance of equine strongyles (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) in tropical Australia.

A postmortem survey of 57 horses in tropical northern Queensland revealed 41 (89%) infected with intestinal strongyles. Thirty-five strongyle species (8 large strongyles and 27 small strongyles [Cyathostominae]) were recorded of which 9 species are reported from Australia for the first time. The 14 most prevalent small strongyles were Cyathostomum catinatum (in 76% of horses), Cyathostomum coronatum (65%), Cyathostomum pateratum (33%), Cyathostomum labiatum (30%), Cylicostephanus calicatus (70%), Cylicostephanus longibursatus (67%), Cylicostephanus goldi (43%), Cylicostephanus minutus (26%), Cylicocylus nassatus (67%), Cylicocyclus leptostomus (41%), Cylicocylus insigne (41%), Cylicocyclus radiatus (33%), Cylicocyclus brevicapsulates (22%), and Poteriostomum imperidentum (24%). The remaining cyathostomes were each found in less than 15% of horses. The 4 most common large strongyles were Triodontophorus serratus (30%), Strongylus vulgaris (28%), Strongylus equinus, and Strongylus edentatus (both 22%). The number of species of small strongyles per horse showed a marked variation (mean 10.3, range 2-21) but bore no relationship to either the total number of strongyles per horse, age, sex, and breed of horse, or season. Total number of strongyles per horse (mean 15,890, range 20-165,000) was less than in recent surveys in Europe and the U.S.A. Most horses had low worm burdens, whereas a very small number were heavily infected. Ninety-seven per cent of the total strongyle counts were small strongyles. Strongylus species contributed just over 1%. Small numbers of large strongyles per horse were usual with T. serratus (mean 570), S. vulgaris (mean 330), and S. equinus (mean 330) the most numerous. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Osteoarthritic Patients: A Review.

INTRODUCTION One of the most important indications of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) is in arthritis. The popularity of CAM in arthritis is consistently on the rise because of the potential side effects of the conventional therapy (Methotrexate) of arthritis. In view of this, it was important to summarize the information, for healthcare professionals and the patients, about the safety and effectiveness of various CAM use in arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This comprehensive review is based on the content derived through a thorough literature search using 5 electronic databases such as Science direct, Springer link, PubMed, Jet P and Google scholar. Equivalent terms in thesauruses or Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) browsers were used whenever possible. We included all the articles those are used CAM medications for the treatment of arthritis around the globe and searched for the required articles published in English in peer reviewed journals from January 1999 to February 2014. Reports were then arranged and analysed on the basis of country specific studies. RESULTS Initially, a total of 156 articles were retrieved, after further screening, 27 articles were selected according to meet objectives of the study and those articles which did not qualify, were excluded. Seventeen appropriate studies were finally included in the review. Indeed most of the studies that fulfilled the objective of this review were carried out in US (n=8, 47%), then in India (n=2, 11.76%), UK (n=1, 5.88%), Canada (n=1, 5.88%), Australia (n=1, 5.88%), Korea (n=1, 5.88%), Thailand (n=1, 5.88%), Turkey (n=1, 5.88%) and Malaysia (n=1, 5.88%). CONCLUSION The review revealed that family, friend, past experiences and lack of effectiveness of conventional therapy are the major factors that influenced patients' decision of initiating and persisting with CAM therapy. The review highlighted the need to conduct future studies by using some more specific health related outcome measures.
Low elevation sea-surface target tracking using IPDA type filters

When detecting a target using radar in the presence of multipath fading, the signal to noise ratio (SNR) at receiver can be dramatically reduced at certain ranges due to multipath signal cancellation, which leads to a significant drop of the detection probability at those ranges. The detection of a low elevation sea-surface target (LESST) is one example. For target tracking, this special case contrasts to the usual situation where we may often assume a constant probability of detection. Automatic target tracking requires a measure of track quality to discriminate between true and false tracks. This track quality measure should take both the existence of target and the SNR of the sensor into account, and be consistent with tracking performance. This paper investigates automatic target tracking using the integrated probabilistic data association (IPDA) type filters in the presence of multipath fading. Several existing single-scan probabilistic data association (PDA)-based filters, which calculate the probabilistic measure of track quality while estimating the track state, are evaluated in the scenario of tracking a nonmaneuvering LESST in the presence of both multipath fading and clutter. In addition, a variable Markov chain (VMC) IPDA tracker (IPDA-VMC), which has joint merits of both IPDA and the IPDA with a three state Markov chain (IPDA-M2), has been designed and evaluated here. In the derivation of track quality measure of both IPDA-M2 and 1PDA-VMC, the possibility that a target is present but is temporarily unable to be detected has been explicitly considered. A tracker using this track quality measure for false track discrimination has significantly improved LESST tracking performance. A simulation study verifies that both IPDA-M2 and IPDA-VMC have better capability to handle the LESST tracks and have an improved tracking performance over other PDA-based tracking algorithms under consideration.
Stability of human leukocyte granules which contain histamine.

The stability of human leukocyte granules has been determined in several media. Distilled water alone caused release of almost all of the granular histamine. Ionic solutions of granules were stable provided that sufficient sucrose or other appropriate compounds were also present. Granules were not extruded into the medium during histamine release. In these properties leukocyte granules differ from those reported for rat peritoneal mast cells. The release of β-glucuronidase was quantitatively less than the release of histamine in these experiments.
Properties of the italian version of the Body Weight Image and Self-Esteem (B-WISE) in a non-clinical sample

This study aims at assessing psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Body Weight Image and Self-Esteem (B-WISE) originally developed by Awad and Voruganti (2004) with psychiatric patients. The subjects were 1,033 non-clinical Italians with an average chronological age of 27.49 years (SD = 8.91). With regard to gender, there were 547 females and 491 males. Participants were administered self-report instruments: the B-WISE Questionnaire (Awad and Voruganti, 2004) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965). The exploratory factor analysis revealed the existence of 3 factors explaining the 48.03% of total variance. With regard to internal consistency, our study showed a not satisfactory internal consistency of B-WISE by obtaining weak values of α ranging from . 43 to . 45. We found significant differences on body image between males and females. Males showed a higher body satisfaction. Moreover they revealed positive significant associations between body-image and selfesteem. 1 Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, Italy. E-mail: marianna.alesi@unipa.it. 2 Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, Italy. E-mail: annamaria.pepi@unipa.it. Correspondence to: Marianna Alesi, Department of Psychology, University of Palermo, V.le delle Scienze Edificio 15, 90135, Palermo, Italy. Tel. +09123897702; Fax: +0916513825 Acknowledgments We would like to thank Dr. Awad for his authorization to use the B-Wise free of charge in our study and to translate it to Italian. Received: April 2, 2015; Revised: March 22, 2016; Accepted: April 23, 2016 © 2016 Associazione Oasi Maria SS. IRCCS Life Span and Disability Alesi M. & Pepi A. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 80 Results encouraged the use of the B-WISE questionnaire and highlighted the need for this measure to be employed in order to compare clinical and non-clinical samples. In particular, the B-WISE could be used as an instrument of screening useful in the early identification of high body dissatisfaction cases.
Weak localization and Raman study of anisotropically etched graphene antidots

We study a crystallographic etching process of graphene nanostructures, where zigzag edges can be prepared selectively. The process involves heating exfoliated single-layer graphene samples with a predefined pattern of antidot arrays in an argon atmosphere at 820 ∘C, which selectively removes carbon atoms located on armchair sites. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy cannot resolve the structure on the atomic scale. However, weak localization and Raman measurements, which both probe intervalley scattering at armchair edges, indicate that zigzag regions are enhanced compared to samples prepared with oxygen based reactive ion etching only.