Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Grip strength and body composition in Turkana pastoralist children and adolescents

In an earlier study, age changes and sex differences in grip strength were documented for adult Turkana pastoralists of Kenya (Little and Johnson, 1986). The objective here is to characterize age changes and sex differences in grip strength of Turkana children and adolescents in the context of arm lean tissue composition, and in comparison with other African, African‐American, and non‐Western populations.
Assessment of Gingival Health Status among a Group of Preclinical and Clinical Dental Students at Thamar University, Yemen

Objective: To assess the gingival health status among preclinical and clinical Yemeni dental students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on preclinical and clinical students at Thamar University. The self-reported oral health behavior of dental students with their actual gingival status was evaluated. One hundred and ninety five volunteers (115 male and 80 females with mean age (21.71+1.72) who participated in this study completed the self-reported questionnaire. Subsequently a clinical examination for their gingival conditions was assessed. The clinical examination for the participants comprised plaque index, gingival index, gingival bleeding index, and calculus index. Results: The findings of this study showed that, the gingival health status was poor among dental students with no significant difference between preclinical and clinical students (P> 0.05). Females had better oral and gingival health status than males with significant differences (P< 0.05). The relationship between Khat chewing and smoking with gingival bleeding and calculus deposits was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Preclinical and clinical dental students showed poor gingival health status. It is recommended that the educational programs and preventing dentistry curriculum should be modified in order to improve oral health care level among Yemeni dental students.
Schizophrenia in the Afro-Caribbean Community

Previous studies have shown high rates of schizophrenia among the Afro-Caribbean population in Britain. In order to assess the role of genetic factors in the aetiology of this phenomenon, we have used a standardised family history method (FHRDC) to compare lifetime morbidity risks for first-degree relatives of Afro-Caribbean and white patients with RDC schizophrenia admitted in Central Manchester between 1982 and 1988. Lifetime morbidity risk for parents of Afro-Caribbean subjects was 8.9%, and for parents of white patients 8.4%. For the siblings of black probands, however, the risk was 15.9%, as compared with 1.8% for white siblings (P < 0.05). Among siblings of UK-born Afro-Caribbean probands, morbid risk was even higher at 27.3% (P = 0.001). High rates among siblings of younger Afro-Caribbean patients are consistent with previous reports of a higher incidence in the UK-born. These observations suggest that schizophrenia among Afro-Caribbeans is no less familial than for the remainder of the population, but that the increased frequency of the disorder is due to environmental factors which are most common in the Afro-Caribbean community, and capable of precipitating schizophrenia in those who are genetically predisposed.
High Household Infestation Rates by Synanthropic Vectors of Chagas Disease in Southern Ecuador

Abstract Entomological surveys were conducted in five rural communities (138 domiciliary units [DUs]) in the southern Andes of Ecuador. Adobe walls and ceramic tile roofs were predominant construction materials. A 35% house infestation rate with Panstrongylus chinai (Del Ponte, 1929) (0.7%), Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus (Champion, 1899) (0.7%), Rhodnius ecuadoriensis (Lent & León, 1958) (27%), and/or Triatoma carrioni (Larrousse, 1926) (7%) was found. Adults and nymphs of R. ecuadoriensis and T. carrioni were found in intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary areas. Breeding triatomine colonies were present in 85% of infested DUs, and the average insect crowding was 52 ± 113 triatomine bugs per infested house. T. cruzi-like organisms were found by microscopic examination in the feces or hindgut but not the salivary glands of 4% of examined R. ecuadoriensis and 12% T. carrioni. Serological tests detected a general anti-T. cruzi antibody seroprevalence of 3.9% (n = 1136). Only 2% of individuals had heard of Chagas disease, and although triatomines were reported as a major nuisance by the population they were not considered vectors of disease. Additional baseline field research is needed for the design and implementation of a Chagas disease control program in the region.
[Central mechanism of electric-acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) for gastric mucous membrane protection with FMRI].

OBJECTIVE To explore the central mechanism of acupuncture in protecting gastric mucous membrane by a composite analysis of gastric mucous membrane related indices in peripheral blood and functional MRI (fMRI) signal changes after electric-acupuncturing Zusanli (ST36) acupoint. METHODS Sixteen healthy adult volunteers were divided into true acupoint group (A) and sham acupoint group (B). Zusanli acupoint was used for Group A. Peripheral blood was drawn 5 min before and 5, 15, 25, 30 min after needle-removal for the detection of gastric mucous membrane related indices. fMRI was performed during acupuncture and the acquired fMRI data were analyzed by SPM2 (P < 0.001). RESULTS The levels of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased while those of endothelin (ET) and gastrin (GAS) decreased significantly after acupuncture in Group A (P < 0.01). And there was no significant change in Group B (P > 0.05). Acupuncturing Zusanli activated the bilateral middle frontal gyrus, caudate, left precentral and postcentral gyri, hypothalamus, anterior cingulate cortex, right hippocampus, insula and cerebellar hemisphere. But acupuncturing the sham acupoint only activated the paracentral lobule and cerebellar hemisphere. CONCLUSION Acupuncturing Zusanli acupoint activates certain cortex areas and multiple systems to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters and regulate the peripheral humoral factors to achieve the protection of gastric mucous membrane.
Applying norms and preferences for designing flexible game rules

Interactive storytelling is a strength of table-top role playing games as they are facilitated by a game master GM who directs the narrative and devises game scenarios. One difficulty with the implementation of a GM in computer games is the large amount of time, effort and specialist skills that can be required for the creation of such an agent. Another issue is that game rules become embedded in the agent implementation and thus may become difficult and time consuming to change. This article aims to address these issues by presenting a method for developers to shape the narrative by defining game behaviour in terms of norms and preferences. The system was evaluated with both a case study and a user experiment. The results showed that the users found out the system to be both user friendly and suitable for development of games with flexible narrative.
Investigations of Nucleoside H-Phosphonamidate in the Design of Nucleotide Prodrug

Abstract The synthesis, anti-HIV activity and stability studies of a H-phosphonamidate derivative of 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (AZT) incorporating a N,N-diisopropylamino residue as first model of alkylamino group are reported. The results demonstrate that such phosphorylated structure exerts its biological effects via chemical hydrolysis into the corresponding H-phosphonate, precursor of the parent nucleoside.
Refractory Hypotension

Two KINDS of circulatory collapse are seen most frequently in acutely ill surgical patients. One is due to acute reduction of blood volume following loss of blood, plasma or extracellular fluid. This situation is obvious and specific replacement is required. Response is prompt and recovery is the rule providing the cause of the circulatory collapse can be corrected. Circulatory failure of this kind can be called "responsive hypotension. ". The other kind of circulatory collapse occurs in surgical patients who, although they seem to have a normal blood or plasma volume, do not have adequate circulation. Frequently such persons because of the obscure nature of the vascular collapse, are given intravenous vasopressor agents. Their response to resuscitative efforts is sluggish, and the mortality rate is high. "Refractory hypotension" is an apt term for circulatory failure of this type. In the present discussion of the possible causes and treatment of refractory hypotension, we have avoided the term "shock" because of confusion regarding its definition and because it is frequently used in the experimental laboratory to describe a circulatory collapse in which death is considered to be inevitable. Hypotension, for the purpose of this discussion, will refer to those clinical conditions in which the pulse rate is accelerated, the blood pressure low and there is evidence of impaired perfusion of vital organs.
An 8-Core MIPS-Compatible Processor in 32/28 nm Bulk CMOS

This paper is an extension of Hu et al., ISSCC, 2013, and it introduces the 32/28 nm implementations of Godson-3B1500, which are 8-core MIPS-compatible microprocessors with vector extensions. Godson-3B1500 is fabricated in STMicroelectronics 32/28 nm high-κ metal-gate low-power bulk CMOS with 10 metal layers. It contains 1.14 billion transistors and operates at the frequency of 1.0 GHz to 1.5 GHz with the voltage supply ranging from 1.0 V to 1.3 V. Compared to its predecessor (Hu et al., ISSCC, 2011), Godson-3B1500 brings significant power efficiency improvements with enhanced performance (150GFLOPS@1.2 GHz) and reduced power dissipation (<; 40 W), due to not only technology scaling but also a great deal of design efforts.
EVALUACIÓN DEL POTENCIAL PROBIOTICO DE CEPAS LACTOBACILLUS COLOMBIANAS AISLADAS DE LECHE MATERNA.

Los Lactobacillus han sido ampliamente utilizados como probioticos, son microbiota del tracto digestivo y de la leche materna por medio de la cual son adquiridos por el neonato. Los probioticos son beneficos para la salud, pero deben cumplir caracteristicas como resistencia al transito intestinal, actividad antimicrobiana y sensibilidad a antibioticos entre otros. En Colombia no hay produccion de cultivos nativos, lo que hace necesario estudiar la diversidad nativa e identificar cepas con potencial probiotico. En este estudio, se aislaron Lactobacillus a partir de leche materna de diecisiete mujeres en posparto y meconio de diecinueve neonatos lactantes.
Etanercept for active Crohn's disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS We evaluated etanercept, a human soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor: Fc fusion protein, for the treatment of active Crohn's disease. METHODS Forty-three patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease were enrolled in an 8-week placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to subcutaneous etanercept 25 mg or placebo twice weekly. The primary outcome measure was clinical response at week 4, defined as a decrease in the baseline Crohn's Disease Activity Index score > or =70 points or a Crohn's Disease Activity Index score <150 points. RESULTS At week 4, 39% of etanercept-treated patients had clinical response as compared with 45% of placebo-treated patients (P = 0.763). The frequency of common adverse events including headache, new injection site reaction, asthenia, abdominal pain, Crohn's disease-related anemia, and skin disorders was similar in both groups. Likewise, the frequency of severe or serious adverse events was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Subcutaneous etanercept at a dose of 25 mg twice weekly is safe, but not effective, for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease. The dose of etanercept administered in this study is that approved for rheumatoid arthritis. Higher doses or more frequent dosing may be required to attain a response in patients with active Crohn's disease.
Neuronal Cdc2-like Kinase (Nclk) Binds and Phosphorylates the Retinoblastoma Protein*

The tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (RB) plays a central role in cellular growth regulation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Phosphorylation of RB results in a consequent loss of its ability to inhibit cell cycle progression. However, how RB phosphorylation might be regulated in apoptotic or postmitotic cells, such as neurons, remains unclear. Here we report that neuronal Cdc2-like kinase (Nclk), composed of Cdk5 and a neuronal Cdk5 activator (p25nck5a), can bind and phosphorylate RB. Since RB has been shown recently to associate with D-type G1 cyclins and viral oncoproteins through a common peptide sequence motif of LXCXE, Nclk binding may be mediated by a related sequence motif (LXCXXE) found in p25nck5a. We demonstrate (i) in vitro binding of bacterially expressed p25nck5a to a GST-RB fusion protein, (ii) coprecipitation of GST-RB and reconstituted Cdk5·;p25nck5a, and (iii) phosphorylation of GST-RB by bacterially expressed Cdk5·;p25nck5a kinase and by Cdk5·;p25nck5a kinase purified from bovine brain. Finally, we show that immunoprecipitation of RB from embryonic mouse brain homogenate results in the coprecipitation of Cdk5 and that Cdk5 kinase activity is maximal during late embryonic development, a period when programmed cell death of developing neurons is greatest. Taken together, these results suggest that Nclk can bind to and phosphorylate RB in vitro and in vivo. We infer that Nclk may play an important role in regulating the activity of RB in the brain, including perhaps in apoptosing neurons.
Call to action on breastfeeding in North Carolina: review and rationale.

N C Med J. September/October 2010, Volume 71, Number 5 When one looks at many preventive health practice norms, one might conclude that North Carolina has a unique “health care personality. ” The norms in North Carolina do not quite fit with regional norms in the southeastern United States, nor do they align with those of the Mid-Atlantic states. North Carolina’s attitudes, trends, and practices related to the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding are no exception. North Carolina has a special set of issues that affect trends and practices in breastfeeding and vary across the state. Breastfeeding is sometimes referred to as the “homeless intervention. ” It has no commercial home. It is neither entirely a women’s issue nor entirely a children’s issue. Breastfeeding is not a one-time thing, like an immunization or a pill; rather, it demands a 24/7 commitment on the part of new parents who have many things to learn. However, it is a mistake to think of breastfeeding as simply a lifestyle choice. In the United States, we once considered avoidance of smoking, use of a seat belt or a bike helmet, and regular exercise to be lifestyle choices with no real public health impact. However, we have been persuaded by data on health and survival, as well as by the social and health care costs of nonadherence to public health recommendations, to value these preventive health behaviors and to support them with social marketing campaigns, insurance incentives, and even laws to increase acceptance and to promote behavior change. These considerations also apply to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a vital preventive health practice and an issue for all who care about health, whether from a clinical, business, or personal viewpoint. The support, or lack thereof, for breastfeeding has measurable implications in terms of lifelong health and wellness for North Carolinians.
Cartilage Cap Occlusion Technique for Dehiscent Superior Semicircular Canals

Objective: Assessment of a cartilage cap occlusion of dehiscent superior semicircular canals via a transmastoid and tegmen mini-craniotomy approach surgical technique. Study Design: Retrospective case review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Thirty-seven patients over a 2 year time period underwent cartilage cap occlusion of a dehiscent superior semicircular canal. Intervention: Therapeutic. Main Outcome Measure: Subjective improvement and/or resolution of dizziness postoperatively. Results: Of 37 patients, 29 (78%) felt much better and had resolution of their dizziness. Of 37 patients, 5 (14%) felt some definite improvement, although not complete resolution. Two patients (5%) felt their dizziness was neither better nor worse, and 1 patient (3%) felt dizziness was worse after surgery. Conclusion: The cartilage cap occlusion technique of dehiscent superior semicircular canals via a transmastoid and tegmen mini-craniotomy approach is a good option for managing symptomatic patients with a dehiscent superior semicircular canal.
Extended follow-up of patients with hairy cell leukemia after treatment with cladribine.

PURPOSE Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is an uncommon, indolent, chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder involving the marrow and spleen. Therapy for HCL includes splenectomy, interferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b, pentostatin, and cladribine. The purpose of this article was to report the extended follow-up of HCL patients treated with cladribine. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred nine patients with HCL who were treated with cladribine had at least 7 years of follow-up. A course of cladribine constituted a 7-day continuous intravenous infusion at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/d. RESULTS Of the 207 assessable patients who had at least 7 years of follow-up, 196 (95%) achieved a complete response (CR) and 11 (5%) achieved a partial response (PR) after a single course of cladribine (overall response rate, 100%). The median first-response duration for all responders was 98 months. Seventy-six patients (37%) experienced relapse after their first course of cladribine. The median time to first relapse for all responders was 42 months. Time to treatment failure of CRs compared with PRs was statistically significant (P <.0005). The overall survival rate was 97% recorded at 108 months. Forty-seven patients developed 58 second malignancies. The observed-to-expected ratio for second malignancies was 2.03 (95% confidence interval, 1.49 to 2.71). CONCLUSION These results confirm previous observations that single courses of cladribine administered to patients with HCL induce high response rates, the majority of which are CRs. Most patients enjoy long-lasting complete remissions, and those patients who experience relapse can be successfully re-treated with cladribine.
An efficient walk-through from two images using view morphing and spidery mesh interface

This paper presents an efficient walk-through animation with two images of the same scene. We suggest a new virtual navigation technique which enables natural scene transformation when the viewpoint changes in the parallel direction as well as in the depth direction. In our method, view morphing is employed only in foreground objects, and background scene perceived carelessly is mapped into cube-like 3D model as in TIP (tour into the picture), so as to save detail 3D reconstruction cost and improve visual realism simultaneously. To do this, we define a new camera transformation between two images from the relationship of spidery mesh transformation and its corresponding view change. The result animation demonstrates the efficiency of our method.
Peroxynitrite-mediated vasorelaxation : evidence against the formation of circulating S-nitrosothiols

Graves, Jonathan E. , Stephen J. Lewis, and Neil W. Kooy. Peroxynitrite-mediated vasorelaxation: evidence against the formation of circulating S-nitrosothiols. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 43): H1001–H1008, 1998. — Peroxynitrite-induced relaxation of isolated vessels may involve the formation of S-nitrosothiols. This study characterized the hemodynamic effects of systemically injected peroxynitrite in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats and determined whether these effects were due to the formation of S-nitrosothiols. We utilized L-penicillamine, which attenuates the hemodynamic effects of systemically injected Snitrosothiols. The hemodynamic effects of peroxynitrite and the S-nitrosothiols L-S-nitrosocysteine, L-S-nitrosoglutathione, and S-nitrosoalbumin were determined before and 25 min after the administration of L-penicillamine or saline. Peroxynitrite and the S-nitrosothiols produced dose-dependent reductions in mean arterial pressure and mesenteric and hindquarter vascular resistances. The hypotensive and vasodilator effects of the S-nitrosothiols were significantly reduced by L-penicillamine. In contrast, the hemodynamic actions of peroxynitrite were unaffected by L-penicillamine. Therefore, peroxynitrite produces hypotensive and vasodilator responses in anesthetized rats that are unlikely to be due to the formation of circulating S-nitrosothiols. The mechanisms by which peroxynitrite produces vasodilatation in vivo remain to be determined.
Assessing the effects of temperature on the population of Aedes aegypti, the vector of dengue

SUMMARY Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The incidence of dengue disease shows a clear dependence on seasonal variation. How does the temperature affect the incidence? We addressed this question indirectly by estimating the size of the A. aegypti population for different temperatures applying population dynamics theory. In order to achieve this objective we designed temperature-controlled experiments to assess the entomological parameters regarding the mosquito's life-cycle at different temperatures. By obtaining the mortality, transition and oviposition rates for different stages of the life-cycle of the mosquito we were able to calculate the basic offspring number Q0, which is the capacity of vector reproduction and ultimately gives the size of the vector population.
Regulation of smooth muscle contractile elements by second messengers.

In smooth muscle cells, development of force results from MgA TP-dependent cyclic interactions of myosin in thick filaments with actin in thin filaments. The force of contraction, in turn, is regulated by the concentration of free Ca2+ surrounding these myofilaments. The purposes of the present chapter are to discuss (a) Ca2+ -dependent mechanisms other than myosin light chain phosphorylation by which contractile force in smooth muscle may be reg­ ulated, and (b) other second messenger mechanisms that regulate contractile elements or the myosin kinase/phosphatase system . Since the discovery that phosphorylation of the 20-kDa light chains of myosin by Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase allows smooth muscle myosin MgATPase to be activated by actin, many in­ vestigators have studied the relationship between light chain phosphorylation and active force in smooth muscle (reviewed in 42; Hai & Murphy, this volume). It is generally accepted that myosin phosphorylation and de­ phosphorylation are sufficient to regulate contraction. While myosin phos­ phorylatiOn/dephosphorylation may be the dominant regulatory pathway, the coexistence of thin-filament linked regulation is not ruled out (51).