Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complete Numerical Solution of the Diffusion Equation of Random Genetic Drift

A numerical method is presented to solve the diffusion equation for the random genetic drift that occurs at a single unlinked locus with two alleles. The method was designed to conserve probability, and the resulting numerical solution represents a probability distribution whose total probability is unity. We describe solutions of the diffusion equation whose total probability is unity as complete. Thus the numerical method introduced in this work produces complete solutions, and such solutions have the property that whenever fixation and loss can occur, they are automatically included within the solution. This feature demonstrates that the diffusion approximation can describe not only internal allele frequencies, but also the boundary frequencies zero and one. The numerical approach presented here constitutes a single inclusive framework from which to perform calculations for random genetic drift. It has a straightforward implementation, allowing it to be applied to a wide variety of problems, including those with time-dependent parameters, such as changing population sizes. As tests and illustrations of the numerical method, it is used to determine: (i) the probability density and time-dependent probability of fixation for a neutral locus in a population of constant size; (ii) the probability of fixation in the presence of selection; and (iii) the probability of fixation in the presence of selection and demographic change, the latter in the form of a changing population size.
Ad lib smoking of Black & Mild cigarillos and cigarettes.

INTRODUCTION Over the past 20 years, there has been a tripling in the consumption of small cigars and cigarillos, with further increases expected because cigar products are not subject to Food and Drug Administration regulations. Acute toxin exposure from cigar smoking is difficult to assess because unlike cigarettes, cigars vary widely in size, design, composition, and in the smoking behavior of their consumers. For example, a recent practice among urban youth is to remove the paper liner (i.e., "freaking") of a small cigar in the belief that it is this paper liner that leads to addiction and cancer. METHODS We examined acute exposure (CO and nicotine boosts) and puffing behavior in 12 participants (10 men) who smoked (ad lib) their usual conventional cigarette, a Black & Mild cigar (B&M) and a B&M without the paper liner (i.e., "freaked" [B&Mf]). RESULTS All products (cigarettes, B&M, and B&Mf) significantly increased heart rate and CO with a trend for plasma nicotine. Nicotine boost was significantly higher after cigarette smoking than both B&M and B&Mf, while CO boost was significantly greater after B&M and B&Mf than cigarettes. The CO boost after B&M was larger than after B&Mf. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that small cigar smoking is associated with smoke inhalation that leads to significant exposure to nicotine, CO, and presumably other components of tobacco smoke and that removing the inner liner does not substantially reduce toxin exposure.
Los Límites del conocimiento tecnológico

Una reputada editorial celebraba el 50 aniversario de su fundacion y, para conmemorarlo, decidio realizar una edicion especial de la Constitucion de su pais. Para tan fausto acontecimiento se contrataron a los mejores especialistas, afamados ilustradores y disenadores graficos de primera linea. Se eligieron papel de primera calidad y lujosas encuadernaciones. Para que nada desmereciese, el editor se propuso conseguir que no hubiese ni una sola errata a lo largo del libro. Era consciente de la dificultad de la empresa, pues tenia muchos anos de experiencia en el oficio, y sabia como, a la menor oportunidad, se deslizaba una errata en el texto. Por tanto, se rodeo del mejor equipo de correctores de la editorial y contrato un segundo equipo externo de entre los mejores del mercado. No contento con ello, el resultado final fue sometido a un panel de expertos independientes y, por ultimo, el editor en persona reviso cada palabra de cada pagina, hasta que estuvo seguro de que no habia ningun error.
Risk behaviors among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men at party-oriented vacations.

OBJECTIVE This study examined substance use (intended and actual), unprotected sex, and HIV disclosure practices (disclosure and questioning) among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) at two party-oriented vacations, where substance use and sexual risk may be heightened. METHOD A random sample of 489 MSM attending one of two party-oriented vacations participated in PartyIntents, a short-term longitudinal survey. Nearly half (47%) completed a follow-up assessment at the event or online for up to 2 weeks after the event. We examined rates of baseline intentions to use substances, actual substance use, and unprotected intercourse among HIV-positive men in attendance.Rates among HIV-negative men were estimated for comparison. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the impact of illegal drug use and HIV status on unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). RESULTS HIV-positive attendees (17%) were significantly more likely than HIV-negative attendees to use nitrite inhalants (or "poppers") (24.3% vs. 10.7%). HIV-positive attendees were also significantly more likely to have insertive UAI (64.3% vs. 34.1%) and receptive UAI (68.8% vs. 22.2%). Multivariate models showed associations between HIV status and illegal drug use with UAI (for HIV status, odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, p = .001; for any illegal drug use, OR = 16.4, p < .001). There was no evidence that the influence of drug use moderated risk by HIV status. Rates of HIV disclosure and questioning did not differ by HIV status. CONCLUSIONS HIV-positive men attending these events engaged in higher rates of illegal drug use and sexual risk than HIV-negative men. Prevention campaigns targeting MSM at high-risk events should include messages geared toward HIV-positive men.
A systematic review of treatments for bullous pemphigoid.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of treatments for bullous pemphigoid. METHODS The Cochrane Library search strategy was used to identify randomized controlled trials from MEDLINE and EMBASE, from their inception to September 30, 2001. All randomized controlled trials on interventions for bullous pemphigoid, confirmed by immunofluorescence studies, were included. RESULTS We found 6 randomized controlled trials with a total of 293 patients. Two trials, one comparing prednisolone, 0.75 mg/kg per day, with prednisolone, 1.25 mg/kg per day, and the other comparing methylprednisolone with prednisolone, did not find any significant difference in effectiveness. The higher dose of prednisolone, however, was associated with more severe adverse effects. Combination treatments of prednisone with azathioprine in one trial and of prednisolone with plasma exchange in another were useful in halving the corticosteroid dose required (mean +/- SD, 0.52 +/- 0.28 mg/kg in the plasma exchange-treated group vs 0.97 +/- 0.33 mg/kg in the prednisolone only-treated group). However, a fifth trial, including all 3 treatment groups (prednisolone alone, prednisolone and azathioprine, and prednisolone and plasma exchange), failed to confirm the benefit of combination treatment over prednisolone alone. A trial of 20 patients, comparing prednisone with tetracycline and niacinamide, found no statistically significant difference in response between the 2 groups, but the prednisone-treated group had more serious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS There is inadequate evidence for a recommendation of a specific treatment for bullous pemphigoid, and there is a need for larger randomized controlled trials with adequate power. Starting doses of prednisolone greater than 0.75 mg/kg per day do not seem to give additional benefit, and it seems that lower doses may be adequate for disease control. The effectiveness of the addition of plasma exchange or azathioprine to corticosteroids has not been established. Combination treatment with tetracycline and niacinamide seems useful, although this needs further validation.
Health Status and Access to Care Among Rural Minorities

This paper provides a review of the scholarly and applied literature published between 1970 and 1993 on health and health care access problems among racial and ethnic minority group members living in rural U.S. areas. Results on the distribution of specific illnesses and diseases, and utilization of medical services are summarized for two major minority groups—African Americans and Hispanic Americans. Findings generally document the expected pattern of rural and minority disadvantage. A review of the conceptual and methodological limitations of existing research suggests that research does not yet permit any clear understanding of the underlying structures and processes that give rise to racial health disparities. Very little is known about the health of rural minorities living in some areas of the country, for example, the west north central United States (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota).
Gypsy moth: efficacy of aerially-applied Bacillus thuringiensis.

Eight billion International Units of Dipel® and Thuricide® were applied aerially in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania against Porthetria dispar (L). Two gal of finished spray/acre were applied twice ca 10 days apart. Foliage protection was achieved in most cases, but desired population reduction was not achieved. Very rainy, cool weather contributed heavily to the results of this experiment.
Protection against acute porcine lung ischemia/reperfusion injury by systemic preconditioning via hind limb ischemia

Previous work on various organs and tissues has shown that ischemic preconditioning protects against reperfusion injury in these organs and also against secondary effects in the lung. In contrast, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of preconditioning in a remote organ (hind limb ischemia) on an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) treatment of the lung itself. A porcine model of in situ left lung ischemia (90 min) and reperfusion (5 h) was used. Systemic preconditioning was induced by clamping the left common femoral artery (3 × 5 min). Lung injury was assessed in terms of pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary venous and arterial pO2, and tissue macrophage counts. The zymosan‐stimulated release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in whole blood was determined by a chemiluminometric procedure. Inflammatory cytokines (interleukin‐1β and interleukin‐6) were measured in arterial plasma as indicators of a systemic inflammatory reaction. Preconditioning by hind limb ischemia completely prevented the I/R‐induced functional impairment of the lung, the pulmonary hypertension and the reduced oxygenation capacity. The plasma levels of interleukin‐1β and the macrophage counts in preconditioned animals were reduced to control values, whereas the levels of interleukin‐6 and the release of ROS were not affected by preconditioning. In conclusion, systemic preconditioning by repeated hind limb ischemia protects against acute I/R injury of the lung but not against all indices of reperfusion‐associated systemic inflammation.
Bacterial DNA within Granulomas of Patients with Crohn's Disease—Detection by Laser Capture Microdissection and PCR

OBJECTIVES:We previously reported the use of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and PCR to detect the presence of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis DNA in granulomas of patients with Crohn's disease. While this does not imply a cause-effect relationship, it may influence the disease process because bacterial DNA has immunomodulatory effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether DNA from nonmycobacterial commensals, such as Escherichia coli, is also increased in the granulomas of Crohn's disease.METHODS:Archival tissue from 15 surgical cases of Crohn's disease and 10 non-Crohn's granulomatous bowel disease controls were examined. Granulomas were isolated using LCM, and the extracted DNA was examined for presence of E. coli DNA by nested PCR amplification of a 135 base-pair segment of the uidA gene.RESULTS:E. coli DNA was detected in microdissected granulomas in 12/15 Crohn's disease patients and in 1/10 non-Crohn's control granulomas (p < 0.001). Also, E. coli DNA was detected in 8/15 Crohn's full-thickness sections and in 4/10 control full-thickness sections.CONCLUSIONS:E. coli DNA may be detected more frequently in Crohn's granulomas than in other non-Crohn's bowel granulomas. This may indicate a tendency for lumenal bacteria to colonize inflamed tissue, or may be due to increased uptake of bacterial DNA by gut antigen presenting cells. In light of previous detection of M. paratuberculosis DNA in Crohn's granulomas, the nonspecific nature of the type of bacterial DNA present in granulomas is evidence against any one bacterium having a significant causative role in Crohn's disease.
A cluster of cholesterol-related genes confers susceptibility for Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE Polygenic diseases are related to the complex interplay of genetic variations. We evaluated whether clusters of cholesterol- and lipid-related genetic variations are associated with Alzheimer's disease. METHOD We analyzed 12 cholesterol-related single nucleotide polymorphisms and 48 control polymorphisms in 545 study participants (Alzheimer's disease group N = 284; control group N = 261). Diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease were made according to the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Multi-locus genetic association analysis was done with the set-association method. Dates of data collection were from January 2000 to December 2003. RESULTS We identified a cluster of polymorphisms in APOE, SOAT1, APOE 5'-untranslated region, OLR1, CYP46A1, LPL, LIPA, and APOA4 conferring significant (p = .0002) susceptibility for Alzheimer's disease. This gene cluster reached a diagnostic accuracy of 74% and correlated significantly (p = .018) with the levels of the brain cholesterol catabolite 24S-hydroxycholesterol in the cerebrospinal fluid. CONCLUSION Our results establish a novel approach for the identification of disease-related genetic clusters and demonstrate the need for multi-locus methods in the genetics of complex diseases.
Is a gluten-free diet necessary in Marsh I intestinal lesions in patients with HLADQ2, DQ8 genotype and without gastrointestinal symptoms?

Purpose of review To describe whether a gluten-free diet (GFD) is indicated in Marsh I gluten-sensitive enteropathy where gastrointestinal symptoms are not present. Arguments are provided to prescribe a GFD to manage extraintestinal symptoms. By contrast, there are not enough reasons to prescribe a GFD to prevent long-term complications. Recent findings Population-based and prospective observational studies have found that lymphocytic duodenosis may be due to not just gluten-sensitive enteropathy but also due to other aetiologic factors. Marsh I type lesions may be the cause of iron-deficiency anaemia of unknown aetiology which is reverted by a GFD. A similar effect seems to occur with bone mineralization and hypertransaminasemia. The beneficial influence of a GFD reducing lymphoma and coeliac disease-related mortality remains controversial. Summary An appropriate differential diagnosis of the lymphocytic duodenosis is essential before a GFD is indicated. As a third of patients remained undiagnosed, in spite of genetic study and specific coeliac serology, flow cytometry and transglutaminase antibodies in duodenal tissue may be helpful in establishing gluten-sensitive enteropathy diagnosis. Future studies should assess whether lymphoma risk is reduced by a GFD in Marsh I patients. Also a more precise benefit in bone mineralization in this setting is needed.
Escaping the stem cell compartment: Sustained UVB exposure allows p53-mutant keratinocytes to colonize adjacent epidermal proliferating units without incurring additional mutations

Once mutated, a single cell must expand into a clone before becoming significant for carcinogenesis. The forces driving clonal expansion and the obstacles that must be overcome are poorly understood. In a genetic mechanism, acquiring a second mutation conferring a proliferative advantage would enable the cell to expand autonomously. If carcinogen exposure instead induced a physiological change, clonal expansion would require the carcinogen's continued presence. To determine which is the case, we studied microscopic clones of keratinocytes mutated in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Carcinogen exposure was controlled by irradiating mice with 280–320 nm UV radiation (UVB), sunlight's principal carcinogenic component; expansion of mutant clones was observed in epidermal sheets. p53-mutant clones grew only during chronic UVB exposure. Therefore, clonal expansion was not triggered by a proliferative mutation but was instead continually driven by UVB. Unexpectedly, the clone size distribution showed periodicity with maxima at estimated intervals of 16 ± 6 cells, the size of the epidermal proliferating unit in murine dorsal skin. In the absence of UVB, rare “imprisoned clones” increased in cell number without increasing in area. We conclude that: stem cell compartments act as physical barriers to clonal expansion of a p53-mutant keratinocyte; a rate-limiting step in clonal expansion is the colonization of an adjacent compartment; and sustained UVB enables the p53-mutant keratinocyte to colonize without incurring an additional mutation.
Regional cerebral blood flow in diabetic patients: evaluation by N‐isopropyl-123I‐IMP with SPECT

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured using N-isopropyl-123I-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 27 patients with diabetes mellitus with an average age of 64.1 years and with an average fasting plasma glucose of 145 mg dl-1. Their data were compared with those of 12 non-diabetic subjects with an average age of 64.6 years. None had cerebral infarction on computed tomographic (CT) studies. There were no significant differences in the physiological or laboratory data between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups except for their fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels. A reference sampling method using continuous arterial blood sampling was employed to quantify the rCBF. The average rCBF in each region of the cerebrum and cerebellum was significantly lower in the diabetic group than in the non-diabetic group (P<0.01). Although a definite cause was obscure, the rCBF of the diabetic patients was reduced even in the absence of findings indicative of cerebral infarction on a CT study.
Acceptance of Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections for Stable Sexual Partners by Female Sex Workers in Kampala, Uganda

Background The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa remains high. Providing treatment to the affected FSWs is a challenge, and more so to their stable sexual partners. There is scanty research information on acceptance of STI treatment for stable sexual partners by FSWs. We conducted a study to assess acceptance of STI treatment for stable sexual partners by FSWs, and to identify factors associated with acceptance. Methods We enrolled 241 FSWs in a cross sectional study; they were aged ≥ 18 years, had a stable sexual partner and a diagnosis of STI. Factors associated with acceptance of STI treatment for stable sexual partners were analysed in STATA (12) using Poisson regression. Mantel-Haenszel tests for interaction were performed. Results Acceptance of partner treatment was 50.6%. Majority (83.8%) of partners at the last sexual act were stable partners, and 32.4% of participants had asymptomatic STIs. Factors independently associated with acceptance were: earning ≤ $4 USD per sexual act (aPR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.49–0.94) and a clinical STI diagnosis (aPR 1.95; 95% CI: 1.30–2.92). The effect of low income on acceptance of partner treatment was seen in those with less education. Conclusion Acceptance of STI treatment for stable sexual partners was lower than that seen in other studies. Interventions to improve economic empowerment among FSWs may increase acceptance of partner treatment.
Systematic mapping of monitoring metrics in running computational systems

With the raise of computer systems' complexity, greater number of modules, technologies involved and functionalities, monitoring and keeping up with such systems in real time has become an indispensable task, given the fact that the quality of production software impacts directly on decision making and risk management by organizations. Knowing what to observe, which metrics are being more used for runtime software monitoring is an essential part of this context. Therefore, this article presents a systematic mapping regarding the monitoring mechanisms and raises a few research questions. Listing of most used approaches and metrics for runtime legacy systems monitoring. The survey of monitoring metrics allow a better approach for runtime legacy systems comprehension, allowing more suitable strategies for the continuity of such systems.
Mesenteric fibrosis and palliative surgery in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours.

Mesenteric fibrosis (MF) surrounding a mesenteric mass is a hallmark feature of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (SI-NETs). Since this can induce intestinal obstruction, oedema and ischaemia, prophylactic resection of the primary tumour and mesenteric mass is often recommended. This study assessed the predictors for mesenteric metastasis and fibrosis and the effect of MF and palliative surgery on survival. A retrospective analysis of 559 patients with pathologically proven SI-NET and available CT-imaging data was performed. Clinical characteristics, presence of mesenteric mass and fibrosis on CT imaging and the effect of palliative abdominal surgery on overall survival were assessed. We found that MF was present in 41.4%. Older age, 5-HIAA excretion ≥67 μmol/24 h, serum CgA ≥121.5 μg/L and a mesenteric mass ≥27.5 mm were independent predictors of MF. In patients ≤52 years, mesenteric mass was less often found in women than in men (39% vs 64%, P = 0.002). Corrected for age, tumour grade, CgA and liver metastasis, MF was not a prognostic factor for overall survival. In patients undergoing palliative surgery, metastasectomy of mesenteric mass or prophylactic surgery did not result in survival benefit. In conclusion, we confirmed known predictors of MF and mesenteric mass and suggest a role for sex hormones as women ≤52 years have less often a mesenteric mass. Furthermore, the presence of MF has no effect on survival in a multivariate analysis, and we found no benefit of metastasectomy of mesenteric mass or prophylactic surgery on overall survival.