Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HIV epidemics among people who inject drugs in Thailand : vidence from respondent-driven sampling surveys in Bangkok and hiang

Background: Thailand’s long-standing HIV sero-sentinel surveillance system for people who inject drugs (PWID) is confined to those in methadone-based drug treatment clinics and representative data are scarce, especially outside of Bangkok. Methods: We conducted probability-based respondent-driven sampling (RDS) surveys in Bangkok (n = 738) and Chiang Mai (n = 309) to increase understanding of local HIV epidemics and to better inform the planning of evidence-based interventions. Results: PWID had different epidemiological profiles in these two cities. Overall HIV prevalence was higher in Bangkok (23.6% vs. 10.9%, p < 0.001) but PWID in Bangkok are older and appear to have long-standing HIV infections. In Chiang Mai, HIV infections appear to be more recently acquired and PWID were younger and had higher levels of recent injecting and sexual risk behaviors with lower levels of intervention exposure. Methamphetamine was the predominant drug injected in both sites and polydrug use was common although levels and patterns of the specific drugs injected varied significantly between the sites. In multivariate analysis, recent midazolam injection was significantly associated with HIV infection in Chiang Mai (adjusted odds ratio = 8.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.2–54.5) whereas in Bangkok HIV status was not associated with recent risk behaviors as infections had likely been acquired in the past. Conclusion: PWID epidemics in Thailand are heterogeneous and driven by local factors. There is a need to customize intervention strategies for PWID in different settings and to integrate population-based survey methods such as RDS into routine surveillance to monitor the national response.
What do teachers teach in introductory programming?

In this article, we try to create a general, worldwide picture of teachers' opinion about what should be taught in introductory programming courses. We focus on the debate about restructuring CS1. The study explores what teachers believe is important to teach, what they actually teach, and what students find most difficult (according to their teachers). what is the general approach to teaching (programming language, IDE, object-orientation or not, type of institution), what topics are taught, and what role do the areas that novices find difficult play in introductory programming course.In addition, we explore how these specific topics fit into a larger conceptual classification: Earlier studies of topics taught in introductory programming focuses only on one dimension of a given topic - either relevance or difficulty. In this study, we evaluate each topic regarding three dimensions: relevance, difficulty and the cognitive level (according to Bloom's taxonomy). This allows giving a more faceted picture of teachers' beliefs in teaching introductory programming courses.Furthermore, we assess the role of findings from the eighties in today's teaching: The need to understand five different areas of programming. Are these areas still in focus; are they relevant, and what is the connection to the topics taught - especially object-oriented (OO) topics? A special focus is given on students' understanding of the execution of a (OO) program; one of the five areas. In order to connect the ideas of a notional machine to OO concepts we present a four levelled competence hierarchy for object-interaction.Teachers assessed the area 'understanding the notional machine' as least important. Despite this, they assessed the herachy of object-interaction - meant as basis for a notional machine for the OO-paradigm - as an important aspect.Although teachers stress the importance of teaching general abstract structures, teaching seems to focus on concrete programming issues. A conclusion for further research on teaching OO programming and concerning the hierarchy of object interaction is that teaching is not only a matter of topics, but also a matter of perspective on teaching the topics.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Primary root protophloem differentiation requires balanced phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate levels and systemically affects root branching

Protophloem is a specialized vascular tissue in growing plant organs, such as root meristems. In Arabidopsis mutants with impaired primary root protophloem differentiation, brevis radix ( brx ) and octopus ( ops ), meristematic activity and consequently overall root growth are strongly reduced. Second site mutation in the protophloem-specific presumed phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase COTYLEDON VASCULAR PATTERN 2 ( CVP2 ), but not in its homolog CVP2-LIKE 1 ( CVL1 ), partially rescues brx defects. Consistent with this finding, CVP2 hyperactivity in a wild-type background recreates a brx phenotype. Paradoxically, however, while cvp2 or cvl1 single mutants display no apparent root defects, the root phenotype of cvp2 cvl1 double mutants is similar to brx or ops , although, as expected, cvp2 cvl1 seedlings contain more phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate. Thus, tightly balanced phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate levels appear essential for proper protophloem differentiation. Genetically, OPS acts downstream of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate levels, as cvp2 mutation cannot rescue ops defects, whereas increased OPS dose rescues cvp2 cvl1 defects. Finally, all three mutants display higher density and accelerated emergence of lateral roots, which correlates with increased auxin response in the root differentiation zone. This phenotype is also created by application of peptides that suppress protophloem differentiation, CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION 26 (CLE26) and CLE45. Thus, local changes in the primary root protophloem systemically shape overall root system architecture.
TOMM 40 and APOE common genetic variants are not Parkinson ’ s disease risk factors

Polymorphic, deoxythymidine-tract in intron 6 of the TOMM40 gene has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease. We have investigated the impact of this polymorphism on Parkinson’s disease risk and age of onset, independently and in combination with apolipoprotein E alleles, in a group of 407 PD patients and 305 control subjects. No significant association was observed at the single allele, genotype, or haplotype levels. Our data suggest that the polymorphism is not a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease in the Polish population. 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Mediterranean Diet, Traditional Risk Factors, and the Rate of Cardiovascular Complications After Myocardial Infarction Final Report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study

BACKGROUND--The Lyon Diet Heart Study is a randomized secondary prevention trial aimed at testing whether a Mediterranean-type diet may reduce the rate of recurrence after a first myocardial infarction. An intermediate analysis showed a striking protective effect after 27 months of follow-up. This report presents results of an extended follow-up (with a mean of 46 months per patient) and deals with the relationships of dietary patterns and traditional risk factors with recurrence. METHODS AND RESULTS--Three composite outcomes (COs) combining either cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (CO 1), or the preceding plus major secondary end points (unstable angina, stroke, heart failure, pulmonary or peripheral embolism) (CO 2), or the preceding plus minor events requiring hospital admission (CO 3) were studied. In the Mediterranean diet group, CO 1 was reduced (14 events versus 44 in the prudent Western-type diet group, P=0.0001), as were CO 2 (27 events versus 90, P=0.0001) and CO 3 (95 events versus 180, P=0. 0002). Adjusted risk ratios ranged from 0.28 to 0.53. Among the traditional risk factors, total cholesterol (1 mmol/L being associated with an increased risk of 18% to 28%), systolic blood pressure (1 mm Hg being associated with an increased risk of 1% to 2%), leukocyte count (adjusted risk ratios ranging from 1.64 to 2.86 with count >9x10(9)/L), female sex (adjusted risk ratios, 0.27 to 0. 46), and aspirin use (adjusted risk ratios, 0.59 to 0.82) were each significantly and independently associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS--The protective effect of the Mediterranean dietary pattern was maintained up to 4 years after the first infarction, confirming previous intermediate analyses. Major traditional risk factors, such as high blood cholesterol and blood pressure, were shown to be independent and joint predictors of recurrence, indicating that the Mediterranean dietary pattern did not alter, at least qualitatively, the usual relationships between major risk factors and recurrence. Thus, a comprehensive strategy to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality should include primarily a cardioprotective diet. It should be associated with other (pharmacological? ) means aimed at reducing modifiable risk factors. Further trials combining the 2 approaches are warranted.
Breakfast and Learning: An Updated Review

Over the past five years, significant new evidence has documented the link between eating breakfast and learning. Recent studies show that skipping breakfast is relatively common among children in the U.S. and other industrialized nations and is associated with quantifiable negative consequences for academic, cognitive, health, and mental health functioning. When combined with new data on the prevalence and impact of hunger/food insecurity, the preponderance of recent evidence is that lack of optimal nutrition is a problem for millions of U.S. students and that increased breakfast eating could be part of a solution. Literature reviews published in the late 1990's set the stage for understanding this new evidence by showing the associations between regular breakfast consumption/skipping and student outcomes. Research over the past five years has provided new evidence for these associations and definitive evidence for others: most notably that universally free school breakfast programs increase the rate of overall-breakfast eating and are judged to improve learning by teachers and school principals. These findings, along with accumulating evidence for the danger of nutritional risks, provide a clear rationale for continued efforts to promote breakfast eating for children, schools, and the nation as a whole.
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcus: Comparison of Diagnosis and Treatment in the Community and at a Specialty Clinic

OBJECTIVES. This study aimed to examine whether pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus were appropriately diagnosed in the community and to determine subsequent rates of unwarranted use of antibiotic treatment for tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms without the identification of an infection. METHODS. The design was a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of 176 children and adolescents who were evaluated in a specialty program for tics, Tourette's disorder, and related problems. Previously published diagnostic criteria were used to establish the diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus in our clinic. RESULTS. Subjects were significantly less likely to receive a diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus at the specialty clinic than in the community. In the community, subjects were significantly more likely to be treated with antibiotics or immunosuppressant medication if they received a diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus. Of the 27 subjects with a community diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus who were treated with antibiotics, 22 (82%) were treated without laboratory evidence of an infection; 2 were treated with immunomodulatory medications. CONCLUSIONS. Our results support our hypothesis that pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus are frequently diagnosed in the community without the application of all working diagnostic criteria. This phenomenon has resulted in unwarranted use of antibiotic treatment for tics/obsessive-compulsive disorder without evidence of laboratory infection.
Diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficients to differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions

The role of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions in the breast using mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values was evaluated prospectively in this study. Fifty female patients with 61 histopathologically proven solid breast lesions underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and DWI using the spin-echo echo-planar technique. ADC maps have been obtained and ADCs of the lesions were calculated without knowledge of histopathological diagnosis. Golden standard was histology to define benign and malignant lesions. Statistical analysis was used to compare ADC values in the benign and malignant group and to calculate best cut-off value for distinguishing both groups based on receiver operator-curve characteristics (ROC). Differentiation of the benign and the malignant masses revealed that the threshold value of the ADC in maximum sensitivity and specificity was 1.22×10-3 mm2/s; at this threshold sensitivity was 96.2%, its specificity was 88.5%, and its positive predictive value was 86.2%. Its negative predictive value was 96.9%, and the accuracy rate was 91.8%. ROC analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.924 (p<0.001). Breast MRI with DWI using ADC measurements can be useful in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions. J. Exp. Clin. Med., 2013; 30:305-310
Multicast in 802.11 WLANs: an experimental study

While the deployment of WiFi networks continue to grow at an explosive rate, the multicast multimedia delivery service on WiFi compliant devices is still in its early stage of development. The real culprit is the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol, and in particular, the absence of feedback mechanism when multicast is used. Recently, a leader-based mechanism has been proposed to overcome this problem. In this paper, we measure the characteristics of the legacy multicast transmission mechanism and analyze its flaws. Then, we study the performance of the leader-based approach and compare its performance with the standard multicast service. The analysis is done on a large set of measurements made with our wireless testbed. Such measurements are an important complement to previous simulation studies and help in the design of the best mechanism to replace the faulty legacy multicast mechanism. Our study confirms that the leader-based mechanism outperforms the standard open-loop multicast mechanism while keeping fairness among other traffic.
Differences in Rates and Short-term Outcome of Live Births Before 32 Weeks of Gestation in Europe in 2003: Results From the MOSAIC Cohort

OBJECTIVES. Advances in perinatal medicine increased survival after very preterm birth in all countries, but comparative population-based data on these births are not readily available. This analysis contrasts the rates and short-term outcome of live births before 32 weeks of gestation in 10 European regions. METHODS. The Models of Organizing Access to Intensive Care for Very Preterm Births (MOSAIC) study collected prospective data on all very preterm births in 10 European regions covering 494463 total live births in 2003. The analysis sample was live births between 24 and 31 weeks of gestation without lethal congenital anomalies (N = 4908). Outcomes were rates of preterm birth, in-hospital mortality, intraventricular hemorrhage grades III and IV or cystic periventricular leukomalacia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Mortality and morbidity rates were standardized for gestational age and gender. RESULTS. Live births between 24 and 31 weeks of gestation were 9.9 per 1000 total live births with a range from 7.6 to 13.0 in the MOSAIC regions. Standardized mortality was doubled in high versus low mortality regions (18%–20% vs 7%–9%) and differed for infants ≤28 weeks of gestation as well as 28 to 31 weeks of gestation. Morbidity among survivors also varied (intraventricular hemorrhage/periventricular leukomalacia ranged from 2.6% to ≤10% and bronchopulmonary dysplasia from 10.5% to 21.5%) but differed from mortality rankings. A total of 85.2 very preterm infants per 10000 total live births were discharged from the hospital alive with a range from 64.1 to 117.1; the range was 10 to 31 per 10000 live births for infants discharged with a diagnosis of neurologic or respiratory morbidity. CONCLUSIONS. Very preterm mortality and morbidity differed between European regions, raising questions about variability in treatment provided to these infants. Comparative follow-up studies are necessary to evaluate the impact of these differences on rates of cerebral palsy and other disabilities associated with preterm birth.
Evaluation of comparative free-radical scavenging capacity, and antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts of leaf, stem, and roots of Operculina turpethum

1 Department of Pharmacognosy, Trinity College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peddapally, Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, 505 172, India. 2 Department of Pharmacology, KVSR Siddhartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, 520 010, India. 3 Department of Pharmacognosy, S. R. College of Pharmacy, Ananthasagar, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, 506 371, India. 4 MakroCare Clinical Research Organization, Suite 1303, Newark, New jersey, 07102, USA.
Trithorax regulates systemic signaling during Drosophila imaginal disc regeneration

Although tissue regeneration has been studied in a variety of organisms, from Hydra to humans, many of the genes that regulate the ability of each animal to regenerate remain unknown. The larval imaginal discs of the genetically tractable model organism Drosophila melanogaster have complex patterning, well-characterized development and a high regenerative capacity, and are thus an excellent model system for studying mechanisms that regulate regeneration. To identify genes that are important for wound healing and tissue repair, we have carried out a genetic screen for mutations that impair regeneration in the wing imaginal disc. Through this screen we identified the chromatin-modification gene trithorax as a key regeneration gene. Here we show that animals heterozygous for trithorax are unable to maintain activation of a developmental checkpoint that allows regeneration to occur. This defect is likely to be caused by abnormally high expression of puckered, a negative regulator of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, at the wound site. Insufficient JNK signaling leads to insufficient expression of an insulin-like peptide, dILP8, which is required for the developmental checkpoint. Thus, trithorax regulates regeneration signaling and capacity. Summary: The chromatin modifier Trithorax regulates a negative feedback loop that controls JNK signaling and Insulin-like Peptide 8 expression in damaged Drosophila imaginal discs.
Epidemiological Features of High School Baseball Injuries in the United States, 2005–2007

OBJECTIVES. The goals were to calculate injury rates among high school baseball players and to characterize the general epidemiological features of high school baseball injuries and, more specifically, injuries attributed to being hit by a batted ball. METHODS. We analyzed baseball exposure and injury data collected over the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 school years from a nationally representative sample of 100 US high schools by using an injury surveillance system, Reporting Information Online. RESULTS. Nationally, an estimated 131555 high school baseball-related injuries occurred during the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 academic years, for an injury rate of 1.26 injuries per 1000 athletic exposures. The most commonly injured body sites were the shoulder (17.6%), ankle (13.6%), head/face (12.3%), hand/finger (8.5%), and thigh/upper leg (8.2%). The most common injury diagnoses were ligament sprains (incomplete tears) (21.0%), muscle strains (incomplete tears) (20.1%), contusions (16.1%), and fractures (14.2%). Although the majority of injuries resulted in a time loss of <7 days, 9.7% resulted in medical disqualification for the season, and 9.4% required surgery. Of the 431 reported baseball injuries, 50 (11.6%) were attributed to being hit by a batted ball. Greater proportions of injuries attributed to being hit by a batted ball were to the head/face (48.0%) and mouth/teeth (16.0%), compared with injuries not attributed to being hit by a batted ball (8.2% and 1.3%, respectively). A greater proportion of injuries attributed to being hit by a batted ball required surgery (18.0%), compared with other baseball-related injuries (6.8%). CONCLUSIONS. Although high school baseball is relatively safe, targeted, evidence-based interventions could reduce the rate of high school baseball-related injuries. On the basis of our findings, we strongly recommend that helmets with face shields or at least mouth guards and eye protection be used by pitchers, infielders, and batters at the high school level.
A local difference in Hedgehog signal transduction increases mechanical cell bond tension and biases cell intercalations along the Drosophila anteroposterior compartment boundary

Tissue organization requires the interplay between biochemical signaling and cellular force generation. The formation of straight boundaries separating cells with different fates into compartments is important for growth and patterning during tissue development. In the developing Drosophila wing disc, maintenance of the straight anteroposterior (AP) compartment boundary involves a local increase in mechanical tension at cell bonds along the boundary. The biochemical signals that regulate mechanical tension along the AP boundary, however, remain unknown. Here, we show that a local difference in Hedgehog signal transduction activity between anterior and posterior cells is necessary and sufficient to increase mechanical tension along the AP boundary. This difference in Hedgehog signal transduction is also required to bias cell rearrangements during cell intercalations to keep the characteristic straight shape of the AP boundary. Moreover, severing cell bonds along the AP boundary does not reduce tension at neighboring bonds, implying that active mechanical tension is upregulated, cell bond by cell bond. Finally, differences in the expression of the homeodomain-containing protein Engrailed also contribute to the straight shape of the AP boundary, independently of Hedgehog signal transduction and without modulating cell bond tension. Our data reveal a novel link between local differences in Hedgehog signal transduction and a local increase in active mechanical tension of cell bonds that biases junctional rearrangements. The large-scale shape of the AP boundary thus emerges from biochemical signals inducing patterns of active tension on cell bonds. Highlighted article: Linking intercellular signaling and mechanical regulators of cell behavior, differential Hh activity in the Drosophila wing disc regulates the shape of the anterior-posterior boundary.