Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Social Networking among Secondary School Students : Implications for Academic Performance

The study focused on the use of social networking among secondary school students in Lagos State, Nigeria with implication for academic performance. Specifically, the study determined the relationship between social networking usage and various factors affecting secondary school students who are users of SNSs. The study was strictly restricted to randomly-selected students in public and private secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. A survey design was adopted because the study examined variables upon which data can be collected through responses to questions by way of questionnaire and records inspection. The study population comprised students in public and private secondary schools in Lagos. A sample size of 240 was selected across 12 secondary schools in three LGAs representing about 15% of LGAs in the state with 20 participants selected from each school, through simple random sampling. Primary and secondary data collection method was adopted. Primary data were collected using questionnaire with five-point likert scale while secondary data were collected from students’ achievement scores in Mathematics and English. The questionnaire method was adopted because of its usefulness as a tool for gathering data over a large number of respondents to give definite answers based on the structure of the question in a relatively short period. Scores were analysed using grades A, B, C, D, E, and F with “A” represented as an excellent performance while “F” was the worst. Codes were assigned to grades and students grouped into best performance (A and B), average performance (C and D) while others were grouped as below average. Frequency distribution, Factor analysis, crosstabs and regression test were the methods adopted for analysis. Findings showed that time spent on SNSs did not significantly influence academic performance of secondary school students, and that participation in class by students was not a significant predictor of their average academic performance (in Mathematics and English). Findings further revealed that number of friends that students had on social networking sites had a positive, significant influence on the time spent on SNSs, and also that the number of posts that students put on social networking sites was not a significant predictor of participation in class. Demographic characteristics did not significantly influence the academic performance of students who used SNSs, and, use of social networking significantly influence the academic performance of secondary school students. It was therefore recommended that sensitization be done through seminars and symposia to orientate the students and their parents on the various possible negative effects of SN usage in school on students’ academic performance. The school management should also restrict the usage of SNS to hours of break while the Ministry of Education should maintain its regulatory role in setting out policies on social networking use and enforce it across secondary schools.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of brodalumab, a human anti-IL-17 receptor monoclonal antibody, in moderate to severe asthma.

RATIONALE IL-17 signaling has been implicated in development and persistence of asthma. Cytokine-targeted strategies blocking IL-17 receptor signaling may be beneficial in asthma treatment. OBJECTIVES To determine efficacy and safety of brodalumab, a human anti-IL-17 receptor A monoclonal antibody, in subjects with inadequately controlled moderate to severe asthma taking regular inhaled corticosteroids. METHODS Three hundred two subjects were randomized to brodalumab (140, 210, or 280 mg) or placebo. Primary endpoint was change in Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score from baseline to Week 12. Secondary endpoints included FEV1, symptom scores, and symptom-free days. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted to identify potential responsive subpopulations. Analyses included randomized subjects receiving one or more doses of investigational product using last-observation-carried-forward imputation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Demographics and baseline characteristics were generally balanced among groups (n = 302; n = 226 brodalumab). For the overall study population, no treatment differences were observed. Nine prespecified subgroups were examined without corrections for multiple testing. In only the high-reversibility subgroup (post-bronchodilator FEV1 improvement ≥ 20%; n = 112) was an ACQ change with nominal significance noted; ACQ responses were nominally significant in the 210-mg group (estimated treatment difference, 0.53) but not significant in the higher 280-mg group (estimated treatment difference, 0.38). Adverse events, generally balanced among groups, were most commonly asthma, upper respiratory tract infection, and injection site reaction. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of IL-17 receptor A did not produce a treatment effect in subjects with asthma. The results of the high-reversibility subgroup analysis are of uncertain significance, requiring further study of brodalumab in this asthma subpopulation. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT01199289).
A case of pancytopenia

Sodium valproate is a commonly used anticonvulsant, particularly in the management of childhood refractory epilepsy. There is a good literature base regarding its haematological effects in this group of patients including the potential for toxic effect on the bone marrow. Valproate is increasingly being used in the treatment of psychiatric conditions, particularly bipolar affective disorder. In this article we describe a case of pancytopenia associated with a valproate level of 166mg/l. The population of psychiatric patients is different in several ways from the population of children and young adults with epilepsy from whom the existing data comes. The psychiatric patients are older, more likely to misuse substances, more likely to take overdoses and may metabolize valproate more slowly. For these reasons it would be worthwhile investigating the relationship between valproate levels, macrocytosis, platelet counts and B12 levels in this group of patients. The results of such a study would give us a clearer understanding of what the desirable therapeutic range is for valproate in bipolar affective disorder and what, if any, monitoring should be undertaken.
Racial differences in cancer risk among relatives of patients with early onset lung cancer.

BACKGROUND Relatives of patients with early onset lung cancer are at increased risk for lung cancer, and this risk varies by race. This study evaluates whether first-degree relatives of patients with early onset lung cancer are at increased risk for cancer at sites other than lung. METHODS Family histories were ascertained from 673 lung cancer patients < 50 years of age identified from the Metropolitan Detroit Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, and 773 age-, race-, and sex-matched control subjects were obtained via random-digit dialing. Data were collected for 3,556 case relatives (mothers, fathers, and siblings) and 3,943 control relatives, and unconditional logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Among case relatives, African Americans were 2.44-fold more likely to have head and neck cancers and 1.86-fold more likely to have any tobacco-related cancer compared to white case relatives (95% CI, 1.04 to 5.69% and 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.76, respectively). African-American case relatives were at increased risk for head and neck cancers (OR, 13.42; 95% CI, 1.65 to 109.01), all tobacco-related cancers (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 2.16 to 6.55), tobacco-related cancers other than lung (OR, 4.10; 95% CI, 1.56 to 10.79), and cancer at any site (OR, 1.45, 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.02) compared to African-American control relatives. CONCLUSIONS These results can be used to counsel family members of patients with early onset lung cancer, and suggest target populations for preventive strategies, including smoking cessation and appropriate screening.
Facial aging simulation applied to the missing person problem

We develop a technique that achieves a plausible three-dimensional aged facial model of a missing person. It uses simulated diploid reproduction in which a three-dimensional aged model of a missing person is carefully modeled considering the geometrical traits of her parents. The genetic characteristics of both parents, stored into their genomic datastructures, are used to construct pools of male and female gametes for simulated fecundation. A plausible model of the missing person is selected among the generated descendants and its genomic data structure is saved. The parents' models and data structures are updated to reflect the age of the missing person at search time. Next, the genomic data structure of the missing person is updated with the information contained in the parents' updated data structure, and an updated plausible model of the missing person is generated. Case studies are presented that demonstrate the potentials of the proposed methodology.
Aflatoxins intake from peanut candy marketed in Rio de Janeiro city , Brazil

Paçoca is a very popular product of indigenous origin that is widely consumed by children, especially during the annual folkloric celebrations in June and July in Brazil. One of the main risks of this peanut candy is contamination by aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are natural contaminants produced mainly by the aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, and have important toxic effects for humans, such as, acute aflatoxicosis and risk of cancer development. This work aimed to determine the levels of aflatoxins in 36 different brands of paçoca samples marketed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the period of folkloric celebrations in 2012, and to estimate the aflatoxins intake by children and adolescents using a Food Frequency Questionnaire applied to 157 individuals. The aflatoxins were quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection in 72 paçoca samples (100%). Twentyseven samples (37.4%) were positive for aflatoxins and ten (13.8%) showed aflatoxins levels higher than the limit established by Brazilian legislation for peanut products (20 μg/kg). The overall average corresponded to 4.9 μg/kg and the highest value found was 39.6 μg/kg. The Probable Daily Intake (PDI) of aflatoxins through the consumption of paçoca corresponded to 1.37 ng/kg body weight (b.w.). Children aged from 8 to 11 were the most exposed to these mycotoxins, which may pose a significant risk to their health. This is the first report to be made showing levels of aflatoxinas in a peanut product marketed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Viscoelastic Properties of Rabbit Vocal Folds after Augmentation

BACKGROUND: Vocal fold function is closely related to tissue viscoelasticity. Augmentation substances may alter the viscoelastic properties of vocal fold tissues and hence their vibratory capacity. OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the viscoelastic properties of rabbit vocal folds in vitro after injections of various augmentation substances. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), cross-linked collagen (Zyplast), and cross-linked hyaluronan, hylan b gel (Hylaform) were injected into the lamina propria and the thyroarytenoid muscle of rabbit vocal folds. Dynamic viscosity of the injected vocal fold as a function of frequency was measured with a Bohlin parallelplate rheometer during small-amplitude oscillation. RESULTS: All injected vocal folds showed a decreasing dynamic viscosity with increasing frequency. Vocal fold samples injected with hylan b gel showed the lowest dynamic viscosity, quite close to noninjected control samples. Vocal folds injected with polytetrafluoroethylene showed the highest dynamic viscosity followed by the collagen samples. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicated that hylan b gel in short-term renders the most natural viscoelastic properties to the vocal fold among the substances tested. This is of importance to restore/preserve the vibratory capacity of the vocal folds when glottal insufficiency is treated with injections.
Smooth Muscle Phosphatase Is Regulated in Vivo by Exclusion of Phosphorylation of Threonine 696 of MYPT1 by Phosphorylation of Serine 695 in Response to Cyclic Nucleotides*

Regulation of smooth muscle myosin phosphatase (SMPP-1M) is thought to be a primary mechanism for explaining Ca2+ sensitization/desensitization in smooth muscle. Ca2+ sensitization induced by activation of G protein-coupled receptors acting through RhoA involves phosphorylation of Thr-696 (of the human isoform) of the myosin targeting subunit (MYPT1) of SMPP-1M inhibiting activity. In contrast, agonists that elevate intracellular cGMP and cAMP promote Ca2+ desensitization in smooth muscle through apparent activation of SMPP-1M. We show that cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)/cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) efficiently phosphorylates MYPT1 in vitro at Ser-692, Ser-695, and Ser-852 (numbering for human isoform). Although phosphorylation of MYPT1 by PKA/PKG has no direct effect on SMPP-1M activity, a primary site of phosphorylation is Ser-695, which is immediately adjacent to the inactivating Thr-696. In vitro, phosphorylation of Ser-695 by PKA/PKG appeared to prevent phosphorylation of Thr-696 by MYPT1K. In ileum smooth muscle, Ser-695 showed a 3-fold increase in phosphorylation in response to 8-bromo-cGMP. Addition of constitutively active recombinant MYPT1K to permeabilized smooth muscles caused phosphorylation of Thr-696 and Ca2+ sensitization; however, this phosphorylation was blocked by preincubation with 8-bromo-cGMP. These findings suggest a mechanism of Ca2+ desensitization in smooth muscle that involves mutual exclusion of phosphorylation, whereby phosphorylation of Ser-695 prevents phosphorylation of Thr-696 and therefore inhibition of SMPP-1M.
A nonlinear edge –preserving smoothing filter for edge detection on color and gray satellite images

A nonlinear filter for smoothing color and gray imagescorrupted by Gaussian noise is presented in this paper. The proposedfilter designed to reduce the noise in the R,G, and B bands of thecolor images and preserving the edges. This filter applied in order toprepare images for further processing such as edge detection andimage segmentation.The results of computer simulations show that the proposedfilter gave satisfactory results when compared with the results ofconventional filters such as Gaussian low pass filter and median filterby using Cross Correlation Coefficient (ccc) criteria.
Synergy of genes and nutrients: the case of homocysteine

Purpose of reviewFolic acid is now considered an important functional food component: it lowers potentially toxic homocysteine, prevents birth defects and modulates the risk of several cancers. The complexity of interactions involved, however, means we still have much to learn about the role of folate and homocysteine in both health and disease. Recent findingsThis review examines the emergence of homocysteine as a public health issue, and places this in context by exploring recent developments in the field of homocysteine as a vasculo, neuro and embryotoxic thiol. The paper also examines the homocysteine nexus in relation to mood disorders and cancer. It ends with an assessment of the issues associated with government-mandated folate fortification. SummaryFolate fortification as a population measure may mask B12 deficiency, affect antiepileptic drug seizure control, and influence the genetic selection of a potentially deleterious genotype, albeit over a number of generations. It is likely that only large studies with a comprehensive battery of endpoints that fully address the complexity of nutrient–gene and gene–gene interactions will be able to answer all the necessary questions fully.
Long-term therapy with adefovir dipivoxil for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B for up to 5 years.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Treatment with adefovir dipivoxil for 48 weeks resulted in clinical improvement in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B that was lost when treatment was discontinued. We investigated the efficacy, safety, and resistance profile of adefovir dipivoxil treatment for up to 240 weeks. METHODS HBeAg-negative patients were treated double blind with placebo or adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily for 48 weeks, followed by adefovir dipivoxil from week 49 to 96. At week 97, 125 patients enrolled in a 144-week, open-label phase. Patients received adefovir dipivoxil for up to 192 or 240 weeks. RESULTS Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels were less than 1000 copies per milliliter in 67% of patients, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels normalized in 69% after 240 weeks. After 192 or 240 weeks of treatment, over 83% of patients had improvement in necroinflammation, and over 73% had improvement in fibrosis. Ishak fibrosis scores improved compared with baseline in 35%, 55%, and 71% of patients after 48, 192, and 240 weeks of adefovir dipivoxil, respectively. After 240 weeks, the cumulative probability of HBV polymerase mutations was 29%, but the cumulative probability of mutations with virologic resistance was 20% and of mutations, virologic resistance, and ALT elevations was 11%. Slight elevations in creatinine were confirmed in 4 (3%) patients. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with adefovir dipivoxil for up to 240 weeks was well tolerated and produced significant, increasing improvement in hepatic fibrosis, durable suppression of HBV replication, normalization of liver enzymes, and delayed development of resistance.
Does the sympathetic nervous system influence sinus arrhythmia in man? Evidence from combined autonomic blockade.

The influences of vagal and sympathetic efferent activity on sinus arrhythmia in man have been studied in healthy subjects by administration of hyoscine butylbromide and atenolol alone and combined using a microcomputer‐linked electrocardiogram (e.c.g.) system. Sinus arrhythmia was quantitated as the S.D. of the R‐R interval. Sinus arrhythmia was reduced by hyoscine butylbromide, in some subjects to near abolition, but this end‐point was unchanged by pre‐treatment with atenolol. Atenolol alone prolonged the mean R‐R interval and increased sinus arrhythmia. It is suggested that sinus arrhythmia in man is mediated through vagal efferents alone but that atenolol increases the arrhythmia through a central vagotonic effect.
Which patients with cirrhosis should undergo endoscopic screening for esophageal varices detection?

Our aims were to develop a noninvasive predictive tool to identify cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices and to evaluate whether portal Doppler ultrasonographic parameters may improve the value of other predictors. One hundred forty‐three consecutive compensated cirrhotic patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Fourteen clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic, and Doppler ultrasonographic parameters of each patient were also recorded. Esophageal varices were detected in 63 of the 143 patients examined (44%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 36.2‐52.6). Medium and large esophageal varices were observed in 28 subjects (44%; 95% CI 31.4‐58.4). Using stepwise logistic regression, presence of esophageal varices was independently predicted by prothrombin activity less than 70% (odds ratio [OR]: 5.83; 95% CI: 2.6‐12.8), ultrasonographic portal vein diameter greater than 13 mm (OR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.3‐6.4), and platelet count less than 100 × 109/L (OR: 2.83; 95% CI: 1.27‐6.28). Variables included in the model were used to generate a simple incremental rule to evaluate each individual patient. The discriminating ability of the prediction rule was relevant (area under the curve: 0.80) and did not change by replacing ultrasonographic portal vein diameter with congestion index of portal vein. We concluded that compensated cirrhotic patients should be screened by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy when prothrombin activity less than 70%, platelet count less than 100 × 109/L, and ultrasonographic portal vein diameter greater than 13 mm are observed, whereas those without any of these predictors should not undergo endoscopy. The contribution provided by portal Doppler ultrasonographic parameters does not appear of practical utility. (HEPATOLOGY 2001;33:333‐338.)
A gene expression analysis in rat kidney following high and low salt intake

Background The effects of salt intake on renal regulation have been investigated for decades. To find new pathways and to demonstrate the utility of oligonucleotide expression arrays, we studied whole kidneys. Methods Eight Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into two groups. One group received a 6% salt (by weight) diet, while the other group received a 0.3%, otherwise identical, salt diet for 7 days. The rats were sacrificed after 7 days and the left kidney was subjected to RNA extraction. Oligonucleotide expression arrays (Affymetrix) were used to determine downregulation and upregulation, comparing high with low salt intake. Four rats from each group were studied separately. Results The experiments were reproducible. Thirty genes were downregulated with the high-salt diet, while 35 genes were upregulated. The renin gene, beta-2 glycoprotein-1, retinol binding protein, annexin VI, and the PTP2C protein tyrosine phosphatase were among the downregulated genes. The angiotensin II receptor type 1B receptor, HMG-CoA reductase, B7 antigen, and the rat calcium channel beta subunit III were among the upregulated genes. Differentially regulated were the p55 subunit (upregulated) and the p50 subunit (downregulated) of the phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase enzyme complex. We verified our results by selecting a high-salt downregulated gene (renin) and an upregulated gene (B7 antigen) and subjecting these genes to real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results were consistent. Conclusion Oligonucleotide expression arrays can detect novel genes encoding for proteins not generally associated with responses to varied salt intake. Experiments of this nature have substantial limitations and require detailed verification. However, overall, the utility is promising.