Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk of Intimate Partner Violence and Relationship Conflict Following Couple-Based HIV Prevention Counseling: Results From the Harlem River Couples Project

Heterosexual transmission of HIV often occurs in the context of intimate sexual partnerships. There is mounting evidence that couple-based HIV prevention interventions may be more effective than individual-based interventions for promoting risk reduction within such relationships. Yet, concerns have been raised about the safety of couple-based prevention approaches, especially with regard to the risk of intimate partner violence against women. Although several international studies have examined the potential for adverse consequences associated with couple-based interventions, with inconsistent results, there is little data from U.S. studies to shed light on this issue. The current study analyzed data from a randomized trial conducted in New York City with 330 heterosexual couples to examine whether participation in couple-based or relationship-focused HIV counseling and testing (HIV-CT) interventions resulted in an increased likelihood of post-intervention breakups, relationship conflicts, or emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, compared with standard individual HIV-CT. Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the odds of experiencing change in partner violence from baseline to follow-up by treatment condition. A high prevalence of partner-perpetrated violence was reported by both male and female partners across treatment conditions, but there was no conclusive evidence of an increase in relationship dissolution or partner violence subsequent to participation in either the couple-based HIV-CT intervention or relationship-focused HIV-CT intervention compared with controls. Qualitative data collected from the same participants support this interpretation. HIV prevention interventions involving persons in primary sexual partnerships should be sensitive to relationship dynamics and the potential for conflict, and take precautions to protect the safety of both male and female participants.
Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndromes

Abstract Stroke from reversible cerebral arterial vasoconstriction has been described in a variety of conditions, including migraine, pregnancy, puerperium (postpartum angiopathy), use of vasoconstrictive drugs, Call-Fleming syndrome, and benign angiopathy of the central nervous system. Although vasoconstriction is an important cause of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in young individuals, vasoconstriction syndromes have not been well characterized and remain under-recognized. Misdiagnosis is common because the clinical and radiological features can overlap with conditions such as primary cerebral vasculitis. With the advent of newer, noninvasive angiography techniques and the escalating use of vasoactive drugs, it is likely that clinicians will encounter more patients with vasoconstriction-induced stroke. This article reviews the history, clinical and radiological characteristics, differential diagnosis, and management of cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes.
Global optimization of neural network-based electrothermal model for GaN transistors

This paper presents an efficient artificial neural network (ANN) electrothermal modeling approach applied to GaN devices. Global optimization based learning procedures, including genetic algorithm (GA), Multi-Verse (MV) and Moth-Flame (MF) have been implemented and validated. The three modeling approaches show a very good fitting for actual measurement with competitive results for recent MV and MF techniques with respect to the widely used GA one.
Peer and Parent Influences on Smoking and Drinking among Early Adolescents

Social influences can promote or discourage adolescent substance use. The authors surveyed 4,263 sixth- to eighth-grade students to assess the effect of peer and parent influences on adolescent substance use. The authors conducted separate multiple logistic regression analyses for smoking and drinking, controlling for grade, sex, and race. Positive independent associations with smoking and drinking were found for direct peer pressure and associating with problem-behaving friends. Independent negative associations with smoking and drinking were also found for parent involvement, parent expectations, and parent regard. In an analysis of interactions, peer pressure was positively associated with drinking for girls but not for boys and problem-behaving friends was positively associated with drinking for both boys and girls. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that associating with deviant peers promotes and that authoritative parenting protects against smoking and drinking.
Enterococcus faecalis OG1RF:pMV158 Survives and Proliferates in the House Fly Digestive Tract

ABSTRACT Enterococcus faecalis is an important nosocomial pathogen and house flies have been implicated in the dissemination of this bacterium. In this study, GFP-expressing E. faecalis OG1RF:pMV158 was used to track the fate of the bacterium in the digestive tract of the house fly, Musca domestica (L.) to assess the vector potential of this insect for E. faecalis. Colony forming unit (CFU) counts were obtained from viable fluorescing E. faecalis recovered from mouthparts and digestive tract regions (labelum, foregut, midgut, and hindgut) at 1, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after the bacterial exposure. Bacterial counts were significantly highest in the midgut at 1 h and 4 h and declined during the first 24 h. In the labelum, E. faecalis concentrations were low within the first 24 h and then greatly increased. Bacterial counts and direct observations of the digestive tract under a dissecting microscope with ultra violet light revealed that E. faecalis peaked in the crop after 48 h and remained high until the end of the experiment. Concentrations of E. faecalis in the hindgut were low when compared with other parts of the digestive tract. Microscopy and CFU counts suggest that E. faecalis was digested in the midgut but proliferated in the crop. Both drinking water and feed (flaked corn) sampled at the end of the assay (96 h) were contaminated by fluorescing E. faecalis, demonstrating that the flies disseminated E. faecalis. Our data support the notion that house flies can act as a bioenhanced vector for bacteria.
First trimester insulin resistance and subsequent preeclampsia: a prospective study.

Insulin resistance is implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, but prospective data are limited. SHBG, a marker of insulin resistance among nonpregnant individuals, has not been studied in detail during pregnancy. We conducted a prospective, nested, case-control study to test the hypothesis that increased insulin resistance, marked by reduced first trimester SHBG levels, is associated with increased risk of subsequent preeclampsia. First trimester SHBG levels were measured in 45 nulliparous women who subsequently developed preeclampsia (blood pressure, > or =140/90 mm Hg; proteinuria, either > or =2+ by dipstick or > or =300 mg/24 h, after 20 wk gestation) and in 90 randomly selected normotensive nulliparous controls. Compared with controls, women who developed preeclampsia had significantly reduced first trimester SHBG levels (302 +/- 130 vs. 396 +/- 186 nmol/liter; P < 0.01). Every 100 nmol/liter increase in SHBG was associated with a 31% reduced risk of preeclampsia [odds ratio (OR), 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.55, 0.88; P < 0.01]. After adjusting for covariates in a multiple logistic regression model, the association between first trimester SHBG and preeclampsia remained significant (per 100 nmol/liter increase; OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47, 0.92; P = 0.01). When subjects were stratified by body mass index (lean: body mass index, < 25 kg/m(2); overweight: body mass index, > or =25 kg/m(2)), overweight women had lower SHBG levels than lean women (286 +/- 156 vs. 410 +/- 166 nmol/liter; P < 0.01), and within each stratum, women with preeclampsia had lower SHBG levels than their respective controls. In a multivariable analysis, the association between SHBG and preeclampsia strengthened among lean women, such that every 100 nmol/liter increase in serum SHBG was associated with a 55% reduction in the risk of preeclampsia (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27, 0.77; P < 0.01), whereas in overweight women, the association was mitigated (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.62, 1.69; P = 0.9). We conclude that increased early pregnancy insulin resistance is independently associated with subsequent preeclampsia. First trimester SHBG levels may be a useful biomarker for preeclampsia, especially among lean women who otherwise would be perceived to be at low risk.
Computer Simulations of a Humanoid Robot Capable of Walking Like Fashion Models

Conventional humanoid robots are unable to exhibit the kind of rolling movements at the waist and the body trunk stereotypically associated with the walking style of adult females. For example, a conventional robot cannot perform the walk known as “the catwalk” commonly seen in fashion shows. We developed a control method that allows a realistically simulated adult-size humanoid robot to exhibit a stable dynamic walk with features (such as catwalk, rolling trunk and waist motions, knee stretch walking, etc.) commonly exhibited by fashion models. Our method has the potential to be used in feminized robots in the fashion, advertisement and entertainment industries.
Proximity effect in superconductor-insulator-superconductor Josephson tunnel junctions: Theory and experiment.

A microscopic model of the proximity effect in superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SS'IS"S) Josephson tunnel junctions has been developed for the general case of the finite critical temperature of the S' (S") metal, arbitrary SS' (SS") boundary transparency and the strength of the proximity effect between S and S' (respectively S and S"). The metals are assumed to be in the dirty limit and the thickness of the proximity layer is assumed to be small compared to its coherence length. The electrical properties of the SS'IS"Sjunction are calculated as a function of the strength of the proximity effect, boundary transparency, critical temperature ratio, and temperature. The experimentally determined electrical characteristics of a series of Nb/Al&, Al oxide, A12/Nb junctions with varying thickness d& of the Al& layer were interpreted with this model. The current-voltage characteristics and the temperature dependence of the critical current and sum-gap voltage could be described quantitatively well without any other correction than the non-BCS ratio 50/k&T, =1.93 of Nb. Deviations from the model for the junctions with the largest d & are attributed to the fact that the Nb and Al are not fully in the dirty limit and d& is not small compared to the coherence length.
Food Physics and Food Safety-Some Aspects in Food Processing and Food Quality Control

The article deals with special questions of some aspects of food safety and application of methods of food physics in food processing and also in food quality control and quality assurance. The role of food safety has developed significantly in the last 2 decades, so today the production and processing of safe and quality food is of primary importance. Modern food production is based on principles of GAP and GMP (including GHP) and different methods and tools for quality control and assurance (IFS, HACCP, ISO-9000, ISO-9000/2010, ISO-22000, TQM). There are different techniques and methods to produce safe food and to control the quality of the foodstuffs. The modern, up-to-date technologies and measurement techniques involve the application of many physical methods-high pressure, pulsing electrical field, microwave, non-destructive techniques (e.g., INAA, NMR, NIR-NIT, PAS), radiation treatments as well. Using radiation technologies (of course not only nuclear ones) it is possible to fulfil some very important expectations of modern food processing, e.g., decrease of microbial contamination, improvement of sensory properties, increase of storability of food products.
Apoptosis modulation of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 in the epithelial cell line HeLa is stimulus-dependent.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is required for viral transformation and has been shown to protect lymphocytes from apoptosis. However, the effect of LMP1 on cells of epithelial origin remains poorly understood. Using the epithelial cell line HeLa in which the expression of LMP1 is inducibly regulated by tetracycline, we demonstrate that apoptosis triggered by ligation of the death receptor, Fas, or by the chemotherapeutic agent, etoposide, is potentiated by LMP1. Apoptosis was assessed by nuclear condensation and activation of caspase-3-like enzymes with concomitant proteolysis of the nuclear caspase substrate, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, the effect of LMP1 in HeLa cells appeared to be stimulus-dependent since apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was inhibited. Moreover, we observed an upregulation of the zinc finger protein A20 and a decrease in expression of Bcl-2 upon induction of LMP1 in HeLa cells. Taken together, these data further our understanding of the function of LMP1 in epithelial cells and suggest that LMP1, similar to its mammalian homolog CD40, can exert opposing effects on cell survival depending on the nature of the apoptosis trigger.
Effects of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of Erythromycin, Clindamycin, and Pristinamycin on the penicillinase production of Staphlyococcus aureus

The influence of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of erythromycin, clindamycin, and pristinamycin on the penicillinase production of Staphylococcus aureus was tested in 12 strains. Of the 36 experiments performed, 16 (44%) showed a lack of influence, 10 (28%) displayed an increase, and 10 revealed a decrease in penicillinase activity. The maximal effect produced was generally induced by concentrations ranging from 1/4 to 1/32 the minimal inhibitory concentration, irrespective of the susceptibility of the strain to the drug. In spite of the fact that the drugs are closely related, they sometimes produced opposite effects on the same strain.
Development of Autoimmune Diabetes in NOD Mice Is Associated With the Formation of Peroxynitrite in Pancreatic Islet β-Cells

Peroxynitrite (ONOO−) is a highly reactive oxidant species produced by the reaction of the free radicals superoxide (O2·–) and nitric oxide (NO·). Here we report a marked increase in nitrotyrosine (NT), a marker of peroxynitrite, in islet cells from NOD mice developing spontaneous autoimmune diabetes. By using specific antibodies and immunohistochemical methods, we found that NT-positive cells were significantly more frequent in islets from acutely diabetic NOD mice (22 ± 6%) than in islets from normoglycemic NOD mice (7 ± 1%) and control BALB/c mice (2 ± 1%). The NT+ cells in islets were identified to be macrophages and also β-cells. Most of the β-cells in islets from acutely diabetic NOD mice were NT+ (73 ± 8%), whereas significantly fewer β-cells were NT+ in islets from normoglycemic NOD mice (18 ± 4%) and BALB/c mice (5 ± 1%). Also, the percentage of β-cells in islets from NOD mice (normoglycemic and diabetic) correlated inversely with the frequency of NT+ β-cells. This study demonstrates for the first time that peroxynitrite, a reaction product of superoxide and nitric oxide, is formed in pancreatic islet β-cells of NOD mice developing autoimmune diabetes. This suggests that both oxygen and nitrogen free radicals contribute to β-cell destruction in IDDM via peroxynitrite formation in the islet β-cells.
The snoRNA HBII-52 Regulates Alternative Splicing of the Serotonin Receptor 2C

The Prader-Willi syndrome is a congenital disease that is caused by the loss of paternal gene expression from a maternally imprinted region on chromosome 15. This region contains a small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA), HBII-52, that exhibits sequence complementarity to the alternatively spliced exon Vb of the serotonin receptor 5-HT2CR. We found that HBII-52 regulates alternative splicing of 5-HT2CR by binding to a silencing element in exon Vb. Prader-Willi syndrome patients do not express HBII-52. They have different 5-HT2CR messenger RNA (mRNA) isoforms than healthy individuals. Our results show that a snoRNA regulates the processing of an mRNA expressed from a gene located on a different chromosome, and the results indicate that a defect in pre-mRNA processing contributes to the Prader-Willi syndrome.
Differences in the G/total actin ratio and microfilament stability between normal and malignant human keratinocytes

The state of polymerization of actin and the organization of actin filaments is widely believed to be related to cellular transformation. Since the intracellular monomer (G) and filamentous (F) actin content reflects the state of microfilament polymerization, we measured the G/total actin ratio in primary cultures of normal and malignant human keratinocytes. In normal keratinocytes the mean value of this ratio was 0·30 ± 0·03 (mean ± SE, n = 15), while in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) keratinocytes it was 0·49 ± 0·03 (n = 8) and in squamous cell carcinoma keratinocytes (SCC) 0·5 ± 0·07 (n = 4), indicating a 1·7‐fold increase of the G/total actin ratio in malignant cells. These results imply that the proportion of polymerized actin is decreased markedly in malignant keratinocytes, suggesting alterations of microfilament structures which probably occur during the transformation process. This was supported by the morphological changes of microfilament structures as assessed by fluorescence microscopy. A different distribution of actin filaments in normal and malignant cells became evident; stress‐fibres were converging in patches at several points in SCC cells, when compared to normal keratinocytes. Furthermore, incubation of normal and malignant keratinocytes with cytochalasin B indicated differences in the resistance of their microfilament networks. After 1 h exposure to 10−6 and 10−5 M cytochalasin B, microfilaments in normal cells appeared to be less affected than their counterparts in neoplastic cells. Even in a high excess of cytochalasin B (10−4 M), normal keratinocytes preserved their shape, while both basal cell and SCC were totally disrupted. We concluded that the G/total actin ratio was significantly increased in malignant keratinocytes. This seems to be correlated with altered microfilament morphology and resistance to cytochalasin B treatment. Our results suggest that the process of malignant transformation may be characterized by changes in the state of the polymerization of actin and in the stability of the microfilament network indicating that both features could potentially serve as markers determine the transformed state of keratinocytes.
Randomized clinical trials of hemodilution in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract– The effects of hemodilution in acute ischemic stroke have been investigated, first in a single‐center, then in a multicenter trial. Patients with hematocrit levels of 38–50% were randomized, within 48 h of onset of symptoms, to treatment with repeated venesections (total 250–1000 ml) and concomitant dextran 40 administation, or to a control group. The single‐center study, performed in a research‐oriented stroke unit, involved 102 patients. Case fatality rate was not grossly affected by hemodilution. In survivors, hemodilution improved neurological outcome. More hemodiluted patients were independent in walking and more were at home 3 months after the stroke. The ensuing multicenter trial involved 383 patients in 15 Scandinavian centers. Three‐month case fatality rate was 16% in hemodiluted and 12% in control patients. Neurological scoring and ADL performance at 3 months was not improved by hemodilution. No subgroup with beneficial effects was discerned. It is concluded that the present standardized hemodilution regime cannot be recommended for general use in patients with ischemic stroke.
Toward the development of vectored vaccines in compliance with evolutionary medicine

Immunity is a result of coevolution between the immune system and pathogens. Microbes have evolved multiple strategies to evade, confuse or inhibit the immune defense mechanism in order to proliferate in a biological shelter. The immune system must counter microbial invasions by eliciting protective immunity without inducing autoimmune disorders that could dampen species survival. Vaccination activates the immune system by mimicking a microbial invasion without the harmful, sometimes fatal, consequences of an infection. Vaccine design can potentially exploit pathogens’ weaknesses, thus tipping the scales of coevolution toward defeating pathogens at their own game.
Pharmacodynamic considerations of small molecule targeted therapy for treating B-cell malignancies in the elderly

Introduction: Small molecule inhibitors are currently in various stages of preclinical and clinical trials and are expected to revolutionize the treatment of many neoplastic diseases, including B-cell lymphoid malignancies. Areas covered: This article reviews the chemical structure, mechanisms of action, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, as well as clinical applications of small molecules in the treatment of elderly patients with B-cell hematological malignancies. Bibliographic research covering mainly the period from 2010 until February 2015 was conducted on the MEDLINE database for articles in English. Proceedings of the American Society of Hematology, European Hematology Association and American Society of Clinical Oncology conferences held during the last 5 years were also included. Expert opinion: In the last few years, several preclinical and clinical trials have evaluated many small weight organic molecules which downregulate B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling and act via inhibition of either BCR-associated kinases or cyclin-dependent kinases, or which are antagonists of members of the B-cell lymphoma 2 protein family. Pharmacokinetic profiles of these agents as well as dosage used and adverse events in patients with lymphoid malignancies have been established. Some of these inhibitors satisfy therapeutic modalities as suitable for the elderly patients, including those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams over Ethernet Networks

The minimum length of the data field of a packet sent over an Ethernet is 1500 octets, thus the maximum length of an IP datagram sent over an Ethernet is 1500 octets. Implementations are encouraged to support full-length packets. Gateway implementations MUST be prepared to accept full-length packets and fragment them if necessary. If a system cannot receive full-length packets, it should take steps to discourage others from sending them, such as using the TCP Maximum Segment Size option [4].
Desmutualização, Abertura de Capital e Fusão da Bovespa e BM&F: uma Análise das suas Vantagens, Desvantagens e Consequências

Seguindo uma tendencia mundial de busca por competitividade, avancos tecnologicos e principalmente de atuacao, o segmento de bolsas de valores esta se reestruturando para atender a dinâmica do mercado mundial, caminhando em direcao a sua consolidacao. O objetivo deste artigo e analisar as vantagens, desvantagens e consequencias da desmutualizacao, da abertura de capital e da fusao da Bovespa e BMF por outro, resultaram em uma instituicao com poder tecnologico, operacional e financeiro com potencial de expansao local, por meio da oferta de novos produtos e servicos, e regional, por meio de aquisicoes de outras bolsas na America Latina. Alem disso, consolidou o segmento bursatil do pais.