Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Interventions at Structural, Community, Interpersonal, Individual, and Multiple Levels

Gender-based violence (GBV) disproportionately impacts women and girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This review described the characteristics of structural, community, interpersonal, individual, and multilevel GBV interventions in LMIC and examined components of interventions implemented at different socio-ecological levels. We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature on GBV intervention evaluation studies in LMIC using the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, Academic Search Ultimate, PsycInfo, and Web of Science. The search resulted in 3,256 articles, with 60 articles meeting the eligibility criteria. Thirty-eight articles reported positive GBV outcomes with significant differences between intervention and control arms on at least one GBV outcome. Very few interventions were found to be stand-alone GBV interventions. The key components of interventions effective in addressing victimization and perpetration across levels were education or psychoeducation, psychotherapy, skills development, gender transformative activities, community engagement, focus on men and/or partners, and health promotion activities such as HIV or STI prevention. Most interventions were multilevel, with positive outcomes for victimization. Fewer evidence-based interventions existed for addressing perpetration. There is need for additional research using rigorous methods to establish an evidence base for effective interventions in under-researched regions in LMIC as well as for interventions that address perpetration of GBV.
Processing and analysis of 2.5D face models for non-rigid mapping based face recognition using differential geometry tools

This Ph.D thesis work is dedicated to 3D facial surface analysis, processing as well as to the newly proposed 3D face recognition modality, which is based on mapping techniques. Facial surface processing and analysis is one of the most important steps for 3Dface recognition algorithms. Automatic anthropometric facial features localization also plays an important role for face localization, face expression recognition, face registration ect. , thus its automatic localization is a crucial step for 3D face processing algorithms. In this work we focused on precise and rotation invariant landmarks localization, which are later used directly for face recognition. The landmarks are localized combining local surface properties expressed in terms of differential geometry tools and global facial generic model, used for face validation. Since curvatures, which are differential geometry properties, are sensitive to surface noise, one of the main contributions of this thesis is a modification of curvatures calculation method. The modification incorporates the surface noise into the calculation method and helps to control smoothness of the curvatures. Therefore the main facial points can be reliably and precisely localized (100% nose tip localization using 8 mm precision)under the influence of rotations and surface noise. The modification of the curvatures calculation method was also tested under different face model resolutions, resulting in stable curvature values. Finally, since curvatures analysis leads to many facial landmark candidates, the validation of which is time consuming, facial landmarks localization based on learning technique was proposed. The learning technique helps to reject incorrect landmark candidates with a high probability, thus accelerating landmarks localization. Face recognition using 3D models is a relatively new subject, which has been proposed to overcome shortcomings of 2D face recognition modality. However, 3Dface recognition algorithms are likely more complicated. Additionally, since 3D face models describe facial surface geometry, they are more sensitive to facial expression changes. Our contribution is reducing dimensionality of the input data by mapping3D facial models on to 2D domain using non-rigid, conformal mapping techniques. Having 2D images which represent facial models, all previously developed 2D face recognition algorithms can be used. In our work, conformal shape images of 3Dfacial surfaces were fed in to 2D2 PCA, achieving more than 86% recognition rate rank-one using the FRGC data set. The effectiveness of all the methods has been evaluated using the FRGC and Bosphorus datasets.
Quantitative Measurement of Cooperativity in H-Bonded Networks

Cooperative H-bonding interactions are a feature of supramolecular networks involving alcohols. A family of phenol oligomers, in which the hydroxyl groups form intramolecular H-bonds, was used to investigate this phenomenon. Chains of intramolecular H-bonds were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in solution and X-ray crystallography in the solid state. The phenol oligomers were used to make quantitative measurements of the effects of the intramolecular interactions on the strengths of intermolecular H-bonding interactions between the H-bond donor on the end of the chain and a series of H-bond acceptors. Intramolecular H-bonding interactions in the chain increase the strength of a single intermolecular H-bond between the terminal phenol and quinuclidine by up to 14 kJ mol–1 in the n-octane solution. Although the magnitude of the effect increases with the length of the H-bonded chain, the first intramolecular H-bond has a much larger effect than subsequent interactions. H-bond cooperativity is dominated by pairwise interactions between nearest neighbors, and longer range effects are negligible. The results were used to develop a simple model for cooperativity in H-bond networks using an empirical parameter κ to quantify the sensitivity of the H-bond properties of a functional group to polarization. The value of κ measured in these systems was 0.33, which means that formation of the first H-bond increases the polarity of the next H-bond donor in the chain by 33%. The cumulative cooperative effect in longer H-bonded chains reaches an asymptotic value, which corresponds to a maximum increase in the polarity of the terminal H-bond donor of 50%.
Overexpression of miR‐383‐3p protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury via regulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT signal pathway

MicroRNAs are widely reported as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases. This study is aimed to expound on the regulatory responsibility of miR‐383‐3p in H/R‐induced injury of H9c2 cells. In this study, H9c2 cells were administrated with H/R. MiR‐383‐3p expression was measured using qRT‐PCR. ELISA was used to determine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected with 2,7‐Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe. 3‐(4,5)‐dimethylthiahiazo (‐z‐y1)‐3,5‐di‐ phenytetrazoliumromide, flow cytometry, and TUNEL experiments were conducted to measure cell viability and apoptosis. Cleaved caspase‐3, caspase‐3, Bax, Bcl‐2, PTEN, PI3K, p‐PI3K, Akt, p‐AKT expression levels were examined by Western blot. Cleaved caspase‐3 expression was also measured by immunofluorescence staining. Dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay was applied to validate the binding sites in miR‐383‐3p and the 3′UTR of PTEN. We reported that, miR‐383‐3p expression in H9c2 cells treated with H/R was remarkably decreased. MiR‐383‐3p overexpression ameliorated oxidative stress and apoptosis and promoted cell viability in H9c2 cells treated with H/R, while miR‐383‐3p inhibitor showed the reverse effects. PTEN was identified as a target gene of miR‐383‐3p. Additionally, enhancement of PTEN expression abolished the influences of miR‐383‐3p on H9c2 cells. MiR‐383‐3p mimics could significantly decrease PTEN expression in H9c2 cells while increasing p‐PI3K expression and p‐AKT expression, while the miR‐383‐3p inhibitors showed the opposed effects. In conclusion, miR‐383‐3p protected H9c2 cells from H/R‐induced injury via regulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT signal pathway.
Acute Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Rest Redistribution With Heavier Loads in Resistance-Trained Men

Abstract Chae, S, Hill, DW, Bailey, CA, Moses, SA, McMullen, SM, and Vingren, JL. Acute physiological and perceptual responses to rest redistribution with heavier loads in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res 37(5): 994–1000, 2023—The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of rest redistribution with heavier loads (RR + L) on physiological and perceptual responses in resistance-trained men. Eight men who had back squat (BS) 1 repetition maximum (1RM) to body mass ratio; 1.8 ± 0.2 completed 2 BS exercise sessions in a counterbalanced and a randomized order; RR + L: 4 sets of (2 × 5) repetitions with 90-second interset rest and 30-second intraset rest using 75% BS 1RM and traditional sets (TS): 4 sets of 10 repetitions with 120-second interset rest using 70% BS 1RM. Blood samples were collected before exercise, immediately post exercise, and 5, 15, and 30 minutes post exercise for the analysis of growth hormone (GH), total testosterone (TT), cortisol (C), and blood lactate (BL), whereas rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate (HR) were measured immediately after each set of the BS exercise. While neither main effect of condition nor interaction existed, there was a significant (p < 0.05) main effect of time point (and set) for GH, TT, C, BL, RPE, and HR. Volume load was greater for RR + L compared with TS (4,074.9 ± 786.7 kg vs. 3,796.3 ± 714.8 kg). In conclusion, RR + L increases volume load by approximately 7% but does not seem to influence GH (g = −0.15), TT (g = −0.09), BL (g = −0.22), RPE (g = 0.14), and HR (g = −0.08) responses. Practitioners may consider using RR + L to increase volume load without increasing acute fatigue responses.
Molecular and morphological description of a novel microsporidian Inodosporus fujiokai n. sp. infecting both salmonid fish and freshwater prawns

Abstract A new microsporidian disease of cultured rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss has recently been confirmed in Japan, and the causative species was tentatively designated as Microsporidium sp. RBT-2021. Involvement of common prawn Palaemon paucidens in its transmission was suggested based on the previous feeding trials, although the microsporidian infection in P. paucidens was not confirmed. In this study, P. paucidens in Lake Biwa, Japan was investigated for microsporidian infection and 4 types of spores (types 1–4) were newly found. The nucleotide sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was identical between type 1 and Microsporidium sp. RBT-2021, indicating they are conspecific. However, intriguingly, the spore morphology and the mode of development in fish and prawn were strikingly different. Morphological observations revealed type 1 in the prawn possesses characteristics of the genus Inodosporus Overstreet and Weidner, 1974, while Microsporidium sp. RBT-2021 in the trout exhibited the characteristics of the genus Kabatana Lom, Dyková and Tonguthai, 2000. In the phylogeny, type 1 was placed within a clade comprising Kabatana spp. and Inodosporus octosporus. Based on the morphological and molecular analyses, we describe Microsporidium sp. RBT-2021 as Inodosporus fujiokai n. sp. Together with the success of the previous prawn-feeding trials, this study strongly suggests I. fujiokai n. sp. has a multi-host life cycle utilizing fish and crustacean hosts and different modes of development in each host. Such polymorphic life cycle has barely been known among fish microsporidians. This study also suggests that the genus Kabatana is a junior synonym of the genus Inodosporus.
Do Treg Speed Up with CARs? Chimeric Antigen Receptor Treg Engineered to Induce Transplant Tolerance

Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg) can induce transplant tolerance in preclinical models by suppressing alloantigen-directed inflammatory responses; clinical translation was so far hampered by the low abundance of Treg with allo-specificity in the peripheral blood. In this situation, ex vivo engineering of Treg with a T-cell receptor (TCR) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) provides a cell population with predefined specificity that can be amplified and administered to the patient. In contrast to TCR-engineered Treg, CAR Treg can be redirected toward a broad panel of targets in an HLA-unrestricted fashion‚ making these cells attractive to provide antigen-specific tolerance toward the transplanted organ. In preclinical models, CAR Treg accumulate and amplify at the targeted transplant, maintain their differentiated phenotype, and execute immune repression more vigorously than polyclonal Treg. With that, CAR Treg are providing hope in establishing allospecific, localized immune tolerance in the long term‚ and the first clinical trials administering CAR Treg for the treatment of transplant rejection are initiated. Here, we review the current platforms for developing and manufacturing alloantigen-specific CAR Treg and discuss the therapeutic potential and current hurdles in translating CAR Treg into clinical exploration.
Heat shock factor HSF1 regulates BDNF gene promoters upon acute stress in the hippocampus, together with pCREB

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a master stress‐responsive transcriptional factor, protecting cells from death. However, its gene regulation in vivo in the brain in response to neuronal stimuli remains elusive. Here, we investigated its direct regulation of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (Bdnf) in response to acute neuronal stress stimuli in the brain. The results of immunohistochemistry and chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR (ChIP‐qPCR) showed that administration of kainic acid (a glutamate receptor agonist inducing excitotoxity) to young adult mice induced HSF1 nuclear translocation and its binding to multiple Bdnf promoters in the hippocampus. Footshock, a physical stressor used for learning, also induced HSF1 binding to selected Bdnf promoters I and IV. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of HSF1 gene regulation in response to neuronal stimuli in the hippocampus in vivo. HSF1 binding sites (HSEs) in Bdnf promoters I and IV were also detected when immunoprecipitated by an antibody of phosphorylated (p)CREB (cAMP‐responsive element‐binding protein), suggesting their possible interplay in acute stress‐induced Bdnf transcription. Interestingly, their promoter binding patterns differed by KA and footshock, suggesting that HSF1 and pCREB orchestrate to render fine‐tuned promoter control depending on the types of stress. Further, HSF1 overexpression increased Bdnf promoter activity in a luciferase assay, while virus infection of constitutively active‐form HSF1 increased levels of BDNF mRNA and protein in vitro in primary cultured neurons. These results indicated that HSF1 activation of Bdnf promoter was sufficient to induce BDNF expression. Taken together, these results suggest that HSF1 promoter‐specific control of Bdnf gene regulation plays an important role in neuronal protection and plasticity in the hippocampus in response to acute stress, possibly interplaying with pCREB.
Optimization of bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum using Response Surface Methodology.

Bacteriocin production is influenced by various factors such as carbon and nitrogen sources as well as fermentation conditions including pH, temperature, and agitation-these factors aid in optimizing bacteriocin production and improving its inhibitory activity against pathogens for great economic significance. The study investigates the effect of growth conditions on bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum. The response surface methodology was applied to optimize and determine the interaction among the process variables in bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus plantarum and determine their optimum levels. Chloroform-Methanol (2:1 v/v) was used for crude bacteriocin extraction through the liquid-liquid extraction method, and its antimicrobial activity was assessed. The sample has shown inhibitory activity against all the organism,s i.e., E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa good diffusion. Compared to control and ciprofloxacin, the sample at all concentrations (Lab 9, 1%, 2%, 3%) has shown better inhibitory activity in pH-7 and-8 at 37 °C against S.aureus in good diffusion. The selected factors were carbon and nitrogen source, temperature, and pH. The bacteriocin was produced at maximum activity in MRS broth supplemented with 1% dextrose and 1% ammonium nitrate. RSM analysis found that the optimal temperature for bacteriocin production was 36°C at a pH of 6.5 using 1% inoculum. At the same time, the increase in the percentage of inoculum (2% and 3%) did not affect bacteriocin production. The quadratic model found that temperature and pH profoundly affected bacteriocin production.
Pregnancy and birth outcomes among young women living with perinatally acquired HIV in Thailand and Vietnam

ABSTRACT We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pregnancy and infant outcomes in 670 adolescents and young adult women with perinatally acquired HIV (AYAPHIV), aged 15–24 years, in Thailand and Vietnam. Between January 2013 and December 2018, there were 52 pregnancies, for an incidence of 2.49 (95% CI 1.90-3.27) per 100 person-years. The median age at pregnancy was 17.7 years (IQR 16.8-18.9). Pregnant AYAPHIV had been on cART for a lifetime median of 9.8 years (IQR 7.3-12.4). At the time of conception, the median CD4 was 521 cells/mm3 (IQR 213-760), and 76% had HIV RNA ≤400 copies/ml. Of the 51 pregnancies with available outcomes, 90% resulted in live singleton births at a median gestational age of 38 weeks (IQR 37-39); 77% of mothers (n = 27/35) had HIV RNA ≤400 copies/ml at delivery. Among infants with available data, 50% (n = 21/42) were male and 29% (n = 12/42) were reported to be low birthweight (<2,500gm); none (n = 0/41) were breastfed. One infant was diagnosed with HIV. Our findings emphasize that efforts to strengthen reproductive health education, including contraception, pregnancy-related psychosocial support services, and prevention of vertical HIV transmission interventions, in our region are needed for adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV as they transition to young adults.
Family Function and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

Family function reflects the operating status of the family system, which plays a vital role in children’s mental health. The current meta-analysis examined the association between family function and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents for the first time. Studies published from 1980 to 2021 were identified via searching and screening. We identified 31 studies (91 unique effects) with 8,684 children. A three-level meta-analysis revealed that overall family function was negatively associated with PTSD (r = −0.205). Among elements of family function, family affect (r = −0.251), communication (r = −0.221), and cohesion (r = −0.184) were associated with less PTSD, whereas family conflict (r = 0.228) was associated with more PTSD in children. Family flexibility (r = −0.103) was not associated with PTSD. Moderator analyses revealed differences between various types of trauma events and family function scales. The findings highlight the differences in the roles of the elements of family function and suggest that interventions should be focused on targeting specific elements of family function.
Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) recommendations: strengths and concerns for future needs

ABSTRACT Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is already the third leading cause of death worldwide and simultaneously a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (also known as GOLD) committee, has been created in 1997 to increase the awareness regarding the burden of COPD. GOLD recommendations have been contributing to diagnosis, managementz, and therapy of COPD since 2001. Through these years, by reviewing published articles, GOLD aimed to provide state-of-the-art information not only for pulmonologists, but also for non-respiratory physicians, and to encourage research on COPD. From 2011, GOLD annual reports have changed the way of COPD evaluation from based entirely on spirometric parameters to more clinical indices, such as the assessment of symptoms and dyspnea alongside with exacerbations. Moreover, according to recent developments in pathophysiology of COPD, there is a trend in identifying new preclinical stages, contributing to prevention and early COPD treatment. In the field of therapeutic algorithms, changes turn to a more personalized approach. However, it is not clear in what extent this personalized disease management would be feasible and the real challenge for current recommendations is to include more patient characteristics such as comorbidities and multidimensional scores in disease evaluation.
Field theoretic description of partially reflective surfaces

The issue of electric charges in interaction with partially reflective surfaces is addressed by means of field theoretic methods. It is proposed an enlarged Maxwell lagrangian, describing the electromagnetic field in the presence of a semitransparent surface, and its corresponding photon propagator is computed exactly. The amended Green function reduces to the one for a perfect conductor in the appropriate limit, and leads to the interaction between charges and surfaces with varying degrees of transparency, featured by a phenomenological parameter. The interaction found via image method is recovered, in the limiting case of perfect mirrors, as a testimony to the validity of the model.
Recognising the risks: perceptions of higher education amongst young white British males from areas of educational disadvantages

ABSTRACT Comparatively few young white males from poorer backgrounds progress to university. This paper considers evidence gathered from a study that explores the educational ambitions of these young men from five areas of educational disadvantage in North West England, at two stages in their learner journeys. The first stage relates to school year 10 (14–15 year olds), as pupils work towards their level 2 qualifications. The second focuses on year 12 (16–17 year olds), as post-16 options are embarked upon and attention is turned to longer-term plans. What emerges from this study are a number of shared concerns over higher education as a destination. In supporting claims made in various other studies that have considered learners from widening participation backgrounds more generally, it is argued that these can be expressed in terms of costs. For this group, the potential benefits of HE must be weighed against a range of consequences that, in scale and extent, are unlikely to be encountered by their more affluent peers, and that may not be so acutely felt by those from some other under-represented populations. The study concludes by arguing that practitioners should acknowledge these consequences when developing outreach interventions for this group.