Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Benefit of Long-Term Disease Control with Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients

Background: We retrospectively analysed relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) patients treated with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (PomaD) either in real life, or previously enrolled in an interventional (STRATUS, MM-010) or currently enrolled in an observational study (MM-015) to provide further insights on safety and tolerability and clinical efficacy. Methods: Between July 2013 and July 2018, 76 RRMM patients (including 33 double refractory MM) received pomalidomide 4 mg daily given orally on days 1–21 of each 28-day cycle, and dexamethasone 40 mg weekly (≤75 years) or 20 mg weekly for patients aged > 75 years. In nine patients a third agent was added to increase the response: Cyclophosphamide (in two fit patients) or clarithromycin (in seven frail patients). Patients received subcutaneous filgrastim as part of the prophylaxis regimen for neutropenia. Results: A median number of six (range 2–21) PomaD cycles were given. The regimen was well tolerated with grade 3–4 haematological and non-haematological adverse events in 39 (51%) and 25 (33%) patients, respectively. In patients who developed serious AE, pomalidomide dose reduction (11%, 14%) or definitive discontinuation (18%, 23%) were applied. All patients have been evaluated for response within the first two cycles. The disease control rate (DCR), i.e., those patients that had a response equal or better than stable disease (≥ SD), was high (89%), with 44% overall response rate (ORR) after six cycles. The achieved best responses were complete remission (CR, 5%), very good partial remission (VGPR, 4%), partial remission (PR, 35%), minimal response (MR, 7%), and stable disease (SD, 38%). After a median follow up of 19.6 months, median progression free survival was 9.4 months, and overall survival (OS) was 19.02 months. Univariate analysis showed that double refractory patients, or who received more than three previous lines had shorter PFS. At 18 months, regardless of the depth of response, patients with a disease control of at least six months, defined as maintenance of a best clinical and/or biochemical response to treatment for almost six months, had prolonged PFS (35.3% versus 20.6%, p = 0.0003) and OS (81.2% versus 15.9%, p < 0.0001) Conclusions: Our findings indicate that PomaD is a safe and well-tolerated regimen in real-life, associated with prolonged PFS and OS with acceptable toxicity. Moreover, Pd induced disease control in most intensively pre-treated patients and some of them achieved longer PFS than that obtained with the previous treatment.
Phylogenetic analysis of parvoviruses isolated in Taiwan from ducks and geese

Two major outbreaks of parvovirus infection occurred in domestic waterfowls in Taiwan in the last two decades; the first was in 1982 and the second in 1989/1990. Parvoviruses isolated in the two outbreaks were sequenced between nucleotides 142 and 680 of the VP3 gene. Sequence comparisons reveal that these viruses could be divided into two groups respectively related to goose parvovirus (GPV) and Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV). Nucleotide differences between ''GPV'' and ''MDPV'' groups range from 16.2% to 19.4%. In comparison, the differences within the ''GPV'' group are only 0-6.5%, while those within the ''MDPV'' group are only 0.2-1.7%. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that parvoviruses isolated in the 1982 outbreak in Taiwan are all GPV-related, whereas those isolated in the 1989/1990 outbreak are all MDPV-related. GPV-related isolates from Taiwan were separated into two groups, Thai group and European group. In comparison, all MDPV-related isolates from Taiwan are clustered in a single group that is closely related to a French MDPV isolate. The MDPV-related infection in Taiwan occurred at almost the same time in 1989 as the MDPV outbreak in France. The close phylogenetic relationship between the ''MDPV'' Taiwanese isolates and the French MDPV isolate exhibited on the VP3 fragment investigated suggests that they should be compared more deeply, to look for a possible common origin. The MDPV-related 1985 isolate might be a candidate.
THE PREVALENCE RATE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ASYMPTOMATIC CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS AND NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE INFECTION AMONG A COHORT OF HIV-POSITIVE MEN IN THE U.S. MILITARY

OF THE THESIS The Prevalence Rate and Risk Factors Associated with Asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection among a Cohort of HIV-Positive Men in the U.S. Military by Oliver Neil Refugio Master of Public Health with a Concentration in Epidemiology San Diego State University, 2012 The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence rate and risk factors of asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) among a cohort of HIV-infected men in the military. A sample of 99 participants, showing no signs of either infection, were screened for CT and GC at three anatomic sites (urethra, rectum, and pharynx) using nucleic acid amplification testing, and were given a self-administered sexual behavior survey. The prevalence rate was found to be 24.4% for either infection, 20.7% for CT, and 9.6% for GC. The risk factors associated with infection were having male sex partners, sex at least once a week, engaging in anal sex, not engaging vaginal sex, not expecting monogamy in a serious relationship, having sex outside a serious relationship, and having sex mostly with casual friends. Among these knowingly HIV-infected men, only slightly more than 50% always used condoms during vaginal or anal sex, and only 13% during oral sex. This investigation provided evidence that these men were engaging in risky behaviors that could spread HIV, as well as other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which are also associated with an increased risk of HIV transmission. Further studies need to examine a larger sample of men and collect information on demographic characteristics (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, marital status) and HIV markers (e.g., viral load, CD4 count), which have been found to be predictors of STI coinfections among HIV-infected men in previous investigations.
Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis: multivariate analysis of biomarkers

Abstract Objective. To test if a combination of biomarkers can increase the classification power of autoantibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) depending on the diagnostic situation. Methods. Biomarkers were subject to three inclusion/exclusion criteria (discrimination between RA patients and healthy blood donors, ability to identify anti-CCP-negative RA patients, specificity in a panel with major non-rheumatological diseases) before univariate ranking and multivariate analysis was carried out using a modelling panel (n=906). To enable the evaluation of the classification power in different diagnostic settings the disease controls (n=542) were weighted according to the admission rates in rheumatology clinics modelling a clinic panel or according to the relative prevalences of musculoskeletal disorders in the general population seen by general practitioners modelling a GP panel. Results. Out of 131 biomarkers considered originally, we evaluated 32 biomarkers in this study, of which only seven passed the three inclusion/exclusion criteria and were combined by multivariate analysis using four different mathematical models. In the modelled clinic panel, anti-CCP was the lead marker with a sensitivity of 75.8% and a specificity of 94.0%. Due to the lack in specificity of the markers other than anti-CCP in this diagnostic setting, any gain in sensitivity by any marker combination is off-set by a corresponding loss in specificity. In the modelled GP panel, the best marker combination of anti-CCP and interleukin (IL)-6 resulted in a sensitivity gain of 7.6% (85.9% vs. 78.3%) at a minor loss in specificity of 1.6% (90.3% vs. 91.9%) compared with anti-CCP as the best single marker. Conclusions. Depending on the composition of the sample panel, anti-CCP alone or anti-CCP in combination with IL-6 has the highest classification power for the diagnosis of established RA.
Perceptions and Practices of Investment: China's hydropower investments in mainland Southeast Asia

China is one of the major investors in hydropower development in mainland Southeast Asia, yet Chinese involvement in hydropower varies across the region. Popular and expert viewpoints on China’s investment in hydropower also vary widely. Many government representatives and domestic investors see Chinese partners as a key source of the large amounts of foreign exchange that are critical to development and economic growth. At the same time, questions about the ‘dominance’ of Chinese projects in various sectors, as well as about the motives guiding Chinese investments have triggered substantial public concern, with anti-Chinese attitudes intensifying across the region. In this working paper, we build on the insights gained from existing work on Chinese investment in the region, such as the rising powers framework, to examine the situation of ‘practice and perception’ of Chinese investment in hydropower in Vietnam and Myanmar. In considering these investments and trends, we also caution reinforcing or mobilizing xenophobic narratives about China.
Daily genital cares of female gynecologists: a descriptive study.

INTRODUCTION Genital hygiene can play an essential role in avoiding vulvovaginal discomfort and preventing infections. The scientific evidence on best practices on genital hygiene is scarce, and without doubt, gynecologists should be the best person to discuss and guide the subject. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the general genital female gynecologist hygiene. METHODS This descriptive analytic study identified genital hygiene and sexual practices of 220 female gynecologists, through a questionnaire with 60 self-answered questions. The data were analyzed and presented using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. RESULTS The studied population was constituted by middle age (37.3 years) and white (71.3%) female gynecologists. More than a half (53.6%) declared spending over 10 hours a day away from home and complained of vaginal discharge in 48.1% of the cases. Regular vulvovaginal hygiene: 17.8% reported washing genitals once a day and 52% twice a day. The use of dry paper alone was reported in 66.4% post urination and 78.5% post-evacuation. Using running water and soap was practiced by 25.9% and 21.5% respectively. Vulvovaginal hygiene related to sex: More than half of them had intercourse 1-3 times a week, and 37.4% and 24.1% had frequent oral sex and eventually anal sexof the participants, respectively. Genital hygiene before sex was positive in 52.7% of the subjects and, post-sex hygiene in 78.5% of them. CONCLUSION Genital hygiene habits of female gynecologists can be improved, despite the high grade of scientific knowledge they hold.
Linking Gestures: Cross-Cultural Variation During Instructional Analogies

Deictic linking gestures, hand and arm motions that physically embody links being communicated between two or more objects in the shared communicative environment, are explored in a cross-cultural sample of mathematics instruction. Linking gestures are specifically examined here when they occur in the context of communicative analogies designed to link two distinct yet mutually informative representations. Video coding of eighth-grade mathematics lessons in the United States, Japan, and Hong Kong revealed that teachers in the higher achieving regions (Hong Kong and Japan) used reliably more linking gestures concurrent with verbal linkages than did U.S. teachers. Further, they were significantly more likely to tailor their gesture use to the recency of students’ experiences with source than U.S. teachers. The overall data align with growing evidence that U.S. teachers may not systematically capitalize on pedagogical opportunities to draw linkages between representations and that gestures may play a key role in doing so.
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis, brucellar arthritis and Behcets disease

In Behcet’s disease (BD) and Brucellosis, joint involvement is very common and it may share similarities with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) are evaluated as more specific autoantibodies than rheumatoid factor (RF) in RA. The aim of this study is to determine whether anti-CCP antibodies are useful in the differential diagnosis of RA from other arthritis or not. 153 serum samples were used in the study; 34 from RA patients, 26 from brucellar arthritis, 20 from BD with arthritis, 41 from BD without arthritis and 32 from healthy controls. In vitro quantitative, anti-CCP levels were measured by using fluoroenzyme-immunoassay (FEIA) method. Among RA patients, 73.5% were anti-CCP-positive and 70.5% were RF-positive. While there was a statistical difference in the anti-CCP and RF positivity rates between RA and brucellar arthritis patients, BD patients and healthy controls (p = 0.0001), there was no statistical difference between BD patients with arthritis and BD patients without arthritis. Also none of the Brucellar arthritispatients was positive for anti-CCP antibodies, one of them were positive for RF. Our results indicate that anti-CCP antibodies are not associated with brucellar arthritis or BD with joint involvement and since they show high specificity and good sensitivity for RA, they can be evaluated as a better marker than RF especially for the differentiation of RA from other types of arthritis such as BD and brucellar arthritis. Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis, Behcet's disease, brucellar arthritis, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, rheumatoid factor.
An Insight into the Simplified RP Transmission Network, Concise Baseline and SIR Models for Simulating the Transmissibility of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak

The World Health Organization has reported about a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) (a virus of Wuhan, China pneumonia). The present investigation explores the transmissibility of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) using some suitable mathematical models such as (a) a simplified Bats-Hosts-Reservoir (Wuhan Seafood Market)-People (BHRP) transmission network model useful in mapping the spread of the novel COVID-19 from its source (may be bats) to humans, (b) a concise baseline model based on individual behavioral response and control measures taken to control the transmission of the novel COVID-19 and (c) an exponential and the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) models to predict the transmission of the pandemic on day-to-day basis. The basic Reproduction number (R0) (for the next generation matrix) was derived to estimate the transmission of the novel COVID-19 using the simplified BHRP transmission network model. The logic estimates that around 2.30 persons could be affected by the reservoir and around 3.58 persons could be affected by the community (individual person to community population). On the other hand, the concise model based on real-time time-dependent data, such as day-to-day number of tests, appreciates the initiatives (control measures) of the Chinese government to break the transmission chain of the pandemic in the capital city of Hubei province. Furthermore, the basic Reproduction number (R0) for India is reviewed to be in the range between 1.4 and 3.9 using the classical SIR model and thus, the transmission rate is the same as that of California and Washington. The review also outlines the epidemiological SIR model (based on real-time time-dependent data) which estimates about the equilibrium stage of the pandemic by the last week of May, 2020. The predictions of the age-structured epidemiological SIR model could be more accurate if data such as day-to-day number of tests are correctly fed during evaluation of the results. The present investigation emphasizes over the need of effective implementation of mitigatory strategies such as social distancing to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV2 outbreak in India.
Ensayos de actividad antialimentaria sobre Tribolium castaneum y Sitophilus oryzae de algunos derivados del ent-kaureno

Bajo la premisa de la posible participacion del grupo hidroximetileno con orientacion ecuatorial sobre el carbono C4 y sus formas oxidadas carboximetilester y acido carboxilico en la actividad antialimentaria de derivados del kaurenol, se estudiaron los efectos de fagodepresion causada por el acido ent-kaurenico aislado de Baccharis trinervis y de cinco derivados esterificados y de los productos reducidos en C4 sobre dos especies de coleopteros, Sitophilus oryzae y Tribolium castaneum que afectan severamente varios cereales almacenados y sus harinas en todo el mundo. El esqueleto ent-kaurano fue derivatizado por metodos sinteticos en las posiciones C15, C16, C17 y C19 a partir del kaurenol obtenido de Espeletia semiglobulata, o del acido 15a-acetoxi-(-)-kaur-16-en19-oico y de 15a, 19a-dihidroxi-(-)-kaur-16-eno. A pesar de los efectos de fagoinhibicion observados en larvas de Spodoptera littoralis y S. frugiperda en trabajos anteriores, no se detecto actividad sobre los coleopteros mencionados en los ensayos de alimentacion de una via, aunque si hubo una fagodepresion moderada causada por el acido ent-kaurentico en el ensayo de dos vias.
The impact of foreign equity investment flows on integration of Asian emerging equity markets

The paper investigates the impact of foreign equity investment flows on the integration process of emerging markets with the global markets. Daily net foreign equity investment flow and return data for the four Asian emerging markets of India, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand for 2001-2007 is used in examining the long and short-run relationship with the global markets. The findings show that despite the instability of the correlation structure, there is a general trend towards greater integration. The cointegration analysis results suggest that the four Asian emerging markets are getting integrated with the global markets and the integration process is driven by the activities of the foreign investors. Findings confirm that the global markets have significant causal impact on returns of all four emerging markets and the foreign equity investment flows play a significant role in correcting the short-term deviations in the convergence process. Whilst the results are consistent with previous research, we find stronger evidence for the positive feedback hypothesis for all four markets. The results support the widely held view that foreign investors are high return chasers and extract information from recent returns. Our results also confirm the price pressure hypothesis which suggests that foreign equity investors are mainly responsible for the increase in the stock market valuations in the four Asian emerging markets. If this were to be true, the emerging markets may become increasingly vulnerable to the shocks in the volume of foreign equity investment flows and turn more volatile in future.
Effect of boron and zinc fertilization on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) in inceptisols of Arunachal Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted with ten treatments to study the effect of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) in Inceptisols of Arunachal Pradesh. Recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) applied was N, P2O5 and K2O @ 30, 60 and 50 kg ha−1, respectively. Growth parameters viz., plant height, branches per plant and dry matter yield were significantly influenced due to treatments effects. Maximum average plant height (55.8 cm), branches per plant (8.2) and dry matter yield (51.9 g plant−1) were recorded with application of RDF + 1.5 kg B ha−1 + 5 kg Zn ha−1 (T9). Nodules dry weight was significantly influenced by Zn treatment apart from B application. The highest amount of nodule formation (5.2 g plant−1) was recorded in T7 (RDF + 7.5 kg Zn ha−1). Maximum average seed yield (2.24 t ha−1) was also obtained in treatment T9 and minimum (1.41 t ha−1) in treatment T1 (RDF). The highest uptake of nitrogen (N) (180.5 kg ha−1), B (0.9 kg ha−1) and Zn (0.93 kg ha−1) was observed under treatment T9, whereas, the lowest uptake was observed under treatments T1. The maximum uptake of phosphorus (P) (20.4 kg ha−1) and potassium (K) (131.0 kg ha−1) was obtained with treatment T4 (RDF + 2 kg B ha−1) and least uptake of P (13.0 kg ha−1) and K (79.8 kg ha−1) was recorded under treatments T7 (RDF + 7.5 kg Zn ha−1). The soil organic carbon content, water holding capacity and available NPK significantly increased in most of the treatments after harvest of cowpea. However, the treatments had no significant influence on change of the soil pH.
Molecular Diversity Analysis in Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Using SSR Markers

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is one of the important perennial spice crop popularly known as “Indian saffron” belongs to family Zingiberaceae. It has chromosome number of 2n = 3x = 63. It is originated in South East Asia and among which, India has achieved a predominant position as a largest producer of turmeric in the world. Besides India, it is cultivated in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other tropical countries but the highest diversity is concentrated in India and Thailand (Hikmat et al., 2011). Over eighty species are reported in the genus Curcuma from the Indo-Malayan region, from which fourty are the indigenous ones. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world, which accounts for more than 50 per cent of the world trade (Chaudhary et al., 2006). The area under turmeric cultivation in India is 1,85,000 hectares with an annual production of 9,57,000 metric tons and productivity is 5.17 metric tons per hectare (Anonymous, 2016).
Opposing Mechanisms Involving Perceived Benefits versus Safety Partially Explained an Increase in COVID-19 Vaccination Intention among Unvaccinated Chinese Adults during a Post-Rollout Period: Results of Two Serial Surveys

Background: Perceptions related to COVID-19 vaccination are evolving over time, leading to potential changes in vaccination intention among unvaccinated people, which helps in the predictions of vaccination rates. This study investigated the changes in COVID-19 vaccination intention at the population level during a post-rollout period and two potential mechanisms underlying the change via the mediation/suppression effects that involve the perceived benefits/severe side effects of vaccination. Methods: Two serial random population-based telephone surveys interviewed 358 and 145 Chinese adults (aged 18–70) who were unvaccinated and who were unscheduled for COVID-19 vaccination, respectively, in May and August 2021 in Hong Kong, China. Results: The prevalence of vaccination intention increased from 14.5% to 22.8%, while the levels of perceived benefits (protection and travel-related advantages due to vaccination) and the perceived risk of severe side effects resulting from COVID-19 vaccination both significantly declined over time. Structural equation modeling found a simultaneous partial suppression effect via perceived benefits and a partial mediation effect via perceived severe side effects between the time when the surveys were conducted and COVID-19 vaccination intention, with adjustment for background factors. Conclusion: Perceptions related to COVID-19 vaccination are likely to change over time and partially account for changes in vaccination intention, sometimes in opposite directions. Ongoing health promotion may take such changes into account. Serial surveillance is warranted to monitor these changes.