nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Effects of clustered transmission on epidemic growth Comment on "Mathematical models to characterize early epidemic growth: A review" by Gerardo Chowell et al.
Venue: Physics of life reviews

Characterizing the early growth profile of an epidemic outbreak is key for predicting the likely trajectory of the number of cases and for designing adequate control measures. Epidemic profiles characterized by exponential growth have been widely observed in the past and a grounding theoretical framework for the analysis of infectious disease dynamics was provided by the pioneering work of Kermack and McKendrick  In particular, exponential growth stems from the assumption that pathogens spread in homogeneous mixing populations; that is, individuals of the population mix uniformly and randomly with each other. However, this assumption was readily recognized as highly questionable  and sub exponential profiles of epidemic growth have been observed in a number of epidemic outbreaks, including HIV/AIDS, foot and mouth disease, measles and, more recently, Ebola [3,4] In this systematic review  Chowell and colleagues assess which classes of mathematical models are adequate to deal with epidemic outbreaks characterized by sub exponential growth. They claim that "incorporating dynamic contact networks into models of disease spread may be required for modeling more realistic early epidemic growth profiles, while models based on static networks are expected to quickly approach an exponential growth regime in the absence of susceptible depletion or mitigation mechanisms" They argue that profiles of sub exponential growth might be induced by disease severity through a modification of the structure of the contact network, with sick individuals confined in households and hospitals, and hence limited transmission in other settings (e.g. school, workplace, leisure places) and reduced long distance interactions. I agree with the interpretation of Chowell and colleagues. Indeed, in my view there are, although very preliminary, empirical data supporting their conclusions. Their analysis consistently shows sub exponential growth of Ebola cases at different geographical scales in West Africa [3 5] From the comparative analysis of three chains of Ebola transmission in West Africa [6 8] a strikingly consistent pattern emerges: more than 70% of transmission events occurred among family members, and most of the remaining transmission events occurred among friends and health care workers. More in detail, 72% of cases were exposed in family or extended family in Conakry, Guinea [6] similar to the 74.3% estimated for Pujehun district, Sierra Leone [7] and to the 71.4% estimated for Montserrado, Liberia  Moreover, a modeling study conducted in Liberia  shows that in the first months of the epidemic, from June to mid August 2014, a fraction as a high as
Clinical impact of a 31 gene expression profile test for cutaneous melanoma in 156 prospectively and consecutively tested patients
Venue: Current medical research and opinion

DecisionDx Melanoma* is a 31 gene expression profile test that predicts the risk of metastasis in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma (CM) This study was designed to ascertain clinical management changes determined by the test outcome, which classifies CM patients being at low (Class 1) or high (Class 2) risk for recurrence.  Medical charts were reviewed from 156 CM patients from six institutions (three dermatology and three surgical oncology practices) who were consecutively tested between May 2013 and December 2015. Clinical management data that were compiled and compared before and after receipt of the 31 gene expression test result included frequency of physical exams, frequency and modality of imaging, and referrals to surgical and medical oncologists.  Forty two percent of patients were Stage I, 47% were Stage II and 8% were Stage III. Overall, 95 patients (61% were Class 1 and 61 (39% were Class 2. Documented changes in management were observed in 82 (53% patients, with the majority of Class 2 patients (77% undergoing management changes compared to 37% of Class 1 patients (p 0.0001 by Fisher's exact test) The majority (77/82, 94% of these changes were concordant with the risk indicated by the test result (p 0.0001 by Fisher's exact test) with increased management intensity for Class 2 patients and reduced management intensity for Class 1 patients.  Molecular risk classification by gene expression profiling has clinical impact and influences physicians to direct clinical management of CM patients. The vast majority of the changes implemented after the receipt of test results were reflective of the low or high recurrence risk associated with the patient's molecular classification. Because follow up data was not collected for this patient cohort, the study is limited for the assessment of the impact of gene expression profile based management changes on healthcare resource utilization and patient outcome.
The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean
Venue: Scientific reports

Most studies on buoyant microplastics in the marine environment rely on sea surface sampling. Consequently, microplastic amounts can be underestimated, as turbulence leads to vertical mixing. Models that correct for vertical mixing are based on limited data. In this study we report measurements of the depth profile of buoyant microplastics in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre, from 0 to 5 m depth. Microplastics were separated into size classes (0.5 1.5 and 1.5 5.0 mm) and types 'fragments' and 'lines' and associated with a sea state. Microplastic concentrations decreased exponentially with depth, with both sea state and particle properties affecting the steepness of the decrease. Concentrations approached zero within 5 m depth, indicating that most buoyant microplastics are present on or near the surface. Plastic rise velocities were also measured, and were found to differ significantly for different sizes and shapes. Our results suggest that (1) surface samplers such as manta trawls underestimate total buoyant microplastic amounts by a factor of 1.04 30.0 and (2) estimations of depth integrated buoyant plastic concentrations should be done across different particle sizes and types. Our findings can assist with improving buoyant ocean plastic vertical mixing models, mass balance exercises, impact assessments and mitigation strategies.
Metabolite profile of a mouse model of Charcot Marie Tooth type 2D neuropathy: implications for disease mechanisms and interventions
Venue: Biology Open

Marie Tooth disease encompasses a genetically heterogeneous class of heritable polyneuropathies that result in axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system. Charcot Marie Tooth type 2D neuropathy (CMT2D) is caused by dominant mutations in glycyl tRNA synthetase (GARS) Mutations in the mouse Gars gene result in a genetically and phenotypically valid animal model of CMT2D. How mutations in GARS lead to peripheral neuropathy remains controversial. To identify putative disease mechanisms, we compared metabolites isolated from the spinal cord of Gars mutant mice and their littermate controls. A profile of altered metabolites that distinguish the affected and unaffected tissue was determined. Ascorbic acid was decreased fourfold in the spinal cord of CMT2D mice, but was not altered in serum. Carnitine and its derivatives were also significantly reduced in spinal cord tissue of mutant mice, whereas glycine was elevated. Dietary supplementation with acetyl L carnitine improved gross motor performance of CMT2D mice, but neither acetyl L carnitine nor glycine supplementation altered the parameters directly assessing neuropathy. Other metabolite changes suggestive of liver and kidney dysfunction in the CMT2D mice were validated using clinical blood chemistry. These effects were not secondary to the neuromuscular phenotype, as determined by comparison with another, genetically unrelated mouse strain with similar neuromuscular dysfunction. However, these changes do not seem to be causative or consistent metabolites of CMT2D, because they were not observed in a second mouse Gars allele or in serum samples from CMT2D patients. Therefore, the metabolite 'fingerprint' we have identified for CMT2D improves our understanding of cellular biochemical changes associated with GARS mutations, but identification of efficacious treatment strategies and elucidation of the disease mechanism will require additional studies.  A metabolomics analysis of a mouse model of Charcot Marie Tooth type 2D neuropathy revealed a clear distinction between mutant and control samples, and the therapeutic potential of a subset of these changes was explored.
Attitudinal Differences within the Cultural Revolution Cohort: Effects of the Sent down Experience*
Venue: The China Quarterly

This study addresses whether individuals who were sent down during the Cultural Revolution reveal different political attitudes from those who were socialized during the same period but were not themselves sent down. Using data from the urban sample of the 2006 General Social Survey of China, the authors find evidence that formerly sent down youth and particularly sent down women as compared to their not sent down peers, are today more willing to accept the class struggle foundation of Mao's communist ideology but are, at the same time, more willing to assess the performance and structure of the communist regime critically.  De Biao Xian Yi Ji Qi Jie Gou Jin Xing Pi Pan
No Evidence of a Common DNA Variant Profile Specific to World Class Endurance Athletes
Venue: PloS one

There are strong genetic components to cardiorespiratory fitness and its response to exercise training. It would be useful to understand the differences in the genomic profile of highly trained endurance athletes of world class caliber and sedentary controls. An international consortium (GAMES) was established in order to compare elite endurance athletes and ethnicity matched controls in a case control study design. Genome wide association studies were undertaken on two cohorts of elite endurance athletes and controls (GENATHLETE and Japanese endurance runners) from which a panel of 45 promising markers was identified. These markers were tested for replication in seven additional cohorts of endurance athletes and controls: from Australia, Ethiopia, Japan, Kenya, Poland, Russia and Spain. The study is based on a total of 1520 endurance athletes (835 who took part in endurance events in World Championships and/or Olympic Games) and 2760 controls. We hypothesized that world class athletes are likely to be characterized by an even higher concentration of endurance performance alleles and we performed separate analyses on this subsample. The meta analysis of all available studies revealed one statistically significant marker (rs558129 at GALNTL6 locus, p 0.0002) even after correcting for multiple testing. As shown by the low heterogeneity index (I2 0) all eight cohorts showed the same direction of association with rs558129, even though p values varied across the individual studies. In summary, this study did not identify a panel of genomic variants common to these elite endurance athlete groups. Since GAMES was underpowered to identify alleles with small effect sizes, some of the suggestive leads identified should be explored in expanded comparisons of world class endurance athletes and sedentary controls and in tightly controlled exercise training studies. Such studies have the potential to illuminate the biology not only of world class endurance performance but also of compromised cardiac functions and cardiometabolic diseases.
A Study of Clinical Profile and Management of Patients with Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis Our Experience

The constrictive Pericarditis is a disabling condition but has a good prognosis if surgery is undertaken in time. Pericarditis can be seen as an effusive disease or progressive cardiac constriction. Patients have number of symptoms due to wide variety of causes. Good results for both effusive and constrictive Pericarditis have been reported by centers using different surgical approaches namely the anteriolateral thoracotomy and median sternotomy.  Data was obtained from review of 25 patients operated for constrictive Pericarditis for a period of 3 years clinical profile.  The patient's age ranged from 18 months to 45 years. Male to female ratio is 2:1. The presentation in the majority of cases is fairly typical with exertional dyspnoea Class Ill or 1V ascitis, hepatomegaly, raised JVP, pedal edema and pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Study spectrum consists of constrictive Pericarditis in 17 (68% cases, constrictive Pericarditis associated with pericardial effusions in 8 (32% cases. Constrictive Pericarditis associated with pleural effusions in 5 cases. Pyogenic Pericarditis was present in two cases of which in one case right sided empyema was present. SLE present in 2 cases. Exertional dyspnoea was present in 96% abdominal distension in 68% peripheral edema in 32% general cachexia in 30% orthopnoea in 7% of cases. Signs consist of muscle wasting and cachexia in 70% increased JVP 96% Hepatomegaly in 92% distant heart sounds in 88% Kussamaul's sign 96% peripheral edema 32% pericardial knock 56% pulsus paradoxsus 24% cases. Rajendra Prasad Potlabathini,  Profile and Management of Patients with Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis Our Experience. IAIM, 2016; 3(9) 140 147.  Pericarditis is a curable disease if diagnosed and treated in the early stages. If Pericardectomy is done early it reverts the hemodynamic alterations due to constrictive Pericarditis and also establishes the diagnosis of specific disease like tuberculosis by histopathology.
Honour killing as engendered violence against women in Amit Majmudar's Partitions (2011)

The 1947 Partition of British India, otherwise simply known as Partition, marked not only the births of India and Pakistan, but also one of modern history's largest human mass migrations, in which an estimated million died and thousands of women were subjected to horrifying acts of engendered violence. Scholars, such as Menon and Bhasin (1998) as well as Butalia (2000) have conceptualised engendered violence during Partition as a violation of women's bodies, sexualities and psyches by men in general, manifested in various forms ranging from abduction and rape to honour killing and bodily mutilations. However, this study is limited to examining how honour killing is depicted as a form of such violence in the novel Partitions (2011) by Amit Majmudar. More importantly, it examines how depictions of the honour killing of women during Partition in the selected text can also be read as manifestations of the negative underside of the concept of biopower conceptualised by Foucault, in which mass death and destruction are necessary to ensure the survival of future generations. This study reveals, based on textual evidence surrounding the botched honour killing of the character Simran Kaur, that the honour killing of women during Partition is due to the perception of the time, place and society that women, as well as their sexuality, are symbolic constructions of male honour. This subsequently leads to women being viewed by their own men folk as threats against the honour of their respective religions and communities in times of communal strife.  honour killing; 1947 Partition; engendered violence against women; Partition fiction in English; biopower DOI: http:/doi.org/10.17576/3L 2016 2201 17
Honor Killing of Women: A comparative study of the Pakistani Print Media

This research examines news coverage on honor killing. This study is the comparative study of the two mainstream print media outlets Jang and Khabrain. The time period has been chosen from January 2013 to March 2013.Content analysis was used to examine how honor killing news is presented in these two newspapers. this exploration about the honor killing news especially violence news about the women further advance the dynamics of the crime news reporting by gathering the useful information that how the reporters and the media agenda setters are treating this issue. Six main categories and five hypotheses were developed and tested. This research focused on how much print media of Pakistan gave importance to the news of honor killing. The social evils are highlighted in the press, dealing various issues about women, including honor killing, like arranged marriage, Love marriage, victim statement, Mal practice, victims of the Sexual assault, Karo Kari. Murder is another evil against women. The stone hearted people kill the innocent women when they feel they are shame for them.
Witches A Psychoanalytic Exploration Of The Killing Of Women

Thank you for downloading witches a psychoanalytic exploration of the killing of women. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have search numerous times for their favorite novels like this witches a psychoanalytic exploration of the killing of women, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some malicious bugs inside their laptop.
Punishing femicide: Criminal justice responses to the killing of women over four decades

The way in which nation states respond to femicide has become the focus of much attention in the past decade. The establishment of specialized police and prosecution units has been recommended and some countries have implemented specific legislation or criminal offences specific to femicide. Part of the challenge in moving beyond these legislative and policy initiatives is the dearth of reliable data that show how states are actually punishing crimes of femicide on the ground. Using data that document punishment outcomes in cases of femicide over four decades in Canada's most populous province, this article examines how punishments compare for female and male homicide victims, across femicide subtypes and over time. Results show that cases involving female victims attract more punitive court responses overall than cases with male victims. Second, intimate and familial femicides are treated more leniently at several stages than other femicides. Finally, there have been positive changes in the punishment of femicide over time, paralleling legislative and policy responses to violence against women in Canada. Priorities for future research that address the role played by dominant stereotypes in punishment related to particular types of femicide as well as some women's increased risk are highlighted.
Forecasting Word Model: Twitter based Influenza Surveillance and Prediction
Venue: COLING

Because of the increasing popularity of social media, much information has been shared on the internet, enabling social media users to understand various real world events. Particularly, social media based infectious disease surveillance has attracted increasing attention. In this work, we specifically examine influenza: a common topic of communication on social media. The fundamental theory of this work is that several words, such as symptom words (fever, headache, etc. appear in advance of flu epidemic occurrence. Consequently, past word occurrence can contribute to estimation of the number of current patients. To employ such forecasting words, one can first estimate the optimal time lag for each word based on their cross correlation. Then one can build a linear model consisting of word frequencies at different time points for nowcasting and for forecasting influenza epidemics. Experimentally obtained results (using 7.7 million tweets of August 2012 January 2016) the proposed model achieved the best nowcasting performance to date (correlation ratio 0.93) and practically sufficient forecasting performance (correlation ratio 0.91 in 1 week future prediction, and correlation ratio 0.77 in 3 weeks future prediction) This report is the first of the relevant literature to describe a model enabling prediction of future epidemics using Twitter.
Cannabinoid Type 2 (CB2) Receptors Activation Protects against Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation Associated Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in Rotenone Model of Parkinson's Disease
Venue: Front. Neurosci.

The cannabinoid type two receptors (CB2) an important component of the endocannabinoid system, have recently emerged as neuromodulators and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) The downregulation of CB2 receptors has been reported in the brains of PD patients. Therefore, both the activation and the upregulation of the CB2 receptors are believed to protect against the neurodegenerative changes in PD. In the present study, we investigated the CB2 receptor mediated neuroprotective effect of b caryophyllene (BCP) a naturally occurring CB2 receptor agonist, in, a clinically relevant, rotenone (ROT) induced animal model of PD. ROT (2.5 mg/kg BW) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p. once daily for 4 weeks to induce PD in male Wistar rats. ROT injections induced a significant loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and DA striatal fibers, following activation of glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) ROT also caused oxidative injury evidenced by the loss of antioxidant enzymes and increased nitrite levels, and induction of proinflammatory cytokines: IL 1b, IL 6 and TNF a, as well as inflammatory mediators: NF kB, COX 2, and iNOS. However, treatment with BCP attenuated induction of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators in ROT challenged rats. BCP supplementation also prevented depletion of glutathione concomitant to reduced lipid peroxidation and augmentation of antioxidant enzymes: SOD and catalase. The results were further supported by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry, which illustrated the rescue of the DA neurons and fibers subsequent to reduced activation of glial cells. Interestingly, BCP supplementation demonstrated the potent therapeutic effects against ROT induced neurodegeneration, which was evidenced by BCP mediated CB2 receptor activation and the fact that, prior administration of the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630 diminished the beneficial effects of BCP. The present study suggests that BCP has the potential therapeutic efficacy to elicit significant neuroprotection by its anti inflammatory and antioxidant activities mediated by activation of the CB2 receptors.
Marine benthic community in Shirahama, southwestern Kii Peninsula, central Japan

We herein present the results of a survey which assessed the benthic fauna from subtidal to continental shelf depth in the Shirahama area from 2012 to 2016. Our research resulted in the identification of 132 species from 75 families in seven phyla, Cnidaria, Annelida, Tardigrada, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata and Chordata. This includes 24 newly recorded species to Shirahama. Two species were also new records for Japanese waters. Furthermore, six undescribed species and five potentially undescribed species were recorded. We provide a selection of relevant photos for future taxonomic studies and monitoring of environmental changes.
The Relationship between Physical, Motor, and Intellectual Development of Preschool Children

The study examined the relationship of physical, motor, and intellectual development of preschool children. The sample included 72 children aged 5.60 0.32) years. Two anthropometric measures (body height, body weight) two motor skills tests (obstacle course, broad jump) and an intelligence test (Raven's CPM) were applied. Taxonomic analysis identified two distinctive developmental profiles in terms of physical growth and motor competence: 1) Shorter children of a lower body weight, less competent; 2) Taller, heavier and more competent children. Physical growth and motor development are positively correlated in children aged 5 6, with no such relation between these domains and intelligence.