Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Catehol-o-methyltransferase gene Val158met polymorphism as a potential predictor of response to computer-assisted delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy among cocaine-dependent individuals: Preliminary findings from a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Findings from uncontrolled studies suggest that the COMT Val108/158Met polymorphism may affect response to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in some populations. Using data from a randomized controlled trial evaluating computerized CBT (CBT4CBT), we evaluated treatment response by COMT genotype, with the a priori hypothesis that Val carriers would have improved response to computerized delivery of CBT. METHODS 101 cocaine-dependent individuals, of whom 81 contributed analyzable genetic samples, were randomized to standard methadone maintenance treatment plus CBT4CBT or standard treatment alone in an 8 week trial. RESULTS There was a significant genotype by time effect on frequency of cocaine use from baseline to the end of the 6 month follow-up, suggesting greater reductions over time for Val carriers relative to individuals with the Met/Met genotype. There was a significant treatment condition by genotype interactions for rates of participants attaining 21 or more days of continuous abstinence as well as self-reported percent days of abstinence, suggesting less cocaine use among Val carriers when assigned to CBT compared to standard treatment. Exploration of possible mechanisms using measures of attentional biased also pointed to greater change over time in these measures among the Val carriers assigned to CBT. CONCLUSION These are the first data from a randomized controlled trial indicating significant interactions of COMT polymorphism and behavioral therapy condition on treatment outcome, where Val carriers appeared to respond particularly well to computerized CBT. These preliminary data point to a potential biomarker of response to CBT linked to its putative mechanism of action, enhanced cognitive control.
Impact of Exposure of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to Polyhexanide In Vitro and In Vivo

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) resistant to decolonization agents such as mupirocin and chlorhexidine increases the need for development of alternative decolonization molecules. The absence of reported severe adverse reactions and bacterial resistance to polyhexanide makes it an excellent choice as a topical antiseptic. In the present study, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo capacity to generate strains with reduced polyhexanide susceptibility and cross-resistance with chlorhexidine and/or antibiotics currently used in clinic. Here we report the in vitro emergence of reduced susceptibility to polyhexanide by prolonged stepwise exposure to low concentrations in broth culture. Reduced susceptibility to polyhexanide was associated with genomic changes in the mprF and purR genes and with concomitant decreased susceptibility to daptomycin and other cell wall-active antibiotics. However, the in vitro emergence of reduced susceptibility to polyhexanide did not result in cross-resistance to chlorhexidine. During in vivo polyhexanide clinical decolonization treatment, neither reduced polyhexanide susceptibility nor chlorhexidine cross-resistance was observed. Together, these observations suggest that polyhexanide could be used safely for decolonization of carriers of chlorhexidine-resistant S. aureus strains; they also highlight the need for careful use of polyhexanide at low antiseptic concentrations.
Solar System Tests of Some Models of Modified Gravity Proposed to Explain Galactic Rotation Curves without Dark Matter

We consider the recently estimated corrections Δω¯˙ to the standard Newtonian/Einsteinian secular precessions of the longitudes of perihelia ω¯ of several planets of the Solar System in order to evaluate whether they are compatible with the predicted anomalous precessions due to models of long-range modified gravity put forth to account for certain features of the rotation curves of galaxies without resorting to dark matter. In particular, we consider a logarithmic-type correction and a f(R) inspired power-law modification of the Newtonian gravitational potential. The results obtained by taking the ratio of the predicted apsidal rates for different pairs of planets show that the modifications of the Newtonian potentials examined in this paper are not compatible with the secular extra-precessions of the perihelia of the Solar System's planets estimated by E. V. Pitjeva as solve-for parameters processing almost one century of data with the latest EPM ephemerides.
Benefit realisation through ERP: the re-emergence of data warehousing

The need for an integrated enterprise-wide set of management information pronounced Data Warehousing the ‘hot topic’ of the early-to-mid 1990’s, however, it became unfashionable through the mid-to-late 1990s, with the approach of Y2K and with it the widespread implementation of ERP systems. However, in recent times, the re-emergence of Data Warehousing, to address the limitations and unrealised benefits of ERP systems implementation, provides researchers with a new challenge in understanding the ‘double learning curve’ for an organisation, undertaking in quick succession both an ERP systems project and a Data Warehousing project, in an attempt to finally achieve the benefits expected but never realised.
Optical Effects Accompanying the Dynamical Bragg Diffraction in Linear 1D Photonic Crystals Based on Porous Silicon

We survey our recent results on the observation and studies of the effects accompanying the dynamical Bragg diffraction in one-dimensional photonic crystals (PhC). Contrary to the kinematic Bragg diffraction, the dynamical one considers a continuous interaction between the waves travelling within a spatially-periodic structure and is the most pronounced in the so called Laue geometry, leading to a number of exciting phenomena. In the described experiments, we study the PhC based on porous silicon or porous quartz, made by the electrochemical etching of crystalline silicon with the consequent thermal annealing. Importantly, these PhC are approximately hundreds of microns thick and contain a few hundreds of periods, so that the experiments in the Laue diffraction scheme are available. We discuss the effect of the temporal splitting of femtosecond laser pulses and show that the effect is quite sensitive to the polarization and the phase of a femtosecond laser pulse. We also show the experimental realization of the Pendular effect in porous quartz PhC and demonstrate the experimental conditions for the total spatial switching of the output radiation between the transmitted and diffracted directions. All described effects are of high interest for the control over the light propagation based on PhC structures.
Improved survival of older patients with multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most common hematologic malignancy in Europe. Although remaining an incurable disease, substantial progress has been made within the last two decades. However, until recently, improvement in overall survival (OS) was only documented in younger, transplant‐eligible patients. In this analysis, we retrospectively investigated the outcome of older patients with newly diagnosed MM in an unselected patient population with a special focus on the use of novel agents in a routine care community‐based, non‐university setting. A total of 107 patients older than 65 years of age or patients aged 60–65 years with relevant comorbidities precluding the use of autologous stem cell transplantation diagnosed with MM between 2000 and 2011 at the two largest non‐university hospitals of Eastern Switzerland were analyzed. Patients were grouped into two six‐year periods by date of initial diagnosis, 2000–2005 and 2006–2011. The median follow‐up was 6.9 (range of 2.1 to 9.4) years. The median OS for the entire cohort was 3.0 years (95% confidence interval, 2.4–4.4). The median OS was significantly longer for patients in the 2006–2011 group (4.3 years) compared with the 2000–2005 group (2.6 years, p = 0.04). The 5‐year estimated OS improved from 26% to 38%; 1‐year survival was similar in both groups (86% in the 2000–2005 group and 84% in the 2006–2011 group respectively). The use of novel agents showed a statistically significant correlation with OS, whereas the impact of age was only of borderline significance. In conclusion, we demonstrate improved OS outcomes in an unselected population of older patients with MM during the last decade. This improvement is associated with an increased use of novel agents for the treatment of transplant‐ineligible MM patients in daily clinical practice. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Smart Structure for Detection of Embedded Delamination of CFRP Plates Using Multi-Point Voltage Change.

The present study employs an electric voltage change method for the identifications of location and size of embedded delamination cracks of CFRP plates. Measurements of electric voltage change at multiple points are robust against electric resistance change of electrodes, and the method is usually called four-probe method for high precision measurements of electric resistance change. However, our previous analysis showed the method is less sensitive than the method that uses change of electric resistance between the electrodes. In the present study, high precise measurement system of electric voltage change is developed, and the electric voltage measurement method is adopted for identification of embedded delamination location and size. As a result, the electric voltage change method is shown to be useful for the identifications of embedded delamination cracks of CFRP plates.
Use of Kaolin Processing Waste for the Production of Mullite Bodies

Mullite is a versatile material used in traditional and advanced ceramic, due to low thermal expansion, high thermal shock and creep resistance. The production of waste from ore industry is a problem that is increasing nowadays. The kaolin processing industry produces residue rich in Al2O3 and SiO2. These oxides are good precursors to produce mullite. The aim of this work is to use the residue from kaolin industry to produce mullite ceramic bodies. It was studied alumina, clay and residue from kaolin processing as raw materials. The material was dried and pressing in uniaxial press (30MPa). The samples were sintered at temperatures of 1450oC, 1500oC, 1550oC and 1600oC. The ceramic bodies were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The density was measured by Archimedes method and the flexural strength by the three point bending technique. The results showed that is possible to produce mullite with high amount of waste from kaolin processing.
Assessment of children exposure doses to ultrafine particles in primary schools

Children attending primary schools may be largely exposed to the ultrafine particles (UFPs) present in the classroom’s indoor air, which may lead to severe health consequences resultant from their increased susceptibility. Thus , this study aimed to estimate the UFP exposure dose rates in Portuguese children attending pu blic primary schools. Ultrafine particles were sampled in 10 public primary schools located in Por to. Exposure dose rates were estimated for 488 children (aged 8 to 10 years) of the sampled sc hools. The estimated mean of exposure dose rates in children were 4.06 x 10 8 ± 0.11 x 10 part/kg.day. Specific indoor activities as well as outdoor environment conditions appeared to be assoc iated with increased indoor UFP number concentrations and, consequently, with higher expos ure doses in children attending those schools. Overall, children showed at least two time s higher UFP exposure dose rates when compared to occupationally exposed adults (i.e. teache rs and school staff). were: a) to estimate the exposure doses of UFPs in adults with similar schedule conditions; and b) to compare the different exposure doses between the populations of children and adults. 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
The 50 Most Important Questions Relating to the Maintenance and Restoration of an Ecological Continuum in the European Alps

The European Alps harbour a unique and species-rich biodiversity, which is increasingly impacted by habitat fragmentation through land-use changes, urbanization and expanding transport infrastructure. In this study, we identified the 50 most important questions relating to the maintenance and restoration of an ecological continuum – the connectedness of ecological processes across many scales including trophic relationship and disturbance processes and hydro-ecological flows in the European Alps. We initiated and implemented a trans-national priority setting exercise, inviting 48 institutions including researchers, conservation practitioners, NGOs, policymakers and administrators from the Alpine region. The exercise was composed of an initial call for pertinent questions, a first online evaluation of the received questions and a final discussion and selection process during a joint workshop. The participating institutions generated 484 initial questions, which were condensed to the 50 most important questions by 16 workshop participants. We suggest new approaches in tackling the issue of an ecological continuum in the Alps by analysing and classifying the characteristics of the resulting questions in a non-prioritized form as well as in a visual conceptualisation of the inter-dependencies among these questions. This priority setting exercise will support research and funding institutions in channelling their capacities and resources towards questions that need to be urgently addressed in order to facilitate significant progress in biodiversity conservation in the European Alps.
Toward Understanding How Social Factors Shaped a Behavioral Intervention on Healthier Infant Formula-Feeding

As part of a process evaluation, we explored in semi-structured interviews the experiences of 19 mothers who had taken part in a trial to reduce infant formula-milk intake and promote healthy weight gain, and reflections of three facilitators who delivered the intervention and control group protocols. Mothers appreciated the nonjudgmental support provided during the trial, after experiencing stigma and receiving limited advice on how, how much, and how often formula-milk should be given. The information mothers had previously found, printed on formula-milk tins, or provided by family, friends, and health professionals was often perceived as contradictory; the trial guidance also conflicted with social norms relating infant health positively with weight gain. For those recruited into the trial with older infants, who had already exceeded the recommendations, reducing formula-milk amounts was difficult. The findings highlight the difficulties of addressing a highly stigmatized, complex social practice with an individual, behavioral intervention approach.
Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 as a potential biological control agent for carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Australia: susceptibility of non-target species.

Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is a pest species in Australian waterways, and cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) is being considered as a potential biological control (biocontrol) agent. An important consideration for any such agent is its target specificity. In this study, the susceptibility to CyHV-3 of a range of non-target species (NTS) was tested. The NTS were as follows: 13 native Australian, and one introduced, fish species; a lamprey species; a crustacean; two native amphibian species (tadpole and mature stages); two native reptilian species; chickens; and laboratory mice. Animals were exposed to 100-1000 times the approximate minimum amount of CyHV-3 required to cause disease in carp by intraperitoneal and/or bath challenge, and then examined clinically each day over the course of 28 days post-challenge. There were no clinical signs, mortalities or histological evidence consistent with a viral infection in a wide taxonomic range of NTS. Furthermore, there was no molecular evidence of infection with CyHV-3, and, in particular, all RT-PCRs for viral mRNA were negative. As a consequence, the results encourage further investigation of CyHV-3 as a potential biocontrol agent that is specific for carp.
DNA helicase and helicase–nuclease enzymes with a conserved iron–sulfur cluster

Conserved Iron–Sulfur (Fe–S) clusters are found in a growing family of metalloproteins that are implicated in prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA replication and repair. Among these are DNA helicase and helicase–nuclease enzymes that preserve chromosomal stability and are genetically linked to diseases characterized by DNA repair defects and/or a poor response to replication stress. Insight to the structural and functional importance of the conserved Fe–S domain in DNA helicases has been gleaned from structural studies of the purified proteins and characterization of Fe–S cluster site-directed mutants. In this review, we will provide a current perspective of what is known about the Fe–S cluster helicases, with an emphasis on how the conserved redox active domain may facilitate mechanistic aspects of helicase function. We will discuss testable models for how the conserved Fe–S cluster might operate in helicase and helicase–nuclease enzymes to conduct their specialized functions that help to preserve the integrity of the genome.
The Law of Attrition

In an ongoing effort of this Journal to develop and further the theories, models, and best practices around eHealth research, this paper argues for the need for a “science of attrition”, that is, a need to develop models for discontinuation of eHealth applications and the related phenomenon of participants dropping out of eHealth trials. What I call “law of attrition” here is the observation that in any eHealth trial a substantial proportion of users drop out before completion or stop using the appplication. This feature of eHealth trials is a distinct characteristic compared to, for example, drug trials. The traditional clinical trial and evidence-based medicine paradigm stipulates that high dropout rates make trials less believable. Consequently eHealth researchers tend to gloss over high dropout rates, or not to publish their study results at all, as they see their studies as failures. However, for many eHealth trials, in particular those conducted on the Internet and in particular with self-help applications, high dropout rates may be a natural and typical feature. Usage metrics and determinants of attrition should be highlighted, measured, analyzed, and discussed. This also includes analyzing and reporting the characteristics of the subpopulation for which the application eventually “works”, ie, those who stay in the trial and use it. For the question of what works and what does not, such attrition measures are as important to report as pure efficacy measures from intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses. In cases of high dropout rates efficacy measures underestimate the impact of an application on a population which continues to use it. Methods of analyzing attrition curves can be drawn from survival analysis methods, eg, the Kaplan-Meier analysis and proportional hazards regression analysis (Cox model). Measures to be reported include the relative risk of dropping out or of stopping the use of an application, as well as a “usage half-life”, and models reporting demographic and other factors predicting usage discontinuation in a population. Differential dropout or usage rates between two interventions could be a standard metric for the “usability efficacy” of a system. A “run-in and withdrawal” trial design is suggested as a methodological innovation for Internet-based trials with a high number of initial dropouts/nonusers and a stable group of hardcore users.
Criterion-related validity of field-based fitness tests in youth: a systematic review

The objective of this systematic review was to comprehensively study the criterion-related validity of the existing field-based fitness tests used in children and adolescents. The studies were scored according to the number of subjects, description of the study population and statistical analysis. Each study was classified as high, low and very low quality. Three levels of evidence were constructed: strong evidence, when consistent findings were observed in three or more high quality studies; moderate evidence, when consistent findings were observed in two high quality studies; and limited evidence when consistency of findings and/or the number of studies did not achieve the criteria for moderate. The results of 73 studies (50 of high quality) addressing the criterion-related validity of field-based fitness tests in children and adolescents indicate the following: that there is strong evidence indicating that the 20 m shuttle run test is a valid test to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness, that the hand-grip strength test is a valid measure of musculoskeletal fitness, that skin fold thickness and body mass index are good estimates of body composition, and that waist circumference is a valid measure to estimate central body fat. Moderate evidence was found that the 1-mile run/walk test is a valid test to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness. A large number of other field-based fitness tests presented limited evidence, mainly due to a limited number of studies (one for each test). The results of the present systematic review should be interpreted with caution due to the substantial lack of consistency in reporting and designing the existing validity studies.
Fracture Toughness of Steel Fiber Reinforced High Strength Concrete

Through three-point bending test on 100 specimens of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete(SFHSC) and 45 specimens of plain high strength concrete(HSC) with the size of 100 mm×100 mm×515 mm,the effect of the fiber volume fraction(φ_f) and relative notch depth(a/W) on the fracture toughness of plain high strength concrete was studied.The probabi-(lity) distribution of the fracture toughness(K_(IC)) of high strength concrete was studied as well.The results show that the increment ratio of the fracture toughness increases linearly with the increase of φ_f. The fracture toughness of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete and plain high strength concrete decreases with the increase of notch depth.The theoretical distribution function of the fracture toughness of plain high strength concrete is in accordance with the Weibull distribution function.Based on the test results,the formula for calculating K_(fIC) was proposed.