Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multicenter, placebo-controlled trial of lorcaserin for weight management.

BACKGROUND Lorcaserin is a selective serotonin 2C receptor agonist that could be useful in reducing body weight. METHODS In this double-blind clinical trial, we randomly assigned 3182 obese or overweight adults (mean body-mass index [the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of 36.2) to receive lorcaserin at a dose of 10 mg, or placebo, twice daily for 52 weeks. All patients also underwent diet and exercise counseling. At week 52, patients in the placebo group continued to receive placebo but patients in the lorcaserin group were randomly reassigned to receive either placebo or lorcaserin. Primary outcomes were weight loss at 1 year and maintenance of weight loss at 2 years. Serial echocardiography was used to identify patients in whom valvulopathy (as defined by the Food and Drug Administration) developed. RESULTS At 1 year, 55.4% of patients (883 of 1595) receiving lorcaserin and 45.1% of patients (716 of 1587) receiving placebo remained in the trial; 1553 patients continued into year 2. At 1 year, 47.5% of patients in the lorcaserin group and 20.3% in the placebo group had lost 5% or more of their body weight (P<0.001), corresponding to an average loss of 5.8+/-0.2 kg with lorcaserin and 2.2+/-0.1 kg with placebo during year 1 (P<0.001). Among the patients who received lorcaserin during year 1 and who had lost 5% or more of their baseline weight at 1 year, the loss was maintained in more patients who continued to receive lorcaserin during year 2 (67.9%) than in patients who received placebo during year 2 (50.3%, P<0.001). Among 2472 patients evaluated at 1 year and 1127 evaluated at 2 years, the rate of cardiac valvulopathy was not increased with the use of lorcaserin. Among the most frequent adverse events reported with lorcaserin were headache, dizziness, and nausea. The rates of serious adverse events in the two groups were similar. CONCLUSIONS In conjunction with behavioral modification, lorcaserin was associated with significant weight loss and improved maintenance of weight loss, as compared with placebo. (Funded by Arena Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00395135.)
U.S. Fresh Produce Markets: Marketing Channels, Trade Practices, and Retail Pricing Behavior

Retail consolidation, technological change in production and marketing, and growing consumer demand for produce have altered the traditional market relationships between producers, wholesalers, and retailers. Increasingly, produce suppliers are asked to provide additional marketing services and incentives in exchange for volume purchases and other commitments by buyers. This report synthesizes the results from a multiphase project that examined the dynamics of produce marketing, the produce shipper-retailer relationship, and how changes in the produce market affect the relative market influence of producers, retailers, and consumers.
Neuromythology IX and DATATOP

From the Editor-in-Chief William Landau’s Clinical Neuromythology IX, a commentary on the DATATOP study,’ provoked rather spirited Correspondence,2 which appeared in our June 1991 issue. We have since received letters concerning this Correspondence; they are printed below in the order we received them. I decided to publish them without soliciting Replies. There have been other verbal and written communications that were “not for publication”; as expected, these varied from “curb Landau” to “more Landau. ”
Identification of Legionella pneumophila-Specific Genes by Genomic Subtractive Hybridization with Legionella micdadei and Identification of lpnE, a Gene Required for Efficient Host Cell Entry

ABSTRACT Legionella pneumophila is a ubiquitous environmental organism and a facultative intracellular pathogen of humans. To identify genes that may contribute to the virulence of L. pneumophila, we performed genomic subtractive hybridization between L. pneumophila serogroup 1 strain 02/41 and L. micdadei strain 02/42. A total of 144 L. pneumophila-specific clones were sequenced, revealing 151 genes that were absent in L. micdadei strain 02/42. Low-stringency Southern hybridization was used to determine the distribution of 41 sequences, representing 40 open reading frames (ORFs) with a range of putative functions among L. pneumophila isolates of various serogroups as well as strains of Legionella longbeachae, L. micdadei, Legionella gormanii, and Legionella jordanis. Twelve predicted ORFs were L. pneumophila specific, including the gene encoding the dot/icm effector, lepB, as well as several genes predicted to play a role in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and cell wall synthesis and several sequences with similarity to virulence-associated determinants. A further nine predicted ORFs were in all L. pneumophila serotypes tested and an isolate of L. gormanii. These included icmD, the 5′ end of a pilMNOPQ locus, and two genes known to be upregulated during growth within macrophages, cadA2 and ceaA. Disruption of an L. pneumophila-specific gene (lpg2222 locus tag) encoding a putative protein with eight tetratricopeptide repeats resulted in reduced entry into the macrophage-like cell line, THP-1, and the type II alveolar epithelial cell line, A549. The gene was subsequently renamed lpnE, for “L. pneumophila entry. ” In summary, this investigation has revealed important genetic differences between L. pneumophila and other Legionella species that may contribute to the phenotypic and clinical differences observed within this genus.
Sequence Analysis of Marine Virus Communities Reveals that Groups of Related Algal Viruses Are Widely Distributed in Nature

ABSTRACT Algal-virus-specific PCR primers were used to amplify DNA polymerase (pol) gene fragments from geographically isolated natural virus communities. Natural algal virus communities were obtained from coastal sites in the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, Canada, and the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic peninsula. Genetic fingerprints of algal virus communities were generated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Sequencing efforts recovered 33 sequences from the gradient gel. Of the 33 sequences examined, 25 encoded a conserved amino acid motif indicating that the sequences were pol gene fragments. Furthermore, the 25 pol sequences were related to pol gene fragments from known algal viruses. In addition, similar virus sequences (>98% sequence identity) were recovered from British Columbia and Antarctica. Results from this study demonstrate that DGGE with degenerate primers can be used to qualitatively fingerprint and assess genetic diversity in specific subsets of natural virus communities and that closely related viruses occur in distant geographic locations. DGGE is a powerful tool for genetically fingerprinting natural virus communities and may be used to examine how specific components of virus communities respond to experimental manipulations.
Regulation of enteric neuron migration by the gaseous messenger molecules CO and NO

The enteric nervous system (ENS) of insects is a useful model to study cell motility. Using small-molecule compounds to activate or inactivate biosynthetic enzymes, we demonstrate that the gaseous messenger molecules carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) regulate neuron migration in the locust ENS. CO is produced by heme oxygenase (HO) enzymes and has the potential to signal via the sGC/cGMP pathway. While migrating on the midgut, the enteric neurons express immunoreactivity for HO. Here, we show that inhibition of HO by metalloporphyrins promotes enteric neuron migration in intact locust embryos. Thus, the blocking of enzyme activity results in a gain of function. The suppression of migratory behavior by activation of HO or application of a CO donor strongly implicates the release of CO as an inhibitory signal for neuron migration in vivo. Conversely, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase or application of the extracellular gaseous molecule scavenger hemoglobin reduces cell migration. The cellular distribution of NO and CO biosynthetic enzymes, together with the results of the chemical manipulations in whole embryo culture suggest CO as a modulator of transcellular NO signals during neuronal migration. Thus, we provide the first evidence that CO regulates embryonic nervous system development in a rather simple invertebrate model.
Agent chameleons: agent minds and bodies

Agent design has to date concerned itself with the issues pertaining to a single body embedded in a single environment, whether virtual or real. This paper discusses the notion of an agent capable of migrating between information spaces (physical worlds, virtual reality, and digital information spaces). An architecture is presented that facilitates agent migration and mutation within such environments. This will in turn support agent evolution the ultimate in agent adaptivity.
Bacteriological characterization of drinking water sources in villages of West Kordofan, Sudan

Monitoring of the quality of water and applying corrective measures to polluted water before drinking are some of the very important aspects in controlling and managing the water quality. The microbiological quality of drinking water may deteriorate during transportation in mains and in distribution network. The deterioration may be due either to regrowth of bacteria in the water supply systems or during storage in reservoirs, where water is often handled hygienically. To examine the sanitary indicator bacteria for the different sites of water sources and water storage reservoirs, forty eight water samples were collected from different sources (dug wells, cement reservoirs, surface water and household containers) during the period April to September 2009 in a sequence of two samples per month for each source. Samples were delivered to the microbiology laboratory within a maximum of six hours of their collection. Membrane filtration technique was used for counting total coliform, faecal coliform and faecal streptococci. The results showed that extremely high levels of total coliform were detected at each sample location compared to other faecal pollution indicators and total bacterial counts for all samples showed positive results in the four examined sources, concerning the seasonality high counts were observed in April, May and June except for household containers, which registered low count for the six months of examinations. These results suggest faecal pollution of the water sources, and imply that these water sources pose a serious health risk to consumers.
The Neural Correlates of Abstract and Concrete Words: Evidence from Brain-Damaged Patients

Neuropsychological and activation studies on the neural correlates of abstract and concrete words have produced contrasting results. The present study explores the anatomical substrates of abstract/concrete words in 22 brain-damaged patients with a single vascular lesion either in the right or left hemisphere. One hundred and twenty (60 concrete and 60 abstract) noun triplets were used for a semantic similarity judgment task. We found a significant interaction in word type × group since left temporal brain-damaged patients performed significantly better with concrete than abstract words. Lesion mapping of patients with predominant temporal damage showed that the left superior and middle temporal gyri and the insula were the areas of major overlapping, while the anterior portion of the left temporal lobe was generally spared. Errors on abstract words mainly concerned (although at a non-significant level) semantically associate targets, while in the case of concrete words, coordinate targets were significantly more impaired than associate ones. Our results suggest that the left superior and middle temporal gyri and the insula are crucial regions in processing abstract words. They also confirm the hypothesis of a semantic similarity vs. associative organization of concrete and abstract concepts.
Preparing nurses for care of the dying: A longitudinal study

A longitudinal quasiexperiment was used to evaluate the effectiveness of two alternative approaches to preparing nurses for care of the dying: an integrated approach that included varying amounts of classroom and clinical exposure to death-related issues, and a required course that included planned clinical practice. A nonnursing control group was included in the experiment to test for the effects of maturation on the two dependent variables, death anxiety and attitudes to care of the dying. Three cohorts of students were tested before entering their junior year (the level at which the required course was placed), at the end of their junior year, and 1 year postgraduation. The sample included 306 students at the first posttest and 170 graduates at the second posttest. Results indicated that death anxiety was reduced significantly in the experimental group by the time of the first posttest and was not significantly different from the nursing control group at either posttest; and the experimental group had significantly better attitudes to care of the dying than did the nursing control group at all three testings. One year postgraduation the experimental group reported more approach behaviors in caring for the dying than did the nursing control group. The findings provide support for a new theoretical model to guide future evaluations of death education in nursing and have implications for designing curricula in undergraduate nursing programs.
Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein in Intestinal Lymph: Evidence for Presence of the A Protein

Rat mesenteric lymph very-low-density lipoproteins of intestinal origin contain components which are antigenically identical to plasma high-density lipoprotein. Because the antigenicity of the latter most likely resides in its apoprotein (the A protein), it is concluded that intestinal very-low-density lipoproteins contain the A protein. This and other evidence supports the concept that the intestine is a source of plasma very-low-density lipoprotein.
Toxicity of Euphorbia milii latex and niclosamide to snails and nontarget aquatic species.

The toxicity of Euphorbia milii molluscicidal latex and niclosamide (NCL) to target snails (Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria tenagophila) and nontarget aquatic organisms is evaluated. Planorbidae snails were killed by very low concentrations of lyophilized latex (48-h LC(50), mg/L: B. glabrata, 0.12; B. tenagophila, 0.09; Helisoma duryi, 0.10). Latex was less toxic (48-h LC(50) or EC(50), mg/L) to oligochaeta (Tubifex tubifex, 0.31), planktonic crustacea (Daphnia similis, 0.38; C. dubia, 1.07; Artemia sp., 0.93), and fishes (Danio rerio, 0.96; Poecilia reticulata, 1. 39), and considerably less toxic to Ampullariidae snails (Pomacea sp. , 10.55) and frog tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana, 7.50). Latex (up to 100 mg/L) was not toxic to bacteria (P. putida and V. fischeri), algae (Selenastrum capricornutum and Chlorella vulgaris), and mosquito larvae (Anopheles albitarsis, Aedes aegypti, Aedes fluviatilis). NCL was very toxic (48-h LC(50) or EC(50), mg/L) to Planorbidae snails (B. glabrata, 0.15, B. tenagophila, 0.13; H. duryi, 0.10), T. tubifex (0.11), crustacea (D. similis, 0.19; Ceriodaphnia dubia, 0.47; Artemia sp. 0.18), fishes (D. rerio, 0.25; P. reticulata, 0.29), R. catesbeiana (0.16), and Pomacea sp. (0.76). NCL was toxic to bacteria, algae (96-h IC(50), mg/L: S. capricornutum, 0.34; C. vulgaris, 1.23) and slightly toxic to mosquito larvae. In conclusion, E. milii latex, as compared with the reference molluscicide niclosamide, presents a higher degree of selectivity toward snails which are intermediate hosts of Schistosoma trematodes.
Synergistic effect of Bcl2, Myc and Ccnd1 transforms mouse primary B cells into malignant cells

Background A synergistic effect resulting from a combination of BCL2 and MYC or MYC and CCND1 has been implicated in human B-cell lymphomas. Although the identification of other cooperative genes involved is important, our present understanding of such genes remains scant. The objective of this study was to identify the additional cooperative gene(s) associated with BCL2 and MYC or MYC and CCND1. First, we assessed whether Bcl2, Myc and Ccnd1 could cooperate. Next, we developed a synergism-based functional screening method for the identification of other oncogene(s) that act with Bcl2 and Myc. Design and Methods Growth in culture, colony formation and oncogenicity in vivo were assessed in mouse primary B cells exogenously expressing various combinations of Bcl2, Myc and Ccnd1. For the functional screening, Bcl2- and Myc-expressing primary B cells were infected with a retroviral cDNA library. Inserted cDNA of transformed cells in culture were then identified. Results Primary B cells exogenously expressing Bcl2, Myc and Ccnd1 showed factor-independent growth ability, enhanced colony-forming capability and aggressive oncogenicity, unlike the cases observed with the expression of any combination of only two of the genes. We identified CCND3 and NRAS as cooperative genes with Bcl2 and Myc through the functional screening. Conclusions Bcl2, Myc and Ccnd1 or Bcl2, Myc and CCND3 synergistically transformed mouse primary B cells into aggressive malignant cells. Our new synergism-based method is useful for the identification of synergistic gene combinations in tumor development, and may expand our systemic understanding of a wide range of cancer-causing elements.
Stability of Switched Linear Hyperbolic Systems by Lyapunov Techniques

Switched linear hyperbolic partial differential equations are considered in this technical note. They model infinite dimensional systems of conservation laws and balance laws, which are potentially affected by a distributed source or sink term. The dynamics and the boundary conditions are subject to abrupt changes given by a switching signal, modeled as a piecewise constant function and possibly a dwell time. By means of Lyapunov techniques some sufficient conditions are obtained for the exponential stability of the switching system, uniformly for all switching signals. Different cases are considered with or without a dwell time assumption on the switching signals, and on the number of positive characteristic velocities (which may also depend on the switching signal). Some numerical simulations are also given to illustrate some main results, and to motivate this study.
Physics-Based PiN Diode SPICE Model for Power-Circuit Simulation

A physics-based model for PiN power diodes is developed and implemented as a SPICE subcircuit. The model is based on a distributed equivalent circuit representation of the PiN base region, which is obtained by solving the ambipolar diffusion equation with the finite difference method. The model is validated against experimental characterization that is carried out on the commercial fast recovery power diodes. Comparisons between the results of the SPICE model with experimental and simulation results taken from the literature and from SILVACO mixed-mode simulations are also presented. Finally, the simulation of a realistic power circuit demonstrates the practical suitability of the proposed model for circuit design in terms of computational efficiency, convergence, and robustness.
Testing the Transparency Implications of Mandatory IFRS Adoption: The Spread/Maturity Relation of Credit Default Swaps

This study tests whether IFRS adoption increased accounting transparency based on model-driven hypotheses. Duffie and Lando (2001) show that changes to accounting transparency affect the spread/maturity relation of CDS instruments in very specific ways. Consistent with their model, we find that CDS spreads are lower across maturities following the adoption of IFRS, and the slope and concavity of the CDS spread/maturity relation are higher. These changes did not occur to the spread/maturity relation of a control sample of CDS instruments. Predicted changes apply more intensely to firms with low pre-IFRS transparency. Overall, this study provides strong evidence that IFRS adoption increased accounting transparency.
A Fast Clustering-Based Feature Subset Selection Algorithm for High-Dimensional Data

Feature selection involves identifying a subset of the most useful features that produces compatible results as the original entire set of features. A feature selection algorithm may be evaluated from both the efficiency and effectiveness points of view. While the efficiency concerns the time required to find a subset of features, the effectiveness is related to the quality of the subset of features. Based on these criteria, a fast clustering-based feature selection algorithm (FAST) is proposed and experimentally evaluated in this paper. The FAST algorithm works in two steps. In the first step, features are divided into clusters by using graph-theoretic clustering methods. In the second step, the most representative feature that is strongly related to target classes is selected from each cluster to form a subset of features. Features in different clusters are relatively independent, the clustering-based strategy of FAST has a high probability of producing a subset of useful and independent features. To ensure the efficiency of FAST, we adopt the efficient minimum-spanning tree (MST) clustering method. The efficiency and effectiveness of the FAST algorithm are evaluated through an empirical study. Extensive experiments are carried out to compare FAST and several representative feature selection algorithms, namely, FCBF, ReliefF, CFS, Consist, and FOCUS-SF, with respect to four types of well-known classifiers, namely, the probability-based Naive Bayes, the tree-based C4.5, the instance-based IB1, and the rule-based RIPPER before and after feature selection. The results, on 35 publicly available real-world high-dimensional image, microarray, and text data, demonstrate that the FAST not only produces smaller subsets of features but also improves the performances of the four types of classifiers.
Template Patch Driven Image Segmentation

We present a method that partitions a single image into two layers, requiring that one layer has similar properties in terms of pixel colour variation to a provided template patch. First, the paper provides a new view on dening a similarity function for a pixel with its small neighbourhood to be part of the texture described by the template patch. This results in better description of pixels near the texture boundary. Second, it is shown how the Maximally Stable Extremal Regions (MSERs), originally designed for wide baseline stereo matching, can be used to locally merge pixels having the same intensity and thus reduce the dimension of the graph representing the image. The MSERs help in texture description and yield signicant reduction of memory and computation time. Finally the graph is fed into the min.cut/max.o w algorithm to cut the graph into two parts. Performance of the method is presented on some images from the Berkeley database. Finally, restrictions in using the method are discussed.