Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a New Chlamydiales-Specific Real-Time PCR and Its Application to Respiratory Clinical Samples

ABSTRACT Originally composed of the single family Chlamydiaceae, the Chlamydiales order has extended considerably over the last several decades. Chlamydia-related bacteria were added and classified into six different families and family-level lineages: the Criblamydiaceae, Parachlamydiaceae, Piscichlamydiaceae, Rhabdochlamydiaceae, Simkaniaceae, and Waddliaceae. While several members of the Chlamydiaceae family are known pathogens, recent studies showed diverse associations of Chlamydia-related bacteria with human and animal infections. Some of these latter bacteria might be of medical importance since, given their ability to replicate in free-living amoebae, they may also replicate efficiently in other phagocytic cells, including cells of the innate immune system. Thus, a new Chlamydiales-specific real-time PCR targeting the conserved 16S rRNA gene was developed. This new molecular tool can detect at least five DNA copies and show very high specificity without cross-amplification from other bacterial clade DNA. The new PCR was validated with 128 clinical samples positive or negative for Chlamydia trachomatis or C. pneumoniae. Of 65 positive samples, 61 (93.8%) were found to be positive with the new PCR. The four discordant samples, retested with the original test, were determined to be negative or below detection limits. Then, the new PCR was applied to 422 nasopharyngeal swabs taken from children with or without pneumonia; a total of 48 (11.4%) samples were determined to be positive, and 45 of these were successfully sequenced. The majority of the sequences corresponded to Chlamydia-related bacteria and especially to members of the Parachlamydiaceae family.
Serum adipokine levels in type 1 diabetic patients: association with carotid intima media thickness.

BACKGROUND Adipokines are markers of insulin resistance and play a role in the atherosclerotic process. The association of adipokines with the macrovascular complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) needs to be determined. The aim of this study was to measure serum adiponectin, leptin, and resistin levels in type 1 DM patients and investigate their relationship with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), a clinical marker of atherosclerosis. METHODS Seventy-five type 1 DM patients and 115 sex and age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Serum adiponectin, leptin, and resistin levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA method). CIMT was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS Adiponectin levels in diabetics were higher (25.8±14.8 μg/mL vs. 5.5±7.3 μg/mL; P<0.0001) and leptin levels were lower than controls (9.4±6.2 ng/mL vs. 12.8±8.6 ng/mL; P=0.01). Resistin levels were also higher in the diabetic group compared to controls (2.1±1.4 ng/mL vs. 1.6±0.8 ng/mL; P=0.04). Adiponectin was correlated negatively with CIMT (r=-0.24, P=0.03), age (r=-0.30, P=0.02), BMI (r=-0.33, P=0.02), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r=-0.38, P=0.01) and positively with creatinine (r=0.44, P=0.004). Leptin levels were correlated with total cholesterol (r=0.53, P=0.01) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r=0.67, P=0.001). Resistin was correlated with CIMT (r=0.24, P=0.03) and systolic blood pressure (r=0.48, P=0.009). Multivariate analysis revealed resistin and creatinine to be independent predictors of CIMT among adiponectin, leptin, resistin, WHR, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and creatinine. CONCLUSIONS Increased adiponectin correlates negatively and resistin positively with CIMT in type 1 diabetic patients, but adjusting for other known predictors reveals only resistin to be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in this group of patients.
Cyberbullying Redefined: An analysis of intent and repetition

The purpose of this study was to provide an operational definition of bullying behaviors mitigated by information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enable educators and administrators to better care for students being cyberbullied. A three-phase study was conducted and data gathered from 695 undergraduate college students. The Social Dominance Theory was utilized to determine the impact of social dominance ordinance (SDO) on the intentional act of cyberbullying. In addition, data were gathered to evaluate the emotional impact of cyberbullying on participants and formulate an understanding of repetition. Frequency, correlation, and independent samples t-tests data analyses were conducted. Findings support the concern expressed by past researchers regarding the definition of cyberbullying and allowed this researcher to present a more inclusive and decisive definition. This new definition will enable educators, researchers, administrators, and parents to better understand and therefore assist children and young adults who are being bullied via ICTs.
Nitrogen-Efficient and Nitrogen-Inefficient Indian Mustard Showed Differential Expression Pattern of Proteins in Response to Elevated CO2 and Low Nitrogen

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are two essential elements that influence plant growth and development. The C and N metabolic pathways influence each other to affect gene expression, but little is known about which genes are regulated by interaction between C and N or the mechanisms by which the pathways interact. In the present investigation, proteome analysis of N-efficient and N-inefficient Indian mustard, grown under varied combinations of low-N, sufficient-N, ambient [CO2], and elevated [CO2] was carried out to identify proteins and the encoding genes of the interactions between C and N. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) revealed 158 candidate protein spots. Among these, 72 spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). The identified proteins are related to various molecular processes including photosynthesis, energy metabolism, protein synthesis, transport and degradation, signal transduction, nitrogen metabolism and defense to oxidative, water and heat stresses. Identification of proteins like PII-like protein, cyclophilin, elongation factor-TU, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein and rubisco activase offers a peculiar overview of changes elicited by elevated [CO2], providing clues about how N-efficient cultivar of Indian mustard adapt to low N supply under elevated [CO2] conditions. This study provides new insights and novel information for a better understanding of adaptive responses to elevated [CO2] under N deficiency in Indian mustard.
Iterative group blind multiuser detection and decoding for asynchronous CDMA systems

A turbo multiuser receiver is proposed for uplink channel-coded, code division multiple access (CDMA) systems with unknown interferences. The proposed receiver consists of a first stage of soft interference cancellation, and a group blind linear minimum mean-square error filtering, followed by a second stage that performs the channel decoding. A receiver suitable for suppressing high intercell interference is obtained. By exchanging soft information between the first and second stages, the receiver performance is improved via iteration. Simulation results show that the proposed group blind receiver significantly outperforms the conventional turbo multiuser detector in the presence of intercell interferences.
Scoring opportunity or hospital pass? The changing role of local authorities in 14–19 education and training in England

In 2008, the UK Labour government unveiled plans to abolish the Learning and Skills Council and transfer funding for the education and training of 16–19‐year‐olds in England to local authorities (LAs). The transfer of 16–19 funding complements the responsibilities that LAs have already acquired in relation to the raising of the education and training ‘participation age’ and ensuring that all young people have access to a full 14–19 curriculum entitlement in their area. Such a move might be read as part of the ‘new localism’ that has gained currency under the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, as well as an opportunity to rein back from an English education and training system that has become increasingly centralised and ‘top‐down’. Indeed, some commentators have argued for a new model of governance based on ‘devolved social partnership’, with input from a wider range of stakeholders and the space for policy levers to be shaped more at local level. Drawing upon interviews with key personnel in LAs and other stakeholders, this paper examines the opportunities and challenges that LAs face in their new role, whether this amounts to a genuine devolution of power, and the prospects for ‘devolved social partnership’.
B Cells Drive Early T Cell Autoimmunity In Vivo prior to Dendritic Cell-Mediated Autoantigen Presentation1

Both B cells and dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicated as autoantigen-presenting cells in the activation of self-reactive T cells. However, most self-proteins are ubiquitously and/or developmentally expressed, making it difficult to determine the source and the exposure of autoantigens to APCs in a controlled manner. In this study, we have used an Ig transgenic mouse model to examine the mechanisms by which B cells and other APCs acquire and present lupus autoantigens in vivo. Targeting a lupus autoantigen, the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle D protein, to the BCR activates autoreactive T cells in the periphery. Our in vivo studies demonstrate that autoantigen-specific B cells, when present in the repertoire, are the first subset of APCs to capture and present self-proteins for activating T cells. Thereafter, DCs acquire self-Ag and become effective APCs for stimulating the same subsets of autoreactive T cells. This mechanism provides one explanation of how early steps in autoimmunity can focus responses, via BCR, at a small group of self-proteins among the total milieu of intracellular self-proteins. Subsequently, DCs and other professional APCs may then amplify and perpetuate the autoimmune T cell response.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: clinical trends

Abstract Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most difficult diseases to diagnose at an early stage. The clinical presentation of 122 patients with confirmed NPC is described and the findings analysed. The common modes of presentation and cases where detailed nasopharyngeal examination need to be performed are highlighted. We emphasize the importance of health education and training for primary care physicians for early detection of these cases.
Independent Living and Psychomotor Performance

Abstract While the majority of seniors live outside of institutions, many live in seniors apartment buildings rather than in single family dwellings. MacPherson (1983) suggested that not maintaining an independent living style may have some negative consequences for seniors. The question asked was whether differences in lifestyle arising from the nature of the residence were associated with measures of psychomotor performance. Some 36 seniors, average age approximately 68 yrs. , all in good health, completed 800 responses on a discrete pursuit tracking task which emphasized response speed and accuracy. Significant differences in performance were noted for both RT and speed of movement. Overall, seniors living independently, either in urban or rural areas, responded faster than seniors living in seniors apartment buildings. The data do not imply a causal relationship, however, they do suggest that psychomotor variables are relevant factors to consider in regard to differing living styles. Résumé Alors que la majorité des personees âgées vivent en dehors des institutions, beaucoup d'entre elles résident plutôt dans des blocs-appartements pour retraités que dans des résidences familiales individuelles. MacPherson (1983) suggérait que, pour les aînés, le fait de ne pas avoir un style de vie autonome pouvait entraîner des conséquences négatives. La question qui était posée était de savoir si des différences dans le style de vie, découlant de la nature de la résidence, pouvaient être associées à des mesures de performances psychomotrices. Quelque trente-six retraités, dont la moyenne d'âge était approximativement de 68 ans, ont rempli des formulaires de huit cent questions, selon la méthode des tâches de poursuites discontinues. Ce travail exigeait précision et rapidité dans les réponses. On a pu remarquer des différences significatives, notamment dans la rapidité des mouvements. Les retraités vivant chez eux, de façon autonome, ont répondu plus rapidement que ceux qui résidaient dans des habitations pour retraités. Ces données ne peuvent permettre de conclure à une relation de cause à effet mais suggèrent que les variables concernant la psychomotricité constituent des facteurs pertinents à considérer, en regard des différents styles de vie.
The effect of the administration of carbon tetrachloride on the formation of plasma lipoproteins in the rat.

Inouye, Y. & Noda, M. (1955). J. agric. chem. Soc. Japan, 19, 214. Johansen, P. G. , Marshall, R. D. & Neuberger, A. (1960). Biochem. J. 77, 239. Marshall, R. D. & Neuberger, A. (1961). Biochem. J. 78, 31 P. Mills, G. L. (1952). Biochem. J. 50, 707. Narita, K. (1958). Biochim. biophy8. Acta, 28, 184. Ohno, K. (1953). J. Biochem. , Tokyo, 40, 621. Phillips, D. M. P. (1961). Biochem. J. 80, 40P. Satake, K. & Seki, T. (1950). J. Jap. Chem. 4, 557; cited from Chem. Abstr. (1951) 45, 4604f. Uraki, Z. , Terminiello, L. , Bier, M. & Nord, F. F. (1957). Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 69, 645.
Analyzing synchronous dataflow scenarios for dynamic software-defined radio applications

Contemporary embedded systems for wireless communications support various radios. A software-defined radio (SDR) is a radio implemented as concurrent software processes that typically run on a multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSoC). SDRs are real-time streaming applications with throughput requirements. One efficient approach for timing analysis of concurrent real-time applications is the dataflow model of computation (MoC). Nonetheless, the dataflow modeling of SDRs is challenging due to their dynamically changing data processing workload. A dataflow MoC that is not expressive enough to capture this dynamism gives pessimistic throughput results. On the other hand, if it is too expressive and detailed, it may not be analyzable at all. In this paper, we address the challenge of dataflow modeling of SDRs such that their timing behavior can be accurately analyzed to guarantee real-time requirements without unnecessarily over-allocating MPSoC resources. The basis of our modeling approach is splitting the dynamic data processing behavior of a SDR into a group of static modes of operation. Each static mode of operation is then modeled by a Synchronous Dataflow (SDF), which we refer to as scenario. This paper has two main contributions: 1) a scenario-based dataflow model of Long Term Evolution (LTE), which is the latest standard in cellular communication, and 2) investigation of existing throughput analysis techniques of SDF scenarios for our LTE model. Our results show that scenario-based worst-case throughput computation is 2 to 3.4 times more accurate than a state-of-the-art SDF analysis technique. Our investigation also shows that existing timing analysis techniques of SDF scenarios have very low run-time that scales very well with increase in graph size. This makes SDF scenarios suitable in practice for modeling and analyzing SDRs as well as similar dynamic applications.
Experimental Change from Paper-Based Interviewing to Computer-Assisted Interviewing in the Hilda Survey

Most large-scale ongoing face-to-face surveys which began using pen and paper interviewing (PAPI) face an eventual shift to computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). In preparation for such a shift in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, a trial of the CAPI collection mode was undertaken in the 2007 test sample. This involved a split-sample test of 764 households, where interviewers rather than households were randomly assigned to the PAPI or CAPI mode. This paper reports on the findings of this split sample test, both in terms of the fieldwork operations and the quality of the data collected. Apart from some concerns about the length of the interview, few differences were identified in the data collected by the two modes. Where CAPI differed from PAPI, it was generally in the direction thought to enhance data quality rather than reduce it.
Locating the Aboriginal Gender Gap: The Political Attitudes and Participation of Aboriginal Women in Canada

Since the development of modern survey methods, political scientists have identified gender-based differences in the political behavior of men and women. Early research found women to be less politically engaged than men and to be more likely to vote for right-wing parties (Lipset 1963). Beginning in the 1980s, however, these differences in political participation dissipated, and the gender-based pattern in vote choice was reversed (DeVaus and McAllister 1989; Inglehart and Norris 2000). These gender differences in political behavior, and the many others that could be added here, are commonly referred to as “gender gaps. ”
Avena sativa (Oat), A Potential Neutraceutical and Therapeutic Agent: An Overview

The aim of the present review article is to summarize the available information related to the availability, production, chemical composition, pharmacological activity, and traditional uses of Avena sativa to highlight its potential to contribute to human health. Oats are now cultivated worldwide and form an important dietary staple for the people in number of countries. Several varieties of oats are available. It is a rich source of protein, contains a number of important minerals, lipids, β-glucan, a mixed-linkage polysaccharide, which forms an important part of oat dietary fiber, and also contains various other phytoconstituents like avenanthramides, an indole alkaloid-gramine, flavonoids, flavonolignans, triterpenoid saponins, sterols, and tocols. Traditionally oats have been in use since long and are considered as stimulant, antispasmodic, antitumor, diuretic, and neurotonic. Oat possesses different pharmacological activities like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, anticholesterolaemic, etc. A wide spectrum of biological activities indicates that oat is a potential therapeutic agent.
Bunch Length and Impedance Measurements at SPEAR3

Streak camera measurements were made at SPEAR3 to characterize longitudinal coupling impedance. For the nominal optics, data was taken at three rf voltages and a single-bunch current range of 0-20mA. Both bunchcentroid phase shift and bunch lengthening were recorded to extract values for resistive and reactive impedance. An (R+L) and a Q=1 model were then back-substituted into the Haissinski equation and compared with raw profile data. In the short bunch (low-{alpha}) mode, distribution 'bursting' was observed.
Pharmacologic treatment of the ovarian endometrioma

ABSTRACT Introduction: Treatment of ovarian endometriomas is commonly achieved through laparoscopic surgery and this can be effective in eliminating the disease, although a majority of recent trials documented an adverse effect of surgery on ovarian reserve markers. With the advancement in imaging techniques, ovarian endometriomas are increasingly diagnosed at an earlier stage when the endometrioma may be smaller, less fibrotic and more responsive to medical treatment, making an evaluation of medical options critically important. Areas covered: The review focuses on currently utilized pharmacologic therapies for endometrioma (oral contraceptives, the levonorgestrel-releasing IUS, the hormone-releasing subdermal implant, Implanon); experimental and future treatments are also mentioned (GnRH antagonists, progesterone receptor modulators, antioestrogens, newer subdermal implants and intracystic administration of pharmacologic agents). Finally, the usefulness of post-operative adjuvant medical treatments is discussed Expert opinion: Today, reliable, non-invasive diagnostic procedures of an ovarian endometrioma are available and should be utilized to identify its presence and type of pathology. In a young patient, classic medical therapies such as oral contraceptives and synthetic progestins should be tried first to alleviate symptoms. Only when these regimens fail, should a minimally invasive surgery be envisaged. Following endoscopic surgery, adjuvant medical treatment may reduce recurrence of both symptoms and the lesion.
Functional chest pain of esophageal origin: hyperalgesia or motor dysfunction

OBJECTIVE:Many patients with functional (noncardiac) chest pain exhibit both hypersensitivity and motor dysfunction of the esophageal wall. We aimed to determine whether the sensory or motor dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chest pain.METHODS:We performed graded balloon distentions of the esophagus using impedance planimetry in 16 consecutive patients with chest pain and otherwise normal cardiac and esophageal evaluations and in 13 healthy controls. In those patients who experienced chest pain with balloon distention, the test was repeated after atropine was given. Sensory and biomechanical parameters were measured.RESULTS:Balloon distention reproduced typical chest pain in 13/16 patients (81%) and at lower (p < 0.01) sensory thresholds than controls. Pain was reproduced in all 13 patients and at lower (p < 0.05) sensory thresholds after atropine. Also, after atropine, the esophageal cross-sectional area and wall tension increased (p < 0.05), the tension/strain association shifted to the right (p < 0.05), and reactivity decreased (p < 0.002) relative to results before atropine or in healthy controls (i.e., the esophageal wall relaxed and became more deformable). CONCLUSIONS:Even after relaxing the esophageal wall, most patients experienced chest pain and at lower sensory thresholds. Hence, hyperalgesia rather than motor dysfunction appears to be the predominant mechanism for functional chest pain of esophageal origin.