Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compliance with buprenorphine medication-assisted treatment and relapse to opioid use.

Opioid dependence (OD), often characterized as a chronic relapsing disorder, affects millions of people worldwide. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of compliance with buprenorphine on reducing relapse among a sample of patients in treatment for OD. Patients new to buprenorphine (N = 703) completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) at baseline, and at 1, 2, and 3 months postbaseline. The ASI is a semistructured interview designed to measure problem severity in seven functional areas known to be affected by alcohol and drug dependence. Compliance was defined as taking buprenorphine medication on at least 22 of the past 28 days (80%), while relapse classification was based on resumed use of opioids during the follow-up period (months 2 and 3). Relapse was regressed onto demographic indicators, baseline ASI composite scores, and compliance with buprenorphine. Noncompliant patients were over 10 times more likely to relapse than those who were compliant (exp β= 10.55; p < .001). Neither demographics nor baseline ASI composite scores were predictive of relapse (p's > .05). Compliance with medication-assisted treatment supports abstinence, essential for patient recovery. Understanding the factors that drive treatment compliance and noncompliance may assist providers in supporting patient compliance and recovery.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE SYNTHESIS AND FUNCTION OF THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC APPARATUS IN RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM.

The chlorophyll content of nonsulfur purple bacteria varies greatly in response to environmental factors, of which the most important are light intensity and oxygen.1 In cells growing anaerobically in the light (i.e., under conditions of obligatory photosynthesis), the differential rate of chlorophyll synthesis is an inverse function of light intensity. Many nonsulfur purple bacteria can also grow aerobically, at the expense of respiratory metabolism. Oxygen inhibits chlorophyll synthesis, and accordingly cells of such purple bacteria grown under stringent aerobic conditions, whether in the dark or in the light, are devoid of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll synthesis can, however, take place even in the dark at very low oxygen tensions. Consequently cultures grown with a restricted oxygen supply contain considerable amounts of pigment. The observations concerning environmentally conditioned changes in the chlorophyll content of purple bacteria have so far all been made on intact cells. In bacteria, the photosynthetic pigment system can be isolated from disrupted cells in association with macromolecular particles known as chromatophores.2 These particles are chemically complex, and contain as major constituents both protein and phospholipid, in addition to the photosynthetic pigments.3 4 They are the site of the primary photochemical reaction of bacterial photosynthesis, cyclic photophosphorylation.5-7 It is not clear whether gross changes in cellular chlorophyll content simply reflect fluctuations in the rate of chlorophyll synthesis and incorporation into an otherwise constant chromatophore structure, or whether they are one manifestation of much more complex, environmentally induced, changes in the biosynthesis, composition, and function of the whole chromatophore system. This question can be answered only by the isolation of purified chromatophores from cells with different chlorophyll contents, followed by the systematic comparison of the various properties of such chromatophores. The present paper describes the influence of environmental factors that affect the chlorophyll content of whole cells on the specific chlorophyll content, the photophosphorylative capacity, and the succinic dehydrogenase activity of isolated chromatophores. The two enzymatic activities mentioned have both been shown to be associated with the chromatophores of purple bacteria.6' 8 The former activity is clearly dependent on the presence of a photochemically functional pigment system, whereas the latter is not. Comparative measurements of these two activities could therefore be expected to reveal any differences between photochemically linked and strictly "dark" enzymatic functions which might occur in chromatophores prepared from cells grown under different conditions. Materials and Methods. -Bacterial cultivation: Rhodospirillum rubrum, strain 1.1. 1. , from the collection of Professor C. B. van Niel was used in all experiments. Photosynthetic cultures were grown in the modified medium of Hutner,l with
Prevalence and risk factors of high-risk human papillomavirus in female sex workers in Spain: differences by geographical origin.

OBJECTIVE To study the influence of socioeconomic variables, lifestyles, and sexual behaviors on the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection in female sex worker (FSW) according to their geographic origin in Alicante, Spain. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of 549 FSW attending an AIDS information and prevention center from May 2003 to December 2004. Face-to-face interviews were carried out. HR-HPV was determined through Digene HR-HPV Test. Hybrid Capture II-positive samples (Digene Corp., Gaithersburg, MD) for PCR were directly sequenced. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS HR-HPV prevalence was 28% in Spaniards, 32% in Latin Americans, 32% in Eastern Europeans, 16% in sub-Saharan Africans, and 65% in North Africans (p=0.04). Lower HR-HPV prevalence was associated with higher age, higher education, and higher body mass index (BMI) (p values for trend<0.05). In multivariate analyses, the effects of geographical origin, age, and education were maintained, together with time in sex work; women engaged for >1 year had a lower HR-HPV prevalence (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.91) compared with those engaged <1 year. HR-HPV-16 was the most common type (n=23, 24%), followed by HR-HPV-18 and HR-HPV-31, (n=11, 11%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS HR-HPV prevalence is very high in FSW and varies by geographic origin. Women of younger age and lower education level and those engaged in sex work for <1 year showed the highest prevalence, making them a priority group for cervical cancer prevention programs.
Renal Protective Effect of DPP-4 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cohort Study

Aims. Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibitors (DPP-4i) are among the most popular oral antidiabetic agents. However, the effects of DPP-4i on diabetic nephropathy are not well-established. The aim of this study was to determine the renoprotective effects of DPP-4i, using albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as indicators, in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods. This retrospective observational cohort study used the clinical database of a tertiary hospital. The changes of urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), estimated GFR (eGFR), and metabolic parameters after treatment were compared with the changes of those parameters before treatment using paired Student's t-test. Results. The mean UACR in the entire study population decreased to approximately 45 mg/g 1 year after DPP-4i treatment, while it was increased approximately 39 mg/g 1 year before DPP-4i treatment (p < 0.05). Patients with macroalbuminuria showed a significant reduction in albumin levels after DPP-4i treatment (p < 0.05); however, patients with microalbuminuria and normoalbuminuria did not show improvements in albuminuria levels after treatment. Although eGFR was not changed 1 year after DPP-4i treatment, reductions in eGFR were slowed in patients with microalbuminuria and reversed in the macroalbuminuria or normoalbuminuria groups, 4 years after treatment. Conclusions. Administration of DPP-4i reduces urine albumin excretion and mitigates reduction of eGFR in T2DM patients.
Mitochondria‐to‐nucleus stress signaling induces phenotypic changes, tumor progression and cell invasion

Recently we showed that partial depletion of mitochondrial DNA (genetic stress) or treatment with mitochondrial‐specific inhibitors (metabolic stress) induced a stress signaling that was associated with increased cytoplasmic‐free Ca2+ [Ca2+]c. In the present study we show that the mitochondria‐to‐nucleus stress signaling induces invasive phenotypes in otherwise non‐invasive C2C12 myoblasts and human pulmonary carcinoma A549 cells. Tumor‐specific markers cathepsin L and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) are overexpressed in cells subjected to mitochondrial genetic as well as metabolic stress. C2C12 myoblasts subjected to stress showed 4‐ to 6‐fold higher invasion through reconstituted Matrigel membrane as well as rat tracheal xenotransplants in Scid mice. Activation of Ca2+‐dependent protein kinase C (PKC) under both genetic and metabolic stress conditions was associated with increased cathepsin L gene expression, which contributes to increased invasive property of cells. Reverted cells with ∼70% of control cell mtDNA exhibited marker mRNA contents, cell morphology and invasive property closer to control cells. These results provide insights into a new pathway by which mitochondrial DNA and membrane damage can contribute to tumor progression and metastasis.
Rule-based semantic sensing platform for activity monitoring

Sensors are playing an increasingly important role in our lives, and for these devices to perform to their maximum potential, they need to work together. A single device can provide a single service or a fixed set of services but, when combined with other sensors, different classes of applications become implementable. The vital criterion for this to happen is the ability to bring information from all sensors together, so that all measured physical phenomena can contribute to the solution. Mediation between applications and physical sensors is the responsibility of sensor network middleware (SNM). Rapid growth in the kinds of sensors and applications for sensors/sensor systems, and the consequent importance of sensor network middleware has raised the need to relatively rapidly build engineering applications from those components. A number of SNM exist, each of which attempts to solve the sensor integration problem in a different way. These solutions, based on their ‘closeness’ either to sensors or to applications, can be classified as low-level and high-level. Low-level SNM tends not to focus on making application development easy, while high-level SNM tends to be ‘locked-in’ to a particular set of sensors. We propose a SNM suitable for the task of activity monitoring founded on rules and events, integrated through a semantic event model. The proposed solution is intended to be open at the bottom – to new sensor types; and open at the top – to new applications/user requirements. We show evidence for the effectiveness of this approach in the context of two pilot studies in rehabilitation monitoring – in both hospital and home environment. Moreover, we demonstrate how the semantic event model and rule-based approach promotes verifiability and the ability to validate the system with domain experts.
Detection of TEM & SHV genes in Escherichia coli & Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in a tertiary care hospital from India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) have been observed in virtually all the species of family Enterobacteriaceae. The enzymes are predominantly plasmid mediated and are derived from broad-spectrum beta lactamase TEM-1, TEM-2 or SHV-1 by a limited number of mutations. This study was undertaken to characterize ESBL producers among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae by PCR-RFLP, which were initially screened by phenotypic method. METHODS A total of 100 isolates of each species (E. coli and K. pneumoniae) were screened for ESBL production. PCR analysis for β-lactamase genes of the family TEM and SHV was also carried out. PCR products of TEM and SHV genes were subjected to digest with three different restriction enzymes. The digested products were run on 1.5 per cent agarose gel, stained and examined for DNA bands. RESULTS PCR carried out on plasmid DNA alone detected 30 per cent ESBL positive isolates using TEM primer and 38 per cent using SHV primer, whereas PCR for both plasmid and chromosomal DNA showed 56 per cent positivity for TEM and 60 per cent positivity for SHV. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION RFLP yielded homogeneous band pattern, suggesting that there may be a point source or a common evolutionary origin for all the ESBL isolates.
Untangling Basal Ganglia Network Dynamics and Function: Role of Dopamine Depletion and Inhibition Investigated in a Spiking Network Model

Abstract The basal ganglia are a crucial brain system for behavioral selection, and their function is disturbed in Parkinson’s disease (PD), where neurons exhibit inappropriate synchronization and oscillations. We present a spiking neural model of basal ganglia including plausible details on synaptic dynamics, connectivity patterns, neuron behavior, and dopamine effects. Recordings of neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus and Type A (TA; arkypallidal) and Type I (TI; prototypical) neurons in globus pallidus externa were used to validate the model. Simulation experiments predict that both local inhibition in striatum and the existence of an indirect pathway are important for basal ganglia to function properly over a large range of cortical drives. The dopamine depletion–induced increase of AMPA efficacy in corticostriatal synapses to medium spiny neurons (MSNs) with dopamine receptor D2 synapses (CTX-MSN D2) and the reduction of MSN lateral connectivity (MSN–MSN) were found to contribute significantly to the enhanced synchrony and oscillations seen in PD. Additionally, reversing the dopamine depletion–induced changes to CTX–MSN D1, CTX–MSN D2, TA–MSN, and MSN–MSN couplings could improve or restore basal ganglia action selection ability. In summary, we found multiple changes of parameters for synaptic efficacy and neural excitability that could improve action selection ability and at the same time reduce oscillations. Identification of such targets could potentially generate ideas for treatments of PD and increase our understanding of the relation between network dynamics and network function.
Localization of Cdc7 Protein Kinase During DNA Replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

DDK, a conserved serine-threonine protein kinase composed of a regulatory subunit, Dbf4, and a catalytic subunit, Cdc7, is essential for DNA replication initiation during S phase of the cell cycle through MCM2-7 helicase phosphorylation. The biological significance of DDK is well characterized, but the full mechanism of how DDK associates with substrates remains unclear. Cdc7 is bound to chromatin in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome throughout the cell cycle, but there is little empirical evidence as to specific Cdc7 binding locations. Using biochemical and genetic techniques, this study investigated the specific localization of Cdc7 on chromatin. The Calling Cards method, using Ty5 retrotransposons as a marker for DNA–protein binding, suggests Cdc7 kinase is preferentially bound to genomic DNA known to replicate early in S phase, including centromeres and origins of replication. We also discovered Cdc7 binding throughout the genome, which may be necessary to initiate other cellular processes, including meiotic recombination and translesion synthesis. A kinase dead Cdc7 point mutation increases the Ty5 retrotransposon integration efficiency and a 55-amino acid C-terminal truncation of Cdc7, unable to bind Dbf4, reduces Cdc7 binding suggesting a requirement for Dbf4 to stabilize Cdc7 on chromatin during S phase. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrates that Cdc7 binding near specific origins changes during S phase. Our results suggest a model where Cdc7 is loosely bound to chromatin during G1. At the G1/S transition, Cdc7 binding to chromatin is increased and stabilized, preferentially at sites that may become origins, in order to carry out a variety of cellular processes.
Evolution of Transverse Cracking in CF/Epoxy Cross-Ply Laminates under Creep Loading

The evolution of transverse cracking in a cross-ply laminate which deforms viscoelastically is investigated. A model predicting the strain under creep loading is established by a combination of the viscoelasticity theory, shear lag analysis and delayed failure concept. The creep strain and transverse crack density of the cross-ply laminates are measured during creep tests. TWo stages of time for transverse cracking are observed in the creep tests. Predicted creep strains using the present model agree well with the experimental ones.
The Cytolytic Activity of Vaginolysin Strictly Depends on Cholesterol and Is Potentiated by Human CD59

Gardnerella vaginalis produces cytolysin vaginolysin (VLY), which has been suggested to be a contributor to bacterial vaginosis pathogenesis. VLY along with intermedilysin (ILY) from Streptococcus intermedius have been attributed to a group of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) whose pore-forming activity depends on human CD59 (hCD59). Here, we show that different types of cells lacking hCD59 are susceptible to VLY-mediated lysis, albeit to different extents. We analyze the effects of both hCD59 and cholesterol on VLY cytolytic activity. We show that VLY binds to cholesterol-rich membranes of non-human cells, while VLY with an impaired cholesterol recognition site retains binding to the hCD59-containing cells. We further demonstrate that cholesterol binding by VLY is sufficient to trigger the formation of oligomeric complexes on cholesterol rich-liposomes lacking hCD59. Thus, VLY may induce cell lysis following two alternative pathways. One requires only cholesterol and does not depend on hCD59. The second pathway involves hCD59 contribution similarly to ILY. Apparently, under physiological conditions VLY acts in the most effective way by accepting the assistance of hCD59.
Minimum Shear Reinforcement in Normal, Medium,and High-Strength Concrete Beams

This paper presents the evaluation of minimum shear reinforcement requirements in normal, medium, and high-strength reinforced concrete beams. Twelve shear tests were conducted on full-scale beam specimens having concrete compressive strengths of 36, 67, and 87 MPa. Different amounts of minimum shear reinforcement were investigated including the traditional amounts required by older codes and the amounts required by the 1989 ACI Code (revised 1992) and the 1994 CSA Standard. The performance of the different amounts of shear reinforcement are discussed in terms of shear capacity, ductility, and crack control at service load levels. An assessment of the 1989 ACI and 1994 CSA provisions for minimum shear reinforcement is also presented.
Regulation of P2X4 receptors by lysosomal targeting, glycan protection and exocytosis

The P2X4 receptor has a widespread distribution in the central nervous system and the periphery, and plays an important role in the function of immune cells and the vascular system. Its upregulation in microglia contributes to neuropathic pain following nerve injury. The mechanisms involved in its regulation are not well understood, although we have previously shown that it is constitutively retrieved from the plasma membrane and resides predominantly within intracellular compartments. Here, we show that the endogenous P2X4 receptors in cultured rat microglia, vascular endothelial cells and freshly isolated peritoneal macrophages are localized predominantly to lysosomes. Lysosomal targeting was mediated through a dileucine-type motif within the N-terminus, together with a previously characterized tyrosine-based endocytic motif within the C-terminus. P2X4 receptors remained stable within the proteolytic environment of the lysosome and resisted degradation by virtue of their N-linked glycans. Stimulation of phagocytosis triggered the accumulation of P2X4 receptors at the phagosome membrane. Stimulating lysosome exocytosis, either by incubating with the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, for normal rat kidney (NRK) cells and cultured rat microglia, or the weak base methylamine, for peritoneal macrophages, caused an upregulation of both P2X4 receptors and the lysosomal protein LAMP-1 at the cell surface. Lysosome exocytosis in macrophages potentiated ATP-evoked P2X4 receptor currents across the plasma membrane. Taken together, our data suggest that the P2X4 receptor retains its function within the degradative environment of the lysosome and can subsequently traffic out of lysosomes to upregulate its exposure at the cell surface and phagosome.
Cytokine Activation of Nuclear Factor &kgr;B in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Requires Signaling Endosomes Containing Nox1 and ClC-3

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are mediators of intracellular signals for a myriad of normal and pathologic cellular events, including differentiation, hypertrophy, proliferation, and apoptosis. NADPH oxidases are important sources of ROS that are present in diverse tissues throughout the body and activate many redox-sensitive signal transduction and gene expression pathways. To avoid toxicity and provide specificity of signaling, ROS production and metabolism necessitate tight regulation that likely includes subcellular compartmentalization. However, the constituent elements of NADPH oxidase-dependent cell signaling are not known. To address this issue, we examined cytokine generation of ROS and subsequent activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor &kgr;B in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and interleukin (IL)-1&bgr; stimulation of SMCs resulted in diphenylene iodonium-sensitive ROS production within intracellular vesicles. Nox1 and p22phox, integral membrane subunits of NADPH oxidase, coimmunoprecipitated with early endosomal markers in SMCs. ClC-3, an anion transporter that is primarily found in intracellular vesicles, also colocalized with Nox1 in early endosomes and was necessary for tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and interleukin-1&bgr; generation of ROS. Cytokine activation of nuclear factor &kgr;B in SMCs required both Nox1 and ClC-3. We conclude that in response to tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and interleukin-1&bgr;, NADPH oxidase generates ROS within early endosomes and that Nox1 cannot produce sufficient ROS for cell signaling in the absence of ClC-3. These data best support a model whereby ClC-3 is required for charge neutralization of the electron flow generated by Nox1 across the membrane of signaling endosomes.
HEVC Complexity and Implementation Analysis

Advances in video compression technology have been driven by ever-increasing processing power available in software and hardware. The emerging High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard aims to provide a doubling in coding efficiency with respect to the H.264/AVC high profile, delivering the same video quality at half the bit rate. In this paper, complexity-related aspects that were considered in the standardization process are described. Furthermore, profiling of reference software and optimized software gives an indication of where HEVC may be more complex than its predecessors and where it may be simpler. Overall, the complexity of HEVC decoders does not appear to be significantly different from that of H.264/AVC decoders; this makes HEVC decoding in software very practical on current hardware. HEVC encoders are expected to be several times more complex than H.264/AVC encoders and will be a subject of research in years to come.