Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter pylori and other Helicobacter species DNA in human bile samples from patients with various hepato-biliary diseases.

AIM To investigate the presence of Helicobacter species by nested PCR of 16S rRNA genes followed by the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) 16S rRNA, ureA, cagA genes in bile obtained at endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) from 60 Indian subjects. METHODS Sixty bile samples were obtained from patients diagnosed with various hepato-biliary diseases and control subjects at ERCP. PCR analysis was carried out using primers for Helicobacter genus 16S rRNA gene and H pylori (16S rRNA, ureA and cagA) genes. Gastric H pylori status was also assessed from biopsies obtained at endoscopy from patients with various hepato-biliary diseases and controls. The control group mainly consisted of subjects with gastric disorders. Sequencing analysis was performed to confirm that PCR products with 16S rRNA and cagA primers were derived from H pylori. RESULTS No Helicobacters were grown in culture from the bile samples. Helicobacter DNA was detected in bile of 96.7% and 6.6% of groups I and II respectively. Ten from group I were positive for 16S rRNA and ureA and 9 were positive for cagA gene. In contrast of the 2 from the control, 1 amplified with 16S rRNA, ureA and cagA primers used. The sequences of the 16S rRNA genes and cagA were 99% similar to Helicobacter pylori. CONCLUSION Helicobacters are associated with the pathogenesis of various hepato-biliary disorders.
Neuronal Processing of Complex Mixtures Establishes a Unique Odor Representation in the Moth Antennal Lobe

Animals typically perceive natural odor cues in their olfactory environment as a complex mixture of chemically diverse components. In insects, the initial representation of an odor mixture occurs in the first olfactory center of the brain, the antennal lobe (AL). The contribution of single neurons to the processing of complex mixtures in insects, and in particular moths, is still largely unknown. Using a novel multicomponent stimulus system to equilibrate component and mixture concentrations according to vapor pressure, we performed intracellular recordings of projection and interneurons in an attempt to quantitatively characterize mixture representation and integration properties of single AL neurons in the moth. We found that the fine spatiotemporal representation of 2–7 component mixtures among single neurons in the AL revealed a highly combinatorial, non-linear process for coding host mixtures presumably shaped by the AL network: 82% of mixture responding projection neurons and local interneurons showed non-linear spike frequencies in response to a defined host odor mixture, exhibiting an array of interactions including suppression, hypoadditivity, and synergism. Our results indicate that odor mixtures are represented by each cell as a unique combinatorial representation, and there is no general rule by which the network computes the mixture in comparison to single components. On the single neuron level, we show that those differences manifest in a variety of parameters, including the spatial location, frequency, latency, and temporal pattern of the response kinetics.
Diagnostic utility of sublingual PCO2 for detecting hemorrhage in penetrating trauma patients.

BACKGROUND Hemorrhage results in early compromise of splanchnic circulation. Studies have shown that sublingual Pco2 (SLCO2) correlates with gut perfusion. We tested SLCO2's ability to detect hemorrhage. We compared SLCO2 with arterial base deficit (BD) and lactate (LAC). METHODS This was a prospective study of patients with penetrating torso trauma. SLCO2 was measured at triage. Blood loss was defined as none (group 1), minimal to moderate (<1,500 mL) (group 2), or severe (>/=1,500 mL) (group 3). Data were reported as mean (95% confidence interval) and compared by analysis of variance. Receiver operating characteristic curves compared diagnostic performance between SLCO2, BD, and LAC. RESULTS One hundred eight patients were enrolled. There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in SLCO2 between all blood loss groups: group 1, 46.9 mm Hg (44.9-49.0 mm Hg); group 2, 53.5 mm Hg (50.8-56.2 mm Hg); and group 3, 66.0 mm Hg (53.1-78.9 mm Hg). There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences for receiver operating characteristic curves between SLCO2, BD, or LAC. CONCLUSION SLCO2 differentiated blood loss groups. SLCO2 may be useful in triage of penetrating trauma patients.
Financial Valuation and Risk Management Working Paper No . 484 Young , Old , Conservative and Bold : The Implications of Heterogeneity and Finite Lives for Asset Pricing

We present a parsimonious and tractable general equilibrium model featuring a continuum of overlapping generations, as in Blanchard (1985). In addition, we assume that agents have standard utilities exhibiting constant relative risk aversion and can be born with differing risk aversions and endowments. We show that equilibrium asset prices are determined as if the economy was populated by a single representative agent with time-varying risk aversion that follows a stationary process. Moreover, the riskless rate is low and non-volatile. Therefore, despite its standard micro-foundation, our model is observationally similar to the external habit formation model of Campbell and Cochrane (1999), and is therefore successful at addressing a number of stylized facts about asset prices. UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business, Centre of Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), email: garleanu@haas.berkeley. edu. University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, email: panageas@wharton.upenn. edu. We would like to thank Andy Abel, Hengjie Ai, Nicole Branger, John Heaton, Leonid Kogan, Debbie Lucas, Kathy Yuan, and participants in seminars and presentations at the University of Tokyo, Drexel, the 2007 NBER Summer Institute (AP), Studienzentrum Gerzensee, the 2007 Duke UNC Asset Pricing Conference, the Utah Winter Finance Conference, the UBC Winter Finance Conference, Chicago GSB, Anderson School of Management, Stanford GSB, Haas School of Business for useful comments.
Effect of instrument lubricant on the cohesive strength of a hybrid resin composite.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of instrument lubricant on the cohesive strength of resin composite layers. METHOD AND MATERIALS Clear acrylic molds were filled with 3 increments of a hybrid resin composite using a metal instrument. The first increment (shade A2) was inserted to a height of 4 mm and light cured, followed by a 1-mm-high second increment (shade A1). The composite instrument was then wiped with 1 of 7 lubricants before insertion of a 1-mm-high third increment (shade A1): (1) isopropyl alcohol gauze, 70% v/v (AL); (2) acetone (AC); (3) Adper Single Bond Adhesive (SB); (4) One-Step Adhesive (OS); (5) D/E Bonding Resin (DE); (6) Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Adhesive (SP); (7) Tescera Sculpting Resin (TE). No lubricant was used in the control group (CT). A final 4-mm-high increment (shade A2) was inserted and light cured. The blocks were sectioned to obtain 48 sticks for each group. Sticks were fractured with an Instron machine. Statistics were computed using 1-way analysis of variance and Duncan's test. RESULTS Outcomes were as follows (mean +/- SD, MPa; same letters indicate significant differences at a confidence level of 95%): TE = 96.7A +/- 17.8; SP = 93.6AB +/- 9.6; DE = 93.4AB +/- 16.2; OS = 91.9AB +/- 19.5; AC = 90.1ABC +/- 12.2; SB = 89.9ABC +/- 14.5; AL = 88.8BC +/- 16.8; CT = 84.7C +/- 8.3. CONCLUSIONS Although the difference between Tescera Sculpting Resin and alcohol was statistically significant, Tescera Sculpting Resin is recommended only for indirect composite restorations. The lubricant used to reduce stickiness between the resin composite used for direct restorations and the composite instrument did not significantly reduce bond strengths.
Minimally Acceptable Altruism and the Ultimatum Game

I suppose that people react with anger when others show themselves not to be minimally altruistic. With heterogeneous agents, this can account for the experimental results of ultimatum and dictator games. Moreover, it can account for the surprisingly large fraction of individuals who offer an even split, with parameter values that are more plausible than those required to explain outcomes in these experiments with the models of Levine (1998), Fehr and Schmidt (1999), Dickinson (2000), and Bolton and Ockenfels (2000).
Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the General Population of Iran: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Context The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global public health problem, affecting more than 2 billion people worldwide. Accurate and updated data on HBV prevalence is important for further planning to control the infection. The aim of this study was to update the prevalence estimate of HBV infection in the general population of Iran. Evidence Acquisition A systematic review was done for data on the prevalence of HBV infection in the general Iranian population published between Jan. 1, 1990, and Jan. 1, 2016, in both international and national databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Scientific Information Database, IranMedex, and Magiran. All papers with clearly described time and location of the study, proper sampling strategies, and proper analysis methods were included in the present study. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Prevalence of HBV infection with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using Stata software, version 13. Results The polled estimated prevalence of HBV infection in the general population of Iran was 2.2 % (95% CI: 1.9% - 2.6%). The highest prevalence of HBV infection (8.9%, 95% CI: 7.6% - 10.2%) was reported from Golestan province, and the lowest prevalence (0.7%, 95% CI: 0.4% - 1.1%) was seen in Kermanshah province. The prevalence of HBV infection was estimated at 3% (95% CI: 2.2% - 3.8%) for Iranian males and 1.7% (95% CI: 1.2% - 2.3%) for Iranian females. The prevalence of HBV infection in the general population of Iran was 2.9% (95% CI: 2.5% - 3.4%) before 2010 and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.9% - 1.7%) after 2010. Conclusions In total, Iran was classified within the low–intermediate HBV prevalence areas (2% - 4%), while according to recent data (after 2010), Iran was classified within the low HBV prevalence areas (< 2%), indicating that preventive measures conducted in Iran have been effective.
Technical evaluation of thyroid assays on the Vitros ECi.

The Vitros ECiTM analyzer (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Rochester, NY) uses a new enhanced chemiluminescence technology. The assay reagents and wells are supplied together in combined packs with calibration information stored on magnetic calibration cards with bar-coded calibrators. We evaluated the following thyroid assays: thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3). Noteworthy is that the novel free thyroid hormone assay uses an alternative methodology to the frequently used one-step analog or two-step methodology. The conventional analog system uses a tracer-labeled T4 conjugate. The fT4 assay uses a peroxidase-labeled antibody to T4. We assessed 872 consecutive subjects from a healthy adult population for TSH and fT4, and smaller cohorts of 120 and 146 subjects for the total hormone and fT3 reference intervals, respectively. The subjects conformed to accepted criteria for establishment of a reference population (1). In addition, patients on regular follow-up with established thyroid disorders were also used in the technical evaluation of the assays. All procedures conformed to the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 and the 1996 revision. Reference intervals were established using rank and percentile confidence limits for euthyroid samples from a multiphasic screening program collected from the local population. The subjects presented with no evidence or clinical suspicion of thyroid abnormalities, including family history of thyroid disorders, pituitary disorders, and psychoses; were not on drugs known to interfere with thyroid gland metabolism or hormone assays; and their results for hepatic and renal function tests and complete blood counts were within the health-related reference intervals (1). Table 1⇓ shows the two-tailed 95th interpercentile reference intervals obtained from groups of euthyroid subjects. We measured TSH in 11 …
Geostatistics for conflation and accuracy assessment of digital elevation models

A geostatistical methodology is proposed for integrating elevation estimates derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) and elevation measurements of higher accuracy, e.g., elevation spot heights. The sparse elevation measurements (hard data) and the abundant DEM-reported elevations (soft data) are employed for modeling the unknown higher accuracy (reference) elevation surface in a way that properly reflects the relative reliability of the two sources of information. Stochastic conditional simulation is performed for generating alternative, equiprobable images (numerical models) of the unknown reference elevation surface using both hard and soft data. These numerical models reproduce the hard elevation data at their measurement locations, and a set of auto and crosscovariance models quantifying spatial correlation between data of the two sources of information at various spatial scales. From this set of alternative representations of the reference elevation, the probability that the unknown reference va.
Exploring the Role of the Modulation Spectrum in Phoneme Recognition

Objectives: The ability of human listeners to identify consonants (presented as nonsense syllables) on the basis of primarily temporal information was compared with the predictions of a simple model based on the amplitude modulation spectra of the stimuli calculated for six octave-spaced carrier frequencies (250 to 8000 Hz) and six octave-spaced amplitude modulation frequencies (1 to 32 Hz). Design: The listeners and the model were presented with 16 phonemes each spoken by four different talkers processed so that one, two, four, or eight bands of spectral information remained. The average modulation spectrum of each of the processed phonemes was extracted and similarity across phonemes was calculated by the use of a spectral correlation index (SCI). Results: The similarity of the modulation spectra across phonemes as assessed by the spectral correlation index was a strong predictor of the confusions made by human listeners. Conclusions: This result suggests that a sparse set of time-averaged patterns of modulation energy can capture a meaningful aspect of the information listeners use to distinguish among speech signals.
Understanding physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes after completing an exercise intervention trial: A mediation model of self-efficacy and autonomous motivation

This study was set out to test if autonomous motivation mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and 12-month physical activity (PA) in adults with type 2 diabetes involved in a randomized exercise trial. Participants (n = 234) completed questionnaires measuring barrier self-efficacy at 3 months, autonomous motivation at 6 months, and PA at 12 months. A mediational analysis of longitudinal data revealed that autonomous motivation mediated the relationship between barrier-self-efficacy and PA. High barrier self-efficacy can therefore help predict 12-month PA in adults with type 2 diabetes, although this effect is attenuated by autonomous motivation. Hence, participating in PA for autonomous reasons such as by choice and/or for fun further explains PA at 12 months in this population. Results of this study extend our understanding of the motivational constructs involved in PA in the maintenance phase. This study has important theoretical implications in that it helps to organize and consolidate well-known correlates of PA by proposing a temporal relationship between them that could be tailored in interventions.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Spread of Class 1 Integrons among Salmonella Serotypes

ABSTRACT The resistance profiles, for 15 antimicrobial agents, of 333Salmonella strains representing the most frequent nontyphoidal serotypes, isolated between 1989 and 1998 in a Spanish region, and 9 reference strains were analyzed. All strains were susceptible to amikacin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and imipenem, and 31% were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested. The most frequent types of resistance were to sulfadiazine, tetracycline, streptomycin, spectinomycin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol (ranging from 46 to 22%); 13% were resistant to these six drugs. This multidrug resistance pattern was found alone or together with other resistance types within serotypes Typhimurium (45%), Panama (23%), and Virchow (4%). Each isolate was also screened for the presence of class 1 integrons and selected resistance genes therein; seven variable regions which carried one (aadA1a, aadA2, orpse-1) or two (dfrA14-aadA1a,dfrA1-aadA1a, oxa1-aadA1a, orsat1-aadA1a) resistance genes were found in integrons.
User experience with in-car GPS navigation systems: comparing the young and elderly drivers

This paper outlines the design requirements of a GPS car navigation system for the elderly and the young by proposing a set of new guidelines for designing such systems. Our study revealed that younger drivers had a more positive user experience as compared to the elderly drivers. This paper also identifies a number of advanced features that a routing system should have for satisfying both the elderly and younger drivers on road. In conclusion, we will discuss the key design recommendations that were derived from the study.
Cultural Perceptions of Equivocation and Directness: Dimensional or Unique?

Abstract This study is an exploratory literature review and analysis designed to provide an answer to the following question: which of two approaches is more likely to be productive in future research on the role of equivocal communication across cultures, a culture specific approach or one that focuses on key dimensions of cultural difference put forth by Hall and Hofstede? The likely role of equivocation and indirectness is examined in each of three cultures, those of the United States, Mexico, and Japan. Mexico and Japan have dimensional similarities, as high-context and collectivistic cultures, whereas the United States is dimensionally distinct from the other two, as a low-context and individualistic culture. Our review suggests that a research paradigm using the dimensions would likely be more productive in examining equivocation than would one that emphasizes idiosyncratic characteristics of each culture. A limited amount of empirical research has been conducted on the role that culture plays in the use and perception of interpersonal equivocation and related concepts such as directness, vagueness, ambiguity, clarity, and face concerns. Hall’s (1977) and Hofstede’s (1991, 2001) fundamental dimensions of cultural difference, especially those concerning high versus low-context and individualistic versus collectivistic cultures, would appear to suggest that equivocation (the intended use of communicative vagueness or ambiguity—see especially Bavelas, Black, Chovil, & Mullett, 1990) would be used and viewed differently across these dimensions. Theoretically, they would suggest that equivocation should be considered more normative in high-context and collectivistic cultures. For example, Ting-Toomey (1988) has argued that members of collectivistic cultures are more likely to seek approval and use less direct strategies when negotiating face concerns than are members of individualistic cultures. Also, in reviewing some of the research of Ting-Toomey and others, Morisaki and Gudykunst (1994) point out that Japanese tend to equate losing face with an inability to “maintain ingroup harmony” (p. 56), while North Americans, from a much more individualistic culture, tend to perceive losing face as associated with personal failure. This finding would suggest that those from collectivistic cultures might need to rely on more equivocal communication tactics in order to smooth over social difficulties and promote harmony. High-context cultures such as those in Japan and Mexico, according to Hall (1977), are more likely to depend on
The Intensity Distribution of Faint Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected with BATSE

We have recently completed a search of 6 years of archival BATSE data for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that were too faint to activate the real-time burst detection system running on board the spacecraft. These "nontriggered" bursts can be combined with the "triggered" bursts detected on board to produce a GRB intensity distribution that reaches peak fluxes a factor of ~2 lower than could be studied previously. The value of the ⟨V/Vmax⟩ statistic (in Euclidean space) for the bursts we detect is 0.177 ± 0.006. This surprisingly low value is obtained because we detected very few bursts on the 4.096 s and 8.192 s timescales (where most bursts have their highest signal-to-noise ratio) that were not already detected on the 1.024 s timescale. If allowance is made for a power-law distribution of intrinsic peak luminosities, the extended peak flux distribution is consistent with models in which the redshift distribution of the gamma-ray burst rate approximately traces the star formation history of the universe. We argue that this class of models is preferred over those in which the burst rate is independent of redshift. We use the peak flux distribution to derive a limit of 10% (99% confidence) on the fraction of the total burst rate that could be contributed by a spatially homogeneous (in Euclidean space) subpopulation of burst sources, such as type Ib/c supernovae. These results lend support to the conclusions of previous studies predicting that relatively few faint "classical" GRBs will be found below the BATSE onboard detection threshold.
The relationship between fermented food intake and mortality risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Netherlands cohort

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between total and subtypes of bacterial fermented food intake (dairy products, cheese, vegetables and meat) and mortality due to all causes, total cancer and CVD. From the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Netherlands cohort, 34 409 Dutch men and women, aged 20–70 years who were free from CVD or cancer at baseline, were included. Baseline intakes of total and subtypes of fermented foods were measured with a validated FFQ. Data on the incidence and causes of death were obtained from the national mortality register. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse mortality in relation to the quartiles of fermented food intake. After a mean follow-up of 15 (sd 2·5) years, 2436 deaths occurred (1216 from cancer and 727 from CVD). After adjustment for age, sex, total energy intake, physical activity, education level, hypertension, smoking habit, BMI, and intakes of fruit, vegetables and alcohol, total fermented food intake was not found to be associated with mortality due to all causes (hazard ratio upper v. lowest quartile (HRQ4 v. Q1) 1·00, 95 % CI 0·88, 1·13), cancer (HRQ4 v. Q1 1·02, 95 % CI 0·86, 1·21) or CVD (HRQ4 v. Q1 1·04, 95 % CI 0·83, 1·30). Bacterial fermented foods mainly consisted of fermented dairy foods (78 %) and cheese (16 %). None of the subtypes of fermented foods was consistently related to mortality, except for cheese which was moderately inversely associated with CVD mortality, and particularly stroke mortality (HRQ4 v. Q1 0·59, 95 % CI 0·38, 0·92, P trend= 0·046). In conclusion, the present study provides no strong evidence that intake of fermented foods, particularly fermented dairy foods, is associated with mortality.