Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Six Rapid Tests for Direct Detection of Clostridium difficile and Its Toxins in Fecal Samples Compared with the Fibroblast Cytotoxicity Assay

ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile is one of the most frequent causes of nosocomial gastrointestinal disease. Risk factors include prior antibiotic therapy, bowel surgery, and the immunocompromised state. Direct fecal analysis for C. difficile toxin B by tissue culture cytotoxin B assay (CBA), while only 60 to 85% sensitive overall, is a common laboratory method. We have used 1,003 consecutive, nonduplicate fecal samples to compare six commercially available immunoassays (IA) for C. difficile detection with CBA: Prima System Clostridium difficile Tox A and VIDAS Clostridium difficile Tox A II, which detect C. difficile toxin A; Premier Cytoclone A/B and Techlab Clostridium difficile Tox A/B, which detect toxins A and B; and ImmunoCard Clostridium difficile and Triage Micro C. difficile panels, which detect toxin A and a species-specific antigen. For all tests, Triage antigen was most sensitive (89.1%; negative predictive value [NPV] = 98.7%) while ImmunoCard was most specific (99.7%; positive predictive value [PPV] = 95.0%). For toxin tests only, Prima System had the highest sensitivity (82.2%; NPV = 98.0%) while ImmunoCard had the highest specificity (99.7%; PPV = 95.0%). Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients contributed 44.7% of all samples tested, and no significant differences in sensitivity or specificity were noted between HSCT and non-HSCT patients. IAs, while not as sensitive as direct fecal CBA, produce reasonable predictive values, especially when both antigen and toxin are detected. They also offer significant advantages over CBA in terms of turnaround time and ease of use.
Bureaucratic Corruption and Endogenous Economic Growth

There Appears to be significant diversity in the incidence of bureaucratic corruption across countries at different stages of economic development and under different political and economic regimes. Little theoretical or empirical analysis has been offered, however, on the link between corruption, government, and growth. The paper attempts to fill the void through equilibrium models of endogenous growth. “balanced growth” is derived as a balancing act between accumulating human capital, which engenders growth, and accumulating political capital, which mainly assures bureaucratic power. The analysis focuses on the interplay between investment in these two types of capital and its implications for long‐term growth under alternative political regimes. Some propositions are tested and confirmed empirically.
The effectiveness of AGU-MCAT in predicting medical student performance in year one of the College of Medicine of the Arabian Gulf University.

INTRODUCTION To graduate good doctors, medical schools should adopt proper student procedures to select among applicant students. When selecting students, many medical colleges focus solely on their academic achievement on high school examinations, which do not reflect all, important attributes of student. For several years, the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences of the Arabian Gulf University has introduced and administered the AGU-MCAT (Arabian Gulf University Medical College Assessment Test) for screening student applicants. This study aimed to assess the ability of the AGU-MCAT to predict students' performance during their first year college study, as an example of one school's multi-dimensional admissions screening process. METHODS The AGU-MCAT is made up of three parts, including a written test on science, a test of students' English language skills and an interview. In the first part, students' science knowledge is tested with 100 multiple choice questions. The English exam assesses students. English reading and listening skills. Lastly, students are interviewed by two faculty members and one senior student to assess their personal qualities. The 138 students who passed the AGU-MCAT in September 2008 and matriculated in the school were studied. Their performance during Year One including their performance on exams in the various disciplines was compared to their achievement on the three AGU-MCAT components. RESULTS AGU-MCAT's total mark and its science component had the highest linear relationship to students' performance in the various disciplines in Year One, while the strongest predictor of students' performance at the end of Year One was the AGU-MCAT's science test (R2=45.5%). Students' grades in high school did not predict their achievement in Year One. CONCLUSION The AGU-MCAT used to screen applicants to the school also predicts students' performance during their first year of medical school.
Acceptance of orthodontic miniscrews as temporary anchorage devices

Objective To study the patient’s acceptance, expectation, and experience of pain with orthodontic temporary miniscrews. Methods Questionnaires were distributed to 165 potential temporary orthodontic miniscrew recipients or their parents. Using the numeric rating scale, patients who received miniscrews as part of their orthodontic treatment were also asked to rate the pain or discomfort experience after miniscrew placement. Results A total of 165 subjects completed the first set of questions. There was a significant relationship between level of education and prior knowledge about orthodontic miniscrews (P=0.029). Even though only 12.7% had heard about miniscrews, 82.4% agreed to have miniscrews placed to facilitate orthodontic tooth movement. Eighty-three subjects who needed miniscrews as part of their orthodontic treatment completed two more sets of questions after 6 and 24 hours of miniscrew insertion. After 6 hours of miniscrew insertion, there was a significant difference in pain perception between men (mean =2.6±2.2) and women (mean =2.1±1.5; P=0.03). After 24 hours, there was no difference between men (0.2±0.4) and women (0.2±0.5; P>0.05). Postplacement, 32.5% did not require any pain medication, while 59.1% required a single dose and only 8.4% required two doses. A total of 76 patients (91.6%) said that they would recommend this procedure. Conclusion Patients do accept miniscrew as a treatment option in orthodontics. Postoperative pain is significantly low. The acceptance of miniscrews was not related to patient’s previous knowledge of the device, and patients preferred miniscrews to extractions.
Aflatoxin Exposure in Developing Countries: The Critical Interface of Agriculture and Health

Background Aflatoxins are common contaminants of staple foods in sub-Saharan Africa. These toxins are human liver carcinogens, especially in combination with chronic infection with hepatitis B virus. However, in an agricultural setting, the effects on growth, immune status, and susceptibility to infectious disease in farm animals are also well recognized. These latter effects have been far less explored in human populations. Objectives To review some of the more recent work on aflatoxins where the health outcomes seen in the agricultural setting, including growth impairment and immune suppression, have been investigated in human populations. The paper draws largely on examples from West Africa. The paper also sets out how knowledge gained about aflatoxins in the agricultural setting can be used to design intervention studies in human populations. Methods A review of the relevant literature. Results Human exposure to aflatoxins begins early in life, and recent studies in West Africa have demonstrated an association between exposure and growth faltering, particularly stunting, in young children. At present the underlying mechanisms for the latter effects are unknown but may include impairment of immunity and increased susceptibility to infections. Simple postharvest intervention strategies were successful in reducing aflatoxin exposure in a subsistence farm setting, providing a rationale for prevention of aflatoxin-related disease. Conclusions There are potential benefits to public health from intervention strategies combining expertise in the agricultural and health settings to address the aflatoxin problem.
Perspectives and Outcomes of the Activity of a Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis

One health is an emerging conceptual approach geared to harmonize the activities of the public health, veterinary services, and extension services within a single operative structure. Brucellosis is an important zoonosis worldwide, mostly involving nomadic populations but may often affect transboundary animal management and exotic domesticated animal farming such as camels and buffalo. Here, we provide contemporary knowledge on the disease and its causative agent, a Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the genus Brucella. Further, because of the zoonotic importance, we emphasize the need to assign a national reference laboratory for the disease and discuss how this would integrate into a “One Health” system. Brucella vaccines are live attenuated strains possessing the smooth phenotype, and vaccination, therefore, hampers the ability to maintain a national surveillance program due to concerns regarding the false positive vaccine-induced responses. In order to overcome these failings, we developed a combined approach based on rapid screening of mass numbers of serum samples by the fluorescence polarization assay, a cost-effective and accurate method, and confirmation of the true positive reactors by the complement fixation test, a highly specific method that is less sensitive to vaccine-induced antibodies. We demonstrate how, despite the high vaccination coverage of the small ruminant population in Israel, our results proved to be effective in discriminating between vaccinated and infected animals. The speed and accuracy of the method further justified immediate declaration of 37% of flocks as cleansed from brucellosis, thus reducing the burden of repeated tests among this population.
Small-scale fading for high-altitude platform (HAP) propagation channels

There has been a great interest in the development of high-altitude platforms, which are low cost stratospheric aircraft carrying payloads tailored for a wide range of applications in telecommunications and remote sensing. These platforms are capable of flying at altitudes ranging between 17 and 30 km, with a potential endurance of weeks to months, features that make them attractive for the provision of future personal communication services. This paper deals with the theoretical derivation of a channel model for the communication link between the platform and terrestrial mobile users or stations. In particular, we address the problem of modeling the small-scale fading effects. It is shown that the particular geometry of the propagation scenario leads to a specific model applicable to the stratospheric channel.
Safety and effectiveness of long‐term treatment with diazepam auto‐injector administered by caregivers in an outpatient setting for the treatment of acute repetitive seizures

Part 1 of this phase III study was a randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group, placebo‐controlled, multicenter study of caregiver administered diazepam auto‐injector (AI) in subjects with acute repetitive seizures (ARS) and demonstrated that diazepam AI was well‐tolerated and significantly more effective than placebo AI in delaying the time to next seizure or rescue. Part 2 of this study, presented herein, was an open‐label continuation to assess the long‐term safety and effectiveness of diazepam AI for the treatment of ARS.
Dystonia and dyskinesia in glutaric aciduria type I: Clinical heterogeneity and therapeutic considerations

Glutaric aciduria type I (GA‐I) is an inborn error in the degradation of lysine, hydroxylysine, and tryptophan due to a defiency of glutary‐CoA dehydrogenase. Glutaric, 3‐OH‐glutaric, and glutaconic acids are excreted in the urine, particularly during intercurrent illness. The enzyme may be assayed in leukocytes, cultured fibroblasts and chorionic villi. Twelve new cases, 9 months‐16 years of age, are reported, comprising all known cases of GA‐I in Sweden and Norway. Ten had a severe dystonic‐dyskinetic disorder, one had a mild hyperkinetic disorder, and one was asymptomatic. Two children died in a state of hyperthermia. Carnitine deficiency and malnutrition developed in patients with severe dystonia and dysphagia, which necessitated substitution and gastrostomy. A slowly progressive dyskinetic disorder developed in spite of adequate early dietary treatment in one subject. Macrocephaly was found in three. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance investigations in 10 showed deep bitemporal spaces in 7. Neuropsychological testing of 8 of 12 subjects demonstrated receptive language function to be superior to expressive language and motor function. Cognitive functions were obviously less affected than motor functions. A review of 57 pooled cases showed that a severe dystonic syndrome developed in 77%, a mild extrapyramidal syndrome in 10%, and 12% were asymptomatic. This disorder may pass undetected in the cerebral palsy and mentally retarded child and adult populations. Repeated urine examinations of organic acids in the urine and enzyme assay may be necessary to confirm GA‐I.
Do preferences for pop music converge across countries? – Empirical evidence from the Eurovision Song Contest

ABSTRACT The combination of the digitalisation of cultural goods and facilitated cross-border availability through the internet fuels a globalisation process that is often said to cause a homogenisation of demand across countries, in particular, for entertainment goods as music and movies. In order to test this hypothesis, we analyse historical voting data of the Eurovision Song Contest, which has taken place annually since 1956, thus covering the timespan (1975–2016) in which digitalisation and Internet availability emerged and evolved into mass phenomena. Consequently, according to the outlined theory of homogenisation of preferences, voting should have become more concentrated on the leading artists and less focused on regional differences in taste during this timespan. For the purpose of detecting concentration trends in the allocation of points, we employ different indicators for measuring concentration. First, we calculate concentration ratios, second, we calculate the Herfindahl-Hirschman-Index, and third, the Gini-coefficient for each year. Furthermore, we test trendlines for statistical significance. The results show that our analysis cannot support the thesis of preference homogenisation. We find no significant trend towards preference convergence. In contrast, some of the employed indicators and methods point towards significant, albeit weak, deconcentration trends in voting behaviour for the contest.
Parental origin of apparently balanced de novo complex chromosomal rearrangements investigated by microdissection, whole genome amplification, and microsatellite‐mediated haplotype analysis

Grossmann V, Höckner M, Karmous‐Benailly H, Liang D, Puttinger R, Quadrelli R, Röthlisberger B, Huber A, Wu L, Spreiz A, Fauth C, Erdel M, Zschocke J, Utermann G, Kotzot D. Parental origin of apparently balanced de novo complex chromosomal rearrangements investigated by microdissection, whole genome amplification, and microsatellite‐mediated haplotype analysis.
Bax Inhibitor-1 Is a pH-dependent Regulator of Ca2+ Channel Activity in the Endoplasmic Reticulum*

In this study, Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) overexpression reduces the ER pool of Ca2+ released by thapsigargin. Cells overexpressing BI-1 also showed lower intracellular Ca2+ release induced by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin as well as agonists of ryanodine receptors and inositol trisphosphate receptors. In contrast, cells expressing carboxyl-terminal deleted BI-1 (CΔ-BI-1 cells) displayed normal intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Basal Ca2+ release rates from the ER were higher in BI-1-overexpressing cells than in control or CΔ-BI-1 cells. We determined that the carboxyl-terminal cytosolic region of BI-1 contains a lysine-rich motif (EKDKKKEKK) resembling the pH-sensing domains of ion channels. Acidic conditions triggered more extensive Ca2+ release from ER microsomes from BI-1-overexpressing cells and BI-1-reconsituted liposomes. Acidic conditions also induced BI-1 protein oligomerization. Interestingly subjecting BI-1-overexpressing cells to acidic conditions induced more Bax recruitment to mitochondria, more cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and more cell death. These findings suggest that BI-1 increases Ca2+ leak rates from the ER through a mechanism that is dependent on pH and on the carboxyl-terminal cytosolic region of the BI-1 protein. The findings also reveal a cell death-promoting phenotype for BI-1 that is manifested under low pH conditions.
Patient Choice Cesarean: An Evidence-Based Review

Primary elective cesarean performed on a patient’s request now comprises 4% to 18% of all cesareans and 14% to 22% of elective cesareans in reported series. Patients most commonly choose cesarean because of tocophobia, or fear of childbirth. Almost two thirds of obstetricians surveyed are willing to perform cesarean on request, citing decreased risk of pelvic floor or fetal injury, maintenance of sexual functioning, and physician and patient convenience. Contrasting these beliefs are the limited available data on short- and long-term maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality that generally favor vaginal delivery. Moreover, comprehensive economic impact assessments of cesarean on request are lacking, and professional organizations do not agree on the ethics of offering patient choice cesarean. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader should be able to list the reasons that women and obstetricians choose elective cesarean delivery, to outline the ethical aspects of cesarean delivery, and to describe the material and fetal morbidity and mortality associated with cesarean delivery compared to vaginal delivery.
Topology of diphtheria toxin in lipid vesicle membranes: a proteolysis study

The diphtheria toxin (DT) membrane topology was investigated by proteolysis experiments. Diphtheria toxin was incubated with asolectin liposomes at pH 5 in order to promote its membrane insertion, and the protein domains located outside the lipid vesicles were digested with proteinase K (which is a non‐specific protease). The protected peptides were separated by electrophoresis and identified by microsequence analysis. Their orientation with respect to the lipid bilayer and their accessibility to the aqueous phase were determined by attenuated total reflection Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). These data, combined with those provided by proteolytic cleavage with a specific protease (endoproteinase Glu‐C), led us to propose a topological model of the N‐terminal part of the diphtheria toxin B fragment inserted into the lipid membrane. In this model, two a‐helices adopt a transmembrane orientation, with their axes parallel to the lipid acyl chains, while a third o‐helix could adopt a transmembrane topology only in a small proportion of DT molecules.
Epidemiology and clinical outcome of candidaemia among Jordanian newborns over a 10-year period

This retrospective study includes all newborn patients with culture proved candidaemia who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Jordan University Hospital through the period January 1995 to June 2006. Among 24 patients included, 13 (54.2%) died. The incidence of candidaemia was 0.27%, the mean age at diagnosis 25.9 d and the mean gestational age at birth 34.6 weeks. Species most frequently isolated were Candida albicans (50%) and C. krusei (20%). Previous gastrointestinal pathology was present in 41.7% of the cases. A comparison of cases due to C. albicans with those due to other species of Candida revealed no statistical differences in terms of demographic factors, age at onset of disease, mortality, clinical manifestations or risk factors. Based on our results, empirical antifungal therapy should be considered in neonates who have gastrointestinal pathology and other risk factors.
LUTEINIZING HORMONE SECRETION IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH POST‐ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE AMENORRHOEA: EVIDENCE FOR A HYPOTHALAMIC FEEDBACK ABNORMALITY

Twenty‐four patients who presented with amenorrhoea after discontinuing oral contraceptives were studies. In fourteen patients underlying conditions were present which could account for the amenorrhoea. Two patients were pregnant, two had premature ovarian failure and four polycystic ovarian disease. Pituitary tumours were present in three patients, and in another three radiological abnormalities of the pituitary fossa suggested the presence of an intrasellar tumour. Basal serum luteinizing hormone levels reliably differentiated ovarian from hypothalamic or pituitary lesions. Varied patterns of serum LH response to clomiphene were present in the patients with post‐oral contraceptive amenorrhoe or pituitary lesions. Most patients showed normal hormone response patterns, with a secondary LH occurred despite normal oestradiol responses. This suggests an abnormality of the positive feedback system for oestrogens. Subsequent stimulation with clomiphene produced normal LH responses in these patients showing that the abnormality was reversible.
Microstructure Features of Proventriculus and Ultrastructure of the Gastric Gland Cells in Chinese Taihe Black‐bone Silky Fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson)

To investigate microstructure of proventriculus and ultrastructure of the gastric gland cells from Chinese Taihe black‐bone silky fowl (BSF), the proventriculus of 4‐week‐old BSF was sampled. Conventional histological and transmission electron microscope (TEM) methods were used in this study. The wall of the Taihe BSF proventriculus was consisted of four layers, the mucous, submucosa, muscularis externa and the serosa as others birds. The muscularis externa of the birds' proventriculus contained three layers. Much of the melanin was present in loose connective tissue of lamina propria, submucosa, and muscularis externa unlike others. In addition, the ultrastructure of the gastric gland cells was observed by TEM. There was only one kind of gland cell, for example oxynticopeptic cell in proventriculus of Taihe BSF. The oxynticopeptic cells contained numerous mitochondria, cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (CRER), intracellular canaliculi (IC) that secrete hydrochloric acid and small amounts of pepsinogen granules. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was irregular cisternae with ribosomes and surrounded tightly the mitochondria along their configuration. The electron‐dense pepsinogen granules were round with various sizes. The neighbouring oxynticopeptic cells were closed up with tight junction and gap junction. The inter‐space between the neighbouring oxynticopeptic cells was stenosis or was filled with electron‐dense extracellular substance. In conclusion, the gastric gland cells of Chinese Taihe BSF proventriculus were only oxynticopeptic cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen, but no parietal cells and chief cells of mammal. The gastric gland cells of proventriculus were underdeveloped compared with those of mammals.
On the Diffusion Effect of Intellectual Returnees:An Analysis Based on Regional Differences Zand Threshold Characters in China

This paper introduces intellectual returnees to an international RD spillovers model.Using China's provincial panel data,we study how intellectual returnees influence technological progresses in various regions of China.The analysis shows that returnees have played important roles in the technological progress in China,and the effects are differentiated across regions.The finding is robust after controlling the endogeneity problem with instrument variables.We also use the threshold regression method introduced by Hansen(1999)to measure the threshold effects of several factors including local fiscal revenue,per capita GDP,RD spending,and human capital.