Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis by AMPLICOR PCR of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in urine samples from women and men attending sexually transmitted disease clinics

Screening of urine specimens from men for Chlamydia trachomatis infection by a commercial PCR assay (AMPLICOR C. trachomatis Test; Roche Diagnostic Systems, Inc., Branchburg, N.J.) is a sensitive and specific noninvasive diagnostic assay. Since screening of women for C. trachomatis infection with the AMPLICOR C. trachomatis Test has been limited to use with endocervical swab specimens, we conducted an evaluation of the AMPLICOR C. trachomatis Test for the detection of C. trachomatis using female urine samples and compared the results of those obtained by in vitro culture and PCR of endocervical swab specimens. For 713 men we compared the performance of AMPLICOR C. trachomatis Test with urine specimens with that of culture of urethral specimens. For specimens that were PCR positive and culture negative, two additional tests were used to resolve the discrepancies: direct fluorescent-antibody assay (DFA) of sediment from a spun endocervical specimen culture vial and major outer membrane protein-based PCR of the sediment from the endocervical specimen culture vial. Of 525 urine specimens from females, 67 (12.8%) were PCR positive, and 41 (7.8%) endocervical specimens from the 525 women were culture positive. After resolution of the discrepancies, the resolved sensitivity of the urine PCR was 93.3%, whereas the sensitivity of endocervical swab specimen culture was 67.3%. Of 468 female endocervical swab specimens, 47 (10.0%) had a positive PCR result and 33 (7.0%) were culture positive. The resolved sensitivity of the endocervical swab specimen PCR was 86%. Of 415 matched female urine and endocervical swab specimens, there were 49 confirmed infections; 30 (61.2%) specimens were positive by culture of the endocervical swab specimen, 40 (81.6%) were positive by confirmed endocervical swab specimen PCR, 43 (87.8%) were positive by confirmed urine PCR, and all 49 (100%) were positive by either endocervical swab specimen PCR or urine PCR. For men, the resolved sensitivity of the urine PCR was 88%, and the sensitivity of culture was only 50.7%. These results indicate that urine PCR is highly sensitive for the detection of C. trachomatis in both women and men and provides a noninvasive technique for routine screening for chlamydial infection.
Transmission of Volatility of Money Market Overnight Repo Rate along the Yield Curve in Pakistan

This paper presents the empirical results of the volatility transmission of money market overnight repo rate along the yield curve in Pakistan. The results indicate that the transmission of volatility of overnight repo rate is higher at the shorter end of the yield curve compared to the longer end. These results are in line with empirical findings of volatility transmission of interest rates found in other countries. The results also suggest that the pass-through level of transmission of volatility from overnight repo rate to short and long term interest rates has decreased after State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) adopted the interest rate corridor framework in August 2009. The empirical findings show that the subsequent changes introduced in the current operational framework of SBP has further improved the signaling mechanism of SBP’s monetary policy stance to financial markets. These results indicate the smooth transmission of changes in SBP policy rate to short and long term market interest rates without spreading the unwarranted volatility across the yield curve.
Doppler tissue velocity sampling improves diagnostic accuracy during dobutamine stress echocardiography for the assessment of viable myocardium in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND Both nuclear imaging with F18-fluorodeoxyglucose and dobutamine stress echocardiography have been used to identify viable myocardium, although dobutamine-stress echocardiography has been demonstrated to be the less sensitive of the two. AIM To compare the accuracy of pulsed-wave Doppler tissue sampling with dobutamine-stress echocardiography for the detection of viable myocardium, using F18-fluorodeoxyglucose imaging as a reference. Methods Forty patients with chronic coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction (mean ejection fraction 33+/-11%), underwent F18-fluorodeoxyglucose imaging, dobutamine-stress echocardiography and pulsed-wave Doppler tissue sampling. Evaluation was performed using a six-segment model. RESULTS Visual assessment by resting echo was feasible in 230 out of 240 segments (96%); 177 (77%) segments showed severe dyssynergy at rest. F18-fluorodeoxyglucose imaging showed viability in 95 (54%) segments while 82 (46%) were non-viable. Ejection phase velocity at rest was not significantly different; ejection velocities during low-dose and peak-dose dobutamine, however, were significantly higher in viable myocardium (8.6+/-2.9 vs 6.0+/-1.8 and 9.3+/-3.1 vs 6.2+/-2.1 cm x s(-1)). Using receiver operating characteristic curves the optimal cut-off value for viability assessment was an increase in the ejection phase velocity low-dose of 1+/-0.5 cm x s(-1), while 0+/-0.5 cm x s(-1)predicted non-viability. The sensitivity and specificity (95%CI) of pulsed-wave Doppler tissue sampling and dobutamine-stress echocardiography for the prediction of viability was respectively 87% (82-92) vs 75% (67-81) (P<0.05) and 52% (44-59) vs 51% (45-59) (P=ns). CONCLUSIONS The sensitivity of pulsed-wave Doppler tissue sampling is superior to dobutamine-stress echocardiography for the assessment of myocardial viability.
Resistance Exercise Training does not Affect Plasma Irisin Levels of Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract Irisin, a hormone secreted by myocytes induced in exercise, acts as a muscle-derived energy-expenditure signal that binds to undetermined receptors on the white adipose tissue surface, stimulating its browning and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an intradialytic resistance exercise training program (RETP) on plasma irisin levels of hemodialysis (HD) patients and compare the baseline plasma irisin levels of HD patients to healthy subjects. This longitudinal study enrolled 26 patients undergoing HD (50% men, 44.8±14.1 years, body mass index (BMI) 23.5±3.9 kg/m2). The healthy subjects group consisted of 11 women and 7 men with mean age of 50.9±6.6 years and BMI, 24.2±2.7 kg/m2. Anthropometric and biochemistry parameters (Irisin by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) were measured at the baseline and after 6 months of RETP (in both lower limbs). There was no difference regarding gender, age, and BMI between HD patients and healthy subjects. Plasma irisin levels in HD patients were lower than in healthy subjects (71.0±41.6 vs. 101.3±12.5 ng/ml, p<0.05). Although the muscle mass increased in consequence of exercise [evaluated by arm muscle area from 27.9 (24.1) to 33.1 (19.0) cm2], plasma irisin did not differ significantly after exercises (71.0±41.6 vs. 73.3±36.0 ng/ml). HD patients seem to have lower plasma irisin when compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, a resistance exercise training program was unable to augment plasma irisin despite increasing muscle mass.
Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Hepatic Metastases from Colorectal Cancer

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been detected in patients with a variety of metastatic cancers, including colorectal, and may be a significant prognostic variable in patients with liver metastases. This prospective study involved 20 patients (13 men and 7 women) undergoing surgical excision or ablation of liver metastases from a colon or rectal primary tumor. Four 7.5-mL vials of peripheral blood were drawn preoperatively, 2 weeks postoperatively, and during mobilization of the liver or at the beginning of radiofrequency ablation. The samples were centrifuged, the sera combined to a final volume of 7.5 mL, and the CellSearch system used to identify circulating epithelial cells. A CTC count >2 was defined as clinically significant. Preoperative CTC levels averaged 3.9 (range, 0–56) and were significant in 2 patients (10%). Postoperative CTC levels averaged 1.0 (in 18 patients; range, 0–9) and were significant in 1 patient (5%). Intraoperative CTC levels averaged 28.2 (range, 0–315) and were significant in 10 patients (50%). At a median follow-up of 11.5 months (range, 5–25), 6 patients (30%) were dead of disease, 6 patients (30%) showed no evidence of disease, and 8 patients (40%) were alive with disease. Statistical analysis suggested a correlation between the presence of postoperative CTCs and survival (P = 0.036), as well as with disease-free survival (P = 0.036). Thus, CTCs are present and quantifiable in many patients with colorectal hepatic metastases, and peripheral CTCs are present in greater quantity during intraoperative liver manipulation. This preliminary study suggests a relationship between the presence of postoperative CTCs and outcome. Further accrual and follow-up of this group is needed to confirm these findings.
Toward a Definition of High Expectations: Interpretive Case Studies of Selected Secondary Schools in West Virginia

Toward a Definition of High Expectations: Interpretive Case Studies Of Selected Secondary Schools In West Virginia David S. Tupper The purpose of this study was to examine the curricular, instructional and administrative practices that teachers and principals used in establishing high expectations from interpretive case studies of selected West Virginia secondary schools. A qualitative research design was used to focus on the specific practices that teachers and principals used at the three sites. The three sites were chosen using purposeful sampling with a unique attribute. The unique attribute was that each school had to have met adequate yearly progress (AYP) for four consecutive years. Data collection included interviews where a semi-structured interview format was used. Included in the data collection were classroom observations, school observations, document collection and field notes. It was the teachers and principals in each building who created the practices of high expectations unique to their values and beliefs. Each building was a microcosm of the community the teachers and principals were members of. Therefore, one unified definition cannot exist because of the lack of unified communities throughout West Virginia. However, this research found the existence of seven commonalities in schools that promoted a culture of high academic achievement and hence high expectations in selected West Virginia secondary schools. The commonalities found in this research were: (1) master schedule, (2) strong professional learning community, (3) course curriculum aligned to the state assessment tool, (4) teachers teaching the prescribed curriculum, (5) strong offering of advanced placement courses, (6) strong parental involvement/support, and (7) time where extra help/extra time is provided.
Menstrual Symptoms in Women Infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Objective: To determine whether there is a higher prevalence of menstrual symptoms in women seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to a matched control group and to examine the relation between menstrual symptomatology and immunosuppression. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 55 HIV-seropositive women and a matched control group underwent detailed gynecologic assessment. The prevalence of regular cycles, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia was assessed in the two groups. Any association with clinical disease or CD4 lymphocyte count was sought. Results: There were no significant differences in the prevalence of oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, or dyspareunia between the groups. Furthermore, no differences were demonstrated between symptomatic and asymptomatic women infected by HIV, nor was any correlation found between CD4 lymphocyte count and menstrual loss or dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: Infection with HIV and related immunosuppression do not seem to have a clinically significant effect on menstruation.
Googling Gold and Mining Bad News

This paper studies investor's attention to gold price movements by analyzing the relationship between gold price changes and internet search queries for gold. We find a positive relationship of gold price volatility and search queries and a strong asymmetric effect of negative gold price changes on search queries indicating a preference to mine (google) bad news rather than good news. The analysis of silver, palladium and platinum demonstrates that the findings for gold are unique.
Prevalence, risk factors and transmission of nervous necrosis virus in a hatchery producing hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) fry

This study investigates the prevalence, risk factors, and transmission of nervous necrosis virus (NNV) in a hatchery producing hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) fry. The eggs and sperm of giant grouper (GG) and tiger groupers (TG) that were collected for breeding purposes within the 12-month study period were sampled to detect NNV. At the same time, three breeding attempts of different NNV status of broodstocks, which were NNV-positive GG × NNV-positive TG, NNV-positive GG × NNV-negative TG and NNV-negative GG × NNV-negative TG were conducted. The produced hybrid grouper (HG) fry was then sampled at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 90, and 120 days post-hatched to detect the presence of NNV. The fresh fish, live feed, and commercial fish pellet that were used to feed the broodstocks or HG fry throughout the study period were also sampled for NNV detection. The water’s physico-chemical parameters during each sampling were determined. The results revealed that the broodstocks had a low prevalence to NNV. However, when at least one of the broodstocks was NNV-positive, all batches of the fry were NNV-positive at high prevalence. There were consistent associations of ammonia and iron with the presence of NNV in both broodstocks and fry. Phylogenetic tree indicates the possible horizontal and vertical transmissions of NNV in the hatchery culture system. Understandings the epidemiology of NNV in a real hatchery condition can provide significant information for control and prevention of the disease.
Embedding an enriched environment in an acute stroke unit increases activity in people with stroke: a controlled before–after pilot study

Objectives: To determine whether an enriched environment embedded in an acute stroke unit could increase activity levels in acute stroke patients and reduce adverse events. Design: Controlled before–after pilot study. Setting: An acute stroke unit in a regional Australian hospital. Participants: Acute stroke patients admitted during (a) initial usual care control period, (b) an enriched environment period and (c) a sustainability period. Intervention: Usual care participants received usual one-on-one allied health intervention and nursing care. The enriched environment participants were provided stimulating resources, communal areas for eating and socializing and daily group activities. Change management strategies were used to implement an enriched environment within existing staffing levels. Main Measures: Behavioural mapping was used to estimate patient activity levels across groups. Participants were observed every 10 minutes between 7.30 am and 7.30 pm within the first 10 days after stroke. Adverse and serious adverse events were recorded using a clinical registry. Results: The enriched environment group (n = 30, mean age 76.7 ± 12.1) spent a significantly higher proportion of their day engaged in ‘any’ activity (71% vs. 58%, P = 0.005) compared to the usual care group (n = 30, mean age 76.0 ± 12.8). They were more active in physical (33% vs. 22%, P < 0.001), social (40% vs. 29%, P = 0.007) and cognitive domains (59% vs. 45%, P = 0.002) and changes were sustained six months post implementation. The enriched group experienced significantly fewer adverse events (0.4 ± 0.7 vs.1.3 ± 1.6, P = 0.001), with no differences found in serious adverse events (0.5 ± 1.6 vs.1.0 ± 2.0, P = 0.309). Conclusions: Embedding an enriched environment in an acute stroke unit increased activity in stroke patients.
representative influence Employee voice and organizational performance : Team versus

This article explores the effects of team voice and worker representative voice, as well as their interaction, on labor productivity. We examine team voice in terms of team influence on key work-related issues and representative voice via the degree of worker representatives’ influence on multiple collective voice issues. We thus build on the European tradition of examining both direct and indirect voice and their implications for valued organizational outcomes. We find that neither type of voice bears a significant relationship to labor productivity when examined solely but that team voice significantly contributes to enhanced worker efficiency when considered in conjunction with representative voice. In examining the interaction of the two types of voice, we find that a combination of low team and low representative voice leads to inferior labor efficiency compared to other conditions. We also find a negative interaction between team voice and worker representative voice, supporting an interpretation that these types of voice do not complement each other with respect to worker productivity. The positive impact of each type of voice is significantly stronger at low levels of the other type of voice.
Diagnostic Test Validation: Cochlear Hydrops Analysis Masking Procedure in Ménière's Disease

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of the cochlear hydrops analysis masking procedure (CHAMP) in patients with definite Ménière's disease. Study Design: Prospective validation study for a diagnostic test, study phase 2. Setting: Tertiary referral centers. Patients: Subjects with definite Ménière's disease (Group 1), differential diagnosis (Group 2: another audiovestibular diseases or neurologic disorders), and normal hearing (Group 3) were included. Sample sizes were calculated. Interventions: Study test (CHAMP) was compared with the current clinical criterion standard described by the guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Main Outcome Measure: Sensitivity, specificity, and other indicators of diagnostic validation. Results: One hundred ten cases completed the follow-up, and their results are presented. Sensitivity at 31.3% and specificity at 100% were found in subjects with definite Ménière's disease, features that are more helpful in confirming the diagnosis than in rejecting it. Group 1 showed significantly shorter latency delays than Groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: If definite Ménière's disease is suspected, an abnormal result confirms the diagnosis; however, a normal result does not rule out the Ménière's disease diagnosis.
Clathrin‐Mediated Endocytosis of Gold Nanoparticles In Vitro

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have potential biomedical and scientific applications. In this study, we evaluated the uptake and internalization of FBS‐coated 20 nm AuNPs into lung fibroblasts and liver cells by different microscopy techniques. AuNP aggregates were observed inside MRC5 lung fibroblasts and Chang liver cells under light microscopy, especially after enhancement with automegallography. Clusters of AuNPs were observed to be adsorbed on the cell surface by scanning electron microscopy. Ultrathin sections showed that AuNPs were mainly enclosed within cytoplasmic vesicles when viewed under transmission electron microscopy. We also investigated the mechanism of uptake for AuNPs, using endocytosis inhibitors and quantification of Au with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cells treated with concanavalin A and chlorpromazine showed significant decrease of Au uptake in MRC5 lung fibroblasts and Chang liver cells, respectively, implying that the uptake of AuNPs was facilitated by clathrin‐mediated endocytosis. It would therefore appear that uptake of 20 nm AuNPs in both cell types with different tissues of origin, was dependent upon clathrin‐mediated endocytosis. Anat Rec, 298:418–427, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Forewarned Before Forecast: Presidential Election Forecasting Models and the 1992 Election.

Forecasting presidential elections has become a growth industry in political science. Econometric models used to predict the presidential election that were once viewed as part of “recreational political science” are now being taken seriously. The widespread belief that these models have been highly successful at predicting election outcomes has enticed a score of political scientists to propose new models hoping to share in the triumph of political science over the pundits and polls. Unfortunately, there has been very little critical examination of the models used to forecast presidential elections. A close review reveals that existing quantitative models are not useful predictors of presidential races. In addition, most of the new proposed models have adopted an approach that is unlikely to lead to better forecasts.
Human-Centric Justification of Machine Learning Predictions

Human decision makers in many domains can make use of predictions made by machine learning models in their decision making process, but the usability of these predictions is limited if the human is unable to justify his or her trust in the prediction. We propose a novel approach to producing justifications that is geared towards users without machine learning expertise, focusing on domain knowledge and on human reasoning, and utilizing natural language generation. Through a task-based experiment, we show that our approach significantly helps humans to correctly decide whether or not predictions are accurate, and significantly increases their satisfaction with the justification.
p53 immunoprofiling of potentially malignant oral disorders: a case series analysis.

CONTEXT p53 tumor suppressor gene which is a frequent target for mutations in a high percentage of oral cancer is regarded as an early event in carcinogenesis. AIM The role of p53 was assessed in potentially malignant oral disorders (PMOD) to ascertain its prognostic significance. SETTINGS AND DESIGN Retrospective case series analysis was carried out on 30 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of confirmed oral leukoplakia with dysplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS 10 cases of each of mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia were immunohistochemically analyzed for p53 expression. The intensity of staining, intracellular localization, and basal and/or suprabasal distribution were assessed. STATISTICS The intensity of p53 staining and its distribution were analyzed by the Chi-square test. The intracellular localization of p53 in different grades of dysplasia was subjected to one way ANOVA. P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS 21/30 cases of epithelial dysplasia were positive for p53 immunopositivity. Intensity of p53 expression was strong in 12 cases and weak in 9 cases (P<0.05). p53 positivity was confined to basal cells in mild dysplasia, while severe dysplasia showed both basal and suprabasal staining (P<0.05). Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining between and within the groups were F=9.027 and F=6.465 respectively with high significance noted between mild dysplasia and severe dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS Increased p53 expressivity and greater cellular localization with increase in the severity of dysplasia indicated a direct association between the degree of epithelial dysplasia and p53 accretion, which occurs as an early event in oral carcinogenesis.