Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term Effects of Pneumatic Dilatation on Symptoms and Lower Oesophageal Sphincter Pressure in Achalasia

Background: Pneumatic dilatation is an effective treatment for achalasia. Although follow-up studies have shown that its clinical benefit persists for years, it is still unknown whether the decrease in lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure is maintained over time. Our aim is to assess the long-term effects of pneumatic dilatation on symptoms and LOS pressure in patients with idiopathic achalasia. Methods: Eleven consecutive patients with achalasia (7 men) underwent 1 ( n = 5) or 2 ( n = 6) pneumatic dilatations (Rigiflex dilator) in order to achieve a stable (> 1 year) clinical remission. Clinical scores (0-12, with scores of h 3 indicating remission) and LOS pressure (sleeve manometry) were determined before treatment, after 3 and 12 months, and then every year for 6 years. Results: No operative complications occurred. The patients showed a marked clinical improvement (2.0 (2.0-2.0), median (IQ range), after 3 months versus 8.0 (7.2-9.0) before treatment; P < 0.001), which was maintained throughout the follow-up period. Concurrently, there was a marked decrease in LOS pressure (5.0 (4.0-7.0) mmHg after 3 months versus 25.0 (20.0-36.2) before treatment; P < 0.001), which also remained stable over time. Conclusions: One or two pneumatic dilatations induce stable clinical remission and a decrease in LOS pressure that remains unchanged over time. Our data further support the use of dilatations as first-line treatment of achalasia.
Analysis of Reaction Times and Aerobic Capacities of Soccer Players According to Their Playing Positions

70 soccer players in Gaziantep amateur league voluntarily participated in this study, (average of their ages 19,17±1,34years, average of their heights 181,28±5,06 cm, average of their body weights 76,75±4,43 kg and average of their sports experiences 3,78±0,95 years) to analyze visual and auditory reaction times and aerobic capacities of amateur soccer players according to their playing positions. The reaction times against light and sound of right and left hands were measured by ‘Newtest Reaction Timer. ’ The aerobic capacity measurements of players in this study were determined by shuttle sprint test. In comparison of left and right hand reaction times, it was statistically found that goalkeepers had the best reaction times and midfielders had better reaction times than forwards and defenders (P<0,05). In comparison of aerobic capacities of their playing positions, it was found that MaxVO2 levels of goalkeepers were lower than that of midfielders and forwards (P<0.05). In conclusion, it was found that the factors such as MaxVO2 level and reaction time which affect the performances of players nowadays and differ according to their playing positions. It is considered that these differences result from the different training programs according to the playing positions.
Predicting SMEs' adoption of enterprise systems

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that can be used to predict which small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are more likely to become adopters of enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, SCM and e‐procurement). Design/methodology/approach – Direct interviews were used to collect data from a random sample of SMEs located in the Northwest of England. Using logistic regression, 102 responses were analysed.Findings – The results reveal that the factors influencing SMEs' adoption of enterprise systems are different from the factors influencing SMEs' adoption of other previously studied information systems (IS) innovations. SMEs were found to be more influenced by technological and organisational factors than environmental factors. Moreover, the results indicate that firms with a greater perceived relative advantage, a greater ability to experiment with these systems before adoption, greater top management support, greater organisational readiness and a larger size are predicted to become adopters .
Salient Object Detection via Multiple Random Walks

In this paper, we propose a novel saliency detection framework via multiple random walks (MRW) which simulate multiple agents on a graph simultaneously. In the MRW system, two agents, which represent the seeds of background and foreground, traverse the graph according to a transition matrix, and interact with each other to achieve a state of equilibrium. The proposed algorithm is divided into three steps. First, an initial segmentation is performed to partition an input image into homogeneous regions (i.e., superpixels) for saliency computation. Based on the regions of image, we construct a graph that the nodes correspond to the superpixels in the image, and the edges between neighboring nodes represent the similarities of the corresponding superpixels. Second, to generate the seeds of background, we first filter out one of the four boundaries that most unlikely belong to the background. The superpixels on each of the three remaining sides of the image will be labeled as the seeds of background. To generate the seeds of foreground, we utilize the center prior that foreground objects tend to appear near the image center. In last step, the seeds of foreground and background are treated as two different agents in multiple random walkers to complete the process of salient object detection. Experimental results on three benchmark databases demonstrate the proposed method performs well when it against the state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy and robustness.
[Effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos. METHODS We analyzed the blastocyst formation of the surplus embryos from 2 135 patients, who were divided according to fertilization methods into an IVF (n=1803) and an ICSI group (n=332), the former again allocated to a normal fertilization (n=1642) and a rescue fertilization group (n=161), and the latter, according to sperm sources, to an ejaculated (n=248), an epididymal (n=70) and a testicular sperm group (n=14). The rates of blastocyst formation and good-quality blastocysts were compared between different fertilization methods and sperm sources. RESULTS A total of 1884 blastocysts (28.87%) formed from 6525 surplus embryos of the patients after sequential culture, of which 974 (51.70%) were good-quality ones. The blastocyst formation rate of surplus embryos was significantly higher in the IVF (30.14%) than in the ICSI group (21.40%, P < 0.05), the rate of good-quality blastocysts was also higher in the former (52.44%) than in the latter (45.54%), but with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The rates of blastocyst formation and good-quality blastocysts were significantly higher in the normal (31.04% and 53.28%) than in the rescue fertilization IVF group (20.38% and 38.54%, P < 0.05), and in the testicular sperm ICSI group (30.23% and 53.85%) than in either the epididymal (18.36% and 42.11%) or the ejaculated sperm ICSI group (21.76% and 45.70%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The development potential of surplus embryos was higher in IVF than in ICSI, in the normal than in the rescue fertilization IVF group, and in the testicular than in the epididymal and ejaculated sperm ICSI groups.
Helical Tubes of FtsZ from Methanococcus jannaschii

Abstract Bacterial cell division depends on the formation of a cytokinetic ring structure, the Z-ring. The bacterial tubulin homologue FtsZ is required for Z-ring formation. FtsZ assembles into various polymeric forms in vitro, indicating a structural role in the septum of bacteria. We have used recombinant FtsZ1 protein from M. jannaschii to produce helical tubes and sheets with high yield using the GTP analogue GMPCPP [guanylyl-(α,β)-methylene-diphosphate]. The sheets appear identical to the previously reported Ca++-induced sheets of FtsZ from M. jannaschii that were shown to consist of ‘thick’-filaments in which two protofilaments run in parallel. Tubes assembled either in Ca++ or in GMPCPP contain filaments whose dimensions indicate that they could be equivalent to the ‘thick’-filaments in sheets. Some tubes are hollow but others are filled by additional protein density. Helical FtsZ tubes differ from eukaryotic microtubules in that the filaments curve around the filament axis with a pitch of ~ 430 Å for Ca++-induced tubes or 590–620 Å for GMPCPP. However, their assembly in vitro as well-ordered polymers over distances comparable to the inner circumference of a bacterium may indicate a role in vivo. Their size and stability make them suitable for use in motility assays.
Analysis of promoter mutations in the histidine transport operon of Salmonella typhimurium: use of hybrid M13 bacteriophages for cloning, transformation, and sequencing

Mutations that cause an increased level of expression of the histidine transport operon were isolated and characterized genetically. Five independently isolated promoter-up mutations were transferred to an M13 hybrid phage that carries the histidine transport operon, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. For all five mutations, the change was the same as the one previously determined for promoter-up mutation dhuA1: a C-to-T change in the Pribnow box rendered this region more homologous to the consensus sequence. Methods for enabling Salmonella typhimurium to support growth of M13 phage effectively and for easy transfer of chromosomal mutations onto the hybrid phage are presented.
Symptom Clusters: Concept Analysis and Clinical Implications for Cancer Nursing

The purpose of this article is to analyze the concept of symptom clusters and to discuss its application to cancer nursing to promote communication and enhance scientific knowledge. Rodgers' evolutionary method of concept analysis served as the framework for reviewing literature from psychology/psychiatry, general medicine, and nursing. Attributes of symptom clusters were relationships of symptoms and relationships of clusters, concurrence, underlying dimensions, stability, and common etiology. The major antecedent was the presence of 2 or more symptoms. Consequences were poorer physical health status, interference with activities of daily living, emotional distress, and increased financial burden. A symptom cluster is defined as consisting of 2 or more symptoms that are related to each other and that occur together. Symptom clusters are composed of stable groups of symptoms, are relatively independent of other clusters, and may reveal specific underlying dimensions of symptoms. Relationships among symptoms within a cluster should be stronger than relationships among symptoms across different clusters. Symptoms in a cluster may or may not share the same etiology. Symptom should be broadened to include both subjective (self-reported) symptoms and objective (observed) signs. Implications for researchers include the need to use a clear definition, determine the optimal methods of identifying etiology and nature of symptom clusters in various populations, assess the clinical utility of symptom clusters, and test interventions. Implications for practitioners include the need to comprehensively assess symptoms over the entire cancer trajectory, select interventions that target single and multiple symptoms, and evaluate outcomes that include quality of life and economic variables.
The behavior of LMS and NLMS algorithms in the presence of spherically invariant processes

The behavior of least-mean-square (LMS) and normalized least-mean-square (NLMS) algorithms with spherically invariant random processes (SIRPs) as excitations is shown. Many random processes fall into this category, and SIRPs closely resemble speech signals. The most pertinent properties of these random processes are summarized. The LMS algorithm is introduced, and the first- and second-order moments of the weight-error vector between the Wiener solution and the estimated solution are shown. The behavior of the NLMS algorithm is obtained, and the first- and second-order moments of the weight-error vector are calculated. The results are verified by comparison with known results when a white noise process and a colored Gaussian process are used as input sequences. Some simulation results for a K/sub 0/-process are then shown. >
Energy-dependent efflux mediated by class L (tetL) tetracycline resistance determinant from streptococci

The class L (TetL) tetracycline resistance determinant from streptococci specified resistance and an energy-dependent decreased accumulation of tetracycline in both Streptococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. Using E. coli, we showed that the reduced uptake resulted from active efflux. The streptococcal class M determinant, known to render the protein synthesis machinery of S. faecalis resistant to tetracycline inhibition, did not alter tetracycline transport in either host.
Epstein-Barr virus-specific serum immunoglobulin A as an acute-phase antibody in infectious mononucleosis

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen were assayed serially in 19 patients with infectious mononucleosis and in 38 controls. Seventy-four percent of infectious mononucleosis patients demonstrated IgA antibody, whereas this was found in 13% of controls. This antibody appeared early in infectious mononucleosis and was virtually gone 10 weeks after onset. Comparison of IgA antibody kinetics was made with IgG and IgM antibodies to viral capsid antigen, heterophile antibody, and antibody to Epstein-Barr virus early antigen and nuclear antigen. Failure to demonstrate IgA antibody was associated with severe illness, prolonged illness, delay in IgG and anti-Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen antibody, and low or absent heterophile and anti-early antigen antibody. Assay of IgA antibody to viral capsid antigen is a potentially useful adjunct in the serodiagnosis of infectious mononucleosis or recent Epstein-Barr virus infection, as are the other antibodies tested, but in this study IgM viral capsid antigen antibody was the only acute-phase antibody present in all patients.
Pseudoepidemics of tuberculin skin test conversions in the U.S. Army after recent deployments.

RATIONALE The tuberculin skin test (TST) has many sources of error. These can lead to predominantly false-positive reactions when used in low-risk populations. The U.S. Army deploys to areas considered at high risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection, but often has limited contact with the local population. OBJECTIVES We describe the investigation of eight pseudoepidemics of TST conversions in U.S. Army populations, five of which were associated with overseas deployments. METHODS Outbreak investigations of these pseudoepidemics consisted of several components: evaluation of active and latent TB surveillance data, review of medical records, investigation and interviews of active TB cases and their contacts, evaluation of materials and personnel screening procedures, and placement and reading of repeat skin testing. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Initially reported risk of conversion in the outbreaks ranged from 1.3 to 15%. Repeat testing of converters (positives) found that 30 to 100% were negative on retesting. Several sources of false-positive results were identified in these pseudoepidemics, including variability in reading and administration, product variability, and cross-reactions to nontuberculous mycobacteria. CONCLUSIONS Pseudoepidemics of TST conversions are a common occurrence after U.S. Army deployments and in U.S. Army populations. U.S. Army forces generally have a low risk of TB infection resulting from deployments due to limited exposure to local nationals with active TB, and universal testing in this population has a low positive-predictive value.
Heading-control tests of an underwater glider for virtual mooring

An underwater glider we are developing for virtual mooring will be able to remain in a designated area for several years, moving between the sea surface and the seafloor up to 2,100 m deep, monitoring the sea environment. It will be able to sleep on the seafloor or while drifting in water to extend the monitoring duration. As described herein, we present results of heading-control tests conducted using a long tank. We also present results of sea tests conducted in Suruga Bay.
Current Features of Peptic Ulcer Disease in Finland: Incidence of Surgery, Hospital Admissions and Mortality for the Disease During the Past Twenty-five Years

Background: Medical therapy of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has improved dramatically during the past 20 years with the introduction of modern antisecretory drugs as well as eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori. During the 1990s, there has been a 3-fold increase in the consumption of histamine2-receptor antagonists and proton-pump inhibitors, but also an 8-fold increase in the consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in Finland. Methods: The incidence of surgery, hospital admissions and mortality for PUD was analysed between 1972 and 1999; the data were collected from the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health and from the National Centre for Statistics. In the analysis, the codes of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases 8-10 were used. Results: In 1987, 11.9 elective operations (per 10 5 inhabitants) were performed (mean of 2 consecutive years), but only 1.3 in 1997, a reduction of 89%. In 1987, 5.2 emergency operations for ulcer perforation or bleeding were performed, whereas there were 7.5 in 1997, an increase of 44%. The annual hospital admission rate increased from 38.3 admissions (per 10 5 inhabitants) in 1972 (mean ± s (standard deviation) of 5 consecutive years) to 68.7 in 1992. This 79% increase was mainly due to bleeding from gastric ulcer in elderly women. The overall annual mortality rate increased between 1972 and 1992 from 6.4 to 8.4 deaths (per 10 5 inhabitants), i.e. by 31%. The mortality rate from ulcer perforation and haemorrhage increased from 4.2 deaths in 1972 to 7.3 deaths in 1992, i.e. by 74%. Conclusions: The increasing incidence rates of emergency surgery, hospital admissions and mortality for PUD in the 1980s and 1990s have started to decrease in the most recent years in Finland. This epidemiologic change probably reflects both the demographic change and an increased consumption of NSAIDs, among the elderly people, in particular. The most recent epidemiologic change may reflect an increased consciousness about the harmful effects of conventional NSAIDs. Regardless of the constantly occurring emergency surgery, elective surgery for PUD is hardly ever required today.
Prevalence of codon 72 P53 polymorphism in Brazilian women with cervix cancer

The p53 codon 72 polymorphism seems to be associated with HPV-carcinogenesis, although controversial data have been reported. A series of Brazilian women with cervix carcinomas were analyzed. Ninety-nine (67%) of 148 women were found to be homozygous (arg/arg) for the arginine polymorphism, and 49 (33%) were heterozygous (arg/pro). This polymorphism may be an important determinant of the risk for cervix cancer, but does not seem to be sufficient for carcinogenesis.
Effects of Cell-Bound Microcystins on Survival and Feeding of Daphnia spp

ABSTRACT The influence of cell-bound microcystins on the survival time and feeding rates of six Daphnia clones belonging to five common species was studied. To do this, the effects of the microcystin-producing Microcystis strain PCC7806 and its mutant, which has been genetically engineered to knock out microcystin synthesis, were compared. Additionally, the relationship between microcystin ingestion rate by the Daphnia clones andDaphnia survival time was analyzed. Microcystins ingested with Microcystis cells were poisonous to allDaphnia clones tested. The median survival time of the animals was closely correlated to their microcystin ingestion rate. It was therefore suggested that differences in survival amongDaphnia clones were due to variations in microcystin intake rather than due to differences in susceptibility to the toxins. The correlation between median survival time and microcystin ingestion rate could be described by a reciprocal power function. Feeding experiments showed that, independent of the occurrence of microcystins, cells of wild-type PCC7806 and its mutant are able to inhibit the feeding activity of Daphnia. Both variants of PCC7806 were thus ingested at low rates. In summary, our findings strongly suggest that (i) sensitivity to the toxic effect of cell-bound microcystins is typical for Daphnia spp. , (ii) Daphnia spp. and clones may have a comparable sensitivity to microcystins ingested with food particles, (iii) Daphnia spp. may be unable to distinguish between microcystin-producing and -lacking cells, and (iv) the strength of the toxic effect can be predicted from the microcystin ingestion rate of the animals.
Effects of phenol feeding pattern on microbial community structure and cometabolism of trichloroethylene

Cometabolism of trichloroethylene (TCE) by phenol-fed enrichments was evaluated in four reactors with distinct phenol feeding patterns. The reactors were inoculated from the same source, operated at the same average dilution rate, and received the same mass of phenol over time. Only the timing of phenol addition differed. Reactor C received phenol continuously; reactor SC5 received phenol semicontinuously--alternating between 5 h of feed and 3 h without feed; reactor SC2 alternated between 2 h of feed and 6 h without feed; and reactor P received a single pulse every 24 h. The structure of the enrichments and their capacity for TCE transformation were analyzed. In long-term operation, reactors C and SC5 were dominated by fungi, had higher levels of predators, were more susceptible to biomass fluctuations, and exhibited reduced capacity for TCE transformation. Reactors P and SC2 were characterized by lower levels of fungi, higher bacterial biomass, higher concentrations of TCE-degrading organisms, and higher rates of TCE transformation. After 200 days of operation, rates of TCE transformation increased 10-fold in reactor P, resulting in TCE transformation rates that were 20 to 100 times higher than the rates of the other reactor communities. The cause of this shift is unknown. Isolates capable of the highest rates of TCE transformation were obtained from reactor P. We conclude that cometabolic activity depends upon microbial community structure and that the community structure can be manipulated by altering the growth substrate feeding pattern.