Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prospective Cross-Sectional Evaluation of the Small Membrane Filtration Method for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Smear microscopy has suboptimal sensitivity, and there is a need to improve its performance since it is commonly used to diagnose tuberculosis (TB). We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the small membrane filtration (SMF) method, an approach that uses a vacuum manifold and is designed to concentrate bacilli onto a filter that can be examined microscopically. We enrolled hospitalized adults suspected to have pulmonary TB in Kampala, Uganda. We obtained a clinical history and three spontaneously expectorated sputum specimens for smear microscopy (direct, concentrated, and SMF), MGIT (mycobacterial growth indicator tube) 960 and Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) cultures, and Xpert MTB/RIF testing. We performed per-specimen (primary) and per-patient analyses. From October 2012 to June 2013, we enrolled 212 patients (579 sputum specimens). The participants were mostly female (63.2%), and 81.6% were HIV infected; their median CD4 cell count was 47 cells/μl. Overall, 19.0%, 20.4%, 27.1%, 25.2%, and 25.9% of specimens tested positive by direct smear, concentrated smear, MGIT culture, LJ culture, and Xpert test, respectively. In the per-specimen analysis, the sensitivity of the SMF method (48.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 37.4 to 59.6) was lower than those of direct smear (60.9%; 51.4 to 70.5 [P = 0.0001]) and concentrated smear (63.3%; 53.6 to 73.1 [P < 0.0001]). Subgroup analyses showed that SMF performed poorly in specimens having a low volume or low bacterial load. The SMF method performed poorly compared to standard smear techniques and was sensitive to sample preparation techniques. The optimal laboratory SMF protocol may require striking a fine balance between sample dilution and filtration failure rate.
Pituitary Glycoprotein Hormone β Subunits in the Australian Lungfish and Estimation of the Relative Evolution Rate of These Subunits Within Vertebrates1

Abstract The β subunits of the two pituitary gonadotropins LH and FSH and of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were cloned from Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) pituitary glands. These three glycoprotein hormone β subunits possess the main characteristics common to their counterparts in other vertebrates. Taking advantage of the phylogenetic position of the lungfish, close to the root of tetrapods, a maximum parsimony tree was inferred from these new sequences and sequences from representatives of the diversity of vertebrates. The topology of the tree was imposed so that it reflected as closely as possible the real evolutionary history of the subunits. This tree was used to estimate the relative evolution rate of the three subunits in vertebrates. Cumulated amino acid substitutions from the basal subunit node (ancestral subunit sequence) to the species node were calculated and compared. It showed that a burst in evolutionary rate occurred for the LHβ subunit in the tetrapod lineage sometime after the emergence of amphibians. The rate of evolution of the LHβ subunit was particularly high throughout the radiation of mammals while FSH and TSHβ subunits kept quite stable in this lineage. A burst in evolutionary rate was also observed for the FSHβ subunit in the lineage leading to teleosts sometime after the emergence of chondrosteans and the dynamic of evolution was high throughout the radiation of teleosts. These results were consistent with data obtained from pairwise comparisons.
Mammalian Follicular Development and Atresia: Role of Apoptosis

The regulation of follicular development and atresia is a complex process and involves interactions between endocrine factors (gonadotropins) and intraovarian regulators (sex steroids, growth factors and cytokines) in the control of follicular cell fate (i.e. proliferation, differentiation and programmed cell death). Granulosa and theca cells are key players in this fascinating process. As atresia is the fate of most follicles, understanding of how these physiological regulators participate in determining the destiny of the follicle (to degenerate or to ovulate) at cellular and subcellular levels is fundamental. This short review summarizes the role of intraovarian modulators of programmed cell death in the induction of atresia during follicular development.
SPATIAL HIERARCHICAL REASONING APPLIED TO ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARY DESIGN USING GIS

Throughout history, humankind has segmented and structured the spatial environment in various ways to support administrative, political and economic activities. To date, the majority of spatial boundaries have been constructed in an uncoordinated manner with individual organisations generating individual boundaries to meet individual needs. This practice has resulted in boundary layers that even the most sophisticated GIS (Geographic Information System) technology is unable to cross analyse accurately. Consequently, geospatial information is fragmented over a series of boundary units. The objective of this paper is to identify issues associated with the division of our geospatial environment. Also, to investigate new methods for the organisation of data by applying the principles of Hierarchical Spatial Reasoning (HSR), where HSR can be used as the theoretical framework for investigating the hierarchical structuring of space and its use in reasoning. The study aims to examine the global extent of the problem, while focusing on solutions for the state of Victoria, Australia.
Magnitude of Drug-Resistant Enterococcus Species from intestinal Tracts of Hospitalized Pediatric Patients in Debreberhan Referral Hospital, Debreberhan, Ethiopia

Enterococci are normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract. However, they can also be significant pathogens causing several infections. The most common nosocomial infections caused by these organism are urinary tract infections (associated with instrumentations and antimicrobials administration) (1). The emergence of vancomycin resistance enterococci (VRE) is a global issue due to few option left for disease management. Besides drug resistant Enterococci can colonize the intestinal tract of hospitalized patients and become major source of infection as well as nosocomial spread (2, 3).
An Improved Ångström-Type Model for Estimating Solar Radiation over the Tibetan Plateau

For estimating the annual mean of daily solar irradiation in plateau mountainous regions, observed data from 15 radiation stations were used to validate different empirical estimation methods over the Tibetan Plateau. Calibration indicates that sunshine-based site-dependent models perform better than temperature-based ones. Then, the highly rated sunshine-based Angstrom model and temperature-based Bristow model were selected for regional application. The geographical models perform much better than the average models, but still not ideally. To achieve better performance, the Angstrom-type model was improved using altitude and water vapor pressure as the leading factors. The improved model can accurately predict the coefficients at all the stations, and performs the best among all models with an average Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency value of 0.856. Spatial distribution of the annual mean of daily solar irradiation was then estimated with the improved model. It is indicated that there is an increasing trend of radiation from east to west, with a great center of the annual mean of daily solar irradiation on southwest Tibetan Plateau ranging from 20 to 24 MJ·m−2. The improved model should be further validated against observations before its applications in other plateau mountainous regions.
In ̄ uence of medium solidi ® cation and pH value on in vitro propagation of Maranta leuconeura cv

Aseptic cultures of Maranta leuconeura were established from shoot tip explants. They were initiated on Murashige and Skoog (MS)-basal medium supplemented with benzyladenine (BA, 5 mg/l) and agar (6 mg/l) (starting medium). Explants were transferred at 6 week intervals until the onset of proliferation (ca. 6 months). Thereafter, four subcultures were made in liquid multiplication medium containing BA (5 mg/1) and the produced shoots were cultured in media having different levels of gelling agents and pH. Superior growth and development were obtained in liquid media and signi®cant differences among the mean values of most treatments were also obtained. Agar and Gelrite (gel) used at 5 and 1.5 g/l, respectively, supported the fastest growth and development of both root and shoot. Adding agar plus gel at the rate of 31 g/l led to the best growth and development of shoots, but rooting response was more pronounced at 50.5 g/l. A medium pH of 5.7 resulted in the maximum multiplication rate, shoot strength and leaves differentiation. Maranta leuconeura can be successfully micropropagated at pH 5.7 whether in liquid or solid media, but in the solid we recommend the use of gel (1.5 g/l), agar plus gel (31 g/l) or agar (5 g/l) in the same order. Also, liquid medium is preferred for micropropagation until the third subculture. Thereafter, solid medium should be used to overcome production of vitri®ed shoots and to insure obtaining healthy vigorous plantlets with a higher chlorophyll content. Hardening-off and acclimatization of the plantlets that were produced resulted in numerous plants used for indoor decoration. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
LAYER AGE AND QUALITY OF PHARAOH QUAIL EGGS

The quality of Pharaoh quail eggs obtained at 8, 13, 18 and 23 weeks of age was evaluated. Eggs laid by the oldest quail were characterized by the greatest weight (12.2 g), length (32.6 mm), width (25.8 mm) and shell surface area (25.3 cm2). The lowest shell weight was found in eggs from the youngest quail (0.9 g), and the lowest shell proportion (8.2%) was characteristic of eggs from the oldest layers. The oldest quail (23 weeks old) produced eggs with the highest weight and albumen index, and the lowest yolk content. In addition, eggs from 23-week-old layers had the highest height of thick albumen (5.0 mm) and yolk (11.1 mm) after breaking open the egg. Layer age had a significant effect on pH of egg albumen and yolk.
The Structural Integrity of an Amygdala–Prefrontal Pathway Predicts Trait Anxiety

Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and showed that the strength of an axonal pathway identified between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex predicted individual differences in trait anxiety. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) functional localizer that has been shown to produce reliable amygdala activation was collected in 20 psychiatrically healthy subjects. Voxelwise regression analyses using this fMRI amygdala reactivity as a regressor were performed on fractional anisotropy images derived from DTI. This analysis identified a white matter pathway between the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Individual differences in the structural integrity of this putative amygdala–prefrontal pathway were inversely correlated with trait anxiety levels (i.e., higher pathway strength predicted lower anxiety). More generally, this study illustrates a strategy for combining fMRI and DTI to identify individual differences in structural pathways that predict behavioral outcomes.
Farming suicides during the Victorian drought: 2001-2007.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether farming suicides increased in Victoria during the prolonged drought in south eastern Australia and gain an understanding of Victorian farming suicides during the period. METHOD Intentional self-harm deaths of farmers and primary producers notified to the Victorian State Coroner from 2001 to 2007 were examined to identify characteristics and determine whether the annual number of farming suicides increased. RESULTS Farming suicides accounted for just over 3% of Victorian suicides. The total number of farming suicides was 110 for the period and ranged between 11 and 19 deaths per year, rising and falling inconsistently from year to year. Males accounted for nearly 95% of farming suicides, with firearms and hanging the most frequently used methods, and most deaths occurring between 30 and 59 years of age. CONCLUSIONS The small number of relevant cases and fluctuations in the annual number of deaths provides no evidence of a pattern of increasing farming suicides during the drought years, when there was approximately one suicide every 3 weeks. Given the elevated suicide risk in male farmers and association with multiple psychosocial and environmental factors, it cannot be concluded, however, that suicide risk itself did not increase during this period of heightened uncertainty and stress. Drought should not be dismissed among the many risk factors, and it is possible that increased mental health awareness and community support programs targeting drought-affected areas contributed to improved management of stress and suicide risk in regional and rural Victoria over the past decade.
The MUR 3 Gene of Arabidopsis Encodes a Xyloglucan Galactosyltransferase That Is Evolutionarily Related to Animal

Xyloglucans are the principal glycans that interlace cellulose microfibrils in most flowering plants. The mur3 mutant of Arabidopsis contains a severely altered structure of this polysaccharide because of the absence of a conserved L -fucosyl(1 → 2)D -galactosyl side chain and excessive galactosylation at an alternative xylose residue. Despite this severe structural alteration, mur3 plants were phenotypically normal and exhibited tensile strength in their inflorescence stems comparable to that of wild-type plants. The MUR3 gene was cloned positionally and shown to encode a xyloglucan galactosyltransferase that acts specifically on the third xylose residue within the XXXG core structure of xyloglucan. MUR3 belongs to a large family of type-II membrane proteins that is evolutionarily conserved among higher plants. The enzyme shows sequence similarities to the glucuronosyltransferase domain of exostosins, a class of animal glycosyltransferases that catalyze the synthesis of heparan sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan with numerous roles in cell differentiation and development. This finding suggests that components of the plant cell wall and of the animal extracellular matrix are synthesized by evolutionarily related enzymes even though the structures of the corresponding polysaccharides are entirely different from each other.
Thyroid hormone and recovery of cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a strong association?

OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether changes in thyroid hormone (TH) in plasma are associated with the recovery of cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Previous experimental studies have provided evidence of potential implication of TH signaling in post-ischemic recovery of cardiac function. METHODS A total of 47 patients with AMI and early reperfusion therapy were included in this study. Myocardial injury was analyzed by peak creatinine kinase-MB (CKMB) and cardiac function was assessed by echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF%). Recovery of function (ΔEF%) was estimated as the difference of LVEF% between 48 h and 6 months (6 mo) after AMI. Total triiodothyronine (T(3)), thyroxine (T(4)), and TSH were measured in plasma at different time points (24 h, 48 h, 5 d, and 6 mo). RESULTS A significant correlation between LVEF% and T(3) (r=0.5, P=0.0004) was found early after AMI (48 h), whereas no correlation was observed between CKMB and T(3) (r=-0.04, P=0.81). A strong correlation was found between ΔEF% and total T(3) (r=0.64, P=10(-6)) at 6 mo after AMI. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis revealed that T(3) at 6 mo (r=0.64, r(2)=0.41, P=10(-6)) was an independent determinant of ΔEF%. CONCLUSION Changes in T(3) levels in plasma are closely correlated with the early and late recovery of cardiac function after AMI. T(3) levels at 6 mo appear to be an independent predictor of late functional recovery.
Health-related quality of life among prescription opioid-dependent patients: Results from a multi-site study.

BACKGROUND Although prescription opioid use disorder has recently increased sharply in the United States, relatively little is known about the general well-being of this population. Assessment of quality of life in patients with substance use disorders has been recommended to improve clinical care. OBJECTIVES Health-related quality of life was examined in prescription opioid-dependent patients at entry to a national multi-site clinical trial, to compare quality of life scores in the study sample to other populations; further, background variables associated with quality of life in the literature were examined. METHODS Prescription opioid-dependent patients (N = 653) were compared to general populations on the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) quality of life measure; and the association between patient background variables and quality of life was examined. RESULTS Compared to a general population, the current sample of prescription opioid-dependent patients had worse physical (-1.7 points, p < .001) and mental quality of life (-12.3 points, p < .001) as measured by the SF-36, similar to other opioid-use disorder populations. Within our sample, women showed more impairment than men in mental quality of life (-4.3 points, p < .001); older patients scored worse on physical (-5.2 points, p < .001), but not mental, quality of life. Chronic pain was associated with poorer physical quality of life (-9.0 points, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE The growing focus on wellness underscores the importance of measuring quality of life in addition to substance use outcomes. Routine assessment of health-related quality of life can add an important dimension to overall evaluation of patients' treatment response.
Detection of feline leukemia virus infection in saliva

The question was investigated whether feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection may be diagnosed by testing saliva in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Saliva was collected with commercially available swabs, eluted from the swabs, and tested in the ELISA. A comparison of results with saliva and serum samples from 60 specific-pathogen-free cats, 9 experimentally infected cats, and 1,117 field cats led to the following conclusions. False-positive saliva results, if any occurred, were rare events. During experimental infections, antigen excretion in saliva was observed 1.5 weeks after the first appearance of FeLV antigen in serum. In one of four positive serum samples from sick animals brought to veterinarians, saliva samples tested negative. The use of saliva in an ELISA for the detection of FeLV p27 in individual sick cats is therefore less reliable than the use of serum. In seven cats with diseases typical of FeLV, including one with an intestinal form of lyphosarcoma, saliva tested positive and serum tested negative. Based on the saliva and serum results for cats living in 92 multicat households, it was concluded that saliva may be a useful secretion for FeLV screening.
Prevalence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae-associated genes rmpA and magA in two tertiary hospitals in Houston, TX, USA.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common and well-established pathogen associated with hospitaland healthcare-acquired infections worldwide. A hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP) variant associated with primary pyogenic liver abscesses was initially described in Taiwan (Liu et al., 1986) and was subsequently reported in North America (Fierer et al., 2011; Lederman & Crum, 2005a; McCabe et al., 2010; Nadasy et al., 2007; Pastagia & Arumugam, 2008; Peirano et al., 2013), Australia (Chang et al., 2013) and Europe (Keynan et al., 2007). magA (mucoviscosity-associated gene A), which is on the same operon responsible for capsular serotype K1, was the first gene described to lead to a hypermucoviscous phenotype and thought to be related to the ability of hvKP to form pyogenic liver abscesses (Fang et al., 2004; Chuang et al., 2006). Later, a second gene, rmpA (regulator of mucoid phenotype A), was reported to be associated with K. pneumoniae causing pyogenic tissue abscesses (Yu et al., 2006). More recently, whole-genome sequencing found rmpA and genes encoding iron acquisition systems to be conserved in hvKP isolates and that rmpA is found in isolates with K1 and nonK1 capsular serotypes (Struve et al., 2015).
Efects of Sweet Taste Stimulation on Growth Sucking in Preterm Infants

Objective: To evaluate the effect of sweet taste stimulation in augmenting the reported growth-enhancing effects of nonnutritive sucking in preterm infants who are gavage-fed. Design: Random assignment of preterm infants to receive stimulation by one of three methods during each feeding until totally orally fed. Setting: Hospital intensive-care and infant transitional units. Patients: Eligibility criteria included body weight greater than or equal to 1,250 g, gestational age younger than 34 weeks, growth parameters appropriate for gestational age, tolerating at least 100 ktdls/kg/day by gavage feeding with evidence of weight gain, and no clinical evidence of health complications. Data are presented for 42 infants who completed 14 days of treatment. Interventions: Exposure to a sweet pacifier, a latex pacifier, or maternal heartbeat sounds during gavage feedings. la in outcome measures: Growth, time to total oral feeding, and sucking responses. Results: No significant differences in sucking measures were noted among treatment groups. Differences in progression time to total oral feedings and weight gain favored the sweet-pacifier group but were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Oral stimulation of gavage-fed, preterm infants during a 2-week hospitalization was not sufficient to elicit a significant improvement in growth efficiency, progression to total oral feedings, or sucking maturation. Additional studies may show a beneficial effect of chemosensory Stimulation in preterm infants. JOGNN, 25,407-414; 1996.
Distributed MPC and partition-based MHE for distributed output feedback

Abstract For the first time, a distributed output feedback control scheme is presented which combines distributed model predictive control with distributed moving horizon estimation. More specifically, we combine the iterative methods of sensitivity-driven distributed model predictive control (S-DMPC) with sensitivity-driven partition-based moving horizon estimation (S-PMHE). To that end, S-PMHE is extended such that it can handle inputs of S-DMPC. The resulting distributed output feedback scheme is then applied to an alkylation benchmark process from the literature. We find that its control performance is comparable to that of fully centralized MPC and MHE but our distributed output feedback scheme is faster.