Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Editorial Commentary: Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Might Be Harmful

(See the Major Article by Cai et al on pages 1655–61.) In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Cai et al present a follow-up study [1] to their previously published prospectively randomized cohort study in which female patients with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) were followed clinically, but also investigated microbiologically at regular visits up to 1 year [2]. One group (A) was not treated, and the other group (B) was treated if asymptomatic bacteriuria was diagnosed, with the result that more symptomatic UTIs occurred in group B than in group A. The present study started immediately after the end of the first study. The patients remained in their groups and were followed every 6 months up to about 3 years. However, in the follow-up study [1], patients received antibiotic therapy only in case of a symptomatic UTI. Nevertheless, group B experienced statistically significantly more symptomatic UTIs than group A, although the therapeutic strategy was the same. In addition, the resistance rates of isolated Escherichia coli against amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cotrimoxazole, and ciprofloxacin were significantly higher in group B than in group A. This finding is especially interesting, as these antibiotics were used only in a few cases during the follow-up study. In 2 previous studies, continuous antibiotic prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole was compared to prophylaxis with cranberry [3] or lactobacilli [4]. Both studies showed higher resistance rates of commensal E. coli to cotrimoxazole in urine and feces in the antibiotic arms compared with the nonantibiotic arms. Thus, the question arises whether the higher antibiotic resistance in the studies by Cai et al occurred already during the first study [2], because in the current study [1], both groups were treated with the same antibiotic strategy. Considering both studies together, a somewhat higher antibiotic consumption was found in group B, which apparently translated also into higher antibiotic resistance rates of the urinary pathogens. The results of all these studies confirm the current guidelines [5] to preferably incorporate nonantibiotic strategies for prevention of these very frequent, but generally benign infections, if these strategies are confirmed to be effective in well-designed clinical studies [6]. Such strategies may also be important to decrease the general antibiotic consumption in the population and thus to slow down emergence of antibiotic resistance; as shown in an interventional comparative study, antibiotic resistance, once established, has a low probability to be reversed, at least for trimethoprim and cotrimoxazole [7].
De se communication: Centered or Uncentered? *

It was pointed out, ﬁrst by Robert Stalnaker, then also by Andy Egan, that David Lewis’s model of centered-worlds contents has undesired consequences for communication of de se contents. The recent years have seen a number of attempts to save the model by amending it to handle de se communication. Proposals include the appeal to sequences of individuals in the centers, to ersatz classical propositions, and to operations of “re-centering”. The authors are Dilip Ninan and Stephan Torre (sequences), Sarah Moss and Max Kölbel ( ersatz ), and Alan Gibbard and Clas Weber (re-centering). The present paper discusses these attempts. The conclusion is that they fail.
Effect of Sodium Channel Blockers on ST Segment, QRS Duration, and Corrected QT Interval in Patients with Brugada Syndrome

ST Elevation in Brugada Syndrome. Introduction: Brugada syndrome is characterized by an ST segment elevation in leads V1‐V3 and a high incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF). A mutation in a cardiac Na+ channel gene, SCN5A, has been linked to Brugada syndrome, and sodium channel blockers have been shown to be effective in unmasking the syndrome when concealed. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Na+ channel blockers on ST segment elevation, QRS, corrected QT (QTc) interval, and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Brugada syndrome.
Human biliverdin reductase is an ERK activator; hBVR is an ERK nuclear transporter and is required for MAPK signaling

Activation of the MEK/ERK/Elk-signaling cascade is a mechanism for relaying mitogenic and stress stimuli for gene activation. MEK1 is the proximate kinase for activation of ERK1/2, and nuclear targeting of ERK1/2 is obligatory for Elk1 transcriptional activity. Human biliverdin reductase (hBVR) is a recently described Ser/Thr/Tyr kinase in the MAPK insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)-signaling cascade. Using 293A cells and in vitro experiments, we detail the formation of a ternary complex of MEK/ERK/hBVR, activation of MEK1 and ERK1/2 kinase activities by hBVR, and phosphorylation of hBVR by ERK1/2. hBVR is nearly as effective as IGF1 in activating ERK; intact hBVR ATP-binding domain is necessary for Elk1 activation, whereas protein–protein interaction is the basis for hBVR activation of MEK1 and ERK. The two MAPK docking consensus sequences present in hBVR, F162GFP and K275KRILHCLGL (C- and D-box, respectively), are ERK interactive sites; interaction at each site is critical for ERK/Elk1 activation. Transfection with mutant hBVR-P165 or peptides corresponding to the C- or D-box blocked activation of ERK by IGF1. Transfection with D-box mutant hBVR prevented the activation of ERK by wild-type protein and dramatically decreased Elk1 transcriptional activity. hBVR is a nuclear transporter of ERK; experiments with hBVR nuclear export signal (NES) and nuclear localization signal (NLS) mutants demonstrated its critical role in the nuclear localization of IGF-stimulated ERK for Elk1 activation. These findings, together with observations that si-hBVR blocked activation of ERK and Elk1 by IGF1 and prevented formation of ternary complex between MEK/ERK/hBVR, define the critical role of hBVR in ERK signaling and nuclear functions of the kinase.
Permainan edukasi berbasis keunggulan lokal Dalam pembelajaran matematika

Matematika yang merupakan salah satu mata pelajaran yang paling tidak disukai dan ditakuti anak-anak. Seorang guru dituntut agar kreatif dan inovatif dalam menciptakan situasi pembelajaran yang menyenangkan. Matematika merupakan mata pelajaran yang berisi simbol-simbol dan sarat verbalisme merupakan tantangan tersendiri bagi guru matematika. Terutama di sekolah dasar, siswa harus betul-betul didekatkan dengan hal-hal yang bersifat kongkrit dalam penanaman konsep dasar. Salah satu alternatif penyajian matematika tersebut adalah melalui beragam permainan yang menyenangkan. Permainan edukasi berbasis keunggulan lokal merupakan media pembelajaran matematika yang membantu keefektifan proses pembelajaran dan penyampaian pesan dan isi pelajaran yang dikaitkan dengan budaya lokal siswa (lingkungan sekitar). Dengan permainan edukasi berbasis keunggulan lokal dapat mengubah citra matematika sebagai pelajaran yang ditakuti, menjadi pelajaran yang menantang dan sangat disenangi oleh siswa. Dari siswa yang selalu menerima informasi dari guru, menjadi siswa yang lebih kritis dan kreatif dalam mengatur strategi pemecahan masalah. Selain itu, permainan edukasi berbasis keunggulan lokal dapat menjadi alternatif pengenalan keberagaman budaya yang ada di Indonesia, serta dapat menanamkan nilai dan moral sebagai dasar yang membentuk pribadi anak yang luhur.
Health Maintenance Organizations: Strategies and Orientations of the American Health Care System

The objective of the paper is to appraise of US experience of Managed Care according to the WHO evaluation grid. In the mid 1990s, HMOs organizations gained an increasing share of the US health care market by recruiting a growing number of US citizens. After a short review of history, Managed Care will be evaluated according to the WHO evaluation grid that uses criteria such as equity, quality, efficiency, and relevancy. Quality and efficiency appear unchanged under Managed Care. Health care priorities are better defined, but fairness and equity have not improved. Variations in empirical surveys across US States limit the validity of the research. Quality, efficiency and fairness vary depending on location and time of the survey. Results are limited to the US. Specific mechanisms should be adopted to improve fairness. Market mechanisms have difficulties addressing population health care needs. Mixed outcomes in terms of efficiency and quality provide little reasons for other countries to adopt US Managed Care.
Governance-Centrality-Leadership-Support for innovation-Connectivity Formalization-Formalization tools-Information exchange Internalization-Mutual acquaintanceship

Background: The new forms of organization of healthcare services entail the development of new clinical practices that are grounded in collaboration. Despite recent advances in research on the subject of collaboration, there is still a need for a better understanding of collaborative processes and for conceptual tools to help healthcare professionals develop collaboration amongst themselves in complex systems. This study draws on D'Amour's structuration model of collaboration to analyze healthcare facilities offering perinatal services in four health regions in the province of Quebec. The objectives are to: 1) validate the indicators of the structuration model of collaboration; 2) evaluate interprofessional and interorganizational collaboration in four health regions; and 3) propose a typology of collaboration Methods: A multiple-case research strategy was used. The cases were the healthcare facilities that offer perinatal services in four health regions in the province of Quebec (Canada). The data were collected through 33 semi-structured interviews with healthcare managers and professionals working in the four regions. Written material was also analyzed. The data were subjected to a "mixed" inductive-deductive analysis conducted in two main stages: an internal analysis of each case followed by a cross-sectional analysis of all the cases. Results: The collaboration indicators were shown to be valid, although some changes were made to three of them. Analysis of the data showed great variation in the level of collaboration between the cases and on each dimension. The results suggest a three-level typology of collaboration based on the ten indicators: active collaboration, developing collaboration and potential collaboration. Conclusion: The model and the typology make it possible to analyze collaboration and identify areas for improvement. Researchers can use the indicators to determine the intensity of collaboration and link it to clinical outcomes. Professionals and administrators can use the model to perform a diagnostic of collaboration and implement interventions to intensify it. Published: 21 September 2008 BMC Health Services Research 2008, 8:188 doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-188 Received: 13 May 2008 Accepted: 21 September 2008 This article is available from: http://www.biomedcentral. com/1472-6963/8/188 © 2008 D'Amour et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Feasibility, Reliability, and Validity of the Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mCEX) in a Medicine Core Clerkship

Purpose. To determine the feasibility, reliability and validity of the mCEX when used to evaluate medical students’ clinical skills in a medicine core clerkship. Method. In 2002, students were required to complete nine mCEX during their medicine clerkship. Mean mCEX scores were correlated with exam scores and course grades. Results. 89% of targeted mCEX were completed. The reproducibility coefficient for eight mCEX was . 77. Mean mCEX scores were significantly correlated with exam scores (r = .22; p = .004), inpatient (r = .43; p < .0001), outpatient (r = .35; p < .0001), and final course grades (r = .19; p = .014). Conclusions. These data support the feasibility, reproducibility, and validity of the mCEX in evaluating medicine clerkship students’ clinical skills.
Problems of non-residential students in tertiary educational institutions in Ghana : a micro-level statistical evidence

This paper uses the external survey assessment techniques of the Probit model to examine the problem facing non-residential students of the College of Technology Education, University of Education, Winneba. The paper reports that non-residential students of the College encounter problems of neighbourhood disputes, severed landlords and landladies relationships, noise pollution, environmental pollution, lack of resting places, frequent water shortages, frequent disputes over payment of monthly electricity bills and less value for money for their various rented apartments. It is recommended that it is in the interest of the College of Technology Education, University of Education, Winneba to encourage high quality non-residential student housing since there is empirical evidence to show that there is greater level of academic success among students who live in a stable and supportive non-residential environment and the College of Technology Education, either through direct provision or indirectly through private providers, should take all steps to ensure that future non-residential student housing projects are conceived as an integral part of the academic community by taking direct and pragmatic steps to mitigate against the problems non-resident students encounter at their various places of residence.
Liver‐specific overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP‐9) in transgenic mice accelerates development of hepatocellular carcinoma

Matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) plays a central role in tumor invasion and development of metastases. Expression of MMP‐9 had been shown in human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). However, it remained unclear whether MMP‐9 could influence development of HCC. In order to address this issue, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing MMP‐9 in the liver. In order to avoid embryonic lethality a Cre‐lox system was utilized for conditional overexpression of MMP‐9 under control of an albumin enhancer and promoter. Induction of MMP‐9 overexpression in transgenic mice was achieved by i.v. injection of an adenovirus coding for the Cre recombinase. Initiation of liver carcinogenesis was achieved by injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) followed by Phenobarbital administration in drinking water. Transgene expression was induced at the age of 6 wk. Four and six months later mice were sacrificed and examined macroscopically and microscopically in a blinded manner. Alb/Cre/MMP‐9‐transgenic mice showed liver specific overexpression of MMP‐9‐mRNA and protein after induction. At the age of 6 months livers of transgenic mice showed 15.7 ± 11.6 tumors (mean ± SD) in contrast to wildtype mice with only 7.9 ± 11.0 tumors (P < 0.03). By histopathology examination of the livers HCCs were identified in 42% of the transgenic mouse livers but only 8% in wildtype animals. In summary, we established a novel MMP‐9 transgenic mouse model, and report on a significantly increased susceptibility of MMP‐9 transgenic mice to chemically induced carcinogenesis. This is the first in vivo proof that MMP‐9 overexpression promotes liver tumor development. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modality and semantic underdeterminacy

En anglais, les verbes de modalite disposent d'une gamme interessante de significations qui peuvent etre analysees en tant qu'ambiguites semantiques ou pragmatiques. Dans cet article, l'A. reexamine les categories traditionnelles de la modalite telles qu'elles sont exprimees par ces verbes, d'une part, afin de tester certaines hypotheses sur l'interface semantique/pragmatique, et, d'autre part, afin de reevaluer la fonction cognitive et communicative de la modalite a la lumiere des recents developpements effectues dans le cadre de la theorie de la pertinence. En se concentrant sur le verbe de modalite may, qu'il considere comme un quantificateur incomplet, il examine les diverses interpretations qu'il recoit en contexte, en termes de saturation pragmatique de sa semantique indeterminee. Il termine en examinant, selon la meme approche, les reflexes semantiques supposes de la distinction racine-epistemique
Regulation of the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 by E2A and Id proteins

The helix-loop-helix transcription factor E2A plays important roles not only in promoting cellular differentiation but also in suppressing cell growth. Id proteins, the inhibitors of E2A, have opposite effects on cell differentiation and growth. To understand the mechanisms by which E2A suppresses cell growth, we examined the role of E2A in regulating the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21CIP1/WAF1/SD11, which prevents cell cycle progression upon overexpression. By using transient-cotransfection assays of luciferase reporter constructs in HeLa cells, we have found that overexpression of E2A can transcriptionally activate the p21 gene. To identify the sequences that mediate this activation in the promoter of the p21 gene, we carried out mutational analyses. Out of the eight putative E2A-binding sequences (E1 to E8) in the promoter, the E1 to E3 sequences located close to the transcription start site are found to be essential. In addition, loss of the E boxes in the promoter also reduces p21 expression without cotransfection with E2A in HIT pancreatic cells, where the endogenous E2A-like activity is high. Furthermore, we have also shown that overexpression of E2A in 293T cells activates expression of the endogenous p21 gene at both the levels of mRNA and protein. In correlation with the finding that E47 overexpression leads to growth arrest in NIH 3T3 cells, we have shown that Id1 overexpression in NIH 3T3 cells accelerates cell growth and inhibits p21 expression. Taken together, these results provide insight into the mechanisms by which E2A and Id proteins control cell growth.
Detecting High Hyperopia: The Plus Lens Test and the Spot Vision Screener.

PURPOSE To evaluate the usefulness of the Plus Lens (Goodlite Company, Elgin, IL) test and the Spot Vision Screener (Welch Allyn, Skaneateles Falls, NY) in detecting high hyperopia in a pediatric population. METHODS Between June and August 2015, patients were screened with the Spot Vision Screener and the Plus Lens test prior to a scheduled pediatric ophthalmology visit. The following data were analyzed: demographic data, Plus Lens result, Spot Vision Screener result, cycloplegic refraction, and examination findings. Sensitivity/specificity and positive/negative predictive values were calculated for the Plus Lens test and Spot Vision Screener in detecting hyperopia as determined by the "gold-standard" cycloplegic refraction. RESULTS A total of 109 children (average age: 82 months) were included. Compared to the ophthalmologist's cycloplegic refraction, the Spot Vision Screener sensitivity for +3.50 diopters (D) hyperopia was 31.25% and the specificity was 100%. The Plus Lens sensitivity for +3.50 D hyperopia was 43.75% and the specificity was 89.25%. Spot Vision Screener sensitivity increased with higher degrees of hyperopia. CONCLUSIONS In this preliminary study, the Plus Lens test and the Spot Vision Screener demonstrated moderate sensitivity with good specificity in detecting high hyperopia. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2017;54(3):163-167. ].
Synthesis of myosin light chains and accumulation of translatable mRNA coding for light chain-like polypeptides in differentiating muscle cultures.

Rat skeletal muscle myosin contains small subunits (light chains, here designated LC1, LC2, LC3) of molecular weight 23,000, 17,000 and 15,000, respectively. The synthesis of myosin light chains during differentiation and the accumulation of mRNA which codes for these proteins were investigated in differentiating rat skeletal muscle cultures. When cultures were labeled prior to cell fusion, radioactive light chains which co-migrated with skeletal muscle myosin light chains on gel electrophoresis were absent or only barely detectable. The low molecular weight peptides which were associated with the heavy chain of myosin extracted from pre-fusion cultures differed in their electrophoretic mobility from light chains of skeletal muscle myosin. Following cell fusion, the amount of labeled LC1 and LC2 increased rapidly. The synthesis of LC3 was barely detectable during cell fusion and never exceeded one-fifth of the amounts of LC1 and LC2 synthesized. Polyadenylated RNA extracted at different times during differentiation was translated in the wheat germ cell-free system. The products were analyzed on isoelectnc focusing-SDS two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and the radioactivity of the polypeptides co-migrating with myosin light chains was measured. Small amounts of radioactive products co-migrating with LC1 and LC2 became detectable among products of RNA preparations extracted several hours prior to cell fusion. However, the cell-free system directed by post-fusion RNA synthesized much larger amounts of LC1- and LC2- like polypeptides. Rapid accumulation of translatable mRNA for LC1 and LC2 was closely correlated with cell fusion. Radioactive polypeptides co-migrating with LC3 were synthesized in significant amounts in a cell-free system directed by pre-fusion RNA and increased only moderately when RNA extracted after fusion was used.
Refractive Surgery (SMILE vs. LASIK vs. Phakic IOL)

Refractive surgery is a method for correcting or improving refractive error, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, or presbyopia. There are various surgical procedures evolving day after day for correcting refractive error, and can be categorized broadly as corneal or intraocular. Keratorefractive (corneal) procedures include incisional, laser ablation, lamellar implantation, corneal collagen shrinkage, and collagen crosslinking techniques. Intraocular refractive procedures include phakic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange with implantation of a monofocal, toric, multifocal, or accommodative IOL. Each technique has advantages and disadvantages and should be specifically matched to the individual patient with proper preoperative evaluation. Great care must be taken to ensure the procedure can meet the expectations of the patient. Preoperative evaluation should include a complete eye examination, ophthalmologic and systemic history, cycloplegic refraction and informed consent. Refractive surgery procedures are not suitable for patients who are under 21 years old, pregnant/breast feeding, do not have a stable prescription for at least 6 months or have certain ocular and systemic conditions such as cataract, keratoconus, uveitis, autoimmune collagen vascular disease, and uncontrolled diabetes. In this chapter we compare 2 corneal [laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)] and 1 intraocular (phakic IOL) refractive surgery procedures by discussing their descriptions, utilizations, advantages, disadvantages, and complications.