Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Rasch Model Analysis of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale

The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale was developed to measure individual differences in the tendency to be mindful. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in a heterogeneous sample of 565 nonmeditators and 612 meditators using the polytomous Rasch model. The results showed that some items did not function the same way for these two groups. Overall, meditators had higher mean estimates than nonmeditators. The analysis identified a group of items as highly discriminating. Using a different model, Van Dam, Earleywine, and Borders in 2010 identified the same group of items as highly discriminating, and concluded that they were the items with the most information. Multiple pieces of evidence from the Rasch analysis showed that these items discriminate highly because of local dependence, hence do not supply independent information. We discussed how these different conclusions, based on similar findings, result from two very different paradigms in measurement.
Episodic ataxia type 1 without episodic ataxia: the diagnostic utility of nerve excitability studies in individuals with KCNA1 mutations

Episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) is caused by mutations in the KCNA1 gene encoding the fast potassium channel Kv1.1 and is characterized clinically by brief episodes of ataxia and continuous and spontaneous motor unit activity. Atypical presentations, in which the predominant manifestation is related to the peripheral nervous system, may lead to the diagnosis being missed or delayed, with the potential risk of individuals receiving inappropriate or unnecessary investigations and treatment. We present a case of a 15‐year‐old female with EA1 who had never had episodes of ataxia, and whose hand movements were initially thought to represent a tremor. Genetic screening for KCNA1 mutations was precipitated by the results of the nerve excitability studies (TROND protocol), which showed changes typical of reduced fast potassium channel conductance. This case highlights the utility of nerve excitability studies in identifying individuals with KCNA1 mutations.
The Limits of Counterpulsation

Mechanical assistance to the failing left ventricle may be necessary and has been used with the intention a) of maintaining an adequate circulation until the heart is replaced by a transplant (bridging) or until it is repaired by surgical or interventional procedures, and b) of maintaining an adequate circulation and improve the ventricle's function to a degree where mechanical assistance will no longer be necessary. The methods used until now can be divided in two groups. Assistance offered in parallel to the left ventricle: these are mostly the bypass techniques, consisting of drawing blood from the left atrium or the left ventricle and re-injecting it, with the help of a pump, into the aorta. Thoracotomy is usually necessary for the cannulations since attempted bypass with catheters introduced though peripheral arteries into the ventricle has not met with much success for obvious reasons.
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate-Induced Airway Hyper-Reactivity in Rodents Is Mediated by the Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Type 3 Receptor

There is a need to better understand the mechanism of airway hyper-reactivity, a key feature of asthma. Evidence suggests that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) could be a major player in this phenomenon. The purpose of this work was to define the S1P receptor responsible for this phenomenon. We have studied, in the rat, the effect of two S1P synthetic receptor ligands, 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diol (FTY720) (which in its phosphorylated form is a potent agonist at each S1P receptor except S1P2) and 3-[[2-[4-phenyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-benzothiophen-5-yl]methylamino]propanoic acid (AUY954) (a selective S1P1 agonist) on lung function in vivo. This was complemented by in vitro studies using isolated trachea from the rat, the S1P3 receptor-deficient mouse, and its wild-type counterpart. After oral administration, FTY720 induced a generalized airway hyper-reactivity to a range of contractile stimuli. This was observed as early as 1 h postdosing, lasted for at least 24 h, and was not subject to desensitization. In both rat and wild-type mouse isolated trachea, preincubation with the active phosphorylated metabolite of FTY720 induced hyper-responsiveness to 5-hydroxytryptamine. This effect was not seen in the isolated tracheas from S1P3 receptor-deficient mice. AUY954, did not mimic the effect of FTY720 either in vivo or in vitro. Our data are consistent with activation of the S1P pathway inducing a generalized airway hyper-reactivity in rats and mice that is mediated by the S1P3 receptor. S1P3 receptor antagonists might prove to be useful as new therapeutic strategies aimed at blocking the airway hyper-reactivity observed in asthma.
Incidence and Outcomes Associated With Early Heart Failure Pharmacotherapy in Patients With Ongoing Cardiogenic Shock

Objectives:Guidelines recommend &bgr;-blockers and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers to improve long-term survival in hemodynamically stable myocardial infarction patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. The prevalence and outcomes associated with &bgr; and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blocker therapy in patients with ongoing cardiogenic shock is unknown. Design:Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Setting:In patients with cardiogenic shock lasting more than 24 hours enrolled in Tilarginine Acetate Injection in a Randomized International Study in Unstable Myocardial Infarction Patients With Cardiogenic Shock, we compared 30-day mortality in patients who received &bgr; or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or aldosterone antagonists) within 24 hours of randomization with those who did not. Interventions:None. Patients:The final study population included 240 patients. A total of 66 patients (27.5%) had either &bgr; blocker or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blocker administered within the first 24 hours after the diagnosis of cardiogenic shock. &bgr;-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and aldosterone antagonists were prescribed in 18.8%, 10.6%, and 5.0% of patients, respectively. Measurements and Main Results:The observed 30-day mortality among patients was higher in patients who received &bgr; or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers prior to cardiogenic shock resolution (27.3% vs 16.9%; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.06–5.23; p = 0.035). Compared with patients not given &bgr; or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers, the 30-day mortality was higher among patients treated only with &bgr;-blockers (33.3% vs 16.9%, p = 0.017) but not among those only treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (18.2% vs 16.9%, p = 1.000). Conclusions:The administration of &bgr; or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers is common in North America and Europe in patients with myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock prior to cardiogenic shock resolution. This therapeutic practice was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality, although a statistically significant difference was only observed in the subgroup of patients administered &bgr;-blockers.
Event-based prospective memory in depression: The impact of cue focality

This study is the first to compare event-based prospective memory performance in individuals with depression and healthy controls. The degree to which self-initiated processing is required to perform the prospective memory task was varied. Twenty-eight individuals with depression and 32 healthy controls worked on a computerised prospective memory task. Prospective cues were either presented focally or non-focally to the ongoing activity. Collapsing data across both conditions, controls outperformed individuals with depression in the prospective memory task. Overall, participants showed a poorer prospective memory performance in the non-focal condition that required self-initiated processing to a higher degree than the focal condition. Importantly, as revealed by a group by task condition interaction, groups did not differ in the focal condition, whereas, controls outperformed individuals with depression in the non-focal condition. The results are in line with the multiprocess framework of event-based prospective remembering and the cognitive-initiative account of depression-related cognitive deficits.
The time that remains : a commentary on the letter to the Romans

@fmct:Contents @toc2:The First Day 000 The Second Day 000 The Third Day 000 The Fourth Day 000 The Fifth Day 000 The Sixth Day 000 Threshold or Tornada 000 @toc4:Appendix 000 Bibliogrpahy 000 Index of Names 000
Production of Biosurfactant Using Different Hydrocarbons by Pseudomonas aeruginosa EBN-8 Mutant

Abstract The present investigation dealt with the use of previously isolated and studied gamma-ray mutant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa EBN-8 for the production of biosurfactant by using different hydrocarbon substrates viz. n-hexadecane, paraffin oil and kerosene oil, provided in minimal medium, as the sole carbon and energy sources. The batch experiments were conducted in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, containing 50 mL minimal salt media supplemented with 1% (w/v) hydrocarbon substrate, inoculated by EBN-8 and incubated at 37 °C and 100 rpm in an orbital shaker. The sampling was done on 24 h basis for 10 d. The surface tension of cell-free culture broth decreased from 53 to 29 mN/m after 3 and 4 d of incubation when the carbon sources were paraffin oil and n-hexadecane, respectively. The largest reduction in interfacial tension from 26 to 0.4 mN/m was observed with n-hexadecane, while critical micelle dilution was obtained as 50 X CMC for paraffin oil as carbon source. When grown on n-hexadecane and paraffin oil, the EBN-8 mutant strain gave 4.1 and 6.3 g of the rhamnolipids/ L, respectively. These surface-active substances subsequently allowed the hydrocarbon substrates to disperse readily as emulsion in aqueous phase
SRS - an indexing and retrieval tool for flat file data libraries

SRS (Sequence Retrieval System) is an information indexing and retrieval system designed for libraries with a flat file format such as the EMBL nucleotide sequence databank, the SwissProt protein sequence databank or the Prosite library of protein subsequence consensus patterns. SRS supports the data structure of these libraries by providing special indices for implementing lists of subentities (e.g. feature tables) or hierarchically structured data-fields (e.g. taxonomic classification). A language (ODD) has been designed for the convenient specification of library format and organization, representation of individual data-fields within the system (design of indices) and structuring other data needed during retrieval. This ensures flexibility required for coping with different library formats, which are subject to continuous change. Queries and inspection of retrieved entries can be performed from a user interface with pull-down menus and windows. SRS supports various input and output formats but is particularly well adapted to the GCG programs.
Hospital Care for Parents After Perinatal Death

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review parent experiences with hospital care after perinatal death. DATA SOURCES: An evaluation of more than 1,100 articles from 1966 to 2006 was performed to identify studies of fetal death in the second or third trimester and neonatal death in the first month of life. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Studies were limited to those that were in English, evaluated care in U.S. hospitals, and contained direct parent data or opinions. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Results were compiled on five aspects of recommended care: 1) obtaining photographs and memorabilia of the deceased infant, 2) seeing and holding the infant, 3) labor and delivery of the child, 4) autopsies, and 5) options for funerals or memorial services. Sixty eligible studies with over 6,200 patients were reviewed. In general, parents reported appreciating time and contact with their deceased infant, being given options about labor, delivery, and burial, receiving photographs and memorabilia, and having appropriate hospital follow-up after autopsy. CONCLUSION: Although care after perinatal death often adheres to published guidelines, substantial room for improvement is apparent. Parents with perinatal losses report few choices during labor and delivery and inadequate communication about burial options and autopsy results. Hospitals, nurses, and doctors should increase parental choice about timing and location of delivery and postpartum care, encourage parental contact with the deceased infant, and facilitate provision of photos and memorabilia.
Randomly Interesterified Triacylglycerol Containing Medium- and Long-Chain Fatty Acids Stimulates Fatty Acid Metabolism in White Adipose Tissue of Rats

We have reported previously that randomly interesterified triacylglycerol containing medium- and long-chain fatty acids in the same glycerol molecule (MLCT) resulted in significantly lower body fat accumulation and higher hepatic fatty acid oxidation than from long-chain triacylglycerol (LCT) in rats. To understand the metabolic changes occurring in white adipose tissue, the fatty acid oxidation and synthesis, and the adipocytokine level were measured in rats fed with MLCT or LCT for 2 weeks. In comparison with LCT, MLCT lowered not only the fatty acid synthase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in perirenal adipose tissue, but also the serum insulin and leptin levels, in addition to significantly reducing the body fat accumulation. In contrast, fatty acid oxidation measured as the carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity in the tissue was significantly higher in the MLCT-fed rats than in the LCT-fed rats. It seems that the altered fatty acid metabolism in adipose tissue per se was also responsible for the lower adiposity by dietary MLCT.
Blockade of the angiotensin system improves mental health domain of quality of life: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Objective: It is unclear whether blockade of the angiotensin system has effects on mental health. Our objective was to determine the impact of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers on mental health domain of quality of life. Study design: Meta-analysis of published literature. Data sources: PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov databases. The last search was conducted in January 2017. Study selection: Randomized controlled trials comparing any angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or AT1R blocker versus placebo or non-angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or non-AT1R blocker were selected. Study participants were adults without any major physical symptoms. We adhered to meta-analysis reporting methods as per PRISMA and the Cochrane Collaboration. Data synthesis: Eleven studies were included in the analysis. When compared with placebo or other antihypertensive medications, AT1R blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors were associated with improved overall quality of life (standard mean difference = 0.11, 95% confidence interval = [0.08, 0.14], p < 0.0001), positive wellbeing (standard mean difference = 0.11, 95% confidence interval = [0.05, 0.17], p < 0.0001), mental (standard mean difference = 0.15, 95% confidence interval = [0.06, 0.25], p < 0.0001), and anxiety (standard mean difference = 0.08, 95% confidence interval = [0.01, 0.16], p < 0.0001) domains of QoL. No significant difference was found for the depression domain (standard mean difference = 0.05, 95% confidence interval = [0.02, 0.12], p = 0.15). Conclusions: Use of angiotensin blockers and inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension in otherwise healthy adults is associated with improved mental health domains of quality of life. Mental health quality of life was a secondary outcome in the included studies. Research specifically designed to analyse the usefulness of drugs that block the angiotensin system is necessary to properly evaluate this novel psychiatric target.
Moxifloxacin monotherapy is effective in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia: the MOTIV study--a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to show that sequential intravenous and oral moxifloxacin monotherapy (400 mg once per day) is as efficacious and safe as a combination regimen (intravenous ceftriaxone, 2 g once per day, plus sequential intravenous and oral levofloxacin, 500 mg twice per day) in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. METHODS We conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind noninferiority trial. Patients with a Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) of III-V were stratified on the basis of PSI risk class before randomization. The primary efficacy end point was clinical response at test of cure (4-14 days after the completion of treatment). Secondary efficacy end points were clinical and bacteriological response at end of treatment (days 7-14) and at follow-up assessment (21-28 days after the end of treatment), overall mortality, and mortality attributable to pneumonia. RESULTS Seven hundred thirty-three patients were enrolled in the study (368 in the moxifloxacin arm and 365 in the comparator arm); 49% had a PSI of IV, and 10% had a PSI of V. Of 569 patients (291 in the moxifloxacin arm and 278 in the comparator arm) valid for per-protocol analysis, the overall clinical cure rates at test of cure were 86.9% for moxifloxacin and 89.9% for the comparator regimen (95% confidence interval, -8.1% to 2.2%). Bacteriological success at test of cure was 83.3% for moxifloxacin and 85.1% for the comparator regimen (95% confidence interval, -15.4% to 11.8%). There were no significant differences between moxifloxacin and comparator treatments in the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events or in mortality. CONCLUSIONS Monotherapy with sequential intravenous/oral moxifloxacin was noninferior to treatment with ceftriaxone plus levofloxacin combination therapy in patients with community-acquired pneumonia who required hospitalization.
The one-week prevalence of symptoms in neurotic patients and normals.

A questionnaire concerning the number of symptoms experienced during one week was administered to 100 neurotic patients and 100 normal subjects, first in England and then in New Mexico. The rank order of frequency of symptoms was similar on both sides of the Atlantic, but neurotics and normals had different rank orders. Both groups reported a high prevalence of symptoms, with neurotics reporting a significantly greater number of almost all symptoms.
Reinfection rate in children after successful Helicobacter pylori eradication

Objectives This study was performed to determine the rate of Helicobacter pylori reinfection after its successful eradication in children living in Germany. Design A total of 102 children (48 boys; 31 German and 71 other nationalities; age 1.8–18 years) with a negative 13C-urea breath test 8 weeks after triple therapy were followed up by a 13C-urea breath test every 6 months. The cohort included 11 children aged < 6 years, 58 children aged ⩾ 6 to < 12 years, and 33 children ⩾ 12 years. Results The mean duration (± standard deviation) of follow-up was 15.5 ± 11.9 months with a maximum of 4.9 years, representing 132 patient years. Only three children (aged 9.7–14.9 years, one German, two Turkish) tested positive at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. The calculated reinfection rate was 2.3% per person per year. Conclusion The risk of reinfection with H. pylori is low in children living in Germany. There is no evidence that the reinfection rate depends on the age, sex, or nationality of the child. The low reinfection rate indicates that it is unnecessary to screen or treat asymptomatic family members in order to prevent reinfection.
Comparison of avian Chlamydia psittaci isolates by restriction endonuclease analysis and serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies

Avian Chlamydia psittaci isolates were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis and serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies and compared with ovine abortion and polyarthritis isolates. The avian isolates were divided into four serovars (turkey, psittacine, pigeon, and duck) based on their reactivity to the monoclonal antibodies. The DNA digest patterns were similar across the four avian serovars; most bands were identical when the isolates were tested with PstI, BamHI, and EcoRI restriction endonuclease enzymes. The turkey group restriction endonuclease analysis patterns were distinguished from those of the other avian strains by three to four band differences with all enzymes. The duck and pigeon isolates showed only minor DNA pattern differences when compared with the psittacine isolates. Four psittacine isolates from various locations in Texas had an extra band with the EcoRI restriction enzyme, suggesting that they were from a common source; however, they were indistinguishable from the other psittacine isolates when examined with the monoclonal antibodies. The avian isolates were distinctly different from either abortion or polyarthritis isolates by both restriction endonuclease analysis and monoclonal antibody analysis. The data demonstrate that the avian isolates form a distinct group or separate biovar with at least four serovars.
Specificity of signal molecules in the activation of Agrobacterium virulence gene expression

The activation of the Agrobacterium virulence system is known to be induced by certain phenolic compounds. We have tested the vir‐inducing ability of fifty compounds, by using a virB‐lacZ gene fusion, and analysed the relationship between structure and activity of these compounds. In this way we have identified several new vir‐inducers: coniferylalcohol, 3,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐hydroxybenzene, homovanillic acid, ferulic acid, 3‐ethoxy‐4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and guaiacol, all of which are compounds with strong or moderate activity and four compounds with weak vir‐inducing activity. In view of the specificity of vir‐inducers, our data extended observations of others and enabled us to define the specific structural features of a vir‐inducer molecule. In addition we show here that induction of the octopine Ti vir‐genes is (i) optimal at 29° C and totally abolished at 37° C. , and (ii) strongly inhibited at low concentrations of sodium chloride. The implications for plant transformation are discussed.
Research on Improvement of Spectrum Efficiency of Spread Spectrum OFDM Communication Scheme for Cruising Sensor Network

Cruising sensor nodes have an attractive application in monitoring liquid-based industrial environments. A cruising sensor node, equipped with various sensors, is self-propelled so that they can “cruise” to specified area to gather scientific data. The cruising sensor network consists of an array of such cruising nodes to perform collaborative monitoring task over a given area. A reliable and high-speed underwater acoustic (UWA) communication scheme is necessary for node-to-node communication. Most of the industrial liquid reservoirs are confined spaces, including large oil tanks and nuclear storage ponds. The communication in confined underwater space will suffer more severe multipath interference caused by numerous reflections from boundaries. Conventional orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) technique has poor performance in this channel. Instead, spread spectrum orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (SS-OFDM), which applies spread spectrum technique into OFDM, has better performance in such severely multipath fading underwater channels. However, the spread spectrum process causes a huge waste in the spectrum efficiency. In order to enhance the transmission efficiency, a mapping sequence spread spectrum OFDM (MSSS-OFDM) method is proposed in this paper. The simulation and experimental results show that our scheme is a robust and spectrum efficient communication method for confined underwater space.