Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Value of circulating cell-free DNA in diagnosis of hepatocelluar carcinoma.

AIM To investigate the value of combined detection of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), α-fetal protein (AFP) and α L-fucosidase (AFU) for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Serum samples from 39 HCC patients and 45 normal controls were collected. Branched DNA (bDNA) was used to detect the level of cfDNA, and a receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and Youden index, and to assess the diagnostic efficiency and their correlations with the clinicopathological features. AFP and AFU were detected by chemiluminescence and colorimetry, respectively. The significance of combined detection of the three biomarkers was discussed. RESULTS cfDNA level was increased in 22 of the 39 HCC samples and in 2 of the 45 normal controls. cfDNA level in HCC samples was significantly higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in sex and extra- and intrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between cfDNA, AFP and AFU in the detection of HCC. The sensitivity of combined detection of cfDNA with one marker (AFP or AFU) and cfDNA with two markers (AFP and AFU) was 71.8%, 87.2% and 89.7% vs 56.4%, 53.8% and 66.7% for cfDNA, AFP and AFU used alone, respectively, the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Quantitative analysis of cfDNA is sensitive and feasible, and the combined detection of cfDNA with AFP or AFU or both could improve the diagnostic sensitivity for HCC.
Comparative Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Edwardsiella Isolates from Different Hosts and Geographic Origins, with Emphasis on Isolates Formerly Classified as E. tarda, and Evaluation of Diagnostic Methods

ABSTRACT Edwardsiella spp. are responsible for significant losses in important wild and cultured fish species worldwide. Recent phylogenomic investigations have determined that bacteria historically classified as Edwardsiella tarda actually represent three genetically distinct yet phenotypically ambiguous taxa with various degrees of pathogenicity in different hosts. Previous recognition of these taxa was hampered by the lack of a distinguishing phenotypic character. Commercial test panel configurations are relatively constant over time, and as new species are defined, appropriate discriminatory tests may not be present in current test panel arrangements. While phenobiochemical tests fail to discriminate between these taxa, data presented here revealed discriminatory peaks for each Edwardsiella species using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) methodology, suggesting that MALDI-TOF can offer rapid, reliable identification in line with current systematic classifications. Furthermore, a multiplex PCR assay was validated for rapid molecular differentiation of the Edwardsiella spp. affecting fish. Moreover, the limitations of relying on partial 16S rRNA for discrimination of Edwardsiella spp. and advantages of employing alternative single-copy genes gyrB and sodB for molecular identification and classification of Edwardsiella were demonstrated. Last, sodB sequencing confirmed that isolates previously defined as typical motile fish-pathogenic E. tarda are synonymous with Edwardsiella piscicida, while atypical nonmotile fish-pathogenic E. tarda isolates are equivalent to Edwardsiella anguillarum. Fish-nonpathogenic E. tarda isolates are consistent with E. tarda as it is currently defined. These analyses help deconvolute the scientific literature regarding these organisms and provide baseline information to better facilitate proper taxonomic assignment and minimize erroneous identifications of Edwardsiella isolates in clinical and research settings.
Immediate and Delayed Mortality of Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Adults Exposed to Spinosad-Treated Commodities

Abstract A series of tests was conducted to characterize differences in the mortality of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), and rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), exposed to three commodities treated with a liquid and dry spinosad formulation. In laboratory bioassays, adults of the two insect species were exposed to untreated wheat, Triticum aestivum L. , corn, Zea mays L. , and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. , and to commodities treated with 1 mg (AI)/kg of liquid and dry spinosad formulations. Mortality was assessed from independent samples examined at specific time intervals to determine immediate mortality and after 24 h of recovery on untreated grain at 28°C and 65% RH to determine delayed mortality. Comparison of the time required for 50% (LT50) and 95% (LT95) mortality indicated that R. dominica adults were consistently and significantly more susceptible (died quickly) than S. oryzae adults when exposed to spinosad-treated commodities. In general, the toxicity of liquid and dry spinosad formulations was similar against R. dominica or S. oryzae. The toxicity of spinosad to each species varied slightly among the three commodities, and there were no consistent trends to suggest that spinosad was more effective on one commodity versus another. LT50 values based on immediate mortality for R. dominica on all commodities ranged from 0.45 to 0.74 d; corresponding values based on delayed mortality ranged from 0.04 to 0.23 d, suggesting delayed toxic action of spinosad in R. dominica. LT50 values based on immediate and delayed mortality for S. oryzae on all three commodities treated with the two spinosad formulations were essentially similar and ranged from 2.75 to 4.56 d. LT95 values for R. dominica based on immediate mortality on spinosad-treated commodities ranged from 1.75 to 3.36 d, and those based on delayed mortality ranged from 0.49 to 1.88 d. There were no significant differences in LT95 values based on immediate and delayed mortality for S. oryzae on spinosad-treated commodities, and the LT95 values ranged from 7.62 to 18.87 d. The toxicity of spinosad was enhanced during a 24-h holding period after removal from spinosad-treated commodities only against R. dominica adults, and possible reasons for increased postexposure mortality of R. dominica adults after brief exposures to spinosad warrant further study.
Spatial aspects of education–job matching in Israel

ABSTRACT Spatial aspects of education–job matching in Israel. Regional Studies. This paper investigates the role of personal attributes and spatial characteristics in education–job matching in Israel. Logistic regression models are used to predict the impact of various explanatory variables on the probability of attaining an education–job match. Graduates who studied in universities and colleges in the core were more likely to attain a good education–job match, especially in high-technology jobs and in financial and executive occupations, than graduates who studied in higher-education institutions located on the periphery. The structure of the regional economy was found to play a significant role in education–job attainment.
Estrogen in severe mental illness: a potential new treatment approach.

CONTEXT Accumulating evidence suggests that estrogens may have therapeutic effects in severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, via neuromodulatory and neuroprotective activity. OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of adjunctive transdermal estradiol with that of adjunctive placebo in the treatment of acute psychotic symptoms. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind study. SETTING Patients were recruited from inpatient acute hospital wards and outpatient clinics of 2 metropolitan Melbourne general hospitals. PARTICIPANTS One hundred two women of childbearing age with schizophrenia. All participants were in an acute or chronic phase of their illness; 73 participants were outpatients and the rest were inpatients. Intervention Patients were randomized to receive 100 microg of transdermal estradiol (n = 56) or transdermal placebo (n = 46) for 28 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Psychopathological symptoms were assessed weekly with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. RESULTS The addition of 100 microg of transdermal estradiol significantly reduced positive (P < .05) and general psychopathological (P < .05) symptoms during the 28-day trial period compared with women receiving antipsychotic medication alone. CONCLUSION Estradiol appears to be a useful treatment for women with schizophrenia and may provide a new adjunctive therapeutic option for severe mental illness. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00206570.
Perception of Export Barriers in a High-Tech Sector in a Less Developed Country: The Case of ICT SMEs in Malaysia

This paper investigates which export barriers are most pressing to small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in a high-tech sector in a developing-country. It also examines whether exporters and non-exporters perceive different export barriers as being more pressing to their export development/initiation. The unit of analysis is SMEs in Malaysiars information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The findings suggest that the high cost of exporting is the most severe problem facing firms in the sample, with cultural differences posing the least important obstacle. Furthermore, with just two exceptions, there are no statistically significant differences in the perceptions of export barriers between exporting and non-exporting firms.
Network Effects on Radical Innovation and Financial Performance: An Open-mindedness Approach

This study examines how companies can achieve high performance through certain organizational behaviors (open-mindedness and social networks) and innovation. The impact of open-mindedness in defiance of basic assumptions and processes could motivate the use of internal and external networks. These social networks are the cornerstone for the creation of knowledge and the construction of radical innovations, which in turn trigger the transformation new knowledge into organizational performance. We use structural equation modelling (SEM) to test our research model and hypotheses in a sample of 324 companies from the Brazilian industrial sector. Data were collected by a regular mail survey. The study brings a proper understanding that radical innovations play a crucial role for organizational performance in emerging economies. Results also show that open-mindedness is associated with both internal networks and external social networks. In addition, the external social network mediates the effects of open-mindedness on the internal social network. Finally, external social networks have an indirect influence on radical innovations, through internal social networks, and a direct effect on organizational performance.
Comparison of Flagellin Genes from Clinical and Environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important opportunistic pathogen, was isolated from environmental samples and compared to clinically derived strains. While P. aeruginosa was isolated readily from an experimental mushroom-growing unit, it was found only rarely in other environmental samples. A flagellin gene PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the isolates revealed that environmental and clinical P. aeruginosastrains are not readily distinguishable. The variation in the central regions of the flagellin genes of seven of the isolates was investigated further. The strains used included two strains with type a genes (998 bp), four strains with type b genes (1,258 bp), and one strain, K979, with a novel flagellin gene (2,199 bp). The route by which flagellin gene variation has occurred in P. aeruginosa is discussed.
Stress-induced hyperlocomotion as a confounding factor in anxiety and depression models in mice

Chronic stress is broadly used to model anxiety and depression. However, in chronic stress models, anxiety- and depression-like behaviors might be masked by unspecific effects of stress. We tested whether chronic stress in mice can induce unspecific changes in locomotion, and whether these changes interfere with the measurement of anxiety and forced-swimming behaviors. Also, we studied these latter behaviors in relation to the duration of stress, the lighting conditions during testing, and after the injection of diazepam. We employed a 4-week chronic stress paradigm, adopted from a model of stress-induced anhedonia and a 1-week subchronic stress, both consisting of rat exposure, restraint stress and tail suspension. Chronically stressed mice, tested under bright and moderate illumination, exhibited ‘anxiolytic-like’ behavior along with prolonged swimming and hyperactivity. These behaviors were not detectable under weak illumination or after the injection of diazepam (0.25 mg/kg). Instead, normal locomotion, increased anxiety and inhibited swimming were revealed under these conditions. Thus, chronic stress can induce hyperlocomotion in mice, which is triggered by acute stressors such as light, and interferes with the evaluation of anxiety and forced swimming. One week of stress did not change locomotion and forced swimming, and increased anxiety irrespective of illumination applied during testing. Our data can possibly explain previously reported contradictions in the behavioral testing of mice with chronic stress models of anxiety and depression.
A New Evidence Empirical Relationship for Human Capital and Financial Development

In this article we examined the various aspects of the relationship between human capital and growth. We presented a theoretical as well empirical study that addresses the relationship between education, financial development and economic growth in 8 countries around the Mediterranean during the period from 1975 to 2012. The estimated model, panel static, with method Fixed Effects Generalized Least Squares (FE-GLS), provides statistically and economically satisfactory results. The estimation results found show that education has on the growth of GDP per head a negative direct effect and a positive effect when it interacts with financial development. The improvement of human capital and the development of financial systems are complementary to act as a catalyst for economic growth. Indeed, financial systems play an important role in the consolidation of human capital towards higher economic growth. The recommendation of the main policies proposed by this work indicates that financial sector reforms should be directed to the removal of credit constraints and the easing of credit availability. We must continue to invest more in education. It plays an important role in accelerating economic growth. These countries must continue to invest in human capital and modernize their financial sector in order to attract foreign direct investment of new technology carriers.
Analyzing the influence of climate change in Brazilian electricity markets

The Brazilian Power System is mostly supplied by hydro-generation. In this context there is a strong connection between rain-fall regimes and the Electricity Prices in the short term market. This work describes the main features, developments and functioning of a System Dynamics model that simulates the four Brazilian short term electricity submarkets. Based on studies reporting the change in rainfall regimes in Brazil due to Climate Change, we analyze the impacts of these changes in each specific region and in the electricity markets as a whole. The results provide good insights on the impacts of Global Warming in the Brazilian Power System, indicating for instance that the Southeast/Center-West Electricity Submarket is the one that will be most affected by the global issue in terms of rise in the electricity prices.
Sphingolipid-mediated Inhibition of Apoptotic Cell Clearance by Alveolar Macrophages*

A decreased clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) by alveolar macrophages (AM) may contribute to inflammation in emphysema. The up-regulation of ceramides in response to cigarette smoking (CS) has been linked to AM accumulation and increased detection of apoptotic alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells in lung parenchyma. We hypothesized that ceramides inhibit the AM phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Release of endogenous ceramides via sphingomyelinase or exogenous ceramide treatments dose-dependently impaired apoptotic Jurkat cell phagocytosis by primary rat or human AM, irrespective of the molecular species of ceramide. Similarly, in vivo augmentation of lung ceramides via intratracheal instillation in rats significantly decreased the engulfment of instilled target apoptotic thymocytes by resident AM. The mechanism of ceramide-induced efferocytosis impairment was dependent on generation of sphingosine via ceramidase. Sphingosine treatment recapitulated the effects of ceramide, dose-dependently inhibiting apoptotic cell clearance. The effect of ceramide on efferocytosis was associated with decreased membrane ruffle formation and attenuated Rac1 plasma membrane recruitment. Constitutively active Rac1 overexpression rescued AM efferocytosis against the effects of ceramide. CS exposure significantly increased AM ceramides and recapitulated the effect of ceramides on Rac1 membrane recruitment in a sphingosine-dependent manner. Importantly, CS profoundly inhibited AM efferocytosis via ceramide-dependent sphingosine production. These results suggest that excessive lung ceramides may amplify lung injury in emphysema by causing both apoptosis of structural cells and inhibition of their clearance by AM.
Topology Design with Minimal Cost Subject to Network Reliability Constraint

This paper addresses an NP-hard problem, referred to as Network Topology Design with minimum Cost subject to a Reliability constraint (NTD-CR), to design a minimal-cost communication network topology that satisfies a pre-defined reliability constraint. The paper describes a dynamic programming (DP) scheme to solve the NTD-CR problem, and proposes a DP approach, called Dynamic Programming Algorithm to solve NTD-CR (DPCR-ST), to generate the topology using a selected sequence of spanning trees of the network, STXmin. The paper shows that our DPCR-ST approach always provides a feasible solution, and produces an optimal topology given an optimal order of spanning trees. The paper proves that the problem of optimally ordering the spanning trees is NP-complete, and proposes three greedy heuristics to generate and order only k spanning trees of the network. Each heuristic allows the DPCR-ST approach to generate STXmin using only k spanning trees, which improves the time complexity while producing a near optimal topology. Simulations based on fully connected networks that contain up to 2.3×109 spanning trees show the merits of using the ordering methods and the effectiveness of our algorithm vis-à-vis to four existing state-of-the-art techniques. Our DPCR-ST approach is able to generate 81.5% optimal results, while using only 0.77% of the spanning trees contained in networks. Further, for a typical 2 × 100 grid network that contains up to 1.899102 spanning trees, DPCR-ST approach requires only k=1214 spanning trees to generate a topology with a reliability no larger than 5.05% off from optimal.
Clinical practice characteristics of gerontological nurse practitioners: A national study

Purpose: To determine the clinical practice characteristics of gerontological nurse practitioners (GNPs) in the United States and ascertain whether length of employment, geographic region of practice, work setting, and educational preparation influence GNPs’ delivery of advanced clinical services and clinical procedures. Data sources: The Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Practice Profile was mailed to a stratified random sample of 1000 GNPs certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Conclusions: Despite the growing demands for GNPs, of the 472 GNPs who responded to the survey, only half were working full‐time as a GNP. Although the role was established over 30 years ago, 56% of the respondents indicated that they were the first GNP in the position. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between being the first GNP in his or her practice and the percent of primarily medical advanced clinical services performed. GNPs who worked in multiple clinical setting performed more advanced clinical services and medical procedures than GNPs who only worked in one setting. Implications for practice: This study provides insight into the complex practice characteristics of GNPs. GNPs are combining the nursing skills so necessary to care for older adults with advanced clinical services and clinical procedures deemed medical acts. Various factors influence how GNPs practice, including geographic location, type of practice, and whether the GNP was the first person to be employed as a nurse practitioner at the practice.
Late onset pyridoxine‐responsive sideroblastic anaemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Summary We report the late development of transfusion‐dependent sideroblastic anaemia in two patients who received a bone marrow transplant for chronic granulocytic leukaemia in blast crisis and T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia respectively. Treatment with pyridoxine has either stopped or reduced these transfusion requirements. Red cell transfusion dependence late after marrow transplantation is rare and sideroblastic anaemia must be excluded.
Patients who leave before being seen in an urgent care setting

Objectives This study attempts to quantify and characterize the patients who leave before being seen (LBBS) by a physician in an urgent care setting. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of visits between 1 May 2008 and 31 March 2010, at five urgent care centers (UCC). Variables extracted included sex, age, date and time of visit, and the chief complaint. A log of patient reports of the reasons for LBBS was reviewed. The relationship between waiting times and LBBS was analyzed for visits between 1 April 2012 and 30 June 2012. Results LBBS visits comprised 2.0% of the total of 378 332 visits. The left-before-being-seen group had a higher percentage of men (P<0.0001), and young and middle-aged patients (P<0.0001). The left-before-being-seen group had more visits in the overnight and daytime shifts and fewer visits on weekends (P<0.0001). Of those 10 409 patients who reported reasons at discharge, 43% cited a long wait time and 39% did not want to pay the copay. In the group for which wait times were available, 92.3% were triaged within 30 min and yet 60% of those who gave reasons stated that they were leaving because they had waited too long. Conclusion The rates of leaving before being seen in urgent care were comparable with the lower end of those reported by emergency departments. Patients who left before being seen in UCC were most likely to be working-age adults during daytime hours. In UCC, LBBS is often related to perceived, rather than actual, long wait times.
Diet transformation in Africa: the case of Ethiopia

Africa's food systems are changing fast amid rapid economic growth, emerging urbanization, and structural transformation. In this study, we use four rounds of nationally representative data from Ethiopia to examine changes in household food consumption patterns over a period of unprecedented economic growth. We find that while there is a general decline in the share of food in the total consumption basket of households in Ethiopia, food quantities and intake of calories have increased considerably over the period 1996 to 2011. This was mostly driven by improvements in household incomes, as shown using decomposition analysis. Furthermore, the content of the food basket is changing with a gradual shift towards high-value foods, such as animal products, fruits and vegetables, and processed foods. However, irrespective of the level of income, a heavy focus on starchy staples in the Ethiopian diet remains. Overall, this diet transformation has important implications for the food security debate and for agricultural and food policy in the country.