Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clofazimine Contributes Sustained Antimicrobial Activity after Treatment Cessation in a Mouse Model of Tuberculosis Chemotherapy

ABSTRACT Experimental and clinical studies have indicated that the antileprosy drug clofazimine may contribute treatment-shortening activity when included in tuberculosis treatment regimens. Clofazimine accumulates to high levels in tissues, has a long half-life, and remains in the body for months after administration is stopped. We hypothesized that in tuberculosis treatment, accumulated clofazimine may contribute sustained antimicrobial activity after treatment cessation, and we used the BALB/c mouse model of chronic tuberculosis chemotherapy to address this hypothesis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected mice were treated for 4 weeks or 8 weeks with either isoniazid alone, clofazimine alone, the first-line regimen rifampin-isoniazid-pyrazinamide-ethambutol, or a first-line regimen where clofazimine was administered in place of ethambutol. To evaluate posttreatment antimicrobial activity, bacterial regrowth in the lungs and spleens was assessed at the day of treatment cessation and 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after treatment was stopped. Bacterial regrowth was delayed in all mice receiving clofazimine, either alone or in combination, compared to the mice that did not receive clofazimine. This effect was especially evident in mice receiving multidrug therapy. In mice not receiving clofazimine, bacterial regrowth began almost immediately after treatment was stopped, while in mice receiving clofazimine, bacterial regrowth was delayed for up to 6 weeks, with the duration of sustained antimicrobial activity being positively associated with the time that serum clofazimine levels remained at or above the 0.25-μg/ml MIC for M. tuberculosis. Thus, sustained activity of clofazimine may be important in the treatment-shortening effect associated with this drug.
In vitro activities of azithromycin, clarithromycin, and other antibiotics against Chlamydia pneumoniae

The in vitro susceptibilities of Chlamydia pneumoniae isolates to macrolide, tetracycline, and quinolone antibiotics were determined. Tetracycline, clarithromycin, and erythromycin had the lowest MICs in the first cell culture passage. Azithromycin required the lowest concentration for complete inhibition of inclusion formation on the second pass into antibiotic-free medium, likely reflecting its high intracellular concentrations.
Obesity and low vision as a result of excessive Internet use and television viewing

The technological age has resulted in children spending prolonged hours in front of television (TV) and computer screens (on the internet). The aim of this prospective cross-sectional study is to determine the effect of this phenomenon on both childhood obesity and low vision in the State of Qatar. A total of 3000 school students aged 6 to 18 years were approached from September 2009 to March 2010 and 2467 (82.2%) students agreed to participate. Face-to-face interviews based on a designed questionnaire were conducted. The highest proportion of obese children were aged between 15-18 years (9.4%; p < 0.001); spent ≥ 3 hours on the internet (5.6%; p < 0.001), and spent between 5-7 hours or less sleeping (4.1%; p < 0.001). Forty-six (1.9%) children spent ≥ 3 hours/day on the internet, and were either overweight/obese and had low vision. The study findings confirmed a positive association between obesity and low vision as a result of excessive time spent on the TV view and internet use.
Naltrexone's effect on cue-elicited craving among alcoholics in treatment.

BACKGROUND Advancing knowledge of biobehavioral effects of interventions can result in improved treatments. Thus, a standardized laboratory cue reactivity assessment has been developed and validated to assess the cognitive and psychophysiological responses to a simulated high-risk situation: alcohol cues. The present study investigates the effects of a pharmacotherapy (naltrexone) on a laboratory-based, cue-elicited urge to drink among abstinent alcoholics in treatment. METHODS Alcohol-dependent subjects were randomized to 12 weeks of naltrexone or placebo after completing a partial hospital program. After approximately 1 week on medication, all received cue reactivity assessment. RESULTS Significantly fewer patients taking naltrexone reported any urge to drink during alcohol exposure than did those on placebo. Those with any urges reported no decrement in level of the urges. Mean arterial pressure decreased significantly for those on placebo, but not for those on naltrexone, whereas cue-elicited decreases in heart rate were not affected by the medication. CONCLUSIONS The results have implications for models of relapse and naltrexone's effects. Cue reactivity methodology has utility for investigating hypothesized mediators of therapeutic effects of pharmacotherapies as well as behavioral treatments.
An anadysplasia‐like, spontaneously remitting spondylometaphyseal dysplasia secondary to lamin B receptor (LBR) gene mutations: Further definition of the phenotypic heterogeneity of LBR‐bone dysplasias

We describe a boy who has an anadysplasia‐like spondylometaphyseal dysplasia. By whole exome sequencing he was shown to have compound heterozygous mutations of LBR that codes for the lamin B receptor. He shares many similarities with a case previously described, but in whom the early natural history could not be established [Borovik et al., 2013]. Thus, in addition to Greenberg dysplasia (a perinatal lethal disorder), homozygosity or compound heterozygosity of mutations in LBR can result in a mild, spontaneously regressing bone dysplasia. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mechanisms of angiogenesis.

following injection of eH]thymidine is at a maximum of 13% at birth and then de­ creases to 0.1-0.3% by 5 months of age (54). The labeling index (a measure of cell turnover) of capillary EC in the retina and the myocardium of adult rats has been measured to be 0.01% and 0.14%, respectively (16). These rates compare to a labeling index of 14% for duodenal mucosal epithelium. Despite the normally low level of EC turnover, certain conditions are associated with accelerated EC growth . Corpus luteum formation, wound healing, chronically exercised muscle, psoriasis, diabetic retinopathy, and tumor vascularization are all characterized by new blood vessel growth. The eH]thymidine labeling index of BC in tumors has been measured at levels as high as 9.0%, an increase of more than lOO-fold over that reported for other microvascular beds (14). This suggests that the proliferation of vascular endothelium is closely regulated under normal circumstances, but that it can be dramatically increased by altered conditions.
Evidence for central nervous system demyelination in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

It is unclear whether sporadic reports of concurrent multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) represent coincidence or whether these two demyelinating disorden are pathogenically related. We utilized the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting central nervous system (CNS) lesions to investigate 16 patients with CIDP. Six of the 16 had periventricular, subcortical, and brainstem white matter lesions indistinguishable from those seen in MS. Three of these patients had definite clinical and laboratory evidence of MS; three others with abnormal MRIs had no findings indicative of CNS disease. Previous reports have indicated that a significant number of MS patients have peripheral nerve demyelination. Our study suggests that many CIDP patients have concurrent CNS demyelination. Taken together, these observations support the existence of a central-peripheral inflammatory demyelinating syndrome. Whether this combined demyelinating syndrome lies on a spectrum between MS and CIDP or is a separate pathogenic entity will require further investigation.
Genotypic identification of mycobacteria by nucleic acid sequence determination: report of a 2-year experience in a clinical laboratory

Clinical isolates of Mycobacterium spp. were identified by direct sequence determination of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Identification was based on a hypervariable region within the 16S rRNA gene in which mycobacterial species are characterized by species-specific nucleotide sequences. A manually aligned data base including the signature sequences of 52 species of mycobacteria easily allowed rapid and correct identification. The results of this study demonstrate that polymerase chain reaction-mediated direct sequence determination can be used as a rapid and reliable method for the identification of mycobacteria in the clinical laboratory. In addition, the prompt recognition of previously undescribed species is now feasible.
Results of Three Dichotic Speech Tests on Subjects with Intracranial Lesions

Thirty adult subjects with intracranial lesions (12 brain stem and 18 hemispheric) were tested using Competing Sentences, Staggered Spondaic Words, and Dichotic Digits. In comparing these dichotic tests for their ability to detect abnormal performance for individual subjects, the Digit test appeared most sensitive, followed by the Staggered Spondaic Word test and Competing Sentences. This trend seemed to prevail for subjects with hemispheric and brain stem lesions. All three tests demonstrated greater ipsilateral ear deficits for subjects with brain stem lesions. However, for subjects with hemispheric lesions all tests showed generally poorer scores for the ear contralateral to the lesion. These results, as well as other types of analyses for comparing the three dichotic tests in this study, are discussed.
A Proposed Improvement to Google Scholar Algorithms Through Broad Topic Search

Google Scholar uses ranking algorithms to find the most relevant academic research possible. However, its algorithms use an exact keyword match that excludes synonymous search terms that may be overlooked or neglected by researchers. This paper aims to improve on the current Google Scholar Search System by allowing a broad topic search algorithm to diversify and allow synonymous search terms to be included and ranked with other results. The authors propose a Design Science method to improve the Google Scholar Search System by developing a broad topic prototype that will add synonymous keywords into Google Scholar ranking algorithms. The results from twenty users will be evaluated by means of Mean Reciprocal Rank and Discounted Cumulative Gain. This improvement will introduce a modern approach to academic search engines systems, and to allow researchers who overlook potential search queries, an improved core topic diversity, quality, and discoverability of published research.
Reliability of a tympanic thermometer in measuring temperatures in children after minor ear surgery

Aim: To evaluate the reliability of infrared tympanic thermometry in children who have undergone myringotomy with grommet insertion. Method: Forty children who had undergone myringotomy with at least one grommet insertion had the tympanic temperature of each ear and the axillary temperature measured on admission and 30 minutes post-operatively. Result: No difference was found between the pre- and post-operative temperatures measured by either method (p > 0.05, paired t-test, hypothesized difference of 0). Conclusion: Infrared tympanic thermometry is reliable in monitoring body temperature in children who have had minor ear surgery.
National survey of pediatric fever management practices among emergency department nurses.

INTRODUCTION Management of pediatric fever is controversial. Although many nursing texts advocate aggressive fever management, research provides evidence that fever is a normal physiologic process with beneficial effects. We sought to describe emergency nurses' pediatric fever management practices, their rationales for practice, and their practice consistency. METHODS A researcher-developed tool was mailed to a systematic random sample of approximately 5% of ENA members. Surveys were mailed to 1136 nurses nationally; 731 surveys were returned (64% response rate). RESULTS Temperature at which nurses initiate fever interventions varied from 37.8 degrees C (100 degrees F) to 40.6 degrees C (105 degrees F). Most frequently identified rationales for intervention were prevention of fever increase (83.3%), fever reduction (76.9%), comfort (74.7%), and seizure prevention (65.3%). Most nurses (79.8%) employ tepid sponging to reduce fever; 31% sponge routinely. Nurses reported sponging for temperatures higher than 38.9 degrees C (102 degrees F) to 40.6 degrees C (105 degrees F). Rationales for sponging included seizure prevention (58%), rapid cooling (56.8%), and treatment of fevers unresponsive to antipyretics (45.6%). Factors influencing rationales for practice included departmental standards of care (67.2%), physician practices (65.8%), and common sense (64.2%). DISCUSSION The results of this nationwide survey demonstrate that fever management practices vary. ED nurses are practicing in a manner consistent with that advocated in many nursing texts but not necessarily the research literature. We believe that clinical trials of commonly used fever treatments are indicated. Standards of care could then be revised to reflect the research literature.
Evaluation of maxillary sinus septal type and height in partially edentulous maxilla using spiral computed tomography

Background: The presence of anatomic variations within the maxillary sinus such as septa has been reported to increase the risk of sinus membrane perforation during sinus elevation procedure for implant placement. This study aimed to measure the septal heights and correlate it with different types of septa. Material and methods: Thirty patients (15 males and 15 females) with partially edentulous maxillae and mean age (35) years were enrolled in this study. Sixty sinuses scanned with Spiral multislice Computed Tompgraphy, septal height measured after evaluation of septal type whether it was primary or secondary. Results: The results showed that 72.5 % of the septa detected were primary and this is statistically significant when compared with the percentage of secondary type (27.5%). There was a statistically significant difference in the height of septa between the two types, and the primary septa were higher. There was no significant difference between septal type and sex. Conclusions: A sound knowledge of maxillary sinus anatomy and anatomic variations such as septa is essential to prevent complication during surgical interventions involving this region.
Pathogenicity of fungi associated with wheat and barley seedling emergence and fungicide efficacy of seed treatment

Presented study focused on the influence of Cochliobolus sativus isolates origin on pathogenicity towards wheat and barley seedlings in comparison with pathogenicity of certain Fusarium species and Microdochium nivale. The efficacy of fungicide seed treatment against C. sativus was estimated. The C. sativus isolates were collected from different locations and were isolated from wheat, barley and sunflower seeds. The pathogenicity of C. sativus, Fusarium species and M. nivale towards germinating seedlings were expressed as germination (GA) retardation and coleoptile growth rate retardation (CGR). Of wheat only, the CGR was significantly influenced by the isolate origin. The C. sativus isolates obtained from sunflower seeds were the most aggressive. Of the barley seeds, the barley isolates were the most aggressive. Barley was significantly more susceptible to damage by C. sativus isolates than wheat. The pathogenicity of tested fungal species declined in the order: F. culmorum, F. graminearum, C. sativus, F. avenaceum, M. nivale, F. poae for both barley and wheat. The results highlighted high pathogenicity potential of C. sativus equal to that of F. avenaceum and M. nivale. The symptoms of C. sativus on coleoptile and roots were very similar or the same as the symptoms caused by Fusarium species and M. nivale, except of white, pink or red colours.Of wheat sprouts, the fungicide efficacy (FE) against C. sativus declined in the order: tebuconazole + thiram, carboxin + thiram, quazatine, difenoconazole, iprodione + triticonazole (in term of GA) and carboxin + thiram, iprodione + triticonazole, tebuconazole + thiram, difenoconazole, quazatine (in term of CGR). In barley, the FE declined in the order: carboxin + thiram, iprodione + triticonazole, tebuconazole + thiram, difenoconazole, quazatine (in term of GA) and carboxin + thiram, tebuconazole + thiram, difenoconazole, iprodione + triticonazole, quazatine (in term of CGR).
Role of motor cortex during drop jump: motor cortical excitability assessed with TMS and H-reflex stimulation

Rantalainen, Timo. 2005. Role of motor cortex during drop jump: motor cortical excitability assessed with TMS and H-reflex stimulation. Department of biology of physical activity, university of Jyvaskyla. Master’s thesis of biomechanics. 32 pages. Pre-programmed activity has major influence on drop jump. The efficiency of a drop jump is dependent on the amount of preactivation. The source of voluntary muscle activation can be assessed with evoked potentials at different levels of motor control. The goal of the study was to clarify the roles of cortical and spinal segments in producing the muscle activation levels required in drop jumping. The motor program used in drop jumps with low drop heights was examined by stimulating the motor system at spinal (peripheral electrical stimulation, H-reflex) and cortical level (transcranial magnetic stimulation [TMS], motor evoked potential [MEP]) at different times from 50 ms prior to ground contact to ~120 ms after the ground contact. The motor program was studied by determining the spinal and corticospinal excitability changes during the drop jump (DJ) cycle. The cortical excitability changes were extracted from the corticospinal excitability with a novel correction factor approach in which the spinal excitability changes were extracted from corticospinal excitability. The assumption was made that the spinal excitability changes measured with H-reflex measurements cause similar relative facilitation to the MEP values. The DJs were conducted from a drop height of 30 cm and there were a total of 9 healthy men subjects with prior jumping exercise experience. The cortical excitability is high prior to ground contact lowered at ground contact and heightens through first 100 ms of ground contact. The spinal excitability is high from the beginning of ground contact to approximately 100 ms after the beginning of ground contact. The results indicate that the motor programming of drop jump takes reflex activity into account. The muscle activation is initiated with cortical drive after which the spinal drive is accounted for by lowering cortical excitability levels. Functionally the high spinal excitability during the first 100 ms of ground contact enables the maintenance of high neural drive to muscles until volitional corrections are available.
Radix-4 implementation of redundant interleaved modular multiplication on FPGA

Modular multiplier is the most important block in public key cryptography which has a direct effect on the whole cryptosystem. In this paper, an architecture is proposed to perform the well-known interleaved modular multiplier in radix-4. Although this architecture uses a bigger look up table, we reduce the pre-processing time and number of needed clock cycles. Synthesis results show that the proposed method is superior to previous architectures, in terms of the speed, area and area-delay product.
Self-Scheduled LPV Control of a Wind Driven Doubly-Fed Induction Generator

This paper proposes a self-scheduled control method for a doubly-fed induction generator driven by a wind turbine (DFIGWT), whose rotor is connected to the power grid via two back-to-back PWM power converters. We design a controller for this system using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) based approach to linear parameter varying (LPV) systems, which takes into account the nonlinear dynamics of the system. We propose a two-loop hierarchical control structure. The inner-loop current controller, which considers the slip frequency as a variable parameter, achieves robust tracking of the rotor current reference signals. The outer-loop electrical torque controller aims for wind energy capture maximization and generates the reference rotor current. We perform a controller reduction for the inner-loop LPV controller, which is not doable by conventional model-reduction techniques, because the controller is parameter-dependent. In simulation, the reduced order controller has been tested on a nonlinear 5th order DFIGWT model. Stability and high performances have been achieved over the entire operating range of the DFIGWT
Objective and Subjective Knowledge and HIV Testing among College Students

Abstract Little research has been conducted on the knowledge domain specifically related to HIV testing among college students. Students (age 18–24) were recruited from a major university in the southeastern United States to participate in a Web-based survey during spring 2003 (N=440). About 21% of the students reported previous voluntary HIV tests. Reliability of the overall knowledge test demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha=0.71). Students scored higher on items related to HIV/AIDS in general (percentage correct=82.3%) and lower on items related to HIV testing (percentage correct=70.8%). Subjective rating on HIV testing knowledge (mode=low) was also lower than that of HIV/AIDS in general (mode=medium). Although analyses of knowledge and prior testing revealed significant associations, when using both objective and subjective knowledge in predicting prior HIV testing, only subjective HIV testing knowledge revealed a significant coefficient (odds ratio=2.63). Results indicated both objective knowledge scores and subjective knowledge rating were low. Continued efforts on HIV education and prevention are needed among young college students. HIV prevention programs focusing on encouraging HIV testing should pay special attention to participants' subjective knowledge related to HIV testing. The study has implications for using Web-based surveys to assess the effectiveness of Internet-delivered HIV prevention programs.
Castration inhibits glomerular hypertrophy and proteinuria in uninephrectomized male rats

Abstract. Renal mass reduction may lead to glomerular hypertrophy, proteinuria and focal glomerulo‐sclerosis (FGS) in humans and rats. In humans and rats, females are less susceptible than males to these phenomena. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of male rat castration on the pathogenesis of proteinuria and FGS. Urinary protein was measured in 60‐day‐old male and female rats. Uninephrectomy was performed in all rats, and castration in half of the males. After 180 days, proteinuria, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and blood biochemistry were determined. Kidneys were resected, weighed and subjected to morphologic studies. Following uninephrectomy, male rats developed severe proteinuria:132.3 pM 40.9 mg 24 h‐1, most of which was accounted for by an albuminuria of 70.9 pM 19.3 mg 24 h‐1. In contrast, protein excretion in female and castrated male rats remained within normal limits: 8.0 pM 1.8 and 4.2 pM 0.5 mg 24 h‐1, respectively. Mean glomerular volume in male rats was 1.18 pM 0.08 times 106μm3; much higher than in female rats, 0.84 pM 0.04 times 106μm3, and castrated male rats, 0.87 pM 0.03 times 106μm3 (P<0.005). On light and electron microscopy, glomeruli of female and castrated male rats were completely normal. In contrast, in four of seven male rats, mild glomerular changes were observed. They consisted mainly of mesangial expansion, electron‐dense deposits and collapse of capillary loops. These data suggest that castration confers protection against the development of glomerular hypertrophy and proteinuria in uninephrectomized male rats. Endogenous testosterone may be associated with this development. ,