Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Evaluation of the BDProbeTec ET System for Rapid Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT The performance of the BDProbeTec ET system (BD Biosciences, Sparks, Md.) for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in respiratory specimens was evaluated by comparing results to those of conventional mycobacterial culture performed with the BACTEC 460 TB system and Middlebrook 7H11 biplates. Patients known to have been on antituberculous therapy were excluded from the analysis. Of 600 evaluable specimens (4 specimens were excluded from the analysis due to failure of the internal amplification control [IAC]) from 332 patients, 57 grew mycobacteria; 16 were MTBC (from 12 patients), and 41 were nontuberculous mycobacteria. Of the 16 MTBC culture-positive specimens, 12 were smear positive and 4 were smear negative. BDProbeTec ET detected 14 of the 16 MTBC culture-positive specimens, resulting in initial overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 87.5, 99.0, 70.0, and 99.7%, respectively. After resolution of discrepancies by review of medical records and retesting of samples yielding discordant MTBC culture and BDProbeTec ET results, the revised overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the BDProbeTec ET were respectively 93.8, 99.8, 93.8, and 99.8% by specimen and 91.7, 99.7, 91.7, and 99.7% by patient. The BDProbeTec ET System offers the distinct advantage of including an IAC in the specimen well. These data suggest that the test performance is very good, especially for smear-positive samples. However, the number of patients with tuberculosis in our study, especially those with smear-negative disease, was small; therefore, additional studies are needed.
Hypoxia and Complement-and-Coagulation Pathways in the Deceased Organ Donor as the Major Target for Intervention to Improve Renal Allograft Outcome

Background In the last few decades, strategies to improve allograft survival after kidney transplantation have been directed to recipient-dependent mechanisms of renal injury. In contrast, no such efforts have been made to optimize organ quality in the donor. Optimizing deceased donor kidney quality opens new possibilities to improve renal allograft outcome. Methods A total of 554 kidney biopsies were taken from donation after brain death (DBD) and donation after cardiac death (DCD) kidneys before donation, after cold ischemia and after reperfusion. Healthy living donor kidney biopsies served as controls. Transcriptomics was performed by whole genome microarray analyses followed by functional pathway analyses. Results Before organ retrieval and before cessation of blood circulation, metabolic pathways related to hypoxia and complement-and-coagulation cascades were the major pathways enhanced in DBD donors. Similar pathways were also enriched in DCD donors after the first warm ischemia time. Shortly after reperfusion of DCD grafts, pathways related to prolonged and worsening deprivation of oxygen were associated with delayed graft function in the recipient. Conclusion In conclusion, this large deceased donor study shows enrichment of hypoxia and complement-and-coagulation pathways already in DBD donors before cessation of blood flow, before organ retrieval. Therefore, future intervention therapies should target hypoxia and complement-and-coagulation cascades in the donor to improve renal allograft outcome in the recipient.
Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practices of betelnut users in two socio-economic areas of Karachi.

OBJECTIVE To gain an insight on the knowledge, attitude and practices of those who chew betel nut in two different socioeconomic regions of Karachi. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted in Saddar and Defence areas of Karachi over a five-week period in March-April 2012. Individual interviews following verbal consent were conducted using a pre-coded questionnaire, which was divided into 3 sections to analyse the knowledge, attitude and practices of the chewers. The data was entered and analysed using SPSS v. 16.0. Pearson's chi-square was used as the primary statistical test. RESULTS A total of 370 subjects, 185 (50%) from each area, comprised the study. Majority of the chewers in Defence had higher educational qualification and income. Most of the participants in both areas acknowledged that betel nut chewing can potentially result in mouth (n = 274; 74.1%) and throat cancers (n = 267; 72.2%). A large part of the sample (n = 299; 80.8%) conceded that betel nut chewing is a bad habit, and almost half the sample was addicted to it (n = 194; 52.4%). CONCLUSION Awareness regarding the detrimental effects of betel nut was satisfactory amongst the subjects, but the population was not willing to quit the habit. We recommend a two-pronged approach, offering widespread educational and awareness campaigns to prevent increased consumption of betel nuts, and professional counselling services for those already addicted.
Living with Bodily Strangeness: Women's Experiences of their Changing and Unpredictable Body Following a Stroke

The authors' aim in this phenomenologial and feminist study was to gain a deeper under-standing of how female stroke survivors experienced their body after a stroke. They recruited 25 women in a rural area in eastern Norway who had suffered a first-time stroke and inter-viewed them in depth three times each during the first 11/2to 2 years following the stroke. The data analysis was inspired by phenomenological method. The stroke survivors' experiences of their bodies were characterized by profound, disturbing, and, in part, unintelligible changes during the onset and the process of recovery from the stroke. Their experiences can be summarized under three major themes: The Unpredictable Body, The Demanding Body, and The Extended Body.
Aluminum is a weak agonist for the calcium-sensing receptor.

BACKGROUND Aluminum (Al3+) has diverse biological effects mediated through activation of a putative extracellular cation-sensing receptor. A recently identified calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), which has been identified in target tissues for Al3+, may transduce some of the biological effects of Al3+. METHODS To test this possibility, we transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells with a cDNA encoding the rat CaSR and evaluated CaSR expression by Western blot analysis and function by measurement of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels and inositol monophosphate (IP1) generation following stimulation with Al3+ and a panel of CaSR agonists. RESULTS The CaSR protein was detected by immunoblot analysis in cells transfected with the CaSR cDNA but not in nontransfected HEK 293 cells. In addition, [Ca2+]i levels and IP1 generation were enhanced in a dose-dependent fashion by additions of the CaSR agonists calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), gadolinium (Gd3+), and neomycin only in cells transfected with CaSR. To determine if Al3+ activated CaSR, we stimulated cells transfected with rat CaSR with 10 microM to 1 mM concentrations of Al3+. Concentrations of Al3+ in the range of 10 microM to 100 microM had no effect on [Ca2+]i levels or IP1 generation. In contrast, 1 mM Al3+ induced small but significant increases in both parameters. Whereas Gd3+ antagonized calcium-mediated activation of CaSR, pretreatment with Al3+ failed to block subsequent activation of rat CaSR by Ca2+, suggesting a distinct mechanism of Al3+ action. CONCLUSION Al3+ is not a potent agonist for CaSR. Because Al3+ affects a variety of target tissues at micromolar concentrations, it seems unlikely that CaSR mediates these cellular actions of Al3+.
Effect of high‐dose ursodeoxycholic acid on its biliary enrichment in primary sclerosing cholangitis

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has beneficial effects in cholestatic liver diseases. In primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), there is evidence that high doses (±20 mg/kg) of UDCA may be more effective than average doses. Biliary enrichment of UDCA at such high doses may represent the decisive factor for its beneficial effect. Up to now it is not clear how high‐dose UDCA correlates with its biliary enrichment and whether bacterial degradation of large amounts of UDCA may lead to an increased bacterial formation of more toxic hydrophobic bile acids. We determined the biliary bile acid composition in 56 patients with PSC including 30 patients with repeat bile samples treated with various doses of UDCA. At a UDCA dose of 10–13 mg/kg/d (n = 18) biliary UDCA represented 43.1% + 0.3% (mean + SD) of total bile acids; at a UDCA dose of 14–17 mg/kg (n = 14), its biliary content increased to 46.9% + 0.3%, at 18–21 mg/kg (n = 34) to 55.9% + 0.2%, at 22–25 mg/kg (n = 12) to 58.6% + 2.3%, and at 26–32 mg/kg (n = 8) to 57.7% + 0.4%. During UDCA treatment, the biliary content of all other bile acids was unchanged or decreased. In conclusion, biliary enrichment of UDCA increases with increasing dose and reaches a plateau at 22–25 mg/kg. There was no increase of toxic hydrophobic bile acids. If biliary enrichment of UDCA represents the decisive factor for its clinical effect, it seems likely that UDCA doses of up to 22–25 mg/kg may be more effective than lower doses. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;40:693–698.)
Structural Basis for Metal Ion Coordination and the Catalytic Mechanism of Sphingomyelinases D*

Sphingomyelinases D (SMases D) from Loxosceles spider venom are the principal toxins responsible for the manifestation of dermonecrosis, intravascular hemolysis, and acute renal failure, which can result in death. These enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, resulting in the formation of ceramide 1-phosphate and choline or the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidyl choline, generating the lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid. This report represents the first crystal structure of a member of the sphingomyelinase D family from Loxosceles laeta (SMase I), which has been determined at 1.75-Å resolution using the “quick cryo-soaking” technique and phases obtained from a single iodine derivative and data collected from a conventional rotating anode x-ray source. SMase I folds as an (α/β)8 barrel, the interfacial and catalytic sites encompass hydrophobic loops and a negatively charged surface. Substrate binding and/or the transition state are stabilized by a Mg2+ ion, which is coordinated by Glu32, Asp34, Asp91, and solvent molecules. In the proposed acid base catalytic mechanism, His12 and His47 play key roles and are supported by a network of hydrogen bonds between Asp34, Asp52, Trp230, Asp233, and Asn252.
Parameter Learning and the Carry Trade

Volatile beliefs generate large and predictable carry trade returns. In a symmetric two country model with power utility, risk aversion of 5, and constant gain learning about mean consumption growth, the carry trade earns a Sharpe ratio of 0.21. I extend this basic model to accommodate correlated belief updates and Epstein-Zin preferences. While certain extensions manage to replicate both large carry trade and equity Sharpe ratios, they are unable to do so simultaneously with smooth exchange rates. My model has the empirical implication that if a group of countries have similar true mean growth rates, then a growth carry of sorting countries by recent consumption growth should earn excess returns on par with the carry trade. I find support for this in a panel of 14 developed world countries. JEL Classification: D83, G12, G15
Antibiogram of S. enterica serovar Typhi and S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A: a multi-centre study from India

Background: Enteric fever continues to be a public health problem in many countries including India. Emergence of the multidrug resistant strains of S. enterica serovar Typhi may render treatment with antibiotics ineffective. A multi-centre surveillance study was, therefore, conducted in India to monitor the time trends in antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. enterica serovar Typhi and S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A in India. Methods: All S. enterica serovar Typhi and S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A strains isolated from January 2008 to December 2010 in the 15 participating centres were included in the study. Each centre compiled their data in a predefined template which included data of the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, location of the patient and specimen type. The data in the submitted templates was collated and analysed using a common protocol. Results: A total of 3275 isolates of Salmonellae causing enteric fever were included in the study. There were 2511 S. enterica serovar Typhi and 764 S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A strains during the three-year study period. Resistance to nalidixic acid was seen in 83% of the S. enterica serovar Typhi and 93% of S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A strains. Majority of the strains were susceptible to third generation cephalosporins. Conclusions: Enteric fever in India is caused by S. enterica serovar Typhi and S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A. Nalidixic acid resistance is high among both S. enterica serovar Typhi and S. enterica serovar Paratyphi A. Susceptibility to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and cotrimoxazole is high. Third generation cephalosporins continue to remain susceptible.
Dermal substitution in acute burns and reconstructive surgery: a 12-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND Application of dermal substitutes has been reported to improve the outcome of burns. However, the long-term effectiveness of dermal substitutes has not been investigated objectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term effectiveness of a collagen-elastin dermal substitute in acute and reconstructive burn surgery. METHODS From 1996 to 1998, an intraindividual comparison was carried out between a dermal substitute with a split-skin graft and a split-skin graft alone in patients with acute and reconstructive wounds. In this follow-up, scar elasticity, vascularization, pigmentation, and surface roughness were determined objectively. In addition, a subjective scar assessment was performed. RESULTS In 46 patients, 69 pairs of substituted and conventionally treated sites were measured, consisting of acute and reconstructive burn scars. In reconstructive scars, one surface roughness parameter was significantly better in substituted scars. Subjective assessment in acute and reconstructive burn scars showed several statistically significant differences in favor of substituted scars, such as pliability, relief, and the general observer score. Elasticity measurements showed higher scores for substituted scars, although the difference was not statistically significant. For the subcategory of scars treated with a largely expanded meshed skin graft, a significantly higher elasticity was found for the substituted area. CONCLUSION In this first long-term and objective follow-up of dermal substitution, the authors found improved scar parameters in both acute and reconstructive wounds treated with the substitute, indicating a long-lasting effect on scar quality.
An expert model of switched reluctance motor using decision tree learning algorithms

In this paper two different decision tree learning systems for modeling of a switched reluctance motor have been developed. The design vector consists of the design parameters in the first one whereas in the second one, it is a combination of hysteresis current band in the current limiter and the switching angles. The output performance variables are efficiency and torque ripple in both systems. An accurate analysis program based on improved magnetic equivalent circuit (IMEC) method has been used to generate the input-output data. These input-output data is used to produce the decision trees for predicting the performance of switched reluctance motor (SRM). The performance prediction results for a 6/8, 4 kw, SR motor show good agreement with the results obtained from IMEC method or finite element (FE) analysis. The developed decision tree systems can be used for fast prediction of motor performance in the optimal design process or on-line control schemes of SR motor.
Randomised controlled trial of infantile colic treated with chiropractic spinal manipulation

AIMS To investigate the efficacy of chiropractic spinal manipulation in the management of infantile colic. METHODS One hundred infants with typical colicky pain were recruited to a randomised, blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial. RESULTS Nine infants were excluded because inclusion criteria were not met, and five dropped out, leaving 86 who completed the study. There was no significant effect of chiropractic spinal manipulation. Thirty two of 46 infants in the treatment group (69.9%), and 24 of 40 in the control group (60.0%), showed some degree of improvement. CONCLUSION Chiropractic spinal manipulation is no more effective than placebo in the treatment of infantile colic. This study emphasises the need for placebo controlled and blinded studies when investigating alternative methods to treat unpredictable conditions such as infantile colic.
A Linguistic Analysis of AEC News in an English Newspaper for Language Learning and Teaching

An English newspaper, as an authentic English resource, provides a view of global knowledge and English usage in a physical world as it contains manifold issues and discourses valuable for English teaching and learning in a contemporary classroom. This study employed Systemic Functional Grammar of Halliday’s approach to analyze texts of news linguistically. The purposes of the study were 1) to explore prevalent topics of AEC news as a reflection of Thailand and communicative purposes for the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, 2) to specifically analyze grammatical sentence structures used in an English newspaper aiming for English teaching and learning in Thai context. AEC news’ articles were chosen for this study as it has become a considerably important event which shares multilateral information to ASEAN country members. The Nation newspaper was chosen for data collection for the period from January to August, 2013. Results showed that economics, tourism, and transportation were the most important topics and were reflective of Thailand’s movement towards AEC. The news was mostly organized the idea by particular to general technique and mainly conveyed to the readers with informing as a communicative purpose. The most prevalent sentence structures were complex sentence. Active voice was more prevalent than Passive voice. The conclusion of the study was drawn descriptively. This study implicated that an English newspaper was beneficial for English teaching and learning as it contained a variety of language usage that could be used as a teaching material to improve students’ grammatical and writing skills.
Reduced inhibition within primary motor cortex in patients with poststroke focal motor seizures

Background Following an ischemic brain lesion, the affected cortex undergoes structural and functional changes that may lead to increased cortical excitability or decreased inhibitory neuronal activity, resulting in the occurrence of poststroke epileptic seizures in 6 to 10% of patients with stroke. Methods To assess motor cortical excitability, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to determine the silent period (SP) duration in 84 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke. Results In a subpopulation of six patients (38 to 72 years old) a significant decrease of the SP duration (mean 116 ± 14 msec) was detected in either the arm or the leg on the affected side as compared to the corresponding unaffected limb (mean 231 ± 32 msec). This electrophysiologic abnormality was clinically associated with focal motor seizures in five of the six patients, whereas none of the other 76 patients with normal or prolonged SP durations developed seizures or epilepsy. Conclusions Silent period shortening in this group reflects decreased inhibitory activity that may partly be related to functional or structural impairment of GABAergic interneurons. TMS may be of value for determining patients with stroke at risk for developing poststroke seizures.
SORT-SGM: Subpixel Optimized Real-Time Semiglobal Matching for Intelligent Vehicles

The suitability of stereo algorithms for intelligent vehicle applications is conditioned by their ability to compute dense accurate disparity maps in real time. In this paper, an original stereo reconstruction system that is designed for automotive applications is presented. The system is based on the semiglobal matching algorithm (SGM), which is widely known for its high quality and potential for real-time implementation. Several improvements that target the matching, disparity optimization, and disparity refinement steps are proposed. Pixel-level matching uses the census transform because of its invariance to intensity differences due to camera bias or gain that affects the images. The huge memory bandwidth requirements for the SGM disparity optimization step are reduced through a new integration strategy. At the subpixel level, accuracy is increased by devising a new methodology for generating dedicated subpixel interpolation functions. Using this methodology, two novel subpixel interpolation functions for the SGM algorithm are implemented and evaluated. The proposed algorithm has been implemented on a graphics processing unit in the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA). The result is an increased speed and accuracy algorithm profiled for complex real-traffic scenarios. The proposed algorithm has been evaluated at a large scale, and evidence that was collected from both standard benchmarks and real-world images confirm the findings and show a significant improvement over existing solutions.
Is There Still a Role for Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrogram Ablation in Addition to Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation?: Meta-Analysis of 1415 Patients

Background—Ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) has been proposed as a strategy to improve outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation, but the use of this technique remains contentious. We aimed to assess the impact of CFAE ablation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients undergoing ablation for AF. Methods and Results—We performed a random effects meta-analysis of studies comparing PVI versus PVI+CFAE ablation. The outcomes of freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia after 1 or several ablation procedures and acute procedural–related complications were assessed. Studies were searched on MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and clinicaltrials.gov, and sensitivity analyses were performed. Thirteen studies including a total of 1415 patients were considered eligible. Additional ablation of CFAEs resulted in no improvement in mid-term procedural outcome or freedom from AF or atrial tachycardia (odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58–1.10; P=0.17). Sensitivity analysis of 398 paroxysmal AF ablation procedures showed no incremental benefit of CFAE ablation (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.46–1.38; P=0.42). PVI+CFAE ablation versus PVI alone did not improve the overall rate of freedom from AF or atrial tachycardia in patients with persistent AF (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.63–1.64; P=0.96) or longstanding persistent AF (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.24–2.96; P=0.79). There was no increase in procedural-related adverse events (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.41–2.75; P=0.91). Conclusions—Despite the apparent safety of this technique, CFAE ablation did not improve freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. The role of CFAE ablation in addition to PVI should be questioned and other alternatives assessed to improve the outcome of AF ablation.