Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Readiness to Change Predicts Drinking: Findings from 12-Month Follow-Up of Alcohol Use Disorder Outpatients

Aim To test whether measures of readiness to change (RTC) re-assessed every 3 months had predictive value for change in alcohol use over 12 months in a sample of adult outpatients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods Of the case, 78 outpatients were followed monthly over one year and averaged 9.0 interviews each (total observations = 704). Alcohol abstinence days and heavy drinking days were assessed monthly using a 30-day timeline follow-back procedure. RTC was assessed using 3 ‘readiness rulers’ (importance, readiness, and confidence to change, measured on a 0–10 visual analog scale). The effect of RTC on alcohol use over time was tested every 3 months using negative binomial generalized estimating equations (GEE), controlling for gender, age, baseline alcohol dependence severity and AUD treatment status (ongoing vs. ceased). Results GEE models showed highly significant effects of readiness and confidence to change on respective alcohol outcomes. Effects of importance to change were weaker. Conclusion As hypothesized, higher RTC scores were associated with improved alcohol use outcomes in this longitudinal study. The strongest effects were for confidence to change. Finding significant predictive validity prospectively is consistent with a theoretical view of RTC as a dynamic construct. Further research might clarify how AUD treatment could actually elicit or increase RTC.
Exploring Common Conceptions About Boys and Electronic Games

Electronic games are an integral part of many boys'' lives. Based on observations made over a two-month period at an electronic games exhibit in an interactive science museum in Vancouver, Canada, we examine three commonly held views about boys and electronic game culture: (a) electronic games and boys'' behaviour while playing them contain elements of aggression, violence, competition, fast-action, and speed; (b) electronic games encourage anti-social, ``loner'''' behaviour; and (c) boys who play electronic games are susceptible to becoming so devoted to playing the games that they neglect other areas of their lives, such as school, physical activity, and family. Our findings indicate the following: (a) while violent games are popular, many boys prefer games that challenge them mentally; (b) there appears to be little connection between anti-social behavior and electronic game playing; and (c) many boys who play electronic games have interests also in music, programming, reading, and school. This paper depicts one facet of the first, exploratory phase of the Electronic Games for Education in Math and Science (E-GEMS) enterprise. E-GEMS is an ongoing research project with the ultimate goal of increasing the proportion of children who enjoy learning and using math and science---specifically by engaging children''s interest in these subjects through the play of electronic games in the context of existing classroom educational methods. Hence, we also consider some of the implications for educational electronic game design in view of our findings about current commercial electronic games.
Chemotherapy vs supportive care in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Results of a meta-analysis of the literature.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To contribute to the current debate about the relative merits of meta-analysis of the literature (MAL) and of individual patients data (MAP). DESIGN Identification of published randomized trials and extraction of essential results directly from the published reports. SETTING Chemotherapy vs supportive care in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Survival probability at 6 months after randomization, as estimated from the published survival curves, has been considered as the end-point of interest. Quality scoring of the studies has also been performed. Specific methodologic issues concerning the estimation of relevant quantities necessary for the MAL have been addressed. The estimated pooled odds ratio of death was 0.44, with 95 percent confidence interval of 0.32 to 0.59, thus significantly favoring chemotherapy, and it corresponds to an estimated increase in median survival from 3.9 months for best supportive care to 6.7 for chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The results of our MAL, favoring chemotherapy, are in line with those of a MAP recently published. However, they have to be considered in the light of their actual clinical relevance and of the balance between quality of life, toxicity, and costs of chemotherapy and best supportive care.
Community‐based cross‐sectional study: The association of lipids with hepatitis C seropositivity and diabetes mellitus

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reported to be associated with or to cause type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to elucidate the role of triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) levels in the association between anti‐HCV seropositivity and T2DM in an HCV‐endemic area.
Pronounced Effect of the Nature of the Inoculum on Biofilm Development in Flow Systems

ABSTRACT Biofilm formation renders sessile microbial populations growing in continuous-flow systems less susceptible to variation in dilution rate than planktonic cells, where dilution rates exceeding an organism's maximum growth rate (μmax) results in planktonic cell washout. In biofilm-dominated systems, the biofilm's overall μmax may therefore be more relevant than the organism's μmax, where the biofilm μmax is considered as a net process dependent on the adsorption rate, growth rate, and removal rate of cells within the biofilm. Together with lag (acclimation) time, the biofilm's overall μmax is important wherever biofilm growth is a dominant form, from clinical settings, where the aim is to prevent transition from lag to exponential growth, to industrial bioreactors, where the aim is to shorten the lag and rapidly reach maximum activity. The purpose of this study was to measure CO2 production as an indicator of biofilm activity to determine the effect of nutrient type and concentration and of the origin of the inoculum on the length of the lag phase, biofilm μmax, and steady-state metabolic activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 (containing gfp), Pseudomonas fluorescens CT07 (containing gfp), and a mixed community. As expected, for different microorganisms the lengths of the lag phase in biofilm development and the biofilm μmax values differ, whereas different nutrient concentrations result in differences in the lengths of lag phase and steady-state values but not in biofilm μmax rates. The data further showed that inocula from different phenotypic origins give rise to lag time of different lengths and that this influence persists for a number of generations after inoculation.
Complete Genome Sequence of Microcystis aeruginosa NIES-2549, a Bloom-Forming Cyanobacterium from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan

ABSTRACT Microcystis aeruginosa NIES-2549 is a freshwater bloom-forming cyanobacterium isolated from Lake Kasumigaura, Japan. We report the complete 4.29-Mbp genome sequence of NIES-2549 and its annotation and discuss the genetic diversity of M. aeruginosa strains. This is the third genome sequence of M. aeruginosa isolated from Lake Kasumigaura.
Expression of α‐defensin 1–3 in T cells from severe cutaneous drug‐induced hypersensitivity reactions

To cite this article: Morel E, Álvarez L, Cabañas R, Fiandor A, Díaz R, Escamochero S, Prior N, Blanca M, Bellón T. Expression of α‐defensin 1–3 in T cells from severe cutaneous drug‐induced hypersensitivity reactions. Allergy 2011; 66: 360–367.
Prediction scores in gastrointestinal bleeding: a systematic review and quantitative appraisal

Background and study aims: Several algorithms predicting outcomes in acute gastrointestinal bleeding have been developed over the past three decades. These algorithms differ substantially and therefore the aim of the current study was to conduct a systematic review to compare their predictive performance and methodological quality in gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: A PubMed literature search was performed up to 1 July 2011. All studies reporting prediction scores in gastrointestinal bleeding were included. Studies were analyzed for predictive performance, and a quality appraisal of these rules was performed for which a score range of 0 (lowest) to 29 (highest) was used. Results: A total of 372 studies were identified, of which 16 were eligible for inclusion. The studies evaluated different outcomes: mortality (n = 5), rebleeding (n = 2), intervention required (n = 2), or a combination (n = 7). The predictive performance of the identified prediction scores varied between an area under the curve of 0.71 – 0.92 (if given). The mean overall quality rating was 17 (SD 4.0, range 9 – 25). Major methodological shortcomings were the absence of validation and absence of impact analyses. Eight of 16 scores (50 %) were determined “easy to use,” and five scores (31 %) reported some type of action based on the results. Conclusion: Substantial heterogeneity in outcomes and results was seen in the 16 identified prediction scores. Moreover, the methodological quality was suboptimal in most studies. However, we suggest that clinicians should use the “best available” scores according to performance and quality, which are the Blatchford score to assess the need for intervention, and the scores of Villanueva et al. for poor outcome, Guglielmi et al. for rebleeding, and Chiu et al. for mortality risk.
Activation of calcineurin expression in ischemia‐reperfused rat heart and in human ischemic myocardium

Calcineurin (CaN) has been reported as a critical mediator for cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac myocyte apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated the activity and expression of CaN and the effect of calpain in rat heart after ischemia and reperfusion. Rat ischemic heart showed significant increase in CaN activity. Western blot analysis of normal rat heart extract with a polyclonal antibody raised against bovine CaN indicated a prominent immunoreactive band of 60 kDa (CaN A). In ischemic‐reperfused hearts, the expression of CaN A was significantly low and immunoreactivity was observed in proteolytic bands of 46 kDa. This may be due to the proteolytic degradation of CaN A in ischemic tissues by m‐calpain. We also noticed in vitro proteolysis of bovine cardiac CaN A by m‐calpain. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong staining of immunoreactivity in rat hearts that had gone under 30 min ischemia followed by 30 min reperfusion similar to that found in human ischemic heart. Ischemia is associated with multiple alterations in the extracellular and intracellular signaling of cardiomyocytes and may act as an inducer of apoptosis. The increase in CaN activity and strong immunostaining observed in ischemic/perfused rat heart may be due to the calpain‐mediated proteolysis of this phosphatase. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of single administration of 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implants on egg production and plasma sex hormones in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implants on egg production and plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol and androstenedione in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) over 180 days and assess safety of the implants in quail via gross and histologic examination. ANIMALS 20 female Japanese quail. PROCEDURES Following a 7-day period of consistent egg laying, quail were anesthetized and received a 4.7-mg deslorelin implant (treatment group; n = 10) or identical placebo implant (control group; 10) SC between the scapulae. Egg production was monitored daily. Plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol and androstenedione were measured on days 0 (immediately prior to implant injection), 14, 29, 62, 90, 120, 150, and 180 via radioimmunoassay. Birds were weighed periodically and euthanized at day 180 for complete necropsy. RESULTS Egg production was significantly decreased in the treatment group, compared with the control group, from 2 to 12 weeks after implant injection. Egg production ceased in 6 of 10 quail in the treatment group (mean duration of cessation, 70 days). Plasma androstenedione and 17β -estradiol concentrations were significantly lower on day 29 in the treatment group than in the control group. On day 180, 17β -estradiol concentration was lower in control than in treated birds.No clinically relevant lesions were detected in either group at necropsy [corrected]. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implants reversibly decreased egg laying for approximately 70 days in most of the Japanese quail evaluated. Further studies evaluating implants containing different concentrations of the drug are needed in quail and other avian species.
Design of nutrition trials in critically ill patients: food for thought.

We would like to thank Drs. Casaer and Van den Berghe for their thoughtful editorial on our article “Permissive underfeeding or standard enteral feeding in critically ill adults” published in the New England Journal of Medicine on June 18, 2015 (1,2). Over the last few years, several large clinical trials have added immensely to our knowledge regarding nutritional support of critically ill patients. Table 1 summarizes and contrasts eight recent multicenter trials which compared different doses of enteral nutrition (1,3-5), or enteral versus parenteral nutrition (6-9).
A Fractal Clonotype Distribution in the CD8+ Memory T Cell Repertoire Could Optimize Potential for Immune Responses1

The nature of CD8+ T cell memory is still incompletely understood. We have previously reported that the response to an HLA-A2-restricted influenza-derived peptide results in a complex T cell repertoire. In this study we extend this analysis and describe the repertoire with more rigor. In one individual we defined 141 distinct T cell clonotypes on the basis of the unique DNA sequence of the third complementarity-determining region of the TCR β-chain. The frequency distribution of the clonotypes is not what is expected of a normal distribution but is characterized by a large low-frequency tail. The existence of a complex population indicates a mechanism for maintaining a large number of Ag-specific clonotypes at a low frequency in the memory pool. Ranking the clonotypes allowed us to describe the population in terms of a power law-like distribution with a parameter of decay of ∼1.6. If the repertoire is divided into subsets, such as clonotypes that use BJ2.7 or those whose third complementarity-determining region encodes the amino acid sequence IRSS, the clonotype frequencies could also be described by a power law-like distribution. This indicates a self similarity to the repertoire in which smaller pieces are slightly altered copies of the larger piece. The power law-like description is stable with time and was observed in a second individual. The distribution of clonotypes in the repertoire could be mapped onto a polygonal spiral using a recursive algorithm. Self similarity, power laws, and recursive mapping algorithms are associated with fractal systems. Thus, Ag-specific memory CD8 T cell repertoires can be considered as fractal, which could indicate optimized flexibility and robustness.
An empirical investigation of factors influencing the successful treatment of organisational issues in information systems development

There are far too many Information Systems (IS) projects which end in failure. It is widely recognised that the primary reasons for this are essentially human and organisational and rarely technical. Although it is found that the vast majority of IT specialists consider human and organisational issues to be of equal if not of greater importance than technical issues, in practice they are still focusing on technical aspects at the expense of human and organisational issues in Information Systems Development (ISD) and implementation. Despite the awareness of the importance of human and organisational issues in ISD, little is known about how these issues can actually be addressed. This study attempts to fill this gap by investigating empirically how, when and by tinhorn a set of 14 specific organisational issues are treated in practice, and explores whether the treatment of this set of issues is dependent upon the employment of specific Systems Development Methods (SDM) or the successful adoption of organisationally oriented best practice factors. In excess of 2,250 questionnaires were posted to IS/IT directors in different British organisations which had over 250 employees, and 344 valid responses were received. This mail survey was followed by a series of focus groups interviewees with IT practitioners. It was envisaged that the integration of the two strategies would provide a very effective mechanism for combining the complementary advantages of the qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The interviews provided a richer picture of the research statistical results and explored their meaning and implications. This research presents empirical evidence that the level of organisational issues consideration, the tinting of treatment, and the person/people responsible for the treatment during ISD significantly influence the overall level of systems' success. The findings also show that there is a significant correlation between the adoption of best practice factors and the overall success of IS and the treatment of organisational issues. There is, however, no significant relationship between the use of systems development methods and the overall success of IS or the treatment of organisational issues. These findings suggest that it is not the choice of a specific systems method that ensures the consideration of a wide range of organisational issues, but the successful adoption of the organisationally oriented best practices approaches.
Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors are associated with lower rates of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation: a systematic review

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) have been associated in a dose‐dependent fashion with an increased risk of post‐transplant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. The mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) (sirolimus/everolimus) might represent an alternative immunosuppressive regimen with antineoplastic effect. In the present systematic review, the association between mTORi and HCC recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) was evaluated and compared against that of CNIs‐treated patients. In total, 3666 HCC liver transplant recipients from 42 studies met the inclusion criteria. Patients under CNIs developed HCC recurrence significantly more frequently, compared with patients under mTORi (448/3227 or 13.8% vs. 35/439 or 8%, P < 0.001), although patients treated with CNIs had a higher proportion of HCC within Milan criteria (74% vs. 69%) and lower rates of microvascular invasion, compared with mTORi‐treated patients (22% vs. 44%) (P < 0.05). Patients on everolimus had significantly lower recurrence rates of HCC, compared with those on sirolimus or CNIs (4.1% vs. 10.5% vs. 13.8%, respectively, P < 0.05), but everolimus‐treated recipients had shorter follow‐up period (13 vs. 30 vs. 43.2 months, respectively) and more frequently been transplanted for HCC within Milan criteria (84% vs. 60.5% vs. 74%, respectively, P < 0.05). Our findings favor the use of mTORi instead of CNIs to control HCC recurrence after LT, but comparative studies with longer follow‐up are needed for final conclusions.
eeding profile of Mepraia spinolai , a sylvatic vector of Chagas disease n Chile

American trypanosomiasis is a chronic disease transmitted mainly by vectors. The hematophagous triatomine vectors transmit Trypanosoma cruzi to a wide variety of mammals, which usually are their food source. This study determined the feeding profile of Mepraia spinolai, a sylvatic triatomine vector, present in endemic areas of Chile. Vectors were captured in the north-central area of Chile. Samples of intestinal contents were analyzed by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that identifies and discrim-
Long Term Effects of Artificial Ventilation in Neonates

ABSTRACT. In order to evaluate long term effects of artificial ventilation, 27 children, who had been ventilated for more than five days in their neonatal period, were reinvestigated at school age. In 5 of them bronchopulmonary dysplasia had been diagnosed. Seven had more than 10 upper respiratory tract infections per year and 9 had recurrent obstructive airway disease. On pulmonary function testing (n=23) 19% showed some airway obstruction, and in 43% bronchial hyperreactivity was found by bronchial provocation with histamine. There was a significant correlation (p<0.05) between bronchial hyperreactivity and the duration of neonatal ventilation. The degree of hyperreactivity (PC20, FEVI) also correlated with birth weight (p<0.005) and gestational age (p<0.02). It is concluded that prolonged neonatal ventilation might be followed by bronchial hyperreactivity, especially in the small and premature newborn.
New Horizons in Forensic Radiology: The 60-Second “Digital Autopsy—Full-Body Examination of a Gunshot Victim by Multislice Computed Tomography

The goal of this study was the full-body documentation of a gunshot wound victim with multislice helical computed tomography for subsequent comparison with the findings of the standard forensic autopsy. Complete volume data of the head, neck, and trunk were acquired by use of two acquisitions of less than 1 minute of total scanning time. Subsequent two-dimensional multiplanar reformations and three-dimensional shaded surface display reconstructions helped document the gunshot-created skull fractures and brain injuries, including the wound track, and the intracerebral bone fragments. Computed tomography also demonstrated intracardiac air embolism and pulmonary aspiration of blood resulting from bullet wound–related trauma. The “digital autopsy,” even when postprocessing time was added, was more rapid than the classic forensic autopsy and, based on the nondestructive approach, offered certain advantages in comparison with the forensic autopsy.
Enhanced chemosensitivity of chick parasympathetic neurones in co‐culture with myotubes.

1. The influence of target interaction upon the electrophysiological properties of dissociated ciliary ganglion cells was investigated by testing the sensitivity of the neuronal somal membrane to ionophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh). Variations in the percentage of cells responsive to the transmitter were measured with time in culture. 2. Twenty‐four hours after plating, all cells respond to an ionophoretic pulse of ACh with a depolarization. However, 1 week after plating (between 7 and 14 days) most of the neurones are unresponsive, and highly responsive cells (greater than 100 mV peak depolarization/nC) are extremely rare. At even later times in culture, neurones sensitive to the transmitter are again more frequent. 3. When neurones are plated onto pre‐formed pectoral myotubes, however, ACh sensitivity is maintained throughout a 3 week culture period. Neuromuscular junctions are formed by the neurones, and when sufficient neurones are present, all the muscle fibres tested show evidence of functional synaptic transmission. Chemosensitivity to ACh is not maintained by neurones in muscle‐free microcultures are present on the same cover‐slip. 4. Interneuronal synaptic contacts, defined by ultrastructural criteria, are formed in cultures of neurones alone, but evidence of widespread functional synaptic interaction between cells was not found at 7‐14 days in culture. 5. It is concluded that the maintenance of ACh sensitivity of cultured ciliary ganglion cells is enhanced by the presence of muscle in co‐culture. The interneuronal synaptic contacts observed are apparently not as potent a stimulus as co‐culture with muscle for the full expression of the cholinergic phenotype under these culture conditions.