Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A population profile for Atlantic hagfish , Myxine glutinosa fl . ) , in the Gulf of Maine . Part I : Morphometries and reproductive state

-Populations of Atlantic hagfish, Myxine glutinosa (L.), are found throughout the Gulf of Maine in soft-bottom substrates at depths greater than 50 m. This report presents data on the sizes. weights, morphometric characters, and reproductive states for specimens collected at a study site approximately 50 km offshore in the Gulf of Maine. Limited comparisons with data from specimens collected elsewhere suggest that this data set is representative of hagfish populations within the inner Gulf of Maine. The small number of eggs produced (less than 30 per female), the large number ofanimals without macroscopically visible gonadal tissue (25% of the population), and the small number of males «6% ofthe population). gravid females (<1%1. and postovulatory females «5%) suggest that hagfish have limited reproductive potential. This raises serious questions about the long-term viability of the New England eelskin fishery. 311 A population profile for Atlantic hagfish, Myxine glutinosa fl. ), in the Gulf of Maine. Part I: Morphometries and reproductive state
Granting Birthright Citizenship - A Door Opener for Immigrant Children's Educational Participation and Success?

Does granting birthright citizenship help immigrant children integrating in the host country’s educational system? We address this question using a reform of the German naturalization law in 1999 that entitled children born after January 1, 2000 with birthright citizenship. We use a difference-in-difference design that compares children born shortly before and after the cut-off in years of policy change and years where no policy change took place. Our empirical analysis relies on administrative data from school entrance examinations and on the German Micro Census. We find positive effects on immigrant children’s educational participation, both in non-mandatory preschool and upper secondary school. In addition, birthright citizenship enhances children‘s socio-behavioral development.
Developmental Patterns of Rhythmic Suckle and Swallow in Preterm Infants

Twenty healthy preterm infants (gestational age 26 to 33 weeks, postmenstrual age [PMA] 32.1 to 39.6 weeks, postnatal age [PNA] 2.0 to 11.6 weeks) were studied weekly from initiation of bottle feeding until discharge, with simultaneous digital recordings of pharyngeal and nipple (teat) pressure and nasal thermistor and thoracic strain gauge readings. The percentage of sucks aggregated into 'runs' (defined as > or = 3 sucks with < or = 2 seconds between suck peaks) increased over time and correlated significantly with PMA (r=0.601, p<0.001). The length of the sucking-runs also correlated significantly with PMA (r=0.613, p<0.001). The stability of sucking rhythm, defined as a function of the mean/SD of the suck interval, was also directly correlated with increasing PMA (r=0.503, p=0.002), as was increasing suck rate (r=0.379, p<0.03). None of these measures was correlated with PNA. Similarly, increasing PMA, but not PNA, correlated with a higher percentage of swallows in runs (r=0.364, p<0.03). Stability of swallow rhythm did not change significantly from 32 to 40 weeks' PMA. In low-risk preterm infants, increasing PMA is correlated with a faster and more stable sucking rhythm and with increasing organization into longer suck and swallow runs. Stable swallow rhythm appears to be established earlier than suck rhythm. The fact that PMA is a better predictor than PNA of these patterns lends support to the concept that these patterns are innate rather than learned behaviors. Quantitative assessment of the stability of suck and swallow rhythms in preterm infants may allow prediction of subsequent feeding dysfunction as well as more general underlying neurological impairment. Knowledge of the normal ontogeny of the rhythms of suck and swallow may also enable us to differentiate immature (but normal) feeding patterns in preterm infants from dysmature (abnormal) patterns, allowing more appropriate intervention measures.
Repeat abortion in Denmark.

A study of 50 women undergoing first-time induced abortion and 50 women undergoing second-time induced abortion is reported. Although repeat aborters can not be characterised as a special group of women, it is important that initiatives be taken to reduce the incidence of repeat induced abortion. A suggestion for possible intervention is a thorough post-abortion contraceptive counselling and follow up of women who undergo initial induced abortion. Further general improvement in sex education and use of contraceptive methods is necessary. In this area, avoidance of risk-taking is very important as well as caution during periods of change from one contraceptive method to another. Generally, use of contraceptive methods with a very high effectiveness must be recommended, i.e. oral contraceptives, IUDs, and sterilisation.
Occupational Injury Surveillance Among Electric Utility Employees

Currently, there are only limited injury surveillance data for the electric utility workforce. To address this gap, an Occupational Health Surveillance Database for electric power utilities was established for epidemiologic monitoring and intervention program evaluation. Injury rates varied across utility occupations, such as, managers, line workers, and meter readers, ranging from 0.18 to 9.63 per 100 employee-years based on more than 500,000 employee-years of observation. Compared with male workers, the risk of injury among female workers was lower overall, although their risk was higher in nonoffice occupations than their male counterparts. Across the period 2000 to 2002, three of four companies that experienced decreases in workforce size also experienced noticeable increases in injury rates. Our results suggest that benchmarking and prevention efforts should be directed at specific occupational groups and specific injury types.
Integration mobiler Informationswerkzeuge in heterogene Krankenhausinformationssysteme.

Der Einsatz mobiler Kleinstcomputer in der klinischen Routine besitzt groses Potential, die Kommunikations- und Informationsbedurfnisse von Arzten und Pflegern zeitnah an deren unterschiedlichen Wirkungsstatten (z.B. am Patientenbett) zu erfullen. Obwohl zahlreiche Arten von leistungsfahigen, tragbaren Kleinstcomputern zur Verfugung stehen, setzen sich diese nur langsam als Werkzeuge der Informationsverarbeitung in Krankenhausern durch. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die Gestaltung von mobilen Informations- und Kommunikationswerkzeugen in Bezug auf Funktionalitat, Gerateeigenschaften und Integrationsmoglichkeiten in heterogene Krankenhausinformationssysteme (KIS) zu erarbeiten. Dabei werden die Wunsche der klinischen Anwender und die derzeitige Praktikabilitat berucksichtigt. Zum Erreichen dieses Zieles wurden zwei praxisnahe Evaluationen am Universitatsklinikum Heidelberg durchgefuhrt. Anhand internationaler Literatur und aus diesen Ergebnissen werden wesentliche Integrationsaspekte abgeleitet und in einen Leitfaden fur die Integration ubertragen. Die Anwendbarkeit dieses Leitfadens wird anhand eines Realisierungsvorschlages fur das Universitatsklinikum Heidelberg demonstriert. Insgesamt zeigt sich, das das wichtigste mobil zu realisierende Verfahren die Unterstutzung der interpersonellen Kommunikation ist. Weitere wichtige Verfahren sind z.B. die Einsicht in eine 'Elektronische Patientenakte', 'Klinische Dokumentation', 'Koordination mit Leistungserbringern', 'Anfordern von Essen, Material und Medikamenten' und der 'Zugriff auf Wissen'. Die funktionale Uberschneidung zu festinstallierten Klinischen Arbeitsplatzsystemen (KLAPS) ist offensichtlich. Deutlich wird, das mobile Kleinstcomputer die Benutzung von KLAPS raumlich ausweiten und die Anzahl der fest zu installierenden KLAPS verringern, jedoch diese nicht ersetzen konnen. Sie mussen vielmehr an die ortlichen Gegebenheiten, Organisationsstrukturen und Arbeitsweisen unterschiedlicher Personengruppen angepast ein
Evaluating authorship distance methods using the positive Silhouette coefficient

Abstract Unsupervised Authorship Analysis (UAA) aims to cluster documents by authorship without knowing the authorship of any documents. An important factor in UAA is the method for calculating the distance between documents. This choice of the authorship distance method is considered more critical to the end result than the choice of cluster analysis algorithm. One method for measuring the correlation between a distance metric and a labelling (such as class values or clusters) is the Silhouette Coefficient (SC). The SC can be leveraged by measuring the correlation between the authorship distance method and the true authorship, evaluating the quality of the distance method. However, we show that the SC can be severely affected by outliers. To address this issue, we introduce the Positive Silhouette Coefficient, given as the proportion of instances with a positive SC value. This metric is not easily altered by outliers and produces a more robust metric. A large number of authorship distance methods are then compared using the PSC, and the findings are presented. This research provides an insight into the efficacy of methods for UAA and presents a framework for testing authorship distance methods.
Metal size distributions in EH and EL chondrites

EL chondrites exhibit larger average metal grain sizes than EH chondrites, a difference attributed by Easton [1983] to metamorphic coarsening, as most EL chondrites are equilibrated, and most EH chondrites are unequilibrated. In this paper, we present metal grain size data for three unequilbrated EL3 chondrites (PCA 91020; ALH 85119; MAC 88180) , and three EH3 chondrites (ALH 84170; PCA 91085; PCA 91238). We find that EL3 chondrites have larger average metal grain sizes than EH3 chondrites, and that grain sizes of the unequilibrated enstatite chondrites are similar to those of equilibrated chondrites of the same class. We thus interpret the metal size distributions of enstatite chondrites as primarily reflecting their pre‐metamorphic distributions. Shock processing appears to have had only minor influence on metal grain size distributions in these meteorites.
Molecular detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi from suspected scrub typhus cases

Context: Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. The disease is under-diagnosed in India, because of low index of suspicion and also due to its nonspecific presentation, and lack of confirmatory diagnostic tests. Aims: This study was undertaken to diagnose scrub typhus in patients with undifferentiated fevers by serology and molecular methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 68 blood samples were collected from patients clinically suspected to have scrub typhus. After transportation to the laboratory, the serum was separated from the blood and subjected to rapid card test. The ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples were subjected to DNA extraction using QIAamp DNA Mini Kit followed by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). Results: 24/68 (35.29%) cases showed the presence of antibody against scrub typhus by serology. 6/68 (8.8%) patients showed the presence of outer membrane protein antigen gene 56 kDa by nPCR. 5/24 serology positive cases showed the presence of 56 kDa outer membrane protein antigen gene by nPCR. A large number of cases positive by serology were negative by PCR which may indicate a low sensitivity of this test either due to low copy numbers or due to excess host DNA. Conclusion: Delay in treatment may increase disease severity and leads to higher mortality. Thus, molecular methods of diagnosis may aid in the early diagnosis of infection and enable prompt treatment. This is the first report on the diagnosis of scrub typhus in the suburbs of Chennai using molecular methods and reemphasizes the need for increased awareness of rickettsial infections in rural areas.
Immature zygotic embryo cultures of Arabidopsis. A model system for molecular studies on morphogenic pathways induced in vitro

To understand the molecular mechanism controlling in vitro plant morphogenesis, a culture system enabling induction of alternative morphogenic pathways (somatic embryogenesis, SE; shoot organogenesis, ORG) in a well defined population of somatic cells is needed. Arabidopsis is the most useful model plant for genomic studies, but a system in which SE or ORG can be induced alternatively in the same type of explant has not been proposed. Immature zygotic embryos (IZEs) of Arabidopsis provide the only explants with embryogenic potential, and have been recommended for studying mechanisms of SE induced in vitro. This study was aimed at defining culture conditions promoting induction of alternative morphogenic pathways: shoot ORG in IZE explants. The established protocol involves pretreatment of IZE explants with liquid auxin-rich callus induction (CIM) medium, followed by subculture on solid cytokinin-rich shoot induction medium (SIM). The method enables efficient shoot induction in Columbia (Col-0) and Wassilewskija (Ws), genotypes commonly used in molecular studies. During 3 weeks of culture up to 90% of Col-0 and 70% of Ws explants regenerated shoots via an indirect morphogenic pathway. We analyzed the qRT-PCR expression patterns of the LEC (LEC1, LEC2 and FUS3) genes, the key regulators of Arabidopsis embryogenesis, in the IZE explants induced to promote shoot ORG. The sharp decline of LEC expression on SIM medium confirmed that culture of Arabidopsis IZE explants enables experimental manipulation of the morphogenic response of somatic cells. A scheme illustrating various in vitro morphogenic responses of IZEs in relation to hormonal treatment is presented.
Molecular cloning of cDNA and analysis of protein secondary structure of Candida albicans enolase, an abundant, immunodominant glycolytic enzyme

We isolated and sequenced a clone for Candida albicans enolase from a C. albicans cDNA library by using molecular genetic techniques. The 1.4-kbp cDNA encoded one long open reading frame of 440 amino acids which was 87 and 75% similar to predicted enolases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and enolases from other organisms, respectively. The cDNA included the entire coding region and predicted a protein of molecular weight 47,178. The codon usage was highly biased and similar to that found for the highly expressed EF-1 alpha proteins of C. albicans. Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that the enolase cDNA hybridized to an abundant C. albicans mRNA of 1.5 kb present in both yeast and hyphal growth forms. The polypeptide product of the cloned cDNA, which was purified as a recombinant protein fused to glutathione S-transferase, had enolase enzymatic activity and inhibited radioimmunoprecipitation of a single C. albicans protein of molecular weight 47,000. Analysis of the predicted C. albicans enolase showed strong conservation in regions of alpha helices, beta sheets, and beta turns, as determined by comparison with the crystal structure of apo-enolase A of S. cerevisiae. The lack of cysteine residues and a two-amino-acid insertion in the main domain differentiated C. albicans enolase from S. cerevisiae enolase. Immunofluorescence of whole C. albicans cells by using a mouse antiserum generated against the purified fusion protein showed that enolase is not located on the surface of C. albicans. Recombinant C. albicans enolase will be useful in understanding the pathogenesis and host immune response in disseminated candidiasis, since enolase is an immunodominant antigen which circulates during disseminated infections.
Emergence of Ofloxacin Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Isolates from China as Determined by gyrA Mutation Analysis Using Denaturing High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography and DNA Sequencing

ABSTRACT A high rate of double point mutations in gyrA (56% of 87 ofloxacin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates) indicates the emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance. This is the first report to describe denaturing high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of mutations in gyrA of M. tuberculosis in a large number of clinical isolates.
Juggling career aspirations with quality and relevance to the Caribbean.

Correspondence: Professor N Kissoon, Senior Medical Director Acute and Critical Care Program, Associate Head and Professor of Pediatrics, British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital, Professor of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Rm K4-105, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4. Tel: (604) 875-2507, Fax: (604) 875-3076, e-mail: nkissoon@cw.bc. ca Research Juggling Career Aspirations with Quality and Relevance to the Caribbean N Kissoon VIEWPOINT
Extended Survival in Women With Brain Metastases From HER2 Overexpressing Breast Cancer

Objectives:Brain metastases (BM) are a significant complication of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The high incidence of BM in HER2 overexpressing MBC is now well recognized, however, the optimal management of such patients is not yet clearly defined. We aimed to analyze factors affecting survival after diagnosis of BM in patients treated in our center. Materials and Methods:Retrospective analysis of survival in all patients treated with antineoplastic therapy for BM from MBC in our institution between May 1st 2002 and April 30th 2005, according to HER2 expression and use of trastuzumab after diagnosis of BM. Results:The median survival of the 26 patients with HER2 overexpressing disease after diagnosis of BM was significantly longer than that of the 60 patients with HER2 nonoverexpressing disease (6.2 vs. 3.8 months, P = 0.027). Further analysis revealed that this seems to be due to the favorable outcome of the 70% (n = 18) of HER2 overexpressing patients who received trastuzumab after BM were diagnosed. Median survival of this group was 11.9 months, compared with 3.8 months (HER2 nonoverexpressing disease, P = 0.002) and 3.0 months (HER2 overexpressing disease not treated with trastuzumab after development of BM, P = 0.05). Conclusion:Patients with HER2 overexpressing MBC who received trastuzumab after diagnosis of BM survived longer than expected. This finding justifies an active therapeutic approach: disease progression within central nervous system does not preclude benefit from trastuzumab treatment.
The anticonvulsant and sedative properties of stems of Cissus quadrangularis in mice

Cissus quadrangularis Linn grows in Savannah areas in Africa (Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, etc). In traditional medicine, the plant is used to treat anorexia, asthma, sickle cells, colds, pains, malaria, asthma and as an analgesic. In vivo animal models of epilepsy (maximal electroshock, nmethyl -d-aspartate, pentylenetetrazol, isonicotinic hydrazid acid and strychnine -induced convulsions or turning behavior) and insomnia (diazepam -induced sleep) were used. The aqueous extract of the stems of C. quadrangularis strongly increased the total sleep time induced by diazepam (50 mg/kg i.p.). It also protected mice against maximal electroshock, pentylenetetrazol, strychnine and n-methyl-daspartate-induced seizures or turning behavior and delayed the onset time of seizures induced by isonicotinic hydrazid acid. The results lead to the conclusion that the extract of C. quadrangularis possesses anticonvulsant and sedative properties in mice and could explain its use in traditional medicine in Africa, in the treatment of insomnia and epilepsy.
Emergence in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae Clinical Isolates of the VIM-4 Metallo-β-Lactamase Encoded by a Conjugative Plasmid

ABSTRACT Resistance to carbapenems is an emerging problem among gram-negative hospital pathogens. A transferable plasmid encoding the VIM-4 metallo-β-lactamase was detected in isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae obtained from a single patient under carbapenem therapy. Thus, enterobacteria appear to increasingly contribute to the spread of VIM-type enzymes.
A Single A1C ≥ 6.5% Accurately Identifies Type 2 Diabetes/Impaired Glucose Tolerance in African Americans

Objective: In 2010, the American Diabetes Association revised its criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes to include A1C ≥ 6.5%; however, this has remained controversial, particularly for African Americans. The objective of this pilot study was to examine the usefulness of a single A1C determination in comparison with a same day 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test to diagnose type 2 diabetes in African Americans. Methods: In sum, 195 oral glucose tolerance tests and A1Cs were obtained on the same day from 77 overweight and obese African American women and 6 men over a period of 15 months. Results: A1C ≥ 6.5% was present in 31 of 195 patients, with 15 of these having type 2 diabetes by oral glucose tolerance test, another 12 having impaired glucose tolerance, and 4 having normal glucose tolerance. This gives a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 90%, with a positive predictive value of 48% and a negative predictive value of 91%. A1C ≤ 5.6%, proposed by the American Diabetes Association to indicate normal glucose tolerance, was present in only 28 patients, 10 (35.7%) of whom had normal glucose tolerance, whereas 18 (64.3%) had either impaired glucose tolerance (15 patients) or type 2 diabetes (3 patients). Fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL was present in 5 of 29 patients with type 2 diabetes (sensitivity, 17.2%; specificity, 100%). Conclusions: First, A1C ≥ 6.5% was a good “rule in” value to identify impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes (ie, patients at high risk for micro- and macrovascular complications). Second, A1C ≤ 5.6% did not rule out impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. Last, fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL detected less than 1 in 5 cases with type 2 diabetes.
Regularity Conditions and Bernoulli Properties of Equilibrium States and g‐Measures

When T : X → X is a one‐sided topologically mixing subshift of finite type and φ : X → R is a continuous function, one can define the Ruelle operator Lφ : C(X) → C(X) on the space C(X) of real‐valued continuous functions on X. The dual operator Lφ* always has a probability measure ν as an eigenvector corresponding to a positive eigenvalue ( Lφ*ν = λν with λ > 0). Necessary and sufficient conditions on such an eigenmeasure ν are obtained for φ to belong to two important spaces of functions, W(X, T) and Bow (X, T). For example, φ ∈ Bow(X, T) if and only if ν is a measure with a certain approximate product structure. This is used to apply results of Bradley to show that the natural extension of the unique equilibrium state μφ of φ ∈ Bow(X, T) has the weak Bernoulli property and hence is measure‐theoretically isomorphic to a Bernoulli shift. It is also shown that the unique equilibrium state of a two‐sided Bowen function has the weak Bernoulli property. The characterizations mentioned above are used in the case of g‐measures to obtain results on the ‘reverse’ of a g‐measure.