Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Effects of Recombinant Feline Interferon-co on Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)-Infected and FeLV/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)-Coinfected Symptomatic Cats

The clinical efficacy of a recombinant feline interferon, rFeIFN-omega, was evaluated for the treatment of cats presented with clinical signs associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and FeLV/feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) coinfection in the field. In this multicentric, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 81 cats meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly placed into 2 groups and treated subcutaneously with rFelFN-omega (1 million [M]U/kg per day) or placebo once daily for 5 consecutive days in 3 series (day 0, 14, 60). The cats were monitored for up to 1 year for clinical signs and mortality. During the initial 4-month period, interferon (IFN)-treated cats (n = 39) had significantly reduced clinical scores compared with placebo (n = 42), with all cats having received concomitant supportive therapies. Compared with the control, the IFN-treated group showed significantly lower rates of mortality: 39% versus 59% (1.7-fold higher risk of death for controls) at the 9-month time point and 47% versus 59% (1.4-fold higher risk of death for controls) at the 12-month time point. The IFN treatment was associated with minor but consistent improvement in abnormal hematologic parameters (red blood cell count, packed cell volume, and white blood cell count), apparently underlying the positive effects of IFN on clinical parameters. These data demonstrate that rFeIFN-omega initially has statistically significant therapeutic effects on clinical signs and later on survival of cats with clinical signs associated with FeLV infection and FeLV/FIV coinfection.
Receptor discordances after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and their effects on survival.

PURPOSE To determine estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors' discordances after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer and their effects on survival. METHODS Data of 186 patients who were admitted to our oncology departments between 2000 and 2014, were retrospectively evaluated. Patients'status of hormone and HER2 receptors were assessed before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank tests were used, as appropriate. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS Median follow-up was 35 months. Of the patients, 20% had stage II disease and 80% stage III disease. Also, 74% showed hormone receptor positivity and 42% had HER2 overexpression. Hormone receptor discordance was detected in 63 (34%), HER2 discordance was detected in 33 (18%), and any receptor discordance was detected in 74 (40%) patients. There was a statistically significant difference regarding 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) between groups with loss of HER2 overexpression and without loss of HER2 overexpression (p=0.003). Five-year DFS was 60% with loss of any positive receptor status after chemotherapy and 72% with no change in any receptor status (p=0.023). In multivariate analysis, clinical stage (HR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.18-9.3, p=0.022), changing HER2 status from positive to negative (HR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-5.1, p=0.005), and triple-negative receptor status (HR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.3-5.6, p=0.001) had significant impact on DFS. CONCLUSION In patients with locally advanced breast cancer, loss of HER2 overexpression is an independent risk factor for DFS. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of receptor discordances.
Student-directed learning: A catalyst for academic achievement and self-determination for students with intellectual disability

In this single-case experimental design study, eight adolescents with mild intellectual disability (ID) participated in a 3-month intervention with the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction. Findings indicate that student-directed learning may enable students with ID to increase their academic achievements, and the authors explore how this may lead to enhanced self-determination over time. Further data analysis suggests that student-directed learning first of all may have an impact at the level of the environment, such that teachers start to perceive their students with ID as capable agents who can take an active role in their own learning process. This change in teacher perception may lead to students getting more opportunities to practice and refine self-determination skills, which in turn may lead to increased capacity for self-determination. Findings from this study are uplifting, as even brief student-directed learning interventions may trigger positive effects on students’ self-determination.
Variability of Faecal Calprotectin in Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients: an Observational Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Several factors have been reported to affect faecal calprotectin (FC) values, and signiﬁcant variation in FC concentrations has been observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We aimed to evaluate FC variability in IBD patients, and to assess the robustness of a single stool punch. METHODS This is a single center observational case-control study. Disease activity was assessed using endoscopic and clinical activity scores, as well as C-reactive protein levels. Stool samples were collected twice within 1 to 6 days interval and FC was measured on punches and homogenates by fluorometric enzyme immunocapture assay. RESULTS 260 stool samples were collected from 120 patients. Intra-stool variability was low with an intraclass correlation coefficient for single measures between 3 punches from a single stool sample of 0.91, and median coefficient of variation (CV) of 17%. CV of two stool samples a few days apart (intra-individual variability) were significantly higher (p<0.01) with median CV of 36%. FC standard deviations correlated with mean FC levels either for intra-stool or for intra-individual variability with a Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation of 0.85 and 0.78 respectively (p<0.01). Disease type, location, activity, and FC levels do not influence variability. CONCLUSION A single stool punch is reliable for FC measurement, considering that intra-stool variability is low. Intra-individual variability a few days apart is significantly higher. Therefore, decision-making strategies based on single measurements should consider this variability to determine the minimum optimal variation to be achieved, rather than a cut-off, especially in high FC levels.
Hepatic glycogen storage diseases are associated to microbial dysbiosis

Introduction The gut microbiome has been related to several features present in Glycogen Storage Diseases (GSD) patients including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and liver disease. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to investigate associations between GSD and the gut microbiota. Methods Twenty-four GSD patients on treatment with uncooked cornstarch (UCCS), and 16 healthy controls had their faecal microbiota evaluated through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Patients and controls were ≥3 years of age and not on antibiotics. Faecal pH, calprotectin, mean daily nutrient intake and current medications were recorded and correlated with gut microbiome. Results Patients’ group presented higher intake of UCCS, higher prevalence of IBD (n = 04/24) and obesity/overweight (n = 18/24) compared to controls (n = 0 and 06/16, respectively). Both groups differed regarding diet (in patients, the calories’ source was mainly the UCSS, and the intake of fat, calcium, sodium, and vitamins was lower than in controls), use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (patients = 11, controls = 0; p-value = 0.001) multivitamins (patients = 22, controls = 01; p-value = 0.001), and mean faecal pH (patients = 6.23; controls = 7.41; p = 0.001). The GSD microbiome was characterized by low diversity and distinct microbial structure. The operational taxonomic unit (OTU) abundance was significantly influenced by faecal pH (r = 0.77; p = 6.8e-09), total carbohydrate (r = -0.6; p = 4.8e-05) and sugar (r = 0.057; p = 0.00013) intakes. Conclusions GSD patients presented intestinal dysbiosis, showing low faecal microbial diversity in comparison with healthy controls. Those findings might be due to the disease per se, and/or to the different diets, use of UCSS and of medicines, and obesity rate found in patients. Although the main driver of these differences is unknown, this study might help to understand how the nutritional management affects GSD patients.
To integrate or not to integrate: Temporal dynamics of hierarchical Bayesian causal inference

To form a percept of the environment, the brain needs to solve the binding problem—inferring whether signals come from a common cause and are integrated or come from independent causes and are segregated. Behaviourally, humans solve this problem near-optimally as predicted by Bayesian causal inference; but the neural mechanisms remain unclear. Combining Bayesian modelling, electroencephalography (EEG), and multivariate decoding in an audiovisual spatial localisation task, we show that the brain accomplishes Bayesian causal inference by dynamically encoding multiple spatial estimates. Initially, auditory and visual signal locations are estimated independently; next, an estimate is formed that combines information from vision and audition. Yet, it is only from 200 ms onwards that the brain integrates audiovisual signals weighted by their bottom-up sensory reliabilities and top-down task relevance into spatial priority maps that guide behavioural responses. As predicted by Bayesian causal inference, these spatial priority maps take into account the brain’s uncertainty about the world’s causal structure and flexibly arbitrate between sensory integration and segregation. The dynamic evolution of perceptual estimates thus reflects the hierarchical nature of Bayesian causal inference, a statistical computation, which is crucial for effective interactions with the environment.
The current-phase relation in Josephson junctions

This review provides a theoretical basis for understanding the current-phase relation (CPhiR) for the stationary (dc) Josephson effect in various types of superconducting junctions. The authors summarize recent theoretical developments with an emphasis on the fundamental physical mechanisms of the deviations of the CPhiR from the standard sinusoidal form. A new experimental tool for measuring the CPhiR is described and its practical applications are discussed. The method allows one to measure the electrical currents in Josephson junctions with a small coupling energy as compared to the thermal energy. A number of examples illustrate the importance of the CPhiR measurements for both fundamental physics and applications.
Scoping Review of Entrustable Professional Activities in Undergraduate Medical Education.

PURPOSE Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are a hot topic in undergraduate medical education (UME); however, the usefulness of EPAs as an assessment approach remains unclear. The authors sought to better understand the literature on EPAs in UME through the lens of the 2010 Ottawa Conference Criteria for Good Assessment. METHOD The authors conducted a scoping review of the health professions literature (search updated February 2018), mapping publications to the Ottawa Criteria using a collaboratively designed charting tool. RESULTS Of the 1,089 publications found, 71 (6.5%) met inclusion criteria. All were published after 2013. Forty-five (63.4%) referenced the 13 Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Forty (56.3%) were perspectives, 5 (7.0%) were reviews, and 26 (36.6%) were prospective empirical studies. The publications mapped to the Ottawa Criteria 158 times. Perspectives mapped more positively (83.7%) than empirical studies (76.7%). Reproducibility did not appear to be a strength of EPAs in UME; however, reproducibility, equivalence, educational effect, and catalytic effect all require further study. Inconsistent use of the term "EPA" and conflation of concepts (activity vs assessment vs advancement decision vs curricular framework) limited interpretation of published results. Overgeneralization of the AAMC's work on EPAs has influenced the literature. CONCLUSIONS Much has been published on EPAs in UME in a short time. Now is the time to move beyond opinion, clarify terms, and delineate topics so that well-designed empirical studies can demonstrate if and how EPAs should be implemented in UME.
Structural basis of hypoxic gene regulation by the Rv0081 transcription factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The transcription factor Rv0081 of M. tuberculosis controls the hypoxic gene expression and acts as a regulatory hub in the latent phase of tuberculosis infection. We report here the crystal structure of Rv0081 at 3.3 Å resolution revealing that it belongs to the well-known ArsR/SmtB family proteins. ArsR/SmtB family transcriptional repressors exert gene regulation by reversible metal binding. Hypoxia in general is sensed by bacterial transcriptional regulators via metals or Cys-mediated thiol switches. Oxygen sensing typically leads to transcriptional repressor changing its conformational state with altered DNA-binding property under different oxygen levels. Surprisingly Rv0081 neither has a metal binding domain nor does it possess Cys residues suggesting an alternate mechanism of gene regulation. Our structural analysis identified Ser 48, Ser 49, Ser 52 and Gln 53 as potential residues of Rv0081 involved in DNA binding. We probed DNA-binding of Rv0081 with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) as well as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), where the Alanine mutants of these residues showed diminished DNA binding. Similarly, Aspartate mutants of these Ser residues was shown to fail to bind to DNA. Since, phosphorylation of various regulatory proteins is one of the important controlling mechanisms, we expected the role of Ser-phosphorylation of Rv0081 in hypoxic condition. Probing Rv0081 with anti-phosphoserine antibodies in M. tuberculosis cell lysate showed marked enhancement in the phosphorylation of Rv0081 protein under hypoxia. Overall, our structural and biochemical analysis provides the molecular basis for the regulation of Rv0081 in the latent phase of tuberculosis infection. IMPORTANCE Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In about 90% of the infected people, M. tuberculosis exists in a dormant or a latent stage which can be reactivated in favorable conditions. Hypoxia (low oxygen pressure) is one of causes of dormancy. Understanding hypoxic gene regulation in M. tuberculosis is therefore an important step to understand latency. Rv0081 is a transcriptional regulator of genes expressed during hypoxia. In order to understand the mechanism by which Rv00081 regulates gene expression during hypoxia, we have solved the crystal structure of Rv0081 and identified amino acid residues which are critical in its transcriptional regulator activity. The crystal structure is suggestive of mechanism of gene regulation under hypoxia.
“We have a stronger survival mode”: exploring knowledge gaps and culturally sensitive messaging of PrEP among Latino men who have sex with men and Latina transgender women in Los Angeles, CA

ABSTRACT Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) and Latina transgender women (LTGW) often lack access to HIV prevention information and strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We explored knowledge gaps and culturally sensitive messaging about PrEP among HIV-negative LMSM and LTGW in Los Angeles. We recruited participants from a Latinx LGBT community-based organization. We conducted nine focus groups (n = 91 participants) with 52 LMSM and 39 LTGW. We used a rapid assessment process to create narrative reports that we analyzed using thematic analysis. Key quotes were transcribed verbatim; they were reviewed by the team, then uploaded to Dedoose to identify themes across sites and between groups. Three themes emerged for both LMSM and LTGW: knowledge gaps regarding PrEP remain; people who have knowledge about PrEP often served as its champions; highlighting positive aspects of culture could help improve PreP’s uptake and sustained use. Only LMSM worried that PrEP could impact condom use. Some issues were more pronounced among LTGW (e.g., more limited access to PrEP); others were unique to LTGW (e.g., worry about drug-hormones interactions). Collaborative research, programs, and policies, informed by LMSM and LTGW themselves, are needed to narrow existing knowledge gaps and promote PrEP uptake and sustained utilization.
Risk factors for tuberculosis: A case–control study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background Tuberculosis remains a major public-health problem in the world, despite several efforts to improve case identification and treatment compliance. It is well known cause of ill-health among millions of people each year and ranks as the second leading cause of death from infectious disease worldwide. Despite implementation of the World health organization recommended strategy, the reductions in the incidence of TB have been minimal in high burden countries. Objectives and methods A case control study was carried out to assess the risk factors of TB, where cases were newly registered bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients with age greater than 15 years who present at twenty health centres in Addis Ababa. Controls were age and sex matched attendees who presented in the same health centers for non-TB health problems. Results A total of 260 cases and 260 controls were enrolled in the study and 45.8% of cases and 46.2% of controls were in the 26–45 years age bracket. According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, seven variables were found to be independent predictors for the occurrence of TB after controlling possible confounders. Patients who live in house with no window or one window were almost two times more likely to develop tuberculosis compared to people whose house has multiple windows (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI:1.06, 3.07). Previous history of hospital admission was found to pose risk almost more than three times (AOR = 3.39; 95% CI: 1.64–7.03). Having a household member who had TB was shown to increase risk of developing TB by three fold (AOR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.60, 5.62). The study showed that illiterate TB patients were found to be more than twice more likely to develop TB compared to subjects who can atleast read and write (AOR, 95% CI = 2.15, 1.05, 4.40). Patients with household income of less than 1000 birrs per month were more than two times more likely to develop TB compared to those who had higher income (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.78). Smoking has also been identified as important risk factor for developing TB by four times (AOR = 4.43; 95% CI: 2.10, 9.3). BCG was found to be protective against TB reducing the risk by one-third (AOR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.54). Conclusion This study showed that TB is more common among the most agile and economically active age group, and number of windows, history of hospital admission, a household member who had TB, illiteracy, low household income and smoking and lack of BCG scar were identified as independent risk factors. Therefore it is imperative that the TB control effort need a strategy to address socio economic issues such as poverty, overcrowding, smoking, and infection control at health care facilities level is an important intervention to prevent transmission of TB within the facilities.
An interprofessional perspective on job satisfaction in the operating room: a review of the literature

ABSTRACT Maintaining job satisfaction across the team in the operating room (OR) is essential for reducing staff turnover, stress, burnout, medical errors and increasing patient satisfaction. This literature review explores factors impacting on job satisfaction for OR team members, with a specific focus on nurses, anaesthetists and surgeons. A literature search from January 1997 to November 2017 was conducted using databases CINHAL, psychINFO, Medline and ABI/inform. Surgeon, anaesthetist, OR nurse and OR team job satisfaction studies were included. The search yielded 48 studies. Dominant contributing factors for all three disciplines included: work conditions, support and acknowledgement from management, and fulfilment from the clinical role. Career prospects, research opportunities, autonomy, utilising the full extent of one’s skills, team dynamics/communication, pressure from management, and social support systems were also identified as significant for specific disciplines within the team. This review highlights the importance of addressing factors relating to job satisfaction from an ‘OR team’ perspective and considering the inter-relationship between roles. Further research into ‘team satisfaction’ in the OR, its measurement and its relationship with retention and productivity would be of benefit.
Profitability of organic cropping systems in southwestern Minnesota

Abstract In spite of concerns, Minnesota‘s dominant cropping system is the corn–soybean rotation using synthetic pesticides and chemically processed fertilizers. Using experimental data from 1990–99, this study compared the profitability of organic versus conventional strategies. Net return (NR) was calculated from actual yields, operations, inputs, prices and organic premiums. Yields and costs were lower for the 4-year organic strategy. With premiums, the 4-year organic strategy had NRs significantly higher than conventional strategies; without premiums, the NRs were statistically equal (P = 0.05). Thus, the 4-year organic strategy was not less profitable nor its NR more variable than the conventional strategies in this study.
Denitrification and Organic Carbon Availability in Riparian Wetland Soils and Subsurface Sediments

The influence of organic C quantity and quality on denitrification in riparian environments is poorly understood. We measured denitrification potential (DNP), organic matter, and several fractions of organic C in surface soils and subsurface sediments in a river riparian zone. Surface soils in conifer forest peat, mixed forest, and marsh sites had similar DNP, although mean organic matter ranged from 9.4% (marsh) to 19.6% (mixed forest) and 36.6% (peat). These soils also differed widely in organic C, water-extractable C, and anaerobic mineralizable C. Mean DNP in peat at depths of 0.8 to 1.4 m was four times lower than in the surface peat. Mean organic matter and organic C were significantly greater in the deep peat than at the surface, whereas the other C fractions were similar. Mean organic matter content of buried channel sediments at depths of 2 to 3 m was 3.6%; however, mean DNP was 75 to 80 times lower than in the surface mixed forest and marsh soils. When the three surface soil sites were considered separately, anaerobic mineralizable C showed the highest correlation with DNP in the marsh soils (r = 0.87) and the conifer peat soil (r = 0.82). Water-extractable C was also highly correlated with DNP in the marsh soils (r = 0.81). Correlations between DNP and either organic matter or the three C fractions were not significant in the deep peat, whereas the former channel sediments showed a significant relationship between DNP and both organic matter (r = 0.81) and water-extractable C (r = 0.81). These results show that C quantity and quality influence DNP, but no single index was a good predictor for all soil types.