Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural changes induced by a lytic bacteriophage make ciprofloxacin effective against older biofilm of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Bacteria have evolved multiple mechanisms, such as biofilm formation, to thwart antibiotic action. Yet antibiotics remain the drug of choice against clinical infections. It has been documented that young biofilm of Klebsiella pneumoniae could be eradicated significantly by ciprofloxacin treatment alone. Since age of biofilm is a decisive factor in determining the outcome of antibiotic treatment, in the present study biofilm of K. pneumoniae, grown for extended periods was treated with ciprofloxacin and/or depolymerase producing lytic bacteriophage (KPO1K2). The reduction in bacterial numbers of older biofilm was greater after application of the two agents in combination as ciprofloxacin alone could not reduce bacterial biomass significantly in older biofilms (P > 0.05). Confocal microscopy suggested the induction of structural changes in the biofilm matrix and a decrease in micro-colony size after KPO1K2 treatment. The role of phage associated depolymerase was emphasized by the insignificant eradication of biofilm by a non-depolymerase producing bacteriophage that, however, eradicated the biofilm when applied concomitantly with purified depolymerase. These findings demonstrate that a lytic bacteriophage alone can eradicate older biofilms significantly and its action is primarily depolymerase mediated. However, application of phage and antibiotic in combination resulted in slightly increased biofilm eradication confirming the speculation that antibiotic efficacy can be augmented by bacteriophage.
Bid Costs and the (In)efficiency of Public Procurement Auctions

The paper analyzes the excess entry hypothesis for sealed-bid first price public procurement auctions.The hypothesis is proved analytically for any feasible combination of bid preparation cost and bid evaluation cost when the bidders face a rectangular cost density function and confirmed in numerical simulations based on a family of flexible cost density functions. The excess entry hypothesis implies that the procurer may reduce both his own cost and the social cost by imposing a positive fee on the bids. Sequential search is a superior strategy to a public procurement auction whether or not the procurer imposes an optimal fee on the bids.
Proteomic profiling of cholangiocarcinoma: Diagnostic potential of SELDI‐TOF MS in malignant bile duct stricture

Proteomic techniques promise to improve the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) in both tissue and serum as histological diagnosis and existing serum markers exhibit poor sensitivities. We explored the use of surface‐enhanced laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (SELDI‐TOF MS) to identify potential protein biomarkers of CC. Twenty‐two resected CC samples were compared with adjacent noninvolved bile duct tissue. Serum from patients with CC (n = 20) was compared with patients with benign disease (n = 20), and healthy volunteers (n = 25). Samples were analyzed on hydrophobic protein chips via SELDI‐TOF MS, and classification models were developed using logistic regression and cross‐validation analysis. Univariate analysis revealed 14 individual peaks differentially expressed between CC and bile duct tissue, 4 peaks between CC and benign disease, and 12 peaks between CC and sera of healthy volunteers. The 4,462 mass‐to‐charge serum peak had superior discriminatory ability to carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19.9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (P = .004; receiver operating characteristic [ROC] area under the curve [AUC] = 0.76, 0.73, and 0.70, respectively). The training models developed panels of peaks that distinguished CC from bile duct tissue (92.5% sensitivity, 92.3% specificity; ROC AUC = 0.96), CC from benign serum (65.0% sensitivity, 70.0% specificity; ROC AUC = 0.83), and CC from sera of healthy volunteers (75.0% sensitivity, 100% specificity; ROC AUC = 0.92). Serum results were further improved with the inclusion of CA19.9 and CEA (ROC AUC = 0.86 and 0.99 for CC vs benign and healthy volunteer serum, respectively). In conclusion, biomarker panels are capable of distinguishing CC from nonmalignant tissue; serum markers have important diagnostic implications for unknown bile duct stricture. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:658–666.)
Copper-filled anodic aluminum oxide: A potential substrate material for a high density interconnection

To realize high density 3D packaging, various types of interposer including through vias are developed. Although the interposer should have a high wiring density not only horizontally but also vertically, the ability of the conventional interposers to provide high density through vias with a low cost is still quite limited. Copper-filled anodic aluminum oxide has been studied as an alternative interposer material. Stable electrical connection was confirmed with four-wiring-layer substrates. High density vias as fine as 35 μm pitch were realized as a ground-surrounded structure. This coaxial-like via structure was remarkably effective for reducing harmful noise that tends to increase with the increased via density required for high performance systems.
Care of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common autosomal hereditary pediatric disease, is no longer restricted to childhood as modern therapy has given patients both increased longevity and better quality of life. When the gene was identified more than 16 years ago and the most common mutation, ΔF508, found, general hope of a rapid cure for the disease was expressed. The discovery entailed a marked increase in research on pathophysiology, but to date the improvements in clinical therapy are entirely due to developments in traditional treatment. Improvements in the patient’s condition are related to better pancreatic enzyme supplements and more intense nutritional treatment, including the attention paid to abnormal lipid metabolism. Pulmonary treatment has resulted in better preserved lung function into adulthood with access to a battery of efficient antibiotics and the development of new strategies; mucus-dissolving agents in combination with encouragement of physical activity from an early age together with modifications in physiotherapy, and improved results in lung transplantations as the ultimate treatment. Liver disease is recognized more, and often treated long-term with ursodeoxycholic acid, although its effect in preventing progression of liver disease has not been fully explored. Neonatal screening is increasing, challenging short-term problems such as those of a psychological nature when carriers or very mild diseases are discovered, and exploring long-term results to prove that clinical status improves and survival further increases. The limitations in survival still present seem mainly to be due to the mystery behind the chronic colonization of the airways by microorganisms.
Imaging with Power Controlled Source Pairs

Scatterers in a homogeneous medium are imaged by probing the medium with two point sources of waves modulated by correlated signals and by measuring only intensities at one single receiver. For appropriately chosen source pairs, we show that full waveform array measurements can be recovered from such intensity measurements by solving a linear least squares problem. The least squares solution can be used to image with Kirchhoff migration, even if the solution is determined only up to a known one-dimensional nullspace. The same imaging strategy can be used when the medium is probed with point sources driven by correlated Gaussian processes and autocorrelations are measured at a single location. Since autocorrelations are robust to noise, this can be used for imaging when the probing wave is drowned in background noise.
Modélisation pharmacocinétique-pharmacodynamique et techniques de simulation appliquées à l’évaluation de stratégies thérapeutiques en infectiologie

La medecine actuelle, basee sur les preuves, et la recherche de standardisation qui l’accompagne, sont-elles compatibles avec la variabilite intra- et interindividuelle de la reponse au traitement observee chez les patients ? Au travers de trois interrogations successives (1- La variabilite est-elle significative en infectiologie ; 2- Peut-on decrire et modeliser cette variabilite ; 3- Comment utiliser ces connaissances pour evaluer l’interet de strategies therapeutiques), nous montrons qu’il ne semble pas possible d’ignorer cette variabilite, que la modelisation pharmacocinetique-pharmacodynamique permet de la decrire de maniere satisfaisante, et que nombre de strategies therapeutiques actuelles la prennent insuffisamment en compte. Ces resultats remettent en cause les pratiques actuelles de calculs des posologies, dont l’usage exclusif de covariables, et soulignent l’interet du suivi therapeutique et de l’individualisation des posologies
The Utilization of Information Technology as a Control of Employees in the Strategic Communication Management at Ministry of Communications and 1 Informatics

Utilization of technology in government to realizing e-government systems has been running in various fields. This research tries to describe the utilization of technology in the government, as a control of government agency members both in output of performance and behavior. The control using an online web-based applications tool for performance and behavior measurement of government agency members. The objective of this paper is to know the organizational and technical aspects undertaken by Ministry of Communications and Informatics in the utilization of the online web-based applications tool by the government agency members within Ministry of Communications and Informatics. This research uses organizational theory with a focus on the concept of control in communication strategy management. The control model used is Cybernetic model. The research paradigm that is used in this research is postpositivism paradigm. The purpose of this research is analytical descriptive, in the utilization of an online web-based applications tool for performance and behavior measurement of government agency members at Ministry of Communications and Informatics. The research approach used in this research is qualitative approach. The data obtained are from literature study and interviews with related parties in Ministry of Communications and Informatics. The result of this paper indicates that the application helps launch performance appraisal system and employee behavior in each work unit as a part of strategic communication management both upward and downward communication, and integrated directly to employment department in Ministry of Communications and Informatics. With this tool, it is expected that no more performance problems are less than the maximum due to weak supervision of employees. While in the technical aspect, the gap among the generation of young employees with old employees make the implementation of this tool is still running less than the maximum
Association of tea consumption and the risk of thyroid cancer: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES Epidemiological studies evaluating the association of tea consumption and the risk of thyroid cancer risk have produced inconsistent results. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between tea consumption and thyroid cancer risk. METHODS Pertinent studies were identified by a search in PubMed and Web of Knowledge. The random effect model was used based to combine the results. Publication bias was estimated using Egger's regression asymmetry test. RESULTS Finally, 11 articles with 14 studies (2 cohort studies and 12 case-control studies) involving 2,955 thyroid cancer cases and 106,447 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The relative risk (95% confidence interval) of thyroid cancer for the highest versus the lowest category of tea consumption was 0.774 (95% CI = 0.619-0.967), and the associations were also significant in Europe and America, but not in the Asia. No publication bias was found. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis indicated that higher tea consumption may have a protective effect on thyroid cancer, especially in Europe and America.
Differentially expressed nucleolar TGF‐β1 target (DENTT) in mouse development

Differentially expressed nucleolar TGF‐β1 target (DENTT) is a recently identified gene whose mRNA is differentially affected by TGF‐β1 in TGF‐β1–responsive human lung cancer cells and who is a new member of the TSPY/TSPY‐like/SET/NAP‐1 (TTSN) protein superfamily. Here, we report that mouse DENTT mRNA contains a 2031‐bp open reading frame that encodes a predicted polypeptide of 677‐amino acids with a relative molecular mass of 77,671 Da. The mouse and human DENTT sequences show 77% and 78% homology at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. Mouse DENTT is predicted to be a nuclear protein with two nuclear localization signals (NLS), two coiled‐coil regions, and a domain that shows significant identity to a region that defines the TTSN superfamily. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐tagged full‐length mouse DENTT transfected into COS‐7 cells showed localization predominantly in the nucleolus. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction amplification, Northern hybridization, and Western blot analyses showed expression of mouse DENTT mRNA and protein throughout mouse embryogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining analysis showed that DENTT is expressed in multiple tissues in a defined spatiotemporal pattern during mouse embryogenesis. The heart and primitive brain were the first organs of the embryo that showed immunoreactivity for the DENTT antibody by day 8 of development (E8). In the developing mouse brain, the choroid plexus was intensely stained for DENTT in all stages of development. The spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia were also positive for DENTT staining beginning in the 11‐day‐old embryo (E11), where homogeneous immunostaining was observed throughout the developing neurons. By day 16 of development (E16), only a small subset of the neuronal population in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia was positively stained for DENTT. DENTT immunoreactivity increased steadily with maturation as the differentiation of cartilage and osteoblasts proceeded and reached a maximum in the growth plate during endochondral ossification. DENTT expression was also detected in multiple rodent cell types in vitro, including mouse F9 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. Addition of retinoic acid or sodium butyrate to F9 EC cells showed a rapid decrease in expression of DENTT protein occurring by 1 hr that continued to decrease to almost undetectable levels after 24 hr. Cotransfection of full‐length mouse DENTT expression plasmid with 3TPLux or COL7A1Luc Luciferase reporter plasmids into F9 EC cells significantly increased the level of 3TPLux reporter transcription while decreasing the level of COL7A1Luc reporter transcription, suggesting that DENTT may play multiple roles in modulating transcriptional responses. These findings suggest new roles for the TTSN superfamily during embryogenesis and differentiation Developmental Dynamics, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An MΨ-Containing Heterologous RNA, but Notenv mRNA, Is Efficiently Packaged into Avian Retroviral Particles

ABSTRACT Retroviruses preferentially package full-length genomic RNA over spliced viral messages. For most retroviruses, this preference is likely due to the absence of all or part of the packaging signal on subgenomic RNAs. In avian leukosis-sarcoma virus, however, we have shown that the minimal packaging signal, MΨ, is located upstream of the 5′ splice site and therefore is present on both genomic and spliced RNAs. We now show that an MΨ-containing heterologous RNA is packaged only 2.6-fold less efficiently than genomic Rous sarcoma virus RNA. Thus, few additional packaging sequences and/or structures exist outside of MΨ. In contrast, we found that env mRNA is not efficiently packaged. These results indicate that either MΨ is not functional on this RNA or the RNA is somehow segregated from the packaging machinery. Finally, deletion of sequences from the 3′ end of MΨ was found to reduce the packaging efficiency of heterologous RNAs.
HIV prevention for people with serious mental illness: a survey of mental health workers' attitudes, knowledge and practice.

AIM The aim of this survey was to investigate the attitudes, knowledge and reported practice (capabilities) of mental health workers concerning human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases in people with serious mental illness. BACKGROUND People with serious mental illness are at increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Mental health workers have a key role to play in promoting sexual health in this population, but it is unclear how they perceive their role in this work and whether they have the capabilities to deliver sexual health promotion. DESIGN Cross sectional survey. METHODS A questionnaire was devised and distributed to 650 mental health workers working in a London (UK) NHS mental health service. RESULTS A response rate of 44% was achieved. Overall, workers reported positive attitudes to sexual health promotion and were knowledgeable about risk behaviours and risk factors for HIV infection. Adherence to glove wearing was good. However, participants' knowledge about HIV/AIDS in people with schizophrenia was poor and most reported they were not engaged in sexual health promotion activities with people with serious mental illness. Glove wearing was predicted by those who had drug and alcohol training and clinical experience and knowledge of risk factors was predicted by previous health promotion training. No other demographic factors predicted any of the other subscales. CONCLUSION Mental health workers require training to provide skills for health promotion regarding sexual health and HIV in people with serious mental health problems. In addition, there needs to be more research on risk behaviours. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The development of effective interventions to reduce this behaviour.
Obligate Role of Anti-Apoptotic MCL-1 in the Survival of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Apoptosis is important in controlling hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) numbers. However, the specific BCL-2 family member(s) that regulate HSC homeostasis are not precisely defined. We tested myeloid leukemia–1 (MCL-1) as an attractive candidate that is highly expressed in HSCs and regulated by growth factor signals. Inducible deletion of Mcl-1 in mice resulted in ablation of bone marrow. This resulted in the loss of early bone marrow progenitor populations, including HSCs. Moreover, growth factors including stem cell factor increased transcription of the Mcl-1 gene and required MCL-1 to augment survival of purified bone marrow progenitors. Deletion of Mcl-1 in other tissues, including liver, did not impair survival. Thus, MCL-1 is a critical and specific regulator essential for ensuring the homeostasis of early hematopoietic progenitors.
The Regulatory and Operational Framework of Microfinance Banks on Consumers in Nigeria: An Appraisal

Robust economic growth cannot be achieved without putting in place well focused programmes to reduce poverty through empowering the people by increasing their access to factors of production, especially credit. In line with this reasoning therefore, it is no mere coincidence that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced Nigeria‘s first Microfinance Policy Framework in December 2005, barely three months after the United Nations General Assembly adopted 2005 1 as the International Year of Microcredit to ―address the constraints that exclude people from full participation in the financial sector‖. 2 The rationale was that no robust, people-based growth can be achieved without increasing the access of micro-enterprises and the economically active but poor citizens to factors of production, especially financial services to empower them.
Phenobarbitone versus phenytoin monotherapy for partial onset seizures and generalised onset tonic-clonic seizures.

BACKGROUND This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in The Cochrane Library 2001, Issue 4.Worldwide, particularly in the developing world, phenytoin and phenobarbitone are commonly used antiepileptic drugs, primarily because they are inexpensive. The aim of this review is to summarise data from existing trials comparing phenytoin and phenobarbitone. OBJECTIVES To review the best evidence comparing phenobarbitone and phenytoin when used as monotherapy in participants with partial onset seizures or generalised tonic-clonic seizures with or without other generalised seizure types. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group trials register (31 May 2012), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL Issue 5 of 12, The Cochrane Library 2012) and MEDLINE (1946 to May week 4, 2012). We hand-searched relevant journals, contacted pharmaceutical companies, original trial investigators and experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials in children or adults with partial onset seizures or generalised onset tonic-clonic seizures with a comparison of phenobarbitone monotherapy with phenytoin monotherapy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS This was an individual participant data (IPD) review. Outcomes were time to (a) treatment withdrawal (b) 12-month remission (c) six-month remission and (d) first seizure post randomisation. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to obtain study-specific estimates of hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with the generic inverse variance method used to obtain the overall pooled estimate of HRs and 95% CIs. MAIN RESULTS Data have been obtained for four of eight studies meeting the inclusion criteria, amounting to 599 individuals, or approximately 63% of the potential data.The main overall results (pooled HR, 95% CI) were (a) time to treatment withdrawal 1.62 (1.23 to 2.14); (b) time to 12-month remission 0.90 (0.69 to 1.18) (c) time to six-month remission 0.92 (0.73 to 1.16) and (d) time to first seizure 0.85 (0.68 to 1.05). These results indicate a statistically significant clinical advantage for phenytoin in terms of treatment withdrawal. However, this result may have been confounded by several factors including substantial statistical heterogeneity between studies and lack of blinding in two studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The results of this review show that phenobarbitone was significantly more likely to be withdrawn than phenytoin. Given that no significant differences for seizure outcomes were found, the higher withdrawal rate with phenobarbitone may be due to adverse effects. Several factors may have confounded the results of this review.
Effect of chronic treatment with losartan on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Treatment of rats with streptozotocin (STZ, 45mg/kg, i.v.,single dose) produced cardinal symptoms of diabetes mellitus including hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia and increase in blood pressure. Treatment with losartan--an angiotensin (AT1) receptor antagonist, 2 mg/kg, po for 6 weeks decreased the blood glucose levels by 16.5%. There was 190% increase in AUCglucose and 59.4% decrease in AUCinsulin in STZ-diabetic rats as compared to control rats. Treatment with losartan caused slight decrease in AUCglucose and slight increase in AUCinsulin. There was no significant difference in insulin sensitivity (K(ITT)) index of STZ-diabetic group as compared to control. Losartan treatment failed to alter these levels significantly. Serum cholesterol and creatinine levels were found to be increased significantly in STZ-diabetic rats. Treatment with losartan significantly prevented the rise in cholesterol and creatinine levels by 20.1 and 81% respectively. The results suggest that losartan produces some beneficial effects in STZ-diabetic rats.