Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Speed Dating Sessions to Foster Collaboration in Continuing Interdisciplinary Education

Introduction: There are numerous examples of care gaps that could be reduced through enhanced knowledge exchange and practice collaboration between medical specialist physicians. In this paper, we report preliminary results on using speed‐dating sessions (SDSs) to stimulate the development of continuing interdisciplinary education (CIDE) activities. Methods: In 2007, a 35‐minute SDS was carried out during a 2‐hour faculty development workshop to provide continuing medical education (CME) directors of Quebec's 35 medical specialist associations with a formal opportunity to quickly share clinical issues and goals. A post‐workshop survey was used to assess participants' satisfaction and whether they had met new colleagues, learned about interdisciplinary issues, and discovered opportunities for collaboration. CME accreditation files were audited to assess the occurrence of CIDE activities in the year prior and the 2 years that followed the workshop. CME directors were called to assess whether the development of these activities was directly attributable to their participation in the SDS. Results: CME directors of 26 specialist physician associations attended the faculty development workshop. The vast majority of survey respondents (n = 18/20) were satisfied with the SDS and believed that this method was a stimulating and efficient way to meet new colleagues, quickly share clinical issues and goals, learn about unexpected but important interdisciplinary issues, and identify opportunities for CIDE collaboration. Sixty percent (12/20) reported having identified at least 1 opportunity for collaboration that was worth pursuing in the near future, and 19% of attending CME directors (5/26) developed a CIDE activity within 2 years, as compared with none in the previous year and for the 9 nonparticipating associations. Discussion: Results suggest that SDSs enhanced networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration in continuing education among CME providers who participated in a faculty development activity on CIDE.
Loss of heterozygosity analysis at the BRCA loci in tumor samples from patients with familial breast cancer

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for a high proportion of familial breast cancer; germline mutations in these genes confer a lifetime risk of about 70% for developing breast cancer. Most of the described deleterious mutations are small deletions or insertions that originate a truncated protein; however, in many cases, they are amino acid changes whose significance is unknown. In these cases, there are some tests that can analyze the meaning of these variants, but most remain unclassified. The BRCA genes are tumor supressors and it is beleived that complete loss of the wild‐type allele is a common mechanism of inactivation in tumors from patients carrying a germline deleterious mutation in these genes; if this is true, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis in the tumor sample could help to distinguish if a rare variant is either a deleterious mutation or a common polymorphism. In the present study, we performed LOH analysis at the BRCA loci in 47 tumors from patients who belonged to high‐risk breast cancer families and were carriers of any type of alteration in these genes. Our results suggest that (i) loss of the wild‐type allele is the most common mechanism of inactivation in tumors from patients who carry a deleterious mutation in any of the genes, (ii) this loss is not common when we analyze familial tumors not associated with mutations in BRCA and (iii) LOH can be used to clarify variants of unknown significance in the BRCA genes. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[Studies on the resources survey methods of Panax notogingseng based on remote sensing].

OBJECTIVE To explore the survey methods for the cultivated medicinal plant resources such as Panax notogingseng based on remote sensing. METHOD Through the preliminary study by remote sensing technique and field survey in the study area, the optimal methods in the procedure were chosen for the survey. RESULT In this study,a set of survey method for P. notogingseng based on remote sensing technique was founded, which included the remotely sensed data-source selecting, the remote sensing image processing, interpretation and validation etc. CONCLUSION With different resolution remotely-sensing data at the study area, the area, the natural storage and the yield of P. notoginseng were calculated. For Maguan county, with SPOT5 (5 m), the relative right rate of judgement, the relative precision of area and the relative precision of yield with statistics was 92.7%, 94.4% and 78.2% separately, and with TM (30 m), the relative right rate of judgement, the relative precision of area was only 71.4% and 58.8%, though, for Qiubei county, with TM (30 m), the relative precision of area with statistics could reach 74.7%, which showed that choosing appropriate remotely-sensing data and processing methods for different area, the remote sensing technique is feasible for resource survey of cultivated medicinal plants such as P. notoginseng.
A novel approach for the identification of chronic alcohol users from ECG signals

Several medical studies reveal that alcohol consumption has pronounced effects on the heart rate variability (HRV) of the consumer. In this paper, machine learning algorithms use the features extracted through HRV analysis performed on ECG samples of chronic alcohol users and normative subjects, in order to classify them. To carry out the classification, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) and an Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) have been trained, and their performance has been compared. While time domain, frequency domain and non-linear features are generally extracted from ECG signals for HRV analysis, in this study a new set of features obtained from Autoregressive Modelling using Exogenous (ARX) Inputs have also been used to improve the accuracy of the algorithms. An accuracy of 80.36% and 89.29% was achieved by SVM and ELM respectively without the use of ARX coefficients, while an accuracy of 87.50% and 94.64% was achieved when ARX coefficients were included in the feature set. The use of ARX coefficients and the ELM classifier is the novelty of this paper, which helped in increasing the accuracy of the classification system.
Performance impacts and limitations of hardware memory access trace collection

In today's multicore architectures, complex interactions between applications in the memory system can have a significant and highly variable impact on application execution time. System designers typically use hardware counters to profile execution behaviours and diagnose performance problems. However, hardware counters are not always sufficient and some problems are best identified with full memory access traces. Collecting these traces in software is very expensive; our work explores using dedicated hardware for memory-access trace collection. We analyze the limitations of this approach and its impacts on application performance. Our study is performed on actual hardware using two very different CPU platforms: 1) the PolyBlaze multicore soft processor and 2) the ARM Cortex-A9. In both cases, the data collection is implemented on an FPGA. Using micro-benchmarks designed to test the bounds of memory access behaviour, we illustrate the operational regions of data collection and the impact on system performance. By examining the bandwidth bottlenecks that limit the rate of data collection, as well as hardware architecture choices that can aggravate the impact on application performance, we provide guidelines that can be used to extrapolate our analysis to other systems and processor architectures.
Identification of a mouse B‐type cyclin which exhibits developmentally regulated expression in the germ line

To begin to examine the function of cyclins in mammalian germ cells, we have screened an adult mouse testis cDNA library for the presence of B‐type cyclins. We have isolated cDNAs that encode a murine B‐type cyclin, which has been designated cycB1. cycB1 was shown to be expressed in several adult tissues and in the midgestation mouse embryo. In the adult tissues, the highest levels of cycB1 transcripts were seen in the testis and ovary, which contain germ cells at various stages of differentiation. The major transcripts corresponding to cycB1 are 1.7 and 2.5 kb, with the 1.7 kb species being the predominant testicular transcript and the 2.5 kb species more abundant in the ovary. Examination of cDNAs corresponding to the 2.5 kb and 1.7 kb mRNAs revealed that these transcripts encode identical proteins, differing only in the polyadenylation signal used and therefore in the length of their 3′ untranslated regions. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses revealed that the predominant sites of cycB1 expression in the testis and ovary were in the germinal compartment, particularly in early round spermatids in the testis and growing oocytes in the ovary. Thus cycB1 is expressed in both meiotic and postmeiotic cells. This pattern of cycB1 expression further suggests that cycB1 may have different functions in the two cell types, only one of which correlates with progression of the cell cycle. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of a candidate Borrelia burgdorferiβ3‐chain integrin ligand identified using a phage display library

The spirochaetal agents of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) bind to integrins αIIbβ3, αvβ3 and α5β1 in purified form and on the surfaces of human cells. Using a phage display library of B. burgdorferi (sensu stricto) DNA, a candidate ligand for β3‐chain integrins was identified. The native B. burgdorferi protein, termed p66, is known to be recognized by human Lyme disease patient sera and to be expressed on the surface of the spirochaete. We show here that recombinant p66 binds specifically to β3‐chain integrins and inhibits attachment of intact B. burgdorferi to the same integrins. When expressed on the surface of Escherichia coli, this protein increases the attachment of E. coli to a transfected cell line that expresses αvβ3, but not to the parental cell line, which expresses no β3‐chain integrins. Localization of p66 on the surface of B. burgdorferi, the ability of recombinant forms of the protein to bind to β3‐chain integrins and the fact that p66 and B. burgdorferi bind to β3‐chain integrins in a mutually exclusive manner make p66 an attractive candidate bacterial ligand for integrins αIIbβ3 and αvβ3.
307-bp fragment in HOXA7 upstream sequence is sufficient for anterior boundary formation.

The HOX genes are expressed in a positionally and temporally restricted manner involving anteroposterior axial pattern formation during early embryogenesis. Previously, we studied the sequence and function of an upstream regulatory region of the human HOXA7 gene. To identify a critical cis-acting element, a deletion analysis was performed along the human control region (HCR) (about 1.1 kb), which was sufficient for setting the anterior boundary of expression in transgenic mice. We demonstrated that a 307-bp control region contains a cis-acting element(s) specifying an anterior boundary as well as a dorsal-ventral restriction in the neural tube at day 12.5 postconception (p.c.). The distinct anterior limit of expression was noted at the level of C7/T1 in the neural tube and spinal ganglia. In addition, our deletion experiments revealed that the HCR consisted of several cis-acting elements which were individually capable of driving regionally restricted expression patterns in the neural tube and limb buds.
Rapid detection of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus sp. in herbal specimens by a simple, bendable, paper‐based lab‐on‐a‐chip

Postharvest herbal product contamination with mycotoxins and mycotoxin‐producing fungi represents a potentially carcinogenic hazard. Aspergillus flavus is a major cause of this issue. Available mold detection methods are PCR‐based and rely heavily on laboratories; thus, they are unsuitable for on‐site monitoring. In this study, a bendable, paper‐based lab‐on‐a‐chip platform was developed to rapidly detect toxigenic Aspergillus spp. DNA. The 3.0‐4.0 cm2 chip is fabricated using Whatman™ filter paper, fishing line and a simple plastic lamination process and has nucleic acid amplification and signal detection components. The Aspergillus assay specifically amplifies the aflatoxin biosynthesis gene, aflR, using loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP); hybridization between target DNA and probes on blue silvernanoplates (AgNPls) yields colorimetric results. Positive results are indicated by the detection pad appearing blue due to dispersed blue AgNPls; negative results are indicated by the detection pad appearing colorless or pale yellow due to probe/target DNA hybridization and AgNPls aggregation. Assay completion requires less than 40 min, has a limit of detection (LOD) of 100 aflR copies, and has high specificity (94.47%)and sensitivity (100%). Contamination was identified in 14 of 32 herbal samples tested (43.75%). This work demonstrates the fabrication of a simple, low‐cost, paper‐based lab‐on‐a‐chip platform suitable for rapid‐detection applications.
Estimating Methylmercury Intake for the General Population of South Korea Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling

The Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS 2009-2011) tracks levels of environmental pollutants in biological samples from the adult Korean population (age 19-88). Recent survey results for blood mercury (Hg) suggest some exceedance above existing blood Hg reference levels. Because total blood Hg represents both organic and inorganic forms, and methylmercury (MeHg) has been specifically linked to several adverse health outcomes, a need exists to quantify MeHg intake for this population. Gender, age, and frequency of fish consumption were first identified as important predictors of KoNEHS blood Hg levels using generalized linear models. Stratified distributions of total blood Hg were then used to estimate distributions of blood MeHg using fractions of MeHg to total Hg from the literature. Next, a published physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was used to predict distributions of blood MeHg as a function of MeHg intake; ratios of MeHg intake to model-predicted blood MeHg were then combined with KoNEHS-based blood MeHg values to produce MeHg intake estimates. These intake estimates were ultimately compared with the Reference Dose (RfD) for MeHg (0.1 µg/kg/day) and reported as margin of exposure (MOE) estimates for specific KoNEHS subgroups. The derived MOEs across all subgroups, based on estimated geometric mean intake, ranged from 1.6 to 4.1. These results suggest MeHg exposures approaching the RfD for several subgroups of the Korean population, and not just for specific subgroups (eg, those who eat fish very frequently).
Influence of Pelvic Position on Radiographic Measurements of the Prosthetic Acetabular Component; An Experimental Study on a Pelvic Model

A change in the position of a prosthetic acetabular component between two different radiographic examinations indicates loosening, and may be observed as tilting or migration of the socket. To determine the apparent changes in socket position caused by improper positioning of the pelvis, a full-scale model of a pelvis with attached prosthetic sockets was examined radiographically in different positions. The projected alignment of the Charnley socket indicator wire against the inter-tuberosity line was markedly influenced by the positioning of the pelvis. An alternative way of measuring the alignment is to use the long axis of the projected ellipse of the outer circumferential groove in the socket polyethylene. The thus defined socket alignment was not influenced by the positioning of the pelvis within the investigated range. No apparent socket migration was recorded within the range of pelvic rotation and inclination studied.
Microbacterium rhizomatis sp. nov., a β-glucosidase-producing bacterium isolated from rhizome of Korean mountain ginseng.

A novel Gram-staining-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated DCY100(T), was isolated from rhizome of mountain ginseng root in Hwacheon mountain, Gangwon province, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain DCY100(T) belonged to the genus Microbacterium and was most closely related to Microbacterium ginsengisoli KCTC 19189(T) (97.9%), Microbacterium lacus JCM 15575(T) (97.2%) and Microbacterium invictum DSM 19600(T) (97.1%). The major menaquinones were MK-11 and MK-12. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids (>10.0%) were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained the amino acids ornithine, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine; whole-cell sugars consisted of glucose, galactose, rhamnose and ribose. The DNA G+C content was 63.6 ± 0.7 mol%. The DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain DCY100(T) and Microbacterium ginsengisoli KCTC 19189(T), Microbacterium lacus JCM 15575(T) and Microbacterium invictum DSM 19600(T) were 36.2 ± 0.4, 22.0 ± 3.0 and 15.3 ± 1.8%, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses, the isolate is classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium rhizomatis DCY100(T) is proposed. The type strain is DCY100(T) ( = KCTC 39529(T) = JCM 30598(T)).
Living Donation Decision Making: Recipients' Concerns and Educational Needs

Context Despite the advantages of living donor transplantation, evidence suggests that some potential recipients with living donors have psychological concerns that prevent them from pursuing living donation. Addressing these concerns through education may increase the rates of living donation. Objective To understand the psychological barriers and educational needs of potential kidney recipients regarding living donation. Subjects and Design Qualitative focus group study of kidney transplant recipients, donors, and family members to explore their assessment of the advantages of dialysis and deceased donor transplantation over living donation, their concerns about living donation, and what types of living donation education would be most helpful. Results Kidney recipients reported that they might not pursue living donation because they felt guilty and indebted to the donor, did not want to harm or inconvenience the donor, did not want to accept a kidney that a family member might need later, and did not want to disappoint the donor if the kidney failed. Recipients were generally unaware that donors could personally benefit from donating and would rather wait for donor volunteers than ask anyone directly. Both donors and recipients thought that training on how to make the donation request and education about living donors' motivations for donation and transplant experience could help more renal patients pursue living donation.
Molecular signatures for members of the genus Dehalococcoides and the class Dehalococcoidia.

The bacteria belonging to the class Dehalococcoidia, due to their ability to dehalogenate chlorinated compounds, are of much interest for bioremediation of contaminated sites. We report here comparative analyses on different genes/proteins from the genomes of members of the class Dehalococcoidia. These studies have identified numerous novel molecular markers in the forms of conserved signature indels (CSIs) in broadly distributed proteins and conserved signature genes/proteins (CSPs), which are uniquely found in members of the class Dehalococcoidia, but except for an isolated exception, they are not found in other sequenced bacterial genomes. Of these molecular markers, nine CSIs in divergent proteins and 19 CSPs are specific for members of the genera Dehalococcoides and Dehalogenimonas, providing potential molecular markers for the bacterial class Dehalococcoidia. Additionally, four CSIs in divergent proteins and 28 CSPs are only found in all members of the genus Dehalococcoides for which genome sequences are available, but they are absent in Dehalogenimonas lykanthroporepellens and in other bacteria. The gene sequences of several of these CSPs exhibiting specificity for the genus Dehalococcoides or the class Dehalococcoidia are highly conserved and PCR primers based upon them provide a novel means for identification of other related bacteria. Two other CSIs identified in this study in the SecD and aspartate carbomyltransferase proteins weakly support an affiliation of the class Dehalococcoidia with the other members of the phylum Chloroflexi.
General effect of low-dose tamsulosin (0.2 mg) as a first-line treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose: In Asian countries, low-dose tamsulosin (0.2 mg) is used widely but this dose has been less popular than 0.4 mg tamsulosin or other types of alpha blockers. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose tamsulosin by systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of improvements of lower urinary tract symptoms using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-voided residual volume (PVR), and quality of life (QOL). Relevant studies were found using MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane library. Final inclusion was determined by randomized controlled trials (RCT) and performance of IPSS. Results: A total of fourteen studies were included, with a total sample size of 2147 subjects (1044 experimental and 1103 controls). Study durations ranged from 4 to 52 weeks. The mean change of IPSS improvement from baseline for tamsulosin was −7.18 (95% CI: −7.83, −6.54). The mean change of QOL improvement from baseline was −1.34 (95% CI: −1.46, −1.22). The overall Qmax improvement from baseline was 2.32 ml/sec (95% CI: 1.95, 2.70). The mean change of PVR improvement from baseline was −11.12 ml (95% CI: −17.61, −4.64). Regarding safety, four studies did not report any adverse events while others reported that adverse events were all tolerated. Conclusions: Although this study did not consider placebo effect and has high IPSS baseline scores, this study clarifies that low-dose tamsulosin has generally positive effect and safety in treatment of LUTS and could be a suitable option as an initial treatment, especially for patients with low body mass index, as is typical of Asian people.
Chronic unpredictable stress alters gene expression in rat single dentate granule cells

The rat adrenal hormone corticosterone binds to low and high affinity receptors, discretely localized in brain, including the dentate gyrus. Differential activation of the two receptor types under physiological conditions alters gene expression and functional characteristics of hippocampal neurones. In the present study we examined gene expression of electrophysiologically identified dentate granule cells, 1 day after 21 days of unpredictable stress or control treatment, both under basal corticosteroid conditions and after brief in vitro exposure to a high dose of corticosterone. From each cell, RNA was collected, linearly amplified and hybridized with cDNA clones for three calcium channel subunits, four NMDA, two AMPA and 11 GABA receptor subunits. We found that gene expression was not extensively changed after chronic stress when neurones were studied under basal corticosteroid conditions. However, combined with acute exposure to a high corticosterone dose, relative expression of eight transcripts was significantly altered, including a consistent up‐regulation of GABAa receptor α1 and down‐regulation of calcium channel α1A and α1G subunit expression. If translated to the protein level, this may result in more transient GABAa receptor mediated responses and less transient calcium influx. This could contribute to enhanced excitability and vulnerability of granule cells after chronic stress.