Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Communication during Brief Intervention, Intention to Change, and Outcome

Objectives To explore the relationship between patient's intention to change regarding future alcohol consumption following brief alcohol intervention (BAI) and changes in alcohol consumption 12-months later and the communication characteristics between patient and counselor during BAI. Design, Setting and Subjects Data from 367 patients (experimental arm) of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial were used to assess the effectiveness of BAI among hazardous drinkers attending an Emergency Department (Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland). Alcohol outcome measures at baseline and 12 months follow-up included usual number of drinks per week, monthly frequency of heavy episodic drinking (5 or more standard drinks for men; 4 or more for women), and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score. In addition, the communication characteristics between patient and counselor were analyzed via tape recordings using the Motivational Interviewing Skill Code (MISC) from 97 participants. Patient readiness and importance to change on a 10-point Likert scale (readiness/importance to change ruler) was asked during BAI, and patient intention to change alcohol consumption (yes/no) was asked at the last step. Differences in alcohol outcome at follow-up between the 367 patients who did or did not have an intention to change consumption at baseline were compared, as were differences between these two groups in communication characteristics for the 97 who completed tape recordings. Results Patients with an intention to decrease alcohol consumption reduced alcohol use and related problems more often, and reported higher levels of importance and readiness to change than did their counterparts. Analyses of MISC-coded data showed a significantly higher use of MI-consistent skills among those with a moderation intention, but no group differences on the 8 other counselor communication skills measures were found. Analyses of patient speech during the intervention indicated that those with an intention to change their alcohol consumption significantly more often self-explored personal ambivalence towards alcohol, expressed more intensely their ability, commitment, desire, need and reason to change their alcohol use than did those in the no decrease group. Conclusions The intention expressed by hazardous drinkers when concluding BAI is associated with both patient change talk during BAI and drinking outcome 12 months later, but is mainly independent of counselor communication skills. This intention may be an important clinical indicator of which hazardous drinkers are most likely to improve after BAI.
Antiribosomal P antibodies in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and psychosis.

OBJECTIVE To study antibodies directed against ribosomal P proteins, a sensitive and specific marker of depression and psychosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in pediatric patients with SLE. METHODS One hundred six serum samples were obtained from 79 patients with SLE. Sixty age- and sex-matched control sera were obtained, and 12 samples were obtained from children with primary psychosis. Antibodies to recombinant ribosomal P (rRP) protein were detected using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS All 12 children with non-SLE-associated psychosis had normal levels of anti-rRP antibodies. Elevated levels of anti-rRP were found in 11 of 64 pediatric SLE patients without a history of psychosis (17%). In the group of 13 SLE patients with psychosis, 5 (38%) had increased anti-rRP antibody levels during the time of acute psychosis, and which significantly decreased during remission. In addition, most of the SLE patients without a history of psychosis had a good correlation between anti-rRP antibody levels and disease activity. The patients with psychosis had significantly less renal involvement than the patients without a history of psychosis. This apparent protection from renal disease was not related to the presence or absence of either antiribosomal P or anti-DNA antibodies. CONCLUSION Elevated serum levels of antibodies to ribosomal P protein can distinguish SLE-associated psychosis from primary psychosis of childhood. In SLE, elevated antiribosomal P antibody levels were not specific for psychosis. Serial assays were useful for monitoring the disease activity.
Precise interference estimation for the uplink of LTE heterogeneous networks

Link adaptation mechanism is introduced in long term evolution (LTE) networks. With link adaptation, a base station (BS) selects a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for each transmission based on signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) estimation of the link. In the uplink, MCS is selected in advance of actual data transmission, which means a BS need to predict the SINR level. However, interference level may change drastically along with time as different sets of user equipments (UE) can be scheduled in neighbor cells every ms. The fluctuation of interference level poses serious challenge to SINR prediction and the effectiveness of link adaptation, especially for heterogeneous networks (HetNet). To solve the problem it has been proposed to exchange resource allocation information among neighbor BSs via backhaul so that the interference level can be predictable. However, such schemes are sensitive to backhaul delays. In this paper, a novel technique, i.e. precise interference estimation (PIE), is proposed to enhance the efficiency of link adaptation. The proposed scheme doesn't rely on backhaul for resource allocation information exchanging. Extensive system level simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme and significant gains can be observed.
Models of Metal Binding Structures in Fulvic Acid from the Suwannee River, Georgia

Fulvic acid, isolated from the Suwannee River, Georgia, was assessed for its ability to bind Ca2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ ions at pH 6 before and after extensive fractionation that was designed to reveal the nature of metal binding functional groups. The binding constant for Ca2+ ion had the greatest increase of all the ions in a metal binding fraction that was selected for intensive characterization for the purpose of building quantitative average model structures. The “metal binding” fraction was characterized by quantitative 13C NMR, 1H NMR, and FT−IR spectrometry and elemental, titrimetric, and molecular weight determinations. The characterization data revealed that carboxyl groups were clustered in short-chain aliphatic dibasic acid structures. The Ca2+ binding data suggested that ether-substituted oxysuccinic acid structures are good models for the metal binding sites at pH 6. Structural models were derived based upon oxidation and photolytic rearrangements of cutin, lignin, and tannin precursor.
Adhesion and immunomodulatory effects of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on intestinal epithelial cells INT-407.

AIM To elucidate the adherence and immunomodulatory properties of a probiotic strain Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) HN019. METHODS Adhesion assays of B. lactis HN019 and Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) ATCC 14028 to INT-407 cells were carried out by detecting copies of species-specific genes with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Morphological study was further conducted by transmission electron microscopy. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene expression were assessed while enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect IL-8 protein secretion. RESULTS The attachment of S. typhimurium ATCC 14028 to INT407 intestinal epithelial cells was inhibited significantly by B. lactis HN019. B. lactis HN019 could be internalized into the INT-407 cells and attenuated IL-8 mRNA level at both baseline and S. typhimurium-induced pro-inflammatory responses. IL-8 secretion was reduced while IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA expression level remained unchanged at baseline after treated with B. lactis HN019. CONCLUSION B. lactis HN019 does not up-regulate the intestinal epithelium expressed pro-inflammatory cytokine, it showed the potential to protect enterocytes from an acute inflammatory response induced by enteropathogen.
Stability and Electronic Properties of Nitrogen Nanoneedles and Nanotubes

The electronic structures and stability of nitrogen nanostructures, nanotubes, and fiberlike nanoneedles of various diameters, formed by units N2m (m = 2-6), were studied by quantum chemistry computational modeling methods. The geometrical structures with various cross-sections and terminal units, their energetic stability, and their rather peculiar electron density distributions were investigated. The tightest nitrogen nanoneedle (NNN) studied theoretically in this work is the structure (N4n with D2h symmetry, whereas the nitrogen nanotube (NNT) with the largest diameter discussed here is the structure (N12)n with D2 symmetry. These families of NNNs and NNTs can be considered as nanostructures not only for potential applications as devices in nanotechnology or as possible scaffold structures but also as ligands in synthetic chemistry and high-energy density materials (HEDMs). As a consequence of the lone-pair electrons present around the walls of these NNNs and NNTs, these nitrogen nanostructures and the nitrogen nano-bundles (NNB) formed by aligning and combining them using intermediate carbon atoms, can have highly variable electronic properties controlled by the changing charge environment. In particular, for extended systems based on the units studied here, the band gaps of each of these systems can be affected greatly by the local charge of the environment.
A microfluidic‐based system for analysis of single cells based on Ca2+ flux

A microfluidic format‐based system has been developed for in situ monitoring of the calcium flux response to agonists using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The assay is based on measuring the fluorescent intensity of the calcium‐sensitive indicator, Fluo‐4 AM, and was performed in a modified glass chip channel, whose surface was functionalised using a silanisation method with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) (enabling the cells to be immobilised on the channel surface). CHO cells calcium flux response was measured for different agonists over a range of concentrations. Cells and reagents were introduced into the chip in a continuous flow as a series of plugs in a given sequence.
Temporal Variation and Host Association in the Campylobacter Population in a Longitudinal Ruminant Farm Study

ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli were quantified and typed, using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), from fecal samples collected from a mixed cattle and sheep farm during summer. Cattle had a significantly higher prevalence than sheep (21.9% [74/338] and 14.0% [30/214], respectively), but both decreased over time. There were no differences in the average Campylobacter concentrations shed by cattle (600 CFU g−1) and sheep (820 CFU g−1), although sheep did show a significant temporal reduction in the number of Campylobacter organisms shed in their feces. A total of 21 different sequence types (STs) (97.7% C. jejuni, 2.3% C. coli) were isolated from cattle, and 9 different STs were isolated from sheep (40.6% C. jejuni, 59.4% C. coli). The Campylobacter population in cattle was relatively stable, and the frequencies of genotypes isolated showed little temporal variation. However, the composition of subtypes isolated from sheep did show significant temporal differences. The cattle and sheep consistently showed significant differences in their carriage of Campylobacter species, STs, and CCs despite the fact that both were exposed to the same farming environment. This work has highlighted the patterns of a Campylobacter population on a ruminant farm by identifying the existence of both temporal and between-host variations.
Venous thromboembolism during hip plaster cast immobilisation: review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION There is a paucity of data regarding the risk of deep vein thrombosis during hip plaster cast immobilisation. The purpose of this article was to review the available evidence regarding the incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) during hip plaster cast immobilisation. METHODS AND MATERIALS All papers describing hip plaster cast immobilisation published in the English literature retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane database were reviewed. Articles regarding children, hip dysplasia, congenital hip dislocation and Legg-Calvé-Perthes were excluded. A total of three papers were available for analysis. We also describe a case of pulmonary embolism during hip cast immobilisation. RESULTS The overall incidence of symptomatic VTE during hip plaster cast immobilisation was 0% in 343 patients. The incidence of symptomatic VTE in hip cast brace was 2.3% (range 0-3%). DISCUSSION Our systematic review of the literature showed a paucity of data regarding the incidence of VTE during hip plaster cast immobilisation. We describe the first case of pulmonary embolism during hip plaster cast immobilisation. We recommend that patients who are fitted with a hip plaster cast should be routinely screened for additional risk factors. When risk factors are present, patients should be considered for pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.
Effects of Salinity on Water Transport of Excised Maize (Zea mays L.) Roots.

The root pressure probe was used to determine the effects of salinity on the hydraulic properties of primary roots of maize (Zea mays L. cv Halamish). Maize seedlings were grown in nutrient solutions modified by additions of NaCl and/or extra CaCl(2) so that the seedlings received one of four treatments: Control, plus 100 millimolar NaCl, plus 10 millimolar CaCl(2), plus 100 millimolar NaCl plus 10 millimolar CaCl(2). The hydraulic conductivities (Lp(r)) of primary root segments were determined by applying gradients of hydrostatic and osmotic pressure across the root cylinder. Exosmotic hydrostatic Lp(r) for the different treatments were 2.8, 1.7, 2.8, and 3.4. 10(-7) meters per second per megapascals and the endosmotic hydrostatic Lp(r) were 2.4, 1.5, 2.7, and 2.3. 10(-7) meters per second per megapascals, respectively. Exosmotic Lp(r) of the osmotic experiments were 0.55, 0.38, 0.68, and 0.60. 10(-7) meters per second per megapascals and the endosmotic Lp(r) were 0.53, 0.21, 0.56, and 0.54. 10(-7) meters per second per megapascals, respectively. The osmotic Lp(r) was significantly smaller (4-5 times) than hydrostatic Lp(r). However, both hydrostatic and osmotic Lp(r) experiments showed that salinization of the growth media at regular (0.5 millimolar) calcium levels decreased the Lp(r) significantly (30-60%). Addition of extra calcium (10 millimolar) to the salinized media caused ameliorative effects on Lp(r). The low Lp(r) values may partially explain the reduction in root growth rates caused by salinity. High calcium levels in the salinized media increased the relative availability of water needed for growth. The mean reflection coefficients of the roots using NaCl were between 0.64 and 0.73 and were not significantly different for the different treatments. The mean values of the root permeability coefficients to NaCl of the different treatments were between 2.2 and 3.5. 10(-9) meters per second and were significantly different only in one of four treatments. Cutting the roots successively from the tip and measuring the changes in the hydraulic resistance of the root as well as staining of root cross-sections obtained at various distances from the root tip revealed that salinized roots had mature xylem elements closer to the tip (5-10 millimeters) compared with the controls (30 millimeters). Our results demonstrate that salinity has adverse effects on water transport and that extra calcium can, in part, compensate for these effects.
Financial development and income inequality in Africa: A panel heterogeneous approach

Although the financial sector of Africa has witnessed massive reforms to enhance its ability to support economic activities, reduce poverty and lower income inequality, Africa remains the poorest region and the second most unequal region in the world after Latin America. Despite these established facts, little empirical research exists on the relationship between financial development and income inequality in Africa. This study investigates the finance-income inequality nexus in a balanced panel of 15 African countries using the Augmented Mean Group estimator to determine if there is a threshold level of financial development or income inequality is related to the sectoral structure of the economy.Overall evidence suggests that the finance-inequality relationship in the sample of African countries studied is non-linear and ranges from an inverted u-shape to a u-shape depending on the measure of financial development. Policies to boost financial development should be preceded by financial inclusion but these policies should be separated. Financial inclusion policies should focus on the quality and suitability of financial products to ensure usage and avoid dominant accounts as well as consumer protection.
Variability of Essential Oils of Betonica officinalis (Lamiaceae) from Different Wild Populations in Kosovo

The aerial parts and roots of Betonica officinalis were collected from three localities characterized by different ecological conditions to study the natural variability of the chemical composition of the essential oils in this plant. The leaves and inflorescences were collected during the flowering time, whereas the roots were collected at the end of the vegetative period. The plant material was dried at room temperature. The essential oils were obtained by micro-steam hydrodistillation and analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Overall, 69 constituents were identified in all localities and plant parts. The main compositions of the leaves in all localities were α-pinene, 1-octen-3-ol, β-bourbonene, (E)-caryophyllene and germacrene D. The essential oil of the inflorescences was characterized by these main constituents: α-pinene, (E)-caryophyllene and trans-β-farnesene. In all localities, the percentages of α-pinene and (E)-caryophyllene were higher in the inflorescences than in the leaves, whereas nonane was the main constituent in the roots.
Thermal Lesions Induced by 480 KHz Localized Current Field in Guinea Pig and Pig Liver

We evaluated the type, dimension and histopathological evolution of thermal lesions induced in guinea pig and pig liver by radiofrequency electrode needles at various temperatures for different exposure times. The greatest useful necrosis volume was induced by a needle of 1.1 mm diameter and exposed tip 10 mm long at 90 °C and 120 seconds exposure time. It was an ellipsoid with the biggest diameter of about 14 mm diameter and length of about 18 mm. It seems possible that liver tumors of not more than 20 mm diameter in patients without surgical prospects could be destroyed, ultrasonography guiding the needle into the tumor and using the temperature and exposure time mentioned above.
Proto-oncogene FBI-1 (Pokemon/ZBTB7A) Represses Transcription of the Tumor Suppressor Rb Gene via Binding Competition with Sp1 and Recruitment of Co-repressors*

FBI-1 (also called Pokemon/ZBTB7A) is a BTB/POZ-domain Krüppel-like zinc-finger transcription factor. Recently, FBI-1 was characterized as a proto-oncogenic protein, which represses tumor suppressor ARF gene transcription. The expression of FBI-1 is increased in many cancer tissues. We found that FBI-1 potently represses transcription of the Rb gene, a tumor suppressor gene important in cell cycle arrest. FBI-1 binds to four GC-rich promoter elements (FREs) located at bp –308 to –188 of the Rb promoter region. The Rb promoter also contains two Sp1 binding sites: GC-box 1 (bp –65 to –56) and GC-box 2 (bp –18 to –9), the latter of which is also bound by FBI-1. We found that FRE3 (bp –244 to –236) is also a Sp1 binding element. FBI-1 represses transcription of the Rb gene not only by binding to the FREs, but also by competing with Sp1 at the GC-box 2 and the FRE3. By binding to the FREs and/or the GC-box, FBI-1 represses transcription of the Rb gene through its POZ-domain, which recruits a co-repressor-histone deacetylase complex and deacetylates histones H3 and H4 at the Rb gene promoter. FBI-1 inhibits C2C12 myoblast cell differentiation by repressing Rb gene expression.
Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations in gliomas

Over the past few years, new biomarkers have allowed a deeper insight into gliomagenesis and facilitated the identification of possible targets for glioma therapy. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and IDH2 mutations have been shown to be promising biomarkers for monitoring disease prognosis and predicting the response to treatment. This review summarizes recent findings in this field. Web of Science, Science Direct, and PubMed online databases were used to search for publications investigating the role of IDH in glioma. References were identified by searching for the keywords “IDH1 or IDH2 and glioma and diagnostic or predictive or prognostic” in papers published from January, 2008, to April, 2014. Only papers in English were reviewed. Publications available only as an abstract were not included. IDH1/2 mutations are tightly associated with grade II and III gliomas and secondary glioblastomas, with better prognosis and production of a recently described oncometabolite, 2‐hydroxyglutarate (2HG). Although the contradictory positive effect of IDH mutation on prognosis and negative role of 2HG in tumor transformation remain unresolved, the future direction of personalized treatment strategies targeted to glioma development is likely to focus on IDH1/2 mutations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TOR and S 6 K 1 promote translation reinitiation of uORF-containing mRNAs via phosphorylation of eIF 3 h

Mammalian target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) triggers S6 kinase (S6K) activation to phosphorylate targets linked to translation in response to energy, nutrients, and hormones. Pathways of TOR activation in plants remain unknown. Here, we uncover the role of the phytohormone auxin in TOR signalling activation and reinitiation after upstream open reading frame (uORF) translation, which in plants is dependent on translation initiation factor eIF3h. We show that auxin triggers TOR activation followed by S6K1 phosphorylation at T449 and efficient loading of uORF-mRNAs onto polysomes in a manner sensitive to the TOR inhibitor Torin-1. Torin-1 mediates recruitment of inactive S6K1 to polysomes, while auxin triggers S6K1 dissociation and recruitment of activated TOR instead. A putative target of TOR/S6K1—eIF3h—is phosphorylated and detected in polysomes in response to auxin. In TOR-deficient plants, polysomes were prebound by inactive S6K1, and loading of uORF-mRNAs and eIF3h was impaired. Transient expression of eIF3h-S178D in plant protoplasts specifically upregulates uORF-mRNA translation. We propose that TOR functions in polysomes to maintain the active S6K1 (and thus eIF3h) phosphorylation status that is critical for translation reinitiation. The EMBO Journal (2013) 32, 1087–1102. doi:10.1038/ emboj.2013. 61; Published online 22 March 2013 Subject Categories: signal transduction; proteins
Comparison of a single-ended class AB, a balance and a Doherty power amplifier

In this work, the three in practice mostly used power amplifiers (PAs), namely the single-ended class AB, the balanced and the Doherty power amplifiers have been implemented for the modern RF mobile telecommunications system in base-station application, using the same LDMOS devices. Excellent performance have been obtained by all the three concepts. Comparing the experimental results, this paper gives an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each individual power amplifier.