Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison Of drrA And drrB Efflux Pump Genes Expression In Drug-Susceptible And -Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains Isolated From Tuberculosis Patients In Iran

Background Among different resistance mechanisms in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), efflux pumps may have a role in drug-resistance property of MTB. So, the aim of this study was to compare the relative overexpression of two important efflux pump genes, drrA and drrB, among MTB isolates from TB patients. Methods A total of 37 clinical isolates of confirmed MTB isolates were analyzed. Drug susceptibility testing (DST) was performed using the conventional proportional method. Real-time semiquantitative PCR profiling of the efflux pump genes of drrA and drrB was performed for clinical isolates. The receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis for differentiation of resistant from susceptible isolates on the basis of efflux pump expression fold changes was also performed. Results According to DST, 16 rifampin (RIF) monoresistant, 3 isoniazid (INH) monoresistant, 5 multidrug-resistant (MDR) and 13 pan-susceptible isolates of MTB were evaluated for gene expression. The highest values of drrA and drrB gene expression fold changes were seen in MDR isolates, which were significant in comparison with susceptible isolates and H37Rv reference strain. By using comparative ROC analysis, the obtained cutoff point for drrA and drrB gene overexpression was the folds of >1.6 and >2.3, respectively. Conclusion The results of the present study confirm the role of DrrA-DrrB efflux pump in antibiotic resistance in clinical MTB isolates. As the large number of efflux pumps are located in the cell envelope of MTB, we cannot correlate a single efflux pump overexpression to the drug-resistance phenotype, unless all the pumps simultaneously investigated.
Avoidance of apoptotic death via a hyperploid salvage survival pathway after platinum treatment in high grade serous carcinoma cell line models

The alkylating agent platinum is first-line chemotherapy treatment for high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSC) of tubal-ovarian origin. Platinum compounds cause DNA damage and induce apoptotic cell death in the bulk tumor population. However, subpopulations of tumor cells may exhibit diverging behaviors from the bulk tumor due to an alternate stress response that diverts tumor cells from apoptotic death. In this study, we identified a salvage survival pathway in which G2-arrested tumor cells bypassed apoptosis and progressed through aberrant mitotic events to then emerge as a distinct subpopulation of viable large hyperploid cells but with uncertain long-term propagation potential. Platinum-induced large hyperploid cells were flow sorted and showed rare regrowth capacity as compared to their more proficiently regenerating non-hyperploid counterparts. However, detailed time-lapse microscopy provided direct evidence that these hyperploid cells were mitotically active and could divide successfully to produce viable daughter cells. The hyperploid survival response was observed across different cell lines and utilization of this survival pathway was dependent on the strength of the G2-M checkpoint. Conceivably, this salvage survival strategy may contribute to increased genomic diversity of the regenerating tumor cell line through a coupled hyperploidization and de-polyploidization process that may be relevant for drug resistance.
Modelling farm structural change: A feasibility study for ex-post modelling utilizing FADN and FSS data in Germany and developing an ex-ante forecast module for the CAPRI farm type layer baseline

The present study aims to develop a prototype analytical tool to assess structural changes at the farm level in EU-27 using the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) combined with the Farm Structure Survey (FSS). For the purpose of this study, farm structural change is related to the change in production systems, therefore a change in farm size and farm entry/exit into one sector/farm typology. In the ex-post analysis of structural change two methodologies are presented, one in which structural change is analysed from a discrete perspective using a Markov approach, whereas the second uses the continuous perspective to evaluate the type of farming over time using MCI (Multiplicative Competitive Interaction) models. The methodolgies are applied in selected German regions and the goodness of fit in the out of sample prediction is compared. In the ex-ante methodology, the existing farm module of CAPRI (Common Agricultural Policy Regionalised Impact System) is expanded by considering the findings of the statistical ex-post-analysis when projecting farm-type structural change in the baseline trends. Results show that the Markov prediction may outperform naive prediction methods but that the quality of the prediction is critically dependent on the model specification. A higher in-sample fit does not necessarily lead to better out-of-sample prediction, which potentially indicates that the effects of specific explanatory variables may change over time. In addition, introducing structural change into the CAPRI farm type baseline improve policy impact assessment and hence a more reliable and consistent farm grid for simulations is constructed.
Blood biomarkers of various dietary patterns correlated with metabolic indicators in Taiwanese type 2 diabetes

Background Metabolic alterations correlate with adverse outcomes in type 2 diabetes. Dietary modification serves as an integral part in its treatment. Objective We examined the relationships among dietary patterns, dietary biomarkers, and metabolic indicators in type 2 diabetes (n = 871). Design Diabetic patients (n = 871) who provided complete clinical and dietary data in both 2008 and 2009 were selected from a cohort participating in a diabetic control study in Taiwan. Dietary data were obtained using a short, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires, and dietary pattern identified by factor analysis. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the association between dietary biomarkers (ferritin, folate, and erythrocyte n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [n-3 PUFAs]) and metabolic control upon adjusting for confounders. Results Three dietary patterns (high-fat meat, traditional Chinese food–snack, and fish–vegetable) were identified. Ferritin correlated positively with high-fat meat factor scores (P for trend <0.001). Erythrocyte n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] + docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio) correlated positively with fish–vegetable factor scores (all P for trends <0.001). Multiple linear regressions revealed a positive relationship between ferritin concentrations and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and triglycerides, but a negative relationship with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Erythrocyte n-3 PUFA, EPA+DHA, and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio were negatively linked to FPG, HbA1c, and triglycerides (all P < 0.05) and positively with HDL-C (though n-3/n-6 ratio marginally correlated). Conclusions Ferritin and n-3 PUFA can serve as valid biomarkers for high-fat meat and fish–vegetable dietary patterns. Unlike ferritin, erythrocyte n-3 PUFA status was related to better glycemic and blood lipid profiles. Our results suggest that habitual consumption of diet pattern rich in fish and vegetables may contribute in part to a healthier metabolic profile in type 2 diabetes.
Wintertime Arctic Sea Spray Aerosol Composition Controlled by Sea Ice Lead Microbiology

The Arctic is experiencing the greatest warming on Earth, as most evident by rapid sea ice loss. Delayed sea ice freeze-up in the Alaskan Arctic is decreasing wintertime sea ice extent and changing marine biological activity. However, the impacts of newly open water on wintertime sea spray aerosol (SSA) production and atmospheric composition are unknown. Herein, we identify SSA, produced locally from open sea ice fractures (leads), as the dominant aerosol source in the coastal Alaskan Arctic during winter, highlighting the year-round nature of Arctic SSA emissions. Nearly all of the individual SSA featured thick organic coatings, consisting of marine saccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, and divalent cations, consistent with exopolymeric secretions produced as cryoprotectants by sea ice algae and bacteria. In contrast, local summertime SSA lacked these organic carbon coatings, or featured thin coatings, with only open water nearby. The individual SSA composition was not consistent with frost flowers or surface snow above sea ice, suggesting that neither hypothesized frost flower aerosolization nor blowing snow sublimation resulted in the observed SSA. These results further demonstrate the need for inclusion of lead-based SSA production in modeling of Arctic atmospheric composition. The identified connections between changing sea ice, microbiology, and SSA point to the significance of sea ice lead biogeochemistry in altering Arctic atmospheric composition, clouds, and climate feedbacks during winter.
CD137 Co-Stimulation Improves The Antitumor Effect Of LMP1-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells In Vitro And In Vivo

Purpose In previous research, we have found that LMP1-specific chimeric antigen (HELA/CAR) T cells can specifically recognize and kill LMP1-positive NPC cells. However, the tumor-inhibitory effectiveness of HELA/CART cells needs to be enhanced. Methods We created two CARs that contain the T cell receptor-ζ (TCR-ζ) signal transduction domain with the CD28 and CD137 (4-1BB) or CD134 (OX-40) intracellular domains in tandem (HELA/137CAR or HELA/134CAR). Then, the tumor-inhibitory functions of two new CAR-T cells were investigated, both in vitro and in vivo. Results The results showed that, after short-term expansion, primary human T cells were subjected to lentiviral gene transfer, resulting in large numbers of cells with >80% CAR expression. All CART cells were effective in killing SUNE1-LMP1 and C1R-neo cells, while HELA/137CART cells produced greater quantities of IFN-γ and IL-2 than HELA/CART cells. However, the level of IL-2 not INF-γ secreted by HELA/134CART cells was increased under the stimulation of LMP1 antigen. In an LMP1-positive NPC mouse xenograft model, HELA/137CART cells exhibited better antitumor activity and longer survival time in vivo compared with HELA/CAR T cells. Conclusion The findings suggest that CD137 and CD28 is a better costimulatory signaling domain than CD28 only for optimizing tumor-inhibitory roles.
Evolution and phylogeography of Culex pipiens densovirus

Abstract Viruses of the Parvoviridae family infect a wide range of animals including vertebrates and invertebrates. So far, our understanding of parvovirus diversity is biased towards medically or economically important viruses mainly infecting vertebrate hosts, while invertebrate infecting parvoviruses—namely densoviruses—have been largely neglected. Here, we investigated the prevalence and the evolution of the only mosquito-infecting ambidensovirus, Culex pipiens densovirus (CpDV), from laboratory mosquito lines and natural populations collected worldwide. CpDV diversity generally grouped in two clades, here named CpDV-1 and -2. The incongruence of the different gene trees for some samples suggested the possibility of recombination events between strains from different clades. We further investigated the role of selection on the evolution of CpDV genome and detected many individual sites under purifying selection both in non-structural and structural genes. However, some sites in structural genes were under diversifying selection, especially during the divergence of CpDV-1 and -2 clades. These substitutions between CpDV-1 and -2 clades were mostly located in the capsid protein encoding region and might cause changes in host specificity or pathogenicity of CpDV strains from the two clades. However, additional functional and experimental studies are necessary to fully understand the protein conformations and the resulting phenotype of these substitutions between clades of CpDV.
Cost-Effectiveness Of The SQ® Grass SLIT-Tablet In Children With Allergic Rhinitis: A German Payer Perspective

Background The Grazax Asthma Prevention (GAP) trial has recently demonstrated significant reductions in the odds of asthma symptoms or medication use in patients treated with SQ® grass SLIT-tablet relative to placebo, both in combination with allergy and asthma pharmacotherapy. The objective of the present analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of SQ grass SLIT-tablet relative to placebo in children with AR from the perspective of a German healthcare payer. Methods A cost-utility model was developed in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA) to evaluate the cost-utility of SQ grass SLIT-tablet in combination with pharmacotherapy versus pharmacotherapy alone in patients with AR. Transition probabilities were derived from the GAP trial, and costs were taken from a real-world insurance database analysis. Future costs and effects were discounted at 3% per annum, and extensive deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Over a 10-year time horizon, the base case analysis showed an increase in overall treatment costs of €897 per child being treated with SQ grass SLIT-tablet relative to pharmacotherapy alone. The increased treatment costs were accompanied by an improvement in patient quality of life of 0.10 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) yielding an ICER of €8978 per QALY gained, falling well below a willingness-to-pay threshold of €17,800 per QALY gained. The base case results were insensitive to changes in all individual model parameters. Discussion Improvements in quality of life with the SQ grass SLIT-tablet would be accompanied by only a modest increase in costs over a 10-year time horizon, with the SQ grass SLIT-tablet therefore representing excellent value for money from the German healthcare payer perspective.
Study of the reaction e þ e ! J=c þ via initial-state radiation at BABAR

We study the process e +e -→J/ψπ +π - with initial-state-radiation events produced at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy collider. The data were recorded with the BABAR detector at center-of-mass energies 10.58 and 10.54 GeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 454fb -1. We investigate the J/ψπ +π - mass distribution in the region from 3.5 to 5.5GeV/c2. Below 3.7GeV/c2 the ψ(2S) signal dominates, and above 4GeV/c2 there is a significant peak due to the Y(4260). A fit to the data in the range 3.74-5.50GeV/c2 yields a mass value 4245±5(stat)±4(syst)MeV/c2 and a width value 114-15+16(stat) ±7(syst)MeV for this state. We do not confirm the report from the Belle Collaboration of a broad structure at 4.01GeV/c2. In addition, we investigate the π +π - system which results from Y(4260) decay. © 2012 American Physical Society.
Assessing the Nutrient Intakes of Vulnerable Subgroups

This study is a comprehensive analysis of the nutrient adequacy of adolescent females, older adults, children and adults at risk of overweight, individuals living in food-insufficient households, low-income individuals, and individuals targeted by and participating in food and nutrition assistance programs. These segments of the population are at risk of inadequate nutrient intake, excessive intake, or dietary imbalances. The study, which adds to a growing literature that uses current, improved knowledge of nutrient requirements and recommended nutrient assessment methods to analyze nutrient intakes, indicates generally inadequate intakes of key micronutrients, especially magnesium, calcium, folate, and vitamin E; energy intakes less than recommended energy requirements for adults; and consumption of too much food energy from fat and not enough from carbohydrates; and inadequate intakes of fiber. In addition, diet adequacy deteriorates as individuals get older. Childrenâ€”especially infants and young childrenâ€”have diets that are more nutritionally adequate than those of adolescents and adults.
Críticas Cognitivas a Heurísticas Orientadas a Modelos

Los requisitos, como piedra basal del desarrollo de sistema de software, deben ser de la mejor calidad posible, cubriendo las necesidades reales de los clientes y las limitaciones del proyecto. Alcanzar un nivel aceptable de calidad no es fácil y, a veces, no suele cumplirse. En proyectos de investigación previos, se ha evaluado exhaustivamente estos niveles de calidad en modelos escritos en lenguaje natural, principalmente en glosarios con definiciones de los términos del lenguaje empleado en el contexto de aplicación, observándose en estos casos una baja calidad y escasa repetitividad de los mismos. Esta característica es prácticamente independiente del modelo y de las fuentes de información utilizadas. A pesar de reiterados esfuerzos consistentes en la incorporación de nuevas heurísticas, las mejoras logradas resultaron poco satisfactorias. Una revisión retrospectiva de estos trabajos permitió detectar que indudablemente es la habilidad cognitiva del propio ingeniero de requisitos el origen de estos defectos. Notablemente, las heurísticas utilizadas proveen guías rudimentarias acerca de cómo elaborar la información elicitada. Esta carencia es la base del proyecto de investigación de carácter exploratorio-descriptivo que se ha iniciado y que se presenta aquí.
Suicide risk in people living with AIDS/HIV: the effect of childhood trauma is mediated by mental disorders and social vulnerability

ABSTRACT Suicide is an important problem in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The importance of mental disorders and social vulnerability on suicidal behaviors is described in the literature; however, the impact of childhood traumatic events in this scenario is not clear. The aim of this study was to verify the mediation effect of mental disorder comorbidities and social vulnerability in association with childhood trauma intensity and suicide risk level. This cross-sectional study of HIV-positive outpatients was conducted in a specialized care service in the city of Pelotas in Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic data and HIV-related information were collected and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was applied. A total of 364 patients underwent psychiatric evaluation using MINI Plus including module C of suicide risk severity. Suicide risk was present in 39.3% of the sample. The relation between childhood traumatic events and the level of suicide risk is mediated by mental disorder comorbidities and socioeconomic vulnerability. Specific psychosocial interventions in PLWHA should consider the potential role of abusive traumatic experiences in the current mental health conditions and suicidal behaviors.
Predictive value of Tpeak-Tend interval for ventricular arrhythmia and mortality in heart failure patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Abstract Background: Tpeak-Tend interval (TpTe), a measurement of transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR), has been shown to predict ventricular tachyarrhythmia in cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D) patients. However, the ability of TpTe to predict ventricular tachyarrhythmia and mortality for heart failure patients with a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is not clear. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive ability of TpTe in heart failure patients with ICD. Methods and results: We enrolled 318 heart failure patients treated after ICD. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their post-implantation TpTe values and were evaluated every 6 months. The primary endpoint was appropriate ICD therapy. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. During long-term follow-up, the TpTe > 110 ms group (n = 111) experienced more VT/VF episodes (45%) and all-cause mortality (25.2%) than the TpTe 90–110 ms group (n = 109) (26.4%, 14.5%) and TpTe < 90 ms group (n = 98) (11.3%, 11.3%) (overall P < .05, respectively). In Cox regression, longer post-implantation TpTe was associated with an increased number of VT/VF episodes [HR: 1.017; 95% CI: 1.008-1.026; P < . 001], all-cause mortality [HR: 1.015; 95% CI: 1.004-1.027; P = . 010] and the combined endpoint [HR: 1.018; 95%CI: 1.010-1.026; P < . 001]. Conclusions: Post-implantation TpTe was an independent predictor of both ventricular arrhythmias and all-cause mortality in heart failure patients with an implanted ICD.
Clinical efficacy of extracranial-intracranial bypass for the treatment of adult patients with moyamoya disease

Abstract Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a major health concern associated with blocked arteries at the base of the brain. The aim of this study will synthesize the current evidence of the efficacy and safety of extracranial-intracranial bypass (EIB) for the treatment of adult patients with MMD. Methods: A systematically and comprehensively literature search will be performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, CINAHL, AMED, CBM, and CNKI to identify relevant randomized controlled trails (RCTs) investigating the efficacy and safety of EIB for treating MMD. We will search all above electronic databases from their inception to the July 30, 2019. Two review authors will independently perform study selection, data extraction, and conduct risk of bias evaluation using Cochrane risk of bias tool. We will also explore heterogeneity across studies. RevMan 5.3 software will be applied for statistical analysis performance. Results: This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of EIB for the treatment of adult patients with MMD. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide latest evidence of the efficacy and safety of EIB for MMD. Dissemination and ethics: This study is based on published studies, thus, no ethical consideration is needed. The results of this study are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals or will be presented on conference meeting. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019155839.
Child Obesity in South Australia

Abstract Obesity results when there is imbalance between energy intake (diet) and energy output (exercise). In Australia the increase in obesity and overweight among children has seen a doubling in the last decade but little is known of the causes of that increase. The present paper is a preliminary discussion of child obesity in the state of South Australia. It shows that the number of children in the state is falling but an increasing proportion of children is being born into low socioeconomic households. This is significant because there is also evidence produced to show that the prevalence of obesity is greater among lower than higher socioeconomic groups. There is some preliminary analysis of a unique database maintained by a South Australian government health agency that weighs a high proportion of the State's infants and children at particular stages of their development. It is shown that disadvantage is a key element in the prevalence of obesity and overweight. This involves both socioeconomic disadvantage and locational disadvantage and although there is considerable overlap between the two in that many of the same people suffer both they have quite distinct contributions to higher prevalence of obesity and overweight. Effective intervention to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity will involve action on a number of fronts but nowhere is it more important than among children. Further analysis of the CYH data will hopefully provide the detailed understanding necessary to produce more effective interventions to encourage more healthy eating and increased physical activity especially among more disadvantaged groups of children.