Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Phenotypic and Genotypic Methods for Pyrazinamide Susceptibility Testing with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis converts pyrazinamide to its active form by using the enzyme pyrazinamidase. This enzyme is coded for on the pncA gene, and mutations in the pncAgene result in absence of active enzyme, conferring resistance to the drug pyrazinamide. We investigated 27 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis suspected of being multidrug resistant. Each isolate was tested for susceptibility to pyrazinamide by the BACTEC 460TB method, and 19 were pyrazinamide resistant. The presence of active pyrazinamidase enzyme was sought by using the Wayne assay, which was positive in all of the sensitive isolates and four of the resistant isolates. The pncA gene was amplified by PCR, and mutations were sought by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. We identified four isolates which were phenotypically resistant to pyrazinamide, but which had active pyrazinamide enzyme on the Wayne assay and normal pncA gene SSCP. MICs measured by BACTEC 460TB and susceptibility testing at a lower pH of 5.5 confirmed genuine resistance. The pncA gene was sequenced in these four isolates and found not to have any mutations. This implies that an alternative mechanism of resistance exists in these strains. We conclude that genotypic assessment of pyrazinamide resistance is unreliable, because it depends on the identification of a single resistance mechanism. Phenotypic methods such as the BACTEC 460TB technique remain the best methods for pyrazinamide susceptibility testing.
New visions for basic research and primary prevention of pediatric allergy: An iPAC summary and future trends

Hydrolyzed formula feeding, delayed introduction of solid food, indoor allergen avoidance, smoke and pollutants avoidance have been applied for several decades as primary preventive measures for allergic diseases. Unfortunately, some of these strategies have had no or modest success. Therefore, resources need to be focused on better understanding of the early allergic events and on interventional studies to investigate new strategies of primary and secondary prevention. Accordingly, this review summarizes the state‐of‐the‐art of genetic, immunological and clinical aspects of primary prevention of allergic diseases. Studies investigating gene‐by‐gene and gene‐by‐environment interactions suggest that prevention of allergic diseases must be tailored to the individual genetic susceptibilities (‘gene profiling’) and environmental exposures. The expanding knowledge on new T cell populations (Th17, TSLP (thymic stromal derived lymphopoietin)‐dependent ‘inflammatory Th2 cells’) is also inspiring new concepts on the origins of allergic diseases. The old concept of ‘blocking immunoglobulin G antibodies’ has been re‐appraised and it is likely to generate novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. The major task for future clinical research is to clearly define the timing of optimal exposure to potential allergens. In addition, the role of microbial products such as certain bacteria, or their components, and of helminths or their larvae at different times in early life, alone or with potential allergens, definitely need to be further investigated. The benefit of efficient allergy prevention, based on focusing resources on novel and promising research lines, will be of prime importance to both affluent countries and other parts of the world where allergy is only currently emerging.
Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Review and Considerations for Future Directions

Objective:This update reviews the epidemiology and surgical management, and the controversies of gastric adenocarcinoma. We provide the relevance of outcome data to surgical decision-making and discuss the application of gene-expression analysis to clinical practice. Summary Background Data:Gastric cancer mortality rates have remained relatively unchanged over the past 30 years, and gastric cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Well-conducted studies have stimulated changes to surgical decision-making and technique. Microarray studies linked to predictive outcome models are poised to advance our understanding of the biologic behavior of gastric cancer and improve surgical management and outcome. Methods:We performed a review of the English gastric adenocarcinoma medical literature (1980–2003). This review included epidemiology, pathology and staging, surgical management, issues and controversies in management, prognostic variables, and the application of outcome models to gastric cancer. The results of DNA microarray analysis in various cancers and its predictive abilities in gastric cancer are considered. Results:Prognostic studies have provided valuable data to better the understanding of gastric cancer. These studies have contributed to improved surgical technique, more accurate pathologic characterization, and the identification of clinically useful prognostic markers. The application of microarray analysis linked to predictive models will provide a molecular understanding of the biology driving gastric cancer. Conclusions:Predictive models generate important information allowing a logical evolution in the surgical and pathologic understanding and therapy for gastric cancer. However, a greater understanding of the molecular changes associated with gastric cancer is needed to guide surgical and medical therapy.
Conceptualization and Development of the Leg Activity Measure (LegA) for Patient and Carer Reported Assessment of Activity in the Paretic Leg

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of the paper is to develop a patient-reported outcome measure of active and passive function in the paretic lower limb with associated spasticity. METHODS Potential items for inclusion were identified through (1) systematic review and analysis of existing measures and (2) analysis of the primary goals for treatment in a spasticity service. Ethical approval for re-evaluation of routinely collected data was received. Item reduction was achieved through consultation with a purposively selected group of experienced physiotherapists and occupational therapists (n = 16) in a two-round Delphi process. This was followed by a review of Delphi consultation findings by the Project Advisory Group consisting of patients and carers. RESULTS Development of the leg activity measure (LegA) included two rounds of Delphi consultation, which resulted in a high degree of agreement (80% in round 2) between respondents in rounds 1 and 2. From an initial shortlist of 126 items, 29 items were initially identified for inclusion in LegA and subsequently refined to a 24-item (two sub-scales) tool consisting of nine passive function and 15 active function items. DISCUSSION The Delphi consultation with clinicians experienced in this area of practice ensured content validity and appropriate reduction of items. In common with previous work in the upper limb, a 5-point ordinal scaling structure was chosen, with ratings based on activity over the preceding 7 days. The LegA is designed to measure passive and active function following focal interventions associated with spasticity in the lower limb. Content and face validity have initially been addressed within the development process. The next phase of development will involve formal evaluation of psychometric properties. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regional Brain Metabolism During Auditory Hallucinations in Chronic Schizophrenia

Regions of the brain involved in language and attention were studied using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose in PET. In nine chronic DSM–III schizophrenic patients who had persistent auditory hallucinations, ten who had recovered from hallucinations and ten normal controls. In none of the regions examined was metabolic activity significantly different in hallucinating patients compared with that in other groups. However, a pattern of seven significant correlations of metabolic activity between language regions and between frontal and parietal cortex characterised the hallucinating but not the other groups. Three of the seven correlations were significantly greater in hallucinating patients than in the two other groups, and six were greater in hallucinating patients than controls. Metabolism in Broca's region and its right-hemisphere homologue correlated positively and significantly in the hallucinating group, as it did in anterior cingulate and left superior temporal areas, and in right frontal and parietal areas. Hallucination ratings correlated with metabolism in the anterior cingulate region.
A developmental transition in prehension modeled as a cusp catastrophe.

The purpose of the study was to show that the change from reaching without grasping to reaching with grasping during the first 6 months of life carried the characteristics of a discontinuous phase transition (catastrophe). A cross-sectional study was carried out with 58 infants between 60 and 408 days old. The infants were seated in a specially designed seat, and presented with nine detachable balls on a black curved board within reaching distance at shoulder height. The number of reaches without and with grasping were scored from video. A cusp catastrophe model was fitted to the data. A Likelihood-Ratio test indicated that the likelihood of the cusp model was significantly higher, p < . 001, than a linear regression model. The cusp model was also compared with a logistic model. Akaike's Information criterion for the cusp catastrophe exceeded the logistic model, thus indicating a general better fit. Based on prior research, the following potential control parameters were chosen: crown-heel length, total body weight, arm length, arm circumference, ponderal index, arm volume, arm weight, and body position relative to the horizontal. The cusp model predicted that arm weight and arm circumference significantly contributed to the control parameters. It was found that these two variables had their largest contribution to the asymmetry control parameters.
The impact of smoking on antimüllerian hormone levels in women aged 38 to 50 years

Objective: Smoking is associated with increased follicle-stimulating hormone levels and early menopause. Smoking may directly accelerate ovarian follicular depletion or may act indirectly by increasing the pituitary production of follicle-stimulating hormone. Antimüllerian hormone (AMH), produced by ovarian follicles, is a more direct measure of ovarian reserve. The objective of our study was to determine the extent to which smoking influences ovarian reserve, as measured by AMH levels. Methods: A community sample of 284 women aged 38 to 50 years completed a self-administered questionnaire including a detailed smoking history. Serum AMH levels were measured on day 2, 3, or 4 of the menstrual cycle. The association between AMH and smoking was analyzed using linear regression, adjusting for age and body mass index. Results: Participants aged 38 to 42, 43 to 45, and 46 to 50 years had geometric mean AMH values of 6.7 pM (95% CI, 5.2-8.7 pM), 2.7 pM (95% CI, 1.9-3.8 pM), and 1.3 pM (95% CI, 1.0-1.7 pM), respectively. Current smokers, but not past smokers, had 44% lower AMH values than did the reference group (participants with neither active nor former or passive smoke exposure; P = 0.04). Passive smoking had no effect on AMH values when compared with the reference group (P = 0.55). The impact of smoking on AMH values was not dose dependent based on cigarettes per day (P = 0.08) or pack-years (P = 0.22). Finally, prenatal exposure to smoking (either maternal or paternal) had no impact on AMH levels (P = 0.47 and P = 0.89, respectively). Conclusions: Active smoking, but not former smoking, is associated with decreased AMH values in late-reproductive-age and perimenopausal women, suggesting a possible direct effect of smoking on the depletion of the antral but not primordial follicles. The direct impact of active smoking on AMH levels in younger women requires further investigation.
Maximal Voluntary Activation of the Elbow Flexors Is under Predicted by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Compared to Motor Point Stimulation Prior to and Following Muscle Fatigue

Transcranial magnetic (TMS) and motor point stimulation have been used to determine voluntary activation (VA). However, very few studies have directly compared the two stimulation techniques for assessing VA of the elbow flexors. The purpose of this study was to compare TMS and motor point stimulation for assessing VA in non-fatigued and fatigued elbow flexors. Participants performed a fatigue protocol that included twelve, 15 s isometric elbow flexor contractions. Participants completed a set of isometric elbow flexion contractions at 100, 75, 50, and 25% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) prior to and following fatigue contractions 3, 6, 9, and 12 and 5 and 10 min post-fatigue. Force and EMG of the bicep and triceps brachii were measured for each contraction. Force responses to TMS and motor point stimulation and EMG responses to TMS (motor evoked potentials, MEPs) and Erb's point stimulation (maximal M-waves, Mmax) were also recorded. VA was estimated using the equation: VA% = (1−SITforce/PTforce) × 100. The resting twitch was measured directly for motor point stimulation and estimated for both motor point stimulation and TMS by extrapolation of the linear regression between the superimposed twitch force and voluntary force. MVC force, potentiated twitch force and VA significantly (p < 0.05) decreased throughout the elbow flexor fatigue protocol and partially recovered 10 min post fatigue. VA was significantly (p < 0.05) underestimated when using TMS compared to motor point stimulation in non-fatigued and fatigued elbow flexors. Motor point stimulation compared to TMS superimposed twitch forces were significantly (p < 0.05) higher at 50% MVC but similar at 75 and 100% MVC. The linear relationship between TMS superimposed twitch force and voluntary force significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with fatigue. There was no change in triceps/biceps electromyography, biceps/triceps MEP amplitudes, or bicep MEP amplitudes throughout the fatigue protocol at 100% MVC. In conclusion, motor point stimulation as opposed to TMS led to a higher estimation of VA in non-fatigued and fatigued elbow flexors. The decreased linear relationship between TMS superimposed twitch force and voluntary force led to an underestimation of the estimated resting twitch force and thus, a reduced VA.
Study on the radiative heat transfer characteristics of one solar simulator

One high-flux solar simulator facility has been developed for all-weather indoor testing of dish/Stirling solar power generation system. This solar simulator composed of multiple xenon arc lamps combined with a faceted paraboloidal dish concentrator. The Monte-Carlo ray-tracing method is utilized to predict the radiation flux distributions of the concentrator-receiver system, and the numerical result is validated by experiment, the deviation of total radiation flux in the focal receiver between the experimental data and the ray-tracing results is about 0.32%. Then the radiation flux profiles on the receiver surface for faceted real concentrator and ideal paraboloidal concentrator are analyzed respectively. The results indicated that a faceted concentrator combined with 12 Xe-arc lamps can provided uniform irradiance on the receiver surface, it is beneficial for the long-term reliable and efficient operation of the stirling engine. The designed solar simulator can provide enough radiation power at the receiver aperture. It can be used as an experiment platform for stirling engine.
A FINANCIAL MODEL TO FUND LAND REDISTRIBUTION IN THE SUGAR INDUSTRY OF KWAZULU-NATAL

This article examines the requirements for successful redistribution of land to emerging commercial farmers. It outlines a model used to successfully finance emerging commercial farmers in the sugar industry. The model uses a capital sacrifice by the seller to subsidise the interest rate on the bond on a declining, inflation linked basis, this overcomes the initial cash flow problems associated with agricultural land purchases. The article proposes this as a method which could finance other land transactions with very limited impact on the fiscus, land and capital markets.
Nonlinearities and Fractional Integration in the US Unemployment Rate

This paper proposes a model of the US unemployment rate which accounts for both its asymmetry and its long memory. Our approach, based on the tests of Robinson (1994), introduces fractional integration and nonlinearities simultaneously into the same framework (unlike earlier studies employing a sequential procedure), using a Lagrange Multiplier procedure with a standard limit distribution. The empirical results suggest that the US unemployment rate can be specified in terms of a fractionally integrated process, which interacts with some non-linear functions of the labour demand variables (real oil prices and real interest rates). We also find evidence of a long-memory component. Our results are consistent with a hysteresis model with path dependency rather than a NAIRU model with an underlying unemployment equilibrium rate, hence giving support to more activist stabilisation policies. However, any suitable model should also include business cycle asymmetries, with implications for both forecasting and policymaking.
The computerized synoptic operative report: a novel tool in surgical residency education.

HYPOTHESIS As opposed to the traditional dictated report, the use of a computer-based synoptic operative report will mandate that the surgical resident have a better understanding of all facets of the procedure. DESIGN A prospective study over a 10-month period. SETTING A 636-bed community teaching hospital. PATIENTS A total of 57 consecutive patients and 60 operative procedures for breast cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES A total of 60 consecutive breast cancer narrative operative reports, dictated by the attending surgeon, were compared with synoptic computerized operative reports filled by an operating resident. It included a total of 36 items containing data on demographics, preoperative history, diagnostic evaluation, and precise intraoperative findings. The 2 types of reports were compared for overall completeness and for the completeness of individual items. RESULTS Comparison of the narrative and synoptic reports showed that there was significant improvement in data completeness with the use of the synoptic report. The overall analysis showed that the synoptic operating report contained 94.7% of the preoperative and operative data, whereas the dictated operative report was able to capture only 66% of the data (P < .001). Eleven of 15 items in the general and preoperative sections of the dictated report and 6 of 21 items in the intraoperative section of the dictated report were underreported compared with those same items in the synoptic report (P = .004-.001). CONCLUSION The computerized synoptic operative report is superior to the dictated report in the documentation of important preoperative and intraoperative data. Although checklists and templates are not new in medicine, the use of a synoptic operative report as a surgical educational tool is a novel concept. Each resident who participated in our study had to develop a better understanding of the operative procedure in order to complete a more accurate synoptic report.
Transient Myeloproliferative Disorder in a Neonate With Down Syndrome

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor: New Release 87-345. Washington, DC: DOL, August, 1987. 2. US Bureau of the Census: Current Population Reports, Series P70, No. 9, Who’s Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Winter 1984-85. Washington, DC: Govt Printing Office, 1987. 3. Vries MW, de Vries MR. Cultural relativity of toilet training readiness: A perspective from East Africa. Pediatr 1977;60:170-
Performance Status and Smoking Status Are Independent Favorable Prognostic Factors for Survival in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Analysis of 26,957 Patients with NSCLC

Background: Performance status (PS) is an important factor in determining survival outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but is generally confounded by stage, age, gender, and smoking status. We investigated the prognostic significance of PS taking into account these important factors. Methods: Retrospective analysis of registry database of the National Hospital Study Group for Lung Cancer (NHSGLC) between1990 and 2005. Univariate analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards model to identify independent prognostic factors. Results: A total of 26,957 patients with NSCLC were analyzed of which 12,613 patients (46.8%) had World Health Organization (WHO) PS = 0, 8,137 patients were never smokers (30.2%), and most of them were females (72.7%). The majority of PS = 0 patients presented with stage I disease (56.9%). Patients with PS = 0 constituted the group with the highest proportion of never smokers (36.7%). There was a significant difference in the median overall survival (OS) between patients with PS = 0 and PS = 1 (51.5 months versus 15.4 months, respectively; p < 0.0001) and among patients with various PS within individual American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (all p values <0.0001). Never smokers had significantly improved median OS than ever smokers (30.0 months versus 19.0 months, respectively; p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated good PS, never smoker (versus ever smoker; hazard ratio = 0.935, 95% confidence interval: 0.884–0.990; p = 0.0205), early stage, female gender, squamous cell carcinoma histology, and treatment were all as independent favorable prognostic factors. Conclusions: PS and smoking status are independent prognostic factors for OS in NSCLC.
A benchmark study of strategic commitment to innovation

Describes the results of an empirical investigation of the FTSE 100 which was undertaken to ascertain whether UK industry is taking steps to address innovation at a strategic level within its organisations. In the research study, the appointment of staff with a specific responsibility for innovation was taken as an indicator of an organisation’s strategic commitment to innovation. The findings revealed that a significant minority of these organisations had invested in personnel with a specific brief for innovation. These were: directors of innovation; managers of innovation and cross‐functional teams. It is suggested that to maximise the benefits from innovation: it must be given a strategic direction; that relevant metrics be developed to measure the success of the innovation strategy; that organisations are educated on the holistic meaning of innovation; and finally, that there is a freedom from traditional hierarchical structures in the management of innovation.
Extending the School Day in Latin America and the Caribbean

Countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean are reforming their education systems to add more hours to the school day. This paper examines the evidence on the relationship between instructional time and student learning, reviewing 19 studies that measure the effects of longer school days in the region. It characterizes the differences in the implementation of extended school day programs and provides one detailed case study and cost-effectiveness exercise, from Uruguay. While the evidence suggests some positive impacts across a range of outcome variables, including learning outcomes, adult labor force participation, and crime and teenage pregnancy reduction, there is considerable heterogeneity across studies. Even using the most optimistic impact estimates, a cost-effectiveness exercise suggests that there are likely many more cost-effective reforms to achieve similar learning effects. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for policymakers and practitioners considering an extension of the school day.