Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori therapies in a clinical practice setting.

BACKGROUND Whether eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori treatment regimens obtained in controlled clinical trials (efficacy) can also be obtained in clinical practice (effectiveness) is unknown because no such trials have been reported in the United States. OBJECTIVES To determine the eradication rates of H pylori in a community practice setting and the effects of practice variation in the choice of treatment regimen on patient outcome (H pylori infection cure) and cost. METHODS Between February 1 and December 30, 1996, 38 community-based gastroenterologists in the Portland, Ore, metropolitan area enrolled a total of 250 patients infected with H pylori, as determined by endoscopic or noninvasive methods. Various therapeutic regimens aimed at eradicating H pylori were used by the gastroenterologists, and a posttreatment urea breath test was used to determine H pylori infection cure. Compliance and incidental effects were also measured and decision analysis was used to estimate the cost of treatment. RESULTS The regimens used varied considerably. Patients receiving a 2- or 3-times-a-day treatment regimen were significantly more compliant (P=.01) than those receiving a 4-times-a-day regimen. Proton pump inhibitor-based triple-therapy regimens were significantly more effective than all other treatment regimens combined (87% vs 70%; P = .001) in eradicating H pylori. These proton pump inhibitor-based triple-therapy regimens were also more cost-effective by decision analysis for a hypothetical cohort of patients with duodenal ulcer disease. CONCLUSIONS The considerable variation in the choice of treatment regimens affects the clinical and economic outcomes of patients undergoing therapy for H pylori infection. Whether these data reflect the outcome in other communities is unknown but should be determined. It will be necessary to determine if the dissemination of these data results in a reduction of practice variation and improvement in clinical and economic outcomes of patients being treated for H pylori infection in clinical practice.
Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium MisL is an intestinal colonization factor that binds fibronectin

MisL is an autotransporter protein encoded by Salmonella pathogenicity island 3 (SPI3). To investigate the role of MisL in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) pathogenesis, we characterized its function during infection of mice and identified a host receptor for this adhesin. In a mouse model of S. Typhimurium intestinal persistence, a misL mutant was shed with the faeces in significantly lower numbers than the wild type and was impaired in its ability to colonize the cecum. Previous studies have implicated binding of extracellular matrix proteins as a possible mechanism for S. Typhimurium intestinal persistence. A gluthathione‐S‐transferase (GST) fusion protein to the MisL passenger domain (GST–MisL29‐281) was constructed to investigate binding to extracellular matrix proteins. In a solid‐phase binding assay the purified GST–MisL29‐281 fusion protein bound to fibronectin and collagen IV, but not to collagen I. MisL expression was not detected by Western blot in S. Typhimurium grown under standard laboratory conditions. However, when expression of the cloned misL gene was driven by the Escherichia coli arabinose promoter, MisL could be detected in the S. Typhimurium outer membrane by Western blot and on the bacterial cell surface by flow cytometry. Expression of MisL enabled S. Typhimurium to bind fibronectin to its cell surface, resulting in attachment to fibronectin‐coated glass slides and in increased invasiveness for human epithelial cells derived from colonic carcinoma (T84 cells). These data identify MisL as an extracellular matrix adhesin involved in intestinal colonization.
Practitioner Review: Definition, recognition, and treatment challenges of irritability in young people.

BACKGROUND Irritability is one of the most common reasons for referral to child and adolescent mental health services and is the main characteristic of the new diagnosis of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). However, the recognition and management of irritability presents a major challenge in clinical practice and may be partly responsible for the dramatic increase in antipsychotic prescribing in recent years. METHODS In this review, we provide up-to-date information on the definition and mechanisms underlying irritability, and its assessment in clinical practice. We aim to discuss the latest research on DMDD, and the presence of severe irritability in the context of other disorders, as well as to recommend a treatment algorithm. RESULTS Severe irritability is associated with aberrant reward processing and bias toward threatening stimuli. Several measures are available to easily assess irritability. The recent diagnosis of DMDD captures children whose main problem is severe irritability and differ from those with bipolar disorder in longitudinal outcomes, family history, and behavioral and neural correlates. Treatment of irritability might depend on the context it appears. Indirect evidence suggests that parent management training (PMT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are the most supported psychological treatments for irritability. CONCLUSIONS Irritability, recognized as a mood problem rather than a purely behavioral manifestation, is a common condition for young people. Practitioners should not ignore irritability as it is associated with substantial morbidity and impairment. Although there are no trials with irritability as main outcome, clinicians can apply several existing pharmacological and psychological interventions for its treatment. Also, new promising approaches relying on pathophysiological findings, such as exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and interpretation bias training (IBT), are being currently investigated.
Toward a better understanding of the communication cues involved in a human-robot object transfer

Handing-over objects to humans (or taking objects from them) is a key capability for a service robot. Humans are efficient and natural while performing this action and the purpose of the studies on this topic is to bring human-robot handovers to an acceptable, efficient and natural level. This paper deals with the cues that allow to make a handover look as natural as possible, and more precisely we focus on where the robot should look while performing it. In this context we propose a user study, involving 33 volunteers, who judged video sequences where they see either a human or a robot giving them an object. They were presented with different sequences where the agents (robot or human) have different gaze behaviours, and were asked to give their feeling about the sequence naturalness. In addition to this subjective measure, the volunteers were equipped with an eye tracker which enabled us to have more accurate objective measures.
Immunohistochemical Comparison of Ovarian and Uterine Endometrioid Carcinoma, Endometrioid Carcinoma With Clear Cell Change, and Clear Cell Carcinoma

Accurate distinction of clear cell carcinoma (CCC) from endometrioid carcinoma (EC) has important clinical implications, but, not infrequently, EC demonstrates clear cell change (EC-CC), mimicking CCC. We examined whether a panel of immunomarkers can help distinguish between these tumors. Sixty-four CCCs (40 ovarian and 24 uterine), 34 ECs (21 ovarian and 13 uterine), and 34 EC-CCs (6 ovarian and 28 uterine) were stained for HNF1&bgr;, BAF250a, Napsin A, ER, and PR. Intensity and extent of immunoreactivity was assessed. Fifty-seven of 64 (89%) CCCs, 14/34 (41%) EC-CCs, and 16/34 (47%) ECs expressed HNF1&bgr;, and 56/64 (88%) CCCs, 4/34 (12%) EC-CCs, and 1/34 (3%) ECs stained for Napsin A. Most CCCs demonstrated at least moderate and diffuse staining for both markers, whereas only focal and weak expression was identified in most EC-CC/EC. Compared to HNF1&bgr;, Napsin A showed increased specificity (93.0% vs. 55.9%, P<0.0001) and similar sensitivity (87.5% vs. 89.1%) in distinguishing CCC from EC-CC/EC. Thirteen of 64 (20%) CCCs, 6/34 (18%) EC-CCs, and 2/34 (6%) ECs showed loss of BAF250a. ER was expressed by 10/64 (16%) CCCs, 30/34 (88%) EC-CCs, and 33/34 (97%) ECs, whereas PR positivity was identified in 9/64 (14%) CCCs, 26/34 (77%) EC-CCs, and 33/34 (97%) ECs. The majority of EC and EC-CC demonstrated diffuse staining for ER/PR, whereas most CCCs showed very focal positivity. There is a statistically significant difference in HNF1&bgr;, Napsin A, ER, and PR immunoexpression between CCC and EC/EC-CC, with Napsin A being a more specific marker for CCC than HNF1&bgr;. Overall, the immunoprofile of EC-CC is more comparable to that of EC than CCC. The use of a panel of immunostains can help distinguish EC-CC from CCC.
The trimer-of-hairpins motif in membrane fusion: Visna virus

Structural studies of viral membrane fusion proteins suggest that a “trimer-of-hairpins” motif plays a critical role in the membrane fusion process of many enveloped viruses. In this motif, a coiled coil (formed by homotrimeric association of the N-terminal regions of the protein) is surrounded by three C-terminal regions that pack against the coiled coil in an oblique antiparallel manner. The resulting trimer-of-hairpins structure serves to bring the viral and cellular membranes together for fusion. learncoil-vmf, a computational program developed to recognize coiled coil-like regions that form the trimer-of-hairpins motif, predicts these regions in the membrane fusion protein of the Visna virus. Peptides corresponding to the computationally identified sequences were synthesized, and the soluble core of the Visna membrane fusion protein was reconstituted in solution. Its crystal structure at 1.5-Å resolution demonstrates that a trimer-of-hairpins structure is formed. Remarkably, despite less than 23% sequence identity, the ectodomains in Visna and HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins show detailed structural conservation, especially within the area of a hydrophobic pocket in the central coiled coil currently being targeted for the development of new anti-HIV drugs.
The association between a prolonged stay in the emergency department and adverse events in older patients admitted to hospital: a retrospective cohort study

Objective Patient safety studies have identified older adults as a high-risk group for adverse events (AEs). As frequent users of the emergency department (ED), they are vulnerable to the negative consequences of ED crowding. The study objective was to determine whether a prolonged ED stay is associated with an increased risk for the occurrence of AEs for older patients admitted to hospital. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the largest adult tertiary care facility in Atlantic Canada (1 July 2005–31 March 2006). All community-dwelling persons 65 years and older admitted to an acute inpatient unit from the ED were eligible. The exposure of interest was total length of stay (LOS) in the ED. The primary outcome was the occurrence of an AE in-hospital. AEs were identified from administrative diagnostic data using previously validated screening criteria. Results The average age of 982 eligible participants was 77.8 years (SD 7.8). The majority (75.0%) experienced a prolonged ED LOS as defined by national guidelines. There was evidence of at least one AE in 140 (14.3%) records. After adjustment, for every hour spent in the ED, the odds of experiencing an AE in-hospital increased 3% (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.05). Those with an AE had twice the hospital LOS (20.2 vs 9.8 days, p<0.00001). Interpretation A prolonged ED stay for older admitted patients is associated with an increased risk of an in-hospital AE. The longer hospital LOS associated with AEs further reduces the availability of acute care beds, thus exacerbating ED crowding.
Experimental Evidence for the Limiting Role of Enzymatic Reactions in Chemoattractant-induced Pseudopod Extension in Human Neutrophils*

Chemoattractant-stimulated pseudopod growth in human neutrophils was used as a model system to study the rate-limiting mechanism of cytoskeleton rearrangement induced by activated G-protein-coupled receptors. Cells were activated with N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, and the temperature dependence of the rate of pseudopod extension was measured in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors with known mechanisms of action. Three groups of inhibitors were used: (i) inhibitors sequestering substrates involved in F-actin polymerization (latrunculin A for G-actin and cytochalasin D for actin filament-free barbed ends) or sequestering secondary messengers (PIP-binding peptide for phosphoinositide lipids); (ii) competitively binding inhibitors (Akt-inhibitor for Akt/protein kinase B); and (iii) inhibitors that reduce enzyme activity (wortmannin for phosphoinositide 3-kinase and chelerythrine for protein kinase C). The experimental data are consistent with a model in which the relative involvement of a given pathway of F-actin polymerization to the measured rate of pseudopod extension is limited by a slowest (bottleneck) reaction in the cascade of reactions involved in the overall signaling pathway. The approach we developed was used to demonstrate that chemoattractant-induced pseudopod growth and mechanically stimulated cytoskeleton rearrangement are controlled by distinct pathways of F-actin polymerization.
Pi Coil: A New Element for Bandwidth Extension

This brief presents a new passive element called Pi coil for bandwidth extension. Its transfer function and detailed design tables are given. Based on ideal elements, the proposed Pi coil can achieve the largest bandwidth extension ratio compared to its counterpart, i.e., T coil, and other similar bandwidth-enhancing techniques. In addition, the input return loss (S11) is much improved by using this technique. On-chip implementation methods of the T coil and the Pi coil are also investigated in this brief.
MRI abnormalities associated with partial status epilepticus

Objective: To report neuroimaging findings in patients with complex partial status epilepticus. Background: During status epilepticus, neuroimaging may be used to exclude other neurologic conditions. Therefore, it is important to identify the neuroimaging features that are associated with status epilepticus. In addition, MRI characteristics may provide insight into the pathophysiologic changes during status epilepticus. Methods: The history and neuroimaging examination results of three patients with complex partial status epilepticus were reviewed. Studies obtained during status epilepticus included diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI), MR angiography (MRA), postcontrast T1-weighted MRI, T2-weighted MRI, and CT. Follow-up MRI was obtained in two patients, and autopsy results were available for the third. Results: Some of the MRI and CT findings during partial status epilepticus mimicked those of acute ischemic stroke: DWI and T2-weighted MRI showed cortical hyperintensity with a corresponding low apparent diffusion coefficient, and CT showed an area of decreased attenuation with effacement of sulci and loss of gray-white differentiation. However, the lesions did not respect vascular territories, there was increased signal of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery on MRA, and leptomeningeal enhancement appeared on postcontrast MRI. On follow-up imaging, the abnormalities had resolved, but some cerebral atrophy was present. Conclusions: The radiologic characteristics of status epilepticus resemble those of ischemic stroke but can be differentiated based on lesion location and findings on MRA and postcontrast MRI. The MRI abnormalities indicated the presence of cytotoxic and vasogenic edema, hyperperfusion of the epileptic region, and alteration of the leptomeningeal blood–brain barrier. These changes reversed, but they resulted in some regional brain atrophy.
Initial Events in Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus Infection: Evidence for the Requirement of a Low-pH Step

ABSTRACT We have investigated the initial steps in the interaction between infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) and cultured cells from Atlantic salmon (SHK-1 cell line). Using radioactively or fluorescently labelled viral particles we have studied the binding and fusion kinetics and the effect of pH on binding, uptake, and fusion of ISAV to SHK-1 cells and liposomes. As pH in the medium was reduced from 7.5 to 4.5, the association of virus to the cells was nearly doubled. The same effect of pH was observed when fusion between ISAV and liposomes was analyzed. In addition, the binding of ISAV to intact SHK-1 cells and to cell membrane proteins blotted onto filters was neuraminidase sensitive. However, the increased binding induced by low pH was not neuraminidase sensitive, probably reflecting activation of a fusion peptide at low pH. By using confocal fluorescence microscopy, the increased fusion of fluorescently labelled ISAV with the plasma membrane due to low pH could be demonstrated. When vacuolar pH in the cells was raised during inoculation with chloroquine or ammonium chloride, both electron and confocal microscopy showed accumulation of ISAV in endosomes and lysosomes. Production of infectious virus could be increased by lowering the extracellular pH during infection. Furthermore, chloroquine present during virus inoculation also caused a reduction in the synthesis of viral proteins in ISAV-infected cells as well as in the production of infective virus. These results indicate that ISAV binds to sialic acid residues on the cell surface and that the fusion between virus and cell membrane takes place in the acid environment of endosomes. This provides further evidence for a high degree of similarity between ISAV and influenza virus and extends the basis for the classification of this virus as a member of the Orthomyxoviridae family.
New South African Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act: Shaping a New Investment Environment to Reflect a Diverse Society

South Africa's diverse society is the result of a long history of mining, colonialism and political division. It started in 1497 with Vasco da Gama's epic voyage to India round the southern tip of Africa. Da Gama's diary constantly mentions incidents of conflict between his men and the indigenous folk. Those were the days when African lives were deemed cheap and an ox could be traded for a mere bracelet—a ‘winner takes all’ approach. One would assume that such a background would set the stage for unending political instability. However, in 1994 South Africans proved to the world that peace is possible when political rivals start communicating. The miracle of the 1994 general election proved that the majority of South Africans have the political will to exchange a turbulent past for a tolerant future. The new South African Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act No 28 of 2002 should be viewed against this background. This Act is an attempt to break completely with the country's colonial past, where people were easily dispossessed of their land and mineral rights to favour colonials. This system is about to change to a system where existing holders of mineral and other legal rights will get a final opportunity to use these rights before losing them to a new order. The process is not yet complete and developments continue to unfold in this important sector of South Africa's economy.
Profiles of non-victims, escaped victims, continuing victims and new victims of school bullying.

BACKGROUND Victims of school bullying are known to be at risk in peer relationships and to sometimes use ineffective coping strategies, but little previous research has examined differences among escaped victims, continuing victims and new victims. AIM A follow-up design compared friendships, behavioural characteristics, victimization experiences and coping strategies of pupils who had 2 years previously answered a questionnaire identifying themselves as victims (V) or non-victims (NV) of school bullying and whose current victim status could be identified. SAMPLE 406 pupils aged 13-16 years (190 boys, 216 girls): 175 non-victims (NV-NV), 146 escaped victims (V-NV), 27 new victims (NV-V) and 58 continuing victims (V-V). METHOD Structured interviews were given to pupils, together with the SDQ. Teachers also filled in the SDQ. School records of attendance were obtained. RESULTS Escaped victims did not differ greatly from non-victims, but had some self-perception of continuing peer relationship difficulties. Continuing victims, irrespective of gender, liked other pupils and breaktime less (but did not dislike other aspects of school), had fewer friends in school (but not outside school), more often missed school (sometimes because of bullying), scored high on problem scales of the SDQ, and were more likely to be involved in bullying others as well as being bullied. New victims tended to resemble continuing victims. Continuing victims did not differ from escaped victims on type of bullying, but new and continuing victims less often reported talking to someone about a specific incident of bullying. Most victims gave mainly victim-related reasons for the bullying having taken place. CONCLUSION The results are discussed in relation to why some pupils become or continue to be victims in secondary school, and recommendations for anti-bullying procedures in schools designed to help such victims.
High‐throughput sequencing reveals adaptation‐induced mutations in pentose‐fermenting strains of Zymomonas mobilis

Zymomonas mobilis is capable of producing ethanol at high rates and titers from glucose. This bacterium has previously been engineered to consume the pentose sugars xylose and arabinose, but the rate of consumption of these sugars is low. Recent research has utilized adaptive evolution to isolate strains of Z. mobilis capable of rapidly fermenting xylose. In this study, we also used adaptive evolution to isolate strains of Z. mobilis capable of rapidly fermenting xylose and arabinose. To determine the bottlenecks in pentose metabolism, we then used high‐throughput sequencing to pinpoint the genetic changes responsible for the phenotypes of the adapted strains. We found that the transport of both xylose and arabinose through the native sugar transporter, Glf, limits pentose fermentations in Z. mobilis. We also found that mutations in the AddB protein increase plasmid stability and can reduce cellular aggregation in these strains. Consistent with previous research, we found that reduced xylitol production improves xylose fermentations in Z. mobilis. We also found that increased transketolase activity and reduced glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase activity improve arabinose fermentations in Z. mobilis. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2228–2240. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.