Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetics and Novel Degradation Pathway of Permethrin in Acinetobacter baumannii ZH-14

Persistent use of permethrin has resulted in its ubiquitous presence as a contaminant in surface streams and soils, yet little is known about the kinetics and metabolic behaviors of this pesticide. In this study, a novel bacterial strain Acinetobacter baumannii ZH-14 utilizing permethrin via partial hydrolysis pathways was isolated from sewage sludge. Response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken design of cultural conditions was used for optimization resulting in 100% degradation of permethrin (50 mg·L−1) within 72 h. Strain ZH-14 degraded permethrin up to a concentration of 800 mg·L−1. Biodegradation kinetics analysis indicated that permethrin degradation by this strain was concentration dependent, with a maximum specific degradation rate, half-saturation constant, and inhibition constant of 0.0454 h−1, 4.7912 mg·L−1, and 367.2165 mg·L−1, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 3-phenoxybenzenemethanol and 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde as the major intermediate metabolites of the permethrin degradation pathway. Bioaugmentation of permethrin-contaminated soils with strain ZH-14 significantly enhanced degradation, and over 85% of permethrin was degraded within 9 days with the degradation process following the first-order kinetic model. In addition to degradation of permethrin, strain ZH-14 was capable of degrading a large range of synthetic pyrethroids such as deltamethrin, bifenthrin, fenpropathrin, cyhalothrin, and beta-cypermethrin which are also widely used pesticides with environmental contamination problems, suggesting the promising potentials of A. baumannii ZH-14 in bioremediation of pyrethroid-contaminated terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Patients: Management and Prognosis

Introduction: Hyperglycemia is a common complication of critical illness. Patients in intensive care unit with stress hyperglycemia have significantly higher mortality (31%) compared to patients with previously confirmed diabetes (10%) or normoglycemia (11.3%). Stress hyperglycemia is associated with increased risk of critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Intensive monitoring and insulin therapy according to the protocol are an important part of the treatment of critically ill patients. Objective: To evaluate the incidence of stress hyperglycemia, complications and outcome in critically ill patients in our Medical intensive care unit. Materials and methods: This study included 100 patients hospitalized in Medical intensive care unit during the period January 2014–March 2015 which were divided into three groups: Diabetes mellitus, stress-hyperglycemia and normoglycemia. During the retrospective-prospective observational clinical investigation the following data was obtained: age, gender, SAPS, admission diagnosis, average daily blood glucose, highest blood glucose level, glycemic variability, vasopressor and corticosteroid therapy, days on mechanical ventilation, total days of hospitalization in Medical intensive care unit, and outcome. Results: Patients with DM treated with a continuous insulin infusion did not have significantly more complications than patients with normoglycemia, unlike patients with stress hyperglycemia, which had more severe prognosis. There was a significant difference between the maximum level of blood glucose in recovered and patients with adverse outcome (p = 0.0277). Glycemic variability (difference between max. and min. blood glucose) was the strongest predictor of adverse outcome. The difference in glycemic variability between the stress-hyperglycemia and normoglycemic group was statistically significant (p = 0.0066). There was no statistically significant difference in duration of mechanical ventilation and total days of hospitalization in the intensive care unit between the groups. Conclusion: Understanding of the objectives of glucose regulation and effective glycemic control is essential for the proper optimization of patient outcomes.
Orai3 is a predictive marker of metastasis and survival in resectable lung adenocarcinoma

Orai3 channel has emerged as important player in malignant transformation. Indeed, its expression is increased in cancer and favors cell proliferation and survival by permitting calcium influx. In this study, Orai3 was overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma as compared to their matched non-tumour samples and was associated with tumoural aggressiveness. Moreover, its expression was associated with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression and visceral pleural invasion in multivariate analysis. Furthermore, both the overall survival (OS) median and the metastasis free survival (MFS) median of tumors with high Orai3 expression were lower than in low Orai3 expression regardless of cancer stage (35.01 months vs. 51.11 months for OS and 46.01 months vs. 62.04 months for MFS). In conclusion, Orai3 protein level constitutes an independent prognostic marker in lung adenocarcinoma, and a novel prognostic marker that could help selecting the patients with worst prognosis to be treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in resectable stage.
Curcumin Inhibits Growth of Human NCI-H292 Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Increasing FOXA2 Expression

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common histological lung cancer subtype, but unlike lung adenocarcinoma, limited therapeutic options are available for treatment. Curcumin, a natural compound, may have anticancer effects in various cancer cells, but how it may be used to treat LSCC has not been well studied. Here, we applied curcumin to a human NCI-H292 LSCC cell line to test anticancer effects and explored underlying potential mechanisms of action. Curcumin treatment inhibited NCI-H292 cell growth and increased FOXA2 expression in a time-dependent manner. FOXA2 expression was decreased in LSCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues and knockdown of FOXA2 increased NCI-H292 cells proliferation. Inhibition of cell proliferation by curcumin was attenuated by FOXA2 knockdown. Moreover inhibition of STAT3 pathways by curcumin increased FOXA2 expression in NCI-H292 cells whereas a STAT3 activator (IL-6) significantly inhibited curcumin-induced FOXA2 expression. Also, SOCS1 and SOCS3, negative regulators of STAT3 activity, were upregulated by curcumin treatment. Thus, curcumin inhibited human NCI-H292 cells growth by increasing FOXA2 expression via regulation of STAT3 signaling pathways.
Smart-Learning Course Transformation for an Introductory Programming Course

The rapid advance in technology has changed how people teach and how students learn. The affordability of smart devices and the abundant variety of mobile applications, web-based applications, movie making tools, and assessment tools has provided a new spectrum for educators to enhance the way courses are delivered, which enabled educators to implement many Smart Learning concepts such as Active learning, Cooperative learning, and Problem-based learning. This paper is the result of a Smart learning course transformation process that was done on an introductory-level programming course. Our goals were to utilize the technologies and mobile applications available to our students to overcome the main problems encountered when learning programming for the first time, which are building a mental model of the program while it executes, and visualizing abstract concepts that are hard to grasp. We added movies and animations to overcome these problems and encouraged cooperative learning. The newly adopted teaching pedagogies proved to be very effective. A survey showed that students are able to better understand the material. They are engaged during class and able to work independently. They cooperated with each other to design and implement creative projects. They are more interested in the topic of programming.
Validation of auditory detection response task method for assessing the attentional effects of cognitive load

ABSTRACT Objectives: There are 3 standardized versions of the Detection Response Task (DRT), 2 using visual stimuli (remote DRT and head-mounted DRT) and one using tactile stimuli. In this article, we present a study that proposes and validates a type of auditory signal to be used as DRT stimulus and evaluate the proposed auditory version of this method by comparing it with the standardized visual and tactile version. Methods: This was a within-subject design study performed in a driving simulator with 24 participants. Each participant performed 8 2-min-long driving sessions in which they had to perform 3 different tasks: driving, answering to DRT stimuli, and performing a cognitive task (n-back task). Presence of additional cognitive load and type of DRT stimuli were defined as independent variables. DRT response times and hit rates, n-back task performance, and pupil size were observed as dependent variables. Results: Significant changes in pupil size for trials with a cognitive task compared to trials without showed that cognitive load was induced properly. Each DRT version showed a significant increase in response times and a decrease in hit rates for trials with a secondary cognitive task compared to trials without. Similar and significantly better results in differences in response times and hit rates were obtained for the auditory and tactile version compared to the visual version. There were no significant differences in performance rate between the trials without DRT stimuli compared to trials with and among the trials with different DRT stimuli modalities. Conclusions: The results from this study show that the auditory DRT version, using the signal implementation suggested in this article, is sensitive to the effects of cognitive load on driver's attention and is significantly better than the remote visual and tactile version for auditory–vocal cognitive (n-back) secondary tasks.
Longitudinal course of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: systematic review

Background More information about the pattern of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in the course of dementia is needed to inform patients and clinicians and to design future interventions. Aims To determine the persistence and incidence of BPSD and their relation to cognitive function, in individuals with dementia or in cohorts investigated for dementia onset. Method A systematic literature review analysed the baseline prevalence, persistence and incidence of 11 symptoms. The review was conducted according to established guidelines with the exception that we could not exclude the possibilities of bias in the studies examined. Results The 59 included studies showed considerable heterogeneity in their objectives and methods. The symptoms hyperactivity and apathy showed high persistence and incidence; depression and anxiety low or moderate persistence and moderate incidence; and psychotic symptoms low persistence with moderate or low incidence. Conclusions Despite heterogeneity across studies in terms of setting, focus and length of follow-up, there were clinically relevant differences in the longitudinal courses of different BPSD. Apathy was the only symptom with high baseline prevalence, persistence and incidence during the course of dementia.
A note on representation of nonlinear time-varying delay-differential equations as time-delay feedback systems

This paper is concerned with the relationship between delay-differential equations (DDEs) and time-delay feedback systems, and studies the conversion problem of nonlinear time-varying (NLTV) DDEs into representations as time-delay feedback systems, i.e., NLTV systems in feedback connection with pure delays. We first introduce adequate definitions of the solutions of the initial value problems for DDEs under possibly discontinuous initial functions, together with appropriate assumptions for ensuring the global existence and uniqueness of such solutions. We then tackle the conversion problem and solve it including the conversion of initial conditions, and discuss the relation of the conversion method with an existing result confined to linear time-invariant DDEs.
Nutrient availability of different batches of wheat distiller’s dried grains with solubles for turkeys

ABSTRACT Effects of five different batches of wheat distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were used to investigate bioavailability of energy and nutrients for turkeys. The laboratory analysis of the DDGS showed the largest variations for soluble non-starch polysaccharides, oil and ash. In total, 96 birds were fed one of six mash diets. The basal diet contained per kilogram 535 g wheat and 300 g soya bean meal, corresponding to 247 g crude protein and 12.6 MJ N-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AMEn). Another five diets contained per kilogram 200 g of each DDGS samples in replacement for basal diet. Each diet was fed to eight pens with two female Premium turkeys following randomisation. The AMEn and the nutrient retention coefficients of the pure DDGS samples were obtained using the substitution method. The AMEn of the DDGS from batch A was higher (p = 0.048) compared to those from batches B and C, but did not differ from DDGS samples D and E. There were no differences in dry matter retention, nitrogen retention and fat digestibility between the DDGS samples tested. The AMEn of the DDGS samples correlated positively (p < 0.05) to the starch (r = 0.895) and the non-soluble non-starch polysaccharides contents (r = 0.940), and the red index of lighting (a) (r = 0.916), respectively. In general, findings from this study indicate bioavailability of energy and most nutrients to be in the range of published data with turkeys, and to vary between batches.
Association of timing of menarche with depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence: Mendelian randomisation study

Background Observational studies report associations between early menarche and higher levels of depressive symptoms and depression. However, no studies have investigated whether this association is causal. Aims To determine whether earlier menarche is a causal risk factor for depressive symptoms and depression in adolescence. Method The associations between a genetic score for age at menarche and depressive symptoms at 14, 17 and 19 years, and depression at 18 years, were examined using Mendelian randomisation analysis techniques. Results Using a genetic risk score to indicate earlier timing of menarche, we found that early menarche is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms at 14 years (odds ratio per risk allele 1.02, 95% CI 1.005–1.04, n=2404). We did not find an association between the early menarche risk score and depressive symptoms or depression after age 14. Conclusions Our results provide evidence for a causal effect of age at menarche on depressive symptoms at age 14.
Nursing bedside clinical handover - an integrated review of issues and tools.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This article reviews the available literature that supports implementing bedside clinical handover in nursing clinical practice and then seeks to identify key issues if any. BACKGROUND Clinical handover practices are recognised as being an essential component in the effective transfer of clinical care between health practitioners. It is recognised that the point where a patient is 'handed over' from one clinician to another is significant in maintaining continuity of care and that doing this poorly can have significant safety issues for the patient. DESIGN An integrated literature review. METHOD A literature review of 45 articles was undertaken to understand bedside clinical handover and the issues related to the implementation of this process. RESULTS It was identified that there are a number of clinical handover mnemonics available that provide structure to the process and that areas such as confidentiality, inclusion of the patient/carer and involving the multidisciplinary team remain topical issues for practitioners in implementing good clinical handover practices. CONCLUSIONS This literature review identified a lack of literature available about the transfer of responsibility and accountability during clinical handover and auditing practices of the clinical handover process. The nurses were more concerned about confidentiality issues than were patients. The use of a structured tool was strongly supported; however, no one singular tool was considered suitable for all clinical areas. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nursing clinicians seeking to implement best practice within their professional speciality should consider some of the issues raised within this article and seek to address these issues by developing strategies to overcome them.
The In Situ Ply Shear Strength Distributions in Graphite/Epoxy Laminated Composites

An experimental and analytical investigation was performed to study the in situ ply shear strength in fiber-reinforced laminated composites. The effects of ply orientation and laminate thickness on the ply shear strength in laminates were the major concerns of the study. T300/1034-C Graphite/Epoxy cross-ply laminates were selected for the tests, and a rail shear fixture was used for measuring ply shear strengths. A three-dimensional finite element program was also developed to analyze the interlaminar stress distributions in the specimens. The results of test data strongly indicate that the ply orientation and laminate thickness significantly influence the in-plane shear strengths of the laminates. This effect could be attributed to the inherent flaws introduced during manufacturing processes and to interlaminar stresses in laminates. As a consequence, ply shear strength should not be regarded as an intrinsic property of fiber-reinforced laminates. Due to the free edge effect, the results of shear strength distributions measured from the rail shear fixture were conser vative.
Sensor-Based Assessment of Soil Salinity during the First Years of Transition from Flood to Sprinkler Irrigation

A key issue for agriculture in irrigated arid lands is the control of soil salinity, and this is one of the goals for irrigated districts when changing from flood to sprinkling irrigation. We combined soil sampling, proximal electromagnetic induction, and satellite data to appraise how soil salinity and its distribution along a previously flood-irrigated field evolved after its transformation to sprinkling. We also show that the relationship between NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and ECe (electrical conductivity of the soil saturation extracts) mimics the production function between yield and soil salinity. Under sprinkling, the field had a double crop of barley and then sunflower in 2009 and 2011. In both years, about 50% of the soil of the entire studied field—45 ha—had ECe < 8 dS m−1, i.e., allowing barley cultivation, while the percent of surface having ECe ≥ 16 dS m−1 increased from 8.4% in 2009 to 13.7% in 2011. Our methodology may help monitor the soil salinity oscillations associated with irrigation management. After quantifying and mapping the soil salinity in 2009 and 2011, we show that barley was stunted in places of the field where salinity was higher. Additionally, the areas of salinity persisted after the subsequent alfalfa cropping in 2013. Application of differential doses of water to the saline patches is a viable method to optimize irrigation water distribution and lessen soil salinity in sprinkler-irrigated agriculture.
Delivering Public Health Insurance Through Private Plan Choice in the United States.

The United States has seen a sea change in the way that publicly financed health insurance coverage is provided to low-income, elderly, and disabled enrollees. When programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were introduced in the 1960s, the government directly reimbursed medical providers for the care that they provided, through a classic "single payer system. " Since the mid-1980s, however, there has been an evolution towards a model where the government subsidizes enrollees who choose among privately provided insurance options. In the United States, privatized delivery of public health insurance appears to be here to stay, with debates now focused on how much to expand its reach. Yet such privatized delivery raises a variety of thorny issues. Will choice among private insurance options lead to adverse selection and market failures in privatized insurance markets? Can individuals choose appropriately over a wide range of expensive and confusing plan options? Will a privatized approach deliver the promised increases in delivery efficiency claimed by advocates? What policy mechanisms have been used, or might be used, to address these issues? A growing literature in health economics has begun to make headway on these questions. In this essay, I discuss that literature and the lessons for both economics more generally and health care policymakers more specifically.
Brain reserve against physical disability progression over 5 years in multiple sclerosis

Objective: The brain reserve hypothesis links larger maximal lifetime brain growth (MLBG, estimated with intracranial volume [ICV]) with lower risk for cognitive decline/dementia. We examined whether larger MLBG is also linked to less physical disability progression over 5 years in a prospective sample of treatment-naive patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Physical disability was measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at baseline and 5-year follow-up in 52 treatment-naive Serbian patients with MS. MRI measured disease burden (cerebral atrophy, T2 lesion volume) and MLBG: a genetically determined, premorbid (established during adolescence, stable thereafter) patient characteristic estimated with ICV (adjusted for sex). Logistic regression tested whether MLBG (smaller vs larger) predicts disability progression (stable vs worsened) independently of disease burden. Results: Disability progression was observed in 29 (55.8%) patients. Larger MLBG predicted lower risk for progression (odds ratio 0.13, 95% confidence interval 0.02–0.78), independently of disease burden. We also calculated absolute change in EDSS scores, and observed that patients with smaller MLBG showed worse EDSS change (0.91 ± 0.71) than patients with larger MLBG (0.42 ± 0.87). Conclusions: Larger MLBG was linked to lower risk for disability progression in patients with MS over 5 years, which is the first extension of the brain reserve hypothesis to physical disability. MLBG (ICV) represents a clinically available metric that may help gauge risk for future disability in patients with MS, which may advance the science and practice of early intervention. Potential avenues for future research are discussed.