Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haemodynamic parameters obtained by transthoracic echocardiography and Swan-Ganz catheter: a comparative study in liver transplant patients.

OBJECTIVE To compare the haemodynamic measurements of cardiac output (CO), central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (Pw) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), obtained by Swan-Ganz catheter and transthoracic echocardiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS Prospective study in a Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A total of 41 post liver transplant patients were enrolled. CO, CVP, Pw and PASP, were simultaneously determined by two independent observers, utilizing a Swan-Ganz catheter and transthoracic echocardiography, using equations described in the literature. A linear correlation and a Bland-Altman analysis were performed. RESULTS A good correlation between invasive and non- invasive measurements for CO (r=0.97) and CVP (r=0.88) was found, but determinations of Pw (r=0.41) and PASP (r=0.18) did not correlate well. Bias and 95% confidence interval for CO were negligible namely when a CO<6 l/min was considered. Pulsed-wave Doppler-echocardiography underestimates the CO when compared with thermodilution, but the 2 techniques agree on average and can be used interchangeably. CONCLUSIONS The non-invasive determination of CO in critical care post liver transplant patients correlates well with the invasive determinations. Transthoracic echocardiography was not appropriate for calculating filling parameters studied. Although the data was obtained in post liver transplant patients, they could be useful in defining the role of echocardiography in the ICU.
Tuberculosis mortality in HIV-infected individuals: a cross-national systematic assessment

Objective Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals. We sought to compare mortality rates in TB/HIV co-infected individuals globally and by country/territory. Design We conducted a cross-national systematic assessment. Methods TB mortality rates in HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) Stop TB department for 212 recognized countries/territories in the years 2006–2008. Multivariate linear regression determined the impact of health care resource and economic variables on our outcome variable, and TB mortality rates. Results In 2008, an estimated 13 TB/HIV deaths occurred per 100,000 population globally with the African region having the highest death rate ([AFRH] ≥4% adult HIV-infection rate) at 86 per 100,000 individuals. The next highest rates were for the Eastern European Region (EEUR) and the Latin American Region (LAMR) at 4 and 3 respectively per 100,000 population. African countries’ HIV-positive TB mortality rates were 29.9 times higher than non-African countries (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.8–53.4). Every US$100 of government per capita health expenditure was associated with a 33% (95% CI: 24%–42%) decrease in TB/HIV mortality rates. The multivariate model also accounted for calendar year and did not include highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) coverage. Conclusions Our results indicate that while the AFRH has the highest TB/HIV death rates, countries in EEUR and LAMR also have elevated mortality rates. Increasing health expenditure directed towards universal HAART access may reduce mortality from both diseases.
drug resistance

Fig. 15: Chloroquine sensitivity status of P. falciparum isolates in vitro (1992–2001) Monitoring Antimalarial Drug Resistance In order to understand genetic composition of the isolates in respect to commonly used antimalarials, isolates from different geographical regions were tested for their drug response either by in vitro or in vivo assay. Status of drug sensitivity in malaria parasites is important to plan and identify appropriate chemotherapeutic regimens and drugs.
Three year joint space narrowing predicts long term incidence of knee surgery in patients with osteoarthritis: an eight year prospective follow up study

Objective: To assess the clinical relevance of mean and minimum femorotibial joint space narrowing (JSN) for predicting future osteoarthritis related surgery in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: 126 subjects with primary knee osteoarthritis were followed prospectively for a mean eight years. Minimum and mean joint space width (JSW) were assessed from standard x rays at baseline and after a follow up of three years. The rate of knee osteoarthritis related surgery was recorded for the following five years. Results: After a mean follow up of eight years, 16 patients (12.7%) had received osteoarthritis related joint surgery. The areas under the curves (AUC) resulting from the receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for predicting osteoarthritis surgery were 0.73 (p = 0.006) for minimum JSN and 0.55 (p = 0.54) for mean JSN. The cut off for minimum JSN maximising sensitivity and specificity for predicting future surgery was a change of 0.7 mm or more in minimum joint space width over a period of three years. However, no meaningful differences were observed for cut off values between 0.5 and 0.8 mm The relative risk (adjusted for age, body mass index, baseline symptoms, and baseline JSW) of experiencing osteoarthritis related surgery during the eight year of follow up was 5.15 (95% confidence interval, 1.70 to 15.60) (p = 0.004) in patients with a minimum joint space narrowing of 0.7 mm or more during the first three years of the study. Conclusions: A cut off of 0.5 to 0.8 mm in minimum JSN, measured on standard x rays, reflects a clinically relevant progression in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Dietary Inference from Upper and Lower Molar Morphology in Platyrrhine Primates

The correlation between diet and dental topography is of importance to paleontologists seeking to diagnose ecological adaptations in extinct taxa. Although the subject is well represented in the literature, few studies directly compare methods or evaluate dietary signals conveyed by both upper and lower molars. Here, we address this gap in our knowledge by comparing the efficacy of three measures of functional morphology for classifying an ecologically diverse sample of thirteen medium- to large-bodied platyrrhines by diet category (e.g., folivore, frugivore, hard object feeder). We used Shearing Quotient (SQ), an index derived from linear measurements of molar cutting edges and two indices of crown surface topography, Occlusal Relief (OR) and Relief Index (RFI). Using SQ, OR, and RFI, individuals were then classified by dietary category using Discriminate Function Analysis. Both upper and lower molar variables produce high classification rates in assigning individuals to diet categories, but lower molars are consistently more successful. SQs yield the highest classification rates. RFI and OR generally perform above chance. Upper molar RFI has a success rate below the level of chance. Adding molar length enhances the discriminatory power for all variables. We conclude that upper molar SQs are useful for dietary reconstruction, especially when combined with body size information. Additionally, we find that among our sample of platyrrhines, SQ remains the strongest predictor of diet, while RFI is less useful at signaling dietary differences in absence of body size information. The study demonstrates new ways for inferring the diets of extinct platyrrhine primates when both upper and lower molars are available, or, for taxa known only from upper molars. The techniques are useful in reconstructing diet in stem representatives of anthropoid clade, who share key aspects of molar morphology with extant platyrrhines.
Amnion Epithelial Cells Promote Lung Repair via Lipoxin A4

Human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) have been shown to possess potent immunomodulatory properties across a number of disease models. Recently, we reported that hAECs influence macrophage polarization and activity, and that this step was dependent on regulatory T cells. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of hAEC‐derived proresolution lipoxin‐A4 (LXA4) on T‐cell, macrophage, and neutrophil phenotype and function during the acute phase of bleomycin‐induced lung injury. Using C57Bl6 mice, we administered 4 million hAECs intraperitoneally 24 hours after bleomycin challenge. Outcomes were measured at days 3, 5, and 7. hAEC administration resulted in significant changes to T‐cell, macrophage, dendritic cell, and monocyte/macrophage infiltration and phenotypes. Endogenous levels of lipoxygenases, LXA4, and the lipoxin receptor FPR2 were elevated in hAEC‐treated animals. Furthermore, we showed that the effects of hAECs on macrophage phagocytic activity and T‐cell suppression are LXA4 dependent, whereas the inhibition of neutrophil‐derived myleoperoxidase by hAECs is independent of LXA4. This study provides the first evidence that lipid‐based mediators contribute to the immunomodulatory effects of hAECs and further supports the growing body of evidence that LXA4 is proresolutionary in lung injury. This discovery of LXA4‐dependent communication between hAECs, macrophages, T cells, and neutrophils is important to the understanding of hAEC biodynamics and would be expected to inform future clinical applications. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1085–1095
Risk Factors for Maternal Mortality in Rural Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study

Background Maternal mortality continues to have devastating impacts in many societies, where it constitutes a leading cause of death, and thus remains a core issue in international development. Nevertheless, individual determinants of maternal mortality are often unclear and subject to local variation. This study aims to characterise individual risk factors for maternal mortality in Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based case-control study was conducted, with 62 cases and 248 controls from six randomly-selected rural districts. All maternal deaths between May 2012 and September 2013 were recruited as cases and a random sample of mothers who delivered in the same communities within the same time period were taken as controls. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent determinants of maternal mortality. Results Four independent individual risk factors, significantly associated with maternal death, emerged. Women who were not members of the voluntary Women’s Development Army were more likely to experience maternal death (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.04–4.11), as were women whose husbands or partners had below-median scores for involvement during pregnancy (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.14–4.18). Women with a pre-existing history of other illness were also at increased risk (OR 5.58, 95% CI 2.17–14.30), as were those who had never used contraceptives (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.37–4.85). Previous pregnancy complications, a below-median number of antenatal care visits and a woman’s lack of involvement in health care decision making were significant bivariable risks that were not significant in the multivariable model. Conclusions The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing maternal mortality need to focus on encouraging membership of the Women’s Development Army, enhancing husbands’ involvement in maternal health services, improving linkages between maternity care and other disease-specific programmes and ensuring that women with previous illnesses or non-users of contraceptive services are identified and followed-up as being at increased risk during pregnancy and childbirth.
Great expectations: views of genetic research participants regarding current and future genetic studies

Purpose: Recruitment of prior participants in genetic research is one strategy suggested to maximize efficient use of research dollars in gene-environment studies. We explored attitudes toward genetic research participation among people in a case-control genetic epidemiology study of colon cancer, the North Carolina Colorectal Cancer Study (NCCCS). Methods: Quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional analysis of 801 NCCCS participants.Results: Participants were “very positive” (63%) or “positive” (32%) about genetic research, and “very likely” (49%) or “somewhat likely” (40%) to participate in future genetic research. Variables significantly associated with feeling “very positive” were white race, more education, nonreligious, hearing “a lot” about genetic research, and two measures of trust in medical research. Except for race and education, the same variables were significantly associated with being “very likely” to participate in future studies. Qualitatively, “good things” for self and family included discovering causes and cures for cancer, and the value of genetic information. Many could not list “bad things”; those who did mentioned anxiety, “knowing too much,” losing confidentiality, or abuse of information.Conclusions: Despite very positive attitudes of these participants toward genetic research, there is significant variation based on participant characteristics. These findings should encourage and caution researchers attempting to recruit prior participants into genetic studies.
Exploring Website Location as a Security Indicator

Authenticating websites is an ongoing problem for users. Recent proposals have suggested strengthening current server authentication methods by incorporating website location as a comprehensible additional trust factor. In this work, we explore users' acceptance of location information and how it affects decision-making for security and privacy. We conducted a series of qualitative interviews to learn how location can be integrated into users' decision-making for security, and we designed a security indicator to alert the user to changes in website locations. We evaluated our tool in a 44-participant user study and found that users were less likely to perform security-sensitive tasks when alerted to location changes. Our results suggest that website location can be used as an effective indicator for users' security assessments.
Effect of fissure integrity on lung volume reduction using a polymer sealant* in advanced emphysema

Rationale Interlobar fissure integrity has previously correlated with responsiveness to endobronchial lung volume reduction therapy in patients with advanced emphysema. Objective This report summarises the effect of interlobar fissure integrity on responses to treatment with a novel endoscopic tissue sealant (AeriSeal emphysematous lung sealant (ELS)) that collapses hyperinflated lung. Methods Fissure status, lung volumes, tissue density and disease heterogeneity were assessed radiographically in 28 patients (age 63.4±6.1 years, 20 men) with advanced upper lobe predominant emphysema (density=888.0±18.2 HU; upper lobe tissue density <−950=2.62±1.74). Post-treatment changes in lobar volume, pulmonary function, exercise capacity, symptoms and quality of life were compared in patients with complete fissures (CFs) and incomplete fissures (ICFs). Results ELS therapy reduced lung volumes independent of interlobar fissure integrity. In patients with upper lobe emphysema and CFs, lobar volume reduction was 214±127 ml/treatment compared with 256±175 ml/treatment in those with ICFs (p=0.453). Reductions in gas trapping and improvements in spirometry, functional capacity and quality of life were similar in patients with CFs and ICFs. Stepwise multiple regression modelling confirmed that fissure integrity did not contribute to post-treatment changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 s, residual volume/total lung capacity ratio or lobar volume measured by CT analysis. Conclusions Interlobar fissure integrity, an important determinant of responsiveness to endobronchial lung volume reduction therapy in prior studies, had minimal impact on physiological and functional responses to ELS therapy in patients with severe upper lobe predominant emphysema. Clinical trial registration number Registration numbers for trials contributing to datasets in this report: NCT00884962, NCT01051258 and NCT01181466.
Sphere-Meshes

Shape approximation algorithms aim at computing simple geometric descriptions of dense surface meshes. Many such algorithms are based on mesh decimation techniques, generating coarse triangulations while optimizing for a particular metric which models the distance to the original shape. This approximation scheme is very efficient when enough polygons are allowed for the simplified model. However, as coarser approximations are reached, the intrinsic piecewise linear point interpolation which defines the decimated geometry fails at capturing even simple structures. We claim that when reaching such extreme simplification levels, highly instrumental in shape analysis, the approximating representation should explicitly and progressively model the volumetric extent of the original shape. In this paper, we propose Sphere-Meshes, a new shape representation designed for extreme approximations and substituting a sphere interpolation for the classic point interpolation of surface meshes. From a technical point-of-view, we propose a new shape approximation algorithm, generating a sphere-mesh at a prescribed level of detail from a classical polygon mesh. We also introduce a new metric to guide this approximation, the Spherical Quadric Error Metric in R4, whose minimizer finds the sphere that best approximates a set of tangent planes in the input and which is sensitive to surface orientation, thus distinguishing naturally between the inside and the outside of an object. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm on a collection of models covering a wide range of topological and geometric structures and compare it against alternate methods. Lastly, we propose an application to deformation control where a sphere-mesh hierarchy is used as a convenient rig for altering the input shape interactively.
A Time-Resolved, Low-Noise Single-Photon Image Sensor Fabricated in Deep-Submicron CMOS Technology

We report on the design and characterization of a novel time-resolved image sensor fabricated in a 130 nm CMOS process. Each pixel within the 3232 pixel array contains a low-noise single-photon detector and a high-precision time-to-digital converter (TDC). The 10-bit TDC exhibits a timing resolution of 119 ps with a timing uniformity across the entire array of less than 2 LSBs. The differential non-linearity (DNL) and integral non-linearity (INL) were measured at ±0.4 and ±1.2 LSBs, respectively. The pixel array was fabricated with a pitch of 50 μm in both directions and with a total TDC area of less than 2000 μm2. The target application for this sensor is time-resolved imaging, in particular fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and 3D imaging. The characterization shows the suitability of the proposed sensor technology for these applications.
Dopaminergic Modulation of the Striatal Microcircuit: Receptor-Specific Configuration of Cell Assemblies

Selection and inhibition of motor behaviors are related to the coordinated activity and compositional capabilities of striatal cell assemblies. Striatal network activity represents a main step in basal ganglia processing. The dopaminergic system differentially regulates distinct populations of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) through the activation of D1- or D2-type receptors. Although postsynaptic and presynaptic actions of these receptors are clearly different in MSNs during cell-focused studies, their activation during network activity has shown inconsistent responses. Therefore, using electrophysiological techniques, functional multicell calcium imaging, and neuronal population analysis in rat corticostriatal slices, we describe the effect of selective dopaminergic receptor activation in the striatal network by observing cell assembly configurations. At the microcircuit level, during striatal network activity, the selective activation of either D1- or D2-type receptors is reflected as overall increases in neuronal synchronization. However, graph theory techniques applied to the transitions between network states revealed receptor-specific configurations of striatal cell assemblies: D1 receptor activation generated closed trajectories with high recurrence and few alternate routes favoring the selection of specific sequences, whereas D2 receptor activation created trajectories with low recurrence and more alternate pathways while promoting diverse transitions among neuronal pools. At the single-cell level, the activation of dopaminergic receptors enhanced the negative-slope conductance region (NSCR) in D1-type-responsive cells, whereas in neurons expressing D2-type receptors, the NSCR was decreased. Consequently, receptor-specific network dynamics most probably result from the interplay of postsynaptic and presynaptic dopaminergic actions.
Self‐reported exercise and bone mineral density in prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy

Purpose: Men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are at increased risk for decreased bone mineral density (BMD). This study evaluates the relationship between self‐reported daily activity, endurance and resistance exercise, and BMD measured by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in prostate cancer patients receiving ADT. Data sources: We recruited 96 men treated with ADT for ≥9 months from urology and cancer practices. The Canadian Fitness Survey assessed daily activity and exercise. Data on demographic and lifestyle characteristics and calcium and vitamin D supplementation were collected. Blood was collected for analysis of 25‐OH vitamin D. A DEXA scan was performed. Conclusions: A positive association between endurance exercise and DEXA T‐scores of the hip was shown. Regression analysis showed endurance exercise of medium to heavy intensity (measured as energy expenditure in MET‐hours/week) was associated with T‐scores of the hip (&bgr; = 0.048; 95% CI 0.003, 0.112; p = .040) but not with spinal T‐scores after controlling for age, body mass index, and alcohol use. Implications for practice: Findings are cross‐sectional, but if confirmed in prospective studies suggest that increased endurance exercise is a practical measure nurse practitioners can institute to prevent low bone density in the hip of men treated with ADT.
In Silico Identification of Potential American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) Allergens

Background: Cockroaches have been recognized as a powerful indoor allergen. Cockroach allergy can be a major factor in serious asthma and nasal allergy. Bioinformatics tools have been developed to identify potential allergens. The present study was conducted to identify potential allergens in Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus). Methods: The study focused on the identification of potential allergens among the characterized proteins of P. americana using web-based and publicly available allergen prediction tools that follow the FAO/WHO guidelines for prediction of allergenic proteins. P. americana protein sequences were retrieved from UniProtKB. The sequences obtained were analyzed using AlgPred. The potential allergens obtained were further analyzed by SDAP for confirmation. Results: Protein sequences (233 cases) of P. americana were obtained from UniProtKB out of which 25 were known allergens. Out of the remaining 208 proteins, 102 potential allergens were predicted by AlgPred. However, only 9 were found to be potential allergens after screening with SDAP. Arginine kinases, RNA polymerase II subunit, parcxpwnx02, peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase, hemocyanin subunit type I and type II, homologue of Sarcophaga proteinase and alpha amylase were confirmed to be potential allergens by SDAP. Conclusion: We have identified nine potential allergens in P. americana that may be used as preliminary support for further laboratory experiments.