Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Activity of an Oral Iminomethoxy Aminothiazolyl Cephalosporin

The in vitro activity of R-3746, an iminomethoxy aminothiazolyl cephalosporin with a CH20CH3 moiety at position 3, was compared with those of other antibiotics. R-3746 inhibited the majority of hemolytic streptococci (groups A, B, C, F, and G) and Streptococcus pneumoniae at <0.06 ,ug/ml, which was comparable to the activity of amoxicillin, 2to 8-fold more active than cefixime, and 16to 64-fold more active than cefaclor and cephalexin. Ninety percent of P-lactamase-producing Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were inhibited at a concentration 0.25 ,ug/ml, but it was less active against Branhamella spp. It did not inhibit (MIC, >16 pg/ml) enterococci, viridans group streptococci, or methicillin-resistant staphylococci. The MICs of R-3746 for 90% of strains tested for Escherichia coli; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Citrobacter diversus; Proteus mirabilis; and Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia spp. were <1 ,Lg/ml. It was twoto eightfold less active than cefixime but was markedly superior to cefaclor, cephalexin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole. R-3746 inhibited 50% of Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Citroblacterfreundii, Morganella spp. , Providencia spp. , Proteus vulgaris, and Serratia marcescens at c8 ,ug/ml. Pseudomonas spp.
Simulation of an airport passenger security system

As part of the new security environment at the nation's airports, discrete event simulation modeling was applied shortly after 9-11 to understand the operational dynamics of passenger security screening in conjunction with the redesign of the passenger checkpoint. In a rapid six week effort, a discrete event simulation model was built to represent the passenger and luggage screening system at Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). BWI was the first airport to undergo enhancement, and the project was reported in "BWI's Subtle But Serious Security", Washington Post, March 4, 2002. After the value of simulation was demonstrated at BWI, the simulation methodology was applied to develop resource requirements at all Category X and I airports in the United States.
Hubble Ultra Deep Field-JD2: Mid-Infrared Evidence for a z ~ 2 Luminous Infrared Galaxy

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field source JD2 presented in Mobasher et al. is an unusual galaxy that is very faint at all wavelengths shortward of 1.1 μm. Photometric redshift fits to data between 0.4 and 8 μm yield a significant probability that it is an extremely massive galaxy at z ~ 6.5. In this paper we present new photometry at 16 and 22 μm from Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) peak-up imaging of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) fields. We find that the spectral energy distribution shows a factor of ~4 rise in flux density between the 16 and 22 μm bandpass, which is most likely due to the entrance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission features into the 22 and 24 μm passbands. The flux ratio between these bandpasses can be best fit by a z = 1.7 luminous infrared galaxy with a bolometric luminosity of (2-6) × 1011 L☉ corresponding to a star formation rate of 80 M☉ yr-1. The predicted flux density values at other longer wavelengths are below the detection limits of current instrumentation, but such sources could potentially be detected in lensed submillimeter surveys. Reevaluation of the optical/near-infrared photometry continues to favor z > 6 photometric redshift solutions, but we argue that the consistency of the multiwavelength parameters of this galaxy with other dusty starbursts favor the z ~ 2 mid-infrared photometric redshift. The data presented here provide evidence that optically undetected near-infrared sources that are detected at 24 μm are most likely dusty, starburst galaxies at a redshift of z ~ 2 with stellar masses >1010 M☉.
Effectiveness of Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) for Borderline Personality Problems in a ‘Real-World’ Sample: Moderation by Diagnosis or Severity?

Background: Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) is a group treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Two prior randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown the efficacy of this training. In both RCTs, patients with borderline features who did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for BPD were excluded, which were many. We investigated the effectiveness of STEPPS in a sample representative of routine clinical practice and examined whether DSM-IV diagnosis and/or baseline severity were related to differential effectiveness. Methods: Patients whom their practicing clinician diagnosed with BPD were randomized to STEPPS plus adjunctive individual therapy (STEPPS, n = 84) or to treatment as usual (TAU, n = 84). Results: STEPPS recipients showed more improvement on measures of general and BPD-specific psychopathology as well as quality of life than TAU recipients, both at the end of treatment and at a 6-month follow-up. Presence of DSM-IV-diagnosed BPD was not related to differential treatment effectiveness, but dimensional measures of symptom severity were; STEPPS was superior to TAU particularly in patients with higher baseline severity scores. Conclusions: The findings show the effectiveness of STEPPS in a ‘real-world’ sample, and underscore the importance of dimensional versus categorical measures of personality disturbance.
Assessment of gliosis around moveable implants in the brain

Repositioning microelectrodes post-implantation is emerging as a promising approach to achieve long-term reliability in single neuronal recordings. The main goal of this study was to (a) assess glial reaction in response to movement of microelectrodes in the brain post-implantation and (b) determine an optimal window of time post-implantation when movement of microelectrodes within the brain would result in minimal glial reaction. Eleven Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with two microelectrodes each that could be moved in vivo post-implantation. Three cohorts were investigated: (1) microelectrode moved at day 2 (n = 4 animals), (2) microelectrode moved at day 14 (n = 5 animals) and (3) microelectrode moved at day 28 (n = 2 animals). Histological evaluation was performed in cohorts 1–3 at four-week post-movement (30 days, 42 days and 56 days post-implantation, respectively). In addition, five control animals were implanted with microelectrodes that were not moved. Control animals were implanted for (1) 30 days (n = 1), (2) 42 days (n = 2) and (3) 56 days (n = 2) prior to histological evaluation. Quantitative assessment of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) around the tip of the microelectrodes demonstrated that GFAP levels were similar around microelectrodes moved at day 2 when compared to the 30-day controls. However, GFAP expression levels around microelectrode tips that moved at day 14 and day 28 were significantly less than those around control microelectrodes implanted for 42 and 56 days, respectively. Therefore, we conclude that moving microelectrodes after implantation is a viable strategy that does not result in any additional damage to brain tissue. Further, moving the microelectrode downwards after 14 days of implantation may actually reduce the levels of GFAP expression around the tips of the microelectrodes in the long term.
Design of high-efficiency ultrabroadband dielectric gratings.

We present a design concept of dielectric gratings containing resonant high (TiO2) and resonant low (SiO2) index dielectric thin-film layers between the grating and the underlying multilayer reflector. We use numerical simulations and the genetic algorithm optimization method to achieve high diffraction efficiency (>97%) in the first diffracted order over a wide wavelength range (∼160 nm) at around 800 nm. The basic concept of the structural optimization contains a high refractive index binary grating with alternating low- and high-index reflector layers, the thicknesses of which are also among the optimization parameters. We introduce two resonant dielectric layers directly below the corrugated TiO2 grating structure and we choose a small (<10%) filling fraction for the grating. This concept allows us to broaden the spectral range where high DE can be achieved. We investigate here gratings for both Littrow-mount and off-Littrow applications.
The Effect of Student Training on Accuracy of Completion of Death Certificates

Abstract Background: Death certificates are an invaluable source of statistical and medical information, as well as important legal documents. However, few physicians receive formal training on how to accurately complete them. Purpose: To determine if a simple intervention can improve the accuracy of death certificate completion by medical students. Methods: Participants included all third year medical students undergoing their core Internal Medicine rotation at Mercer University School of Medicine at the Medical Center of Central Georgia. Participation was voluntary and participants completed an approved informed consent. Students were presented a tutorial from the National Association of Medical Examiners website. They were asked to complete a death certificate both before and after the tutorial along with subjective questionnaires. The primary outcome measurement was the difference in scores pre- and post-tutorial. Results: The mean score before the tutorial was 11.75 (±3.20) and the mean score post-tutorial was 18.85 (±2.56), indicating an increase in scores. The mean difference in pre- and post-tutorial scores was significant (t =20.39, p <0.0001). Conclusions: We found that using a tutorial to teach students how to correctly complete a death certificate was effective.
Approximate Maximum-Entropy Integration of Syntactic and Semantic Constraints

Statistical approaches to natural language parsing and interpretation have a number of advantages but thus far have failed to incorporate compositional generalizations found in traditional structural models. A major reason for this is the inability of most statistical language models being used to represent relational constraints, the connectionist variable binding problem being a prominent case. This paper proposes a basis for integrating probabilistic relational constraints using maximum entropy, with standard compositional feature-structure or frame representations. In addition, because full maximum entropy is combinatorically explosive, an approximate maximum entropy (AME) technique is introduced. As a sample problem, the task of integrating syntactic and semantic constraints for nominal compound interpretation is considered.
Role of endotoxin‐responsive macrophages in hepatic injury

Although administration of 100 mg galactosamine caused severe hepatic injury in C3H/HeN mice, splenectomy reduced the grade of this hepatotoxicity. However, this hepatic injury was scarcely detected in the endotoxin‐resistant C3H/HeJ mice. In addition, in contrast to high lethality in C3H/HeN mice with a combined administration of galactosamine and endotoxin, splenectomy rendered C3H/HeN mice slightly resistant to this treatment. Further resistance was demonstrated in C3H/HeJ mice. In an attempt to clarify the role of endotoxin‐responsive spleen cells in the pathogenesis of hepatic injury, we investigated glactosamine‐induced hepatic injury by transfer of lipopolysaccharide‐treated C3H/HeN or C3H/HeJ spleen cells. Both oxygen‐derived free radical production and the proportion of macrophages in spleen cells were markedly enhanced in C3H/HeN mice after an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide. Further increase in oxidative free radical production was found in the dish‐adherent cells (macrophages). These enhancements were not demonstrated in lipopolysaccharide‐treated C3H/HeJ spleen cells. Athough hepatic injury was not demonstrated in both C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice treated with 35 mg galactosamine alone, severe hepatotoxicity was found in these galactosamine‐treated mice when they received lipopolysaccharide‐activated C3H/HeN spleen cells, especially macrophages. Simultaneous administration of superoxide dismutase with the activated spleen cells reduced the grade of hepatic injury. On the other hand, hepatic injury was not demonstrated in the galactosamine‐treated C3H/HeN or C3H/HeJ mice when they received lipopolysaccharide‐treated C3H/HeJ spleen cells, although 3H‐galactosamine incorporation into hepatocytes was nearly identical in both C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice. These results suggest that oxidative free radicals of lipopolysaccharide responsive macrophages could contribute to the pathogenesis of galactosamine‐induced hepatic injury.
Anti-tumor antibody BR96 blocks cell migration and binds to a lysosomal membrane glycoprotein on cell surface microspikes and ruffled membranes

BR 96 is an internalizing antibody that binds to Lewis Y (Le(y)), a carbohydrate determinant expressed at high levels on many human carcinomas (Hellstrom, I., H. J. Garrigues, U. Garrigues, and K. E. Hellstrom. 1990. Cancer Res. 50:2183-2190). Breast carcinoma cell lines grown to confluence bind less BR96 than subconfluent cultures (Garrigues, J., U. Garrigues, I. Hellstrom, and K. E. Hellstrom. 1993. Am. J. Path. 142:607-622). However, when the confluent cells are induced to migrate by scratch wounding, they again bind BR96 suggesting that antigens bearing the Le(y) determinant may promote cell migration. In the present study, BR96 was found to be highly enriched on microspikes and ruffled membranes, cell surface structures involved in cell migration. In addition, BR96 was a potent inhibitor of cell migration in vitro. When stationary BR96 treated cells were exposed to fresh culture media, membrane ruffles and microspikes developed at the cell margin and migration resumed. Immunogold microscopy showed that BR96 antigens were enriched on these membrane protrusions. BR96 cell surface immunoprecipitation analysis of 3H-glucosamine labeled breast carcinoma cells identified antigens with approximate molecular weights of 135 kd (upper antigen) and 85 kd (lower antigen). A short amino terminal sequence (8 residues) of the upper antigen matched that of human lysosomal membrane glycoprotein 1 (LAMP-1). In addition, the upper antigen was detected on immunoblots probed with anti-LAMP-1, and within the intracellular compartment BR96 was found predominantly in endosomes and lysosomes. A soluble LAMP-1/immunoglobulin fusion protein (LAMP-1/Ig) was transiently expressed in both BR96 binding and nonbinding cell lines. Immunoblot analysis of LAMP-1/Ig's from the various cell lines showed that (a) acquisition of the BR96 epitope is probably controlled at the level of polylactosamine modification (e.g., fucosylation) rather than LAMP-1 gene expression; (b) alternate forms of LAMP-1/Ig comigrate with the lower BR96 antigen raising the possibility that it may be a degradation product of the upper antigen; and (c) LAMP-1/Ig expressed in 3396 breast carcinoma cells has approximately 30-fold more BR96 epitopes than LAMP-1/Ig from non- tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells. Together these data indicate that a major BR96 antigen, LAMP-1, is present on unique cell surface domains involved in cell locomotion as well as membranes of the endocytic compartment. Altered glycosylation of LAMP-1 expressed in transformed cells may contribute to their ability to disseminate.
Hemodynamic changes and catecholamine release during laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.

UNLABELLED We investigated hemodynamics and plasma catecholamine concentrations in eight consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy for suspected pheochromocytoma. The same anesthesia protocol was used in all patients: a continuous infusion of sufentanil 0.5 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1) and isoflurane 0.4% (end-tidal) in 50% N2O/O2. Systolic arterial pressure was maintained between 120 and 160 mm Hg by adjusting an infusion of nicardipine, a calcium-channel blocker, while tachycardia (>100 bpm) was treated by 1-mg boluses of atenolol. Hemodynamics (thermodilution technique) and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured before surgery, after the induction of anesthesia, after turning the patient to the lateral position, during pneumoperitoneum, during tumor manipulation, after adrenalectomy, and at the end of surgery. Two events resulted in significant catecholamine release: creation of the pneumoperitoneum and adrenal gland manipulation. As a consequence, a twofold increase in cardiac output was recorded. Adjustments of nicardipine infusion (2-6 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) minimized changes in mean arterial pressure. Beta-adrenergic blockade was necessary in six patients. In conclusion, laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma results in marked catecholamine release during pneumoperitoneum and tumor manipulation. Titration of a nicardipine infusion allowed easy and quick control of the hemodynamic aberrancies related to these processes. IMPLICATIONS Pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopy, now used for adrenalectomy, may complicate anesthetic management of patients with pheochromocytoma. In this study, laparoscopic adrenalectomy was associated with catecholamine release during the creation of pneumoperitoneum and tumor manipulation. Adjustments of a nicardipine infusion readily attenuated the subsequent hemodynamic aberrancies.
A comparison of (18)F-dopa PET and inversion recovery MRI in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE To quantify structural changes in the substantia nigra of patients with PD with inversion recovery MRI and to compare these with striatal dopaminergic function measured with (18)F-dopa PET. METHODS The authors studied 10 patients with PD and eight age-matched control subjects with a combination of MR sequences previously reported to be sensitive to nigral cell loss. Striatal regions of interest were defined on T1-weighted MRI coregistered to (18)F-dopa PET in all subjects. RESULTS Discriminant function analysis of the quantified MR nigral signal correctly classified 83% of the combined PD patient/control group; three of 10 PD cases were incorrectly classified as "normal" (Wilks' lambda = 0.724, p > 0.05). Discriminant function analysis correctly classified 100% of PD patients and control subjects with (18)F-dopa PET based on mean caudate and putamen K(i) values (Wilks' lambda = 0.065, p < 0.001). Correlations between mean putamen K(i) and rostral and caudal nigral MR signal changes and mean caudate K(i) and caudal nigral MR signal changes were found (r = -0.76, -0.69, -0.80, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION (18)F-dopa PET is more reliable than inversion recovery MRI in discriminating patients with moderately severe PD from normal subjects. However, the structural changes detected within the substantia nigra of patients with PD found using inversion recovery MRI correlate with measures of striatal dopaminergic function using (18)F-dopa PET.
Comparison of Cleaning Efficacy and Instrumentation Time of Reciproc and Mtwo Rotary Systems in Primary Molars

Background and Aim: Pulpectomy of primary teeth is commonly performed with hand files and instruments. However, it is a time consuming procedure. Compared to hand files, rotary instrumentation has more advantages. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the cleaning efficacy and time taken for instrumentation of deciduous molars using Reciproc and Mtwo rotary systems. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 96 canals of 28 extracted primary molars with at least two-thirds of intact roots, with no previous treatment and 7-12 mm length were selected. After access cavity preparation, size #15 K-file was introduced into the root canal and India ink was injected with an insulin syringe. Then, 96 samples were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group. In group I (n=44), root canals were prepared with Reciproc; in group II (n=44), Mtwo files were used for instrumentation, and in group III, eight samples were considered as negative controls. After clearing and root sectioning, the removal of India ink in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds was scored. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: There was no significant difference between the experimental groups regarding cleaning efficacy at the apical third of root canals (P>0.05). The coronal and middle thirds scored higher in the Reciproc group (P<0.05). Instrumentation with Reciproc rotary files was significantly less time consuming (P<0.001). Conclusion: Using new systems such as Reciproc file for pulpectomy of primary teeth is beneficial.
Designing for the living room: long-term user involvement in a living lab

Living Labs provide a research infrastructure for long-term user involvement in Participatory Design processes. Users take part in software co-creation during context analysis, for concept development, reflecting on early-stage prototypes and evaluations in the field. In this paper we describe lessons learned from our Living Lab in the area of home entertainment, with 27 participants from 16 households, over a 2.5 year period. We show that this kind of long-term participation of users involves various challenges over the lifetime of the project. We highlight several aspects that need to be considered carefully when setting up such a Living Lab, concerning the selection of participants, maintenance of participants' motivation, establishment of a trust relationship, and the coordination of collaboration.
Comparison of two methods of presenting risk information to patients about the side effects of medicines

Objective: To determine whether the use of verbal descriptors suggested by the European Union (EU) such as “common” (1–10% frequency) and “rare” (0.01–0.1%) effectively conveys the level of risk of side effects to people taking a medicine. Design: Randomised controlled study with unconcealed allocation. Participants: 120 adults taking simvastatin or atorvastatin after cardiac surgery or myocardial infarction. Setting: Cardiac rehabilitation clinics at two hospitals in Leeds, UK. Intervention: A written statement about one of the side effects of the medicine (either constipation or pancreatitis). Within each side effect condition half the patients were given the information in verbal form and half in numerical form (for constipation, “common” or 2.5%; for pancreatitis, “rare” or 0.04%). Main outcome measure: The estimated likelihood of the side effect occurring. Other outcome measures related to the perceived severity of the side effect, its risk to health, and its effect on decisions about whether to take the medicine. Results: The mean likelihood estimate given for the constipation side effect was 34.2% in the verbal group and 8.1% in the numerical group; for pancreatitis it was 18% in the verbal group and 2.1% in the numerical group. The verbal descriptors were associated with more negative perceptions of the medicine than their equivalent numerical descriptors. Conclusions: Patients want and need understandable information about medicines and their risks and benefits. This is essential if they are to become partners in medicine taking. The use of verbal descriptors to improve the level of information about side effect risk leads to overestimation of the level of harm and may lead patients to make inappropriate decisions about whether or not they take the medicine.