Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Controlled Delivery of Vancomycin via Charged Hydrogels

Surgical site infection (SSI) remains a significant risk for any clean orthopedic surgical procedure. Complications resulting from an SSI often require a second surgery and lengthen patient recovery time. The efficacy of antimicrobial agents delivered to combat SSI is diminished by systemic toxicity, bacterial resistance, and patient compliance to dosing schedules. We submit that development of localized, controlled release formulations for antimicrobial compounds would improve the effectiveness of prophylactic surgical wound antibiotic treatment while decreasing systemic side effects. Our research group developed and characterized oligo(poly(ethylene glycol)fumarate) / sodium methacrylate (OPF/SMA) charged copolymers as biocompatible hydrogel matrices. Here, we report the engineering of this copolymer for use as an antibiotic delivery vehicle in surgical applications. We demonstrate that these hydrogels can be efficiently loaded with vancomycin (over 500 μg drug per mg hydrogel) and this loading mechanism is both time- and charge-dependent. Vancomycin release kinetics are shown to be dependent on copolymer negative charge. In the first 6 hours, we achieved as low as 33.7% release. In the first 24 hours, under 80% of total loaded drug was released. Further, vancomycin release from this system can be extended past four days. Finally, we show that the antimicrobial activity of released vancomycin is equivalent to stock vancomycin in inhibiting the growth of colonies of a clinically derived strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In summary, our work demonstrates that OPF/SMA hydrogels are appropriate candidates to deliver local antibiotic therapy for prophylaxis of surgical site infection.
INDIRECTLY PRIMED CD8+ T CELLS ARE A PROMINENT COMPONENT OF THE ALLOGENEIC T-CELL REPERTOIRE AFTER SKIN GRAFT REJECTION IN MICE1

Background. Alloreactive CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes recognize antigen through both the direct and the indirect pathways. Although indirect priming of CD4+ T cells has been well described, little is known about the frequency and cytokine profile of indirectly primed CD8+ T cells during fully allogeneic graft rejection. Methods. We used a cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay to characterize indirect priming of alloreactive CD8 and CD4 cells in mice. Results. Interferon-&ggr;-producing CD8+ T cells specific for indirectly presented alloantigen were detectable in allograft-primed mice at a frequency of 50–100 per million cells (compared with 3000 per million for responses through the direct pathway) and were similar in frequency to indirectly primed CD4 cells. Conclusion. CD8+ T cells primed through the indirect pathway are a prominent component of the alloreactive T-cell repertoire induced after skin graft placement in mice, raising the possibility that these cells may play a significant role in the rejection process itself.
Prefrontal cortex in humans and apes: a comparative study of area 10.

Area 10 is one of the cortical areas of the frontal lobe involved in higher cognitive functions such as the undertaking of initiatives and the planning of future actions. It is known to form the frontal pole of the macaque and human brain, but its presence and organization in the great and lesser apes remain unclear. It is here documented that area 10 also forms the frontal pole of chimpanzee, bonobo, orangutan, and gibbon brains. Imaging techniques and stereological tools are used to characterize this area across species and provide preliminary estimates of its absolute and relative size. Area 10 has similar cytoarchitectonic features in the hominoid brain, but aspects of its organization vary slightly across species, including the relative width of its cortical layers and the space available for connections. The cortex forming the frontal pole of the gorilla appears highly specialized, while area 10 in the gibbon occupies only the orbital sector of the frontal pole. Area 10 in the human brain is larger relative to the rest of the brain than it is in the apes, and its supragranular layers have more space available for connections with other higher-order association areas. This suggests that the neural substrates supporting cognitive functions associated with this part of the cortex enlarged and became specialized during hominid evolution.
Dose response between total volume of physical activity and health and fitness.

PURPOSE Studies published in 1990s were evaluated for the possible dose response between the total volume of physical activity and the fitness and health outcomes, and for the characteristics of the dose response relations. METHODS Nineteen observational studies and 15 randomized trials were identified. The scope of the studies was on primary prevention among inactive, healthy, middle-aged and elderly men and women. MET-min x wk(-1) was used as the primary volume measure. No studies addressing specifically the volume-outcome dose response were identified. RESULTS The cross-sectional and follow-up studies suggested a graded dose response of the volume of physical activity with all-cause mortality, stroke and several coronary heart disease risk factors. The benefits were apparent among both men and women. Nonrandomized and uncontrolled randomized trials exhibited no clear dose response relationship, whereas the randomized controlled trials showed a crude graded dose response between the exercise volume as measured by MET-min x wk(-1) and VO(2max) but not between volume and disease risk factors. An apparently clearer dose response was seen between the intensity of physical activity and the VO(2max) response. These data do not allow for quantitative characterization of the observed dose response relations between physical activity volume and health and fitness. CONCLUSION Fairly strong evidence indicates a crude dose response between the total volume of weekly physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness but only weak evidence for a dose response of activity volume and health measurers.
Relationship between dental anxiety and self-efficacy that patients feel while dental hygienist conduct scaling

This study was conducted to find out the relationship between dental anxiety and self-efficacy, physical and psychological condition and expected self-efficacy. The objective of this study was also to provide foundation for appropriate dental hygiene intervention model for scaling. In this study, anxiety reactions were measured among 178 patients, who made appointment with dental hygienists for scaling between May and July, 2009. The analysis was done in SPSS 12.0 statistical program which confirmed Cranach's alpha value. Technical statistics, t-test and One-way ANOVA, correlation and regression were also used. The result of the study is following: While dental hygienist conducts scaling, the dental anxiety was each measured in following categories: Thus male, age between 40 and 50, single, high school graduated and unemployed were measured highest dental anxiety among various groups. Dental Fear Scale demonstrated the validity of relationship between dental anxiety and self efficacy. The correlation was equated as r=-. 409(p
A New Assessment of Heavy Metal Contaminations in an Eutrophicated Bay (Inner Izmir Bay, Turkey)

The distribution, controlling geochemical factors and contamination status of heavy metals in inner Izmir Bay (Eastern part of Aegean Sea) were investigated. 23 surface sediment samples were collected and analized for major elements (Al and Fe), heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Hg, Cr, Mn), organic matter, grain size composition, carbonate and Chl. -a. Metals controlling factors were elucidated based on statistical methods such as the Pearson product-moment linear correlation and Factor Analysis. The results illustrated that Pb, Zn, Cr and Cd are mainly controlled by organic matter and a lesser extent Fe. Pb also controlled by carbonate and Mn additionally. Other controlling factor on Cr and Cd are Chl. -a via uptake in water column and then sedimentation. Cu and Hg are mainly controlled by Chl. -a. Some evidences were found on changing of carrier phases. The results indicated that contamination of surface sediments in inner Izmir Bay is dominated Pb, Hg, Cd, Zn and to a lesser extent Mn, Cu, Cr and Fe. Igeo classification was consistent with the Enrichment Factor ans Contamination Factor classes generally. Geoaccumulation index values for Zn, Hg, Cr and Cd have decreased two contamination classes from 1994 to 2008, whereas Pb has remained the same and Cu has decreased only one class. Generally Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg and Cr contaminations were below effects range median values. The extent of heavy metal contamination and degree have been affected significantly by sedimentological parameters such as grain size, organic carbon, carbonate and chloropyll-a.
Numerical solution of isospectral flows

In this paper we are concerned with the problem of solving numerically isospectral flows. These flows are characterized by the differential equation L' = [B(L), L]; L(0) = L 0 , where L 0 is a d x d symmetric matrix, B(L) is a skew-symmetric matrix function of L and [B, L] is the Lie bracket operator. We show that standard Runge-Kutta schemes fail in recovering the main qualitative feature of these flows, that is isospectrality, since they cannot recover arbitrary cubic conservation laws. This failure motivates us to introduce an alternative approach and establish a framework for generation of isospectral methods of arbitrarily high order.
The role of micro-inflammation in the pathogenesis of uraemic pruritus in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Uraemic pruritus (UP) is still one of the most vexing and disabling symptoms in chronic renal failure. The pathogenesis of UP is obscure and effective therapeutic strategies are elusive. Deduced from partial successful treatment modalities, there is evidence that an alteration of the immune system with a pro-inflammatory pattern along with a deranged T-helper-cell differentiation may be involved in the pathogenesis of UP. We, therefore, investigated whether UP is related to an augmented Th1-differentiation as measured by determination of intracytoplasmatic (i.c.) cytokines and expression of chemokine receptors. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined in serum. METHODS In a multicentre study, 171 patients on haemodialysis (HD) were screened for UP. Finally, 13 HD patients with and 13 HD patients without UP, as well as 15 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and the proportion of Th1- and Th2-cells was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of chemokine receptors on CD4 cells (CXCR3 preferentially on Th1 and CCR4 on Th2) and i.c. cytokines (IFNgamma for Th1 and IL4 for Th2) were measured after in vitro stimulation. Serum cytokine levels (IL6 and TNFalpha) and CRP were measured by ELISA. RESULTS Compared to HD patients without UP, those complaining of UP showed a significantly enhanced proportion of Th1-cells as measured by both techniques. Additionally, serum CRP and IL6 levels were significantly higher in HD patients with UP, compared to HD patients without UP. CONCLUSIONS These results point to a central role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of UP in HD patients.
Interspecific social networks promote information transmission in wild songbirds

Understanding the functional links between social structure and population processes is a central aim of evolutionary ecology. Multiple types of interactions can be represented by networks drawn for the same population, such as kinship, dominance or affiliative networks, but the relative importance of alternative networks in modulating population processes may not be clear. We illustrate this problem, and a solution, by developing a framework for testing the importance of different types of association in facilitating the transmission of information. We apply this framework to experimental data from wild songbirds that form mixed-species flocks, recording the arrival (patch discovery) of individuals to novel foraging sites. We tested whether intraspecific and interspecific social networks predicted the spread of information about novel food sites, and found that both contributed to transmission. The likelihood of acquiring information per unit of connection to knowledgeable individuals increased 22-fold for conspecifics, and 12-fold for heterospecifics. We also found that species varied in how much information they produced, suggesting that some species play a keystone role in winter foraging flocks. More generally, these analyses demonstrate that this method provides a powerful approach, using social networks to quantify the relative transmission rates across different social relationships.
Chaos and the (un)predictability of evolution in a changing environment

Among the factors that may reduce the predictability of evolution, chaos, characterized by a strong dependence on initial conditions, has received much less attention than randomness due to genetic drift or environmental stochasticity. It was recently shown that chaos in phenotypic evolution arises commonly under frequency-dependent selection caused by competitive interactions mediated by many traits. This result has been used to argue that chaos should often make evolutionary dynamics unpredictable. However, populations also evolve largely in response to external changing environments, and such environmental forcing is likely to influence the outcome of evolution in systems prone to chaos. We investigate how a changing environment causing oscillations of an optimal phenotype interacts with the internal dynamics of an eco-evolutionary system that would be chaotic in a constant environment. We show that strong environmental forcing can improve the predictability of evolution, by reducing the probability of chaos arising, and by dampening the magnitude of chaotic oscillations. In contrast, weak forcing can increase the probability of chaos, but it also causes evolutionary trajectories to track the environment more closely. Overall, our results indicate that, although chaos may occur in evolution, it does not necessarily undermine its predictability.
A national survey of the home visiting practice and attitudes of family physicians and internists.

BACKGROUND Over the past decade, while physician home visiting has continued to decline, the home care industry has been experiencing dramatic growth. In response, several major physician organizations have been encouraging increased physician education and involvement in home care and urging related health policy changes. This study provides the first in-depth, nationally representative descriptive data on the current home visiting practice and related attitudes of physicians. METHODS Data were gathered through a structured 15-minute telephone survey, consisting of 141 items covering physician's general practice, personal home visiting practice, interaction with other home care providers, and attitudes regarding home care issues. Subjects were a nationally representative, randomly selected sample of 2200 family practice physicians (FPs) and internal medicine physicians (IMs) currently in active practice with at least 10 hours per week of professional time spent in ambulatory care. RESULTS Sixty-five percent of eligible participants completed the survey. Of all physicians surveyed, 65% of FPs and 44% of IMs reported that they may make house calls (P less than .001). Mean number of visits per year was 21.2 (median, 10) for FPs, and it was 15.7 (median, 6) for IMs. Physicians in rural practice were more likely to make home visits (P less than .001). Physician attitudes related to home care reflect a strong dissatisfaction with reimbursement, but positive opinions about the use of other home care professionals and the importance of home visits for selected patients. Logistic regression analysis comparing home-visiting physicians with non-visiting physicians allowed for prediction of the correct classification 73% of the time, and it revealed six variables that were significant predictors of home visiting. The strongest of these predictors were the physician's positive attitude regarding the importance of home visits for selected patients and his or her perception of having time available for home visits. Other significant variables predictive of home visiting were family practice specialty, rural location of practice, greater numbers of referrals to home care agencies, and, interestingly, dissatisfaction with reimbursement. CONCLUSIONS Although the great majority (over 75%) of FPs and IMs still regard the physician home visit as important for the care of selected patients, only about half report making one or more home visits within a 12-month period. Family physicians generally report a greater involvement in home care than do IMs. Physician reimbursement for home visits is perceived to be inadequate, and almost half (45%) indicate that they would do more home visits if reimbursement were increased. Most physicians (over 80%) have the opinion that home care agencies should be used more.
Conscious Representation and Thought Systems

In R.S. Wyer, Jr., & T.K. Srull, (Eds.), (1991). Advances in social cognition, vol. 4, (91-120), Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. How should we think of thoughts and thought systems? My aim in this chapter is to pivot on the target chapter of this volume and to contrast answers that would come out of a quite standard cognitivism and a rather nonstandard mentalism. In doing so, I sketch those metatheoretical views for contrast and ask about the status of the evidence for the key question dividing them: Is there unconscious symbolic representation? I suggest a strategy for studying thought systems. McGuire and McGuire's work (Chapter 1; this volume) is theoretically inventive, experimentally convincing, and refreshingly free of homage to either the computer metaphor or the unconscious mind. In fact, they begin by characterizing thoughts as "representations that can enter awareness and be reported. ," and each thought "projects some topic of awareness on a dimension of judgment.primarily their desirabilities and likelihoods. " Theoretically, we use "coping strategies" that relate those contents of awareness to other contents of awareness representing possible antecedents and consequences of those events. Realistically, they said, desirability of the event should reflect the net value of the positive and negative consequences we think they have, and likelihood should reflect the net causal efficacy we attribute to antecedents that tend to promote or prevent the event. Autistically, however, there may be a reversal and cross-over: The judged desirability of an event may also reflect an evaluation of its causal antecedents, and its judged likelihood may also reflect the evaluation of consequences. In addition, a congruence principle yields the fifth strategy: Evaluation of antecedents will also reflect the desirability of the core event, on the principle that "good flows from good, and evil from evil. " Auxiliary postulates of positivity-bias and loose-linkage complete the list. Put them all together, aligned on their core event, and they spell thought system. The abstract structure of this theory is very like that of the theories of propositional control (Dulany, 1968; Wilson & Dulany, 1983) and propositional learning (Carlson & Dulany; 1988, Dulany & Carlson, 1983). Whether about coping strategies, intention formation, or causal reasoning, the theories are alike in the significant sense of describing interrelations among
Development of virtual environments for patient-centered rehabilitation

Context-sensitive rehabilitation integrates the individual background, needs, and strengths into the therapy of brain-injured patients [1]. Virtual environments can potentially enrich such individual rehabilitation approaches by providing realistic, lifelike situations for patients to train in. Virtual scenarios mostly are of high ecological validity, but usually require a long and costly development process. In order to use virtual environments for context-sensitive rehabilitation, an efficient workflow needs to be created which allows for rapid, cost-efficient development of such computer-based tools. The present study describes the requirements that are necessary for a clinic-based workflow and addresses each requirement in detail. Several complex virtual rooms within a rehabilitation hospital have been created and tested. Workflow efficiency, realism of virtual environments and validity of task-based use of these applications have been evaluated with healthy and brain-injured individuals. The virtual scenarios met requirements for timely production, and realism. The outcome of a mental map task, which was integrated intone environment, supports the validity of virtual cognitive assessments. Overall, results of this study suggest that individual virtual environments are a feasible addition to traditional context-sensitive rehabilitation.
A Journal About Journal Writing as a Qualitative Research Technique: History, Issues, and Reflections

The author is writing this article as a journal to show how a journal may be used as a qualitative research technique in long-term qualitative studies. The history of journal writing within the context of the arts and humanities is described to illuminate our understanding of the tradition of this type of writing. For qualitative researchers, the act of journal writing may be incorporated into the research process to provide a data set of the researcher’s reflections on the research act. Participants in qualitative studies may also use journals to refine ideas, beliefs, and their own responses to the research in progress. Finally, journal writing between participants and researcher may offer the qualitative researcher yet another opportunity for triangulation of data sets at multiple levels: first, the interdisciplinary triangulation of journal writing as a trope of literature, and second, data triangulation in terms of journal writing of the researcher, participants, and interaction between both.
Acute Mountain Sickness and Retinal Evaluation by Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose Acute mountain sickness (AMS), the commonest form of altitude illness, might represent early-stage high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to evaluate optic nerve head (ONH) consequences following a sojourn to extreme altitude. Methods This prospective study included 4 high-altitude expeditions in Himalayas. Twenty-four eyes of 12 healthy male climbers underwent baseline and postexpedition complete ophthalmic evaluation, including OCT to measure the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ONH parameters, and macular thickness and volume. Lake Louise Scoring (LLS) self-report questionnaire was used to estimate AMS severity. Results All mountaineers experienced symptoms of AMS (LLS: 5.1±1.1, range 4.0-7.0). Average peripapillary RNFL thickness showed a significant increase in postexpedition examination (94±23 μm, 47-115), compared with baseline values (89±19 μm, range 45-114) (p=0.034). Superior (p=0.036) and temporal (p=0.010) quadrants also showed an increased RNFL thickness following exposure to high altitude. Vertical integrated rim area (VIRA) was significantly higher in postexpedition examination (0.71±0.43 mm3, 0.14-1.50) than in baseline examination (0.51±0.26 mm3, 0.11-1.00) (p=0.002). Horizontal integrated rim width was significantly higher in postexpedition examination (1.90±0.32 mm2, range 1.37-2.34) than in baseline examination (1.77±0.27 mm2, 1.27-2.08) (p=0.004). There was no correlation between LLS and OCT parameters (p>0.05). Conclusions In climbers with AMS, OCT was able to detect subtle increases in the peripapillary RNFL thickness and in some ONH measurements, even in absence of HACE and papilledema. These changes might be a sensitive parameter in physiologic acclimatization and in the pathogenesis of AMS.