Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposures in nursing students: an Italian observational study.

PURPOSE To investigate occupational exposures to biological material potentially infected by blood-borne viruses in nursing student population during the course years. DESIGN AND METHODS An observational retrospective study was designed. Data were collected in May 2007. Two-thousand-two-hundred-fifteen nursing students from the 3 years of degree course were enrolled in the four Italian universities. A structured questionnaire was constructed and was given out unannounced to nursing students in four universities on a randomly chosen day. The likelihood of association between nursing student exposure and certain assumed risk factors was measured. FINDINGS The exposure risk is associated with each study year of nursing students. Specifically, the probability of accidental exposure is reduced significantly with the increase of clinical skills during the training period. The risk for exposure in the 1st year students appears significantly higher than in those of the next years (odds ratio [OR] 1.465; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.105-1.943). Data highlighted a gradual increase of bio-safety knowledge in nursing students from the 1st to the 3rd years of study. However, a statistically significant association exists only between awareness of a correct use of gloves and exposure risk (OR 0.435; 95%CI 0.227-0.834). Mucocutaneous exposures are more frequent than percutaneous exposures (62.2%), and the hollow-bore needle is the device most often involved. In 42.5% of cases, accidental exposures occurred when nursing students are working alone in a medical ward or surgery area. CONCLUSIONS During their clinical training, nursing students can encounter a real risk for percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposures to blood potentially infected with blood-borne viruses. However, this risk is reduced with an increase in clinical skills. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results show that some new strategies are necessary for exposure risk reduction such as development of simulation laboratories for nursing practice and the adequate presence of tutors in clinical training education.
Involvement and Detachment

The macro-micro dichotomy prevalent in consumer research has led to methodological issues this article explores. Drawing from figurational theory and using a three-year participant-observation of heavy metal fans as a case study, this article puts forward a potential route for synthesis between dominant micro and macro perspectives. Merging contemporary consumer research methods with broader figurational theories of historical change and figurational methods allows for a more holistic understanding of consumer communities. The methodological approach used elucidates the problematic aspects of studying contexts seen as controversial and, hence, emotionally charged and value-laden. Despite the shared importance that figurationalists and macromarketers hold for developing accounts that recognize the relationship between broader structural processes, the emphasis figurationalists place on attaining a balance between involvement and detachment conflicts with the prominence that macromarketing scholars give to using their research to “serve” society. The implications of this difference are discussed.
Comparison of novel and existing tools for studying drug sensitivity against the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum in vitro

SUMMARY The motility assay is the current gold standard for evaluating drug effects on hookworm larvae and adults, however, among other drawbacks the assay is time consuming, and prone to individual subjectivity. We evaluated six alternative in vitro assays, namely the feeding inhibition assay, the colourimetric AlamarBlue®, MTT formazan and acid phosphatase activity assays, as well as isothermal calorimetry and the xCELLigence System using Ancylostoma ceylanicum third-stage larvae, stimulated third-stage larvae and adults. The performances of the assays were compared to the motility assay using three standard drugs: albendazole, levamisole and ivermectin (100–1 μg/ml). None of the assays investigated offered an advantage over the motility assay, because they were all inapplicable to third-stage larvae, which were presumably metabolically and physically too inactive. Among all assays tested the xCELLigence System performed best on adult worms as the test was accurate, simple, required a minimal number of worms and offered the possibility for conducting a medium-throughput screening.
Distributed prevention mechanism for network partitioning in wireless sensor networks

Connectivity is a crucial quality of service measure in wireless sensor networks. However, the network is always at risk of being split into several disconnected components owing to the sensor failures caused by various factors. To handle the connectivity problem, this paper introduces an in-advance mechanism to prevent network partitioning in the initial deployment phase. The approach is implemented in a distributed manner, and every node only needs to know local information of its 1-hop neighbors, which makes the approach scalable to large networks. The goal of the proposed mechanism is twofold. First, critical nodes are locally detected by the critical node detection (CND) algorithm based on the concept of maximal simplicial complex, and backups are arranged to tolerate their failures. Second, under a greedy rule, topological holes within the maximal simplicial complex as another potential risk to the network connectivity are patched step by step. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm through simulation experiments.
CRISPR System Acquisition and Evolution of an Obligate Intracellular Chlamydia-Related Bacterium

Recently, a new Chlamydia-related organism, Protochlamydia naegleriophila KNic, was discovered within a Naegleria amoeba. To decipher the mechanisms at play in the modeling of genomes from the Protochlamydia genus, we sequenced de novo the full genome of Pr. naegleriophila combining the advantages of two second-generation sequencing technologies. The assembled complete genome comprises a 2,885,111 bp chromosome and a 145,285 bp megaplasmid. For the first time within the Chlamydiales order, a CRISPR system, the immune system of bacteria, was discovered on the chromosome. It is composed of a small CRISPR locus comprising eight repeats and the associated cas and cse genes of the subtype I-E. A CRISPR locus was also found within Chlamydia sp. Diamant, another Pr. naegleriophila strain whose genome was recently released, suggesting that the CRISPR system was acquired by a common ancestor of these two members of Pr. naegleriophila, after the divergence from Pr. amoebophila. The plasmid encodes an F-type conjugative system similar to that found in the Pam100G genomic island of Pr. amoebophila suggesting an acquisition of this conjugative system before the divergence of both Protochlamydia species and the integration of a putative Pr. amoebophila plasmid into its main chromosome giving rise to the Pam100G genomic island. Overall, this new Pr. naegleriophila genome sequence enables to investigate further the dynamic processes shaping the genomes of Chlamydia-related bacteria.
Native and immigrant adolescents in Spain: Adaptation and perceived discrimination as HIV-risk factors

Two of the most studied psychosocial variables in relation to HIV are behavioral adaptation and perceived discrimination. The main objective of this study was to analyze whether behavioral adaptation and perceived discrimination can predict risky behaviors for HIV infection depending on cultural and gender differences. The sample was composed of 815 adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years old and who lived in Spain. Of these, 56.2% were native Spaniards and 47.8% were Latin American immigrants. Results show that Latin American adolescents, older adolescents, and less adapted adolescents adopt more risky behaviors for HIV infection. Moreover, Latin American adolescents showed more perceived discrimination and less social adaptation than native Spanish adolescents. Regarding gender, female native adolescents showed greater adaptation in school and social settings and male Latin American immigrants showed more personal adaptation and less school adaptation than females. The discussion highlights the importance of considering cultural and gender differences when designing programs to prevent HIV/AIDS.
Does the Dilution Effect Have a Conversational Basis?

The dilution effect refers to the finding that judgments are often unduly influenced by nondiagnostic information, producing regressive judgment. The hypothesis of a conversational basis of the dilution effect, advanced in a recent study by Igou and Bless, holds that the effect reflects the operation of the conversational norm of relevance. A critique and reanalysis of their data yields only weak, if any, support for this conversational explanation. Furthermore, an experiment (n = 224) does not yield any supportive evidence, and a meta-analysis of available studies likewise supports the conclusion that the dilution effect occurs independently of the operation of conversational norms. However, consistent with a social-perceptual explanation, the experiment shows that the dilution effect occurs only for individuals high in personal need for structure. Although conversational norms do not provide the basis for the dilution effect, how they are involved in eliminating this reasoning error is discussed.
Dynamiques de mobilité étudiante Sud-Nord : une approche par les pôles internationaux de formation de l’« élite » scientifique mexicaine

Cet article aborde la question des dynamiques de mobilite etudiante Sud-Nord en s’appuyant sur les trajectoires de formation de l’elite scientifique mexicaine du Systeme national des chercheurs (SNI), des annees 1970 a 2000. Il explore les poles etrangers de formation vers lesquels se sont diriges les actuels chercheurs de ce systeme, les variations disciplinaires et temporelles de ces poles, ainsi que les transformations caracteristiques de leur hierarchie dans l’espace international de la formation. Il montre ainsi que la circulation des etudiants est tres largement conditionnee par le degre d’attraction et de specialisation des differents poles internationaux de formation. L’analyse se concentre enfin sur l’hypothese que les dynamiques de mobilite etudiantes sont le produit conjoint de la division internationale du marche de la formation, de reseaux scientifiques et de « chaines de savoirs » entre communautes scientifiques et institutions de formation mexicaines et etrangeres et enfin d’un processus de legitimation, au Mexique et a l’etranger, des savoirs et poles de formation.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Nasal Real-Time PCR: A Predictive Tool for Contamination of the Hospital Environment

OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether the bacterial burden in the nares, as determined by the cycle threshold (CT) value from real-time MRSA PCR, is predictive of environmental contamination with MRSA. METHODS Patients identified as MRSA nasal carriers per hospital protocol were enrolled within 72 hours of room admission. Patients were excluded if (1) nasal mupirocin or chlorhexidine body wash was used within the past month or (2) an active MRSA infection was suspected. Four environmental sites, 6 body sites and a wound, if present, were cultured with premoistened swabs. All nasal swabs were submitted for both a quantitative culture and real-time PCR (Roche Lightcycler, Indianapolis, IN). RESULTS At study enrollment, 82 patients had a positive MRSA-PCR. A negative correlation of moderate strength was observed between the CT value and the number of MRSA colonies in the nares (r=−0.61; P<0.01). Current antibiotic use was associated with lower levels of MRSA nasal colonization (CT value, 30.2 vs 27.7; P<0.01). Patients with concomitant environmental contamination had a higher median log MRSA nares count (3.9 vs 2.5, P=0.01) and lower CT values (28.0 vs 30.2; P<0.01). However, a ROC curve was unable to identify a threshold MRSA nares count that reliably excluded environmental contamination. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a higher burden of MRSA in their nares, based on the CT value, were more likely to contaminate their environment with MRSA. However, contamination of the environment cannot be predicted solely by the degree of MRSA nasal colonization.
The Amount of Immature Glial Cells in Organotypic Brain Slices Determines the Susceptibility to Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common infectious cause of congenital anomalies of the brain and also causes brain damage in immunocompromised individuals. We investigated the effects of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection on the developing mouse brain in terms of susceptible cells and age-related resistance to MCMV in brain slice cultures. Brain slices from BALB/c mice at different developmental stages were infected with recombinant MCMV in which the lacZ gene was inserted into a late gene. The subventricular zone and cortical marginal region were the sites most susceptible to MCMV infection, and the susceptibility declined with the development of the brain. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the virus-susceptible cells were positive for GFAP, nestin, and Musashi-1, and that most of the infected cells were positive for the proliferative cell nuclear antigen and labeled with bromodeoxyuridine. These results suggest that the susceptible cells in the subventricular zone are immature glial cells, including neural progenitor cells. Immature glial cells proliferated when the brain slices were cultured for a prolonged time and furthermore, they showed themselves to be susceptible to virus infection even under serum-free conditions. These results suggest that the amount of immature glial cells, which include neural progenitor cells, in the developing brain or in the damaged brain with neural proliferation may be closely associated with the susceptibility of the brain to CMV infection in humans.
Reconsidering the Sporulation Characteristics of Hypervirulent Clostridium difficile BI/NAP1/027

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and a major burden to healthcare services worldwide. In recent years, C. difficile strains belonging to the BI/NAP1/027 type have become highly represented among clinical isolates. These so-called ‘hypervirulent’ strains are associated with outbreaks of increased disease severity, higher relapse rates and an expanded repertoire of antibiotic resistance. Spores, formed during sporulation, play a pivotal role in disease transmission and it has been suggested that BI/NAP1/027 strains are more prolific in terms of sporulation in vitro than ‘non-epidemic’ C. difficile types. Work in our laboratory has since provided credible evidence to the contrary suggesting that the strain-to-strain variation in C. difficile sporulation characteristics is not type-associated. However, the BI/NAP1/027 type is still widely stated to have an increased rate of sporulation. In this study, we analysed the sporulation rates of 53 C. difficile strains, the largest sample size used to-date in such a study, including 28 BI/NAP1/027 isolates. Our data confirm that significant variation exists in the rate at which different C. difficile strains form spores. However, we clearly show that the sporulation rate of the BI/NAP1/027 type was no higher than that of non-BI/NAP1/027 strains. In addition, we observed substantial variation in sporulation characteristics within the BI/NAP1/027 type. This work highlights the danger of assuming that all strains of one type behave similarly without studying adequate sample sizes. Furthermore, we stress the need for more rigorous experimental procedures in order to quantify C. difficile sporulation more accurately in the future.
Reliability of an Integrated Ultrasound and Stereophotogrammetric System for Lower Limb Anatomical Characterisation

Background Lower extremity analysis for preoperative total knee and hip arthroplasty routines can increase surgery success rate and hence reduce associated costs. Current tools are limited by being invasive, limited to supine analysis, or too expensive. This study aimed to propose and validate a device, OrthoPilot®, based on the combined use of a stereophotogrammetric and ultrasound system which can in vivo and noninvasively measure varus/valgus, flexion/extension, femur and tibia torsion, and femur and tibia lengths. Methods A phantom was measured by four operators to determine the resolution of the system. Interoperator variability was measured on three operators who measured the above six variables on both legs of three subjects in standing and supine positions. Intraoperator variability was assessed on data from three repeats from 9 subjects (18 legs). Results All 6 variables were reliably detected on a phantom, with a resolution of 1 mm and 0.5°. Inter- and intraoperator consistency was observed for varus/valgus, flexion/extension, and length measurements on the healthy subjects in standing and supine positions (all ICC > 0.93). For torsion measurements, there was a considerable variation. Conclusion The proposed system, when used on healthy subjects, allowed reliable measurements of key parameters for preoperative procedures in both supine and standing positions. Accuracy testing and further validation on patient populations will be the next step toward its clinical adoption.
Checking for Race Conditions in File Accesses

Flaws due to race conditions in which the binding of a name to an object changes between repeated references occur in many programs. We examine one type of this flaw in the UNIX operating system, and describe a semantic method for detecting possible instances of this problem. We present the results of one such analysis in which a previously undiscovered race condition flaw was found.
Correlation between Marital Satisfaction, and Emotional Intelligence with Organizational CommitmentStudy: Married Staff of Islamic Azad University-Andimeshk Branch)

The current research aims to study the correlation between marital satisfaction, and emotional intelligence with organizational commitment of married staff of Islamic Azad University-Andimeshk Branch during 2013. The population includes 110 individuals including married staff, among which 81 individuals (63 males and 18 females) were chosen by the use of simple random sampling and Morgan table. Results showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between marital satisfaction, EI and organizational commitment of staff (respectively for marital satisfaction and organizational commitment it was r=0.39, p=0.0001 and for EI and organizational commitment it was r=0.31, p=0.004). Among the components of marital satisfaction in the field of marital satisfaction with continuance commitment, affective commitment and normative commitment a positive and significant correlation was observed, about the correlation between marital relationship with continuance commitment no positive and significant correlation was observed, in the field of ideal conflict and distortions resolution with continuance and normative commitment no positive and significant correlation was observed. There was no positive and significant correlation between EI in the field of optimism and understanding one/others' emotions with normative commitment, and also there was no positive significant correlation between EI in the field of controlling emotions with continuance commitment, and no positive significant correlation was observed between EI in the field of social skills with all of the components of organizational commitment.
Succinyl-CoA Ligase Deficiency: A Mitochondrial Hepatoencephalomyopathy

This patient presented on the first day of life with pronounced lactic acidosis with an elevated lactate/pyruvate ratio. Urine organic acids showed Krebs cycle metabolites and mildly elevated methylmalonate and methylcitrate. The acylcarnitine profile showed elevated propionylcarnitine and succinylcarnitine. Amino acids showed elevated glutamic acid, glutamine, proline, and alanine. From the age 2 of mo on, she had elevated transaminases and intermittent episodes of liver failure. Liver biopsy showed steatosis and a decrease of mitochondrial DNA to 50% of control. She had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Over the course of the first 2 y of life, she developed a progressively severe myopathy with pronounced muscle weakness eventually leading to respiratory failure, Leigh disease, and recurrent hepatic failure. The hepatic symptoms and the metabolic parameters temporarily improved on treatment with aspartate, but neither muscle symptoms nor brain lesions improved. Laboratory testing revealed a deficiency of succinyl-CoA ligase enzyme activity and protein in fibroblasts because of a novel homozygous mutation in the SUCLG1 gene: c.40A>T (p.M14L). Functional analysis suggests that this methionine is more likely to function as the translation initiator methionine, explaining the pathogenic nature of the mutation. Succinyl-CoA ligase deficiency due to an SUCLG1 mutation is a new cause for mitochondrial hepatoencephalomyopathy.
Family, social, and cultural factors in pedestrian injuries among Hispanic children

Objectives—In an earlier population based surveillance study of pediatric injuries, the rate of Hispanic children injured as pedestrians was 63/100 000 compared with 17/100 000 for non-Hispanic white children. The present study was designed to examine the effect of family, social, and cultural factors on the rate of pedestrian injury in a population of Hispanic children in the southwestern US. Methods—A case-control study of pedestrian injuries among Hispanic children. The sample consisted of 98 children 0–14 years of age hospitalized as a result of a pedestrian injury and 144 randomly selected neighborhood controls matched to the case by city, age, gender, and ethnicity. Cases were compared with controls using conditional logistic regression; in the study design the odds ratio (OR) estimates the incidence rate ratio. Results—The following family and cultural variables were associated with an increased risk of injury: household crowding (OR=2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1 to 7.1 for 1.01–1.5 persons per room, compared with ≤ 1.0 persons per room), one or more family moves within the past year (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.1), poverty (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.3), and inability of mother (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 10) or father (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 20) to read well. However, children in single parent households and children whose parents did not drive a car, had less education, or were of rural origin, did not have an increased rate of injury. Conclusions—These results have implications for childhood pedestrian prevention efforts for low income, non-English speaking Hispanic populations, and perhaps for other immigrant and high risk groups. Prevention programs and materials need to be not only culturally sensitive but also designed for those with limited reading skills. In addition, environmental interventions that provide more pedestrian friendly neighborhoods must be considered.
Toward Learning the Binding Affordances of Objects : A Behavior-Grounded Approach

This paper introduces a developmental approach to learning the binding affordances of objects by a robot. A behavior-based framework is used to ground the affordance representation in the behavioral repertoire of the robot. The affordances are learned during a behavioral babbling stage in which the robot randomly chooses sequences of exploratory behaviors, applies them to the objects, and detects invariants in the resulting set of observations. The invariants are calculated relative to the robot’s body. The approach was implemented and tested in a dynamics robot simulator.