Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Osmotherapy With Hypertonic Saline Attenuates Global Cerebral Edema Following Experimental Cardiac Arrest via Perivascular Pool of Aquaporin-4

Objectives:We tested the hypothesis that osmotherapy with hypertonic saline attenuates cerebral edema following experimental cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation by exerting its effect via the perivascular pool of aquaporin-4. We used mice with targeted disruption of the gene encoding &agr;-syntrophin (&agr;-Syn–/–) that demonstrate diminished perivascular aquaporin-4 pool but retain the non-endfoot and ependymal pools. Design:Laboratory animal study. Setting:University animal research laboratory. Interventions:Isoflurane-anesthetized adult male wild-type C57B/6 or &agr;-Syn–/– mice were subjected to cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation and treated with either a continuous IV infusion of 0.9% saline or various concentrations of hypertonic saline. Serum osmolality, regional brain water content, blood-brain barrier disruption, and aquaporin-4 protein expression were determined at 24 hours after cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Measurements and Main Results:Hypertonic saline (7.5%) treatment significantly attenuated water content in the caudoputamen complex and cortex compared with 0.9% saline treatment in wild-type mice subjected to cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In contrast, in &agr;-Syn–/– mice subjected to cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 7.5% hypertonic saline treatment did not attenuate water content. Treatment with 7.5% hypertonic saline attenuated blood-brain barrier disruption at 24 hours following cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation in wild-type mice but not in &agr;-Syn–/– mice. Total aquaporin-4 protein expression was not different between 0.9% saline and hypertonic saline–treated wild-type mice. Conclusions:Following experimental cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation: 1) continuous hypertonic saline therapy maintained to achieve serum osmolality of ≈ 350 mOsm/L is beneficial for the treatment of cerebral edema; 2) perivascular pool of aquaporin-4 plays a critical role in water egress from brain; and 3) hypertonic saline attenuates blood-brain barrier disruption via perivascular aquaporin-4 pool.
Selective Grazing by a Tropical Copepod (Notodiaptomus iheringi) Facilitates Microcystis Dominance

Top-down grazer control of cyanobacteria is a controversial topic due to conflicting reports of success and failure as well as a bias toward studies in temperate climates with large generalist grazers like Daphnia. In the tropical lowland lakes of Brazil, calanoid copepods of the Notodiaptomus complex dominate zooplankton and co-exist in high abundance with permanent blooms of toxic cyanobacteria, raising questions for grazer effects on bloom dynamics (i.e., top-down control vs. facilitation of cyanobacterial dominance). Accordingly, the effect of copepod grazing on the relative abundance of Microcystis co-cultured with a eukaryotic phytoplankton (Cryptomonas) was evaluated in a series of 6-day laboratory experiments. Grazer effects were tested in incubations where the growth of each phytoplankton in the presence or absence of the copepod Notodiaptomus iheringi was monitored in 1 L co-cultures, starting with a 6-fold initial dominance of Cryptomonas by biomass. Compared to the no grazer controls, N. iheringi reduced the growth of both phytoplankton, but Cryptomonas growth was reduced to negative values while Microcystis growth continued positively despite grazers. Hence, in a matter of 6 days selective grazing by N. iheringi increased the biomass of Microcystis relative to Cryptomonas by an order of magnitude compared to controls, and thus, facilitated the dominance of this cyanobacterium. To account for the potential effect of allelopathy, we performed a secondary experiment comparing the abundance and growth rate of Microcystis and Cryptomonas in single and mixed co-cultures in the absence of grazers. The growth rate of Microcystis was unaffected by the presence or relative abundance of Cryptomonas, and vice versa, indicating no allelopathic effects. Our results suggest that selectively grazing zooplankton may facilitate cyanobacteria blooms by grazing on their eukaryotic phytoplankton competitors in nature. Given that selective grazers predominate zooplankton biomass in warmer waters, grazer facilitation of blooms may be a common but poorly understood regulator of plankton dynamics in a warmer and more eutrophic world.
Determinants of the Intention of Senegal's Physicians to Use Telemedicine in Their Professional Activities.

BACKGROUND In Senegal, physicians are unevenly distributed, leading to unequal access to healthcare in underserved areas. Telemedicine is seen as a potential means to address this problem. INTRODUCTION Telemedicine's potential to improve access depends, in part, on physicians' intention to use the technology. In Senegal that intention is not well known. This study aimed to determine that intention and the factors that influence it. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study between January and February 2015 with a random sample of 168 physicians working in public hospitals and 153 in district health centers in Senegal. Data were collected using two questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and linear regression. RESULTS The intention to use telemedicine by physicians working in public hospitals and district health centers was moderate and was positively correlated with their attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. The intention of the physicians working in public hospitals was also positively correlated with their region and status as contract employee, but negatively with their status as government employee. That of the physicians working in district health centers was negatively correlated with their age and years of practice. DISCUSSION These results showed that, overall, the intention of Senegal's physicians to use telemedicine was moderate and could be improved by acting on factors related to their perceived behavioral control and other factors correlated with their intention. CONCLUSIONS Physicians' intention to use telemedicine in Senegal is fair but could be improved by addressing the factors identified in this study.
X-ray microtomography observations of xylem embolism in stems of Laurus nobilis are consistent with hydraulic measurements of percentage loss of conductance.

Drought-induced xylem embolism is a serious threat to plant survival under future climate scenarios. Hence, accurate quantification of species-specific vulnerability to xylem embolism is a key to predict the impact of climate change on vegetation. Low-cost hydraulic measurements of embolism rate have been suggested to be prone to artefacts, thus requiring validation by direct visualization of the functional status of xylem conduits using nondestructive imaging techniques, such as X-ray microtomography (microCT). We measured the percentage loss of conductance (PLC) of excised stems of Laurus nobilis (laurel) dehydrated to different xylem pressures, and compared results with direct observation of gas-filled vs water-filled conduits at a synchrotron-based microCT facility using a phase contrast imaging modality. Theoretical PLC calculated on the basis of microCT observations in stems of laurel dehydrated to different xylem pressures overall were in agreement with hydraulic measurements, revealing that this species suffers a 50% loss of xylem hydraulic conductance at xylem pressures averaging -3.5 MPa. Our data support the validity of estimates of xylem vulnerability to embolism based on classical hydraulic techniques. We discuss possible causes of discrepancies between data gathered in this study and those of recent independent reports on laurel hydraulics.
Interindividual variability in dabigatran and rivaroxaban exposure: contribution of ABCB1 genetic polymorphisms and interaction with clarithromycin

Essentials Rivaroxaban and dabigatran are substrates of the P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) encoded by the ABCB1 gene. We tested the effect of ABCB1 polymorphisms and of a P‐gp inhibitor on both drugs' pharmacokinetics. The ABCB1 genotype was not a clinically relevant determinant of both drugs' pharmacokinetics. Administration of P‐gp inhibitors with dabigatran or rivaroxaban should be exercised with caution.
IOIBD technical review on endoscopic indices for Crohn's disease clinical trials

Background Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic disabling and progressive IBD. Only strategies looking beyond symptoms and based on tight monitoring of objective signs of inflammation such as mucosal lesions may have the potential for disease modification. Endoscopic evaluation is currently the gold standard to assess mucosal lesions and has become a major therapeutic endpoint in clinical trials. Several endoscopic indices have been proposed to evaluate disease activity; unvalidated and arbitrary definitions have been used in clinical trials for defining endoscopic response and endoscopic remission in CD. Methods In these recommendations from the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, we first reviewed all technical aspects of available endoscopic scoring systems in the literature. Second, in order to achieve consensus on endoscopic definitions of remission and response in trials, a two-round vote based on a Delphi method was performed among 14 specialists in the field of IBDs. Results At the end of the voting process, the investigators ranked first a >50% decrease in Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) or Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity for the definition of endoscopic response, and an SES-CD 0–2 for the definition of endoscopic remission in CD. All experts agreed on a Rutgeerts’ score i0–i1 for the definition of endoscopic remission after surgery.
Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the pharynx and saliva: implications for gonorrhoea transmission

Objectives This study aimed to determine the proportion of untreated pharyngeal swabs or saliva samples positive by culture or nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for Neisseria gonorrhoeae up to 14 days after an initial culture-positive pharyngeal swab. Methods Men who have sex with men who tested positive for pharyngeal gonorrhoea at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) and returned to MSHC for treatment within 14 days between 13 October 2014 and 25 March 2015 were included in this study. Pharyngeal swabs and saliva samples were collected for culture and NAAT. Results Of 33 initially culture-positive pharyngeal swabs, 32 saliva samples and 31 pharyngeal swabs were positive by NAAT and 14 pharyngeal and 6 saliva samples were positive by culture within 14 days. There was a significant decline in the proportion of repeated pharyngeal culture samples positive by culture over time (p<0.001). Conclusions The rapid decline suggests pharyngeal gonorrhoea is short-lived, and the finding of gonorrhoea commonly in the saliva implicates this body fluid in its transmission without direct throat inoculation.
Stimulation of the L2–L3 Dorsal Root Ganglia Induces Effective Pain Relief in the Low Back

Chronic low back pain affects millions of people worldwide and can arise through a variety of clinical origins. In the case of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), previous surgical procedures can contribute to low back pain that is often unresponsive to intervention. Although spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can be an effective treatment modality, it does not provide sufficient pain relief for some intractable cases. Recently, alternative neuromodulation options have been developed, including dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation. The objective of this report is to further investigate these clinical observations.
Delamination Growth in Angle-Ply Laminated Composites

Delamination, a frequently observed failure mode in composite laminate, is a key issue in structural design and integrity consideration. In this paper, the stability of delamination crack is investigated for angle-ply laminates subjected to uniform displacement and ther mal loading. Due to the complexities of the problem, a quasi three-dimensional finite ele ment method is used to obtain strain energy release rate. The effect of parameters, such as temperature drop, loading type, stacking sequence, laminate width and laminate thick ness will be considered. Also, the effect of delamination crack on the tensile strength of angle-ply laminate for small fiber orientation is evaluated by using a rule of mixtures and energy release rate concept in classical fracture mechanics. Finally, failure mode and ten sile strength are predicted and compared with known experimental data to assess the pre diction accuracy of the delamination growth model.
Two-stage induced differentiation of OCT4+/Nanog+ stem-like cells in lung adenocarcinoma

Stem-like cells in solid tumors are purported to contribute to cancer development and poor treatment outcome. The abilities to self-renew, differentiate, and resist anticancer therapies are hallmarks of these rare cells, and steering them into lineage commitment may be one strategy to curb cancer development or progression. Vitamin D is a prohormone that can alter cell growth and differentiation and may induce the differentiation cancer stem-like cells. In this study, octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4)-positive/Nanog homeobox (Nanog)- positive lung adenocarcinoma stem-like cells (LACSCs) were enriched from spheroid cultured SPC-A1 cells and differentiated by a two-stage induction (TSI) method, which involved knockdown of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1α) expression (first stage) followed by sequential induction with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3, VD3) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) treatment (second stage). The results showed the HIF1α-knockdowned cells displayed diminished cell invasion and clonogenic activities. Moreover, the TSI cells highly expressed tumor suppressor protein p63 (P63) and forkhead box J1 (FOXJ1) and lost stem cell characteristics, including absent expression of OCT4 and Nanog. These cells regained sensitivity to cisplatin in vitro while losing tumorigenic capacity and decreased tumor cell proliferation in vivo. Our results suggest that induced transdifferentiation of LACSCs by vitamin D and SAHA may become novel therapeutic avenue to alter tumor cell phenotypes and improve patient outcome. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The development and progression of lung cancer may involve rare population of stem-like cells that have the ability to grow, differentiate, and resist drug treatment. However, current therapeutic strategies have mostly focused on tumor characteristics and neglected the potential source of cells that may contribute to poor clinical outcome. We generated lung adenocarcinoma stem-like cells from spheroid culture and induced their transdifferentiation by a two-stage method of knocking down HIF1α expression followed by vitamin Dand suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (VD3/SAHA) treatment. We observed the induced cells lost stem-like characteristics, regained sensitivity to cisplatin, and displayed reduced tumorigenic capacity. These findings suggest that targeting stem-like cells by reverting them to more specialized state may be an approach to treat lung cancer.
Morphology and Properties in Blended Cements with Ceramic Wastes as a Pozzolanic Material

Divisio´n Tejas, Grupo Uralita, SpainThis paper describes the research run on ceramic materials, andmorespeciﬁcallyﬁredclayrooftiles, groundtoaﬁnenesssuitablefor use as an active replacement for portland cements (PCs). Theutilization of waste products from calcined clay roof tiles as apozzolanic material in the cement manufacture is studied. Oneoftheﬁrstmaterialsusedaspozzo lansinthehistorywasthermal-treated clay, a material similar to the calcined clay precastelements. For this study, the materials selected are clay productsthat have been eliminated for different reasons: a wrong tem-perature inside the kiln, dimensional and mechanical failures, anddurability loss. The results showed that these products have goodpozzolanic properties; at an early age, the pozzolanic activity wasfound to be higher than ﬂy ash, although it was lower than silicafume. The morphology of clay tile–PC pastes are similar to themorphology of the pastes containing other pozzolanic materials.Hydrated calcium aluminate products are generated when thepreparation method yields less compact pastes with a greatervoids’ volume to accommodate these products. The hydratedcalcium aluminate phases were analyzed using scanning electro-nic microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques.I. Introduction
Gain optimization in optically pumped AlGaAs unipolar quantum-well lasers

A method is described for the optimized design of quantum-well (QW) structures, in respect to maximizing the stimulated gain in optically pumped intersubband lasers. It relies on applying supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM) to an initial Hamiltonian, in order to both map one bound state below the spectral range of the initial Hamiltonian, and to generate a parameter-controlled family of isospectral Hamiltonians with the desired energy spectrum. By varying the control parameter, one changes the potential shape and, thus, the values of dipole matrix elements and electron-phonon scattering matrix elements. The use of this procedure is demonstrated by designing smoothly graded and stepwise-constant Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As ternary alloy QWs, with the self-consistent potential taken into account. Finally, the possibility of employing layer interdiffusion to get optimal smooth potentials is discussed.
Paediatric amendment to adult BSH Guidelines for aplastic anaemia

The guideline group was selected to be representative of UK-based paediatric aplastic anaemia (AA) medical experts. Recommendations are based on review of the literature using MEDLINE and PUBMED up to June 2017. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) nomenclature (http:// www.gradeworkinggroup.org) was used to evaluate levels of evidence and to assess the strength of recommendations. The objective of this guideline is to provide healthcare professionals with clear guidance on the management of children with AA. The guidance may not be appropriate to every patient and in all cases individual patient circumstances may dictate an alternative approach.
Proposal for a New Measure of Corruption, Illustrated with Italian Data

Standard cross-national measures of corruption are assembled through surveys. We propose a novel alternative objective measure that consists of the difference between a measure of the physical quantities of public infrastructure and the cumulative price government pays for public capital stocks. Where the difference is larger between the monies spent and the existing physical infrastructure, more money is being siphoned off to mismanagement, fraud, bribes, kickbacks, and embezzlement; that is, corruption is greater. We create this measure for Italy's 95 provinces and 20 regions as of the mid-1990s, controlling at the regional level for possible differences in the costs of public construction.
Initial Offer Precision and M&A Outcomes

Building on recent research in social psychology, this paper analyzes the link between the precision of initial cash offers and M&A outcomes. About one-half of the offers are made at the precision of one or five dollars per share, and an additional one-third at the precision of half dollar or one quarter. The practice of making offers at granular price per share levels is associated with the following unfavorable outcomes for the bidder: (1) higher purchase price for target shares, (2) lower probability to complete the deal, and (3) lower announcement return. A median-sized offer made at the precision of one or five dollars per share is associated with a 45 million dollars higher expected transaction price than one made at a precision greater than one quarter. Our results are consistent with the idea that bidders have learned to avoid making offers at the most granular level.
Effects of Edible Chitosan Coating on Quality of Fresh-Cut Mangoes (Fa-lun) During Storage

Fresh-cut Fa-lun mango samples (Mangifera indica L.) were coated with chitosan solutions at concentrations of 0% (control), 0.5 and 0.8%, respectively. They were then placed into plastic trays, over-wrapped with polyvinylchloride film and stored at 6°C for 7 d. Fresh-cut mangoes were evaluated by measuring weight loss, pH, total soluble solids, total acidity, color, firmness, total microbial counts and sensory qualities. It was found that chitosan coatings could preserve fresh-cut mango quality by reducing weight loss, delaying an increase of total soluble solids, change in color, growth of microorganisms and maintaining sensory attributes (visual appearance, firmness and overall liking).
Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Isolates Collected in a Dutch University Hospital between 1999 and 2006

ABSTRACT We observed that, between 1999 and 2006, up to 50% of the methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bloodstream isolates in our hospital had a genetic background common to endemic methicillin-resistant S. aureus clones (clonal complex 5 [CC5], CC8, CC22, CC30, and CC45). Furthermore, several successful MSSA lineages, such as CC7 and CC15, were observed.
Management of Diarrhoeal Dehydration in Childhood: A Review for Clinicians in Developing Countries

The survival of a child with severe volume depletion at the emergency department depends on the competency of the first responder to recognize and promptly treat hypovolemic shock. Although the basic principles on fluid and electrolytes therapy have been investigated for decades, the topic remains a challenge, as consensus on clinical management protocol is difficult to reach, and more adverse events are reported from fluid administration than for any other drug. While the old principles proposed by Holliday and Segar, and Finberg have stood the test of time, recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have highlighted the risk of hyponatraemia, and hyponatraemic encephalopathy in some children treated with hypotonic fluids. In the midst of conflicting literature on fluid and electrolytes therapy, it would appear that isotonic fluids are best suitable for the correction of hypotonic, isonatraemic, and hypernatraemic dehydration. Although oral rehydration therapy is adequate to correct mild to moderate isonatraemic dehydration, parenteral fluid therapy is safer for the child with severe dehydration and those with changes in serum sodium. The article reviews the pathophysiology of water and sodium metabolism and, it uses the clinical case examples to illustrate the bed-side approach to the management of three different types of dehydration using a pre-mixed isotonic fluid solution (with 20 or 40 mmol/L of potassium chloride added depending on the absence or presence of hypokalemia, respectively). When 3% sodium chloride is unavailable to treat hyponatraemic encephalopathy, 0.9% sodium chloride becomes inevitable, albeit, a closer monitoring of serum sodium is required. The importance of a keen and regular clinical and laboratory monitoring of a child being rehydrated is emphasized. The article would be valuable to clinicians in less-developed countries, who must use pre-mixed fluids, and who often cannot get some suitable rehydrating solutions.