Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Repeatability of airway resistance measurements made using the interrupter technique

Background: To be able to interpret any measurement, its repeatability should be known. This study reports the repeatability of airway resistance measurements using the interrupter technique (Rint) in children with and without respiratory symptoms. Methods: Children aged 2–10 years who were healthy, had persistent isolated cough, or who had previous wheeze were studied. On the same occasion, three Rint measurements were made 15 minutes apart, before and after placebo and salbutamol given in random order. Results from those given placebo first were analysed for within-occasion repeatability. Between-occasion repeatability measurements were made 2–20 weeks apart (median 3 weeks). Results: For 85 pairs of measurements before and after placebo the limits of agreement were 20% expected resistance and were unaffected by age or health status. The change in resistance following bronchodilator in one of 18 healthy children, 12 of 28 with cough, and 22 of 39 with wheeze exceeded this threshold. For between-occasion measurements the limits of agreement were 32% in 72 healthy subjects, 49% in 57 with cough, and 53% in 95 with previous wheeze. Conclusion: The measurement of airways resistance by the interrupter technique is clinically meaningful when change following an intervention such as the administration of bronchodilator is greater than its within-occasion repeatability. Between-occasion repeatability is too poor to judge change confidently.
"Spring rise" in fecal nematode egg counts in sheep in Maine.

A "spring rise" in fecal nematode egg counts occurred in Maine sheep housed under conventional conditions during 2 years. Nematodes causing this increase were Haemonchus contortus in one year and Ostertagia sp in the other. The increase in egg counts was greater in sheep that lambed than in unbred sheep. Most of the eggs in the spring rise were probably produced by worms that passed the winter in developmental arrest in the sheep. Some of the female worms probably came from contaminated bedding and developed in the sheep without arrest in growth. Acquisition from contaminated bedding, therefore, should be considered as an additional factor in the epizootiologic character of the condition in Maine.
Protection of sheep against caseous lymphadenitis by use of a single oral dose of live recombinant Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

An inactive form of the Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis phospholipase D (PLD) gene was constructed and expressed in a PLD-negative strain (designated Toxminus) of C. pseudotuberculosis. Antibody responses specific to Toxminus and both Toxminus and PLD proteins were detected in sheep following oral administration of Toxminus or Toxminus expressing the PLD toxoid, respectively. However, only those sheep vaccinated with Toxminus expressing PLD toxoid were protected against wild-type challenge. These results confirm the importance of PLD as a protective antigen and demonstrate both the potential for developing an oral caseous lymphadenitis vaccine and C. pseudotuberculosis Toxminus as a live vaccine vector.
Rapid sequence induction and intubation with rocuronium-sugammadex compared with succinylcholine: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND An unanticipated difficult airway may arise during rapid sequence induction and intubation (RSII). The aim of the trial was to assess how rapidly spontaneous ventilation could be re-established after RSII. We hypothesized that the time period from tracheal intubation to spontaneous ventilation would be shorter with rocuronium-sugammadex than with succinylcholine. METHODS This randomized and patient- and observer-blinded trial was approved by the regional Ethics Committee and the Danish Medicines Agency. We included elective surgical patients undergoing general anaesthesia for RSII using alfentanil (10 µg kg(-1)), propofol (2 mg kg(-1)), and either succinylcholine (1 mg kg(-1)) or rocuronium (1 mg kg(-1)). Sugammadex (16 mg kg(-1)) was given in the rocuronium group after tracheal intubation. The primary endpoint was the time from correct placement of the tracheal tube to spontaneous ventilation, defined as a respiratory rate of more than 8 bpm and a tidal volume of at least 3 ml kg(-1) for 30 s. RESULTS We included 61 patients; of whom, 55 were evaluated for the primary endpoint. The median time from tracheal intubation to spontaneous ventilation was 406 s with succinylcholine and 216 s with rocuronium-sugammadex (P = 0.002). The median time from tracheal intubation to 90% recovery of the first twitch in train-of-four (T(1) 90%) was 518 s with succinylcholine and 168 s with rocuronium-sugammadex (P < 0.0001). Intubation conditions and time to tracheal intubation were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS RSII with rocuronium followed by reversal with sugammadex allowed earlier re-establishment of spontaneous ventilation than with succinylcholine.
Treatment of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy with periocular injections of triamcinolone

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of periocular triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), and the presence of ocular or systemic adverse effects. Methods: A multicentre prospective pilot study was performed on patients diagnosed with Graves’ ophthalmopathy less than 6 months before entry to the study. Patients were admitted to the study and were randomised into two groups: treatment and control. The treatment group received four doses of 20 mg of triamcinolone acetate 40 mg/ml in a peribulbar injection to the inferolateral orbital quadrant. Both groups were evaluated by measuring the area of binocular vision without diplopia on a Goldmann perimeter and the size of the extraocular muscles on computed tomography (CT) scans. Ophthalmological and systemic examinations were done to rule out ocular and systemic adverse effects. Follow up was 6 months for both groups. Results: 50 patients were eligible for the study. 41 patients completed the study. There was an increase in the area of binocular vision without diplopia in the treatment group (Σ initial: mean 231.1 (SD 99.9) and final absolute change, mean 107.1 (SD 129.0)) compared to the control group (Σ initial: mean 350.7 (SD 86.5) and final absolute change, mean −4.5 (SD 67.6)). The sizes of the extraocular muscles were reduced in the treatment group (mean (inferior rectus initial values): 1.3 (0.7), final percentage change: −13.2 (25.7), medial rectus initial values: 1.2 (0.6), final percentage change: −8.2 (20.7), superior rectus-levator palpebrae initial values: 1.2 (0.6), final percentage change: −9.5 (29.1), lateral rectus initial values: 1.0 (0.4), final percentage change: −11.5 (20.6)) compared to the control group (inferior rectus initial values: 0.9 (0.3), final percentage change: −4.0 (21.5), medial rectus initial values: 0.9 (0.3), final percentage change: 0.6 (22.4), superior rectus-levator palpebrae initial values: 0.9 (0.3), final percentage change: 12.5 (37.5), lateral rectus initial values: 0.9 (0.4), final percentage change: −0.5 (31.6)). Both measurements (degree of diplopia and muscle thickness) were statistically significant between groups (initial − final). No systemic or ocular adverse effects were found. Conclusions: Triamcinolone administered as a periocular injection is effective in reducing diplopia and the sizes of extraocular muscles in TAO ophthalmopathy of recent onset. This form of treatment is not associated with systemic or ocular side effects.
Late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy in a two-year-old boy: A case report

Introduction: Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) occurs due to cerebroside sulfatide accumulation in the extraneural and neural tissues. Arylsulfatase A (ARSA) enzyme deficiency leads to progressive focal or generalized demyelination. This rare disorder involves both central and peripheral nervous system. Case Report: We report a two-yearold boy, born of consanguineous marriage presenting with recurrent seizures from 13 months of age, followed by regression of milestones and spasticity from 15 months of age. Neurodegenerative disorder was considered initially and the child underwent neuroimaging followed by enzyme level assay. Magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) of brain revealed demyelination involving both cerebral cortex in the periventricular white matter with sparing of subcortical ‘u’ fibers and tigroid appearances / leopard skin sign, hallmark of metachromatic leukodystrophy. Normal b-galactosidase enzyme activity along with undetectable (ARSA) enzyme levels confirmed the diagnosis of late infantile variant of metachromatic leukodystrophy. Conclusion: A two-year-old boy presented with recurrent, generalized seizures, regression of milestones along with characteristic MRI findings and untraceable ARSA activity suggesting late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy.
Reading performance with various lamps in age‐related macular degeneration

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an objective difference in reading between four commonly available lamps, of varying spectral radiance, for 13 subjects with age‐related maculopathy (ARM) or non‐exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) – logMAR visual acuity between 0.04 and 0.68. At a constant illuminance of 2000 lux, there was no interaction between ARM and AMD subgroups and no statistically significant difference between the lamps: standard (clear envelope) incandescent, daylight simulation (blue tint envelope) incandescent, compact fluorescent and halogen incandescent, for any reading outcome measure (threshold print size p = 0.67, critical print size p = 0.74, acuity reserve p = 0.84 and mean reading rate p = 0.78). For lamps typically used in low‐vision rehabilitation, a clinically significant effect of spectral radiance on reading for people with ARM or non‐exudative AMD is unlikely.
A specific B2‐bradykinin receptor antagonist HOE 140 abolishes the antihypertrophic effect of ramipril

To evaluate the role of bradykinin in the antihypertrophic effect of the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, ramipril, we investigated the influence of HOE 140, a specific B2‐receptor antagonist, on the effects of ramipril on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in rats with aortic banding. Ramipril at a dose of 1 mg kg−1 day−1 for 6 weeks prevented the increase in blood pressure and development of LVH after aortic banding; plasma ACE activity was significantly inhibited. A lower dose of ramipril (10 μg kg−1 May−1 for 6 weeks) had no effect on the increase in blood pressure or on plasma ACE activity, but prevented LVH after aortic banding. The antihypertrophic effects of the higher and the lower dose ramipril, as well as the antihypertensive action of the higher dose of ramipril were abolished by the coadministration of HOE 140 (500 μg kg−1 day−1). The present data show for the first time that the beneficial effects of an ACE‐inhibitor on LVH in rats with hypertension caused by aortic banding can be prevented by a specific B2‐receptor antagonist.
The complementary effect of internal learning capacity and absorptive capacity on performance: the mediating role of innovation capacity

Organisations are finding it increasingly more difficult to keep abreast with the pace of change. The continuous rise in the number of business opportunities and the increase in global competition require firms to combine internal and external learning processes to renew and reconfigure existing capabilities and knowledge to enable them to meet environmental demands and to innovate. This study aims to unravel the complex linkage between internal learning capacity and absorptive capacity and at exploring the joint effect of both knowledge generation processes on innovation capacity. This study also proposes innovation capacity as an antecedent of business performance. Using data from 952 industrial Spanish firms and the technique of structural equation modelling, we provide evidence on the joint effect of internal learning capacity and absorptive capacity on innovation capacity. We also show that innovation capacity acts as a catalyst for the effect of learning capacities on business performance.
The Result of a Baseline Survey on Drink Driving in Nanning and Liuzhou of Guangxi Province, China

Objective: Because the official data in China on drink-driving accidents as well as related fatalities and injuries are much lower than many of the developed and developing countries in the world, the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) decided to conduct a baseline survey to understand the prevalence of drink driving and related accidents in Nanning and Liuzhou, both in Guangxi Province, in order to develop targeted interventions. Methods: The baseline survey included a roadside survey and an accident survey. Motor vehicle (including motorcycles) drivers were randomly stopped for a breath test and interview in the roadside survey. In the accident survey, all drivers involved in a road accident resulting in at least 1 person killed or seriously injured were requested to provide a blood sample. Results: A total of 10,685 drivers accepted the random breath test and 10,666 drivers were interviewed in the roadside survey. An examination of the raw (unweighted) breath alcohol readings reveals that of the 10,685 breath-tested drivers, 730 (6.8%) had positive blood alcohol concentrations (BACs); 245 of these drivers (2.3% of all drivers) had BACs below 20 mg/100 mL; 415 (3.9% of all drivers) were driving under the influence (DUI; 20 mg/100 mL–80 mg/100 mL); and 70 (0.7% of all drivers) were driving while intoxicated (DWI; ≥0.80 mg/100 mL). Overall, 4.6 percent of the drivers had BACs over 20 mg/100 mL (the lowest legal BAC limit in China). Among the 10,666 interviewed drivers, only 4.8 percent were aware of the lowest national BAC limit (20 mg/100 mL); 24.9 percent had been discouraged by other people from driving after drinking; 78 percent had never been stopped by the traffic police for a BAC check during the last 2 years (during 2005–2006), and only 0.3 percent had been punished for drink driving. The accident survey results revealed that an average of 34.1 percent of road accidents (Nanning: 25.7%; Liuzhou: 48%) were alcohol related; the mean BAC level of the drivers in the accidents was 156.7 mg/100 mL and the highest was 310 mg/100 mL. Conclusions: Valuable information was obtained from the baseline survey to provide a better understanding of the drink driving situation in Nanning and Liuzhou. From the survey data it can be seen that drinking and driving was a major issue in both cities. A drink driving intervention was developed with both components of public education/social marketing and enforcement activities after the survey, which was conducted in 2008. However, this article will focus on the methodology and results of the baseline survey, not the activities and outcome of the intervention.
Genome-wide analysis of Xylella fastidiosa: implications for detection and strain relationships

The xylem limited plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa causes economically important diseases on agronomic, horticultural and landscape plants. This review includes the current status of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based systems for detection and characterization of X. fastidiosa, and presents a genome-wide analysis of strain differentiation. The use of genomics data for strain comparisons will improve the understanding of the genetic determinants of strain specific pathogenicity and virulence. The genome-level analysis can be applied to design new strategies for management and control of Xylella fastidiosa associated diseases in a wide range of crops.
Restoration of Astrophysical Images—The Case of Poisson Data with Additive Gaussian Noise

We consider the problem of restoring astronomical images acquired with charge coupled device cameras. The astronomical object is first blurred by the point spread function of the instrument-atmosphere set. The resulting convolved image is corrupted by a Poissonian noise due to low light intensity, then, a Gaussian white noise is added during the electronic read-out operation. We show first that the split gradient method (SGM) previously proposed can be used to obtain maximum likelihood (ML) iterative algorithms adapted in such noise combinations. However, when ML algorithms are used for image restoration, whatever the noise process is, instabilities due to noise amplification appear when the iteration number increases. To avoid this drawback and to obtain physically meaningful solutions, we introduce various classical penalization-regularization terms to impose a smoothness property on the solution. We show that the SGM can be extended to such penalized ML objective functions, allowing us to obtain new algorithms leading to maximum a posteriori stable solutions. The proposed algorithms are checked on typical astronomical images and the choice of the penalty function is discussed following the kind of object.
Scaling functional patterns of skeletal and cardiac muscles: New non-linear elasticity approach

Responding mechanically to environmental requests, muscles show a surprisingly large variety of functions. The studies of in vivo cycling muscles qualified skeletal muscles into four principal locomotor patterns: motor, brake, strut, and spring. While much effort of has been done in searching for muscle design patterns, no fundamental concepts underlying empirically established patterns were revealed. In this interdisciplinary study, continuum mechanics is applied to the problem of muscle structure in relation to function. The ability of a powering muscle, treated as a homogenous solid organ, tuned to efficient locomotion via the natural frequency is illuminated through the non-linear elastic muscle moduli controlled by contraction velocity. The exploration of the elastic force patterns known in solid state physics incorporated in activated skeletal and cardiac muscles via the mechanical similarity principle yields analytical rationalization for locomotor muscle patterns. Besides the explanation of the origin of muscle allometric exponents observed for muscles in legs of running animals and wings of flying birds, the striated muscles are patterned through primary and secondary activities expected to be useful in designing of artificial muscles and modeling living and extinct animals.
Lifestyle Interaction With Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated (FTO) Genotype and Risk of Obesity in Apparently Healthy U.S. Women

OBJECTIVE Variation in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is associated with obesity. The extent to which separate and combined effects of physical activity and caloric intake modify this association remains unclear. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS FTO polymorphism rs8050136 was measured, and physical activity, caloric intake, and anthropometrics were self-reported in 21,675 apparently healthy Caucasian women. RESULTS The effect of the risk allele (A) on BMI was larger among inactive or higher intake women, with additive effects of inactivity and high intake on the associated genetic risk. Specifically, each A allele was associated with mean BMI difference of +0.73 (SE 0.08) kg/m2 among inactive women (≤median, 8.8 MET-hours/week), compared with +0.31 (0.06) kg/m2, P < 0.0001, among active women (>8.8 MET-hours/week). Similarly, each A allele was associated with mean BMI difference of +0.65 (0.07) among high intake women (>median, 1,679 kcals/day), compared with +0.38 (0.07) kg/m2, P = 0.005, among low intake women (≤1,679 kcals/day). Among inactive/high intake women, each A allele was associated with mean BMI difference of +0.97 (0.11) kg/m2 vs. +0.22 (0.08) kg/m2 among inactive/low intake women, P < 0.0001. Among inactive/high intake women, each A allele carried increased risk of obesity (odds ratio 1.39, 95% CI 1.27–1.52) and diabetes (odds ratio 1.36, 95% CI 1.07–1.73). CONCLUSIONS In this study, lifestyle factors modified the genetic risk of FTO on obesity phenotypes, particularly among women who were both inactive and had high intake. Healthier lifestyle patterns blunted but did not completely eliminate the associated genetic risk.
The Infection Control Practices of General Dental Practitioners

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the infection control practices of general dentists in Ontario in 1994. Design: Confidential coded questionnaires were mailed to all general dental practitioners in Ontario (n=5,176), with three follow-up attempts. Data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression. Setting: Offices of general dental practitioners in Ontario. Participants: General dental practitioners actively involved in treating patients. Results: The response rate adjusted for nondelivery was 70%. A high proportion of respondents reported using gloves (always, 91.8%; sometimes, 7.8%), masks (always, 74.8%; sometimes, 21.1%), or protective eyewear (always, 83.6%; sometimes, 13%); heat sterilization of hand-pieces (83.9%); and hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination of dentists (92.3%). However, only 61.4% of respondents reported HBV vaccination of all clinical staff, and 87.7% used additional precautions for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Significant predictors of the use of recommended infection control procedures (ie, always using gloves, masks, and eye protection; heat sterilization of handpieces; HBV vaccination for dentist and staff; and no extra precautions for patients with HIV) were age ? 40 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.6), lack of concern regarding increased personal risk (OR, 2.0) or costs of infection control procedures (OR, 1.5), and knowledge of the low infectivity of HIV after a needlestick injury (OR, 2.0) and that infection control procedures for HBV are adequate for HIV (OR, 2.7). Conclusion: Additional education is required to promote a more realistic perception of risk of HIV transmission in the dental office and the use of all recommended infection control practices, including Universal Precautions.
Outcome of Burns Treated with Autologous Cultured Proliferating Epidermal Cells: A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Intrapatient Comparative Trial

Standard treatment for large burns is transplantation with meshed split skin autografts (SSGs). A disadvantage of this treatment is that healing is accompanied by scar formation. Application of autologous epidermal cells (keratinocytes and melanocytes) may be a suitable therapeutic alternative, since this may enhance wound closure and improve scar quality. A prospective, multicenter randomized clinical trial was performed in 40 adult patients with acute full thickness burns. On two comparable wound areas, conventional treatment with SSGs was compared to an experimental treatment consisting of SSGs in combination with cultured autologous epidermal cells (ECs) seeded in a collagen carrier. The primary outcome measure was wound closure after 5–7 days. Secondary outcomes were safety aspects and scar quality measured by graft take, scar score (POSAS), skin colorimeter (DermaSpectrometer®) and elasticity (Cutometer®). Wound epithelialization after 5–7 days was significantly better for the experimental treatment (71%) compared to the standard treatment (67%) (p = 0.034, Wilcoxon), whereas the take rates of the grafts were similar. No related adverse events were recorded. Scar quality was evaluated at 3 (n = 33) and 12 (n = 28) months. The POSAS of the observer after 3 and 12 months and of the patient after 12 months were significantly better for the experimental area. Improvements between 12% and 23% (p ≤ 0.010, Wilcoxon) were detected for redness, pigmentation, thickness, relief, and pliability. Melanin index at 3 and 12 months and erythema index at 12 months were closer to normal skin for the experimental treatment than for conventional treatment (p ≤ 0.025 paired samples t-test). Skin elasticity showed significantly higher elasticity (p = 0.030) in the experimental area at 3 months follow-up. We showed a safe application and significant improvements of wound healing and scar quality in burn patients after treatment with ECs versus SSGs only. The relevance of cultured autologous cells in treatment of extensive burns is supported by our current findings.