Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship of hyperglycemia and surgical-site infection in orthopaedic surgery.

BACKGROUND The impact of perioperative hyperglycemia in orthopaedic surgery is not well defined. We hypothesized that hyperglycemia is an independent risk factor for thirty-day surgical-site infection in orthopaedic trauma patients without a history of diabetes at hospital admission. METHODS Patients eighteen years of age or older with isolated orthopaedic injuries requiring acute operative intervention were studied. Patients with diabetes, injuries to other body systems, a history of corticosteroid use, or admission to the intensive care unit were excluded. Blood glucose values were obtained, and hyperglycemia was defined in two ways. First, patients with two or more blood glucose levels of ≥200 mg/dL were identified. Second, the hyperglycemic index, a validated measure of overall glucose control during hospitalization, was calculated for each patient. A hyperglycemic index of ≥1.76 (equivalent to ≥140 mg/dL) was considered to indicate hyperglycemia. The primary outcome was thirty-day surgical-site infection. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluating the effect of the markers of hyperglycemia, after controlling for open fractures, were constructed. RESULTS Seven hundred and ninety patients were identified. There were 268 open fractures (33.9%). Twenty-one thirty-day surgical-site infections (2.7%) were recorded. Age, race, comorbidities, injury severity, and blood transfusion were not associated with the primary outcome. Of the 790 patients, 294 (37.2%) had more than one glucose value of ≥200 mg/dL. This factor was associated with thirty-day surgical-site infection, with thirteen (4.4%) of the 294 patients with that indication of hyperglycemia having a surgical-site infection versus eight (1.6%) of the 496 patients without more than one glucose value of ≥200 mg/dL (p = 0.02). One hundred and thirty-four (17.0%) of the 790 patients had a hyperglycemic index of ≥1.76, and this was also associated was thirty-day surgical-site infection (ten [7.5%] of 134 versus eleven [1.7%] of 656; p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression models demonstrated that two or more blood glucose levels of ≥200 mg/dL was a risk factor for thirty-day surgical-site infection (odds ratio [OR]: 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 6.7) after adjustment for open fractures (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.3 to 7.8). A second model demonstrated that a hyperglycemic index of ≥1.76 was an independent risk factor for surgical-site infection (OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 2.0 to 11.8) after controlling for open fractures (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.4 to 8.3). CONCLUSIONS Hyperglycemia was an independent risk factor for thirty-day surgical-site infection in orthopaedic trauma patients without a history of diabetes.
The Nutritional Contribution of Foods and Beverages Provided by Government-Sponsored Day Care Centers in Guatemala

Background: Meals served at government-run day care centers must be nutritionally adequate to ensure good health and proper development of preschool-aged children. They can provide a controlled opportunity to complement the daily diet of children in vulnerable populations. Objective: To determine the nutrient adequacy and leading food sources of nutrients provided by the diet served in government-sponsored day care centers. Methods: Estimated daily energy and nutrient intakes of a theoretical 40-day day care center menu were calculated, and the nutrient adequacy was assessed. Nutrient densities and critical nutrient densities of the menu were computed to identify nutrient inadequacies. Furthermore, main sources of nutrients were identified, and energy and nutrient distributions were examined by meal time. Results: The menu provides approximately 90% of daily energy requirement and more than 100% of Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs), with the exception of vitamin D and calcium. Sugar was the first leading source of energy, whereas milk was the first leading contributor of vitamin D. Conclusion: Within an environment of budgetary constraints, the Guatemalan government developed and advocated an exemplary menu offering for children in the vulnerable preschool period. We have demonstrated that, if prepared and served as planned, the items from the official, standard menu would supply most of the nutrients needed. High vitamin A intake related to the mandated national fortification program is a potential problem. From the analysis, it was found that vitamin D emerges as the most prominent candidate for a problem nutrient of deficient intake.
Molecular phylogenetics reveals Leontodon (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) to be diphyletic.

The plastid matK gene, trnL/F spacer, and nuclear rDNA ITS were sequenced for 36 species of Leontodon and 29 taxa of related genera of tribe Lactuceae. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from the independent and combined data are largely congruent and reveal that Leontodon sensu lato (s.l.) as presently defined is diphyletic: L. subgenus Leontodon forms a clade with Helminthotheca, Picris and Hypochaeris as sister genera, whereas L. subgenus Oporinia appears as a separate clade with strong bootstrap support and is thus better treated as a separate genus. Previous sectional classifications of Leontodon s.l. are considered in the light of DNA and additional morphological and karyological data. Support is presented for a core group of Hypochaeridinae sensu stricto (s.s.) with the two clades of Leontodon s.l. , Helminthotheca, Picris, and Hypochaeris, whereas Urospermum, Hyoseris, Aposeris, and Rhagadiolus appear to be positioned more distantly.
Expression of Estrogen Receptor Beta and Phosphorylation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Serine 167 Correlate with Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated with Aromatase Inhibitors

Aromatase inhibitor (AI) is widely used as an endocrine treatment in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. To identify useful prognostic factors for patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with AI therapy, we investigated the association between several hormone receptor-related factors and prognosis. The expressions of estrogen receptor-α (ERα), ERβ, progesterone receptor, the phosphorylation of ERα serine 118 (Ser118) and ERα Ser167 were examined using immunohistochemical techniques for the primary tumors of 41 patients with metastatic breast cancer who received first-line AI therapy after relapse. To assess the associations of protein expression and phosphorylation levels with progression-free survival (PFS), the levels of each factor were categorized into low and high values at optimal cutoff points. In univariate analysis, high ERα expression and high ERα Ser167 phosphorylation correlated with longer PFS (p = 0.016 and 0.013, respectively). In multivariate analysis, low ERβ expression and high ERα Ser167 phosphorylation correlated with longer PFS (p = 0.031 and 0.004, respectively). Patients with both low ERβ expression and high ERα Ser167 phosphorylation had longer PFS than the others (p = 0.0107). These data suggest that the expression of ERβ and phosphorylation of ERα Ser167 may be useful prognostic factors in patients with metastatic breast cancer who received first-line AI therapy.
Photometric and spectroscopic study of low mass embedded star clusters in reflection nebulae

An analysis of the candidate embedded stellar systems in the reflection nebulae vdBH-RN 26, vdBH-RN 38, vdBH-RN 53a, GGD 20, ESO 95-RN 18 and NGC 6595 is presented. Optical spectroscopic data from CASLEO (Argentina) in conjunction with near infrared photometry from the 2MASS Point Source Catalogue were employed. The analysis is based on source surface density, colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams together with theoretical pre-main sequence isochrones. We take into account the field population affecting the analysis by carrying out a statistical subtraction. The fundamental pa- rameters for the stellar systems were derived. The resulting ages are in the range 1−4 Myr and the objects are dominated by pre-main sequence stars. The observed masses locked in the clusters are less than 25 M� . The studied systems have no stars of spectral types earlier than B, indicating that star clusters do not necessarily evolve through an HII region phase. The relatively small locked mass combined with the fact that they are not numerous in catalogues suggests that these low mass clusters are not important donors of stars to the field populations.
Using cluster-based logic blocks and timing-driven packing to improve FPGA speed and density

In 1999, most commercial FPGAs, like the Altera Flex and Xilinx Virtex FPGAs already had cluster-based logic blocks. However, the modeling and evaluation of these sorts of architectures was still in its infancy. In the previous year, Betz had shown that cluster-based logic blocks led to improved density. The real advantage of clustered-based logic blocks, though, was speed, as this paper demonstrates. In doing so, this paper opened up an entirely new research area, setting the framework for numerous packing algorithms that have become a fundamental part of any FPGA CAD flow.
Root adaptations to soils with low fertility and aluminium toxicity

Background Plants depend on their root systems to acquire the water and nutrients necessary for their survival in nature, and for their yield and nutritional quality in agriculture. Root systems are complex and a variety of root phenes have been identified as contributors to adaptation to soils with low fertility and aluminium (Al) toxicity. Phenotypic characterization of root adaptations to infertile soils is enabling plant breeders to develop improved cultivars that not only yield more, but also contribute to yield stability and nutritional security in the face of climate variability. Scope In this review the adaptive responses of root systems to soils with low fertility and Al toxicity are described. After a brief introduction, the purpose and focus of the review are outlined. This is followed by a description of the adaptive responses of roots to low supply of mineral nutrients [with an emphasis on low availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and on toxic levels of Al]. We describe progress in developing germplasm adapted to soils with low fertility or Al toxicity using selected examples from ongoing breeding programmes on food (maize, common bean) and forage/feed (Brachiaria spp.) crops. A number of root architectural, morphological, anatomical and metabolic phenes contribute to the superior performance and yield on soils with low fertility and Al toxicity. Major advances have been made in identifying root phenes in improving adaptation to low N (maize), low P (common bean) or high Al [maize, common bean, species and hybrids of brachiariagrass, bulbous canarygrass (Phalaris aquatica) and lucerne (Medicago sativa)]. Conclusions Advanced root phenotyping tools will allow dissection of root responses into specific root phenes that will aid both conventional and molecular breeders to develop superior cultivars. These new cultivars will play a key role in sustainable intensification of crop–livestock systems, particularly in smallholder systems of the tropics. Development of these new cultivars adapted to soils with low fertility and Al toxicity is needed to improve global food and nutritional security and environmental sustainability.
Effect of surface layers compressibility and face-to-core-layer ratio on the properties of lightweight hybrid panels

The hybridisation of wood-based panels has gained interest in recent years. Lightweight hybrid panels consisting of wood fibres as faces and a mixture of wood particles with expandable polystyrene (EPS) granules as core layer were manufactured in this study. The effects of initial compression and different face-to-core-layer weight ratios were investigated. Results showed that both variables significantly influence panel properties. The initial compression enhanced the surface layer quality while negatively affecting the core layer. Adding EPS influenced the core layer quality, which improved the panel properties. The weight ratio of the face-to-core-layer also enhanced the bending properties and thickness swelling. The internal bond was weakened by increasing the face-to-core-layer ratio. Abbreviations: WBPs: wood-based panels; EPS: expandable polystyrene; MOR: modulus of rupture; MOE: modulus of elasticity; IB: internal bond; SS: surface soundness; SWR: screw withdrawal resistance; TS: thickness swelling; WA: water absorption
Glycine receptor‐mediated synaptic transmission regulates the maturation of ganglion cell synaptic connectivity

It is well documented that neuronal activity is required for the developmental segregation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) synaptic connectivity with ON and OFF bipolar cells in mammalian retina. Our recent study showed that light deprivation preferentially blocked the developmental RGC dendritic redistribution from the center to sublamina a of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). To determine whether OFF signals in visual stimulation are required for OFF RGC dendritic development, the light‐evoked responses and dendritic stratification patterns of RGCs in Spastic mutant mice, in which the OFF signal transmission in the rod pathway is largely blocked due to a reduction of glycine receptor (GlyR) expression, were quantitatively studied at different ages and rearing conditions. The dendritic distribution in the IPL of these mice was indistinguishable from wildtype controls at the age of postnatal day (P)12. However, the adult Spastic mutants had altered RGC light‐evoked synaptic inputs from ON and OFF pathways, which could not be mimicked by pharmacologically blocking of glycinergic synaptic transmission on age‐matched wildtype animals. Spastic mutation also blocked the developmental redistribution of RGC dendrites from the center to sublamina a of the IPL, which mimicked the effects induced by light deprivation on wildtype animals. Moreover, light deprivation of the Spastic mutants had no additional impact on the RGC dendritic distribution and light response patterns. We interpret these results as that visual stimulation regulates the maturation of RGC synaptic activity and connectivity primarily through GlyR‐mediated synaptic transmission. J. Comp. Neurol. 509:53–71, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Postnatal Germ Cell Development in the Cryptorchid Testis: The Key to Explain Why Early Surgery Decreases the Risk of Malignancy

Abstract Purpose Cryptorchidism is a risk factor for testicular malignancy and surgical treatment lowers this risk. This study aimed to investigate the germ cell behavior in prepubertal cryptorchid testes using immunohistochemical markers for germ cell malignancy to understand how early orchiopexy may possibly prevent cancer developing. Materials and Methods Histology sections from 1,521 consecutive testicular biopsies from 1,134 boys aged 1 month to 16.5 years operated for cryptorchidism were incubated with antibodies including antiplacental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), anti-Oct3/4, anti-C-kit, and anti-D2–40. Results Oct3/4 and D2–40-positive germ cells are found throughout the first 2 years of life, with declining frequency thereafter. After 2 years, they should have disappeared and may indicate neoplasia. PLAP-positive cells were seen in 57 to 82% and C-kit-positive cells in 5 to 21% of cryptorchid testes between 4 and 13 years. Not until puberty did PLAP and C-kit-positive undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells vanish. Only 0.3% of the present material had obvious prepubertal intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN) and they all had syndromic cryptorchidism. An additional three boys (0.3%) older than 2 years had weak Oct3/4 expression in undescended testes, but all cases were D2–40 negative. Conclusion Prepubertal ITGCN was rare and mostly seen in syndromic cryptorchidism. In nonsyndromic cryptorchidism PLAP-positive undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells persisted in a significant proportion of nontreated undescended testes and they will be especially sensitive to long-lasting abnormally high temperature that may be the single most important cause facilitating the accumulation of mutations during cell replication and the development of ITGCN to be prevented by orchiopexy.
High prevalence of measles seronegativity in adults with HIV infection born in the era of measles vaccination in Northern France

We investigated measles humoral immunity levels in a cohort of HIV-infected adult patients in France and attempted to identify risk factors for antimeasles antibodies seronegativity. Being born after 1983 [odds ratio (OR) 4.40; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.26–14.09; P = 0.0013] and a nadir CD4+ cell count below 100 cells/&mgr;l (OR 4.79; 95% CI 1.61–14.82; P = 0.0048) were the two factors independently associated with measles seronegativity. Systematic measles antibody screening should be performed in HIV-infected individuals born in the era of measles vaccination (after 1983 in France).
Contribution of IncFII and Broad-Host IncA/C and IncN Plasmids to the Local Expansion and Diversification of Phylogroup B2 Escherichia coli ST131 Clones Carrying blaCTX-M-15 and qnrS1 Genes

ABSTRACT The recent increase of CTX-M-15-producing Escherichia coli isolates in our institution was caused by diverse clonal backgrounds, including mainly B2 sequence type 131 (ST131) clones presenting variable virulence profiles but also A1 (ST617, ST410), B1, and D1 (ST405) clones. Besides IncFII-pC15-1a, we detected multidrug-resistant IncA/C2 and IncN plasmids carrying blaCTX-M-15 and/or qnrS1. Our study highlights the diversification of highly transmissible resistant and virulent clones and the recombinogenic potential of broad-host plasmids contributing to the expansion of genetic regions coding for multidrug resistance to other bacterial lineages.
A new approach to the "apparent survival" problem: estimating true survival rates from mark-recapture studies.

Survival estimates generated from live capture-mark-recapture studies may be negatively biased due to the permanent emigration of marked individuals from the study area. In the absence of a robust analytical solution, researchers typically sidestep this problem by simply reporting estimates using the term "apparent survival. " Here, we present a hierarchical Bayesian multistate model designed to estimate true survival by accounting for predicted rates of permanent emigration. Initially we use dispersal kernels to generate spatial projections of dispersal probability around each capture location. From these projections, we estimate emigration probability for each marked individual and use the resulting values to generate bias-adjusted survival estimates from individual capture histories. When tested using simulated data sets featuring variable detection probabilities, survival rates, and dispersal patterns, the model consistently eliminated negative biases shown by apparent survival estimates from standard models. When applied to a case study concerning juvenile survival in the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis), bias-adjusted survival estimates increased more than twofold above apparent survival estimates. Our approach is applicable to any capture-mark-recapture study design and should be particularly valuable for organisms with dispersive juvenile life stages.
Consensus with ternary messages

We provide a protocol for real-valued average consensus by networks of agents which exchange only a single message from the ternary alphabet {-1, 0, 1} between neighbors at each step. Our protocol works on time-varying undirected graphs subject to a connectivity condition, has a worst-case convergence time which is polynomial in the number of agents and the initial values, and requires no global knowledge about the graph topologies on the part of each node to implement except for knowing an upper bound on the degrees of its neighbors.
COMBINING MICRO- MESO- AND MACRO-SCOPIC NUMERICAL METHODS FOR MULTISCALE RADIATIVE TRANSFER MODELING OF SiC-BASED FOAMS UP TO VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES

A general multiscale numerical approach is proposed to finely reproduce, up to 1300 K, the radiative heat transfers within alpha silicon carbide-based open-cell foams, with tuned chemical and textural features. The complete modeling is based on a thorough analysis performed at micro-, meso-, and macro-scopic scales. To gauge, at the microscopic scale , the influence of the electron-phonon coupling on the intrinsic optical properties of silicon carbide, a molecular dynamic method involving a modified Tersoff potential is used. Then, at the mesoscopic scale , with optical indices provided by our molecular dynamic simulations, a collision-based Monte Carlo ray tracing method is used for retrieving the homogenized radiative properties of the selected foams. Finally, at the macroscopic scale , for a set of foams (porosity ∼ 0.4 - 0.9), we used our micro-meso constructed radiative properties for calculating the propagation of radiation by solving the radiative transfer equation using the vectorial finite element method. In addition, a fictitious foam constructed using heavily chemical doping at microscopic level, is put forward to change the volumetric propagation of the thermal radiation.
ESTIMATION OF FUNCTIONAL DERIVATIVES

Situations of a functional predictor paired with a scalar response are increasingly encountered in data analysis. Predictors are often appropriately modeled as square integrable smooth random functions. Imposing minimal assumptions on the nature of the functional relationship, we aim to estimate the directional derivatives and gradients of the response with respect to the predictor functions. In statistical applications and data analysis, functional derivatives provide a quantitative measure of the often intricate relationship between changes in predictor trajectories and those in scalar responses. This approach provides a natural extension of classical gradient fields in vector space and provides directions of steepest descent. We suggest a kernel-based method for the nonparametric estimation of functional derivatives that utilizes the decomposition of the random predictor functions into their eigenfunctions. These eigenfunctions define a canonical set of directions into which the gradient field is expanded. The proposed method is shown to lead to asymptotically consistent estimates of functional derivatives and is illustrated in an application to growth curves.
Economic Burden of Disease-Associated Malnutrition in China

Disease-associated malnutrition (DAM) is a well-recognized problem in many countries, but the extent of its burden on the Chinese population is unclear. This article reports the results of a burden-of-illness study on DAM in 15 diseases in China. Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the China Health and Nutrition Survey, and the published literature, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost because of DAM were calculated; a financial value of this burden was calculated following WHO guidelines. DALYs lost annually to DAM in China varied across diseases, from a low of 2248 in malaria to a high of 1 315 276 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The total burden was 6.1 million DALYs, for an economic burden of US$66 billion (Chinese ¥ 447 billion) annually. This burden is sufficiently large to warrant immediate attention from public health officials and medical providers, especially given that low-cost and effective interventions are available.