Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive factors of septic shock and mortality in neutropenic patients

Abstract Neutropenia is a major risk factor for developing a serious infection. Bacteremia still causes significant mortality among neutropenic patients with cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for septic shock and for mortality in neutropenic patients with leukemia and bacteremia. Consecutive samples from 20 patients with acute myeloid leukemia and bacteremia were studied during a 1 year period (January–December 2003). All patients received empirical antibiotic therapies for febrile episodes using ceftazidime plus amikacin. About 110 neutropenic febrile episodes were noted: clinically documented 14.54%, microbiologically documented 16.36% and fever of unknown origin 69.09%. Gram-negative organism caused eight febrile episodes: Pseudomonas (5), Klebsiella (3). Gram-positive organism caused 10 episodes: Staphylococcus (6), Streptococci (2), Enterococci (2). Pulmonary infection accounted for 25% of clinically documented infections. About 14 of the 110 febrile episodes were associated with septic shock causing mortality in 7 patients. In a univariate analysis variables associated with septic shock were: pulmonary infection (OR = 17, p = 0.001), serum bicarbonate < 17 mmol/l (OR = 68, p < 0.001) and serum lactate >3 mmol/l (OR = 62, p < 0.001). Variables associated with mortality were: pulmonary infection (OR = 83, p < 0.001) and serum bicarbonate < 17 mmol/l (OR = 61, p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis two variables were associated with septic shock: pulmonary infection (OR = 5, p = 0.043) and serum lactate >3 mmol/l (OR = 10, p = 0.003). An elevated serum lactate (>3 mmol/l) and low serum bicarbonate (< 17 mmol/l) at the onset of bacteremia are useful biomarkers in predicting septic shock and mortality in neutropenic patients.
Catenin-dependent and -independent Functions of Vascular Endothelial Cadherin (*)

Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin, cadherin-5, or 7B4) is an endothelial specific cadherin that regulates cell to cell junction organization in this cell type. Cadherin linkage to intracellular catenins was found to be required for their adhesive properties and for localization at cell to cell junctions. We constructed a mutant form of VE-cadherin lacking the last 82 amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain. Surprisingly, despite any detectable association of this truncated VE-cadherin to catenin-cytoskeletal complex, the molecule was able to cluster at cell-cell contacts in a manner similar to wild type VE-cadherin. Truncated VE-cadherin was also able to promote calcium-dependent cell to cell aggregation and to partially inhibit cell detachment and migration from a confluent monolayer. In contrast, intercellular junction permeability to high molecular weight molecules was severely impaired by truncation of VE-cadherin cytoplasmic domain. These results suggest that the VE-cadherin extracellular domain is enough for early steps of cell adhesion and recognition. However, interaction of VE-cadherin with the cytoskeleton is necessary to provide strength and cohesion to the junction. The data also suggest that cadherin functional regulation might not be identical among the members of the family.
Improving the QoS of IEEE 802.11e networks through imprecise computation

IEEE 802.11e HCCA reference scheduler is based on fixed value parameters that do not adapt to traffic changes, thus quality of service QoS for multimedia applications is a challenge, especially in the case of variable bit rate VBR streams, that requires dynamic resource assignment. This paper is focused on immediate dynamic TXOP HCCA IDTH scheduling algorithm and its new evolution immediate dynamic TXOP HCCA plus IDTH+. Their reclaiming mechanisms, refined by the monitoring of transmission duration, aim at overcoming the limits of fixed preallocation of resources by varying the stations transmission time and avoiding waste of resources. Simulations and theoretical analysis based on the imprecise computation model show that the integration of IDTH and IDTH+ can achieve improved network performance in terms of transmission queues length, mean access delay and packets drop rate, and to efficiently manage bursty traffic. Moreover, the performance improvements of IDTH+ with respect to IDTH are highlighted.
Traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder in a community population of older adolescents.

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of DSM-III-R traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their impact on psychosocial functioning were examined in a community population of older adolescents. METHODS Subjects were 384 adolescents participating in an ongoing longitudinal study. When subjects were aged 18 years, the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version IIIR, was used to identify lifetime traumatic events and diagnoses of PTSD, major depression, phobias, and substance dependence. Behavioral, emotional, and academic functioning in later adolescence was evaluated through self-report measures and school records. RESULTS More than two fifths of adolescents experienced at least one DSM-III-R trauma by age 18 years; PTSD developed in 14.5% of these affected youths or 6.3% of the total sample. Youths with PTSD demonstrated widespread impairment at age 18, including more overall behavioral-emotional problems, interpersonal problems, academic failure, suicidal behavior, and health problems, as well as an increased risk for additional disorders. An equally striking finding was that youths who experienced traumas but did not develop PTSD also showed deficits in many of these areas when compared with their peers who had not experienced traumas. CONCLUSIONS The substantial risk faced by youths in community settings for experiencing traumas and PTSD, along with associated impairments in later adolescence, underscores the need for programs of prompt intervention.
Quotients of Banach spaces of cotype $q$

Let Z be a Banach space and let X c Z be a B-convex subspace (equivalently, assume that X does not contain l"s uniformly). Then every Bernoulli series > I e1 z,, which converges almost surely in the quotient Z/X can be lifted to a Bernoulli series a.s. convergent in Z. As a corollary, if Z is of cotype q, then Z/X is also of cotype q. This extends a result of [4] concerning the particular case Z Ll. In this note, we give some further applications of the main results of [5]. It is well known that, in general, an unconditionally convergent series in a quotient Banach space Z/X cannot be lifted up to an unconditionally convergent series in Z. However, we prove in this note that if X is B-convex, then a similar lifting property holds for "almost" unconditionally convergent series. (Of course, this becomes trivial if the subspace X is complemented in Z.) We will need some specific notations: let D = {-I, I}N, En: D{-1, +1) the nth coordinate, and let It denote the uniform probability on D (i.e. It is the normalized Haar measure on the compact group D). For any finite set of integers A c N, we denote by WA the Walsh function WA = ILEA en. These functions form an orthonormal basis of characters of the space L2(D, It). We will denote by Rk the orthogonal projection from L2(D, ,U) onto the closed linear span of the functions { WAI IA I = k}; moreover, we will denote by VP the linear span of all the functions of the form WA (i.e. 9P is the space of all "trigonometric polynomials" on the group D). It is well known that, for each e in [0, 1], the operator T(e) = lk>O ekRk (defined a priori only on iP) extends to a contraction on L4(D, ,u) for each p such that 1 1 (depending only on X) such that the operator Rk ? Ix (defined a Received by the editors March 27, 1981 and, in revised form, June 30, 1981. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 46B20; Secondary 46B99, 60B1 1, 28C20.
Anatomic Consideration for Sacral Screw Placement

Instrumentation of the lumbosacral spine increasingly involves screw fixation to the sacrum. Recommended locations and techniques for screw placement vary, particularly when bicortical purchase of the sacrum is performed. The purpose of this study was to describe the critical anatomy and potential injuries to neurovascular and visceral structures anterior to the sacrum. Lack of awareness can lead to life-threatening complications. The study included 22 fresh human cadavers with no prior spinal surgery. Specimens were placed in a prone position, and the lumbosacral spine was exposed. Two 6.5-mm screws were inserted using one of two techniques, respectively: Starting just inferior to the S1 facet one screw was angled 25° caudally and 30° laterally; in the second technique, lateral inclination was increased to 45°. In addition, all specimens had screws placed in the S2 pedicles. An anterior dissection was performed to allow evaluation of the neurovascular and visceral structures at risk for injury by, or adjacent to, the screw tips. All significant neurovascular structures in the area of concern were constant in position. The internal iliac vein and the lumbosacral nerve trunk were most at risk for injury by the 30 and 45° laterally directed screws. The sigmoid colon, though close to the S2 screw, was protected by its mesentery. Screws placed in the S1 pedicle were least likely to injure the neurovascular bundle. A lateral and a midline safe zone were identified.
Improved detection of JC virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis of AIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Several methods to increase the sensitivity of JC virus (JCV) DNA detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for a noninvasive diagnosis of AIDS-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) were investigated. When CSF collected at clinical presentation was tested, JCV DNA was detected in 8 of 19 patients with PML by standard PCR (sensitivity, 42%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21 to 66%) and in 14 of 19 by nested PCR (sensitivity, 74% [95% CI, 49 to 90%]; P = 0.014 [McNemar's test]. For multiple serial CSF samples, standard PCR yielded JCV DNA for 11 of 19 PML patients (sensitivity, 58% [95% CI, 34 to 79%]) and nested PCR yielded JCV DNA for 17 of 19 patients (sensitivity, 90% [95% CI, 66 to 98%]; P = 0.014). The majority of the false-negative samples were found to contain PCR inhibitors. Standard PCR did not detect JCV DNA in CSF from any of the 83 AIDS patients with other diagnosis (100% specificity [95% CI, 95 to 100%]); JCV DNA was found in CSF from one control patient by nested PCR (99% specificity [95% CI, 93 to 100%]).
Tobacco-specific Nitrosamine 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone Promotes Functional Cooperation of Bcl2 and c-Myc through Phosphorylation in Regulating Cell Survival and Proliferation*

Nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is formed by nitrosation of nicotine and has been identified as the most potent carcinogen contained in cigarette smoke. NNK significantly contributes to smoking-related lung cancer, but the molecular mechanism remains enigmatic. Bcl2 and c-Myc are two major oncogenic proteins that cooperatively promote tumor development. We report here that NNK simultaneously stimulates Bcl2 phosphorylation exclusively at Ser70 and c-Myc at Thr58 and Ser62 through activation of both ERK1/2 and PKCα, which is required for NNK-induced survival and proliferation of human lung cancer cells. Treatment of cells with staurosporine or PD98059 blocks both Bcl2 and c-Myc phosphorylation and results in suppression of NNK-induced proliferation. Specific depletion of c-Myc expression by RNA interference retards G1/S cell cycle transition and blocks NNK-induced cell proliferation. Phosphorylation of Bcl2 at Ser70 promotes a direct interaction between Bcl2 and c-Myc in the nucleus and on the outer mitochondrial membrane that significantly enhances the half-life of the c-Myc protein. Thus, NNK-induced functional cooperation of Bcl2 and c-Myc in promoting cell survival and proliferation may occur in a novel mechanism involving their phosphorylation, which may lead to development of human lung cancer and/or chemoresistance.
Desmoplastic ameloblastoma with large cystic change in the maxillary sinus: report of a case.

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) is a relatively rare odontogenic neoplasm. DA presents with clinical features that vary significantly from the more common multicystic ameloblastoma, such as a predilection for the anterior jaw and a mixed radiolucent/radiopaque appearance, to a multilocular radiographic appearance of the lesions most common in the posterior mandible. On gross examination, DA appeares as a solid mass, unlike the multicystic ameloblastoma that contains fluid-filled spaces. Histologically, DA is characterized by small nests and strands of “compressed” odontogenic epithelium supported by desmoplastic stroma, the density of which accounts for the radiographic appearance. DA with a significant cystic component has not been reported. In this case report, we present a rare case of DA with significant cystic change in a lesion with extension into the maxillary sinus.
Music therapy for schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like illnesses.

BACKGROUND Music therapy is a psychotherapeutic method that uses musical interaction as a means of communication and expression. The aim of the therapy is to help people with serious mental illness to develop relationships and to address issues they may not be able to using words alone. OBJECTIVES To review the effects of music therapy, or music therapy added to standard care, compared to placebo, standard care or no treatment for people with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. SEARCH STRATEGY The Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Register (July 2002) was searched. This was supplemented by hand searching of music therapy journals, manual searches of reference lists, and contacting relevant authors. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised controlled trials that compared music therapy with standard care or other psychosocial interventions for schizophrenia. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Studies were reliably selected, quality assessed and data extracted. Data were excluded where more than 30% of participants in any group were lost to follow up. Non-skewed continuous endpoint data from valid scales were synthesised using a standardised mean difference (SMD). If statistical heterogeneity was found, treatment 'dosage' and treatment approach were examined as possible sources of heterogeneity. MAIN RESULTS Four studies were included. These examined the effects of music therapy over the short to medium term (1 to 3 months), with treatment 'dosage' varying from 7 to 78 sessions. Music therapy added to standard care was superior to standard care alone for global state (medium term, 1 RCT, n = 72, RR 0.10 CI 0.03 to 0.31, NNT 2 CI 1.2 to 2.2). Continuous data suggested some positive effects on general mental state (1 RCT, n=69, SMD average endpoint PANSS -0.36 CI -0.85 to 0.12; 1 RCT, n=70, SMD average endpoint BPRS -1.25 CI -1.77 to -0.73),on negative symptoms (3 RCTs, n=180, SMD average endpoint SANS -0.86 CI -1.17 to -0.55) and social functioning (1 RCT, n=70, SMD average endpoint SDSI score -0.78 CI -1.27 to -0.28). However these latter effects were inconsistent across studies and depended on the number of music therapy sessions. All results were for the 1-3 month follow up. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Music therapy as an addition to standard care helps people with schizophrenia to improve their global state and may also improve mental state and functioning if a sufficient number of music therapy sessions are provided. Further research should address the dose-effect relationship and the long-term effects of music therapy.
Purpura as a psychosomatic entity. A psychiatric study of autoerythrocyte sensitization.

Autoerythrocyte sensitization is a chronic purpuric state, first described in 1955 by Gardner and Diamond.1It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate the frequency of emotional disturbances in patients with this disorder and to suggest that the character traits of these patients play a determining role in the syndrome itself. Autoerythrocyte sensitization is a disease of adult females, usually becoming clinically manifest after an injury, and characterized by repeated crops of ecchymoses, gastrointestinal bleeding, hematuria, abdominal pain, and neurologic abnormalities. Considerable disability may result from the pain of the cutaneous lesions and from hemarthroses. Gardner and Diamond suspected from the nature of this disorder that the patients had become sensitive to their own blood cells. They produced characteristic lesions by the intracutaneous injection of the patient's own blood or erythrocytic stroma. Since their initial report, only a few cases have been described.2-5However in the last
The Use of a Constructivist Grounded Theory Method to Explore the Role of Socially-Constructed Metadata (Web 2.0) Approaches

Purpose –This paper provides rationale for using a constructivist grounded theory method for PhD research in Library and Information Research, entitled “Towards a Theory of Digital Library Metadata: The emergence of Enriching and Filtering”. It highlights on the processes of data collection using intensive interviewing and three stages of data analysis, namely: open coding, focused coding andtheoretical coding. In addition, the processes of constructivist grounded theory conceptualisation using memo writing and theoretical saturation are highlighted. Design/methodology/approach –While the actual results of the PhD study will be presented separately, this paper mainly focuses on the best practises and lessons learnt from the adoption of the method. The paper highlights on how the method enabled the researcher to conduct iterative scrutiny of the concepts and categories through the method‟s memo writing and conceptualisation processes four core categories have emerged. It is argued that a constructivist grounded theory approach is fitting to address issues in relation to Web 2.0 and user-driven metadata approaches. Findings –Following a rigorous application of the method, a constructivist grounded theory method is considered appropriate to explore emerging areas of research in library and information science. It is indicated that the novelty of the use of web 2.0 and social media in libraries, the issue of socially-constructed metadata approaches is relatively under-developed and thus there are absence of extant theories, suggesting thus the importance of inductive research methods, such as the constructivist grounded theory method presented in this paper.Taking into account, the potential existence of diversity of views among librarians, LIS researchers, metadata experts and library users with respect of the issues of involving users in metadata creation, from the three approaches to grounded theory, Charmaz‟s (Charmaz, 2006) constructivist approach was considered fitting. Practical implications –The case for the viability of the constructivist grounded theory method for high level research such as PhD, is made. It is believed that LIS researchers who aim to undertake a research on emerging topical issues, such as Web 2.0, would find the method appropriate. The method allows two-way mutual co-constructions of concepts between the researcher and research participant. It also provides the researcher flexibility and rigour to gather views and opinions, through interactive and iterative indepth interviews.It also allows the researcher to analyse and interpret the perspectives of participants‟ through identification of concepts and categories from the data collected. Finally, the method is expected to help to develop a theory that overarches the concepts and categories derived from the data collected.
Assessment of the Economic Structure of Brazilian Agribusiness

This paper presents an economic assessment of Brazilian agribusiness and its relationship with other economic sectors. It was found that, in 2011, agribusiness had a share of 18.45% (basic prices) and 19.77% (market prices) of Brazilian GDP. The tax burden of agribusiness (20.68%) was higher than that of other sectors (13.59%), despite agribusiness being a major contributor to the generation of foreign exchange, employment, and essential products, such as food. Brazilian agribusiness is a major employer, responsible for 29.39% of national employment. However, its average income is lower than in the other sectors of the Brazilian economy. Finally, agribusiness was found to be the biggest generator of foreign exchange, with a positive balance of trade. It was possible to conclude that agribusiness forms a strong link between agriculture and livestock, industry, and services in other economic sectors. For this reason, it can be said that the development of agribusiness is highly relevant to the process of Brazilian economic development and is therefore important to the progress of economic policies.
Subspace-based Identification Algorithms for Hammerstein and Wiener Models

Subspace-based algorithms for the simultaneous identification of the linear and nonlinear parts of multivariable Hammerstein and Wiener models are presented in this paper. The proposed algorithms consist basically of two steps. The first one is a standard subspace-based identification algorithm applied to an auxiliary multivariable linear system whose inputs (respectively outputs) are filtered versions of the original inputs (respectively outputs). The filters are the nonlinear functions describing the static nonlinearities for the Hammerstein case and its inverses for the Wiener case. The second step consists of a 2-norm minimization problem which is solved via Singular Value Decomposition. Consistency of the estimates can be guaranteed under weak assumptions. The performance of the proposed identification algorithms is illustrated through simulation examples.
Protein, glucose and lipid metabolism in the cancer cachexia: A preliminary report

To the EditorCancer cachexia is a complex syndrome character-ized by weight loss with depletion of both skeletalmuscle and adipose tissue mass, associated withextreme weakness, dry and wrinkled skin. Cancercachexia is associated with protein degradation ofhuman skeletal muscle with a slow or fast progres-sion rate.The mechanism of wasting occurring in malignantdiseases is multifactorial. The causes of the cancercachexia syndrome may include decreased foodintake [1], increased faecal and urinary nutrientlosses, and malfunction of metabolic pathways inboth the host and the tumour. Also the site and themass of the tumour may be involved in causinganorexia due to excessive metabolites consumption.In addition metabolic alterations induced by thetumour itself, through production of specific factors(several cytokines, especially TNF-a, INF-g, andIL-6), may be interfering with normal metabolism[2]. Glucose intolerance is one of the earliest meta-bolic alterations recognized in patients with cancer[3]. The whole body glucose turnover is increased,while glucose utilization is impaired due to insulinresistance. Increased gluconeogenesis from lactateand alanine is also a typical alteration of glucosemetabolism in cancer cachexia [4]. Insulin resis-tance does not appear to be a consequence ofmalnutrition, but seems to be related to the tumouritself [5]. Depletion of muscle protein masses is typical incancer cachexia with increased tumour proteinaccumulation [2]. The majority of the authors havefound increased whole body protein turnover [6],while the results on protein synthesis (enhanced,decreased) and on the relative resistance to insulin[7] are not consistent.As the progressive loss of muscle mass is the mostprominent phenotypic feature of cancer cachexia, westudied amino acids metabolism in order to help todevelop more effective therapeutic strategies forpreventing cancer-related muscle wasting.With this purpose we assessed insulin action onprotein, lipid and glucose metabolism in patientsaffected by cancer with a recent relevant weight loss,utilizing the classical technique of the euglycemichyperinsulinemic clamp which is the golden stan-dard procedure for the determination of insulinaction.All patients were recruited in the Department ofMedicine of S. Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy. Fivepatients (3 males and 2 woman, age: 619