Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute toxicity of effluent from electroplating industry to the Common carp, Cyprinus carpio Linn.

Effluent samples from electroplating industry were collected and brought to the laboratory immediately for the analysis of physico-chemical characteristics. The analyzed parameters were compared with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards. Static acute toxicity test was performed for a period of 96 hours using different concentrations of effluent of electroplating industry with the objective of evaluating the acute toxicity to the fresh water fish, Cyprinus carpio. The 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr LC50 values were 0.203, 0.158, 0.132, and 0.128% respectively. The need of toxicity evaluation assay for confirming the quality of effluent from the point of effective environmental safe limits and to ensure integrity of aquatic environment is stressed.
Antibiogram of Salmonella Isolates: Time to Consider Antibiotic Salvage.

INTRODUCTION Enteric fever is a major problem especially in developing countries. Timely and appropriate treatment plays a very important role in reducing the mortality. Fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins are the treatment options for enteric fever. Recent studies have shown that it is time to reconsider the use of earlier antibiotics. AIM The study was aimed to know whether salvage is possible and to avoid treatment failures following fluoroquinolone usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS A one year retrospective data of Salmonella species isolated from 319 blood samples from our hospital and other diagnostic centers were studied. Demographic data, organism isolated and their changing pattern of antibiogram were analysed. RESULTS Out of 319 Salmonella isolates, 52.4% (167) was Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) and 47.6% (152) Salmonella paratyphi A (S. paratyphi A), with a male preponderance. Most of the salmonellae were isolated in the months of June and July, with the majority being in the 1-10 and 21-30 years age groups. Both species were highly susceptible to chloramphenicol (95.2% and 100%) followed by third generation cephalosporins (97% and 98%), cotrimoxazole (95.8% and 98.6%) and ampicillin (94.6% and 93.4%) respectively. Highest resistance was seen for nalidixic acid (90.4% and100%) among both S. typhi and S. paratyphi A isolates followed by ciprofloxacin (62.2% and 54.6%) respectively. MDR to first line drugs was observed in a small proportion of S. typhi (1.7%) only. CONCLUSION The frequency of isolation of S. typhi and S. paratyphi A are in equal proportion and enteric fever is more prevalent in younger age group. It is ideal to adopt bivalent vaccination in Universal immunization schedule. The isolates show sensitivity to first line drugs, paving the way for salvage of the earlier drugs. Cephalosporins still remain the treatment of choice in MDR salmonella isolates.
Medium-chain, triglyceride-containing lipid emulsions increase human neutrophil beta2 integrin expression, adhesion, and degranulation.

BACKGROUND To test the hypothesis that lipid emulsions with different triglyceride structures have distinct immunomodulatory properties, we analyzed human neutrophil adhesion and degranulation after lipid incubation. METHODS Neutrophils, isolated from the blood of 10 healthy volunteers, were incubated in medium or physiologic (2.5 mmol/L) emulsions containing long-chain (LCT), medium-chain (MCT), mixed LCT/MCT, or structured (SL) triglycerides. Expression of adhesion molecules and degranulation markers was evaluated by flow cytometry. Also, functional adhesion was investigated by means of a flow cytometric assay using fluorescent beads coated with the integrin ligand intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1. RESULTS Although LCT and SL had no effect, LCT/MCT significantly increased expression of the beta2 integrins lymphocyte-function-associated antigen 1 (+18%), macrophage antigen 1 (+387%), p150,95 (+82%), and (alphaDbeta2 (+230%). Degranulation marker expression for azurophilic (CD63, +210%) and specific granules (CD66b, +370%) also significantly increased, whereas L-selectin (CD62L, -70%) decreased. The effects of LCT/MCT were mimicked by the MCT emulsion. ICAM-1 adhesion (% beads bound) was increased by LCT/MCT (34% +/- 4%), whereas LCT (19% +/-3%) and SL (20% +/- 2%) had no effect compared with medium (17% +/- 3%). CONCLUSIONS LCT/MCT and MCT, contrary to LCT and SL emulsions, increased neutrophil beta2 integrin expression, adhesion, and degranulation. Apart from other emulsion constituents, triglyceride chain length might therefore be a key feature in the interaction of lipid emulsions and the phagocyte immune system.
AAPM recommendations on dose prescription and reporting methods for permanent interstitial brachytherapy for prostate cancer: Report of Task Group 137.

During the past decade, permanent radioactive source implantation of the prostate has become the standard of care for selected prostate cancer patients, and the techniques for implantation have evolved in many different forms. Although most implants use I125 or P103d sources, clinical use of C131s sources has also recently been introduced. These sources produce different dose distributions and irradiate the tumors at different dose rates. Ultrasound was used originally to guide the planning and implantation of sources in the tumor. More recently, CT and/or MR are used routinely in many clinics for dose evaluation and planning. Several investigators reported that the tumor volumes and target volumes delineated from ultrasound, CT, and MR can vary substantially because of the inherent differences in these imaging modalities. It has also been reported that these volumes depend critically on the time of imaging after the implant. Many clinics, in particular those using intraoperative implantation, perform imaging only on the day of the implant. Because the effects of edema caused by surgical trauma can vary from one patient to another and resolve at different rates, the timing of imaging for dosimetry evaluation can have a profound effect on the dose reported (to have been delivered), i.e., for the same implant (same dose delivered), CT at different timing can yield different doses reported. Also, many different loading patterns and margins around the tumor volumes have been used, and these may lead to variations in the dose delivered. In this report, the current literature on these issues is reviewed, and the impact of these issues on the radiobiological response is estimated. The radiobiological models for the biological equivalent dose (BED) are reviewed. Starting with the BED model for acute single doses, the models for fractionated doses, continuous low-dose-rate irradiation, and both homogeneous and inhomogeneous dose distributions, as well as tumor cure probability models, are reviewed. Based on these developments in literature, the AAPM recommends guidelines for dose prescription from a physics perspective for routine patient treatment, clinical trials, and for treatment planning software developers. The authors continue to follow the current recommendations on using D90 and V100 as the primary quantities, with more specific guidelines on the use of the imaging modalities and the timing of the imaging. The AAPM recommends that the postimplant evaluation should be performed at the optimum time for specific radionuclides. In addition, they encourage the use of a radiobiological model with a specific set of parameters to facilitate relative comparisons of treatment plans reported by different institutions using different loading patterns or radionuclides.
Influence of fire and salvage logging on site occupancy of spotted owls in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California

Fire over the past decade has affected forests in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California, providing an excellent opportunity to examine how this disturbance, and subsequent post-fire salvage logging, influenced California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) breeding-season site occupancy dynamics there and in the nearby San Jacinto Mountains. Using occupancy survey data from 2003 to 2011 for all-detections and pairs-only data, we estimated annual extinction and colonization probabilities at 71 burned and 97 unburned breeding-season sites before and after fire, while controlling for confounding effects of non-fire-related temporal variation and among-site differences in habitat characteristics. We found no statistically significant effects of fire or salvage logging on occupancy dynamics of spotted owls of southern California. However, we found some evidence that fire and logging effects could be biologically meaningful. For pairs data, the model-averaged mean of fire-related effects on colonization and extinction probabilities resulted in a 0.062 lesser site-occupancy probability in burned sites 1-year post-fire relative to unburned sites. Post-fire salvage logging reduced occupancy an additional 0.046 relative to sites that only burned. We documented a threshold-type relationship between extinction and colonization probabilities and the amount of forested habitat (conifer or hardwood tree cover types) that burned at high severity within a 203-ha core area around spotted owl nests and roost centroids. Sites where approximately 0–50 ha of forested habitat within the core area burned at high severity had extinction probabilities similar to unburned sites, but where more than approximately 50 ha of forested habitat burned severely, extinction probability increased approximately 0.003 for every additional hectare severely burned. The majority (75%) of sites burned below this threshold. Sites where high-severity fire affected >50 ha of forested habitat could still support spotted owls, so all burned sites should be monitored for occupancy before management actions such as salvage logging are undertaken that could be detrimental to the subspecies. We also recommend that managers strive to reduce human-caused ignitions along the wildland–urban interface, particularly at lower elevations where owl sites are at higher risk of extinction from fire. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
Longitudinal changes in epitope recognition of autoantibodies against glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65Ab) in prediabetic adults developing diabetes

We analysed the beta cell‐specific autoimmunity reflected in autoantibodies to the smaller isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65Ab) in the prediabetic period of GAD65Ab‐positive healthy adults who developed Type 2 diabetes (T2D) during a follow‐up period of 10 years. We found that of the adults that tested GAD65Ab‐positive at baseline (n = 25), six developed T2D and one developed Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Of the subjects that tested GAD65Ab‐negative at baseline (n = 2209), 81 developed T2D, one developed T1D and four developed unclassified diabetes, indicating that the risk for GAD65Ab‐positive healthy adults to develop diabetes is increased sixfold. The GAD65Ab epitopes were characterized in a competition radioligand binding assay using recombinant Fab derived of GAD65‐specific monoclonal antibodies. We observed that the GAD65Ab epitope specificities in the prediabetic period changed dynamically. Specifically, the binding to a middle and a C‐terminal epitope increased during the follow‐up period (P = 0·03), causing a significant increase in the number of epitopes recognized (P = 0·03). These findings are similar to previous observations of dynamic changes in the prediabetic period of schoolchildren at high risk for T1D development. However, the character of the epitopes differs between the two populations, suggesting differences in the beta cell‐specific autoimmune response in the prediabetic period of patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and T1D.
The world is our oyster: celebrating our past and anticipating our future.

Authors Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, is Associate Professor, University of Maryland, School of Nursing. Barbara Sheer, PhD, CRNP, FAANP, is an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware. Donna Behler McArthur, PhD, RN, CS, FNP, FAANP, is an Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Judith Shannon Lynch, MS, MA, APRN, FAANP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at Yale University, New Haven, CT. Judith C.D. Longworth, PhD, APRN, FNP, FAANP, is Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX. Elias Provencio-Vasques, PhD, CRNP, FAANP, is Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, Baltimore Maryland. You can contact Dr. Resnick via e-mail at HLSollins@aol.com. The World is Our Oyster: Celebrating Our Past and Anticipating Our Future
Do longer postpartum stays reduce newborn readmissions? Analysis using instrumental variables.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of postpartum length of stay on newborn readmission. DATA SOURCES Secondary data set consisting of newborns born in Washington state in 1989 and 1990. The data set contains information about the characteristics of the newborn and its parents, physician, hospital, and insurance status. STUDY DESIGN Analysis of the effect of length of stay on the probability of newborn readmission using hour of birth and method of delivery as instrumental variables (IVs) to account for unobserved heterogeneity. Of approximately 150,000 newborns born in Washington in 1989 and 1990, 108,551 (72 percent) were included in our analysis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Newborns with different lengths of stay differ in unmeasured characteristics, biasing estimates based on standard statistical methods. The results of our analyses show that a 12-hour increase in length of stay is associated with a reduction in the newborn readmission rate of 0.6 percentage points. This is twice as large as the estimate obtained using standard statistical (non-IV) methods. CONCLUSION An increase in the length of postpartum hospital stays may result in a decline in newborn readmissions. The magnitude of this decline in readmissions may be larger than previously thought.
Immunization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccines and adjuvant can modulate the type of inflammatory response subsequent to infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the predominant pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). To study the possibility of preventing lung inflammation and decreasing the progression of the infection by vaccination, we have developed a rat model of chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection. Rats were immunized with P. aeruginosa whole-cell sonicates, O-polysaccharide toxin A conjugate, an alginate-toxin A conjugate, or native alginate. Control animals received sterile saline or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA). The macroscopic (mean score, 2.4 versus 2.7 to 3.2) (P < 0.05) and microscopic (mean score, 2.0 versus 2.1 to 2.8) pathologic abnormalities were less severe in the control rats injected with sterile saline than in the immunized rats and the IFA group. The more severe lung abnormalities observed in immunized rats could be due to the result of immune complex-mediated lung tissue damage. The histopathologic results in the saline control rats were characterized by acute inflammation dominated by numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes surrounding the alginate beads (microcolonies), as in CF patients. In contrast, the inflammatory response in the IFA group and in the immunized rats had changed from an acute-type inflammation to a chronic-type inflammation dominated by mononuclear leukocytes and scattered granulomas. Cross-reacting antibodies were induced by the two alginate vaccines, and most immunized animals developed a significant (P < 0.001) antibody titer elevation (in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) of the immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, and IgA classes against the homologous antigens. The bacterial clearance was significantly (P < 0.05) more efficient in most immunized rats than in the control rats given sterile saline. The present study shows that none of the vaccines could completely prevent chronic lung inflammation 4 weeks after challenge. However, the changed pathologic condition in immunized rats to a chronic-type inflammation might be of great benefit in future management of CF patients since the developing lung tissue damage has been shown to be caused by polymorphonuclear leukocyte-released elastase.
Three-Dimensional Assessment of the Eruption Path of the Canine in Individuals with Bone-Grafted Alveolar Clefts Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Objective To evaluate the eruption path of the permanent maxillary canine during a 1-year period after secondary alveolar bone grafting and to (1) compare the canine eruption path on the cleft and noncleft side, (2) examine the number of congenially missing lateral incisors and the rate of canine impaction, and (3) examine the relationship between the eruption status of the canine and timing of alveolar bone grafting relative to age and canine root development using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods Cone beam computed tomography scans for 17 nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and four bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) consecutive cases of alveolar bone grafting surgery were obtained after orthodontic expansion and before alveolar bone grafting and at least 1 year postsurgery on the Hitachi MercuRay CBCT machine. The DICOM files were imported into Dolphin 3D Imaging 10.5 and reoriented for consistency. The X, Y, and Z coordinates were determined for the canine cusp tip and root tip on both the cleft and noncleft sides. The direction of movement of the canine in 1 year was determined. Results Most canines on both the cleft and noncleft sides moved incisally, facially, and mesially. Twelve percent of the canines on the cleft side appeared to require surgical exposure. Eighty percent of the canines had less than half root development at the time of bone grafting. The amount of root development did not affect the outcome in terms of eruption amount or direction. Conclusions Most canines on both the cleft and noncleft side moved incisally, facially, and mesially.
Lysine to arginine mutagenesis of chlorotoxin enhances its cellular uptake

Chlorotoxin (CTX), a disulfide‐rich peptide from the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus, has several promising biopharmaceutical properties, including preferential affinity for certain cancer cells, high serum stability, and cell penetration. These properties underpin its potential for use as a drug design scaffold, especially for the treatment of cancer; indeed, several analogs of CTX have reached clinical trials. Here, we focus on its ability to internalize into cells—a trait associated with a privileged subclass of peptides called cell‐penetrating peptides—and whether it can be improved through conservative substitutions. Mutants of CTX were made using solid‐phase peptide synthesis and internalization into human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells was monitored by fluorescence and confocal microscopy. CTX_M1 (ie, [K15R/K23R]CTX) and CTX_M2 (ie, [K15R/K23R/Y29W]CTX) mutants showed at least a twofold improvement in uptake compared to CTX. We further showed that these mutants internalize into HeLa cells largely via an energy‐dependent mechanism. Importantly, the mutants have high stability, remaining intact in serum for over 24 h; thus, retaining the characteristic stability of their parent peptide. Overall, we have shown that simple conservative substitutions can enhance the cellular uptake of CTX, suggesting that such type of mutations might be useful for improving uptake of other peptide toxins.
Two cases of an abnormal short arm of chromosome 8 (8p+) associated with mental retardation

Morphologically similar chromosome anomalies, 8p+, were found in two inmates of an institution for the mentally retarded. Analysis of the G‐ and R‐banding patterns showed that the first subject had a duplication of region p2 of chromosome 8; the second subject had an insertion of an unidentified chromosome segment at 8p11. Both subjects were severely mentally retarded. The physical malformations were more severe in the second subject than in the first, who had only minor signs. The dermatoglyphics are recorded.
Lymphatic vessel invasion is an independent prognostic factor in patients with a primary resected tumor with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Little data exist about the prognostic role of a lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) in patients with esophageal carcinoma. The objective of this study was to clarify the presence and prognostic impact of LVI in a large group of patients resected for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at one surgical center.
GaN HEMTs on silicon for power devices

In order to develop high voltage high current and high temperature HEMT transistors, we have studied an isolated gate based on a thin Al2O3. TCAD simulations have been used to explain abnormal C(V) results depending on the density and localization of positive charges under the gate. We have found and explained the dependence between degradation of Al2O3 interface and electrical characteristics.
Nosocomial Infections in Combined Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Units in the United States

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of nosocomial infections in combined medical-surgical (MS) intensive care units (ICUs) participating in the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System. Design: Analysis of surveillance data on 498,998 patients with 1,554,070 patient-days, collected between 1992 and 1998 from 205 MS ICUs following the NNIS Intensive Care Unit protocol, representing 152 participating NNIS hospitals in the United States. Results: Infections at three major sites represented 68% of all reported infections (nosocomial pneumonia, 31%; urinary tract infections (UTIs), 23%; and primary bloodstream infections (BSIs), 14%: 83% of episodes of nosocomial pneumonia were associated with mechanical ventilation, 97% of UTIs occurred in catheterized patients, and 87% of primary BSIs in patients with a central line. In patients with primary BSIs, coagulase-negative staphylococci (39%) were the most common pathogens reported; Staphylococcus aureus (12%) was as frequently reported as enterococci (11%). Coagulase-negative staphylococcal BSIs were increasingly reported over the 6 years, but no increase was seen in candidemia or enterococcal bacteremia. In patients with pneumonia, S aureus (17%) was the most frequently reported isolate. Of reported isolates, 59% were gram-negative bacilli. In patients with UTIs, Escherichia coli (19%) was the most frequently reported isolate. Of reported isolates, 31% were fungi. In patients with surgical-site infections, Enterococcus (17%) was the single most frequently reported pathogen. Device-associated nosocomial infection rates for BSIs, pneumonia, and UTIs did not correlate with length of ICU stay, hospital bed size, number of beds in die ICU, or season. Combined MS ICUs in major teaching hospitals had higher device-associated infection rates compared to all other hospitals with combined medical-surgical units. Conclusions: Nosocomial infections in MS ICUs at the most frequent infection sites (bloodstream, urinary, and respiratory tract) almost always were associated with use of an invasive device. Device-associated infection rates were die best available comparative rates between combined MS ICUs, but the distribution of device-associated rates should be stratified by a hospital's major teaching affiliation status.