Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Autonomic Recovery: HyperCheck: A Hardware-Assisted Integrity Monitor

Abstract : Over the past few years, virtualization has been employed to environments ranging from densely populated cloud computing clusters to home desktop computers. Security researchers embraced virtual machine monitors (VMMs) as a new mechanism to guarantee deep isolation of untrusted software components. Unfortunately, their widespread adoption promoted VMMs as a prime target for attackers. In this paper, we present HyperCheck, a hardware-assisted tampering detection framework designed to protect the integrity of VMMs and, for some classes of attacks, the underlying operating system (OS). HyperCheck leverages the CPU System Management Mode (SMM), present in x86 systems, to securely generate and transmit the full state of the protected machine to an external server. Using HyperCheck, we were able to ferret-out rootkits that targeted the integrity of both the Xen hypervisor and traditional OSes. Moreover, HyperCheck is robust against attacks that aim to disable or block its operation. Our experimental results show that HyperCheck can produce and communicate a scan of the state of the protected software in less than 40ms.
Neonatal candidemia and end-organ damage: a critical appraisal of the literature using meta-analytic techniques.

OBJECTIVE Neonatal candidemia is an increasing cause of infant morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the current medical literature in an effort to critique the literature and to document the reported prevalences of end-organ damage after neonatal candidemia. METHODS We analyzed all peer-reviewed articles of neonatal candidemia published in the English language; inclusion criteria included a cohort limited to all neonatal intensive care unit admissions or all episodes of candidemia in neonates. Articles that also incorporated older patients, did not define a numerator and a denominator for at least 1 form of end-organ damage, included patients from other reports, or did not include all episodes of candidemia in the source population were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS Thirty-four articles reported episodes of candidemia and mortality; 21 articles reported prevalence for at least 1 form of end-organ damage. Only 4 (19%) of 21 articles reported prevalence for >4 forms of end-organ damage from the following list: endophthalmitis, meningitis, brain parenchyma invasion, endocarditis, renal abscesses, positive cultures from other normally sterile body fluids, or hepatosplenic abscesses. The median reported prevalence of endophthalmitis was 3% (interquartile range [IQR]: 0%-17%), of meningitis was 15% (IQR: 3%-23%), of brain abscess or ventriculitis was 4% (IQR: 3%-21%), of endocarditis was 5% (IQR: 0%-13%), of positive renal ultrasound was 5% (IQR: 0%-14%), and of positive urine culture was 61% (IQR: 40%-76%). The medical literature concerning end-organ evaluation after episodes of neonatal candidemia is heterogeneous and consists largely of single-center retrospective studies. Year that the data were collected and prevalence of neonates infected with Candida albicans were associated with observed heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS Given the heterogeneity of the medical literature, precise estimates of the frequencies of end-organ damage are not possible and a prospective multicenter trial is warranted, but the data from the published literature suggest that the prevalence of neonates with end-organ damage not only is greater than 0 but also is high enough that until such a prospective trial is completed, end-organ studies should be considered before the conclusion of antifungal therapy.
Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections – a comparative study of dispensing and non‐dispensing doctors

Background: The reported results are part of an overall evaluation of drug management by dispensing (DDs) and non‐dispensing doctors (NDDs). This study focuses on appropriate prescription. Other studies assess good pharmacy practice. Whereas rationality of prescription has been studied based on simple indicators, appropriate prescription in relation to diagnoses and symptoms has not been assessed.
Avipoxvirus Infection in Quails

The present study describes clinical, virological, histopathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic findings of pox infection encountered in a quail flock. Lesions consisted of single or multiple nodules with a crust in variable size of gray to yellow or dark brown discoloration on the comb, eyelids, and the other poorly feathered areas of the body. Histopathological changes consisted of hyperplastic epithelium overlying, with ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes, many of which had eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies (Bollinger bodies), and heterophilic infiltrations admixed with mononuclear cells extending into dermis. Avipoxvirus infection was confirmed by positive immunostaining in the cytoplasm of affected cells for poxvirus antigen, excluded no immunostaining of inclusion bodies, using streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex method and by demonstration of brick- shaped virus particles with a central core using direct electron microscopy. Typical thickness of chorio-allantoic membranes (CAMs) infected with virus, compared with controls, was observed, and the harvested virus on CAMs was detected as positive against known fowlpox virus using gel diffusion test.
Identification of central cholinergic neurons containing both choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase and of central neurons containing only acetylcholinesterase

Neurons in the rat central nervous system (CNS) were examined for their content of both the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT; acetyl-CoA, choline O-acetyl-transferase, EC 2.3.16), and the transmitter-degrading enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE). ChAT was localized immunohistochemically and AChE was localized histochemically in normal, colchicine-treated, or diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP)-treated rats, either in neighboring sections by standard procedures or simultaneously in the same sections by immunofluorescence for ChAT, followed by photography, followed by histochemistry for AChE, followed by brightfield rephotography of the same neurons. This combination of fluorescence and brightfield procedures allows both to be carried out at maximum intensity without fear of interference and enables the unambiguous visualization of all neurons that might be expected with either procedure. Based on previous examination of singly stained neighboring sections, five CNS areas were examined in detail in DFP-treated rats using the simultaneous procedure for localizing both ChAT and AChE in the same neurons in the same sections. Several hundred neurons were thus examined in each area. These areas were the caudate putamen, nucleus basalis of Meynert, medial septum, nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca (vertical and horizontal limbs), and zona incerta. In the caudate putamen and nucleus basalis magnocellularis of Meynert, all ChAT-positive neurons contained AChE and vice versa. In the medial septum and nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca, all ChAT-positive neurons contained AChE, but these neurons containing both ChAT and AChE were intermingled with neurons positive only for AChE. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
P6 acustimulation effectively decreases postoperative nausea and vomiting in high-risk patients.

BACKGROUND Electrical acustimulation can reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acustimulation in relation to known risk factors for PONV. We also tested the secondary hypothesis that pre- or post-induction application of acustimulation results in differences in PONV reduction. METHODS Two hundred women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy were enrolled in this prospective, observer-blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients received randomly for 24 h acustimulation (n=101), subdivided into groups of pre-induction (n=48) and post-induction (n=53), or sham stimulation (n=99), subdivided into groups of pre-induction (n=49) or post-induction (n=50). Nausea and vomiting/retching was recorded for 24 h after operation in the whole group and stratified by risk factors (female gender, non-smoker, history of PONV/motion sickness, and postoperative morphine usage). RESULTS The incidence of PONV and need for rescue therapy was significantly lower in the acustimulation than in the sham group (PONV, 33% vs 63%, P<0.001; rescue therapy, 39% vs 61%, P=0.001). The risk ratio for acustimulation and PONV was 0.29 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.52] and for rescue therapy, it was 0.38 (95% CI 0.21-0.66). Subgroup analyses according to the simplified risk score by Apfel and colleagues revealed a reduction in high-risk patients, that is, when three or four risk factors were present. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that no history of PONV and usage of acustimulation were independent predictors for risk reduction of all PONV qualities. No significant difference in PONV reducing effects could be detected between pre- and post-induction. CONCLUSIONS Continuous 24 h acustimulation decreases PONV, particularly in patients at high risk.
Maximal bite force in patients with reduced periodontal tissue support with and without splinting.

BACKGROUND Chewing and biting forces are supposed to be limited by sensory input from periodontal mechanoreceptors. This is why the threshold level of those receptors should be lower in teeth with reduced periodontal tissue support. The purposes of the present study were to evaluate the influence of reduced periodontal tissue support on maximal bite force in natural dentitions and to study the effect of splinting on maximal bite force. METHODS In 10 patients with reduced periodontal tissue support (test), as well as in 10 periodontally healthy subjects (control), maximal bite force was measured. The remaining periodontal ligament area in the test group was calculated from x-rays. Bite force was assessed at 4 mm mouth opening in the premolar region without and following splinting of the posterior teeth and transduced using a strain-gauge (full-bridge circuit). Maximal bite force measured with and without splinting was compared between test and control subjects, and within each group. RESULTS In test subjects, the mean periodontal ligament area was 48.5% (SD = 10.1) across first premolars and 50.0% (SD = 12.2) across posterior teeth (control: 100%). In test subjects, the mean maximal bite force without splinting was 357 N (SD = 70), and in control subjects, 378 N (SD = 66; P > 0.05). After splinting, the bite force in test subjects was 509 N (SD = 75), and in control subjects, 534 N (SD = 49; P > 0.05). Bite force before and after splinting was P < 0.05 within each group. CONCLUSIONS Reduced periodontal tissue support does not seem to limit bite force with maximal strength in natural dentitions as measured by a device that opens the bite by 4 mm. Furthermore, maximal biting forces at 4 mm mouth opening are increased when molar teeth are included in a posterior splint.
The endothelial protein C receptor impairs the antibacterial response in murine pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis

Summary Pneumococcal pneumonia is a frequent cause of gram-positive sepsis and has a high mortality. The endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) has been implicated in both the activation of protein C (PC) and the anti-inflammatory actions of activated (A)PC. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the EPCR in murine pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis. Wild-type (WT), EPCR knockout (KO) and Tie2-EPCR mice, which overexpress EPCR on the endothelium, were infected intranasally (pneumonia) or intravenously (sepsis) with viable Streptococcus pneumoniae and euthanised at 24 or 48 hours after initiation of the infection for analyses. Pneumonia did not alter constitutive EPCR expression on pulmonary endothelium but was associated with an influx of EPCR positive neutrophils into lung tissue. In pneumococcal pneumonia EPCR KO mice demonstrated diminished bacterial growth in the lungs and dissemination to spleen and liver, reduced neutrophil recruitment to the lungs and a mitigated inflammatory response. Moreover, EPCR KO mice displayed enhanced activation of coagulation in the early phase of disease. Correspondingly, in pneumococcal sepsis EPCR KO mice showed reduced bacterial growth in lung and liver and attenuated cytokine release. Conversely, EPCR-overexpressing mice displayed higher bacterial outgrowth in lung, blood, spleen and liver in pneumococcal sepsis. In conclusion, EPCR impairs antibacterial defense in both pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis, which is associated with an enhanced pro-inflammatory response.
Similarities of error regularization, sigmoid gain scaling, target smoothing, and training with jitter

The generalization performance of feedforward layered perceptrons can, in many cases, be improved either by smoothing the target via convolution, regularizing the training error with a smoothing constraint, decreasing the gain (i.e., slope) of the sigmoid nonlinearities, or adding noise (i.e., jitter) to the input training data, In certain important cases, the results of these procedures yield highly similar results although at different costs. Training with jitter, for example, requires significantly more computation than sigmoid scaling.
HIMASTHLA ESCAMOSA N. SP. (DIGENEA: ECHINOSTOMATIDAE) FROM THE KELP GULL, LARUS DOMINICANUS (CHARADRIIFORMES: LARIDAE), ON THE PATAGONIAN COAST, ARGENTINA

In this article, we describe a new species of Himasthla Dietz, 1909 (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) from Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein (Aves: Laridae) in northern Patagonia, Argentina. We also describe the hosts, localities, and key diagnostic features and the measurements of the so far 25 described species. Of these species, Himasthla militaris, H. leptosoma, H. elongata, H. secunda, H. megacotyla, H. multilecithosa, H. piscicola, H. compacta, H. schachtachtinskoi, H. littorinae, H. continua, H. avosettae, and H. interrupta are similar to H. escamosa n. sp. in having 29 head collar spines. Himasthla leptosoma, H. piscicola, H. multilecithosa, H. interrupta, H. continua, and H. militaris can be differentiated from the new species mainly by the extension of the vitellaria. Himasthla avosettae, H. megacotyla, H. elongata, H. compacta, and H. littorinae have a different size or arrangement (or both) of head collar spines compared with H. escamosa. Himasthla secunda can be distinguished from H. escamosa n. sp. in having a larger body, testes, and ovary and a different position of the ovary. The comparison with H. schachtachtinskoi could not be done because the bibliography was not available. This is the first record of the genus in Argentina and from L. dominicanus.
TREATMENT OF LUPUS VULGARIS WITH CALCIFEROL

IN August ]9-dl:3 a man aged 28, suffering from confluent lupus vulgaris of the face and ears, was referred to one of the writers (G.B.D.) at the Department for Diseases of the Skin at St. Thomas's Hospital. He had been receiving Finsen and general light treatment for five years according to the Tuberculosis Officer who sent him, without improvement. He wanted to give it UJD because he found it inconvenient to attend by day. He was given 150,000 international units of calciferol daily in the form of Ostelin High Potency tablets, each of which contains 50,000 i.u. After two and a half months of this treatment it was evident that he had made a considerable stride forward towards recover}^ While vitamin D had been used in the treatment of lupus for many years, the one common factor in all established genera] remedies for the disease (abundant butter and milk, cod-liver oil, general carbon arc light and heliotherapy, and the Gerson-Herrmannsdorfer diet) being in fact the presence of an abundance of this vitamin, the change that had taken place was not expected. At the same time it was difficult to see what else could be held responsible for it, as lupus is not a disease in which a sudden spontaneous imjDrovement is to be looked for. Accordingly it Avas decided to apply the same remed}' to all cases tliat were, or miglit come, under our care, either at St. Thomas's Hospital or elsewhere. Up to the present they have amounted to 38, some very old with much X-ray scarring, others of more recent origin in which X-rays had never been used. By degrees it became evident that the
Interspecific Larval Competition Between Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Northern Virginia

Abstract Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Aedes japonicus (Theobald) are two of the most recent and widespread invasive mosquito species to have become established in the United States. The two species co-occur in water-filled artificial containers, where crowding and limiting resources are likely to promote inter- or intraspecific larval competition. The performance of northern Virginia populations of Ae. japonicus and Ae. albopictus competing as larvae under field conditions was evaluated. Per capita rates of population increase for each species were estimated, and the effects of species composition and larval density were determined. In water-containing cups provided with oak leaves, Ae. albopictus larvae exhibited a competitive advantage over Ae. japonicus as a consequence of higher survivorship, shorter developmental time, and a significantly higher estimated population growth rate under conditions of interspecific competition. Intraspecific competition constrained population performance of Ae. albopictus significantly more than competition with Ae. japonicus. In the context of the Lotka-Volterra model of competition, these findings suggest competitive exclusion of Ae. japonicus in those habitats where this species co-occurs with Ae. albopictus.
Patterns and Correlates of Expressed Emotion, Perceived Criticism, and Rearing Style in First Admitted Early-Onset Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess patterns and correlates of family variables in 31 adolescents treated for their first episode of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (early-onset schizophrenia [EOS]). Expressed emotion, perceived criticism, and rearing style were assessed. Potential correlates were patient psychopathology, premorbid adjustment, illness duration, quality of life (QoL), sociodemographic variables, patient and caregiver “illness concept,” and caregiver personality traits and support. Families were rated as critical more frequently by patients than raters (55% vs. 13%). Perceived criticism was associated with worse QoL in relationship with parents and peers. An adverse rearing style was associated with a negative illness concept in patients, particularly with less trust in their physician. Future research should examine perceived criticism as a predictor of relapse and indicator of adolescents with EOS who need extended support and treatment. Rearing style should be carefully observed because of its link with patients’ illness concept and, potentially, to service engagement and medication adherence.
Application of an Exercise Intervention on the Evolution of Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: Efficacy and Effectiveness

Background—Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. We studied the impact of an exercise-based lifestyle intervention on the evolution of DD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prospectively investigated the clinical correlates of DD progression. Methods and Results—A total of 223 outpatients with T2DM were randomized to supervised exercise-based lifestyle intervention (initial gym-based program and lifestyle and diet advice followed by telephone-guided supervision) or usual care. Patients underwent echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function and metabolic and clinical evaluation at baseline and 3 years. Changes in prevalence and evolution of DD were assessed and correlations sought with clinical and metabolic variables. DD was present in 50% of patients at baseline and 54% at 3 years, with no difference between the usual care and intervention groups (60% versus 48%, P=0.10). Abnormal DD at the final visit was independently associated with older age and a decrease in peak oxygen consumption over time (P<0.05). There was no impact on glycemic control or exercise capacity. In a subanalysis restricted to patients who finished the full 3-year follow-up, control subjects were independently associated with DD at 3 years (&bgr;=0.90; odds ratio, 2.46; P=0.034), with the only other independent correlate being older age (&bgr;=0.05; odds ratio, 1.06; P=0.019). Conclusions—Despite being efficacious in the subgroup who completed 3 years of exercise-based lifestyle intervention, randomization to this program was not effective in reducing progression of subclinical DD in patients with T2DM, which may reflect the recognized difficulty of adherence to prolonged exercise intervention. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.anzctr. org.au. Unique identifier: ACTRN12607000060448.
The Safety and Efficacy of a Transarticular Pin for Maintaining Reduction in Patients With Developmental Dislocation of the Hip Undergoing an Open Reduction

Background: Redislocation after an open reduction for develpmental dislocation of the hip is relatively common. The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of a transarticular pin (TAP) is safe and effective in maintaining reduction. Methods: A total of 578 patients (645 hips) were reviewed after an open reduction, mean age at the time of surgery was 2.1 years. In 621 cases a smooth Kirschner wire was placed across the joint. The rates of redislocation, avascular necrosis (AVN), and other complications were determined. AVN was classified according to Kalamchi et al. Outcome was determined at a minimum of 6 years using the Severin classification. Results: Redislocation occurred in 27 cases (4.1% rate), 24 had a TAP (3.8%) and 3 did not (12.5%). AVN was observed in 127 cases (19.7%), it was type I in 73 cases, type II in 38 cases, type III in 14 cases, and type IV in 2 cases; AVN was seen in 123 cases which had a TAP (19.8%) and 4 cases which did not (16.7%). Analyzing pin placement: when it was in the inferior third of the neck the rate of AVN was 15.2% (32/211), in the middle third it was 21.7% (71/326), and in the superior third it was 28.6% (24/84). According to the Severin classification for the hips with a TAP, 496 were type I or II (79.8%), 113 were type III (18.2%), 10 were type IV (1.6%), and 2 were type V (0.3%); in the group without a TAP 19 cases were type I or II (79.2%), 4 were type III (16.7%), and 1 was type IV. Conclusions: The use of a TAP was effective in maintaining reduction and was not associated with significant morbidity. Placing the pin in the inferior third of the neck was associated with the lowest rate of AVN. Level of Evidence: Level IV—therapeutic.