Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reality vs Illusion: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Diabetic Patients

Introduction: Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with high morbidity and mortality among patients. The data from NHMS III has reported that the present prevalence of DM in Malaysia has exceeded the projected prevalence for the year 2025 as estimated by the International Diabetes Federation.1 Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) is a crucial element of DM control.2 However, very few studies have focused on this area and there is paucity of KAP data among Malaysian diabetic patients. Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) towards DM and the association between the patients? KAP and control of DM among patients with type II DM (T2DM). Method: Diabetic patients were recruited using the convenient sampling method from an urban diabetes care centre managed by a non-government, non-profit organisation. KAP were assessed using a 25 item structured KAP questionnaire and control of DM was evaluated from the HbA1C and fasting blood glucose levels respectively. Result: Seventy five patients with T2DM participated in this study. There was a strong association between knowledge and attitude as well as knowledge and practice (P<0.05). The mean (? standard deviation (SD) knowledge score was 11.85 ? 2.45; attitude 3.36 ? 1.29 and practice 4.39 ? 1.36, with the maximum possible scores for knowledge, attitude and practice being 14, 5 and 6 respectively. The scores suggested the presence of good KAP among our study participants. However, there was no correlation between the KAP and blood glucose control
Front-line paclitaxel-vinorelbine versus paclitaxel-carboplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomized phase III trial.

PURPOSE This randomized phase III trial of advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was designed to compare a standard treatment such as carboplatin (CRP)-paclitaxel (PCT) with a new combination, vinorelbine (VRL)-PCT-two agents acting in microtubules. PATIENTS AND METHODS Three hundred and sixty patients (stage IIIa, IIIb and IV) were included and evaluated for response rate, survival and toxicity. Arm A patients were treated with the control combination of CRP 6 AUC and PCT 175 mg/m(2) repeated every 3 weeks for six cycles, and arm B with the investigational combination of VRL 25 mg/m(2) and PCT 135 mg/m(2) repeated every 2 weeks for nine cycles. The patients were well balanced with respect to gender, disease stage and performance status. Arm A received 849 cycles (mean 4.59 per patient) and arm B 951 cycles (mean 5.39 per patient). RESULTS Complete and partial response rates were 45.95% and 42.86% for arms A and B, respectively. Median survival was 11 and 10 months, 1-year survival 42.7% and 37.85% and 2-year survival 10.12% and 19% for arms A and B, respectively. Toxicity was similar in all patients, except for neutropenia, which was significantly greater in arm B. CONCLUSIONS PCT combined with VRL produces similar (non-significant) response rates, survival and toxicity (except for neutropenia, as noted above) to standard CRP-PCT treatment in untreated advanced-stage NSCLC.
Decoupled Planar WWAN Antennas With T-Shaped Protruded Ground for Smartphone Applications

A planar antenna array composed of two decoupled multiband wireless wide area network (WWAN) antenna elements for slim mobile phone application is presented and studied in this letter. A wide T-shaped protruded ground is deliberately designed to enhance the impedance matching and decouple the two closely deposed antenna elements. The integrity of the proposed T-shaped decoupling structure allows the reuse of space in between the antenna elements in the real applications. With small size occupation, the proposed antenna array covers two wide operating bands including 824-960 and 1710-2170 MHz, and within a short separating distance it achieves isolation better than 12 dB in the lower band and 15 dB in upper band. A prototype is fabricated, and the array's overall performances are measured and compared to simulated results to validate the proposed solution.
Re: Polidocanol concentration and time affect the properties of foam used for sclerotherapy.

It was with great interest that I read Polidocanol Concentration and Time Affect the Properties of Foam Used for Sclerotherapy. The use of an automated system to determine bubble size rather than relying on liquid drainage as a surrogate marker has the potential to provide deeper insights into the structure of injected foams, but bubble size was measured only in the base of the foam. The base of the foam will be the wettest part of the foam as the above regions drain and as such will coarsen slowest (as explained in the article). Hence, it is likely that the experiment will significantly overstate the stability of foam (or underestimate mean bubble diameter).
Genomic selection: the option for new robustness traits?

Genomic selection is rapidly becoming the state-of-the-art genetic selection methodology in dairy cattle breeding schemes around the world. The objective of this paper was to explore possibilities to apply genomic selection for traits related to dairy cow robustness. Deterministic simulations indicate that replacing progeny testing with genomic selection may favour genetic response for production traits at the expense of robustness traits, owing to a disproportional change in accuracies obtained across trait groups. Nevertheless, several options are available to improve the accuracy of genomic selection for robustness traits. Moreover, genomic selection opens up the opportunity to begin selection for new traits using specialised reference populations of limited size where phenotyping of large populations of animals is currently prohibitive. Reference populations for such traits may be nucleus-type herds, research herds or pooled data from (international) research experiments or research herds. The RobustMilk project has set an example for the latter approach, by collating international data for progesterone-based traits, feed intake and energy balance-related traits. Reference population design, both in terms of relatedness of the animals and variability in phenotypic performance, is important to optimise the accuracy of genomic selection. Use of indicator traits, combined with multi-trait genomic prediction models, can further contribute to improved accuracy of genomic prediction for robustness traits. Experience to date indicates that for newly recorded robustness traits that are negatively correlated with the main breeding goal, cow reference populations of =10 000 are required when genotyping is based on medium- or high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays. Further genotyping advances (e.g. sequencing) combined with post-genomics technologies will enhance the opportunities for (genomic) selection to improve cow robustness.
Pseudo-Outbreak of Vancomycin-Resistant-Enterococcus (VRE) Colonization in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Using Spectra VRE Surveillance Medium

ABSTRACT From November 2011 through March 2012, we surveyed 272 babies in our neonatal intensive care unit for rectal colonization with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Using Spectra VRE medium (Remel Diagnostics, Lenexa, KS), we identified one neonate colonized with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. In addition, 55 (13%) of the surveillance cultures yielded false-positive results with vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis. During the same time period, 580 rectal swabs were collected from adult patients resulting in 20 (3%) false-positive cultures. The difference in false-positive rates between cultures from babies and adults was statistically significant (P < 0.001), prompting an investigation of factors that might influence the elevated false-positive rate in the neonates including patient demographics, nutrition, and topical ointments applied at the time of testing. Older neonates, with a median age of 6 weeks, were more likely to have false-positive cultures than younger neonates with a median age of 3 weeks (P < 0.001). The younger neonates receiving Similac Expert Care products were less likely to have false-positive surveillance cultures than those receiving other formulas (P < 0.001). Application of topical products was not associated with false-positive cultures. The false-positive E. faecalis strains were typed by Diversilab Rep-PCR (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) and found to represent eight different groups of isolates. The utility of the Spectra VRE media appeared to be significantly impacted by the age of the patients screened.
FAMILIARIZATION AND RELIABILITY OF MULTIPLE SPRINT RUNNING PERFORMANCE INDICES

The aims of this study were to evaluate the time-course of the familiarization process associated with a test of multiple sprint running performance and to determine the reliability of various performance indices once familiarization had been established. Eleven physically active men (mean age: 21 ± 2 years) completed 4 multiple sprint running trials (12 X 30 m; repeated at 35-s intervals) with 7 days between trials. All testing was conducted indoors, and times were recorded by twin-beam photocells. Results revealed no apparent learning effects as evidenced by no significant (p > 0.05) between-trial differences in measures of fastest or mean 30-m sprint time. Within-subject test–retest reliability determined over 4 trials by coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed excellent reliability for measures of fastest and mean sprint times (CV range: 1.34–2.24%; ICC range: 0.79–0.94). Pre- and posttrial blood lactate concentrations showed good reliability when judged in context with typical values (CV range: 12.08–18.21%; ICC range: 0.72–0.78). In contrast, and in line with previous research, fatigue data showed much greater variability (CV: 26.43%; ICC: 0.66). The results of this study suggest that high degrees of test–retest reliability can be obtained in many multiple sprint running indices without the need for prior familiarization.
Prevalence of Salmonella strains in wild animals from a highly populated area of north-eastern Italy.

INTRODUCTION Salmonella is a ubiquitous pathogen that can infect host species, like wild birds, rodents, and/or arthropods, which may transmit infection to domestic animals and human population. AIM In order to assess the related risk, a cross-sectional study was performed on 1114 carcasses of wild animals from a north-eastern area of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS During post mortem examination, intestine samples were cultured. A statistical analysis demonstrated that there is no correlation between the presence of sub-clinically infected animals and greater human population density. In contrast, a significant correlation between the number of carcasses positive for Salmonella spp. and greater spatial density of pig, poultry, and cattle farms was observed (p < 0.01). RESULTS The results of the present study show that wild animals with omnivorous feeding habits are particularly exposed to Salmonella colonization and, consequently, to spreading the organism. Regarding drug resistance, this study confirms the resistance to antimicrobials is increasing in commensal and environmental isolates.
[Clinical study on fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in neutropenia patients with acute leukemia].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical benefits and the impacts on distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacterium associated with fluoroquinolone prophylaxis during neutropenia in patients with acute leukemia. METHODS A total of 309 infection episodes occurred in patients with acute leukemia were retrospectively analyzed. The patients admitted in ward A (group A, n = 149) received oral ofloxacin as antibacterial prophylaxis during the neutropenia phase; no antibacterial prophylaxis was administered to the patients in ward B (group B, n = 160). The influences of prophylactic ofloxacin were determined by comparative evaluation on the clinical characteristics and the microbiological profile in both groups' patients. RESULTS Almost all enrolled patients experienced severe neutropenia. The median durations of ANC (absolute neutrophil count, ANC) < 0.2 x 10(9)/L were 11 (range 0 - 43) days. The median persistence time of fever was 8(range 1 - 46) days. Prophylaxis of ofloxacin decreased the proportion of normal flora (P = 0.00). The frequency of Escherichia coli was higher in group A than group B (23.9%, 12.5%, respectively, P = 0.00). Exposure to ofloxacin didn't affect the distributions of other pathogenic bacteria. No difference in the rate of ESBL (+) Escherichia coli was discovered between ofloxacin and no ofloxacin prophylaxis groups (31.9%, 35.4%, respectively, P = 0.61). Commonly used antibiotics had similar activity against the major strains isolated from two groups. Patients who received antibacterial prophylaxis showed a lower incidence (10.7%) of upper respiratory infections/tonsillitis and a relative higher incidence (14.4%) of gastrointestinal tract infections than those without intervention measure. The prophylactic use of ofloxacin couldn't cut down the risk of septicemia. Ofloxacin prophylaxis did not display negative effect on initial clinical response (65.8% in group A, 60.6% in group B, respectively, P = 0.35) and final efficacy (96.0% in group A, 91.9% in group A, P = 0.14) to the same empirical antimicrobial treatment schemes. CONCLUSION The fluoroquinolone prophylaxis induces diminishing proportion of normal flora and increasing frequency of Escherichia coli in severely neutropenic patients with acute leukemia, may not influence the distribution of other bacteria. The susceptibility of main pathogens may not be affected by antibiotic prophylaxis. The fluoroquinolone don't decrease the incidence of septicemia and infection in gastrointestinal tract. Our data suggest that more prudent use of antibiotic prophylaxis may be reasonable even in patients at high-risk for developing infection.
Modulation of cell surface sialic acid expression in Neisseria meningitidis via a transposable genetic element.

Cell surface‐located sialic acids of the capsule and the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) are both pivotal virulence factors in Neisseria meningitidis, promoting survival and dissemination of this pathogen which can cause both sepsis and meningitis. With the aid of a unique set of isogenic meningococcal mutants defective in the expression of cell surface‐located sialic acids, we have demonstrated that encapsulation hinders the primary event in the development of the disease, but the spontaneous switching of encapsulated wild‐type bacteria to a capsule‐negative phenotype promotes meningococcal adherence and invasion into mucosal epithelial cells. Genetic analysis of the capsule‐negative, invasive bacteria revealed a unique mechanism for modulation of capsule expression based on the reversible inactivation of an essential sialic acid biosynthesis gene, siaA, by insertion/excision of a naturally occurring insertion sequence element, IS1301. Inactivation of siaA regulates both capsule expression and endogenous LOS sialylation. This is the first example of an insertion sequence element‐based genetic switch mechanism in the pathogenic bacterium and is an important step in the understanding of bacterial virulence.
An Aether Model of the Universe

An aether model based upon a degenerate Fermion fluid, composed primarily of electrons and positrons in a negative energy state relative to the null state or true vacuum, is proposed and its consequences are explored for physics and cosmology. The model provides both insight and quantitative results for a large number of phenomena for which conventional theory provides no answers or unsatisfactory answers. Among the concepts treated are: wave-particle duality, the nature of spin (a vortex in the aether), the derivation of HubbleOs law; electric fields (polarization of the aether); Zitterbewegung (a bare particle orbiting within a vortex core); inflation in cosmology; the arrow of time; the Pauli exclusion principle (repulsion between parallel spin vortices); the nature of the photon (a region of rotating polarized aether propagating with a screw-like motion); neutrinos (a spin vortex with no particle in its core); redshifts; g-ray bursters; and a number of other topics. A key assumption is that the speed of light is the Fermi velocity of the degenerate electronpositron plasma that dominates the aether. As a consequence the speed of light decreases with time on the scale of the age of the universe.
T Cells To Produce Type 2 Cytokines + Dendritic Cells Induce CD4 + Human CD141

Dendritic cells (DCs) play the central role in the priming of naive T cells and the differentiation of unique effector T cells. In this study, using lung tissues and blood from both humans and humanized mice, we analyzed the response of human CD1c + and CD141 + DC subsets to live-attenuated inﬂuenza virus. Speciﬁcally, we analyzed the type of CD4 + T cell immunity elicited by live-attenuated inﬂuenza virus–exposed DCs. Both DC subsets induce proliferation of allogeneic naive CD4 + T cells with the capacity to secrete IFN- g . However, CD141 + DCs are uniquely able to induce the differentiation of IL-4– and IL-13–producing CD4 + T cells. CD141 + DCs induce IL-4– and IL-13–secreting CD4 + T cells through OX40 ligand. Thus, CD141 + DCs demonstrate remarkable plasticity in guiding adaptive immune responses. The Journal of Immunology , 2014, 193: 000–000. endritic cells (DCs) are an essential component of immune responses through their capacity to capture, pro-cess, and present Ags to T cells (1). Their main function is to launch immunity against foreign Ag and maintain the tolerance to self. Ag presentation by immature DCs usually results in immune tolerance because of the lack of costimulatory molecules (2, 3). Activated (mature), Ag-loaded DCs initiate the differentiation of Ag-speciﬁc T cells into effector T cells displaying unique functions and cytokine proﬁles. Research of the past two decades brought about an increased understanding of DC biology and the existence of distinct DC subsets with speciﬁc
Dimers and multimers of monoclonal IgG1 exhibit higher in vitro binding affinities to Fcγ receptors

The in vitro binding of monomeric, dimeric and multimeric forms of monoclonal IgG1 molecules, designated mAb1 and mAb2, to the extracellular domains of Fcγ receptors RI, RIIA and RIIIB were investigated using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based biosensor technique. Stable noncovalent and covalent dimers of mAb1 and mAb2, respectively, were isolated from CHO cell expressed materials. The dissociation constants of monomeric mAb1 and mAb2 were determined to be 1 nM for the FcγRI-binding and 6–12 μM for the FcγRIIA- and FcγRIIIB-binding. Dimeric mAb1 and mAb2 exhibited increased affinities, by 2-3 fold for FcγRI and 200-800 fold for FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIB. Further increases in binding were observed when the antibodies formed large immune complexes with multivalent antigens, but not in a linear relation with size. The binding properties of monomeric mAb2 were identical with and without a bound monovalent antigen, indicating that antigen-binding alone does not induce measurable change in binding of antibodies to Fcγ receptors. Dimerization is sufficient to show enhancement in the receptor binding. Given the wide distribution of the low-affinity Fcγ receptors on immune effector cells, the increased affinities to aggregated IgG may lead to some biological consequences, depending on the subsequent signal transduction events. The SPR-based in vitro binding assay is useful in evaluating Fcγ receptor binding of various species in antibody-based biotherapeutics.
Stress Management Effects on Psychological, Endocrinological, and Immune Functioning in Men with HIV Infection: Empirical Support for a Psychoneuroimmunological Model

We present a psychoneuroimmunologic (PNI) model for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, describe a 10-week group-based cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention and summarize research demonstrating the effects of this intervention on mood, neuroendocrine (Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal [HPA], Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal [HPG] and Sympathetic Nervous System [SNS] hormones) and immune system status (lymphocyte subsets, anti-viral immune function) in HIV-infected persons. This work demonstrates that changes in relaxation skills, cognitive coping strategies and social support may mediate the mood effects of CBSM, and that these mood changes may mediate adrenal hormone regulation indicated by reductions in 24-h urinary cortisol (with reduced depressed mood) and norepinephrine (with reduced anxiety) and increases in serum DHEA-S and testosterone levels (with reduced depressed mood). Results also suggest that CBSM-related changes in production of these hormones may explain, in part, the effects of this intervention on short-term changes in IgG antibody titers to herpesviruses (with increased DHEA-S-to-cortisol ratio), and longer-term changes in lymphocyte subpopulations such as CD8 suppressor/cytotoxic cells (with reductions in urinary noradrenaline output) and transitional naïve CD4 cells (with reductions in urinary cortisol output). Thus a multi-modal CBSM intervention is associated with alterations in mood, neuroendocrine functioning and immunologic status that may have health implications for HIV infection.
Antimicrobial, Nutritional and Phytochemical Properties of Monodora Myristica Seeds

Seeds of Monodora myristica was investigated for its antimicrobial, nutritional and phytochemical properties. Results of the study, shows that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the seeds, were active against both gram negative and gram positive organisms used. Important bioactive constituents found to be present in the extracts were alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Yield extracts of the powdered seeds, was for water 7.94% and ethanol 12.5%, indicating that ethanol was the better of the two solvents used. Results of the antibacterial activity of the extracts reveal that the ethanolic extracts at different concentrations were more active against the test organisms namely Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi than the aqueous extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the aqueous extract ranged between 2.5 and 3.0 mg/ml while that for ethanolic extract was between 2.5 and 3.5 mg/ml. The minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) values for aqueous extract ranged between 3.0 and 3.5 mg/ml while that for ethanolic extract ranged between 3.5 and 4.0 mg/ml. Nutritionally result from the study justifies the use of the seed as both a spice and food component by locals. The seed was particularly found to be very rich in potassium and magnesium. There is therefore the need for further studies on the active components of the seeds of Monodora myristica so as to maximize its medicinal and nutritional potential.