Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infectious complications with nondaily versus daily infusion of intravenous fat emulsions in non-critically ill adults.

BACKGROUND Increased risk for infection has been associated with the administration of intravenous fat emulsion (IVFE). Typically, IVFE is infused daily as part of the parenteral nutrition (PN) regimen. However, a national IVFE shortage in 2010 compelled institutions to restrict administration to nondaily. This retrospective study evaluated the rate of infections associated with the nondaily as compared to daily IVFE infusion in hospitalized adult patients. METHODS Patients in the study group received nondaily IVFE during the shortage period, and patients in the control group received daily IVFE. The primary outcomes were the development of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) or any bloodstream infection (BSI). Secondary outcomes were the development of respiratory, urinary, wound, or other infections. RESULTS Included in the study were 52 patients, 33 patients in the study group and 19 patients in the control group. There were no CR-BSIs reported. BSIs occurred in 1 patient in the study group. The total number of infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs) per 1000 catheter days were not different between the 2 groups (45.28 vs 21.24, P = .203) and (24.39 vs 5.525, P = .099), respectively. Survival analyses showed no difference between the 2 groups for the time to first infection (11.24 vs 6.59 days, P = .30) and time to first UTI (11.97 vs 7 days, P = .093), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Nondaily vs daily IVFE infusion did not have a significant effect on the risk of infection or time to development of infection; however, results are limited due to the small sample size. Large prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the effect of daily as compared to nondaily IVFE infusion on infectious complications.
Do policy instruments matter? Governments’ choice of policy mix and higher education performance in Western Europe – CORRIGENDUM

Governments pursue their goals by adopting various mixes of policy instruments. This article proposes a specific operationalisation of these mixes and applies it to the analysis of reforms that many Western European governments have pursued, as they have adopted a similar policy design in their higher education systems (HESs) over the last 20 years. In fact, although these policies have similar templates, performance indicators exhibit remarkable variation between countries. Thus, by applying Qualitative Comparative Analysis to a large data set containing all changes in policy instruments undertaken in the last 20 years in 12 HESs in Western Europe, this article explores the possibility that differences in performance across national HESs could be associated – ceteris paribus – with different policy mixes. This article finds not only that the common template has been applied through very different national policy mixes but also that only a few instruments are regularly linked to good teaching performance, regardless of the other components of the actual policy mix.
Cross‐linking affects cellular condensation and chondrogenesis in type II collagen‐GAG scaffolds seeded with bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells

The formation of cartilaginous tissue by chondroprogenitor cells, whether in vivo or in vitro, appears to require a critical initial stage of “condensation” in which intercellular space is reduced through an aggregation of cells, leading to development of cell‐to‐cell junctions followed by chondrocytic differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of aggregation (condensation) of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) and chondrogenesis in vitro. Previous work with chondrocytes indicated that the cross‐link density and related cell‐mediated contraction of collagen scaffolds significantly affects cartilaginous tissue formation within the cell‐seeded construct. Based on this finding, we hypothesized that the cell‐aggregating effect of the contraction of MSC‐seeded collagen scaffolds of lower cross‐link density favors chondrogenesis; scaffolds of higher cross‐link density, which resist cell‐mediated contraction, would demonstrate a lower cell number density (i.e., subcritical packing density) and less cartilage formation. Type II collagen–GAG scaffolds, chemically cross‐linked to achieve a range of cross‐link densities, were seeded with caprine MSCs and cultured for 4 weeks. Constructs with low cross‐link densities experienced cell‐mediated contraction, increased cell number densities, and a greater degree of chondrogenesis (indicated by the chondrocytic morphology of cells, and synthesis of GAG and type II collagen) compared to more highly cross‐linked scaffolds that resisted cellular contraction. These results provide a foundation for further investigation of the mechanisms by which condensation of mesenchymal cells induces chondrogenesis in this in vitro model, and may inform cross‐linking protocols for collagen scaffolds for use in cartilage tissue engineering. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:1184–1192, 2010
Gestational Alloimmune Liver Disease and Neonatal Hemochromatosis

Abstract Neonatal hemochromatosis (NH) is a clinical syndrome consisting of liver disease and pathologic siderosis of various extrahepatic tissues. NH is a form of secondary hemochromatosis in which severe fetal liver injury causes iron overload due to poor regulation of maternofetal iron flux. Gestational alloimmune liver disease (GALD) has been established as the cause of fetal liver injury resulting in nearly all cases of NH. In GALD, sensitization of some women to a fetal liver antigen results in development of specific antifetal liver IgG antibodies. When delivered to the fetal circulation these antibodies bind to the antigen and activate the terminal complement cascade resulting in hepatocyte injury and death. GALD may produce subacute and chronic fetal liver injury (congenital cirrhosis) typical of NH. It may also produce acute injury and acute liver failure of the fetus and newborn, often with no iron overload or siderosis.
Lack of Associations Between HLA Class II Alleles and Resistance to HIV-1 Infection Among White, Non-Hispanic Homosexual Men

HLA class II alleles were molecularly typed for 100 high-risk seronegative men and 184 low-risk seroconverters from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Seven resistant individuals homozygous for CCR5 Δ32 deletions were excluded from analysis. In the univariate analysis, no significant HLA class II associations with resistance/susceptibility to HIV type 1 infection were identified. However, the transporter associated with antigen presentation 2 (TAP2) Ala 665 variant associated with resistance in earlier analyses in the MACS was in linkage disequilibrium with some HLA class II alleles. After adjusting for the established associations with HLA-A*0205 subgroup and TAP2 Ala 665 variant, no HLA class II alleles were independently associated with resistance/susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Other genetic factors in the HLA class II-TAP region of the major histocompatibility complex might be involved.
A reconfigurable architecture for multimodal and collaborative interactions in Virtual Environments

Many studies have been carried out on multimodal and collaborative systems in VR. Although these two aspects are usually studied separately, they share interesting similarities. This paper focuses on the reconfigurable aspect and the implementation of a multimodal and collaborative supervisor for Virtual Environments (VEs). The aim of this supervisor is to ensure the merge of pieces of information from VR devices in order to control immersive multi-user applications through the main communication and sensorimotor channels of humans. Beyond the architectural aspect, we give indications on the modularity and the genericity of our system, implemented in C++, which could be embedded into different VR platforms. Moreover, its XML-based configuration system allows it to be easily applicable to many different contexts. The reconfigurable features are then illustrated via two scenarios: a cognitive oriented assembly task with single user multimodal interactions, and an industrial assembly task with multimodal and collaborative interactions in a co-located multi-user environment.
TCR-Independent Killing of B Cell Malignancies by Anti–Third-Party CTLs: The Critical Role of MHC–CD8 Engagement

We previously demonstrated that anti–third-party CTLs (stimulated under IL-2 deprivation against cells with an MHC class I [MHC-I] background different from that of the host and the donor) are depleted of graft-versus-host reactivity and can eradicate B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in vitro or in an HU/SCID mouse model. We demonstrated in the current study that human allogeneic or autologous anti–third-party CTLs can also efficiently eradicate primary non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma by inducing slow apoptosis of the pathological cells. Using MHC-I mutant cell line as target cells, which are unrecognizable by the CTL TCR, we demonstrated directly that this killing is TCR independent. Strikingly, this unique TCR-independent killing is induced through lymphoma MHC-I engagement. We further showed that this killing mechanism begins with durable conjugate formation between the CTLs and the tumor cells, through rapid binding of tumor ICAM-1 to the CTL LFA-1 molecule. This conjugation is followed by a slower second step of MHC-I–dependent apoptosis, requiring the binding of the MHC-I α2/3 C region on tumor cells to the CTL CD8 molecule for killing to ensue. By comparing CTL-mediated killing of Daudi lymphoma cells (lacking surface MHC-I expression) to Daudi cells with reconstituted surface MHC-I, we demonstrated directly for the first time to our knowledge, in vitro and in vivo, a novel role for MHC-I in the induction of lymphoma cell apoptosis by CTLs. Additionally, by using different knockout and transgenic strains, we further showed that mouse anti–third-party CTLs also kill lymphoma cells using similar unique TCR-independence mechanism as human CTLs, while sparing normal naive B cells.
Genetic vaccination with Flt3-L and GM-CSF as adjuvants: Enhancement of cellular and humoral immune responses that results in protective immunity in a murine model of hepatitis C virus infection.

AIM To investigate whether transfection of plasmid DNA encoding these cytokines enhances both humoral and cellular immune responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a murine model. METHODS We established a tumor model of HCV infection using syngenic mouse myeloma cells stably transfected with NS5. Co-vaccination of DNA encoding granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and Flt-3 ligand together with a plasmid encoding for the HCV NS5 protein was carried out. Mice were sacrificed 14 d after the last immunization event with collection of spleen cells and serum to determine humoral and cellular immune responses. RESULTS Co-vaccination of DNA encoding GM-CSF and Flt-3 ligand together with a plasmid encoding for the HCV NS5 protein induced increased antibody responses and CD4+ T cell proliferation to this protein. Vaccination with DNA encoding GM-CSF and Flt-3L promoted protection against tumor formation and/or reduction in mice co-immunized with cytokine-encoding DNA constructs. This suggests this strategy is capable of generating cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in vivo. Following inoculation with plasmid DNA encoding Flt-3L, no increase in spleen size or in dendritic cell (DC) and natural killer cell numbers was observed. This was in contrast to a dramatic increase of both cell types after administration of recombinant Flt3-L in vivo. This suggests that vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding cytokines that regulate DC generation and mobilization may not promote unwanted side effects, such as autoimmunity, splenic fibrosis or hematopoietic malignancies that may occur with administration of recombinant forms of these proteins. CONCLUSION Our data support the view that plasmid DNA vaccination is a promising approach for HCV immunization, and may provide a general adjuvant vaccination strategy against malignancies and other pathogens.
Kinetics and kinematics of the horse comparing left and right rising trot.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY At rising trot the rider sits alternately down on one diagonal pair of limbs and rises up on the other. The possible effects on asymmetry of locomotion induced by rising trot have rarely been studied. OBJECTIVES To demonstrate whether, and if so to what extent, rising trot causes asymmetrical loading in the vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and/or asymmetrical effects on the locomotion pattern, comparing left and right side. METHODS Seven elite horses were ridden in left and right rising trot on a treadmill, while VGRF and kinematics were measured, with the horses' neck raised, the poll high and the bridge of the nose slightly in front of the vertical. RESULTS Force loading was generally increased in the limbs of the sitting diagonal. The lumbar back was lower between mid-stances of the sitting and nonsitting stance, pelvic roll was limited and the tuber coxae heights were lower on the sitting side. Maximal hindlimb protraction was decreased. Forelimb retraction was increased and the T6 height decreased. CONCLUSION The rider movement induces an uneven biphasic load that affects the back, pelvis and limb kinematics and VGRF. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE The generally advocated technique of alternating limbs when riding in rising trot is supported. The VGRF changes between rising on the left or right diagonal were distinct, but minor in absolute terms and therefore unlikely to have direct impact on the occurrence of locomotor injuries. Knowledge of an increase of asymmetry in rising trot is potentially useful for riders/trainers.
Mechanically Ventilated Broiler Sheds: a Possible Source of Aerosolized Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT This study assessed the levels of two key pathogens, Salmonella and Campylobacter, along with the indicator organism Escherichia coli in aerosols within and outside poultry sheds. The study ranged over a 3-year period on four poultry farms and consisted of six trials across the boiler production cycle of around 55 days. Weekly testing of litter and aerosols was carried out through the cycle. A key point that emerged is that the levels of airborne bacteria are linked to the levels of these bacteria in litter. This hypothesis was demonstrated by E. coli. The typical levels of E. coli in litter were ∼108 CFU g−1 and, as a consequence, were in the range of 102 to 104 CFU m−3 in aerosols, both inside and outside the shed. The external levels were always lower than the internal levels. Salmonella was only present intermittently in litter and at lower levels (103 to 105 most probable number [MPN] g−1) and consequently present only intermittently and at low levels in air inside (range of 0.65 to 4.4 MPN m−3) and once outside (2.3 MPN m−3). The Salmonella serovars isolated in litter were generally also isolated from aerosols and dust, with the Salmonella serovars Chester and Sofia being the dominant serovars across these interfaces. Campylobacter was detected late in the production cycle, in litter at levels of around 107 MPN g−1. Campylobacter was detected only once inside the shed and then at low levels of 2.2 MPN m−3. Thus, the public health risk from these organisms in poultry environments via the aerosol pathway is minimal.
Relationship between serum and urinary insulin‐like growth factor‐I through childhood and adolescence: their use in the assessment of disordered growth

Serum insulin‐like growth factor‐I (sIGF‐I) measurement as an index of growth hormone status has become a common test in the investigation of disordered growth. IGF‐I may also be measured in the urine. The aims of this study were to investigate the correlation between serum and urinary IGF‐I in normal children and compare their use in the evaluation of growth disorders.
Essays on the dynamics and heterogeneity of capital structure, risk and profit, with special reference to farm businesses

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Sustained high‐fat diet modulates inflammation, insulin signalling and cognition in mice and a modified xenin peptide ameliorates neuropathology in a chronic high‐fat model

To demarcate pathological events in the brain as a result of short‐term to chronic high‐fat‐diet (HFD) feeding, which leads to cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation, and to assess the efficacy of Xenin‐25[Lys(13)PAL] in chronic HFD‐fed mice.
Teacher Quality, Distribution, and Equity in ESSA

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) changed federal teacher policy in a number of important ways. This article uses No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Race to the Top, NCLB waivers, and ESSA to detail these shifts. Since ESSA is in the early phase of implementation, we analyze the policy through the lens of previous empirical work as a way of anticipating how the various components of the law may function. The goal is to understand how the policy differs from previous federal efforts, detail the theory of action of teacher policy under ESSA, and provide concrete ways for educational leaders to implement the law. We find that ESSA focuses on the distribution of highly effective teachers and allows states more autonomy to define teacher quality.
D‐deprenyl protects nigrostriatal neurons against 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity

Selegiline (L‐deprenyl) is believed to render protection against l‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐neurotoxicity to a significant extent via a free radical scavenging mechanism, which is independent of its ability to inhibit monoamine oxidase‐B (MAO‐B) in the brain. We investigated the hydroxyl radical (.OH) scavenging action and neuroprotective effect of D‐deprenyl, its less active isomer, in MPTP‐induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice to test whether the chemical structure of the molecule or its biological effects contribute to this property. To achieve this goal we studied the effects of D‐deprenyl on: (1) . OH production in a Fenton reaction; (2) MPTP‐induced . OH generation and dopamine (DA) depletion in vivo, employing a sensitive HPLC‐electrochemical procedure; and (3) formation of MPP+ in vivo in the striatum following systemic administration of MPTP, employing an HPLC‐photodiode array detection system. D‐deprenyl inhibited ferrous citrate‐induced . OH in vitro (0.45 μM) and MPTP‐induced . OH in vivo in substantia nigra (SN) and in the striatum (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.). D‐deprenyl did not, but L‐deprenyl (0.5 mg/kg dose) did significantly inhibit formation of MPP+ in the striatum 90 min following systemic MPTP injection. It failed to affect MAO‐B activity at 0.5 mg/kg in the striatum, but effectively blocked MPTP‐induced striatal DA depletion. The potency of D‐deprenyl to scavenge MPTP‐induced . OH in vivo and to render protection against the dopaminergic neurotoxicity without affecting dopamine turnover, MAO‐B activity, or formation of MPP+ in the brain indicates a direct involvement of . OH in the neurotoxic action of MPTP and antioxidant effect in the neuroprotective action of deprenyl. Synapse 50:7–13, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Graph-Based Analysis and Optimization of Contention Resolution Diversity Slotted ALOHA

Contention resolution diversity slotted ALOHA (CRDSA) is a simple but effective improvement of slotted ALOHA. CRDSA relies on MAC bursts repetition and on interference cancellation (IC), achieving a peak throughput T ≅ 0.55, whereas for slotted ALOHA T ≅ 0.37. In this paper we show that the IC process of CRDSA can be conveniently described by a bipartite graph, establishing a bridge between the IC process and the iterative erasure decoding of graph-based codes. Exploiting this analogy, we show how a high throughput can be achieved by selecting variable burst repetition rates according to given probability distributions, leading to irregular graphs. A framework for the probability distribution optimization is provided. Based on that, we propose a novel scheme, named irregular repetition slotted ALOHA, that can achieve a throughput T ≅ 0.97 for large frames and near to T ≅ 0.8 in practical implementations, resulting in a gain of ~ 45% w.r. t. CRDSA. An analysis of the normalized efficiency is introduced, allowing performance comparisons under the constraint of equal average transmission power. Simulation results, including an IC mechanism described in the paper, substantiate the validity of the analysis and confirm the high efficiency of the proposed approach down to a signal-to-noise ratio as a low as Eb/N0=2 dB.
Dose-related safety and immunogenicity of a trivalent baculovirus-expressed influenza-virus hemagglutinin vaccine in elderly adults.

BACKGROUND Influenza-virus hemagglutinin (HA) protein expressed in insect cells by recombinant baculovirus is a candidate influenza vaccine. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind trial conducted in 399 adults > or = 65 years of age, the efficacy of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) licensed for intramuscular injection was compared with that of trivalent baculovirus-expressed HA vaccine administered at doses of 15 microg, 45 microg, or 135 microg of each HA. RESULTS Compared with TIV, baculovirus-expressed HA vaccine was safe and induced better serum antibody responses to the H3 component when administered at doses of 45 microg or 135 microg of each HA. CONCLUSIONS Baculovirus-expressed HA is a safe and immunogenic influenza vaccine in elderly adults.
Loss-Framed Arguments Can Stifle Political Activism

Abstract Research commonly finds that citizens are loss averse: they dislike losses far more than similarly sized gains. One implication is that arguments for policy change framed in terms of losses to be avoided often have a larger impact on public opinion than arguments framed in terms of gains to be enjoyed. Although several scholars have observed this pattern with respect to public opinion, we know far less about the effect of loss- and gain-framed arguments on political activism. This is a critical omission given the disproportionate impact of political activists on the policymaking process. Using field and survey experiments, we investigate the impact of gain- and loss-framed arguments on climate change activism. We find that loss-framed arguments can be less mobilizing, even when they are otherwise more persuasive, than gain-framed arguments. Our results deepen our theoretical understanding of what motivates political activism, especially in an era of professionalized politics.