Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PREVALENCE OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) AMONG HEALTHY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The present study was conducted to determine the prevale nce of community acquired Methacillin Staphylococcus aureus (CA MRSA) among healthy students of the University of Kabanjaar, Malaysia (UKM) . For this purpose, 340 samples were collected from 85 student volunteers, 55 of whom were highly involved in sport activities. Specimens were collected from skin surfaces, nostrils, upper throat, scars burn and pimples. S taphylococcusaureuswas isolated only from 85 specimens when grown on manitol salt agar (MSA) and tested by basic bacteriological and biochemical te chniques. Out of these isolates, 25 were confirmed to be Oxicillin resistant thus considered as CA MRSA; 17(68%) of these were skin surface and wound specimens. No biochemical or bacteriological differences, using standard procedures was noticed between CAMRSA and S aureusATCC 25923. Further investigation showed large number of CA MRSA isolates that were resistant to Beta -lactam antibiotics such as Penicillin 100%), Ampicillin (23%), as well as non Beta lactam antibiotic such as Fusidic acid (55%), Mup irocin (60%) and Vancomycin (25%). Compared with.aureusATCC 25923, the latter was found to be more sensitive to all antibiotics other than Penicillin Multiplex PCR was used to detect mecA,mecA1 and PVL genes using 16S gene as internal control to determ ine their presence in 16S gene in all CA MRSA isolates as well as inS.aureusATCC 25923. The result showed that mecA gene was detected in 8(32%) isolates. mecA1 in 17(68%) isolates and PVL gene in 10(40%) isolates. None of these genes was detected in S.aureusATCC 25923. One of the CAMRSA isolates was shown to have all these 4 genes
A National Profile Of End-Of-Life Caregiving In The United States.

To date, knowledge of the experiences of older adults' caregivers at the end of life has come from studies that were limited to specific diseases and so-called primary caregivers and that relied on the recollections of people in convenience samples. Using nationally representative, prospective data for 2011, we found that 900,000 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries ages sixty-five and older who died within the following twelve months received support from 2.3 million caregivers. Nearly nine in ten of these caregivers were unpaid. Compared to other caregivers, end-of-life caregivers provided nearly twice as many hours of care per week and, especially in the case of spousal caregivers, reported more care-related challenges. Yet older adults at the end of life were not significantly more likely than other older adults to receive caregiving funded by government, state, or private insurance. To meet the needs of older adults at the end of life, their unpaid caregivers must receive greater recognition and expanded access to supportive services.
Ultralow wear of gallium nitride

Here, we reveal a remarkable (and surprising) physical property of GaN: it is extremely wear resistant. In fact, we measured the wear rate of GaN is approaching wear rates reported for diamond. Not only does GaN have an ultralow wear rate but also there are quite a few experimental factors that control the magnitude of its wear rate, further contributing to the rich and complex physics of wear of GaN. Here, we discovered several primary controlling factors that will affect the wear rate of III-Nitride materials: crystallographic orientation, sliding environment, and coating composition (GaN, InN and InGaN). Sliding in the ⟨12¯10⟩ is significantly lower wear than ⟨11¯00⟩. Wear increases by 2 orders of magnitude with increasing humidity (from ∼0% to 50% RH). III-Nitride coatings are promising as multifunctional material systems for device design and sliding wear applications.
Comparison of two simplified severity scores (SAPS and APACHE II) for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS), the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), the Acute Physiology Score (APS), and the Coronary Prognostic Index (CPI), calculated within the first 24 h of ICU admission, were compared in 76 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Sixteen (21%) patients subsequently died in the ICU. The nonsurvivors had significantly higher SAPS, APACHE II, and CPI scores than the survivors. ROC curves drawn for each severity index were in a discriminating position. There were no significant differences either between the areas under the ROC curves drawn for SAPS, APACHE II, and CPI, or between the overall accuracies of these indices. APS provided less homogeneous information. We conclude that SAPS and APACHE II, two severity indices which are easy to use, assess accurately the short-term prognosis, i.e., the ICU outcome, of patients with AMI.
Local Immunity Status and Apoptosis Reactions in Endometrium of Women with a History of Non-Developing Pregnancy

In order to estimate the status of local immunity of women with a history of non-developing pregnancy, we conducted a research of cytokine-producing cells (CD4+IFN-γ+, CD4+IL-4+) and apoptosis markers (AnV+/ PI--, AnV+/PI+-, AnV-/PI+-cells) in endometrial biopsy material. In addition to this, we studied the number of activated blood mononuclears expressing CD95+ receptor. The research has shown that the development of chronic inflammation in endometrium is associated with anaerobic dysbiosis of vaginal microbiota coupled with impaired production of intracellular cytokines, a cytokine balance shift towards Th1-dependent immune response at the local level and an increase in production of proinflammatory mediators in blood serum. A compensatory reaction limiting the number of activated cells in endometrium is expressed in an increased number of apoptosising mononuclears at different stages of cell death. A decrease in the number of cells demonstrating readiness to programmed cell death in peripheral blood indicates that potentially dangerous activated lymphocytes are preserved in circulation at the system level. Defining the polarization index of cytokineproducing cells and the number of endometrial mononuclears expressing Fas-antigen may be used as additional criteria for early detection of endometrial conditions.
Iron Homeostasis Regulates the Genotoxicity of Escherichia coli That Produces Colibactin

ABSTRACT The genotoxin colibactin is a secondary metabolite produced by a variety of pathogenic enterobacteria. Its biosynthesis requires the enzymatic activity of the phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) ClbA. We previously showed that ClbA can also contribute to the production of siderophores. Because the biosynthesis of siderophores is regulated by iron availability, we hypothesized that iron could also modulate the production of colibactin through the transcriptional regulation of clbA. This study revealed an increased transcription of clbA under iron-limiting conditions and a decrease of clbA expression in iron-rich media. We demonstrate that clbA transcription is regulated by both the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) and the small regulatory noncoding RNA RyhB. We evidenced that the regulation of the transcription of clbA by Fur and RyhB leads to the regulation of colibactin production. This work highlights the complex mechanism of regulation of an important virulence factor by the two major regulators of bacterial iron homeostasis, making iron a key environmental factor contributing to bacterial virulence and carcinogenesis.
Problems in the diagnosis of discordant atrioventricular with concordant ventriculo-arterial connections: anatomical considerations, surgical management, and long-term outcome

Abstract Background Discordant atrioventricular with concordant ventriculo-arterial connections is a rare cardiac defect. When isolated, the haemodynamics resemble transposition of the great arteries. In complex heart defects such as heterotaxy, haemodynamics guide the surgical approach. Objective To report a series of eight patients with discordant atrioventricular and concordant ventriculo-arterial connections focussing on anatomical and diagnostic difficulties, surgical management, and follow-up. Methods A retrospective review was carried out from 1983 to 2013. Anatomical description was based on segmental analysis. Emphasis was placed on the venoatrial connections. Results Segmental arrangement was {I, D, S} in six patients, all with spiralling great vessels. There were two patients with parallel great vessels of whom one had {S, L, D} and the other had {S, L, A} arrangement. Of eight patients, five had heterotaxy syndrome. Median age at repair surgery was 1.4 years (with a range from 1.1 months to 8.1 years). The repair surgery finally performed was the atrial switch procedure in seven out of eight patients. The main post-operative complications were two cases of baffle obstruction and one sick sinus syndrome needing pacemaker implantation. There were two early post-operative deaths and six late survivors. Median follow-up was 4.2 years (with a range from 3.9 to 26.7 years) with good functional status in all survivors. Discussion Diagnosing discordant atrioventricular with concordant ventriculo-arterial connections remains challenging. There are ongoing controversies about the definition of atrial morphology and heterotaxy syndrome animating the anatomic discussion of these complex heart defects. Haemodynamically, the atrial switch procedure is the surgical method of choice with an encouraging long-term follow-up despite rhythm disturbances and baffle obstruction.
Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media

Fractured fairy tales mama said sex and the single teenager why the Shirelles mattered she's got the devil in her heart genies and witches throwing out our bras I am woman, hear me roar the rise of the bionic bimbo the ERA as catfight narcissism as liberation I'm not a feminist, but.
Automated Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Test: Instrument and Evaluation

Two evaluations of the automated fluorescent treponemal antibody (AFTA) test for the serodiagnosis of syphilis are described. The results of AFTA and manually performed fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) tests were compared on serum samples from clinically defined donor groups, and the reproducibility of each procedure was studied. Significant improvement of AFTA test results was obtained in the most recent study after developmental modifications of the instrument and test technique. AFTA test agreement with both syphilis and nonsyphilis categories was considered good. With the increasing usage of the FTA-ABS test as an effective tool for the diagnosis of syphilis, successful automation of this procedure is particularly timely and significant.
An Economic Approach to Social Capital

To identify the determinants of social capital formation, it is necessary to understand the social capital investment decision of individuals. Individual social capital should then be aggregated to measure the social capital of a community. This paper assembles the evidence that supports the individual-based model of social capital formation, including seven facts: (l) the relationship between social capital and age is first increasing and then decreasing, (2) social capital declines with expected mobility, (3) social capital investment is higher in occupations with greater returns to social skills, (4) social capital is higher among homeowners, (5) social connections fall sharply with physical distance, (6) people who invest in human capital also invest in social capital, and (7) social capital appears to have interpersonal complementarities.
Safety of Landiolol Hydrochloride as a Premedication for Producing an Appropriate Heart Rate for Multidetector-Row Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography

Background We evaluated the safety of a bolus injection of landiolol hydrochloride, an ultrashort-acting β1-selective antagonist, as a premedication prior to multidetector-row computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA). Methods The subjects consisted of 176 patients (M/F = 64:112, 67 ± 11 years) who had heart rate (HR) at rest ≥ 70 beats/min (bpm) and underwent CTA. Systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and HR were measured before and after the administration of landiolol. Results SBP/DBP and HR upon entry to the CT room were 136 ± 17/80 ± 11 mm Hg and 83 ± 10 bpm, respectively. HR was significantly reduced at the time of CTA scan (62 ± 7 bpm). Next, we divided the patients into three groups according to HR upon entry to the CT room: 70 - 79 bpm (n = 76), 80 - 89 bpm (n = 60) and ≥ 90 bpm (n = 40). HR at the time of CTA scan was significantly lower than that upon entry to the CT room in all three groups: 70 - 79 bpm (74 ± 3 bpm upon entry to the CT room to 61 ± 6 bpm at the time of CAT scan), 80 - 89 bpm (84 ± 3 to 63 ± 7 bpm) and ≥ 90 bpm (98 ± 6 to 65 ± 7 bpm). Although SBP/DBP was significantly decreased after the CTA scan (123 ± 18/72 ± 12 mm Hg), landiolol had no severe adverse events throughout CTA. Conclusion In conclusion, a bolus injection of landiolol reduced HR by about 20 bpm without any severe adverse effects. Thus, a bolus injection of landiolol hydrochloride may be a suitable pretreatment for controlling HR in CTA.
Dynamics of Modeling in Data Mining: Interpretive Approach to Bankruptcy Prediction

This paper uses a data-mining approach to develop bankruptcy prediction models suitable for normal and crisis economic conditions. It observes the dynamics of model change from normal to crisis conditions and provides interpretation of bankruptcy classifications. The bankruptcy prediction model revealed that the major variables in predicting bankruptcy were "cash flow to total assets" and "productivity of capital" under normal conditions and "cash flow to liabilities," "productivity of capital," and "fixed assets to stockholders equity and long-term liabilities" under crisis conditions. The accuracy rates of final prediction models in normal conditions and in crisis conditions were found to be 83.3 percent and 81.0 percent, respectively. When the normal model was applied in crisis situations, prediction accuracy dropped significantly in the case of bankruptcy classification (from 66.7 percent to 36.7 percent) to the level of a blind guess (35.71 percent). Therefore, the need for a different model in crisis economic conditions is justified.
Opportunities and challenges of biomedical imaging in fetal and neonatal brain disease

One in ten children has neurodevelopmental disorders and it is estimated that in about two thirds the problem occurred during fetal or perinatal life. The development of imaging biomarkers to detect and monitor abnormal neurodevelopment is a research and innovation opportunity. There is a strong need of supra-disciplinary researchers with transversal skills encompassing biomedical neuroscience knowledge with engineering/advanced medical imaging processing, and of ambitious projects to generate clinically applicable solutions. In spite of limitations, recent years have seen important advances in the generation of combined multidisciplinary papers which are expected to constitute the seminal work leading to more advanced projects capable of generating true advances in imaging biomarker discovery.
Effectiveness of Mental Health Courts in Reducing Recidivism: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE Mental health courts (MHCs) were developed to address the overrepresentation of adults with mental illnesses in the U.S. criminal justice system through diversion into community-based treatment. Research on MHCs has proliferated in recent years, and there is a need to synthesize contemporary literature on MHC effectiveness. The authors conducted a meta-analytic investigation of the effect on criminal recidivism of adult MHC participation compared with traditional criminal processing. METHODS Systematic search of three databases yielded 17 studies (N=16,129) published between 2004 and 2015. Study characteristics and potential moderators (that is, publication type, recidivism outcome, and length and timing of follow-up) were independently extracted by two of four raters for each study. Two raters coded each study for quality and extracted between-group effect sizes for measures of recidivism (that is, arrest, charge, conviction, and jail time; k=25). Results were synthesized by using random-effects meta-analysis. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also assessed. RESULTS Results showed a small effect of MHC participation on recidivism (d=-.20) relative to traditional criminal processing. MHCs were most effective with respect to jail time and charge outcomes compared with arrest and conviction, in studies measuring recidivism after MHC exit rather than at entry, and in lower-quality studies compared with moderate- and high-quality studies. Results showed significant heterogeneity in effect sizes across studies (I2=73.33) but little evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS Overall, a small effect of MHC participation on recidivism was noted, compared with traditional criminal processing. Findings suggest the need for research to identify additional sources of variability in the effectiveness of MHCs.
Experiments with Identification of Continuous Time Models

Identification of time-continuous models from sampled data is a long standing topic of discussion, and many approaches have been suggested. The Maximum Likelihood method is asymptotically and theoretically superior to other methods. However, it may suffer from numerical inaccuracies at fast sampling and it also requires reliable initial parameter values. A number of efficient and useful alternatives to the maximum-likelihood method have been developed over the years. The most important of these are State-Variable filters, combined with Instrumental Variable methods, including the simplified refined IV method. In this contribution we perform unpretentious numerical experiments to comment on these methods, and their mutual benefits.
Response of the Elderly to Disaster: An Age-Stratified Analysis

This article analyzes the effects of chronological age of disaster victims on their responses to stress effects of natural disasters. Previous research is reviewed and major findings of that research are noted. Findings regarding disaster losses, physical impacts, aid utilization patterns, kinship relations, relative deprivation, social-psychological impacts, neglect of elderly disaster victims, and differential recovery rates by age are retested on new data. Data described herein were gathered using survey techniques in two disaster stricken communities in Texas. Elderly victims' responses to the tornadoes are compared to a nonelderly (under sixty years of age) group to assess differences. Findings of previous research were, in many instances, supported although certain divergences between the current findings and preceding findings are noted, particularly in rates of recovery.
Comparing the efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG), magnesium hydroxide and lactulose in treatment of functional constipation in children

BACKGROUND: Constipation is one of the common problems in childhood and consists of 3% of referrals to pediatricians and 25% of pediatric gastroenterologists. Aperients are common alternatives for treating chronic constipation. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of three laxatives [polyethylene glycol (PEG), magnesium hydroxide, and lactulose]. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 1 to 6 year old children with functional chronic constipation (the patients had functional chronic constipation based on ROME III criteria) were studied. 75 patients were divided into three 25 member groups through randomization method. The patients of each group received either of the polyethylene glycol, magnesium hydroxide, or lactulose medications in a standard dosage. After a month, the results were assessed and analyzed through statistical tests. RESULTS: Comparing the frequency of increased defecation in patients of the three groups also found no significant difference among them; however, mean increase of defecation frequency was higher in the magnesium hydroxide group. Compared to patients who had more than three times of defecation per week, PEG group was significantly higher than the other two groups (p < 0.05). Comparing the side effects showed that the prevalence of side effects was lower in the polyethylene glycol group than the other two groups. The patients had a significantly higher satisfaction from the taste of polyethylene glycol and lactulose (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although the total mean of increase in defecation frequency after the treatment was higher in the magnesium hydroxide group, the indicator of defecation frequency greater than three times per week was higher in the polyethylene glycol group which indicated the success of treatment in this group. In total, comparing the therapeutic results and satisfaction of the patients, it can be concluded that polyethylene glycol can be used as one of the best alternatives to treat constipation.
Retrospective evaluation of the impact of early enteral nutrition on clinical outcomes in dogs with pancreatitis: 34 cases (2010–2013)

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of early enteral nutritional therapy on time to return to voluntary intake, maximum food consumption, incidence of gastrointestinal intolerance (GI), and total hospitalization time for dogs with acute pancreatitis. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective analysis of dogs with pancreatitis at a veterinary teaching hospital between 2010 and 2013. ANIMALS Thirty-four client-owned dogs diagnosed with acute or acute-on-chronic pancreatitis. PROCEDURES AND INTERVENTIONS Medical records of dogs evaluated for inappetence, anorexia, and GI for which a diagnosis of pancreatitis was recorded were reviewed. The time to initiation of food offerings since hospitalization were recorded in addition to signalment, historical medical conditions, chief complaint, physical examination findings, diagnostic results, treatments provided, timing of food offering (within 48 h of hospitalization, early feeding group (EFG) versus delayed feeding group (DFG), diet therapy (low fat versus high fat), caloric intake (% resting energy requirement), incidence of GI (%), and length of hospitalization (LOH) (days). A Clinical Severity Index Score (CSIS) was determined for each patient. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Dogs in the EFG demonstrated a decreased time to return of voluntary intake (2.1 days, EFG versus 2.7 days, DFG; P = 0.05) and time (days) to maximum intake (3, EFG versus 3.4 DFG) as compared to the DFG dogs. The DFG exhibited more GI versus EFG irrespective of CSIS grouping (60% versus 26%, P = 0.04). A CSIS ≥ 7 was associated with prolonged LOH (P = 0.004); however, time to initiation of feeding and diet selection did not impact LOH (P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of the study suggested that feeding within 48 hours of hospitalization for canine pancreatitis has a positive impact on return to voluntary intake and decreases the frequency of GI in these patients, independent of CSIS. The traditional protocol of withholding food during hospitalization may not be necessary nor yield the most benefit for patient recovery; subsequently early enteral refeeding should be considered.
Groups in which the Bounded Nilpotency of Two-generator Subgroups is a Transitive Relation Costantino

In this paper we describe the structure of locally finite groups in which the bounded nilpotency of two-generator subgroups is a transitive relation. We also introduce the notion of (nilpotent of class c)-transitive kernel. Our results generalize several known results related to the groups in which commutativity is a transitive relation. MSC 2000: 20E15, 20D25