Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risks for multidrug-resistant pathogens in the ICU

Purpose of reviewThe impact of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is rising and often underestimated. The epidemiology of MDROs is extremely complex and multifactorial. There is increasing antibiotic resistance, mainly related to antibiotic pressure and patients’ characteristics. Recent findingsEmphasis on MDRO epidemiology is needed to better understand current strategies of prevention and management. Among them, antibiotic stewardship has been one of the most successful strategies. It is important to note that there is a controversial issue when considering community and healthcare-related infections. In addition, different strategies have been determined to find the impact and optimal use of recently launched antibiotics for MDRO treatment. SummaryInfections with MDROs can prolong hospital stay, promote antibiotic use and prolong duration of mechanical ventilation. Some points should be further explored in clinical research such as the heterogeneity of healthcare-associated pneumonia and the need of new drug development. Resistance to non fermentative Gram-negative bacilli, rising minimum inhibitory concentration in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and spread of MDROs in patients without known risk factors suggest a review of guideline validation, taking into account ecology and severity of patient illness to provide timely and appropriate empiric therapy.
Undiagnosed hypertension in a rural community in Sudan and association with some features of the metabolic syndrome: how serious is the situation?

Abstract Background: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for death and disability globally. Its prevalence is increasing worldwide especially in low and middle income countries. It is considered a silent killer because it has no specific symptoms and thus can go unnoticed for many years, only presenting for the first time with serious complications. The situation of undiagnosed hypertension in Sudan has not been fully investigated before. Objective: To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in the rural communities of River Nile State (RNS), Sudan and to assess the associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study, in which 1099 volunteer adult participants from the rural communities in RNS, not known to be hypertensive, were included. Blood pressure was measured as well as anthropometric measurements. The WHO stepwise approach for non-communicable diseases surveillance was used for data collection. A p value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 461 males (41.9%) and 683 females (58.1%). The male to female ratio was 1:1.4. The age range was 18–90 years, with a mean age of 39.6 (STD ± 15.9). The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 38.2%, with a prevalence of 36.7% among males and 39.3% among females. There were significant associations between undiagnosed hypertension and increasing age, obesity, illiteracy and diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study uncovers a hidden epidemic of a silent killer in the rural communities of RNS. Urgent interventions are required to address this serious health epidemic.
Metal accumulation in intertidal marshes: Role of sulphide precipitation

We assessed short-term temporal and spatial variation of metal contents in the upper 100 cm sediment profile of intertidal marshes vegetated by common reed (Phragmites australis) along the Scheldt estuary in Belgium. The upper 0–100 cm sediment profile was sampled in three reedbeds at 56, 94, and 131 km from the river mouth. Sampling was repeated five times, at approximately two month intervals. Sediment properties such as texture and chloride, carbonate and organic matter content differed among locations. Metal accumulation, which is primarily due to association of metals with organic matter and clay in the surface sediment layer, seemed to be supplemented by an accumulation of sulphide precipitates deeper in the sediments. The depth at which sulphide precipitation significantly contributed to metal accumulation depended on the sampling location, and varied from less than 5 cm in clayey, organic sediments to more than 1 m in sandy sediments. Temporal variation of Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations could only be linked to newly formed sulphides or sulphide oxidation at the sites with the lowest sulphide content. At sampling sites containing high sulphide amounts, variations should be primarily attributed to metal exchange and the presence of mobile metal complexes. Litter decomposition at the end of the growing season could hereby play a significant role.
DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN SCIENZE DEGLI ALIMENTI, NUTRIZIONE ANIMALE E SICUREZZA ALIMENTARE - SANASA

OF DISSERTATION I RIASSUNTO DELLA TESI III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V CONTRIBUTION OF AUTHORS VI TABLE OF CONTENTS IX LIST OF FIGURES XI LIST OF TABLES XIII LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS XIV CHAPTER 1: PREAMBLE 1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 3 2.1 ETHICS IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL WELFARE POLICIES 3 2.2 CHALLENGES FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION 5 2.3 PROFITING FROM ANIMAL WELFARE: ACHIEVING THE CHANGE 6 2.3.1 Demand-side solutions 7 2.3.2 Supply-side issues: how much welfare can farmers afford to deliver? 8 2.4 DEFINING ANIMAL WELFARE 10 2.5 ASSESSING ANIMAL WELFARE 12 2.6 THE WELFARE OF GROWING-FINISHING PIGS 14 2.6. 1 Housing and management 14 2.6. 2 Environmental enrichment 16 2.6. 3 Peculiarities in Italian pig production: Heavy Pigs 17 2.7 THE WELFARE OF PIGS DURING TRANSPORT 18 2.7. 1 Loading and unloading 19 2.7. 2 Transport 20 2.8 THE IMPACT OF ANIMAL WELFARE ON MEAT QUALITY 22 2.8. 1 Effects of pre-slaughter handling 23 2.8. 2 Effects of welfare-oriented pig production systems 24 2.8. 3 Consumer perception and information 26 PREFACE TO CHAPTER 3 28 CHAPTER 3: MEAT AND HAM QUALITY OF ITALIAN HEAVY PIGS SUBJECTED TO DIFFERENT ILLUMINATION REGIMES 29 3.1 ABSTRACT 29 3.2 INTRODUCTION 30 3.3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 31 3.3.1 Animals, housing and feeding 31 3.3.2 Carcass traits, meat and fat quality 32 3.3.3 Ham yield and quality 34 3.3.4 Statystical Analysis 36 3.4 RESULTS 36 3.5 DISCUSSION 41
Profiling of apoptosis genes identifies distinct types of primary cutaneous large B cell lymphoma

Two distinct primary cutaneous large B cell lymphomas are recognized: primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma (PCFCL), characterized by an excellent prognosis, and primary cutaneous large B cell lymphoma, leg‐type (PCLBCL leg‐type), with an unfavourable prognosis. To determine whether inhibition of the apoptosis pathways may underlie the difference in clinical outcome between PCFCL and PCLBCL leg‐type, we investigated the expression of only apoptosis‐related genes by microarray expression profiling. Unsupervised cluster analysis was carried out using 169 genes involved in apoptosis on a group of 21 previously untreated patients diagnosed with primary cutaneous large B cell lymphoma. Cluster analysis resulted in two separate groups which showed large overlap with the PCFCL and PCLBCL leg‐type. One group was characterized by high expression levels of pro‐ and anti‐apoptotic genes. The other group was characterized by high expression levels of apoptosis‐inducing cytotoxic effector genes, possibly reflecting a cellular cytotoxic immune response. Our results suggest that the clinically favourable PCFCLs are characterized by a relatively intense cellular cytotoxic immune response and that PCLBCL leg‐types are characterized by constitutive activation of the intrinsic mediated apoptosis pathway, with concomitant downstream inhibition of this apoptosis pathway. Thus, strategies neutralizing the function of apoptosis‐inhibiting proteins might be effective in PCLBCL leg‐type. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute unilateral nephrectomy elicits a specific increase in plasma of peptides derived from the N-terminal region of proopiomelanocortin.

Acute unilateral nephrectomy (AUN) causes natriuresis from the contralateral kidney through neurohumoral reflex pathways that involve an increase in the plasma of peptides derived from the N-terminal region of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/beta-endorphin precursor proopiomelanocortin (POMC). To determine the specificity of these humoral changes, the concentrations in plasma of ACTH and two peptides arising from the N-terminal fragment (NTF) of POMC, NTF32-49 and gamma-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (gamma-MSH), and of another natriuretic peptide, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), were measured by RIA with highly specific antisera to these epitopes. Group I experiments followed the course of sodium excretion (UNaV) for 120 min after AUN or sham nephrectomy. UNaV more than doubled within 60 min of AUN, and this natriuresis was maintained for the remainder of the experiment, whereas UNaV in sham rats did not change. There was no difference in plasma immunoreactive (ir) ACTH or ir-ANP concentrations between sham and AUN rats 120 min after the procedure, but plasma ir-NTF concentration was double in AUN rats compared with sham (P < 0.03). In Group II experiments, animals were killed 30, 60, 90, or 120 min after AUN and the urinary response related to peptide concentrations in plasma. UNaV rose rapidly after AUN, reaching a maximum value within 45 min that again was double the control value and remained stable for the duration of the experiment, up to 120 min after AUN. There was no significant change in ir-ACTH or ir-ANP at any point after AUN compared with values in sham AUN rats. However, plasma concentrations of both ir-NTF and ir-gamma-MSH were elevated 30 min after AUN and reached values at 120 min that were again double the values in sham rats (P < 0.05 for both). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Meningiomas of the anterior portion of the craniovertebral junction: immediate and late outcome following surgical removal using a partial transcondylar approach.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The partial transcondylar approach (PTA) is an alternative to the suboccipital approach in the surgical treatment of meningiomas of the anterior portion of the craniovertebral junction (APCVJ). The purpose of this study is to present our results of treatment of these meningiomas using PTA. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fourteen patients (11 women, 3 men) with meningioma of the APCVJ were included in the study. Neurological status of the patients was assessed before and after surgery as well as at the conclusion of the treatment. The approximate volume of the operated tumour, its relation to large blood vessels, cranial nerves and brainstem, along with its consistency and vascularisation were assessed. RESULTS The symptom duration ranged from 1 to 36 months (median: 11 months). In 79% of patients, motor deficits of the extremities were predominant symptoms. Less frequent symptoms included headache, cervical pain and sensory deficits of cervical nerves C2 to C5. Approximate volume of the tumours ranged from 2.5 mL to 22.1 mL (mean: 11.7 mL). Gross total or subtotal resection was achieved in 86% of patients. The postoperative performance status improved in 57%, did not change in 36% and deteriorated in 7% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS The PTA is a useful technique for removal of meningiomas expanding intradurally of the APCVJ without significant compression of the medulla. The results of treatment were good in most patients.
The Lifespan Self-Esteem Scale: Initial Validation of a New Measure of Global Self-Esteem

ABSTRACT This article introduces the Lifespan Self-Esteem Scale (LSE), a short measure of global self-esteem suitable for populations drawn from across the lifespan. Many existing measures of global self-esteem cannot be used across multiple developmental periods due to changes in item content, response formats, and other scale characteristics. This creates a need for a new lifespan scale so that changes in global self-esteem over time can be studied without confounding maturational changes with alterations in the measure. The LSE is a 4-item measure with a 5-point response format using items inspired by established self-esteem scales. The scale is essentially unidimensional and internally consistent, and it converges with existing self-esteem measures across ages 5 to 93 (N = 2,714). Thus, the LSE appears to be a useful measure of global self-esteem suitable for use across the lifespan as well as contexts where a short measure is desirable, such as populations with short attention spans or large projects assessing multiple constructs. Moreover, the LSE is one of the first global self-esteem scales to be validated for children younger than age 8, which provides the opportunity to broaden the field to include research on early formation and development of global self-esteem, an area that has previously been limited.
miRNAs in cerebrospinal fluid identify patients with MS and specifically those with lipid-specific oligoclonal IgM bands

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate cellular processes by controlling protein translation and mRNA degradation. Objective: We aimed to explore the miRNA signature of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients versus controls and the possibility that patients with lipid-specific oligolconal IgM bands (LS_OCMB), a predictor of a more severe disease course, may have a distinct profile. Methods: An extensive profile of 754 miRNAs was evaluated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 14 women using TaqMan low-density arrays. Differentially expressed miRNAs together with others previously identified in the literature were validated in an extended sample of 86 MS patients (39 LS_OCMB+) and 55 controls. Results: We detected higher levels of miR-150 in MS patients and especially in those with LS_OCMB+. Other miRNAs (miR-328, miR-30a-5p and miR-645) were up-regulated in MS patients compared to controls while miR-21, miR-199a-3p, miR-191, miR-365, miR-106a and miR-146a showed down-regulated expression. Considering only patients with LS_OCMB+, we also detected up-regulation of miR-30a-5p, miR-150 and miR-645 and down-regulation of miR-191 compared to controls. Conclusion: Our study confirms the recent findings regarding the deregulated expression of miR-150 not only with MS but also with the presence of LS_OCMB. This study highlights the potential utility of miRNAs in CSF as biomarkers for MS.
Age, political knowledge and electoral turnout: a case study of Canada

This article attempts to explain declining levels of voter turnout among young adults in terms of decreasing levels of political knowledge. Using data from a representative national survey of the Canadian electorate conducted in 2007, we find through descriptive and inferential statistics that younger individuals are more politically illiterate than older generations by a margin of 20–30 percentage points. We also detect that this generational political knowledge gap accounts for approximately half of the turnout gap that exists between voters in their early 20s and voters in their 50s. Our results further demonstrate that eliminating the knowledge gap would significantly increase turnout among young voters by 15 percentage points.
Surgical management of thyroid masses: Assessing the need for frozen section evaluation

Objective/Hypothesis: To determine the need for intraoperative frozen section to guide the extent of thyroid surgery in the presence of an adequate preoperative fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) finding. Methods: Charts of patients who presented from 1995 to 1998 to the two senior authors were reviewed. A total of 82 patients were found who satisfied the inclusion criteria of having both an adequate FNA and frozen section. The extent of surgery was based on the frozen section finding for all the patients in this study. The authors looked at the number of cases in which the surgical management would be changed if the frozen section was not obtained and the surgical decision was based only on preoperative FNA and intraoperative findings. Results: FNA revealed papillary carcinoma in 18 patients that was confirmed by intraoperative frozen section and final pathology. In the remaining 64 patients, the FNA diagnosis was either benign or suspicious. When routine frozen section was done, 61 of these 64 patients were found to have either benign pathology or pathological diagnosis that was deferred to permanent section. Only three patients were found to have malignancy on frozen section that was missed by FNA. Of these three patients, two had obvious findings of malignancy at the time of surgery. This leaves only one patient with carcinoma that was missed by FNA and intraoperative findings but detected by the intraoperative frozen section. Conclusion: Of the 82 patients in this study, only one extra case of malignancy would be missed by elimination of the routine use of intraoperative frozen section. The authors conclude that the routine use of intraoperative frozen section may be unnecessary. The use of an adequate preoperative FNA together with sound clinical judgment at time of surgery can adequately guide the extent of surgical resection.
Characterization of quantum dot-like emission from GaAs/GaNAs core/shell nanowires

In this work we investigate properties of ultra-narrow photoluminescence lines originating from recombination of excitons trapped by short-range potential fluctuations, caused by alloy disorder in GaAs/GaNAs core/shell nanowires. From power-dependent photoluminescence measurements we show that the emission behavior is consistent with biexciton-exciton cascade recombination in quantum dots. We also show that the thermal activation energy from the related localized states is of the order of 9-30 meV, suggesting a rather shallow confinement potential.
Defect-enhanced visible electroluminescence of multi-energy silicon-implanted silicon dioxide film

White-light and blue-green electroluminescence (EL) of a multirecipe Si-ion-implanted SiO/sub 2/ (SiO/sub 2/:Si/sup +/) film on Si substrate are demonstrated. The blue-green photoluminescence (PL) is enhanced by the reaction of O/sub 3//spl equiv/Si-O-Si/spl equiv/O/sub 3//spl rarr/O/sub 3//spl equiv/Si-Si/spl equiv/O/sub 3/+O/sub interstitial/ during Si implantation. After annealing at 1100/spl deg/C for 180 min, the luminescence at both 415 and 455 nm is markedly enhanced by the complete activation of radiative defects, such as weak oxygen bonds, neutral oxygen vacancies (NOVs), and the precursors of nanocrystallite Si (E'/sub /spl delta// centers). Absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance confirm the existence of NOVs and E'/sub /spl delta// centers. The slowly rising E'/sub /spl delta//-related PL intensity reveals that the formation of nanocrystallite Si (nc-Si) requires longer annealing times and suggests that the activation energy for diffusion of excess Si atoms is higher than that of other defects in ion implanted SiO/sub 2/. The EL from the Ag-SiO/sub 2/:Si/sup +//n-Si-Ag metal-oxide-semiconductor diode changes from deep blue to green as the driving current increase from 0.28 to 3 A. The maximum white-light luminescent power is up to 120 nW at a bias current of 1.25 A.
Essays in Transport Economics: Using stated preference data in the valuation of non-market goods

Using stated preference survey data, we measure the value of travel time for several transport modes. We find, like many before us, that the value of travel time varies across modes in the opposite direction of what would be the consequence of differences in comfort. We examine three candidate causes for the observed differences: Comfort effects, self-selection and strategic behaviour of respondents. Using experiments with both the current and an alternative mode we find that the differences in the value of travel time are consistent with self-selection and comfort effects. Moreover, respondents having bus as the current or the alternative mode seem not to value comfort differently across modes. Strategic behaviour seems to play no role.
Differential pharmacology and benefit/risk of azilsartan compared to other sartans

Azilsartan, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker (ARB), was recently approved by regulatory authorities for treatment of hypertension and is the 8th ARB to join the clinical market. This article discusses the medical reasons for introducing a new AT1 receptor blocker and reviews the experimental and clinical studies that have compared the functional properties of azilsartan to those of other ARBs. The main question addressed is: Does azilsartan have distinguishing features that should motivate choosing it over any of the other sartans for use in clinical practice? Based on studies conducted to date in hypertensive patients without serious comorbidities, azilsartan appears to be characterized by a superior ability to control 24-hour systolic blood pressure (BP) relative to other widely used ARBs including valsartan, olmesartan, and candesartan, and presumably others as well (eg, losartan). Compared to these other ARBs, azilsartan may increase the BP target control and response rate by an absolute value of 8%–10%. Greater antihypertensive effects of azilsartan might be due in part to its unusually potent and persistent ability to inhibit binding of angiotensin II to AT1 receptors. Preclinical studies have indicated that azilsartan may also have potentially beneficial effects on cellular mechanisms of cardiometabolic disease and insulin sensitizing activity that could involve more than just blockade of AT1 receptors and/or reduction in BP. However, the clinical relevance of these additional actions is unknown. Given that the general ability of antihypertensive drugs to protect against target organ damage is largely mediated by their ability to decrease BP, the enhanced antihypertensive effects of azilsartan should serve to justify clinical interest in this ARB relative to other molecules in the class that have a lower capacity to reduce BP.
How Should We Estimate the Performance Effect of Management? Comparing Impacts of Public Managers’ and Frontline Employees’ Perceptions of Management

ABSTRACT Many areas of public management research are dominated by a top-focused perspective in which emphasis is placed on the notion that managers themselves are usually the best sources of information about managerial behavior. Outside of the leadership literature, managers are also the typical survey respondents in public management studies. An alternative perspective on management can be provided by subordinates’ perceptions of what management is doing. Surveys of subordinates and of managers each pose potential advantages and potential disadvantages when it comes to measuring management, and each approach is likely to prove more fruitful for measuring certain management functions. Using a unique data set of parallel surveys on management with managers and their subordinates as respondents, we examine the differences and relationships between Danish school managers’ and teachers’ perceptions of management functions and the implications of such relationships for organizational performance. We find a surprisingly low correlation between manager and teacher responses regarding the same management functions. Teacher responses are better predictors of student performance for management aspects that are visible to and mediated by teachers. However, manager responses better predict performance for manager expectations that are less visible to employees.