Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Surfactant

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is an effective treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. Due to long-standing experience of early nCPAP as the primary respiratory support option in preterm infants, this approach is sometimes labeled ‘the Scandinavian Model’. Mechanical ventilation is potentially harmful to the immature lungs and cohort studies have demonstrated that centers using more CPAP and less mechanical ventilation have reduced rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, there is a lack of evidence in the form of larger, randomized controlled trials to prove the superiority of either method. Surfactant is essential in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome and has generally been reserved for infants on mechanical ventilation. With the development of INSURE (INtubation SURfactant Extubation), in which surfactant is administered during a brief intubation followed by immediate extubation, surfactant therapy can be given during nCPAP treatment further reducing need for mechanical ventilation. In this review the history, current knowledge and techniques of CPAP and surfactant are discussed.
Presupplementary motor area hyperactivity during response inhibition: a candidate endophenotype of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE Endophenotype studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may uncover heritable traits that are related to genetic susceptibility to OCD. Deficient response inhibition is a promising endophenotype of OCD, although its functional neural correlates have not been extensively studied. The authors sought to determine the functional neural correlates of response inhibition in a large sample of medication-free OCD patients and their unaffected siblings. METHOD Forty-one OCD patients, 17 of their siblings, and 37 matched healthy comparison subjects performed a stop-signal task during 3-T functional MRI. The stop-signal reaction time provided a behavioral measure of response inhibition. The neural correlates of response inhibition were assessed in a region-of-interest analysis that included the presupplementary motor area, inferior frontal gyrus, subthalamic nucleus, and inferior parietal cortex. RESULTS Patients with OCD had greater stop-signal reaction times relative to healthy comparison subjects. The numerical stop-signal reaction time difference between siblings and comparison subjects failed to reach significance. Both patients with OCD and their siblings showed greater activity in the left presupplementary motor area during successful inhibition relative to comparison subjects. Relative to both the comparison subjects and the siblings, patients with OCD showed decreased activity in the right inferior parietal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus. In patients and siblings, presupplementary motor area activity correlated negatively with stop-signal reaction time. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that presupplementary motor area hyperactivity is a neurocognitive endophenotype of OCD that is possibly related to inefficient neural processing within the presupplementary motor area itself. Patients with OCD further showed a state-dependent deficit in recruiting right inferior parietal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus, which may contribute to their inhibition deficit.
Research on Handwashing Techniques of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients From Yiwu, Southeast China

The aim of the present study was to evaluate handwashing technique, bacteriology, and factors influencing handwashing technique of 86 stable chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients from Yiwu City in Southeast China. Based on the “Hygienic standard for disinfection in the hospital”, we also performed sampling for bacteriology from PD operators after they washed their hands. We compared their clinical features including the pathogenic bacteria of their previous peritonitis episodes and their handwashing evaluation results according to their bacteriologic sampling results. 65% of patients turned off the tap by bare hand, and 74% did not follow the six‐step handwashing method. Dialysis duration longer than 6 months (P = 0.04) and lower income (P = 0.05) were independent risk factors for higher handwashing error scores. The overall rate of appropriate handwashing, according to the “hygienic standard for disinfection in the hospital” was 26%. The bacteriologic sampling results showed that the most common pathogenic bacterium was Staphylococcus aureus (92%). PD operators whose hand bacteria culture was qualified contained a lower proportion of participants with advanced age (P = 0.07). Patients with repeated peritonitis occurrence had a significantly higher score on handwashing error (P < 0.01) and were more likely to develop Staphylococcus infection. We found that in Yiwu city patients on dialysis for more than 6 months, were of low income and had multiple prior episodes of PD peritonitis had poor handwashing compliance. Elderly patients had higher rates of positive bacterial culture (Staphylococcus) from their hands.
Survival of Noise Traders and the Implications for Asset Prices

This paper shows that in financial markets with endogenous asset supply and demand, both rational and noise traders do co–exist in the long run. The finding implies that financial markets are neither informationally nor allocationally efficient. While rational traders have a consistently higher cash inflow from dividends, noise trader are able to speculate successfully on capital gains. Thus, investors who need a regular cash inflow should invest rationally, i.e., hold a portfolio proportional to the expected relative dividends of its assets. Investors interested in maximum capital gains may try and realize the alpha opportunities in the market. To succeed, their timing must be optimal, however. The worst strategy is ’buy and hold’: Neither does it lead to a cash inflow like the rational strategy, nor does it open the chance to realize capital gains. We would like to mention that our evolutionary model does not face problems of common interactive agent models such as infinite supply of riskless assets or the lack of modelling the evolution of the investor’s wealth. Moreover, we investigate the two most prominent puzzles related to low-frequency stock prices: The conditional volatility of price returns, and the price forecasting power of dividend yields. Using the indirect inference methodology, we estimate an version of the evolutionary stock market model with endogenous asset supply and demand. We find that our economically well founded model is able to approximate the conditional volatility, quantified with a GARCH(1,1) process, that is observed in empirical price data. To investigate the price forecasting power of dividend yields, we derive for rational markets a close form of linking dividend yields to future prices, inherently de-trending the price process. Based on this result, we show that the prices of roughly two third of the considered assets depend on the dividend yields. The prices of the other assets deviate from the rational values due to the presence of noise traders in the market, whose speculative activities leads to price bubbles. Finally, recurring to the Lyapunov characteristic exponents of the relative wealth evolution, we show that none of the traders is able to marginalize the others in the long run, i.e., to take over all wealth in the market. JEL Classification Codes: C15, C32, C52, G11, G12
Influence of Genetic Variants in UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 on the In Vivo Glucuronidation of SN‐38

The uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 and 1A9 isoforms are involved in the phase II biotransformation of the irinotecan metabolite, SN‐38. Recently, several variants in the UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 genes have been described with altered functionality in vitro. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional consequence of the UGT1A1(TA)7TAA (UGT1A1*28), UGT1A9 766G>A (D256N; UGT1A9*5), and UGT1A9 98T>C (M33T; UGT1A9*3) variants in Caucasian patients treated with irinotecan. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed after the first course of irinotecan in 47 males and 47 females. The mean (± SD) area under the curves (AUCs) of irinotecan and SN‐38 were 20,348+ 6466 ng•h/mL and 629 + 370 ng•h/mL, respectively, which is in line with earlier findings. For UGT1A9*5, no variant alleles were observed, whereas for UGT1A9*3, 1 patient with the variant allele was found (allele frequency, 0.633%). The distribution of the UGT1A1*28 variant showed 44 wild‐type patients (Wt), 37 heterozygotes (Het), and 5 homozygotes (Var). The median AUC ratio of SN‐38G to SN‐38 was significantly reduced in carriers of the variant UGT1A1*28 allele (7.00 [Wt] vs. 6.26 [Het] vs. 2.51 [Var]; p = .022). It is concluded that UGT1A9 functional variants are rare in Caucasians and likely to be clinically insignificant in irinotecan regimens. Screening for the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism may identify patients with altered SN‐38 pharmacokinetics.
Forecasting electric daily peak load based on local prediction

The forecasting of load demand has become one of the major research fields in electricity market. It has always been the essential part of an efficient power system planning and operation. This paper presents a new approach to a multivariate load forecasting by combining support vector regression with a local prediction framework which employs the correlation dimension and mutual information methods used in time-series analysis for data preprocessing. Local prediction uses only a set of K nearest neighbours in the reconstructed embedded space with considering the more relevant historical instances. The performance of the proposed predication model is evaluated on the data used in the EUNITE competition in 2001. The results show that the proposed method provides a relatively better forecasting performance in comparison with the best result found in the competition and other published papers that uses the same competition's data.
Impact of a dedicated emergency surgical unit on early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

INTRODUCTION Emergency general surgery (EGS) accounts for 50% of the surgical workload, and yet outcomes are variable and poorly recorded. The management of acute cholecystitis (AC) at a dedicated emergency surgical unit (ESU) was assessed as a performance target for EGS. METHODS The outcomes for AC admissions were compared one year before and after inception of the ESU. The impact on cost and compliance with national guidance recommending early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) within seven days of diagnosis was assessed. RESULTS The overall ELC rate increased from 26% for the 126 patients admitted in the pre-ESU period to 45% for the 152 patients admitted in the post-ESU period (p=0.001). With those unsuitable for ELC excluded, the ELC rate increased from 34% to 82% (p<0.001). The proportion of patients precluded from ELC for avoidable reasons, particularly owing to 'surgeon preference/skill', was reduced from 69% to 18% (p<0.001). The mean total length of stay (LOS) and postoperative LOS fell by 1.7 days (from 8.3 to 6.6 days, p=0.040) and 2 days (from 5.6 to 3.6 days, p=0.020) respectively. The higher ELC rate and the reduction in LOS produced additional tariff income (£111,930) and estimated savings in bed day (£90,440) and readmission (£27,252) costs. CONCLUSIONS A dedicated ESU incorporating national recommendations for EGS improves alignment of best practice with best evidence and can also result in financial rewards for a busy district general hospital.
Prevention of congenital cytomegalovirus complications by maternal and neonatal treatments: a systematic review

Human cytomegalovirus is the leading non‐genetic cause of congenital malformation in developed countries. Congenital CMV may result in fetal and neonatal death or development of serious clinical sequelae. In this review, we identified evidence‐based interventions for prevention of congenital CMV at the primary level (prevention of maternal infection), secondary level (risk reduction of fetal infection and disease) and tertiary level (risk reduction of infected neonates being affected by CMV). A systematic review of existing literature revealed 24 eligible studies that met the inclusion criteria. Prevention of maternal infection using hygiene and behavioural interventions reduced maternal seroconversion rates during pregnancy. However, evidence suggested maternal adherence to education on preventative behaviours was a limiting factor. Treatment of maternal CMV infection with hyperimmune globulin (HIG) showed some evidence for efficacy in prevention of fetal infection and fetal/neonatal morbidity with a reasonable safety profile. However, more robust clinical evidence is required before HIG therapy can be routinely recommended. Limited evidence also existed for the safety and efficacy of established CMV antivirals (valaciclovir, ganciclovir and valganciclovir) to treat neonatal consequences of CMV infection, but toxicity and lack of randomised clinical trial data remain major issues. In the absence of a licensed CMV vaccine or robust clinical evidence for anti‐CMV therapeutics, patient education and behavioural interventions that emphasise adherence remain the best preventative strategies for congenital CMV. There is a strong need for further data on the use of HIG and other antivirals in pregnancy, as well as the development of less toxic, novel, antiviral agents. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The significance of carotid canal involvement in basilar cranial fracture.

OBJECTIVE Basilar cranial fractures have been associated with injury to the carotid artery. We sought to determine whether fracture through the carotid canal was a significant risk factor for carotid injury. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed, and 230 patients with basilar cranial fractures were identified. Fifty-five of the 230 patients had visible fractures that extended through one or both carotid canals (CC fx group). Evidence for vascular injury, based on medical records, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and other studies, was compiled. The anatomic characteristics of the fractures were also noted and recorded. RESULTS Ten patients in the CC fx group suffered vascular complications; for six of them, the complications were directly related to the intracranial carotid artery. This compares to four patients in the non-CC fx group with vascular complications (P < 0.005), only one of which was carotid-specific (P < 0.005). The most common site of fracture through the canal was at the junction of the lacerum and cavernous portions of the canal (the spheno-occipital suture) (62% of all carotid canal fractures occurred at that site); however, vascular injury was seen most often in patients who sustained fractures through the petrous segment (67% of carotid canal-specific injuries occurred in that group, and 25% of patients with petrous canal fractures suffered carotid injury, [P = not significant]). The mean Glasgow Coma Scale score and the mean age were both lower (P < 0.05) in the CC fx group. CONCLUSION Vascular complications are more frequently observed after basilar cranial fractures when there is involvement of the carotid canal. The lacerum-cavernous junction, which is partly formed by the spheno-occipital suture, is the most frequently fractured segment of the carotid canal. Fracture through the petrous segment of the carotid canal is associated with a relatively high incidence of carotid injury. Fracture through the carotid canal may serve as an index of injury severity, because patients with these fractures suffered more severe head injuries.
Measuring adolescents' perceptions of parenting style during childhood: psychometric properties of the parenting styles and dimensions questionnaire

Nos ultimos 15 anos houve um interesse crescente na avaliacao de estilos parentais de forma retrospectiva, especialmente com o Parenting Style and Dimensions Questionnaire (Questionario de Estilos Parentais). No entanto, poucos estudos efetuaram a analise psicometrica desta escala com analises fatoriais confirmatorias (AFC). O presente estudo analisou as caracteristicas psicometricas do instrumento numa amostra de 1465 adolescentes italianos que avaliaram o estilo parental do pai e da mae durante a sua infância. Foram utilizadas AFCs e analises multi-grupo para avaliar a estrutura e consistencia da escala. Os resultados demonstram que 22 dos 62 itens nao mediram bem a constructo. A versao final do instrumento, composto por 40 itens, apresenta propriedades psicometricas satisfatorias e validade convergente nas duas versoes.
The Effect of Acute Stress and Long-Term Corticosteroid Administration on Plasma Metabolites in an Urban and Desert Songbird

In response to stressful stimuli, animals activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which can result in transition to the “emergency life history stage. ” A key adaptive characteristic of this life history stage is the mobilization of energy stores. However, few data are available on the metabolic response to acute stress in wild-caught, free-ranging birds. We quantified the effect of acute capture and restraint stress on plasma glucose, free fatty acid, and uric acid in free-ranging Abert’s towhees Melozone aberti. Furthermore, birds were caught from urban and desert localities of Phoenix, Arizona, to investigate potential effects of urban versus desert habitats on the corticosterone (CORT) and metabolic response to acute stress. Complementing work on free-ranging birds, captive towhees received CORT-filled Silastic capsules to investigate the response of urban and desert conspecifics to long-term CORT administration. We quantified the effect of CORT administration on baseline plasma glucose and uric acid, liver and pectoralis muscle glycogen stores, kidney phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C, a key gluconeogenic enzyme), and body mass. Acute stress increased plasma CORT and glucose and decreased plasma uric acid but had no effect on plasma free fatty acid. There was no difference between urban and desert localities in body mass, fat scores, and the response to acute stress. CORT administration decreased body mass but had no effect on glucose and uric acid, pectoral muscle glycogen, or kidney PEPCK-C. However, liver glycogen of CORT-treated urban birds increased compared with corresponding controls, whereas glycogen decreased in CORT-treated desert birds. This study suggests that Abert’s towhees principally mobilize glucose during acute stress but urban and desert towhees do not differ in their CORT and metabolic response to acute stress or long-term CORT administration.
New episodes of depression among Medicare beneficiaries with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Depression is a common comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with increased exacerbations, healthcare utilization, and mortality. Among Medicare beneficiaries newly diagnosed with COPD, the objectives of this study were to (1) estimate the rate of new episodes of depression and (2) identify factors associated with depression.
Amino acid variation in the GyrA subunit of bacteria potentially associated with natural resistance to fluoroquinolone antibiotics

In studies of genetic diversity in natural microbial populations, we have analyzed nucleotide sequences in the quinolone resistance-determining region of the bacterial gyrA gene in ciprofloxacin-resistant and nonselected soil bacteria obtained from the environment. It is apparent that this sequence is highly variable, and resistance to fluoroquinolone antibiotics occurring in environmental populations of bacteria is due at least in part to natural sequence variation in this domain. We suggest that the development of new antimicrobial agents, including completely synthetic antimicrobials such as the fluoroquinolones, should incorporate the analysis of resistance mechanisms among microbes in natural environments; these studies could predict potential mechanisms of resistance to be encountered in subsequent clinical use of the agents and would guide chemical modification designed to evade resistance development.
Contraction time and voluntary discharge properties of individual short toe extensor motor units in man.

1. The contraction time and the voluntary discharge properties of forty‐five short toe extensor motor units were studied in man. 2. The contraction time of the individual motor unit was studied by using selective electrical nerve stimulation or by averaging the increase in force related to its electromyographic potential in tonic voluntary contraction. 3. Both methods showed a range of contraction times from 40 to 90 ms. 4. The discharge properties of the individual motor unit were studied with e.m. g. techniques, permitting the identification of its potentials during maximum voluntary effort. 5. A motor unit which could be driven continously and had a minimum rate of about 10/s and a maximum rate of about 30/s had a contraction time between 60 and 90 ms. 6. A motor unit which could not be driven continously and had a minimum rate of about 20/s and a maximum rate above 40/s had a contraction time between 40 and 55 ms. 7. A motor unit with intermediate voluntary discharge properties had an intermediate contraction time. 8. It is concluded that each motor unit fires at its fusion frequency in voluntary contraction and that the voluntary discharge frequency range of a motor unit can be used as an indication of its contraction time.
Cytochrome Complex Essential for Photosynthetic Oxidation of both Thiosulfate and Sulfide in Rhodovulum sulfidophilum

ABSTRACT Many photosynthetic bacteria use inorganic sulfur compounds as electron donors for carbon dioxide fixation. A thiosulfate-induced cytochrome c has been purified from the photosynthetic α-proteobacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum. This cytochrome c551 is a heterodimer of a diheme 30-kDa SoxA subunit and a monoheme 15-kDa SoxX subunit. The cytochrome c551 structural genes are part of an 11-gene sox locus. Sequence analysis suggests that the ligands to the heme iron in SoxX are a methionine and a histidine, while both SoxA hemes are predicted to have unusual cysteine-plus-histidine coordination. A soxA mutant strain is unable to grow photoautotrophically on or oxidize either thiosulfate or sulfide. Cytochrome c551 is thus essential for the metabolism of both these sulfur species. Periplasmic extracts of wild-type R. sulfidophilumexhibit thiosulfate:cytochrome c oxidoreductase activity. However, such activity can only be measured for asoxA mutant strain if the periplasmic extract is supplemented with purified cytochrome c551. Gene clusters similar to the R. sulfidophilum sox locus can be found in the genome of a green sulfur bacterium and in phylogenetically diverse nonphotosynthetic autotrophs.