Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementing the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) clinical practice framework for aseptic technique: a pragmatic evaluation using a mixed methods approach in two London hospitals

Background: Aseptic technique is an important infection prevention competency for protecting patients from healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Healthcare providers using the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) aseptic technique have demonstrated reduced variability and improved compliance with aseptic technique. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to determine whether standardizing aseptic technique for invasive IV procedures, using the ANTT® - Clinical Practice Framework (CPF), increases staff compliance with the infection prevention actions designed to achieve a safe and effective aseptic technique, and whether this is sustainable over time. Methods: A pragmatic evaluation using a mixed-methods approach consisting of an observational audit of practice, a self-report survey and structured interviews with key stakeholders. Compliance with aseptic technique before and after the implementation of ANTT® was measured by observation of 49 registered healthcare professionals. Results: Mean compliance with competencies was 94%; each component of practice was improved over baseline: hand hygiene = 63% (P ≤ 0.001); glove use = 14% (P ≤ 0.037); Key-Part protection = 54% (P ≤ 0.001); a non-touch technique = 45% (P ≤ 0.001); Key-Part cleaning = 82% (P ≤ 0.001); and aseptic field management = 80% (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Results show implementation of ANTT® improved compliance with the prerequisite steps for safe and effective aseptic technique as defined by the ANTT®-CPF. Improvements in compliance were sustained over four years.
The Cholesterol-dependent Cytolysin Membrane-binding Interface Discriminates Lipid Environments of Cholesterol to Support β-Barrel Pore Insertion*

Background: The cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) have an identical cholesterol-binding motif but exhibit different binding parameters. Results: Binding affinity is altered by the loop three (L3) structure, which impacts pore-forming efficiency. Conclusion: The L3 structure affects its equilibrium between stabilizing (inserted) and destabilizing (uninserted) membrane interactions. Significance: The L3 structure provides CDCs with cellular selectivity by discriminating lipid environments surrounding membrane cholesterol. The majority of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) utilize cholesterol as a membrane receptor, whereas a small number are restricted to the GPI-anchored protein CD59 for initial membrane recognition. Two cholesterol-binding CDCs, perfringolysin O (PFO) and streptolysin O (SLO), were found to exhibit strikingly different binding properties to cholesterol-rich natural and synthetic membranes. The structural basis for this difference was mapped to one of the loops (L3) in the membrane binding interface that help anchor the toxin monomers to the membrane after receptor (cholesterol) binding by the membrane insertion of its amino acid side chains. A single point mutation in this loop conferred the binding properties of SLO to PFO and vice versa. Our studies strongly suggest that changing the side chain structure of this loop alters its equilibrium between membrane-inserted and uninserted states, thereby affecting the overall binding affinity and total bound toxin. Previous studies have shown that the lipid environment of cholesterol has a dramatic effect on binding and activity. Combining this data with the results of our current studies on L3 suggests that the structure of this loop has evolved in the different CDCs to preferentially direct binding to cholesterol in different lipid environments. Finally, the efficiency of β-barrel pore formation was inversely correlated with the increased binding and affinity of the PFO L3 mutant, suggesting that selection of a compatible lipid environment impacts the efficiency of membrane insertion of the β-barrel pore.
Polymorphisms of DNA repair genes XRCC1 and LIG4 and idiopathic male infertility

ABSTRACT Sperm DNA damage is one of the associated factors of idiopathic male infertility and abnormal spermatogenesis. This study was conducted to assess possible association between risk of male infertility with X-ray repair cross complementing group 1 (XRCC1) Arg399Gln (G to A) and DNA ligase 4 (LIG4) Thr9Ile (C to T) gene polymorphisms which are involved in different DNA repair pathways. In this case-control study 191 fertile and 191 infertile men (29-40 years old) were enrolled. The single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes and alleles of XRCC1 Arg399Gln and LIG4 Thr9Ile were assessed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. There was no significant association between XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and risk of male infertility. The frequency of LIG4 Thr9Ile genotypes and alleles were statistically different between fertile and infertile men (p<0.001). We found that the CT genotype increased infertility risk more than threefold (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.803-5.407). The LIG4 TT genotype carriers had decreased progressive motile sperm (p<0.05) and increased non-progressive motile sperm (p<0.001) compared with the CC genotype. Moreover, sperm concentration in subjects carrying the CT genotype was lower than that observed in CC carriers (p<0.05). The results revealed that the GG/CT and GA/CT combinations of genotypes increase the risk of infertility 3.5 and fourfold, respectively (p=0.021 and 0.004, respectively). This study demonstrated that there was an association between LIG4 Thr9Ile polymorphism and male infertility and suggests CT genotype as a risk factor for male infertility.
Microwave Photonic Delay Line With Separate Tuning of the Optical Carrier

Significant performance improvement for photonic delay lines in microwave-photonics based on a new concept of separately tuning the optical carrier is proposed and analyzed. Optical microresonator delay lines using a balanced SCISSOR design with additional resonators to separately tune the carrier phase delay to provide a true-time-delay for the broadband microwave signal are presented. Significant improvements in broadband tunable delay and devices losses are predicted.
Sinus lift using a nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite silica gel in severely resorbed maxillae: histological preliminary study.

PURPOSE The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate histologically a nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite silica gel in maxillary sinus floor grafting in severely resorbed maxillae. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 16 consecutive patients scheduled for sinus lift were recruited during this study. Patients were randomly divided in two groups, eight patients each. In both groups, preoperative residual bone level ranged between 1 and 3 mm (mean value of 2.03 mm). No membrane was used to occlude the buccal window. Second surgery was carried out after a healing period of 3 months in Group 1 and 6 months in Group 2. Using a trephine bur, one bone specimen was harvested from each augmented sinus and underwent histological and histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS Histological analysis showed significant new bone formation and remodeling of the grafted material. In the cores obtained at 6 months, regenerated bone, residual NanoBone, and bone marrow occupied respectively 48 +/- 4.63%, 28 +/- 5.33%, and 24 +/- 7.23% of the grafted volume. In the specimens taken 3 months after grafting, mean new bone was 8 +/- 3.34%, mean NanoBone was 45 +/- 5.10%, and mean bone marrow was 47 +/- 6.81% of the bioptical volume. CONCLUSIONS Within the limits of this preliminary prospective study, it was concluded that grafting of maxillary sinus using nanostructured hydroxyapatite silica gel as only bone filler is a reliable procedure also in critical anatomic conditions and after early healing period.
Vessel wall and adventitial DCE‐MRI parameters demonstrate similar correlations with carotid plaque microvasculature on histology

To assess parameter agreement of volume transfer coefficient (Ktrans) between two vascular regions and to study the correlation with microvessel density on histology. The dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) parameter Ktrans is frequently used to study atherosclerotic plaque microvasculature. Ktrans has been reported using different descriptive statistics (mean, median, 75th percentile) either for the whole vessel wall or the adventitia in previous studies.
Sampling Terrestrial Environments for Bacterial Polyketides

Bacterial polyketides are highly biologically active molecules that are frequently used as drugs, particularly as antibiotics and anticancer agents, thus the discovery of new polyketides is of major interest. Since the 1980s discovery of polyketides has slowed dramatically due in large part to the repeated rediscovery of known compounds. While recent scientific and technical advances have improved our ability to discover new polyketides, one key area has been under addressed, namely the distribution of polyketide-producing bacteria in the environment. Identifying environments where producing bacteria are abundant and diverse should improve our ability to discover (bioprospect) new polyketides. This review summarizes for the bioprospector the state-of-the-field in terrestrial microbial ecology. It provides insight into the scientific and technical challenges limiting the application of microbial ecology discoveries for bioprospecting and summarizes key developments in the field that will enable more effective bioprospecting. The major recent efforts by researchers to sample new environments for polyketide discovery is also reviewed and key emerging environments such as insect associated bacteria, desert soils, disease suppressive soils, and caves are highlighted. Finally strategies for taking and characterizing terrestrial samples to help maximize discovery efforts are proposed and the inclusion of non-actinomycetal bacteria in any terrestrial discovery strategy is recommended.
Hydrodynamic Shear Regulates the Kinetics and Receptor Specificity of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte-Colon Carcinoma Cell Adhesive Interactions1

The ability of tumor cells to metastasize hematogenously is regulated by their interactions with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). However, the mechanisms mediating PMN binding to tumor cells under physiological shear forces remain largely unknown. This study was designed to characterize the molecular interactions between PMNs and tumor cells as a function of the dynamic shear environment, using two human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (LS174T and HCT-8) as models. PMN and colon carcinoma cell suspensions, labeled with distinct fluorophores, were sheared in a cone-and-plate rheometer in the presence of the PMN activator fMLP. The size distribution and cellular composition of formed aggregates were determined by flow cytometry. PMN binding to LS174T cells was maximal at 100 s−1 and decreased with increasing shear. At low shear (100 s−1) PMN CD11b alone mediates PMN-LS174T heteroaggregation. However, L-selectin, CD11a, and CD11b are all required for PMN binding to sialyl Lewisx-bearing LS174T cells at high shear (800 s−1). In contrast, sialyl Lewisx-low HCT-8 cells fail to aggregate with PMNs at high shear conditions, despite extensive adhesive interactions at low shear. Taken together, our data suggest that PMN L-selectin initiates LS174T cell tethering at high shear by binding to sialylated moieties on the carcinoma cell surface, whereas the subsequent involvement of CD11a and CD11b converts these transient tethers into stable adhesion. This study demonstrates that the shear environment of the vasculature modulates the dynamics and molecular constituents mediating PMN-tumor cell adhesion.
Health and Safety of VR Use by Children in an Educational Use Case

The present study examined the potential health and safety effects of short-term virtual reality (VR) use by children in an educational use case scenario (that is, relatively brief episodes of use across a limited number of sequential days), such as how VR may be used in the classroom or at a museum. Ophthalmological, vestibular functioning, balance, hand-eye coordination, 3D spatial representation, and subjective comfort effects were assessed using a variety of optometric, psychophysical, and self-report measures. Thirty child participants (ages 10 to 12 years) were immersed in VR for 30 minutes daily across five consecutive days of use. Measurements were taken prior to the onset of VR use (baseline), at the end of the fifth day of VR use (to assess potential acute effects), and 24 hours after the fifth day of VR use (to assess potential longer-lasting effects). There were no statistically significant adverse effects found, with the exception of slightly elevated scores on a self-reported measure of subjective comfort, which, however, were below the range of scores reported in past research as being indicative of subject discomfort. In other words, the current study found no empirical evidence that short-term use of VR in an educational use setting by children ages 10 through 12 years is associated with any adverse visual, spatial representational, or balance aftereffects, or that it causes undue nausea, oculomotor discomfort, or disorientation. The present study does not address longer-term use or potential psychological effects of different VR content.
Implementation and Evaluation of Touch-based Interaction Using Electrovibration Haptic Feedback in Virtual Environments

Presentation of more haptic information to improve the users interactive capability is an important and challenging task in the virtual environment. As an emerging haptic feedback technology, electrovibration is an underlying solution to enhance the systems interactivity and improve user experience. However, such a solution is rarely studied in a virtual environment. In this work, we explore a new VR interaction method based on electrovibration technology with a touch screen and conduct evaluations about it. The key idea is to incorporate a set of manipulation gestures and three types of electrovibration in the VR interaction to help users acquire different kinds of tactile perception in the virtual manipulation. We present the evaluation in which we compare user performance measured first in a Fitts law task to evaluate different electrovibration types and then in a virtual office application to assess the interactive user interface. Our results show that the precision of interactions is significantly improved with the electrovibration haptic feedback. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to introduce electrovibration haptic feedback into the VR human-computer interaction and our work enlightens the potential of the electrovibration touchscreen-based interaction in virtual environments.
Physical activity and the association of common FTO gene variants with body mass index and obesity.

BACKGROUND Common FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene variants have recently been associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity in several large studies. The role of lifestyle factors (such as physical activity) in those with an underlying FTO genetic predisposition is unknown. METHODS To determine if FTO variants are associated with BMI in Old Order Amish (OOA) individuals, and to further determine whether the detrimental associations of FTO gene variants can be lessened by increased physical activity, a total of 704 healthy OOA adults were selected from the Heredity and Phenotype Intervention (HAPI) Heart Study, an investigation of gene x environment interactions in cardiovascular disease, for whom objective quantified physical activity measurements were available and for whom 92 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FTO were genotyped. RESULTS Twenty-six FTO SNPs were associated with BMI (P = .04 to <.001), including rs1477196 (P < .001) and rs1861868 (P < .001), 2 SNPs in moderate linkage disequilibrium in the OOA (D' = 0.82; r(2) = 0.36). Stratified analyses of rs1861868 revealed its association with BMI to be restricted entirely to those subjects with low sex- and age-adjusted physical activity scores (P < .001); in contrast, the SNP had no effect on those with above-average physical activity scores (P = .29), with the genotype x physical activity interaction achieving statistical significance (P = .01). Similar evidence for interaction was also obtained for rs1477196. CONCLUSIONS Our results strongly suggest that the increased risk of obesity owing to genetic susceptibility by FTO variants can be blunted through physical activity. These findings emphasize the important role of physical activity in public health efforts to combat obesity, particularly in genetically susceptible individuals.
Examining Ontario Deaths Due to All-Terrain Vehicles, and Targets for Prevention

Background: All-terrain vehicle (ATV) use is increasingly popular among people of all ages. Although ATV use is known to cause significant morbidity due to head and neck trauma, there is a lack of published data detailing ATV-related fatalities. We examined all ATV-related fatalities in Ontario from 1996 - 2005 to determine the epidemiology and risk factors as a guide for improved injury prevention strategies. Methods: All ATV-related fatalities from 1996 - 2005 in Ontario were examined through Coroner's reports in the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario. Epidemiologic information and risk factors relating to the driver, environment, and vehicle were recorded. Results: There were 74 ATV-related fatalities from 1996 - 2005. There was only one fatality per year in 1996 and 1997 and a peak of 16 per year in 2004 and 2005. Head and neck injuries were the commonest causes of death. Males comprised 90.5% of the cases. The highest risk was from age 15 - 29, and 21% of fatalities occurred in children under 16. Northeastern Ontario had the highest fatality rate. Conclusions: There was a major increase in the incidence of ATV-related fatalities in Ontario from 1996 - 2005 with the majority due to head trauma. Notable risk factors included alcohol use, riding at night, lack of helmet use, and excessive speed. We recommend the adoption of laws that focus on helmet requirements, a minimum driver age of 16, and certified training courses. Aggressive injury prevention efforts should be targeted toward males aged 15 - 29.
Vitamin D deficiency and incident stroke risk in community-living black and white adults

Background Black individuals are at greater risk of stroke and vitamin D deficiency than white individuals. Epidemiologic studies have shown that low 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with increased risk of stroke, but these studies had limited representation of black individuals. Methods We examined the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with incident stroke in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a cohort of black and white adults ≥45 years of age. Using a case–cohort study design, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured in 610 participants who developed incident stroke (cases) and in 937 stroke-free individuals from a stratified cohort random sample of REGARDS participants (comparison cohort). Results In multivariable models adjusted for socio-demographic factors, co-morbidities and laboratory values including parathyroid hormone, lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were associated with higher risk of stroke (25-hydroxyvitamin D >30 ng/mL reference; 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations 20–30 ng/mL, hazard ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.89,1.96; 25-hydroxyvitamin D <20 ng/mL, hazard ratio 1.85, 95% CI 1.17, 2.93). There were no statistically significant differences in the association of lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D with higher risk of stroke in black vs. white participants in fully adjusted models (hazard ratio comparing lowest vs. highest 25-hydroxyvitamin D category 2.62, 95% CI 1.18, 5.83 in blacks vs. 1.64, 95% CI 0.83, 3.24 in whites, Pinteraction = 0.82). The associations were qualitatively unchanged when restricted to ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke subtypes or when using race-specific cut-offs for 25-hydroxyvitamin D categories. Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for incident stroke and the strength of this association does not appear to differ by race.
'Inclined abstainers': a problem for predicting health-related behaviour.

A longitudinal test of the association between motivation to undertake a precautionary health action and subsequent behaviour was conducted on women's uptake of the cervical screening test. A sample of never-screened women (N = 166) completed measures derived from protection-motivation theory (PMT; Rogers, 1983). One year later, screening uptake was reliably determined from medical records. While regression analyses demonstrated that PMT variables predicted both motivation to undergo cervical screening and screening uptake, there was, nonetheless, a good deal of inconsistency between protection motivation and screening behaviour. Fifty-seven per cent of those who indicated they were willing to undergo the test did not do so within a one-year period. Discriminant analysis was therefore used to test the ability of cognitions specified by PMT to distinguish four patterns of association between motivation and behaviour: inclined actors, inclined abstainers, disinclined actors and disinclined abstainers. While PMT variables could successfully classify the four groups, it was not possible to derive a reliable discriminant function which distinguished between inclined actors and inclined abstainers. The results suggest that PMT provides a useful account of choice motivation but does not address the psychological processes by which intention is translated into action. Recent calls for the development of a social psychology of volition are discussed in the light of these findings.
Microchip separations of protein biotoxins using an integrated hand‐held device

We report the development of a hand‐held instrument capable of performing two simultaneous microchip separations (gel and zone electrophoresis), and demonstrate this instrument for the detection of protein biotoxins. Two orthogonal analysis methods are chosen over a single method in order to improve the probability of positive identification of the biotoxin in an unknown mixture. Separations are performed on a single fused‐silica wafer containing two separation channels. The chip is housed in a microfluidic manifold that utilizes o‐ring sealed fittings to enable facile and reproducible fluidic connection to the chip. Sample is introduced by syringe injection into a septum‐sealed port on the device exterior that connects to a sample loop etched onto the chip. Detection of low nanomolar concentrations of fluorescamine‐labeled proteins is achieved using a miniaturized laser‐induced fluorescence detection module employing two diode lasers, one per separation channel. Independently controlled miniature high‐voltage power supplies enable fully programmable electrokinetic sample injection and analysis. As a demonstration of the portability of this instrument, we evaluated its performance in a laboratory field test at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory with a series of biotoxin variants. The two separation methods cleanly distinguish between members of a biotoxin test set. Analysis of naturally occurring variants of ricin and two closely related staphylococcal enterotoxins indicates the two methods can be used to readily identify ricin in its different forms and can discriminate between two enterotoxin isoforms.
The comparative effects of sevoflurane vs. isoflurane on cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity in patients with hypertension

Background: Sevoflurane has been shown to have different effects on cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity in comparison with isoflurane. In this study, the comparative effects of sevoflurane vs. isoflurane on cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity were examined in patients with hypertension.