Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of definition and location of hypotension on outcome following severe pediatric traumatic brain injury*

Objective:To examine the influence of definition and location (field, emergency department, or pediatric intensive care unit) of hypotension on outcome following severe pediatric traumatic brain injury. Design:Retrospective cohort study. Setting:Harborview Medical Center (level I pediatric trauma center), Seattle, WA, over a 5-yr period between 1998 and 2003. Patients:Ninety-three children <14 yrs of age with traumatic brain injury following injury, head Abbreviated Injury Score ≥3, and pediatric intensive care unit admission Glasgow Coma Scale score <9 formed the analytic sample. Data sources included the Harborview Trauma Registry and hospital records. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:The relationship between hypotension and outcome was examined comparing two definitions of hypotension: a) systolic blood pressure <5th percentile for age; and b) systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg. Hospital discharge Glasgow Outcome Score <4 or disposition of either death or discharge to a skilled nursing facility was considered a poor outcome. Pediatric intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were also examined. Systolic blood pressure <5th percentile for age was more highly associated with poor hospital discharge Glasgow Outcome Score (p = .001), poor disposition (p = .02), pediatric intensive care unit length of stay (rate ratio 9.5; 95% confidence interval 6.7–12.3), and hospital length of stay (rate ratio 18.8; 95% confidence interval 14.0–23.5) than systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg. Hypotension occurring in either the field or emergency department, but not in the pediatric intensive care unit, was associated with poor Glasgow Outcome Score (p = .008), poor disposition (p = .03), and hospital length of stay (rate ratio 18.7; 95% confidence interval 13.1–24.2). Conclusions:Early hypotension, defined as systolic blood pressure <5th percentile for age in the field and/or emergency department, was a better predictor of poor outcome than delayed hypotension or the use of systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg.
Novel Src Homology 3 Domain-binding Motifs Identified from Proteomic Screen of a Pro-rich Region *S

The Src homology (SH) 3 domain has been shown recently to bind peptide sequences that lack the canonical PXXP motif. The diverse specificity in ligand recognition for a group of 15 SH3 domains has now been investigated using arrays of peptides derived from the proline-rich region of the SH2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76). A screen of the peptide arrays using individual or mixed SH3 domains has allowed the identification of a number of candidate SH3-binding peptides. Although some peptides contain the conventional PXXP motif, most are devoid of such a motif and are instead enriched in basic residues. Fluorescent polarization measurements using soluble peptides and purified SH3 domains demonstrated that several SH3 domains, including those from growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2), NCK, and phospholipase C (PLC)-γ1, bound with moderate affinities (10–100 μm) to a group of non-conventional peptides. Of particular interest, the PLC-γ1 SH3 domain was found to associate with SLP-76 through at least three distinct sites, two of which bore a novel KKPP motif and the other contained the classic PXXP sequence. Intriguingly mutation of critical residues for the three sites not only affected binding of SLP-76 to the PLC-γ1 SH3 domain but also to the Grb2 C-terminal SH3 domain, indicating that the binding sites in SLP-76 for the two SH3 domains are overlapped. Our studies suggest that the SH3 domain is an inherently promiscuous interaction module capable of binding to peptides that may or may not contain a PXXP motif. Furthermore the identification of numerous non-conventional SH3-binding peptides in SLP-76 implies that the global ligand pool for SH3 domains in a mammalian proteome may be significantly greater than previously acknowledged.
Evolutionary systems biology: What it is and why it matters

Evolutionary systems biology (ESB) is a rapidly growing integrative approach that has the core aim of generating mechanistic and evolutionary understanding of genotype‐phenotype relationships at multiple levels. ESB's more specific objectives include extending knowledge gained from model organisms to non‐model organisms, predicting the effects of mutations, and defining the core network structures and dynamics that have evolved to cause particular intracellular and intercellular responses. By combining mathematical, molecular, and cellular approaches to evolution, ESB adds new insights and methods to the modern evolutionary synthesis, and offers ways in which to enhance its explanatory and predictive capacities. This combination of prediction and explanation marks ESB out as a research manifesto that goes further than its two contributing fields. Here, we summarize ESB via an analysis of characteristic research examples and exploratory questions, while also making a case for why these integrative efforts are worth pursuing.
Characterization of mosquito breeding sites in the Cape Verde islands with emphasis on major vectors

Characterization of breeding site environment is a crucial step into the understanding of mosquito biology and the dynamics of the transmitted diseases. In Cape Verde a single study addressed this issue, however more than 30 years has passed making it obsolete. In the present study we characterized mosquito breeding sites with emphasis on two major vectors. During mosquito sampling, measurements of physicochemical parameters of standing water were conducted. Aquatic fauna and flora were also characterized. We found a high species richness in the study area. Mosquitoes reproduction was dependent of standing water created by human activities. We did not detect differences between water collections used by mosquitoes to breed when compared to those unused. Our results suggest that mosquito biological control, by the use of freshwater fish, is somewhat effective. Moreover, our results highlight the breeding site management as an important vector control strategy in irrigated areas in Cape Verde.
Ventilation Tubes in Secretory Otitis Media Associated with Cleft Palate: A Retrospective Analysis

Aim: The insertion of ventilation tubes at the time of cleft palate surgery is a controversial issue. We assessed the status of hearing and the middle ear in long-term follow-up after the treatment of cleft palate. Materials and Methods: 56 patients with cleft palate repair at the ages of 15 to 24 months were included in the study. The control group consisted of 15 patients in whom ventilation tubes were inserted previously for secretory otitis media. They all had audiologic analyses. Results: In the control group, only one patient was found to have perforation of tympanic membrane on one side. In the study group, tympanograms in those with intact tympanic membranes showed no abnormalities. The pure tone audiometric tests showed conductive hearing loss only in five cases. Their hearing threshold varied from 25 dB to 45 dB. No patients in the control group had conductive hearing loss. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.42) with respect to complications in the long-term. Conclusions: The findings in our study show that there may be no need for ventilation tubes on a routine basis in cleft palate patients especially when the long-term results in those patients are taken into consideration.
[Depression and suicidal ideation in elders with dementia].

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation in elders with dementia and to identify factors influencing their suicidal ideation. METHODS A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March, 2011. The participants were 298 older adults whose MMSE-KC score was 15 to 23. Collected Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS According to the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) classification criteria, 86.2% of the elders in this study exhibited depression (GDS=5), and 31.5% manifested severe depression. The mean score of suicidal ideation was 5.70 (range 0-20). The risk factors for suicidal ideation were depression, suicidal attempt experience, present location for care, and activities of daily living. CONCLUSION The results of this study can be utilized in the development of suicide prevention programs for older adults with dementia. In particular, depression should be screened and managed to reduce suicidal ideation of older adults with dementia.
Frequency of bacteriuria in patients with diabetes mellitus: a controlled study.

DESPITE increasing recognition over the past twenty-five years of the importance of urinary-tract infections as a cause of chronic renal disease1 2 3 4 there are relatively few and contradictory clinical5 6 7 and autopsy4 , 8 9 10 11 data regarding the prevalence of these infections in the general population. One of the factors responsible for this has been uncertainty concerning the major diagnostic tool, culture of the urine, as a method for differentiating true infections from bacterial contamination of the lower genitourinary tract. This obstacle has been overcome by the recent revival of the use of quantitative cultures, and criteria for the significance of bacteriuria.12 13 14 15 16 17 On the basis .
Novel Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Multilayer Slotline Power Divider With Bandpass Response

A novel ultra-wideband (UWB) multilayer slotline power divider with bandpass filtering response is presented. In the proposed structure, a single isolation resistor is properly placed between the two output ports. Based on the transmission-line equivalent-circuit method, the design equations of the proposed UWB power divider has been derived with the even and odd mode analyses. Experimental results show that excellent impedance matching at all three ports, amplitude and phase balance at the two output ports, isolation between the two output ports, and out-of-band rejection are observed at the UWB band.
THE SINGLE–AND REPEATED–DOSE TOXICITY OF DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

The toxicology of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which is a water-miscible, clear liquid at ordinary room temperatures, has been studied in animals in a number of laboratories since the two initial reports on this subject appeared in 1963. "' I n fact, a t the present time we are aware of 14 such studies involving eight species, ten routes of administration and many different dosage schedules. These studies are summarized in this report in two different manners. First, they have been arbitrarily grouped for presentation into single-dose studies involving the administration of only one dose of DMSO to each animal and repeated-dose studies involving repeated dosing of the same animal. Each of these, in turn, has been organized according to the route of administration and to the particular species studied. Then, because no species-related differences in response to DMSO have been observed, the biological actions of DMSO which have been seen in these studies have been enumerated without regard to the particular species in which the action was observed. Finally, some comments are made concerning the relation of these studies in animals to the clinical use of DMSO.
Development of a PM transverse flux motor with soft magnetic composite core

This paper reports the design, performance analysis, fabrication, and experimental results of a three-phase, three-stack permanent magnet transverse flux motor with a soft magnetic composite stator core, which was designed to take advantage of the unique properties of the new material. Parameter computations by finite element analysis of the magnetic field and performance prediction by the equivalent electric circuit are discussed. To validate the simulation, a prototype motor has been fabricated and operated with a sensorless, brushless direct coupler drive scheme. The experimental results are thoroughly presented and agree with the theoretical calculations very well.
Differentiating chronic lymphocytic leukemia from monoclonal B-lymphocytosis according to clinical outcome: on behalf of the GIMEMA chronic lymphoproliferative diseases working group

Background Optimal lymphocyte parameters and thresholds for the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia have been proposed by The National Cancer Institute sponsored Working Group and recently updated by the International Workshop on chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, it is not clear how these criteria apply to patient management in daily clinical practice and whether the lymphocyte thresholds recommended truly predict clinical outcome in early chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Design and Methods For the purpose of this study, an observational database of the GIMEMA (Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche dell’Adulto) which included 1,158 patients with newly diagnosed Binet stage A chronic lymphocytic leukemia who were observed at different primary hematology centers during the period 1991–2000, was used. Results Among 818 consecutive chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with Rai stage 0 (i.e. no palpable lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly) who had flow cytometry evaluations at the time of diagnosis and were included in a GIMEMA database, both absolute lymphocyte count and B-cell count were of a similar value in predicting time to first treatment as continuous variables (P<0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified an absolute lymphocyte count of 11.5×109/L and an absolute B-cell count of 10.0×109/L as the best thresholds capable of identifying patients who will require treatment from those with stable disease. However, in a Cox’s multivariate analysis only the B-cell count retained its discriminating power (P<0.0001) and the estimated rate of progression to chronic lymphocytic leukemia requiring treatment among subjects with a B-cell count less than 10.0×109/L was approximately 2.3% per year (95% CI 2.1–2.5%) while it was 2-fold higher for patients with a B-cell count of 10.0×109/L or over (i.e. 5.2% per year; 95% CI 4.9–5.5%). Finally, in this community-based patient cohort, the B-cell threshold defined by investigators at the Mayo Clinic (i.e. 11.0×109/L) allowed patients to be divided into two subsets with a higher and lower likelihood of treatment (P<0.0001). Conclusions Our results, based on a retrospective patients’ cohort, provide a clear justification to retain the B-cell count as the reference gold standard of chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis and imply that a count of 10×109/L B cells is the best lymphocyte threshold to predict time to first treatment. The use of clinical outcome to distinguish chronic lymphocytic leukemia from other premalignant conditions, such as monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis, is a pragmatic approach meeting the patients’ need to minimize the psychological discomfort of receiving a diagnosis of leukemia when the risk of adverse clinical consequences is low.
The impact of diabetes on psychological well being and quality of life. The role of patient education

Abstract People with diabetes live in a society that does not understand their condition. The overall perception that people with serious diabetes inject insulin and that Type 2 diabetes is relatively mild remains rife within the general population and even with some health care professionals. To make the situation worse, only few people understand that diabetes is a condition that cannot be simply controlled by medications and that the presence of diabetes markedly alters the lives of individuals and their families. Consequently, in this article we will be reviewing the scientific evidence of the effects of impaired psychological well being and poor perception of life quality on patients with diabetes. We will be enlightening the importance of patient education and self-empowerment on this aspect of management, which is crucial for the improvement in the physical, psychological and social well being of every patient suffering from this disease.
Otoacoustic Emissions and Tympanometry Screening Among 0–5 Year Olds

Objectives To determine the rate of otitis media (OM)‐associated transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) screening failure in a sample of preschool children, to evaluate concordance between TEOAE and tympanometry, to investigate risk factors for TEOAE failure, and to determine agreement between TEOAE failure and physician findings at referral.
ESNATS Conference — The use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Novel Toxicity Testing Approaches a

The main achievements and results of the ESNATS project (Embryonic Stem Cell-based Novel Alternative Testing Strategies) were presented at the final project conference that was held on 15 September 2013, the day before the traditional EUSAAT (European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing) Congress in Linz, Austria. The ESNATS project was an FP7 European Integrated Project, running from 2008 to 2013, the aim of which was to develop a novel toxicity testing platform based on embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and in particular, human ESC (hESCs), to accelerate drug development, reduce related R&D costs, and propose a powerful alternative to animal tests in the spirit of the Three Rs principles. Altogether, ESNATS offered the first proof of concept that hESCs can be used to create robust, reproducible and ready-to use test assays for predicting human toxicity. In the end, essentially five test systems were developed to an adequate level for entering possible pre-validation procedures. These methods are based on hESCs, and can be combined to study the possible effects, on the human embryo, of exposure to a chemical during the early stages of development. In addition to the presentations by the main project partners, external speakers were invited to give lectures on relevant topics, both in the field of neurotoxicity and, more generally, on the applicability of hESCs in the development of advanced in vitro tests.
Two founder mutations in the alpha-tropomyosin and the cardiac myosin-binding protein C genes are common causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Finnish population

Background. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is predominantly caused by a large number of various mutations in the genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. However, two prevalent founder mutations for HCM in the alpha-tropomyosin (TPM1-D175N) and myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3-Q1061X) genes have previously been identified in eastern Finland. Objective. To assess the prevalence of these founder mutations in a large population of patients with HCM from all over Finland. Patients and methods. We screened for two founder mutations (TPM1-D175N and MYBPC3-Q1061X) in 306 unrelated Finnish patients with HCM from the regions covering a population of ∼4,000,000. Results. The TPM1-D175N mutation was found in 20 patients (6.5%) and the MYBPC3-Q1061X in 35 patients (11.4%). Altogether, the two mutations accounted for 17.9% of the HCM cases. In addition, 61 and 59 relatives of the probands were found to be carriers of TPM1-D175N and MYBPC3-Q1061X, respectively. The mutations showed regional clustering. TPM1-D175N was prevalent in central and western Finland, and MYBPC3-Q1061X in central and eastern Finland. Conclusion. The TPM1-D175N and MYBPC3-Q1061X mutations account for a substantial part of all HCM cases in the Finnish population, indicating that routine genetic screening of these mutations is warranted in Finnish patients with HCM.
Synergistic effects of proton and phenylalanine on the regulation of muscle pyruvate kinase.

Steady-state kinetic studies of muscle pyruvate kinase were conducted as a function of pH and phenylalanine concentrations. Results show that at a pH below 7.0, there is no observable effect of phenylalanine on the kinetic properties of muscle pyruvate kinase. When the results at a pH below 6.5 are used as the state for comparison, the kinetic results show that phenylalanine and proton exert a synergistic effect on the allosteric properties of the enzyme. A significantly greater change in Hill coefficients at high pH can be detected in the presence of phenylalanine than in its absence. To pinpoint the specific mechanism that leads to the synergistic effect, the kinetic data were resolved into the five equilibrium and two rate constants that characterize the basic two-state model. It can be shown that KTI, the binding constant of phenylalanine to the inactive T state, is strongly proton-linked. The affinity of phenylalanine for the T state increases with increasing pH. When the pH dependence of KTI was analyzed by the linked-function theory [Wyman, J. (1964) Adv. Protein Chem. 19, 224-285], it was shown that deprotonation favors phenylalanine binding to the T state. KRI (the binding constant of phenylalanine to the active R state), KTS (the binding constant of substrate to the T state), and L (the isomerization constant of the two states) not only are all weakly proton-linked but also it was shown that protonation favors the ligand-pyruvate kinase complex. KRS, the binding constant of substrate for the R state, shows no observable linkage to proton concentration. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Chronic ethanol feeding affects proteasome‐interacting proteins

Studies on alcoholic liver injury mechanisms show a significant inhibition of the proteasome activity. To investigate this phenomenon, we isolated proteasome complexes from the liver of rats fed ethanol chronically, and from the liver of their pair‐fed controls, using a non‐denaturing multiple centrifugations procedure to preserve proteasome‐interacting proteins (PIPs). ICAT and MS/MS spectral counting, further confirmed by Western blot, showed that the levels of several PIPs were significantly decreased in the isolated ethanol proteasome fractions. This was the case of PA28α/β proteasome activator subunits, and of three proteasome‐associated deubiquitinases, Rpn11, ubiquitin C‐terminal hydrolase 14, and ubiquitin carboxyl‐terminal hydrolase L5. Interestingly, Rpn13 C‐terminal end was missing in the ethanol proteasome fraction, which probably altered the linking of ubiquitin carboxyl‐terminal hydrolase L5 to the proteasome. 20S proteasome and most 19S subunits were however not changed but Ecm29, a protein known to stabilize the interactions between the 20S and its activators, was decreased in the isolated ethanol proteasome fractions. It is proposed that ethanol metabolism causes proteasome inhibition by several mechanisms, including by altering PIPs and proteasome regulatory complexes binding to the proteasome.
Optimal Solutions for the Single Batch, Flow Shop, Lot-streaming Problem with Equal Sublots

Lot streaming is the process of splitting a production lot into sublots and then scheduling the sublots in overlapping fashion on the machines in order to improve the performance of the production system. Implementation of this concept arises in several batch production environments. These include, among others, printed circuit board assembly and semiconductor fabrication. There are several limitations in the lot-streaming models available in the literature which affect their usefulness in reality. In this paper, we consider the single batch, flow shop, lot-streaming problem but relax several of these limitations. The main contribution of this paper is to provide the production manager with a way of splitting a lot in order to optimize performance under various measures of performance and setup time considerations. In addition, the insight of the proposed procedure can be used to tackle more general versions of the problem considered.