Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Head Trauma in Children, Part 3: Clinical and Psychosocial Outcome After Head Trauma in Children

With the aim of determining long-term outcome, the authors approached 38 families (average 2.1 years after trauma) with a questionnaire, following the acute-clinical treatment of head trauma of their children. Long-term damage was restricted almost exclusively to patients presenting with a Glasgow Coma Score ≤8. Paresis (16%), cranial nerve damage (13%), incontinence (5%), or coordinative disturbances (18%) continued. The older children stated that they influenced their life to a great extent (11%). Furthermore, many had mental and cognitive problems that occur quite frequently even in children with light head trauma and often only manifest after release from hospital. This causes problems and results in inferior performance (26%), especially at school, which is further complicated through lengthy periods of absence. The parents, especially, mentioned behavioral problems such as social withdrawal or aggressive demeanor, which led to tension also inside the family. A persistent vegetative state is rare after head trauma in children.
The Timing of Partisan Media Effects during a Presidential Election

This article examines when partisan media effects occur during presidential campaigns. I argue that partisan media are most likely to influence candidate impressions early in the election cycle, when voters have less crystallized impressions of the candidates and are less motivated to defend their party’s nominee. Using multiple methods and two large-scale surveys spanning 2008, I show that Fox News affected favorability toward Barack Obama during the first five months of the election year, but those effects largely disappeared over the last five months. The results varied by political knowledge, however, as Fox News affected low-knowledge viewers throughout the entire year, but only affected high-knowledge viewers early in the election cycle. These results provide important new evidence on how partisan media affect viewers and when those effects occur during a presidential election.
Low efficacy of methotrexate in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML): Single‐agent therapeutic window study in relapsed AML

The efficacy in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of single‐agent methotrexate (MTX) at a higher dose than previously applied, 1,000 mg/m2, given as a theoretically beneficial 36‐hr continuous infusion, is unknown, but may be beneficial based on preclinical data.
Neutral Phospholipids Stimulate Na,K-ATPase Activity

Background: Phosphatidylserine binds specifically and stabilizes the Na,K-ATPase. Results: Neutral phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acyl chains increase the turnover rate of purified recombinant human Na,K-ATPase (α1β1 or α1β1FXYD1). Conclusion: Acid and neutral phospholipids may bind in separate pockets and either stabilize or stimulate Na,K-ATPase activity, respectively. Significance: The findings demonstrate distinct roles of specifically bound acid or neutral phospholipids. Membrane proteins interact with phospholipids either via an annular layer surrounding the transmembrane segments or by specific lipid-protein interactions. Although specifically bound phospholipids are observed in many crystal structures of membrane proteins, their roles are not well understood. Na,K-ATPase is highly dependent on acid phospholipids, especially phosphatidylserine, and previous work on purified detergent-soluble recombinant Na,K-ATPase showed that phosphatidylserine stabilizes and specifically interacts with the protein. Most recently the phosphatidylserine binding site has been located between transmembrane segments of αTM8–10 and the FXYD protein. This paper describes stimulation of Na,K-ATPase activity of the purified human α1β1 or α1β1FXYD1 complexes by neutral phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, or phosphatidylethanolamine. In the presence of phosphatidylserine, soy phosphatidylcholine increases the Na,K-ATPase turnover rate from 5483 ± 144 to 7552 ± 105 (p < 0.0001). Analysis of α1β1FXYD1 complexes prepared with native or synthetic phospholipids shows that the stimulatory effect is structurally selective for neutral phospholipids with polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains, especially dilinoleoyl phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine. By contrast to phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine destabilizes the Na,K-ATPase. Structural selectivity for stimulation of Na,K-ATPase activity and destabilization by neutral phospholipids distinguish these effects from the stabilizing effects of phosphatidylserine and imply that the phospholipids bind at distinct sites. A re-examination of electron densities of shark Na,K-ATPase is consistent with two bound phospholipids located between transmembrane segments αTM8–10 and TMFXYD (site A) and between TM2, -4, -6, -and 9 (site B). Comparison of the phospholipid binding pockets in E2 and E1 conformations suggests a possible mechanism of stimulation of Na,K-ATPase activity by the neutral phospholipid.
Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing latanoprost with brimonidine in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension or normal-tension glaucoma

Aim: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of latanoprost versus brimonidine in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension or normal-tension glaucoma. Method: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing latanoprost and brimondine, identified by searches including Medline, Embase and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Two reviewers independently assessed trials for eligibility and quality and extracted data. Data were synthesised (random effects model) and expressed as the absolute mean intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction difference from baseline to end point for efficacy and relative risk for adverse events. Subgroup analysis and regression were used to explore heterogeneity according to patient characteristics, trial design and quality. Results: 15 publications reporting on 14 trials (1784 participants) were included for meta-analysis. IOP reduction favoured latanoprost (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 1.10 mm Hg (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57 to 1.63)). Significant heterogeneity was present (χ213 = 38.29, p = 0.001, I2 = 66.0%). Subgroup analysis showed greater WMD for studies where data were analysed from end points >6 months duration, cross-over design, open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension and monotherapy. Multiple regression showed no significant association of WMD with trial duration (t9 = 1.92, p = 0.09), trial design (t9 = 1.79, p = 0.11), trial quality (t9 = −0.46, p = 0.66), or monotherapy or adjunctive therapy (t9 = −2.14, p = 0.06). Fatigue was less commonly associated with latanoprost (RR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.88). Publication bias was not evident on visual inspection of a funnel plot. Conclusion: Latanoprost is more effective than brimonidine as monotherapy in lowering IOP. Brimonidine is associated with a higher rate of fatigue.
Directed insertion of a selectable marker into a circular plasmid of Borrelia burgdorferi

Studies of the biology of Borrelia burgdorferi and the pathogenesis of Lyme disease are severely limited by the current lack of genetic tools. As an initial step toward facile genetic manipulation of this pathogenic spirochete, we have investigated gene inactivation by allelic exchange using a mutated borrelial gyrB gene that confers resistance to the antibiotic coumermycin A1 as a selectable marker. We have transformed B. burgdorferi by electroporation with a linear fragment of DNA in which this selectable marker was flanked by sequences from a native borrelial 26-kb circular plasmid. We have identified coumermycin A1-resistant transformants in which gyrB had interrupted the targeted site on the 26-kb plasmid via homologous recombination with the flanking sequences. Antibiotic resistance conferred by the mutated gyrB gene on the plasmid is dominant, and transformed spirochetes carrying this plasmid do not contain any unaltered copies of the plasmid. Coumermycin A1 resistance can be transferred to naive B. burgdorferi by transformation with borrelial plasmid DNA from the initial transformants. This work represents the first example of a directed mutation in B. burgdorferi whereby a large segment of heterologous DNA (gyrB) has been inserted via homologous recombination with flanking sequences, thus demonstrating the feasibility of specific gene inactivation by allelic exchange.
Correlation between loneliness and social relationship among empty nest elderly in Anhui rural area, China

Objective: To study the possible associations between loneliness and social relationship (social support and family function) in Chinese empty nest elderly. Methods: A sample of 1144 empty nest elderly were surveyed using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)-Loneliness Scale, the Social Support Rate Scale and the Family Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve (APGAR) Index. Results: The present study revealed that the majority (80.94%) of empty nest elderly had moderate to high levels of loneliness, with a mean score of 42.84 and a standardized score of 53.55. The level of loneliness was significantly different in subjects’ age, marital status and income, but not in sex and education level. Social support and family function were significant negatively associated with loneliness. Multiple regression revealed that less social support and poor family function were associated with more loneliness. Conclusions: Loneliness prevails among empty nest elderly. It may limit empty nest elderly's ability or access to social relationship. These findings support the hypothesis that if empty nest elderly are better supported and cared for, their negative psychosocial consequences might be prevented or at least reduced.
Controlling tuberculosis in an urban emergency department: a rapid decision instrument for patient isolation.

OBJECTIVES This study examined whether data routinely available in emergency departments could be used to improve isolation decisions for tuberculosis patients. METHODS In a large emergency department in New York City, we compared the exposure histories of tuberculosis culture-positive and culture-negative patients and used these data to develop a rapid decision instrument to predict culture-positive tuberculosis. The screen used only data that are routinely available to emergency physicians. RESULTS The method had high sensitivity (.96) and moderate specificity (.54). CONCLUSIONS The method is easily adaptable for a broad range of settings and illustrates the potential benefits of applying basic epidemiologic methods in a clinical setting.
Shear Bond Strength and Microleakage of a New Self-etching/Self-adhesive Pit and Fissure Sealant.

PURPOSE To evaluate shear bond strength and microleakage of a new self-etching/self-adhesive fissure sealant on prismless enamel compared with conventional fissure sealing. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 90 extracted third molars were assigned to 3 main groups: group 1: self-etching/self-adhesive sealant, without acid etching; group 2: self-etching/self-adhesive sealant, with prior acid etching; group 3: conventional fissure sealing (control group). After specimen preparation, each group was divided into 3 subgroups according to storage time (1-day water storage, 3-month water storage, and 1-day water storage followed by 5000x thermocycling). The shear bond strength was determined with a universal testing machine, according to ISO standard 29022. Afterwards, the failure mode was analyzed. An additional 24 third molars were used for microleakage assessment. The fissure pattern was sealed in strict accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. After thermocycling, the dye penetration was examined. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-Test at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS The shear bond strength of the self-etching/self-adhesive fissure sealant without prior acid etching was significantly lower (4.3 MPa) than that of the self-etching/self-adhesive fissure sealant with prior acid etching (17.1 MPa) and the conventional fissure sealing (19.1 MPa). Microleakage was significantly lower in the control group (1.1%) and in the group with the self-etching/self-adhesive sealant with prior acid etching (0.8%) compared to the group that used the self-etching/self-adhesive material alone (49.4%). CONCLUSION The self-etching/self-adhesive fissure sealant can be recommended for clinical use when enamel is etched with phosphoric acid. The self-etching/self-adhesive sealant without prior acid etching showed significantly inferior results.
The Boxing Conundrum: Is there a place for a new variant of the sport?

The purpose of this review is to establish current knowledge in regard to the legal, medical, ethical and moral concerns of participating in boxing.The review also presents a case for boxing by highlighting the social and physical benefits associated with participation. It summarises, interprets, and critically evaluates the existing literature and introduces a safer alternative Box'Tag.
Development of different phenotypes of hypertensive heart failure: systolic versus diastolic failure in Dahl salt‐sensitive rats

Objective There are two phenotypes of heart failure, systolic failure and isolated diastolic heart failure with preserved left ventricular systolic function. Although isolated diastolic heart failure frequently occurs, there are only models for diastolic dysfunction unassociated with heart failure and models with overt diastolic heart failure have not been established. We attempted to develop two different models, i.e. diastolic and systolic failure models, based on hypertension. Materials and methods Dahl salt-sensitive rats were placed on 8% NaCl diet from 7 weeks old (7-week starting group) or 8 weeks old (8-week starting group). As an age-matched control, Dahl salt-sensitive rats were consistently placed on normal chow. In these rats, echocardiogram was serially recorded, followed by hemodynamic and histological studies. Results The 7-week starting rats showed a steep elevation in blood pressure and progressive left ventricular hypertrophy, and fell into overt heart failure at approximately 19 weeks. The development of heart failure was not associated with a decrease in left ventricular midwall fractional shortening or an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension as compared with the age-matched control, which mimics the characteristics of clinically observed isolated diastolic heart failure. The 8-week starting rats showed a gradual rise in blood pressure and less progressive left ventricular hypertrophy, and fell into heart failure at approximately 26 weeks with a decrease in mid-wall fractional shortening and an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic dimension. Hemodynamic and histological studies at failing stage revealed comparable elevation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and comparable left ventricular fibrosis in both groups. Conclusion These two different models of overt heart failure may be useful as models of isolated diastolic heart failure and systolic heart failure based on the same hypertensive heart disease, respectively, and may contribute to discrimination of the mechanisms of the development of the two different phenotypes of heart failure.
Combined System for Harmonic Suppression and Reactive Power Compensation

In this paper, a combined system of static Var compensator (SVC) and active power filter (APF) was proposed. The system has the function of power factor correction, voltage stability, and harmonic suppression. The SVC, which consists of delta-connected thyristor-controlled reactor (TCR) and Y-connected passive power filter (PPF), is mainly for voltage stability and power factor correction. The small rating APF is used to filter harmonics generated by the nonlinear load and the TCR in the SVC and to suppress possible resonance between the grid and the PPFs. The configuration and principle of the combined system were discussed first, and then, the control method of the combined system was presented. An optimal nonlinear proportional-integral control was proposed to improve the dynamic response and decrease the steady-state error of the SVC. Harmonic detection with precompensation method and improved generalized integrator control were proposed to improve the performance of APF. The new combined system is compared to classical SVC. It is implemented in a 200-kVA prototype in the laboratory. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed combined configuration can effectively stabilize system voltage, correct power factor, and suppress harmonic currents.
CpG and Non-CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Directly Costimulate Mouse and Human CD4+ T Cells through a TLR9- and MyD88-Independent Mechanism

TLR ligands are known to activate APCs, but direct T cell responsiveness to TLR ligands is controversial. Because of their clinical relevance, we performed in-depth studies of the effects of the TLR9-associated ligands, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), on highly purified T lymphocytes. Both CpG and non-CpG ODNs directly costimulate mouse and human CD4+ T cells, resulting in activation marker upregulation, cytokine secretion, elevated TCR phosphorylation, and proliferation. Surprisingly, ODN costimulation occurred independently of TLR9 and MyD88, as well as ICOS, CD28, and TRIF. TLR9-antagonist ODNs likewise promoted T cell activation, which has important implications for the study of these “inhibitory” ODNs in inflammatory diseases. Cytokine profiling revealed that ODNs promote polarization of distinct Th subsets, and that ODNs differentially affect human naive and memory T cells. Our studies reveal a striking and unexpected ability of ODNs to directly activate and polarize T cells, presenting an opportunity to enhance the paradigm for selection of therapeutic ODNs in humans.
Medical end-of-life decisions in children in Flanders, Belgium: a population-based postmortem survey.

OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of end-of-life decisions and to describe their characteristics and the preceding decision-making process in minors in Belgium. DESIGN Population-based postmortem anonymous physician survey. SETTING Flanders, Belgium. PARTICIPANTS All physicians signing the death certificates of all patients (N = 250) aged 1 to 17 years who died between June 2007 and November 2008 in Flanders, Belgium. OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence and characteristics of end-of-life decisions and the preceding decision-making process. RESULTS For 165 of the 250 deaths, a physician questionnaire was returned (70.5%). In 36.4%, death was preceded by an end-of-life decision. Drugs were administered to alleviate pain and symptoms with a possible life-shortening effect in 18.2% of all deaths, nontreatment decisions were made in 10.3%, and lethal drugs without the patient's explicit request were used in 7.9%. No cases of euthanasia, ie, the use of drugs with the explicit intention to hasten death at the patient's explicit request, were reported. Poor clinical prospects (84.6%) and low quality of life expectations (61.5%) were important reasons for the physicians to engage in end-of-life decisions. Parents were involved in decision making in 85.2% of these decisions, patients in 15.4%. CONCLUSIONS Medical end-of-life decisions are frequent in minors in Flanders, Belgium. Whereas parents were involved in most end-of-life decisions, the patients themselves were involved much less frequently, even when the ending of their lives was intended. At the time of decision making, patients were often comatose or the physicians deemed them incompetent or too young to be involved.
Control of an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in an oncology ward in South Africa: effective use of limited resources.

An outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) occurred in an adult oncology ward of a large teaching hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. The outbreak strain was identified as an Enterococcus faecium carrying the vanA resistance genotype. Macro-restriction analysis showed that the majority of strains were clonally related. Modified infection control interventions were implemented and control of the outbreak was achieved. Although the epidemiology of VRE is well documented in Europe, North America and Australia, this problem has only recently emerged in South Africa. The epidemiology of the outbreak appears similar to that described for outbreaks elsewhere.
The use of indicators in environmental policy appraisal: lessons from the design and evolution of water security policy measures

ABSTRACT Drawing up environmental policy options is a complex activity which involves defining and weighing the merits and risks of various alternative courses of action governments could pursue. In its modern version, this task typically involves formal policy analysis or ‘policy appraisal’, that is, policy work specifically undertaken to generate and evaluate policy options in order to address problems or issues on a policy agenda. Indicators play a powerful but under-investigated role in this process. To shed light on this issue, the paper conducts a case study of the design and evolution of policy indicators in water security policy formulation, examining both their utilization and impact. The paper documents the origins of water security policy indicators; assesses their relevance and influence in policy formulation and identifies the reasons for the emergence of certain preferred indices, despite their having several well-known limitations. In particular, the discussion flags the significance of the political advantages surrounding their ease of use and interpretation, rather than their technical merits, as a key factor affecting the continued utilization and influence of specific indicators in environmental policy and planning.
Determination and surveillance of hydrocortisone and progesterone in livestock products by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple analytical method for the determination of hydrocortisone and progesterone in bovine, swine, and chicken muscle and eggs was developed. Hydrocortisone and progesterone were extracted with acetonitrile and subsequently cleaned-up using an Oasis® HLB mini-cartridge. The method was validated in accordance with Japanese guidelines and exhibited trueness from 86.6% to 104.3% and precision (relative standard deviations (RSDs) of repeatability and within reproducibility were under 8.7% and 11.7%, respectively). The method was applied to 103 bovine muscle, 137 swine muscle, 69 chicken muscle and 52 egg samples that were commercially available in Tokyo, Japan. The hydrocortisone concentration was 0.9–41.2 µg kg−1 in all bovine muscle samples, with an average of 7.7 µg kg−1 and a median of 6.2 µg kg−1. The progesterone concentration in 50 samples exceeded the limit of quantification (LOQ) and reached a maximum of 95.4 µg kg−1. Hydrocortisone was also detected in all swine muscle samples at concentrations of 2.0–56.0 µg kg−1. Its average and median concentrations amounted to 13.1 and 11.3 µg kg−1, respectively. Twenty-three samples contained progesterone levels surpassing the LOQ, with a maximum concentration of 107.0 µg kg−1. No chicken muscle samples contained any of the analytes. The progesterone concentration was 15.5–200.0 µg kg−1 in all egg samples, with an average of 95.4 µg kg−1 and a median of 90.5 µg kg−1.
Relocalization under Substantial Appearance Changes using Hashing

—Localization under appearance changes is essential for robots during long-term operation. This paper investigates the problem of place recognition in environments that undergo dramatic visual changes. Our approach builds upon previous work on graph-based image sequence matching and extends it by incorporating a hashing-based image retrieval strategy in case of localization failures or the kidnapped robot problem. We present a variant of hashing algorithm that allows for fast retrieval for high-dimensional CNN features. Our experiments suggest that our algorithm can reliably recover from localization errors by globally relocalizing the robot. At the same time, our hashing-based candidate selection is substantially faster than state-of-the-art locality sensitive hashing.