Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving data quality control in quality improvement projects.

BACKGROUND The results of many quality improvement (QI) projects are gaining wide-spread attention. Policy-makers, hospital leaders and clinicians make important decisions based on the assumption that QI project results are accurate. However, compared with clinical research, QI projects are typically conducted with substantially fewer resources, potentially impacting data quality. Our objective was to provide a primer on basic data quality control methods appropriate for QI efforts. METHODS Data quality control methods should be applied throughout all phases of a QI project. In the design phase, project aims should guide data collection decisions, emphasizing quality (rather than quantity) of data and considering resource limitations. In the data collection phase, standardized data collection forms, comprehensive staff training and a well-designed database can help maximize the quality of the data. Clearly defined data elements, quality assurance reviews of both collection and entry and system-based controls reduce the likelihood of error. In the data management phase, missing data should be quickly identified and corrected with system-based controls to minimize the missing data. Finally, in the data analysis phase, appropriate statistical methods and sensitivity analysis aid in managing and understanding the effects of missing data and outliers, in addressing potential confounders and in conveying the precision of results. CONCLUSION Data quality control is essential to ensure the integrity of results from QI projects. Feasible methods are available and important to help ensure that stakeholder's decisions are based on accurate data.
The pigtail macaque MHC class I allele Mane‐A*10 presents an immundominant SIV Gag epitope: identification, tetramer development and implications of immune escape and reversion

Abstract: The pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina) is a common model for the study of AIDS. The pigtail major histocompatibility complex class I allele Mane‐A*10 restricts an immunodominant simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag epitope (KP9) which rapidly mutates to escape T cell recognition following acute simian/human immunodeficiency virus infection. Two technologies for the detection of Mane‐A*10 in outbred pigtail macaques were developed: reference strand‐mediated conformational analysis and sequence‐specific primer polymerase chain reaction. A Mane‐A*10/KP9 tetramer was then developed to quantify CD8+ T lymphocytes primed by multigenic DNA vaccination, which have previously been difficult to detect using standard interferon‐γ‐based T cell assays. We also demonstrate mutational escape at KP9 following acute SIV infection. Mane‐A*10+ animals have lower set point SIV levels than Mane‐A*10− animals, suggesting a significant fitness cost of escape. These studies pave the way for a more robust understanding of HIV vaccines in pigtail macaques.
Modelling Issues in Kernel Ridge Regression

Kernel ridge regression is gaining popularity as a data-rich nonlinear forecasting tool, which is applicable in many different contexts. This paper investigates the influence of the choice of kernel and the setting of tuning parameters on forecast accuracy. We review several popular kernels, including polynomial kernels, the Gaussian kernel, and the Sinc kernel. We interpret the latter two kernels in terms of their smoothing properties, and we relate the tuning parameters associated to all these kernels to smoothness measures of the prediction function and to the signal-to-noise ratio. Based on these interpretations, we provide guidelines for selecting the tuning parameters from small grids using cross-validation. A Monte Carlo study confirms the practical usefulness of these rules of thumb. Finally, the flexible and smooth functional forms provided by the Gaussian and Sinc kernels makes them widely applicable, and we recommend their use instead of the pop ular polynomial kernels in general settings, in which no information on the data-generating process is available.
Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor (IPMT).

BACKGROUND/AIMS Recently, the significance of preserving the spleen has received a lot of attention. Since our first trial and success of spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein for chronic pancreatitis, this procedure has been more frequently performed and reported. In this study, we introduce the technique and indications for the procedure for intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas. METHODOLOGY Nine patients underwent spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein. We performed this procedure in two patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor. The splenic vein is identified behind the pancreas and within the thin connective tissue membrane. The connective tissue membrane is cut longitudinally above the splenic vein. An important technique is to remove the splenic vein from the pancreas from the body of the pancreas toward the spleen. There are many branches from the splenic vein on both sides, and these branches should be carefully ligated and cut. The pancreas is removed from the splenic artery from the spleen toward the head of the pancreas. This procedure is much easier than removing the pancreas from the vein. RESULTS The postoperative course was uneventful in all nine cases, but one, in which pancreatic fistula continued for more than several weeks. The mean and standard deviation of the operative blood loss, the duration of the operation and the postoperative hospital stay in seven cases, excluding two cases, in which either Puestow's procedure or simultaneous subtotal esophagectomy was performed, were 413+/-385 mL, 298+/-55 min, and 39+/-15 days, respectively. Severe complications were not found in any of the nine cases. The two patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor have been followed as outpatients without any recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein is easy and safe, and should be performed for some of the patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas.
Small Printed Ultrawideband Antenna With Reduced Ground Plane Effect

A small printed antenna is described with a reduced ground-plane effect for ultrawideband (UWB) applications. The radiator and ground plane of the antenna are etched onto a piece of printed circuit board (PCB) with an overall size of 25mmtimes25 mmtimes1.5 mm. A notch is cut from the radiator while a strip is asymmetrically attached to the radiator. The simulation and measurement show that the miniaturized antenna achieves a broad operating bandwidth of 2.9-11.6 GHz for a 10-dB return loss. In particular, the ground-plane effect on impedance performance is greatly reduced by cutting the notch from the radiator because the electric currents on the ground plane are significantly suppressed at the lower edge operating frequencies. The antenna features three-dimensional omni-directional radiation with high radiation efficiency of 79%-95% across the UWB bandwidth. In addition, a parametric study of the geometric and electric parameters of the proposed antenna will be able to provide antenna engineers with more design information
Anti-apoptotic Activity and Proteasome-mediated Degradation of Xenopus Mcl-1 Protein in Egg Extracts*

Xenopus egg extracts execute spontaneous apoptosis without the requirement of transcription and translation, and this intrinsic mechanism is supposed to be involved in the physiological elimination of aged eggs. Although apoptosis in this system is carried out by maternally stockpiled materials, the endogenous apoptosis regulators present in egg extracts are still poorly characterized. Here we examined the mRNA expression profiles and apoptosis-regulating functions of 13 Xenopus Bcl-2 family proteins in egg extracts. Among these, we found that endogenous Xenopus Mcl-1 (xMcl-1) physiologically inhibited apoptosis by counteracting the pro-apoptotic activity of endogenous Xenopus Bid in egg extracts. Exogenously added recombinant xMcl-1 was rapidly degraded by proteasome in egg extracts, and we identified the destabilizing region in the N terminus of xMcl-1. Our results suggest that the proteolytic decay of xMcl-1 may change the functional balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic activities of Bcl-2 family proteins, thereby regulating the timing of cytochrome c release in egg extracts.
Paroxysmal torticollis in infancy. A possible form of labyrinthitis.

IN RECENT years, the author has encountered 12 cases of a strange syndrome heretofore not described in available medical literature. The condition occurs in infants and consists of recurrent attacks, during which the baby keeps the head tilted to one side, either left or right, and often rotated slightly toward the opposite side (Figure). In some cases there is no distress, the child appearing perfectly content unless the mother attempts to straighten the head, whereupon the baby cries and opposes the attempt. In other cases, the onset of head-tilting is accompanied by vomiting, pallor, and great agitation, after which the baby regains composure but keeps the head tilted for some time, often several days. Eventually the head spontaneously returns to its normal position, and the child appears none the worse for his experience, until again, without apparent reason, the whole process repeats itself. Eventually, after months or years, the attacks
EXPERIENCES OF WORKPLACE BULLYING IN A RURAL AREA

Employed people spend most of their waking hours in workplaces, but sometimes workplaces are made unbearable by bullying. This study examined how 21 people experienced workplace bullying in a rural and small city context and explored strategies for stopping workplace abuse. The research method of the learning circle was used because of its potential to reduce the isolation typically experienced by targets of workplace bullying, and its potential for peer dialogue and learning. This paper focuses on signs and experiences of workplace bullying, a phenomenon which produces both physical and emotional symptoms and often requires counseling.
INCEST: Some Neuropsychiatric Findings

A review of the medical records of twenty-two patients who were the child or younger member of an incestuous relationship revealed a higher than expected incidence of abnormal neuropsychiatric findings. Seventeen patients had abnormal EEG's; six had clinical seizures; and eight of thirteen patients tested gave evidence of a low IQ or organicity. In addition, indications of impulsivity and depersonalization were frequently found in this group. It could be speculated that these neuropsychiatric handicaps create a vulnerability that enhances inappropriate relationships within a family and makes it more difficult for the person to resist an incestuous relationship.
Expanding phenotype of XNP mutations: mild to moderate mental retardation.

Mutations in the XNP gene have been reported in alpha thalassemia/mental retardation (MR) syndrome (ATR-X) and other severe X-linked MR conditions with facial dysmorphisms. In this report, we describe a missense mutation in exon 18 in a family with borderline to moderate MR. Like other disorders associated with an XNP mutation, skewed X-inactivation was found in all carrier females in this family. Only retrospective examination revealed childhood facial hypotonia and HbH inclusions in some of the affected males. These results expand the spectrum of clinical phenotypes known to be due to mutations in the XNP gene, and indicate that XNP mutation analysis should not be restricted to patients with severe MR and characteristic facial features.
Effects of dietary starch source on electrophysiological intestinal epithelial properties and intestinal glucose uptake in growing goats

In ruminants, the potential benefit of by-pass starch to improve energy supply is under discussion. As efficient intestinal starch digestion and monosaccharide absorption are important prerequisites for an energetic benefit compared to ruminal fermentation, this study was conducted to characterise potential adaptations of intestinal tissues to different dietary starch sources qualitatively. The Ussing chamber technique was used to determine electrophysiological parameters of jejunal tissues and glucose flux rates. Kinetics of sodium-dependent glucose uptake into isolated brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were calculated, and the expression level of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) was determined. Samples were collected from goats that were assigned to three dietary treatments differing in starch content (hay/concentrate) and starch source (wheat/corn). Additionally, ingesta samples were analysed for starch and glucose contents. Jejunal tissues from hay-fed animals showed higher tissue conductances (G t) and numerically higher short-circuit currents (I sc). Unidirectional glucose flux rates were higher for hay-fed animals, whereas net flux rates were unaffected. The maximal glucose transport capacity into BBMV was increased for concentrate-fed animals, but the affinity and SGLT1 expression were not affected. Our results may indicate an adaptation of glucose uptake via SGLT1 to variations in dietary starch but it could not be excluded that intestinal uptake capacity was saturated under the given conditions or that the measured capacity was sufficient for absorption of available glucose.
Ischaemic cerebral injury, intrauterine growth retardation, and placental infarction

Two hundred and twenty‐five consecutive autopsies performed on fetuses >20 weeks' gestation were reviewed, and 37 growth‐retarded stillborn fetuses without multiple congenital abnormalities or evidence of intrauterine infection were identified. Histological evidence of ischaemic cerebral injury was found in 31 of the 37 cases and placental infarction was seen in 26 of 36 placentas. Of the 31 cases with cerebral ischaemia, 24 had placental infarcts. Twenty‐six of 27 stillborn fetuses >26 weeks' gestation showed histological evidence of cerebral ischaemia. It was concluded that in the group of growth‐retarded fetuses studied, there was a high. incidence of both cerebral and placental ischaemic abnormality.
Outcomes of Anterior Exposure for Spinal Surgery at an Independent Academic Medical Center.

INTRODUCTION Anterior exposure for spinal surgery has expanded and is used for common spinal procedures, including anterior lumbar interbody fusion, disc replacement, and vertebral corpectomy. With this approach, vascular injuries have been reported ranging from 1% to 25%. The impact of resident participation on intraoperative and postoperative outcomes within an independent academic medical center has not been widely reported. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of complications during anterior exposure spinal surgery at an independent academic medical center. METHODS After institutional review board approval, we conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients who underwent elective anterior exposure for spinal surgery from 2000 through 2014. RESULTS The study included 335 patients; 60.3% were female. Thirty-day postoperative complications included surgical site infection (4.2%), urinary tract infection (2.7%), need for blood transfusion (2.1%), retrograde ejaculation (1.2%), and deep vein thrombosis (0.9%). There were 12 vascular injuries overall (3.6%); 2.7% were major vascular injuries. Surgery residents participated in 34% of cases. Resident involvement increased over the course of the study. There was no difference in operative time or complications with resident involvement. CONCLUSIONS The overall incidence of major vascular injury was 2.7%. Levels of exposure and blood loss were associated with vascular injury. Overall postoperative complication rates as well as major vascular injury rates compared favorably to published benchmarks. Complication rates were unaffected by surgical resident involvement.
Low-complexity multiuser detection in massive spatial modulation MIMO

In this paper, we research the multiuser detection (MUD) in a new massive Spatial Modulation Multiple Input Multiple Output (SM-MIMO) system, where the Base Station (BS) is equipped with massive antennas, and every User Equipment (UE) has multiple Transmit Antennas (TAs) but only one Radio-Frequency (RF) chain. In the uplink, UEs transmit data to the BS over frequency selective channels by the Cyclic-Prefix Single-Carrier (CP-SC) SM. We construct a new Generalized Approximate Message Passing Detector (GAMPD), and analyzes its mean square error performance theoretically by the State Evolution (SE) tool. By exploiting both the prior probability distribution and sparsity of the transmitted signal, GAMPD shows superior detection performances and works well even when the number of TAs at the UEs is larger than the number of BS antennas. GAMPD calls for parallelized matrix-vector multiplication as the most complex operation, so it has low computational complexity and is suitable for hardware implementation. Simulation results show that GAMPD outperforms the linear detectors significantly, and is analyzed by SE successfully. In addition, compared to the classical massive MIMO, massive SM-MIMO shows better detection performance and higher spectral efficiency.
Gain modulation by serotonin in pyramidal neurones of the rat prefrontal cortex

Serotonin (5‐HT) is widely implicated in brain functions and diseases. The vertebrate brain is extensively innervated by 5‐HT fibres originating from the brain stem, and 5‐HT axon terminals interact with other neurones in complex ways. The cellular mechanisms underlying 5‐HT function in the brain are not well understood. The present study examined the effect of 5‐HT on the responsiveness of neurones in the neocortex. Using patch‐clamp recording in acute slices, we showed that 5‐HT substantially increased the slope (gain) of the firing rate‐current curve in layer 5 pyramidal neurones of the rat prefrontal cortex. The effect of 5‐HT on gain is confined to the range of firing rate (0–10 Hz) that is known to be behaviourally relevant. 5‐HT also changed current threshold for spike train generation, but this effect was inconsistent, and was independent of the effect on gain. The gain modulation by 5‐HT was mediated by 5‐HT2 receptors, and involved postsynaptic mechanisms. 5‐HT2‐mediated gain increase could not be attributed to changes in the membrane potential, the input resistance or the properties of action potentials, but was associated with a reduction of the afterhyperpolarization and an induction of the slow afterdepolarization. Blocking Ca2+ entry with Cd2+ increased the gain by itself and blocked 5‐HT2‐mediated gain increase. Buffering [Ca2+]i with 25 mm EGTA also substantially reduced 5‐HT2‐mediated gain increase. Noradrenaline, which blocked the afterhyperpolarization, also induced a moderate increase in gain. Together, our results suggest that 5‐HT may regulate the dynamics of cortical circuits through multiplicative scaling.
Human homologs of TU transposon sequences: polypurine/polypyrimidine sequence elements that can alter DNA conformation in vitro and in vivo

We previously have shown that homologs of the outer domain segment of the inverted repeat termini (IVR-OD) of the sea urchin TU transposons are conserved among multiple eucaryotic species, including humans. We report here that two cloned human DNA IVR-OD homologs, Hut2 and Hut17, consist of a series of tandem repeats of the trimer AGG/TCC, forming segments (313 and 221 base pairs in length, respectively) of polypurine/polypyrimidine (pPu/pPy or "Puppy") asymmetry in the two DNA strands; these are punctuated at certain sites with variant trimers, which are different for the two clones. Sequences homologous to the Hut2 pPu/pPy tract exist at multiple sites in the DNA of a wide variety of eucaryotes. Hybridization of human DNA with a Hut2 probe or with a previously described chicken DNA pPu/pPy sequence indicates that pPu/pPy sequences can be grouped into families distinguishable by the extent of their homology with each probe at different hybridization stringencies. Moreover, particular pPu/pPy tracts show species-specific differences in their distribution. Both the Hut2 and Hut17 pPu/pPy tracts are cleaved by S1 nuclease when tested on supercoiled plasmids. Most if not all of the 313-base-pair Hut2 pPu/pPy tract is also sensitive to S1 in its native location in HeLa cell chromatin, indicating that the sequence contains conformational information that can be expressed in vivo. This view is supported by evidence that exogenously derived Hut2 pPu/pPy tracts introduced into mouse L cells and integrated in chromatin can assume an S1-sensitive conformation.
The p53 Tumor Suppressor Stimulates the Catalytic Activity of Human Topoisomerase IIα by Enhancing the Rate of ATP Hydrolysis*

DNA topoisomerase II is an essential nuclear enzyme for proliferation of eukaryotic cells and plays important roles in many aspects of DNA processes. In this report, we have demonstrated that the catalytic activity of topoisomerase IIα, as measured by decatenation of kinetoplast DNA and by relaxation of negatively supercoiled DNA, was stimulated ∼2−3-fold by the tumor suppressor p53 protein. In order to determine the mechanism by which p53 activates the enzyme, the effects of p53 on the topoisomerase IIα-mediated DNA cleavage/religation equilibrium were assessed using the prototypical topoisomerase II poison, etoposide. p53 had no effect on the ability of the enzyme to make double-stranded DNA break and religate linear DNA, indicating that the stimulation of the enzyme catalytic activity by p53 was not due to alteration in the formation of covalent cleavable complexes formed between topoisomerase IIα and DNA. The effects of p53 on the catalytic inhibition of topoisomerase IIα were examined using a specific catalytic inhibitor, ICRF-193, which blocks the ATP hydrolysis step of the enzyme catalytic cycle. Clearly manifested in decatenation and relaxation assays, p53 reduced the catalytic inhibition of topoisomerase IIα by ICRF-193. ATP hydrolysis assays revealed that the ATPase activity of topoisomerase IIα was specifically enhanced by p53. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that p53 physically interacts with topoisomerase IIα to form molecular complexes without a double-stranded DNA intermediary in vitro. To investigate whether p53 stimulates the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II in vivo, we expressed wild-type and mutant p53 in Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells lacking functional p53. Wild-type, but not mutant, p53 stimulated topoisomerase II activity in nuclear extract from these transfected cells. Our data propose a new role for p53 to modulate the catalytic activity of topoisomerase IIα. Taken together, we suggest that the p53-mediated response of the cell cycle to DNA damage may involve activation of topoisomerase IIα.
Treatment of the Hyperlipidemic States With Special Emphasis On the Place of Cholestyramine in Therapy

Recent years have brought great change in the treatment of the hyperlipidemic states. This has been because of two significant developments: The first is the development of a new method of classification of these states so that all of the hyperlipidemias may be classified into one of five types. The new method for paper lipoprotein electrophoresis was originally developed by Lees and Hatchl and subsequently developed as a means of classification of these states by Fredrickson and Lees.2 The original paper technique has now been somewhat improved by the use of either agarose medium3 or cellulose acetate.4 4