Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Common infections in diabetes: pathogenesis, management and relationship to glycaemic control

Specific defects in innate and adaptive immune function have been identified in diabetic patients in a range of in vitro studies. However, the relevance of these findings to the integrated response to infection in vivo remains unclear, especially in patients with good glycaemic control. Vaccine efficacy seems adequate in most diabetic patients, but those with type 1 diabetes and high glycosylated haemoglobin levels are most likely to exhibit hypo‐responsiveness. While particular infections are closely associated with diabetes, this is usually in the context of extreme metabolic disturbances such as ketoacidosis. The link between glycaemic control and the risk of common community‐acquired infections is less well established but could be clarified if infection data from large community‐based observational or intervention studies were available. The relationship between hospital‐acquired infections and diabetes is well recognized, particularly among post‐operative cardiac and critically ill surgical patients in whom intensive insulin therapy improves clinical outcome independent of glycaemia. Nevertheless, further research is needed to improve our understanding of the role of diabetes and glycaemic control in the pathogenesis and management of community‐ and hospital‐acquired infections. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Impact of Semi-Presidentialism on Governance in the Palestinian Authority

In 2003, the Basic Law of the Palestinian Authority (PA) was amended and a semi-presidential form of government was established. In January 2006, the legislative election resulted in a period of ‘cohabitation’ between the Hamas government and President Mahmoud Abbas from Fatah. In 2007, following the civil war between the two forces, governance structures in the PA all but collapsed. This article examines the extent to which cohabitation contributed to the problems of governance in the PA. We conclude that cohabitation did not determine the outbreak of conflict, but that it did contribute to the timing of the confrontation between the two actors.
Occurrence and population density of Campylobacter jejuni in irrigation ponds on produce farms in the Suwannee River Watershed.

Campylobacter spp. , especially Campylobacter jejuni, are common causal agents of gastroenteritis globally. Poultry, contaminated water, and fresh produce are considered to be the main sources for infection by this pathogen. In this study, occurrence and population density of C. jejuni from vegetable irrigation ponds in the Suwannee River watershed were investigated and the relationship to environmental factors was analyzed. Two water samples were collected from each of 10 ponds every month from January 2011 to February 2012. Campylobacter jejuni was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Nine of the 10 ponds were positive for C. jejuni some of the time with an overall prevalence of 19.3%. The highest counts were obtained in spring 2011. Oxidation-reduction potential and total nitrogen concentration were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with mean population and occurrence of C. jejuni, while temperature and dissolved oxygen percent saturation (DO%) were negatively correlated with mean population (P < 0.05). Presence of this pathogen was related to bacterial community composition. No correlations were found between C. jejuni and fecal indicators. Increasing DO% of irrigation water and limiting nitrogen pollution in the ponds are suggested to reduce the contamination risk of C. jejuni in a major fruit and vegetable growing area.
Synchronization for linear singularly perturbed complex networks with coupling delays

This paper is concerned with the synchronization problem about linear singularly perturbed complex network system with coupling delay. The sufficient delay-dependent conditions for the synchronization of the network are established by introducing an equivalent network system with the Lyapunov stability theory. These conditions, which are formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities, can be solved efficiently by the LMI toolbox of MATLAB. A simulation example is provided to show the validity of the proposed the synchronization conditions of the whole network.
Left ventricular involvement in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy – a scintigraphic and echocardiographic study

Background: Left ventricular involvement in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a common finding in autopsy studies. In clinical studies using myocardial scintigraphy, MRI and echocardiography, contradictory results have been reported. In this study, we therefore investigated a group of 15 patients with ARVC using thallium‐201 (Tl) single‐photon emission tomography (SPECT) and echocardiography including assessment of mitral annular motion with M‐mode and pulsed tissue Doppler.
A Fatal Work-Related Poisoning by Hydrogen Sulfide: Report on a Case

AbstractHydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless and potentially deadly gas that may cause rapid loss of consciousness and respiratory depression without warning. Although occupational exposure to H2S and the medical management of H2S-associated toxicity are widely established, it remains a problem in the sour gas industry and in other industrial settings, predominantly in new workers.In this article, the authors report a fatal case of a factory worker who died after breathing in H2S while undertaking a task that he was not trained to perform. Toxicological assessment supported by autopsy findings and circumstantial data was essential to clarify the cause of death, determined as H2S poisoning.This case emphasizes the need to develop work safety initiatives, improve on-the-job training, and introduce more consciousness to put on protective equipment for workers; indeed, correct training and education for workers regarding safety in the workplace may help to reduce worker fatalities.
Meta-Analysis of Correlations Between Marginal Bone Resorption and High Insertion Torque of Dental Implants.

PURPOSE To evaluate correlations between marginal bone resorption and high insertion torque value (> 50 Ncm) of dental implants and to assess the significance of immediate and early/conventional loading of implants under a certain range torque value. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to retrieve eligible articles from Ovid, PubMed, and EBSCO up to December 2013. Screening of eligible studies, quality assessment, and data extraction were conducted in duplicate. The results were expressed as random/fixed-effects models using weighted mean differences for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Initially, 154 articles were selected (11 from Ovid, 112 from PubMed, and 31 from EBSCO). After exclusion of duplicate articles and articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, six clinical studies were selected. Assessment of P values revealed that correlations between marginal bone resorption and high insertion torque were not statistically significant and that there was no difference between immediately versus early/conventionally loaded implants under a certain range of torque. CONCLUSION None of the meta-analyses revealed any statistically significant differences between high insertion torque and conventional insertion torque in terms of effects on marginal bone resorption.
Risk Factors for Contamination of Catheterized Urine Specimens in Febrile Children

Background: Urinary tract infections are the most common serious bacterial infection in febrile infants. Bladder catheterization is the preferred method of obtaining urine for culture in young children. Contamination of urine can be recognized when nonpathogens or multiple pathogens are isolated; preliminary culture results may lead to unnecessary antibiotics pending final identification. Some low-colony count (<50,000 colony-forming units per milliliter) cultures may represent contamination or asymptomatic bacteriuria. Objective: Identify clinical factors that lead to contamination of catheterized urine specimens. Methods: Physicians and nurses in an urban pediatric emergency department completed a survey after performing bladder catheterization of febrile children 36 months or younger. Contamination was defined by multiple pathogens, nonpathogens, or colony counts less than 10,000 colony-forming units per milliliter. Results: One hundred eighty-five children were studied. The median age was 8.4 months (interquartile range, 2.4-14.4 months). Sixty-eight percent were girls. Forty-six percent of boys were circumcised. Of the 185 children, 18 (10%) had true UTI. Fourteen percent of cultures were contaminated. Univariate analysis of potential predictors identified age younger than 6 months (odds ratio [OR], 6.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-17.9), difficult catheterization (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.5-8.6), and uncircumcised boys (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 1.2-29.4). The contamination rate in uncircumcised boys younger than 6 months was 43% (95% CI, 26-66). Volume of urine, sex, and catheter size were not predictive of contamination. Conclusions: Children younger than 6 months and uncircumcised boys are at increased risk of contaminated specimens from bladder catheterization. Suprapubic aspiration or use of a fresh, sterile catheter with each repeated attempt at catheterization may lead to less contamination in these patients.
[Rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in Poland].

UNLABELLED Results of a multicenter, non-interventional, observational study assessing efficacy and safety of 1st course rituximab treatment with methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a history of inadequate response to anti-TNF-therapies, in the routine clinical settings in Poland (MIRACLE-POL 1). The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of treatment with rituximab and methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had inadequate response to anti-TNF-therapies in routine clinical settings in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated effectiveness and safety of RTX and MTX therapy in 73 patients enrolled in the multicenter, non-interventional, observational study. Patients with active RA had a history of an inadequate response to 1 or more anti-TNF-alpha agents received 1st course of rituximab consisting of 2 intravenous infusions of 1000 mg each. The end points were: EULAR response criteria at 180 days, changes of Disease Activity Scores in 28 joints (DAS28) from the original baseline at 180 days, rate of remission, rate of low disease activity according to EULAR criteria and rate of adverse events (AEs) during treatment. RESULTS At 180 days 22% of treated patients demonstrated good-to-moderate EULAR response and 12% of patients demonstrated moderate response. In 77% of cases DAS28 decreased > 1.2. 16% of patients achieved remission according to EULAR criteria and 23% of patients achieved low disease activity. After 180 days mean DAS28 score decreased from 6.33 to 4.06. In 16% of patients AEs occurred with the first rituximab infusion, in 12% of patients with the second rituximab one, and in 43% of patients afterwards. All AEs were mild or moderate in severity. There were no serious AEs including serious infections. Infusion-associated AEs occurred in a higher proportion during the first infusion. CONCLUSIONS Results of this multicenter, non-interventional, observational study confirm efficacy and safety of 1st course rituximab treatment with concomitant methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had inadequate response to anti-TNF-therapies in the routine clinical settings in Poland.
Smith Machine Counterbalance System Affects Measures of Maximal Bench Press Throw Performance

Vingren, JL, Buddhadev, HH, and Hill, DW. Smith machine counterbalance system affects measures of maximal bench press throw performance. J Strength Cond Res 25(7): 1951-1956, 2011—Equipment with counterbalance weight systems is commonly used for the assessment of performance in explosive resistance exercise movements, but it is not known if such systems affect performance measures. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of using a counterbalance weight system on measures of smith machine bench press throw performance. Ten men and 14 women (mean ± SD: age, 25 ± 4 years; height, 173 ± 10 cm; weight, 77.7 ± 18.3 kg) completed maximal smith machine bench press throws under 4 different conditions (2 × 2; counterbalance × load): with or without a counterbalance weight system and using ‘light’ or ‘moderate’ net barbell loads. Performance variables (peak force, peak velocity, and peak power) were measured using a linear accelerometer attached to the barbell. The counterbalance weight system resulted in significant (p < 0.001) reductions in measures of peak force (mean difference ± standard error: light: −112 ± 20 N; moderate: −140 ± 23 N), peak velocity (light: −0.49 ± 0.10 m·s−1; moderate: −0.33 ± 0.07 m·s−1), and peak power (light: −220 ± 43 W; moderate: −143 ± 28 W) compared with no counterbalance system for both load conditions. Load condition did not affect absolute or percentage reductions from the counterbalance weight system for any variable. In conclusion, the use of a counterbalance weight system reduces accelerometer-based performance measures for the bench press throw exercise at light and moderate loads. This reduction in measures is likely because of an increase in the external resistance during the movement, which results in a discrepancy between the manually input and the actual value for external load. A counterbalance weight system should not be used when measuring performance in explosive resistance exercises with an accelerometer.
Comparative Study of Arc-Quenching Capabilities of Different Ablation Materials

Gases released from polymers placed near a burning electric arc are known to influence the behavior of the arc. In switching equipment, such ablation materials can be used to improve the interrupting capability. Current interruption experiments have been carried out with the purpose of comparing the arc-quenching capabilities of four common polymers. The test setup has static electrodes and two ablation polymer plates placed in parallel on both sides of the arc. Each ablation material is tested according to an “up-and-down” procedure that determines the current magnitude giving 50% probability for successful interruption. Current is supplied from a capacitor unit, and a sinusoidal waveform is created by means of a damped RLC circuit. The electrodes and the ablation materials are replaced after each interruption test. Polypropylene shows the best arc-quenching performance among the tested materials and interrupts about 2.7 times as high current as polyetetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is used as a reference material due to its low gassing. Polycarbonate and poly(methyl methacrylate) also greatly improve the current interrupting properties, interrupting a 2.2-2.3 times higher current compared to PTFE. As also pointed out by others, the arc-quenching capabilities of the polymers seem to increase with an increasing content of hydrogen in the ablation polymer.
Skin autofluorescence and peripheral neuropathy four years later in type 1 diabetes

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in diabetes complications. We aimed to investigate whether the accumulation of AGEs measured by skin autofluorescence (sAF) was associated with signs of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and to sensitivity, pain, motor and autonomic function 4 years later in patients with type 1 diabetes.
The influence of early nutrition on the development and myelination of the brain

The rate of growth of suckling rats can be greatly influenced by adjusting the size of the litter at birth. Even though ad lib. feeding be allowed after weaning at 21 days, the smaller rats from large litters become smaller adults than those whose development has been unrestricted in the suckling period. In rats the brain grows most actively and becomes myelinated during the second and third weeks of post-natal life while the animal is still suckling. Widdowson & McCance (i960), however, did not find that the weight of the brain was much affected by varying the plane of nutrition at this time. The experimental design of the previous authors was followed, and it was confirmed that varying the litter size during lactation made relatively little difference to the wet weight of the brain. There were, however, much larger differences in the rate of cholesterol deposition in the brain, and these were obtained with quite small alterations of body weight.
Morphology of parallel fibres in the cerebellar cortex of the rat: An experimental light and electron microscopic study with biocytin

Microinjections of biocytin have been made in the granular layer of the rat cerebellar cortex in order to label the axonal projections of a localised population of granule cells. Light microscopic techniques were used to determine the lengths of the parallel fibres and to measure the spacing and size of the fibre varicosities. Fibres were longest in the superficial one‐third of the molecular layer, where mean overall length was 4.7 mm, and mean length decreased to 4.2 mm in the lower one‐third of the molecular layer. We found no very short fibres but a small population deep in the molecular layer had a branch length of about one‐half the average. Mean intervaricosity interval and varicosity size varied with distance from proximal to distal along the fibres. Mean intervaricosity interval was 3.7 μm within 250 μm of the fibre bifurcation points and progressively increased towards the distal ends, where the mean interval was 7.4 μm. Mean varicosity size was 0.82 μm2 in this proximal region and decreased to 0.47 μm2 about 1.2 mm distally. Mean intervaricosity interval on the ascending axons of the granule cells was 4.0 μm. Electron microscopy revealed that a high proportion (89%) of the parallel fibre varicosities formed synaptic junctions. The majority of the synapses (91%) were formed on Purkinje cell dendritic spines. Some varicosities also formed simultaneous synaptic contacts or double synapses with two spines. These double synapses occurred more frequently in the proximal region of the fibres (11%) than on the distal ends (2%). The length of the postsynaptic density also differed according to the location of the varicosities and the mean length at the proximal parallel fibre synapses was 0.59 μm compared with 0.38 μm at the distal synapses. It is concluded that a beam or bundle of parallel fibres originating from cells in a focal region of the granular layer will exert a graded synaptic influence on its target Purkinje cells, with the most powerful influence occurring on cells located around the proximal region of the fibres where they bifurcate and the weakest action being exerted on cells located at the distal end of the fibres. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Empirical Analysis of the Factors Determining Multiple Subscriptions in the Swedish Mobile Phone Market

This study aims to explain the factors determining multiple subscriptions in the Swedish mobile phone market. A generalized Poisson model of count data from a national survey in Sweden finds that business subscriptions and house-hold size are the main predictors of the multiple mobile phone subscriptions, along with individual demographic characteristics such as, age, gender and type of occupation. Other factors such as education level, area of living, prepaid as the main subscription, as well as mobile Internet and fixed phone subscription are not significant. These facts indicate that business subscriptions and subscriptions for family are the main factors that determine the incidence of multiple subscriptions in the Swedish mobile phone market. The operator can gain from this situation by tightening the network effect to the existing sub-scribers. This can be done by encouraging them to have additional subscriptions from the same operator or intra-operator multiple subscriptions. For the regulator, this situation has to be taken into consideration when determining the Significant Market Power (SMP) since a larger market share does not always indicate actual market domination.
A Longitudinal Analysis on the Validity and Reliability of Ratings of Perceived Exertion for Elite Swimmers

Psycharakis, SG. A longitudinal analysis on the validity and reliability of ratings of perceived exertion for elite swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 25(2): 420-426, 2011-The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinally the reliability and validity of ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) for monitoring exercise intensity in elite swimmers, with the percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax) and the blood lactate concentration (La) being the criterion measures. Moreover, the purpose was to examine whether an adjustment of HRmax, as previously suggested for recreational/university swimmers, is required for subsequent calculations of %HRmax for elite swimmers. Seventeen swimmers competing at international level performed a 7 x 200 m incremental swim test at their specialty stroke 4 times during a period of 6 months. The RPE validity was examined with the use of correlation and with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the z-transformed values. The RPE reliability was examined with a factorial ANOVA, with %HRmax and La being the dependent variables and test (4 levels) and RPE stage (7 levels) the fixed factors. The RPE was found to be a valid method for monitoring exercise intensity, with the correlation coefficients with %HRmax and La being 0.85 and 0.82, respectively. There was a strong correspondence between RPE and %HRmax scores and a weaker correspondence between RPE and La scores, suggesting that that RPE reflects accurately the HR levels of elite swimmers. The longitudinal intertest reliability was high as no significant differences were found in the values of %HRmax or La between the 4 tests. The good validity and reliability of RPE suggest that it can be used in elite swimmers' training for the purpose of monitoring exercise intensity. Contrary to previous recommendations for recreational/university swimmers, when prescribing intensity for elite swimmers, the predicted HRmax value used for subsequent calculations should not be adjusted because such an adjustment would appear to underestimate HRmax.
Primary resistance of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 to maraviroc cannot be predicted by the V3 sequence.

OBJECTIVES Resistance of HIV-1 to CCR5 antagonists can occur without coreceptor switching by mutations in envelope glycoproteins that enable virus entry using the inhibitor-bound form of CCR5. We investigated whether mutations in the V3 region of HIV-1 from subjects naive to maraviroc could be associated with primary resistance to this drug. METHODS The frequency of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 subtype B isolates harbouring putative V3 maraviroc resistance mutations was assessed among the HIV tropism database of Toulouse University Hospital, France. Phenotypic assessment of maraviroc susceptibility was performed for 14 isolates representative of the main mutation patterns and 14 controls. V3 mutations were reversed or introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. RESULTS Ninety-three of 951 (9.8%) isolates harboured V3 mutations assumed to be associated with maraviroc resistance. Maraviroc completely blocked virus entry for all but 1 of the 14 isolates harbouring V3 mutations [IC50 8.6 nM; 95% CI (6.6-47.4)], as in the 14 control isolates [IC50 13.4 nM; 95% CI (7.7-50.3)] (P = 0.24). Primary resistance to maraviroc, with a plateau in entry inhibition, was found in one isolate (harbouring a 20F/21I genotype). Site-directed mutagenesis showed that V3 mutations are necessary but not sufficient to induce maraviroc resistance. CONCLUSIONS The impact of V3 mutations depended on the env context in which they occurred. Simple assessment of the V3 genotype thus cannot accurately predict maraviroc resistance. Rather, phenotypic assessment of virus particles expressing the envelope glycoprotein as a whole is required. This approach revealed that primary resistance of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 subtype B isolates to maraviroc seems uncommon.