Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hygiene evaluation of hospital textiles

Inappropriately disinfected hospital textiles can act as a vector for cross transmission of healthcare associated infections, which represent complications in the treatment of patients and cause economic damage. Through the surveillance program that includes controlling the hygiene and sampling of cleaned healthcare textiles, nosocomial infections are considered to be preventable. Until now various types of textile sampling methods were divided into non-destructive and destructive methods, which vary depending on the state of the fabric at the end of the process. In our research, the Morapex A device as a non-destructive elution based method, was introduced for textile hygiene testing. The effi ciency of Morapex A device was compared to the swabbing and RODAC agar plate sampling as most common used methods for sampling of textiles. The low effi ciency of capturing microorganisms due to the rough, uneven three-dimensional fabric surface turned out to be the downside of the swabbing and RODAC plate method. The Morapex A device has proved to be a better implementation and an adequate substitute for nondestructive textile hygiene testing.
Treatment of acute visual loss in giant cell arteritis: should we prescribe high-dose intravenous steroids or just oral steroids?

A 76 year-old Caucasian woman presents to her ophthalmologist with acute visual loss in her right eye. She has a medical history of hypertension well-controlled with one medication, diet-controlled borderline diabetes mellitus, hysterectomy, and cholecystectomy. She takes one aspirin 81 mg per day. She is mildly overweight and denies smoking or drinking alcohol. She had cataract extractions in both eyes 10 years previously, and she only wears reading glasses. One day ago, she noticed a “ shadow ” in her right eye while vision seemed normal in the left eye. Her ophthalmologist documented visual acuities of hand motion in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. Color vision was normal in the left eye. There was a large right relative afferent pupillary defect. Fundus examination showed diffuse, pallid right optic disc edema with attenuated arteries and a few cotton wool spots in the peripapillary area. In the left eye, the optic nerve was normal with a cup-to-disc ratio of 0.3, with mild retinal arterial attenuation and a few macular drusen. Suspicious that the patient may have arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), the ophthalmologist obtained an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive pro-tein (CRP), which came back “ very high ” the following morning. The patient denied headache, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication or diplopia, but mentioned an episode of blurry vision in the right eye 2 days before permanent visual loss. The diagnosis of arteritic-AION secondary to giant cell arteritis (GCA) was considered very likely. Aware of your expertise in GCA, the ophthalmologist calls the following day upon reviewing the laboratory results, asking whether the patient should be sent to
ANFIS based cyber physical attack detection system

Cyber-Physical Systems integrate computer networks and physical process. The security aspect of such system is one of the challenges for the researchers. In this paper, we present an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system based Intrusion detection system for the cyber-physical system. The proposed intelligent intrusion detection system is a security tool that allows authorized access to the desired system by examining the network traffic and the previous record. The standard KDD Cup 99 dataset is used to identify different types of intrusion signatures and features. Chi-Square test and Correlation matrix is used to select relevant features and then the sets of features help to classify the attack types. Performance evaluation shows that our proposed work improves the accuracy for classification of different attack types.
Somites Without a Clock

The formation of body segments in vertebrate embryos involves local cell interactions independent of cyclic gene expression. [Also see Perspective by Kondo] The formation of body segments (somites) in vertebrate embryos is accompanied by molecular oscillations (segmentation clock). Interaction of this oscillator with a wave traveling along the body axis (the clock-and-wavefront model) is generally believed to control somite number, size, and axial identity. Here we show that a clock-and-wavefront mechanism is unnecessary for somite formation. Non-somite mesoderm treated with Noggin generates many somites that form simultaneously, without cyclic expression of Notch-pathway genes, yet have normal size, shape, and fate. These somites have axial identity: The Hox code is fixed independently of somite fate. However, these somites are not subdivided into rostral and caudal halves, which is necessary for neural segmentation. We propose that somites are self-organizing structures whose size and shape is controlled by local cell-cell interactions. Cell-Cell Interactions in Development In vertebrate embryos, the number, size, and positional identity of mesodermal segments (somites) located bilaterally along the anteriorposterior axis is widely believed to be controlled by a molecular clock of oscillating gene expression interacting with a traveling wave of signals to determine how many cells make up a somite. Dias et al. (p. 791, published online 9 January; see the Perspective by Kondo) reveal that it is possible to generate somites of normal size, shape, and identity without either a clock or a wavefront. Instead, the findings suggest that somite size and shape are regulated by local cell-cell interactions.
MUC Expression in Hyperplastic and Serrated Colonic Polyps: Lack of Specificity of MUC6

Previous studies have shown that hyperplastic and serrated polyps of the colon show variable degrees of gastric and intestinal differentiation. MUCs are a class of approximately 20 genes that encode high-molecular-weight glycoproteins, or mucopolysaccharides, that are widely expressed in epithelial cells and show organ specificity. The role of MUC in serrated carcinogenesis is unknown. One previously published study suggested that expression of MUC6 is specific for sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/Ps) and thus can be used to distinguish these lesions from hyperplastic polyps (HPs). However, data from our group suggest that MUC antibodies are not reliable in this differential diagnosis. The aims of this study were to systematically evaluate the expression of MUCs in serrated colon polyps and to determine the efficacy of MUC expression in differentiating HPs from SSA/Ps specifically. Routinely processed specimens from 182 serrated polyps [58 HPs, 46 SSA/Ps, 59 SSA/Ps with dysplasia (SSA/P-D), 19 traditional serrated adenomas, and 38 conventional tubular or tubulovillous adenomas (CAs)] were immunohistochemically stained with MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6, and scored for extent, intensity, and location of staining within the polyps. HPs were further subclassified into goblet cell type (N=18), microvesicular type (N=21), and mucin-depleted type (N=19). The data were compared between the different polyp groups and between polyps from different anatomic locations in the colon. MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6 were expressed in 27%, 100%, 100%, and 72% of serrated polyps overall. These antibodies were positive in 32%, 100%, 100%, and 43% of CAs. Expression levels of MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC were not significantly different between any of the polyp subgroups or between serrated polyps and CAs. Both SSA/P and SSA/P-D showed a significantly higher percentage of polyps that stained with MUC6, and a greater degree and intensity of staining for this peptide in comparison with HPs. Overall, 91% of SSA/Ps and 84% of SSA/P-Ds were positive for MUC6 in comparison with 60% of HPs (P<0.001 and P=0.02, respectively). Although polyps from both the left and right colon from each polyp group showed positivity for MUC6, a significantly higher proportion of SSA/P-Ds and traditional serrated adenomas from the right colon showed MUC6 positivity compared with those from the left. No differences were noted in MUC6 staining between each of the 3 HP subgroups. On the basis of these data, we conclude that SSA/P and SSA/P-D show increased expression of MUC6 compared with HPs; however, because of overlap in the presence, degree, and intensity of staining, use of MUC6 to differentiate HPs from SSA/P or SSA/P-D in individual cases is not reliable because of a lack of specificity. Differences in MUC6 expression between right-sided and left-sided colonic polyps supports the theory that there may be biological differences in the progression of malignancy in different portions of the colon with regard to the serrated pathway of carcinogenesis.
C-terminal Octylation Rescues an Inactive T20 Mutant

T20, a synthetic peptide corresponding to a C-terminal segment of the envelope glycoprotein (gp41) of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses, is a potent inhibitor of viral infection. We report here that C-terminal octylation of simian immunodeficiency virus gp41-derived T20 induces a significant increase in its inhibitory potency. Furthermore, when C-terminally octylated, an otherwise inactive mutant in which the C-terminal residues GNWF were replaced by ANAA has potency similar to that of the wild type T20. This effect cannot be explained by a trivial inhibitory effect of the octyl group added to the peptides, because the N-terminally octylated peptides have the same activity as the non-octylated parent peptides. The effects caused by octylation on the oligomerization, secondary structure, and membrane-interaction properties of the peptides were investigated. Our results shed light on the mechanism of inhibition by T20 and provide experimental support for the existence of a pre-hairpin intermediate.
The synergistic activityoftriclosanand cipro £ oxacin on bio ¢ lmsof Salmonella Typhimurium

Triclosan is a biocide whose wide use has raised a debate about the potential benefits vs. hazards of the incorporation of antimicrobials in consumer products. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether exposure of biofilms of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to triclosan influences the tolerance of the bacteria towards antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and vice versa. A synergistic antibiofilm activity was observed when the biofilms were treated with triclosan before or together with ciprofloxacin, and an additive activity was observed with planktonic cells. For example 500mg mL 1 triclosan and 500mg mL 1 ciprofloxacin reduced the number of viable cells in the biofilm by 1.6 and 0.5 log, respectively. However, the sequential treatment of 500mg mL 1 triclosan followed by ciprofloxacin resulted in 4.8 log reduction. Combination indexes (CI) for biofilms treated with triclosan followed by ciprofloxacin were 0.7, 0.32 and 0.25 for reduction of 90%, 99% and 99.9%, respectively, indicating a synergism. For planktonic cells, CIs were 1 0.1, indicating an additive effect. Therefore, it was suggested that triclosan weakens the ability of biofilm-associated cells to survive exposure to ciprofloxacin in the biofilm, probably by improving the permeability or the activity of ciprofloxacin.
Prostate Cancer-Producing Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

An 86-year-old man with a serum prostate-specific antigen level of 93.33 ng/ml was diagnosed as having cT3aN0M0 prostatic adenocarcinoma of Gleason score 9. Although the serum prostate-specific antigen responded well to combined androgen blockade, the cancer spread and lead to death 6 months after diagnosis. The patient had leukocytosis during the clinical course with no sign of localized infection, especially after manipulation of the prostate. Enzyme immunoassay demonstrated elevated serum levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor. To our knowledge, this is the first case of prostate cancer with G-CSF production, which was confirmed immunohistochemically.
Production control in semiconductor manufacturing with time constraints

In this paper, production of lots under time constraints in a semiconductor wafer fabrication is investigated. A time constraint covers a sequence of process steps and has a maximum time that lots must spend in these steps. Lots which violate a recommended time constraint have to be scrapped or reprocessed. Accordingly, controlling the entrance of lots in a time constraint is critical in semiconductor fabrication. An approach is developed to estimate whether a given lot may satisfy time constraints or not. Some numerical experiments are presented with industrial data.
Effect of anesthesia carrier gas on in vivo circulation times of ultrasound microbubble contrast agents in rats.

PURPOSE Microbubble contrast agents are currently implemented in a variety of both clinical and preclinical ultrasound imaging studies. The therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities of these contrast agents are limited by their short in-vivo lifetimes, and research to lengthen their circulation times is on going. In this manuscript, observations are presented from a controlled experiment performed to evaluate differences in circulation times for lipid shelled perfluorocarbon-filled contrast agents circulating within rodents as a function of inhaled anesthesia carrier gas. METHODS The effects of two common anesthesia carrier gas selections - pure oxygen and medical air were observed within five rats. Contrast agent persistence within the kidney was measured and compared for oxygen and air anesthesia carrier gas for six bolus contrast injections in each animal. Simulations were performed to examine microbubble behavior with changes in external environment gases. RESULTS A statistically significant extension of contrast circulation time was observed for animals breathing medical air compared to breathing pure oxygen. Simulations support experimental observations and indicate that enhanced contrast persistence may be explained by reduced ventilation/perfusion mismatch and classical diffusion, in which nitrogen plays a key role by contributing to the volume and diluting other gas species in the microbubble gas core. CONCLUSION Using medical air in place of oxygen as the carrier gas for isoflurane anesthesia can increase the circulation lifetime of ultrasound microbubble contrast agents.
Model-based control of networked distributed systems with multi-rate state feedback updates

This paper presents a model-based multi-rate control technique for stabilisation of uncertain discrete-time systems that transmit information through a limited bandwidth communication network. This model-based multi-rate approach is applied to two networked architectures. First, we discuss the implementation of a centralised control system with distributed sensing capabilities and, second, we address the problem of stabilisation of networks of coupled subsystems with distributed sensors and controllers. In both cases, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for stability of the uncertain system with multi-rate model updates. Furthermore, we show that, in general, an important reduction of network bandwidth can be obtained using the multi-rate approach with respect to the single-rate implementations. Finally, an extension is provided that addresses restricted access to the communication channel.
The validity of DSM-IV cannabis abuse and dependence criteria in adolescents and the value of additional cannabis use indicators.

AIMS This study assessed the validity of DSM-IV cannabis abuse and dependence criteria in an adolescent general population sample and evaluated the usefulness of additional cannabis use indicators. DESIGN AND SETTING Data came from the 2008 Survey on Health and Consumption during the Day of Defense Preparation (ESCAPAD), a cross-sectional self-administered survey conducted in France. PARTICIPANTS The analytical sample comprised 3641 adolescents aged 17-19 years who reported cannabis use in the past 12 months. MEASUREMENTS To assess DSM-IV criteria of cannabis abuse and dependence, the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) was used. As additional cannabis use indicators, daily use, use when alone and use before midday were assessed. Confirmatory factor analyses and two-parameter logistic item response theory (IRT) models were run. Differential item functioning was assessed using the IRT log-likelihood ratio approach. RESULTS A one-factor model comprising both abuse and dependence criteria showed the best fit to the data. Abuse item legal problems showed the greatest severity, whereas dependence items larger/longer and tolerance were found least severe. Discriminatory power was lowest for impaired control and legal problems. Additional cannabis use indicators increased the precision of the overall DSM-IV criterion set. Gender-based differential item functioning was observed for items tolerance, withdrawal and use before midday. CONCLUSION The current DSM conceptualization with two distinct and graded diagnostic classes has limited validity among adolescents. In forthcoming revisions of the classification system, several existing criteria should be revised or dropped, new indicators of substance use disorders should be included and gender should be considered.
Increased Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Epitope Variant Cross-Recognition and Functional Avidity Are Associated with Hepatitis C Virus Clearance

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance has been associated with reduced viral evolution in targeted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes, suggesting that HCV clearers may mount CTL responses with a superior ability to recognize epitope variants and prevent viral immune escape. Here, 40 HCV-infected subjects were tested with 406 10-mer peptides covering the vast majority of the sequence diversity spanning a 197-residue region of the NS3 protein. HCV clearers mounted significantly broader CTL responses of higher functional avidity and with wider variant cross-recognition capacity than nonclearers. These observations have important implications for vaccine approaches that may need to induce high-avidity responses in vivo.
Is the hypoxic ventilatory response driven by blood oxygen concentration?

[Figure][1] Bill Milsom and Tobias Wang discuss the impact of Mogens Glass, Robert Boutilier and Norbert Heisler's classic paper ‘Ventilatory control of arterial P O2 in the turtle Chrysemys picta bellii : Effects of temperature and hypoxia’, published in Journal of Comparative
HETEROTRANSPLANTATION OF TUMORS

Heterotransplantability is a developmental acquisition and not an attribute of cancer from its inception. The development of the property is of vital concern to the bearer, inasmuch as it coincides with the attainment of the ability to metastasize, but it is also of great significance from the point of view of biology as a manifestation of independence of the factors governing the interspecies transfer of tissue. The fully developed cancer, free of contaminating normal donor tissues, survives transfer to alien species, invokes a blood supply and, in actuality, becomes a part of the new host. In contrast, the heterologous transfer of adult tissues is associated with an inflammatory foreign-body response, segregating and destroying the graft, and a comparable reaction follows the transplantation of neoplastic tissue in its premetastasizable phase. The factors determining the highly distinctive transplantation reactions of cancer have been the subject of continued study; the object of this report is to discuss present findings as they relate to four questions. First, is heterotransplantability an essential and general attribute of all cancer? Second, is the property always associated with metastasizability? Third, is the property limited to cancer or is it shared by other tissue states? Fourth, what is the fundamental nature of the change permitting heterotransplantability? Exploration of the first question consisted of a general survey of the cancers of lower animals and of man with respect to heterotransplantability. The tumors tested included a wide variety of morphologic types derived either from transplanted or spontaneous growths in rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, dogs, and man. Representative fragments of the tumors were transferred to a number of different species, utilizing a diversity of transplantation sites; in no case was the tissue or the recipient animal subjected to special treatment. In brief, it was found that, irrespective of the species of origin, all tumors capable of metastasis possessed the ability to grow on heterologous t r a n ~ f e r . ~ ~ *
Prevention in routine general practice: activity patterns and potential promoting factors.

BACKGROUND Primary care physicians have a unique opportunity to deliver preventive services, but a desired level of involvement is not always attained. METHODS We analyzed self-reported preventive activity in a stratified random sample of 635 primary care physicians to determine how often they deliver effective interventions for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as well as to assess factors associated with a greater implementation of preventive activity in routine practice. RESULTS More than 63% reported to ask about tobacco use or alcohol consumption or to check blood pressure to most of their new patients. On the other hand, only 33% asked about intravenous drug use, 14% about sexually transmitted diseases, and 6% about the number of sexual partners and less than 33% reported to have an appropriate criterion for any periodic preventive activity in routine daily practice. Correlates of high preventive activity included group practice, specific register of preventive activities, participation in the Program of Preventive Activities of the Spanish Society of Community and Family Medicine, and specific nursing consultation. CONCLUSIONS Organizational factors could be used to improve preventive activity which is far from being an adequate component of routine general practice especially with regard to human immunodeficiency virus infection and periodic preventive activity for chronic diseases.
Malignant skin tumor in Blacks: experience in a teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is said to be the most common human skin malignancy. Its common presentation is in a Caucasian male older than 60 years, and patients could present with multiple co-existing tumors. METHODS We retrospectively review 146 patients treated for skin tumors in our tertiary hospital from January 1979 to December 2002. Cases notes and histopathology report cards of the patients were the source where information on individual patients was extracted. Patients treated for cutaneous melanoma were excluded from the study. RESULTS This study showed that Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is the most common non melanomatous skin tumor in our environment. The study revealed only 8 (5.5%) cases of basal cell carcinoma which is in contrast to what is obtained in the Europe and North America. CONCLUSION Unlike in the Caucasians, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common non-melanomatous skin tumor in our environment. Most of our cases resulted from chronic leg ulcers secondary to poorly treated traumatic ulcers while others are due to chronic burn scar. The tumor is usually more aggressive and more prone to metastasis resulting in severe morbidity and sometimes loss of limb in the affected patient.