Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Periprosthetic Joint Infections as a Consequence of Bacteremia

Abstract Background The risk for developing a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) during bacteremia is unclear, except for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. The aim of this study was to examine the risk for developing a PJI during bacteremia and to identify possible risk factors leading to it. Methods Patients with a primary knee or hip joint replacement performed in a tertiary care hospital between September 2002 and December 2013 were identified (n = 14 378) and followed up until December 2014. Positive blood culture results during the study period and PJIs were recorded. PJIs associated with an episode of bacteremia were identified and confirmed from patient records. Potential risk factors for PJI among those with bacteremia were examined using univariate logistic regression. Results A total of 542 (3.8%) patients had at least 1 episode of bacteremia. Seven percent (47/643) of the bacteremias resulted in a PJI. Development of a PJI was most common for Staphylococcus aureus (21% of bacteremias led to a PJI) and beta-hemolytic streptococci (21%), whereas it was rare for gram-negative bacteria (1.3%). Having ≥2 bacteremias during the study period increased the risk for developing a PJI (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–4.50). The risk for developing a PJI was highest for bacteremias occurring within a year of previous surgery. Chronic comorbidities did not affect the risk for PJI during bacteremia. Conclusions The development of a PJI during bacteremia depends on the pathogen causing the bacteremia and the timing of bacteremia with respect to previous joint replacement surgery. However, significant patient-related risk factors for PJI during bacteremia could not be found.
Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone for relapsed multiple myeloma in North America.

BACKGROUND Lenalidomide, an oral immunomodulatory drug that is similar to thalidomide but has a different safety profile, has clinical activity in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. METHODS Patients in the United States and Canada who had received at least one previous therapy for multiple myeloma but who required additional treatment were randomly assigned to receive either 25 mg of lenalidomide or placebo on days 1 to 21 of a 28-day cycle. Both groups also received 40 mg of oral dexamethasone on days 1 to 4, 9 to 12, and 17 to 20 for the first four cycles. After the fourth cycle, 40 mg of dexamethasone was administered only on days 1 to 4. Safety, clinical response, time to progression, and overall survival were assessed. RESULTS We assigned 177 patients to the lenalidomide group and 176 to the placebo group. Complete, near-complete, or partial responses occurred in 108 patients (61.0%) in the lenalidomide group and in 35 patients (19.9%) in the placebo group (P<0.001); complete responses occurred in 14.1% and 0.6%, respectively (P<0.001). The median time to progression was 11.1 months in the lenalidomide group and 4.7 months in the placebo group (P<0.001). Median overall survival times in the two groups were 29.6 months and 20.2 months, respectively (P<0.001). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events were reported in 85.3% of the lenalidomide group and in 73.1% of the placebo group; these events resulted in study discontinuation in 19.8% and 10.2%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and venous thromboembolism were more common in the lenalidomide group than in the placebo group (41.2% vs. 4.6% and 14.7% vs. 3.4%, respectively; P<0.001 for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone is superior to placebo plus dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00056160 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
Effects of Induced Volitional Fatigue on Sprint and Jump Performance in Paralympic Athletes with Cerebral Palsy

Objective This study investigated performance, neuromuscular characteristics, and fatigue in Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) during a maximal explosive performance trial, compared with well-trained, sprint-specific able-bodied athletes. Design Six Paralympic athletes with hemiplegic CP and 12 able-bodied athletes performed one 40-m sprint test (in seconds) and Vertical Jump Tests off both legs (in centimeters), the affected leg individually (in centimeters), and the nonaffected leg individually (in centimeters) before and after an adapted Multistage Shuttle Run Test to exhaustion. Electromyography of five bilateral muscles was measured for mean amplitude (percentage maximum activation). Results The 40-m sprint test, Vertical Jump Test off both legs, and Vertical Jump Test off the affected leg were significantly compromised in the CP group, whereas the Vertical Jump Test off the nonaffected leg was similar between groups (P < 0.05). Both groups fatigued similarly in performance and electromyography. Affected side electromyography was higher than nonaffected electromyography in the Vertical Jump Test off both legs and Vertical Jump Test off the affected leg in both groups. Conclusions The similarity in fatigue between CP and able-bodied groups confirms that Paralympic athletes with CP may have overcome deficits associated with CP documented in sedentary children. The identified asymmetry may assist with a deeper understanding of performance deficits in CP, as it is indicated that activity generated by both legs is performed toward the capacity of the affected leg.
The EPIC Nitinol Stent System in the Treatment of Iliac Artery Lesions: One-Year Results From the ORION Clinical Trial

Purpose To report the 1-year results of a pivotal study for a new-generation nitinol stent for the treatment of iliac atherosclerotic lesions. Methods The ORION trial ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00896337) was a single-arm, non-randomized, prospective, multicenter clinical trial that enrolled 125 patients (81 men; mean age 61.1±9.3 years) implanted with the EPIC self-expanding nitinol stent system in 166 de novo or restenotic iliac artery lesions ≤13 cm long. The primary endpoint was the 9-month major adverse event rate [i.e., device- or procedure-related death within 30 days, myocardial infarction during the index hospitalization, target vessel revascularization (TVR), or index limb amputation]. Follow-up occurred at hospital discharge and at 1, 9, and 12 months. An independent core laboratory evaluated ultrasound results at 1, 9, and 12 months. Results The primary endpoint met the prespecified performance goal, with only 3.4% (4/117) of patients experiencing a major adverse event by 9 months (p<0.0001). By 12 months, 6 (5.4%) of 111 patients had TVR; none had an index limb amputation. The ankle-brachial index, Walking Impairment Questionnaire, and Rutherford classifications all showed sustained improvements through 12 months. Primary patency was 94.4% with comparable results for lesions classified as complex (TASC II C/D 95.5%) or non-complex (TASC II A/B 95.0%). Conclusion The EPIC stent system demonstrated safety and effectiveness through 12 months, including improvements for complex lesions. The EPIC stent is a viable alternative to surgery for patients with either complex or non-complex lesions.
A 2800-μm2 thermal-diffusivity temperature sensor with VCO-based readout in 160-nm CMOS

A highly digital temperature sensor based on the temperature-dependent thermal diffusivity of bulk silicon has been realized in a standard 160-nm CMOS process. The sensor achieves an inaccuracy of ±2.9°C (3a) from -35°C to 125°C with no trimming and ±1.2°C (3a) after a single-point trim, while achieving a resolution of 0.47°C (rms) at 1 kSa/s. Its compact area (2800 μm2) is enabled by the adoption of a VCO-based phase-domain ADC. Since 53% of the sensor area is occupied by digital circuitry, the sensor can be easily ported to more advanced CMOS technologies with further area reduction, which makes it well suited for thermal monitoring in microprocessors and other systems-on-chip.
Relationship between illness-related worries and social dignity in patients with heart failure

Background: Heart failure is a major growing problem and affects not only patients but also their families and community networks and reduces the functional capacity of patients and impairs their social life. Research questions: This study was conducted to investigate relationship between illness-related worries and social dignity in patients with heart failure. Design: The study had a descriptive-analytic design, and data collection was carried out by means of two specific questionnaires. Participants and context: A total of 130 inpatients from cardiac wards in hospitals affiliated with Tehran and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences participated. Ethical consideration: This study was approved by the Research Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Results: The highest mean score of illness-related worries was attributed to the dimension of patient’s worry of physical–mental complications, and the least mean score was related to the dimension of the worry about the future of disease. The highest mean score of social dignity was associated with the dimension of social communication and support, and the least is attributed to the dimension of burden to others (economic). Pearson’s statistical test showed a significant correlation (r = 0.455, p < 0.05) between the score of illness-related worries and social dignity. Discussion: As the result of this study showed that reducing illness-related worries in patients with heart failure can improve their social dignity, using strategies to decrease worries and promote social dignity in these patients is recommended. Conclusion: This study affirms the importance of careful evaluation of individual patients to determine their needs related to dignity. We hope these results will help to promote actions by patient-care staff that honor and support patient dignity, resulting in benefits to patients and developing the quality of care based on human rights.
Toothpastes Available In The Malaysian Market

This study was undertaken to investigate the number and types (fluoride or non-fluoride) of toothpaste products available in the Malaysian market based on the label. Thirty-five brands of toothpaste were identified, of which ten (29%) were specifically recommended for children. Two of the children's toothpaste recommended that children below seven years old use a pea size amount of toothpaste. One (3%) was recommended for both children and adult. The remaining 24 (69%) did not state if they were recommended for either children or adults. To improve the flavour of the toothpastes, a variety of flavours had been added especially in children's toothpaste. Almost half of the toothpastes were for prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. Other indications were for tooth sensitivity, tooth whitening and stain removal. Twentyseven (77%) of the toothpastes were imported, while eight (23%) were made in Malaysia. Twenty-six (74%) of the toothpaste contained fluoride and the most common type of fluoride used was sodium monofluorophosphate (NaMFP). The fluoride concentration was not labeled in more than half (63%) of the fluoridated toothpaste. Of those that were fluoridated, different units of measurement were used. As there is no uniformity in the labelling of these products, it is recommended that the responsible authorities should take more action in enforcing proper labelling of the fluoride concentration in the toothpaste using standardized units.
Sequencing‐based analysis of the HLA‐DPB1 polymorphism in Nu ethnic group of south‐west China

In the present study, DNA typing for HLA‐DPB1 was performed using polymerase chain reaction–sequencing‐based typing method in 72 randomly selected Nu ethnic individuals inhabiting the Yunnan province of south‐west China. Among the 12 detected DPB1 alleles, the most frequent was DPB1*1301, with the percentage of 20.83%, followed by DPB1*0501 (19.44%), DPB1*040101 (16.67%) and DPB1*2801 (9.72%). The allele DPB1*1501 was found for the first time in the Chinese population. Neighbour‐joining showed that the Nu ethnic minority belonged to East Asian cluster and was most closely related to Lisu, being consistent with the historical records. In addition, the results obtained in this study will also provide useful information on organ transplantation, forensic investigations and disease association studies.
Outcomes after medical and surgical interventions in horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy

BACKGROUND Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) is a cause of neurological disease in horses that is characterised by facial and vestibulocochlear nerve deficits. Studies reporting and comparing survival following medical or surgical treatment of THO are lacking. OBJECTIVES To compare survival and prognosis in horses with THO treated medically or surgically, and to report surgical complications. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. METHODS The medical records of horses diagnosed with THO were retrieved, and data on signalment, clinical signs and duration, corneal ulceration and bilateral occurrence were recorded. Neurological severity was graded according to clinical signs. Preoperative radiographic and endoscopic images were graded according to the severity of changes. Factors potentially affecting survival and treatment were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS A total of 77 horses were identified as having THO during the period 1990-2014. Of these, 25 horses underwent ceratohyoid ostectomy (CHO) and eight underwent partial stylohyoid ostectomy (PSHO). Thirteen of 20, one of 25 and one of eight horses treated by medical therapy, CHO and PSHO, respectively, died or were subjected to euthanasia as a consequence of THO. Compared with CHO, medical therapy was significantly associated with nonsurvival, but there were no significant differences in survival between horses undergoing PSHO and medical therapy. The duration of clinical signs, and neurological, radiographic and endoscopic grades were not associated with survival of THO. However, the age of the horse was significantly associated with poorer survival. Survival time was significantly shorter in the medical therapy group compared with the two surgical groups combined, but did not differ significantly between the two surgical groups. No significant difference between groups was seen in the incidence of surgical complications (33.3% in the PSHO and 22.2% in the CHO group). MAIN LIMITATIONS This was a nonrandomised study of treatment effects on survival and included a low number of cases. CONCLUSIONS The survival prognosis in horses with THO is good to excellent in those submitted to surgical intervention, and fair in those treated with medical therapy alone.
[Effects of food intake, dietary habits and life style on health status as determined by clinical blood tests of adult men].

A survey of the frequency of various kinds of foods, dietary habits, life style, and health status was performed on 2,049 men aged from 40 to 59 living in an urban area who were participants in a "human dock" medical checkup. The relationships between these factors and health status were studied in order to identify a particular life style associated with good health status. The instrument utilized in this survey was a special form of a structured questionnaire. The results are summarized below. 1. The frequency of various kinds of foods were correlated with the kind of breakfast eaten, dietary habits, physical exercise habits, daily physical activity, smoking, and occupation. The strongest correlation to frequency of various kinds of foods was found to be with the kind of breakfast eaten and dietary habits. 2. Dietary habits were also correlated to various aspects of life style: smoking, drinking, the frequency of various kinds of foods, kind of breakfast eaten, daily physical activity, sleeping hours, habits related to physical exercise, and the frequency of meals eaten away from home. Dietary habits correlated most closely with the frequency of various kinds of foods and daily physical activity. The frequency of various kinds of food and dietary habits were found to correlate with various aspects of life style, and those subjects with good overall life styles were also found to have desirable dietary life styles. The correlation of desirable dietary habits, food intake and a suitable life style with good health status was confirmed by the results of clinical blood tests used as an index of health status. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Statistical models and analysis techniques for learning in relational data

Many data sets routinely captured by organizations are relational in nature---from marketing and sales transactions, to scientific observations and medical records. Relational data record characteristics of heterogeneous objects and persistent relationships among those objects (e.g., citation graphs, the World Wide Web, genomic structures). These data offer unique opportunities to improve model accuracy, and thereby decision-making, if machine learning techniques can effectively exploit the relational information. This work focuses on how to learn accurate statistical models of complex, relational data sets and develops two novel probabilistic models to represent, learn, and reason about statistical dependencies in these data. Relational dependency networks are the first relational model capable of learning general autocorrelation dependencies, an important class of statistical dependencies that are ubiquitous in relational data. Latent group models are the first relational model to generalize about the properties of underlying group structures to improve inference accuracy and efficiency. Not only do these two models offer performance gains over current relational models, but they also offer efficiency gains which will make relational modeling feasible for large, relational datasets where current methods are computationally intensive, if not intractable. We also formulate of a novel analysis framework to analyze relational model performance and ascribe errors to model learning and inference procedures. Within this framework, we explore the effects of data characteristics and representation choices on inference accuracy and investigate the mechanisms behind model performance. In particular, we show that the inference process in relational models can be a significant source of error and that relative model performance varies significantly across different types of relational data.
Positive Psychological States and Anxiety: The Mediating Effect of Proactive Coping

The current study examined the mediating role of proactive coping in the relationship between positive psychological states like optimism and self-esteem and trait anxiety. 204 undergraduate students completed measures of optimism, self-esteem, and trait anxiety, together with the proactive coping subscale of the Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI). Mediated effects were explored using a series of regression analyses and were confirmed through bootstrapping procedures. Results revealed that proactive coping was a partial mediator in the relationship between both optimism and self-esteem and trait anxiety. Findings indicated that proactive coping enhances a perspective on life that involves a positive attitude toward future events in the form of optimistic expectancies and enhanced feelings of self-worth. Implications of the findings for clinical practice and mental health promotion are discussed.
Adaptação de um Índice de Integridade Biótica para igarapés daAmazônia Central, com base em atributos ecológicos dacomunidade de peixes

A area do Distrito Agropecuario da Superintendencia da Zona Franca de Manaus esta inserida em uma regiao da Amazonia Central que abriga grande diversidade biologica e de ecossistemas, e esta sofrendo impactos ambientais decorrentes da expansao da cidade de Manaus. Dessa forma, conhecer a ictiofauna de igarapes de terra-firme da regiao e adaptar um Indice de Integridade Biotica (IIB), podem auxiliar na identificacao de impactos em curso e na prevencao da degradacao de ambientes aquaticos, alem de contribuir para a elaboracao de estrategias de conservacao e recuperacao de areas degradadas. As amostragens foram realizadas entre os meses de abril e agosto de 2004 em 30 igarapes de 1a e 2a ordens (Cuieiras n = 11; Taruma n = 6; Preto da Eva n = 6 e Urubu n = 7) em trechos de 50 m dos igarapes. Os peixes foram capturados com pucas, peneiras e redes de arrasto. Foram registradas informacoes sobre o ambiente e algumas variaveis fisico-quimicas da agua para caracterizar a heterogeneidade natural do ambiente, bem como eventuais modificacoes produzidas por acoes antropicas. Foram capturados 2674 exemplares de peixes, pertencentes a 87 especies, 22 familias e seis ordens. Characiformes foi o grupo que apresentou a maior riqueza (39 especies), representando 67% do total de exemplares coletados, seguido de Siluriformes com 17 especies, Perciformes (14), Gymnotiformes (12), Synbranchiformes (3) e Cyprinodontiformes (3). Apesar de Cyprinodontiformes apresentar somente tres especies, foi a segunda em abundância com 11,4% dos exemplares, seguida dos Perciformes (8,6%), Gymnotiformes (6,9%), Siluriformes (5,3%) e Synbranchiformes (0,7%). As variaveis ambientais foram analisadas atraves de uma PCA (Analise de Componentes Principais) juntamente com um protocolo ambiental (IIA) para verificar a relacao do IIB com as caracteristicas ambientais. Os dados da abundância da comunidade de peixes foram sumarizados com um Escalonamento Multidimensional Nao-metrico (NMDS) para verificar as relacoes com o IIB. O IIB apresentou correlacao significativa somente com o eixo 1 da PCA (Pearson, r = -0,62; p < 0,001), com os resultados do IIA (Pearson, r = -0,63; p < 0,001) e com a composicao de especies de peixes (eixo 1 da NMDS; Pearson, r = 0,48; p = 0,007). A aplicacao do Indice de Integridade Biotica produziu alguns resultados discrepantes, com valores baixos para igarapes supostamente livres de impactos, e altos para certos igarapes com indicios de alteracoes ambientais. A despeito dessas inconsistencias, os valores do IIB foram significativamente diferentes entre os igarapes integros e alterados (U = 145; p = 0,012). Apesar de o IIB estar sendo adaptado com grande sucesso em diversas regioes do mundo, precisa ser avaliado com cautela para a Amazonia Central. As caracteristicas do ambiente e a grande diversidade de especies encontradas na regiao tornam a adaptacao do indice um pouco mais complexa, e serao necessarias mais informacoes para estabelecer e refinar medidas mais adequadas e consistentes.
Cognitive Ability Determinants of Elite Pilot Performance

The role of the modem pilot requires a high degree of situational awareness. This involves the ability to search for relevant information, assess opportunities and priorities, and maintain performance under stress. The PC-based WOMBATTM test has been designed to measure individual aptitude to cope with such demands. In the first experiment performance on the WOMBAT test was compared with performance on a battery of tests of specific underlying abilities. In the second experiment the performance of elite soaring pilots was compared with that of matched pilot and control groups. The results support the theory that the WOMBAT test measures individual ability to maintain situational awareness and that this ability is found in high levels in elite pilots.
Calibration of a low-voltage AC-DC transfer standard

The paper describes a modification of a step-down calibration procedure for determining ac-dc transfer difference of an electronic low voltage transfer standard. The described procedure, utilizing an additional standard does not require corrections of the loading error. The paper shows that the input impedance of the standard changes from unit to unit and that each unit requires individual characterization, to be used to calibrate low voltage ac calibrators.