Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The emergence of severe, community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections

The number of community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections is rapidly increasing. Most CA-MRSA infections are localized soft tissue infections; however, severe life-threatening infections have been occasionally described. This report serves to increase the awareness of severe CA-MRSA infections by presenting a fulminant CA-MRSA infection with sepsis, endocarditis, septic pulmonary emboli, and extensive soft tissue and bone destruction. A review of the literature revealed 14 cases of severe CA-MRSA infections with a median age of 13 y; 93% had no underlying medical condition. Only 1 case was initially treated with antibiotics effective for MRSA. The fatality rate was 64%, and 40% of patients who survived had significant disabilities.
Scanning beyond anatomic limits of the thorax in chest CT: findings, radiation dose, and automatic tube current modulation.

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine additional radiation dose associated with scanning beyond the anatomic limits of the thorax in chest CT protocol and to assess the effect of z-axis modulation on the additional radiation dose associated with the scanning protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS "Extra" images for routine chest CT were defined as those above lung apices (supraapical) and those caudal to the lowermost portion of lung parenchyma (infrapulmonary), including images obtained beyond the adrenal glands (infraadrenal). One hundred and forty-eight consecutive chest CT examinations (70 men, 78 women; age range, 15-90 years) performed September 13-25, 2003, were reviewed to determine the number of supraapical, infrapulmonary, and infraadrenal extra images. All examinations were performed using z-axis modulation (n = 70) or fixed tube current (n = 78). The CT dose index volume and dose-length product (DLP) values for the extra images were calculated. Two radiologists reviewed these extra images for pathologic findings. Student's t test was used to perform the statistical analysis. RESULTS One hundred forty-four (97%) examinations had supraapical extra images and 145 (98%) had infrapulmonary extra images. A total of 31 additional findings were observed in extra images. Most clinically important findings were identified in patients with a history of malignancy. With z-axis modulation, the mean DLP for supraapical and infrapulmonary extra images was 39.98 mGy x cm and 132.59 mGy x cm, respectively. With fixed tube current, the mean DLP for supraapical and infrapulmonary extra images was 30.31 mGy x cm and 95.91 mGy x cm, respectively. CONCLUSION A substantial number of extra images are acquired during chest CT that do not add clinically important information in patients with nonmalignant indications. The use of z-axis modulation increased radiation dose for the extra images.
Anxiety as a predictor of relapse in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients.

AIMS To evaluate the impact of mood, affect, and personality on predicting relapse in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients to uncontrolled drinking during a 1-year treatment study. METHODS A total of 521 patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of alcohol dependence, excluding those with major depressive disorder, took part in a European multicentre study (11 centres in the United Kingdom, Irish Republic, Switzerland, and Austria). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale, whereas symptoms of anxiety were measured using the 'STAI-X2' of the self-rating scale State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and personality traits were measured by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. RESULTS High anxiety as a stable trait, and personality traits such as high novelty seeking and low harm avoidance covering exploratory excitability, impulsiveness, extravagance, disorderliness and uninhibited optimism, predicted relapse. CONCLUSIONS These measures could have a direct clinical application for predicting relapse to uncontrolled drinking in male and female detoxified alcohol-dependent patients. The findings indicate the importance of additional therapeutic treatment.
Bounds on the minimum support weights

The minimum support weight, d/sub r/(C), of a linear code C over GF(q) is the minimal size of the support of an r-dimensional subcode of C. A number of bounds on d/sub r/(C) are derived, generalizing the Plotkin bound and the Griesmer bound, as well as giving two new existential bounds. As the main result, it is shown that there exist codes of any given rate R whose ratio d/sub rd/sub 1/ is lower bounded by a number ranging from (q/sup r/-1)/(q/sup r/-q/sup r-1/) to r, depending on R. >
Effect of chlorhexidine (0.12%) rinses on periodontal tissue healing after tooth extraction. (II). Radiographic parameters.

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of a 1-month period of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) rinses on the remodelling activity of periodontal tissues adjacent to an extraction wound. From 12 patients assigned to the test group rinsing 2 x daily with 15 ml of 0.12% CHX solution (Peridex) starting 2 days after tooth extraction and from 11 patients assigned to the control group rinsing with a placebo solution, standardized radiographs were available taken immediately after tooth extraction and 1, 2, 3 and 6 months thereafter. Computer assisted densitometric image analysis (CADIA) was applied in order to quantify changes in density during the healing phase after tooth extraction. Regions of interest (ROI) were chosen for CADIA covering supracrestal periodontal soft tissue adjacent to the extraction wound. ROIs were also defined on crestal alveolar bone adjacent to the extraction wound. In the active group, 15/20 sites demonstrated an increase in alveolar bone density between months 1 and 6 (mean CADIA value 6.7 +/- 10.0), whereas in the control group 11/21 sites demonstrated a loss in density (mean CADIA values -1.4 +/- 10.5). Similar observations were made when the ROIs covering supracrestal periodontal tissues were analyzed (mean CADIA values 7.8 +/- 8.4 for the experimental group and -0.3 +/- 10.5 for the control group). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.04). The digitized series of standardized radiographs were also evaluated for changes in bone height. The distance from the alveolar bone crest to reference points were measured in mm within the baseline: the 1, 2, 3 and 6 month radiographs. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cognitive Process of Development in Children.

In this article we explored the theories of Arnold Gesell, Erik Erickson and Jean Piaget about how human beings development. In this component we will analyze the cognitive processes of how children perceive and develop, in particular children from a cross-cultural background. How learning takes place, and how the influences of culture, and environment plays a role in the cognitive process of children’s development. It deals with a more mathematical theory of development. This is a timely article to read for the 21 t century.
Implementation and evaluation of mobile e-books in a cloud bookcase using the information system success model

– To continue to develop and improve cloud e-bookcases, the purpose of this paper is to implement a cloud e-bookcase and modifies the information systems (ISs) success model to make it capable of assessing this system. It also provides suggestions for future systems development. , – This study implements a cloud bookcase and uses the IS success model to evaluate user intention and satisfaction with the system. It also develops a success model for the cloud bookcase. , – The results of study indicate that user satisfaction and intention with regard to using the system are positively related to net benefits. In other words, increasing user satisfaction and intention with regard to using the system will have a positive effect on the benefits users receive from doing so. , – Users think the functions and services of the cloud bookcase can indeed help them search for and organize information about electronic books. However, they are not satisfied with the information quality. Therefore, further work is needed to identify any important factors that this study did not investigate. This study suggests that the quality of a system’s functions and guide service have to be upgraded in order to increase user satisfaction with and intention to use the system. , – This study implements a cloud bookcase and uses the IS success model for verification. An overall explanatory power of 77.9 percent is achieved with this approach. User satisfaction with and intention to use the system are independent from each other, and the results caused by various factors can be separately identified. The findings of this study have considerable practical value.
Effects of alterations in plasma tryptophan levels on aggressive feelings.

We read with interest the recent correspondence with regard to the dangers of amino acid supplements, given the effect of tryptophan-free amino acid mixtures in lowering mood. 1 We have been using the technique of rapid enhancement or depletion of plasma tryptophan levels to investigate the control of aggression. Recent work 2 has suggested that impulsivity rather than aggression, per se, may be affected by central serotonin function. Thus, in depressed patients, reduced serotonin activity is associated with suicide, 3 and in violent offenders, with measures of aggression and hostility 2 ; the changes in impulsivity are manifested by the underlying traits. Previous studies that measured provoked aggression 4 and subjective hostility 5 after tryptophan depletion have not measured preexisting aggressive traits, which may have accounted for their failure to find an effect. We looked at 24 male subjects who were selected because they had high levels of trait aggression based a
The multifunctional role of IGF-1 in peripheral nerve regeneration

Abstract The elements of peripheral nerve regeneration comprise a complex combination of nerve growth, muscle satellite cells proliferation and differentiation and vessel growth. There is also increasing evidence that growth factors may act at multiple levels in the regenerative response. One such factor affecting multiple cell processes is insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). As a neurotrophic factor IGF-1 is known to promote nerve elongation and branching. As a myogenic factor, IGF-1 promotes satellite cell proliferation, differentiation and muscle hypertrophy.As an angiogenic factor, IGF-1 is known to promote angiogenesis in regenerating skeletal muscle by activating VEGF and VEGF receptors. Additionally, recent studies show that IGF-1 may also promote the activation of muscle stem cells during the regenerative process. This review will outline the pathways by which IGF-1 affects multiple layers of the regenerative response and how these pathways converge to promote the regeneration of nerves.
Alginate as immobilization material: I. Correlation between chemical and physical properties of alginate gel beads

Calcium alginate gel beads were prepared from a range of well characterized alginates. The physical properties of beads depended strongly on the composition, sequential structure, and molecular size of the polymers. Beads with the highest mechanical strength, lowest shrinkage, best stability towards monovalent cations, and highest porosity were made from alginate with a content of L‐guluronic acid higher than 70% and an average length of the G‐blocks higher than 15. For these “high G” alginates the critical overlap intrinsic viscosities have been determined, and for molecular weight higher than 2.4 × 105, the gel strength was independent of the molecular weight.
Cytomegalovirus infection causes delayed platelet recovery after bone marrow transplantation.

The pathogenic effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on the hematopoietic recovery after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was retrospectively studied in 87 recipients of (nonpurged) autologous BMT and in 56 recipients of allogeneic BMT from HLA-identical siblings. Indications for autologous BMT were lymphomas or acute leukemias and for allogeneic BMT various malignancies or aplastic anemia. Patients were divided for the study in two groups, CMV-positive and CMV-negative on the basis of the CMV status pretransplant, and CMV-negative patients were kept CMV-negative by the local transfusion policy. In allogeneic BMT recipients, platelet recovery was significantly slower in CMV-positive patients than in CMV-negative patients (platelets greater than 50,000 cells/microL after 41 days v 27 days, P = .007). This difference held true when patients with acute graft-versus-host disease above grade I were excluded (platelets greater than 50,000 cells/microL after 42 days v 24 days, P = .01). In autologous BMT, the negative effect on platelet recovery was present in patients with lymphomas, but absent in patients with acute leukemias. Patients with acute leukemias had a very delayed recovery of platelets and granulocytes after autologous BMT, irrespective of the CMV status, probably due to the original stem cell disorder. Platelet recovery was significantly slower in CMV-positive autologous BMT recipients with lymphomas than in those not infected (platelets greater than 50,000 cells/microL after 36 days v 24 days, P = .0002). The presence of CMV infection had no effect on the recovery of granulocytes in autologous or allogeneic BMT. These data show that CMV infection causes delayed platelet recovery after BMT; however, in autologous BMT, the underlying disease (ie, acute leukemia) is more determinant for hematopoiesis after BMT.
The spatial distribution of calcium signals in squid presynaptic terminals.

1. The fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dye, fura‐2, was used to examine the spatial distribution of intracellular Ca2+ signals in giant presynaptic terminals of squid. Brief trains of presynaptic action potentials were evoked to open Ca2+ channels within the giant presynaptic terminals and elevate presynaptic Ca2+ concentration. 2. Electrical stimulation produced pronounced rises in presynaptic Ca2+ concentration. These rises were much larger in the terminal region than in the adjacent axonal region of the presynaptic neuron, suggesting that Ca2+ channels are most abundant in the terminal. 3. Stimulation also produced gradients in Ca2+ concentration across the width of the presynaptic terminal. During stimulation, Ca2+ concentration was highest in the compartment of the presynaptic terminal closest to the postsynaptic neuron. This suggests that the Ca2+ channels are localized to this region of the presynaptic terminal. 4. Following the end of action potential trains, the rises in Ca2+ concentration became uniform across the width of the terminal. The redistribution of Ca2+ presumably is due to diffusion of Ca2+ throughout the presynaptic cytoplasm. Stimulus‐evoked rises in Ca2+ declined slowly over several tens of seconds. 5. Histological examination of a giant presynaptic terminal used for imaging experiments revealed that the spatial compartments where stimulus‐induced rises in Ca2+ concentration were highest were also enriched in active zones, the presynaptic sites of transmitter secretion. The co‐localization of Ca2+ transients and active zones strongly suggests that neurons cluster Ca2+ channels selectively at active zones and that they do so to enhance the magnitude of Ca2+ signals in the vicinity of the active zone. 6. Longitudinal gradients in Ca2+ concentration also occur within presynaptic terminals and can be quantitatively accounted for by gradients in surface/volume ratio and density of active zones along the length of the presynaptic terminal.
The medically important aerobic actinomycetes: epidemiology and microbiology

The aerobic actinomycetes are soil-inhabiting microorganisms that occur worldwide. In 1888, Nocard first recognized the pathogenic potential of this group of microorganisms. Since then, several aerobic actinomycetes have been a major source of interest for the commercial drug industry and have proved to be extremely useful microorganisms for producing novel antimicrobial agents. They have also been well known as potential veterinary pathogens affecting many different animal species. The medically important aerobic actinomycetes may cause significant morbidity and mortality, in particular in highly susceptible severely immunocompromised patients, including transplant recipients and patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. However, the diagnosis of these infections may be difficult, and effective antimicrobial therapy may be complicated by antimicrobial resistance. The taxonomy of these microorganisms has been problematic. In recent revisions of their classification, new pathogenic species have been recognized. The development of additional and more reliable diagnostic tests and of a standardized method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the application of molecular techniques for the diagnosis and subtyping of these microorganisms are needed to better diagnose and treat infected patients and to identify effective control measures for these unusual pathogens. We review the epidemiology and microbiology of the major medically important aerobic actinomycetes.
Effects of Osmo- and Hydro-priming on Seed Parameters of Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

The influence of priming treatments and subsequent accelerated aging on seed parameters of grain sorghum was investigated. Seeds of sorghum were treated by osmo-priming (polyethylene glycol 6000 solution with osmotic potential -1.5 MPa) and hydro-priming for different time (12, 24 and 36 hours). Both osmo- and hydro-priming improved the percentage and mean emergence time (MET) of seeds at sub- optimal temperature of 15 C. Seed treatment for 12 and 24 hours had a ° positive statistically significant effect on percentage and speed emergence. Nevertheless priming for 36 hours failed to improve emergence percentage and mean emergence time (MET). After receiving accelerated aging, osmo- and hydro - primed seeds showed a lower emergence percentage and longer mean emergence time (MET) than their non - aged counterparts. Moreover, treated seeds subjected to accelerated aging showed lower emergence responses than aged control seeds, which was particularly clear for hydro - primed seeds.
Costimulation blockade in pig artery patch xenotransplantation – a simple model to monitor the adaptive immune response in nonhuman primates

Ezzelarab MB, Ekser B, Echeverri G, Hara H, Ezzelarab C, Long C, Bajona P, Garcia B, Murase N, Ayares D, Cooper DKC. Costimulation blockade in pig artery patch xenotransplantation – a simple model to monitor the adaptive immune response in nonhuman primates. Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 221–232. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Enamel demineralization under driving forces found in dental plaque fluid.

The present study was carried out to examine the kinetics of enamel demineralization in vitro under driving forces for demineralization (i.e., the degree of saturation with respect to enamel, DS(En)) similar to those found in dental plaque fluid. Thin sections of human enamel were exposed at 25 degrees C to lactic acid solutions with DS(En) values (DS(En) = [(Ca2+)5(OH-)(PO4(3-))3/K(En)]1/9; K(En) = 5.5 x 10(-55)) ranging from 0.28 to 0.79. Lesion development was monitored by quantitative microradiography. Enamel mineral loss in solutions with DS(En) values of 0.28, 0.32 and 0.36 was first detected after 3, 3, and 7 wk of continuous exposure, respectively. Consistent with previous findings, subsurface demineralization was observed and rates of mineral loss increased significantly with decreasing DS(En) values. However, no mineral loss was observed in sections of enamel exposed to solutions with DS(En) values of 0.41 and 0.79, even after 11 months. These results suggest that (outer) enamel mineral behaves as a mineral phase that is less soluble than that dictated by the solubility product constant (K(En)) used in this study. Furthermore, these results indicate that the kinetics and general features of the demineralization process are maintained over a wide range of DS(En) values, including conditions that better reflect those found in the oral cavity. These findings are particularly relevant to the assessment of the cariogenic potential of dental plaque fluids.
Three-dimensional vortex dynamics in superfluid 4He: Line-line and line-boundary interactions.

The dynamical behavior of arbitrarily configured, interacting quantized vortex filaments is investigated by means of numerical experiments and analytical estimates. Several prototype situations of interest in the theory of superfluid turbulence and critical velocities are considered. It is shown that if a vortex loop approaches a surface to within a critical distance, a localized cusplike deformation is generated which drives the vortex into the surface at a well-defined point. If the vortex is reconnected to the surface in this limit, the two ends which now terminate on the surface quickly move apart. The entire process can be well approximated by making a simple reconnection at the critical distance. A similar process is found to occur when two vortex filaments try to cross, with two cusps developing which bring the lines together at a point in such a way that a line-line reconnection naturally ensues. More complicated versions of the reconnection process occur when a vortex terminates on a flat surface which contains a pinning site in the form of a local protrusion. Such a vortex is captured by the pinning site when it approaches to within a critical distance. Once a vortex is pinned, it requires a finite flow velocitymore » to free it from the pinning site. At the depinning velocity, the vortex reconnects to the flat surface and moves off. An analytical depinning criterion involving both normal and superfluid velocities is derived, and found to be in good agreement with the numerical experiments. « less
Principal Identifying Features of the Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Children

The identifying features of the syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities (NLD) were examined with a view to determining their relative discriminant validity. A stepwise linear discriminant function analysis of children with NLD (n = 29), children with reading and spelling disabilities (Group R-S; n = 27), and a group of nonclinical children (NC; n = 27) on 15 neuropsychological variables yielded a subset of scores on four tests (Target Test; Trail Making Test, Part B; Tactual Performance Test; and Grooved Pegboard Test) that accurately (>95%) discriminated the NLD group from the R-S and NC subjects. Of the neuropsychological features of NLD described by Rourke (1987, 1988b, 1989), deficits in visual-perceptual-organizational psychomotor coordination and complex tactile-perceptual skills appeared to be most representative (in the sense of most discriminative) of the NLD syndrome in the children examined. These are also the dimensions that are considered to be “primary” in the NLD model (Rourke, 1989). Replication of these results, employing children with other clinical disorders, is necessary.
Antibacterial activity of the essential oil and main components of two Dracocephalum species from Iran

The antibacterial activity of Dracocephalum polychaetum and D. surmandinum essential oils and two main components were investigated. Essential oils of the plants were analysed by GC and GC-MS. Twenty-three components were characterised in the essential oil of D. polychaetum. The oil was rich in oxygenated (73.1%) and hydrocarbon (25.0%) monoterpenes including perilla aldehyde (63.4 %) and limonene (22.1%) as the major constituents. From 25 identified compounds (97.8%) in the oil of D. surmandinum perilla aldehyde (54.3%) and limonene (30.1%) were the main constituents. The bioassays exhibited that all of the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested were highly inhibited in the presence of the oils and main components investigated. The most sensitive microorganism to the oils was found to be Staphylococcus epidermidis with the lowest MIC value of 0.3 mgmL−1. The resistant Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa was highly inhibited by the oil of D. polychaetum with MIC value of 2.4 mgmL−1.