Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contribution of Bacterial Sepsis to Morbidity in Infants Born to HIV-Infected Haitian Mothers

Background:Haiti is a country with a heavy burden of HIV infection in childbearing women. Previous studies have shown that early infant deaths are common in children of HIV-infected women. This study was designed to define the rates of and risk factors for systemic bacterial and mycobacterial infection in such children and to identify the causative agents. Methods:A cohort of 120 children born to HIV-infected mothers between May 2001 and December 2003 were prospectively observed to 15 months of age. They received comprehensive pediatric care at the GHESKIO Centers. Children were assigned to being HIV-infected by serology, RNA detection, and/or defining clinical illnesses. Blood cultures were obtained before giving antibiotics in children who were febrile or chronically ill. Blood cultures also were obtained at selected visits on well children. Results:The mortality rate in the first 15 months was high, 22 of 106 (207/1000 live births) in these children. Sixteen (70%) deaths were within 6 months of birth. Fourty-eight blood cultures had clinically significant organisms of which 38 were Staphylococcus aureus. Blood cultures were more likely to be positive in symptomatic and in HIV-infected children. Conclusions:Despite perinatal HIV treatment, mortality in children born to HIV-infected mothers remained high. Bacteremia, particularly with Staphylococcus aureus, is a partial explanation for excess illness.
Current Conveyor-Based Square/Triangular Waveform Generators With Improved Linearity

Two second-generation current conveyor (CCII+)-based resistance-capacitance (RC) square/triangular waveform generators, which have been derived from their voltage-mode op-amp-based schemes, with independent control of frequency are presented in this paper. Each configuration consists of two positive second-generation conveyors (CCII(+)-ldquoArdquo and CCII(+)-ldquoBrdquo), three resistors, and one floating capacitor that is responsible for better linearity. The frequency of the waveform generators can independently be adjusted with any passive device. The circuits were built with commercially available current feedback operational amplifiers (AD844) and passive components used externally and tested for waveform generation and tunability. The measured results included in the paper show excellent linear variation of frequency as compared with existing reported configurations over the range from 25 Hz to 260 kHz. The configurations that are suitable for very large scale integration (VLSI) realization find application in capacitive and resistive sensors and in neuro-fuzzy systems.
Phenological Dynamics of Dasineura mali (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and Its Parasitoid Platygaster demades (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) in Apple Orchards

ABSTRACT The midge Dasineura mali Kieffer (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is an important pest of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and a potential fresh fruit contaminant, causing quarantine concerns. The phenological dynamics of D. mali and its egg parasitoid Platygaster demades Walker (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) were studied in the field in Palmerston North, New Zealand, for 2 yr. Both shoot infestation rate by D. mali and D. mali density per shoot sharply increased in the second generation, reaching ≈65% and 100–200 eggs, respectively. However, although the infestation rate in the third generation remained as high as in the second generation, the pest density per shoot significantly decreased to 40–60 eggs in the third generation. In the fourth generation, both infestation rate and pest density per shoot decreased to ≈30% and 10 eggs. Due to the simultaneous decline of the apple shoot number and D. mali density in the third and fourth D. mali generations, the absolute number of D. mali in the orchard also has declined proportionally during the same period. The parasitism and superparasitism rates significantly increased as the season progressed, from 45 to 55 and 37% in the first generation to 87 and 82% in the fourth generation, respectively. Our results suggest that P. demades contributes to the continuous decline of D. mali numbers in the field; it is a good searcher, particularly when its hosts become increasingly scarcer over the season, and it avoids overshooting the host population later in the season by increasing superparasitism. The frequency of P. demades aestivation increases from late spring to midsummer and then decreases during the late summer and early autumn. Although the emergence of P. demades was ≈2 to 3 wk behind that of D. mali in each generation, the increasing parasitism rates from the first to the fourth generations indicate that P. demades is synchronized with D. mali in the field.
Bacterial coinfection in children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus infections

Clinical and bacterial findings were prospectively studied in 90 children hospitalized because of middle or lower respiratory tract infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during a surveillance period of 12 months. The results were compared with those of RSV-negative children hospitalized with identical indications during the 3 peak months of the RSV epidemic (N =91) or for the 3 months after the outbreak (N= 99). A high frequency of pneumonia and acute otitis media were found in both RSV-positive and RSV-negative children during the epidemic, but not in control patients after the epidemic. Bacterial infection, based on a significant rise of antibody titer and/or on detection of pneumococcal antigen in serum or urine, was observed in 39% of the children with RSV-negative children hospitalized during the epidemic and 8% after the epidemic. Our observations stress the role of RSV as a predisposing agent for secondary bacterial infection in the airways of children. The most common bacteria involved in the mixed RSV-bacterial infections were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, the latter being found only in pneumonic patients. The presence or absence of pneumonic or acute otitis media was not significantly correlated with evidence of pneumococcal infection. We conclude that a bacterial pathogen should be actively sought when managing patients with lower respiratory tract syndromes, especially in those who have evidence of RSV infection.
Physical activity in U.S. youth aged 12-15 years, 2012.

KEY FINDINGS Data from the combined National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey, 2012. In 2012, about one-quarter of U.S. youth aged 12-15 years engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes daily. Basketball was the most common activity reported among active boys, followed by running, football, bike riding, and walking. Running was the most common activity among active girls, followed by walking, basketball, dancing, and bike riding. The percentage of male youth who were physically active for at least 60 minutes daily decreased as weight status increased. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which have been adopted by the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that youth participate in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes (1-5). This report presents the most recent national data from 2012 on self-reported physical activity among youth aged 12-15 years, by sex and weight status. This report also describes the most common types of physical activities--outside of school-based physical education (PE) or gym classes--in which youth engage.
Sld2, Which Interacts with Dpb11 inSaccharomyces cerevisiae, Is Required for Chromosomal DNA Replication

ABSTRACT The DPB11 gene, which genetically interacts with DNA polymerase II (ɛ), one of three replicative DNA polymerases, is required for DNA replication and the S phase checkpoint inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. To identify factors interacting with Dbp11, we have isolated sld (synthetically lethal withdpb11-1) mutations which fall into six complementation groups (sld1 to -6). In this study, we characterized SLD2, encoding an essential 52-kDa protein. High-copy SLD2 suppressed the thermosensitive growth defect caused by dpb11-1. Conversely, high-copy DPB11suppressed the temperature-sensitive growth defect caused bysld2-6. The interaction between Sld2 and Dpb11 was detected in a two-hybrid assay. This interaction was evident at 25°C but not at 34°C when Sld2-6 or Dpb11-1 replaced its wild-type protein. No interaction between Sld2-6 and Dpb11-1 could be detected even at 25°C. Immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that Dpb11 physically interacts with Sld2. sld2-6 cells were defective in DNA replication at the restrictive temperature, as were dpb11-1cells. Further, in dpb11-1 and sld2-6 cells, the bubble-shaped replication intermediates formed in the region of the autonomously replicating sequence reduced quickly after a temperature shift. These results strongly suggest the involvement of the Dpb11-Sld2 complex in a step close to the initiation of DNA replication.
Structure and Metal Binding Properties of a Poxvirus Resolvase*

Poxviruses replicate their linear genomes by forming concatemers that must be resolved into monomeric units to produce new virions. A viral resolvase cleaves DNA four-way junctions extruded at the concatemer junctions to produce monomeric genomes. This cleavage reaction is required for viral replication, so the resolvase is an attractive target for small molecule inhibitors. To provide a platform for understanding resolvase mechanism and designing inhibitors, we have determined the crystal structure of the canarypox virus (CPV) resolvase. CPV resolvase is dimer of RNase H superfamily domains related to Escherichia coli RuvC, with an active site lined by highly conserved acidic residues that bind metal ions. There are several intriguing structural differences between resolvase and RuvC, and a model of the CPV resolvase·Holliday junction complex provides insights into the consequences of these differences, including a plausible explanation for the weak sequence specificity exhibited by the poxvirus enzymes. The model also explains why the poxvirus resolvases are more promiscuous than RuvC, cleaving a variety of branched, bulged, and flap-containing substrates. Based on the unique active site structure observed for CPV resolvase, we have carried out a series of experiments to test divalent ion usage and preferences. We find that the two resolvase metal binding sites have different preferences for Mg2+ versus Mn2+. Optimal resolvase activity is maintained with 5 μm Mn2+ and 100 μm Mg2+, concentrations that are well below those required for either metal alone. Together, our findings provide biochemical insights and structural models that will facilitate studying poxvirus replication and the search for efficient poxvirus inhibitors.
Bone marrow macrophages support prostate cancer growth in bone

Resident macrophages in bone play important roles in bone remodeling, repair, and hematopoietic stem cell maintenance, yet their role in skeletal metastasis remains under investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of macrophages in prostate cancer skeletal metastasis, using two in vivo mouse models of conditional macrophage depletion. RM-1 syngeneic tumor growth was analyzed in an inducible macrophage (CSF-1 receptor positive cells) ablation model (MAFIA mice). There was a significant reduction in tumor growth in the tibiae of macrophage-ablated mice, compared with control non-ablated mice. Similar results were observed when macrophage ablation was performed using liposome-encapsulated clodronate and human PC-3 prostate cancer cells where tumor-bearing long bones had increased numbers of tumor associated-macrophages. Although tumors were consistently smaller in macrophage-depleted mice, paradoxical results of macrophage depletion on bone were observed. Histomorphometric and micro-CT analyses demonstrated that clodronate-treated mice had increased bone volume, while MAFIA mice had reduced bone volume. These results suggest that the effect of macrophage depletion on tumor growth was independent of its effect on bone responses and that macrophages in bone may be more important to tumor growth than the bone itself. In conclusion, resident macrophages play a pivotal role in prostate cancer growth in bone.
Quality of life and psychological morbidity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: body mass index, age and the provision of patient information are significant modifiers

Objective Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has clinical features and implications for long‐term health that may lead to decreased quality of life (QoL) and psychological morbidity. We studied QoL in women with PCOS, compared the findings with population norms and assessed whether they correlated with reported quality of patient information received.
Effectiveness of the lidocaine patch 5% on pain qualities in three chronic pain states: assessment with the Neuropathic Pain Scale

SUMMARY Objective: To determine the impact of the lidocaine patch 5% on pain qualities associated with chronic pain from post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), painful diabetic neuropathy (DN), and low-back pain (LBP), using the Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS). Patients and methods: Patients with PHN, painful DN, and LBP were enrolled if they had partial response to gabapentin-containing analgesic regimens and if they reported moderate-to-severe pain on the NPS at study enrollment. Eligible patients were included in an open-label, non-randomized, prospective, 2-week study across 7 clinical trial sites in the United States. The lidocaine patch 5% was applied to the area of maximal pain, using no more than a total of 4 patches changed every 24 h. Patients were maintained on their other analgesic regimens with no dose adjustment or additions allowed. Treatment effect was measured by change from baseline to Week 2 in 4 composite measures of the NPS: NPS-10, NPS-4, NPS-8, and NPS-non-allodynia. Safety was assessed by adverse events (AEs), dermal assessment of application site(s), and skin sensory testing. Results: In the combined patient population (n = 77), 2 weeks of treatment with the lidocaine patch 5% significantly improved all 4 composite measures ( p < 0.01). In the subgroup analyses, the lidocaine patch 5% demonstrated numerical advantage for all 4 NPS composite measures for the PHN patients (n = 8), and significantly improved all 4 composite measures for the painful DN patients (n = 41; p < 0.001) and LBP patients (n = 28; p ≤ 0.005). Overall, 8 patients (10%) experienced mild-to-moderate treatment-related AEs. Conclusions: The lidocaine patch 5% effectively reduces the intensity of all common pain qualities in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic pain resulting from PHN, painful DN, or LBP. Treatment is well tolerated in combination with other analgesic regimens, with no reports of serious AEs or adverse drug interactions. Assessment scales such as the NPS may offer the possibility to differentiate between various pain states and to assess treatment outcomes for various pain qualities associated with a given pain state.
Comparative cytogenetics of Carnegiella marthae and Carnegiella strigata (Characiformes, Gasteropelecidae) and description of a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system

Comparative cytogenetic analyses of hatchetfishes Carnegiella marthae and Carnegiella strigata (Gasteropelecidae) from the Rio Negro basin were performed using conventional Giemsa staining, silver (Ag) -staining and C-banding. The diploid chromosome numbers of both species equaled 2n = 50 but their karyotypes were distinct. We found evidence for sex chromosomes in C. marthae since karyotype of males presented 20 M + 12 SM + 4 ST + 14 A and ZZ ST chromosomes while the females presented 20 M + 12 SM + 4 ST + 14 A and ZW ST chromosomes of distinct size. Conversely, C. strigata presented 4 M + 4 SM + 2 ST + 40 A chromosomes without sex chromosome heteromorphism. Karyotypes of both species had two NOR-bearing SM chromosomes of distinct size indicating the presence of multiple NOR phenotypes. The sex chromosome pair had specific C-banding pattern allowing identification of both Z and W. This heteromorphic system has previously been described for the gasteropelecids.
ECG signal classification using wavelet transform and Back Propagation Neural Network

This paper addressed the use of Back Propagation Neural Network for Classification of ECG waveforms using discrete wavelet transform. We have been selected of MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and picked up 45 files out of 48 files of one minute recording where 25 files are considered as normal class and 20 files of abnormal based on Maximum number of beats present in each record. Proposed method used to classify ECG signal data for abnormal class using BPNN. The features are break up in to two classes that is DWT based features and morphological feature of ECG signal which is an input to the classifier. Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) was used to classify the ECG data and the system performance is measured on the basis of percentage accuracy. For the Abnormal sample 100% of accuracy is reached whereas 96% of accuracy was achieved for normal ECG sample. The overall system accuracy 97.8 % was obtained with the use of BPNN classifier.
PMMA Is Superior to Hydroxyapatite for Colony Reduction in Induced Osteomyelitis

Staphylococcus aureus infection is a serious complication in patients receiving orthopaedic implants. Treatment with antibiotic-loaded cements can deliver high local concentrations and reduce toxic side effects associated with systemic antibiotic administration, but polymethylmethacrylate cement is nondegradable and may necessitate additional surgery for removal. Previous studies provide support for hydroxyapatite as a biodegradable carrier, but consensus has not been achieved. We hypothesized vancomycin-loaded hydroxyapatite was superior to vancomycin-loaded polymethylmethacrylate in reducing the number of bacterial colony-forming units in the setting of osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis was induced in rats using an established model. Animals then were randomly assigned to a control group (no antibiotics), a group treated with vancomycin-loaded polymethylmethacry-late, and two groups treated with hydroxyapatite loaded with either low-dose or high-dose vancomycin. After 6 weeks we compared the number of colony-forming units per gram of harvested bone between groups. Vancomycin-loaded hydroxyapatite was inferior to vancomycin-loaded polymethylmethacrylate in reducing the number of bacterial colony-forming units and vancomycin-loaded polymethylmethacry-late was superior to the control group. We observed no difference between low- and high-dose vancomycin-loaded hydroxyapatite groups. The poor handling properties of hydroxyapatite paste may explain these findings. Based on these results, a hydroxyapatite carrier cannot be recommended for the treatment of osteomyelitis.
No breakpoint for mortality in pediatric rib fractures

BACKGROUND Rib fracture number correlates with mortality in adult trauma patients, sharply rising above six fractured ribs. Because of the pliability of younger ribs, pediatric ribs are believed to require more energy to fracture. We hypothesized this will result in a different rib fracture–associated pediatric mortality rate. METHODS We queried the National Trauma Data Bank (American College of Surgeons, Chicago, Illinois) for patients younger than 21 years with and without rib fractures (2002–2009), abstracting the number of rib fractures, diagnoses, procedures, and outcomes. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed with logistic regression to adjust for age and concomitant injury. RESULTS We identified 729,240 pediatric patients, 19,442 with rib fractures. Mortality doubled from 1.79% without rib fracture to 5.81% for one rib fracture and then nearly linearly increased to 8.23% for seven fractures unlike the pattern in adults. This pattern persisted irrespective of the age group evaluated. Ventilator days also increased with increasing number of rib fractures. Adjusted odds of mortality increased up to six rib fractures for all age groups. Penetrating injury, concomitant injury, and hemothorax all predicted mortality on multivariable analysis. More than two rib fractures also predicted chest tube placement (odds ratio [OR], thoracostomy 11.89 (11.37–12.44), thoracotomy 5.89 (5.17–6.84), thoracoscopy (6.28–12.03), laparotomy 2.68 (2.49–2.89). CONCLUSION Mortality increased nearly linearly for increasing numbers of pediatric rib fractures without an inflection. Odds of mortality increases with each additional rib fractured in all pediatric age groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level III.
Interferon stimulated exonuclease gene 20 kDa links psychiatric events to distinct hepatitis C virus responses in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection occurs frequently in patients with preexisting mental illness. Treatment for chronic hepatitis C using interferon formulations often increases risk for neuro‐psychiatric symptoms. Pegylated‐Interferon‐α (PegIFN‐α) remains crucial for attaining sustained virologic response (SVR); however, PegIFN‐α based treatment is associated with psychiatric adverse effects, which require dose reduction and/or interruption. This study's main objective was to identify genes induced by PegIFN‐α and expressed in the central nervous system and immune system, which could mediate the development of psychiatric toxicity in association with antiviral outcome. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/HCV co‐infected donors (N = 28), DNA microarray analysis was performed and 21 differentially regulated genes were identified in patients with psychiatric toxicity versus those without. Using these 21 expression profiles a two‐way‐ANOVA was performed to select genes based on antiviral outcome and occurrence of neuro‐psychiatric adverse events. Microarray analysis demonstrated that Interferon‐stimulated‐exonuclease‐gene 20 kDa (ISG20) and Interferon‐alpha‐inducible‐protein 27 (IFI27) were the most regulated genes (P < 0.05) between three groups that were built by combining antiviral outcome and neuro‐psychiatric toxicity. Validation by bDNA assay confirmed that ISG20 expression levels were significantly associated with these outcomes (P < 0.035). Baseline levels and induction of ISG20 correlated independently with no occurrence of psychiatric adverse events and non‐response to therapy (P < 0.001). Among the 21 genes that were associated with psychiatric adverse events and 20 Interferon‐inducible genes (IFIGs) used as controls, only ISG20 expression was able to link PegIFN‐α related neuro‐psychiatric toxicity to distinct HCV‐responses in patients co‐infected with HIV and HCV in vivo. J. Med. Virol. 86:1323–1331, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.