Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of delayed cultures of plugged telescoping catheter samples for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia

ObjectiveIt is not always feasible to culture immediately bacteriologic samples of protected pulmonary specimens on a 24-hr basis before starting antibiotic treatment. We have evaluated the effect of delaying the culture of immediate plugged telescoping catheter (PTC) samples performed before starting antibiotherapy. DesignProspective paired comparisons study. SettingIntensive care unit in a university hospital. PatientsNinety-nine PTCs were performed on 68 intensive care unit patients suspected of nosocomial or community- acquired bacterial pneumonia. InterventionPTC samples were divided into two aliquots: one for immediate (H0) analysis and one for storage at 4°C (H24) for 24 hrs before being cultured. Measurements and Main Results The results from these delayed cultures (H24) were compared with those from immediate ones (H0). All negative H0 samples (n = 59) were also negative at H24. Forty PTCs yielded one or more microorganisms, with a total of 69 microorganisms in one or both samples. H0 and H24 cultures were concordant in 119 of 128 (97.9%) cases (&kgr; coefficient value 0.79) with a threshold of 103 colony-forming units (cfu)/mL. Agreement between paired cultures was very good. The bias calculated as the mean difference between paired culture results was 0.128 ± 1.024 (&Dgr;log). Concordance using the 103 cfu/mL threshold (102/107 cases, &kgr; coefficient value 0.82) and agreement were enhanced (0.067 ± 0.645) when possible contaminants were excluded (n = 21). ConclusionsStoring PTC specimens for 24 hrs at 4°C is an acceptable alternative when culturing cannot be performed immediately. This allows starting antibiotic treatment without any delay.
Incentives and Teacher Effort

Few would contest that teachers are a very important determinant of how much students learn in school, and how to improve teacher performance has been the focus of lively policy debate in both rich and poor countries. This paper examines how teacher incentives, both pecuniary and non‐pecuniary, correlate with teacher effort. Using school survey data from Lao PDR, we estimate measures of teacher effort, including the number of hours that teachers spend preparing for classes and teacher provision of private tutoring outside of class hours, which are not the typical measures used in previous research. Estimation results fit well under the standard labour supply framework and indicate that greater teacher effort is associated with non‐pecuniary incentives such as more teacher autonomy over teaching materials and monitoring as measured by the existence of an active parent–teacher association and the ability of school principals to dismiss teachers. Methodologically, this paper provides a detailed derivation of a simultaneous OLS‐probit model with school random effects that can jointly estimate teacher work hours and tutoring provision.
Framing Immigration in the Canadian and British News Media

Abstract Despite an extensive dialogue on the subject of immigration, there has been little systematic cross-national investigation into the framing of immigration in the news media. Understanding the evolution of frames is an important piece of how we conceive of the link between the public's political priorities and policy makers’ responses. While the multi-directional relationships that exist between media, public policy and public opinion often pose challenges to precisely extracting media effects, there is still much that can be said about how the content and tone of immigration frames change over time in response to major policy changes or focusing events. Using automated content analysis (ACA) of print news data from Canada and Britain, I examine immigration framing from 1999 to 2013, identifying immigration-related frames in print news coverage and identifying trends in the volume and tone of frames over time. Results offer insight into striking commonalities in the frames used by each country's print media, and the divergent evolution in the emphasis on certain frames over others, largely predicated on coverage of focusing events. Résumé Malgré un dialogue expansif au sujet de l'immigration, il y a eu jusqu'ici peu de recherche transnationale systématique sur le cadrage de l'immigration dans les médias. Comprendre l'évolution des cadres est un point essentiel de la manière dont on conçoit le lien entre les priorités politiques du public et les réponses des décideurs. Bien que les relations multidirectionnelles existant entre médias, politiques publiques et opinion publique représentent un défi pour discerner les effets des médias, il reste encore beaucoup à dire sur la manière dont le contenu et le ton des cadres de l'immigration évoluent dans le temps, en réponse aux changements majeurs de politiques ou événements politiques. En utilisant une analyse de contenu automatisée (ACA) de la presse écrite canadienne et britannique, j'examine le cadrage de l'immigration de 1999 à 2013, en identifiant les cadres reliés à l'immigration dans la couverture médiatique de la presse écrite ainsi que les tendances dans le volume et le ton de ces cadres à travers le temps. Les résultats offrent un aperçu des points communs frappants dans les cadres utilisés par la presse écrite des deux pays, mais aussi de l'évolution divergente dans l'emphase de certains cadres par rapport à d'autres, largement fondé sur la couverture d'événements politiques.
Continuous strain prediction for fatigue assessment of an offshore wind turbine using Kalman filtering techniques

Offshore wind turbines are exposed to continuous wind and wave excitation. The continuous monitoring of high periodic strains at critical locations is important to assess the remaining lifetime of the structure. Some of the critical locations are not accessible for direct strain measurements, e.g. at the mud-line, 30 meter below the water level. Response estimation techniques can then be used to estimate the response at unmeasured locations from a limited set of response measurements and a system model. This paper shows the application of a Kalman filtering algorithm for the estimation of strains in the tower of an offshore monopile wind turbine in the Belgian North Sea. The algorithm makes use of a model of the structure and a limited number of response measurements for the prediction of the strain responses. It is shown that the Kalman filter algorithm is able to account for the different types of excitation acting on the structure in operational conditions, in this way yielding accurate strain estimates that can be used for continuous fatigue assessment of the wind turbine.
Multiplex Gene Expression Profiling of In Vivo Isolated Circulating Tumor Cells in High-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND Molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is important for selecting patients for targeted treatments. We present, for the first time, results on gene expression profiling of CTCs isolated in vivo from high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients compared with CTC detected by 3 protein-based assays-CellSearch®, PSA-EPISPOT, and immunofluorescence of CellCollector® in vivo-captured CTCs-using the same blood draw. METHODS EpCAM-positive CTCs were isolated in vivo using the CellCollector from 108 high-risk PCa patients and 36 healthy volunteers. For 27 patients, samples were available before and after treatment. We developed highly sensitive multiplex RT-qPCR assays for 14 genes (KRT19, EpCAM, CDH1, HMBS, PSCA, ALDH1A1, PROM1, HPRT1, TWIST1, VIM, CDH2, B2M, PLS3, and PSA), including epithelial markers, stem cell markers, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) markers. RESULTS We observed high heterogeneity in gene expression in the captured CTCs for each patient. At least 1 marker was detected in 74 of 105 patients (70.5%), 2 markers in 45 of 105 (40.9%), and 3 markers in 16 of 105 (15.2%). Epithelial markers were detected in 31 of 105 (29.5%) patients, EMT markers in 46 of 105 (43.8%), and stem cell markers in 15 of 105 (14.3%) patients. EMT-marker positivity was very low before therapy (2 of 27, 7.4%), but it increased after therapy (17 of 27, 63.0%), whereas epithelial markers tended to decrease after therapy (2 of 27, 7.4%) compared with before therapy (13 of 27, 48.1%). At least 2 markers were expressed in 40.9% of patients, whereas the positivity was 19.6% for CellSearch, 38.1% for EPISPOT, and 43.8% for CellCollector-based IF-staining. CONCLUSIONS The combination of in vivo CTC isolation with downstream RNA analysis is highly promising as a high-throughput, specific, and ultrasensitive approach for multiplex liquid biopsy-based molecular diagnostics.
Transport of prostaglandin E1 across the blood‐brain barrier in rats

The transport of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) across the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) was characterized using an in‐situ rat brain perfusion technique. The uptake of [3H]PGE1 was not affected by short‐chain monocarboxylic acids (butyric acid and valeric acid). On the other hand, uptake of [3H]PGE1 was significantly inhibited by medium‐chain monocarboxylic acids such as hexanoic acid, enanthic acid and octanoic acid. These medium‐chain monocarboxylic acids showed a more potent inhibitory effect on [3H]PGE1 uptake with increasing number of carbon atoms. In contrast, there was no decrease in [3H]PGE1 transport by any dicarboxylic acids with 5–8 carbon atoms. Valproic acid decreased [3H]PGE1 uptake, whereas p‐aminohippuric acid, a substrate for the organic anion transporter family, did not inhibit [3H]PGE1 transport. Bromocresol green, an inhibitor of prostaglandin transporter (PGT), strongly decreased [3H]PGE1 transport across the BBB. In addition, digoxin and taurocholate, substrates for organic anion transporting polypeptide subtype 2 (Oatp2), significantly inhibited [3H]PGE1 uptake. RT‐PCR analysis revealed that PGT mRNA and Oatp2 mRNA are expressed in a capillary‐rich fraction from rat brain. Thus, it is suggested that PGE1 transport across the BBB is mediated by some specific transport systems, possibly by the members of the Oatp family.
The Impact of Fiscal Stress on Local Government Fiscal Structures: An Event Study of the Orange County Bankruptcy

I analyze the effect of fiscal stress on local government fiscal structures. In 1994, sudden investment losses of nearly $1.7 billion led to Orange County's default on debt obligations and bankruptcy. This event study provides a descriptive analysis of one of the most extreme fiscal crises in recent decades. I use a synthetic control methodology to measure the impact of the investment losses and find the investment losses resulted in Orange County total revenue falling by 12 percent, cash and securities by 66 percent, and total expenditure by 11 percent, while total debt increased by 17 percent.
Relationship of SNCG, S100A4, S100A9 and LCN2 gene expression and DNA methylation in bladder cancer

Microarray analysis of paired cultures of normal and cancerous urothelial cells revealed differences in cytokeratin and adhesion gene expression. Normal cells expressed autocrine growth factor genes more strongly whereas carcinoma cells were distinguished by concomitant expression of urothelial and epidermal differentiation markers. Expression of SNCG, S100A9 and LCN2 was also enhanced. In other cancers, overexpression of SNCG, LCN2 and S100A4 has been ascribed to DNA hypomethylation. We therefore investigated expression and methylation of SNCG, S100A4, S100A9 and LCN2 in urothelial cancer cell lines and tissues. SNCG and S100A4 were overexpressed in some cancer tissues and cell lines, but downregulated in others, whereas LCN2 and S100A9 were upregulated in few cancer cell lines, but regularly in tissues. Normal and cancerous urothelial cells expressing SNCG lacked promoter methylation. SNCG downregulation was associated with hypermethylation and could be reversed by the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine. S100A4 methylation at regulatory intronic sites and in the promoter region was lowest in leukocytes and fibroblasts, and denser in urothelial cells. Gene expression responded to 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine. LCN2 promoter methylation was variable and even less consistently related to expression. The S100A9 promoter was partially methylated in nonexpressing cells, but 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine had no effect. Our data indicate that SNCG methylation is cell type‐specific and the gene is hypermethylated in some urothelial cancers. S100A4, S100A9 and LCN2 are genes with moderate CpG‐density that show a less stringent relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression. Therefore, changes in methylation of these genes in cancer should be interpreted cautiously. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A qualitative evaluation of capnography use in paediatric sedation: perceptions, practice and barriers.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES We explored perceptions about capnography for procedural sedation and barriers to use in a paediatric emergency department. BACKGROUND Capnography is a sensitive monitor of ventilation and is increasingly being studied in procedural sedation. While benefits have been found, it has not gained wide acceptance for monitoring of children during sedation. DESIGN A qualitative exploratory study was performed. METHODS Using a grounded theory approach, physicians and nurses from the paediatric emergency department participated in one-on-one interviews about their experiences with and opinions of capnography. An iterative process of data collection and analysis was used to inductively generate theories and themes until theoretical saturation was achieved. RESULTS Five physicians and 12 nurses were interviewed. Themes included: Experiences: Participants felt that procedural sedation is safe and adverse events are rare. Normal capnography readings reassured providers about the adequacy of ventilation. Knowledge: Despite experience with capnography, knowledge and comfort varied. Most participants requested additional education and training. Diffusion of Use: While participants expressed positive opinions about capnography, use for sedation was infrequent. Many participants felt that capnography use increased in other paediatric populations, such as patients with altered mental status, ingestions or head trauma. Barriers: Identified barriers to use included a lack of comfort with or knowledge about equipment, lack of availability of the monitor and cannulas, lack of inclusion of these supplies on a checklist for procedural sedation preparedness, and lack of a policy for use of capnography during sedation. CONCLUSION Capnography use during sedation in the paediatric emergency department is limited despite positive experiences and opinions about this device. Addressing modifiable barriers such as instrument availability, continuing education, and inclusion on a checklist may increase use of capnography during sedation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Despite the perceived benefits, a broad implementation plan is required to introduce capnography successfully to the paediatric emergency department.
Atorvastatin Worsens Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Endothelial Dysfunction of Epicardial Coronary Arteries in Normocholesterolemic Porcine With Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Statins have pleiotropic effects that can reverse endothelial dysfunction and prevent the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The goal of this study was to assess the effect of treatment with atorvastatin on the endothelial dysfunction of epicardial coronary arteries and the development of LVH in a porcine model. LVH was induced through 2 months of aortic banding (AB) of the ascending aorta. Experimental groups were (1) sham untreated: without AB, (2) LVH untreated: with AB, and (3,4) LVH treated: with AB treated with 40 and 80 mg of atorvastatin, respectively, for 60 days, and (5) sham treated: without AB treated with 80 mg of atorvastatin for 60 days. Vascular reactivity studies were performed in organ chambers experiments. NO bioavailability was assessed using cyclic guanosine monophosphate quantification. Oxidative stress levels were measured by quantifying angiotensin II) and nitrite/nitrate levels. LVH and LV diastolic function were evaluated using echocardiography. Atorvastatin decreased endothelium-dependent relaxations and cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels in all treated animals. Angiotensin II levels were increased, whereas nitrite levels were similar among groups (P > 0.05). LV diastolic dysfunction and LVH were significantly greater in all treated animals (P < 0.01). High-density lipoprotein levels and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly decreased in animals receiving atorvastatin (P < 0.05). In this swine model of LVH, atorvastatin did not prevent LVH development or coronary endothelial dysfunction and resulted in worsening of the LV diastolic dysfunction.
Effects of giardiasis on school success, weight and height indices of primary school children in Turkey

Abstract Background : Giardia intestinalis, the most common parasite in the world, causes several adverse effects on school children, with the prevalence rate ranging between 7.3% and 28% (mean 13.8%) in Turkey. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible adverse effects of G. intestinalis on success at school, and the mean weight and height of primary school children in Sivas, Turkey.
Empirical Analysis of Sound Recruitment and Selection Criteria As A Tool of Organisatinal Efficiency

This study investigates the impact of recruitment and selection criteria on performance using United Bank for Africa Plc, Lagos Nigeria as focal point. The analyses of 200 valid responses obtained through a questionnaire that was administered to randomly selected respondents revealed that recruitment and selection criteria have significant effect on organization’s efficiency (X2 = 35.723; df = 3; p<0.05). The more objective the recruitment and selection criteria, the better the organization’s efficiency (X2 = 20.007; df = 4; p<0.05).
Continuous Infusion of Atracurium in Children

Atracurium infusion requirements were determined in 28 children anesthetized with N2O2, narcotic, N2O2 halothane (1% inspired), and N2O:O2 enflurane (2% inspired). When the patient was recovering from a bolus dose of 0.4 mg/kg atracurium, a continuous infusion of atracurium was started and the rate was adjusted to maintain 90–99% muscle twitch depression. Patients receiving enflurane anesthesia required atracurium at an infusion rate of 4.9 ‡ 0.3 μg. kg−1. min−1 which was a significantly lower rate (P = 0.0001) than those anesthetized with halothane (8.3 ‡ 0.4 μg.kg−1 · min−1) or with N2O:O2 and narcotic (9.3 ‡ 0.5μg.kg−1 · min−1). At the onset of neuromuscular blockade, the twitch response disappeared faster after train-of-four stimulation repeated every 10 s than after single twitch rates of stimulation at 0.1 Hz. In children, during halothane anesthesia after 0.4 mg/kg atracurium, the response of the adductor of the thumb was ablated in 2.0 ‡ 0.3 min with train-of-four stimulation, and in 3.7 ‡ 0.4 min with single twitch stimulation. The authors recommend the use of a nerve stimulator during continuous infusion of atracurium because of the marked interpatient differences in infusion-rate requirements.
Overexpression of Membrane-Bound Fas Ligand (CD95L) Exacerbates Autoimmune Disease and Renal Pathology in Pristane-Induced Lupus

Loss-of-function mutations in the Fas death receptor or its ligand result in a lymphoproliferative syndrome and exacerbate clinical disease in most lupus-prone strains of mice. One exception is mice injected with 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane (TMPD), a hydrocarbon oil commonly known as pristane, which induces systemic lupus erythematosus–like disease. Although Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interactions have been strongly implicated in the activation-induced cell death of both lymphocytes and other APCs, FasL can also trigger the production of proinflammatory cytokines. FasL is a transmembrane protein with a matrix metalloproteinase cleavage site in the ectodomain. Matrix metalloproteinase cleavage inactivates membrane-bound FasL and releases a soluble form reported to have both antagonist and agonist activity. To better understand the impact of FasL cleavage on both the proapoptotic and proinflammatory activity of FasL, its cleavage site was deleted through targeted mutation to produce the deleted cleavage site (ΔCS) mouse line. ΔCS mice express higher levels of membrane-bound FasL than do wild-type mice and fail to release soluble FasL. To determine to what extent FasL promotes inflammation in lupus mice, TMPD-injected FasL-deficient and ΔCS BALB/c mice were compared with control TMPD-injected BALB/c mice. We found that FasL deficiency significantly reduced the early inflammatory exudate induced by TMPD injection. In contrast, ΔCS mice developed a markedly exacerbated disease profile associated with a higher frequency of splenic neutrophils and macrophages, a profound change in anti-nuclear Ab specificity, and markedly increased proteinuria and kidney pathology compared with controls. These results demonstrate that FasL promotes inflammation in TMPD-induced autoimmunity, and its cleavage limits FasL proinflammatory activity.
Detection of Protamine and Heparin After Termination of Cardiopulmonary Bypass by Thrombelastometry (ROTEM®): Results of a Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Our goal of this study was to determine whether protamine’s effects on coagulation can be detected and differentiated from those of heparin when using thrombelastometry (ROTEM®). METHODS: To reverse the effects of heparin after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 22 consecutive patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass graft surgery were included. According to clinical routine, all patients received a first dose of protamine calculated from the total amount of heparin given; additional protamine (70 U/kg) was administered to patients with activated clotting time (ACT) above baseline and clinical signs of diffuse bleeding. Simultaneously, routine ACT measurements, ROTEM assays (heparin-sensitive INTEM, and heparinase-containing HEPTEM test) and standard coagulation tests were performed, and the activity of coagulation factors as well as antifactor Xa activity measured. RESULTS: Administration of additional protamine (n = 16) resulted in a statistically significant increase in coagulation times on the intrinsically activated test (INTEM-CT), namely from (mean [±sd]) 219.8 (±19.1) s to 241.1 (±21.7) s (P < 0.001), and on the heparinase-containing test (HEPTEM-CT), namely from 210.2 (±19.9) s to 226.8 (±21.8) s (P < 0.001). These changes were not observed in patients receiving a single protamine dose (n = 6). The INTEM-CT:HEPTEM-CT ratio correctly identified 56 of the 58 samples as not containing residual heparin and correctly detected residual heparin in 3 of the only 6 samples showing elevated antifactor Xa values after CPB. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary data show that at termination of CPB administration of additional protamine results in a brief prolongation of coagulation times on the INTEM and HEPTEM test and that ROTEM might be useful in excluding residual heparin in cases showing prolonged ACT.
Preoperative chemoradiation and flap reconstruction provide high local control and low wound complication rates for patients undergoing limb salvage surgery for upper extremity tumors

Neoadjuvant protocols in the management of upper extremity sarcoma have improved local control rates but have been associated with high complication rates. We present a refinement of the Eilber protocol using judicious preoperative chemoradiation, limb salvage surgery, and flap coverage to achieve high local control rates with acceptable wound healing complications.