Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracorporeal Blood Purification in Sepsis and Sepsis-Related Acute Kidney Injury

Sepsis-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important complicating feature of sepsis, and is associated with greater complexity of care and higher mortality. Until recently, AKI lacked a standard, widely accepted definition, rendering it difficult to compare previously published strategies to prevent, recognize and treat this entity. Recently, the RIFLE classification of AKI has been developed, and confirmed in observational studies to be associated with subsequent morbidity and mortality. The management of sepsis-related AKI is evolving with new basic discoveries and ongoing translational clinical research, and will likely include nephroprotective strategies to protect kidneys in patients at risk, early recognition and amelioration of renal damage and pharmacological interventions to minimize injury and promote recovery. Furthermore, extracorporeal blood purification (EBP) has an important role to play, not only in the replacement of certain aspects of renal organ function such as acid-base/electrolyte homeostasis and extracellular fluid volume, but also in an immunomodulatory fashion. As a therapy that has the potential to influence the course of disease in sepsis, EBP in sepsis and sepsis-related AKI is the subject of this review.
Voriconazole Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

ABSTRACT We report on 28 patients who underwent voriconazole monitoring because of disease progression or toxicity. A relationship (P < 0.025) between disease progression and drug concentration was detected. Favorable responses were observed in 10/10 patients with concentrations above 2.05 μg/ml, while disease progressed in 44% (n = 18) of patients with concentrations below 2.05 μg/ml.
Differential diagnosis between viral and bacterial meningitis in children

Objective The differential diagnosis between viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis is often very difficult. The results of peripheral blood and spinal fluid analysis are not 100% accurate. We tried to find a useful ‘bedside’ decision-making tool, based on laboratory results readily available at the emergency department. Methods Retrospective study design. Analysis of a consecutive series of all children (age 0–15 years) admitted to the paediatric ward because of a viral or bacterial meningitis, in the period from 1997 to September 2005. Results Seventy-one children with viral and 21 with bacterial meningitis were included. Bacterial meningitis occurred at much younger ages than viral meningitis. The paediatrician decided to administer antibiotics in 41 of 71 children with viral meningitis and in all children with bacterial meningitis. We developed a ‘bacterial meningitis score’ based on C-reactive protein in peripheral blood, as well as glucose and protein in cerebrospinal fluid. Using this score, we could distinguish 54 of 71 patients with viral meningitis from the group with bacterial meningitis. When the dispensing of antibiotics was based on this score, only 16 patients with viral meningitis would receive antibiotics. Conclusion We present a bedside bacterial meningitis score. Using this bacterial meningitis score as a decision-making tool, we would be able to avoid antibiotics in a large number of children with viral meningitis. As this gives a 100% success rate, thus guaranteeing that bacterial meningitis patients would receive the proper therapy, our bacterial meningitis score could be an accurate decision-support tool.
Physicochemical properties of Four New Genotypes of Guar Seeds (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.).

The objectives of this work was to study the physicochemical properties of four new guar genotypes (GM5, GM6, GM9 and GM34) collected from the experimental farm of University of Khartoum- Shambat. Proximate composition, Tannin content. One thousand Kernel weight, Hectoliter weight, seed components and hard seeds percentage were carried out for the guar seeds. Result obtained showed that genotypes GM5 and GM34 had significantly (P≤0.05) higher values of 1000-kernel weight compared to the genotypes GM6 and GM9. Genotype GM5 gave the significant (P≤0.05) lowest percentage for hard seeds (11.67%) fallowed by GM34 (17.67%) and GM6 (20.67%) while GM9 gave the highest value (24.33%). Proximate analysis of guar seeds showed that the GM6 had significant (P≤0.05) highest protein content (42.8%) while GM34 gave the lowest value, Genotype GM34 gave significant (P≤0.05) highest value for ash content (5.54%), for carbohydrate (gum content) GM5 gave significant (P≤0.05) highest value (38.58%) fallowed by GM9 and GM34 but the genotype GM6 gave significant (P≤0.05) lowest value of gum content (30.26%). Tannin content was significantly(P≤0.05) lower in GM5 (0.030%).
Predictors of dental visits for routine check-ups and for the resolution of problems among preschool children.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of dental visits among preschool children and determine the factors associated with using dental services. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,129 five-year-old children from the Pelotas Birth Cohort Study in Pelotas (Southern Brazil) 2004, from September 2009 to January 2010. Use of dental services at least once in the child's life and the reason for the child's first dental visit were recorded. The categories assigned for the first dental visit were: routine check-up, resolution of a problem, or never saw a dentist. The oral examinations and interviews were performed in the children's homes. Socioeconomic aspects and independent variables related to the mother and child were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS The prevalence of dental visits (both categories combined) was 37.0%. The main predictors for a routine visit were higher economic status, mothers with more schooling, and mothers who had received guidance about prevention. Major predictors for a visit because of a problem were having felt pain in the previous six months, mothers with higher education level, and mothers who had received guidance about prevention. Approximately 45.0% of mothers received information about how to prevent cavities, usually from the dentist. Children of mothers who adhered to health programs were more likely to have had a routine dental visit. CONCLUSIONS The rate of preschool visits to dental services was lower than the rate for medical appointments (childcare). In addition to income and education, maternal behavior plays an important role in routine visits. Pain reported in the last six months and a high number of teeth affected by tooth decay, independent of other factors, were associated with visits for a specific problem. It is important to integrate oral health instruction into maternal and child health programs.
Dynamic Informatics of Avian Biodiversity on an Urban and Regional Scale

Birds often constitute the most diverse and abundant species in a large-scale range (Rutschke, 1987; Virkkala, 2004). As such, and because their specific richness is relatively high in winter seasons, they may provide a useful raw material to evaluate predictive methods in wintering groups migrating through over an enormous range of environments (Bradley & Bradley, 1983). In the avian ecology, because they are highly mobile, and often yet ordinarily forage, breed, and stop in very specific habitats, birds indicate their specific behaviors of habitat selection (Jokimaki & Suhonen, 1998; Paillisson et al., 2004; Silva et al., 2004). Thus, they are also an ideal subject for habitat studies.
Dialysis care, cardiovascular disease, and costs in end-stage renal disease in Brazil

Objectives: This study evaluates the cost of dialysis care in Brazil, including costs of ambulatory care and hospital admissions due to all causes and cardiovascular events. Methods: Data were analyzed for 200 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on chronic hemodialysis in Brazil between 2001 and 2004. Main end points were all-cause mortality, all-cause hospital admissions, and cardiovascular events. Direct costs of dialysis treatment and complications were computed from the perspective of two payers, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and private health insurance (PHI). Results: Mean number of days of hospitalization was 12 per patient-year. There were 105 cardiovascular events; the most frequent events were coronary disease (n = 59, 56 percent) and congestive heart failure (n = 26, 25 percent). The rate of cardiovascular events was 193 per 1,000 patient-years. There were 43 deaths, and the death rate was 79 per 1,000 patient-years. Median cost per hospital admission was US$ 675 and US$ 932 from the perspective of the MoH and PHI. For admissions due to cardiovascular causes, the corresponding costs were US$ 1,639 and US$ 4,499, respectively. Mean global cost per patient-year for chronic hemodialysis therapy was US$ 7,980 and US$ 13,428 from the perspective of the MoH and PHI, respectively. Conclusions: Patients on chronic hemodialysis care incur significant healthcare resources due to the costs of dialysis and complications, notably cardiovascular disease. New disease management programs aimed at reducing cardiovascular morbidity and efficient use of resources are critical to ensuring the sustainability of treatments for ESRD in Brazil.
A critical study investigating the relationship between pupils' academic self-concept and their academic achievement

The study investigates the relationship between pupils’ academic self-concept and their academic achievement. Research suggests that there is a positive relationship between the two variables and the study tests this hypothesis. The small-scale research was conducted with Year Four pupils in a Norfolk school. Pupils’ academic self-concept was measured using the Self Description Questionnaire I which recorded results numerically and pupils’ levels in numeracy and literacy were the measures of academic achievement. Statistical analysis was then used to assess whether there was a significant relationship between the variables, and pupils were interviewed individually in an attempt to help explain the discovered relationships. The research analysis found positive correlation and a significant relationship between pupils’ academic self-concept and their numeracy achievement. However, the relationship between pupils’ academic self-concept and their literacy achievement did not reach statistical significance and although positive, the correlation was small and weak. The semi-structured interviews suggested that these relationships existed because pupils had a more accurate view of their numeracy abilities compared to their literacy abilities. 뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ뀀ഀȠ
Phosphate Limitation Induces Drastic Physiological Changes, Virulence-Related Gene Expression, and Secondary Metabolite Production in Pseudovibrio sp. Strain FO-BEG1

ABSTRACT Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for living organisms and is obtained by bacteria primarily via phosphate uptake. However, phosphate is often scarcely accessible in nature, and there is evidence that in many areas of the ocean, its concentration limits bacterial growth. Surprisingly, the phosphate starvation response has been extensively investigated in different model organisms (e.g., Escherichia coli), but there is a dearth of studies on heterotrophic marine bacteria. In this work, we describe the response of Pseudovibrio sp. strain FO-BEG1, a metabolically versatile alphaproteobacterium and potential symbiont of marine sponges, to phosphate limitation. We compared the physiology, protein expression, and secondary metabolite production under phosphate-limited conditions to those under phosphate surplus conditions. We observed that phosphate limitation had a pleiotropic effect on the physiology of the strain, triggering cell elongation, the accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoate, the degradation of polyphosphate, and the exchange of membrane lipids in favor of phosphorus-free lipids such as sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerols. Many proteins involved in the uptake and degradation of phospho-organic compounds were upregulated, together with subunits of the ABC transport system for phosphate. Under conditions of phosphate limitation, FO-BEG1 secreted compounds into the medium that conferred an intense yellow coloration to the cultures. Among these compounds, we identified the potent antibiotic tropodithietic acid. Finally, toxin-like proteins and other proteins likely involved in the interaction with the eukaryotic host were also upregulated. Altogether, our data suggest that phosphate limitation leads to a pronounced reorganization of FO-BEG1 physiology, involving phosphorus, carbon, and sulfur metabolism; cell morphology; secondary metabolite production; and the expression of virulence-related genes.
DUAL INFECTION OF AN AFRICAN FISH EAGLE WITH ACID-FAST BACILLI AND AN Aspergillus SP.

Clinical, post-mortem and histological findings are described for an African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), which was naturally infected with acid-fast organisms. In addition to this infection, there was an invasion of the air sacs and, to a lesser extent the lungs, by an Aspergillus sp. The predominant clinical sign was dyspnoea and there were acid-fast organisms in lesions in the liver and kidney in addition to the respiratory tract.
Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate Protects Cardiomyocytes Against Oxidative Stress-mediated Apoptosis Through Inhibiting JNK Activation

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) is a water-soluble derivative of tanshinone IIA, a well-known Chinese medicine for treating cardiovascular disorders. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of STS on cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by in vivo acute myocardial infarction (MI) in adult rats and by in vitro H2O2-treated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. In MI rats, STS significantly reduced the infarct sizes, the blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes in the infarcted hearts. In the in vitro study, STS reversed the decreased effect of cell viability induced by H2O2. In addition, STS also markedly inhibited H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. C-Jun N-terminal kinases/stress-activated protein kinases (JNKs/SAPKs) and p38 MAPK are classic oxidative stress-activated protein kinases. Our further mechanistic study revealed that increased JNK phosphorylation stimulated by H2O2 was abolished by STS treatment. In conclusion, inhibition of JNK activation plays a significant role in cardioprotective effects of STS.
Experimental and field evaluation of a live vaccine against avian pneumovirus

The attenuation of an avian pneumovirus (APV) isolate (APV/MN/turkey/1-a/97) by 63 serial passages in cell culture (seven in chicken embryo fibroblasts and 56 in Vero cells) and its evaluation as a live attenuated vaccine in turkey poults is described. The birds were vaccinated with two different doses of attenuated virus (10 4.5 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID 50 )/ml and 10 2.5 TCID 50 /ml) at 2 weeks of age, and were challenged 2 weeks later with virulent APV. No clinical signs were seen in vaccinated, challenged birds, whereas severe clinical signs were observed in the mock-vaccinated, challenged group. Vaccinated birds developed anti-APV antibodies, which increased in titre following challenge with virulent virus. On challenge, none of the vaccinates was found to shed viral nucleic acid as detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, but non-vaccinated, challenged birds did. The vaccine virus was also evaluated under field conditions in two farms. At one farm, the 'seeder bird approach' was used and two birds per 1000 birds were vaccinated by the oculo-nasal route. In the second farm, the virus was given to all birds simultaneously in the drinking water. The birds vaccinated by the drinking water route seroconverted earlier and continued to shed virus for longer as compared with birds inoculated by the seeder bird approach. The overall results of this study indicate that the 63rd passage of APV was sufficiently attenuated and offered protection against challenge with virulent virus.
An Introduction to Drug Disposition: The Basic Principles of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion

A knowledge of the fate of a drug, its disposition (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, known by the acronym ADME) and pharmacokinetics (the mathematical description of the rates of these processes and of concentration-time relationships), plays a central role throughout pharmaceutical research and development. These studies aid in the discovery and selection of new chemical entities, support safety assessment, and are critical in defining conditions for safe and effective use in patients. ADME studies provide the only basis for critical judgments from situations where the behavior of the drug is understood to those where it is unknown: this is most important in bridging from animal studies to the human situation. This presentation is intended to provide an introductory overview of the life cycle of a drug in the animal body and indicates the significance of such information for a full understanding of mechanisms of action and toxicity.
Conformation and electronic structure of polyethylene: A density-functional approach.

with torsional freedom and vary with the change in dihedral angle in a pattern similar to that of the total energy. The total energy has an absolute minimum for the planar zigzag conformation but a distinct local minimum for the quasistable helical conformation. Another minimum occurs in the energy curve close to this gauche minimum. The calculated valence and conduction bands are discussed and compared with other theoretical calculations and experiment. @S0163-1829~96! 02239-4#
A model-driven testing framework based on requirement for embedded software

Based on hardware and software integration testing and model driven testing binding requirements, we propose a model based on the needs of embedded software driver initial framework to analyze and identify the needs of embedded systems hardware and software object creation object interaction model, then the model analysis and testing constraints and on the basis of test scenarios, and then establish MARTE model test requirements, test cases accordingly converted into XML model, obtain the initial set of test cases through model transformation algorithm and model checking, and finally the use of intelligent algorithms to obtain objective test set. Expectations for increasing demand for embedded software in line with the degree of automation of the verification process, the verification and running on the target machine's software to achieve high-level functions and needs consistency.
Melatonin reduces dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid‐induced colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by oxidative and nitrosative stress, leukocyte infiltration, and up‐regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) expression in the colon. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the pineal secretory product melatonin in rats subjected to experimental colitis. Colitis was induced in rats by intracolonic instillation of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). Rats experienced bloody diarrhea and a significant loss of body weight. Four days after DNBS administration, the colon damage was characterized by areas of mucosal necrosis. Neutrophil infiltration (indicated by myeloperoxidase [MPO] activity in the mucosa) was associated with up‐regulation of ICAM‐1, expression of P‐selectin, and high levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Immunohistochemistry for nitrotyrosine and poly (ADP‐ribose) synthetase (PARS) showed an intense staining in the inflamed colon. Staining of colon tissue sections obtained from DNBS‐treated rats with an anti‐cycloxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) antibody showed a diffuse staining of the inflamed tissue. Furthermore, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was found mainly in the macrophages of the inflamed colons from DNBS‐treated rats. Treatment with melatonin (15 mg/kg daily, intraperitoneally) significantly reduced the appearance of diarrhea and the loss of body weight. This was associated with a remarkable amelioration of the disruption of the colonic architecture, as well as a significant reduction of colonic MPO activity and MDA levels. Melatonin also reduced the appearance of nitrotyrosine and PARS immunoreactivity in the colon, as well as reducing the up‐regulation of ICAM‐1 and the expression of P‐selectin. The intensity and degree of the stainings for COX‐2 and iNOS were markedly reduced in tissue sections obtained from melatonin‐treated rats. The results of the this study suggest that the administration of melatonin might be beneficial for the treatment of IBD.
Activation of the Stem Cell-Derived Tyrosine Kinase/RON Receptor Tyrosine Kinase by Macrophage-Stimulating Protein Results in the Induction of Arginase Activity in Murine Peritoneal Macrophages1

Regulation of macrophage activities in response to inflammatory stimuli must be finely tuned to promote an effective immune response while, at the same time, preventing damage to the host. Our lab and others have previously shown that macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP), through activation of its receptor RON, negatively regulates NO production in response to IFN-γ and LPS by inhibiting the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). Furthermore, activated macrophages from mice harboring targeted mutations in RON produce increased levels of NO both in vitro and in vivo, rendering them more susceptible to LPS-induced endotoxic shock. In this study, we demonstrate that stimulation of murine peritoneal macrophages with MSP results in the RON-dependent up-regulation of arginase, an enzyme associated with alternative activation that competes with iNOS for the substrate l-arginine, the products of which are involved in cell proliferation and matrix synthesis. Expression of other genes associated with alternative activation, including scavenger receptor A and IL-1R antagonist, is also up-regulated in MSP-stimulated murine macrophages. Stimulation of cells with IFN-γ and LPS blocks the ability of MSP to induce arginase activity. However, pretreatment of cells with MSP results in the up-regulation of arginase and inhibits their ability to produce NO in response to IFN-γ and LPS, even in the presence of excess substrate, suggesting that the inhibition of NO by MSP occurs primarily through its ability to regulate iNOS expression.
Using the PCL-R to Help Estimate the Validity of Two Self-Report Measures of Psychopathy With Offenders

Two self-report measures of psychopathy, Levenson’s Primary and Secondary Psychopathy scales (LPSP) and the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI), were administered to a large sample of 1,603 offenders. The most widely researched measure of criminal psychopathy, the Hare Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL-R), served as a provisional referent for estimating the construct validity of these self-report measures with offenders. Compared with the LPSP, the PPI displayed higher zero-order correlations with the PCL-R, better convergent and discriminant validity, and more consistent incremental utility in predicting PCL-R scores. Furthermore, using a variant of Westen and Rosenthal’s approach to evaluating the construct validity of a new measure, compared with the LPSP, the PPI’s pattern of associations with measures of 35 external criterion variables was more similar to the pattern observed for the PCL-R. Results generally provide stronger support for the validity of the PPI than the LPSP in offender populations using the PCL-R as a provisional benchmark, particularly for assessing interpersonal and affective features of psychopathy.