Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Critical Care Nurses' Perceptions of End-of-Life Care Obstacles: Comparative 17-Year Data

Background: Nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) frequently care for patients and their families at the end of life (EOL). Providing high-quality EOL care is important for both patients and families, yet ICU nurses face many obstacles that hinder EOL care. Researchers have identified various ICU nurse-perceived obstacles, but no studies have been found addressing the progress that has been made for the last 17 years. Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the most common and current obstacles in EOL care as perceived by ICU nurses and then to evaluate whether meaningful changes have occurred since data were first gathered in 1998. Methods: A quantitative-qualitative mixed methods design was used. A random, geographically dispersed sample of 2000 members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses was surveyed. Results: Five obstacle items increased in mean score and rank as compared with 1999 data including (1) family not understanding what the phrase “lifesaving measures” really means, (2) providing lifesaving measures at families' requests despite patient's advance directive listing no such care, (3) family not accepting patient's poor prognosis, (4) family members fighting about the use of life support, and (5) not enough time to provide EOL care because the nurse is consumed with lifesaving measures attempting to save the patient's life. Five obstacle items decreased in mean score and rank compared with 1999 data including (1) physicians differing in opinion about care of the patient, (2) family and friends who continually call the nurse rather than calling the designated family member, (3) physicians who are evasive and avoid families, (4) nurses having to deal with angry families, and (5) nurses not knowing their patient's wishes regarding continuing with tests and treatments. Conclusions: Obstacles in EOL care, as perceived by critical care nurses, still exist. Family-related obstacles have increased over time. Obstacles related to families may not be easily overcome as each family, dealing with a dying family member in an ICU, likely has not previously experienced a similar situation. On the basis of the current top 5 obstacles, recommendations for possible areas of focus include (1) improved health literacy assessment of families followed by earlier directed, appropriate, and specific EOL information; (2) improved physician/team communication; and (3) ensuring patients' wishes are followed as written. In general, patient- and family-centered care using clear and open EOL communication regarding wishes and desires between patients and families, their physicians, and nurses will help decrease common obstacles, thus improving the quality of EOL care provided to dying patients and families.
Kernel-based pattern recognition hardware: its design methodology using evolved truth tables

We propose a new logic circuit design methodology for kernel-based pattern recognition hardware using a genetic algorithm. In the proposed design methodology, pattern data are transformed into the truth tables and the truth tables are evolved to represent kernels in the discrimination functions for pattern recognition. The evolved truth tables are then synthesized to logic circuits. Because of this data direct implementation approach, no floating point numerical circuits are required and the intrinsic parallelism in the pattern data set is embedded into the circuits. Consequently, high speed recognition systems can be realized with acceptable small circuit size. We have applied this methodology to the image recognition and the sonar spectrum recognition tasks, and implemented them onto the newly developed FPGA-based reconfigurable pattern recognition board. The developed system demonstrates higher recognition accuracy and much faster processing speed than the conventional approaches.
Seasonal dynamics of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAnP) bacteria are bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a)- containing prokaryotes that can use both dissolved organic matter and light as energy sources. AAnP bacteria are widely distributed in aquatic environments where they are expected to play an important role in carbon cycling. However, little is known about their spatio-temporal distribution in marine ecosystems. In this study we examined the dynamics of AAnP bacteria in a coastal saline lagoon from November 2007 to September 2008. AAnP cells were enumerated by infrared (IR) microscopy, and BChl a concentrations were measured by both IR kinetic fluorometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The distribution of AAnP bacteria varied seasonally, but no clear spatial pat- tern emerged. The abundance of these bacteria ranged from 1.0 to 13.5 × 10 4 cells ml -1 from winter to summer, comprising 0.1 to 3% of total bacterial abundance. Size fractionation of the BChl a fluores- cence signal showed that AAnP bacteria were mainly particle-attached in winter and free-living in spring and summer. BChl a concentrations (up to 108.7 ng l -1 ), BChl a content per cell (up to 1.7 fg cell -1 ) and the ratios of BChl a to chlorophyll a (chl a) (up to 15%) were high in spring and summer, suggesting that AAnP bacteria contributed significantly at this time to photosynthetically driven en- ergy production in the lagoon. Temperature and light were the main factors driving seasonal varia- tions in the abundance of AAnP bacteria, while total bacterial abundance was closely related to varia- tions in the concentration of dissolved organic carbon. These results highlight for the first time the numerical importance and the dynamics of AAnP bacteria in a coastal lagoon.
Incidence and preventability of adverse events requiring intensive care admission: a systematic review.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Adverse events are unintended patient injuries or complications that arise from health care management resulting in death, disability or prolonged hospital stay. Adverse events that require critical care are a considerable financial burden to the health care system, but also their global impact on patients and society is probably underestimated. The objectives of this systematic review were to synthesize the best available evidence regarding the estimates of the incidence and preventability of adverse events that necessitate intensive care admission, to determine the type and consequences [mortality, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and costs] of these adverse events. METHODS MEDLINE (from 1966 to present), EMBASE (from 1974 to present) and CENTRAL (version 1-2010) were searched for studies reporting on unplanned admissions on ICUs. Several other sources were searched for additional studies. Only quantitative studies that used chart review for the detection of adverse events requiring intensive care admission were considered for eligibility. For the purposes of this systematic review, ICUs were defined as specialized hospital facilities which provide continuous monitoring and intensive care for acutely ill patients. Studies that were published in the English, Dutch, German, French or Spanish language were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS A total of 27 studies were reviewed. Meta-analysis of the data was not appropriate because of methodological and statistical heterogeneity between studies; therefore, results are presented in a descriptive way. The percentage of surgical and medical adverse events that required ICU admission ranged from 1.1% to 37.2%. ICU readmissions varied from 0% to 18.3%. Preventability of the adverse events varied from 17% to 76.5%. Preventable adverse events are further synthesized by type of event. Consequences of the adverse events included a mean length of ICU stay that ranged from 1.5 days to 10.4 days for the patient's first stay in ICU and mortality percentages between 0% and 58%. CONCLUSIONS Adverse events are an important reason for (re)admission to the ICU and a considerable proportion of these are preventable. It was not possible to estimate an overall incidence and preventability rate of these events as we found considerable heterogeneity. To decrease adverse events that necessitate ICU admission, several systems are recommended such as early detection of patients with clinical instability on general wards and the implementation of rapid response teams. Step-down or intermediate care units could be a useful strategy for patients who require monitoring to avoid ICU readmissions. However, the effectiveness of such systems needs to be investigated.
TLR2 Agonists Enhance CD8+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells and Suppress Th2 Immune Responses during Allergen Immunotherapy

Pam3CSK4, a synthetic TLR2 ligand, has been shown to expand CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells). Less is known about the function of CD8+ Treg cells than about the function of CD4+ Treg cells generated during allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT). This study investigated whether Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific IT could expand the CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg population and whether Pam3CSK4 could enhance the Treg population. PBMCs were isolated from healthy control subjects and from mite-sensitive asthmatic patients during IT at three specific times: before IT and 6 mo and 1 y after the maximum-tolerated dose. This study was performed without a placebo-controlled group. D. pteronyssinus-specific IT induced a significant increase in CD8+Foxp3+ Treg cells expressing intracellular IL-10 and granzyme B. Costimulation of PBMCs with Pam3CSK4 and D. pteronyssinus 2 expanded the CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg population and inhibited D. pteronyssinus 2-induced IL-4 production. Pam3CSK4-treated CD8+CD25+ Treg cells directly suppressed CD4+ T cell proliferation by cell-contact inhibition. TUNEL revealed that CD8+CD25+ Treg cells, but not CD4+CD25+ Treg cells, directly induced CD4+CD45ROhi+ apoptosis. Our results provide direct evidence that Pam3CSK4 induces an immunomodulatory effect by inducing CD8+ Treg cells; therefore, it may be a good adjuvant for the treatment of mite allergies.
Management of root Knot Nematode ( Meloidogyne Incognita ) using Neem ( Azadiractha Indica )

In India, several species of Meloidogyne are reported on a variety of vegetables, cereals, pulses and ornamental plants. Root knot disease caused by M.incognita is a matter of great concern because this species affects several economically important crop plants. Okra is a very important crop by nutrition and health wise. In the present study the application of various parts of neem (seeds, leaves) altered the physiology of host plant and developed the strong defensive mechanism of the root against nematodes.so the use of neem products stimulated and change the physiology of plant cells and tissue to repel the nematode parasite. Extracts of fresh greens leaves, showed max. Reduction in egg hatching and cause great mortality of juveniles and followed by fresh green seed and dry seed extracts. In pot conditions the powder of fresh seed showed highest plant growth and reduction in root knot formation and followed by fresh leaves and dry seed powder.
Cholinergic stimulation of the immune system protects against lethal infection by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

The cholinergic nervous system has been demonstrated to attenuate the inflammatory response during sepsis via the inhibitory action of acetylcholine (ACh) on macrophages. These findings were largely based on experimental sepsis models using endotoxin as the inducing agent. Herein, however, we report that the specific inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) renders animals more resistant to infection by a virulent strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a Gram‐negative enteric pathogen. Inhibition of AChE was induced by a subchronic exposure to paraoxon, a potent anti‐cholinesterase metabolite of the organophosphorous compound parathion. Our findings indicate that inhibition of AChE enhanced survival of infected mice in a dose‐dependent fashion and this correlated with efficient control of bacterial proliferation in target organs. Immunologically, inhibition of AChE enabled the animals to mount a more effective inflammatory anti‐microbial response, and to secrete higher levels of interleukin‐12, a key T helper type 1‐promoting cytokine. The ACh‐induced enhancement in resistance to infection was abrogated by co‐administration of an oxime which can reactivate AChE. Hence, in a model of Gram‐negative bacterial infection, cholinergic stimulation is shown to enhance the anti‐microbial immune response leading to effective control of bacterial proliferation and enhanced animal survival.
Some are Punished and Some are Rewarded: A Study of the Impact of Performance Pay on Job Satisfaction

Purpose – To investigate whether significant differences exist in job satisfaction (JS) between individuals receiving performance‐related pay (PRP) and those on alternative compensation plans.Design/methodology/approach – Using data from four waves (1998‐2001) of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), a Heckman‐type econometric procedure is applied that corrects for both self‐selection of individuals into their preferred compensation scheme and the endogeneity of wages in a JS framework.Findings – It is found that while the predicted JS of workers receiving PRP is lower on average compared to those on other pay schemes, PRP exerts a positive effect on the mean JS of (very) high‐paid workers. A potential explanation for this pattern could be that for lower‐paid employees PRP is perceived to be controlling, whereas higher‐paid workers derive a utility benefit from what they view as supportive reward schemes.Research limitations/implications – As the study utilises data from the UK only, its results cann.
Isolation and identification of biologically active components from the honey bee venom apis mellifera L. caucasica

The venom of the European honey bee Apis mellifera is an intricate mixture of chemical compositions, including proteins, peptides, enzymes, and other small molecules. Lately, there has been growing interest in the use of melittin, due to its wide range of biological and potential therapeutic applications. Melittin, which is considered to be an antimicrobial, antitumor, and antiinflammatory peptide, is the main component (≥50% (w/w)) of honey bee venom and is widely used in oriental medicine [1] and studied as an alternative for treating drug-resistant infections [2-4]. In parallel to antimicrobial peptides for therapeutic use in humans, melittin can be used to fight economically important plant pathogens that limit crop production globally [5]. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and hyaluronidase (HYA) are the two major enzymatic proteins present in the bee venom [6,7]. Both of these enzymes are classified as major allergens according to the International Union of Immunological Societies, as they are capable of inducing the IgE response in susceptible individuals [6-8].
Human and Organizational Factors of Healthcare Data Breaches: The Swiss Cheese Model of Data Breach Causation And Prevention

Over the past few years, concerns related to healthcare data privacy have been mounting since healthcare information has become more digitized, distributed and mobile. However, very little is known about the root cause of data breach incidents; making it difficult for healthcare organizations to establish proper security controls and defenses. Through a systematic review and synthesis of data breaches literature, and using databases of earlier reported healthcare data breaches, the authors re-examine and analyze the causal factors behind healthcare data breaches. The authors then use the Swiss Cheese Model SCM to shed light on the technical, organizational and human factors of these breaches. The author's research suggests that incorporating the SCM concepts into the healthcare security policies and procedures can assist healthcare providers in assessing the vulnerabilities and risks associated with the maintenance and transmission of protected health information.
Specificity and Promiscuity in Phosphoinositide Binding by Pleckstrin Homology Domains*

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are small protein modules involved in recruitment of signaling molecules to cellular membranes, in some cases by binding specific phosphoinositides. We describe use of a convenient “dot-blot” approach to screen 10 different PH domains for those that recognize particular phosphoinositides. Each PH domain bound phosphoinositides in the assay, but only two (from phospholipase C-δ1and Grp1) showed clear specificity for a single species. Using soluble inositol phosphates, we show that the Grp1 PH domain (originally cloned on the basis of its phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) binding) binds specifically tod-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) (the PtdIns(3,4,5)P3headgroup) with K D = 27.3 nm, but bindsd-myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P3) or d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) over 80-fold more weakly. We show that this specificity allows localization of the Grp1 PH domain to the plasma membrane of mammalian cells only when phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) is activated. The presence of three adjacent equatorial phosphate groups was critical for inositol phosphate binding by the Grp1 PH domain. By contrast, another PH domain capable of PI 3-K-dependent membrane recruitment (encoded by EST684797) does not distinguish Ins(1,3,4)P3 from Ins(1,3,4,5)P3 (binding both with very high affinity), despite selecting strongly against Ins(1,4,5)P3. The remaining PH domains tested appear significantly less specific for particular phosphoinositides. Together with data presented in the literature, our results suggest that many PH domains bind similarly to multiple phosphoinositides (and in some cases phosphatidylserine), and are likely to be regulated in vivo by the most abundant species to which they bind. Thus, using the same simple approach to study several PH domains simultaneously, our studies suggest that highly specific phosphoinositide binding is a characteristic of relatively few cases.
Partitioning of Anthropogenic Watering Sites by Desert Carnivores

ABSTRACT We investigated the role of water features as focal attractors for gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and bobcats (Felis rufus) in west Texas to determine if they were foci for interspecific interaction. Mixed effects models indicated that species partitioned use of water features spatially and temporally. Linear models indicated factors influencing relative activity at water features varied by species. For coyotes and bobcats, the water availability model, containing days since last rainfall and nearest-neighbor distance to water was best supported by the data, with relative activity increasing with time between rainfall and distance between waters. For gray foxes, the best approximating model indicated that relative activity was inversely correlated to coyote and bobcat activity indices, and positively correlated to topographical complexity. Encounters between carnivore species were low, with most occurring between coyotes and gray foxes, followed by coyotes and bobcats, and bobcats and gray foxes. These findings suggest a behavioral-environmental mechanism that may function to modulate resource partitioning by carnivores in the arid West.
Deficit in the lordosis reflex of female rats caused by lesions in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus.

1. The effect of electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (v.m.n.) on the lordosis reflex has been investigated on ovariectomized female rats. Lesions were made through chronically implanted platinum‐iridium electrodes. 2. V.m. n. lesions did not disrupt lordosis immediately, but induced a gradual decline in the reflex. Lordosis performance reached it minimum no less than 12 hr after the lesion, and typically after 36‐‐60 hr. 3. The magnitude of the lordosis deficit was related to the amount of v.m. n. damage. Destruction of other hypothalamic regions was without appreciable relation to the deficit. Within v.m. n. , lesion size in the lateral, but not medial portion was significantly correlated with lordosis deficit. 4. Because of the slow time courses of v.m. n. lesions and stimulation (Pfaff & Sakuma, 1978) effects, it is postulated that the v.m. n. is not part of the direct reflex‐arc for lordosis. Rather, neurones in v.m. n. are likely to exert a tonic hormone‐dependent bias on brain stem reflex paths for this behaviour.
Highly Efficient Fully Integrated GaN-HEMT Doherty Power Amplifier Based on Compact Load Network

This paper presents a fully integrated gallium-nitride high-electron-mobility transistor (GaN-HEMT) Doherty power amplifier (DPA) based on a compact load network for small-cell applications. The gate width of the transistor is optimized to have a load impedance of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$100~\boldsymbol{\Omega }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> with a shunt inductor that can compensate for the output capacitor using a parallel resonance. A quarter-wave transmission line (TL) with a characteristic impedance of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$100~\boldsymbol{\Omega }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is realized using a high-pass <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\pi }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-type lumped network for the carrier amplifier. The on-chip input network, including a power splitter, a quarter-wave TL, and matching networks for the carrier and peaking amplifiers, is designed using lumped components. The circuits are simplified by merging the multiple shunt components at a node into an inductor or a capacitor. As a result, the load network has only two shunt inductors. To verify the proposed circuits, a 2.6-GHz DPA integrated circuit (IC) was designed and implemented using a 0.4-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\mu }\text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> GaN-HEMT process. The implemented IC, which was mounted on a quad-flat no-lead package, exhibited a high drain efficiency of 54.4% at an average output power of 37.6 dBm with an adjacent channel leakage power ratio of −27.0 dBc using a downlink long-term evolution signal having a channel bandwidth of 10 MHz and a peak-to-average power ratio of 6.5 dB.
Stratigraphic, geochronologic, and paleomagnetic constraints on Late Cretaceous volcanism in northern Israel

Late Cretaceous volcanism in northern Israel is represented by basaltic pyroclastics and lavas at two adjacent localities at Mount Carmel and the Umm el Fahm area. Four Cenomanian and one Senonian volcanic intercalation occur in the marine succession. These volcanic rocks were dated by the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar and K‐Ar techniques using whole rock, amphibole megacrysts, and plagioclase fractions. Paleomagnetic measurements were performed on the Senonian pyroclastics. Amphibole from the oldest Cenomanian volcanic unit in Mount Carmel (the Kerem Maharal pyroclastics, at the base of the Chalk Complex) yielded an age of 97.1 ± 1.7 Ma. The penultimate Cenomanian volcanic unit in Mount Carmel (basalt at Nahal Raqefet and Muhraqa) yielded a whole-rock age of 96.7 ± 0.5 Ma. The youngest Cenomanian volcanic intercalation in the Umm el Fahm area (basalt at Me-Ammi) yielded a whole-rock age of 95.4 ± 0.5 Ma. Amphiboles from the Senonian Bat Shelomo pyroclastics, the youngest volcanic unit in the area, yielded an age of 82.0 ± 1.3 Ma. Three conclusions may be drawn from our new radiometric ages: (1) The major volcanic events operated synchronously at Mount Carmel and the Umm el Fahm area. (2) The chalk complex of Mount Carmel and the Deir Hanna Formation in the Umm el Fahm area are stratigraphically correlated. (3) The new radiometric results agree with biostratigraphically-derived ages, but provide better time constraints for the lithostratigraphic units. The data help to settle previous correlation controversies: the Albian‐Cenomanian boundary is set below the top of the Yagur Formation, and the Cenomanian‐Turonian boundary, above the base of the Muhraqa Formation.