Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship of vancomycin trough levels with acute kidney injury risk: an exposure-toxicity meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES Nephrotoxicity represents a major complication of vancomycin administration, leading to high rates of morbidity and treatment failure. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between trough levels and risk of renal impairment, by defining an exposure-toxicity relationship and assessing its accuracy in predicting the development of acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, Clinicaltrials.gov and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched from inception. Studies examining the effects of trough levels on nephrotoxicity risk in adult patients were deemed eligible. RESULTS The meta-analysis was based on 60 studies, including 13 304 patients. The development of AKI was significantly linked to both higher initial [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.82; 95% CI: 0.65-0.98] and maximum (SMD: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.82-1.29) trough levels. Dose-response analysis indicated a curvilinear relationship between trough levels and nephrotoxicity risk (χ2 = 127.1; P value < 0.0001). A cut-off of 15 mg/L detected AKI with a sensitivity of 62.6% (95% CI: 55.6-69.2) and a specificity of 65.5% (95% CI: 58.9-71.6), while applying a 20 mg/L threshold resulted in a sensitivity of 42.9% (95% CI: 34-52.2) and a specificity of 82.5% (95% CI: 73.9-88.8). CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that the development of vancomycin-induced AKI is significantly associated with higher initial and maximum trough levels. An exposure-response relationship was defined, indicating that increasing trough levels correlate with a significant rise of nephrotoxicity risk. Future studies should verify the effectiveness of individualized pharmacokinetic tools that would enable the attainment of trough level targets and minimize the risk of renal toxicity.
The effect of host acceptability on oviposition and egg accumulation by the small white butterfly, Pieris rapae

The influence of host‐plant acceptability on oviposition rate, egg load, internal fat storage and longevity was studied in the small white butterfly, Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Newly emerged females and males were presented with either cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. gemmifera), which is a highly acceptable host for the small white, or wallflower (Cheiranthus cheiri L.), which is much less acceptable for oviposition. Individuals were dissected when 3, 6 and 9‐days‐old. Females kept on cabbage contained fewer mature eggs than those kept on wallflower and there was no change in the load of mature eggs over the time course studied. The number of immature eggs carried did not vary with host plant species, but did fall significantly between days 6 and 9. The body fat content of individuals declined with increasing age, but the decline was slower for individuals kept on the host of low acceptability. Individuals that were allowed to spend their natural lifespan on cabbage showed similar oviposition patterns over time, where the oviposition rate started high and gradually reduced until death. However, considerable differences in oviposition pattern were found in individuals kept on wallflower, varying from that found on cabbage to no oviposition at all. The implications of these findings are discussed in the light of existing oviposition theories. This leads to the conclusion that in one species the premises of existing theories on optimization of oviposition are not mutually exclusive but rather play in concert.
Laser therapy versus intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents in monotherapy of ROP: a Meta-analysis.

AIM To compare the efficacy and safety between laser therapy and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents intravitreal injection monotherapy in type-1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP). METHODS A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for original comparable studies. We included studies that compare laser therapy and intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents monotherapy in ROP regardless of languages and publication types. RESULTS Complication incidence was significantly higher in laser therapy group (OR: 0.38; 95%CI: 0.19-0.75; P=0.005). Spherical equivalent (SE) was higher in laser therapy [weighted mean difference (WMD): 2.40, 95%CI: 0.88-3.93; P=0.002]. The time between treatment and retreatment was longer in laser therapy group (WMD: 8.45, 95%CI: 5.35-11.55; P<0.00001). Recurrence incidence (OR: 0.97; 95%CI: 0.45-2.09; P=0.93) and retreatment incidence (OR: 1.24; 95%CI: 0.56-2.73; P=0.59) were similar in two approaches. Subgroup analysis between type-1 ROP and APROP was not significant except SE reported in the included studies (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION This Meta-analysis outcome indicates anti-VEGF agents are as effective as laser treatment, and safer than laser in type-1 ROP and APROP. The degree of myopia in APROP is higher than type-1 ROP. More randomized controlled trials in large sample size should be conducted in the future.
Evaluation of a Culturally Tailored Educational Video Intervention to Promote Bike Helmet Safety for Urban Children: A Pilot Study

Bicycle-related falls are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. Use of bicycle helmets substantially reduces risk of severe traumatic brain injury but compliance with this safety practice is particularly low in urban children. Given the lack of educational interventions for urban youth, our research team created a youth-informed, culturally relevant educational video on bike helmet safety, which was informed by focus groups with Baltimore City youth. This video, You Make the Call, linked the concept of use of cases to protect phones to use of helmets to protect heads and can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2Kr7UCN. The impact of the video as part of an intervention (coupled with a free helmet, fit instructions, and a parent guidance document) was tested with 20 parent–child dyads. The majority (80%) of youth (mean age 9.9 ± 1.8 years) reported not owning or wearing a helmet. At 1-month follow-up (n = 12, 60% response rate), helmet use was higher in the five youth reporting bike-riding after the intervention; 100% “always” used helmets compared to 0% preintervention. There were increases in youth reporting that parents required helmet use (35% pre vs. 67% post) and that is was possible to fall when bike-riding (60% pre vs. 92% post). These pilot results support the use of this video and educational intervention along with further evaluation in a larger sample size. This youth-informed and culturally tailored approach could be explored as a strategy to address other pediatric injury topics.
The Social Correlates of Self-Directed Behaviour and Faecal Glucocorticoid Levels Among Adult Male Olive Baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria

Sociality confers many benefits to gregarious animals, but group-living does not come without associated costs. Social living can cause anxiety, which if prolonged can lead to stress. We investigate correlates of anxiety and stress among wild adult male olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria, and present the first examination of these correlates for male baboons living in forested environments. We used rates of self-directed behaviours (SDB) to quantify anxiety, and faecal glucocorticoid (FGC) concentrations to quantify physiological stress. We first examined the relationship between SDB rates and FGC concentrations, and then examined each measure in relation to a range of variables previously linked to anxiety or stress. We found that SDB rates and FGC concentrations were not correlated with each other, nor were they related to any measure of grooming or receiving aggression. SDB rates were negatively correlated with time spent with an adult female as nearest neighbour, but were unrelated to time with another adult male as closest conspecific. FGC concentrations were unrelated to time with adult nearest neighbours of either sex. Our results add to the growing body of literature examining the psychological and physiological costs of social living among wild primates.
Aspects of the biology of the jonah crab, Cancer borealis Stimpson, 1859 in the mid-Atlantic Bight

Summary Jonah crabs, Cancer borealis, were collected in October 1971, June 1973, and March and April 1974 during trawl surveys of the continental shelf of the mid-Atlantic Bight and the shelf and slope east of Beaufort, North Carolina. In 171 trawls made from the M/V Blesk, R/V Columbus Iselin, R/V Albatross IV and R/V Eastward, 1626 jonah crabs were captured. Crabs were contagiously distributed within a depth range of 20–400 m. Maximum abundance occurred within 150–400 m and 8–13·9°C. Male crabs ranged from 12 to 175 mm in carapace width; females from 13 to 152 mm. Three modal size groups for males and females were recognized: 13–40 mm, 41–80 mm and 81–110 mm. There was a fourth group of male crabs over 110 mm width. Crabs 40 mm were most abundant at depths of 75–150 m; crabs 41–80 mm were not captured in depths 150 m. Larger crabs (81–110 mm) occurred from 40 to 400 m and reached maximum numbers at 150–400 m. Male crabs ≥ 111 mm were found only in 150–400.
Nurse Health: The Influence of Chronotype and Shift Timing

Extreme chronotype and circadian disrupting work hours may increase nurse disease risks. This national, cross-sectional study of nurses (N = 527) had three hypotheses. When chronotype and shift times are incongruent, nurses will experience increased likelihood of (1) obesity, (2) cardiovascular disease/risk factors, and (3) obesity or cardiovascular disease/risk factors when theoretically linked variables exist. Chronotype mismatched nurses’ (n = 206) average sleep (6.1 hours, SD = 1.2) fell below 7–9 hours/24-hours sleep recommendations. Proportion of male nurses was significantly higher chronotype mismatched (12.3%) than matched (6.3%). Analyses found no direct relationship between chronotype match/mismatch with outcome variables. Exploratory interaction analysis demonstrated nurses with mismatched chronotype and above average sleep quality had an estimated 3.51 times the adjusted odds (95% CI 1.52,8.17; p = .003) of being obese. Although mechanism is unclear, this suggests sleep quality may be intricately associated with obesity. Further research is needed to inform nurses on health risks from disrupted sleep, chronotypes, and shift work.
Effect of a “diluted” diet containing 10% lignocellulose on the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal microbiota, and excreta characteristics of dual purpose laying hens

Low performing dual purpose hens have different nutritional requirements compared to conventional hybrid hens. Lignocellulose is a low fermentable polymer, acting as a diet diluent and may influence physiological and digestive processes. This study investigated the effect of a 10% dietary lignocellulose dilution on the development of gastrointestinal organs, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbiota, and excreta characteristics of dual purpose hens. One-day-old female Lohmann Dual chicks were allocated to 12 pens and fed two different diets: A standard control diet (CON) and a treatment diet (LC), based on CON but diluted with 10% lignocellulose (ARBOCEL®). At 52 wk of age, gastrointestinal organs were extracted and weights determined. Colorectal tissue samples were chemically fixed and stained for histomorphological examinations. Cecal digesta samples were analyzed for bacterial metabolites and composition using gas chromatography, HPLC, photometry, and PCR. Excreta dry matter and viscosity was consistently assessed during the trial. LC-fed hens showed increased weights of the gizzard (P = 0.003), small (P < 0.001), and large intestine (P = 0.048) compared to hens fed CON. LC-fed hens had a larger colorectal villus area (P = 0.049), a higher mucosal enlargement factor of villi (P = 0.016) and crypts (P = 0.030) than CON-fed hens. The concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (P = 0.017) and ammonia (P = 0.013) was higher in CON-fed hens compared to LC-fed hens. Bacterial composition and activity was generally not affected by feeding the different diets. LC-fed hens had a higher excreta dry matter content than hens fed CON at 10 (P < 0.001), 17 (P < 0.001), and 22 (P = 0.002) wk of age. Correlation analyses revealed a negative relationship between the concentration of SCFAs in the cecum and the colorectal villus surface area (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the feeding of high levels of lignocellulose increased gastrointestinal organ weights and colorectal surface area in dual purpose laying hens. A higher intestinal surface area in combination with lower concentrations of SCFAs might indicate a compensatory reaction of hens fed LC enhancing the absorption of bacterial metabolites by increasing the intestinal mucosal surface.
Retained ability to extract gist in childhood-acquired amnesia: Insights from a single case

ABSTRACT This paper presents the performance of a young amnesic person (CJ) in the DRM task. CJ was found to be sensitive to the DRM manipulation at a level comparable to controls in recognition and at a level higher than controls in free recall. Detailed analyses of recall intrusions lent further support to the finding that CJ is able to extract gist on the basis of semantic associations. Results are discussed with reference to relevant theory as well as the potential role of an impaired and immature cognitive system in adopting a semantic gist strategy in the absence of episodic memory.
A PARAFFIN EMBEDDING TECHNIQUE FOR STUDIES EMPLOYING IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

A method is described for the fixation of blocks of tissue for use in studies employing immunofluorescence. This method consists of fixing thin blocks in 95% ethanol and carrying out the subsequent dehydration and clearing at refrigerator temperatures (4°C). Thereafter, embedding in paraffin and sectioning by the standard microtomy is easy. This method results in preparations which are histologically more precise in the localization of antigen or antibody than preparations of frozen tissues; and with rabbit antibody and bovine serum albumin, the sensitivity of detection is enhanced. Bovine serum albumin can be found for longer periods after injection than is possible with frozen sections. Other antigens for which this procedure has proved satisfactory are bovine gamma globulin, horse ferritin, influenza A virus, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Hen's ovalbumin deteriorated. New antigens or new antibodies should be tested before being committed to this method.
Identification of potential novel differentially-expressed genes and their role in invasion and migration in renal cell carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains one of the most common cancer types globally, and while it has been extensively studied, the molecular basis for its pathology remains incompletely understood. Herein, we profiled three previously published datasets (GSE66272, GSE100666, and GSE105261) in a single integrated analysis aimed at identifying disease-associated patterns of gene expression that may offer mechanistic insight into the drivers of this disease. We pooled expression data from 39 normal kidney samples and 39 kidney tumors, leading us to identify 310 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were linked to kidney cancer in all three analyzed datasets. Of these genes, 133 and 177 were up- and down-regulated, respectively, in cancer samples. We then incorporated these DEGs into a protein-protein interaction network with the STRING and Cytoscape tools, and we were able to identify signaling pathways significantly enriched for these DEGs. The relationship between DEG expression and ccRCC patient survival was further evaluated using a Kaplan-Meier approach, leading us to identify TIMP1 as an independent prognostic factor in ccRCC patients. When TIMP1 expression was disrupted in ccRCC cell lines, this impaired their migratory and invasive capabilities. In summary, we employed an integrative bioinformatics approach to identify ccRCC-related DEGs and associated signaling pathways. Together these findings offer novel insight into the mechanistic basis for ccRCC, potentially helping to identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of this deadly disease.
Effects of stretching on muscle activation in gas cylinder handling.

BACKGROUND Previously, a stretching regimen was designed for manual material handling (MMH) of gas cylinders as a potential ergonomic solution for reducing occupational injury. No studies have made use of objective process measures, such as muscle activation levels, for evaluation of effects of stretching programs. OBJECTIVE Examine acute effects of stretching on muscle activation levels and driver perceived level of exertion in gas cylinder handling during simulated delivery operations. METHODS A within-subject experiment was conducted with eight male participants being subjected randomly to two conditions over a two-day period: stretching before delivery trials and no stretching. Surface electromyography and the Borg CR-10 scale for perceived exertion were used. RESULTS Generally, results were variable among muscle responses. The extensor muscle bundle in the forearm was found to show a significant decrease (p = 0.0464) in activation level because of stretching. The anterior deltoid and trapezius significantly increased (p < .0001) the EMG activation level with stretching. Also counter to expectations, participants rated perceived exertion significantly higher (p = 0.0423) for trials preceded by stretching. CONCLUSIONS This research indicates a muscle stretching regimen in advance of MMH activities has mixed effects on activation levels across muscles. It is possible that effects are attributable to body posture positions, or manner of muscle use, during actual work activities. Findings indicate that stretching prior to work activity does have an impact on specific muscle activation.
CD70‐silenced dendritic cells induce immune tolerance in immune thrombocytopenia patients

The hyper‐response of dendritic cell (DC) is believed to participate in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The CD70 expression on the surface of DCs that takes part in the CD27‐CD70 costimulation pathway is an important element of DC ‘licensing’, which may initiate a series of autoreactive immune responses. To elucidate the roles CD70 molecules play in the DCs of ITP patients, we first stimulated the CD70 molecules on the DCs of ITP patients and normal controls, and found that the stimulated DCs from ITP patients exhibited higher ability to induce CD4+CD25− T lymphocytes proliferation, while lowering the ability of the induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) from CD4+CD25− T lymphocytes. Meanwhile, higher IFN‐γ and lower IL‐10 levels were found in the co‐culture system of stimulated DCs and CD4+CD25− T cells. We then silenced the CD70 genes on the induced DCs of ITP patients and normal controls by siRNA, and confirmed our suggestion that the silence of CD70 expression on the surface of DCs from ITP patients would decrease the CD4+CD25− T lymphocytes proliferation and Tregs differentiation, simultaneously inducing higher IL‐10 and lower IFN‐γ levels. Thus, the interference with the CD27‐CD70 costimulatory pathway might lead to the alleviation of the consequent immune reactions, polarisation of Th2, induction of immune tolerance as well as shed new light on treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Conservation Genetics: Case Histories from Nature

Contributors. Prologue. 1. Introduction: The Scope of Conservation Genetics Part I: Case Histories with a Focus on Particular Taxonomic Groups. 2. Population Structure, Molecular Systematics and Forensic Identification of Whales and Dolphins C.S. Baker, S.R. Palumbi 3. Conservation Genetics of the Felidae S.J. O'Brien, et al. 4. Conservation Genetics in the Canidae R.K. Wayne 5. Socioecology, Population Fragmentation and Patterns of Genetic Loss in Endangered Primates T.R. Pope 6. Avian Conservation Genetics S.M. Haig, J.C. Avise 7. Conservation Genetics of Marine Turtles B.W. Bowen, J.C. Avise 8. Conservation and Genetics of Salmonid Fishes F.W. Allendorf, R.S. Waples Part II: Case Histories that Involve a Regional or Ecosystem Perspective, or a Pattern and Process Orientation. 9. Conservation Genetics of Endemic Plant Species J.L. Hamrick, Mary J.W. Godt 10. Conservation Genetics of Endangered Island Plants L.H. Rieseberg, S.M. Swensen 11. Conservation Genetics of Fishes in the Pelagic Marine Realm J.E. Graves 12. Conservation Genetics of North American Desert Fishes: R.C. Vrijenhoek 13. A Landscape Approach to Conservation Genetics: Conserving Evolutionary Processes in the African Bovidae A.R. Templeton, N.J. Georgiadis 14. Toward a Regional Conservation Genetics Perspective: Phylogeography of Faunas in the Southeastern United States J.C. Avise 15. A Quantitative-Genetic Perspective on Conservation Issues M.Lynch Epilogue. Index.
Induced resistance and phytoalexin accumulation in biological control of Fusarium wilt of carnation by Pseudomonas sp. strain WCS417r

The involvement of mechanisms other than competition for iron in biological control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi of carnation by Pseudomonas sp. strain WCS417r was investigated. Pathogen and antagonist were spatially separated by bacterizing the roots while inoculating the stem with the pathogen. When the roots were bacterized with strain WCS417r 1 wk prior to stem inoculation with F. o. dianthi, the number of diseased plants in all experiments with cultivar Pallas was reduced from about 50 to 20%, and in one experiment with cultivar Lena from 69 to 38% (.)
Morphological and Physiological Changes during Thidiazuron-Induced Somatic Embryogenesis in Geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey) Hypocotyl Cultures

Somatic embryogenesis in geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey cv. Scarlet Orbit Improved) was achieved by culturing hypocotyl explants on media supplemented with either thidiazuron (TDZ) or indol-3-yl-acetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The physiological relationships between the morphological changes that lead to complete development of somatic embryos and the endogenous levels of plant growth regulators were studied. TDZ induced similar but more pronounced and earlier morphological changes in cultured tissues than did IAA and BAP, but after 21 d in culture, both treatments promoted the formation of somatic embryos of different developmental stages that were similar to zygotic embryos. TDZ induced a higher number of somatic embryos, with similar but greater increases in the endogenous levels of auxins and cytokinins, than did IAA and BAP. This may indicate that TDZ may be a more potent plant growth regulator in inducing physiological and morphological changes than combined auxin and cytokinin, during the process of somatic embryogenesis in geranium.
Trophic Spectrum of the Cichlids Cichlasoma (Parapetenia) istlanum and Cichlasoma (Arconcentrus) nigrofasciatum in the Amacuzac River, Morelos, Mexico

ABSTRACT I compared the trophic spectrum of Cichlasoma istlanum and C. nigrofasciatum of the Amacuzac, River. The diet of C. istlanum was composed of 13 prey categories, and that of C. nigrofasciatum had 26. The niche amplitude index values showed that both species have narrow trophc niches (0.29 for C. istlanum and 0.12 for C. nigrofasciatum). The overlapping index of feeding niche value was 0.50, indicating that the diet for both species was significantly different (X2 = 89.8, P < 0.05). These species shared five food types during the dry season and six during the rainy season. The index of overlap in the rainy season was 0.70. However, chi-square test values indicated that diet was diferentt (X2 = 92.35, P <: 0.05). Analysis of the diet by age showed that the young and adults in both species shared three food types. The diets were statistically different (X2 = 91.7, P < 0.05 for young; X2 = 137.74, P < 0.05 for adults). Cichlasoma istlanum is a specialized entomophagous carnivore, and C. nigrofasciatum.