Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous Coinfection of Cytomegalovirus and Mycobacterium chelonae Accelerated by Immunosuppression

A mildly diabetic 58-year-old male had traumatic ulceration on the left popliteal fossa, and the lesion progressed to a painful 6 cm deep ulcer. After surgical debridement and skin grafting, ulceration recurred. Pyoderma gangrenosum was clinically diagnosed after the first biopsy, indicating a noninfective ulcer. Immunosuppressive therapy (prednisolone and cyclosporine A) induced complete epithelialization in three months. Four months later, subcutaneous nonulcerated nodules appeared on the anterior area of the left lower leg. Subcutaneous induration progressed and ulceration recurred, so that immunosuppressive therapy continued for one year. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia was detected, and the second biopsy demonstrated CMV inclusions of endothelial and perivascular cells in fibrosing septolobular panniculitis. Cyclosporine A was cancelled, prednisolone was tapered, and ganciclovir started. Viremia soon disappeared, but the lesion progressed to large induration with multiple ulcers measuring up to 3 cm. The third biopsy disclosed infection of Gram-positive mycobacteria, accompanying fat droplet-centered suppurative granulomas without CMV infection. Microbial culture identified Mycobacterium chelonae. Clarithromycin with thermotherapy was effective. A review of the second biopsy confirmed coinfection of CMV and Gram-positive mycobacteria. Immunostaining using a panel of anti-bacterial antibodies visualized the mycobacteria in the lesion. Positive findings were obtained with antibodies to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, Bacillus cereus, MPT64 (Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific 24 kDa secretory antigen), LAM (Mycobacterium tuberculosis-related lipoarabinomannan), and PAB (Propionibacterium acnes-specific lipoteichoic acid).
Urinary Tract Infection in Chronic Kidney Disease Population: A Clinical Observational Study

Introduction Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a state of chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation weakens the body's immune response to infections. Hence, CKD patients are at an increased risk of infections. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common types of community-acquired infection. There is a paucity of data with respect to UTI in CKD patients. Hence, our objective was to study the clinical and microbiological profile of UTI in CKD patients. Materials and methods We studied 129 CKD patients at a tertiary care hospital in south India from January 2020 to June 2020. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Urine samples were cultured aseptically. Only urine-culture positive samples were included in the study and antibiotic susceptibility was recorded. Results Males (76.2%) were most commonly infected. 94% were gram-negative bacteria, 3% were gram-positive bacteria and 3% were Candida species. E. coli (61.8%) was the most common isolated microorganism. Resistance to quinolones was recorded among gram-negative bacteria. Resistance to penicillin and quinolones was noted among gram-positive bacteria. Candida species were sensitive to amphotericin B and fluconazole. Conclusion The results of the study help in formulating the empiric antibiotic policy to treat UTI in CKD patients and hence prevent inadvertent use of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
Retention of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and As on human bones unearthed at a Central Anatolian Early Bronze Age excavation site (Resuloğlu, Turkey)

Normal 0 21 false false false TR X-NONE AR-SA Normal 0 21 false false false TR X-NONE X-NONE The retention of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) on rib bones belonging to 81 individuals gathered from the Resuloglu necropolis, a Central Anatolian Early Bronze Age (EBA) excavation site, were analyzed. Graphite Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) was used for the assays of Pb and Cd. Furthermore, Cu and Zn were evaluated with Fast Sequential Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FSAAS) while As was analyzed using the hydride system. The ranges of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and As levels were found between 103.96- 837.34 ppm; 1.99-396.46 ppm; 0.13-2.95 ppm; 0.87-34.89 ppm; 0.35-36.43 ppm, respectively. The outcomes vary highly among age groups. In order to reveal the origin of the retentions, soil and water samples obtained from the different regions of the excavation area were also analyzed. Both bone/soil ratios for each element and proximity to the Resuloglu region, in which rich Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn ore deposits can be found, support the notion that the origin of the accumulations arises from diagenetic effects. Yet, no influence of metal concentrations was found in water samples over the bones. For Cu retention, especially on bones, it is believed that the major factor behind the accumulation depends not only on diagenetic factors but also burial gifts .
Efficacy of low-dose valganciclovir in CMV R+ lung transplant recipients: a retrospective comparative analysis

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is extremely common after lung transplant and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Current practice suggests the use of 900 mg daily of valganciclovir for CMV prophylaxis, but there is no literature assessing whether 450 mg daily of valganciclovir is sufficient in intermediate CMV risk lung transplant recipients. Therefore, we sought to assess the role of low-dose valganciclovir (LDV) versus high-dose valganciclovir (HDV) prophylaxis in intermediate-risk (R+) recipients. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis on lung transplant recipients at the Norton Thoracic Institute in Phoenix, Arizona looking at intermediate-risk patients that received either valganciclovir 450 mg per day (LDV) or 900 mg/day (HDV). All patients were followed for 1 year post-transplant for incidence of CMV viremia. The primary outcome was the rate of CMV viremia as determined by a positive CMV polymerase chain reaction ([PCR] >2.7 log copies/mL). Secondary outcomes included rate of adverse events, acute cellular rejection, and mortality. Results The primary analysis included 103 patients (55 in the LDV group, 48 in the HDV group). In the LDV group, 9 patients (16.4%) developed CMV viremia compared to 4 (8.3%) in the HDV group (p=0.221) with no difference observed in adverse event rates between groups. Conclusion There was no statistical difference between groups for the primary outcome. However, the effect size demonstrated in this analysis may be of clinical relevance and valganciclovir 450 mg daily would not be recommended in intermediate risk lung transplant recipients at this time. To confirm our results, further prospective studies enrolling larger patient populations are necessary.
Measurement of detection efficiency and response functions for an Si(Li) x-ray spectrometer in the range 0.1-5 keV

Efficiency and response functions were determined for a modern commercial energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer in the photon energy range 0.1–5 keV using dispersed and undispersed synchrotron radiation. The spectrometer was equipped with an Si(Li) detector crystal, a thin-film window and a digital pulse processor. Monochromatized synchrotron radiation from the PTB VUV radiometry beamline at the electron storage ring BESSY was used for the absolute determination of the detection efficiency with a typical relative uncertainty of 1–2% in the photon energy range 0.1–1.5 keV by direct comparison with calibrated photodiodes. At higher photon energies, the efficiency was found by comparison of the measured and calculated undispersed synchrotron radiation spectrum. The absolute intensity of the synchrotron radiation was known with a relative uncertainty of less than 1%. In the overlapping region, the results from the two independent experiments are in full agreement. The energy dependence of the measured efficiency can be explained only with a detector model assuming that there is no dead layer. A simple model for the effect of incomplete charge collection (ICC) was applied to describe the measured response functions. Consequences of the ICC such as broadening and shift of low-energy peaks and redistribution of counts around 1.84 keV are explained with the model, in accordance with the experimental results. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Demonstration of Enhanced Bioremediation in a TCE Source Area at Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

The ability of bioremediation to treat a source area containing trichloroethene (TCE) present as dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) was assessed through a laboratory study and a pilot test at Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral Air Force Center. The results of microcosm testing indicate that the indigenous microbial community was capable of dechlorinating TCE to ethene if amended with electron donor; however, bioaugmentation with a dechlorinating culture (KB‐1; SiREM, Guelph, Ontario, Canada) significantly increased the rate of ethene formation. In microcosms, the activity of the dechlorinating organisms in KB‐1 was not inhibited at initial TCE concentrations as high as 2 mM. The initially high TCE concentration in ground water (1.2 mM or 155 mg/L) did not inhibit reductive dechlorination, and at the end of the study, the average concentration of ethene (2.4 mM or 67 mg/L) was in stoichiometric excess of this initial TCE concentration. The production of ethene in stoichiometric excess in comparison to the initial TCE concentration indicates that the bioremediation treatment enhanced the removal of TCE mass (either sorbed to soil or present as DNAPL). Detailed soil sampling indicated that the bioremediation treatment removed greater than 98.5% of the initial TCE mass. Confirmatory ground water samples collected 22 months after the bioremediation treatment indicated that chloroethene concentrations had continued to decline in the absence of further electron donor addition. The results of this study confirm that dechlorination to ethene can proceed at the high TCE concentrations often encountered in source areas and that bioremediation was capable of removing significant TCE mass from the test plot, suggesting that enhanced bioremediation is a potentially viable remediation technology for TCE source areas. Dehalococcoides abundance increased by 2 orders of magnitude following biostimulation and bioaugmentation.
Detection of Nanobubbles at the Interface of TiO 2 Coated Mica in Water

Nanobubbles formed at a solid-liquid interface have attracted a lot of attention because of their unique physical and chemical properties, and their foundational interests in life science, physics and other science areas. We found that the nanobubbles could be created on TiO2 coating surface in pure water by the “solvent exchange” method. By using a temperature-controller accessory and a single-probe thermocouple to control the temperature in atomic force microscopy (AFM) liquid cell, we studied the influence of temperature and degassing on the aggregation of nanobubbles on the TiO2 coatings surface.
On-Farm Participatory Technology Development on Forage Cutting and Nitrogen Management in Dual-Purpose Wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Northwestern Himalayas

In addition to agriculture, livestock plays an important role in strengthening rural economy of hill farming communities in northwestern (NW) Himalayas, where green fodder shortage in winter months is a major production constraint for milch animals. Recently released dual-purpose early-sown wheat cultivar VL-829 holds great potential to provide plenty of green fodder in lean winter months following appropriate agrotechnology in Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir states of India in NW Himalayas. To validate the performance and profitability of recently generated agrotechnology on forage cutting and nitrogen (N) management in dual-purpose wheat VL-829 in wet temperate NW Himalayas under on-farm participatory mode, two on-farm trials were conducted both under rainfed and irrigated conditions during Rabi 2006–2007 and Rabi 2007–2008, using three agrotechnologies. Agrotechnology imbedded with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) at 80:40:40 kg ha−1 + 20 kg N ha−1 (25% greater N) at green forage cut at 85 days after sowing (DAS) + seed rate at 125 kg ha−1 (25% greater seed rate) was proved as an appropriate agrotechnology for harnessing the ability of dual-purpose wheat VL-829 to harvest additional green forage yield of 58.75 and 92 q ha−1 under rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively, with respective slight grain yield reduction by 4.76 and 8.89% over check [no forage cut + 80:40:40 kg N, P, and K ha−1 + seed rate at 100 kg ha−1]. This agrotechnology standardized under on-farm participatory mode again fetched greatest gross and net returns over other treatments owing to additional income due to green fodder. Overall, appropriate agrotechnology on forage cutting and N management in dual-purpose wheat resulted in comparatively greater grain and straw yield with additional green fodder besides the greatest profitability. Therefore, with agronomical interventions coupled with farmers’ participation in different agroecological microniches of NW Himalayas, both grain yield stability and additional green fodder potential of dual-purpose wheat VL-829 may enhance significantly. This would thereby provide hill farmers with better options to sustain their small-scale agriculture and livestock rearing for sustaining their farm livelihood in mountainous terrains of wet temperate NW Himalayas.
Adsorption of Copper (cu 2+) & Zinc (zn2+) Metal Ion from Waste Water by Using Soybean Hulls and Sugarcane Bagasse as Adsorbent

The aim of this research is to study the efficiency of removing copper ions and Zinc ions from Copper Chloride and Zinc Chloride, using naturally based adsorbents like soybean hulls and Sugarcane Bagasse respectively. Batch adsorption studies show that the modified Soybean hulls show a great ability for extracting metallic ions from wastewater samples as compared with the Sugarcane bagasse.For Soybean Hulls the experiment was divided into two parts. In the first part, the time to heat soybean hulls that were soaked in citric acid was determined. In the second part the factors affecting copper ion adsorption by soybean hulls were determined to be initial concentration and pH of the solution, ratio of soybean hulls to copper chloride solution and size of soybean hulls. The results showed that the Soybean hulls and sugarcane bagasse were found to be an attractive low cost alternative for the treatment of wastewater. A good efficiency to remove toxic metal ions was achieved by usage of such by-product.
Road traffic injuries in Nepal during COVID-19 lockdown

Background: As the world is busy addressing COVID-19, road traffic injuries, another major cause of death is continuously killing people on the roads. In Nepal, there were frequent media reports of occurrences of road crashes, injuries, and deaths despite nationwide lockdown. This paper aims to describe the situation of road traffic crashes and casualties during the period of complete lockdown. Methods: This study used secondary data from two sources: Nepal Police and media reports between 24 March and 14 June 2020 (because the government lifted the nationwide lockdown from 15 June 2020). Available details of crashes, deaths, and injuries for this period were extracted from media reports and the summary data that was obtained from the Police. We have included data from both sources in the results. Results: Nepal Police recorded 1,801 incidents of road crashes during the 82 days of the COVID-19 lockdown with 256 deaths (on average 3.1 deaths daily) and 1,824 injuries (on average 22.2 injuries daily). Motorcycles comprised over 21% of all vehicles involved in crashes. Ambulances and other vehicles for essential services were also found to be involved in crashes. Speeding itself was the cause for almost a quarter of the incidents during the lockdown. Conclusions: Although a reduction in the number of road crashes and related injuries and fatalities was observed, this reduction was not as substantial as anticipated during the heavy restrictions on vehicular movement imposed during the lockdown. Media reports were mainly found to be reporting the crashes where deaths occurred, but police records also included nonfatal injuries. The incidence of crashes in this period shows that it is important to work for road safety to save lives from road traffic crashes in Nepal.
Increasing Local Fish Consumption: A Bayesian Belief Network Analysis

Abstract The impact of the recent coronavirus pandemic on world seafood trade highlighted the vulnerability of the industry to international shocks and prompted calls for more diverse supply chains. In this paper, we assess the potential for increasing supplies of currently exported fish products to the local market using a Bayesian belief network model. Based on a survey of over 1000 Queensland residents, we determine the key drivers of consumption of locally produced fish and highlight the potential to engage in marketing strategies that bring the consumer closer to locally produced product (e.g. community supported fishery).
The impact of a face-to-face peer-support intervention on adults with type 2 diabetes: a cluster-randomised trial

Objective: To establish the impact of a face-to-face peer-support intervention on adults with type 2 diabetes in South Africa. Methods: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted involving 288 adults with type 2 diabetes from six communities in the Free State province. Individuals (n = 141) in three communities were randomly allocated to the intervention group, and individuals (n = 147) in another three communities were randomly allocated to the control group. Trained community health workers led monthly group sessions and home visits. The control group received the usual care. The primary outcome of the study was glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), measured at baseline and endpoint after four months. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference, measured at baseline and endpoint. Descriptive statistics were calculated per group. Results: No significant changes from baseline were found between groups regarding HbA1c (p = 0.87), body mass index (p = 0.21), waist circumference (p = 0.24) and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.13). Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The face-to-face peer-support intervention delivered by trained community health workers in a semi-urban rural area resulted in a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure of adults with type 2 diabetes.
Incorporating Baseline Breast Density When Screening Women at Average Risk for Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND Breast density classification is largely determined by mammography, making the timing of the first screening mammogram clinically important. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening strategies that are stratified by breast density. DESIGN Microsimulation model to generate the natural history of breast cancer for women with and those without dense breasts and assessment of the cost-effectiveness of strategies tailored to breast density and nontailored strategies. DATA SOURCES Model parameters from the literature; statistical modeling; and analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data. TARGET POPULATION Women aged 40 years or older. TIME HORIZON Lifetime. PERSPECTIVE Societal. INTERVENTION No screening; biennial or triennial mammography from age 50 to 75 years; annual mammography from age 50 to 75 years for women with dense breasts at age 50 years and biennial or triennial mammography from age 50 to 75 years for those without dense breasts at age 50 years; and annual mammography at age 40 to 75 years for women with dense breasts at age 40 years and biennial or triennial mammography at age 50 to 75 years for those without dense breasts at age 40 years. OUTCOME MEASURES Lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), discounted at 3% annually. RESULTS OF BASE-CASE ANALYSIS Baseline screening at age 40 years followed by annual screening at age 40 to 75 years for women with dense breasts and biennial screening at age 50 to 75 years for women without dense breasts was effective and cost-effective, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $36 200 per QALY versus the biennial strategy at age 50 to 75 years. RESULTS OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS At a societal willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per QALY, the probability that the density-stratified strategy at age 40 years was optimal was 56% compared with 6 other strategies. LIMITATION Findings may not be generalizable outside the United States. CONCLUSION The study findings advocate for breast density-stratified screening with baseline mammography at age 40 years. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Cancer Institute.
Moving inquiry-based learning forward: A meta-synthesis on inquiry-based classroom practices for pedagogical innovation and school improvement in the humanities and arts

ABSTRACT The challenges of the 21st century place inquiry as a necessary pedagogical orientation to educate young people for the future. In Singapore, inquiry-based learning is a core feature in social studies and the humanities subjects (geography and history) and has been extended recently to curriculum in the arts. Its centrality in the education system has been well acknowledged by Singapore’s Ministry of Education. However, an examination of research focusing on inquiry-based learning in Singapore has revealed that inquiry instruction remains teacher-centred and teachers are unsure about how to use inquiry as a core pedagogical approach. This article presents a meta-synthesis from the international literature, as well as studies in Singapore, to generate a theory on impactful forms of inquiry-based classroom practices for pedagogical innovation and school improvement. The article concludes that students learn best, in terms of conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking, when they are experientially and collaboratively engaged in the search for meanings, solving problems, questioning, sharing and communicating their understanding. Finally, the article argues for the importance of building an inquiry culture, mindsets and social practice in order to address the broader challenges to inquiry-based instruction from a systems or ecological view.
Toward a Quality Framework: Exploring Consumer Perceptions of Barramundi

Abstract Consumers are increasingly relying on quality assurance indicators when purchasing agriproducts like fish, where they lack the confidence and ability to judge quality. Any industry quality scheme should start with an understanding of the product attributes consumers value. This paper explores Australian consumers’ perceptions of quality in relation to fish in general and barramundi specifically, using data from a national online survey of 2,061 consumers. Analysis of two open-ended questions and a perceptual mapping exercise indicate consumers value both intrinsic attributes such as freshness, color and smell, and extrinsic attributes such as origin and price. These results present the Australian barramundi industry with a starting point to develop a consumer-based quality framework and ensure consistent quality as valued by consumers.