Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with mortality in Infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

INTRODUCTION There is little information about weigh of factors possibly associated with mortality, in infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in Latin America. METHODOLOGY A case-controls study nested in a historical cohort was performed including all patients with CRE infections diagnosed between June 2013 and December 2018 at Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogotá, Colombia. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to compare cases of mortality within the first month after the infection diagnosis with surviving patients. RESULTS A total of 131 patients were included. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 38.17%. In the multivariate analysis, a direct association was found between mortality and septic shock (OR 26.7 CI6.6-107.3 p < 0.01), post-chemotherapy febrile neutropenia (OR 3.3 CI1.06-10.8 p = 0.04) and Charlson Index ≥ 3 (OR 5.5 CI 1.5-20.06 p < 0.01). An inverse association was found with interventions to control the infectious focus (OR 0.3 CI0.1-0.7 p < 0.01). The MIC of different antibiotics and the use of combined antibiotic therapy (triple therapy vs. double therapy or monotherapy) were not associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS In patients with CRE infections, septic shock, a Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3, and post-chemotherapy febrile neutropenia are independently related to an increase in mortality. The control of the infectious focus is a protective factor. A rapid identification of these patients, and the implementation of measures to control infectious focus and to detect CRE colonization in patients who are going to be taken to myelosuppressive chemotherapy could impact positively the prognosis of these patients.
Depression and Law Violation: Gendered Responses to Gendered Stresses

This article unites arguments from the sociology of mental health, criminology, and the sociology of gender to explore the role of gender in the stress process. The author proposes that gender acts upon the stress process in three ways. First, males and females may report exposure to different types of stresses. Second, males and females may be vulnerable to different types of stresses. Third, males and females may respond to stress in different ways—law violation versus depression. Arguments are tested about the relative importance of differential exposure versus differential vulnerability to various stresses for understanding the gender gaps in law violation and depression using the National Youth Survey, OLS regression, and Kessler's method for decomposing differences in exposure and vulnerability to stress. The results provide limited support for these arguments, suggesting that females report more exposure than do males to some communal stresses, whereas males report more exposure than do females to the agentic stresses included in this study. Vulnerability to these stresses also varies across gender, with females generally expressing greater vulnerability to communal stresses in the form of depression and males expressing greater vulnerability to agentic stresses in the form of law violation. Some deviations from this general pattern are discussed, and recommendations for future research follow.
Maternal trauma and emotional availability in early mother-infant interaction: findings from the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Well-being Study (MPEWS) cohort

ABSTRACT Understanding how a mother’s traumatic experiences influence her interactions with her infant may have importance for understanding infant development and mental health. Data for this study were drawn from an Australian pregnancy cohort, the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study. Maternal trauma from Childhood, Childbirth Experiences, and Stressful Life Events were examined. At six-months postpartum, 211 predominantly first-time mothers (mean age 31.5 years), and their infants, were video-recorded interacting for 40 minutes. Interactions were assessed with the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales. Using structural equation modelling to test multiple mediation pathways, moderate-to-severe childhood trauma had only a direct effect on reducing maternal EA with the infant (β=−.17, p=.031), as did current stressful life events (β=−.19, p=.019), after controlling for maternal depression, age, and tertiary education. This highlights that proximate trauma specific to the perinatal period may not account for the effect of distal childhood trauma on maternal EA at six-months postpartum.
Mental Illness and its Link to Illegal Street Market Activity: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and How They Compare to Violence

Given the focus on research assessing violence among people with mental illness, other forms of deviance such as illegal street market offending have been relatively ignored. As such, the prevalence and risk factors for illegal street market offending among those with mental disorders is unknown. Utilizing the MacArthur Risk Assessment Study, the prevalence of illegal street market offending among this population is assessed along with the risk factors for engaging in this type of behavior. These factors are investigated for their generality in predicting violent offending to see if there are unique risk factors associated with illegal street market offending. Results indicate that factors related to money, factors related to substance usage, and general factors related to offending are significantly associated with illegal street market offending. Theoretical implications and future research are discussed.
Prostate cancer growth patterns beyond the Gleason score: entering a new era of comprehensive tumour grading

The Gleason grading system is one of the most important factors in clinical decision‐making for prostate cancer patients, and is entirely based on the classification of tumour growth patterns. In recent years it has become clear that some individual growth patterns themselves have independent prognostic value, and could be used for better personalised risk stratification. In this review we summarise recent literature on the clinicopathological value and molecular characteristics of individual prostate cancer growth patterns, and show how these, most particularly cribriform architecture, could alter treatment decisions for prostate cancer patients.
Remind Me To Remember: A pilot study of a novel smartphone reminder application for older adults with dementia and mild cognitive impairment

ABSTRACT The SmartPrompt is a smartphone-based reminder application informed by a neuropsychological model of functional disability. This laboratory-based pilot study examined the SmartPrompt feasibility, efficacy, and subjective usability using a within-participant, counterbalanced, cross-over design. Ten participants (M age = 80.3 + 8.2; M education = 15.7 + 2.5; 60% female) with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia completed the Remember to Drink Test, which required preparing a glass of water at four predetermined times, in a SmartPrompt (SP) and Unprompted condition (UP). Written cues and a clock were available in both conditions; however, in the SP, the smartphone presented auditory alarms and visual reminders to obtain the water at specified times and required photo logging. In a separate session, caregivers were trained and tested on configuring the SmartPrompt. Overall, caregivers and participants learned to effectively use the SmartPrompt. Caregivers achieved near-perfect scores on the configuration quiz and responded well to training. Participants completed significantly more Remember to Drink tasks in the SP (93%) than UP (56%); checking the cues/clock decreased by 87% in the SP. Usability ratings were excellent among caregivers and fair among participants. Results indicate that the SmartPrompt holds promise for reducing functional disability in older adults with cognitive difficulties in at-home contexts.
IL-15-Dependent Activation-Induced Cell Death-Resistant Th1 Type CD8αβ+NK1.1+ T Cells for the Development of Small Intestinal Inflammation1

To clarify the role of IL-15 at local sites, we engineered a transgenic (Tg) mouse (T3b-IL-15 Tg) to overexpress human IL-15 preferentially in intestinal epithelial cells by the use of T3b-promoter. Although IL-15 was expressed in the entire small intestine (SI) and large intestines of the Tg mice, localized inflammation developed in the proximal SI only. Histopathologic study revealed reduced villus length, marked infiltration of lymphocytes, and vacuolar degeneration of the villus epithelium, beginning at ∼3–4 mo of age. The numbers of CD8+ T cells, especially CD8αβ+ T cells expressing NK1.1, were dramatically increased in the lamina propria of the involved SI. The severity of inflammation corresponded to increased numbers of CD8αβ+NK1.1+ T cells and levels of production of the Th1-type cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α. Locally overexpressed IL-15 was accompanied by increased resistance of CD8αβ+ NK1.1+ T cells to activation-induced cell death. Our results suggest that chronic inflammation in the SI in this murine model is mediated by dysregulation of epithelial cell-derived IL-15. The model may contribute to understanding the role of CD8+ T cells in human Crohn’s disease involving the SI.
The effect of syntactic complexity on fluency: Comparing actives and passives in L1 and L2 speech

This study investigates how syntactic complexity affects speaking performance in first (L1) and second language (L2) in terms of speaking fluency. Participants (30 Dutch native speakers with an average to advanced level of English) performed two speaking experiments, one in Dutch (L1) and one in English (L2). Syntactic complexity was operationalized by eliciting active and passive sentences in an experimental setting. By comparing the effect of syntactic complexity on different measures of fluency, the results are telling of underlying cognitive processes in on-line speech production. We found that syntactic complexity indeed elicits hesitations, both in the L1 and in the L2. Because producing a rather simple utterance such as an active sentence may already lead to processing difficulty in the L2, the effect of syntactic complexity was found to be larger for L1 speech. Finally, articulation rate was not affected by syntactic complexity, neither in the L1 nor in the L2.
Contrasting Views of Coastal Residents and Coastal Coho Restoration Planners

Abstract Concern about declining Oregon coastal salmon runs (Oncorhynchus spp.) led to petitions to list them under the Endangered Species Act. In response, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber advanced a voluntary restoration plan rather than a regulatory approach with federal requirements. The National Marine Fisheries Service accepted the governor's approach. We surveyed 505 Oregon coastal residents and found solid support for a voluntary, nonfederal approach. Coastal residents expressed general support for salmon and environmental restoration, as did respondents to other recent surveys in the Pacific Northwest. However, the views of coastal residents differed from those of many agency people regarding the impact of marine mammals, use of hatcheries, and importance of naturally spawning salmon stocks. Residents also showed a willingness to pay and volunteer for salmon restoration that is comparable to responses for other surveys done in the region during the 1990s. The survey found coastal residents were ver.
Vascular endothelial growth factor gene variations as a risk predictor in disc degeneration

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the frequency of polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene, as well as to identify a potential risk haplotype among the polymorphic regions in this gene in patients with disc degeneration and in the Control Group. Methods This study analyzed a total of 217 individuals distributed into the Disc Degeneration and Control Groups. Peripheral blood was collected from all patients to detect VEGF gene polymorphisms identified by qPCR (rs699947, rs1570360, rs2010963, rs833061 and rs3025039). All patients presenting disc degeneration had the confirmation by nuclear magnetic resonance test and were rated according to disc degeneration level. Results All polymorphisms were in Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium (p>0.05) in the studied population. The genotypic frequency for Disc Degeneration and Control Group were rs699947 p = 0.475, rs1570360 p = 0.862, rs2010963 p = 0.823, rs833061 p=0.596 and rs3025039 p=0.230. In haplotype analysis, the compositions CAGGC (p=0.094) and CCGGC (p=0.054) stood out. Conclusion The correlation between VEGF gene polymorphism as a risk predictor for disc degeneration was negative in the studied population. However, the VEGF gene has a large polymorphic region, and it is activated by various catabolic and metabolic factors in the disc degeneration process, which has not been fully elucidated.
Bottom-up and top-down processes in African ungulate communities: resources and predation acting on the relative abundance of zebra and grazing bovids

African ungulate populations appear to be limited principally by their food resources. Within ungulate communities, plains zebras coexist with grazing bovids of similar body size, but rarely are the dominant species. Given the highly effective nutritional strategy of the equids and the resistance of zebras to drought, this is unexpected and suggests that zebra populations may commonly be limited by other mechanisms. Long-term research in the Serengeti ecosystem and in the Kruger National Park suggests that zebra could be less sensitive to food shortage, and more sensitive to predation, than grazing bovids: if this is a general principle, then, at a larger scale, resource availability should have a weaker effect on the abundance of zebra than on grazing ruminants of similar body size (wildebeest and buffalo), and zebras should be relatively more abundant in ecosystems where predators are rare or absent. We test these expectations using data on 23 near-natural ecosystems in east and southern Africa. The abundance of wildebeest is more closely related to resources than is that of zebra; buffalo are intermediate. We show that hyena densities are closely correlated with those of lions, and use the abundance of lions as an index of predation by large predators. The numerical response of lions to increases in the abundance of their prey was linear for mesoherbivores, and apparently so for the three species alone. Finally, the abundance of zebra relative to grazing bovids is lower in ecosystems with high biomasses of lions. These results indicate that zebras may commonly be more sensitive to top-down processes than grazing bovids: the mechanism(s) have not been demonstrated, but predation could play a role. If it is true, then when numbers of the large mammalian predators decline, zebra populations should increase faster than buffalo and wildebeest.
Seasonal changes in the morphology of wool follicles in Finewool and Strongwool Merino strains grazing at different stocking rates in southern Australia

An experiment was conducted to determine the impact of stocking rate and Merino strain on follicle morphology before and after the break of the season in the highly seasonal Mediterranean environment of southern Australia. Groups of Finewool and Strongwool Merino sheep were allocated to 9 stocking rates on mixed legume{grass pastures, and skin biopsy samples were taken at monthly intervals from February to June. A scoring system, based on the morphology of follicles in transverse section, was used to characterise these samples. The proportion of follicles classifled as 'normal' dropped markedly, and the proportion of follicles which contained no flbre correspondingly increased, after the break of the season in April. On average about 10% of the follicles became inactive but there was considerable variability (range 2{63%) between animals. The proportion of inactive follicles was signiflcantly afiected by stocking rate but there was little difierence between Merino strains. Maximum follicle inactivity coincided with the period of minimum flbre diameter and minimum liveweight in May, approximately 1 month after the break of the season. The proportion of inactive follicles accounted for 27% and 28% of the variance in staple strength of the Finewool and Strongwool strains, respectively. Minimum flbre diameter accounted for 63% and 61% of the variance in staple strength, and coe-cient of variation in flbre diameter accounted for 49% and 58% of the staple strength variance, respectively, in the 2 strains. Together, minimum flbre diameter and coe-cient of variation in flbre diameter accounted for almost 75% of the variance in staple strength in both strains. Addition of a term for the proportion of inactive follicles did not remove any additional variance in staple strength. These results suggest that the follicles of Merino sheep in Mediterranean environments undergo signiflcant morphological changes throughout the year. These changes difier from the normal sequence of events associated with the hair cycle and appear to be associated with the break of the season in autumn. The morphological changes which occur in the follicles are similar to those induced by epidermal growth factor or cortisol, and may re∞ect a stress response. Our results suggest that nutritional stress is at least partially responsible for the follicular pathology described. Management strategies aimed at reducing the decrease in flbre diameter which occurs in autumn, shearing sheep in autumn to coincide with the minimum flbre diameter, and selection of sheep which have a low coe-cient of variation of flbre diameter, are likely to be the most efiective means of preventing low staple strength in sheep grazing in Mediterranean environments. Nevertheless, the impact of follicle shutdown and changes in follicle morphology on wool characteristics other than staple strength needs to be determined.
Waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio reference percentiles for abdominal obesity among Macedonian adolescents.

BACKGROUND the goal of this study was to define WC, WHR and WHtR smoothed reference percentiles for assessing abdominal obesity in Macedonian adolescents aged 11 to 18 years in order to investigate possible obesity cut-offs of WHR and WHtR, and to compare WC percentiles with those of other adolescents. METHODS the research was conducted on a sample of 2,490 adolescents of the Republic of Macedonia aged 11 to 18 years: 1,288 males and 1,202 females. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), WC, hip circumference (HC), WHR and WHtR were measured and percentiles were calculated using Cole's Lambda, Mu and Sigma (LMS) method. The relation between WHR, WHtR and general obesity, as defined by the International Obesity Task Force, was investigated with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS the boys had statistically significant higher values in all anthropometric measures except in HC, where statistically significant gender differences were not found. BMI, WC, and HC showed an increasing trend with age. The WHtR variable is a better indicator for assessing general obesity in both boys and girls (AUC, 95 % CI: 0.905-0.928) than WHR, which showed lower AUC values (95 % CI: 0.697-0.734) in predicting IOTF obesity; the WHtR cut-off of 0.5 had a sensitivity of 74 % and a specificity of 92 % for both genders and all age groups. CONCLUSIONS the obtained reference percentile curves can be used temporarily for early detection of abdominal obesity among Macedonian adolescents aged 11 to 18 years; a WHtR of 0.5 may also be used as an obesity threshold in these age groups.
Early supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 in newborn dairy calves increases IgA production in the intestine at 1 week of age.

The early development of immunity and microbiota in the gut of newborn calves can have life-long consequences. Gut microbiota and the intestinal barrier interplay after birth, establishing a homeostatic state whereby mucosal cells cohabit with microorganisms to develop a healthy gut. We hypothesized that postnatal codevelopment of gut immunity and microbiota could be influenced by early-life supplementation with live yeast. Starting from birth, calves either received a daily supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 (SCB, 10 × 109 cfu/d, n = 10) in the morning meal for 7 d or no supplementation (n = 10). Each animal received 2 adequate colostrum replacer meals at 2 and 12 h of life (expected total IgG fed = 300 g) before being fed milk replacer twice a day. Passive transfer of immunity (total protein, IgG, and IgA) through colostrum was evaluated and endogenous production of IgA was investigated by measuring IgA-producing plasma cells, IgA relative gene expression (PIGR and CD79A), and secretory IgA concentration in the gut. The concentration of targeted microbial groups was evaluated with quantitative PCR in the gut digesta collected at d 7 of life. Early SCB supplementation did not impair immunoglobulin absorption and all calves had successful passive transfer of immunity (serum IgG concentration >15 mg/mL at d 1 and d 7 of age). Although the expression of IgA relative gene expression (PIGR and CD79A) was not different, SCB calves had higher secretory IgA concentrations in the ileum (1.98 ± 0.12 mg/g of dry matter; DM) and colon (1.45 ± 0.12 mg/g of DM) digesta compared with control animals (1.18 and 0.59 ± 0.12 mg/g of DM, respectively). In addition, the number of IgA-producing plasma cells were greater in both ileum (2.55 ± 0.40 cells/mm2) and colon (3.03 ± 0.40 cells/mm2) tissues for SCB calves compared with control (respectively 1.00 ± 0.40 and 0.60 ± 0.42 cells/mm2). Endogenous IgA production in the gut of SCB calves was enhanced, which could make them less prone to pathogen intrusion. In addition, SCB calves had higher Lactobacillus and tended to have higher Fecalibacterium prausnitzii in the jejunum compared with control calves, which suggests that SCB supplementation during early-life gut colonization may have a positive effect in newborn calves. Direct SCB supplementation or the cross-talk between SCB and bacteria may be responsible for stimulating IgA production and may play a key role in shaping early colonization in the gut of newborn calves.
The avian seed dispersal system of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

The avian dispersal system of red cedar, a low-quality, fleshy, cone-producing, woody plant, was investigated in southwest Virginia over a 2-year period. The red cedar cones ripened from late August through early October and persisted on the trees through May of the next year. Predispersal cone predation amounted to 0.9 and 3.1% of the total cone crop in 1980–1981 and 1981–1982, respectively. The proportion of the cone crop removed by avian dispersers was constant from year to year despite large differences in crop size. Active dispersal took place between November and March. Eight species of avian dispersers were identified. Single consistent feeders, such as the yellow-rumped warbler, accounted for slow, sustained removal of red cedar cones, whereas flock feeders, such as the cedar waxwing, European starling, and American robin, were responsible for rapid removal of entire cone crops. Bird-passed seeds showed 1.5–3.5 times greater total germination than manually depulped seeds. Average dispersal efficie.