Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Operating Room Traffic in Total Joint Arthroplasty

Background: Periprosthetic joint infection remains a devastating complication of total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The literature suggests that unnecessary operating room (OR) traffic increases the risk of surgical site infection by increasing bacterial load in the OR. We attempted to determine whether the posting of “restricted access” signs on the outside and inside of OR doors during primary TJA procedures would result in a reduction of OR door openings. Methods: This prospectively designed, 2-phase study investigated the number of door openings per case for primary TJA. An independent observer collected data for each TJA case; the OR staff were blinded to the data collection to avoid bias. The first phase of this study recorded OR traffic without the use of “restricted access” signs. In the second, interventional phase of the study, OR traffic was monitored with the concomitant application of “restricted access” signs on the doors. The number of openings per case, from the time of incision to the time of dressing application, was collected. Results: The average number of openings per case during the first phase was 75, with 0.59 door openings per minute. The average number of openings per case during the second phase was 40, with 0.28 door openings per minute. Therefore, a 47% reduction in openings per case and a 53% reduction in the number of openings per minute during primary TJA cases were observed. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the simple addition of “restricted access” signs on the outside and inside of OR doors produced a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in OR traffic during primary TJA. Clinical Relevance: Posting signs can decrease door openings, potentially decreasing infection.
Temporal evolution of collar lesions associated with ash dieback and the occurrence of Armillaria in Belgian forests

Summary Ash dieback, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has been observed in Europe for several years. In Belgium, the disease was first reported in 2010. Besides crown defoliation and dieback, collar lesions have sometimes been reported. To evaluate the prevalence and the progression of collar lesions and crown defoliation in ash dieback-affected stands of various ages, a survey was conducted in 2013 and 2014 on 268 ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) originating from 17 Walloon forest stands. The results showed that the proportion of trees with collar lesions greatly increased between June 2013 and September 2014 and that there appeared to be no significant link between a tree's diameter-at-breast height (DBH) and collar lesion occurrence. The mean percentage of defoliation increased in each forest stand across time, with observations conducted in September 2013 and 2014 showing a positive correlation with the mean percentage of trees with collar lesions. Molecular tests were carried out on 103 additional trees originating from 12 of the 17 stands to evaluate the occurrence of H. fraxineus and Armillaria spp. at the collar level. Most of the trees (98%) were infected by H. fraxineus. In contrast, only 41% of the samples were infected with Armillaria spp. , most commonly A. gallica and A. cepistipes. This study discusses the role of Armillaria spp. and the rapid increase in the number of trees with collar lesions within the context of the evolution of ash dieback in Europe.
Interference of sanitizers, NaCl and curing salts on Listeria monocytogenes adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation

Listeria monocytogenes, a well‐known foodborne pathogen and the causative agent of listeriosis, has the ability to persist in food processing environments due to its high adhesion ability in different surfaces, playing an important role in the food industry. The aim of this study was to assess how the main stressing conditions, usually observed in meat processing facilities (sanitizers, NaCl, curing salts), interfere in L. monocytogenes adhesion and biofilm formation. The isolates, representatives of different L. monocytogenes lineages (n = 6) were subjected to four different sanitizers (S1: quaternary ammonium; S2: peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and glacial acetic acid, S3: biguanide polyhexamethylene hydrochloride, S4: hydrogen peroxide) to verify adhesion ability and susceptibility based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In addition, the isolates adhesion and biofilm were assessed up to 72 h under different conditions: sanitizers (MIC values), curing salts and NaCl (both at 5, 7·5, 10%), at different temperatures (4, 12 and 37°C). Despite the effectiveness of sanitizers, isolates presented higher biofilm development when compared to controls in the presence of quaternary ammonium (S1, 1: 1,024) at 4°C, over the tested time (P < 0·05). Furthermore, different responses were observed for the different L. monocytogenes strains tested, providing a better understanding of the persistence of this pathogen in the food processing facilities.
Changes in the prevalence of comorbidity of mental and physical disorders in Singapore between 2010 and 2016.

INTRODUCTION Literature examining changes in the prevalence of comorbidity of mental and physical disorders in recent years is scarce. The present study sought to examine whether there were changes in the prevalence of comorbidity of mental and physical disorders in Singapore between 2010 and 2016. METHODS We extracted data from two repeated nationally representative cross-sectional surveys conducted among resident adults aged ≥ 18 years in Singapore. Significant changes were tested using pooled multinomial logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The prevalence of comorbid mental and physical disorders increased significantly from 5.8% in 2010 to 6.7% in 2016. Among those with physical disorders, there were significant increases over time in the prevalence of comorbid generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) (0.1% vs. 0.4%) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (1.4% vs. 3.9%) in diabetes mellitus, and alcohol dependence in cardiovascular disorders (0.1% vs. 1.3%). Among those with mental disorders, there were significant increases over time in the prevalence of comorbid diabetes mellitus in OCD (4.1% vs. 10.9%), cancer in major depressive disorder (0.4% vs. 2.4%), and cardiovascular disorders in GAD (0.4% vs. 6.7%) and alcohol dependence (0.9% vs. 11.8%). Significant changes in the overall prevalence of comorbid mental and physical disorders were also observed across age group, education and employment status. CONCLUSION The prevalence of comorbid mental and physical disorders increased significantly over time. This finding supports the need for more appropriate clinical management with better integration between mental health and general medical care professionals across all aspects of the healthcare system to treat comorbidity in Singapore.
Nitroglycerin Is Not Associated with Improved Cerebral Perfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke

ABSTRACT: Objective: The study was conducted to test the hypothesis that nitroglycerin (NTG) increases cerebral perfusion focally and globally in acute ischemic stroke patients, using serial perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) magnetic resonance imaging measurements. Patients and methods: Thirty-five patients underwent PWI immediately before and 72 h after administration of a transdermal NTG patch or no treatment. Patients with baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) > 100 mmHg (NTG group, n = 20) were treated with transdermal NTG (0.2 mg/h) for 72 h, without a nitrate-free interval. Patients with MAP ≤ 100 mmHg (untreated group, n = 15) were not treated. The primary outcome measure was absolute cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the hypoperfused region at 72 h. Results: The mean baseline absolute CBF in the hypoperfused region was similar in the NTG group (33.3 ± 10.2 ml/100 g/min) and untreated (32.7 ± 8.4 ml/100 g/min, p = 0.4) groups. The median (IQR) baseline infarct volume was 10.4 (2.5–49.3) ml in the NTG group and 32.6 (8.6–96.7) ml in the untreated group (p = 0.09). MAP change in the NTG group was 1.2 ± 12.6 and 8 ± 20.7 mmHg at 2 h and 72 h, respectively. Mean absolute CBF in the hypoperfused region at 72 h was similar in the NTG (29.9 ± 12 ml/100 g/min) and untreated groups (24.1 ± 10 ml/100 g/min, p = 0.8). The median infarct volume increased in untreated (11.8 (5.7–44.2) ml) than the NTG group (3.2 (0.5–16.5) ml; p = 0.033) on univariate analysis, however, there was no difference on regression analysis. Conclusion: NTG was not associated with improvement in cerebral perfusion in acute ischemic stroke patients.
STUDY ON DISTRIBUTION OF INFECTIOUS HEMATOPOIETIC NECROSIS (IHN) IN FIVE MAJOR PROVINCES PRODUCING RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS) FRY IN IRAN BY INDIRECT FLUORESCENCE ANTIBODY (IFAT) AND NESTED-RTPCR TECHNIQUES

Distribution of infectious hematopoietic necrosis(IHN) was studied in five major provinces producing rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)fry in Iran by indirect fluorescence antibody IFATand nested-RT-PCR techniques. Also the effect of time duration was examined on some positive samples after 8 months post sampling. Samples of kidney, liver and spleen of rainbow trout fries collected from 27 trout farms were processed and examinated. Fourteen trout hatcheris located in all provinces were identified to be contaminated with IHNV tested by both techniques. The obtained results also showed that nested-RT-PCR is more sensitive than IFATtest particularly if samples are stored for a longer time.
Springs ecosystem classification.

Springs ecosystems are globally abundant, geomorphologically diverse, and bio-culturally productive, but are highly imperiled by anthropogenic activities. More than a century of scientific discussion about the wide array of ecohydrological factors influencing springs has been informative, but has yielded little agreement on their classification. This lack of agreement has contributed to the global neglect and degradation of springs ecosystems by the public, scientific, and management communities. Here we review the historical literature on springs classification variables, concluding that site-specific source geomorphology remains the most diagnostic approach. We present a conceptual springs ecosystem model that clarifies the central role of geomorphology in springs ecosystem development, function, and typology. We present an illustrated dichotomous key to terrestrial (non-marine) springs ecosystem types and subtypes, and describe those types. We identify representative reference sites, although data limitations presently preclude selection of continentally or globally representative reference springs of each type. We tested the classification key using data from 244 randomly selected springs of 13 types that were inventoried in western North America. The dichotomous key correctly identified springs type in 87.5% of the cases, with discrepancies primarily due to differentiation of primary versus secondary typology, and insufficient inventory team training. Using that information, we identified sources of confusion and clarified the key. Among the types that required more detailed explanation were hypocrenes, springs, in which groundwater is expressed through phreatophytic vegetation. Overall, springs biodiversity and ecosystem complexity are due, in part, to the co-occurrence of multiple intra-springs microhabitats. We describe microhabitats that are commonly associated with different springs types, reporting at least 13 microhabitats, each which can support discrete biotic assemblages. Interdisciplinary agreement on basic classification is needed to enhance scientific understanding and stewardship of springs ecosystems, the loss and degradation of which constitute a global conservation crisis.
Using bioacoustic data to test species limits in an Indo‐Pacific island radiation of Macropygia cuckoo doves

The characterization of species limits and diversification patterns across the geographically complex Indo-Pacific region has presented biogeographers and evolutionary biologists with great challenges. In the present study, we investigated the brown cuckoo dove (Macropygia amboinensis s.l.) species complex, whose distribution spans this entire region. We analyzed whether bioacoustic data are congruent with previous plumage-based classifications and whether glacial land bridges have impacted bioacoustic diversification in these doves. Using an unusually large vocal dataset of > 300 recordings from over 30 islands and 24 taxa, we analyzed 29 bioacoustic frequency and temporal parameters and tested for a correlation between geographical and bioacoustic distances. We found a weak correlation between geographical and bioacoustic distances. We identified numerous lineages that are bioacoustically distinct and proposed their elevation to the species level, leading to a doubling of the number of species in this complex and indicating a high proportion of cryptic species-level diversity that has previously gone unrecognized.
Hemispheric processing of predictive inferences: the effects of textual constraint and metacomprehension monitoring competence

Abstract Previous research into predictive inferences making showed that textual constraint influenced hemispheric processing of the inferences. However, the relationship between metacomprehension monitoring competence (MMC) and hemispheric processing of predictive inferences has rarely been investigated. The present study employed a divided visual field (DVF) paradigm to examine the effects of textual constraint and MMC on hemispheric processing of predictive inferences with Chinese native speakers during Chinese text reading. Results showed that neither response time nor facilitation effects indicated any significant interaction for our MMC groups. MMC was unlikely to play a role in hemispheric processing of predictive inferences. The results were consistent with those of the very rare relevant previous research, in which readers’ judgments of learning failed to have significant effects on inference making performance while judgments of inferencing had. Future investigation could focus more on the study of an inference-specific dimension of metacomprehension monitoring that might be more closely related to inference making. Results also indicated that the left hemisphere (LH) showed greater facilitation for strongly constrained predictive inferences than for weakly constrained predictive inferences, and that the right hemisphere (RH) showed greater levels of facilitation for weakly constrained predictive inferences. Taken together, MMC did not seem to have a positive impact on hemispheric predictive inference making. There was a RH facilitation advantage for weakly constrained texts and an LH advantage for strongly constrained texts.
In vitro efficacy of anthelmintics on Angiostrongylus cantonensis L3 larvae

Abstract Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the leading cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide, with life-threatening complications if not managed correctly. Previous in vitro studies have utilized change in motility patterns of adult female worms to assess the efficacy of anthelmintics qualitatively. However, it is the third stage larvae (L3) that are infectious to humans. With differential staining using propidium iodide penetration as the indicator of death, we can distinguish between dead and live larvae. This assay has enabled us to quantify the in vitro efficacy of nine clinically established anthelmintics on A. cantonensis L3. All drugs were tested at a 1 mm concentration. Piperazine and niclosamide were ineffective in inducing larval death; however, albendazole sulfoxide, pyrantel pamoate, diethylcarbamazine, levamisole and praziquantel were effective as compared to unexposed controls (P < 0.05). Ivermectin and moxidectin did not induce significant levels of mortality, but they considerably reduced larval motility almost immediately. This study indicates the need for further in vivo studies to determine the optimal dose and time frame for post-infection treatment with anthelmintics that demonstrated efficacy.
Prenatal genetic diagnosis of cranioectodermal dysplasia in a Polish family with compound heterozygous variants in WDR35

The ciliary chondrodysplasias represent a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that affect skeleton development. Cilia are organelles that project from the surface of many cell types and play an important role during prenatal and postnatal human development. Cranioectodermal dysplasia (Sensenbrenner syndrome, CED) is a ciliopathy primarily characterized by craniofacial, skeletal, and ectodermal abnormalities. To date six genes have been associated with CED: IFT122, WDR35, WDR19, IFT140, IFT43, and IFT52. Prenatal diagnosis of CED is challenging, and genetic testing can facilitate making a correct diagnosis. Here, we report on a family with two male siblings affected by CED: a 3.5 year‐old patient and his 2 year‐old brother. Molecular analysis of the proband at 1 year of age revealed compound heterozygous variants in WDR35: c.3G>A [p.(Met1‐Ala30delinsMetfsTer4)] and c.2522A>T [p.(Asp841Val)]. Ultrasound examination during the second pregnancy revealed an increased nuchal translucency of 4.5 mm and a hypoplastic nasal bone at 12 weeks of gestation. Prenatal diagnostic testing was offered because of an increased risk for chromosomal abnormalities and recurrence risk for CED. Prenatal genetic analysis of a chorionic villus sample detected the WDR35 variants previously identified in the elder brother. This is the first report of a prenatal genetic diagnosis in CED.
Estimating Arctic Temperature Impacts From Select European Residential Heating Appliances and Mitigation Strategies

The use of residential heating devices is a key source of black carbon and other short‐lived climate forcer emissions in Arctic and other high‐latitude regions, with important impacts to the Arctic climate and human health. The types of combustion technologies and fuels used vary by region, which impacts the emission profiles of these pollutants and thus the magnitude of Arctic climate responses. Using emission inventory data from 14 European countries, we derive wood‐fueled residential heating emissions of black carbon, organic carbon, and sulfate from six appliance types in 2016. Using previously derived equilibrium Arctic temperature responses, we estimate Arctic temperature influences from each appliance type. Using the 2016 appliance emission data as a baseline, we compute the emission mass and Arctic temperature mitigation potential from hypothetical stove conversion scenarios. A total of 43.2 gigagrams (Gg) of black carbon, 175.7 Gg of organic carbon, and 10.3 Gg of sulfate were emitted in 2016 from the six appliance types in the 14 countries. The combined emissions increased Arctic surface temperatures by +2.8 millikelvin. If each country converted its appliance fleet to the technologically advanced pellet stoves and boilers, the combined black carbon, organic carbon, and sulfate emissions from heating appliances could be reduced by 94% and the Arctic temperature response reduced by 85%. The specific source and originating region of emissions are important factors in resolving the magnitude of their impacts. Improved country‐level accounting of specific appliances and their emission characteristics can lead to a better understanding of potential mitigation options.
Safe Villages during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic in Spain and Portugal

Summary The 1918-1919 influenza pandemic had a significantly different impact on mortality rates in Spanish and Portuguese provinces and cities. In this study, several small villages have been identified which were not affected at all by the Spanish influenza pandemic. These all shared a number of features in common: their villages were very small, comprising only a few hundred inhabitants; they were located in mountainous regions, with very poor transport infrastructure; and they were self-sufficient and capable of fulfilling their basic alimentary needs. Their inhabitants were conscious of the problem and acted together, effectively isolating themselves from surrounding villages. Since these villagers managed to avoid direct contact with ill people from other municipalities, the flu was not transmitted and the pandemic did not arise in their villages. In this paper, it is proposed that the human habitability spaces that meet these characteristics, I call them “Safe Villages” or “Shelter Village”. Knowledge of the circumstances in which the 1918-1919 flu pandemic developed and of the means employed to resist it can help us to take relevant measures when faced with future pandemics.
Past, Current, and Future Cancer Clinical Research Collaborations: The Case of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

Although collaborations between academic institutions and industry have led to important scientific breakthroughs in the discovery stage of the pharmaceutical research and development process, the role of multistakeholder partnerships in the clinical development of anticancer medicines necessitates further clarification. The benefits associated with such cooperation could be undercut by the conflicting goals and motivations of the actors included. The aim of this review was to identify and characterize past, present, and future stakeholder partnership models in cancer clinical research through the lens of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Based on the analysis of several landmark EORTC trials performed across the span of three decades, four existing models of stakeholder cooperation were delineated and characterized. Additionally, a hypothetical fifth model representing a potential future collaborative framework for cancer clinical research was formulated. These models mainly differ in terms of the nature and responsibilities of the partners included and show that clinical research partnerships in oncology have evolved over time from small‐scale academia‐industry collaborations to complex interdisciplinary cooperation involving many different stakeholders.
Barriers to seeking emergency care during the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to higher morbidity and mortality - a retrospective study from a Swiss university hospital.

AIMS OF THE STUDY While COVID-19 significantly overburdens emergency rooms (ERs) and hospitals in affected areas, ERs elsewhere report a marked decrease in patient numbers. This study aimed to investigate the assumption that patients with urgent problems currently avoid the ER. METHODS Electronic health records from the ER of a large Swiss university hospital were extracted for three periods: first, the awareness phase (ap) from the publication of the national government’s initiative “How to protect ourselves” on 1 March 2020 to the lockdown of the country on 16 March; second, the mitigation phase (mp) from 16–30 March; finally, patients presenting in March 2019 were used as a control group. We compared parameters including a critical illness as the discharge diagnosis (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, sepsis and ER death) using logistic and linear regression, as well as 15-day bootstrapped means and 95% confidence intervals for the control group. RESULTS In the three periods, a total of 7143 patients were treated. We found a 24.9% (42.5%) significant decline in the number of patients presenting during the ap (mp). Patients presenting during the mp were more likely to be critically ill. There was an increase of 233% and 367% (ap and mp, respectively) of ER deaths (none related to COVID-19) compared with the control period. Apart from polytrauma (increase of 5% in the mp), all other critical illnesses as discharge diagnosis showed a lower incidence in descriptive analysis. Significantly more patients died in the ER in both the ap and mp. CONCLUSIONS Barriers to seeking emergency care during COVID-19 pandemic may lead to higher morbidity and mortality. Healthcare authorities and hospitals must ensure low barriers to treatment and business as usual for all patients.