Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic variation in the gene LRP2 increases relapse risk in multiple sclerosis

Background Due to the lack of prospective studies with longitudinal data on relapse, past genetic studies have not attempted to identify genetic factors that predict relapse risk (the primary endpoint of many pivotal clinical trials testing the efficacy of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying drugs) at a genome-wide scale. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) to identify genetic variants that predict MS relapse risk, using a three-stage approach. First, GWAS was conducted using the southern Tasmania MS Longitudinal Study with 141 cases followed prospectively for a mean of 2.3 years. Second, GWAS was conducted using the Ausimmune Longitudinal Study with 127 cases having a classic first demyelinating event followed for 5 years from onset. Third, the top hits with p<5.0×10−6 from the first two stages were combined with a longitudinal US paediatric MS cohort with 181 cases followed for 5 years after onset. Predictors of time to relapse were evaluated by a mixed effects Cox model. An inverse variance fixed effects model was then used to undertake a meta-analysis. Results In the pooled results, using these three unique longitudinal MS cohorts, we discovered one novel locus (LRP2; most significant single nucleotide polymorphism rs12988804) that reached genome-wide significance in predicting relapse risk (HR=2.18, p=3.30×10−8). LRP2 is expressed on the surface of many central nervous system cells including neurons and oligodendrocytes and is a critical receptor in axonal guidance. Conclusions The finding of a genetic locus that has extensive effects on neuronal development and repair is of interest as a potential modulator of MS disease course.
A 2.5 MHz 2D array with Z-axis electrically conductive backing

The design, fabrication and initial testing of a prototype fully /spl lambda//2 sampled, 2500 element 2D phased array is presented. The array utilizes a unique Z-axis electrical conductivity backing layer to provide both acoustic attenuation and electrical interconnect for the signal channels. The electrical interconnect is designed to be in the acoustic shadow of the transducer elements so as to minimize the foot print of the array. A modular, demountable Pad Grid Array interconnect is used to connect to the backing of the array. Results are presented for measurements of the single element properties of electrical impedance, pulse echo waveform and spectrum, directivity, and cross talk.
Fire detection using stereoscopic imaging and image processing techniques

This paper presents a stereoscopic imaging technique for fire detection. A low-cost binocular CCD camera is used to acquire the stereoscopic images of a controlled gas fire. Computer algorithms are developed to segment the fire zone in the HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) color space and to determine the correspondence points of image pairs. The location, size and propagation of the fire are then determined from the perspective relationship between the fire and the camera. Experimental results under laboratory conditions show the effectiveness of the proposed approach for fire detection.
A Sieve Bootstrap Two-Sample t-Test Under Serial Correlation

The classical two-sample t-test assumes that observations are independent. A violation of this assumption could lead to unreliable or even erroneous conclusions. However, in many biological studies, data are recorded over time and hence exhibit serial correlation. In order to take such temporal dependence into account, we suggest applying the sieve bootstrap method to generate replications of the observed data and then using these proxy-dependent processes to construct the empirical distribution for the t-statistic. The proposed method is fast, distribution-free, and well approximates the nominal significance level. We illustrate our approach in application to detection problem of brain activity in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a longitudinal study of weight growth in rats.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for preventing central venous catheter-related infection: Results of a knowledge test among 3405 European intensive care nurses*

Objective:To determine European intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ knowledge of guidelines for preventing central venous catheter-related infection from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Design:Multicountry survey (October 2006-March 2007). Setting:Twenty-two European countries. Participants:ICU nurses. Measurements and Main Results:Using a validated multiple-choice test, knowledge of ten recommendations for central venous catheter-related infection prevention was evaluated (one point per question) and assessed in relation to participants’ gender, ICU experience, number of ICU beds, and acquisition of a specialized ICU qualification. We collected 3405 questionnaires (70.9% response rate); mean test score was 44.4%. Fifty-six percent knew that central venous catheters should be replaced on indication only, and 74% knew this also concerns replacement over a guidewire. Replacing pressure transducers and tubing every 4 days, and using coated devices in patients requiring a central venous catheter >5 days in settings with high infection rates only were recognized as recommended by 53% and 31%, respectively. Central venous catheters dressings in general are known to be changed on indication and at least once weekly by 43%, and 26% recognized that both polyurethane and gauze dressings are recommended. Only 14% checked 2% aqueous chlorhexidine as the recommended disinfection solution; 30% knew antibiotic ointments are not recommended because they trigger resistance. Replacing administration sets within 24 hrs after administering lipid emulsions was recognized as recommended by 90%, but only 26% knew sets should be replaced every 96 hrs when administering neither lipid emulsions nor blood products. Professional seniority and number of ICU beds showed to be independently associated with better test scores. Conclusions:Opportunities exist to optimize knowledge of central venous catheter-related infection prevention among European ICU nurses. We recommend including central venous catheter-related infection prevention guidelines in educational curricula and continuing refresher education programs.
Effect of Cholecystokinin-B Gastrin Receptor Blockade on Chemically Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in Mice: Follow-Up at 52 Weeks

Background/Aims: The potential role of gastrin and the cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B)/gastrin receptor in the genesis of colon cancer is debated. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are considered to be preneoplastic lesions of colon cancer. We aimed to assess whether the CCK-B/gastrin receptor antagonist, CR2945, may prevent the development of ACF and adenocarcinoma in the experimental model of dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: 226 CD1 mice were randomized into 3 groups (sham, control and treated) and received intraperitoneal injections of NaCl 0.9%, DMH, and DMH + CR2945, respectively, for 5 weeks. 168 mice were sacrificed at 15, 38, 45 and 52 weeks after the first injection day. The colon and rectum were investigated for frequency, multiplicity and distribution of ACF as well as for adenocarcinoma at histology. The expression of gastrin was assessed in tumor samples at histology by immunohistochemistry. Results: ACF frequency and multiplicity significantly increased with time in both controls and treated mice with no difference between groups except that at week 45. 38.8% of controls and 14.3% of treated mice developed cancer (p = 0.004). No cancer was positive for gastrin at immunohistochemistry. The mean number of cancers per mouse and the proportion of mice with cancer increased with time with statistically significant difference between controls and treated mice at week 38 only but not afterwards. A significant correlation between cancer and ACF frequency (r = 0.35) and multiplicity (r = 0.25) was observed. Conclusions: Our findings support the preneoplastic significance of ACF and indicate that CR2945 treatment does not interfere with the DMH-induced cancerigenic process.
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor signaling is critical in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth and metastasis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common malignancies in southern China and Southeast Asia, with the highest metastasis rate among head and neck cancers. The mechanisms underlying NPC progression remain poorly understood. Genome-wide expression profiling on 18 NPC vs. 18 noncancerous nasopharyngeal tissues together with GeneGo pathway analysis and expression verification in NPC cells and tissues revealed a potential role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in NPC progression, which has not been investigated in NPC. We then observed that uPAR expression is increased in poorly differentiated, highly metastatic NPC cells compared with lowly metastatic cells or differentiated NPC cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that uPAR regulates NPC cell growth, colony formation, migration, and invasion and promotes the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additional tumor xenograft and spontaneous metastasis experiments revealed that uPAR promotes NPC cell growth and metastasis in vivo. The JAK–STAT pathway is involved in uPAR-regulated signaling in NPC cells as determined by immunoblotting. Moreover, uPAR-mediated growth and motility is partially abolished upon treatment with the Jak1/Jak2 inhibitor INCB018424. We suppressed uPA expression in uPAR-overexpressing NPC cells and found that uPAR-mediated cellular growth and motility is not exclusively dependent on uPA. In summary, uPAR is a significant regulator of NPC progression and could serve as a promising therapeutic target.
A Standard Handoff Improves Cardiac Surgical Patient Transfer: Operating Room to Intensive Care Unit

Background:Patient handoffs are high-risk times associated with sentinel events. Effective handoff processes may enhance patient safety and team member communication. This study assesses the impact of a standardized protocol for handoffs from the cardiac surgery operating room to intensive care unit (ICU). Methods:Using a prospective pre–post study design, a formalized handoff process was developed including critical handoff elements and a standardized handoff procedure, script, and checklist. Data were collected from 60 handoff observations (30 pre and 30 post), evaluating 52 unique parameters, and survey of providers on perspectives of the handoff process. Results were compared by chi-square test, two sample t-test, or nonparametric Mann–Whitney test. Statistical significance was defined as P ⩽ . 05. Results:Provider's perspectives showed improved satisfaction with the standardized handoff process through improved responses in 19 of 22 survey items (P < .001). Median time until ventilator connection, ICU monitor transfer, first cardiac index, and chest radiograph were reduced after implementation. Completion of handoff process components also improved after implementation for 36 of 47 nontime parameters. Conclusions:A standard checklist-driven handoff process can dramatically improve key data transmission and reduce time of critical patient care steps during the high-risk period of patient handoff in a cardiac surgical ICU.
Feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of telemental health with children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in underserved communities.

OBJECTIVE Telemental health (TMH), the use of videoteleconferencing to provide care that is usually delivered in person, is increasingly used to rectify disparities in access to care. Few studies, however, have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of TMH as a service delivery model. The Children's Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Telemental Health Treatment Study (CATTS) is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of TMH conducted in multiple underserved communities. This article reports on the feasibility of conducting an effectiveness trial of TMH with children. METHODS The CATTS trial used videoteleconferencing to provide guideline-based care and secure web sites to coordinate key aspects of trial implementation, such as participant recruitment and retention, intervention fidelity, and completion of assessments. RESULTS The CATTS trial engaged seven communities and 150 primary care providers as partners in the study, and enrolled 223 children 5.5-12.9 years old. The intervention group completed an average of 5.3 of 6.0 planned sessions and 96% of controls completed a TMH consultation. Both groups completed an average of 4.8 of the 5.0 assessments. Clinicians demonstrated high fidelity to their treatment protocols. Minor technical difficulties did not interfere with providing care. CONCLUSIONS The CATTS trial demonstrated the feasibility of conducting an RCT of TMH with children living in multiple underserved communities. Telecommunications technologies can facilitate the coordination of research activities across sites and clinicians. Future trials should work closely with study partners to ensure referral of a representative study sample. Further trials are needed to help establish the effectiveness of TMH as a service delivery model. TRIAL REGISTRATION http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00830700 .
Double blind, placebo controlled trial of the remission inducing and steroid sparing properties of an ICAM-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, alicaforsen (ISIS 2302), in active steroid dependent Crohn's disease

Background and aims: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide alicaforsen (ISIS 2302) in Crohn's disease. Methods: Active (Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) 200–350), steroid dependent (prednisone 10–40 mg) Crohn's patients were randomised into three treatment groups: placebo versus ISIS 2302 (2 mg/kg intravenously three times a week) for two or four weeks. Patients were treated in months 1 and 3, with steroid withdrawal attempted by week 10. The primary end point (steroid free remission) was a CDAI <150 off steroids at the end of week 14. Results: A total of 299 patients were enrolled, with a mean baseline CDAI of 276 and steroid dose of 23 mg/day. Rates of steroid free remission were equivalent for the two and four week ISIS 2302 groups (20.2% and 21.2%) and the placebo group (18.8%). At week 14, steroid withdrawal was successful in more ISIS 2302 patients compared with placebo treated patients (78% v 64%; p=0.032). Steroid free remission was highly correlated with exposure (p=0.0064). Other clinical responses were correlated with exposure, with significant results versus placebo being observed in the highest area under the curve subgroup. CDAI scores decreased by 136 (112) at week 14 versus 52 (107) for placebo (p=0.027) and inflammatory bowel disease score questionnaire improved by 43 (31) versus 15 (36) for placebo (p=0.027). Conclusions: Although the primary outcomes failed to demonstrate efficacy, pharmacodynamic modelling suggests that alicaforsen (ISIS 2302) may be an effective therapy for steroid dependent Crohn's disease.
Hyponatraemia: A strong predictor of mortality in adults with congenital heart disease.

AIMS We studied the prevalence of hyponatraemia and its prognostic implications in a large population of adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD). METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 1004 ACHD patients were retrospectively entered in this study (mean age 36.2 +/- 14.4 years, 48.7% male). Cox regression was used to estimate mortality associated with hyponatraemia, adjusted for potential confounders using both multivariable regression and propensity score matching. Mean sodium concentration in this ACHD cohort was 137.6 +/- 2.6 mmol/L. The overall prevalence of hyponatraemia in this cohort was 15.5% and was highest in congenitally corrected transposition (33.3%), after Fontan operation (29.6%), and in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (22.0%). Predictors of hyponatraemia were worse functional class, cyanosis, higher serum creatinine levels, and treatment with diuretics. Patients were followed for a median of 4.1 years, during which there were 96 deaths. Hyponatraemia was a strong predictor of death, independent of age, previous surgery, functional class, systemic ventricular function, creatinine levels, and the use of diuretics (adjusted HR 2.82, 95% CI: 1.72-4.63, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Hyponatraemia is relatively common in ACHD. Hyponatraemia carries a three-fold higher risk of death in ACHD and is a simple, cheap but powerful marker of mortality.
Working with Augmented Reality?: A Long-Term Analysis of In-Situ Instructions at the Assembly Workplace

Due to increasing complexity of products and the demographic change at manual assembly workplaces, interactive and context-aware instructions for assembling products are becoming more and more important. Over the last years, many systems using head-mounted displays (HMDs) and in-situ projection have been proposed. We are observing a trend in assistive systems using in-situ projection for supporting workers during work tasks. Recent advances in technology enable robust detection of almost every work step, which is done at workplaces. With this improvement in robustness, a continuous usage of assistive systems at the workplace becomes possible. In this work, we provide results of a long-term study in an industrial workplace with an overall runtime of 11 full workdays. In our study, each participant assembled at least three full workdays using in-situ projected instructions. We separately considered two different user groups comprising expert and untrained workers. Our results show a decrease in performance for expert workers and a learning success for untrained workers.
Monodisperse structured multi-vesicle microencapsulation using flow-focusing and controlled disturbance

A method to produce monodisperse structured microcapsules in the diameter range from 10–100 µm is here presented. Flow-focusing is a well known technique whereby a steady capillary micro-jet is generated by the action of a highly accelerated co-flowing stream forced through a small orifice. The micro-jet breaks up owing to capillary instability, giving rise to droplets with a narrow size distribution. In the present study, flow-focusing gives rise not to simple but to compound capillary jets. At break-up, under suitable control parameters, such jets give rise to microcapsules where an outer liquid (shell liquid) surrounds a core liquid integrated by one or more vesicles. Furthermore, under adequate stimulation combining a sinusoidal signal with intermitent pulses, the jet break-up can be controlled. Highly monodisperse microcapsules are produced; fundamental geometric parameters (main diameter, shell thickness or number of cores) are reliably controlled. Rather than using a gas flow to focus the concentric stream of two immiscible liquids, this study has investigated in some detail the evolution of a concentric stream of three immiscible liquids forced through a small orifice. The selection of the surface tension coefficients between the three phases ensures the robust production of a microcapsule structure involving a plurality of vesicles homogeneously distributed in the capsule bulk, the number of cores being a freely chosen parameter. Such composite microcapsules find a broad field of technological applications in the pharmaceutical, food or biotechnology industries.
Interdependent Benefits from Interorganizational Systems: Opportunities for Business Partner Reengineering

Managing the growth of interorganizational systems (IOS), such as electronic data interchange (EDI), and the adoption decisions of trading partners have become major concerns for network managers. The fact that IOS are shared by separate trading partners means that the benefits from IOS are both unequal and interdependent. Therefore, how trading partners implement and use the system internally may directly affect the original firm's benefit. In order to maximize benefits from IOS, we propose that firms engage in business partner reengineering.We study two buyer-initiated EDI systems where the way in which trading partners internally implement the technology directly affects the level of benefit for the initiating buyer. In both cases, the buyer's benefit is increased when suppliers choose to adopt an optional buyer-initiated modification to their system. However, because it is not clear how suppliers benefit from the modification, they may not have adequate incentives to make the modification. Buyers with substantial leverage over their suppliers may require trading partners to implement the system in a particular way or not be considered for future business.
Efficacy of an Experimental Tin-F-Containing Solution in Erosive Tissue Loss in Enamel and Dentine in situ

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an experimental tin-containing fluoride solution on erosive tissue loss in human enamel and dentine using a cyclic de- and remineralization model in situ. The study was a three-cell (7 days each) crossover design involving 20 healthy volunteers. Samples were mounted on buccal shields of mandibular mouth appliances and worn for 24 h, except during meals and oral hygiene. Samples were demineralized extraorally with 0.05 M citric acid (pH 2.3) for 6 × 5 min per day. Fluoride treatment was performed intraorally once per day for 30 s after the first demineralization. Three solutions were used: placebo (negative control); NaF solution (positive control, 1,000 mg/kg F, pH 4.5), and an experimental solution (1,900 mg/kg Sn as SnCl2, 500 mg/kg F as NaF, 500 mg/kg F as amine fluoride, pH 4.5). Tissue loss was determined profilometrically. In enamel, tissue loss was 33.6 ± 15.4 μm in the negative control group, 24.2 ± 9.2 μm (p ≤ 0.05) in the positive control group and 9.2 ± 3.4 μm (p ≤ 0.001) in the experimental solution group. The respective values for dentine were 47.8 ± 15.5 μm in the negative control group, 34.1 ± 9.3 μm (p ≤ 0.001) in the positive control group and 23.9 ± 6.4 μm (p ≤ 0.001) in the experimental solution group. The tin-containing solution was very effective in inhibiting erosive mineral in enamel in situ, even under severe conditions and with short application times, but was less effective in dentine.
Two‐component regulatory system involved in transcriptional control of heavy‐metal homoeostasis in Alcaligenes eutrophus

The czc determinant, which mediates resistance to Co2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ in Alcaligenes eutrophus CH34 by cation efflux, is regulated by a two‐component regulatory system composed of the sensor histidine kinase CzcS and the response activator CzcR (in addition to other components previously described). Regulatory genes are arranged in an upstream regulatory region (URR) and a downstream regulatory region (DRR). Transcription of czcCBA and of the URR was regulated by heavy‐metal cations. DNA sequencing of the region downstream of czcD revealed the presence of the czcR and czcS genes which together with czcD form the DRR. Regulation of the DRR was studied with a czcD::lacZ translational fusion and a czcS::lux transcriptional fusion. Expression of both genes is also regulated by heavy metals. The genes of the URR yielded three mRNAs of approx. 1200, 500 and 200 nucleotides, respectively. The genes czcCBA for the cation/proton antiporter CzcCBA were transcribed by one operon as a transcript of 6200 nucleotides.