Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute lung injury after instillation of human breast milk into rabbits' lungs: effects of pH and gastric juice.

BACKGROUND The authors compared the lung injury in rabbits that occurred after tracheal instillation of human breast milk (HBM) acidified to pH 1.8 with hydrochloric acid (HCl), HBM at its native pH (7.0), and HBM acidified with gastric juice to pH 1.8 and 3.0. METHODS The alveolar-to-arterial oxygen tension gradient and dynamic compliance were recorded before and hourly for 4 h after intratracheal instillation of 0.8 ml/kg HBM acidified with HCI (pH 1.8), HBM at its native pH (7.0), HBM acidified with gastric juice (pH 1.8 or 3.0), or 5% dextrose solution acidified with gastric juice (pH 1.8) as a control in 30 adult rabbits. The circulating neutrophil count and phagocyte oxidant activity were determined before and 1 and 4 h after instillation. RESULTS The alveolar-to-arterial oxygen tension gradient increased and dynamic compliance decreased significantly in all groups after instillation of HBM compared with baseline values and those in the control group. The severity of the lung injury after instillation of HBM at all pH values (1.8, 3.0, and 7.0) and after acidification with gastric juice or HCl was similar. The circulating neutrophil count increased steadily for 4 h after instillation (P < 0.013), whereas spontaneous phagocyte oxidant burst activity peaked at 1 h (P < 0.007) and returned to baseline by 4 h after instillation. CONCLUSIONS The severity of the lung injury after tracheal instillation of 0.8 ml/kg HBM in rabbits is similar at pH values between 1.8 and 7.0 after acidification with HCl or gastric juice. Tracheal instillation of HBM increases the circulating neutrophil count and phagocyte oxidant burst activity.
Integrating Retired Registered Nurses Into a New Graduate Orientation Program

Purpose: The project goal of was to decrease new graduate nurse (NGN) attrition during the first year of employment by improving communication skills and providing additional mentoring for NGNs employed in a community hospital located in a rural area. Description of Project: All NGNs participate in the Versant Residency Program. Even with this standardized residency program, exit interviews of NGNs who resigned during their first year of employment revealed 2 major issues: communication problems with patients and staff and perceived lack of support/mentoring from unit staff. A clinical nurse specialist–led nursing team developed an innovative program integrating retired nurses, Volunteer Nurse Ambassadors (VNAs), into the Versant Residency Program to address both of those issues. Outcome: All NGNs mentored by a retired nurse remain employed in the hospital (100% retention). Before the VNA program, the retention rate was 37.5%. Both the NGNs and VNAs saw value in their mentor-mentee relationship. There have been no critical incidences or failure to rescue events involving NGNs mentored by a VNA. Conclusion: Use of VNAs to support NGNs as they adjust to the staff nurse role can prevent attrition during their first year of nursing practice by providing additional support to the NGN.
Predictive Validity of the RIASI: Alcohol and Drug Use and Problems Six Months Following Remedial Program Participation

The ability of screening instruments for convicted drinking drivers to predict subsequent alcohol and drug-related problems rarely has been studied. The predictive validity of the Research Institute on Addictions Self-Inventory (RIASI) was investigated in a sample of 6,003 convicted drinking drivers who were participating in Back on Track (BOT), Ontario's remedial measures program for convicted drinking drivers. All BOT participants complete an assessment (which includes the RIASI), followed by a brief education or treatment program, and concluded 6 months later by a follow-up interview. The follow-up interview collects information on self-reported alcohol and other drug use and problems, and contacts with other health care providers in the 90 days prior to the follow-up contact. The ability of scores on the RIASI to predict these measures was assessed. The results revealed that, for almost all comparisons, individuals who used alcohol and other drugs, reported more substance-related problems at follow-up, and reported more contacts with other health and addictions providers had significantly higher scores on the RIASI total score and the RIASI recidivism scale at the initial assessment. The data indicate that this instrument appears to be able to identify individuals who will experience alcohol and drug related problems in the future.
Betting Against Betting Against Beta

Frazzini and Pedersen’s (2014) Betting Against Beta (BAB) factor is based on the same basic idea as Black’s (1972) beta-arbitrage, but its astonishing performance has generated academic interest and made it highly influential with practitioners. This performance is driven by non-standard procedures used in its construction that effectively, but non-transparently, equal weight stock returns. For each dollar invested in BAB, the strategy commits on average $1.05 to stocks in the bottom 1% of total market capitalization. BAB earns positive returns after accounting for transaction costs, but earns these by tilting toward profitability and investment, exposures for which it is fairly compensated. Predictable biases resulting from the paper’s non-standard beta estimation procedure drive results presented as evidence supporting its underlying theory.
An Empirical Comparison of Parsers in Constraining Reordering for E-J Patent Machine Translation

Machine translation of patent documents is very important from a practical point of view. One of the key technologies for improving machine translation quality is the utilization of syntax. It is difficult to select the appropriate parser for English to Japanese patent machine translation because the effects of each parser on patent translation are not clear. This paper provides an empirical comparative evaluation of several state-of-the-art parsers for English, focusing on the effects on patent machine translation from English to Japanese. We add syntax to a method that constrains the reordering of noun phrases for phrase-based statistical machine translation. There are two methods for obtaining the noun phrases from input sentences: 1) an input sentence is directly parsed by a parser and 2) noun phrases from an input sentence are determined by a method using the parsing results of the context document that contains the input sentence. We measured how much each parser contributed to improving the translation quality for each of the two methods and how much a combination of parsers contributed to improving the translation quality for the second method. We conducted experiments using the NTCIR-8 patent translation task dataset. Most of the parsers improved translation quality. Combinations of parsers using the method based on context documents achieved the best translation quality.
Characterization of molecular interactions between Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and topoisomerase I by molecular simulations

Escherichia coli topoisomerase I (EctopoI), a type IA DNA topoisomerase, relaxes the negative DNA supercoiling generated by RNA polymerase (RNAP) during transcription elongation. Due to the lack of structural information on the complex, the exact nature of the RNAP‐EctopoI interactions remains unresolved. Herein, we report for the first time, the structure‐based modeling of the RNAP–EctopoI interactions using computational methods. Our results predict that the salt bridge as well as hydrogen bond interactions are responsible for the formation and stabilization of the RNAP‐EctopoI complex. Our investigations provide molecular insights for understanding how EctopoI interacts with RNAP, a critical step for preventing hypernegative DNA supercoiling during transcription.
cagA Status and Eradication Treatment Outcome of Anti-Helicobacter pylori Triple Therapies in Patients with Nonulcer Dyspepsia

ABSTRACT The differences in eradication rates reported in clinical trials aiming to cure Helicobacter pylori infection cannot be entirely explained by the type of regimen, bacterial resistance, or lack of compliance. Using data from a clinical trial, a logistic regression model was constructed to determine whether cagAstatus, assessed by PCR, affects the outcome of eradication. Resistance to clarithromycin (10% of the strains) predicted failure perfectly. In the model (n = 156), a cagA-lacking strain (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], (1.1 to 4.7), tobacco smoking OR = 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3 to 7.0), and a double dose of proton pump inhibitor in the treatment regimen (OR = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7) were associated with the treatment outcome. The exact role of cagA in the outcome of H. pylorieradication therapy has not been explored. However, the type of histological lesions which it causes in the gastric mucosa may be implicated. Regardless of the mechanism involved, cagAstatus is a good predictive marker of eradication outcome.
Induction Machine Bearing Fault Detection by Means of Statistical Processing of the Stray Flux Measurement

Rolling bearing faults are generally slowly progressive; therefore, the development of an effective diagnostic technique could be worth detecting such faults in their incipient phase and preventing complete failure of the motor. The methods proposed in the literature for this purpose are mainly based on measuring and analyzing vibration and current. Here, a novel technique based on the stray flux measurement in different positions around the electrical machine is proposed. The main advantages of this method are due to the simplicity and the flexibility of the custom flux probe with its amplification and filtering stage. The flux probe can be easily positioned on the machines and adapted to a wide range of power levels. This paper also reports an extensive survey on the stray-flux-based fault detection methods for induction motors, prior to introducing a novel sensor/diagnostic scheme.
Spatio-temporal electrical stimuli shape behavior of an embodied cortical network in a goal-directed learning task

We developed an adaptive training algorithm, whereby an in vitro neocortical network learned to modulate its dynamics and achieve pre-determined activity states within tens of minutes through the application of patterned training stimuli using a multi-electrode array. A priori knowledge of functional connectivity was not necessary. Instead, effective training sequences were continuously discovered and refined based on real-time feedback of performance. The short-term neural dynamics in response to training became engraved in the network, requiring progressively fewer training stimuli to achieve successful behavior in a movement task. After 2 h of training, plasticity remained significantly greater than the baseline for 80 min (p-value <0.01). Interestingly, a given sequence of effective training stimuli did not induce significant plasticity (p-value = 0.82) or desired behavior, when replayed to the network and no longer contingent on feedback. Our results encourage an in vivo investigation of how targeted multi-site artificial stimulation of the brain, contingent on the activity of the body or even of the brain itself could treat neurological disorders by gradually shaping functional connectivity. Corrections were made to this article on 27 August 2008. Changes were made to affiliation 3, and to figure 2. The corrected electronic version is identical to the print version.
Femoral Fracture Risk in Hip Arthroplasty: Smooth Versus Toothed Instruments

Compaction of cancellous bone with smooth tamps in total hip arthroplasty has been shown to improve initial implant fixation. It is not known, however, whether this improved fixation occurs at the expense of an increased risk of intraoperative femoral fracture. The current authors explore this issue by comparing the risk of fracture in 10 pairs of femurs prepared with either smooth tamps or conventional toothed broaches. Using one pass for each size, smooth tamps were advanced incrementally into one femur of each pair and toothed broaches were advanced incrementally into the contralateral femur. A controlled impulse, representative of a typical impact during surgery, was applied to the instruments by a drop tower (mean starting force, 3017 N). When the instruments no longer advanced distally, the applied force was increased incrementally. Instrument sizes were increased until a femoral fracture was observed or the impact exceeded 8000 N without causing a femoral fracture. At preoperative templated size, significantly more femurs that had tamps had fractured (eight of 10), compared with femurs that had broaches (two of 10). Smooth tamps therefore increased the risk of intraoperative femoral fracture in vitro in this particular implant design developed for cemented fixation of the femoral component.
[2 selective filters in the calcium channel of the somatic membrane of mollusk neurons].

The modification of inward currents in the somatic membrane of mollusc neurons produced by EDTA and other CA-chelating agents was investigated. The results obtained indicate the presence of two selective filters in the calcium channel of this membrane. The first one is located near the outer mouth of the calcium channel. It binds divalent cations in the following sequence--pKCa: pKSr: pKBa: pKMg=6.6 : 5.5 : 4.8 : 4.2. This outer filter controls channel selectivity according to the magnitude of cation charge and presumably contains several carboxylic groups. The second selective filter is located inside the channel and controls its permeability for cations with the same charge. It is assumed that the structure of the inner selective filter resembles very much the structure postulated by Hille for the selective filter of sodium channel and that it contains only one carboxylic group. The investigation of the effect of Ca2+ and Cd2+ ions on sodium currents of the same membrane has shown that the fast sodium current is not blocked by these ions and the observed decrease of its amplitude is connected with the change of the membrane surface potential and corresponding change of near-membrane concentration of carrier ions. On the basis of these experiments, it is suggested that the selectivity filter of sodium channel of this membrane does not contain a carboxylic group.
Interference of poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid analogues with cationic-lipid-mediated delivery of oligonucleotides; role of lipid exchangeability and non-lamellar transitions.

Cationic liposomes are applied to transfer oligonucleotides (ODNs) into cells to regulate gene expression for gene therapeutic or cell biological purposes. In vivo, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-lipid derivatives are employed to stabilize and prolong the circulation lifetime of nucleic acid-containing particles, and to improve targeting strategies. In this study, we have studied the effects of PEG-lipid analogues, i.e. PEG coupled to either phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) or ceramide, on cationic-lipid-DNA complex ('lipoplex') assembly and the mechanism of cationic-lipid-mediated delivery of ODNs in vitro. Inclusion of 10 mol% PEG-PE in ODN lipoplexes inhibited their internalization in Chinese hamster ovary cells by more than 70%. The intracellular fraction remained entrapped in the endosomal/lysosomal pathway, and no release of ODNs was apparent. Similar observations were made for complexes prepared from liposomes that contained PEG-ceramides. Interestingly, delivery resumed when lipoplexes had been externally coated with PEG-ceramides. In this case, the kinetics of delivery were dependent on the length of the ceramide acyl chain, consistent with a requirement for the PEG-lipid to dissociate from the complex. Moreover, although the chemical nature of the PEG-ceramides distinctly affected the net internalization of the complexes, impediment of delivery was largely related to an inhibitory effect of the PEG-lipid on the release of ODNs from the endosomal compartment. Cryo-electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering revealed that the PEG-lipids stabilize the lamellar phase of the lipoplexes, while their acyl-chain-length-dependent transfer from the complex enables adaptation of the hexagonal phase. Within the endosomal compartment, this transition appears to be instrumental in causing the dissociation and cytosolic release of the ODNs for their nuclear homing.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma: overview of the descriptive epidemiology

The 2001 World Health Organization classification scheme considers B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in an aggregate category (CLL/SLL) because of shared clinicopathological features. We have estimated age‐adjusted incidence rates (IRs) of CLL and SLL in the population‐based Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program in the United States to analyse patterns of CLL and SLL separately and jointly. Age‐standardized to the 2000 US population, overall IRs were 3·83 per 100 000 person‐years for CLL (n = 15 676) and 1·31 for SLL (n = 5382) during 1993–2004. Incidence of the combined entity, CLL/SLL, was 90% higher among males compared to females, and the male:female IR ratio was significantly higher for CLL (1·98) than for SLL (1·67). CLL/SLL IRs were 25% and 77% lower among Blacks and Asian/Pacific Islanders, respectively, compared to Whites. A significant reporting delay was evident for CLL but not for SLL, so that CLL/SLL temporal trends must be interpreted cautiously. CLL and SLL IRs increased exponentially with age among all gender/race groups, with CLL IRs increasing more steeply with advancing age than SLL. Avenues of future research include assessment of delayed‐ and under‐reporting to cancer registries and exploration of race, gender, and age effects in epidemiological studies.
The Relationship between the Oil Price Shocks and the Stock Markets: The Example of Commonwealth of Independent States Countries

One can find many studies in the literature which examine the relationship between the oil price shocks and the macroeconomic activities. Moreover, we witness an increase in the number of studies which examine the effect of recent price fluctuations on the stock prices and returns. This work studies the relationship between the crude oil price shocks and the stock prices in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, all members of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in the period of 2010:01-2017:04 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ADL) cointegration test. Empirical results show that the crude oil price shocks and the fluctuations in the stock prices are cointegrated. Furthermore the results show that the rebalancement process is asymmetrical in the long run.
Optimization of nutritional compositions of growth medium for Chlorella sp. FJ3 growth kinetics in batch and continuous-flow photoreactors

This study investigates improvement to culture medium for specific growth rate of Chlorella sp. FJ3 using a fractional factorial design for 32 experiments with six variable components. Six tested components were NaNO3 (0.5 or 3.0 g/l), K2HPO4 (0.01 or 0.06 g/l), MgSO4·7H2O (0.05 or 1.0 g/l), CaCl2·2H2O (0.01 or 0.06 g/l), ferric ammonium citrate (0.002 or 0.02 g/l) and NaCl (0.5 or 5.0 g/l). Magnesium sulphate and interaction between magnesium sulphate and ferric ammonium citrate were found to be critical for the cultivation of Chlorella sp. FJ3. The optimal concentrations of MgSO4·7H2O and ferric ammonium citrate were found to be 2.0 and 0.35 g/l, respectively. The concentration of carbonate () in effluent confirmed that the optimized culture medium was associated with a high carbonate utilization rate and specific growth rate during a transient period in batch and continuous-flow tests. The extent of growth of strain FJ3 in the optimized medium was 1.61 times greater than that in a non-optimized medium in the batch test. In the continuous-flow test, the maximum growth of Chlorella strain FJ3 in the optimized medium was 1.77 times higher than that in a non-optimized medium. The rate of fixation in the non-optimized and the optimized media was 339 mg/l-day and 887 mg/l-day, respectively, in the steady state. These experimental and modelling results indicated that optimization of concentration in nutritional compositions in the culture medium enhanced the capacity of Chlorella sp. FJ3 for inorganic carbon fixation in batch and continuous-flow modes of photoreactors.
Using a claims data-based sentinel system to improve compliance with clinical guidelines: results of a randomized prospective study.

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the potential effect of deploying a sentinel system that scans administrative claims information and clinical data to detect and mitigate errors in care and deviations from best medical practices. METHODS Members (n = 39 462; age range, 12-64 years) of a midwestern managed care plan were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The sentinel system was programmed with more than 1000 decision rules that were capable of generating clinical recommendations. Clinical recommendations triggered for subjects in the intervention group were relayed to treating physicians, and those for the control group were deferred to study end. RESULTS Nine hundred eight clinical recommendations were issued to the intervention group. Among those in both groups who triggered recommendations, there were 19% fewer hospital admissions in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < .001). Charges among those whose recommendations were communicated were dollar 77.91 per member per month (pmpm) lower and paid claims were dollar 68.08 pmpm lower than among controls compared with the baseline values (P = .003 for both). Paid claims for the entire intervention group (with or without recommendations) were dollar 8.07 pmpm lower than those for the entire control group. In contrast, the intervention cost dollar 1.00 pmpm, suggesting an 8-fold return on investment. CONCLUSION Ongoing use of a sentinel system to prompt clinically actionable, patient-specific alerts generated from administratively derived clinical data was associated with a reduction in hospitalization, medical costs, and morbidity.
Stable lymphocyte contact induces remodeling of endothelial cell matrix receptor complexes

Endothelial cells (EC) actively participate in lymphocyte transendothelial migration by remodeling their actin cytoskeleton. We studied the endothelial cell abluminal matrix receptor (focal adhesion, FA) complexes to determine if these structures were remodeled following lymphocyte adhesion. Lymphocytes (PBL) were isolated from whole blood and added to cultured EC. Lectin‐stimulated PBL adhered to EC spontaneously, whereas adhesion of freshly isolated lymphocytes to EC was induced by pre‐treatment with MCP‐1 or activating anti‐CD11a mAb. Sustained adhesion between lymphocytes and EC resulted in a significant, contact‐dependent decrease in paxillin incorporation into the FA following 15, but not 5, min of contact. EC FA remodeling was associated with increased phosphorylation of pp125 FA kinase. Pretreatment of the EC with an activating β1 integrin monoclonal antibody, TS2/16, prevented lymphocyte‐stimulated FA remodeling. Further, TS2/16 pretreatment inhibited transendothelial migration of lymphocytes and β1 integrin‐deficient JY lymphoblasts. These data demonstrate that sustained lymphocyte adhesion induces remodeling of EC FA structures and that this remodeling event is required for efficient lymphocyte transendothelial migration in vitro.