Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of adverse drug reactions on length of stay in surgical intensive care units

ObjectiveTo determine the frequency of adverse drug reactions in surgical intensive care units and evaluate their effect on the length of stay. DesignProspective cohort study. Between May 1997 and December 1999, while the patients were staying in the surgical intensive care unit, data were gathered regarding suspected adverse drug reactions and on different variables related to the length of stay. SettingSurgical intensive care units of our hospital. PatientsA total of 401 patients hospitalized in the surgical intensive care unit. Main ResultsIn 37 of the 401 patients seen (9.2%; 95% confidence interval, 6.6–12.5), 39 different adverse drug reactions were detected. The adverse drug reactions were most frequently caused by the following drugs: morphine hydrochloride (n = 13), meperidine hydrochloride (n = 9), and metamizole (n = 7). Five adverse drug reactions were severe, the suspected medication had to be discontinued in 14 cases, and new drugs were necessary to manage the adverse drug reaction in 28 cases. The crude estimation of the effect of adverse drug reactions performed on the length of stay with a bivariant regression model indicated that each adverse drug reaction was related to an increase of 3.39 days (95% confidence interval, 1.47–5.31) in the length of stay. This estimation was reduced to 2.31 days (95% confidence interval, 0.64–3.99) when considering other variables that might cause confusion for analysis, although it is still important. ConclusionsAdverse drug reactions are a significant clinical and economic problem in surgical intensive care units.
A 24-GHz single-to-balanced multicoupled line bandpass filter in CMOS technology

In this work, on-chip single-to-balanced bandpass filter centered at 24 GHz is proposed. The functions of bandpass filter and balun are integrated using a simple multicoupled line structure along with capacitive loadings. The use of inductor is avoided such that very compact chip size can be achieved. It can be easily designed with the desired bandpass response and reference impedances through the conventional filter synthesis techniques. Specifically, a 3rd-order single-to-balanced bandpass filter design with a center frequency of 24 GHz and a fractional bandwidth of about 15% is presented using the 0.18-μm CMOS technology. The chip size is 0.533 mm×0.443 mm and the corresponding electrical size is only 0. 085λg×0. 07λg at the center frequency. In addition, good selectivity and balanced performance are obtained.
Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Open Microstrip Gap Discontinuities

A theoretical analysis of open discontinuities in microwave planar circuits using integral equations technique solved by the moment method is described. Characterization of the dicontinuity by an equival ent scattering matrix is then accurately evaluated from the determnation of the current distribution along the line containing the discontinuity under different load conditions. An experimental method, which is capable to determine directly the discontinuity equivalent circuit parameters, is proposed. A good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is reported.
A Review of Global Competitiveness Research: Past Advances and Future Directions

The global competitiveness (GC) literature has proven to be a developing, yet critical element in international marketing research. Broadly, GC studies have become a part of the marketing, international business, and strategic management fields. In light of this far-reaching topic and to gain a unique understanding of the dynamics across the GC domain, this study examines the intellectual structure of GC research at two distinct levels of analysis: overall GC publications and marketing and international business GC articles. This review of the literature uses cocitation data to provide insight to the field and develop a research-based model for future consideration. A total of 48 journals are included, providing 1,819 articles with 115,462 citations for examination. Applying multidimensional scaling to analyze the data, the study introduces a GC-focused model and provides possible topics for research. The proposed organizing framework includes elements of a market-based perspective (offering development, market orientation, and process emphasis), strategy implementation (firm-related advantages, strategic approach, and international focus), and performance to advance the critical nature of the marketing function in the GC literature.
Low-Cost Data-Driven Surrogate Modeling of Antenna Structures by Constrained Sampling

Full-wave electromagnetic analysis has become one of the major design tools for contemporary antenna structures. Although reliable, it is computationally expensive, which makes automated simulation-driven antenna design (e.g., parametric optimization) difficult. This difficulty can be alleviated by utilization of fast and accurate replacement models (surrogates). Unfortunately, conventional data-driven modeling of antennas is usually prohibitively expensive in terms of data acquisition or even infeasible (due to numerical problems with handling large training datasets). In this letter, a technique for reduced-cost antenna modeling is discussed. It exploits constrained sampling within a restricted region of the design space, defined by the reference designs optimized for selected sets of performance requirements. The proposed approach permits dramatic reduction of the sampled portion of the design space without formally reducing geometry parameter ranges. It is demonstrated using two antenna structures and favorably compared to conventional modeling using kriging interpolation.
KNS‐760704 [(6R)‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐N6‐propyl‐2, 6‐benzothiazole‐diamine dihydrochloride monohydrate] for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Developing effective treatments for chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has proven extremely difficult. ALS is universally fatal, characterized by progressive weakness due to the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons, and leads eventually to respiratory failure which is the usual cause of death. Only a single treatment has been approved, the modestly effective nonspecific neuroprotectant Rilutek® (riluzole; 2‐amino‐6‐(trifluoromethoxy)benzothiazole). KNS‐760704 [(6R)‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐N6‐propyl‐2,6‐benzothiazole‐diamine dihydrochloride, RPPX], a synthetic amino‐benzothiazole with demonstrated activity in maintaining mitochondrial function, is being developed as a treatment for ALS. It has proven to be effective in multiple in vitro and in vivo assays of neuroprotection, including the G93A‐SOD1 mutant mouse model; however, its specific mechanism of action remains unknown. The potential of KNS‐760604 as a treatment for ALS was first suggested by studies showing that its optical enantiomer, Mirapex®[(6S)‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐N6‐propyl‐2,6‐benzothiazole‐diamine; pramipexole dihydrochloride; PPX], a high‐affinity agonist at dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptors, exhibits important neuroprotective properties independent of its dopamine receptor agonism. In cell‐based assays, both RPPX and PPX reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), attenuate the activation of apoptotic pathways, and increase cell survival in response to a variety of neurotoxins. However, PPX has limited utility as a clinical neuroprotective agent because the drug concentrations required for neuroprotection would likely produce unacceptable dopaminergic side effects. RPPX, on the other hand, while possessing the same neuroprotective potential as PPX, is a much lower‐affinity dopamine receptor agonist and may therefore be more useful in the treatment of ALS. This review will examine the data supporting the hypothesis that the RPPX may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders including ALS. In addition, we will briefly review recent preclinical data in support of RPPX, and discuss the current status of its clinical development.
Selection designs for pilot studies based on survival.

In cancer clinical trials new regimens are typically tested for antitumor activities in patients with advanced disease. The promising ones are then compared to the standard treatment in a randomized study, sometimes performed on patients with earlier-stage disease. When there are multiple promising regimens, it may not be possible to compare all of them to the control group because of the prohibitive sample size and study length requirements. We propose a design that uses the Cox regression model to select a best treatment based on survival before the randomized comparison. Sample sizes for an asymptotically correct selection probability of . 90 are presented for Weibull survival distributions with parameters in a range we consider to be of practical interest. Simulations verify that the asymptotic approximations to the correct selection probabilities are quite satisfactory. Simulations also indicate that the procedure is reasonably robust to the proportional hazards assumption. In contrast to the two-stage screening design recommended by Schaid, Wieand, and Therneau (1990, Biometrika 77, 507-513), our design has the advantage of fitting naturally to a progression of cancer trials where the selection and comparison phases are carried out on different populations of patients. When the population of interest stays the same, our design can be more conservative on the average but offers the opportunity to base the comparative trial on the experience gained during the selection phase.
Autonomic Nervous Activity Revealed by a New Physiological Index /spl rho//sub max/ Based on Cross-Correlation between Mayer-Wave Components of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

The authors have proposed a new physiological index rhomax which is the maximum cross-correlation coefficient between blood pressure and heart rate whose frequency components are limited to the Mayer wave-band (0.04-0.15 Hz). The advantages of this index are small individual difference and high reproducibility compared with other physiological indices which are calculated independently single cardiovascular measurements. The previous study showed that the index rhomax is possible to assess visually-induced motion sickness. However, the relation between the proposed index and autonomic nervous activity has not been clarified yet. In this study, the change in rhomax during sympathetic or parasympathetic blockage has been investigated in comparison with conventional indices in an animal experiment. The results have indicated that rhomax does not have information on parasympathetic nerve activity but sympathetic one
[Stress and sleep].

For this paper, psychophysiological relationships between stress and sleep are considered with reference to clinical psychiatric problems. Answers to the first question--how does sleep affect the tolerance of stress in the waking state? --are provided by sleep deprivation experiments. The latter show that total sleep deprivation has a great influence on stress. However gradual partial sleep deprivation to a sleep time of 5 hours seems well tolerated by most individuals. In some special cases we found subjects well adapted to the workaday world who could live with briefer sleeping periods. Because of experimental problems, the second question--how does stress affect sleep? --is more difficult to answer. Anxiety is one of the most important factors deteriorating sleep under conditions of stress. This reduced sleep is in turn stressful for waking behavior. Thus, the relationship between stress and sleep, two factors separated for scientific investigation, is essential and especially important in the problem of insomnia.
Bilateral restless legs affecting a phantom limb, treated with dopamine agonists

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common condition characterised by unpleasant sensations deep inside the legs, which usually occurs at rest and especially at night. These sensations are accompanied by an urge to move the limb, and movements result in a temporary relief of the symptoms. The pathophysiology of RLS is not completely known, especially the role of afferent feedback. An individual with a below the knee amputation who developed restless legs in his real and phantom limbs is reported. Methods and results: A 54-year-old man with a left leg amputation 22 years ago developed RLS, primarily at night, that met the International RLS Study Group’s criteria for RLS. This RLS, however, involved both his real and phantom lower limbs. Movement and phantom movements, as well as treatment with dopamine agonists, relieved this symptom in both the real and amputated limbs. However, creating an image of the limb moving without “moving” the limb did not improve the uncomfortable sensations in either limb. Conclusions: That restless legs can occur simultaneously in a phantom as well as a real limb and that the perception of movement in a phantom limb as well as dopaminergic treatment improved the symptoms provides further support for the important role of central nervous system dysfunction in the development of this disorder.
CAR T-cell immunotherapy of MET-expressing malignant mesothelioma

ABSTRACT Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer for which effective therapies are required. Aberrant MET expression is prevalent in mesothelioma, although targeting using small molecule-based therapeutics has proven disappointing. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) couple the HLA-independent binding of a cell surface target to the delivery of a tailored T-cell activating signal. Here, we evaluated the anti-tumor activity of MET re-targeted CAR T-cells against mesothelioma. Using immunohistochemistry, MET was detected in 67% of malignant pleural mesotheliomas, most frequently of epithelioid or biphasic subtype. The presence of MET did not influence patient survival. Candidate MET-specific CARs were engineered in which a CD28+CD3ζ endodomain was fused to one of 3 peptides derived from the N and K1 domains of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which represents the minimum MET binding element present in this growth factor. Using an NIH3T3-based artificial antigen-presenting cell system, we found that all 3 candidate CARs demonstrated high specificity for MET. By contrast, these CARs did not mediate T-cell activation upon engagement of other HGF binding partners, namely CD44v6 or heparan sulfate proteoglycans, including Syndecan-1. NK1-targeted CARs demonstrated broadly similar in vitro potency, indicated by destruction of MET-expressing mesothelioma cell lines, accompanied by cytokine release. In vivo anti-tumor activity was demonstrated following intraperitoneal delivery to mice with an established mesothelioma xenograft. Progressive tumor regression occurred without weight loss or other clinical indicators of toxicity. These data confirm the frequent expression of MET in malignant pleural mesothelioma and demonstrate that this can be targeted effectively and safely using a CAR T-cell immunotherapeutic strategy.
High-frequency mobilization of broad-host-range plasmids into Neisseria gonorrhoeae requires methylation in the donor

Antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been associated with the acquisition of R plasmids from heterologous organisms. The broad-host-range plasmids of incompatibility groups P (IncP) and Q (IncQ) have played a role in this genetic exchange in nature. We have utilized derivatives of RSF1010 (IncQ) and RP1 (IncP) to demonstrate that the plethora of restriction barriers associated with the gonococci markedly reduces mobilization of plasmids from Escherichia coli into strains F62 and PGH 3-2. Partially purified restriction endonucleases from these gonococcal strains can digest RSF1010 in vitro. Protection of RSF1010-km from digestion by gonococcal enzymes purified from strain F62 is observed when the plasmid is isolated from E. coli containing a coresident plasmid, pCAL7. Plasmid pCAL7 produces a 5'-MECG-3' cytosine methylase (M.SssI). The M.SssI methylase only partially protects RSF1010-km from digestion by restriction enzymes from strain PGH 3-2. Total protection of RSF1010-km from PGH 3-2 restriction requires both pCAL7 and a second coresident plasmid, pFnuDI, which produces a 5'-GGMECC-3' cytosine methylase. When both F62 and PGH 3-2 are utilized as recipients in heterospecific matings with E. coli, mobilization of RSF1010 from strains containing the appropriate methylases into the gonococci occurs at frequencies 4 orders of magnitude higher than from strains without the methylases. Thus, protection of RSF1010 from gonococcal restriction enzymes in vitro correlates with an increase in the conjugal frequency. These data indicate that restriction is a major barrier against efficient conjugal transfer between N. gonorrhoeae and heterologous hosts.
Asymmetry in the fly-paper effect of the national subsidy in Korea

ABSTRACT Nowadays, Korean central government has concentrated increasing attention on welfare policy. Welfare payment which is delivered by local government relies on the national subsidy. The national subsidy, however, is a kind of conditional grants which is needed to match some financial resource of local governments. For this reason, the fiscal conditions of local governments may become worse off, as the amount of national subsidy increases. This phenomenon is called the ‘fly-paper effect’, and may be caused inefficiency of the intergovernmental grants. In this paper, we test whether there is any fly-paper effect in the national subsidy and, then, the asymmetry in the fly-paper effect.
Evidence for the Importance of a Carboxyl Group in the Binding of Ligands to the D2 Dopamine Receptor

Abstract: A series of group specific modifying reagents were tested for their effects on [3H]spiperone binding to brain D2 dopamine receptors to identify amino acid residues at the binding site of the D2 dopamine receptor that are critical for ligand binding. The dependence of ligand binding to the receptor on the pH of the incubation medium was also examined. N‐Acetylimidazole, 5,5′‐dithiobis(2‐nitrobenzoic acid), 1,2‐cyclohexanedione, and acetic anhydride had no specific effect on [3H]spiperone binding, indicating the lack of participation of tyrosine, free sulphydryl, arginine, or primary amino groups in ligand binding to the receptor.N,N′‐Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) potently reduced the number of [3H]spiperone binding sites, indicating that a carboxyl group is involved in ligand binding to the receptor. The effects of DCCD could be prevented by prior incubation of the receptor with D2 dopamine receptor selective compounds. The pH‐binding profile for [3H]spiperone binding indicated the importance of an ionising group of pKa 5.2 for ligand binding which may be the same carboxyl group. Diethyl pyrocarbonate, the histidine modifying reagent, also inhibited [3H]spiperone binding, reducing the affinity of the receptor for this ligand but the effects were not at the ligand binding site. From the effects of pH changes on ligand binding some evidence was obtained for a second ionising group (pKa 7.0) that specifically affects the binding of substituted ben‐zamide drugs to the receptor. It is concluded that the D2 dopamine receptor binding site contains separate but overlapping binding regions for antagonists such as spiperone and substituted benzamide drugs. The former region contains an important carboxyl group; the latter region contains another group that may be a second carboxyl group or a histidine.
Approaching Genetics Through the MHC Lens: Tools and Methods for HLA Research

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic era launched an immediate and broad response of the research community with studies both about the virus and host genetics. Research in genetics investigated HLA association with COVID-19 based on in silico, population, and individual data. However, they were conducted with variable scale and success; convincing results were mostly obtained with broader whole-genome association studies. Here, we propose a technical review of HLA analysis, including basic HLA knowledge as well as available tools and advice. We notably describe recent algorithms to infer and call HLA genotypes from GWAS SNPs and NGS data, respectively, which opens the possibility to investigate HLA from large datasets without a specific initial focus on this region. We thus hope this overview will empower geneticists who were unfamiliar with HLA to run MHC-focused analyses following the footsteps of the Covid-19|HLA & Immunogenetics Consortium.
Notice of RetractionProkaryotic Expression and Analysis on the 22kDa Protein Gene of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

The gene encoding 22kDa protein gene from Mycobacterium paratuberculosis C-2, chromosomal DNA was amplified by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the PCR product was approximately 720bp DNA segment. The PCR product was cloned into pMD-18-T vector and the cloning plasmid pMD-18-T-22 was constructed successfully. The purified 22kDa protein gene was subcloned into the expression vector pET32a(+), and the prokaryotic expression Plasmid pET32a-22 was constructed. Plasmid containing pET32a-22 was transformed into competence Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The bacterium was induced by isopropyl-β-Dthiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and its lysates were loaded directly onto sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), approximately 41kDa exogenous protein was observed on the SDS-PAGE. The protein was analyzed by using Western-blotting. The results indicated that the protein was of antigenic reactivity of M. paratuberculosis. The results were expected to lay foundation for further studies on the subunit vaccine, DNA vaccine and diagnostic reagents of 22kDa protein gene in their prevention against bovine paratuberculosis.
Sphingomonas starnbergensis sp. nov., isolated from a prealpine freshwater lake.

A novel type of freshwater bacterium was isolated from the prealpine mesotrophic Starnberger See (Bavaria, southern Germany). Cells of strain 382(T) were Gram-negative and rod-shaped, motile and creamy-white. The isolate was strictly aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and grew at pH values of 6-9 (optimum, pH 7) and temperatures of 10-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C). The genomic G+C content of strain 382(T) was 64.1 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, strain 382(T) belongs to the family Sphingomonadaceae and clusters within the genus Sphingomonas. Sphingomonas histidinilytica UM 2(T) and Sphingomonas wittichii DSM 6014(T) were the closest relatives, as indicated by the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (97.1 % and 96.8 %, respectively). Sphingomonas paucimobilis DSM 1098(T) (the type species of the genus Sphingomonas) exhibited 95.3 % sequence similarity. This affiliation of strain 382(T) to the genus Sphingomonas is confirmed by the presence of Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone, two sphingoglycolipids, C14 : 0 2-OH as the major 2-hydroxy fatty acid and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The main cellular fatty acids of strain 382(T) were C18 : 1ω7c (39 %), C16 : 1ω7c (21 %), C16 : 0 (10 %) and C14 : 0 2-OH (10 %). Based on the phylogenetic distance from other species of the genus Sphingomonas and its unusually high C16 : 1ω7c content, strain 382(T) represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas starnbergensis is proposed. The type strain is 382(T) ( = DSM 25077(T) = LMG 26763(T)).
Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators - 2006 Edition

Panorama de la Educación presenta a educadores, políticos, estudiantes y padres una amplia colección de datos sobre casi cualquier aspecto cuantitativo y cualitativo del rendimiento escolar y de la política educativa en los países de la OCDE y en otros países asociados. Además de detalles sobre rendimiento, recursos, tasas de escolarización y organización de los centros, el informe aporta información objetiva para evaluar cuestiones como la importancia de la preparación básica para enseñar, el tamaño ideal de las aulas o la duración del curso escolar.