Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive Value of Serum Albumin Level for the Prognosis of Severe Sepsis Without Exogenous Human Albumin Administration: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: The prognostic significance of serum albumin levels in patients with sepsis has previously been reported; however, these studies have not excluded the potential confounding effect of exogenous albumin administration. In this study, we investigate the predictive value of serum albumin for the prognosis of severe sepsis without the interference of exogenous albumin administration. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from April to November 2014 in the internal and surgical intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital. During the study period, due to a supply shortage, patients were not treated with human albumin. Serum albumin levels were measured, and laboratory and clinical data were collected at the onset of severe sepsis. Prognostic factors were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method. Results: One hundred sixteen patients were included in the study. The overall 28-day mortality was 26.7%. The most common infection sources were lower respiratory tract, abdomen/pelvis, and bloodstream. Compared to patients who survived, those who died had lower serum albumin levels and higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrate that albumin level is a strong predictor of 28-day mortality, and the optimal cutoff value maximizing sensitivity and specificity is 29.2 g/L. Through multivariate Cox regression analysis, low serum albumin levels (<29.2 g/L) and APACHE II scores are identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Patients with lower serum albumin levels more often had abdominal/pelvic sources of infection, acute kidney or liver injury, septic shock, and higher APACHE II and SOFA scores. The 28-day survival rate was lower for patients with serum albumin below 29.2 g/L than for patients with serum albumin at or above this level. Conclusion: Having excluded potential confounding effect of exogenous albumin administration, low serum albumin levels are associated with an increased risk of death in patients with severe sepsis.
Long-term potentiation of glycinergic inhibitory synaptic transmission.

1. Tetanizing protocols were used to test whether glycinergic inhibition undergoes long-term plasticity in vivo. For this purpose we studied the inhibition evoked disynaptically in the teleost Mauthner (M) cell by stimulation of the posterior branch of the contralateral VIIIth nerve. The advantage of this experimental design is that the inhibition, which is mediated by identified second-order commissural interneurons, is not contaminated by parallel excitation. 2. The VIIIth-nerve-evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs), which are generated at the level of the soma, are depolarizing in Cl(-)-loaded M cells. After VIIIth nerve tetanization, these IPSPs exhibited potentiation lasting > 30 min in 23 of 31 cells. The maximum enhancement measured 5-10 min after the onset of the tetanization averaged 100 +/- 19% (mean +/- SE). In contrast, the non-"tetanized" collateral IPSP induced by antidromic stimulation of the M axon did not increase significantly suggesting synaptic specificity of the potentiation. 3. Single-electrode voltage-clamp studies of Cl(-)-loaded M cells indicated that this plasticity is due to an increased synaptic conductance that occurs without obvious modifications of the kinetics or voltage dependence of the inhibitory postsynaptic currents. 4. The synaptic conductance and its changes during potentiation were quantified by measuring the inhibitory shunt of the antidromic spike while recording with potassium-acetate-filled electrodes. For this purpose the ratio, r', of the inhibitory to resting membrane conductances, was calculated using the expression (V/V')--1, where V and V' are the amplitudes of the control and the test antidromic spikes, respectively. This ratio was called fractional conductance. Measured at the peak of the expected VIIIth-nerve-evoked IPSP, r' increased by 114 +/- 18% (n = 46). Again the collateral inhibitory conductance was not modified. 5. Because there are two synapses in the inhibitory pathway, it became important to determine whether modifications of the second-order inhibitory junctions contribute to the overall potentiation. Several experimental procedures were used for this purpose. 6. The input-output relationship at the inhibitory synapses was determined by comparing the size of the presynaptic volley and r'. The former was recorded intra- or extracellularly as a monophasic positive potential, the so-called extrinsic hyperpolarizing potential, which increases in parallel with the strength of VIIIth nerve stimulation. In 12 experiments where the presynaptic volley was unaffected by the tetanization, suggesting lack of involvement of the first relay, r' nevertheless increased in amplitude by 79 +/- 14%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The scope of application of a reciprocity principle in the theory of antennas at radiation and reception of ultra-wideband signals

An antenna for a reception of the signals, which have spatial length much less than physical length of the antenna and the processes occurring in this antenna, are considered. On an example of the elementary antenna-the symmetric vibrator-features of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals reception are shown and dependence of a current's form in loading of the antenna from a positional relationship of transmitting and reception antennas is described. It is shown, that change of the form of a field of transmitting antenna from change of a positional relationship of antennas does not allow using a reciprocity principle for construction of the reception antenna's pattern. Physical interpretation of the processes occurring in the antenna is given. The field's pattern is given at excitation of the antenna by the UWB signal. Nonstationary character of these diagrams is shown. As the basic characteristic of the UWB antenna for practical appendices the pattern on energy is considered.
Human articular chondrocytes express functional leukotriene B4 receptors

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent chemoattractant associated with the development of osteoarthritis (OA), while its receptors BLT1 and BLT2 have been found in synovium and subchondral bone. In this study, we have investigated whether these receptors are also expressed by human cartilage cells and their potential effects on cartilage cells. The expression of LTB4 receptors in native tissue and cultured cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electron microscopy. The functional significance of the LTB4 receptor expression was studied by Western blotting, using phospho‐specific antibodies in the presence or absence of receptor antagonists. In further studies, the secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, growth factors and metalloproteinases by LTB4‐stimulated chondrocytes was measured by multiplex protein assays. The effects of LTB4 in cartilage signature gene expression in cultured cells were assessed by quantitative PCR, whereas the LTB4‐promoted matrix synthesis was determined using 3D pellet cultures. Both receptors were present in cultured chondrocytes, as was confirmed by immunolabelling and PCR. The relative quantification by PCR demonstrated a higher expression of the receptors in cells from healthy joints compared with OA cases. The stimulation of cultured chondrocytes with LTB4 resulted in a phosphorylation of downstream transcription factor Erk 1/2, which was reduced after blocking BLT1 signalling. No alteration in the secretion of cytokine and metalloproteinases was recorded after challenging cultured cells with LTB4; likewise, cartilage matrix gene expression and 3D tissue synthesis were unaffected. Chondrocytes express BLT1 and BLT2 receptors, and LTB4 activates the downstream Erk 1/2 pathway by engaging the high‐affinity receptor BLT1. However, any putative role in cartilage biology could not be revealed, and remains to be clarified.
Factors affecting cancer screening intention and behavior of the Korean elderly.

BACKGROUND In this study we investigated factors influencing cancer screening intention and behavior to develop measures to increase the rate of cancer screening in the Korean elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants included 425 elderly subjects 65 years of age or older from D city, South Korea. The health behavior characteristics and cancer screening-related and theory of planned behavior (TPB) factors influencing the participant attitudes on cancer screening were examined to identify determinants significantly affecting cancer screening intentions and behavior. RESULTS Predictive factors influencing cancer screening behavior included smoking, exercise, cancer concerns, preference for the type of cancer screening, prior experience with the National Cancer Screening Program, perception of the National Cancer Screening Program, behavioral control with respect to cancer screening and cancer screening intentions. The factors influencing cancer screening behavior were different from those for cancer screening intentions. CONCLUSIONS Increasing the cancer screening intentions of the elderly is necessary to raise the rates of cancer screening. Additionally, identifying the inhibitory factors that serve as obstacles to cancer screening in the elderly and changing screening intentions into actual screening behavior is necessary. This study provides a reference for developing and applying policy measures and intervention strategies to increase the cancer screening rates of the elderly in Korea.
Proliferation of precursor B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia by activating the CD40 antigen

No reliable culture system exists for B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Recently we found that many different mature B‐cell malignancies proliferate upon stimulation via the CD40 antigen, and this led us to investigate whether a similar CD40 activation on ALL cells could also induce proliferation. First, we measured CD40 expression in 21 ALL cases; all were CD40+, although mostly weak. Next, we triggered the CD40 antigen by anti‐CD40 antibodies and by a CD40 ligand‐expressing cell line. In addition, we measured the influence of IL‐3, IL‐4 and IL‐7 with and without these stimuli. In 8/10 cases proliferation, measured by 3H‐thymidine incorporation, could be induced after CD40 crosslinking, especially in the presence of IL‐3. Stimulation via the CD40 ligand was more successful than using crosslinked anti‐CD40 antibodies. IL‐4 inhibited the spontaneous proliferation found in three cases, but stimulated proliferation after CD40 crosslinking. IL‐7 did not contribute to proliferation. Morphology, immunophenotyping and surface marker analysis, combined with DNA flow cytometry confirmed that the proliferation found could be ascribed to the ALL cells. In conclusion, B‐lineage ALL cases are CD40+, and many can be cultured using CD40 stimulation and IL‐3.
Thiol-Disulfide Oxidoreductases Are Essential for the Production of the Lantibiotic Sublancin 168*

Thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases are required for disulfide bond formation in proteins that are exported from the cytoplasm. Four enzymes of this type, termed BdbA, BdbB, BdbC, and BdbD, have been identified in the Gram-positive eubacteriumBacillus subtilis. BdbC and BdbD have been shown to be critical for the folding of a protein required for DNA uptake during natural competence. In contrast, no function has been assigned so far to the BdbA and BdbB proteins. The bdbA andbdbB genes are located in one operon that also contains the genes specifying the lantibiotic sublancin 168 and the ATP-binding cassette transporter SunT. Interestingly sublancin 168 contains two disulfide bonds. The present studies demonstrate that SunT and BdbB, but not BdbA, are required for the production of active sublancin 168. In addition, the BdbB paralogue BdbC is at least partly able to replace BdbB in sublancin 168 production. These observations show the unprecedented involvement of thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases in the synthesis of a peptide antibiotic. Notably BdbB cannot complement BdbC in competence development, showing that these two closely related thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases have different, but partly overlapping, substrate specificities.
Price Increasing Timing of Competitive Perishable Products

Abstract Dynamic pricing has been proven to be an effective tool to increase revenue in many industries. We discuss the optimal time point to increase price of perishable products under duopoly competition in revenue management. We propose a game-theoretic model to describe the price increasing timing problem of competitive perishable products in the same market. By solving this problem, we show the existence of Stackelberg equilibrium point and Cournot equilibrium point when choosing the optimal price switching time. To illustrate our results, we also present a numerical example. Our results are applicable for decision makers to determine the optimal time to stop discounting.
Robotic assessment of locomotor recovery in spinal contused rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of a robotic device, "the rat stepper", to assess intrinsic locomotor recovery following spinal cord contusion injury in adult rats. The device consists of a motorized body weight support mechanism that precisely controls the load to the hindlimbs during stepping, and two small robotic arms that measure and manipulate hindlimb movement. Sixteen rats received a contusion injury to the mid thoracic spinal cord with different severity levels (mild, moderate, severe, and sham). The animals were then evaluated weekly using the rat stepper, beginning one week after injury and continuing for a period of twelve weeks, across a range of body weight support levels. The contused animals demonstrated recovery in a standard locomotor assessment score (the BBB score), with most of the recovery occurring by four weeks post injury. We analyzed fourteen robotic measures of stepping and found that the measures that were most sensitive to intrinsic recovery were step velocity and inter limb coordination. These measures were also significantly correlated with the BBB score. The number of steps taken during testing was not sensitive to intrinsic recovery, nor correlated to the BBB score. These results suggest that step quality, rather than quantity, best reflects recovery after contusion injury in adult, untrained rats. Thus, robotic motion capture of only a few steps can provide a sensitive, valid measure of locomotor recovery after contusion.
Understanding the challenges of refugee entrepreneurship in tourism and hospitality

ABSTRACT In recent years, the refugee crisis has emerged as a major global challenge with social, economic, and political implications. Figures indicate that there are currently over 22 million refugees around the world. While refugees are usually regarded as a burden for their host countries, their entrepreneurial ventures might offer significant contributions to local economies. Although refugee entrepreneurship has become significantly evident in several economies, theoretical and empirical research tackling this issue is still scant. This study aims to explore the characteristics of and challenges faced by refugee tourism and hospitality entrepreneurs in Istanbul, Turkey. Drawing on qualitative data collected through 20 semi-structured interviews with refugee tourism and hospitality entrepreneurs, the findings suggest that refugee entrepreneurs were challenged by four key issues; legislative and administrative, financial, socio-cultural and market-related obstacles. The study also offers insights into characteristics of refugee tourism and hospitality entrepreneurs and their integration into their host communities.
Outpatient management of chronic heart failure

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) treatment attracts a share of intensive research because of its poor HF prognosis. In the past decades, the prognosis of HF has improved considerably, mainly as a consequence of the progress that has been made in the pharmacological management of HF. Areas covered: This article reviews the outpatient pharmacological management of chronic HF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and offers recommendations on the use of various drugs. In addition, the present article attempts to provide practical therapeutic algorithms based on current clinical strategies. Expert opinion: Continued research directed toward identifying factors associated with high pharmacotherapy guideline adherence and understanding of variants that influence response to drugs will hopefully halt or reverse the major pathophysiological mechanisms involved in this syndrome.
Reliability and Validity of the Power-Mobility Community Driving Assessment

The Power-Mobility Community Driving Assessment (PCDA) is a performance-based measure designed to assess driving performance of individuals using power wheelchairs or scooters in community environments. This article reports the results of pilot testing and an evaluation of the assessment's reliability and validity. Pilot testing was conducted with a random selection of Canadian occupational therapists working in the area of mobility. Although the response rate was very low, feedback confirmed the utility of the measure and contributed to one substantive scoring revision. Reliability and validity testing was conducted with a sample of 34 drivers. Internal consistency results were positive. Interrater reliability was fair to high but limited by the lack of variability in the scores. Construct validity hypotheses were tested on the relationships between PCDA scores and vision, perception, cognition, and environmental accessibility. Results indicated no relationships between the PCDA and perceptual and cognitive function and only a weak trend for a relationship with environmental accessibility. Concurrent validity was established: PCDA scores were positively associated with the judgments of therapists familiar with the driving performance of participants. In summary, the PCDA has moderate to good reliability, and content and concurrent validity results were found. More research is needed, particularly on the underlying constructs of successful driving performance. At this point, rehabilitation professionals and their clients are urged to use this assessment to establish driving performance rather than relying on assessments of perception, cognition, or environmental accessibility to predetermine whether someone will receive power mobility. Clinicians may find this a useful tool to identify where clients are able to drive safely in community settings, to identify specific learning needs, and, through those, to promote independent living for drivers of power-mobility devices.
A Decision Support System for Drinking Water Production Integrating Health Risks Assessment

The issue of drinking water quality compliance in small and medium scale water services is of paramount importance in relation to the 98/83/CE European Drinking Water Directive (DWD). Additionally, concerns are being expressed over the implementation of the DWD with respect to possible impacts on water quality from forecast changes in European climate with global warming and further anticipated reductions in north European acid emissions. Consequently, we have developed a decision support system (DSS) named ARTEM-WQ (AwaReness Tool for the Evaluation and Mitigation of drinking Water Quality issues resulting from environmental changes) to support decision making by small and medium plant operators and other water stakeholders. ARTEM-WQ is based on a sequential risk analysis approach that includes consideration of catchment characteristics, climatic conditions and treatment operations. It provides a holistic evaluation of the water system, while also assessing human health risks of organic contaminants potentially present in treated waters (steroids, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, bisphenol-a, polychlorobiphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, petrochemical hydrocarbons and disinfection by-products; n = 109). Moreover, the system provides recommendations for improvement while supporting decision making in its widest context. The tool has been tested on various European catchments and shows a promising potential to inform water managers of risks and appropriate mitigative actions. Further improvements should include toxicological knowledge advancement, environmental background pollutant concentrations and the assessment of the impact of distribution systems on water quality variation.
Interactions between the Subunits of Casein Kinase II (*)

Casein kinase II (CKII) is a protein serine/threonine kinase known to control the activity of a variety of regulatory nuclear proteins. This enzyme has a tetrameric structure composed of two catalytic (α and/or α′) subunits and two β subunits. We have examined the subunit composition of tetrameric complexes of purified bovine CKII by immunoprecipitation using α, α′, or β subunit-specific antibodies. These experiments indicate that the enzyme can exist as homotetramers (i.e. α2β2 or α2′β2) as well as heterotetramers (i.e. αα′β2). To further examine subunit interactions between the α, α′, or β subunits of CKII, we have utilized the yeast two-hybrid system (Fields, S. and Song, O.(1989) Nature 340: 245-246). For these studies, each subunit of human CKII was expressed in yeast as a fusion with the DNA binding domain or with the transcriptional activation domain of the yeast GAL4 transcriptional activator. These studies demonstrate that the α or α′ subunits of CKII can interact with the β subunits of CKII, but not with other α or α′ subunits. By comparison, the β subunits of CKII can interact with α, α′, or β subunits. These results indicate that the CKII holoenzyme forms because of the ability of β subunits to dimerize, bringing two heterodimers (αβ or α′β) into a tetrameric complex.
Characterization of residual β cell function in long‐standing type 1 diabetes

Some patients with long‐standing type 1 diabetes (T1D) maintain detectable levels of C‐peptide. The quantitative and qualitative aspects of insulin secretion in these subjects have not been assessed, but may shed light on the basis for maintained β cell function. Our objective was to characterize insulin secretion in subjects with varying duration of T1D.
Dollar’s Rials Injected into Iran’s Economy

Nowadays awareness about monetary conditions is really important for economic agents. Monetary conditions index is a significant indicator in regards of central bank’s monetary policies so that it shows the expansion and contraction of monetary policies. In order to investigate the Dollar’s Rials injected into Iran economy we have applied the MCI. Actually change in real interest rate and real exchange rate to the base year are considered while positive changes in MCI indicate a contraction monetary policy and negative changes indicate an expansion monetary policy. According to our findings, application of monetary policy in Iran is severely affected by changes in foreign exchange incomes as a result of increase in oil price. Therefore, the government’s expenditures should be adjusted based on inflation and stagnation gap. Considering the lack of real data, in this study it is tried to calculate the monetary conditions index for Iran’s economy using annual time series data and Johansen-Juselius convergence method over the period 2008-1987. In fact the expansion and contraction monetary policy implemented by central bank are separated and results show that the government’s monetary policy was contractile in the years 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005. It means that there was no Dollar’s Rials injection into economy. About the other years monetary policy was expansionary and Dollar’s Rials has been injected into economy for twenty years.