Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic Prophylaxis in (Sub)Normothermic Organ Preservation: In Vitro Efficacy and Toxicity of Cephalosporins

Background Bacterial contamination during cold organ preservation occurs without major complications. However, with organ preservation steering toward (sub)normothermic temperatures, bacterial contamination may be detrimental with limited evidence to support the choice of antibiotic. Methods This study aimed to determine the effective antibiotic prophylaxis for (sub)normothermic preservation by investigating whether Staphylococcus epidermidis was capable of growing in a subnormothermia-compatible preservation solution Polysol (PS) and in solutions designed for cold preservation (University of Wisconsin solution, histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution, and Belzer-machine perfusion solution). Various S. epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus strains were exposed to ceftriaxone and cefazolin at concentrations from 0 to 1000 &mgr;g/mL under subnormothermic and normothermic conditions in PS. To mimic procedural conditions, the effect of cefazolin was determined after exposure of bacteria to 20-hr incubation at 28°C in the presence of cefazolin and subsequent incubation at 37°C in the absence of cefazolin. The toxicity of cefazolin was assessed by cell viability and caspase activation assays in porcine kidney endothelial cells. Results Without antibiotics, PS sustained bacterial growth under sub(normothermic) conditions, whereas growth was absent in cold preservation solutions. Cefazolin exhibited greater bactericidal effect on S. epidermidis than ceftriaxone. However, after inoculating PS with 106 colony-forming units/mL, only a cefazolin concentration of 1000 &mgr;g/mL was able to exert a complete bactericidal effect on S. epidermidis and S. aureus strains and maintain sterility after removal of cefazolin. Finally, 1000 &mgr;g/mL cefazolin showed no adverse effects on porcine kidney endothelial cells. Conclusions Based on these findings, we recommend that high-dose cefazolin be used for prophylaxis in (sub)normothermic organ preservation with PS.
Estrogenic potential of halogenated derivatives of nonylphenol ethoxylates and carboxylates

Hlogenated derivatives of nonylphenol and of its alkylates are generated during drinking water disinfection and treatment procedures. In this paper we analyze the potential of these compounds to interact with the estrogen receptor and to activate hormone‐regulated gene promoters. We used the recombinant yeast assay (RYA) and the human breast cancer cell MCF7 proliferation assay for both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities and the enzyme‐linked receptor assay to examine in vitro binding to the receptor Many nonylphenol derivatives were very weak estrogens in our functional tests when compared to nonylphenol while retaining a substantial affinity for the estrogen receptor in vitro. Antiestrogenicity tests demonstrated that brominated nonylphenol and most of the carboxylated compounds studied here behaved as estrogenic antagonists in the RYA. We also detected an increased cytotoxicity for the carboxylated derivatives in both yeast and mammalian cells. We conclude that derivatization may mask the apparent estrogenicity of nonylphenol, but the resulting compounds still represent a potential hazard since they are still able to bind the estrogen receptor and to influence the physiological response to estrogens. Our results also illustrate the advantage of combining different methods to assay estrogenicity of unknown substances.
Validity of St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire for Greek Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity of St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), a disease-specific survey of health-related quality of life, in adult Greek patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Questionnaire scores, dyspnea scores, spirometry values, and demographic data were collected from 72 patients with a diagnosis of COPD exacerbation. Follow-up visits were performed at 1-mo. intervals for the first 3 mo. after discharge and a final visit was performed 6 mo. after discharge. 27 (37.5%) patients were readmitted during the follow-up period. Recovery after exacerbation was prolonged and questionnaire scores were sensitive to the patients' health-status changes across time. The SGRQ discriminated COPD patients according to disease stage, and the SGRQ scores during the recovery course were related to readmission. Correlations between the SGRQ and %FEV1 were not significant during exacerbation but a significant negative correlation was observed during the stable phase of the disease. The SGRQ appeared to have acceptable discriminant and concurrent validities in Greek COPD patients who differed according to their exacerbation stage.
Transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora litchii reveals pathogenicity arsenals and confirms taxonomic status

Litchi downy blight, caused by Peronophythora litchii, is one of the major diseases of litchi and has caused severe economic losses. P. litchii has the unique ability to produce downy mildew like sporangiophores under artificial culture. The pathogen had been placed in a new family Peronophytophthoraceae by some authors. In this study, the whole transcriptome of P. litchii from mycelia, sporangia, and zoospores was sequenced for the first time. A set of 23637 transcripts with an average length of 1284 bp was assembled. Using six open reading frame (ORF) predictors, 19267 representative ORFs were identified and were annotated by searching against several public databases. There were 4666 conserved gene families and various sets of lineage-specific genes among P. litchii and other four closely related oomycetes. In silico analyses revealed 490 pathogen-related proteins including 128 RXLR and 22 CRN effector candidates. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of 164 single copy orthologs from 22 species, it is validated that P. litchii is in the genus Phytophthora. Our work provides valuable data to elucidate the pathogenicity basis and ascertain the taxonomic status of P. litchii.
Patellofemoral Friction Syndrome: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Correlation of Morphologic and T2 Cartilage Imaging

Objective This study aimed to investigate whether patellofemoral T2 cartilage changes are associated with lateral patellofemoral friction syndrome (PFS), as indicated by an edema-like signal within the superolateral infrapatellar (Hoffa) fat pad. Methods In this institutional review board–approved retrospective study of 510 consecutive patients, 49 patients with 50 knee magnetic resonance imaging examinations demonstrating normal or low-grade patellofemoral cartilage abnormalities (whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score [WORMS] score, ⩽2) were included. Twenty-two examinations with PFS (cases) were compared with an age- and sex-matched cohort of 28 examinations without PFS (controls). A 3-T magnetic resonance imaging was performed with multi-echo, spin-echo T2 mapping. Two readers measured in consensus malalignment parameters, including patellar height index, tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove distance, and sulcus angle. Bulk T2 cartilage values in the lateral and medial patellofemoral compartment, central weight-bearing medial and lateral femoral condyles were measured independently. Interobserver agreement was quantified using concordance correlation coefficients. Demographics, anatomic measurements, whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging scores, and cartilage T2 values were compared between cases and controls using Fisher exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and mixed-effects models. Results Cases demonstrated higher patellar height index (P = 0.002) and tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove distance (P = 0.02). Interobserver agreement for T2 values was good overall (concordance correlation coefficient range, 0.65–0.93). Cases demonstrated higher medial facet patellar bulk T2 (38.1 [7.5] ms) versus controls (33.6 [7.3] ms) (P = 0.02); otherwise, there were no significant differences in regional T2 values. Conclusions T2 mapping in patients with PFS demonstrates increased cartilage T2 in the medial patellar facet, possibly reflecting collagen alteration from early chondromalacia (softening) or increased water content related to altered contact pressures.
Pharmacodynamics of drug-induced weight gain.

Body weight gain during treatment with drugs for any kind of disease may represent improvement of the disease itself. However, sometimes these drug-induced alterations of the body's appetite-regulating mechanisms result in excessive weight gain, thus jeopardizing compliance with prescribed medication. A number of drugs are capable of changing body weight as an adverse consequence of their therapeutic effect. Included in this category are the psychotropic drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Antipsychotics are well-known culprits of weight gain. The low-potency (e.g., chlorpromazine and thioridazine) and atypical agents (e.g., clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone) are most often associated with weight gain. Antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are most often associated with significant weight gain. The tertiary tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline is thought to induce the most weight gain. Mood stabilizers such as lithium carbonate, valproic acid and carbamazepine also induce weight gain in a considerable number of patients. Treatment with corticosteroids is associated with dose-dependent body weight gain in many patients and corticosteroid-induced obesity aggravates other corticosteroid-associated health risks. Insulin therapy in diabetic patients usually increases body weight. Finally, sulfonylurea derivatives, antineoplastic agents used for the treatment of breast cancer and several drugs used in migraine prophylaxis may cause body weight gain as well. (c) 2001 Prous Science. All rights reserved.
Macrocephaly in children and adults with autism.

OBJECTIVE To explore the frequency and onset of macrocephaly in autism and its relationship to clinical features. METHOD Head circumferences at birth, during early childhood, and at the time of examination were studied in a community-based sample of autistic children and adults. The authors investigated whether head circumference at the time of examination was associated with clinical features. RESULTS Fourteen percent of the autistic subjects had macrocephaly: 11% of males and 24% of females. In most, the macrocephaly was not present at birth; in some it became apparent in early and middle childhood as a result of increased rate of head growth. A small relationship was noted between head circumference percentile and less severe core features of autism. Neither macrocephaly nor head circumference percentile was associated with nonverbal IQ, verbal status, seizure disorder, neurological soft signs or minor physical anomalies in the autistic subjects. CONCLUSION Macrocephaly is common in autism and usually is not present at birth. Rates of head growth may be abnormal in early and middle childhood in some (37%) children with autism. Macrocephaly does not define a homogeneous subgroup of autistic individuals according to clinical features.
Parasympathetic Nervous Activity Mirrors Recovery Status in Weightlifting Performance After Training

Chen, J-L, Yeh, D-P, Lee, J-P, Chen, C-Y, Huang, C-Y, Lee, S-D, Chen, C-C, Kuo, TBJ, Kao, C-L, and Kuo, C-H. Parasympathetic nervous activity mirrors recovery status in weightlifting performance after training. J Strength Cond Res 25(6): 1546-1552, 2011—Heart rate variability (HRV) and parasympathetic power are closely related to the well-being and health status in humans. The main goal of the study was to determine whether these measures can reflect recovery status after weight training. After a 10-day detraining period, 7 weightlifters were challenged with a 2-hour weight training which elicited approximately fourfold increases in circulating muscle creatine kinase level and protracted pain feeling (p < 0.05). Weightlifting performance was then evaluated 3, 24, 48, and 72 hours after training to determine the degree of recovery from fatigue. Heart rate variability, circulating dehydroepiandrostendione sulfate (DHEA-S), and muscle damage markers were measured before each performance test. An electrocardiogram was recorded for 5 minutes continuously at rest in seated positions. After training, weightlifting performance of the subjects decreased below baseline in paralleled with suppressed parasympathetic power (high-frequency [HF] HRV), whereas sympathetic power (normalized low-frequency HRV) was slightly elevated at 3 hours of recovery (p < 0.05). Both weightlifting performances and parasympathetic power returned to baseline values in 24 hours and further increased above baseline during 48-72 hours of recovery in a similar fashion (p < 0.05). Circulating DHEA-S level dropped at 24 hours (p < 0.05) and returned to normal values by 48 hours. Muscle pain increased at 3 hours after training and remained higher than baseline values for the 72-hour recovery period (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that parasympathetic power, indicated by HF HRV, is able to reflect the recovery status of weightlifters after training.
Clinical findings of a myoclonus-dystonia family with two distinct mutations

Myoclonus-dystonia has recently been associated with mutations in the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene (SCGE) on 7q21. Previously, the authors reported a patient with myoclonus-dystonia and an 18-bp deletion in the DYT1 gene on 9q34. The authors have now re-evaluated the patient harboring this deletion for mutations in the SGCE gene and identified a missense change. In the current study, the authors describe the clinical details of this family carrying mutations in two different dystonia genes. Further analysis of these mutations separately and together in cell culture and in animal models should clarify their functional consequences.
Remote servo tuning system for multi-axis CNC machine tools using a virtual machine tool approach

Servo systems affect the performances of machining in accuracy and surface quality for high speed and precision machine tools. This study introduces an efficient servo tuning technique for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) feed drive systems using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm by virtual machine tool approach. The proposed approach contained a system identification phase and a servo tuning phase based on the same bandwidth for all axes feed drive systems. The PSO algorithm was adopted to obtain the system parameters and maximize the corresponding bandwidth. An efficient two-step servo tuning method based on gain and phase margins was proposed for high speed and precision requirements. All feed drive systems controller gains were optimized simultaneously for synchronization. A remote system called Machine Dr. was established for servo tuning and monitoring. Simulation and experimental results were introduced to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Robust Decentralized Turbine/Governor Control Using Linear Matrix Inequalities

A new scheme is presented for the robust decentralized stabilization of multimachine power systems based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI). The proposed method is computationally efficient and can easily incorporate additional design requirements. The efficiency of this control strategy is illustrated on the IEEE 39 bus system for a variety of large disturbances. Experimental results indicate that transient stability can be significantly improved with this approach.
Expected Shortfall and Portfolio Management in Contagious Markets

Abstract We study the impact of market contagion on portfolio management. To model possible recurrence in the arrival of extreme events, we equip classic Poisson jumps with long memory via past-weighted randomization of the likelihood of their occurrences (Hawkes processes). Within this framework, we tackle the problem of optimal portfolio selection in terms of Expected Shortfall (ES). We use the generalized method of moments to estimate the model on three US stock indexes, representing three major sectors of the US economy. The moment conditions of the model are computed efficiently in closed form applying a novel technique. Given parameter estimates we maximize (at a monthly frequency in the period 2001–2016) the expected return subject to a constraint on the ES of a portfolio consisting of the three US sector indexes. We find that the weights of the optimal portfolio are significantly adjusted when the level of contagion is high. Finally, we perform an extensive out-of-sample back-test of the model’s ability to measure ES and find that the Hawkes jump-diffusion model outperforms two traditional models that are commonly implemented.
Dobutamine Pretreatment Improves Survival, Liver Function, and Hepatic Microcirculation After Polymicrobial Sepsis in Rat

ABSTRACT Dobutamine is recommended for the treatment of sepsis-related circulatory failure in international guidelines. Furthermore, dobutamine has been demonstrated to improve liver function and hepatic perfusion after experimental hemorrhagic shock. Yet, it is unknown whether dobutamine may also induce hepatoprotective effects in sepsis. This study was designed to investigate the effect of dobutamine on survival, hepatic function, and microcirculation after polymicrobial sepsis in rat. Under general anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 25/group) underwent pretreatment with dobutamine (10 &mgr;g/kg per minute) in the presence or absence of &bgr;1-receptor antagonist esmolol (500 &mgr;g/kg per minute), esmolol alone, or vehicle for 6 h, before induction of sepsis (cecal ligation and incision [CLI]). Sham-operated animals were treated likewise but underwent no CLI. Five hours after CLI, either liver function was assessed by plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (n = 5/group), or intravital microscopy was performed (n = 5/group) for evaluation of hepatic perfusion index and hepatic integrity (as propidium iodide–stained cells per field). Alternatively, survival time after induction of CLI was monitored under general anesthesia (n = 15/group). Compared with controls, dobutamine pretreatment significantly improved plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (13.8% ± 4.1% vs. 20.6% ± 4.6%; P = 0.029), hepatic perfusion index (275.0 ± 126.1 vs. 703.5 ± 177.4 pL/s per mm; P < 0.001), hepatocellular injury (22.2 ± 6.7 vs. 6.4 ± 3.1 cells per field; P < 0.001), and survival time (326 ± 20 vs. 603 ± 41 min; P < 0.001). Coadministration of esmolol abolished the protective effect of dobutamine completely. Our results indicate that pretreatment with dobutamine may improve survival, liver function, and hepatic microcirculation after polymicrobial sepsis in rat via &bgr;1-adrenoceptor activation. Dobutamine could therefore play a relevant role for hepatoprotection under septic conditions.
Quasi-clean Speech Construction Based Speech Quality Evaluation under Complex Environments

Objective evaluation of speech quality for complex environments is a main part of the quality of communications service. Usually, intrusive approaches outperform non-intrusive approaches because reference is used in the intrusive ones. This paper presented a new non-intrusive evaluation method for complex environments in which an improved noise tracking and subtraction algorithm is used to obtain the quasi-clean speech from the noisy speech. The quasi-clean speech is regarded as the reference speech to a perceptual model, which is a modified version of ITU-T PESQ. The perceptual model acquires the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) via the measurement of the distortions between the noisy speech and quasi clean speech. Experimental results demonstrate that the presented method got a correlation coefficient of 0.92 on NOIZEUS noisy dataset, which is 99% similar to that of PESQ, and 6.4% superior to ITUT P.563.
A Study on the Sustainable Development Strategy of Firms: Niche and Social Network Theory

In the industrial environment, individual enterprises survive by obtaining specific resources. Niche theory uses adaptations of the organizational niche and the environment to explain the survival opportunities of generalist and specialist organizations. However, it does not explain in depth the key to the sustainable development of many enterprises with poor conditions, which have productive social relationships and can obtain the resources that are needed for sustainable development from these relationships. In this study, 106 valid questionnaires were obtained through e-mail. Taiwanese firms investing in China were taken as the enterprise groups, and SPSS statistical software was used to test the empirical relationships among niche characteristics, network relationships, and enterprise performance. The research draws the following conclusions. (1) When the external environment changes unfavorably, the financial performance of firms with a high degree of network embeddedness and large niche width is poorer than that of firms with a low degree of network embeddedness. (2) When the external environment changes unfavorably, the financial performance of firms with a low degree of network centrality and high niche specificity is better than that of firms with a high degree of network centrality. These results can provide suggestions for management theory and practice.
The estimation of interharmonics by group frequencies

In this paper, an innovative concept, group frequency (GF), is proposed to facilitate the analysis of power system interharmonics as well as conventional integer harmonics. The concept is applied in the analysis of load currents of integral cycle controllers (ICCs) and other controlled power applications. A GF can be generalized for the analysis of load currents or voltages of other power devices. One of the advantages of the GF is that a large number of frequency components of a load voltage or current are simplified to a few frequency components without significantly changing the power quality impact of the load current or voltage.
Test–Retest Reliability of the Computerized CIDI (CIDI-Auto): Substance Abuse Modules

This paper discusses the reliability of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse modules of the CIDI-Auto in two countries, Australia and Puerto Rico, and two languages, English and Spanish. CIDI-Auto is a computer-assisted version of the CIDI. Reliability estimates for DSM/ICD are presented at the diagnostic and symptom level. In total, 286 subjects, ages 17–60 years, who had at least 12 drinks of alcohol in their lifetime participated in the study. Adequate to good test–retest reliability estimates were obtained, with no major differences by nosology, site, substance, or time. Harmful use/abuse showed lower kappas than dependence. Reliability estimates for dependence ranged from 0.70 to 0.95. For harmful use, κ's ranged from 0.45 to 0.66. The findings are encouraging; CIDI-Auto produces reliable classification across two settings and in two languages with an instrument that has good coverage of different manifestations of the illness.