Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Combination of Low-Dose Levobupivacaine and Fentanyl for Spinal Anaesthesia in Ambulatory Inguinal Herniorrhaphy

This study investigated whether the addition of 25 μg intrathecal fentanyl to levobupivacaine spinal anaesthesia for outpatient inguinal herniorrhaphy allows a sub-anaesthetic levobupivacaine dose to be used. Forty patients were assigned to receive 5 mg levobupivacaine 0.5% mixed with 25 μg fentanyl (group LF) or 7.5 mg levobupivacaine 0.5% (group L). The highest sensory block levels achieved were T7 (range T5 – T9) and T6 (range T4 – T9) in groups LF and L, respectively. The times to two-segment regression, S2 regression, ambulation, urination and discharge were all significantly shorter in group LF than group L. These results indicate that, for outpatient inguinal herniorrhaphy, intrathecal fentanyl combined with low-dose levobupivacaine provides good quality spinal anaesthesia and minimizes the need for intra-operative analgesia. This protocol is well suited for the outpatient setting because it features rapid recovery of full motor power, sensory function and bladder function.
Characteristics of nitrate removal in a bio-ceramsite reactor by aerobic denitrification

A newly aerobic denitrifying bacterial strain, Pseudomonas sp. X31, which was isolated from activated sludge, was added to a newly developed aerobic denitrification bio-ceramsite reactor as an inoculum to treat nitrate-polluted water and the denitrification activities of this system under different air–water ratio, hydraulic loading, and C/N (carbon/nitrogen ratio) conditions were investigated. It demonstrated excellent capability for denitrification in the bio-ceramsite reactor at air–water ratios that varied from 6.5:1 to 8:1. The optimal hydraulic loading for the bio-ceramsite reactor was 0.75 m/h with the optimum denitrification efficiency of 95.18%. The optimal C/N was 4.5:1 with a maximum nitrate removal efficiency of 98.48%. COD could be completely removed under the most appropriate condition (air–water ratio 6.5:1–8:1, hydraulic loading 0.75 m/h, and C/N 4.5:1). The quantity of the biomass in the reactor decreased along with flow, which was in accordance with the variety of the available substrate concentrations in the water. However, the biofilm activity was not proportional to the biomass in the bio-ceramsite reactor, but increased with the quantity of the biomass up to a peak value and then decreased.
Comparison of Two Methods for the Detection of Urinary Iodine Used in Epidemiological Studies

Abstract Two methods for the determination of iodine in urine or serum based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction were compared. The first was an autoanalyser method (AAII, Technicon) where the mineralisation takes place in a continuous flow manner. This procedure was used at the Department of Clinical Chemistry of the University Hospital of Berne (Switzerland) from 1968 until 1993. The second method was evaluated and adapted in our own laboratory. Each sample and the iodate-standards are mineralised in a Pyrex glass tube and the decolorisation reaction takes place in a 96-well-microtiter plate which was read by a PC-controlled photometer at 405 nm. This method, with a detection limit of 0.1 μmol/l showed good analytical recovery (90 to 110%) and a low imprecision (intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) of 5% and an inter-assay CV of 7.5%). In contrast to the autoanalyser method, the microtiter plate-method is suitable both for series up to 24 samples (3-fold) and for single samples. A comparison of 87 samples in the range of 0.1 to 60 μmol/l which were measured with both Sandell-Kolthoff based methods showed no obvious discrepancy. These two methods showed a good agreement for the determination of urinary iodine. This guarantees that the results of earlier epidemiological studies can be compared with recent studies performed in our and many other laboratories.
Characterising alternate splicing and tissue specific expression in the chicken from ESTs

Alternate splicing is believed to produce the greatest diversity in transcriptional complexity and function in eukaryotic species. In this study, we present an analysis of alternative splicing events that occur in the chicken, using the recently sequenced genomic sequence and over 580,000 EST sequences mapped back to the genome. A carefully controlled EST-to-genome mapping pipeline is presented, based around the EXONERATE program using the est2genome model, which also considers several quality control steps to filter out erroneous matches. The data is then used to estimate the level of alternate splicing events with respect to Ensembl predicted transcripts. The EST-genome mappings are characterised at the exon level, in order to classify individual splicing events and provide estimates of novel transcripts not currently annotated by the Ensembl genome database. This is the first large scale analysis of this kind in an avian species, and suggests that chicken displays a similar level of alternate splicing as that found in other higher vertebrates such as human and mouse, both in terms of the number of genes that undergo alternate splicing events, and the average number of transcripts produced per gene. The EST data suggests alternate splicing may occur in some 50–60% of the chicken gene set and with an average of around 2.3 transcripts per gene which undergo this process. The EST data is also used to look at gene and transcript usage in the tissues sequenced in embryonic and adult libraries. Genes which display notable biases were analysed in more detail, including twinfilin-2 and embryonic heavy chain myosin. This also highlights several as yet functionally un-annotated genes which appear to be important in embryonic tissues and also undergo alternate splicing events. The analysis also demonstrates some of the difficulties involved in using EST-based data to annotate transcriptional activity in eukaryotic genes, where a broad spectrum of tissues and a large number of sequenced transcripts are required in order to fully characterise alternate splicing and differential expression.
Vibrio ruber sp. nov., a red, facultatively anaerobic, marine bacterium isolated from sea water.

A red, heterotrophic, marine bacterium, designated strain VR1T, was isolated from a sea-water sample collected in the shallow coastal region of Keelung, Taiwan. Cells of the novel strain were facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative rods that were motile by means of a polar flagellum. The strain grew optimally at 25-30 degrees C and pH 6-7. Growth required the presence of NaCl, the optimal concentration being about 2%. The red pigment produced by the cells was identified as prodigiosin. Strain VR1T grew anaerobically by fermenting glucose and other carbohydrates and producing acids and gases. The strain did not require either vitamins or other organic growth factors for growth. It contained 2-OH-16 : 0 and 3-OH-14 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids. The DNA G + C content was 45.8 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization indicated that strain VR1T represents a novel species in the genus Vibrio. Strain VR1T is phenotypically similar to Vibrio gazogenes. However, the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, the ability to utilize D-arabinose, melibiose and L-glycine as sole carbon sources, the inability to utilize sorbitol as a sole carbon source, resistance to O/129 and susceptibility to erythromycin and novobiocin allow differentiation between V. gazogenes and strain VR1T. The name Vibrio ruber sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, with strain VR1T (=CCRC 17186T =JCM 11486T) as the type strain.
Comparing medical and dental providers of oral health services on early dental caries experience.

OBJECTIVES Most state Medicaid programs reimburse nondental primary care providers (PCPs) for providing preventive oral health services to young children. We examined the association between who (PCP, dentist, or both) provides these services to Medicaid enrollees before age 3 years and oral health at age 5 years. METHODS We linked North Carolina Medicaid claims (1999-2006) to oral health surveillance data (2005-2006). Regression models estimated oral health status (number of decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth) and untreated disease (proportion of untreated decayed teeth), with adjustment for relevant characteristics and by using inverse-probability-of-treatment weights to address confounding. RESULTS We analyzed data for 5235 children with 2 or more oral health visits from a PCP, dentist, or both. Children with multiple PCP or dentist visits had a similar number of overall mean decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth in kindergarten, whereas children with only PCP visits had a higher proportion of untreated decayed teeth. CONCLUSIONS The setting and provider type did not influence the effectiveness of preventive oral health services on children's overall oral health. However, children having only PCP visits may encounter barriers to obtaining dental treatment.
Generalized Standard Foot Trajectory for a Quadruped Walking Vehicle

This article discusses a generalized method to produce stan dard foot trajectories for a quadruped walking vehicle having arbitrary reachable ranges and walking on uneven and in clined surfaces in random posture. The standard supporting foot trajectories are one of the most basic parameters for gait control, because the legs have to follow the trajectories as long as the irregular degree of terrain and posture conditions are maintained. The introduced method goes through the processes of (1) projection of the gait scheme on a horizontal plane, (2) definition of the effective searching areas, (3) selec tion of a crab-walking pattern between x and y types, (4) generation of the stroke contour maps, and (5) selection of the longest stroke and its existing areas. The validity of the proposed method is verified by several computer simulations.
Role of EphA4 in defining the position of a motoneuron pool within the spinal cord

The correct assembly of the neural circuits that control movement requires the development of topographically organized pools of motoneurons within the spinal cord. The generation of a diverse array of motoneuron subtypes, which express differing transcription factors and cell‐surface receptors, allows different motoneuron pools to be segregated to specific positions during development. In this investigation, we show that the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase, EphA4, appears to be important for the correct localization of a motoneuron pool to a specific position in the spinal cord. In the spinal cord of mice deficient in EphA4, the motoneuron pool that innervates the tibialis anterior muscle of the hindlimb is caudally displaced by approximately one vertebral segment. However, despite the abnormal position of the tibialis anterior motoneuron pool in the spinal cord of EphA4‐deficient animals, the motoneurons of this pool still project to the tibialis anterior muscle of the hindlimb correctly. Additional analyses of other limb innervating motoneuron pools in the cervical and lumbar enlargements of the spinal cord of EphA4‐deficient animals revealed them to be located in the appropriate segmental positions. Furthermore, we show that EphA4 does not appear to be important for spinal motoneuron survival as stereological quantification of the number of motoneurons present in the sciatic motoneuron pool of EphA4‐deficient animals demonstrated these motoneurons to be present in the correct numbers. These observations suggest an important role for EphA4 in regulating the position of a specific motoneuron pool within the spinal cord. J. Comp. Neurol. 458:98–111, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of common and rare human papillomaviruses in Portuguese women by the polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing

The present study aimed to provide additional information on the prevalence of mucosal human papillomavirus (HPV) types in Portuguese women by using polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing. HPV was detected in 15.5% (15/97) of the control samples, 23.5% (12/51) of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 52.8% (28/53) of low‐grade lesions, 82.4% (28/34) of high‐grade lesions, and 100% (44/44) of carcinomas. Overall, 28 HPV types were detected: 11 high‐risk (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 52, 56, 58, and 59), 3 probable high‐risk (HPV 53, 66, and 73), 6 low‐risk (HPV 6, 11, 44, 61, 70, and 81), and 8 unknown‐risk types (HPV 34, 62, 67, 71, 83, 84, 102, and 108). The most prevalent type was HPV 16, detected in 33.8% of women infected with HPV, followed by HPV 58 (9.2%), HPV 33 (7.0%), HPV 18 (6.3%), HPV 53 (5.6%), HPV 31 and 56 (4.9% each), HPV 6 (3.5%), and HPV 66 and 81 (2.8% each). Of 44 cervical carcinoma samples, 71% were associated with HPV 16 (60%) and HPV 18 (11.1%), followed by the high‐risk types 33 (11.1%), 35 (4.4%), 45 (4.4%), and 56 (2.2%), the probable high‐risk type 53 (4.4%) and the unknown‐risk type 67 (2.2%). This study provides information on the most common HPV types in Portuguese women and suggests that the current prophylactic HPV 16/18 vaccine may be useful for the prevention of cervical cancer in this population. J. Med. Virol. 82:1024–1032, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pattern transfer using block copolymers

To meet the increasing demand for patterning smaller feature sizes, a lithography technique is required with the ability to pattern sub-20 nm features. While top-down photolithography is approaching its limit in the continued drive to meet Moore’s law, the use of directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) offers a promising route to meet this challenge in achieving nanometre feature sizes. Recent developments in BCP lithography and in the DSA of BCPs are reviewed. While tremendous advances have been made in this field, there are still hurdles that need to be overcome to realize the full potential of BCPs and their actual use.
Open-Loop Control of Particle Systems Based on a Model of Coupled Stochastic Oscillators

This paper presents an open-loop control method for particle systems which are modeled as coupled stochastic oscillators. The proposed control approach is flatness-based control. It is explained that the kinematic model of the particles can be derived from the model of the quantum harmonic oscillator. It is shown that the kinematic model of the particles is a differentially-flat system. It is also shown that after applying flatness-based control the mean of the particle system can be steered along a desirable path with infinite accuracy, while each individual particle can track the trajectory within acceptable accuracy levels.
Comparison of the New Adult Ventilator-Associated Event Criteria to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pediatric Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Definition (PNU2) in a Population of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Patients*

Objectives: The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paradigm for ventilator-associated events is intended to simplify surveillance of infectious and noninfectious complications of mechanical ventilation in adults. We assessed the ventilator-associated events algorithm in pediatric patients. Design: A retrospective observational cohort study. Setting: This single-center study took place in a PICU at an urban academic medical facility. Patients: Pediatric (ages 0–18 yr old) trauma patients with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury ventilated for greater than or equal to 2 days. Measurements and Main Results: We assessed for pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia (as defined by current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PNU2 guidelines), adult ventilator-associated events, and an experimental ventilator-associated events definition modified for pediatric patients. We compared ventilator-associated events to ventilator-associated pneumonia to calculate the test characteristics. Thirty-nine of 119 patients (33%) developed ventilator-associated pneumonia. Sensitivity of the adult ventilator-associated condition definition was 23% (95% CI, 11–39%), which increased to 56% (95% CI, 40–72%) using the modified pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia criterion. Specificity reached 100% for both original and modified pediatric probable ventilator-associated pneumonia using ventilator-associated events criteria. Children who developed ventilator-associated pneumonia or ventilator-associated condition had similar baseline characteristics: age, mechanism of injury, injury severity scores, and use of an intracranial pressure monitor. Diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia and ventilator-associated condition portended similarly unfavorable outcomes: longer median duration of ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, and more discharges to rehabilitation, home health, or nursing care compared with patients with no pulmonary complication. Conclusions: Both current and modified ventilator-associated events criteria have poor sensitivity but good specificity in identifying pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia. Despite poor sensitivity, the high specificity of the ventilator-associated events diagnoses does provide a useful and objective metric for interinstitution ICU comparison. Ventilator-associated pneumonia and ventilator-associated condition were both associated with excess morbidity in pediatric traumatic brain injury patients.
Potential Mediating Pathways Through Which Sports Participation Relates to Reduced Risk of Suicidal Ideation

Suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for American youth. Researchers examining sport participation and suicidal behavior have regularly found inverse relationships. This study represents the first effort to test a model depicting potential mechanisms through which sport participation relates to reduced risk of suicidal ideation. The participants were 450 undergraduate students. Measures assessed participants' involvement in university-run sports and other activities; frequency of physical activity; and perceived social support, self-esteem, depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and suicidal ideation. Regression analyses confirmed a path model and tested for mediation effects. Vigorous activity mediated relationships between sport participation and self-esteem and depression; and self-esteem and depression mediated the relationship between vigorous activity and suicidal ideation. Social support mediated relationships between sport participation and depression, hopelessness, and loneliness; and each of these risk factors partially mediated the relationship between social support and suicidal ideation. However, no variable fully mediated the relationship between sport participation and suicidal ideation. This study provides a foundation for research designed to examine pathways through which sport participation relates to reduced risk of suicidal behavior.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with ESRD. Before FGF23 testing can be integrated into clinical practice of ESRD, further understanding of its determinants is needed. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS In a study of 67 adults undergoing peritoneal dialysis, we tested the hypothesis that longer dialysis vintage and lower residual renal function and renal phosphate clearance are associated with higher FGF23. We also compared the monthly variability of FGF23 versus parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum phosphate. RESULTS In unadjusted analyses, FGF23 correlated with serum phosphate (r = 0.66, P < 0.001), residual renal function (r = -0.37, P = 0.002), dialysis vintage (r = 0.31, P = 0.01), and renal phosphate clearance (r = -0.38, P = 0.008). In adjusted analyses, absence of residual renal function and greater dialysis vintage associated with higher FGF23, independent of demographics, laboratory values, peritoneal dialysis modality and adequacy, and treatment with vitamin D analogs and phosphate binders. Urinary and dialysate FGF23 clearances were minimal. In three serial monthly measurements, within-subject variability accounted for only 10% of total FGF23 variability compared with 50% for PTH and 60% for serum phosphate. CONCLUSIONS Increased serum phosphate, loss of residual renal function, longer dialysis vintage, and lower renal phosphate clearance are associated with elevated FGF23 levels in ESRD patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. FGF23 may be a more stable marker of phosphate metabolism in ESRD than PTH or serum phosphate.
Cloning and comparison of the DNA encoding ammelide aminohydrolase and cyanuric acid amidohydrolase from three s-triazine-degrading bacterial strains

DNA encoding the catabolism of the s-triazines ammelide and cyanuric acid was cloned from Pseudomonas sp. strain NRRLB-12228 and Klebsiella pneumoniae 99 with, as a probe, a 4.6-kb PstI fragment from a third strain, Pseudomonas sp. strain NRRLB-12227, which also encodes these activities. In strains NRRLB-12228 and 99 the ammelide aminohydrolase (trzC) and cyanuric acid amidohydrolase (trzD) genes are located on identical 4.6-kb PstI fragments which are part of a 12.4-kb DNA segment present in both strains. Strain NRRLB-12227 also carries this 12.4-kb DNA segment, except that a DNA segment of 0.8 to 1.85 kb encoding a third enzyme, ammeline aminohydrolase (trzB), has been inserted next to the ammelide aminohydrolase gene with the accompanying deletion of 1.1 to 2.15 kb of DNA. In addition, the s-triazine catabolic genes are flanked in strain NRRLB-12227 by apparently identical 2.2-kb segments that are not present in the other two strains and that seem to cause rearrangements in adjacent DNA.
Can Overuse of Psychotropic Drugs by the Elderly be Prevented?

Despite increasing awareness of the problems associated with long term psychotropic use, consumption by the elderly remains high. This study examines some of the reasons for this with a view to prevention. Fifty seven elderly patients using psychotropic medication were interviewed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric illness, patterns of drug use, the reasons for the initial prescription and any relationship to life events. Attitudes to continued use were also assessed. The results suggest that levels of psychotropic use by the elderly could be reduced by improved management of life crises and insomnia.
Losing One's Memory in Early Alzheimer's Disease

A Heideggerian hermeneutical phenomenological research method was used to investigate the experience of memory loss in twelve individuals with early Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. Data analysis proceeded as described by Diekelmann, Allen, and Tanner (1989), and incorporated the methods of Benner (1994), Thomas and Pollio (2002), and van Manen (1990). Three constitutive patterns with relational themes were identified. The first pattern, experiencing breakdown, consisted of two themes: awakening to breakdown and living with forgetting. The second pattern, temporality, consisted of three themes: being in the nothing, forgetting the past, and looking ahead. The third pattern, managing forgetting, consisted of the themes: remembering with cues, writing things down, recognizing what made remembering better or worse, and using laughter. The finding show that early Alzheimer's disease is more than an illness of cognitive losses and that forgetting is significant in light of the meaning that it has within everyday life.