Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FemoSeal® vascular closure device for antegrade common femoral artery access: Safety and technical notes

Purpose: To retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of FemoSeal® vascular closure device to achieve hemostasis following antegrade common femoral artery puncture after lower limb revascularization using vascular sheaths from 5 to 8 Fr. Methods: We reviewed the hemostatic outcome achieved with FemoSeal in 103 consecutive patients (mean age: 69 ± 8 years, 71 males) that undergone to 111 antegrade common femoral artery accesses for percutaneous lower limbs revascularization using 5- to 8-Fr vascular sheaths. We used FemoSeal in an unselected population, without exclusion criteria. The primary outcome was the technical success, meant as achieving complete hemostasis without immediate complications. Results: Hemostasis was achieved in all 111 puncture sites (100% technical success). We observed eight (7%) puncture site minor complications (hematomas), none of which affecting the patients’ outcome or requiring further therapies or increasing the hospital stay. There were no statistically significant differences between the variables potentially related to the occurrence of complications (age, international normalized ratio, platelet count, partial thromboplastin time ratio, body mass index, and common femoral arteries calcification grade) in patients with and without complications. Complications group mean body mass index was 26.4 ± 2.8 kg/m2 versus non-complications group 26.6 ± 4.4 kg/m2, p = 0.92. Mean international normalized ratio and partial thromboplastin time ratio were 1.05 ± 0.01 and 1.05 ± 0.14 versus 1.13 ± 0.2 (p = 0.39) and 1.12 ± 0.23 (p = 0.53), respectively. Common femoral arteries calcification grade was the same (mean: 1, p = 1). Platelet count was 202 × 103/mL ± 66.7 versus 226 × 103/mL ± 91.2, p = 0.55. Mean age was 72.3 ± 10 years versus 72.8 ± 8 years, p = 0.86. Conclusion: The low rate (7%) and grading of the adverse events, combined with the high technical success rate (100%), in an unselected group of patients treated in daily routine, suggest high safety and efficacy of FemoSeal vascular closure device in antegrade common femoral artery puncture site hemostasis when using vascular sheaths ranging from 5 to 8 Fr. Therefore, FemoSeal could be considered as a first-line hemostasis strategy in such cases.
Anisotropic Thermal Boundary Resistance across 2D Black Phosphorus: Experiment and Atomistic Modeling of Interfacial Energy Transport

Interfacial thermal boundary resistance (TBR) plays a critical role in near‐junction thermal management of modern electronics. In particular, TBR can dominate heat dissipation and has become increasingly important due to the continuous emergence of novel nanomaterials with promising electronic and thermal applications. A highly anisotropic TBR across a prototype 2D material, i.e., black phosphorus, is reported through a crystal‐orientation‐dependent interfacial transport study. The measurements show that the metal–semiconductor TBR of the cross‐plane interfaces is 241% and 327% as high as that of the armchair and zigzag direction‐oriented interfaces, respectively. Atomistic ab initio calculations are conducted to analyze the anisotropic and temperature‐dependent TBR using density functional theory (DFT)‐derived full phonon dispersion relation and molecular dynamics simulation. The measurement and modeling work reveals that such a highly anisotropic TBR can be attributed to the intrinsic band structure and phonon spectral transmission. Furthermore, it is shown that phonon hopping between different branches is important to modulate the interfacial transport process but with directional preferences. A critical fundamental understanding of interfacial thermal transport and TBR–structure relationships is provided, which may open up new opportunities in developing advanced thermal management technology through the rational control over nanostructures and interfaces.
Cellulomonas algicola sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a freshwater alga.

An actinomycete strain, TKZ-21T, was isolated from a freshwater alga (Chetophoraceae) collected from the Takizawa River, Yamanashi, Japan, and examined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-stain positive, aerobic, non-sporulating, motile, and coccoid or short rod-shaped. The strain grew in the presence of 0-4 % (w/v) NaCl, between pH 6-9.4, and over a temperature range of 15-40 °C, with optimum growth at 30 °C. The peptidoglycan type of strain TKZ-21T was A4β, containing l-ornithine as diagnostic diamino acid and d-glutamic acid as the interpeptide bridge. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, ninhydrin-positive glycolipid, and unidentified phospholipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0, and the DNA G+C content was 75.6 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain TKZ-21T was closely related to Cellulomonas fimi (98.5 % sequence similarity) and Cellulomonas biazotea (98.3 %). The genome orthoANI value between strain TKZ-21T and C. biazotea and C. fimi were 84.7 and 84.2 %, respectively. On the basis of fatty acid and MALDI-TOF MS profile analysis, phylogenetic analyses, genomic analysis, and phenotypic data, it is proposed that the isolate be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Cellulomonas, with the name Cellulomonas algicola sp. nov. The type strain is TKZ-21T (=NBRC 112905T=TBRC 8129T).
Distinct immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region gene repertoire and lower frequency of del(11q) in Taiwanese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia in Western countries but very rare in Asia. Peripheral blood or bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained at initial diagnosis from 194 patients with CLL were analysed to determine the ethnic difference in genetic abnormalities. Mutated IGHV was detected in 71·2% of Taiwanese CLL and IGHV3‐23 was the most frequently used gene. Stereotyped BCR was present in 18·3% with subset 8 being the most frequent. All cases with subset 8 belonged to IGHV 4‐39 and were exclusively associated with un‐mutated IGHV and poor outcome. Mutation frequencies of SF3B1 (9·7%), NOTCH1 (8·6%), BIRC3 (1·1%), ATM (16·9%) or TP53 (8·1%), and frequencies of cytogenetic abnormalities including trisomy 12 (18·6%), del(17p) (10·4%), del(13q) (43·7%) and IGH translocation (10·1%) were comparable to those reported from Western countries, except del(11q) (6·9%) which was lower in our patients. Patients with un‐mutated IGHV, subset 8, disrupted TP53, trisomy 12, and SF3B1 mutations had a worse outcome compared to patients without these mutations. In conclusion, IGHV3‐23 usage, stereotyped subset 8 and lower frequency of del(11q) show an ethnicity‐dependent association in Taiwanese CLL patients.
A multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study of variation in practice in perioperative analgesia strategies in elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery (the LapCoGesic study).

INTRODUCTION Enhanced recovery programmes are established as an essential part of laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Optimal pain management is central to the success of an enhanced recovery programme and is acknowledged to be an important patient reported outcome measure. A variety of analgesia strategies are employed in elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery ranging from patient-controlled analgesia to local anaesthetic wound infiltration catheters. However, there is little evidence regarding the optimal analgesia strategy in this cohort of patients. The LapCoGesic study aimed to explore differences in analgesia strategies employed for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery and to assess whether this variation in practice has an impact on patient-reported and clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal resection was undertaken over a two-month period. The primary outcome measure was postoperative pain scores at 24 hours. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22. RESULTS A total of 103 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery were included in the study. Thoracic epidural was used in 4 (3.9%) patients, spinal diamorphine in 56 (54.4%) patients and patient-controlled analgesia in 77 (74.8%) patients. The use of thoracic epidural and spinal diamorphine were associated with lower pain scores on day 1 postoperatively (P < 0.05). The use of patient-controlled analgesia was associated with significantly higher postoperative pain scores and pain severity. DISCUSSION Postoperative pain is managed in a variable manner in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery, which has an impact on patient reported outcomes of pain scores and pain severity.
Molecular data infers the involvement of a marine aurantiactinomyxon in the life cycle of the myxosporean parasite Paramyxidium giardi (Cnidaria, Myxozoa)

Abstract An aurantiactinomyxon type is described from the marine naidid Tubificoides pseudogaster (Dahl, 1960), collected from the lower estuary of a Northern Portuguese River. This type constitutes the first of its collective group to be reported from Portugal, and only the fourth described from a marine oligochaete worldwide. Extensive morphological comparisons of new aurantiactinomyxon isolates to all known types without available molecular data are proposed to be unnecessary, given the artificiality of the usage of morphological criteria for actinosporean differentiation and the apparent strict host specificity of the group. Recognition of naidid oligochaetes as the hosts of choice for marine types of aurantiactinomyxon and other collective groups, suggests that the family Naididae played a preponderant role in the myxosporean colonization of estuarine communities. Molecular analyses of the type in study further infer its involvement in the life cycle of Paramyxidium giardi (Cépède, 1906) Freeman and Kristmundsson, 2018, a species that infects the kidney of European eel Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) and that has been reported globally, including from Portuguese waters. The low intraspecific difference registered in relation to Icelandic isolates of P. giardi (0.6%) is hypothesized to result from the emergence of genotypically different subspecies due to geographic isolation.
Polygenic risk-stratified screening for cancer: Responsibilization in public health genomics

In this article, we examine professional discourse around the development of polygenic risk-stratified screening (PRSS) for cancer. Analyzing a range of contemporary professional literatures from Europe, North America and Australia, we explore how the drive to screen for molecular markers of cancer risk makes professionals, screening recipients and publics responsible, in different ways, for acquiring, curating and analyzing molecular data. Investigating how these responsibilities are invoked in discussions of new data practices, technologies, organizational arrangements, engagement, education and protocols for participation, we argue that agendas for PRSS for cancer are both expanding and stratifying responsibilities. Data collection is to be achieved by intensified responsibilities for including, reassuring and recruiting populations, as well as by opening and enriching the datasets on which models and preventative screening arrangements are based. Enhanced responsibilities for screening recipients and publics are also invoked, not just in relation to personal health but for population health more generally, via research participation and consenting to data re-use in the public interest. Professionals, screening recipients and publics are also to become responsible for moderating expectations of screening according to genomic designations. Together these discourses go beyond individual risk management to extend and diversify the responsibilities of practitioners, screening recipients and publics as public health genomics develops.
Novel TRRAP mutation causes autosomal dominant non‐syndromic hearing loss

Hereditary non‐syndromic hearing loss is the most common inherited sensory defect in humans. More than 40 genes have been identified as causative genes for autosomal dominant non‐syndromic hearing loss (ADNSHL), but there are many other candidate genes that remain to be discovered. We aimed to identify the causative gene mutation for post‐lingual progressive ADNSHL in a Chinese family. Whole‐exome sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and Sanger sequencing were used to verify the co‐segregation of a novel pathogenic variant (NM_ 001244580, c.511C>T, p.Arg171Cys) in the TRansformation/tRanscription domain‐Associated Protein gene associated with hearing loss in a three‐generation Chinese family with ADNSHL). Additionally, three more novel variants of transformation/transcription domain associated protein (TRRAP) were detected in 66 sporadic cases of hearing loss. Morpholino oligonucleotides knockdown and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 knockout zebrafish were constructed to validate the genetic findings. Knockdown or knockout of TRRAP resulted in significant defects in the inner ear of zebrafish, indicating that TRRAP plays an important role in inner ear development. In conclusion, TRRAP (NM_ 001244580, c.511C>T, p.Arg171Cys) co‐segregated with hearing loss in a Chinese family with ADNSHL, and TRRAP deficiency caused hearing disability in zebrafish, suggesting TRRAP is a gene associated with ADNSHL.
Streptomyces dangxiongensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated Z022T, isolated from a soil sample collected from Dangxiong in Tibet Autonomous Region (PR China), was determined by polyphasic taxonomic approach. The organism had chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces. Strain Z022T showed high similarity value to Streptomyces lucensis NBRC 13056T (98.87 %) and S. achromogenes subsp. achromogenes NBRC 12735T (98.68 %) based on the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic tree. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain Z022T based on the genome sequence was 72.16 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain Z022T and strain Streptomyces lucensis NBRC 13056T was 23.7±1.3 % and signiﬁcantly lower than 70 %. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain Z022T possessed MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H6) as the predominant menaquinone, ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, and galactose, glucose, xylose and ribose as whole cell sugars. Diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the predominant polar lipids; anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, and anteiso-C17 : 0 were the major fatty acids. On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic data, it is proposed that isolate Z022T (=JCM 31053T=CGMCC 4.7273T) should be classified in the genus Streptomyces as Streptomyces dangxiongensis sp. nov.
Estimating belowground plant abundance with DNA metabarcoding

Most work on plant community ecology has been performed above ground, neglecting the processes that occur in the soil. DNA metabarcoding, in which multiple species are computationally identified in bulk samples, can help to overcome the logistical limitations involved in sampling plant communities belowground. However, a major limitation of this methodology is the quantification of species’ abundances based on the percentage of sequences assigned to each taxon. Using root tissues of five dominant species in a semi‐arid Mediterranean shrubland (Bupleurum fruticescens, Helianthemum cinereum, Linum suffruticosum, Stipa pennata and Thymus vulgaris), we built pairwise mixtures of relative abundance (20%, 50% and 80% biomass), and implemented two methods (linear model fits and correction indices) to improve estimates of root biomass. We validated both methods with multispecies mixtures that simulate field‐collected samples. For all species, we found a positive and highly significant relationship between the percentage of sequences and biomass in the mixtures (R2 = .44–.66), but the equations for each species (slope and intercept) differed among them, and two species were consistently over‐ and under‐estimated. The correction indices greatly improved the estimates of biomass percentage for all five species in the multispecies mixtures, and reduced the overall error from 17% to 6%. Our results show that, through the use of post‐sequencing quantification methods on mock communities, DNA metabarcoding can be effectively used to determine not only species’ presence but also their relative abundance in field samples of root mixtures. Importantly, knowledge of these aspects will allow us to study key, yet poorly understood, belowground processes.
Effects of combination drugs on antihypertensive medication adherence in a real-world setting: a Korean Nationwide Study

Objectives We tried to clarify, by using representative national data in a real-world setting, whether single-pill combinations (SPCs) of antihypertensives actually improve medication adherence. Design A nationwide population-based study. Setting We used a 2.2% cohort (n=1 048 061) of the total population (n=46 605 433) that was randomly extracted by National Health Insurance of Korea from 2008 to 2013. Participants We included patients (n=116 677) who were prescribed with the same antihypertensive drugs for at least 1 year and divided them into groups of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)-only, calcium channel blocker (CCB)-only, multiple-pill combinations (MPCs) and SPCs of ARB/CCB. Primary outcome measures Medication possession ratio (MPR), a frequently used indirect measurement method of medication adherence. Results Adjusted MPR was higher in combination therapy (89.7% in SPC, 87.2% in MPC) than monotherapy (81.6% in ARB, 79.7% in CCB), and MPR of SPC (89.7%, 95% CI 89.3 to 90.0) was higher than MPR of MPC (87.2%, 95% CI 86.7 to 87.7) (p<0.05). In subgroup analysis, adherence of SPC and MPC was 92.3% (95% CI 91.5 to 93.0) vs 88.1% (95% CI 87.1 to 89.0) in those aged 65–74 years and 89.3% (95% CI 88.0 to 90.7) vs 84.8% (95% CI 83.3 to 92.0) in those ≥75 years (p<0.05). According to total pill numbers, adherence of SPC and MPC was 90.9% (CI 89.8 to 92.0) vs 85.3% (95% CI 84.1 to 86.5) in seven to eight pills and 91.2% (95% CI 89.3 to 93.1) vs 82.5% (95% CI 80.6 to 84.4) in nine or more (p<0.05). The adherence difference between SPC and MPC started to increase at five to six pills and at age 50–64 years (p<0.05). When analysed according to elderly status, the adherence difference started to increase at three to four pills in the elderly (≥65 years) and at five to six in the non-elderly group (20–64 years) (p<0.05). These differences all widened further with increasing age and the total medications. Conclusion SPC regimens demonstrated higher adherence than MPC, and this tendency is more pronounced with increasing age and the total number of medications.
A content validity evaluation of the PEDI-CAT Speedy Mobility domain

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the content validity of the PEDI-CAT Speedy Mobility domain through analysis of item and content area exposure, score range and scoring precision. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 3,364 items from assessments (n = 301) completed from 2013 to 2017. Content validity was appraised through analysis of item and content area exposure (item, content area, response frequency), score range (floor and ceiling effect) and scoring precision (person fit, score reliability, item information function). Results: Sixty-five of the 75 general mobility items from the PEDI-CAT Mobility domain item bank were exposed. “Stands up from the middle of the floor” (68%) was the most frequently exposed non-mandatory item. Almost half (49%) of all items were from the Basic Mobility and Transfers content area. Scaled scores ranged from 26.77 to 69.40 with a floor (scores ≤27; n = 51, 17%) but no ceiling effect. Person fit statistics were acceptable for 238 (79%), suggesting limited outliers. Score reliability was sufficient with 68% of scores above threshold (>0.9). Item information function plot indicated less discriminating items at the lower end of the score range. Conclusion: Content is adequately and reliably measuring the intended construct, but additional items at the lower end of the scale could improve score precision.
The IEEE P1520 standards initiative for programmable network interfaces

This article discusses the need for standard software interfaces for programming of networks, specifically for service and signaling control, through programming interfaces. The objective is to enable the development of open signaling, control, and management applications as well as higher-level multimedia services on networks. The scope of this effort includes ATM switches, circuit switches, IP routers, and hybrid switches such as those that provide for fast switching of IP packets over an ATM backbone. The basic ideas represented herein are in the process of development as a standard for application programming interfaces for networks under IEEE Standards Project IEEE P1520.
Evaluation of a 12 kbps speech codec for digital cellular radio

A suitable metric to characterize subjective speech quality is the mean opinion score (MOS). For a given test condition, its subjective rating is obtained for every trail as a numeric value in the following manner: Unsatisfactory=1; Poor=2; Fair=3; Good=4; and Excellent=5. The arithmetic average of these ratings over all trails constitutes the MOS of the given test condition. The measurement of MOS and the subjective quality results obtained for a specific 12 kb/s subband coder are reported. <<ETX>>
Development and viability of biofilms grown on experimental abutments mimicking dental implants: An in vivo model

Background To determine whether an experimental abutment mimicking the macro- and microstructure of a dental implant is a suitable method for recovering biofilm, and to describe the features of biofilms formed around such abutments on healthy implants. Material and Methods Experimental abutments were used in 15 patients without peri-implant diseases. After 14 days’ absence of dental hygiene in this area, the abutments were retrieved and analyzed through confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The biofilm formation on the surface of the first 5 abutments was determined by a fluorescence-staining method using SYTO9 nucleic acid stain. In order to study the biofilm’s coverage and vitality, 10 additional abutments were assessed using live & dead bacterial viability. Descriptive and bivariate analyses of the data were performed. Results A global plaque coverage of the abutments was observed in all cases. The submucosal area of the abutment was mostly covered with biofilm (over 21%). Moreover, significant differences between supra- and subgingival locations were detected. Conclusions This in vivo experimental model allows detailed observation of the extensive plaque growth found on exposed experimental abutments mimicking dental implants when hygiene measures are absent. The biofilm coverage is significantly higher in the supragingival zone than in the subgingival portion. Key words:Dental implants, biofilm, peri-implant diseases.