Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mortality review as a tool to assess the contribution of healthcare-associated infections to death: results of a multicentre validity and reproducibility study, 11 European Union countries, 2017 to 2018

Introduction The contribution of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) to mortality can be estimated using statistical methods, but mortality review (MR) is better suited for routine use in clinical settings. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recently introduced MR into its HAI surveillance. Aim We evaluate validity and reproducibility of three MR measures. Methods The on-site investigator, usually an infection prevention and control doctor, and the clinician in charge of the patient independently reviewed records of deceased patients with bloodstream infection (BSI), pneumonia, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) or surgical site infection (SSI), and assessed the contribution to death using 3CAT: definitely/possibly/no contribution to death; WHOCAT: sole cause/part of causal sequence but not sufficient on its own/contributory cause but unrelated to condition causing death/no contribution, based on the World Health Organization’s death certificate; QUANT: Likert scale: 0 (no contribution) to 10 (definitely cause of death). Inter-rater reliability was assessed with weighted kappa (wk) and intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC). Reviewers rated the fit of the measures. Results From 2017 to 2018, 24 hospitals (11 countries) recorded 291 cases: 87 BSI, 113 pneumonia , 71 CDI and 20 SSI. The inter-rater reliability was: 3CAT wk 0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61–0.75); WHOCAT wk 0.65 (95% CI: 0.58–0.73); QUANT ICC 0.76 (95% CI: 0.71–0.81). Inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.72 for pneumonia to 0.52 for CDI. All three measures fitted ‘reasonably’ or ‘well’ in > 88%. Conclusion Feasibility, validity and reproducibility of these MR measures was acceptable for use in HAI surveillance.
Cortical Thickness, Bone Density, and the Insertion Torque/Depth Integral: A Study Using Polyurethane Foam Blocks.

PURPOSE Bone density and implant primary stability parameters have been introduced that are based on calculating (1) the average of the instantaneous torque needed to keep the rotation speed of a bone density probe constant while it descends into bone or (2) the integral of the instantaneous torque-depth curve at implant insertion (I), a quantity that is equal to the insertion energy multiplied by a constant. This study aimed to determine how these two quantities are affected by the presence and thickness of a cortical bone layer. MATERIALS AND METHODS An instantaneous torque-measuring micromotor was used to measure the density of six double-layer polyurethane foam blocks mimicking different cortical/cancellous bone combinations. Twenty measurements per block were collected, averaged, and compared. The insertion torque and the integral (I) of the instantaneous torque-depth curve at implant insertion were recorded when 20 3.75 × 12-mm cylindrical implants were inserted in each of nine blocks, including three single-layer blocks simulating the absence of a cortical layer, under three final cortical (countersink) preparations: 4.0, 3.7, and 3.5 mm. The relationship between the insertion torque, the integral of the instantaneous torque-depth curve at implant insertion (I), cortical thickness, and the final diameter preparation were investigated with regression and best-fit slope analyses. RESULTS Bone density measurements showed that the average of the instantaneous torque at probing allowed differentiation of five of six different bone classes (hard-hard, hard-normal, hard-soft, normal-normal, normal-soft, soft-soft); the post hoc analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparisons were all statistically significant except for the hard-soft-normal-soft pair. The insertion torque and the integral (I) of the instantaneous torque-depth curve at implant insertion increased proportionally with cortical bone thickness (Pearson's r > 0.96 in all cases). CONCLUSION When the final preparation varied from 3.7 mm to 3.5 mm, the insertion torque-thickness plot slope did not change significantly, while that of the instantaneous torquedepth curve integral (I)-thickness plot did change, suggesting that the torque-depth curve at implant insertion integral (I) may detect the increase in implant stability consequent to slight anatomical changes or changes in the site preparation protocol better than the insertion torque when measuring the cortical bone layer stress while undergoing insertion. These findings concerning bone density and primary stability should be investigated further using different experimental settings. If confirmed, they might generate improvements in the predictability of implant and prosthetic rehabilitation outcomes.
The medium and the message: Comparing the effectiveness of six methods of misinformation delivery in an eyewitness memory paradigm.

Studies of eyewitness memory commonly employ variations on a standard misinformation paradigm. Participants are (a) exposed to an event (e.g., a simulated crime), (b) misled about certain details of the event and (c) questioned about their memory of the original event. Misinformation may be provided in the second step via a range of methods. Here, we directly compared the effectiveness of six misinformation delivery methods-leading questions, elaborate leading questions, doctored photographs, simple narratives, scrambled narratives, and missing word narratives. We presented 1182 participants with a video of a simulated robbery and randomly assigned them to receive misinformation about two out of four critical details via one of these methods. In line with the levels of processing account of memory, we report that methods that encourage deeper processing of misinformation result in more memory distortions. Contrary to previous reports, doctored photographs were not a successful method of implanting misinformation. The six delivery methods resulted in minimal differences in confidence and metamemory estimates, but participants were more likely to notice the presence of misinformation in the simple narrative condition. We conclude with suggestions for the selection of an appropriate method of misinformation delivery in future studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
The use of near-infrared spectroscopy in the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease: A systematic review

Background Peripheral arterial disease is a stenosis or occlusion of peripheral arteries that results in compromised blood flow and muscle ischemia. The available diagnostic methods are mostly used to measure and visualize blood flow and are not useful in the evaluation of perfusion, especially in diabetic patients, which is now considered to be a research priority by most of the vascular societies around the world as this is still a relatively poorly studied phenomenon. Objective The aim of this review is to explore the clinical significance of muscle tissue oxygenation monitoring in lower-extremity peripheral artery disease diagnosis using the near-infrared spectroscopy method. Methods A systematic search in PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases was performed to identify clinical near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) studies in English and Russian, published until September 2019, involving muscle tissue oxygenation in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The manuscripts were reviewed by two researchers independently and scored on the quality of the research using MINORS criteria. Results After screening 443 manuscripts, 23 studies (n = 1580) were included. NIRS-evaluated recovery time seems to be more accurate than ankle-brachial index in diabetic patients to differentiate between moderate and severe claudication. Consistent findings across all the included studies showed that both the oxygenation and deoxygenation rates as well as the recovery times varied from patient to patient and therefore were not suitable for standardization. Conclusions The clinical relevance of routine use of NIRS to diagnose PAD is unproven; therefore, its use is not currently part of standard-of-care for patients with PAD since the absolute values seem to vary significantly, depending on the outside conditions. More data need to be provided on the possible use of NIRS monitoring intraoperatively where the conditions can be more controlled.
Examining Coping Skills as a Mediating Factor in Perceived Stress and Life Satisfaction: A Comparison Between Minority and Nonminority Older Adults

Although stress due to racial and ethnic differences can negatively impact life satisfaction, there is a lack of focus on the differences between minority and nonminority older adults in how stress and coping skills impact life satisfaction. The objectives of this study are to explore (a) the differences between minority and nonminority older adults in their levels of life satisfaction, stress, and coping skills; and (b) the mediating effects of coping skills on the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction among both groups. Cross-sectional data from the Well Elderly 2 study (N = 460) were utilized in bivariate and mediation analyses. Minority older adults reported higher levels of stress and prioritized different coping skills. Mediation was not supported for either group. These findings enable practitioners to focus on the coping skills more frequently identified by clients’ racial/ethnic grouping, as well as to target the primary stressors identified.
Sexual excitation and sex-linked substance use predict overall cannabis use in mostly heterosexual and bisexual women

ABSTRACT Background: Bisexual and mostly heterosexual women report higher substance use than exclusively heterosexual or lesbian women. In sexual minority men, sex-linked substance use (SLSU) can increase risk for substance use problems; equivalent research in women is lacking. Objectives: To test if sexual excitation and inhibition mediate the association between sexual minority status and women’s SLSU. Methods: We surveyed a convenience sample of 595 undergraduate women who identified as exclusively heterosexual (n = 499), mostly heterosexual (n = 59), or bisexual (n = 37). Participants reported on their last month use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs (e.g., cocaine) in sexual and non-sexual contexts, and symptoms of alcohol and non-alcohol drug use disorders (e.g., withdrawal symptoms). Drug use symptoms were collapsed across non-alcohol substances. We used structural equation modeling to test serial mediations of women’s SLSU and overall drug and alcohol use. Results: Bisexual and mostly heterosexual women reported higher cannabis use (η2 = 0.030) and drug use disorder symptoms (η2 = 0.050) than heterosexual women. Mostly heterosexual women’s SLSU was a stronger predictor of alcohol use (η2 = 0.019) and binge drinking frequency (η2 = 0.015) than for other orientation groups. Bisexual and mostly heterosexual women’s higher sexual excitation predicted their higher SLSU, which in turn predicted higher cannabis use frequency and drug use disorder symptoms. However, sexual inhibition failed to mediate either SLSU or overall substance use. Conclusion: These findings point to SLSU as a mechanism by which sexual minority women may experience disparities in substance use related harms.
Reliability of a recumbent stepper submaximal exercise test after traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the test–retest reliability of a total body recumbent stepper (TBRS) submaximal exercise test and to examine its relationship with other measures throughout the International Classification of Functioning that are indicative of overall health in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Twenty-three ambulatory individuals with severe, chronic (>6 mos) TBI completed a TBRS submaximal exercise test, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) at initial testing. A repeat TBRS submaximal exercise test was conducted 4–7 days later. Estimated peak oxygen consumption (VO2) was calculated from the TBRS submaximal exercise test using the VO2 prediction equation. Average daily step count was collected by an activity monitor for the 4–7-day period between tests. Results Test-retest reliability was good (ICC3,1 = 0.79, p < .001). The difference between the tests was 0.46 ml・kg−1・min−1 which was not statistically different. Neither the 6MWT distance nor gait speed are related to the TBRS-estimated peak VO2. The MPAI-4 total score and adjustment subscale each had a fair relationship with the TBRS-estimated peak VO2 (r = −0.41, p = .05; rs = −0.41, p = .05, respectively). Conclusion These data suggest that the TBRS submaximal exercise test may be a reliable measure to estimate peak VO2 in ambulatory adults with chronic severe TBI.
Asymmetry of marine invasions across tropical oceans.

Understanding the mechanisms of spatial variation of biological invasions, across local-to-global scales, has been a major challenge. The importance of evolutionary history for invasion dynamics was noted by Darwin, and several studies have since considered how biodiversity of source and recipient regions can influence the probability of invasions. For over a century, the Panama Canal has connected water bodies and biotas with different evolutionary histories, and created a global shipping hotspot, providing unique opportunities to test mechanisms that affect invasion patterns. Here, we test for asymmetry in both the extent of invasions and predation effects, a possible mechanism of biotic resistance, between two tropical oceans at similar latitudes. We estimated non-native species (NNS) richness for sessile marine invertebrates, using standardized field surveys and literature synthesis, to examine whether invasions are asymmetrical, with more NNS present in the less diverse Pacific compared to the Atlantic. We also experimentally tested whether predation differentially limits the abundance and distribution of these invertebrates between oceans. In standardized surveys, observed total NNS richness was higher in the Pacific (18 NNS, 30% of all Pacific species) than the Atlantic (11 NNS, 13% of all Atlantic species). Similarly, literature-based records also display this asymmetry between coasts. When considering only the reciprocal exchange of NNS between Atlantic and Pacific biotas, NNS exchange from Atlantic to Pacific was 8-fold higher than the opposite direction, exceeding the asymmetry predicted by random exchange based simply on differences of overall diversity per region. Predation substantially reduced biomass and changed NNS composition in the Pacific, but no such effects were detected on the Atlantic coast. Specifically, some dominant NNS were particularly susceptible to predation in the Pacific, supporting the hypothesis that predation may reduce the abundance of certain NNS here. These results are consistent with predictions that high diversity in source regions, and species interactions in recipient regions, shape marine invasion patterns. Our comparisons and experiments across two tropical ocean basins, suggest that global invasion dynamics are likely driven by both ecological and evolutionary factors that shape susceptibility to and directionality of invasions across biogeographic scales.
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Forest Thinnings with ZSM-5 Catalysts: Effect of Reaction Temperature on Bio-oil Physical Properties and Chemical Composition

In this study, noncatalytic and catalytic fast pyrolysis of forest thinnings was carried out in a bench-scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor using two commercial ZSM-5 catalysts. After the initial comparison experiments at 475 °C, the catalyst which showed a clearly higher activity was further tested at reaction temperatures of 400 and 550 °C. The yield of organic liquids, which was 39 wt % in the noncatalytic experiment, decreased to 14–24 wt % depending on the reaction temperature. Varying the reaction temperature while using the ZSM-5 catalyst also caused significant changes in the elemental composition, viscosity, and pH, as well as the chemical composition of bio-oil. In general, the use of the catalyst resulted in a less viscous bio-oil with an oxygen content as low as 19 wt %. The catalytically produced bio-oil contained less carbohydrate degradation products and more aromatic compounds. Based on the chemical characterization results (13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography–.
Effects of respiratory training on pulmonary function, bad mood, and quality of life in patients with COVID-19

Abstract Background: At present, whether respiratory training can improve the lung function, quality of life, and mental health of patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still controversial. Therefore, in order to provide new evidence-based medicine for clinical treatment, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of respiratory training in improving lung function, quality of life, and mental health of patients with COVID-19. Methods: Relevant publications were searched from clinical trials. Computer was used to retrieve Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Repositories, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. The retrieval time limit was from the establishment of the database to April 2021. Two researchers independently carried out data extraction and literature quality evaluation on the quality and meta-analysis of the included literature was performed with Revman 5.3 software. Results: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Conclusion: This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence on the effects of breathing training on lung function, bad mood, and quality of life in patients with COVID-19. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval was not required for this study. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at conferences, and shared on social media platforms. OSF Registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/ZQTGY.
Structure of the Electrostatic Complex of DNA with Cationic Dendrimer of Intermediate Generation: The Role of Counterion Entropy

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dednrimer bearing a well-defined number of amine groups can be protonated under physiological or acidic condition to generate the macrocations capable of forming electrostatic complex (called “dendriplex”) with DNA for gene delivery. Using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS), here we constructed the morphological map of the complex of DNA with PAMAM dendrimer of generation four (G4) in terms of the dendrimer charge density and the nominal N/P ratio given by the feed molar ratio of dendrimer amine group to DNA phosphate group. With the increase of dendrimer charge density under a given nominal N/P ratio, the structure was found to transform from square columnar phase (in which the DNA chains packed in square lattice were locally straightened) to hexagonally-packed DNA superhelices (in which the DNA chains organizing in a hexagonal lattice twisted moderately into superhelices) and finally to beads-on-string structure (in which DNA wrapped arou.
Correspondence in reference to the previously published Epub manuscript: immune thrombocytopenic purpura after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine

We read with great interest the correspondence published recently by Candelli et al. The authors describe the possible first case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) subsequent to an injection of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine. The latter is based on a chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine vector that has been modified to contain the genetic information needed to reproduce SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. The authors consider the chronology and, after having excluded several alternative etiologies, retain the diagnosis of ITP induced by vaccination. They rightly specify that they cannot completely
Effect of process conditions and carrier concentration for improving drying yield and other quality attributes of spray dried black mulberry (Morus nigra) juice

The objective of this work was to study the influence of spray drying conditions on the physicochemical properties of black mulberry (Morus nigra) powder. A lab-scale spray dryer was employed for the spray drying process and maltodextrin DE=9was used as carrier agent.Response surface methodology (RSM) was performed to examine the effects of independent variables on the drying yield, color change, and total anthocyanin content and to determine the optimum processing conditions. Independent variables were: inlet air temperature (110 ºC, 130 ºC, and 150 ºC), compressed air flow rate (400, 600, and 800 l/h), and maltodextrin concentration (8%, 12%, and 16%). For each response, second order polynomial models were developed using multiple linear regression analysis. Analysis of variance was performed to check the adequacy and accuracy of the fitted models. The optimal conditions for drying yield and total anthocyanin content correspond to: temperature= 130 ºC, maltodextrin concentration= 8%, and compressed air flow rate= 800 L/h; these parameters led to the total anthocyanin content, process yield and browning index values of 5.85 (mg/100mL), 75%, 58.57% respectively.
Effects of Substrate Composition and Loading Rate on Methanogenic Process in Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Systems

The effects of substrate composition and high volumetric loading rate on the characteristics of substrate removal and biofilm formation in methanogenic phase of anaerobic two-phase digestion were investigated by using laboratory-scale anaerobic fluidized reactors. First, the effects of substrate composition were studied using three kinds of substrate. The first one was composed of acetic acid, and second and third ones were composed of acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. A small amount of yeast extract and glucose were added to the second and third ones, respectively. In the experiments in which yeast extract or glucose was added to the mixed acid substrate, the substrate removal efficiencies were higher than those in the experiment using acetic acid substrate. The biofilm formation was accelerated by using the mixed substrate to which yeast extract was added. Secondly, the effects of high volumetric loading rate were studied using acetic acid substrate and mixed acid-glucose substrate, respectively. In both cases, substrate removal efficiencies of the reactors were remarkably high at a loading rate of 30kg COD·m −3 ·d −1 . However, the effluent quality of that reactor to which acetic acid was added was unstable.