Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in heart failure patients undergoing home-based telerehabilitation versus outpatient rehabilitation – a randomized controlled study

Background: The most common manifestation of heart failure is physical capacity impairment resulting in dyspnoea and fatigue. The disease deteriorates the quality of life (QoL). Its consequences restrict not only functioning in the physical aspect of QoL but also patients’ emotional condition. Objective: The study is aimed to assess QoL changes in HF patients after home-based telemonitored cardiac rehabilitation (HTCR Group) versus outpatient-based standard cardiac rehabilitation (SCR Group). Methods: The study comprised 131 heart failure patients (aged 56.4±10.9 years; II/III NYHA) rehabilitated for eight weeks in two random groups: HTCR Group (n=75), participating in home-based rehabilitation supervised telemedically based on walking training; SCR Group (n=56), participating in traditional outpatient-based rehabilitation (cycloergometer training). QoL parameters were assessed with a Polish version of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). Results: After rehabilitation, both groups achieved a significant QoL improvement, both physically and mentally. HTCR Group patients improved in QoL physical categories in one subscale (physical function), and in two subscales in the mental categories (mental health, vitality). In SCR Group, three physical subscales improved (physical function, role limitation caused by physical problems, bodily pain). In the mental categories, also three subscales improved (social function, mental health, vitality). Conclusions: The study demonstrated that in heart failure patients HTCR provided a similar improvement in total QoL index as SCR. Yet it differed in QoL subscales. Patients who underwent home-based telerehabilitation observed an improvement mainly in the mental categories. Patients in SCR Group improved their general physical well-being.
Psychosocial factors and medication adherence among patients with coronary heart disease: A text messaging intervention

Objective: Medication adherence is a complex behavior that is influenced by numerous factors. Applying self-efficacy theory, the primary aim of this randomized controlled trial was to compare medication self-efficacy among patients with coronary heart disease who received: (a) text messages (TMs) for medication reminders and education, (b) TMs for education, or (c) no TMs. The second aim was to identify the personal (sociodemographic and clinical characteristics) and psychosocial factors that were associated with and predicted medication adherence. Methods: Customized TMs were delivered over 30 days. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze medication self-efficacy. A multiple regression analysis was performed at baseline and follow-up to determine variables that were associated with and predicted self-reported medication adherence. Results: Among 90 subjects with mean age 59.2 years (standard deviation (SD) 9.4, range 35–83), total scores for medication self-efficacy improved over 30 days; however, there was no significant difference in this improvement as a function of the different treatment groups (p=0.64). Controlling for other variables in the model (age, education, depression, and social support), less depression (p=0.004) and higher social support (p=0.02) positively predicted higher medication adherence in the final model. Conclusions: TM medication reminders and/or health education did not improve medication self-efficacy. Further theory testing of current and future models and interventions are required to understand variables related to self-efficacy and medication adherence. Addressing psychosocial factors such as depression and social support should be a priority to improve medication adherence among patients with coronary heart disease.
Radiatively Limited Dephasing and Exciton Dynamics in MoSe2 Monolayers Revealed with Four-Wave Mixing Microscopy

By implementing four-wave mixing (FWM) microspectroscopy, we measure coherence and population dynamics of the exciton transitions in monolayers of MoSe2. We reveal their dephasing times T2 and radiative lifetime T1 in a subpicosecond (ps) range, approaching T2 = 2T1 and thus indicating radiatively limited dephasing at a temperature of 6 K. We elucidate the dephasing mechanisms by varying the temperature and by probing various locations on the flake exhibiting a different local disorder. At the nanosecond range, we observe the residual FWM produced by the incoherent excitons, which initially disperse toward the dark states but then relax back to the optically active states within the light cone. By introducing polarization-resolved excitation, we infer intervalley exciton dynamics, revealing an initial polarization degree of around 30%, constant during the initial subpicosecond decay, followed by the depolarization on a picosecond time scale. The FWM hyperspectral imaging reveals the doped and undoped areas of the sample, allowing us to investigate the neutral exciton, the charged one, or both transitions at the same time. In the latter, we observe the exciton–trion beating in the coherence evolution indicating their coherent coupling.
Anthranilate Deteriorates the Structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms and Antagonizes the Biofilm-Enhancing Indole Effect

ABSTRACT Anthranilate and indole are alternative degradation products of tryptophan, depending on the bacterial species. While indole enhances the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we found that anthranilate, the tryptophan degradation product of P. aeruginosa, had an opposite effect on P. aeruginosa biofilm formation, in which anthranilate deteriorated the mushroom structure of biofilm. The anthranilate effect on biofilm formation was differentially exerted depending on the developmental stage and the presence of shear force. Anthranilate slightly accelerated the initial attachment of P. aeruginosa at the early stage of biofilm development and appeared to build more biofilm without shear force. But anthranilate weakened the biofilm structure in the late stage, deteriorating the mushroom structure of biofilms with shear force to make a flat biofilm. To investigate the interplay of anthranilate with indole in biofilm formation, biofilms were cotreated with anthranilate and indole, and the results showed that anthranilate antagonized the biofilm-enhancing effect of indole. Anthranilate was able to deteriorate the preformed biofilm. The effect of anthranilate and indole on biofilm formation was quorum sensing independent. AntR, a regulator of anthranilate-degrading metabolism was synergistically activated by cotreatment with anthranilate and indole, suggesting that indole might enhance biofilm formation by facilitating the degradation of anthranilate. Anthranilate slightly but significantly affected the cyclic diguaniylate (c-di-GMP) level and transcription of major extracellular polysaccharide (Psl, Pel, and alginate) operons. These results suggest that anthranilate may be a promising antibiofilm agent and antagonize the effect of indole on P. aeruginosa biofilm formation.
Intoxicaciones medicamentosas (I): Psicofármacos y antiarrítmicos

In the evaluation of Acute Drug Poisoning (ADP) in patients seriously ill with a potentially non-toxic dose of the drug that is theoretically responsible, it is important to insist on anamnesis in the coingestion of other drugs or toxics. Initially attention is given to life support measures, oxygenation, protection of the airway and expanding the volemia. The ECG is a diagnostic tool of the first order in ADPs, above all for tricyclic antidepressants (TAD) and cardio-vascular drugs. In the majority of cases continuous monitoring is usually necessary during the first 12-24 hours. The benzodiazepines do not usually give rise to serious poisoning. The use of flumazenil will be reserved for cases of respiratory depression, deep coma or where the cause is undetermined. They can give rise to convulsions, above all in the case of mixed poisonings with anti-depressants and abstinence syndrome. The TADs have an enormous potential seriousness, as they can cause mortal arrhythmias. The therapeutic range of lithium is very narrow; it can produce signs of basically digestive and neurological toxicity. In the case of poisoning by digoxin, the use of anti-digital anti-bodies will be considered in cases of serious bradyarrhythmias, AV blocks or PCR. Glucagon is the antidote for serious poisoning by beta-blockers and for refractory hypotension in cases of calcioantagonists.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Ampliﬁcation (LAMP) for Rapid Detection and Quantiﬁcation of Dehalococcoides Biomarker Genes in Commercial Reductive Dechlorinating Cultures KB-1 and SDC-9

Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) protocols speciﬁc to the reductive dehalogenase (RDase) genes vcrA , bvcA , and tceA are commonly used to quantify Dehalococcoides spp. in groundwater from chlorinated solvent-contaminated sites. In this study, loop-mediated isothermal ampliﬁcation (LAMP) was developed as an alternative approach for the quantiﬁcation of these genes. LAMP does not require a real-time thermal cycler (i.e., ampliﬁcation is isothermal), allowing the method to be performed using less-expensive and potentially ﬁeld-deployable detection devices. Six LAMP primers were designed for each of three RDase genes ( vcrA , bvcA , and tceA ) using Primer Explorer V4. The LAMP assays were compared to conventional qPCR approaches using plasmid standards, two commercially available bioaugmentation cultures, KB-1 and SDC-9 (both contain Dehalococcoides species). DNA was extracted over a growth cycle from KB-1 and SDC-9 cultures amended with trichloroethene and vinyl chloride, respec-tively. All three genes were quantiﬁed for KB-1, whereas only vcrA was quantiﬁed for SDC-9. A comparison of LAMP and qPCR using standard plasmids indicated that quantiﬁcation results were similar over a large range of gene concentrations. In addition, the quantitative increase in gene concentrations over one growth cycle of KB-1 and SDC-9 using LAMP was comparable to that of qPCR. The developed LAMP assays for vcrA and tceA genes were validated by comparing quantiﬁcation on the Gene-Z handheld platform and a real-time thermal cycler using DNA isolated from eight groundwater samples obtained from an SDC-9-bio-augmented site (Tulsa, OK). These assays will be particularly useful at sites subject to bioaugmentation with these two commonly used Dehalococcoides species-containing cultures.
Prevention and early intervention for mental health problems in 0–25 year olds: Are there evidence-based models of care?

Abstract Approximately 10–20% of children and young people aged 0–25 years have significant mental health problems, with 50% of mental illnesses commencing before the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 24. Mental health disorders account for the highest burden of disease across this age range, led by anxiety and mood disorders and problematic substance use. Regrettably, there is an inverse relationship between the prevalence of mental disorders in this age group and the use of health services to improve mental health outcomes, with only a fraction of affected individuals receiving appropriate treatment through psychiatric services. There is a pressing need to develop better models of care to ensure greater access to appropriate early intervention services among those with the highest rates and risks for developing mental disorders; in this case, those aged 0–25 years. This paper reviews the development of mental health disorders and the mental health needs of children and young people aged 0–25, and the evidence for collaborative and integrated service systems to ensure adequate treatment provision and continuity of care across this age spectrum.
Asymptotic distribution of recursive subspace estimators

We derive the asymptotic distribution of recursive subspace estimators. In particular, we study the PAST algorithm for tracking the signal subspace and the Oja (1982) rule for updating the eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue. Both the decreasing gain and the constant gain case are considered. It turns out that their asymptotic distributions differ from that of the batch eigenvalue decomposition. The asymptotic rate of convergence is also addressed.
Reference Infant and Child Models of Body Composition: A Contemporary Update

Multiple body composition assays were performed on a contemporary pediatric population, representative of white, black, and Hispanic ethnic groups. Data for 900 children, aged 5 to 18 years, were used with a 4-compartment reference model to examine differences in body fat, protein, and mineral mass. The contemporary results were compared with the classic reference models of Fomon, Ziegler, and Haschke
Hierarchization of a priori defined dataflow subgraphs

DSP algorithms are frequently represented by dataflow graphs. These graphs serve as an abstract input specification for an implementation, either in software or hardware. While doing so, the transformation process might require a special treatment of specific subgraphs within the complete dataflow graph. A hierarchization of a subgraph appears as a replacement of the subgraph by a single vertex, representing the same functionality. The subgraph to be hierarchized might be defined by the designer manually or identified automatically, matching certain criterions. Because of the possibility of introducing a deadlock, not every hierarchization is valid. This paper presents an approach that allows to identity such deadlocking subgraphs. If an a priori defined subgraph is identified to result in a deadlock, a concept is presented that allows one to separate the subgraph into sub-subgraphs of maximum size. This allows to apply the special treatment to these sub-subgraphs and not to cancel it completely.
In-Frame and Unmarked Gene Deletions in Burkholderia cenocepacia via an Allelic Exchange System Compatible with Gateway Technology

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cenocepacia is an emerging opportunistic pathogen causing life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals and in patients with cystic fibrosis, which are often difficult, if not impossible, to treat. Understanding the genetic basis of virulence in this emerging pathogen is important for the development of novel treatment regimes. Generation of deletion mutations in genes predicted to encode virulence determinants is fundamental to investigating the mechanisms of pathogenesis. However, there is a lack of appropriate selectable and counterselectable markers for use in B. cenocepacia, making its genetic manipulation problematic. Here we describe a Gateway-compatible allelic exchange system based on the counterselectable pheS gene and the I-SceI homing endonuclease. This system provides efficiency in cloning homology regions of target genes and allows the generation of precise and unmarked gene deletions in B. cenocepacia. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate its utility by deleting the Bcam1349 gene, encoding a cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP)-responsive regulator protein important for biofilm formation.
Piliation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Promotes Adhesion, Phagocytosis, and Cytokine Modulation in Macrophages

ABSTRACT Recently, spaCBA-encoded pili on the cell surface of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG were identified to be key molecules for binding to human intestinal mucus and Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. Here, we investigated the role of the SpaCBA pilus of L. rhamnosus GG in the interaction with macrophages in vitro by comparing the wild type with surface mutants. Our results show that SpaCBA pili play a significant role in the capacity for adhesion to macrophages and also promote bacterial uptake by these phagocytic cells. Interestingly, our data suggest that SpaCBA pili also mediate anti-inflammatory effects by induction of interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA and reduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. These pili appear to mediate these effects indirectly by promoting close contact with the macrophages, facilitating the exertion of anti-inflammatory effects by other surface molecules via yet unknown mechanisms. Blockage of complement receptor 3 (CR3), previously identified to be a receptor for streptococcal pili, significantly decreased the uptake of pilus-expressing strains in RAW 264.7 cells, while the expression of IL-10 and IL-6 mRNA by these macrophages was not affected by this blocking. On the other hand, blockage of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) significantly reduced the expression of IL-6 mRNA irrespective of the presence of pili.
Effects of a Blended Learning Orientation Program for Clinical Practicums of Nursing Students

Purpose: This study proposed to examine the effects of a blended-learning orientation program executed for nursing students` clinical practice. Method: The participants were 61 nursing students in the experimental group and 57 in the control group. For the experimental group, a blended-learning orientation program was executed by e-learning (on-line) and lecture-led training (off-line) from two-week before the start of clinical practice in medical-surgical nursing. For the control group, orientation was given in the traditional lecture-led training by distributing printed materials before clinical practice. A pre-test was conducted on the experimental and control group before clinical practice, and a post-test was conducted after two-week of clinical practice in order to examine the effects of the orientation program. Results: After two-week of clinical practice, differences were observed between the experimental group and the control group in adaptation to clinical practice (F
Novel Functions of (p)ppGpp and Cyclic di-GMP in Mycobacterial Physiology Revealed by Phenotype Microarray Analysis of Wild-Type and Isogenic Strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis

ABSTRACT The bacterial second messengers (p)ppGpp and bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) regulate important functions, such as transcription, virulence, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing. In mycobacteria, they regulate long-term survival during starvation, pathogenicity, and dormancy. Recently, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain lacking (p)ppGpp was shown to be sensitive to multiple classes of antibiotics and defective in biofilm formation. We were interested to find out whether Mycobacterium smegmatis strains lacking the gene for either (p)ppGpp synthesis (Δrel Msm) or c-di-GMP synthesis (ΔdcpA) would display similar phenotypes. We used phenotype microarray technology to compare the growth of the wild-type and the knockout strains in the presence of several antibiotics. Surprisingly, the Δrel Msm and ΔdcpA strains showed enhanced survival in the presence of many antibiotics, but they were defective in biofilm formation. These strains also displayed altered surface properties, like impaired sliding motility, rough colony morphology, and increased aggregation in liquid cultures. Biofilm formation and surface properties are associated with the presence of glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) in the cell walls of M. smegmatis. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of various cell wall fractions revealed that the levels of GPLs and polar lipids were reduced in the knockout strains. As a result, the cell walls of the knockout strains were significantly more hydrophobic than those of the wild type and the complemented strains. We hypothesize that reduced levels of GPLs and polar lipids may contribute to the antibiotic resistance shown by the knockout strains. Altogether, our data suggest that (p)ppGpp and c-di-GMP may be involved in the metabolism of glycopeptidolipids and polar lipids in M. smegmatis.
Acute glucose dysmetabolism in the early phase of ST-elevation myocardial infarction: the age response

In elderly patients with AMI, hyperglycaemia is associated with increased mortality. Recently it has been observed that insulin resistance, as assessed by the HOMA index, proved an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. The interaction between age and glucose metabolism response in the acute phase of patients with STEMI without previously known diabetes has not yet been explored. We aimed to assess this relationship in 346 consecutive patients with STEMI admitted to our ICCU after primary PCI. When compared with the other age subgroups, the very oldest patients (aged > 79 years) showed the lowest LVEF (p=0.011), the highest incidence of 2- and 3-vessel coronary artery disease (p=0.002), and, finally, the highest mortality (p=0.037). Advancing age was associated with increased values of fibrinogen (p=0.022) and ESR (p=0.001), as well as of NT-pro-BNP (p<0.001). The very oldest patients (aged > 79 years) exhibited the highest values of glycaemia and peak glycaemia, while the incidence of insulin resistance (as inferred by HOMA index) remained unchanged across the age subgroups. This glycaemic pattern was confirmed after exclusion of patients with HbA1c > 6.5%, that is patients with a poor glycaemic control in the previous 2—3 months. In the acute phase of STEMI acute glucose metabolism is affected by age, since older patients showed the highest glucose levels and the poorest glycaemic control during ICCU stay despite the lack of differences in insulin resistance incidence.
An information - theoretic proof of Hadamard's inequality

Hadamard's inequality follows immediately from inspection of both sides of the entropy inequality h(X_{1}, X_{2},, \cdots, X_{n})\leq \sum h(X_{i}) , when (X_{l}, X_{2},\cdots, X_{n}) is multivariate normal.
The Munich Myocardial Infarction Registry: impact of C-reactive protein and kidney function on hospital mortality in diabetic patients

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyse hospital mortality with regards to the presence of diabetes, elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and impaired kidney function (IKF) on admission. Methods: All patients in the Munich Myocardial Infarction Registry (1999—2004, n = 2,015) were assessed. In both the diabetic (n = 770, 38%) and non-diabetic (n = 1,245, 61.2%) groups, CRP and kidney function on admission were analysed with regards to hospital outcome. Results: In diabetic patients, both a CRP level >7 mg/L and a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 ml/min were independent risk factors for mortality (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8—6.9 and OR 4.4, 95% CI 2.4—8.3, respectively). In non-diabetic patients with CRP levels equal or below the median and absence of IKF, hospital mortality was 0.7% whereas the presence of the triad of diabetes, CRP levels above the median and IKF increased hospital mortality to 23.5%. Conclusion: The registry demonstrates that the presence of the triad of diabetes, elevated CRP levels and reduced GFR on admission is associated with an excessive hospital mortality. Optimised early interventions are to be initiated to potentially overcome the unfavourable prognosis.
Family, School, and Peer Correlates of Adolescent Drug Abuse

Despite some leveling off of the use of marijuana by America's youth since 1978, abuse of alcohol and other drugs has continued at epidemic proportions. Congress recently increased funding for drug abuse prevention, and many social workers are likely to be involved in the design of family, school, and peer-oriented prevention projects. This article reviews the social correlates of adolescent drug misuse and suggests guidelines for developing effective prevention programs.