Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence of perioperative adverse events in obese children undergoing elective general surgery.

BACKGROUND A worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity has been observed in both developed and developing countries. Few studies have addressed the anaesthetic or perioperative implications of childhood obesity. METHODS Children aged 2-16 yr undergoing general surgery were classified using age- and sex-adjusted BMI. Patient characteristic, co-morbidity, and perioperative data were collected to ascertain the risks associated with overweight and obese children. RESULTS We enrolled 1465 subjects in our study, of which 154 (10.5%) were classified as obese and a further 223 (15.2%) as overweight. After adjusting for age, we identified increased rates of arterial haemoglobin desaturation, difficult mask ventilation, airway obstruction, and bronchospasm in obese children. The relative risk (RR) of adverse respiratory events was higher among obese subjects than non-obese subjects and higher in younger age groups. Controlling for age, adjusted-RR (confidence interval) was 1.49 (1.2-1.86). There was a significant association between obesity and asthma with a higher odds ratio (OR) in younger age groups controlling for age: adjusted-OR=1.8 (1.15-2.82). A significant association was detected between obesity and sleep apnoea controlling for age: adjusted-OR=4.03 (2.37-6.8). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest an increased incidence of perioperative adverse respiratory events in obese children, especially at younger ages.
Rapid and Durable Antiretroviral Effect of the HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitor Raltegravir as Part of Combination Therapy in Treatment-Naive Patients With HIV-1 Infection: Results of a 48-Week Controlled Study

Background:Raltegravir is an HIV-1 integrase strand-transfer inhibitor with potent in vitro activity. This study explored the antiretroviral activity and safety of raltegravir in treatment-naive patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA levels ≥5000 copies/mL and CD4+ T-cell counts ≥100 cells/mm3. Methods:Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled study of raltegravir at doses of 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg twice daily versus efavirenz at a dose of 600 mg/d, all in combination with tenofovir at a dose of 300 mg/d and lamivudine at a dose of 300 mg/d (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00100048). Results:In the 198 patients treated (160 on raltegravir and 38 on efavirenz), the mean HIV-1 RNA level ranged from 4.6 to 4.8 log10 copies/mL at baseline. At weeks 2, 4, and 8, the proportion of patients achieving an HIV-1 RNA level <50 copies/mL was greater in each of the raltegravir treatment groups than in the efavirenz group. By week 24, all treatment groups appeared similar, with plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <400 copies/mL in 85% to 98% of patients and <50 copies/mL in 85% to 95% of patients. These reductions were maintained through week 48 in 85% to 98% of patients and in 83% to 88% of patients, respectively. Five (3%) patients on raltegravir and 1 (3%) on efavirenz experienced virologic failure before week 48. Drug-related clinical adverse events were less common with raltegravir than with efavirenz. After 24 and 48 weeks of treatment, raltegravir did not result in increased serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or triglycerides. Conclusions:Raltegravir at all doses studied was generally well tolerated in combination with tenofovir and lamivudine. Raltegravir exhibited potent and durable antiretroviral activity similar to that of efavirenz at 24 and 48 weeks but achieved HIV-1 RNA levels below detection at a more rapid rate.
The Major Portal of Entry of Koi Herpesvirus in Cyprinus carpio Is the Skin

ABSTRACT Koi herpesvirus (KHV), recently designated Cyprinid herpesvirus 3, is the causative agent of a lethal disease in koi and common carp. In the present study, we investigated the portal of entry of KHV in carp by using bioluminescence imaging. Taking advantage of the recent cloning of the KHV genome as a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), we produced a recombinant plasmid encoding a firefly luciferase (LUC) expression cassette inserted in the intergenic region between open reading frame (ORF) 136 and ORF 137. Two viral strains were then reconstituted from the modified plasmid, the FL BAC 136 LUC excised strain and the FL BAC 136 LUC TK revertant strain, including a disrupted and a wild-type thymidine kinase (TK) locus, respectively. In vitro, the two recombinant strains replicated comparably to the parental FL strain. The FL BAC 136 LUC TK revertant strain was shown in vitro to induce a bioluminescent signal allowing the detection of single positive cells as early as 24 h postinfection, while in vivo, it induced KHV infection in carp that was indistinguishable from that induced by the parental FL strain. To identify the KHV portal of entry, carp were analyzed by bioluminescence imaging at different times postinfection with the FL BAC 136 LUC TK revertant strain. These analyses demonstrated that the skin of the fish covering the fins and also the body is the major portal of entry for KHV in carp. Finally, to further demonstrate the role of the skin as the KHV portal of entry, we constructed an original system, nicknamed “U-tube,” to perform percutaneous infection restricted to the posterior part of the fish. All the data obtained in the present study demonstrate that the skin, and not the gills, is the major portal of entry for KHV in carp.
EXPLORATORY TALK IN SCIENCE EDUCATION: INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING AND COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH IN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Recent research on science education has increasingly focused on the role of exploratory talk for learning science in school. This study was conducted in third grade in the Swedish compulsory school and shows how difficult exploratory talk in science is to achieve. The recordings of each lesson focused mainly on the teacher but included the pupils as the teacher interacted with them. The empirical material was analysed from two different perspectives: ways of communicating the science content and communicative approach. The analysis of the classroom practice showed that scien¬tific descriptions were dominating ways of communication. Only in a few cases explanations of scien¬tific phenomena were in focus. Those situations caused turning points into more interac-tive/dialogic communications or exploratory talk. One main conclusion is that exploratory talk and scientific explanations are not easily achieved when working in primary school. These skills are not automatically attained by the use of inquiry-based material – it needs to be trained! Key words: exploratory talk, inquiry, primary school, science.
Biocompatibility and osteogenic properties of porous tantalum

Porous tantalum has been reported to be a promising material for use in bone tissue engineering. In the present study, the biocompatibility and osteogenic properties of porous tantalum were studied in vitro and in vivo. The morphology of porous tantalum was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Osteoblasts were cultured with porous tantalum, and cell morphology, adhesion and proliferation were investigated using optical microscopy and SEM. In addition, porous tantalum rods were implanted in rabbits, and osteogenesis was observed using laser scanning confocal microscopy and hard tissue slice examination. The osteoblasts were observed to proliferate over time and adhere to the tantalum surface and pore walls, exhibiting a variety of shapes and intercellular connections. The porous tantalum rod connected tightly with the host bone. At weeks 2 and 4 following implantation, new bone and small blood vessels were observed at the tantalum-host bone interface and pores. At week 10 after the porous tantalum implantation, new bone tissue was observed at the tantalum-host bone interface and pores. By week 12, the tantalum-host bone interface and pores were covered with new bone tissue and the bone trabeculae had matured and connected directly with the materials. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that porous tantalum is non-toxic, biocompatible and a promising material for use in bone tissue engineering applications.
Isotopically nonstationary 13C flux analysis of changes in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf metabolism due to high light acclimation

Significance To our knowledge, this is the first time that isotopically nonstationary 13C flux analysis has been successfully applied to map photoautotrophic fluxes in a terrestrial plant system. Our analysis reveals alterations in photosynthetic carbon flux in response to high light acclimation. We provide a quantitative description of metabolism that accommodates acclimation and estimates changes in important fluxes that are difficult to measure. This study demonstrates a comprehensive approach to map the flow and fate of carbon within plant metabolic networks. Improving plant productivity is an important aim for metabolic engineering. There are few comprehensive methods that quantitatively describe leaf metabolism, although such information would be valuable for increasing photosynthetic capacity, enhancing biomass production, and rerouting carbon flux toward desirable end products. Isotopically nonstationary metabolic flux analysis (INST-MFA) has been previously applied to map carbon fluxes in photoautotrophic bacteria, which involves model-based regression of transient 13C-labeling patterns of intracellular metabolites. However, experimental and computational difficulties have hindered its application to terrestrial plant systems. We performed in vivo isotopic labeling of Arabidopsis thaliana rosettes with 13CO2 and estimated fluxes throughout leaf photosynthetic metabolism by INST-MFA. Plants grown at 200 µmol m-2s−1 light were compared with plants acclimated for 9 d at an irradiance of 500 µmol⋅m−2⋅s−1. Approximately 1,400 independent mass isotopomer measurements obtained from analysis of 37 metabolite fragment ions were regressed to estimate 136 total fluxes (54 free fluxes) under each condition. The results provide a comprehensive description of changes in carbon partitioning and overall photosynthetic flux after long-term developmental acclimation of leaves to high light. Despite a doubling in the carboxylation rate, the photorespiratory flux increased from 17 to 28% of net CO2 assimilation with high-light acclimation (Vc/Vo: 3.5:1 vs. 2.3:1, respectively). This study highlights the potential of 13C INST-MFA to describe emergent flux phenotypes that respond to environmental conditions or plant physiology and cannot be obtained by other complementary approaches.
PAX: Using Pseudonymization and Anonymization to Protect Patients’ Identities and Data in the Healthcare System

Electronic health record (EHR) systems are extremely useful for managing patients’ data and are widely disseminated in the health sector. The main problem with these systems is how to maintain the privacy of sensitive patient information. Due to not fully protecting the records from unauthorised users, EHR systems fail to provide privacy for protected health information. Weak security measures also allow authorised users to exceed their specific privileges to access medical records. Thus, some of the systems are not a trustworthy source and are undesirable for patients and healthcare providers. Therefore, an authorisation system that provides privacy when accessing patients’ data is required to address these security issues. Specifically, security and privacy precautions should be raised for specific categories of users, doctor advisors, physician researchers, emergency doctors, and patients’ relatives. Presently, these users can break into the electronic systems and even violate patients’ privacy because of the privileges granted to them or the inadequate security and privacy mechanisms of these systems. To address the security and privacy problems associated with specific users, we develop the Pseudonymization and Anonymization with the XACML (PAX) modular system, which depends on client and server applications. It provides a security solution to the privacy issues and the problem of safe-access decisions for patients’ data in the EHR. The results of theoretical and experimental security analysis prove that PAX provides security features in preserving the privacy of healthcare users and is safe against known attacks.
A prospective birth cohort study of different risk factors for development of allergic diseases in offspring of non-atopic parents

Background: Allergic diseases are thought to be inherited. Prevalence of allergic diseases has, however, increased dramatically in last decades, suggesting environmental causes for the development of allergic diseases. Objective: We studied risk factors associated with the development of atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma (AS) in children of non-atopic parents in a subtropical country. Methods: In a birth cohort of 1,497 newborns, parents were prenatally enrolled and validated for allergic diseases by questionnaire, physician-verified and total or specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels; 1,236 and 756 children, respectively, completed their 3-year and 6-year follow-up. Clinical examination, questionnaire, and blood samples for total and specific IgE of the children were collected at each follow-up visit. Results: Prevalence of AD, AR and AS was, respectively, 8.2%, 30.8% and 12.4% in children of non-atopic parents. Prevalence of AR (p<.001) and AS (p=.018) was significantly higher in children of parents who were both atopic. A combination of Cesarean section (C/S) and breastfeeding for more than 1 month showed the highest risk for AD (OR=3.111, p=.006). Infants living in homes with curtains and no air filters had the highest risk for AR (OR=2.647, p<.001), and male infants of non-atopic parents living in homes without air filters had the highest risk for AS (OR=1.930, p=.039). Conclusions: Breastfeeding and C/S affect development of AD. Gender, use of curtains and/or air filters affect AR and AS, suggesting that control of the perinatal environment is necessary for the prevention of atopic diseases in children of non-atopic parents.
Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Improves Flow Mediated Dilatation of the Superficial Femoral Artery in Healthy Older Males

Aging is often associated with reduced leg blood flow, increased arterial stiffness, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which are related to declining nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and passive leg movement (PLM) hyperaemia are two techniques used to measure NO-dependent vascular function. We hypothesised that acute dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation would improve NO bioavailability, leg FMD, and PLM hyperaemia. Fifteen healthy older men (69 ± 4 years) attended two experiment sessions and consumed either 140 mL of concentrated beetroot juice (800 mg NO3−) or placebo (NO3−-depleted beetroot juice) in a randomised, double blind, cross-over design study. Plasma nitrite (NO2−) and NO3−, blood pressure (BP), augmentation index (AIx75), pulse wave velocity (PWV), FMD of the superficial femoral artery, and PLM hyperaemia were measured immediately before and 2.5 h after consuming NO3− and placebo. Placebo had no effect but NO3− led to an 8.6-fold increase in plasma NO2−, which was accompanied by an increase in FMD (NO3−: +1.18 ± 0.94% vs. placebo: 0.23 ± 1.13%, p = 0.002), and a reduction in AIx75 (NO3−: −8.7 ± 11.6% vs. placebo: −4.6 ± 5.5%, p = 0.027). PLM hyperaemia, BP, and PWV were unchanged during both trials. This study showed that a dose of dietary NO3− improved NO bioavailability and enhanced endothelial function as measured by femoral artery FMD. These findings provide insight into the specific central and peripheral vascular responses to dietary NO3− supplementation in older adults.
Retrospective on BPJ

Author(s): Blanco, Hilda | Abstract: Hilda Blanco reflects on her experiences as Founding Editor of the Berkeley Planning Journal, the underlying values with which she imbued the Journal and that the BPJ carries on today, and relates larger trends in planning and in our political economy from the mid 1980s to the present day.
An Outline of PVS Semantics for UML Statecharts

The current UML standard provides deenitions for the semantics of its components. These deenitions focus mainly on the static structure of UML, but they don't include an execution semantics. These deenitions include several "semantic variation points" leaving out the door open for multiple interpretations of the concepts involved. This situation can be handled by formalizing the semantic concepts involved. In this paper we present an approach for the formalization of one of the multiple diagrams of UML, namely statechart diagrams. That is achieved by using the PVS Speciication Language as formal semantics domain. We present also how the approach can be used to conduct a formal analysis using the PVS model-checker.
State Laws and Policies to Address Bullying in Schools

Abstract This article focuses on the recent flurry of legislation in states to address bullying among school children. The primary purpose is to describe, compare, and contrast current state laws about bullying. Specifically, a description is provided of legislators' definitions of bullying and legislative findings about the nature and seriousness of bullying. Next, an analysis is conducted of the stated purposes of these laws and their likely consequences. Following is a brief review of several states' efforts to develop model policies about bullying. Finally, recommendations are made about actions that legislators and other policy makers can take to best support educators in the development of effective bullying prevention policies and programs.
The influence of childhood traffic‐related air pollution exposure on asthma, allergy and sensitization: a systematic review and a meta‐analysis of birth cohort studies

The impact of early childhood traffic‐related air pollution (TRAP) exposure on development of asthma and allergies remains unclear. Birth cohort studies are the best available study design to answer this question, but the evidence from such studies has not been synthesized to date. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analyses of published birth cohort studies to understand the association between early childhood TRAP exposure, and subsequent asthma, allergies and sensitization. Increased longitudinal childhood exposure to PM2.5 and black carbon was associated with increasing risk of subsequent asthma in childhood (PM2.5: OR 1.14, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.30 per 2 μg/m3 and black carbon: OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.38 per 1 × 10−5 m−1). Also, early childhood exposure to TRAP was associated with development of asthma across childhood up to 12 years of age. The magnitude of these associations increased with age, and the pattern was prominent for PM2.5. Increasing exposure to PM2.5 was associated with sensitization to both aero‐ and food allergens. There was some evidence that TRAP was associated with eczema and hay fever. In summary, exposure to TRAP was related to asthma and allergic diseases. However, the substantial variability across studies warrants long‐term birth cohort studies with regular repeated follow‐ups to confirm these findings.
Effect of triiodothyronine (T3) augmentation of acute milnacipran administration on monoamine levels: an in vivo microdialysis study in rats

Background Up to 30% of depressed patients are partially or totally resistant to antidepressant therapy. The administration of triiodothyronine (T3) to antidepressant nonresponders can be an effective augmentation strategy, although the mechanism is not fully understood. Methods In vivo microdialysis was used to examine the effect of T3 augmentation of the antidepressant, milnacipran. Basal extracellular serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels were measured before and after acute milnacipran administration in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala of rats which had received subchronic (7 days) T3 treatment or control saline. Results Subchronic administration of T3 at 0.1 mg/kg significantly increased basal extracellular levels of serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex, but not in the amygdala. In contrast, subchronic administration of T3 at 0.2 mg/kg did not alter basal extracellular serotonin levels in the medial prefrontal cortex. Basal extracellular levels of norepinephrine and dopamine were not modified by either dose of T3 in either region. Acute administration of milnacipran, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, to control animals resulted in a significant increase of extracellular levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. When administered to animals treated subchronically with T3 at 0.1 mg/kg, milnacipran produced an additional increase in extracellular serotonin levels but not in levels of norepinephrine or dopamine in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats. Conclusion These results suggest that the mechanism of the augmentation effect of milnacipran by T3 administration occurs via enhancement of serotonergic neurotransmission, but not through noradrenergic or dopaminergic neurotransmission.
The End of Sex as We Know It

Elizabeth Norton Lasley is a science writer who specializes in neuroscience. Formerly a senior editor at Dana Press, her freelance articles have appeared in many publications including Science. Are male and female brains different in ways that relate not just to sexuality and reproduction, but to intellectual potential, talents, and interests? Recent neuroscience research is showing that, from the earliest stages of development, male and female brains seem to differentiate themselves in ways that suggest vive la difference may mean more than we thought.
CpG‐Loaded Multifunctional Cationic Nanohydrogel Particles as Self‐Adjuvanting Glycopeptide Antitumor Vaccines

Self-adjuvanting antitumor vaccines by multifunctional cationic nanohydrogels loaded with CpG. A conjugate consisting of tumor-associated MUC1-glycopeptide B-cell epitope and tetanus toxin T-cell epitope P2 is linked to cationic nanogels. Oligonucleotide CpG complexation enhances toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulated T-cell proliferation and rapid immune activation. This co-delivery promotes induction of specific MUC1-antibodies binding to human breast tumor cells without external adjuvant.
Eliminating inter-process cache interference through cache reconfigurability for real-time and low-power embedded multi-tasking systems

We propose a technique which leverages configurable data caches to address the problem of cache interference in multitasking embedded systems. Data caches are often necessary to provide the required memory bandwidth. However, caches introduce two important problems for embedded systems. Cache outcomes in multi-tasking environments are notoriously difficult to predict, if not impossible, thus resulting in poor real-time guarantees. Additionally, caches contribute to a significant amount of power. These issues are key factors for many embedded systems. We study the effect of multiple tasks on the data cache, and propose a technique which leverages configurable cache architectures to eliminate inter-task cache interference. By mapping tasks to different cache partitions, interference is completely eliminated with only a minimal impact on performance. Furthermore, dynamic and leakage power are significantly reduced as only a subset of the cache is active at any moment. We introduce a profile-based, static analysis algorithm, which identifies a beneficial cache partitioning. The OS configures the data cache during context-switch by activating the corresponding partition.Our experiments on a large set of multitasking benchmarks demonstrate that our technique not only efficiently eliminates inter-task interference but also significantly reduces both dynamic and leakage power.