Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Poloxamer 407‐chitosan grafted thermoresponsive hydrogels achieve synchronous and sustained release of antigen and adjuvant from single‐shot vaccines

Sustained‐release vaccine delivery systems may enhance the immunogenicity of subunit vaccines and reduce the need for multiple vaccinations. The aim of this study was to develop a thermoresponsive hydrogel using poloxamer 407‐chitosan (CP) grafted copolymer as a delivery system for single‐shot sustained‐release vaccines. The CP copolymer was synthesized using 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐carbodiimide and N‐hydroxysuccinimide chemistry. The CP copolymer was a free flowing solution at ambient temperature and transformed rapidly into a gel at body temperature. The hydrogels were loaded with vaccine antigen and adjuvants or the vaccine components were encapsulated in poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles in order to ensure synchronous release. The CP hydrogels were stable for up to 18 days in vitro. Release of both nanoparticles and the individual components was complete, with release of the individual components being modulated by incorporation into nanoparticles. In vivo, a single dose of CP hydrogel vaccine induced strong, long lasting, cellular and humoral responses that could protect against the development of tumors in a murine melanoma model.
Glutamine Supplementation in Critical Illness: Evidence, Recommendations, and Implications for Clinical Practice in Burn Care

Glutamine is considered a conditionally essential amino acid in metabolic stress. Depletion of plasma and muscle glutamine is observed in acute burn injury and contributes to muscle wasting, weight loss, and infection. In critical illness, supplementation has been shown in patients to minimize these effects and reduce the rate of mortality and length of stay. The evidence for glutamine use and its implications for burn care practice are considered here. Work published to February 2006, which investigated enteral and parenteral glutamine supplementation in burns and critical care, is reviewed. Randomized controlled trials in burns, systematic reviews, and nutrition support practice guidelines are considered. Randomized controlled trials in burns suggest significant clinical benefit in terms of morbidity, mortality, and length of stay but are limited by sample size. Parenteral glutamine studies are under-represented. Systematic reviews and practice guidelines generally support glutamine supplementation in critical illness but vary in the level of recommendations for its use in burns. There also are features unique to burn injury that require consideration. Patients with severe burns or inhalation injury may have a prolonged critical illness phase. In large burns, inflammation and hypermetabolism may persist well beyond 4 weeks of injury. The justification and safety of long-term glutamine supplementation is yet to be established. The outlook for glutamine therapy in burns is promising. However, to strengthen recommendations for routine therapy in burns, further research focusing on larger-scale enteral glutamine studies, parenteral glutamine supplementation, and long-term use of the substrate is necessary.
Osimertinib in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer: design, development and place in therapy

The discovery of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and subsequent demonstration of the efficacy of genotype-directed therapies with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) marked the advent of the era of precision medicine for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). First- and second-generation EGFR TKIs, including erlotinib, gefitinib and afatinib, have consistently shown superior efficacy and better toxicity compared with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and currently represent the standard of care for EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC patients. However, tumors invariably develop acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs, thereby limiting the long-term efficacy of these agents. The T790M mutation in exon 20 of the EGFR gene has been identified as the most common mechanism of acquired resistance. Osimertinib is a third-generation TKI designed to target both EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutations and T790M, while sparing wild-type EGFR. Based on its pronounced clinical activity and good safety profile demonstrated in early Phase I and II trials, osimertinib received first approval in 2015 by the US FDA and in early 2016 by European Medicines Agency for the treatment of EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC patients in progression after EGFR TKI therapy. Recent results from the Phase III AURA3 trial demonstrated the superiority of osimertinib over standard platinum-based doublet chemotherapy for treatment of patients with advanced EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC with disease progression following first-line EGFR TKI therapy, thus definitively establishing this third-generation TKI as the standard of care in this setting. Herein, we review preclinical findings and clinical data from Phase I–III trials of osimertinib, including its efficacy in patients with central nervous system metastases. We further discuss currently available methods used to analyze T790M mutation status and the main mechanisms of resistance to osimertinib. Finally, we provide an outlook on ongoing trials with osimertinib and novel therapeutic combinations that might continue to improve the clinical outcome of EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients.
Effector Overlap between the lac and mel Operons of Escherichia coli: Induction of the mel Operon with β-Galactosides

ABSTRACT The lac (lactose) operon (which processes β-galactosides) and the mel (melibiose) operon (which processes α-galactosides) of Escherichia coli have a close historical connection. A number of shared substrates and effectors of the permeases and regulatory proteins have been reported over the years. Until now, β-thiogalactosides like TMG (methyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside) and IPTG (isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside) have not generally been considered to be inducers of the mel operon. The same is true for β-galactosides such as lactose [β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-glucose], which is a substrate but is not itself an inducer of the lac operon. This report shows that all three sugars can induce the mel operon significantly when they are accumulated in the cell by Lac permease. Strong induction by β-thiogalactosides is observed in the presence of Lac permease, and strong induction by lactose (more than 200-fold) is observed in the absence of β-galactosidase. This finding calls for reevaluation of TMG uptake experiments as assays for Lac permease that were performed with mel+ strains. IMPORTANCE The typical textbook picture of bacterial operons is that of stand-alone units of genetic information that perform, in a regulated manner, well-defined cellular functions. Less attention is given to the extensive interactions that can be found between operons. Well-described examples of such interactions are the effector molecules shared by the lac and mel operons. Here, we show that this set has to be extended to include β-galactosides, which have been, until now, considered not to effect the expression of the mel operon. That they can be inducers of the mel operon as well as the lac operon has not been noted in decades of research because of the Escherichia coli genetic background used in previous studies.
Informal pre‐exposure prophylaxis use in France: results from the Flash PrEP survey (2014)

D Rojas Castro, G Quatremere, L Sagaon-Teyssier, J-M Le Gall, M Preau, M Suzan-Monti and B Spire Innovation and Research Unit, AIDES, Pantin, France, GRePS EA4163, University of Lyon, Lyon, France, INSERM, UMR912 “Economics and Social Sciences Applied to Health & Analysis of Medical Information” (SESSTIM), Marseille, France, Aix Marseille University, UMR_S912, IRD, Marseille, France and ORS PACA, Southeastern Health Regional Observatory, Marseille, France
A weighted least-squares method using received signal strength measurements for WLAN indoor positioning system

GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), which is commonly used for positioning in outdoor environments, cannot be used in indoor environments because of unreachable radio waves. Therefore, the theory and algorithm for wireless indoor positioning systems has been extensively researched. Nevertheless, positioning using radio signals are influenced by multipath propagation and other cause. Therefore, how to approach the optimum location accuracy has been recognized as a difficult task. In this paper, we focus on the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) positioning method of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system. To improve the positioning accuracy, we developed a simple and efficient positioning algorithm by using a novel weighted least-squares method. From the simulated and experimented results, the proposed method has a higher degree accuracy compared with the conventional methods.
Association Among Television and Computer/Video Game Use, Victimization, and Suicide Risk Among U.S. High School Students

With the increasing popularity of mobile Internet devices, the exposure of adolescents to media has significantly increased. There is limited information about associations between the types and frequency of media use and experiences of violence victimization and suicide risk. The current study sought to examine the association of bullying and teen dating violence (TDV) victimization, suicide risk with different types of media use (i.e., television and computer/video game use), and number of total media use hours per school day. Data from the nationally representative 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 15,624) were used to examine the association between media use and violence victimization and suicide risk. Logistic regression models generated prevalence ratios adjusted for demographic characteristics and substance use behaviors to identify significant associations between media use and victimization and suicide risk, stratified by gender. Media use was associated with TDV victimization for male students only, while media use was related to experiences of bullying and suicide risk for both male and female students. In addition, limited (2 or fewer hours) and excessive (5 or more hours) media use emerged as significant correlates of suicide risk and bullying victimization, with limited media use associated with decreased risk and excessive media use with increased risk. Comprehensive, cross-cutting efforts to prevent different forms of victimization should take into account media use and its potential association with adolescent victimization and suicide risk. The current study results suggest limiting adolescent media use, as part of comprehensive prevention programming, might relate to reductions in risk for victimization and suicide.
Coronary Catherization Patient and Wife's Perceptions of Social Support: Effects Due to Characteristics of Recipient, Provider, and Their Interaction

This investigation explored relationships between coronary catherization patient and wife's characteristics and their perceptions of social support. Participants were 124 male patients undergoing diagnostic catherization to detect coronary artery disease (CAD) and their wives. Patients and wives' mean ages were fifty-nine and fifty-six years, respectively. While visiting the hospital both patient and wife independently completed a brief questionnaire that assessed psychological and physical health characteristics and perceptions of social support. Congruent with the interdependent and overlapping contexts, and reciprocal relationships assumptions of Revenson's (1994) ecological/contextual framework, results suggested characteristics of patients and wives (e.g., age, mental health, social functioning, hostility, depression, general perceived health) to interactively moderate their perceptions of social support. Overall, perceptions of social support were found to be influenced by characteristics of the perceiver, the support provider, and their interaction. Concerns for supportive and helpful caregiving are discussed.
Thermal-aware task scheduling in 3D chip multiprocessor with real-time constrained workloads

Chip multiprocessor (CMP) techniques have been implemented in embedded systems due to tremendous computation requirements. Three-dimension (3D) CMP architecture has been studied recently for integrating more functionalities and providing higher performance. The high temperature on chip is a critical issue for the 3D architecture. In this article, we propose an online thermal prediction model for 3D chips. Using this model, we propose novel task scheduling algorithms based on rotation scheduling to reduce the peak temperature on chip. We consider data dependencies, especially inter-iteration dependencies that are not well considered in most of the current thermal-aware task scheduling algorithms. Our simulation results show that our algorithms can efficiently reduce the peak temperature up to 8. 1ˆC.
A novel approach for medical research on lymphomas

Abstract The use of claims database to study lymphomas in real-life conditions is a crucial issue in the future. In this way, it is essential to develop validated algorithms for the identification of lymphomas in these databases. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of diagnosis codes in the French health insurance database to identify incident cases of lymphomas according to results of a regional cancer registry, as the gold standard. Between 2010 and 2013, incident lymphomas were identified in hospital data through 2 algorithms of selection. The results of the identification process and characteristics of incident lymphomas cases were compared with data from the Tarn Cancer Registry. Each algorithm's performance was assessed by estimating sensitivity, predictive positive value, specificity (SPE), and negative predictive value. During the period, the registry recorded 476 incident cases of lymphomas, of which 52 were Hodgkin lymphomas and 424 non-Hodgkin lymphomas. For corresponding area and period, algorithm 1 provides a number of incident cases close to the Registry, whereas algorithm 2 overestimated the number of incident cases by approximately 30%. Both algorithms were highly specific (SPE = 99.9%) but moderately sensitive. The comparative analysis illustrates that similar distribution and characteristics are observed in both sources. Given these findings, the use of claims database can be consider as a pertinent and powerful tool to conduct medico-economic or pharmacoepidemiological studies in lymphomas.
Spatial and temporal unpredictability of colony size in Cliff Swallows across 30 years

Most colonially breeding animals occupy colonies that range in size from a few pairs to thousands of individuals, but the causes of colony size variation are largely unknown. Three general hypotheses are: (1) that variation in colony size is maintained by fluctuating selection via spatial and temporal changes in fitness associated with different colony sizes; (2) that colony formation reflects heterogeneity in habitat, with some sites having resources to support more individuals than others; and (3) that individuals assess the presence or annual reproductive success of current colony residents at each site and aggregate preferentially at high-quality sites. These hypotheses make predictions about how consistent colony size should be across sites and among years. We examined temporal and spatial variability of colony size for >200 Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) colony sites in western Nebraska across a 30-year period. A colony's substrate type, annual population size in the study area, and whethe.
Design and Synthesis of Bus Invert Encoding and Decoding Technique Using Reversible Logic

Reversible logic has received great attention in the recent years due to its ability to reduce the power dissipation which is the main requirement in low power digital design. It has wide applications in advanced computing, low power CMOS design, Optical information processing, DNA computing, bio information, quantum computation and nanotechnology. This paper presents a bus invert coding on reversible logic using Feynman, Feynman double gate, BJN, Sayem and SCG gates. The proposed Bus-Invert method of coding the I/O which lowers the bus activity and thus decreases the I/O peak power dissipation by 50% and the I/O average power dissipation by up to 25%. Proposed circuits have been simulated using Xilinx Isim simulator and implemented using Xilinx Spartan3 FPGA platform.
Rethinking contact lens aftercare

The evolution of contact lens technology and clinical practice over the past three decades has been remarkable, with dramatic improvements in material biocompatibility, better lens designs and care systems, and more flexible and convenient modalities of wear. However, our approach to the aftercare examination has remained conservative, with the general modus operandi having not fully evolved from the difficult, early years of fitting non‐regular replacement rigid and low water content hydrogel lenses. In this paper, we review current aftercare practice and in particular, the preferred frequency that lens wearers should return for routine visits and the appropriateness of regulations governing contact lens prescription expiry. Four key clinical reasons for conducting a routine aftercare visit are identified: preserving ocular health, maintaining good vision, optimising comfort and ensuring satisfactory lens fitting performance. Commercial reasons for conducting aftercare visits are also considered. A decision matrix is presented to help practitioners decide on an appropriate time interval between routine aftercare visits. The first aftercare visit should always take place within one to two weeks of lens dispensing. After this, the following time intervals between routine aftercare visits are advised as a general guideline: soft daily disposable, 24 months; soft daily reusable and rigid daily wear, 12 months; soft and rigid extended wear, six months. These aftercare visit frequencies may need to be adjusted when rapid rates of refractive change are anticipated, such as every six months during child/teenager myopic progression and every 12 months during the advancement of presbyopia. Numerous clinical caveats for varying these recommended aftercare frequencies are also discussed. Those new to lens wear should be seen within the first two months of lens dispensing. Regulatory authorities charged with the responsibility of stipulating the validity of a contact lens prescription should continue to allow optometrists to set an expiry date relevant to the circumstances of individual lens wearers.
Heterochronic Shift in Hox-Mediated Activation of Sonic hedgehog Leads to Morphological Changes during Fin Development

We explored the molecular mechanisms of morphological transformations of vertebrate paired fin/limb evolution by comparative gene expression profiling and functional analyses. In this study, we focused on the temporal differences of the onset of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression in paired appendages among different vertebrates. In limb buds of chick and mouse, Shh expression is activated as soon as there is a morphological bud, concomitant with Hoxd10 expression. In dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), however, we found that Shh was transcribed late in fin development, concomitant with Hoxd13 expression. We utilized zebrafish as a model to determine whether quantitative changes in hox expression alter the timing of shh expression in pectoral fins of zebrafish embryos. We found that the temporal shift of Shh activity altered the size of endoskeletal elements in paired fins of zebrafish and dogfish. Thus, a threshold level of hox expression determines the onset of shh expression, and the subsequent heterochronic shift of Shh activity can affect the size of the fin endoskeleton. This process may have facilitated major morphological changes in paired appendages during vertebrate limb evolution.
Physical Activity Patterns During Pregnancy in a Sample of Portuguese Women: A Longitudinal Prospective Study

Background Physical activity (PA) patterns during pregnancy have not been explored in depth and most previous studies lack assessment of variables such as type, frequency, duration and intensity of activity. Objectives This study had two goals: 1) to analyze PA patterns during pregnancy according to weekly time spent on different types of activity; and 2) to determine women’s perception about health care providers regarding PA advisement during pregnancy. Patients and Methods A longitudinal prospective study was carried out with a 118-pregnant women cohort. Participants were evaluated during all trimesters. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect personal and obstetric data. Type, duration and frequency of PA were evaluated using the pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ) and intensity levels were calculated. Repeated measure analysis of variance was performed to determine differences between trimesters, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed when appropriate. Results A decrease in values of self-reported PA (MET.h.wk-1) was found from the first to the second and the first to the third trimester of pregnancy, respectively; total (270.91 vs 220.54 vs 210.35; P < 0.01), light (109.45 vs 95.11vs 92.40; P < 0.01) and moderate intensity (81.99 vs 50.69 vs 62.94; P = 0.002). Time spent on most activities remained fairly stable throughout pregnancy. Women spent most of their weekly time during the entire pregnancy on household and caregiving activities, occupational activities and leisure, except sport activities. Swimming was the most reported organized PA, reaching its highest proportion (12.7%) in the second trimester. Prenatal exercise classes were reported by 39.8% of women during the 3rd trimester. Pregnant women reported that PA was recommended by health professionals: 53.9% in the 1st trimester, 70.4% in the 2nd trimester and 56.8% in the 3rd trimester. Conclusions Self-reported PA decreased, especially from the first to the second trimester, in total, light and moderate intensity. Women spent most of their weekly time on domestic, occupational and leisure activities, except sport activities. There are some health care providers that do not recommend physical activity during pregnancy.
Efficacy and Safety of Procedural Sedation and Analgesia for Burn Wound Care

The study aim was to quantify efficacy and patient safety of registered nurse-administered procedural sedation and analgesia in a regional burn center. The investigators conducted a review of procedural sedation forms for all pediatric and adult patients admitted to this burn center from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, for demographic and clinical data including patient age, gender, body weight, TBSA, dates of burn injury and wound care procedures, length of procedure, pre- and postprocedural pain assessment, procedural sedation/analgesia medications and doses, adverse drug events, and related interventions. During the 12-month study period, a total of 328 burn patients received 1293 procedural sedation procedures; child subjects (⩽18 years) received 356 procedures and adult subjects (19–87 years) received 937 procedures. The mean (SD) length of the procedure was 60.1 (22.49) minutes with a range of 10 to 170 minutes. The mean subject age was 34.2 years (range: 6 weeks to 87 years), 67% were male, and the mean TBSA was 17% (0.5–68%). Ninety-four percent received fentanyl for analgesia and 85% received midazolam for anxiolysis and amnesia. The mean preprocedural pain score was 3.2 and the mean postprocedural pain score was 2 (t = 14.795; df = 1243; P < .001). Ten adverse events, all respiratory related, were documented in eight patients, two of whom experienced a second adverse event for an overall adverse event rate of 0.77%. No patient required intubation. Procedural sedation administered by a registered nurse competent in administration and monitoring in a burn center provided safe and effective pain management during wound care.