Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survey of Nonoccupational HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis in Hospital Emergency Departments

Background: Nonoccupational HIV postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) is being used in community settings, but little is known about practice patterns. This study examined the status of nPEP in Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs), community sites where nPEP is most likely to be practiced. Methods: In June 1998, a mailed survey was sent to identified medical directors of the 78 hospital EDs statewide; 66 (85%) responded. Results: Overall, 52% reported having patient requests for nPEP within the prior year. 15% (10 of 66) had established written nPEP protocols; 33% (22 of 66) indicated their protocols were informal and not written. Twenty‐five EDs could estimate the number of nPEP patients assessed; their mean estimate was 31 for the prior year (standard deviation [SD], 19.9) and 34% of the patients overall had nPEP recommended. Most (81 %) of the hospitals with written or unwritten protocols recommended the use of three‐drug antiretroviral regimens, which included two nucleoside analogues and a protease inhibitor; 41% approved more than one nPEP regimen. Conclusions: A demand for nPEP is occurring in hospital EDs. The diversity of practice patterns suggests the need for evidence‐based practice guidelines.
Circulating levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product are inversely associated with vascular calcification in patients on haemodialysis independent of S100A12 (EN‐RAGE) levels

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has emerged as a central regulator of vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) has an anti‐inflammatory effect by quenching ligands for RAGE. On the other hand, extracellular RAGE‐binding protein S100A12 (EN‐RAGE) shows a pro‐inflammatory effect in a way, but may play pleiotropic roles related to inflammatory process. Therefore, we determined the levels of sRAGE and S100A12 in haemodialysis (HD) patients and evaluated their relationship with vascular calcification.
Incorporating documents into qualitative nursing research.

PURPOSE To present an overview of how documents can be incorporated as key sources of data in qualitative nursing research. METHODS Analysis of the nature of documents and the distinctive features of any research strategy to analyze documents. CONCLUSIONS Many different strategies can be used in the analysis of documentary sources that are relevant to nursing practice. A systematic approach to the analysis of these textual resources, using one or several of the analytic strategies described here, can support and advance nursing scholarship.
EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

This article considers relation which is established between education, human capital and economic growth. The goal of the article is to show concrete suggestions in relation to the influence of education on raising the living standard, based on up-to-date researches. Education istself represents one of the primary components in human capital formation, which is an important factor in modeling the endogenous production functions. The more important the component of human capital in modeling the economic growth is, the more significant the influence for using the technical progress achievements is. Human capital is of essential importance for achieving the sustainable growth rates for developed countries, but the greatest contribution is accomplished through the investment in quantity and quality of primary and secondary education for developing countries. On the quality of the education system depends formation of the human capital that is an important factor and supposition of the economic growth.
Hemostatic Function of Apheresis Platelets Stored at 4°C and 22°C

ABSTRACT Introduction: Platelet refrigeration decreases the risk of bacterial contamination and may preserve function better than standard-of-care room temperature (RT) storage. Benefits could include lower transfusion-related complications, decreased costs, improved hemostasis in acutely bleeding patients, and extended shelf life. In this study, we compared the effects of 22°C and 4°C storage on the functional and activation status of apheresis platelets. Methods: Apheresis platelets (n = 5 per group) were stored for 5 days at 22°C with agitation (RT) versus at 4°C with agitation (4°C + AG) and without (4°C). Measurements included platelet counts, mean platelet volume, blood gas analytes, aggregation response, thromboelastography, thromboxane B2 and soluble CD40 ligand release, activation markers, and microparticle formation. Results: Sample pH levels were within acceptable limits for storage products (pH 6.2–7.4). Platelet glucose metabolism (P < 0.05), aggregation response (adenosine diphosphate: RT 0; 4°C + AG 5.0 ± 0.8; 4°C 5.6 ± 0.9; P < 0.05), and clot strength (maximum amplitude: RT 58 ± 2; 4°C + AG 63 ± 2; 4°C 67 ± 2; P < 0.05) were better preserved at 4°C compared with RT storage. Refrigerated samples were more activated compared with RT (P < 0.05), although thromboxane B2 (P < 0.05) and soluble CD40 ligand release (P < 0.05) were higher at RT. Agitation did not improve the quality of 4°C-stored samples. Conclusions: Apheresis platelets stored at 4°C maintain more viable metabolic characteristics, are hemostatically more effective, and release fewer proinflammatory mediators than apheresis platelets stored at RT over 5 days. Given the superior bacteriologic safety of refrigerated products, these data suggest that cold-stored platelets may improve outcomes for acutely bleeding patients.
Biopsy‐proven acute cellular rejection as an efficacy endpoint of randomized trials in liver transplantation: a systematic review and critical appraisal

Biopsy‐proven acute cellular rejection (ACR) is the primary efficacy endpoint in most randomized trials evaluating immunosuppression in liver transplantation. However, ACR is not a major cause of graft loss, and a certain grade of immune activation may be even beneficial for long‐term graft acceptance. Validated criteria to select candidates for liver biopsy are lacking, and routine clinical practice relies on liver tests, which are inaccurate markers of ACR. Indeed, both the agreement among clinicians to select candidates for liver biopsy and the correlation between the clinical suspicion of ACR and histological findings are poor. In randomized trials evaluating immunosuppression protocols, this concern grows exponentially due to the open‐label and multicenter nature of most studies. Therefore, biopsy‐proven ACR is a suboptimal efficacy endpoint given its limited impact on prognosis and the heterogeneous diagnosis, which may increase the risk of bias. Chronic rejection and/or graft loss would be more appropriate endpoints, but would certainly require larger studies with prolonged surveillances. An objective method to select candidates for liver biopsy is therefore urgently needed, and only severe episodes of histological ACR should be considered as potentially harmful. Emerging surrogate markers of ACR and antibody‐mediated rejection require further investigation to determine their clinical role.
An efficient Checkpointing using hypercube structure (self-adjusted) in mobile ad hoc network

Mobile Ad hoc networks (MAHNs), which are wireless multi-hop packet networks without fixed infrastructure; it is a self-organizing and configuring “multi-hop” network. The topology of ad hoc network is very dynamic because of host mobility. However, the constraints imposed by the mobility and poor resource of mobile hosts complicate the design of distributed algorithms and applications for MANET. There have been many algorithms on finding checkpointing of distributed mobile application. The paper presents an algorithm for recording the global state of a clustered and multi-hop mobile ad-hoc network. Here we are proposing that mobile hosts are arranged in a hypercube structure for making an energy efficient clustering scheme, the proposed algorithm imposes a self stabilizing hypercube upon the network topology to reduce the message overhead in the system to deal with the dynamic nature of MANET.
The Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase TT677 Genotype Is Associated with Venous Thrombosis Independently of the Coexistence of the FV Leiden and the Prothrombin

Summary A polymorphism, C→T677, in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene has been identified as a cause of mild hyperhomocysteinemia, a risk factor for venous thrombosis. We have investigated the frequency of the TT genotype in 277 consecutive patients with confirmed deep venous thrombosis and 431 healthy subjects. The TT MTHFR genotype was more frequent in patients than in controls (25.6% vs. 18.1%; p = 0.016). The risk of thrombosis among carriers of this genotype was significantly increased [odds ratio: 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1-2.3)]. The estimated risk associated with the TT genotype was 2.0 (95% CI: 1.3-3.1) in subjects with (n = 122), and 1.3 (95% CI: 0.8-2.0) in those without (n = 155) predisposing (hereditary, acquired or circumstantial) risk factors for venous thrombosis. Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G→A20210 are known risk factors for venous thrombosis. After stratification for FV Leiden and prothrombin A20210 mutations, a significant association was also observed. After adjustment for sex, FV Leiden and prothrombin A20210 mutation, the estimated risk of venous thrombosis among carriers of the TT MTHFR genotype was 1.7 (95% CI: 1.2-2.6). The TT MTHFR genotype is independently associated with venous thrombosis, mainly among individuals with a high risk profile.
[Optimized logistics in the prehospital management of acute stroke].

OBJECTIVE Current management of acute stroke is characterised by an aggressive approach including specific therapy i. e. reperfusion therapy. However currently stroke patients often arrive too late in hospitals offering adequate treatment. Therefore optimized logistics play a predominant role in modern stroke management. AIMS OF THE STUDY 1. Does teaching of EMS staff and the public result in reduced prehospital latencies 2. Will EMS personnel be able to effectively screen patients potentially suitable for thrombolysis? METHODS During a six week-period all EMS patients presenting with possible signs of an acute stroke were prospectively registered (period 1). Data of interest were age, mode of primary contact, prehospital latencies, mode of transportation, destination and final diagnosis. Next an algorithm was established allowing EMS personnel to transfer patients with an assumed stroke to the best suitable hospital. Teaching comprised clinical signs, indication of CT scanning, pathophysiology, specific therapeutic options (thrombolysis), and criteria to identify patients suitable for thrombolysis. In a second step the public was continuously taught about stroke symptoms and the necessity to instantly seek EMS assistance. After 12 months data were compared to baseline (period 2). RESULTS (period 2 vs. Period 1): Rate of patients transferred to a stroke center: 60 % vs. 54 %; rate of those transported to hospitals not offering CT scans: 17 % vs. 26 % (p < 0.05). Percentage of patients primarily contacting the EMS system: 33 % vs. 24 %. Median interval between onset of symptoms and emergency call: 54 vs. 263 minutes Median interval between the emergency call and arrival at the emergency department: 44 vs. 58 minutes (p < 0.01). Rate of patients admitted with a diagnosis other than stroke: 18 % vs. 25 % (n. s.). Median interval between onset of symptoms and hospital admission: 140 vs. 368 minutes (p < 0.001). Median age: 69 vs. 75 years (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the efficacy of educational efforts in reducing latencies and in screening patients potentially suitable for thrombolysis. Future efforts will comprise more intense education of a high risk subpopulation.
Automatic characterization of user errors in spirometry

Spirometry plays a critical role in characterizing and improving outcomes related to chronic lung disease. However, patient error in performing the spirometry maneuver, such as from coughing or taking multiple breaths, can lead to clinically misleading results. As a result, spirometry must take place under the supervision of a trained specialist who can identify and correct patient errors. To reduce the need for specialists to coach patients during spirometry, we demonstrate the ability to automatically detect four common patient errors. Creating separate machine learning classifiers for each error based on features derived from spirometry data, we were able to successfully label errors on spirometry maneuvers with an F-score between 0.85 and 0.92. Our work is a step toward reducing the need for trained individuals to administer spirometry tests by demonstrating the ability to automatically detect specific errors and provide appropriate patient feedback. This will increase the availability of spirometry, especially in low resource and telemedicine contexts.
Evaluation of touchscreen assistive technology for visually disabled users

Touchscreen assistive technology is designed to support speech interaction between visually disabled people and mobile devices, allowing the use of a choreography of gestures to interact with a touch user interface. This paper presents the evaluation of VoiceOver, a screen reader in Apple Inc. products, made in the research project Visually impaired users touching the screen- A user evaluation of assistive technology together with six visually disabled test participants. The aim was to identify challenges related to the performance of the gestures for screen interaction and evaluate the system response to the gestures. The main results showed that most of the hand gestures were easy to perform for the test participants. The system adequately responded to gesture interaction, but some inconsistent responses associated to several functionalities and lack of information were found.
Emerging role of checkpoint blockade therapy in lymphoma

Following the successful application of immune checkpoint blockade therapy (CBT) in refractory solid tumors, it has recently gained momentum as a promising modality in the treatment of relapsed lymphoma. This significant therapeutic advance stems from decades of research that elucidated the role of immune regulation pathways and the mechanisms by which tumors can engage these critical pathways to escape immune detection. To date, two main pathways, the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death 1 (PD-1), have emerged as key targets of CBT demonstrating unprecedented activity particularly in heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and some forms of non-Hodgkin disease. Herein we provide a brief discussion of checkpoint blockade in the context of lymphoma biology with a specific focus on novel checkpoint inhibitors and their therapeutic activity. We discuss current clinical trials and the landscape of CBT to underscore both the remarkable progress and foreseeable limitations of this novel treatment strategy. In particular, we build upon state-of-the-art knowledge and clinical insights gained from the early trials to review potential approaches to how CBT may be integrated with other treatment modalities, including chemoimmunotherapy to improve patient outcomes in the future. Finally, as the role of CBT evolves to potentially become a cornerstone of therapy in refractory/relapsed lymphoma, we briefly emphasize the importance of predictive biomarkers in an effort to select appropriate patients who are most likely to derive benefit from CBT.
The Semantic Differential: A Device for Measuring the Interprofessional Communication of Selected Accounting Concepts

Accounting, as a service discipline, should be communicative. The greater the amount of communication between interested parties, the more effective should be any decision making based upon that information, and the better the rapport between parties (which facilitates, but does not insure, effective communication). Generally, the amount of communication contained in a message is inversely proportional to the scaler distance between sender and receiver meanings for a given message stimulus. This research uses the Semantic Differential (S.D.) techniques to measure the semantic meaning of eight selected important accounting concepts.3 Seven selected professional groups involved in the production and use of accounting data were sampled to obtain information concerning the relative communication among and between groups. The purpose of the study is to determine whether there exists a confounding lack of communication with regard to this set of accounting concepts.
Prostate cancer and exposure to pesticides in agricultural settings

Our study evaluates the association between prostate cancer and exposure to pesticides in agricultural settings in Italy. The data were derived from a hospital‐based multi‐site case‐control study carried out in 5 rural areas between 1990–92. In our study, 124 new cases of prostate cancer were ascertained and interviewed, along with 659 cancer controls. A team of agronomists assessed past exposure to pesticides by using a checklist of 100 chemical families and 217 compounds applied from 1950–85 in the areas considered. The association between prostate cancer and different occupational risk factors was measured by maximum likelihood estimation of the odds ratio, controlling for potential confounders. “Ever been employed in agriculture” was associated with a 40% increased risk (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.9–2.0). Prostate cancer was also related positively to food and tobacco (OR= 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1–4.1), and chemical products (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.7–7.2) industries. The analyses carried out to estimate the association between different types of pesticides and prostate cancer showed increased risks among farmers exposed to organochlorine insecticides and acaricides (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.4–4.2), more specifically to the often contemporary used compounds DDT (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.2–3.8), and dicofol (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.5–5.0), whose effects could not be well separated. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The FT-Like ZCN8 Gene Functions as a Floral Activator and Is Involved in Photoperiod Sensitivity in Maize[C][W][OA]

The transition from vegetative to reproductive development is regulated by the activity of graft-transmissible flowering hormone, florigen, which is encoded by the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) family of mobile proteins. This work identified, among many maize FT-like genes, a single gene, ZCN8, which has all required characteristics to function as florigen. The mobile floral-promoting signal, florigen, is thought to consist of, in part, the FT protein named after the Arabidopsis thaliana gene FLOWERING LOCUS T. FT is transcribed and translated in leaves and its protein moves via the phloem to the shoot apical meristem where it promotes the transition from vegetative to reproductive development. In our search for a maize FT-like floral activator(s), seven Zea mays CENTRORADIALIS (ZCN) genes encoding FT homologous proteins were studied. ZCN8 stood out as the only ZCN having the requisite characteristics for possessing florigenic activity. In photoperiod sensitive tropical lines, ZCN8 transcripts were strongly upregulated in a diurnal manner under floral-inductive short days. In day-neutral temperate lines, ZCN8 mRNA level was independent of daylength and displayed only a weak cycling pattern. ZCN8 is normally expressed in leaf phloem, but ectopic expression of ZCN8 in vegetative stage shoot apices induced early flowering in transgenic plants. Silencing of ZCN8 by artificial microRNA resulted in late flowering. ZCN8 was placed downstream of indeterminate1 and upstream of delayed flowering1, two other floral activator genes. We propose a flowering model linking photoperiod sensitivity of tropical maize to diurnal regulation of ZCN8.
Selective treatment of mixed-lineage leukemia leukemic stem cells through targeting glycogen synthase kinase 3 and the canonical Wnt/&bgr;-catenin pathway

Purpose of reviewLeukemia carrying mutation of the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene is particularly refractory to current treatment, and is associated with frequent relapse. We will review the biology of MLL leukemia, and explore the potential of targeting multiple signaling pathways deregulated in MLL leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Recent findingsGlycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) plays a critical role in mediating Hox/MEIS1 transcriptional program and its inhibition shows promise in suppressing leukemia carrying MLL fusions or aberrant Hox expression. However, recent evidence indicates that GSK3 inhibition can be overcome by hyperactivation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in MLL LSCs, whereas suppression of &bgr;-catenin resensitizes MLL LSCs to the GSK3 inhibitor treatment. These results suggest a differential GSK3 dependence in different subsets of leukemic populations during disease development. SummaryOn the basis of the results from preclinical model studies, a combination treatment targeting both GSK3 and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway emerges as a promising avenue to eradicate MLL LSCs. Future effort in identifying the key tractable components along these signaling pathways will be critical for the development of effective inhibitors to target this aggressive disease.
Kinetic and ultraviolet spectroscopic studies of active-site mutants of delta 5-3-ketosteroid isomerase.

delta 5-3-Ketosteroid isomerase (EC 5.3.3.1) of Pseudomonas testosteroni promotes the highly efficient isomerization of delta 5-3-ketosteroids to delta 4-3-ketosteroids by means of a direct and stereospecific transfer of the 4 beta-proton to the 6 beta-position, via an enolic intermediate. An acidic residue responsible for the protonation of the 3-carbonyl function of the steroid and a basic group concerned with the proton transfer have been implicated in the catalytic mechanism. Recent NMR studies with a nitroxide spin-labeled substrate analogue have allowed positioning of the steroid into the 2.5-A X-ray crystal structure of the enzyme [Kuliopulos, A. , Westbrook, E.M. , Talalay, P., & Mildvan, A.S. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 3927-3937], thereby corroborating the approximate location of the steroid binding site deduced from a difference Fourier X-ray diffraction map of the 4-(acetoxymercuri)estradiol-isomerase complex [Westbrook, E.M. , Piro, O.E. , & Sigler, P.B. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 9096-9103]. The steroid lies in a hydrophobic cavity near Asp-38, Tyr-14, and Tyr-55. In order to assess the role of these amino acid residues in catalysis, the gene for isomerase was cloned, sequenced, and overexpressed in Escherichia coli [Kuliopulos, A. , Shortle, D. , & Talalay, P. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 8893-8897], and the following mutants were prepared: Asp-38 to asparagine (D38N) and Tyr-14 and Tyr-55 to phenylalanine (Y14F and Y55F, respectively). The kcat value of the D38N mutant enzyme is 10(5.6)-fold lower than that of the wild-type enzyme, suggesting that Asp-38 functions as the base which abstracts the 4 beta-proton of the steroid in the rate-limiting step. Threefold lower Km values in all mutants indicate tighter binding of the substrate to the more hydrophobic sites. In comparison with the wild-type enzyme, the Y55F mutant shows only a 4-fold decrease in kcat while the Y14F mutant shows a 10(4.7)-fold decrease in kcat, suggesting that Tyr-14 is the general acid. The red shift of the ultraviolet absorption maximum of the competitive inhibitor 19-nortestosterone from 248 to 258-260 nm, which occurs upon binding to the wild-type enzyme [Wang, S.F. , Kawahara, F.S. , & Talalay, P. (1963) J. Biol. Chem. 238, 576-585], is mimicked in strong acid. This spectral shift was also observed with the D38N and Y55F mutants, but not on binding of the steroid to the Y14F mutant. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)