Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of systematic factors on the outcome of trauma laparotomy at a major trauma centre in South Africa

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to examine and interrogate outcomes in trauma laparotomy in a South African trauma centre to determine whether systematic factors were associated with any discrepancies in outcome. METHODS This was a retrospective review of a prospectively entered trauma registry undertaken at the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The service has developed a hybrid electronic medical record system (HEMR) where clinical data were captured in real time, which were incorporated this into a database. RESULTS During the period from December 2012 to July 2016, 562 patients underwent emergency laparotomy for trauma and the time and date of surgery was recorded in the HEMR. The mean age of all patients was 29.5 years. There were 256 operations during the weekend or over a public holiday, with a mortality of 8% (n = 21) compared with 306 during the week (mortality of 10%, n = 31). This difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.237). A total of 327 operations were performed at night (18:00 ‐ 08:00) and 235 operations were performed during the day (08:00‐18:00 Hours). This was a significant difference in mortality (10% (33) vs 7 % (16), P=0.013) These differences persisted if weekends and public holidays were separated out from normal working days. A total of 188 operations were performed on a week night, with a mortality of 11% (n = 20) and 121 operations were performed during a week day, with a mortality of 8% (n = 10). There were 139 operations on a weekend or public holiday night, with a mortality of 9% (n = 13). A total of 114 operations were performed on a weekend or public holiday day with a mortality of 7% (n = 8). A total of 208 procedures were performed with an consultant present. Of these, 32 patients (15%) died. A total of 368 procedures were performed without a consultant present and 8 (2%) died. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated a discrepancy in outcome for trauma laparotomy, depending on whether the operation was performed at night or during the day. The reasons for this are unclear, although the lack of consultant presence at night in comparison to during the day appears to be implicated.
The Relation between Modulator and Activator in Maize.

'John W. Gowen, Janice Stadler, H. H. Plough, and Helen H. Miller, Genetics, 38, 531, 1953. 6 G. W. Keitt and D. M. Boone, Phytopathology, 44, 362, 1954. 7 B. D. Davis, and E. S. Mingioli, J. Bacteriol. , 60, 17, 1950. 8 B. D. Davis, J. Am. Chem. Soc. , 70, 4267, 1948; J. Lederberg and N. Zinder, J. Am. Chem. Soc. , 70, 4267, 1948. 9 G. Pontecorvo, J. Gen. Microbiol. , 3, 122, 1946. 10 S. B. Formal, L. S. Baron, and W. Spilman, J. Bacteriol. , 68, 117, 1954. A. 0. Seeler and W. H. Ott, J. Infectious Diseases, 75, 175, 1944. 12 S. Brackett, E. Waletsky, and M. Baker, J. Parasitol. , 32, 453, 1946. 3 T. W. Burrows, and G. A. Bacon, Brit. J. Exptl. Pathol. , 35, 134, 1954.
Histological Characterization of the Internal Thoracic Artery as PreferredConduit for Coronary Bypass

Background The Internal thoracic artery is today the preferred conduit for coronary bypass. This correlates with the histological characteristics of this artery. This particular topic was considered worthy of morphological researches, by the modern immune-histo-chemical techniques. Methods Histological researches, performed also with immune-histo-chemical techniques were performed on surgical specimens of internal thoracic artery of patients submitted to coronary surgery. Results Internal thoracic artery is a small-medium vessel with prevalent characteristics of elastic vessel, especially in its proximal part. It demonstrates a particular resistance to atherosclerosis, also in elderly. A possible elastotic degeneration, often secondary to age, can interests the elastic fibers of the internal membrane and of the tunica media. These degenerative lesions are repaired through a remodeling process. In this way, new smooth muscle-like cells are formed, which appear morphologically and functionally different from the vascular smooth muscle cells. Conclusions The internal thoracic artery, also when remodeled preserves its elastic capacity and resistance to atherosclerosis, ensuring good functional characteristics with a reactivity normal to vasodilators, but decreased to vasoconstrictors.
Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis Associated with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Case Report

A male patient aged 6.5 years (patient No.1) is reported with chief complaint of white lesions in his mouth from birth, which was finally diagnosed as chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). Clinical, radiographical and histopathological examinations revealed dentinogenesis imperfecta associated with osteogenesis imperfecta in both the patient and his sister (patient No.2). The importance of early diagnosis and treatment of both diseases is discussed in this report.
Quantitative effects of valacyclovir on the replication of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in persons with advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease: baseline CMV load dictates time to disease and survival. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group 204/Glaxo Wellcome 123-014 International CMV Prophylaxis Study Group

Virus load is a major risk factor for disease in many human viral infections, especially human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. The effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) load on disease progression and the influence of antiviral chemotherapy on surrogate markers of replication was investigated in 310 patients with advanced HIV disease in a randomized controlled trial that compared the effects of valacyclovir with those of acyclovir. Sequential blood and urine samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for human CMV (HCMV) DNA. In multivariate analyses, elevated virus load in both blood and urine at baseline was associated with increased risk of HCMV disease (relative hazard, 1.49 and 1.44 per log increase, respectively). Elevated virus load in blood at baseline was also associated with a significantly shorter survival time (log rank, P=. 0001). In time-updated analyses, valacyclovir significantly suppressed the virus load in subjects who were PCR positive at baseline (in blood or urine), when compared with the combined acyclovir arms.
Implementation of fuzzy logic operators as digital asynchronous circuits in CMOS technology

This paper presents the way of implementation of fuzzy set operators at the transistor level. We propose a novel realization of basic fuzzy logic (FL) functions, such as bounded sum, bounded difference, bounded product, bounded complement, fuzzy logic union (MAX) and fuzzy logic intersection (MIN). The proposed structures of the operators may be easily connected in chains, creating larger FL systems.
Uveitis and Acute Interstitial Nephritis: What to Expect

A 46-year-old female patient presenting with acute interstitial nephritis and anterior uveitis was admitted. The renal biopsy disclosed the presence of interstitial nephritis, confirming the clinical diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome. Treatment with oral steroids was started, with prompt improvement of symptoms and laboratory abnormalities.
[Usefulness of analysis of cerebrospinal fluid for the diagnosis of neurotransmitters and pterin defects and glucose and folate transport deficiencies across blood brain barrier].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE In the last few years, it has been described inborn errors of neurotransmitter and pterin metabolism and defects in folate and glucose transport across blood brain barrier. All these defects are classified as rare diseases and needs cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample analysis for diagnosis. Our aim was to evaluate the results of the application of a CSF analysis protocol in a pediatric population from Spain and Portugal presenting with neurological disorders of unknown origin. PATIENTS AND METHOD We studied CSF samples from and 283 patients with neurological disorders of unknown origin and 127 controls. Neurotransmitters were analysed by HPLC with electrochemical detection, and pterins and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate were determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. RESULTS We diagnosed 3 patients with tyrosine hidroxylase deficiency, 2 with dopa responsive dystonia, 14 with GTP-ciclohydrolase deficiency, 2 with glucose transport deficiency and 43 with cerebral folate deficiency. CONCLUSIONS This study allowed us to diagnose new patients, and more importantly, the establishment in all of them of a pharmacological or nutritional treatment. The most frequent defect found was CSF 5-methyltetrahydrofolate deficiency, which was present in different groups of patients.
Enhancement of a Green Supercapacitor With a Hydrogel/Carbon Nanotubes-Based Electrolyte

The purpose of this work is to suggest the conception of a supercapacitor using environment-friendly materials, in addition to exhibiting good electrochemical performances. In order to lower the environmental footprint of supercapacitors, one current attempt in the literature is to replace efficient but toxic organic electrolytes by harmless, bio-friendly electrolytes such as a mixture of sodium salt with a hydrogel. However, those bio-friendly electrolytes have not been demonstrated yet to be a relevant alternative, as they are still not able of similar performances as toxic organic electrolytes. The work reported in this paper demonstrates, as a different approach, that the capacitance of a bio-friendly, hydrogel-based electrolyte combined with sodium salt can be significantly increased by adding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the gel. As a result, the supercapacitor using the CNT-loaded bio-friendly electrolyte has registered not only an enhanced capacitance, but also better energy and power densities compared to both the same but CNT-free electrolyte, and a toxic DMSO-based organic electrolyte.
Homoeotic genes.

Region specific differentiation in Drosophila, (and possibly in many other higher organisms), is controlled by the activity of families of transcription factors encoded by the homoeotic genes. In Drosophila these genes are clustered in two complexes: the Antennapedia complex is responsible for directing the differentiation of the head and thoracic body segments whereas the bithorax complex controls the differentiation of the thorax and abdomen. The precise way in which these genes work is still a mystery but both the levels and combinations of gene activities play an important role in directing the development of individual segments.
A Prototype System for 3D Color Fusion and Mining of Multisensor/Spectral Imagery

We have developed a prototype system in which a user can fuse up to 4 modalities (or 4 spectral bands) of imagery previously registered to one another with respect to a 3D terrain model. The color fused imagery can be draped onto the terrain to support interactive 3D flythrough. The fused imagery, and its opponent-sensor contrasts, can be further processed to yield extended boundary contours and texture measures. Together, these layers of registered imagery and image features can be interactively mined for objects of interest. Data mining for infrastructure and compact targets is achieved using a point-and-click user interface in conjunction with a Fuzzy ARTMAP neural network for on-line pattern learning and recognition. Graphical user interfaces enable the user to control each stage of processing: image enhancement, image fusion, contour and texture extraction, 3D terrain characterization, 3D graphics model building, preparation for exploitation, and interactive data mining. The system is configured as a client-server architecture, enabling remote collaborative exploitation of multisensor imagery. Throughout, the processing of imagery and patterns relies on neural network models of spatial and color opponency, and the adaptive resonance theory of pattern processing. This system has been used to process imagery of a variety of geographic sites, in order to extract roads, rivers, forests and orchards, and performance has been assessed against manually determined “ground truth. ” The data mining approach has been extended for the case of hyperspectral imagery of hundreds of bands. This prototype system has now been installed at multiple US government sites for evaluation by image analysts. We plan to extend this approach to include various nonimaging sensor modalities that can be localized to geographic coordinates (e.g., GMTI and SIGINT). We also plan to embed these image fusion and mining capabilities in commercial open software environments for image processing and GIS.
A Scalable Cooperative Wireless Grid Architecture and Associated Services for Future Communications

In our previous work we have advocated the need for cooperative behaviour among mobile devices, mainly focusing on the benefits and potentials of a novel architecture approach referred to as cellular controlled peer to peer networking. However, some important aspects of cooperative networking we not discussed in detail, and therefore this paper deals with the questions on a scalable cooperative architecture for wireless networking exploiting the available cellular and short–range air interfaces and well as how such cooperative networks can be formed based on the request services. This sort of service discovery for mobile cooperative devices has to deal with the trade–off between power consumption of the battery–driven mobile device and the need for sufficient advertising. The paper aims also at answering the question whether state–of–the–art service discovery mechanisms can be reused. I. THE NEED FOR A NEW COMMUNICATION
Strip gratings at a dielectric interface and applicaton of Babinet's principle.

In this paper, we consider the transmission-line model used to calculate the transmittance of thin metallic strip gratings (at wavelengths longer than the grating period) to resolve a conflict of published expressions for the effect of a thick dielectric substrate on the equivalent circuit capacitance of capacitive gratings. By using rigorous diffraction theory we establish the correct expression and derive a modified form of Babinet’s principle for use with strip gratings on dielectric boundaries. It is found that the equivalent circuit capacitance of a strip grating on the boundary between media of refractive indices n1 and n2 is larger than its free-space value by a factor (n12+n22)/2. The result is applicable in general to the capacitive part of the equivalent circuit of grid reflectors, which are widely used at submillimeter wavelengths. A useful set of rigorously calculated transmission curves for strip gratings is presented, and these are used to establish the range of validity of the transmission-line model.
Apoptotic and Growth-Promoting Activity of E2F Modulated by MDM2

ABSTRACT E2F integrates and coordinates cell cycle progression with the transcription apparatus through its cyclical interactions with important regulators of cellular proliferation, such as pRb, cyclins, and cdk's. Physiological E2F is a heterodimeric transcription factor composed of an E2F and a DP family member, and while E2F proteins can stimulate proliferation, certain members of the family are known to be endowed with growth-inhibitory and tumor suppressor-like activity. We have investigated the product of the human mdm2 oncogene, hDM2, and report on its ability to regulate E2F-dependent apoptosis in a fashion that is independent of p53. hDM2 can prevent p53−/− cells from entering E2F-dependent apoptosis, an outcome that is dependent upon the presence of the DP subunit. Cells rescued from apoptosis possess lower levels of E2F subunits, although the rescued cells show an increase in DNA synthesis and possess enhanced viability that reflects cooperation between E2F-DP and hMD2. Furthermore, the regulation of E2F activity correlates with an hDM2-dependent effect on the intracellular distribution of DP-1, since hDM2 causes the nuclear accumulation of DP-1. The control of E2F by hDM2 therefore has certain parallels with the targeted degradation by MDM2 of p53. However, the domains in hDM2 required for the regulation of E2F activity can be distinguished from those necessary for p53 degradation, suggesting that control of E2F and p53 by hDM2 may be mechanistically distinct. These experiments define a new level of interplay between E2F and hDM2 whereby hDM2 has a profound impact on the physiological consequences of E2F activation. They suggest that the oncogenic properties of hDM2 may in part be mediated by an antiapoptotic activity that converts E2F from a negative to a positive regulator of cell cycle progression and thereby retains E2F at a level that contributes to a continual state of growth stimulation.
Costs and quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis in Europe

Objective: To assess overall resource consumption, work capacity and quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis in nine European countries. Methods: Information on resource consumption related to multiple sclerosis, informal care by relatives, productivity losses and overall quality of life (utility) was collected with a standardised pre-tested questionnaire from 13 186 patients enrolled in national multiple sclerosis societies or followed up in neurology clinics. Information on disease included disease duration, self-assessed disease severity and relapses. Mean annual costs per patient (€, 2005) were estimated from the societal perspective. Results: The mean age ranged from 45.1 to 53.4 years, and all levels of disease severity were represented. Between 16% and 29% of patients reported experiencing a relapse in the 3 months preceding data collection. The proportion of patients in early retirement because of multiple sclerosis ranged from 33% to 45%. The use of direct medical resources (eg, hospitalisation, consultations and drugs) varied considerably across countries, whereas the use of non-medical resources (eg, walking sticks, wheel chairs, modifications to house and car) and services (eg, home care and transportation) was comparable. Informal care use was highly correlated with disease severity, but was further influenced by healthcare systems and family structure. All types of costs increased with worsening disease. The total mean annual costs per patient (adjusted for gross domestic product purchasing power) were estimated at €18 000 for mild disease (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) <4.0), €36 500 for moderate disease (EDSS 4.0–6.5) and €62 000 for severe disease (EDSS >7.0). Utility was similar across countries at around 0.70 for a patient with an EDSS of 2.0 and around 0.45 for a patient with an EDSS of 6.5. Intangible costs were estimated at around €13 000 per patient.
PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO MATERNAL AND PATERNAL DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND BRAIN MORPHOLOGY: A POPULATION‐BASED PROSPECTIVE NEUROIMAGING STUDY IN YOUNG CHILDREN

Prenatal depressive symptoms have been associated with multiple adverse outcomes. Previously, we demonstrated that prenatal depressive symptoms were associated with impaired growth of the fetus and increased behavioral problems in children aged between 1.5 and 6 years. In this prospective study, we aimed to assess whether prenatal maternal depressive symptoms at 3 years have long‐term consequences on brain development in a cohort of children aged 6–10 years. As a contrast, the association of paternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and brain morphology was assessed to serve as a marker of background confounding due to shared genetic and environmental family factors.
Membrane Depolarization Prevents Cell Invasion by Bordetella pertussis Adenylate Cyclase Toxin(*)

Adenylate cyclase toxin from Bordetella pertussis is a 177-kDa calmodulin-activated enzyme that has the ability to enter eukaryotic cells and convert endogenous ATP into cAMP. Little is known, however, about the mechanism of cell entry. We now demonstrate that intoxication of cardiac myocytes by adenylate cyclase toxin is driven and controlled by the electrical potential across the plasma membrane. The steepness of the voltage dependence of intoxication is comparable with that previously observed for the activation of Kand Nachannels of excitable membranes. The voltage-sensitive process is downstream from toxin binding to the cell surface and appears to correspond to the translocation of the catalytic domain across the membrane.
Not So Fast on Recombination Analysis of Newcastle Disease Virus

Regarding the letter of Han et al. published earlier in the Journal of Virology (3) indicating that “powerful evidence” of recombination is a call for caution in the use of Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based vaccines, I would like to suggest that the evidence for recombination is still weak. The authors cite three reports that suggest the existence of recombination, but a closer look reveals the possibility of oversight in the interpretation of the data (1, 2, 5). There is evidence of recombination in the existing GenBank NDV sequences, but unfortunately, the vast majority of these available NDV sequences have been obtained by PCR amplification of RNAs from crude field samples grown in eggs. The possibility of reporting artificial recombination caused by polymerase template switching in these samples or by laboratory-generated recombinants needs to be considered. The widespread use of live vaccines in poultry and the extensive presence of nonvirulent endemic NDVs in live bird markets and in wildlife (4) make the existence of unnoticed mixed infections in field samples likely. In the particular case of the three publications cited, the Chare et al. and Han et al. results are based on the analysis of GenBank sequences that were obtained without any purification. In the Qin et al. paper, three plaque purification steps were performed, but no attempts were made to confirm the absence of contaminant viruses in the original samples or to investigate the possibility of contamination with PCR products, which normally abound in NDV sequencing laboratories. In fact, despite the availability of a large number of NDV sequences in GenBank databases, no NDV report exists that describes the generation of a natural progeny of viruses derived from a recombination event. Although I agree with the authors in the need for caution in the use of live NDV vectored vaccines, caution in the interpretation of the data is also needed.
A Review: Role of Ultraviolet Radiation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the western world. The retina is highly susceptible to photochemical damage from continuous exposure of light and oxygen. The cornea and the lens block a major portion of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the retina (<295 nm). The relationship between UV light exposure and AMD is unclear, although short wavelength radiation and the blue light induce significant oxidative stress to the retinal pigment epithelium. Epidemiologic evidence indicates a trend toward association between severity of light exposure and AMD. In this review, we discuss type 1 and type 2 photochemical damage that occurs in response to UV exposure. We examine the impact of different doses of exposure to UV radiation and the subsequent production of oxidative stress in AMD. Local and systemic protective mechanisms of the retina including antioxidant enzymes and macular pigments are reviewed. This article provides a review of possible cellular and molecular effects of UV radiation exposure in AMD and potential therapies that may prevent blindness resulting from this disease.