Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Continuous control of tracheal cuff pressure and microaspiration of gastric contents in critically ill patients.

RATIONALE Underinflation of the tracheal cuff frequently occurs in critically ill patients and represents a risk factor for microaspiration of contaminated oropharyngeal secretions and gastric contents that plays a major role in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). OBJECTIVES To determine the impact of continuous control of tracheal cuff pressure (P(cuff)) on microaspiration of gastric contents. METHODS Prospective randomized controlled trial performed in a single medical intensive care unit. A total of 122 patients expected to receive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours through a tracheal tube were randomized to receive continuous control of P(cuff) using a pneumatic device (intervention group, n = 61) or routine care of P(cuff) (control group, n = 61). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The primary outcome was microaspiration of gastric contents as defined by the presence of pepsin at a significant level in tracheal secretions collected during the 48 hours after randomization. Secondary outcomes included incidence of VAP, tracheobronchial bacterial concentration, and tracheal ischemic lesions. The pneumatic device was efficient in controlling P(cuff). Pepsin was measured in 1,205 tracheal aspirates. Percentage of patients with abundant microaspiration (18 vs. 46%; P = 0.002; OR [95% confidence interval], 0.25 [0.11-0.59]), bacterial concentration in tracheal aspirates (mean ± SD 1.6 ± 2.4 vs. 3.1 ± 3.7 log(10) cfu/ml, P = 0.014), and VAP rate (9.8 vs. 26.2%; P = 0.032; 0.30 [0.11-0.84]) were significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group. However, no significant difference was found in tracheal ischemia score between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Continuous control of P(cuff) is associated with significantly decreased microaspiration of gastric contents in critically ill patients.
Management of Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a clinical syndrome of ischemic pain at rest or tissue loss, such as nonhealing ulcers or gangrene, related to peripheral artery disease. CLI has a high short-term risk of limb loss and cardiovascular events. Noninvasive or invasive angiography help determine the feasibility and approach to arterial revascularization. An endovascular-first approach is often advocated based on a lower procedural risk; however, specific patterns of disease may be best treated by open surgical revascularization. Balloon angioplasty and stenting form the backbone of endovascular techniques, with drug-eluting stents and drug-coated balloons offering low rates of repeat revascularization. Combined antegrade and retrograde approaches can increase success in long total occlusions. Below the knee, angiosome-directed angioplasty may lead to greater wound healing, but failing this, any straight-line flow into the foot is pursued. Hybrid surgical techniques such as iliac stenting and common femoral endarterectomy are commonly used to reduce operative risk. Lower extremity bypass grafting is most successful with a good quality, long, single-segment autogenous vein of at least 3.5-mm diameter. Minor amputations are often required for tissue loss as a part of the treatment strategy. Major amputations (at or above the ankle) limit functional independence, and their prevention is a key goal of CLI therapy. Medical therapy after revascularization targets risk factors for atherosclerosis and assesses wound healing and new or recurrent flow-limiting disease. The ongoing National Institutes of Health–sponsored Best Endovascular Versus Best Surgical Therapy in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia (BEST-CLI) study is a randomized trial of the contemporary endovascular versus open surgical techniques in patients with CLI.
Inflation Sensitivity to Monetary Policy: What Has Changed Since the Early 1980s?

Have conventional monetary policy instruments maintained the same ability to accommodate undesirable effects of shocks throughout the postwar period? Or has the changed economic environment characterizing the last 30 years diminished the sensitivity of macroeconomic volatility to systematic changes in the conduct of monetary policy? The answer is no to the first question and, consequently, yes to the second question. We estimate a medium‐scale New‐Keynesian model in two subsamples, 1955–79 and 1984–2012, and find that the sensitivity of inflation variance to changes in conventional monetary policy has declined. We document that the changed properties of the labour market largely contributed to this decline.
The Src Homology 2 (SH2) Domain of SH2-containing Inositol Phosphatase (SHIP) Is Essential for Tyrosine Phosphorylation of SHIP, Its Association with Shc, and Its Induction of Apoptosis*

In this study we have investigated the role that the Src homology 2 domain (SH2) of the 145-kDa 5-phosphatase, SH2-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP), plays in three of the properties that have been associated with this protein following cytokine stimulation: its association with Shc, its tyrosine phosphorylation, and its inhibition of hemopoietic cell growth. In vitro studies using this SH2 domain revealed that it was capable of binding directly to the Tyr(P)317 motif of Shc with a KD of approximately 290 nM, in keeping with other specific SH2/Tyr(P) interactions. In vivo analysis revealed the SH2 and NPXpY motifs of SHIP acted together, with the Tyr(P)317 and phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains of Shc, respectively, to ensure a high affinity SHIP·Shc complex. Expression of cDNAs encoding hemagglutinin-tagged wild type and SH2-inactivated forms of SHIP in the murine hemopoietic cell line DA-ER revealed that wild type SHIP becomes both tyrosine-phosphorylated and associated with Shc following interleukin-3 stimulation, as expected, but the SH2-inactivated SHIPs do neither. Moreover, while the growth rates of parental DA-ER cells and cells expressing these various SHIP constructs are identical, the wild type SHIP-expressing cells die, via programmed cell death, far more rapidly than parental cells. Cells expressing SH2-inactivated SHIPs, on the other hand, show either a reduced or no effect on apoptosis. These results suggest that the SH2 domain of SHIP is required not only for the tyrosine phosphorylation of SHIP and Shc association following cytokine stimulation but also for its induction of apoptosis.
Behavior of entrepreneurs and volition

Volition is an important characteristic in the field of training and vocational guidance. Literature on entrepreneurship has focused on this concept to better understand the behavior of the entrepreneur (Achtziger & Gollwitzer, 2008). This study analyzes the personal characteristics involved in the process of transformation of intentions into actions in the field of entrepreneurship. Three categories of people were included in this study, which allowed us to circumvent the methodological problems associated with the implementation of a longitudinal study. Thus, our sample consisted of university and business school students, potential entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs. We conducted a variance analysis after confirming the homogeneity of each group, thus allowing intergroup comparisons. We found that volitional capacities are mobilized in a successive order, one after the other. In addition, this order is determined by the individual’s progress on the process of creation.
The Conditional Heterocedasticity on the Argentine Inflation. An Analysis for the Period from 1943 to 2013

Numerous economic time series do not have a constant mean and in practical situations, we often see that the variance of observational error is subject to a substantial variability over time. This phenomenon is known as volatility. To take into account the presence of volatility in an economic series, it is necessary to resort to models known as conditional heteroscedastic models. In these models, the variance of a series at a given time point depends on past information and other data available up to that time point, so that a conditional variance must be defined, which is not constant and does not coincides with the overall variance of the observed series. There is a very large variety of nonlinear models in the literature, which are useful for the analysis of any economic time series with volatility, but we will focus in analyzing our series of interest using ARCH type models introduced by Engle (1982) and their extensions . These models are non-linear in terms of variance. Our objective will be the study of the monthly inflation data of Argentina for the period from January 1943 to December 2013. The data is officially published by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (or INDEC as it is known in Argentina). Although it is a very long period in which various changes and interventions took place, it can be seen that certain general patterns of behavior have persisted over time, which allows us to admit that the study can be appropriately based on available information.
Influences on meat consumption in Australia

In a study of influences on meat consumption, over 700 South Australians answered questions on frequency of meat consumption, beliefs about meat and nutrition, perceived difficulties with and benefits of vegetarian diets, personal values, number of vegetarian significant others, use in and trust of health/nutrition/food information sources, and demography. Perceived difficulties with vegetarian diets, the number of vegetarian significant others and beliefs about meat were important predictors of meat consumption. There were differences between men and women and members of different age groups, which should be taken into account when attempts are made to influence meat consumption. For example, health promotion campaigns that focus on whether or not meat is necessary in the diet may influence meat consumption, but would be most successful if directed predominantly at older people and men. In contrast, the meat consumption of women and younger people was strongly associated with more specific concerns about lack of iron and protein in the vegetarian diet. Some of the difficulties people find with vegetarian diets will also apply to plant-based diets generally, and such diets are becoming more widely acknowledged as providing health benefits. Therefore, the findings have important implications for public health.
Proteomics Analysis of Bladder Cancer Exosomes*

Exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles, secreted by various cell types, present in biological fluids that are particularly rich in membrane proteins. Ex vivo analysis of exosomes may provide biomarker discovery platforms and form non-invasive tools for disease diagnosis and monitoring. These vesicles have never before been studied in the context of bladder cancer, a major malignancy of the urological tract. We present the first proteomics analysis of bladder cancer cell exosomes. Using ultracentrifugation on a sucrose cushion, exosomes were highly purified from cultured HT1376 bladder cancer cells and verified as low in contaminants by Western blotting and flow cytometry of exosome-coated beads. Solubilization in a buffer containing SDS and DTT was essential for achieving proteomics analysis using an LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF MS approach. We report 353 high quality identifications with 72 proteins not previously identified by other human exosome proteomics studies. Overrepresentation analysis to compare this data set with previous exosome proteomics studies (using the ExoCarta database) revealed that the proteome was consistent with that of various exosomes with particular overlap with exosomes of carcinoma origin. Interrogating the Gene Ontology database highlighted a strong association of this proteome with carcinoma of bladder and other sites. The data also highlighted how homology among human leukocyte antigen haplotypes may confound MASCOT designation of major histocompatability complex Class I nomenclature, requiring data from PCR-based human leukocyte antigen haplotyping to clarify anomalous identifications. Validation of 18 MS protein identifications (including basigin, galectin-3, trophoblast glycoprotein (5T4), and others) was performed by a combination of Western blotting, flotation on linear sucrose gradients, and flow cytometry, confirming their exosomal expression. Some were confirmed positive on urinary exosomes from a bladder cancer patient. In summary, the exosome proteomics data set presented is of unrivaled quality. The data will aid in the development of urine exosome-based clinical tools for monitoring disease and will inform follow-up studies into varied aspects of exosome manufacture and function.
Mathematics Education for Young Children: What It is and How to Promote It

Effective mathematics education for young children (approximately ages 3 to 5) seems to hold great promise for improving later achievement, particularly in low-SES students who are at risk of inferior education from preschool onwards. Yet there is limited understanding of what preschool and kindergarten mathematics education entails and what is required to implement it effectively. This paper attempts to provide insight into three topics central to understanding and improving early childhood mathematics education in the United States. First, we examine young children’s mathematical abilities. Cognitive research shows that young children develop an extensive everyday mathematics and are capable of learning more and deeper mathematics than usually assumed. The second topic is the content and components of early childhood mathematics education. We show that the content of mathematics for young children is wide-ranging (number and operations, shape, space, measurement, and pattern) and sometimes abstract. It involves processes of thinking as well as skills and rote memory. Components of early childhood mathematics education range from play to organized curriculum (several research based programs are now available) and intentional teaching. Third, we consider early childhood educators’ readiness to teach mathematics. Unfortunately, the typical situation is that they are poorly trained to teach the subject, are afraid of it, feel it is not important to teach, and typically teach it badly or not at all. Finally, we conclude with policy suggestions. The most urgent need is to improve and support both pre-service and in-service teacher training.
Effect of Essential Oils on Postharvest Decay and Some Quality Factors of Peach (Prunus persica var. Redhaven)

The aim of the study was to determine the antifungal effects of the essential oils against fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea the causal agent of grey mould disease of peach (Prunus persica L.) under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Treatments consisted of four essential oils (anise, ammi, ziziphora and cinnamon) and five concentrations (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 μL.L -1 ). Results of in vitro experiment showed that all of used essential oils at all applied concentrations inhibited grey mould growth. All of these essential oils in concentration 800 μL. L -1 were without germination spores of grey mould. The essential oils application significantly decreased weight loss percentage and increased life storage fruits. Also, essential oils positively affected on postharvest quality factors including total soluble solids, titrable acidity, anthocyanin, carbohydrate content and pH value. It was observed that treated fruits with ammi essential oil at concentration 800 µL. L -1 had the highest total soluble solids; titrable acidity, anthocyanin, and carbohydrate content and it had the lowest decay and acidity. Thus, these results showed that essential oils have strong impact on postharvest decay and fruit quality of peach.
Cournot competition: a brief survey

The classical Cournot ( 1838) model is one of the most important tools in oligopoly theory. In this short paper we provide a brief survey of the important results on existence, uniqueness and stability of the Cournot equilibrium. We will try to provide the most important results on the three topics in a unified framework and also show in the end that a simple condition ensures all three (viz. existence, uniqueness and stability). Since the Cournot model is an workhorse model, this survey should be of some interest to researchers who use imperfectly competitive models for their analyses. In this model, a small number of firms compete in a homogeneous product market. The firms simultaneously select the amount of output to be sold in the market. The aggregate output level then determine the market price1 according to the inverse demand function. The process by which the market clears is left unspecified or assumed to be done by an auctioneer. A Cournot game is a quantity setting game where the strategy spaces are the sets of quantities (typically the set of non-negative real numbers) and the payoffs are the profits accruing to the firms. A Cournot equilibrium is just a Nash equilibrium of this game. We will now provide the model of Cournot competition 1•
Effectiveness of a College-Level Self-Management Course on Successful Behavior Change

Studies have shown that college-level self-management (SM) courses, which typically require students to complete an individual project as part of the course, can be an effective method for promoting successful self-change (i.e., targeted behavioral change). However, only a handful of studies have focused on and investigated the intensity of the SM component required for successfully changing a target behavior. The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the effectiveness of a SM course in improving a target behavior within a college setting, (b) determine the level of SM course intensity necessary for successful behavioral change, and (c) identify the characteristics of successful self-managers in terms of strategy use. A total of 84 college students were enrolled in a high-intensity SM course, low-intensity SM course, or non-SM course (i.e., control group). Self-report questionnaires were administered at the beginning and end of the courses. Results showed that only the high-intensity SM course was effective for successful behavioral change and helped increase certain psychosocial characteristics (e.g., internal locus of control, expectancy of success). Overall, successful self-managers used significantly more SM strategies than participants who were unable to meet their behavioral goals. Implications and limitations are also discussed.
Staphylococcus aureus SigB activity promotes a strong fibronectin–bacterium interaction which may sustain host tissue colonization by small‐colony variants isolated from cystic fibrosis patients

Genes encoding cell‐surface proteins regulated by SigB are stably expressed in Staphylococcus aureus small‐colony variants (SCVs) isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Our hypothesis is that CF‐isolated SCVs are locked into a colonization state by sustaining the expression of adhesins such as fibronectin‐binding proteins (FnBPs) throughout growth. Force spectroscopy was used to study the fibronectin–FnBPs interaction among strains varying for their SigB activity. The fibronectin–FnBPs interaction was described by a strength of 1000 ± 400 pN (pulling rate of 2 μm s−1), an energetic barrier width of 0.6 ± 0.1 Å and an off‐rate below 2 × 10−4 s−1. A CF‐isolated SCV highly expressed fnbA throughout growth and showed a sustained capacity to bind fibronectin, whereas a prototypic strain showed a reduced frequency of fibronectin‐binding during the stationary growth phase when its fnbA gene was down‐regulated. Reduced expression of fnbA was observed in sigB mutants, which was associated with an overall decrease adhesion to fibronectin. These results suggest that the fibronectin–FnBPs interaction plays a role in the formation of a mechanically resistant adhesion of S. aureus to host tissues and supports the hypothesis that CF‐isolated SCVs are locked into a colonization state as a result of a sustained SigB activity.
Lymphangioblasts in embryonic lymphangiogenesis.

BACKGROUND The origin of the lymphatic endothelium, either from the venous system or mesenchymal lymphangioblasts, presents as a persistent controversy. Recently, highly specific markers of the lymphatic endothelium have been found, enabling us to reinvestigate the embryonic origin of the lymphatics. METHODS AND RESULTS The homeobox transcription factor, Prox1, is expressed in lymphatic, but not in blood vascular, endothelial cells throughout murine and avian development and in adult human tissues. Here we show expression of scattered Prox1-positive cells in the dermatome of 4-day-old chick embryos by in situ hybridization and immunostaining. These cells obviously form the Prox1-positive lymphatic networks in the skin of the body wall and the limbs during further embryonic development. The Prox1 protein is localized in the nuclei of the lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). CONCLUSIONS The results strongly suggest that the superficial lymphatics develop independently from the deep ones, and are derived from mesenchymal lymphangioblasts rather than veins. Our results argue against the unique origin of lymphatics from veins and suggest a heterogenous origin of LECs. The results are discussed in the context of historical data.
Gender, culture and changing attitudes: experiences of HIV in Zimbabwe

This paper draws on a series of qualitative interviews with 60 people living in economically poor communities of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, to provide new insight into the cultural landscape of HIV. While there has been extensive exploration of gender, sexuality, culture and HIV in Zimbabwe, there is a need to revisit these issues given the country's recent political and economic history. These questions have shaped the meanings that have been created around HIV (i.e., notions of HIV-as-death and as being produced by promiscuity) and the gendered mediation of cultural practices (i.e., forms of sexual expression and treatment uptake). Drawing on the accounts from a group directly affected by HIV, we illustrate the persistence of gendered and spiritualised ideas about ‘blame’, ‘transmission’ and ‘treatment’ and the disproportionate burden that still falls on Zimbabwean women. We conclude with an exploration of how everyday understandings of HIV may be shifting and the ways in which marginality, discrimination and stigma may be being challenged by openness, dialogue and attitude change.
Adult respiratory distress syndrome—how many cases in the UK?

Previously reported figures for the incidence of Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, based largely on American results, would suggest that the average British Health District of 200 000 people could expect to see 130 cases per year. This figure is greatly in excess of that expected from our clinical experience. We have undertaken a retrospective survey of patients within a British Health Region (population, 3 599 400). Results indicate an incidence of nine for an average Health District of 200 000 population, or 2.5% of all admissions to intensive therapy units, or 0.045 per 1000 resident population.